Church settles phone-hacking suit

LONDON -- News Intl. has agreed to pay 600,000 ($951,000) in damages and costs to Welsh singer Charlotte Church and her parents to settle their phone-hacking case against the defunct News of the World newspaper. This is one of the largest settlements yet made public, which reflects the fact that Church was a teenager when her voicemail was repeatedly hacked, and the long period of time over which the offences took place. Church's case is particularly sensitive for News Corp., the U.S. parent of News Intl., because reports have emerged that Glenn Mulcaire, the private investigator who hacked her phone for the News of the World, also had the U.S. cell phone numbers of her Los Angeles agent and her NY publicist in his notes. It is not yet known whether their phones were hacked. But if such evidence emerges, it could lay News Corp. open to a wider FBI probe of its activities on U.S. soil. Speaking outside London's High Court on Monday, Church said, "What I have discovered as the litigation has gone on has sickened and disgusted me. Nothing was deemed off limits by those who pursued me and my family, just to make money for a multinational corporation." Church's case claimed that 33 articles in the News of the World were the result of journalists or investigators illegally hacking into her family's voicemails between 2002 and 2006. The newspaper used information gained to pressure Church's mother into co-operating with an article about her suicide attempt. News Intl. made a public apology as part of the settlement, half of which covers the Church family's legal costs. But Church said, "Despite the apology which the newspaper has just given, these people were prepared to go to any lengths to prevent me exposing their behavior. They are not truly sorry. They are just sorry they got caught." Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Top Moments: Glee's Quick Studies and Khloe and Lamar Break a Sex Swing

Brooke Mueller Charlie Sheen's ex-wife, Brooke Mueller, continues to be billed with criminal offence cocaine possession with intent to distribute, TMZ reviews. Mueller, 34, continues to be billed with one count of getting a lot more than four grams of cocaine on her behalf and something count of getting under four grams. The costs stem from Mueller's 12 ,. 2 arrest in Aspen, Colo. She's also billed with attacking a lady earlier that same evening. Charlie Sheen's ex Brooke Mueller receiving at-home treatment solution for addiction If in prison for having a lot more than four grams, she'd address six years imprisonment. If she's in prison for getting under four grams, she could face no more than 18 several weeks imprisonment. Following her 12 ,. 2 arrest, Mueller was receiving at-home treatment solution on her addiction, her repetition told Us Weekly in December. Mueller and Sheen were married in May 2008. She declared divorce in November 2010, 11 several weeks after Sheen was charged with attacking her within their Aspen, Colo. home. (He later plead guilty to misdemeanor assault). They've two-year-old twin sons together, Bob and Max.

American Cake: Reunion will get a brand new trailer

American Cake: Reunion has launched a brand new theatrical trailer packed filled with new footage, as Jim, Finch, Stifler and co celebrate their high-school reunion over time-honoured style... through getting wasted and sleazing on women.The brand new trailer introduces a couple of new plot points, such as the arrival from the girl Jim accustomed to babysit for. Naturally, she's turning 18, and will test sex-starved Jim's forces of self-control.Elsewhere, there's more Stifler-centric action, having a welcome suggestion the character has came back towards the obnoxious frat-boy from the first couple of films, as opposed to the gibbering moron from the third.Browse the new trailer below... Nostalgia may be the title of the overall game with that one, and will also be interesting to determine how co-company directors Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg balance the gross-out gags using the stresses and strains of adult existence.It's the most interesting ground the series has covered because the original movie, and it's not only fond reminiscences which have us excited by that one. American Cake: Reunion opens within the United kingdom on 2 May 2012.

Fanboy or Fascist?

"What the box office success of the re-released Special Editions told Hollywood is that the only way to create another global phenomenon is to make a new STAR WARS movie. 1997 was the start of the modern-day fanboy/geek culture that now runs Hollywood. Fanboy culture (Comic-Con, Harry Potter, Twilight, The Hunger Games, The Lord of the Rings, J.J. Abrams, Joss Whedon, Marvel comics, Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead, Glee, Aint-It-Cool-News, Attack of the Show) is a groupthink mentality that claims to be democratic, what with its we-know-whats-best-because-were-fans ethic, but is really pop culture fascism. And its the fans demand (remember, fan is short for fanatic), that led to Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace - the most hyped (and possibly most reviled) blockbuster in movie history." [Some Came Running]

Cast Joins Busted Knuckle Thriller Killing Angels

Chris Hayes (The Whispering Dead), Gabriela Dias (Tomorrows End), and Scott Campbell (Brokeback Mountain) have signed on as actors and producers for director Daniel Rantas’ thriller Killing Angels that is set to begin shooting this summer in Los Angeles, Prague and Germany. Busted Knuckle Productions founder Hunter G. Williams wrote the script for the thriller, whichhas elements of drama and is set in the seedy underworld of the sex trade.It centers on children who are exploited until a new rogue military group takes justice into their own hands. L.A.-based Busted Knuckle focuses on thriller/horror films with 14 titles attached to its label to date.

