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True love is a wish that every heart makes, and the U.S. Postal Service has granted that wish with the help of a few beloved Disney characters. The Art of Disney: Romance postage stamps feature Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse; Lady and the Tramp; Belle and the Beast; and Cinderella and Prince Charming. They'll add a dash of romance to your cards and letters. These stamps were issued during the kick-off of the 13th annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival at Walt Disney World Resort. Available only in Lake Buena Vista, Fl. today, The Art of Disney: Romance stamps will be available nationwide tomorrow, April 22.

"We decided to take our cue from one of the most celebrated couples of all time -- Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse," said Jo Ann Feindt, Vice President, Great Lakes Area Operations, U.S. Postal Service, who dedicated the stamps. "Their commitment to each other over the years has taught us not to play by the rules, but to play by the heart. Our heart tells us that this will not be the last set in the Art of Disney series. We will issue one more next year, now that's love."

Joining Feindt in dedicating the stamps were Al Weiss, President of Worldwide Operations for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, some classic Disney characters featured on the stamps and larger-than-life, seven foot topiary images of the stamps made from fresh flowers and plants.

"All of us at the Walt Disney World Resort -- and at our vacation destinations around the world -- are delighted to dedicate this new set of stamps featuring some of Disney's most beloved characters," said Weiss. "The stamps not only celebrate the enchantment of true love, they spread the joy and magic of these classic Disney characters even wider."

The Art of Disney: Romance self-adhesive 39-cent stamps, available in panes of 20, feature world-famous Disney couples in four stamp designs telling their own romantic tale.

* Cinderella and Prince Charming: Everyone dreams of living a rags-to-

riches fairy tale and dancing with that special someone. As Cinderella

and Prince Charming learn, one waltz can lead to a moment of

realization: "So this is love."

* Beauty and the Beast: This is the evening the Beast has awaited, but

can he tell Belle of his love? He knows his heart, but does she yet

know her own? These two are as uncertain as they are hopeful --

emotions and a tale "as old as time."

* Lady and Tramp: First dates can be full of risks -- and ordering

spaghetti only complicates matters. Fortunately for Lady and Tramp, a

plate of pasta leads to a memorable kiss, turning a simple dinner out

into a wonderful "Bella Notte."

* Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse: Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse have been

sweethearts for many years, yet they still have that first blush of

romance. Seeing this celebrated couple, we can all take heart; they

prove that sometimes the course of love can indeed run smooth.

The Disney relationship with the U.S. Postal Service began in the summer of 1918 when Walt Disney sorted and delivered mail in the Chicago Post Office. Next, Mickey Mouse worked for the Post Office when he starred in the 1933 animated short "Mail Pilot." The achievements of Walt Disney were first recognized on a stamp in 1968. On the stamp, a parade of children, hand-in- hand, appear from a tiny castle to surround a portrait of Walt Disney. The children, representing many nations of the World, are garbed in native costume.

In 1998, a "Snow White" stamp was issued as part of the Postal Service's "Celebrate the Century" stamp series that highlighted the most memorable and significant people, places, events and trends of each decade of the 20th century. In 1937, "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" premiered as the nation's first feature-length animated film. The movie classic was comprised of 240,000 separate drawings and won a special Academy Award(TM) for Walt Disney.

The Art of Disney: Friendship stamps issued in 2004, the first in the current series, honored friendship as it appears in the art of Walt Disney featuring Mickey Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck and a host of Disney friends. The Art of Disney: Celebration stamps issued in 2005 were the second in the series and featured Mickey Mouse and Pluto; Alice and the Mad Hatter; Ariel and Flounder; and Snow White and Dopey. Each time, U.S. Postal Service art director Terrence McCaffrey joined with the Disney team including artist Peter Emmerich and creative director Dave Pacheco in designing the stamps.

The Art of Disney: Romance 39-cent pane of 20 stamps ($7.80) and the set of 20 24-cent stamped postal cards with all four designs ($9.95) are available at Post Offices and Philatelic Centers nationwide tomorrow.

For Disney memorabilia fans, there are a host of other collectibles, including:

* A set of four 8 x 10 inch stamp-affixed Disney Prints, depicting each

of the stamps, for $14.95,

* A Disney Digital Color Cancellation Keepsake, which includes four

first-day cover envelopes with one each of the stamps for $13.80 and, a

* "Disney Let's Write a Letter Book" which includes stationery and 8

stamps, for $14.95.

To see The Art of Disney: Romance stamps visit the online Postal Store at http://www.usps.com/shop. Current U.S. stamps and stationery, as well as a free catalog, are available by calling 1-800-STAMP-24. In addition, a selection of stamps and other philatelic items are available at the online Postal Store at http://www.usps.com/shop. Custom-framed prints of original stamp art are available at http://www.postalartgallery.com/.

How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark

Customers have 30 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office, by telephone at 1-800-STAMP-24, and at the Postal Store Web site at http://www.usps.com/shop. They should affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:

THE ART OF DISNEY: ROMANCE COMMEMORATIVE STAMPS

POSTMASTER

10401 POST OFFICE BLVD

ORLANDO FL 32862-9998

After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark. All orders must be postmarked by May 20, 2006.

How to Order First-Day Covers

Stamp Fulfillment Services also offers first-day covers for new stamp issues and Postal Service stationery items postmarked with the official first- day-of-issue cancellation. Each item has an individual catalog number and is offered in the quarterly USA Philatelic catalog. Customers may request a free catalog by calling 1-800-STAMP-24 or writing to:

INFORMATION FULFILLMENT

DEPT 6270

US POSTAL SERVICE

PO BOX 219014

KANSAS CITY MO 64121-9014

First-day covers remain on sale for at least one year after the stamp's issuance.

Since 1775, the Postal Service and its predecessor, the Post Office Department, has connected friends, families, neighbors and businesses by mail. It is an independent federal agency that visits 144 million homes and businesses every day, six days a week and is the only service provider delivering to every address in the nation. The Postal Service receives no taxpayer dollars for routine operations, but derives its operating revenues solely from the sale of postage, products and services. With annual revenues of more than $69 billion, it is the world's leading provider of mailing and delivery services, offering some of the most affordable postage rates in the world. The Postal Service delivers more than half of the world's mail volume -- some 212 billion letters, advertisements, periodicals and packages a year - - and serves seven and a half million customers each day at its 37,000 retail locations nationwide. Its website, usps.com, attracts more than 21 million visitors each month.

Source: U.S. Postal Service

Web site: http://www.usps.com/
http://www.postalartgallery.com/

Heralding in her new retail store after becoming Paris Hilton’s signature Swarovski-adorned flower hair clips, Michelle Roy Designs headlined this block party Thursday on North Robertson just a walk away from The Ivy, a favored celebrity hangout.  

No stranger to the style trends in Los Angeles, Michelle Roy’s, www.michelleroydesigns.com, dabbling blossomed after reporting on trends for 13 years.

Her passion for fun and fashion transformed in 2000 after being spotted with her now signature crystals in her hair . Michelle’s enthusiasm, talent for spotting trends, political correctness (20% of sales benefited Project Angel Food) and proximity to celebrity have garnered her a much envied position in the style pages of Cosmopolitan, Life & Style, Glamour, US, and People to name a few. Recently Eva Longoria (Gabrielle) was adorned with a Swarovski-adorned orchid in her hair in a “Desperate Housewives” episode when she kissed Lynette’s husband.

Bellacures, offered mini manis in their oversized lounge chairs. Reasonable standard services are offered but specialties abound with services for children, 7 types of pedicures, Find Your French (test 3 different French looks), intense moisture, microdermabrasion, and those quick minis for those in a rush. Still new on the block, we’re wondering when they’ll fill their shelves with more products to consider.

Wallett Cosmetics offered pout makeovers with formulations including shea buter, vitamin E, chamomile, aloe vera, green tea extracts and citrus botanicals. We noticed a similiarity to Bobbi Brown cosmetics, but then we also realize there are few companies in the world which actually manufacture lip pencils. The magic of the right lip colors transforms your face.

Margarita King margaritas enticed people to Girari Furniture. Designs of contemporary tables, chairs and stools for the kitchen respectfully utilizes recycled sand-cast aluminum which is hand cast and hand finished in the U.S.A.

Delectable nibbles were provided by Breadbar. I wasn’t familiar with the name, loved the taste, and once I started wanted more. Upon researching, I discovered it’s part of internationally known baker Eric Kayser’s expanding operation and a regular at Spago and Bastide, although you wouldn’t probably know it. Fortunately for me, it’s close by on Third Street. It’s a bread worth fighting rush hour traffic.               

 (C) 2006 MBN Joyce Chow Photographer (Milli & Michelle Roy)

How does one make an impression through the busy chatter of LA style? A publicist of course (Sugar Public Relations, www.sugarpr.com)…and a Daily Candy email blast.

MTV Launches Break the Addiction; Sets Goal to Educate and Empower Young People to Help End Global Warming and Mass Overconsumption

12-month, 12-step Campaign offers Young People Opportunity to Lead the Fight against Global Warming 'US represents 4% of world population but consumes 25% of world energy.' - Cambridge Energy Research Associates

Following President Bush's State of the Union declaration earlier this year that "America is addicted to oil," MTV announced today the network's latest pro-social initiative, BREAK THE ADDICTION, a year-long campaign to engage, educate and empower young people to take simple, daily actions that can have a measurable impact in the fight against global warming. The campaign will launch with a channel takeover on Earth Day, Saturday, April 22, including an on-air, online and wireless messaging campaign about how to help stop global warming, break-ins to regularly scheduled programming that offer environmental lessons, multiple public service announcements (PSAs), and an MTV News package introducing BREAK THE ADDICTION, featuring a leading young environmental activist.

BREAK THE ADDICTION is MTV's year-long recovery program aimed at mobilizing a new generation of environmental activists. On-air, online and on wireless, the initiative will connect the audience to simple, daily tips, as well as in-depth resources, to help them recognize and change habits that harm the environment. Viewers will be directed online to think.mtv.com to quantify and track their efforts by the amount of carbon dioxide emissions and dollars saved due to changes they commit to making throughout the year. Supplemental MTV programming -- both long-form and news packages -- will air throughout the year and the tips will be revealed in daily PSAs on air on MTV, MTV2, and mtvU as well as online and delivered to cell phones. Additional PSAs will appear on mtv.com, mtv2.com, mtvU.com, MTV Overdrive and mtvU Uber. Through partnerships with StopGlobalWarming.org, National Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Grist.org, Student PIRGs, Campus Climate Challenge, and Clean Air-Cool Planet, MTV will go beyond the broadcasts to create online and wireless resources, as well as opportunities for grassroots organizing and outreach.

"Throughout history young people have always rallied around issues and generated change, and we know from our constant dialogue with young people that they are concerned about the environment but don't know how to make a difference," said Christina Norman, President, MTV. "BREAK THE ADDICTION will educate and empower young people with tangible, simple actions and measurable ways to see how their small efforts have big effects."

MTV will theme each month with a concrete message -- from Examine Yourself to Go Paperless to Get Political -- and create corresponding programming and resources on air, online, on wireless phones and on the ground. Throughout the campaign, young people will be able to access a number of resources on these platforms, including:

* The BREAK THE ADDICTION recycle bin on TRL -- MTV's flagship TRL program will host the BREAK THE ADDICTION recycle bin for audience members who literally must recycle to gain entrance to the studio. Throughout the year, MTV will point to the container as a reminder of simple acts that can make big impacts on the planet.

