Russell Brand News

E! Entertainment and Chelsea Handler have forged a new multi-year deal that continues the comedienne and best-selling author's role as host and executive producer of the network's popular late night series 'Chelsea Lately' through 2014. As part of the agreement, Handler will also develop and produce shows for E! and NBCUniversal via her production company, Borderline Amazing Productions, in addition to 'After Lately,' which returns for its second season November 27.

As first reported in the Hollywood Reporter, comedian Russel Brand is set to star and produce a comedy film for Warner Brothers entitled THE PRESIDENT STOLE MY GIRLFRIEND. Brand will be joined by Branded Films partner Nik Linnen as producer of the project.

New Line Cinema's film version of the smash hit Broadway musical 'Rock of Ages' is currently filming under the direction of Adam Shankman (HAIRSPRAY). Tom Cruise, who will star as Stacee Jaxx in the film, recently chatted with the LA Times about putiing on his dancing shoes for the film. Cruise told LAT: 'I had started dancing because I was inspired by my wife. She kept saying, 'You've got to do a musical sometime. Kate's a dancer, so she would say, 'Let's go to dance class,' and she would take us and that's how I kind of came up with the idea of Les Grossman doing hip-hop. And then to take it to this level with this? It was really fun.'

NBC'S SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE drew big ratings this weekend and included a paradyof the recent Kardashian wedding and divorce. Hosted by Charlie Day and musical guest Maroon 5, the show earned its best numbers since Melissa McCarthy hosted on October 1st.

The entertainment industry turned out in full-force tonight in support of the Motion Picture & Television Fund's (MPTF) 'Reel Stories, Real Lives,' a unique evening of powerful readings which told the stories of industry members and their families who have benefitted from MPTF's services over the years. The event, held at Milk Studios, was hosted by Robert Downey Jr. and featured performances put together by renowned Hollywood actors, actresses, writers and directors who have been touched by the generosity the MPTF has been able to inspire within the industry. Hollywood's best and brightest were asked to support the organization's commitment to the entertainment industry and get involved.

Emily Padgett - who rocked out as 'Sherrie' in during ROCK OF AGES run at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre - will return to take over the lead role on Monday, November 7, 2011.

Producers of the five-time Tony Award nominated hit musical, ROCK OF AGES announced today that Emily Padgett - who rocked out as 'Sherrie' in during the show's run at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre - will return to take over the lead role on Monday, November 7, 2011. Rebecca Faulkenberry, who has performed the role of 'Sherrie' since ROCK OF AGES moved to the Helen Hayes Theatre on March 24, 2011, will play her final performance on Sunday, November 6.

MARTI PELLOW, one of Britain's great music icons, is to make his hugely anticipated return to the London stage, joining Willy Russell's smash hit musical, one of the longest running in history. From TUESDAY 1 NOVEMBER 2011, Marti will join the West End cast of BLOOD BROTHERS as The Narrator at the Phoenix Theatre, for a limited season.

ROCK OF AGES, the smash-hit 80's rock musical that has been deemed 'Broadway's Biggest Party', will become Japan's Biggest Party when a new Japanese-language production of the show opens this Friday, October 28 in Tokyo, Japan. The 21-performance run of ROCK OF AGES will begin at the Tokyo International Forum (October 28 to November 6; 14 performances) before traveling to Osaka (November 11 to 13; 5 performances) and Fukuoka (November 19; 2 performances). Renowned Japanese singer Nishikawa Takanori (also known as T.M. Revolution) will lead the cast as 'Drew' in this classic rock love story that features major hits from the 1980's including 'Every Rose Has Its Thorn', 'I Wanna Know What Love Is', 'Here I Go Again', 'Don't Stop Believin' and more.

