Lindsay Lohan: Dad's a bully

Hollywood actress Lindsay Lohan has lashed out at her father calling him a "public embarrassment" and a "bully" on her MySpace blog. The star was responding to an interview with her father Michael, in which he said that he thought Lohan's girlfriend Samantha Ronson was "using" her. "His recent attack on my life and my loved ones is simply for an addiction that he has - fame," the actress said. The Mean Girls star and her father have been estranged for many years.

Lohan said she had tried to make things work in the hope "of having a father again" and "wanting things to change". But the 22-year-old added: "Having said that, the people were right and he is yet to change. This time, without his daughter by his side he has become a public embarrassment and a bully to my family, my co-workers, my friends and a girl that means the world to me."

Lohan, who recently filmed a guest role in US sitcom Ugly Betty, added: "If you have something to say to me, say it to my face. That's what I have believed my whole life. Don't be a coward and say it to others first - let alone all the media in the world." The star, who started dating producer Mark Ronson's sister after she came out of rehab, said she did not understand why her father was commenting on her private life.

"If he really cared about me and my life, then he would learn to respect my wishes by staying out of it. Samantha has not and would never sell me out. Nor has my mother, who is wonderful."

In a separate MySpace post on her own page, Ronson said she was angry when she heard what had been said about her. "I really don't want to say anything because I feel like he wins. He, being the man who is so desperate for attention that he goes to the media whenever possible. I feel no need to publicly defend my role in Lindsay's life. I'm just sorry that she likes me more than him."

Bernie Mac Laid To Rest

Film star Samuel L Jackson was among thousands of mourners who gathered in Chicago for the funeral of US comedian Bernie Mac. Jackson, who recently made the movie Soul Men with Mac, said he "was always that kid from Chicago who wanted to make everybody laugh". The service was held at the vast House of Hope church on the city's South Side where Mac grew up. Mac died aged 50 last week from complications caused by pneumonia.

Jackson, who spoke at the church, added that he was aware the comedian was "having some health issues, but always said to me every morning that he was good. He never turned down that kid for an autograph," added the actor.

Chicago mayor Richard Daley also paid tribute to Mac's local roots, saying "he never lost his soul in Chicago", adding that he recently asked how he could help fight crime in the city. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama was among those whose letter of condolence was read out at the service.

Some of Mac's comedy routines were played on large video screens at the church, with any colourful language bleeped out. Many local people turned out to pay their respects, which halted traffic for several blocks in the area. Mac starred in his own television show and a number of Hollywood films, including the Ocean's Eleven series after performing for years on the stand-up comedy circuit.

The Banana Splits are back! Groovy!

Children's TV classic The Banana Splits is getting a modern makeover. Fleegle, Bingo, Drooper and Snorky are to star in new comedy shorts and music videos on the Cartoon Network in the US, and its website, from September.

A series of DVDs, live concerts, music CDs, and online games from the anarchic crew are expected to follow. "Everything that made The Banana Splits popular in the '60s is back, including the group's terrific humour and music," said Jordan Sollitto, of Warner Bros. "We take great pride in having carefully updated the look and feel of the original show for today's kids while retaining all of the elements that made the original Banana Splits such a hit."

The Banana Splits came onto the scene in 1968 as hosts of The Banana Splits Adventure Hour, a show created by Hanna-Barbera that featured comedy and music videos. They are a costumed rock band made up of Fleegle (a dog), Drooper (a lion), Bingo (a gorilla) and Snorky (an elephant) who hang out in their Banana Pad while playing music and telling jokes. The show's theme song, The Tra La La Song, quickly became a classic.

The new shorts share the same "groovy" look of the original TV series. "The Banana Splits is a classic that has been entertaining kids for years," said Stuart Snyder, president of Turner Animation, Young Adults and Kids Media. "We're thrilled to have this new version on Cartoon Network for our kids to enjoy today."

Ellen DeGeneres Weds in LA

US talk show host Ellen DeGeneres has married her long-time partner, actress Portia de Rossi, according to the Associated Press news agency. DeGeneres' publicist confirmed reports that the couple tied the knot at their Beverly Hills home on Saturday. The presenter, 50, and De Rossi, 35, exchanged handwritten vows in a private ceremony attended by 19 guests, reported People and US magazine. The couple have been dating since December 2004. DeGeneres announced plans to wed on her talk show in May after the California Supreme Court overturned a state ban on same-sex marriage. A month later, while picking up her fourth consecutive Daytime Emmy, she said she would show "a tiny bit" of the ceremony on her daytime show.

The pair both wore clothes by designer Zac Posen and exchanged rings by Neil Lane, People reported. US Magazine said De Rossi wore a backless, light pink dress, while DeGeneres dressed in trousers, button-up shirt and vest - all in white. "They were hugging and kissing, and looked ecstatic," a witness told the magazine.

Both DeGeneres' mother and De Rossi's mother, who flew in from Australia, attended the ceremony. DeGeneres made broadcast history in 1997 when her TV alter ego came out of the closet on her self-titled sitcom Ellen, becoming the first openly gay lead
character on US prime-time network television. The presenter came out herself in the same year, and was in a relationship with actress Anne Heche until 2000.

New Harry Potter movie release put back

The release date for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince has been pushed back by eight months, to July 2009. The sixth instalment of the teenage wizard's adventures was supposed to have its Royal premiere on 17 November.

