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Chicago is an American pop rock/jazz fusion band formed in 1967 in Chicago, Illinois. The band began as a politically charged, sometimes experimental, rock band and later moved to a predominantly softer sound, becoming famous for producing a number of hit ballads. They had a steady stream of hits throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Second only to the Beach Boys in terms of singles and albums, Chicago is one of the longest running and most successful U.S. pop/rock and roll groups.

According to Billboard, Chicago was the leading U.S. singles charting group during the 1970s. They have sold over 120 million albums worldwide, scoring 22 Gold, 18 Platinum, and 8 Multi-Platinum albums. Over the course of their career they have charted five No. 1 albums, and have had twenty-one top ten hits.

Beginnings

The band was formed when a group of DePaul University music students began playing a series of late-night jams at clubs on- and off-campus. The group eventually grew to seven players and went professional as a cover band called The Big Thing. The band featured an unusually versatile line-up of musicians, including a full horn section (saxophonist Walter Parazaider, trombonist James Pankow, and trumpet player Lee Loughnane) in addition to the more traditional rock instrumentalists: guitarist Terry Kath, keyboardist Robert Lamm, drummer Danny Seraphine, and bassist Peter Cetera.

While gaining some success as a cover band, the group began working on original songs. In June 1968, they moved to Los Angeles, California under the guidance of their friend and manager James William Guercio, and signed with Columbia Records. After signing with Guercio, The Big Thing changed their name to Chicago Transit Authority.

Their first record (released in April 1969), the eponymous The Chicago Transit Authority, was an audacious debut: a double album, very rare for a first release, featuring jazzy instrumentals, extended jams featuring Latin percussion, and experimental, feedback-laden guitar abstraction. The album began to receive heavy airplay on the newly popular FM radio band; it included a number of pop-rock songs — "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?", "Beginnings", and "Questions 67 and 68" — which would later be edited to a radio-friendly length, released as singles, and eventually become rock radio staples.

Soon after the album's release, the band's name was shortened to Chicago, when the actual Chicago Transit Authority threatened legal action.

Chicago's greatest prominence

The band's popularity increased with the release of their second album, another double-LP set, which included several top-40 hits. This second album, titled Chicago (also known as Chicago II), was the group's breakthrough album. The centerpiece track was a thirteen-minute suite composed by James Pankow called "Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon" (the structure of this suite was inspired by Pankow's love for classical music). The suite yielded two top ten hits, the crescendo-filled "Make Me Smile" (#9 U.S) and prom-ready ballad "Colour My World", both sung by Terry Kath. Among the other popular tracks on the album: Terry Kath's dynamic but cryptic wah-wah-buttressed "25 or 6 to 4" (a reference to a songwriter trying to write at 25 or 26 minutes to 4 in the morning, sung by Cetera, Chicago's first Top Five hit), and the lengthy war protest song "It Better End Soon."

The band recorded and released LPs at a rate of at least one disc per year from their third album in 1971 through the 1970s. During this period, the group's album titles invariably consisted of the band's name followed by a Roman numeral indicating the album's sequence in their canon, a naming pattern that lent an encyclopedic aura to the band's work. (The two exceptions to this scheme were the band's fourth album, a live boxed set entitled Chicago at Carnegie Hall and their twelfth album Hot Streets. While the live album itself did not bear a number, each of the four discs within the set was numbered Volumes I through IV.) The distinctive Chicago logo was designed by Nick Fasciano (bearing more than a passing resemblance to the Coca-Cola logo) and has graced every album cover in one form or another; as an American flag on III, a piece of wood on V, a dollar (or U.S. currency) bill on VI, a Cardinal on VIII, a Hershey bar on X, a computer silicon chip on 16, and mosaic on 18 being among the examples.

In 1971, Chicago released the ambitious quadruple-album live set, Chicago at Carnegie Hall Volumes I, II, III, and IV, consisting of live performances, mostly of music from their first three albums, from a week-long run at the famous venue (along with the James Gang and Led Zeppelin in 1969, one of the few rock bands to play the historic concert hall since the Beatles performed there on February 12, 1964). The performances and sound quality were judged sub-par; in fact, trombonist James Pankow went on record to say that "the horn section sounded like kazoos." The packaging of the album also contained some rather strident political messaging about how "We [youth] can change The System," including massive wall posters and voter registration information. Nevertheless, Chicago at Carnegie Hall went on to become the best-selling box set by a rock act, and held that distinction for 15 years.

The group bounced back in 1972 with their first single-disc release, Chicago V, a diverse set that reached number one on both the Billboard pop and jazz albums charts and yielded the Robert Lamm-composed-and-sung radio hit and perennial fan favorite "Saturday in the Park", which mixed everyday life and political yearning in a more subtle way. It peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1972. Chicago would long open their concerts with the hit song.

In 1973, the group's manager, Guercio, produced and directed Electra Glide in Blue, a movie about an Arizona motorcycle policeman. The movie starred Robert Blake, and featured Cetera, Kath, Loughnane, and Parazaider in supporting roles. The group also appeared prominently on the movie's soundtrack.

Other successful albums and singles followed in each of the succeeding years. 1973's Chicago VI topped the charts buoyed by the hits "Feelin' Stronger Every Day" (#10 U.S.) and "Just You 'N' Me" (#4 U.S.) and it was also the first of several albums to include Brazilian jazz percussionist Laudir de Oliveira. Chicago VII, the band's double-disc 1974 release, featured the Cetera-composed "Wishing You Were Here", (#11 U.S.) sung by Terry Kath and Cetera with background vocals by Cetera and The Beach Boys and some fusion jazz. Chicago VII also provided one of the group's enduring signature tunes, the anthemic "(I've Been) Searchin' So Long," which started with as a soft ballad and culminated in a hard-rock conclusion featuring Terry Kath's electric guitar soloing against the Chicago horn section and a soaring string arrangement by Jimmie Haskell. "Happy Man," another song from Chicago VII, was also a popular favorite on FM radio, was a big hit in South America and subsequently covered by Tony Orlando and Dawn on their album To Be With You. Their 1975 release, Chicago VIII, featured the political allegory "Harry Truman" and the nostalgic Pankow-composed "Old Days". Both hits reached the Top 15, with the latter even reaching the Top Five. That summer also saw a very successful joint tour across America with The Beach Boys, with both acts performing separately, then coming together for a rousing finale. The tour was considered one of the highest grossing in rock music up to that time.

Chicago gave a concert in Mexico City in 1975 at the Auditorio Nacional which was highly appreciated by the attendants in spite of the fact that the Mexican press later reviewed it not as one of the band’s better performances, presumably for the band not being "in the best of shape". The tickets for the concert sold so fast that thousands of people were not able to get in, so Terry Kath asked those inside to applaud for those standing outside. Carmen Romano de Lòpez Portillo, the wife of Mèxico's then-President Josè Lòpez Portillo, is said to have been among the attendants in the first row.

But for all their effort, none of their singles went to number one until Chicago X in 1976, when Cetera's slow, exquisite ballad "If You Leave Me Now" climbed to the top of the charts and remained there for two weeks. The song also won Chicago their only Grammy award, for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group in 1977. Ironically, the tune almost did not make the cut for the album; "If You Leave Me Now" was recorded at the very last minute. The huge success of the song would foreshadow a later reliance on ballads that would typecast the group on radio, despite the presence of mellower songs on all the previous albums. The group's 1977 release, Chicago XI, was another big success for the band; it included Cetera's hit ballad "Baby, What a Big Surprise", a #4 U.S. hit which became one of the group's last big hits of the decade.

Time of transition

1978 was a tragic and transitional year for Chicago. The year began with an acrimonious split with long-time manager James William Guercio (which had actually occurred three months earlier). Then, on January 23, guitarist/singer/songwriter/group co-founder Terry Kath died of an accidental, self-inflicted gunshot wound. Another version describes Kath's drunken last words to guitar tech Don Johnson: "Don't worry, guys. It isn't even loaded. See?" Kath was the group's leader onstage, and for many longtime fans, its musical soul. Terry Kath's stunning death could have meant the end for Chicago, but encouraged by friends and admirers such as Doc Severinsen, the group held fast and soldiered on.

After auditioning over 30 potential replacements for Kath, Chicago decided upon guitarist/singer/songwriter Donnie Dacus, who joined the band in April 1978 just in time for the Hot Streets album and its energetic lead-off single "Alive Again", which brought Chicago back to the Top 15.. The group was briefly re-energized by Dacus, whose long blond hair and rock star image stage presence seemingly overshadowed his musical abilities. The kinetic Dacus may have been out of character for the normally laid-back Chicago, but he could sing and play, and the band responded by delivering some of their tightest live performances ever. Hot Streets, with producer Phil Ramone now at the helm, was Chicago's first album with an actual title rather than a number and was the band's first LP to have a picture of the band featured prominently on the cover (with the ubiquitous logo downsized,) two moves that were seen by many as a way to indicate the band had changed following Kath's death. To a degree, the band returned to the old naming scheme on its subsequent releases, although most titles would now bear Arabic numerals rather than Roman numerals. The release of Hot Streets also marked a move somewhat away from the jazz-rock direction favored by Kath and towards more pop songs and ballads. Dacus didn't last long, only staying with the band through the 1979 album Chicago 13 (Dacus is also featured in a promotional video on the DVD included in the Rhino Records Chicago box set from 2003). 13, again produced by Phil Ramone, was the group's first studio album not to contain a Top 40 hit.

