DEAR MS. SMITH: In February, you answered a question regarding obtaining "The Six Million Dollar Man" TV series on DVD and stated such DVDs were available at certain websites and specifically mentioned TVAddicts.tv. I followed your advice and purchased 29 DVDs (the complete five-season run) for a cost of $138.98. Although my credit card was billed for that amount, I received only six DVDs, the first season. Repeated phone calls and messages to this company have not been returned ... I now must go through the hassle of trying to recover my money through my credit card company ... I think you have done a disservice to your readers by recommending a company that is not legitimate. At a minimum, I think you owe it to your readers to print a retraction and an apology. -- Brian K., Austin, Texas

DEAR BRIAN: As you know from our phone conversation and subsequent e-mails, I've been attempting to follow up on this on your behalf, and you certainly have that apology. Although I did have a recommendation on this site, it obviously was not good enough. Numerous calls and mailings have failed to yield results or gone unanswered.

Steve Cox, vice president of communications for the Council of Better Business Bureaus in Arlington, Va., notes that if you contact BBB.org, they can put the company on report to prevent other consumers from using it. They also offer dispute resolution services, and "We have the ability to facilitate the process of giving information to the state's attorney general's office or federal attorney general's office for law enforcement action."

It's good that you used your credit card, as Cox notes, "We encourage everybody to pay by the safest means possible, and quite frankly that is by use of a credit card, because that comes with federal protections." His other tips on pre-purchase actions: 1. "Know who you're dealing with. If it's not a recognizable name, contact BBB.org, and we can run a search on the company, see if there've been complaints against it, and provide a reliability report." 2. "Get all the details. Look for a physical address of the seller, the cancellation and return policies. Basically, read the fine print." 3. "Keep all your documentation, confirmation pages, tracking numbers, all that stuff." 4. "Look for signs an online purchase is secure. Most sites begin with the URL http. For a secure address, the URL should begin with Shttp or Https."

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DEAR STACY: I miss the forceful acting of Richard Widmark. I presume he is retired? -- Ruth U., New York, N.Y.

DEAR RUTH: Now 92 years old and living in Roxbury, Conn. -- where he's resided since the 1950s -- the unforgettable movie tough guy retired about 16 years ago. His wife of 55 years, screenwriter Jean Hazlewood, suffered from Alzheimer's disease, and finally passed away in 1997. (They had one daughter.) He wed Susan Blanchard -- the stepdaughter of Oscar Hammerstein and former wife of Widmark's friend Henry Fonda -- in 1999. Widmark famously avoids press interviews, having once declared, "I think a performer should do his work and then shut up."

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DEAR STACY: Can you tell me whether "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" is coming back on? That is one strange show. -- Patty C., Cleveland

DEAR PATTY: FX did pick up the critically acclaimed Rob McElhenney sitcom about four dissolute lowlife friends, which features Danny DeVito, for a third season. It is expected to debut this coming summer.

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DEAR STACY: What can you tell me about Amanda Bynes since "What I Like About You" ended? Her age, dating status, plans for more movies, etc.? -- J.N., Brooklyn, N.Y.

DEAR J.N.: Bynes, who turns 21 on April 3, plays Penny Pingleton in the big-screen version of the musical "Hairspray," with John Travolta as Edna Turnblad, opening July 20. In mid-February, she started making "Sydney White," a modern-day send-up on the Snow White fairy tale set on a college campus. Her "Lovewrecked" comedy was just released on DVD. Bynes isn't in school now but has stated her intention to go to college, with NYU her preference. She is single and doesn't flaunt her private life, but was caught by paparazzi in an on-street embrace with her hunky "She's the Man" leading man, Channing Tatum, a year ago, sparking a firestorm of rumors about a romance. That was pretty much the end of that. She was previously involved with Nick Zano.

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DEAR STACY: What happened to Dennis Farina? He was the perfect replacement for the late Jerry Orbach on "Law & Order." -- Herb D., Narrowsburg, N.Y.

DEAR HERB: Farina's been busy working in films since parting company with "L&O" last year. He has the independent feature "You Kill Me," about a hit man who falls for the widow of one of his victims, due for limited release in June. That one also includes Luke Wilson, Ben Kingsley, Tea Leoni, Bill Pullman and Philip Baker Hall. He's among the cast of the forthcoming improvisational comedy "The Grand," which takes place at a poker tournament, with Woody Harrelson, Cheryl Hines and Estelle Harris, among others. He appears in "National Lampoon's Bag Boy," which is targeted for release later this year. He is also one of the stars of Edward Burns' "Purple Violets," along with Burns, Debra Messing, Patrick Wilson and Selma Blair.

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DEAR STACY: I recently started watching "The District" and was wondering what Craig T. Nelson was doing these days? I haven't seen him in a while. -- Randi T., Commack, N.Y.

DEAR RANDI: Nelson's featured as the coach in the big-screen "Blades of Glory" comedy that hits theaters Friday (3/30), with Will Ferrell and Jon Heder as unlikely pairs figure skating partners.

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DEAR STACY: Please settle a trivial question among friends. Which star made the biggest money for making a commercial? -- Lauren S., Canton, Ohio

DEAR LAUREN: Nicole Kidman made $3.71 million for a four-minute commercial for Chanel No. 5, which gave her the highest salary per minute designation in the Guinness Book of World Records: $928,800-per-minute.

ALL MY CHILDREN: Adam is devastated by Krystal's duplicity and is crushed that he isn't Charlotte's father. Adam disowns J.R., claiming he stopped being a Chandler the moment he chose Babe and Krystal over his own father. Tad can't believe that J.R. denied his mother her dying wish in order to serve his own agenda. Tad and Adam find themselves in a standoff when Tad insists on staying at the mansion for as long as Krystal is there so that he can look out for the welfare of his unborn child. J.R. discovers that Babe and Little Adam are missing as the power goes off in the mansion. Kendall accuses Bianca of falling for Zoe and warns her sister against it. Although she admits she's in love with Ryan, Annie turns down his proposal, as she believes he isn't truly in love with her. Zach has his work cut out for him as he tries to assure Erica that he will always protect Kendall and their children.

SNEAK PEEK: Tad sets up Adam.

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AS THE WORLD TURNS: Paul tries to explain to Meg why he took Ethan. Paul phones Lily and reveals that the baby is with them. When Ethan becomes ill, Meg and Paul rush him to the hospital. Paul fears all of the baby food is tainted. Meg asks a nurse to test the food. Lily is adamant the baby food did not make Ethan sick. Another baby is admitted, and Lily hears the mother say the only thing her baby has eaten is Valley's Best Baby Food. Ethan's tests come back positive for E. coli. Lily is panicked, but a calm Craig offers to take care of things. Craig calls Lily, telling her he's handled the lawsuit crisis by finding money to make a settlement. A grateful Lily accepts his help. Craig produces papers for Lily to sign. Lily signs the papers without reading a word. Gwen learns that Iris has been making it seem as if Adam is alive. Maddie tells Casey that she killed his brother. While watching a porn movie with a client, Emily is stunned when Alison is the featured player.

SNEAK PEEK: Iris confronts Gwen.

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BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL: Jackie and Donna decide they must break up Brooke and Ridge before their wedding. Donna and Jackie think they can use Rick and Phoebe's romance to destroy Brooke and Ridge's wedding plans. Ridge and Taylor catch Phoebe sitting in Rick's lap, giving him a haircut. Ridge fires Phoebe because he believes her actions are getting reckless. Taylor gives an embarrassed Phoebe the sex talk and then convinces Ridge to let Phoebe stay at Forrester Originals. Ridge warns Phoebe and Rick to stay away from each other in Australia, as he does not want any bad press for the new fashion line. Ashley is surprised when Rick informs her that he and Phoebe have not been intimate. Ashley tells Stephanie she will accept the job offer and develop the new fragrance line. Stephanie visits Taylor at her office. She tells her she wants her to be part of the family again, but Taylor makes it clear that she loves Nick. Nick informs Taylor he loves her.

SNEAK PEEK: Wedding bell blues.

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DAYS OF OUR LIVES: Billie and Steve crash their car. Kayla and Marlena use the map Billie left behind to follow her and Steve. Kayla vows that once Steve is safely back in the hospital, she's going after E.J. herself. Marlena calls Roman and tells him where they are and what they're doing. Steve carries an unconscious Billie to a cabin. She suggests he go back and get help. When he opens the door to leave, Kayla and Marlena are there. Steve pretends to be "the old Steve" again, trying to convince Kayla to let him go. Kayla starts to fall for it -- but she tests him by kissing him and realizes he's lying to her. Marlena tranquilizes Steve, as the police arrive to take him back to Salem.

SNEAK PEEK: Celeste pressures Sami to kill E.J.

