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Jennifer Hudson's Brother-in-Law Arrested for Family Murders

allvoices / contributed news — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 01:17:28 -0600

Marcus Errico and Natalie Finn Marcus Errico And Natalie Finn

Los Angeles (E! Online) – Jennifer Hudson's estranged brother-in-law has just gone from "person of interest" to prime suspect in the slayings of her mother, brother and nephew.

Chicago police today arrested William Balfour for the Oct. 24 shooting deaths that ripped the Dreamgirls star's family apart.

Chicago police detectives went to the Illinois' Stateville Correctional Center, where Balfour has been detained since two days after the murders. The 27-year-old was transferred into police custody at 2:45 local time.

"He is awaiting formal charges for three counts of murder," a police department spokesman told E! News. "There likely will be a press conference once there are formal charges against him."

Defense attorney Joshua Kutnick told reporters outside the police station that his client has maintained his innocence.

"He vehemently denies that he is guilty in this case," Kutnick said. "Any evidence pointing to Mr. Balfour is not even thin. It is very, very weak."

Hudson's mother, Darnell Donerson, and 29-year-old brother, Jason Hudson, were found shot to death in the family's Chicago home. Seven-year-old Julian King, the son of Hudson's sister, Julia, was reported missing and found dead from a gunshot wound to the head three days later in an abandoned SUV.

Police said that Julian was likely taken alive from the house and then killed in the vehicle. Hudson was called upon to identify the bodies of all three.

Balfour was deemed a "person of interest" in the case almost immediately after the murders transfixed the nation. But he was jailed on an unrelated charges of parole violation stemming from a 1999 attempted-murder conviction, for which he spent seven years in prison. He was released in 2006.

At a hearing last month, the Illinois Prisoner Review Board decided to keep him locked up after hearing evidence that he appeared in places where drugs were sold and, according to his girlfriend, being in possession of a gun matching the description of the Hudson murder weapon.

The suspect's mother, Michelle Davis-Balfour, told reporters tonight that the authorities didn't have a case.

"If they found gun powder on his hands, you got a case," she said. "If they found a gun on him, he had a case. If they found a fingerprint on the truck that he did this, you got a case— but they don't have nothing."

Hudson's publicist, Lisa Kasteler, had no comment Monday.

Nicole Kidman 'hated' by Facebook users

allvoices / contributed news — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 01:09:17 -0600

Melbourne, December 2 : Nicole Kidman seems to be a popular topic of discussion on Facebook - because of users' hatred towards the actress.

And their hatred has sky-rocketed so much that they are forming anti-Kidman campaigns.

The Academy Award-winner is said to be the target of groups such as "Am I Taking Crazy Pills or is Nicole Kidman the Worst Actress in the World?" "Nicole Kidman is Satan", or simply "I hate Nicole Kidman" - by people never likely to have met the star or known her personally.

While Avi Aronstan said "She is manipulative, calculating and two faced!" Jarrod Booth blogger wrote "she has the emotional scope of a spoon and she's ugly," News.com.au reports.

The actress has further been violently critiqued on the social networking website for her acting skills for her recent performance in the romance-epic film 'Australia'.

While some dubbed the celebrity as the "ice queen", others held her "baby brain" accountable for an "overpaid" performance.

The Kidman-hating bloggers also put up her digitally altered pictures to make her look 100 years old -even attack her entirely innocent newborn baby.

Meanwhile, those close to the UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador continued to vouch for Kidman calling her practical, sensitive and hard-working woman, committed to her family and far at bay from 'the prima donna about her'.

Small things ‘Frost/Nixon’ film could’ve done without

allvoices / news — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 21:54:47 -0600

Morgan also wrote the screenplay for the film, which debuts in major U.S. cities on Dec. United States and the world in coming months. “There is about 10 percent fiction,” Frost, 69, who now hosts a show on the Al Jazeera English network, told Reuter

Producers use LA Times ad to toss salvo at SAG

allvoices / news — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 19:59:16 -0600

The "open letter" that appears in Monday's paper says the actors are jeopardizing the work of other unions that have already made deals with producers. It says "SAG is demanding that the entire industry literally throw out all its hard work because i

Sean Penn's gay sex request

allvoices / news — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 19:15:40 -0600

Sean Penn asked for more gay sex scenes to be written into new movie 'Milk'...He said: "In the original script I read, there was only one real kissing scene. A month after the director Gus Van Sant asked me to do it, they sent me another script, and

Hollywood's Most Overexposed Celebrities

allvoices / contributed news — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 18:46:51 -0600

All press is good press, the old adage goes. This does not apply to Paris Hilton.

The celebutante's every move, from her club-hopping to her jail stint to her search for a new best friend has proved fodder for the flashbulbs and celebrity press. But what has the incessant coverage garnered her? Eye rolls--and worse, audience disinterest.

In fact, 65% of the U.S. population would use the term "overexposed" to describe Hilton, according to Los Angeles-based E-Poll Market Research, which provides "appeal" rankings for nearly 4,500 celebrities. To put that in perspective, most celebrities average between 3% and 7% on the E-Poll celebrity index during the peak of their careers.

But Hilton isn't the only star to have worn out her public welcome. Audiences have tired of Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan and Pamela Anderson, among others. And while overexposure may have less to do with the precise number of headlines than it does the public's perception, the 10 celebrities on our list have proved that familiarity can, and does, breed contempt.

So who's to blame for the media onslaught and the fatigue that follows?

"Is it the paparazzi's fault? They contribute," says Lori Levine, chief executive of talent brokering firm Flying Television. "Is it the insatiable appetite of the American public? That contributes. Is it the invention and obsession with YouTube? Yes, that contributes too."

