X17 News

Prince Harry Receives Threats From Taliban During Tour In Afghanistan

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 08:00:21 -0800

LOS ANGELES, California (X17online) - Prince Harry is currently on the frontlines in Afghanistan, and the Taliban is making official threats to harm the British royal on his tour. The Prince arrived Friday in the Middle East to begin his four month commitment, wrapping up his training at Camp Bastion before co-piloting an Apache attack helicopter. The royal will be stationed in Afghanistan's southern Helmand providence, which happens to be a major hub of Taliban activity. "We are using all our strength to get rid of him, either by killing or kidnapping," a Taliban spokesperson said in a statement. The British Ministry of Defence has yet to comment on the threats, but very few details have been released about Prince Harry's tour for security purposes. Harry previously traveled to serve in Afghanistan in 2007 and 2008.

Celebs React To Michelle Obama's DNC Speech

Wed, 05 Sep 2012 10:59:45 -0800

LOS ANGELES, California (X17online) - First Lady Michelle Obama took the stage at the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday night, and almost everyone in Hollywood had something to say about her powerful and inspiring words. Bill Maher tweeted, "#MicheleObama - wow! After that speech, look out Hillary she may beat ya to the white house," and Cher added, "Cher: OMG! Just Watched Michelle Obama Speak & am Completely Overwhelmed!She Was Amazing! She is Truly a"FIRST LADY”! A Woman to Admire & Emulate!" Reality star Kyle Richards wrote, "I’m thinking @BarackObama must be feeling pretty proud of his wife @MichelleObama right now," and rapper Eve added, "Eve: WOW!!!! Michelle Obama’s speech just gave me chills with her speech!!!! #beautiful #strength #leader #powerful #words." Gordon Stewart, former deputy chief speechwriter to President Jimmy Carter, shared his thoughts on the CNN blog and wrote, "Her speech tied the Obamas' personal stories directly to the lives of millions of voters struggling not to be the first generation of Americans unable to offer hope of greater opportunities to their children than they had, thus drawing a contrast with Mitt Romney as an unnamed but unmistakable caricature of privilege without shading her talk with negativity or animosity." Click the video below to watch her speech!

Taylor Swift Is Up For Another CMA Entertainer Of The Year Award

Wed, 05 Sep 2012 10:01:31 -0800

LOS ANGELES, California (X17online) - The nominees for the 46th Country Music Association Awards have been announced, and it was newcomer Eric Church who received the most nominations this year, with a total of five. Blake Shelton and his wife, singer Miranda Lambert, tallied four nominations apiece, while Jason Aldean, Taylor Swift and Kenny Chesney got three each. Swift, Chesney, Shelton, Aldean and Brad Paisley are nominated for entertainer of the year. Chesney has taken the trophy four times before, tying with Garth Brooks for the most wins in the category since the awards began in 1967. Swift has collected it twice and Paisley once; and she was the youngest performer ever to win the award when she first nabbed it in 2009 at the age of 19. Kelly Clarkson, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Swift and Carrie Underwood are up for Female Vocalist of the Year, while Aldean, Luke Bryan, Church, Shelton and Keith Urban are up for Male Vocalist of the Year. Nominees for Vocal Group of the Year include The Band Perry, Eli Young Band, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town and Zac Brown Band, while Vocal Duo of the Year noms include Big & Rich, Love and Theft, Sugarland, The Civil Wars and Thompson Square. New Artist of the Year nominees are Lee Brice, Brantley Gilbert, Hunter Hayes, Love and Theft and Thompson Square. Musician of the Year nominees include Sam Bush, Paul Franklin, Dann Huff, Brent Mason and Mac McAnally. Album of the Year nominees are Luke Bryan (Tailgates and Tanlines), Eric Church (Chief), Miranda Lambert (Four the Record), Dierks Bentley (Home) and Lady Antebellum (Own the Night). Single of the Year nominees include Jason Aldean ("Dirt Road Anthem"), Blake Shelton ("God Gave Me You"), Dierks Bentley ("Home"), Little Big Town, ("Pontoon") and Eric Church ("Springsteen"). Musical Event of the Year nominees include Alan Jackson and Zac Brown Band (Dixie Highway), Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw ("Feel Like a Rock Star"), Willie Nelson featuring Snoop Dogg ("Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die"), Willie Nelson featuring Snoop Dogg, Kris Kristofferson and Jamey Johnson, Taylor Swift featuring the Civil Wars ("Safe and Sound") and Lionel Richie and Darius Rucker ("Stuck on You"). Music Video of the Year nominees are Eric Church ("Springsteen"), Kenny Chesney, ("Come Over"), Miranda Lambert, ("Over You"), Little Big Town, ("Pontoon") and Toby Keith, ("Red Solo Cup").

