It was a smackdown — Hollywood-style.

Vince McMahon, the promoter who helped turn professional wrestling into prime-time TV entertainment, got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Friday.

He humbly thanked wrestlers and fans before shifting into the cocky, evil Mr. McMahon persona he uses on World Wrestling Entertainment telecasts.

“I already know I’m a star,” he said, drawing cheers from the crowd. “I’m the biggest star of all time.”

McMahon, the owner of the Stamford, Conn.-based WWE, was honored in the television category.

He has often appeared in the ring himself and helped wrestlers such as Hulk Hogan and The Rock become mainstream show business stars.

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NEW DELHI: Exuding confidence that Indian filmmakers can win over western audiences if they aim to do so, Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan says corporate houses entering the world of entertainment should be given time to mature.
“I can’t think of any Indian filmmaker who has made films for international audience. For years we are making films for our audience and we have a very healthy audience. However, our producers have created impact with their films without actually aiming to do so – for instance Raj Kapoor,” Aamir said yesterday at the session, ‘Entertainment Next’ at the India Today Conclave 2008.
“If we really want to entertain the world audience, then first you have to decide to (do) that. I am sure we can do it,” added the actor-director who surprises his fans and the film fraternity by making films on the most unconventional scripts.

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Dark Horse Entertainment has a new Hollywood home. The movie and TV production arm of Milwaukie-based Dark Horse Comics has signed a three-year production and distribution agreement with Universal Pictures. In the deal, announced Friday, Universal will have access to all Dark Horse characters and creative properties for film or TV development. Dark Horse Entertainment will be able to distribute movies through Universal.

“It’s a big step for our company,” said Mike Richardson, Dark Horse founder and president. “It puts us in a different position.” Richardson didn’t specify the financial details. “I haven’t sat down with my lawyer, and we want to make sure everything is firmed up,” he said.

The deal gives Dark Horse access to actors and directors that the company might not have had before, said Richardson.

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1947: “The Best Years Of Our Lives” was named best picture at the Oscars. Fredric March won the best actor award for his role in that movie.1965: Neil Simon’s play “The Odd Couple” opened on Broadway.1969: Paul McCartney and Linda Eastman were married in a civil ceremony in London.1970: “Aquarius/Let The Sun Shine In” by the Fifth Dimension was named Record of the Year at the Grammys.1975: Singers George Jones and Tammy Wynette were divorced.1977: “Three’s Company” made its debut on ABC.1987: U2 released their album “The Joshua Tree.”1988: Pop singer Andy Gibb died of a heart condition in Oxford, England. Gibb was 30.1996: Comedian George Burns died at the age of 100.1997: Rapper the Notorious B.I.G. was shot to death while sitting in his car after a music industry party. He was 24.2003: Dixie Chicks singer Natalie Maines told an audience in London, “Just so you know, we’re ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas.” They endured a firestorm of criticism that included radio stations banning their music and protests outside their concerts.2006: Isaac Hayes quit the cast of “South Park,” saying he could not tolerate the show’s take on religion.

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WWE Chairman Vince McMahon was honored with the 2,257th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame yesterday. The stars honor excellence in the entertainment industry.

Triple H and Shane McMahon both spoke in honor of McMahon as Triple H acknowledged the fact that Vince was his father-in-law and called him the closet thing that he had to a father. Shane talked about his father’s early days in the industry, working as a ringside announcer for Vince Sr.

After his family members spoke, Vince McMahon delivered his acceptance speech to the large and enthusiastic crowd. He started off with some humble words before shifting gears to the Mr. McMahon character. He declared, “I already know I’m a star. I’m the biggest star of all time.”

Vince’s wife Linda was there but did not speak.

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The domestic entertainment and media industry is projected to record a cumulative annual growth of 18 per cent over the next four years to reach a size of Rs 1,15,700 crore, according to a report.

The industry recorded a growth of 17 per cent in calendar year 2007 to reach an estimated size of Rs 51,300 crore, up from Rs 43,800 crore in 2006, according to FICCI PricewaterhouseCoopers 2008 Report on Indian entertainment and media industry for 2007.

During the year, the advertising industry contributed 38 per cent to the overall revenues of the industry.

Continuing with the trend of previous years, the emergence of media conglomerates further intensified in 2007. Several media groups expanded beyond their traditional domains to leverage on the synergies of advertising, thus aiming to have a presence across all segments of entertainment and media.

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It’s way too early on a drizzly Friday morning, and Game Crazy category manager Marc Mondhaschen is in the cafeteria of the Hollywood Entertainment headquarters in Wilsonville, eating breakfast meats with one hand and checking his smartphone with the other before heading in to the office.

A born multitasker, Mondhaschen can flip from corporate jargon to pop culture banter in mid-text message if the circumstances require. But he and most of his co-workers don’t draw too fine a line between business and leisure. They work in the video game industry.

From the back of a garish purple and orange building on a frontage road along Interstate 5, the men and women of Game Crazy’s core merchandising group run the nation’s second-largest specialty video game retailer.

They buy games and gaming hardware from industry giants like Nintendo, Electronic Arts and Microsoft and route the Marios and Metal Gears of the world to Game Crazy’s stores nationwide.

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HOUSTON, March 11, 2008—Hitting newsstands this month, the premiere issue of PiQ magazine lives up to its mantra of “entertainment for the rest of us” by covering anime, sci-fi, games, movies, television, and more. Glossy, eye-catching images and insightful, quirky writing give readers a comprehensive look into the most exciting, often-overlooked entertainment around the world. PiQ is an entirely new publication that seeks to cover new ground in entertainment coverage—perfectly illustrated with its gun-blazing cover image from the futuristic animated feature Appleseed: Ex Machina. The cover story on Appleseed: Ex Machina includes exclusive insights from internationally recognized action director John Woo on anime and his involvement with the visionary Appleseed sequel. Other featured stories include anime releases Code Geass and XXXHOLiC, Nickelodeon’s crossover animated hit Avatar, action/sci-fi smash Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, hot new game titles N and Crisis Core: FFVII, and a look at Marvel’s Secret Invasion.

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Sony does a bit of restructuring. Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) announced today that Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) will report to Kazuo Hirai, President and Group CEO, SCEI, effective April 1, 2008.

The new structure is designed to mutually benefit both companies by further accelerating the PlayStation business through SOE’s strong online gaming expertise.

“I am excited to be able to work with SOE even more closely, as online games and services become a more integral part of the PS3 entertainment experience,” Hirai said. “This new structure will allow us to take full advantage of the extensive breadth of expertise of the two companies and increase our range of exciting entertainment offerings to our consumers.”

SEO is part right now of Sony Pictures Entertainment.

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Sa pelikulang Manay Po 2: Overload ng Regal Entertainment na showing na sa April 16, may “kissing scene” ang isa sa mga bida rito, ang young actor na si Jiro Manio, sa sexy actor na si Paolo Rivero.

“Si Paolo kasi yung swimming instructor namin. Crush ko siya sa movie. Nalunod ako sa pool, sinagip niya ako. ‘Tapos ayun, na-mouth-to-mouth resuscitation niya ako. Nagdikit talaga yung mga labi namin,” kuwento ni Jiro sa PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) kagabi, March 13, sa grand presscon ng pelikula na ginanap sa Imperial Palace, Quezon City.

Gumaganap sa pelikula si Jiro bilang si Orwell, bunsong anak na bading ni Cherry Pie Picache. Kinilabutan daw si Jiro sa “halikan” nila ni Paolo.

“Nabigla ako, kasi idinikit talaga ni Paolo yung labi niya sa labi ko.

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