Keanu Reeves Back To Science Fiction

Image courtesy of Ace Showbiz

Matrix star Keanu Reeves will star in a remake of the 1951 sci-fi classic The Day The Earth Stood Still. He will play Klaatu, a humanoid alien who arrives on Earth accompanied by an indestructible, heavily armed robot and a warning to world leaders that their continued aggression will lead to annihilation by species watching from afar according to Coming Soon. Maybe his acting will improve? Doubt it. The movie starts shooting late this Fall or early next year.

Nick Hogan Discharged

Image courtesy of Yahoo

Last night, Nick Hogan was injured while apparently drag racing his car and crashing it into a palm tree. He is now doing well and has been discharged from the hospital in Florida.

Gonzales Steps Down

United States Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez has resigned. Finally. Here is the official story.

Eliza Dushku Signs Deal

Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Bring It On actress Eliza Dushku has signed a deal with 20th Century FOX TV to star in new projects for the network according to Variety. Dushku was last seen on FOX's Tru Calling and also in the pilot for FOX's Nurses (which sounds a lot like Grey's Anatomy).

Owen Wilson Suicide Attempt

Image courtesy of People

I will not confirm this at the moment because the main sources come from the National Enquirer and Star magazines. It can be confirmed that Owen Wilson has, in fact, been hospitalized. However, news outlets are reporting that Owen Wilson was hospitalized Sunday after an apparent suicide attempt. More to come.

Hogan Son In Serious Crash

Image Courtesy of Abyssmal

Hulk Hogan's son, Nick Hogan, was involved in a serious car crash in Clearwater, Florida. Apparently, his yellow car slammed into a palm tree at high speeds. We'll keep him in our prayers. We'll keep you updated.

Women's Equality Day

On this date, August 26, 2007, we commemorate the adoption of the 19th Amendment of the United States Constitution, which guarantees a woman's right to vote. The extraordinary accomplishments at the Seneca Falls convention in 1848, where strong, leading women believed that "all men AND women were created equal" should be honored to the highest degree.

Since that convention, the women's rights movement has grown strong and continues to thrive across the country. The 19th Amendment does not only represents equality among genders to partake in one of the defining principles of our democracy, but also a great change for women's opportunities.

There have been great achievements made by women throughout history that should be honored and praised. From Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth, and Margaret Sanger, to Madeline Albright, Amelia Earhart, and Barbara Walters - all should be commended.

Even today, women have continued to rise above. Just this past year, Nancy Pelosi became the first woman to serve as Speaker of the House of Representatives and Hillary Rodham Clinton, if elected in 2008, will become the first woman President of the United States.

So as today is designated Women's Equality Day, we must celebrate and honor the audacity, intellect, and great accomplishments of women. Without their hard work and leadership, our country would not be half of what it is today. I salute you all!

2007 Teen Choice Awards Tonight

Image courtesy of People

Hilary Duff and Nick Cannon host the 2007 Teen Choice Awards tonight on FOX at 8 PM EST. Zac Efron and his High School Musical castmates are set to appear.

Former CNN Anchor Finds New Gig

Former CNN Headline News anchor Thomas Roberts will become a co-host for celebrity news program The Insider. Roberts left CNN in May. He became a news item when he revealed that he was sexually abused by a priest as a child and, also, when he revealed that he was gay.

Ashlee Simpson's New Album

Ashlee Simpson's official website is reporting that she will release a new album this November. Her last album was released in 2005. Ashlee Simpson has enjoyed a more successful recording career than her sister Jessica.

Superbad Reigns For 2nd Week

Image Courtesy of Canmag

In a slow week, Superbad remains the top film at the box office for the second week in a row. The three new films (Mr. Bean's Holiday, The Nanny Diaries, and WAR) did not fare too well.

