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Entertainment Today: Showbiz news

By United Press International
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ZOINKS!

"Scooby-Doo" outdid Warner Bros.' expectations, grossing an estimated $56.4 million and finishing No. 1 in its first weekend at the U.S. Box office.

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The new Matt Damon thriller "The Bourne Identity" opened in second place with an estimated $27.5 million. The new Nicolas Cage World War II drama "Windtalkers" was third with $14.5 million.

Ben Affleck's spy thriller "The Sum of All Fears" took in $13.1 million and slipped into fourth place in its third weekend, after holding down the top spot for two straight weeks. In its second weekend, "Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood" grossed $9.8 million and finished fifth.

The rest of the top 10 were: "Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones" ($9.2 million); "Spider-Man" ($7.4 million); "Bad Company" ($6.1 million); "Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron" ($5.5 million); and "Undercover Brother" ($4.6 million).

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The box office is still piling up huge numbers for the year, with the top 12 pictures grossing $160 million -- nearly 25 percent more than the same weekend last year. Year-to-date grosses are running about 22 percent ahead of 2001, when the box-office finished the year with a record $8.4 billion take.


WHAT ABOUT KEITH?

Mick Jagger has joined fellow rockers Paul McCartney, Elton John and Bob Geldof as knights of the British Empire.

Like a good many critics who were caught off guard by the inclusion of the 58-year-old Rolling Stone on Queen Elizabeth II's birthday honors list Saturday, Jagger was surprised.

"I must admit," he told a TV interviewer, "I wasn't expecting to get it."

Jagger also said he was "very pleased ... and honored."

The list also included knighthoods for artist Peter Blake, best known as the designer of the "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" album cover, and Trevor Nunn, who at 28 became the youngest director of the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1968. He held the position until 1986.

Harold Pinter ("Betrayal," "The Caretaker") was named a Companion of Honour." The 71-year-old playwright was nominated for an Academy Award in 1981 for his screenplay adaptation of John Fowles' novel, "The French Lieutenant's Woman."

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'UGLY' LOOKS GOOD ENOUGH FOR SECONDS

Plans are under way for a sequel to the 2000 box-office hit "Coyote Ugly" -- starring Piper Perabo as a young woman in New York pursuing a career in music who takes a job at a wild-and-crazy bar, joining a team of sexy cocktail waitresses.

Jerry Bruckheimer Films has signed "Coyote Ugly" screenwriter Gina Wendkos to write the sequel. "Coyote Ugly" grossed more than $100 million worldwide and spawned a best-selling soundtrack.

Wendkos had an even bigger hit in 2001 with "The Princess Diaries," starring Julie Andrews.


SHEEN, RICHARDS TIE THE KNOT

Charlie Sheen and Denise Richards were married Saturday in a ceremony at a private home in Los Angeles.

Sheen -- the star of the recently canceled ABC comedy "Spin City" met Richards in 2000 on a film set, and started dating her after she guest-starred on an episode of his show. It's his second marriage and her first.

Richards is currently onscreen in the Eddie Griffin comedy "Undercover Brother."


HONORS FOR JACK VALENTI

The Hollywood Film Festival Board of Advisors has announced that it will present its Hollywood Leadership Award to Jack Valenti, president of the Motion Picture Association of America.

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Valenti -- who is currently on the promotional trail for the updated edition of his 1982 book "Speak Up With Confidence" -- will pick up the award at the Hollywood Movie Awards ceremony on Oct. 7 in Beverly Hills, Calif.

Valenti has served as MPAA president since 1966.

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