Now that the adaptation of James Dashner's "The Scorch Trials" is two-thirds done, and the final installments of "The Hunger Games" and "Divergent" are coming, it's time to think about which young-adult books will translate well to the big screen.
And we're not just going to list the obvious, like name all of John Green's books (although "Looking for Alaska" is already in pre-production). We're going straight to the source - fellow young adult authors, many of whom have their own titles optioned and in the works.
Here are 14 Ya and children's authors' picks for the books they wish would get green lit.
1. Gayle Forman, author of "If I Stay"
"I would love to see Matt de la Peña's 'The Living' turned into a film. It follows a young man, named Shy, who works as a towel boy on a cruise ship that's sunk by a tsunami.
And we're not just going to list the obvious, like name all of John Green's books (although "Looking for Alaska" is already in pre-production). We're going straight to the source - fellow young adult authors, many of whom have their own titles optioned and in the works.
Here are 14 Ya and children's authors' picks for the books they wish would get green lit.
1. Gayle Forman, author of "If I Stay"
"I would love to see Matt de la Peña's 'The Living' turned into a film. It follows a young man, named Shy, who works as a towel boy on a cruise ship that's sunk by a tsunami.
- 10/9/2015
- by Sandie Angulo Chen
- Moviefone
The Hard Times Of Rj Berger creators David Katzenberg and Seth Grahame-Smith have re-teamed for a new comedy series project, The Day I Turned Uncool, which has been set up at NBC through Sony Pictures Television. Written by Lauren Miller Rogen and Alanna Thompson, the comedy is based on the book The Day I Turned Uncool: Confessions Of A Reluctant Grown-Up by Dan Zevin. It follows a group of five best friends who've crossed the line from Pabst to Pinot and realize they're…...
- 10/5/2015
- Deadline TV
Broadway In Chicago and producers Starvox Entertainment and June Entertainment have announced the full cast for Sherlock Holmes. James Maslow, the actor and singer perhaps best known for playing the role of James Diamond in Nickelodeon's 'Big Time Rush' and a member of the band with the same name, will star as the legendary Dr. John Watson, along with Renne Olstead, best known for her role as Lauren Miller in the TV sitcom 'Still Standing,' and as Madison Cooperstein in 'The Secret Life of the American Teenager,' as the well-to-do-American, Lady Irene St. John, opposite David Arquette in the title role as Sherlock Holmes. The two actors will make their stage debuts in this new and original adaptation inspired by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's classic tales by playwright Greg Kramer and directed by Andrew Shaver scheduled to play Chicago's Oriental Theatre 24 W Randolph...
- 9/29/2015
- by BWW News Desk
- BroadwayWorld.com
Friendship, past loves, and the burden of living in New York City as an artist meet in “Growing Up & Other Lies,” an “anti-coming-of-age comedy” from the directors of “Humboldt County.” The Manhattan-centric movie stars Adam Brody, Wyatt Cenac, Danny Jacobs, Josh Lawson, Amber Tamblyn, and Lauren Miller, and is about a man leaving New York who takes his best friends on a walking tour of their greatest memories. Here’s the official synopsis: After struggling for years as an artist in New York City, Jake is calling it quits and returning home to Ohio. On his last day in the city, he persuades his three oldest friends to help him retrace their greatest adventure together: a walk down the entire length of Manhattan. But their attempt to reclaim the glory of their early 20s doesn’t go quite as planned. Over the course of the day, buried conflicts emerge as...
- 2/19/2015
- by Edward Davis
- The Playlist
Sarah Silverman once told an interviewer that she'd always wanted to play the kind of role that Bill Murray used to play in the 1970s — the unflappable trickster smartasses women are never invited to portray.
Fortunately, a lot of women comics are writing and producing their own comedies now; Lauren Miller and Jamie Travis collaborated on last year's sweet For a Good Time, Call . . ., and Tina Fey is basically the boss of TV.
In Ass Backwards, Ucb alums June Diane Raphael and Casey Wilson write and portray characters that shouldn't be mistaken for standard ditzy femme-com airheads. Kate and Chloe are exactly the kinds of overwrought dimwits Will Ferrell plays, freakishly egocentric with enormous psychic gaps where their self-awareness should be. In hei...
Fortunately, a lot of women comics are writing and producing their own comedies now; Lauren Miller and Jamie Travis collaborated on last year's sweet For a Good Time, Call . . ., and Tina Fey is basically the boss of TV.
In Ass Backwards, Ucb alums June Diane Raphael and Casey Wilson write and portray characters that shouldn't be mistaken for standard ditzy femme-com airheads. Kate and Chloe are exactly the kinds of overwrought dimwits Will Ferrell plays, freakishly egocentric with enormous psychic gaps where their self-awareness should be. In hei...
- 11/5/2013
- Village Voice
This Teen Reads Tuesday, there are more than a half dozen new Young Adult fiction titles hitting shelves! Alex Flinn, who’s known for her “Beastly” adaptation of “Beauty & the Beast” has done it again with “Towering,” a reinterpretation of “Rapunzel.” Meanwhile, debut author Lauren Miller has been getting some attention for her new release, “Parallel,” the book trailer for which is pretty vexing indeed, and there are several others hitting shelves as well. Attached are the cover images and plot descriptors for “Parallel” by Lauren Miller, “Winger” by Andrew Smith, “Towering” by Alex Finn, “The Year of Luminous Love” by Lurlene McDaniel, “The Cydonian Pyramid” (“Klaatu Diskos Series #2”) by Pete Hautman, “The Beautiful and the ...
- 5/14/2013
- by thetwilightexaminer
- Twilight Examiner
We’re getting closer to some better releases this week but still nothing to drool over. Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Pena star in End of Watch about some cops and Lauren Miller and Ari Graynor star in For a Good Time, Call. Ehh, that’s about it for this week’s releases but the future looks on the up and up.
End of Watch
Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Pena, Anna Kendrick. Directed by David Ayer...
End of Watch
Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Pena, Anna Kendrick. Directed by David Ayer...
- 1/22/2013
- by Jonathan Silva
- GetTheBigPicture.net
I don't believe in feeling guilt over what movies I like. Many critics and bloggers and other people who get to say with a straight face that they get paid to think about movies all day will tell you all about "important" movies and other milestones they feel are underappreciated by mainstream audiences, but I personally don't feel like I'm above having a good time at the movie theater.
You won't see "Zero Dark Thirty" on this list, nor will you find "The Master," though I saw both and enjoyed them and took something away from them. They just aren't movies that I can see myself wanting to enjoy again (ever again), unlike the 10 titles that made my admittedly somewhat fluffy year-end list.
2012 was a banner year for movies, and the hits just keep coming (thanks for the time off, winter break! You would need to call in sick to...
You won't see "Zero Dark Thirty" on this list, nor will you find "The Master," though I saw both and enjoyed them and took something away from them. They just aren't movies that I can see myself wanting to enjoy again (ever again), unlike the 10 titles that made my admittedly somewhat fluffy year-end list.
2012 was a banner year for movies, and the hits just keep coming (thanks for the time off, winter break! You would need to call in sick to...
- 12/20/2012
- by Kase Wickman
- NextMovie
The Master | Rust And Bone | Keep The Lights On | Excision | Fun Size | Call Me Kuchu | Silent Hill: Revelation | Tempest | For A Good Time, Call … | Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana | The Rocky Horror Picture Show | The Shining
The Master (12)
(Paul Thomas Anderson, 2012, Us) Joaquin Phoenix, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, Laura Dern, Jesse Plemons. 144 mins
Anderson has now entered that realm where everything he does is expected to be a masterpiece. This certainly feels like one. Like There Will Be Blood, it explores a big subject (a Scientology-like cult) via two contrasting men: Hoffman as the Hubbard-ish leader; Phoenix as a drunken, damaged drifter. Those expecting a straightforward story – tough. You're getting a "masterpiece".
Rust And Bone (15)
(Jacques Audiard, 2012, Fra/Bel) Marion Cotillard, Armand Verdure. 123 mins
As he did with A Prophet, Audiard makes us care so much about his characters we'll follow them anywhere. This time it's a study of physical and mental frailty,...
The Master (12)
(Paul Thomas Anderson, 2012, Us) Joaquin Phoenix, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, Laura Dern, Jesse Plemons. 144 mins
Anderson has now entered that realm where everything he does is expected to be a masterpiece. This certainly feels like one. Like There Will Be Blood, it explores a big subject (a Scientology-like cult) via two contrasting men: Hoffman as the Hubbard-ish leader; Phoenix as a drunken, damaged drifter. Those expecting a straightforward story – tough. You're getting a "masterpiece".
Rust And Bone (15)
(Jacques Audiard, 2012, Fra/Bel) Marion Cotillard, Armand Verdure. 123 mins
As he did with A Prophet, Audiard makes us care so much about his characters we'll follow them anywhere. This time it's a study of physical and mental frailty,...
- 11/3/2012
- by Steve Rose
- The Guardian - Film News
It starts out as a modern-gal Odd Couple as two hard-up New Yorkers are forced to become roommates: Lauren (Lauren Miller: 50/50) is the boring vanilla one; Katie (Ari Graynor: The Sitter) is the nasty sexy one; can they share an admittedly huge Manhattan apartment without driving each other crazy? But then it morphs into something that it clearly hopes we’ll all tag “that cute phone-sex comedy” as the two women collaborate on an entrepreneurial enterprise to get horny guys off without having to touch them, or indeed even be in the same city as them: Lauren is the business brains, Katie the dirty talker. What saves this ultimately charming indie -- the debut feature from Canadian filmmaker Jamie Travis -- from its inescapable sitcomishness and an over-reliance on some tired stereotypes is that it does manage genuine cuteness in a realm that has enormous potential to be icky and crude.
- 11/2/2012
- by MaryAnn Johanson
- www.flickfilosopher.com
All of the week's hot casting news in one fell swoop ...
Ewan McGregor is looking to play the bad guy again, following his sleazy turn earlier this year in "Haywire." Deadline reports that the "Trainspotting" star is set to star in "Son of a Gun," an Australia crime thriller that chronicles the complex relationship between a notorious criminal (McGregor) and his young protege. That's not all for McGregor — he'll also be joining Kate Hudson for the showbiz comedy, "Born to Be King," according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Penelope Cruz is going to teach us about clothes ... and murder! The "Bandidas" beauty is in talks to star in "Gucci," a drama about the Italian family behind the legendary clothing brand in which she would play Patrizia Reggiani, who was jailed for 29 years for allegedly ordering the 1995 murder of her ex-husband and heir to the family empire, Maurizio Gucci.
Anton Yelchin got...
Ewan McGregor is looking to play the bad guy again, following his sleazy turn earlier this year in "Haywire." Deadline reports that the "Trainspotting" star is set to star in "Son of a Gun," an Australia crime thriller that chronicles the complex relationship between a notorious criminal (McGregor) and his young protege. That's not all for McGregor — he'll also be joining Kate Hudson for the showbiz comedy, "Born to Be King," according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Penelope Cruz is going to teach us about clothes ... and murder! The "Bandidas" beauty is in talks to star in "Gucci," a drama about the Italian family behind the legendary clothing brand in which she would play Patrizia Reggiani, who was jailed for 29 years for allegedly ordering the 1995 murder of her ex-husband and heir to the family empire, Maurizio Gucci.
Anton Yelchin got...
- 10/19/2012
- by Bryan Enk
- NextMovie
Josh Lawson, Adam Brody, Wyatt Cenac, Amber Tamblyn, Danny Jacobs and Lauren Miller are all joining the indie ensemble comedy "Growing Up (and Other Lies)" which is currently shooting in New York City says Variety.
Lawson plays a 30 year old guy who, on his last day in New York City before he moves back home to the Midwest, recruits his three oldest friends to help him retrace their greatest adventure.
The trio walk the entire, 260-block length of Manhattan in one day. Jacobs and Darren Grodsky helm from their own script. Nicole Lederman, Katie Mustard and Jason Weiss will produce.