* think MTV's Carbon Calculator -- An online calculator, built in partnership with topGlobalWarming.org will launch around Earth Day to enable young people to calculate their carbon and financial savings as they commit to making changes in their lives.

* Long-form programming and MTV News packages -- MTV programming will explore the issues of global warming, as well as showcase the innovative ways that young people are fighting to preserve the environment.

* User-generated Content -- MTV viewer ideas will be solicited and showcased through their submission of pictures about how they're stopping global warming.

* Action Center -- Break the Addiction will provide opportunities for young people to take personal, social, and political action to help stop global warming.

* Comprehensive Online Resources -- think MTV will launch a Break the Addiction website on think.mtv.com to serve as a comprehensive portal for information about global warming and ways to take action to reduce one's environmental impact.

Additional on air, online, wireless, and grassroots initiatives will be rolled out throughout the year.

About think MTV

The think MTV initiative includes longform specials, MTV News reports, PSAs, and other special programming dedicated to the issues that young people care about most. A think MTV icon appears onscreen during programming that has an online counterpart at think.MTV.com, to offer a range of opportunities for young people to learn about and engage on critical issues at the local or national level. On every page within the site, young people can search for local volunteer opportunities, contact their political representatives, and register to vote.

About MTV

MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom , is one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. MTV Networks, with more than 100 channels worldwide, owns and operates the following television programming services - MTV: MUSIC TELEVISION, MTV2, VH1, mtvU, NICKELODEON, NICK at NITE, COMEDY CENTRAL, TV LAND, SPIKE TV, CMT, NOGGIN, VH1 CLASSIC, LOGO, MTVN INTERNATIONAL and THE DIGITAL SUITE FROM MTV NETWORKS, a package of 13 digital services, all of these networks trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks connects with its audiences through its robust consumer products businesses and its more than 95 interactive properties worldwide, including online, broadband, wireless and interactive television services and also has licensing agreements, joint ventures, and syndication deals whereby all of its programming services can be seen worldwide.

Source: MTV

Web site: http://think.mtv.com/
http://www.mtv.com/

Kicks Off the GQ Lounge Weekend at the Palms Casino Resort

Thursday, April 27, 2006, Las Vegas

WHO: Cast members of the Emmy winning series, hit TV show -- Zach

Braff, Donald Faison, Sarah Chalke, Neil Flynn, Christa Miller,

Rob Maschio, season guest stars Elizabeth Banks, Josh Randall,

Dave Foley, Executive Producer of SCRUBS Bill Lawrence and many

more ...

WHAT: Celebrating the DVD release of the third season of SCRUBS, Zach

Braff stars as J.D., a medical resident at Sacred Heart

Hospital, where the staff is bizarre and the laughter is

contagious. Joining the rumpled J.D. are fellow residents Turk

(Donald Faison, "Clueless") as J.D.'s college buddy who is part

of the more elite surgical group, and the beautiful but

socially awkward Elliot Reid (Sarah Chalke, "Roseanne").

SCRUBS' talented cast also includes the sure-of-himself Dr. Cox

(John C. McGinley, "Office Space"), the terrorizing janitor

(Neil Flynn, "Mean Girls"), the fatherly Dr. Kelso (Ken

Jenkins, "The Sum of All Fears") and the feisty Nurse Carla

(Judy Reyes, "Oz"). Together, they weave their way through

each unpredictable day with hilarious results.

SCRUBS: The Complete Third Season will be released on DVD on

May 9, 2006 from Touchstone Television and Buena Vista Home

Entertainment. Fans can enjoy this set bursting with

12 different bonus features including gag reels, exclusive

unaired scenes, alternate lines, and much more!

WHEN: Thursday, April 27, 2006 WHERE: RAIN Nightclub

7:00 PM Press Check In Palms Casino Resort

8:00 PM Arrivals Begin 4321 W. Flamingo Rd.

12:00 AM Rain becomes GQ Lounge Las Vegas, NV

Source: Buena Vista Home Entertainment

Web site: http://www.gqmagevents.com/gqlounge

Charming Audiences on DVD May 16, 2006 From Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Expect the unexpected when the sparkling romantic comedy "Something New" arrives on DVD May 16, 2006 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. "Something New" is a critically acclaimed film about a woman who knows where she's headed in business but has lost her way in affairs of the heart. The first-rate cast is headed by Sanaa Lathan ("Alien vs. Predator," "Love and Basketball") and Simon Baker ("Land of the Dead," "The Ring Two"), with Blair Underwood ("Sex & the City," "Rules of Engagement"), Mike Epps ("Roll Bounce," "The Honeymooners"), Alfre Woodard ("Desperate Housewives," "The Forgotten"), Donald Faison ("Scrubs," "Remember the Titans"), Golden Brooks ("Girlfriends," "Beauty Shop"), and Taraji P. Henson ("Hustle & Flow," "Four Brothers"). In her directorial feature debut, Sanaa Hamri delivers love and laughter in a zesty romance with a twist.

Two worlds collide as "Something New" unfolds against the luminous backdrop of multicultural Los Angeles. Kenya Denise McQueen (Sanaa Lathan), a beautiful, high-powered career woman, knew exactly what she wanted in a man, but with her busy life, she didn't think she'd ever find it. While Kenya and her girlfriends, Cheryl, Suzzette and Nedra, are having fun and looking for love, she finds herself unexpectedly falling for a man (Simon Baker) outside of her social circle. The DVD is priced at $29.98 SRP. Preorder close is April 11, 2006.

More From "Something New"

Spend some time with the "Something New" bonus features to find out more about this irresistible, romantic film and its cast:

* An Introduction To The Film By Blair Underwood

* The Do's and Don'ts of Dating Introduced By Blair Underwood -- How close

are men and women in their concepts of dating? In this humorous

featurette, hear what the cast of "Something New" has learned in their

years of being on the dating scene.

* The Making of "Something New" -- Behind-the-scenes with interviews from

the cast and crew.

Synopsis

Kenya Denise McQueen (Sanaa Lathan) appears to have it all -- beauty, brains and a prestigious job at a top accounting firm. She also has a long list of requirements for the type of man she wants to marry, but she's not having much luck finding someone who fits the bill. Dispirited after hearing that over 42% of African American women never marry, Kenya impulsively agrees to a blind date with Brian Kelly (Simon Baker), a sexy, free-spirited landscape architect, who isn't exactly what she pictured for herself. While not the man she had in mind for romance, she hires him to fix up the yard of her new house and finds herself irresistibly drawn to his earthy, laid-back charm. When she finally meets her theoretically perfect match, corporate attorney Mark (Blair Underwood), Kenya is further thrown into confusion. Everybody has an opinion, from her trio of girlfriends Cheryl, Suzzette, and Nedra (Wendy Raquel Robinson, Golden Brooks, Taraji P. Henson) to her socially prominent parents Joyce and Edmond (Alfre Woodard and Earl Billings). Ultimately, Kenya must decide between the relationship everyone expects and the romance no one expected.

For more information please visit: www.somethingnewmovie.net.

CAST & FILMMAKERS

Director: Sanaa Hamri

Written By: Kriss Turner

Produced By: Stephanie Allain

Executive Producers: Preston Holmes, Joe Pichirallo

Director of Photography: Shane Hurlbut

Production Designer: Mayne Berke

Edited By: Melissa Kent

Costume Designer: Hope Hanafin

Cast: Sanaa Lathan, Simon Baker, Mike Epps, Donald Faison, Blair

Underwood, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Alfre Woodard, Golden Brooks,

Taraji P. Henson, Earl Billings

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

DVD

Street Date: May 16, 2006

Pre-Order Close: April 11, 2006

Copyright: 2006 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.

Price: $ 29.98 SRP

Selection Number: 28865 (Widescreen); 28866 (Full Frame)

Running Time: 100 Minutes

Layers: Dual (Single Sided)

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 (Anamorphic Widescreen); 1.33:1 (Full Frame)

Rating: PG-13 (Sexual Reference)

Technical Info: English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround; English SDH; Spanish

and French Subtitles

For artwork or screeners, please log on to our Web site at www.ushepublicity.com or fax your request to Universal Studios Home Entertainment Publicity at (818) 866-0226.

Universal Studios Home Entertainment is a unit of Universal Pictures, a division of Universal Studios (www.universalstudios.com). Universal Studios is a part of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and Entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80%-owned by General Electric, with 20% controlled by Vivendi Universal.

Source: Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Web site: http://www.somethingnewmovie.net/

WHO:

* Danny Glover - actor and newest JFA Board Member

* James Carter - saxophonist

* Richard Parsons - Event Co-Chair; Chairman and CEO, Time Warner,

Inc.

* Agnes Varis - Event Co-Chair; President & Co-Founder Agvar

Chemicals, Inc.

* Wendy Oxenhorn - Executive Director, JFA

* Ron Carter - Jazz Musician

* Mayor Marc Morial - Former Mayor of New Orleans

* Davell Crawford - The "Crown Prince" of New Orleans

WHAT: Kick-off Celebration for 5th Annual "A Great Night in Harlem"

WHERE: Hosted by Richard Parsons

One Time Warner Center

10th Floor Park Cafe (Enter building on West 58th Street between

8th and 9th - check in at back table in lobby)

New York, NY

WHEN: Monday, April 24th

4:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

BACKGROUND:

From the replacement of "Fats" Domino's piano to paying rent and mortgages for Katrina-effected musicians and their families, The Jazz Foundation of America (JFA) has assisted nearly 900 New Orleans musician emergency cases in the few short months since the hurricane and continues to assist 30 elderly jazz and blues artists a week.

Now, JFA sets an unprecedented goal of raising $1.5 million dollars from the 5th annual "A Great Night in Harlem" concert presented by DIRECTV and BET Jazz. Hosted by Bill Cosby, the concert will be held on THURSDAY, MAY 4 (8-10 p.m.) at the world-famous Apollo Theater.

"Great Night" veteran Bill Cosby and JFA's newest board member Danny Glover, will join accomplished musicians for a night to remember including: Johnnie Mae Dunson, Abbey Lincoln, James Blood Ulmer, Dr. Michael White and the Original Liberty Jazz Band of New Orleans, Ron Carter, the legendary Odetta, Jimmy McGriff, Clark Terry, Will Calhoun, Harold Mabern, Ben Riley, George Cables, Gary Bartz and many more, including over 30 musicians from New Orleans.

Tickets can be purchased ($100-$1500) by calling the Jazz Foundation at 212-245-3999 Ext. 29. For more information on JFA, visit www.jazzfoundation.org.

Source: Jazz Foundation

Web site: http://www.vh1.com/

First Five Episodes of Season Two With Guests Conan O'Brien, Rob Corddry and Amy Poehler are Available for Free Download Monday, April 24

O'Grady Season Two Finale Premieres On Air Monday April 24 at 9:00 PM (ET)

O'Grady, the original animated series on The N, the nighttime network for teens, joins The N's critically acclaimed series South of Nowhere as the newest show available for download at the iTunes(R) Music Store (http://www.itunes.com/). Viewers can download the first five episodes of O'Grady season two for free on Monday, April 24.

