L.A. Times - Entertainment News

Keith Olbermann abruptly departs MSNBC
Time for Comcast to up commitment to NBC, local news
'Captain America' title will be changed to 'The First Avenger' in Russia, South Korea
The first to see films: Sundance's film festival gatekeepers
John Lennon's private letters to be published in 2012
On the Media: Comcast's local-news pledge rings hollow
At Sundance, a science documentary revives language questions
Roger Ebert, before and after: Movie critic reveals his new prosthetic jaw
'The Way Back' and its long trek to the screen
Visual effects Bake-offs and a party for the ages

Posted: 21 Jan 2011 08:47 PM PST

The network did not provide a reason for his abrupt departure, but Olbermann and his bosses have clashed in recent months.

Time for Comcast to up commitment to NBC, local news

Posted: 21 Jan 2011 09:44 PM PST

The Big Picture does not think much of Comcast's promises to beef up local news and public affairs broadcasting once it takes over NBC.

'Captain America' title will be changed to 'The First Avenger' in Russia, South Korea

Posted: 21 Jan 2011 01:35 PM PST

Those involved in the decision are being careful to frame the move as a matter of brand management and consumer awareness and not as a decision tilted by cultural or political winds.

The first to see films: Sundance's film festival gatekeepers

Posted: 21 Jan 2011 09:58 PM PST

A pre-screener's lot is double-sided. Yes, there's the possibility of being the one to discover a great new movie. But there are a lot of movies out there.

A pre-screener's lot is double-sided. Yes, there's the possibility of being the one to discover a great new movie. But there are a lot of movies out there.

John Lennon's private letters to be published in 2012

Posted: 21 Jan 2011 04:43 PM PST

Orion bought the rights from Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono, to about 150 letters filling hundreds of pages that Lennon wrote over the years to friends, fans and business associates.

On the Media: Comcast's local-news pledge rings hollow

Posted:

Given the hucksterism that qualifies as reporting in the 'public interest,' don't expect much improvement at KNBC-TV after the latest media mega-merger.

Among the many promises made in its just-approved takeover of NBC Universal, Comcast Corp. pledged to sustain and even add hundreds of hours to the news and public affairs programming at the 10 TV stations NBC owns around the country.

At Sundance, a science documentary revives language questions

Posted:

'Project Nim' explores the life of a chimpanzee who was raised in a human family in the 1970s.

Among the offerings at this year's Sundance Film Festival is a documentary about a trailblazing chimpanzee named Nim Chimpsky who played a key role in the scientific debate over what it means to be human.

Roger Ebert, before and after: Movie critic reveals his new prosthetic jaw

Posted: 21 Jan 2011 02:50 PM PST

Compare the new made-for-TV look with pictures of Ebert over the years.

'The Way Back' and its long trek to the screen

Posted:

Of necessity, a 1940-set tale of gulag escape is made and marketed in old-fashioned ways. And that seems to suit director Peter Weir and cast member Ed Harris.

Of necessity, a 1940-set tale of gulag escape is made and marketed in old-fashioned ways. And that seems to suit director Peter Weir and cast member Ed Harris.