1980's Chicago XIV, produced by Tom Dowd, relegated the horn section to the background on a number of tracks, and the album's two singles failed to make the Top 40. Production values were spare, perhaps due to the lean, stripped-down New Wave music that was popular at the time. Chris Pinnick handled the guitar duties and came close to the "Kath sound," but did not sing. He would remain with the band through 1985. Believing the band to no longer be commercially viable, Columbia Records dropped them from its roster in 1981 and released a second "Greatest Hits" volume later that year to fulfill its contractual obligation.

The second major phase of the band's career took off in late 1981 with a new producer (David Foster), a new label (Warner Brothers), and the addition of keyboardist/guitarist/singer Bill Champlin and guitarist Chris Pinnick (who had played on XIV and subsequent tour); percussionist Laudir de Oliveira also departed at this time along with former Buckingham and sax player Marty Grebb, who had joined the group briefly for the XIV tour.

Foster brought in studio musicians for some of the tracks on Chicago 16 (including the core members of Toto), and Chicago once again topped the charts with the single "Hard to Say I'm Sorry/Get Away". This was followed up by a song that barely missed the top 20, "Love Me Tomorrow." The following album, Chicago 17, became the biggest selling album of the band's history, producing two more Top Ten singles ("You're the Inspiration" and "Hard Habit to Break") (both #3 hits) and two other singles ("Stay the Night" (#16) and "Along Comes a Woman" (#14). Peter's brother, Kenny Cetera, was brought into the group for the 17 tour to add percussion and high harmony vocals.

Lead vocalist Peter Cetera's desire to record a second solo album (he'd done his first one in 1981) and not continue with the band's gruelling tour schedule caused him to leave Chicago in 1985. Although other band members (including Lamm and Champlin) have released solo material, Cetera has proved the most successful, topping the pop charts with The Karate Kid, Part II theme song "Glory of Love," and also with Amy Grant on "The Next Time I Fall". Two more songs, a 1988 solo hit called "One Good Woman" (#4 U.S.) and a 1989 duet with Cher called "After All" (#6 U.S.) reached the Top Ten.

The post-Cetera era

Cetera was replaced in September 1985 by bassist/singer Jason Scheff, who joined the band for the final Foster-produced album Chicago 18. This album was not as commercially successful as the previous two, but still produced the #3 single "Will You Still Love Me?," a Top 5 Adult Contemporary and Top 20 Pop song ("If She Would Have Been Faithful..."), and also a high-tech and highly programmed version of "25 or 6 to 4" with a concept video that got a lot of airplay on MTV. Soon after the album was recorded, the band hired guitarist Dawayne Bailey from Bob Seger's Silver Bullet Band. Bailey and Scheff had previously played in bands together, so Scheff introduced Bailey to the band in time for the Chicago 18 tour (Scheff and Bailey's first concert with Chicago took place on Friday Oct 17, 1986 in Rockford, Illinois).

In 1988, the band replaced producer Foster with Ron Nevison and Chas Sanford, and they topped the charts again with the Diane Warren-composed single "Look Away," from the album Chicago 19. The album also yielded two more Top 10 hits, both with Bill Champlin singing solo lead for the first time and another Top 5 single that would officially be a release from the forthcoming greatest hits record. Chicago 19 was followed in short order by Greatest Hits 1982-1989, which included the aforementioned #5 hit "What Kind Of Man Would I Be?," a slightly remixed tune originally included on 19 and sung by Jason Scheff. The album's other Top Ten hit, "You're Not Alone", reached #10 in early 1989. During 1989, Chicago did a reprise joint concert tour with The Beach Boys (and would do so once again in 1997).

The band continued in the decade of the 1990s, even though their popularity began to decline. There was also another personnel change: founding member Danny Seraphine was fired by the band in 1990 after a severe falling out with some of the others in the group and was replaced by session drummer Tris Imboden, who first appeared on the 1991 album Twenty 1. Imboden was well-known in the industry as the longtime drummer for Kenny Loggins. On a happier note, Chicago was recognized with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on July 23, 1992.

In 1993, Chicago wrote and recorded their 22nd album, Stone of Sisyphus. Their record company at the time though, Reprise [Warner Music Group], was unhappy with the finished result, and thus the album was not released, although in succeeding years bootleg recordings of the album went on to surface worldwide, including over the Internet. It is also rumored that the label would not release the album as a result of being unable to reach a licensing agreement with band management over the back catalog. Selected tracks from the unreleased album were later officially released on four international compilation greatest hits CDs and the Rhino Records 2003 box set, and four were re-recorded for band members' solo albums. One track, "The Pull," was performed live during their 1993 appearance at the Greek Theatre (taped for PBS, and released on video in 1993). The album finally did see a release in June 2008, almost 15 years after its completion.

Starting on their 1994 tour, Chicago attempted to merge their unique sound with Big Band music for the 1995 album Night & Day Big Band, which consisted of covers of songs originally recorded by artists like Sarah Vaughan, Glenn Miller, and Duke Ellington (from whom the album mainly got its inspiration). Session guitarist Bruce Gaitsch handled the guitar work, and the album featured guest appearances by Paul Shaffer of "David Letterman" fame, and Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry.

Keith Howland joined the band as guitarist in early 1995 to replace the departed Dawayne Bailey.

During a Los Angeles concert in 1997, Chicago teamed up with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra to perform a James Pankow/Dwight Mikelson orchestral arrangement of Pankow's rock epic "Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon". Also during this year, the group released The Heart of Chicago 1967-1997, a compilation album which went gold and yielded the #1 Adult Contemporary hit "Here in My Heart."

In 1998, Chicago released Chicago XXV: The Christmas Album, which mixed traditional holiday favorites with an original Lee Loughnane composition. It went gold in the US. (The album was re-released with additional tracks in 2003, under the title ''What's It Gonna Be, Santa?) The album featured Howland's first, and to date only, lead vocal on a Chicago record.

The band released a live album in 1999, Chicago XXVI, which included only two of the many songs Cetera helped to write while in the group. In 2000, the group (minus Cetera) had the opportunity to tell their story in an episode of VH1's Behind The Music. This included gems such as Pankow relating this story from the early 1980s: "One record company said 'Man, if you get rid of the horn section, we'll sign ya... That's like tellin' Elton John to get rid of the piano." The show, however, was not without its difficulties. The episode put more emphasis on the death of Terry Kath than their entire career combined. Cetera completely disowned the special and went so far as to not allow VH1 to use any of the songs he composed for the band, even declining to be interviewed (although stock footage of a Cetera interview does appear).

Chicago today

Despite the personnel changes over the years, the group is still active four decades after its founding. They are one of the few major rock groups that have never broken up or even taken an extended hiatus. Four of the six surviving founding members (major songwriters Lamm and Pankow, plus Loughnane and Parazaider) remain to this day providing continuity, while Jason Scheff has over 23 years with the band, Tris Imboden over 18, and Keith Howland over 13.

As a new century turned, the band licensed their entire recorded output to Rhino Records (after years with Columbia Records and Warner Brothers as well as their own short-lived label). In 2002, Rhino released a two-disc compilation, The Very Best of Chicago: Only The Beginning, which spans the band's entire career. The compilation made the Top 40 and sold over 2 million copies in the US. Rhino has also begun releasing remastered versions of all of the band's Columbia albums, each including several bonus tracks; and in 2005 they released a compilation entitled Love Songs.

Chicago continues to appear in big and small venues worldwide. In 2004–2005 they toured jointly with the band Earth, Wind & Fire; a DVD recorded during that tour, Chicago/Earth, Wind & Fire - Live at the Greek Theatre, was certified platinum just two months after its release.

The group released Chicago XXX, on March 21, 2006, their first all-new studio album since Twenty 1. Two songs from this album, "Feel" and "Caroline", were performed live during Chicago's Fall 2005 tour; the studio recording of "Feel" debuted on WPLJ radio in New York in November 2005. "Feel" was the first single released. The album contains two versions of the song: one with horns and an orchestral tag that echoes "Love Me Tomorrow", and another non-brass version. "Love Will Come Back" was the second single released. The album was produced by Rascal Flatts bassist Jay DeMarcus, who is a friend of Chicago bassist Jason Scheff. Seven of the 12 tracks were co-written by Scheff, and the album included a large roster of guest musicians, supplanting band members in many cases. While Chicago XXX did manage to debut at No. 41 on the US album chart (besting some other entries including Chicago XIV which hit US #71 and Twenty 1 which topped out at only US #66), it only remained in the top 200 for two weeks.

During March 2006, Chicago made a multi-week appearance at the MGM Grand Las Vegas, which was repeated in May of the same year. In July 2006, the band made a series of US appearances with Huey Lewis and the News. Highlights of that tour included Chicago's Bill Champlin performing with Huey Lewis and the News on a couple of songs, members of Huey Lewis and the News contributing to Chicago's percussion-laden song, "I'm a Man," and Huey Lewis singing the lead vocal on Chicago's "Colour My World."

