THE HORROR!
Jeepers Creepers 2 made a heap of money over the long Labor Day weekend, grossing $18.5 million to debut at No. 1. Freaky Friday climbed to No. 2 with $11.7 million, followed by S.W.A.T. (No. 3 with $10.5 million) and Open Range (No. 4 with $10.2 million). Meanwhile, The Italian Job — which was re-released on nearly 2,000 screens — got the job done for Paramount; the film crossed the $100 million mark after grossing another $3.8 million. All told, Hollywood rang up $3.87 billion in ticket sales this summer — besting last year's record by two percent. |
THREE BABIES AND A MAN
Here's some "TV News" scoop from the current issue of TV Guide magazine: Movie star Giovanni Ribisi will reprise his role as Phoebe's wacky brother — and father of the triplets to whom she was a surrogate mom — in a Friends episode slated for October. |
WHAT'S GOOD FOR ASHTON...
Topher Grace has signed a new deal with That '70s Show that will pay him more than $250,000 an episode next season. That puts the actor on par with what co-star Ashton Kutcher will be making. |
TONGUES ARE WAGGING
After receiving a deluge of complaints, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution apologized to its readers Monday for running a picture of Britney Spears and Madonna playing tonsil hockey at the VMAs on the front page of Friday's edition. Managing editor Hank Klibanoff said the photo of the same-sex smooch should only have appeared inside the paper. I'm assuming in the sports section. |
IN RELATED NEWS...
Thursday's MTV Video Music Awards was seen by 10.7 million viewers — down from last year's record-breaking 12 million. Meanwhile, rumor has it the music network wants Eminem to kiss David Gest during next year's opener. |
HEY, MIKE TYSON — DINNER IS READY
Illusionist David Blaine performed his best stunt yet over the weekend: He left the British media bloody speechless. At a London press conference Monday, Blaine appeared to cut off his ear with a pocket knife after a reporter asked whether he could show off any new tricks. He left the room holding a handkerchief to his ear and later returned covered in blood. (Why doesn't this happen at any of the press conferences I go to???) The point of all this? Publicity for Blaine's Sept. 5 stunt, in which he'll be suspended in a clear box by the River Thames in London for 44 days. |
LABOR GAINS
The annual Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon raised a record $60.5 million in pledges Monday for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. That surpasses last year's record of $58.3 million. Despite suffering from pulmonary fibrosis, the 77-year-old Lewis — whose body appeared bloated due to steroid medication — emceed the event for the 38th consecutive year. |
BOBBY SPRUNG
After spending a week in an Atlanta jail on a parole violation, singer Bobby Brown was released Friday on good behavior. Judge Calvin Graves praised Brown as a good role model with a "wonderful wife." Seconds later, Ashton Kutcher allegedly appeared and declared the singer officially "Punk'd!" |
DID THEY OR DIDN'T THEY?
Although there's been no official confirmation, Beatle scion Stella McCartney allegedly married publisher Alasdhair Willis on Saturday on a remote Scottish island. Among the celebs in attendance: The fashion designer's famous father Paul, Coldplay's Chris Martin, Madonna and model Kate Moss. |
FAREWELL
Tough-guy actor Charles Bronson, best known for the popular Death Wish film franchise, died of pneumonia on Saturday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. He was 81. According to reports, Bronson had Alzheimer's disease and had been hospitalized since suffering organ failure in early August. A private memorial will be held this week. |
