Mel Gibson's 'Edge of Darkness' strong at No. 2

By: Vickie J. Rubinson

According to Daily Variety, Mel Gibson's "Edge of Darkness" opened at No. 2 at the box office with $17.1 million.

"Darkness" about a Boston police officer who discovers a corporate cover-up after investigating the death of his daughter, drew a 53% male and a surprising 47% female viewership. The R-rated Mel Gibson flick scored a B+ Cinema Score rating in exit polls.

"You would assume that Mel would now have an older audience," said Warner Bros. prexy of domestic distribution Dan Fellman. "But I think the audience was not only older, but broader."

Entering its seventh frame at the domestic box office, 20th Century Fox's "Avatar" again proved its staying power, taking in an estimated $30 million. Cameron's pic easily surpassed "Edge of Darkness."

Meanwhile Disney saw a solid opening for its first release of the year, romantic comedy "When in Rome," which took an estimated $12 million. CBS Films' "Extraordinary Measures" failed to gain traction after a disappointing bow last weekend. The picture earned $2.6 million.

"The Lovely Bones" continues to perform solidly for Paramount after opening in a lukewarm limited release, grossing an estimated $4.7 million.

Fox Searchlight continues to position Jeff Bridges film "Crazy Heart" with kudos publicity in mind. Bridges has already been tapped for lead actor trophies at the Golden Globes and the Screen Actors Guild. The picture earned $2.5 million and Searchlight plans to extend "Crazy Heart" to some 800 theaters next weekend.

Is Snooki worth $10 million an episode?

By: Vickie J. Rubinson

Plans for season two of "Jersey Shore," MTV's runaway hit about the unapologetically trashy adventures of a group of self-proclaimed "guidos" and "guidettes," have hit a snag: the cast wants a giant raise. Snookie, The Situation, Pauly D., and their seven housemates unanimously rejected the network's initial offer of $5,000 an episode for each member and have not yet responded to MTV's second offer of $10,000. Is the cast pressing their luck, or just being smart negotiators?

The show's 'guidos' are a dime-a-dozen: Don't feed the "greedy" "Jersey Shore" ego, says Susie Anderson at LimeLife. "It doesn't really take that much to get drunk, hook up and party non-stop." That's a job plenty of youngsters would gladly do for free. If MTV ends up finding a new cast for the show, "it might be kind of fun." Frankly, I'm not convinced the original cast can "keep us entertained" for a second season.

The kids deserve more money than MTV is offering: Whether or not the cast of "Jersey Shore" has any real talent isn't the point, says TMZ. The season finale of the show drew an "off the charts" 4.8 million viewers. Considering that characters in "The Hills"--MTV's other hit reality TV show--sometimes make over $100,000 an episode, "the 'Jersey Shore' kids, frankly, should be holding out for a bell of a lot more than $10 k.

They should take the $10K--that's really all they're worth: While the cast of "Shore" could justifiably demand more than $10,000 an episode, says Foster Karner at Gawker, the "Orange Creature Cadre" was "smart" to push such a low-ball price. Why? Because they're never really going to be that popular. Unlike the uber-rich cast of "The Hills," nobody actually wants to "be like" the "Shore" crew-- "except for a small segment of the population who are either already like them or, given a few years, will be them."

'Basterds,' Bridges, Bullock win SAG Awards

By: Vickie J. Rubinson

Jeff Bridges of "Crazy Heart" and Sandra Bullock of "The Blind Side" claimed top acting honors at Saturday's Screen Actor's Guild Awards, building momentum for possible Academy Awards glory for the two stars.

"I love being an actor--pretending to be other people and getting into the shoes of other folks," said Bridges, who plays a hard-luck, hard-living country singer in the drama.

Although respected by his peers, Bridges has largely been bypassed for major awards. Bullocks also got a rare chance to bask in the awards spotlight, winning for her portrayal of a tenacious real-life mom, Leigh Anne Tuohy, who helped a youth in need, future NFL player Michael Oher.

Both Bridges and Bullock had picked up Golden Globes trophies for their roles less than a week ago. Backstage, Bullock refused to speculate on her Oscar chances in March.

"Shhhhh, Shhhh, Shhhh," she said, repeatedly to a reported asking the question.

"I would be a hostess or a waitress or a house restorer before I ever considered myself an actor, because I never thought I was good enough," Bullock added.

In another repeat of the Golden Globes, Austrian actor Chris Waltz was honored as best supporting actor for his role as an energetically ruthless Nazi in the film "Inglorious Basterds," while Mo'Nique's searing portrayal of an abusive mother in "Precious" was honored as best supporting actress.

The cast of AMC's 1960s Madisove Avenue saga "Made Men" won the trophy for best drama series ensemble for the second year in a row, while 19 cast members of a FOX TV newcomer "Glee" about misfits in a high school singing club, accepted the award for best comedy series ensemble.

