Entertainment News

Miley Cyrus: Alcohol 'More Dangerous' Than Weed
MEHDI TAAMALLAH/AFP/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- Miley Cyrus has never said publicly that she smoked pot, but in a new Rolling Stone interview she doesn’t exactly deny it either.“I did a song with Snoop Dogg called ‘Ashtrays and Heartbreaks,’ so people can put it together for themselves,” Cyrus told the magazine.“I think alcohol is way more dangerous than marijuana. People can be mad at me for saying that, but I don’t care,” the 20-year-old singer told Rolling Stone. “I’ve seen a lot of people spiral down with alcohol, but I’ve never seen that happen with weed.”In 2010, Cyrus famously denied smoking marijuana after a videotape surfaced of her with a bong. At the time, she claimed it contained salvia, a legal hallucinogen.Then, on her 19th birthday, she joked in another videotape that “You know you’re a stoner when your friends make you a Bob Marley cake.” Her rep later told Us Weekly it was all a joke: “The cake was a joke and Miley’s response was intended to be sarcastic.”In the Rolling Stone article, Cyrus defended marijuana users as being laid back.“As long as it isn’t illegal, there are far more dangerous things. And it’s legal in the state of California. So I’m happy to live in California, a place where you can be whoever you want to be.”Neither Cyrus nor her rep responded to ABC News’ request for comment.Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

"The Sopranos" Star James Gandolfini Dead at 51
Vera Anderson/WireImage(NEW YORK) -- James Gandolfini, best known for his role as mobster Tony Soprano in the 1999-2007 HBO series The Sopranos, has died.HBO has confirmed Gandolfini has died at the age of 51 of a possible heart attack.Variety reports Gandolfini was on vacation in Italy at the time of his death. TMZ notes he was expected to attend a film festival event this weekend in Sicily.Gandolfini won three Emmy Awards for his performance on The Sopranos. Last month, HBO ordered a seven-part drama series, Criminal Justice, with Gandolfini attached.Gandolfini had numerous movies to his credit as well, most recently Zero Dark Thirty and The Incredible Burt Wonderstone. He had been working on a drama titled Animal Rescue, which is scheduled for release next year.Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

James Franco Joins List of Celebs Using Crowdfunding
LEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- It worked for Zach Braff and Veronica Mars creator Rob Thomas. Now James Franco has turned to crowdfunding to bankroll a trilogy of movies.Franco launched his campaign on June 17 to raise $500,000 through Indiegogo, a crowdfunding alternative to Kickstarter. Unlike Braff and Thomas, Franco doesn't plan on directing the films. He's raising the money so that a group of young filmmakers from New York University, where he attended the film program, can adapt his 2011 short story collection, Palo Alto."Because of who I am, people often believe that it is easy to find investors and distributors for my films," Franco wrote on his campaign website. "Unfortunately, things aren't that easy. More times than not, I have put in my own money to produce my films and my student's films. However, this time it's different. We need more funding, I will still fund part of it but I need your help, filming three feature films back-to-back requires more funding than I can give."Levels of contribution range from $10 for copies of the screenplays to $10,000, which earns you dinner with Franco and an executive producer credit. As of Wednesday afternoon, the campaign had taken in just shy of $50,000.Crowdfunding started as a way for independent, mostly unknown artists to appeal directly to the public to fund their film, book, album and more, but now a growing number of established celebrities are turning to crowd-funding for their next projects.That's got some people crying foul. John Trigonis writes on the website Daily Crowdsource that stars are "saturating the pool with their somewhat unfair advantage -- celebrity."By far, the biggest success comes from the creator of Veronica Mars who raised a record $2 million in a single day for a big-screen version of the TV series. Then again, being a cast member of the critically acclaimed TV series Girls did not help Zosia Mamet reach her goal. The 25-year-old daughter of playwright David Mamet sought $32,000 in donations through Kickstarter to fund a music video for her band with 17-year-old sister Clara, but managed to only rake in $2,783 after 14 days. Perhaps Mamet was feeling the backlash that has been building against the celebrity Kickstarter bandwagon. "It's possible that people are getting tired of rich, young celebs asking for money on the Internet," Jordyn Taylor of the New York Observer wrote.Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Famed Country Singer Slim Whitman Dead at 90
Doug McKenzie/Getty Images(JACKSONVILLE, Fla.) -- Country singer Slim Whitman died Wednesday. He was 90.Best known for his 1952 hit, "Indian Love Call," Whitman joined the Grand Ole Opry cast in 1955.  He earned a string of top 10 hits between 1952 and 1971, including his final hits, "Guess Who" and "Something Beautiful (to Remember)."Whitman was also a star overseas with his single "Rose Marie," spending 11 weeks at #1 in England in 1954.  His song, "Closer to the Waterfall," was used in the 1977 film Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and "Indian Love Call" was featured in the 1996 movie Mars Attacks!Whitman was also widely known for selling his albums via telemarketing in the 1980s. That effort reportedly led to millions of album sales.Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Nick Stahl Hospitalized for Psychiatric Treatment
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images(LOS ANGELES) -- Terminator 3 actor Nick Stahl has reportedly been hospitalized for involuntary psychiatric treatment at a medical facility in Los Angeles.TMZ reports the actor, who has been in rehab previously and has also been reported missing multiple times, was held for treatment Monday night. According to sources, the 33-year-old troubled actor was transported to a medical facility around 3:30 a.m. by a friend.Last year, Stahl was arrested in Los Angeles for alleged lewd conduct in a porn shop. Recently, the actor said he was focused on recovery.Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Report: New "Jurassic Park" on Track for 2015 Release
Murray Close/Getty Images(LOS ANGELES) -- Jurassic Park 4 is back on track. Last month, production on the film was postponed, leaving its release date up in the air after it was originally scheduled to premiere in June 2014. Variety is now reporting that Jurassic Park 4 will now open sometime in 2015.Executive producer Steven Spielberg, who directed the first two films in the dinosaur series, is said to be working on the script with director Colin Trevorrow and producers.Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

