Buzz Briefs: Johnny Depp, Yung Joc
Johnny Depp Can Hold A Note
Director Tim Burton describes his latest film, the gruesome musical "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street," as "The Sound of Music" with blood.
One thing that wasn't scary, Burton told reporters, was casting Johnny Depp in his first singing role as the title character.
"I worry about a lot of things but I strangely did not fear that at all," the 49-year-old director said.
Depp plays a murderous barber in the movie, based on the Stephen Sondheim musical, with Helena Bonham Carter as a woman who serves up the barber's victims in her meat pies.
Burton said Bonham Carter, his romantic partner, didn't pressure him for a role in the movie.
"She's been an actress for a long time. She gets the whole picture," he said. "She was very good about not overpressuring me because she knew I was probably putting that all on myself anyway."
"Sweeney Todd" has Golden Globe nominations for best musical or comedy, best director for Burton, and acting nominations for Depp and Bonham Carter.
Yung Joc Considered A Fugitive
The performer failed to show up for his arraignment today in Cleveland on a felony charge of carrying a concealed weapon.
The 27-year-old from Atlanta is accused of trying to take a loaded gun on a Delta Air Lines flight Sunday.
The performer, whose real name is Jasiel Robinson, was arrested at a standard security checkpoint at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.
Police found a semiautomatic handgun and ammunition in his carryon bag. He told police he didn't know the weapon was there and was released the next day on $50,000 bond.
Today the judge doubled Robinson's bail.
His attorney was apologetic, and said Robinson is out of town on personal and family business.
Yung Joc was one of last year's biggest hip-hop stars, selling a million copies of his debut album "New Joc City," behind the Grammy-nominated song "It's Goin' Down." His follow-up album "Hustlenomic$" was released in August.
Maroon 5 Revs Up For Auto Show
The invitation-only event leads up to next month's annual North American International Auto Show.
Blige will headline GM Style at the Renaissance Center on January 12. General Motors staged the first event last year.
All concept and production vehicles at GM Style will be rolled out in a fashion runway show to live music in a climate-controlled pavilion. More cars and talent will be announced in the coming weeks.
Maroon 5's hit pop singles include "Harder to Breathe," "This Love" and "She Will Be Loved."
The group is in the middle of a European tour.
Dec. 22, 2007
Stephen Colbert Voted AP Celeb Of The Year, Bests J.K. Rowling
In 2007, the mock pundit exceeded the influence of most real pundits, orchestrating an ill-fated (and Doritos-sponsored) run for president and topping the best-seller lists with his book "I Am America (And So Can You!)."
Colbert failed to get onto the primary ballot in his home state of South Carolina, dooming his hopes for the White House. And his show went 0-for-4 at the Emmy Awards, including an especially painful loss to Tony Bennett.
But Colbert did win one honor: He was voted AP Celebrity of the Year by U.S. newspaper editors and broadcast producers who said Colbert had the biggest impact on pop culture in 2007.
He finished just a nudge above J.K. Rowling, who authored the final book in her enormously popular "Harry Potter" series. Finishing third was Al Gore, whose year included an Oscar, an Emmy, a Nobel Peace Prize and the global concert Live Earth.
Nick Lachey's Team Wins Choir Clash
Lachey's choir beat four other choirs led by music celebrities who went to their home areas to find talent. The choirs performed live in four airings from New York City this week. The winner was determined by viewer voting.
Patti LaBelle's Philadelphia choir placed second, while Blake Shelton's Oklahoma City choir was third. Also competing: Michael Bolton's New Haven, Conn., choir and Kelly Rowland's Houston choir. The show surprised these choirs with a $50,000 donation from GE to each of their charities.