Warner Bros To Reboot Batman Franchise After The Dark Knight Rises!

batman to get reboot treatment

And they'll be bringing back Batman & Robin's Joel Schumacher to helm the Batman reboot!!! JK!

Schumacher may not be returning, but then again neither will Christopher Nolan as director, or Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne, because after The Dark Knight Rises hits theaters, Warner Bros will be completely rebooting the Batman franchise.

Here's what WB chief Jeff Robinov had to say about it:

?We have the third Batman, but then we?ll have to reinvent Batman?Chris Nolan and [producing partner and wife] Emma Thomas will be producing it, so it will be a conversation with them about what the next phase is.?

Well at least Christopher Nolan will be involved on SOME level. That makes us feel a bit better about it.

Guess we'll see who they bring in to direct. How about they go the comedy route and bring in Judd Apatow for this one? LOLz.

We're thinking James Franco as Bruce Wayne/Batman, Harold Ramis as Alfred, Leslie Mann as Bruce's love interest, and Seth Rogen Jason Segel Jay Baruchel Jonah Hill as the new Joker!

And hey?if they want to stay conventional for this reboot, that's fine! They can bring in Apatow when (Read more...)

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Supreme Court To Hear Case Of Fired Church Teacher

By Adelle M. Banks
Religion News Service

WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court agreed Monday (March 28) to consider whether a teacher who was fired from a religious school is subject to a "ministerial exception" that can bar suits against religious organizations.

The case involves an employment dispute between a Michigan school and a teacher who is defended by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Lawyers for the Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church and School in Redford, Mich., argue that courts have long recognized the First Amendment doctrine that often prevents employees who perform religious functions from suing religious organizations.

They asked the court to determine whether it extends to teachers at a religious school who teach a secular curriculum but also teach religion classes and lead students in prayer.

A lower court sided with the school and against fired teacher Cheryl Perich, citing the ministerial exception. But last March, the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the decision, saying it did not apply because Perich spends most of her time teaching secular topics.

The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, which is representing the school, said federal appeals courts are divided on the limits of the ministerial exception and the Supreme Court's consideration is groundbreaking.

"If `separation of church and state' means anything, it means the government doesn't get to pick religious teachers," said Luke Goodrich, deputy national litigation director at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty.

The EEOC has expressed concern that a ruling against Perich could lead to religious organizations being shielded from all suits filed by staffers "simply by characterizing all of their duties as religious."

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Gov. Brown to announce water drought has ended

EXPERTS: Californians encouraged to continue serving water, though.

After two wet winters, Gov. Jerry Brown is scheduled to announce Wednesday that California's three-year drought has ended, although officials will continue to call for conservation measures.

Brown is expected to make the official announcement after receiving manual snowpack measurements from the Department of Water Resources. Officials expect the statistics will confirm electronic readings that the water content is nearly 60 percent above average - that enough to call an end to the drought of 2007-09.

Los Angeles officials said they are not prepared to rescind lawn-watering restrictions until they have more confidence about the long-term outlook. And Brown spokesman Evan Westrup also said the governor will be urging Californians to continue to watch their water use.

"While the season's surplus of rain and strong snowpack has clearly ended the dry spell for now, it is critical that Californians continue to conserve water," Westrup said.

DWR spokesman Ted Thomas said officials believe today's measurement will show that rain and snowpack is 160 percent of normal for the weather year that ends April 1. Water Resources officials estimate last year's total at 109 percent of normal.

The National Weather Service, which measures rainfall from July 1 through June 30, Los Angeles got 16.36 inches of rain in 2009-10, about an inch above normal. During the drought, L.A. received 3.21 inches in 2006-07; 13.53 inches in 2007-08; and 9.08

inches in 2008-09.

The 2007-09 drought was the first in California's water history for which a statewide proclamation of emergency was issued.

"Because Gov. (Arnold) Schwarzenegger issued an executive order on the drought, it will require Gov. Brown to issue his own order rescinding it," Thomas said.

The drought was considered the fifth worst in state history and resulted in reduced deliveries of water to cities and agricultural regions. At one point, the Metropolitan Water District, which serves Southern California, was told it would receive only 20 percent of its requested allocation.

Los Angeles also had to buy more of its water from the MWD instead of relying on its own, less-expensive supply that arrives from Owens Valley via the Los Angeles Aqueduct.