NBC Moves Forward on Valerie Harper Documentary
Adam Rose/NBC(NEW YORK) -- NBC announced Tuesday it is moving forward with an hour-long documentary that will capture actress Valerie Harper's battle with cancer. The 73-year-old Mary Tyler Moore Show star announced in March that she had been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. NBC has yet to schedule an air date for the documentary, which will be hosted by Meredith Vieira.Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Selma Blair Gone from "Anger Management"
Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images(LOS ANGELES) -- It seems Charlie Sheen's reported feud with Selma Blair on the set of Anger Management has cost her her job.Lionsgate, which produces the FX sitcom, announced on Tuesday, “We are confirming that Selma Blair will not be returning to Anger Management and we wish her the very best.”  The announcement came after TMZ.com reported that Sheen had told producers he would quit unless they began the process of firing Blair as soon as possible.  TMZ reported earlier this week that Sheen was upset that she allegedly complained about his work habits to the show's executives.To say that Sheen would have left a lot of money on the table had he quit the show would be a huge understatement.  TMZ notes that he stands to earn between $75 million and $200 million if he completes the network's 100-episode order for Anger Management.  He reportedly has taped approximately half that amount to date.TMZ further reports that when Blair was approached by a photographer Tuesday morning regarding her job status, she answered, "I don't know anything."  Well, now she does.Deadline.com reports Sheen informed Blair of her firing by text message, and even called her the "C" word.Blair played Kate, the therapist of Sheen's character, on Anger Management.  According to Deadline, the role will not be recast.As you'll recall, Sheen was fired from the CBS sitcom Two and a Half Men in 2011 after repeated rants against the show's creator, Chuck Lorre. Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

"The Voice" Gets Ratings Boost for Final Performance Show
Hemera/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) -- Ratings for The Voice are on the rise for its finale week.The final performance show of the season for the NBC competition pulled in an estimated 12.3 million viewers on Monday night, according to Variety.  That's an improvement of about 500,000 viewers from last week's performance show, but a smaller total than what The Voice enjoyed during the first half of the season.The Voice crowned its fourth-season winner on Tuesday night.The top-rated primetime programs for the week that ended Sunday were the third, fourth, and fifth games of the NBA Finals, televised by ABC.  The fifth game between the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs, played on Sunday night, drew an audience of 16.27 million viewers.  The sixth game was held Tuesday night.ABC won the network ratings race for the week, followed by NBC, CBS, Univision, Fox, Telemundo, ION Television and the CW.Here are the top 10 primetime programs for the week of June 10-16, according to the Nielsen Company:1. NBA Finals: San Antonio vs. Miami (Sunday), ABC, 16.27 million2. NBA Finals: San Antonio vs. Miami (Thursday), ABC, 16.23 million3. NBA Finals: San Antonio vs. Miami (Tuesday), ABC, 14.05 million4. The Voice (Monday), NBC, 11.85 million5. America's Got Talent (Tuesday), NBC, 11.52 million6. The Voice (Tuesday), NBC, 10.66 million7. NCIS, CBS, 8.67 million8. The Big Bang Theory, CBS, 8.62 million9. NCIS: Los Angeles, CBS, 7.43 million10. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CBS, 7.14 million Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

