Punkd Is Back! Justin Bieber Pranks Taylor Swift In First New Episode

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Stars beware Punkd is officially back in business and its no longer only Ashton Kutcher to be afraid of! The MTV celebrity prank series has resumed production, filming its first return episode on Friday in Los Angeles with Taylor Swift as the unsuspecting target, a source has revealed to Access Hollywood. However, it wasnt Ashton at the helm. Instead, the prankster who Punkd Taylor? Her good friend, Justin Bieber. In the shows revamped format, series creator Ashton will no longer be the regular host of the show. Instead, a different celebrity will pull hosting duties each episode, as viewers get to watch them set up and execute their practical joke on their unknowing targets. While he will no longer host, Ashton still serves as executive producer for the hidden camera series, which he first launched back in 2003. The show went on hiatus following its season finale in May 2007. Rumors swirled back in October 2010 that MTV was reviving the show with Bieber as the host. While thats not necessarily the case, Bieber did prove to be involved in the first episode, as Access has learned. As previously reported on AccessHollywood.com, The Biebs joined good friend Taylor onstage on Tuesday night during the Los Angeles stop of her Speak Now tour. The duo performed Biebers hit Baby. No further details on Fridays Punkd prank were immediately available.Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

First 'Rum Diary' Trailer: Johnny Depp Channels Hunter S. Thompson Once Again

The last time we saw Johnny Depp channeling Hunter S. Thompson, he was out in Las Vegas huffing ether. 'The Rum Diary,' based off the good doctor's first novel, takes place in a completely different location and era, where the main drug is, well, rum. We have been psyched for an adaptation of this Thompson book ever since Johnny Depp signed on to the project back in 2000. After several bumps in the road, the movie was shot in 2009 and will finally be released October 28. Yesterday, the first trailer for the film popped up online and, let's just say it's not quite what we expected. The dark tone of the book seems to be gone, replaced with something a little cheerier. However, it is nice to hear Depp doing his Hunter voice (a toned-down version of it, anyway) once again. We definitely aren't writing off the movie yet, we are just being a little cautious. Check out the trailer below and judge for yourself. [via Movieline]

Underworld: Awakening Trailer Online

Selene is back in action.... Does it really take two directors and a batch of writers to make an Underworld franchise entry? Apparently, in the case of Underworld: Awakening, it really does. Check out the results in the new trailer below. Yes, this fourth film boasts Shelter directing pair Måns Mårlind and Björn Stein, working from a script written by John Hlavin, Allison Burnett and J Michael Straczynski, who all took a pass at different drafts. Set 15 years after the events of Underworld: Evolution, the new outing finds Selene (Kate Beckinsale, back front and centre after sitting out prequel Rise of the Lycans) escape from years of captivity to discover the world is a very different place. Humans have discovered the existence of both vampires and werewolves and are on a campaign to make both species extinct. That has sparked off an all-out war that will see loyalties tested, super-Lycans created and Selene running around as usual, slitting throats, throwing weapons and generally being a badass in tight PVC. Oh, and she goes in search of the daughter she didn't know existed until now, Lycan/vampire hybrid Eve. With Michael Ealy, Charles Dance, Stephen Rea and India Eisley also among the cast, Underworld: Awakening will chuck things at us in 3D on January 20 next year.

Oasis Singer Liam Gallagher Suing His Brother

FIRST PUBLISHED: August 19, 2011 2:56 PM EDT LONDON, U.K. -- Oasis singer Liam Gallagher says he is suing his estranged brother and former bandmate, Noel, for saying his hangover forced the rumbustious Brit rockers to cancel a concert. Bad blood between the brothers has frequently made headlines. When Noel left the band in 2009 he said it was because he couldnt work a day longer with his brother. Liam is disputing comments Noel made last month alleging that Liam pulled out of the 2009 V Festival due to a hangover. Liam said in a statement Friday he wants an apology and for Oasis fans to know the truth about what happened laryngitis prevented him from performing the gig. Liam Gallaghers spokesman confirmed the singer had issued a writ at the High Court in London against his brother. Copyright 2011 by Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Its Official: Jennifer Lopez Returning To Idol