Additionally, fans can purchase and catch up on the first 13 episodes of O'Grady season one leading up to the O'Grady season two finale which premieres on The N Monday, April 24 at 9:00 p.m. (ET).

For $1.99 per episode or $19.99 for the entire first season (13 episodes), consumers can download O'Grady from the iTunes(R) Music Store and view the show on either their computer or fifth generation iPod. Beginning Tuesday, April 25, the entire second season will be on sale for $10.98.

Season two of O'Grady spews hilarity as an array of celebrity talent join each episode including: Conan O'Brien, Arrested Development's Will Arnett and David Cross, Saturday Night Live's Rachel Dratch, and Amy Poehler, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart's, Rob Corddry and comedian Sam Seder. O'Grady airs regularly on Monday nights at 9:00 p.m. (ET) on The N.

Written and produced by the award-winning production company Soup2Nuts, O'Grady, is a comedic look at real teenage life -- the relationships, the drama and the 'weirdness.' Co-created by Tom Snyder and Carl Adams, O'Grady is a cross between Friends and The Twilight Zone, where the real meets the surreal. The series revolves around four self-centered high school students -- Abby, Beth, Kevin and Harold -- who deal with their everyday teenage existence while putting up with the 'weirdness,' an inexplicable bizarre, phenomena that afflicts their town.

About SOUP2NUTS

Soup2Nuts(TM) is a cutting edge digital animation studio offering full, in-house production services from creating series to writing, music composing, recording, and character design, through the entire animation process. Founded in 1994, the studio quickly established a reputation as a successful and award-winning creator and producer of animated comedy programming with their first hit, the award-winning Dr. Katz: Professional Therapist, which aired on Comedy Central. In addition, Soup2Nuts created the cult favorite Home Movies(TM) on Cartoon Network, Squigglevision(R) for ABC, The Dick & Paula Celebrity Special for FX, and Hey, Monie for BET and Oxygen. Soup2Nuts is a division of Scholastic Entertainment.

About THE N

The N, the nighttime network for teens, is a programming arm of MTV Networks and is currently available in 48 million households via cable, digital cable and satellite television. The N's mission is to be the authentic voice for teens and help them figure out their lives with relevant, topical programming on-air and online at the network's web site http://www.the-n.com/. The N airs everyday from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. (ET). The N and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.

Source: The N

Web site: http://www.the-n.com/
http://www.itunes.com/

After years of rumor and speculation, legendary superstar George Michael has officially announced that he will be touring for the first time since 1991.

The tour is entitled 25 Live and tickets will go on sale this Sunday, April 23 at 9am. This promises to be an unprecedented celebration of George's 25 year career in music.

George Michael will be performing a selection of songs taken from ALL of his albums, including some classic Wham! tracks.

George Michael has enjoyed one of the most successful and enduring careers in the history of pop music, selling more than 85 million records globally and encompassing 11 British No. 1 singles, seven British No. 1 albums and six US No. 1 singles. In 2004, he was declared the most played British artist on radio over the course of the last 20 years.

The tour will kick off in Madrid on September 27 and will reach British shores in November.

Tour dates for 25 Live to follow shortly. http://www.georgemichael.com/

Source: George Michael

Consumers Can Now Enjoy Both Home and Online TV as Mobile TV

Orb Networks, the pioneering developer of software for instant access to content everywhere, today announced expanded support for playing and recording Internet TV and other online video from any mobile device with a streaming Windows Media(R) Player, RealPlayer(R), or 3GP player on any carrier network and WiFi.

No specialized mobile software or mobile fees other than a data plan are required. Anyone can now watch and record Internet TV and enjoy vlogs and other online video right from their mobile device's native Web browser and streaming media player.

"This is a fantastic moment for online video, with full-length traditional TV shows and live feeds of international soccer matches coming online to augment the rich content already there. Orb Networks is pioneering the instant enjoyment on mobile devices of all that content," said Ian McCarthy, Vice President of Product Marketing at Orb Networks.

Orb(TM) removes the media-format and bitrate challenges to making Internet TV mobile TV. Content providers can publish iTV feeds in their preferred media format and bitrate and still be sure that their audience can enjoy the content on their everyday mobile devices. "For example, if there's an iTV feed of a live soccer match available online in Windows Media Video format only, I can still enjoy it live (or record it to view later) from the RealPlayer on my Nokia(R) mobile phone," said McCarthy. "Once I've added the URL of the soccer match's iTV feed to my Orb Custom Channels, the free Orb software on my home PC transcodes the original stream (or recording) for me from Windows to Real and ensures that I get the new stream at the appropriate bitrate for my phone's data connection right at my moment of viewing. Watching iTV feeds and recordings on my phone has expanded the value to me of my mobile data plan and handset investments."

Orb's support for mobile playback of online video augments its industry-leading support for the enjoyment of home TV on Windows, Real, and 3GP mobile devices. "With Orb and a Hauppauge(R) WinTV(R) tuner-card on my home PC, I can stream to my phone the new Dr. Who episode live from my home cable-TV feed and then play an online-only episode of Dr. Who Confidential to continue my fan experience," said McCarthy. "Orb deepens consumers' involvement with the television brands they love and expands the ways content providers can reach their audiences."

Orb is available now for free download at www.orb.com.

About Orb Networks, Inc.

Orb Networks is the pioneering developer of software and services that give people secure, free, and instant access to all their digital media everywhere. The award-winning Orb software makes it easy for consumers to enjoy their home and Internet TV, music, videos, photos, podcasts, and other digital content from mobile phones, PDAs, and laptops everywhere. Orb is a member of the DLNA and is a privately held company in Emeryville, California. For more information about Orb, please visit www.orb.com.

NOTE: Orb is a trademark of Orb Networks, Inc. All other trademarks and/or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Source: Orb Networks, Inc.

Web site: http://www.orb.com/

PartyPoker.com, the world's largest online poker room, are offering Paris Hilton the chance to win her $178,000 (GBP100,000) Bentley back after reports she lost it in a game of poker at her family's casino in Las Vegas.

PartyPoker.com spokesman Warren Lush said: "It is a simple deal for the Simple Life star. If she goes heads-up online in a no limit Texas Hold'em challenge against poker legend Mike Sexton and wins we'll hand her the keys to a brand spanking new Bentley. Forget one night in Paris, we're offering her one night to win her wheels back."

"Paris has said she is mad about poker and that she always wins in Vegas. We're offering her the chance to get lucky and she doesn't even need to leave her house."

"We're aware that her parents have banned her from gambling at their casino. This online challenge solves all her problems - she can cover her losses without stepping foot in there."

"Paris has 30 days to take up the challenge. We're making enquiries about the Bentley now. If she doesn't want to play online we're also willing to set up a face-to-face showdown."

PartyPoker.com has a history of offering cars as prizes. In December there were poker tournaments for Ferraris while at present there is the opportunity to win 2007 Cadillac Escalade's for as little as $11.

Source: Partygaming PLC

Fandango, the nation's largest online, phone and mobile movie ticketing service, is breaking out its first "Fandango Hot List", the result of a nationwide moviegoer poll which ranks the established ("The Bankables") and up-and-coming ("The Breakouts") stars most likely to draw fans to movie theaters this summer.

Commandeering the top spot as the #1 Male Summer Bankable is Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest's Captain Jack Sparrow himself, Johnny Depp, followed by stalwarts, The Da Vinci Code's Tom Hanks (#2), Pirates' co-star Orlando Bloom (#3), X-Men: The Last Stand's Hugh Jackman (#4), and The Break-Up's Vince Vaughn (#5).

Taking no prisoners, another Pirates cast member grabs the #1 spot for Top Female Summer Bankable: Oscar-nominated actress Keira Knightley. Rounding out the Top 5 for Female Bankables are hotly-anticipated performers X-Men: The Last Stand's Storm, Halle Berry (#2), The Break-Up's Jennifer Aniston (#3), the romantic drama The Lake House's Sandra Bullock (#4), and X-Men's Dr. Jean Grey, Famke Janssen (#5).

Among the up-and-coming stars, X-Men's Iceman, Shawn Ashmore, freezes out the competition for the top spot as #1 Male Summer Breakout. Rounding out the Top Five are Superman Returns' Brandon Routh (#2), X-Men's Pyro, Aaron Stanford (#3) and Adrian Grenier, best known as the star of HBO's Entourage, for his performance in The Devil Wears Prada (#4). Tied for the #5 slot are "Da Ali G Show"'s Sacha Baron Cohen, for his role in the Will Ferrell NASCAR comedy Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, and hip-hop star Bow Wow for The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift.

The #1 Female Summer Breakout goes to Emmy Rossum, best-known for her roles in Mystic River, The Day After Tomorrow and Phantom of the Opera, sinking the competition with her role in Poseidon. Rounding out the Top 5 Female Breakouts are Michelle Monaghan, who drew raves in last year's Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, for Mission: Impossible III (#2), ingenue Bryce Dallas Howard for M. Night Shyamalan's Lady in the Water (#3), TV's Veronica Mars, Kristen Bell, for the thriller Pulse (#4) and R&B singer Christina Milian, also for her role in Pulse (#5).

The "Fandango Hot List" respondents were asked the question, "Which stars are you most looking forward to seeing in a movie this summer?" The lists were separated by established stars ("The Summer Bankables") and up-and-coming stars ("The Summer Breakouts") and by gender. The online survey took place in April, with thousands of Fandango moviegoers participating.

"The 'Fandango Hot List' shows the pull of star power and a desire for diversity at the movie theaters this summer, and obviously audiences are excited about both," says Fandango Film Commentator Kim Morgan. "Seeking big names like Tom Hanks, Jennifer Aniston, five of the stars of X-3, as well as more breakout and eclectic talent like Sacha Baron Cohen, the 'Fandango Hot List' reveals the varied types of movies and actors the ticket-buying audience wants to watch. And I am especially happy to see one of my favorites, Vince Vaughn, crack the top five male bankables."

