Wednesday, 20 April 2011 00:00Written by Spencer Iowa
Kara Dioguardi has shocked fans by detailing her traumatic youth in a new book, alleging she was molested as a child and date-raped during the early years of her career. The former "American Idol" judge has written a candid new autobiography, named "A Helluva High Note," in which she opens up about her troubled past. In the tome, she claims she was molested as an 11 year old and recalls one incident which still haunts her, writing, "On one particular day, he took me into the back shed of his house and put his hands all over my breasts and vagina. I remember freezing and not knowing what to do." DioGuardi also reveals she suffered another traumatic experience as an adult, alleging she was sexually assaulted around 11 years ago following what she thought was a friendly dinner date. She claims she told the unnamed man to stop, but was too scared to fight back in case he became violent.
Wednesday, 20 April 2011 00:00Written by Spencer Iowa
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Moviegoers around the world headed to "Rio" for the weekend. The 3D animated misadventure of a Brazilian macaw scored the biggest opening so far this year at the North American box office, and was the top choice overseas for a second weekend, distributor 20th Century Fox said on Sunday. The film sold an estimated $40 million worth of tickets across the United States and Canada during the three days beginning April 15, coming in at the top end of expectations. It also provided some rare good news at the box office where sales so far this year are down 19 percent to $2.65 billion, according to box office analysts at Hollywood.com.
Wednesday, 20 April 2011 00:00Written by Spencer Iowa
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bulldozers razed a storied mansion where F. Scott Fitzgerald partied and which some say inspired his novel 'The Great Gatsby,' leaving just a few chimneys standing on Long Island's Gold Coast on Monday. The Lands End mansion was built in the early 20th century in Sands Point, New York, overlooking the waters of Long Island Sound. In the 1920s it became the home of Herbert Bayard Swope, the executive editor of the New York World and an acquaintance of many of the luminaries who came to define the Roaring Twenties, including Fitzgerald. But in recent years it had stood empty, a reminder that fabulously wealthy hedonists known for their decadent parties have found other playgrounds around the world.
Wednesday, 20 April 2011 00:00Written by Spencer Iowa
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A new version of the $70 million Broadway musical "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark" with music written by U2's Bono and The Edge will open June 14, producers said on Monday. The most expensive show in Broadway history, the revamped musical will be first shown in previews on May 12. The show has been postponed at least six times due to cost overruns, actors injured during preview performances and director and co-creator Julie Taymor being relieved of duties in March. The hi-tech musical, which has still been gaining a strong box office despite its problems, closed for three weeks starting Monday for cast and crew to rehearse the new version that has diminished some of Taymor's vision.
Wednesday, 20 April 2011 00:00Written by Spencer Iowa
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The publisher of U.S. author Greg Mortenson's memoir, "Three Cups of Tea," said on Monday it was reviewing the bestseller following claims that parts of the inspirational book were fabricated. Television news program "60 Minutes" said in a Sunday broadcast that parts of Mortenson's account of a failed attempt in 1993 to climb the world's second-highest peak, K2, and being kidnapped in Pakistan in 1996, were untrue, citing several people interviewed. "60 Minutes" also reported that Mortenson was using his charitable institute, Central Asia Institute, to promote his books. "Greg Mortenson's work as a humanitarian in Afghanistan and Pakistan has provided tens of thousands of children with an education. '60 Minutes' is a serious news organization and in the wake of their report, Viking plans to carefully review the materials with the author," Viking spokeswoman Carolyn Coleburn said in a statement.