MWD General Manager Jeffrey Kightlinger said this year's storms helped ease the agency's water shortage - the agency's largest reservoir, Diamond Valley Lake, is nearly full - although officials believe the public still needs to practice conservation measures.

"The long-term challenges remain ahead of us, but the short-term conditions have improved considerably," Kightlinger said. "What we hope to see is a lifestyle change in how people consume water."

In addition to the snowpack measurements of 60 percent above normal, the Colorado River, another source of water for California, is about 20 percent above normal.

"It is rare when both California and the Colorado have significant water years at the same time," Kightlinger said. "What it means is we can replenish a lot of our reservoirs and the Colorado will be able to help replenish Lake Powell."

Kightlinger said two years ago the MWD was told it would only receive 20 percent of the water it needed.

"We started very low and were able to get up to 50 percent of our supply, but it was very tight times," Kightlinger said. "Now, we are projecting by the end of the year that we will be back to where we were before this drought began in 2006."

The Water Resources Department is estimating it will be able to deliver 70 percent of State Water Project requests this year, up from 50 precent in 2010. In 2008, deliveries totaled just 35 percent of requests.

Despite the positive news about the water supply, Los Angeles officials want to take a cautious approach before lifting the city's drought restrictions.

Residents living in homes with odd-numbered addresses can water their lawns for eight minutes on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Those with even-numbered addresses can water Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.

"We had a good rain this year, but we could be in a drought again next year," said Councilwoman Jan Perry, who chairs the Environment and Energy Committee. "Before we lift the requirements we have in place and the public seems to have adjusted, we need to be sure the supplies are there."

DWP officials said it will send teams on Friday to measure the snowpack in the Eastern Sierras, the source of water for the Los Angeles Aqueduct.

Staff Writer Dana Bartholomew contributed to this report.

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From actor to professor: James Franco lands NYU teaching job

James Franco has been keeping busy with his work to obtain a Ph.D. in English at Yale.

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James Franco has been keeping busy with his work to obtain a Ph.D. in English at Yale.

Just call him Professor Franco.

James Franco is proving he really is a jack-of-all-trades. The 32-year-old actor, artist and recent Oscars host's newest gig will be as an instructor at New York University's Kanbar Institute of Film & Television this fall.

"He will be teaching a section of a third year directing class in the graduate film division," an NYU spokesman told E! Online. "It will comprise 10 to 12 students."

Franco, who is currently in the midst of obtaining a Ph.D. in English at Yale, will reportedly have his pupils make a film adaptation of a Louise Glück poem.

John Tintori, the chair of the program, praised the "127 Hours" star for having "an amazing mind and limitless energy."

"Our students will be fortunate to learn from him," he said. "We anticipate the students in his class will feel especially privileged to have him as a teacher."

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'Psycho' Mike -- Topless Dancer


"Psycho Mike" Catherwood from "Dancing with the Stars" went for a walk in Venice Beach yesterday without a shirt -- and in case you were unaware ... the dude is frickin' JACKED.
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He also talked about something ... maybe the show? ... It doesn't really matter ... you're probably not watching this clip to hear him speak.
 
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Tags: Psycho Mike, Dancing with the Stars, Hot Bodies, The Facts Behind The Funny!


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Coleen Rooney calls an SOS summit in Barbados

Heartbroken WAG Coleen asks for pals' help over her marriage crisis

Coleen Rooney | Coleen and Wayne Rooney - their love story so far | Now Magazine | Celebrity News | Pictures

Coleen Rooney know she needs to think about her future

There's nothing like your best mates to steer you through the hard times.

So, with hubby Wayne's fling with two prostitutes still deeply etched in her memory, it's no wonder Coleen Rooney, who turns 25 this week, has asked four of her close pals to join her at her £5 million holiday home in Barbados to help her through her marriage crisis.

'Although Coleen took Wayne back and they seemed to be putting the past behind them, she's still unsure what to do,' a pal tells Now.

'There are only a few people she feels she can trust.'

Col's SOS squad includes Wayne's cousin Claire Rooney, Catherine Miller, who she grew up with, and old St John Bosco school friends Natalie Fenlon and Louise Brennan, all 25.

'She's known the girls since school and calls on them in times of trouble,' adds our source.

'She told them she'd pay for their flights to Barbados because apart from her family, they're the only ones who can help her decide things when it comes to Wayne.

'Her aim is to have fun on holiday but she hopes that being able to chat about things will clear her mind.'

Read the full story about Coleen Rooney in Now magazine dated 4 April 2011 - out now!

