UPI NewsTrack Entertainment News

• Tweet

Ramsay's 'Hotel Hell' renewed

HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 1 (UPI) -- The Fox network said it will renew British chef Gordon Ramsay's "Hotel Hell" reality television show for a second season.

"With 'Hotel Hell,' Gordon has proved once again that he's one of the most successful and appealing personalities on television," said Mike Darnell, Fox's president of alternative entertainment. "He delivered an amazing new show for us this summer that fans immediately embraced, and I can't wait for him to get started on an even more exciting season two."

The reality series documents Ramsay, an award-winning chef and hospitality expert, as he attempts to restore struggling hotels across the United States.

The six-episode first season has posted a 15 percent week-over-week growth in the 18- to 49-year-old demographic, The Hollywood Reporter reported Friday. "Hotel Hell" is the summer's No. 1 new series among adults 18-49, 18-34, 25-54, women 18-49 and 25-54, and all key male demos.

"The response to Hotel Hell has been truly extraordinary, and we're really excited to have the opportunity to turn around many more hotels in dire need of intervention," Ramsay said.

Season one is scheduled to conclude Monday.

Kelly Rutherford loses custody appeal

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 1 (UPI) -- "Gossip Girl" star Kelly Rutherford lost an appeal to prevent her two children from being ordered to live with their father in France, her representative said.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Teresa Beaudet ruled Wednesday Rutherford's ex-husband, German businessman Daniel Giersch will have residential custody of Hermes, 5, and Helena, 3, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The judge ruled in favor of Giersch because his business visa was revoked in January and he would be unable to return to the United States to visit the children.

Rutherford was "devastated that her American citizen children were ordered to live overseas to accommodate their father because he's banned from entering the United States," she said Wednesday in a statement to E! News.

Beaudet Friday ruled against the appeal by Rutherford, who said she wanted the children to fly to New York City where she is filing "Gossip Girl" and had enrolled them in school.

"It would be a total disservice to miss their first day of school together [in France]. We already see the serious negative impact this [custody case] has had on Hermes in the past," Beaudet said.

The judge ruled Rutherford and Giersch will have joint legal and physical custody of the children.

Spike Lee to release Jackson documentary

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 1 (UPI) -- ABC-TV says it has acquired the rights to U.S. director Spike Lee's documentary about the making of Michael Jackson's album, "Bad."

The documentary, "Bad25," will premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival next month before its release on Thanksgiving, the Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday.

"This will be a very special Thanksgiving for all families to enjoy the genius of Michael Jackson," Lee said in a statement. "Big thanks to ABC for allowing people to witness the making of Michael Jackson's 'Bad' album."

"Bad25" features never-before-seen footage from Jackson's archives documenting the pop star's creative vision during the making of the album, which made history with five consecutive No. 1 singles, the Times reported.

Martin Scorsese, Mariah Carey, Sheryl Crow, L.A. Reid and Kanye West will be featured in the documentary as part of a series of interviews Lee conducted with Jackson's collaborators, confidants and other musicians.

Third 'Hobbit' film to open July 2014

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 1 (UPI) -- The third and final installment of New Zealand director Peter Jackson's adaptation of "The Hobbit" will be released in July 2014, the film's distributor said.

The first film, "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" is scheduled to open Dec. 14, and the second, "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug," a year later on Dec. 13, 2013. There will be a seven-month gap between the second film and the third, "The Hobbit: There and Back Again."

"We wanted to have a shorter gap between the second and third films of 'The Hobbit' Trilogy. Opening in July affords us not only the perfect summer tentpole, but fans will have less time to wait for the finale of this epic adventure," Dan Fellman, president of domestic distribution at Warner Bros. Pictures, told the Los Angeles Times.

"The Hobbit" and "Lord of the Rings" trilogy are based on fantasy novels by J.R.R. Tolkien.