Koenigsegg CCX, World’s Fastest Production Car Unveiled at Exotic Cars at Caesars Palace, Its First and Sole Exclusive Dealer in the U.S.

Koenigsegg, the world’s fastest production car was unveiled as led by the Pretorian guard of Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas last night.

In May, earlier this year, in front of a worldwide audience of 250 million, the Koenigsegg CCX broke the world’s record and became the Guiness Book of World Records world’s fastest production car ever. This Super Car accelerates 0-60 mph in a light blazing 3.1 seconds at an estimated top speed of almost 260 mph. The 806 HP, 2,200 pound carbon fibre Super Car runs the standing quarter mile in just 9 seconds at 146 mph.

A dream of Christian von Koenigsegg, whose modified family coat of arms adorns as emblem each Super Car, is produced by Koenigsegg Automotive AB of Sweden. Although of Swedish origin, its many parts are international in nature and assembled to their specifications, as are many.

The Koenigsegg, a race car designed for a select elite of enthusiasts, is available in two models currently, the CC8S and the 80g hp CCR, which still holds the Guiness World Record for the fastest and most powerful street car. It’s available in 10 colors an options such as Chromemolubdenium race uprights, Titanium Brake Disc Bells and rearview cameras.

Guests arrived from various parts of the United States, many which ventured specifically to view the unveiling after seeing the Koenigsegg CCS on the Speed Channel. VIP guests and media enjoyed the ambiance of other exotics such as Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Bentleys available at Exotic Cars at Caesar’s Palace, as they neared the secluded showing area.

Richard Weisman, innovator, founder and CEO of Exotic Cars at Caesar’s Palace, was proud to announce they were chosen as the sole dealership in the United States. Weisman urged guests to place their order soon so they may obtain delivery earlier in the year than later as only 15-20 cars would be delivered in the U.S. in 2007.

Justin Bell, 2^nd generation world champion race car driver, sees the Koenigsegg as “owning something realloy unique that very few people get a chance to own”. After all, what wealthy person “doesn’t want to see someone else coming down the street driving his(her) car.” Bell will be giving qualified guests and media a one lap demo and then a test drive today and tomorrow at the Las Vegas Speedway.

The Koenigsegg, was escorted behind a closed door by the Pretorian Guard to lights down and spot lights as it arrived on the red carpet. The flicker of flash bulbs caught its image just before the lights were raised and the guests began examining every detail of the newest Super Car. The only thing missing was a magnifying glass.

Will the Koenigsegg, become just another collector’s item kept within spotless garages or on display at museums and shows or will it become the next must have Super Car for the elite? Time will tell, or is the next DeLorean or Vector?

Written by Joyce Chow, Pictures by William Hoehne (C) MBN 2006

Posted by ladymountbatten at 11:52 PM | Permalink

MAGIC SPRING LINE FASHION LINE PICTURES

PICTURES FROM MAGIC SWIMSUIT FASHION SHOW

Redback Boots Rescue Me

Ed Hardy Expands to Introduce Watches at PROJECT in Las Vegas

Ed Hardy designs introduced Ed Hardy Watches at the Project in Las Vegas earlier today. Project is the upscale edgier side of MAGIC, which prides itself as having the most qualified buyers and the most crossover opportunities in fashion than any other single event in the fashion industry.

You’re probably familiar with the distinctive image as you’ve seen it grace the pages of magazines, tv and movies. Don Ed Hardy, whose name the brand bears, is known as “the godfather of modern tattoo” has developed a distinctive style which they refer to as vintage tattoo wear.

Creative genius Christian Audigier’s vision, has taken Ed Hardy designs and the art of tattoo to an enviable realm as one of the hottest brands fashioned by celebrities.

Alex Dupuis, COO of Ed Hardy Watches has been anxiously waiting for samples to arrive just before their introduction at the show. The extensive introduction of 30 watches is an enviable start into broadening a product line by any company. Dupuis was proud to announce that “it is the first time you’re going to see metal color in watches.”

In describing the spirit of Ed Hardy design, Dupuis reflects that it is “colorful, rebellious, classic and timeless.” The watches encompass this spirit in totality. Each time I’ve reflected, I’ve tried to understand how they can do this, and have resolved that is just creative brilliance.  The various series names lend a clue with names such as Biker with silver designed bracelet and cover moving to reveal a colorful face, Gladiator, Koolsteel with colored metal, Temptress, Lovechild, Lynx and Nightstalker, which reads a digital red perfect for the nightclub scene.

If you want to see and feel it in person, you’ll see it soon at many retail locations for the holidays. Which watches, which stores, you ask, stay tuned to the Ed Hardy website, If you want to see and feel it in person, you’ll see it soon at many retail locations for the holidays. Which watches, which stores, you ask, stay tuned to the Ed Hardy website, www.donedhardy.com. The watches are priced for the masses at an unbelievable retail of $140-$225.

The toughest choice, choosing just one Ed Hardy watch. I for one, could easily choose at least 6 of them. You too will agree after you view the collection.

MAGIC, PROJECT, and POOL FASHION FINDS

MAGIC, with more qualifed buyers and brands than any other single event in the fashion industry, brings buyers and sellers from around the globe to Las Vegas. PROJECT and POOL are complimentary shows being held at the nearby Sands Convention Center and the Mandalay Convention Center.

After 3 days of near overwhelm walking the hundreds of thousands of feet on the floors of MAGIC, Project and Pool, I thank my Redback Boots, www.redbackboots, for keeping a spring in my step. Being able to go the distance, we were able to make it to the 3 trade shows add to that a test drive of the Koenigsegg CCX, the world’s fastest production car at the Las Vegas Speedway. Following are some favorites discovered that stand out from the crowd.

At MAGIC we discovered Dollhouse, www.dollhouse.com, who considers themselves a lifestyle brand as "you are beautiful...but I'm hot." Just ask cover model Joanna Krupa, who we’ve met and consider an excellent choice to represent their brand. They're expanding and becoming much more than blue jeans and rock 'n roll. Baby Phat, www.babyphat.com, and the Phat Farm, www.phatfarm.com, once again illustrates their popularity with Rushmobile’s, www.rushmobile.com, limited edition Motorola cell phones, a novel idea for a clothing company. Sergio Guttierez, www.lmcollection.com, with his liquid metal mesh jewelry to incorporating them in jeans through entire dresses, brings reminders of The Lord of the Rings. Nippies, www.bristols6.com, gives you the freedom to wear what you like without showing more than you want or being just plain fashionable. Debbie Brooks, www.debbiebrooks.com, expands her art and whimsy traditionally seen in Oscar and Tony gift bags, to laptop cases that look like totes. UNO Industries, www.unoindustries.com, with architect Luis Ponce, introduced their interactive magnetic jewelry previously only available at the Museum of Modern Art.

POOL, the younger side of fashion and a land of t-shirts galore, found highlights in Tundrafoot, www.tundrafoot.com, as light as a feather with positive fun graphics. Blue Sage, www.bsageclothing.com, changing impressions with refinement to t-shirts inspired by their pet Remy Martin. Stagr, www.stagr.com, showcased easy to personalize t-shirts with changing graphics on their website. Black Label Record Wallets, www.blacklabelrecordwallets.com, which just as it's name suggests, are classic rock 'n roll wallets made from records.

PROJECT, is the upscale edgier side of fashion. Busiest by far of any booth at all of the trade shows, Ed Hardy, www.donedhardy.com, showcased expanded product lines with their new introduction of watches so stunning you’ll have a difficult time determing which six you want to own. Ed Hardy also introduced belts and lingerie. Al Beres’ designs for the who’s who of Hollywood are now available in a mass market price for his next generation in Washed Up Hollywood, www.washeduphollywood.com. If you’re wondering where all the retailers get their fabulous bags made that you save and save, look no further than RTR Packaging, www.rtrbag.com.

V-MODA INTRODUCES MODAPHONES "HEARWEAR" COLLECTION TO THE FASHION WORLD

Fashionable Hsearwear Garners Buzz As the New "It" Item in the Accessory Category

who :::

V-MODA, the Hollywood based music lifestyle brand that owes its allure to the fusion of fashion and function, debuts the newest accessory to hit the market: "Hearwear." The colorful line of Remix, Bass Freq, and Vibe modaphones revolutionize the fashion industry by fusing advanced technology and individual fashion statements.

what :::

The first company to introduce full colored headsets to marketplace with both colored headphones and cables, V-MODA not only catches the eye with its vibrant colors but also produces unparalled bass levels and studio quality sound.

V-MODA will also unveil their new fashion line, which is geared towards individuals who embrace the D.J. lifestyle. Lead designer, Joseph Bucknall, has converged current fashion trends with classic elements of the underground music culture creating an appeal to the fashion conscious and the music faithful.

In the spirit of the V-MODA music lifestyle, female DJ Yvonne Black will be performing V-MODA musique's first ensemble "127 BPM". Embodying every ingredient of the V-MODA brand, Yvonne, blends the perfect amount of style, fashion, and sexiness into her amazing sets of electro house.

The inspiration behind V-MODA is CEO and founder Val Kolton, who poured his energies into the first "musique" compilation and the entire breadth of the V-MODA product lines. His passion for the DJ music culture and high-end fashion are present in every product introduced at MAGIC. Please stop by the booth to experience the life that is V-MODA and to be the first to hear the new CD and see new products before their international release later this year.

where :::

MAGIC
Las Vegas Convention Center
Booth # ST33630

when :::

August 28 – 31
8 a.m. – 6:30 p.m

BIGGIE SLIM, INC INTRODUCES THE FIRST CLOTHING LINE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR HARD TO FIT KIDS
Chicago based company aims to improve the self esteem of overweight kids

This season at MAGICKids in Las Vegas, Biggie Slim Children’s Clothing will launch the first line of clothing that fills the gap between children’s Huskies and men’s Big & Tall/women’s Plus Size. In the Fall of 2003, Shelia Blockson, President of Biggie Slim, Inc., took the first steps to turn a lingering idea into a reality. After many years of frustration while shopping for her son that is overweight, she decided to develop the Biggie Slim line. “For the past 13 years, I have been challenged by the lack of clothing options available for my son. After being born overweight, he quickly grew into men’s sizes. At the age of 9 he had a 38 inch waist, but his inseam was only 19 inches. Because he was not the height of an adult male, we would have to alter all of his clothing. The pants would have to be cut as far up as the knee, which resulted in a very wide pant bottom. Often these usual alterations made for unattractive fits, causing my son much embarrassment, adding to the emotional strain he already endured due to his weight challenges,” says Ms. Blockson. “After many fitting room conversations with other parents facing the same challenges, I knew something must be done.”

Ms. Blockson, a real estate executive, assembled a team of apparel industry professionals who worked with her to develop the line. Through a partnership with the Boys and Girls Club of Chicago, her team measured over 80 children that fall within the Biggie Slim target size. These measurements were used to develop the Biggie Slim Size Scale.

“Our partnership with the Boys and Girls Club reinforced our belief that our product is needed in the market place,” says Blockson. “Many parents were very excited about the idea of a fashionable clothing line that will fit their child properly, helping the child to feel good about their appearance. We also received valuable feedback from the children about what they look for in a brand.” This August, Biggie Slim and The Boys and Girls Club of Chicago will partner for the Chicago launch of the collection.

“Biggie Slim” the boy’s collection and “Slim Couture” the girls collection are for children ages 7-18. The pricing range is from $7.50 - $35.00 wholesale, $18 - $88 retail.

web: http://www.biggieslim.com

Miskeen Originals, pioneer of hand-painted fashion stands for continuous renewal of style, top skills and above all thinking without the box. But Miskeen featuring famous Boston artist Josh Wisdumb, who is in Japan better known as “the icicle man”, literally turns all creativity upside down. The result: a funky, arty, urban collection. The Wisdumb line can be recognized by the inverted Miskeen logo and is fully based on Josh Wisdumb’s artwork.

Josh Spivack, publicly known as Wisdumb, defined his self proclaimed signature style as Face-ism. He explains "I see discombobulated faces in abstract places. My mind is extremely fast paced and my line of work is very similar to the way that I perceive the world around me." In 2004 Wisdumb collaborated with the New Balance Corporation. The 14,000 pairs of his shoe he designed sold out in a span of 2 days.

Wisdumb and Miskeen were impressed by each others artwork and surprised by the common philosophy that art is life and life is art. Miskeen Originals will produce two Wisdumb collections a year. And so the fusion of art and fashion goes on.

Ed Foy, Jr., the CEO of eFashionSolutions, is the company behind the hottest celebrity, luxury and designer fashion brands ONLINE and the engine behind the brand new one-stop BillboardFashion.com. For one-on-one interviews with the "web-King" of the hottest brands...demographics on customers, product launches, how celebs get started, plus size craze, what is hot, what has stalled, what is new for season...visit the eFashionSolutions booth (behind the Fashion Runway at MAGIC) or contact me to schedule a time. www.efashionsolutions.com

The brands operated online by eFashionSolutions include the one-stop shop at BillboardFashion.com and direct sites including:

HouseofDereon.com by Beyonce

Rocawear.com by JayZ

Applebottoms.com by Nelly

PhatFarm.com by Russell Simmons

BabyPhat.com by Kimora Lee Simmons

ShopJlo.com by Jennifer Lopez

CatchaFireClothing.com by Cedella Marley

ShopElvis.com by Elvis Presley Enterprises

OrangeCountyChoppers.com by Motorcycle Duo

DKNY.com by Donna Karan

JudithLeiber.com by Judith Leiber

Rafe.com -- Luxury Designer Handbags

ABSStyle.com by Allen Schwartz

FUNKY UNIQUE CLOTHING

NEW LINE AT THE MAGIC MARKETPLACE

LAS VEGAS, AUGUST 8, 2006 – A NEW LINE OF JEWELRY AND CLOTHING WILL BE SHOWN FOR THE FIRST TIME BY FUNKY UNIQUE CLOTHING AT THE AUGUST 2006 MAGIC SHOW. THE SHOW TAKES PLACE AUGUST 28 – 31, 2006 AT THE LAS VEGAS CONVENTION CENTER.

THE EXIBIT INCLUDES AN ANTIQUE STERLING SILVER PIRATE CROSS,

T-SHIRTS AND A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT ACCESSORIES. FUNKY UNIQUE CLOTHING WILL BE EXHIBITING IN BOOTH #16516 IN THE WOMENS CATEGORY AT THE LAS VEGAS CONVENTION CENTER.

THE COMPANY WAS FORMED UPON THE DISCOVERY OF A 17^TH CENTURY ANTIQUE PIRATE CROSS IN THE CARIBBEAN. TRUDY ARRIAS THE FOUNDER OF FUNKY UNIQUE CLOTHING SAYS, “IT’S A LABOR OF LOVE, I THINK EVERYONE HAS A LITTLE PIRATE IN THEM.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT FUNKY UNIQUE CLOTHING,

CONTACT US AT:

OE and OTA are also co-hosting a seminar on the rapidly expanding organic fiber market, “The Natural Next Step: Why and How to Integrate Organic Fiber into Your Apparel Lines.” Attendees will learn about market trends, the wide selection of organic apparel, challenges and opportunities in sourcing, and establishing wholesale and retail lines.

Beaver Theodosakis - President, Prana, a division of Liz Claiborne, Inc.

Booth: Number 22648 - Pod #4 , Sourcing InfoHub area, South Hall

“Natural Next Step” seminar: Room MS116, South Hall

“Natural Next Step” Seminar: August 30 (Wednesday.), 2 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.

According to the Organic Trade Association, sales of U.S. and Canadian organic fiber sales jumped 40 percent in 2005, amounting to a $160 million U.S. organic product market. In addition, Organic Exchange data shows that global organic cotton product sales increased an estimated 35 percent annually, from $245 million in 2001 to $583 million in 2005 and are projected to skyrocket to $2.6 billion by the end of 2008.

Organic production is based on a system of farming that maintains and replenishes soil fertility without the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers.

###

DONNA SALYERS’ FABULOUS-FURS FEATURED FOR FIRST TIME AT THE WWD MAGIC MARKETPLACE

Donna Salyers, known as the designer of the world’s finest faux furs, will show for the first time at the August 2006 Women’s Wear Daily Magic Marketplace. The show takes place August 28-31, 2006 at the Las Vegas Convention Center and Las Vegas Hilton.

The exhibit includes the hottest new faux fur fabrics and designs for Spring / Fall 2007, including the softest faux fur ever along with the most realistic new colors and textures, never before seen. Highlights of the newest Fabulous-Furs collection include a Tipped Fox bolero vest, a Cheetah jacket trimmed with Black Fox collar and cuffs, and an incredibly soft Grey Chinchilla wrap.

Long used throughout the entertainment world, Fabulous-Furs has consistently raised industry standards for more than 17 years. A vertical operation, Fabulous-Furs is a multi-channel business based in the Midwest in Covington, Kentucky, where they occupy a 110,000 sq. ft. building. With its own design and production team, Fabulous-Furs has built a well-established retail catalog and Internet business based on quality products and outstanding customer service.

After several successful seasons of supplying their products to high-end retailers, Fabulous-Furs is excited to expand its growing wholesale business, especially as high-end faux furs lead fashion trends.

###

At the August 28-31 MAGIC kids apparel event in Las Vegas, Tennessee-based Wooly Lamb Organics will be showing its expanded stylish line of baby and toddler apparel made from organic cotton that is grown, spun and sewn in the U.S. using cotton grown in Texas, the country’s largest organic cotton production area.

Please let me know if you would like to interview Sharon Bible, president of Wooly Lamb Organics, or feel free to stop by Booth 10415, North Hall.

Regards,

Sandra Marquardt 301-592-0077

The company not only uses organic cotton grown in Texas, the largest organic cotton-growing state in the U.S., but also manufactures the apparel at its own plant in Helenwood, TN. In addition, Wooly Lamb Organics manufactures private label baby/toddler apparel for several other companies, with new inquiries for all sizes of apparel lines coming in everyday. Benefits these companies cite is their interest in supporting domestic apparel production and avoiding delays at the ports when importing from overseas.

According to the Organic Trade Association, U.S. organic fiber consumer sales jumped 40 percent in 2005, amounting to $160 million. Infant clothing and diapers made up the second largest sector of the organic fiber product market, representing $40 million, or 25%, of the market and experiencing a 40% growth rate. Organic production is based on a system of farming that maintains and replenishes soil fertility without the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers.

Cheryl Nowak, Merchandise Manager of Menswear & Childrenswear of The Doneger Group.

Tim Bess, Young Men's Market Analyst of The Doneger Group.

“Euro-Style, St. Tropez Shopping and Street Scenes” presented by David Wolfe

“Men’s Spring 2007 European Designer Collections” presented by David Wolfe

All sessions are held in North Hall, Mezzanine Level, Room N235

Vox Sacra creates a new look: Luxury + Christian + Hollywood Las Vegas, NV, August 28, 2006—There are mass-market Christian brands in the marketplace, but Seattle-based Vox Sacra is the first authentic Luxury Christian brand. Vox Sacra launched online in May 2006, and its first collection is making its debut at MAGIC in booth #4530. Vox Sacra’s founder Shawn McNally, a veteran luxury fashion marketer, was the former global marketing director of the $180M French brand Faconnable. While at Facconable, Shawn McNally and his wife Liz lost their second child, Stella to a rare birth defect. Out of this deep personal tragedy, McNally converted to the teachings of Christ and felt called to create the first faith-inspired luxury brand, Vox Sacra (Sacred Voice). Vox Sacra is committed to opening conversations about the teachings of Jesus Christ through fashion. Renowned designer Tim Girvin, who has crafted more than 500 Hollywood movie identities and logos from “The Matrix” to “Mission Impossible III,” gave design assistance to McNally. Vox Sacra’s designs in both imagery and in calligraphy center on the concept of “sacred light” and its representation of promise, hope and redemption. Vox Sacra’s must-haves include European-inspired fitted long-sleeved shirts and distinctive linen and silk scarves. The shirt collections for both men and women use premium fabric sourced from Austria that provides a luxurious, silken texture against the skin. Ancient images rendered in rich metallic inks and precious silk appliqués adorn the collection. Elegant typographic renderings of bible verses evoke a sacred voice, as each design utilizes original artwork that dates back some 400 to 600 years. According to Shawn McNally, “Vox Sacra’s market is for modern believers and non-believers alike. The best way to reach our market is to make our business known at MAGIC. Until now there really haven’t been any Christian apparel brands that are cool and fashionable. My vision is that our products will open conversations between people of faith and people searching for hope and meaning in their lives. “ Seven percent of all Vox Sacra revenue is donated yearly to the Rafiki Foundation, a relief organization offering loving homes and vocational training to African children orphaned by AIDS, disease and genocide. Contacts: Patricia Vaccarino, Managing Partner Xanthus Communications (206) 979 3380 patricia@xanthuscom.com Juliann Reichert, Account Coordinator Xanthus

true echo "green for the rest

of us"

NEW LINE AT THE MAGIC MARKETPLACE

LAS VEGAS AUGUST 28, 2006

A new line of eco-friendly women's and

men's casual wear will be shown for the first time at the August 2006

WWD

MAGIC MARKETPLACE.

The show takes place August 2nd through

September 1st, 2006 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

The collection includes new sustainable

fiber blends never before used in apparel manufacture as well as blends

of

organic cotton, bamboo, soy, and hemp.

true echo will be exhibiting in the women's

sportswear category at WWD Magic Booth# 18202.

True echo represents a unique

collaboration and synergy between three textile and garment industry

veterans. Working together from Wilmington Vancouver and Shanghai they

have

brought an upscale, eco-friendly apparel line with a broader style

appeal

to the casual market.

Together these principals have over 60

years experience in textiles and apparel. During the past several

years,

each of them came to a focus and began to concentrate on making clothes

from organic and sustainable fiber resources.

For more information about the true echo

brand

please visit our booth at WS18202

ELVIRA®, Mistress of the Dark to appear at the Brand Old Booth at MAGIC

Booth #11700

The Brand Old division of Gagwear, Inc. has arranged for Halloween icon ELVIRA, MISTRESS OF THE DARK to appear at its MAGIC booth, located at the Las Vegas Convention Center, on Wednesday, August 30th, from 10:00 am – 11:30 am and 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm. Anyone who stops by BOOTH #JR11700 will receive a free ELVIRA® tee, a photo with the Queen of Halloween, and an autographed picture of hers cruelly (while supplies last!)

About Brand Old

For further information, contact Linda Saye at 678- 924-5238, or linda@brandoldonline.com.

About ELVIRA

Cassandra Peterson, who created and portrays ELVIRA, is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the character. Back in 1981, no one could have imagined the hostess of a local Hollywood Horror movie show would grow to become a household name. Elvira was the first horror host ever to be syndicated nationally as well as the first person to be broadcast on American television in 3D, selling more than 2.7 million pairs of 3D glasses in Los Angeles alone! Elvira's unique brand of sweetness and sarcastic, sexy sass has consistently grabbed fans across the US and around the world.

Elvira's reign as 'Queen of Halloween' includes two feature films, an IMAX film, a motion control ride, thousands of radio, newspaper and magazine interviews, and hundreds of film and television appearances - everything from Saturday Night Live, The Grammy Awards, MTV and Monday Night Football to NBC's Today Show, The Tournament of Roses Parade and even a U2 Concert with Bono! Over the years, Elvira has been featured on more than 350 different licensed products, including costumes, pinball machines, slot machines, music CD's, books, perfume and even beer! Read all about it at www.elvira.com. For further information contact info@panacea-ent.com.

Website: http://www.elvira.com

Good Morning:

At MAGIC Kids next week, Classroom School Uniforms will be unveiling its new School Uniform styles and will be on hand to discuss the findings of the 2006 Classroom NSBA School Uniform and the 2006 Classroom Charter School Uniform surveys released in July. Attached is the press release for your review which provides additional information.

If you would like to learn more about Classroom School Uniforms, how Classroom works with schools across the country, the state of the uniform industry or the research released in July, Andy Beattie, Classroom’s General Manager, and Bill Bosch, VP of Sales, are available.

"In Our Industry, We Take Care of Our Own.
Did you know that for more than 65 years, the Two Ten Footwear Foundation has made a positive difference in the lives of people in our industry? Our programs and services are funded entirely through the generosity of individuals and corporate sponsors - all shoepeople - who give to make a difference. And we give back some $2 million in programs and services each year to those who need our help the most. "

I would like to hear from interested parties who would like to participate in creating this foundation for our Footwear Industry Professionals in their time of need.

Ozone Productions, Ltd. P.O. Box 4153 Point Dume Station Malibu, CA 90265 310-457-8065 For immediate release 8/28/06 Acclaimed classic pin-up artist "Olivia" to appear at MAGIC Las Vegas, August 28-31 Ozone Productions Ltd., Booth 9902, Central Hall (Active and Licensing) will present the preeminent pin-up artist "Olivia", for personal appearances Monday and Tuesday August 28 and 29 from 2:00 - 3:00 PM. Olivia de Berardinis, whose delectable, classic pin-ups appear each month in Playboy magazine, is internationally acclaimed for her luscious renderings of the most exotic and beguiling models of both today and times gone by; for her creation of imaginative settings and provocative situations, and for the playful yet mysterious allure she infuses in all her work. Among the most recent Olivia creations is the soon to be published Bettie Page by Olivia, an 80-page, hard-cover pictorial homage to the 1950's pin-up icon, whose unique beauty and attitude have commanded attention until today, and whose fan has increased with time. The new 2007 Bettie Page Calendar, as well as the 2007 Playboy Calendar, featuring favorite playmates, will be on view, along with the books, posters, note cards, and playing cards that make up the Ozone Productions line, examples of which Olivia will be pleased to sign. Olivia is excited to be able to meet and greet the apparel industry's movers and shakers at Magic; to share ideas with fellow artists and designers, and to be among some of the most creative professionals working in contemporary culture today.

Posted by ladymountbatten at 11:49 PM | Permalink

Posted by ladymountbatten at 05:12 PM | Permalink

Founding Director of Daily Grill Restaurants Honored at

Annual Restaurant-Industry Awards Ceremony

Bob Spivak of Grill Concepts, Inc. named ‘Restaurateur of the Year’

Founder director of Grill Concepts, Inc. Bob Spivak was named ‘Restaurateur of the Year’ at the annual California Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (CRAEF) Hall of Fame dinner awards ceremony last night. The ceremony took place at the Marriott Los Angeles Downtown. The event capped the first day of the California Restaurant Association (CRA) Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo, which runs August 26 through 28 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

A 45-year veteran of the restaurant and food industry, Bob comes from family that ran Los Angeles restaurants starting in 1946. He began his career at family-owned Smokey Joe’s barbecue restaurants, managing operations, including the landmark Redwood House in the Los Angeles Civic Center. Bob left the family business to manage food operations at the Fedco discount department stores, and along with the owners of Fedco Foods he developed the much copied Soup N’ Such restaurant chain.

In the early 1980s, Bob and a partner opened the highly successful Beverly Hills restaurant, The Grill on the Alley. The Grill was inducted into the Fine Dining Hall of Fame by Nation’s Restaurant News in 1995. The Grill is the upscale model for the Daily Grill, a concept based on high-quality food and service at a price that reaches a wide audience.

Grill Concepts, Inc. currently operates 20 Daily Grill restaurants throughout California, Texas, Oregon, Illinois, and Washington, D.C. There are now five The Grill on the Alley restaurants, the others in San Jose, Chicago, Hollywood, and Dallas.

Bob is a Director Emeritus for CRAEF and is on the Board of Directors for DiRoNA (Distinguished Restaurants of North America) as well as past Chairman of the Board of Advisors for the Collins School of Hospitality Management. He was a recipient of the Elizabeth Burns Lifetime Achievement Award from the CRA in June 2005 and in September 2000 received the “Spirit of Life” award from the City of Hope, a Southern California organization dedicated to the prevention and cure of cancer and other life-threatening illness.

CRAEF’s ‘Restaurateur of the Year’ award recognizes individuals who have distinguished themselves through innovative restaurant designs and concepts and who have demonstrated a public-service commitment through educational or other community activities. Past recipients include Ralph Rubio of Rubio’s Restaurants, Inc., Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger of Border Grill, Julia Stewart of IHOP Corp., and David Cohn of Cohn Restaurant Group.

The CRAEF ‘Hall of Fame’ Centennial Celebration also honored Susan Sbicca of Sbicca and Meritage as ‘Chef of the Year,’ and Clifford Clinton of Clifton’s Cafeterias was inducted into the Hall of Fame.     

The California Restaurant Association, now celebrating 100 years of service, is the definitive voice of the California restaurant and hospitality industry. The restaurant industry is the largest private employer in California, representing nearly 1.4 million jobs. Restaurants produce more than $51 billion in sales annually and generate more than $4 billion in sales tax for the state. 

California Restaurant Association

HALL OF FAME
Centenial

Bob Spivak Restaurateur of Year

Chef of the Year Susan Sbicca
Restaurateur of the Year Bob Spivak
Hall of Fame Inductee Clifton Clinton

The California Restaurant Association honored Susan Sbicca of Sbicca and Meritage Restaurant Bar & Grill was honored as Chef of the Year and Bob Spivak, Grill Concepts, Inc.(Daily Grill Restaurants) as Restaurateur of the Year in their Hall of Fame Centennial Celebration dinner and awards ceremony earlier this evening in Los Angeles.

Clifton’s Cafeterias was inducted in the Hall of Fame for the California Restaurant Association. Honored for a lifetime of achievement, they’ve been a member of the California Restaurant Association since 1933 and founded Meals for Millions, a non-profit, charitable organization that has fed millions. 

As one of the most sought after awards, the restaurant industry arrived semi-formally in anticipation to white gloved staff. Live music, Laurel and Hardy followed by Marilyn Monroe impersonators brought some humor to what could have otherwise been a teeth grinding evening. 

The dinner menu read like a gourmet restaurant as you would expect from the California Restaurant Association. Leading up to the entrée were appetizers of crispy walnut shrimp, seared ahi tuna and ginger on won tong crisps, Portobello mushroom mozzarella crostini, main lobster medallion with beluga caviar on sesame maki. A delicate salad of maple infused smoked duck with apricot chipotle salsa, shaved fennel and crisp escarole. The entrée, seared black pepper filet and three-crowned lobster with black barley timbale. 

Dessert of chocolate batons with Grand Marnier mascarpone mouse and fresh berry coulis were created by the Newport Harbor High School ProStart Culinary team, which won the state ProStart competition in March 2006 and placed fourth out of 31 states at the National ProStart Invitational. 

ProStart is a culinary program developed by the National Restaurant Association Education Foundation to recruit and retain a skilled workforce with over 35,000 students enrolled nationwide in high school. In the California ProStart Competition, high school juniors and seniors compete demonstrating culinary and management skills. 

The future of the restaurant industry was evident in 47 scholarships being awarded, the greatest quantity of scholarship recipients we have seen from any industry this year

 

Los Angeles’ Clifton’s Cafeteria Founder Clifford Clinton Posthumously Honored at Annual Restaurant Industry Awards Dinner

Grandson Robert accepts ‘Hall of Fame’ induction honor on behalf of Clinton Family

Founder of Clifton’s Cafeterias, Clifford Clinton was posthumously inducted into the California Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (CRAEF) Hall of Fame at a special Centennial Celebration last night. The ceremony took place at the Marriott Los Angeles Downtown after the first day of the California Restaurant Association (CRA) Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo, which runs August 26 through 28 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Early in Clifford Clinton’s life, his missionary parents took him and four other children to China, exposing him to appalling poverty and hunger. The experience touched him so much he vowed to always remember the plight of the hungry. He stayed true to this goal and after growing up in his father’s San Francisco cafeteria, moved to Los Angeles in 1931 to test an innovative business approach – never turning away the hungry, regardless of whether or not they could pay.

The nation was in the depths of the Great Depression, businesses were failing, and it was a difficult time to try his idea. During one 90-day period, 10,000 ate free before Clifford could open an emergency cafeteria a few blocks away to feed, for pennies, the two million guests who came during the next two years. With the help of his staff, a second Clifton’s opened in 1935. 
 
After World War II, Clifford founded Meals for Millions, a non-profit organization that delivers food to millions of starving and malnourished people throughout the world.

Clifford retired in 1946, selling to his children, Edmond, Jean, and Don. Today Don and Jean, along with Don’s son, Robert, take great pride in the company and strive to maintain its image. Their philosophy is still to make a friend of every guest, allow them to dine free unless delighted, and feed those who can’t afford a meal. The Clinton family marks 113 years in California foodservice and has been a member of the California Restaurant Association since 1933. 

Clifford Clinton is the 32nd inductee into the CRAEF Hall of Fame, which was established in 1988 to honor hospitality leaders who have demonstrated dedication and commitment to hospitality industry education. Past honorees include Chinese foodservice leaders Andrew and Peggy Cherng (Panda Express), industry legends Jeff and Sam King (King’s Seafood Co.), Elizabeth Burns (Bob Burns Restaurants), Carl Karcher (Carl Karcher Enterprises), and Esther Snyder (In-N-Out Burger).

The California Restaurant Association, now celebrating 100 years of service, is the definitive voice of the California restaurant and hospitality industry. The restaurant industry is the largest private employer in California, representing nearly 1.4 million jobs. Restaurants produce more than $51 billion in sales annually and generate more than $4 billion in sales tax for the state.

 

Acclaimed Chef Honored at

Annual Restaurant-Industry Awards Ceremony

San Diego’s Susan Sbicca claims second-ever ‘Chef of the Year’ designation

Celebrated chef Susan Sbicca of Sbicca and Meritage was honored as ‘Chef of the Year’ at the California Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (CRAEF) Hall of Fame Centennial Celebration. This is just the second time in CRAEF’s 25-year history that such an award has been presented. Sbicca received the award at last night’s ceremony at the Marriott Los Angeles Downtown after the first day of the California Restaurant Association (CRA) Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo, which runs August 26 through 28 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Beginning her culinary career in Boston in 1978, Susan has worked her way from a deli clerk to cooking and catering for large parties. She returned home to San Diego to work as sous-chef for Falco Restaurant in the Gaslamp Quarter. After honing her catering, administrative, and management skills as executive chef for Greentree Grocers, and Annie’s Market in Rancho Santa Fe, Susan returned to restaurants as the chef at En Fuego in Del Mar.

In late Spring of 1998, Susan and her husband, Dan, opened the award winning, Sbicca, An American Bistro. Their second restaurant, Meritage, opened in June, 2002 on historic 101 in Encinitas.

Susan’s unique cooking style mixes southwestern and Mexican essences with Mediterranean and Asian influences. At Sbicca, she tries to buy the ingredients from local farms, and uses organic foods and local seafood as much as possible. She has said she looks at food in a completely creative and artistic way, often inspired by just about anything, including music, emotions, books, magazines, seasons, and food itself.

Highly involved in her community, Susan opens her current restaurants one night a week for “Guest Bartender” night, where the bar is turned over to charities or community groups for fundraisers or special events. Susan and her family are also regular contributors to organizations such as the UCSD Cancer Center, the Kidney Foundation, the Children’s Hospital, and more.

This award recognizes chefs who have earned a reputation of innovative concepts. The chefs portray professionalism and have demonstrated a commitment to their local communities. The CRAEF Hall of Fame Centennial Celebration also honored Bob Spivak of The Daily Grill Restaurants as ‘Restaurateur of the Year’, and Clifford Clinton of Clifton’s Cafeterias was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

The California Restaurant Association, now celebrating 100 years of service, is the definitive voice of the California restaurant and hospitality industry. The restaurant industry is the largest private employer in California, representing nearly 1.4 million jobs. Restaurants produce more than $51 billion in sales annually and generate more than $4 billion in sales tax for the state.

 

Dr. Jean Jones(Mentor of the Year) 

The City of Los Angeles honored the California Restaurant Association (CRA) today for 100 years of service to the restaurant and hospitality industry.

 

Los Angeles City Councilwoman Jan Perry presented a certificate celebrating the notable anniversary to CRA Chairman Michael Osborn of Pie ‘N Burger at the 2006 Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo opening ribbon cutting ceremony.

“The California Restaurant Association can be proud of their long and distinguished history of working with our community and the thousands of restaurants that they represent. And, I am incredibly proud that Los Angeles is playing host to such a world-class expo and can join in celebrating this historic centennial anniversary,” said Councilwoman Perry.

The California Restaurant Association also received proclamations from the California State Assembly and California Lieutenant Governor Cruz M. Bustamante earlier this year. Both certificates were presented to California Restaurant Association President and CEO Jot Condie.

“The Association works hard to represent the industry throughout the state at both the local level and at the Capitol,” said Condie. “It is a great honor for the California Restaurant Association to be recognized for its 100 years of service.” 

The California Restaurant Association, now celebrating 100 years of service, is the definitive voice of the California restaurant and hospitality industry. The restaurant industry is the largest private employer in California, representing nearly 1.4 million jobs. Restaurants produce more than $51 billion in sales annually and generate more than $4 billion in sales tax for the state.

California Restaurant Association

 

AWARD-WINNING OVENE WINERY RELEASES THREE NEW WINES

2005 SAUVIGNON bLANC, VIOGNER AND MUSCAT

2 Year Old Winery Inspired by “Groovy Granny”

Ovene Winery (www.ovenewinery.com), one of California Central Coast’s newest wineries – and one to watch - has just released its first 2005 Sauvignon Blanc, Viogner and Muscat varietals, adding to its collection of award-winning wines, including Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc and Rose of Syrah. In just two short years of being in business, Ovene Winery - the name inspired by the winemaker’s “Groovy Granny Ovene” - has produced outstanding varietals and has been consistently recognized with prestigious awards at noteworthy wine competitions. The three new wines promise to offer the same unique rich and fruity flavors that the Ovene winemaking process is rapidly becoming known for.

“The 2005 harvest was the perfect storm, good temperatures, nice long hang time which contributed to great concentration of flavors which are magnified in these new releases,” says Jeff White, Ovene’s owner and winemaker. “We think these are some of the best white wine varieties we grow here in the Central Coast of California,” he added.

Ovene’s two Pinot Noirs have gone off the charts, winning medals from California to Texas. In May, 2006, the 2004 Pinot Noir from Santa Maria Valley Solomon Hills vineyards won the “Best in Class, Pinot Noir, $30+” at the prestigious West Coast Wine Competition and the “Puzzle” San Luis Obispo County Pinot Noir was awarded its second silver medal at the same competition, adding to its collection of gold, bronze and other silver medals. Ovene’s 2004 Chardonnay won Silver at the Santa Barbara Country fair and the Pinot Blanc won Gold in Santa Barbara and Silver at the Orange County fair. These wines represent the best of what Santa Barbara County’s cool climates can offer in these exciting varietals.

Winemaking was not always such an award-winning process for winemakers, Jeff and Genni White, who learned how to make wine the old fashioned way – in their garage. After four years of selling wines for Italian Swiss Colony, Taylor California Cellars and Rodney Strong Wineries, Jeff decided to do a little experimentation on his own. So, in 1986, he and Genni began their own home winemaking experimentations. They remember the days of inviting their entire Yorba Linda neighborhood to make the trek to Temecula to pick grapes and bring them back for a “Lucy Style” crushing, then, months later, finding several of the five gallon glass carboys exploded in the Jacuzzi and finished bottles of wine with corks that had blown off in the garage after hot summer days. Nevertheless, they kept pursuing their dream.

And, eighteen years later, after the fall harvest of 2003, they took the plunge and, in March, 2004, Ovene Winery, Inc. was officially founded and named in honor of Jeff’s grandmother, Merthel “Ovene” McConnel, known to the family as “Groovy Granny.” Always an inspiration with her contagious enthusiasm and passion for food and wine, she blessed their venture despite her failing health at 94 and passed away the day after they received their first grapes and bonded winery license.

“We are blessed to dedicate Ovene Winery to all the inspirational women in our lives,” says Jeff, “Groovy Granny always said to save the best for last.”

Today, Ovene Winery occupies 1,400 square feet of space in the CCWS (Central Coast Wine Services) in Santa Maria, California and houses over 200 French and American Oak barrels, five stainless steel tanks, totaling some 3,200 gallons of cooperage and 16 open top fermentors. Ovene produced 2,000 cases of wine in 2004 and 4,500 cases in 2005 consisting of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Viogner, Muscat, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Ovene Winery, Inc. (www.ovenewinery.com) is located at 2717 Aviation Way #E29, Santa Maria, CA 93455 and shares a tasting room at “Wines of Pine,” 1244 Pine Street, Paso Robles, California 93446.

Notes from the Winemaker about Ovene Winery’s newly released wines:

The Sauvignon Blanc was fermented 85% in stainless steel and 25% in neutral barrel which helped bring out the floral perfumy character of the Muscat clone. The 2005 Viogner brings out the fresh herbaceous character of the Viogner fruit and offers a superb balance of fruit and acidity. The Muscat Canelli came from the Opolo vineyard in Paso Robles and we fermented it in 100% stainless steel tanks. We stopped the fermentation at 6 brix which resulted in a 3% residual sugar that is supported by a good acid profile which brings all the classic Muscat flavors together in a smooth easy drinking dessert wine.

 

 

LASSI DRINKS, LLC announces its first product innovation – La Yoghi

Lassi Drinks, LLC debuted its first product offering – La Yoghi - at the National School Nutrition Association (SNA) Convention in Los Angles on July 17, 2006. The goal of Lassi Drinks, LLC, is to create innovative and delicious beverages that provide a healthy alternative to sodas and other insalubrious beverage choices. With the growing trend in public schools in the United States to steer children away from caffeine and soda, there was clearly no better place to introduce La Yoghi than at the SNA convention ¹.

Inspired by an ancient yogurt drink, La Yoghi is a yogurt based smoothie made with fresh fruit and specially selected pro and pre biotics. Probiotics are the live microorganisms reported to enhance well being ². The specifically selected pro and prebiotics contained in La Yoghi focus on intestinal health. The product has been in research and development for the past two years with one of this country’s leading Digestive Disorders specialists. La Yoghi is offered in three light and delicious flavors: Strawberry, mango, and banana. It is both fat free and gluten free and contains 140 calories per 8oz serving. There are absolutely no artificial flavors or preservatives in the product.

Lassi Drinks, LLC looks forward to continued success in developing healthy and delectable beverage choices. Please visit www.lassidrinks.net for more information. We look forward to seeing you very soon at the Western Food Service & Hospitality Expo at The Los Angeles Convention Center from August 26-28, 2006 !

 

 

 

The Wine Lover’s Chocolate Collection is the signature line from The San Francisco Chocolate Factory. Pairing wine and chocolate is still a relatively new sensation, and it is safe to say not only have they done it first, they’ve done it best!

 This summer, the San Francisco Chocolate Factory is proud to be exhibiting the Wine Lover’s Collection at the Los Angeles Wine and Food Festival. Grab a glass of red wine, come visit them in booth F612 and revel in the taste sensation that is the perfect union of wine and chocolate. (If you have any problems with this link, please copy and paste this address into your browser.)

The San Francisco Chocolate Factory effectively predicted the newest trend of matching wine with dark chocolate. President and founder of The San Francisco Chocolate Factory, Michael Litton notes that, “The American palate has become quite sophisticated in terms of dark chocolate taste. Our process of blending different cocoa beans from different continents to produce the best taste possible mimics the process used by many vintners who use several different varieties of grapes to produce their wines.”

The Wine Lover’s Chocolate Collection offers a myriad of gift ideas for businesses and consumers. The San Francisco Chocolate Factory offers gift packs in three tin assortments as well as a six tin assortment that showcases the entire collection. These come beautifully packaged in elegant black boxes that highlight the artwork on the tins. These make striking additions to retail shelves as well as uniquely beautiful gifts. Kathy Mooney, Direct Sales Manager of Passalacqua Winery located in Healdsburg, California states, “The gift sets are the perfect wine country gift. Not only is the packaging attractive, but they are also convenient for customers to travel with. We can’t keep them in stock!”

The San Francisco Chocolate Factory was established in 1999 with the express purpose of providing gourmet chocolate without the gourmet prices. For more information about The Wine Lover’s Collection, or any of the innovative products offered by The San Francisco Chocolate Factory, please call 888-732-4626 or visit their website: www.sfchocolate.com.

 

Posted by ladymountbatten at 11:34 AM | Permalink

Written by Joyce Chow and William Hoehne

The 64^th World Science Fiction Convention, L.A. con IV,  opened to a conference room full of space cadets awaiting their captain’s opening remarks at the Anaheim Convention Center.  The convention of enthusiasts with a wealthful of knowledge to share continues at the Anaheim Convention Center, Hilton and Marriott through Sunday August 27^th.

The first episode of 1950’s science fiction classic television Tom Corbett, Space Cadet was shown to honor Frank Thomas, Jr., who was the honored Special Guest at L.A. con IV.  Frank Thomas, the one and only Tom Corbett, was one of a handful of talented individuals who brought sci fi into millions of homes in the 1950s.   Thomas had such an that impact in the science fiction universe that even with his passing earlier this year in May, he continued to be the Special Guest to be remembered and celebrated during the convention. 

Connie Willis, honored Guest of Honor and Author shared her great sense of humor.  She has been attending Worldcon since the 1980s.   Before fans could ask, she’s working on an upcoming book, she’s behind, and no official release date is being given.

Similar to the Olympics, groups from different cities bid for the right to hold upcoming Worldcon’s in their cities.  Space cadets collect merit badges with donations and to help determine  where upcoming conventions will be held.  This year, Columbus, Denver and Chicago are vying to hold Worldcon 2008 in their cities.  It is voted on by the Last year’s Worldcon was held in Glasgow, Scotland.  Next year it will be held in Japan.  

Space Cadet and Past Chair Kevin Standler and Space Cadet Lisa Hayes (Standler) 

The opening session closed with the singing of:

From the rocket

fields of the academy

To the far-flung

stars of outerspace,

We are space cadets

training to be

Ready for dangers

we may face!

Up in the sky,

whistling past,

Higher than high,

faster than fast,

Out into space,

into the sun

Look at her go

When we give her the gun!

We are the space cadets

And we are proud to say

Our fight for right

Will never cease.

Like a cosmic ray,

We light the way

To interplanet peace!

Upon entering the convention, space cadets are greeted by T2 from “The Terminator”, Jessica Rabbit from “Who Framed Roger Rabbit”, “Star Wars” C3PO and R2-D2, and Astro Boy.

Celebrating Star Trek’s 40^th anniversary, the original crew of the Starship Enterprise were on hand for photographs.  These original wax figures of Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Scotty, Uhura, Sulu & Chekov stood 32 years in the Movieland Wax Museum in Buena Park, California.

The Lexus Concept Car 2054 from Minority Report and The Island, Men In Black’s Black Cadillac, Back to the Future’s De Lorean, Batmobile, and the Apollo Lunar Excursion Module were amongst the vehicles for fans to enjoy.

Whether you’re a fan of Star Trek, Star Wars, Battlestar Gallactica, anime or just sci fi in general you’ll delight in the variety of over 600 programs.  Topics and discussions include Interstellar Travel and Biotechnology, The Cold Worlds: Colonizing The Outer Solar System, Collection, The Star Wars Saga: A Look Back, A Look Forward, Space Pirate Crash Test Dummies: Space Ship Build, Writing Classic Trek, The Business Side of Comics, The World’s Most Useless Superpowers, and Harry Potter Goes Forth.  

If you’re a fan of the sci fi genre, this is one you’ll want to indulge. 

www.laconiv.org

Posted by ladymountbatten at 09:33 PM | Permalink

Posted by ladymountbatten at 09:32 PM | Permalink

The project went through multiple drafts and lay dormant for many years while Dolman went on to write other projects and eventually direct his first movie – The Banger Sisters – on which he worked with producer Mark Johnson. “We had a really positive experience together and when that project was winding up, I asked Bob what he wanted to do next…and he told me about this book, How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell,” remembers Johnson.

“I had never read it and all of my friends said ‘you'll love this book,’ ‘my son is reading it,’ ‘it was really important to me growing up,’ ‘that's so much fun,’ and so on. So, I read it and loved the spirit of it and the message of it,” explains Johnson. “It’s really a wonderful tale of youthful energy and has a whole sense about being who you are. All of the messages were right, but it was in a package that is a lot of fun.”

“It’s a timeless tale of growing up that uses a very gross and interesting device, the worms, to make its point,” adds producer Philip Steuer. “Ultimately, I think it’s about a bully and a new kid coming to town and what that kid has to go through to be accepted. That’s kind of what everybody may have felt at a certain time in their life. The fact that these little creepy, crawly things help sell that point and help these kids get past their insecurities, is really pretty interesting.”

Johnson and Dolman began working together towards making the film and Dolman found new inspiration to expand on the tale. “I was also drawn to the story because it felt like a war story in which there weren’t really any of the dangers of war,” says Dolman. “But there are all the emotions that go with being in a battle: fear, doubt, wondering if you’re going to survive, questions of integrity, fighting fairly and standing up for what you believe in. Also, behind the dare is Billy’s own bravado. He comes to discover that he’s really got to rise to the occasion and back up his own beliefs with actions.”

The story weaves multiple themes, including acceptance, forgiveness, friendship, and not judging by first impressions, into a tale involving the culinary delights of earthworms. But for Dolman, courage and joy are the ideas that stand out above the others.

The director chose to amplify the theme of courage in the movie. “This boy comes to school and he gets involved with these other boys on a bet and in order to follow through on it, he has to be brave,” explains Dolman. “Behind any bet, there is a question of whether or not you can meet the challenge, so that does suggest an act of courage.”

“I know it may seem far fetched that anybody would eat worms. But Billy makes a bet and it takes a lot of courage just to follow through on what you said you were going to do and to stand up to people under scary circumstances. His first impulse is to run away, but his next impulse is to stay and face it.”

“Secondly, what emerged from the performances of the cast is something that I’m even more excited about, and that is the idea that laughter and joy and fun can overpower mean-spiritedness, crabbiness, and even cruelty,” adds Dolman. “I think the natural state of children is one of happiness, friendliness, love, getting along…and when it is oppressed, things go haywire. When it is allowed to be free and flourish, it runs it’s own wonderful course. And that’s what the story is about. It’s a very forgiving story.”

“The most important thing was getting the cast right,” says producer Mark Johnson. “This isn’t a movie with elaborate special effects or huge sets…it's really about the spirit of the book being in these kids. The most painstaking work we had to do was finding the right kids. We interviewed thousands before we came up with our core gang. What I'm particularly proud of is each kid is his or her own idiosyncratic self and, as charismatic as they are, they are not Hollywood kids. They are very real.”

“We weren't looking for performers,” agrees director Bob Dolman. “I was more interested in the natural spirit of the kids. Sometimes we selected kids with next to no acting experience because just they had that quality of being natural and real and funny and sincere.”

The search for young actors extended nationwide and the production opened casting offices in Los Angeles and Austin, Texas. “They came from all over the United States. Videotapes were sent in from everywhere. We had a really limited time to cast; ten weeks to find all eleven main kids,” adds producer Philip Steuer. “It was a very truncated process.”

“The personalities of the kids needed to play off one another. We saw some kids who we liked very much and thought ‘this kid is a terrific actor, but he's not right for this role, let's put him over to this part.’ The whole cast didn't click in until we had all of the elements. It was almost like a jigsaw puzzle to say this guy works here and this kid works there. You can't just say this is the best kid for the part. You ask if this the best kid for the part, in connection with this other kid who is going to play against him, and this other kid is going to be his best friend. It was a fun movie to cast because you did no one part in isolation,” explains Johnson.

“There was a frustrating time when we weren’t finding Billy and we were really stuck, because you couldn’t cast anyone else - the dad, the mom, the little brother, the other boys - until you had Billy,” adds Steuer.

“Casting took us a long time because we cast everything around Billy,” agrees Dolman. “We had about 30 young actors who were contenders to play the parts of the other boys. It’s like pulling together a team and making sure that you have your pitcher first. When we found Luke Benward to play Billy, then the rest of the casting happened rather quickly.”

The filmmakers ended up casting kids from California, Nevada, Tennessee, New Jersey, Texas, Oklahoma and Florida to complete the puzzle. “Because of the interlocking nature of the cast, one of the funny things our casting director Stephanie Corsalini said to Bob Dolman was ‘you’ll look back on this and you’ll say to yourself ‘I couldn’t have done this movie with any other cast,’” adds Steuer.

“The part of Billy the protagonist was probably the toughest one because we required so much of that boy, we need to see him at his lows and at his highs. We have got to see a boy who is, through a great deal of the movie, in a panic because he's made a bet that he knows in his heart he can't possibly win,” explains Johnson.

“Choosing Billy was difficult,” agrees Bob Dolman. “I was not only looking for someone who could act the part, but someone who had the energy to carry the part. I don't know of any other movie where the lead child actor is in almost every single scene. That's just exhausting, hard work for any actor. In addition, we shot in Austin, Texas in summer weather that was hot - 90 degrees plus, and humid - without exception every day. So sheer stamina was important. We were all looking for a kid who could carry that and have the energy and enthusiasm to go through it, who also had some acting experience.”

Tennessee-native Luke Benward was chosen to star as Billy, the new kid in the 5^th grade overwhelmed by every aspect of his new life.

“My mom and I tape all my auditions in our kitchen and send them in. With this movie, we were running late and were rushing to get the tape to FedEx. We had thirty minutes until their last deadline of the night, and the place was a thirty-minute drive from our house. And the tape had to be in LA the next day in order for me to be considered,” explains Benward.

“We were racing to FedEx and everything was trying hard to stop us,” laughs Benward. “There was traffic, there was a train changing cars, we got lost. We finally got there 20 minutes late and they wouldn't let us in. The lady who worked there felt sorry for my mom, who was just about in tears. So she gave my mom all of the packaging through the door and mom laid it all out on the sidewalk. My mom was like, ‘Thank you so much.’ The FedEx lady said, ‘Don't worry, we will get it there.’ It got there the next morning and they ended up flying us to Los Angeles for a meeting with the director.”

Benward and his mom returned home to Franklin, Tennessee and after additional rounds of taped auditions, they waited and waited for news.

“I was at a friend’s house for a sleepover and my parents came over to surprise me. I came downstairs and saw my mom and dad sitting on the couch, and I was afraid they were going to make me come home and sleep in my own bed. My dad gave me a Texas Longhorns hat. I didn’t know what it was at first. He explained it's the team from Austin, Texas…and that's where I’d be shooting my next movie! Oh, yeah! It was a really awesome moment,” remembers Benward.

The Benwards didn’t forget those who helped Luke get the part. The next day, they arrived at the courier’s office with a bouquet of flowers from their garden for one very surprised FedEx employee.

An actress and acting coach by profession, Kenda Benward served as her son’s acting coach during production. “Billy is an awesome role for any actor, adult or child, to play because he has a range of emotions that he plays at any given time,” explains Kenda Benward. “He is not just playing one objective. It’s a story about a struggle of trying to find your place and confronting your fears. As Billy, Luke has to play someone who was popular, and now that he is in a new place, is intimidated easily.”

Six-year old Ty Panitz is featured as Woody, Billy’s annoyingly perfect and naturally popular little brother who adapts to their move with great ease, becoming the center of attention at his kindergarten in just one day.

“Like all younger brothers, Woody doesn't know what to make of his older brother,” says producer Mark Johnson. “He's bemused and also really irritated by him. At one point, he sings a song that couldn't be sweeter, except he puts his own lyrics into it. The punch line is basically, ‘I wish my brother were dead!’”

Panitz got the role by singing “God Bless America” at his audition. He and co-star Hallie Kate Eisenberg’s off-screen friendship was echoed on-screen in their roles of little kid and baby-sitter.

Eisenberg plays Erika Tanzy, an early bloomer who towers over her classmates in an awkward fashion and offers Billy friendship, a calming influence and advice that he’s not sure he wants. As the lone girl in the story, she is the outside person looking in who seems to have a better sense of what’s going on than everybody else.

“Erika’s very sensible. She's certainly more composed and world-wise and watches these boys with puzzlement,” comments Johnson. “At one point, Erika makes the unoriginal comment that boys are pretty weird. I think that's what this movie is so much about.”

“Erika's very practical and she's mature beyond her years,” agrees Eisenberg. “She's very smart. I loved that the character was so different from the boys.”

She makes sure that Billy knows he is the first person to ever do anything in the face of the bully Joe’s cruelty. “Erika is pretty important. She tells my character Billy to not run away and says the line ‘Win it true,’” explains Luke Benward. “She encourages him to not try to get out of it, but to just go and win the bet, do the deal, be true to yourself. She helps my character realize that I made the bet, I shouldn't have been bragging, so I have got to go through with it. If I lose, I lose.”

A veteran actress at age 13, Eisenberg was excited to learn a new skill for the role. “My character is into archery and it's something that I never would have wanted to learn on my own. Now that I have, I really would like to do more with it. I went to a couple of lessons and it was really hard at first, because you have to be strong. Then I got the hang of it, I got a few bull's eyes and it's fun.”

Filmmakers cast a freckle-faced redhead named Adam Hicks to play Joe Guire, the school bully whose confident demeanor and mean spirit intimidates his entire circle of friends and enemies.

“It starts out where I have all of the power. People listen to me. And I like it. At first, I try to overpower Billy, but he makes the bet and stands up to me…it's the first time that’s happened,” comments Hicks. “It scares me a little, but I can’t mess up my rep and let the others see that. I think everyone has had that time in their life where their friends were all around them and they don’t want to lose face. Everyone has a little bit of Joe in them.”

“I do think there are times in our lives when most of us have, out of insecurity, bullied somebody,” agrees producer Mark Johnson. “But with the wisdom of adulthood, we look back on it and understand why we did it at the time. Adam does a great job, because he’s not a bully at all in real life.”

“When I tried out for the part, my friends and family said, ‘You can’t play Joe. You're not a bully.’ I said, ‘It's acting!’ I’ve been determined to prove them wrong,” laughs Hicks. “Being an actor, I watch other people. The bullies in my school, I don't like them, but I still watch them. They sort of clench their fists, they look at you sideways or if they walk up to you, they don't back down. They keep staring at you non-stop.”

Director Bob Dolman gave Hicks further guidance. “Bob would always tell me that bullies play it cool. They don't care if this kid or that kid doesn't like ‘em. Bob has helped me so much and I couldn't have done the part nearly as well without him.”

Throughout the story, Joe uses the myth of his ‘death ring’ to keep fear in the hearts of the whole 5^th grade. “It ends up that it's a ring that you could buy at Wal-Mart,” laughs Hicks.

Joe’s posse includes a half dozen fifth graders all trying to figure out how to fit in. Alexander Gould plays the high-strung boy nicknamed Twitch. “He is a little nutty, a little cuckoo,” says Gould. “Twitch’s parents expose him to a lot of art and music. He doesn't want to really show that he likes it, but he secretly really likes it.”

The bigger Joe Guire bullies Twitch and the others throughout the story. “I think that bullies are really afraid of something that they think is not so good about themselves, so they beat up on other kids who are smaller and weaker than them to make them feel better about themselves. It's really not a good thing,” observes Gould.

Houston-native Andrew Gillingham makes his feature film debut as Twitch’s best friend Techno Mouth, aptly nicknamed due to the elaborate braces on his teeth.

“Techno Mouth is a really fun kid, but kind of a crazy kid,” explains Gillingham. “He does stuff like climb up walls and hang from ceilings. Twitch and I have always been friends and we stick together in the story.”

“Andrew got his braces in May and I thought there goes any opportunity for him to get acting parts,” remembers his mother Carol Gillingham, a first-grade teacher. “Then the very next month, he auditioned for this piece and he got the part of Techno Mouth partly because of his braces. So, what I thought was a bad thing, turned out to be in his favor.”

Despite being told not to, both Twitch and Techno Mouth instinctively want to make friends with Billy, and eventually learn the importance of standing up to Joe and letting their natural joy shine through.

“At first, Twitch is weak. His backpack gets stolen and he gets pushed down. Then he meets Billy and he's having fun and gets the courage to stand up to Joe. That's really a big change for Twitch. After that, he gets stronger and he really starts feeling a lot better about himself,” explains Gould. “Twitch is really afraid of Joe in the beginning, because Joe is just plain, straight out mean. That death ring is like somebody holding a gun to your head every minute. So he does whatever Joe says. But it turns out he does have bravery inside him.”

“We have all been bullied and we have all been bullies at some point or another. The message of the movie is that bullying begets bullying and you have to stop it at some point,” says producer Mark Johnson. “It doesn't make Joe happy. Bullying is a no-win situation and a terrible burden to Joe.”