Alan Horn, president of studio Warner Bros, said the decision was taken to guarantee the studio a major summer blockbuster in 2009. He also blamed the Hollywood writers' strike, which hit the film industry hard earlier this year. Mr Horn said the strike, which ended in February, had "impacted the readiness of scripts for other films." He said: "The picture is completely, absolutely, 100% on schedule, on time. There were no delays. I've seen the movie. It is fabulous. We would have been perfectly able to have it out in November." The move will mean a two-year delay between the film adaptations of books five and six in JK Rowling's fantasy series. But it will shorten fans' wait between Half-Blood Prince and the final two instalments of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, which are being shot simultaneously next year.

It is thought actors Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson - who is celebrating getting straight As in her A Levels in English literature, geography and art - will reprise their roles. The release date for part one is tentatively set for November 2010. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince had been chosen for this year's Royal Film Performance, on 17 November.

Last year's performance was cancelled amid controversy about the chosen movie, Brick Lane. It was the first time the annual gala - held in aid of the Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund (CTBF) - had been scrapped since 1958. CTBF chief executive Peter Hore told BBC News he was "very disappointed" with the decision to shelve the Potter premiere. But he was hopeful a Royal premiere would still go ahead this year. He said: "The Royal Film Performance has been around for a long time and has a tradition of showcasing the best films. We are confident we will be able to do that again this year." Mr Hore added that he expected to make an announcement shortly.

U2 Warn Fans Over Fake Concert Tickets

Irish rock band U2 have warned fans that concert tickets currently being advertised for sale are not real, as they have not confirmed any live shows. The group said reports claiming they are performing soon were "mistaken".

"There are no tour dates for the band at the moment, so please don't buy tickets for U2 shows you see advertised," they said in a statement. The group added that any future concert announcements will be made first on their official website.

Last year they denied reports that claimed they were planning a series of concerts at the O2 arena in London. The band have been working on new material since 2006, with producers including Rick Rubin, Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno. A new album is expected later this year, and many online agencies are advising fans to pre-register for a predicted world tour in 2009.

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Star Wars model sells for $350,000

A miniature model space craft from the original Star Wars film has sold for $350,000 (£177,789) in an auction of iconic film memorabilia. The 18 inch-high T.I.E. fighter featured in the climactic space battle in the 1977 movie.

A hoverboard ridden by Michael J Fox in the Back to the Future films went for $55,000 (£27,938). The sale, by Hollywood auction house Profiles In History, mainly focused on visual effects and props.

Charlton Heston's stone tablets from The Ten Commandments fetched $60,000 (£30,492), while the axe used by Jack Nicholson in The Shining had a closing bid of $25,000 (£12,699). It was used to batter down a hotel door in Stanley Kubrick's 1980 film adaptation of Stephen King's novel.

The Holy Grail - the Indiana Jones prop, rather than the Christian relic - was bought for $22,500 (£11,429). The auction allowed collectors to buy more than 1,000 original pieces of Hollywood history, including several superhero costumes - among them Wolverine's X-Men jacket and Ben Affleck's Daredevil costume.

Mel Gibson's William Wallace battle costume from 1995's Braveheart was bought for $30,000 (£15,246). Other sales included the animatronic puppet from Alien 3, made from foam rubber, silicone and fibreglass, which sold for £19,000 (£9,651). A ray gun from 1956 science-fiction classic Forbidden Planet went for $40,000 (£20,328).

Martin Sheen Tops TV Actor Salary List

Two and a Half Men star Charlie Sheen is the highest paid US TV actor this year, according to TV Guide magazine. The actor rakes in $825,000 (£422,000) per episode, including income from his ownership rights in the show. William Petersen, who plays Gil Grissom on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, is the second highest paid, taking home $600,000 (£307,000) an episode.

Law & Order's Mariska Hargitay was the best paid woman for TV drama, earning $400,000 (£204,000) per show. "[Sheen and Petersen] are at the very top of their game and are the best at what they do," said TV Guide editor Craig Tomashoff. "You'd expect them to be at the top of the scale."

Others making the highest TV salaries list include the cast of The Simpsons, who each earn $400,000 (£204,000) per episode. American Idol judge Simon Cowell earns $50m (£26m) for one season of the talent search show, says the magazine.

Family Guy and American Dad creator Seth MacFarlane's new $100m (£51m) five-year deal with TV network Fox makes him the highest-paid writer-producer creating shows for the small screen. Oprah Winfrey tops TV Guide's list of highest paid TV celebrities, earning $385m (£197m) annually for hosting her daytime talk show.

Mary-Kate Olsen seeks immunity over Heath Ledger

Actress Mary-Kate Olsen will not speak to investigators about Heath Ledger's death unless she is granted immunity from prosecution. An official said the 22-year-old wants the assurance before speaking to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

Olsen's lawyer said she has told the authorities all that she knows. She was the first person contacted by the masseuse who found Ledger's body. Ledger was found dead at his home in January after an accidental overdose.

Federal investigators want to question Olsen about how Ledger obtained two powerful painkillers that contributed to his death. Olsen's lawyer, Michael C Miller, added that she "does not know the source of the drugs Mr Ledger consumed".

According to the official - who spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing - Mr Miller has twice refused requests for her to speak with them.

Investigators are in negotiations with Olsen's lawyers and the prosecutor's office, it was added. The official said that authorities had obtained a subpoena that could force Olsen to appear before a grand jury if negotiations with her lawyer fail. Other potential witnesses all have answered questions voluntarily, including doctors, Ledger's ex-girlfriend Michelle Williams, and anyone who was in his apartment around the time of his death, the official added.

DEA investigators suspect the painkillers oxycodone and hydrocodone found in Ledger's system were obtained with false prescriptions. Police say the masseuse who discovered Ledger's body spent nine minutes making three calls to Olsen before dialling 911 for help, then rang the actress a fourth time after paramedics arrived.

At some point during the calls, Olsen, who was in California at the time, summoned her personal security guards to the apartment to help.

Source: BBC