In early 2006, original drummer Danny Seraphine formed California Transit Authority, who play many of the older Chicago songs.

At the end of 2006, the band played at CD USA's New Year's Eve party on Fremont Street in Las Vegas. Chicago toured the summer of 2007 with the band America. On October 2, 2007, Rhino Records released the two-disc The Best of Chicago: 40th Anniversary Edition, a new greatest hits compilation spanning their entire forty years, similar to The Very Best of: Only the Beginning, released four years earlier.

June 17, 2008 saw the official release of the Stone of Sisyphus album by Rhino Records, recorded in 1993 and originally slated for a March 1994 release until being shelved by Warner Records. The album contains eleven of the original twelve tracks (the raucous "Get on This" was left off), plus four demo recordings. Its official title is "Chicago XXXII: Stone of Sisyphus" (it was originally slated to be album #22). Summer of 2008 also included multiple European tour dates, with members of the horn section missing at various times. This trend of fill-in players has continued into 2009, with Lamm sometimes the only original member on stage. As Chicago has existed as a "faceless" band for years, the lack of original members may not concern the audience like it would with another long-lived band such as the Rolling Stones and high-profile members like Mick Jagger.

In 2009 Chicago reunited with Earth, Wind & Fire for yet another joint tour.

In August 2009, Bill Champlin, who was with Chicago for 28 years, left the band to focus on his own music and solo career. His replacement is Lou Pardini.

Oprah Gail Winfrey (born January 29, 1954) is an American media personality, Academy Award nominated actress, producer, literary critic and magazine publisher, best known for her self-titled, multi-award winning talk show, which has become the highest-rated program of its kind in history. She has been ranked the richest African American of the 20th century, the most philanthropic African American of all time, and was once the world's only black billionaire. She is also, according to some assessments, the most influential woman in the world.

Winfrey was born into poverty in rural Mississippi to a teenage single mother and later raised in an inner-city Milwaukee neighborhood. She experienced considerable hardship during her childhood, including being raped at the age of nine and becoming pregnant at 14; her son died in infancy. Sent to live with the man she calls her father, a barber in Tennessee, Winfrey landed a job in radio while still in high school and began co-anchoring the local evening news at the age of 19. Her emotional ad-lib delivery eventually got her transferred to the daytime talk show arena, and after boosting a third-rated local Chicago talk show to first place, she launched her own production company and became internationally syndicated.

Credited with creating a more intimate confessional form of media communication, she is thought to have popularized and revolutionized the tabloid talk show genre pioneered by Phil Donahue, which a Yale study claimed broke 20th century taboos and allowed LGBT people to enter the mainstream. By the mid 1990s she had reinvented her show with a focus on literature, self-improvement, and spirituality. Though criticized for unleashing confession culture and promoting controversial self-help fads, she is generally admired for overcoming adversity to become a benefactor to others. In 2006 she became an early supporter of Barack Obama and one analysis estimates she delivered over a million votes in the close 2008 Democratic primary race, an achievement for which the governor of Illinois considered offering her a seat in the U.S. senate.

Kristen Jaymes Stewart (born April 9, 1990) is an American film and television actress. She is known for roles in films such as Panic Room, Zathura, In the Land of Women, Adventureland, Into the Wild, The Messengers and Twilight.

Stewart was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. Her father, John Stewart, is a stage manager and television producer who has worked for Fox. Her mother, Jules Mann-Stewart, is a script supervisor originally from Maroochydore, Queensland, Australia. She attended school until the seventh grade, and then continued her education by correspondence. She has an older brother, Cameron Stewart.

Stewart's acting career began at the age of eight, after an agent saw her perform in her elementary school's Christmas play. Stewart's first role was a short, nonspeaking part in the Disney Channel TV production The Thirteenth Year. She subsequently appeared in the independent film The Safety of Objects, in which she played the tomboy daughter of a troubled single mother (Patricia Clarkson). Stewart had a major role in the Hollywood film Panic Room, playing the sullen, diabetic daughter of a divorced mother (Jodie Foster). The film received generally positive reviews, and Stewart garnered positive notices for her performance.

After Panic Room's success, Stewart was cast in another thriller, Cold Creek Manor, playing the daughter of Dennis Quaid and Sharon Stone's characters; the film generally failed at the box office. Her first starring role followed, in the children's action-comedy Catch That Kid, opposite Max Thieriot and Corbin Bleu. Stewart also played the role of Lila in the thriller Undertow. To date, Stewart's most critically acclaimed role may be in the television film Speak (2004), based on the novel by Laurie Halse Anderson. Stewart, 13 at the time of filming, played high school freshman Melinda Sordino, who stops almost all verbal contact after being raped and who deals with enormous amounts of emotional turmoil. Stewart received great praise for playing the character, who had only a few speaking lines, but kept up a dark-witted commentary inside her head throughout the film.

In 2005, Stewart appeared in the fantasy-adventure film Zathura, playing the role of Lisa, the irresponsible older sister of two little boys, who turn their house into a spacecraft hurtling uncontrollably in outer space by playing a board game. The movie received praise by critics, but Stewart's performance did not garner much media attention as it was noted that her character is immobilized during most of the movie. The following year, she played the character Maya in Fierce People, directed by Griffin Dunne. After that film, she received the lead role of Jess Solomon in the supernatural thriller movie The Messengers.

In 2007, Stewart appeared as teenager Lucy Hardwicke in In the Land of Women, a romantic drama starring Meg Ryan and The O.C. star Adam Brody. The movie, as well as Stewart's performance, received mixed reviews. That same year, Stewart starred in Sean Penn's critically acclaimed adaptation film Into the Wild. For her portrayal of Tracy — a teenage singer who has a crush on young adventurer Christopher McCandless — Stewart received generally positive reviews. Salon.com considered her work a "sturdy, sensitive performance", and the Chicago Tribune noted that she did "vividly well with a sketch of a role." Her performance was not without detractors, however; Variety's critic Dennis Harvey wrote, "It's unclear whether Stewart means to be playing hippie-chick Tracy as vapid, or whether it just comes off that way." After Into the Wild, Stewart had a cameo appearance in Jumper and also appeared in What Just Happened, which was released in October 2008. She also co-stars in The Cake Eaters and The Yellow Handkerchief, both independent films that have only been screened at film festivals.

On November 16, 2007, Summit Entertainment announced that Stewart would play Isabella "Bella" Swan in the movie Twilight, based on Stephenie Meyer's bestselling vampire romance novel of the same name. Stewart was on the set of Adventureland when director Catherine Hardwicke visited her for an informal screen test which "captivated" the director. She stars alongside Robert Pattinson, who plays Edward Cullen, her character's vampire boyfriend. The film began production in February 2008 and finished filming in May 2008. Twilight was released domestically on November 21, 2008. After the release of Twilight, Kristen Stewart was awarded the MTV Movie Award for Best Female Performance for her portrayal as Bella Swan. Stewart will be reprising her role as Bella in the sequel, New Moon, in 2009.

During a radio interview with Big O and Dukes of WJFK 1067, Jason Mewes stated that he is doing a movie called K-11 with Stewart and Nikki Reed, also of Twilight. The film, which is being directed by Stewart's mother, takes place in a dorm of the Los Angeles County Jail, and will feature both Stewart and Reed as male characters. Stewart was also cast to portray Joan Jett in The Runaways, a biopic of the titular band from writer-director Floria Sigismondi. Stewart met with Jett over the 2008-2009 New Year to prepare for the role, and hopes to be able to sing in the film.

Jennifer's Body is a 2009 dark comedy and horror film written by Diablo Cody. The film is directed by Karyn Kusama, and stars Megan Fox as the title character, Amanda Seyfried as her best friend Needy, and Adam Brody as the antagonist Nikolai. The movie is named after a song by Hole. It is scheduled for theatrical release in the United States and Canada on September 18, 2009.

Plot

When small town high school student Jennifer (Megan Fox) is possessed by a hungry demon, she transitions from being “high school evil” - gorgeous (and doesn’t she know it), stuck up and ultra-attitudinal - to the real deal: evil/evil. The glittering beauty becomes a pale and sickly creature jonesing for a meaty snack, and guys who never stood a chance with the heartless babe, take on new luster in the light of her insatiable appetite. Meanwhile, Jennifer’s best friend, Needy (Amanda Seyfried), long relegated to living in Jennifer’s shadow, must step-up to protect the town’s young men, including her nerdy boyfriend Chip (Johnny Simmons). As she did in her Oscar(r)-winning screenplay “Juno,” writer/executive producer Diablo Cody employs an offbeat writing voice marked by whip-smart dialogue and pop-culture savvy. But with JENNIFER’S BODY, Cody and director Karyn Kusana venture into darker territory, using horror laced with comedy to mine the precipitous terrain of adolescence.
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• Genre:Comedy, Horror, Thriller
• Director:Karyn Kusama
• Cast:Megan Fox, Amanda Seyfried, Johnny Simmons, J.K. Simmons, Amy Sedaris, Adam Brody

Amanda Michelle Seyfried (pronounced /ˈsaɪfrɪd/ "sigh-frid"; born December 3, 1985) is an American actress and former child model. She is best known for her roles as Sophie Sheridan in the feature film Mamma Mia! and as Karen Smith in Mean Girls; she has also appeared in Alpha Dog and in the television shows Veronica Mars, Big Love, and House.