Lawson plays a 30 year old guy who, on his last day in New York City before he moves back home to the Midwest, recruits his three oldest friends to help him retrace their greatest adventure.
The trio walk the entire, 260-block length of Manhattan in one day. Jacobs and Darren Grodsky helm from their own script. Nicole Lederman, Katie Mustard and Jason Weiss will produce.
- 10/17/2012
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
The island of Manhattan is 260 blocks long and Adam Brody, Wyatt Cenac, Josh Lawson, Danny Jacobs and Lauren Miller have all teamed up to cross it. It has been reported that all of those actors have signed on to play parts in Growing Up (and Other Lies), a new indie ensemble comedy. Written and directed by Jacobs and Darren Grodsky, the film is about a 30 year old guy who makes the decision to leave New York City and move back home to the Midwest where he will take over the family business.. Before he does so, however, he has to live up to a promise he made to his three best friends: they must walk the entire length of Manhattan in one day. Variety posted the casting news, but outside of Lawson, who will be playing the lead, no character details are given for the other actors. Grodsky and Jacobs...
- 10/17/2012
- cinemablend.com
Here's the fantasy: David Beckham, all abs and muscles and sexy smile, shows up at your front door. Some would invite him inside. "I would drop him off at the pound," Olivia Wilde told the audience gathered in N.Y.C. at Monday night's These Girls monologue reading, hosted by Glamour magazine. Her hypothetical decision, however, isn't a jab at Beckham's sex appeal as much as a sweet nod to her current relationship with Jason Sudeikis, who sat in the audience to hear Wilde's self-penned, no-holds-barred recollection of her divorce, her body and, of course, her sex life. Although she didn't reference Sudeikis,...
- 10/9/2012
- by Alison Schwartz
- PEOPLE.com
Los Angeles — Call it The "Bridesmaids" Effect: Ever since the R-rated 2011 comedy became a runaway hit, taking in more than $280 million worldwide and earning Oscar nods for actress Melissa McCarthy and writers Kristin Wiig and Annie Mumolo, a rash of female-written comedies are enticing viewers with provocative new characters who are more like women we know.
The latest is "Pitch Perfect," written by "30 Rock" and "New Girl" scribe Kay Cannon and starring a cast of comediennes including Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Anna Camp and Brittany Snow. The musical comedy, which counts Elizabeth Banks among its producers, focuses on the competitive world of college a cappella. Full of music and laughs, the story centers on the Bellas, an all-female group of singing misfits.
"'Bridesmaids' I think opened up a door to allow women to show a bunch of different women in different ways of being funny. It was kind of like an arrival moment,...
The latest is "Pitch Perfect," written by "30 Rock" and "New Girl" scribe Kay Cannon and starring a cast of comediennes including Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Anna Camp and Brittany Snow. The musical comedy, which counts Elizabeth Banks among its producers, focuses on the competitive world of college a cappella. Full of music and laughs, the story centers on the Bellas, an all-female group of singing misfits.
"'Bridesmaids' I think opened up a door to allow women to show a bunch of different women in different ways of being funny. It was kind of like an arrival moment,...
- 9/28/2012
- by AP
- Huffington Post
Easily the best science fiction movie since Inception, Looper is a highly original time travel movie about hitmen whose targets are sent to them from the future. Things become life-threatening for a hit man named Joe (played by Johnson muse Joseph Gordon-Levitt) when he fails to kill his older self from 30 years in the future (played by Bruce Willis).
This is Rian Johnson’s third film that he has written and directed, with indie breakout hit Brick and the quirky Brothers Bloom coming before it. For those following at home, Johnson has also directed two episodes of “Breaking Bad.”
In a roundtable interview, I discussed with Johnson the importance of story in science fiction, the difference between “entertainment” and “spectacle,” the reason for Looper’s many awesome left turns, and more.
Looper opens wide on September 28.
‘Looper’ is heavy on the science-fiction, but the characters and their emotions are such...
This is Rian Johnson’s third film that he has written and directed, with indie breakout hit Brick and the quirky Brothers Bloom coming before it. For those following at home, Johnson has also directed two episodes of “Breaking Bad.”
In a roundtable interview, I discussed with Johnson the importance of story in science fiction, the difference between “entertainment” and “spectacle,” the reason for Looper’s many awesome left turns, and more.
Looper opens wide on September 28.
‘Looper’ is heavy on the science-fiction, but the characters and their emotions are such...
- 9/26/2012
- by Nick Allen
- The Scorecard Review
Titled after the snarky tune sung by Groucho Marx in the Marx Bros. film Animal Crackers, Hello I Must Be Going is the story of a 30-something woman who becomes re-dependent on her parents after the catastrophe of her divorce. Her emotional slump is changed when she starts a relationship with a young man who happens to be her father’s client’s son (played by Christopher Abbott, from “Girls”). Equally emotionally honest and sexy, the film directed by Todd Louiso and written by Sarah Koskoff proves that this memorable actress is well-deserving of more lead roles in her colorful filmography’s future.
Making her debut in 1994 opposite Kate Winslet in Peter Jackson’s Heavenly Creatures, Lynskey has become a familiar face to both the independent and mainstream film world, appearing in movies like Up in the Air, The Informant!, Sweet Home Alabama, Away We Go, and soon The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
Making her debut in 1994 opposite Kate Winslet in Peter Jackson’s Heavenly Creatures, Lynskey has become a familiar face to both the independent and mainstream film world, appearing in movies like Up in the Air, The Informant!, Sweet Home Alabama, Away We Go, and soon The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
- 9/26/2012
- by Nick Allen
- The Scorecard Review
We're guessing that there are very few topics that the ladies of "The View" (Weekdays, 10 a.m. Et on ABC) would shy away from discussing on air, thanks to the mix of outspoken personalities in the group.
So it's no surprise that when Ari Graynor and Lauren Miller, stars of the newly released movie "For A Good Time, Call," visited the show, the co-hosts were more than willing to practice their own dirty talk in the style of the risque comedy (in which Graynor and Miller's characters start a phone sex line to help pay the rent on their lavish New York apartment).
Graynor and Miller imparted plenty of wisdom, and Whoopi Goldberg was happy to demonstrate her own skills for the crowd (the Oscar-winning actress has previously admitted that she used to work as a phone sex operator before her acting career took off). Even Elisabeth Hasselbeck got in on the act,...
So it's no surprise that when Ari Graynor and Lauren Miller, stars of the newly released movie "For A Good Time, Call," visited the show, the co-hosts were more than willing to practice their own dirty talk in the style of the risque comedy (in which Graynor and Miller's characters start a phone sex line to help pay the rent on their lavish New York apartment).
Graynor and Miller imparted plenty of wisdom, and Whoopi Goldberg was happy to demonstrate her own skills for the crowd (the Oscar-winning actress has previously admitted that she used to work as a phone sex operator before her acting career took off). Even Elisabeth Hasselbeck got in on the act,...
- 9/15/2012
- by Laura Prudom
- Huffington Post
We're guessing that there are very few topics that the ladies of "The View" (Weekdays, 10 a.m. Et on ABC) would shy away from discussing on air, thanks to the mix of outspoken personalities in the group.
So it's no surprise that when Ari Graynor and Lauren Miller, stars of the newly released movie "For A Good Time, Call," visited the show, the co-hosts were more than willing to practice their own dirty talk in the style of the risque comedy (in which Graynor and Miller's characters start a phone sex line to help pay the rent on their lavish New York apartment).
Graynor and Miller imparted plenty of wisdom, and Whoopi Goldberg was happy to demonstrate her own skills for the crowd (the Oscar-winning actress has previously admitted that she used to work as a phone sex operator before her acting career took off). Even Elisabeth Hasselbeck got in on the act,...
So it's no surprise that when Ari Graynor and Lauren Miller, stars of the newly released movie "For A Good Time, Call," visited the show, the co-hosts were more than willing to practice their own dirty talk in the style of the risque comedy (in which Graynor and Miller's characters start a phone sex line to help pay the rent on their lavish New York apartment).
Graynor and Miller imparted plenty of wisdom, and Whoopi Goldberg was happy to demonstrate her own skills for the crowd (the Oscar-winning actress has previously admitted that she used to work as a phone sex operator before her acting career took off). Even Elisabeth Hasselbeck got in on the act,...
- 9/14/2012
- by Laura Prudom
- Aol TV.
In what could very well be the best romantic comedy of 2012, For a Good Time, Call... turns the notion of the rom-com on its head. And the movie doesn't do it in a way that has to majorly push the envelope with an overly sexual (or homosexual) agenda. It does it from the way the best relationships begin, with friendship.
Co-writer/actress Lauren Miller and her co-star Ari Graynor anchor this ultra-charming film about how a beautiful friendship can develop despite a few differences when a thriving business is involved. It also proves that nothing can bring two women together like phone sex. Lots and lots of dirty phone sex.
Lauren (Miller) is one half of a boring couple. They lead boring lives, have boring friends, and have boring sex. When her boyfriend takes off to work for the summer in Italy, it seems the perfect time to take a break,...
Co-writer/actress Lauren Miller and her co-star Ari Graynor anchor this ultra-charming film about how a beautiful friendship can develop despite a few differences when a thriving business is involved. It also proves that nothing can bring two women together like phone sex. Lots and lots of dirty phone sex.
Lauren (Miller) is one half of a boring couple. They lead boring lives, have boring friends, and have boring sex. When her boyfriend takes off to work for the summer in Italy, it seems the perfect time to take a break,...
- 9/8/2012
- by J.C. De Leon
- Slackerwood
Watch a new behind-the-scenes featurette from For A Good Time, Call with Ari Graynor, Lauren Miller and Justin Long who, as well as director Jamie Traveis. We highly recommend the Focus Features comedy expands into select theaters from September 7th, and September 14th, and also includes James Wolk, Nia Vardalos and Mark Webber. In For a Good Time, Call...the reserved Lauren (played by Lauren Anne Miller) and the irrepressible Katie (Ari Graynor) are polar opposites... and past enemies. But when both come up short on the funds needed to afford their dream New York City apartment a mutual friend (Justin Long) re-introduces them and they reluctantly agree to room together. These apartment-mates have nothing in common - until Lauren discovers that Katie is working as a phone-sex operator, and recognizes a good business opportunity. But as their business partnership takes off, their newfound friendship finds unexpected challenges that may leave them both,...
- 9/6/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Watch a new behind-the-scenes featurette from For A Good Time, Call with Ari Graynor, Lauren Miller and Justin Long who, as well as director Jamie Traveis. We highly recommend the Focus Features comedy expands into select theaters from September 7th, and September 14th, and also includes James Wolk, Nia Vardalos and Mark Webber. In For a Good Time, Call...the reserved Lauren (played by Lauren Anne Miller) and the irrepressible Katie (Ari Graynor) are polar opposites... and past enemies. But when both come up short on the funds needed to afford their dream New York City apartment a mutual friend (Justin Long) re-introduces them and they reluctantly agree to room together. These apartment-mates have nothing in common - until Lauren discovers that Katie is working as a phone-sex operator, and recognizes a good business opportunity. But as their business partnership takes off, their newfound friendship finds unexpected challenges that may leave them both,...
- 9/6/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
As difficult as the ins-and-outs of solid female friendships may be to navigate in real life, they prove even more difficult in the movies. Or so Hollywood would have us all think, given the dearth of attention it has historically paid to ladycentric films - especially the buddy comedy, which For a Good Time, Call... ostensibly is. Following in the wake of last year's monster-smash Bridesmaids and the continued success of tubular programming from the likes of Tina Fey and Lena Dunham, stiletto-heeled change may finally be afoot. We seem to be experiencing a similar zeitgeist to Lilith Fair in the 90s, except funnier. When sweet but boring Lauren (Lauren Miller) breaks up with her longtime beau, she turns to her gay bestie Jesse (Justin...
