By JENNY BARCHFIELD, Associated Press Writer 19 minutes ago

PARIS - As the rousing overture reaches its operatic climax, the curtains part and Ganesh, the elephant-headed Hindu god, descends from the rafters.

“Padmavati,” currently playing at Paris’ gilded Theatre du Chatelet, is not your typical operatic fare. It’s equal parts straight-laced European opera and Bollywood blowout, with a cast that includes a top French mezzo-soprano, scores of classical Indian dancers and a live tiger.

The director is hit Indian filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali, whose pathos-filled 2002 musical “Devdas” became a crossover international blockbuster and made him hot Bollywood property.

“Padmavati,” the revival of a long-neglected French ballet-turned-opera from 1923, is Bhansali’s first foray into the rarified world of opera — which he had rarely listened to before beginning work on the project.

“There was an e-mail that came (proposing the project) and I thought somebody was joking,” said Bhansali, speaking in his dressing room at the theater. “I though ‘Opera? An Indian director? What are they talking about? Somebody’s playing a prank.’”

But then he started listening to the score — written by sailor and composer Albert Roussel after a 1909 trip to South Asia and based on the legend of a 13th-century queen who chooses death over surrender.

Soon, Bhansali warmed to the idea.

“It was the chance to come to stage, an unknown discipline, and unfold Indian history.”

Indian history in French, that is.

The opera’s libretto is the language of Moliere, and most of the cast’s classically trained singers are French, too.

French mezzo-soprano Sylvie Brunet lends just the right dose of defiance and submission to the role of Queen Padmavati — who legend has it committed sati, throwing herself onto her husband’s funeral pyre to keep from being abducted by a rival leader.

A troupe of classical Indian dancers weaves around the singers, fleshing out the plot with their flex-footed movements. They shimmer and shake, spin and leap, taking center stage during long orchestral movements originally intended for ballet solos.

Although there’s not a single Indian instrument in the orchestra, the dancers — under Calcutta-based choreographer Tanusree Shankar — appear seamlessly in synch with the music.

Decked out in lavish costumes, they incarnate warriors, ladies in waiting, slaves and a host of Hindu gods, from the fiery goddess of destruction, Kali, to a flying Ganesh.

A live horse, elephant and tiger also play bit parts.

Rehearsals, which brought together performers, musicians and crew of at least six nationalities, were exercises in cultural understanding, Bhansali said.

“It was all very new to the (Western) actors,” the director said. “They were very curious about Indian culture and had questions about everything.”

The language barrier was a problem — some of the French cast didn’t understand English — so Bhansali said he gave his stage directions through an interpreter.

“Slowly, slowly, we understood each other.”

Plans are in the works to take “Padmavati,” which is playing in Paris through March 24, to Italy later this year, Bhansali said.

India could follow, he said, adding he’d like to perform the opera at a fort in the historical Padmavati’s town in the northwestern region of Rajasthan.

Or perhaps, Bhansali might do a film version — sung not in Hindi but in the original French. That could be a hard sell in a country unaccustomed to Western opera, Bhansali acknowledged, but said he thought his compatriots were ready.

“A group of Indian people has gone and done something no Indian had ever done before,” said Bhansali. “That makes us very excited and proud at home.”

Sarah Hall Thu Mar 20, 7:14 AM ET

Los Angeles (E! Online) - Britney Spears' driving-without-a-license case has been steered off course once again.

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge on Thursday postponed the troubled pop star's long-pending trial on the misdemeanor charge until June 18.

The continuance was expected, as Spears is currently unable to enter a plea on her own behalf, due to being under the control of a legal conservatorship.

Los Angeles Deputy City Attorney Michael Amerian told E! News on Wednesday that he anticipated "no fireworks" in court.

"I don't expect anything to happen, especially with her not being able to enter a plea," he said.

Spears' criminal attorney, J. Michael Flanagan, was reportedly unable to attend the hearing because he was in trial, but sent an associate from his firm on his behalf. Judge T.K. Herman, who has been presiding over the case, was also absent and was replaced by a substitute.

Spears herself was neither required, nor expected, to be present.

The driving-without-a-license charge stems from the pop star's August 2007 hit-and-run accident, which occurred in front of the paparazzi's every-ready cameras.

Though Spears eventually reached a settlement with the owner of the other car, it was later discovered that she was not in possession of a valid California driver's license at the time of the incident. She did, however, have a valid Louisiana license, which has led to confusion over which law she specifically violated.

—Additional reporting by Claudia Rosenbaum.

By John DeFore 38 minutes ago

AUSTIN, Texas (Hollywood Reporter) - Once upon a time, the painted rock demons of KISS took off their makeup. The unmasking offered in "Bananaz" might be less iconic, but it has its pleasures, especially for the dedicated fans of Gorillaz, a platinum-selling rock/hip-hop group whose members are cartoon characters.

