Entertainment News

Last Update on March 12, 2010 03:09 EST

"AMERICAN IDOL" - TEARS SHED AS "AMERICAN IDOL" TOP-12 REVEALED

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- There were a lot of tears on "American Idol" last night as the top 12 were revealed. Katie Stevens was bawling after she made the cut, but it was at the expense of Lilly Scott. Alex Lambert's eyes were red from crying after he had been given the boot. Katelyn Epperly didn't cry until after she sang her farewell song, and Todrick Hall held it together, even after he was sent packing. The top 12 are Stevens, Michael Lynche, Lacey Brown, Andrew Garcia, Lee Dewyze, Didi Benami , Aaron Kelly, Paige Miles, Tim Urban, Casey James, Crystal Bowersox and Siobhan Magnus. They will sing the music of The Rolling Stones on Tuesday.

"THE PACIFIC" - TOM HANKS

PASADENA, Calif. (AP) -- Especially since "The Pacific" is based on the World War II experiences of three real-life veterans, Tom Hanks hopes that people watch the mini-series on a personal level. He says "when you see it, you'll ask yourself, 'I don't know what I would have done in that same circumstance. I recognize that fear in that person's face." And, the last connection Hanks hopes viewers make is to say they can see correlations "between the choices that those 17-year-olds made then and what 17-year-olds are making today." "The Pacific" premieres Sunday on HBO and repeats Monday on DirecTV. There are 10 episodes.

"GREEN ZONE" - MATT DAMON

NEW YORK (AP) -- Matt Damon likes to think of his movie "Green Zone" as a Bourne movie set in the real world. It's about the search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. A big difference between his character in this film and Jason Bourne is that he doesn't win every fight. Damon says if it's a non-Bourne movie, he tries "to never win a fight." He says "it's more interesting." "Green Zone" opens today.

"SHE'S OUT OF MY LEAGUE" - ALICE EVE

WASHINGTON (AP) -- She plays a perfect 10 in "She's Out of My League," but Alice Eve swears she does have flaws. For instance, she tells AP Radio she has a temper. She says her two brothers set her off when they eat her food. Besides, she says, how pretty could she be if the extras in the film had to be forced to stare at her? She says "there was one guy who wouldn't turn around" and the director had to yell at him "hey! guy number 3! Please look!" She's Out of My League opens today.

CONAN O'BRIEN - ADDING SHOWS

UNDATED (AP) -- There are more chances to see Conan O'Brien be goofy in person. He says he's just added second shows in San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver and Los Angeles. But, he's sad to announce, there's "still no show in Guam." Andy Richter and the former "Tonight Show" band are part of the tour. O'Brien says his shows will be "a night of music, comedy, hugging and the occasional awkward silence." He's calling it the "Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television Tour" because his exit-deal from the "Tonight" show says he can't do TV again until September 1. The tour begins April 12 in Eugene, Oregon and wraps up June 14 in Atlanta.

"SURVIVOR"-TOM OUT

UNDATED (AP) -- Tom the firefighter won't be winning another million bucks. Tom Westman was a previous "Survivor" winner. But his run on "Heroes vs. Villains" ran out last night. The Heroes lost another Immunity Challenge, their fourth of five. Earlier in the show, Hero James badly injured his knee during a Reward Challenge and could barely walk. But his tribemates felt an injured James was more valuable than a well Tom. Meanwhile, in the Villains camp, Russell proved that he has a bloodhound's nose for Hidden Immunity Idols. He found one. And he didn't keep it a secret from most of his tribemates.

STACEY DASH - REALITY SERIES

NEW YORK (AP) -- Stacey Dash of "Clueless" wants to let us into her life. She's announcing on today's "Wendy Williams Show" that she'll be doing a reality series on VH-1. It'll follow her life as a woman who's just been divorced. It's produced by one of the same people who does "Jersey Shore." Dash was Jamie Foxx's date at the Oscars on Sunday. She tells Wendy Williams they're friends and quote: "we like each other and you know, were friends."

RAY CHARLES MUSICAL - BROADWAY

NEW YORK (AP) -- We had the movie, "Ray," and now a musical with Ray Charles' music is headed for Broadway later this year. "Unchain My Heart" will open November 7 with preview performances beginning October 8. The cast hasn't been announced yet. An earlier version of this musical was called "Ray Charles Live." It was produced at the Pasadena Playhouse near Los Angeles in 2007. The producer, Stuart Benjamin, also was one of the producers of the movie.

MERLIN OLSEN OBIT

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Merlin Olsen, who starred in two TV series, has died. He was 69 and passed away at a cancer research hospital east of Los Angeles. After Olsen's football career, he became a TV actor. He was on "Little House on the Prairie" from 1977-81. And, he starred in "Father Murphy" from 1981-83. He was in another series called "Aaron's Way" in the late '80s. Merlin Olsen also did FTD flower commercials.