Amanda Seyfried was born in Allentown, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, United States, the daughter of Ann, an occupational therapist, and Jack Seyfried, a pharmacist. Her sister, Jennifer Seyfried, is a musician in the Philadelphia organ-driven rock band Love City at MySpace. Amanda graduated in 2003 from Allentown's William Allen High School and subsequently enrolled at New York City's Fordham University. As a teenager, she appeared on the cover of three Francine Pascal books. She also sang Thank you for the music at Michael Jackson's memorial concert.

It has been confirmed that since 2008 Amanda has been dating Dominic Cooper, her co-star (and on-sceen fiancee) from Mamma Mia!.

Career

Seyfried started her career as a model at age eleven. From there she went on to acting uncredited in the daytime drama Guiding Light. In 2000, she originated the role of Lucy Montgomery on As the World Turns. From 2002 to 2003, she played the role of Joni Stafford on ABC's All My Children.

In 2004, Seyfried achieved a breakthrough when she was cast as the most dimwitted of the Plastics, Karen Smith, in the popular teen film Mean Girls. In Mean Girls, she initially auditioned for the role of Regina George. She became the original casting choices for both the roles of Regina George and Cady Heron. She was then cast as Regina George's sidekick, and supporting lead, Karen Smith. The other roles later went to Rachel McAdams and Lindsay Lohan, respectively. In 2005, she played the lead character in one of the nine parts in the movie Nine Lives.

Continuing her television career, Seyfried was cast in UPN's Veronica Mars as the title character's murdered best friend Lilly Kane. In her role as Lilly, she appeared on the show through a series of flashbacks, dreams and visions, which portrayed her as a wild, stylish, and bubbly teenage daughter of a business executive. While appearing often during Mars' first season, she also appeared briefly in the second season's premiere and finale. Seyfried originally auditioned for the title role on Veronica Mars, but lost the place to Kristen Bell and she ended up winning the role of Lilly Kane.

Seyfried has had minor guest roles on House, M.D., Justice, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and as Rebecca on Wildfire. Seyfried also portrays a main character, Sarah Henrickson, in the series Big Love.

She played supporting roles in the 2007 films Alpha Dog and Solstice, and had her first lead role as the bride Sophie in the film version of the musical Mamma Mia!. Her musical performance in that film is also available on Mamma Mia! The Movie Soundtrack. Seyfried recorded a "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)" music video specially for Mamma Mia!.

Seyfried joined the cast of the dark horror film Jennifer's Body in February 2008, which began filming in March 2008, playing the title character's best friend. Seyfried has several films in post-production. Titles include "Chloe", "Dear John", and "Boogie Woogie". “Chloe” is a remake of the French film Nathalie, and also stars Liam Neeson and Julianne Moore. Seyfried was scheduled to play the lead in Zack Snyder's new film Sucker Punch, but had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts with Big Love.

She is slotted to star in the both the forthcoming film version of A Woman of No Importance and Gary Winick's Letters To Juliet, which she's shooting in the italian city of Verona, where the tragic story of Romeo and Juliet was set by William Shakespeare.

Stephen Edwin King (born September 21, 1947) is an American writer of contemporary horror fiction, science fiction, fantasy literature, and screenplays. An estimated 300–350 million copies of King's novels and short story anthologies have been sold, and many of his stories have been adapted for film, television, and other media. King has written a number of books using the pen name Richard Bachman, and one short story, "The Fifth Quarter", as John Swithen.

In 2003 the National Book Foundation awarded King the Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters.

Stephen King was born in Portland, Maine. When King was two years old, his father left the family under the pretense of going to buy a pack of cigarettes, leaving his mother to raise King and his adopted older brother David by herself, sometimes under great financial strain. The family moved to De Pere, Wisconsin, Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Stratford, Connecticut. When King was eleven years old, the family returned to Durham, Maine, where Ruth King cared for her parents until their deaths. She then became a caterer in a local residential facility for the mentally challenged.

As a child, King apparently witnessed one of his friends being struck and killed by a train, though he has no memory of the event. His family told him that after leaving home to play with the boy, King returned, speechless and seemingly in shock. Only later did the family learn of the friend's death. Some commentators have suggested that this event may have psychologically inspired King's dark, disturbing creations, but King himself has dismissed the idea.

King's primary inspiration for writing horror fiction was related in detail in his 1981 non-fiction Danse Macabre, in a chapter titled "An Annoying Autobiographical Pause". King makes a comparison of his uncle successfully dowsing for water using the bough of an apple branch with the sudden realization of what he wanted to do for a living. While browsing through an attic with his elder brother, King uncovered a paperback version of an H. P. Lovecraft collection of short stories that had belonged to his father. The cover art—an illustration of a monster hiding within the recesses of a hell-like cavern beneath a tombstone—was, he writes,

“the moment of my life when the dowsing rod suddenly went down hard ... as far as I was concerned, I was on my way.”

King attended Durham Elementary School and graduated from Lisbon Falls High School in Lisbon Falls, Maine. He displayed an early interest in horror as an avid reader of EC's horror comics, including Tales from the Crypt (he later paid tribute to the comics in his screenplay for Creepshow). He began writing for fun while still in school, contributing articles to Dave's Rag, the newspaper that his brother published with a mimeograph machine and later began selling stories to his friends which were based on movies he had seen (though when discovered by his teachers, he was forced to return the profits). The first of his stories to be independently published was "I Was a Teenage Grave Robber", serialized over three published and one unpublished issue of a fanzine, Comics Review, in 1965. That story was published the following year in a revised form as "In a Half-World of Terror" in another fanzine, Stories of Suspense, edited by Marv Wolfman.

From 1966, King studied English at the University of Maine, where he graduated in 1970 with a Bachelor of Science in English. He wrote a column for the student newspaper, The Maine Campus, titled "Steve King's Garbage Truck", took part in a writing workshop organized by Burton Hatlen, and took odd jobs to pay for his studies, including one at an industrial laundry. He sold his first professional short story, "The Glass Floor", to Startling Mystery Stories in 1967. The Fogler Library at UMaine now holds many of King's papers.

After leaving the university, King gained a certificate to teach high school but, being unable to find a teaching post immediately, initially supplemented his laboring wage by selling short stories to men's magazines such as Cavalier. Many of these early stories have been published in the collection "Night Shift". In 1971, King married Tabitha Spruce, a fellow student at the University of Maine whom he had met at the University's Fogler Library. That fall, King was hired as a teacher at Hampden Academy in Hampden, Maine. He continued to contribute short stories to magazines and worked on ideas for novels. It was during this time that King developed a drinking problem, which stayed with him for more than a decade.

Third Eye Blind (sometimes abbreviated 3eb) is an American alternative rock band formed in the early 1990s in San Francisco. The band's current line-up is Stephan Jenkins (vocals, guitar), Brad Hargreaves (drums, percussion), and Tony Fredianelli (guitar, vocals). Original bassist Arion Salazar has not been playing with the band, and his future as part of the band is unclear. It is reported on the band's Facebook page that he is able to return whenever he wishes, as there is an "open door policy" for him. Abe Millet, of Inviolet Row, has been filling in for Salazar during recent concerts.

After the success of their eponymous debut album in 1997, the band released one more album, 1999's Blue, before guitarist Kevin Cadogan was released under controversial circumstances. In 2003, the band released Out of the Vein. In 2008 the band released the digital EP Red Star. After a six year hiatus from releasing a full length album Ursa Major was released on August 18th, 2009.

History
Beginnings (1993–1996)

Third Eye Blind recorded their first demo in 1993. The band gained major label attention after their second demo was released in 1995, including that of Clive Davis, who invited the band to perform a showcase for Arista Records in New York City. During Third Eye Blind concerts at the time, it was customary for the band to have a piñata release candy above their mosh pits, yet at the showcase for the record executives, lead singer Stephan Jenkins released live crickets from the piñata instead. With regard to the name of the band, Jenkins indicated during a radio interview that the name came from the metaphysical idea of a mind's eye, a topic of a book he had read. The other group members liked it and chose it as the official name. In the past, Stephan Jenkins has also joked about a Ouija board and vodka being the sources of the name. In April 1996, after Jenkins had challenged Epic Records executive Dave Massey in a meeting, the band landed an opening gig for Oasis at the San Francisco Civic Auditorium. In an unlikely scenario for an opening act, the band was invited back for an encore after playing their initial set and was paid double by the concert promoter. In addition, Stephan Jenkins' production of The Braids' cover of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" gained major-label attention. Afterwards, the band found themselves in a bidding war among record labels, and after a showcase in Los Angeles, signed with Sylvia Rhone of Elektra Records because they believed it offered the most artistic freedom.

Success (1997–2000)

Third Eye Blind's first album, Third Eye Blind was released in 1997. The album had 5 singles: "Semi-Charmed Life", "Graduate", "How's It Going to Be", "Losing a Whole Year", and "Jumper". "Semi-Charmed Life" peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was number 1 on the Modern Rock Tracks for 8 weeks. The band also performed "How's It Going to Be" on Saturday Night Live. To date their eponymous debut has been the group's most successful album, selling 6 million copies in the U.S. alone. Smash Mouth drummer Michael Urbano played drums on 4 songs on the album. During this period they also opened a number of shows on U2's PopMart Tour.