Here is the top 5 according to Box Office Mojo:

1. Superbad - $18,000

2. The Bourne Ultimatum - $12,361,000

3. Rush Hour 3 - 12,250,000

4. Mr. Bean's Holiday - $10,121,000

5. WAR - $10,000,000

Camilla Won't Attend Diana Memorial

Photo courtesy of Pulitzer

Camilla Parker Bowles, The Duchess of Cornwall and wife of Prince Charles, will not attend a memorial service this week marking the 10th anniversary of Princess Diana's death. She had initially accepted an invite from Princes William and Harry. However, she is choosing not to attend because she fears it could divert attention from the purpose of the occassion. I can't really blame her. The media will be all over her if she went and, remember, Camilla was Charles's mistress when he was married to Diana. Click here for more.

DNC Strips Florida

The Miami Herald is reporting that the Democratic National Committee has voted to strip Florida of its national convention delegates because the date of their January 29th primary date violates party rules. This decision is very likely to impact how much time and money the current Democratic presidential candidates spend in Florida. The Herald also writes that this vote may affect the outcome of a property-tax referendum scheduled to be voted on the same day as the primary. The DNC has given Florida Democrats 30 days until their vote to strip delegates becomes effective unless Florida Democrats can reach a compromise with the national party. If the DNC's vote sticks than the Florida primary will become essentially meaningless.

Because it's just too damn funny...

Miss Teen USA South Carolina 2007 messes up big time! Let me know if you have any idea what she was trying to say!

Hollywood's Hottest Singles

Forbes has named George Clooney as their most eligible bachelor and Cameron Diaz as the most eligible bachelorette (despite rumors that she and John Mayer are now an item). What do you think?

Deadly Fires Tear Across Greece

Image courtesy of Getty Images

Since Friday morning there have been numerous reports of deadly fires burning all across many areas of Greece. According to msnbc.com:

...more than 170 blazes fires have burned from the western Ionian islands to Ioannina in northwest Greece, and down to the south. New fires broke out Saturday, and fears grew that the death toll could rise as rescue crews reached villages that had been cut off by walls of flames.

The fires have already killed at least 44 people and counting, leaving the country in a state of panic. Many countries have offered their help, including France, Germany, and Spain in order to help put out the deadly blazes. With Greece under a state of emergency, it has been reported that many of the fires have left houses in ruins and villages without working electricity. For the full story, click here.

Childbirth Deaths Are Up

Image courtesy of Organic Baby Style

This is not something I would expect to hear. American women are dying from childbirth at the highest rate in decades according to new government figures. Experts believe increasing maternal obesity and a jump in Caesarean sections are partly to blame. While the risk of death is very small, this is still pretty alarming. For more, click here.

Slap them on the wrists!

Nothing makes me angrier than all these states trying to push their primaries up. Between Michigan and Florida, the 2008 election is going to start tomorrow! This is just so ridiculous. Luckily, the DNC plays hardball and is threatening sanctions. DO IT! The sanctions would strip Florida of its delegates, which would essentially turn their potential early primary into the Iowa straw poll, part 2. Or as the DNC affectionately calls, a beauty contest. Dear states, not all of you can go in January! Please stop trying!

In other news, AP, Reuters, and no other credible news source have verified Perez Hilton's claim that Fidel Castro is dead. Until then, Wonkette is just posting some quality comments on Perez's post. Including one witty snark telling us how Castro was awesome, and another telling us to suck Bush's dick. I don't know the exact wording, but you get the idea.

Kevin's 2008 Prediction

Listen here as Green Room staffer Kevin Coughlin makes a short prediction for the 2008 election season with a focus on Bill Richardson. Much to my chagrin as a Hillary Clinton supporter, Kevin does not have some nice words for the other candidates.

Also, listen to our latest episode dealing with entertainment here!

Aaliyah Remembered

Today marks the 6th anniversary of the death of R&B singer Aaliyah. Rest in peace.

Rumors of a Dead Dictator

Rumors have been circulating for over a day now that Cuban dictator Fidel Castro has died. The streets are Miami have already begun celebrating. The official word from Cuba is that Castro is still very much alive. Castro recently celebrated his 81st birthday and was not seen or heard from, which led the rumors of his passing to intensify. We'll wait for an official source to confirm this story before declaring whether or not Fidel Castro has died. For more on this story click here. My guess...I think he's been dead for a little while now.