- 9/4/2012
- Screen Anarchy
Hey, running a phone sex hotline isn’t easy, you know. There is training, phone handling, and, ah, other things. Thankfully, in director Jamie Travis’s “For a Good Time, Call…”, Ari Graynor is an old pro and she’s there to teach her protege Lauren Miller the tricks of the trade. Apparently this involves lots of moaning and jamming stuff into places. Check out a new Red Band clip from the raunchy comedy. The reserved Lauren (played by Lauren Anne Miller) and the irrepressible Katie (Ari Graynor) are polar opposites… and past enemies. But when both come up short on the funds needed to afford their dream New York City apartment a mutual friend (Justin Long) re-introduces them and they reluctantly agree to room together. These apartment-mates have nothing in common – until Lauren discovers that Katie is working as a phone-sex operator, and recognizes a good business opportunity. But...
- 8/30/2012
- by Nix
- Beyond Hollywood
Our Five Favorite Movie Phone-Sex Scenes Oh, we just stepped out of the shower. What are you wearing? By Alisa MacKay This week, Ari Graynor, Lauren Miller, and Justin Long star in For A Good Time, Call..., a new comedy about female roommates who start a phone-sex line. So we picked out a few of our favorite phone-sex scenes for your delectation. 1. Get Carter (Mike Hodges, 1971) According to us, this is one of the fifty hottest sex scenes in a movie, period. And it's not hard to see why it made the list, when you take in Michael Caine's voice, his unwavering stare at his uninvolved landlady, his desire so single-minded that he doesn't care whom he may weird out. Britt Ekland's breathy, sweaty response is completely understandable. Next: "At one point, a co-worker asks her if she's having orgasms with her clients...&[...]...
- 8/30/2012
- by Alisa MacKay
- Nerve
"For a Good Time, Call..." could be alternately titled "What People Will Do for an Apartment in New York." And the answer is pretty much anything, whether that be running a phone sex business or living with someone you hate for spilling pee on you. Note that in the world of "For a Good Time, Call..." "anything" does not include looking for a place in (gasp!) Brooklyn. Anyway, Lauren Powell (Lauren Miller) has just been dumped by her boyfriend (James Wolk) for being boring, and since her sex talk revolved around their sheets' thread count, we don't really blame him. With no job and no money, she's forced to move into the Gramercy Park apartment of Katie (Ari Graynor). Katie is in dire straits herself since her former roommate/grandmother died, reverting the gorgeous apartment's rent-controlled status and raising the monthly bill. Despite the beautiful two bedroom, the women aren't happy to be living together.
- 8/29/2012
- by Kimber Myers
- The Playlist
Starring Lauren Miller and Ari Graynor in the leads, For a Good Time, Call… is shaping up to be one of the best comedies of the summer, with its release in the Us coming this weekend.
We caught the excellent first red-band trailer back in June, and now a great new batch of images have debuted online, giving us a look at the main players.
“About to be homeless in New York City, enemies Katie and Lauren concede to living together. At first it’s war – Lauren’s hair dangles on the bathroom soap and Katie’s orgasms can be heard from down the hall. But when the girls team up to start their own dirty hotline, a genuine friendship is forged through fake orgasms. Before they know it, Katie is training Lauren how to moan like a pro, lie about what underwear she’s actually wearing and admit that she’ll lick anything.
We caught the excellent first red-band trailer back in June, and now a great new batch of images have debuted online, giving us a look at the main players.
“About to be homeless in New York City, enemies Katie and Lauren concede to living together. At first it’s war – Lauren’s hair dangles on the bathroom soap and Katie’s orgasms can be heard from down the hall. But when the girls team up to start their own dirty hotline, a genuine friendship is forged through fake orgasms. Before they know it, Katie is training Lauren how to moan like a pro, lie about what underwear she’s actually wearing and admit that she’ll lick anything.
- 8/29/2012
- by Kenji Lloyd
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Although Ari Graynor got her start more than a decade ago in heavier dramatic roles in "The Sopranos" and "Mystic River," more recently the 29-year-old actress has been tickling our funny bones. She played Caroline, Norah's alcoholic best friend, in "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist" and improvised an entire scene at a bus station where her character talks to a stranger.
Now Graynor stars in the raunchy-sweet R-rated comedy "For a Good Time, Call…," in which her free-spirited Katie reluctantly agrees to share rent with Lauren (Lauren Anne Miller), a girl she fell out with minutes after meeting in college years ago. Lauren discovers that Katie makes good money as a phone-sex operator and soon the odd couple bonds over building a successful business together.
In real life, Graynor is just as effervescent as her "For a Good Time, Call…" character. She chatted us up about phone sex, the revival...
Now Graynor stars in the raunchy-sweet R-rated comedy "For a Good Time, Call…," in which her free-spirited Katie reluctantly agrees to share rent with Lauren (Lauren Anne Miller), a girl she fell out with minutes after meeting in college years ago. Lauren discovers that Katie makes good money as a phone-sex operator and soon the odd couple bonds over building a successful business together.
In real life, Graynor is just as effervescent as her "For a Good Time, Call…" character. She chatted us up about phone sex, the revival...
- 8/29/2012
- by Robert DeSalvo
- NextMovie
We scour the interwebs for the coolest movie news and more so you don't have to ...
There are fan photos of celebrities. And then there are truly great fan photos of celebrities. Moviefone has proof that Tom Hanks is one of the coolest people on Earth, famous or otherwise.
Is "Lawless" star Shia Labeouf responsible for his co-star Jessica Chastain's dog's missing leg? This and other mysteries are solved in this episode of "The Yes/No Show," courtesy of MTV After Hours.
Sometimes the truth can be pretty, too. The Frisky goes au naturale with a gallery of 15 models stripped of the talents of makeup artists, stylists and photo-retouchers (and, admittedly, most of them still look pretty amazing).
Smuggling a cell phone into a prison is as harrowing and humiliating as it sounds ... and doubly so when it's the convict's mother who's doing it. Film.com takes a look...
There are fan photos of celebrities. And then there are truly great fan photos of celebrities. Moviefone has proof that Tom Hanks is one of the coolest people on Earth, famous or otherwise.
Is "Lawless" star Shia Labeouf responsible for his co-star Jessica Chastain's dog's missing leg? This and other mysteries are solved in this episode of "The Yes/No Show," courtesy of MTV After Hours.
Sometimes the truth can be pretty, too. The Frisky goes au naturale with a gallery of 15 models stripped of the talents of makeup artists, stylists and photo-retouchers (and, admittedly, most of them still look pretty amazing).
Smuggling a cell phone into a prison is as harrowing and humiliating as it sounds ... and doubly so when it's the convict's mother who's doing it. Film.com takes a look...
- 8/28/2012
- by Bryan Enk
- NextMovie
Lauren Miller and Ari Graynor train to talk direct in this red band clip from Focus Features' R-rated comedy For A Good Time...Call. Miller scripted the film alongside Katie Anne Naylon, which finds release on August 31st. Also in the cast is the always-entertaining Justin Long as well as James Wolk and Mark Webber. In the film, Miller plays reserved Lauren and Graynor is the irrepressible Katie, polar opposites... and past enemies. But when both come up short on the funds needed to afford their dream New York City apartment a mutual friend (Justin Long) re-introduces them and they reluctantly agree to room together. These apartment-mates have nothing in common - until Lauren discovers...
- 8/28/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Lauren Miller and Ari Graynor train to talk direct in this red band clip from Focus Features' R-rated comedy For A Good Time...Call. Miller scripted the film alongside Katie Anne Naylon, which finds release on August 31st. Also in the cast is the always-entertaining Justin Long as well as James Wolk and Mark Webber. In the film, Miller plays reserved Lauren and Graynor is the irrepressible Katie, polar opposites... and past enemies. But when both come up short on the funds needed to afford their dream New York City apartment a mutual friend (Justin Long) re-introduces them and they reluctantly agree to room together. These apartment-mates have nothing in common - until Lauren discovers...
- 8/28/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
With the summer blockbuster season firmly wound down, it's time for some of the smaller hitters to step into the spotlight. Three such films in the collection coming up are the cop thriller End of Watch starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Pena, the road trip comedy That's What She Said with Alia Shawkat and Anne Heche, and For a Good Time Call, the raunchy buddy comedy starring Ari Graynor, Lauren Miller and Justin Long. End of Watch and That's What She Said have both just released new trailers, and For a Good Time, Call... has put a new clip online. For a Good Time, Call... hits theaters on August 31st, whereas End of Watch and That's What She Said are both about a month off.
Check them out below.
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Check them out below.
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- 8/23/2012
- by Lex Walker
- JustPressPlay.net
Credit: Focus Features
Ari Graynor stars as Katie, Justin Long stars as Jesse and Lauren Miller stars as Lauren in For A Good Time, Call…, a Focus Features release directed by Jamie Travis from an original screenplay by Katie Anne Naylon & Lauren Anne Miller. Watch the new red-band from the contemporary comedy that had it’s world-premiere at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival.
Two young women come up short on the funds needed to live in New York City. Lauren Powell (played by Ms. Miller), a reserved overachiever, is suddenly on her own after boyfriend Charlie (James Wolk) abruptly breaks up with her. Katie Steele (Ms. Graynor), an irrepressible free spirit, is about to forfeit a dream residence unless she finds an apartment-mate.
Their mutual best friend Jesse (Justin Long) has the bright idea that they room together, even though he well knows that they are polar opposites who haven’t...
Ari Graynor stars as Katie, Justin Long stars as Jesse and Lauren Miller stars as Lauren in For A Good Time, Call…, a Focus Features release directed by Jamie Travis from an original screenplay by Katie Anne Naylon & Lauren Anne Miller. Watch the new red-band from the contemporary comedy that had it’s world-premiere at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival.
Two young women come up short on the funds needed to live in New York City. Lauren Powell (played by Ms. Miller), a reserved overachiever, is suddenly on her own after boyfriend Charlie (James Wolk) abruptly breaks up with her. Katie Steele (Ms. Graynor), an irrepressible free spirit, is about to forfeit a dream residence unless she finds an apartment-mate.
Their mutual best friend Jesse (Justin Long) has the bright idea that they room together, even though he well knows that they are polar opposites who haven’t...
- 8/23/2012
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Focus Features and the Los Angeles Film Festival held the world premiere of Seeking A Friend For The End Of The World on Monday, June 18th, 2012 at the Regal Cinemas L.A. Live Stadium 14… and Wamg was on the red carpet.
Stars Steve Carell and Keira Knightley were in attendance, as well as writer/director Lorene Scafaria, and co-stars Connie Britton, Adam Brody, Rob Corddry, Gillian Jacobs, Derek Luke, Melanie Lynskey, T.J. Miller, Bob Stephenson, and Jim O.Heir; producers Steve Golin, Joy Gorman Wettels, Mark Roybal, and Jeannie McCarthy; executives James Schamus, Rick Finkelstein, Donna Langley, and Adam Fogelson.
Additional stars included Bo Burnham, Ari Graynor, Lauren Miller, Katie Naylon, Drew Barrymore, Dana Fox and Chris Mann; directors Jaime Travis, Dee Rees and Lisa Cholodenko; producers Nina Wolarsky and Mark Heyman.
Taking audiences on a humorous, moving, and intimate journey against an epic backdrop of Earth.s final days,...
Stars Steve Carell and Keira Knightley were in attendance, as well as writer/director Lorene Scafaria, and co-stars Connie Britton, Adam Brody, Rob Corddry, Gillian Jacobs, Derek Luke, Melanie Lynskey, T.J. Miller, Bob Stephenson, and Jim O.Heir; producers Steve Golin, Joy Gorman Wettels, Mark Roybal, and Jeannie McCarthy; executives James Schamus, Rick Finkelstein, Donna Langley, and Adam Fogelson.
Additional stars included Bo Burnham, Ari Graynor, Lauren Miller, Katie Naylon, Drew Barrymore, Dana Fox and Chris Mann; directors Jaime Travis, Dee Rees and Lisa Cholodenko; producers Nina Wolarsky and Mark Heyman.
Taking audiences on a humorous, moving, and intimate journey against an epic backdrop of Earth.s final days,...
