Michael Jackson Trial Opens with Shocking Death Photo

Just days before Michael Jackson died, the alarmed director of his comeback tour confronted Dr. Conrad Murray about the star's health, saying the king of pop was incoherent at times and unable to rehearse.

The testimony of Kenny Ortega, the co-director of Jackson's "This Is It" tour, was as startling as the opening statements by the prosecution and Murray's attorney.

Just minutes into his opening, prosecutor David Walgren showed the courtroom of photo of a ghostly Jackson lying dead in a hospital bed, draped by a hospital gown. He also played a tape of a conversation with Jackson in which the drugged-up singer slurred his words so badly the prosecutors had to run captions on the screen so jurors could understand what Jackson was saying.

Whole story at http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/michael-jackson-death-trial-kenny-ortega-worried-mjs/story?id=14614384

Today in Hollywood History September 9th 2011

Today in Hollywood History September 9th 2011

1938 - "Boys Town" starring Spencer Tracey is released.


1951 - 1st broadcast of "Love of Life" on CBS-TV

1955 - Elvis Presley's 1st appearance on Ed Sullivan's Show

1960 - Hugh Grant is born

1966 - Adam Sandler is born

1979 - 31st Emmy Awards: Taxi, Lou Grant, Ron Leibman & Ruth Gordon

1997 - Burgess Meredith known for "Rocky" films dies at 89

2005 - "The Exorcism of Emily Rose" starring Laura Linney is released.

OSCAR® SAVES RED CARPET SEATS FOR FANS

Beverly Hills, CA – Movie fans can soon vie for seats at the most glamorous spot on Hollywood Boulevard, Oscar’s Red Carpet.

Beginning on Monday, September 12, at noon ET/9 a.m. PT, and continuing for only one week, fans from around world may apply online for a random drawing for bleacher seats along the 84th Academy Awards® red carpet.

There are only 700 seats available along the 500-foot-long walkway that leads into the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®. Those who are selected will watch and cheer Oscar nominees, presenters and other ceremony guests as they arrive at the 84th Academy Awards on Sunday, February 26, 2012. Following the red carpet arrivals, everyone seated in the bleachers will be invited to watch the Academy Awards telecast at a nearby location.

The application form will be available at www.oscars.org/bleachers. The application process will close on Sunday, September 18, at midnight ET/9 p.m. PT.

To be eligible for the random drawing, an individual must complete the application form in its entirety. Applications may only be submitted online; they may not be returned via any other method.

Applicants may register for themselves and one guest. Duplicate registrations will not be accepted.

Those whose names are selected in the random drawing will be notified in late September. They will then be required to submit additional information for security purposes prior to final approval. Eligible attendees will receive a confirmation letter in early January with information pertinent to the event.

Only those individuals who have been pre-approved by the Academy will have access to the bleachers. Those who wait overnight to attempt admittance will not be granted entry.

The Academy will not be responsible for securing travel and/or hotel accommodations for bleacher fans.

In previous years, as many as 20,000 fans have applied online for the limited number of red carpet seats.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2011 will be presented on Sunday, February 26, 2012, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center, and televised live by the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 200 countries worldwide.

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ABOUT THE ACADEMY
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is the world's preeminent movie-related organization, with a membership of more than 6,000 of the most accomplished men and women working in cinema. In addition to the annual Academy Awards – in which the members vote to select the nominees and winners – the Academy presents a diverse year-round slate of public programs, exhibitions and events; provides financial support to a wide range of other movie-related organizations and endeavors; acts as a neutral advocate in the advancement of motion picture technology; and, through its Margaret Herrick Library and Academy Film Archive, collects, preserves, restores and provides access to movies and items related to their history. Through these and other activities the Academy serves students, historians, the entertainment industry and people everywhere who love movies.

FOLLOW THE ACADEMY
www.oscars.org
www.facebook.com/TheAcademy
www.youtube.com/Oscars
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James Earl Jones, Dick Smith and Oprah Winfrey To Receive Academy’s Governors Awards

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James Earl Jones, Dick Smith and Oprah Winfrey To Receive Academy’s Governors Awards

Beverly Hills, CA (August 2, 2011) – The Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences voted tonight to present Honorary Awards to actor James Earl Jones and makeup artist Dick Smith and the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award to philanthropist Oprah Winfrey.  All three awards will be presented at the Academy’s 3rd Annual Governors Awards dinner on Saturday, November 12, at the Grand Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland Center®.

Born in Arkabutla, Mississippi, Jones made his film debut in 1964 in Stanley Kubrick’s "Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb."  In 1970, he earned an Academy Award® nomination for his role as boxer Jack Jefferson in "The Great White Hope."  Jones has appeared in more than 50 feature films including "Claudine," "Conan the Barbarian," "Field of Dreams," "Coming to America" and, as Vice Admiral James Greer, "The Hunt for Red October," "Patriot Games" and "Clear and Present Danger."  Additionally, Jones has also voiced some of the most iconic characters in motion pictures including Darth Vader in the Star Wars trilogy and Mufasa in "The Lion King."