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GENERAL HOSPITAL: Ric searches for someone to infiltrate Sonny's organization. Mr. Craig lets Nikolas suffer before administering the antidote to the poison. Nikolas makes the noble sacrifice of pushing Emily away for her own safety, claiming he needs his space. Nikolas returns to Wyndemere to discover Robin treating Mr. Craig's gunshot wound. Lulu wonders how Jason can agree not to be a part of his child's life. Jason confesses that he thinks about the baby all the time but feels he's made the decision that works out best for everyone. Spinelli jumps into action as Lulu is about to spill the paternity secret at Lucky and Elizabeth's wedding. Tracy and Luke know that Alan had intended to leave everything to any child Jason might have. Scott breaks down as he confesses to an unresponsive Laura how he killed Rick Webber. He apologizes and vows that he'll always love her. Alcazar continues to con Skye as he plots Sonny's demise. Jax realizes Coop was one of the mercenaries and informs Sonny. Sonny has plans for Coop.

SNEAK PEEK: Sam becomes a national hero.

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GUIDING LIGHT: Cyrus insists to Matt and Vanessa that he's changed his ways and he doesn't hold anything against Vanessa for sending him to prison. Cyrus steals Dinah's bracelet. Gus calls Harley and tells her that Alan did wake up -- but Rick administered a sedative to put him back in a comatose state. As Gus tries cheer up Daisy, he goes to give her a kiss on the cheek -- but accidentally kisses her on the lips. He's deeply apologetic, but Daisy is thrilled. Doris reveals new evidence in Alan's shooting: It wasn't in self-defense -- the bullet came from seven feet away. The lowest sentence Doris will allow is 10 years. Josh changes his mind and refuses to agree to the deal. Reva is about to find the hollowed book containing the gun when Alan-Michael catches her and goes to call the cops. While Reva is being questioned by the police, Alan-Michael warns Lizzie she better keep quiet about the secret book.

SNEAK PEEK: Alan-Michael plots.

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ONE LIFE TO LIVE: Evangeline jumps to the wrong conclusion when she sees Layla with Cristian and assumes they slept together. Layla is hurt that her sister would think the worst about her. Evangeline and Cristian admit they still care about one another. Blair misinterprets Todd and Cristian's heated argument, and blurts out the truth that she and Cristian slept together. Todd lunges at Cole, believing he and Starr had sex. Michael, Marcie, Roxy and Dorian are caught in the middle of an armed robbery at the hair salon. John and Natalie race out after getting news of the robbery. In the aftermath of the robbery, Natalie assumes that John intended to ask her to marry him. John is put in an awkward position when Natalie accepts the proposal he has yet to make. Nora is anxious for Bo to apprehend the arsonist -- all the evidence points to Vincent. Miles lets Marty know he would like to be more than just friends. Dorian seethes when Viki boldly crashes her and Clint's dinner date at the Palace.

SNEAK PEEK: Natalie is heartbroken.

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PASSION: Noah and Paloma are disheartened when Jessica returns to Spike. At the Crane cabin, Luis pulls away from his kiss with Sheridan. Luis and Sheridan are taken by surprise when Fancy shows up at the cabin and aims a gun at them. Having called Sam, Fancy feels guilty when the police chief arrives and takes Luis into custody. Fancy explains she saw very compromising footage of Sheridan and him on the video surveillance. Luis swears he was just helping Sheridan get over her grief about Marty. Fancy catches Sheridan eavesdropping and informs her aunt that she can have Luis -- she's done. Theresa panics when Jared lies that Dr. Russell said he was well enough to get married. Theresa figures out Jared isn't telling the truth and insists they wait until he's in better health. Kay wonders how to tell her dying husband that she is leaving him. Unable to escape thoughts of Vincent, Chad roughly makes love to Whitney, who's thrilled -- yet somewhat confused -- by his intensity. Ethan and Theresa bask in the afterglow of their lovemaking.

SNEAK PEEK: Fancy fights Sheridan.

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YOUNG AND RESTLESS: Nikki reveals to Victoria that she's going to run against Neil for the seat on the Newman board of directors in order to stop Jack's Clear Springs project. Sharon tries to convince Phyllis not to reveal her past affair with Brad. Phyllis replies that she wants Brad to vote her way on the Clear Springs project and that blackmailing them gives her the leverage she needs. With his tiebreaking vote, Victor names Neil to the board. Gloria enters and tells Jill that she thinks that she should be the "nice" judge and Jill should be the "mean" judge on "Celebrity Catwalk." Amber rushes over to Daniel's apartment with the news that Cane has bought an airplane ticket to go back to Australia tonight. Amber explains that now that Cane has found out Jill is not his mother, he really has no reason to stay in Genoa City. Amber admits that she thought that Cane was a Chancellor and she married him for his money. Kay believes regardless of what the DNA test says, Cane is Jill's son. Jack asks Sharon to marry him.

SNEAK PEEK: Jill comes clean.

"The Last Mimzy" (PG, 1 hr., 30 min.)

Kids 10 and older into physics, astronomy, math, and/or the idea of time travel are ideal customers for "The Last Mimzy," even though the film is a bit of a mess. Despite charming child actors and a cool central idea, the movie trips over a convoluted narrative, extraneous details and adult characters exuding 9/11 paranoia. It is also scary and emotionally harrowing at times, and too intense for many kids under 10. We see a little girl nearly sucked into a space/time vortex. We see her become nearly hysterical when her mother throws out the magical new "toys" she and her brother have found. The movie shows the kids levitating themselves, moving objects just by thinking and communicating telepathically with each other and a seemingly inert stuffed rabbit. There is also talk of the world ending. Kid characters say things "suck" and that hamburgers are made of "chopped-up cow." We also see a two-headed snake, spiders and cockroaches. On a less icky level, "The Last Mimzy" has FBI agents invading a home and carting a family off for questioning under the Patriot Act, which could disturb kids (let alone adults).

"The Last Mimzy" is based on a 1943 short story, its title taken from Lewis Carroll's poem "Jabberwocky" in "Through the Looking-Glass." In the film, 10-year-old Noah (Chris O'Neil) and his little sister Emma (Rhiannon Leigh Wryn) find a carved box on the beach containing crystals, stones and other objects that float, spin, make whirring noises and seem ready to do much more. There's also a stuffed rabbit. Soon Noah builds genius science projects and Emma claims she's talking to the rabbit, Mimzy, about saving the world. Their parents (Joely Richardson and Timothy Hutton) take notice and so does Homeland Security.

P.S. FOR KIDS 10 AND ODLER: The little girl Emma in "The Last Mimzy" talks a lot about the books "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" and "Through the Looking-Glass" by Lewis Carroll -- two great books.

"TMNT" (PG, 1 hr., 29 min.)

After a 14-year hiatus from feature films, the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" are back from the world of TV 'toons. That the three PG-rated animated features of yore ("Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" in 1990, followed by sequels in 1991 and 1993) are now joined by "TMNT" is less than a joyous event. The new computer-animated film is dimly lit, hard-edged, mechanical-looking and too violent on the big screen for some kids under 10. Its plot is also very confusing -- at least for adults. It includes semi-harsh language ("the snot kicked out of him"), tired ethnic stereotypes (of people in Central America, playing right into the current immigration debate) and a weird joke most kids won't get, which seems to refer to phone sex lines. The monsters and stone warriors key to the plot loom huge over the TMNTs, eyes glowing. Some look like giant bats, spiders, lobsters, or a cross between a gorilla and a wild boar. There are plot points about ancient monsters or warriors taking over the world. The fights are not portrayed as bloody, but they are big and loud.

The film finds the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, or TMNTs (long ago morphed into powerful turtle-men by a polluted "ooze" and named for Italian Renaissance artists Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo and Raphael), a little estranged. Leo has been sent away by Master Splinter to hone his leadership skills. He returns when the Turtles' archeologist pal April (voice of Sarah Michelle Gellar) brings an ancient artifact from Central America for secretive museum director Max Winters (Patrick Stewart). It seems to reanimate 3,000-year-old stone warriors and other monsters -- or something. But first the Turtles must reconcile and prove they can again act as one to fight evil.

"Pride" (PG, 1 hr., 44 min.)

Terrence Howard stars in this fact-based saga as swim coach Jim Ellis, who has taught inner-city Philadelphia kids to swim competitively since the early 1970s. Disjointed, heavy-handed and often too teary-eyed, "Pride" works anyway, because it is a modest film that focuses more on character than on slow-motion sports-movie glitz shots (though there's some of that, too). Kids 10 and older who like character-driven tales could find "Pride" pretty inspiring. It dramatizes Ellis' early years, not only as a coach but a mentor, trying to get teen athletes to take the sport seriously, avoid street life and learn discipline. They encounter blatant racism when facing other teams, much of it embodied in a bigoted coach played by Tom Arnold. (This is prefigured in a prologue showing Ellis booed by a white Southern crowd at a 1964 college swim meet, where he scuffles with a cop.) That theme, plus occasional racial slurs in the dialogue and a high level of profanity for a PG film -- numerous S-words -- make "Pride" iffy for kids under 10. The film has a rude joke about a broken condom and shows a fistfight, a local thug making threats, and women who seem to be prostitutes.