- 6/22/2012
- by Melissa Howland
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
For a Good Time, Call Trailer. Jamie Travis‘ For a Good Time, Call (2012) red band movie trailer stars Ari Graynor, Lauren Miller, Justin Long, Mimi Rogers, and Nia Vardalos. For a Good Time, Call‘s plot synopsis: “Lauren and Katie, college frenemies with a mutual good friend, move in together at age 28 in order to [...]
Continue reading: For A Good Time, Call (2012) Red Band Movie Trailer: Jamie Travis...
Continue reading: For A Good Time, Call (2012) Red Band Movie Trailer: Jamie Travis...
- 6/15/2012
- by Rollo Tomasi
- Film-Book
The new phone sex comedy For A Good Time, Call..., starring Ari Graynor, Lauren Miller, and Justin Long premiered at Sundance this year to pretty rave reviews and is now gearing up for a theatrical release. The pic is going for some hard-r, raunchy comedy, which I'm totally down. Following on the heels of Bridesmaids, I think it's about time the ladies started getting a little nasty. It's nice to see some female-driven comedies that aren't romcoms. Dial 1-900... This...
- 6/15/2012
- by Paul Shirey
- JoBlo.com
If you think that "The Five-Year Engagement" and this weekend's tedious "That's My Boy" is all the comedy summer has to offer in 2012, there's one more film that hopes to make you laugh before the season is over.
Focus Features has released a new red band trailer for the Sundance comedy “For A Good Time Call...” The film, co-written by Lauren Miller (who also stars) and Katie Anne Naylon, is about former college frenemies Lauren and Katie who move into a fabulous Gramercy Park apartment and, in order to make ends meet, start a phone sex line together. The trailer, despite showcasing what seems like the entire plot of the film, appears to be holding back a lot of the more raunchier humor that the premise would suggest.
The movie, which also co-stars Justin Long and the underrated Ari Graynor, looks like it’ll be another charming and fun addition to the comedic landscape.
Focus Features has released a new red band trailer for the Sundance comedy “For A Good Time Call...” The film, co-written by Lauren Miller (who also stars) and Katie Anne Naylon, is about former college frenemies Lauren and Katie who move into a fabulous Gramercy Park apartment and, in order to make ends meet, start a phone sex line together. The trailer, despite showcasing what seems like the entire plot of the film, appears to be holding back a lot of the more raunchier humor that the premise would suggest.
The movie, which also co-stars Justin Long and the underrated Ari Graynor, looks like it’ll be another charming and fun addition to the comedic landscape.
- 6/14/2012
- by Cain Rodriguez
- The Playlist
Ari Graynor and Lauren Miller feature in For a Good Time, Call...'s new red band trailer. The pair star as former enemies who are forced to live together, and later decide to set up their own sex hotline in order to make money. Through their unexpected success, a friendship is formed between the pair. Watch the trailer below (Nsfw): Miller's real-life husband (more)...
- 6/14/2012
- by By Tom Eames
- Digital Spy
One thing that I love about the Sundance Film Festival taking place in January is that for the rest of the year you get to sit and wait in anticipation for the best films of the festival to find their way into theaters. This year, one of those titles is the comedy For A Good Time, Call... Directed by Jamie Travis and written by Katie Anne Naylon and Lauren Miller, the film is about two women who don't really like each other but are forced to share an apartment together due to financial issues. When one discovers that the other makes a good living as a phone sex operator, the two hatch a scheme and create a business that could end all of their money woes. The film got a lot of positive buzz out of Sundance (you can read Katey's review of it here) and now it has a...
- 6/14/2012
- cinemablend.com
"Whatever they say, I just tell them I want to lick it." Oh boy, here we go. Focus Features has debuted a hilariously raunchy red band trailer on Yahoo for the Sundance indie comedy For a Good Time Call..., from Canadian director Jamie Travis co-starring Ari Graynor and Lauren Miller. This is red band because of the foul language and sexual humor, but it's not too bad at all, it's a phone sex movie, come on! But it does look like a whole lot of raunchy, wacky indie comedy fun, I really want to see it. The cast includes Justin Long, James Wolk, Nia Vardalos and Mark Webber. Give this a shot, you may like it. Enjoy! Watch the red band trailer for Jamie Travis' For a Good Time Call..., in high def from Yahoo: About to be homeless in New York, enemies Katie and Lauren concede to living together.
- 6/14/2012
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
In the fall of 2010, we were introduced to a shining new star: James Wolk. The Lone Star hottie quickly leapt to the top of everyone's crush list despite the show's unfortunately truncated run (it was canceled after two episodes). Thankfully, Hollywood wouldn't let go of him as quickly.
Not only did he play Kristen Bell's brother in You Again, but he recently completed a guest arc on Shameless. Thankfully the end of that run coincided with the start of his two-episode stint on TV's funniest show, Happy Endings. In tonight's episode we meet his character, Max's ex-boyfriend, who still might harbor some feelings for America's favorite small-screen gay.
I caught up with James to talk all about his Happy guest spot, but the conversation quickly devolved into a slightly unprofessional back-and-forth about the frequency with which he is shirtless onscreen. I'm not proud of this, but I also can't say it was an unplanned interview trajectory...
Not only did he play Kristen Bell's brother in You Again, but he recently completed a guest arc on Shameless. Thankfully the end of that run coincided with the start of his two-episode stint on TV's funniest show, Happy Endings. In tonight's episode we meet his character, Max's ex-boyfriend, who still might harbor some feelings for America's favorite small-screen gay.
I caught up with James to talk all about his Happy guest spot, but the conversation quickly devolved into a slightly unprofessional back-and-forth about the frequency with which he is shirtless onscreen. I'm not proud of this, but I also can't say it was an unplanned interview trajectory...
- 2/8/2012
- TheInsider.com
For A Good Time, Call... has a great premise: two girls who hate each other have to move into a New York apartment together to stay afloat, and they eventually open a phone sex line to make money. It's compelling, vulgar, and heartwarming - a strange combination for a movie, but one that works very well here.
Lauren (Lauren Miller) is an uptight conservative chick who gets dumped by her mega-douche boyfriend (James Wolk), so she's stuck in New York with no place to live. Katie (Ari Graynor) is a free spirit, and one of her many jobs is a phone sex operator. In a flashback, we find that these two met on a fateful night in college that ended with spilled urine in a moving vehicle and one person stranded in a bad neighborhood. Needless to say, they aren't the best of friends. But their mutual friend, Jesse (Justin Long...
- 1/25/2012
- by benp
- GeekTyrant
Distribution deals popped like champagne corks on New Year’s Eve yesterday in the snowy ski town of Park City, Utah. For your reading pleasure, we’ve scattered in Twitter responses to the movies. Focus Features acquired worldwide rights to For a Good Time, Call..., a film starring Ari Graynor and Lauren Miller that debuted over the weekend to acclaim from our own Erik Davis. He described the film, pictured above, as “a hilariously filthy sex comedy from newbie screenwriters Lauren Miller and Katie Ann Naylon and first-time feature director Jamie Travis. … This is independent comedy at its best from a crop of up-and-coming talent you might not be familiar with yet, but you will be soon.” Erik also caught the cast discussing the film. (Via...
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- 1/25/2012
- by Peter Martin
- Movies.com
I've already talked about the Bridesmaids effect as it pertains to the influx of R-rated, female-driven content at this year's Sundance festival, but you don't really get a feel for how refreshing it is to see this type of content until you settle in for a film like For A Good Time Call ..., a hilariously filthy sex comedy from newbie screenwriters Lauren Miller and Katie Ann Naylon and first-time feature director Jamie Travis. Ari Graynor and Lauren Miller star as Katie and Lauren, two girls who hate each other because of an incident back in college, but are forced to become roommates by their mutual friend (Justin Long) so each has a place to live. It's not long after that the duo -- in an effort to pay their rent -- launch a phone-sex operation that...
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- 1/24/2012
- by Erik Davis
- Movies.com
Five Minutes at Sundance is exactly that: A five-minute snippet of us on the ground with our trusty flip video recorder, snagging whatever meaty piece of film-related content we can to share with you. Yesterday we stopped by the Gen Art/Bertoli Soup lounge to feast on some delicious free soup and wound up walking in on a lively discussion with the cast, writers and director of For A Good Time Call ..., which premiered last night to a standing ovation. Our review is coming later -- as well as an interview with director Jamie Travis -- but until then check out this brief snippet of film discussion at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. Featured from left to right on screen: Gen Art's Aaron Levine, director Jamie Travis, screenwriters Lauren Miller (who also stars) and...
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- 1/24/2012
- by Erik Davis
- Movies.com
For a good time, check out the Sundance Film Festival release of "For A Good Time, Call…," the new comedy from co-writers Lauren Miller and Katie Anne Naylon. Miller stars in director Jamie Travis' feature as a woman forced to move in with her worst enemy from college, Katie (Ari Graynor), when her personal life falls into a rut. The two find some very unexpected common ground in the form of a telecommuting gig that has a lot more to do with moaning than talking.
The movie premiered to big laughs and high praise at Sundance on Sunday (January 22), and to keep the "Good" momentum going, we've got an exclusive clip for your viewing pleasure!
The clip features Lauren giving Katie a master class in "rape prevention." We won't spoil the whole thing for you, but here's one tip: if you don't have any mace handy, a huge-ass bottle...
The movie premiered to big laughs and high praise at Sundance on Sunday (January 22), and to keep the "Good" momentum going, we've got an exclusive clip for your viewing pleasure!
The clip features Lauren giving Katie a master class in "rape prevention." We won't spoil the whole thing for you, but here's one tip: if you don't have any mace handy, a huge-ass bottle...
- 1/23/2012
- by Josh Wigler
- MTV Movies Blog
Getty Images Actress Angelina Jolie arrives at the 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 15, 2012 in Beverly Hills, California.
Ricky Gervais is back for a return stint hosting the Golden Globes 2012. Which actors, producers and directors will leave with awards–and which ones will go home smarting from Gervais’s sharp tongue? Early winners include Kate Winslet and “Downton Abbey.”
Speakeasy is live-blogging the show. You can follow along and leave your thoughts in the comments.
Ricky Gervais is back for a return stint hosting the Golden Globes 2012. Which actors, producers and directors will leave with awards–and which ones will go home smarting from Gervais’s sharp tongue? Early winners include Kate Winslet and “Downton Abbey.”
Speakeasy is live-blogging the show. You can follow along and leave your thoughts in the comments.
- 1/15/2012
- by WSJ Staff
- Speakeasy/Wall Street Journal
Brunson Green ‘The Help’ ensemble accepting their award at the National Board of Review.
Brunson Green, the producer of “The Help,” is Speakeasy’s roving reporter on the red carpets this week as he attends multiple awards ceremonies and events on behalf of the film. Follow his blog entries here as he photographs and writes about each night.
Several of “The Help” team members traveled to New York on Monday to accept the Best Ensemble from the National Board of Review.
Brunson Green, the producer of “The Help,” is Speakeasy’s roving reporter on the red carpets this week as he attends multiple awards ceremonies and events on behalf of the film. Follow his blog entries here as he photographs and writes about each night.
Several of “The Help” team members traveled to New York on Monday to accept the Best Ensemble from the National Board of Review.
- 1/11/2012
- by Brunson Green
- Speakeasy/Wall Street Journal
It's been an incredible year in the world of showbiz, with the usual headline-grabbing antics, scandal, sleaze, celebrity births, star weddings, and bitter break-ups. Here, WENN takes a look back at the final six months of 2011...
July
The month of July was overshadowed by the sudden and shocking death of British singer Amy Winehouse. The Back to Black hitmaker was found dead at her home in London at the age of 27 and the news sent the world of showbusiness into mourning. Tributes poured in from both fans and famous friends following the tragedy, and Winehouse's music shot back into the charts.
The headlines were also dominated by celebrity divorces as Jennifer Lopez announced her split from husband of seven years, Marc Anthony, the father of her young twins, Max and Emme. Arnold Schwarzenegger's marriage also came to an abrupt end as his wife Maria Shriver filed for divorce following revelations the actor/politician fathered a lovechild with the family's housekeeper.
