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LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Financing for DreamWorks Studios' partnership with one of India's richest men was finalized Monday, giving Steven Spielberg and partner Stacey Snider money to resume making movies. From left to right, Steven Spielberg, Anil Ambani, Stacey Snider and Amitahb Jhunjhunwala. The deal with Anil Ambani, chairman of India's Reliance BIG Entertainment, provides Spielberg's DreamWorks Studios with $875 million, coming from Ambani, the Walt Disney Co. and loans made by a syndicate of banks. Disney will distribute and market about six DreamWorks Studios films around the world each year, with the exception of India, where Reliance will have those rights. Spielberg and Snider found themselves in need of financial partners last year when he cut ties with Paramount Pictures and began rebuilding DreamWorks into an independent studio. Although the deal, which was announced last year, has been characterized in some reports as "Hollywood meets Bollywood," Spielberg and partner Stacey Snider will have creative control over productions. "This will allow us to move ahead quickly into production with our first group of films," Snider and Spielberg said in a joint statement. Reliance BIG Entertainment is part of the Reliance group controlled by billionaire Ambani. "Our partnership with Stacey and Steven is the cornerstone of our Hollywood strategy as we grow our film interests across the globe," Ambani said. "Given our faith in the business plan that they presented to us and despite the current economic climate, we were always confident that this day would come. Now Stacey and Steven can focus on producing more of the great films for which they are renowned." Ambani, whose company owns hundreds of theater screens across South Asia, has also invested development money this year with other Hollywood production companies, including those owned by actors Nicolas Cage, Tom Hanks, George Clooney and Jim Carrey. A DreamWorks announcement said that J.P. Morgan brought together the syndicate of banks to provide about $325 million in funding. The banks include Bank of America, City National Bank, Wells Fargo, Comerica, Union Bank of California, SunTrust, California Bank & Trust, and Israel Discount Bank. One of the first movies to go into production will be "Harvey," an adaptation of the play that won a Pulitzer for playwright Mary Chase. The tale about a man and his invisible bunny friend was first made into a movie, starring Jimmy Stewart, in 1950. Spielberg's long career as a screenwriter, director and producer has included classic blockbusters "E.T.: The Extraterrestrial," the "Indiana Jones" series and "Saving Private Ryan." | [
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] | Steven Spielberg finalizes partnership with Indian tycoon, gets cash infusion .
Partnership with Anil Ambani provides $875 million for DreamWorks .
Spielberg's first film planned: remake of classic "Harvey" |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Firefighters will need at least until midweek to get control of wildfires that have destroyed more than 900 homes and other structures in Southern California, a Los Angeles County Fire Department spokesman says.
High winds have fanned blazes from Santa Barbara to Anaheim since Thursday, scorching an estimated 40,900 acres of land. Sustained winds eased Monday, but locally gusty conditions and humidity in the single-digit range could continue into Tuesday, the National Weather Service predicted.
"If we were being very optimistic, we would be looking at the middle of the week," Los Angeles County fire Capt. Dennis Cross said. "If the weather forecast holds and we continue to get the great work being done in the last 24 hours, we're hoping midweek."
The most extensive losses have been in the Oakridge Mobile Home Park in the Sylmar district of Los Angeles, where winds clocked as high as 70 mph drove a wall of flames across the hillsides and destroyed nearly 500 of the park's 608 mobile homes on Saturday. iReport.com: Map shows fire's devastation
A two-day search that ended Monday found no human remains amid the scorched wreckage, authorities said. But Deputy Police Chief Michel Moore said authorities still haven't accounted for the residents of 166 homes, and he wanted them to check in with investigators.
"Help us bring full closure to this," Moore said Monday evening. Watch how fires destroyed hundreds of homes »
Moore said residents of the mobile home park would be allowed to return Tuesday "to come in and collect their belongings."
The largest of three fires, the Freeway Complex fire, had set ablaze nearly 29,000 acres in Orange, Los Angeles and Riverside counties. Most of the damage was in Orange County, in the Los Angeles suburbs of Anaheim and Yorba Linda, where more than 100 homes were destroyed.
Fire officials said the blaze, with 3,700 firefighters and other emergency personnel battling it, was about 40 percent contained Monday. Watch how it may take days to contain fires »
iReporter Carol Menke said she last saw her home in the Hollydale Mobile Home Estates in Brea Canyon around 12:30 p.m. on Sunday.
"I know our firefighters are the best and the bravest in the world, but that wall of fire looked insurmountable," she said at the time. iReport.com: 'Insurmountable' wall of flames looms
Firefighters on Sunday night told Menke that one home was destroyed and one damaged in Hollydale, but neither was hers. See damage in Sylmar via satellite photography »
"I am so thankful that I am at a loss for words. My heart goes out to those not as fortunate," she said.
The Sayre fire, which destroyed the mobile home park in Los Angeles' Sylmar district, was about 40 percent contained Monday morning after burning about 10,000 acres. Five firefighters and one civilian suffered minor injuries in the blaze, the Los Angeles County Fire Department reported. See images from the Los Angeles County fire »
In Santa Barbara County, northwest of Los Angeles, firefighters said they had a wildfire 95 percent contained after it destroyed more than 100 homes. Among the losses in the 1,900-plus acres it incinerated were a monastery and several mansions in a community where celebrities have homes.
The fire destroyed the $11 million Montecito, California, home of Christopher Lloyd, star of "Back to the Future" and "Taxi." He showed the charred remnants to ABC's "Good Morning America" on Monday. Lloyd talks about his destroyed home
"It's amazing, its just gone," Lloyd told "Good Morning America." "Rebuilding would be -- it's too much. You can't rebuild that."
Investigators believe the Santa Barbara County blaze was "human-caused," having eliminated "all accidental causes," said Doug Lannon, a spokesman for the state fire agency. iReport.com: Share wildfire photos, video
Authorities said they believe the fire started in the Tea Garden Estate, a privately owned multiple-acre property about one mile north of Santa Barbara's exclusive Westmont College. | [
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] | NEW: Search of mobile home park ends; no one found dead .
More than 900 homes, structures destroyed by three fires .
Single-digit humidity, wind gusts pose problems for firefighters .
Santa Barbara County fire has human cause, officials say . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Fires in central and southern California raged Saturday as triple-digit temperatures mixed with dry conditions continued to fuel the flames, torching thousands of acres and threatening scores of homes. Firefighters look on as fire rages near Ocean View Drive in Los Angeles on Saturday. Authorities confirmed three civilian injuries from a growing blaze known as the Station fire burning through the Angeles National Forest-La Canada Flintridge. The blaze nearly quadrupled in size from 5,500 acres Friday to more than 20,000 acres, officials said. The blaze, which grew to more than 20,100 acres, was 5 percent contained early Sunday, officials said. It was upgraded to type 1 brush fire -- the most severe classification. "Today what happened is what I called a perfect storm of fuels, weather and topography coming together ... essentially the fire burned at will," Mike Dietrich of the U.S. Forest Service said Saturday. Authorities consider the Station fire an anomaly, as it is not driven by strong winds as most California wildfires. Watch CNN's Reynolds Wolf explain what's driving the fire » "The fire has been very active on all fronts," U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman Randi Jorgensen said. The fire threatened about 10,000 homes in Los Angeles County and 900 homes were evacuated, she said. Watch close-up views of the fast-moving fire » "Basically, all the homes that back up to the National Forest in the La Canada-Flintridge are in danger from the fire," Jorgensen said, adding that fire officials have told residents to be prepared for possible evacuation orders. The Station fire disrupted power to 750 homes. More than 750 workers have been dispatched to control the blaze, which started Wednesday afternoon. Watch iReport images and descriptions of the fire » Jorgensen confirmed one injury involving heat exhaustion. A wildfire also hit San Bernardino National Forest, burning 2,200 acres, fire officials said. The blaze, called the Cottonwood fire, started Thursday afternoon about 10 miles from the southern California city of Hemet, officials reported. That blaze was about 10 percent contained Friday evening. Hemet is about 85 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles. Firefighters fully contained another fire that torched 230 acres about 20 miles southwest of downtown Los Angeles on Friday. The blaze, called the Palos Verdes fire, forced 1,200 people to evacuate and destroyed five homes and two other buildings. Another fire in the Angeles National Forest had burned more than 2,100 acres. The blaze, called the Morris fire, started Tuesday. That fire was about 85 percent contained Friday evening, officials said. | [
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] | The Station fire "very active on all fronts," U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman said .
The Cottonwood, Palos Verdes and Morris fires were all ablaze late Friday .
Homes in the Angeles National Forest-La Canada Flintridge area in danger . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Flannery O'Connor did not expect to become the subject of a biography. She thought the narrow borders of her life -- lived "between the house and the chicken yard" -- wouldn't give a writer much to work with. Author Flannery O'Connor (here with two of her peacocks) remains a subject of fascination for many. It would therefore come as a surprise (and probably secretly please her) to learn she is the focus of at least three. The latest is "Flannery: A Life of Flannery O'Connor" (Little, Brown) by Brad Gooch, an exhaustively researched exploration of O'Connor's unlikely journey from shy, sarcastic and "contrary" Georgia girl to acerbic literary treasure. That she suffered from lupus and died before the age of 40 is well-known to fans of O'Connor. But Gooch uncovers much that even ardent followers of the author will find revealing, including details of her college career as a cartoonist, and her time in Iowa City at the Iowa Writers' Workshop. The book manages to synthesize what seems difficult to reconcile: how such a chaste, religious person could produce stories that are bitingly funny and filled with shocking violence. Watch O'Connor's fascinating story » Gooch spoke with CNN about his experience researching the biography. What follows is an edited version of the interview. CNN: When did you first discover Flannery O'Connor? Brad Gooch: I first read her stories in my 20s and loved them, and then a little later, the [collected] letters came up, "The Habit of Being." And I'd had a few hunches about her from reading the stories, which were a little mysterious. ... And then when I read the letters, a lot of those hunches seemed true. ... Trying to put the life of this woman together with the stories became as interesting as the stories to me. CNN: She wasn't always known as Flannery O'Connor. Gooch: Her name was Mary Flannery O'Connor, and her mother and everyone in Milledgeville (Georgia), where she lived most of her life, continued to call her Mary Flannery. But when she went to Iowa City -- the Iowa Writers' Workshop -- early on, she decided she wanted to be a writer, and she decided on the name Flannery. She later said, "Who would want to buy these stories of an Irish washerwoman named Mary O'Connor?" Partly, I think she wanted to lose the Southern-ness of "Mary Flannery." ... Also, Flannery was a gender-neutral name. ... Her initial rejection letters were actually addressed to "Mr. Flannery O'Connor," and I think she kind of liked that neutrality. CNN: What did you find most remarkable about her? Gooch: I think the discipline of her writing becomes ... almost inspiring. She developed lupus when she was 25, she lived until she was 39. And in that period, she kept up this regimen that she had begun at the Iowa Writers' Workshop of writing every morning for three hours, even if it meant sitting in front of a blank page. ... [Near the end of her life] she was editing her final stories and hiding them under the pillow in the hospital from the doctors so that she could go on. She was still working on her last story after she had last rites. ... All of that is a sort of [a] level of commitment that is startling and unmatched. CNN: Her stories are often funny, yet disturbing. Gooch: Her style goes under these names, like grotesque or gothic, but she was really crossing these two wires of humor and almost this kind of dark theological writing that had never been put together before. ... [In "A Good Man is Hard to Find"] a family on vacation ... meets someone named the Misfit, this ex-con in the woods. ... And he winds up shooting the entire family while spouting existentialist, nihilist philosophy. And in that story, there's always a point where you keep laughing past | [
"What caused the death of O'Connor?"
] | [
[
"lupus"
]
] | New biography of Flannery O'Connor offers insights on Southern author .
Biographer Brad Gooch: O'Connor's discipline was "inspiring"
Author suffered from lupus, was dead by 39, but left brilliant body of work . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Florence Henderson, "The Brady Bunch" mom, may be one of America's best-loved mothers. Florence Henderson is often asked for hugs by complete strangers. As Henderson travels the United States with her one-woman road show, "All the Lives of Me," fans respond as if they grew up in her 1970s TV family. "Every day, I'm asked 'Can I have a hug?' " Henderson said. "And I do. I hug a lot of people." And on Mother's Day every year, her mailbox fills with cards from people she doesn't know but who think of her as Mom. "I get mail from all over the world, 122 countries," she said. Henderson is using her fame as the iconic TV mother to help other moms who suffer from "lackus appreciatus," which she says is "a condition caused by years of under-appreciation and neglect" of mothers by their kids. Her role as spokeswoman for the "Center for Lackus Appreciatus Prevention" is part of a tongue-in-cheek campaign sponsored by Kodak to promote an online service where Mother's Day cards can be sent for free. A video posted on YouTube points to the Mom-a-thon.com Web site, which aims to close the "appreciation deficit" between what your mom does for you and what you do for your mom. Although just five seasons of "The Brady Bunch" were produced, starting in the fall of 1969, children still grow up with the Bradys in syndication. "It's never been off the air in the United States," she said. Henderson said she sometimes encounters mothers who tell her "You know, I really didn't like you when my kids were small, because they preferred you to me." She knows the power of her motherly voice, using it to make a reporter feel special with a scolding: "Don't play ball in the house!" For a moment, the interviewer feels like a Brady. | [
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] | Florence Henderson touring with one-woman show .
Henderson most famous as mom on "The Brady Bunch"
Show has kept her in public eye, made her symbol for mothers . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- For Miley Cyrus, star of Disney's popular television series "Hannah Montana" and its big-screen adaptation "Hannah Montana: The Movie," art is not far from real life.
Miley Cyrus, here in "Hannah Montana: The Movie," says filming in Tennessee was relaxing.
The 16-year-old actress and singer reconnected with her Southern roots for the filming of "Hannah Montana: The Movie." Traveling to Tennessee to shoot the movie, Cyrus said, helped keep her grounded.
"It actually gave me time to relax, and it was when my career was just starting to take off ... when I was just starting to travel," Cyrus said. "It was at a time when I needed to go back home and it couldn't have been more of a perfect time."
In the film, opening in theaters Friday, Cyrus plays Miley Stewart, a typical teenage girl who lives a double life as a famous pop star named Hannah Montana. Eventually, Hannah begins taking over Miley's life, leading Miley to take a soul-searching journey back home to decide what she really wants: notoriety or normality.
Miley shares the screen with her father, country musician Billy Ray Cyrus, who felt that a trip home would be beneficial to his daughter. Watch Miley and Billy Ray discuss the film »
"This is definitely an example of art imitating life imitating art. ... It's so important to be aware of where you're at and be focused on where you're going but, more importantly, never forget where you came from," the elder Cyrus said. "You can't fake going home. That was her home."
Both on-screen and off, Miley said, she and her father share a close friendship, calling herself a "daddy's girl 100 percent."
Between the endless tabloid headlines and the paparazzi's persistence, keeping friends and family near at hand, Miley said, helps remind her of who she really is: "I think just have good friends, good family and a good team. That's what people miss the most, just having a good team."
Co-star Lucas Till, who plays Miley's love interest in the film, remarked on Miley's down-to-earth personality.
"She's really nice and really [endearing], and she really cares about people," he said. "She's a good friend, very loyal."
The two shared an on-screen kiss that, Till said, "could have been more meaningful." Watch Till talk about kissing Cyrus »
"There was a lot more there to that kiss than you see," he said.
Asked whether Till was a good kisser, Miley replied, "Meh, he's OK. No, I'm just kidding. I don't know. I think I was too busy thinking about my next line to think about it."
During her film's opening weekend, Miley is planning on surprising select audiences at undisclosed theater locations across the country. Moviegoers who see "Hannah Montana: The Movie" this weekend could also be treated to surprise appearances by stars of the film, live performances and more.
Miley said she was excited to give back to her fans. "I have the best fans in the world," she said.
After playing "Hannah" for three years, Miley said, she's not ready to quit anytime soon.
"I can't be Hannah until I'm 30, but I want to keep doing it as long as possible," she said.
CNN's JD Cargill and CNN.com's Elham Khatami contributed to this article. | [
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Much of movie shot in Tennessee; Cyrus said it gave her "time to relax"
Cyrus kisses co-star Lucas Till in film but said she was focused on her lines . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- For most people life can be boiled down to a few major decisions and a list of truly memorable events. Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams hope love conquers all in "The Time Traveler's Wife." Typically, these are first words, first steps, graduations, births, weddings and -- of course -- marriage proposals. More than a few of these milestone moments take place in the new romantic drama "The Time Traveler's Wife." Of all of them, perhaps the most memorable is a scene in which Henry DeTamble (Eric Bana) asks Clare Abshire (Rachel McAdams) to be his wife. It's a complicated request because Henry, a kind man, also has the uncanny and often unfortunate ability to be transported suddenly and unexpectedly from one time period to another, leaving Clare on her own. It's a peculiar set of circumstances that would give most women understandable hesitation when contemplating a marriage partner. But Clare is a woman in love, an emotion that tends to trump all others. Watch how Bana and McAdams found humor in the scene » Bana and McAdams sit down with CNN to discuss this scene, its comedic elements and what it means to both their characters. | [
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] | Rachel McAdams and Eric Bana star in "The Time Traveler's Wife"
In a key scene, Bana asks McAdams to get married .
The performers says they tried to put a little humor in situation . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Former detainees of Immigration and Customs Enforcement accuse the agency in a lawsuit of forcibly injecting them with psychotropic drugs while trying to shuttle them out of the country during their deportation.
Raymond Soeoth, pictured here with his wife, says he was injected with drugs by ICE agents against his will.
One of the drugs in question is the potent anti-psychotic drug Haldol, which is often used to treat schizophrenia or other mental illnesses. Doctors say they are required to see patients in person before such drugs are administered.
Two immigrants, Raymond Soeoth of Indonesia and Amadou Diouf of Senegal in West Africa, told CNN they were injected with the drugs against their will.
Both are plaintiffs in a class-action lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union against the government. They are seeking an end to the alleged practice and unspecified damages. Watch why the former detainees claim abuse »
Dr. Paul Appelbaum, a professor of psychiatry, law and ethics at Columbia University, reviewed both men's medical records for this report and was stunned by what he discovered.
"I'm really shocked to find out that the government has been using physicians and using potent medications in this way," said Appelbaum, who also serves as a member of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law.
"That is the sort of thing that would be subject to a malpractice claim in the civilian world."
The allegations of ICE forcibly drugging deportees were raised last month by Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Connecticut, during the re-nomination hearing of ICE chief Julie Myers.
"The information the committee has received from ICE regarding the forced drugging of immigration detainees is extremely troubling, particularly since it appears ICE may have violated its own detention standards," Lieberman spokeswoman Leslie Phillips told CNN in an e-mail.
"Senator Lieberman intends to follow up with ICE to ensure that detainees are not drugged unless there is a medical reason to do so."
ACLU attorney Ahilan Arulanantham, who is representing Soeoth and Diouf, said, "It would be torture to give a powerful anti-psychotic drug to somebody who isn't even mentally ill. ... But here, it's happening on U.S. soil to an immigrant the government is trying to deport."
Responding to Lieberman's written questions, Myers said 1,073 immigration detainees had "medical escorts" for deportation since 2003.
From October last year to the end of April this year, she said 56 received psychotropic medications during the removal process. Of those, 33 detainees received medication "because of combative behavior with the imminent risk of danger to others and/or self," she said.
"First, I am aware of, and deeply concerned about reports that past practices may not have conformed to ICE detention standards," Myers said.
She added no detainee should be "involuntarily medicated without court order," except in emergency situations.
But both Soeoth and Diouf say they had not exhibited any combative behavior.
Soeoth, a Christian minister from Indonesia, spent 27 months in detention awaiting deportation after his bid for political asylum was rejected. Hours before he was to be sent back home on December 7, 2004, he says guards injected him with a mystery drug that made him groggy for two days. See the document that shows Soeoth was injected
"They pushed me on the bench, they opened my pants, and they just give me injection," he said through broken English.
He says he was taken to Los Angeles International Airport while in this drug-induced stupor, but two hours before takeoff, airline security refused to transport him, so ICE agents returned him to his cell at Terminal Island near Los Angeles. Terminal Island, once a federal prison, is a crowded facility along the ocean where hundreds of illegal immigrants await deportation.
Soeoth's medical records indicate he was injected with Cogentin and Haldol, even though those same records show he has no history of mental illness.
In the records, the government says he was injected with the drug after he said he would kill himself if deported -- | [
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] | Detainees file suit against ICE, allege they were injected with drugs .
One detainee tells CNN: "What they did to me was very, very bad"
ICE says 1,073 detainees have had "medical escorts" since 2003 .
Sen. Lieberman vows to investigate further; spokesman calls charges "troubling" |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Friday's two-train collision killed 25 people and injured more than 130 others near Los Angeles after an engineer failed to heed a traffic signal, a spokeswoman for Metrolink commuter trains said. A commuter rail car lies on its side after a collision Friday near Los Angeles, California. The engineer was guiding the Metrolink train that slammed head-on into a freight train and is not believed to have survived, Metrolink spokeswoman Denise Tyrrell said on Saturday. "It was human error," Tyrrell said, adding this was Metrolink's belief "barring any new information" from an investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board. NTSB spokeswoman Kitty Higgins said the agency would "look at everything before we rule anything in or out." Tyrrell said the engineer, whom she didn't identify, was a subcontractor employed by another company. She said she did not have details of his record. The crash occurred about 4:30 p.m. PT Friday in Chatsworth, a northwest Los Angeles suburb. The Metrolink train had about 220 passengers and two crew members on board at the time, according to Tyrrell. Watch rescuers search for victims » Forty-five of the injured were in critical condition, with 40 flown to hospitals, Tyrrell said. Another 50 had minor injuries, and 40 others were treated at the crash site but transported to hospitals for evaluation. "It was like running into a brick wall at 60 miles an hour," an injured passenger told CNN affiliate KABC. In the minutes after the crash, passers-by joined emergency personnel in an effort to free passengers from the wreckage. On Saturday afternoon, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said the search of the wreckage had finished. Earlier in the day, authorities were picking through the wreckage and freeing trapped bodies. Ed Winter, assistant chief of the Los Angeles County coroner's office, told reporters two bodies -- both of females -- had yet to be identified. If the females had carried identification, it probably was lost in the crash, he said. As of 9 a.m. PT Saturday, authorities had been able to notify relatives of eight victims, he said. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger visited the crash site on Saturday, telling reporters it was "one of the worst train accidents in modern history in California." The NTSB will make a final determination of the crash's cause. Higgins, the agency's spokeswoman, said data recorders have been recovered from both trains, along with a video recorder from the freight train. Higgins said that out of the trains' five crew members, four survived. Authorities will interview the surviving crew members, Higgins said. Tyrrell said a review of "a number of programs," including the signal system, showed the commuter train's engineer failed to heed a stop signal, Tyrrell said. "We don't know how the error happened, but this is what we believe happened," Tyrrell said. The wreck occurred on a curved part of the track where the speed limit is 40 mph, Tyrrell said. She said that just like road vehicles, trains are subject to signal systems. At the wreck site is a siding where one train can wait while another passes, she said. "They receive a signal to stop and they must hold their location until other traffic has passed," she said. Villaraigosa praised police officers and firefighters for working under emotionally draining conditions and treating the victims with respect. "This has been a grueling night for them," he said. The crash sparked a fire that impeded firefighters's efforts to reach the front commuter car, where most of the injuries occurred, Los Angeles County sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore said. The fire eventually was brought under control. "We've already found survivors trapped under fatalities," Whitmore said late Friday. Among those killed was Spree Desha, 35, a Los Angeles police officer on her way home from work, officials said Saturday. "It's not unusual for us to respond to disasters," said Jerry Szymanski, | [
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] | NEW: Engineer failed to heed stop signal, Metrolink spokeswoman says .
NEW: At least 25 killed, 135 others injured in head-on wreck, officials say .
NEW: Search for bodies and survivors has finished, Los Angeles mayor says .
Passenger and freight trains collided Friday in Chatsworth . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- George Harrison's closest friends and family gathered in Hollywood on Tuesday to dedicate the late Beatle's star on the Walk of Fame.
From left, musicians Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne and Paul McCartney join Harrison's relatives for dedication of his star.
"There's someone here from every important stage of George's life and career," Harrison's widow, Olivia, said.
Harrison, who was 58 when he died of cancer in 2001, becomes the second Beatle with a Hollywood star. John Lennon was the first.
The new star is next to the iconic Hollywood headquarters of Capitol Records, the distributor of much of Harrison's music for the past five decades.
Tuesday's ceremony coincided with the Capitol/EMI announcement that it will release Harrison's first solo greatest hits collection -- "Let it Roll: Songs by George Harrison" -- on June 16.
Actor Tom Hanks said the world changed for him in January 1964 when he heard his first Beatles song.
"That's when we escaped the doldrums and moved on to a brighter, better, more joyful future," Hanks said.
Superstar musicians Paul McCartney, Tom Petty, Joe Walsh and Jeff Lynne attended the star's dedication, but they did not address the crowd.
Scores of Harrison fans showed up for the event, with some traveling from as far as Liverpool, England.
"We all have deep feelings for George, because he was such a deep-feeling person," Olivia Harrison said.
"He was a beautiful, mystical man, living in a material world," she said. "He was funny as the day is long and just as perplexing."
His son, Dhani, 30, joked about his father's star.
"It's good, it's lovely and it's nice and shiny and I'm glad it's not outside of Frederick's of Hollywood," he said.
Harrison was just 15 when schoolmate Paul McCartney asked him to join his and John Lennon's band, the Quarrymen. The band evolved into the Beatles and the rest is history.
Harrison played lead guitar and sang for the Beatles. Songs penned by Harrison included "Taxman," "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," "Something" and "Here Comes the Sun."
Harrison was a pioneer of what has since become a tradition of rock stars supporting charitable causes with their music. In 1971, he helped organize the star-studded "Concert for Bangladesh" at New York's Madison Square Garden.
In addition to his post-Beatles solo career, Harrison played with several groups -- most notably the Traveling Wilburys, alongside Petty, Lynne, Roy Orbison and Bob Dylan.
CNN's Denise Quan contributed to this report. | [
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"What did Harrison die from?",
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] | [
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] | Harrison's star next to Hollywood headquarters of Capitol Records .
Harrison, who died of cancer in 2001, is second Beatle with star after John Lennon .
Some fans travel from as far as Liverpool, England for dedication of Harrison's star .
Harrison penned many Beatles songs before launching successful solo career . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- George Harrison's closest friends and family gathered in Hollywood on Tuesday to dedicate the late Beatle's star on the Walk of Fame. From left, musicians Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne and Paul McCartney join Harrison's relatives for dedication of his star. "There's someone here from every important stage of George's life and career," Harrison's widow, Olivia, said. Harrison, who was 58 when he died of cancer in 2001, becomes the second Beatle with a Hollywood star. John Lennon was the first. The new star is next to the iconic Hollywood headquarters of Capitol Records, the distributor of much of Harrison's music for the past five decades. Tuesday's ceremony coincided with the Capitol/EMI announcement that it will release Harrison's first solo greatest hits collection -- "Let it Roll: Songs by George Harrison" -- on June 16. Actor Tom Hanks said the world changed for him in January 1964 when he heard his first Beatles song. "That's when we escaped the doldrums and moved on to a brighter, better, more joyful future," Hanks said. Superstar musicians Paul McCartney, Tom Petty, Joe Walsh and Jeff Lynne attended the star's dedication, but they did not address the crowd. Scores of Harrison fans showed up for the event, with some traveling from as far as Liverpool, England. "We all have deep feelings for George, because he was such a deep-feeling person," Olivia Harrison said. "He was a beautiful, mystical man, living in a material world," she said. "He was funny as the day is long and just as perplexing." His son, Dhani, 30, joked about his father's star. "It's good, it's lovely and it's nice and shiny and I'm glad it's not outside of Frederick's of Hollywood," he said. Harrison was just 15 when schoolmate Paul McCartney asked him to join his and John Lennon's band, the Quarrymen. The band evolved into the Beatles and the rest is history. Harrison played lead guitar and sang for the Beatles. Songs penned by Harrison included "Taxman," "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," "Something" and "Here Comes the Sun." Harrison was a pioneer of what has since become a tradition of rock stars supporting charitable causes with their music. In 1971, he helped organize the star-studded "Concert for Bangladesh" at New York's Madison Square Garden. In addition to his post-Beatles solo career, Harrison played with several groups -- most notably the Traveling Wilburys, alongside Petty, Lynne, Roy Orbison and Bob Dylan. CNN's Denise Quan contributed to this report. | [
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] | Harrison's star next to Hollywood headquarters of Capitol Records .
Harrison, who died of cancer in 2001, is second Beatle with star after John Lennon .
Some fans travel from as far as Liverpool, England for dedication of Harrison's star .
Harrison penned many Beatles songs before launching successful solo career . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- George Lucas didn't get to be a billionaire by delegating. George Lucas says he was "completely surprised" by "Star Wars in Concert." Holding fast to his vision -- and his marketing rights -- for the "Star Wars" empire has made it the biggest franchise in history, and made Lucas one of the most powerful people in entertainment. But while he's enthusiastic about the new touring show "Star Wars In Concert," it wasn't his idea, and when I talked with him before the first Los Angeles performance this week, he kept giving the credit to others. "Star Wars In Concert" is built around John Williams' well-known scores from the films, performed by a symphony orchestra and choir, and accompanied by specially edited clips from all six movies, displayed on a mammoth LED screen. Watch Lucas rave about the show » Anthony Daniels, who has played and voiced the golden protocol droid "C3PO" in every film and most of the spinoffs, provides live narration -- and another reason for the "Star Wars" fans in the audience, especially those waving lightsabers and dressed as everything from sand people to Imperial stormtroopers, to cheer mightily, as they did the night I interviewed Lucas. iReporter praises the 'Force' of the show George Lucas: I've seen some presentations of, you know, live orchestras with "Star Wars" clips, and that sort of thing. But this is so much more than that -- it's so much more emotional, because what they've done is taken the emotional content of the score ... one is obviously the Imperial March, one is obviously romantic ... and then they've cut all the pictures around that from all the movies, so that you get this really wide range of visuals going with the music, and it really is quite powerful when you see the depictions of all of the various Imperial shenanigans that were going on over the Imperial March. CNN: Obviously, when John Williams did the music for the original film, neither of you could have guessed your association would last so long, or that you'd be so identified with each other. How did he get involved originally? Lucas: What I did was, I was doing this space opera, and I was talking to Steve Spielberg and I said, "Look, I've got to get somebody who really knows the old-fashioned music score, I really am doing some giant romantic action adventure, you know, throwback to the '30s, and who do you know that can do that?" And he said, "Oh, there's only one person who can do that and that's John Williams -- he did 'Jaws' and he's perfect." And I said OK, and I met him, and we hit it off, you know, perfectly, and doing the first film was such a great experience -- he's so wonderful to work with -- that, you know, I'll never let him go. And Steve won't let him go either! CNN: How did this show come together? Lucas: Howard! [Lucas calls over Howard Roffman, the president of Lucas Licensing.] You're the man who did the whole thing -- I've got nothing to do with it. ... We would kid him about how his concert was going and he had to get Johnny [Williams] to buy in and me to buy in. Howard Roffman: Well, he always got it from the beginning, so he was an easy sell. CNN: But what was it he "got"? How did you sell him on a new concept for his franchise? Roffman: I think he understood that the music was so powerful and the images are so powerful that when you put that together with a live orchestra on a big venue, I mean, who would not be thrilled to see that? CNN: It's a very different experience, being live. Lucas: It's very powerful. I was completely surprised by | [
"Who supported the idea of the concert?",
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] | [
[
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] | "Star Wars in Concert' features John Williams' music and scenes from films .
George Lucas supported idea, though he's quick to give credit to others .
Effect of the arrangement? "It's very powerful," says Lucas .
"Star Wars" remains a tremendously successful franchise . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- George Lucas didn't get to be a billionaire by delegating. George Lucas says he was "completely surprised" by "Star Wars in Concert." Holding fast to his vision -- and his marketing rights -- for the "Star Wars" empire has made it the biggest franchise in history, and made Lucas one of the most powerful people in entertainment. But while he's enthusiastic about the new touring show "Star Wars In Concert," it wasn't his idea, and when I talked with him before the first Los Angeles performance this week, he kept giving the credit to others. "Star Wars In Concert" is built around John Williams' well-known scores from the films, performed by a symphony orchestra and choir, and accompanied by specially edited clips from all six movies, displayed on a mammoth LED screen. Anthony Daniels, who has played and voiced the golden protocol droid "C3PO" in every film and most of the spinoffs, provides live narration -- and another reason for the "Star Wars" fans in the audience, especially those waving lightsabers and dressed as everything from sand people to Imperial stormtroopers, to cheer mightily, as they did the night I interviewed Lucas. iReporter praises the 'Force' of the show George Lucas: I've seen some presentations of, you know, live orchestras with "Star Wars" clips, and that sort of thing. But this is so much more than that -- it's so much more emotional, because what they've done is taken the emotional content of the score ... one is obviously the Imperial March, one is obviously romantic ... and then they've cut all the pictures around that from all the movies, so that you get this really wide range of visuals going with the music, and it really is quite powerful when you see the depictions of all of the various Imperial shenanigans that were going on over the Imperial March. CNN: Obviously, when John Williams did the music for the original film, neither of you could have guessed your association would last so long, or that you'd be so identified with each other. How did he get involved originally? Lucas: What I did was, I was doing this space opera, and I was talking to Steve Spielberg and I said, "Look, I've got to get somebody who really knows the old-fashioned music score, I really am doing some giant romantic action adventure, you know, throwback to the '30s, and who do you know that can do that?" And he said, "Oh, there's only one person who can do that and that's John Williams -- he did 'Jaws' and he's perfect." And I said OK, and I met him, and we hit it off, you know, perfectly, and doing the first film was such a great experience -- he's so wonderful to work with -- that, you know, I'll never let him go. And Steve won't let him go either! CNN: How did this show come together? Lucas: Howard! [Lucas calls over Howard Roffman, the president of Lucas Licensing.] You're the man who did the whole thing -- I've got nothing to do with it. ... We would kid him about how his concert was going and he had to get Johnny [Williams] to buy in and me to buy in. Howard Roffman: Well, he always got it from the beginning, so he was an easy sell. CNN: But what was it he "got"? How did you sell him on a new concept for his franchise? Roffman: I think he understood that the music was so powerful and the images are so powerful that when you put that together with a live orchestra on a big venue, I mean, who would not be thrilled to see that? CNN: It's a very different experience, being live. Lucas: It's very powerful. I was completely surprised by it. And I've seen other live | [
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"What show features work by John Williams?",
"What did George Lucas support?",
"What remains a tremendously successful franchise?",
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"Who supported the idea?",
"What did Lucas say about the arrangement?",
"What does the concert feature?",
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] | "Star Wars in Concert' features John Williams' music and scenes from films .
George Lucas supported idea, though he's quick to give credit to others .
Effect of the arrangement? "It's very powerful," says Lucas .
"Star Wars" remains a tremendously successful franchise . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Gertrude Baines, a 114-year-old California resident, will likely be crowned the world's oldest woman, according to the organization that keeps track of such honors.
Gertrude Baines told CNN two years ago that she has taken good care of herself, "the way (God) wanted me to."
The previous oldest woman was Maria de Jesus, who died this week in Portugal at age 115, Guinness World Records said.
Baines -- born to former slaves in a small town south of Atlanta, Georgia, in 1894 -- now lives in a Los Angeles nursing home.
Baines appeared cheerful and talkative when the Los Angeles Times interviewed her in November as she cast her vote for Barack Obama for president, whom she said she supported because "he's for the colored people."
"I'm glad we're getting a colored man in there," she said.
Baines apparently prefers using the older term for her race. She was well into her 70s when "African-American" became the common reference in the United States. Watch Baines speak to CNN
She told the Times she spends most of her time "doing nothing but eating and sleeping."
When CNN interviewed Baines two years ago, she was asked to explain why she thought she has lived so long.
"God. Ask him. I took good care of myself, the way he wanted me to," Baines said.
Her only child, a daughter, died of typhoid fever at age 18.
Much of her long life was lived in Ohio, where she worked as a "house mom" at a state university. She eventually divorced and traveled to Los Angeles, where she retired.
Baines will not officially be given the title until after Guinness World Records completes an investigation, the organization said.
"Maria was crowned the world's Oldest Living Woman by Guinness World Records on 28 December upon the death of Edna Parker," the group said.
Parker -- an American -- was 115 years, 220 days old when she died November 26, 2008, in an Indiana nursing home, it said. | [
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] | Gertrude Baines, 114, likely to be named world's oldest woman .
Follows death of 115-year-old Maria de Jesus in Portugal this week .
Baines was born to former slaves near Atlanta, Georgia, in 1894 . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Gertrude Baines, the world's oldest person, has died in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 115, according to the home where she lived and Guinness World Records said Saturday. Gertrude Baines said she attributed her longevity to not drinking or smoking. Gertrude Baines passed away at the Western Convalescent Hospital at 7:25 a.m. (10:25 a.m. ET) Friday, Guinness World Records said. Born in 1894, Baines became the world's oldest person in January after the death of another 115-year-old, Maria de Jesus, from Portugal, Guinness World Records said. At her 115th birthday party in April, Baines shook her head in disbelief when presented with the certificate saying she was now in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's oldest person. "She told me that she owes her longevity to the Lord, that she never did drink, never did smoke, and she never did fool around," her doctor, Dr. Charles Witt, said in April. Baines, whose grandparents were slaves, worked as a maid in Ohio State University dormitories until her retirement, and lived at the Los Angeles convalescent home for more than 10 years. Last November, she became the oldest African-American to vote for President Obama and received a letter from him on her 115th birthday, Guinness World Records said. Witt said Baines planned to vote for Obama again in 2012. Asked why she voted for Obama, Baines said it was because "he's for the colored people," according to footage from The Los Angeles Times. She said she never thought a black man could become president. "Everybody's glad for a colored man to be in there sometime," Baines said. "We all are the same on the skin. It's dark, and theirs is white." Baines had few complaints, her doctor said. She fussed about the bacon not being crisp enough and the arthritis in her knees, Witt said. The smooth skin on Baines' face belied her 115 years, but she didn't attribute that to any anti-wrinkle cream or miracle product, according to her best friend, Lucille Fayall. She said Baines simply washed her face in cold water. | [
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] | Gertrude Baines dies at age 115, was world's oldest person .
Baines credited longevity to God, not drinking or smoking .