Struggling after college, Ellis finally gets hired by the city of Philadelphia to close down an old rec center in a rough neighborhood. Instead, he fills up the pool and starts training teens. The young actors are strong, as are Bernie Mac as the center's burned-out maintenance man and Kimberly Elise as a city councilwoman whose brother swims for Ellis.

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Beyond the Ratings Game: Movie Reviews for various ages

-- 8 AND OLDER:

"TMNT" PG (NEW) (First "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle" computer-animated feature since 1993 (there were three, in 1990, '91 and '93, all PGs) is dimly lit, hard-edged, too violent for some under 10, and narratively muddled; this time the four Ninja Turtle fighters (mutated long ago by a polluted "ooze" and named for Italian Renaissance artists Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael and Donatello) have become estranged; Master Splinter says they must become one again before fighting a new threat: reanimated stone warriors from ancient Central America, related to an artifact the TMNT's archeologist pal April (voice of Sarah Michelle Gellar) has delivered to a museum director (Patrick Stewart). Semi-harsh language (" snot kicked out of him"); tired ethnic stereotypes; off-color joke most kids won't get refers subtly to phone-sex industry; red-eyed monsters loom huge, along with the ancient warriors; battles between them and TMNTs not shown as bloody, but big and loud.)

"Bridge to Terabithia" PG (Touching story (based on Katherine Paterson's novel) about a deep friendship between fifth-graders Jess (Josh Hutcherson), a budding artist from a rural family that ignores him, and Leslie (AnnaSophia Robb), a free-spirited daughter of wealthy writers; the two create a fantasy world, Terabithia, in the woods, facing down bullies there and in real life; film's gritty naturalism is marred by a charmless, computer-animated effort to visualize Terabithia. Under-8s may be spooked by swooping vultures, giant trolls, armored attack squirrels, and a huge tree that morphs into a troll (pretty cool, actually); adults use mild profanity; kid-scuffles with bloodied noses; verbal references to a girl whose dad hits her; kids discuss religion; WARNING -- PLOT GIVEAWAY: Film's last act deals with strong sense of grief and loss.)

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-- 10 AND OLDER:

"The Last Mimzy" PG (NEW) (Kids into science, idea of time-travel will like film's cool premise, despite its messy, disappointing execution: a 10-year-old boy (Chris O'Neil) and his little sister (Rhiannon Leigh Wryn) find a box on the beach, full of spinning, humming rocks and crystals, plus a stuffed bunny that "talks" to the little girl about saving a doomed world; soon their parents (Timothy Hutton, Joely Richardson) and Homeland Security are concerned. Too intense for some under 10: adult characters voice 9/11 paranoia; little girl hysterical when her mother throws out the magical "toys"; later she's nearly sucked into a space/time vortex; kids levitate themselves, move objects or talk telepathically; kids say things "suck" and hamburgers are "chopped-up cow"; two-headed snake; bugs; federal agents drag a family off for questioning; teacher lives with his girlfriend; talk of reincarnation.)

"Pride" PG (NEW) (Terrence Howard is charismatic as usual in affecting, uplifting, though overly teary-eyed drama about real-life swim coach Jim Ellis and how he began coaching inner-city Philadelphia teens to swim competitively in the early 1970s, helping to turn their ives around despite poverty, racism; Bernie Mac as the burned-out rec center maintenance man inspired by Ellis' dedication; Tom Arnold as a bigoted rival coach. Realistic theme about evils of racism; occasional racial slurs; high level of profanity for a PG film -- much use of the S-word; crude verbal joke about a broken condom; fistfight; rude hand gesture; local thug makes threats; women who appear to be prostitutes.)

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-- PG-13s:

"The Namesake" (NEW; LIMITED RELEASE) (Warm, witty, occasionally heartbreaking, utterly involving story (based on Jhumpa Lahiri's novel), marred slightly by superficial portrayals of one or two key supporting characters, about a couple from 1970s Calcutta who enter into an arranged marriage and move to New York; film chronicles how they and their children tangle over how much tradition to keep in America, how much to let go; they feel estranged from their son (Kal Penn) when he brings home a rich, white girl (Jacinda Barrett) and spends more time with her family; highly evocative film is ethnically specific, yet universal, with a subtle literary thread running through it. Steamy but nonexplicit sexual situations; rear-view nudity; flashbacks of train accident; one scene showing bloodied victims; themes of grief, loss; marijuana; drinking; smoking; rare profanity. High-schoolers.)

"Premonition" (Sandra Bullock stranded in a corny, endlessly derivative, clunkily directed supernatural thriller about a stay-at-home mom who has a time-bending flash-forward to hearing news of her husband's (Julian McMahon) accidental death, then wakes up the next day to find him alive; the process repeats -- one day he's dead, the next alive; her sanity questioned, she tries to solve the mystery. Some teens could be upset by: film's sense of numbing grief, loss; brief glimpse of a severed head; a fiery crash; a bloodied decomposing crow; stitched-up wounds on a child's face; character dragged screaming to a psychiatric ward and given injection; child having a bad, but not life-threatening, accident; mild sexual innuendo in marital scenes; rare strongish profanity; subtle allusions to infidelity, suicide; smoking; drinking; tranquilizers.)

"Wild Hogs" (Slow to start, but ultimately amusing comedy about four middle-aged Cincinnati guys (Tim Allen, John Travolta, Martin Lawrence and William H. Macy) who toss their cell phones and go on a cross-country motorcycle trip; in New Mexico they face a "real" motorcycle gang (led by Ray Liotta). Too lewd to be a total family comedy; crude language; sexual innuendo -- much of it homophobic; gross toilet humor; considerable midrange profanity; comic fights, mayhem; skinny-dipping scene with a character naked from behind; condom joke; prolonged subplot about a gay state trooper (John C. McGinley) who nearly stalks the guys; free-for-all fight; drinking, smoking. OK for high-schoolers.)

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-- R's:

"Shooter" (NEW) (Rip-snorter action thriller moves so supercool fast (directed by Antoine Fuqua, who did "Training Day" R, 2001) audiences won't have time to trip over logical/logistical speed-bumps in the script (based on Washington Post film critic Stephen Hunter's novel, "Point of Impact"); Mark Wahlberg as Bob Lee Swagger, ex-Marine sniper, who leaves the military after his superiors betray him during a secret mission; a civilian mountain man three years later, he's recruited by an ex-colonel (Danny Glover) to use his sniper skills to stop a presidential assassination; again he's betrayed -- set up as a would-be assassin, wounded and on the run, aided by Michael Pena as a rooky FBI agent, Kate Mara as his Marine buddy's widow. High-powered point-blank and long-distance shootings with much blood, occasional gore; gun suicide; fingers, then arm shot off; do-it-yourself bullet removal; villain's implied intention to commit rape; strong profanity; beer. Action fans 16 and older.)

"I Think I Love My Wife" (Chris Rock co-wrote, directed and stars in edgy, profane, moderately sprightly, but superficial comedy -- a Rock-coarsened update of a 1972 French film "Chloe in the Afternoon" (R); he plays a family guy toying with cheating on his wife (Gina Torres) with a gorgeous acquaintance (Kerry Washington) who appears at his office, flaunting her allure; he starts a flirtation, debates his moral choices. Repeated use of F-word in both nonsexual and sexual meanings; other graphic sexual language; rare steamy, mostly nonexplicit sexual situations, excepting one sequence about that famous 4-hour side effect of Viagra -- no nudity, but graphically implied; racial jokes; rhymes-with-witch word; someone gets beaten up; marijuana; drinking; cigarettes; reference to suicide attempt. Despite its R-nesses, film comes down squarely in favor of fidelity, family. Too raunchy for under-17s.)

"Beyond the Gates" (LIMITED RELEASE) (Understated, yet heart and gut-wrenching fact-based drama (with fictionalized characters) about a British priest (John Hurt) and teacher (Hugh Dancy) at a school in Kigali, Rwanda, who tried to shelter some 2500 Tutsi children and adults during the 1994 genocide; filmed in the actual school, movie re-enacts how United Nations peacekeepers followed orders not to intervene, how European troops rescued whites only. Depictions of people, including a mother and infant, hacked to death with machetes or shot -- harrowing, bloody, but not exploitatively graphic, often partly hidden from view; roads strewn with bodies; murdered nuns, with implication one was also raped or mutilated; painful verbal description of murder of a baby; strong profanity; racial slurs; drinking; smoking. College students.)

"300" (Stunning, digitally enhanced, occasionally giggle-inducing, but mostly epic-feeling and sounding adaptation of graphic novel (by Frank Miller and Lynn Varley) about Sparta's King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) and the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 B.C., when he and 300 men faced Persian emperor Xerxes and his mega-army; narration, dialogue, battles all seem effectively ancient, portentous. Stylized visuals, muted colors make violence seem otherworldly, less gory, but still harrowing -- not for all high-school-age stomachs; spears, daggers through guts, eyes; horses cut down from under warriors; strongly implied rape -- camera cuts away before it becomes graphic; more explicit, but very stylized, sexual montage between Leonidas and his Queen (Lena Headey); back-view nudity; toplessness; a few subtle homoerotic verbal references; mild curses. High-schoolers.)

