'Contagion' cleans up box office with first place (AP)

By DERRIK J. LANG, AP Entertainment Writer Derrik J. Lang, Ap Entertainment Writer – Sun Sep 11, 6:11 pm ET

LOS ANGELES – "Contagion" infected enough moviegoers to catch the top spot at the box office.

The Warner Bros. pandemic thriller directed by Steven Soderbergh and starring an A-list cast that includes Matt Damon, Kate Winslet, Jude Law and Gwyneth Paltrow coughed up $23.1 million in its first weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday.

The film's contagious opening marked the beginning of the fall movie season by exceeding the studio's estimates.

"I think Steven Soderbergh made a compelling movie that tapped into that fear that many of us have about illnesses, viruses and pandemics," said Jeff Goldstein, Warner Bros. general sales manager. "It's like a train or car accident. You can't look away. You prefer not to think about it, but when it's presented to you, you want to learn more."

Despite the breakout success of "Contagion," it was the lowest grossing weekend of the year so far for the film industry, according to Paul Dergarabedian, box-office analyst for Hollywood.com. Dergarabedian said that's typical for the weekend after Labor Day and expected business to pick up in the coming weeks as the Academy Awards race begins.

"There are some great titles that are on the way," said Dergarabedian. "I see several promising films — Oscar contenders like `50/50,' `The Descendants' and `Ides of March,' and even potential big moneymakers like `Real Steel.'"

"The Help," the acclaimed DreamWorks Pictures drama distributed by Disney about black Southern maids speaking out during the civil-rights movement, slipped to No. 2 with $8.7 million after three straight weeks at the top, bringing its domestic total to $137 million.

"Warrior," the Lionsgate mixed-martial arts drama starring Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton, punched up a $5.6 million debut in the No. 3 position. David Spitz, head of distribution for Lionsgate, said he expects "Warrior" to mirror the simmering success of "The Help."

"The film has gotten unbelievable reviews," said Spitz. "The audience reaction we're getting on the movie is consistent. People like the film. It's a slow burn. We think we're going to be in theaters for a long time."

Overseas, the family smash "The Smurfs" continued to dominate, pulling in $14.9 million to pad its international total to $321.2 million and its worldwide haul to $457.2 million. "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" again came in second internationally with $12.5 million, lifting its overseas take to $207.6 million and its worldwide total to $375.4 million.

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Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Where available, latest international numbers are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.

1. "Contagion," $23.1 million. ($2.1 million international.)

2. "The Help," $8.7 million.

3. "Warrior," $5.6 million.

4. "The Debt," $4.9 million. ($1.5 million international.)

5. "Colombiana," $4 million.

6. "Rise of the Planet of the Apes," $3.8 million. ($12.5 million international.)

7. "Shark Night 3D," $3.5 million. ($500,000 international.)

8. "Apollo 18," $2.9 million. ($425,000 international.)

9. "Our Idiot Brother," $2.7 million.

10. "Spy Kids: All the Time in the World," $2.5 million. ($425,000 international.)

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Estimated weekend ticket sales at international theaters (excluding the U.S. and Canada), according to Rentrak:

1. "The Smurfs," $14.9 million.

2. "Rise of the Planet of the Apes," $12.5 million.

3. "Final Destination 5," $10.8 million.

4. "Friends with Benefits," $10.2 million.

5. "Captain America: The First Avenger," $8 million.

6. "Cowboys & Aliens," $5.5 million.

7. "Horrible Bosses," $5.3 million.

8. "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2," $3.4 million.

9. "The Zookeeper," $3.3. million.

10. "Crazy, Stupid, Love," $2.9 million.

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Online:

http://www.hollywood.com/boxoffice

http://www.rentrak.com

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Universal and Focus are owned by NBC Universal, a unit of Comcast Corp.; Sony, Columbia, Sony Screen Gems and Sony Pictures Classics are units of Sony Corp.; Paramount is owned by Viacom Inc.; Disney, Pixar and Marvel are owned by The Walt Disney Co.; Miramax is owned by Filmyard Holdings LLC; 20th Century Fox and Fox Searchlight are owned by News Corp.; Warner Bros. and New Line are units of Time Warner Inc.; MGM is owned by a group of former creditors including Highland Capital, Anchorage Advisors and Carl Icahn; Lionsgate is owned by Lions Gate Entertainment Corp.; IFC is owned by Rainbow Media Holdings, a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corp.; Rogue is owned by Relativity Media LLC.

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Weddings for 'View' hosts take place days apart (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Morning talk show "The View" has a two newlyweds on its panel of co-hosts, with Joy Behar and Sherri Shepherd getting married just days apart.

Shepherd, 44, tied the knot with television writer Lamar Sally on Saturday in her hometown of Chicago, according to media reports.

Two days earlier, Behar married longtime boyfriend Steve Janowitz in New York, in an event that, unlike Shepherd's -- which will air as a TV special on the Style network Sept 13 -- was low-key and under wraps.

Shepherd and Sally, who became engaged in December, wed at Chicago's Fairmont Hotel, her representative told People magazine. The bridal party included eight bridesmaids, among them Elisabeth Hasselbeck of "The View," actress Yvette Nicole Brown ("Community") and TV host Niecy Nash ("Clean House").

It's the second marriage for Shepherd, who in addition to her hosting duties on "The View" has a recurring role on "30 Rock." She was married to comedian Jeff Tarpley from 2001 to 2009. Shepherd's 6-year-old son walked her down the aisle Saturday.

Behar, who previously had sworn off marriage, has been with Janowitz for 29 years. A spokesman for "The View" issued a statement saying that Behar would discuss her wedding when the show returns on September 6.