Not only does the documentary show fans the faces of the real musicians who voice the cartoon hitmakers (and of the many guests who have peppered their records, from De La Soul to Buena Vista Social Club singer Ibrahim Ferrer), but it charts the combo's evolution almost from the moment of conception through the release of their second album.

We watch amusedly as the artists squabble, for instance, over how they should handle phone interviews with reporters — Do them entirely in character? Is that too big an acting challenge to pull off? — and as they suffer through the publicity demands that come with the first album's surprising success.

The film's focus is on the two men most responsible for Gorillaz: Damon Albarn of the Brit pop group Blur and nonmusician Jamie Hewlett, who supplies the cartoons. Viewers who don't arrive with a built-in devotion to the band might find the duo more than a little off-putting: Their humor is juvenile, the men are narcissistic, and their occasional stabs at real-world political relevance border on the laughable.

Director Ceri Levy, seemingly a buddy of his subjects, takes a fly-on-the-wall approach and never worries about explaining things to newcomers; he's laissez-faire enough to let mumbled bits of speech zip by unintelligibly. But if the behind-the-scenes component doesn't work hard to win over outsiders, the subject has its own built-in appeal.

We see enough of Hewlett's flashy animation work — music videos with a fresh look and an entertaining grab bag of pop culture influences (from zombie movies to Japanese animation) — to keep us from getting bored and to explain how a fictional band scaled the pop charts.

Director: Ceri Levy; Producers: Rachel Connors, Ceri Levy; Director of photography: Ceri Levy; Music: Gorillaz; Editor: Seb Monk.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter

By Chris Michaud Wed Mar 19, 10:54 PM ET

NEW YORK (Reuters Life!) - Rocker Amanda Overmyer got the boot from "American Idol"'s huge fan base on Wednesday, leaving 10 finalists singing their way to possible victory in the hit TV talent show's seventh season.

The vote by millions of "Idol's" viewers for their favorite singers left Overmyer, Kristy Lee Cook and Carly Smithson as an all-female bottom three, with Overmyer coming in last.

Overmyer, 23, from Mulberry, Indiana, had performed "Back in the USSR" during a second consecutive week of Beatles-themed singing.

"Idol"'s judges concurred with viewers' choice of the lowest voter-getters. Asked by host Ryan Seacrest whether "America got it right," Simon Cowell confirmed, "Two weeks running, yes."

Overmyer, who stood out with her raucous performances, dramatically streaked hair and edgy style, was philosophical in defeat, telling Seacrest, "It's been a run," adding that "number 11 out of all them people was more than I could ever expect."

Seacrest lauded her as "one of the most fearless contestants we have ever had."

Following her elimination, Overmyer will not join the "American Idol" tour, which is reserved for the top 10 contenders.

"American Idol" pits singers against one another in a months-long competition. Past winners such as Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood have gone on to music stardom. The weekly show draws nearly 30 million viewers, making it the most-watched program on U.S. television.

The other remaining finalists include David Archuleta, 17; Jason Castro, 20; David Cook, 25; Chikezie Eze, 22; Michael Johns, 29; Ramiele Malubay, 20; and Brooke White, 24.

Also performing on Wednesday night's show was season five contestant Kelly Pickler.

This season's mentors were also announced and included Dolly Parton, Mariah Carey, Neil Diamond and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

(Editing by Peter Cooney)

Sarah Hall Thu Mar 20, 5:23 AM ET

Los Angeles (E! Online) - The Jonas Brothers are keeping it real for the Disney Channel.

The musical siblings have signed on to star in a reality series for the family-friendly network, per the Hollywood Reporter. The forthcoming project is currently known by the working title Jonas Brothers: Living the Dream.

The series will follow the brothers—Kevin, 20, Joe, 18, and Nick, 15—on their current Look Me in the Eyes tour, with cameras capturing both their on- and off-stage antics.

Fans will get a glimpse into the pop stars' tour bus travels, their rehearsals and their family interactions, as well as their adventures in such pursuits as skydiving and go-cart racing.

The series is slated to premiere this spring.

The Jonases, who have a huge following among the teen and tween girl set, released their eponymous sophomore album on the Disney-owned Hollywood Records label in August.

The album proved to be a hit and was certified platinum in February, no doubt getting a boost from the brothers' appearance on Miley Cyrus' sellout Best of Both Worlds tour.

Living the Dream won't be the first small-screen collaboration between Disney and the Jonases. The network previously greenlighted a scripted series, J.O.N.A.S., and a TV movie, Camp Rock, featuring the brothers.

No production date has been set for the scripted series, but Camp Rock is slated to air in June.

Up ahead, the brothers are due to hit the road again for their summer Burning Up tour, which kicks off July 4 in Toronto.