(c) 2007, Washington Post Writers Group.

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Mills blames McCartney's lawyer for ills

LOS ANGELES (UPI) -- Heather Mills, the estranged wife of ex-Beatle Paul McCartney, blames McCartney's attorneys in London for gumming up divorce proceedings.

Mills, in Los Angeles as a contestant on the U.S. reality show, "Dancing With The Stars," said McCartney's attorney, Fiona Shackleton, was making the process as "difficult as possible," the London Telegraph said Thursday.

If it had been left to her and McCartney, the former model said, "things would have been all right a long time ago."

She discussed her divorce during an interview with CNN's Larry King, saying their relationship was cordial.

"We still have a friendship," she said. "It's only his lawyers that are a nightmare."

A spokesman for Pain Hicks Beach, the London firm where Shackleton is a partner, declined to comment.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International

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ABC re-ups 11 prime-time shows

LOS ANGELES (UPI) -- Fans of Anne Heche, William Shatner and Matthew Fox can rest easy; ABC renewed "Men in Trees," "Boston Legal" and "Lost" for another season on U.S. airwaves.

The pickup of 11 series was announced as ABC presented its development slate to media buyers in Los Angeles, Variety said.

Also slated to return are "Ugly Betty" and "Brothers & Sisters," "Desperate Housewives," and "Grey's Anatomy." Reality entries "Dancing with the Stars," "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" and "The Bachelor" also got the OK, as did late-night show "Jimmy Kimmel Live."

The network previously renewed "America's Funniest Home Videos," "Supernanny" and "Wife Swap."

"We have had a strong year, with two of the season's breakout hits, 'Ugly Betty' and 'Brothers & Sisters,' and the solid performance of 'Men in Trees,'" ABC Entertainment president Steve McPherson said. "These shows provide us with a substantial foundation to make '07-08 our best schedule yet."

Copyright 2007 by United Press International

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Fergie remains 'Glamorous' at No. 1

NEW YORK (UPI) -- Fergie's "Glamorous" was sitting pretty atop the Billboard Hot 100 for the second straight week.

Holding tight at No. 2 was Mims' "This Is Why I'm Hot," which Fergie bumped to claim the top spot two weeks ago.

Also staying put was Akon's "Don't Matter" at No. 3.

Gym Class Heroes' "Cupid's Chokehold" featuring Fall Out Boy's Patrick Stump moved up one, from No. 5 to No. 4, trading spots with Gwen Stefani's "The Sweet Escape" featuring Akon, which dipped to No. 5.

In its 15th week on the chart, Rich Boy's "Throw Some D's" featuring Polow Da Don shot up 21 positions, from No. 27 to No. 6.

Daughtry's "It's Not Over" maintained its No. 7 spot for a second week.

Avril Lavigne's "Girlfriend" and Justin Timberlake's "What Goes Around ... Comes Around" flipped the eighth and ninth spots, with Lavigne moving up to No. 8 and Timberlake sliding to No. 9.

Fall Out Boy's "This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race" completed the top 10, falling from No. 6 to No 10.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International

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The Hollywood Exclusive

By Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith

Williams Flies Back into Series Game/Smiley Sees 'Covenant' Movement as Parties Prep for Primaries

Treat Williams begins production of his forthcoming "Heartland" series in Los Angeles Monday (3/26), with plans to commute back and forth to the Park City, Utah home he and his family established during his "Everwood" tenure.

"At the end of 'Everwood,' I said to my wife, Pam, 'Well, what now?' And she said, 'I want to stay. I love my friends here, and the kids are happy in school.' Fortunately, we have a beautiful airplane we can travel in, and my airport is easy to get in and out of," says the actor, who has 30 years' experience as a pilot. "I go through a canyon to Vegas, and turn right, and I'm there."

The Williamses also maintain a New York City penthouse and a house in Vermont.

Williams says he took time off after "Everwood" after the show finished shooting last April, "I think we all needed it." But from his list of activities since then, it hardly seems possible he's had much in the way of down time. There's his April 15 Lifetime movie, "The Staircase Murders," a true crime story in which Treat plays the accused killer, a best-selling novelist who leads a double life. There's the arc he put in on "Brothers & Sisters." And there's "Heartland," the TNT series in which he will play a heart surgeon specializing in transplants -- a guy he says has nothing in common with his "Everwood" medico, Andy Brown, "other than the fact they're both doctors. There's nothing soft and fuzzy about this guy or this show."

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GRASS ROOTS TAKING HOLD: PBS talk show host Tavis Smiley says he's getting assurances from both the Democratic and Republican parties that they're taking stock of the ideas and solutions he's advocated in his best-selling 2006 book, "The Covenant with Black America," and its follow-up, "The Covenant in Action," which hit stores last month. Smiley's set to moderate live TV forums as primary season advances -- the Democratic forum in June and the Republican in September -- and he tells this column that both party chairs assure him that "all the candidates running for the White House are going to show up to address the issues in 'The Covenant.'"

Smiley notes that in his forward to the new book, renowned scholar Cornel West wrote, "'The challenge was for us to go from moment to momentum to movement.' When the first book came out, that was a moment. We actually put to page a blueprint for Black America being made better. Then as the book started climbing the best-seller list, and people were meeting and talking about it, the momentum started to build. Now this thing is starting to turn into a movement."

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THE WAITING GAME: After a long season of commuting from his Los Angeles home to the shooting of "Friday Night Lights" in Dallas, Kyle Chandler says the first thing on his schedule now "is to do all the fixing-up work around the house I haven't done for the last six or seven months." And when he's done with that, he says, he and his wife are going to pack up their two young daughters "and head out on some nice little vacations, like camping out near some lovely bodies of water. That's what I want to do." The only thing that might interfere with those plans, says Kyle, would be a movie assignment. "A few things are pending," he says.

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HER MAN IN THE TREES: "Men in Trees" regular Suleka Mathew reports when the ABC dramedy returns April 12, things will start to heat up between Sara, the single mom/former prostitute she plays on the show, and a man of the cloth who came into her life before the show's recent hiatus. It's a heat that's already familiar to her, says Mathew, since Sara's love interest is "played by my real boyfriend, Nick Lea."

She explains, "We get together very often as a cast, and our partners come with us for dinner or dancing. After ('MIT' creator) Jenny Bicks met Nick, she said, 'I'm going to keep an eye on a good part for him.' I had so little to do with it, and it worked out beautifully."

Before the show's break, Sara was asked out by a guy she met in an Emergency Medical Training class. "He revealed to me on the date that he was a pastor, and I freaked out because I thought, 'God is going to get me somehow.' My character used to be a prostitute, so she thought, 'This isn't going to work' and bolted.'" Fortunately, she says Pastor Eric "is the kind of man of the cloth who doesn't carry judgments -- and that's so sexy to me."

Mathew says Lea will be in four more shows by season's end. The "Men in Trees" troupe only has two more shows to shoot, and Mathew tips the romantic dramedy will be going out with a bang in the season finale. "I'll say that much on fear of pain and death," she says with a laugh. "I will tell you it's very fun and exciting, but seriously, I fear losing my job at this point."

NEW YORK (UPI) -- Comedian Bernie Mac stopped off in New York to chit-chat on CBS' "The Late Show" and drop the bombshell that he's calling it quits as a standup comic.

Mac, 49, said once he gets his performance film "The Whole Truth, Nothing But The Truth, So Help Me Mac" in the theaters, "I'm going to call it," E News said.

He said he's been doing standup in clubs since 1977 and street performances for two years before that, and that was enough.

"I'm going to still do my producing, my films, but I want to enjoy my life a little bit," the Chicago native told David Letterman on Monday night's show. "I missed a lot of things, you know."

Mac started in TV in 1992 on Russell Simmons' "Def Comedy Jam" and then moved on to "Mo' Money" with Damon Wayans before landing his own TV series, "The Bernie Mac Show," which lasted five seasons.

His movie credits include "Bad Santa" and "Ocean's Eleven," and a dramatic turn in the upcoming "Pride."

He also wrote two books, "I Ain't Scared Of You " and "Maybe You Never Cry Again."

Copyright 2007 by United Press International

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R&B singer Luther Ingram dies at 69

ST. LOUIS (UPI) -- R&B singer-songwriter Luther Ingram has died at the age of 69 in a St. Louis area hospital of complications from kidney disease.

Ingram, best known for his passionate 1972 hit "(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want to be Right," had a kidney transplant several years ago, Billboard said.

Born in Jackson, Tenn., Ingram moved to New York in 1966 to record with producers Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. After relocating to Memphis, Ingram scored a number of hits on the Koko label, which was distributed by Stax.

