Witherspoon makes a hit at the box office
Reese Witherspoon’s new romantic comedy, “Sweet Home Alabama” broke several records this weekend at the box office, earning $37.5 million, according to studio estimates.
This number is significant for two reasons. One, it makes it the biggest September opening to date. Two, it makes it the biggest romantic comedy to date, beating Julia Roberts’ hit “Runaway Bride” which made $35.1 million its first weekend. America may have found its new leading lady.
At this rate, Witherspoon may even beat the $96.4 million she earned with last year’s hit “Legally Blonde.”
Lawsuit hangs over ‘Survivor’ duplicate
British producer Granada and ABC are under threat from CBS that if they produce the new series “I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!” CBS will sue ABC in court.
CBS claims that this new reality show based on the idea that stars will be left in distant locations and will face an elimination process depending on their performance is too similar to “Survivor.” CBS is requesting that ABC put in writing that “they will not broadcast or license in the United States any programming that is based in whole or part on the “Celebrity” series or that otherwise infringes any intellectual property right in “Survivor.”
ABC is not the first to offend CBS. CBS sued Fox last year over similarities to “Survivor” in its series “Boot Camp.”
NBC creates new relationship drama
Darren Star, creator of “Sex in the City,” has created another one-hour show that will air on NBC. It will be similar to “Sex in the City” because it is based on real life stories collected by New York matrimonial lawyer Samantha Daniels (“Sex in the City” was based on a book about dating by Candace Bushnell).
“It’s all about relationships,” Star said. “Getting into them and getting out of them.”
Star’s past successes include “Beverly Hills, 90210” and “Melrose Place.” This one will be different because most of “the episodes are close-ended, so that the stories will resolve themselves each week,” Star said. He feels this will give the show more viewers for longer periods of time.
DeNiro finds time to be a ‘Godsend’
Along with planning the TriBeCa Film Festival, running restaurants and shooting three or more movies a year, Robert DeNiro will also star as a genetic scientist in the science fiction film “Godsend” set for release November 2003.
Other cast members include Greg Kinnear and Rebecca Romijn-Stamos, who play a couple who go to DeNiro to genetically bring back to life their 8-year-old son.
Two of Thalia’s sisters abducted
Mexican singer Thalia Sodi, married to Sony Music chief Tommy Mottola, learned that two of her sisters, Laura Zapata and Ernestina Sodi, disappeared last Sunday in Mexico City.
The woman were seen exiting a play and walking toward their jeep when Zapata’s minivan that had been stolen six months prior pulled up next to them. Witnesses said the two women were pulled into the minivan. Both vehicles were found later that evening empty.
Thalia’s family has not filed a police report because they said they believe it might provoke the kidnappers and they are wary of police officers in Mexico City.
October 03, 2002