BET nears deal to resurrect “The Game”

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – BET is inching closer to finalizing the deals for a new “Game.”

Television

The cable network is expected to announce at its “upfront” presentation to advertisers this month that it is resurrecting the CW sitcom with original episodes.

The majority of the cast of “The Game” are expected to return. Because the options on the actors had expired following the show’s cancellation in May, BET had to negotiate new deals with them.

Salim Akil, the main director on the show while it was on the CW, is expected to take over as showrunner from his wife, Mara Brock Akil, who created the series. Brock Akil, who will remain an executive producer, serves as a consulting producer on ABC’s freshman comedy “Cougar Town.”

“Game,” a spinoff from “Girlfriends,” which Brock Akil also created, was canceled in May after three seasons and after Brock Akil pitched the network an hourlong version of the show. Following the cancellation, BET began preliminary talks with producer CBS Studios about taking in the series with new originals. The cable network already runs repeats of “Game” and “Girlfriends.” BET’s only previous stab at launching an original scripted series was the 2008 comedy “Somebodies,” which ran for one season.

Meet Prince Charles and Camilla, the ‘wedding planners’!

London, Sept 20 (ANI): Prince Charles and wife Camilla are turning wedding planners and “loaning out” their country retreat of Highgrove House to wannabe brides and grooms.

And included in the package will be the royal couple’s shared “expertise”.

Like Charles and Camilla did at their Windsor wedding four years ago, couples will be encouraged to “keep it simple”, say reports.

As per rumours, the first pair to enjoy a “Charles and Camilla wedding” are TV babe Jenni Falconer and her actor fiancĂ© James Midgley, reports The Daily Star.

A royal source said: “Obviously with it being their house they would want control of the event. But they also recognise what a great opportunity it would be to showcase their home.

“Highgrove is an absolutely fantastic building and would make a wonderful venue for a wedding and reception.”

The nine-bedroom country house on a 37-acre estate near Tetbury, Gloucestershire, was bought for Charles in 1980.

A source said: “Charles is hugely proud of Highgrove. It’s a wonderful property and he has spent thousands of pounds on the gardens and grounds. I’m sure by holding weddings there Charles would take great pleasure being the host.

“And he could use them to promote the Duchy Originals organic products he’s involved with.” (ANI)

‘Monty Python’ pals John Cleese and Michael Palin may work together again

London, September 20 (ANI): Former ‘Monty Python’ stars John Cleese, 69, and Michael Palin, 66, may soon be working together again.

They are said to have been discussing reuniting for the first time in more than a decade.

The pair met last month while Cleese, who lives in California, was in London after his 12million-pound divorce from third wife Alyce Faye Eichelberger.

Palin revealed on Michael Ball’s Radio 2 show that they were chatting about old times then Cleese, 69, said: “Wouldn’t it be good to act again?”

The Daily Express quoted Palin as saying: “I saw John the other night and we were saying it would be nice to do some acting again, so you never know.”

Palin’s agent, however, said that there were no definite plans yet for the pair to work together.

The pair starred together in the hit movie ‘A Fish Called Wanda’ in 1988, and its sequel ‘Fierce Creatures’ in 1997. (ANI)

Stabbed West Ham star Davenport takes his first steps

London, Sep.19 (ANI): Looking gaunt almost a month after being knifed in his legs six times, West Ham star Calum Davenport took his first steps in public on Friday.

The unshaven ex-England Under-21 defender, dressed in a navy blue tracksuit and wearing slippers, hobbled on crutches outside hospital, reports The Sun.

He was allegedly attacked on August 22 by the boyfriend of his pregnant sister Cara following a row at her house.

Calum was found bleeding from a leg artery outside his mum’s house in Kempston, Bedford.

Doctors spent four weeks saving his limbs but there are fears he may never play again Yesterday he was greeted at Bedford Hospital by family members and wife Zoey. His loved ones have been by his bedside virtually every day. (ANI)

MIC chief Samy Vellu says he won’t retire before 2012

Kuala Lumpur, Sep 19 (ANI): Rejecting former Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s demand to immediately step down as the Malaysian Indian Congress Chief, S. Samy Vellu has said that he would stick to his original plan and resign in 2012.

“He (Prime Minister Najib Razak) is aware of my retirement plan. I will keep to my word to the prime minister and I will not change (my plan),” the New Strait Times Online quoted him, as saying.
Earlier, Dr Mohamad had warned that Samy Vellu would become a liability to the Barisan Nasional in the next general election since his leadership has failed.
Mohamad suggested that Samy Vellu should step down and take responsibility for the party’s failure in the last general election.
Reacting to Dr Mohamad’s statement, Samy Vellu said the former prime minister who is now calling him a liability had labelled him an asset “when we were winning.”
“His comments are like telling a young wife that she is beautiful and an asset, but when she becomes old, she is branded a liability,” he said.

“I am not at all surprised. But I think he refuses to understand that the BN losses in the last general election were not because of me. An experienced man (politician) like him should understand that,” he added.
MIC vice-president Dr S. Subramaniam said the leadership of any political party was decided by its members, and it should be respected by the other BN component parties.
“The members decide whether to give or withdraw the mandate and if a decision is made by the members, it should be respected by the other BN component parties.

It will be better if all BN leaders avoided commenting about other parties,” said Subramaniam. (ANI)

Navy inducts stealth destroyer INS Kochi

Kochi, Sep 18 (ANI): The Indian Navy today inducted a stealth destroyer of Kolkata class, INS Kochi, to boost its maritime capabilities and safeguard India’s interests.

Madhulika Verma wife of Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Nirmal Verma, named the second of the three Project 15-A stealth destroyers on September 18.

Mazagon Docks Ltd in Mumbai built the 6500-ton ship, named INS Kochi.

The ship has advanced stealth features, which make it less vulnerable to detection by enemy radar and will be fitted with state-of-the-art weapon systems which include the supersonic BrahMos surface-to-surface missile, the LRSAM Long Range Surface-to-Air Missiles and the MFStar multi-function radar system providing accurate data on surface and air targets.

In addition, four AK-630 rapid-fire guns and a medium range gun will boost the ship’s close-range defence capability.

The ships will also be fitted with indigenously developed twin-tube torpedo launchers and anti-submarine rocket launchers.

The NPOL developed Humsa-NG hull-mounted sonar, and two multi-role helicopters adding punch to the ship’s anti-submarine capability. The maximum speed of the ship is above 30 Knots.

The destroyer will be launched using the pontoon-assisted launch technique, to be employed for the first time in the history of indigenous warship building.

This technique helps in overcoming slipway/ draft constraints and permits launching of heavier vessels. (ANI)

Hundreds take part in ‘Ram Baraat’ in Agra

Agra, Sept 17 (ANI): Hundreds of people here took part in ‘Ram Baraat’, which is a part of the Ramlila celebrations.

Jeetander Chauhan, a worker, who erected the decorations for the celebrations, said that people were happy that god was among them.

“We are feeling that Lord Ram has appeared among us. Hundreds of people have come to witness this famous god’s marriage,” said Chauhan.

Maya Sharma, a devotee, said that women were also excited about this deity marriage.

“I’m really feeling good that ‘Baraat’ procession of Lord Rama and Sita is taking place. We are feeling good that god himself is present here,” said Sharma.

Every year, a new locality is chosen in Agra and festivities last for three days and the area is elaborately decorated with lights and flowers. The area is given a major face-lift befitting the venue for the divine marriage.

The marriage procession sees marriage between saint Shaligram who represents Lord Ram and holy Basil plant, which represents Sita, his wife.

The place is lit up with thousands of lights and non-stop music. The cinema theatres run film shows throughout the night to accommodate the migratory crowd.

These three days are like a carnival when people from all walks of life come together to have a great time.

The history of Ram Baraat is said to be around 125 years old, when Lala Kokamal, a cloth merchant, started the tradition of three-day festivities, revolving around the royal wedding. (ANI)

Navy to induct stealth destroyer INS Kochi on Sep.18

New Delhi, Sep 16 (ANI): The Indian Navy will induct a stealth destroyer of Delhi class on September 18 to boost its maritime capabilities and safeguard India’s interests.

Madhulika Verma wife of Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Nirmal Verma, will launch the second of the three Project 15-A stealth destroyers on September 18.

The 6500-ton ship, to be named INS Kochi, is being built by Mazagon Docks Ltd in Mumbai. The Directorate of Naval Design has designed the destroyer indigenously. The existing Delhi Class destroyers are INS Delhi, INS Mysore and INS Mumbai.

The ship has advanced stealth features, which make it less vulnerable to detection by enemy radar and will be fitted with state-of-the-art weapon systems which include the supersonic BrahMos surface-to-surface missile, the LRSAM Long Range Surface-to-Air Missiles and the MFStar multi-function radar system providing accurate data on surface and air targets.

In addition, four AK-630 rapid-fire guns and a medium range gun will boost the ship’s close-range defence capability.

The ships will also be fitted with indigenously developed twin-tube torpedo launchers and anti-submarine rocket launchers.

The NPOL developed Humsa-NG hull-mounted sonar, and two multi-role helicopters adding punch to the ship’s anti-submarine capability. The maximum speed of the ship is above 30 Knots.

The destroyer will be launched using the pontoon-assisted launch technique, to be employed for the first time in the history of indigenous warship building.

This technique helps in overcoming slipway/ draft constraints and permits launching of heavier vessels. (ANI)

Theron will not play Kidman’s wife in sex-change drama

Washington, Sep 16 (ANI): South African actress Charlize Theron has turned down a role in a new movie about the first person to undergo a sex-change operation.

Theron, 34, was to play as Gerda Wegener, the wife of artist Einar Wegener opposite Nicole Kidman, 42, in ‘The Danish Girl’, but she recently turned down the role.

Kidman will star and co-produce the project, which is adapted from David Ebershoff’s novel about Wegener, who underwent a procedure to become a woman in the early 1930s.

Tomas Alfredson, who will direct the film, is refusing to let the casting hiccup upset his filming schedule.

“We have been in talks for close to a year, and we are soon going into production,” Contactmusic quoted him as having told Daily Variety. (ANI)

Posh says her pout is natural

London, September 15 (ANI): Victoria Beckham has said that her famous pout is natural and not a deliberate pose.

“I think that’s just me. Maybe it’s the way my face falls,” the Sun quoted her as saying.

The former ‘Spice Girl’ and football ace David Beckham’s wife added that she was tired of being called funny.

When asked whether she still felt sexy after ten years of marriage, she replied: “Yes. I go to bed with David Beckham every night!” (ANI)

Hefner says he remained married for kids’ sake

London, September 15 (ANI): Playboy mogul Hugh Hefner has said that he postponed his divorce from his estranged second wife for the sake of their children.

The 83-year-old filed for divorce earlier this month, after an 11-year separation from former Playmate of the Year Kimberly Conrad Hefner.

Hefner, presently dating Playmates Crystal Harris, 23, and twins Karissa and Kristina Shannon, 19, said that he waited “because of the children” – his youngest son Cooper turned 18 on September 4.

“Now is the time. I stayed married not because it was a marriage – the marriage ended in 1998. I stayed because she wanted me to,” the Daily Express quoted him as saying.

The two got married in 1989, and separated nine years later.

They, however, remained legally wed.

Conrad, 47, is the mother of two of Hefner’s four kids, and had for years been supported by him in a home next to the Playboy mansion. (ANI)

Cancer-stricken Patrick Swayze dies at 57

Washington, Sept 15 (ANI): Veteran actor Patrick Swayze died of pancreatic cancer on Monday, aged 57.

The ‘Dirty Dancing’ star lost his battle to cancer after struggling for at least 20 months.

“Patrick Swayze passed away peacefully today with family at his side after facing the challenges of his illness for the last 20 months,” People magazine quoted Swayze’s representatives as saying in a statement.

Whoopi Goldberg, who starred with Swayze in one of his biggest movies ‘Ghost’, remembers Swayze as “funny man”.

“Patrick was a really good man, a funny man and one to whom I owe much that I can’t ever repay,” said Goldberg,

“I believe in Ghost’s message, so he’ll always be near,” she added.

“Patrick lived a hundred lifetimes in one,” said Rob Lowe, who appeared with Swayze in ‘The Outsiders and Youngblood’.

“I will remember him for that, and I will remember him for how much he loved his wife Lisa. He was such an intense actor, so full of passion and vigor. He definitely made the most out of it. It’s a sad day,” he added.

Swayze was diagnosed with advanced stage of pancreatic cancer in January last year.

However, he kept shooting for A and E series ‘The Beast’ while undergoing chemotherapy and never lost hope. (ANI)

No more romantic leads for Michael Douglas

London, September 13 (ANI): Actor Michael Douglas has said that he no longer gets offers to play romantic-lead in movies.

“No love-interest stuff for me now,” the Telegraph quoted him as saying.

The ‘Basic Instinct’ star spoke about his character in new courtroom drama ‘Beyond a Reasonable Doubt.’

He said: “I play the bad guy, the rough old villain. My character is that duplicitous meanie I somehow specialise in.”

Douglas and wife/actress Catherine Zeta Jones recently moved from Bermuda to an apartment in New York, to make it easier to pursue his film career. (ANI)

US Fritzl told wife “to take the cute blond girl” during “child shopping” trip

London, Sept 13 (ANI): Phillip Garrido, the “American Fritzl”, selected Jaycee Lee Dugard as his prey during a “child shopping” trip because she looked cute, his wife has told police in California.

Describing the precision that went into the abduction of the then 11-year-old Jaycee, Nancy told cops that they decided not to snatch the pretty blond girl with the gap-toothed grin that day in June 1991 because she was walking through South Lake Tahoe along with few school friends.

Instead, they apparently trailed her to her home before returning the next morning to complete their mission.

Garrido allegedly jumped out of their car and grabbed her as she walked to nearby a bus-stop, while her husband remained behind the wheel.

“That’s the one I want,” Garrido told her when he saw Jaycee in the resort town.

“She’s cute, but she’s with the other kids. Let’s come back later and get her,” she added.

After being briefed on Mrs Garrido’s testimony by law enforcement contacts, Michael Cardoza, a Californian attorney and former prosecutor, relayed his coldly calculating words to the Telegraph.

“This was nothing less than a child shopping trip. It just makes their actions all the more horrendous and reprehensible,” he said. (ANI)

Fazlullah hurt, may surrender soon

Lahore, Sep.13 (ANI): The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Swat chapter chief Mullah Fazlullah has reportedly been seriously wounded and may surrender soon, a private television channel said.

Sources said security forces have received information that Fazlullah is hiding in a cave somewhere in the Swat and Malakand Division and is hurt.

Troops have cordoned off the place of his reported hiding, the channel said.

Meanwhile, police has released Fazlullah’s one son, Saidullah, and two daughters, Marsia and Maryam who were arrested last month.

Family members of the Tehreek-e-Nifaz-e-Shariat-e-Muhammadi (TNSM) chief Sufi Muhammad have also been set free.

Muhammad’s wife Shahida, his daughter-in-law Tahira, his daughter Tayyeba and two of his sons, Rahmat and Barkatullah have been released, The Daily Times reported.

Muhammad’s other three sons, Fazlullah, Abdullah and Abdur Rehman, however, have been taken on remand and sent to Haripur Central Jail. (ANI)

WAGs declare war on Capello following their World Cup ban

London, Sep 12 (ANI): England’s WAGs have blasted coach Fabio Capello after he banned them from the World Cup in South Africa and laid down strict rules for them.

Capello insisted that his stars will not go to the tournament for a holiday, and warned their wives and girlfriends: “If you don’t like it, don’t come.”

He ruled that his current squad can have just one day with their partners and families after each game next summer. And that will be the only socialising allowed.

The WAGs hit back after the team boss insisted the South Africa trip will not be a “holiday” by saying that they were a vital part of the beautiful game, the Daily Star reports.

Speaking on behalf of the international players’ wives, Lizzie Cundy, 38, wife of ex-Chelsea ace Jason, 39, said: “Fabio has made the wrong decision.”

