Summit, Lionsgate explore possible merger

Lionsgate and Summit Entertainment, two of the largest independent film studios in Hollywood, are discussing a possible merger. The deal makes a great deal of sense for both parties. Lionsgate has struggled this year with a series of high profile box office disappointments including Conan the Barbarian and Warrior, but has a considerable library of titles and the potential blockbuster franchise The Hunger Games set to launch next year. Summit, meanwhile, is still a relatively young studio with a comparatively smaller stable of titles to its name — but the Twilight franchise still looms large, with the final chapter, Breaking Dawn — Part 2, due next year. The talks, however, are in the very early stages, and other suitors for the studios remain possibly in the offing.

Former Child Prostitute Sues Lawrence Taylor
The former child prostitute who claims she was raped by Lawrence Taylor is suing the former NFL star for assault and battery ... claiming she "repeatedly tried to push Taylor off of her" during their 2010 encounter but he forced himself onto her anyway. Gloria Allred and her client Cristina Fierro -- now 18 years old -- spoke today during a news conference in NYC, announcing Fierro had filed the lawsuit ... in which she is demanding unspecified damages. Fierro claims Taylor had sex with her -- despite several visible wounds left behind by her pimp, who allegedly beat her into a bloody pulp before ordering her to have sex with the NFL star. Taylor was sentenced to 6 months probation this year after pleading guilty to sexual misconduct and patronizing an underage prostitute.

 TLC singer T-Boz files for bankruptcy
TLC had ten Top 10 singles, four multi-platinum albums, and won four Grammy Awards. TLC singer Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins filed for bankrupcty last month. T-Boz owes creditors $768,642.99, mostly from mortgages on her $1.2 million house, court documents revealed. T-Boz claims she wouldn't be in financial trouble if she received $250,000 in child support that she says she's owed in the court documents. T-Boz divorced from her daughter's father, rapper Mack 10, in 2004.



Usher's Ex Wife Files for Full Custody
Usher's ex-wife wants to take away his kids ... claiming the singer has repeatedly blown off his legal obligations as a co-parent ... and even worse -- he CLOSED her Saks 5th Avenue credit card. Tameka Raymond -- who had 2 kids with Usher during their brief 2 year marriage -- filed court papers in Georgia ... asking a judge to strip Usher of joint physical custody of their children ASAP. According to the docs, Tameka claims Usher has repeatedly FAILED to obtain her permission to travel outside the state with the kids ... which he's legally obligated to do. Tameka also claims Usher is required and has failed to:
-- get her approval before hiring nannies
-- give her first shot to watch the kids when he's away for more than 8 hours
-- allow her to take the kids for 2-weeks in the summer of 2011
-- let her have custody of the kids during Christmas break 2010

Tameka also claims Usher closed her Saks 5th Avenue credit card -- which he specifically said he wouldn't do -- and now she can no longer take advantage of the "special benefits" the card offers. According to the docs, Usher also promised to pay $5k per month so Tameka could hire her own nanny for the kids -- but he hasn't paid in months, and now owes $34,000 worth of payments. Tameka says there has been a "substantial change in [Usher's] income" since they got divorced -- and because of his success, she should get even more money for child support. A hearing on the matter is scheduled for Wednesday.

Tobey Maguire Pays $80k in High Stakes Poker Lawsuit
Tobey Maguire  agreeed to fork over $80,000. Tobey was one of 22 people sued this summer for taking Ponzi schemer Bradley Ruderman to the cleaners ... in multiple underground poker games back in 2007 and 2008. Ruderman was arrested soon after for bilking boatloads of money from his clients. Ruderman filed for bankruptcy and the bankruptcy trustees turned around and sued Maguire, Nick Cassavetes and others, trying to recoup Ruderman's gambling losses in an effort to pay his Ponzi victims back.


Jennifer Nettles Gets Married
The Sugarland singer, 37, quietly tied the knot Saturday in a small, sunset ceremony in Tennessee. Wearing an Alexander McQueen gown, Nettles married entrepreneur Justin Miller at a chapel nestled in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains in front of an intimate group of close family and friends, including bandmate Kristian Bush. Miller is a former model who's been dating Nettles for more than two years. He appeared in the video for the band's 2006 single, "Want To," and accompanied the singer to the CMA Awards on Nov. 9, where Sugarland took home the award for vocal duo of the year.

Anne Hathaway Is Engaged to Adam Shulman

Anne Hathaway is engaged to wed longtime boyfriend Adam Shulman, 30, whom she began dating in 2008, her rep confirmed. On Sunday, the actress was photographed sporting a ring in a Brooklyn park along with Shulman. "I am very much in love with him, [only] Adam totally ruined my plan," Hathaway, 28, previously said of their three-year relationship. "I was really actually looking forward to a little alone time, and then I fell in love like a fool!" Her relationship with the actor-jewelry designer followed a less happy ending with ex-boyfriend Raffaello Follieri in the summer of 2008, after he pled guilty to 14 counts of money laundering, conspiracy and wire fraud.

