US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Taylor Swift wins five American Music Awards
LOS ANGELES - Country crossover star Taylor Swift overshadowed the late Michael Jackson at the American Music Awards on Sunday, winning five prizes including artist of the year. Jackson, who had been expected to enjoy a clean sweep, ended up with four awards. He and Swift went head-to-head in the artist of the year race, the ceremony's final prize.
Smash "Twilight" sequel enters record books
LOS ANGELES - The "Twilight" sequel scored the third-biggest opening weekend of all time at the North American box office on Sunday, as millions of young women swooned over the complex love triangle involving a high school girl, a vampire and a werewolf. "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" earned an estimated $140.7 million during its first three days of release across the United States and Canada, closely held distributor Summit Entertainment said, crushing industry expectations.
Macau plans Michael Jackson shrine to house iconic glove
HONG KONG - A casino in the Chinese gambling haven of Macau will open Asia's first Michael Jackson shrine after its owners bought the late King of Pop's iconic white rhinestone glove for $350,000 at a U.S. auction. The shrine will be located in the lobby of the casino-resort Ponte 16, adding to Macau's attractions which already include the world's largest casino, The Venetian.
Fox says will make profit with sci-fi epic Avatar
ATHENS - 20th Century Fox will make a profit with James Cameron's 3D sci-fi epic "Avatar," Fox Filmed Entertainment chairman Jim Gianopulos said in an interview, and dismissed reports the movie cost $500 million as "ridiculous." Blending computer-generated characters and live actors, Avatar tells the story of a former Marine who infiltrates the native Na'vi people on a far-away planet to help corporations extract a mineral, but ends up fighting for the alien race.
Rolling Stone Italy names Berlusconi 2009 rock star
ROME - The Italian edition of Rolling Stone has named Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi its "rock star of the year," paying tribute to his "lifestyle worthy of the greatest rock star." An illustration of a smiling Berlusconi, who weathered a summer of scandals over his relations with an 18-year-old underwear model and allegations he slept with a prostitute after a party, emblazons the cover of the Rolling Stone's December issue, against the backdrop of the Italian flag.
U2 to headline UK's Glastonbury Festival
LONDON - Irish rock band U2 are to headline next year's Glastonbury Festival on the 40th anniversary of the world's biggest green field arts and music event. The band are set to appear on June 25, the opening night of the festival for a one-off performance during their tour of the United States.
Darwin book found on shelf worth up to $100,000
LONDON . Christie's auctioneer will offer the book on Tuesday, the 150th anniversary of its original publication.
Singer Robbie Williams to court investors: report
LONDON deal, one of his managers was reported to say on Saturday. Managers for Williams, whose hits including "Angels" and "Let Me Entertain You," will court investors as a possible alternative to signing up with a record label, The Times newspaper said.
Michael Jackson's doctor says others gave him propofol
LOS ANGELES - Michael Jackson's personal physician told investigators he was not the first doctor to give the pop star propofol, the powerful anesthetic that was one of the drugs to cause his death, according to court papers unsealed on Friday. Dr. Conrad Murray, a target of the criminal probe into Jackson's death, recounted under questioning by a Los Angeles police detective that Jackson told him he was given propofol by two unnamed doctors in Germany, the affidavit states.
Taylor Swift's dream year brings out naysayers
LOS ANGELES - At what may be the height of her early career, teen sensation Taylor Swift finds herself facing the downside of stardom -- naysayers. The 19-year-old pop/country singer-songwriter heads in to Sunday's American Music Awards with a leading six nominations after a dream year of sold out concerts and the best-selling album in the United States.