“There are multiple life lessons in this movie, including standing up for truth,” comments Luke Benward’s real-life father Aaron Benward. “Billy faces a crisis, he has to face a choice head on and realizes that he has to follow through with this choice. Billy says, ‘I am going to take this bet and I am going to do it,’ and by being an example by standing up for the others, interestingly enough, everybody comes and rallies around him. I think that is something we can look for when we stand for something that we feel passionately and deeply about. Even at the beginning, where he wasn't sure he was going to make it, the support of just a few key people helped him realize, ‘I can do this.’ You can see him finally get to the point with each worm that it is going to happen. By worm ten, it is his triumph.”

“The movie is also about a boy who overcomes his fears,” adds Luke Benward. “Billy has a weak stomach and he has to find the courage to eat worms. Some of the others have to face their fears as well. It’s also about friendship and how a boy who has no friends earns them.”

“When you see the boys start switching sides, you realize the movie is about true friendship,” adds Valerie Gould (real-life mom to Twitch). “It’s about living by your values and holding on to what is right. It's also about coming of age. Billy learns that he had the ability to do whatever he sets his mind to and that he doesn't need to be a follower. I think it's also about learning how to treat others with respect and treat others the way you want to be treated.”

“Billy is really an every boy in the sense that he's all of us at some point in our lives when we’ve experienced a lot of peer pressure,” relates Mark Johnson. “When you get defensive and scared, you end up doing something that may or may not be true to yourself. In this particular case, Billy makes a boast that he doesn't really believe in and then he has to live with that boast. It's really about being true to yourself and about standing up for what you believe. The fact is if you are who you truly are, then friends and wonderful things and the pluses and minuses of life will happen to you.”

Joe’s gang also includes The Puke Watchers, Bradley and Plug. Philip Daniel Bolden is the multiple-watch wearing Bradley, who performs his duties as the Official Time Keeper of the bet with soldier-like diligence. “Time is very important because Billy has to eat all of these 10 worms by 7:00 p.m.,” comments Bolden. “Bradley is also an official puke watcher and official worm keeper in the movie. He's a really cool character.”

Oklahoma City-native Blake Garrett was cast as the untidy and thick-headed Plug. “He’s a dirty guy, kind of the pig pen of the group,” says Garrett. “Plug's really a funny character, full of laughter. But he's also the tough guy and not the brightest in the group. He acts like a guard for Joe, even though Joe doesn’t always treat him very well.”

Filmmakers chose Alexander Agate as apprehensive Donny Pickett, the “Brain” of Joe’s outfit, charged with researching all the details of worm life. “Donny's a cowardly kind of kid in the beginning,” explains Agate. “But, he's the smart guy, he knows everything about the worms because studies them. Maybe he is kind of a nerd.”

Ryan Malgarini, who garnered big laughs playing Lindsay Lohan’s younger brother in the hit comedy Freaky Friday, was cast as the mocking Benjy. Joe’s right-hand-man eager for his approval, Benjy also serves as the Official Worm Cooker and gives newly created recipes unique names like “Radioactive Slime Delight,” “The Barfmallow” and “The Peanut Butter & Worm Jam Sandwich.”

“I liked the script because it’s about kid relationships and it has great morals. I also had to learn to cook and speak a little French for the role. Some of the lines were ‘merci beaucoup,’ ‘barf malloo’ and ‘saute ala mode’… very foreign,” laughs Malgarini. “My grandma helped me out on how to speak French. It was really quite fun.”

“Benjy says he’s French when he’s really not and he’s saying all of this French stuff that nobody really understands,” adds Malgarini. “His bike is loaded with cooking utensils and he’s got a big huge backpack with supplies. He can have food coming out of nowhere. Basically, I’m a traveling worm chef.”

“I think How to Eat Fried Worms is about not biting off more than you can chew. Basically, don't do something that you can't handle. And it's also about bullies and how they pick on you and how, in the end, they are just human beings like all of us,” sums up Malgarini.

The story also includes the nervous loner Adam Simms, played by actor Austin Rogers. Adam’s odd habits include smelling his fingers and stating the obviously disgusting in his misguided attempts to be helpful to Billy’s quest, after Joe assigns him to ‘Billy’s team.’

“He’s sort of the weirdo type in the group. Without knowing that he's grossing Billy out, he constantly does,” explains Rogers. “He's unusual, dresses weird, he has a weird bike, he just does a bunch of weird stuff and people kind of get annoyed with him. But he feels very helpful along the way when he gets to cook the omelet worm.”

“It's very interesting to see how all of the characters learn to accept their uniqueness. And accept one other's uniqueness. And embrace the fact that it's okay to be different, that it's okay to have a quirk,” comments Carol Gillingham. “To be a little strange is not such a bad thing.”

Rogers adds, “I loved working with all the kids and Bob Dolman. He is an excellent director. No offense to anyone, but it is very hard to work with us kids. You have got to have their complete attention.”

“I think Bob loves working with kids. The first thing he did when all of our kid actors arrived is to have everyone call them by their character names. Because, in a sense, that's how we see them,” explains Mark Johnson. “I think that's given a real looseness to the production and it's a wonderful enterprise. The number one goal for all of us is to make a good movie, but the implied goal is that everybody have a good time in the process.”

“Bob was really great about picking up on the traits the kids brought,” adds producer Philip Steuer. “For example, he made Benjy the cook when he saw him juggling salt and pepper shakers. He really tailored the script to the strengths of each actor.”

“I have a background in improvisational comedy writing, so I was always looking for possibilities that hadn't been on the page,” explains Dolman. “Ryan Malgarini, who plays Benjy, is very physical and so he is now the cook. Other things like that seeped in on the way. Once Ryan said the French word I gave him, he had so much fun that I said ‘you are going to be French.’ He doesn't know anything about being French, doesn't speak a word of French, but decided to play it like he was French. Things like that evolve.”

“You couldn't see everything in the auditions. Austin Rogers, who plays Adam Simms was cast as a kind of morose boy that I thought should just stand in one place. But, it turns out he's a great physical comedian,” reveals Dolman. “When you put him on a bicycle, he can make you laugh. When he dances, he can make you laugh. So I added things when I saw the strengths in any of them. They are all quite malleable. In children, you don't see all of their strengths until they loosen up a little bit.”

The boys really responded positively to Dolman’s changes. “I think I'm a lot like my character Donny because he's a quiet, cowardly kind of kid,” explains Alexander Agate. “He's kind of a nerd. Mr. Dolman actually said to me, ‘I invite you to create your own character, I just want it to be very natural for you.’ So, Donny's basically just like me.”

“In order to direct these kids, I had to let myself have fun,” adds Dolman. “I did want to come from their place, understand their energy, so we played a lot. This was like summer camp for all of us and for all of the crew and all the parents as well. I think everybody was inspired by these kids. I found it was the only way that I could really communicate to the kids. We just all banded together in a playful way.”

“Bob’s not afraid to express himself. If he feels happy, he will just jump around and start going crazy, being all goofy. If he’s sad, then he’ll tell you. Then we’ll make it up to him and then start being all goofy again,” explains Ryan Malgarini.

“He's a really fun director and just really outgoing. At one point, he was directing us swimming on his back in the water,” laughs Luke Benward. “If you need to talk to him about the scene, he'll just stop and answer all of your questions. He was really encouraging and helped me make it more energetic. He will also show us how to do it, he won't just tell us. He will just get up and go for it. It really helps us.”

“It's a true testament to Bob's leadership,” comments Kendra Benward. “He is not only a prince of a man, but as a director, he is a team player. There is no ego involved. He is so open to these kids and none of them feel intimidated to come to him. That's why he is getting the good stuff out of these kids because he is willing to take the time with them. Kids on film sets learn acting as they're doing it. They're professional actors, but they don't have 20 years of experience behind them, and Bob has really taken on that role to help teach them on this movie.”

“I very much believe in mentoring young people. I think it's great to be able to pass on your knowledge,” comments Dolman. “One of the great joys of working on this movie is that many of the kids in our young cast are interested in filmmaking. They wanted to see playback of takes and learn from the more experienced adult actors. I think some of them will go on to work in many capacities, including directing or producing or camera work. It was fun to show them how things worked and explain why we did it this way. They asked the camera people questions, they asked everyone in each department questions. I encouraged the kids, we all did.”

With the main kids signed on, the filmmakers turned their attention to casting the adults in the movie. The first order of business was finding the right pair of actors to play Billy’s parents. Tom Cavanagh was cast as his father Mitch, who has moved his family to a new town for his new job, and Kimberly Williams-Paisley plays Mitch’s wife, Helen.

“Tom brings a real believability, yet a certain eccentricity, to the part of the father and we wanted the father to be believable, at the same time like so many parents, certainly from the kids' point of view, slightly clueless,” laughs Mark Johnson.

Cavanagh’s storyline runs parallel to his son’s in the movie. “Billy is having trouble at school…he’s intimidated by people and worried about fitting in,” explains Dolman. “When you go to Mitch's place of work, you see that Mitch is facing the same sort of situation, just on an adult level. But it has a lot of the same ingredients. He's a bit nervous, he's clumsy, he drops things because he's nervous, and he's worried about what people are thinking of him. He ends up accepting an invitation to play tennis in the same way that Billy accepts the worm bet.”

“I hope that the kids watching will see that it's not just kids who feel afraid of new situations and feel intimidated by people who are bigger than they are. Adults go through the same thing,” adds Dolman. “Kids often think their parents are fearless, but in fact, adults feel all of the things that children feel.”

Kimberly Williams-Paisley agrees, saying “it’s a great little subplot that Bob included to show that adults have the same sorts of fears that kids do. Tom's character is afraid of his new job and his coworkers because he doesn't know them. He is the new kid on the block, and his boss invites us to play tennis and not thinking, he says ‘sure, we love to play tennis.’ Of course, we don't play tennis at all. We're terrible.”

“So we get stuck on the tennis court and he is terrified, which I just think is hysterical. What winds up happening is they show up and they’re not intimidating, they're just people,” adds Williams-Paisley.

The pair had a ball shooting the tennis scene where they face off against Mitch’s boss Rob Simon and his wife Whacker on the tennis court.

“That is not a funny scene,” deadpans Tom Cavanagh. “The correct description for that scene is shameless. Over the top would fit or you could probably call it broad. Anytime someone is standing around with mats, pads, and trampolines and saying, ‘Dude, do anything you want,’ it’s very hard to resist. I would say free forming is the nicest way you can put what we're doing out there.”

“We really were able to get goofy on the tennis court and I had a great day,” laughs Williams-Paisley. “Tom and I were flailing on the big thick mat. We love to do that kind of thing.”

“Kimberly and Tom are not afraid to do physical comedy – they are athletes, actually,” observes Dolman. “They take pratfalls, they fall down, stand up, drop things…it's wonderful. Sometimes, they are out and out clown-like. In a way, they are big kids. It helps again with that theme of the story…grownups, they are like kids, they are just bigger. Plus, they both have a great sense of comedic timing.”

In addition to the physicality of the role, Williams-Paisley was also attracted to the project for other reasons. “I thought the script was adorable and relatable. To me, the mom read like a perfect mom. Laid back, easy going, with a sense of humor, adoring and happy to be a mom. I like that part of Helen. She’s a good sport and kind of sarcastic, but also madly in love with her children and husband. She’s also turned into a little bit of a goof, a little bit of a klutz.”

“This set is a great place to be having fun and because it is a kid's movie, there is that kid's energy,” observes Williams-Paisley. “There is a lot of silliness and Bob is very laid back, which is terrific. He is also one of the only directors I've seen who stands next to the camera, sort of like the way they used to do it. Bob is working the kids and he is shouting encouragements at them in the middle of the scene, so it lends a certain spontaneity. He is great with the kids.”

Williams-Paisley was also keen to work with her co-star. “Tom Cavanagh is hysterical. I've admired his work for a long time. He is very funny and he throws something new in every single take. I’m never quite sure what he is going to do, so that's why it’s fun to act with him, because he is always surprising. Plus, he recently worked with my sister – they played each other’s love interest. Now this summer, I get him. So it’s kind of all in the family!”

“I am knocking them off one by one,” laughs Cavanagh. “That's the reason I did this movie, any Williams who takes up acting, I plan to act with them.”

Other adult actors featured include James Rebhorn as Principal “Boiler Head” Burdock and Clint Howard makes a cameo appearance as the cantankerous short order cook, Uncle Ed.

Filmmakers chose to shoot the story in Austin due to the producers’ previous positive experiences in Central Texas and the community’s “anytown” quality. “Mark Johnson and Phil Steuer have made several movies in Austin so they have a familiarity with the Austin film community,” explains director Bob Dolman. “Environmentally, Austin fit the story and there are excellent movie crews here.”

In early July 2005, filmmakers held an open casting call at a local hotel for school-aged background extras and were overwhelmed with the response when over 2000 kids from Austin and as far away as Houston and San Antonio showed up. Organizers had been expecting around 200 and attributed the remarkable turnout to the popularity of the book.

Those young actors were used to populate the schoolyard, classrooms, hallways, library and cafeteria of Zilker Elementary. Filming in the school took place during the first two weeks of shooting, so that filmmakers would be finished at that location when teachers returned the second week in August to prep for their school year.

The school schedules of the principal cast made the shooting schedule particularly tight. “Logistically, we were against a ticking clock with the start of school. We wanted to finish in time for the principal actors to start in their own schools,” adds producr Philip Steuer. “We were able to schedule around most of the kids school starts, which was the blessing of hiring kids from other states, they all went back to school at different times. That actually was a bonus for us.”

“The film is set in contemporary times but I think we all felt it had the ability to be a period movie,” comments Steuer. “We certainly wanted it to have a period feel without being a period movie…not really knowing when or where you were, more of timeless period than a specific period. The kids are all on bikes and there’s not a lot of technology, but the idea was to have timeless sense to it.”

“The book was written in the 1970s and has a pre-computer innocence about it. It depicts a world that feels almost forgotten,” comments director Bob Dolman. “We’ve intended to present a world of boys as perhaps it ought to be. We wanted to quiet their world, so that their only real concern is ‘gee it's hard moving into a new place, trying to fit in, getting picked on.’ In a way, the theme of the movie could be that children of that age should have problems no bigger than ‘I have to eat a worm.’”

Production designer Caty Maxey and costume designer Kathleen Kiatta were charged with creating this any-town, timeless feel. “Bob’s marching orders were to keep it simple,” states Steuer. “All the clothes are contemporary and we didn’t build any elaborate sets.”

“Bob’s priority was the boys’ comfort,” says Kiatta. “For the most part I was given free rein, but he really wanted me to hone in on the boys as individuals and try to make them all different. Once I got to spend a little time with them, they each brought something very special to the table. I got to be most creative with Twitch's costumes – the artwork on his pajamas and some of his t-shirts was all drawn on by hand.”

Maxey took advantage of the classic Craftsman architecture prevalent in the Travis Heights neighborhood of South Austin and the adjacent idyllic Stacy Park to highlight the film’s timeless feel. By using a pre-defined color scheme, the art department was able to seamlessly blend the bedroom/hallway/bathroom set, built on stage at Austin Studios, with the interiors and exteriors of the practical Forrester House that were shot on location at a real residence in the Northwest Hills neighborhood.

Twitch’s house was found in that same neighborhood when location scouts discovered a recently sold home that was about to go through major renovations. The production came in and constructed the kitchen set (specific to the scene that allowed Techno Mouth to hang from the rafters) inside the shell of the home.

Maxey’s team also constructed an elaborate dilapidated bait shack in Austin and trucked it to the Blue Hole location, about an hour away in the Texas Hill Country. The formerly private natural swimming hole was recently donated to the City of Wimberley with the intention of making it into an official park.

“The whole final sequence was shot in the most beautiful place with a swimming hole right beside us all the time,” comments Dolman. “The weather was between 95 and 105 degrees and all the boys could think about was that river.”

“You could practically see the sirens calling them,” laughs producer Mark Johnson. “But they have a professional job acting in a movie. It was difficult for them, in this idyllic setting with a river going by. They just wanted to get done with their scene so they could run over there and throw rocks in the water and poke something with a stick. Yet you can't do it, you're working. It so goes against what being a kid is.”

The filmmakers managed to keep the cast out of the water during the shooting day, but they were allowed to swim after wrap in the evenings. “The water was so clear!” exclaims Hallie Kate Eisenberg. “At the end of the week, Ryan and I pushed our director in the water and then all of the kids jumped in. There was even a huge tree that we all climbed and jumped off of into the freezing water.”

Luke Benward was the lucky cast member, as he got to be in the water during the shooting day as part of the scene. “Blue Hole was awesome! It was so pretty,” exclaims Benward. “The cameras were in the water on platforms and sometimes I would go under the platform and hold on to bars. They had scuba divers who were there just in case you got a cramp or something. They taught me a little bit about scuba diving between scenes.”

“It was difficult just because they had so much energy that just wanted to run in every different direction,” says Bob Dolman. “The kids are really quite amazing and disciplined for 10 to 13 year-old actors. Nevertheless they are kids. When we had all nine of the worm boys in so many scenes, they just had another ideas a lot of time. It was very easy for them to be distracted, just in the ways that boys will be distracted. That I found to be the most exhausting part of directing them.”

Despite the challenges of working with his young cast, Dolman could not have been more pleased with them. “They have a genuineness about them. They don't seem like they are show business kids. They don't seem to have big egos and are very giving to each other. So they come across on camera quite naturally,” reveals Dolman. “As the director, I just tried to keep their natural selves in front of the camera. It wasn't about performing as much as it was just keeping them as genuine as possible, trying to pull forth from them what I already saw in them as people. They all seemed to just be able to act out of their own place, which to me is great acting.”

Austin Diner was the local eatery transformed into The Brown Toad Diner. The art department decorated the interior with thousands of toads and frogs gathered from local bric-a-brac and thrift stores, which the owner of Austin Diner decided to keep when they re-opened for business. On the roof, they placed a giant toad that the special effects department rigged to stick its tongue out, like it was eating flies. Inside the diner, the kids meet Adam Simms’ Uncle Ed, played by Clint Howard.

The production utilized real worms, gummy worms, rubber worms, stunt worms and fake edible worms to play the title characters.

Casting real worms presented unique challenges to the production. “Really early in pre-production, we were very concerned about not killing any of them,” explains producer Philip Steuer. “We met with a worm specialist named Steven Kutcher in Los Angeles, who is an entomologist and does bugs for movies. He told us that heat will affect the way worms move and you have to keep them cool.”

Of course, the production was slated to film during the height of the summer heat. “When we began working in Texas, our property master Dwayne Grady spearheaded their care and took it on full force with regards to who would do what with the worms. In our basement of the production office, we had a worm farm, home to thousands of live worms. As product placement, one company actually gave us living habitats (elaborate tins of dirt) to keep them in.”

The prop department also instructed the crew to save certain leftover food including: old toast, pancakes, fruit/vegetable scraps, crushed egg shells, coffee grounds and dead flowers and leaves to feed the worms.

Property master Dwayne Grady and his crew of five took their care extremely seriously. “On set the worms were always kept in special temperature-controlled containers,” explains assistant property master Amy Bell. “They were treated like movie stars.” Gummy worms and rubber worms were used as stand-ins to keep the stars out of the heat for as long as possible to preserve the energy of their performances. When production wrapped, several crewmembers adopted many of the stars and took them home to live in their gardens.

Among other things, special effects coordinator Everette Byrom, III and his brother, special effects foreman Craig Byrom, were responsible for the practical stunt worms. For example, “The Burning Fireball” is cooked in a boiling pot and the special effects wizards made the concoction gurgle and look boiling hot, even though the liquid was room temperature and safe for the actors to throw stuff in the pot and splash the contents without getting burned.

The props department filled the counter tops of Twitch’s kitchen with a range of things the actors could throw into the pot. “We threw everything from a household kitchen,” explains Ryan Malgarini, who plays the worm chef Benjy. “Lettuce, hot sauce, pepper, just about anything that you could find in the house, we put into this pot and cooked it and boiled it and fried it. It was crazy and disgusting!”

Luke Benward’s reaction to eating “The Burning Fireball” worm was natural and real. “The pot had a big stew full of bananas and banana peels and glass bottles and hot sauce and cayenne papers and then they put the edible prop worm inside,” remembers Benward. “It was red and it was actually in the stew they made. It just tasted really bad. It's was hot the first time it touched my tongue and then it just got gross.”

The special effects technicians also rigged the "Radioactive Slime Delight" worm to splat worm parts without actually harming a real worm. “It's a worm that goes in the microwave and is turning, turning, turning, and all of a sudden it blows up all over the microwave,” explains Benward. “There are pieces of worm everywhere and I have to eat it with a spatula. It was actually corn syrup and edible worm flying everywhere, so it was all sticky and that one had no taste, but the texture in your mouth was like…let’s just say, that's the one that I want to get in one take.”

Benward was grateful for the assistance of special effects and props departments in his worm-eating escapades. “For one scene, I did have to put a real worm in my mouth – a Canadian night crawler. It wasn't too gross, it was actually kind of good,” Benward comments surprisingly. “I didn't bite into it, but the outside was salty and slimy. One of our props guys said ‘I wouldn't let you put anything in your mouth that I wouldn't put in my mouth.’ He tasted everything before I did. That was really awesome.”

Prop department member Doug Field actually made the edible worms in his kitchen at home. The worms were molded out of gelatin and hand painted with edible paint. They came in flavors like pistachio, vanilla, tapioca and fruit punch. “The first one I had to eat – “La Big Porker” – was supposedly fried in pig fat. So on the outside they made it look like it had fat hanging off of it and made it look like some of the worm slime melted into the fat. The special effects people also made it squirt goo. It was gross,” explains Benward.

Several of the edible worms were more elaborate. “’Brown Toad Bloater Special’ is supposed to be deep fried. Actually, it’s portabella mushroom with molasses, chocolate syrup and maple syrup. That mixture of syrups all mixed on the worm and he poured it into my mouth and it stuck out because it was really hard to eat,” remembers Benward.

In the movie, the “Barfmallow” worm is made of marshmallows, tuna fish, ketchup and mayonnaise. “Since that would have actually made me sick, they used that strawberry stuff that is in cereal. It was actually pretty good,” reveals Benward.

Even though their characters are non worm-eaters, over the course of production, most of the cast did taste the edible worms out of curiosity.

“I didn’t really want to eat any of them. Even though they are fake edible worms, they still are pretty nasty,” comments Malgarini. “They each got more sick and disgusting as we went on. But ‘The Green Slusher’ tasted like cereal…it was mix of Trix and Lucky Charms. It actually tasted pretty good. That’s the one I liked the most.”

“Out of solidarity for Billy, I ate the worms,” admits Tom Cavanagh, who plays Billy’s dad. “They're gross. It wasn't a pretty sight. Do you know who ate none of the worms? Kimberly Williams. I had to eat all of her worms, too.”

Williams wasn’t the only female cast member who didn’t sample the props. “I didn't eat any of the worms because they have gelatin in them and I'm a vegetarian,” explains Hallie Kate Eisenberg. “But to see all of these boys standing there lined up, tasting the worms all together, putting these worms in their mouths. It's hysterical to watch. Ty, who plays Woody, and I did get to do this scene with ice cream over and over and over. By the last few takes we were miming eating them. We had to eat about 25 ice cream bars, which is a lot better than worms.”

The young cast and their families – parents, grandparents and siblings - had a unique experience during the 8 weeks of production. “Even though they were surrounded by all of this film making equipment, they just behaved like kids at summer camp. I hope that comes across in the movie,” comments director Bob Dolman.

Producer Philip Steuer agrees. “There was archery, water sports, cooking, campfires.” Producers threw the cast and crew a bowling party to kick off filming that set the tone for the entire production. As filming progressed, the cast often went on outings together during their off time to places such as the local water park, the Austin Duck Tour and miniature golf.

“It really felt like we were all away at summer camp and our camp project was making this movie,” says Hallie Kate Eisenberg. “Bob had us call each other by our character names, like when you get a nickname at camp. We were all from different places and we all came together while the weather’s warm and learned new things. Instead of cabins, we stayed at an apartment complex and after work, we all swam in the pool and hung out with each other.”

The project was also a unique acting environment, one that echoed the themes in the film. “In most of my movies, I act with adults or maybe, at most, two or three other kids,” explains Adam “Joe” Hicks. “So, with this movie – wow - 10 other kids - that's really cool. When I arrived I was thinking ‘I hope I get along with everyone, I hope everyone likes me.’”

“When you have this many kids, you do worry about them all getting along,” admits Philip Steuer. “That certainly wasn’t an issue at all, some of them will probably be life-long friends.”

“They became their characters and the friendship that this movie needs to show, is a friendship that now they completely have,” agrees producer Mark Johnson. “These kids are together every second of the day. They have become a gang of friends and that friendship works for the movie. In fact, sometimes we have to fight it a little bit, because there is a rivalry in the movie.”

Instead of a club house, the young actors had a green room, which was an air conditioned trailer, parked near the set, which included a foosball table, video games, movies and musical instruments, couches, bean bags and lots of movie posters on the walls.

“The green room is a trailer where we take a break while the crew moves the cameras around. We escape from the sun and play games. We even used the instruments in there to get a band going called ‘Production 5.’ It lasted for about maybe one, two weeks,” laughs Blake “Plug” Garrett.

“Blake got some tips from Ethan our sound mixer, who plays guitar,” shares Hallie Kate Eisenberg. “We had it all worked out…Austin is the band manager and lead harmonica player, Adam plays drums, and Ryan also played guitar. Luke and I were the singers. All of us wrote songs together.”

The adult actors also experienced some of the life-imitating-art-imitating-life phenomenon of the project. “I came into this movie towards the end of it, and I felt like the new kid on the block,” reveals Kimberly Williams-Paisley. “I always have some trepidation going into a new situation…who are these people and how I am going to fit in here? How long will it take for them to get to know me? I think a lot of people can relate to this story.”

“On my first day on set Ty, who plays my youngest son, bet me 20 bucks that he could beat me at foosball. So, I took him on and he did beat me,” admits Williams-Paisley. “But he did have a partner, so there were two against one. Then I teamed up with Ty's mom and went against the two kids, and they beat us hands down. These kids really know what they're doing in foosball. Ty is a little firecracker.”

“On this movie, there's about 500 bets made a day and no one ever follows through with them. Everyone says things like ‘I will pay you five bucks if you can get the basketball in the hoop.’ Everything is a bet,” laughs Hallie Kate Eisenberg.

Director Bob Dolman thinks that audiences will enjoy seeing any eventual behind-the-scenes features about the making of the movie. “I would love for people to be able to see what it has been like for these kids to go through this, because it has been unique. The kids are really featured all the way through this movie, there are hardly any adults in it. The kids dominate and carry the movie. To see how they pulled that off, how they worked with me and with the crew. To see how all of the parents helped these kids to learn their lines and be ready on set every day. The families helped us enormously, there was a huge collaboration that went on with the parents, grandparents and the friends of the kids that were here.”

The ‘worm kids’ (as they began calling themselves) and their families were so touched by their journey that they made their own video to thank their director for the experience. “I really felt like they were thanking the whole crew, all of the people that were involved. They were just warm and genuinely grateful,” says Dolman. “It just touched everybody."

One final challenge for filmmakers was scheduling the ADR (additional dialogue replacement, or sound “looping”) before the voices of the boys changed. “We wanted to do it as soon as possible after wrapping principal photography. Both Adam Hicks and Ryan Malgarini are 13 and their voices will pop soon, big growth spurts are coming,” relates producer Philip Steuer.

After a quick 39 days of production, principal photography wrapped on Sunday, September 18^th, 2005, along tree-lined Highway 21 in Bastrop County, forty-five minutes outside Austin. For filmmakers, cast and crew, summer camp was over and it was time to go back to school.

Eleven year-old Luke Benward was cast in his first film at age 5, appearing alongside Mel Gibson and Madeleine Stowe in We Were Soldiers. In the two years following, he shot television pilots for “Life on the Water” and “Family Affair” starring Tim Curry and Gary Cole.

He was cast in the family film Because of Winn Dixie at age 8 after choosing to audition with a toothpick in his mouth. The choice set him apart from the hundreds of boys vying for the role of Stevie Dewberry, one of the two brothers tormenting Annasophia Robb’s character. Director Wayne Wang loved the idea and used it in the film.

Benward stars as Angel/Michael in Martina McBride’s award-winning music video for “Concrete Angel.” The clip was nominated for a Grammy, among other awards, and McBride took home the prize for Female Video of the Year at the 2003 CMT Flameworthy Awards.

His commercial credits include campaigns for McDonalds, Nintendo, American Express, and Hamburger Helper.

Part of an entertainment family, Benward also loves to sing and dance and got his acting start tagging along to auditions with his mother – actress, acting coach and former CMT veejay Kenda Benward. His father, Aaron Benward, is half of the country music duo Blue County. He has two younger sisters, Ella and Gracie.

Born and raised in Tennessee, he enjoys riding his bike and playing football and video games. Benward read the book How To Eat Fried Worms when he was in the 3^rd grade, but never ate a worm until he began work on the film. He did, however, once eat a roly poly bug on a dare.

At thirteen, Hallie Kate Eisenberg is already a seasoned actress with numerous film, television, stage, and commercial credits on her resume.

Eisenberg made her feature film debut at age 5, playing Marie in DreamWorks’ family film Paulie. She then portrayed Barbara in Michael Mann’s Academy Award nominated film The Insider starring Russell Crowe and Little Miss in Christopher Columbus’ Bicentennial Man starring Robin Williams. Eisenberg went on to co-star with Minnie Driver in Beautiful, directed by Sally Field.

She played Helen Keller in the award-winning ABC-Wonderful World of Disney TV movie “The Miracle Worker.” Eisenberg also appeared in three movies of the week: as Eleanor in “Nicholas’ Gift,” Josie in “Blue Moon,” and Jenny in “Swing Vote.” She has guest starred on the FOX TV series “Get Real” and the CBS-TV drama, “Presidio Med.”

On cable television, Eisenberg recently co-starred with Patricia Heaton and Jeff Daniels in the 2004 remake of Neil Simon's “The Goodbye Girl.” On HBO, she played Abby Mills on “A Little Inside;” and in the upcoming feature, “Jesus, Mary and Joey” she plays Melissa, a cancer patient.

Eisenberg made her Broadway debut in the Roundabout’s star-studded play, "The Women," which also aired on PBS as part of its Stage and Screen series.

Commercial credits include promos for the Independent Film Channel (as Christie, the “hot young Indie director“) and a four-year campaign as the spokesperson for Pepsi. These spots include the voices of several celebrities (Joe Pesci, Aretha Franklin, Isaac Hayes, and Marlon Brando) and appearances by KISS, Faith Hill, baseball great Ken Griffey, Jr., Nascar’s Jeff Gordon and Halle Berry.

Eisenberg received the Young Artists Special Achievement Award for most outstanding young performer in television advertising. The Young Artists Awards also nominated her for outstanding young actress in a feature film (Beautiful); and outstanding young actress for her portrayal of Helen Keller in “The Miracle Worker.” She was nominated for best young actress in a feature film (Bicentennial Man) for Hollywood Reporter’s Youngstar Awards. Eisenberg also won a Camie award for her performance in “The Miracle Worker.”

In addition, Eisenberg has served as a special correspondent for “Entertainment Tonight” and has covered events such as the Gotham Awards, Independent Spirit Awards, Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards and the Emmy Awards®.

When not acting, Hallie competes in equestrian competitions with her horse, Nate. Eisenberg has a sister, Kerry, and a brother, Jesse. Rounding out the household are three dogs and two cats. She lives in New Jersey with her parents, Amy and Barry. Eisenberg read the book How To Eat Fried Worms while working on the movie.

Thirteen year-old Adam Hicks starred in the leading role of Brady Davis in the feature film Down and Derby. He was recently seen on the big screen in Disney’s remake of The Shaggy Dog starring Tim Allen and in The 12 Dogs of Christmas, released on DVD in November of 2005.

Beginning at age 5, Hicks was a series regular playing Young Dave on the show “Titus,” which ran for three seasons on the FOX network. He was also a series regular on the Frank Oz directed TV pilot “The Funkhousers,” co-starred on ABC’s “That Was Then,” and was the Discovery Channel’s “The Discovery Kid 2000.” In addition to numerous commercial credits, he has participated in several stage productions in Las Vegas, including playing the title role in “Tom Sawyer.”

Born and raised in Las Vegas, Hicks first knew he wanted to act after seeing the movie Home Alone and began bugging his mother, a nurse, continuously until she let him begin auditioning. His first job was a national commercial for “The Best of Andy Griffith,” in which he played Opie.

Hicks has a 10 year old brother and their pets include 2 dogs and 5 cats, all rescued animals. He has a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do and has twice been a National Champion. His other interests include skateboarding, rugby, rap, Hip-Hop dance and playing the drums. He is also a fan of the Rolling Stones and David Bowie.

Eleven year-old Austin Rogers will be seen in the soon-to-be released comedy Blind Guy starring Jane Seymour and Eddie Kaye Thomas. He is also featured in the direct-to-video kids project Undercover Kids. His short film credits include Two Divorced guys in A Bar and Three Body Problem.

Rogers’ television credits include HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “According to Jim,” “Life on a Stick,” and “The Orlando Jones Show.”

Also a singer and dancer, Rogers starred in the leading role of Nick Burns in the play “A Thousand Clowns” at the Norris Theatre in Redondo Beach, CA and has been a recurring soloist with the Calabasas Chamber Orchestra. He has also appeared in numerous local productions at the Performing Arts Center in Tampa.

His commercial credits include national spots for Office Depot, Toyota, Sprint, Six Flags, Holiday Inn, Reynold’s Wrap, and a currently airing hilarious spot for Staples, in which Rogers presses an “easy button” under his school desk.

Rogers read the book How To Eat Fried Worms this year. He has never tried a worm but has eaten beetles and flies, “basically any bug that falls into my pool. They crunch like popcorn.” Rogers lives both in Tampa, Florida with his father and Los Angeles with his grandmother.

Twelve year-old Alexander Gould began his acting career at age two with his first speaking role. Since then he has had a successful career on the big and small screens, including providing the voice of Nemo in the hit Disney/Pixar animated feature Finding Nemo. And more recently provided the voice of the title character in the Disney release Bambi II, The Great Prince of the Forest. His other feature work includes the independent film Wheelmen and the Wes Craven-produced suspense thriller They.

Gould has appeared in recurring roles on “American Dreams” and "Ally McBeal" and co-starred in the series "Boomtown." He has guest-starred on numerous critically acclaimed television shows, including "Malcolm In The Middle," "7th Heaven," "Family Law,” “Freaks and Geeks,” and "Even Stevens.” He was also seen in the television movies "The Day The World Ended" and "The Point of Origin."

He can currently be seen as Shane Botwin, the imaginative youngest son of Mary-Louise Parker, in the Showtime series “Weeds.”

Gould, an avid reader, has noted that How to Eat Fried Worms is one of his favorite books. Gould lives with his family – including sisters Emma and Kelly, five dogs, two goats, four horses, one cat and one bunny in California.

Fourteen year-old Ryan Malgarini charmed movie-goers as Harry Coleman, the quintessential bratty-yet-lovable younger brother in the hit Disney comedy Freaky Friday starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan. In 2002, Malgarini filmed his first movie The United States of Leland, portraying the title character as a six-year-old in flashbacks opposite Academy Award-winning actor Kevin Spacey.

Malgarini can currently be seen in the Disney Channel Original Movie Go Figure playing Bradley Kingsford, a gadget-building computer whiz. He has also been seen on the Disney Channel as one of the guest hosts of “Click-it to Pick-it.” Malgarini's segment reunites him with his Go Figure co-star Tania Gunadi. His other television appearances include “Spin City,” “The Gilmore Girls,” and “Malcolm in the Middle.”

A natural comic performer, Malgarini first caught the acting bug observing his grandmother’s involvement in show business. When he was 8 years old, he tagged along to be an extra in another of her commercials and wound up featured in the ad, along with his grandparents, his uncle, and R & B legend Lou Rawls. Other commercials followed, including spots for McDonald's and Washington Mutual Savings Bank.

Malgarini’s interests include basketball, baseball (his grandfather played professionally), skateboarding, magic, and he plays piano and is learning guitar. A born mimic, Malgarini enjoys doing imitations of Jerry Seinfeld, Louie Anderson, and Steve Burns, the peppy host of Nick, Jr.'s Blues Clues. He also enjoys participating in fund-raising events, such as the Variety Club Children's Charity of Southern Nevada Silent Auction and the Ronald McDonald House Walk-a-Thon, which he co-hosted with Anne Hathaway (The Princess Diaries) and Jeremy Sumpter (Peter Pan).

He lives in Las Vegas with his grandparents John and Gloria Malgarini and their rescue-dog Mia. He frequently enjoys spending time with his extended family that live across the country—from Seattle to New York City. He once made a bet that he wouldn’t talk for two days. While extremely difficult for him, Malgarini did follow through…for a day and a half. He has not yet read How To Eat Fried Worms, but he plans to soon.

On television, Bolden has guest-starred on “According to Jim,” “CSI: Miami,” “Malcolm in the Middle,” and has had recurring roles on both “My Wife and Kids” and “The King of Queens.” He also appeared in the telefilm “Play’d: A Hip Hop Story.”

Bolden, who was born in New Orleans, had a breakout role in a McDonald’s commercial with Kobe Bryant and had a leading role in Macy Gray’s music video “Sweet Baby.” He lives in Southern California with his family.

He is a fan of mystery books and has yet to read How To Eat Fried Worms. He bets his dad when they play video games, but he always wins. Some of Bolden’s favorite activities include football, reading, acting, and listening to soul/R & B music.

Ty Panitz decided he wanted to be an actor when he was four years old. Now six, Panitz was recently seen in his feature film debut, as the youngest sibling Ethan Beardsley in the remake of the classic family film Yours, Mine And Ours.

As a baby, Panitz began his career by doing commercials including a stint as the Gerber baby at 9 months of age. His interests include swimming, bike riding, tennis, and football. Panitz is a devout Philadelphia Eagles fan and cried when they lost in the Super Bowl. His favorite songs are The Star Spangled Banner and God Bless America, which he sang for his Woody audition, complete with hand signs.

Panitz lives in Manhattan Beach, CA with his two younger brothers, Parris and Sawyer, and his mother, who read the book How To Eat Fried Worms to him aloud. His favorite book is Where’s Waldo, which was a gift from co-star Hallie Kate Eisenberg.

Born in Philadelphia, Mr. Rebhorn earned his BA from Wittenberg University and his MFA from Columbia. He lives in New Jersey with his wife and two daughters.

Mr. Rebhorn's impressive list of credits encompasses both comedy and drama. His many film appearances include roles in Meet The Parents, The Last Shot, Far From Heaven, The Talented Mr. Ripley, The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle, Snow Falling on Cedars, The Game, Independence Day, Last Ball, If Lucy Fell, White Squall, Up Close and Personal, I Love Trouble, My Fellow Americans, Guarding Tess, Carlito's Way, Scent of a Woman, Lorenzo's Oil, Blank Check, 8 Seconds, My Cousin Vinny, White Sands, Regarding Henry, Basic Instinct, Silkwood, and Cat's Eye.

On Broadway he has appeared in “Dinner at Eight,” “The Man Who Had All the Luck,” “I’m Not Rappaport,” the Tony Award-winning revival of “Our Town,” and most recently in the long-running hit revival of “Twelve Angry Men.” Earlier, he received a Dramalogue Award for his performance in the LaJolla Playhouse production of “Nebraska.” He played Harvey in “Ancestral Voices” and Captain Anderson in “Far East,” both at Lincoln Center, and has appeared in numerous off-Broadway productions at The Manhattan Theatre Club, The New York Shakespeare Festival, and The Ensemble Studio Theatre, among many others.

He has performed lead roles in a variety of series and TV movies including “The Book of Daniel” with Aiden Quinn, “Third Watch,” “Seinfeld,” “Law and Order,” “Bright Shining Lie,” “Mistrial,” “The Wright Verdicts,” “The Guiding Light,” “I'll Fly Away,” “Sarah, Plain and Tall,” “Kate and Allie,” and Tom Hanks' HBO mini-series “From the Earth to the Moon.”

Currently co-starring in the hit ABC Television sitcom “According to Jim,” Kimberly Williams-Paisley first lit up the screen as the radiant young bride in the comedy feature film series Father of the Bride and Father of the Bride Part II.

Currently, Williams-Paisley completed filming Warner Brothers’ We are Marshall, co-starring opposite Matthew McConaughey for director McG. The film is based on the true story of the tragic loss of the Marshall University football team in a 1970 plane crash – and how the school found the strength and confidence to recover and return to glory.

As “According to Jim” enters it’s sixth season, Williams-Paisley continues to evolve in her role opposite Jim Belushi and Courtney-Thorne Smith, and recently added to her versatile and growing credits by directing an episode of the show which aired in February, 2006.

She recently wrote and directed and starred with Patrick Dempsey in the short film Shade, for which she won the Director’s Choice: Outstanding Directing and Acting at the Sedona International Film Festival. She is editing a second short, Numero Dos, which was shot last summer in New Orleans.

Williams-Paisley has also been establishing her creativity outside the performing arena beginning with accomplishments as a published writer for such publications as In Style and Redbook magazines.

Her other credits include the ABC Family Network’s Lucky Seven, and the Lifetime Original feature Identity Theft, on both of which she also served as Co-Producer. She co-starred in The Christmas Shoes for The CBS Network, appeared in ABC’s Relativity, in the NBC mini series The Tenth Kingdom and in the CBS movie Follow the Stars Home.

Williams-Paisley made her Broadway debut in the Tony Award-Winning “The Last Night at Ballyhoo” and has appeared on stage in “The Vagina Monologues,” and in “All in the Timing.” She has also performed on the London Stage in David Mamet’s “Speed the Plow.”

Williams-Paisley is actively involved with the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s research, St. Jude Hospital and the XP Foundation.

Tom Cavanagh, popular star of NBC’s critically acclaimed series “Ed,” and the more recent CBS/VH1 series, “Love Monkey,” has been working non-stop in both film and television .

He just completed two features, the lead role in a medical thriller called Hospital, directed by Tony Kranz and Cake Eaters, directed by Mary Stuart Masterson. Prior to that he did the Sue Kramer helmed romantic comedy, Gray Matters co-starring Heather Graham and Bridget Moynahan. He also stars with Sally Fields and Ben Chaplin in the upcoming emotional indie film Two Weeks, directed by Steve Stockman.

Prior to that, Cavanagh starred in two independent features. Alchemy is a romantic comedy written and directed by Evan Oppenheimer and was featured in New York’s Tribeca Film Festival. Heart Of The Storm is a taut thriller where Cavanagh, in a distinct departure from his usual persona as an easy-going charmer, plays Simpson, an escaped convict who takes refuge in the home of a mother and her two young daughters while a hurricane rages outside. That film was shown at the Ft. Lauderdale Film Festival in 2004

On the small screen, Cavanagh starred in the ABC’s Christmas movie “Snow;” reprised his popular role as Dan - Zach Braff’s older brother - on “Scrubs;” and played Christine Lahti’s gay, drug addicted brother on the critically acclaimed “Jack & Bobby.”

During his down time from “Ed,” Cavanagh starred as Bobby Strong in the Broadway hit musical “Urinetown,” as well as in Showtime’s multiple Emmy

Award® and Peabody Award-winning movie “Bang, Bang You’re Dead,” for which he was nominated for an Emmy Award®.

Cavanagh was born in Ottawa, Canada, the second of five children. When he was six, his family moved to a small village in the African nation of Ghana. His father set up and education program to train local teachers in modern methods of learning, while his mother taught the village locals. When the family returned to Canada, Cavanagh entered high school in Sherbrooke, Quebec and later attended Queens University in Ontario. There he pursued his growing interest in theatre and music, as well as becoming a class-A athlete, playing both varsity hockey and basketball. He was soon cast in the Broadway revival of the musical, “Shenandoah.” Other stage credits include “Grease,” “A Chorus Line,” “Cabaret,” and “Brighton Beach Memoirs.”

Eleven-year-old Andrew Gillingham is making his feature film debut in How To Eat Fried Worms.

Gillingham’s first love is baseball, but through constant exposure, his interest in acting is growing. From the age of 1, Gillingham tagged along with his older sister Allison (who began acting at age 4 and is now 14) to her workshops and productions at the Humphreys School of Musical Theatre, the training wing of Houston’s Theatre Under the Stars (TUTS).

He began appearing in small productions such as church Christmas programs and YoungStars productions at the Humphreys School. In the third grade, at age 9, he was cast in TUTS’ major stage production of “Brigadoon” at Houston’s Hobby Center. Following that, the Houston Grand Opera called and asked him to audition for the opera “Salsipuedes”, in which he was also cast.

Gillingham’s commercial credits include a spot for the TUTS production of “Scrooge,” a local spot for Reliant Energy, and national spots for Sprint PCS and RoadRunner. He also guest starred on a local television program called “I Don’t Wanna Grow Up.”

Besides being a baseball fanatic and an Astros fan, Gillingham also loves the WNBA Houston Comets. A Boy Scout since first grade, his other interests include shooting hoops, swimming, and playing video games. His favorite type of music is oldies. An Honor Student, he lives in Houston with his family and their dog and two millipedes.

Thirteen year-old Blake Garrett appears in a featured role in the independent feature film Little Flower, now making the festival circuit. His TV series credits include the pilot episode of the television series “Inconceivalbe.”

At age 10, Garrett traveled with the arena show “Barney’s Colorful World International Tour.” The tour ran from the fall of 2003 until the spring of 2004 and Garrett starred in the role of Mike, which he also plays in the subsequent video.

Born in Austin, Texas and raised in Edmond where he attends middle school, Blake discovered his love of performing at age 8, appearing in numerous local productions including the leading roles of the Magician in “Aladdin and His Magical Lamp” and as Charlie Brown in “Peanuts: A Charlie Brown Tribute.” Other theater credits include “The Wizard of Oz,” “Annie” and “Grease.” In Los Angeles, he’s trained with coaches from TVI Actors Studio and The Young Performer’s Studio. In Oklahoma City, he’s trained and performed with ACTS Acting Academy, Lyric Musical Theatre Academy and StageStruck Studios.

Garrett’s interests include football, wrestling, wakeboarding, listening to his iPod, and playing video games. He lives in Edmond, Oklahoma with his mother, his younger brother Ryan, their dog, 2 cats, and a snake. Spicy foods are a way of life for Garrett, which he proved by eating wasabi on a dare, shocking his friends who were unaware he actually likes the sweet and sour condiment.

Agate got his acting start doing commercials, for companies like Mattel, and civic theater near his home in Southern California.

At age 5, Agate’s mother started him in both Tae Kwon Do and acting so he could interact with other kids, since he is home-schooled. He now has a 2^nd Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do. Additionally, he is an aspiring paleontologist/zoologist and enjoys writing stories, reading, and acting.

He read the book How To Eat Fried Worms at age 10 and counts Fire Bringer, The Name of the Game Was Murder, and The Redwall Series among his favorite books.

ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS

Bob Dolman (Written for the Screen & Directed By)

mostly as a writer. He began his career when he joined the staff of the ’70s

sitcom “WKRP in Cincinnati.” He went on to write for SCTV and won two Emmy

Awards®. He then created the Showtime comedy series “Poison” and wrote all

of its episodes. His screenplay credits include Willow and Far And Away

Dolman grew up on Vancouver Island and now lives down the coast on Venice

Beach. He's presently dreaming up something new.Thomas Rockwell (Based Upon The Book By)

Thomas Rockwell is the author of the beloved children’s book How to Eat Fried Worms, winner of the Mark Twain Award, the California Young Reader Medal, and the Sequoyah Award.

Hailing from an artistic family, it’s no surprise Rockwell became an author of children’s books. His father was artist Norman Rockwell and his mother was an unpublished writer, who bought her children lots of books and often read aloud to them, even after they had learned to read. Rockwell’s older brother became an artist and his younger brother became a sculptor.

Rockwell also penned Rackety-Bang And Other Verses, Humpf, Squawwwk!, Hiding Out, and The Thief, all illustrated by his wife Gail Sudler. The Portmanteau Book was also illustrated by his wife, with help from their two children, Barnaby and Abigail.

Other Rockwell titles include The Neon Motorcycle, How to Eat Fried Worms and Other Plays, Hey, Lover Boy, Oatmeal Is Not For Moustaches, How to Fight a Girl, and How To Get Fabulously Rich.

As a child, Rockwell read omnivorously: books, cereal boxes, and comic books - the comic books read for free during afternoons on the steps of Howard's General Store on Route 7 in Arlington, Vermont. After graduating from Arlington Memorial High School, Rockwell attended Princeton University for two months and then transferred to Bard College, where he majored in literature.

Rockwell then worked for a gardening magazine in New York City before he and Gail moved to their present home beside a dairy farm outside Poughkeepsie, New York. There he helped his father write his autobiography, My Adventures as an Illustrator, and a book about his work, The Norman Rockwell Album. He then wrote some short stories, worked for the War on Poverty, sold second-hand books, and after reading The Oxford Book of Nursery Rhymes to his son, Rockwell rediscovered his interest in children's books. In 1969, he published his first children's book, Rackety-Bang And Other Verses.Mark Johnson (Producer)

Mark Johnson won the Best Picture Academy Award for Barry Levinson’s poignant 1988 drama Rain Man, starring Dustin Hoffman (Best Actor Oscar) and Tom Cruise. One of several films Johnson made with Levinson during a twelve-year span; the movie (winner of four Oscars) also captured a Golden Globe as Best Picture.

Johnson most recently produced the highly anticipated The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, a co-production between Walden Media and The Walt Disney Company that opened nationwide in December.

Born in Maryland, Johnson spent ten years of his youth in Spain. He earned his undergraduate degree in drama from the University of Virginia and his M.A. in Film Scholarship from the University of Iowa. From there, he moved to New York and entered the Director’s Guild Training Program, where one of his first projects was Paul Mazursky’s touching autobiographical drama, Next Stop, Greenwich Village. He subsequently relocated to Los Angeles and moved up from production assistant to assistant director on such projects as Movie, Movie, The Brinks Job, Escape from Alcatraz and Mel Brooks’ High Anxiety, which was co-written by future business partner Barry Levinson.

In his successful partnership with Levinson, Johnson produced all of the writer-director’s films from 1982-1994. In addition to Rain Man, their diverse slate of acclaimed features includes Good Morning, Vietnam, The Natural, Tin Men, Toys, Young Sherlock Holmes, Avalon, Diner (their 1982 debut project, for which Levinson earned an Oscar nomination for his screenplay), and Bugsy, nominated for ten Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director. Bugsy also captured a Best Picture Golden Globe Award.

In 1994, Johnson established his own independent production company and won the Los Angeles Film Critics New Generation Award for his very first effort -- A Little Princess, directed by Alfonso Cuaron. Johnson, under his new banner, also produced the comedy Home Fries with Drew Barrymore, and the dramatic thriller Donnie Brasco, starring Al Pacino and Johnny Depp. He served as executive producer for CBS-TV’s “L.A. Doctors” and “Falcone,” and also executive produced the hit CBS drama, “The Guardian.” Johnson’s latest television project is an hour-long dramedy, “Love Monkey,” which premiered midseason on CBS and had a complete run on VH1 this spring.

Johnson’s recent slate of motion pictures includes The Alamo and The Rookie, both directed by John Lee Hancock; director Bob Dolman’s The Banger Sisters, with Susan Sarandon and Goldie Hawn; Brad Silberling’s drama, Moonlight Mile, with Sarandon and Dustin Hoffman; Tom Shadyac’s supernatural thriller, Dragonfly with Kevin Costner and Kathy Bates; Levinson’s Irish satire, An Everlasting Piece; Robert Zemeckis’ spooky thriller What Lies Beneath, starring Harrison Ford and Michelle Pfeiffer; the hit comedy Galaxy Quest with Tim Allen and Sigourney Weaver; and My Dog Skip, the acclaimed family drama (co-produced with John Lee Hancock) starring Frankie Muniz, Diane Lane and Kevin Bacon.

Johnson recently produced Nick Cassavetes’ drama, The Notebook, based on Nicholas Sparks’ bestseller and The Wendell Baker Story, which marked the directorial debuts of filmmaking brothers Luke and Andrew Wilson. He is currently in preproduction on Prince Caspian, the sequel to The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.

Additionally, Johnson has either presented or executive produced Luis Llosa’s directorial debut, Sniper, Tim Robbins’ directorial debut, Bob Roberts, Steven Soderbergh’s Kafka, Robert Redford’s Oscar-nominated Quiz Show and Journey of Hope, winner of the 1999 Foreign Language Film Oscar. Johnson serves as the Chair of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Foreign Language Film Award Committee and as a Governor for the producer's branch.Philip Steuer (Producer)

Along with producer Mark Johnson, Philip Steuer most recently produced the first of the live-action feature film adaptations of the C.S. Lewis books The Chronicles of Narnia. The highly anticipated The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, is a co-production between Walden Media and The Walt Disney Company and opened nationwide on December 9, 2005 to critical acclaim and box office success.

Steuer also worked with Johnson, serving as executive producer on two John Lee Hancock-directed movies -- The Rookie, one of 2002’s critical and commercial hits, and his epic re-telling of the battle for Texas independence, The Alamo.

He has also established an ongoing collaboration with respected filmmaker Neil LaBute. The pair joined forces for Propaganda Films and produced Your Friends and Neighbors, a biting romantic satire starring Ben Stiller, Aaron Eckhardt and Jason Patric. They collaborated again on the critically acclaimed, offbeat comedy, Nurse Betty, with Renee Zellweger, Morgan Freeman and Chris Rock, which was nominated for the prestigious Palme d’Or at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival. Steuer again reunited with LaBute on The Shape of Things, a quirky romantic story starring Paul Rudd and Rachel Weisz.

Steuer has also turned his talents to the advertising world, executive producing the second series of memorable BMW Internet shorts features. The new trilogy, entitled Hire: The Hostage, once again starred Clive Owen in spots directed by John Woo, Joe Carnahan and Tony Scott. Additionally, he has produced over forty national commercial campaigns with such notable production companies as RSA, Propaganda and Anonymous Content, among others.Richard Rutkowski (Director of Photography)

Over the last few years, Director of Photography Richard Rutkowski has assembled an eclectic list of credits that include highly stylized mainstream work as well as documentary and bare-bones independent features. His resume includes almost every form of modern camerawork, from tiny DV cameras to HD to 35mm widescreen.

Using only mini-DV cameras and a minimum of crew, his work on the indy feature Homework was praised for its visual sophistication and helped the film to earn the Grand Jury Prize at the 2004 Slamdance Film Festival. At that year’s Sundance Festival, Rutkowski's work was represented by Alison Maclean’s documentary Persons of Interest. In 2003, Rutkowski received a Best Cinematography Nomination at the 2003 Independent Spirit Awards for Neil Burger’s Interview with the Assassin, which was also nominated as Best First Feature.

Most recently, Rutkowski photographed the CBS television pilot “Love Monkey” starring Tom Cavanagh for producer Mark Johnson. Other recent credits include Gil Kofman’s The Last Jew and See This Movie, a comedy produced by Chris and Paul Weitz.

Rutkowski entered the industry in 1989 and worked as a camera assistant for a broad range of cinematographers on films such as Kids, Flirting With Disaster, Copland, Buena Vista Social Club and Three Seasons, winner of the Best Cinematography Award and Grand Jury Prize at the 1999 Sundance Film Festival.

As a camera operator and 2nd unit cameraman, Rutkowski’s credits include Darren Aronofsky’s Requiem for a Dream, Harmony Korine’s Julien Donkey Boy, Phone Booth and the soon to be released Winter Passing. In 2001, Rutkowski worked with director Adrian Lynne and cinematographer Peter Biziou on Unfaithful, serving as 2nd unit DP and B Camera operator.

Rutkowski grew up in Long Island, New York, the son of landscape painter Casimir Rutkowski. He began making short films while a student at Harvard, studying with documentary filmmakers Ross McElwee and Robert Gardiner. Rutkowski is also an avid still photographer, whose work has been exhibited in New York and Los Angeles and seen in publications internationally.Caty Maxey (Production Designer)

Caty Maxey has moved seamlessly between the mediums of television and film throughout her career as a production designer and art director.

Her film credits as a production designer include Someone Else’s America, Manhattan Sunrise, and the short film Time Loves A Hero.

Maxey previously worked with director Bob Dolman as the art director on The Banger Sisters. Her other feature film credits as art director include The Princess Diaries, Rockstar, Payback, and She’s The One. As an assistant art director her credits include Bed of Roses, Sabrina, Roommates, Glengarry Glen Ross, and Boomerang.

She recently served as production designer on the popular CBS television series “The Guardian,” as well as the UPN show “Sex, Lies and Secrets.” Additional television credits as art director includes “Wasteland,” in additional to “Freaks and Geeks,” “David Letterman” and “The Cosby Show” as assistant art director.

Maxey graduated with honors from the NYU Masters Program in Theater/Film and worked in New York for over a decade, before making Los Angeles her home in 1997.Kathleen Kiatta (Costume Designer)

Kathleen Kiatta designed costumes for director Tommy Lee Jones’ drama The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, which was honored at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival.

As wardrobe supervisor, her feature film credits include the upcoming Every Word Is True, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Life of David Gale, Miss Congeniality, Arlington Road, Evening Star, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, and The Hand That Rocks The Cradle.

She has also served in various costume department positions on dozens of other movies and television shows such as the recent hit Friday Night Lights, The Alamo, Second Hand Lions, All The Pretty Horses, and the series “Law and Order.”Janice Hampton, A.C.E. (Editor)

Among Janice Hampton’s numerous credits as a film editor are the recent teen comedies Ice Princess and How to Deal.

Other feature film credits include Drop Dead Gorgeous and Pump Up The Volume, as well as the John Waters’ films Serial Mom, Pecker, Cry-Baby and Hairspray.

She began her career as an assistant editor on Rocky and went on to serve as editor on the sequel Rocky II. She has also edited the television series “Law and Order.”

Mark Mothersbaugh (Composer)

Emmy award-winning composer Mark Mothersbaugh has written the music for more than 70 film and television projects. He first came to prominence in the music world in the 1970s as lead singer and keyboard player of the progressive new wave/rock band Devo, who released a series of highly eclectic and satirical albums including “Are We Not Men?” and “Freedom of Choice.”

In the mid-1980’s, Mothersbaugh began to write music for commercials where he received a Clio award for his work. He then went on to composing music for numerous television projects including the memorable theme song and underscore for “Pee-Wee’s Playhouse.” He then scored the popular children’s series “Rugrats.” He also wrote the music for the hugely successful The Rugrats Movie.

In 1996, Mothersbaugh met Wes Anderson and scored the filmmaker’s critically acclaimed Bottle Rocket. He wrote the music for Anderson’s Rushmore starring Bill Murray and The Royal Tenenbaums starring Gene Hackman, Gwyneth Paltrow, Anjelica Huston and Owen Wilson. The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou marks Mothersbaugh’s fourth collaboration with Anderson.

Mothersbaugh’s other feature film credits include Catherine Hardwicke’s Thirteen starring Evan Rachel Wood and Holly Hunter, Joe and Anthony Russo’s Welcome to Collinwood starring George Clooney, Happy Gilmore starring Adam Sandler, 200 Cigarettes and The New Age from director Michael Tolkin and producer Oliver Stone, among others.

He recently wrote the music for Hardwicke’s film Lords of Dogtown and the comedy The Ringer directed by Barry Blaustein and produced by the Farrelly Brothers. He composes the music for NBC’s dramatic series “LAX.”

Mothersbaugh has been nominated for numerous Emmy awards and is the recipient of BMI’s distinguished Richard Kirk Lifetime Achievement Award.

In 1990, he founded Mutato Muzika, a recording studio and music production company based in Los Angeles.

Mothersbaugh is a world-renowned artist who cites Andy Warhol as inspiration. His paintings and drawings have been shown in galleries around the world. He’s a visual artist as well, and has designed numerous video games.

He continues to perform with Devo, which has had resurgence in recent years. The group has played concerts across the country including Central Park in New York last summer. Mothersbaugh was born in Ohio and studied at Kent State University.

Bob Mothersbaugh (Composer)

Bob Mothersbaugh first came to prominence in the music world in the 1970s as the guitar player and original member of the progressive new wave/rock band Devo, who released a series of highly eclectic and satirical albums including “Are We Not Men?” and “Freedom of Choice.”

In the mid-1980’s, Mothersbaugh began to write music for commercials with his brother Mark Mothersbaugh (co-founding member of Devo). Together they went on to compose music for numerous television projects including the underscore for the popular children’s series “Rugrats.” Mothersbaugh’s feature film credits include Resculpting Venus, Hansel and Gretel, 200 Cigarettes, Men, The Big Squeeze, Sex, Love, Etc. among others.