FIRST PUBLISHED: August 17, 2011 1:33 PM EDT NEW YORK, N.Y. -- If there was ever any doubt, its gone now. Jennifer Lopez will be back at the judges panel for the 11th season of American Idol. The Fox network has made Lopezs return official, along with her fellow judges, Aerosmith rocker Steven Tyler and record producer Randy Jackson. In addition, Fox said Wednesday that Ryan Seacrest will be back as host. Singer-actress Lopez debuted as a judge this past season. But in recent weeks, she had publicly been coy about whether she would stay with the hit musical competition. Any lingering skepticism was dispelled last week by Idol executive producer Nigel Lythgoe. He declared, unofficially, that Lopez would be back while interviewed on Seacrests radio program. American Idol begins its new season Jan. 22. ___ Online: http://www.fox.com Copyright 2011 by Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Kara DioGuardi Will get Ready For Chicagos Roxie

NEW You are able to, N.Y. -- Kara DioGuardi is going to Broadway as Roxie Hart in Chicago and Access Hollywood has your exclusive start looking at some behind-the-moments footage using the artist. Click The Link to look at Kara as she transforms into Roxie. Kara, who starts her operate on Broadway on September 5, stated she offers quite a bit that is similar to the classic character. Feisty. Shes a little of the survivor. Spend type of do whatever needs doing to complete the job That didnt seem so great, but guess what happens I am talking about. Shes quick on her behalf ft, so thats good, Kara told Access Hollywood Lives Billy Rose bush when requested to check herself to Roxie. While she's the pipes, Kara stated its not all a part of Roxie came easily. The very first day, I said excitedly Im not just a great dancer, she chuckled. Kara revealed she really is putting on exactly the same costume worn with a lady she authored tunes for Ashlee Simpson, who formerly performed Roxie on Broadway. I cant accept is as true fit, she smiled. I certainly needed to push it in a bit, but yeah, it fit. Kara added she intends to invite a few of the The American Idol Show idol judges to check on her in the development. Im gonna invite Randy, well, these, she stated. I really hope Steven Tyler can come. Id love that. If hes in New You are able to, that might be great. Hes an excellent guy. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All privileges reserved.These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

'Two And A Half Men' 2.0 Off To Promising Start With First Taping

The taping of the season premiere of Two and a Half Men was last night, and early feedback should allow CBS and producer Warner Bros TV to breathe a sigh of relief. People who were at the taping or have read the script, praised the writing as being as sharp as in was in Men's heyday. And then there is Ashton Kutcher, who replaced fired star Charlie Sheen playing a new character, Internet billionaire Walden Schmidt. "They brought back something that was working, the writing and the supporting cast, and added a new element, Ashton Kutcher, who is breathing new life," said one attendee to the taping. Mostly to protect the storyline in the episode, which we largely scooped earlier this week, everyone who was at the taping had to sign a non-disclosure agreement. (Yes, there was a funeral for Charlie Harper attended by some of his former girlfriends.) But people who saw the filming describe Kutcher as "charming" and "solid" and say he was an improvement over the final episodes of Sheen where he was still very good but also showing signs of addiction problems with his gaunt look. Here is the curtain call for the cast, which includes Kutcher, Jon Cryer, Angus T. Jones, Conchata Ferrell, Holland Taylor and recurring guest star Marin Hinkle.

'Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes' Of The Spoilery Titles

When "Rise of The Planet of the Apes" swings into theaters this weekend, audiences may be surprised by its cutting edge special effects, but they wont be surprised by how it ends. Unless James Franco is pulling a huge James Franco-esqe prank, when the credits roll, apes will have risen and taken over the planet. While this title-spoiler may seem like a unique phenomenon, weve counted at least six titles that have done the unthinkable and given away their own ending. Check em out after the jump. "Slumdog Millionaire" Ive always though it was a bit insensitive to call that kid a slumdog, but this simple two-word title gives away the entire arc of the film. Its about a poor kid from the slums who gets rich on a game show. While Poor-Kid Game-Show-Winner would be a slightly more explicit spoiler, it doesnt feel quite as Oscar-worthy as the original. "Saving Private Ryan" Tom Hanks needs to save Private Ryan. He does. Boom, we have a title. You may ask, Travis! What about the word Saving? Couldnt the tense imply theyre just attempting to save Ryan, but they actually fail? To which I say, no. Please stop asking questions. I am unable to hear you when you speak into your computer monitor. Hanks stays. "Star Wars: Return of the Jedi" While every Star Wars film does in fact include battles raging in outer space, the real kicker is that this one lets you know who wins. At the end of Episode VI, the Jedis rise against their oppressors and return to their battle stations anew. In fact, George Lucas recently said the working title of Episode IV was Rise of the Galaxy of the Jedis. "Finding Nemo" When I swam into theaters to see this amazingly perfect Pixar film, I didnt have any doubts about how it would end. Nemo gets lost. Nemos dad gets worried. Ellen DeGeneres shows up. Nemos dad finds Nemo. Weirdly, the title Finding Nemo and Ellen DeGeneres was already patented, so they decided to keep it simple. "There Will Be Blood" It may be a movie about finding oil in the early American west, but anyone who has seen this film can tell you that this is the single most accurate title of all time. There is blood - and lots of it - especially in the last four minutes of the film. I dont want to give away anymore, so when it comes to this film description IM FINISHED! "Titanic" Come on. Everybody knew it was coming. Tell us some other spoilery titles in the comments section and on Twitter!

