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THE NME COOL LIST 2004 - HAVE YOUR SAY! This week, NME.COM reveals the last word on the most inspirational people in rock, with the return of the annual NME COOL LIST. Who comes higher out of Pete or Carl? Will the rundown lead to any more fist-fights between Franz Ferdinand? And what became of last year’s winner, Justin Timberlake? The Top 50 is revealed in this week’s special 3D collector’s edition of NME, out nationwide today (November 24). Meanwhile, NME.COM will be counting down the top seven, one-a-day, starting from today. But what do you think of the list? Who should be there that isn’t? Who do you think should be Number One? Let the arguments commence
WE INTERRUPT THE NEWS Much fascinating mop up to be done from Monday night's Edmonton uprising against King Ralph. But WAY MORE IMPORTANT! Hicks on Six spies report that Justin Timberlake and Bryan Adams (two separate shows) will be coming to town! Do not call for tickets. The concerts haven't been announced. But the two stars will be coming.
JC Chasez begins work on his next LP JC Chasez has started work on his second solo album and is eyeing a late summer release date. "It's a futuristic look at the past," Chasez said of the LP at last week's American Music Awards.
RENT Film Casting Focuses on Broadway, Celebrities Moved
to Background Casting for the feature film adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize winning musical 'RENT' is expected to move celebrity involvement to the rear burner and stay faithful to the image created in the 1996 Broadway premier. Adam Pascal, who made his acting debut in the starring role of Roger Davis– a would be rock n’ roll front man living with AIDS, is prepared to sign on to reprise the role on film, reports the Hollywood Reporter. Anthony Rapp, Taye Diggs, Jesse L. Martin, and Idina Menzel also are reportedly in negotiations to return to the roles they created in the Jonathan Larson musical. Diggs and Martin were able to use the notoriety gained from 'RENT’s' success to springboard into film and television success. Martin is one of the principal characters on the high rated series Law & Order. Diggs has starred in such features as 'How Stella Got Her Groove Back' and the Oscar winning musical 'Chicago'. Chris Columbus, director of the first two Harry Potter films, is set to direct the 'RENT' film. Spike Lee previously was attached to direct but parted ways with the project over creative differences. Lee had favored using NSYNC boy-band member Justin Timberlake as the film’s lead character, possibly alienating the musical’s legendarily faithful fan base. Fellow NSYNC member Joey Fatone received relatively poor critical reviews and underwhelming fan support for his guest starring run in the Broadway production in the narrative character of filmmaker Mark Cohen, the role Rapp originated. An alternative film casting plot hoped to balance faithfulness to the stage image of the musical with the interests of the movie’s financers to have some star power in the cast. That proposed cast was to feature Neal Patrick Harris in the role of Mark, Rikki Lee Travolta as Roger, and Wilson Cruz as transvestite drag queen Angel and proved positive in the court of public opinion. In addition to their respective Hollywood star power, Harris appeared in the Los Angeles cast of RENT, Cruz appeared in the Broadway cast, and Travolta helped pave the way to a national buzz about the show by performing selections in concert and including two songs on his “Broadway Live” album. Cruz may still be a consideration for the film role of Angel. Travolta and Harris may be included in the actors who have been associated with the stage musical who could be asked to make cameo appearances. Other actors highly identified with RENT include Daphne Rubin-Vega, Fredi Walker, Wilson Jermain Heredia, Norbert Leo Butz, Manley Pope, and Luther Creek. Rasario Dawson who appears opposite Colin Farrell in Alexander has been signed to star opposite Pascal as his love interest Mimi Marquez – a former stripper and drug addict. Tracie Thoms will play lesbian attorney Joanne Jefferson. 'RENT' is being produced by Michael Barnathan, Jane Rosenthal and Robert De Niro, with a script by Columbus and Stephen Chbosky. 'RENT' is loosely based on Puccini's 'La Boheme', updated to a New York, East Village setting in the late 1990's as artists and lovers struggle to connect in a world that is chaotic and tainted with disease. The late Larson wrote the book, music and lyrics. The Tony-winning musical continues at the Nederlander Theatre in New York City.