Known as the "godfather of makeup," Smith began his career in 1945 as NBC’s first makeup man.  He is known for his makeup artistry on such films as "The Godfather," "The Exorcist" and "Taxi Driver."  In 1984 he won an Oscar® for his work on "Amadeus," and received a nomination for "Dad" (1989).  As an educator, Smith helped train many of today’s Academy Award-winning and nominated makeup artists including Rick Baker, Greg Cannom, Kevin Haney, Kazuhiro Tsuji, Mike Elizalde and Carl Fullerton.

Since receiving her Oscar nomination for her debut film performance in "The Color Purple," actress, television host and producer Winfrey has gone on to establish herself as one of the most influential figures in entertainment and philanthropy. She has been especially dedicated to supporting educational initiatives and raising awareness of issues that affect women and children, both in the United States and around the globe.  Her philanthropic efforts have included Oprah’s Angel Network, the Oprah Winfrey Foundation, and the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls, which opened in South Africa in 2007. 

The Honorary Award, an Oscar statuette, is given to an individual for "extraordinary distinction in lifetime achievement, exceptional contributions to the state of motion picture arts and sciences, or for outstanding service to the Academy."

The Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, an Oscar statuette, is given to an individual in the motion picture industry whose humanitarian efforts have brought credit to the industry.

The Governors Awards presentation will be produced for the Academy by writer-director Phil Robinson with Charlie Haykel and Juliane Hare of Don Mischer Productions.

Eddie Murphy to Host 84th Academy Awards

Eddie Murphy to Host 84th Academy Awards®

Beverly Hills, CA (September 6, 2011) – Oscar® nominee Eddie Murphy, whose performing career spans movies, television and the stage, will host this year's Academy Awards show on Sunday, February 26, 2012, telecast producers Brett Ratner and Don Mischer announced today.  This will be Murphy's first hosting stint on the Oscars®.

"Eddie is a comedic genius, one of the greatest and most influential live performers ever," said Ratner.  "With his love of movies, history of crafting unforgettable characters and his iconic performances – especially on stage – I know he will bring excitement, spontaneity and tremendous heart to the show Don and I want to produce in February."

Commented Mischer, "Eddie is a truly ground-breaking performer, whose amazingly diverse array of roles has won him a devoted audience of all ages. His quick wit and charisma will serve him very well as Oscar host."

"I am enormously honored to join the great list of past Academy Award hosts from Hope and Carson to Crystal, Martin and Goldberg, among others," said Murphy.  "I'm looking forward to working with Brett and Don on creating a show that is enjoyable for both the fans at home and for the audience at the Kodak Theatre as we all come together to celebrate and recognize the great film contributions and collaborations from the past year."

Murphy began his career at the age of 15 as a stand-up comedian.  In 1980, at the age of 19, he joined the cast of "Saturday Night Live," becoming the show's youngest cast member to that point, and bringing to life many of the show's most memorable  characters. His 1983 album "Eddie Murphy: Comedian" won a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Recording.  It included portions of his groundbreaking HBO special "Eddie Murphy Delirious."  In 1987, "Eddie Murphy Raw" was theatrically released and went on to gross over $50 million. Murphy made his feature film debut in 1982 with the classic "48 Hrs." and would go on to star in such box-office hits as "Beverly Hills Cop" and the "The Nutty Professor" and "Shrek" franchises. All told, movies in which he has performed have earned in excess of $7 billion worldwide during their theatrical releases.

Murphy earned an Oscar nomination in 2006 for his supporting role in "Dreamgirls."

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2011 will be presented on Sunday, February 26, 2012, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center, and televised live on the ABC Television Network.  The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 200 countries worldwide.

Bill Crystal Snubbed in Consideration for Oscar Host

A source close to the production of February's 84th Annual Academy Awards show tells us funnymen Billy Crystal and Jerry Seinfeld were gunning for the coveted role.

After James Franco and Anne Hathaway proved that quirky, youthful co-hosts were not necessarily the key to boosting the Oscar telecast's ratings and reviews, predictions circulated that the academy would once again go old-school with Crystal in 2012.

Last month, the Los Angeles Times reported that Crystal, who's hosted the Oscars eight times, told an audience at an American Cinematheque screening of "City Slickers" that he'd be willing to host the movie awards show "one or two more times."

According to our source, however, "Rush Hour" filmmaker Brett Ratner, who's producing the 2012 Oscars telecast with Don Mischer, was never interested in the comic actor.

Crystal "was campaigning for [the hosting gig] on his own," says the source, "but he was never actually in the running."

The insider snarkily added that Crystal was a "backup option" that "no one was seriously considering."

The source also says Seinfeld's camp contacted the academy to express Jerry's interest in hosting, but points out that, as far as Ratner was concerned, Murphy was his guy.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2011/09/07/2011-09-07_eddie_murphy_announced_as_oscars_host_also_stars_in_the_award_show_producers_upc.html#ixzz1XIG4nNE3

Eddie Murphy to Host 84th Academy Awards

Beverly Hills, CA (September 6, 2011) – Oscar® nominee Eddie Murphy, whose performing career spans movies, television and the stage, will host this year's Academy Awards show on Sunday, February 26, 2012, telecast producers Brett Ratner and Don Mischer announced today.  This will be Murphy's first hosting stint on the Oscars®.


http://www.oscars.org/press/pressreleases/2011/20110906.html