In 1999 the band released their second album, Blue. Although not received as well as Third Eye Blind, the album sold 75,000 copies the first week of release and by 2003 had sold 1.25 million in the U.S. Four singles were released from the album, "Anything", "Never Let You Go", "10 Days Late", and "Deep Inside of You". In early 2000, shortly after the release of the album, Kevin Cadogan was released from the band. Cadogan filed suit, alleging wrongful termination, adding that his production, recording, and songwriter royalties were withheld since being kicked out of the band. The lawsuit was settled out of court in June 2002.
Hiatus (2001–2002)

After extensive international touring, the band took a break from performing, appearing only at charity events. They put on shows for the Tiger Woods Foundation and the Breathe Benefit Concert in Los Angeles after Jenkins' mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. During the hiatus the band also built a recording studio in anticipation of their next album.

Out of the Vein (2003)

In 2003 the band released Out of the Vein. Two singles were released from the album; "Blinded", and "Crystal Baller". Out of the Vein didn't sell as well as its predecessors, with numbers estimated around 500,000 copies as of March 2007. Elektra Records was being absorbed into Atlantic Records at the time, and the only music video created from the album was for the single "Blinded". Due to the merger, the band found themselves without label support, as Jenkins said, "Our record company ceased to exist the month the record was released, Elektra Records imploded."

In April, 2003, the band embarked on the Within Arms Reach tour, targeting clubs and other smaller venues to promote their third album in a more intimate setting than in recent years. "The 'Within Arm's Reach Tour' means the audience and the band literally get within arm's reach of each other," Jenkins said.

This album came out right after the break up of Stephan Jenkins and actress Charlize Theron. During various concerts Jenkins has stated that the songs "Forget Myself" and "Palm Reader" are written for her and the lyrics reveal some interesting aspects of their relationship.

In May 2004, Warner Music cut Third Eye Blind, along with over 80 other acts from their roster. While no specific reason was given for Third Eye Blind being cut, Atlantic co-chairman Craig Kallman said the cuts were made to get Atlantic's roster down to an appropriate size where "we can give each of our acts top priority."

Ursa Major and Ursa Minor (2009)

For the 10th anniversary of the release of Third Eye Blind's debut album, the band performed at the Fillmore on March 13 and 14. The shows were filmed for broadcast on HDNet on December 2, as well as normal broadcast and release on DVD and as a live album tentatively to be released in early 2008, as announced by Jenkins on November 9, 2007, on DC101's "Elliot In The Morning".

Third Eye Blind's fourth studio album titled Ursa Major was released on August 17, 2009. The album had been anticipated since mid-2007 and was previously expected to be named The Hideous Strength. The album will be produced under the Sony label. Jenkins has stated that this album will be "more political" than previous Third Eye Blind works. A single, "Non-Dairy Creamer", was released in November 2008, although it was not included on the album. This song was released on the internet exclusive digital EP Red Star.

Also announced recently is a possible fifth album titled Ursa Minor, that may be released following Ursa Major. Jenkins said that Ursa Minor will consist of songs that did not make the cut for Ursa Major. Leo Kremer, who has been filling in for Arion Salazar during recent shows is going to be playing his last time with the band after they tour Japan this Summer. Abe Millet played bass on the band's latest tour and will continue to fill in until otherwise noted. Millet has received immense support from the fans, hailing him as the best Salazar replacement to date, and have requested he be made a member of the band. Ari Ingber, from band The Upwelling, co-wrote "About to Break" with Jenkins, a new track from Ursa Major. Jon Evans (Vanessa Carlton) and Juan Alderete (The Mars Volta) will reportedly take over bass duties for the recording of this next album, according to Tony Fredianelli.

On June 5th 2009, Third Eye Blind released their first single off Ursa Major, "Don't Believe a Word", to radio. On June 8th, 2009 Stephan Jenkins announced to a overflow crowd at the Dallas Palladium that some of the night's songs were being recorded for possible use on future tracks on an upcoming album. On June 9th, 2009, Stephan Jenkins announced to a sell-out crowd at Houston's House of Blues that the "B-side" of Ursa Major would include several live tracks being recorded that night. Jenkins announced this at several sell out crowds even in 2008 one being the concert at Kent State in Ohio and one at the Electric Factory in Philadelphia.

Avatar is 3-D science fiction epic film directed by James Cameron.

The story’s protagonist, Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), is a former Marine who was wounded and paralyzed from the waist down in combat on Earth. Jake is selected to participate in the Avatar program, which will enable him to walk. Jake travels to Pandora, a lush jungle-covered extraterrestrial moon filled with incredible life forms, some beautiful, many terrifying. Pandora is also home to the Na’vi, a sentient humanoid race that humans consider primitive, but are actually more evolutionarily advanced than humans. Standing three meters tall, with tails and sparkling blue skin, the Na’vi live in harmony with their unspoiled world. As humans encroach deeper into Pandora's forests in search of valuable minerals, the Na’vi unleash their formidable warrior abilities to defend their threatened existence.

Jake has unwittingly been recruited to become part of this encroachment. Since humans are unable to breathe the air on Pandora, they have created genetically-bred human-Na’vi hybrids known as Avatars. The Avatars are living, breathing bodies that are controlled by a human "driver" through a technology that links the driver's mind to their Avatar body. On Pandora, through his Avatar body, Jake can be whole once again. Sent deep into Pandora's jungles as a scout for the soldiers that will follow, Jake encounters many of Pandora's beauties and dangers. There he meets a young Na’vi female, Neytiri, whose beauty is only matched by her ferocity in battle.

Over time, Jake integrates himself into Neytiri's clan, and begins to fall in love with her. As a result, Jake finds himself caught between the military-industrial forces of Earth, and the Na’vi, forcing him to choose sides in an epic battle that will decide the fate of an entire world.



Cast

• Sam Worthington as Jake Sully. Cameron cast the Australian actor after searching the world for promising young actors, preferring relative unknowns to keep the budget down. Worthington auditioned twice early in development, and he has signed on for possible sequels. Cameron felt because Worthington had not done a major film, he was "game for anything", giving the character "a quality that is really real. He has that quality of being a guy you'd want to have a beer with, and he ultimately becomes a leader who transforms the world."
• Zoe Saldana as Neytiri, a female Na'vi Jake initially betrays, but eventually falls in love with. The character will be entirely computer generated. Saldaña has also signed on for sequels.
• Sigourney Weaver as Dr. Grace Augustine, a botanist who mentors Jake Sully. Weaver dyed her hair red for the part. Her character was named "Shipley" at one point. The character reminded Weaver of Cameron, being "very driven and very idealistic".
• Michelle Rodriguez as Trudy Chacon, a retired Marine pilot. Cameron had wanted to work with Rodriguez since seeing her in Girlfight.
• Giovanni Ribisi as Parker Selfridge, a passive-aggressive character.
• Joel David Moore as Norm Spellman, an anthropologist who studies plant and nature life (like Weaver's character).
• CCH Pounder as Moha, the Na'vi queen.
• Stephen Lang as Marine Corps Colonel Quaritch. Lang had unsuccessfully auditioned for a role in Cameron's Aliens (1986); the director remembered Lang and cast him in Avatar. Michael Biehn was considered for the role of Colonel Quaritch. He met with James Cameron three times and saw some of the 3D footage, but in the end it simply came down to the fact that Cameron didn't want people thinking it was Aliens all over again, as Sigourney Weaver had already been cast.
• Dileep Rao as Dr. Max Patel.
• Matt Gerald as Corporal Lyle Wainfleet, the main villain.

Actors Laz Alonso as Tsu'Tey, Peter Mensah as Akwey, and Wes Studi are also in the film.

Mayte Michelle Rodriguez (born July 12, 1978), better known as Michelle Rodriguez, is an American actress, mostly known for playing tough-girl roles and starring in Hollywood blockbusters such as Fast & Furious, Resident Evil, and S.W.A.T. as well as her role as Ana Lucia Cortez in the television series Lost.

Rodriguez was born in Bexar County, Texas, the daughter of Carmen Milady (née Pared), a native of the Dominican Republic, and Rafael Rodriguez, a Puerto Rican who served in the U.S. Army. She has a total of ten half-siblings or siblings. She was partly raised by her devoutly religious maternal grandmother and was brought up as one of Jehovah's Witnesses (her mother's religion), though she has since abandoned that specific faith. Rodriguez moved to the Dominican Republic with her mother when she was eight and lived in Puerto Rico until the age of 11, later settling in Jersey City, New Jersey. She dropped out of high school but later earned her GED. Rodriguez briefly attended business school before quitting to pursue a career in acting with the ultimate goal of becoming a writer and director.

