Murdoch: Opening ceremony 'too P.C.'
LOS ANGELES, July 28 (UPI) -- News Corp. chief Rupert Murdoch said via Twitter the Summer Olympics opening ceremony in London was "a little too politically correct."
Friday night's event was helmed by "Slumdog Millionaire" director Danny Boyle and featured a performance by music icon Paul McCartney and appearances by Kenneth Branagh and Rowan Atkinson.
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II also had a rare cameo in a comic video clip alongside current James Bond portrayer Daniel Craig.
"London Olympic opening surprisingly great, even if a little too politically correct," Murdoch tweeted Saturday without elaborating. "Danny Boyle a creative genius."
Murray willing to talk to Jackson's mom
LOS ANGELES, July 28 (UPI) -- The doctor convicted of involuntary manslaughter in Michael Jackson's death says he is willing to answer any questions the U.S. pop icon's mother might have.
Cardiologist Conrad Murray was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the singer's 2009 death and sentenced to four years in prison in 2011. Jackson was 50 when he died after Murray administered a lethal amount of anesthesia and sedatives to him in an effort to help him sleep.
The Los Angeles Times said Murray has invited Jackson's mother, Katherine, to visit him behind bars so they can talk about the recording artist's last days.
His lawyers said in a statement to CNN Murray is willing to "answer any questions she might have."
"I've been told that she has a desire to speak with me before she departs this life," Murray said of Katherine, 82. "Seeing that she is up in age and in questionable health, and the fact that she is the mother of a very dear departed friend, it would give me great pleasure to sit with her one-on-one and answer any questions she might have. ... It would put her at peace. ... I would do that truly out of concern for her and altruistic love and concern for others. I want to see her. I do not want Mrs. Jackson to suffer. She remains as dear to me as my own mother, unbeknownst to her."
Katherine Jackson's representative told the Times he would pass Murray's offer along but didn't think she would agree to a sit-down.
Katherine has been in the news lately because she temporarily lost guardianship of Michael's children -- Blanket, 10, Paris, 14, and Prince, 15 -- after she went to an Arizona resort with other family members and was out of touch with her grandchildren for more than a week. She has since returned home and vowed to regain guardianship of her grandchildren.
Reports have been circulating recently that her absence was linked to an attempt by some of her children to get her to fire the executors of Michael's estate.
Fishburne joins 'Hannibal' cast
LOS ANGELES, July 28 (UPI) -- Laurence Fishburne is to play FBI Behavioral Sciences Unit leader Jack Crawford in the new U.S. drama series "Hannibal," said writer-producer Bryan Fuller.
Based on Thomas Harris' books, the new NBC show will focus on FBI agent Will Graham's interaction with psychiatrist-turned-serial-killer Hannibal "the cannibal" Lecter.
Hugh Dancy will play Will and Mads Mikkelsen will play Hannibal. Fishburne's Crawford will be Will's boss and mentor.
The role was previously played by Dennis Farina in "Manhunter," as well as by Scott Glenn in "The Silence of the Lambs" and Harvey Keitel in "Red Dragon."
"Laurence Fishburne is an iconic man who has been making his cinematic mark since 'Apocalypse Now' and it's a thrill not only to work with him but to see such a brilliant, sophisticated actor step into the shoes of Thomas Harris' brilliant, sophisticated character," Fuller said in a statement to EW.com. "I cannot imagine a better cast for Hannibal than the one we've assembled."
Fishburne recently led the cast of "CSI," which previously starred "Manhunter" actor William Petersen. Fishburne's film credits include "What's Love Got to Do With It," "The Matrix" trilogy and "Mystic River."
'Goonies,' 'Selena' star Ontiveros dies
LOS ANGELES, July 28 (UPI) -- Actress Lupe Ontiveros, a founding board member of the Latino Theater Company in Los Angeles, has died of liver cancer, her agent said. She was 69.
Michael Greenwald told the Los Angeles Times the "Selena" co-star and "Desperate Housewives" cast member died Thursday in a Whittier, Calif., hospital.
Born in Texas to Mexican immigrants, Ontiveros once estimated she had played the role of a maid more than 150 times throughout her career.
Her film credits include the films "Chuck & Buck," "Real Women Have Curves," "Storytelling," "As Good As It Gets," "The Goonies" and "El Norte."
"Lupe Ontiveros was a gift," actor Edward James Olmos, her "Selena" co-star, told the Times Friday. "She was part of the evolutionary process of the art form of Latino storytelling in the last 30-plus years. She was one of the true pioneers of the Latin artistic movement in theater, film and television."
Ontiveros is survived by her husband of 46 years, Elias Ontiveros Jr.; her sons, Nicholas, Alejandro and Elias P. Ontiveros; and two grandchildren, the Times said.