He picked up his first top 10 R&B hit in 1970 with "Ain't That Loving You (For More Reasons Than One)." Subsequent R&B hits include "I'll Be Your Shelter (In Time of Storm)" and "Always," Billboard said.

Ingram also wrote the Staple Singers' "Respect Yourself" with Sir Mack Rice.

Ingram, who died Monday, is survived by his wife, two sons, a sister and five brothers.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International

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DNA samples taken from Birkhead, baby

NASSAU, Bahamas (UPI) -- Anna Nicole Smith's baby and Larry Birkhead, Smith's ex-lover claiming to be the girl's father, gave DNA samples at a Bahaman doctor's office, it was reported.

Both Birkhead and the 6-month-old baby, Dannielynn, were at the office and had samples taken, TMZ.com reported.

Howard K. Stern's DNA was not extracted because by law in the Bahamas, he is presumed to be the father because he is listed as the father on the child's birth certificate.

A Bahaman judge requested samples from Stern and the child during a hearing Tuesday.

The samples will be sent to a lab in Columbus, Ohio, and returned to the Bahamas, possibly in four days, TMZ.com said.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International

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Musiq Soulchild's 'Luvanmusiq' No. 1 album

NEW YORK (UPI) -- R&B artist Musiq Soulchild's "Luvanmusiq" debuted at No. 1 of The Billboard 200, leading six new albums entering the top 10.

New releases also occupied the second and third slots -- R&B singer Lloyd at No. 2 with "Street Love" and Rapper Rich Boy's self-titled album at No. 3.

Daughtry's self-titled RCA debut fell from No. 3 to No. 4, while Akon's "Konvicted" slipped from No. 4 to No. 5.

"Live at Massey Hall 1971" by Neil Young entered the chart at No. 6. British R&B singer Amy Winehouse debuted at No. 7 with "Back to Black."

8Ball & MJG's "Ridin' High" debuted at No. 8 as Fall Out Boy's "Infinity on High" dipped from No. 8 to No. 9.

Carrie Underwood's "Some Hearts" re-enters the top tier at No. 10, moving up from No. 12.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International

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The Hollywood Exclusive

By Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith

LEGEND DOING TOUR, SONGS FOR 'PRIDE,' ARETHA, WHITNEY, JENNIFER/IRA GLASS' FANS CHARY OVER TV MOVE

John Legend reports he and Aretha Franklin have been in the studio of late, recording a tune for her forthcoming J Records album that he wrote especially for the legendary songstress. "It's different for her -- a party song called 'Turn It Up.' It's kind of soulful and funky," he says. "I do a little cameo in there, but it's really her song."

And it's just one activity on the jam-packed agenda of the five-time Grammy-winning singer/songwriter/producer.

First up, Legend has the lead-off soundtrack cut on the Terrence Howard-Bernie Mac "Pride" feature being released by Lionsgate tomorrow (3/23). His soaring "Dare to Dream" anthem captures the feeling of the saga of inner-city Philadelphia swim coach Jim Ellis and his against-all-odds fight to build a swim team there in the 1970s.

"I don't think the song directly sounds like a John Legend song," comments the 28-year-old mega-talent. "It was very collaborative, very much for the movie, not so much me as an artist."

Meanwhile, he's also currently penning tunes for Whitney Houston and Jennifer Hudson and recording his own Home School label's first signee, Estelle -- all while getting ready for the April 3 launch of his spring tour.

"We've got some cool new things we're doing -- new arrangements, unexpected covers. We're bringing in some hip hop, some classic soul and classic rock," reports Legend, speaking of the concert trek that has him sharing the bill with Corinne Bailey Rae until its final two weeks. "We've elevated the production on every level for this tour, musically and visually -- but it's still going to be about the music. I never want to turn it into a high-tech show. What people appreciate about me is that there is an organic feel about the music."

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THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS: Ira Glass is a hit on public radio with his show, "This American Life," which tells the surprisingly true stories of everyday people. In fact, Justin Timberlake's been quoted of late saying that Ira's show is among his faves. But Glass admits his fans weren't too happy when they learned he was taking the show to television as well. "We went on a six-city tour, going in front of public radio crowds, and I asked every crowd if they were worried about us doing a TV show, and there would be an overwhelming response of, 'Yes, we are worried!' I think part of it was that they're public radio people, so they're suspicious of television in general," notes Glass, whose program premieres on Showtime tonight (3/22). "After we showed them some footage, they seemed won over, thrilled that it was very much the same as the radio show."

The response was certainly a relief to Glass, who says he also had reservations about doing TV. "Since we've been so successful on the radio, there was a thought that we can only screw this up, so there was a lot of fear," he notes, but luckily, it turned out better than they expected. "It's different from anything on TV. There's no news hook. We're not trying to say there's a new national scandal or problem. What we do are little dramatic stories that are funny in some places, emotional in other places, and they just happen to be true."

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ANOTHER FRONTIER: Derek Magyar's name may be new to big screen audiences when his film, "Boy Culture," debuts tomorrow (3/23) in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco before widening its release next month. However, he's a familiar face to "Star Trek: Enterprise" fans, having played the hunky young Chief Engineer Cmdr. Kelby.

In "Boy Culture," based on Matthew Rettenmund's popular novel, Magyar plays a high-class hustler known as X who is confronted with emotions he hasn't felt in years. In the months prior to his death, legendary "Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry responded to criticism that there were no gay characters on his series with a statement that said, "In the fifth season of 'Star Trek: The Next Generation,' viewers will see more of shipboard life in some episodes which will, among other things, include gay crew members in day-to-day circumstances." Now Magyar notes, "While that role never materialized, I certainly got my on-the-job training as X."

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DEAD, DEAD, DEAD: As viewers of "CSI" are aware, the show always seems to be reaching out for new and interesting kinds of murders for its crime scene investigators to investigate -- and even by Las Vegas standards, they go waaaay out there. They've had murder set amidst the world of people who dress up as animals for sexual kicks in the past, and a new episode will feature murder involving a UFO cult that believes the earth has been taken over by reptilian aliens who've taken human form. Then there are the deaths themselves. Viewers can look forward to an upcoming episode that has a former boxer victim who was beaten with a bat, shot with a crossbow, poisoned by snake venom, forced into anaphylactic shot and drowned. Just to be sure.

NEW YORK (UPI) -- Actress Scarlett Johansson and fabled U.S. actor-director Woody Allen have a mutual adoration society, the actress said in the April issue of Vogue.

"I'd sew the hems of his pants if he asked me to," Johansson, 22, said in the Vogue interview, USA Today reported Tuesday.

For his part, Allen, 71, called his "Match Point" star "criminally sexy" in an e-mail to Vogue.

"She is unlike anyone who has come before her, and while she is a much stronger actress in every way, there is a tiny bit of Marilyn Monroe in her zaftig humidity," he wrote.

The Johansson-Allen attraction is purely professional, she said, telling told Vogue she works to keep her romantic life private.

But Johansson said reports last month that she and singer Justin Timberlake were an item were "not true" and when asked about "Black Dahlia" co-star Josh Hartnett, she offered, "I'd rather not comment on my personal life in that way."

Johansson's next film, "The Nanny Diaries," opens April 20.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International

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More sex charges filed against designer

LOS ANGELES (UPI) -- Los Angeles prosecutors filed additional felony charges against Indian designer Anand Jon as four more women leveled charges of sexual assault.

Prosecutors charged Jon, 33, with another 15 felonies and five misdemeanor counts involving the additional four alleged sexual assault victims, including a 17-year-old, The Los Angeles Times said Tuesday.

The fashion designer was in Los Angeles to unveil a new line during L.A. Fashion Week when he was originally charged earlier this month.

"He lured these girls to be models and once here sexually assaulted them," Jane Robison, a Los Angeles County district attorney's office spokeswoman said when the new charges were filed Monday. "This is an ongoing investigation and we believe there may be numerous additional victims."

New York authorities also are investigating into whether Jon assaulted women there, Robison said.

Jon was charged March 13 with seven counts, including forcible rape, lewd acts upon a child, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, sexual battery by restraint and attempted forcible oral copulation. Those charges involved three alleged victims, including a 15-year-old.

Jon's attorney, Ronald Richards, said women sought to exploit their relationship with his client because of his celebrity status.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International

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Nothing on TV with 104 channels? Oh, sure

NEW YORK (UPI) -- The average U.S. household gets 104 television channels but the average TV viewer watches a paltry 16, a Nielsen Media Research survey showed.

Those figures are up from an average of 96 channels per home in 2005, when about 15 of them were watched with any degree of regularity, the New York Daily News said Tuesday.

An estimated 47 percent of all U.S. homes with televisions had more than 100 channels, according to the New York researcher.

But as the number of channels increased over the last three years, the number of channels watched remained in the 15-to-16 range, meaning more options didn't necessarily translate into more channels being watched, researchers said.