 

Maggie Gyllenhaal & Peter Sarsgaard Expecting Second Child

Maggie Gyllenhaal and Peter Sarsgaard are expanding their family. The actors are expecting their second child together, her rep confirmed. The Hysteria star and Green Lantern‘s Sarsgaard, 40, wed in 2009 and are already parents to 5-year-old daughter Ramona.
 Kicking back in their swimsuits with tropical drinks in paradise? Sounds like a pretty good Thanksgiving weekend for Jennifer Lopez and Casper Smart. The new couple were spotted Friday in Kauai, Hawaii. According to a source, the two stayed in a rented villa overlooking the beach.

Lindsey Vonn & Husband Getting Divorce

Olympic gold medalist Lindsey Vonn and husband Thomas Vonn are calling it quits after four years of marriage. "It is with great sadness that I announce that Thomas and I have begun divorce proceedings," Lindsey, 27, says in a statement. "This is an extremely difficult time in my personal life and I hope the media and my fans can respect my need for privacy on this matter. I will continue to be coached by the U.S. Ski Team and look forward to competing the rest of the season." Thomas, 35, a former Olympic skier, was also Lindsey's coach. The couple wed in Deer Valley, Utah in September 2007.

 

Nicki Minaj and Cher feud over lyric on Twitter

Black Friday was far from rosy 'Pink' for Nicki Minaj, considering how Drake's ideal woman had a scuffle with one of the biggest divas in music history on Twitter. When asked about her response to the "diss" in Nicki's "Did It On 'Em" ("If you could turn back time, Cher / You used to be here, now you're gone, Nair"), the legendary singer replied, "Ive seen lots of people come & go! Nobiggie!" But apparently it was kind of a biggie, since Nicki fans rushed to her defense, including her maybe-beau Safaree, who tweeted: "yo @cher listen to the words b4 you say dumb sh-- on twitter... do you know what a rap metaphore is???" No stranger to fights involving Nicki, Safaree's response was enough to get an apology out of Cher, who tweeted: "U R right ! Someone said I was dissed..I've been dissed b4,but instead of finding out I just got defensive ! I should know better." Nicki's response? "@cher "#stopit5."

TV NEWS
It’s soon time to head back to Harlan County. FX has announced that the third season of Justified will bow on Tuesday, January 17 at 10/9c. Additionally, Archer will kick off its third season on Thursday, January 19 at 10/9, followed by the premiere of the new animated teen buddy comedy Unsupervised.
Justified‘s Season 3 guest cast includes Neal McDonough and Mykelti Williamson (24) as new villains, and Carla Gugino as a potential love interest for Timothy Olyphant’s Raylan.


Emilie de Ravin will bring Beauty and the Beast’s beloved Belle to life in a February episode of ABC’s Once Upon a Time.

 
Parks and Recreation is not making things easy for Leslie (Amy Poehler) and Ben (Adam Scott) this season. As if Leslie’s political ambitions weren’t enough of an obstacle for the star-crossed lovers, the show is now bringing back ex-boyfriend Louis C.K.  the actor/comedian — currently between seasons of his FX comedy, Louie — will reprise his role as Leslie’s former police officer beau Dave Sanderson in an early ’12 episode. The extremely laid back, mild-mannered character was last seen in Season 2 when he took a job in San Diego.


The Revolution, ABC Daytime’s replacement for the now permanently-axed One Life to Live, will premiere Monday, Jan. 16 at 2 pm EST.

Darren Pettie has had a recurring role on the AMC drama as the son of a cigarette mogul who was secretly gay (and recently had an arc on The CW’s Ringer). Now Pettie has signed up for a recurring part on Pan Am playing an airline captain who’s considered the “ultimate sky god.” He’s a heroic former WWII pilot named Vince Broyles, a charmer with a dark side. Due to his acclaimed military service, he’s allowed to commandeer Pan Am aircraft for his personal use. Expect Pettie to struggle for Alpha Male status with Capt. Dean Lowrey (Mike Vogel) later this season.


Dying to get your hands on some actual Dunder Mifflin paper? Staples’ Quill.com is making it possible by selling reams of copy paper from The Office‘s famed fictional company.



TNT’s Mystery Movie Night franchise — which launches this Tuesday/Wednesday with Innocent (based on the novel by Scott Turow and starring Bill Pullman) and Ricochet (based on the book by Sandra Brown and starring John Corbett and Julie Benz) – has added to its slate Hornet’s Nest, based on the bestseller from Patricia Cornwell. ER‘s Sherry Stringfield and Scoundrels‘ Virginia Madsen will star.