'Hunger Games' devours U.S. box office
LOS ANGELES, March 25 (UPI) -- "The Hunger Games," based on the young adult novel, posted the third-biggest weekend opening in U.S. box office history with $155 million in receipts.
"21 Jump Street," a remake of the TV show with Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum, trailed a very distant second with $21.3 million in its second week, while the animated "Dr. Seuss' The Lorax," featuring the voice of Danny DeVito, was third with $13.1 million in its fourth week of release.
All studio estimates of gross U.S. box office receipts are via Box Office Mojo.
"John Carter" was fourth with more than $5 million; "Act of Valor" fifth with more than $2.1 million; "Project X" sixth with $2 million; "A Thousand Words" seventh with $1.9 million; "October Baby (2012)" eighth with $1.7 million; and "Safe House" ninth with $1.4 million.
"Journey 2: The Mysterious Island" rounded out the Top 10 with $1.37 million.
Humane Society award goes to the Apes
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., March 25 (UPI) -- The Humane Society of America presented the 26th Genesis Awards in Los Angeles, naming "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" best feature film, its Web site said.
The Genesis Awards were presented by the Humane Society of the United States Saturday night in Beverly Hills, Calif., to honor exceptional productions by major news and entertainment media that raise public awareness concerning animal issues, the Los Angeles Times reported.
"Rise of the Planet of the Apes" was singled out as the best feature film of 2011 "for examining the ethics of using chimpanzees in medical research."
"The Colbert Report" won a Genesis Award in the comedy category for what the Humane Society said was as "a satirical twist on the whaling issue and a Utah legislator's proposal to kill feral dogs and cats."
Other winners included NBC's "Today," Nickelodeon's "Nick News With Linda Ellerbee," CBS' "Hawaii Five-0," ABC's "20/20," PBS' "Sid the Science Kid" and "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," the Times said.
The real winners "are the animals themselves, who rely on these invaluable voices to speak for them," said Beverly Kaskey, senior director of the Humane Society's Hollywood Outreach program.
Grammer quitting 'Housewives'
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., March 25 (UPI) -- Camille Grammer, ex-wife of actor Kelsey Grammer, will not be returning for a third season of "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills," a source told People.
"She's been in discussions and at the end decided she wasn't willing to expose her personal life anymore," the unnamed source said. "She's at peace with her decision."
Camille and Kelsey Grammer had been involved in a custody case involving their two children, Mason and Jude, which reportedly had resulted in an amicable settlement.
"She's in a great place in her life right now," the source told People. "She's grown a lot in this past year and she's made some wonderful friendships [on the show]. It has steered her life in a direction she never imagined. She's ready for new challenges."
"Doctor Who" companions getting killed off
LONDON, March 25 (UPI) -- Fans of "Doctor Who" are mourning the news that beloved Doctor companions Amy and Rory Pond are leaving the show, as confirmed by the show's producer.
Played by Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill, the Ponds will exit in an episode written by head producer and show runner Steven Moffat featuring notorious "Doctor Who" villains the Weeping Angels, The Huffington Post reported Saturday.
Moffat has been dropping hints about their exit.
"Amy & Rory will leave in a final encounter with the Weeping Angels in episode 5. Not everyone gets out alive & I mean it this time," Moffat said.
"I know how I want her to go," Gillan said. "And I actually know how she goes now."
Asked to elaborate, Gillan declined with smile.
"No I can't! Absolutely not! But I know that I want her to go out in all her glory," Gillan said.
A new companion for the Doctor, played by Jenna-Louse Coleman, will make her debut in the 2012 Christmas special, the Post said.
The seventh season of "Doctor Who" will be split and will span both 2012 and 2013, which marks the 50th anniversary of the perennially popular BBC series.
