‘Dear John’ Dethrones ‘Avatar’

“Dear John” ended “Avatar’s” seven-week reign at the top of the North American box office over the weekend, according to early estimates. The film, an adaptation of the Nicholas Sparks’ novel about a soldier who falls in love with a college student, made $32.4 million on its debut weekend. The movie, starring Channing Tatum and Amanda Seyfried, has received largely negative reviews but managed to dethrone “Avatar,” the highest-grossing film in history, with more than $3 billion worldwide. James Cameron’s film, which earned nine nominations for next month’s Oscars, earned another $23.6 million over the weekend.

MJ’s Doctor To Be Charged Today

Dr. Conrad Murray will face involuntary manslaughter charges in Los Angles today. Law enforcement sources tell TMZ that Michael Jackson’s former personal physician will voluntarily walk into the courthouse with a bail bondsman for his arraignment this afternoon. News of the charges against the cardiologist emerged after a press conference on Friday, when the Los Angeles district attorney’s office announced they would be filing charges related to the death of Jackson today. While Murray was not specifically named, numerous media outlets have confirmed that he is the one facing charges. The charge stems from Murray’s role in administering drugs to Jackson before his death on June 25th. Murray’s attorney said the doctor will plead not guilty

‘DWTS’ Cast To Be Announced During ‘The Bachelor’ Finale

Tom Bergeron will announce the new cast of “Dancing With the Stars” during the season finale of “The Bachelor” on March 1st. Bergeron will announce names one at a time throughout the show. ABC.com will post each name right after Bergeron announces it. The entire list of celebs will be posted after “The Bachelor” finale has ended. The new season of “Dancing With the Stars” begins March 22nd.

Former ‘Boston Legal’ Actor Dies In Crash

An actor who appeared on “Boston Legal” was been killed in an SUV crash in Wisconsin. He was 27. The Iowa County Sheriff’s Department says Justin Mentell was killed when his SUV went down an embankment off Highway 39 near Blanchardville and hit two trees. The crash was reported around 8:30 a.m. Monday. Officials said Mentell wasn’t wearing a seat belt. Mentell portrayed attorney Garrett Wells on “Boston Legal” from 2005 to 2006. He also played Terrell in the 2009 Disney movie “G-Force.”

‘Jaws’ Producer Dies

Hollywood producer David Brown has died. The Oscar-nominated producer passed away Monday at his home in Manhattan following a long illness. He was 93. A statement was released following his death by the Hearst Corporation, which owns Cosmopolitan, the magazine he once worked for alongside his wife, longtime editor Helen Gurley Brown. As a producer, Brown was nominated for the Best Picture Oscar four times, for “Jaws” in 1975; “The Verdict” in 1982; “A Few Good Men” in 1992; and “Chocolat” in 2000.

‘Andy Griffith’ Producer Dies

Aaron Ruben, who produced such TV hits as “The Andy Griffith Show,” “Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C.” and “Sanford and Son,” has died. His son, Tom Ruben, says his father died Saturday at his Beverly Hills home from complications of pneumonia. He was 95.

Jim Carrey And Ewan McGregor Smooch

Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor were named knights in France’s National Order of Arts and Letters on Monday. They were so elated that they gave each other a big kiss while at the Ministry of Culture in Paris, France. The honor is recognition of their significant contribution to the arts. French Culture Minister Frederic Mitterrand honored the two actors, telling them that French moviegoers love their work. “I love you Jim Carrey! I love you Ewan McGregor!” Mitterrand declared. The actors were in Paris to promote “I Love You Phillip Morris,” a gay romance that features Carrey as a con who falls in love with his cellmate.

Super Bowl Ads Sold Out

CBS says it has sold all the commercial spots for Sunday’s Super Bowl between the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts. Advertisers like Anheuser-Busch, Volkswagen, Dr. Pepper, Chrysler, Dockers, Kia Motors America, Unilever, Teleflora, Home Away, Qualcomm’s mobile television service Flo TV, KGB texting information service and the evangelical Christian group Focus on the Family paid anywhere from $2.5 million to more than $3 million per spot. A total of more than $200 million will be spent on ads that air before, during and after the game.

Oscar Nods

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has released the Oscar nominations for the 82nd Annual Academy Awards. The Oscar Nominations include 10 movies in the Best Picture Category this year. The 82nd Oscars will be presented March 7th on ABC. Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin will host. The major nominees:



Best Picture: “Avatar,” “The Blind Side,” “District 9,” “An Education,” “The Hurt Locker,” “Inglourious Basterds,” “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire,” “A Serious Man,” “Up” and “Up in the Air.”

