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Lawmaker wants to name road for Levon Helm

WOODSTOCK, N.Y., Feb. 23 (UPI) -- A New York state lawmaker proposed naming a rambling 3-mile highway leading into Woodstock, N.Y., for Levon Helm, the late drummer and singer for The Band.

Helm "was a true inspiration to not only millions of fans, but our community," Democratic Assemblyman Kevin Cahill of Kingston said in a statement Friday.

The bill, which still needs a state Senate sponsor, would designate state Route 375 as "Levon Helm Memorial Boulevard."

The rambling two-lane highway connects state Route 28 from the Hudson Valley city of Kingston to Woodstock's state Route 212.

"We're honored," Barbara O'Brien, manager of Levon Helm Studios, told the Daily Freeman of Kingston. "I travel that road seven days a week, and I know I'll feel like Levon's in the car with me.

"I can just see his ear-to-ear grin," she said.

Helm, who died April 29, 2012, at age 71 from complications of cancer, lived in Woodstock. A heavy smoker, he was diagnosed with throat cancer in the late 1990s.

In 2005 Helm turned his barn -- which had been a recording studio since 1975 -- into the residence of a down-home, eclectic concert series called the Midnight Ramble, which led to tours and Grammy Award-winning albums.

"In a world that often compromised integrity, Levon Helm cultivated the tradition of professionalism with a deep respect for his craft and remained refreshingly genuine throughout his life," Cahill said.

'Game of Thrones' to screen at Texas A&M University

COLLEGE STATION, Texas, Feb. 23 (UPI) -- Texas A&M University says it is planning an advance screening of the Season 3 premiere of HBO's award-winning fantasy series, "Game of Thrones."

The March 22 event is free and open to the public but requires tickets, which can be picked up at the MSC box office.

The program will feature a seminar and brief question-and-answer period with George R.R. Martin, the author of the best-selling book series "A Song of Ice and Fire," on which the TV show is based.

Due to the nature of the violent and sexual content of "Game of Thrones," viewer discretion is advised. A brief intermission is planned to allow guests the opportunity to stay or leave following Martin's lecture. No one under the age of 17 will be permitted at the screening, the university said.

The third season is to begin on HBO March 31.

Justin Timberlake to appear on 'Fallon' March 11-15

NEW YORK, Feb. 23 (UPI) -- Justin Timberlake has booked a week of appearances on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" in New York to promote his latest album, "The 20/20 Experience," NBC said.

The pop star will perform and sit down for chats with Fallon each night from March 11-15.

This will mark the first time any featured artist has appeared on every show during a single week, NBC said.

Timberlake's album is set for release March 19 on RCA Records.

Jack Nicholson, Dustin Hoffman to be Oscar presenters

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 23 (UPI) -- Hollywood titans Jack Nicholson and Dustin Hoffman are to be presenters at Sunday's Oscar ceremony in Los Angeles.

Telecast producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron announced the actors' scheduled attendance Friday.

"Between the two of them, Jack Nicholson and Dustin Hoffman have created more iconic characters than any other pair of actors in the world," said Zadan and Meron in a joint statement.

"Their participation in this year's Oscars completes a list of presenters and performers that truly represents that great breadth and depth of acting talent in film today."

Seth MacFarlane is to serve as host of the event, which will air live on ABC.