PEOPLE/ LADY GAGA TOPS FORBES CELEB LIST: US pop singer Lady Gaga has claimed the top spot in Forbes magazine's annual Celebrity 100 list, at the expense of Oprah Winfrey. Gaga, whose real name is Stefani Germanotta, moved up 4 positions from last year to knock Winfrey, 2010's chart-topper, down to #2. Gaga's ranking takes into account her earnings over the past 12 months, an estimated $90m. It also cites her 32 million Facebook fans and 10 million Twitter followers. "Lady Gaga beat Oprah this year because of her social media power," said the Forbes editor. "She's the best example of how celebrities will need to manage their careers in the coming years". Canadian pop star Justin Bieber makes his 1st appearance on the list in 3rd place, thanks in part to his estimated earnings of $53m. Irish rockers U2 come 4th in the countdown with estimated pre-tax income between of $195m. At #5 is Sir Elton John, the highest ranked Briton on the list, which measures celebrity "power" by entertainment-related earnings, media visibility and social media popularity. Full details can be found on the Forbes website.
"Titanic" is sailing back into theaters around the world April 6, 2012. James Cameron's movie is being rereleased in 3D via Paramount Pictures, 20th Century Fox and Lightstorm Entertainment. The date was chosen to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the ship setting sail on April 10, 1912. The 3D conversion is being overseen by Cameron, who wrote, directed and produced the movie, and his Lightstorm producing partner Jon Landau, who also produced. "There's a whole generation that's never seen Titanic as it was meant to be seen, on the big screen," Cameron said. "And this will be Titanic as you've never seen it before, digitally remastered at 4K and painstakingly converted to 3D. With the emotional power intact and the images more powerful than ever, this will be an epic experience for fans and newcomers alike". Paramount chairman/CEO Brad Grey noted that the rerelease coincides with the 100th anniversary of the studio, while Fox Filmed Entertainment said that "Titanic" is "one of the greatest sources of pride" in studio history. "Titanic," which stars Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio, is the 2nd highest-grossing movie of all time, behind Cameron's "Avatar". The film was 1st released in 1997 and went on to win 11 Oscars, including Best Picture.
FILM/ CANNES FILM FESTIVAL BANS VON TRIER: The Cannes Film Festival has banned director Lars Von Trier after he claimed to be a Nazi and that he sympathized with Adolf Hitler. In a statement issued today, organizers said the Danish film-maker was now "persona non grata". The director issued an apology on Wednesday for comments made at a press conference pictured, earlier in the day. "I am not anti-Semitic or racially prejudiced in any way, nor am I a Nazi," he said in a statement. The festival's pronouncement came after Wednesday's premiere of Von Trier's new film "Melancholia," which remains in competition at this year's event. The director stunned onlookers by after the premiere by stating he "sympathiszd" with Hitler and for saying that while he was "not against Jews, Israel is a pain in the ass". The decision was supported by the French culture minister who told reporters in Brussels that "there is a major difference between a film that was chosen in a calm atmosphere and a director who clearly blew a fuse". Organizers said Cannes' board of directors had held "an extraordinary meeting" at which Von Trier was declared "a persona non grata... with effect immediately". The director's comments, they said, were "unacceptable, intolerable and contrary to the ideals of humanity and generosity that preside over the very existence of the festival". The 55 year old is a previous winner of the festival's Palme d'Or award and is renowned for courting controversy.
"Hugh Jackman in Concert," which recently played a 2 week engagement in San Francisco, will be seen at Toronto's Princess of Wales Theatre this summer. The limited engagement, presented by Mirvish, is scheduled for July 5-17 with a media night July 6. Backed by an 18-piece orchestra, Tony Award winner Jackman performs a personal selection of his favorite musical numbers, including tunes from his Tony-winning turn in "The Boy from Oz". “I have always loved performing live on stage,” Jackman said in a statement. “Toronto was where I shot my first American film, 'X-Men,' and has great memories for me for lots of reasons. I can't wait to go back and spend some time there again". In a review of his San Francisco engagement, the San Francisco Chronicle said: “Jackman is a dazzling singer and dancer. It’s not that they don’t make ‘em like Hugh Jackman anymore, they never did".
TV/ ROSS HAGEN DIES AT 72: Ross Hagen, 72, a handsomely rugged actor who was a regular on the 1960s TV series "Daktari" and starred in the low-budget biker movies "The Hellcats" and "The Sidehackers," died of prostate cancer May 7 at home in Brentwood, said Lee Srednick, his partner of 7 years. Launching his career in the 1960s with guest shots on TV series such as "The Big Valley" and "The Virginian," Hagen also appeared in the Elvis Presley movie "Speedway" and the motorcycle movie "The Mini-Skirt Mob." In 1968, he joined the cast of "Daktari," the CBS adventure series starring Marshall Thompson as an American veterinarian running an animal study center in Africa. Hagen played Bart Jason, a former wild animal hunter who had become a photographic safari guide, until the series ended in 1969.
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