Blake Lewis Inks Deal

Last season's American Idol runner-up Blake Lewis has signed a record deal with Arista Records. His debut album is expected by the end of the year. More here.

The Green Room Goes International

Starting today with Leah's departure back to school, The Green Room is going international. All five of The Green Room's staff will be residing in a different country, which should definitely make things interesting and bring new perspectives. It is definitely a unique opportunity for all of us.

I (John) will be studying abroad in the Netherlands; Leah will be returning to McGill University in Montreal, Canada; Kevin will be spending an entire year in London, England; Rich will return to Boston College to represent the US, and Ashlee will be computerless as she find her way across Ghana.

You can check out our last episode (for a while) as a full group here.

Money, Money, Money

An article in the Boston Globe describes how academics have contributed more money to campaigns this year than workers in the oil, computer, and pharmaceutical industries. Receiving the most of this support are Barack Obama with almost $1.5 million, Hillary Clinton with almost $1 million, and Mitt Romney with about half a million dollars. Harvard tops the list of donations with about $280,000 in contributions this year so far.

PS...check out the latest episode of The Green Room here.

Paulina Rubio Expecting

Mexican singer Paulina Rubio is pregnant with her first child.

NFL Gets Rough With Vick

Hours after filing a plea agreement, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick indefinitely without pay. For more on the story click here.

Also, check out our latest Green Room episode below or here.

Green Room Episode 5

Here is the latest episode of The Green Room. This episode focuses solely on entertainment with discussion on Nicole Richie, Lindsay Lohan, Superbad, High School Musical, and our own segment...Overrated/Underrated!

High School Musical 3 Won't Be Haunted

Disney originally planned on having the next High School Musical film take place in a haunted house with a haunted theme for movie-goers around Halloween 2008. However, the studio has changed its mind. A Disney spokesperson has confirmed that, instead of a haunted house, the third High School Musical film will be centered on the kids' senior year. Disney still plans on a theatrical release for the next film in the franchise. None of the stars have signed onto the third film yet.

Teen Cracks iPhone

Want an iPhone but you are not an AT&T (formerly Cingular) customer? A 17-year-old teenager has managed to break the lock that binds Apple's iPhone to AT&T Wireless. This allows the phone to be used on other carriers, including oversees carriers. Read the full story here.

RENT Gets New Lease in London

International fans of the Broadway musical RENT can check out a new production of the show hitting London's West End in October. This new production will reinvent the show bringing new orchestrations and some other new tweakings. While RENT has been extremely successful in New York City, it hasn't been as popular oversees. Check out some info on this new production, which sounds quite interesting and promising, here.

Obama May Make Iowa Mistake

According to Political Wire, "Sen. Barack Obama's decision "to opt out of all but a handful of appearances with his opponents this fall means an influential Iowa audience will lose the chance to judge him alongside his rivals next month," the Des Moines Register reports."Obama plans to skip AARP's Sept. 20 forum in Davenport, where New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson will address about 2,400 Iowa seniors and a national public television audience. The decision to not attend the AARP event, aimed at issues important to people 50 and older, could nag at the Illinois senator, some Democrat activists and political observers said."

I also think it's a mistake...but I'm not complaining. Hopefully, this snub will end the three way tie between him, Clinton, and Edwards and make it easier for Hillary to take control over Edwards...who is only focusing on Iowa.

The Nanny Diaries

The Nanny Diaries hits theaters today. The movie, based on the popular novel, stars Scarlett Johansson, Chris Evans, Paul Giamatti, Laura Linney, and Alicia Keys. So far, the film is getting not so great reviews at Rotten Tomatoes. The film is at 25% rotten with 10 fresh and 30 rotten reviews. I think I'll skip this one.

Pollspot: National

Clinton's lead is down from 20 points to 13 points in this FOX News polls. Rudy enjoys a comfortable 15 point lead over Thompson. Does anyone care about President Bush anymore? Didn't think so.