For a quick list of the top ten winners in each category, please see below:

THE SUMMER BANKABLES / Established Stars:

Males:

1. Johnny Depp (Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest)

2. Tom Hanks (The Da Vinci Code)

3. Orlando Bloom (Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest)

4. Hugh Jackman (X-Men: The Last Stand)

5. Vince Vaughn (The Break-Up)

6. Tom Cruise (Mission: Impossible III)

7. Nicolas Cage (World Trade Center)

8. Adam Sandler (Click)

9. Samuel L. Jackson (Snakes on a Plane)

10. Jack Black (Nacho Libre)

Females:

1. Keira Knightley (Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest)

2. Halle Berry (X-Men: The Last Stand)

3. Jennifer Aniston (The Break-Up)

4. Sandra Bullock (The Lake House)

5. Famke Janssen (X-Men: The Last Stand)

6. Kate Hudson (You, Me and Dupree)

7. Audrey Tautou (The Da Vinci Code)

8. Uma Thurman (My Super Ex-Girlfriend)

9. Kate Beckinsale (Click)

10. Meryl Streep (The Devil Wears Prada)

THE SUMMER BREAKOUTS / Up-and-Coming Stars:

Males:

1. Shawn Ashmore (X-Men: The Last Stand)

2. Brandon Routh (Superman Returns)

3. Aaron Stanford (X-Men: The Last Stand)

4. Adrian Grenier (The Devil Wears Prada)

5.(TIE) Sacha Baron Cohen (Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby)

and Bow Wow (The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift)

7. Michael Pena (World Trade Center)

8. Ian Somerhalder (Pulse)

9. Lucas Black (The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift)

10. Kenan Thompson (Snakes on a Plane)

Females:

1. Emmy Rossum (Poseidon)

2. Michelle Monaghan (Mission: Impossible III)

3. Bryce Dallas Howard (Lady in the Water)

4. Kristen Bell (Pulse)

5. Christina Milian (Pulse)

6. Ashanti (John Tucker Must Die)

7. Jacinda Barrett (Poseidon)

8. Brittany Snow (John Tucker Must Die)

9. Naomie Harris (Miami Vice)

10. Ana de la Reguera (Nacho Libre)

About Fandango

Fandango, the nation's largest movie ticketing service, sells tickets to more than 13,600 screens and 1,150 theaters (nearly 70 percent of theaters in the U.S. enabled for remote ticketing) and to four out of the five largest U.S. theater circuits (according to National Association of Theater Owners, June 2005). One of the Web's top movie destinations (according to Nielsen//NetRatings), Fandango allows moviegoers to read reviews, view trailers, quickly select a film, plan where and when to see it, and buy tickets up to 45 days in advance. Fandango is available at http://www.fandango.com/, 1-800-FANDANGO and via your wireless mobile device at mobile.fandango.com.

Fandango theater partners include the nation's leading exhibitors: Carmike Cinemas, Century Theatres, Cinemark Theatres, Edwards Theatres, Loews Cineplex Entertainment, Regal Cinemas and United Artists Theatres, as well as American Cinematheque, Brenden Theatres, CineArts Theatres, Cineplex Odeon Cinemas, Cobb Theatres, Colorado Cinemas, Crown Theatres, Flagship Theatres, Kerasotes Theatres, Magic Johnson, Majestic Crest Theatre, R/C Theatres, Signature Theatres, Star Theatres, Wallace Theaters and Wehrenberg Theatres.

Source: Fandango

Web site: http://www.fandango.com/

Korean Film Council Launches Innovative New Filmmakers Development Lab in Association With the Academy for Creative Media at the University of Hawaii

In a major initiative to nurture and encourage emerging Korean American filmmakers to bring their stories to the screen, the Korean Film Council (KOFIC) announced today the launch of its inaugural KOFIC Filmmakers Development Lab.

Inspired by similar creative environments such as the Sundance Screenwriters Lab, the KOFIC Filmmakers Development Lab is seeking applicants from the United States and Canada with a view to realizing projects that can find audience appeal in both Korea and North America. The Lab will be held in Hawaii in early September, in partnership with the Academy for Creative Media at the University of Hawaii in Honolulu. Following in October, the Lab fellows will be brought to the Pusan International Film Festival in Korea to meet with relevant film industry representatives and organizations whom could potentially produce their projects.

"Through this incubator type project, we would be able to promote a sharing and a merging of ideas between Korean and Korean American filmmakers," states Ms. An Cheong Sook, KOFIC's Chairperson. "It is important to us that through this cross cultural experience, these filmmakers will be able to establish markets and audiences on both continents."

"We are excited about this tremendous educational and professional partnership with the Korean Film Council, film industry and young filmmakers," said Chris Lee, Director of the Academy for Creative Media at the University of Hawaii. "It accentuates the tremendous growth of the Academy and its now global outreach. We look forward to a long and prosperous association."

Selected participants will be paired with industry mentors from both Korea and the United States, in an intensive week-long retreat. The goal of the Filmmakers Development Lab is to enable participants to develop a high quality script that could be presented to financiers and production companies in both countries.

"These are exciting times for filmmakers and films from non-traditional sources," expresses KOFIC Filmmakers Development Lab director, Roger Garcia, a well-regarded international film consultant and producer. "(The Lab) not only looks to identify the talent but also to present real-world scenarios to participants in developing and presenting their projects."

Information on the KOFIC Filmmakers Development Lab, and how to apply is available online at http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/ and www.hawaii.edu/acm

The deadline for submissions is May 31, 2006.

"While this project is an ambitious one, we believe the talent is there," adds Garcia. "And through this incubator program, we hope to develop the next generation of great new filmmakers."

The Korean Film Council is based in Seoul, Korea with a satellite office in Los Angeles. Its mission is to raise the standard of Korean films, and to promote the Korean film industry at home and abroad. KOFIC provides and supports programs to develop creative filmmakers, improve the production of low-budget films, raise the profile of Korean cinema, and create a network between filmmakers in the Korean, overseas Korean and international communities.

The Academy for Creative Media at the University of Hawaii, founded just three years ago, emphasizes digital cinema, computer animation and videogame design, and critical studies. Its student films have been screened at major national and international festivals. It is developing a Center for Indigenous Filmmaking, which will embrace story-tellers from Hawaii, the Pacific and Asia.

Source: Korean Film Council

Web site: http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/
http://www.hawaii.edu/acm

Highlights of the second annual CanWest CanSpell National Final Spelling Bee will air nationally on the Global Television Network and NTV (Newfoundland Television Network) on Saturday, April 22 at 7:00 p.m. (check local listings). Saturn RELAY will present the one-hour special featuring 28 of the country's top spellers.

Christine Shipton, Vice President of Original Programming for the Global Television Network said, "We are very excited to offer viewers an inside look at the National Final of CanWest CanSpell. This is the kind of original programming that we like to bring to the Canadian audience: a program that rewards learning and captures the fun and excitement of Canadian youngsters competing at the top level."

The country's top spelling wizards represented 14 regions in Canada, from Victoria on the West Coast to St. John's on the Atlantic side. Their spelling journey took them through entry-level competitions at their local schools and through written and regional bee events, leading up to the National Final Spelling Bee in Ottawa on April 5. The championship competition stretched five hours long, culminating with the winning word: dghaisa.

Going word for word in the final dramatic moments, 14-year old Finola Hackett of Tofield, Alberta - champion of the 2005 event - repeated her winning form and triumphed over Jennifer Hurd of Ottawa, with the correct spelling of two consecutive words plucked at random from the dictionary. In an interview following the hard-fought win, Finola said, "I was really lucky because it (dghaisa) was one of the words I had seen in the dictionary and studied." Finola received a $10,000 education award and the right to keep the CanWest CanSpell cup on display in her hometown of Tofield, Alberta for one more year.

"From the beginning Saturn Canada and the Saturn retailers have always been community-focused," says Dave McCall, Director, Saturn Canada. "The CanSpell program attracts interest from hundreds of thousands of students from across the country and encourages them to excel to new heights in academic achievement. We were honoured to be involved with such a promising program."

Spellers and their immediate family members traveled to the Capital Region via sponsor airline Air Canada, and spent four days touring historic city sites, meeting national dignitaries and getting to know fellow competitors. Prime Minister Stephen Harper addressed the spellers during a gala reception held in their honour at the Canadian Museum of Civilization. Her Excellency The Right Honourable Michaelle Jean, National Patron of CanWest CanSpell, offered welcoming remarks to open the second annual national final spelling bee event.

The country's top spellers now move on to compete in the internationally- known Scripps Spelling Bee on May 31st and June 1st in Washington, D.C. Fans, friends and family members can follow their progress at Scripps through continuous updates at www.canspell.com.

CanWest Global Communications Corp. (NYSE: CWG; TSX: CGS.SV and CGS.NV, www.canwestglobal.com), an international media company, is Canada's largest media company. CanWest is Canada's largest publisher of daily newspapers, and also owns, operates and/or holds substantial interests in conventional television, out-of-home advertising, specialty television channels, web sites and radio stations and networks in Canada, New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Turkey.

Source: CanWest Global Communications Corp.

WHO: From the film - Kuno Becker, Tony Plana, Miriam Colon and

director Danny Cannon

WHAT: The North American Premiere of Touchstone Pictures' GOAL! THE

DREAM BEGINS at The Tribeca Film International Film Festival.

How far would you go to live your dream? When Santiago Munez (KUNO BECKER) is given the chance of a lifetime, he must leave his family, his life in Los Angeles and everything that he knows to travel halfway around the globe to England and into a completely foreign world -- the exciting, fast-paced and glamorous world of international soccer.

As an underprivileged Mexican-American immigrant growing up in the poor section of Los Angeles, Santiago seemed destined to follow his father's path in life: laboring at menial jobs to earn just enough money to support his family. Naturally gifted, his amazing talent on the soccer field was wasted in recreation league games while he could only dream of playing on the world stage of professional soccer. But when a British scout (STEPHEN DILLANE) discovers his talent and gets him a tryout with one of England's premier soccer clubs, Newcastle United, Santiago must choose between his father's fate and his own destiny.

Now alone in a world where soccer is a religion and players are gods, this underdog must prove that he's got the talent and determination to make it amongst the best in the world.

GOAL! THE DREAM BEGINS takes audiences into the electrifying, heart- pounding action of the world's most popular sport and features cameos from the soccer's hottest superstars such as David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane, Raul, and Newcastle captain Alan Shearer.

WHEN: Sunday, April 30, 2006

Press Arrivals: 2:00 PM

Talent Arrivals: 2:30 PM

Screening begins: 3:00 PM

WHERE: Tribeca Performing Arts Center

199 Chambers Street at West Side Highway

New York, NY

GOAL! THE DREAM BEGINS is rated PG -13 and opens May 12, 2006.

Source: Touchstone Pictures

There is no better place in the nation to celebrate Independence Day and revel in America's precious freedoms than Philadelphia. The 14th annual Sunoco Welcome America! Festival will take place from June 27th to July 4th, producing the biggest, most exciting birthday party in the nation.

As the premier destination city for the Independence Day celebration, Philadelphia is a focus of the nation's attention. Dubbed "America's Next Great City" by National Geographic magazine, this year's festival will certainly prove that claim. The Sunoco Welcome America! Festival and the city's world-class patriotic and historic tourism venues, will offer eight days of family-oriented entertainment, highlighting the best in American music, food and fun. From gospel to pop, the city is alive with concerts, street festivals, history lessons, and July 4th perennials -- patriotic parades and spectacular fireworks.

Stars of the Festival

This year the Sunoco Welcome America! Festival has a new executive director, Clifton Davis -- celebrated actor, singer and event producer.

"This is a wonderful opportunity to build on the great work that has made Sunoco Welcome America! one of the world's biggest outdoor festivals, attracting nearly a million people," Davis said. "Being in Philadelphia on July Fourth is like being in New York on New Year's Eve. After 14 years, Sunoco Welcome America! and the City of Philadelphia are poised to add even more flavor, more fun and more entertainment in 2006."

The highlight of the weeklong summer event is the July 4th Sunoco Sweet Sounds of Liberty Concert and Fireworks, featuring R&B powerhouse Lionel Richie, a five time Grammy award winner (All Night Long, Truly, Hello, Endless Love). Ritchie is a former member of the classic R & B group, The Commodores ("Easy like Sunday Morning") and has sold nearly 100 million albums. He will be joined in concert by Fantasia Barrino (winner of the 2004 American Idol competition) and the Philly POPS.