By Kimberly Nordyke 46 minutes ago

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - The Disney Channel has green-lighted a reality series centering on the pop-rock band the Jonas Brothers.

The series, which is shooting under the working title "Jonas Brothers: Living the Dream," will follow the on- and off-stage lives of the platinum-selling trio — Kevin, 20; Joe, 18; and Nick, 15 — on their current Look Me in the Eyes tour.

"Dream" will get up close and personal with the brothers as they rehearse, travel on the tour bus and perform. It also will follow them as they interact with their parents and younger brother, go sky-diving and race go-carts.

The series is set to premiere in the spring in shortform segments.

The Jonases have a huge following among tween and teen girls. After the August release of their self-titled sophomore album, on Disney-owned Hollywood Records, they joined Miley Cyrus on her sold-out Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds concert tour, which kicked off in October and ended in January. The brothers embark on their Burning Up tour this summer.

In 2007, the Disney Channel green-lighted a scripted series and an original movie starring the Jonases. A production date has not yet been set on the scripted series, "J.O.N.A.S.," a live-action spy comedy. The TV movie, "Camp Rock," which will feature rock, pop and hip-hop performances, airs in June.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter

By HARRY R. WEBER, Associated Press Writer 8 minutes ago

ATLANTA - T.I. didn’t get to host a Thanksgiving gathering at the suburban home where he is under house arrest, but he will be able to attend Easter services.

A federal magistrate judge ruled Thursday that the 27-year-old rapper, whose real name is Clifford Harris, can be away from home from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday for services by New Birth Missionary Baptist Church.

Harris is awaiting trial on weapons charges. He must be accompanied by a court-approved monitor and one of his attorneys, the judge said.

He was arrested Oct. 13, just blocks away and hours before he was to headline the BET Hip-Hop Awards in Atlanta. Harris was allegedly trying to buy unregistered machine guns and silencers.

He is charged with possession of unregistered machine guns and silencers and possession of firearms by a convicted felon. He was released on bond, but is under house arrest at a home in Henry County.

Harris faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each of the weapons charges filed against him.

He had asked to host a Thanksgiving Day gathering at the home where he’s staying, but the plan was scrapped after the government opposed it. His bond conditions require court approval of visitors.

1 minute ago

NEW YORK - American conductor Dennis Russell Davies has been named music director of the Basel Symphony Orchestra, filling a position that had been vacant since 2006.

The five-year appointment with Switzerland’s biggest orchestra begins with the 2009-10 season, the office of New York publicist Mary Lou Falcone said Thursday.

Davies will retain his position as chief conductor and music director of the Bruckner Orchestra Linz and the Linz Opera. That appointment began in 2002 and runs through 2014.

The year he starts in Basel, he will have completed an 11-year project of performing and recording the complete cycle of Haydn’s 107 symphonies with the Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra, where he was chief conductor from 1995-2006. Completion of that project coincides with the 200th anniversary year of Haydn’s death.

Davies, 63, has been chief conductor at several orchestras for nearly four decades, including the Brooklyn Philharmonic and the New York-based American Composers Orchestra, which he co-founded more than 30 years ago.

Natalie Finn Thu Mar 20, 4:22 AM ET

Los Angeles (E! Online) - Ten American Idol contestants got a ticket to ride. Motorcycle enthusiast Amanda Overmyer was not one of them.  

With her elimination Wednesday, the 23-year-old nurse missed automatic entrée into the American Idols Live tour lineup by one week after voters apparently tired of her Joplinesque vocals and signature 'do, no matter how proficiently she delivered. 

But while fans were treated to an encore of "Back in the U.S.S.R.," as per Idol procedure, they never got to hear the ballad that Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell were so hoping lurked beneath the surface of Overmyer's rocker-chick exterior. 

"It's been a run," the typically terse Indiana native said. "No. 11 out of all them people is more than I could expect." 

(And, as it happens, VotefortheWorst.com has been right on the money so far this season, despite the fact that nobody seems to be taking its advice. After ironically championing also-rans Amy Davis and Danny Noriega, the site's most recent pick for so-bad-she's-awesome was Overmyer.)  

America also went and stomped on Carly Smithson's metaphorical wings, apparently agreeing with Simon that her textured rendition of the broken-spirit-themed "Blackbird" was a bad choice and sending her into the bottom three for the first time. 

Considering it was a pretty off choice, as far as the judges were concerned anyway, Smithson was ultimately saved and, perhaps thanks to negative viewer feedback, did not have to redo last night's song, as each person in danger of going home had to do last week.    

And Overmyer's dismissal also means that Kristy Lee Cook won't have to hide her voice away for at least another week. To her credit, the unflappable 24-year-old, who sold one of her favorite horses to afford airfare to her Idol audition, keeps giving it her all on every performance—and she's had to weather some mighty tough criticism.