SEE PICTURES Wayne and Coleen Rooney's
wedding photos>>

SEE PICTURES Wayne and Coleen Rooney -
their love story so far>>

SEE PICTURES Coleen Rooney launches her new perfume Butterflies>> 

 

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RuPaul?s Drag Race ? ?RuPaul?s Hair Extravaganza?

Sadly, my favorite glamour gal, the lovely Nicolette won?t be joining me for this recap. She?s got a packed schedule and a photo shoot ? the rigors of being such a fabulous queen! This week, the queens come into the workroom through the eternally squeaky door and, as Alexis so eloquently put it, we?re down to the ?Top 5, bitches!? Manila?s feeling a void left by Carmen?s ?giant ass? and appoints Raja (who?s looking super boy-sexy today) as HBIC in his fallen Heather?s absence. Raja seems to be all for it and says he?s not holding it back anymore, gloating about his previous win by prancing around saying ?Suck it, bitches.? Yara and (especially) Alexis are not amused.

Shangela, in the bottom two last wek, knows he?s got to work harder to prove to his fellow competitors that he deserves to still be in the running. He feels Manila and Raja still see him as a threat because they are so bothered that he?s still around. And?oh?what?s that sound? Guuurl, you got She Mail! With all of the puns girl Ru tosses out ? like ?hair today, gone tomorrow? and ?parting is such sweet sorrow?, you know this challenge has got to be follically related. Boy Ru, looking sharp, introduces the mini-challenge. This week, the queens have to create a headpiece made from ?items swiped from the gay beach? ? which gives Ru the chance to say ?You?ve got crabs?beach balls, grass skirts and a whole bunch of fun stuff? that they can use for their creations. The queens make a mad dash for the inflatable pool toys, festive fruity cocktail straws and plastic leis and get to work.

Raja is crafting an ?Alexander McQueen? headpiece made of plastic lobsters and glue. Manila?s having issues getting his inflatable palm tree to stand up (innuendos ahoy!) Shangela, who is still pretty much a hot mess when it comes to any kind of wardrobe construction, is trying to make an inflatable parrot, dolphin and spome grass skirt material into something. Time?s up and Ru checks out the queens? handiwork. Raja?s headpiece is a little sloppy, but kind of creative, adding shells to the lobsters and glue. (And it really doesn?t matter what he wears, bitch can always seems to pull it off.) Yara used the greass skirt to make braids and decorated the top of his headpiece with drink umbrellas and small plastic beach toys. Manila went showgirl, dangling small balls on leis from his palm tree. Sadly, his tree fell limp during his presentation. Alexis went with a deflated pool toy/lei motif. Poor Shangela?s hat looked like ?a parrot humping a dolphin?. Of course, Raja wins?again.

There?s more Drag Race after the jump!

This week?s main challenge gives the chance for the queens to ?wig out?. The (criminally underused) pit crew wheel out an assortment of wigs and Ru tells the guys that they have to create three distinct hairstyles. The first is a ?classic look from another era?, the second is a modern, red carpet-worthy look and the third is a ?fantasy hair extravaganza?. Since Raja won the mini-cheallenge, he gets a 5-second headstart in wig selection. It?s a free-for-all as the wigs get grabbed up. Yara seems to be lacking a bit of inspiration and is walking around, brushing a wig, trying to get some ideas. Manila and Raja think Yara will excel at this challenge. Shangela asks them how they think he?ll do and Manila responds with ?I think you?ll do fine? (which elicits a hearty guffaw from Yara) and then sarcastically shows him what a comb does. Me-ow! Shangela is determined to prove that he?s got creativity out the wazoo and can take this challenge.