Honoring the sacrifices made to win and preserve our freedom takes on special significance with so many Americans fighting overseas. On Independence Day 2006, the Sons of the Revolution preside over the nation's commemorative ceremony-Let Freedom Ring-recognizing those who protect our freedom.

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, Jr. who will be in Philadelphia to partake in the city's historic celebrations said, "I am looking forward to being in Philadelphia, our nation's birthplace, this July 4th and speaking at the Let Freedom Ring celebration as bells are rung across the nation at 2:00 pm."

An inspirational concert on July 2nd spotlights the legendary Shirley Caesar and contemporary gospel chanteuse Dottie Peoples. Caesar holds numerous Grammy and is known as the First Lady of Gospel.

On July 3rd, Latin music lovers will be dancing in the streets to the rhythms of Puerto Rico and Brazil starring salsa institution El Gran Combo and Brazilian percussionist Xande Cruz.

This year, two new events are being added to the festival roster. A fun-filled Day at the Fair brings an old fashioned carnival to the city; A Taste of Philadelphia is an eclectic and diverse culinary adventure.

July Fourth Favorites

Bringing back old favorites, revelers will be again be treated to the sounds of cool jazz at Arts on the Avenue; stirring renditions from Opera on the Square; Philadelphia's own Peter Nero and the Philly POPS; and Kid's Day. The Southwest Airlines July 4th Parade will be a crowd pleaser again this year with nearly 100 participating groups and featuring members of the world famous Cirque du Soleil. The festival includes three nights of fireworks.

"The Sunoco Welcome America! Festival has been an important part of Philadelphia's Fourth of July celebrations for many years," said Mayor John F. Street. "Under the new leadership of Clifton Davis, I am confident this year's festival will attract a multitude of people, offer world class entertainment and boost our City's and region's economy while celebrating the freedoms and liberties that make our nation great."

Sunoco Inc. has been title sponsor of this freedom festival for the past 12 years.

"As a Philadelphia based company and a long time supporter of the Philadelphia community, Sunoco is again proud to be title sponsor of the city's acclaimed Sunoco Welcome America! festivities," said Jack Drosdick, Chairman and CEO of Sunoco, Inc. "We are excited about seeing Philadelphia at its best during the nation's premier Independence Day event."

Tour Historic Philadelphia

Philadelphia is home to one-of-a-kind American experiences; you can spend an evening with George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, or hear a reading of the entire Declaration of Independence. Independence National Park is the setting for Philadelphia's historic summer attractions, all in the shadow of the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. For the Fourth of July holiday season, there will be no other city in the country where you can find history around every corner.

For the holiday weekend, the popular Philly Overnight Hotel Package will return on June 23rd just in time for summer fun. Available through September 4th at dozens of hotels throughout the region, the package includes two-night accommodations, free hotel parking and a gift upon check-in. The package is available any night of the week and will be bookable at gophila.com beginning in mid-April.

Sunoco Welcome America! 2006. Come party with us this 4th of July.

For more information visit: http://www.americasbirthday.com/

Source: Sunoco Welcome America!

Web site: http://gophila.com/

Web site: http://www.americasbirthday.com/

Streaming video and music distributed across the Internet or directly to a mobile handset is fast becoming a mainstream entertainment delivery vehicle that will generate more than $27 billion in network-derived and content-derived revenue into the US markets by 2011, according to a new market research study from The Insight Research Corporation. Streaming media refers to the transmission of digital audio and video files over an IP network or wireless network in real time or on-demand, while prohibiting users from storing the files locally.

Insight's market analysis study, "Streaming Media, IP TV, and Broadband Transport: Telecommunications Carriers and Entertainment Services 2006-2011," describes the technology and market forces underpinning the network-derived revenues generated from distributing streamed content across the public Internet, content distribution networks, cellular networks, or telco IP networks. The study also estimates the revenue from the various types of content-derived revenues, along with associated advertising revenue. The streaming market is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of nearly 32 percent over the next five years, driven by on-demand audio, on-demand video, as well as the accompanying advertising revenue.

"The US streaming media market has entered a growth phase, meaning it is experiencing realistic and sustainable growth," says Robert Rosenberg, Insight Research president. "The forecasts that we present are conservative and in line with current performance. If, however, per-stream costs drop faster then anticipated, we have quicker acceptance of IPTV, or improvements in 3G delivery take place faster than expected, it could blow the doors off of our forecasts, propelling this industry into explosive growth," Rosenberg continues.

Insight's report examines the following market drivers: licensing issues, broadband Internet access, mass-market demand, and enterprise usage. Forecasts include revenues for the US market by network services, including digital rights management (DRM), encoding, and performance measurement; and by content services, including advertising, music on-demand, Internet radio and video on-demand.

Source: The Insight Research Corporation

Corporation, +1-973-541-9600, pj@insight-corp.com

Web site: http://www.insight-corp.com/reports/IPTV06.asp

Joe Adams, the man who served as the late Ray Charles' manager for more than 45 years, will stop by Columbia College Chicago on Tuesday, April 25th to speak to the Columbia community about his many careers and his longevity in the entertainment industry. The discussion will be held at Columbia's Film Row Cinema, 1104 S. Wabash, 8th Floor from 10 a.m. to noon and is free and open to the public. For further information call 312.344.7418.

In 1959 as Ray Charles was embarking on his first Big Band tour he asked Joe Adams, a friend from his radio days, to join him on tour for a month. Adams said yes, and has been with the Ray Charles organization ever since -- although until this day he says he was never "officially" hired.

Two years prior, Joe had retired from a successful career in radio and television and had recently completed a two-year run on Broadway in "Jamaica" alongside Lena Horne and Ricardo Montalban.

Adams always aspired to be a radio announcer, but knew there was not much possibility for a black man to have a career as a radio announcer at the time. He taught himself the art of public speaking by speaking out loud in vacant lots and later tutored actors preparing for roles at major motion picture studios.

He began his radio career with several Hollywood stations in the mid- 1940s. He received his first on-air opportunity at Santa Monica station KOWL. Within two years he had moved from 15 minutes of airtime a day to a five-and- a-half hour show and the number-one rated deejay show in Los Angeles.

In 1947 he moved into television with his two name-sake shows: "Adams Alley" and "Joe Adams Presents," produced for CBS affiliate station KLAC-TV in Los Angeles. During these early days of television, Adams' two shows were among the most popular shows at the time. His format of using top named stars and musicians made him one of the television pioneers of that era. The musical themes for Joe's two broadcast shows "Take the A Train" and "Smada" (Adams spelled backwards) were recorded by Duke Ellington.

Adams has appeared in more than 26 motion pictures. His two most notable roles were Husky Miller in "Carmen Jones" and as Frank Sinatra's psychiatrist in "The Manchurian Candidate."

"Joe has over four decades of experience in the entertainment industry. His expertise as an arts manager, musician, on-air radio and television personality and Broadway actor is dead-on with what we teach here at Columbia," says Dr. Eric V.A. Winston, Interim Vice President of Institutional Advancement at Columbia College. "I met Joe several years ago and had the pleasure of working with him while at Wilberforce University in Ohio. With Joe's help and support, Ray Charles donated $2 million to Wilberforce to establish two endowments. In May, Columbia will graduate approximately 2,000 students many of whom will seek employment in the entertainment industry. I think having Joe here at this time to give our students a first-person account into this very diverse industry is of great benefit to our students."

As an arts manager in Ray Charles' various organizations, Adams has many roles and responsibilities. As Mr. Charles' business manager he had a reputation as a shrewd negotiator and personally negotiated all of Ray's business deals including his award-winning series of commercials for Pepsi Cola. In his role as Vice President/CEO of RPM International, he oversees the business activities of the parent company as well as Ray Charles Enterprises, which includes the activities of the Ray Charles Orchestra and the Raelettes.

For a brief period after joining the Ray Charles organization, Adams briefly held the position of Executive Vice President of Queen Booking Company, which was once the largest African American owned booking agency in the United States.

In 1958 he was the first African American to receive the "Golden Globe" award for Outstanding New Actor. Adams is the recipient of several awards and honorary degrees. A special educational facility is being built in his and his wife's name at Morehouse College in Atlanta, where a performing arts center is also being built in memory of Ray Charles.

Columbia College Chicago, an urban institution committed to access, opportunity, and excellence in higher education, provides innovative practice and education in the visual, performing, media and communication arts to 11,000 students in more than 90 undergraduate and graduate programs. Founded in 1890 as a communications school for women, Columbia was revisioned in 1963 as a liberal arts college with a "hands-on, minds-on" approach to arts and media education and a progressive social agenda. Under the modern leadership of President Warrick L. Carter, Ph.D., Columbia is aggressively pursuing its mission to bring a richness of vision and a multiplicity of voices to the creation of culture through the diversity of our students and graduates. For further information visit http://www.colum.edu/ .

Source: Columbia College Chicago

Tyler Perry's First Book, Don't Make A Black Woman Take Off Her Earrings, Debuts at #1 on The New York Times Hardcover Nonfiction Bestseller List

Tyler Perry, the ground-breaking and immensely popular playwright, director, producer and performer, has conquered the literary world at #1 on The New York Times hardcover nonfiction bestseller list with his first book, Don't Make A Black Woman Take Off Her Earrings: Madea's Uninhibited Commentaries on Love and Life, published in hardcover by Riverhead Books on April 11, 2006. This blockbuster debut, which will appear on the April 30th New York Times bestseller list, is another example of how he has soared to the top of every facet of entertainment he has entered: from #1 movies (Diary of A Mad Black Woman and Madea's Family Reunion) to multi-million selling DVDs to sold-out national stage tours. Mr. Perry, a true renaissance artist, has proven once again that he is able to communicate his comedic brilliance and words of inspiration to expand his enormous popularity in whatever venue he chooses.

(

Don't Make A Black Woman Take Off Her Earrings is currently the #1 selling nonfiction hardcover title at retail chains and at a number of independent bookstores across the United States and also reached #1 on Amazon.com as well as barnesandnoble.com, with more than 301,000 copies in print after only one week on sale. In addition, the book debuted today as the #1 hardcover nonfiction title on USA Today's Best-Selling Books list.

Tyler Perry said, "I'm really happy for the loyalty and continued support of my fans."

Geoffrey Kloske, Vice President and Publisher, Riverhead Books, commented, "This tremendous market reaction to Tyler Perry's extraordinary new book comes as no surprise. This is a great Riverhead success story and confirms our faith in Tyler's dynamic talents and his ability to connect with his ever-expanding audience on every level."

Mr. Perry shares his wise, endearing, and ferociously funny observations, advice, and beliefs in his book through the voice of his beloved character, Madea Simmons -- the irreverent, sharp-tongued, pistol-packing grandmother at the center of his back-to-back #1 hit movies, Diary of A Mad Black Woman and Madea's Family Reunion, multi-million selling DVDs and sold-out theatrical productions, including Madea Goes to Jail.

Major media appearances accompanied the release of Don't Make A Black Woman Take Off Her Earrings, with Mr. Perry interviewed on ABC-TV's "Good Morning America" and "The View," CBS-TV's "The Early Show" and "The Late Show with David Letterman," The Christian Broadcasting Network's "The 700 Club" (to be aired later this month) as well as PBS' "The Charlie Rose Show," WNYC-FM's "The Leonard Lopate Show" and NPR's "Morning Edition" and "Talk of the Nation." Last week, he also did a 30-market national television satellite tour and a 25-market national radio satellite tour.

