Michael Lohan Undergoing Heart Surgery

Michael Lohan Michael Lohan is undergoing heart surgery Friday after being hospitalized with chest pains and high blood pressure, Reuters reports.Lohan, who was rushed to Florida's Gulf Coast Hospital Thursday night, is having a stent inserted and a blood clot removed from his lungs, his rep, Gina Rodriguez, said. He is expected to recover in a week.Michael Lohan jumps off third-floor balcony to escape arrestAccording to Rodriguez, Lohan, 51, had not received his blood pressure or heart medicine in a week at the court-ordered treatment center where he's staying.Lohan, whose heart problems were documented on Celebrity Rehab last season, was arrested last month on suspicion of domestic violence on his ex-girlfriend Kate Major. He was sentenced to two years probation and ordered to spend the first four months at a treatment center in Fort Myers, Fla.Lohan had surgery in February to clear a blockage in an artery in his heart.

'Lassie' Owner Files $1 Million Lawsuit Against TV Dog Commercial (Video)

Hulton Archive/Getty Images When a family is in peril, which dog will it turn to for help?The owner of the famous fictional collie dog known as "Lassie" has an idea about that. Classic Media has filed a $1 million copyright lawsuit against financial services firm J.G. Wentworth and its advertising agency for making a TV commercial with a dog that allegedly is too similar to its iconic character. Lassieran on TV between 1954 and 1973 and also spawned 11 feature films. Now the question is whether Lassie's owner can sink its teeth into unfriendly folks who want to use the image of a heroic collie on television. According to a complaint filed in NY federal court, during Lassie's long run on television, the show had a memorable recurring storyline where Lassie is sent by his fictional owners, including Timmy Martin, to go seek help. "During her search, Lassie is shown running through a field, forest, or other rural areas until she finds humans who can save her companions," says the lawsuit. In J.G. Wentworth's commercial, entitled "Get Help Girl," a mother and son sit in a 1950s farmhouse-styled kitchen and are dressed to clearly indicate they are from that era. The mother is distressed. "Mom, what's wrong?" questions the boy. The mother responds by saying, "Oh, Eddie, we've got to come up with some money or we'll lose the ranch." The boy is confused. "But mom, don't you get structured settlement payments each month?" The mother answers, "I do, son, but the amount I get just isn't enough. We need a lump sum of cash to pay it off..." Enter the dog, who races through fields, forests, and other rural areas to get to J.G. Wentworth for help. Here's the commercial with further info and analysis below: In the complaint, Classic provides some evidence that Lassie was on the minds of the advertiser when making the spot. In December, 2009, Steve Pimsler, a vp at the co-defendant advertising agency, Karlin + Pimsler, contacted an employee in Classic's licensing department to discuss licensing the Lassie character for a client. The two exchanged e-mails, including one where Pimsler noted that "[o]ur idea is to set up a situation similar to the Lassie TV show..." But the discussions didn't go anywhere, and Classic says it never heard anything after January 6, 2010. The commercial spot debuted on television two months later. Classic believes the ad infringes its copyright and is a derivative work of its property. The plaintiff is demanding at least $1 million in damages and all gains, profits and advantages derived by the alleged use of its property. In the past, courts have ruled that fictional characters can receive protection. For example, James Bond and Godzilla were copyrightable because of an identifiable set of traits. But the plaintiff must also show that the supposedly infringing work is substantially similar to the original work. Would a normal observer recognize the above commercial as being a copy of Lassie? It's not an easy question. For example, in the early 1980s, ABC had a show entitled The Greatest American Hero about a character named Ralph Hinkleywith superhuman speed and strength, the ability to fly, imperviousness to bullets, and holographic vision. Warner Bros. sued, alleging it was a copyright rip-off of its Superman character. Here's what the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals had to say: "Ultimately, care must be taken to draw the elusive distinction between a substantially similar character that infringes a copyrighted character despite slight differences in appearance, behavior, or traits, and a somewhat similar though non-infringing character whose appearance, behavior, or traits, and especially their combination, significantly differ from those of a copyrighted character, even though the second character is reminiscent of the first one. Stirring one's memory of a copyrighted character is not the same as appearing to be substantially similar to that character, and only the latter is infringement." (boldface ours) Ultimately, the appeals court affirmed a federal judge's summary judgment for the defendant, finding that the "overall perception" of the Hinkley character was different from the Superman character. The two characters shared some traits but looked and acted differently. In the opinion, the appeals court imagined that a court examining the question of bringing a Superman-like facsimile into a new context like "in the service of the underworld" would be a much closer issue, with factual determination by a jury. One might imagine that Classic will argue in trying to defeat a summary judgment motion that putting a Lassie-type dog into the service of a financial services company is something similar. Then again, maybe in this down economy, a heroic dog that saves a family from financial trouble is a fair use parody. We'll wait for the judge to bark on this. E-mail: eriqgardner@yahoo.com Twitter: @eriqgardner

