Entertainment News

NEW YORK, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg declared New Year's Eve "The '21' Club Day" in honor of the famed speakeasy's 75th anniversary.

Mario's 'Love You' tops Billboard chart ... Ailing Pryor said considered suicide ... Muslim group offended by '24' season debut ... J-Lo ruled celebrity mag covers in '04 ... News from United Press International.

MADISON, Wis., Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Wisconsin state prison officials have denied TV producers interviews with, and lie detector tests for, several convicted murderers.

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- U.S. comedian Richard Pryor, fighting multiple sclerosis, has lost the use of his voice, his sister says.

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Mario's "Let Me Love You" is No. 1 on Billboard's Hot 100 for the second week in a row.

KIGALI, Rwanda, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- The man who inspired the newly released "Hotel Rwanda" about a hotel manager saving guests in a 1994 genocide doesn't think of himself as a hero.

LONDON, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Despite the tremendous popularity of DVD's, there's still plenty of interest in Britain in VCRs and tape.

NEW YORK, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Fox's crime drama "24" hasn't opened its new season yet but already has offended a Muslim group.

NEW YORK, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Entertainer Jennifer Lopez got the most exposure of anyone this year on the covers of the big four U.S. celebrity weeklies.

LONDON, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Actress Renee Zellweger has broken up with White Stripes rocker Jack White, it was reported Thursday.

CARDIFF, Wales, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Welch singer Charlotte Church plans to spend the New Year's holidays with her boyfriend, who is celebrating his birthday.

LAS VEGAS, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- American troops in Europe were treated to a USO show their grandfathers would have appreciated during World War II.

LONDON, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Web-based broadcasting, known as podcasting, is getting more popular among U.S. and British users of Apple iPods and other digital music players.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Senior U.S. officials have warned that the death toll in the Asian tsunami disaster is much higher than what the media are reporting.

STRATFORD-ON-AVON, England, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- The Royal Shakespeare Company says it will perform in a new, 1,000-seat temporary theater while its main hall is under renovation from 2007 to 2009.