For comparison, in 1985, the average home got about 19 channels, although Nielsen did not provide a figure on how many channels were watched.

Nielsen estimates about 111.4 million homes have television sets in the United States with each having an average of three sets.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International

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City hopes to keep 'Lights' burning

AUSTIN, Texas (UPI) -- The city of Austin, Texas, hoping to pick up a fresh set of downs, is prepared to offer NBC incentives to keep filming "Friday Night Lights" in Texas.

A City Council proposal on Thursday's agenda would give NBC Universal Inc. about $40,000 for each of the two seasons the show is filmed in the Austin area -- but only after the network picks it up for a second season, the Austin (Texas) American-Statesman said Tuesday. The deal could be extended if filming continues for subsequent seasons.

Other states, such as Louisiana and New Mexico, are offering financial incentives as well. City economic development officials said they are in negotiations and could not comment.

Austin Mayor Will Wynn said the offer, while modest, sends the message "to NBC and 'Friday Night Lights' that we really, really like them being here."

Wynn said the city is lobbying the Legislature to create a state fund that could be used as incentives for films, TV series and commercials.

NBC is expected to announce its fall schedule in mid-May.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International

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The Hollywood Exclusive

By Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith

Penn Jillette Criticizes Sacha Baron Cohen, Michael Moore/Jennifer Lopez' Costar Claims Its All About The Work On Set

Illusionist/debunker/host Penn Jillette takes aim at Sacha Baron Cohen and Michael Moore, scoffing the notion of their respective movies as representing reality. "Michael Moore and Sacha Baron Cohen are doing the same thing -- taking snippets of edited film and using it to make their case, not getting real information about real people. They're trying to create comedy by editing," declares Jillette, whose fifth season of "Penn & Teller Bull*#@!" gets underway tomorrow night (3/22) on Showtime.

"We have video of people stuttering and picking their nose. We don't use it. We have things that are really, really funny that we don't keep because they don't represent the real person. We have a saying: 'We can't go Michael Moore on that,'" says Jillette, speaking of himself and partner Teller.

Furthermore, "Sacha has to conceal what he's doing. We don't hide what we do. We tell people we disagree with them. We're fair and extremely biased."

In fact, he wishes the media would return to what he perceives as its style of bygone days, "when newspapers would tell you what they were -- The Kansas Democrat -- instead of pretending to be non-biased. Why not get on television and say, 'I'm Bill Davis, I hate George Bush, and here's the news ... '?"

Jillette's scoring with two series right now, as his NBC "Identity" Friday night game show won its timeslot in its return to the lineup last week. He makes it clear he's as fired up as ever over "Bull*#@!" because "We're getting really good at it."

This season they're taking on topics including Wal-Mart haters, nuclear power, immigration and breasts. The latter installment ranges from the Janet Jackson Super Bowl debacle to "the whole Top-Free Movement," notes Jillette. "And then, of course, there are the breastfeeding mothers who've been busted, so to speak."

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FROM THE INSIDE LOOKING OUT: Jennifer Lopez has developed quite a reputation for demanding and domineering ways, but Manny Perez, who costars in the upcoming "El Cantante" feature with Lopez and hubby Marc Anthony, insists it's all about the work when she's acting. "You always read in the media about Jennifer Lopez, so you assume you're going to be dealing with a diva, but she's not at all. They're both so down-to-earth," claims Perez about the couple who play King of Salsa Hector Lavoe and his wife, Puchi, in the feature.

Despite rumblings of trouble between Lopez and Anthony, Perez says they brought an affectionate attitude to the set -- on and off camera. "It was fun to see them work off each other. There's definitely a lot of chemistry ... I think with them being married to each other, they brought all of that to the actual set."

To hear Perez tell it, Lopez also shows off the kind of impressive acting chops that first got her attention in the movie, too. "On my first day, we had this intense scene with Marc, Jennifer and me where Jennifer has to break down, coming in screaming and hollering. We met prior to this and talked about the character, but that was it," recalls the actor, who says Lopez nailed the demanding sequence.

Perez, who also has the movies "Bella" and "Where God Left His Shoes" on the way, plays Lavoe's best friend/manager in "El Cantante." "He's a combination of like five friends of Hector's, who were always around asking for something. It's a very complex character, which I love," notes Perez, who met several of Lavoe's real-life friends in preparation for the part. The movie, which is currently in the festival circuit, hits theaters this summer.

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A REAL FAMILY AFFAIR: "October Road" regular Brad William Henke is hoping to be behind the cameras by May. "I'm going to direct a film my wife, actress Katelin Chesna, and I wrote called 'Stuck,'" says Henke, adding the film "is loosely based on my wife's life. She's someone who grew up in a family where they weren't cared for or loved, so they learned to not care for and love themselves. Then a love comes into her life, and she has to try to make the change and be a good person."

Henke, who plays Owen Rowan in ABC's "October Road" drama, is also featured in the upcoming indie feature "One Way To Valhalla" with Gabriel Macht and Kate Walsh from "Grey's Anatomy." "It's a unique comedy that's done in a serious way. Macht plays this gearhead guy who gets hit in the head and decides to change who he is. I play his best friend," he says. "The rest of us freak out because he's the center of our lives ... so his getting hit in the head creates a paradigm shift in all our lives."

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THE BIG SCREEN SCENE: With the Tim Robbins-Rachel McAdams-Michael Pena "The Return" heading toward a May 7 production start, casting for subsidiary roles is underway on the feature that follows three soldiers on an unplanned road trip across the United States after they come back from Iraq. Among those are Robbins' character's teenage son and the parents of McAdams' boyfriend, who's died in the war. The story also has Robbins' character's wife, who asks him for a divorce upon his return. Suffice it to say things aren't easy for the soldiers who are coming home.

OTTAWA (UPI) -- Recent blockbuster mergers in the Canadian film, television and radio business will be the focus of the country's industry regulators.

The Canadian entertainment industry witnessed a number of major takeovers with CTVglobemedia acquiring rival broadcaster Chum, CanWest Global picking up broadcaster Alliance Atlantis and Astral Media buying Standard Radio.

The Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission public hearings will be scheduled this fall, Variety said.

"The current wave of consolidation in the Canadian broadcasting industry and the possibility of more major transactions in the future, raises important questions relating to the diversity of voices in Canada," CRTC chairman Konrad von Finckenstein said.

Conducting a public hearing in the fall would allow the commission to study the issues and develop "clearly articulated policy guidelines that will further the evolution of the Canadian broadcasting system," von Finckenstein said.

Public hearings on the three mergers will be governed by existing ownership policies.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International

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MySpace launches elections portal

LOS ANGELES (UPI) -- MySpace users who want to register to vote or learn the latest on the 2008 U.S. elections can visit Impact Channel, a political community on the network.

The portal is designed to connect politicians, non-profits and civic organizations with users around the world, MySpace said in a news release. The Impact Channel will contain a voter registration tool, links to official candidate profiles, Impact-related event and job listings, videos and programs.

"By empowering our users with easy-to-find information, offered in a way they can relate to it, Impact will ignite their involvement in the political process," said Chris DeWolfe, chief executive officer of MySpace.

Modeled after existing channels such as MySpace Music and Video, the new channel will enable the community to learn about the candidates, experience the political process online and offline and learn more about issues and organizations.

As part of the Impact launch, 10 presidential candidates, five Republicans and five Democrats, posted their official MySpace profiles.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International

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MTV integrates series with online gaming

NEW YORK (UPI) -- New York's MTV Networks is integrating its television series with a new online gaming platform to draw in more young viewers and entice more advertisers.

The network recently launched "Daily Rage!" at dailyrage.mtv.com where players embark on scavenger hunts designed to mirror MTV's primetime series such as "My Super Sweet 16," Hollywood Reporter said Monday. Players seek hidden icons that win them cash and merchandise prizes.

"It's not just about advertising on the show with a commercial or a banner ad online," said David Gale, MTV's executive vice president for new media and specialty film content. "It allows us another place to experience brands for the audience and to keep them engaged for a pretty long period of time in this space."

Gale said MTV is developing a range of entertainment that "crosses media, platforms and has all different shapes and forms, some with game aspects or more traditional storytelling with serialized content."

Copyright 2007 by United Press International

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Spector trial jury selection begins

LOS ANGELES (UPI) -- A pool of 300 prospective jurors gathered in the Los Angeles courthouse Monday, as jury selection began in the murder trial of music producer Phil Spector.

Spector is charged with murder in the death of actress Lana Clarkson, who was fatally shot in his Los Angeles-area mansion.

Opening arguments are expected to begin April 30 for the trial that could last up to three months, The Los Angeles Times said.

The trial will be televised, making it the first televised Los Angeles criminal proceeding since the O.J. Simpson murder trial in 1995.

Spector pleaded not guilty in the shooting and has been free on $1 million bail since his February 2003 arrest in the death of the 40-year-old Clarkson, who starred in low-budget films, including "Barbarian Queen" and "Amazon Women on the Moon," and had minor television roles.