Is Justin Timberlake the next Large Worldwide Star?

Due to middling reviews and mediocre box-office results, you almost certainly haven't given much thought to 'In Time' -- or, worse, you've written it well entirely because the second instance of Justin Timberlake's inadequate movie-star muscle. Relating to this: despite producing only $30.7 million within the U . s . States to date, 'In Time' makes an thought $53.7 overseas, the fifth straight film with Timberlake that has seen foreign grosses exceed domestic. Which enhances the question: is J.T. the completely new Will Cruz? Maybe! Timberlake's summer season two-numerous 'Bad Teacher' and 'Friends with Benefits' each made more worldwide in comparison towards the U.S., with 'Benefits' producing nearly double it did stateside. Before that, both 'Yogi Bear' (where Timberlake voiced Boo-boo) and 'The Social Network' were bigger abroad too, although on a little more compact scales. This doesn't always Timberlake might be the following globe-trotting A-lister -- in league with Cruz, Tom Cruise and also the Actor-kaira Pitt -- nevertheless it does speak with how giant his celebrity is worldwide. Ultimately, you don't see Ryan Reynolds yanking lower worldwide amounts similar to this. J.T.: getting sexy -- and celebs -- back. [via LAT] [Photo: Getty] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Lionsgate Grants Netflix Exclusive Movie Streaming Rights For UK And Ireland

This announcement comes one week after Netflix landed a similar deal with MGM to show movies in the pay TV window in the UK and Ireland. Here’s the release for the new agreement with Lionsgate: BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Nov. 14, 2011– Netflix, Inc. (Nasdaq: NFLX) and Lionsgate UK, a subsidiary of Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. (NYSE: LGF) today announced a new multi-year licensing agreement that will make Netflix the exclusive subscription streaming service in the UK and Ireland for first-run feature films from the studio. Lionsgate UK titles will be available for Netflix members in the UK and Ireland to watch instantly in the pay TV window on their televisions, tablets, game consoles, computers and mobile phones, for a low monthly price. Netflix announced last month that it would launch its service in the UK and Ireland early in 2012. Appearing exclusively on Netflix within one year of their theatrical release will be such films as “The Hunger Games,” the highly-anticipated film based on Suzanne Collins’ best-selling teen novel and starring Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth; “The Expendables 2,” the sequel to the blockbuster hit starring Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Bruce Willis and Jet Li and the recently-announced remake of the beloved 1987 classic “Dirty Dancing.” Among recent Lionsgate UK hits available to watch instantly in the UK and Ireland are “The Mechanic,” “Saw 3D” and the original “The Expendables” as well as great catalogue titles including “Reservoir Dogs,” “Blair Witch Project,” “3:10 to Yuma,” and “Good Night and Good Luck.” “Lionsgate is an important and successful supplier of television series and movies to us in all of our territories,” said Ted Sarandos, Netflix Chief Content Officer. “We are proud to be the exclusive Pay TV home for Lionsgate theatrically-released films in the UK and Ireland.” “Netflix is the leading worldwide brand in steaming movies and they have an incredible service in North America. We are very excited to be working with them as they launch their service and bring our movies to audiences in the UK and Ireland,” added Zygi Kamasa, Lionsgate UK CEO.