Scarlett Johansson's divorce from Ryan Reynolds was finalised and Patricia Arquette's split from husband Thomas Jane was also made official.
In happier news, all eyes were on Monaco as the world geared up for the second royal wedding of the year, following the union of Britain’s Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge in April. In the same month as the British royals flew to Canada to begin their first international tour as a married couple, Prince Albert of Monaco married his fiancee, South African beauty Charlene Wittstock. The couple exchanged vows in two ceremonies in Monte Carlo and the former swimmer became her Serene Highness Princess Charlene of Monaco. British supermodel Kate Moss also became a married woman as she wed rocker Jamie Hince in a lavish ceremony in the English countryside, while it was also an exciting month for the Beckham family as former Spice Girls star Victoria, already mother to three boys, gave birth to her first daughter, Harper Seven.
There was also baby joy for Hollywood actress Kate Hudson - she welcomed a son called Bingham with her rocker fiance Matt Bellamy. Singer Jewel, actress Selma Blair and former Fugees star Lauryn Hill also became parents. British artist/director Sam Taylor-Wood also hit headlines after she confirmed she was expecting a second baby with her 21-year-old fiance, actor Aaron Johnson, a year after the birth of their daughter. The couple met on the set of their 2009 film Nowhere Boy and became parents together in 2010.
July also saw troubled British rocker Pete Doherty granted his freedom after serving less than half of his six-month prison sentence for cocaine possession. Another beleaguered star to walk free from jail was rapper Dmx, who served seven months behind bars for a probation violation. However, David Gilmour’s son Charlie found himself on the other side of the prison walls as he was ordered to serve 16 months in jail for his part in the 2010 student riots in London. The Pink Floyd star’s son was charged with violent disorder for causing chaos in the British capital and swinging from a flag on the city’s Cenotaph war memorial. (Lr/Zn)
August
The usual serenity of the summer months was shattered this year when Kate Winslet cheated death in a devastating inferno at Richard Branson's luxury island home, and a string of British stars appealed for calm as widespread rioting broke out in the U.K.
Winslet was holidaying at Virgin boss Branson's Necker Island retreat when lightning struck the property, sparking a huge blaze which gutted the home. Her party of 20 miraculously escaped unscathed - and Winslet was later hailed a heroine after it emerged she carried Branson's 90-year-old mother from the property during the drama.
As unrest, looting, and arson broke out for several nights in the U.K., showbiz stars including Idris Elba, Natasha Bedingfield and Boy George called for calm, and there was also bad news for Sir Paul McCartney - who learned his phone had been hacked by the tabloid press - and veteran actress Margot Kidder, who was arrested during an environment protest at the White House.
Tragedy struck at the Indiana State Fair, when a horrific stage collapse left seven revellers dead and more than 40 injured, actor Rowan Atkinson was treated in hospital after wrecking his rare sports car by crashing it into a tree, and French actor Gerard Depardieu was left red-faced when he was thrown off a plane in Paris, France for urinating in the cabin after he was refused access to the toilet during take-off.
It was ladies night at the MTV Video Music Awards as Katy Perry, Britney Spears and Lady Gaga took home two honours each - and Beyonce announced her pregnancy news. And at the Teen Choice Awards, Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez were crowned queens of the event when they scooped whopping 11 awards between them.
Kings of Leon finally succumbed to their relentless touring schedule and axed their remaining U.S. dates to allow frontman Caleb Followill to recover from "vocal issues and exhaustion", Aerosmith rocker Tom Hamilton and Deep Purple star Jon Lord both announced they were battling cancer, Bono was hospitalised with chest pains, and Norwegian pop band A-ha thrilled fans by announcing they were to reform.
In family news, Kiss star Paul Stanley became a father again, and there were also welcome additions for Ethan Hawke, funnywoman Tina Fey, illusionist David Copperfield, Jessica Alba, and Benicio del Toro, who fathered a child with Rod Stewart's daughter Kimberly.
There were wedding bells for country singer Chely Wright and filmmaker Sofia Coppola, but romance took a plunge for George Michael and Geri Halliwell, who both split from their partners. Also joining the singles club was Arctic Monkeys rocker Alex Turner, who broke up with MTV presenter Alexa Chung after four years together.
The showbiz world bid farewell to songwriting legend Jerry Leiber, who died of cardiopulmonary failure at the age of 78, Police Academy star Charles 'Bubba' Smith, Bollywood veteran Shammi Kapoor, blues legend David 'Honeyboy' Edwards, Warrant rocker Jani Lane, and Motown hitmaker Nickolas Ashford. (Zn/Lr)
September
September was a month rapper T.I. would like to both remember and forget - he completed an 11-month prison sentence for a probation violation only to run into legal trouble again soon after his initial release for conducting illegal business deals on his way to a halfway house. It wasn't a great month for Madonna either - her movie take on the romance between Wallis Simpson and Edward VIII was savaged by critics at the Venice Film Festival, while her ex-husband Guy Ritchie became a dad again.
Celine Dion was left shaken up after an intruder was found running a bath at her Montreal, Canada home; Neil Diamond revealed his engagement, and Dr. Conrad Murray's involuntary manslaughter trial got underway in Los Angeles as prosecutors attempted to prove the medic was responsible for Michael Jackson's death.
R.E.M. announced they were splitting after 31 years; My Chemical Romance fired drummer Michael Pedicone after accusing him of stealing from them; Boyzone singer Ronan Keating swam the Irish Sea for Cancer Research in the U.K., and Sir Paul McCartney became a grandfather again and was named the MusiCares Person of the Year - while he also celebrated as his first ballet score debuted in New York.
The Amy Winehouse Foundation was launched on what would have been the tragic singer's 28th birthday, and the star's Body & Soul duet with Tony Bennett became a hit, making the 85-year-old crooner the oldest living artist to have a single in America's Hot 100.
Eddie Murphy was confirmed as the host for the 2012 Oscars; model Lauren Bush became Lauren Lauren when she exchanged vows with Ralph Lauren's son David; British funnyman David Walliams braved the chills of the River Thames and a stomach bug to complete a charity 140-mile swim in eight days.
Actress Evan Rachel Wood lost a tooth during a boozy night out in Paris; Reese Witherspoon was hospitalised after she was hit by a car while out jogging in Santa Monica, California; soul legend Chaka Khan won temporary custody of her granddaughter after claiming the girl's mother was struggling with drug abuse issues, and British The Saturdays singer Una Healy announced she was pregnant.
Inxs dropped frontman J.D. fortune for a second time and replaced him with Ciaran Gribbin; Austin Powers henchman Joseph Son was sentenced to life behind bars for a Christmas Eve rape in 1990, and George Clooney went public with his new girl, Stacey Kiebler, at the Toronto Film Festival in Canada.
Ashton Kutcher had a month of ups and downs - his debut on TV sitcom Two and a Half Men was a big hit as 28 million Americans tuned in, but then came the news that his marriage to Demi Moore was in trouble amid infidelity rumours. Comedienne Wanda Sykes opened up about her breast cancer battle and double mastectomy; Sharon Stone won a restraining order against an obsessed fan and promptly put the home he visited uninvited on the market, and reality TV star and filmmaker Jack Osbourne announced his engagement to actress Lisa Stelly and followed that up with the news he was to become a dad.
Third time was not the charm for Clueless star Stacy Dash, who announced her plans to divorce husband number three, Emmanuel Xuereb, and X-Men star James Marsden's wife also joined the divorce club as she filed papers against her husband. Elizabeth Hurley's love life was on the up - she accepted cricket star Shane Warne's wedding proposal just three months after divorcing Arun Nayar.
Meanwhile, Elton John launched his new Million Dollar Piano residency in Las Vegas; Smokey Robinson accepted the coveted Ella Award at the Society of Singers Gala, and the month wrapped up with Shania Twain's alleged stalker pleading guilty to harassing the singer in court in Ontario, Canada.
Among September's Hollywood weddings, Amy Smart married reality TV star Carter Oosterhouse; Cougar Town co-stars David Rogers and Sally Pressman became man and wife, and model-turned-actress Molly Sims wed in a Napa Valley vineyard in California. There were also nuptials for British filmmaker Michael Winner and DJ/producer Mark Ronson, while R&B singer Keyshia Cole and former Friends star David Schwimmer both renewed vows with their spouses in Hawaii and London, respectively.
There was baby news for model Jodie Kidd, who gave birth to a son; actress Mary McCormack, who became a mum for the third time, and January Jones, who welcomed Xander Dane to the world while staying mum about the tot's father. Actors Emily Deschanel, Ana Ortiz, Mike Myers, Danny McBride and Jenna Fischer also became new parents. In the music world, former Spice Girl Melanie Brown gave birth to her third daughter, and country star John Rich and former Pussycat Dolls member Carmit Bachar welcomed babies too.
On September's sick list were rocker Scott Weiland and pop stars Katy Perry and Adele, who both scrapped shows due to illness, while Megadeth headbanger Dave Mustaine underwent surgery for a serious neck injury.
The month's big winners included movie mogul Tyler Perry, who was named Forbes magazine's Highest Paid Man in Entertainment; actor Michael Fassbender and director Alexander Sokurov, who claimed Best Actor and Best Film honours, respectively, for Shame and Faust at the Venice Film Festival. Gritty TV drama Boardwalk Empire picked up eight Emmy Awards; Calle 13 landed a record 10 Latin Grammy Award nominations, and Happy Days star Henry Winkler picked up an honorary Order of the British Empire medal at the British Embassy in Washington, D.C.
Also winning: P.J. Harvey, who scooped the Mercury Prize in Britain, Arcade Fire, who claimed Canada's Polaris Prize, and U2 and Rolling Stone Keith Richards, who were named GQ magazine's Men of the Year.
September's losers included Scarlett Johansson, who was left exposed in a series of leaked naked phone photos; Cameron Diaz, who split from baseball beau Alex Rodriguez, and John Travolta, whose beloved Mercedes-Benz was stolen outside a Jaguar dealership in Santa Monica, while his Swordfish co-star Halle Berry broke her foot while on location in Spain.
Meanwhile, we said a sad goodbye to a slew of famous faces, including actors Andy Whitfield and Cliff Robertson; beloved TV stars Mary Fickett and Vesta Williams; actor Jack Garner; French DJ Mehdi Faveris-Essadi; blues great Willie 'Big Eyes' Smith; R&B hitmaker Vesta Williams; gospel icon Jessy Dixon; celebrated British writer/producer David Croft; Happy Gilmore star Frances Bay, and moviemakers David Pressman, Charles Dubin, George Kachar and Paul Hunt. (Kl/Mt)
October
October was a big month for celebrity weddings - funnyman Seth Rogen tied the knot with longtime girlfriend Lauren Miller, Twilight star Nikki Reed married singer/songwriter Paul McDonald, and former Beverly Hills, 90210 actress Shannen Doherty walked down the aisle for the third time when she exchanged vows with celebrity photographer Kurt Iswarienko. Also hoping to make it third-time lucky was Robin Williams, who wed graphic designer Susan Schneider.
Also taking the plunge was Kiss rocker Gene Simmons, who married his girlfriend of 28 years, Shannon Tweed, and Sir Paul McCartney, who exchanged vows with American heiress Nancy Shevell on what would have been his former Beatles bandmate John Lennon’s 71st birthday.
And Sex & the City star Mario Cantone made good use of New York's new gay rights bill by solidifying his love for longtime partner Jerry Dixon.
A number of other stars announced their intention to wed in October - NCIS: Los Angeles star Eric Christian Olsen proposed to girlfriend Sarah Wright and Trace Cyrus popped the question to Disney actress Brenda Song. And actress Kaley Cuoco was sporting a new sparkler after boyfriend Josh 'Lazie' Resnik got down on bended knee. Also officially off the market were former child star Frankie Muniz, The Devil Wears Prada actor Stanley Tucci, rapper The Game and Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love's grown-up little girl Francis Bean Cobain.
A number of other celebrities were prepping their homes for babies - movie star Bruce Willis, American footballer Tony Romo, former Dawson's Creek hunk James Van Der Beek, and actress Kaitlin Olson all announced they are expecting little ones, and Jessica Simpson ended months of speculation by announcing she was pregnant.