"Jimmy Kimmel Live!" Video Pays Tribute to Channing Tatum's Sexiness
Stuart Wilson/Getty Images(LOS ANGELES) -- During Jimmy Kimmel Live!'s "Game Night" primetime special on Tuesday, Kimmel unveiled the video for "(I Wanna) Channing All Over Your Tatums," the sexually charged but nonsensical tribute to the sexiness of Channing Tatum.The video features Jamie Foxx (using the musical moniker 4 Chainz) and Tatum himself singing and rapping while a bevy of stars -- including a midriff-bearing Miley Cyrus, Olivia Munn, Gabourey Sidibe, Matt Damon and Kimmel himself -- extoll the virtues of Tatum in song.Cyrus' scene has her being rescued by Kimmel from a toppled vending machine from which they both steal packs of Skittles with "Channing" written on them.Foxx and Tatum co-star in the upcoming big screen drama White House Down.  It opens nationwide on June 28. Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Universal, Red Granite Pick Up "Dumb and Dumber" Sequel
Comstock/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) -- The Dumb and Dumber sequel has found a new home. Warner Bros., the parent company of the original film's studio New Line, cut ties with the project recently, but it's been picked up by Universal Pictures and Red Granite Pictures. The announcement was made Tuesday by Dumb and Dumber directors, the Farrelly brothers. Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels will reprise their roles of Lloyd and Harry in Dumb and Dumber To. Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

"Anchorman 2" Trailer Released
Frank Micelotta/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- Paramount has released its first trailer to Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues. Unlike the previous two teasers, the snippet gives a bigger peek of the movie's plot, when Will Ferrell's Ron Burgundy and the rest of his Channel 4 news team head into the 1980s and the 24/7 world of cable news. Anchorman 2, which also stars Paul Rudd, Steve Carell, and David Koechner -- as well as series newcomers Kristen Wiig and James Marsden -- opens Dec. 20. Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Johnny Depp Admits He Thinks of Retiring 'Every Day'
ABC/RICHARD CARTWRIGHT(LOS ANGELES) -- Johnny Depp has been hot in Hollywood for years, nabbing blockbuster films like Pirates of the Carribean, Alice in Wonderland and now Lone Ranger, out July 3.  Still, the 50-year-old actor recently admitted that he thinks of retiring a lot.In the latest issue of Rolling Stone, Depp said although he thinks of calling it quits "every day," he's not slowing down just yet."I think while I've got the opportunity and the desire and the creative spark to do the things that I can do right now, I should do them," he continued.  "And then, at a certain point, just take it down to the bare minimum and concentrate on, I guess, living life; really living life and going somewhere where you don't have to be on the run, or sneak in through the kitchen or the underground labyrinth of the hotel."In the revealing article, Depp also finally shared his thoughts on his split with Vanessa Paradis after 14 years.  The pair, who never married but had two children, Lily-Rose, 14, and Jack, 11, split in June 2012."The last couple years have been a bit bumpy," Depp said.  "At times, certainly unpleasant, but that's the nature of breakups, I guess, especially when there are kiddies involved.""It wasn't easy on her.  It wasn't easy on me.  It wasn't easy on the kids.  So, yeah.  The trajectory of that relationship -- you play it out until it goes, one thing leads to another.  So for whatever reason that ­ceases, it doesn't stop the fact that you care for that person, and they're the mother of your kids, and you'll always know each other, and you're always gonna be in each other's lives because of those kids.  You might as well make the best of it," he concluded.The July issue of Rolling Stone hits shelves on July 4. Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Kim Kardashian: Motherhood Is 'So Crazy!'
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images(LOS ANGELES) -- Kim Kardashian has been silent since she gave birth to her baby daughter last weekend.  Ryan Seacrest, an executive producer of her E! reality series, did, however, provide a small update on the new mom on his Los Angeles-based radio show on Tuesday.Seacrest shared that he sent Kardashian an email after the baby's birth that read, "Yay! Congrats my darling, you're a mommy!"  He says she replied, "Cant believe it! It's so crazy!"That's the closest thing to a public statement that Kardashian has made since she and her boyfriend, Kanye West, became parents.  There's still no official word on the baby's name, though it is believed that Kardashian and West will choose one that begins with the letter "K."E! News' Ken Baker joined Seacrest on the show, saying the delivery was "not planned." He added, “[The baby] is healthy and Kim is doing well. ...There’s a great sense of relief.  Everyone is very happy for her and Kim is relieved [because] this was a very stressful time.” Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Brad Pitt Responds to Melissa Etheridge's Comments on Angelina
Paul Warner/Getty Images(LOS ANGELES) -- Breast cancer survivor Melissa Etheridge raised some eyebrows with her recent interview in the Washington Blade, in which she stated that Angelina Jolie had made the "most fearful" choice, and not the "brave" choice, by having a double mastectomy.  Now, Angelina's partner Brad Pitt has responded to Etheridge's comments.  Sort of. When asked by Us Weekly magazine what he thought about Melissa's comments, Pitt said, "I don't know. Somebody just said that."  He added, "Melissa's an old friend of mine. I'm sure we'll talk on the phone. I don't know what it is." When Pitt says he and Etheridge are old friends, he's not kidding: he invited Melissa to perform at his wedding to Jennifer Aniston, and for a while, he was even rumored to be the biological father of Etheridge's two oldest children with her ex-partner, Julie Cypher. In the meantime, Etheridge has issued a statement clarifying her remarks.  "I don't have any opinion of what she 'should have' done. All are free to choose," she said. "I only objected to the term 'brave' describing it." Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Justin Bieber Cleared in Possible Hit-and-Run
Kevin Mazur/WireImage via ABC(LOS ANGELES) -- Justin Bieber has been cleared in a possible hit-and-run accident involving a paparazzo Monday night.Bieber is no longer under investigation for the late-night possible hit-and-run in Hollywood, ABC News Los Angeles affiliate KABC-TV confirmed with the Los Angeles Police Department.The incident happened near the Laugh Factory around 11:45 p.m. Monday, police told KABC.One person was transported from that location to a local hospital, the Los Angeles City Fire Department told KABC. The person’s condition and injuries were unknown.Bieber, 19, was leaving the Laugh Factory with his friend Lil Twist while several paparazzi photographed the pair, according to TMZ.As Bieber drove off, one of the photographers was pinned between his Ferrari and a parked car, the website said.This latest incident comes as Bieber is under fire for speeding through his gated California neighborhood. NFL star Keyshawn Johnson confronted him about that incident, but the Canadian singer has maintained that he was not behind the wheel.The L.A. County Sheriff’s Department has referred the case to the district attorney’s office and Bieber faces possible misdemeanor reckless driving charges.Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