Having run across an ad for an open casting call and attending her first audition, Rodriguez beat 350 other applicants to win her first role in the low-budget 2000 independent film, Girlfight. Rodriguez's performance as Diana Guzman, a troubled teen who decides to channel her aggression by training to become a boxer, was recognized by both critics and audiences, but despite major industry buzz of a possible Academy Award nomination, she did not receive the Oscar nod. Rodriguez did however accumulate several other significant awards and nominations for the role in independent circles, including major acting accolades from the National Board of Review, Deauville Film Festival, Independent Spirit Awards, Gotham Awards, Las Vegas Film Critics Sierra Awards, and many others. The film itself took home top prizes at both the Sundance and Cannes Film Festivals.

Subsequently, she has had notable roles in other successful movies, including The Fast and the Furious, Resident Evil, Blue Crush, and S.W.A.T. In 2004, Rodriguez lent her voice to the video game Halo 2, playing a Marine. She also provided the voice of Liz Ricarro in the Cartoon Network series IGPX. From 2005 to 2006, she played tough cop Ana Lucia Cortez on the television series Lost during the show's second season (the character's first appearance was a flashback on season 1's finale, Exodus: Part 1), and returned for a cameo in the second episode of the show's fifth season in 2009. In 2006, Rodriguez was featured in her own episode of G4's show Icons.

In 2008, she appeared in Battle in Seattle alongside Charlize Theron. Rodriguez next appeared in the latest installment of the The Fast and the Furious franchise, which was titled simply Fast & Furious and released to theaters on April 3, 2009. Rodriguez can also be seen in James Cameron's $200 million sci-fi adventure Avatar, due out December 18, 2009.

She recently wrapped filming on Trópico de Sangre, an independent film she is co-producing with her production company Cheshire Kat Productions, based on the Dominican Republic's historic Mirabal sisters who were assassinated in 1960 by the Dominican dictator Trujillo for opposing his rule.

Rodriguez is currently slated to begin filming on Robert Rodriguez's Machete, after which she will appear alongside Aaron Eckhart in the sci-fi film Battle: Los Angeles.

Samuel "Sam" Worthington (born 2 August 1976) is an award-winning Australian actor.

Worthington was born in Perth, Western Australia, Australia. He grew up in Rockingham, Western Australia, and won a scholarship to the John Curtin College of the Arts in Fremantle, and then studied acting at the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Sydney.

After graduating from NIDA in 1998, Worthington performed in a production of Judas Kiss for Company B at the Belvoir St Theatre.

He went on to act in a series of Australian movies and TV series; including a supporting role in Bootmen (2000) and leading roles in Dirty Deeds (2002), Gettin' Square (2003), Somersault (2004) and a modern Australian retelling of Macbeth (2006). Worthington won the 2004 Australian Film Institute (AFI) Award for Best Lead Actor for his role in Somersault. He is well known in Australia for his role as Howard in the acclaimed Australian TV series Love My Way, where he played the main love interest of the female lead.

Worthington's international film career began with a series of small roles in Hollywood productions such as Hart's War (2002) and The Great Raid (2005), which was filmed in Australia. He was one of several actors who was under consideration to take over the role of James Bond from Pierce Brosnan for the 2006 film Casino Royale. Director Martin Campbell stated that only Worthington and Henry Cavill were in serious contention along with eventual winner Daniel Craig.

In 2007, James Cameron chose Worthington for a leading role in his science fiction thriller Avatar. It was revealed he was cast, on Cameron's recommendation, in Terminator Salvation as Marcus Wright.

Joel David Moore (born September 25, 1977) is an American actor who has appeared in television commercials, feature films, and television series.

Moore was born and raised in Portland, Oregon. He went to Southern Oregon University in Ashland, Oregon where he earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and performed for two summers at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. In 2000, he moved to Los Angeles and reunited with his agent from Portland, Rachelle Ryan, who is now a manager in Los Angeles.

Starting his career in commercials, he has been in over 15 nationals (including eBay, Cingular Wireless, and Best Buy). Moore shot an international campaign for a branch of Siemens cell phones, XELIBRI, which won a Lion Award. Moore's most-recognizable roles may be in Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story,Hatchet and Grandma's Boy.

Moore has appeared in nearly a dozen television shows, including: LAX, CSI, The Guardian, Strong Medicine, Six Feet Under, Angel, Providence, Boomtown, Boston Public, and House, and most recently as a graduate student on Bones. Moore's first film for release in 2008 is a starring role in the romantic comedy The Hottie and the Nottie, followed by a lead role in James Cameron's Avatar (2009), opposite Sigourney Weaver and Sam Worthington. Moore also starred alongside Katy Perry in her music video for "Waking Up in Vegas".

Stephen Lang (born July 11, 1952) is an American film actor who started in theatre on Broadway. He is currently co-artistic director (along with Carlin Glynn and Lee Grant) of the famed Actor's Studio at its headquarters in New York City. He is currently represented by Innovative Artists.

Lang was born in New York City, the son of Theresa (née Volmer) and Eugene Lang, who works in business and philanthropy.Lang's mother is Irish-American and his father is Hungarian-American. He married Kristina Watson, a costume designer and teacher, on June 1, 1980. They have four children, Lucy Jane, Noah, Grace and Daniel. Lang attended the P S 178 school in Jamaica Estates, Queens. He graduated from Swarthmore College in 1973 with a degree in Theatre.

Lang played one of Dustin Hoffman's sons (Happy) in the Broadway revival of Death of a Salesman in 1985, and appeared in the first Hannibal Lecter film, Manhunter (1986), as reporter Freddy Lounds. From 1986 to 1988, he played attorney David Abrams in the television series Crime Story. He played the title role in the NBC 1991 made-for-television film, Babe Ruth. He later played the "One Armed Man" in the 2000 revival of The Fugitive starring Tim Daly. The series was a modest success, but only lasted one season due to its expensive production budget.

In 1992, he was nominated for a Tony Award for his lead role in The Speed of Darkness. His role in the film version of Last Exit to Brooklyn garnered him universal acclaim and Oscar buzz, but its limited release prevented the film from reaching a wider audience. On stage, he was the first to play the role of Colonel Nathan Jessup in A Few Good Men, a role made famous on film (1992) by Jack Nicholson. He is the winner of over half a dozen theatre awards including the Drama Desk and Helen Hayes awards.

He played Maj. Gen. George E. Pickett in the 1993 film Gettysburg and Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson in the 2003 film Gods and Generals, both from director Ronald F. Maxwell. He considers his portrayal of Stonewall Jackson in Gods and Generals to be his finest performance. Arguably his most famous film role was his portrayal of the villainous Ike Clanton in the successful 1993 Western Tombstone, with Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer.

Before Arthur Miller's death in February 2005, Lang appeared in his longtime friend's last play which was Titled Finishing the Picture. It premiered at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago in the Fall of 2004. This was the same theatre where Lang had the second run of his own play Beyond Glory, which had premiered in Arlington, Virginia early in 2004, and also his Tony-nominated portrayal for The Speed of Darkness. In 2006 he played the role of Colonel Littlefield in John Patrick Shanley's play Defiance. He brought Beyond Glory to Roundabout's Off-Broadway Laura Pels Theatre in 2007. Since its New York City premiere, Beyond Glory has been nominated for a Drama Desk Award and a Lucille Lortel Award both for outstanding solo performance.

Recently, he filmed a key role in the ESPN mini-series The Bronx is Burning as well as roles in the independent features Save Me and From Mexico With Love. On August 3, 2007, Twentieth Century Fox announced that Lang has signed on to play a lead role in James Cameron's sci-fi epic Avatar.

He appeared in Michael Mann's film Public Enemies as Texas Ranger Charles Winstead, the man widely considered to have fired the shots that killed John Dillinger. Lang recently joined the cast of Grant Heslov's The Men Who Stare at Goats alongside Jeff Bridges, Kevin Spacey, and George Clooney, as an intelligence officer.

In 2009 he narrated the audiobooks Road Rage including Richard Matheson's Duel and Throttle by Stephen King and Joe Hill.

Zoe Saldaña (born Zoe Yadira Zaldaña Nazario; June 19, 1978) is a Caribbean-American actress. She is also known as Zoë Saldana, Zoe Saldaña, and Zoë Saldaña. She is known for playing Anamaria in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl and Uhura in the 2009 film Star Trek.

Saldaña was born in New Jersey to a Dominican father and Puerto Rican mother and lived in the Dominican Republic until she was 17. She's gone more in depth on her ethnic background in an interview stating she is of Lebanese, Indian, Irish, and Jamaican lineage. She was raised in Queens, New York, and her first languages are English and Spanish. Zoe enlisted in a ballet class at one of the most prestigious dancing schools in the Dominican Republic, gaining experience as a dancer, which benefited her later for her role in Center Stage. She returned to the United States after her sophomore year in high school and enrolled in the Faces Theater Program, an acting course.

Saldaña was still a member of the program when she got her first screen experience on an episode of Law & Order, which aired October 13, 1999. She left school after her major film debut in Center Stage (2000), which subsequently led to appearances in the Britney Spears vehicle Crossroads (2002) and the drama Drumline (2002). She played the pirate, Anamaria, in the 2003 film Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, and has appeared in a number of television shows and movies, including The Terminal (2004) and Guess Who (2005). Saldana was also the lead in the video for Juan Luis Guerra's song "La llave de mi corazón", and played Uhura in the 2009 movie Star Trek.