In 1990, Mark founded Mutato Muzika, a recording studio and music production company based in Los Angeles where Bob has scored numerous video games including Rugrats - Scavenger Hunt and Rugrats Gameboy. Currently Bob writes the underscore for the Rugrats series “All Grown Up” and MTV’s animated comedy “Where My Dog’s At.”

Bob continues to perform with Devo, which has had resurgence in recent years. The group has played concerts across the country and will be on tour late summer of 2006.

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BRITNEY SPEARS GIVES BIRTH TO SECOND SON

Access Hollywood confirmed with Britney Spears’ father, Jamie Spears, that Britney has given birth to her second child.

The proud grandfather says he has already seen the baby.

Britney reportedly delivered a 6-pound, 11-ounce baby boy, via C-section, just before 2 a.m. this morning.

Federline reportedly took her to the hospital last night to prepare for her C-section surgery. Sean Preston was also born via C-section, almost a year ago.

According to reports, Kevin was joined at Britney’s bedside by Britney’s mom, Lynne, and her sister, Jamie Lynne. No one from Kevin’s family was present.

InfoSpace Kicks Off CTIA With Exciting New Product and Partnership Announcements

 Sept. 12, 2006 Leading mobile media and technology company InfoSpace, Inc. (NASDAQ:INSP), today issued four announcements introducing important new products and partnerships to fuel the growth of its mobile initiatives. The announcements, made on the first day of CTIA WIRELESS I.T. & Entertainment 2006 in Los Angeles, include: -0-

    --  InfoSpace and Tony Hawk, Inc. Announce an Exclusive         Partnership to Take the Tony Hawk Brand to Mobile Phones         Establishing a Base for the Ultimate Action Sports Mecca          The world's most successful and iconic action sports brand and         InfoSpace announced a partnership to bring Tony Hawk and the         actions sports lifestyle to the mobile universe. Beginning         today, Tony Hawk's(R) Mobile Dissent(TM) goes live on the Web         (http://www.tonyhawkdissent.com) as the first and only mobile portal         to the action sports lifestyle personified by the undisputed         ruler of the action sports community, Tony Hawk.      --  Major Upgrade of "InfoSpace Find It!" Debuts at CTIA          In this new version, InfoSpace has added spoken turn-by-turn         directions, integrated performance-based advertising and 15         million points of interest to InfoSpace Find It!, the first         comprehensive location-based application which helps consumers         easily and quickly find everything from nearby restaurants and         movie times to maps and driving directions.      --  InfoSpace Signs Mobile Gaming Agreement with Activision          InfoSpace announced that it has signed an agreement to create         mobile versions of several top Activision games, including the         two most recent titles from the legendary action sports         superstar Tony Hawk, as well as mobile versions of "GUN," a         Western-style action game, and a selection of Anthology         Classic 2600 titles, which include classic games that were         first designed for the Atari 2600.      --  InfoSpace Announces Partnerships with Classic Media and         Bagdasarian Productions to Bring Iconic Characters to Mobile         Devices          InfoSpace has signed deals with Classic Media and Bagdasarian         Productions to bring some of the world's most famous classic         movie and TV stars to mobile, including Rocky & Bullwinkle,         Lassie, The Lone Ranger, Alvin & the Chipmunks, and a host of         others. 

About InfoSpace, Inc.

A leading mobile media and technology company, InfoSpace, Inc. (NASDAQ:INSP) develops and distributes content, products and services that are creating a robust mobile marketplace and make it easy for consumers to discover, personalize and enjoy their experiences. Founded in 1996, InfoSpace leverages its online and mobile assets to potentially reach more than 90 percent of mobile subscribers in North America through partnerships with operators such as Cingular Wireless, Sprint Nextel, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless, and Virgin Mobile and through its direct to consumer channel Moviso(R) (Moviso.com). The company's mobile portal services are also available to more than 60 percent of the U.S. market. Online, the company showcases its leading metasearch technology though Web sites such as Dogpile(R) (Dogpile.com) and its comprehensive directory listings in such properties as Switchboard(R) (Switchboard.com). For more information, please visit http://www.infospaceinc.com.

Cautionary Note about Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements regarding InfoSpace's launch of the Tony Hawk's Mobile Dissent mobile channel and products; the upgrade of InfoSpace Find It!; InfoSpace's agreement with Activision; and InfoSpace's agreements with Classic Media and Bagdasarian Productions. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Factors that could affect InfoSpace's actual results include the scope and timing of consumer adoption, carrier adoption and implementation, and market acceptance of the products involved. A more detailed description of certain factors that could affect actual results include, but are not limited to, those discussed in InfoSpace's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q as filed from time to time, in the section entitled "Risk Factors." Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. InfoSpace undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, events or circumstances after the date of this release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Where other bands have fan clubs, KISS has a full-fledged Army of the most rabid and loyal true believers in the world. For more than three decades, the KISS Army has wanted and demanded nothing less than the best from their band and across all those years, that's exactly what KISS has always delivered.

The biggest, baddest, most triumphant show band in rock & roll history, KISS has weathered and transcended the fads, follies and delusions of an industry based on the quick buck and the passing fancy.

In the past thirty years, a thousand musical trends and genres have come and gone and come again -- sensitive singer-songwriters, glam, metal, punk, alternative, garage, roots, new wave, goth, hardcore, grunge, industrial, techno, retro, hip-hop, teenybop pop, boy bands, girl groups, etc. etc. -- and through it all, there has always been KISS.

KISS endures because the band is archetypal, iconic, larger-than-life and louder than thunder. The band, the brand, the blood, the fire and fireworks, the spectacle, the shock and awe and wonder of it all. KISS has always given its Army the Best Rock in the World and neither side has ever settled for less. And, for all the flash and arena-sized theatricality, the core of KISS is really the music, as potent and powerful and connected to the true heart of rock & roll as any band or artist or performer of the past century.

For the KISS Army, the release this Halloween of "KISSology: Volume One 1974-1977" marks the arrival of nothing less than a Holy Grail: 6 solid hours of vintage KISS going all the way back to the deep early roots of the band's classic line-up -- Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss -- captured and re-mastered on 2 state-of-the-art DVDs featuring more than 70 live performances and four full concerts bundled along with unreleased tracks and never-before-seen footage.

The mind-boggling first volume of a definitive three part collection (Volumes Two and Three are being readied for release in 2007) presented by VH1 Classic, "KISSology: Volume One 1974-1977" is a showcase of pristine digitally-restored video coupled with a 5.1 audio mix to provide both stunning visual quality and powerhouse finely-detailed sound designed to meet the approval of the most demanding KISSmaniac.

"KISSology: Volume One 1974-1977" goes all the way back one of the band's earliest live performances in the New York pre-punk glam rock bar scene of the early 1970s before tracing the rocket-paced transformation of KISS into international rock gods who filled the world's largest arenas as the undisputed hottest band in the land by 1977.

A dream come true for the KISS Army, "KISSology: Volume One 1974-1977," contains seldom seen high points of KISStory including significant never- before-available material drawn from the band's own personal video vaults. In addition to four full concerts from the peak of the band's first golden era, the DVD set also features notorious television interviews, early KISS music videos and rare unreleased tracks. Included in the lavish "KISSology: Volume One 1974-1977" package are spell-binding eyewitness liner notes penned by the members of KISS themselves.

Disc One of "KISSology: Volume One 1974-1976" takes a look back at an early bar-band KISS (freshly risen from the shards of Wicked Lester) already thinking much bigger than any of their contemporaries. 1974 is covered with a live concert in Long Beach as well as KISS's televised appearances on ABC's "In Concert" and an interview/performance on "The Mike Douglas Show." By 1975, KISS was playing San Francisco's fabled Winterland, headlining NBC's "Midnight Special" and making videos for "C'mon & Love Me" and their signature "Rock and Roll All Night," all included on "KISSology." In 1976, KISS came to Detroit for an incendiary concert at the Motor City's Cobo Hall, captured on Disc One of "KISSology."

Disc Two of "KISSology" picks up the threads of 1976 with the band's interview and performance of "Black Diamond" on "So It Goes," a must-see and much-discussed interview and performance of "King of the Nighttime World" on "The Paul Lynde Halloween Special," and personal band footage from May 1976. The 1977 material on Disc Two captures the band at the pinnacle of its international fame, performing to tens of thousands of fans at the legendary Budokan Hall in Tokyo in April '77 and, a little more than a month later, headlining "Don Kirshner's Rock Concert." Disc Two closes with scorching concert footage from The Summit in Houston, Texas on September 2, 1977, showing KISS laying down the creed that still beats at the heart of the band: Rock & Roll All Night and Party Every Day!!!

KISS has recorded more gold records than any other American band in history and has sold 80+ million records throughout their career. The group has earned more than 55 gold, platinum and multi-platinum awards since receiving its first gold record for "KISS Alive!" in 1975. KISS has performed more than 3500 concerts in front of nearly eighty million fans in virtually every country on planet earth.

"KISSology Volume One 1974-1977" provides ample evidence of why KISS has lasted so long and continues to mean so much to so many millions of people. KISS is 100% dedicated to the heart and soul and power of ROCK and when the house lights go down, KISS is still the hottest band in any land.

Launched in May 2000, VH1 Classic is a 24-hour network that present videos, concerts and music specials all day long, featuring the best of rock, soul and pop artists from the 60s, 70s, 80s and early 90s, including The Beatles, The Stones, Tina Turner, Led Zeppelin, Marvin Gaye, The Who, Stevie Wonder, The Police and many more. Learn more at www.vh1classic.com.

"According to Jim" won the affection -- and belly laughs -- of audiences nationwide when it debuted on ABC in 2001. And now -- in the midst of its primetime popularity -- this breakout family comedy will launch into national syndication five days a week on Monday, September 18.

Multi-talented film, television and stage actor Jim Belushi stars as a loving family man. He is the all-American guy, fiercely devoted to his beautiful wife Cheryl (Courtney Thorne-Smith) and their three down-to-earth kids. He has it all, but still sometimes wrestles with the former wild teenager not-so-dormant within. While supporting his family as a contractor in a design firm with his younger, architect brother-in-law Andy (Larry Joe Campbell), Jim still finds time to pursue his other passion, playing the blues with his six-man garage band.

Cheryl is gorgeous, smart, and has Jim's number. She calls him on his antics but enjoys the playful banter and appreciates his passion, honesty and steadfast loyalty to her and the kids. Though Cheryl always seeks perfection and control in what she does, she's grateful to Jim when he coaxes her playful side out into the open. She's champagne and strawberries to Jim's beer nuts and bratwurst, yet somehow love conquers all.

Dana (Kimberly Williams-Paisley) is Cheryl's sister. She's strong-willed and pretty, but emotionally shortsighted and self-centered. Hot on the trail of the perfect guy, the men she chooses all seem to have commitment issues like getting past the first date. Dana fills up her life by enjoying her two nieces and nephew, and verbally sparring with Jim.

Andy is loving yet neurotic, and on the prowl for the lady of his dreams. Although he is a brilliant ball of creative energy, his sensitive nature is a great foil for sister Dana and brother-in-law Jim.

"According to Jim" also stars Taylor Atelian, Billi Bruno, Connor Sullivan, Garret Sullivan and Conner Rayburn.

From Touchstone Television in association with Brad Grey Television, "According to Jim" is entering its sixth season on ABC. Buena Vista Television is the domestic television distribution division of The Walt Disney Company.

Web site: http://www.watchjim.tv/

Andre Agassi announced the addition of Ellen DeGeneres and a special acoustic performance by John Mayer to the all-star line-up for his 11th Annual Grand Slam for Children benefit concert for at-risk youth in Las Vegas.

Mayer, currently on tour with a brand new album entitled Continuum, and DeGeneres will complement the existing superstar roster which includes Counting Crows, Sarah McLachlan, legendary rocker Phil Collins and Grammy Award-winning producer, arranger and composer David Foster, who will be serving as musical director for the 11th time. The talented performers will take the stage at 9 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 7 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The celebrity fundraising show is one of the biggest events of the year in Las Vegas.

Tickets priced at $90, $70 and $50, not including applicable service charges and taxes, are now on sale at the MGM Grand Garden Arena box office. Tickets also will be sold at all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (Tower Records/WOW!, select Smith's Food and Drug Centers, Robinsons-May stores and Ritmo Latino). Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (702) 474-4000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

The Grand Slam for Children concert fundraiser, presented by Genworth Financial, benefits the Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation (AACF), a nonprofit organization established in 1994 to assist at-risk youth in Las Vegas, where Agassi was raised. More than 85,000 fans and VIP guests have attended 10 Grand Slam events, raising $52.3 million for charity.

Specific charities benefiting from the AACF fundraiser include the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy, a model charter school in West Las Vegas; Andre Agassi Boys & Girls Club; Assistance League of Las Vegas' Operation School Bell; Boys Hope/Girls Hope of Nevada; Child Haven; Class! Publications; Cynthia Bunker and Joy McClenahan Memorial Scholarship Fund; I Have A Dream Foundation; Las Vegas Inner-City Games; Las Vegas Philharmonic's Youth Concert Series; Las Vegas Sun Summer Camp; and YMCA of Southern Nevada.

Since its inception in 1995, the Grand Slam for Children has been distinguished by its roster of top entertainers including Barbra Streisand, Sir Elton John, Billy Joel, Rod Stewart, Celine Dion, Stevie Wonder, Faith Hill, Sheryl Crow, Sarah McLachlan, Robin Williams, Carlos Santana, Don Henley, Lionel Richie, Luther Vandross, Ray Romano, Jamie Foxx, Jay Leno, Stevie Nicks, Seal, Tim McGraw, India.Arie, Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, Dennis Miller, Brian McKnight, Tears for Fears, LeAnn Rimes, Josh Groban and others.

For more information, please contact the Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation at 702.227.5700.

About the Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation

The AACF, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit public charity, was created to provide recreational and educational opportunities for at-risk boys and girls. The Foundation strives to assist those underprivileged, abused and abandoned children who may be deprived of basic options in life. The AACF also offers a combination of emotional, physical and academic programs designed to enhance a child's character, self-esteem and career possibilities.

About Genworth Financial

Genworth is a leading insurance holding company, serving the lifestyle protection, retirement income, investment and mortgage insurance needs of more than 15 million customers, and has operations in 24 countries, including the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and 17 other European countries. For more information, visit www.genworth.com.

Source: Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation

Apple(R) today announced iTunes(R) 7, the most significant enhancement to the world's most popular music jukebox and online music and video store since it debuted in 2001. iTunes 7 delivers stunning new features such as the new album and Cover Flow views of music, TV shows and movies, enabling users to quickly find titles in their library as well as casually browse through and re-discover titles they already own. In addition, the iTunes Store ( www.itunes.com ) is now offering over 75 movies from Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar, Touchstone Pictures and Miramax Films, that customers can purchase and download to watch on their computers and iPods, and soon on their flat screen televisions with Apple's upcoming iTV* player. Movies will become available on the iTunes Store the same day they are released on DVD, with new releases priced at $12.99 when pre-ordered and during their first week of availability, and $14.99 thereafter, and library titles available for just $9.99 every day.

"Here we go again! First music, then TV shows, and now movies," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "In less than one year we've grown from offering just five TV shows to offering over 220 TV shows, and we hope to do the same with movies. iTunes is selling over one million videos a week, and we hope to match this with movies in less than a year."

"ABC and Disney Channel were the first networks to offer television programming on iTunes, and we're once again breaking new ground as The Walt Disney Studios becomes the first to debut feature films on the iTunes platform," said Robert Iger, president and CEO, The Walt Disney Company. "Disney is committed to providing innovative ways for audiences to enjoy their favorite entertainment content, and our association with Apple is yet another example of how we continue to reach consumers on their terms, regardless the time, location or device."

"Steve Jobs and Apple have consistently demonstrated that they have their finger on the pulse of today's audience with regard to legal downloads of music and television shows, and our presence on iTunes will now allow us to deliver Disney's films in this popular and convenient format," said Dick Cook, chairman of The Walt Disney Studios. "Not only are we proud to be expanding our association with Apple, but we feel that this new venture meets a growing demand for movie viewing that will ultimately expand the market for our films."

The iTunes Store has quickly become the world's most popular video download store, selling over one million videos per week. The iTunes Store began selling TV shows with five shows from ABC/Disney less than a year ago, in October 2005, and rapidly expanded its library to over 220 television shows from over 40 networks today. The iTunes Store also features the world's largest catalog of online music with over 3.5 million songs and has sold a stunning 1.5 billion songs, making it the world's most popular digital music store.

The iTunes Store now features great new releases and library titles from Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar, Touchstone Pictures and Miramax Films, such as "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl," "Shakespeare in Love," "The Princess Diaries," "The Incredibles," "National Treasure," "Toy Story," "The Rock" and "The Rookie." Customers can purchase and download movies from iTunes the same day they become available on DVD, or pre-order upcoming movies which are automatically downloaded when they become available. Customers get the same great one-click download experience for movies that they enjoy with music and TV shows.

With iTunes 7, all videos purchased from the iTunes Store are downloaded in near-DVD quality at a resolution of 640x480 (up to 480, depending on the aspect ratio), which is four times higher than before. Downloaded videos can be played on computers and iPods. iTunes 7 also includes new features to better organize and enjoy digital music and video, including expanded parental controls, an iTunes video playback window with on-screen controls, and the new Cover Flow view that lets you visually browse your entire video collection by cover artwork.

The iTunes Store now also offers downloads of popular video games for fifth generation iPods, including "Tetris," "Mahjong" and "Mini Golf" from Electronic Arts Inc.; "Pac-Man" from Namco Networks America Inc.; "Cubis 2" from FreshGames, LLC; "Bejeweled" and "Zuma" from PopCap Games, Inc.; "Texas Hold'em" and "Vortex" developed by Apple, all available beginning today for $4.99 each.

With Apple's legendary ease of use, pioneering features such as integrated podcasting support, iMix playlist sharing, seamless integration with iPod(R) and groundbreaking personal use rights, the iTunes Store is the best way for Mac(R) and PC users to legally discover, purchase and download music and video online.

Pricing & Availability

iTunes 7 for Mac and Windows includes the iTunes Store and is available as a free download immediately from www.itunes.com . Purchase and download of content from the iTunes Store for Mac or Windows requires a valid credit card with a billing address in the country of purchase. Television shows and feature films are available in the US only, and video availability varies by country. Games are available for download in the 21 countries in which iTunes operates and play on the fifth generation iPod. New release feature films are $14.99 (US) each and other feature-length films are $9.99 (US) each, television shows are $1.99 (US) per episode, music videos and short films are $1.99 (US) each and games are $4.99 (US) each.

* iTV is the project's internal code name and will not be the final product name.

Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award- winning desktop and notebook computers, OS X operating system, and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital music revolution with its iPod portable music players and iTunes online music store.

Apple, the Apple logo, Mac, Mac OS, Macintosh, iTunes and iPod are trademarks of Apple. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Source: Apple

The National Football League (NFL) and Apple(R) today announced that they will bring 2006 NFL regular season action to the iTunes(R) Store ( www.itunes.com ), offering video downloads of highlights from individual NFL games the day after they are played. For the first time ever, football fans will be able to download highlights of each NFL regular season game for $1.99 per game. Fans may purchase a "Follow Your Team" Season Pass for $24.99 and have game clips from their favorite teams delivered automatically as they become available for viewing on a computer or iPod(R).

NFL fans will also be able to download NFL Network's NFL GameDay, hosted by Rich Eisen with Steve Mariucci and Deion Sanders. This all-inclusive Sunday night wrap-up show offers the most comprehensive NFL coverage on television, with highlights from every NFL game plus post-game reaction and expert analysis, all for $1.99 per show or $19.99 for a full season.

"We are dedicated to bringing the best of NFL action to NFL fans wherever they are," said Brian Rolapp, NFL vice president of media strategy. "We're convinced offering NFL highlights produced by Emmy Award-winning NFL Films and NFL Network's GameDay on iTunes is a great way for fans to not only follow their team but also experience the NFL as they never have before."

"We're thrilled to bring all the top action from the 2006 NFL season to football fans via iTunes," said Eddy Cue, Apple's vice president of iTunes. "With approximately ten minutes of game highlights from every NFL game, NFL fans will be able to download exclusive highlights that give a unique perspective of each game."

Beginning September 18 and on each Monday thereafter during the regular season, fans will be able to download extensive action from Sunday games on iTunes for $1.99 per game, with Monday night games available on Tuesday. The $24.99 "Follow Your Team" Season Pass allows fans to select any of the 32 NFL teams and have game highlights from each of their 16 games automatically downloaded when they become available the following day. All Week 1 NFL game downloads become available on iTunes on September 18.

The iTunes Store now features over 3.5 million songs, 65,000 podcasts, 20,000 audiobooks, over 5,000 music videos and 220 television shows. With Apple's legendary ease of use, pioneering features such as integrated podcasting support, iMix playlist sharing, seamless integration with iPod and groundbreaking personal use rights, the iTunes Store is the best way for Mac(R) and PC users to legally discover, purchase and download music and video online.

Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award- winning desktop and notebook computers, OS X operating system, and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital music revolution with its iPod portable music players and iTunes online music store.

NFL Network airs seven days a week, 24 hours a day on a year-round basis and is the first television network fully dedicated to the NFL and the sport of football. For more information, log onto www.nfl.com/nflnetwork/home .

Apple, the Apple logo, Mac, Mac OS, Macintosh, iPod and iTunes are trademarks of Apple. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Source: Apple

Apple(R) today introduced the new iPod(R), the best digital music player and most popular portable video player in the world. The new iPod features a 60 percent brighter and more vibrant 2.5-inch color display perfect for watching TV shows and now Hollywood movies right in the palm of your hand. The new iPod features seamless integration with iTunes(R) 7 and the iTunes Store (www.itunes.com) which now includes over 75 Hollywood movies, 220 television shows and popular video games designed specifically for the fifth generation iPod. The new iPod is available in a 30GB model at the new low price of $249 and an 80GB model, which holds up to 20,000 songs or 100 hours of video, for $349.

"The world's best digital music player has evolved into the world's most popular portable video player too," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "The new iPod's brighter and more vibrant display and longer battery life make it perfect for watching Hollywood movies and TV shows right in the palm of your hand."

The new iPod features Apple's patented Click Wheel for precise, one-handed navigation, and is seamlessly integrated with iTunes 7, which now features gapless playback for enjoying albums the way they were intended to be listened to. iPod's new Search and Quick Scroll feature makes it even easier for music fans to find exactly what they are looking for and Apple's patent pending Auto-Sync technology automatically downloads digital music, podcasts, photos, audiobooks, movies, music videos and popular TV shows onto the iPod and keeps them up-to-date whenever the iPod is plugged into a Mac(R) or Windows com- puter.

With its stunning high-resolution color display, iPod allows users to view album art and photo slideshows while playing music, or watch video and play games in full color. Popular video games designed specifically for the fifth generation iPod include: "Bejeweled," "Cubis 2," "Mahjong," "Mini Golf," "Pac-Man," "Tetris," "Texas Hold'em," "Vortex" and "Zuma," and are available for purchase on the iTunes Store.

The 30GB model features up to 14 hours of battery life for music playback and up to three and a half hours of video playback, and the 80GB model fea- tures up to 20 hours of battery life for music playback and six and a half hours of video playback.* The new iPod features brightness control allowing users to easily change the brightness.

Pricing & Availability

The new iPod models are available worldwide through the Apple Store(R) (www.apple.com), Apple's retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers. The new 30GB iPod model in white or black is available for $249 (US), and the new 80GB model in white or black is available for $349 (US). All iPod models include redesigned earbud headphones providing superior comfort, fit and sound qual- ity, and a USB 2.0 cable.

Optional accessories for the new iPod include: Universal Dock for $39 (US), Apple Remote for $29 (US), Apple iPod AV cable for $19 (US), the iPod Camera Connector for $29 (US) and a new incredibly compact iPod USB power adapter for $29 (US) which at almost half the size of the previous USB power adapter, is perfect for charging your iPod while traveling.

iPod requires a Mac with a USB 2.0 port and Mac OS(R) X version 10.3.9 or later and iTunes 7.0 or later; or a Windows PC with a USB 2.0 port and Windows 2000 (Service Pack 4), Windows XP Home or Professional (Service Pack 2) and iTunes 7.0 or later. Internet access is required and a broadband connection is recommended.

* Battery life and number of charge cycles vary by use and settings. See www.apple.com/batteries for more information. Music capacity is based on four minutes per song and 128-Kbps AAC encoding; actual capacity varies by content. Photo capacity is based on iPod-viewable photos transferred from iTunes. Video playback based on 640X480 iTunes video content.

Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning desktop and notebook computers, OS X operating system, and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital music revolution with its iPod portable music players and iTunes online music store.

NOTE: Apple, the Apple logo, Mac, Mac OS, Macintosh, iPod, iTunes and Apple Store are trademarks of Apple. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Source: Apple Computer, Inc.

International superstar Andrea Bocelli returns to the U.S. for select concert dates beginning November 30th at the famed Madison Square Garden in New York City. This not-to-be-missed show will feature the tenor performing some of the world's most famous opera arias as well as love songs from his platinum-selling smash Amore. The CD marked Bocelli's highest debut ever and has remained on the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart and the top of the Classical Crossover chart since its release in January. On November 7th, the highly anticipated follow-up to Amore, Andrea Bocelli: Under The Desert Sky, will be released on Decca/Sugar.

Just in time for the holidays, Under The Desert Sky features live performances from Amore as well as bonus tracks including Neil Diamond's "September Morn" and a duet with Tony Award(R)-winner Heather Headley on "The Prayer." Other highlights include the classic "Besame Mucho," the inspiring "Because We Believe" and a heartfelt duet with Katharine McPhee on "Can't Help Falling In Love." The beautiful Lake Las Vegas Resort was the backdrop for the concert which was also recorded as part of PBS Great Performance series.

The media has embraced Bocelli as well as affirming his position as one of the most romantic voices in the world. The Los Angeles Times stated Amore is a "romantic bonbon" with a "dreamy delivery" while the New York Post concurred giving the album a "4 star" review. Surrounding the release of Amore, Andrea sang for millions in a massive TV campaign that included two nights alongside Grammy-winning Amore producer David Foster on American Idol, an unprecedented three segments on the Today Show, and performances at the Closing Ceremony of the Winter Olympics and the NBA All Star Weekend.

Look for Andrea Bocelli on tour.

Thurs., November 30th New York, NY Madison Square Garden

Sat., December 2nd Portland, OR Rose Garden

Sun., December 3rd Seattle, WA Key Arena

Tues., December 5th Mexico City, MX Auditorio National

Wed., December 6th Monterey, MX Arena de Monterrey

Sat., December 9th Denver, CO Pepsi Arena

Sun., December 10th Anaheim, CA Arrowhead Pond

Source: Universal Music Classics Group

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

Bill Anderson and Little Jimmy Dickens Share Insights with Some of Today's Hottest Artists
By Peter Cronin

© 2006 CMA Close Up News Service / Country Music Association, Inc.

In 2003, CMA created the Artist Relations Committee as part of an ongoing effort to educate and involve the artists in all that the organization does on behalf of Country Music. Chaired by Kix Brooks of Brooks & Dunn and Co-chaired by ASCAP Senior VP Connie Bradley, the committee agreed that while CMA is rightly concerned with moving forward, it should never lose touch with Country's colorful past and with the rich history that points the way to the future.

There are great members in the artist community that can provide insight into where CMA has been and where it needs to go. The May CMA Board meetings in Dallas presented the perfect opportunity for a cross-generational artists "summit." Moderated by CMA Close Up Editor Peter Cronin, the panel brought together some of today's hottest Country artists - Kix Brooks of Brooks & Dunn; Troy Gentry of Montgomery Gentry; Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts; and John Rich of Big & Rich - with living legends and Country Music Hall of Fame members "Whispering" Bill Anderson and Little Jimmy Dickens. The conversation quickly took on a life of its own as panelists tackled a number of Country Music-related topics. Following are some excerpts from this lively and historic panel.

SONGWRITING

ANDERSON: "When I got [to Nashville] in 1960, I think there were three or four publishing companies. It was the beginning of the artist/songwriter thing with myself, Mel Tillis, Roger Miller, Tom T. Hall and people like that. There weren't many people making a living writing songs, and there was very little co-writing. You went into your room at night, pulled down the shades, tried to get in a mournful mood and wrote a sad song. For years I thought that was the way you had to do it. And then about 10 years ago I discovered this great thing called co-writing, and boy it sure is a lot more fun that way."

BROOKS: "Didn't Roger Miller once say, 'I don't really get the co-writing thing; Picasso didn't co-paint did he?' I spent 10 years writing for a living before Ronnie [Dunn] and I started. I can't think of a higher-pressure job for a person starting out in the business. There are a handful of guys that make their living at songwriting, but there's only a few slots out there. It's really challenging."

RICH: "Your ears are more important than your mouth when you're writing songs. We saw Gretchen Wilson go from being a bartender to selling 4 and a half million records. We were at my house watching CMT. She's sitting there in a T-shirt and sweatpants and flip-flops, a Bud Light in one hand, a lit cigarette and a Copenhagen dip in the other. Two or three videos roll by with female artists and she goes, 'I can't look like that, I can't sound like that, and I can't say what they're saying, 'Cause that's not me.' I said, 'Well, what do you want to sing?' She said, 'I'm just a redneck woman standing in the front yard with a baby on one hip.' She was saying the lyrics of the song right then! We wrote that song in about 60 to 70 minutes, and that's what opened my mind up to finding out what's unique about an artist and creating the song about what is unique about them. As soon as I started incorporating that into my songwriting, everything went to another level."

ANDERSON: "You never get tired of hearing somebody record one of your songs, and I'm just as excited about it happening today as when I found out Ray Price had cut 'City Lights' back in 1958."

DICKENS: "I was riding in Minnie Pearl's airplane with Hank Williams and he said, 'Tater, you need a hit.' And I said, 'Who doesn't?' Hank said, 'I'm gonna write you one. He started quoting the lines to 'Hey Good Lookin' and he wrote it in 20 minutes. He said, 'You record that, it'll make you a hit.' I said, 'First thing I do when I get home, I'll record it.' A week later, I met Hank in the radio station, and he said, 'Tater, I cut your song today!'"

TOURING

ANDERSON: "In the early '60s, the Wilburn Brothers asked me if I would do a private show for the employees of the Eastman-Kodak company. They said, 'We'll pay you $35 to ride to Rochester, N.Y., in the back of our Cadillac, do a show on the stage, tear down, go down in the basement, do a dance, get in the car and go back home. Well, I'd been making $50 a week as a disc jockey and I thought, '$35 a day! There's not that much money in the world!' This was in the days before interstates; it would take you seven or eight hours to drive to Cincinnati and another three hours to drive through Cincinnati. You finally end up in Rochester, a few hours before the show. We took showers, set the equipment up, did a two-and-a-half hour concert, tore everything down, went into basement, set it all up again, and played a two-hour dance. When the night was over, we packed up our stuff in the car and started right back to Nashville. That'll take something out of you. If you've never ridden in a Chevy coupe with five musicians and a bass fiddle, you haven't lived. But I wouldn't take anything for those days."

GENTRY: "Eddie and I do the same thing, but not in that extreme. Playing clubs around Kentucky growing up, instead of having the bass on top, we were in my Camaro with the hatchback popped open with speakers hanging out, and guitar straps and cords going every which way in the wind. That makes me appreciate what I have today, being able to drive on tour buses, the bigger crowds and everything else. But I still don't forget."

DICKENS: "It hasn't all been fun. I had a manager one time who booked me into a phone booth on New Year's Eve. Standing room only."

BROOKS: "If you don't have great songs and some hits, you don't get to have all that fun."

RECORDING

ANDERSON: "When I came along it was a singles oriented business. You'd cut singles, you'd try to get hit records and then it would be on the radio. A regular record session was normally three hours, four songs, and you'd cut your next two singles. If your singles did well, they'd put out an album. We did not go in and cut album projects.

DEMARCUS: "It has changed sonically and I think for the better. I love the process of being in the studio, and I love hearing my songs on the radio. That's what pumps me up."

RICH: "I'm recording stuff on John Anderson right now. I just love him. He's got one of those voices that's never going to be duplicated. John Anderson - bring it on!"

NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND EVOLVING FORMATS

GENTRY: "If I can go and pick up the one or two good songs from an album for two bucks, why would I go out and spend $18 on an album I'm never going to listen to? The generation growing up is seeing that."

DEMARCUS: "I don't know . we had a pretty good first week about a month ago, and I think people still like to hold that jacket in their hands and look at the lyrics. It still matters to a lot of people more than we think."

BROOKS: "When I started getting into music, when I was into an artist, the single was cool, but once the dance was over I wanted to hear the other music they made. Knowing those obscure cuts on an album is all part of the cool factor of being a fan. Word of mouth is still very much a part of music culture. My kids are like that. There's still the real music fan who wants all of it."

DICKENS: "I think that's because they like the artist. When people buy music today, they go looking for that one artist, and whatever is on that album they're going to buy it, 'cause they like that person."

IMAGE AND CAREER BUILDING

RICH: "These two guys have nicknames - 'Whispering' Bill Anderson, 'Little' Jimmy Dickens. I look at the MuzikMafia as my version of the Rat Pack, the camaraderie and supporting each other. Gretchen Wilson, who's she? She's the 'Redneck Woman.' 'Big and Rich,' what's that? That's Country Music without prejudice. 'Big' Kenny, 'Two Foot' Fred, 'Cowboy' Troy and on and on. I think Country Music is going back to that. Rascal Flatts has a total identity. Montgomery Gentry, that chain microphone, your whole thing, there's a character going on there. And I think if Country Music starts focusing on that character, as Mr. Dickens said, they're buying that character. Kenny Chesney has now officially replaced Jimmy Buffett as the biggest island guy in the world. But it all starts with the song, down at the creative level at the bottom building it up."

ANDERSON: "You guys have got one thing we didn't have, that helps you get that identity, and that's the music videos. When I came along, you had to put out record after record for people that never associated a name with an artist. Today you've got that video in their living room and they can see what's different about Rascal Flatts and Brooks & Dunn."

RICH: "People can decide they don't like you a lot faster too!"

ANDERSON: "When we came along, if you sounded like anybody else, it was, 'We'll see you later.' You had to be unique in the way you sounded; you probably don't have to be that different today."

DICKENS: "One time, Marty Robbins said I want to thank Little Jimmy Dickens for helping me with my career and getting me into this business, because I figured if he could make it, anybody could."

RICH: "The cookie-cutter method in Nashville is unhealthy. I think you ought to use different players, different studios, different engineers, different tactics; you ought to mix it up to give that particular artist a fighting chance to have their own sound. I've learned that lesson, and thank goodness, had some success at it."

COUNTRY MUSIC FANS

ANDERSON: "I learned from people like Little Jimmy Dickens and the Wilburn Brothers. If you made a fan in those days, you made a fan for life and they would accept you through the lean years as well as the good years. The relationship between the artist and the fan was really close in those days."

BROOKS: "They are the people that give us jobs and allow us to do what we do every night. Once you forget that and don't take the time to give back to them a little bit - a few moments to hug or sign an autograph - you're hunting down the wrong path."

THE CURRENT STATE OF THE INDUSTRY

RICH: "I think [the labels] are taking some big chances. They certainly took a chance with us, Big & Rich."

GENTRY: "We were definitely left of what was being played on mainstream radio at the time we got signed."

ANDERSON: "The Opry is bigger than any one artist. The most exciting nights at the Opry are when there's just the right mix of veteran artists and new people. My fans, the ladies with the blue hair, are cheering for Big & Rich and Brooks & Dunn. And then the young kids come down to take my picture. When it works, it's total magic.

RICH: "We're something totally oddball, and that's what turns me on about what's going on in Nashville right now. There's so much undiscovered knowledge and wisdom out there and bridges to be built. I think we could triple our business around the world, and I don't think that's a pipe dream."

On the Web:
Bill Anderson - www.billanderson.com
Big & Rich - www.big&rich.com
Brooks & Dunn - www.brooks-dunn.com
Montgomery Gentry - www.montgomerygentry.com
Rascal Flatts - www.rascalflatts.com

© 2006 CMA Close Up News Service / Country Music Association, Inc.

The Country Music Association has announced that influential musician/producer Harold Bradley, legendary singer Sonny James and multi-award-winning entertainer George Strait, will become the newest members of the coveted Country Music Hall of Fame. Formal induction for the artists will take place during "The 40th Annual CMA Awards," on Monday, Nov. 6.

Bradley will be inducted in the "Recording and/or Touring Musician Active Prior to 1980" category, which is awarded every third year in a rotation with the "Career Achieved National Prominence Prior to World War II" and "Non-Performer" categories. James will be inducted in the "Career Achieved National Prominence Between World War II and 1975" category. Strait will be the second artist inducted in the "Career Achieved National Prominence Between 1975 and the Present" category, which was created last year.

All inductees are chosen by CMA's Hall of Fame Panel of Electors, consisting of more than 300 anonymous voters appointed by the CMA Board of Directors. Bradley, James and Strait will increase membership in the coveted Country Music Hall of Fame from 95 to 98 inductees.

"The highest musical honor achievable for a Country Music artist and musician is to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and these are all outstanding and highly deserving individuals," said Tammy Genovese, CMA Chief Operating Officer. "Harold Bradley has been instrumental in creating 'The Nashville Sound' since 1946, becoming the most recorded guitar player in history. Sonny James recorded an incredible streak of hit records for more than 25 years. And George Strait, whom nearly every Country artist on the charts today cites as a major influence, continues to create great music, having placed at least one single in the Top 10 every year since 1981.

"It is with great pride that CMA will induct these three exceptional artists and musicians into the Country Music Hall of Fame, where they will join an intimate yet influential group of performers and industry veterans who have made lasting contributions to Country Music over the last century."

A Nashville native born Jan. 2, 1926, Bradley and his older brother Owen (who was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1974) grew up to become instrumental in both Country Music and Nashville's music history.

Fascinated early on with the banjo, Bradley took his brother's advice and began learning guitar. He became so skilled with the guitar that he toured with Ernest Tubb and the Texas Troubadours during the summer between his junior and senior years in high school.

After graduation and service with the U.S. Navy, Bradley studied music at George Peabody College in Nashville while playing guitar for artists on the Grand Ole Opry. His first Country Music recording session was in Chicago in 1946 with Pee Wee King and the Golden West Cowboys. As recording increased in Nashville, Bradley grew to become one of the busiest studio musicians in town, playing rhythm, lead and/or bass guitar as well as banjo. He was known for creating the "tic-tac" style of muting bass notes for the bass guitar.

In the late 1940s, Bradley and his brother Owen built Nashville's first recording facility, Castle Recording Studio. This studio lasted until 1955 when the brothers built a larger facility capable of stereo recordings known as the Bradley Film and Recording Studios on Sixteenth Avenue South in Nashville. This was the first music studio on what would eventually be known as "Music Row." Because so many Country and pop hits were being recorded at the Bradley Studio, Columbia Records eventually bought it in 1962 and built their record label around it.

Through the years, Bradley became the most recorded guitar player in history and would come to be known as "the Dean of Nashville Session Guitarists." As one of the original "A Team" studio musicians of Nashville, his musical talents were heard on such recordings as "Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy" (Red Foley); "Do the Hokey Pokey" (Ray Anthony); "Ballad of New Orleans" (Johnny Horton); "Jingle Bell Rock" (Bobby Helms); "I'm Sorry" (Brenda Lee); "Crazy" (Patsy Cline); "Only the Lonely" (Roy Orbison); "King of the Road" (Roger Miller); "Big Bad John" (Jimmy Dean); "Make The World Go Away" (Eddy Arnold); "Harper Valley PTA" (Jeannie C. Riley); "Stand By Your Man" (Tammy Wynette); "Coal Miner's Daughter" (Loretta Lynn); and "Swingin'" (John Anderson), among hundreds more. His performances can also be heard on recordings by Joan Baez, Perry Como, Buddy Holly, Burl Ives, George Morgan, Elvis Presley, Charley Pride, Jim Reeves, Marty Robbins, Hank Snow, Conway Twitty, Gene Watson, Hank Williams and more. In addition, he recorded three solo albums of instrumentals. He also performed on a variety of film soundtracks, including "A Walk in the Spring Rain," "Clambake," "Coal Miner's Daughter," "The Fastest Guitar Alive," "Kissin' Cousins," "Six Pack," "Smokey and the Bandit II," "Stay Away Joe," "The Sugarland Express," "Sweet Dreams" and ".tick.tick.tick."

Bradley was also prolific as a producer, working with Eddy Arnold and other artists. In 1999, artist Mandy Barnett turned to Bradley to finish producing her album I've Got a Right to Cry after his brother Owen (who was in the midst of producing the project) passed away.

The busy Bradley also co-produced 39 half-hour episodes of the late 1950s television series "Country Style, USA," which featured many Grand Ole Opry artists. He appeared briefly in Robert Altman's 1975 award-winning movie "Nashville" and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) named him music director for their fundraising telethon, "Legends of Country Music" in 1985.

Taking an industry leadership role, Bradley served as the first President of the Nashville chapter of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS). He has served as the President of the American Federation of Musicians (AFM) in Nashville since 1991, and was named the AFM International Vice President in 1999. In his position with the AFM, he has also established a musicians' union presence in Branson, Mo.

Bradley is one of 12 musicians inducted into the Studio Musicians Hall of Fame at RCA's Studio B, now a museum operated by the Country Music Foundation. He also received the NARAS Superpicker Award for six consecutive years (1974-1979).

Born James Hugh Loden on May 1, 1929 in Hackleburg, Ala., (95 miles northwest of Birmingham), the boy who would grow up to be known as "The Southern Gentleman" was raised on a 300-acre farm. Between 1960 and 1979, his singles spent an incredible 57 weeks in the No. 1 position - more than any other Country artist. Both of his parents were musicians, and his older sister Thelma was a singer and guitarist. With such a musical household, the family regularly performed together on Saturday nights at the homes of friends, incorporating the young boy at age 3 by teaching him to sing and play a homemade mandolin made from a molasses bucket.

In 1933, the Loden Family began performing on the radio each Saturday on WMSD/ Muscle Shoals, Ala. The family also won a Mid South Champion Band contest, with the top prize being a two week performance stint on WAPI/Birmingham, Ala. Kate Smith, who was the headlining artist for the contest, held the young Loden backstage, giving him a silver dollar while telling him he would have a bright future in the entertainment business. This proved to be wise words from one entertainment legend to a young child who would grow up to become one himself.

The Loden Family (who by now had added young Ruby Palmer on vocals and bass) performed around the South, building a reputation in the region. They became regular performers on KLCN/Blytheville, Ark., before moving on to stations in Greenwood and Columbus, Miss. After a stint at WJDX/Jackson, Miss., they moved to WNOX/ Knoxville, Tenn., in the mid-1940s to perform on the daily "Midday Merry-Go-Round" and Saturday night "Tennessee Barn Dance" radio shows. At WNOX, the Loden Family was part of a talent roster that at various times included Chet Atkins, Archie Campbell, Bill and Cliff Carlisle, Lost John Miller (and his banjo player Earl Scruggs) and Johnny Wright. In 1946, the Loden Family moved to WPTF/Raleigh, N.C., (where James roomed with Atkins); in 1949 they moved briefly to WSGN/Birmingham, Ala., before heading to WMPS/Memphis, Tenn. After Thelma and Ruby both left the band to get married, the family retired from performing and moved back to Hackleburg to open a clothing store.

Loden joined the National Guard and finished high school before briefly performing with a friend on WHBQ/Memphis, Tenn. In September 1950, he was called up to become a member of the First National Guard troops sent to Korea for the Korean Conflict. While there, Loden began seriously writing songs while playing both the guitar and fiddle. After two years overseas, Loden returned home and moved to Nashville where he looked up his former roommate Atkins who had become an established recording artist and session musician.

Atkins later secured an audition for Loden with Capitol Records' producer Ken Nelson, leading to a recording contract, a new stage name of Sonny James (based on Loden's teenage nickname) and a new tagline - "The Southern Gentleman."

In 1953, his single "That's Me Without You" hit No. 9 on the Billboard Country chart. James began appearing on important radio shows including the "Louisiana Hayride" and the "Saturday Night Shindig" before joining the "Big 'D' Jamboree" on KRLD/Dallas, Texas. He also began hosting the first 30 minute slot on every third episode of the influential "Ozark Jubilee" television show. The other rotating hosts for that segment were Webb Pierce and Porter Wagoner, with Red Foley hosting the final hour each week, putting James in great company.

James continued having hits with "She Done Give Her Heart to Me," "For Rent (One Empty Heart)," "Twenty Feet of Muddy Water" and "The Cat Came Back" among others. The combination of his vocals and guitar playing created a distinct sound. In 1956, he released "Young Love," which became his biggest hit and signature song. The song spent nine weeks at No. 1 during 1956-57 and crossed over to top the pop charts. For the next several years, James charted songs including "First Date, First Kiss, First Love" on both the Country and pop charts.

Moving to Nashville with his wife Doris (whom he married in 1957), James joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1962. Two years later, he hit No. 1 on the Country charts with "You're the Only World I Know." This began his domination of the Country charts for the next eight years, with 21 of his next 25 singles reaching No.1. During the five years between 1967 and 1971, he had 16 consecutive No. 1 singles. Among his hits were "Take Good Care of Her," "I'll Never Find Another You," "A World of Our Own," "Born to Be With You," "Bright Lights, Big City," "My Love," "Running Bear," "It's the Little Things" and "Only the Lonely" among others. Backed by his band, the Southern Gentlemen, James toured the U.S. and overseas, as well as making frequent television appearances on national shows such as "The Ed Sullivan Show," "The Bob Hope Show" and "The Andy Williams Show." He also appeared in movies such as "Las Vegas Hillbillies," "Second Fiddle to a Steel Guitar" and "Nashville Rebel."

In 1967, James and Bobbie Gentry co-hosted the first CMA Awards, setting the bar for all future hosts of "Country Music's Biggest Night." James received five CMA nominations throughout his career including Entertainer (1967); Male Vocalist (1967; 1969); and Album of the Year (1967 for The Best of Sonny James; 1976 for 200 Years of Country Music).

Honors and awards were plentiful. In 1961, he became the first Country Music artist to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Billboard named him the No. 1 Country Artist of 1969. On Jan. 31, 1971, the Apollo 14 moon flight (commanded by astronaut Alan Shepard) took a program James recorded exclusively for them into space - a first for a Country artist. In appreciation, the crew presented him with a flag they had carried to the moon. In 1977, Record World Magazine named him the Country Music's Male Artist of the Decade.

James changed record labels from Capitol to Columbia Records in 1972; towards the end of the decade he moved again to Monument Records. He remained a strong force in Country Music through 1983, scoring hits with "Only Love Can Break a Heart," "That's Why I Love You Like I Do," "When the Snow is On the Roses," "Is it Wrong (For Loving You)," "A Mi Esposa con Amor (To My Wife with Love)," "A Little Bit South of Saskatoon," "Little Band of Gold" and "What in the World's Come Over You" among others. A man of many talents, James expanded his career by producing other artists and entering music publishing in the early '70s. He produced three albums for Marie Osmond, including her hit single "Paper Roses." He also continued to perform concerts, appear on national television shows such as "Hee Haw" and participate regularly in Fan Fair, now CMA Music Festival. In 1983, James retired from performing to raise cattle in Alabama. He currently lives in Nashville.

Born May 18, 1952 in Poteet, Texas, and raised in nearby Pearsall, Strait was the son of a junior high school teacher, who owned and operated a ranch that had been in his family for nearly 100 years. Growing up he spent his weekdays in town and his weekends on the ranch outside Big Wells, Texas. Although he joined a garage rock band as a teenager, his musical preference was traditional Country. After graduating high school in the late '60s and briefly attending college, Strait married his high school sweetheart Norma. Enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1971, he moved to Hawaii two years later where he began playing Country Music with an Army-sponsored group called Rambling Country, which also played some dates off-base under the name Santee.

After leaving the Army in 1975, Strait returned to Texas and enrolled in Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos, where he graduated in 1979 with a degree in agriculture. While there he formed his Country band, Ace in the Hole. The band recorded a few albums for an independent label in Dallas in the late '70s, but had little success. In 1979, Strait became friends with Erv Woolsey, a Texas club owner and former MCA Records employee. Woolsey invited MCA executives to watch Strait perform and in 1980 Strait was signed to MCA Records with Woolsey as his manager.

Strait's debut single "Unwound" from his first album Strait Country was released in 1981 and became a Top 10 hit. Astonishingly, Strait has had at least one single hit the Top 10 every year since. With songs including "If You're Thinking You Want a Stranger (There's One Coming Home)," "Fool Hearted Memory," "Amarillo By Morning," "You Look So Good in Love," "The Fireman," "The Chair," "Nobody in His Right Mind Would've Left Her," "Ocean Front Property," "All My Ex's Live in Texas," "You Know Me Better Than That," "If I Know Me" and "Love Without End, Amen," among others, Strait established a reputation for consistently recording songs influenced by honkytonk and Western swing traditions. He also began co-producing his albums from 1984 onward, starting with his fourth album, Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind.

Strait maintained his family's ranching traditions as well as his love of team roping by launching the George Strait Team Roping Classic in 1983. The annual event has grown to become among the largest and most prestigious open ropings on the circuit, regularly hosting the most prestigious names in the sport. Strait, who is a card-carrying member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, remains an avid outdoorsman and an expert horseman.

In 1992, Strait landed the lead role of the movie "Pure Country," which brought him attention from new audiences. His first box set, the four-disc Strait Out of the Box, was released in 1995 and within a year had become one of the five biggest-selling box sets in popular music history. He continued to record hit songs including "I Cross My Heart," "Carrying Your Love With Me," "Blue Clear Sky," "I Just Want to Dance With You," "Check Yes or No," "Write This Down," "She'll Leave You With a Smile," "The Best Day" and many more. 50 Number One Hits was released in 2004, compiling the rare achievement of his first 50 No. 1 songs (as well as his 51st, "I Hate Everything") on two CDs. The project was a strong seller, eventually certified as six-time multi-Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

In addition to conquering radio and sales charts, Strait became one of Country Music's top concert attractions of all time, with his appearances selling out auditoriums and frequently setting new attendance records. From 1997 to 2001, he assembled the "George Strait Country Music Festival," a day-long musical event, which packed stadiums around the nation. Each year featured an amazing line up of Country Music artists taking the stage throughout the day before Strait closed the show each night, including Kenny Chesney, Faith Hill, Alan Jackson, Tim McGraw and more. The huge and enthusiastic crowds served as a launching pad for the young artists who later headlined tours of their own. Strait continues to tour annually, selling out venues and thrilling audiences nationwide.

As of 2006, 25 years after releasing his debut single, Strait remains a dominant force in Country Music with sales exceeding 62 million albums. The RIAA has certified Strait with 13 multi-Platinum, 30 Platinum and 33 Gold albums. According to the RIAA, he has received more Gold albums than any other artist in Country Music, and is currently tied with Frank Sinatra in eighth place for the most Gold albums of any artist in any musical genre. Strait has received 16 CMA Awards, including two consecutive Entertainer of the Year nods (1989, 1990); five Male Vocalist of the Year Awards (1985, 1986, 1996, 1997, 1998); and three Album of the Year Awards (1985 - Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind; 1996 - Blue Clear Sky; 1997 - Carrying Your Love With Me). His most recent CMA Award was in 2005 for Musical Event of the Year for his performance with Lee Ann Womack on the song "Good News, Bad News."

REACTION FROM 2006 COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES:

Harold Bradley - Recording and/or Touring Musician Active Prior to 1980

"For the past 60 years I've been focused on playing the guitar in the Nashville recording studios. I never thought about being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame because it seemed to be reserved for famous artists. And I want to thank the Country Music Association for putting studio musicians on the ballot, and I want to accept this honor on behalf of the pioneer studio musicians, the A-team studio musicians and all recording musicians everywhere, because they're all in my hall of fame. Somewhere my brother Owen is smiling."

Sonny James - Career Achieved Between World War II and 1975

"It's a great honor to join many of my friends in the Hall of Fame."

George Strait - Career Achieved National Prominence Between 1975 and the Present

"I'm very honored of course, to say the least. I've tried to think of something good to say. So many things have happened in my career. I get asked sometimes 'What's the highlight of my career?' because I've been doing it for so long, and I always have a hard time coming up with something, because so many good things have happened. But I think this is, without a doubt, the most special thing that's ever happened and I don't know how anything could top getting put in the Hall of Fame. It's just the very highest honor that you can get in this business."

"After I hung up after talking with [CMA Chief Strategic Officer] Ed [Benson], I did kind of have to chuckle because I'm thinking, 'Well, don't people usually get this after their career's over?' I'm hoping this is no sign of that because I still feel like I've got a lot of good years left in me. I still enjoy everything and I've got a new record that's going to come out in October that I feel like is the best record I've ever done since 1981, so I'm really looking forward to that coming out. And I've already got tour dates set for next year so I'm still rolling."

"Actually, I was surprised. I don't see how anybody could not be surprised. Early in my career it never crossed my mind actually. I guess later on in your career you start thinking about it and wondering if you could get in, but I don't see how anybody could just figure they're going to get in. It's just too special an honor. Of course, I wanted it, but you just can't expect it. It's an overwhelming honor. It's like nothing else that's happened to me in my 20 some odd years in the business."

On the Web: www.CMAawards.com
Harold Bradley - www.nashvillesound.net/harold_bradley.htm
Sonny James - www.sonnyjames.com
George Strait - www.georgestrait.com

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Sept. 12 Tuning in to popular TV programming while at home or on the go is now as simple -- and ubiquitous -- as powering up a broadband connection.

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) and MobiTV, Inc., the global leader in television and music services for all things mobile and broadband, today announced an agreement to offer a mobile television service to broadband users in the United States, including AT&T Yahoo!(R) High Speed Internet and AT&T WorldNet subscribers. The browser-based service, which will be called AT&T Broadband TV, will enable subscribers to use a computer to access a wealth of live programming while at home, at work, or on the go using wired and wireless broadband technologies.

Through the deal, AT&T becomes the first U.S. broadband provider to offer a live TV subscription service with MobiTV to consumers through any broadband connection. The service expands upon an earlier agreement that enables AT&T to offer MobiTV to customers who use thousands of AT&T Wi-Fi hot spots.

The AT&T Broadband TV service will initially have approximately 20 channels of live and made-for-broadband television content spanning national news, sports, entertainment and full-length music videos from top artists. Among the channels included in the initial channel lineup is Fox News,* Bloomberg, Oxygen, History Channel, Comedy Time, Toonworld, Maxx Sports and the Weather Channel.

The industry-leading, browser-based service features desktop integration for easy access, fast channel-changing, full-screen functionality and quality video playback. Subscribers can quickly access AT&T Broadband TV through a hyperlink or desktop shortcut.

Users will have access to a comprehensive channel lineup for a flat monthly subscription of $19.99. And soon, additional television channels will be offered to ensure that AT&T customers have access to the broadest range of entertainment content. The subscription can be used with nearly any broadband connection, at home, work or on the road.

Consumers can test-drive and order the new service at http://att.mobitv.com/. The companies will also market the AT&T Broadband TV offering on the AT&T WorldNet portal at www.att.net.

"The AT&T Broadband TV service offers our customers the ability to watch live television programming beyond the TV screen, increasing our capabilities to provide compelling content to consumers who are seeking information and entertainment when, where and on the device they desire," said Scott Helbing, executive vice president, AT&T Entertainment Services. "The deal helps further enhance AT&T's broadband service and three-screen initiative by offering differentiated broadband-enabled content that consumers are increasingly demanding."

"Television is officially available on the PC now and will reach television fans in their home, office, college dorm, at the airport or anywhere they happen to be," said Dr. Phillip Alvelda, CEO, chairman and co- founder of MobiTV. "MobiTV and AT&T will deliver premium quality content seamlessly across all broadband networks, making entertainment, wireless and technology history."

Through this agreement, AT&T, the nation's largest high speed DSL Internet provider with more than 7.8 million DSL lines in service, will give its customers and other broadband users a new avenue for entertainment and information, enabling them to take control of their viewing options. In addition, the company recently launched AT&T Homezone, a groundbreaking new service that integrates AT&T Yahoo! High Speed Internet, AT&T | DISH Network satellite television and AT&T Home Networking services via a single device.

The new AT&T Homezone service provides Internet-based video with satellite TV programming in a seamless in-home experience, giving consumers a powerful new way to extend the best of the Internet beyond the desktop to bring entertainment content to their TV screens and stereos. It features digital videorecording, movies on demand, photo- and music-sharing, storage for both, and it whets the anytime/anywhere generation's appetite with remote, Web-based access to the system.

* Fox News is available to AT&T Yahoo! High Speed Internet subscribers

only.

Note: This AT&T release and other news announcements are available as part of an RSS feed at www.att.com/rss.

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. is one of the world's largest telecommunications holding companies and is the largest in the United States. Operating globally under the AT&T brand, AT&T companies are recognized as the leading worldwide providers of IP-based communications services to business and as leading U.S. providers of high speed DSL Internet, local and long distance voice, and directory publishing and advertising services. AT&T Inc. holds a 60 percent ownership interest in Cingular Wireless, which is the No. 1 U.S. wireless services provider with 57.3 million wireless customers. Additional information about AT&T Inc. and AT&T products and services is available at www.att.com.

About MobiTV

MobiTV, Inc. (www.mobitv.com) is leading the convergence of television, film and music content across the mobile and personal computing markets. The Emmy(R) Award winning service has more than one million subscribers and offers popular TV and digital radio channels from top labels, networks and cable providers. The MobiTV(R) service is available in; the US through AT&T, Sprint, Cingular, Alltel; the UK through 3UK and Orange; in Canada through Bell Canada, Rogers and TELUS Mobility; in Latin America through America Movil, Claro and Telcel; and other regional carriers internationally. Founded in 1999, MobiTV is a privately-held company headquartered in Emeryville, CA.

Subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. provide products and services under the AT&T brand. MobiTV and the MobiTV logo are trademarks, service marks, and/or registered trademarks of MobiTV, Inc. in the United States and in other countries. All other trademarks, service marks, and product names used herein are the property of their respective owners.

Source: AT&T Inc.

Web site: http://www.att.com/
http://www.mobitv.com/

One of the most talked about novels this fall is Diane Setterfield's debut The Thirteenth Tale (Atria, Publication date: September 12, 2006), a gothic novel of suspense that tells the story of the Angelfield family as set forth by their biographer, the lovely Margaret Lea, a romantic young woman who works in her father's bookshop while hiding a devastating family secret. Doubleday Entertainment(TM) has chosen Setterfield's classic ghost story as its newest and tenth International Book-of-the-Month(R) (IBOM) selection because of its compelling voice and outstanding story. The Thirteenth Tale illuminates a world of secrets, confused identities, lies, and half-truths, with a spellbinding and atmospheric style -- just the type of novel that makes a perfect International Book-of-the-Month(R).

The International Book-of-the-Month(R) (IBOM) is the now established global marketing program of Bertelsmann's DirectGroup. The book clubs' publishers and senior editors choose titles by focusing on the authors and books with the potential to become international bestsellers, and then about 3 times a year on the average, a single title is chosen. By selecting one book as the International Book-of-the-Month(R), the book clubs shine a spotlight on a book that they feel readers around the world will enjoy and that will cross international borders.

The Thirteenth Tale is being offered to over 22 million readers in 12 countries: CANADA, UK, AUSTRALIA, GERMANY, AUSTRIA, NETHERLANDS, THE CZECH REPUBLIC, SPAIN, UKRAINE, FRANCE, and POLAND; and in the U.S.A. through Doubleday Book Club(R), The Literary Guild(R), Book-of-the-Month Club/Smart Readers Rewards(R), Doubleday Large Print Book Club(R), The Mystery Guild(R), Rhapsody Book Club(R), and via http://www.zooba.com/.

THE THIRTEENTH TALE

It was from growing up roaming the stacks of her beloved father's bookshop that lovely Margaret Lea developed her powerful devotion to literature and writing. Still, she is taken aback when she is summoned to the estate of aging author Vida Winter -- a woman whose name is legend, yet of whom little is known -- to pen her biography. You see, Margaret is well aware the reclusive Miss Winter, renowned for her storytelling prowess, is notorious for regaling those who dare to ask about her history with fantastic reminiscences, none of which has proven to be real. But Margaret makes it clear she will not be manipulated; she will settle for nothing less than the truth, however shocking it may be ...

