TOURING The Backstreet Boys have announced their final list of venues for their upcoming ''Black & Blue'' tour. The 36 show tour of North America kicks off June 8 in BSB's hometown, Orlando, and finishes Aug. 31 in Dallas. The Boys will make stops everywhere from Los Angeles to Calgary to promote their multiplatinum album (it has sold nearly 5 million copies since its November release). Reggae chart topper Shaggy and 19 year old singer / pianist Krystal, whose ''Me and My Piano'' will be released this summer on BSB's own label, will open for the Boys.
RECORD STATUS The Eagles are now the third highest selling band in the United States. After a recent audit of the group's label Elektra, the Recording Industry Association of America announced Tuesday that the '70s rockers have sold a total of 83.5 million albums. Known for such hits as ''Hotel California'' and ''Desperado,'' the Eagles are now behind only the Beatles (163.5 million albums) and Led Zeppelin (103.5 million). Pink Floyd was bumped down to fourth with 68.5 million. The Eagles' compilation album ''Their Greatest Hits: 1971-75'' remains the best selling album in history , with more than 27 million copies sold.
CANCELED? NBC is considering canceling the XFL if ratings don't improve during next month's league playoff games. According to the Associated Press, Dick Ebersol, president of NBC Sports, said he'd make a final decision by the end of April. The XFL, a spinoff of the World Wrestling Federation, has a two year deal with the Peacock that included the network's promise to spend $100 million during the first two seasons. But now the network may just cut their losses.
Gov. Jesse Ventura, the lead analyst for the XFL games, said it's obviously up to NBC whether the league will continue: ''If they choose to cancel it, that's their call,'' he said during an interview Tuesday on Minnesota Public Radio. ''The players gave their hearts. I gave mine, and all the broadcasters, we're doing the best job we can do.''
CASTING William H. Macy is in talks to join the ensemble comedy ''Welcome to Collinwood.'' The project, described by Variety as an American ''Full Monty,'' was written and will be directed by Ohio based brothers Anthony and Joe Russo. Scheduled to start shooting early next month in Cleveland, ''Collinwood'' already stars Isaiah Washington, Luis Guzman, Jennifer Esposito, and George Clooney, who is producing with friend and Oscar winner Steven Soderbergh.
POST OSCAR WORK Cinematographer Jack Cardiff, 86, who received an honorary Academy Award Sunday night, has no immediate plans to retire. In fact, Cardiff has already signed on to direct the indie feature ''One Life Later'' for executive producer / pal Martin Scorsese. The $13 million romantic drama is scheduled to start production this summer in Europe. Michael York (''Austin Powers'') will star in the film. Cardiff's last directing gig was 28 years ago with the British horror flick ''The Mutations.'' How's that for a comeback?
REEL DEAL Business news mogul Michael Bloomberg is getting a green light: ''Focus,'' a World War II drama Bloomberg personally financed, has been picked up by Paramount Classics. The art house studio will distribute the feature directorial debut of award winning photographer Neal Slavin throughout North America this early fall. Set in New York during WWII, ''Focus'' is based on Arthur Miller's novel of the same name. The story follows an American couple (William H. Macy and Laura Dern) who suffers from a case of mistaken identity. Supporting actors David Paymer (''State and Main'') and Meat Loaf Aday (''Fight Club'') also star.
TELEPLAY Director Mike Nichols, whose adaptation of Margaret Edson's ''Wit'' debuted on HBO last Saturday, plans to bring another Pulitzer Prize winning play to TV: Tony Kushner's ''Angels in America.'' Nichols and HBO are trying to secure rights to the play, Variety reports. In 1994, the play seemed headed to movie theaters as a Robert Altman ensemble, but the film version never took off. If HBO can acquire the rights to ''Angels,'' Nichols would direct the project as a miniseries. The Tony winning stage show ran six hours over two nights. When the movie was being considered, Al Pacino was the frontrunner to play attorney Roy Cohn. His name is being tossed around for the HBO adaptation; Meryl Streep has also has been mentioned for a role.
SMILEY FACES Back when Julia Roberts was a child, her hometown dentist promised his young patients that if any of them won a big prize, he would give every child in Smyrna, Ga., a free tube of toothpaste. Monday , Dr. Ted Aspes had to make good on his pledge: ''I had two families waiting for me in the parking lot when I got here this morning,'' Aspes told the Associated Press Monday, one day after Roberts won the best actress Oscar for ''Erin Brockovich.'' By Monday evening, Aspes had given out hundreds of tubes of Crest toothpaste. The dentist, whose 26 year old pledge also covered honors such as the Grammy, Heisman trophy, and Rhodes scholarship, was very prepared. ''I ordered 10,000 tubes last week,'' he said. ''I usually order a few hundred. My distributor called and said, 'Hey, doc, are you sure there isn't a comma in the wrong place?''' Nope, he expected his hometown girl to win.
You Might Also Like
- Review Focus (Oct 12, 2001) | Owen Gleiberman
- News Summary CBS reschedules the Emmys for the third time (Jun 03, 2005) | Gary Susman
- Movie News Notable quotes from 1990 (1990)
- Box Office Report The Spartans do it again (Mar 09, 2007) | Joshua Rich
- Movie News Spotlight on Laura Dern | Clark Collis
- Movie News Inspiring actresses