Baines was oldest African-American to vote for President Obama . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Given a cast of Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen and Jonah Hill, and the guiding hand of director and writer Judd Apatow ("Knocked Up" and "The 40-Year-Old Virgin"), perhaps there is no more appropriate title than simply "Funny People." Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen and Judd Apatow get together at the "Funny People" premiere in Hollywood. Which is saying something, since "Funny People" frequently treads into the darker realms of comedy. Sandler leads the cast as George Simmons, an A-list Hollywood comedian whose fame and fortune has brought him a beautiful mansion on the beach, lots of luck with the ladies and, as the audience soon discovers, a life of loneliness. Sandler is quick to point out that he and his character have little in common. "I can't really say this guy is me; he's not living my life," says Sandler, who is married with two children. "The movie star thing we have in common; we have a few mood swings in common. ... But the lifestyle and the attitude is not really me." George's biggest problem isn't his desolation, however. He's been diagnosed with a leukemia-like terminal disease, prompting him to get back to his roots and do more stand-up comedy. Along the way, he hires struggling comedian Ira Wright, played by Rogen, to pen jokes for him and act as his personal assistant. Despite hurling an occasional insult at Ira, George learns to trust his new, eager-to-please sidekick. The feeling isn't always mutual. Ira is forced to adapt to his boss' constant mood swings, erratic behavior as he deals with the fear of dying and deep regret at losing Laura (Leslie Mann), the only woman he ever loved. However, Ira does earn a steady paycheck -- and gets a taste of show business. Rogen, who says he wouldn't be in comedy if he never saw Sandler's movies while he was growing up, says "Funny People" paints an accurate picture of the ups and downs of comedians who are just starting out. "It's an incredibly realistic representation," Rogen says. "Those scenes where you're backstage at the comedy club and you're all sitting around pitching jokes to each other. It's exactly like that." Apatow, who performed stand-up comedy earlier in his career, says, "It is an ode to stand-up. I've always been a crazy fan of stand-up comedians. Jonathan Winters ... Don Rickles, things like that." Apatow, who knows he's taking a risk with "Funny People's" mix of light and darkness, made a wisecrack about his hopes for the film at the Los Angeles premiere. "Well, I think there's 10 movies that are going to be up for best picture this year, and we definitely are shooting for No. 16," he says. The cast also took some risks, performing stand-up in front of live audiences for the film -- and, occasionally, watching their jokes fall flat. Hill says he had never done stand-up before and calls the experience "terrifying." "It can be brutal out there," Rogen adds. Sandler, the most seasoned comedian by far, remembers his first days onstage and can relate. "It's all about your last set," he recalls. "If I did good Wednesday ... all day Thursday, I was in a good mood. "Then Thursday night comes around and I go onstage and if I did bad, Friday was a miserable time for everyone." | [
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"What does the film present?",
"What does it present?",
"What does Sandler play?",
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"Who is sandler playing?"
] | [
[
"Judd Apatow"
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[
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] | Adam Sandler and Seth Rogen star in Judd Apatow's "Funny People"
Film presents "realistic representation" of comedians' lives, Rogen says .
Sandler plays lonely movie star; he says he's not much like character in real life . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Hal Holbrook has made his name playing famous historical figures. He won an Emmy for his portrayal of Abraham Lincoln in a 1974 TV miniseries, accolades as "Deep Throat" in 1976's "All the President's Men," and a Tony as Mark Twain -- a performance he's been giving now for a half-century -- in "Mark Twain Tonight!"
Hal Holbrook, 83, is nominated for his role as Ron Franz in "Into the Wild."
But playing Ron Franz, the thoughtful, down-to-earth 81-year-old who bonds with a youthful adventurer in "Into the Wild," was an opportunity he dared not miss, he says in a phone interview.
"This was an opportunity, and a rare one for me, to just play myself, to not do Abraham Lincoln or another character," Holbrook says in his familiar rich baritone. "I didn't want to research anything. I had a very personal reaction to the role."
Holbrook's gut feeling has led to some of the best reviews of his career and a first for the actor: a nomination for an Academy Award. At 83 -- his birthday was last Sunday -- he's the oldest man ever to be nominated for best supporting actor.
The Oscars are scheduled for Sunday night. "Into the Wild" is due out on video March 4.
Holbrook says he's familiar with the kind of adventurousness exhibited by Christopher McCandless, played by Emile Hirsch in Sean Penn's film.
Holbrook has gone into the wilderness himself. He's also sailed the open sea in a small boat, accompanied by little more than a sextant and a map. "No electronics," he says.
He's even traveled in McCandless' tracks, taking a trip to Alaska the year after the self-named "Alexander Supertramp" died.
"They were still talking about him, whether he was crazy," Holbrook recalls.
Holbrook, who'd also read Jon Krakauer's book about McCandless' journey, says he was sent the script "out of the blue" and told that Penn wanted to meet with him the next day. The director, upon discussing the part with him, offered Holbrook the role.
Holbrook has nothing but praise for Penn's work on the film.
"To work with Sean Penn might be the best experience I've ever had with a director," he says. "He's so trusting. There was none of this 'Let's discuss the back story' -- he trusts you. He'll take whatever you give him, and begins to open up your sense of freedom. He gives you space to explore whatever the scenes bring out of you. Sean was wonderful."
Holbrook also has high praise for Hirsch, who lost 40 pounds for the role. "[His performance] was a brilliant piece of work. ... An actor takes his performance from other actors, and in this case it was easy," he says, adding that "I'm astounded he wasn't nominated -- he deserved it more than anybody." Read Hirsch's view of "Into the Wild."
But Holbrook also paid tribute to a person seldom considered by the audience: the film editor, in this case Jay Cassidy. By changing the sequence of two scenes, Cassidy gave the film an added power -- which made all the difference to how his performance was perceived, Holbrook says.
"I have never been more aware of an editor's genius as I have in this particular film," he says. Referring to the film's back-and-forth chronology, which he calls "a very daring piece of work," he marvels at how Cassidy and Penn fit the pieces together. "It's quite an achievement," Holbrook says. "The effect it can have on a performance is profound." Cassidy's work earned "Into the Wild" its only other Oscar nomination.
Holbrook has had a busy couple months, with his performance nominated for critics' awards as well | [
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] | Hal Holbrook is oldest supporting actor Oscar nominee ever .
Holbrook played Ron Franz in "Into the Wild," loved experience on film .
Holbrook known for playing Mark Twain, Abraham Lincoln, Deep Throat . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- He got a standing ovation before the orchestra even played a single note. Gustavo Dudamel has been compared to the legendary Leonard Bernstein by one critic. For weeks now, anticipation has been growing for the arrival of fiery young Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel to take over the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the crowd couldn't wait to roar its approval at his arrival. Dudamel, 28, engenders a passion among music lovers that is entirely new to the world of classical music. Tickets for his Saturday debut as music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic disappeared within minutes -- the fastest sellout in the history of the 18,000-seat Hollywood Bowl. "He is a phenomenon," said Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times music critic. "He generates excitement the likes of which hasn't come around in a very, very long time -- maybe since Leonard Bernstein." Watch the exciting Dudamel wield the baton » Swed was in the audience two years ago when Dudamel conducted the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, delivering a reading of Beethoven's Fourth Symphony that left fans delirious. "I haven't seen that kind of reaction from a crowd since I saw the Beatles at Dodger Stadium," Swed said. Dudamel's face has been a common sight for months in Los Angeles. His billboards look down on freeway commuters. He adorns city buses. At the famous Hollywood hot dog stand Pink's, there is even a dog named in his honor -- the "Dude Dog," piled high with jalapeno peppers, guacamole and tortilla chips. While it's not exactly Venezuelan cuisine, in Los Angeles, there can be no surer sign that the conductor known as "The Dude" has arrived. So where did Dudamel get this musical magic? He said at least a part of his talent is inherited. "I started studying music when I was 4," he said. "I wanted to play trombone like my father." Soon young Gustavo entered into El Sistema, Venezuela's state-financed music education program. Hundreds of thousands of children have received instruments and music instruction through the nation's massive system of youth orchestras. "You cannot imagine," said Dudamel, "how it changes the life of a kid if you put a violin or a cello or a flute [in his hand]. You feel you have your world. You have your life there, and it changes your life. This happened to me." As music director of the philharmonic, Dudamel said he hopes to spread a little of the El Sistema magic in Los Angeles. He already has organized one youth orchestra in the run-down neighborhoods of south Los Angeles. Those music students opened for the orchestra at the Hollywood Bowl. The concert also featured student musicians playing alongside jazz legend Herbie Hancock. Cuban pianist Alfredo Rodriguez and bluesman Taj Mahal rounded out an eclectic bill designed to pull in a broad cross-section of music lovers. But it was Dudamel and Beethoven's Ninth Symphony that brought the crowd to its feet at the concert's end. It was a promising beginning for a man many are hailing as the savior of classical music. They hope Dudamel can bring a whole new audience to symphonic music, and believe the Los Angeles Philharmonic is the perfect podium for the young maestro. "He fits in with this town in a lot of ways," Swed said. "Obviously being Spanish-speaking in a city where the majority of people either speak Spanish or understand some Spanish ... you know he fits in. The youth culture? He is young. He is also great, which doesn't hurt." | [
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] | Gustavo Dudamel, known as "The Dude," brings Beatles-like frenzy to Los Angeles .
The Venezuelan, 28, is the new conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic .
His Saturday debut sold out 18,000-seat Hollywood Bowl faster than anyone ever .
Los Angeles Times music critic calls Dudamel "a phenomenon" |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- He is the international superstar responsible for breathing life into the iconic comic book hero Wolverine. Her movies have earned more than $2 billion worldwide, including the entire "X-Men" franchise. Hugh Jackman emerges as Wolverine in "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," which opened Friday. Actor Hugh Jackman and film producer Lauren Shuler Donner recently sat down for a candid conversation about their new film, "X-Men Origins: Wolverine." Specifically, the pair talked about the scene in which Jackman's character is transformed from a simple mutant with bony claws that periodically protrude from the back of his hands to an invincible mutant filled with an indestructible metal called adamantium. This scene represents the ultimate birth of a comic legend as the character is transformed from Logan to Wolverine. Watch the scene in which Wolverine is unleashed » Hugh Jackman: I knew this was the birth of the character; this is where we see him in full flight. It's called in the comic book "berserker rage." It's not really in the English language, but it may be now! But, this idea that this complete animal [has been] unleashed, which is obviously the entire story -- this battle between the animal and human is something we all relate to. Lauren Shuler Donner: There were many things he had to do in the tank, you know. One of them was he had to be lowered, and then the needles had to come towards him. Now, most of those were CGI, so he had to look in certain places where the needles were. But, he couldn't hear [director] Gavin [Hood]. So they ... tried all kinds of sounds, speakers, everything. ... They finally devised this toe method where, if Gavin pulled on Hugh's big toe, it meant the things are coming, the second toe is this, the last toe is rise up, very sophisticated. (laughter) Jackman: I had in my head that I've got to be in much better shape -- not better shape, different shape, kind of ridiculous shape because I wanted it to be uncomfortable. I wanted it to feel like I felt when I saw Robert De Niro in "Cape Fear," that -- whoa, this guy is dangerous, he's powerful, he's dangerous, and he can snap at any point. Donner: There's an iconic drawing of Wolverine coming out of the tank in the comics with the things popping out of him and his hair all over him in a rage, and we wanted to be that image. That's the image we wanted for the fans. Jackman: I was a little frightened when I watched it, like, "Is that me?" [My wife] Deb was like, "Hugh, this is ridiculous. I don't even know who that is." | [
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] | Hugh Jackman plays Wolverine in "X-Men Origins: Wolverine"
To create the character, Jackman wanted to be in "ridiculous shape"
How to contact Jackman underwater? Director used a "toe method" |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Heidi Newfield goes into Sunday's Academy of Country Music Awards with five nominations. It's more than any other female, but she still considers herself the dark horse -- and in many ways, she is, especially since she's up for top female vocalist against such heavyweights as Carrie Underwood and Taylor Swift.
Heidi Newfield says she considers herself an underdog at Sunday's Academy of Country Music Awards.
For 10 years, Newfield was the lead singer of the honky-tonk trio Trick Pony. Her soulful debut solo album, "What Am I Waiting for," was released in August to stellar reviews -- many from critics who scoffed at the high-energy antics of her former band.
If you spend any time with the petite blonde from Northern California, you're struck by how many times she says, "Please" and "Thank you." There's a smile for everyone -- waiters, doormen, cameramen -- and she steers conversation away from herself to ask how others are doing.
Newfield is a nice girl. But her life changed when a fellow musician told her to stop being so nice, as she revealed in the following interview with CNN: Watch Newfield talk about her nominations »
CNN: What went through your head when you received five nominations for this year's Academy of Country Music Awards?
Heidi Newfield: I thought one or two would be so fabulous, that would be so great. And they kept calling my name, and you know, I won't lie -- I'm going to tell on my husband -- the tears started flowing, and we were just really happy. All the hard work, all the time, and all the road -- and just the experience over time starts to play back in your mind, just like a movie.This is a really special time.
CNN: Was it validation that leaving Trick Pony was the right thing to do?
Newfield: People tell you, "You can't do this." You know in country music oftentimes it does not work when a front person leaves a group. In other genres -- pop, rock, hip-hop and rap -- people can leave all the time and do amazing things on their own. Beyonce, Justin Timberlake, Sting -- there's a gazillion people. But in country, we have that tight-knit, almost family relationship with our fans, so when you change something up, they don't always like that very much.
CNN: Did you feel guilty about leaving Trick Pony?
Newfield: No, not an ounce of guilt. I left Trick Pony with my head held high. I felt like I left with total dignity and class, and I didn't leave anybody hanging.
I fulfilled every obligation, no matter how hard it was -- and it was hard. There was a lot of drama, and they weren't exactly happy with me. I don't mind saying this, but it was miserable the last several months. But my intuition was saying it's time to make a change.
So did I stay too long? I don't know. I mean, everything happens for a reason. Had I left three years ago, maybe I wouldn't have been the same person I am today.
CNN: John Popper from Blues Traveler kind of gave you a kick in the pants.
Newfield: Oh, I love Poppy! We talk all the time, I kid you not. John was on a USO tour with us for 2½ weeks, so we got to know each other really well. Every night, he would come on stage and do a [harmonica] number with me.
On the last night of the tour, we were in Germany, and we were at this pub, and Poppy said to me, "You love this, and it's clear you're a musician -- but you need to learn to stop being so nice. You need to speak your mind and step up and step up for yourself." His actual words were, "When you learn | [
"what is Heidi Newfield up for",
"Where Newfiled started career?",
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] | [
[
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"Country Music Awards"
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] | Heidi Newfield is up for five Academy of Country Music Awards .
Newfield pursuing solo career after being lead singer of Trick Pony .
Singer doesn't want to be a diva but takes advice about not being so nice . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Heidi Newfield goes into Sunday's Academy of Country Music Awards with five nominations. It's more than any other female, but she still considers herself the dark horse -- and in many ways, she is, especially since she's up for top female vocalist against such heavyweights as Carrie Underwood and Taylor Swift.
Heidi Newfield says she considers herself an underdog at Sunday's Academy of Country Music Awards.
For 10 years, Newfield was the lead singer of the honky-tonk trio Trick Pony. Her soulful debut solo album, "What Am I Waiting for," was released in August to stellar reviews -- many from critics who scoffed at the high-energy antics of her former band.
If you spend any time with the petite blonde from Northern California, you're struck by how many times she says, "Please" and "Thank you." There's a smile for everyone -- waiters, doormen, cameramen -- and she steers conversation away from herself to ask how others are doing.
Newfield is a nice girl. But her life changed when a fellow musician told her to stop being so nice, as she revealed in the following interview with CNN: Watch Newfield talk about her nominations »
CNN: What went through your head when you received five nominations for this year's Academy of Country Music Awards?
Heidi Newfield: I thought one or two would be so fabulous, that would be so great. And they kept calling my name, and you know, I won't lie -- I'm going to tell on my husband -- the tears started flowing, and we were just really happy. All the hard work, all the time, and all the road -- and just the experience over time starts to play back in your mind, just like a movie.This is a really special time.
CNN: Was it validation that leaving Trick Pony was the right thing to do?
Newfield: People tell you, "You can't do this." You know in country music oftentimes it does not work when a front person leaves a group. In other genres -- pop, rock, hip-hop and rap -- people can leave all the time and do amazing things on their own. Beyonce, Justin Timberlake, Sting -- there's a gazillion people. But in country, we have that tight-knit, almost family relationship with our fans, so when you change something up, they don't always like that very much.
CNN: Did you feel guilty about leaving Trick Pony?
Newfield: No, not an ounce of guilt. I left Trick Pony with my head held high. I felt like I left with total dignity and class, and I didn't leave anybody hanging.
I fulfilled every obligation, no matter how hard it was -- and it was hard. There was a lot of drama, and they weren't exactly happy with me. I don't mind saying this, but it was miserable the last several months. But my intuition was saying it's time to make a change.
So did I stay too long? I don't know. I mean, everything happens for a reason. Had I left three years ago, maybe I wouldn't have been the same person I am today.
CNN: John Popper from Blues Traveler kind of gave you a kick in the pants.
Newfield: Oh, I love Poppy! We talk all the time, I kid you not. John was on a USO tour with us for 2½ weeks, so we got to know each other really well. Every night, he would come on stage and do a [harmonica] number with me.
On the last night of the tour, we were in Germany, and we were at this pub, and Poppy said to me, "You love this, and it's clear you're a musician -- but you need to learn to stop being so nice. You need to speak your mind and step up and step up for yourself." His actual words were, "When you learn | [
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] | Heidi Newfield is up for five Academy of Country Music Awards .
Newfield pursuing solo career after being lead singer of Trick Pony .
Singer doesn't want to be a diva but takes advice about not being so nice . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Holly Williams is one of the only artists in country music male or female who doesn't have a stylist. But then again, she might be the only entertainer in Nashville who owns a clothing boutique. Holly Williams is daughter of musician Hank Williams Jr. and granddaughter of musician Hank Williams Sr. The chic women's store is named H. Audrey after her maternal grandmother, who was the first wife of the late country music icon Hank Williams. Holly's father is Bocephus -- the legendary hellraiser and three-time CMA Entertainer of the Year otherwise known as Hank Williams Jr. She got her height from him. With heels on, she's about 6-foot-3 -- all tanned legs and long, blonde hair. She looks like a star. And at 28, she wants to earn the right to be one. Williams just released her sophomore album, "Here With Me" (Mercury Nashville). Most of the 11 tracks are self-penned, and she sings them with emotional honesty in a smoky, soulful voice. The characters in her lyrics are friends, family and lovers from the past. She also has a man in her present: On July 24, she became engaged to Chris Coleman, the drummer in her band. Watch Williams show off her talents » Williams spoke with CNN about her new album and her family's legacy. The following is an edited version of the interview. CNN: Your new album was released the same day as your dad's new album. Was that planned? Holly Williams: It wasn't planned at all. About three weeks before my release, I was looking over to see who else was coming out that day, and it said, "Hank Jr." -- and I'm going, "Is this something my manager planned?" And it's just so random, because out of the 52 weeks of the year, it just happened. CNN: What did he think about the album? Williams: Well, this is embarrassing, but I haven't sent him a copy yet! I need to. He's heard two of the singles. He's always been a huge supporter of the songwriting, and just been a great encourager with me. CNN: What was it like when you were growing up? Williams: Well, my mom raised my sister and me. [My parents] split when we were 3 and 5, and he was touring 300 nights a year. We'd see him every few months when he was off the road, and we'd go up there and hunt and fish and be on the farm. But my mom did all the rules and curfews and all that. CNN: Your mother doesn't seem jaded by the music industry at all. Williams: Oh, she doesn't at all. They split in '83, so when they first got married in '77, he was still a struggling artist and doing small theater shows. My single out right now is called "Mama" that I wrote ... is kind of a thank-you song, because she was always the most positive influence -- had so much light. My dad always talks about what a great mom she was, and they're still close friends. CNN: What was it like for you going into the music industry? Was there a lot of pressure? Williams: The songwriting hit me at a very young age. Eight, 9, 10 is when I started writing. Went away from it for a few years, and at 17 picked up a guitar and it was just on from there. I'm 28 now, and I've been doing it for 10 years nonstop. I put out an EP myself when I was 20, and paid 200 bucks for my Web site, and traveled over in the U.K. alone with a backpack. And in the U.S., I just took my mom's Suburban and followed everyone from Train, John Mellencamp, Billy Bob Thornton -- everyone's bus -- and just did any show I could, whether they paid or | [
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"Who is Holly Williams' grandfather?",
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"What's the name of Holly Williams new album ?",
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] | Country music scion Holly Williams has new album out, "Here With Me"
Williams is daughter of Hank Jr., granddaughter of Hank Sr.
Williams sings country, but influenced by '70s singer-songwriters . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- If a kewpie doll sang in a band and had two kids, she'd be Gwen Stefani. Gwen Stefani was ready to get back with No Doubt after two solo albums and an active home life. The pop star and style icon turns 40 this fall, but she still uses words like "you know" and "like" at least five times a minute. That's part of Stefani's charm, and her carefree teenybopper mentality is one of the many reasons fans are excited about her first tour with No Doubt in half a decade. It's been 14 years since the quartet busted out of Orange County, California, with its signature sound of sunny, ska-influenced pop. In 2004, No Doubt went on hiatus as Stefani launched the first of two successful solo albums. In the meantime, drummer Adrian Young and guitarist Tom Dumont worked on side projects and watched their families grow. Stefani and her husband -- former Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale -- welcomed two sons, while bassist Tony Kanal is the only member to remain single and child-free. No Doubt is currently in the midst of a 53-date North American tour, for which they've dusted off such classic hits as "Just a Girl," "Spiderwebs" and "Bathwater." Each member now travels in their own individual tour bus -- a must for an entourage that includes kids, toys and nannies. Watch No Doubt in concert, at rest » CNN: You'd hear rumors every once in a while that you guys were breaking up, or had broken up. Were those annoying, or did you kind of roll your eyes and say, "That's part of the game?" Adrian Young: I think we expected it. And there might even be some people that will think that we broke up, and that this is a reunion tour -- and it's just not the truth. We went 17 straight years without stopping, and we started having families, and we were burnt and we needed to do our own thing for a while. CNN: What was it like to get all four of you together in a room again? Tom Dumont: It's kind of like an old glove. It just fits. Young: Like an O.J. glove? Dumont: No, no, no. I know it's a weird analogy, but in the sense of -- you know, it fits. Tony Kanal: You know when somebody says "glove" now, you immediately think of O.J. Young: "If it fits, you must acquit." That's our band motto now. Dumont: We're not going to quit. We're just great old friends. It's almost like we're brothers and sister, and it's great to be having fun together again. Young: I feel more like we're married. CNN: I hear it's a little bit different this time. Instead of sharing a tour bus, you'll each have your own individual buses. Kanal: This will be our first time on separate buses, only out of necessity. Everyone's bringing their family. CNN: Are you just trying to get away from the kids, is that what you're saying, Tony?! Kanal: No, no, no! I would love to be on the bus with them. Gwen Stefani: Tony's going to be making kids on his bus. Kanal: Yeah, maybe my girlfriend and I will be in the process of starting our family. Stefani, Young and CNN (in unison): Really?! Kanal (ignoring everybody's reaction): But by default, I'm putting a studio on my bus. Because I don't have a crib on my bus -- they have cribs on their buses -- I'm putting a studio on my bus so we can keep writing if the inspiration comes, and we feel like doing it. Stefani: We're just putting the studio out there so we can pretend we might go out there | [
"What did the band members do while taking the break?",
"what is the name of the band",
"Who went solo?",
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] | [
[
"worked on side projects and watched their families grow."
],
[
"No Doubt"
],
[
"Gwen Stefani"
],
[
"Gwen Stefani"
]
] | No Doubt is back together -- but don't call it a reunion .
Band had taken break while having families, Gwen Stefani making solo records .
Stefani plans to have fun; tour is a way of getting recharged . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- In her first television interview since Mel Gibson went public with their relationship in April, his girlfriend, Oksana Grigorieva, made it clear to CNN: "I'd like to be known for my music." Oksana Grigorieva and Mel Gibson are expecting a child this year. Still, the 39-year-old singer was willing to talk about her beau and her pregnancy, as well as her new album, "Beautiful Heartache." "Beautiful Heartache" was released to iTunes on July 23 by Icon Distribution, Gibson's company, which up until now has handled only soundtracks for his movies. "He's an incredible artist," Grigorieva said. "A visionary. He enabled me to produce this album, for my music to live." The Oscar-winning ("Braveheart") filmmaker also directed four music videos for Grigorieva during a whirlwind week in Mexico. Watch Grigorieva talk about Gibson, love » "They're like dramatic miniature films -- a whirlpool of different, exciting, bright images. That's quite rare," she said. The music videos and music are available on her Web site, www.oksana.fm. Grigorieva has a background in music. She said she was classically trained as a pianist in her native Russia, and both her parents are musicians. In 2006, a song she penned called "Un Dia Llegara" was recorded by Josh Groban for his album "Awake." Though she describes her album as being about "different facets of love," she cautions that listeners shouldn't overthink the lyrics. "This album is not autobiographical -- maybe only partially so. It's not a diary." Gibson, 53, and his wife of nearly 30 years, Robyn, filed for divorce in April. The two have seven children. Grigorieva and Gibson were first photographed together on the set of his movie "Edge of Darkness," according to People magazine. Grigorieva is pregnant with Gibson's child and is to give birth this year. She said the couple has opted not to learn the sex of the child. It will be her second child, after Alexander, her 12-year-old son with actor Timothy Dalton. "I'm already buying things in gender-neutral colors. It's very cute," she chuckled. Alexander, she added, is excited about having a sibling. "He's like a little man, protecting me. He's looking forward to it very much." Grigorieva says she and Gibson have no immediate plans for marriage. "We don't know yet. We haven't really talked about it," she admitted. She acknowledged that her relationship with Gibson has given her a unique opportunity to present her skills. "If you think about it, every talent needs a serious push and help from somebody who is stronger, because it's pretty much impossible for anybody to succeed in this industry. So I've become very lucky, and I'm very grateful," she said. "You don't control the situations or the people you meet. I did not plan this. I'm just doing what I've always been doing. It's not like I've changed my goals at all." In the meantime, Grigorieva is adapting to life in the public eye. "It hasn't been too bad, actually. There was a period of time where it was a little bit difficult, but now it's much better," she said. Before embarking on limited press for the new album, Gibson did offer a few words of advice, she added: "Just be myself and speak the truth. What I most like to talk about is my music and 'Beautiful Heartache.' And that's pretty much it." | [
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[
"Oksana Grigorieva and Mel Gibson"
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] | Oksana Grigorieva and Mel Gibson have been a couple for at least a year .
Grigorieva has a new album, "Beautiful Heartache"
Singer is pregnant with Gibson's child, describes Gibson as "a visionary" |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- In its opening weekend, "The Haunting in Connecticut" scared and thrilled millions of moviegoers across the country. In "The Haunting in Connecticut," Virginia Madsen sees strange things happen in her old house. The film, which earned $23 million to finish No. 2 at the box office, emphasizes psychological horror over slasher film blood 'n' gore, which its audience apparently appreciated. But Virginia Madsen, who plays Sara Campbell in the film, confessed that, while filming, fear was not just reserved for the screen. "We all stayed in this big, old hotel which was kind of like the one in 'The Shining,' one of those turn-of-the- century big, old hotels," Madsen told CNN. "I had a little chat with my room. I said, 'Just out of respect, if there are any entities around, I need to stay here, I have a lot of work to do, I have to sleep at night, so please leave me alone.' " Yet, Madsen admitted, her belief in ghosts is not very strong. "I do have an attraction to paranormal investigation and all those kinds of shows but I'm not sure if I really believe in ghosts," she said. "The Haunting in Connecticut" is based on the true story of Sara Campbell, a mother who moves her family into an old house in Connecticut in order to be closer to the hospital where her son, Matt (Kyle Gallner), receives cancer treatment. The house was once a funeral home and, shortly after their move, the family begins witnessing strange, supernatural activities. "Something very powerful and very real happened to this family. Whether or not you believe it was some sort of demon or, you know, they're manifesting it -- whatever it is -- it changed their lives," Madsen said. Madsen, 47, is probably best known for her Oscar-nominated turn in "Sideways" as Maya Randall, the restaurant waitress who gets involved in a romance with the prickly writer played by Paul Giamatti. Since that 2004 film, the actress has made several films, including "A Prairie Home Companion" and "The Number 23." She and the rest of the cast developed a close relationship on the set and were much like a family behind the scenes. "I was more like a mother bear with my young actors," Madsen said. In fact, Madsen added, her close relationship with the younger actors made filming difficult at times. "One scene in the movie that was the hardest for me to do was when [Matt] wakes up ... and his skin is all carved with these different incantations," she said. "And I open his shirt and he's just looking up at me with these big blue eyes with tears ... and he really felt like my boy, he really felt like my second son." Madsen said the film, complete with ghosts, séances and creaking floorboards, is successful because it has all the elements of a good horror flick. "The movie works ... because it plays on our most basic childhood fears. 'Something's under the bed, something's in the closet, something's in the mirror.' And all of us still have those same childhood terrors," she said. The desire to experience those same terrors and to forget about everyday life, Madsen added, draws people to the theaters at an older age. "I like things that go bump in the night, and scary things that are fun," she said. "That's really what this movie really is. I think horror movies are so popular because times are especially hard and I think a horror movie more than any other kind of movie is a true escape ... You're forgetting about your life because you're like, 'Oh my God!' " CNN's Elham Khatami contributed to this story. | [
"who stars in the film",
"What statement did Virginia Madsen say she likes?",
"What is \"The Haunting in Connecticut\"?",
"What film is Virginia Madsen best known for?",
"what is Madesn best known for",
"what had a successful opening",
"What movie had a successful opening weekend at the box office?",
"What is Madsen best known for?"
] | [
[
"Virginia Madsen"
],
[
"things that go bump in the night, and scary things that are fun,\""
],
[
"horror flick."
],
[
"\"The Haunting in Connecticut\""
],
[
"\"The Haunting in Connecticut\""
],
[
"\"The Haunting in Connecticut\""
],
[
"\"The Haunting in Connecticut\""
],
[
"\"Sideways\" as Maya Randall,"
]
] | "The Haunting in Connecticut" had a successful opening weekend at box office .
Virginia Madsen, who stars in film, likes "things that go bump in the night"
Madsen, best known for "Sideways," took motherly role over young co-stars . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Investigators are looking into whether employees at the Los Angeles County coroner's office illegally leaked information about Michael Jackson's death probe to the news media, according to a sheriff's spokesman. Police stand outside the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office when Michael Jackson's body was there in June. Vivid descriptions of Jackson's corpse, which was in the coroner's custody for an autopsy, were published by tabloid newspapers in the days after his death. The Los Angeles County Supervisors office on Friday asked the sheriff to conduct a "preliminary inquiry," which will determine whether there is enough evidence to launch a full investigation, said Steve Whitmore, a sheriff's spokesman. Whitmore did not provide details on what prompted the request. The Los Angeles Times quoted Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas as saying his office called the sheriff's department after reports that coroner's employees not involved in the Jackson death probe had viewed his death certificate in the office database. Ridley-Thomas has not responded to CNN requests for comment. The coroner's office is investigating the cause of Jackson's June 25 death. It has been waiting on toxicology lab results, but a final autopsy report is expected as soon as next week, a coroner's spokesman has said. Los Angeles police are also investigating the death. Detectives traveled to Houston, Texas, this week to search the medical office of Dr. Conrad Murray, Jackson's personal doctor. CNN's Sonya Hamasaki contributed to this report | [
"Who published pictures of Jackson's corpse?",
"Who is investigating the cause of death?",
"Who was asked to conduct the preliminary enquiry?",
"When did Jackson die?",
"What were the vivid descriptions in tabloid newspapers about?",
"What was published by tabloids?",
"What is the date of Michael Jackson's death?",
"What did the L.A officials ask the sheriff for?",
"Who will conduct the preliminary inquiry?",
"When did Jackson die?",
"Who published vivid descriptions of Jackson's corpse?"
] | [
[
"tabloid newspapers"
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[
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[
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[
"June 25"
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[
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[
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[
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],
[
"to conduct a \"preliminary inquiry,\""
],
[
"the sheriff"
],
[
"June 25"
],
[
"tabloid newspapers"
]
] | Vivid descriptions of Jackson's corpse are published by tabloid newspapers .
L.A. officials ask sheriff to conduct preliminary inquiry .
A sheriff's spokesman did not say what prompted the request .
The coroner's office is investigating the cause of Jackson's June 25 death . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Investigators have found the knife believed to have been used in the stabbing of a University of California, Los Angeles student in a chemistry lab, authorities said Friday. A student stabbing victim is recovering at UCLA Medical Center, authorities say. The 20-year-old, whose identity has not been released, is being treated at the UCLA hospital for multiple stab wounds, including ones to her neck, sustained in the Thursday attack. Police have arrested Damon Thompson, a 20-year-old UCLA senior, who is accused of stabbing the woman at the lab in Young Hall. He is being held on $1 million bail. The knife was found at the scene of the attack on Thursday, Detective Mike Pelletier told CNN, though he did not disclose details about the weapon. A statement Friday from the victim's family said, "She is showing signs of improvement, and her surgeons expect a good result as she continues to heal." Last month, Connecticut authorities found the body of a 24-year-old pharmacology graduate student inside a wall of a lab building at Yale University. She had been strangled. Raymond Clark III, 24, a lab technician at Yale, is charged with murder in Annie Le's death. CNN's Monica Trevino and Sonya Hamasaki contributed to this report. | [
"Where was the woman student stabbed?",
"What was the bond amount?",
"Who is saying that stabbed person is recovering?",
"What is the bond amount set for the UCLA student?",
"What lab was student stabbed in?",
"According to the victim's family, is the victim recovering?",
"Where was the woman stabbed?"
] | [
[
"in a chemistry lab,"
],
[
"$1 million"
],
[
"UCLA Medical Center, authorities say."
],
[
"$1 million"
],
[
"chemistry"
],
[
"showing signs of improvement,"
],
[
"the lab in Young Hall."
]
] | Police have not released name of woman student stabbed in chemistry lab .
Another UCLA student has been arrested in the case, is held on $1 million bond .
Victim's family says she is recovering, "showing signs of improvement" |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Investigators think that a reality TV contestant wanted for questioning in the death of his ex-wife has gone to Canada, police in Washington state told CNN Thursday. Police want to question Ryan Jenkins about the death of his ex-wife, model Jasmine Fiore. Ryan Alexander Jenkins, who appeared on two VH1 reality TV shows, matched the description of a man seen driving a boat in Blaine Marina off the coast of northwest Washington on Wednesday, the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office said. Blaine, Washington, is very near the Canadian border. Authorities searched the area and found Jenkins' black SUV with an empty boat trailer at the Blaine Marina, police said. The nude body of Jasmine Fiore, 28, a former swimsuit model, was found Saturday stuffed into a suitcase in California. Fiore lived in Los Angeles and was last seen alive Friday in San Diego at a poker game with her ex-husband, Jenkins. Police have wanted to question Jenkins about Fiore's death. "We believe that perhaps he might have information that would be beneficial to the investigation," Lt. Gary Worrall of the Buena Park Police Department said Wednesday on HLN's "Nancy Grace." Jenkins reported Fiore missing Saturday night to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, authorities said. Earlier that day, a body was found in a large suitcase inside a trash bin behind an apartment complex in Buena Park, just outside Anaheim in Orange County. Watch man describe finding body » The body was identified as Fiore on Monday. While the cause of death has not been confirmed, a preliminary coroner's report indicates she was strangled. Jenkins, who appeared on VH1 shows, "Megan Wants a Millionaire" and "I Love Money 3," may have headed back to his native Calgary, Alberta, police said. The U.S. Marshals Service and Canadian authorities have joined the search for Jenkins, according to the Whatcom County police. Jenkins and Fiore reportedly were married for a few weeks before getting the union annulled. "Given the fact that he has some celebrity status, we're quite certain that he has been made aware of the media frenzy regarding this case," Worrall said. "And we have made some attempts to get in touch with him." In a statement, VH1 said it has postponed any future airings of "Megan Wants a Millionaire" because of the "tragic situation" and said "our thoughts go out to the victim's family." Davida Sullivan, who trained with Fiore in Las Vegas to be a Playboy Bunny called her a bit reserved, careful with her words, and a "very, very sweet girl." "Nancy Grace" producer Philip Rosenbaum contributed to this report. | [
"For what reason do the police want to question Ryan Jenkins",
"What is the name of the missing woman?",
"Where was Jasmine Fior found?",
"What is Ryan Jenkins wanted for by police?",
"Where was the man seen?",
"When was Jasmine Fior reported missing?",
"Where was the man spotted",
"About what do police want to question Jenkins?",
"At what age was Jasmine Fiore when she went missing"
] | [
[
"death of his ex-wife,"
],
[
"Jasmine Fiore."
],
[
"Saturday stuffed into a suitcase in California."
],
[
"about the death of his ex-wife, model Jasmine Fiore."
],
[
"Blaine Marina"
],
[
"Saturday night"
],
[
"seen driving a boat in Blaine Marina"
],
[
"Police want to question Ryan Jenkins about the death of his ex-wife,"
],
[
"28,"
]
] | NEW: Man resembling Jenkins seen on boat near Canadian border, police say .
Police want to question Ryan Jenkins in connection with ex-wife's death .
Jenkins reported model Jasmine Fiore, 28, missing on August 15 .
Earlier that day, Fiore's nude body was found stuffed into a suitcase . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- It was the hottest ticket in town. Colin Farrell was there. So were Michelle Branch, Josh Groban and Chris Isaak -- the latter accompanied by his manager's dog, Rodney. Yusuf, formerly known as Cat Stevens, believes he can help bridge gaps between cultures. No, we're not talking about a Britney Spears or U2 concert. We're talking about a star-studded, invitation-only club show by Yusuf -- the artist formerly known as Cat Stevens. It was the legendary folk singer's first L.A. show in 33 years, and the audience gave him a heartfelt "welcome back." He played for just over an hour: half a dozen songs from his new album, "Roadsinger," plus a few gems from the '60s and '70s. It was "Peace Train" that elicited a singalong, with the entire room participating in the song's signature hand claps. Branch, who sings backup on Yusuf's new album, admitted to getting teary-eyed. "You don't understand," she said. "I learned how to play guitar with the Cat Stevens songbook!" Watch Yusuf talk about his songbook -- and his life » The whole evening seemed awash in good vibes. Concertgoers didn't even mind having a security guard electronically wand them on the way in. It was perhaps an extra security measure given some of the lingering controversy surrounding the headliner's conversion to Islam at the height of his popularity in 1977, during which time he changed his name from Cat Stevens to Yusuf Islam. In 2004, he was famously denied entry into the United States after his name appeared on a no-fly list. He maintained that it was a case of mistaken identity with another man named Yousuf Islam. However, there was no mistaking the artist on stage at the El Rey Theater last week. At 60, he may look more like a hip college professor than the dark-haired, sensitive sex symbol he was in the '70s, but the message and the music remained the same. The following is an edited version of his interview with CNN. CNN: For a lot of people, it's not only the music but what the music represents. Hearing the old Cat Stevens songs makes people feel warm and fuzzy, a throwback to a simpler time. Yusuf: That's true, and that's why we gave a sprinkling of those songs. When I want to see Paul McCartney, I'd expect to hear "Eleanor Rigby" -- something from the past -- because there's something about that that we connect with, and a person becomes part of our life. And I am a part of a lot of people's lives, and my words have resounded in a lot of people's philosophies and the way they look at things, and that's great. Somehow, that's one of the reasons I took life and songwriting very seriously. CNN: But you gave it up for a while. Yusuf: At a certain point I said, "I've got more living to do," and I stopped making music, and I started living. CNN: Many people don't think they start living until they HAVE the fame and fortune. But you didn't start living until you gave it up. Yusuf: It's true. I was very normal -- in some sense, a very shy person. I had to become a persona. I had to kind of put it on a little bit, and therefore I retreated a little bit at a certain point in my career because I thought, "I can't do this." So I just became withdrawn, and then people say, "Well, the guy's a bit of a recluse, you know." The fact was, I was just a little bit scared of being out there! And I wanted to be sincere, as well. It wasn't easy to be sincere in the music business. CNN: I think a lot of people were surprised when you converted | [
"What did Yusuf say about himself?",
"What was Yusuf formerly known as?",
"What is the new album called?",
"What is Yusuf formerly Cat Steven's new album called?",
"What did Yusuf do after converting to Islam?",
"When did Yusuf converted to Islam?",
"Who converted to Islam?",
"What religion did Yusuf convert too?"