Remarkably, The Thirteenth Tale is Diane Setterfield's haunting debut, yet it is written with the sure hand of a seasoned writer adept at luring you in. For as Margaret delves into Vida Winter's past -- to her seductive mother, her debauched uncle, and the rest of the aristocratic, but doomed Angelfield family -- she finds a connection to her own painful secret ... and we find a book that holds us captive until the stunning end.

List of Doubleday Entertainment's IBOMs to date:

(September 2006) The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

(May 2006) Beautiful Lies by Lisa Unger

(October 2005) Immoral by Brian Freeman

(July 2005) The Traveler by John TwelveHawks

(May 2005) Saffron Skies by Lesley Lokko

(September 2004) Suspect by Michael Robotham

(January 2004) Retribution by Jilliane Hoffman

(November 2003) A Blade of Grass by Lewis De Soto

(August 2003) A Faint, Cold Fear by Karin Slaughter

(March 2003) No Second Chance, Harlan Coben

PRAISE FOR DIANE SETTERFIELD'S THE THIRTEENTH TALE:

"Setterfield has provided a rarity: a beautifully written novel with a swift plot, atmospheric setting and witty dialogue that combine to provide a read that will leave any book lover well satisfied."

- BookPage

"... graceful storytelling ..." - Publishers Weekly

"[The Thirteenth Tale] is a gothic novel . . . [that] grabs the reader with

its damp, icy fingers and doesn't let go until the last shocking secret has

been revealed ... Setterfield's first novel is equally suited to a rainy

afternoon on the couch or a summer day on the beach."

- Library Journal

"Setterfield has crafted an homage to the romantic heroines of du Maurier,

Collins and the Brontes ... enchanting Goth for the 21st century."

- Kirkus Reviews

About Diane Setterfield:

Diane Setterfield is a former academic, specializing in 20th century French literature, particularly the works of Andre Gide. She lives in Yorkshire, England. The Thirteenth Tale is her first novel.

About DOUBLEDAY ENTERTAINMENT(TM):

Doubleday Entertainment(TM) is the preeminent marketer of books and merchandise via direct mail and e-commerce in the U.S., with over 7 million members and including over 35 book clubs, such as Doubleday Book Club(R), Literary Guild(R), Book-of-the-Month Club(R) and special interest and lifestyle clubs like One Spirit(R) and The Good Cook(R). A wholly owned subsidiary of BOOKSPAN, Doubleday Entertainment and its predecessors (Book-of-the-Month Club and Doubleday Book Club) have been recognized as leaders in the direct marketing business for over 70 years.

Source: Doubleday Entertainment

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

 Spike TV has announced a fast-paced, thrilling new original scripted eight-hour drama event, "The Kill Pit," starring Emmy(R) Award-winning actor John Leguizamo. Produced by Lionsgate (NYSE:LGF) , the leading independent filmed entertainment studio, in association with Mandeville, the drama follows a bank heist that goes terribly awry and the hostage negotiations that ensue. "The Kill Pit" goes into production during the first quarter of next year for a summer 2007 premiere.

Written by James DeMonaco ("The Negotiator," "Assault on Precinct 13") and executive produced by David Hoberman ("Monk") and Todd Lieberman ("Eight Below," "Bringing Down the House") of Mandeville and DeMonaco, "The Kill Pit" revolves around a midtown bank robbery by a team of American Iraqi-War veterans led by Leguizamo. More than a dozen hostages from all walks of life are taken, ranging from the daughter of a business tycoon to an adulterous couple.

"It's a great cat and mouse game with lots of action and suspense and will surely resonate with our guy audience," said Pancho Mansfield, Executive Vice President of Original Programming, Spike TV. "John Leguizamo is the ideal actor to bring edginess and intensity to the lead role."

"We were immediately drawn to this project by the caliber of the writing and the creative team involved," said Kevin Beggs, President of Programming and Production, Lionsgate. "We're excited to be working with David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman, James DeMonaco and John Leguizamo and forging a new relationship with Spike TV on our first production for the network."

Throughout the eight-hour event, viewers will follow the escalating action as the volatile soldiers plot their way out, the negotiator anticipates their moves and the hostages desperately try to survive. Time is critical and the game intensifies with surprising twists at every turn.

An acclaimed stage and screen star, John Leguizamo received an Emmy(R) Award for the Spike Lee-directed presentation of his Tony-nominated Broadway solo show, "Freak," for HBO. His numerous other accolades include a Golden Globe nomination for his comic turn in "To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything Julie Newmar," and a SAG Award nomination for his work in Baz Luhrmann's Academy Award-nominated "Moulin Rouge." Leguizamo's other credits include "Carlito's Way" for director Brian De Palma, Baz Luhrmann's "Romeo & Juliet," "Empire," Spike Lee's "Summer of Sam," "Undefeated," which he also directed, and the animated hit "Ice Age" and its sequel. The actor was recently seen in a recurring role on the hit series "ER."

Bill McGoldrick is Spike TV's Executive in Charge of Production.

Lionsgate is the leading independent filmed entertainment studio, winning this year's Best Picture Academy Award(R) for Crash, generating two consecutive years of $300 million-plus domestic theatrical box office, operating a $500 million-plus home entertainment business and producing a broad slate of prime time television series for fiscal 2007. It is a premier producer and distributor of motion pictures, television programming, home entertainment, family entertainment, and video-on-demand content. Its prestigious and prolific library of more than 7,800 titles is a valuable source of stable, 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 world.

Spike TV is available in 90 million homes and is a division of MTV Networks. MTV Networks, a division of Viacom International Inc.

Source: Spike TV

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

 RMS Titanic, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Premier Exhibitions, Inc. (NASDAQ:PRXI) , has entered into an agreement to bring the enormously successful Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition to the Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal. The Exhibition is scheduled to open to the public on November 4, 2006 for a limited engagement.

Returning, by popular demand, the new version of this blockbuster Exhibition, now viewed by more than 17 million visitors, will include more than 300 artifacts not previously seen in Cincinnati, along with stunning room re-creations and a hands-on replica iceberg.

"In our previous short run in Cincinnati the Exhibition was viewed by more than 100,000 attendees and we look forward to dramatically increasing those numbers during the upcoming full run," states Arnie Geller, President and CEO of Premier Exhibitions, Inc. "Our strong partnership with the Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal alongside these not before seen elements will provide visitors with an entirely new and original experience."

RMS Titanic, Inc. is the only company permitted by law to recover objects from the wreck of the Titanic. The Company was granted Salvor-in-possession rights to the wreck of Titanic by a United States federal court in 1994 and has conducted seven research and recovery expeditions to Titanic's debris field which recovered approximately 5,500 artifacts.

Premier Exhibitions, Inc. is a major provider of museum quality touring exhibitions throughout the world.

Certain of the above statements contained in this press release are forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements are within the meaning of that term in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Company has based these forward-looking statements on its current expectations and projections about future events, based on the information currently available to it. The forward-looking statements include statements relating to the Company's anticipated financial performance, business prospects, new developments, new strategies and similar matters. The following important factors, in addition to those described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended February 28, 2006, especially in the Risk Factors and the Management's Discussion and Analysis sections, and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and its Current Reports on Form 8-K (each of which is available upon request from the Company), may affect the future results of the Company and cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements; material adverse changes in the economic conditions in the Company's markets, including terrorist attacks, competition from others, how much capital the Company may or may not receive from required financings, and whether or not, and to what extent, the Company consummates its planned leases to place exhibitions. We disclaim any obligation to update these forward- looking statements.

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

Marjorie Dawson is only 16 years old, but you'd never know it from listening to her recent debut album, "A Foreign American Song." Like the tracks on her CD that reflect worldliness, Dawson's voice belies her age.

With tracks that include "L'Amour Est Un Oiseau Rebelle," you'd never guess that Dawson's first language is English. In fact, most of the tracks are sung in Spanish. Dawson also sings two Judeo-Sephardic songs in Ladino, "Si La Mar Fuera de Leche" and "Adio Querida."

Produced by Mark Sinko under the Thleudron Record Label, "A Foreign American Song" was recorded with a full orchestra, with the collaboration of veteran San Antonio musicians including violinist Sebastian Campesi. A violinist with the San Antonio Symphony for two decades, Campesi blends Italian and Gypsy folk traditions.

"A Foreign American Song," recorded at San Antonio's Salmon Peak Recording Studio, is the high school student's first professional foray - and the culmination of four months of studio rehearsals. Her previous musical experience is limited to a country and blues demo she recorded at age 14 with Dr. Beltram Roberts.

While Dawson's CD is rich in cultural overtones, it also reveals a wide range of musical genres. Dawson masters everything from a sultry tango to a Broadway show tune ("All That Jazz") to an operatic number and a world- renowned inspirational piece ("Ave Maria").

For more information and to hear audio clips, visit http://www.thleudron.com/. "A Foreign American Song" is available online at http://www.cdbaby.com/ and http://www.amazon.com/.

Note to editors: Album credits and track listing follow.

Executive Director: Alma Aguado, M.D.

Sound Engineer: Mark Sinko

Mastered by Billy Stull at Sonic Solutions

CD Design & Graphics: NationWide Color

Musicians:

Violin: Sebastian Campesi, San Antonio, TX

Piano: Anthony Bazzan, San Antonio, TX

String Bass: Jim Kalson, San Antonio, TX

Trombone: Ron Wilkins, San Antonio, TX

Accordion: Mark Rubenstein, San Antonio, TX

Nylon String Guitar: Joe Gonzales, San Antonio, TX

12-string Guitar: Mark Sinko, San Antonio, TX

Drums: Kyle Thompson, Austin, TX

Hand Percussion: Gabriel Herrera, San Antonio, TX

Castanets: Jackie Rodriguez, San Antonio, TX

Tracks:

1. La Tarara

Writer: Federico Garcia Lorca

2. La Violetera

Writer: Jose Padilla

3. Si La Mar Fuera De Leche

Traditional Judeo-Sephardic

4. Granada

Writer: Agustin Lara

5. La Cumparsita

Writers: G.H. Matos Rodriguez, E.P. Maroni, P. Contursi

6. All That Jazz

Writers: Fred Ebb, John Kander

7. Por Una Cabeza

Writers: Carlos Gardel, Alfredo Le Pera

8. Adio Querida

Traditional Judeo-Sephardic

9. Vergin Tutto Amor

Writer: Francesco Durante

10. L'Amour Est Un Oiseau Rebelle (Habanera from 'Carmen': Act I)

Writer: Georges Bizet

11. Wie Melodien Mieht Es Mir Op. 105, No. 1

Writers: Johannes Brahms, Klaus Groth

12. Ave Maria

Writer: Franz Schubert

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

-- Kevin Cahoon and Ghetto Cowboy, along with ACIDplanet.com(R), one of the Internet's premier sites for user-generated music and video content and computer-based recording and remixing tools, have launched a new remix contest. Aspiring musicians can now add their own musical flavor to Kevin Cahoon and Ghetto Cowboy's fashion runway anthem, "Fashionista." By hosting this remix contest, ACIDplanet.com is helping produce the soundtrack for the next L.A. Fashion Week in October 2006.

Singer-songwriter Kevin Cahoon is also known for his rock-star performances in Hedwig & The Angry Inch, The Rocky Horror Show, The Who's Tommy, and the current Broadway smash, The Wedding Singer. With his band, Ghetto Cowboy, he delivers a unique brand of distorted, gritty rock and glam combined with pistol power performances and raw theatrics. Through their raucous live shows, the group has quickly become one of the most buzzed about new arrivals on New York City's downtown music scene.

Following the release of its debut CD DOLL earlier this year, Ghetto Cowboy received four nominations at the 2006 OutMusic Awards and Kevin Cahoon walked away with the Outstanding Debut Recording-male award; The Onion (NY) and Pabst Blue Ribbon selected Ghetto Cowboy as band of the week in their "Live and Local" Campaign; the band charted in the top 50 on Sirius Satellite Radio's Mid-Year Music Survey; and "Fashionista" was featured on several runways during the last two Fashion Weeks in NYC.

This ACIDplanet.com contest is the first experience that Kevin Cahoon and Ghetto Cowboy have had with being part of a remix contest. "It's incredible because the listener gets to be part of the artistic process," says Cahoon. "They can add their own experience and their own take to the track. It really opens up your audience to so many avenues that you would never have before and it opens up the experience of the song as well."

Cahoon, who will help pick out the winning track, says that he looks forward to the winning remix of "Fashionista" becoming an anthem for next season's runway. "I think what I'm looking for is for the remix to sort of put us on the runway," says Cahoon. "I think the track should have a real urban feel to it. It should feel like New York and feel like Downtown."

Users must upload their remix of "Fashionista" to ACIDplanet.com by Tuesday, September 19, 2006 in order to be eligible for the contest. One grand prize winner will receive $100 American Express Gift Card from Kevin Cahoon, ACID Pro software, five Sony Sound Series(TM) Standard Collection libraries, and the chance for the winning remix to be used during L.A. Fashion Week.

ACIDplanet.com is a growing online community of individual digital musicians. Users can create and upload their own music and videos for the world to experience or listen to music created by others, and check out the most popular videos. In addition to sharing original creations, users participate in regularly scheduled remix contests featuring several notable musicians. Some other artists, including Beck, De La Soul and Nine Inch Nails, have contributed music to past remix contests at ACIDplanet.com.

For more information and complete contest rules, please visit: http://www.acidplanet.com/

About Sony Media Software

Sony Media Software manages the following media creation titles: ACID(R) Pro, ACID Music Studio(TM), ACID XMC(TM), CD Architect(TM), DVD Architect(TM), Jam Trax(TM), Sound Forge(R), Sound Forge Audio Studio(TM), Super Duper Music Looper(R), Vegas(R), Vegas Movie Studio(TM)+DVD, and Vegas Movie Studio+DVD Platinum Edition software. Sony Media Software produces The Seminar Series(TM) product training DVDs, Sony Sound Series(TM) music and sound effects libraries, Sony Vision Series(TM) graphics, animations and stock footage libraries, and Noise Reduction(TM) plug-in. The team also runs ACIDplanet.com(R), a worldwide community for progressive musicians. For additional product information, please visit www.sony.com/mediasoftware.

ACID, Beatmapper, CD Architect, DVD Architect, Jam Trax, LooperVision, Noise Reduction, Sound Forge, Sound Series, Super Duper Music Looper, Vegas, and Vision Series are trademarks or registered trademarks of Madison Media Software, Inc., a Sony Corporation of America subsidiary, or its affiliates in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners in the United States and other countries.

Source: Sony Media Software

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

Web site: http://www.sony.com/mediasoftware

-- Nickelodeon's absurd new buddy comedy/puppet series Mr. Meaty, premiering Friday, September 22 (8:30 p.m. ET/PT), serves up super-sized laughs from the mall food court bunker tended by teen "odd couple" Josh Redgrove and Parker Dinkelman, who geek out and concoct life-changing plans to escape the monotony of minimum wage. And the best pals work in the mall that has it all: love, ambition, aliens, zombies and ample parking. The series developed from Nickelodeon's TurboNick broadband platform on nick.com -- where it appeared first as a series of shorts -- is a co-production of Nickelodeon Television and 3Js Productions. Jack Lenz serves as executive producer; creator-puppeteers Jason Hopley and Jamie Shannon write and direct.

"Mr. Meaty is a truly original comedy," says Tom Ascheim, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Nickelodeon Digital Television, of the series spiced with two 11-minute adventures per episode. "You literally feel the unique voice of its creators in every grease-stained puppet moment. In Josh and Parker, our slightly challenged burger flipping duo, they've given us a great new buddy tandem in the comedic tradition of Laurel and Hardy, Drake and Josh and SpongeBob and Patrick."

Hopley and Shannon (Whoopi's Littleburg, Nanalan'), who've partnered in puppetry for 15 years, point to the unique appeal of the medium and Mr. Meaty. "These puppets are rubbery, three-dimensional cartoons with an awkward, raw style," says Hopley, admitting the unabashedly dorky Parker on his arm "is me." Shannon, who brings Josh to life, savors the show's satire, affirming, "We've recreated a whole world in 3-D -- from hot dogs to walls and escalators, people and even monsters -- to magnify kids' mall-centric social lives and to make fun of suburban monotony, bad food and too much meat."

Kids first got a taste of Mr. Meaty shortly after TurboNick launched in July 2005. Tempting samples sizzled throughout the summer, when Mr. Meaty re-emerged on TurboNick in May with a steady stream of bloopers and shorts and arrived with free video podcasts on iTunes and www.nick.com/meaty, as well as on all of the kid channel's Video on Demand (VOD) partners and its wireless carriers. And while the series hasn't yet premiered, the chockfull Mr. Meaty restaurant website is burning up at nick.com with 2.3 million unique visitors, 3.2 million visits and 6.2 million page-views to date and nearly 326,000 podcast downloads. It features training videos with Josh and Parker, print-up menus, mall employee of the week profiles, Mr. Meaty job applications, games, sneak peek clips, a message board and character profiles. Following the on-air series premiere, complete Mr. Meaty episodes will be offered on TurboNick.

Behind the flashy facade of the vast Mr. Meaty franchise beats the heart of angst-ridden, self-absorbed Josh and Parker who unleash disaster at every turn. At 16, newly cool cashier Josh pursues as many girls as possible, often to the annoyance of geeky cook Parker, who at 15 still lives in childish fantasies. They're opposites, but Josh can't help but like his longtime pal, and Parker is undyingly loyal to his best friend and Mr. Meaty sidekick. Josh's under-developed shoulders are weighed down at times by Parker's emotional outbursts in the kitchen behind him, the voracious customers in front and the Mr. Meaty Head Office watching from a surveillance camera mounted on the wall above. As the unofficial, unaware champions of the underdog in a world that relies on the veneer of a perfect customer service experience, the awkward duo endure one of the most soulless jobs on earth in order to save enough money to someday produce their breakthrough sci-fi horror movie: Ninja Zombies.

Decoding girl missions, meat explosions and Parker's fantasy transformations into a unicorn are just part of the pals' shift at Mr. Meaty, and the call of the mall pulls them into a glistening haven of pop-teen madness. Venturing there, they find denizens like Goth Girl, Josh's chalky crush who works as a candy girl at Sparkle City Movie Theatre and has given up on mainstream society; and ex-paintball champ/cop Doug, a mountain of a man who keeps the peace and comes to Josh and Parker's rescue. Teen trio Ashley, Brittany and Ashley 2 indulge in a free-for-all frenzy of lipstick testing and perfume bathing while mercilessly gossiping at Pantosphere's make-up counter. There's also Melissa the vegetarian who works in the food court at Soy What. And hanging out at the fountain are Jocks, Skaters -- and Master Kindu, dispenser of interstellar wisdom. All visit Mr. Meaty and suffer Josh and Parker's actions.

Lifelong puppeteers/fantasy fanatics Hopley and Shannon met in sixth grade at Toronto's Claude Watson School for the Arts. In 1993, they launched their career in puppetry by creating the Grogs and gained popularity with the puppet troupe on Canada's YTV, then segueing to CBC, TVO, Showcase -- and Nickelodeon. The duo honed their skills as creature-makers, creators, writers and puppeteers for numerous specials, shorts and commercials. In 2004, Hopley snagged a stint as art director/puppet designer/lead puppeteer on Nick Jr.'s Whoopi's Littleburg specials. And he and Shannon created Michael's Island, a series of puppet shorts for Nick Jr. After five years of incubating ideas and style for the Grogs brand, Hopley and Shannon launched Grogs, Inc. under the banner of Jack Lenz's Lenz Entertainment, which evolved into the trio's current production company, 3 Js. Their two-time Gemini Award-winning CBC pre-school series Nanalan' (2004-06) also aired as interstitials on Nick Jr.

Nickelodeon, now in its 27th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books, magazines and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in more than 90 million households and has been the number- one-rated basic cable network for eleven consecutive years. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NYSE:VIA) (NYSE:and) (NYSE:VIA.B) .

Web site: http://www.nick.com/meaty
http://www.nick.com/

 A mighty trio of TEENick hit comedies -- Drake & Josh, Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide and Zoey 101 -- conquers back-to-school blahs, Sunday, September 24 with all-new fall season primetime premieres. It's back-to-back, must-see TV when the top- rated live-action series for kids and tweens, Kids' Choice Award-winning Drake & Josh, kicks off the night -- and a fourth season -- at 7 p.m., followed by third season openers of blockbuster series Ned's Declassified at 7:30 p.m. and Zoey 101 starring Kids' Choice Award winner Jamie Lynn Spears at 8 p.m. (all times ET/PT).

Turnabouts, curveballs and a boatload of laughs rock the season premieres. In Drake & Josh/"Josh Runs into Oprah" Josh (Josh Peck) is jazzed at the prospect of meeting his TV idol when Drake (Kids' Choice winner for Favorite TV Actor, Drake Bell) gets tickets to "Oprah" for his birthday, but delight turns to dismay in the studio parking lot. As school bells ring on Ned's Declassified/"A New Grade" & "Dodgeball," the title tipster (Devon Werkheiser) enters the new world of eighth grade and resolves to conquer it, but best laid plans go raucously awry and Ned becomes an accidental bully. Zoey 101/"Surprise" finds take-charge Zoey (Jamie Lynn Spears) embarking on new adventures at Pacific Coast Academy with a new roommate -- and reeling from a romantic revelation.

Tween leader Nickelodeon has been number one with that demo (kids 9-14) in total day ratings for 14 years, and TEENick shows continue to dominate the TV landscape. Instant hits since they debuted, Drake & Josh, Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide and Zoey 101 account for three of the top five regularly scheduled live-action series on cable (total day) in 2Q 2006 with tweens (9- 14); Drake & Josh was tops followed by Ned's (#3) and Zoey (#4). Drake & Josh, which first broke records as Nick's highest rated series premiere in almost 10 years and started stripping M-F at 5:30 p.m. in February, has ranked as the number-one regularly scheduled live-action show with kids 2-11 and 9-14 for two consecutive quarters. Year-to-date, Nick averages a 2.56 Tween 9-14 rating, besting its competition by double digits.

Post-season premieres, TEENick's regular lineup on Sundays next season will include Romeo! (6 p.m.), The Amanda Show (6:30 p.m.), Drake & Josh (7 p.m.), Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide (7:30 p.m.), Zoey 101 (8 p.m.) and Unfabulous (8:30 p.m.).

As Zoey 101 heads back to the books amid ocean breezes, Zoey and Lola (Victoria Justice) find they have a new roommate, Quinn (Erin Sanders). This season the outnumbered girls still strive to survive and thrive at the newly co-ed boarding school, despite detractors like Logan (Matthew Underwood), and with the help of pals Chase (Sean Flynn) and Michael (Christopher Massey). In the season premiere, "Surprise," Lola and Quinn predict that Chase is going to profess his love to Zoey, but the truth is, he has a bigger surprise. Meanwhile, it looks like Logan and Michael just might fight to the finish to get the top bunk this year. Creator/executive producer is Dan Schneider (All That, The Amanda Show, Drake & Josh, What I Like about You).

Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide continues to chronicle the wacky adventures of Ned Bigby (Devon Werkheiser) and his best pals Moze (Lindsey Shaw) and Cookie (Daniel Curtis Lee) at James K. Polk Middle School, as "every-kid" Ned shatters the fourth wall to share tips and tricks on jumping school hurdles. Each episode features two 11-minute romps. In the third-season premiere, "A New Grade" and "Dodgeball," new eighth grader Ned vows to be tougher and accidentally becomes the new bully -- swatting at a swarm of flies and unintentionally KO'ing nearby classmates; Moze vows to be nicer but copes with an I-teacher who's a monster in a monitor. And sans braces, Cookie pursues the new no-braces, non-sniffling Lisa Zemo. In "Dodgeball" team captain Ned must battle bully Loomer and his secret weapon Cookie, and he must do it without ace player Moze. Upcoming Survival Guides offer tips in dealing with pitfalls and problems of art class, popularity, social studies, the school play, revenge, bad hair days and much more. Scott Fellows (The Fairly OddParents) is creator/executive producer.

Drake & Josh's odd couple of teen stepbrothers, Drake Parker and Josh Nichols (Drake Bell and Josh Peck), share shenanigans that cement a brotherly bond. And it is singer-musician/ladies' man Drake who pulls responsible Josh into the high jinks. Miranda Cosgrove (School of Rock) hoodwinks them both as little sis Megan. In the season premiere, "Josh Runs into Oprah," after Drake forgets Josh's birthday -- and throws a big surprise party for his "girlfriend" of five days -- the guilt-racked teen atones by getting his brother tickets to Oprah. However, delight turns to dismay in the studio lot when the guys argue over parking and distracted driver Josh accidentally runs into his idol. Drake and Josh hightail it to the hospital to make amends -- and maybe meet Oprah -- but two huge bodyguards, a horde of reporters and a farcical scheme add up to another fiasco. This season, too, a Drake & Josh TV movie is on tap. Bell, who penned the show's theme song, continues to perform his original music. Creator/executive producer is Dan Schneider.

Nickelodeon, now in its 27th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books, magazines and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in more than 90 million households and has been the number- one-rated basic cable network for eleven consecutive years. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NYSE:VIA) (NYSE:and) (NYSE:VIA.B) .

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

MTV2 announced today 'MTV2 $2BILL PRESENTS WELCOME TO THE UNIVERSE FEATURING 30 SECONDS TO MARS.' The biggest MTV2 $2Bill tour ever hits 30 cities beginning October 17th and ends on November 25th with dates in major markets across the country including Chicago, Los Angeles, Houston, Boston and New York, among others. Head Automatica and Cobra Starship will serve as the opening acts for 30 Seconds To Mars during the tour. In addition, Pink Spiders, Rock Kills Kid, The Receiving End Of Sirens, Envy on the Coast and Men, Women and Children will be joining the tour for select tour dates. This is an all-ages tour and a limited amount of tickets per city will be made available for $2 each while they last in a special internet pre-sale sponsored by MTV2 and 30STM beginning at noon ET/PT on Sept 16th at Ticketmaster.com. There will be a 4 ticket limit per order for the pre-sale. Sales for General Tickets will begin the following week on September 23rd. Fans should be sure to check 30Secondstomars.com and tours.mtv2.com for complete tour and ticket information and access to tons of unique content for 'MTV2 $2BILL PRESENTS WELCOME TO THE UNIVERSE FEATURING 30 SECONDS TO MARS'.

Said singer Jared Leto, "This is an amazing time of celebration for us all and we are very excited to join forces with the unique and creative individuals at MTV2 to present what we hope will be one of the most exciting tours of the fall... 'WELCOME TO THE UNIVERSE.' With a powerful line up of phenomenally talented opening bands and having an environmentally acceptable 'green' tour, we are looking forward to yet another chance for us to share something unique with our family of fans that have supported us so passionately and also invite and introduce many others to the world of 30 SECONDS TO MARS. Taking this approach gives us the opportunity to set an example and share with others the possibilities of real alternatives for a safer, cleaner world. We will see you all very soon for what will be an exciting, chaotic circus of insanity, and an unforgettable tour!!!"

30 Seconds To Mars released the certified gold record A Beautiful Lie on August 30, 2005 to critical acclaim. Alternative Press said, "... they just might be rock's best-kept secret." "The Kill," which is the second single from their album, has become a top three hit at Modern Rock Radio while the video has just won the MTV2 Award at the 2006 VMAs after being nominated for two - "Best Rock Video" and the MTV2 Award. Continuing to tour through the end of 2006, they recently completed their first ever headlining tour which sold out across the country; they also played Bamboozle, Lollapalooza, and this summer's Warped Tour. In addition to 'MTV2 $2BILL PRESENTS WELCOME TO THE UNIVERSE FEATURING 30 SECONDS TO MARS' the band will play Bamboozle West as well as the KROQ Inland Invasion show.

In support of the 'MTV2 $2BILL PRESENTS WELCOME TO THE UNIVERSE FEATURING 30 SECONDS TO MARS', 30 Seconds To Mars will be hosting a week of MTV2's T-MINUS ROCK, MTV2 will air an UNLEASHED video premiere and a Makes a Video on Monday October 16th for their new single "Attack," air a 1/2 hour original video based special featuring the bands touring alongside 30 Seconds to Mars, MTV Overdrive will feature a 30 Seconds to Mars tour diary featuring 2 -3 minute video clips of band's experiences and much more.

Dates for 'MTV2 $2BILL PRESENTS WELCOME TO THE UNIVERSE FEATURING 30 SECONDS TO MARS' as follows:

Show Date Venue

Tuesday, October 17th The Myth

Minneapolis, MN

Wednesday, October 18th Eagles Ballroom

Milwaukee, WI

Friday, October 20th Congress

Chicago, IL

Saturday, October 21st Egyptian

Indianapolis, IN

Sunday, October 22nd State Theater

Detroit, MI

Tuesday, October 24th Promo West Pavilion

Columbus, OH

Friday, October 27th Roseland

New York, NY

Saturday, October 28th Avalon

Boston, MA

Sunday, October 29th Lupo's

Providence, RI

Monday, October 30th Ritacco Center

Toms River, NJ

Tuesday, October 31st Electric Factory

Philadelphia, PA

Thursday, November 2nd Tabernacle

Atlanta, GA

Friday, November 3rd House of Blues

North Myrtle Beach, SC

Saturday, November 4th Hard Rock

Orlando, FL

Monday, November 6th Revolution

Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Tuesday, November 7th Jannus Landing

St. Petersburg, FL

Thursday, November 9th Verizon

Houston, TX

Friday, November 10th Sunset Station

San Antonio, TX

Saturday, November 11th Ridlea Theater

Fort Worth, TX

Monday, November 13th Pageant

St. Louis, MO

Wednesday, November 15th Fillmore Theater

Denver, CO

Thursday, November 16th Salt Air

Salt Lake City, UT

Saturday, November 18th Roseland Theater

Portland, OR

Sunday, November 19th The Premier

Seattle, WA

Wednesday, November 22nd Warfield

San Francisco, CA

Friday, November 24th SOMA

San Diego, CA

Saturday, November 25th Wiltern

Los Angeles, CA

Presenting a series of inexpensive concerts for music fans around the country, MTV2's $2Bill has attracted a diverse mix of music acts and artists including Lil Jon & The Eastside Boyz, the Beastie Boys, Radiohead, DMX, Linkin Park, Coldplay, Fat Joe, The Foo Fighters, The Roots, Musiq, Nas, The Vines, The Strokes, Secret Machines, Kanye West, System of a Down, Daddy Yankee and most recently, My Chemical Romance.

MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom (NYSE:VIA) (NYSE:VIA.B) , is one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. MTV Networks, with more than 130 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 150 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://www.mtv.com/
http://30secondstomars.com/
http://tours.mtv2.com/

 Nokia (NYSE: NOK), the world leader in mobile communications, and Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS), the world's leading interactive entertainment software company, today announced a collaboration that will see EA become a major supplier of mobile games to millions of Nokia mobile device owners through Nokia Content Discoverer. This solution allows mobile customers easy access to downloadable content through a collection of shopping mall "stores" on their mobile device. Initially, customers will be able to download seven EA titles, Tetris(R), Tetris(R) Mania, The Sims(TM)2, Doom(R), FIFA 06, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR(R) 06 and FIFA Street 2 this holiday season. Starting in mid-2007, EA intends also to support the launch of the Nokia next generation mobile games platform with top EA titles that will be custom-designed for Nokia S60 devices.

In an effort to advance the content delivery model and overall player experience, Nokia and EA will work together to craft a superior mobile gaming experience for consumers worldwide. Nokia device owners can look forward to improved game quality, outstanding performance and intuitive delivery.

"Nokia shares our vision of making it easy for people around the world to find and play the best quality games on their mobile phones. We are looking forward to working more closely with Nokia on promoting a delivery system that propels mobile gaming forward," said Mitch Lasky, senior vice president, EA. "This relationship will bring together EA's great brands and development studios with Nokia's innovative hardware and global consumer reach."

"The core of Nokia's games strategy is to make it easy for people to find, buy and play great quality mobile games and we're excited to expand our relationship with EA to help make that possible," said Jaakko Kaidesoja, director, games, Multimedia, Nokia. "Nokia and EA have a common vision regarding the opportunities in mobile games and how to turn them into a reality. When you combine Nokia's leadership in hardware, usabiliy and software platforms with EA's brands and quality thresholds, the results will speak for themselves."

Launching the first half 2007, Nokia's next generation mobile gaming platform makes it easy for people to find, buy, play and share rich and immersive games on a range of Nokia smartphones. EA intends to deliver a range of popular EA SPORTS(TM) and EA(TM) branded mobile titles at the launch of this next generation mobile gaming initiative.

About Electronic Arts

Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is the world's leading interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, the company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive software worldwide for videogame systems, personal computers and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA SPORTSTM, EATM, EA SPORTS BIGTM and POGOTM. In fiscal 2006, EA posted revenue of $2.95 billion and had 27 titles that sold more than one million copies. EA's homepage and online game site is www.ea.com. More information about EA's products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://info.ea.com.

Electronic Arts, EA, EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS BIG, POGO and the Sims are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. Official FIFA licensed product. The FIFA Logo (c) 1977 FIFA TM. The mark "TIGERWOODS" and the TW Logo are trademarks of ETW Corp. and may not be used, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of ETW Corp. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

About Nokia

Nokia is a world leader in mobile communications, driving the growth and sustainability of the broader mobility industry. Nokia connects people to each other and the information that matters to them with easy-to-use and innovative products like mobile phones, devices and solutions for imaging, games, media and businesses. Nokia provides equipment, solutions and services for network operators and corporations.

www.nokia.com

Source: Nokia

 Nickelodeon today announced an expanded partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA), making it a signature partner for the "Let's Just Play" campaign. Through this partnership, BGCA will play an integral role in Nickelodeon's ongoing efforts to encourage kids to participate in healthy active play. The network's award-winning "Let's Just Play" campaign encourages health and wellness, and activity among kids and families.

"The 'Let's Just Play' partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America is a natural extension of Nickelodeon's commitment to provide resources and tools for kids to help them make healthy lifestyle choices," said Jean Margaret Smith, senior vice president, Public Affairs, Nickelodeon. "Boys & Girls Clubs of America have been instrumental in our 'Let's Just Play' campaign over the past four years, and we look forward to continued success with them on- board and this expanded relationship."

"We at Boys & Girls Clubs of America are thrilled to expand our relationship with Nickelodeon Networks," commented Romero Brown, senior director, Teen Services for Boys & Girls Clubs of America. "Our shared commitment to the health and well-being of children makes this partnership a natural one."

On Sept. 30, more than 355 Boys & Girls Clubs across the country and around the world will celebrate Nickelodeon's third annual Worldwide Day of Play, an event in which the network will go dark from 12 noon to 3 p.m. in order to encourage kids to get up, go out and play. Clubs in the 50 US states, Italy, Portugal, Guam, Turkey, Cuba, Italy, South Korea, Japan, Germany and the United Kingdom, will host "Let's Just Play" themed events, where an estimated 50,000 kids will take part in activities aimed at educating kids about healthier lifestyles.

Part of BGCA efforts for "Let's Just Play" also include a registration drive to encourage kids to participate in this year's Let's Just Play Go Healthy Challenge, a campaign developed by Nickelodeon and The Alliance for a Healthier Generation - a joint partnership between the American Heart Association and the William J. Clinton Foundation. BGCA will reach out to kids through the Keystone Internet Community, YouthNet, www.bgca.net and with blast emails. Several Boys & Girls Clubs have been featured in the on-air installments of this year's Let's Just Play Go Healthy Challenge, and executive Romero Brown serves on the Go Healthy Challenge Advisory Board.

Nickelodeon has produced a new public service announcement (PSA) that encourages kids to visit their local Boys & Girls Club and enroll in its programs and services that promote and enhance the development of boys and girls. The PSA will begin to air on Nickelodeon Sept. 13 and on TurboNick, the network's broadband video site on Nick.com. Nickelodeon has participated in BGCA Keystone conferences, and features the organization on its Let's Just Play website as well as in Nickelodeon Magazine.

Through encouraging kids to participate in past Worldwide Day of Play events, to participating in the "Let's Just Play Giveaway," to promoting Let's Just Play through BGCA infrastructure to reach kids, parents, local boards and professionals, BGCA and Nickelodeon have partnered in the past on numerous activities and projects related to active play. On a grassroots level, BGCA and Nickelodeon have held more than 3,000 events for the "Let's Just Play" campaign in local clubs, and in 2005 alone, encouraged approximately 40,000 kids to participate in Boys & Girls Club events for Worldwide Day of Play.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of America

Boys & Girls Clubs of America (http://www.bgca.org/) comprises a national network of more than 3,900 neighborhood-based facilities annually serving some 4.6 million young people, primarily from disadvantaged circumstances. Known as "The Positive Place for Kids," the Clubs provide guidance-oriented character development programs on a daily basis for children 6-18 years old, conducted by a full-time professional staff. Key Boys & Girls Clubs programs emphasize character and leadership development, education and career development, health and life skills, the arts, sports, fitness and recreation.

About Nickelodeon

Nickelodeon is currently in its fourth year of its award-winning pro- social initiative, "Let's Just Play." In November 2005, "Let's Just Play" entered into a partnership with The Alliance for a Healthier Generation to combat the spread of childhood obesity. The three organizations combined forces on a comprehensive media and public awareness campaign, encouraging young people to engage in healthy and active lifestyles. Nickelodeon is using its multimedia platforms and the "Let's Just Play" campaign, working with the Boys and Girls Clubs of America and other partners, to reach millions of young people across the country and spread the message of the Healthier Generation movement.

Nickelodeon has committed more than $30 million and 10% of its air to health and wellness messaging. Over the past 2 years, Nickelodeon has also awarded approximately $2 million in grants and through its "Let's Just Play Giveaway" to schools and after-school programs to help provide resources that will create and expand opportunities for physical play. For more information on Nickelodeon, visit www.Nick.com, www.Nickjr.com or www.teachers.nick.com.

Nickelodeon, now in its 27th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books, magazines and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in more than 90 million households and has been the number- one-rated basic cable network for eleven consecutive years. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NYSE:VIA) (NYSE:and) (NYSE:VIA.B) .

Source: Nickelodeon

Web site: http://www.nick.com/
http://www.bgca.org/
http://www.nickjr.com/
http://www.teachers.nick.com/

SAN ANSELMO, Calif., Sept. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Applian Technologies today announced the release of Replay Music 2.5, a software program they describe as a "revolutionary new way to make MP3s and CDs from Music Videos, online Radio Stations or Digital Music Services." Replay Music 2.5 records streaming songs and saves them as individual, high-quality MP3s.

Unique to Replay Music is its auto-tagging feature, which uses song fingerprinting technology to automatically add the song's artist, title, album and genre information to MP3 files. Version 2.5 comes with an improved song recognition feature, iPod and iTunes support, and other enhancements.

"This is the ideal program for anyone who loves music and is looking for a way to discover new artists," said Applian CEO Bill Dettering. "Replay Music has always been one of our most popular programs. We are convinced that this latest version will generate even more interest with digital music lovers because it makes discovering new music that much easier."

Customers can download a free demo, or purchase Replay Music 2.5 for $39.95, at http://www.replay-music.com/. Replay Music requires a Windows-based PC.

Applian Technologies is recognized as the global leader in software products for recording streaming media. Other popular Applian products include Replay Radio, Replay A/V, Replay Converter, and Replay Screencast. Learn more about Applian Technologies at http://www.applian.com/.

Web site: http://www.applian.com/
http://www.replay-music.com/

 KyLinTV is the first Chinese entertainment service to broadcast Shenzhen TV (SZTV) and Shenzhen Public (SZTV Public) in North America, as part of the largest selection of Chinese entertainment in North America: 26 live broadcast channels and a vast video library that offers subscribers more than 20,000 hours of choice.

SZTV Public, launched in November 2002, broadcasts entirely in Cantonese. SZTV Public services TV viewers with its southern styled programs and strong Cantonese content.

Some of the popular shows on SZTV Public include "News Plaza," a well- known Cantonese news program that is the leading local news program in Shenzhen, focusing on the local news and social problems of the area and "Star," a daily talk show featuring the latest stars, giving viewers a look at their normal day-to-day lives.

"It is so great to see that KyLinTV has added SZTV Public to its service," said Kenneth Choi, a KyLinTV reseller in Chicago. "KyLinTV really does try to provide entertainment for all Chinese-speaking families living in North America and my customers are thrilled to have additional Cantonese content to watch!"

SZTV, launched in May 2004, covers over 300 cities in mainland China, in addition to Hong Kong and Taiwan as well. SZTV programs focus on the latest news, entertainment and fashion, aiming to become the face of entertainment to the Shenzhen people.

Programs on SZTV include "Searching for Love," a reality show that takes an in-depth look at the love affairs of couples and "A Comet of Laughter Lands on Earth," a comedy segment that have contestants competing to see who tells better jokes.

KyLinTV subscribers have direct access to the most popular broadcasts from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. In addition, KyLinTV will broadcast US Chinese channels with programs produced exclusively for North American consumers.

Viewers can tune in to live broadcast channels on KyLinTV and watch the programs as they air. If they miss the program they wanted to watch, subscribers have the option of using the broadcast channel companion which preserves the lineup of news and entertainment programs for 24 hours, and is a feature that is unique to KyLinTV. In addition, KyLinTV subscribers can take advantage of the broadcast channel on demand, an exclusive library of the most popular programs from that channel.

For more information and a full multimedia press kit, please visit http://www.kylintv.com/press/kylintvbroadcast

About KyLinTV

Launched in September 2005, KyLinTV is the future of entertainment. KyLinTV is the first and only IPTV service dedicated to the Chinese community living in North America, offering both live broadcast as well as 20,000+ hours of video on demand programming. For more information on KyLinTV programming please visit http://www.kylintv.com/

The service comes to the marketplace through the stewardship of two key investors, Charles B. Wang, founder of Computer Associates, and Charles Dolan, founder of Cablevision and Home Box Office. Production is made possible through technology partnerships with NeuLion, Inc. of Plainview, New York and Trans Video of Beijing, China.

The NeuLion iPTV solution delivers KyLinTV content over the public internet to television screens throughout North America, live and in real time. NeuLion is the Future of IPTV: No PC Required http://www.neulion.com/

Source: KyLinTV

Web site: http://www.kylintv.com/
http://www.neulion.com/

 Blip.tv, an online video sharing site that hosts and distributes Web-based TV shows and videoblogs, announced today that its premium content will be available for television viewing through Akimbo's Internet video-on-demand service. By showcasing its highest-quality and most popular online video series through Akimbo, blip.tv ensures that the best user-generated video will be available in millions of homes across the U.S. and Canada.

"Blip.tv makes it easy for anyone to create, produce and distribute video shows through the Web - and beyond," said blip.tv co-founder and CEO Mike Hudack. "Through this great partnership with Akimbo, user-created videos can now make the leap from the Internet directly to television sets. Together, we are simplifying the process of making a star out of the ordinary person. Just as any other video content, user-generated content is best enjoyed sitting on your couch, watched on a full-screen TV."

This partnership marks blip.tv's first step toward bringing its content to television sets. Akimbo delivers thousands of programs through set-top boxes to TV via broadband Internet connections, giving its users the best of TV, film and other quality programs.

"Akimbo works closely with content partners like blip.tv to offer our subscribers the largest and most diverse collection of quality video-on-demand titles anywhere," said Akimbo CEO Josh Goldman. "By partnering with blip.tv, Akimbo helps elevate some of the most compelling user-generated content to a mainstream television audience -- it's the best of the Web accessible in the comfort of the living room."

The blip.tv content available through Akimbo will be chosen on the basis of content, popularity, and production quality, and the channels will be continually expanded and updated to always include the best of blip.tv. Chosen content will be available alongside all other Akimbo programming so that users can select blip.tv shows from the listings in the user-friendly, onscreen Akimbo Guide. Users can also subscribe to and store their favorite blip.tv shows within their personal video library. All blip.tv show creators have the option to choose whether their content can be considered for distribution through Akimbo.

Video bloggers who use blip.tv are also able to take advantage of its wide distribution network on the Internet, and can automatically cross-post their videos to blogs, iTunes and other video aggregators, websites and media channels.

About blip.tv

Founded in May 2005, blip.tv is an online video sharing site providing the tools and platform for anyone to create and distribute original, Web-based TV shows and videoblogs. Blip.tv hosts user-generated content from around the world and posts it to iTunes, Flickr, blogs and more. Blip.tv offers an opt- in advertising program, splitting all advertising revenues with its users 50/50. The company also supports a variety of licenses, including Creative Commons. In an August 2006 review, Light Reading ranked blip.tv the #1 online video sharing site. To learn more, please visit http://www.blip.tv/.

Source: blip.tv

Web site: http://www.blip.tv/

 GameTap, the first-of-its-kind broadband entertainment network from Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. (TBS, Inc.), is now offering enhanced parental controls and has added a slew of new kid- friendly entertainment and educational games. The new GameTap filtering feature enables parents to select games and content appropriate for each member in the family. Popular educational titles now premiering on the network include Oregon Trail, Carmen Sandiego, Putt Putt, Jump Start, Clue Finders, Mighty Math, Lego, and Math Blaster.

"GameTap is a network built for everyone to enjoy," says Stuart Snyder, Senior Vice President and GameTap's General Manager. "While the kids are having a ball choosing from the hundreds of available games and programs, mom and dad have complete peace of mind knowing they have the flexibility to tailor the content for their children. We make it easy for parents on GameTap."

"In addition to fine-tuning our parental controls, we are adding more than a dozen popular learning games to our on-demand library," said Snyder.

Nearly all titles on GameTap are rated by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB), an industry group that applies ratings to games based on their content. Similar to motion-picture and television rating systems, ESRB ratings suggest appropriate ages for players. For example, games rated E (Everyone) are deemed appropriate for players ages six and up, while E10+ (Everyone 10 and older) games are right for slightly older children. Games rated T (Teen) are generally considered acceptable for adolescents. For those few games on the network without official ESRB ratings, GameTap applies its own comparable rating system.

One Subscription, Multiple Users

A single GameTap subscription accommodates up to seven family members, giving each a separate ID and allowing each to customize their GameTap welcome screen by choosing their favorite games, programs and other features. However, with GameTap's new enhanced parental controls, parents set individual parameters for each member of the family. Parents can limit each child's access to age-appropriate games and content. For example, parents might allow younger children to play only games rated E or E10+, the video game equivalents of movies rated G and PG.

While older children might be allowed to play T-rated games, parents have the ability to screen individual games and programs. Thanks to GameTap's enhanced parental controls, parents can set specific games, programs and content off limits to family members. For example, a teen might be allowed to play a T-rated sports game but not allowed to play a similarly rated war game. On GameTap, parents choose what's right for each member of the family.

More Learning Games

Along with its new and advanced parental controls, GameTap is adding new educational titles to its menu of more than 600 on-demand video games. GameTap boasts one of the largest selections of children's software on demand with more than 115 games now and over 20 coming in the next few weeks rated E or less. They include such popular games as Oregon Trail, Carmen Sandiego, Putt Putt, Jump Start, Clue Finders, Mighty Math, Lego, and Math Blaster. Other family favorite educational games joining the GameTap lineup include Africa Trail, Millie and Baily Kindergarten, Thinkin' Science, The Yukon Trail, and Travel the World with Jimmy! Deluxe. GameTap is also hosting a "cartoon week" which will include many games featuring Batman and Scooby-Doo.

To register for GameTap, visit www.gametap.com and receive a free trial. For $9.95 a month, subscribers with a broadband connected PC can enjoy unlimited access to more than 600 video games and 400 shows with new titles and programs added every week.

About GameTap

GameTap is the leader in digital game distribution and broadband entertainment. Launched by Turner Broadcasting in 2005, it now delivers more than 600 authentic versions of the greatest console, computer and arcade games on demand, including original and exclusive episodic properties. In addition to games for every age and interest, GameTap offers more than 400 original entertainment programs, popular video streams and thriving virtual communities to broadband-connected PCs. Continually updated with new games, programs and features, GameTap is a downloadable application that supports navigation and game play using keyboard and mouse, as well as most USB peripherals. Go to www.gametap.com and expand your playground.

About Turner

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. (TBS, Inc.), a Time Warner company, is a major producer of news and entertainment products around the world and the leading provider of programming for the basic cable industry.

Source: GameTap

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

 USN Corporation (BULLETIN BOARD: USNR) ("USN"), owner of the "Ultimate Shopping Network," announced today its best monthly coin sales ever, fueled by high demand for the network's stock of the U.S. Mint's 24 Karat American Buffalo Gold coins. Offering some of the industry's lowest prices on a broad range of coin grades, from the first strike, mint-state (MS) 70 American Buffalos available at $999 to the ultra-rare proof issue, first strike, PCGS-PR70DCAM selling for $4,995, USN has become the retailer of choice for coin collectors and investors across the nation.

Based upon James Earle Fraser's design of the Buffalo Nickel issued between 1913 and 1938, the American Buffalos are the first 24K coins ever produced by the U.S. Mint and have been made in an extremely limited run of 300,000 total coins. The network's largest seller has been the first strike, MS-70 American Buffalo, which at $999 is being offered at a discount to the $1,099 to $1,199 it is available for from most other outlets.

"We believe these impressive results are indicative of the strength of the USN brand among U.S. households," said Mark J. Miller, CEO of USN. "Our model of offering luxury products at unbeatable values has garnered rave reviews from our shoppers and allowed us to build what is the first and only luxury TV shopping network."

In addition to coins, USN sells a range of other high-end goods including fine diamonds and jewelry and designer accessories from fashion houses such as Prada and Fendi. Reaching new markets in the TV shopping industry, USN has an average price point of $400 versus the industry norm of $75 to $100.

USN reaches over 30 million aggregated U.S. households on DIRECTV Channel 345, Dish Network channel 223, and various cable and broadcast outlets. The Ultimate Shopping Network's 24/7 programming offers television's most luxurious shopping experience and the network is a rapidly growing player in the multi-billion dollar television commerce industry.

ABOUT USN CORP.

USN's (BULLETIN BOARD: USNR) wholly owned Ultimate Shopping Network is quickly becoming the luxury brand in television shopping. USN has positioned itself as television shopping's version of high-end retailing with a dedication to service, quality, integrity and luxury. Today, the Ultimate Shopping Network is broadcast to more than 30 million aggregated U.S. households on DIRECTV Channel 345, Dish Network 223, and various cable and broadcast outlets. The company also has an Internet shopping site, http://www.shopusn.com/, which offers customers many of the same upscale products seen by viewers on the network at very competitive price points.

The statements included in this press release concerning anticipated or expected future revenue or growth or expressions of future goals or objectives, including statements regarding whether current plans to grow and strengthen the company's existing network will be implemented or accomplished, constitute forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. All forward-looking statements in this release are based upon market information available to USN Corporation on the date of this release. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements include the availability of funding for current and future operations, as well as others discussed in USN Corporation's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. USN Corporation undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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

Web site: http://www.usncorp.com/investor-mailalert.aspx?b=1417&1=1

 Today SANYO announced planned availability of the next generation in SANYO's popular 8000 Series phones, the SCP-8400 by SANYO Long considered SANYO's "go-to" camera phone, the latest edition is packed with advanced features for entertainment and productivity including Bluetooth, a 1.3-megapixel camera, high-resolution QVGA internal screen, music player, removable memory card, and the ability to operate on the high-speed Sprint Power Vision(SM) Network. The SCP-8400 by SANYO is available in three bold color selections, Electric Blue, Powder White and Midnight Black.

The SCP-8400 by SANYO will be available on October 1 through Sprint retail stores, select third-part retail stores, www.Sprint.com and Sprint telesales (1-800-SPRINT-1) for $279.99 suggested retail price or $99.99 after mail-in rebates with a two-year subscriber agreement.

"Fans of our 8000 Series phones will be excited to see the enhancements that have been made," said Andy Kodera, senior vice president and general manager of SANYO Fisher Company's Wireless Communications Division. "We kept everything that our customers love, including the great speakerphone and the compact, easy-to-use form factor, but have taken it to the next level technologically. The SCP-8400 by SANYO has all the latest features that consumers are looking for; it will really inspire upgrading to this next generation phone."

The most notable enhancement is the inclusion of Sprint Power Vision capabilities, which allows users to enjoy streaming music and video, live TV, full-length music downloads, fast Web browsing and On Demand information for news, sports, weather and more, all at broadband-like download speeds.

In addition, the camera has been upgraded to 1.3 Megapixel resolution. The internal screen is larger (2.0-inch diagonal) and offers QVGA resolution (240 x 320 pixels) for better viewing of images and other media. With the addition of the removable microSD memory card, the SCP-8400 now also supports larger memory capacities (a 64MB card is included and optional cards up to 1GB are supported,) a built-in MP3/AAC music player, and a mass storage mode which allows files to be easily transferred from a PC and stored to the memory card using an included USB cable.

The SCP-8400 by SANYO also represents an expansion of Bluetooth functionality in SANYO's lineup. Supported Bluetooth applications include wireless Bluetooth headsets, hands-free car kits, dial-up networking (phone as modem), vCard transfer via Object Push Profile, and File Transfer Protocol.

On top of the technological advancements, the SCP-8400 by SANYO has a fresh new appearance and features a unique new personalization accessory called the "SANYO FaceMask." Unlike a traditional faceplate, which must be used to finish the look of a phone, the SANYO FaceMask is an add-on fashion accessory. FaceMasks come in a variety of shapes and designs and complement the colors of the phone while allowing extreme personalization. The Midnight Black phone comes with a Blue FaceMask, Electric Blue phone with Black FaceMask, and Powder White phone with Metallic Lavender FaceMask. Additional FaceMasks are available for purchase.

The SCP-8400 by SANYO supports the latest version of Sprint Themes, allowing for even more personalization. Themes allow users to select a user interface for the standby screen, main menu and favorites and, in some cases, link to other Theme-related multimedia and online content. One pre-loaded Theme is included and additional Themes can be easily downloaded from the handset.

About SANYO

SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. is a $20 billion manufacturer and distributor of consumer electronics and commercial equipment, including multimedia and telecommunication products. SANYO Fisher Company (a division of SANYO North America Corporation, a subsidiary of SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.), based in Chatsworth, California markets PCS phones, audio systems, portable and mobile electronics, televisions, dictation devices, digital camera/camcorder combinations, home appliances, LCD projectors, security video equipment and air conditioning systems.

For more information, visit SANYO Wireless Communications online at www.sanyowireless.com.

Source: SANYO Wireless Communications

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

 The Event is being held to kick off the World's First & Only Artistic Exhibit Dedicated to "Touch" -- the exhibit was designed by New York City based artists and sculptors and various artists across the country. The exhibit -- sponsored by Nivea -- will be unveiled to the public on 9/14 and last until 10/14. The celebrities will walk through this unique and interact with the various elements, such as the custom- designed thermo-chromatic wall (to see how much heat their bodies give off, they will touch the wall and see the heat reactive paint instantly change color -- How Hot is Your Touch?)

Ali Torre (Joe Torre's wife) will accept a donation from Nivea on behalf of the Safe at Home Foundation -- a foundation her husband Joe started to raise awareness of domestic abuse. She will discuss the importance of the foundation.

The following is detailed information on the exhibit and all the cool stuff that consumers can see and touch.

Here are some of the interesting elements of the Touch Exhibit:

"Experience Art"

Artist: George Erikson, Ph.D., Sculptor

In 1994, Erikson's wife Christine, an artist, gave George a set of sculpting tools the day after he completed his masters in clinical psychology and his doctorate in experimental psychology. George immediately began creating a collection that was a culmination of his education and artistic view of the world. His inspiration was deeply grounded in the importance of touch. "In order to truly experience art, it must be touched."

George and Christine Erikson reside in Maine creating art.

"Intuitive" maple

"Waterfall" bronze

Each piece is hand sanded, oiled and buffed to a state of perfect smoothness. Explore this art to truly experience the sense of touch.

Artist: Peter Cabot, Sculptor

"As a distant third behind sight and hearing in the popularity polls of sensory perception, touch tends to be taken for granted during those mundane hours of life ... outside the realm of the sexual, of course."

Cabot resides in Bronx, New York and enjoys working with many different mediums, materials and outlets. His more commercial fabrications have been included in diverse venues such as Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Trump Tower, the Puerto Rican Day Parade, Good Morning America, Macy's Annual Flower Show, Heritage of Pride, BACA Film Festival, & MTV.

"Different Strokes" foam and wood

"This sculpture represents a return to the simple, sensual pleasure of everyday touch, the kind many of us left behind when we traded kindergarten discovery for grown-up facade. This piece affords the opportunity to take a few minutes and give touch a full and deserving moment all its own. Don't be afraid to close your eyes and join me for a little tactile adventure."

"Feel The Crowd"

Artist: Patti Morris, Designer

This custom designed, thermo-chromatic wall is inviting to human touch, as it brings body heat to life. While the fingertips are the most sensitive to heat, they also are effective deliverers of warmth. To see how much heat yours give off, touch any part of the crowd in the wall and see the heat reactive paint instantly change color.

Morris resides in Bronx, New York.

"Touching Art"

Artist: New Yorkers

There's something about a mound of clay that is fascinating. Whether it's molded into a symbolic figure or is used to release frustration, clay attracts people and they want to get hold of it. So go ahead, you know you want to ... touch it! At the conclusion of the exhibit, the final product will be cast and remain as art with the imprint of thousands of visitors upon it.

"The Power of Touch"

Artist: Johnny Kravlevich, Designer/Filmmaker

No matter how astounding technology becomes, the world depends on the power of human touch in order to move forward. Think about everything the world couldn't do without human touch ...

Kravlevich resides in Bushwick, New York.

"Tagged at Home"

New York Yankee Jorge Posada's Catcher's Mitt

Many New Yorkers have seen this mitt tag players at home plate. However, how many fans have actually had the opportunity to touch a Yankee possession responsible for so many wins? Now's your chance to touch New York Yankee Jorge Posada's catcher's mitt!

"Safe at Home"

Authentic Yankee Stadium Home Plate

Game: July 31, 2005 - New York Yankees vs. the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Many New Yorkers have seen this from the bleachers of Yankee Stadium, but how many have actually touched this piece of New York history? Now's your chance to touch a genuine Yankee Stadium home plate!

Nivea believes that touch is essential for all stages of human development. It evokes both an emotional desire and a fundamental physical need. Nivea has established The Loving Touch Fund to support research that helps further our understanding of the importance of touch, as well as organizations that encourage all aspects of positive touch.

TOUCHTEMPLE

"Now Let Us Touch You"

Feel the touch of hundreds of strips of raw silk running over your skin as you enter the TOUCHTEMPLE and get ready to relax every nerve in your body. Consumers will enjoy a complimentary Scalp Massage, Neck and Shoulder Massage or Hand Massage from a licensed massage therapist.

SKINSCAPES

Skin has been transformed into a work of art. Images of actual human skin has been magnified 5000 thousand times under an electron microscope. The result: a very interesting art piece.

INFORMATION ON TOUCH EXHIBIT (ADMISSION FREE)

31 W. 19th Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues

New York, NY 10011

September 14, 2006 - October 14, 2006

Tuesday - Saturday 12-7

Sunday - 12-5

This event is being organized by Blue Sky Communications.

Source: Blue Sky Communications

Sears, Roebuck and Co. will differentiate itself from other retailers this fall by launching new television advertising featuring customers talking candidly about real experiences and real purchases they have made at Sears. Each testimonial captures the feeling of discovery and sense of satisfaction inspired by a quest that ends in finding something great.

"The advertising communicates how customers, when they take the time to rediscover Sears, will be pleasantly surprised by the breadth and depth of merchandise," said Joan Chow, senior vice president and Sears' chief marketing officer. From a redesigned home fashions department and new Kenmore Pro appliances to trend-right fall fashions, Sears has a unique opportunity to be a one-stop destination for fall solutions."

The spots highlight core product categories including apparel, home fashions, electronics, sporting goods, fitness, appliances and tools. In place of a customer, one ad features home design expert, Ty Pennington, who discusses his perspective on Sears' home furnishings.

The advertising broke nationally this week with more than six 30-second television spots and will be featured on programs such as ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," FOX's new show "Vanished," CBS shows "Big Brother," "Amazing Race" and "Rock Star." Additional spots will be rolled out throughout the fall timeframe. Creative was developed by Y&R Chicago.

About Sears, Roebuck and Co.