And October's new parents included Ne-Yo, who welcomed a baby boy, model Ali Landry, who gave birth to her second child, actress Spencer Grammer, who became a first time mum, and France's First Lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, who became a mum for the second time when baby Giulia was born. Reality TV star Tori Spelling took home baby number three, as did Jackass funnyman Johnny Knoxville. And Sex & the City beauty Kristin Davis, The Help actress Viola Davis and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation veteran Mariska Hargitay all adopted babies.
But it wasn't such a happy month for rapper Rick Ross, who suffered two seizures on his way to a concert, or socialite Kim Kardashian who filed for divorce from husband Kris Humphries after just 72 days of marriage.
In other news, Star Trek actor Zachary Quinto announced he was gay and troubled actress Lindsay Lohan had her probation revoked after failing to complete her required community service hours. She also faced a limousine lawsuit for allegedly neglecting to pay a bill, her dad was arrested - twice, and she was served a lawsuit for reportedly attacking a Betty Ford Clinic employee during her stay there last year.
Meanwhile, the stars came out to show their support for the Occupy Wall Street protests, which were originally launched in New York City in a bid to end corporate greed, and the world mourned the loss of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, British TV and radio personality Sir Jimmy Savile, The Charlie Daniels Band keyboard player Joel 'Taz' Digregorio, former Weezer star Mikey Welsh, veteran British actress Betty Driver, The Miracles guitarist Marv Tarplin, pianist Roger Williams and IndyCar driver Dan Wheldon, who died in a horrific car smash at the Indy300.
November
British bachelor Hugh Grant stunned the world when he announced he had a new love in his life - a baby girl he had fathered during a brief relationship with Chinese model/actress Tinglan Hong. He wasn't the only star to join the celebrity parents' club in November - singer Lily Allen had a reason to Smile again after giving birth to a daughter, her first child with new husband Sam Cooper, while newsman Piers Morgan and his wife Celia Walden also became parents to a little girl. Maggie Gyllenhaal and her husband Peter Sarsgaard announced they were expecting their second child, as did reality TV star Kourtney Kardashian and her partner Scott Disick.
Selena Gomez revealed she is set to become a big sister, while Justin Bieber had some unwanted baby news of his own - he found himself at the centre of a paternity scandal following allegations he had impregnated 20-year-old Mariah Yeater following a backstage tryst in Los Angeles last year. The Baby hitmaker denied the claim and Yeater subsequently dropped the lawsuit.
Lindsay Lohan's troubles hit the headlines again after she was sentenced to serve 30 days behind bars for a probation violation, although she was released after less than five hours due to jail overcrowding. Dr. Conrad Murray was not so lucky - he was convicted of involuntary manslaughter relating to the death of Michael Jackson and sentenced to the maximum of four years behind bars.
In other legal matters, country singer Mindy McCready sparked a manhunt after she took her five-year-old son Zander from his father's Florida home without permission; Tim McGraw won a court battle with his record company bosses releasing him from his contract; and TLC star T-Boz declared bankruptcy.
Hugh Grant, Sienna Miller and Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling became driving forces in the push to improve British press standards following the News of the World phone-hacking scandal earlier this year - the three stars were called to give evidence to the Leveson Inquiry and told how they had had their voicemails, emails and other private messages intercepted by private investigators working on behalf of tabloid reporters.
The sporting world mourned the death of boxing great Joe Frazier at the age of 67, just days after it was revealed he was battling liver cancer, while the hip-hop industry was rocked by the passing of rap icon Heavy D, who collapsed outside his Los Angeles home and was later declared dead at 44. British moviemaker Ken Russell also passed away, aged 84, and longtime Oscars producer Gil Cates died at 77. Meanwhile, Beatles fans remembered George Harrison on 29 November as fans marked the 10th anniversary of his death.
Veteran pop star George Michael was forced to scrap the remainder of his European tour after he was struck down by a serious bout of pneumonia; Bee Gees singer Robin Gibb also spent time in hospital after suffering abdominal pains, and Adele and Keith Urban had a quiet month as they both recovered from vocal cord surgery, while heavy rock fans rejoiced as the original members of Black Sabbath announced they would be reuniting for a new album and tour in 2012.
It was ladies' night at the American Music Awards as Taylor Swift and Adele walked away with three honours each, while Lady Gaga reigned over the MTV Europe Music Awards and newlyweds Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton ruled the Country Music Association Awards by taking home the two top vocalist prizes. November also saw Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher end weeks of speculation about their marriage by calling it quits, while Sugarland singer Jennifer Nettles tied the knot and Anne Hathaway began making plans to wed boyfriend Adam Schulman, and former The Hills star Kristin Cavallari and American footballer Jay Cutler became engaged again, months after they broke off their initial plans to marry.
And it was a busy month for the film industry - the latest Twilight movie, Breaking Dawn - Part 1, landed the biggest global debut in the film franchise's history, thanks to a massive $284 million (£177.5 million) opening weekend haul; Golden Globes bosses decided to bring back controversial comedian Ricky Gervais to host his third prizegiving in 2012; Billy Crystal stepped in for Eddie Murphy as the host of the 2012 Academy Awards a day after the comic and producer pal Brett Ratner resigned, and the race for the Oscars kicked off with the Gotham Independent Film Awards, where Terrence Malick's Tree of Life and Mike Mills' acclaimed Beginners made history when they became the first films to tie for the Best Feature prize in the ceremony's 21-year history.
December
The holiday bells were peeling for newlyweds A.J. McLean, actress Judy Greer, reality TV star Jeff Probst and Yeah Yeah Yeahs rocker Karen O, while Sinead O'Connor married an addiction counsellor in Las Vegas only to call off the union 16 days later. There were also splits for actress Debra Messing and Chaz Bono.
Britney Spears led the month's bride and grooms-to-be when she accepted former agent Jason Trawick's proposal on his 40th birthday, while Steven Tyler, John Legend, Matthew McConaughey, basketball legend Michael Jordan and Lady Antebellum's Dave Haywood all popped the question to their girlfriends - and there was baby news for new dads Robert De Niro, Halle Berry's ex Eric Benet, actor Charlie Day, Westlife star Kian Egan, actress/singer Fantasia Barrino, Essence Atkins and pop star Dev, while actress Alyson Hannigan, Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty, Kings of Leon star Caleb Followill's supermodel wife Lily Aldridge, Alessandra Ambrosio and Irish singer Andrea Corr announced they were pregnant.
There was drama for rapper Tyler, The Creator, who was arrested for alleged acts of vandalism during a show in Hollywood; singer Christina Perri, who was attacked in a car-jacking incident; Barry Manilow, who underwent hip surgery, and Morrissey, whose concert in Puebla, Mexico was evacuated following an earthquake, while Britain's Prince Philip and R&B star Etta James spent Christmas in hospital.
Lindsay Lohan bared all for Playboy magazine; Adam Lambert was arrested in Finland following a pre-Christmas bust-up with his boyfriend; rapper The Game halted a gig in Norway to confront a bottle-throwing fan; boxer Floyd Mayweather, Jr. was sentenced to 90 days in jail for a 2010 fight with his ex; a man who leaked an unfinished new Madonna song online was arrested in Spain, and Michael Douglas' incarcerated son Cameron was handed an extra four-and-a-half years behind bars for another drug conviction.
And there was yet more drama for Terrence Howard, who requested a restraining order against his wife; model Lauren Scruggs, who lost her hand and an eye in a freak plane propeller accident; Hollywood couple Eric Dane and Rebecca Gayheart, who had to vacate their home after high winds brought a tree crashing into their living room, and pop star Selena Gomez suffered a family tragedy when her mother miscarried.
Meanwhile, Jodie Foster's estranged father was jailed for five years after he was found guilty of a property scam; Angelina Jolie was sued by a Croatian journalist who alleged his chronicle of the Bosnian War inspired her directorial debut; Kirsten Dunst won a restraining order against an obsessed French fan; an extra died of a heart attack while shooting The Dark Knight Rises in New York; Goodfellas actor Tony Darrow was sentenced to six months behind bars for arranging a real-life mob beating, and Charlie Sheen had to change his phone number when he accidentally tweeted it to his followers.
The month's big winners included singer Melanie Amaro, who became the first U.S. X Factor winner; Julio Iglesias, who was named Spain's best-selling recording artist of all time; Russell Simmons, who was crowned PETA's Person of the Year; Chaka Khan, who won permanent custody of her granddaughter; Lady Gaga, who was hailed the year's highest earning female musician, and Taylor Swift who picked up Billboard magazine's coveted Woman of The Year honour.
Also winning in December: Guns N' Roses, the Beastie Boys and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, who were all announced as the members of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's Class of 2012, and Twilight star Kristen Stewart, who was named Forbes magazine's Most Lucrative Star. Adele dominated the year's end album and singles polls; Jason Newsted reunited with Metallica for their 30th anniversary bash in San Francisco, and Martin Scorsese's first 3D movie Hugo was the surprise Best Film winner at the National Board of Review Awards in America.
In other movie news, Transformers: Dark of The Moon was named the year's most mistake-ridden film; Orson Welles' Citizen Kane Oscar sold at auction for $861,000; Drive dominated the Satellite Awards while The Help, The Artist and The Descendants picked up the lion's share of nominations for the Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild Awards, and Angelina Jolie's directorial debut, In The Land of Blood and Honey, also picked up Golden Globes nods and she was named the 2012 recipient of the Stanley Kramer Award at the Producer's Guild of America Awards.
In music news, Amy Winehouse's posthumous album debuted at number one in Britain; 30 Seconds To Mars broke a concert record at a show in New York - their 309th in a single album cycle, and Gucci Mane was released from prison.
Wrapping up the month, Oscar winner Colin Firth was immortalised in wax at Madame Tussauds in London; Men's Health magazine bosses crowned Jennifer Aniston the Hottest Woman of All Time; Liz Taylor's diamonds and gems set a new auction record by becoming the most valuable private jewellery collection; Lmfao were forced to abandon a gig in Honduras after a fire broke out at the venue; Welsh opera star Katherine Jenkins announced her split from fiance Gethin Jones, and Coldplay rang in 2012 with a $1.6 million gig in Abu Dhabi.
And the last month of the year saw the notable deaths of actor Bill McKinney, soul stars Dobie Gray and Howard Tate, M*A*S*H regular Harry Morgan, Clark Gable and Loretta Young's love child Judy Lewis, actress Doe Avedon Siegel, former child star Susan Gordon, country singer Billie Jo Spears, Aussie actor Graham Bown, world leaders Vaclav Havel and Kim Jong-Il, songwriter Ralph MacDonald, Kojak star Dan Frazer, directors Don Sharp and Yoshimitsu Morita, writer Christopher Hitchens and Tarzan's chimp sidekick Cheetah, who died of liver failure, aged 80.
July
The month of July was overshadowed by the sudden and shocking death of British singer Amy Winehouse. The Back to Black hitmaker was found dead at her home in London at the age of 27 and the news sent the world of showbusiness into mourning. Tributes poured in from both fans and famous friends following the tragedy, and Winehouse's music shot back into the charts.
The headlines were also dominated by celebrity divorces as Jennifer Lopez announced her split from husband of seven years, Marc Anthony, the father of her young twins, Max and Emme. Arnold Schwarzenegger's marriage also came to an abrupt end as his wife Maria Shriver filed for divorce following revelations the actor/politician fathered a lovechild with the family's housekeeper.
Scarlett Johansson's divorce from Ryan Reynolds was finalised and Patricia Arquette's split from husband Thomas Jane was also made official.
In happier news, all eyes were on Monaco as the world geared up for the second royal wedding of the year, following the union of Britain’s Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge in April. In the same month as the British royals flew to Canada to begin their first international tour as a married couple, Prince Albert of Monaco married his fiancee, South African beauty Charlene Wittstock. The couple exchanged vows in two ceremonies in Monte Carlo and the former swimmer became her Serene Highness Princess Charlene of Monaco. British supermodel Kate Moss also became a married woman as she wed rocker Jamie Hince in a lavish ceremony in the English countryside, while it was also an exciting month for the Beckham family as former Spice Girls star Victoria, already mother to three boys, gave birth to her first daughter, Harper Seven.