Alexis thinks the fantasy look is going to be the most difficult, because he usually uses his own hair for a base. Shangela is going for ?Donna Summer meets Diana Ross? for his classic look. Yara?s a little lost, using an afro wig for an 80s look(?). Ru checks in. Alexis tells Ru his classic look is going to be a 1940s look, which prompts Ru to crack ?During the 40s there was a ration on latex titties? (I knew Ru didn?t like those things!) Alexis is doing an ?evening modern mohawk? for his red carpet look. Sounds great, but he has absolutely nothing to show Ru. Oh, Alexis does have the beginnings of his fantasy, cotton candy-inspired look, which doesn?t really get much of a reaction. Shangela is also working on his fantasy look. Currently it?s a beehive wig with what looks like two horns on it. Shangela describes it as ?an alien princess from the future?. I?m officially curious about this one. Ru thinks Shangie?s classic look is beautiful. Shangela tells Ru that he?s no longer asking for advice because he knows the other queens are over his constant requests for help. Yara?s classic look is still a mystery to me. It?s braids in the front and two huge afro wigs in the back. Ru asks Yara if he?s concerned that Shangela?s also doing a 70s-era style, Yara says he came up with it first. Raja says he?s channeling Janice from The Muppets for his red carpet look (=Donatella Versace, amirite?) His fantasy wouldn?t involve a wig, he says, because ?the wig would be pulled off!? Cheeky! Ru wants to be wowed by Raja?s fantasy look and he?s feeling the pressure. Manila?s classic look combines a Marie Antoniette wig with a white afro. Ru thinks it?s better as a fantasy look and says he thinks the era should really be clear. After the initial assesments, Ru tells the queens that their hair creations will be judged by Wayne Brady and Fantasia Barrino. In addition, Ru wants the queens to make a runway outfit made entirely out of hair. The queens look overwhelmed. This oughta be good.

The pressure of creating a dress out of hair must have gotten to Yara, because he?s yelling and screaming like a crazy person. Enjoy Yara?s stress-relieving antics in this clip:

Yara says he wants to win the challenge and keeps coming around Alexis? work area to get feedback on his look. Alexis has got his own problems. He?s worried about having to wear padding and hair while having a feminine silhouette. He wasn?t happy with the finished product and took a pair of scissors to it. Shangela?s experiencing a ?creative high? ? and I hope that involves covering those weird horns with hair. All of the queens are stressed out. The day of the runway show, the queens are really feeling the pressure. They?ve still got a lot of work to do. As the queens get ready for the runway, they chat about the art of drag. Listen in:

It?s runway time! Ru takes the stage in a purple sequined gown?girl Ru always looks jaw-droppingly spectacular. I?m so jealous! Michelle Visage is wearing a black dress with these weird, hairy red epaulets and Santino is wearing an oddly-sized cowboy hat. I don?t get the connection, but then again, I don?t get Santino. Wayne Brady could be the oddest selection for the judges? panel all season (not that I don?t love the guy, he?s got nothing to do with hair.) Fantasia?s okay, but her Aunt Bunny would have made an infinitely more amusing judge. Here come the queens!

First up are the classic looks. Yara?s braid/afro combo looks much better on his head ? and, judging by his silver disco bodysuit, he finally got the era right. Alexis was going for 1940s, Old Hollywood glam, but as much as I thought he looked nice, I wasn?t really seeing it. Raja went with a 1960s bouffant ?do and Twiggy-esque fashion. He says he was going for a Mad Men look, but I saw more Laugh In (liked it, though!) Shangela went for a Spanish look (I don?t think ?spanish? is an era. Girlfriend might be in trouble ? and the back of the wig looks a little sloppy. Uh-oh. And what happened to the disco wig?) Manila stuck with the 80s-ish ?Rock Me Amadeus? look. It?s also another one that looks way better on.

Next up are the red carpet looks. Yara?s is described as being very ?Desperate Housewives?. He left his own spiky hair exposed on the side. Kinda edgy, not sure if I dig it though. Alexis? ?red carpet mohawk? was kind of col, but I didn?t like the contrasting blond braid he intertwined with it. Raja went with a razor cut blond wig, which looked really awesome. Was it just me, or did he make the roots dark? Shangela went for a sophisticated look he dubbed ?Diahann Carroll at the Oprah?s Legends Ball?. I liked the look when he was facing front, but the side view killed it for me. Manila was ?Jennifer Love Hewitt?s version of Audrey Hepburn?. He looked pretty, but it wasn?t knocking me out.

Last, but certainly not least ? the fantasy hair extravaganza! Yara?s look was really stunning, using blond afro wigs as a skirt, twisted braids as a top and an elaborate headpiece. Alexis toned down the cotton candy look (although there was still lots of pink to be seen) and was more ?Phantom of the Opera?/circus. The dress was a little disorganized, but the wig was kinda cute. Raja was a vision in pastel. He went completely cotton candy ? wearing a pink wog with a dress that looked good enough to eat. I liked Shangela?s Conan the Barbarian-esque dress (and hair sword), but the hair was still weird. Should have put hair on the cones! And damn, can Manila pull a theme together or what? His bumblebee look was perfect!