Sigourney Weaver (born October 8, 1949) is an American actress. She is best known for her roles as Lt. Ellen Ripley in the Alien film series and as Dana Barrett in the Ghostbusters movies. Weaver is also a three-time Academy Award nominee for her performances in Aliens, Gorillas in the Mist and Working Girl.

Weaver was born Susan Alexandra Weaver in New York City, the daughter of Elizabeth Inglis (née Desiree Mary Lucy Hawkins) (d. 2007), a former English actress, and the NBC television executive Sylvester "Pat" Laflin Weaver (d. 2002), an American of Scottish, Ulster Irish and early New England ancestry. Her uncle, Doodles Weaver, was a comedian and actor. She began using the name "Sigourney Weaver" in 1963, aged fourteen, after a minor character (Sigourney Howard) in F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel The Great Gatsby.

Weaver attended the Ethel Walker School, a prep school in Simsbury, Connecticut where she was made fun of all the time for being a "nerd" and for her height. She also attended The Chapin School She was reportedly 5'10" by age 13, but only grew another inch to her adult height of 5'11". She graduated from Stanford University (BA, English, 1972). She earned an MFA (1974) at Yale School of Drama, where she appeared in the chorus of a production of Stephen Sondheim's The Frogs and as one of a mob of Roman soldiers in another production as well as, later, in original plays by friend and classmate Christopher Durang. She later appeared in the 1981 Off Broadway production of his comedy Beyond Therapy directed by then up-and-coming director Jerry Zaks. She is fluent in French and in German.

Although Weaver has played a number of critically acclaimed roles in movies such as Gorillas in the Mist, The Ice Storm, Dave, and The Year of Living Dangerously, she is best known for her appearances as Warrant Officer/Lieutenant Ellen Ripley in the blockbuster Alien movie franchise. She first appeared as Ripley in Ridley Scott's 1979 film Alien. She reprised the role in three sequels, Aliens, Alien 3, and Alien Resurrection. She was nominated for a Best Actress Academy Award for portraying Ripley in Aliens. She also starred in two films in 1988, receiving Academy Award nominations for her roles as Katherine Parker in Working Girl and as naturalist Dian Fossey in Gorillas in the Mist. She lost out to Geena Davis and Jodie Foster respectively, although she received Golden Globes for both roles.
Weaver with her father Pat Weaver in 1989

Weaver also appeared in Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II as Dana Barrett. She played the role of agoraphobic criminal psychologist Helen Hudson in the 1995 movie Copycat, and went on to become one of the most highly paid actresses of the 1990s. In addition to her trademark role as Ripley, Weaver has recently concentrated on smaller roles such as 1999's A Map of the World and 2006's Snow Cake. She has also appeared in comedic roles, such as Jeffrey (1994), Galaxy Quest (1999), and Heartbreakers (2001), in which she starred with Jennifer Love Hewitt.

In 1997, Weaver won the BAFTA Award for her supporting role in Ang Lee's The Ice Storm. In 2003, she was voted 20th in Channel 4's countdown of the 100 greatest movie stars of all time. She was one of only two women in the top 20 (the other was Audrey Hepburn). That year, she also played The Warden in the movie Holes. In 2006, Weaver returned to Rwanda for the BBC special Gorillas Revisited.

Weaver was approached to star in The Accused but felt the nature of the story was too violent. She was considered for the role of Catherine Tramell in Basic Instinct, but Sharon Stone was cast instead. Jane Campion wanted a "Sigourney Weaver-type" for her film The Piano, but Weaver's agent turned the film down without consulting Weaver. Holly Hunter went on to win the Oscar for the role, and Weaver fired her agent. Bryan Singer originally wanted Weaver for the role of Emma Frost in X-Men: The Last Stand, but Singer (along with screenwriter Dan Harris, who had directed Weaver in Imaginary Heroes) left the project, and the idea to include Frost was dropped. In 2009, Weaver starred as Mary Griffith in her first made-for-TV movie, Prayers for Bobby, for which she was nominated for an Emmy Award. She also guest starred in the TV show Eli Stone in the fall of 2008.

Weaver also has done voice work in television and film. She had a guest role in the Futurama episode "Love and Rocket" in February 2002, playing the female Planet Express Ship. In 2006, she was the narrator for the American version of the Emmy Award-winning series Planet Earth. Also in 2006, Weaver narrated "A Matter of Degrees". A short film that plays daily at The Natural History Museum of the Adirondacks (The Wild Center) in Tupper Lake, New York. In 2008, Weaver was featured as the voice of the ship's computer in the Pixar and Disney release, WALL•E. She also voiced a narrating role in another computer-animated film, 2008's The Tale of Despereaux, based on the novel by Kate DiCamillo. Weaver has also expressed interest in starring in a fifth Alien film. Pre-production details for the film are expected to start soon.

Giovanni Ribisi (born December 17, 1974) is an American actor. His film credits include Perfect Stranger, Heaven, Gone in Sixty Seconds, Saving Private Ryan, That Thing You Do!, Boiler Room, subUrbia, The Gift, Basic, Lost in Translation, Flight of the Phoenix, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, I Love Your Work, The Dead Girl and most recently, Public Enemies.

Ribisi was born Antonino Giovanni Ribisi in Los Angeles, California. His mother, Gay (born Landrum), is a manager of actors and writers, and his father, Albert Anthony Ribisi, is a musician. He is the twin brother of actress Marissa Ribisi, and the brother of Gina Ribisi, a voice actress. Ribisi's paternal grandfather was the son of farmers from Sicily.

Ribisi began his career in network television with recurring and guest roles on a number of shows, including The New Leave It to Beaver, "Married With Children", The Wonder Years and My Two Dads. He entered the public eye with a prominent performance in The X-Files episode "D.P.O." (an episode that also starred Jack Black), as well as with his recurring role as Frank Jr., the brother of Phoebe Buffay (Lisa Kudrow) on Friends. More recently, he has appeared in multiple episodes of My Name Is Earl, earning a 2007 Emmy nomination for his performance on the series.

Ribisi has appeared on the video of British band Keane's single "Crystal Ball", which was released worldwide on August 21, 2006. He appeared with Winona Ryder and John C. Reilly in Jon Spencer Blues Explosion's music video "Talk About the Blues". In September 2008, he appeared twice on the HBO comedy series Entourage.

Ribisi was married to Mariah O'Brien from March 18, 1997 through November 3, 2001; the couple had a daughter, Lucia, born in December 1997 and named after the doomed heroine in the Donizetti opera, Lucia di Lammermoor.

Ribisi is an active Scientologist, and participated in the gala opening of Scientology's controversial "Psychiatry: An Industry of Death" Museum in December 2005. His twin sister, Marissa, is also a Scientologist and is married to Scientologist indie-rocker Beck

Carol Christine Hilaria Pounder (born December 25, 1952), known professionally as C. C. H. Pounder (styled "CCH Pounder"), is a Guyanese-American film and television actress. She has appeared in numerous films, made-for-television films, television miniseries, plays and has made guest appearances on notable television shows.

Pounder was born in Georgetown, Guyana, the daughter of Betsy Enid Arnella (née James) and Ronald Urlington Pounder. She was educated in England and moved to the U.S. in 1970. Pounder made her acting debut in the 1979 film All That Jazz.

Pounder starred in the film Bagdad Café (a role played by Whoopi Goldberg in a short-lived television sitcom). Pounder has made smaller appearances in many other successful films. She has focused primarily on her television career. In the early 1980s, Pounder first appeared in guest roles on Hill Street Blues, and then on several other popular shows (Miami Vice, L.A. Law, The X-Files, Living Single and Quantum Leap) before landing a long-running recurring role as Dr. Angela Hicks on ER from 1994 to 1997. In the midst of this she had a large co-starring role in the 1995 Tales From the Crypt feature film Demon Knight. She then returned to guest appearances on other shows, including The Practice, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Millennium, The West Wing (where she was considered for a the role of C.J. Cregg) and the short-lived sitcom Women in Prison.

From 2002 to 2008, she starred as Detective Claudette Wyms in the FX Networks police drama The Shield. For this role she was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in 2005. She had previously been nominated for Emmys in 1995 (for guest starring in The X-Files) and in 1997 (for her supporting role on ER). She has also lent her voice to several video games and animated projects, including Aladdin and the King of Thieves, "True Crime: Streets of LA", Gargoyles as Desdemona and Coldfire, and most recently Justice League Unlimited as Amanda Waller. It has been has been announced that she has been cast for the animated movie adaption of the comic book Superman/Batman: Public Enemies, reprising her role from Justice League Unlimited. She currently appears on the Syfy series Warehouse 13. On July 16, 2009, Pounder earned an Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series Emmy Award nomination for her appearance in HBO's The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency.

Laz Alonso is an American film and television actor. His latest film in which he has a major role is Miracle at St. Anna. He has had supporting roles in movies such as Stomp the Yard, Jarhead, G, Leprechaun: Back 2 tha Hood, This Christmas, Fast & Furious and has signed to star in the upcoming James Cameron film Avatar which is set to be released in 2009. His interpretation of a United States Marine in Jarhead was loosely based on a USMC classmate that lived in his dormitory in college.