And don't forget the growing list of spotlight-seeking stars that chase the flashbulbs as much--if not more--than the flashbulbs chase them. Consider Lohan, third on our list, who seems to make a habit of migrating to paparazzi stalking grounds like Les Deux, Villa and trendy eatery Katsuya.

Star Editor-in-Chief Candace Trunzo says that if celebrities don't want to line the pages of her magazine, they don't have to. "By and large, if you really want to be a private person and live a private life, you can do it," she says, citing Johnny Depp as an example.

But many crave the limelight for good reason. Unlike Depp, they don't have a steady stream of projects keeping them in the public eye. Rather, they rely on media attention to keep them relevant--and famous.

Take The Hills' best friend-turned-best enemy Heidi Montag, who lands at No. 10 on our list. With both her music and fashion forays proving flops, she has managed to parlay her on-again-off-again relationships and outings with MTV co-star Lauren Conrad and bad boy beau Spencer Pratt into tabloid-worthy fodder. (Had we expanded our list, Pratt would have ranked No. 12).

"Heidi and Spencer have turned overexposure into an art form," says In Touch Editor-in-Chief Richard Spencer, who marvels at the flashbulb-focused lovers' vast numbers of petty feuds and photo ops.

Levine agrees. "Heidi and Spencer are the ones that really understand, more than anyone else, what it takes," she says. "They're unabashedly unashamed about being completely overexposed." And their reward for it: Still more exposure.

Source: Yahoo News!

Students go classical to protest against academy closure

allvoices / news — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 18:37:45 -0600

Two violinists entered the House of Representatives entrance and a lone cellist greeted senators on the opposite side of Parliament House. Last month federal Arts Minister Peter Garrett announced that funding for the classical music school will be cu

Tina's cheek, Phelps' photo leak, and Leo's house on a peak

allvoices / news — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 17:40:50 -0600

From published reports Tina Fey 's husband is talking about something the "30 Rock" actress would rather not discuss: the scar on her left cheek. In an interview in Vanity Fair, Jeff Richmond says a stranger slashed Fey's face when she was 5.

August Wilson's 'Joe Turner' returns to Broadway

allvoices / news — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:10:49 -0600

Bartlett Sher, who directed Lincoln Center Theater's hit production of "South Pacific," will direct the LCT revival, which will open April 16 at a theater to be announced.

Bedroom Bach? YouTube starts a cyber symphony

allvoices / news — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:09:31 -0600

Borrowing from "American Idol," the online video site announced plans Monday for a YouTube Symphony Orchestra, featuring a collaboration of wannabe musicians with Carnegie Hall, conductor Michael Tilson Thomas, composer Tan Dun and others. Through Ja

Chris Brown a big hit with on-demand viewers

allvoices / news — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:08:35 -0600

The TV on-demand service Music Choice said Monday the soul singer was its most requested artist in a one-year period ending in September. Fans ordered free plays of Brown's videos or interviews 43 million times. Music Choice honored Brown on its firs

Britney's return in baby steps

allvoices / news — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:08:05 -0600

It's disturbing enough that Britney Spears' life has been a public train wreck with an inevitable ripple effect through her fans and immediate family. What's twisted about it is the way the Spears camp tries to turn some of the more shameful aspects

Boston Globe: William Shatner's new enterprise is a TV talk show

allvoices / news — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:34:22 -0600

I guess I should care if Valerie Bertinelli believes in heaven and hell. After all, she's a former child star, an upstanding member of the tabloid weight-fluctuation club alongside Kirstie Alley, and, as the ex-wife of Eddie Van Halen, a sort of pero

Nicole Kidman bullied on Facebook

allvoices / news — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:29:18 -0600

I know suggested I join the Facebook group, "Am I Taking Crazy Pills or is Nicole Kidman the Worst Actress in the World?"...I am completely indifferent as to whether Kidman's acting skills are bad, very bad or indeed the worst in the world...Facebook

NHK producer in Shibuya shoplift

allvoices / news — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:08:56 -0600

An NHK producer was arrested Monday for allegedly shoplifting at a clothes shop in Shibuya Ward, Tokyo, near the public broadcaster's headquarters, police said. The 52-year-old man, whose name is being withheld, produced some episodes of the popular

Fast-breaking music

allvoices / news — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:01:24 -0600

Smiths and the Housemartins; emerging American artists Soul Asylum, They Might Be Giants, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers; and Boston bands the Pixies, Throwing Muses, and the Mighty Mighty Bosstones...Paul Driscoll started airing the Bravery when he g

Dueling Grammy predix: Record of the Year

allvoices / news — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 14:46:26 -0600

LATimes.com readers have already seen what our Pop & Hiss blog says will nab bids for record of the year when Grammy nominations are announced this Wednesday, Dec...To make things interesting, I requested challenging views from two of The Envelope's

Nickelback and Slipknot to play BOK

allvoices / news — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 14:03:30 -0600

Rock powerhouses Nickelback and Slipknot today announced Tulsa dates at the BOK Center. Nickelback is appearing April 10 and Slipknot will appear February 23, 2009. Tickets go on sale December 6, 2008 at the BOK Center for both concerts. Nickelback

Dunst gets order against alleged stalker

allvoices / news — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 13:56:00 -0600

Dunst's assistant performed a citizen's arrest on a man who bypassed security and showed up at the actress' Hollywood home in November...Police and Dunst sought a restraining order against Christopher Smith after his Nov. 20 arrest. Documents show st

Entertainment.ie, Ireland: Viewer Review: Choke - An enjoyable romp through dysfunction.

allvoices / news — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 13:55:58 -0600

Success is often a poisoned chalice in Hollywood as many a bombed blockbuster sequel will prove. While "Choke" is in no way meant as a sequel to Chuck Palahniuk's "Fight Club", as the only Palahniuk novel brought to the big screen since Tyler Durden