Unfortunately, her all doesn't equal, say, David Archuleta's all. 

The second Beatles night of the competition proved to be the yin to last week's yang, with those who underwhelmed last week stepping up their games and the others who won raves only seven days ago taking a backseat to their fellow contestants' achievements. 

Brooke White's awkwardness—she frankly copped to getting off to a bad start with that little dance—during her yellow-clad performance of "Here Comes the Sun" ("I'll Follow the Sun" would have been a better choice, don't you think?) didn't hurt the 24-year-old nanny one bit, as she became the first finalist to find out that, if nothing else, she's heading out on tour this summer. 

Meanwhile, the preciously named Archies—Archuleta's loyal fan base—got plenty of sugar Tuesday from the 17-year-old phenom's melodic "Long and Winding Road," which Simon deemed "amazing." 

"I couldn't believe that," the wide-eyed Archuleta, grinning ear to ear, said of Simon's compliment. 

David Cook, however, rested on his laurels a bit with his rendition of "Day Tripper," as done by Whitesnake in 1978, and failed to impress the Brit who said last week that Cook was capable of winning the whole thing. 

"You looked a bit smug throughout and I thought the vocoder in the middle was just stupid," Simon opined, referring to the voice synthesizer that, for about 15 seconds, made Cook's voice sound like a harmonica. (For the record, Paula and Randy dug it.)

Also in the top 10 are Ramiele Malubay, who "Should Have Known Better" than to pick a song that didn't show off her big voice; Chikezie, who tackled an actual harmonica during a schizoid take on "I've Just Seen a Face"; Michael Johns, who spent "A Day in the Life" of a contestant who the judges don't love (and Paula mistakenly attributed his pitch problems to the monitors in his ears—of which there were none); Jason Castro, whose mellow "Michelle" didn't really connect but who has the heart-melting eyes of your pet cocker spaniel; and Syesha Mercado, whose "Yesterday" ensured her a better tomorrow. 

The evening also featured a performance by season-five finalist Kellie Pickler and a clip from Elliott Yamin and Fantasia Barrino's recent trip to Africa to visit with children who benefited from last year's Idol Gives Back charity special. This year's star-studded sequel takes place April 9, and Ellen DeGeneres has once again signed on to cohost the event. 

Also on Wednesday, Ryan Seacrest announced that this season's confirmed celebrity mentors include Dolly Parton, Mariah Carey, Neil Diamond and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Next week, the 10 finalists will perform songs from the year they were born. 

Joal Ryan Thu Mar 20, 7:54 AM ET

Los Angeles (E! Online) - Amanda Overmyer's problem was that she was a square—"a square peg in a round hole."

An admittedly exhausted Overmyer told reporters Thursday that she knew her American Idol time was up when she, along with much-maligned Kristy Lee Cook and Carly Smithson, her roommate, landed in the bottom three on Wednesday night's results show.

"I know how different I am," said the rock-steady Overmyer, who became the second eliminated finalist after David Hernandez. "And I know I target an older audience…maybe than American Idol provides.

"I definitely had hopes of [top] six or seven. But it is what it is."

By finishing 11th, Overmyer missed by one tantalizing spot a place on Idol's summer tour. She said she was neither disappointed ("The ultimate goal is to get my own") nor indignant.

"I think for it being an American Idol tour, it is what it is," she said, returning to her theme. "I think they have the best group for it…I didn't really fit in."

The 23-year-old nurse from Indiana with the voice by Janis Joplin was the only rocker among the female contenders and was even less pop-inclined than David Cook and Michael Johns, the two rock-ish performers among the male contenders.

It was Overmyer's anti-Idol vibe that led the Idol-tweaking site, Vote for the Worst, to champion her as its next Sanjaya.

Overmyer didn't sound as if she lost sleep over the Vote for the Worst endorsement

"It personally didn't hurt me at all," Overmyer said. "I mean, hell, votes are votes. From what I hear, they weren't too harsh on me."

Overmyer is the third Vote for the Worst candidate this season, after Danny Noriega and Amy Davis, to fail to get enough votes to stay on the show. As of Thursday morning, the site was open to suggestions for its next pick

If there had been a next week on Idol for Overmyer, she said she would have belted "On the Dark Side," a John Cafferty & the Beaver Brown Band cut from the cult movie Eddie and the Cruisers.

Overmyer had no regrets about her song choice this past week on Beatles night, part two, "Back in the USSR."

"If it wasn't that song, it would have been another song sounding like me singing it," she said.

The future for Overmyer could see her doing more music, or it could see her returning to Indiana and nursing. She just doesn't know.

"I have zero experience in this [music] industry," Overmyer said. "I'm as green as they come."

The one thing the imminently sensible Overmyer knows is that real life goes on.

"Last night wasn't the most traumatic thing to happen in my life," she said. "I just got voted off a TV show."