'Siegfried and Roy's' Horn still critical
LAS VEGAS, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- Roy Horn of the "Siegfried and Roy" Las Vegas show, who was mauled by a tiger, is capable of "limited communication" but is still in critical condition.
Siegfried Fischbacher has been at Horn's bedside since his emergency surgery following the Friday night attack and he thanked their fans for their support, CNN reported.
"For more than four decades, I've had the great privilege of standing at the side of this remarkable man, and I will continue to do so during this challenging time," Fischbacher said.
Bernie Yuman, Siegfried & Roy's manager, said Fischbacher has "unconditional faith" that Horn will pull through.
However, the 210-crew members employed by the show at the The Mirage were told Saturday night that the show was closed indefinitely.
Mirage manager Alan Feldman suggested, "They may very well need to consider other options in their careers," CNN said.
Feldman said it is not known what set off the 7-year-old white tiger.
Alex wins $1.6 million talent prize
LONDON, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- Alex Parks has won the second series of the BBC's Fame Academy talent search, beating Alistair Griffin in the final.
The 19-year-old from Truro, Cornwall, picked up a £1 million ($1.6 million) m recording contract and luxury lifestyle, including a London flat.
British bookmakers' favorite and darling of the show's tutors, Alex won a majority of the 4.5 million viewers' votes.
She looked shocked and held her hand to her head as the result was announced. She told BBC presenter Claudia Winkleman: "I kind of can't feel my body. And I'm happy."
Alex impressed voters with her renditions of John Lennon's Imagine, Tracy Chapman's Baby Can I Hold You, and Beautiful by Christine Aguilera.
Runner-up Alistair, 25, from Whitby, North Yorkshire, widely considered to be the best songwriter in the Academy, was philosophical in defeat. Alistair had been championed by Bee Gee Robin Gibb.
'School of Rock' tops box office
LOS ANGELES, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- Jack Black's "School of Rock" topped the box office by bringing in $20.2 million in the fifth-best October opening weekend ever, reported Zap2it.
According to estimates of Exhibitor Relations, Denzel Washington's latest starring vehicle, "Out of Time," opened in second place at $17 million.
Last week's top movie, "The Rundown," starring The Rock, sank to third place and collected $9.7 million, while "Under the Tuscan Sun" starring Diane Lane added $7.9 million to its $21 box office.
New Line's "Secondhand Lions" added $5.3 million to its $30 million box office.
"Underworld" by Screen Gems bought in $4.8 million for a box office total of $44 million, while "Lost in Translation" added $4.2 million to its $14 million box office, according to boxofficemojo.com.
"The Fighting Temptations" added $3.2 million to its $24 million to its box office, "Once Upon a Time in Mexico" added $2.5 million to its $53 million box office and "Cold Creek Manor" added $2.5 million to its $18 million box office.
Texas university to honor King of Thailand
BANGKOK, Thailand, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- The University of North Texas, in Denton, Texas, will bestow an honorary doctorate in music to Thailand's jazz-loving King.
The Bangkok Post reported Sunday that NTU is hoping to send a delegation to Thailand on the king's 76th birthday Dec. 5 to confer the honorary degree.
"It's unique for anybody to be in jazz -- especially kings," said Neil Slater, NTU jazz studies department chair and division head.
The king, born in Cambridge, Mass., plays the saxophone, piano, clarinet, guitar and violin and has written compositions in English and French focusing on jazz and blues.
At the age of 32, he was awarded honorary membership in the Vienna Institute of Music and Arts.
He has also played with famous musicians, such as Benny Goodman, Stan Getz, Lionel Hampton and Jack Teagarden, the Post said.
