'The Dark Knight'' is saying he doesn't have a dark side. Christian Bale denied Tuesday allegations made by his mother and sister -- that the actor had physically assaulted them at London's Dorchester Hotel on Sunday, the day before the new Batman film's European premiere.
Rockers' ode to Obama to hit internet Bill Zwecker: Barack Obama's presidential campaign is about to get another boost from a group of his celebrity supporters. Four-time Grammy-winning singer and songwriter Dave Stewart on Monday shared a preview with the Sun-Times of a music video he is creating ''that should be out on the Internet in about 10 days.''
Get ready, Chicago! I'm hearing there's a good chance Lindsay Lohan will join her DJ girlfriend Samantha Ronson at Lollapalooza Aug. 1-3, when LiLo -- herself a big music lover -- should be mostly finished with her film ''Labor Pains.''
First Angelina Jolie's co-star Jack Black ''outed'' her with the news Jolie was having twins, now Jennifer Garner's ex-''Alias'' co-star Victor Garber has revealed Ben Affleck's wife is expecting the couple's second baby.
Bill Murray to jump from plane at Air and Water Show Bill Zwecker: Actor and North Shore native Bill Murray is known for taking risks professionally. But who knew he'd be willing to jump out of an airplane in front of hundreds of thousands of fans -- and at North Avenue Beach, to boot! The Oscar nominee will be the star attraction for an extra performance being added to the Chicago Air and Water Show on Friday, Aug. 15.
Even though spokesfolks for both Reese Witherspoon and Jake Gyllenhaal deny or duck all questions regarding the increasing seriousness of that coosome twosome's budding romance -- trust me: It's the real deal.
Two things are clear about all the hoopla over the alleged Madonna-Alex Rodriguez fling (repeatedly denied by Madonna's spokeswoman):
'Batman' stars hit the red-carpet in Chicago Bill Zwecker: Despite sweltering temperatures, several hundred Batman fans rallied Wednesday night to see stars Michael Caine, Gary Oldman and Chin Han on the red carpet at the Chicago premiere of "The Dark Knight."
Our Town's own William Petersen told me several years ago he was tired of the weekly grind and wanted to ''pull the plug'' and exit his CBS hit ''CSI'' -- but ''only in the right way, at the right time.''
Seems booze and politics did not blend well early Saturday down in the Stray Cat bar in Shreveport, La. -- though the combination did lead to quite a bit of shaking and stirring things up.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Political jeers sparked Brolin, Wright bar fight Bill Zwecker: Seems politics is not a great mixer with most any kind of booze — at
least that didn't seem to be the case early Saturday down in
Shreveport, La., where actors Josh Brolin and Jeffrey Wright, along
with members of a crew filming an Oliver Stone movie, were arrested
during a bar fight. While the news about the fight has been out there, here's the scoop on why it started.
Without question, Heath Ledger didn't go out of his way to seek publicity while in Chicago last summer filming ''The Dark Knight,'' but the actor was not exactly a hermit, either.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Strike could stop 'Beast' Bill Zwecker: After an amazing year of major filmmaking in Chicago -- including ''Wanted,'' ''The Dark Knight'' and ''Public Enemies'' -- there's basically only one big project in the wings: Patrick Swayze's ''The Beast'' series for A&E.
You've got to hand it to Anne Hathaway. Only a couple of weeks after she learned the ''love of her life'' was an alleged con artist, an old Vassar pal of the ''Get Smart'' star says the actress is ''well on her way'' to fully recovering from the shock.
While Madonna has denied she's divorcing husband Guy Ritchie or having an affair with New York Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez, the superstar carefully has avoided claiming her marriage is peachy-keen perfect.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Clinton drops in on Aspen festival Bill Zwecker: The annual Aspen Ideas Festival attracts a wide range of political leaders, academics and assorted intellectuals to the exclusive Colorado resort, and this year was no exception. Again former president Bill Clinton jetted in -- to address many topics, including Africa, philanthropy and improving girls' education worldwide.
After hearing and watching Kanye West's various temper tantrums the past few years, I guess we shouldn't be surprised the very talented but often testy music superstar is heading to anger management classes.
I know it seems like another reality show is about the last thing the world needs. But I've learned Paris Hilton -- herself no stranger to the reality TV experience -- has dreamed up an intriguing concept for a new show.
Kanye West going back to class: anger management Bill Zwecker: After hearing and watching Kanye West’s various temper tantrums the
past few years, I guess we shouldn’t be surprised the talented but
often testy music superstar is heading to anger management classes. Two reasons: to help his personal psychological well-being and
relationship with friends — and to aid him in snaring lucrative
endorsement deals.
Despite continual insider tips to this column and other media about a pending breakup of Madonna's marriage to director Guy Ritchie, the superstar's longtime spokeswoman denied the splitsville stories Wednesday.
Sounds like there are two opinions about the untimely death of rising supermodel and former Vogue covergirl Ruslana Korshunova, the 20-year-old beauty who had been a fashion world fave since emigrating here from her native Kazakhstan.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Heath's co-stars stoke Oscar buzz Bill Zwecker: The Oscar buzz for Heath Ledger's performance in ''The Dark Knight'' even has his co-stars in the new ''Batman'' film talking. During a chat with this column Friday in Los Angeles, the movie's lead -- Christian Bale, again playing Bruce Wayne/Batman, told me, ''When we were in Chicago filming, watching Heath creating his own unique take on the Joker was one of the most amazing things I've ever witnessed as an actor.''
Splitsville rumors have chased Madonna and husband Guy Ritchie for ages, but now it seems they may be true. After previously always denying marital woes, spokesfolks for the couple have suddenly become silent.
This may be hard to believe, but a usually reliable source very close to Britney Spears says the entertainer and ex-hubby Kevin Federline may be getting back together.
Legendary actor and philanthropist Paul Newman has not commented on his reported battle with cancer (except to say he's ''doing nicely''), but I've learned the Oscar winner has been busily approving a wide range of plans for his various charities -- including his wildly popular food line that has raised millions for Newman's pet causes, especially his Hole-in-the-Wall camps for seriously ill kids.
Romance rekindles between Britney, K-Fed Bill Zwecker: This may be hard to believe, but a usually reliable source very close
to Britney Spears says the entertainer and ex-hubby Kevin Federline may
be getting back together. Apparently, all the time that the former couple have been in touch
regarding Spears’ expanding her visitation rights with their sons has
reignited strong feelings between the two.
Summer in Chicago means one thing: outdoor music and food fests. Ravinia has started, Taste of Chicago is coming up, Pitchfork and Lollapalooza, oh my! Plus, all the Tastes of Randolph Streets, Taste of Whatever Avenue, Your'hoodfest, on and on...