There was also baby joy for Hollywood actress Kate Hudson - she welcomed a son called Bingham with her rocker fiance Matt Bellamy. Singer Jewel, actress Selma Blair and former Fugees star Lauryn Hill also became parents. British artist/director Sam Taylor-Wood also hit headlines after she confirmed she was expecting a second baby with her 21-year-old fiance, actor Aaron Johnson, a year after the birth of their daughter. The couple met on the set of their 2009 film Nowhere Boy and became parents together in 2010.
July also saw troubled British rocker Pete Doherty granted his freedom after serving less than half of his six-month prison sentence for cocaine possession. Another beleaguered star to walk free from jail was rapper Dmx, who served seven months behind bars for a probation violation. However, David Gilmour’s son Charlie found himself on the other side of the prison walls as he was ordered to serve 16 months in jail for his part in the 2010 student riots in London. The Pink Floyd star’s son was charged with violent disorder for causing chaos in the British capital and swinging from a flag on the city’s Cenotaph war memorial. (Lr/Zn)
August
The usual serenity of the summer months was shattered this year when Kate Winslet cheated death in a devastating inferno at Richard Branson's luxury island home, and a string of British stars appealed for calm as widespread rioting broke out in the U.K.
Winslet was holidaying at Virgin boss Branson's Necker Island retreat when lightning struck the property, sparking a huge blaze which gutted the home. Her party of 20 miraculously escaped unscathed - and Winslet was later hailed a heroine after it emerged she carried Branson's 90-year-old mother from the property during the drama.
As unrest, looting, and arson broke out for several nights in the U.K., showbiz stars including Idris Elba, Natasha Bedingfield and Boy George called for calm, and there was also bad news for Sir Paul McCartney - who learned his phone had been hacked by the tabloid press - and veteran actress Margot Kidder, who was arrested during an environment protest at the White House.
Tragedy struck at the Indiana State Fair, when a horrific stage collapse left seven revellers dead and more than 40 injured, actor Rowan Atkinson was treated in hospital after wrecking his rare sports car by crashing it into a tree, and French actor Gerard Depardieu was left red-faced when he was thrown off a plane in Paris, France for urinating in the cabin after he was refused access to the toilet during take-off.
It was ladies night at the MTV Video Music Awards as Katy Perry, Britney Spears and Lady Gaga took home two honours each - and Beyonce announced her pregnancy news. And at the Teen Choice Awards, Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez were crowned queens of the event when they scooped whopping 11 awards between them.
Kings of Leon finally succumbed to their relentless touring schedule and axed their remaining U.S. dates to allow frontman Caleb Followill to recover from "vocal issues and exhaustion", Aerosmith rocker Tom Hamilton and Deep Purple star Jon Lord both announced they were battling cancer, Bono was hospitalised with chest pains, and Norwegian pop band A-ha thrilled fans by announcing they were to reform.
In family news, Kiss star Paul Stanley became a father again, and there were also welcome additions for Ethan Hawke, funnywoman Tina Fey, illusionist David Copperfield, Jessica Alba, and Benicio del Toro, who fathered a child with Rod Stewart's daughter Kimberly.
There were wedding bells for country singer Chely Wright and filmmaker Sofia Coppola, but romance took a plunge for George Michael and Geri Halliwell, who both split from their partners. Also joining the singles club was Arctic Monkeys rocker Alex Turner, who broke up with MTV presenter Alexa Chung after four years together.
The showbiz world bid farewell to songwriting legend Jerry Leiber, who died of cardiopulmonary failure at the age of 78, Police Academy star Charles 'Bubba' Smith, Bollywood veteran Shammi Kapoor, blues legend David 'Honeyboy' Edwards, Warrant rocker Jani Lane, and Motown hitmaker Nickolas Ashford. (Zn/Lr)
September
September was a month rapper T.I. would like to both remember and forget - he completed an 11-month prison sentence for a probation violation only to run into legal trouble again soon after his initial release for conducting illegal business deals on his way to a halfway house. It wasn't a great month for Madonna either - her movie take on the romance between Wallis Simpson and Edward VIII was savaged by critics at the Venice Film Festival, while her ex-husband Guy Ritchie became a dad again.
Celine Dion was left shaken up after an intruder was found running a bath at her Montreal, Canada home; Neil Diamond revealed his engagement, and Dr. Conrad Murray's involuntary manslaughter trial got underway in Los Angeles as prosecutors attempted to prove the medic was responsible for Michael Jackson's death.
R.E.M. announced they were splitting after 31 years; My Chemical Romance fired drummer Michael Pedicone after accusing him of stealing from them; Boyzone singer Ronan Keating swam the Irish Sea for Cancer Research in the U.K., and Sir Paul McCartney became a grandfather again and was named the MusiCares Person of the Year - while he also celebrated as his first ballet score debuted in New York.
The Amy Winehouse Foundation was launched on what would have been the tragic singer's 28th birthday, and the star's Body & Soul duet with Tony Bennett became a hit, making the 85-year-old crooner the oldest living artist to have a single in America's Hot 100.
Eddie Murphy was confirmed as the host for the 2012 Oscars; model Lauren Bush became Lauren Lauren when she exchanged vows with Ralph Lauren's son David; British funnyman David Walliams braved the chills of the River Thames and a stomach bug to complete a charity 140-mile swim in eight days.
Actress Evan Rachel Wood lost a tooth during a boozy night out in Paris; Reese Witherspoon was hospitalised after she was hit by a car while out jogging in Santa Monica, California; soul legend Chaka Khan won temporary custody of her granddaughter after claiming the girl's mother was struggling with drug abuse issues, and British The Saturdays singer Una Healy announced she was pregnant.
Inxs dropped frontman J.D. fortune for a second time and replaced him with Ciaran Gribbin; Austin Powers henchman Joseph Son was sentenced to life behind bars for a Christmas Eve rape in 1990, and George Clooney went public with his new girl, Stacey Kiebler, at the Toronto Film Festival in Canada.
Ashton Kutcher had a month of ups and downs - his debut on TV sitcom Two and a Half Men was a big hit as 28 million Americans tuned in, but then came the news that his marriage to Demi Moore was in trouble amid infidelity rumours. Comedienne Wanda Sykes opened up about her breast cancer battle and double mastectomy; Sharon Stone won a restraining order against an obsessed fan and promptly put the home he visited uninvited on the market, and reality TV star and filmmaker Jack Osbourne announced his engagement to actress Lisa Stelly and followed that up with the news he was to become a dad.
Third time was not the charm for Clueless star Stacy Dash, who announced her plans to divorce husband number three, Emmanuel Xuereb, and X-Men star James Marsden's wife also joined the divorce club as she filed papers against her husband. Elizabeth Hurley's love life was on the up - she accepted cricket star Shane Warne's wedding proposal just three months after divorcing Arun Nayar.
Meanwhile, Elton John launched his new Million Dollar Piano residency in Las Vegas; Smokey Robinson accepted the coveted Ella Award at the Society of Singers Gala, and the month wrapped up with Shania Twain's alleged stalker pleading guilty to harassing the singer in court in Ontario, Canada.
Among September's Hollywood weddings, Amy Smart married reality TV star Carter Oosterhouse; Cougar Town co-stars David Rogers and Sally Pressman became man and wife, and model-turned-actress Molly Sims wed in a Napa Valley vineyard in California. There were also nuptials for British filmmaker Michael Winner and DJ/producer Mark Ronson, while R&B singer Keyshia Cole and former Friends star David Schwimmer both renewed vows with their spouses in Hawaii and London, respectively.
There was baby news for model Jodie Kidd, who gave birth to a son; actress Mary McCormack, who became a mum for the third time, and January Jones, who welcomed Xander Dane to the world while staying mum about the tot's father. Actors Emily Deschanel, Ana Ortiz, Mike Myers, Danny McBride and Jenna Fischer also became new parents. In the music world, former Spice Girl Melanie Brown gave birth to her third daughter, and country star John Rich and former Pussycat Dolls member Carmit Bachar welcomed babies too.
On September's sick list were rocker Scott Weiland and pop stars Katy Perry and Adele, who both scrapped shows due to illness, while Megadeth headbanger Dave Mustaine underwent surgery for a serious neck injury.
The month's big winners included movie mogul Tyler Perry, who was named Forbes magazine's Highest Paid Man in Entertainment; actor Michael Fassbender and director Alexander Sokurov, who claimed Best Actor and Best Film honours, respectively, for Shame and Faust at the Venice Film Festival. Gritty TV drama Boardwalk Empire picked up eight Emmy Awards; Calle 13 landed a record 10 Latin Grammy Award nominations, and Happy Days star Henry Winkler picked up an honorary Order of the British Empire medal at the British Embassy in Washington, D.C.
Also winning: P.J. Harvey, who scooped the Mercury Prize in Britain, Arcade Fire, who claimed Canada's Polaris Prize, and U2 and Rolling Stone Keith Richards, who were named GQ magazine's Men of the Year.
September's losers included Scarlett Johansson, who was left exposed in a series of leaked naked phone photos; Cameron Diaz, who split from baseball beau Alex Rodriguez, and John Travolta, whose beloved Mercedes-Benz was stolen outside a Jaguar dealership in Santa Monica, while his Swordfish co-star Halle Berry broke her foot while on location in Spain.
Meanwhile, we said a sad goodbye to a slew of famous faces, including actors Andy Whitfield and Cliff Robertson; beloved TV stars Mary Fickett and Vesta Williams; actor Jack Garner; French DJ Mehdi Faveris-Essadi; blues great Willie 'Big Eyes' Smith; R&B hitmaker Vesta Williams; gospel icon Jessy Dixon; celebrated British writer/producer David Croft; Happy Gilmore star Frances Bay, and moviemakers David Pressman, Charles Dubin, George Kachar and Paul Hunt. (Kl/Mt)
October
October was a big month for celebrity weddings - funnyman Seth Rogen tied the knot with longtime girlfriend Lauren Miller, Twilight star Nikki Reed married singer/songwriter Paul McDonald, and former Beverly Hills, 90210 actress Shannen Doherty walked down the aisle for the third time when she exchanged vows with celebrity photographer Kurt Iswarienko. Also hoping to make it third-time lucky was Robin Williams, who wed graphic designer Susan Schneider.
Also taking the plunge was Kiss rocker Gene Simmons, who married his girlfriend of 28 years, Shannon Tweed, and Sir Paul McCartney, who exchanged vows with American heiress Nancy Shevell on what would have been his former Beatles bandmate John Lennon’s 71st birthday.
And Sex & the City star Mario Cantone made good use of New York's new gay rights bill by solidifying his love for longtime partner Jerry Dixon.
A number of other stars announced their intention to wed in October - NCIS: Los Angeles star Eric Christian Olsen proposed to girlfriend Sarah Wright and Trace Cyrus popped the question to Disney actress Brenda Song. And actress Kaley Cuoco was sporting a new sparkler after boyfriend Josh 'Lazie' Resnik got down on bended knee. Also officially off the market were former child star Frankie Muniz, The Devil Wears Prada actor Stanley Tucci, rapper The Game and Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love's grown-up little girl Francis Bean Cobain.
A number of other celebrities were prepping their homes for babies - movie star Bruce Willis, American footballer Tony Romo, former Dawson's Creek hunk James Van Der Beek, and actress Kaitlin Olson all announced they are expecting little ones, and Jessica Simpson ended months of speculation by announcing she was pregnant.
And October's new parents included Ne-Yo, who welcomed a baby boy, model Ali Landry, who gave birth to her second child, actress Spencer Grammer, who became a first time mum, and France's First Lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, who became a mum for the second time when baby Giulia was born. Reality TV star Tori Spelling took home baby number three, as did Jackass funnyman Johnny Knoxville. And Sex & the City beauty Kristin Davis, The Help actress Viola Davis and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation veteran Mariska Hargitay all adopted babies.
