AP
Maher vs. God: ‘Religulous’ flays organized faith
TORONTO – Bill Maher has taken his crusade against religion to the big screen. “Religulous,” directed by fellow doubter Larry Charles (“Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan”), is intended to inspire similar skepticism in others – and perhaps get nonbelievers to talk more openly about their lack of faith.
Jesse Ventura working on new series for truTV
MINNEAPOLIS – Jesse Ventura will be working on a new conspiracy-theory series for truTV.
Britney Spears files appeals in driving case
LOS ANGELES – Britney Spears’ attorney has asked a judge to delay the singer’s upcoming trial on a misdemeanor charge for driving without a valid license.
McCready to serve 60 days for probation violation
FRANKLIN, Tenn. – Country singer Mindy McCready will surrender to authorities in Franklin, Tennessee, on Tuesday to begin serving a 60-day sentence for violating her probation on a 2004 drug charge.
Merv Griffin’s company sues Ed McMahon
LOS ANGELES – Court documents show a company founded by Merv Griffin is suing Ed McMahon for a $100,000 loan it claims has gone unpaid.
Pair involved in LaBeouf crash charged
LOS ANGELES – Two people involved in an accident that injured Shia LaBeouf were charged Monday with giving police false information about the wreck.
DRUMMER Topper Headon forgives the Clash for firing hiat the height of the band’s success. “I was out of control. I remember being sick on Buddy Holly’s grave, which didn’t go down too well. I was a Keith Moon fan – you know, ‘Live fast, die young,’ and I lost the plot completely,” Headon says in the new book titled “The Clash” and written by them, due next month. “On the tour of the Far East, I was standing in a lift with Joe [Strummer] and he’s saying: ‘How can I sing all these antidrug songs with you stoned out of your head behind me?’ ”
PEOPLE magazine scored the first pictures of Clay Aiken and baby son Parker (along with the unsurprising “I’gay!” interview) for $500,000 after, sources said, OK! bowed out. “We were in the running,” an OK! source said, “but then [new editorial director] Kent Brownridge passed.” We reported last week that Brownridge was loath to pay large sums for exclusives. Instead, he opted for a lame KiKardashian cover. Brownridge’s arrival has already seen the loss of editor Sarah Ivens, executive editor Rob Shuter and reporter Laura Schreffler. A rep said, “We did bid on the Clay story but thought it was just all right, not phenomenal.”
IT’s not that Pete Seeger doesn’t want people to buy his new album, “At 89.” It’s just that he’s got some conditions. And at 89, he’s earned that right. “As long as they buy the record to learn a song to sing,” he says, it’s OK. “But if they’re only buying it to listen to it and not trying to learn one of the songs to sing, I’d say, ‘Don’t buy it.’ ”
An upbeat Britney Spears, in town to promote her new “Womanizer” single, Monday told Z100 afternoon jock J.J. Kincaid that she misses her New York apartment. “When I come back,” she said, “it’s like, ‘Man, I wish I still had my apartment here.’ But I love it. The energy is crazy.”
New Jennifer Hudson CD is no ‘Dreamgirls’
Did Jennifer Hudson upstage her recording career before it even began? Certainly she set the bar perilously high by making her studio debut with the scenery-chewing, Oscar-grabbing “And I ATelling You I’Not Going” fro”Dreamgirls.”
Keith Urban joins the list of acts at the 42nd Annual CMA Awards. The ceremony will be broadcast live Nov. 12 froNashville (ABC, 8 p.m. ET/tape-delayed PT). Urban and wife Nicole Kidman welcomed their daughter, Sunday Rose, in July. Other CMA performers: Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Miranda Lambert, George Strait, Sugarland and Taylor Swift.
Comedy Central regular Dave Attell joins headliners Jerry Seinfeld, Ellen DeGeneres, Dane Cook, Katt Williams, Tracy Morgan and Jeff Dunhawhen TBS presents a “Very Funny” Festival: The Comedy Festival froNov. 20-22 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Others in the lineup: David Alan Grier, Andrew Dice Clay, Anjelah Johnson, and Last Comic Standing’s Josh Blue (Season 4 winner) and Ralphie May (Season 1 runner-up). During the weekend of the event, live webcasts may be viewed starting at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT at thecomedyfestival.com.
Music artists play up eco-friendly packaging
David Gilmour has carved out a stellar solo career since helping compose and perforsome of Pink Floyd’s most memorable songs, including Time, Wish You Were Here and Comfortably Numb. “Obviously, in the rather uncertain future of the planet we are leaving to our children, one has got to do whatever one can do,” Gilmour says. “I absolutely feel we have got to do everything within one’s power to try and make the whole world as carbon-neutral as possible, if not carbon-negative.”
Hitting the Radar: A Festival Soars in Texas
Judging by the strength of the music, the smoothness of operations and the fervor of crowds, the Austin City Limits Music Festival deserves recognition as a first-tier rock fest, with a regional twist.
Wal-Mart Wins Deal on Albuand Game
Just as Wal-Mart solidifies its power as a music industry hitmaker with an exclusive albufrothe rock band AC/DC, the chain is getting its first major exclusive video game to go with it.
Hi-Ho, Hi- Huh? Philip Glass Does Disney
New York City Opera has commissioned Philip Glass to write a new work about Walt Disney.
