Buzz Briefs: Dennis Hopper, Spielberg
Dennis Hopper Receives Legion Of Honor In France
American actor and director Dennis Hopper has been named a commander in France's National Order of Arts and Letters.
The 72-year-old said he had sworn he wouldn't cry - but he was visibly moved as he received France's most prestigious prize at a Paris ceremony on Monday.
The city's Cinematique Francaise is also opening an exhibit this week on Hopper that runs through Jan. 19.
Hopper is known for playing outrageous, unstable characters in films such as "Apocalypse Now," "Blue Velvet" and "Easy Rider" - which he also directed in 1969.
Spielberg's DreamWorks Joins Universal
A person close to the deal says Steven Spielberg's DreamWorks studio has signed on with Universal Pictures to distribute its films.
Universal will distribute up to six DreamWorks movies a year domestically and overseas, except for India, said the person, who was not authorized to speak on the record and requested anonymity.
The deal has been anticipated as DreamWorks prepares to break off from Paramount, which has owned the studio since 2006. There has been ongoing friction over the costs of keeping Spielberg and his outfit there.
DreamWorks has lined up $1.5 billion through Reliance Entertainment of India to finance its future film slate.
Jonas Brothers To Play Cowboys' Thanksgiving Game
The Jonas Brothers will perform during halftime of the Dallas Cowboys' nationally televised Thanksgiving Day game against the Seattle Seahawks.
The band will officially kick off the 2008 Salvation Army Red Kettle Christmas campaign at the Nov. 27 contest. The fundraising drive continues through Christmas Eve.
Since its partnership with the Cowboys, which began in 1997, the annual Red Kettle campaign has raised more than $1 billion, helping the Salvation Army, an international organization that provides money for such efforts as disaster relief and helping the poor, serve 30 million people each year nationwide. Last year, the campaign raised a record $118 million.
Previous halftime performers include Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Sheryl Crow, Destiny's Child, Toby Keith, LeAnn Rimes, Jessica Simpson, Randy Travis and Reba McEntire.
Jennifer Lopez & Marc Anthony Get Married, Again
Singers Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony are still glowing from their wedding - four years later.
According to People, the two stars renewed their vows and joined New York Mets outfielder Carlos Beltran and his wife Jessica in a joint ceremony, which took place at Caesar's Palace Forum Tower Penthouse in Las Vegas.
The Truth Behind "Marsha Brady's" Wholesome Image
As Marcia Brady on "The Brady Bunch," Maureen McCormick projected an image of the wholesome girl next door. But off camera, she spiraled downward into drug addiction and depression.
Now 52, McCormick writes about her struggles in a new memoir, "Surviving Marcia Brady and Finding My True Voice," hitting stores Tuesday. She discusses her romance with TV sibling Barry Williams, her dates with Michael Jackson and Steve Martin, cocaine binges and parties at the Playboy Mansion and the home of Sammy Davis Jr., an unwanted pregnancy and trading sex for drugs.
Music Photographer William Claxton Dies At 80
William Claxton, a celebrated photographer who worked with such entertainers as Bob Dylan and Frank Sinatra and who helped establish the organization that runs the Grammy Awards, has died. He was 80.
Claxton died Saturday at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles of complications stemming from congestive heart failure, his son Christopher said.
He was best known for his soulful portraits of jazz artists such as Chet Baker, and he went on to photograph Dylan and other musicians such as Joni Mitchell and Tom Jones. His images graced the covers of numerous albums.
Claxton, a founding member of The Recording Academy, started his photography career in 1952 while a student at University of California, Los Angeles.
He also worked with Sinatra, Steve McQueen and Rebecca De Mornay, and his photographs regularly appeared in such magazines as Life, Paris Match and Vogue.
Don't Underestimate Rapper T.I.
Although T.I. owns both the No. 1 album and single in America, the platinum-selling rapper says he still feels like the underdog.
"Nobody has ever given me a win and nobody has ever said, 'T.I., you know he's going to do this thing.' They always (say), 'He's not going to do this much, he's not going to do that good, I don't believe he'll do that well.' So it's always been an uphill battle for me no matter how big I get I'm always the underdog," he said in an interview.
But the 28-year-old may not be able to claim that underdog title for long. His latest CD, "Paper Trail," sold more than 560,000 copies in its first week to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 album charts, and his newest single, "Live Your Life" featuring Rihanna, supplanted the album's first single, "Whatever You Like," at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.