National:

A new Fox News/Opinion Dynamics poll shows Sen. Hillary Clinton leads the Democratic presidential race with 38% support, followed by Sen. Barack Obama at 25% and John Edwards at 8%.

Among Republicans, Rudy Giuliani is in front with 29%, followed by Fred Thompson at 14%, Mitt Romney at 11%, Sen. John McCain at 7% and Newt Gingrich at 5%.

President Bush's approval rating is stuck at 33%.

also...

Gallup reports that 77% of Democrats recently surveyed were familiar with all three frontrunners for the 2008 presidential nomination. The findings: 94% are familiar enough with Clinton to rate her, 85% with Edwards and 84% with Obama. This could be good news for Clinton, who has managed to keep her wide national lead despite other candidates becoming better known.

Definitely good news for Hillary Clinton there.

Nicole Richie Goes In and Out

Pregnant Nicole Richie was sent to jail Wednesday afternoon and was released after 82 minutes due to overcrowding. Yep, she beat the system.

High School Musical 2 Hits Billboard

The soundtrack to the record-breaking High School Musical 2 has debuted at number 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. The soundtrack had impressive first week sales of over 600,000 copies. Disney continues to cash in.

Lohan Releases Statement

This is an updated version of this story. A judge has ordered Lindsay Lohan to serve 2 days in jail and 10 days of community service. However, the judge credited her with one day of jailtime when she was arrested so Lindsay Lohan will serve a total of 1 day in jail. Also, Lohan will be on probation for 36 months and ordered to attend an alcohol education program for 18 months.

Lindsay Lohan also has released a statement to TMZ after being charged with seven misdemeanors:

"It is clear to me that my life has become completely unmanageable because I am addicted to alcohol and drugs.

Recently, I relapsed and did things for which I am ashamed. I broke the law, and today I took responsibility by pleading guilty to the charges in my case. No matter what I said when I was under the influence on the day I was arrested, I am not blaming anyone else for my conduct other than myself. I thank God I did not injure others. I easily could have.

I very much want to be healthy and gain control of my life and career and have asked for medical help in doing so. I am taking these steps to improve my life. Luckily, I am not alone in my daily struggle and I know that people like me have succeeded. Maybe with time it will become easier. I hope so."

Drew Carey's Price is Right

CBS has announced that The Price is Right will return with new host Drew Carey on Monday, October 15th, 2007 and it's regular time. This will be the show's 36th season. Recently retired Bob Barker hosted the show for 35 years. Drew Carey is also the host of CBS's The Power of 10.

No Trial For Lohan

Lindsay Lohan will not be standing trial for DUI. The actress struck a deal by pleading no contest to two counts of DUI. This makes her a second offender and, by law, she must serve a minimum of four days in jail. More as this story develops.

Bill Clinton's New Book

Former President Bill Clinton will release a book on September 4th, 2007 and make appearances to promote it. The book is titled Giving: How Each of Us Can Change the World. His appearances should definitely help and promote his wife's presidential campaign.

The Little Mermaid Splashes Broadway

Courtesy of Disney Theatrical Productions

Disney's The Little Mermaid will begin previews on Broadway in November with an official opening set for December 6th, 2007. Starring in the show will be Sierra Boggess as Ariel and Broadway veteran and Tony nominated Sherie Rene Scott (AIDA, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels)Above is the first official production photo from the new musical (click pic for larger view).

Movie Trailer: Jesse James

Here is the trailer for The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford starring Brad Pitt, Casey Affleck, Mary-Louise Parker, and Zooey Deschanel.

American Gladiators Return

90's fans rejoice! NBC has announced that they are reviving the cult classic American Gladiators. For those unfamiliar with the show, it was a game show that faced contestants off against each other and also against a regular cast of American Gladiators in contests of strength and agility. It was quite popular back in the day. NBC says it will revive and reinvent the show midseason. Six episodes have been ordered with plans for more if the show is successful. I don't see a success...but you never know. Nostalgia wins.