Sears, Roebuck and Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of Sears Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ:SHLD) , is a leading broadline retailer providing merchandise and related services. Sears, Roebuck offers its wide range of home merchandise, apparel and automotive products and services through more than 2,400 Sears-branded and affiliated stores in the United States and Canada, which includes approximately 926 full-line and 1,100 specialty stores in the U.S. Sears, Roebuck also offers a variety of merchandise and services through sears.com, landsend.com, and specialty catalogs. Sears, Roebuck offers consumers leading proprietary brands including Kenmore, Craftsman, DieHard and Lands' End -- among the most trusted and preferred brands in the U.S. The company is the nation's largest provider of home services, with more than 13 million service calls made annually. For more information, visit the Sears, Roebuck website at http://www.sears.com/ or the Sears Holdings Corporation website at http://www.searsholdings.com/ .

Source: Sears, Roebuck and Co.

Web site: http://www.sears.com/
http://www.searsholdings.com/

 Victoria's Secret made The Miracle Bra famous, but it's what's underneath all the padding that Playboy.com is really interested in. Although it's no secret that the lingerie mega-chain's catalogs are very sexy, the men's website has noticed that the employees of the Victoria's Secret are beautiful as well. Playboy.com is now searching for the sexiest "Women of Victoria's Secret" to drop their lingerie for an online pictorial. It doesn't matter if the employee is a part-time cashier or a corporate officer, as long as she is a current Victoria's Secret employee who is 18 or older.

Women who are interested in posing can apply by sending one headshot and one full-body shot (bikini or nude), a clear and legible photo copy of a government-issued photo ID proving they are 18 or older, and a recent pay stub showing proof of current employment at Victoria's Secret.

Women must also include the following information with their submission:

* Full name

* Age

* Hometown

* Phone number and E-mail

* Victoria's Secret store location

* A few sentences about themselves

Submissions can be mailed to:

Playboy

Attn: Women of Victoria's Secret

680 N. Lake Shore Drive

Chicago, IL 60611

Important: All entries must include a signed Model Release and a signed Photographer Release forms to be considered for publication. Forms and further instructions can be found at Playboy.com. Entries must be postmarked by October 23, 2006.

Submissions can also be e-mailed to: vicsecret@playboy.com. All photo submissions become the property of Playboy and cannot be returned.

** Note: All photos submitted will be considered for inclusion in our online photo submission gallery in the Playboy Cyber Club.

Playboy.com's "Women of Victoria's Secret" model search is not affiliated with Victoria's Secret. Playboy, Playboy.com, Cyber Club, and the Rabbit Head Design are trademarks of Playboy Enterprises International, Inc. All other marks are the property of their respective owners and do not constitute or imply the endorsement or sponsorship thereof.

Source: Playboy.com

NOTE TO EDITORS: This feature is exclusively on Playboy.com. This pictorial is NOT a feature in Playboy magazine.

Columbia Records and Burgundy Records announce the release of Romantic Classics, the new English language album from Julio Iglesias -- the best-selling Latin singer of all time and one of the world's Top 10 best-selling recording artists in any genre ever -- on Tuesday, September 19.

For Romantic Classics, the first English language album from Julio Iglesias since 1994's Crazy, the artist has drawn from the worlds of pop, rock and country music to record his sublime interpretations of songs originally performed by a diverse range of artists including Willie Nelson, George Michael, the Bee Gees and The Cars.

Recorded in Los Angeles and Punta Cana with producers Albert Hammond and Robert Buchanan, Romantic Classics showcases Iglesias and a small sympathetic ensemble performing 11 best-loved songs from the 60s, 70s, and 80s. Guest artists on the album include Grammy winning trumpeter and Columbia Records labelmate Chris Botti (on Iglesias' smoky version of Herb Alpert's "This Guy's In Love With You") and saxophonist Dave Koz (on a spellbinding rendering of George Michael's "Careless Whisper").

Other tracks on Romantic Classics include: "Everybody's Talking," "How Can You Mend A Broken Heart?," "Always On My Mind," "Waiting For A Girl Like You," "Drive," "I Want To Know What Love Is," "Right Here Waiting," "The Most Beautiful Girl," and "It's Impossible."

"For this album, I've carefully considered the question of what makes a pop song classic. What sort of songs not only reach the top of the charts but reverberate in our ears -- and our hearts -- forever, becoming as familiar as memories?," writes Julio Iglesias in his liner notes for Romantic Classics. "Regardless of the era or the genre, the songs I've found are united by a common theme, one that I have often explored in my work. They eloquently address one stage or another in the life of a romance, from infatuation and longing to heartbreak and betrayal. Each has a melody that's impossible to resist and lyrics that will continue to be relevant as long as people fall in and out of love. I endeavored to truly reinterpret these hits, not simply remake them, taking a fresh approach for a contemporary audience. I hope that those of you who remember these songs will savor them once again and that those who are just discovering them will enjoy them as much as I did when I heard them for the first time."

http://columbiarecords.com/

http://burgundyrecords.com/

Source: Columbia Records

Web site: http://julioiglesias.com/
http://columbiarecords.com/
http://burgundyrecords.com/

"Oscar’s Docs" Explores Early 1960s

The Oscar®-winning documentaries of 1961 and 1962 will screen on Monday, September 18, at 7:30 p.m., in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Linwood Dunn Theater as the kick-off to "Oscar’s Docs, Part Two: Academy Award-Winning Documentaries 1961-1976.” The 11-week series showcases the short and feature-length documentaries honored each year by the Academy.

In 1961, “Project Hope” took home the Oscar for Documentary Short Subject for its chronicling of the maiden voyage, in 1960, of the hospital ship SS Hope. A 16mm print which had suffered complete color fading, was used as the basis for a digital restoration of the film, making it the first fully digital restoration project funded by the Academy Film Archive. A new 35mm print of “Project Hope” was created from the restored elements and will screen courtesy of Klaeger Films.

“Le Ciel et la Boue” (“The Sky Above—The Mud Below”), which received the Academy Award for Documentary Feature in 1961, follows French filmmaker Pierre-Dominique Gaisseau’s 1959 expedition through the island of New Guinea. The seven-month adventure exposed a marked contrast between the superb aerial photography made possible by the technology of the outside world, and the seemingly “prehistoric” rituals of the indigenous population. A new 35mm print, courtesy of Arthur Cohn, one of the film’s Oscar-winning producers, and Rank Films, will be screened.

The 1962 Oscar winner for Documentary Short Subject, “Dylan Thomas,” uses film to translate the poet’s words into a visual language. Director Jack Howells, a former schoolmaster, used images to mirror Thomas’s words and to explore the world of the writer himself. Actor Richard Burton serves as both a surrogate Dylan on screen and a commentator off screen. A 35mm print of “Dylan Thomas,” preserved by the Academy Film Archive and presented courtesy of Janus Films, will be screened.

The medieval tale of Reynard the Fox and the rise of the Nazi Party are intricately connected in the 1962 Academy Award-winning Documentary Feature “Black Fox: The True Story of Adolf Hitler.” Narrated by Marlene Dietrich, the film cuts back and forth between historical images of Hitler’s rise and Wilhelm von Kaulbach’s 1846 illustrations of the fable. A new 35mm print, preserved by the British Film Institute and presented courtesy of Image Productions, will be screened.

Passes for "Oscar’s Docs, Part Two: Academy Award-Winning Documentaries 1961-1976" are available at a cost of $30 for the general public and $25 for Academy members and students with valid ID. Tickets for individual evenings of the series are available for $5 for the general public and $3 for Academy members and students with valid ID. Passes and tickets may be purchased by mail, in person at the Academy during regular business hours or, pending availability, the night of the screening when the doors open at 6:30 p.m. The Academy’s Linwood Dunn Theater is located at 1313 Vine Street in Hollywood.

©A.M.P.A.S.®

Academy Highlights Role of Magic Lanterns in Evolution of Film

The dreams of Victorian-era magic lanternists will come to life at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Wednesday, October 4, at 7:30 p.m. Presented in cooperation with Los Angeles Filmforum, “Magic Lanterns and the Evolution of Film Narratives,” a historical review of Victorian projections and illustrated entertainments, will be presented at the Academy’s Linwood Dunn Theater in Hollywood.

Magic lanternists in the Victorian era had two dreams: first, to make still images move; second, to tell stories in pictures. Mixing historical commentary and period showmanship using an original triunial (three-level) lantern, David Francis of the Library of Congress and Joss Marsh, professor of Victorian studies at Indiana University, will trace the origin and development of those dreams in the context of cartoons, illustrated books, narrative paintings and other 19th century visual art forms. The program will particularly highlight the importance of Charles Dickens and Victorian temperance propaganda to both lanternists’ storytelling and to the early development of narrative film.

“Magic Lanterns” will present a full range of lantern materials – from early engraved, moving and painted slides to “dissolving views” and hand-colored photographic “life model” sets, one of which is an extension of the famous temperance story “Buy Your Own Cherries.” It anticipates the lantern’s competition with film (especially in Britain) into the 1920s.

In addition, the evening will include two films by R. W. Paul, “Buy Your Own Cherries” and “A Christmas Carol,” which illustrate the influences of stage and slide techniques.

Tickets to “Magic Lanterns and the Evolution of Film Narrative” are $5 for the general public and $3 for Academy members and students with a valid ID. Tickets may be purchased at the Academy in person during regular business hours, by mail, or, if still available, at the box office on the night of the event. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. The Linwood Dunn Theater is located at 1313 Vine Street in Hollywood.

©A.M.P.A.S.®

 

 TIMBERLAKE AT AT&T CLASSIC

Odds to Win 'Dancing With the Stars' from PinnacleSports.com

Mario Lopez, Vivica A. Fox Early Favorites to Be Next Dancing Star

 Sept. 11 With the season premiere of "Dancing With the Stars" debuting tomorrow night, PinnacleSports.com has released updated odds on which celebrity contestant will win the latest edition of the hit reality show. The source for betting odds on all things entertainment-related, PinnacleSports.com originally opened wagering on "Dancing With the Stars" just minutes after ABC unveiled the show's famous participants, which include an NFL legend, a pair of former teen heartthrobs, a former politician turned talk-show host, a conservative political pundit and a country musician, among others.

The odds-on favorite when betting opened, former "Saved by the Bell" star Mario Lopez, remains the favorite to take the dancing crown at 3/1 (i.e., win $3 for every $1 bet). PinnacleSports.com lists actress Vivica A. Fox with the second-best odds at 4/1 to add the "Dancing With the Stars" crown to her list of credits that already includes "Kill Bill" and "Independence Day". Monique Coleman of "High School Musical" fame is listed at 9/2 while former teen heartthrob Joey Lawrence is at 6/1 to win ABC's celebrity dance-off. Hoping to avenge wife Lisa Rinna's fourth place finish last season, former "L.A. Law" star Harry Hamlin is a solid contender to win the celebrity dance-off at 13/2.

"Reality shows like 'Dancing With the Stars' and 'American Idol' have become extremely popular with bettors, even rivaling wagering on some of the world's most popular sporting events," said Simon Noble of PinnacleSports.com. "It's extremely difficult to handicap the show before the contestants even perform their first dance, but bettors agree that Mario Lopez and Vivica A. Fox have the inside track to win the celebrity reality show. Since first opening betting, Harry Hamlin has also gained support from players who believe his wife's appearance on the last edition of 'Dancing With the Stars' can only help with his preparation for the show."

PinnacleSports.com lists pop singer Willa Ford at 9/1 to be named the dancing queen, while country artist Sara Evans stands at 10/1. The NFL's all- time leading rusher Emmitt Smith currently stands at 14/1 to add the "Dancing With the Stars" title to his three Super Bowl rings. Former Miss USA Shanna Moakler and conservative political pundit Tucker Carlson are both listed at 23/1, while talk show host Jerry Springer is the biggest long shot to win the reality series at 49/1.

PinnacleSports.com will offer wagering on ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" throughout the entirety of the series. For more information and a complete list of betting options, please visit http://www.pinnaclesports.com/ .

  Current Odds:        All Odds Subject to Change    Odds to Win "Dancing With the Stars"   Mario Lopez            3/1   Vivica A. Fox          4/1   Monique Coleman        9/2   Joey Lawrence          6/1   Harry Hamlin          13/2   Willa Ford             9/1   Sara Evans            10/1   Emmitt Smith          14/1   Shanna Moakler        23/1   Tucker Carlson        23/1   Jerry Springer        49/1    About PinnacleSports.com 

PinnacleSports.com ( http://www.pinnaclesports.com/ ) is the Internet's largest sports betting site, serving customers in more than 100 countries worldwide. Founded in 1998, PinnacleSports.com was the first sportsbook to introduce reduced margin wagering, using a -105 pricing model that gives bettors up to 50% better value on wagers than traditional bookmakers. With low minimum bet requirements and the highest maximum limits on the web, PinnacleSports.com has earned an industry-leading reputation for providing consistent value to the player, professional customer service and the quickest payouts online. Fully licensed and regulated in Curacao, the company offers a secure environment for sports betting, racing and casino gaming.

It's The Thought That Counts

According to a new survey by VoiceQuilt, Trends in Gift Giving, 47 percent of all U.S. women buy gifts for 10 or more occasions throughout the year, 25 percent say they gave gifts for 15 or more events, and nineteen percent say they gave gifts for 20 or more occasions in the last 12 months.

Hope Flammer, chief executive officer and founder of VoiceQuilt, said "What I find so fascinating is... the fact that a non-occasion like 'just because,' is such a popular occurrence for gift giving among the majority of women..."

The gift giving occasions in the last year were

• Birthdays (95 percent)
• Religious holidays (88 percent)
• Mother's day (74 percent)
• Valentine's Day (70 percent)
• Father's day (66 percent)

Sixty-five percent say they gave gifts over the last year "just because" and eighty-eight percent of those say they gave between one and five gifts in the last year.

• Women strive to give gifts that are more thoughtful, personal and one-of-a-kind. 92 percent of U.S. women say the most important attribute of the gifts they give is that the gift is sentimental
• 90 percent say the gift should be something the recipient asked for
• 88 percent say it should be functional
• 83 percent say original
• 79 percent feel it should be "just for them"

U.S. women admit a variety of motivations behind gift giving. They said:

• To say I love you (62 percent),
• Because the occasion required a gift (58 percent)
• To surprise the gift receiver (52 percent)
• Because they loved giving gifts" (48 percent)
• To thank someone (43 percent)
• Because it was the right thing to do (37 percent)
• Because... I needed to reciprocate (14 percent)
• To say I'm sorry (5 percent)
• Felt peer pressured (4 percent)
• To... curry favor with someone (1 percent)

69 percent of women nationwide purchased gifts online in the last 12 months

• Fifty percent of women say they purchased one to five gifts online in the last year
• Thirteen percent say they purchased six to 10 gifts online in the last year
• Three percent say they purchased 11 to 19 gifts online in the last year
• Four percent say they purchased 20 or more gifts online in the last year
• The vast majority of U.S. women spend less than $50 on gift giving regardless of the occasion.

American Airlines Statement Regarding The Path to 9/11 on ABC-TV

American Airlines today issued the following statement regarding the ABC-TV program The Path to 9/11:

"The Disney/ABC television program, The Path to 9/11, which began airing last night, is inaccurate and irresponsible in its portrayal of the airport check-in events that occurred on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001.

"A factual description of those events can be found in the official government edition of the 9/11 Commission Report and supporting documents.

"This misrepresentation of facts dishonors the memory of innocent American Airlines employees and all those who lost their lives as a result of the tragic events of 9/11."

American said it will have no further comment beyond the statement at this time.

Current AMR Corp. (NYSE:AMR) releases can be accessed on the Internet.

The address is http://www.aa.com/

Source: American Airlines, Inc.

Eminem Designed Nikes Debut on eBay Tomorrow, September 12, 2006

Eminem and Nike Come Together to Help Raise Funds for Disadvantaged Youths Around the World

- Unique Product Collaboration is Born to Help Raise Funds for the Marshall Mathers Foundation and Ninemillion.org -

 Multi-platinum rapper Eminem and Nike, the world's leading sports and fitness company, have joined forces to create a limited edition run of the iconic Air Max series to benefit charity. An ardent fan of the Air Max and avid collector of sneakers, Slim Shady jumped at the chance to imprint his own personal touch on the world of sneaker collectors and raise funds for disadvantaged youths, both in his home state of Mitchigan, USA, and around the world in refugee camps.

Eminem (aka Marshall Mathers) has turned his talents to designing limited-edition uppers of eight different shoes in the Air Max series; from the Air Max '87 (originally designed by Tinker Hatfield, one of the world's foremost footwear designers), all the way up to the most recent Air Max 360, the new full-length Air technology from Nike. His reinterpretation of the upper has been laid onto the original blueprints for each of the Air Max shoes to create a unique set of shoe designs. "If you told me ten years ago that I'd be designing this whole series of Air Max's, I never would have believed it," commented Eminem. "It's one of the hottest lines that Nike ever produced, so I'm honored to make my own contribution. My only problem was figuring out how to make the shoes different from stuff they've already done: Nike always has the dopest color combos."

Only 8 full sets of the footwear (64 pairs of shoes in total), will be produced before they are auctioned off over a period of 4 weeks, starting August 31st, to help raise money for the Marshall Mathers Foundation and ninemillion.org. All 64 pairs will be numbered and autographed by Eminem making them true collectors items in every sense.

Eminem remarks: "We're always looking for new ways to try raise money and awareness for the foundation, so when Nike approached us we jumped at the chance. When we got the info on ninemillion.org, it made even more sense. Who wouldn't want to design their own line of Nikes? And to do it for charity makes it that much better."

Throughout its history the Air Max series has set a benchmark in sports performance, continually elevating product design and technology to new levels.

DETAILS OF AUCTIONS:

All 8 styles will still be auctioned off at Nike stores and on eBay, with the proceeds going directly to ninemillion.org and the Marshall Mathers Foundation. All proceeds will be shared on an equal basis between the two charities.

  Date              Location             Shoes              Quantity   31st August       NikeTown London      Air Max '87        1 pair                                          Air Max '90        1 pair    12th September    eBay                 Air Max '87        7 pairs                                          Air Max '90        7 pairs    16th September    NikeTown Berlin      Air Max 180        1 pair                                          Air Max 93         1 pair    19th September    eBay                 Air Max 180        7 pairs                                          Air Max '93        7 pairs    22nd September    Nike Store, Paris    Air Max '95        1 pair                                          Air Max '97        1 pair    26th September    eBay                 Air Max '95        7 pairs                                          Air Max '97        7 pairs    28th September    NikeTown London      Air Max '03        1 pair                                          Air Max '06        1 pair    3rd October       eBay                 Air Max '03        7 pairs                                          Air Max '06        7 pairs  

The first auction will take place on August 31st, in conjunction with an event at NikeTown London. During this session one pair of both the Max 1 and the Max 90 will be put up for offer, with both styles then being posted for auction on Ebay.

All eBay auctions will begin on each of the allocated Tuesdays at 00:00 hours, running for 7 days and finishing at 23:59 hours the following Monday.

About Ninemillion.org

Ninemillion.org is an innovative global campaign led by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), with founding partners Nike and Microsoft to raise awareness and funds to bring education and sport programs to the world's refugee youth. The campaign represents the nine million forgotten refugee youth across the globe, many of whom do not have the opportunity to learn and play. Nine million faces, nine million names. Nine million stories. For further information visit media.ninemillion.org

About the Marshall Mathers Foundation:

The Marshall Mathers Foundation is a non-profit corporation set up to provide funds for organizations working with troubled youth in southeast Michigan.

Electronic House Names SoundScape 360 'Product of the Year' for 2006

-- Vutec's ArtScreen SoundScape 360 has been named a 2006 Product of the Year by the editors of Electronic House.

In accepting the award, Howard Sinkoff, president of Vutec, commented that, "We are proud to have designed a product that fuses AV technology with art because it enables consumers to enhance their total audio-video experience by integrating high-performance technology with the aesthetics of their living environment."

Vutec introduced SoundScape 360, a flat screen masking system, in response to the new surround sound technology developed by major audio manufacturers such as Boston Acoustics, Mirage, Polk Audio, and Yamaha. The new surround sound technology delivers a five-channel sound field from a single horizontal speaker instead of the current system of hard-wired, multiple speakers.

The ArtScreen masking system incorporates a hardwood frame and retractable screen with a digital art-on-canvas print to create a technologically advanced masking system for Plasma and LCD televisions and video projection screens. When the artwork is retracted, the screen is visible for projection or television viewing within the frame. When the television is not in use, a reproduction of art or photography is displayed within the frame.

Integrated into the ArtScreen housing, SoundScape 360 features a fully dimensional sound compartment that can be positioned above or below the video display, which meets all existing manufacturer's specifications. The new framed art dimension also expands image flexibility to accommodate a greater variety of portraits and other vertically proportioned artwork.

Vutec also offers an option for recessing the video display into the wall, keeping only the framed SoundScape 360 at the wall surface.

SoundScape 360 is available in standard display sizes for Plasma and LCD televisions from 32 inches and up. For front projection screens, SoundScape is available up to 110 inches in size. Custom sizes can also be accommodated.

Available frame styles, liners, and images for reproduction can be viewed at www.vutec.com/artscreen/. Custom artwork, such as family photography or corporate logos, can also be reproduced. SoundScape 360 comes with an IR remote, while RF, RS-232 and IP-enabled controls are optional.

"With total ownership of LCD and Plasma televisions in the US forecast to top 10 million units this year," said Mr. Sinkoff, "many owners will want to integrate their video displays with their home's interior design, especially since the average HDTV now measures 42 inches. ArtScreen and its sister product, SoundScape 360, provide consumers with a multi-room solution by turning a video display into a work art with the touch of a remote."

MSRP is $4,750 and up, depending on size, frame style (four categories available), and mounting configuration (two options available).

About Vutec Corporation

Founded in 1977 and headquartered in Florida, Vutec Corporation designs and manufactures video projection screens, masking systems and AV presentation tools. The company's products are designed for commercial, home, and institutional applications and sold through a network of authorized dealers and distributors in 67 countries.

GSN Premieres 'THAT'S THE QUESTION' to American Audiences October 2

'Entertainment Tonight' Vet Bob Goen Hosts New U.S. Version That Tests Contestants' Word Skills and Trivia Knowledge

 GSN is bringing the highly-rated international game show, THAT'S THE QUESTION, to American audiences starting Monday, October 2. Produced by Scott Sternberg Productions and hosted by Bob Goen ("Entertainment Tonight," "Miss Universe"), the fast-paced word game will air Monday thru Fridays from 6:00 - 6:30 PM, ET.

THAT'S THE QUESTION is a half-hour series that combines word scrambles with a test of world history and pop culture trivia knowledge. Contestants compete against each other in a race to discover a question.

Clues to the question are revealed by unscrambling words that contain one extra letter, which is, upon being unscrambled correctly, dropped into its proper place in the question, a la "Hangman." The players take turns for the opportunity to unscramble clue words and guess what the question is, while earning valuable points, which determine who goes to the final round. The winner's score is translated into seconds of time they are allocated to try to correctly identify a question and its correct answer in the grand finale. If they are successful, their prize goes from $500 to $5,000.

Widely popular in numerous countries around the globe, THAT'S THE QUESTION is currently setting ratings records in the Netherlands, Switzerland and France.

Goen, who served as host of "Entertainment Tonight" from 1993 to 2004, began his broadcast career as a sportscaster and then made the transition to his life-long dream: hosting game shows. Among his credits are "Wheel of Fortune" and "The Hollywood Game." He is also known globally from hosting the "Miss Universe," "Miss USA," and "Miss Teen USA" pageants.

Widely acknowledged for his success in producing a variety of television genres, Sternberg's credits include such top-rated hits as "Hollywood Squares," "Love Connection," "Rock and Roll Jeopardy," "The Extreme Gong Show" and "Wheel of Fortune for Kids." Among his most recent projects are "Square Off," "Sunday Morning Shootout," "My First Time" and "Spying on Myself."

About GSN

GSN, the Network for Games, is the only U.S. television network dedicated to game-related programming and interactive game playing. The network features game shows, reality series, documentaries and casino games. As the industry leader in interactivity, GSN features over 133 hours per week of interactive programming, which allows viewers a chance to win prizes by playing along with GSN's televised games via GSN.com. Now reaching over 60 million Nielsen homes, GSN is distributed in the U.S. through all major cable systems and satellite providers. The network is jointly owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment and Liberty Media Corporation. For further media information, visit GSN's press website at corp.gsn.com

About Scott Sternberg Productions

Scott Sternberg Productions is a full service television production company focusing on unscripted programming. Emmy-award winning CEO, Scott Sternberg, founded Scott Sternberg Productions in 1991. The firm provides content to broadcast and cable networks, web portals and satellite radio stations. Scott Sternberg Productions also produces branded content for major non-broadcast entities. No Studio Entertainment and Spanglish Entertainment are wholly owned subsidiaries of Scott Sternberg Productions. Both produce regional and local programs, with Spanglish Entertainment providing content for Spanish language outlets. Scott Sternberg Productions is located at Raleigh Studios in Hollywood, CA.

-GSN-

Source: GSN

Superscape's a No Brainer for 3D Mobile Games!

SAN CLEMENTE, California, September 11/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- How big is your brain? Superscape Group plc (LSE: SPS) the world's leading creator and publisher of 3D mobile entertainment products, today announced the availability of the wildly popular online brain teasing game, No Brainer on mobile. The online game was designed by Kid Interactive and licensed for mobile through Global Wireless Entertainment.

Exercise your brain by answering a stream of seemingly never ending but simple Yes or No questions; Things that you wash with soap... a car?; Things that can fly...Pigs? You only have one second for each answer - can you think that fast? Question and answer combinations are randomized which keep gameplay unique and increasingly challenging every time. Gameplay is complimented by a humorous floating brain with comedy glasses and a German accent. Your job is to exercise and grow the brain as big as you can!

"We are very excited to launch No Brainer," says Don Wisniewski, Sr. VP of Publishing at Superscape, "It's our foray into a new realm of 3D casual games for the mobile gaming market. Consumers are asking for fun, addicting products and this one really fits the bill. You'll find yourself smiling and laughing out loud at some of the questions."

Based on the popular online game that tests your brainpower to its limit! It takes a quick mind and fast reflexes to answer these yes/no questions; "Does Oprah sweat?" or "Can you squish Britney Spears?" The game features whimsical interactive 3D graphics, hilarious voice over questions with hundreds of random answers. Your job is to answer correctly, without frying your brain, and grow your brain in the multiple gameplay modes.

No Brainer is launching on major wireless carriers soon and will definitely put your brain to the test and a smile on your face!

About Superscape

Superscape is the world's leading publisher of 3D mobile games. The company was the first in the world to develop and launch international standard (JSR 184) compliant solutions for the delivery of innovative games on mass-market handsets. Superscape is quoted on the London Stock Exchange and has corporate offices in Hook, Hampshire (UK) and San Clemente, California (USA), together with development and production facilities in Moscow.

About GWE

Global Wireless Entertainment, Inc. (GWE) headquartered in San Diego, California, with operations in Europe, Australia and New Zealand, is the only industry leader specializing in mobile personalization inside and outside the mobile phone. GWE specializes in long-term brand acquisition and representation. GWE products include skins, information applications, wallpapers, ringtones as well as 2D and 3D games for mobile phones on the J2ME and BREW (R) platforms. For more information, please visit www.gwe-usa.com.

About KID Group

KID Group is a think tank and design group that creates new ideas for games, toys and consumer products. With 10 years of expertise behind multiple toy and software industry successes, KID Group has created award-winning toy designs, established the category of Interactive Play, and invented the top selling electronic games and interactive toys on the market today. KID has licensed hundreds of concepts to leading companies including Hasbro, Mattel, Fisher Price, Spin Master, Milton Bradley, Konami, Atari, Shockwave and Superscape. www.kid-group.com

Source: Superscape Group plc

Love Boot Camp Wants You!

Debut of a New Genre, Reality-Meets-Self Help Talk Show, Premiering at the New York TV Festival

 Dr. Diana's, Love In 90 Days Boot Camp, television pilot debuts on September 14th at the Directors Guild Theater during the New York TV Festival (NYTVF) and is currently gaining momentum on the streets of NYC. The pilot represents a new genre; a hybrid of "Reality" meets "Self Help Talk Show" and comes off the heels of CW announcing the launch of Greg Behrendt's talk show this fall. Dr. Diana Kirschner has appeared on Oprah and Good Morning America, to name a few. Her book, "Opening Love's Door: The 7 Lessons" has been called a 'cult classic' by Readerviews.com & her Amazon short, "The Ultimate Guide to Getting the Love You Want" is a #1 bestseller.

Unlike Behrendt, Dr. Diana debunks urban love legends and empowers her Boot Camp Gals with exercises that build their courage enabling them to make smart choices and rid themselves of negative thoughts associated with rejection. "He's not that into you" ironically becomes the positive stepping stone to make life altering changes that not only build their confidence and self esteem -- but also helps women create their own black books while retaking control of their love lives.

Furthermore, Dr. Diana, ala love goddess, has traveled to distant lands to learn the secrets of love and seduction and has now chosen to spread her education as a Ph.D in Psychology mixed with her findings among Eastern and Western gurus and sages that she has encountered along the road. Why? Dr. Diana is ready to shake up and wake up women's minds, hearts and spirits, turning fantasy into reality. Her 90 day program has already helped thousands of single women find love, even those in the "near-impossible" 45+ demographic.

The New York Television Festival, which is launching its second annual TV pilot festival from September 12th - September 17th, has selected Dr. Diana's reality/talk show, Love in 90 Days Boot Camp, to premiere in front of industry insiders on September 14th. Dr. Diana's show debuts for the general public at the Directors Guild Theater on September 16th.

Dr. Diana's pilot will be judged by renowned Julie Chen, host of Big Brother and anchor of The Early Show CBS, along with Michael Davies, the Executive Producer of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire and Wife Swap, as well as TV personality, Rachael Ray, for this year's booming "Reality Category".

It's no wonder why Dr. Diana's Love in 90 Days Boot Camp is catching the eye of leading broadcasters as one of the most coveted "Reality" shows debuting at NYTVF. Her perfect blend of reality meets tough love talk show antics, is the next evolution of "Alternative Programming" and rides the continuing wave of non-scripted series.

For more information about Dr. Diana, go to MSN's Live Spaces Page: http://lovein90days.spaces.live.com/ for witty repartee and the latest tips from the expert herself

Si TV Premieres New Original Series 'Dating Factory' Featuring Host Mario Lopez

Young Latino Singles Unite Through 'Lips, Hips and Grips' Series Debuts Sept. 18

 Si TV, the first English-language, Latino-themed network, announced today it will debut a new original series called Dating Factory, hosted by TV star Mario Lopez. Premiering Sept. 18 at 4:30 p.m. (PDT and EDT), the 30-minute series promises to deliver a hip and irreverent twist on dating.

The show is hosted and co-executive produced by Mario Lopez, (Saved By the Bell, Pacific Blue, Animal Planet, Dancing with the Stars) along with provocative side-kick and former model Carmen Palumbo. Dating Factory features 13 different sexy men and women competing for a chance to win a hot date through a humorous screening process, testing the contestants' potential love connection.

"Dating Factory is Si TV's newest mating game featuring young latinos front and center," said Ed Leon, SVP of Programming and Production of Si TV, and executive producer of Dating Factory. "Audience members get to find love, interact with a well-known personality and see Mario expose his matchmaking talents."

The painfully funny elimination quest for the hot date entails three challenges. In "Clever Come-ons," contestants eloquently craft and humorously twist their words to allure the dater's heart so they can be chosen. These semi-finalists then must "Confess & Undress," where cruel confessions like "Fantasized about my boss," mean an instant adios to your clothing. "Chemistry 101," the final hurdle for the hopefuls, is a perfect segment for them to caress to impress contestants. Clock in to the Dating Factory -- where Si TV makes love.... Funny.

About Si TV

Si TV is the first English-language, Latino-themed network. Connecting with 18-34 year-old viewers, Si TV's 60% original programming slate features hip and culturally-relevant shows including the latest in entertainment, music, lifestyle, comedy and independent films. The network launched in February 2004 and is available nationwide on Dish Network and in 13 million homes across the country on Cox, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, and Verizon, among others. For more information on Si TV, please visit www.sitv.com.

Source: Si TV

 
It was announced by producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. and Sony Pictures Entertainment, that Chris Cornell, the singer/songwriter behind Soundgarden, Audioslave and Temple of the Dog, has written, in collaboration with Bond composer David Arnold, and will perform the main title song entitled "You Know My Name," for the new James Bond adventure CASINO ROYALE.
 
Daniel Craig stars as the new "007" in CASINO ROYALE directed by Martin Campbell. The film will be released worldwide by Columbia Pictures on November 17, 2006.
 
The acclaimed singer-songwriter, whose upcoming release with Audioslave marks the 11th album of his career, has also enjoyed success with the groups Soundgarden and Temple of the Dog, as well as his own critically acclaimed solo album in 1999, "Euphoria Morning." In addition, he has collaborated with such groups as Alice in Chains and made contributions to other soundtracks.
 
"I've always loved Chris' work, both as a writer and as an artist, and had hoped someday to find the right film to inspire him," said Lia Vollack, President, Worldwide Music for Columbia Pictures. "His music is both soulful and tough. It was the perfect complement to Daniel Craig and CASINO ROYALE."
 
Cornell joins such distinguished performers as Madonna, Sheryl Crow, Paul McCartney & Wings, Carly Simon, Shirley Bassey, Tom Jones, Tina Turner, Gladys Knight, Sheena Easton, Duran Duran and Garbage who have performed title songs for previous James Bond adventures, though he will be among the select few who have both written and performed an "007" title song (others include McCartney & Wings, Crow and Madonna). Other songs were written by composers as varied as Anthony Newley & Leslie Bricusse, Lionel Bart, John Barry, Bono & The Edge and Marvin Hamlisch.
 
Daniel Craig stars as "007" James Bond, the smoothest, sexiest, most lethal agent on Her Majesty's Secret Service in CASINO ROYALE. Based on the first Bond book written by Ian Fleming, the story, which has never been told on film until now, recounts the making of the world’s greatest secret agent.
 
James Bond's first "007" mission leads him to Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen), banker to the world's terrorists. In order to stop him, and bring down the terrorist network, Bond must beat Le Chiffre in a high-stakes poker game at Casino Royale. Bond is initially annoyed when a beautiful British Treasury official, Vesper Lynd (Eva Green), is assigned to deliver his stake for the game and watch over the government's money. But, as Bond and Vesper survive a series of lethal attacks by Le Chiffre and his henchmen, a mutual attraction develops leading them both into further danger and events that will shape Bond's life forever.
 
ABOUT EON PRODUCTIONS
 
EON Productions/Danjaq, LLC is owned by the Broccoli family and has produced twenty one James Bond films since 1962, including CASINO ROYALE. The Bond films, produced by Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, make up the most successful franchise in film history and includes the recent blockbuster films GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough and Die Another Day. EON Productions and Danjaq, LLC, are affiliate companies and control all worldwide merchandising of the James Bond franchise.
 
About Columbia Pictures
 
Columbia Pictures, part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, is a Sony Pictures Entertainment company. Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America (SCA), a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution; television production and distribution; digital content creation and distribution; worldwide channel investments; home entertainment acquisition and distribution; operation of studio facilities; development of new entertainment products, services and technologies; and distribution of filmed entertainment in 67 countries. Sony Pictures Entertainment can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.sonypictures.com.
 
About Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc.
 
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. is an independent, privately-held motion picture, television, home video, and theatrical production and distribution company. The company owns the world’s largest library of modern films, comprising approximately 4,000 titles, and over 10,400 episodes of television programming. Its film library has received 208 Academy Awards®, one of the largest award-winning collections in the world, and includes numerous successful film franchises, including James Bond, Pink Panther and Rocky. MGM is owned by an investor consortium comprised of Sony Corporation of America, Providence Equity Partners, Texas Pacific Group, Comcast Corporation and DLJ Merchant Banking Partners. For more information, visit www.mgm.com.

Sept. 9, 2006--Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN): Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN) today announced the launch of Amazon Unbox^TM, a new digital video download service offering customers thousands of television shows, movies and other video content from more than 30 studio and network partners from Hollywood and around the world. Unbox is the only video download service to offer DVD-quality picture. In addition, Unbox RemoteLoad^TM technology allows customers to buy from one PC (such as an office computer) and download to another (such as a home computer). Customers can visit www.amazon.com/unbox to try the Unbox service with a free TV show.

Unbox offers triple the video quality of the leading commercial Internet video services, delivering content encoded at 2,500 kilobits per second using the ultra-efficient VC-1 Advanced Profile codec. At no additional charge, Unbox also automatically includes a second file optimized for playback on any Windows Media-compatible portable device. In addition, Unbox uses progressive download, eliminating the need to wait for the entire video to download before watching. This means the typical cable broadband customer can start watching any Unbox TV show or movie within five minutes of ordering.

"Amazon Unbox offers TV and movie enthusiasts a fast, convenient way to watch thousands of their favorite videos from around the world," said Bill Carr, Amazon.com's vice president of digital media. "Now Amazon.com customers can choose to get videos delivered to their doorstep from Amazon's DVD store or choose Amazon Unbox and download DVD-quality picture movies or television shows to their PC."

Unbox RemoteLoad technology offers customers the convenience of shopping for Unbox videos on Amazon.com from any Internet-connected PC -- like their PC at the office -- and download their videos to that PC or any other connected PC -- like their PC at home. Plus, customers get the added flexibility of taking their video collection on the go using any Windows Media video-compatible portable device, including the popular Creative Zen Vision:M.

"Amazon has built the ultimate solution for anyone who has ever had a friend or coworker tell them that they missed a great TV show last night," said Carr. "Now customers can visit Amazon.com while at work and download DVD-quality TV shows and movies to their PC at home or wherever it is most convenient for them to watch."

Amazon Unbox customers will be able to access their videos in the Amazon Your Media Library, a personalized Web page that indexes and organizes their media purchases from Amazon.com, including books, CDs, DVDs and Unbox Videos. Your Media Library provides each Unbox customer a place to keep track of their Unbox video purchases, and even download them to an additional PC.

Amazon Unbox customers can download episodes of their favorite television shows that aired as recently as last night or favorites from decades past. Unbox offers current hits from top networks like CBS with "CSI" and "Numb3rs" and FOX with "24" and "Prison Break" as well as classics like "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "Firefly" and "Star Trek." Unbox also offers a broad selection of popular shows from cable networks such as A&E, Cartoon Network, Discovery Channel, FX and several channels from MTV Networks, including Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, MTV and VH1. From September 14th through September 27th, all of the final, cliffhanger episodes from last season's "CSI," "CSI: Miami" and "CSI:NY" will be available for $0.01 to celebrate CSI Week and the launch of the season for all three "CSI" series.

Several television series and films will make their digital download debut with Amazon Unbox, including all 79 episodes of the original "Star Trek" series (plus the pre-Shatner original pilot), many anime series including "Mobile Suit Gundam SEED." HGTV, FINE LIVING TV Network and VH1 are three networks making their digital download debut, offering titles such as "Design on a Dime," "America's Dream 18" and "Breaking Bonaduce," respectively.

Movies available on Unbox include new releases such as "V for Vendetta," "Inside Man," "Failure to Launch," "RV" and "Walk the Line" as well as numerous classics like "Ben Hur," "Chinatown" and "Poseidon Adventure" from top studios including 20th Century Fox, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures, Universal Pictures, Warner Bros. Entertainment and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Inc. Unbox will also have independent films from studios such as Focus Features, Fox Searchlight and Lionsgate, including "Akeelah and the Bee," "Brokeback Mountain" and "Friends With Money."

Amazon Unbox also offers a broad selection of international television shows and films from the UK, Korea, Hong Kong and Japan. These include the epic Korean period drama "The Immortal Admiral Yi Sun-shin"; the popular BBC comedy "Coupling"; Hong Kong's "Hand of Death," directed by John Woo starring Jackie Chan; and Japan's "Escaflowne."

Unbox customers can purchase television series episodes for $1.99 per episode, purchase most movies for between $7.99 and $14.99, or rent the latest movies for $3.99. To learn more about Amazon Unbox and to download your first television show free of charge, visit www.amazon.com/unbox.

Participating Television Networks

A&E, Adult Swim, Animal Planet, BBC, The Biography Channel, Cartoon Network, CBS, Comedy Central, Discovery Channel, Discovery Health Channel, Discovery Kids, E! Entertainment Television, FINE LIVING TV Network, FOX, Fuel TV, FX, HGTV, The History Channel, KBS (Korean Broadcast System), Logo, MTV, Nickelodeon, Nick at Nite, The N, PBS, Speed, Spike, Travel Channel, TV Land and VH1.

Participating Movie Studios

20th Century Fox, Paramount, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, Universal Pictures, Warner Bros. Entertainment, Lionsgate and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Inc.

Unbox Partner Quotes

CBS

"With its broad and extensive user base, impressive marketing capabilities and the Unbox technology, Amazon.com is uniquely positioned as a programming platform in the online world, and we're excited to be one of their charter content providers," said Larry Kramer, President, CBS Digital Media. "The site is a perfect vehicle to further extend the reach of our Network brand and create more opportunities for audiences to discover current and classic CBS programming."

Fox Entertainment Group

"We expect the convenience of Amazon's Unbox to be a catalyst in expanding the reach of our digital offerings," said Peter Levinsohn, President, Fox Digital Media. "Amazon has made a name for itself as having the biggest selection of physical goods online. We are happy to be a part of its effort to realize this same goal in digital content."

MTV Networks

"VH1 has chosen Amazon Unbox for our download-to-own premiere of select shows because it offers viewers a flexible and high-quality way to enjoy their favorite programs -- the very qualities our 30-something viewers find important," said Tom Calderone, executive vice president and general manager, VH1. "We are excited to join the other MTV Networks' brands in this launch, and to extend VH1's hit shows to yet another platform."

Paramount

"Amazon is one of the great trusted brands in the digital space with an excellent track record of building direct consumer relationships via the Internet," said Thomas Lesinski, President, Paramount Pictures Digital Entertainment. "We are very excited about Amazon's new Unbox service, which will provide consumers with a convenient high-quality option for downloading movies directly to their computers."

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

"This agreement with Amazon is very exciting for Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. It represents the first time one of our established customers has embraced digital distribution," noted Benjamin S. Feingold, Worldwide President of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, Digital Distribution and Acquisitions. "Sony and Amazon share the goal of delivering outstanding entertainment to consumers whenever they want it, on whatever platform they choose to experience it and in the most efficient manner possible, and we are delighted to partner with Amazon in fulfilling this mission."

Universal Studios Home Entertainment (USHE)

"We are pleased to partner with Amazon on this exciting venture, which offers a convenient and flexible alternative for purchasing and enjoying Universal films," said Craig Kornblau, President, Universal Studios Home Entertainment. "Consistent with NBC Universal's strategy for ubiquitous content distribution, we are very excited to align with Amazon, a top-tier partner that is on the forefront of a unique new electronic sell-through technology to deliver our entertainment product: The Unbox Experience."

Warner Bros. Entertainment

"Warner Bros. digital distribution strategy is to provide consumers with access to our world-class entertainment through as many platforms, devices and channels possible," said Simon Kenny, President, Warner Bros. Digital Distribution. "Amazon is the Internet's leading online retailer, and our customers are already comfortable acquiring entertainment from the website. Unbox is a natural extension of this and a good fit for Warner Bros."

MGM

"Delivering on our strategy of distributing MGM movies and television series on robust new digital platforms, we are very pleased to be able to offer MGM programming to the launch of Amazon's Unbox service and hope to include additional product in the weeks to come as the service undoubtedly flourishes," said Douglas A. Lee, Executive Vice President, Worldwide Digital Media at MGM. "We are thrilled to extend our partnership with Amazon as it introduces its millions of users to its new service, and welcome them to receiving new ways of obtaining MGM's extraordinary library of films and television," he said.

About Amazon.com

Amazon.com, Inc., (Nasdaq:AMZN), a Fortune 500 company based in Seattle, opened on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection. Amazon.com seeks to be Earth's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online, and endeavors to offer its customers the lowest possible prices. Amazon.com and other sellers offer millions of unique new, refurbished and used items in categories such as health and personal care, jewelry and watches, gourmet food, sports and outdoors, apparel and accessories, books, music, DVDs, electronics and office, toys and baby, and home and garden.

Amazon and its affiliates operate websites, including www.amazon.com, www.amazon.co.uk, www.amazon.de, www.amazon.co.jp, www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.ca, and www.joyo.com.

As used herein, "Amazon.com," "we," "our" and similar terms include Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries, unless the context indicates otherwise.

Forward Looking Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Actual results may differ significantly from management's expectations. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, risks related to competition, management of growth, potential fluctuations in operating results, international expansion, outcomes of legal proceedings and claims, fulfillment center optimization, seasonality, commercial agreements, acquisitions and strategic transactions, foreign exchange rates, system interruption, significant amount of indebtedness, inventory, limited operating history, government regulation and taxation, payments, fraud, consumer trends, and new business areas. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, and all subsequent filings.

CONTACT: Amazon.com Media Relations

SOURCE: Amazon.com

The Scientific and Technical Awards Committee of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced today that 17 scientific and technical achievements have been selected for further awards consideration.

“The list of achievements is made public to allow individuals and companies with similar devices or claims of prior art the opportunity to submit their devices or claims for review as well,” said Scientific and Technical Awards Committee Chair Donald C. Rogers.

The deadline to submit additional entries is Wednesday, September 20.

The committee has selected the following methods or devices for further consideration:

Rosetta Separations – Digital YCM Masters for Digital
Film Preservation; Pacific Title and Art Studio

Archival Separations from Digital Image Data;
Technicolor Digital Intermediates

HFC Brumagic MPST Densitometer; Hollywood Film
Company

SnoBiz®; CITC

Arriflex 235 Camera System; Arri Inc.

Ultra-Solution Digital Registration of Technicolor
3-Strip Motion Pictures; AOL, LLC

Harmony/Opus; Toon Boom Animation, Inc.

Rotoshop - Interpolated-Rotoscoping Software;
Flat Black Films

A Flexible Hair Grooming and Rendering System;
Weta Digital

“Shave and a Haircut”; Joe Alter

Image-Based Modeling; Industrial Light & Magic

Open EXR; Industrial Light & Magic

“Final Draft”; Final Draft, Inc.

Furnace, Motion Estimation Technology;
The Foundry

Industry Conversion to Cyan Analog Dye
Soundtracks; Dolby Laboratories, Inc.

DFS (Digital Foley Station); New Magic
Entertainment

“cmotion” Radio Remote Control System;
cmotion GmbH

After thorough investigations are conducted on each of the entries to be considered further, the committee will meet in early December to vote on recommendations to the Academy's Board of Governors, which will make the final awards decisions.

The Scientific and Technical Awards will be presented at the Regent Beverly Wilshire hotel in Beverly Hills on Saturday, February 10, 2007.

©A.M.P.A.S.®

Journalist Bill Moyers returns to investigative reporting in October with three documentaries taking on important issues facing the nation in the upcoming elections for control of Congress. In Moyers on America, airing Wednesdays, October 4, 11, and 18 at 9 p.m. on PBS (check local listings), Moyers and his team travel the nation to report on political corruption, Christians and the environment, and democratic access to the Internet.

On October 4, "Capitol Crimes" investigates the Abramoff lobbying scandal examining the web of relationships, secret deals and political manipulation that reveals the shadowy underbelly of American politics. On October 11, "Is God Green?" looks at the significant implications of a debate among politically powerful conservative evangelical Christians over the handling of the environment. And on October 18, "The Net at Risk" reports on if a few mega-media corporations get their way in Washington, they could restrict the democratic possibilities of the Web's new future.

"We're looking at three issues that deserve to be at the center of the debate this fall, not just because they are important topics, but because together these stories reveal a powerful and sometimes disturbing picture about how our government works," says Bill Moyers. "The way these issues are playing out should serve as a wake-up call for citizens."

Moyers on America

"Capitol Crimes"

PBS Airdate: Wednesday, October 4 at 9 p.m. (check local listings). 120 minutes.

The fall of Jack Abramoff has exposed a huge web of corruption that still remains vastly unreported by the broadcast media, even as prosecutors continue to chase down leads and quiz insiders and witnesses. "It's a dizzying scope of perfidy and politics that boggles the imagination, and although Jack Abramoff and Tom DeLay have been brought down, the system remains as vulnerable as ever," says Bill Moyers. He and his colleagues untangle emails, reports, interviews and facts on the record to provide viewers with a coherent pattern of criminal and political chicanery. The documentary is followed by a discussion led by Moyers with leading thinkers about the possible solutions for America's political system.

Moyers on America

"Is God Green?"

PBS Airdate: Wednesday, October 11 at 9 p.m. (check local listings). 60 minutes.

A new holy war is growing within the evangelical community, with stakes for the earth and American politics. For over a decade liberal Christians have made the environment a moral commitment. Now some conservative evangelicals as well are standing up for the earth as a Biblical imperative of stewardship. From a dynamic conservative church in Boise, Idaho to an evangelical activist group known as Christians for the Mountains in West Virginia, grassroots believers are speaking out. So are some conservative evangelical leaders at the national level who have called for action to stop global warming. But they are being met head-on with opposition from religious right political figures like Jerry Falwell and James Dobson, who are pillars of the right-wing coalition that adamantly supports the Bush administration in downplaying the threat of global warming. The political stakes are high: three out of every four self-identified white evangelical voters cast their ballots for George W. Bush in 2004. The program explores how a serious split among conservative evangelicals over the environment and global warming could reshape American politics.

Moyers on America

"The Net at Risk"

PBS Airdate: Wednesday, October 18 at 9 p.m. (check local listings). 90 minutes.

The future of the Internet is up for grabs. Big corporations are lobbying Washington to turn the gateway to the Web into a toll road. Yet the public knows little about what's happening behind closed doors where the future of democracy's newest forum is being decided. If a few mega media giants own the content and control the delivery of radio, television, telephone services and the Internet, they'll make a killing and citizens will pay for it. America's ability to compete in the global marketplace, the unfettered exchange of ideas online, and broadband services that could improve quality of life for millions are at stake. Some say the very future of democracy itself may hang in the balance. In "The Net at Risk," Bill Moyers and journalist Rick Karr report on the wannabe "lords of the Internet" and examine how promises by the big tel-co companies of a super-high speed Internet in return for deregulation and tax breaks have gone unfulfilled while the public has paid the price. After the documentary, Moyers leads a discussion on media reform to explore the real- world impact of deregulation on communities and citizen participation in democracy.

Moyers on America is supported by an extensive companion Web site at http://www.pbs.org/moyers where visitors can interact, give feedback, and participate in an online workshop designed to inform, engage, and spark public discourse on the issues presented in the documentaries. After the broadcast, each episode will be available in its entirety for viewing online.

Moyers on America is funded by the Park Foundation and our sole corporate funder Mutual of America Life Insurance Company.

Web site: http://www.pbs.org/moyers

While driving on that open road, pop the CD in and prepare to be pulled over for speeding by a highway patrol car. At least that's what thousands of drivers are experiencing all across the country -- all due to an instrumental rock song called: "Let's Drive" by singer/songwriter Plissken.

The three-and-a-half minute rock guitar riff is being blamed for speeding tickets received by driving enthusiasts who say they were victims of the song's upbeat tempo. The consensus is the song puts you so deeply into the driving groove that the speed limit becomes irrelevant.

"It's a great song, but you get into this zone and you begin to speed without realizing it," says Connie Mendez, one of the recipients of a speeding ticket in California.

Car expert Barry Chadwick, whose weekly column appears in Foothills Living magazine and the Arroyo Seco Journal, says drivers are easily influenced by songs.

"Music affects the way you drive and feel about your car, and this song will actually make you enjoy traffic!" says Chadwick.

The label says they'll pay some of the fines since they feel partly responsible as the CD's website touts the slogan: "Get on that open road and put the pedal to the metal!"

"We've received complaints from drivers in eleven states," says Adrian Martinez, president of Morusa Records, the label that released the CD a year ago. "We have agreed to pay for some of the fines as a courtesy."

They label recently posted a link on their website that asks: "Have you gotten a speeding ticket because of our song?" as they try to keep track of how many people are being pulled over because of "Let's Drive."

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

With this summer's acclaimed "Freedom Of Speech '06 Tour" -- concluding Sunday, September 10 in Pittsburgh, PA -- legendary rock quartet Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (CSNY) did far more than passionately serve up what the Boston Globe recently called, "What a rarity: a concert that sends you home thinking, feeling, and rocking." The tour's high-profile social consciousness quotient underscores its politically-charged dialogue with an environmental statement that marks a profound paradigm shift for the concert touring and event transportation industry.

The band's new transportation model supports CSNY's belief in challenging the cloaked in secrecy energy policies that have cost the United States so much on so many levels -- including diversion of taxpayer money from other areas that would benefit most Americans, and wartime casualties in the fight to preserve the petroleum-driven status quo. Finding that unacceptable, they built their own energy plan based on transparency, community involvement, and cooperation, contacting local suppliers of domestically grown renewable fuel nationwide to power "Freedom Of Speech."

Working with San Francisco-based transportation provider Roadshow Services, "Freedom Of Speech" '06's fleet of eight 53' tractor-trailer trucks and ten artist buses is fully powered by B99, a 99%-pure, American-made, soy-derived biodiesel fuel. The largest undertaking of its kind ever to use crop-based, cleaner-burning alternative fuel, CSNY's current tour is also the only one to employ pure agricultural biodiesel rather than the more commonly used 80/20 blend with high levels of petroleum, thus eliminating most harmful particulate matter. It supports local farming, preserves the environment and reduces our dependence on foreign oil.

CSNY Production Manager Tim Foster (who's worked with Neil Young for 33 years), says the group's switch to biodiesel first came about for Young's 2004 Greendale concert tour after the artist read Joshua Tickell's seminal green energy primer "From The Frying Pan To The Fuel Tank -- The Complete Guide To Using Vegetable Oil As An Alternative Fuel." Foster recalls that Young passed the book along to him with the directive that, going forward, they "walk lighter on the planet" while on tour.

In addition to their famous social and political activism, environmental causes have long been passionately advocated by all four of CSNY's principals. In 1979, Graham Nash co-founded No Nukes/M.U.S.E. -- Musicians United For Safe Energy -- with Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt and John Hall (currently running for U.S. Congress in New York), and the all-star concerts organized under the M.U.S.E. banner remain seminal benefit events. David Crosby was one of the first individuals to employ bio-diesel for his personal vehicles, and has been driving a crop-fueled truck for years. A number of Young's cars and trucks are biodiesel driven, and Nash and Stills are converting their vehicles over as well.

One of the most thoroughly tested alternative fuels on the market, biodiesel is completely renewable and self-sustainable, is available nationwide and can be used in existing engines and fuel injection equipment. It has none of the ozone-polluting and carcinogenic chemicals that abound in petroleum based diesel; it's healthier for flora and fauna of every kind, and air quality for drivers, crew and passengers of the fleet is massively improved. "It used to be," says Foster, "that when you walked through the backstage area at one of our shows, say at the Hollywood Bowl, the air would be heavy with petroleum. Now, you don't smell anything, it's clean." Also, of critical importance to CSNY, biodiesel is American-made and is a means -- right now -- of reducing dependence on foreign oil while boosting the U.S. economy and protecting the environment.

"Freedom Of Speech" is running as clean as possible with 99% soy-based fuel. "Nobody else is doing that now," says Roadshow's VP Sean O'Rourke. "Because B99 is not as readily available, we're coordinating refueling -- via tanker trucks -- for ourselves, servicing the entire fleet at once." Through working with CSNY, O'Rourke has become a vocal expert on and advocate for biodiesel. "A lot of it has to do," he says, "with the fact that we're a Northern California-based trucking company silly enough to be working in San Francisco, as cost prohibitive a place as any to run an interstate business. But I like to think our business is based on our progressive ideals, and I feel truly patriotic about this endeavor. That's where CSNY approaches it from, understanding that it's good not just environmentally and for the climate, but also for our national interest and the world. As an agent of change in any area, part of that is being an educator. We are compelled to make a difference."

When Rudolf Diesel demonstrated his diesel engine at the 1900 World's Fair, he used peanut oil to operate it. While Diesel designed it to run on a diversity of fuels, including petroleum and coal dust, he saw field crops as the long term future for the engine because of the virtually unlimited supply. Over a century later, his visionary invention is shared by enduring agents of change Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, who believe, "We can change the world."

For Official CSNY Tour, Ticket and Fan Club information, visit www.csny.com

Final "FREEDOM OF SPEECH" tour date:

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

-- 180 Turning Lives Around, Inc. will host a momentous 30th Anniversary Gala on the Navesink on Saturday, September 16, 2006 in celebration of the agency's 30 years of lifesaving service in providing shelter, hotlines, counseling, protection, support, prevention, education and advocacy for nearly 300,000 victims and families affected by domestic violence and sexual assault. The fundraiser, the largest special event in the agency's history, will conclude a milestone year by honoring special guests Tipper Gore and Jon Bon Jovi.

Named one of the Ten Most Admired Women in the World, Mrs. Gore has brought her warmth, charm and infectious energy to communities and organizations around the globe. A dedicated, hands-on advocate for issues of mental health, homelessness, and violence in the media, she uses stories from her own life of public service to inspire and enlighten her audiences.

"I am honored to join in the celebration of 180's 30 year anniversary," said Tipper Gore. "The fundamental responsibility that we have as mothers, fathers, daughters, and sons is to join together to lend support to those women and families in need."

Mr. Bon Jovi is an avid advocate for local charity work. As co-owner of the Arena Football League's Philadelphia Soul, he has committed the franchise to focusing attention and funding to local causes; the Soul partnered with 180 Turning Lives Around, Inc. to launch the 2ND FLOOR(R) youth helpline in Philadelphia.

"As a musician and father, I am proud to be a part of the 30th anniversary celebration," said Jon Bon Jovi. "The 2ND FLOOR(R) youth helpline provides an anonymous and available resource when life's pressures and everyday situations get overwhelming. We can't underestimate the difference we can make together in the lives of our children."

The elegant evening will feature the outstanding cuisine of Restaurant Nicholas, a musical performance by Bobby Bandiera, and dancing. A very special and unique pledge tent will serve as the Gala's centerpiece featuring 180's vital programs and services.

"For 30 years, 180 has been committed to ensuring every home is a safe home in our community," said Philip Murphy, 180's Board President. "It is the agency's belief that change is always possible and as we celebrate a new chapter in 180's legacy, we ask members of the community to reach deeply into their hearts to support our fundraising efforts which will ensure that 180's services will be available for vulnerable families in need."

Proceeds from the 30th Anniversary Gala will support 180's courageous mission of ending family violence, abuse and sexual assault in our community. Today, 180 employs 83 staff members and over 400 volunteers, offering services at seven main locations, 10 residential sites, and 45 satellite locations throughout Monmouth County. The 2ND FLOOR(R) youth helpline is the only toll-free helpline (1-888-222-2228) in Monmouth County, Mercer County and parts of Philadelphia dedicated to broad youth issues.

For more information about gala tickets, sponsorships and underwriting information, please call 732-264-9114 or log on to http://www.180nj.org/.

For 30 years, 180 Turning Lives Around has served as a private, non-profit organization dedicated to ending domestic violence, family violence, abuse, and sexual assault in our community. 180 is committed to providing shelter, counseling, protection, education, and advocacy for residents of Monmouth County who are affected by domestic violence and sexual assault. To learn more about 180 Turning Lives Around visit their website at http://www.180nj.org/. Those who need immediate emergency assistance can call the organization's toll free 24-hour hotlines for domestic violence at 1-888-843-9262 or 732-264-4111 and for sexual assault contact 1-888-264-RAPE or 732-264-RAPE.

The 2ND FLOOR(R) youth helpline, a program of 180 Turning Lives Around, Inc., is the only toll-free helpline in Monmouth County dedicated to broad youth issues. Designed as a positive resource to help children and youth, 2ND FLOOR(R) has grown beyond Monmouth County to include parts of Philadelphia and the Mercer County, New Jersey area. The toll-free helpline 1-888-222-2228 operates from 9a.m. until midnight, seven days a week and is staffed by highly trained volunteers who provide an understanding, non-judgmental and caring response to callers. 2ND FLOOR(R) does not provide psychotherapy/professional counseling, or access to assistance in a medical or other emergency. Parents should continue to instruct their children to call 911 or their local police in medical or other emergencies.

Web site: http://www.180nj.org/

You've heard of dope. You've heard of ill. But this is blind fresh, B! On September 8, brace yourself for the epic conclusion of the defest story ever told. Instant Def, Episode V, EVERY DOG HAS ITS DAY.