But it wasn't such a happy month for rapper Rick Ross, who suffered two seizures on his way to a concert, or socialite Kim Kardashian who filed for divorce from husband Kris Humphries after just 72 days of marriage.
In other news, Star Trek actor Zachary Quinto announced he was gay and troubled actress Lindsay Lohan had her probation revoked after failing to complete her required community service hours. She also faced a limousine lawsuit for allegedly neglecting to pay a bill, her dad was arrested - twice, and she was served a lawsuit for reportedly attacking a Betty Ford Clinic employee during her stay there last year.
Meanwhile, the stars came out to show their support for the Occupy Wall Street protests, which were originally launched in New York City in a bid to end corporate greed, and the world mourned the loss of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, British TV and radio personality Sir Jimmy Savile, The Charlie Daniels Band keyboard player Joel 'Taz' Digregorio, former Weezer star Mikey Welsh, veteran British actress Betty Driver, The Miracles guitarist Marv Tarplin, pianist Roger Williams and IndyCar driver Dan Wheldon, who died in a horrific car smash at the Indy300.
November
British bachelor Hugh Grant stunned the world when he announced he had a new love in his life - a baby girl he had fathered during a brief relationship with Chinese model/actress Tinglan Hong. He wasn't the only star to join the celebrity parents' club in November - singer Lily Allen had a reason to Smile again after giving birth to a daughter, her first child with new husband Sam Cooper, while newsman Piers Morgan and his wife Celia Walden also became parents to a little girl. Maggie Gyllenhaal and her husband Peter Sarsgaard announced they were expecting their second child, as did reality TV star Kourtney Kardashian and her partner Scott Disick.
Selena Gomez revealed she is set to become a big sister, while Justin Bieber had some unwanted baby news of his own - he found himself at the centre of a paternity scandal following allegations he had impregnated 20-year-old Mariah Yeater following a backstage tryst in Los Angeles last year. The Baby hitmaker denied the claim and Yeater subsequently dropped the lawsuit.
Lindsay Lohan's troubles hit the headlines again after she was sentenced to serve 30 days behind bars for a probation violation, although she was released after less than five hours due to jail overcrowding. Dr. Conrad Murray was not so lucky - he was convicted of involuntary manslaughter relating to the death of Michael Jackson and sentenced to the maximum of four years behind bars.
In other legal matters, country singer Mindy McCready sparked a manhunt after she took her five-year-old son Zander from his father's Florida home without permission; Tim McGraw won a court battle with his record company bosses releasing him from his contract; and TLC star T-Boz declared bankruptcy.
Hugh Grant, Sienna Miller and Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling became driving forces in the push to improve British press standards following the News of the World phone-hacking scandal earlier this year - the three stars were called to give evidence to the Leveson Inquiry and told how they had had their voicemails, emails and other private messages intercepted by private investigators working on behalf of tabloid reporters.
The sporting world mourned the death of boxing great Joe Frazier at the age of 67, just days after it was revealed he was battling liver cancer, while the hip-hop industry was rocked by the passing of rap icon Heavy D, who collapsed outside his Los Angeles home and was later declared dead at 44. British moviemaker Ken Russell also passed away, aged 84, and longtime Oscars producer Gil Cates died at 77. Meanwhile, Beatles fans remembered George Harrison on 29 November as fans marked the 10th anniversary of his death.
Veteran pop star George Michael was forced to scrap the remainder of his European tour after he was struck down by a serious bout of pneumonia; Bee Gees singer Robin Gibb also spent time in hospital after suffering abdominal pains, and Adele and Keith Urban had a quiet month as they both recovered from vocal cord surgery, while heavy rock fans rejoiced as the original members of Black Sabbath announced they would be reuniting for a new album and tour in 2012.
It was ladies' night at the American Music Awards as Taylor Swift and Adele walked away with three honours each, while Lady Gaga reigned over the MTV Europe Music Awards and newlyweds Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton ruled the Country Music Association Awards by taking home the two top vocalist prizes. November also saw Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher end weeks of speculation about their marriage by calling it quits, while Sugarland singer Jennifer Nettles tied the knot and Anne Hathaway began making plans to wed boyfriend Adam Schulman, and former The Hills star Kristin Cavallari and American footballer Jay Cutler became engaged again, months after they broke off their initial plans to marry.
And it was a busy month for the film industry - the latest Twilight movie, Breaking Dawn - Part 1, landed the biggest global debut in the film franchise's history, thanks to a massive $284 million (£177.5 million) opening weekend haul; Golden Globes bosses decided to bring back controversial comedian Ricky Gervais to host his third prizegiving in 2012; Billy Crystal stepped in for Eddie Murphy as the host of the 2012 Academy Awards a day after the comic and producer pal Brett Ratner resigned, and the race for the Oscars kicked off with the Gotham Independent Film Awards, where Terrence Malick's Tree of Life and Mike Mills' acclaimed Beginners made history when they became the first films to tie for the Best Feature prize in the ceremony's 21-year history.
December
The holiday bells were peeling for newlyweds A.J. McLean, actress Judy Greer, reality TV star Jeff Probst and Yeah Yeah Yeahs rocker Karen O, while Sinead O'Connor married an addiction counsellor in Las Vegas only to call off the union 16 days later. There were also splits for actress Debra Messing and Chaz Bono.
Britney Spears led the month's bride and grooms-to-be when she accepted former agent Jason Trawick's proposal on his 40th birthday, while Steven Tyler, John Legend, Matthew McConaughey, basketball legend Michael Jordan and Lady Antebellum's Dave Haywood all popped the question to their girlfriends - and there was baby news for new dads Robert De Niro, Halle Berry's ex Eric Benet, actor Charlie Day, Westlife star Kian Egan, actress/singer Fantasia Barrino, Essence Atkins and pop star Dev, while actress Alyson Hannigan, Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty, Kings of Leon star Caleb Followill's supermodel wife Lily Aldridge, Alessandra Ambrosio and Irish singer Andrea Corr announced they were pregnant.
There was drama for rapper Tyler, The Creator, who was arrested for alleged acts of vandalism during a show in Hollywood; singer Christina Perri, who was attacked in a car-jacking incident; Barry Manilow, who underwent hip surgery, and Morrissey, whose concert in Puebla, Mexico was evacuated following an earthquake, while Britain's Prince Philip and R&B star Etta James spent Christmas in hospital.
Lindsay Lohan bared all for Playboy magazine; Adam Lambert was arrested in Finland following a pre-Christmas bust-up with his boyfriend; rapper The Game halted a gig in Norway to confront a bottle-throwing fan; boxer Floyd Mayweather, Jr. was sentenced to 90 days in jail for a 2010 fight with his ex; a man who leaked an unfinished new Madonna song online was arrested in Spain, and Michael Douglas' incarcerated son Cameron was handed an extra four-and-a-half years behind bars for another drug conviction.
And there was yet more drama for Terrence Howard, who requested a restraining order against his wife; model Lauren Scruggs, who lost her hand and an eye in a freak plane propeller accident; Hollywood couple Eric Dane and Rebecca Gayheart, who had to vacate their home after high winds brought a tree crashing into their living room, and pop star Selena Gomez suffered a family tragedy when her mother miscarried.
Meanwhile, Jodie Foster's estranged father was jailed for five years after he was found guilty of a property scam; Angelina Jolie was sued by a Croatian journalist who alleged his chronicle of the Bosnian War inspired her directorial debut; Kirsten Dunst won a restraining order against an obsessed French fan; an extra died of a heart attack while shooting The Dark Knight Rises in New York; Goodfellas actor Tony Darrow was sentenced to six months behind bars for arranging a real-life mob beating, and Charlie Sheen had to change his phone number when he accidentally tweeted it to his followers.
The month's big winners included singer Melanie Amaro, who became the first U.S. X Factor winner; Julio Iglesias, who was named Spain's best-selling recording artist of all time; Russell Simmons, who was crowned PETA's Person of the Year; Chaka Khan, who won permanent custody of her granddaughter; Lady Gaga, who was hailed the year's highest earning female musician, and Taylor Swift who picked up Billboard magazine's coveted Woman of The Year honour.
Also winning in December: Guns N' Roses, the Beastie Boys and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, who were all announced as the members of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's Class of 2012, and Twilight star Kristen Stewart, who was named Forbes magazine's Most Lucrative Star. Adele dominated the year's end album and singles polls; Jason Newsted reunited with Metallica for their 30th anniversary bash in San Francisco, and Martin Scorsese's first 3D movie Hugo was the surprise Best Film winner at the National Board of Review Awards in America.
In other movie news, Transformers: Dark of The Moon was named the year's most mistake-ridden film; Orson Welles' Citizen Kane Oscar sold at auction for $861,000; Drive dominated the Satellite Awards while The Help, The Artist and The Descendants picked up the lion's share of nominations for the Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild Awards, and Angelina Jolie's directorial debut, In The Land of Blood and Honey, also picked up Golden Globes nods and she was named the 2012 recipient of the Stanley Kramer Award at the Producer's Guild of America Awards.
In music news, Amy Winehouse's posthumous album debuted at number one in Britain; 30 Seconds To Mars broke a concert record at a show in New York - their 309th in a single album cycle, and Gucci Mane was released from prison.
Wrapping up the month, Oscar winner Colin Firth was immortalised in wax at Madame Tussauds in London; Men's Health magazine bosses crowned Jennifer Aniston the Hottest Woman of All Time; Liz Taylor's diamonds and gems set a new auction record by becoming the most valuable private jewellery collection; Lmfao were forced to abandon a gig in Honduras after a fire broke out at the venue; Welsh opera star Katherine Jenkins announced her split from fiance Gethin Jones, and Coldplay rang in 2012 with a $1.6 million gig in Abu Dhabi.
And the last month of the year saw the notable deaths of actor Bill McKinney, soul stars Dobie Gray and Howard Tate, M*A*S*H regular Harry Morgan, Clark Gable and Loretta Young's love child Judy Lewis, actress Doe Avedon Siegel, former child star Susan Gordon, country singer Billie Jo Spears, Aussie actor Graham Bown, world leaders Vaclav Havel and Kim Jong-Il, songwriter Ralph MacDonald, Kojak star Dan Frazer, directors Don Sharp and Yoshimitsu Morita, writer Christopher Hitchens and Tarzan's chimp sidekick Cheetah, who died of liver failure, aged 80.
- 1/1/2012
- WENN
Funny guy Seth Rogen has something new to smile about: he's married! On Sunday, the comedy star tied the knot with his longtime girlfriend, writer Lauren Miller, at Kunde Estate in Sonoma, California.
A female rabbi (who apparently also has a solid sense of humor) officiated the Jewish ceremony on a hilltop overlooking picturesque vineyards. "The wedding was more laughs than anything else," Us Weekly reports. "Every other line was a joke and the crowd couldn't contain their laughter. It was nonstop fun!"
As you probably expected, the three-day celebration was a star-studded event. Guests included Jonah Hill, Paul Rudd, Craig Robinson (0f "The Office" fame), director-producer Judd Apatow and wife Leslie Mann, plus their two freakishly adorable kids. Bet that was one good party.
From the looks of Seth in his tux and Lauren in her ballgown, the wedding day was a bit more traditional than the proposal — which...
A female rabbi (who apparently also has a solid sense of humor) officiated the Jewish ceremony on a hilltop overlooking picturesque vineyards. "The wedding was more laughs than anything else," Us Weekly reports. "Every other line was a joke and the crowd couldn't contain their laughter. It was nonstop fun!"
As you probably expected, the three-day celebration was a star-studded event. Guests included Jonah Hill, Paul Rudd, Craig Robinson (0f "The Office" fame), director-producer Judd Apatow and wife Leslie Mann, plus their two freakishly adorable kids. Bet that was one good party.
From the looks of Seth in his tux and Lauren in her ballgown, the wedding day was a bit more traditional than the proposal — which...
- 10/4/2011
- by Elizabeth Durand
- NextMovie
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