Obama Girl Changes Her Mind

Just a funny story I thought I'd share. The girl responsible for the YouTube phenomenon known as Obama Girl has changed her mind about Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama. Amber Lee Ettinger aka Obama Girl is now all about Hillary (just like me!). Obama Girl told Steppin' Out Magazine that "I have to say I'm very impressed with Hillary Clinton. I watched the recent debates and I liked a lot of her answers!"

Pollspot: From Iowa to Pennsylvania

Two new polls brought by Political Wire show Edwards edging out his competitors in Iowa while Clinton continues to do well in Pennsylvania. For GOP, Romney continues to perform well in Iowa and holds a steady lead. I really wish the Quinnipiac Poll would stop using Al Gore.

Iowa:

A new Strategic Vision (R) poll in Iowa shows John Edwards leading the Democratic presidential race with 23%, followed closely by Sen. Barack Obama at 22% and Sen. Hillary Clinton at 21%. Gov. Bill Richardson is fourth with 14%.

On the Republican side, Mitt Romney is way out in front with 31%, followed by Fred Thompson at 15%, Rudy Giuliani at 13%, Sen. John McCain at 8% and Mike Huckabee at 8%.

Pennsylvania:

In Pennsylvania, Sen. Hillary Clinton has jumped to a 30-point lead in the Democratic race for president, according to a new Quinnipiac poll.Clinton leads with 42%, followed by Al Gore at 13%, Sen. Barack Obama at 12% and John Edwards at 8%.

In the Republican primary, Rudy Giuliani leads with 31%, followed by Sen. John McCaina t 13%, Newt Gingrich at 9%, Fred Thomson at 8% and Mitt Romney at 7%

Bridget Moynahan Delivers

Actress Bridget Moynahan (Natasha from Sex and the City) gave birth to a baby boy. The father is her former boyfriend and quarterback for the New England Patriots, Tom Brady. Brady didn't find out about Moynahan's pregnancy until after he had left her for supermoder Gisele Bundchen.

Pollspot: South Carolina, Come On and Raise Up

Another important early primary state...South Carolina. This shows Hillary slightly ahead of Obama and Edwards way down at 13. Courtesy of Political Wire.

South Carolina:

A new Rasmussen Reports poll in South Carolina shows Sen. Hillary Clinton leading with 38% support, followed by Sen. Barack Obama at 30% and John Edwards at 13%.On the GOP side, Fred Thompson is in front with 23%, followed by Rudy Giuliani at 21%, Sen. John McCain at 14%, Mitt Romney at 10% and Mike Huckabee at 6%.

Rumorville: JT and Madonna

Entertainment Tonight is reporting that Madonna and Justin Timberlake will perform together at next month's 2007 MTV Video Music Awards on September 9th in Las Vegas. It's all rumors until the big show and MTV loves to have surprises.

Michael Vick Pleads Guilty

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick will take a deal and plead guilty for his part in the dogfighting scandal. He could face up to five years in prison but he will likely serve 12 to 18 months. The details of his plea bargain should be released by late November. I suggest you don't draft him in your fantasy football league. See the story here.

Photo courtesy of nytimes.com

Jennifer Garner Is Coming To Broadway

Alias fans rejoice! Jennifer Garner is coming to Broadway this Fall to star as Roxanne in a revival of the play Cyrano De Bergerac. Kevin Kline is also set to star. The show goes into previews in October.

Janeane Garofalo Joins 24

Comedienne Janeane Garofalo will join the cast of 24 for their upcoming season as a series regular. The unlikely casting will show Garofalo as an FBI agent. 24's seventh season starts in January.

Check It Out

One of my favorite shows is on DVD today.

Check out the award winning Ugly Betty Season 1 Today!

Pollspot: The Ever So Important Iowa

We all know that Iowa is a very important primary state. Most polls show a 3 way tie between Obama, Clinton, and Edwards. This new poll shows Hillary rising and Barack falling. Sounds good to me! However, be wary of all these polls.

Iowa:

A new NewsMax/Zogby poll in Iowa shows Sen. Hillary Clinton leading the Democratic presidential race with 30% support, followed by John Edwards at 23% and Sen. Barack Obama at 19%.