] | [
[
"he can help bridge gaps between cultures."
],
[
"Cat Stevens,"
],
[
"\"Roadsinger,\""
],
[
"\"Roadsinger,\""
],
[
"changed his name"
],
[
"1977,"
],
[
"Cat Stevens"
],
[
"Islam."
]
] | Yusuf, formerly Cat Stevens, has new album: "Roadsinger"
After big success in '70s, he converted to Islam, shut down career for a time .
"I'm very much an optimist," Yusuf says . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- It's no secret that "American Idol" judge Simon Cowell often shows no mercy toward aspiring singers. Quirky, tattooed contestant Megan Joy Corkrey discovered that Wednesday night during the elimination round on the popular singing competition.
Megan Joy said she and Simon Cowell remain on good terms.
Megan Joy, who dropped her last name, told Cowell that she "didn't really care" about his criticisms of her Tuesday night performance of Bob Marley's "Turn The Lights Down Low," which he described as "boring, indulgent and monotonous."
Those comments sealed the 23-year-old single mother's fate.
Host Ryan Seacrest asked Cowell if he would be using the "save" rule in Megan's case. Cowell demurred: "Megan, with the greatest respect, when you said that you don't care -- nor do we. So I'm not going to pretend that we're even going to contemplate saving you," replied Cowell.
"I don't care that Simon didn't like that song," Joy said in an interview with CNN on Friday. "I truly didn't and I still don't. I still loved it, I sang it the way I wanted to." Watch what CNN's Michelle Wright said about Megan Joy »
Despite all the bickering, Joy says that she and Cowell remain on good terms. After Wednesday's program, she says they both laughed and he told her that he enjoyed watching her. Watch what CNN's Lisa Respers France thought of performance »
Furthermore, the self-described "dork" says her "American Idol" experience has opened new doors to her future.
"Before all this competition, I thought I was just going to be a stay-at-home mom," Joy said. "Now, I am interested to see all sorts of different things I could possibly try and dabble. ... I'm excited to just see what's out there."
And those bizarre moments onstage Wednesday when she flapped her arms and squawked like a bird? Joy says that's just her personality.
"I do a lot of sound effects all the time, bird noises, animal noises," she said. "Wednesday, I kind of had a feeling it was going to be me ... so I decided that I'm just going to be myself and be silly out there." | [
"Who was dismissed by Simon Cowell?",
"Who dropped from American Idol Wednesday?",
"What has \"Idol\" done for Joy?",
"Who was dropped from \"American Idol\" on Wednesday?",
"Who dismissed Joy?",
"Who was dropped?",
"What night was she dropped?"
] | [
[
"Megan Joy Corkrey"
],
[
"Megan Joy"
],
[
"opened new doors to her future."
],
[
"Megan Joy Corkrey"
],
[
"Simon Cowell"
],
[
"Megan Joy,"
],
[
"Tuesday"
]
] | Megan Joy dropped from "American Idol" on Wednesday night .
She had dismissed judge Simon Cowell's criticism; Cowell dismissed her .
Joy says "Idol" has opened up new worlds for her . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- It's no secret that "American Idol" judge Simon Cowell often shows no mercy toward aspiring singers. Quirky, tattooed contestant Megan Joy Corkrey discovered that Wednesday night during the elimination round on the popular singing competition. Megan Joy said she and Simon Cowell remain on good terms. Megan Joy, who dropped her last name, told Cowell that she "didn't really care" about his criticisms of her Tuesday night performance of Bob Marley's "Turn The Lights Down Low," which he described as "boring, indulgent and monotonous." Those comments sealed the 23-year-old single mother's fate. Host Ryan Seacrest asked Cowell if he would be using the "save" rule in Megan's case. Cowell demurred: "Megan, with the greatest respect, when you said that you don't care -- nor do we. So I'm not going to pretend that we're even going to contemplate saving you," replied Cowell. "I don't care that Simon didn't like that song," Joy said in an interview with CNN on Friday. "I truly didn't and I still don't. I still loved it, I sang it the way I wanted to." Watch what CNN's Michelle Wright said about Megan Joy » Despite all the bickering, Joy says that she and Cowell remain on good terms. After Wednesday's program, she says they both laughed and he told her that he enjoyed watching her. Watch what CNN's Lisa Respers France thought of performance » Furthermore, the self-described "dork" says her "American Idol" experience has opened new doors to her future. "Before all this competition, I thought I was just going to be a stay-at-home mom," Joy said. "Now, I am interested to see all sorts of different things I could possibly try and dabble. ... I'm excited to just see what's out there." And those bizarre moments onstage Wednesday when she flapped her arms and squawked like a bird? Joy says that's just her personality. "I do a lot of sound effects all the time, bird noises, animal noises," she said. "Wednesday, I kind of had a feeling it was going to be me ... so I decided that I'm just going to be myself and be silly out there." | [
"What has Idol opened up?"
] | [
[
"new doors to her future."
]
] | Megan Joy dropped from "American Idol" on Wednesday night .
She had dismissed judge Simon Cowell's criticism; Cowell dismissed her .
Joy says "Idol" has opened up new worlds for her . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Jamiel Shaw was just three doors from his house on March 2. His father told the 17-year-old high school football star to be home before dark. That is exactly what he was trying to do when, just before dusk, gunshots rang out. Gang members pulled up in a car and asked Shaw if he was in a gang. Shaw didn't have time to tell them "no." He was mowed down before he could answer, police say. His dad heard the shots from inside his house and immediately called his son's cell phone to warn him to stay away. But within seconds, the father realized what had happened. "I just ran down there," Jamiel Shaw Sr. told CNN. Watch dad describe hearing "pow, pow" » His son was wearing the same shirt his dad had pressed for him that morning. "He was laying on the ground and his face was so peaceful. I knew he was dead." "For three hours, I was just completely blacked out walking." More than 7,500 miles away, Army Sgt. Anita Shaw was serving her second tour in Iraq. Her commanding officer called her into his office and told her to sit down next to the chaplain. He then informed her that her son had been killed on the streets of Los Angeles. "I freaked out," she said. "I wanted to run out of the room. I was screaming and kicking. I was shouting, 'No.'" Anita Shaw is now back in Los Angeles to bury her son. Police announced Tuesday that an arrest had been made in the shooting. Pedro Espinoza, a 19-year-old member of the Hispanic 18th Street Gang, was charged in the killing and could face the death penalty if convicted, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office said. Espinoza is scheduled to be arraigned March 25. Espinoza was released from jail -- where he was held on a charge of assault with a deadly weapon -- one day before the incident. Los Angeles Police Chief William Bratton Tuesday called on the community to help police locate a second suspect who was with Espinoza at the time of the shooting. Hundreds of family members and friends gathered Tuesday at West Los Angeles Cathedral to remember Shaw, a standout running back and sprinter at Los Angeles High School who had good grades and stayed out of trouble despite his rough neighborhood. Among the schools recruiting him was Stanford University. Watch as family, friends remember Shaw » Blue-and-white flowers -- his school colors -- adorned his casket, and photos of Shaw over the years were displayed at the service. Eric Clapton's "Tears in Heaven" played as mourners entered the church. "He was a Christian and I thank God for that because I know he's in a better place," his mom said, trembling as she sobbed. "He'd just try all the time to do the right thing. He was so good." Shaw is one of several innocent victims in a horrifying three-week spate of gang-related shootings around Los Angeles. A man was gunned down as he held a 2-year-old baby in his arms. A 13-year-old boy was shot to death last week as he went to pick lemons from a tree. In another incident, a 6-year-old boy was critically wounded when he was shot in the head while riding in the car with his family; two gang members have been arrested in connection with that shooting, according to police. "I think what is particularly unnerving for all of us is just the random nature of these shootings," Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said last week. Bratton and Deputy Chief Kenneth Garner met with community members from the South Side of Los Angeles over the weekend to try to calm tensions between black and Hispanic communities. Among those in attendance were Shaw's parents and his younger brother. Bratton acknowledged some neighborhoods are rife with underlying racial tensions that have "taken too many young lives." He | [
"What had gang members asked him?",
"Who asked him if we was in a gang?",
"Where was his mother at the time?",
"who was arrested?",
"Who was killed outside his L.A. home?",
"Who was on duty in Iraq?"
] | [
[
"Shaw if he was in a"
],
[
"members"
],
[
"More than 7,500 miles away,"
],
[
"Pedro Espinoza,"
],
[
"Jamiel Shaw"
],
[
"Army Sgt. Anita Shaw"
]
] | NEW: Arrest made in killing of Jamiel Shaw, athlete killed outside his L.A. home .
Police: Gang members had asked him if we was in a gang .
Shaw didn't have time to tell them "no," according to police .
His mother was on duty in Iraq when she got the news . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Janelle Monae is a girl from another planet, and she's invading your world. Janelle Monae creates "cool, futuristic soul with a real '80s quality," says a DJ. Sightings of the singer-songwriter will include this week's "American Idol" finale, the Hollywood Bowl and concert stages across America this summer and TV's Sci Fi Channel this fall. Monae insists that her real identity is Cindi Mayweather, an android traveling through space and time to escape destruction ordered because she fell in love with a human, a fatal infraction of robots' rules. Along the way, she's making music that moves into the future while drawing from decades past. "It is cool, futuristic soul with a real '80s quality," said Garth Trinidad, a disc jockey at Los Angeles, California, radio station KCRW. Trinidad spotted Monae three years ago, and he's been watching her like an astronomer tracking the approach of a distant comet destined to light Earth's sky. "I believe she's going to be a household name in the next year or two," said Trinidad, a self-described "champion of the underdog" who is credited with giving Jill Scott and Gnarls Barkley early radio airplay. Monae -- the human -- is a striking combination of voice, style, imagination and fearlessness that defies conventional description, making it easier to buy into the fantasy of Mayweather the android. When her song "Many Moons" was nominated for a Grammy in December, it was in the urban/alternative category. If Monae is an android from the future, her musical programming included the past. Trinidad compared her "very fluid, very pleasing" voice to Donna Summer, circa 1976. At a Los Angeles show this month, she mixed 20th-century classics with her own futuristic songs. Monae delivered a sweet version of Nat King Cole's "Smile" while standing atop a barstool. Senior citizens danced the "Twist" when her band broke out into the Beatles' 1964 hit "I Saw Her Standing There." She loves timeless music, Monae said after her show. "We look to a lot of people whose bodies are dead and gone, but their spirit is still with us," Monae said. Her choreography borrows from James Brown, Michael Jackson and Devo, with dance moves from the future. Monae -- or Mayweather -- thinks she can fly. She jumped head-first into the audience, "crowd surfing" the unlikely mosh pit in UCLA's Royce Hall. Search Monae's name on YouTube and you'll see her jumping into swimming pools to end her shows. She climbed a tree in New York -- after her swim. Unlike some performers, her talent matches Monae's onstage antics, Trinidad said. "It's one thing for her to perform a certain way, but she backs with it up with talent," he said. Monae's android-on-the-run theme, reminiscent of the 1982 movie "Blade Runner," reminds Trinidad "of all the great albums from the past that had a story and concept attached." "She was just kind of like bored with everything else going on, and she wanted to transcend it and tell a story," he said. Monae said she is not following a formula, that she is "being led by my maker." "I'm very similar to a terminal," she said. Monae will inevitably capture the world's attention because she is "outshining a lot of what's happening in the mainstream," Trinidad said. That time may be near. Sean "Diddy" Combs signed her to his Bad Boy Records, giving her music distribution. Coca-Cola hired Monae to sing on its "Open Happiness" ad campaign. It airs on this week's "American Idol" finale. Her tour stops next month include at least six shows in the northeastern United States, opening for Gwen Stefani's reunited rock group | [
"Who do they believe is going to be a household name?",
"Who is praising Monae's talent?",
"Who appeared on commerical?",
"What does the DJ say?",
"What is the name of her alter ego?",
"Who is on tour?",
"What is the name of Janelle Monae's alter ego?",
"Name the singer",
"what is the household name",
"What is Janelle Monae's job?",
"Who has alter ego?",
"Who is the singer's alter ego?",
"What does DJ say?"
] | [
[
"Janelle Monae"
],
[
"Garth Trinidad,"
],
[
"Janelle Monae"
],
[
"\"cool, futuristic soul with a real '80s quality,\""
],
[
"Cindi Mayweather,"
],
[
"Janelle Monae"
],
[
"Cindi Mayweather,"
],
[
"Janelle Monae"
],
[
"Janelle Monae"
],
[
"singer-songwriter"
],
[
"Janelle Monae"
],
[
"Cindi Mayweather,"
],
[
"Janelle Monae creates \"cool, futuristic soul with a real '80s quality,\""
]
] | Janelle Monae popping up on commercial, on tour, on TV .
Singer has alter ego: Cindi Mayweather, futuristic android on the run .
Observers praise talent: "I believe she's going to be a household name," says DJ . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Jay Leno plans "something really unusual and different" when he hands over "The Tonight Show" to Conan O'Brien on May 29, 17 years after Johnny Carson left the hosting duties to him. Jay Leno begins "The Jay Leno Show" in September. His last "Tonight Show" is May 29. But don't expect an emotional final show, since Leno and most of his staff are just moving across the NBC lot to produce a nightly prime time show debuting in September. The traditional desk, chair and guest sofa probably won't follow Leno to his 10 p.m. show, but many of his favorite comedy elements will, Leno said. Making people laugh before they go to bed is still the mission. "To me, 10 o'clock is like the new 11:30," Leno said. "I hear more and more people, even young people, say 'I can't stay up past 11. I car pool, I gotta get up at 6.' " "The Jay Leno Show" will be competing against scripted dramas, not other comedians telling jokes, which Leno said should give him the edge over the long haul. "When I was a kid, there was comedy all over TV, and it was fun to watch, whether it was Carol Burnett or any of the sitcoms," he said. "You'd have a whole night of comedy, and now everything is very serious and it's all murder." The new show will have famous guests, but they will not drive the ratings, Leno said. "It's all about the joke material," he said. He will "try to keep it moving" with a longer monologue with dozens of jokes, he said. The last half-hour will be filled with comedy, he said. "You look right in the camera, you directly talk to people as low-tech as possible, a little humor before people go to bed," he said. NBC's decision to put a talk-variety show on at 10 o'clock raised some complaints from affiliate station owners, worried the ratings wouldn't be strong enough to build an audience for their 11 o'clock local newscasts. The network's Boston affiliate briefly threatened to move its news to 10, pre-empting Leno. Leno, who grew up in Boston, said he understood the economics behind the concern. "Although my job previous to this was to give a good lead-in to Conan, the job giving a good lead-in to the 11 o'clock news is really, really important," he said. "That's really where our local affiliates make their money, is on the 11 o'clock news." He doesn't expect to beat the dramas the first week out, but he noted those shows produce only about 22 new episodes a year. "During those repeat weeks and whatever, we'll be live, fresh, original shows," Leno said. The last week of "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" will include a lot of looking back and "best of" segments, "because that's easier than writing new stuff," Leno said. His guests Monday through Thursday include Mel Gibson, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Wanda Sykes, Billy Crystal and Prince. Conan O'Brien will be on the final show, along with singer James Taylor. Taylor's songs were the last thing Leno heard on the radio when he left Boston in the late 1970s to start his career, so he wanted to have him as his last musical guest, he said. Leno hinted the last show would have some surprises. "I have something really unusual and different planned," he said, "Something really out of left field that we're going to end on." Pressed for more hints, Leno said it was "something really personal, something that has to do with show and staff." "I think it will make people smile," he said. Leno can smile as he moves on | [
"When is the last tonight show?",
"when is the last tonight show taking place",
"When did the show begin?",
"What time is the show to be aired?",
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] | [
[
"May 29."
],
[
"May 29."
],
[
"10 p.m."
],
[
"10 p.m."
],
[
"His last \"Tonight Show\""
],
[
"Jay Leno"
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[
"September."
]
] | Jay Leno begins the prime-time "Jay Leno Show" in September .
Comedian's last "Tonight Show" is May 29; expect surprises, he says .
He believes audiences will welcome a 10 p.m. comedy-variety show . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Jay Leno says immediacy is key to his new show, and he should have plenty of it for his prime time premiere Monday, when Kanye West is a musical guest. Kanye West, center, with girlfriend Amber Rose and actor Tracy Morgan at the 2009 MTV VMAs. The rapper created a fan and artist uprising Sunday night when he jumped onstage at MTV's Video Music Awards to hijack singer Taylor Swift's acceptance speech. Leno could reprise his 1995 ratings-grabbing moment when he asked actor Hugh Grant, "What the hell were you thinking?" Grant had been arrested two weeks earlier for public lewd conduct with a Hollywood hooker. West placed a written apology on his Web site -- "I'm sooooo sorry" -- but "The Jay Leno Show" could be the place and time for a more personal and public mea culpa. Watch the details on West's appearance » Leno's publicist confirmed Monday that West was still booked for the NBC show, which tapes just three hours before it airs in the eastern United States at 10 p.m. West was booked by Leno weeks ago to perform with two other hip-hop superstars: Rihanna and Jay-Z. Some drama may center around how West and Jay-Z get along onstage. Jay-Z's wife, singer Beyonce Knowles, was perhaps the most embarrassed by his outburst. Swift, a 19-year-old country-pop singer, was in the midst of her acceptance speech for the Best Female Video award when West rushed onstage and took her microphone. He then let loose an outburst on behalf of Beyonce, who was one of several artists who lost out to Swift. Although Beyonce appeared stunned as she watched from the front row, she gracefully recovered near the end of the show, when she was onstage to accept an award of her own. "I remember being 17 years old, up for my first MTV award with Destiny's Child, and it was one of the most exciting moments of my life," she said, referring to the girl group with which she had her start. "So I would like for Taylor to come out and have her moment." West's online apology appeared soon after. "I'm sooooo sorry to Taylor Swift and her fans and her mom," the message said in all caps. "I spoke to her mother right after and she said the same thing my mother would've said. She is very talented! ... I'm in the wrong for going on stage and taking away from her moment!" MTV said the West-Swift incident was not planned, a point it had to stress after a walkout by singer Eminem at last year's event turned out to be staged. Staged or not, apologies from celebrities behaving badly have been good for Leno's ratings. When Grant told Leno "I did a bad thing," it gave Leno's "Tonight Show" a viewership bump that has been credited with solidifying his lead over rival David Letterman in the late-night ratings war. This is just the kind of "immediacy" Leno was talking about in a call with reporters last week. "The idea here is that we'll tape a new, fresh show every single day, talking about the events that happened that day that night," Leno said. West, Rihanna and Jay-Z will debut Leno's new approach to musical guests. They will be limited to one song, and most nights they'll share the stage with other stars. "What we're trying to do is put together acts that you don't normally see together or don't normally perform together," Leno said. Jerry Seinfeld will also appear on Leno's premiere Monday. | [
"what is the questioning moment",
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"what is the hugh grant moment",
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] | [
[
"when he asked actor Hugh Grant, \"What the hell were you thinking?\""
],
[
"Monday."
],
[
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],
[
"Jay Leno"
],
[
"jumped onstage at MTV's Video Music Awards"
],
[
"\"The Jay Leno Show\""
]
] | Rapper Kanye West scheduled to appear on "The Jay Leno Show"
Leno's new show set to premiere Monday night .
Leno could reprise famous Hugh Grant moment in questioning West .
West made news and angered fans by interrupting Taylor Swift during speech . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Jessica Keenan tried on wedding dresses in a fancy Beverly Hills boutique, about 100 miles from the Santa Barbara, California, clinic where she gets blasted with chemotherapy once a week.
Jessica Keenan, 34, is getting married January 24, thanks to the Dream Foundation.
Keenan is 34 years old and battling Stage 4 breast cancer with faith, hope and a charity called the Dream Foundation, which helps terminally ill adults.
''You get a diagnosis and you never know how short your time is," Keenan said. "I chose to believe there is going to be a cure. You still carry those dreams of getting married, having a kid."
But Keenan and her fiancé, Curtis Jimenez, couldn't afford a wedding -- their finances are sapped by her cancer battle. They rent from friends.
Keenan wrote a letter to Dream Foundation, at the suggestion of her devoted nurses at the Santa Barbara cancer center. "It all just started snowballing," she said.
Her wish has been granted, thanks to Dream Foundation and flock of people she has never met. Think of the foundation as Make-A-Wish, but instead of trying to help desperately sick children, Dream Foundation assists terminally ill adults.
Keenan's wedding is a different, more lavish wish than most of the requests the foundation has been receiving in this tough economy.
"People's needs are becoming basic," said the charity's founder, Thomas Rollerson. "We are getting wishes just to pay an electric bill, pay the rent, or help keep a promise to go to Disneyland to give them that memory in a time of hopelessness, doctors visits and uncertainty."
Other dreams are simply for dying family members to be united with loved ones, last visits before last rites.
Rollerson explains that with money tight, donors can still help without writing big checks. For example, people can donate frequent flier miles or hotel points.
When corporate donors and philanthropists jump in, a Dream Foundation wish can turn elaborate. The foundation's Web site is a bulletin board of heartache looking for relief.
There's Bruce, 31, dying of Hodgkin's lymphoma. He wants to leave New York state for the first time and take his wife and his 6-year-old son to Disney World.
Remedios is a California woman with incurable cancer. She wants to treat the daughter who stands over her bed to a Quinceniera, a traditional celebration for a girl who turns 15 years old.
Bone cancer is expected to kill Edward Lucas of Springfield, Missouri, in less than six months. He wants to celebrate his 21st wedding anniversary with his wife, Nancy, before he leaves her a widow with an adult daughter and three grandchildren.
Their dream is a warm-weather honeymoon trip never taken.
Edward was hospitalized and too weak to talk to CNN.
"I wanted him to have a trip or something to look forward to," Nancy said. "A lot of people don't realize there are dreams for adults too."
The Lucas' dream trip is coming together with the help of Dream Foundation, which is hashing out some of the flight and hotel issues to Florida.
Back in California, Keenan's wedding is speeding toward January 24, thanks to dozens of corporate sponsors and a wealthy Texas do-gooder, Beverly Adams, who made a big financial contribution. The upscale boutique Monique Lhullier donated the dress.
"We're a conduit," Dream Foundation's Rollerson said. "People are willing to help. They just need to know how and where."
Keenan, a hairdresser by trade, was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005. She thought she had it beat two years ago when she met her fiancé on New Year's Eve. She found out in March of 2007 the cancer returned. Her fiancé has remained at her side.
"When they met, they were just so into each other," said Lena Rueff, who first introduced the bride-to-be to her brother | [
"What is one of her dreams?",
"What stage is the cancer?",
"What does Jessica Keenan has?",
"What kind of cancer does Jessica have?",
"Who is helping the dream come true?"
] | [
[
"getting married,"
],
[
"4"
],
[
"Stage 4 breast cancer"
],
[
"Stage 4 breast"
],
[
"Foundation."
]
] | Jessica Keenan, 34, has Stage 4 breast cancer .
One of her dreams is to get married to defy her terminally ill prognosis .
The Dream Foundation is helping her dream come true .
The foundation helps terminally ill adults with their last wishes . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Jewish students and faculty at California universities fear for their safety on campus because of threats aimed at them over the Middle East conflict, the father of a slain Wall Street Journal reporter said Friday.
Judea Pearl, the father of slain reporter Daniel Pearl, says anti-Semitism is on rise on college campuses.
Judea Pearl, whose son, Daniel Pearl, was kidnapped and killed by al Qaeda extremists while on assignment in Pakistan in 2002, told reporters at a news conference that anti-Semitic e-mail and verbal threats have escalated since Israel's three-week invasion of Gaza in January.
Pearl teaches computer science on UCLA's Westwood campus. On the school's Web site, UCLA Chancellor Gene Block issued a statement about the university's policy.
"The conflict in the Middle East and current events in Gaza are some of the most highly controversial issues of our time, stirring deep emotions on all sides," the statement read.
"We have a responsibility to protect the freedom of expression. We also all have a responsibility to listen and engage -- respectfully -- even as we must understand that not every campus forum on a controversial topic will satisfy passionate and concerned members of the campus and broader communities," said Block.
Pearl and officials at the Simon Wiesenthal Center, where the news conference was held, are concerned that administrators on college campuses across the country are not doing enough to foster freedom of expression while protecting Jewish students and faculty members from acts of intimidation on campuses.
"The verbal abuse is there, the intimidation is there, the feeling of helplessness is there, not only among students but among faculty," said Pearl.
Pearl cited an incident several years ago in which he was threatened.
"I received hate messages from someone at UCLA who did not identify himself and said, 'I saw you in Ackerman Union and I know where your office is and I'm going to beat the (expletive) out of you,'" Pearl said. "I handed it to the campus police, and they did not do anything."
UCLA spokeswoman Elizabeth Boatright-Simon told CNN there is no record of Pearl's complaint to campus police but said the university plans to meet with him.
Wiesenthal Center officials cited another incident three weeks ago at San Jose State University where the consul general of Israel was verbally abused and forcibly driven from the stage during a guest-speaking engagement aimed at fostering understanding of Jewish culture.
The diplomat, Akiva Tor, had to be escorted out of the room by security officers and campus police before the event ended, according to Rabbi Abraham Cooper of the Wiesenthal Center and Michelle Salinsky, president of Spartans for Israel, the group which co-sponsored the speaking event.
"We were extremely concerned about our safety and Mr. Tor's safety," said Salinsky, a senior majoring in political science. "Mr. Tor said he's never felt more disrespected. This was clearly an infringement of our expression of free speech. I think a lot of Jewish students do not feel safe on campuses because of the escalation of hate perpetrated against Jews."
San Jose State University spokeswoman Pat Harris told CNN the sponsors of the event were responsible for moderating the speaking forum but maintained that officers and security personnel acted appropriately.
In a statement, the university president Jon Whitmore defended the university's policies but expressed concern about the event.
"Our campus places high value on the free exchange of ideas in a manner that is inclusive and respectful of differing views," the statement read.
"At a recent campus event, numerous members of the audience with views differing from the invited speaker were so vocal in their expression of opposition and so uncooperative with the moderator's requests for orderly means of handling questions and answers that they disrupted the event and did not allow the speaker to respond to posed questions. The university fully endorses the free expression of ideas and opinion, but does not condone behavior and methods of expression that disrupt free and orderly discussion."
As part of an effort to promote tolerance, the | [
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] | [
[
"is on rise on college campuses."
],
[
"anti-Semitism is on rise on college campuses."
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[
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],
[
"Daniel Pearl,"
],
[
"spokeswoman Elizabeth Boatright-Simon told CNN there is no record of Pearl's complaint to campus police but said the university plans to meet with him."
]
] | Judea Pearl says anti-Semitism on rise since January's Gaza conflict .
Pearl's son, Daniel Pearl, was killed in 2002 by al Qaeda extremists .
Pearl claims he received a threat, but UCLA police did nothing .
UCLA spokesman says there is no record of Pearl's complaint . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- John Travolta, still in mourning over the death of his teenage son earlier this year, issued a rare public statement urging fans to see his latest movie, "The Taking of Pelham 123," which he filmed last year. John Travolta stars as a villainous ex-inmate in "The Taking of Pelham 123," which opens in theaters Friday. "I promise, you won't be disappointed," said Travolta, who plays a deranged ex-inmate who takes hostages on a New York subway. Travolta did not join co-star Denzel Washington in the promotional tour for the movie -- which hits theaters Friday -- because he said his family needed "additional time to reconcile our loss." His son Jett, 16, was found unconscious on January 2 while on vacation with his family in the Bahamas. The teen was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival, local police said. Washington, who plays a subway train dispatcher forced to face down Travolta's character, said he talked to the actor about three weeks ago. "Needless to say, he's struggling," Washington said in an interview last week. Travolta's statement, which can be read on his official Web site, said Washington, director Tony Scott and the producers "stepped up without hesitation to help promote this wonderful film, and their unselfish efforts have allowed my family the additional time to reconcile our loss." Making the movie was "a labor of love," Travolta said. "Tony gave me the freedom to define, and then to become, the ultimate evil mastermind," he said. "This role as an actor gave me the chance to dispense with all moral and ethical limitations, and explore just how bad this character could really be. I believe you will like the result." Much of the movie is a dialogue between Washington and Travolta's character over a two-way radio. Many of the action shots were filmed in New York subway tunnels. | [
"When did Travolta's son die?",
"Whose death was Travolta mourning?",
"What is the subject of the statement Travolta released on his website?",
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"What is the name of Travolta's dead son?",
"What was the subject of Travolta's statement?",
"What was John Travolta statement about?",
"Give the name of the person who released a statement about the film",
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"When did John Travolta son die?",
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] | [
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[
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[
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[
"the Bahamas."
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[
"John Travolta,"
]
] | John Travolta releases statement on his Web site about "The Taking of Pelham 123"
Travolta, still mourning son's death, praised colleagues for "unselfish efforts"
Travolta's son Jett died in January during family vacation . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Jon Hamm has a confession to make: He hates his hair. Jon Hamm poses with his partner, Jennifer Westfeldt, at the premiere of "The Day the Earth Stood Still." That may come as a surprise to fans of the actor, whose slick-backed hair is part of his signature look on "Mad Men" -- the show that just earned him another Golden Globe nomination for best actor in a TV drama. In the new movie "The Day the Earth Stood Still," Hamm sports a slightly different 'do, with his bangs combed rakishly over one eye. It was in the context of promoting the sci-fi remake that Hamm revealed his tonsorial frustration. "It's the bane of my existence. Goofy hair," he said in a self-deprecating interview with CNN. "It never looks good ... It's a pain." Hamm says he's always worn his hair long, but had to cut it for AMC's TV series, in which he plays a 1960s Madison Avenue ad executive. He says stylists on the show, armed with hair spray and blow dryers, mold his coiffure into a hard shell. Helmet hair has come in handy at work. "I've had a piece of the set fall on my head and my hair didn't move," he said. "I had seven stitches in my head and my hair didn't move. That's impressive." Whether it's his hair, good looks, acting chops or a combination thereof, Hamm's star is on the rise in Hollywood. Apart from his co-starring role in "The Day the Earth Stood Still," Hamm recently completed work on the murder mystery "The Boy in the Box." He hosted "Saturday Night Live" this fall, he's due to play Tina Fey's love interest on "30 Rock" and he continues to receive accolades for his work on "Mad Men" (nominations for an Emmy and a Golden Globe so far). How does that make Hamm feel? "Exciting is the right way to say it. It's been a good year. It's very exciting," he said. "I get to read a lot more scripts. I get to meet interesting people. I get to work with interesting people ... It's fun to be sort of invited to the party." | [
"Where is he currently appearing in?",
"What does he not like about his hair?",
"What othre movies has he been in?",
"What show is Jon Hamm in?",
"What movie is Hamm currently appearing in?",
"What is pain according to Hamm?",
"Hamm says what is a pain?",
"Which \"Mad Men\" star earned another Golden Globe nomination?",
"Jon Hamm earned what nomination?"
] | [
[
"\"The Day the Earth Stood Still.\""
],
[
"Goofy hair,\""
],
[
"\"The Day the Earth Stood Still,\""
],
[
"\"Mad Men\""
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[
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[
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],
[
"Goofy hair,\""
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[
"Jon Hamm"
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[
"for best actor in a TV drama."
]
] | "Mad Men" star Jon Hamm earned another Golden Globe nomination .
Hamm says hair is a pain -- especially short and lacquered for "Mad Men"
Actor currently appearing in "The Day the Earth Stood Still" |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Jorge Fernandez strolls across the used-car parking lot littered with dozens upon dozens of sport utility vehicles the size of small tugboats. SUVs like these are having a tough time selling with gas prices at all-time highs. With gas at $4 a gallon, many have sat there since last summer. "The cars are literally just sitting, and it doesn't matter how much you sell them for," Fernandez says of the SUVs and trucks nobody wants anymore. "It's amazing. I've never seen it this bad -- ever." Fernandez, a wholesale auto dealer who has been in the business for more than 20 years, says SUV owners are hit especially hard. The really large ones with V-8 engines that can get as little as 12 miles per gallon in the city -- like the Cadillac Escalade, Ford Expedition and Chevy Suburban -- are dropping in value by the thousands. Watch the sinking value of guzzlers » The No. 1 reason for the sales slump is soaring gas prices, says Peter Brown, the executive director of Automotive News, the trade newspaper for the North American car industry. For the first four months of this year, truck and SUV sales are down a collective 24.8 percent. SUV sales plummeted 32.8 percent while pickups dipped 19.9 percent, he says. "If gas prices stay where they are at or continue to rise, the body-on frame SUV is an endangered species and the pickup truck as a personal car is an endangered species," Brown says. How do owners react when they're told their once-$40,000-plus vehicles are now worth less than half that? "When they find out what you think their truck is worth, they think you're trying to rip them off or something," says Fernandez. "Small cars are gone within a week; SUVs are sitting here since last summer." David Lavi, the owner of a Toyota Tacoma pickup, is feeling that pinch. He put his truck on the market several weeks ago in hopes of downsizing. He bought it brand new in 2006 when gas prices were much lower. "Once I do sell it, I'm going to get a smaller car -- maybe a Nissan Maxima or something smaller," he says. He's hoping to get $23,000 for the fully loaded truck, which is higher than the estimated Kelley Blue Book value of $15,000 to $19,000 depending on how many amenities it has. "No one has offered what I want," he says. Automakers have noticed this trend to downsize. Ford announced Thursday it was shifting production away from its longtime hallmark of pickups and SUVs in favor of smaller cars. In making the decision, Ford said it believes gas prices will remain in the range of $3.75 to $4.25 a gallon through the end of 2009. "We saw a real change in the industry demand in pickups and SUVs in the first two weeks of May," Ford chief executive Alan Mulally said Thursday. "It seems to us we reached a tipping point." Brown of Automotive News said he wouldn't be surprised if General Motors and other automakers follow suit. According to AAA, gas prices reached another all-time high Friday, with the national average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline at $3.87. Seven states are now over $4 a gallon, AAA says. How much do you need to work to pay for your gas? » Stories of owners ditching larger vehicles for smaller ones have started to become widespread. Owners say they're tired of spending as much as 80 to 100 bucks to fill up their tanks. Some CNN.com users recently shared their stories of buying used Geo Metros -- the oft-maligned, snail-sized car from the 1990s that gets gas mileage similar to a hybrid of today for a fraction of the sticker price. "I used to be a car snob, and I used to be too vain to drive anything that doesn't shine," said Marci Solomon, an electrician | [
"What did the truck owner say about his vehicle?",
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"Who cannot get the price he wants?",
"What was the record-breaking average gas price on Friday?",
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"Who says SUVs are tough sells?",
"What type of vehicles are a tough sell now?",
"What type of cars have become a tough sale?",
"When did the average gas price his another all time high?",
"What did AAA say on Friday?",
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],
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"Friday,"
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],
[
"SUVs"
],
[
"Friday,"
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[
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[
"all-time high Friday,"
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] | Car dealer says SUVs are tough sells now: "I've never seen it this bad -- ever"
AAA says average gas price hit another all-time high Friday .
Truck owner says he can't get the price he wants for his vehicle . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Kanye West called Taylor Swift with a "very sincere" apology Tuesday for interrupting her acceptance speech at Sunday's MTV Video Music Awards, Swift said. Kanye West called Taylor Swift to apologize for hijacking her speech at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards. West phoned Swift following her appearance on ABC's "The View" Tuesday, her publicist said. Swift talked about it in a radio interview with ABC. "Kanye did call me and he was very sincere in his apology," she said. "And I accepted that apology." The apology came the morning after West, in an interview with Jay Leno, appeared to blame the pain of his mother's death two years ago for his "rude" behavior. The rapper told Leno he would now "take some time off" to think about how he will "make it through the rest of this life." West's appearance on the prime-time premiere of "The Jay Leno Show" capped a 24-hour period that began Sunday evening with him strolling down the red carpet at New York's Radio City Music Hall while gulping from a bottle of cognac. The low-light came about an hour later, when West jumped onstage and grabbed the microphone from Swift as she accepted the Best Female Video award. West declared that Beyonce Knowles should have won. West appeared sober and humble when he spoke on Leno's Los Angeles stage Monday, an appearance that was originally to be just musical. Watch West give an emotional interview to Leno » "I immediately knew in this situation that it was wrong," West told Leno. "And it wasn't a spectacle, you know. It was actually someone's emotions, you know, that I stepped on and it was very, it was just, it was rude, period." When Leno asked West what his mother would have thought of his behavior, he fell silent for more than a dozen seconds and appeared near tears. Leno pressed him again. "Would she be disappointed in this? Would she give you a lecture?" West gave a rambling, emotional answer: "Yeah, you know, obviously, you know, I deal with hurt and, you know, so many, you know, celebrities, they never take the time off, and I've never taken the time off to really, you know, I just, music after music and tour after tour on tour, and I'm just ashamed that my hurt caused someone else's hurt." West said he wasn't trying to justify his behavior, "because I was just in the wrong. That's clear." "But I need to, after this, just to take some time off and analyze how I'm going to, you know, make it through rest of this life, how I'm going to improve," he said. "Because, I am a celebrity and that's something I have to deal with." He said he would like to personally apologize to Swift, a 19-year-old pop-country singer. "And if there's anything I can do to help Taylor in the future or help anyone, I want to live this thing. It's hard sometimes, so." After his four-minute talk with Leno, West joined fellow hip-hop superstars Jay-Z and Rihanna to perform "Run This Town," a song they recorded together. The timing of West's antics came at a good time for Leno, who embarked on a new era of his career Monday. After 17 years of hosting "The Tonight Show," Leno debuted his 10 p.m. weeknight talk show on NBC. Apologies from celebrities behaving badly have boosted Leno's ratings. In 1995, Leno enjoyed a ratings-grabbing moment when he asked actor Hugh Grant, "What the hell were you thinking?" Grant had been arrested two weeks earlier for public lewd conduct with a Hollywood hooker. When Grant told Leno "I did a bad thing | [
"What does Kanye West reach out to Taylor Swift for?",
"What was Swift doing when she was interrupted by West?",
"what show did she appear on?",
"What was the purpose of Kanye West reaching out to Taylor Swift?",
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"what award was taylor swift accepting?",
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"Did she accept his apology?",
"who reached out to taylor swift to apologize?"
] | [
[
"apology"
],
[
"acceptance speech"
],
[
"\"The View\""
],
[
"apologize for hijacking her speech at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards."
],
[
"Tuesday"
],
[
"Best Female Video"
],
[
"\"And I accepted that apology.\""
],
[
"\"And I accepted that apology.\""
],
[
"Kanye West"
]
] | Kanye West reaches out to Taylor Swift to apologize .
Rapper had interrupted Swift as she accepted the Best Female Video award .
West contacted her after she appeared on "The View"
Country singer said she accepted his apology . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Katherine Jackson's legal battle for some control of her son's estate returns to court Monday in front of the same judge who is expected to award her permanent guardianship of Michael Jackson's children. Katherine Jackson has accused the executors of her son's estate of "keeping her in the dark." Dozens of lawyers are expected to pack a Los Angeles courtroom where a judge will consider the Jackson family matriarch's challenge of the lawyer and former music executive who were named as executors in Michael Jackson's will. Katherine Jackson's lawyers filed a petition last week accusing the men who now control the estate of being "intent on keeping her in the dark" about deals they've made or are negotiating. Londell McMillan, Jackson's lead attorney, raised questions about "a suspicious circle of relationships" involving John Branca, the singer's longtime personal attorney, and John McClain, a music industry executive and longtime friend. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff gave Branca and McClain temporary control of the estate until Monday's hearing. Katherine Jackson is asking the judge to order Branca, McClain and others to answer questions under oath about their business agreements to determine if they are "fit and able" to administer the estate. The men also were served with a 19-page demand for documents. Branca has refused to let Katherine Jackson see Michael Jackson's contracts with AEG -- the company that was organizing and promoting his planned concerts -- unless she agrees to keep them confidential. Branca's lawyer argued in a court filing that he has no choice, since the contracts have a provision requiring confidentiality. Branca's lawyers also argued that Jackson's demand for documents was too broad and burdensome. "Such measures will not be necessary if Mrs. Jackson is appointed a co-executor of the estate," McMillan said. McMillan, in an interview with CBS Thursday, estimated the Jackson estate was worth $2 billion, while the executors have estimated in court that its value is around $500 million. The will written in 2002 places all of Michael Jackson's assets into a family trust benefiting his mother, his three children and unnamed charities. Judge Beckloff will consider at Monday's hearing who will have permanent control of the estate. The judge is also expected Monday to finalize Katherine Jackson's guardianship of her son's three children. An agreement between Jackson and Debbie Rowe, the mother of the two oldest children, cleared the way for an uncontested custody hearing. Rowe, who was briefly married to Michael Jackson, agreed not to fight for custody in exchange for visits with the children as recommended by a psychologist. The agreement does not involve any financial payments to Rowe "apart from the continuation of spousal support payments" that Michael Jackson personally agreed to make to Rowe after their divorce, their lawyers said in a joint statement. Jackson's children have been living with their paternal grandmother at her Encino, California, home since their father's death. The oldest child -- Michael Joseph Jackson Jr. -- was born in February 1997. A daughter -- Paris-Michael Katherine Jackson -- was born the next year. Details of how the children were conceived -- and who was the biological father -- have been closely guarded amid much public speculation. The couple divorced in 1999 with Rowe giving Jackson full custody while she got an $8.5 million settlement, according to court documents. Jackson later agreed to additional support. Rowe gave up parental rights to Jackson in 2001, but she changed her mind more than two years later and sought temporary custody of the children. A California appeals court later ruled her rights were improperly terminated, opening the door to a possible custody battle. While the coroner's report on what killed Michael Jackson has been delayed indefinitely, new evidence emerged that the singer shopped for a doctor who would give him the drug investigators suspect led to his death. Dr. Allan Metzger, whose name appeared on a search warrant served this week, refused Jackson's request in April for the anesthetic propofol -- commonly known by the brand name Diprivan -- Metzger's attorney said. | [
"What did the lawyer's petition accuse?",
"What are executors accused of?",
"Who is looking for control in the article?",
"What does Jackson want executors to answer questions about?",
"Whose estate is Katherine Jackson seeking control of?",
"What was Katherine Jackson looking for?",
"What was Jackson looking to control?",
"What does Jackosn want the executors to answer questions about?",
"Who is accused of keeping Jackson \"in the dark\"?"
] | [
[
"accusing the men who now control the estate of being \"intent on keeping her in the dark\" about deals they've made or are negotiating."
],
[
"\"keeping her in the dark.\""
],
[
"Katherine Jackson's"
],
[
"their business agreements"
],
[
"her son's"
],
[
"some control of her son's estate"
],
[
"her son's estate"
],
[
"their business agreements"
],
[
"the executors of her son's estate"
]
] | Katherine Jackson looking for some control of her son's estate.
Lawyers' petition accuses executors of keeping Katherine Jackson "in the dark"
Jackson wants executors to answer questions about business arrangements . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Krishna Rajarman's classmates and friends remembered him Tuesday as a mentor and scholar who preferred to go home on weekends to spend time with his younger brothers than party on campus. Krishna Rajarman, a Fulbright Scholar and honors student, was a junior at UCLA. "We asked him, 'Why not stay a weekend because we might do something fun?' " said Ashwin Bhongir, Krishna's roommate and childhood friend. "He said, 'I want to be here for my brothers. I like to spend time with my brothers, it's important.'" Krishna, a 19-year-old junior at UCLA, a Fulbright Scholar and an honors student, was found Monday fatally shot at his parents' home in suburban Los Angeles. Police said his father killed the teen, his two younger brothers, ages 7 and 12, his grandmother and mother. Karthik Rajaram, a 45-year-old unemployed financial services expert, then killed himself, police said. The six bodies were discovered in their neatly tended home in an upscale suburb 20 minutes outside Los Angeles on Monday. A neighbor called police to report that the wife had failed to pick her up to take her to her job. Inside the house, police also found letters from the father explaining that mounting financial pressure had led him to kill. Fraternity member Vim Mahadev remembered Krishna as a devoted L.A. Lakers fan who occasionally mentioned family problems, but nothing unusual. "Nothing ever came up serious," said Mahadev. "It was mostly his dad, about financial problems. But most of the time it was how he was his hero because he was intelligent and he always knew the right decisions to make. "It's just so ironic." Krishna's friends Bhongir and Nahel Patel grew up around the Rajaram family and told CNN they never saw signs of family turmoil during their teenage years. "I knew his family very well, and every time I went there, it was one of the most welcoming homes I've ever been to," said Bhongir. "It was always a fun loving place to be." "He was one of the most promising friends that I ever knew, he was literally the smartest person I've ever known," said Bhongir. "He was going to make it." Bhongir and Nahel, both business economic majors at UCLA, said Krishna's father was a role model to them. Krishna had wanted to follow his father's footsteps in studies and career. The father received his MBA from UCLA in 1987, according to UCLA spokesman Phil Hampton. Police said he went on to work in a financial holding company and for major accounting firms, such as Price Waterhouse. As a freshman, Krishna joined the campus co-ed fraternity Delta Phi Beta, organized by South Asian students. Fraternity member Natasha Parikh said she was one of Krishna's closest friends. "I just talked to him on Wednesday, and he was so excited about the new recruits we were having," she said. "He was so excited about this year, and it's so painful that he can't be here to experience the rest of our time at UCLA." "He really didn't talk about his personal life; I always saw him as a happy guy who never once said he was going through any major difficulty, so this has come as a complete shock." | [
"When did the crimes occur?",
"Who was described as literally the smartest person they've known?",
"Who killed Krishna Rajarman and his family",
"What was Krishna Rajarman's age?",
"Where did Rajarman live?",
"Who was Krishna mentoring",
"Who went home on weekends to be with family rather than party?",
"Where did Krishna Rajarman go on the weekends",
"What did Krishna do at weekends?",
"Who was committed to mentoring his two younger siblings?",
"Who did Krishna mentor?",
"Who killed the family?"
] | [
[
"Monday"
],
[
"Krishna's"
],
[
"Karthik Rajaram,"
],
[
"19-year-old"
],
[
"Los Angeles."
],
[
"classmates and friends"
],
[
"Krishna Rajarman's"
],
[
"home"
],
[
"go home on"
],
[
"Krishna Rajarman's"
],
[
"classmates and friends"
],
[
"Karthik Rajaram,"
]
] | Krishna Rajarman went home on weekends to be with family rather than party .
Friends say he was committed to mentoring his two younger siblings .
Police: Teen's father, jobless and in financial trouble, killed him and his family .
Friend describes Krishna: "He was literally the smartest person I've ever known" |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Let those other filmmakers focus on world destruction or masked superheroes or beautiful people doing beautiful things. Jason Bateman plays the owner of an extract factory in "Extract," Mike Judge's latest. Mike Judge prefers to deal with real life. Judge, writer and director of "Office Space" and co-creator of the TV series "King of the Hill," has long liked to set his work in the world of malfunctioning copiers and beer-drinking propane salesmen. Even his wicked satire of the future, "Idiocracy," focused on the inanities of everyday life, just set 500 years from now. His new film, "Extract," is no exception: It's about a factory owner, Joel (Jason Bateman), who must deal with a host of employee problems as well as a chilly wife. Of course, Joel's solutions aren't exactly the stuff of Solomon, but such is the way of comedy. Bateman understands Judge's motivations. "He likes to keep everything very middle-of-the-road common people, small town, small problems, relatable, blue-collar," said the actor, who called Judge "a ninja of comedy." "And those people, they run extract factories; they make drywall. I mean, it's the stuff that we all need often goes unnoticed; he likes to write about those people, and I'm glad he does." "Extract," which also stars Mila Kunis, Kristen Wiig, J.K. Simmons and a long-haired and heavily bearded Ben Affleck, opens Friday. Judge talked to CNN about his subject matter and his cast. The following is an edited version of the interview. CNN: Where did this idea come from? I'd read that you worked in a factory before. Mike Judge: Yeah, it kind of came from all over the place. I've worked many jobs, and I did work in a factory a couple times -- a place that made guitar amps, and then I worked in a place in Albuquerque [New Mexico], where I grew up, that stuffed those snack boxes with Fritos and candy bars and stuff. CNN: Casting for the film, how did that come together? Did you have a set idea in your head? Judge: When I first wrote the first draft, I wasn't thinking about anybody in particular and, then I saw "Arrested Development" years later. I['d] put the script on the shelf and thought Jason Bateman would be perfect, so I did a rewrite thinking about him but no one in particular for the other characters. I just wrote it and then just did kind of the normal casting process. But then, we were reading people for the character of [Joel's friend] Dean, and my casting director comes in one day and said, "Ben Affleck is interesting." And I thought, "Really, I've never met the guy." And I [also] thought, "Yeah, but he's like strapping, handsome leading-man guy." Then I started thinking about it, and I love him when he's a character actor like in "Dazed and Confused" or "Shakespeare in Love," and then I met him, and he just got it. He had this take on him based on a guy he went to high school with. We did a read-through the script, and him and Jason just killing me, I just thought it was just really funny. You know, he was willing to get out of his leading man look and grow a beard. It was really fun. CNN: It was fun to see him do that. It was a different dynamic. Judge: Yeah. I think Ben, actually, I think he enjoyed being this character. I think he hasn't gotten to do something like that in a while. In fact, we had a big break [during shooting]. ... And he has one scene in the factory, | [
"Who stars in the film?",
"Who does the film star?",
"What genre is \"Extract\"?"
] | [
[
"Jason Bateman"
],
[
"Jason Bateman"
],
[
"comedy."
]
] | Mike Judge's new movie, "Extract," is comedy set in a factory .
Judge gravitates towards the workplace, sees "a lot of material" in jobs .
Film stars Jason Bateman, who calls "Office Space" creator "a ninja of comedy" |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Like all zombie movies, "Zombieland" has hundreds of zombies doing awful things, such as attacking and eating humans, but you could argue it's not a zombie movie. Jesse Eisenberg and Woody Harrelson find themselves battling the undead in "Zombieland." Zombie hordes do chase the main characters in a post-apocalyptic world, but the focus is on the comedy's stars, including two Oscar nominees -- Woody Harrelson and Abigail Breslin -- along with Jesse Eisenberg and Emma Stone. (Spoiler alert: A third Oscar nominee makes a remarkable cameo appearance, but this story will avoid spoiling the surprise by naming him.) "We wanted to make a cool, kick-ass road movie about a dysfunctional family traveling across the country and zombies provide us the antagonists, the threat that our characters need to come together," said Paul Wernick, who wrote the screenplay with partner Rhett Reese. In fact, Wernick had only seen one zombie film before writing this script. Reese, who is a fan of the genre, kept the story on a track that would feed zombie fans' hunger for blood-and-guts action. "[The] zombie genre is so well traveled, there is really no reason to get into it unless we could do it in a fresh, different way," Reese said. "We were almost forced to think outside the box to make it an entertaining zombie movie." "Zombieland" is set in the United States months after a fast-moving virus begins turning most people into flesh-eating zombies. A handful of survivors come together to fight back. Wernick and Reese literally rewrote the rules for zombie films in this movie. Eisenberg's character is an obsessive-compulsive man who developed 47 rules -- such as "fasten your seat belt" -- designed to help him survive in Zombieland. While Eisenberg journeys to find his parents, he joins Harrelson, a zombie killer who is searching for the last Hostess Twinkie before its expiration date. Stone and Breslin play sisters who survive on their con artist skills. Their goal is to reach a California amusement park, which they think could be free of zombies. The cross-country trip these four characters share resembles "National Lampoon's Vacation" -- if written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. Watch the stars of the film talk about zombie fans » Wernick said they wanted to be "very freewheeling." The movie "gives the audience the thrill of the journey," he said. "We wanted to take some wild turns." "The rules that we lived by when writing this is in fact that there are no rules," he said. "Zombieland" may be to zombies what Tarantino's "Inglourious Basterds" is to Nazis. Wernick and Reese, who have been close friends since high school, often finish each other's sentences as if they were an old married couple. "When we were trying to get 'Zombieland' off the ground back in the early days, we ..." Wernick said. "... assaulted Tarantino at an awards show, to try to get him to read the script," Reese said. "That didn't work out," Wernick said in conclusion to their joint thought. "He thought we were zombies coming after him." "Zombieland," directed by Rubin Fleischer, offers many of the same elements as a Tarantino film. "[Tarantino] is all about dialogue, character, irreverence, pop culture and we love all those things over the years," Reese said. "We have always been inspired by him." The writers had to run through a number of actors before finding the person for the 10-minute cameo. Among them was Patrick Swayze, the writers' first choice. Swayze, who died just two weeks before the movie's release, turned down the role because of ill health earlier this year. Also asked: Joe Pesci, Steven Seagal, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, | [
"What the new movie name ?",
"What are among the movie's surprises?",
"Give some perfomers playing into this movie ?",
"Who do the movie's performers include?",
"Who was the writer who had seen a solitary zombie movie?",
"What is the new movie called?",
"What character did Woody Harrelson play in the zombie movie?",
"Name two of the movies performers.",
"How many zombie films had one of the wroter's seen in his life?"
] | [
[
"\"Zombieland\""
],
[
"third Oscar nominee makes a remarkable cameo appearance,"
],
[
"Emma Stone."
],
[
"Woody Harrelson and Abigail Breslin"
],
[
"Paul Wernick,"
],
[
"\"Zombieland\""
],
[
"killer who is searching for the last Hostess Twinkie"
],
[
"Jesse Eisenberg and Woody Harrelson"
],
[
"In fact, Wernick had only seen one zombie film before writing this"
]
] | In new movie "Zombieland," focus is on the stars and the comedy .
Movie's performers include Woody Harrelson, Abigail Breslin .
One of film's writers had seen just one zombie film in his life .
Among movie's surprises: a cameo from an Oscar-nominated actor . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Listening to writer Brian K. Vaughan summarize the plot of his comic book, "Y: The Last Man," makes it sound like just another pulp title. Brian K. Vaughan says he's "depressed" about the end of "Y: The Last Man," but he's got other projects to work on. "A plague of mysterious origin destroys every male mammal, human being and animal on the planet," he says, "except for one boy and his monkey. And wackiness ensues." Well, that's the story boiled down to its basics. But the tale of amateur escapist Yorick Brown, the last man alive on an Earth now home to only women, and his monkey, Ampersand, is actually far more complex than Vaughan's description reveals, involving long journeys, the value of memory and the politics of gender roles. The title, which has had a very successful five-year run, is coming to an end this week with the release of issue No. 60. It is a finale that is equally emotional for both fans and its creator. "I guess I've moved into acceptance but that doesn't mean that I'm not still depressed about it," says Vaughan, 31, a soft-spoken Cleveland, Ohio, native who now makes his home in Los Angeles. Gallery: The worlds of Brian K. Vaughan » "It's been weird because it's a gradual [form of] saying good-bye," he says. "First, you finish the script, but then it still has to be penciled and inked, and there's so many stages in comics that it's sort of been like the stages of death." Vaughan's career in comics dates back more than a decade, but his love for the medium stretches back to his adolescence. Already an avid fan of comic books, he discovered Alan Moore's seminal graphic novel "Watchmen" on a family vacation. It would be the spark that inspired him to give life to his own stories. Watch Vaughan pick out some of his influences » When Vaughan first pitched his concept for "Y: The Last Man" to Vertigo, an imprint of DC Comics, he was focused on a specific ending, without knowing whether the series would last long enough to reach it. "We had a long-term idea [of doing] five years but realistically, I knew I had just gotten 'Swamp Thing' canceled at Vertigo and most people hadn't heard of Pia [Guerra], the artist," he says. "It's not like we were destined for a long and successful run," he adds, smiling. Almost immediately following its debut in 2002, the series found success, earning critical praise as well as five Eisner Awards, the comic-book Oscars, along the way. Yorick's quest to find his girlfriend, lost somewhere in a world forever changed by this mysterious plague, was just as much an international adventure story as it was the tale of the women in his life: his bodyguard, the enigmatic Agent 355; medical researcher Alison Mann; even his sister, Hero, and his mother. Their experiences can be read as parables on humanity in a world where gender has been all but eliminated from the equation. Now, as their stories come to a close, Vaughan likens it to ending a relationship. "It'll be a drag not to get to spend more time with these characters," observes Vaughan. He adds he will also miss his collaborating with Guerra, who has provided the art for the entire series run. "It's hard to not think about working with Pia, just because I think she is the best 'actor' in comics," he says. "[That's] a weird thing to say, but she captures emotions better than anyone. I'm very hopeful we'll work together again." Meanwhile, Vaughan's other work in comics, including "Ex Machina" (Wildstorm) and | [
"what does the writer think",
"What is the name of the comic book that took on big themes with its story of last man on earth?",
"what is the story about?",
"Name one theme that Vaughn used to write the comic book about the last man on earth?",
"what is ending soon?",
"who is ending his career?",
"which is the name of the comic?"
] | [
[
"she is the best 'actor' in comics,\""
],
[
"\"Y: The"
],
[
"\"except for one boy and his monkey. And wackiness ensues.\""
],
[
"humanity in a world where gender has been all but eliminated from the equation."
],
[
"\"Y: The Last Man,\""
],
[
"Brian K. Vaughan"
],
[
"\"Y: The Last Man,\""
]
] | Brian K. Vaughan's "Y: The Last Man" ending its run .
Comic book took on big themes with its story of last man on earth .
Vaughan, now a writer on "Lost," believes the show's next 8 episodes terrific . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Liv Tyler doesn't like to be bothered by her agents at night. But it's a good thing she took their call pitching her "The Incredible Hulk." Liv Tyler plays Betty Ross, a colleague of Edward Norton's Bruce Banner, in "The Incredible Hulk." "My agent called me one night ... I had just put [son] Milo to bed. It was like 9 o'clock at night, and I always get grumpy with them when they call me really late," she told CNN. "They said, 'Marvel would like to fly you to Los Angeles tomorrow. Will you get on a plane to come and meet for 'The Hulk'? And I said I can't come tomorrow, but I can come the next day." The flight turned out to be well worth it -- though Tyler said she was discombobulated by the speed of it all. "I went and met with [director] Louis [Leterrier] and they offered me the part that day," she said. "I was kind of floored because it just happened so quickly and I didn't get to read the script. ... [But] it was kind of a no-brainer." In the new "Hulk," "The Lord of the Rings" actress plays Betty Ross, a former colleague of scientist and Hulk alter ego Bruce Banner (Edward Norton). She said working on the film brought back memories of her childhood watching the TV show starring Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno. (Ferrigno has a cameo in the new film.) "I loved the TV show when I was a kid," she said. "I used to watch it all the time with my mom. It was our favorite show." Tyler, 30, said that she felt a tremendous sense of responsibility to the "Hulk" mythology, particularly since a 2003 film on the character met with mixed reviews. Watch Tyler, Norton and Leterrier on the latest "Hulk" » "Well, a lot of people would say -- even I said -- 'Oh, they're making "The Hulk"?' Didn't they do that already?" she said. But she added, "The fans love this so much ... and there's so much detail to the story, I always feel quite stressed about that, like I really want to do the part justice. ... I definitely feel that responsibility and want to do the best job that I can." CNN's KJ Matthews contributed to this report. | [
"Who does Tyler portray in a new superhero movie?",
"What movie is Liv Tyler starring in?",
"What role will Tyler play in a new film?",
"What did Liv Tyler say about the \"Hulk\" role?",
"What actress said the \"Hulk\" role came unexpectedly?",
"Who does the actress play?",
"What role did Liv Tyler call unexpected?",
"What TV show was Tyler a fan of?",
"Who does Tyler play in the film?",
"Who starred in the original tv show?",
"Who was Tyler a fan of on TV?",
"What was Tyler a fan of?"
] | [
[
"Betty Ross,"
],
[
"\"The Incredible Hulk.\""
],
[
"Betty Ross,"
],
[
"she felt a tremendous sense of responsibility to the"
],
[
"Liv Tyler"
],
[
"Betty Ross,"
],
[
"Betty Ross,"
],
[
"\"The Incredible Hulk.\""
],
[
"Betty Ross,"
],
[
"Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno."
],
[
"Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno."
],
[
"\"Hulk,\""
]
] | Actress Liv Tyler says "Hulk" role came unexpectedly .
Tyler plays Betty Ross in new film version of Marvel superhero .
Tyler says she was huge fan of TV show with Bill Bixby . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Los Angeles fire officials say they're worried that nighttime winds could push two major wildfires, which already are blamed in two deaths, closer to pricey neighborhoods on the Pacific coast. Fire draws near homes in the Los Angeles-area community of Porter Ranch, California, on Monday. "We are concerned about what will happen tonight when the winds pick up," Los Angeles Fire Chief Douglas Barry said Monday. California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger Monday declared a state of emergency Monday in Los Angeles and Ventura counties because of the fires. Democratic Rep. Brad Sherman, whose district covers the area where the fire is burning, called on President Bush to issue a federal disaster declaration for the area. At least two people have died because of the blazes, which have burned 8,000 acres in the hills and mountains of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, fire and police officials said. One was identified as a man who died in a makeshift wood-and-cardboard shelter and appeared to be homeless. A dog's body also was found. The other victim was killed in a collision of motorists who were trying to exit a freeway that was closed because of one of the wildfires, a fire official said. No identity or age was available for either victim. "Winds are causing fire conditions to change by the hour," Schwarzenegger said in a statement released Monday. "Several thousand acres have already burned with minimal containment and more acres are threatened." iReport.com: Are wildfires affecting you? Residents downwind were warned to remain alert into the night. "It can go from here to the ocean in a matter of two to three hours," said Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, The Associated Press reported. Barry said investigators have not determined a cause for either blaze. Fire officials warned that strong winds, predicted to reach more than 60 mph after 11 p.m., could send fire roaring south down the Pacific coast near Highway 101. Officials have shut two freeways north of Los Angeles and authorities dispatched water-dropping helicopters and more than 200 fire engines as the blaze "started to push toward the city," said John Tripp of the Los Angeles County Fire Department. About 350 police officers are on the scene, patrolling evacuated neighborhoods and warning residents ahead of the flames. Officials shut down part of Interstate 210, also known as the Foothill Freeway, and any residents north of the freeway were under a mandatory evacuation order. The fire jumped the interstate in one spot and headed toward the Lake View Terrace area. A portion of State Route 118, known as the Ronald Reagan Freeway, also was closed. The larger of the two fires has charred more than 3,500 acres in the Angeles National Forest, officials said. See video of the Angeles National Forest fire » That fire destroyed several structures, including about 30 mobile homes in the Lopez Canyon area, said Los Angeles County fire inspector Sam Padilla. The mobile homes had been evacuated Sunday. The other fire, burning nearby, is expected to expand as the winds push the flames away from the center. In San Diego County, a wildfire that began on an explosives training range at Camp Pendleton had grown to more than 1,500 acres by nightfall and forced the evacuation of 1,400 homes, The AP reported. In northern California, a wildfire that started Sunday on Angel Island in San Francisco Bay had spread across 250 acres as of Monday morning but hadn't damaged any buildings in the historic state park, a Marin County fire official said. See video of the Angel Island fire » | [
"what Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declares?",
"Were there any deaths connected with the fire in Los Angeles?",
"What could push fires into pricey neighborhoods near the coast?",
"Who declares a state of emergency?",
"what two deaths are connected to?",
"When did Schwarzenegger declare the state of emergency?",
"What did Schwarzenegger declare?",
"Where did the fires occur?",
"What will reach the ocean?",
"What will push the fire?",
"Who declares a state of emergency?"
] | [
[
"state of emergency"
],
[
"two"
],
[
"nighttime winds"
],
[
"Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger"
],
[
"major wildfires,"
],
[
"Monday"
],
[
"state of emergency"
],
[
"Los Angeles-area community of Porter Ranch,"
],
[
"wildfires"
],
[
"nighttime winds"
],
[
"California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger"
]
] | NEW: California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger Monday declares a state of emergency .
NEW: Officials warn fire could possibly reach ocean in matter of hours .
Winds could push fires to pricey neighborhoods near coast, officials say .
Two deaths are connected to fires in Los Angeles, Ventura counties, officials say . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Los Angeles firefighters and city crews worked for several hours Tuesday to rescue one of their own: a 22-ton firetruck that was nearly swallowed by a water-logged sinkhole. Two firefighters crawled out of the truck's windows after it sank Tuesday morning. No one was injured. The incident happened after four firefighters took the truck to the San Fernando Valley neighborhood of Valley Village, where flooding had been reported after a water main break, just before 6 a.m. PT. After seeing running water in the road, a fire captain instructed the rig's driver to back up and had two firefighters get out of the truck to direct it. That's when the ground gave way and the front of the truck began quickly sinking. The driver and captain crawled out of the truck's windows to escape. The four firefighters were not injured. Workers had to simultaneously pull and lift the truck to get it out of the sinkhole. Watch workers pull truck from sinkhole CNN's Carey Bodenheimer contributed to this report. | [
"What was nearly swallowed by a sinkhole Tuesday morning?",
"What were the firefighters responding to?",
"Did two firefighters escape?",
"What were the firefighters responding to when the incident happened?",
"How many firefighters escaped the truck through windows?",
"What was nearly swallowed by a sinkhole?",
"Were any injured?",
"What happened to the LA firetruck Tuesday morning?",
"Where were the firemen in the truck going?",
"Were any injuries reported?"
] | [
[
"a 22-ton firetruck"
],
[
"a 22-ton firetruck that was nearly swallowed by a water-logged sinkhole."
],
[
"crawled out of the truck's windows"
],
[
"water main break,"
],
[
"Two"
],
[
"a 22-ton firetruck"
],
[
"No one"
],
[
"nearly swallowed by a water-logged sinkhole."
],
[
"the San Fernando Valley neighborhood of Valley Village,"
],
[
"No one was injured."
]
] | Los Angeles firetruck nearly swallowed by sinkhole Tuesday morning .
Firefighters in truck were responding to flooding call when incident happened .
Two firefighters escaped truck through windows; no injuries reported . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Luke Russert, son of journalist Tim Russert, was part of a panel Wednesday that discussed youth voting on CNN's "Larry King Live." Luke Russert says dinner table political discussions were part of his upbringing. Besides the youth vote, Russert discussed his father's death, his upbringing and his own future in journalism and political commentary. Tim Russert, 58, was the host of NBC's "Meet the Press" and one of America's leading political journalists. He died of a heart attack after collapsing at the network's Washington bureau on June 13. The following is an edited version of the show's transcript. Watch video of the discussion » Larry King: How did you learn of your dad's passing? Luke Russert: I was in Florence, and I was at an Italian sports bar watching the Italy versus Romania game, and I got a call from my dad's secretary that said he had fainted, and could I get in touch with my mother. Luckily, I was right across the street from the hotel where my mom was. I ran up to her room and said, "Dad has fainted." And we kind of learned in increments of what exactly happened. So it was basically about a half-hour after first hearing that he fainted that we actually knew he collapsed and had a heart attack. And at first, I was upset that I was so far away and removed. And I really wanted to be there. But in reality, it was really a blessing to be an ocean away, because it allowed my mother and me to have some real private time to collect our thoughts, to grieve in private, and not be inundated with all the media coverage and all the phone calls. So, you know, it was something that -- it was difficult, but to have that little cocoon, I think my mother and I really used it to our benefit. King: Must have been a long flight back. Russert: It was. It was a long nine-hour flight. But my mother has been so strong through this. And my family has been there for me every step of the way. My girlfriend has been wonderful. So I can't thank everybody enough. And obviously this happened, but it has made it a lot easier to have such good friends at NBC and all through Washington and my family personally. King: Were you brought up talking politics? Russert: I was. It was always something that was always talked around the dinner table with my father and my mother from a very young age. One of my earliest memories is being a young toddler and remembering Ronald Reagan's face on television. My dad was watching a press conference, most likely at that time on CNN. And it was just something that I always grew up around. And we also talked a lot of sports. We talked a lot of culture. But politics was something that I guess has been engrained in me at a very, very young age. King: Did he pick the brains of you and your friends? Russert: He did. We would actually have some fun discussions where I would assume the role of who his guest would be on Sunday and try to answer the questions that he threw at me. And sometimes, if I could answer a question pretty well, he'd say, "That question's too easy, I've got to get rid of it." So sometimes, I was a guinea pig for politicians. But it was a lot of fun. I enjoyed doing it. And he would also pick the brains of some of my friends. Some did pretty well, and some didn't. But he was always kind to all of us. King: When did you first vote? Russert: I first voted when I was 18, which would have been 2004. And I registered at the same time I registered for the Selective Service, which I think they do here in the District of Columbia | [
"What did Russert say?",
"Who did he thank for helping?",
"Who said it felt greta to vote?",
"What \"was just something that I always grew up around\"?",
"Who learned of his father's death?",
"Who says he learned of his father's death while he was in Italy?",
"Who did he thank?",
"Who thanks family, friends for helping him get through trying times?",
"Where did Luke Russert say he learned of this father's death?"
] | [
[
"dinner table political discussions were part of his upbringing."
],
[
"everybody"
],
[
"Luke Russert"
],
[
"politics"
],
[
"Luke Russert,"
],
[
"Luke Russert"
],
[
"everybody"
],
[
"Luke Russert,"
],
[
"in Florence,"
]
] | Luke Russert says he learned of his father's death while he was in Italy .
He thanks family, friends for helping him get through trying times .
Politics "was just something that I always grew up around," he says .
He says it "felt great" to vote for the first time, urges young people to get involved . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Mandy Moore is getting a license to wed rocker Ryan Adams. Mandy Moore has been with Ryan Adams for about a year. Moore's publicist confirmed Thursday the 24-year-old singer-actress is engaged to marry Adams, 34, who is known for producing rock music with a country influence. Spokeswoman Tracy Bufferd gave no details about wedding plans. Rumors first surfaced almost a year ago that Moore and Adams were dating as paparazzi photos surfaced of the couple out together in Los Angeles. Moore's role as a bride in the 2007 movie "License to Wed" may help her as she moves toward the altar. The romantic comedy featured Robin Williams as "Reverend Frank," who put Moore's character and her fiance through a "marriage preparation course" before they could get hitched in his church. Her first success as a recording artist came in 1999 with her debut album, "So Real," which went platinum with the help of her top 10 single "Candy." | [
"Who got engaged to Ryan Adams?",
"What is Moore famous for?",
"What is Moore better known for?",
"Who is she engaged to?"
] | [
[
"Mandy Moore"
],
[
"role as a bride in the 2007 movie \"License to Wed\""
],
[
"success as a recording artist"
],
[
"Ryan Adams."
]
] | Singer-actress Mandy Moore engaged to rocker Ryan Adams .
Moore has had top 10 music success, better known for movie roles .
Adams a prolific singer-songwriter as soloist and with Whiskeytown, Cardinals . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Mandy Moore stepped onto the small stage at Amoeba Records in Hollywood with a quick wave. Mandy Moore, now 25, is following her bliss with her new album, "Amanda Leigh." "Hi, shoppers," she giggled somewhat self-consciously. The audience of several hundred, stuffed between the music racks at the landmark store, giggled back. "This is so weird to be playing here. I live in the neighborhood, and this is where I get my CDs and my DVDs!" she said. Then she launched into selections from her sixth studio album, "Amanda Leigh." Somewhere out of sight was her new husband, Ryan Adams -- the alt-country hero she married in March, after a one-month engagement. It's been 10 years since Moore burst onto the pop scene as a lanky, blonde 15-year-old singing and dancing her way through a sweetly suggestive tune called "Candy." Her musical fare now is more eclectic and stripped down -- even featuring vintage instruments such as the clavinet and melodica. Watch Moore talk candidly about her new direction » Unlike such early contemporaries as Britney Spears and Jessica Simpson, Moore has gone for cred over commercial success in both her music and movie careers, and it suits her well. There's an authenticity there, as well as a genuine warmth and charm. Moore spoke about her artistic growth, a musical funk, and working with her new husband. The following is an edited version of the interview. CNN: A friend of mine made an interesting analogy, saying these last two albums of yours (including 2007's folk-leaning "Wild Hope") are to your music career what "Saved!" was to your movie career, in terms of establishing yourself critically. Mandy Moore: I take that as a compliment. I mean, I sort of feel lucky to have the opportunity to do film stuff and music at the same time, because I love doing both. But ... if you make a move one way with one side of your career, you sort of have to balance it out on the other side. I feel like with the last two records, I have been in control creatively. They are probably more like some of the cooler indie movies that I have been lucky enough to get to do. CNN: You could have continued in the mainstream pop world, like some of the singers you came up with. Moore: I sort of started around the same time as a lot of my contemporaries, like the Britney Spearses and the Christina Aguileras of the world, and they are amazing and everybody is still around and doing their thing. I just never truly felt comfortable with the music that I was singing -- even back then. I mean, I was happy to have the opportunity, but I was still scratching my head, "Well, there has got to be something else, there has got to be something more." ... It's just about doing what you are truly passionate about and fighting for that. I could have stayed on the same path that I started on, and who knows what would have happened if I would have found success with that -- or none at all -- but I knew I would not have been happy if I had made that decision. And I'm doing what I love now, and I think that's more important than anything. CNN: The new album is called "Amanda Leigh," which is your real name. So is this kind of a reintroduction to people about who you really are -- a grown-up Mandy Moore? Moore: To be quite honest, even though the record is called "Amanda Leigh," and that is my given name, there wasn't a tremendous amount of thought behind the idea of "This is the real me. Forget the Mandy Moore stuff. That's kid stuff." No, it was kind of a simple, almost frivolous decision. My friend Mike Viola [of the Candy Butchers | [
"who has gone indie route",
"Is Leigh her given middle or last name?",
"what is the name of the new album"
] | [
[
"Mandy Moore"
],
[
"\"Amanda Leigh,\" and that is my"
],
[
"\"Amanda Leigh.\""
]
] | Mandy Moore's new album is "Amanda Leigh," her given name .
Moore has gone indie route with new album, happy to be on that path .
Freshly married to Ryan Adams, singer looks forward to new things -- like metal? |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Many Americans are finding ways to trim their holiday budgets this year, but reports are showing that buying video games is one place consumers are not cutting back. Through November, video game sales are up 22 percent over 2007. According to market researcher NPD Group, U.S. retail sales of video games totaled $2.91 billion in November, a 10 percent jump from a year ago. Overall sales this year through November are more than $16 billion, up 22 percent from 2007. Anita Frazier, an analyst from NPD, cites the industry's wide content variety on newer generation consoles such as Nintendo's Wii, Sony's Playstation 3 and Microsoft's XBOX 360 as a reason for the strong performance. Frazier also says that video games are a relatively cheap form of entertainment, considering the hours of value they provide. Matt Helgeson, senior editor at Game Informer magazine, agrees. "Video games can take between 10 and 40 hours, sometimes 50 hours, to complete" depending on the title, Helgeson said. "Gamers can often get two to three months out of one game." Furthermore, during these recessionary times, Helgeson explains that video games "provide the ultimate escapism." According to NPD, some of the top-selling game titles in November include "Gears of War 2," which sold 1.6 million copies, and "Call Of Duty: World At War," which sold 1.4 million. Nintendo's "Wii Play" and "Wii Fit" put up impressive numbers, as well. With those kinds of sales, video games have potential to be one of the most popular stocking stuffers for kids this holiday season. Helgeson says that these days, games are a core part of being a kid, and it's no longer a question of "do you play video games?" Instead the question is "what games are you playing?" "Ages, races, social groups -- video games cut across all platforms," Helgeson said. Whether you're shopping for a hardcore gamer or something for the family, "there is something for everybody." | [
"According to Game Informer, what do video games provide?",
"What does the editor of Game Informer call Video games",
"what Video game sales were $2.91 billion in November?",
"Name the two most popular games",
"What was the value of video sales in November",
"What is the value of game sales in November?"
] | [
[
"\"provide the ultimate escapism.\""
],
[
"the ultimate escapism.\""
],
[
"U.S. retail"
],
[
"\"Call Of Duty: World At War,\""
],
[
"$2.91 billion"
],
[
"$2.91 billion"
]
] | Video game sales were $2.91 billion in November, a 10 percent jump from last year .
Game Informer editor: Video games provide good value .
"Gears of War 2," "Call of Duty: World at War" two popular games this season . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Many fans will always remember where they were when they heard the "King of Pop" had died. The rapper The Game will always remember what he did afterward.
The Game created a tribute to Michael Jackson -- video and all -- within a day of Jackson's death.
That same day, Thursday, June 25, he rounded up some famous friends, recorded a song, shot a music video and got a Michael Jackson tattoo etched on his upper arm. Actually, he got the tattoo while he was in the studio recording the track. Some people know how to multitask.
The tune, "Better on the Other Side," isn't available for sale yet -- although he's hoping it will hit iTunes very soon. Because the record company was caught off guard, it is still playing catch-up. Game says all proceeds from the sale of the single will be donated to Michael Jackson's family.
The companion music video is all over YouTube. In it, the 29-year-old shares the spotlight with Chris Brown, who sings the hook as a counterpoint to Game's rap. It's the first project Brown has appeared in since he pleaded guilty to assaulting his former girlfriend, Rihanna.
The video, in various forms, had received more than 750,000 views as of Thursday evening -- not bad for less than a week in release.
In the following interview, The Game (born Jayceon Taylor) recounts how the project came together -- with a little help from Lady Luck and the muse of Michael Jackson.
CNN: You may be the first well-known artist to have a Michael Jackson tribute out there.
The Game: I didn't want to wake up the next morning and have somebody spread a tribute all over the Internet, and I wasn't a part of it. So I decided to take matters into my own hands.
CNN: Did you already have the beats pre-recorded?
The Game: No. The first thing I did was call DJ Khalil ... and I told him, "Yo, I need you in the studio, and by the time I get there, I need a Michael Jackson tribute song made [the music bed]. I need violinists, I need pianists, I need everyone in there for a production."
And then I started reaching out to Diddy. He's on a set 18 hours a day, but he said he'd get it done some way, somehow. Talked to Chris Brown. He and [his manager] Tina Davis said they were on their way to the studio -- so they told me after I do my part, to bring it over and Chris will do the hook. Before I took the beat over to Chris, Boyz II Men walked into the studio randomly -- so they took it to their studio next door, laid down all the background vocals.
Then I took it to Mario [Winans], then I took it to Diddy. In the meantime, me and my boy Taydoe -- we running around to the hospital, to the Jacksons' house, to the star on Hollywood, getting all this [secondary] footage [for the video]. Crazy.
CNN: This was the day he died, on Thursday?
The Game: It was just the day. By Friday, everything was done -- video, everything. We did it in 15 hours. Watch a report about Jackson's final days »
CNN: You made the music video for $500.
The Game: All in tapes, $500 went to tapes, HD high-definition tapes.
CNN: At the end of the video, you reveal a new tattoo.
The Game: Yeah, I'll show you. I thought if I was going to get a Michael Jackson tattoo, I would get a more menacing one. (The tattoo shows the "King of Pop" with a bandanna over the lower half of his face.)
CNN: Had you ever met Michael?
The Game: I never met him in person | [
"Who was it a tribute to?",
"When did he do this",
"Who recorded a tribute to Jackson?",
"What song did The Game record?"
] | [
[
"Michael Jackson"
],
[
"Thursday, June 25,"
],
[
"The Game"
],
[
"\"Better on the Other Side,\""
]
] | The Game records "Better on the Other Side" as tribute to Michael Jackson .
Rapper greatly admired star; Jackson tried to mediate between Game and 50 Cent .
Game: "He's iconic to me, and his untimely demise is felt around the world" |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Many fans will always remember where they were when they heard the "King of Pop" had died. The rapper The Game will always remember what he did afterward. The Game created a tribute to Michael Jackson -- video and all -- within a day of Jackson's death. That same day, Thursday, June 25, he rounded up some famous friends, recorded a song, shot a music video and got a Michael Jackson tattoo etched on his upper arm. Actually, he got the tattoo while he was in the studio recording the track. Some people know how to multitask. The tune, "Better on the Other Side," isn't available for sale yet -- although he's hoping it will hit iTunes very soon. Because the record company was caught off guard, it is still playing catch-up. Game says all proceeds from the sale of the single will be donated to Michael Jackson's family. The companion music video is all over YouTube. In it, the 29-year-old shares the spotlight with Chris Brown, who sings the hook as a counterpoint to Game's rap. It's the first project Brown has appeared in since he pleaded guilty to assaulting his former girlfriend, Rihanna. The video, in various forms, had received more than 750,000 views as of Thursday evening -- not bad for less than a week in release. In the following interview, The Game (born Jayceon Taylor) recounts how the project came together -- with a little help from Lady Luck and the muse of Michael Jackson. CNN: You may be the first well-known artist to have a Michael Jackson tribute out there. The Game: I didn't want to wake up the next morning and have somebody spread a tribute all over the Internet, and I wasn't a part of it. So I decided to take matters into my own hands. CNN: Did you already have the beats pre-recorded? The Game: No. The first thing I did was call DJ Khalil ... and I told him, "Yo, I need you in the studio, and by the time I get there, I need a Michael Jackson tribute song made [the music bed]. I need violinists, I need pianists, I need everyone in there for a production." And then I started reaching out to Diddy. He's on a set 18 hours a day, but he said he'd get it done some way, somehow. Talked to Chris Brown. He and [his manager] Tina Davis said they were on their way to the studio -- so they told me after I do my part, to bring it over and Chris will do the hook. Before I took the beat over to Chris, Boyz II Men walked into the studio randomly -- so they took it to their studio next door, laid down all the background vocals. Then I took it to Mario [Winans], then I took it to Diddy. In the meantime, me and my boy Taydoe -- we running around to the hospital, to the Jacksons' house, to the star on Hollywood, getting all this [secondary] footage [for the video]. Crazy. CNN: This was the day he died, on Thursday? The Game: It was just the day. By Friday, everything was done -- video, everything. We did it in 15 hours. Watch a report about Jackson's final days » CNN: You made the music video for $500. The Game: All in tapes, $500 went to tapes, HD high-definition tapes. CNN: At the end of the video, you reveal a new tattoo. The Game: Yeah, I'll show you. I thought if I was going to get a Michael Jackson tattoo, I would get a more menacing one. (The tattoo shows the "King of Pop" with a bandanna over the lower half of his face.) CNN: Had you ever met Michael? The Game: I never met him in person | [
"what did the game record",
"who did the rapper admire",
"Who recorded a tribute to Michael Jackson?"
] | [
[
"recorded a song, shot a music video and got a Michael Jackson tattoo etched on his upper arm."
],
[
"Michael Jackson"
],
[
"The Game"
]
] | The Game records "Better on the Other Side" as tribute to Michael Jackson .
Rapper greatly admired star; Jackson tried to mediate between Game and 50 Cent .
Game: "He's iconic to me, and his untimely demise is felt around the world" |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Mat Kearney has every right to be frustrated. Mat Kearney's music has gotten a boost through music video channels and "Grey's Anatomy." As he walks to his tour bus behind Hollywood's Palladium -- where he'll play in a few hours -- he's already had to cope with logistical snafus, shortened sound checks and general confusion. And the tour is just beginning. There are more than 30 cities and 10 weeks to come. But as he approaches the bus, he is completely overtaken by an obscure flower hanging off a fence behind the venue. "I've never seen anything like that," he says, looking at the blue-and-white bloom. "I've got to take one of these." Kearney should be smelling the flowers. His music, such as the song "Nothing Left to Lose," has received consistent airplay on music TV channels -- which earned him a headlining slot on a VH1-sponsored tour -- and repeated appearances in TV and film. Most notably, "Grey's Anatomy" used his song "Breathe In, Breathe Out." His new album, "City of Black & White" (Aware/Columbia), is out Tuesday. Watch the video for the single "Closer to Love" » The Oregon-born musician, 30, sat down with CNN to talk about his songwriting journey, combining a big sound with personal observations and a certain "weird TV show." The following is an edited version of that interview. CNN: How important was Nashville, Tennessee, in your decision to be a songwriter? Mat Kearney: The first year I moved to Nashville, I started playing these songwriter nights with people like Nickel Creek, Duncan Sheik and even Ryan Adams. ... That was the first place I really started playing music and I had to really step up my game. Really quick. Or get kicked off the stage. CNN: This whirlwind world tour you completed last year -- how did it impact this new album and you personally? Kearney: That tour was three years long. [So] this record was a return back to community in Nashville and to sing. ... So, [the tour] created this void for wanting to connect in a local way. So many things happen when you're not out there running and gunning. Falling in love with someone, getting your heart broken, being around friends -- that stuff can only happen when you stick around for a while. CNN: What's the significance of the title -- "City of Black & White"? Kearney: The title track I wrote in Istanbul. We stayed in this place that overlooked the Bosporus, which splits Europe from Asia. The song is about worlds colliding, being that far away from home, and also longing to be with someone you love in that distant land. ... It seemed like a good cornerstone to build the record on. CNN: You're an avid traveler, but this record is more concerned with planting roots. How do you reconcile the two? Kearney: I don't think, to be a traveler, you have to reject setting roots up. That's the fun of this whole journey for me. There are people I love in Nashville and would not want to go a day without talking to, but I want to see the world. The record is coming out of an experience of reconciling those two things. I played 275 shows for two years straight. You have to travel between those shows. So you're gone. Some of those experiences shape the record. There's a romantic side to it. This isn't a one-night stand record. It's not youthful idealism that's going after the masses. There's some ideas of, say, that prodigal son who has walked away from you and you're sitting there saying, "I'm here for you if you need me." CNN: The sound is big but the lyrics are intensely personal. How did you meld those ideas together | [
"What show has it had airplay on?",
"Who enjoys growing success?",
"What singer has a new album out?",
"Who likes big musical sounds?",
"What is Kearney's new album called?",
"Where might people have heard his music before?",
"What is the name of Mat Kerney's new album?"
] | [
[
"\"Grey's Anatomy.\""
],
[
"Mat Kearney"
],
[
"Mat Kearney"
],
[
"Mat Kearney's"
],
[
"\"City of Black & White\""
],
[
"video channels and \"Grey's Anatomy.\""
],
[
"\"City of Black & White\""
]
] | Mat Kearney enjoys growing success; new album is "City of Black & White"
Kearney has earned airplay on TV, including "Grey's Anatomy"
Kearney likes juxtaposition of personal lyrics, big musical sound . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Michael Crichton, who helped create the TV show "ER" and wrote the best-sellers "Jurassic Park," "The Andromeda Strain," "Sphere" and "Rising Sun," has died in Los Angeles, his public relations firm said in a news release.
Michael Crichton, here in 2005, was a director and best-selling author. He co-created the TV series "ER."
Crichton died unexpectedly Tuesday "after a courageous and private battle against cancer," the release said.
He was 66.
Crichton, a medical doctor, was attracted to cautionary science tales. Watch more about the life of Crichton »
"Jurassic Park" -- perhaps his best-known work -- concerned capturing the DNA of dinosaurs and bringing them to life on a modern island, where they soon run amok; "The Andromeda Strain," his first major fiction success, involves an alien microorganism that's studied in a special military compound after causing death in a nearby community.
Crichton also invited controversy with some of his scientific views. He was an avowed skeptic of global climate change, giving lectures warning against "consensus science." He later took on global warming and the theories surrounding it in his 2004 novel, "State of Fear," which attracted attacks in its own right from scientists, including NASA climatologist James Hansen. iReport.com: Were you a fan? Share your tributes.
Crichton was a distinctive figure in the entertainment business, a trained physician whose interests included writing, filmmaking and television. (He was physically distinctive as well, standing 6 feet 9 inches.)
He published "The Andromeda Strain" while he was still a medical student at Harvard Medical School. He wrote a story about a 19th-century train robbery, called "The Great Train Robbery," and then directed the 1979 film version.
He also directed several other films, including "Westworld" (1973), "Coma" (1978), "Looker" (1981) and "Runaway" (1984).
In 1993, while working on the film version of "Jurassic Park" with Steven Spielberg, he teamed with the director to create "ER." The NBC series set in a Chicago emergency room debuted in 1994 and became a huge hit, making a star of George Clooney. Crichton originally wrote the script for the pilot in 1974.
"Michael's talent out-scaled even his own dinosaurs of 'Jurassic Park,' " said Spielberg, a friend of Crichton's for 40 years, according to The Associated Press. "He was the greatest at blending science with big theatrical concepts, which is what gave credibility to dinosaurs again walking the Earth. ... Michael was a gentle soul who reserved his flamboyant side for his novels. There is no one in the wings that will ever take his place."
Crichton was "an extraordinary man. Brilliant, funny, erudite, gracious, exceptionally inquisitive and always thoughtful," "ER" executive producer John Wells told the AP. "No lunch with Michael lasted less than three hours and no subject was too prosaic or obscure to attract his interest. Sexual politics, medical and scientific ethics, anthropology, archaeology, economics, astronomy, astrology, quantum physics, and molecular biology were all regular topics of conversation."
Michael Crichton was born in Chicago in 1942 and grew up in New York's suburbs. His father was a journalist and Michael loved the writing profession. He went to medical school partly out of a concern he wouldn't be able to make writing a career, but the success of "The Andromeda Strain" in 1969 -- the book was chosen by the Book-of-the-Month Club and optioned by Hollywood -- made him change his mind, though he still had an M.D.
Though most of Crichton's books were major best-sellers involving science, he could ruffle feathers when he took on social issues. "Rising Sun" (1992) came out during a time when Americans feared Japanese ascendance, particularly when it came to technology | [
"Who died after a private and courageous battle of cancer?",
"Crichton died after a battle with what?",
"Who wrote Jurassic Park?",
"Crichton wrote several best-sellers including what book?",
"Crichton also helped create what hit TV show?",
"What TV drama did Crichton help create?",
"What killed Michael Crichton?",
"Who wrote \"Jurassic Park\"?",
"What tv show did Crichton help create?",
"Who helped write the hit TV show \"ER\"",
"How old was Crichton?"
] | [
[
"Crichton"
],
[
"cancer,\""
],
[
"Michael Crichton,"
],
[
"\"Jurassic Park,\" \"The Andromeda Strain,\" \"Sphere\" and \"Rising Sun,\""
],
[
"\"ER\""
],
[
"\"ER\""
],
[
"cancer,\""
],
[
"Michael Crichton,"
],
[
"\"ER\""
],
[
"Michael Crichton,"
],
[
"66."
]
] | Michael Crichton wrote several best-sellers, including "Jurassic Park"
Crichton, a physician, also helped create hit TV show "ER"
Crichton died after "courageous and private battle against cancer," release says . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Michael Jackson feared his father so much he would faint or vomit sometimes when his father entered the room -- even when the pop singer was an adult, according to a book written by a former Jackson confidant. Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, Michael Jackson's confidant, sat down with the King of Pop and taped 30 hours of interviews. "The Michael Jackson Tapes" includes Jackson talking about his fear of growing old, his relationship with children, his friendships with Madonna and Brooke Shields, and his remarkable shyness around people that made his surround himself with mannequins. Jackson opened up to Rabbi Shmuley Boteach for 30 hours of interviews, which were taped nine years ago and intended for a book Jackson wanted written, Boteach said. "He was trying to reclaim his life," Boteach said Friday in an NBC "Today Show" interview. Jackson, who died on June 25 of what the coroner found to be a deadly combination of drugs, "lost the will to live, I think he was just going through the motions of life toward the end," Boteach told NBC. CNN has not independently confirmed Jackson's quotes in the book, but Boteach was known to be a spiritual adviser to Jackson for several years beginning about 1999. Ken Sunshine, spokesman for the family, including the singer's father, Joe, issued a statement on the book. "We are not going to dignify this with a comment," he said. The book was not published during Jackson's lifetime because of the pop star's child molestation trial, which ended with an acquittal in 2005, the author said. The author said Jackson's arrest ended any interest in a book about him. "I don't want to grow old," Jackson is quoted as saying in one interview with Boteach. "When the body breaks down and you start to wrinkle, I think it's so bad," Jackson said. Jackson talked to Boteach about why he was drawn to children, especially those who were sick. "I love them. I love them," he said. Helping children enjoy their childhood is his mission, Jackson said. "I feel that this is something really, really in my heart that I am supposed to do, and I feel so loved by giving my love, and I know that's what they need," he said. Jackson said that while adults "appreciate me artistically as a singer and a songwriter and a dancer and a performer," children "just want to have some fun and to give love and have love and they just want to be loved and held." Boteach, in an interview about two years before Jackson's November 2003 arrest, asked Jackson about the young cancer patient who would later become his main accuser. "He's special," Jackson said. Boteach asked Jackson whether by speaking to people like the boy "part of the pain goes away for them." "Absolutely," Jackson said. "Because every time I talk to him he is in better spirits. When I spoke to him last night he said, 'I need you. When are you coming home?' I said, 'I don't know.' He said, 'I need you, Michael.' Then he calls me 'Dad.'" Michael Jackson's taped statements about his father's treatment of him as a child echoed what he has said previously. "He was rough, the way he would beat you, you know, was hard," Jackson said. "He would make you strip nude first. He would oil you down. It would be a whole ritual. He would oil you down so when the flip of an ironing cord hit you, you know, and, it was just like me dying, and you had whips all over your face, your back, everywhere. And I always hear my mother like, 'No, Joe, you're gonna kill him. You're gonna kill him. No. | [
"What did Jackson tell Rabbi Shmuley Boteach?",
"Jacskon told the Rabbi what?",
"Was Michael Jackson molested?",
"What did the King of Pop say?",
"When did Michael JAckson die?",
"Former confidant's books is based on how many hours of interviews?",
"What was name of the Rabbi Jackson confided in?"
] | [
[
"\"I don't want to grow old,\""
],
[
"\"He was trying to reclaim his life,\""
],
[
"'No,"
],
[
"\"I don't want to grow old,\""
],
[
"June 25"
],
[
"30"
],
[
"Shmuley Boteach,"
]
] | Former confidant's book based on 30 hours of interviews with Michael Jackson .
Jackson told Rabbi Shmuley Boteach he was still "scared of my father to this day"
Jackson said Brooke Shields "was one of the loves of my life"
King of Pop said father would strip him naked and beat him, according to book . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Michael Jackson knew "exactly how his fate would be played out" and feared his death would echo that of Elvis Presley, Lisa Marie Presley wrote in an online blog posted Friday morning. Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley in 1994. Presley says, "I loved him very much" and believes he loved her. Presley -- the daughter of Elvis, the "King of Rock," and the ex-wife of Jackson, the "King of Pop" -- wrote on her MySpace page that she wanted "to say now what I have never said before because I want the truth out there for once." Her publicist confirmed Presley wrote the blog. She said her short marriage to Jackson -- from May 1994 until January 1996 -- "was not 'a sham' as is being reported in the press," but she divorced him because she was "in over my head in trying" to save Jackson "from the inevitable, which is what has just happened." Jackson talked with her about his death during "a deep conversation" 14 years ago about "the circumstances of my father's death." Watch more from Presley on Jackson » "At some point he paused, he stared at me very intensely and he stated with an almost calm certainty, 'I am afraid that I am going to end up like him, the way he did,' " Presley wrote. "I promptly tried to deter him from the idea, at which point he just shrugged his shoulders and nodded almost matter of fact as if to let me know, he knew what he knew and that was kind of that." That conversation haunted Presley as she watched television coverage of Jackson's death Thursday, she said. "I am sitting here watching on the news [as] an ambulance leaves the driveway of his home, the big gates, the crowds outside the gates, the coverage, the crowds outside the hospital, the cause of death and what may have led up to it and the memory of this conversation hit me, as did the unstoppable tears," she wrote. "A predicted ending by him, by loved ones and by me, but what I didn't predict was how much it was going to hurt when it finally happened." Elvis Presley collapsed in the bathroom of his Memphis, Tennessee, mansion -- Graceland -- on August 16, 1977, at the age of 42. While his death was ruled the result of an irregular heartbeat, the autopsy report was sealed amid accusations that abuse of prescription drugs caused the problem. "As I sit here overwhelmed with sadness, reflection and confusion at what was my biggest failure to date, watching on the news almost play by play the exact scenario I saw happen on August 16, 1977, happening again right now with Michael (A sight I never wanted to see again) just as he predicted, I am truly, truly gutted," she wrote. "I wanted to 'save him'," she wrote. "I wanted to save him from the inevitable, which is what has just happened." "The hardest decision I have ever had to make, which was to walk away and let his fate have him, even though I desperately loved him and tried to stop or reverse it somehow," Presley wrote. Their marriage, which some suggested was only to help Jackson's image, was real, she said. "It was an unusual relationship, yes, where two unusual people who did not live or know a 'normal life' found a connection, perhaps with some suspect timing on his part," she wrote. "Nonetheless, I do believe he loved me as much as he could love anyone and I loved him very much." Presley called Jackson "an incredibly dynamic force and power that was not to be underestimated." "When he used it for something good, it was the best and when he used it for something bad, It was really, REALLY bad," she wrote | [
"Who was Jackson's wfe from 1994 to 1996?",
"what She says Jackson feared he would die like?",
"What did Jackson fear?",
"Does Lisa-Marie Presley believe her marriage was \"a sham\"?",
"From what years where Lisa-Marie Presley and Jackson married?",
"What did Presley say about her marriage to Jackson?",
"Who was Lisa-Marie Presley's father?",
"when Lisa-Marie Presley, Jackson were married from?",
"When were Jackson and Presley married?",
"What did Jackson fear?",
"when was Jackson married",
"what was their marriage",
"What did Presley want to save him from?",
"Who says that their marriage was not a sham?",
"When did they get married?"
] | [
[
"Lisa Marie Presley"
],
[
"echo that of Elvis Presley,"
],
[
"his death would echo that of Elvis Presley,"
],
[
"\"was not 'a sham' as is being reported in the press,\""
],
[
"May 1994 until January 1996"
],
[
"\"was not 'a sham' as is being reported in the press,\""
],
[
"Elvis, the \"King of Rock,\""
],
[
"May 1994 until January 1996"
],
[
"May 1994"
],
[
"his death would echo that of Elvis Presley,"
],
[
"May 1994"
],
[
"\"was not 'a sham' as is being reported in the press,\""
],
[
"the inevitable,"
],
[
"Lisa Marie Presley"
],
[
"May 1994"
]
] | Lisa-Marie Presley, Jackson were married from 1994 to 1996 .
She says Jackson feared he would die like her father, Elvis Presley .
Presley says their marriage was not "a sham" as press has said .
"I wanted to save him from the inevitable," she says . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Michael Jackson suffered from severe bouts of insomnia and pleaded for a powerful sedative despite knowing its harmful effects, a nutritionist who worked with the singer said Tuesday. Cherilyn Lee is a holisitic health practitioner and has been in healthcare for 23 years, her Web site states. Cherilyn Lee, a registered nurse and nurse practitioner who first met Jackson in January to treat his children for a common cold, said she rejected his requests for Diprivan and informed him of the side effects. "I told him this medication is not safe," Lee said. "He said, 'I just want to get some sleep. You don't understand. I just want to be able to be knocked out and go to sleep.' " "I told him -- and it is so painful that I actually felt it in my whole spirit -- 'If you take this you might not wake up.' " According to the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, nurse practitioners "provide high-quality healthcare services similar to those of a doctor." They can also prescribe medications, according to the academy's Web site. CNN could not independently verify whether Lee worked with Jackson. When asked about Lee's account, Jackson family attorney Londell McMillan said: "I wonder why someone would make a comment about drugs when they haven't seen him take the drug or anyone who administered it." The drug, known by its generic name Propofol, is administered intravenously as an anesthetic during surgeries. Watch nurse describe Jackson's drug request » An initial dose puts a person to sleep. An overdose can lead to cardiac arrest, doctors say. Jackson died June 25 at the age of 50. Authorities are awaiting toxicology results to determine what killed him. Lee is licensed as a registered nurse, according to the California Board of Registered Nursing Web site. According to her Web site, she is a proponent of alternative medicine that uses a holistic approach. Lee said that four days before Jackson's death, she received a call from a Jackson staff member who said the singer felt that one side of his body was cold; the other hot. "I could hear Mr. Jackson saying in the background, 'Please have her come see me now. Can she come now?' " Lee, who was in Florida at the time, said she told Jackson's staffers to take him to a hospital. "I was really afraid because of the symptoms they were telling me," she said. "It could have meant something going on in the nervous system or something cardiovascular." After his death, Lee said she didn't go to the authorities. "When I saw it on the news, I really didn't know what to do," she said. "I was saddened. I heard there was a physician there." Lee also could not say why Jackson would call on her, when the last time she saw him was three months ago. "The only think I can think of is he recalled the symptoms I was telling him," she said. But, she added, she didn't know of any doctors who would have given him the drug. "I asked him, 'What doctor gave you this drug?' " she said, when the singer initially brought up the medicine. "He told me, 'Oh it was a long time ago.' " Dr. Rakesh Marwah of the anesthesiology department at the Stanford University School of Medicine said Propofol can lead to cardiac arrest, which is suspected in Jackson's death. "Propofol slows down the heart rate and slows down the respiratory rate and slows down the vital functions of the body," he said. | [
"What did Cherilyn Lee say?",
"what sedative did Jackson request?",
"What was given during surgeries?",
"What did Jackson say?",
"What was given though the IV?",
"what did Cherilyn Lee tell Jackson?"
] | [
[
"\"I told him this medication is not safe,\""
],
[
"Diprivan"
],
[
"Propofol,"
],
[
"'I just want to get some sleep. You don't understand. I just want to be able to be knocked out and go to sleep.'"
],
[
"Propofol,"
],
[
"\"I told him this medication is not safe,\""
]
] | NEW: Lawyer: Nurse never saw Jackson take, be administered drug .
Jackson said "I just want to be able to be knocked out and go to sleep," nurse said .
Cherilyn Lee: I told Jackson "if you take this you might not wake up"
Sedative Jackson requested given through IV as anesthetic during surgeries . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Michael Jackson will be buried Saturday, August 29, on what would have been the singer's 51st birthday, according to a statement from publicist Ken Sunshine. Katherine Jackson has proposed she or one of her children be added as an executor to Michael's will. The private ceremony will take place at Holly Terrace in The Great Mausoleum at Glendale Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California, and "will be limited to family and close friends," the statement said. Jackson died June 25 of cardiac arrest. The famed entertainer was 50. Other Jackson plans have moved sluggishly. Monday, a judge delayed his approval of the exhibition agreement between concert promoter AEG Live and the Jackson estate until Friday, when he will hear testimony about why Michael Jackson's mother, Katherine Jackson, thinks it should be renegotiated. The three-city exhibition of Jackson memorabilia could be derailed, as relations between Jackson's mother, the men Jackson named as executors of his will and the promoter of his planned comeback concerts have been challenging. Questions surrounding Michael Jackson's death and AEG Live's role in his last days are an "obvious source of tension" as Katherine Jackson objects to the agreement, Jackson attorney Burt Levitch said. Michael Jackson's family has "floated" the possibility of filing a wrongful-death lawsuit against AEG Live because of its "very, very active role in Michael's life during the last six months," Levitch said Monday. Levitch said AEG Live "apparently paid for the services of Dr. Conrad Murray, who we're told is under criminal investigation in connection with the decedent's death." Warrants used to search Murray's home and clinics indicated police were investigating his role in Jackson's June 25 death. A source with knowledge of the investigation told CNN that Murray gave the anesthetic propofol to Jackson in the 24 hours before he died. "There's an obvious link between AEG and concerns that we have about the decedent's demise," Levitch said. "So, that's one obvious source of tension right now." Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff set a November trial date to hear Katherine Jackson's potential challenge of John Branca and John McClain, who were named as executors in Michael Jackson's 2002 will. Katherine Jackson has proposed that she or one of her children be added as an executor. "We think it's important for the family to have a seat at the table," Levitch said. "It's not just a matter of making a quick buck here." A Jackson family member would be in the best position to guide Michael Jackson's legacy, he said. Beckloff delayed a decision until Friday on Katherine Jackson's objection to the agreement made by Branca and McClain, who are serving for now as special administrators of the estate, to allow AEG Live to produce a Michael Jackson exhibition. Jackson lawyers argued in Monday's hearing that the 50-50 split of profits for the exhibition was too generous to AEG Live, but estate lawyers said they negotiated the best terms possible. AEG Live lawyer Kathy Jorrie said any further delay in approval would cause the company to abandon the deal and the company would not renegotiate. AEG Live would hold the exhibition just as a documentary about Jackson's last months hits theaters at the end of October. "It's important to the world that we present them with the memorabilia at the time the movie is released," Jorrie said. The judge has approved a merchandising agreement and the movie deal, both of which were adjustments to the contract Jackson signed with AEG Live earlier this year for a string of 50 comeback concerts that were to start last month in London, England. Estate lawyer Howard Weitzman said canceling the exhibition deal could cost the Jackson estate $5 million. | [
"When will Jackson be buried?",
"what did judge do",
"When is Michael Jackson to be buried?",
"what does jacksons family hint",
"What is AEG Live?",
"What did the judge do?"
] | [
[
"Saturday, August 29,"
],
[
"delayed his approval of the exhibition agreement"
],
[
"Saturday, August 29,"
],
[
"has \"floated\" the possibility of filing a wrongful-death lawsuit against AEG Live because of its \"very, very active role in Michael's life during the last six months,\""
],
[
"concert promoter"
],
[
"delayed his approval of the exhibition agreement"
]
] | NEW: Michael Jackson to be buried Saturday, August 29 .
Judge delays approval of agreement between AEG Live, Jackson estate until Friday .
Jackson family hints at possibility of filing wrongful-death lawsuit against AEG Live .
AEG lawyer: Further delay in would cause company to abandon the deal . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Michael Jackson's daughter touched the hearts of millions when she bid a tearful farewell to her father at his memorial service in a rare public appearance. Paris Jackson, 11, is consoled by her uncle Marlon Jackson after delivering a tearful tribute to her father. With her brief speech, 11-year-old Paris Jackson also shocked the event's organizers, who said her appearance was not a planned part of Tuesday's star-studded tribute to the "King of Pop" at Los Angeles' Staples Center. "Ever since I was born, daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine," she said, fighting back tears as relatives consoled her. "And I just want to say that I love him so much," she said as she burst into tears and sought refuge in the embrace of family members. Watch her emotional goodbye » For many watching, Paris' appearance marked a rare glimpse of a child who has spent most of her life shielded from the public. Born to two mothers -- Jackson's ex-wife Debbie Rowe and an unidentified woman who reportedly served as a surrogate -- Jackson's three children lived and traveled the world with him, their faces often covered by veils and masks when appearing in public. In its execution, the speech appeared to be a surprise to those onstage and off. "It was a surprise they were there. All of us who know them were delighted they were strong enough to come and feel this love and great outpouring for their dad," Kenny Ortega, the choreographer ("Dirty Dancing") who was directing Jackson's "This Is It" comeback concerts in London, England, told CNN's Campbell Brown. "We would've never expected that they had the strength. It was beautiful." Watch Ortega express his surprise at Paris Jackson's tribute » Ortega, a longtime Jackson colleague who helped design the singer's 1990s tours, said planners left the end of the show open for family members to speak if they wished to, but he was surprised when the Jackson clan -- among them, his siblings and children -- went onstage for the two last songs, "We Are the World" and "Heal the World." Marlon Jackson told the crowd that his sister, pop star Janet Jackson, wished to say some words. Instead, Janet appeared to encourage Paris to come forward from the sea of black dresses and suits and take the microphone, adjusting it and stroking the child's hair as Paris delivered her words. Ortega said he was touched by Paris' speech. "Michael was so close with these beautiful children," he said. "Little Paris was his biggest fan. ... A little girl couldn't love her papa more." The heartfelt display sparked a groundswell of emotion in the auditorium and around the world, where millions of viewers watched the service on television and the Internet. "The saddest moment was when Michael Jackson's daughter spoke," said Angelina Martinez, who attended the service with her daughter, Jessica. "She was really in pain. Everybody was crying inside," she said. "It was beauty combined with sadness." Attendees, performers and speakers alike struggled for composure throughout the two-plus-hour event, which featured performances from Lionel Richie, Jennifer Hudson and Usher. But to many, Paris' tribute cast Jackson in the one role few have experienced him as: a father. "It was very, very touching, and really it was an example of the good parent Michael was, because when I was at Neverland and with the kids he really was a good loving father -- they had a fantastic relationship, and they were very close-knit," Stuart Backerman said. "So to see Paris come on in such an emotional moment and obviously give her heart out to her father was very, very touching." Others saw the tribute as a whole as Jackson's final legacy to his children. "There are those I feel in years to | [
"was Paris Jackson supposed to speak?",
"was he a good parent?",
"What is the name of Jackson's daughter?",
"Who is Paris Jackson?",
"Who didn't know Jackson's daughter would speak?",
"Did the planners of the Michael Jackson memorial know Paris Jackson would speak at the service?"
] | [
[
"not a planned part of Tuesday's star-studded tribute"
],
[
"daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine,\""
],
[
"Paris Jackson,"
],
[
"Michael Jackson's daughter"
],
[
"the event's organizers,"
],
[
"also shocked the event's organizers, who said her appearance was not a planned part of Tuesday's star-studded tribute"
]
] | Planners of Michael Jackson memorial say they did not know daughter would speak .
Appearance marks rare occasion in which Paris Jackson seen without veil .
Paris Jackson's tribute to her father strikes chord with viewers around the world .
"It was an example of the good parent Michael was," former Jackson publicist says . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Michael Jackson's dermatologist did not rule out that he may be the biological father of Jackson's children, and Dr. Arnold Klein denied that he ever gave Jackson dangerous drugs. When asked if he were the father of Jackson's oldest children, Klein said "not to the best of my knowledge." Klein, in an interview Wednesday on ABC's "Good Morning America," denied that he was on the list of doctors being investigated by the Los Angeles Police Department. When he saw that someone gave Jackson a dangerous drug, he was the one "who limited everything, who stopped everything," Klein said. Jackson danced around Klein's Beverly Hills office just three days before his death and was "not in terrible pain," Klein said. Debbie Rowe, who was briefly married to Jackson and gave birth to his two oldest children, worked for 23 years in Klein's office, he said. The doctor refused to say whether he thought Rowe should get custody of them instead of Jackson's mother, Katherine Jackson. Photos: Stars come out for memorial » "I can't make those answers, because 'should have' and 'will' are two different things," he said. Klein was scheduled to talk to CNN's Larry King about Michael Jackson on Wednesday night. Klein's response when Diane Sawyer asked whether he was the biological father of Jackson's children left open the possibility that he was. Watch why Paris Jackson's comments were a surprise » "Not to the best of my knowledge," Klein said. "All I can tell you is, best of my knowledge, I am not the father of these children. But I am telling you, if push comes to shove, I can't say anything about." Klein said he "can't answer it in any other way, because, you know what, I don't want to feed any of this insanity that is going around." Katherine Jackson was given temporary guardianship of the children by a judge several days after her son's death. Rowe was considering whether she will seek custody or visitation of the two born to her, her lawyer said last week. The Los Angeles County coroner is waiting for toxicology test results -- not due for at least another week -- before determining what killed Jackson last month. The death certificate listed the cause of death as "deferred." Watch the latest details in the Jackson probe » Sources said Tuesday that when Jackson collapsed, his arms were riddled with marks, and their veins had collapsed, both characteristics found in intravenous drug users. The revelations add to the growing speculation that prescription drugs played a part in Jackson's death. Klein said that when Jackson came to his office the week of his death, there were no indications anything was wrong: no "problems of slurred speech, shorten movement or anything." Watch Klein deny he is the father of Michael Jackson's children » "I saw nothing at that point that would make me worry whatsoever," he said. "But I was always concerned about him, because I was always worried about other doctors." He said "the problem with Michael" was that because he was rich, "no matter what he wanted, someone would give it to him." Klein said he once convinced Jackson not to take Dilaudid, a drug he said was "10 times stronger than morphine." "I said, 'You can't take that. It's poison. Throw that in the trash,' " he said. "And I got him to throw it in the toilet. But I can't be there every minute." Klein said that LAPD investigators have not contacted him and that he is "not one of the doctors" being questioned about Jackson's drug use. "I have given him medication, yes," he said. "He could take all the medication I have given him in a year, and nothing would happen to him." Klein | [
"What show will the doctor appear on?",
"What did Dr Klein say about singer?",
"Who might be the father of the two oldest Jackson children?",
"What does Dr. Arnold Klein say?",
"On what show will Klein appear?",
"what show will dr klein appear on?"
] | [
[
"\"Good Morning America,\""
],
[
"ever gave Jackson dangerous drugs."
],
[
"Dr. Arnold Klein"
],
[
"\"not to the best of my knowledge.\""
],
[
"\"Good Morning America,\""
],
[
"CNN's Larry King"
]
] | Dr. Arnold Klein says singer seemed in good shape .
Is Klein father of two oldest Jackson children? "Not to the best of my knowledge"
Klein will appear on "Larry King Live" on Wednesday night . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Michael Jackson's family and about 200 of their closest friends gathered on a hill Thursday evening for their final farewell to the pop singer, who died 10 weeks ago. Thursday's service for singer Michael Jackson began 90 minutes past the announced start time. Jackson's burial may lay to rest some of the mystery and controversy that erupted with his sudden death on June 25. His large family was divided over where the superstar's final resting place should be, but matriarch Katherine Jackson settled on a crypt inside the well-guarded and ornate Great Mausoleum at Forest Lawn cemetery in Glendale, California. Thursday's service began 90 minutes past the announced start time, leaving dozens of celebrities -- including Elizabeth Taylor -- waiting in their seats for the 26 cars carrying the Jackson clan to arrive. Gallery: Invitation for Jackson's service » It began with Jackson's five brothers -- each wearing a single sequined glove -- carrying his flower-covered bronze casket onto the outdoor stage among six large bouquets of white lilies and white roses, along with green topiaries. His three children, led by daughter, Paris, 11, placed a crown atop their father's coffin, which a family spokesman said it was "to signify the final resting place of the King of Pop." Jackson's children, parents and siblings took their seats in the front row, while his nieces and nephews filled several rows of white chairs behind them. After an opening prayer by Pastor Lucius Smith, soul music legend Gladys Knight sang the gospel hymn "His Eye Is on the Sparrow." Clifton Davis sang "Never Can Say Goodbye," a hit he wrote for The Jackson 5 -- the group that featured a young Michael and his brothers. What was said by Jackson's father, Joe Jackson, and others who took the lectern is not publicly known, because the family barred news cameras from the ceremony. A family statement issued afterward said close friends and family, including the Rev. Al Sharpton, spoke "spontaneously to celebrate Michael's life." News helicopters hovering above captured video from a distance, but without sound. Watch media cover Jackson funeral » Lisa Marie Presley, one of Jackson's former wives and the daughter of Elvis, attended the service, according to the family statement. It did not mention Debbie Rowe, Jackson's second wife and the mother of his two oldest children. Macaulay Culkin, the "Home Alone" actor who spent time with Jackson during his Neverland Ranch days, was there with his girlfriend, actress Mila Kunis. Actors Corey Feldman and Chris Tucker were also seen arriving for the service. Motown founder Berry Gordy, who gave Jackson and his brothers their first big record deal, and Quincy Jones, who produced Jackson's "Thriller" album, were there. Music producer Teddy Riley, who helped with Jackson's 1991 "Dangerous" album, attended. The guest list included TV executive Suzanne de Passe, who produced a miniseries about Jackson's family, and Kenny Ortega, who was producing Jackson's comeback show. Thomas Mesereau, the lawyer who successfully defended Jackson in a child molestation trial, sat just behind the Jackson family. When the hour-long service ended, his brothers lifted Jackson's casket for a final time to carry him inside the Great Mausoleum, where he was placed in his crypt at 9:43 p.m. PT (12:43 a.m. ET Friday). The family statement said it was "his final resting place." The family and friends then drove to an Italian restaurant eight miles away, in Pasadena, California, for "a time of celebration." The massive mausoleum, the final resting place for Clark Gable, Carole Lombard and dozens of other celebrities, is normally open to tourists, though the public is denied close access to crypts. Security guards, aided by cameras, keep constant vigil over the graves and crypts, which are surrounded by a world-class collection of art and architecture. The Forest Lawn Web site boasts that the mausoleum, which draws its architectural inspiration from the | [
"Who sang Never Can Say Goodbye?",
"what other important guest were included at the funeral?",
"Who were amongst the guests?",
"what song did Clifton Davis sang?",
"Who led Jacksons kids?",
"How many kids did Jackson have?",
"Who sang \"Never Can Say Goodbye\"?",
"what is the name of Jackson's Daughter?"
] | [
[
"Clifton Davis"
],
[
"TV executive Suzanne de Passe,"
],
[
"Elizabeth Taylor"
],
[
"\"Never Can Say Goodbye,\""
],
[
"Paris,"
],
[
"three"
],
[
"Clifton Davis"
],
[
"Paris,"
]
] | Jackson's three kids, led by daughter, Paris, placed a crown atop their father's coffin .
Clifton Davis sang "Never Can Say Goodbye," a hit he wrote for The Jackson 5 .