Spector has given conflicting statements about what happened after Clarkson joined him at his home for a drink, documents showed. Spector has made conflicting statements about events, first telling police he accidentally shot her, then saying Clarkson took a revolver from him and committed suicide.

If convicted, Spector faces up to life in prison.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International

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The Hollywood Exclusive

By Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith

George Lopez Setting Sites on Big Screen 'Richest Man/Daryn Kagan's Reinvention Moving Right Along

Now that "The George Lopez Show" has wrapped for the season, the comic-cum-actor-producer-director says he'll be concentrating on the big screen.

"I have a movie at Universal called 'The Richest Man in the World,'" says Lopez. "I'm trying to get Universal to finally buy it. The script is very good. I helped write it with a couple of guys. That one would be important to get done." He describes the film as a cross between the classic 1970 Godfrey Cambridge starrer, "Watermelon Man," and Warren Beatty's Oscar-winning 1978 comedy, "Heaven Can Wait." "It's about a Latino guy who's envious of what is considered fame and success, then he becomes that guy and realizes it isn't what it's all about. None of it is real, and he chooses. ... It's not even the simplicity, but the comfort and love of a life that's simple as opposed to a life of high fortune with no redeeming value to it."

Lopez says he believes he escaped fame's increasingly more rapacious clutches because he didn't achieve his level of renown earlier in life. "I think I'm old enough to not really kind of buy it," he says. " It's funny, in the beginning, like say 20 years ago, I would say, 'Can you imagine walking into a restaurant and having everybody know you?' But now it's about keeping the show on the air and making that important to us, the people who watch it, and the kids. I care about my work." He adds, "I've been fortunate in success over the last six years, and I have a lot of opulence in my life, but I know that what's real is driving my daughter to school. That's the richness of the story."

Meanwhile, Lopez reports he'll be popping up on "Reno:911" as "the governor. I'm going to tape like four speeches, and I'll show up throughout the season." He adds, "I think I'm like a rogue governor ... I may do Arnold Schwarzenegger with such a heavy accent they might not be sure who I'm playing."

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ON THE POSITIVE SIDE: "It's never felt scary. It felt scarier to stay in news." So says Daryn Kagan, who since November has been devoting her time, energy and talent to reporting stories that show the best of the human spirit via her DarynKagan.com website. "I had a great, great run at CNN. I'm sure I could have gone to Fox or somewhere else and knocked on the door, but in three years I would have been in the same position," says the former anchor. "At some point, I realized, I'd need to reinvent myself."

Now, she reports, her site is building a larger and larger audience, bigger advertisers are coming aboard, and she is continuously finding new ways to extend her brand in both the new and old media worlds. More visitors are contributing stories themselves, or sending Kagan story tips. And the indefatigable Kagan is penning a book, "What's Possible," which will be a combination of "stories you get on the website and also my story -- the back story of creating the site." She wants readers to know, "At some point, your reinvention time will come. Don't worry, it's going to be great. It's the beginning of a new world you get to create. Everyone faces changes -- in their jobs, marriages, children growing up. You can be overwhelmed, or take charge and use the opportunity."

She also has a PBS documentary in the making, "Breaking the Curse," about an Atlanta housewife who has become a leading advocate for people afflicted with leprosy in India. "It's a classic DarynKagan.com kind of story," says Daryn.

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PART WITH MUSCLE: The man behind the buff body of Sylvester Stallone, trainer Gunnar Peterson, snagged a role in Sly's movie "Rocky Balboa," hitting DVD today (3/20), but the personal trainer to the stars tells us he rarely likes to be in the spotlight. "It sounds funny to call it perks, but that's really all it is," claims Gunnar, who's trained Stallone for more than five years, of his role as Rocky's trainer. "I try not to go on set. I try not to go to premieres. I do what I do, and if things come my way, great, but to try to shine in somebody else's light is not very smart. The last thing I need is to look like I'm trying to rub shoulders to do stuff," says Gunnar, who also has trained the likes of Jennifer Lopez, Ben Affleck, Bruce Willis, and Avril Lavigne.

Now Gunnar's got everyone wanting to look like Stallone, who's in top form at age 60. "He keeps raising the bar for a lot of people," Peterson points out. "He comes in the gym with just as much energy as anybody. It goes to show that 60 is just a number."

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TOUGH ROLE TO FILL: A casting notice has gone out for "Anna Nicole"-- as in the late blond bombshell, for a movie about her life to start shooting early next month, by filmmaker brothers Jack and Joseph Nasser. They did last year's "The Amber Alert Story" for Lifetime.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (UPI) -- Pop singer Christina Aguilera, who takes her current tour to Minnesota Monday, says she likes the feel of her all female-dominated show.

Warming up the crowd at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn., will be the girl groups Pussycat Dolls and Danity Kane.

"It's nice to have an all-female, girl-empowered kind of show," Aguilera told the (Minneapolis) Star Tribune. I'm happy that we all are able to do it together and be in support of other women."

Aguilera says there are too many people trying to "instigate catfights."

"Trust, me, I'm not a stranger to being the victim of that in the press," said the 26-year-old entertainer, whose latest CD is "Back to Basics."

"At this point, why any drama at all? Let's team together and really give them something to talk about."

Copyright 2007 by United Press International

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Smith 'boyfriend' Birkhead fires attorney

NASSAU, Bahamas (UPI) -- Anna Nicole Smith's ex-boyfriend Larry Birkhead, the California photographer who claims he's the father of Smith's baby, has fired his attorney, Debra Opri.

"Larry Birkhead and I have terminated our attorney-client relationship effective immediately," Opri said in a statement. "I wish Larry the very best of luck in his continuing efforts to prove that he is Dannielynn's biological father. My prayers will be with Larry and Dannielynn always."

Opri represented Birkhead in paternity and custody matters, Fox News said Friday.

Also claiming paternity is Howard K. Stern, Smith's companion listed as the child's father on the birth certificate.

Birkhead, in the Bahamas preparing for Friday's custody hearing over the five-month-old girl, told "Access Hollywood" that he plans to go in a different direction and has "complete confidence in my attorney, Emerick Knowles, who's handling the Bahamas portion of my case."

The hearing in Nassau is unrelated to the California paternity suit, Birkhead said, "and there was no reason for a statement to be released just hours before my appearance in a Bahamas court."

The relationship between Birkhead and Opri reportedly was strained for several weeks.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International

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Church wants Elton John concert canceled

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago (UPI) -- Church leaders in Tobago are seeking to bar singer Elton John from performing at a festival on the island in April because the British star is openly gay.

John is scheduled to headline the Plymouth Jazz Festival, along with Diana Ross, Mary J. Blige and Earth, Wind & Fire, but conservative groups on the island, where homosexuality is widely condemned, are calling for him be banned from performing, the Times of London said Friday.

The Venerable Philip Isaac, archdeacon for Trinidad and Tobago, said John's lifestyle does not conform to "biblical teachings."

"He needs to be ministered unto," Isaac said. "His visit to the island can open the country to be tempted towards pursuing his lifestyle."

It is thought to be the first time that John's sexuality has led to a campaign against his performing.

Festival executive Anthony Maharaj said the singer's performance and his private live should be mutually exclusive, adding that John's concert would proceed even if church groups protest outside the event, the Independent said.

"Elton John is coming as what he is, one of the world greatest performers," Maharaj said. "He is not coming here to preach about what lifestyle people should have."

Copyright 2007 by United Press International

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R-rated movies to have parental guideline

LAS VEGAS (UPI) -- Just because youngsters can see an R-rated movie with an adult doesn't mean they should, the two organizations that operate the U.S. movie rating system said.

The National Association of Theatre Owners and the Motion Picture Association of America, wanting to dissuade parents and adult guardians from bringing smaller children to violent and sexually graphic movies, have developed a new advisory on the appropriateness of younger patrons attending R-rated movies, the Hollywood Reporter said.

The new advisory will read: "Generally, it is not appropriate for parents to bring their young children with them to R-rated motion pictures."

The additional language is in response to complaints from movie-goers. A modification of the ratings system is under way.

Members of NATO and the MPAA introduced the changes in Las Vegas during the ShoWest convention, telling listeners that the voluntary ratings sy stem is in place to inform parents of a movie's content.

"Our sole purpose is not to be a prescriptive body but a descriptive body," said Kendrick MacDowell, NATO general counsel.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International

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The Hollywood Exclusive

By Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith

Foxworthy Takes Exception to 'Dumbing Down' Claim/Paulina Porizkova's 'Dancing with The Stars' Just for Fun

Jeff Foxworthy takes exception to claims in the Washington Post and Los Angeles Times that "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader" is a flagrant example of the dumbing down of today's quiz shows.