"Clinton's move up in Iowa replicates what she has done nationally, building a powerhouse campaign and benefiting in part from the positive opinions of her husband."

Courtesy of Political Wire

K-Fed turns to TV

Kevin Federline has landed a multi-arc guest appearance on The CW's One Tree Hill this coming season. Expect the show to be cancelled soon after (joking).

Seacrest and the Emmys

FOX has announced that American Idol host Ryan Seacrest will host next month's primetime Emmy Awards. Seacrest will also host the upcoming Super Bowl pre-show and half-time show.

Pollspot: Romney Rising

According to Political Wire:

Mitt Romney "has enjoyed a modest improvement in his standing among Republicans over the last two weeks" in the latest Gallup Poll. In the GOP presidential race, the former Massachusetts governor jumped from 8% to 14% support among likely primary voters.Washington Wire notes Romney received a similar bounce in the last Q-poll.

Romney has been leading in three of the four early states in the presidential race: Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada. His victory in last week's Iowa straw poll may have helped him in this latest national poll.

Like I said...I really believe Mitt Romney will be the GOP nominee.

VMA 2007: Nelly Furtado

MTV announced more performers for the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards. Nelly Furtado has been added to the line-up. She joins Justin Timberlake, Rihanna, Amy Winehouse and more. Timbaland is serving as "maestro" for the September 9th ceremony in Las Vegas.

Kristin Bell is a Hero

Former Veronica Mars star Kristin Bell is joining the cast episode of NBC's Heroes for a multi-episode ark.

Box Office Report

Superbad rules the box office this weekend. The new comedy was the number 1 film taking in an estimated $31,200,000. Nicole Kidman's new pic The Invasion did not do so well despite a wide release. Congratulations to Hairspray for passing the $100 million mark domestically!

Here are the top 5 courtesy of Box Office Mojo:

1. Superbad - $31,200,000
2. Rush Hour 3 - $21,830,000
3. The Bourne Ultimatum - $18,896,000
4. The Simpsons Movie - $6,675,000
5. The Invasion - $6,000,000

Miners Unlikely To Be Found

Sad news out of Utah as the owner of the mine where the miners have been trapped for nearly two weeks says it is unlikely that the six trapped miners will ever be recovered. Three rescue workers were killed trying to recover the 6 miners this past week. For more on the story go here.

New Music From Rilo Kiley

Indie band Rilo Kiley comes out with Under the Blacklight, their first major label release, this week. I'm in love with their last CD More Adventurous so I was super excited to hear about this new one. Rilo Kiley is known for their mixture of rock, disco, country, folk and pop, as well as lead singer Jenny Lewis. Critics are calling the new CD glossy and poppy, but still full of substance for their more devoted fans. I'm not exactly a regular on the indie music scene but I think Under the Blacklight is fantastic, and I think you'll like it too. Especially check out songs Silver Lining, The Moneymaker, and Under the Blacklight. Stream the entire album on their myspace, or buy it on iTunes this week.

High School Musical 2 Dents Cable

Everyone knew High School Musical 2 would be huge...but even Disney didn't expect it to be so huge. According to Variety, the premiere of HSM2 last night drew an impressive 17.2 million viewers making it the most-watched cable telecast ever (including sports). Disney is taking HSM straight to the bank. A third installment of High School Musical is already planned scheduled for a theater release next year.

Zac Efron to be Seventeen

The Green Room can report that Zac Efron is signed on to star in his first big-screen non-musical leading man role. Efron will star in the New Line movie Seventeen. In the film, a 36-year-old man wakes up in the body of a high school senior (Zac Efron). This film sounds a lot like Big and 13 Going on 30 in reverse.

Hurricane Dean Approaches

The United States and Mexico are bracing for impact as Hurricane Dean makes it way closer to the Gulf of Mexico. The first Category 5 storm of the season is expected to strike Jamaica in a few hours. Forecasters are unclear as to where the hurricane is headed. It seems like there have been so many disaster stories recently with bridge collapses, earthquakes, trapped miners, airline crashes, and now this hurricane, which is bound to damage somewhere.