Huge crowds of people of all ages have been turning out to see Mr. Perry in person. He recently held phenomenally successful autographing sessions at Barnes & Noble on Fifth Avenue and Hue-Man bookstore in New York City, the Borders bookstore just outside of Washington, D.C., and Wal-Mart in Atlanta. Other appearances include stops in Pittsburgh, Jacksonville and the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota.

Print coverage includes Entertainment Weekly (April 7 issue), Jet magazine (April 10 issue), Essence (May issue), Ebony (May issue) and The Charlotte Observer (April 15 issue), with much more to come.

Sean McDonald, Vice President and Executive Editor, Riverhead Books, was the acquiring editor of Don't Make A Black Woman Take Off Her Earrings.

ABOUT TYLER PERRY:

One of America's most successful young playwrights, Tyler Perry is also a popular director, producer, author and actor, starring in his own productions, including the #1 hit movies Diary of a Mad Black Woman and Madea's Family Reunion.

Within the span of only six years, Tyler Perry went from being homeless "out on the streets" to selling out theaters everywhere. He has accomplished this feat with not only one production, but with seven shows, having successfully toured the nation to standing room only crowds and thus creating a change in the history of urban theater. His most famous character, the gun- toting, wisecracking, brutally honest grandmother, Madea Simmons, has become as recognizable as Redd Foxx's Fred Sanford, Flip Wilson's Geraldine and any number of Eddie Murphy's creations.

Raised in New Orleans in an abusive household, Mr. Perry was inspired by Oprah Winfrey to write a series of letters to himself in 1992 in an effort to undergo a catharsis from his own childhood pain. Those letters would form the basis for his first hit musical, I Know I've Been Changed, a rousing stage play about adult survivors of child abuse. Mr. Perry continues to receive fan mail from people who talk about how seeing that show changed their lives.

In 1998, Bishop T. D. Jakes saw I Know I've Been Changed and tabbed Perry to help with the production of the Woman, Thou Art Loosed stage play -- which Perry helped rewrite, then produced and directed as well as handled everything from make-up to stage-managing and production design. The re-worked Woman, Thou Art Loosed production grossed more than $5 million in just five months, selling out in every major U.S. city and performing to standing room only crowds. In 2000, Bishop Jakes again asked Perry to work on his musical, Behind Closed Doors. Mr. Perry was ultimately nominated for four NAACP Theatre Awards for his production of this show.

Mr. Perry's I Can Do Bad All By Myself opened in the year 2000 to rave reviews and sold-out houses in New York, Chicago, D.C., Memphis, New Orleans and Atlanta. The production only played in five markets, yet grossed $1 million-plus. Perry was nominated for the Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Lead Actor for his role as Madea, becoming the first urban theater actor to be nominated for this prestigious award.

Mr. Perry's second independent but fifth touring project, Diary of a Mad Black Woman, opened to a full house in New Orleans in January 2001 and played to sold-out audiences everywhere. A year later, Madea's Family Reunion, a production in which Mr. Perry once again donned the Madea Simmons personae, began touring the country to sold-out shows. In January 2003, Madea's Class Reunion -- The Class That Had No Class, debuted to more standing room only crowds.

As a result of the success of the outspoken Madea character, Perry branched out further to portray more of life's ups and downs by shining the comedic spotlight on David & Tamela Mann in the 2004-2005 debut and tour of Meet the Browns. This play, not featuring Madea, generated overwhelmingly positive responses to another favorite character, Mr. Leroy Brown. Following the success of Meet the Browns, Perry began touring Madea Goes to Jail last year.

Penguin Group (USA) Inc. is the U.S. member of the internationally renowned Penguin Group. Penguin Group (USA) is one of the leading U.S. adult and children's trade book publishers, owning a wide range of imprints and trademarks, including Berkley Books, Dutton, Frederick Warne, G.P. Putnam's Sons, Grosset & Dunlap, New American Library, Penguin Books, The Penguin Press, Philomel, Plume, Puffin, Riverhead Books and Viking, among others. The Penguin Group (http://www.penguin.com/) is part of Pearson plc, the international media company.

Source: Riverhead Books

Sin Bandera, the two time Latin Grammy-winning band fronted by Leonel Garcia and Noel Schajris makes its North Bay debut this spring at the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts. The band will bring their winning blend of soulful pop melodies to the Center's 1600 seat Ruth Finley Person Theater on May 6 at 8 p.m.

This eclectic pop act stormed up the charts in 2002 with their ballad "Entra En Mi Vida" featured on the Mexican soap opera Cuando Seas Mia. Now, after selling more than one million copies each of their first self-titled album Sin Bandera and second album De Viaje, the award-winning duo is back with their third album Manana. The album includes songs produced by Brian McKnight and Aureo Baquiero and duets with Reggaeton artist Tego Calderon, International artist Laura Pausini, and Multi Grammy award winning Rap artist, Missy Elliot.

Sin Bandera, comprised of Mexican Leonel Garcia and Argentine Noel Schajris, crafts enticingly slick modern pop marked by exquisitely smooth vocals, slow-jam hip-hop beats, and velvety production. The band has collaborated on numerous productions for several artists including Alejandro Fernandez, AB Quintanilla II & Los Kumbia Kings, Franco De Vita, and Presuntos Implicados. They recently received four 2005 Premio Lo Nuestro Awards, as well as two Latin Grammy Awards, a Billboard Award, and an MTV Latin America Video Music Award.

The presentation of Sin Bandera at the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts marks the latest in the Arts Center's outreach efforts aimed at providing meaningful headline entertainment and fine arts performances to the North Bay Latino community. These efforts have resulted in the presentation of several highly successful Latin performances, including the 2005 sold out shows of superstar Mexican artists Pepe Aguilar and Juan Gabriel.

Sin Bandera performs May 6, 2006 at the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts. Tickets ($45, $65, $85) are available at the Box Office, 50 Mark West Springs Road in Santa Rosa, by phone at 707-546-3600 or online at www.wellsfargocenterarts.com.

Print quality artist images available at:

.

Source: Wells Fargo Center for the Arts

Web site: http://www.wellsfargocenterarts.com/

''The Condemned,'' Starring Stone Cold Steve Austin And Vinnie Jones; Film Marks WWE's Second Theatrical Distribution Collaboration With Lionsgate

World Wrestling Entertainment(R) (WWE) has begun pre-production on its third film, "The Condemned," which will be distributed theatrically by Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), the leading independent filmed entertainment studio, it was announced today by Joel Simon, President, WWE Films, and Peter Block, Lionsgate's President of Acquisitions and Co-Productions.

The film will star WWE's Stone Cold Steve Austin and Vinnie Jones ("Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels," "X-Men: The Last Stand") and will be directed by Scott Wiper, who also wrote the screenplay from an original script by Rob and Andrew Hedden. "The Condemned" will commence principal photography on May 15, 2006, on location on the Gold Coast, Australia and at the Warner Roadshow Studios in Australia. Block will oversee the production for Lionsgate, along with Jason Constantine, Vice President, Acquisitions and John Sacchi, Vice President, Production.

The production follows WWE's two previous feature productions, "See No Evil," the horror thriller starring WWE Superstar Kane, which will be released by Lionsgate nationwide on May 19; and "The Marine," which will be released by 20th Century Fox on September 8. "The Condemned" is produced by Simon and executive produced by Vince McMahon, Chairman, World Wrestling Entertainment and Michael Lake. Jed Blaugrund is co-executive producer and Ross Emery ("The Cave") will serve as the director of photography.

"I am passionate about our WWE Films division and am thrilled to announce 'The Condemned' as the third feature film on our slate," said McMahon. "Joel and his team are going into production on an action-packed, adrenaline pumping, psychological thrill ride."

"We're delighted be filming in Australia once again," said Simon. "We always find a wealth of very talented people over there, as well as some extraordinary locations. The settings will add to the look and feel of this high-octane action thriller."

Block added, "Stone Cold Steve Austin, Vinnie Jones and the rest of the cast will blow audiences away. This film has a great story, extreme action and hard core heart. We very much look forward to working with the WWE for the second time to bring the film to moviegoers."

An adrenalin-charged action thriller, "The Condemned" tells the story of Joe Conrad (Stone Cold Steve Austin), who is awaiting the death penalty in a corrupt Central American prison. He is "purchased" by a wealthy television producer and taken to a desolate island where he must fight to the death against nine other condemned killers from all corners of the world, with freedom going to the sole survivor.

About The Cast and Filmmakers

Stone Cold Steve Austin is one of the best-known and most successful wrestlers of all time. As an actor he has appeared in "The Longest Yard" and played Detective Jake Cage in the television series "Nash Bridges."

Vinnie Jones first came to attention with his breakthrough performance in Guy Ritchie's "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels." The former English soccer star most recently completed filming "X-Men: The Last Stand." Other credits include "Swordfish," "Gone In Sixty Seconds" and "Slipstream."

Director/writer Scott Wiper is a graduate of Wesleyan University where his thesis film won the prestigious Frank Capra Prize for Best Student Film. In 1996 he wrote and directed his first feature "Captain Jack" and then in 2000 "A Better Way to Die," which was financed by Newmarket and acquired by Sony Screen Gems and HBO. "A Better Way to Die" has since developed a cult following. Wiper recently wrote two scripts for Warner Bros: "Salvation" for veteran director Walter Hill and Silver Pictures and "Salvaged Lives" for Outlaw Productions. He also penned "Day for Night," based on his original pitch sold to Hyde Park/MGM, with Lion Rock Productions and Vince Newman producing.

About Lionsgate

Lionsgate is the leading independent filmed entertainment studio. Fresh off the number one box office hits "Saw II," "Hostel" and "Madea's Family Reunion" and the Best Picture Academy Award (R) -winning "Crash," Lionsgate is a premier producer and distributor of motion pictures, television programming, home entertainment, family entertainment and video-on-demand content. It has earned 25 Academy Award (R) nominations and seven Oscar (R) wins in the past seven years, more than any other independent studio. Its prestigious and prolific library of more than 5000 titles is a valuable source of recurring revenue and a foundation for the growth of the Company's core businesses. The Lionsgate brand is synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the globe.

About World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.

World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an integrated media and entertainment company headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with offices in New York City, Los Angeles, Toronto and London.

Trademarks: The names of all World Wrestling Entertainment televised and live programming, talent names, images, likenesses, slogans and wrestling moves and all World Wrestling Entertainment logos are trademarks which are the exclusive property of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. All other trademarks, logos and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. (C) 2006 World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved. THE CONDEMNED is a trademark owned by WWE Films. All Rights Reserved.

Big Screen Entertainment Group (OTC:BSEG) proudly announces that the "TheMirrorfilm.com" is up and running.

The website gives visitors a sneak peek into the production of the company's newest project, the murder mystery/thriller, "The Mirror," written and directed by BSEG's President of Production, Stephen Eckelberry. The picture stars Kelly LeBrock ("Weird Science," "Woman in Red"), Thaao Penghlis ("Days of Our Lives", "Mission Impossible"), Erin Cahill (FOX TV's - "Freeride"), Bryan Callen ("Mad TV," "Sex and the City") and Shiloh Strong.