DiCaprio fears death by paparazzi Actor Leonardo DiCaprio has said he fears "stalkerazzi"
photographers could cause a celebrity death. "I hate a lot of them... but I have to find a way to deal with it until there's a law," he said. "I hope there is for my sake and the sake of many others because there may be an accident someday and we may lose somebody," he added. "I wish they wouldn't follow me around and make my life miserable." Timberlake victory DiCaprio's publicist, Ken Sunshine, told BBC News that the situation was "totally out of control". "The context of that (DiCaprio's) statement refers to the stalkarazzis, who tail celebrities endlessly and follow them in cars, often trying to cause accidents so that they can get a photo which will be worth more money," he said. "The situation with these stalkarazzis in Los Angeles is totally out of control, and we all fear there will be another Princess Diana accident," he added. Mr Sunshine also represents pop star Justin Timberlake, who obtained a restraining order against a photographer who allegedly stalked him earlier this year. A judge in Santa Monica, California, granted the order against photographer Artemus Earl Lister in July. A law was introduced in California in 1999, making it illegal for photographers to go on to private property. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Alec Baldwin and George Clooney are among the many celebrities who have clashed with the "stalkerazzi" in the past. Late-night clash Schwarzenegger, now governor of California, said he was once forced off the road when the car he was driving, carrying his two children, was chased by photographers. Many photographers say they are just doing their job. The Kingly Club in London's Soho recently began employing doubles to act as decoys, which it hopes will knock certain photographers off the scent of visiting celebrities. A spokesman said the idea came after Hollywood actor Tom Cruise was provided with a decoy when he visited the venue.
Deserving of the of the Bird As the Arts & Entertainment staff drummed up its Turkey Awards of 2004, some choices were obvious. There was Justin Timberlake, who somehow escaped any blame for Janet Jackson's "wardrobe malfunction." And who could forget Halle Berry's interpretation of "Catwoman"? Moviegoers apparently found it forgettable, and the movie bombed. Relive those not-so glorious moments from the past 12 months. Then on Dec. 26, we'll look at the bright moments from 2004 and ahead to 2005.
LAPD to Hand Diaz Case to D.A. Detectives plan to give prosecutors their case next week against actress Cameron Diaz and her pop singer boyfriend, Justin Timberlake, stemming from an altercation with celebrity photographers, LAPD officials said Friday. "We put a case together," Los Angeles Police Capt. Michael Downing said. "Next week, it will be out of our hands." The district attorney's office will determine what criminal charges, if any, will be pursued, spokeswoman Jane Robison said. "If we deem it is not a felony charge, we'll refer it to the city attorney's office if we think any misdemeanor charge should be filed," Robison said. The altercation occurred Nov. 6 near the Chateau Marmont as photographers tried to take pictures of the couple. In a lawsuit, photographers Saul Lazo and Jose Gonzalez allege they were attacked by Timberlake and Diaz, one of the stars of "Charlie's Angels." The photographers said Diaz took Lazo's camera and tried to take the other one before Gonzalez fled. The photographers said in the lawsuit that they were not harassing the couple. Representatives for Diaz and Timberlake have issued a statement that they were "ambushed" and that they acted in self-defense. Detectives have not interviewed either celebrity.
New Gap holiday campaign takes high-energy tack It all comes down, we suppose, to whether you like your holiday advertising loud and funky or quieter and more reflective. Gap's new holiday campaign featuring its fashion icon of the moment, the perky and somewhat sassy Sarah Jessica Parker, definitely is of the loud and funky variety. Unlike Gap's holiday commercials in years past, this new work from Laird + Partners/New York breaking today tries to showcase much more of the merchandise available in stores this fall. Each of three spots pans across a vast array of models sporting coats and sweaters and scarves as they groove to music ranging from Mary J. Blige's remake of the classic "Best of My Love" to J.C. Chasez's rendition of Earth, Wind and Fire's "Shining Star." In a third ad, Parker and British actor Will Kemp dance to a remix of "That's the Way I Like It" by Kelis and Van Hunt. The spots were all shot on bright white sets festooned with giant white and silver ornaments, white faux fur sofas and other trappings appropriate to the season. The white backdrops are an inspired touch that make the colorful Gap merchandise pop especially well. At the end of each commercial, we see Parker, in an attractive Gap outfit, lift up a gift box as she asks the pressing holiday question: "How Do You Share It?" -- a variation on the Gap fall ad campaign tagline "How Do You Wear It?" There is no shortage of energy in this work aimed squarely at the youth market, but no one is going to mistake it for Gap's take on "Silent Night." If only for the sake of variety, perhaps, it would have been nice to see one of the spots use a different, less high-voltage tack.
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