Best Actor: Jeff Bridges - “Crazy Heart,” George Clooney - “Up in the Air,” Colin Firth – “A Single Man,” Morgan Freeman – “Invictus” and Jeremy Renner – “The Hurt Locker.”

Best Actress: Sandra Bullock – “The Blind Side,” Helen Mirren – “The Last Station,” Carey Mulligan – “An Education,” Gabourey Sidibe – “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” and Meryl Streep – “Julie & Julia.”

Best Supporting Actor: Matt Damon – “Invictus,” Woody Harrelson – “The Messenger,” Christopher Plummer – “The Last Station,” Stanley Tucci – “The Lovely Bones” and Christoph Waltz – “Inglourious Basterds.”

Best Supporting Actress: Penelope Cruz – “Nine,” Vera Farmiga – “Up in the Air,” Maggie Gyllenhaal in “Crazy Heart,” Anna Kendrick – “Up in the Air” and Mo’Nique – “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire.”

Best Director: James Cameron – “Avatar,” Kathryn Bigelow – “The Hurt Locker,” Quentin Tarantino – “Inglourious Basterds,” Lee Daniels – “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” and Jason Reitman – “Up in the Air.”

Best Foreign Language Film: “Ajami” – Israel, “El Secreto de Sus Ojos” – Argentina, “The Milk of Sorrow” – Peru, “Un Prophit” – France and “The White Ribbon” – Germany.

Best Animated Feature: “Coraline,” “Fantastic Mr. Fox,” “The Princess and the Frog,” “The Secret of Kells” and “Up.”

Best Original Screenplay: “The Hurt Locker,” “Inglourious Basterds,” “The Messenger,” “A Serious Man” and “Up.”

Best Adapted Screenplay: “District 9,” “An Education,” “In the Loop,” “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” and “Up in the Air.”

Best Documentary Feature: “Burma VJ,” “The Cove,” “Food, Inc.,” “The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers” and “Which Way Home.”

Best Documentary Short: “China’s Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan Province,” “The Last Campaign of Governor Booth Gardner,” “The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant,” “Music by Prudence” and “Rabbit a la Berlin.”

Best Original Score: “Avatar,” “Fantastic Mr. Fox,” “The Hurt Locker,” “Sherlock Holmes” and “Up.”

Best Original Song: “Almost There” from “The Princess and the Frog,” “Down in New Orleans” from “The Princess and the Frog,” “Loin de Paname” from “Paris 36,” “Take It All” from “Nine” and “The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)” from “Crazy Heart.”

Best Animated Short: “French Roast,” “Granny O’Grimm’s Sleeping Beauty,” “The Lady and the Reaper (La Dama y la Muerte),” “Logorama” and “A Matter of Loaf and Death.”

Best Live Action Short: “The Door,” “Instead of Abracadabra,” “Kavi,” “Miracle Fish” and “The New Tenants.”

Best Visual Effects: “Avatar,” “District 9” and “Star Trek.”

Jesse James’ Porn Star Ex Denied Visitation Rights

Sandra Bullock and her husband Jesse James continue their court battle with Jesse’s ex-wife, porn star Janine Lindemulder. The judge denied Lindemulder visitation rights to see Sunny, her six-year-old daughter who has lived with her father and Bullock since January 2009. Bullock has been helping James raise Sunny for the past year while the adult film actress was in prison for tax evasion. She served six months in jail and was released in July.

Samantha Harris Quits 'Dancing'

“Dancing with the Stars” co-host Samantha Harris will not be returning to the dance competition’s 10th season, ABC said yesterday. The latest edition of the series premieres March 22nd. Tom Bergeron will return as the show’s co-host, but a replacement for Harris has not been announced yet. No reason was given for her departure.

Parents TV Council Honors Tim Conway

The Parents Television Council has presented actor and comedian Tim Conway with its PTC Integrity in Entertainment Award. The organization said the prize recognizes “individuals and corporations who have demonstrated a longstanding commitment to creating, distributing and sponsoring quality entertainment that is free from graphic and gratuitous sex, violence and profanity.” Conway is also a PTC advisory board member. The 76-year-old is best known for his work on “The Steve Allen Show,” “McHale’s Navy” and “The Carol Burnett Show.” Conway also starred in a series of his own TV shows and has won five Emmy Awards.