'Speech,' 'Swan' up for producing prizes
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- The Producers Guild of America says "127 Hours," "Black Swan" and "Inception" are in the running for its Best Picture Award.
Also nominated for the top theatrical movie honor are the producers of "The Fighter," "The Kids Are All Right," "The King's Speech," "The Social Network," "The Town," "Toy Story 3" and "True Grit."
The nominees for Best Animated Movie are the producing teams of "Despicable Me," "How to Train Your Dragon" and "Toy Story 3."
Shortlisted for the award for Best Documentary are the producers of "Client 9: The Rise and Fall of Eliot Spitzer," "Earth Made of Glass," "Smash His Camera," "The Tillman Story" and "Waiting for Superman."
The Producers Guild Awards ceremony is to be held Jan. 22 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles. Producer, director and writer Judd Apatow is to serve as host of the event.
Additionally, the guild will pay tribute to several special individual honorees, including James Cameron, who will receive the Milestone Award; Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman, who will be presented with the Norman Lear Achievement Award in Television; Scott Rudin, who will take home the David O. Selznick Achievement Award in Theatrical Motion Pictures; Laura Ziskin, who will be presented with the Visionary Award and RealD, which will be presented with the Vanguard Award.
Prince Jackson won't testify at hearing
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- Michael Jackson's son won't testify at a preliminary hearing in Dr. Conrad Murray's involuntary manslaughter trial in Los Angeles, sources told TMZ.
Murray is accused of causing the elder Jackson's death June 25, 2009, by improperly administering sedatives and anesthesia in an effort to help the pop icon sleep at his home.
Citing sources it did not identify, the Web site said Monday Prince Michael, Jackson's 13-year-old son, will not be asked by prosecutors to speak at the preliminary hearing about what happened the day his father died. The preliminary phase of the trial is to start Tuesday and last approximately two weeks, the celebrity news Web site said.
Prince Michael youngster reportedly was called to Jackson's bedroom after Murray failed to revive the singer.
'Wicked' tops B'way New Year's box office
NEW YORK, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- The musical "Wicked" was the top-earning show during the week leading up to the New Year's holiday, the Broadway League announced.
The Hollywood Reporter said the show, which tells an alternative version of the beloved story "The Wizard of Oz," earned $2.23 million for its standard eight performances Dec. 26 through Jan. 1.
Another long-running family favorite, "The Lion King," came in at No. 2 with $1.99 million, while "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark," which is still in previews, grossed $1.88 million.
Broadway shows earned a total of $35 million during the week of the New Year's holiday, with 16 musicals and one play -- "The Merchant of Venice" starring Al Pacino -- raking in more than $1 million apiece, The Hollywood Reporter said.
Meg Ryan dating John Mellencamp
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- Recording artist John Mellencamp, who recently separated from his wife of 18 years, is dating Hollywood actress Meg Ryan, sources told People.com.
Ryan is divorced from actor Dennis Quaid. They have an 18-year-old son together. Several years ago, the actress also adopted a girl from China. She is now 6.
Mellencamp has been married three times and has five children.
People.com quoted an unnamed insider as saying Ryan has been dating Mellencamp for about seven weeks.
The source said the singer and his wife, Elaine, separated some time before Mellencamp began his romance with Ryan.
