White House spotlights country music
WASHINGTON, Nov. 21 (UPI) -- Dierks Bentley, Alison Krauss, Kris Kristofferson and Lyle Lovett performed at the White House Monday as President Barack Obama celebrated country music.
At the seventh event in the "In Performance at the White House" series, the president said he and first lady Michelle Obama were "transforming the East Room into a bona fide country music hall."
"As Charley Pride, who played here two years ago, once said: 'There is enough room in country music for everybody,'" he said.
The lineup of performers Monday also included James Taylor and The Band Perry.
Kristofferson, Lovett and singer Darius Rucker joined the first lady Monday afternoon in conducting a workshop on the history of country music for young musicians.
"It is a proud history that runs from barn stomping to the great honky tonks to the big stage to the Grammys," the president said. "It's a unique history that ties together many threads of our immigrant heritage -- like the Irish fiddle, the German dulcimer, the Italian mandolin, the Spanish guitar and the West African banjo -- into music that is truly Made in America. And at its most pure, that's what country music is all about -- life in America."
Previous "In Performance at the White House" events celebrated jazz, classical, Broadway, R&B and Latin music.
Monday's performance was streamed live on the White House Web site and is scheduled to be televised on PBS stations Wednesday.
Jane Curtin joins 'Unforgettable' ensemble
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 22 (UPI) -- Jane Curtin has been cast as a series regular on the New York-set drama series "Unforgettable," CBS said Monday.
Curtin, whose credits include "Saturday Night Live," "Kate & Allie," "3rd Rock from the Sun" and "Crumbs," will play Jane Webster, "an acerbic and demanding inspector who was running the medical examiner's office in Manhattan until being demoted to the Queens Police Department for being insubordinate," the network said in a synopsis.
Curtin's character will debut in early 2012.
"Unforgettable" stars Poppy Montgomery as a former detective with a rare condition that enables her to remember virtually every detail from every day of her life. The show co-stars Dylan Walsh, Michael Gaston, Kevin Rankin and Daya Vaidya.
Firth flick tix to raise money for Oxfam
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 21 (UPI) -- Colin Firth fans can bid on a chance to meet him at the Hollywood premiere of his new movie through an auction to raise money for Oxfam, the relief agency said.
Oxfam America is teaming up with eBay for the fundraiser.
Fans can bid through Wednesday on the opportunity to meet Firth, an Oxfam ambassador, and attend a screening of "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy!," his new film based on the best-selling novel by John le Carre.
The winning bidder will get two tickets to the Dec. 6 premiere in Los Angeles and the premiere after-party at the Chateau Marmont, as well as luxury chauffeur service to and from the events.
One hundred percent of the proceeds will benefit Oxfam America, the organization said.
Firth won the Oscar for Best Actor for his work in the 2010 drama "The King's Speech." He is also known for his work in the TV miniseries "Pride & Prejudice," and the movies "Shakespeare in Love," "Bridget Jones's Diary" and "Love Actually."
NBC orders full season of 'Grimm'
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 22 (UPI) -- U.S. television network NBC says it has ordered a full season of its new fairytale-themed drama series "Grimm."
Starring David Giuntoli, Bitsie Tulloch, Silas Weir Mitchell, Sasha Roiz and Russell Hornsby, the show is about a police detective who investigates crimes with supernatural elements. The series debuted on NBC this fall.
"We are very pleased to be making a full-season commitment for 'Grimm,'" NBC Entertainment chairman Robert Greenblatt said in a statement issued to The Hollywood Reporter Monday. "This series is turning the traditional procedural drama on its head and is attracting a loyal following for us on Friday nights. We love where it's going creatively and we're excited to deliver more episodes to our audience."
