Jewish leaders upset by Mel's Maccabee film
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 9 (UPI) -- The national director of the Anti-Defamation League is criticizing Mel Gibson and Warner Bros. for developing a movie about Jewish icon Judah Maccabee.
Gibson, who directed the historic epics "Braveheart" and "Apocalypto," is producing the Maccabee project and will decide whether he will act in or direct the film once Joe Eszterhas finishes the screenplay, The Hollywood Reporter said.
Several years ago, Gibson apologized for making anti-Semitic remarks during a drunken driving arrest. However, the Oscar-winner's public image was further tarnished when audio featuring him making racist and abusive remarks towards his girlfriend were leaked on the Internet.
"Judah Maccabee deserves better. He is a hero of the Jewish people and a universal hero in the struggle for religious liberty. It would be a travesty to have his story told by one who has no respect and sensitivity for other people's religious views," Anti-Defamation League leader Abraham Foxman told The Hollywood Reporter.
Rabbi Marvin Heir, founder and dean of Los Angeles's Simon Wiesenthal Center Museum of Tolerance, also said he thinks Gibson's involvement in a Maccabee project is a bad idea.
"Mel Gibson has shown nothing but antagonism and disrespect to Jews. First of all, there were the anti-Semitic remarks he made, his portrayal of Jews in 'The Passion of Christ.' I'm talking about those Jews who did not accept Christ, they were all portrayed as idiots, buffoons or people who were tyrants, with a very unfair portrayal. He's had a long history of antagonism with Jews. Casting him as a director or perhaps as the star of Judah Maccabee is like casting (convicted Ponzi schemer Bernard) Madoff to be the head of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or a white supremacist as trying to portray Martin Luther King Jr. It's simply an insult to Jews," Heir told the entertainment industry trade newspaper.
Lake injures self in 'Dancing' practice
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 9 (UPI) -- Actress and former talk show host Ricki Lake says she is fine after bruising her shin at rehearsal for "Dancing with the Stars" in Los Angeles.
"I injured myself yesterday by hitting my heel into my shin," Lake told TMZ Thursday. "I'm fine."
Season 13 of "Dancing" is to premiere Sept. 19.
Lake's professional dance partner is Derek Hough.
Slash, Lovitz join Charlie Sheen roast
NEW YORK, Sept. 9 (UPI) -- Slash, Jon Lovitz, Patrice O'Neal, Amy Schumer, Kate Walsh and William Shatner have joined the lineup for a roast of Hollywood actor Charlie Sheen.
Comedy Central announced the additions to the bill Thursday. Previously announced roasters include Anthony Jeselnik, Steve-O, Jeffrey Ross and Mike Tyson.
"Family Guy" creator Seth MacFarlane is to serve as "roastmaster" at the event, which will tape at Sony Studios in Los Angeles Saturday.
The program will air Sept. 19 on the cable television network.
'Family' tops DVD sales, rental charts
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 9 (UPI) -- Tyler Perry's comedy "Madea's Big Happy Family" is the top-selling DVD and No. 1 rental in the United States, Rentrak reported Thursday.
Coming in at No. 2 on the DVD sales chart for the week ending Sept. 4 is "Sons of Anarchy: Season Three," followed by "Laugh to Keep From Crying" at No. 3, "Rio" at No. 4 and "Vampire Diaries: Season 2" at No. 5.
Rounding out the top tier are "Soul Surfer" at No. 6, "House: Season 7" at No. 7, "Phineas and Ferb: The Movie -- Across the 2nd Dimension" at No. 8, "Dexter: The Fifth Season" at No. 9 and "Priest" at No. 10.
The No. 2 DVD rental for the week ending Sept. 3 is "Priest." "Something Borrowed" is No. 3, "Rio" is No. 4, "Paul" is No. 5, "Limitless" is No. 6, "Blitz" is No. 7, "Your Highness" is No. 8, "Soul Surfer" is No. 9 and "The Lincoln Lawyer" is No. 10.