"The X-Files" Returns in Comic Book Form
Paul Morigi/WireImage(NEW YORK) -- Fans of The X-Files will be thrilled to hear the series is back -- this time, in comic book form.  The New York Post reports IDW Publishing is introducing a new X-Files comic series this week entitled The X-Files: Season 10.  The newspaper says the venture has input from series creator Chris Carter and features former FBI agents Mulder and Scully living in anonymity under assumed identities.  The X-Files starred David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson, and aired on Fox from 1993 to 2002.  The TV series spawned two feature films. Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

More "Spider-Man" Films in the Works
Columbia Pictures(LOS ANGELES) -- Spider-Man will be sticking around in Hollywood for a long while. According to Deadline.com, Sony Pictures has announced that in addition to The Amazing Spider-Man 2, which will be released next May, it will develop a third and fourth film in the superhero series. The third Spider-Man movie will debut on June 10, 2016, and the fourth Spidey flick will hit theaters on May 4, 2018. Andrew Garfield is reprising his role of the Marvel superhero in The Amazing Spider-Man 2. Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

"Monsters University" Premiere Held in Hollywood
David Livingston/Getty Images(LOS ANGELES) -- The world premiere of the Disney-Pixar film Monsters University was held Monday night in Hollywood.The prequel tells the story of how Mike and Sulley met as college roommates.  Billy Crystal, who voices Mike, was thrilled to reunite with his Monsters, Inc. co-star John Goodman, a.k.a. Sulley, for the project.Crystal remarked at the premiere, "We worked together and we improvise and we laughed and we get teary-eyed together.  You know, there's real emotional moments in this movie that are quite beautiful.  And to really act with him is very special."Noah Johnston voices a younger version of Mike in Monsters University.  It was a role that was more challenging than he anticipated. "I thought you would do the voices as you see the movie, but when I did it, I didn't actually get to see Mike.  Yeah, it was pretty hard to actually get the voice without actually seeing the person," he said.Monsters University opens Friday. Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