This final chapter of the highly stylized Instant Def digisode series brings to conclusion the battle between hip hop super group Instant Def and rival Boo-T Records. Instant Def members Beat Down, Tag, Mechanism and Eye4Eye -- played by musical stars will.i.am, Fergie, Taboo and apl.de.ap respectively -- are fighting to 'keep hip hop real'.

The Instant Def foursome started as Snickers(R) factory workers, but an incident at the plant brought them in contact with a Snickers 'concoction' and transformed them into super def superheroes. In this final episode, the group will finally defeat the series nemesis, Boo T.

"It's been quite an experience seeing the Instant Def project go from conception to completion," said Vic Walia, Snickers brand manager. "We used a fully-integrated marketing plan to reach the online trendsetters and tastemakers, urging them to experience InstantDef.com first hand, and we feel that we've touched this audience in a cool, yet organic way.

Launching the final digisode doesn't mean the end of Instant Def, however. Now that all five digisodes are finally viewable at once, fans can now enjoy the full, 20-minute experience at InstantDef.com.

The Instant Def story unfolds over 20 minutes of stylized, computer generated art led by director Jesse Dylan and the post production team at LA- based Form TV. As the entire shoot happened against green screen, Form's team literally worked around the clock some days to create the Instant Def vision of Snickers, Dylan, BBDO Executive Creative Director Jimmy Smith, Art Director Javier Castillo and visual effects producer Dick Voss.

"This is a good example of the ad as a story line," says Jimmy Smith, who created the campaign. "It's the kind of entertainment and product help that Snickers' target audience will think is dope."

In a case of art-imitates-life, Snickers hopes Instant Def becomes as in- demand as the stars of Instant Def, who won the Video Music Award for 'Best Hip Hop Video' on August 31, 2006.

About Masterfoods USA

Masterfoods USA, the United States food, snack and petcare operations of Mars, Incorporated, is one of the world's leading food manufacturers. With more than $5 billion in annual sales, the combined food, snack and petcare segments are a symbol of excellence for quality brands. Headquartered in Hackettstown, NJ, Masterfoods USA employs more than 8,000 associates in the United States, with 38 manufacturing facilities nationwide. The company owns some of the world's favorite brands including M&M'S(R) Brand, SNICKERS(R) Brand, UNCLE BEN'S(R) Brand, PEDIGREE(R) Brand Food For Dogs, WHISKAS(R) Brand Food For Cats.

For additional information, visit the Masterfoods USA Online Newsroom at www.masterfoodsnews.com.

Web site: http://instantdef.com/
http://www.elevationgrp.com/
http://www.masterfoodsnews.com/

Almost 80 rock fans who dream of becoming rock stars will have their wishes granted when Rock 'n Roll Fantasy Camp (RRFC) gives them the opportunity to open for Def Leppard and Journey at Germain Amphitheater on Sunday, 9/10 in Columbus, OH. The special Battle of the Bands blowout -- in front of 15,000 ticketholders (5:30 pm - 7:20 pm) -- will feature RRFC campers of all musical abilities who have spent the day rehearsing with their counselor/rock star legends. Almost half the campers hail from the Ohio area.

Sunday's sold-out One Day Only edition of Rock 'n Roll Fantasy Camp offers all campers 10-hours of rock tutelage with counselor/ rock star royals including Teddy Andreadis (Guns & Roses), Simon Kirke (Bad Company, Free), Mark Farner (Grand Funk Railroad), Kelly Keagy (Night Ranger), Gunnar Nelson (Nelson), Artimus Pyle (Lynyrd Skynyrd), Spencer Davis (Spencer Davis Group), Jeff "Skunk" Baxter (Doobie Brothers) and Michael Lardie (Great White). The One Day Only RRFC offers campers use of studio-quality equipment, a pre-show meet-and-greet, a photo opportunity with Def Leppard and Journey, pre-show dinner for two, two tickets to the show ... and a lifetime of memories.

RRFC is more than jamming, recording and performing live with rock stars. In the words of recent attendees, it's "mind-blowing," "unforgettable" and "a life-changing experience." Over the last few years, Rock 'n Roll Fantasy Camp has drawn hundreds of people who have skipped out on their day jobs to seek a little bit of rock 'n roll nirvana, among them White House press secretary Tony Snow, who attended at recent edition of RRFC. RRFC also designs and organizes team building events and training programs for corporations.

The next Rock 'n Roll Fantasy Camp will take place in Los Angeles (Feb. 15-19, Presidents Day weekend) and will feature Paul Stanley (Kiss), Mickey Hart (Grateful Dead), Brett Michaels (Poison), Steve Vai, Jane Wiedlin (Go Gos), Scott Ian (Anthrax) and many more.

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

Viva Pinata(TM) -- one of the most buzzed-about new kids' entertainment properties of the year -- from Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:MSFT) , Rare Ltd. and 4Kids Entertainment Inc. will make its debut this Saturday morning on 4Kids TV on FOX. The computer graphics (CG) animated series produced by 4Kids Entertainment and Bardel Entertainment will act as a springboard for the new franchise, which will also include an Xbox 360(TM) video game from Microsoft Game Studios and other licensed merchandise.

Created by U.K.-based developer Rare, Viva Pinata is the first property to be introduced as part of an alliance between Microsoft and 4Kids Entertainment. It not only marks Microsoft's efforts to broaden the Xbox 360 audience beyond core gamers, it solidifies 4Kids' role as a leader and innovator in the world of children's entertainment marketing and licensing. Families can also gear up for even more pinata fun with the "Viva Pinata" video game, developed by Rare exclusively for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system; the game will be launched this holiday season.

"Today is an exciting day as we continue to reach out to new audiences and introduce families to a vibrant world that will not only entertain, but also inspire creativity and imaginations on many levels," said Shane Kim, corporate vice president of Microsoft Game Studios. "People of all ages are invited into the Viva Pinata universe, where they will meet a cast of wacky characters and enjoy an immersive interactive experience with the Xbox 360 game and Viva Pinata merchandise."

In addition to the Saturday morning 3-D animated television series, the Viva Pinata brand will offer a number of entertainment elements for everyone, from kids to adults, to enjoy. The Xbox 360 video game, which will hit store shelves in November, invites gamers to create their own environment where they can attract and host more than 60 species of wild piñatas and customize pinata-filled adventures in their unique, ever-growing world. "Viva Pinata" gameplay will continue to evolve with new content available via the Xbox Live(R) network and the ability to play, trade and interact with millions of gamers via the online gaming and entertainment network. An extensive product line of Viva Pinata-inspired merchandise across multiple categories will debut in 2007. The new "Viva Pinata" Web site, http://www.vivapinata.com/ , will be officially launched Sept. 11 and will feature the sights and sounds of Pinata Island.

"This is a brand the world will grow to know and love, thanks to a dynamic partnership with Microsoft Game Studios and Rare," said Alfred R. Kahn, chairman and CEO of 4Kids Entertainment. "The animated series premiere marks the first in a long line of exciting opportunities for kids and creative minds of all ages to interact with Viva Pinata, a brand that has the power to attract a diverse, worldwide audience."

Following the strategic alliance announced in January 2006 with Microsoft, 4Kids' exclusive representation agreement includes all broadcast, home video, music and merchandise licensing rights on a worldwide basis for the Viva Pinata property.

About Xbox 360

Xbox 360 is the most powerful video game and entertainment system, delivering the best games, the next generation of the premier Xbox Live online gaming network and unique digital entertainment experiences that revolve around gamers. Xbox 360 is expected to have a catalog of 160 high-definition games by the end of 2006 and to be available in nearly 40 countries by the end of 2007. More information can be found online at http://www.xbox.com/xbox360 .

About Xbox Live

Xbox Live is the first and only unified online entertainment network seamlessly integrated throughout the entire console experience, making it easy for people to find the friends, games and entertainment they want from the moment they power on their Xbox 360 system. Xbox Live connects millions of members across 24 countries to enjoy hundreds of multiplayer games, downloadable games via Xbox Live Arcade, free and premium playable game demos, music videos, and movie trailers, as well as new game levels, characters and vehicles for all their favorite retail games. More information can be found online at http://www.xbox.com/en-us/live .

About Microsoft Game Studios

Microsoft Game Studios is a leading worldwide publisher and developer of games for the Xbox(R) and Xbox 360 video game systems, the Microsoft(R) Windows(R) operating system and online platforms. Comprising a network of top developers, Microsoft Game Studios is committed to creating innovative and diverse games for Windows ( http://www.microsoft.com/games ), including such franchises as "Age of Empires(R)," "Flight Simulator" and "Zoo Tycoon(R)"; Xbox and Xbox 360 ( http://www.xbox.com/ ), including such games as the upcoming "Gears of War" and franchises such as "Halo(R)," "Fable(R)," "Project Gotham Racing(R)" and "Forza Motorsport(TM)"; and MSN(R) Games ( http://www.games.msn.com/ ), the official games channel for the MSN network and home to such hits as "Bejeweled" and "Hexic(R)."

About Rare Ltd.

Rare Ltd., one of the world's leading video game developers, was founded in 1985 by Chris and Tim Stamper. Based in the United Kingdom, Rare is the mastermind behind some of the most popular video games available, including multimillion-dollar sellers "GoldenEye 007," "Perfect Dark(R)," "Banjo- Kazooie(R)" and "Donkey Kong 64." In November 2005, Rare released "Perfect Dark: Zero(TM)" and "Kameo(TM): Elements of Power(TM)" for Xbox 360, the second-generation video games console from Microsoft, and continues to entertain the world with the upcoming release of "Viva Pinata." For further information visit www.rareware.com .

About 4Kids Entertainment

Headquartered in New York City with an international office in London, 4Kids Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:KDE) , is a global provider of children's entertainment and merchandise licensing. 4Kids, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, provides domestic and international merchandise licensing; product development; television, film, music and home video production and distribution; media planning and buying; and Web site development. For further information, please visit the Company's Web site at www.4KidsEntertainment.com.

About 4Kids TV

4Kids TV, 4Kids Entertainment's four hours of children's programming broadcast Saturday mornings on FOX, features popular animated series for both boys and girls including Magical DoReMi(TM), Winx Club(TM), Bratz(R), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles(R), Sonix X(TM) and G.I. Joe Sigma 6(TM). For more information, please visit www.4Kids.TV .

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

NOTE: Microsoft, Xbox 360, Xbox Live, Xbox, Windows, Age of Empires, Zoo Tycoon, Halo, Fable, Project Gotham Racing, Forza Motorsport, MSN, Hexic, Perfect Dark, Banjo-Kazooie, Perfect Dark: Zero, Kameo and Elements of Power are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. or Rare Ltd. in the United States and/or other countries.

Rare Ltd. is a subsidiary of Microsoft Corp.

The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

Web site: http://www.rareware.com/
http://www.4kidsentertainment.com/
http://www.4kids.tv/
http://www.microsoft.com/

ShoZu Inc. announced today that editors from Allure Magazine will be creating a near-real time photo/video blog from Fashion Week events in New York, Milan and Paris using camera phones equipped with ShoZu's one-click image uploading technology. Photos and video clips snapped with the phones will be instantly beamed to the blog via ShoZu's service along with the editors' descriptive tags, providing exclusive backstage looks at the personalities and pressures behind the spring 2007 collections.

Going live this week at http://allurebackstage.com/ , the blog will report from New York Fashion Week from September 8-15 as well as the Women's Ready To Wear shows in Milan and Paris from September 23-October 1 and October 1-9, respectively. The events will showcase a Who's Who of designers ranging from Karl Lagerfeld, Vera Wang and Donatella Versace to Michael Kors, Muicca Prada and Carolina Herrera.

Allure Magazine's fashion and beauty insiders will be posting up-to-the- minute diaries on their adventures with celebrities, designers, industry icons, and the beautiful people at the runway shows in all three cities, providing a perspective on the fashion world that is not usually available to those outside the industry.

"Women want to know about fashion trends, but the real excitement is backstage -- the designers, the models, the spectacle and the celebrities as well as the stumbles and the intrigue," said Marie Jones, spokeswoman for Allure Magazine. "By partnering with ShoZu, we can take fans exclusively backstage with us for an up-close-and-personal look as it happens. You'll see it at Allure before you see it anywhere else."

The Allure blog is the latest in a series of ShoZu projects providing instant documentation of major media and entertainment events through collaboration with event sponsors or other partners. ShoZu has also enabled mobile photo and video blog coverage of the 50-day 2006 Vans Warped Tour(R) this past summer, the SXSW music/film/interactive conference in Texas in March, and the U.S. debut of Australia's The Veronicas in New York in February.

"This project is another example of how our 'shoot, click and share' capabilities can be used to extend the user-generated content movement into new areas," said Jen Grenz, Global Partner Marketing Director for ShoZu. "Whether you're sending family photos from your camera phone to your favorite photo sharing community or posting video clips of a concert to a blog created for that performer's fans, ShoZu is the fastest and easiest way to get there."

ShoZu's free image uploading application allows camera phone owners to send photos and video clips directly from their handsets without transferring the files to a PC and without the complex commands, loss of image quality, or interruption of other activities associated with wireless email, MMS messaging or other uploading methods. Users can make phone calls or take more photos while an image is transferring, and the service automatically resumes from the point of failure in the event of a dropped connection rather than forcing users to start over.

Destination sites currently supported by ShoZu include photo and video sharing communities such as Buzznet, Flickr, Kodak EasyShare Gallery, Samsung Fun Club, Textamerica, Webshots and YouTube; personal blog sites such as Blogger, Typepad and Wordpress; any MetaWeblog-enabled blog; and citizen- contributed photo galleries like CNN, the BBC and Scoopt. Images can also be sent to any FTP site or to any email address for easy image sharing with family and friends. More than three dozen additional destinations will be added over the next six months.

About ShoZu

ShoZu specializes in interactive media solutions that enable cellphone users to get more out of the mobile experience, providing fast and easy handset access to multimedia web content ranging from photo portals to blogs, videocasts and podcasts. Services include 'ZuCasts' delivered directly to handsets on a subscription basis, one-click uploading of camera phone images and video clips, and two-way message exchange with community websites. The company's patented technology transfers any kind of data effortlessly and inexpensively between a mobile phone and the Internet without the need to open a mobile phone browser, wait for pages to load, interrupt phone calls, start over in the event of a dropped connection, or sync to a PC. Visit http://www.shozu.com/ .

Web sites: http://www.shozu.com
http://allurebackstage.com

Source: ShoZu Inc.

Adding to the excitement of the back-to- school season, Oak Park and River Forest High School math teacher Sheila Hardin soon will make her Hollywood debut on the hit CBS TV show "NUMB3RS" thanks to her success in inspiring students to learn more about math and how it impacts their everyday lives.

Hardin won the role of a lifetime through a Texas Instruments (NYSE:TXN) (TI) and CBS Paramount Network sweepstakes, "Use 'NUMB3RS' Every Day for a Hollywood Get-Away." The sweepstakes was part of "We All Use Math Every Day(TM)," a mathematics education program developed by TI and CBS, in association with the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM). The program encourages teenagers to study and learn more about math and provides free classroom activities that help students explore the math derived from the concepts featured in the show.

Hardin will film her guest appearance in Hollywood on Sept. 7-9, 2006. The episode will air during season three of the series this fall.

Hardin's ninth grade student, Kevin Binder, nominated her for the prize and earned extra sweepstakes entries by answering additional math questions online. Hardin and Binder won grand prize trips to Hollywood with their families to tour the "NUMB3RS" filming location and meet the cast.

"I am inspired that Kevin has taken such an interest in 'NUMB3RS' through the 'We All Use Math Every Day' program that he completed the math activities on his own time," said Hardin, who teaches geometry and Advanced Placement calculus. "I hope that my experience will inspire all of my students to be excited about learning and applying math to their daily lives."

Thousands of educators across the nation are downloading the classroom activities from http://www.cbs.com/numb3rs each week and more than 32,000 have signed up for teacher kits, encouraging over three million students to become more engaged and interested in math.

"TI congratulates Sheila and Kevin for winning the sweepstakes, and more importantly, for inspiring students and educators to achieve more in math and learn how the subject prepares them to succeed in life," said Melendy Lovett, president, Educational and Productivity Solutions business, TI.

Educators can visit http://www.cbs.com/numb3rs to download the classroom activities; to sign up to receive a teacher kit which includes program information, activities, a classroom poster and bumper sticker; and to register for a weekly e-mail packed with classroom activities and exclusive insider information about the "We All Use Math Every Day" program.

About Texas Instruments

Educational & Productivity Solutions, a business of Texas Instruments, provides a wide range of advanced tools connecting the classroom experience with real-world applications and enabling students and teachers to explore mathematics and science interactively. Designed with leading educators and researchers, Texas Instruments' educational technology and services are tested against recognized third-party research on effective instruction and improved student learning. Such research shows that use of graphing calculators and wireless collaborative technology in the classroom helps teachers implement instructional strategies that lead to higher student interest, engagement and achievement in mathematics.** For more than 15 years, TI has worked closely with educators and administrators to develop student-focused curricular and supplemental classroom materials, and it supports the world's largest professional development organization for the appropriate use of educational technology. More information is available at http://www.education.ti.com/ .

Texas Instruments Incorporated provides innovative DSP and analog technologies to meet our customers' real world signal processing requirements. In addition to Semiconductor, the company includes the Educational & Productivity Solutions business. TI is headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and has manufacturing, design or sales operations in more than 25 countries.

Texas Instruments is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol TXN. More information is located on the World Wide Web at http://www.ti.com/ .

About "NUMB3RS"

Ridley Scott, Tony Scott, Barry Schindel, David W. Zucker, Nicolas Falacci, and Cheryl Heuton are executive producers of NUMB3RS, which was created by Cheryl Heuton and Nicolas Falacci. NUMB3RS is produced by CBS Paramount Network Television in association with Scott Free. CBS Paramount Network Television is a division of CBS Studios Inc.

About the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics is a public voice of mathematics education, providing vision, leadership, and professional development to support teachers in ensuring mathematics learning of the highest quality for all students. With 100,000 members and 240 Affiliates, NCTM is the world's largest organization dedicated to improving mathematics education in prekindergarten through grade 12. The Council's Principles and Standards for School Mathematics includes guidelines for excellence in mathematics education and issues a call for all students to engage in more challenging mathematics. More information is available at http://www.nctm.org/ .

Source: Texas Instruments

Web site: http://www.cbs.com/numb3rs
http://www.education.ti.com/
http://www.ti.com/
http://www.nctm.org/
http://www.education.ti.com/research

- Musical Instrument Manufacturer's Interactive Arm to add Click&Buy payment option to their world wide e-commerce web sites in 2006

Click&Buy, the leading ePayment provider for online and mobile digital content and services, today announced the signing of an agreement with Yamaha Music Interactive, Inc., for the global musical instrument manufacturer's interactive division. Through the use of Click&Buy, Yamaha will offer its customers the option to purchase products on-line via credit and debit card, direct bank debits or invoice. Yamaha will use Click&Buy on a global basis, offering consumers many different alternatives to purchasing digital content, such as software, sheet music, midi files. Besides offering credit card payments, Click&Buy also offers more than 40 other payment options, which are highly popular in many European countries - a cash payment and direct invoicing to a phone bill.

Yamaha is highly regarded in the entertainment world for its musical instrument quality. They provide a broad spectrum of musical products for individual and orchestral performers. Yamaha manufactures pianos, digital pianos, keyboards, digital instruments, drums, guitars, stringed, wind, and percussion instruments and accessories, professional audio equipment and music education products. Yamaha Music Interactive, Inc. is engaged in maintaining, hosting, and promoting web sites for Yamaha's musical instrument related business.

"We are happy to serve Yamaha with the Click&Buy solution, enabling to broaden international sales by reaching users as localized as possible." Said Eberhard Dollinger, Chief Sales Officer at Click&Buy, "To be chosen by this respectable company makes us proud, and we look forward to expanding and intensifying both of our businesses to a worldwide audience." "As we expand our business and activities on the Internet, and increase our presence in the world-wide marketplace, we require an efficient and reliable partner who can offer our customers a payment option that does perform more than a credit card", said Jin Katagiri, Chief Operating Officer at Yamaha Music Interactive, Inc.

About Yamaha Music Interactive, Inc.

Yamaha Music Interactive, Inc. is one of the subsidiaries fully owned by Yamaha Corporation in Japan, aiming to facilitate business development over the Internet along with several musical instruments, such as the Disklavier (player piano) and IDC (Internet Direct Connection) equipped electronic keyboards. In addition, it operates several e-commerce sites offering software, sheet music, midi files and accessories, including: www.yamahamusicsoft.com and www.digitalmusicnotebook.com.

About Yamaha Corporation

Yamaha began over one hundred years ago when a young entrepreneur named Torakusu Yamaha set out to craft a high-quality reed organ. Before long, the company he founded had not only gone on to manufacture Japan's first piano, it had also gained recognition abroad: In 1904, a Yamaha piano and organ were awarded an Honorary Grand Prize at the St. Louis World's Fair. From these auspicious beginnings, Yamaha grew to become one of the best-loved manufacturers of musical instruments in the world. And as it grew, the company capitalized on a unique heritage of artisanship and technological know-how to diversify into an astoundingly wide range of products and services. Today, Yamaha is a leader in businesses ranging from musical instruments and audio & video products to information technology products, new media services, home furnishings, auto components, specialty metals, music education and resort facilities. Yet, true to their musical origins, no matter what business they take on -- or what country they do business in -- they seek to remain perfectly attuned to a set of common values that define the World of Yamaha.

About Click&Buy

Click&Buy is one of the leading complete payment processing systems worldwide for online and mobile digital content. In August 2006 Deutsche Telekom (T-Online Venture Fund) made a 10% investment in Click&Buy's holding company, the Zug, Switzerland-based company FIRSTGATE Holding AG. The Fund is taking advantage of the opportunities resulting from an already existing cooperation between Click&Buy and Deutsche Telekom; this cooperation is to be further expanded, including the marketing the broadly diversified portfolio of Deutsche Telekom's services/products worldwide.

Click&Buy makes it possible for companies to outsource complex billing for paid content, services and goods. The system handles both billing in various currencies and the processing of credit cards, direct debits and the 40 most commonly used payment procedures in Europe and North America

Many famous brands, such as Electronic Arts, T-Online Gamesload, Apple iTunes, Skype, Nero, Tiscali, Meetic, Playboy, SanDisk, Financial Times Deutschland, Univision and many others use Click&Buy to bill their customers. More than 6,000 content providers and 6 million consumers use Click&Buy. Click&Buy is operated by licensing partner SWISSCOM in Switzerland, British Telecom in the UK and by Click&Buy (LTD.) in the remaining parts of Europe and in North America Click&Buy will soon be available via TELMEX in Latin America, a market with more than 100 million potential customers.

Downloads:

http://www.clickandbuy.com/extra/download/press/f_YA_PM_060908.htm

Source: Firstgate AG

Hosts Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa again will bring amazing record-setting feats to "Live with Regis and Kelly" during the 2006 edition of "Live's Guinness World Record Breaker Week," September 12-15, 2006.

For years, "Live with Regis and Kelly" and Guinness World Records have showcased history-making, record-breaking moments live on the air. Host Regis Philbin was honored in 2004 with the Guinness World Record for Most Hours on Camera. Last year, multiple title-holder and Guinness World Record Hall of Famer Suresh Joachim hunkered down in the WABC lobby, and set a new record for The Longest TV Watching Marathon, an astounding 69 hours, 48 minutes. Next week, a new group of record holders and aspiring record breakers will display their very special talents, setting new marks or competing to hang on to their individual records.

Today, Philbin and Ripa gave "Live" viewers a special preview of next week's excitement, as 21-year-old Patrick Bertoletti successfully broke the Guinness World Record for Most Ice Cream Eaten in 30 Seconds. The local Chicagoan shattered the existing record of 9.3 ounces by devouring 13.4 ounces of cold vanilla goodness.

Next week, first up will be canine wonder Anastasia, the frenetic Jack Russell Terrier with a destructive eye for inflatable object, who will journey to New York from Southern California to take a shot at setting the record for Most Balloons Popped in One Minute by a Dog. Next up will be Brighton, Colorado's own Don Claps, with a dizzying attempt at Most Cartwheels in One Hour, a record that he currently holds with a mesmerizing count of 1,076.

Also featured will be Kenneth Lee of West Orange, NJ, who will wield his trusty samurai sword as he tries to slash the mark for Most Apples Cut in the Air by a Sword in One Minute (current record: 21). And finally, two daring souls will attempt to spin their way into Guinness World Record history: Oklahoma City teenager Alicia Clifton will try to perform the Most Consecutive Pirouettes (current record: 36), and Tim Ferriss of San Jose, Calif., will attempt the record for Most Tango Spins Performed in One Minute with his partner Alicia Monti (current record: 27).

"Live's Guinness World Record Breaker Week" commemorates the release of Guinness World Records 2007 edition, the annual best-seller which is currently in stores.

Guinness World Records is the universally recognized authority on record-breaking achievement. First published in 1955, the annual Guinness World Records book is published in more than 100 countries and 20 languages and is one of the highest-selling books under copyright of all time with more than 3 million copies sold annually across the globe. Guinness World Records celebrated its 50th anniversary edition in 2004, a year after the sale of its 100 millionth copy. The Guinness World Records website (www.guinnessworldrecords.com) receives more than 11 million visitors a year. Guinness World Records is published by HIT Entertainment Limited, a fully integrated global studio with divisions in the U.K., U.S., Canada and Japan, including broadcast production and distribution, video and audio sales, consumer products licensing and marketing.

"Live with Regis and Kelly" is executive produced by Michael Gelman, and has been distributed in national syndication by Buena Vista Television since 1988. Produced by WABC-TV in New York, "Live with Regis and Kelly" airs in more than 200 markets across the country.

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

September 10th marks five years since ABC Radio Networks launched The Sean Hannity Show from record success at WABC New York to national audiences. Today, The Sean Hannity Show has over 500 affiliates, is in 50 of the top 50 markets and extends beyond U.S. borders via the American Forces Radio Networks to millions of service men and women.

"Finding a guy like Sean Hannity, putting him on the stage at WABC in New York and watching him grow into this monster hit for ABC is the most rewarding thing any programmer could hope to see," said Phil Boyce, VP NewsTalk Programming, ABC Radio."

Known for "Hannitizing America," captivating listeners with spirited convictions on politics, government and the day's issue, Hannity is one of a few radio hosts today that can galvanize millions of listeners.

"Congratulations to Sean on this tremendous milestone," said Jim Robinson, President, ABC Radio Networks. "Sean's unique talent and abilities really show radio at its best. We look forward to celebrating the next five years and beyond."

In the five years that The Sean Hannity Show has been syndicated, Hannity has won numerous awards including Radio & Records' Syndicated News/Talk Personality of the Year three times, 2003, 2004, 2005 and the highly prestigious National Association of Broadcasters' Marconi Award for Best Syndicated Program, 2003. He has also authored two national best-selling books, continues to co-host the top-rated Hannity & Colmes on FOX and is often found on the road speaking to maximum capacity crowds in every city he visits.

About ABC Radio Networks

ABC Radio Networks has over 4,400 affiliate radio stations reaching nearly 106 million people age 12 and over each week. Programs and services include ABC News Radio, Paul Harvey News and Comment, The Sean Hannity Show, Satellite Sisters, The Tom Joyner Morning Show, The Doug Banks Morning Show, MoneyTalk with Bob Brinker, The Mark Levin Show, The Mark Davis Show, The Larry Elder Show, American Country Countdown with Kix Brooks, The Dan Patrick Show, The Herd with Colin Cowherd, Mike and Mike in the Morning, The Michael Baisden Show, Dick Bartley's Rock & Roll's Greatest Hits, Todd Pettengill at the 80s, Renan Almendarez Coello-El Cucuy de la Manana, El Vacilon de la Manana with Luis Jimenez and Moonshadow and El Vacilon de la Manana with Enrique Santos and Joe Ferrero, Daddy Yankee On Fuego Radio and ESPN Deportes Radio. Other ABC broadcast services include ABC Sports Radio, Radio Disney, syndicated music and talk programs including Flashback, format-specific ePREP and production libraries, ABC's Jack FM(TM) and nine other 24-Hour Formats, including Scott Shannon's True Oldies Channel and ESPN Radio, which is the exclusive network radio home of Major League Baseball, the NBA and the Bowl Championship Series.

Source: ABC Radio Networks

Last night's (6) CBS EVENING NEWS WITH KATIE COURIC attracted 10.13 million total viewers, finishing in first place for the second consecutive night, while easily beating "NBC Nightly News" (7.04 million viewers) and ABC's "World News" (7.11 million viewers).

The CBS EVENING NEWS beat both NBC and ABC by more than two full ratings points and by more than three million viewers each. Compared to the same night a year ago, the CBS EVENING NEWS was up +42% in households (7.1/14 vs. 5.0/10), while NBC dropped -26% (5.0/10 from 6.8/14) and ABC decreased -25% (4.9/10 from 6.5/13).

The CBS broadcast increased +38% in total viewers (10.13 million vs. 7.34 million), while NBC decreased -23% (7.04 million vs. 9.20 million) and ABC also decreased -23% in total viewers (7.11 million vs. 9.20 million).

The CBS EVENING NEWS showed gains in the key news demographic of adults 25-54: up +42% (2.7 vs. 1.9) compared to the same night last year. Additionally, the CBS broadcast was up +27% in adults 18-49 (1.9 vs. 1.5). NBC was down -30% in adults 25-54 (1.9 from 2.7) and down -33% in adults 18-49 (1.4 from 2.1), while ABC was down -25% in adults 25-54 (2.1 from 2.8) and down -20% in adults 18-49 (1.6 from 2.0).

In household ratings, the last time the CBS EVENING NEWS finished in first place for two consecutive nights was in 1998 (Friday, July 10 and Monday, July 13).

The CBS EVENING NEWS WITH KATIE COURIC is broadcast weekdays (6:30-7:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Rome Hartman is the executive producer of the broadcast.

Source: CBS

With President Bush's announcement yesterday on the transfer of suspected terrorists held by the CIA at secret foreign prisons to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, a wide ranging panel of experts representing the Administration, Congress, family members of 9/11 victims and former lawmakers all weigh in with opinions, options and perspectives at special live town meeting at Discovery Communications World Headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, Sunday, September 10 at 9:30 PM ET/PT following the broadcast of KOPPEL ON DISCOVERY - THE PRICE OF SECURITY on Discovery Channel at 8 PM ET/PT.

Participants will include Paul McNulty, Deputy Attorney General of the U.S.; Rep. Chris Shays, Chairman of House Government Reform Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threat and International Relations; Tom Ridge, Former Secretary of Homeland Security; Gen. Tony Zinni, former Chief, CENTCOM; Ted Olson, former Solicitor General, member of Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board; Gov. Tom Kean, Chair, 9/11 Commission; Lee Hamilton, Vice- Chair, 9/11 Commission and Jamie Gorelick, former Deputy Attorney General and Member, 9/11 Commission.

The President announced yesterday the transfer of the last 14 suspected terrorists held by the CIA at secret foreign prisons to the military detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, and asked Congress to clarify the rules for the War on Terror before they recess for the November mid-term elections. This sets off a debate that will be at the center of the Koppel town meeting this Sunday evening.

The Koppel town meeting will provide the first opportunity since the President's remarks for civil liberties advocates to question government officials on these issues. Bush's proposed courts, outlined in draft legislation sent to Congress Wednesday, would allow defendants to be prosecuted with evidence they are not permitted to see, as well as evidence obtained through coercive interrogations that fall short of torture.

The live town meeting immediately following THE PRICE OF SECURITY special provides a high-tech forum for viewers to ask policymakers questions about the state of security and civil rights in America through koppelondiscovery.com. Starting on Tuesday, September 5 and continuing through the live broadcast on September 10, people can submit questions via the website.

Also at the live town meeting, Ted Koppel will release results of a Discovery Channel/TIME magazine poll that asked Americans what individual liberties they are willing to give up -- or not give up -- in the name of national security. This poll is a follow-up to one that was taken by TIME magazine soon after the September 11 attacks.

Discovery Communications, Inc. is the leading global real-world media company. Discovery has grown from its core property, the Discovery Channel, first launched in the United States in 1985, to current global operations in 170 countries and territories with nearly 1.4 billion cumulative subscribers. DCI's over 100 networks of distinctive programming represent 27 network entertainment brands including TLC, Animal Planet, Travel Channel, Discovery Health Channel, Discovery Kids, Discovery Times Channel, The Science Channel, Military Channel, Discovery Home Channel, Discovery en Espanol, Discovery Kids en Espanol, Discovery HD Theater, FitTV, Discovery Travel & Living (Viajar y Vivir), Discovery Home & Health and Discovery Real Time. DCI's other properties consist of Discovery Education and Discovery Commerce, which operates more than 100 Discovery Channel Stores in the U.S. DCI also distributes BBC America in the United States. DCI's ownership consists of four shareholders: Discovery Holding Company (NASDAQ:DISCA) (NASDAQ:DISCB) , Cox Communications, Inc., Advance/Newhouse Communications and John S. Hendricks, the Company's Founder and Chairman.

Source: Discovery Channel

Web site: http://www.discovery.com/
http://koppelondiscovery.com/

Fat Cats Entertainment Group, an entertainment marketing, media and production conglomerate, in association with Alex Hodges Presents, today announced details of the annual Gift of Hope charity fundraising weekend in Las Vegas, benefiting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, taking place on December 1-3, 2006.

The annual Gift of Hope celebrity hosted charity weekend is the largest fundraiser of the Southern Nevada chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Funds raised will support our mission to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and to improve the quality of life of patients and their families. This year's Gift of Hope festivities include events where the entire family, young and old, can participate in and enjoy.

The charity weekend kicks off on Friday, December 1, 2006 with The Pete and Mary-Jo Findlay fun filled celebrity golf tournament at the privately gated and beautifully landscaped Cascata Golf Club (www.caesars.com/Cascata/Holes.htm). The soon to be named celebrity host of the event, will lead the way on the par-72 course that provides stunning vistas at every turn, including the 3,600-foot peak at Red Mountain, lush fairways, lakes, and streams.

On Saturday, December 2nd the festivities continue with a daytime soccer clinic held at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas featuring the U.S. Soccer Men's and Women's National Teams. The biggest names in the game will be on hand to personally interact with youth players of all ages and skill levels.

The excitement continues Saturday, December 2nd, with a classic rock performance by host, Dennis Quaid and The Sharks, taking place at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. The evening includes a Gala Dinner, silent auction, concert, and awards ceremony. The awards honor the outstanding accomplishments and contributions of local individuals, clinicians, volunteers, companies and other groups and organizations that, through their dedicated efforts, have advanced the Society's mission. Las Vegas' favorite comedian, George Wallace, will warm the audience up for an opening musical performance by Corey Feldman.

The Poker Against Leukemia & Lymphoma (PALL) celebrity tournament begins Sunday afternoon December 3rd, at the luxurious Red Rock Casino Resort Spa. Professional poker players and celebrity poker players alike will mix and mingle among the tournament tables to make the competition more exciting for all participants.

The highlight of the weekend for all of the kids in town will be My Red Carpet, a super V.I.P., red carpet extravaganza catered to the "PG-13" crowd at the Orleans Arena on Sunday, December 3rd. Teen sensation Chris Brown will be headlining the concert event, making his first, highly anticipated appearance in Las Vegas, along with a kid-friendly line-up of spectacular performances. Tween fans will experience an A-list celebrity concert line-up, complete with the red carpet treatment of a true Hollywood event ... except the only VIP's are the kids! Young party goers will soak in the glitz and glamour of walking down the exclusive red carpet, complete with velvet ropes, sky trackers, media walls and paparazzi lining the path for an unforgettable night of fun. Proceeds from this event will also benefit A Place Called Home and the Kim Flowers Foundation.

Immediately following the PALL tournament and My Red Carpet extravaganza, the entire charity weekend will culminate with a celebrity filled after-party at Cherry Nightclub, hosted by nightclub owners and Society members Rande Gerber and Cindy Crawford, and Gift of Hope Chairman, Michael Bellon.

The Gift of Hope fundraiser is chaired by Michael Bellon, the principal of the Pinnacle Group, a luxury high-rise condominium development (www.thepinnaclelasvegas.com) in the heart of Las Vegas. To ensure that no child is left out during the holiday season, Bellon graciously included A Place Called Home and the Kim Flowers Foundation as charity beneficiaries of a Gift of Hope.

"Last year's Gift of Hope honorary hosts were renowned Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong and Grammy winner Sheryl Crow and with your help we hope to make this year even bigger. Many thanks to the addition of Fat Cats Entertainment Group who has been an integral reason we have been able to expand the event line-up this year and increase our fundraising goal from $500,000.00 to $1,000,000.00," explains Bellon. "Amid the holiday season, a time of profound love, what could be more important than to help wipe out the disease that takes the lives of more children than any other in our nation. Remember ... you never stand so tall, as when you bend down to help a child," Bellon commented.

Title sponsors Elysium Enterprises, Findlay Automotive Group and Enterprise Rent-a-Car along with other sponsors will provide catered meals along with live entertainment, water, snacks and additional amenities throughout each day.

Your participation will help save lives. Please join us in our fight against blood cancers, as we give a "gift of hope" to many and raise funds to find a cure. For more information please contact the Southern Nevada chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society at (702) 436-4220.

About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, headquartered in White Plains, NY, with 66 chapters in the United States and Canada, is the world's largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research and providing education and patient services. The Society's mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.

About Fat Cats Entertainment Group

Fat Cats Entertainment Group, LLC (FCEG) is a multi-media firm comprised of professionals and representatives from elite talent and literary agencies, public relations firms, fulfillment houses, special event marketing, promotions, sports entertainment and hotel casino marketing. Innovation is FCEG's forte' with cutting edge marketing and sales strategies.

FCEG is the same firm that implemented "Diddy Day" with Mayor Oscar B. Goodman honoring Sean "P. Diddy" Combs' entrepreneurship, consequently ushering new business to Las Vegas. Other events and clients that FCEG has been involved with include Mos Def, Usher, Outkast, Wesley Snipes, Gary Payton, former California Governor Gray Davis, JC Chavez (N'Sync) and Jermaine Oneal among others. FCEG is slated to soon announce their upcoming event line-up for 2007 NBA All-Star Week. For more information visit www.fatcatsonline.com

Source: Fat Cats Entertainment Group

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

New Album, 'B'Day,' in Stores Now

WHO: Pop Superstar Beyonce

WHAT: A rare in-store appearance celebrating the release of "B'Day"

WHERE: J&R Express at Macy's Herald Square (151 West 34th Street, NYC)

WHEN: Friday, September 8, from 6pm-8pm

(Photographer & Crew Call Time: 5:30pm - Enter at 7th Avenue)

Pop music and fashion icon Beyonce will make a rare personal appearance at J&R Express at Macy's Herald Square (151 West 34th Street, Manhattan) on Friday, September 8, from 6pm-8pm. (MEDIA CALL TIME: 5:30pm) Beyonce will meet and greet her fans and sign copies of her recently-released second solo album, B'Day.

B'Day, one of 2006's most eagerly-anticipated albums, was released worldwide on September 4 (September 5 in the US), in celebration of Beyonce's 25th birthday. The album -- which rocketed to the #1 spot on the Japanese International Album Chart within 2-and-1/2 days of its release -- contains the global smash single, "Deja Vu," and the just-released "Ring The Alarm," which Beyonce performed to show-stopping effect during a memorable appearance at this year's MTV Video Music Awards. The artist's "Check On It" video took home the MTV Video Music Award for Best R&B Video.

Beyonce became one of the most widely-recognized and highly-respected women in pop culture as a founding member of Destiny's Child, the top-selling female group of all time.

Over the past decade, Beyonce has earned numerous accolades including Grammy Awards, American Music Awards, World Music Awards, and NAACP Image Awards. In 2001, when Beyonce took home an ASCAP Pop Songwriter of the Year Award, she became the first African-American woman -- and the second woman ever -- to receive that honor.

Beyonce's latest film project, the movie version of the hit musical "Dreamgirls, is slated for release in December 2006.

www.beyonceonline.com

Fan club: www.welovebeyonce.com

www.houseofdereon.com

www.columbiarecords.com

Web site: http://www.columbiarecords.com/
http://www.beyonceonline.com/
http://www.welovebeyonce.com/
http://www.houseofdereon.com/

CityWalk at Universal Studios Hollywood and NBC4 team to celebrate a free "Pigskin Premiere Event," the world premiere screening of NBC's much-anticipated fall network series, "Friday Night Lights" followed by the debut broadcast of NBC's "Sunday Night Football" on Southern California's largest outdoor Astrovision screen for hundreds of fans on Sunday, September 10.

The event kicks off at 3pm with a special advance world premiere screening of "Friday Night Lights" hosted by NBC4's Mario Solis, who greets fans from the Universal CityWalk stage as they prepare for an afternoon of non-stop football action. The new "Sunday Night Football" games will telecast live immediately afterwards starting at 4pm PT with the New York Giants hosting the Indianapolis Colts. Both will air on CityWalk's giant, state-of-the-art 18'x22' Astrovision screen.

Expanding on the hit feature film "Friday Night Lights," the series centers on the small football-obsessed town of Dillon, Texas. Dillon's promising high school team, its star quarterback, and newly appointed head coach feel the mounting pressure of the town's pride and honor riding on their shoulders as a new football season kicks off.

"Friday Night Lights" is a weekly drama debuting on NBC Tuesday, October 3 at 8pm ET/PT. The new series is a production of Imagine Entertainment, NBC Universal Television Studio and Film 44. "Sunday Night Football" kicks off weekly at 7pm ET / 4pm PT on NBC.

Admission to Universal CityWalk for the screening of "Friday Night Lights" and broadcast of "Sunday Night Football" are free.

Universal Studios Hollywood, The Entertainment Capital of L.A., is a full day, movie-based theme park featuring such unique and groundbreaking attractions as "Revenge of the Mummy -- The Ride," "Shrek 4-D," "Terminator 2: 3D," "Jurassic Park -- The Ride" and the world-renowned behind-the-scenes Studio Tour and includes the adjacent CityWalk, a unique dining and shopping promenade featuring 65 entertainment-themed restaurants, clubs, shops and movie theaters.

Universal Studios Hollywood (www.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com) is a unit of Universal Parks & Resorts, a division of Universal Studios, a part of NBC Universal.

NBC Universal is 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 Hollywood

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

Velocity Broadcasting(TM), the nation's largest private broadcasting network, will initiate a paradigm shift in entertainment programming this fall with "In Higher Definition Private Performance Series(TM)." On October 6 and 7, 2006, guests will gather in the Velocity High-Definition (HD) Suites(TM) in Morton's The Steakhouse private Boardroom locations across the country for the inaugural performance of the series featuring jazz legend Wynton Marsalis, a performance in collaboration with DownBeat Magazine.

"No one else in the nation is offering fans this unique way of enjoying a live concert," noted Marsalis. "Jazz is an expressive, evocative form of music, and with this concept -- combining top quality audio, visual, and dining -- fans will experience a unique and intimate listening session. I'm thrilled to be part of it."

Guests of "In Higher Definition Private Performance Series" will gather in Morton's Boardrooms nationwide, home of Velocity's digital theaters, where they will dine on Morton's signature four-course dinner and witness an exclusive, private performance beamed via satellite into the HD Suite. Equipped with digital, high-definition projection systems, 108" screens and 7.2 surround sound with 11 speakers, the HD Suite accommodates up to 40 guests in each location.

"Jazz icon Wynton Marsalis is the perfect ambassador to join us in introducing this groundbreaking concept that will clearly redefine the entertainment medium," said Philip Elias, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Producer of Velocity Broadcasting. "What better combination - Morton's exceptional menu and the finest jazz performed live by a living legend?"

Velocity will televise Marsalis' performance with 16 different cameras to capture every part of the private concert, and at the conclusion of the performance, guests will have the opportunity to ask Marsalis questions via satellite.

"Jazz has always been ahead of the trends in music, so Wynton Marsalis 'In Higher Definition' makes perfect sense," said Kevin Maher, president of DownBeat Magazine. "A trend-setting artist in a trend-setting atmosphere. The Velocity Broadcast experience gives each guest a front-row seat from the comfort of Morton's locations around the nation."

The "In Higher Definition Private Performance Series" also marks a new era for Morton's The Steakhouse.

"Morton's, the nation's premier steakhouse is taking our private dining experience to a higher level," reflected Thomas J. Baldwin, chairman, chief executive officer and president of Morton's Restaurant Group. "We are eagerly anticipating the moment when Wynton Marsalis will appear live via satellite in each of our Boardrooms to entertain our guests. Morton's is proud to partner with Velocity Broadcasting on this exciting new venture."

Attendees of the "In Higher Definition Private Performance Series" featuring Wynton Marsalis will be given a limited edition HD-DVD of the concert as part of the performance experience. For tickets and more information on "In Higher Definition Private Performance Series," log onto www.VelocityBoxOffice.com.

Velocity Broadcasting

Velocity Broadcasting, an Elias/Savion company, is the largest private broadcasting network in the country that specializes in delivering powerful, private broadcast programming. Events are powered via satellite to invitation-only audiences in Morton's private Boardrooms, equipped with HD Suites that deliver unprecedented audio and video quality broadcasts in SD- standard or HD-high-definition formats.

Velocity Broadcasting is designed to deliver the future in HD entertainment and precisely targeted business communications. Each event is fully encrypted off Echostar 121. In addition, Velocity's teleconnect services allow viewers to ask real-time questions and present their comments live on the air. Velocity broadcasts originate from Velocity Studios or mobile production facilities anywhere in the world. For more information, visit www.VelocityBroadcasting.com.

Morton's The Steakhouse

Morton's Restaurant Group, Inc. is the world's largest owner and operator of company-owned upscale steakhouse restaurants. Morton's Steakhouses have remained true to their founders' original vision of combining generous portions of high quality food prepared to exacting standards with exceptional service in an enjoyable dining environment.

As of June 1, 2006, the company owned and operated 71 Morton's Steakhouses located in 61 cities across 28 states and four international locations (Toronto, Vancouver, Singapore and Hong Kong) and 4 Bertolini's Authentic Trattoria restaurants. For more information, visit www.mortons.com

DownBeat Magazine

DownBeat is the world's preeminent publication for jazz, blues and a wide variety of other great music. On the music scene since 1934, DownBeat delivers an insider's view on the music scene to more than 100 nations around the world each and every month. With award-winning feature articles, expert music reviews and sleek design, DownBeat stands an American original.

Source: Velocity Broadcasting

Web site: http://www.velocityboxoffice.com/
http://www.mortons.com/

Paris Hilton was arrested by Los Angeles police officers in Hollywood early Thursday on suspicion of driving under the influence. During the arrest she was briefly handcuffed. Hilton was booked at LAPD's Hollywood station at 1:43 a.m. and released shortly afterward, said Nick Velasquez, a spokesman for the city attorney's office.

This is Hilton's first drunken-driving arrest, Mintz said, adding that he doesn't expect the incident to hurt her image.

"The people who enjoy Paris as a comedian or actress on TV or as a singer on her CD, a woman who seems to have captured the imagination of so many people, I don't know if this is going to have any impact on them one way or another," he said. "But, of course, she regrets what took place."

Hours after her release, Hilton defended herself to radio host Ryan Seacrest during his Thursday morning show on local station KIIS-FM.

"It was nothing," said Hilton, 25.

The singer, actress, handbag designer and heiress to the Hilton hotel fortune said she was "starving because I had not ate all day" and possibly "speeding a little bit" in her Mercedes-Benz SLR on her way to grab a bite.

"I was just really hungry and I wanted to have an In-N-Out burger," said the one-time pitchwoman for Carl's Jr.

Hilton, who made her singing debut last week with the release of her eponymous CD, said she spent Wednesday filming a music video and going out with her sister, Nicky, and some friends for dinner, but not eating. The group then headed to a charity event sponsored by rocker Dave Navarro.

Hilton said she had "one margarita" at the event.

Just last month, she told the Los Angeles Times that she "doesn't like the taste of alcohol."

"It grosses me out," she said.

Hilton told Seacrest that police stopped her for speeding. An LAPD spokeswoman said Hilton was driving erratically.

"Officers observed the vehicle driving in an erratic manner so they pulled the car over," officer Marjan Mobasser said Thursday.

Hilton's blood-alcohol level was .08 percent -- the minimum to warrant an arrest, Mintz said.

Ellen DeGeneres has been set to host the 79th Academy Awards telecast, producer Laura Ziskin announced today.

It will be DeGeneres’ first time as Oscar® host, as well as her first appearance on an Academy Awards telecast.

“Ellen DeGeneres was born to host the Academy Awards,” said Ziskin. “There is no more challenging hosting job in show business. It requires someone who can keep the show alive and fresh and moving, as well as someone who is a flat-out great entertainer. Ellen completely fits the bill. I can already tell she is going to set the bar very high for herself and therefore for all of us involved in putting on the show. Now all we need is a lot of great movies.”

DeGeneres is the host of the syndicated talk show “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” which this year won its third Emmy for Outstanding Talk Show and earned DeGeneres her second Emmy for Outstanding Talk Show Host.

Launched in September 2003, the show won four Daytime Emmys in its freshman year, including Outstanding Talk Show, after garnering a record twelve nominations. In its second season, the show won five Daytime Emmys, and this year earned a total of six Emmy Awards.

“When Laura Ziskin called, I was thrilled,” said DeGeneres. “There’s two things I’ve always wanted to do in my life. One is to host the Oscars. The second is to get a call from Laura Ziskin. You can imagine that day’s diary entry.”

DeGeneres has twice hosted the Primetime Emmy Awards telecast and co-hosted the show in 1994. For her first solo Emmy stint, which took place shortly after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, she received high praise.

“She just sparkles,” said Academy President Sid Ganis. “She is such a pleasure to watch. Her wit cuts to the truth of things, but in a wonderfully warm-spirited way. I think she'll be a fantastic host for this show and we're extremely pleased that she's agreed to do it.”

Prior to the launch of her talk show, DeGeneres scored with simultaneous achievements on stage, film and in the literary world. She enjoyed popular and critical response to her voice performance of ‘Dory,’ the fish with extreme short-term memory, in the Disney/Pixar animated feature film, “Finding Nemo.” DeGeneres earlier crossed the country on a 35-city stand-up comedy tour, entitled “Here and Now,” which was taped for HBO and subsequently nominated for two Emmys. And in October, 2003, her second book, “The Funny Thing Is...” was published. Comprised of comedic short stories and essays, the book hit the New York Times’ bestseller list upon its release. In 2005, she was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album for the audio version of the book.

DeGeneres began her acting career in television on Fox's sitcom, “Open House.” She moved on to ABC's “Laurie Hill,” prior to being offered “These Friends of Mine” by ABC. After the first season, the show was renamed “Ellen.” Running from 1994 to 1998, the show brought DeGeneres Emmy nominations each season in the “Best Actress” category.

In 1997 DeGeneres was the recipient of the Peabody Award as well as earning an Emmy for writing the critically acclaimed “Puppy Episode” in which her character came out as a gay woman. DeGeneres followed with the CBS sitcom, “The Ellen Show,” which ran from 2001 to 2002.

DeGeneres' feature film credits also include “EDTV” for director Ron Howard, “The Love Letter,” “Goodbye Lover,” “Coneheads” and “Mr. Wrong,” in which she starred with Bill Pullman.

In 1995, her first book “My Point...And I Do Have One” debuted at number one on the New York Times’ bestseller list, and in 1997 she released her comedy CD, “Taste This.”

The ceremonies honoring film achievements for 2006 will be held on Sunday, February 25, 2007. The 79th Annual Academy Awards Presentation will be broadcast live from the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland by the ABC Television Network, beginning at 5:00 p.m. (PST) with a half-hour arrivals segment.

©A.M.P.A.S.®

September 7, 2006 WAAT Media™ (Booth # 1131), the global leader in late night mobile entertainment, has signed a multi-year, exclusive agreement with Penthouse Media Group Inc. (PMGI), to distribute Penthouse content throughout North America, Latin America and Europe. Propositions will include editorial, photos, images, games, audio and video clips from the Penthouse library including Penthouse Forum and Penthouse Letters; as well as new programming designed specifically and exclusively for mobile distribution.

“Our agreement with WAAT will reinforce PMGI’s ongoing effort to deliver quality adult entertainment to mobile consumers worldwide,” says Mark Rudolph , President of Licensing for PMGI. “WAAT’s experience in adapting and distributing content to meet the wide diversity of technical and regulatory requirements, creating compelling consumer WAP, MobileTV and game propositions, will represent one of the Industry’s most significant launches to date.”

Penthouse currently publishes magazines in 12 countries, produces and licenses video programming for TV, Video-On-Demand, DVD and broadband distribution, operates www.penthouse.com; licenses products with a range of manufacturers and distributors, and licenses Penthouse boutiques. In addition, Penthouse Magazine comes to life in Penthouse Gentlemen’s Clubs across North America .

Penthouse Media Group Inc. is an international, multimedia entertainment company that is globally recognized as one of the premier brands in adult entertainment and publishes one of the most widely circulated groups of men’s lifestyles publications. Originally founded in 1965 by Bob Guccione, the company also operates numerous entertainment websites including, www.penthouse.com provides adult video entertainment and a broad array of products and services via its numerous licensees.

WAAT Media is the world’s premier provider of late night entertainment for mobile phones and wireless devices. With on-deck agreements encompassing 90 major mobile carriers, WAAT Media distributes images, games, video and mobile TV to more than 40 countries and in 17 languages. WAAT Media’s long-term, exclusive content agreements assure that its content partners receive a comprehensive mobile programming and marketing strategy across print, television and on-line, while providing consumers with the highest quality mobile entertainment experience. For more information visit: www.waat.com.

NFL Teams With White Cherry Entertainment and Don Mischer Productions to Produce Opening Kickoff, Thanksgiving and Super Bowl XLI Pregame and Halftime Shows

See What's Behind the Closet Door 'Starz Presents the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe Sweepstakes'

Something to Believe in: Kenneth Cole New York and Jon Bon Jovi Launch Limited Edition Outerwear to Help the Homeless

 Amy Pascal Named Co-Chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment and Extends Employment Agreement to 2011

Wynn Las Vegas Announces 2006 'Dancing with the Stars' Predictions

Japan Gives Beyonce a #1 Album for Her 'B'Day'

The Howard Stern All-Time Top Ten Moments, Now Uncensored, to Be Hosted by Donald Trump Exclusively on SIRIUS Satellite Radio

50 Cent: Bulletproof G Unit Edition Hits Streets Today

Rodney Dangerfield's Widow Seeks to Prevent Unauthorized Use of Video of Act; Suit Alleges Daughter Defrauded Comedian

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NFL Teams With White Cherry Entertainment and Don Mischer Productions to Produce Opening Kickoff, Thanksgiving and Super Bowl XLI Pregame and Halftime Shows

 The NFL will partner with WHITE CHERRY ENTERTAINMENT and DON MISCHER PRODUCTIONS to produce season-long marquee entertainment shows, it was announced today. The shows include Opening Kickoff 2006, a special primetime halftime show Thanksgiving night on NFL Network, and the Super Bowl XLI pregame and halftime shows. This marks the NFL's first season-long production partnership.

White Cherry Entertainment, led by Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss, will serve as executive producers, while Don Mischer Productions will serve as executive producer and director. The NFL has worked the past three years with both White Cherry Entertainment and Don Mischer Productions on Opening Kickoff and Super Bowl shows.

The partnership begins with Thursday night's "NFL Opening Kickoff 2006 Presented by Sprint," on NBC (8:00 PM ET) a 30-minute special prior to the Miami Dolphins-Pittsburgh Steelers' game. The show features Rascal Flatts from Heinz Field in Pittsburgh with Martina McBride singing the national anthem. Diddy and Cassie will appear from Miami Beach as the NFL looks ahead to Super Bowl XLI in South Florida on February 4, 2007.

The companies will then produce the halftime show for NFL Network's first live regular-season game on Thanksgiving night (8:00 PM). The show will originate from Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, site of the Kansas City- Denver game.

White Cherry and Don Mischer Productions will conclude the season by producing Super Bowl XLI pregame and halftime shows at Dolphin Stadium.

In addition to producing the previous two Opening Kickoff shows, which have featured artists such as The Rolling Stones, Green Day, Mary J. Blige, Destiny's Child, Toby Keith, Lenny Kravitz, Elton John, Ozzy Osbourne, and Santana, White Cherry Entertainment's Kirshner and Weiss have produced and directed shows for both broadcast and cable networks. Among their credits are acclaimed television specials and stadium spectaculars. This multiple Emmy Award winning team has produced such specials as The Tony Awards; The July 4th Celebration in Boston; The Daytime Emmy Awards; The Vibe Awards; GQ Men of the Year Awards; CBS' coverage of The Tournament of Roses Parade and The Thanksgiving Day Parade; and the past 4 Democratic National Convention's.

Emmy Award-winning Don Mischer Productions has produced the two past Super Bowl pregame and halftime shows, featuring Paul McCartney and The Rolling Stones. Don Mischer, who served as the shows' executive producer and director, also produced the Super Bowl XXVII halftime show with Radio City Music Hall Productions in 1993 featuring Michael Jackson. Among the company's vast and celebrated productions are the opening and closing ceremonies for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta and 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, eight Emmy Award shows, the Kennedy Center Honors and the 2004 Democratic National Convention.

Source: NFL

See What's Behind the Closet Door 'Starz Presents the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe Sweepstakes'

National Sweepstakes Celebrates Premiere of Walt Disney Pictures' and Walden Media's 'The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe' on Starz Saturday, Sept. 23

 Starz Entertainment shows you the secret behind the wardrobe door with the world television premiere of Walt Disney Pictures' and Walden Media's "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" on Starz Saturday, Sept. 23 at 9 p.m. (ET/PT) and the "Starz Presents The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Sweepstakes."

The "Starz Presents The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Sweepstakes" begins on Saturday, Sept. 16 and coincides with the Starz On Demand and Vongo early premieres of "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe." The sweepstakes runs through Monday, Oct. 23 and features a grand prize trip for four to the Walt Disney World(R) Resort near Orlando, Fla.

"We are giving our subscribers a chance to enjoy the magic of Disney with the world television premiere of 'The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe' and the coinciding sweepstakes," said Patti VanDerGang, manager of consumer promotions for Starz Entertainment. "We look forward to bringing the land of Narnia to life for our viewers and to make the movie interactive with the 'Starz Presents The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Sweepstakes.'"

There are three ways to enter the "Starz Presents The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Sweepstakes."

  * One option is to watch "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch     and the Wardrobe" on our flagship channel Starz or Starz On Demand     during the promotion period to see the secret behind the wardrobe on     screen, then go to http://www.starz.com/, complete the entry form and     click the submit button.    * The second way to enter is to mail a 3" by 5" card with your name,     complete address, home telephone number and date of birth in a stamped     envelope to "Starz Presents The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe     Sweepstakes," Dept. 4554, P.O. Box 5006, Stacy, Minn.  55078-5006.    * Finally, during the sweepstakes period, individuals who become new Vongo     members will receive one automatic entry into the sweepstakes.    Eligible entrants will have a chance to win:    * One (1) grand-prize: trip for four to Walt Disney World(R) Resort near     Orlando, Fla. Included in the trip is roundtrip air transportation     to/from Orlando; four (4) nights hotel accommodations (one quad     occupancy room at a Walt Disney World(R) Resort hotel); four (4) 5-day     Magic Your Way passes with Park Hopper(R) option; a VIP back lot tour at     the Disney-MGM Studios for the winner and three guests on day during     their prize stay; complimentary use of transportation within the Walt     Disney World(R) Resort; and $1,000.    * Or one (1) first prize: A "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch     and the Wardrobe" framed lithograph autographed by the director and a     producer.    * Or fifty (50) second prizes: A "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the     Witch and the Wardrobe" merchandise gift pack.  

Characters from "The 'Wood," the Starz animated short series that pays homage to the unique characters that make up Hollywood (previously announced), will host the Starz Saturday Premiere of "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" on Sept. 23, which also includes a special behind-the-scenes look at the making of the movie featuring cast and crew interviews.