The user-friendly portal provides viewers with an overview of the film, cast photos, recent news stories, the film's trailer, and the documentary "On the set of The Mirror," directed by Lightfield Lewis. Lightfield commented that "the behind-the-scenes short film includes rare, never before seen footage from the silent film era, and dares to ask the burning question on everyone's mind: Who is Johnny Rambova?"

The Mirror is currently in post-production at Big Screen's facilities at Raleigh Studios in Hollywood, California. The film is on schedule to be delivered internationally in July of this year, with a domestic theatrical release in the U.S. at the end of the year.

Michael Manasseri, BSEG's Senior VP stated, "When we brought the trailer of 'The Mirror' to the American Film Market in November of 2005 it garnered more attention from international buyers than any of our other projects. This is why we immediately pushed it into production at the beginning of 2006. Now that the film is completed, we are even more excited about its potential."

David Zappone, President of Business Affairs added, "The Mirror is representative of Big Screen's business model for making movies - the film was shot on an efficient, responsible budget, i.e., no excessive filmmaker salaries or unnecessary perks, allowing for the highest potential return on investment dollars. All of the money is up on the screen, allowing for maximum production value. Our director shot no less than 35 camera set-ups a day and the cast and crew worked in a cooperative, enthusiastic manner."

In finance news, BSEG's CEO Kimberley Kates has completed negotiations with a private equity film fund that will be backing future Big Screen projects. "I am happy to say that Big Screen's next film is fully funded and ready to go. As 'The Mirror' takes flight in July of this year we will begin prepping our next motion picture."

ABOUT THE COMPANY:

Big Screen Entertainment Group (BSEG) is a full service entertainment company designed to develop, produce, purchase, exhibit and distribute products in all media formats, including motion pictures, television, music and publishing.

Our mission is to become leaders in the independent film and television industry, developing, producing and distributing commercially viable, high quality entertainment products that will provide short term return on capital and long term residual income to our investors and partners.

Forward-Looking Statements:

A number of statements contained in this press release are forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including timely development, and market acceptance of products and technologies, competitive market conditions, successful integration of acquisitions and the ability to secure additional sources of financing. When used in this press release, words such as "could," "plan," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "potential," "should," and similar expressions are forward-looking statements

Big Screen Entertainment Group

Summer Release for New Petty Solo CD; Peter Bogdanovich to Direct Heartbreakers' Feature Film/Documentary

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers will embark on their 2006 North American "Highway Companions Tour" on June 9 in Charlotte, N.C. The band will be joined along the way by an exciting list of friends and guests that will include a series of very special shows with Pearl Jam, some shows with special guest Trey Anastasio, and others with the Allman Brothers Band. Expect further announcements soon of additional special guests and opening acts who will be on selected dates.

As part of their summer tour, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers -- Petty/vocals, guitars; Mike Campbell/guitars; Benmont Tench/keyboards; Ron Blair/bass; Scott Thurston/guitars, harmonica, backing vocals; and Steve Ferrone/drums -- will headline the Bonnaroo Festival on Friday, June 16, and the Austin City Limits Festival on Sunday, September 17.

Petty is putting the finishing touches on his third solo album, "Highway Companion," which is produced by Jeff Lynne with Tom Petty and Mike Campbell, and will be released this summer.

Academy Award-winning director/screenwriter Peter Bogdanovich ("The Last Picture Show," "Paper Moon," "Mask") has started working on a comprehensive feature film/documentary about the band's three-decades-long history. Given unparalleled access to the band, Bogdanovich will intertwine vintage interviews, videos and live performances with special footage that he began shooting late last year. "We shot New Year's Eve at Mike Campbell's house," said Bogdanovich. "We've gone into the studio with Tom while he did voice-overs for his `King of The Hill' role; recorded his XM Satellite radio show; we'll be there when he headlines Bonnaroo; and we've already started to conduct new interviews with Tom, the band, with long-time associates, journalists, and other people who have played a role during the past thirty years.

"I want to tell this very American story about a small family of musicians who jumped in a car, left Gainesville and drove cross-country to get into the record business," explained Bogdanovich. "How they did it, what happened to them as a result, how this affected their families and friends, and the impact their music has had on the music industry and on millions of people's lives. We'll take you through it all, the early Shelter Records days, touring with Bob Dylan, the Grammys and other awards, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, working with Johnny Cash in the recording studio, and the Traveling Wilburys." No title or release information has been set.

Last summer's Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers' tour proved to be one of the band's most successful in their long career. Without a new CD to promote, they played to sell-out crowds totaling more than 750,000 fans; Rolling Stone's glowing article on the success of the tour prompted the headline "Tom Petty Rules the Road," and Joel Selvin of the San Francisco Chronicle declared, "Tom Petty is rock aristocracy."

Over the past thirty years, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers have sold more than 50 million records and been nominated for 16 Grammy Awards. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002, the first year they were eligible, and this past December, Green Day's Billy Joe Armstrong presented Petty with the Billboard Century Award at the Billboard Music Awards saying, "If you're going to come up and thank god, thank god for Tom Petty." In this 2006 season, Petty reprises his ongoing role as "Lucky" on the long-running Fox animated TV series "King of the Hill," and he is in the middle of the second season of his critically acclaimed XM Satellite Radio Show, "Tom Petty's Buried Treasure."

The confirmed first leg is below; dates for leg two (July/August with the Allman Brothers Band) and leg three (September/October) will be announced shortly. -0-

JUNE

9 Verizon Amphitheatre, Charlotte, N.C. (w/ Trey Anastasio)

10 Nissan Pavilion, Bristow, VA (w/ Trey Anastasio)

12 Harbor Center, Portsmouth, VA (w/ Trey Anastasio)

14 Polaris Amphitheatre, Columbus, OH (w/ Trey Anastasio)

16 Bonnaroo Festival, Manchester, TN

17 UMB Bank Pavilion, Louis, MO (w/ Trey Anastasio)

20 Madison Square Garden, New York, NY (w/ Trey Anastasio)

21 Tweeter Center, Mansfield, MA (w/ Trey Anastasio)

23 Verizon Amphitheatre, Indianapolis, IN (w/ Trey Anastasio)

26-27 Xcel Center, St. Paul, MN (w/ Pearl Jam)

29-30 Marcus Amphitheatre, Summerfest, Milwaukee, WI (w/ Pearl Jam)

JULY

2-3 Pepsi Center, Denver, CO (with Pearl Jam)

BREAK

Featuring Stylish Remake of Classic Sister Sledge Hit ``We Are Family''; Jerkins Reunites Sister Sledge 20 Years After Last Recording Rodney Jerkins:

-- With Special Guest Performances by Patti Labelle, George Clinton, Ciara, Christina Milian, Chris Brown, Lyfe Jennings, Mary Mary and Ray J, among Others

-- "We Are Family" Single to Be Released to Radio Third Week of June ; CD to Be Released on August 29 Coinciding With the Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina

Grammy-nominated mega producer Rodney Jerkins is currently in the studio completing final mixes on his All-Star Katrina benefit project, featuring a stylish remake of the classic Sister Sledge hit "We Are Family," with the original "reunited" members of Sister Sledge performing together for the first time in 20 years, alongside such star power as Patti LaBelle, George Clinton, Ciara, Christina Milian, Chris Brown, Lyfe Jennings, Mary, Mary and Ray J, among others.

The "We Are Family" single, which will be released to radio the third week of June, will be included in a full-length CD (title TBA), released on August 29, to coincide with the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. The CD, which will include music recorded by various artists (to be announced), will be distributed by Universal Music Group worldwide this fall.

Proceeds from the single and full-length CD, which will be released to radio and retail, will benefit victims of the Hurricane Katrina disaster, through project partners including "Points Of Light Foundation" (http://www.polf.org), "Communities In Schools" (http://www.cisnet.org) and the "U.S. Dream Academy."

"My `family' in the music business -- my friends -- are excited to be a part of the `We Are Family' CD and DVD to raise funds and awareness for the displaced families still affected by Hurricane Katrina," says Jerkins. "I am honored to lend my creative talents to help the volunteers who provide the social and human services needed on a daily basis to help these families make it day-to-day. They are heroes in action."

"Points Of Light," the nation's foremost advocate and bi-partisan voice on volunteerism and community service, and its affiliates, represent more than 150,000 permanent volunteers in the region working directly with the displaced families of Hurricane Katrina. Funds from the proceeds of the sale of the "We Are Family" project will go to the assistance of volunteer agencies focusing on human and social services. This is the only relief project with a focus on volunteerism.

Says Executive Producer of the project, Sherman Brown: "There is no other Hurricane Katrina relief recording with the public-private partnership reflected by this effort. It is our hope to create the model that will deliver the media, funding, partnership and innovation needed to aid the vulnerable, disenfranchised and displaced. We cannot `parachute' aid into these communities and expect life to return to normalcy. Rather, we must empower those who are permanently `on the ground' and on the front lines with the resources needed to complete the task at hand. With this CD and DVD, we hope to be a major catalyst in making this happen."

Corporate partners of the "We Are Family" project include Clear Channel, Wal-Mart and UPS Foundation.

Rodney Jerkins is widely renowned as one of the greatest music producers of the last two decades at the mere age of 28. He is on an exclusive "go to" list of producers that platinum-selling artists such as Shakira, Madonna, Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Lopez, Alicia Keys and Patti LaBelle seek out when they want a major hit. His work has generated in excess of 140 million in sales to date. For more information on Rodney Jerkins, please visit http://www.darkchild.com.

being held at Nashville's Regal 16 Cinemas, located in Green Hills, TN. This year the Festival will showcase over 250 films coming from 37 countries from around the world. COME EARLY MORNING, starring Ashley Judd, will be this year's opening night film, and closing out the Festival is, Aurora Borealis, directed by James Burke, starring Joshua Jackson and Juliette Lewis. NaFF will once again be the host to many ground-breaking films, celebrities, numerous industry-related panels/workshops, filmmaker awards, Opening and Closing Galas, live entertainment and many more festivities throughout the week.

COME EARLY MORNING - Opening Night

Ashley Judd gives one of her very best performances as hard-working, self-destructive Lucy (Ashley Judd), a southern small-town woman struggling with a personal life that has been reduced to a spiral of drunken one-night stands. The film is the directorial debut of actress Joey Lauren Adams (Chasing Amy). Former Nashville publisher/composer Alan Brewer of BME/Brewman Entertainment provided the music for the film.

In Attendance: Joey Lauren Adams

The celebration continues at 9:00pm when you will join our guests on the rooftop at BMI for the Gala Party. Tickets are $75 per person/$125 per couple for the film and party. (In case of inclement weather the party will take place in the BMI lobby.)

TO TULSA AND BACK: ON TOUR WITH JJ CALE

North American Premiere of the first-time-ever documentary on JJ Cale, the legendary Tulsa musician and songwriter who wrote two of Eric Clapton's biggest hits "After Midnight" and "Cocaine." The film takes a trek across America with his band as well as a personally guided tour of his life and times. Directed by Jorg Bundschu.