CBS Announces Fall Premiere Dates
Hemera/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) -- The Emmy Awards will help CBS kick off its fall schedule this September.Nearly all of CBS' most popular series will return in the days following its Sept. 22 telecast of the 65th Primetime Emmy Awards.  The major exception is Survivor, which will begin its 27th season on Sept. 18.Sept. 23 marks the start of the final season of How I Met Your Mother, plus the premiere of two new series: the Anna Faris comedy Mom, and the Toni Collette drama Hostages.TV's top-rated scripted series, NCIS, returns on Sept. 24.The Robin Williams-Sarah Michelle Gellar comedy The Crazy Ones, as well as the Will Arnett comedy The Millers, will debut on Sept. 26.  That's the same day the hit sitcom The Big Bang Theory opens its seventh season.Another comedy, We Are Men, will premiere four days later.The Josh Holloway-Marg Helgenberger super-agent thriller Intelligence won't make its way onto CBS' schedule until February.Here are CBS' premiere dates:Wednesday, Sept. 18SurvivorSunday, Sept. 22The 65th Primetime Emmy AwardsMonday, Sept. 23How I Met Your Mother2 Broke GirlsMomHostagesTuesday, Sept. 24NCISNCIS: Los AngelesPerson Of InterestWednesday, Sept. 25Criminal MindsCSI: Crime Scene InvestigationThursday, Sept. 26The Big Bang TheoryThe MillersThe Crazy OnesTwo And A Half MenElementaryFriday, Sept. 27Undercover BossHawaii Five-0Blue BloodsSunday, Sept. 2960 MinutesThe Amazing RaceThe Good WifeThe MentalistMonday, Sept. 30We Are MenMonday, Feb. 24Intelligence Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West Haven't Named Their Child Yet
Eric Ryan/Getty Images(LOS ANGELES) -- Which name will Kim Kardashian and Kanye West choose for their newborn daughter?  Not even the couple knows for sure.A source tells People magazine, "Kim is being very protective of the baby and she says there is no official name," though the couple is said to be close to a decision.  The hot rumor is that the baby's name will begin with the letter "K," as is the tradition in the Kardashian family.Kardashian and West welcomed their first child on Saturday.  People magazine notes that a Cesarean section was not required, even though the baby was born a month earlier than scheduled.The betting website paddypower.com is offering odds and taking bets on the names fans think are most likely to be selected for the baby.  The website currently has "Kim" as the top pick at 7-1, with "Donda," the name of West’s late mother, in second with 8-1 odds.  "Kelsey" and "Kara" are tied for third with 9-1 odds. Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Report: Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne Living Together Again
Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic(LOS ANGELES) -- In April, Sharon Osbourne addressed rumors that she was splitting from her husband, Ozzy Osbourne.  She told viewers of her daytime program, The Talk, that she and Ozzy were not divorcing, though she said she was "devastated" following Ozzy's admission that he'd relapsed by consuming alcohol and using drugs.Sharon may be feeling more confident in her marriage these days.  On Sunday, the Osbournes attended the Daytime Emmys together.  Furthermore, TMZ.com reports, Ozzy and Sharon are currently living together after she reportedly left him and moved into a Beverly Hills, Calif., hotel.  However, TMZ notes, Sharon has hired a "sober team" to keep an eye on Ozzy and make sure he stays on the wagon. Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Kanye West & Kim Kardashian Welcome Baby Girl
  Mike Marsland/WireImage(LOS ANGELES) -- Baby "Kimye" is here.  E! Online reports that Kim Kardashian gave birth to a baby girl on Saturday morning at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles.  The daddy, of course, is Kim's boyfriend, Kanye West.  It's the first child for both stars.  A source confirms the arrival to ABC News, adding that West was by Kardashian's side during the birth. The baby, whose name has not yet been revealed, has two cousins on the Kardashian side: Kim's sister Kourtney has two kids with her boyfriend Scott Disick. On a recent episode of Keeping Up with the Kardashians, Kim said, "I'm so excited we're having a girl. Who doesn't want a girl? I think they are the best. I know that's really what Kanye has always wanted – he wanted a little girl." The world first learned of the pregnancy right before New Year's Eve, when West announced the news during a concert in Atlantic City, New Jersey.  Kim later confirmed the news on her website, writing, "It's true!! Kanye and I are expecting a baby. We feel so blessed and lucky." Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio