L.A. Times - Entertainment News

The 42 most memorable pop music moments of 2009: Part I
Brittany Murphy remembered as hard-working but fragile
Album review: Mary J. Blige's 'Stronger with Each Tear'
Alaina Reed Hall dies at 63; actress was Olivia Robinson on 'Sesame Street'
Polanski exit strategy suggested by court
Is 'Avatar' the new best picture front-runner?
Twitter said to be profitable after making Internet-search deals
Sumner Redstone's National Amusements closes deal to sell 29 theaters to Rave Cinemas
Bob Willoughby dies at 82; still photographer shot on movie sets
'The Vampire Diaries': Mia Kirshner lands recurring role

The 42 most memorable pop music moments of 2009: Part I

Posted: 21 Dec 2009 11:37 AM PST

The first in a series of the best, the worst and the most unexpected things to happen across the fractured pop landscape.

Brittany Murphy remembered as hard-working but fragile

Posted: 22 Dec 2009 12:00 AM PST

The actress, found dead on Sunday, kept a busy schedule even as she acknowledged health issues. Film companies are weighing how to market her latest projects, including 'Something Wicked.'

The actress, found dead on Sunday, kept a busy schedule even as she acknowledged health issues. Film companies are weighing how to market her latest projects, including 'Something Wicked.'

Album review: Mary J. Blige's 'Stronger with Each Tear'

Posted: 21 Dec 2009 07:14 PM PST

Don't mess with a recently recovered woman on the dance floor.

Alaina Reed Hall dies at 63; actress was Olivia Robinson on 'Sesame Street'

Posted: 22 Dec 2009 12:00 AM PST

Alaina Reed Hall, a singer and actress who played Olivia Robinson on "Sesame Street" for a dozen years beginning in the mid-1970s and later played Rose Holloway on the situation comedy "227," has died. She was 63.

Polanski exit strategy suggested by court

Posted: 22 Dec 2009 12:00 AM PST

In rejecting the fugitive director's bid to have his 1977 child-sex prosecution dismissed, the California 2nd District Court of Appeal says he could request that he be sentenced in absentia.

A state appellate court Monday rejected Roman Polanski's bid to have his 1977 child-sex prosecution dismissed but outlined a way that could end the long-running case without Polanski serving more time behind bars or returning to the American justice system he fled three decades ago.

Is 'Avatar' the new best picture front-runner?

Posted: 21 Dec 2009 12:33 PM PST

The academy that showered a record-tying 14 nominations and 11 Oscars on James Cameron's last film, "Titanic," may be ready to do it all over again.

Twitter said to be profitable after making Internet-search deals

Posted: 22 Dec 2009 12:00 AM PST

The social-networking site will get about $25 million from agreements with Google and Microsoft, enough to push it into the black for the first time, sources say.

Twitter Inc. will make about $25 million from Internet-search deals with Google Inc. and Microsoft Corp. announced in October, enough to push the site into profitability, people familiar with the matter said.

Sumner Redstone's National Amusements closes deal to sell 29 theaters to Rave Cinemas

Posted: 22 Dec 2009 12:00 AM PST

A transaction for the remaining six theaters -- which includes the Bridge Cinema de Lux multiplex in Los Angeles -- is expected to be finalized in the next couple of weeks.

Sumner Redstone's family-owned movie theater circuit, National Amusements Inc., has closed a deal to unload 29 of the 35 non-core cinema assets it is selling to Texas-based Rave Cinemas. Financial terms weren't disclosed.

Bob Willoughby dies at 82; still photographer shot on movie sets

Posted: 22 Dec 2009 12:00 AM PST

He created enduring images of film stars, including his muse Audrey Hepburn, and jazz musicians.

Bob Willoughby, who created iconic portraits of his muse, Audrey Hepburn, and dozens of other celebrities as one of the first still photographers assigned to capture life on Hollywood film sets, has died. He was 82.