In Attendance: Jorg Bundschu

AURORA BOREALIS - Closing Night

Joshua Jackson, Juliette Lewis, Donald Sutherland and Louise Fletcher star in this tender comedy-drama about bright, charming yet irresponsible Duncan (Jackson) whose need to care for his ailing grandfather (Sutherland) leads him to a brighter future--a future greatly helped by falling in love with his grandfather's nurse (Lewis). Directed by James Burke.

In Attendance: Joshua Jackson, James Burke, producer Scott Disharoon

The closing celebration will be held at La Paz Restaurant at 9:15pm following the last showing of the film. Tickets are on sale for $50 for both the film and party. Tickets are limited! Advance purchase recommended.

Nashville Film Festival is a non-profit 501(c) corporation and receives funding from National Endowment for the Arts, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Tennessee Arts Commission, Nashville Metro Arts Commission, Ragsdale Family Foundation, Target Stores, The Frist Foundation, The Cal Turner Family Foundation, The Memorial Foundation and its generous patrons and sponsors.

Funrise Recaptures the Craze with a POG Tournament at Toy Boat * Toy Boat * Toy Boat at Fashion Island in Newport Beach This Weekend

Funrise kicks off the newest POG craze with a POG Tournament for the kids in Orange County to show off their SLAMMIN' POG skills!

On April 22nd, at 1 pm, kids of all ages are invited to Toy Boat * Toy Boat * Toy Boat, at Fashion Island in Newport Beach, for a chance to be named the POG Champ! Kids can sign up at any Toy Boat location or the day of the event. But the games begin at 1 pm, so don't be late!

The game is simple -- stack the POG, slam the stack with your SLAMMER, and keep the ones that flip over. Restack the remaining POG and the next person takes their turn with the SLAMMER. The person with the most POG when the stack is gone wins! Players must win two out of three games to move on to the next round.

The tournament winner will receive a true POG collectible -- a sheet of new UNCUT NHL POG! Kids will also have opportunities to win POG t-shirts throughout the tournament.

No purchase necessary to participate. POG is available at all Toy Boat * Toy Boat * Toy Boat locations. Visit http://www.officialpog.com for more tournament details.

About POG

In 2006, Funrise reintroduces POG, the 90s collectible trend that swept the nation, but with a 21st century twist.

POG dates back to the 1930s on the Island of Maui, where a group of Dairy employees played games with milk caps to fill their time between shifts. In 1991, Blossom Galbiso, a 5th grade elementary school teacher at Waialua Elementary in Oahu, reintroduced POG, using the milk caps from the Haleakala Dairy (Maui) that produced Passion Fruit - Orange - Guava juice, which is how it got the name. Over two billion POG were sold in the first 18 months in Hawaii alone, and the POG craze quickly spread to the mainland. In its second year POG reached $150 million in sales in the U.S.

About Funrise

Founded in 1987, Funrise is an adventurous innovator of superior toys and an industry leader in the manufacturing and distribution of the most popular children's toys. Simply put....we create fun! Funrise's core property portfolio includes Gazillion Bubbles(R), Nylint(R), Dr Dreadful(TM), Head Bangers(TM), Battlin' Bass(TM), ZOOOOS(TM), Home Arcade(TM) and leading licensed power brands such as Tonka(R), Disney(C), Scooby-Doo(C), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and more, making our product offerings diverse and full of fun for kids of all ages! Funrise has offices in Woodland Hills, CA, Hong Kong, United Kingdom, and France with additional showrooms in New York City and Bentonville, AK. The company is operated by its founder, Arnie Rubin, who also serves as Chairman of the Toy Industry Association (T.I.A.). Funrise's success results from its commitment to quality manufacturing, progressive marketing and a values-based corporate culture.

(C) 2005 POG Unlimited and Global POG Association are trademarks of POG Unlimited

SIRIUS Satellite Radio will broadcast an exclusive new interview with Bruce Springsteen this Sunday, April 23.

Springsteen will discuss his forthcoming album We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions on the weekly SIRIUS program Kick Out the Jams with Dave Marsh on Sunday, April 23, starting at 10 am ET on SIRIUS Stars channel 102. It will also be broadcast on Monday, April 24 at 1 pm and 7 pm ET, and on Tuesday, April 25 at 1 pm ET, on channel 18, The Spectrum.

Springsteen's new album features his personal interpretations of 13 traditional songs associated with folk artist Pete Seeger, and will be released by Columbia Records on Tuesday, April 25. The album's extensive liner notes were written by Marsh, and can be viewed at http://www.brucespringsteen.net/ .

Marsh is the author of three definitive books on Springsteen and his work. He previously interviewed Springsteen for an exclusive SIRIUS broadcast that aired in November 2005, when SIRIUS devoted a commercial-free music channel to the music of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the release of Springsteen's album Born To Run. E Street Radio, which also featured conversations with E Street Band members and others associated with Springsteen throughout his career, was created and broadcast exclusively by SIRIUS from November 1, 2005 through January 31, 2006.

A US tour has been confirmed for Bruce Springsteen with The Seeger Sessions Band. Following the band's initial US date in New Orleans on April 30 and a series of ten concerts in Europe, the US tour resumes with a series of 18 shows kicking off in Boston on May 27 and finishing in New Jersey on June 25. Each night, an all new evening of gospel, folk, and blues will be presented by Springsteen with the 17-member Seeger Sessions Band.

For more information, visit http://www.sirius.com/ .

About SIRIUS

SIRIUS delivers more than 125 channels of the best programming in all of radio. SIRIUS is the original and only home of 100% commercial free music channels in satellite radio, offering 67 music channels available nationwide. SIRIUS also delivers 61 channels of sports, news, talk, entertainment, traffic, weather and data. SIRIUS is the Official Satellite Radio Partner of the NFL, NBA and NHL and broadcasts live play-by-play games of the NFL, NBA and NHL. All SIRIUS programming is available for a monthly subscription fee of only $12.95.

SIRIUS products for the car, truck, home, RV and boat are available in more than 25,000 retail locations, including Best Buy, Circuit City, Crutchfield, Costco, Target, Wal-Mart, Sam's Club, RadioShack and at http://www.shop.sirius.com/ .

SIRIUS radios are offered in vehicles from Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, Infiniti, Jaguar, Jeep(R), Land Rover, Lexus, Lincoln-Mercury, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, MINI, Nissan, Scion, Toyota, Porsche, Volkswagen and Volvo. Hertz also offers SIRIUS in its rental cars at major locations around the country.

Click on http://www.sirius.com/ to listen to SIRIUS live, or to purchase a SIRIUS radio and subscription.

Any statements that express, or involve discussions as to, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance with respect to SIRIUS Satellite Radio Inc. are not historical facts and may be forward-looking and, accordingly, such statements involve estimates, assumptions and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Accordingly, any such statements are qualified in their entirety by reference to the factors discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Among the key factors that have a direct bearing on our operational results are: our dependence upon third parties, including manufacturers of SIRIUS radios, retailers, automakers and programming partners, our competitive position and any events which affect the useful life of our satellites.

Source: SIRIUS Satellite Radio

CONTACT: Elise Brown, of SIRIUS, +1-212-584-5290,

Symposium to Address Consumers' Growing Control of Digital Entertainment

Eleven Seven Partners, a media and entertainment marketing and producing company, today announced an impressive roster of leadership participants for its first Mobile Entertainment Symposium. The unprecedented event, "Blowing Up Sound: Emerging Technology, Consumers and Choice - Crafting the New Marketing Model," to be held Tuesday, May 9th, 2006, at the Grand Hyatt in New York, is attracting panelists and speakers from the leading companies in audio technologies, digital media, marketing and mobile entertainment.

Omnicom Vice Chairman, Tim Love, leads the cast of diverse panelists and speakers and will speak about the most evolutionary time in mobile entertainment. Companies with representatives confirmed to participate to date include: Arbitron, AccuRadio, Audible.com, General Mills, iBiquity, Interep, Napster, Net Radio Sales, Norstar Media Entertainment, Podbridge, Vibes.com, XM Satellite Radio, and Zenith Media. The afternoon speaker is Andy Cohen, Founder of Exposed Brick, a marketing consultancy firm specializing in interactive brand advertising strategies.

The symposium will explore the world of emerging audio technologies and will highlight growing consumer control of audio entertainment and its impact on traditional marketing models. The day-long event will feature panels of leading experts in audio technology, marketing executives, consumer research visionaries and financial analysts and will be relevant to any professional working in the fields of marketing, advertising, radio, audio technologies, as well as investors in the media, telecom and entertainment sectors.

Interep, a sales and marketing company specializing in Radio, the Internet, Hispanic Television and complementary services, and Bank of America's Media, Telecommunications & Technology Equity Research Team, are the co-sponsors for the event. Bank of America's top-ranked "All American Institutional Investors Research Analysts" teams slated to moderate the day's event:

-- Keith Bachman (Enterprise Hardware)

-- Jonathan A. Jacoby (Radio & TV Broadcasting)

-- Tim Long (Data Networking & Wireline Equipment, Wireless Equipment)

-- Douglas Shapiro (Cable & Satellite TV, Entertainment)

On-line registration and an agenda for the event are available at http://www.audiosymposium.com/. For more information about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Victor Lirio at 212-309-9031 or victor@elevensevenpartners.com.

ABOUT ELEVEN SEVEN PARTNERS

Eleven Seven Partners, LLC, ("Eleven Seven") is a media and entertainment marketing and producing company that presents multi-media conferences and theatrical events. Founded by Victor Lirio, it has conceived, produced and directed several media conferences such as Interep's annual Radio Symposium with keynotes and panelists from leading broadcasting, research, investment banking and advertising companies including Arbitron, Bank of America, Bear Stearns, CBS Radio, Clear Channel, Cumulus, Deutsche Bank, Emmis Broadcasting, iBiquity, ICBC Broadcast Holdings, Omnicom, Radio One, Spanish Broadcasting System and Westwood One. In addition, it has produced Interep's Power of Urban Radio, Power of Hispanic Radio and the "National Radio & Repping" conferences. Eleven Seven also presented the critically acclaimed debut of Tony Award(R) winner Lea Salonga at Carnegie Hall. For more information, please visit http://www.elevensevenpartners.com/.

ABOUT BANK OF AMERICA

Bank of America is one of the world's leading financial services companies. The company's Global Corporate & Investment Banking group (GCIB) provides investment banking, equity and debt capital raising, research, trading, risk management, treasury management and financial advisory services. Through offices in more than 30 countries, GCIB serves domestic and international corporations, institutional investors, financial institutions and government entities. Many of the bank's services to corporate and institutional clients are provided through its U.S. and UK subsidiaries, Banc of America Securities LLC and Banc of America Securities Limited. For additional information, visit http://www.bankofamerica.com/.

ABOUT INTEREP

Interep (IREP.PK) is the nation's largest independent advertising sales and marketing company specializing in radio, the Internet, television and complementary media, with offices in 17 cities. Interep is the parent company to the following radio representation firms: ABC Radio Sales, D&R Radio, CBS Radio Sales, McGavren Guild Radio, SBS/Interep and Susquehanna Radio Sales. Interep is also parent to Azteca America Spot Television Sales and Interep Interactive, including Winstar Interactive, the place for Internet brands. Interep divisions benefiting our clients and customers include our "unwired" Network Division; Interep Innovations, our business development divi