Taking the Video Music Awards to the Web
MTV is taking its Video Music Awards beyond television with broadband coverage, featuring bonus performances and other original online coverage, The Associated Press reported. The Internet video channel MTV Overdrive (mtv.com/overdrive) will include additional coverage of arrivals, parties and interviews, and will allow viewers to "relive and remix" highlights from the show, to be broadcast at 8 p.m. Sunday from Miami. "It's a way to give people a more complete experience," said Van Toffler, president of MTV Networks Music Group. Meanwhile, the celebrations and performances leading up to the awards show, with Diddy, above, as host, are hitting a snag with the expected arrival of a hurricane, The Miami Herald reported. Some events during the four-day party have been canceled. But Sunday's sold-out show will go on, an MTV spokeswoman said.
A 40-Something 'Sex and the City'?
Candace Bushnell, the author of "Sex and the City," is in talks to turn her new book, "Lipstick Jungle," into a television series, Reuters reported. "I haven't signed any deals yet, but there's a lot of interest," Ms. Bushnell said. Her latest novel, to be released Sept. 6, is the story of three successful 40-something career women - a film producer, a fashion designer and a magazine executive - in New York. Ms. Bushnell said it was too early to discuss who might play the three main characters. "Nothing's been finalized, but hopefully it will be in the next couple of weeks," she said.
Missing Actress Is Found
A 16-year-old actress who was missing from her California home for nearly two weeks has been found, The Associated Press reported. The actress, Scout Taylor-Compton, a star of the 2004 film "Sleepover," was last seen at her family's home on Aug. 12. School officials alerted the Apple Valley Police Department of the girl's whereabouts, and the police returned her to her family, said Jodie Miller, a spokeswoman for the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department. "She seems to be unharmed, no evidence of any criminal activity during the time she was missing," Ms. Miller said. The department had believed the girl was a runaway. Additional details were not immediately available.
Rolling Stones Heading to Latin America
For the first time in eight years, the Rolling Stones will return to Latin America for performances in Brazil, Argentina and Mexico in February, Reuters reported. The band will also make its first visit to Puerto Rico that month. The Stones, who opened their world tour in Boston this week, also announced new shows in Memphis (Dec. 3), New York City (Jan. 25), St. Louis (Jan. 27), Omaha (Jan. 29), Baltimore (Feb. 1), Los Angeles (March 2) and San Antonio (March 7). The tour continues tomorrow in Hartford.
Polanski's Twist on Dickens
The Toronto International Film Festival has announced its lineup, promising a number of anticipated world premieres. Roman Polanski will offer his take on the Charles Dickens classic "Oliver Twist," with Barney Clark, left, in the title role. Also having their debuts are Terry Gilliam's "Tideland" and the Martin Scorsese documentary "No Direction Home: Bob Dylan." The festival will open with the Indian film "Water," which portrays the social stigma of being a widow and has sparked protests from conservatives who say it insults the Hindu tradition. The festival, Sept. 8 to 17, will showcase 335 films from 52 countries.
Hilary Duff Hits No. 1
With just two studio albums under her belt, the pop singer Hilary Duff shows it's never too early for a greatest-hits collection. Ms. Duff's "Most Wanted" (Hollywood) topped the Billboard chart with sales of 208,000, according to Nielsen SoundScan. She topped the chart in 2003 with "Metamorphosis," which has sold 3.7 million. "Time Well Wasted" (Arista Nashville), at No. 2, has given the country artist Brad Paisley his best sales week ever, with 193,000. Mariah Carey's "Emancipation of Mimi" (Island/Def Jam), released in April, is still going strong at No. 3 with 109,000 copies. The 19th installment of the pop compilation "Now That's What I Call Music" is at No. 4, and the alt-rock band 311 entered the chart at No. 5 with its new release, "Don't Tread on Me" (Volcano).
Fox Dances to Another Win
Perhaps because of the fickle audience voting on "American Idol," Fox's dance competition "So You Think You Can Dance" is leaving little to chance: the judges choose their least favorite six performers, and then the public is allowed to vote on whom to save in that group. The system appears to be appealing to the audience, as a two-hour episode of "Dance" put Fox in first place among total viewers and 18-to-49-year-olds, as well as in a tie for first in households with NBC. The second hour of "Dance" outpaced its first in Nielsen's estimates: 7.07 million viewers watched the 8 p.m. hour, but 8.71 million tuned in at 9 p.m., bringing up its average. NBC had the most-watched program of the night, however: the 10 p.m. "Law & Order" repeat (9.17 million). Over its run, the ratings for ABC's "Brat Camp" have decreased significantly since its premiere in mid-July. Wednesday's finale drew 6.27 million viewers, 4 million fewer than the debut drew. KATE AURTHUR
In Celebrity Auction News
Jennifer Lopez is offering special access to the opening of her first United States boutique in Chicago, The Associated Press reported. Fans can bid online for two V.I.P. tickets offering prime seating and the chance to meet Ms. Lopez. The online auction, at auctions.overstock.com/jenniferlopez, ends Thursday. The small shop, housed in a Marshall Field's department store, is to open Sept. 22. Samples from Ms. Lopez's first Sweetface fashion show will also be included in the auction, which benefits the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles. ... The memorable swan dress worn by the singer Bjork will be auctioned for charity next month, The Associated Press reported. The dress is among more than 150 celebrity fashion items to be sold on eBay for the international aid agency Oxfam. Bjork stole the spotlight at the 2001 Oscars with the ruffled feather dress, which had a swan's neck draped around hers. Bidding runs from Sept. 18 to 25.
Footnotes
"The Devil's Larder," a play based on Jim Crace's book of short stories, is to be named the Best of Edinburgh, an award presented by the Carol Tambor Foundation. It will come to New York in the spring and be presented at P.S. 122. The award serves as a link between New York and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the largest arts festival in the world. ... Don Amendolia ("Stepping Out") will replace Nathan Lane on Sept. 6 in Terrence McNally's play "Dedication or The Stuff of Dreams." ... Alan Ball, the creator and an executive producer of the recently concluded television series "Six Feet Under," has returned to the theater with a workshop of his new play, "All That I Will Ever Be," Playbill reported. "It's a twisted little look at cultural imperialism as refracted through a relationship between a trust-fund stoner and a male prostitute," Mr. Ball told Salon.com. "It's really fun."