Morning Briefing:
Cruise lands at United Artists: Viacom chief Sumner Redstone might not think much of Tom Cruise, but somebody at MGM Studios evidently does -- Cruise and his producing partner, Paula Wagner, have been named the new heads of MGM's United Artists. They'll be in charge of reviving the U.A. label, which hasn't released a movie since "Art School Confidential" in May, and will be making four or five films a year. (Variety)
Jolie and Pitt get al-Qaida threats: On location in Pune, India, for her new movie "A Mighty Heart," Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have reportedly been receiving death threats from a group claiming affiliation with al-Qaida. The Financial Times reports that some security experts think the political nature of the movie -- the story's based on the life of murdered Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl -- may have made the celeb couple a terrorist target. (Financial Times via Daily Dish)
Snipes makes a deal: Wesley Snipes has reportedly cut a deal with the IRS over his fraudulent tax returns -- he'll surrender himself to authorities when he returns to the U.S. from Namibia, where he's shooting a movie. (WENN)
Also:
Madonna says she may adopt again in the future: "I wouldn't rule it out ... but I would like to experience David for a while and see how it works out." (E Online) ... Kanye West was a sore loser when he didn't pick up the award for best video at the MTV Europe Awards on Thursday, jumping onstage to interrupt the acceptance by the actual winners -- Justice and Simian for "We Are Your Friends" -- to say he should've won because his video, for "Touch the Sky," "cost a million dollars, Pamela Anderson was in it. I was jumping across canyons ... If I don't win, the awards show loses credibility." (Associated Press) ... Barbra Streisand wants it known that the guy who threw a drink at her during a recent concert in Florida "had no political motive or message" -- he was just a rowdy Australian who "had one or more too many beers." (Page Six) ... Rumors say a movie version of "Sex and the City" is back on track, with all four stars -- Sarah Jessica Parker, Kristin Davis, Kim Cattrall and Cynthia Nixon -- signed on to reprise their roles. (United Press International)
Money Quote:
Burt Reynolds is still kicking himself almost 30 years later over passing on the part of Han Solo in the first "Star Wars" movie: "I think that has to be the biggest mistake of my career. I blame the agent ... It was not all down to me." (ContactMusic)
Turn On:
On Friday night, rapper André Benjamin's animated series, "Class of 3000" (Cartoon Network, 8 p.m. EDT), debuts; and Chevy Chase appears on "Law & Order" (NBC, 10 p.m. EDT) in a very Mel Gibson-like cameo -- after a DUI arrest, his character unleashes a stream of bigotry. On Saturday, HBO presents the one-hour special "Roseanne Barr: Blonde and Bitchin'" (10 p.m.), and on Sunday "The Simpsons" (Fox, 8 p.m.) airs the 17th annual "Treehouse of Horror" episode.
On the Talk Shows:
Charlie Rose (PBS, check local listings): An appreciation of William Styron
David Letterman (CBS, 11:30 p.m. EDT): Martin Short, Kinky Friedman
Jay Leno (NBC, 11:35 p.m. EDT): Russell Crowe, Rachael Ray, Kellie Pickler
Conan O'Brien (NBC, 12:35 a.m. EDT): Darrell Hammond, professor Kevin Warwick
Craig Ferguson (CBS, 12:35 a.m. EDT): Alec Baldwin, Barry Manilow
Jimmy Kimmel (ABC, 12:05 a.m. EDT): Val Kilmer, Bowling for Soup
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