The judges have a lot of critiquing to do. Yara tells Ru that for him, extravaganza means animal. Ru asked if that meant looking like a scorpion and a poodle (Michelle chimed in with ?A scoodle!?). Santino said he looked Dr. Seuss-ian, like ?a very beautiful woman from Whoville?. Wayne added ?More like the ho of Whoville!? Fantasia said Yara?s classic look reminded her of her aunties (I can see Aunt Bunny rocking that ?do! Gurrrrl, please! ) Santino ?got? that Alexis? fantasy look was a circus girl, but called his runway look ?budget RuPaul?. Michelle notes that Alexis is always ?out of proportion? in his gowns (I think he?s over-padded!) Raja got a bunch of kudos for the pastel fantasy. Santino loved the rockin? red carpet look but noted that Raja looks better with less makeup. Wayne loved the 60s look, but, like me, thought it was more Goldie Hawn/Laugh In. Shangela got called out for his Spanish look (Fantasia thought the dress was too big) and red carpet look (Santino didn?t think it was fancy enough). Michelle couldn?t believe he went for a daytime red carpet look. Fantasia loved the classic look. Santino thinks Manila over-accessorized on the red carpet look with a tiara and huge bejeweled necklace that made him look ?mannish?. Michelle loves the whole bumblebee look too!

After the queens went to untuck, the judges gave kudos to Yara for his ?scoodle? look and 70s ?do. Wayne asked if it was wrong to admire Yara?s Puerto Rican booty and said this runway show ?messes with your perception of things.? Michelle countered with ?Now you see what happened to Eddie Murphy!? Bazinga, Michelle! Michelle had nothing nice to say about any of Alexis? looks. Raja, as always, was a judge favorite, although Santino kind of wished he would have gone with a more elegant red carpet look. Fantasia says she can identify with Shangela because they?re both underdogs. Santino agrees that the underdog thing is why he?s still around, because he?s ?clueless? about fashion. Sadly, he?s still not blending his makeup very well. Wayne thinks Shangie has a great spirit but may be pursuing the wrong avenue for his talents. Manila also scored high marks for his trio of looks. Ru has made his decision and the queens return to the runway.

There are really no surprises regarding who?s staying and who?s in the bottom two this week. Raja is safe. Yara scoodled his way to victory and finally won a challenge ? and an Alaskan cruise! Alexis is up for elimination. Manila was a killer bee and is once again safe. And, of course, Shangela?s back in the bottom two. Two non-Heathers must now face off in the lip sync for their loves. This week, the song is ?Even Angels? by Fantasia. It was looking pretty even at the beginnig, but Alexis really gave his all and interpreted the song beautifully. And yes, this means Shangela is going home. Halle-boo! (Although I really didn?t want to see either of them go home!) The show?s wrapping up when Ru says that it?s ultimately his decision as to who sashays away every week and he?s been criticized for sending queens packing before their time, so he asks Michelle to confer with Santino and Billy B. to decide which previously eliminated queen gets to return to the competition. Say what? What a twist! Who would you like to see come back? I?d love to see Delta Work come back ? and what about Venus D?Lite, who only got to strut his stuff for one measly episode. Next week?s going to be good! Until then, can I get an ?Amen??

Check out full episodes of RuPaul?s Drag Race and Untucked and get a sneak peek of next week?s episode on LogoTV.com and don?t miss the next lap, Monday at 10pm EST!

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Liz found 'perfect' love in letters at 17

Elizabeth Taylor wrote more than 60 love letters to William Pawley as a 17-year-old.

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Elizabeth Taylor wrote more than 60 love letters to William Pawley as a 17-year-old.

A smitten Elizabeth Taylor wrote more than 60 passionate letters at age 17 pledging eternal love to the one man who got away.

"I've never known this kind of love before - it's so perfect and complete - and mature," Taylor wrote in 1949 to William Pawley, 22, a former ambassador's son who was her fiancé.</p>

"I've never loved anyone in my life before one third as much as I love you - and I never will (well, as far as that goes - I'll never love anyone else - period)."

In between professions of love, she frets about her weight. "I'm just stuffing myself on a box of candy - honestly I've got to stop eating so much," she writes.

In another letter, Taylor said she was ready to give up her career, "For I won't be giving anything up - but I will be gaining the greatest gift that God bestows on man - love, marriage, a family - and you my Darling."

But the engagement was broken, and 10 months later, Liz married hotel heir Nicky Hilton - the first of eight husbands.

The letters will be auctioned in May.

lstandora@nydailynews.com

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