Book: Father's presence made Jackson ill
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 26 (UPI) -- A former confidant of Michael Jackson said the late U.S. singer would occasionally fall ill when he and his father, Joe, would share the same room.
Rabbi Shmuley Boteach said his book, "The Michael Jackson Tapes," discusses how the "Thriller" star would sometimes faint or vomit due to his fear for the man, CNN reported Friday.
Boteach's new book is based on 30 hours of interviews with Jackson, who died on June 25 at the age of 50.
"My father walked in the room -- and God knows I am telling the truth -- I have fainted in his presence many times. I have fainted once to be honest," Boteach quotes Jackson as saying. "I have thrown up in his presence because when he comes in the room and this aura comes and my stomach starts hurting and I know I am in trouble."
CNN said in the interviews, Jackson reportedly detailed how his father occasionally used violence as a punishment and once turned to alleged emotional abuse.
"God bless my father because he did some wonderful things and he was brilliant, he was a genius, but one day he said, 'If you guys ever stop singing I will drop you like a hot potato.' It hurt me," Jackson is quoted as saying.
Records show Anderson is $1.1M in debt
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 26 (UPI) -- U.S. film and TV actress Pamela Anderson is allegedly $1.1 million in debt for back taxes and construction work, records in Los Angeles County, Calif., show.
People magazine reported online Friday the former "Baywatch" actress allegedly owes the funds for back state taxes and remodeling work on her home in Malibu, Calif.
To date, five construction companies have filed liens against Anderson's home to seek payment for remodeling services.
The largest of those liens is for $674,043 for "labor and materials ... to remodel main house, construct swimming pool, construct foundations for guest house."
People.com said the former Playboy model allegedly owes $252,360 in back state taxes and penalties for 2007.
Representatives for the 42-year-old actress, whose film credits include "Scary Movie 3" and "Barb Wire," did not confirm the debt allegations.
Study: DVRs in 36 percent of U.S. homes
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 26 (UPI) -- The Leichtman Research Group says its study of digital video recorder use nationwide indicates 36 percent of all U.S. homes use the TV recording devices.
The research firm said while 36 percent of the 1,300 U.S. households surveyed reported having a DVR device, respondents said more than 90 percent of their total TV viewing involved watching non-recorded television, The Hollywood Reporter said Friday.
The "On-demand TV 2009: A Nationwide Study on VOD and DVRs" study said at least 65 percent of respondents with a DVR device begin by watching non-recorded television programming before switching to recorded series.
Study respondents said 98 percent of their TV viewing still takes place on their televisions despite the increased popularity of streaming TV series on the Internet.
No margin of error or polling dates for the study were reported.
The Leichtman group said in the report the average U.S. household enjoyed 130 TV channels in 2008, an increase of 61 channels compared with eight years earlier, the Reporter said.
"This proliferation of channels led to the development that most impacts TV today -- audience fragmentation," the firm said in the report.
Young males focus of Hollywood radar
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 26 (UPI) -- U.S. film studios are focusing their film-making efforts on projects that may appeal to the young male demographic, industry officials say.
Universal Pictures chairmen Marc Shmuger and David Linde, whose studio is helping make a film version of the kids' game "Battleship," said the new Hollywood trend is to make films based on popular brands that could become franchises, Variety reported Friday.
"In an era where brands have become the new stars, (pics like) 'Battleship' have become big opportunities," the studio pair said in a statement.
An unidentified Warner Bros. executive agreed that films like "Transformers" and "Iron Man" appeal to young male viewers and draw in large profits.
"You're going to see more of the same, not because studios have run out of ideas but because it makes money," the executive told Variety. "Males like this stuff and they spend a lot of money on it."
Among the films being developed that are aimed at the lucrative demographic include "Hot Wheels" at Warner Bros., "View-Master" at DreamWorks and Paramount's "Max Steel."