Walt Disney Pictures' and Walden Media's "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" is a spectacular live action/CGI motion picture adaptation of C.S. Lewis' beloved literary classic. The movie follows the exploits of the four Pevensie siblings -- Lucy, Edmund, Susan and Peter -- in World War II England who enter the world of Narnia through a magical wardrobe while playing a game of 'hide-and-seek' in the rural country home of an elderly professor. Once there, the children discover a charming, peaceful land inhabited by talking beasts, dwarfs, fauns, centaurs and giants that has become a world cursed to eternal winter by the evil White Witch, Jadis. Under the guidance of a noble and mystical ruler, the lion Aslan, the children fight to overcome the White Witch's powerful hold over Narnia in a spectacular, climactic battle that will free Narnia from her icy spell forever.

The film marks the first live action directorial effort for Andrew Adamson (Academy Award(R)-nominated for "Shrek," "Shrek 2"), who also co-wrote the film's screenplay adaptation with Ann Peacock and Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely. The film is produced by Academy Award(R)-winning filmmaker Mark Johnson ("Rain Man"). The cast includes Tilda Swinton, James McAvoy, Rupert Everett, Ray Winstone, Dawn French and Jim Broadbent, with Liam Neeson as Aslan.

Starz is where the new hit movies live. Don't just see the big movies, experience them.

Starz Entertainment is a premium movie service provider operating in the United States. It offers 16 movie channels including the flagship Starz(R) and Encore(R) brands with approximately 15.1 million and 27.1 million subscribers respectively. Starz Entertainment airs more than 1,000 movies per month across its pay TV channels and offers advanced services including Starz HD, Starz On Demand and Vongo(SM). Starz Entertainment is a wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation that is attributed to Liberty Capital Group, www.starz.com.

Something to Believe in: Kenneth Cole New York and Jon Bon Jovi Launch Limited Edition Outerwear to Help the Homeless

 Kenneth Cole New York announced today that Kenneth Cole and Jon Bon Jovi have partnered to design a limited-edition outerwear collection that will be made available at Kenneth Cole New York retail stores and Saks Fifth Avenue stores this November. Proceeds of the exclusive offering will benefit HELP USA, a national not-for-profit organization with a mission to empower the homeless and others in need to become and remain self-reliant. Through the development of quality housing with on-site support services, HELP USA provides resources for its residents to become independent and productive.

Jon Bon Jovi will wear one of the jackets on the red carpet of this year's Fashion Rocks event on September 7th. Bon Jovi performs at this year's Fashion Rocks event, which will be broadcast on CBS on Friday, September 8th at 9:00pm ET/PT.

Additional info about the Jon Bon Jovi / Kenneth Cole partnership benefiting HELP USA will be forthcoming. For information on Bon Jovi, Kenneth Cole, and HELP USA please visit: www.bonjovi.com, www.kennethcole.com, and www.helpusa.org respectively.

Source: Kenneth Cole New York

 Amy Pascal has been promoted to Co-Chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment and has extended her deal with the studio to 2011, it was announced today by Michael Lynton, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sony Pictures Entertainment.

In addition to her new title, Pascal will continue to serve in her role as Chairman of the studio's Motion Picture Group. Lynton remains Chairman and CEO of the studio, and the two will continue to report to Sir Howard Stringer, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sony Corporation.

The move recognizes Pascal's vast contributions to the company and was initiated by Lynton, who wanted to formalize the strong relationship he and Pascal have forged as partners, managing the operations of Sony Pictures.

"This richly deserved promotion reflects the reality of our partnership here at Sony Pictures. Ever since Howard brought us together, Amy and I have been partners in running the studio, and I really wanted our titles to reflect our teamwork," said Lynton. "Amy's contributions to Sony Pictures, across all our divisions, have been invaluable."

During the past five years combined, no studio has performed better in North America than Sony Pictures Entertainment. Since January, 2002, the studio has released 37 #1 films. Sony was #1 in market share in 2002 and 2004 and was #2 in 2003. Sony is the only studio to exceed the $6 billion dollar mark in domestic box office sales between 2002 and 2006.

To date this year, Sony has released 8 #1 films, including The Da Vinci Code, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, Click, R.V., Pink Panther, Silent Hill, Underworld: Evolution and When A Stranger Calls. The studio has exceeded more than $1 billion in North American ticket sales for five consecutive years, a record matched by only one other studio in the history of domestic box office.

Upcoming films from Sony Pictures include the launch of Sony Pictures Animation and their debut title Open Season, Pursuit of Happyness, starring Will Smith, Casino Royale, the 21st James Bond adventure, The Grudge 2, and Nancy Meyers' The Holiday, starring Cameron Diaz, Jack Black, Jude Law and Kate Winslet, among many others.

Sir Howard Stringer said, "When Michael came to me with the idea of naming Amy co-chair, it made perfect sense, because this is clearly a case of the whole being even greater than the sum of the parts. Michael and Amy are very talented people in their own right, but there's a magic to their partnership that makes Sony Pictures the best studio in the business."

"With the industry coming to terms with the challenges of a new era of entertainment, Michael and I share the same vision as we navigate Sony Pictures into the future," said Pascal. "I couldn't be more grateful to Michael and Howard for their unflinching faith and continued support. We have had much success over the past several years and that is a testament to the phenomenal talent of the people in production, marketing, home entertainment, television, digital and all our business units. I am extremely proud of the team we have in place and, with Michael, I look forward to building upon the record we've established."

Under Pascal's guidance, Columbia Pictures has made history with such blockbusters as The Da Vinci Code, which achieved the biggest international opening weekend in history, and Spider-Man(R). Other hits produced and released during Pascal's tenure include Spider-Man(R) 2, Hitch, Fun With Dick and Jane, R.V., The Grudge, 50 First Dates, Something's Gotta Give, Closer, Big Fish, Guess Who, Bad Boys 2, S.W.A.T., Once Upon A Time in Mexico, Charlie's Angels(R): Full Throttle, Panic Room, Mr. Deeds, Men in Black II, Charlie's Angels(R), Big Daddy, Stuart Little and A Knight's Tale.

Pascal was a studio executive at Columbia from 1987 to 1994, after which she was named President of Production for Turner Pictures where she remained for two years. She rejoined Columbia in 1996 as President.

Earlier in her career, Pascal served as Vice President of Production at 20th Century Fox. Before joining Fox, she worked for producer Tony Garnett at Kestrel Films, an independent production company affiliated with Warner Bros.

During the past two decades, Pascal has overseen the production of such hit films as Michael, Groundhog Day, A League of Their Own, Little Women, and Awakenings, among many others.

In addition to her achievements in filmed entertainment, Pascal serves on the AFI Board of Trustees as well as the Executive Board of the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television. She graduated from UCLA with a degree in International Relations.

About Sony Pictures Entertainment

Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America (SCA), a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution; television production and distribution; digital content creation and distribution; worldwide channel investments; home entertainment acquisition and distribution, operation of studio facilities; development of new entertainment products, services and technologies; and distribution of filmed entertainment in 67 countries. Sony Pictures Entertainment can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.sonypictures.com/.

Wynn Las Vegas Announces 2006 'Dancing with the Stars' Predictions

John Avello, Director of Race & Sports Operations, Releases His Weekly Odds for the ABC Reality Show

 Forget about the mid-term elections and never mind NFL football. All eyes and ears are on ABC's hit reality show "Dancing with the Stars." John Avello, Director of Race & Sports at Wynn Las Vegas, has assessed the celebrity contestants for the 2006 season of the show "Dancing with the Stars."

The odds to win the 2006 season of "Dancing with the Stars" as of today, September 6, 2006, are as follows:

  Predicted Placement    Celebrity Contestant        Predicted Odds           11                Jerry Springer                40:1          10                Tucker Carlson                20:1           9                Emmitt Smith                  18:1           8                Harry Hamlin                  15:1           7                Shanna Moakler                14:1           6                Willa Ford                    12:1           5                Joe Lawrence                  10:1           4                Vivica A. Fox                  8:1           3                Sara Evans                     6:1           2                Monique Coleman                5:1           1                Mario Lopez                    4:1    

Avello uses both industry insiders and formulaic processing to derive the above odds for the show. He is known for accurately pegging winners in advance and boasts a near-perfect record with past predictions on shows such as "American Idol," "The Apprentice" and "Survivor." He will update his "Dancing with the Stars" odds each week until the series finale.

"This competition is all about fans at home. The fans will vote, but they will not necessarily vote based on talent. Master P. taught us that," says Avello, who sets the wagering line for Wynn Las Vegas, covers all on-site sports bets and nationwide horse racing and has also supplemented his sports focus with other entertainment odds-making including the Oscars, Emmys and Grammys.

  Odds to win attached are for entertainment purposes only.    About Wynn Resorts 

Wynn Resorts is traded on the NASDAQ stock exchange under the ticker symbol WYNN and, since December 2004, it has been part of the NASDAQ-100 Index. Wynn Las Vegas, a luxury hotel and destination casino resort located on the Las Vegas Strip, opened to the public on April 28, 2005. Wynn Las Vegas features 2,716 luxurious guest rooms and suites; an 111,000 square foot casino; 22 food and beverage outlets; an on-site 18-hole golf course; approximately 223,000 square feet of meeting space; an on-site Ferrari and Maserati dealership; and approximately 76,000 square feet of retail space. For more information, visit www.wynnlasvegas.com.

Beyonce's fans in Japan have been celebrating the pop music icon's 25th birthday by taking her brand-new album, B'Day, to the #1 spot on the Japanese International Album Chart in record- breaking time. B'Day rocketed to the top of the charts within 2-and-a-half days of its release on September 4, Beyonce's birthday.

Beyonce -- whose "Check On It" took home the MTV Video Music Award for Best R&B Video just last week -- celebrated the release of her eagerly-awaited B'Day with her fans around the world when AOL Music LIVE! delivered an exclusive, live broadcast from the Budokan in Tokyo, Japan on September 5. Millions of fans have seen Beyonce perform hot tracks off B'Day as well as some old favorites at www.aolmusic.com/beyonce.

Beyonce is topping charts around the world once again with "Deja Vu" (featuring Jay-Z), the first single from B'Day.

A bona fide international sensation, "Deja Vu" is the #1 commercial single in Japan and the United Kingdom and has achieved #1 Airplay in Hong Kong and Korea. The track made it to #1 on the German Club Charts, is the #1 R&B Airplay song in the Philippines and is #1 on major stations in Indonesia.

Back in the States, "Deja Vu" peaked at #1 on the Single Sales chart, #1 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart, and #1 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales chart in the US, according to Billboard. "Deja Vu" was also a #1 song on iTunes.

A groundbreaking video for "Deja Vu," lensed by the world-renowned British director Sophie Muller (an MTV Music Video Award winner), was the #1 video on Yahoo!, the #1 most-streamed video at MTV.com, and the #1 video on MTV's "TRL" ("Total Request Live"). The "Deja Vu" video has also hit the #1 spot in the UK.

Beyonce's B'Day, one of 2006's most eagerly-anticipated albums, was released worldwide September 4 (September 5 in the US), in celebration of Beyonce's 25th birthday.

www.beyonceonline.com

Fan club: www.welovebeyonce.com

www.houseofdereon.com

www.columbiarecords.com

Source: Music World Music/Sony Urban Music/Columbia Records

The Howard Stern All-Time Top Ten Moments, Now Uncensored, to Be Hosted by Donald Trump Exclusively on SIRIUS Satellite Radio

 SIRIUS Satellite Radio (NASDAQ:SIRI) today announced that Donald Trump, TV star, real estate tycoon and longtime friend of The Howard Stern Show, will introduce the all-time top ten uncensored Howard Stern moments, as voted by fans from Stern's classic material of the last 20 years.

The All Request Top Ten will be announced in a special broadcast this Friday, September 8th at 12:00 pm ET on SIRIUS, channel 100. The poll can be accessed at http://www.sirius.com/votenow and will be open until 10:00 am ET on Friday, September 8th.

The classic moments began airing over the Labor Day weekend. SIRIUS subscribers heard incredible Stern moments, phony phone calls, live musical performances, celebrity interviews, song parodies, and more. They include: Fred's bachelor party, AJ Benza fighting with Stuttering John, Cookie Puss, Billy West as Marge Schott, Jesus Twins interviews and performances, Hank the Angry Dwarf, live performances by Stevie Wonder, Dave Grohl and Foo Fighters, Staind, and Green Day, The Homeless Brady Brunch, and classic Dial-a-Date.

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 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, Rolls Royce, 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 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2006 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.

50 Cent: Bulletproof G Unit Edition Hits Streets Today

First PSP(R) (PlayStation(R)Portable) System Product to Offer the Complete Entertainment Experience Featuring Exclusive 45-Minute Documentary About 50 Cent and G Unit, Massive Collection of 50 Cent/G Unit Music and Exciting Hack N' Slash in the Hood Gameplay

 Vivendi Games ("VG") today announced that 50 Cent: Bulletproof G Unit Edition for the PSP(R) (PlayStation(R)Portable) system , the gritty urban action game starring multi-platinum recording artist 50 Cent, has shipped to retail nationwide.

50 Cent: Bulletproof G Unit Edition packs more multimedia entertainment into one PSP system disc than any other PSP system title to date. 50 Cent: Bulletproof G Unit Edition offers all new exciting gameplay, 36 new deadly counter-kills, 4-player cut-throat wireless multiplayer and a voice over cast including 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks, Young Buck, Tony Yayo and Eminem as the shady "Detective McVicker" and Dr. Dre as "Grizz."

"Boasting more than 160 tracks of music including exclusive tracks in the easy to access jukebox, more than a dozen music videos and a 45-minute documentary highlighting off-stage personas of 50 Cent and his talented roster of superstars from the G Unit Record label, 50 Cent: Bulletproof G Unit Edition is the definitive collection of hip-hop entertainment for the PlayStation Portable," said Cindy Cook, Chief Strategy and Marketing Officer, VU Games. "No other game to date has taken full advantage of all of PSP's strengths and we are excited to be the first."

"Never before has an artist committed to a game and delivered as much content as what can be found in 50 Cent: Bulletproof G Unit Edition," said 50 Cent. "I love my PSP because I'm always on the road performing or on movie shoots, so this is a great chance to play my game, listen to my music and watch my videos anywhere, anytime."

About 50 Cent: Bulletproof G Unit Edition

In 50 Cent: Bulletproof G Unit Edition, 50 gets caught in a web of corruption, double-crosses and shady deals that lead him on a bloody path through New York's underworld. Backed-up by his G Unit soldiers, the streets heat up as 50 Cent takes on the most dangerous crime families in the city. Players assume the role of 50 Cent in a fictitious story, where they will use an arsenal of tactics including counter kill moves, evasive rolls and human shields to stay alive while the bullets fly.

Penned by Emmy(R) award winner Terry Winter, 50 Cent: Bulletproof G Unit Edition stars an unprecedented line-up of the hottest recording artists in the music industry today, including 50 Cent and G Unit's Tony Yayo, Lloyd Banks and Young Buck, as well as other hip-hop superstars.

The game also includes tracks and remixes from 50 Cent, music from his multi-platinum albums Get Rich or Die Tryin' and The Massacre and over a dozen 50 Cent and G Unit music videos.

50 Cent: Bulletproof G Unit Edition was created in partnership with Interscope Records, Shady Records and Aftermath Records.

More information about the game can be found at http://www.50centbulletproof.com/.

About Vivendi Games

Vivendi Games (www.vivendigames.com) is a global developer, publisher and distributor of multi-platform interactive entertainment. The company is the leader in the subscription-based massively multi-player online role-playing games (MMORPG) category, holds leading positions in the PC, console, handheld and mobile games markets, and is an emerging player in casual online games. Vivendi Games' two principal studios and publishing labels include Blizzard Entertainment, headquartered in Irvine, CA, the creator of World of Warcraft(R), Diablo(R), StarCraft(R), and Warcraft(R); and Sierra Entertainment, headquartered in Los Angeles, which includes Radical Entertainment, Swordfish Studios, High Moon Studios, and Massive Entertainment. Sierra's IPs include Crash Bandicoot(R), Spyro The Dragon(R), Empire Earth(R),SWAT(R), Darkwatch(TM), TimeShift(TM), Ground Control(R) and Leisure Suit Larry(R). Vivendi Games is also home to Vivendi Games Mobile, publishing games for the emerging mobile market, and Sierra Online, dedicated to publishing casual games for online play and distribution on all platforms. Vivendi Games maintains strategic relationships with industry leading content partners, including Universal Music Group, NBC Universal, Twentieth Century Fox, and Ludlum Entertainment. The company has 16 offices around the world conducting business in 75 countries.

"50 Cent: Bulletproof G Unit Edition" interactive game (C) 2006 Vivendi Universal Games, Inc. All rights reserved. Vivendi Universal Games and the Vivendi Universal Games logo are trademarks of Vivendi Universal Games, Inc. Developed by High Voltage Software, Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

"PlayStation", "PS" Family logo and "PSP" are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Memory Stick Duo(TM) may be required (sold separately). Certain limitations apply to Wi-Fi compatible connectivity. See manual for details. Player responsible for Wi-Fi compatible fees.

Source: Vivendi Games

Rodney Dangerfield's Widow Seeks to Prevent Unauthorized Use of Video of Act; Suit Alleges Daughter Defrauded Comedian

 -- Rodney Dangerfield's widow, Joan Dangerfield, filed a lawsuit today against the late comedian's daughter, Melanie Roy-Friedman, seeking to prevent further unauthorized use of a video of the legendary comedian's one-hour Las Vegas Act.

The lawsuit states, "Although Melanie was never an author or an owner of any copyrights in the Act or the Video, several months after Rodney's death [in 2004] Melanie registered the Video with the United States Copyright Office, knowingly misrepresenting that she was the Video's sole author and owner. Now, contrary to both the law and her late father's wishes, Melanie has copied and attempted to distribute the Video."

The lawsuit, filed in U. S. District Court in Los Angeles, alleges that Melanie Roy-Friedman "defrauded her father to obtain, for her own selfish purposes, his life's work."

"In 1988," the lawsuit states, "Rodney was performing his comedic monologue in Las Vegas, and his daughter, Melanie, asked Rodney if he would allow the Act to be videotaped. Rodney had always zealously guarded the Act and had previously refused substantial monetary offers from various producers to videotape and exploit his Act. Melanie, however, told Rodney that she wanted a copy of the Act for her 'personal use,' so that her future children could see it. Relying upon that representation, Rodney trusted his daughter and allowed her to videotape the Act."

The suit continues, "Under Rodney's supervision and at his sole expense, the Act was videotaped. When the videotape of the Act was completed, Melanie gave Rodney a copy of the Video, but told him it was the master Video. In 1994, Rodney learned that Melanie had given him not the professional-quality master Video, but a lower-quality copy, inappropriate for reproduction and broadcast use. Rodney assumed this was an oversight by Melanie, and he asked her to return his master Video so that he could release his Act to the public. Melanie agreed to do so -- only to renege, belatedly claiming that the Video was her 'personal property' and refusing to return it.

"Rodney was heartbroken that his daughter had deceived him. In a later filmed interview, Rodney lamented Melanie's betrayal: 'So I think to myself, Jesus, what a schemer. While I'm still alive, she'll scheme to take my act. She'll have it when I'm dead. You know, what other reason, man? Any other reason she would want my act and not give it to me, you know what I mean? What other reason? She wants to hold it until I die and then she can sell it.' Sadly, Rodney's premonition -- that Melanie wanted to keep the Video until he died so that she could sell it -- proved to be correct."

"This was a very difficult step for Joan Dangerfield, Rodney's widow," said Patricia Glaser, Mrs. Dangerfield's attorney and a partner of the law firm of Christensen, Glaser, Fink, Jacobs, Weil & Shapiro LLP. "We explored every other option before filing this suit to ensure Rodney's wishes and legacy were honored and the rights of his heirs protected. Unfortunately, Melanie gave us no choice."

Joan Dangerfield stated, "Rodney was not only my husband, but my hero, and a dedicated father to both of his children. Melanie's actions hurt her father terribly." Mrs. Dangerfield pointed out that the Act, honed over forty years, was Dangerfield's masterpiece; it fueled his fame and included a shotgun barrage of over three hundred jokes eliciting laughs every six seconds.

Mrs. Dangerfield has submitted applications to the Copyright Office to correct the false information that Roy-Friedman provided and to correctly identify Rodney Dangerfield as the author of the Act and the Video and his widow as the true owner of the copyright.

In addition to seeking to prevent further acts of copyright infringement, the suit asks that all copies of the video and any derivative works in violation of Joan Dangerfield's copyright be impounded and returned to Mrs. Dangerfield.

From The Eli and Edythe L. Broad Foundation As Lead Sponsor of LA Opera’s First Ever Ring Cycle LA Opera Creates “The Eli and Edythe L. Broad General Director” In Their Honor

General Director Plácido Domingo announced at a press conference today that The Eli and Edythe L. Broad Foundation has given $6 million to be the lead sponsor of LA Opera’s upcoming new production of Richard Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen, which will make this long-awaited project a reality. Joining Mr. Domingo onstage at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion for this announcement were Mr. and Mrs. Broad and LA Opera executives including Chairman and CEO Marc I. Stern, Music Director James Conlon and Chief Operating Officer Edgar Baitzel. This will be the Company’s first presentation of Wagner’s epic four-part masterpiece, which is considered not only to be one of the great monuments of western culture, but also the ultimate test of an opera company’s artistic resources. Further details of the Ring will be announced in late September.

Additionally, in honor of the Broads’ generosity, LA Opera will name the position of General Director as “The Eli and Edythe L. Broad General Director.”

“I am thrilled that Eli and Edythe Broad have made possible one of my most cherished dreams for LA Opera,” said Plácido Domingo. “The visionary and far-reaching generosity of their gift will help make this vision a reality. For quite some time, we have been looking forward to the artistic challenge of presenting a Ring cycle. Now, thanks to Eli and Edythe, we will both create an extraordinary experience for our loyal audiences as well as show Ring lovers from around the world what LA Opera is capable of achieving. The fact that this support comes from such distinguished leaders of international philanthropy, who are particularly devoted to making Los Angeles one of the world’s great cultural capitals, is especially gratifying. As we gather here on the eve of our 21st season, I could not be more excited about the Company’s future.”

The Eli and Edythe L. Broad Foundation had previously underwritten LA Opera’s 2005 productions of Pagliacci and Parsifal, as well as the Company’s 20th Anniversary Celebration Weekend, which marked the opening of the 2005-2006 Season.

“Los Angeles has truly world-class arts offerings,” said Eli Broad. “Our opera company has become, under the leadership of General Director Plácido Domingo, together with Chief Operating Officer Edgar Baitzel, one of the top opera companies in the world today, and we now welcome its new Music Director James Conlon. Additionally, Los Angeles also has a world-class symphony, theaters and museums. Our family is pleased to support LA Opera and bring one of the great opera experiences to our city. Performances like the Ring will draw cultural tourists not only from our region but from around the country and the world.”

“This is an extraordinary gift not only for LA Opera, but for the city and county of Los Angeles and for opera lovers worldwide,” said Marc I. Stern. “I have long admired the Broads’ deep and wide-ranging civic interests and it is a privilege for LA Opera to be the recipient of their vision to make downtown Los Angeles a key destination for the performing arts and one of the great cultural capitals of the world. Their support for the Company’s upcoming Ring cycle will indeed add luster to our city’s artistic prestige. Their exceptional leadership gift will now allow LA Opera to move forward with financial confidence with a new presentation of the Ring cycle, one of the Company’s major artistic goals.”

“It is exhilarating for me, on the eve of my first performances at LA Opera, that we can announce the Broads’ gift which will enable us to produce our Los Angeles Ring,” said James Conlon. “Their generosity infuses the Company and the whole city with vision and confidence. I especially applaud their support for Plácido Domingo, whose tireless accomplishments have brought the Company so far so quickly.”

“This wonderful gift helps give LA Opera the security to go ahead with long-term planning for the future, a rare achievement for a relatively young opera company,” said Edgar Baitzel. “The generosity of the Broads highlights what we have achieved — particularly in the last five years and especially since the LA Philharmonic moved out of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion — and paves the way for us to greatly increase the operatic repertory that we can present to our audiences.”

Eli Broad is a renowned business leader who built two Fortune 500 companies from the ground up over a five-decade career in business. He is founder-chairman of SunAmerica Inc. and KB Home (formerly Kaufman and Broad Home Corporation). Mr. and Mrs. Broad are now focused on philanthropy. The Broad family’s commitment to philanthropy and community is both deep and wide-ranging, with ongoing leadership roles in the arts, education, science and civic development.

Richard Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen is a monumental experience that tells a unified story, drawn from Norse mythology, over the course of four complete operas: Das Rheingold, Die Walküre, Siegfried and Götterdämmerung. The plot concerns an epic struggle to win control of a magic ring that gives its bearer the power to rule the world. Created by the evil dwarf Alberich, the ring is successively possessed by Wotan, the king of the gods, then by the dragon Fafner, and eventually by Wotan’s son, Siegfried. Ultimately, the ring comes into the possession of Brünnhilde, who returns the ring to its source, thus ending the reign of the gods. Conceived as a festival event, it is the biggest work in the history of Western music, developed over the course of 28 years, from its conception in 1848 to the first performances of the completed cycle in 1876. One of the most influential theatrical works ever created, it is the culmination of Wagner’s unique musical style. The comparative rarity of Ring stagings, as well as the work’s overwhelming musical and dramatic impact, regularly inspires thousands of opera lovers to travel around the world to experience different productions, with significant impact on a city’s cultural and economic life.

Celebrating its 21st Season, Los Angeles Opera has now become, under the leadership of General Director Plácido Domingo and Music Director James Conlon, the nation’s fourth largest opera company and a renowned producer of works from the classical and contemporary repertoires. The 2006-2007 Season includes 75 performances of ten operas, four of which will be conducted by Maestro Conlon who makes his debut this weekend leading the opening productions of Verdi’s La Traviata and Don Carlo.

HEADLINES OF STORIES BELOW

The Debut of the 'CBS Evening News With Katie Couric' Finishes Number One In the Metered-Market Average Broadcast More Than Doubles Its Recent Metered-Market Average

Comcast ON DEMAND Tops Three Billion Views Nation's Premier Video-On-Demand Service Features 7,500 Programs Monthly in Fall Lineup

 New Gap Marketing Campaign Featuring Original Film Footage of Audrey Hepburn Helps Gap "Keeps it Simple" This Fall When the 'Brazilian Dream' Meets the American Dream: the 'Original' Apprentice Story Gwen Stefani to Release Limited Edition Doll Series

Bob Dylan's Modern Times Debuts At #1 On Billboard Chart Album Marks Artist's Return To Top Spot After 30 Years

Chris Tucker: Live! On National Comedy Tour Returns for a Series of One-Night Stands

 Zoran Announces NEW High Performance SupraTV 160 Processor Family for Set Top Box and Digital Television Markets Grundig and Homecast Models; Zoran Reference Designs Demonstrated at IBC 2006 in Amsterdam

Lionel Richie Announces Coming Home Tour Exclusive Charitable Pre-Sale at Tickets-for-Charity.com(TM) to Benefit United Way

Sony Computer Entertainment America Media Statement Regarding New European Launch Date for PLAYSTATION 3

Executives Deliver "the Goods" to ICT Attendees at IEC's Broadband World Forum Americas

Donald Trump Says 'You're Fired' and Now Former Trump Executive Vice President Needs Severance Package Negotiations Expert Career Protection Will Provide Free Consultation and Expert Severance Pay Negotiations Advice for 'Apprentice' Co-Star and Longtime Employee of the Trump Organization

New 'TV Planner' Guide on Comcast.net Helps Customers Navigate Expanding TV Choices Top

The Road to Sugarland

Brooks & Dunn, Brad Paisley Lead Nominees with Six Nominations Each for "The 40th Annual CMA Awards"

Discovery Communications Inc. Mourns the Death of TV Host and Conservationist Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter

 Veteran TV Host Todd Newton Signs on as Emcee of GSN's Coverage of the 'WORLDWIDE WEB GAMES,' the First-Ever Casual Games Championship Awarding a $1 Million Grand Prize

AT&T Blue Room Seats Elton John Fans Front Row for Upcoming Fashion Rocks' Private Pre-Show Event Exclusive AT&T Blue Room Footage to Feature Songs From Elton John's Upcoming New Release and a Selection of His Greatest Hits

Carl's Jr.(R) Launches Sequel to Popular 'Cow Shake' Ad to Promote New Hand-Scooped Ice Cream Shakes & Malts(TM) Made With M&M's(R) Milk Chocolate Candies 'Cow Shake-Off' Features Dueling Guys, Cows, and Hit Single 'Milkshake' by Kelis

Career and Educational Search Sites and Demographics

Crocodile Hunter Steve Hunter Dies from Freak accident with sting-Ray

the 2005-2006 Primetime Emmys

2006 MTV Video Music Awards Celebrates an Eclectic Group of Music Across More Screens Than Ever Before

DMX Cancels USO Tour to Persian Gulf

Nintendo Launches New DS Lite Colors Amid Record-Breaking Game Sales Onyx and Coral Pink Follow Sale of 1 Millionth New Super Mario Bros.

NTN Buzztime(R) Launches New Multiplayer Miniature Golf Game on Its Restaurant and Sports Bar iTV Network Patrons of Buzztime iTV Network Locations in North America and the United Kingdom Can Now Compete in Real-Time in Buzztime's Crazy Golf(TM)

Legendary Musician Maynard Ferguson Dies Grammy Nominated Trumpeter Known for 'Gonna Fly Now,' the Theme to the Movie Rocky, was 78

 Music Superstar Shakira Set to Light the Stage on Fire at '2006 MTV Video Music Awards' Shakira Will Join List of Highly Anticipated Superstar Performers for Live August 31st Broadcast OK Go to Perform Groundbreaking Rendition of Their Video 'Here It Goes Again' on Treadmills Live for the First Time Ever Axl Rose, Lindsay Lohan, Kanye West, Paris Hilton, Diddy, LL Cool J, Snoop Dogg, Pussycat Dolls and 50 Cent Added to Presenters List for 2006 VMAs Borat and Sarah Silverman to Make Special Guest Appearances

Volvo Premieres Webisodes Capturing Worldwide Treasure Hunt for Buried Volvo Action-packed Webisodes Capture Frantic Final Search for Buried Volvo XC90 V8 SUV in Islands of the Bahamas Event Part of Volvo's Promotional Tie-in to Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest; Visit www.volvocars.us/thehunt Reality Racing - The Rookie Challenge to Announce Dates for National Contestant Searches in Las Vegas and Atlanta

What do K-Fed, Abe Lincoln, Virgin Mobile USA and the Jersey Shore Have in Common? They are Giving Power Back to the Penny! Virgin Mobile's Penny-Clad Armor Truck Rolls Into the Jersey Shore to Show You Why Pennies are Powerful!

Las Vegas International Restaurant Show to Launch

World Record Attempt Sought by the New Mr. Las Vegas Jeff Beacher 'Heaviest Pig in a Blanket' Stunt to Take Place August 29 During Paris Hilton CD Release Street Festival

Sonys SILENT HILL ON DVD

 Gordon Ramsay to Open First U.S. Restaurant in New York City Fall 2006: Gordon Ramsay at The London

DIRGE of CERBERUS LOST EPISODE -FINAL FANTASY VII- Breaks Down Mobile Gaming Boundaries Highly Anticipated Action Title to Be Available Exclusively on Amp'd Mobile

Author/Socialite Eric Schiffer Praises Paris Hilton and Her Musical Talent Amid Controversy at Her CD Release Party in Hollywood

Comedy Superstars Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Aniston Shine in One of the Year's Most Hilarious Films, 'The Break-Up' The Box-Office Hit Arrives on DVD October 17, 2006 With Side-Splitting Extras Including an Alternate Ending and Deleted Scenes! 'One of the best American comedies in years.' - Pete Hammond, Maxim

USATODAY.com Launches New Entertainment and Sports Podcasts 'Pop Candy' and 'Fantasy playbook' Podcasts Extend Popular Life and Sports Sections to New Platform

VoiceOne(TM) and VariTalk Team Up to Send 'Snakes on a Plane' Personalized Phone Messages from Samuel L. Jackson VoiceOne(TM) Takes Over As VariTalk's Preferred Call Services Provider -- Delivers Record Volume with 100% Reliability Sony Merges Quality LCD TV With Desktop PC for a Sleek Combo

Legendary K-Tel International Selects DRA for Digital Distribution

SecureMedia to Launch 'Entertainment Everywhere!(TM)' at IBC 2006, With Breakthrough Security Advancements for Converged Media Protection Highlights Include a Preview of 'Aoraki', Code-Name for the Next Release of SecureMedia's Widely Deployed Encryptonite ONE(TM) System, and the Introduction of the eONE(TM) PC Media Player

Video Without Boundaries to Change Company Name to MediaREADY, Inc. New Corporate Website WWW.MEDIAREADYINC.COM Announced

Got Game Entertainment's 'Barrow Hill: Curse of the Ancient Circle' Digs into North America Unique first person adventure game sets archaeological mystery against the backdrop of an eerie Cornish landscape

 Malcolm Venville Captures Reality Behind Mexican Wrestlers Photographer Venville Reveals Private Interview Transcripts From Book Lucha Loco

Used Car Dealers Suffer from Web Offerings

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Sept. 6 Last night's (5) debut of the CBS EVENING NEWS WITH KATIE COURIC finished number one in the metered-market average, according to Nielsen.

The broadcast garnered a 9.1/17 rating in those markets, making it the highest rated CBS EVENING NEWS broadcast since Feb. 23, 1998, which occurred during CBS's coverage of the Olympic Winter Games in Nagano.

The broadcast also more than doubled its recent metered-market average of 4.4/9, covering the past four weeks.

"We're encouraged by last night's numbers, but what's more important is what the audience will be six months and a year from now," said Sean McManus, President, CBS News and Sports. "Our primary focus remains on producing the highest quality broadcast night in and night out."

Final national ratings, as well as total viewers and demographic breakdowns, will be available this afternoon.

Source: CBS

Television viewers are increasingly choosing to watch the shows they want on their schedules - a trend fueling the incredible growth of Comcast's signature video-on-demand service, which has now surpassed three billion program views since 2004. Comcast, the nation's leading provider of cable, entertainment and communications products and services, also set a new monthly record for July, with customers watching 180 million ON DEMAND shows.

As ON DEMAND tops three billion views - the equivalent of 10 programs watched by every person in the United States - Comcast customers have made music videos and programs (more than 540 million viewed), children's shows (more than 330 million viewed), free movies (more than 180 million viewed) and sports and fitness programs (more than 73 million viewed) some of the most popular programming categories.

"Customer response to ON DEMAND over the past few years has been extraordinary," said Page Thompson, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Video Services for Comcast. "ON DEMAND is the ultimate viewing experience, and as more customers try the service and we continue expanding our content library with viewers' favorite shows from top networks and VOD-exclusive programs, we expect ON DEMAND use to continue climbing."

TV Planner on Comcast.net

To help manage the growing number of viewing choices, Comcast also has launched an online program guide - called TV Planner - on Comcast.net, the company's award-winning broadband portal. TV Planner integrates the advanced search functionality available on the Internet today to make it even easier for customers to discover and sort through all of the ON DEMAND and TV programming options.

Viewers can customize searches by title, category (such as movies, sports, kids and HD) and genre (such as comedy, documentary and drama) to find the programming that best matches their interests. TV Planner is the first and only online program guide that enables viewers to search ON DEMAND and HD ON DEMAND.

Comcast ON DEMAND's Fall Lineup

Comcast's ON DEMAND service offers a growing library of more than 7,500 programs per month - available any time customers want to watch them, with the ability to fast forward, rewind and pause selections. Approximately 95% of ON DEMAND programs are available at no additional charge for Comcast Digital Cable customers based on their service levels. Viewers can choose from categories like:

-- Premium Services: movies and award-winning original series from HBO,

Showtime, Cinemax, The Movie Channel, Starz and Encore

-- Movies: up to 800 movies every month, from the latest Hollywood

blockbusters to all-time classics

-- Network Primetime: hit shows from CBS and NBC, including "CSI: Crime

Scene Investigation," "NCIS," "Survivor," "The Office," "Law & Order:

Criminal Intent" and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit"

-- TV Entertainment: hit shows from the most popular cable networks,

including A&E, MTV, VH1, E!, TNT, Comedy Central, Discovery, USA

Network, BBC America, TV One, Logo, CMT, TBS, BET and Oxygen, as well

as classic TV series like "Charlie's Angels," "One Day at a Time" and

"Soap" from Comcast's exclusive Tube Time service

-- Kids: popular children's series from PBS KIDS Sprout, Nickelodeon,

Cartoon Network, Boomerang, Noggin and Discovery Kids

-- Sports & Fitness: more than 90 workout and motivational programs from

exercisetv and programs from Versus, NFL Network, Speed Channel, NBA

TV, Golf Channel, OLN and Sportskool

-- Music: hundreds of music videos in a wide range of genres as well as

concert performances, music instruction series and Comcast's Karaoke

On Demand, giving viewers the chance to belt out a favorite tune in

the comfort of their own living room

-- Life & Home: lifestyle advice on topics including parenting, cooking,

weddings, fashion and style

-- Cutting Edge: featuring anime, programs from Cartoon Network's Adult

Swim and Dating On Demand, the first network to combine video on

demand with online dating

Comcast also is introducing high-definition (HD) ON DEMAND programming, giving customers the added choice and convenience of watching programs in crystal-clear HD at any time.

About Comcast

Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA) (NASDAQ:CMCSK) (http://www.comcast.com/) is the nation's leading provider of cable, entertainment and communications products and services. With 23.3 million cable customers, 10 million high-speed Internet customers, and 1.6 million voice customers, Comcast is principally involved in the development, management and operation of broadband cable systems and in the delivery of programming content.

Comcast's content networks and investments include E! Entertainment Television, Style Network, The Golf Channel, OLN, G4, AZN Television, PBS KIDS Sprout, TV One and four regional Comcast SportsNets. Comcast also has a majority ownership in Comcast Spectacor, whose major holdings include the Philadelphia Flyers NHL hockey team, the Philadelphia 76ers NBA basketball team and two large multipurpose arenas in Philadelphia.

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

Clearview Cinemas today announced that it is bringing back its "Hollywood Classics!" Film Series, beginning Friday, September 8. The five-week series will showcase films that were requested by moviegoers during Clearview's first "Hollywood Classics!" Film Series held this past winter. Each week will feature a special theme including: All Time Classics Week, Super Heroes Week and a week dedicated to award-winning Director Steven Spielberg.

"With the overwhelming success of our first 'Hollywood Classics!' Film Series, Clearview is excited to be able to bring back this special event. Our goal is to give moviegoers, whether they are watching these films for the first or fifth time, the opportunity to see Hollywood's classics the way they were meant to be seen, on the big screen at a premier venue like the Ziegfeld Theatre," said Doug Oines, senior vice president and general manager for Clearview Cinemas.

The series runs from September 8 through October 12 and tickets are available at a reduced rate of $7.50.

WHAT: Hollywood Classics! Series

September 8 - 14: All Time Classics Week!

Featuring: "Citizen Kane," "Casablanca," and

"The Good, The Bad & The Ugly"

September 15 - 21: All Time Favorites Week!

Featuring: "The Wizard of Oz" and "Gone with the Wind"

September 22 - 28: Super Heroes Week!

Featuring: "Superman," "Batman," and "Spider-Man"

September 29 - October 5: Steven Spielberg Week!

Featuring: "Jaws," "Back to the Future," and "ET - The Extra

Terrestrial"

October 6 - 12: Musicals Week!

Featuring: "West Side Story," "Cabaret," and a special sing-a-long

version of "Grease"

WHEN: Friday, September 8 through Thursday, October 12, 2006

WHERE: Clearview Cinema's Ziegfeld Theatre

141 West 54th Street, New York, NY

Tickets are available at the theatre box office or through clearviewcinemas.com. For information on showtimes call 212-777-FILM #602 or visit www.clearviewcinemas.com.

A subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation since 1998, Clearview Cinemas was formed in 1994 and currently operates 51 movie theatres with 262 screens in the New York metropolitan area, including the famous Ziegfeld Theatre in New York City. Clearview Cinemas operates theatres in New Jersey, Manhattan, Westchester, Rockland County, Long Island and Pennsylvania. More information can be found at www.clearviewcinemas.com.

Source: Clearview Cinemas

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

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM) is reinvigorating its worldwide television distribution operation, hiring senior management and bringing a number of new high profile programs to buyers around the globe. The announcement was made today by Harry E. Sloan, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, MGM and Rick Sands, Chief Operating Officer, MGM.

The restructured MGM Worldwide Television Distribution Group, which reports to Sands, is headed by seasoned distribution executive Jim Packer, who assumes the new title of President. In this position, Packer remains in charge of television distribution worldwide, including U.S. barter sales and syndication, as well as all emerging forms of television programming distribution on a worldwide basis.

"After reinvigorating our domestic theatrical distribution business with over 20 new theatrical pictures a year, and establishing a dedicated MGM sales force in partnership with Fox Video, the next logical step is to expand our worldwide television distribution operation to meet our increased activity and product flow," said Sloan in announcing the division's restructuring. "Further, the international market for TV product has never been healthier and MGM continues to be an active and extremely competitive player in the marketplace."

Sands added: "As aggressive and smart competitors, the reorganization of our worldwide television distribution operation is simply one way of maximizing the assets in our library and positions us for future growth in the marketplace. Jim Packer has already made significant contributions during his tenure at MGM and we are pleased he will be leading us to even bigger growth opportunities in his new role as President of the group."

"After spending the last six years here at MGM, I truly understand the value of this tremendous library," said Packer. "Having been given the challenge of increasing our market presence, I could not be more enthused about the expansion of our worldwide distribution team. With 'Casino Royale,' 'Rocky Balboa' and our new slate of premiere movie titles, our expanded distribution presence comes at the ideal time."

Adding fuel to its distribution pipeline, MGM Worldwide Television Distribution Group will handle the international television sales for "Casino Royale" the new James Bond movie starring Daniel Craig, and "Rocky Balboa," the sixth and final Rocky movie starring Sylvester Stallone. Leveraging proven properties within the massive MGM library, the MGM Worldwide Television Distribution Group will launch a worldwide sales campaign for the following movies:

*"Legally Blonde 3" -- Beauty and brains bring big laughs.

*"Cutting Edge 3" -- The romantic drama about the quest for victory among

professional ice skaters.

*"Into the Blue 2" -- A new and exciting installment based on the action

thriller about aspiring treasure hunters.

*"WarGames 2" -- Scheduled to begin shooting in Montreal in November, the

thrilling story of what happens when top officials try to dismantle the

famous computer.

*"Species 4" -- The fourth installment of the Species franchise continues

in Mexico, where new experiments with DNA bring horrific results. An

MGM/360 Production, Frank Mancuso, Jr. will oversee production beginning

in October on "Species 4." Mancuso has served as the producer or

executive producer on the previous "Species" movies.

In addition to its new program offerings, the MGM Worldwide Television Distribution Group will continue to handle distribution of over 4,000 movie titles and 10,000 television series that make up the MGM library, the world's largest modern filmed and television library. Among the key television properties featured in the MGM catalogue are "Stargate SG-1," the sci-fi series that is celebrating its record-setting 200th episode on the Sci-Fi Channel, and the immensely popular drama series "The L Word," which airs on Showtime in the U.S.

With the announcement of the MGM Worldwide Television Distribution Group restructuring, MGM has also announced key promotions within the group. Joe Patrick has been promoted to Executive Vice President, North America. He previously served as Senior Vice President for the studio and is based in Los Angeles. Mary Ann Pasante, who has been the Vice President of Latin America Sales, has also been promoted to Senior Vice President of Latin America Sales and will continue to be based in Atlanta.

Packer, who joined MGM in 2001, initially served as Executive Vice President, Domestic TV. In this post, he was the architect of several innovative partnerships, including the MGM/UPN "Weekend Movie" and the PAX/MGM "Night at the Movies."

Packer was promoted to Executive Vice President of MGM's Worldwide Television Distribution unit in April 2005, charged with oversight of the studio's worldwide TV distribution activities, including the licensing of MGM programming to TV outlets around the world for free to air network television, basic and pay cable. Packer will continue to be based at the studio's headquarters in Los Angeles.

Before joining MGM, Packer was an executive with The Walt Disney Company, where he spent 15 years working within the Buena Vista Domestic Television Distribution unit. During his tenure at Buena Vista, Packer consistently increased his areas of responsibility, handling the distribution of off-network product, theatrical films and first run series, including such properties as "Home Improvement," "Live with Regis and Kathie Lee" and "The Golden Girls," as well as numerous movie packages. Packer, a graduate of Leeds Business School at the University of Colorado at Boulder, also serves on the Board of Governors for the Museum of Television & Radio.

About Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc., through its operating subsidiaries is actively engaged in the worldwide production and distribution of motion pictures, television programming, home video, interactive media, music, and licensed merchandise. The company owns the world's largest library of modern films, comprising around 4,000 titles. Operating units include Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc., United Artists Films Inc., MGM Television Entertainment Inc., MGM Networks Inc., MGM Distribution Co., MGM International Television Distribution Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Home Entertainment LLC, MGM ON STAGE, MGM Music, MGM Consumer Products and MGM Interactive. In addition, MGM has ownership interests in international TV channels reaching nearly 110 countries. MGM ownership is as follows: Providence Equity Partners (29%), Texas Pacific Group (21%), Sony Corporation of America (20%), Comcast (20%), DLJ Merchant Banking Partners (7%) and Quadrangle Group (3%). For more information, visit www.mgm.com.

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

Latina, the #1 magazine for U.S. Hispanic women, announced today it will celebrate its 10th anniversary-as well as the profound influence Latinos have had on America in the last decade-by embarking on a five-city tour during Hispanic Heritage month (Sept. 15 through Oct. 15). It will be a three-day cultural festival, visiting a different city each weekend, and will include live musical performances, fashion shows, beauty makeovers and family activities. The tour will feature live entertainment provided by MTV tr3s, the new multi-platform entertainment destination from MTV that's dedicated to superserving today's new Latino youth.

The Latina Magazine Nation Tour(TM) will kick off in New York and is expected to connect with over 50,000 consumers. Events will be free and open to the public. For more information and updates on the tour, visit http://www.latina.com/.

City Venue Dates*

New York Forest Park, Queens 9/16-9/17

Chicago Humboldt Park 9/23-9/24

Los Angeles Exposition Park 9/30-10/1

Houston Reliant Park 10/7-10/8

Miami Bicentennial Park 10/14-10/15

* All dates Saturday - Sunday

"Latina magazine is a trusted authority in providing the best news and information on Latin music, culture, fashion, beauty, entertainment and more. Now we can bring our unique experience and perspective beyond the pages of the magazine, directly into the lives of our readers and their families -- right in their own back yards," said Fabio Freyre, CEO of Latina Media Ventures (LMV). "We are thrilled to join forces with our high-quality partners to create such a special event that puts at its center the rich language, culture, and influence of U.S. Latinos."

Each star-studded weekend will include local musical talent, beauty makeovers by L'Oreal Paris, and live fashion shows by Akademiks. The entire family can get involved in activities such as soccer clinics, domino competitions, face painting, balloon making or drum circles. Dance-offs and a battle of the bands will ensure that everyone gets a chance to flaunt their talent! If music's your thing, take part in the guitar pick contest and be entered to win your very own Gibson Guitar. Test-drive hot new cars from Daimler Chrysler for the chance to be entered to win a brand new Crossfire Convertible! Stop by the Kodak photo booth for a chance to win a new camera.

All visitors are encouraged to bring a photograph representing their own Latin style. Bring your photo to the Latina magazine booth to be eligible for a chance to win an appearance in a future issue of Latina magazine.

Latina magazine Editorial Director, Betty Cortina, Founder Christy Haubegger and Los Angeles television journalist, Giselle Fernandez, will be among the inspiring speakers leading discussions on topics of importance to all Latinas -- what it takes to succeed, living in a bicultural world, balancing family and work and what it means to be a Latina today.

Latina magazine is the leading lifestyle publication for bicultural Hispanic women -- a market segment that will reshape the country's social, economic, and cultural landscape in the next decade. The U.S. Hispanic population is expected to number 42 million by 2007. By 2020, it is estimated that one in every five Americans will be Hispanic.

About Latina Media Ventures LLC

Latina Media Ventures LLC is the premier integrated media company serving the growing U.S. Hispanic marketplace. LMV's diverse media properties include its flagship magazine, Latina, the leading lifestyle publication for bicultural Hispanic women in the U.S. with an audience in excess of 2 million, as well as Latina Digital Media, Custom Publishing, Live Events, and Licensing businesses.

Source: Latina Media Ventures LLC

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

the leading super-premium gin in the United States, is collaborating with the world famous Cirque du Soleil, becoming the first spirit ever to be featured at Cirque du Soleil Tapis Rouge lounges. This forward thinking and groundbreaking relationship will feature unprecedented exposure for the BOMBAY SAPPHIRE brand throughout the United States and further demonstrates the creative and trend setting nature of BOMBAY SAPPHIRE.

"This enterprising relationship with Cirque du Soleil will allow us to enhance what is already a truly inspired performance experience," said BOMBAY SAPPHIRE Senior Marketing Manager, Giles Woodyer. "We are thrilled to be aligning with a brand that so similarly strives for excellence and commits to upholding the creativity, innovation and genuine expression that signifies BOMBAY SAPPHIRE."

BOMBAY SAPPHIRE is the official spirit of Cirque du Soleil in the United States and will be the only featured spirit served in the intimate Tapis Rouge. The Tapis Rouge is a dedicated lounge opened pre-show and during intermission. Now, VIP guests (21+ and older) will be able to enhance the sensory experience of the performance by enjoying delicious BOMBAY SAPPHIRE cocktails.

"BOMBAY SAPPHIRE gin's natural elegance and dedication to quality align perfectly with the vision and innovation of Cirque du Soleil," stated Ryan Sandilands, Corporate Alliances Director, Cirque du Soleil.

This defining alliance, which also includes premiere parties, highlights BOMBAY SAPPHIRE'S ongoing support and celebration of artistic expression, as well as the brand's ability to develop meaningful and relevant associations with today's adult consumer.

The Official Cocktail of CIRQUE DU SOLEIL

BOMBAY SAPPHIRE SURIYA

1 part BOMBAY SAPPHIRE

3 parts Fresh Pineapple Juice

Drizzle of Chambord

Served in a chilled martini glass.

About BOMBAY SAPPHIRE

BOMBAY SAPPHIRE is the best selling super premium gin in the United States. The combination of its ten unique botanicals, vapour infusion process and authentic British heritage secure BOMBAY SAPPHIRE as a leader among gins, as well as a symbol of style and sophistication. BOMBAY SAPPHIRE strongly supports inspired adult individuals who create passionate work in design, film and other artistic arenas. For more information, please visit www.bombaysapphire.com.

BE BRILLIANT AND INSPIRED. DRINK RESPONSIBLY!

www.bombaysapphire.com

BOMBAY SAPPHIRE IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK.

IMPORTED BY THE BOMBAY SPIRITS COMPANY U.S.A., MIAMI, FL.

GIN - 47% ALC. BY VOL.

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

The U.S. Fund for UNICEF announced today that actress and UNICEF Ambassador Sarah Jessica Parker will serve as the national spokesperson for the 2006 Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF campaign. Throughout the month of October, Ms. Parker will encourage kids to get involved by raising funds for vulnerable children around the world with the time-honored orange Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF box.

"The U.S. Fund for UNICEF is extremely fortunate to have such a caring and dedicated Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF 2006 spokesperson," said Charles J. Lyons, president of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. "Ms. Parker's passion for improving the lives of children and the Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF program will undoubtedly help raise awareness throughout the country and inspire other parents to get their children involved."

Sarah Jessica Parker was appointed a UNICEF Ambassador in 1997 and has been supporting UNICEF in a variety of ways ever since. This is Ms. Parker's second time serving as the Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF spokesperson; she last served in 1997. In 2003, Ms. Parker showed her support of the campaign by participating in the Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF campaign launch at the NBA store here with UNDP Youth Emissary and basketball great, Dikembe Mutombo.

"My involvement with Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF is particularly dear to me because I participated as a child and now that I am a mother I want to share the experience with my son," said Ms. Parker. "Halloween can be very focused on the amassing of bucket-loads of sweets. Yet, Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF demonstrates that kids can do good deeds and still have fun. A positive first experience with philanthropy can lay the groundwork for a lifetime of giving."

Ms. Parker's dedication to UNICEF extends past her involvement with the Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF program. Most recently, Ms. Parker pledged her support of UNICEF when she helped promote the return of Cartier's LOVE Charity bracelet. Because of Sarah Jessica Parker's support, the proceeds from the sale of Cartier's blue LOVE bracelet will go to UNICEF. Similarly, she helped UNICEF brighten the world for children in 2004 when she lit the UNICEF Snowflake -- which graces the intersection of Fifth Avenue and 57th Street during the annual lighting ceremony here in the city. Shortly afterwards, during the aftermath of the 2004 South Asia Tsunami, Sarah Jessica designed a limited edition Gap t-shirt to benefit UNICEF's tsunami relief and recovery efforts. Gap donated $100,000 from the sales of those shirts to UNICEF.

Ambassador Sarah Jessica Parker will be present at this year's Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF launch event here in New York City this October.

About UNICEF

Founded in 1946, UNICEF helps save, protect and improve the lives of children in 156 countries through immunization, education, health care, nutrition, clean water and sanitation. UNICEF is non-partisan and its cooperation is free of discrimination. In everything it does, the most disadvantaged children and the countries in greatest need have priority. For more information about UNICEF or to make a donation, please visit unicefusa.org/trickortreat or call 1-800-4UNICEF.

Source: U.S. Fund for UNICEF

Web site: http://www.unicefusa.org/
http://unicefusa.org/trickortreat

This week, the skinny black pant is back at Gap with the introduction of a new, groundbreaking campaign featuring original film footage of timeless style icon Audrey Hepburn. The campaign, entitled "Keep it Simple," is centered on innovative television spots incorporating a memorable scene of Audrey Hepburn dancing in the classic film Funny Face. Celebrating Gap's re-launch of the perfect black pant, the ads mark Gap's third and final marketing campaign of the fall season.

"Gap has a rich history of integrating memorable choreography and music into our advertising, but we've never done anything quite like this before," said Trey Laird, creative director of Gap. "We wanted to do something really special to re-launch our skinny black pants and thought who better to showcase them than actress Audrey Hepburn -- an iconic woman famous for dressing with sophistication and classic style."

Debuting September 7, Gap's new "Keep It Simple" TV spots juxtapose classic footage of Audrey Hepburn dancing in skinny black pants to the 1980 AC/DC hit song "Back in Black." The ad opens with a scene from Funny Face as Audrey Hepburn dances through a Parisian cafe. It continues as she jumps out of the movie and onto a backdrop resembling the look and feel of an iconic Gap ad. Special effects and graphics help her navigate her way across the screen in a series of energetic dance steps. She then jumps back into Funny Face as the spot concludes with the tagline "It's Back -- The Skinny Black Pant."

"We're thrilled because this is the first time in more than 12 years that a film clip of Audrey Hepburn has been authorized to endorse a commercial product in North America," said Kyle Andrew, vice president of Gap Marketing. "This ad is a true testament to timeless style and we couldn't be more excited to have Audrey Hepburn -- the ultimate style icon -- represented in our campaign."

Gap became known for fabulous "must-have" black pants more than a decade ago -- they flew off shelves and helped millions of women across the country dress with sophistication and style. Gap's reintroduction of the perfect fitting pair of skinny black pants this fall is a celebration of this classic, iconic piece. Named after timeless fashion icon Audrey Hepburn -- "The Audrey Hepburn(TM) Pant" is sleek and simple with modern details that are undeniably cool. It has an updated bi-stretch fabrication, which allows for greater flexibility and movement and helps the pant keep its shape. Gap's new skinny black pants are destined to become a modern day classic.

In addition to black pants, Gap has a long heritage of offering a wide variety of clean, classic and simple styles. And this fall Gap is back with a collection of great fitting, sophisticated pants in a range of lengths and shapes, as well as classic shirts, turtlenecks, sweaters and outerwear. Worn day or night, dressed up or down, these are the simple, iconic pieces that will never go out of style. In Gap stores this fall, the clean collection is featured in a one-stop shopping destination. You'll find a new dedicated space within Gap stores filled with the classic "must-have" items you always need and want.

The "Keep It Simple" television campaign features 30 and 60-second spots that will air in the United States on all major networks, spot markets and cable from September 7 through October 5. The spots will premiere on network television shows including "Grey's Anatomy" (ABC), "CSI" (CBS) and "Studio 60" (NBC). Gap.com will also feature the new "Keep It Simple" television commercial, as well as exclusive, behind-the-scenes footage of the making of the ad. Complimenting this outstanding broadcast effort are a series of black-and-white print ads featuring models in clean, simple looks anchored in skinny black pants will run in October issues of major national magazines including Vogue, InStyle and Elle. There will also be outdoor ads in major markets.

Laird+Partners, Gap's creative agency, developed the "Keep It Simple" marketing campaign. The TV spots were developed using visual effects by Method Studios and graphic design and animation by Logan and print ads were photographed by famed fashion photographers Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin.

In celebration of the launch of the "Keep It Simple" ad campaign, Gap is making a generous contribution to the Audrey Hepburn Children's Fund. The Audrey Hepburn Children's Fund is a non-profit organization created to continue Ms. Hepburn's international appeals on behalf of children around the world.

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

-- The story of the self-made man who overcame all odds and succeeded is a fundamental part of the appeal and seductive power of the so-called American Dream. The young Brazilian entrepreneur Ricardo Bellino is the personification of this dream, which still captivates the imagination of millions in America and all over the world.

The story of an unknown businessman from a faraway country who sells his idea to Donald Trump in just three minutes and becomes a partner of the legendary American billionaire is a business fairy tale come true. It also shows that the "Brazilian Dream," or the hope of building your own path towards success despite economic, social, cultural and historical obstacles that may seem impassable, is not just a dream. It can be a real possibility if you are willing to believe and try. In his new book "You Have 3 Minutes", Bellino reveals the secrets behind successful negotiations and shows how intuition, persistence, creativity, communication skills and a good idea can work miracles -- even for those who don't have money, experience or a business network. Bellino's book describes a real life tale of entrepreneurial drive that shows us what can happen when the 'Brazilian Dream' meets the American Dream.

Multimedia News Release: Click on the following URL to see Ricardo Bellino's interview:

What: McGraw-Hill will host a cocktail party to celebrate the

publication of "You Have 3 Minutes! Learn the Secrets of the Pitch

from Trump's Original Apprentice" - by Ricardo Bellino.

When: September 12, 6-9 P.M.

Where: Trump Tower - 725 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y.

The book's key messages:

1. How to sell your idea in three minutes -- or less.

2. Why first impressions are so important and how to create an excellent

first impression on a potential business investor or employer.

3. How to approach a world famous tycoon like Donald Trump and capture

his attention.

4. Learn from a successful businessman how to use intuition to make snap

decisions, find the best opportunities and close great deals.

5. How to sell your image and improve your communication skills.

Contact information:

Elizabeth Priestley

Source: INEMP

-- This Fall, Grammy Award-winning songwriter and performer Gwen Stefani will conquer yet another role -- toy designer. Stefani will release a Limited Edition series of eight dolls entitled Love. Angel. Music. Baby. Inspired by her multi-platinum album and tour, each doll will reflect Gwen's eclectic onstage incarnations. Ranging from her Hollaback Girl to the fashion-forward Harajuku Girls of Tokyo, the dolls in this high-end line will reflect the distinctive style and personality which have made Gwen Stefani an icon.

"I thought the dolls would be a good opportunity to capture some of the key looks from the album and the tour," stated Stefani. "The Harajuku Girls and I wore such wicked costumes we had to share them with the world again."

Available at select fine retailers this fall, each doll comes with interchangeable outfits along with exclusive Gwen collectibles like posters, pocket mirrors, trading cards and other stylish accessories. Using images and characters from her music videos and onstage performances, the dolls are truly an extension of Gwen's music and vision. Embodying both her distinctive fashion sense and charismatic persona, the dolls will be THE must-have toy this Holiday season.

"The dolls are another dimension to the album and the tour, another layer to the world of Love. Angel. Music. Baby," said Stefani.

For this venture Gwen has partnered up with Huckleberry Toys, a newly formed company that is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of imagination, fun and creative play for kids of all ages.

Source: Huckleberry Toys

Bob Dylan's new album, Modern Times, has debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart, making this the artist's first album to hit the top of that chart in 30 years. This 30-year span between #1 albums - Desire hit the top spot in 1976 -- is the longest of any living recording artist. Modern Times has sold more than 192,000 copies in the United States since its release, marking the biggest such sales period for a Bob Dylan album in the 15 year history of SoundScan.