Guests included Elizabeth Taylor, Lisa Marie Presley and Macaulay Culkin . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Michael Jackson's father says he is concerned about the last moments of his son's life and about the personal physician who found the pop icon unconscious at the singer's estate. Singer Ne-Yo (L) and host Jamie Foxx pay tribute to Michael Jackson at 2009 BET Awards in Los Angeles. "I have a lot of concerns," Joe Jackson told CNN's Don Lemon on the red carpet leading up to the BET Awards ceremony Sunday night. "I can't get into that, but I don't like what happened." Michael Jackson's personal physician, who was questioned extensively by investigators over the weekend, found the singer not breathing in bed when he entered the singer's estate last week, according to the law firm representing the doctor. However, Jackson did have a slight pulse when Dr. Conrad Murray discovered him Thursday, and Murray tried to resuscitate the singer as he awaited paramedics, a representative with the law firm of Stradley, Chernoff and Alford law firm in Houston, Texas, told CNN Sunday. Attorney Edward Chernoff is representing Murray. The law firm said reports that Murray injected Jackson with powerful painkillers, such as Demerol or Oxycontin, were false. Funeral arrangements for Jackson were pending Sunday. "We haven't gotten to that yet -- we're working on that," Joe Jackson told CNN's Lemon. Watch Joe Jackson talk about the death of his son » Murray voluntarily met for several hours with detectives, the Los Angeles Police Department said late Saturday night. "Detectives assigned to Robbery-Homicide Division met with Dr. Murray and conducted an extensive interview," a police statement said. "Dr. Murray was cooperative and provided information which will aid the investigation." Watch attorney for Jackson's doctor say his client is not a suspect » Jackson's family suspects that Murray can answer some lingering questions about the singer's last hours, but they have been unable to contact him, the Rev. Jesse Jackson said Saturday. "The routine inquiry is now an investigation," Jesse Jackson said. "They (Jackson's family) didn't know the doctor. ... He should have met with the family, given them comfort on the last hours of their son." Watch latest developments in Jackson's death investigation » Jackson family attorney L. Londell McMillan told CNN that a second autopsy is "under way." "We'll let that process take its course," McMillan, who accompanied Joe Jackson to the BET Awards, told CNN. McMillan said a will has not surfaced since Michael Jackson's death and that the singer's mother, Katherine Jackson, is seeking custody of his two children. "Well, if there is no will, then under the state of California it goes to the next of kin. That's an adult to administer and oversee the best interests of the children and that would be Mr. and Mrs. Jackson," McMillan said. "And Katherine Jackson is the duly appointed person." He added, "She will seek custody of the children. That's who Michael would have wanted to have the children, she loves them dearly." On Saturday, the founder of 1-800-AUTOPSY, a private firm that conducts autopsies, told CNN that the Jackson family had contacted the business to inquire about possibly having a second autopsy done there. Jesse Jackson added on Saturday that the family needed "an independent autopsy to get even more answers to questions that are now being driven by the gap between when Michael was last seen alive and was pronounced dead."iReport.com: Tributes pour in for Jackson There are lingering questions, including: "How long had he stopped breathing? How long had he been unconscious?" Jesse Jackson said. Michael Jackson was discovered unconscious Thursday by paramedics at his home, where Murray apparently had tried to revive him. He was rushed to a Los Angeles medical center, where he was pronounced dead. Listen to the 911 call » An autopsy performed by a county medical examiner was inconclusive -- although officials said there were no indications of | [
"Who was the last person believed to see Jackson alive?",
"What do police conduct with Murray?",
"Who was the last person to see Jackson alive?",
"What is Jackson's father concerned about?",
"Was Michael Jackson breathing when Dr. Conrad Murray found him?"
] | [
[
"Dr. Conrad Murray"
],
[
"extensive interview,\""
],
[
"Dr. Conrad Murray"
],
[
"the personal physician who found the pop icon unconscious at the singer's estate."
],
[
"the singer not"
]
] | Dr. Conrad Murray found Jackson not breathing but with a slight pulse .
Murray believed to be last person to see Michael Jackson alive .
Jackson's father concerned about his son's last moments .
Police conduct "extensive interview" with Murray . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Michael Jackson's father wants a judge to order the pop star's estate to pay him a monthly allowance, according to papers filed in court Friday. Joe Jackson, the 80-year-old Jackson family patriarch, was not named in Michael Jackson's 2002 will, which left his wealth to his mother, Katherine Jackson, his three children and undisclosed charities. Brian Oxman, Joe Jackson's lawyer, filed the petition Friday asking for him to be included in the family allowance. The matter will be considered Tuesday when Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff convenes the next hearing on matters related to the probate of Jackson's will, Oxman said. The filing does not publicly specify how much Jackson's father is requesting. Howard Weitzman, one of the lawyers for the estate's special administrators, said Joe Jackson's request "will be considered as are all requests for money from Michael's estate." "It was quite surprising to learn of the request," Weitzman said. Michael Jackson's mother and his three children receive a court-ordered allowance from the estate totaling more than $86,000 a month, according to court documents. The money is in addition to the maintenance of the home -- which is owned by the estate -- in Encino, California, where Katherine Jackson lives with her grandchildren, the papers said. Although Joe and Katherine Jackson are still married, Joe Jackson lives in Las Vegas, Nevada. Joe Jackson is credited with launching and guiding his family's show business success, but Michael Jackson had publicly criticized his father's parenting skills. Tuesday's hearing could also see a new challenge by the Jackson family of the 2002 will. Michael Jackson died June 25, but the probate of his will has been slowed by a series of court squabbles between Katherine Jackson's lawyers and the two men now in control of the estate. John Branca and John McClain, who are named as executors in the will, were appointed temporary special administrators to run the estate until the process is completed. Katherine Jackson replaced the lawyers representing her in the estate case last month with attorney Adam Streisand. Another Jackson family lawyer said the change was made because the case was about to take a "new direction" based on "new evidence" uncovered by the family. Attorney Londell McMillan pointed to questions about the authenticity of the signature on Michael Jackson's will. Tuesday's estate hearing will be Streisand's first appearance in the case. A trial has been tentatively set for December to decide any challenge of the will, although Streisand said last month he expected it to be set for early next year. The A&E network announced Friday that "The Jacksons: A Family Dynasty" television series will launch with two hours of programming on Sunday night, December 13. Four of Michael Jackson's brothers -- all except Randy Jackson -- are involved in the show "as they prepare for a Jackson Five reunion, while also coming to terms with Michael's tragic loss," the network said. An A&E programming executive said the "deeply intimate portrait will provide viewers with a raw and honest look inside a musical dynasty." | [
"What had Jackson said about his father?",
"What has Michael Jackson criticized?",
"Who was left out of will?",
"Who is getting the bulk of Jackson's estate?",
"What does Joe Jackson want?",
"Who gets the bulk of Jackson's estate?",
"What does Joe Jackson want the judge to give him?",
"Michael Jackson had publicly criticized whos parenting?"
] | [
[
"criticized"
],
[
"his father's parenting skills."
],
[
"Joe Jackson,"
],
[
"mother and his three children receive a court-ordered allowance from the"
],
[
"a judge to order the pop star's estate"
],
[
"Katherine"
],
[
"a monthly allowance,"
],
[
"his father's"
]
] | Joe Jackson, who was left out of will, wants judge to give him allowance .
Michael's mother, Katherine, Michael's children get bulk of the estate .
Michael Jackson had publicly criticized his father's parenting skills . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Michael Jackson's memorial service will take place Tuesday morning in the Staples Center, the 20,000-seat coliseum in downtown Los Angeles where Jackson rehearsed his show the night before he died, according to a person who has been briefed by a representative of the family. Michael Jackson was rehearsing at Los Angeles' Staples Center. His memorial will now be there. No other details about the service, set to begin at 10 a.m. Tuesday, have been revealed. Thursday, CNN learned the family trust created by Jackson to receive all of his assets includes his mother, his children and a list of charities, according to a person with direct knowledge to the contents of the trust. Katherine Jackson's 40 percent share would go to Michael Jackson's three children after her death, the source said. The children -- ages 7, 11 and 12 -- will also share 40 percent of the estate's assets and the remaining 20 percent will benefits charities designated by the executors of the will, the source said. Jackson's will did not specify where he wished to be buried. Many of his fans had hoped they'd get a chance to pay last respects at Neverland Ranch, which Jackson purchased in 1987, filled with animals and amusement rides, and named after the fictional world in J.M. Barrie's "Peter Pan." Planning had been under way for a motorcade to carry Jackson's body from Los Angeles to the ranch in Santa Barbara County, California, which state and local officials suggested would be difficult and costly. A public viewing at the ranch on Friday also had been under consideration, law enforcement sources said. Gregory Son, a 31-year-old musician, was among many fans who had planned to ride to the ranch to say goodbye to Jackson. "I think he was a modern-day prophet," Son said outside Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood. "We kind of lost our father." DEA joins investigation On Wednesday night, a federal law enforcement official said Wednesday night that the Drug Enforcement Administration had joined Jackson's death investigation, once again fanning speculation that drugs may have been involved in the pop icon's passing. Two law enforcement officials separately confirmed the DEA probe, saying agents would look at various doctors involved with Jackson, their practices and their possible sources of medicine supply. Neither official wanted to be identified because they could not comment publicly on the matter. Officially, a DEA spokeswoman referred questions to the Los Angeles, California, police department -- which would not confirm the involvement. "We routinely offer assistance to any agency regarding the Federal Controlled Substance Act," said Sarah Pullen of the DEA. "However, at this time, we have nothing further to comment about the death of Michael Jackson." Speculation about the role of drugs has been swirling since Jackson died on June 25 at his rented estate in Holmby Hills. The cause of his death, at age 50, was pending toxicology results. On Wednesday, police released a car belonging to Jackson's cardiologist, Dr. Conrad Murray. They had impounded the vehicle Friday, saying it might contain evidence -- possibly prescription medications. Police did not say whether they found anything. Murray's lawyers issued a statement, asking the public to reserve judgment about the cause of death until the coroner's tests are complete. "Based on our agreement with Los Angeles investigators, we are waiting on real information to come from viable sources like the Los Angeles medical examiner's office about the death of Michael Jackson," the statement said. "We will not be responding to rumors and innuendo." The comments were in reaction to a claim by a nutritionist who said Jackson suffered from severe bouts of insomnia and pleaded for the powerful sedative, Propofol, despite knowing its harmful effects. "I told him this medication is not safe," said Cherilyn Lee, a registered nurse. "He said, 'I just want to get some sleep. You don't understand. I just want to be able to be knocked out and go to | [
"Where is the memorial being held?",
"What is included in Jackson's trust?",
"Who does the trust include?",
"Who is included in Michael Jackson's trust?",
"Who joined in the investigation?",
"When is Jackson's memorial?",
"Where will the memorial be held?",
"What has joined the investigation?",
"What is the speculation towards his death?",
"Who is included in the Michael Jackson trust?",
"Where will the Jackson memorial be?",
"where is the memorial held?",
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"What is included in the trust?",
"what is speculation regarding?",
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] | [
[
"Staples Center,"
],
[
"his mother, his children and a list of charities,"
],
[
"his mother, his children and a list of charities,"
],
[
"his mother, his children and a list of charities,"
],
[
"DEA"
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[
"10 a.m. Tuesday,"
],
[
"the Staples Center,"
],
[
"DEA"
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[
"drugs may have been involved"
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[
"his mother, his children and a list of charities,"
],
[
"Los Angeles' Staples Center."
],
[
"Staples Center,"
],
[
"drugs"
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[
"his mother, his children and a list of charities,"
],
[
"drugs may have been involved in the pop icon's passing."
],
[
"at Los Angeles' Staples Center."
],
[
"DEA"
]
] | NEW: Michael Jackson trust includes mother, children, charities .
Michael Jackson memorial to be Tuesday at L.A.'s Staples Center .
The Drug Enforcement Administration has joined Jackson's death investigation .
Speculation about the role of drugs has been swirling since Jackson died . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Michael Jackson's mother and his three children receive an allowance totaling more than $86,000 a month, according to court documents released Thursday. Michael Jackson's estate provides $86,000 a month for Katherine Jackson and her grandchildren. The money given them by the Michael Jackson estate is in addition to the maintenance of the home -- which is owned by the estate -- in Encino, California, where Katherine Jackson lives with her grandchildren, the papers said. The Los Angeles County judge overseeing the probate of Jackson's will ordered that the petitions for their monthly allowance be made public -- although with some details removed. Those papers were released Thursday. Katherine Jackson was granted custody of her son's three children soon after Jackson's June 25 death. She and the children were named beneficiaries, along with unnamed charities, in Jackson's 2002 will. Control of the estate's assets, however, was given to lawyer John Branca and John McClain, a former music industry executive. Jackson named them as trustees in his will. The petitions filed by Branca and McClain in July, and later approved by Judge Mitchell Beckloff, outlined $26,804 in monthly expenses for Katherine Jackson. The largest amount from that, $4,722, pays for an assistant for her. Another $3,500 each month is budgeted for clothing for Katherine Jackson, who is 79 years old. She's also given $2,000 each for a housekeeper and driver. She has a $1,500 entertainment allowance each month, the documents said. The details of the children's budget are mostly blacked out at their lawyer's request. Margaret Lodise told the judge there was concern someone could use the financial information to pose as one of the children online. She told CNN the family was aware of people posing as Jackson children with Twitter accounts. The documents did reveal the three children get a combined $60,000 a month from their father's estate. They pay $14,600 a month for salaries and payroll taxes for people who take care of them, according to the petition. Michael Jackson's children get $13,260 each month for entertainment and related expenses, the papers said. The petition estimated Michael Jackson's estate is worth at least $500 million and is growing. Major deals have been reached in the past month that are expected to add tens of millions of dollars to the estate, including a movie and music deal with Sony. | [
"How much was each child's monthy entertainment expense?",
"Do Jackson's siblings receive anything?",
"What is the total monthly breakdown for money distributed through the Jackson estate?",
"What was the value of Jackson's estate?",
"What is the name of the Judge involved in the Jackson estate?",
"How much did the Judge award to the mother(s) each month?"
] | [
[
"$13,260"
],
[
"$86,000"
],
[
"$86,000"
],
[
"$500 million"
],
[
"Mitchell Beckloff,"
],
[
"$86,000"
]
] | Money from Jackson estate is in addition to the maintenance of the home .
L.A. County judge ordered petitions for their monthly allowance be made public .
Petitions approved by Judge Mitchell Beckloff, outline $26,804 per month for mom .
$13,260 for each child's monthly "entertainment and related expenses" |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Michael Jackson's mother fired the lawyers helping her fight for control of her son's estate, but her new lawyer missed a key hearing where the judge gave more power to the men she is opposing. Katherine Jackson, with Michael in 2005, is challenging the appointment of Michael's estate trustees. Katherine Jackson replaced lawyers Burt Levitch and Londell McMillan with Adam Streisand, a lawyer known for his expertise in Los Angeles probate cases. "The family came to a decision before they called me," Streisand said. "They felt they needed a different perspective and fresh look at how this case was being approached." But Streisand arrived at court Thursday minutes after Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff ended a hearing in which he granted a request from estate special administrators John Branca and John McClain for more authority to make deals on behalf of Jackson's estate. "I want this estate to move forward and I want these creditors to be dealt with," Beckloff said. "And while we are proceeding in this posture, I want Mrs. Jackson to have information about what is going on and I don't want to be in court all the time." The process of probate of Jackson's will, which named Branca and McClain as executors, has been slowed since soon after the pop star's June 25 death by numerous legal challenges filed by Katherine Jackson's lawyers, led by Levitch. Howard Weitzman, lead lawyer for the estate's administrators, expressed optimism that the two sides would be able to work better toward a settlement with Streisand in charge. The estate's administrators were able to make a series of deals expected to bring in at least $100 million to the estate this year, mostly through a documentary movie that premieres next week. Katherine Jackson's legal team has asked that a member of the Jackson family "have a seat at the table" as a third executor. They've also raised questions in sealed court papers about possible conflicts of interest that might prevent Branca and McClain from controlling the estate. Streisand said the Jackson family was frustrated with the inability "to get this case going." He indicated Katherine Jackson still planned to challenge Branca and McClain's control of her son's wealth. Under the 2002 will, Michael Jackson's three children and his mother are the chief beneficiaries of his estate, while unnamed charities will share in 20 percent of the wealth. Streisand said when he met with Katherine Jackson and the children to discuss the case, they were united. He said Jackson patriarch Joe Jackson was not present at the meeting and he's never talked with him. Joe Jackson appeared frustrated earlier this month when he attended his first hearing in the probate process, suggesting the lawyers should be more aggressive in court. Streisand said the three Jackson children are doing "absolutely wonderful." | [
"Who missed the hearing?",
"Who hired probate lawyer Adam Streisand?",
"Who has Katherine Jackson hired?",
"Who did Michael Jackson make is executors?",
"Who did Michael Jackson make his executors?",
"What has Katherine Jackson been fighting for?",
"Who did Katherine Jackson hire?",
"Who made John Branca and John McClain his executors?",
"Who hires probate lawyer Adam Streisand?",
"What is the name of the probate lawyer hired by Jackson?",
"Who did Michael Jackson name as executors of his estate?",
"What has she been fighting for more control of?",
"Who has been fighting for more control over her son's estate?",
"What happened in the hearing Streisand missed?",
"Who is Katherine Jackson?"
] | [
[
"her new lawyer"
],
[
"Katherine Jackson"
],
[
"Adam Streisand,"
],
[
"Branca and McClain"
],
[
"Branca and McClain"
],
[
"of her son's estate,"
],
[
"Adam Streisand,"
],
[
"Michael Jackson's"
],
[
"Katherine Jackson"
],
[
"Adam Streisand,"
],
[
"Branca and McClain"
],
[
"son's estate,"
],
[
"Katherine Jackson,"
],
[
"granted a request from estate special administrators John Branca and John McClain for more authority to make deals on behalf of Jackson's estate."
],
[
"mother"
]
] | Katherine Jackson hires probate lawyer Adam Streisand .
Jackson has been fighting for more control over her son's estate .
Michael Jackson made John Branca and John McClain his executors .
Streisand misses hearing in which executors are given more control . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Michael Jackson's personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, administered a powerful drug that authorities believe killed the singer, a source with knowledge of the investigation confirmed to CNN on Monday. Dr. Conrad Murray was with Michael Jackson on the day that he died. Murray, a Texas-based cardiologist, allegedly gave Jackson the anesthetic propofol -- commonly known by the brand name Diprivan -- in the 24 hours before he died, the source said. The doctor's attorneys in a statement Monday said they wouldn't comment on "rumors, innuendo or unnamed sources." In the past, they have said Murray never prescribed or administered anything that could have killed the pop star. Murray was the doctor who was at Jackson's home when the pop star died on June 25. Watch CNN's Ted Rowlands report on drug allegation » Last week, Texas authorities searched Murray's Houston medical office and storage unit, looking for "evidence of the offense of manslaughter," according to court documents. Among the items removed from Murray's office were a computer; 27 tablets of phentermine, a prescription-strength appetite suppressant; 1 tablet of clonazepam, an anti-anxiety medication; and some Rolodex cards. From Murray's storage unit, authorities removed two computer hard drives; and "important contact list;" a suspension notice from Houston's Doctor Hospital; notices from the Internal Revenue Service; and a laundry list of medical and hospital documents. Ed Chernoff, a Houston lawyer hired by Murray soon after Jackson's death, confirmed at the time that Los Angeles Police detectives and federal Drug Enforcement Administration agents used a search warrant to enter Murray's office in northeast Houston on Wednesday morning. Chernoff said members of Murray's legal team were at the medical office during the search, which he said "was conducted by members of the DEA, two robbery-homicide detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department and Houston Police officers." Tammy Kidd, a spokeswoman at Chernoff's office, told CNN the search "was absolutely a surprise to us, because we've had open lines of communication this whole time." Police have interviewed Murray twice since Jackson's death. A third interview was scheduled for July 24, but was postponed after the search warrants were executed. It's unknown when the next interview will take place. Among those who have indicated that Jackson may have been using dangerous prescription medication are nutritionist Cherilyn Lee, who said Jackson pleaded for the powerful sedative Diprivan despite being told of its harmful effects. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles County coroner's office continues to investigate the cause of Jackson's death on June 25. It has been waiting on toxicology lab results, but a final autopsy report is expected as soon as this week, a coroner's spokesman has said. CNN's Ted Rowlands contributed to this report. | [
"was he with Michael when he died?",
"Who gave Michael Jackson propofol in the 24 hours before his death?",
"How many times have police interviewed Murray?",
"Who have police interviewed",
"what did murray give jackson?",
"who gave it to MJ",
"how many times was murray interviewed?"
] | [
[
"Dr. Conrad Murray"
],
[
"Dr. Conrad Murray,"
],
[
"twice"
],
[
"Murray"
],
[
"the anesthetic propofol"
],
[
"Dr. Conrad Murray,"
],
[
"twice"
]
] | Murray allegedly gave Jackson propofol in 24 hours before death, source says .
Source close to family says doctor administered drug believed to have killed singer .
Dr. Conrad Murray was with Michael Jackson on day that he died .
Police have interviewed Murray twice since Jackson's death . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Michael Jackson's publicist wants you to know that, despite a tabloid report to the contrary, the 50-year-old singer "is in fine health." Michael Jackson's spokesman says reports of the singer's ill health "are a total fabrication." The United Kingdom's Sun newspaper started a stir Monday morning when it quoted the author of an upcoming book about Jackson saying he was battling a potentially fatal disease that required a life-saving lung transplant. Other papers echoed the Sun's thinly-sourced story and the rumor spread quickly through Internet message boards. By Monday afternoon, Jackson's spokesman issued a response that said "The writer's wild allegations concerning Mr. Jackson's health are a total fabrication." "Mr. Jackson is in fine health, and finalizing negotiations with a major entertainment company & television network for both a world tour and a series of specials and appearances," said Dr. Tohme Tohme, identified as Jackson's "official and sole spokesperson." The original report quoted writer Ian Halperin saying Jackson's illness had robbed him of 95-percent of the vision in one eye and that he needed a lung transplant "but may be too weak to go through with it." Jackson's reclusive lifestyle -- and a photo earlier this year of him being pushed in a wheelchair -- created a fertile ground for the planting of the rumor. Tohme suggested Halperin's motive was to get attention for his book about Jackson. "Concerning this author's allegations, we would hope in the future that legitimate media will not continue to be exploited by such an obvious attempt to promote this unauthorized 'biography,'" Tohme said. The Sun's report attempted to bolster its source's credibility by calling Halperin "an award-winning investigative journalist" who has "written for respected Rolling Stone magazine." Halperin's biography on his publisher's Web site claimed he was the winner of the "Rolling Stone magazine Award for Investigative Journalism." Rolling Stone magazine responded Monday afternoon by denying Halperin ever won that honor, but did note he was on a school newspaper staff in 1985 that collectively received the "College Journalism Award" from the magazine. Halperin has made a career writing about Hollywood scandals and the trouble lives of various celebrities, often claiming to have gone undercover to penetrate their inner-circles. The Jackson story was off the Sun's online front page by Monday evening. Instead, the paper featured a shirtless photo of President-elect Barack Obama on a Hawaii beach with the headline: "As President Elect Goes Topless, How Do World Leaders Shape Up?" | [
"What was Halperin quoted as saying?",
"Where was the story online?",
"What happened to the story?",
"What did Sun newspaper report?",
"Who was quoted?",
"What was the name of the writer who was quoted as saying that Jackson needed a lung transplant?",
"What did the Sun newspaper's report say about Jackson?",
"What does the UK Sun report?"
] | [
[
"Jackson's illness had robbed him of 95-percent of the vision in one eye and that he needed a lung transplant \"but may be too weak to go through with it.\""
],
[
"the Sun's"
],
[
"was off the Sun's online front page by Monday evening."
],
[
"was battling a potentially fatal disease that required a life-saving lung transplant."
],
[
"author of an upcoming book"
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[
"Ian Halperin"
],
[
"he was battling a potentially fatal disease that required a life-saving lung transplant."
],
[
"about Jackson saying he was battling a potentially fatal disease that required a life-saving lung transplant."
]
] | UK's Sun newspaper ran report saying Jackson battles a potentially fatal disease .
Report quoted writer Ian Halperin saying Jackson needed lung transplant .
Jackson story was off the Sun's online front page by Monday evening . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Miss California USA Carrie Prejean has assured pageant officials that a lingerie modeling photo published online this week is the only one she posed for, the state pageant director said.
Miss California USA Carrie Prejean may lose her crown because of some semi-nude photos she appeared in.
But the Web site that published the first picture said it has several more that it will "slowly roll out" starting Wednesday afternoon.
The possibility that racier images could emerge prompted "closed-door meetings" Tuesday to consider stripping Prejean of her beauty queen title, pageant spokesman Ron Neal said.
Although Neal said Prejean "breached her contract" by keeping the semi-nude photo or photos a secret, the only picture published so far appears about as revealing as the bikini Prejean wore in the pageant's swimsuit competition.
"We have been told by Carrie Prejean there are no other photos other than the one circulating in existence. She should know better than anyone," Miss California USA Director Keith Lewis said Wednesday.
The 21-year-old Miss USA contestant has been the center of controversy since she declared her opposition to same-sex marriage in a response to a question on the national pageant stage last month. She finished as runner-up to Miss USA.
In a statement given to CNN Tuesday, Prejean said the photos -- and she did use the plural -- were being used in a "vicious and mean-spirited" effort to silence her for "defending traditional marriage."
While she vowed to "continue to support and defend marriage as the honorable institution it is," Prejean may be doing so without the Miss California USA title.
State pageant officials met Tuesday with lawyers and representatives of Donald Trump, who owns the international competition, to consider if they had grounds to take the crown away from Prejean, according to Neal.
"When you compete for Miss California, you're supposed to disclose whether you posed for nude or semi-nude photos because it's grounds for disqualification," he said.
CNN obtained a copy of the pageant contract Prejean signed last year in which she agreed that the discovery of semi-nude photos could mean disqualification.
The only photo made public shows Prejean -- who said she was 17 at the time -- wearing pink panties and no top. She is turned away from the camera, with her arm hiding most of her breast.
It was unclear if pageant officials would consider this a semi-nude photo, in light of their standard requirement that contestants parade across stage wearing a bikini that arguably shows more bare skin.
But the other shoe -- or other garment -- may be yet to drop.
Nik Richie -- of TheDirty.com -- said he has waited for an upgrade of his Web site's servers to handle the flood of traffic he expects will come after he posts the additional photos.
"I will slowly roll these out," Richie said.
The next image will likely be published Wednesday afternoon, he said.
"We'll see what happens with those and we want to know who's releasing them," Neal said.
Shanna Moakler, the co-executive director of the Miss California USA organization, will meet with Tami Farrell, the runner-up for the title, "to discuss the possible next steps," Neal said.
Prejean defended the photos, which she said were taken when she was a teenager aspiring to be a Victoria's Secret model.
"I am a Christian, and I am a model," she said. "Models pose for pictures, including lingerie and swimwear photos."
She said the photos "have been released surreptitiously to a tabloid Web site that openly mocks me for my Christian faith."
"I am not perfect, and I will never claim to be," she said. "But these attacks on me and others who speak in defense of traditional marriage are intolerant and offensive. While we may not agree on every issue, we should show respect for others' opinions and not try to silence them through vicious and mean- | [
"What question gor Prejean in the news?",
"what else is prejean in the news for?",
"who was miss california?",
"who does web site say they have more photos off?",
"Are there any more photos?"
] | [
[
"some semi-nude photos she appeared in."
],
[
"semi-nude photos"
],
[
"Carrie Prejean"
],
[
"Carrie Prejean"
],
[
"several"
]
] | Miss California USA Carrie Prejean says she posed for one semi-nude photo .
A Web site says it has more photos of Prejean, and plans to slowly roll them out .
Prejean is in the news for her response to question about same-sex marriage . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Music producer Phil Spector was sentenced Friday to the maximum sentence of 19 years to life for the murder six years ago of actress Lana Clarkson. Phil Spector's first murder trial in 2007 ended in a mistrial as jurors said they couldn't reach a verdict. That means Spector, 69, would be 88 before he would be eligible for parole. Slumped, stone-faced and wearing a dark suit and bright red tie, he sat silently throughout his sentencing by Judge Larry Paul Fidler. Spector's lawyer gave a $17,000 check to Donna Clarkson, the victim's mother, to pay for her funeral expenses -- part of the court-ordered sentence. "All of our plans together are destroyed," the mother said, reading a statement on behalf of her family. "Now, I can only visit her at the cemetery." Fidler denied a motion for a new trial by defense attorney Doron Weinberg, who said he would file an appeal. "The evidence did not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he is guilty for the simple reason [that] he did not kill Lana Clarkson," Weinberg said. Watch Spector receive his sentence » "Obviously, he's not very happy," Spector's wife, Rachelle, told reporters about her husband. "I'm going to stand by him and get him out of that awful place so he can come home where he belongs." Clarkson, 40, was found dead -- slumped in a chair in the foyer of Spector's Alhambra, California, mansion with a gunshot wound through the roof of her mouth -- in February 2003. View a timeline of the case » Spector's trial, which began in October, ended last month when jurors deliberated for 30 hours and then announced a guilty verdict on the second-degree murder charge. Fidler had ruled jurors also could consider the lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter. Spector's first murder trial in 2007 ended in a mistrial as jurors said they couldn't reach a verdict after 15 days of deliberations. Jurors then were deadlocked 10-2 in favor of conviction. Fidler declined to allow Spector to remain free on bail pending sentencing, citing Spector's years-long "pattern of violence" involving firearms. "This was not an isolated incident," Fidler said, noting Spector's two firearms-related convictions from the 1970s. "The taking of an innocent human life, it doesn't get any more serious than that." In closing arguments at the retrial, prosecutor Truc Do called Spector "a very dangerous man" who "has a history of playing Russian roulette with women -- six women. Lana just happened to be the sixth." Weinberg argued that the prosecution's case hinged on circumstantial evidence. He said the possibility that Clarkson committed suicide could not be ruled out. Do pointed out to jurors, however, that Clarkson had bought new shoes on the day of her death -- something he said a suicidal woman would not have done. A female juror who declined to be identified told reporters the jurors considered all the evidence and testimony to reach their verdict. "This entire jury took this so seriously," she said with tears in her eyes, before adding that "it's tough to be in a jury," because another person's life is in the jury's hands. Clarkson starred in the 1985 B-movie "Barbarian Queen" and appeared in many other films, including "Deathstalker," "Blind Date," "Scarface," "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" and the spoof "Amazon Women on the Moon." She was working as a VIP hostess at Hollywood's House of Blues at the time of her death. In the 2007 trial, Spector's attorneys argued that Clarkson was depressed over a recent breakup and grabbed a .38-caliber pistol to kill herself while at Spector's home. But prosecution witnesses painted Spector as a gun-toting menace. Five women took the stand and testified that he had threatened them with firearms. His driver testified that | [
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] | NEW: Music producer sentenced for 2003 slaying of Lana Clarkson .
Actress was found shot dead in foyer of Spector's California mansion .
Defense argued it was a suicide; first trial ended in a mistrial .
Grammy-winning Spector, 69, was inducted in 1989 to Rock and Roll Hall of Fame . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Nadya Suleman, who gave birth to octuplets in January, will star in a reality television series about her family, a TV executive said. Nadya Suleman will star in a "quasi-reality TV series," says a TV executive. The Eyeworks executive, who asked not to be named, confirmed a Us magazine report that quoted Suleman's lawyer, Jeff Czech, saying a deal has been reached after months of negotiations. The "quasi-reality TV series" would be "an arrangement whereby several events in the children's lives would be filmed in a documentary series," Czech told Us. Eyeworks' British division will produce the show, the Eyeworks executive said. "There is a story to be told" about the family, he said. "They might be several shows aired during a year. There are all kinds of possibilities. It really depends on what the networks want," Czech was quoted as saying. Though he said the show has not been named, Suleman has sought to trademark her media nickname -- Octomom -- for a TV show and a line of diapers. Suleman has six other children. All 14 were conceived through in-vitro fertilization. | [
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] | Nadya Suleman gave birth to octuplets in January and had 6 children already .
Suleman will star in a TV show, produced by Eyeworks' British division .
The "quasi-reality TV series" would film the lives of her children in documentary style . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Natalie Cole's search for a new kidney ended this week when someone with a compatible organ died and their family asked that it be given to the singer, according to the organ procurement group that handled the donation. Natalie Cole received a kidney transplant Tuesday in Los Angeles. Cole, who underwent a successful kidney transplant at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles Tuesday, was "responding well and recuperating" Thursday, her publicist said. Cole had been on what she called "a very long list" of people waiting for an organ donation when she got word recently that OneLegacy, an organ procurement agency in Southern California, had a kidney that was a biological match. It was a "directed donation" from a deceased organ donor, according to OneLegacy CEO Tom Mone. "Having heard of Ms. Cole's need for a kidney, the family asked that one of their loved one's kidneys be transplanted to Ms. Cole if they were a match," Mone said. Directed organ donations are rare, and rarer still are those directed to someone not related to or known personally by the deceased, he said. The donor will remain anonymous until the family gives permission for the name to be made public, he said. Cole's need for a kidney donation was highly publicized, including with an appearance on CNN's "Larry King Live" on March 31. "I'm on a very long list, which is why we are looking to donors," said Cole, the daughter of legendary crooner Nat King Cole. Cole said her kidney troubles date to February 2008 when she was diagnosed with Hepatitis C. Cole said she attributes the Hepatitis C to her well-publicized struggles to stop using cocaine and heroin. Cole said she has been sober for some time now after two stints in a rehabilitation clinic. Cole said she underwent chemotherapy in an aggressive way to fight the virus. Within four months of getting chemotherapy, both of Cole's kidneys failed. "I couldn't breathe. I -- I went into -- literally, my kidneys stopped functioning. They stopped, you know, processing the fluid that was starting to build up in my body." Since then Cole has been on dialysis three days a week and has been searching for a kidney, she told King in one of the first public interviews about the issue. Cole won six Grammys for her 1991 critically acclaimed album "Unforgettable: With Love," a jazzy tribute to her father. She won a Grammy this year for her new album "Still Unforgettable" and another Grammy for her work on another album. Cole was still able to tour this year even with her kidney ailment. She canceled a planned show last week in South Korea because of her illness, which meant she was in Los Angeles when the organ became available. "I have been on dialysis in Istanbul, Milan, Indonesia, Manila, London. It's -- it's amazing," Cole said. During King's show, dozens of people sent e-mails to CNN telling Cole that they would get tested to see if their kidney could be donated. King handed a thick stack of paper to Cole. "These are all e-mails from dozens -- dozens of people offering to be tested to see if they can match, who want to give you a kidney," King said. Cole stared at the papers for a moment. "There are some great human beings out there. That's all I can say," Cole said. Cole is expected to return to the tour after three to four months of recovery. CNN's Denise Quan contributed to this report. | [
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] | Natalie Cole's new kidney came from deceased fan; fan's family asked for Cole .
Natalie Cole underwent kidney transplant surgery Tuesday .
Singer received supportive e-mails when on CNN's "Larry King Live" in March . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Natasha Richardson, the Tony Award-winning stage actress and member of the famed Redgrave acting clan, died Wednesday from injuries suffered in a ski accident. She was 45.
Comedian Joan Rivers says actress Natasha Richardson had "such a family."
On Wednesday night's "Larry King Live," comedian Joan Rivers remembered Richardson for her marriage to actor Liam Neeson and used her sharp wit to recall her own skiing experience.
The following transcript has been edited for brevity and clarity:
Larry King: You knew Natasha Richardson. What was your reaction?
Joan Rivers: Oh, [it] shouldn't have happened. We were more acquaintances than friends. But we spent one amazing day on a boat with my whole family and she and Liam and the boys. And they were such a family.
King: What was the occasion?
Rivers: We were all in the Caribbean, and we all kind of knew each other from dinner parties and so forth. And we met at the airport, and we said, "Oh, let's get together, with the kids." And it was one of those wonderful days. We laughed and talked and had lunch, and the kids were jumping off the boat and we were drinking wine. She was just amazing and darling.
King: Have you seen her work on Broadway?
Rivers: I've seen her work. I love actresses who go back and forth. I always have such great respect for someone who goes to Broadway and then film and goes back again. I saw her in "The Philadelphia Story" years ago in London when she won an award. She was very young in a musical version of that.
King: What was your read on them as a couple that day?
Rivers: Totally happy, totally devoted to each other. That's what kills me. I mean [it] just shouldn't have happened. ... And they made such a good-looking couple, too. He doted on what she said, she doted on -- it was just perfect.
King: How did you learn of this yesterday?
Rivers: One of our mutual friends called me and said, do you know about -- I just saw them recently in the thing that Prince Charles gave in England, and a mutual friend said, did you heard about what happened to Natasha? I said, what are you talking about? And he said, she's brain-dead. Watch King talk to celebrities about Richardson »
King: So you knew yesterday?
Rivers: I knew yesterday. And I knew yesterday that she was brain-dead. And I was told, which is, again, so dear, that they kept her alive purposely to bring her back to New York, so that the boys could say goodbye to her before --
King: Really?
Rivers: Yes.
King: That's both beautiful and sad.
Rivers: Look at this, it gets me crazy. It's sad.
King: Do you ski?
Rivers: I had a terrible fall about 12 years ago. And I lay there in the snow and I said to myself, "If I get up, I'm not coming back and I got up."
King: You're like, "Goodbye."
Rivers: Goodbye. And I swear to you, I laid on the ground and I go, "If everything works, that's it. That's it."
King: You've heard the doctor. What do you make of this? There must have been something previously. It was a slight fall?
Rivers: You don't know; you hit your head wrong. You walk out of your house and it's over. We all know that, especially at this age. You understand that it's over, it's gone. It's just not that [Richardson's] age, not with a good marriage, not with two young boys. It shouldn't be.
King | [
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"What reaction from River was about the disaster?",
"Where did Natasha Richardson and her family sail together?",
"What Rivers said about the Liam Neeson and his wife?",
"who sailed in caribbean together?"
] | [
[
"Rivers:"
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"Oh, [it] shouldn't have happened. We were more acquaintances than friends. But we spent one amazing day on a boat with my whole family and she and Liam and the boys."
],
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"Caribbean,"
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"Totally happy, totally devoted to each other."
],
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"Joan Rivers:"
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] | Joan Rivers says Natasha Richardson and her family sailed in Caribbean together .
Stage actress and husband Liam Neeson were "totally devoted," Rivers recalls .
Rivers says life can be taken in a flash: "You walk out of your house and it's over" |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Only a few states have laws that adequately equip teen victims of dating violence with tools for protection and safety, according to a new report from a watchdog group. Twenty-three states received sub-par grades in a report focusing on state laws focusing on protective orders. The report by Los Angeles, California-based Break the Cycle includes state-by-state report cards that measure how each state treats teen victims of dating violence in comparison with the treatment of adult domestic violence victims. Only five states -- California, Illinois, Minnesota, New Hampshire and Oklahoma -- received As, while nine states received B's. Twenty-three states received sub-par grades, including 11 getting Fs. "I think what the state report cards are telling us is that states have a long way to go before they are protecting minors in abusive relationships," Marjorie Gilberg, Break the Cycle's executive director, told CNN Radio. The report focuses on how easy it is for a teen to obtain a protective order in the event of abuse, including whether state law allows a minor to take out an order, if adult permission is required and whether an order can be issued against another minor. New Hampshire, which got an A, is the only state where the law specifically allows minors to apply for a protection order, according to the report. Missouri, which got an F, makes such orders available only to adults. See how the different states scored » Nine states allow minors to obtain protective orders without adult approval if they meet certain criteria, such as being a minimum age, often 16, or having a specific relationship with the abuser, such as having a child together. "What we hope to achieve with this is to call out the states that are not doing a good job protecting minors and help people in those states call on their legislators to make change," Gilberg said. One in five teens who have been in a "serious relationship" report being hit, slapped or pushed by a partner, according to the National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline. One in three girls who have been in such a relationship say they've been concerned about being physically hurt by their partner. Gilberg said that since the 2008 report cards came out, several states worked to change their laws to address the rights of minor victims in domestic violence statutes, though some were more successful than others. This year's report noted that eight states improved their grades. Among them, Florida jumped from a D to a B for making protective orders "relatively accessible" to teen victims without an adult's approval if they are dating the abuser. The process was described as "extremely difficult" the previous year because state law did not specify whether a minor could petition for one alone. "Even when you have an A grade," Gilberg said, "you still can do things to make the law more protective of minors who are in teen dating violence relationships." | [
"What percentage of teens who've been in a \"serious relationship\" report their partner hitting them?",
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] | Report focuses on ease with which teens can obtain protective orders .
New Hampshire is only state that allows minors to apply for a protection order .
Nine states let minors obtain orders without adult approval under certain criteria .
