UPI NewsTrack Entertainment News

Published: March. 15, 2006 at 4:26 PM

Juvenile chalks up first No. 1 album

NEW YORK, March 15 (UPI) -- Juvenile Wednesday chalked up his first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 chart with "Reality Check," which also topped the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

Last week's No. 1 album, Ne-Yo's "In My Own Words," fell to No. 5 on the Billboard 200 while James Blunt's "Back to Bedlam" leaped up from No. 9 to No. 2 in its 23rd week on the chart.

The soundtrack to Disney's TV movie "High School Musical" was No. 3 followed by Matisyahu's "Youth," which an opening week reggae sales record since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking data in 1991.

David Gilmour's "On an Island" was No. 6, Carrie Underwood's "Some Hearts" was No. 7 and "The Legend of Johnny Cash" was No. 8.

The soundtrack to the Cash biopic "Walk the Line" was No. 9 and Jack Johnson and Friends' Brushfire "Curious George" filled out the Top 10.

Domestic CD sales last week totaled 10.7 million units, 2 percent behind the previous week and 1 percent behind last year's figure.

Overall 2006 sales lagged 3 percent behind the same period last year.


Will Ferrell is not dead

LOS ANGELES, March 15 (UPI) -- Comedic actor Will Ferrell is alive and kicking -- despite widespread Internet reports he had perished in a para-gliding accident.

Rumors swirled Tuesday claiming Ferrell died in a freak accident outside San Diego, "Access Hollywood" reported.

However, the celebrity tabloid TV show tracked Ferrell in Montreal where he is filming his next movie.

A fake news release posted on a legitimate Web site said the actor died after a "freak wind gush basically blew Ferrell and his companion towards a wooded area where they lost control before crashing into the dense foliage ... and crashed at an estimated 60 mph hitting the trees as they hurtled to the ground."

The fake release quoted Ferrell's "parents," Mary and Hubert Ferrell, announcing their son's demise, but "Access Hollywood" noted Ferrell's parents are named Kay and Lee.


Trial date set in R.I. deadly club fire

PROVIDENCE, R.I., March 15 (UPI) -- A judge in Providence, R.I., has set a summer trial date for one of two brothers charged in a deadly nightclub fire that killed 100 people.

Station co-owner Michael Derderian will stand trial July 31 in Warwick, R.I., for manslaughter in the 2003 fire ignited by soundproofing foam during a concert by rockers Great White, the Providence (R.I.) Journal reports.

No trial date has been set for his brother, Jeffrey, who faces the same charges, the newspaper said.

A third man charged in the criminal case, Great White tour manager Daniel Biechele, pleaded guilty last month to 100 counts of involuntary manslaughter and is expected to testify against the Derderian brothers.


Michael Imperioli returns to 'Law & Order'

NEW YORK, March 15 (UPI) -- "The Sopranos" star Michael "Christopher Moltisanti" Imperioli is ready to reprise his role as Detective Nick Falco on NBC's "Law & Order."

Imperioli, who appeared in the role four times last season, will be back behind the badge during April sweeps, the New York Post reported Wednesday.

Previously, Imperioli's character was teamed with Dennis Farina's Detective Joe Fontana while Jesse L. Martin was off filming "Rent," the Post noted.

In the new episode that started shooting Wednesday, Imperioli will be working alongside both Farina and Martin.

"The Sopranos" began its final season Sunday on HBO.

© 2006 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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