Entertainment News

‘Clerks’ creator lashes out at ABC after show’s cancellation

After only airing two episodes, “Clerks: The Animated Series” has been canceled by ABC. The official reason for the show’s demise was poor ratings, but “Clerks” seems to have been given little chance of survival as it premiered during the summer and critics panned it.

Series creator Kevin Smith, whose filmography includes “Chasing Amy” and “Dogma,” immediately began a curse-filled verbal attack on the network, according to E Online.

“What more can I say about the wonder boys in charge of ABC that I haven’t already?” Smith asked.

Smith does not deny the show’s poor ratings but said he felt the least ABC could do was run the full run of six episodes.

“Hey man — I know the ratings weren’t great, but there were only four more to go. It was about the only bone they could’ve thrown us.”

Smith’s complaints began earlier in the year when he was first informed that it would be premiering in a summer slot rather than as a mid-season replacement.

Fans of the show will now have to wait until the remaining episodes are released on video.

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Celine Dion finally conceives

After a year of trying with no luck, 32-year-old celebrated pop music diva Celine Dion announced Friday that she is pregnant and is scheduled to give birth by next March, according to E Online.

“We just found out,” she said in a statement. “In three weeks, if all goes well, we’ll hear the heart of our baby beating inside of my tummy.”

Dion underwent fertility treatment in New York. She is married to 57-year-old manager Rene Angelil after. She’s been in a year of semi-retirement. Last February, the diva filed a $20 million lawsuit against The National Enquirer after it reported she was pregnant with twins.

“This time it’s for real — I’m pregnant,” Dion said. “We are completely, totally happy. And we thank God for the great joy we’ve been given. Over this past year, we went through a terrible test together, but we made it through stronger.”

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Prince celebrates reclaiming his name

After seven years of being known by an unpronounceable symbol, Prince celebrated his recent announcement to reclaim his name with six days of public tours at his Paisley Park studios in Chanhassen, Minn, ending in a 3 1/2 hour concert/party at Northrop Auditorium, according to The Associated Press.

The event was called “Prince: A Celebration” and culminated in near chaos as the singer, who used to go by the artist formerly known as Prince, invited the first three rows of the audience to join him and his collection of musicians, rappers and dancers on stage during the performance.

Prince opened and closed the show with the message: “Love is God. God is Love.”

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‘Survivor’ tops Regis

“Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” took a huge hit in the ratings this week as the new CBS show “Survivor” kicked it off the top of the Nielsen charts, according to E Online.

After going head to head with “Millionaire” for the first time and only narrowly losing out, the second episode of “Survivor” averaged 18.1 million viewers to “Millonaire’s” 15.5 million.

Unlike “Millionaire,” “Survivor” managed to win the youth demographic, even in the two shows first confrontation last Wednesday. After gaining another 9 million viewers in one week after word of mouth spread, ABC has decided not to air the game show opposite the “Gilligan’s Island” meets “Lord of the Flies” meets “The Real World” take-off.

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MP3.com turns on Napster

Michael Robertson, chairman of MP3.com, is joining the Recording Industry Association of America and the Motion Picture Association of America in asking a federal judge for a preliminary injunction against Napster, according to E Online.

MP3.com has forged a licensing deal with two recording labels and is now giving up solidarity with Napster to play by the rules.

“In the operation of our Web site, we do not authorize unlawful or pirated MP3 files,” said Robertson, who lost his battle with the music industry last April. “We engage in an intensive screening effort to ensure this, which we believe is an appropriate cost of doing business.”

The RIAA filed a brief Monday to ask U.S. District Judge Marilyn Hall Patel to prevent Napster from “allowing or assisting users to copy, download, upload, transmit or distribute any copyrighted music” through its site.

The RIAA lawsuit in December was followed by similar suits from Metallica and Dr. Dre.

Napster has argued that it is not responsible for anything more than providing software to users, how customers use that software is their responsibility.

Judge Patel ruled that Napster’s defense could not be used and can be held responsible for illegal song-trading.

Napster CEO Hank Barry said in response that the labels are ignorant.

“People are sharing over Napster, not selling,” Barry said. “Napster is doing no harm to the record industry.

“Napster is a powerful tool, and I have no doubt we will win this case on the merits.”