DirecTV's NFL offer draws Comcast suit

Comcast has sued DirecTV for false advertising, claiming that its satellite rival is "baiting" customers with the claim that its NFL Sunday Ticket service is available "free" and at "no extra charge." Comcast's suit, filed in an Illinois federal court Wednesday, underscores the bitterness between two multichannel competitors and perhaps lingering resentments from the cabler's combination with NBCUniversal. DirecTV publicly opposed that transaction. Comcast claims the DirecTV offer -- made in TV, Internet and radio spots -- is an "outright lie." For example, Comcast points to an ad on the DirecTV homepage that says, "for the first time ever, NFL Sunday Ticket is included at no extra charge." "Only in a maze of dense disclaimers and sub-disclaimers, DirecTV discloses that the offer (i) applies only to new customers, (ii) requires a two-year commitment, (iii) requires enrollment in a premium level of service, (iv) applies only to 2011, and (v) entails automatic renewal in 2012 at 'special' renewal rates," Comcast said. Comcast is also irked by an ad running in the Philadelphia market that "makes the claim that Philadelphia Eagles fans that are cable customers are unable to watch Philadelphia Eagles' games on Sunday." In that market, where Comcast is based, the cabler distributes the games and also is an "exclusive sponsor" of the team. The ad features Deion Sanders and an actor wearing an Eagle jersey who complains, "I can't watch my Eagles here. I've got cable." In a statement, a spokesman for DirecTV said the company thinks "it's deplorable that Comcast is trying to compete in the courtroom rather than in the marketplace." "New customers who sign up for DirecTV can indeed get Sunday Ticket at no extra charge for one year, and there is no requirement to subscribe to NFL Sunday Ticket the following year. The last thing we want to do is mislead new customers; that's not exactly a smart way to begin a relationship. Comcast knows that. They just have no other way to compete with our best offer of the year." Comcast is being challenged by two other critics of its merger with NBCU. Bloomberg filed a complaint with the FCC claiming the cabler has not fulfilled a "neighborhooding" provision by declining to put Bloomberg's business news channel in the same region of the lineup with CNBC and other news nets. An FCC decision is pending in the Tennis Channel's complaint that Comcast unfairly refused to place it in the same broadly distributed tier as similar sports channels in which Comcast has a stake. The cabler denies both claims. Contact Ted Johnson at ted.johnson@variety.com

'Cars' Copyright Lawsuit Dismissed in Win for Disney

Walt Disney A federal judge has dismissed a UK screenwriter's lawsuit against The Walt Disney Co. that alleged the animated films Cars and Cars 2 was copied from his own work. In March,Jake Mandeville-Anthonysued claiming the Pixar films infringed the copyright on a three-part screenplay titled "Cookie & Co.," about the true-life adventure race-car driverMichael Owen Perkins, who won a 1988 race, and a second work titled "Cars," which included a treatment, sample screenplay, 46 animated car character descriptions, 10 cars character sketches, and a marketing and merchandising plan. PHOTOS: Summer Movie Guide The workswere created about 20 years ago and Mandeville-Anthony says he sent copies to Disney and also met in person with aLucasfilmexecutive who later became general manager at Pixar. But in a short summary judgment issued on Thursday, California federal judge Valerie Baker Fairbank foundthe works were dissimilarand the claims were barred because the statute of limitations had expired. STORY: 'Cars 2': 5 Things to Know About the Pixar Sequel The ruling is the latest evidence of the monumental "substantial similarity" burden facing aggrieved writers who believe their works have been stolen. In recent weeks, copyright theft lawsuits have been thrown out over ABC's Modern Family, Sony's You Don't Mess with the Zohan, and NBC's My Name is Earl, among others. The attorneys leading Disney's defense were Sanford Litvack and David Singer of Hogan Lovells. E-mail: eriqgardner@yahoo.com Twitter: @eriqgardner Cars 2