One in five teens who've been in a "serious relationship" report being hit by partner . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Oscar said yes to "No Country for Old Men" and to European actors on Sunday night. Actors Daniel Day-Lewis, Tilda Swinton, Marion Cotillard and Javier Bardem toast their success. "No Country," the Coen brothers' brutal tale of a man pursued by death and the law across the bleak moonscapes of West Texas, won best picture at the 80th Academy Awards. The four acting awards, meanwhile, went to Europeans: Marion Cotillard, Daniel Day-Lewis, Javier Bardem and Tilda Swinton. The Coens also won best director and best adapted screenplay, and Bardem, who played cattle-gun-armed killer Anton Chigurh, won best supporting actor. Producer Scott Rudin shared the best picture award with the brothers. "We're very thankful to all of you out there for letting us continue to play in our corner of the sandbox, so thank you very much," Joel Coen said in accepting the directing award. He observed that the pair didn't think they were doing much different work now from when, as a child, Ethan Coen "got a suit and a briefcase and we went to the Minneapolis International Airport with a Super 8 camera and made a movie about shuttle diplomacy called 'Henry Kissinger, Man on the Go.' " Watch the best of the winners' backstage remarks » The Coens, who have been known for their arch style and oddball humor in films such as "Fargo," "O Brother, Where Art Thou" and "The Big Lebowski," received some laughs for Ethan Coen's laconic acceptance speeches. After the pair won for adapted screenplay, Ethan Coen gave a brief thanks. Upon winning the directing award, he expanded on his speech slightly, sort of: "I don't have a lot to add to what I said earlier. Thank you," he said. Day-Lewis was more effusive in his thanks after winning best actor for his performance as a misanthropic oilman in "There Will Be Blood." "My deepest thanks to the members of the Academy for whacking me with the handsomest bludgeon in town," the British actor said as he accepted the award. "I've been thinking a lot about fathers and sons in the course of this, and I'd like to accept this in the memory of my grandfather, Michael Balcon, my father, Cecil Day-Lewis, and my three fine boys, Gabriel, Ronan and Cashel," he added. See the complete list of winners As he accepted his first Oscar, Bardem, one of Spain's top actors, thanked his directors and reflected on his role as a creepy killer with a bad haircut. "Thank you to the Coens for being crazy enough to think that I could do that, and to put one of the most horrible haircuts in history over my head," he said. Watch "No Country" win best picture » It was his second career nomination. His other came for "Before Night Falls" (2000), in which he played Cuban poet Reinaldo Arenas. In a mild surprise, French actress Cotillard won her first Academy Award for her portrayal of singer Edith Piaf in "La Vie en Rose." Early handicappers had bet heavily on veteran Julie Christie, a previous Oscar winner who played a woman falling victim to Alzheimer's in "Away from Her." But Cotillard, who's received raves for her performance as the French singer, had been considered a strong contender for best actress. "I'm speechless now ... I ... I ... thank you life, thank you love," Cotillard exclaimed. "And it is true, there are some angels in this city. Thank you so, so much!" The actress has appeared in dozens of films in her native France, but she may be most recognizable to American audiences for her performances in "A Very Long Engagement" (2004) and "Big Fish" (2003). In a highly competitive race, Swinton nabbed the best supporting actress Oscar for | [
"Who won the awards for acting?",
"what is a four acting awards?",
"What movie won the awards?"
] | [
[
"Marion Cotillard, Daniel Day-Lewis, Javier Bardem and Tilda Swinton."
],
[
"Europeans: Marion Cotillard, Daniel Day-Lewis, Javier Bardem and Tilda Swinton."
],
[
"\"No Country for Old Men\""
]
] | "No Country for Old Men" wins four awards, including best picture and director .
Four acting awards go to Europeans: Cotillard, Day-Lewis, Bardem and Swinton .
Best original screenplay is awarded to former stripper Diablo Cody for "Juno"
Host Jon Stewart jokes about the recently ended writers strike . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Paint markings found on pieces of two planes that collided over suburban Los Angeles indicate the nose of one aircraft slammed into the middle fuselage of the other, according to a federal investigator.
Investigators on Monday walk past the tail section of a plane lying in a car dealership.
Five people died in the accident in Corona, California, including a man on the ground who was killed when one plane's engine crashed through the roof of a car dealership where he worked, said National Transportation Safety Board investigator Wayne Pollack.
The NTSB, assisted by FBI evidence experts, completed the cleanup of wreckage and body parts that were spread over a commercial area of car dealerships, restaurants and other businesses near the Riverside Freeway Monday afternoon.
Investigators don't yet know if both single-engine planes were approaching the nearby Corona airport for landing, but it was apparently a Sunday afternoon pleasure flight for each.
The two men in the Cessna 150 were ejected after the plane was struck broadside by the Cessna 172, Pollack said. The bodies of the two men flying in the Cessna 172 were found inside the plane after it crashed to the ground, he said.
The FBI helped the NTSB mark where each piece was found, although the investigation does not involve any criminal aspect, Pollack said. The wreckage was being trucked to Palmdale, California, Monday evening. Aviation experts there will examine it for more clues about what caused the collision, he said.
There were two licensed pilots on board the Cessna 150, which was rented from a local flight school, Pollack said. One of the two people on board the other plane -- a Cessna 172 -- was licensed to fly, he said.
The victims from one plane were identified as Scott Lawrence, 55, and Paul Carlson, 73, both from Cerritos, California. The dead from the other aircraft were Brandon Johnson, 24, from Costa Mesa, California. and Anthony Guzman, 20, from Hesperia, Calif., according to the Riverside County Coroner's Office.
The car dealership employee who died was Earl Smiddy, 58, from Moreno Valley, California, the coroner said.
Weather is not believed to have been a factor since it was clear and winds were calm at the time, Pollack said.
Corona is about 40 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. E-mail to a friend | [
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"What were the planes on?",
"How many planes collided?",
"What age was Earl Smiddy?",
"What agencies finish removing wreckage?",
"What did the engine crash into?",
"Who died when his engine crashed through a car dealership?",
"Which agencies removed wreckage from the commercial area?"
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"the roof of a car dealership"
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"Earl Smiddy,"
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[
"The NTSB, assisted by FBI evidence experts,"
]
] | Earl Smiddy, 58, dies when engine crashes through roof of car dealership .
NTSB and FBI finish removing wreckage, body parts from commercial area .
Two men in Cessna 150 hit broadside by Cessna 172 and ejected .
Two planes apparently were on a Sunday afternoon pleasure flight . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Paula Abdul is ready for another fresh start, now that she's kicked her addiction to painkillers, the "American Idol" judge told a magazine. Paula Abdul told Ladies' Home Journal that she struggled with a drug problem. The former pop star released a new song this week and will take the "American Idol" stage Wednesday night to perform it. Abdul, in an interview for the Ladies' Home Journal's June issue, acknowledged what she has denied for years -- that she had a drug problem. But last November, days after an obsessed fan apparently killed herself outside Abdul's home, she went to a health spa where weaned herself off prescription pain medications she had used for a dozen years. "Withdrawal -- it's the worst thing," she told the magazine. "I was freezing cold, then sweating hot, then chattering and in so much pain, it was excruciating. But at my very core, I did not like existing the way I had been." Watch more on Abdul's challenges » Abdul acknowledged several years ago that she used medications to kill the pain for a series of injuries, but this is apparently her first admission she was hooked on them. When People magazine asked her about it in 2005, she chose her words carefully: "Drugs? I'm not addicted to pills of any kind," Abdul then said. Her painkillers were, in fact, not pills. Abdul wore a patch that delivered a pain medication about 80 times more potent than morphine, she told Ladies' Home Journal. Abdul's slurring of words and apparent confusion on "American Idol" and during interviews stirred rumors of a drug problem in recent years. She told the magazine, though, she was never under the influence during a show. Her pains began with a cheerleading accident at age 17, but were compounded by later mishaps -- including a stage accident in 1991, a car wreck in 1992 and a plane crash in 1993, she said. The persistent hurting is almost gone after a 15th surgery, she said. After two short marriages, Abdul said she is still looking for a soul mate. "I'm working on finding that guy," she said. She premiered her new song -- "I'm Just Here for the Music" -- on "Idol" host Ryan Seacrest's radio show Tuesday. She told Seacrest she only decided last week to accept the invitation to perform it live on the TV show. "I was invited by the producers and I wasn't sure it I was going to do it because timing was of the essence," she said. She said she put her performance together over the weekend. Abdul's "American Idol" contract ends with this season, and she told Seacrest she did not know if she would be back to judge next season. | [
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"What was Abdul addicted to?",
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] | Paula Abdul told Ladies' Home Journal she had painkiller addiction .
She went to spa to wean self: "I did not like existing the way I had been"
Abdul told magazine she was never under the influence on "American Idol"
Series of painful accidents starting at age 17 were root cause of addiction, she says . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Perhaps Ryan Seacrest said it best at the top of the "American Idol" Tuesday night when describing Adam Lambert and Kris Allen, the show's final two contestants. In this corner: Kris Allen, the guy next door. "It is the battle of the acoustic rocker versus the glam rocker. Conway (Arkansas) versus California. The guy next door versus the guy-liner." After three performances apiece and plenty of judge feedback, it seems that the Southern California glam-rocker Adam Lambert has the edge -- but it didn't look that way early in Tuesday's show. In the first round, where the contestants chose a song from a favorite past performance this season, Simon Cowell declared Kris Allen the winner after his rendition of "Ain't No Sunshine" on piano. Watch Allen and Lambert talk after the show » Lambert chose to sing "Mad World" while wearing a long black coat and walking around a stage filled with white smoke, all of which Cowell found "over-theatrical." "I think 'Mad World' is kind of symbolic," Lambert told reporters after the show. "It talks about people who don't feel like they fit in." Round two featured a tune hand-picked by "American Idol" creator Simon Fuller, where Lambert ditched the black overcoat and belted out Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come" while sporting a shiny silver suit. Paula Abdul told Lambert "it was the best I've ever heard you sing, ever!" Allen's feedback after singing Marvin Gaye's classic "What's Goin' On" in the second round was much less flattering. See the best and worst performances from season eight » "I thought it was too laid back for a night like this," said Cowell. He then gave round two to Lambert. Round three featured a bit of a twist -- both contestants had to sing a song co-written by judge Kara DioGuardi called "No Boundaries." Lambert went first and had little difficulty with the ballad. Cowell told the 27-year-old afterward that "you have been one of the best, most original contestants we've ever had on the show." Allen, however, struggled to stay in tune during the entire performance ... but the judges were less harsh this time. "You have thoroughly, thoroughly deserved to be standing on that stage tonight, congratulations," said Cowell. Watch anchors debate "Idol" finalists » After the show, Lambert told reporters that they did not have a lot of time to work on "No Boundaries" and it was kind of a "rush job." "There was a lot of lyric, and it was a big song," said Lambert. "But it's a beautiful song." It almost seems appropriate that these two are facing off in the finale. According to Allen, he and Lambert were once roommates during the competition. They even critique each other's rehearsals. "He's always giving me stuff to change about mine ... to make it better," Allen told reporters. iReport.com: Who should win: Kris or Adam? A little over an hour before the show began, a magnitude 4.0 quake aftershock hit 10 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles. Tuesday night's telecast was held at the Nokia Theater, which is in downtown Los Angeles. A 4.7-magnitude earthquake struck the area shortly before 8:40 p.m. Sunday. But, to Allen's disappointment, neither of the contestants felt the jolt Tuesday. "I was totally upset, too, because I've never been to California (except for 'American Idol'), and I was like, 'I want to feel an earthquake.' " Allen and Lambert will return to the stage Wednesday night and find out, along with the rest of the world, who will be crowned the next "American Idol" at the two-hour finale. | [
"When will the finale of American Idol air?",
"What is the name of the Arkansas resident who has a guy-next-door appeal?",
"From what US state does Adam Lambert hail?",
"Which Californian has developed a glam-rock persona?",
"How many contestants are left?",
"Where is Adam Lambert from?",
"how many finals are in American Idol?",
"Where is Adam Lambert from?",
"Who developed a glam-rock persona?",
"Who has guy-next-door appeal?",
"When is the American Idol results show?",
"Who are the final two contestants?",
"who resident in Arkansas?"
] | [
[
"Wednesday night"
],
[
"Kris Allen,"
],
[
"Southern California"
],
[
"Adam Lambert"
],
[
"two"
],
[
"Southern California"
],
[
"two contestants."
],
[
"Southern California"
],
[
"Adam Lambert"
],
[
"Kris Allen,"
],
[
"Wednesday night"
],
[
"Adam Lambert and Kris Allen,"
],
[
"Kris Allen,"
]
] | Final two "American Idol" contestants battle it out in song for the title Tuesday .
Californian Adam Lambert has developed a glam-rock persona .
Arkansas resident Kris Allen has a guy-next-door appeal .
Who will America choose? Results show starts at 8 p.m. ET Wednesday . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Pop star Britney Spears was resting at UCLA Medical Center on Thursday, her mother said, hours after police escorted her to the hospital from her Hollywood home. Britney Spears, left, and her mother Lynne Spears pose at the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards in New York. A long convoy of police and a Los Angeles Fire Department ambulance transported the 26-year-old singer to the hospital after midnight, acting on what the Los Angeles Times reported was a "mental evaluation hold." It was the second hospitalization for Spears this month. The police operation was planned far in advance and, according to the L.A. Times, followed a phone call to police from Spears' psychiatrist. Asked if her daughter was resting, mother Lynne Spears said "Yes" to a throng of reporters as she departed the medical center. Watch scene at Spears' home » The pop star's father Jamie Spears and her manager Sam Lufti also appeared at the hospital, neither choosing to speak to reporters. The latest incident in the troubled performer's saga began about 12:55 a.m. on Thursday when the North Hollywood Police Department sent about eight officers to Spears' hilltop house in Studio City, California, according to a law enforcement official, who asked not to be identified because he's not authorized to comment publicly. See Spears timeline » The group at Spears' house included plainclothes officers, motorcycle police, ambulance crews and some police "brass," the official said. It took the better part of the day to arrange the transport plan, the officer said. On January 3, Spears was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where she reportedly underwent a psychological evaluation. Watch how mental evaluations work » Andrew Blankstein, a Los Angeles Times reporter who was at the scene of Thursday's incident, told CNN that a police convoy, stretching the length of a football field, accompanied the ambulance as it drove down Coldwater Canyon Boulevard -- in part to keep the paparazzi from getting too close. Watch police motorcade at Spears' home » Spears was whisked out a side entrance to her house. "You couldn't really see what was going on [when officers first swept into the residence] but on the police radio, there was some reference to 'The package is on the way out,' 'We're leaving now. Go, go, go,'" Blankstein said. A few hours earlier, two officers were sent to investigate a report of a large group gathered outside the singer's home, said David Grimes, watch commander for the west division of the Los Angeles Police Department. The two officers found 20 to 25 people near the house around 11 p.m. Wednesday and they asked them to leave, he said. ABC-TV host Barbara Walters reported on Monday's "The View" that she had been contacted by Spears' manager and "good friend," Lufti, who told her the pop star has seen a psychiatrist and "is suffering from what he describes as mental issues which are treatable," according to The Associated Press. Watch experts discuss Spears' behavioral issues » During Spears' earlier hospitalization, in addition to the psychological evaluation, she was examined for possible influence of alcohol or drugs. Police had been called to her home that night to mediate a custody dispute. A day later, a California court refused to grant Spears visitation rights with her two children -- Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1 -- at least until mid-February. Spears has been in a heated dispute with ex-husband Kevin Federline over custody of their sons. Federline, Spears' former backup dancer, holds primary custody of the children. Spears has been in trouble with the court earlier concerning her compliance with court orders in the custody case. After filing for divorce in November 2006, Spears was frequently seen enjoying Hollywood nightlife. Her behavior became increasingly erratic; in February 2007, she shaved her head as paparazzi looked on, then spent a month in rehab. E-mail to a friend | [
"WHo was placed on a hold?",
"What did the mom say?",
"What troubled pop star is resting?",
"Who was placed on mental health evaluation hold?",
"What was Spears placed on?",
"Who is being held for a mental health evaluation?",
"How many times has the singer has been taken to a hospital?",
"Who called the police?",
"Who made the call to police?",
"How many times has she been taken to the hospital recently?"
] | [
[
"Britney Spears"
],
[
"Lynne Spears said \"Yes\""
],
[
"Britney Spears"
],
[
"Britney Spears"
],
[
"\"mental evaluation hold.\""
],
[
"Spears"
],
[
"second hospitalization"
],
[
"Spears' psychiatrist."
],
[
"Spears' psychiatrist."
],
[
"second hospitalization"
]
] | Troubled pop star resting, mom says, after large police escort .
L.A. Times: Britney Spears placed on "mental health evaluation hold"
Hold prompted by call police got from Spears' psychiatrist, Times reports .
Incident is second time in weeks the singer has been taken to a hospital . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- President Obama mixed jokes with serious discussion Thursday during an appearance on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno." President Obama chats it up with Jay Leno on "The Tonight Show" on Thursday. While presidential candidates have used comedy shows for campaigning as far back as Richard Nixon's performance on "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In" in 1968, Obama became the first sitting president to appear before a late-night talk show studio audience. Obama complimented guitarist Kevin Eubanks on his suit, and he cracked jokes about the Secret Service and "American Idol" host Simon Cowell. Obama also remarked on his poor bowling skills, which were evident during a campaign stop in Pennsylvania. He told Leno that he bowled 129 in the White House bowling alley and said his bowling skills are "like Special Olympics or something." Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton said the president's remarks were not meant to poke fun of the Special Olympics. "The president made an offhand remark making fun of his own bowling that was in no way intended to disparage the Special Olympics," Burton said. "He thinks that the Special Olympics are a wonderful program that gives an opportunity to shine to people with disabilities from around the world." Obama later moved on to topical discussions of the economic crisis and the AIG bonus scandal. Watch some of Obama's appearance » "The problem with AIG was that it owed so much and was tangled up with so many banks and institutions that if you had allowed it to just liquidate, to go into bankruptcy, it could have brought the whole financial system down. So it was the right thing to do to intervene in AIG," Obama said. Obama said earlier this week that he'll "take responsibility" for AIG executives receiving those controversial bonuses -- roughly $165 million -- while the company took $173 billion in government bailouts. Congress is looking for ways to recoup all or some of that money. "The larger problem is we've got to get back to an attitude where people know enough is enough, and people have a sense of responsibility and they understand that their actions are going to have an impact on everybody," he said. "If we can get back to those values that built America, then I think we're going to be OK." Obama also said he was confident in his embattled Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner. "I think Geithner is doing an outstanding job. I think that we have a big mess on our hands," he said. "It's not going to be solved immediately, but it is going to get solved." Obama taped the show Thursday afternoon during a two-day swing through the Los Angeles area for town hall meetings focusing on the economy. iReport.com: Nice to see the "real" Obama Obama also discussed the "life in the bubble," musing over how Secret Service agents would not let him walk 750 yards from Air Force One to the Costa Mesa fairgrounds, where some of the day's activities were to take place. Obama said flying in Air Force One is "pretty cool," especially because "they give you the jacket with the [presidential] seal on it," he said. The only time Leno appeared to stop Obama in his tracks was when he asked the president whether he thought people intentionally lose basketball games when they play with him. "I don't see why they would throw the game, except for all those Secret Service guys with guns around," he said. There's some political risk for Obama, according to Washington Post media columnist Howard Kurtz, who also hosts CNN's "Reliable Sources." AC360 blog: Laughing through the pain "He has to be very careful about his tone, because if he yuks it up too much and seems to be having too good a time, it will be quite a contrast there with the pain the people are feeling with the crumbling economy," Kurtz said. CNN's Suzanne Malveaux contributed to this report. | [
"Who complimented Kevin Eubank's suit?",
"Who said \" The problem with AIG is it owed so much\"?",
"What did the media observer say about the President?"
] | [
[
"Obama"
],
[
"Obama"
],
[
"\"He has to be very careful"
]
] | President compliments Kevin Eubanks' suit, pokes fun at Simon Cowell .
Obama on more serious topic: "The problem with AIG is it owed so much"
He says bonuses are problem, but larger issue is people feel lack of responsibility .
President must be careful not to trivialize economic pain, media observer cautions . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Protests continued Friday in several California cities, including San Francisco, Palm Springs and Long Beach, over the passage of Proposition 8, which outlaws same-sex marriage.
The passage of California's Proposition 8, which bans same-sex marriages, has led to a number of protests.
The ballot initiative, which passed 52.5 percent to 47.5 percent Tuesday, overturns a May ruling by the California Supreme Court that struck down a 2000 ban on same-sex unions.
In San Francisco, an estimated 2,000 protesters marched down Market Street toward Dolores Park. The march stretched out for at least three city blocks, and the protesters completely blocked Market Street's westbound lanes and the eastbound lanes in places.
"I believe that politics and religion should be completely separate," protester Eric Rogers told CNN affiliate KGO-TV. "This has been, actually, one of those lines that has been blurred by that."
"It really feels personal. It feels like why would someone not want us to live in love and respect," said protester Jayne Dean-McGilpin.
A demonstration in Long Beach stretched out for five or six blocks. "Hate is not hot," read a banner at the front of the marchers.
About 2,000 demonstrators marched in a peaceful protest in Long Beach, and a few hundred remained in the streets around 10 p.m. (1 a.m. ET), said Sgt. David Marander of the Long Beach Police Department.
Marander said Long Beach officers arrested three people after they tried to persuade others to leave the protest route that was described in a permit that organizers obtained for the march.
At one point, demonstrators stopped at a street corner for a few moments to allow traffic to cross.
Later, demonstrators congregated for about 20 minutes at the intersection of Broadway and Alameda Street, blocking traffic in all directions. The demonstrators then moved on before stopping at the intersection of Long Beach Boulevard and First Street, where many of them sat down in the street.
After a few minutes, the demonstrators were on the move again. Police kept a watchful eye on the protesters but did not intervene.
In Palm Springs, a crowd of several hundred gathered in front of the city hall, chanting "Civil rights" and "Tax the Church." One sign read: "We will not give up." iReport.com: Your thoughts on gay marriage?
Several protesters surrounded an elderly looking woman, an apparent Proposition 8 supporter, and shouted at her. No arrests were reported at any of the demonstrations.
In Salt Lake City, Utah, about 2,000 demonstrators gathered at Temple Square to protest against the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Mormon church strongly supported Proposition 8, which amends California's constitution to define marriage as legal only between one man and one woman.
Proposition 8 opponents say the Salt Lake City-based church donated a majority of the money raised in support of the measure.
The LDS Church believes it should not be singled out when other groups also supported the proposition.
"It is disturbing that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is being singled out for speaking up as part of its democratic right in a free election," the church said in a statement Friday.
On Thursday, Roman Catholic and Mormon leaders said their efforts did not target any specific group.
The coalition of religious communities and citizens who supported Proposition 8 wanted to preserve "the bedrock institution of marriage" between a man and a woman, said Cardinal Roger Mahoney, the Catholic archbishop of Los Angeles.
"Proposition 8 is not against any group in our society," Mahoney said in a written statement.
About 2,000 protesters picketed Thursday afternoon outside the Los Angeles temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Several groups have petitioned the California Supreme Court to prevent the constitutional revision from taking effect.
The American Civil Liberties Union, Lambda Legal and the National Center for Lesbian Rights have filed a lawsuit contending the ballot initiative was "improperly used." | [
"What month were the measures ruled?",
"What were the protests for?",
"When did the California court rule to allow gay marriage?",
"What ban was being protested?",
"What is the legal status of same-sex weddings before the ban?",
"What state's gay marriage ruling was overturned?",
"What protests are continuing in California ?",
"What caused protests in California?",
"In which state did the ban take place?"
] | [
[
"May"
],
[
"passage of Proposition 8,"
],
[
"May"
],
[
"same-sex marriages,"
],
[
"May ruling by the California Supreme Court that struck down a 2000 ban on same-sex unions."
],
[
"California"
],
[
"over the passage of Proposition 8,"
],
[
"Proposition 8,"
],
[
"California's"
]
] | Protests continue over recent passage of same-sex marriage ban in California .
Measure overturns May ruling by California Supreme Court allowing gay marriages .
Legal status of same-sex weddings that occurred before ban remains unclear . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Quentin Tarantino's new movie "Inglourious Basterds" comes with a film inside the film, a Nazi propaganda movie promoting the glory of Germany's Third Reich. Eli Roth and Brad Pitt star in "Inglourious Basterds." Roth also directed a short film within the film. Tarantino said he's not worried people might be offended by the short film, which is being promoted by a trailer that is now a viral video on the Internet. "You would have to have absolutely, positively no sense of humor at all not to get it," Tarantino said. "Stolz der Nation" -- which translates into English as "Nation's Pride" -- was produced true to the style of Joseph Goebbels, Adolf Hitler's propaganda minister, but by Eli Roth, the director-actor who also plays one of Tarantino's "Basterds" known as the "Bear Jew." "There was something that we enjoyed immensely about the idea of a Jew making a Nazi propaganda movie," Tarantino said. Watch Tarantino talk about how "Nation's Pride" was made » Roth, well known for his R-rated horror flicks such as "Hostel," said while growing up as a Jewish boy in Boston, Massachusetts, he never dreamed he would make a Nazi propaganda film. "After 'Hostel 2,' I thought 'God, what can I make that's more offensive and upsetting than this film,' but somehow I did it with 'Nation's Pride,'" Roth said. Roth viewed the black-and-white film as a character in "Inglourious Basterds," a World War II fairy tale about a squad of Jewish-American soldiers who infiltrate behind enemy lines to terrorize the German army. Their plot to assassinate Hitler focuses on a small Paris, France, theater where Germany's leadership is gathered for the premiere of Goebbels' movie. The black-and-white film glorifies a fictional war hero played by Daniel Bruhl "and the glory of the swastika and the power of Germany," Roth said. "His courage was bound by duty. His legend was baptized in blood. His name will be crowned in glory," the trailer's narrator says as Pvt. Fredrick Zoller picks off dozens of American soldiers from a sniper's nest. "Being Jewish, I wanted to make it a real propaganda film," Roth said. "I was, like, I want to show what these movies are like. I don't want to do a sanitized version." Using just 20 extras and five stuntmen, Roth shot the five-and-a-half-minute film in three days in Gorlitz, Germany, the same town where "The Reader" was filmed a year earlier, he said. "The whole time we were shooting, we were, like, not only does this have to impress Quentin, this has got to impress the Fuhrer," he said. "Hitler has to see this and go 'This is your finest work.'" "The German crew were going 'God, normally, we can't do this. This is so illegal.' And I was, like, 'this is what they did,'" he said. "This is what Joseph Goebbels would have done, and this has got to be honest and accurate." While only parts of "Nation's Pride" are seen in "Inglourious Basterds," Roth said Tarantino will likely include the complete film as a bonus on the DVD. "Inglourious Basterds," starring Brad Pitt, opens across the United States on August 21. | [
"Who directed the film?",
"What was featured in the propaganda film?",
"When does the film open?",
"What is the name of the film featuring a Nazi propaganda film?",
"Who made the film?",
"When does Basterds open?"
] | [
[
"Quentin Tarantino's"
],
[
"movie promoting the glory of Germany's Third Reich."
],
[
"August 21."
],
[
"\"Inglourious Basterds\""
],
[
"Quentin Tarantino's"
],
[
"August 21."
]
] | "Inglourious Basterds" features Nazi propaganda film .
Film was made by Jewish director Eli Roth, who also stars in "Basterds"
"Basterds," the latest from Quentin Tarantino, opens August 21 . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Rapper Kanye West and his business manager face vandalism, battery and grand theft charges in connection with a scuffle with photographers at Los Angeles International Airport last September. Rapper Kanye West has been charged after an incident last year involving two photographers. The Los Angeles County district attorney declined to file felony charges, but L.A. City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo decided to charge West, 31, and Don Crawley, 33, with misdemeanors Wednesday. Police arrested West on September 11, 2008, after an altercation with two paparazzi, airport police said. The incident, which took place near the airport's Terminal 4, occurred between the rap star and Crawley -- his road manager and bodyguard -- and a photographer and a cameraman who were taking their photos, airport police said. The cameras of the paparazzi were damaged in the altercation, police said. West was charged with one count of vandalism, one count of grand theft and one count of battery, according to Frank Mateljan, the spokesman for the city attorney. Crawley was charged with two counts of vandalism, two counts of grand theft and two counts of battery, Mateljan said. If convicted of all charges, West could face up to two years and six months in jail, while Crawley could face up to five years, he said. Their arraignment hearing is set for April 14 at the Los Angeles Airport Courthouse, he said. West, a 10-time Grammy winner, and Crawley were in the airport to catch a flight to Honolulu, Hawaii, police said. The pair were outside of passenger security screening when the incident occurred. CNN could not immediately reach the star's publicist for comment. The celebrity Web site TMZ posted a video of the incident shot by one of its reporters, who was also in the terminal when the altercation occurred. The video was short and chaotic, and the man whom TMZ identifies as West never shows his face, which is shrouded in the hood of a gray sweatshirt. According to the Web site, after West grabbed the camera from the photographer, Crawley took it from him, leaving the rap star with the lighting component. The video shows the man in the gray sweatshirt and another man in a red sweatshirt -- whom TMZ identifies as Crawley -- each smashing parts of a camera on the ground. Then the man in red approaches the camera as it is filming. He reaches out for the camera, and it appears a struggle ensues. As airport officials arrive, the man walks off. TMZ reported that after the incident with the first photographer, Crawley grabbed the TMZ reporter's camera and allegedly broke it. Police stopped West and Crawley as they tried to leave to go through security to board the plane, the Web site said. TMZ is partly owned by AOL, part of CNN's parent company, Time Warner. West quickly became a hip-hop star after his first album, "College Dropout," debuted in 2004, earning him a best rap album Grammy that year. He twice matched that feat with 2005's "Late Registration" and 2007's "Graduation." West also has won three best rap song Grammys for his hits "Jesus Walks," "Diamonds from Sierra Leone" and "Good Life." His other four Grammys include two best rap solo performance awards, one for best rap performance by a duo or group, and one for best R&B song for his role in helping write "You Don't Know My Name," a song performed by Alicia Keys. The platinum rapper is also known for controversial outbursts, most notably in 2005, when he went off script during an NBC telethon for victims of Hurricane Katrina, saying, "George Bush doesn't care about black people." | [
"when Kanye West and his manager charged with vandalism?",
"what have TMZ?",
"Who is charged?",
"who get grammy winning?",
"who charged with vandalism?"
] | [
[
"September 11, 2008,"
],
[
"celebrity Web site"
],
[
"Kanye West"
],
[
"winner, and Crawley were in the airport to catch a flight to Honolulu, Hawaii, police said."
],
[
"Rapper Kanye West and his business manager"
]
] | Kanye West and his manager charged with vandalism, theft and battery .
Pair alleged to have been in scuffle that damaged photography equipment .
If convicted, the Grammy-winning rapper faces more than two years in jail .
TMZ has video that it says is of the incident . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Rob Thomas is a busy guy -- so busy, he apparently hasn't had much time to check in with his Matchbox Twenty bandmates. Rob Thomas prefers to focus on the "musician" side of his career, rather than "celebrity." We only know this because we ran into guitarist Paul Doucette at the BMI Pop Awards in Beverly Hills several weeks ago, where he was picking up a plaque for songwriter of the year. "We're interviewing Rob about his solo album," I told him. "Hey," Doucette exclaimed. "Tell that guy to call me, would you? I didn't even know he was in L.A.!" By the time we met up with Thomas the next day, he and Doucette had already connected over drinks somewhere between midnight and the morning -- musician's hours. Thomas recently released "Cradlesong," his second solo CD. Even though he's clearly excited about it, he spends as much time talking about Matchbox Twenty as he does the solo album he's in town to promote. For the 37-year-old singer-songwriter, it's all interconnected. One has fed into the other since he gained household name status a decade ago, after scoring a massive, Grammy-winning hit with Carlos Santana on "Smooth." Watch Thomas describe the difference between being a celebrity and a musician » The following is an edited version of the interview. CNN: Who has given you the best piece of advice? Rob Thomas: Carlos [Santana] will constantly send you messages out of nowhere. Carlos will call me at 10 at night and be like, "Listen, I had a dream about you, and so much good is happening, but there's dark forces at work, and when you get out of here, I have this woman who wants to cleanse you." I think Carlos' most important piece of advice ever was that he taught me the difference between being a celebrity and being a famous musician. CNN: But some artists don't have that kind of success, and they try for celebrity instead. Thomas: Sure, and sometimes that works -- but none of my favorites have done that. I remember when Matchbox Twenty started years ago, and we had a lot of success, but nobody knew who we were. The first time we did an interview with MTV, it was about how no one knew who we were. We had sold 8 million records. I don't know if we were being naive at the time, but we thought we'd won because our songs were more famous than we were. I'm much more known for the music that I make than what I do with my life. It's never, "Oh yeah, I've been seeing you in [the New York Post gossip column] Page Six at these clubs that you go to" or "I know who you're sleeping with." CNN: When you became famous for being Rob Thomas the solo artist, did that cause problems within the band? Thomas: No. I think the guys would rather it be me than them. None of them want the job, and they realize that it's working now. They have a singer. I can go out and do it [publicity] for them, and they're fine with it. They can stay home. I think there's nothing more attractive than wealth and anonymity. If I'm not out supporting my work, I really don't want people to see me. I go to movie premieres -- my wife and I -- all the time, and nine out of 10 of those movie premieres, much to my publicist's dismay, I get there, but I sneak around the pictures and get into the party [using the back entrance]. If I have a record coming out, I'll go in front of the cameras, and I'll say, "Hi! Hey, I'm at this movie premiere." I liken it to being a switch that I can | [
"Rob Thomas is a member of what band?",
"What is the name of his new album?",
"What is the name of Thomas' new album?",
"What does the singer find attractive?",
"What is the title of Rob Thomas' new album?",
"What singer said \"Nothing more attractive than wealth and anonymity\"?",
"Nothing is more attractive than what?",
"What is the name of the new album?",
"what is the album",
"What does Thomas say about Matchbox Twenty?",
"what is attractive"
] | [
[
"Matchbox Twenty"
],
[
"\"Cradlesong,\""
],
[
"\"Cradlesong,\""
],
[
"wealth and anonymity."
],
[
"\"Cradlesong,\""
],
[
"Rob Thomas"
],
[
"wealth and anonymity."
],
[
"\"Cradlesong,\""
],
[
"\"Cradlesong,\""
],
[
"how no one knew who we were. We had sold 8 million records. I don't know if we were being naive at the time, but we thought we'd won because our songs were more famous than we were."
],
[
"wealth and anonymity."
]
] | Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty has new album out, "Cradlesong"
Thomas says Matchbox Twenty is still very much together .
Singer: "Nothing more attractive than wealth and anonymity" |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Robert Plant and Alison Krauss. Once upon a time, the iconic lead singer of Led Zeppelin and the golden girl of bluegrass would never have been mentioned in the same sentence.
Alison Krauss and Robert Plant's "Raising Sand" was an unlikely collaboration that won five Grammys.
But since they won five Grammy awards -- including album of the year for their surprising collaboration, "Raising Sand" -- their names have been inextricably linked: RobertPlantandAlisonKrauss.
If they were 20 years old and ran in Hollywood circles, tabloids might be calling them Robekrauss or Aliplant.
Plant, however, is 60 -- in fantastic shape, and with a full head of the golden ringlets that became his trademark during the 1970s.
At 37, Krauss is elegant and ethereal. And while both are dead serious when talking about their craft, the rest of the time, they're like two silly junior high kids -- he, the charming prankster with a secret crush, and she, the beautiful prom queen who pretends not to be amused.
Clearly, they're both having the time of their lives, and are excited about their current musical journey -- which pushes each out of their respective comfort zones and into new territory. Now, he's a little bit country and she's a little bit rock 'n' roll. Watch Plant and Krauss rib each other »
I compliment Krauss on her hair as a stylist touches her up. "It's not mine," she whispers.
Two feet away, Plant clears his throat loudly and points to his own golden locks. "Why, your hair looks lovely, too, Robert," I say.
"Well, you know who I am," he replies.
We are in Coldplay's vacated dressing room, two nights before Plant and Krauss swept the evening at the 51st annual Grammy Awards. This is an excerpt from our conversation in the basement of Staples Center in Los Angeles the night of their rehearsal.
CNN: First of all, this is the screwiest collaboration I had ever heard of. How did this happen?
Robert Plant: It's just sheer luck, really. I never sang with anybody before, you know -- only once ever in my life, on "Led Zep IV" with Sandy Denny [the late English folk singer, in 1971]. So this is a whole new thing. I've also been coming to the United States for 40 years -- you wouldn't believe it looking at me -- and I've never worked with Americans! This is all brand new for me.
Alison Krauss: Were we both nervous? We both were. We thought, "What are we going to do in there?" We went into the studio originally saying, "We'll give it three days and see what it's like."
Plant: Alison's reputation is 24 karat, and I'm an old rock 'n' roll singer. Even the band was kind of going, "Oh wow, how is this going to work?" It was great when we kicked in together, and I could just feel the room -- I don't want to say it, but the room lifted!
CNN: Musically, you're polar opposites. How did you blend your different perspectives?
Plant: As we got started, it was Alison's world. She knew how she wanted to proceed, and we exchanged a lot of ideas musically. And then we both agreed that because we both produced records ourselves, that we needed an intermediary to guide -- somebody to separate us, or to make the journey more clear. And Alison knew T Bone Burnett from "O Brother, Where Art Thou," and he kindly enlisted for the gig, and he brought a lot of great songs to the show.
CNN: You challenged one another to sing in different ways than you're used to.
Plant: When she goes up for these wailing notes on stage, that's where I want her to go with this new project -- occasionally visit these places where she | [
"What did Plant and Krauss collaborate on?",
"What did the album win?",
"What award did the duo win at the Grammys?",
"Where was it performed?",
"What did Robert Plant and Alison Krauss collaborate one?"
] | [
[
"\"Raising Sand\""
],
[
"five Grammys."
],
[
"album of the year"
],
[
"51st annual Grammy Awards."
],
[
"\"Raising Sand\""
]
] | Robert Plant, Alison Krauss collaborated on "Raising Sand"
Duo confesses they were nervous working together, but it worked .
Album won album of the year at Grammys .