Amazon . com Uncovers Media Applications For Amazon Kindle Fire

Named wars are intensifying because the holiday shopping season approaches: Amazon . com started some misconception today by announcing that Amazon Kindle Fire clients will just complete one form to join up for multiple media services including Netflix, Rhapsody, The planet pandora, Facebook, and also the Weather Funnel — and games from companies for example Zynga, EA, Gameloft, PopCap, and Rovio.What’s more, individuals who undergo Amazon . com to purchase the applications for his or her tablet will even have the ability to access them on other Android products including cell phones. The organization will begin to ship Amazon Kindle Fire pills on November 15. The announcement follows Barnes & Noble’s announcement on Monday it’s new Nook Tablet includes applications for Netflix, Hulu Plus, and The planet pandora.

'Dancing While using Stars': Gavel Falls on Nancy Sophistication, Just Shy in the Semifinals

ABC Your competitors will get tight -- irritatingly so. With only four open spots to vie for your Season 13 finale, what remains of Dwts' close-knit cast faced its hardest elimination yet on Tuesday evening.our editor recommendsNancy Sophistication: Conrad Murray 'Should Have Grown To Be Murder One'Ricki Lake's Latest 'Dancing While using Stars' Injuries: A Bruised Ego Only one competitor only agreed to be really guaranteed a location in week 9, that was J.R. Martinez, whose two dances with partner Karina Smirnoff acquired him a perfect 60 throughout Monday's performance show. PHOTOS: 'Dancing While using Stars' Season 13: Rehearsals That left Ricki Lake and Hope Solo tied for second round the leader board, then Make the most of Kardashian and, much farther in the future, the lower-scoring Nancy Sophistication. So did fans election while using idol idol judges? Yes. Nancy Sophistication ended her healthy operate on this program, carrying out a show of endurance that many likely surprised plenty of audiences. She and partner Tristan MacManus got unhealthy news near the top of the hour. HLN will probably be conned of her live legal commentary forget about. Did the very best dancer return home? And, more to the stage, which has the required steps making it for the November. 21 finale? Dwts

'Where's Waldo?' Headed for the Silver Screen Via MGM

MGM has guaranteed rights to Classic Media's Where's Waldo?, giving the lanky, chocolate candy striped-shirt wearing character his first movie ever.our editor recommendsMGM Signs With Netflix for Exclusive Streaming in U.K., Ireland The Where's Waldo? movie is really a live-action family adventure, with MGM's v . p . of production, Cassidy Lange, controlling the project, that is professional produced by Mike Gornall. PHOTOS: 10 Finest Book-to-Silver Screen Adaptations in the Latter-and-a-half decades MGM's Jonathan Glickman mentioned Monday, "We are thrilled being obtaining the mission for Waldo for the silver screen. Along with our partners at Classic Media, we anticipate developing a worldwide adventure that will attract Where's Waldo? fans of all ages.Inch "Waldo is regarded as the looked-for character on earth,In . mentioned Eric Ellenbogen, co-Boss, Classic Media. "With due to MGM, fans everywhere will uncover Waldo in movie theaters along with his film debut." Where's Waldo? was created by Martin Handford and first launched later. Inside the books, site visitors search for Waldo among various figures or situations. Greater than 55 million Where's Waldo? books are actually offered worldwide. Related Subjects MGM

'Tower Heist,' 'Harold & Kumar' And More In NextMovie's MovieTracker!

FROM MTV MOVIES: For the past few days, following an early Times Square screening, the MTV Newsroom has been buzzing about "A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas." "Can you believe it was actually damn funny?" one movie nerd would say to another. "I mean, the last one stunk." That's the buzz in here. And out there too, a fact that our friends at NextMovie have made abundantly clear with their new MovieTracker, a cool application boasting a fancy-schmancy algorithm that measures what people are saying on Twitter and Facebook and lets us know which movies people are psyched about. Think of it like a Billboard music chart, but instead of tracking album sales, it tracks Internet movie buzz in real time. » Read more at MTV Movies! » Check out NextMovie's MovieTracker!