Glee is on a streak: It claimed the best comedy series award at the Golden Globes.

Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey of NBC's "30 Rock" won for best acting in a comedy series, allowing Fey to get in a sly joke about NBC and its bitter late-night battle with O'Brien in her acceptance speech.

Betty White, 88, accepted a liftetime achievement award from Bullock for an enduing career that included "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and "The Golden Girls" and showed her sharp comedic chops.

When Bullock joked that she finds White annoying, White shot back, "Isn't it heartening to see how far a girl as plain as she is can go."

Forget popcorn--try these movie treats from around the world

By: Vickie J. Rubinson

According to Mark Ellwood in "Travel and Leisure," Americans may not drink much beer at the movies like the Lithuanians do, but snacking is undeniably, a central part of movie-going in the U.S. as well as abraod. And while popcorn may be popular in movie theaters worldwide, there are still some holdouts in every country, where unusual local treats are still offered at the concession counter.

Palates vary widely across the globe, so movie snacking is bound to be an adventure. In Japan, for example, the movie snacks of choice are baked fish skeletons coated with soy and sugar. South Koreans adore fishy snacks as well, but they also go mad for roasted chestnuts. And in Moscow, VIP theater patrons indulge in--what else--beluga caviar.

And don't be surprised to see strange cinema snacks in U.S. theatres too. Concessions are of course big business here; the country's largest theater chain, Regal sold almost $860 million worth of food and drinks in 2009. And to increase sales, Regal is experimenting with new offerings, many of which are sure to shock the popcorn, Milk Duds and Coke crowd. Egg rolls, beef jerky, and even frozen soft drinks with sour apple, wild cherry and blue raspberry-flavored syrups are just a few new and unusual items currently being tested in local markets.

The Golden Globe Awards

By: Vickie J. Rubinson

The science-fiction blockbuster "Avatar" won best drama at the Golden Globes and picked up the directing honor for James Cameron on Sunday, raising the "Titanic" filmmaker's prospects for another Academy Award trimph.

Winning the dramatic-acting honors were Sandra Bullock for the football tale "The Blind Side" and Jeff Bridges for the country-music story "Crazy Heart."

The crowd gave a standing ovation to Bridges, a beloved veteran generally overlooked for key Hollywood honors.

The son of late actor Lloyd Bridges, Bridges thanked his father for encouraging him to go into show business.

"So I'm glad I listened to you, dad," he said.

Bullock cited Michael Oher, the Baltimore Ravens rookie lineman whose life is the subject of "The Blind Side." She plays a wealthy woman whose family took in the teenager Oher after discovering he was homeless.

"If I may steal from Michael Oher, I may not be the most talented, but I've been given the opportunity," Bullock said.

The acting prizes for musical and comedy went to Merly Streep for the Julia Child story, "Julie and Julia" and Robert Downey Jr. for the crime romp "Sherlock Holmes." The supporting-performance Globes were won by Mo'Nique as an abusive welfare mother in "Precious" and Chris Waltz as a gleefully bloodthirsty Nazi in "Inglorious Basterds."

Waltz, a veteran Austrian actor who is a relative newcomer in Hollywood, won the supporting-actor Globe for "Inglorious Basterds."

"A year and a half ago I was exposed to the gravitational forces of Quentin Tarantino," Waltz said. "He took my modest little world, my globe, and with the power of his talent, and his words and his vision, he flung it into its orbit, a dizzying experience."

Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner won the screenplay honor for "Up in the Air," which Reitman also directed. The foreign-language honor went to "The White RIbbon," a stark drama of guilt and suspicion set in a German town on the eve of World War I.

Though one of Hollywood's biggest parties, the Globes bore somber reminders of tragedy in the real world, many stars wearing ribbons in support of earthquake victims in Haiti.

The Vegas bachelor bash "The Hangover" won for best musical or comedy, bringing uncharactersitic awards attention for broad comedy, a genre that often gets overlooked at Hollywood honors.

"Junior" Gotti's new career: True crime writer?

By: Vickie J. Rubinson

Now that the government has given up trying to put him in prison, John "Junior" Gotti says he may leave New York and try his hand at writing true-crime stories.

The son of the late notorious Gambino crime family boss John Gotti held a celebration dinner Friday at a restaurant in Westbury on Long Island.

According to the Associated Press, federal prosecutors announced Wednesday that after a series of hung juries they wouldn't seek a fifth retrial against the younger Gotti, who says he quit the mob in 1999.

Gotti told reporters at the dinner that he's thinking about moving south and may write a true crime book. He said it may be "better for everyone" if he moves away.

Gotti served nine years in prison for racketeering, but prosecutors failed to convict him of charges.

Pitt, Jolie give $1 million for Haiti relief

By: Vickie J. Rubinson

Oprah Winfrey, Paris Hilton, Ben Stiller, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are among the celebrities and artists urging support for survivors of the earthquake in Haiti.

