L.A. Times - Entertainment News

Jason West and Vincent Zampella's new call of duty
'Date Night' solid, 'How to Train Your Dragon' durable at box office
Betty White's golden touch keeps her red-hot
'Treme' premiere offers less blood, and way more music, than 'The Wire'
Geffen Playhouse announces 2010-11 season
Brooke White and Justin Gaston to duet on Wednesday's 'Idol'
'The Amazing Race': Marching to the beat of a different drummer
Will Tina Fey and Steve Carell send out for 'Mail-Order Groom'?
'Letters to God' is preachy, not inspirational
Live review: Owl City at Club Nokia

Jason West and Vincent Zampella's new call of duty

Posted: 12 Apr 2010 12:00 AM PDT

The duo behind the popular video game franchise plan a new company -- Respawn Entertainment -- and a distribution linkup with Electronic Arts.

In the video game world, "respawn" means a character that was killed off has come back to life.

'Date Night' solid, 'How to Train Your Dragon' durable at box office

Posted: 12 Apr 2010 12:00 AM PDT

The comedy with Steve Carell and Tina Fey pulls in an estimated $27.1 million. 'Dragon,' in its third weekend, is on path to success.

The comedy with Steve Carell and Tina Fey pulls in an estimated $27.1 million. 'Dragon,' in its third weekend, is on path to success.

Betty White's golden touch keeps her red-hot

Posted: 12 Apr 2010 12:00 AM PDT

The multiple Emmy winner, veteran of 'The Golden Girls' and 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show,' is in a renaissance at 88.

In the space of one recent week, Betty White hopped in the shower with Hugh Jackman on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno," watched a Chippendales dancer gyrate for her on "Ellen" and told Larry King she didn't know the meaning of the word "retirement."

'Treme' premiere offers less blood, and way more music, than 'The Wire'

Posted: 12 Apr 2010 07:49 AM PDT

At some point in the 10 episodes that make up this new show's debut season, a New Orleans boogie woogie or bounce cut will accompany a murder, some hot sex or a new birth.

Geffen Playhouse announces 2010-11 season

Posted: 12 Apr 2010 12:00 AM PDT

The works include two local and two world premieres. Playwrights include Lynn Nottage, Tracy Letts, Jane Anderson and Neil LaBute.

Tackling themes such as rape, an office shooting and kinky sex, the Geffen Playhouse 's new season isn't for the faint of heart or the easily offended.

Brooke White and Justin Gaston to duet on Wednesday's 'Idol'

Posted: 12 Apr 2010 08:27 AM PDT

In keeping with season 9's tradition of "American Idol" alumni performing on results night, Wednesday's show will not only feature last year's runner-up Adam Lambert, but season 7's fifth-place finisher, Brooke White, will make an appearance, dueting with "If I Can Dream" star Justin Gaston.

'The Amazing Race': Marching to the beat of a different drummer

Posted: 12 Apr 2010 07:46 AM PDT

The five remaining teams left behind Penang, Malaysia, on this week's episode of "The Amazing Race" for a leg in Singapore that tested the teams' abilities to count and count out beats but also proved just how each of them truly marches to the beat of a different drummer.

Will Tina Fey and Steve Carell send out for 'Mail-Order Groom'?

Posted: 12 Apr 2010 08:32 AM PDT

With "Date Night" performing reasonably well at the box office this weekend, it's natural to ask when Steve Carell and Tina Fey might come together again on the big screen.

'Letters to God' is preachy, not inspirational

Posted: 12 Apr 2010 12:00 AM PDT

Based on a true story about a boy with brain cancer, the film, co-written and co-directed by the boy's father, has little tension or filmmaking flair.

It is tough to write about "Letters to God" without feeling like you're kicking a kitten. Based on a true story about a boy with brain cancer -- co-written and co-directed by the boy's father, Patrick Doughtie -- the film is meant to convey a message of spiritual faith, hope and inspiration. Directed by David Nixon, who also made the successful faith-based film " Fireproof," the film has sincerity to spare but precious little dramatic tension or filmmaking flare, rendering it more laborious than labor of love.