"I only get about 40 percent of the questions right -- and I notice that's about average," says the comic who's serving as host of Fox's new ratings sensation. "In my case, it helps if there's a question I've covered helping my kids with their homework, but otherwise, well, I learned calculus at Georgia Tech, but I'll tell you, if I were a contestant on the show, I wouldn't be going home with much money." Money is one thing the high-grossing comedian doesn't have to worry about.

As for what he'll be doing next, he reports that the fledgling game show, in which contestants are asked to answer questions that come from 5th graders' texts, has been picked up for an additional 13 episodes that will be shot around his daughters' spring break schedules from school.

"The people at Fox were real nice about it," says Jeff, who lives with his wife and two teenage daughters in Atlanta, Ga., and resists any work that will keep him away from his family for more than a few days. "We'll tape half the new segments -- we can do two or three a day -- in late March, then we'll break, and I'll vacation with the family in Puerto Rico -- and then I'll fly back to L.A. for the show."

And then he'll be finishing up his two latest books. He's writing the children's book "Dirt on My Shirt," for publication next year, and he's got the third volume of his "Redneck Dictionary" scheduled to hit shops this fall. The first two "Rednecks," he reminds, "were on the New York Times best seller list -- and there's likely someone spinning in his grave over that."

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THE VIDEOLAND VIEW: Gorgeous former supermodel and actress Paulina Porizkova is among the names getting ready to test their terpsichorean mettle tonight (3/19) in the new season of "Dancing With the Stars" -- the hit show that's put a fresh charge into the careers of such alumni as Mario Lopez and Lisa Rinna. She's not holding out hope, however, that it'll revive her flagging acting career.

"The last movie I did was three or four years ago," says Porizkova, who's been featured in such films as "Female Perversions" and "Her Alibi." "Since then I called my agent and said, 'Forget it!' At some point I have to face the fact I am now officially too old to try to be an actress."

The 41-year-old Czech native, who's married to former The Cars' frontman, Ric Ocasek and has two boys, adds, "I've done 14-15 films, and I am at the point where I'm really sick of being rejected. It was always something -- 'You're too young, too pretty, too thin, too foreign ... ' It was really great for my ego when I thought I was a big model because it kept me humble. But at some point I got so humble there was no further down to go. I thought, 'I need to climb out of this hole and think of myself in a positive manner.'" She adds, however, "If one of my favorite shows called, I would be more than happy to do it, but I'm not hungry for it anymore."

Porizkova says her only motivation for doing "Dancing with the Stars" is this girl just wants to have fun. "I'm an avid fan and have watched it from show one," says Porizkova, adding she just wishes she'd been able to get in shape before she got the call to join the competition. "I have no dance training. I'm not athletic, never have been. I don't exercise on a regular basis. But I think my strongest attribute is my enthusiasm to humiliate myself on public TV. Somebody needs to be bad on the show, and I'll be happy to provide that -- with enthusiasm!"

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THE BIG SCREEN SCENE: Mark Wahlberg, who has "Shooter" opening Friday (3/23) with Danny Glover and hot newcomer Kate Mara, reports that the actors had to cozy up fast when shooting a pivotal scene atop a frozen glacier for five days: "We had to take a helicopter up, and if there were clouds, the temperature would drop to 30 degrees." According to him, "We had one little tent to house camera equipment, and no trailers, so we would all snuggle in there in between takes because we had nowhere else to go. Once the clouds rolled in, the helicopters couldn't reach us, and we'd get stuck up there, or have to hike down." Makes for a close-knit cast.

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NEW DIMENSION: Ron Perlman is getting ready to try his hand at directing, with "Wooden Lake," a dramatic feature film. "That's the first thing I'm going to do after I finish 'Hellboy 2: The Golden Army," he reveals. Perlman -- whose animated "Hellboy: Blood and Iron" show just debuted on Cartoon Network's Toonami -- tells us "Wooden Lake" is nothing like the Guillermo del Toro comic book adaptation for which he's become known. "It's a very simple, human, elegant piece of writing that will not require the same kind of pyrotechnics Guillermo will bring to 'Hellboy 2.'"

DEAR STACY: An update, please, on George Carlin. Haven't seen him in a while. Age? Upcoming activities? -- Jeff M., Cleveland

DEAR JEFF: The revered and reviled comedy master has had to deal with heart failure and breathing problems in recent times, something he talked about on stage last December, adding that he'd been hospitalized twice this past fall. He's reportedly suffered three heart attacks through the years. He lost his beloved wife, Brenda, to liver cancer almost a decade ago now. Still, he's kept a full agenda of activities, including voice work (recently in the animated "Cars" and "Happily N'Ever After"), movie and TV appearances. He's reportedly planning a new special for next year. Carlin, 69, also recently performed at the U.S. Festival of Comedy Arts in Aspen, Colo. and keeps up a busy tour schedule. Check out his www.georgecarlin.com website calendar for dates.

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DEAR STACY: I am a big fan of the old Soupy Sales shows. Are they available on DVD? Also, was there a naked woman behind the door Soupy always opened, as the legend says, and did he really get a lot of "green pieces of paper" he asked for? -- Peter G., Yonkers, N.Y.

DEAR PETER: Two Soupy DVD collections came out last year: "Soupy Sales: In Living Black & White" and "Soupy Sales Collection: The Whole Gang is Here!" The former is a nice representation of his early '60s kids' show material, while the latter consists of '70s Soupy stuff, and a version of the Naked Lady prank is in it. The famous original version -- when Sales' practical-joke-loving stagehands had a nude woman awaiting him behind the door he'd open daily as a comedy bit -- was done on his live show out of Detroit in the late 1950s and can only be imagined today. The later version, after his show was picked up by ABC and was being done on tape, has been included on a number of bloopers specials. The "funny green pieces of paper" bit, in which he urged kiddies to remove money from their sleeping parents' wallets and purses and send them to him on New Year's Day, 1965, is true, according to Sales' autobiography, "Soupy Sez! My Life and Zany Times." He was miffed at having to work the holiday. He got suspended for two weeks.

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DEAR STACY: What's become of Alex Kingston of "ER"? Haven't seen her in quite a while. -- Lori P., Cleveland

DEAR LORI: Featured in the recent big screen "Alpha Dog," Kingston has the indie drama "Crashing" awaiting distribution. It was screened at January's Slamdance Festival. Last year, she trod the boards with Christian Slater in a production of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" in London. Wed to German writer Florian Haertel, she is the mother of one daughter, Salome, who celebrates her 6th birthday March 28.

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DEAR STACY: I'd like to know the name of the star who plays Dr. Alfred Rivera on "Watch Over Me" on MyNetwork TV and about his acting career. -- Pat D., Flushing, N.Y.

DEAR PAT: Tony Castillo hails from Chicago, where he decided that after 13 years in sales, he just had to pursue his passion for acting and enrolled as a theater and industrial psychology major at Northwestern University. After graduating, he studied with famed Windy City acting coach Ted Liss and began working on stage. As a member of The Opera Factory, which staged Spanish Zarsuelas (mini-operas), he starred in a number of productions in Chicago and on tour. Of Cuban and Mexican extraction, Castillo, who is married and refers to himself as a proud parent, now divides his time between Chicago and L.A. He has a long list of other credits including the telepic "Good Night, Sweet Wife," episodic work on shows such as "Walker, Texas Ranger," and the 2005 indie feature "Lana's Rain."

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DEAR STACY: I would like to know if the guy who played Finn on "Girlfriends" is really in a band. -- T.R., Queensbridge, N.Y.

DEAR T.R.: That's recording star and sometimes actor Tricky you've seen on the sitcom. Born Adrian Thaws into a multi-ethnic family in Bristol, England, in 1968, he never knew his father, and his mother committed suicide when he was 4 years old. He named his first album "Maxinquaye" (Maxine Quaye) after her, and has said he feels like she is speaking through him. He's also been seen on "The L Word," "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," and on the big screen in films including "The Fifth Element" -- but is best known for his six albums and long list of musical collaborations.

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DEAR STACY: When the finale of "American Inventor" was on last year, they said there would be a second season. What is happening? -- Rich G., San Antonio, Texas

DEAR RICH: Casting is just getting started for season two. In fact, according to the show's website, casting calls will be held in the following six cities: Los Angeles -- tomorrow (3/19); San Francisco -- March 25; Chicago -- March 31; New York City -- April 4; Orlando -- April 9; and Houston -- April 13. Applications and more info can be found on www.americaninventor.tv.

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DEAR STACY: Hope you can help me remember the name of the person who sang a song called "Mr. Paganini." -- Mrs. Irene F., Ozone Park, N.Y.

DEAR IRENE: "You'll Have To Swing It (Mr. Paganini)" is identified with the great Ella Fitzgerald, who also wrote the lyrics.

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SEND YOUR QUESTIONS to Stacy Jenel Smith at Creators Syndicate, 5777 W. Century Blvd., Suite 700, Los Angeles, CA 90045. Due to the large volume of mail, personal replies cannot be given. To find out more about Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith and read their past columns, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.