Talia Shire explains Adrian's absence
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 15 (UPI) -- Actress Talia Shire revealed at the premiere of "Rocky Balboa" in Los Angeles why she was not in the film -- to give the Rocky character a sense of loss.
In an exclusive interview, Shire explained to "Access Hollywood" that her character, Adrian, is not in the latest Rocky film because she and Sylvester Stallone decided that it would be best if Rocky had a longing and loss as a widower.
The interview will air on Dec. 14.
"You know Sylvester and I talked about it over a year ago and I think he was correct in wanting to design Rocky as a widower so he comes back with this kind of great longing and loss," Shire told "Access Hollywood."
She added: "I think Adrian is actually a presence in so many ways she is still there. She's a part of his heart, so I'm very anxious to see it. I read it, I thought it was great, again great on the page because he is a great writer. So I'm kind of excited about seeing it. I am in his corner always."
O'Donnell is sorry for mocking Chinese
NEW YORK, Dec. 15 (UPI) -- U.S. TV host Rosie O'Donnell of "The View" says she's sorry for mocking the way spoken Chinese sounds and sparking protests from Asian Americans.
"I'm sorry for people who were hurt," said O'Donnell, saying she had no intention of insulting anyone with the joke, the New York Daily News reported Friday.
O'Donnell had given her impression of how Chinese broadcasters might sound discussing actor Danny DeVito's drunken appearance on the show: "You know, you can imagine in China it's like, 'Ching chong, ching chong chong, Danny DeVito, ching chong chong chong, drunk, 'The View,' ching chong.'"
O'Donnell said later she "never intended to hurt anyone," but admitted, "There's a good chance that I'll do something like that again ... Not on purpose."
Venice film fest plans next year's bash
VENICE, Italy, Dec. 15 (UPI) -- The Venice Film Festival plans to give a special prize and pay homage to low budget spaghetti Westerns when it celebrates its 75th birthday next year.
The festival was first staged in 1932 as part of the Venice Biennial of contemporary art, ANSA reported. The festival wasn't held every year, so the next one will be the 64th.
"Venice was the first event of its kind and has become the model for every other cinema festival around the world," Biennial President Davide Croff said, ANSA reported.
The upcoming festival will be highlighted with a one-time only Golden Lion 75 award, which will go to an undisclosed cinematic legend, Croff said.
The Italian cinema festival has also decided to celebrate the country's legendary "spaghetti Westerns" genre.
The genre came into its own in the 1960s, when Italian studios started producing low-budget Westerns, unlike Hollywood's traditional approach.
The 64th Venice Film Festival is scheduled for Aug. 29 to Sept. 8.
Tony Danza to join 'The Producers'
NEW YORK, Dec. 15 (UPI) -- U.S. actor Tony Danza is set to take over the role of Max Bialystock in the Mel Brooks musical, "The Producers," on Broadway.
Danza will mark the eighth actor to star in the part originally played by Tony-winning Nathan Lane, The New York Daily News reported Friday.
"Desperate Housewives" actor Roger Bart is also returning to the show on the same day to play Max's right-hand man Leo Bloom. Max and Leo scheme to get rich by creating a flop, but the plan backfires in the musical.
Danza has done most of his acting on television, but he also has musical experience, the Daily News said.
In 1998, he played the lead role in a revival of Arthur Miller's "A View From the Bridge," and in 1999 he played entered the world of Eugene O'Neill, playing a tough bartender in a production of "The Iceman Cometh" starring Kevin Spacey.
"I have always wanted to do a Broadway musical and this is one of the greatest lead roles ever in a Broadway musical," Danza said, the Daily News reported. "And I get to work with Roger Bart and a wonderful company. Enough said."