Danielle Lloyd, 25, who is dating Portsmouth loan signing Jamie O’Hara, 22, says WAGs are vital to the game.

“I understand Fabio’s concern. It isn’t a good idea for the wives and girlfriends of the footballers to be taking them away from their careers. But it is important for us to be supporting our partners, as that will also help them with their game. I always make sure Jamie eats well and rests in the run-up to a game so he’s in the right frame of mind,” she said.

Lizzie added: “I admit that at the last World Cup the WAGs did hit the headlines but they’ve learned their lesson and have all grown up a bit.”

Capello’s hardball threat came after England’s last trip to the World Cup finals turned into a circus when the WAGs took over the picturesque town of Baden Baden in Germany. There were parties every night and the players were in almost daily contact with their loved ones. (ANI)

England footballer Joe Cole set to become dad

London, Sept 12 (ANI): England footballer Joe Cole is going to be a dad.

Cole confirmed that his wife and ‘I’m a Celebrity’ star Carly is three months pregnant.We are really happy and looking forward to the birth of our first child,” the Sun quoted Cole, as saying.

The pair discovered they were going to be parents shortly after their lavish wedding in West London in June.

Their friends believe Carly got pregnant on their Caribbean honeymoon, which they went on before their wedding.

“They are absolutely over the moon. They were desperate to start a family as soon as they got married – we knew it was just a matter of time. Joe hasn’t been able to stop smiling,” said a source. (ANI)

Mafia may be behind Berlusconi’s sex scandal, claims coalition partner

London, Sept 12 (ANI): Responding to the sex scandal engulfing Silvio Berlusconi, Umberto Bossi, the key coalition partner in the Italian PM’s government, said he believed Mafia had orchestrated all the dirty activities.

“I think everything has been put in place by the Mafia,” Bossi, the leader of the Northern League, said as he arrived at an event in Pian del Re in the north of the country.

He added: “We have introduced very tough laws against the Mafia.

“I already said to Berlusconi, ‘Look out because the Mafia is involved in that; the Mafia organises prostitution’. I am convinced that the Mafia organised this thing here.”

On Thursday, for the first time, Berlusconi admitted that Giampaolo Tarantini, a businessman, had brought “beautiful women” to his parties but denied that he had ever paid for sex, reports The Times.

In May, Berlusconi’s estranged wife, Veronica Lario, had announced that she wanted a divorce from the premier after accusing him of being “not well” and obsessed with young women.

She was apparently furious over his attendance at the 18th birthday party of an aspiring lingerie model, Noemi Letizia.

Later an escort, Patrizia D’Addario, claimed that she and another prostitute had sexual intercourse with the prime minister at his official residence in Rome following a private party. (ANI)

Chinese couple married for 3 months sign 6-month trial separation agreement!

New Delhi, Sep 11 (ANI): A Chinese couple, who has been married for less than three months, has signed an agreement for a six-month trial separation to figure out what they wanted from their lives.

The woman, surnamed Zhang, 26, a resident of Xi’an, capital of Shaanxi province, said that she met Shi online last November and they got married in April this year, reports the China Daily.

Just a month after marriage, however, the couple started quarrelling frequently over trivial things and decided on a trial separation.

But it has barely been two weeks since Zhang moved out of her husband’s house, and she misses him already.

Her husband Shi, too, said once the trial separation period is over he’d like to start afresh with his wife. (ANI)

Arnie believes sex is most important part of marriage

Washington, September 11 (ANI): Comedian Tom Arnold has revealed that California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger advised him before his wedding that sex is the most important thing in marriage.

The ‘Pride’ star met the actor turned politician just before marrying his fourth wife Ashley Groussman.

“He (Schwarzenegger) called me and he said he was concerned. He said, ‘It’s getting close to the marriage, how’s the sex?… Keep your eye on that,” Contactmusic quoted him as saying.

Tom added: “He doesn’t mean it in a sexy way, he means keep it (the marriage passionate), because you forget about the important things and sex is important in the marriage. He’s reminding me: Don’t forget about the sex!’”

The two became friends long before the ‘Terminator’ star joined politics. (ANI)