'Thor' hammers out $66M weekend
LOS ANGELES, May 8 (UPI) -- The fantasy "Thor," starring Anthony Hopkins and Natalie Portman, took in $66 million for the No. 1 spot at the U.S. box office this weekend.
The sequel "Fast Five," starring Vin Diesel, was a distant No. 2 with a very respectable $32.51 million.
All studio estimates of gross box office receipts are via Box Office Mojo.
"Jumping the Broom" was third with $13.7 million; "Something Borrowed" fourth with $13.15 million; "Rio" fifth with $8.2 million; "Water for Elephants" sixth with $5.6 million; "Tyler Perry's Madea's Big Happy Family" seventh with $3.9 million; "Prom" eighth with $2.42 million; and "Soul Surfer" ninth with $2.1 million.
Report: Abdul gets 'X Factor' green light
LOS ANGELES, May 8 (UPI) -- A deal has been struck allowing Paula Abdul to join the judging cast on Simon Cowell's new talent series "X Factor," sources told The Hollywood Reporter.
The sources said the agreement struck over the weekend will reunite Abdul with "American Idol" creator Cowell and round out the panel of distinguished judges that also includes Antonio Reid and Cheryl Cole.
Abdul left "Idol" to take part in the short-lived CBS series "Live to Dance" under a contract that barred her from joining another show, The Reporter said. The 11th-hour negotiations produced an agreement that seemed to satisfy both camps.
"X Factor" began taping in Los Angeles Sunday and will debut on Fox Sunday. The show is a talent competition based on a British series by the same name.
Bieber appears in Long Island PSA
NASSAU, N.Y., May 8 (UPI) -- Pop sensation Justin Bieber addresses a serious topic by appearing in a public service message about cyberbullying in Long Island, N.Y., schools.
"The Bieb" will do the honors as part of a deal to settle misdemeanor charges filed in Nassau County against his manager after a Bieber personal appearance at a mall in 2009.
The deal dismissed charges against Bieber's manager, Scott Braun, and James Roppo, a vice president at Island Def Jam records.
Bieber's Twitter tweet announcing he was on his way to Roosevelt Field Mall triggered a mob of more than 3,000 fans poring into the area. Nassau County officials said the abrupt cancellation of the appearance didn't cause any actual problems, but could have and violated fire codes in the process, the Long Island (N.Y.) press said Sunday.
Bieber's announcement is aimed at encouraging teens to use social media and the Internet responsibly and will be available to schools outside Nassau County.
Special to mark end of 'Smallville' run
LOS ANGELES, May 8 (UPI) -- The CW series "Smallville" will wrap up its 10-year run next weekend with a two-hour special, the network said.
The series based on the childhood years of Superman will air for the last time Friday night with a Clark Kent's marriage to fellow Daily Planet reporter Lois Lane.
The New York Daily News said Sunday the big unanswered question for fans is whether or not Kent, played by Tom Welling, will end the series by donning his legendary tights and cape for the first time, setting up a possible sequel.
"Everything comes together in the end," hinted Michael Rosenbaum, who plays Kent's boyhood nemesis and budding arch-villain Lex Luthor.
The Daily News said surviving 10 years is an achievement in itself for "Smallville," which never achieved super ratings and was on the brink of cancellation more than once.
"It's been an emotional ending for those who work on 'Smallville,'" Rosenbaum said. "There were tears when the finale was shot."
