Cooper sunburns eyes; temporarily blinded
NEW YORK, Dec. 5 (UPI) -- Television journalist Anderson Cooper said he went blind for 36 hours last week after sunburning his retinas while on assignment in Portugal.
"I wake up in the middle of the night and it feels like my eyes are on fire, my eyeballs and I think, 'Oh, maybe I have sand in my eyes or something,'" UsMagazine.com reported Cooper said on Tuesday's edition of his daytime talk show "Anderson Live."
"I douse my eyes with water. Anyway, it turns out I have sunburned my eyeballs and I go blind. I went blind for 36 hours," he said.
UsMagazine.com said he underwent medical treatment in Portugal and has since recovered.
J.K. Rowling's 'Vacancy' to be BBC series
LONDON, Dec. 5 (UPI) -- "Harry Potter" scribe J.K. Rowling's adult novel "Casual Vacancy" is to be adapted as a BBC television drama series, the British broadcaster said.
The series is to debut in 2014, but it is unclear how long it will be or how many episodes it will include.
"I always felt that, if it were to be adapted, this novel was best suited to television and I think the BBC is the perfect home," Rowling said.
"[Her] storytelling is, of course, peerless in its popularity, and I am looking forward to collaborating with her," BBC One controller Danny Cohen said.
The novel tells the story of political and personal strife in a small English town following the death of a member of the town council.
Netflix and Disney ink new licensing deal
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Dec. 5 (UPI) -- Netflix and The Walt Disney Studios have announced a new multi-year U.S. licensing agreement.
Beginning with its 2016 theatrically released feature films, new Disney, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, Marvel Studios and Disneynature titles will be made available for Netflix members to watch instantly in the pay TV window on multiple platforms, including television, tablets, computers and mobile phones.
Also included in the agreement are Disney direct-to-video new releases, which will be made available on Netflix starting in 2013.
Separately, Disney and Netflix have reached agreement on a multi-year catalog deal bringing to U.S. Netflix members such Disney classics such as "Dumbo," "Pocahontas" and "Alice in Wonderland."
"Disney and Netflix have shared a long and mutually beneficial relationship and this deal will bring to our subscribers, in the first pay TV window, some of the highest-quality, most imaginative family films being made today," Ted Sarandos, Netflix's chief content officer, said in a statement Tuesday. "It's a bold leap forward for Internet television and we are incredibly pleased and proud this iconic family brand is teaming with Netflix to make it happen."
"With this cutting-edge agreement, we are thrilled to take our highly valued relationship with Netflix to the next level by adding Disney's premier films to their programming line-up," said Janice Marinelli, president of Disney-ABC Domestic Television. "Netflix continues to meet the demands of its subscribers in today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, and we are delighted that they will have much earlier access to our top-quality and entertaining slate."
Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Keys' 'Girl on Fire' tops album chart
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 5 (UPI) -- Alicia Keys' "Girl on Fire" is No. 1 on the U.S. album chart, Billboard.com reported Wednesday.
Coming in at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 is Taylor Swift's "Red," followed by the Rod Stewart's "Merry Christmas, Baby" at No. 3, One Direction's "Take Me Home" at No. 4 and Phillip Phillips' "The World From the Side of the Moon" at No. 5.
Rounding out the top 10 are Rihanna's "Unapologetic" at No. 6, Michael Buble's "Christmas" at No. 7, Lady Antebellum's "On This Winter's Night" at No. 8, Blake Shelton's "Cheers, It's Christmas" at No. 9 and Kid Rock's "Rebel Soul" at No. 10.
