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Cinderella Man' box office take slows

LOS ANGELES, June 15 (UPI) -- Movie executives are wondering why, despite having the right ingredients, "Cinderella Man" has brought only $34.6 million at the box office after two weeks.

At an urgent meeting at Universal Pictures headquarters in Los Angeles, executives pondered the performance of the movie, which cost $88 million to make, The New York Times reported.

"We certainly expected, and believed, that a movie that turned out this well, with this great story, that audiences responded to, would be able to fight its way into the marketplace at any time of the year," Universal Pictures Vice Chairman Marc Shmuger told the Times

The cast is led by Russell Crowe and Renée Zellweger, with Oscar-winning director in Ron Howard.

The release of the movie in early summer may also to be blamed, as this is the time for movies with spine-chilling special effects and mindless plots, the report said.

The executives, however, did not see any serious damage from the phone-throwing antics that led to Crowe's arrest in New York.

The studio may consider re-releasing "Cinderella Man" on 800 screens in October and make it an Oscar contender.

Pacts keep 'Grey's Anatomy' team together

HOLLYWOOD, June 15 (UPI) -- Touchstone Television has signed a two-year producing-directing deal with Peter Horton that will keep the team behind ABC's popular "Grey's Anatomy" intact.

Horton, a former "thirtysomething" star, will remain as co-executive producer of the TV show that ended its inaugural season as the top-rated medical drama.

He also will direct and produce at least one additional pilot for Touchstone each year under the two-year, seven-figure pact, Daily Variety reported.

Horton has directed three pilots, including "Grey's," all of which were picked up as series.

Horton said, even when ABC struggled in the ratings, he was convinced the pendulum would have to swing back.

"I just keep doing episodes and pilots for them," Horton said. "Now that they're starting to climb back up the ladder, I wanted to stay there and help them keep climbing."

Touchstone also signed a long-term deal with "Grey's Anatomy" creator Shonda Rhimes.

50 Cent offers 10 college scholarships

NEW YORK, June 15 (UPI) -- Rapper 50 Cent, who never earned a college degree, is offering 10 scholarships to his fans to attend New York's Queensborough Community College.

The hip-hop artist's G-Unity Foundation has offered $31,000 to eight students from 50 Cent's New York high school alma mater, now called Campus Magnet High Schools, and one student each from Springfield Gardens and Hillcrest High schools, World Entertainment News Network reported.

Students must have a certain grade average to qualify and submit a 500-word essay and two teacher recommendations by June 24. Scholarship winners are to be announced July 15.

Britney Spears rolls new tune on TV finale

HOLLYWOOD, June 15 (UPI) -- Britney Spears' new single, "Someday (I Will Understand)," and video premiered during the season finale of the pregnant pop singer's reality TV show.

Tuesday's episode of UPN's "Kevin & Britney: Chaotic" also featured home videos of Spears' surprise wedding to Kevin Federline, Access Hollywood reported.

The 23-year-old Spears, who announced in April that she was pregnant, is due to have her first child this fall.

Foo Fighters, Weezer talk fall tour

NEW YORK, June 15 (UPI) -- Rock heavyweights the Foo Fighters and Weezer are in talks about mounting a joint tour starting in September.

Foo Fighters founder David Grohl said the two bands were discussing a fall tour during an interview Tuesday on "The Howard Stern Show."

Sources told Billboard details might not be finalized until next week.

The Foo Fighters have fresh material with their new album "In Your Honor," which hit record stores this week.

Weezer's "Make Believe" is No. 17 in its fourth week on The Billboard 200.

Canadian reality show heads to U.S.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 15 (UPI) -- Canadian crime drama "DaVinci's Inquest" -- based on the life of Vancouver's controversial former chief coroner -- heads to the United States this fall.

The TV show has syndicated coverage in more than 90 percent of the United States in a deal between U.S. distributor Program Partners and Canadian distributor Thunderbird Films, Daily Variety reported.

The drama, now in its seventh season, follows the work of controversial Vancouver Chief Coroner Dominic DaVinci.

The character, played by Nicholas Campbell, is based on the real life of former Coroner Larry Campbell, who has since become mayor of Vancouver.

The latest TV season also takes DaVinci to City Hall.