ROCK OF AGES, the smash-hit 80's rock musical that has been deemed 'Broadway's Biggest Party', will become Japan's Biggest Party when a new Japanese-language production of the show opens this Friday, October 28 in Tokyo, Japan. The 21-performance run of ROCK OF AGES will begin at the Tokyo International Forum (October 28 to November 6; 14 performances) before traveling to Osaka (November 11 to 13; 5 performances) and Fukuoka (November 19; 2 performances). Renowned Japanese singer Nishikawa Takanori (also known as T.M. Revolution) will lead the cast as 'Drew' in this classic rock love story that features major hits from the 1980's including 'Every Rose Has Its Thorn', 'I Wanna Know What Love Is', 'Here I Go Again', 'Don't Stop Believin' and more.

The 15th Annual Hollywood Film Festival and Hollywood Film Awards, presented by Starz Entertainment, have announced that the cast of DreamWorks Pictures and Participant Media's 'The Help' - Jessica Chastain, Viola Davis, Bryce Dallas Howard, Allison Janney, Chris Lowell, Ahna O'Reilly, Octavia Spencer, Emma Stone, Sissy Spacek, Mary Steenburgen, Cicely Tyson and Mike Vogel - will be recognized at the Hollywood Awards Gala Ceremony with the 'Hollywood Ensemble Acting Award.'

MTV, a unit of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), today announced the dates for the biggest nights in music and movies for 2012: The MTV Movie Awards and the MTV Video Music Awards.

On tonight's THE ROSIE SHOW on OWN network, Cedric the Entertainer brings the laughs. Rosie also welcomes current Season 13 DANCING WITH THE STARS contestant, Nancy Grace who will talk about her experiences on the dancing competition. THE ROSIE SHOW airs weeknights 7:00-8:00 p.m. ET/PT on OWN.

Joe Sib returns to New York City and The Bowery Electric (327 Bowery) on October 13th, 2011 for this intimate, one-night-only performance of California Calling. The one-man show is based on Sib's story of growing up in the early 1980's when the counterculture of skateboarding and punk rock hit the suburbs of California. Sib animates his verbal autobiography with 70+ photographs and limitless enthusiasm. It's a universal and classic story about how music has the power to shape and define lives. This special, one-off performance is presented by TheLaughButton.com and Broadway producer Jeff Davis.

Joe Sib is excited to return to New York City and The Bowery Electric (327 Bowery) on October 13th, 2011 for this intimate, one-night-only performance of California Calling. The one-man show is based on Sib's story of growing up in the early 1980's when the counterculture of skateboarding and punk rock hit the suburbs of California. Sib animates his verbal autobiography with 70+ photographs and limitless enthusiasm. It's a universal and classic story about how music has the power to shape and define lives.

The OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network new fall season premiered last night with Rosie O'Donnell's daily talk show 'The Rosie Show' (Monday through Friday at 7 p.m. ET/PT) and 'Oprah's Lifeclass' (Monday through Friday at 8 p.m. ET/PT) garnering triple digit growth across all key demos versus year ago Discovery Health numbers.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, the majority of critics agree that Rosie O'Donnell's new talk show 'The Rosie Show' will be successful in helping Oprah Winfrey's OWN Network overcome its rather unimpressive debut.

Rosie O'Donnell and Oprah Winfrey will be appearing on ABC's 'Nightline' tonight, October 10th at 11:35 pm to discuss Rosie's new talk talk show 'The Rosie Show' airing on OWN network.

'The Rosie Show' announced today that comedian, actor and author Russell Brand will be the first guest to appear on its premiere show, Monday, Oct. 10 at 7:00 p.m. ET/PT on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network.

Pittsburgh Irish & Classical Theatre is hosting a benefit screening of Julie Taymor's theatrical film version of The Tempest, and will include an introduction and reception with the film's producer. The film stars Helen Mirren as a cross-gendered Prospera, alongside an all-star cast including Djimon Hounsou, Alan Cummings, David Strathairn, Chris Cooper, Russell Brand, Reeve Carney (currently in Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark on Broadway) and Alfred Molina.