President Obama Features Harold & Kumar In New Campaign Video

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 10:59:03 -0800

LOS ANGELES, California (X17online) - President Barack Obama has released a new video ahead of this week's Democratic National Convention, and it features Kal Penn and John Cho, the stars of Harold & Kumar. Penn, who worked in the Obama Administration as a liaison between the White House and Asian communities, will host "Live From Charlotte," a web-based DNC special on Thursday night. Programming will include interviews with campaign officials, and Elizabeth Banks, Aisha Tyler, Olivia Wilde, Fran Drescher and Zach Braff are just a few of the famous faces who will be included in the video. Check out the new clip below:

The Possession Set To Overperform With $21.3 Million Labor Day Opening Weekend

Mon, 03 Sep 2012 09:18:05 -0800

LOS ANGELES, California (X17online) - The Possession is set to have one of the top Labor Day openings of all time, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The Sam Raimi-produced horror flick topped the three-day holiday box office with an estimated $17.7 million, and Lionsgate is estimating a $21.3 million four-day gross for the film. The current record holder for the top Labor Day opener is fellow horror flick Halloween, which earned $30.6 million in 2007. Transporter 2's 2005 box office opening gross of $20.1 million is currently the second highest opening for the holiday weekend, so The Possession looks like it's on track to knock Transporter 2 down a spot. Lawless, starring Tom Hardy, Shia LaBeouf, Jessica Chastain, Guy Pearce and Mia Wasikowska, is holding on to the number two spot, grossing $9.8 million for the three-day weekend. Projections show the film finishing the four-day weekend in the $14.5 million to $15 million range, reports THR. The anti-Barack Obama documentary 2016: Obama's America is expected to round out the Labor Day holiday with a domestic total of roughly $20 million, the fifth-best domestic gross for a political doc ever.

Nigel Lythgoe Returning To American Idol

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 09:00:55 -0800

LOS ANGELES, California (X17online) - Following months of negotiations, Nigel Lythgoe has finalized his contract to return as executive producer of American Idol next season. Due to the time it took for executives to reach a decision regarding Lythgoe, production is said to be "way behind normal schedule," a source told E! News. Apparently Lythgoe is anxious to secure the vacant judging seats. The only officially confirmed judge at the current time is Mariah Carey. Celebrities being considered include Nicki Minaj, Keith Urban, and Enrique Iglesias. An official announcement is expected to be made soon.

Ryan Gosling To Make Directorial Debut In How to Catch a Monster

Wed, 29 Aug 2012 11:41:26 -0800

LOS ANGELES, California (X17online) - Ryan Gosling will be making his directorial debut with How to Catch a Monster, a film he also wrote, according to Entertainment Weekly. Gosling said in a statement: “I am very appreciative to [producers] Marc Platt, Adam Siegel and Bold Films for being so supportive and I look forward to making this film with all of them." The film is about Christina, a single mother, who is “swept into a macabre and dark fantasy underworld while her teenage son discovers a secret road leading to an underwater town.” It's not clear whether Gosling will star in the film as well, but Christina Hendricks, who co-starred with him in Drive, has reportedly been given the main role in the project.

Youtube Sensation Austin Mahone Signs Record Deal

Wed, 29 Aug 2012 09:00:43 -0800

LOS ANGELES, California (X17online) - Youtube teen star Austin Mahone, known as "Baby Bieber," has inked a seven figure distribution deal with Chase Records through Universal Republic. The label is home to successful artists like Owl City and Florence + The Machine. 16-year-old Mahone tweeted the exciting news to his legions of fans, and the announcement was retweeted over 5,200 times in a single hour. A profile was written on the singer in the June issue of the Hollywood Reporter. "We are excited that Austin is officially signed and couldn't be happier with the deal. Our patience has certainly paid off. We have been very blessed," Mahone's mother Michele told the mag. According to sources, Mahone's managers requested that the deal include profits made through merchandising, publishing, liscensing, recorded music, and other ancillary revenue. Other major record labels including Warner Bros., Island Def Jam, and Epic were said to have been eager to sign the Florida native.

Miley Cyrus To Appear On Two And A Half Men

Tue, 28 Aug 2012 15:19:43 -0800

LOS ANGELES, California (X17online) - Miley Cyrus will soon be joining Ashton Kutcher on two episodes of CBS' hit show. According to the network, Cyrus "will play Missi, an old family friend of Walden's [Ashton Kutcher] who comes to visit for a week and develops a relationship with Jake [Angus T. Jones] when he comes home from the Army." Jones said the following about Miley's upcoming Men character: "Honestly, they don't tell me anything about what the future shows are going to be. But if that's what's going to happen, it will be cool. I've met her a few times before and it would be fun to work with her. Whatever it's going to be, it's going to be interesting." The new season of Two and a Half Men begins on September 27.

Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire And Tom Hardy Team Up For Anti-Poaching Movie

Tue, 28 Aug 2012 09:35:43 -0800

LOS ANGELES, California (X17online) - Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire and Tom Hardy are teaming up to produce an untitled animal-trafficking drama with Warner Bros. Hardy came up with the idea, as he has several friends who are former Special Forces operatives and went on to become anti-poaching fighters in South Africa and other countries. It's not clear whether DiCaprio, Maguire or Hardy would act in the movie, but sources close tell The Hollywood Reporter that the goal is to make a movie in the vein of Traffic, Steven Soderbergh’s multi-story narrative on the impact of the war on drugs. The film would look at "everything from the ground war on poachers in the African savanna to how animal material ends up in the fashion houses of Paris."

Tony Scott's Family Creates Scholarship In His Honor

Tue, 28 Aug 2012 09:00:16 -0800

LOS ANGELES, California (X17online) - Tony Scott's private memorial took place this past weekend, and his family announced Monday they have created a memorial scholarship in his honor. The American Film Institute will work with the foundation to give funds to help future filmmakers. The "Top Gun" director jumped to his death from an LA bridge on Aug. 19, but the case is still under investigation despite the probable cause of suicide. The determination of official cause of death may take several weeks. Scott's body was cremated and his remains were given to his wife. The British-born director's death certificate was released Monday.

Anti-Obama Film Is The Top Documentary Of The Year

Mon, 27 Aug 2012 10:40:07 -0800

LOS ANGELES, California (X17online) - Dinesh D’Souza and John Sullivan’s conservative documentary 2016: Obama's America grossed $6.3 million in its opening weekend, making it the top grossing documentary of the year. The anti-Barack Obama film opened last month on a limited release, and it already boasts a total domestic gross of $9.2 million. The film is also the top conservative documentary of all time, beating out Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed, which earned $7.7 million. Obama's America release was seemingly timed to debut on the eve of the Republican National Convention, which kicks off this week in Tampa, Florida.

GLAAD Slams Utah Station For Not Broadcasting NBC's New Normal

Mon, 27 Aug 2012 08:00:31 -0800

LOS ANGELES, California (X17online) - After an NBC affiliate decided not to broadcast The New Normal in Utah this fall, GLAAD is speaking out to criticize the decision. The new comedy tells the story of a single mother who becomes a surrogate for a same sex couple, and was deemed "inappropriate" by Utah station KSL-TV. "Same-sex families are a beloved part of American television thanks to shows like Modern Family, Glee and Grey's Anatomy. While audiences, critics and advertisers have all supported LGBT stories, KSL is demonstrating how deeply out of touch it is with the rest of the country," GLAAD president Herndon Graddick said in a statement. "After viewing the pilot episode of The New Normal, we have made the decision to keep it off our fall schedule. For our brand, this program simply feels inappropriate on several dimensions, especially during family viewing time," CEO of KSL Jeff Simpson said in a countering statement. This isn't the first time the new sitcom has come under fire for its controversial content. Conservative group One Million Moms called for a boycott of the show last month.

Report: Director David Fincher Drops Out Of Angelina Jolie's Cleopatra Project

Fri, 24 Aug 2012 10:30:26 -0800

LOS ANGELES, California (X17online) - Producers behind Angelina Jolie's remake of Cleopatra will have to find a new director. Director David Fincher has walked away from the project, according to Vulture. The movie, based on Stacy Schiff's book "Cleopatra: A Life," was first announced back in June 2010. No replacement director has been announced, however reports have surfaced that Brokeback Mountain director Ang Lee may be considering the job.

Tony Scott's Private Memorial Set For This Weekend

Thu, 23 Aug 2012 12:53:37 -0800

LOS ANGELES, California (X17online) - A private memorial will be held this weekend for Tony Scott , just a week after the Top Gun director tragically jumped to his death from a bridge in San Pedro, California. A rep for Scott released the following statement: "Tony Scott will be honored at a private, family-only ceremony this weekend in Los Angeles. The family will announce plans after Labor Day for a gathering to celebrate the life and work of Mr. Scott. Details will be forthcoming once they are formalized." Scott fatally jumped off the Vincent Thomas Bridge in San Pedro around 12:30pm, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. His body was recovered by divers around 4:30pm, and a suicide note was found in his Toyota Prius, which was parked on one of the eastbound lanes of the bridge. Scott is survived by his twin sons Max and Frank, his wife, actress Donna Scott, along with his brother/business partner Ridley Scott, 74.