Dylan’s heartfelt soul-searching
Bob Dylan’s latest collection of material frohis musical back pages, “Tell Tale Signs: The Bootleg Series Vol. 8,” is a rich, revealing look at how this master songwriter put together one of the most dramatic creative renaissances in pop history.
Hollywood Reporter
The star of Fox’s “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles” is in talks to take a lead role in MGM’s remake of the 1980 musical “Fame.” Dekker is gunning to play Marco, a working-class kid with some gnarly acting chops who is competing with thousands of other hopefuls to get into and survive an elite New York public high school for the arts.
Oasis, Ryan Adams TeaFor More Touring
Following a recent short North American run, Oasis and Ryan Adams are teaming again for 11 December dates here, beginning Dec. 3 in Oakland, Calif. Dec. 17: Madison Square Garden
Nick Cave To Pen Second Novel
Nearly 20 years since his debut novel, Nick Cave will put pen to paper for a second work of fiction, “The Death of Bunny Munro.” Canongate has acquired world rights for the book, due in September 2009.
Plant: No Tour Or Recording With Zeppelin
Robert Plant has put the hammer down on rumors he will join Led Zeppelin for a 2009 tour and recording sessions. In a statement on his Web site, Plant says he “has no intention whatsoever of touring with anyone for at least the next two years.”
Letters To Cleo Reuniting For Short Tour
Boston-based rock outfit Letters To Cleo will reunite after an eight-year hiatus for four shows this fall. December TBA: New York (venue TBA)
TV Lineups
Tuesday, September 30
David Letterman: Anne Hathaway, Josette Sheeran, the Virgins
Jay Leno: Ellen Degeneres, Jerry O’Connell, Jazmine Sullivan
Late Late Show: TiDaly, Anna Friel, Alice Cooper
Conan O’Brien: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Michael Cera
Last Call: Bill Tancer, Dan Le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip
Daily Show: Bill Maher
Colbert Report: James Taylor
Jimmy Kimmel: Jon Favreau, the latest castoff fro”Dancing with the Stars”
The View: Bill Maher, Dr. Drew Pinsky, Kevin Farley, Robert Davi
Regis and Kelly: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Alonzo Mourning
Ellen DeGeneres: Lucy Liu, science educator Steve Spangler, Joshua Radin
Chelsea Lately: Niecy Nash, Brad Wollack, Hyla Matthews, Jamie Kaler
George Stroumboulopoulos: Bill Maher, Larry Charles, Irvine Welsh
Bonnie Hunt: Amy Brenneman, Josh Kelley
Wednesday, October 1
David Letterman: Kate Walsh, Barry Sonnenfeld, Darius Rucker
Jay Leno: Greg Kinnear, Chelsea Handler, Nikka Costa
Late Late Show: Jennifer Love Hewitt, JiParsons
Conan O’Brien: Robin Wright-Penn, Louis CK
Last Call: TBA
Daily Show: Robert DeNiro
Colbert Report: Dave Levin
Jimmy Kimmel: Rosario Dawson, Jamie Kennedy, Gavin Rossdale
The View: Peter Krause, Diahann Carroll, Miss Piggy
Regis and Kelly: Kate Walsh, Kelly Pickler
Ellen DeGeneres: Suzanne Somers, Demi Lovato
Tavis Smiley: ToMorello, Ron Brownstein
Chelsea Lately: Clark Gregg, Billy Gardell, Lavell Crawford
George Stroumboulopoulos: Sean Avery, Tony Campolo
Bonnie Hunt: WilliaBaldwin, Gavin Rossdale
Thursday, October 2
David Letterman: Calista Flockhart, Bill Hader, Lucinda Williams
Jay Leno: Dennis Miller, Jack’s Mannequin
Late Late Show: Lauren Graham, Luke Dempsey, Michael Franti & Spearhead
Conan O’Brien: ToArnold, Ben Folds
Last Call: Shirley Manson, Cut Copy
Daily Show: Clint Eastwood
Colbert Report: Naomi Klein
Jimmy Kimmel: Bill Maher, Jennifer Hudson
The View: Greg Kinnear, the latest castoff fro”Dancing With the Stars”
Regis and Kelly: Calista Flockhart, Jo Frost
Ellen DeGeneres: George Lopez, Jack Hanna
Tavis Smiley: Kerry Kennedy, Don Hewitt
Chelsea Lately: Candis Cayne, Justin Tranter, Scott Thompson
George Stroumboulopoulos: Daniel Levitin, Lauren Graham
Bonnie Hunt: Jamie Kennedy, Kathryn Morris
Friday, October 3
David Letterman: TiRobbins
Jay Leno: Molly Shannon, T.I.
Late Late Show: Randy Newman, Margaret Cho
Conan O’Brien: Greg Kinnear, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
Last Call: Bear Grylls, Grizzly Bear (R 5/6/08)
Jimmy Kimmel: Lucy Liu, John Slattery, Morgan Murphy
The View: Anne Hathaway, Troy Dunn
Regis and Kelly: Blair Underwood, Robin Thicke, Jon and Kate Gosselin, guest co-host Mark Consuelos
Ellen DeGeneres: Jenny McCarthy, Amy Macdonald, “Britain’s Got Talent” runner-up Connie Talbot
Tavis Smiley: Zbigniew Brzezinski
Chelsea Lately: Holly Madison, Heather McDonald, Josh Wolf
Bonnie Hunt: Melissa Joan Hart, Erica Durance, bug expert Zack Lemann
— Chriss Coats