Plant on Led Zeppelin reunion: 2007 show was "emotional," but that's probably it . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Search warrants filed Thursday in court in Clark County, Nevada, and carried out at properties of Michael Jackson's doctor imply that investigators looking into his death believe the singer was a drug addict. Dr. Conrad Murray was with Michael Jackson on the day that he died. The warrants, signed by District Judge Timothy Williams and given to CNN by Las Vegas affiliate KTNV, say "there is probable cause to believe" that searches would uncover evidence at the Las Vegas home and office of Dr. Conrad Murray of excessive prescribing, prescribing to an addict, excess treatment or prescribing, unprofessional conduct, prescribing to or treating an addict and manslaughter. They cite "probable cause to believe" that the premises contained "records, shipping orders, distribution lists, use records relating to the purchase, transfer ordering, delivery and storage of propofol (Diprivan)." A source told CNN on Monday that the Texas-based cardiologist allegedly gave Jackson the anesthetic propofol -- commonly known by the brand name Diprivan -- in the 24 hours before he died. A source involved in the investigation into Jackson's death has told CNN that investigators found numerous bottles of prescription drugs in his $100,000-a-month rented mansion in Holmby Hills, California. Watch report on the warrants » The items taken from Murray's home included copies of his computer and cell phone hard drives. They were to be turned over to the Los Angeles Police Department, which is leading the investigation into Jackson's death last month at age 50. Murray is the central focus of a federal investigation into the singer's death, a law enforcement official told CNN on Wednesday. Authorities have subpoenaed the records of various doctors who have treated Jackson over the years, but "Dr. [Conrad] Murray is the only one we're looking at," the federal law enforcement official said. The disclosures were among several developments Wednesday in a story that continues to gather steam more than a month after the death of the pop icon on June 25. Other recent developments: • Jackson's father, Joe, acknowledged that a 25-year-old Norwegian performer is Jackson's son -- even as the man himself denied the relationship in various news reports. • Jackson's estate is worth at least $200 million, a source with knowledge of the estate's dealings told CNN. Murray and the drug investigation Despite the comment from the federal law enforcement official, Murray's lawyer does not think an arrest is imminent because autopsy results into Jackson's death are pending. Police have interviewed Murray twice since Jackson's death. Murray's lawyer, Ed Chernoff, said his client is ready to talk to investigators again, but a meeting has not been scheduled. Murray has consistently denied he prescribed or administered anything that could have killed Jackson. Watch a profile of Murray » On Tuesday, investigators searched Murray's home and office in Las Vegas, Nevada. Chernoff said he won't comment on "rumors, innuendo or unnamed sources." Watch CNN's Ted Rowlands report on drug allegation » Meanwhile, Murray failed to make a payment of $15,000 on his $1.65 million home in January and has racked up debt since. If he does not make a payment by mid-August, he will lose his home to foreclosure, a spokeswoman confirmed. "He was to be paid $150,000 a month by Michael Jackson," the spokeswoman said. "He was not [paid] by AEG, the tour promoter, or Jackson, for the two months he worked for them. So he's low on money." Murray has been beset by financial difficulties since graduating from medical school. He filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection in 1992 and accumulated $44,663 in state tax liens in Arizona and California from 1993 until 2003, according to court documents. He has also has been hit with several judgments related to unpaid bills, child support payments and defaults on education loans. On Wednesday, CNN learned Murray was arrested on a charge of domestic violence disorderly conduct in Tucson, Arizona, | [
"What kind of evidence was there?",
"What was found in his home?",
"Who's responsible for Jacksons death?",
"What is Dr Conrad Murray famous for?",
"What is the doctors name?",
"What is Singer's first name?"
] | [
[
"They cite \"probable cause to believe\" that the premises contained \"records, shipping orders, distribution lists, use records relating to the purchase, transfer ordering, delivery and storage of propofol (Diprivan).\""
],
[
"numerous bottles of prescription drugs"
],
[
"Dr. Conrad Murray"
],
[
"was with Michael Jackson on the day that he died."
],
[
"Dr. Conrad Murray"
],
[
"Michael"
]
] | NEW: Search warrants say there is probable evidence of prescribing to an addict .
NEW: Source says numerous prescription drugs found in Michael Jackson's home .
"Dr. [Conrad] Murray is the only one we're looking at," law enforcement official says .
Singer's father confirms Michael had another child, says "he looks like a Jackson" |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama will duel for Super Tuesday votes Thursday night as the Democratic presidential hopefuls face off for the first time together minus former Sen. John Edwards.
Thursday's debate is taking place at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles, California.
The debate -- sponsored by CNN, the Los Angeles Times and Politico -- starts at 8 p.m. ET Thursday on CNN and CNN.com. CNN's Wolf Blitzer is the moderator.
The event is the first Democratic debate since Obama's convincing victory Saturday in South Carolina. On Tuesday, Clinton won the Florida primary, a contest her campaign said helped the senator regain momentum even though it awarded no delegates.
The forum at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood comes hours after the Obama campaign revealed it had raised $32 million in January from roughly 170,000 new donors. That amount will allow Obama to expand his television ad buys greatly in the 20-plus states holding primaries or caucuses Tuesday. Watch a time-lapse construction of the debate set »
The Clinton campaign would not indicate how much money it had raised in the same time period.
Mike Gravel, the other Democratic presidential candidate still in the race, was not invited to participate in the debate because he did not meet certain criteria, including support in national polls. In a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll conducted January 14-17, Gravel received less than 1 percent.
Edwards suspended his presidential run Wednesday in New Orleans, Louisiana, but he didn't endorse any candidate despite what aides described as furious lobbying campaigns by Obama and Clinton.
Thursday's debate may be slightly more restrained than last week's brutal showdown. Following her South Carolina loss, Clinton has largely steered clear of opportunities to take aim at Obama.
Former President Bill Clinton also has avoided criticizing his wife's rival after dominating headlines with his attacks in the days before the South Carolina vote.
The economy is likely to dominate Thursday's debate, as both candidates look to appeal to supporters of Edwards and his brand of economic populism.
Clinton and Obama have split victories in their parties' early-voting states: Obama has won in Iowa and South Carolina, and Clinton has won in New Hampshire, Nevada, Michigan and Florida. But the Michigan and Florida contests awarded no delegates, and all major Democratic presidential candidates pledged to avoid campaigning in those states following national party penalties against them for moving up their contests so early.
Clinton was the only major candidate to appear on the Michigan ballot.
Obama is leading Clinton in the number of pledged delegates -- those awarded based on primary or caucus votes. Clinton has the edge when superdelegates are factored in. (Superdelegates are party leaders and elected officials who are not obligated to support a particular candidate. They can change their decisions at any time leading up to the Democratic National Convention in August.)
To date, Obama has won an estimated 63 national convention delegates as a result of primary or caucus votes, while Clinton has earned an estimated 48 delegates. Clinton, however, has the overall lead in delegates -- 232 to 158 -- when superdelegates are included.
With solid fundraising numbers and a nod from Sen. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts this week, Obama will be making the claim he holds the front-runner title. But Clinton -- who has led in national surveys for much of the race -- will be making her case as well. E-mail to a friend
CNN's Rebecca Sinderbrand contributed to this report. | [
"What happens before Super Tuesday contest?",
"When is the CNN debate being aired?",
"Who suspended their presidential campaign on Wednesday?",
"Who has been suspended?",
"What time will the debate start?",
"Who suspending their campaign?",
"what did the edwards suspend on wednesday?",
"What day are the Super Tuesday contests being held on?",
"When will the debate start?",
"Who will debate?",
"Clinton and Obama will do what?",
"what will democrats face off?",
"Who will be debating?",
"When does the debate start?",
"at what time is the debate",
"who will be attending the Super Tuesday debate?",
"Who suspended their presidential campaign Wednesday?",
"When is the last time the top Democrats are facing off before Super Tuesday?"
] | [
[
"debate"
],
[
"8 p.m. ET Thursday"
],
[
"former Sen. John Edwards."
],
[
"Sen. John Edwards."
],
[
"8 p.m. ET"
],
[
"Edwards"
],
[
"suspended his presidential run"
],
[
"Thursday"
],
[
"8 p.m. ET Thursday on CNN and CNN.com."
],
[
"Hillary Clinton"
],
[
"duel for Super Tuesday"
],
[
"duel for Super Tuesday"
],
[
"Barack Obama"
],
[
"at 8 p.m. ET Thursday"
],
[
"8 p.m. ET Thursday"
],
[
"Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama"
],
[
"Edwards"
],
[
"Thursday night"
]
] | Debate will be last time top Democrats face off before Super Tuesday contests .
Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama to go one-on-one for first time together .
Ex-Sen. John Edwards suspended presidential campaign Wednesday .
Debate will start at 8 ET on Thursday night on CNN and CNN.com . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Seventy days after his sudden death, Michael Jackson will be interred in what may or may not be his final resting place Thursday evening. A private funeral for Michael Jackson will be held Thursday in Glendale, California, his family says. Only his family and closest friends will attend the private burial starting at 7 p.m. PT (10 p.m. ET) inside the ornate Great Mausoleum on the grounds of Forest Lawn cemetery in Glendale, California. They'll then drive to an Italian restaurant eight miles away in Pasadena, California for "a time of celebration," the nine-page engraved invitation said. The first page inside the invitation holds a quote from "Dancing the Dream," a book of essays and poems published by Jackson in 1992: "If you enter this world knowing you are loved and you leave this world knowing the same, then everything that happens in between can be dealt with." Gallery: Invitation for Jackson's service » The news media -- which have closely covered every aspect of Jackson's death -- will be kept at a distance, with their cameras no closer than the cemetery's main gate. The family will provide a limited video feed that will only show mourners arriving. Little is known about the planned ceremony, though CNN has confirmed that singer Gladys Knight -- a longtime friend to Jackson -- will perform. Her song has not been disclosed. The massive mausoleum, which is normally open to tourists, was closed Wednesday as preparations were completed for the funeral. A security guard blocking its entrance said it would reopen to the public on Friday. Fans of Clark Gable, Carole Lombard and dozens of other celebrities buried on the grounds have flocked to Forest Lawn-Glendale for decades, but Jackson may outdraw them all. It is unclear how close tourists will be allowed to Jackson's resting place. Security guards -- aided by cameras -- keep a constant vigil over the graves and crypts, which are surrounded by a world-class collection of art and architecture. The Forest Lawn Web site boasts that the mausoleum, which draws its architectural inspiration from the Campo Santo in Italy, "has been called the "New World's Westminster Abbey" by Time Magazine. Visitors will see "exact replicas of Michelangelo's greatest works such as David, Moses, and La Pieta" and "Leonardo da Vinci's immortal Last Supper re-created in brilliant stained glass; two of the world's largest paintings," the Web site says. Jackson's burial has been delayed by division among Jackson family members, though it was matriarch Katherine Jackson who would make the final decision, brother Jermaine Jackson recently told CNN. He preferred to see his youngest brother laid to rest at his former Neverland Ranch home, north of Los Angeles in Santa Barbara County, California. That idea was complicated by neighbors who vowed to oppose allowing a grave in the rural area -- and by Jackson family members who said the singer would not want to return to the home where he faced child molestation charges, of which he was ultimately acquitted. The mystery of where Michael Jackson would be buried became a media obsession in the weeks after his death. After his body was loaded onto a helicopter at UCLA's Ronald Reagan Medical Center hours following his June 25 death, it stayed in the custody of the Los Angeles County coroner for an autopsy. It was only later disclosed that Jackson's corpse was kept in a refrigerated room at the Hollywood Hills Forest Lawn cemetery until his casket was carried by motorcade to downtown Los Angeles for a public memorial service in the Staples Center arena. Again, speculation about Jackson's whereabouts grew when the media lost track of his casket after his brothers carried it out of sight inside the arena. Though the family has not publicly confirmed where the body was taken, most reports placed it back at the Hollywood Hills Forest Lawn while awaiting his family's decision. Though Thursday's interment may settle one Michael Jackson mystery, a more serious one remains. The coroner announced last week that he had ruled Jackson's death a homicide | [
"What time in PT did the burial begin?",
"When will the burial begin?",
"What caused the burial to be delayed?",
"what has been delayed?",
"When did he die?",
"what was a homicide"
] | [
[
"7 p.m."
],
[
"7 p.m. PT (10 p.m. ET)"
],
[
"division among Jackson family members,"
],
[
"Jackson's burial"
],
[
"June 25"
],
[
"The coroner announced last week that he had ruled Jackson's death a"
]
] | NEW: Michael Jackson burial to begin at 7 p.m. PT (10 p.m. ET)
Jackson's burial has been delayed by division among Jackson family members .
Coroner announced last week that he had ruled Jackson's death a homicide .
No one has been charged in the pop singer's death . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Singer Chris Brown has recorded a song with his girlfriend, Rihanna, after charges were filed against him for allegedly assaulting her, a source close to the record's producer, Polow Da Don, said Thursday. A music producer says Rihanna recorded a duet with Chris Brown, who is accused of assaulting her. The source, who did not wish to be named because she was not authorized to speak on the matter, did not have any further details "My heart goes out to both Chris and Rihanna for what has happened in the past," Da Don said in a statement. "They are both great artists to work with, and I wish them well." The Los Angeles, California, district attorney filed two felony counts against Brown, 19, last week relating to a February 8 incident in which police said he assaulted Rihanna, 21. A police statement said the incident began when Rihanna, whose full name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty, found a text message on Brown's cell phone from "a woman who Brown had a previous sexual relationship with," according to court documents released last week. Brown issued a public apology to his fans last month. "Words cannot begin to express how sorry and saddened I am over what transpired," he said in a statement released by his spokesman. "I am seeking the counseling of my pastor, my mother and other loved ones, and I am committed, with God's help, to emerging a better person." When Brown made his first appearance in court last Thursday, Rihanna's lawyer asked the judge not to prohibit him from having contact with her while he faces the charges. Media reports have said the couple has reunited since the alleged incident; spokespersons for both have neither confirmed nor denied it. Watch some tough love for Rihanna » Brown is due back in court on April 6 for his formal arraignment. If he is convicted, he could face as much as four years and eight months in prison, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office said. The case has been moved to L.A. County Superior Court Judge Patricia Schnegg who signed the search warrant in the case. Brown's attorney, Mark Geragos, requested a prearraignment hearing which is scheduled for March 23 in Schnegg's chambers. Brown is not required to be at the hearing. iReport.com: Chris Brown fans: Share your reaction On Wednesday he withdrew his nominations for two Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards, a spokesman said. Brown, 19, had been nominated for "Favorite Song" and "Favorite Male Singer." "Unfortunately, the controversy surrounding the incident last month has shifted the focus from the music to whether he should be allowed to be among those nominated," the spokesman said in a written statement. "While Chris would like to speak to his fans directly about this and other issues, pending legal proceedings preclude his doing so at this time. Once the matter before him has been resolved, he intends to do so." | [
"what is going to happen to him",
"is she still together with him",
"Who did Brown assault?",
"Who was nominated for two awards?"
] | [
[
"district attorney filed two felony counts against Brown,"
],
[
"Media reports have said the couple has reunited since the alleged incident;"
],
[
"Rihanna,"
],
[
"Chris Brown"
]
] | Music producer says Chris Brown and Rihanna recorded a duet this week .
Charges have been filed against Brown in an alleged assault against Rihanna .
Media reports say the couple has reconciled, but neither has confirmed .
Brown withdrew his nominations for two Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Singer Chris Brown publicly apologized for assaulting his pop star girlfriend, Rihanna, in a video statement posted on his personal Web site Monday. Chris Brown, shown here at his June 22 court appearance, has publicly apologized in a video posted Monday. "I have told Rihanna countless times, and I'm telling you today, that I'm truly, truly sorry in that I wasn't able to handle the situation both differently and better," Brown said. "What I did was unacceptable, 100 percent. I can only ask and pray that you forgive me. Please." Brown, 20, was arrested after an early morning argument inside a rented Lamborghini on a Hollywood street in February. He admitted guilt to a felony assault charge in June in a plea deal under which he will serve five years of probation and do about 1,400 hours of "labor-oriented service." Sentencing is set for August 5. A publicist for Rihanna, whose real name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty, has not responded to CNN requests for comment on the apology. Watch Brown ask for forgiveness » Brown, in the two-minute video, said he had wanted to "publicly express my deepest regret and accept full responsibility" since February, but he remained silent on the advice of his defense lawyer. "Although I will do some interviews and answer some questions in the future, I felt it was time you heard directly from me that I am sorry," he said. "I have tried to live my life in a way which can make those around me proud of me, and until recently, I think I was doing a pretty good job," Brown said. "I wish I had the chance to relive those few moments again, but unfortunately I can't. I cannot go into what happened, and most importantly, I'm not going to sit here and make any excuses." The incident began when Rihanna, who was riding in the sports car driven by Brown, found a text message on his cell phone from "a woman who Brown had a previous sexual relationship with," according to a sworn statement by Los Angeles Police Detective DeShon Andrews. "A verbal argument ensued," followed by the physical attack, the statement said. It went on to describe the assault in great detail, saying Brown punched Rihanna numerous times and put her in a headlock, restricting her breathing and causing her to start to lose consciousness. He threatened to beat her and kill her, according to the statement, and he bit her ear and her fingers. Eventually, "Robyn F. began screaming for help and Brown exited the vehicle and walked away," the statement said. "A resident in the neighborhood heard Robyn F.'s plea for help and called 911, causing a police response. An investigation was conducted and Robyn F. was issued a Domestic Violence Emergency Protective Order." At the end of his statement, the detective said Brown sent a text message nine days later, apologizing. "I take great pride in me being able to exercise self-control, and what I did was inexcusable," Brown said in his video apology. "I am very sad and very ashamed of what I've done. My mother and my spiritual teachers have taught me way better than that." Brown, who lost several product endorsements after his arrest, said he realizes he has "truly been blessed" and he intends "to live my life so that I am truly worthy of the term 'role model.' " "As many of you know, I grew up in a home where there was domestic violence, and I saw firsthand what uncontrolled rage can do," he said. "I have sought and I am continuing to seek help to ensure that what occurred in February can never happen again. And as I sit here today, I can tell you that I will do everything in my power to make sure that it never happens again. And I promise that." His probation requires that | [
"Who was the woman involved in the incident?",
"Was a plea deal struck?",
"Where did Chris Brown apologise?",
"What does Brown say he isn't going to sit making?",
"What did Chris Brown say?",
"Who struck a plea deal last month?",
"Who is his girlfriend?",
"Who posted an apology on their website?",
"Who has posted an apology on his website?"
] | [
[
"Rihanna,"
],
[
"under which he will serve five years of probation and do about 1,400 hours of \"labor-oriented service.\""
],
[
"in a video statement posted on his personal Web site"
],
[
"excuses.\""
],
[
"\"I have told Rihanna countless times, and I'm telling you today, that I'm truly, truly sorry in that I wasn't able to handle the situation both differently and better,\""
],
[
"Chris Brown"
],
[
"Rihanna,"
],
[
"Chris Brown"
],
[
"Chris Brown"
]
] | Chris Brown posts an apology on his Web site .
Brown struck a plea deal last month for incident involving girlfriend Rihanna .
Brown: "I'm not going to sit here and make any excuses" |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Singer Chris Brown, sought by Los Angeles police after an alleged domestic violence incident, turned himself in Sunday, police said.
Chris Brown attends a party saluting music producer Clive Davis in Beverly Hills, California, on Saturday.
Brown, nominated for two Grammy Awards, was a no-show Sunday night at the nationally televised awards show. He was scheduled to perform at the show. His girlfriend, singer Rihanna, abruptly canceled her planned Grammys performance, but neither her spokesman nor the show organizers gave a reason.
"Rihanna is well," her spokesman said in a written statement. "Thank you for concern and support."
Police have not identified the alleged victim, who they said "suffered visible injuries and identified Brown as her attacker."
Brown, 19, and Rihanna, 20, were seen together Saturday night at a pre-Grammys dinner at the Beverly Hills Hilton, about five miles from where police said the alleged incident happened at 12:30 a.m. Sunday.
The police statement said Brown and a woman were in a vehicle near Hollywood's Hancock Park when "they became involved in an argument."
"After stopping his car, Brown and the woman got out and the argument escalated," police said.
After receiving a 911 call at about 12:30 a.m. Sunday, officers found the woman at the scene of the alleged fight, but Brown had left, the department said.
Investigators were treating the incident as a possible felony battery case, police said.
Executives with Brown's record label at the Grammy Awards told CNN they knew nothing about the incident and declined further comment.
Brown was nominated for two Grammys this year, including in the best male R&B vocal performance category for his song "Take You Down."
He also shares a best pop collaboration with vocals nomination with Jordin Sparks for "No Air."
The introduction to the CBS broadcast of the Grammys, apparently pre-taped, listed both Brown and Rihanna as performers. | [
"What is the name of Brown's girlfriend?",
"what did the police say",
"where was he to perform",
"who cancelled the performance",
"Which event did Brown fail to show up at?"
] | [
[
"Rihanna,"
],
[
"\"After stopping his car, Brown and the woman got out and the argument escalated,\""
],
[
"at the Grammy Awards"
],
[
"singer Rihanna,"
],
[
"Grammy Awards,"
]
] | NEW: Police: Brown turned himself in after woman accused him of attacking her .
Brown a no-show at Grammy Awards, where he was to perform Sunday .
Brown, woman were in vehicle when alleged fight started, authorities say .
Police haven't named woman; Brown's girlfriend, Rihanna, cancels performance . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Singer Natalie Cole underwent kidney transplant surgery at a Los Angeles, California, hospital Tuesday, according to a statement from her publicist. Natalie Cole holds one of the Grammys she received in February for "Still Unforgettable." Cole, daughter of legendary singer-actor Nat King Cole, has been receiving kidney dialysis three times a week since September, the statement said. Cole was "resting comfortably" at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, it said. "Ms. Cole's physicians have advised her to postpone her summer tour dates as she recuperates for the next three to four months," it said. Rescheduled concert dates will be announced soon for Cole's tour, which is in support of her current double-Grammy-winning CD, "Still Unforgettable." | [
"What surgery did Natalie Cole undergo?",
"For how long has she been receiving kidney dialysis?",
"When did she undergo the surgery?",
"What surgery did Natalie Cole undergo on Tuesday?",
"Which CD was her tour scheduled for?",
"What is the name of the CD she has scheduled a tour for?",
"What kind of surgery did Natalie Cole undergo?",
"In which month did Natalie Cole begin dialysis?",
"What award has Cole won?"
] | [
[
"kidney transplant"
],
[
"three times a week since September,"
],
[
"Tuesday,"
],
[
"kidney transplant"
],
[
"\"Still Unforgettable.\""
],
[
"\"Still Unforgettable.\""
],
[
"kidney transplant"
],
[
"September,"
],
[
"Grammys"
]
] | Natalie Cole underwent kidney transplant surgery Tuesday .
Singer has been receiving kidney dialysis since September .
Grammy-winning Cole scheduled a tour for CD "Still Unforgettable" |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Smoking in youth-rated movies has not declined despite a pledge two years ago by Hollywood studios to encourage producers to show less "gratuitous smoking," according to an anti-smoking group. The American Medical Association Alliance has been trying to get movie studios to make smoking-free films. The American Medical Association Alliance, pointing to research that big-screen smoking leads teens to pick up the tobacco habit, called for an R rating for any movie with smoking scenes. The head of the group that gives U.S. movies their ratings, however, said the smoke has been clearing from youth-rated movies, a result of the film industry's sensitivity to the issue. The alliance, the medical association's advocacy arm, launched a summer campaign this week aimed at publicly shaming studios into making smoke-free films. "Research has shown that one-third to one-half of all young smokers in the United States can be attributed to smoking these youth see in movies," said Dr. Jonathan Fielding, head of the Los Angeles County Public Health Department. Fielding cited another study that he said "found that adolescents whose favorite movie stars smoked on screen are significantly more likely to be smokers themselves and to have a more accepting attitude toward smoking." The Motion Picture Association of America, the industry group that issues ratings and parental guidance for U.S. films, added smoking scenes as a factor in ratings two years ago, but Fielding said it has not made a difference. "In all, 56 percent of the top box office movies with smoking released between May 2007 and May 2009 were youth-rated films -- G, PG or PG-13," he said. Joan Graves, who chairs the Motion Picture Association's movie rating committee, offered her own statistics, based on all of the 900 films rated each year, not just the top movies included in Fielding's numbers. The association has given no G ratings in the past two years to a movie with smoking, Graves said. Overall, 55 percent of the movies rated in the past two years showed some smoking, but 75 percent of those with smoking scenes were given R ratings, Graves said. Twenty-one percent were rated PG-13 and the remaining 5 percent were PG, she said. A G movie is deemed suitable for all audiences, while a PG rating is a signal to parents that a film may include some material they might consider inappropriate for children. PG-13 indicates a stronger warning that some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. No one under 17 can be admitted to see an R movie without a parent or guardian. American Medical Association Alliance President Sandi Frost used as her chief example of a movie with "gratuitous smoking" this month's blockbuster "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," which was rated PG-13 "for intense sequences of action and violence, and some partial nudity." "Millions of children have been exposed to the main star of the film, Hugh Jackman, with a cigar in his mouth in various scenes," Frost said. "I'm willing to bet that not one child would have enjoyed that movie or Mr. Jackman's performance any less if he hadn't been smoking." A spokesman for Twentieth Century Fox, the studio responsible for the Wolverine movie series, said Jackman's cigar was never lit and it was limited to just two scenes. In one scene, the cigar is shot out of his mouth, prompting Jackman's Wolverine character to suggest its loss would lead to clean living -- an anti-smoking statement -- the studio spokesman said. He said that while the Wolverine character has a cigar in his mouth in almost every panel of the comic book series, producers made "a conscious decision" to limit the cigar in the movie. The American Medical Association Alliance, hoping to draw studio executives' attention, hired a mobile billboard to drive around the major studios this week. "The billboard shows a teenage girl asking the question, 'Which movie studios will cause me to smoke this | [
"who wants film rated r",
"Since when Hollywood started against smoking?",
"What does AMAA say?",
"Who wants films with smoking to be rated R?",
"What rating would the AMAA like for films that portray smoking?",
"American Medical Association Alliance wants films with smoking to be given which rating?",
"Hollywood rating organization says smoking in movies has what?",
"AMAA says that kids who watch smoking often do what?",
"For what does AMAA stand?"
] | [
[
"The American Medical Association Alliance,"
],
[
"years ago"
],
[
"big-screen smoking leads teens to pick up the tobacco habit,"
],
[
"American Medical Association Alliance"
],
[
"R"
],
[
"R"
],
[
"not declined"
],
[
"pick up the tobacco habit,"
],
[
"American Medical Association Alliance"
]
] | American Medical Association Alliance wants films with smoking to be rated R .
AMAA says that kids who watch smoking often turn to habit .
Hollywood rating organization says smoking in movies has declined . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Some lucky Michael Jackson fans got the e-mails they were hoping for Sunday, saying they've won two free tickets to Tuesday's memorial service. Some memorial tickets went out to "friends and family" on Sunday. "OMG OMG OMG OMG i got tickets to the michael jackson memorial service!!!" Deka Motanya wrote Sunday afternoon in a Twitter message. The 8,750 fans chosen were summoned to Dodger Stadium Monday to pick up their tickets and have a wristband placed on their arms to prevent them from reselling them. The Michael Jackson memorial, set for 10 a.m. (1 p.m. ET) Tuesday in the Staples Center arena, is expected to be a star-studded and emotional tribute to the entertainer, who died June 25. Twitter.com served as a seismograph Sunday as fans anxiously watched their inboxes for an e-mail from AEG Live, the memorial organizer and Staples Center owner. More than five hours after the notifications were to be sent, none had been received. "Come on and let me know, Staples ... did I win tickets to Michael Jackson's memorial?" read one tweet posted at 3 p.m., four hours after the e-mails were supposed to start flowing. One woman wrote she "is checking her e-mail anxiously to see if she got tickets to the Michael Jackson memorial at the Staples Center." Just before 5 p.m. (8 p.m. ET), Twitter erupted with messages of excitement: "I won the Michael Jackson tickets for Tuesday!!!! Heading to LA tmrw!!!!" read one tweet that linked to a photo of an iPhone screen with the e-mail. Watch reporters prepare for Tuesday's service » "Apparently my dad's friend who hates Michael Jackson, may have won tickets tu the memorial service... Step-mom's freaking out..!" Other messages came from disappointed fans who did not get the e-mails: "I guess i didnt make the drawing to win tickets to Michael Jackson Memorial!!! go figure, I'm sadden and hurt :-(" The odds of winning the tickets were long -- just one of every 182 were chosen. Organizers used a computer to choose 8,750 names from 1.6 million who registered online since Friday. Motanya, 27, works in a doctor's office in San Francisco, California. She scrambled Sunday night to line up plane tickets so she and her boyfriend could fly to Los Angeles Monday to claim her tickets. "Oh yeah, I'm going," she told CNN. "I'm e-mailing my boss saying I've got to leave early because I'm going to L.A." Each winner gets two tickets, bringing the number awarded in the lottery to 17,500. Just 11,000 of those are for seats inside the Staples Center, while the other 6,500 are for viewing the memorial telecast across the street at the Nokia Theater. iReport.com: "Surreal journey" to get tickets Winner must meet other requirements "in order to avoid the reselling of tickets," according to a news release from the Jackson family. The notification gives them a secret code and instructions to appear at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday to claim their tickets. Along with their tickets, they will get the wristbands "one of which will be placed on their wrist at that time," the family statement said. "Fans attending the memorial service must have both a valid ticket AND a wristband," the Jackson family statement said. "Wristbands that have been ripped, taped or otherwise mutilated will be void." The Jackson family set aside 9,000 Staples Center seats to give out to people they choose, according to organizers. Some people were seen picking up those "friends and family" tickets at Dodger Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Two wristbands, one blue and one gold, were given out with each ticket. Ticketholders were instructed that they must wear the wristbands to validate their tickets. Police have said no one will be allowed near the Staples | [
"What erupted with messages of excitement?",
"how many tickets does each winnner get",
"What are the odds of winning?",
"How many tickets does each winner get?",
"What time did Twitter erupt with messages?",
"what were the odds",
"how many have been awarded",
"What does each winner get?"
] | [
[
"Twitter"
],
[
"two"
],
[
"one of every 182"
],
[
"two"
],
[
"Just before 5 p.m. (8 p.m. ET),"
],
[
"one of every 182"
],
[
"8,750"
],
[
"two free tickets to Tuesday's memorial service."
]
] | Just before 5 p.m. (8 p.m. ET), Twitter erupted with messages of excitement .
Each winner gets two tickets, bringing the number awarded in the lottery to 17,500 .
The odds of winning the tickets were long -- just one of every 182 were chosen .
Police: No one will be allowed near memorial without tickets or media credentials . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Stories about Sly Stone usually start with the word "reclusive." Sly Stone sometimes takes the stage at Los Angeles clubs with daughter Novena and her group, BabyStone. Don't call him that anymore, because the superstar who blended funk, rock, soul and psychedelic sounds in the 1960s and '70s before disappearing from the scene in the '80s is not in hiding, his youngest daughter said. Stone's media shyness in recent decades earned him a comparison to the late billionaire recluse Howard Hughes, but he's just been living his life and making his music out of the glare of great expectations that superstars suffer. "It's not like he wasn't making music," said Novena Carmel, his 27-year-old daughter. "He was enjoying his life and riding motorcycles, one of his passions." Now 66, Sly Stone is talking to interviewers again and sometimes taking the stage at Los Angeles clubs with Novena and her group, BabyStone. "She is the force that keeps him straight," said Anthony Valadez, a disc jockey with Los Angeles public radio station KCRW. "I think it's her energy and their bond that is so sacred that keeps him in line. That's what brings Sly out." The Sly and the Family Stone founder gave a rare interview to KCRW's "Morning Becomes Eclectic." Though it airs Monday, the interview was taped days ahead -- given Stone's 40-year reputation for not showing up for concerts and interviews. Sly Stone -- who was Sylvester Stewart before changing his name as a radio DJ -- didn't reminisce in the interview about past troubles. Guest host Chris Douridas kept the conversation about the music. He said he was a child, performing in his family's gospel group, The Stewart Four, when he first realized the power music has over people. It happened as he sang "On the Battlefield" during a Sam Cooke show at the Oakland Auditorium when he was 4. "Towards the end of the song, people starting running down the aisle and I didn't know what was going on," he said. "I didn't know what was going on. I didn't know they were just happy. So, I turned around and ran, and I've been running ever since." Stone now says he didn't know then where he was heading. "Where I was is where I was," he said. Stone wrote his first hit song for someone else. Bobby Freeman made "Come On and Swim" a Top 10 pop hit in summer 1964. When he formed Sly and the Family Stone in 1966, the mix of race and gender was unusual for its time. "It was on purpose -- that's what I intended to do," Stone said. He recruited two white musicians -- drummer Greg Errico and saxophonist Jerry Martini. Though African-American women were mostly used as backup singers back then, Cynthia Robinson played the trumpet. Larry Graham's revolutionary style of "slapping" his electric bass guitar strings added to the Family Stone's groundbreaking sound. The songs appealed to white and blacks equally and regularly topped both the pop and R&B charts. Stone's lyrics often carried dual meanings. "Hot Fun in the Summertime" -- released in summer 1969 -- might be a tribute to the fun of summer days to one listener, while another might see satire about the summertime race riots of the late '60s. Stone set the stage for other superstars to follow, but the band dissolved after one hot decade and success became as elusive as Stone. Novena may understand her dad better than anyone these days. She's lured him back to the stage for several performances, which she avoids calling concerts. With those, "people expect certain things," such as wanting performers to be what they were 30 years ago, she said. Instead, it's the "Sly Stone Variety Show," which allows her father "to do whatever he wants to do in the moment. | [
"What is the name of Stone's daughter?",
"What is BabyStone?",
"What is his reputation?",
"What is Stone doing again?",
"Who is he taking to the stage with?",
"What kind of reputation does Stone have?",
"who accompanied him on stage"
] | [
[
"Novena"
],
[
"Novena and her group,"
],
[
"not showing up for concerts and interviews."
],
[
"talking to interviewers"
],
[
"daughter Novena and her group, BabyStone."
],
[
"\"reclusive.\""
],
[
"daughter Novena and her group, BabyStone."
]
] | Stone is talking to interviewers again years after gaining a reputation as a recluse .
Stone takes the stage with his daughter, Novena, and her group, BabyStone .
Once known for being a no-show, Stone now shows up for performances early . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Striking Hollywood writers will be back at their keyboards Wednesday after voting overwhelmingly to end a 100-day walkout that essentially shut down the entertainment industry. Writers Guild of America member Steven Binder shows his approval as he votes Tuesday in Beverly Hills, California. More than 92 percent of the Writers Guild of America members who cast ballots Tuesday in Los Angeles and New York voted to end their work stoppage over residuals for writing in the digital age, including new media and the Internet. The new deal is for three years. "The strike is over. Our membership has voted, and writers can go back to work," said Patric Verrone, president of the WGA's West chapter. Michael Winship, president of WGA's East guild, said, "The success of this strike is a significant achievement not only for ourselves but the entire creative community, now and in the future." WGA members walked off the job November 5 after talks broke down over how writers are paid for the use of their material on the Internet and DVDs, among other issues. "It is not all that we hoped for, and it is not all we deserve," Verrone said when a tentative deal was announced Saturday. But he added, "This is the best deal this guild has bargained for in 30 years." Leslie Moonves, chief executive officer of CBS Corp., told The Associated Press, "At the end of the day, everybody won. "It was a fair deal and one that the companies can live with, and it recognizes the large contribution that writers have made to the industry." The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents production companies and media conglomerates, has had no comment on the agreement. The vote meant that the Academy Awards ceremony on February 24 will be the usual scripted gala, the AP reported. "I am ecstatic that the 80th Academy Awards presentation can now proceed full steam ahead," without "hesitation or discomfort" for the nominees, Sid Ganis, president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which stages the Oscars, told the AP. As long as the strike continued, the traditional Oscars spectacular was in doubt since many Hollywood stars would not cross WGA picket lines. It's unclear how soon new episodes of scripted programs will start appearing, because production won't begin until scripts are completed, the AP reported. It will take at least four weeks for producers to get the first post-strike episodes of comedies back on the air; dramas will take six to eight weeks, the AP said. Verrone said the WGA achieved two of three goals through negotiations with the studios. Watch Verrone explain what he thinks the strike accomplished » The first goal relates to writers' "jurisdiction" in new media, Verrone said, meaning that any content written by guild members specifically for new media, such as the Internet or cell phones, will be covered by their contract. The second goal relates to reuse of content in new media, Verrone said. The agreement bases payment for reuses on a distributor's gross formula for residuals, "so that when they get paid, we get paid," he said. It is the "first time in our history that a new delivery system pays on a residual formula superior to the prior existing system," Verrone said. The third goal, which Verrone said the guild did not achieve, was to shore up writers' shares of the revenue from animation and reality television. "Giving up animation and reality was a heartbreaking thing for me personally," he said. "But it was more important that we make a deal that benefited the membership, the town as a whole, that got people back to work and that solved the biggest problems in new media." E-mail to a friend | [
"What percentage of writers vote?",
"what did writers vote",
"When did the strike begin?",
"who are in writers guild of america",
"when is oscar show",
"what did the 92 percent writer vote about?",
"when did the strike began?",
"What Oscar show will go on as usual?",
"what is the issue involved in walkout?"
] | [
[
"More than 92 percent"
],
[
"end their work stoppage over residuals for writing in the digital age,"
],
[
"November 5"
],
[
"Steven Binder"
],
[
"February 24"
],
[
"to end their work stoppage over residuals for writing in the digital age,"
],
[
"November 5"
],
[
"Academy Awards"
],
[
"over how writers are paid for the use of their material on the Internet and DVDs, among other"
]
] | More than 92 percent of writers vote to end 100-day walkout and return to work .
Writers Guild of America strike began November 5 .
Issues in walkout included handling of writers' work for new media such as Internet .
Report: February 24 Oscar show will go on as usual . |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Subtlety may not be in Kevin Smith's vocabulary, but a lot of off-color words are. They're sprinkled liberally throughout the writer-director's new movie, "Zack and Miri Make a Porno." Kevin Smith can't understand why the word "porno" is still a hot button for some people. The comedy stars Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks as roommates and longtime friends who decide that the solution to their money problems is to make a porn film. Strong language is nothing new for Smith, whose first film, "Clerks," put him on the map with its merrily scatological musings. Though the film had little violence or exposed skin, it was initially given an NC-17 rating by the MPAA based on the language. "Zack and Miri" was also a possibility for an NC-17, considered the kiss of death by studios because of distributing and marketing challenges, until Smith argued its merits to the ratings board and received an R. Since "Clerks," Smith's films have been almost wistfully romantic ("Chasing Amy," "Jersey Girl") or as joyfully profane as "Clerks" ("Dogma," "Clerks II"). "Zack and Miri," which opens Friday, is a blend of the two Smiths: full of sex and colorful language, but with a sweet side. Indeed, Banks told CNN not to be fooled by the film's tawdry talk. "Kevin Smith is a huge romantic," she said. "He likes to wrap up the romance in profanity, but the guy is more sweet than spicy." Watch why "Zack and Miri" is so controversial » In an interview with CNN, Smith, 38, cheerfully acknowledged that this is not a film for prudes. The following is an edited version of the conversation. Kevin Smith: There's a bit of language in this picture. I'm not going to lie to you. ... I don't even think of it as salty. To me, it's just like part of a lexicon. CNN: Well, you do hear it a lot. Smith: Yeah, yeah, yeah, no doubt. We're raising our kid in a household where people curse, as an experiment. And I think our experiment is working, because I don't tame my language around the kid. I don't run up to her and yell [expletive] in her face, but I don't go out of my way to like not curse in front of her. And honestly, ironically, she doesn't curse. And I've tried to get her to curse for like friends and family, because it's always entertaining to hear a child curse, and she doesn't do it. CNN: Well ... I almost hesitate to ask, but tell me what the genesis was of the film. Smith: It's a movie I've been researching since I was like 12 years old, to be honest with you. And sometimes three or four times a day. ... But it only really came together when I saw Seth Rogen in "40-Year-Old Virgin" and instantly fell in love with him and was like, "I got to work with this guy." ... So I started thinking about this movie, and immediately it kind of crystallized. Seeing Seth and thinking about porn, I was like, boom, "Zack and Miri Make a Porno." I wrote the script with him in mind. And by the time I finished with it, "Knocked Up" was about to open, and the word was it was going to be huge, so I was like, we missed our window. This guy's going to be famous, and he'll want nothing to do with this movie. But I sent him an e-mail anyway where I said, "Look, man, I wrote this flick with you in mind. Please give it a read." ... And I got an e-mail back within five minutes that said, " | [
"What is the name of the new movie?",
"Who can't understand why profanity bothers some people?",
"What kind of movie is Zack and Miri Make a Porno?",
"Who is Kevin Smith?"
] | [
[
"\"Zack and Miri Make a Porno.\""
],
[
"Kevin Smith"
],
[
"comedy"
],
[
"writer-director's"
]
] | Kevin Smith is a fan of being bluntly honest .
Writer-director can't understand why some words, profanity bother people .
New movie "Zack and Miri Make a Porno" has rough language but sweet side . |
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