ANKARA, Turkey, Dec. 19 (UPI) -- Turkish author Ipek Calislar was acquitted for allegedly insulting Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, considered the founder of modern Turkey. The BBC reported that prosecutors claimed Calislar had insulted Ataturk in a biography of Ataturk's wife Latife, in which Ca
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Dec. 19 (UPI) -- Emmy-winning television writer Chris Hayward, whose work included "Rocky and Bullwinkle" and "The Munsters," died on November 20 in California at age 81. The New York Times said the cause of death was cancer, according to Hayward's wife.
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 19 (UPI) -- Former "Happy Days" star Marion Ross is scheduled to make a guest appearance early next year on ABC's "Brothers & Sisters."
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 19 (UPI) -- The Fox television network has renewed the popular talk show "Tyra" in a two-year deal, TVWeek.com reported. Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution announced the decision Monday to renew the show, which is hosted by former supermodel Tyra Banks.
ROME, Dec. 19 (UPI) -- Italy is getting ready to mark the 10th anniversary of the death of beloved leading man Marcello Mastroianni. Mastroianni died in December 1996 of cancer at age 72 in Paris.
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 19 (UPI) -- Television scriptwriter Eric Monte recently returned home to Chicago after a life and career full of ups and downs in Hollywood. The Los Angeles Times says Monte, who co-created the 1970s hit sitcom "Good Times" is excited about returning to the Windy Cit
HOLLYWOOD, Dec. 19 (UPI) -- Hollywood studios reported success in 2006, attributing much of it to sequels to past year's hits. The Los Angeles Times reported on the sequel trend, which was led by "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest," "X-Men: The Last Stand" and "Ice Age: The
LONDON, Dec. 19 (UPI) -- The BBC has revealed a $1.14 billion plan to assist disabled and elderly British citizens switch their TV services to digital technology. Daily Variety reports that by offering funds that will come from the BBC's upcoming TV license fee settlement to aid
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 19 (UPI) -- Napster, the music download service, announced the winners of the first-ever Digital Music Awards Tuesday in Los Angeles. The awards honor artists and songs played most by subscribers, revealing consumers' listening habits. The winners of the awards broug
BEIJING, Dec. 19 (UPI) -- While many in China's film industry are pleased with the amazing success of "Curse of the Golden Flower," others have seen it as an example of impropriety. The BBC reports that the Beijing Polybona Film Distribution company has alleged that when "Curse" w
NEW YORK, Dec. 19 (UPI) -- Beat Street, an iconic record store in New York City known for hard-to-find rap vinyls, closed its doors in October despite the pleas of its customers. The New York Daily News says the Brooklyn store, which regularly drew hip-hop stars like Jay-Z and Mary
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 19 (UPI) -- Comedian Jimmy Fallon and actress Sharon Stone have agreed to star in the upcoming Hollywood drama "Eliot Rockett" from first-time director Patrick Sisam. Daily Variety said that the independent film based on stories written by Ethan Canin will feature St
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 19 (UPI) -- Hollywood director Sam Raimi took another step towards expanding into television by naming William Hamm to head his Ghost House Television banner. The head of the "Spiderman" film franchise picked the Universal Pictures executive to run the TV company, wh
GLASGOW, Scotland, Dec. 19 (UPI) -- Already tabbed as Scotland's version of "The Simpsons," the BBC series "The Clan" is set to make its radio debut and is eyeing a possible TV expansion. The Scotsman says the BBC Radio Scotland series will be broadcast as a radio pilot, and if all goes as
NEW YORK, Dec. 19 (UPI) -- Radio listeners in New York said Lou Monte's song "Dominick the Donkey" was played 46 times by the city's radio stations between Thanksgiving and Monday. Media Monitors, which analyses songs played in major markets, said the song was played on WLTW, WKTU,
