ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

FILM/ "KING'S SPEECH" TOPS TIFF THIS YEAR: "The King's Speech" won the audience award at the Toronto International Film Festival today. In past years the same prize went to 2 films that went on to win best picture at the Oscars ("Slumdog Millionaire," "American Beauty") and others that were nominated ("Precious," "Shine"). "The King's Speech" director Tom Hooper issued this statement that was read at the award ceremony: "I'm absolutely thrilled. The fact that the award is voted exclusively by audiences makes this award especially special. Holding the world premiere here was such a privilege. On behalf of all the cast and crew, I want to thank TIFF and the festival audience". The film stars Colin Firth, pictured with Helena Bonham Carter, as Britain's reluctant King George VI, who struggled to overcome a stammering handicap while rallying his subjects to fight World War II. "The King's Speech" is a shoo-in to be nominated at the Oscars for best picture and could pose a serious threat to front-runner "The Social Network." Most Oscar watchers believe Firth is ahead to win best actor, but close behind is James Franco for "127 Hours". Full coverage on TIFF, including a list of all winners, can be found on the festival website.

MUSIC/ THE SCRIPT AND BURKE TOP UK CHARTS: Irish threesome "The Script" have entered the UK album chart at #1, repeating the success of their debut. Their record "Science and Faith" beat a host of acts who released new albums this past week, including Linkin Park, Robert Plant and Phil Collins. The band's 2008 self-titled album has sold 2 million copies worldwide, the Official Charts Company reported. The Script's leader singer Danny O'Donoghue said: "We believe soul is not just a genre of music it's a human condition. We have put ours into this music and we are so humbled by the response this album has received." Former X Factor winner Alexandra Burke secured a 2nd week at #1 with her single "Start Without You". The singer was followed by Taio Cruz, Katy Perry and The Script, who inched up 1 place to #4 with "For The First Time". Their highest placing in the singles chart to date is with "The Man Who Can't Be Moved," which peaked at #2 in August 2008. The only new entries inside the top 10 singles were from Usher at #7, a climber of 7 places, and "Impossible" by Shontelle, straight in at #10.

MUSIC/ BOYLE ENTERS GUINNESS BOOK: Scottish singer Susan Boyle has been given 3 different entries in the new Guinness World Records book. Her debut album "I Dreamed A Dream" was the fastest selling album by a UK female and also had the most successful first week's sales of a UK debut album. Boyle, who shot to worldwide fame after appearing on a TV talent show, was also the oldest person to reach #1 with a debut album. The singer was 48 when her album went to the top spot. It broke the record set by then 35 year old Jane McDonald in 1998. Boyle said it was a "real honor" to appear in the Guinness World Records. She said: "I used to read this book as a wee girl. I never dreamt that one day I would actually appear in the Guinness Book of Records. I only ever wanted to sing and perform. This is truly fantastic." Her debut album sold 411,820 copies in its 1stweek in the UK, almost 50,000 more than the previous record holder Arctic Monkeys. Other singers to make the new edition of the famous book of records include Tom Jones, the oldest artist to have a #1 single, and Lady Gaga, who was crowned the most searched-for woman on the internet.

 

TV/ COYOTE JOINS "LOLA": Alfred Molina and Terrence Howard are getting a boss, veteran actor Peter Coyote has joined the cast of NBC's new crime drama "Law & Order: Los Angeles" as the District Attorney. On the series, Coyote, pictured, will supervise DAs Peter Morales (Molina) and Jonah "Joe" Dekker (Howard). The "Law & Order" spinoff premieres on September 29. It also co-stars Skeet Ulrich, Corey Stoll, Megan Boone, Regina Hall and Rachel Ticotin. Coyote most recently recurred as the US President on ABC's "FlashForward" last season.