He has made television guest starring appearances on The Unit, Bones, CSI: Miami, NCIS, The Practice and Eyes. Alonso appeared in music videos by Toni Braxton & Aaliyah. Alonso also hosted shows on the BET network. After graduating from Howard University with a BBA in Marketing, he had a lucrative career as an Investment Banker at Merill Lynch on Wall Street. Alonso also signed on to play John Stewart in Jeff Wadlow's adaptation of Green Lantern Corps, which will be due sometime in 2009.

Alonso was born in Washington, D.C. of Afro-Cuban descent. He currently resides in Los Angeles.

Peter Mensah is an actor who has appeared in such films as 300, Hidalgo, Tears of the Sun, Jason X, Harvard Man, Bless the Child and has made television appearances in Star Trek: Enterprise, Tracker, Witchblade, Blue Murder, Relic Hunter, Earth: Final Conflict, Highlander: The Raven and La Femme Nikita.

Mensah also stars in the short film "The Seed", produced and directed by Linkin Park's DJ Joe Hahn, and recently in The Incredible Hulk and the upcoming Avatar.

Recently, he did the voice and likeness of Sgt. Zach Hammond in EA's video game Dead Space.

Peter Mensah has been doing martial arts since he was 6 years old, growing up in St. Albans, England, just north of London. A former engineer, Mensah moved to Canada 11 years ago. He'd worked for British Gas developing gas fields at Morecambe Bay and had done theatre in school. He comes from an academic family. His father, an architect, relocated with his mother to their native Ghana. He only has two younger sisters. Mensah emigrated from Britain to see the world and it was a toss up whether his destination would be Canada or Australia.

Peter is now playing the character "Doctore" in "Spartacus, Blood and Sand" and was on the Spartacus Panel at Comic Con 2009.

Wesley "Wes" Studi (born December 17, 1947) is a U.S. actor who has earned notability for his portrayals of Native Americans in film. He has appeared in well-received films, such as Michael Mann's The Last of the Mohicans, the award-winning Geronimo: An American Legend and Academy Award-nominated The New World (2005). He most recently portrayed General Linus Abner (an analogue to the biblican Abner) in the NBC series Kings.

Studi was born in Nofire Hollow, Oklahoma of Cherokee Native American descent, the son of Maggie, a housekeeper, and Andy Studie, a ranch hand. Studi was schooled at Chilocco Indian Agricultural School in Northern Oklahoma. Until he attended grade school, he spoke only Cherokee. In 1967, he was drafted into the Army and served 18 months in Vietnam. After his discharge, Studi studied at Tulsa Junior College.

Studi became an actor, best known for roles as both brave and harsh Indians, such as the Pawnee warrior in Dances with Wolves, and Magua in The Last of the Mohicans (1992).

A year later, he was cast with Eric Schweig for TNT's film The Broken Chain which was shot in Virginia. In 1994 Studi had the lead in Geronimo: An American Legend.

In 2002, Studi brought to life the legendary character Lt. Joe Leaphorn, for a series of PBS movies based on Tony Hillerman's novels and produced by Robert Redford.

In 2005, Studi portrayed a character based on Powhatan chief Opechancanough in The New World. The 2005 Academy Award-nominated film was directed by Terrence Malick. The historical adventure is set during the founding of the Jamestown, Virginia settlement. Lead characters were based on historical figures, such as Captain John Smith (played by Colin Farrell) and Pocahontas. Much of the film was shot at Virginia locations in James City County and Charles City County, not far from where the first permanent English colony in the New World was established at Jamestown beginning on May 14, 1607.

On April 20, 2009 Studi appeared as Major Ridge in Trail of Tears, the third episode of We Shall Remain, a ground breaking mini-series that establishes Native history as an essential part of American history from PBS's acclaimed series American Experience. He spoke his native Cherokee throughout the performance.

In addition to acting, Studi is a stone carver and an author of two children's books. He also plays bass in a local band called The Firecat.

1. Open a new file in your PC .


2. Name it ' Boss '


3. Send it to the RECYCLE BIN


4. Empty the RECYCLE BIN


5. Your PC will ask you, 'Are you sure you want to delete Boss permanently? '


6. Answer calmly, 'Yes,' and press the mouse button firmly....


7. Feel better?

Ciri2 Noordin M Top berdasarkan Reg Jeneng : nama sebenernya harusnya mati di atap rumah.

1. klo mati di kamar mandi = Noordin M Pup.
2. klo mati di kolam = Noordin M Pang,
3. klo mati di Clubbing = Noordin M Club atau M bassy,
4. klo mati di taman lawang = Noordin M beeerrrrr

Dari sumber yg lain:

Siapakah teroris yang suka online?

NOORDIN M2

Siapakah teroris yang suka bocorin rahasia orang?

NOORDIN M BER

Siapa teroris yang masa mudanya suka dugem di lantai atas Blok M Plaza?

NOORDIN M CLUB

Siapa teroris yang paling bertenaga?

NOORDIN M 150

Siapa teroris apa yg paling senang bersenandung?

NOORDIN M BOP.. BA DUPA DOB, BA DU BOP... -HANSON Fans Club-

Siapa teroris yg ngehamilin anak org

NOORDIN M.B.A.

Siapa teroris yg abjadnye dr tengah

NOORDIN M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Siapa teroris yg mengidolakan Jerry Yan...

NOORDIN M TSE

Teroris yg adik kiai kondang:

Noordin M.Z

Teroris pembawa acara:

Noordin M.C

Teroris napsuan:

Noordin M.L (maaf)

Teroris pengertian

Noordin M.pathy

Teroris pemarah:

Noordin M.Osi

Teroris tukang jualan:

Noordin M.L.M

Zuleyka Jerrís Rivera Mendoza (born October 3, 1987 in Cayey, Puerto Rico, and raised in Salinas, Puerto Rico) is a Puerto Rican beauty queen who held the titles Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2006 and Miss Universe 2006. She made her debut as a telenovela actress in Telemundo's soap opera Dame Chocolate.

Zuleyka Rivera represented Puerto Rico in the Miss Universe 2006 pageant which was televised live internationally from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California on July 23, 2006. After competing in swimsuit, evening gown and interview, she was crowned Miss Universe by outgoing titleholder Natalie Glebova of Canada.

Later that evening, Rivera fainted briefly during a press appearance. The incident was reportedly attributed to heat exhaustion (from the stage lights) coupled with the weight of the heavy, chained dress she was wearing. However this caused controversy as many believed her fainting was due to malnutrition.

Rivera was the fifth Puerto Rican to win the title, which makes the island, along with Venezuela (2008) the second most successful entity in the pageant (behind the United States). Prior to Rivera's win, Puerto Rico had been tied with Venezuela, with each having won the pageant four times. Rivera was the third consecutive delegate from Puerto Rico to make the top five at Miss Universe, after Alba Reyes placed second runner-up at Miss Universe 2004 and Cynthia Olavarría was first runner-up at Miss Universe 2005.

Rivera's win came only five years after Denise Quiñones, the most recent winner from Puerto Rico, won the crown. As Miss Universe, Rivera represented the Miss Universe Organization, both in the United States and internationally. She was based in New York City, where she shared an apartment with Tara Conner, Miss USA and Katie Blair, Miss Teen USA 2006.

At the Miss Universe 2007 pageant she passed her crown to Riyo Mori of Japan in Mexico City, Mexico on May 28, 2007 before a predicted audience of 1 billion viewers.

Natalie Glebova, (born November 11, 1981) is a Russian Canadian beauty queen who has held the title Miss Universe 2005.

Glebova was born in Tuapse, Russia. She is a classical pianist and also has won various regional gymnastic championships. Prior to competing at Miss Universe, Glebova worked as a model and received her Bachelor of Commerce in Information Technology Management and Marketing at Ryerson University in Toronto. She has also worked as a motivational speaker for grade school and high school students.

Glebova currently resides in Thailand and is married to Paradorn Srichaphan. The couple, who met during the 2006 Thailand Open, became engaged in April 2007 and were married on November 29, 2007 in Bangkok, Thailand.

In 2008, Glebova joined The Amazing Race Asia 3 and she partnered with Pailin Rungratanasunthorn. They represented Thailand and came in 8th place.

In 2004, Glebova attempted to win the Miss Universe Canada pageant where she placed as 3rd runner-up. The eventual winner, Venessa Fisher, failed to place in the Miss Universe 2004 finals. Glebova competed again in January 2005, and won the title.

Glebova competed in the Miss Universe 2005 pageant held in Bangkok, Thailand in June 2005, where she became the fourth Canadian in ten years to make the initial cut of semi-finalists. She competed in the evening gown and swimsuit competitions, advancing to the top five where she competed in the final interview round. The final interview round was a tough selection; the strongest delegates who managed the Top 5 were Cynthia Olavarria of Puerto Rico, Laura Elizondo of Mexico, Renata Sone of Dominican Republic, and Monica Spear of Venezuela, who were all considered to be pageant powerhouses. At the conclusion of the pageant, Glebova survived the Latin onslaught and was crowned Miss Universe 2005 by outgoing titleholder Jennifer Hawkins of Australia. Glebova's win was Canada's second: Karen Dianne Baldwin of London, Ontario had won in 1982. Glebova and Baldwin graduated from the same high school, London Central Secondary School.