Fan response was equally as impressive internationally, with Modern Times debuting at #1 on the album charts of Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Denmark, Norway and Switzerland. The album entered the UK chart at #3 with 55,000 units sold, marking a one-week sales record in that country for any Bob Dylan album. Additionally, Modern Times debuted at #2 in Germany, Austria and Sweden, and #3 in The Netherlands.

Modern Times is already one of the most critically lauded albums of Bob Dylan's career. Rolling Stone awarded the album 5 stars (out of 5) and proclaimed it, "His third straight masterwork." Ann Powers of the Los Angeles Times wrote that Dylan is, "our living Rosetta Stone, his songs carrying forth the essence of a thousand blues and folk classics, connecting the canonical and the folkloric to the present day." In the UK, Mojo magazine exclaimed, Epic...Heartbreaking...Dynamic ... Apocalyptic!" while Uncut gave Modern Times its highest ranking of 5 stars. (See attached page of press quotes).

According to Columbia Records Chairman Steve Barnett, "Modern Times is an absolutely staggering record, and we couldn't be more thrilled that fans have responded to it so enthusiastically by putting Bob at #1, which is where he belongs. This extraordinary artist has been integral to our company for nearly 45 years, and he remains at the peak of his artistry, vitality and cultural impact. We are incredibly proud of Bob's great achievement."

Bob Dylan is currently featured in an iPod commercial, seen performing "Someday Baby" from Modern Times. A short film starring Scarlett Johansson and set to Bob Dylan's new song "When The Deal Goes Down" premiered on AOL and was released online and to video channels last Thursday. Directed by Academy Award nominee Bennett Miller (Capote), the silent film was shot on 8mm and takes place in the early 1960s. Clues connecting the film's scenes to Bob Dylan's early career are creatively placed throughout the piece.

Bob Dylan is one of the world's most popular and acclaimed songwriters, musicians and performers, having sold nearly 100 million albums and performed literally thousands of shows around the world in a career spanning five decades. He is currently in the midst of his third annual summer U.S. tour of minor league baseball stadiums, and will begin a 24-city tour October 11 in Vancouver, B.C.

The Times They Are A-Changin', the new Broadway musical told through the songs of Bob Dylan and conceived, directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Twyla Tharp, will open October 26 at New York's Brooks Atkinson Theatre.

Bob Dylan's most recent studio albums, Time Out Of Mind and "Love And Theft" have been among his most commercially successful and critically lauded, each having been certified Platinum in the U.S. and earning Grammy nominations for Album Of The Year (Time Out Of Mind won that award in 1998).

He wrote and recorded "Things Have Changed" for the 2000 film Wonder Boys, for which he received both the Academy Award and Golden Globe. The first volume of his memoirs, Chronicles, was one of the most acclaimed and best-selling non-fiction works of 2004, and last year's No Direction Home film, directed by Martin Scorsese, captivated audiences worldwide as it documented Dylan's early career and rise to fame. The film won a Peabody Award in 2006.

Bob Dylan's weekly XM Satellite Radio show, Theme Time Radio Hour, debuted in May and has quickly become one of that network's most popular programs, with more than 1.7 weekly listeners.

Bob Dylan -- Modern Times

* * * * * (out of five) -- "His third straight masterwork."

Joe Levy, Rolling Stone

"Its 10 songs make you think hard about the past and muse quietly about the future .... [Dylan is] our living Rosetta Stone, his songs carrying forth the essence of a thousand blues and folk classics, connecting the canonical and the folkloric to the present day.

Ann Powers, Los Angeles Times

* * * * (out of four) -- "It takes about 30 seconds to figure out you're in the presence of a giant .... [Modern Times] contains some of Dylan's most direct love lyrics, meditations on mortality, vindictive vendettas, pointed political commentary, dry wit, apocalyptic imagery and head-scratching flights of fancy -- sometimes seemingly in the same song. The music, too often overlooked in evaluating Dylan's work, offers varied delights."

Ken Barnes, USA Today

"Startling. Radiates the observant calm of old masters who have seen enough life to be ready for anything -- Yeats, Matisse, Sonny Rollins." Robert Christgau, Blender Magazine

"Epic...Heartbreaking...Dynamic...Apocalyptic! .... [Modern Times] is in the passionate tradition of his last two superb albums, 1997's biting, bruising Time Out Of Mind and 2001's more jubilant and eclectic 'Love And Theft'. Dylan looks into the heart of the modern age and tells us what he sees in a vision still commanding and bold."

Robert Hilburn, Mojo

"Modern Times is powerful and more consistent than its recent predecessors. At times rollicking and at others reflective, it's the work of a master songwriter who knows how to use guile where flash might have worked in the past."

David Bauder, Associated Press

"The state of America, vibrant sexuality, depression-era jazz and blues, and some excellent jokes; another classic from the revitalised master" -- * * * * * (out of five)

Uncut

Grade A -- "Intriguing, immediate and quietly epic, Modern Times must rank among Dylan's finest albums."

Pat Gilbert, Entertainment Weekly

* * * * (out of four) - Critics Choice

Steve Dougherty, People Magazine

* * * * (out of four) -- "Modern Times delivers on all counts ... .Its 10 tunes are so squarely built on the American songbook, your finger doesn't dare poke the CD player's skip button. It rambles and gambles on pre-rock styles laced with so many cryptic notions and personal references that interpretive lit classes will be busy for semesters. Dylan is a living, breathing genius who stoked his creative fires back in '97 for Time Out of Mind and kept them burning with the Grammy-winning 'Love and Theft' in 2001. He continues his run here, tying all three albums together with a vintage roots-music aesthetic.

Dan Aquilante, New York Post

"Modern Times is an album that snaps into place like a puzzle part alongside his latter-era masterpieces, 'Love and Theft' and its predecessor, Time Out of Mind -- albums that have restored his reputation and given him a new voice. At this point in his serpentine career, Dylan is the cagey veteran who can summon entire worlds in his songs. Long may he run."

Joel Selvin, San Francisco Chronicle

"Wry, spry and rollicking .... Dylan extends his renaissance of the past decade with songs that at once feel culled from some arcane archive of American roots music and ripped steaming from one of his reliably rollicking live shows. It's an offhandedly exact blend of present and past, and being pulled through it by a master of such advanced years and powers brings to mind the late works of Yeats or Picasso ...."

Shawn Levy, Portland Oregonian

"A vibrant album bursting with wit, charm, emotion, and deeply sampled musical history. Modern Times is what we have come to expect from Bob Dylan in autumn: another masterpiece that doesn't make too much of itself."

Chris Morris, L.A. City Beat

* * * * * (out of five) - "With Modern Times, in stores today, Dylan affirms that he has become precisely the character he aspired to be since his earliest acoustic folk albums ... .Guthrie and the old bluesmen borrowed old songs and commented on events in the same way, which makes Dylan's new music another link in a precious cultural chain -- just the way he first imagined."

Jim Abbott, Orlando Sentinel

* * * * (out of four)

Detroit Free Press

Grade A - [Modern Times] is a brilliantly oddball blend of country, blues and good old-fashioned rock 'n' roll. Modern Times is glorious proof that, at 65, Dylan still has plenty to say, and with singular eloquence."

Calvin Wilson, St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Rating 5 out of 5 - "With today's release of Modern Times, Bob Dylan continues a late-career winning streak that is without parallel in rock 'n' roll .... Only Dylan still touches hearts in such a visceral, vital way ... .It would be tempting to call Modern Times the concluding part of a brilliant trilogy - if the end were in sight."

Bernard Perusse, Montreal Gazette

"It's a loose-limbed, wide-ranging (to say the least) table-setter that straightaway offers the assurance that His Bobness is still on the late-in- life hot streak that began with the elegiac Time Out of Mind in 1997 and continued with the sprightly 'Love and Theft'."

Dan DeLuca, Philadelphia Inquirer

"There is something poetic about the fact that Bob Dylan is the lone second-generation rock luminary to make music that suits his age and status. In this, Dylan is as avant-garde as he was in his '60s heyday. The 65-year-old grapples with pressing issues, memory and mortality prime among them. But by looking back, to the roots of his art, he has managed to forge ahead, crafting songs that are as vibrant and profound as ever .... [Dylan] is singing as beautifully as he ever has, his voice a marvel of sly shading."

Bradley Bambarger, Newark Star Ledger

* * * * (out of four) -- "Using the familiar musical forms of blues, rock and pop, the legendary singer-songwriter - in his many guises - traverses a landscape that's equal parts treacherous, beautiful and humorous. And in doing so has released his most intimate work in years."

Rob Lowman, Los Angeles Daily News

"Here in 2006, Dylan's stock as a cultural barometer, as a leader and a sage, is higher than it has been in decades. We still look to Dylan to tell us about our lives now, not our lives then: He's still here, his artistry fully present, and millions still respond to him as a contemporary artist, not a legendary figure from the dim and misty '60s. There's a simple reason for this, and here it is: He still delivers the goods. Like his last two highly acclaimed CDs, 1997's Time Out of Mind and 2001's 'Love and Theft', the 10-track Modern Times is a wonderful addition to his oeuvre, and quite possibly the best of the three."

Dave Ferman, Ft. Worth Star-Telegram

"[Modern Times is] a masterful assimilation of forms into a sound that is close to wholly unique. This record could have been released 40 years ago or 10 years from now .... In terms of phrasing, manipulation of time and accent and ability to wring subtlety and nuance from his own peerless song-poems, Dylan is absolutely masterful here."

Jeff Miers, Buffalo News

"Modern Times could very well be called 'Love and Theft', Part II; Dylan draws from the same influences - old folk, '30s-styled ballads, '50s-era rave-ups - that made his 2001 album a breath of fresh air .... There's more introspection on this album than any since Blood on the Tracks."

Mark Brown, Rocky Mountain News

"This enchanting album is rife with homespun reflections on philosophy, religion and the never-ending quest for true love."

Wayne Robins, Billboard Magazine

"Romantic and spectacular .... Dylan's finest since Blood on the Tracks."

Jody Rosen, Slate

www.bobdylan.com

www.columbiarecords.com

Web site: http://www.columbiarecords.com/
http://www.bobdylan.com/

Chris Tucker returns to the stage, hitting the road for a series of one-night stand concerts. Tucker, who is in the midst of a 21-city tour, will hit New York (Sept. 8), Chicago (Sept. 9), Washington, DC (Sept. 10), and will close out the series with a live in- concert filming, in his hometown, Atlanta, (Sept. 15 and 16). The film will debut as a movie in 2007.

Tucker has already made appearances in cities such as Baltimore, Jacksonville, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Orlando and San Diego. He goes one-on-one with his audience sharing his thoughts on celebrity friends, family, politics and everyday life.

"Every true comedian eventually returns to his roots -- stand-up comedy," says Tucker. "There's energy, an excitement you can only receive when you're in front of a live audience. I love my movie career, but I miss that one-on-one connection with the crowd. I'm excited to get back 'home' in front of my fans and tell them what's been going on with me."

Tucker returns to the stage after nearly a decade, where he established his career as a stand-up comedian after appearing on Def Comedy Jam. He went on to play starring roles in blockbuster movies including: Friday, Money Talks, as well as Rush Hour and Rush Hour 2, where he starred alongside international action superstar Jackie Chan. He starts filming Rush Hour 3 in late September; the movie is expected to be released next summer.

Tucker has recently established the Chris Tucker Foundation tackling issues such as HIV/AIDS, education and the lack of clean water in Africa.

Remaining Shows

NYC, NY - Friday, Sept. 8, 2006, 7:30 pm

Beacon Theatre

2124 Broadway

Ticketmaster - 212.307.7171

Chicago, IL - Saturday, Sept. 9, 7:30 pm

Arie Crown Theater

2301 Lake Shore Drive/McCormick Pl

Ticketmaster - 312.559.1212

Washington, DC - Sunday, Sept. 10, 6:00 pm

Warner Theatre

13th St, NW

Ticketmaster - 202.397.7328

Atlanta, GA - Friday, Sept. 15, 8:00 pm

Fabulous Fox Theatre Atlanta

660 Peachtree St., NE

Ticketmaster - 404.817.8700

Web site: http://www.noelle-elaine.com/

-- Zoran Corporation (NASDAQ:ZRAN) announced that its SupraTV 160 family of highly integrated processors for digital televisions and set top box systems, is shipping in new products from Homecast and other major European brands that will be demonstrated at the International Broadcast Convention (IBC) 2006 in Amsterdam during September 8-12. In addition, new set-top box models from Grundig using SupraTV processors will be on display.

"Homecast's SupraTV 140-based satellite set-top boxes have been very successful because the SupraTV processor enables us to provide many high quality features accessed via an attractive user interface. We have received excellent support from Zoran to optimize our new product solutions. Our customers welcome our new SupraTV 160-based models -- especially, the USB support and the improved price points," said Seung-Jo Choi, managing director and chief technology officer at Homecast.

"Zoran's SupraTV 140 processor has worked well for Grundig's current families of entry, mid-range, and digital video recorders for the European satellite and terrestrial markets. We welcome the opportunity to use Zoran's new SupraTV 160 processors to provide additional key features such as common interface modules for viewing encrypted content and playback of external media files enabled by the new USB interface," said Horst Janssen, product director digital reception at Grundig.

"Our goal for the SupraTV 160 family of products is to enable our customers to offer a range of highly differentiated products based on a single platform. We are delighted that set-top boxes based on our SupraTV processors are now in production from Grundig, Homecast and other leading manufacturers of satellite and terrestrial set-top boxes for Europe and the Middle East," said Ram Ofir, senior vice president, general manager Zoran's home entertainment division.

The SupraTV 160 family of programmable processors when combined with Zoran's complete SiliconSoftware solution deliver all the key features required for designing terrestrial, satellite, and cable set-top boxes as well as integrated digital televisions for the European market. Advanced features enabling manufacturers to offer highly differentiated products even in cost- sensitive markets include: digital video recording hardware and software, two- slot Common Interface Modules (DVB-CIMs), MHEG-5 for the UK terrestrial market, advanced security, and USB 1.1 for software updates as well as MP3 and JPEG file decoding.

The SupraTV 160 family integrates a MIPS32 CPU complete with a Memory Management Unit supporting 16 and 32bit SDRAM, programmable multi-stream transport demultiplexer with conditional access, flexible audio DSP supporting MPEG, MP3, and WMA audio standards, MPEG video decoder, high quality video scalar with an advanced 2D graphics engine, digital video encoder, audio DAC, digital timing oscillator, and smart card protection and control functions. A programmable guest bus enables glueless connections to hard drives or peripheral devices including Common Interface and Ethernet ICs, and is used in conjunction with other features to offer a low system cost for DVB-CIM and digital video recording.

The SupraTV 160 processor will be demonstrated by invitation at Zoran's IBC customer meeting suite located in the RAI Convention Center.

About Zoran Corporation

Zoran Corporation, based in Sunnyvale, California, is a leading provider of digital solutions in the growing digital entertainment and digital imaging markets. With two decades of expertise developing and delivering digital signal processing technologies, Zoran has pioneered high-performance digital audio and video, imaging applications and Connect and Share technologies for the digital home. Zoran's proficiency in integration delivers major benefits for OEM customers, including greater capabilities within each product generation, reduced system costs, and shorter time to market. Zoran-based DVD, digital camera, DTV, multimedia mobile phone, and multifunction printer products have received recognition for excellence and are now hundreds of millions of homes worldwide. With headquarters in the U.S. and operations in Canada, China, England, Germany, India, Israel, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan, Zoran may be contacted on the World Wide Web at www.zoran.com or at +1-408-523-6500.

Zoran, the Zoran logo, SiliconSoftware and SupraTV are trademarks or registered trademarks of Zoran Corporation and/or its subsidiaries in the United Stated and/or other countries. All other names and brands may be claimed as property of others.

Source: Zoran Corporation

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

-- Tickets-for-Charity.com, the official online charitable ticketing partner of Lionel Richie's Coming Home Tour, and United Way of America today announced that beginning September 1, 2006, an exclusive pre-sale of tickets for Richie's upcoming fall 2006 concert tour will benefit United Way. The pre-sale includes premium seats and VIP packages at different price levels for every show on the tour. The 16-city tour will begin in Detroit on October 27 and end on November 25 in Oakland, CA. During the pre-sale period, which ends on September 22, tickets for the tour are only available at Tickets-for-Charity.com and every purchase benefits United Way. Lionel Richie's Coming Home album featuring the hit single, "I Call It Love" is in stores on September 12.

"We are thrilled that Lionel Richie's upcoming concert tour will benefit United Way and we thank Tickets-for-Charity for making it possible," said Brian Gallagher, President and CEO of United Way of America. "United Way is committed to making a difference in people's lives throughout the country. This is a great way for Lionel Richie fans to contribute to the work of United Way, such as ensuring children are ready for school or improving access to healthcare. Besides," Gallagher continued, "Lionel Richie is an incredible entertainer."

Tickets and VIP packages, including backstage passes to an exclusive pre-show party and a meet-and-greet with Lionel Richie, are available at www.tickets-for-charity.com for purchase at face value plus a pre-determined donation amount, which will benefit United Way, especially in the 16 tour cities.

"Based in theatres and small venues, Lionel Richie's Coming Home tour will be an intimate, unforgettable experience for fans," said Jord Poster, founder of Tickets-for-Charity. "They'll not only get access to some of the best seats in the house, they'll also receive the satisfaction of knowing they've helped United Way in their important work supporting communities across the country."

"I have always believed in the work of United Way," said Richie. "They are there day-in and day-out in towns across America to make things better for young children, families, or those affected by crises like Hurricane Katrina. I couldn't be happier that this great organization will benefit from my tour thanks to Tickets-for-Charity."

United Way makes a difference every day in the lives of millions of Americans by addressing the underlying causes of critical issues facing communities. While local United Ways tackle issues based on local needs, common areas of focus include helping children and youth succeed, improving access to healthcare, promoting self-sufficiency, and strengthening families.

Tickets-for-Charity offers fans access to great seats at their favorite sports, music and theater events that are not available anywhere else and -- in the process -- gives them an easy way to support important charitable causes. Tickets-for-Charity.com, which launched in August 2005, has raised more than $1.6 million for highly respected national charities through charitable sales for music and sports events, including The Rolling Stones' A Bigger Bang 2005-2006 Tour, Barbra Streisand's 2006 Tour and The Boston Red Sox 2006 Season.

Fans can visit www.tickets-for-charity.com to find exclusive seats and VIP packages for all Lionel Richie tour dates. The full tour schedule is as follows:

DATE CITY VENUE

27-Oct Detroit, MI Music Hall

28-Oct Chicago, IL Sears Centre

30-Oct Toronto, ON Roy Thomson Hall

3-Nov Washington, DC Constitution Hall

4-Nov Atlantic City, NJ Borgata Events Center

5-Nov Baltimore, MD Symphony Hall

7-Nov Newark, NJ NJ Performing Arts Center

8-Nov New York, NY Beacon Theatre

10-Nov Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena

11-Nov Boston, MA Opera House

12-Nov Philadelphia, PA Tower Theater

15-Nov Atlanta, GA Fox Theatre

17-Nov Charenton, LA Cypress Bayou Casino

18-Nov Charenton, LA Cypress Bayou Casino

19-Nov Sunrise, FL BankAtlantic Center

24-Nov Los Angeles, CA Kodak Theatre

25-Nov Oakland, CA Paramount Theatre

About Charity Partners, LLC and Tickets-for-Charity(TM)

Charity Partners, LLC was founded by Jord Poster (one of the founders of Priceline.com) to develop high-impact fundraising platforms for recognized public charities throughout the U.S. and the world. The Company has set a goal of generating more than $1 billion a year in charitable donations by 2010. Beginning with the $15 billion of financial value trapped in the hands of unsanctioned resellers in the secondary ticket market, the Company formed Tickets-for-Charity(TM) in 2004 to give sports and music fans a convenient way to support important causes while gaining access to high demand sporting and entertainment events across the country. In addition to United Way, Charity Partners currently partners with highly respected charities nationwide, including America's Second Harvest - The Nation's Food Bank Network, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, CARE, City Year, CureSearch National Childhood Cancer Foundation, Jumpstart for Young Children, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International, The Leary Firefighters Foundation, The National Children's Cancer Society, National Federation of the Blind and Partnership for a Drug-Free America.

About United Way

United Way is a national network of more than 1,300 local organizations that work to create lasting positive changes in communities and people's lives by addressing the underlying causes of the most significant local issues. While local United Ways tackle issues based on local needs, common areas of focus include helping children and youth succeed, improving access to health care, promoting self-sufficiency, and strengthening families. For more information about United Way, please visit: www.unitedway.org.

Source: Tickets-for-Charity

Web site: http://www.unitedway.org/

Web site: http://www.tickets-for-charity.com/

Anheuser-Busch will tap into the world's growing online community by launching an internet-based entertainment network -- Bud.TV -- featuring 24-hour live and on-demand programming from numerous exclusive partners such as Wild West Picture Show Productions, TriggerStreet.com, LivePlanet, SEED, @radical.media, Omelet and DDB Worldwide.

Bud.TV will engage contemporary adult consumers with a wide array of entertainment options in branded and original proprietary content including new humorous webisodes, sporting events, consumer-generated content, field news reports, celebrity interviews, music downloads and comedian vignettes. The first-of-its-kind initiative is slated to launch in February 2007, and more content providers will be announced in the coming months.

"We're always looking for new opportunities to connect with adult consumers on a more personal level," said August Busch IV, president, Anheuser-Busch, Inc. "With adults spending more time online looking for entertainment to fit their lifestyles, we believe Bud.TV will enable us to reach them in an engaging and fun way."

Bud.TV will launch as a multi-channel online network, with as many as seven channels dedicated to a variety of consumer-interest areas, including comedy, sports, news, short films, and original and mainstream programming. The network will also serve as a distribution platform for multimedia content providers showcasing new and creative material. Bud.TV's innovative desktop application will allow users to view the content in full-screen DVD quality, setting Bud.TV apart in quality and performance from other online entertainment portals.

Bud.TV will partner with Wild West Picture Show Productions in the marketing release campaign of its upcoming documentary "Vince Vaughn's Wild West Comedy Show." In addition, Bud.TV will showcase short films of rising filmmakers and screen writers on Kevin Spacey's TriggerStreet.com project, along with multi-platform productions from LivePlanet -- producers of the Matt Damon-Ben Affleck fronted "Project Greenlight," the world's largest online filmmaking contest.

"Supporting TriggerStreet.com since its creation four years ago, Anheuser-Busch understands the importance of encouraging promising talent in new and innovative ways," said Spacey, Academy Award winning actor and founder of TriggerStreet.com. "With Bud.TV they are continuing on this exciting path while providing original content for the growing number of adults who seek entertainment on the Internet."

Bud.TV also will tap into existing and forthcoming projects from partners like SEED (a division of Backyard Productions), @radical.media, and Omelet for reality programming and original content.

"We saw a great opportunity to partner with several of the world's most enlightened entertainment content providers into a single, unique online network," Busch said. "As adult consumers look for more entertainment options online, Bud.TV will help redefine the boundaries of emerging media."

Anheuser-Busch tapped into the talent of its former Vice President of Creative Development Jim Schumacker to head up the new Digital Marketing team overseeing Bud.TV. Schumacker and his team report to Vice President of Global Media and Sports Marketing Tony Ponturo as the company expands its use of new media to communicate with consumers.

Anheuser-Busch is working with DDB Worldwide as the lead agency to help manage and produce Bud.TV. Rodgers/Townsend (St. Louis) is providing the interactive design for the website and desktop application, and Nine Systems (San Diego) is producing the technology and distribution platform for Bud.TV.

Based in St. Louis, Anheuser-Busch is the leading American brewer, holding a 48.8 percent share of U.S. beer sales. The company brews the world's largest-selling beers, Budweiser and Bud Light. Anheuser-Busch also owns a 50 percent share in Grupo Modelo, Mexico's leading brewer, and a 27 percent share in Tsingtao, the No. 1 brewer in China. Anheuser-Busch ranked No. 1 among beverage companies in FORTUNE Magazine's Most Admired U.S. and Global Companies lists in 2006. Anheuser-Busch is one of the largest theme park operators in the United States, is a major manufacturer of aluminum cans and is America's top recycler of aluminum cans. For more information, visit http://www.anheuser-busch.com/ .

Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) today announced it remains on track for the November 17, 2006 launch of the PLAYSTATION(R) 3 computer entertainment system in North America.

Earlier today, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) announced it had revised its launch date to March, 2007. Responding to this announcement, Kaz Hirai, president and chief executive officer, SCEA stated:

"The change in the release date for PLAYSTATION 3 in the SCEE territories will not impact our launch for the system here in North America. Our plans remain unchanged, and we are on track to meeting our goals with this important launch. It is also important to note that the previously announced global PLAYSTATION 3 shipment forecast of six million units within the fiscal year ending 2007 has not changed."

The revision of the launch date in the SCEE territories was caused by the delay in the mass production schedule of the blue laser diode within the Sony Group, thus affecting the timely procurement of key components to be utilized in PLAYSTATION 3.

About Sony Computer Entertainment America

Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. continues to redefine the entertainment lifestyle with its PS one(TM) game console, PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system, PSP(R)(PlayStation(R)Portable) handheld entertainment system and the upcoming, much-anticipated PLAYSTATION(R)3 computer entertainment system.

Recognized as the undisputed industry leader, Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. markets the PlayStation family of products and develops, publishes, markets and distributes software for PS one game console, PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system and PSP handheld entertainment system for the North American market. Based in Foster City, Calif. Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. serves as regional headquarters for all North American operations and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. More information can be found online at http://www.us.playstation.com/ .

-- Carolyn Kepcher, who sat beside Donald Trump during many employment terminations on the 'Apprentice,' had the boardroom table turned on her and has been let go. Kepcher, a co-star with Trump from the start of the 'Apprentice' and Chief Operating Officer of two of Trump's golf courses, has been offered complimentary severance pay package negotiation advice by the employment law and human resources experts of CareerProtection.com.

"The shock of her dismissal reported Friday proves that anyone, even a longtime star performer of a company, can have their employment terminated without notice, for any reason, and at any time. Kirk Nemer, J.D., SPHR, President and CEO of Career Protection(R), has offered Ms. Kepcher his employment law expert negotiation advice for her severance pay package.

"Executives and professional employees need expert advice and counsel on their side during such difficult and stressful times," Nemer stated. "Severance pay and packages must be negotiated as they are not a 'take-it-or-leave-it' situation," Nemer added.

Nemer said that "companies want a General Release of Legal Claims in exchange for a severance package, and will happily negotiate its terms to get one.

"We would like to assist Kepcher with a severance pay negotiations strategy that would enable her to get the best severance package from the Trump Organization," Nemer adds.

For more information on how executives and professionals can receive a severance pay negotiations strategy and free consultation to protect their career and financial future, visit http://www.careerprotection.com/ .

About Career Protection(R)

A leading national provider of employment negotiations advice, the human resource and legal experts at Career Protection(R) have protected the careers of professionals throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. Career Protection has negotiated hundreds of employment agreements and severance pay packages. Career Protection's HR and legal experts have previously served as Vice Presidents of Human Resources, Directors of Human Resources, Corporate Counsel/Attorneys, or Recruiters for many Fortune 500 and Global Corporations. For more information, contact Career Protection or visit http://www.careerprotection.com/ .

About the Broadband World Forum Americas
The inaugural Broadband World Forum Americas debuts September 11–14, 2006, at the Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre in Vancouver, British Columbia. With TELUS as the official sponsor, the event completes the Broadband Series, which includes the popular Broadband World Forum Europe (the 2005 Madrid event drew nearly 6,000 industry professionals to register) and the successful Broadband World Forum Asia. For more information, please visit http://www.iec.org/events/2006/bbwf_americas.

About the IEC
A nonprofit organization, the IEC is dedicated to catalyzing technology and business progress worldwide in a range of high-technology industries and their university communities. Since 1944, the IEC has provided high-quality educational opportunities for industry professionals, academics, and students.
In conjunction with industry-leading companies, the IEC has developed an extensive, free, on-line educational program. The IEC conducts industry-university programs that have a substantial impact on curricula. It also conducts research and develops publications, conferences, and technological exhibits that address major opportunities and challenges of the information age.
More than 70 leading high-technology universities are IEC affiliates, and the IEC handles the affairs of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department Heads Association and Eta Kappa Nu, the honor society for electrical and computer engineers. The IEC also manages the activities of the Enterprise Communications Consortium. Please visit http://www.iec.org.

The Road to Sugarland

By Peter Cronin

© 2006 CMA Close Up News Service / Country Music Association, Inc.

The storm came quickly and was on top of the fans before they knew it; a real Tennessee squall complete with roaring thunder and dangerous lightning. The steamy-and-sunny weather held until literally the eleventh hour at this year's CMA Music Festival in June, but the sky finally opened up at the end of the final night - just as Sugarland was about to hit the stage.

"I hated it for the fans, but they stuck with it and waited out the rain," said Sugarland singer Jennifer Nettles. "We were back in the dressing room and they had them in the tunnels where they evacuate people in that situation. All of a sudden they were all singin' Hank Williams Jr's 'Family Tradition,' and I said, 'I will absolutely stay as long as I have to, to play for these guys because they love music and they are dedicated to it.' They were making the best out of what could have been a pretty chaotic situation."

The same could be said of Sugarland, a trio that rose from the ashes of three marginally successful singer/songwriter careers to become the breakout Country act of 2005. The band's debut album, Twice the Speed of Life, was released in 2004 and before anybody could run for cover, Sugarland was tearing up the charts and Nettles' soaring Country/gospel voice was dominating the Country airwaves. Smash hit singles "Baby Girl," "Something More" and "Down in Mississippi (and Up to No Good)" catapulted the trio - Kristen Hall, Nettles and Kristian Bush - to top-drawer tours opening for Kenny Chesney and Brooks & Dunn.

When Luke Lewis, Co-Chairman of Universal Music Group Nashville, caught one of Sugarland's shows, he knew right away he'd found something special.

"Their live performance was among the best I've ever seen," Lewis said. "Jennifer Nettles was mesmerizing, and the songs were great."

"It was pretty quick," Nettles said. "We started and a year later we had a record deal. We had all done it our own way, but without really shooting for the fences. And when we got together we just said, 'Let's go for it, let's write these songs, let's do it in Country Music because that's where the heart of the singer/songwriter is right now and that's what we do.'"

While they're not necessarily on a mission to make Country Music safe again for singer/songwriters, neither is Sugarland your typical Music Row success story.

"I think the Country fans of today are the same people that were into the acoustic rock movement of the '90s," Bush said. "I think they're the same people who bought John Cougar Mellencamp records and Black Eyed Peas records. I'm watching Country Music as a format that opens its arms more liberally than any other format that I've been involved with."

Sugarland's roots go back to Atlanta in the late '90s and the same vibrant singer/songwriter scene that spawned pop hitmakers like Shawn Mullins and John Mayer. Eddie's Attic, a songwriter's club in the Atlanta suburb of Decatur, was one of the focal points of the scene and Nettles' husband, Todd Van Sickle, owned the place for a few years. As solo artists, the three were aiming for the then-emerging AAA radio format - Nettles with her locally legendary live shows, Hall with her solo releases on the small High Street label, and Bush with his own major label duo, Billy Pilgrim - when Hall made the call that started the Sugarland ball rolling.

"She called me and said, 'I believe in you, and I believe in your writing, and I think that you're undiscovered,'" Bush said. "She also knew that I'd had a major record deal and that I knew how to navigate all of it, and she'd never done that."

Bush and Hall began writing songs together and immediately knew they'd found something special. Needing a singer, they enlisted Nettles, who became the vocal spark that ignited and distinguished Sugarland.

From their hit singles to deeper album cuts such as the inspirational "Stand Back Up," the songs they wrote together for Twice the Speed of Life chronicle both the frustrations and obstacles they faced trying to bust out of the Atlanta scene and the dreams and the drive that were so integral to their eventual success.

"We really wanted to get out of where we had all been as artists and move beyond that to something bigger," Nettles said. "Consequently all the songs reflect that; 'Fly Away,' 'Baby Girl,' all of those songs - you speak to the human condition and write what you know in your life."

Sugarland's compelling blend of true-to-life lyrics and soaring melodies proved irresistable to Country fans, who quickly propelled the band's sales into the triple-Platinum stratosphere.

"We're constantly excited about every turn of events," Bush said. "Every stage we get to play, and every friend who turns another person on to our music, it's a thrill every time."

Hall may have been the catalyst that got them going, but at the height of Sugarland's newfound success, she made the decision to leave the act and concentrate full-time on her songwriting. Bush and Nettles didn't miss a beat. Focusing on their strengths and similarities, the new duo continued to tour non-stop and write for their upcoming sophomore album. With their small-town backgrounds and shared musical sensibilities, the creative chemistry between them only grew stronger.

"Kristian and I work together very, very well on an interpersonal level," Nettles said. "We enjoy each other's company and we have our own rhythm in the way we write together."

Both Bush and Nettles were raised in small southern towns - she in Douglas, Ga., and he in Dolly Parton's hometown of Sevierville, Tenn., - in homes where music was around all the time.

"My mom loved the radio, and that shaped me as a musician, a writer and an artist," Nettles said. "It was always Crystal Gayle, Rita Coolidge, Juice Newton and Linda Ronstadt, especially."

For Bush, music came early and easily. When he was 4 years old, his mother enrolled him and his brother Brandon in a pilot program at the University of Tennessee for the Suzuki violin method.

"My brother and I were both guinea pigs for that system," Bush said. "When a child's language skills are developing, they teach them music as if it's another language."

It's hard to argue with success. Both Bush brothers went on to become multi-instrumentalists and major-label successes. Brandon plays keyboard with the Columbia Records rock band Train. Most recently, Brandon has been in a Nashville recording studio, adding keyboards to Sugarland's new tracks.

"I'm trying to get Brandon to come out and play with us," Bush said.

For Nettles, growing up in the Southern Baptist tradition was the perfect way to develop her voice.

"Growing up in the South and in the rich heritage of gospel and blues and R&B and soul; it's in our food, it's hot and sweaty and fried chicken and all of those things," she said. "Before Sugarland and Country specifically, my style was unfocused. I love all kinds of music, so I would sing all kinds of music - jazz, show tunes, R&B and Country as well. It's been really nice to focus and develop that part of my craft."

She may have found her true voice singing Country, but Nettles still knows how to rock. When the upstart trio joined rock superstars Bon Jovi for an acclaimed episode of CMT's "Crossroads," the vocal chemistry between Nettles and Bon Jovi was so potent that the band invited Nettles to join them in the studio. The resulting duet single, "Who Says You Can't Go Home," was a multi-week No. 1 Country hit for the New Jersey rockers and a memorable performance at the 2005 CMA Awards. In August, the 2006 CMA Awards nominations were announced and Nettles and Bon Jovi are up for Musical Event of the Year for the duet plus Sugarland also received nominations for Horizon and Vocal Group of the Year.

For Sugarland, the past couple of years have been a non-stop, pedal-to-the-metal ride to the top between the tours and the TV appearances and the Awards shows.

"It feels like a gift, and I'm just thankful for it every day," Bush said about his artistic partnership with Nettles. "Who else can you sit across from in a rocking chair when you're 70 and say, 'Hey, remember playing the GRAMMYS? Do you remember when Paul McCartney came up and said, 'Hey, I really dig your sound-check'?"

When the band appeared on the hit NBC-TV show "Las Vegas," Nettles even got a chance to make her acting debut. But in the midst of all the craziness that goes along with Country stardom, both Nettles and Bush remain focused on maintaining their artistic momentum and taking full advantage of what they know is a once-in-a-lifetime creative partnership.

"I have found that my creative self knows where I am in the world before my conscious self does," Nettles said. "When I look at the songs we're writing for this next record; a song called 'Settling' about not settling for less than you're worth, or a song like 'Want To,' which is about exploring something new and jumping into something deeper; I'm having to go inside and churn up all these things and dig deep."

Bush and Nettles, who are co-producing their sophomore album with Byron Gallimore, can hardly contain their excitement when talking about the music the fans will get to hear this fall when the album, Enjoy the Ride, is scheduled for release on Nov. 7.

"It's a really beautiful record," Bush enthused. "It's still a roots record, and the topics and the songs are beautiful. A lot of people have discovered what we're doing, and I want to make those people proud."

As for Nettles, reflecting on that stormy Nashville night in June at the CMA Music Festival when - even after four days and nights of non-stop music - the fans waited for more than an hour to hear her band perform, she knows that Sugarland is in exactly the right place.

"I'm from the South and Country Music has been a part of my life forever," she said. "And we are really lucky as Sugarland to have the fans that we do. Every kind of music has its own style of fan, but Country Music, I believe, is special."

On the Web: www.sugarlandmusic.com

Brooks & Dunn, Brad Paisley Lead Nominees with Six Nominations Each for "The 40th Annual CMA Awards"
By Wendy Pearl

© 2006 CMA Close Up News Service / Country Music Association, Inc.

The final list of nominees for "The 40th Annual CMA Awards" is an across-the-board collection of hard-core traditionalists, Country Music hit makers, mainstream innovators, with a healthy dose of up-and-comers added to the mix.
  
"Country Music is thriving on the talent and creativity of an outstanding group of artists and they are well represented with our nominees," said CMA COO Tammy Genovese. "These talented performers, musicians, songwriters, producers and directors demonstrate the artistic depth and creativity driving the growth of our format this year. It is an exciting time for Country Music and the 2006 CMA Awards will definitely reflect that in November."

"Today is one of the most exciting days of the year, not just for Country Music but for ABC as we plan our inaugural broadcast of the CMA Awards," said Andrea Wong, Executive VP, Alternative Series, Specials and Late-Night, ABC Entertainment.  "We congratulate the incredible lineup of nominees whose talent reflects all the best and brightest in all of music today and we look forward to celebrating with them and our partners in Country Music this November."

"The 40th Annual CMA Awards" will be hosted for the third time by Arista Nashville super duo Brooks & Dunn and broadcast live from the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville, Monday, Nov. 6 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network.

For the first time, the announcement of the final nominees in five of the 12 CMA Awards categories was made on ABC News' "Good Morning America" with Brad Paisley and Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland, from the "Good Morning America" studios in New York City's Times Square. The remaining categories were announced by Jason Aldean and Little Big Town on a special edition of CMT's "CMT Insider" live from the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville.

"This year the CMA Awards will come right from the heart of Downtown Nashville, here at the Gaylord Entertainment Center, right across the street from the mother church of Country Music, the Ryman Auditorium, on historic Broadway, right across from the Country Music Hall of Fame, which preserves the treasures as well as the deep roots of Country Music," said Nashville Mayor Bill Purcell. "I have no question that the stars will shine in Downtown Nashville. It is incredibly important for all of us to come together in this way to celebrate 'Country Music's Biggest NightT.'"

"Having both 'Good Morning America' and 'CMT Insider' broadcast our CMA Awards final nominees live brings a whole new level of excitement to these highly-anticipated announcements and allows fans across the country to experience the same excitement our artists and the industry feel as the names are announced," Genovese said. 

Paisley didn't simply deliver the good news; he was one of the major stories of the day with six nominations for the 2006 CMA Awards including Entertainer; Male Vocalist; Album for Time Well Wasted; and Single, Musical Event and Music Video of the Year for "When I Get Where I'm Going" (featuring Dolly Parton).

Paisley, who has won five CMA Awards since he won the Horizon Award in 2000, tied for the most nominations with CMA Awards hosts Brooks & Dunn. But Ronnie Dunn slipped ahead in the overall tally with an added nomination as songwriter on the duo's hit "Believe," which Dunn co-wrote with Craig Wiseman, marking Dunn's first individual nomination.

Brooks & Dunn were nominated for Entertainer, which they won in 1996; Vocal Duo, which they have won a record 13 times; Album for Hillbilly Deluxe; Single and Music Video for "Believe;" and Musical Event of the Year for "Building Bridges," with guest vocals by Sheryl Crow and the man who hosted the CMA Awards for 12 consecutive years before Brooks & Dunn took over in 2004, Vince Gill. This is Crow's second CMA Awards nomination. Only one nomination is counted per category, per project, but the duo could pick up additional trophies at this year's ceremony for co-producing their nominated Single with Tony Brown, and Album with Mark Wright, Tom Shapiro, Bob DiPiero and Brown.

With six nominations bringing his career total nominations to 33, Paisley moves ahead of music legends Chet Atkins, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and Conway Twitty in the nominations count. With three nominations this year for her work with Paisley on "When I Get Where I'm Going," Parton moves ahead of Reba McEntire as the female artist with the most CMA Awards nominations (43) in the 40-year history of the CMA Awards.

Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban and newcomer Carrie Underwood each had four nominations. Chesney was nominated for Entertainer, which he won in 2004; Male Vocalist; Album for The Road and the Radio; and Single of the Year for "Summertime." Chesney could win two additional Awards for co-producing his nominated Album and Single of the Year with Buddy Cannon.

Urban was nominated for Entertainer; Male Vocalist; Single for "Better Life," produced by Urban and Dann Huff; and Song of the Year for "Tonight I Wanna Cry," which Urban co-wrote with Monty Powell. Urban won his first CMA Award in 2001 with the Horizon Award. In 2004, he won Male Vocalist and last year Urban won Male Vocalist and Entertainer of the Year.

One of the breakout artists of the past year, Underwood definitely didn't miss the attention of CMA's voting members. She her first CMA Awards nominations including Female Vocalist; the Horizon Award; and Single and Music Video of the Year for "Jesus Take the Wheel," which was also nominated for Song of the Year for songwriters, Hillary Lindsey, Brett James and Gordie Sampson.

After winning three consecutive Vocal Group of the Year Awards (2003, 2004, 2005), Rascal Flatts received their first nomination for Entertainer of the Year. The Entertainer of the Year Award has only been won four times by a group including Dixie Chicks (2000) and Alabama (1982, 1983, 1984). Rascal Flatts also received nominations for Vocal Group and Album of the Year for Me and My Gang. Rascal Flatts co-produced the album with Huff.

Several artists received two nominations each this year including Big & Rich, Faith Hill, Alan Jackson, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Sugarland and Gretchen Wilson.

A song that resonated with CMA Awards voters was Big & Rich's poignant "8th of November," about a physically and emotionally scarred Vietnam Veteran. The anthem was nominated for Song of the Year, giving Big Kenny Alphin and John Rich individual nominations as songwriters. They received two nominations as Big & Rich for Vocal Duo and Music Video of the Year for "8th of November," which was directed by Robert Deaton, George Flanigen IV and Marc Oswald.

Hill won Female Vocalist of the Year in 2000 and she is nominated in the category again in 2006. She is also nominated in the Musical Event of the Year category with husband Tim McGraw for "Like We Never Loved at All." Hill and McGraw have a string of nominations in the musical collaboration category including "Let's Make Love" (2000); "Just To Hear You Say That You Love Me" (1998); and "It's Your Love," which won the CMA Award in 1997.

Jackson maintains his perch atop of the list of artists with the most career CMA Awards nominations in 2006 with 74. He is nominated for Male Vocalist and Album of the Year for Precious Memories. The album is a pared down collection of church standards Jackson recorded for his mother as a Christmas present in 2005. Initially, there were only 100 copies recorded.  

Lambert received her first CMA Awards nomination in 2005 for the Horizon Award and in 2006 she has two nominations - Horizon and Music Video of the Year for "Kerosene," which was directed by Trey Fanjoy. An artist can only receive two nominations for the Horizon category in their career. Little Big Town received their first CMA Awards nominations in 2006 including Horizon and Vocal Group of the Year.

Like Little Big Town, Sugarland also received nominations for Horizon and Vocal Group of the Year, but Jennifer Nettles also picked up a solo nod for Musical Event of the Year with Bon Jovi for their duet "Who Says You Can't Go Home." This is Bon Jovi's first CMA Awards nomination.

Wilson won the Horizon trophy in 2004 and last year she was named CMA Female Vocalist of the Year. She is nominated in that category again in 2006 and picked up an additional nomination for Musical Event of the Year with Merle Haggard for "Politically Uncorrect."

As the CMA Awards celebrates its 40th Anniversary, it is interesting to note that Haggard was nominated for Male Vocalist and Entertainer of the Year in 1967 at the first "CMA Awards Banquet and Show," and has received a nomination in every decade since for a career total of 45 CMA Awards nominations.

Completing the Female Vocalist of the Year category with Hill, Underwood and Wilson are Sara Evans and Martina McBride. McBride has won the Female Vocalist of the Year trophy four times (1999, 2002, 2003, 2004), surpassing Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette's record and tying her with Reba McEntire for the most wins in the Female Vocalist category.

In 2005, Dierks Bentley won the Horizon Award and in 2006 he joins the ranks of the Male Vocalist of the Year category for the first time, rounding out the list with Chesney, Jackson, Paisley, and Urban.

Joining Little Big Town, Rascal Flatts, and Sugarland in the Vocal Group of the Year category are Lonestar and Alison Krauss + Union Station Featuring Jerry Douglas, which received its first Vocal Group of the Year nomination in 2005. And speaking of Douglas, CMA's reigning Musician of the Year picks up an additional nod in the Musician category this year. 

Brooks & Dunn's domination on the Vocal Duo of the Year category is being challenged in 2006 by Big & Rich; Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry of Montgomery Gentry, who won the Award in 2000; Van Zant, made up of Southern rock royalty brothers Donnie Van Zant (.38 Special) and Johnny Van Zant (Lynyrd Skynyrd); and a new entry in the category, Michelle Branch and Jessica Harp of The Wreckers.

Rounding out the Horizon Award category with Lambert, Little Big Town, Sugarland and Underwood is Josh Turner. Turner received his first CMA Awards nomination in the category in 2004. 

"The depth and diversity of the Horizon nominees this year really speaks to the strength and future of the format," Genovese said.

The 2005 CMA Awards, held Nov. 15 for the first time in New York City at Madison Square Garden, won the night in viewers and key demographics, according to final national Nielsen ratings. The CMA Awards were first in households (11.1/17), viewers (17.73m), adults 18-49 (5.4/13), and adults 25-54 (6.7/15). The Awards were Tuesday's No. 1 program in households, viewers and adults 25-54. According to Nielsen, the CMA Awards was the No. 10 program of the week. Research estimates that more than 36 million viewers watched all of part of the ceremony. The 2005 broadcast ranked behind only the Academy Awards, the Golden Globes, and the Emmy Awards during the 2005-06 television season for award shows among total viewers, making the CMA Awards the top-rated music awards program of the television season.

"When the CMA Board of Directors decided to make the move to New York for a one-time event, Nashville's city leaders at first were reluctant, but eventually everyone embraced the idea and saw it as an opportunity to show off our wares and to show off Nashville," said Mike Dungan, CMA Board President and President/CEO of Capitol Records Nashville. "Ultimately our New York show accomplished our goals and set a new bar for higher achievement. Throughout the process we made a total commitment to return the CMA Awards to Nashville and make the 40th anniversary a spectacular event that was bigger and better than it was before."

The CMA Awards nominees and winners are determined by the 6,000 industry professional members of CMA, which was the first trade organization formed to promote an individual genre of music in 1958. The first "CMA Awards Banquet and Show" was held in 1967. The following year, the CMA Awards were broadcast on NBC television for the first time - making it the longest running, annual music awards program on network television. The show aired on NBC through 1971 and on the CBS Television Network from 1972 through 2005. 

Winners of "The 40th Annual CMA Awards" will be determined in the third and final round of voting by eligible voting members of the Country Music Association. CMA Awards balloting is officiated by the international accounting firm of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

In addition to live coverage of the CMA Awards nominees news conference events, the special edition of CMT's "CMT Insider" re-aired immediately following the live broadcast and a video news release including footage of the CMA Awards nominees and Country Music Hall of Fame inductees announcements, exclusive interview content, performance footage from the 2005 CMA Awards, music video clips, and more was serviced.

"The 40th Annual CMA Awards" is a production of the Country Music Association. Walter C. Miller is the Executive Producer; Robert Deaton is the Consulting Producer. Premiere Radio Network is the official radio packager of the CMA Awards, including a stereo-radio simulcast of the gala event. American Airlines is the official airline of the 2006 CMA Awards. Chevy, an American Revolution, is the official ride of the 2006 CMA Awards. Additional promotional partners include aolmusic.com, Greased Lightning Cleaning Products® and Hallmark Cards®. Charles Fazzino is the official artist of the 2006 CMA Awards.

REACTIONS FROM SOME OF THE CMA AWARDS NOMINEES

"I'm honored and humbled at the same time.  There are heroes and friends in this category. A big thanks to everyone that voted for us."
- Dierks Bentley
Male Vocalist of the Year

"This is the most important piece of work we have ever done.  This is a once-in-a lifetime opportunity for us as songwriters and artists to be able to pay a debt of respect and gratitude to all of our veterans, especially the Vietnam vets."
- Big & Rich
Vocal Duo, Music Video and Song of the Year

"Feel like we got some fresh wind in our sails - been a long time since we had this kind of fun - and a magic song like 'Believe' is the kind a career like ours can only dream of.  Thanks Ron and Craig [songwriters Ronnie Dunn and Craig Wiseman] and the Man Upstairs for that one.  Doesn't hurt to have Vince and Sheryl, two of the greatest talents on the planet, on our current single, either."
 - Kix Brooks of Brooks & Dunn   
Entertainer, Vocal Duo, Album, Single, Musical Event and Music Video of the Year

"It's good to feel 'the love' out there.  I guess you might think that it would work the other way, but the longer that we're in this business, the more humbling it becomes.  Kix and I realize how privileged that we are to be accepted by the fans and the people that surround us within the industry."
- Ronnie Dunn of Brooks & Dunn
Entertainer, Vocal Duo, Album, Single, Song, Musical Event and Music Video of the Year

"We work so hard on this music and it's always humbling when your peers hear something in your music that you were trying to get across. I make this music about who I am, for sure, but it's also a lot about the lives the people coming to our shows live . So, in a lot of ways, recognizing The Road and the Radio is telling the people who love this music, that their lives are the things that matter." - Kenny Chesney
Entertainer, Male Vocalist, Album and Single of the Year

"I think [Horizon Award] is even tougher than last year.  I definitely gotta bring my 'A' Game.  I have to say I am such a fan of the other nominees, it could be anyone's big night. I've been a fan of Little Big Town from the very beginning and Sugarland puts on such great live shows and great albums. It's going to be tough. Plus, it's such a big deal to me that I'm in a category (Music Video of the Year) with artists I have been a fan of for years. Trey Fanjoy did such a fabulous job with the 'Kerosene' video and I'm very proud of it."
- Miranda Lambert
Music Video of the Year and Horizon Award

"We were totally shocked when we saw our name during the Premiere [Radio Networks] broadcast.  Kimberly was reading the nominations for Vocal Group of the Year and peeked ahead and saw our name on the card. Jimi was looking over her shoulder in shock while Phillip and I were dying for them to say something.  After what seemed like an eternity, Kimberly laughed and read our name as a nominee.  We are completely blown away by this ... what a great surprise."
- Karen Fairchild of Little Big Town
Vocal Group of the Year and Horizon Award

"It's been an amazing morning and an unbelievable year. We feel very blessed."
- Jimi Westbrook of Little Big Town
Vocal Group of the Year and Horizon Award

"Man, it is always a great honor to be nominated for a CMA Award."
- Eddie Montgomery of Montgomery Gentry
Vocal Duo of the Year

"Sharing the honor with artists we'll soon tour with makes it even more exciting." - Troy Gentry of Montgomery Gentry
Vocal Duo of the Year

"This is great, I'm excited."
- Brad Paisley
Entertainer, Male, Album, Single, Musical Event and Music Video of the Year

"This is our first recognition from the CMA in the entertainer category, and it is such an honor.  We have worked so hard the last few years to deliver great albums and to give back to our fans with our live shows. We appreciate that our industry of peers is patting us on the back with these acknowledgements."
- Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts
Entertainer, Vocal Group and Album of the Year

"This is my first time to be nominated for the CMA Awards, so to be recognized for four is a big surprise and an amazing honor.  I'm extremely excited and can't wait until November."
- Carrie Underwood
Horizon Award, Female Vocalist, Single and Music Video of the Year

"Donnie and I are blown away by the embrace that Country Music has given us.  It's great to see that people appreciate our music and what we do.  We want to thank the fans, Country radio and the CMA for this recognition."
- Johnny Van Zant of Van Zant
Vocal Duo of the Year

"I'm always shocked and humbled to hear my name in a category alongside such talented women. I still can't believe I got to sing with Merle Haggard, and I'm so proud to have my name beside his in the event category."
- Gretchen Wilson
Female Vocalist and Musical Event of the Year

"This is a huge honor for us.  We are so excited to be sharing the category with the other talented duos and even happier to represent the category from a female perspective."
- Michelle Branch of The Wreckers
Vocal Duo of the Year

"A No. 1 single and our first CMA nomination in one week? It's unbelievable. Michelle and I really set no expectations for this project, so when things like this start happening, it is so exciting. It's a blessing, and it makes all the blood, sweat and tears that went into everything worth it. And I also feel it's an affirmation that Michelle and I were supposed to work together."
- Jessica Harp of The Wreckers
Vocal Duo of the Year

Sept. 5

Discovery Communications is deeply saddened by the tragic and sudden loss of Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter. Steve was beloved by millions of fans and animal lovers around the world and was one of our planet's most passionate conservationists. He has graced Animal Planet's air since October 1996 and was essential in building Animal Planet into a global brand.

Steve was killed during a filming expedition for Animal Planet on the Great Barrier Reef. While we are still collecting specific details, it appears that this was a rare accident in which Steve swam over a stingray and was stung by its barb in his chest. A doctor on board Croc One, Steve's research vessel, was unable to resuscitate Steve, and by the time a rescue helicopter reached him, he had died.

DCI Founder and Chairman, John Hendricks said, "Steve was a larger than life force. He brought joy and learning about the natural world to millions and millions of people across the globe. He was a true friend to all of us at Discovery Communications. We extend our thoughts and prayers to Terri, Bindi and Bob Irwin as well as to the incredible staff and many friends Steve leaves behind."

DCI CEO and President Judith McHale said, "I don't think we will ever get over the loss of Steve Irwin, a human being of enormous feeling and irrepressible enthusiasm and dedication to everything he touched."

Discovery Networks, U.S. President Billy Campbell said, "The sense of loss we feel about Steve is shared by people around the world, evident by the hundreds of heartfelt condolences that have already flooded into Steve's fan site on Animalplanet.com."

Discovery Networks International President Dawn McCall, said, "Rarely has the world embraced an animal enthusiast and conservationist as they did Steve Irwin. Steve's passion for animals and leadership in conservation awareness leaves a powerful and lasting legacy across the globe." Outside the United States, Animal Planet is available in 160 countries in Europe, Asia, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East with programming customized in 24 languages.

Animal Planet in the United States will air special tribute programming beginning tonight at 6 p.m. ET/PT. The programming will highlight Steve's background, including his early days as the Croc Hunter, and his passion for wildlife and his family. On Sunday, September 10, Animal Planet U.S. plans to air an all-day marathon tribute featuring the Best of the Croc Hunter. Animal Planet International in markets around the world will provide the same programming.

To honor Steve and the enormous contribution he made to the world and to our company, DCI will rename the garden space in front of Discovery's world headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, the "Steve Irwin Memorial Garden."

DCI is planning to create the Steve Irwin Crocodile Hunter Fund, which it expects to affectionately call "The Crikey Fund." The Fund will be established to honor Steve's passion and exuberance for conservation and the animal kingdom and is expected to provide a way for people from across the globe to make contributions in Steve's honor to support wildlife protection, education and conservation. The Fund will provide support to Steve's Australia Zoo in Beewah, Australia, as well as educational support for his children, Bindi and Bob Irwin.

Steve Irwin was the world's best-known wildlife crusader. As the Crocodile Hunter, Steve became a household name, and his television adventures have been seen around the globe. In 2002, he starred in the feature film, The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course and appeared on numerous popular television talk shows. Throughout his high international profile, Steve's commitment to wildlife always remained paramount.

His passion to protect the world's most endangered and threatened species could be traced back to his parents, conservationists and animal lovers Bob and Lyn Irwin, the founders of Australia Zoo. As a young boy, Steve helped Bob rescue and relocate crocodiles in the rivers of North Queensland. The father- and-son team was proud to say that over 100 crocodiles living at Australia Zoo were either caught by them or bred and raised in the zoo.

In his 20s, Steve volunteered his services to the Queensland government's rogue crocodile relocation program, living alone for years in the mosquito- infested creeks, rivers and mangroves of North Queensland.

In 1992, Steve and his friend, television producer John Stainton, created a distinctive new style of wildlife documentary. That one-hour program, The Crocodile Hunter, featured Steve, his new wife, American wildlife caretaker Terri Raines, and the animals of Far North Queensland. Steve's boisterous charm, unconventional style and extraordinary daring, combined with Terri's wit and composure in dangerous situations and their amazingly close encounters with such potentially deadly creatures as crocodiles, venomous snakes and spiders, made The Crocodile Hunter a worldwide hit.

In addition to The Crocodile Hunter series, Steve and Terri filmed 53 episodes of the Emmy Award-nominated Croc Files, The Crocodile Hunter Diaries, a behind-the-scenes look at Steve's daily life at Australia Zoo, and New Breed Vets, a series highlighting the cutting-edge veterinarian science.

As testimony to their commitment to conservation and the environment, Steve and Terri purchased over 60,000 acres of wildlife-sensitive land and worked the rehabilitation and breeding of some of the world's most endangered animals. At Australia Zoo, they established a breeding program to help such endangered species as the southern cassowary, koala, giant land tortoise, Fijian crested iguana and Komodo dragon, to name just a few. The zoo, a dedicated conservation area covering over 250 acres, earned Australia's most prestigious tourism award as "Major Tourist Attraction" for 2003. Steve was recently awarded the title "2004 Queensland Australian of the Year."

Discovery Communications, Inc. is the leading global real-world media company with operations in 170 countries and territories reaching 1.4 billion cumulative subscribers. DCI's over 100 networks of distinctive programming represent 28 trusted brands including Discovery Channel, TLC and Animal Planet. DCI's other properties consist of Discovery Education and COSMEO, a revolutionary online homework help service, as well as Discovery Commerce, which operates more than 100 Discovery Channel Stores in the U.S. Discovery brings the real world to the whole world through its global multiplatform initiatives including Discovery Travel Media, Discovery Mobile and multiple broadband services. DCI's ownership consists of four shareholders: Discovery Holding Company (NASDAQ:DISCA) (NASDAQ:DISCB) , Cox Communications, Inc., Advance/Newhouse Communications and John S. Hendricks, the Company's Founder and Chairman.

Web site: http://www.discovery.com/
http://animalplanet.com/

-- Veteran television host Todd Newton ("WHAMMY", "Game$how Marathon," "Made in the USA") will host the first-ever WORLDWIDE WEB GAMES (W3Games), a competition awarding a $1 million grand prize to the best casual game player in the world. The $1 million grand prize, to be presented by event sponsor, FUN Technologies, is the largest ever awarded in a casual online tournament or game. Produced by Base Camp Films, WORLDWIDE WEB GAMES will air as a one-hour prime time special on GSN, Sunday, December 3, at 9:00 p.m. ET. The event will be taped on Saturday, September 9, at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel in Los Angeles, CA.

As host, Newton will call the action for the competition, in which 72 casual gamers, representing seven countries from around the world and 22 U.S. states, demonstrate their mastery of three of the most popular casual games: Bejeweled 2, Zuma, and Solitaire. After three rounds of competition and elimination, $1 million dollars will be awarded to the last player standing.

In addition to the casual games championship, the festivities on September 9 will include Emmy Award-winning Chuck Woolery, host of GSN's television LINGO series. Woolery will be the master of ceremonies for a special competition in which celebrities will play the online Lingo skill game, competing for their favorite charities.

Each participant in the WORLDWIDE WEB GAMES qualified through playing online tournaments at FUN Technologies' casual games sites, WorldWinner and SkillJam, or at any of FUN's partner sites including GSN.com, MSN Games, Real Networks and Virgin Games. Of the 72 players, ranging in age from 20 to 63, 58 are from the United States.

WORLDWIDE WEB GAMES is being executive produced by director/producer Brady Connell and producer Jim Jusko for Base Camp Films, which they co-own. Two-time Emmy winner Connell has played integral roles in such television projects as "Survivor," "Eco-Challenge" and "The Amazing Race."

WORLDWIDE WEB GAMES' taping on Saturday, September 9, is open to the public and to the media.