The Assistance, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer Win At NAACP Image Honours

The Assistance gathered more accolades tonight using the NAACP Image Honours naming it Best Movie, and Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer were selected Best Actress and Supporting Actress. Events in the Shrine Auditorium were located by Sanaa Latham and Anthony Mackie. Additionally, the Founding People from the Black Stuntmens Association received the NAACP Presidents Award. A listing of those who win moving picture and television groups follows: Movie Outstanding Movie “The Help” (DreamWorks Pictures/ Participant Media/ Touchstone Pictures) Outstanding Actor inside a Movie Laz Alonso – “Jumping the Broom” (TriStar Pictures) Outstanding Actress inside a Movie Viola Davis – “The Help” (DreamWorks Pictures/ Participant Media/ Touchstone Pictures) Outstanding Supporting Actor inside a Movie Mike Epps – “Jumping the Broom” (TriStar Pictures) Outstanding Supporting Actress inside a Movie Octavia Spencer – “The Help” (DreamWorks Pictures/ Participant Media/ Touchstone Pictures) Outstanding Independent Movie “Pariah” (Focus Features) Outstanding Foreign Movie “In the Land of Bloodstream and Honey” (FilmDistrict) DOCUMENTARY Outstanding Documentary – (Theatrical or Television) “Sing Your Song” (Cinemax Documentary Films) WRITING Outstanding Writing inside a Comedy Series Salim Akil, Mara Brock Akil – “The Game” – Parachutes….Beach Chairs (Wager) Outstanding Writing inside a Dramatic Series Lolis Eric Elie – “Treme” – Father Christmas, Do You Obtain the Blues? (Cinemax) Outstanding Writing inside a Movie – (Theatrical or Television) Ann Peacock – “The First Grader” (National Geographic Entertainment) Pointing Outstanding Pointing inside a Comedy Series Leonard R. Garner Junior. – “Rules of Engagement” – The Setup (CBS) Outstanding Pointing inside a Dramatic Series Ernest Dickerson – “Treme” – Do Watcha Wanna (Cinemax) Outstanding Pointing inside a Movie – (Theatrical or Television) Salim Akil – “Jumping the Broom” (TriStar Pictures) TELEVISION Groups Outstanding Comedy Series “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne” (The best spinner's) Outstanding Actor inside a Comedy Series Malcolm-Jamal Warner – “Reed Between your Lines” (Wager) Outstanding Actress inside a Comedy Series Tracee Ellis Ross – “Reed Between your Lines” (Wager) Outstanding Supporting Actor inside a Comedy Series Nick Cannon – “Up Through The Night” (NBC) Outstanding Supporting Actress inside a Comedy Series Keshia Dark night Pulliam – “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne” (The best spinner's) Outstanding Drama Series “Law & Order: Special Sufferers Unit” (NBC) Outstanding Actor inside a Drama Series L.L. Awesome J – “NCIS: La” (CBS) Outstanding Actress inside a Drama Series Regina King – “SouthLAnd” (TNT) Outstanding Supporting Actor inside a Drama Series James Pickens, Junior. – “Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC) Outstanding Supporting Actress inside a Drama Series Archie Panjabi – “The Good Wife” (CBS) Outstanding Television Movie, Small-Series or Dramatic Special “Thurgood” (Cinemax) Outstanding Actor inside a Television Movie, Small-Series or Dramatic Special Laurence Fishburne – “Thurgood” (Cinemax) Outstanding Actress inside a Television Movie, Small-Series or Dramatic Special Taraji P. Henson – “Taken From Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story” (Lifetime) Outstanding Actor inside a Daytime Drama Series Emerson Brooks – “All The Kids” (ABC) Outstanding Actress inside a Daytime Drama Series Tatyana Ali – “The Youthful and also the Restless” (CBS) Outstanding News/ Information – (Series or Special) “Unsung” (TV One) Outstanding Talk Series “Oprah’s Lifeclass” (OWN: The famous host oprah Winfrey Network) Outstanding Reality Series “Dancing using the Stars” (ABC) Outstanding Variety Series or Special “Oprah Presents: Master Class” (OWN: The famous host oprah Winfrey Network) Outstanding Kids Program “I Could Be Leader: A Kids-Eye View” (Cinemax) Outstanding Performance inside a Youth/ Kids Program – (Series or Special) Keke Palmer – “True Jackson, Vice president” (Nickelodeon)

Kenny Rogers sues Capitol Records

Pop-country star Kenny Rogers has added his name to a growing list of heritage artists suing their labels for digital royalties with a suit filed against Capitol Records in federal court in Nashville on Monday. The action alleging breach of contract and unfair competition was lodged by attorney Richard Busch, who also filed a suit against Capitol on behalf of the estate of the Knack's drummer Bruce Gary in December (Daily Variety, Dec. 28). Like most of the other pending suits, Rogers' action reflects an appellate court decision in F.B.T. Productions' suit against Universal Music Group and Aftermath Records. That decision found that F.B.T., which produced Eminem's earliest recordings, was entitled to much higher digital royalties based on rates for masters licensed to third parties (Daily Variety, Sept. 7, 2010). However, Rogers' suit also alleges a variety of other accounting abuses by Capitol, and thus was not filed as a class action. It involves royalties for recordings made under 1975 and 1977 contracts with United Artists Records, Capitol's predecessor in interest. During this period, the singer's top-five pop hits included "Lucille," "She Believes in Me" and "Coward of the County." Action follows a 2007 audit on Capitol's books performed by Rogers. It claims that the vocalist was underpaid in excess of $400,000, and that the label failed to respond to the artist's written objections. Suit alleges that Capitol failed to pay a 50% royalty specified contractually for what the 1977 contract refers to as "non-disc records." It alleges that the label received "substantial income" from download and ringtone licenses to iTunes, eMusic, Verizon Wireless and other suppliers. It also claims that Capitol distributed free goods in foreign territories without accounting for or paying for them; failed to report record club income; wrongfully withheld foreign taxes; deducted inappropriate video costs; and failed to account for foreign broadcast income. Capitol also allegedly failed to distribute monetary awards to Rogers stemming from lawsuits against Napster, Kazaa, Grokster and other pirate sites. An EMI spokesman had no comment. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com