Doctors without Borders announced Wednesday that Pitt and Jolie were contributing $1 million to the organization's emergency medical operations responding to the earthquake. The organization said it is dispatching additional emergency staff, including a surgical team and equipment to establish a 100-bed inflatable tent hospital with two operating rooms.

Stiller tweeted late Tuesday that "people in Haiti need or help and attention right now." Similar tweets are showing up from the likes of Hilton, Lindsey Lohan and Adam Lambert.

Publicist Leslie Chasky said he is focusing on his family, his Haitian charity, Yele and responding to disaster. Shakira on her Web site called for donations to yele and to UNICEF.

Winfrey began her television talk show Wednesday by asking viewers to donate to the Red Cross. "This is a time where we, as a global nation, should come together and support those who are in need," Winfrey said.

Coldplay singer Chris Martin urged people to donate to a Haiti appeal set up by the charity Oxfam.

"I visited Haiti with Oxfam a few years ago. It's a country of extreme poverty and brutal living conditions," Martin said. "Most people in Port-au-Prince live in tin shacks. The earthquake that has struck Haiti will have turned the city into an unimaginable hell."

Fox orders second season of 'Glee'

By: Vickie J. Rubinson

Fox hasn't stopped believin' in "Glee."

According to Daily Variety "Glee" will be picked up for a second season, not a complete surprise, given the show's hit status.

The early pickup will allow the show's producers to start planning season two now, and will also allow Fox to conduct a nationwide casting search to fill three new roles on the show.

"Glee" creator Ryan Murphy said the second season competition is in the vein of his initial talent search to find "Glee's" breakout cast.

"Anybody and everybody now has a chance to be on a show about talented underdogs," Murphy told the Hollywood Reporter. "We want to be the first interactive musical comedy on television."

Currently on winter hiatus, "Glee" starts the second half of its inaugural season on Tuesday April 13 at 9p.m.

Sandra Bullock's 'Blind Side' makes history

By: Vickie J. Rubinson

Sandra Bullock has accomplished a box office feat that her fellow A-listers Julia Roberts, Meryl Streep, Angelina Jolie and Reese Witherspoon have never succeeded at--she's cracked the $200 million mark at the domestic box office.

According to Variety, "The Blind Side' is the first movie ever "driven solely by a top female star" to break $200 million. Over the weekend, the drama box office receipts totaled $208.5 million.

In comparison, Bullock's A-list counterparts have come close, but never pulled in moviegoers in such big numbers. The only other female-centric film to ever crack the $200 million club was 2002's "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," which starred the then unknown Nia Vardalos.

And "The Blind Side's" box office bounty could continue to grow, according to Warner Bros. President of Domestic Distribution Dan Fellman.

"And we're not even done. I think 'Blind Side' has another $30 million left," Fellman told the entertainment trade mag.

Israel stirs up humus war: "Give Chickpeas a Chance!"

By: Vickie J. Rubinson

At the risk of whipping up discord with Lebanon, an Arab-Israeli village is planning to make the world's biggest hummus, a humble chickpea dip that stirs passions across the Middle East.

On Friday, residents of Abu Gosh, near Jerusalem, will mash 8,800 pounds of chickpeas, sesame paste, olive oil, lemon juice and garlic.

That is twice as much as the Guiness record set in October by chefs in Lebanon, Israel's neighbor, longtime political foe and culinary rival.

An inexpensive, nutritious and tasty dish, hummus is the great leveler in the Middle East, enjoyed by rich and poor, by Muslims and Christians and by Israelis and Palestinians.

"It is something we have in common. Something all of us love," says Shooky Galili, an Israeli journalist who runs the Hummus Blog that seeks to "give chickpeas a chance."

But it is also the root of heated disputes that rattle friendships and fuel animosities between longtime foes.

Lebanon, technically at war with Israel since 1948, recently sought to have the European Union register the popular dip as a Lebanese specialty.

The Lebanese Society for Industrialists claims Israeli bulsinesses are robbing them of tens of millions of dollars in potential earnings by exporting packaged hummus made with traditional Lebanese recipes.

This drew outrage, derision and bemusement in Israel.

"Hummus can't be owned by anybody. It's like saying someone owns bread," says Galili, who calls himself "The Hummus Guy."

He deplores the bad blood over his favorite dish, but admits that the hummus war "is certainly one of the nicest wars we have in the region. If all our battles were like that it would be wonderful."

Hummus is sometimes described as one of the oldest known prepared foods, eaten in the Middle East for centuries. But its origins have becone lost in the sands of history. Some suggest its roots might be traced to ancient Rome or Greece, but voicing such theories out loud is not recommended in this volatile region.

Gailili says it is irrelevant who first came up with the tasty concoction that has become an integral part of Middle Eastern culture, suggesting it should be seen as God's gift to the region.

In the Holy Land it enjoys near-cults status.