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Gervais planning Extras spin-off?

Ricky Gervais may be planning an Extras spin-off starring Stephen Merchant's dopey agent and Barry from 'EastEnders' as a pair of bumbling crimefighters.
The BBC comedy ended after two series and a Christmas special.
But actor Shaun Williamson, who played Barry, revealed that Gervais had come up with another idea for his character and useless agent Darren Lamb (Merchant).
He told radio station Heart: "I would have loved another 10 series of 'Extras' but I can totally understand them wanting to call it a day.
"The one thing we did bandy about, half in jest and half seriously, was the idea of a spin-off for my character Barry and the agent. Ricky thought they could go around in a camper van solving crimes or something."
He added: "That's strictly on the backburner for now as Ricky is busy in Hollywood at the moment. I'd jump at the chance to work with him again."
Williamson said he nearly turned down the 'Extras' role. "I thought for about 10 minutes about not taking it and then I realised I might never get the chance to work with Ricky and Stephen again.
"I am so proud to have been involved with 'Extras' and I can understand them wanting to finish it.
"They've got so much more going for them and I think they have got a great film in them to make, whether it's an 'Extras' film or just a great British film, and I'm sure they'll make it."

Ozzy Osbourne conjures Monsters of Rock festival

Metal fans will have a reason to head north of the border this summer when Ozzy Osbourne [ tickets ] descends upon Calgary, Alberta, for a one-day event dubbed The Monsters of Rock.Set to take place July 26 at McMahon Stadium, the show will feature headlining performances from Osbourne and Judas Priest [ tickets ], as well as sets from System of a Down frontman Serj Tankian [ tickets ], Cavalera Conspiracy, Shadows Fall [ tickets ], Voivod, Testament [ tickets ], 3 Inches of Blood, Priestess and Zimmers Hole. Additional acts are expected.Tickets will hit the box office Saturday via Ticketmaster and Unionevents.com, with prices ranging from $49.50 to $119.50 plus applicable service charges, according to a press release. (Ticketmaster is LiveDaily's parent company.) The venue's floor will house general-admission ticketholders, while the stands will feature assigned seating, according to organizers.Osbourne will hit the stage with his longtime guitarist Zakk Wylde, drummer Michael Bordin, bassist Rob "Blasko" Nicholson and keyboardist Adam Wakeman. The heavy-metal icon continues to support his latest album, last year's "Black Rain."Judas Priest's most recent release is 2005's "Angel of Retribution," the group's first set to feature original lead singer Rob Halford since 1990's "Painkiller." Halford and company plan to release a new set this year titled "Nostradamus," but a street date hasn't been announced.Details for this year's Ozzfest outing remain under wraps, but Osbourne is expected to again headline the tour.

Green Day - Green Days Alter Ego Plays First Gig

American rockers GREEN DAY have played their first official gig in three years, under the guise of their alter egos the FOXBORO HOT TUBS.

The group performed at Juanita's Cantina Ballroom in Little Rock, Arkansas, last night.

Lead singer BILLIE-JOE ARMSTRONG disguised himself with a big mop of curly blonde hair, a faux fur jacket and a mass of chains and necklaces, reports NME magazine.

He introduced himself as the Reverend Strychnine Twitch as he declared the "official kick-off" of the FOXBORO HOT TUBS' tour.

The band played all 13 of their songs, including RUBY ROOM, BLOOD SAX AND BOOZE and RED TIDE and several covers, including THE WHO's A QUICK ONE WHILE HE'S AWAY.

Armstrong praised the crowd's enthusiasm, saying: "For a town called Little Rock, there's been a lotta rock here tonight!"

The group will be playing more shows over the next eight days.

GREEN DAY admitted that they were also the FOXBORO HOT TUBS back in December 2007, after the new band's website began offering free downloads of tracks.

The group's first physical release is expected today.

20/05/2008 11:23:39

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Nicole Richie - Richie Harlow Changed My Friends

NICOLE RICHIE is convinced her baby daughter HARLOW has not only changed her life, but has been a positive influence on her friends too.

The star gave birth to her first child with fiance Joel Madden in January (08) and insists she has become a better person now she is a mother.

But Richie - whose friends include socialite Paris Hilton and actress Lindsay Lohan - believes her daughter has also changed the attitudes of her closest pals.

She tells U.S. TV show Extra, "I feel like my group of five to 10 friends, they really love her, like she's theirs... My friends never go outside for smoke breaks anymore, they don't curse, they are definitely more demure. It's actually been really interesting."

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Do MakeSsay Think

Artist: Do MakeSsay Think

   Genre(s):
Pop

Discography:

Beesides

Year:
Tracks: 4

Toronto stripe Do Make Say Think began as the psychedelic-influenced subservient improvisations of bassist/trumpeter Charles Spearin, guitar player Justin Small, and drummer James Payment. The stripe grew to include keyboardist Jason MacKenzie and multi-instrumentalist Ohad Benchetrit, with the last addition of drummer Dave Mitchell in 1998. Do Make Say Think released their self-titled debut on Constellation Records in late 1998, followed by the early 2000 liberation Good-bye Enemy Airship the Landlord Is Dead. After promotions for that album subsided, they over again inhumed themselves in the studio until March of 2002, when they unleashed & Yet & Yet on Constellation Records. The band's fourth record album, Winter Hymn Country Hymn Secret Hymn came out a year and a half later.

BBC announces Grange Hill will end

The BBC has announced that its school drama 'Grange Hill' is to end after 30 years.
At a launch for new and recurring dramas for CBBC today, it was announced the upcoming series of 'Grange Hill' would be the last.
Announcing the end of 'Grange Hill', Anne Gilchrist, Controller, CBBC, said: "Part of CBBC's reputation for reflecting contemporary Britain back to UK children has been built upon Phil Redmond's ['Grange Hill' creator] brilliantly realised idea and of course it's sad to say goodbye to such a much loved institution. The lives of children have changed a great deal since 'Grange Hill' began and we owe it to our audience to reflect this."
She continued: "We're actively seeking out new and exciting ways of bringing social realism to the CBBC audience through drama and other genres. Yesterday we announced two 'Newsround' Specials tackling divorce and knife crime and we will continue to make programmes about the ups and downs of contemporary Britain."
Jon East, Head of CBBC Drama, said: "For 30 years, Grange Hill has become a byword for realistic and contemporary children's drama. It's now time to apply what we've learned over the years to some of the new ideas we're exploring."