(Reporting and writing by Sheri Linden; Edited by )

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Respected country venue is in unusual place: NH (AP)

GILFORD, N.H. – R.J. Harding told his father he was nuts when he decided in 1996 to turn an 80-acre field next to the family's hotel into a concert venue by setting up a temporary stage and lawn chairs.

He succeeded in bringing in names like Johnny Cash and Chubby Checker for that first summer, but the place alongside Lake Winnipesaukee struggled to survive. But Harding's dad stuck with it, and by 2002 the place was making a profit and drawing names like Bonnie Raitt, Sammy Hagar, Eminem, Hootie & The Blowfish and others.

"We just got clobbered, of course," Harding said of the early years. "We lost tons of money. But my father caught the fever," he said.

The Meadowbrook U.S. Cellular Pavilion in Gilford, a small venue surrounded by quaint lake resort towns, puts on about 25 shows a summer from a variety of artists. But it has gained an especially ardent following in country music.

The pavilion, which can accommodate an audience of up to 6,500, has been named by the Academy of Country Music as one of the top country music venues in the nation for the last few years, competing with much larger arenas in Nashville, Chicago, Kansas City and Oklahoma. It's also been named one of the best small amphitheaters by Pollstar, based on box office attendance.

"I think we're on the radar because we started doing country up here before country was really cool up here," Harding said. "We've always done pretty well with it." He noted the growing popularity of country music on "American Idol," where both winner Scotty McCreery and second-place finisher Lauren Alaina were country singers.

This year's country concert lineup includes Trace Adkins, Toby Keith, Alan Jackson, Alison Krauss, Miranda Lambert, Lady Antebellum and Reba McEntire.

"I just love it over there," said Sally Oliver, 51, of Concord, who's been attending concerts at the pavilion for over 10 years. "I never miss a country concert if I can help it."

Oliver, who also goes to see concerts in Nashville, said she would love to see her hometown venue actually get an award for being the best.

"They do offer good music and excellent service," she said.

This year's summer season also features rock, jazz, hip-hop, children's performances and comedy. Some of the other artists performing are Bob Dylan, Chicago, Peter Frampton, Miranda Cosgrove, Wiz Khalifa, Slightly Stoopid and Selena Gomez & the Scene. There's also the fourth annual "Greenerpalooza" concert on Aug. 5, which brings together energy efficient programs and renewable energy companies.

"It's really family oriented," said Katrina Morse, 32, of Twin Mountain, who has five children. "I feel comfortable bringing my kids there."

She added that she likes that a second stage before the main concert features up and coming performers.

The property was once known as the Meadowbrook Farm. The family that owned it built cottages on the land in the early 1900s and held family concerts; each member of the family played a musical instrument. The family passed along ownership of the land hoping that it would be kept as a park for anyone to use.

"We sort of got into concerts by accident, when a good friend of ours needed a place to host a really small Beatles tribute show. We loaned him our field," said Harding, who inherited the venue from his dad after he died in 2008.

"It's a tough industry to make money, but once you're in it, you're addicted," he said. "We don't usually make money until we've sold halfway up that lawn."

Last year, Meadowbrook made a modest profit, which allowed for a new VIP restroom area and a new LED screen and audio system. Meadowbrook also has helped raise money for charities, including music materials and scholarships for students.

The Meadowbrook is in New Hampshire's Lakes Region, a longtime haven for summer homes and watersports.

"It's definitely an important tourism driver for our region," said Carmen Lorentz, executive director of the Belknap County Economic Development Council. "It certainly brings a group of visitors that might not otherwise be coming. ... They are probably staying overnight, going out, eating, purchasing things at our local stores."

The venue has a lot of fans, including the performers themselves, such as Lynyrd Skynyrd and Garrison Keillor.

"It still blows my mind to drive to this seemingly remote location, only to find it is summer getaway central for people who live within driving distance," Tommy Shaw of Styx wrote in a letter to the venue. "Beautiful lakes all around, populated by those out to have a good time. ZERO tension to be found ANYWHERE."

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Online:

http://www.meadowbrook.net

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Ranchera prodigy Rojas, in a "good place," tries comeback (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Billboard) – As a teenager growing up in Southern California in the 1990s, Nydia Rojas was touted as mariachi music's next big thing.

She released four albums on Arista Latin and Hollywood Records. She toured with Juan and Ana Gabriel. She even earned a Latin Grammy Award nomination in 2000 for her album "Si Me Conocieras," which received a nod for best ranchero performance.

And then, one day in 2001, Rojas decided to walk away from it all. She went back to school, got married, worked for a spell as a 911 emergency dispatcher and reclaimed her life -- a life she felt she no longer had control of.

"I wasn't living for myself -- I was living for others and that's all I knew," Rojas says. "When I left the business, I went back to school. I studied music, but I also began living normal experiences in order to be where I am today, which I believe is a good place."

Now 31, Rojas is attempting to make a comeback. She is working with her husband, percussionist Raul Pineda, on a new album that she hopes to release in the fall.

"It's going to be an independent project, taking my influences and adding filters of my heritage from Mexican folk music and Cuban music with modern attributes of my singing style," she says.

Rojas is also opening nine shows in California for ranchera legend Vicente Fernandez, including five shows at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Los Angeles scheduled for mid-November.

"Not too many people get second chances," says Jose Hernandez, musical director for Mariachi Sol de Mexico, who mentored the singer as a child. "She's getting to tour with Vicente Fernandez because she deserves it. She has the vocal capabilities."

Tony Romero, a tour manager working the Fernandez concerts, agrees, saying that Rojas "has a very special style and she knows how to captivate an audience."

Live performances will play a key role in Rojas' efforts to re-establish a career in music, says Rodri J. Rodriguez, who helped launch her career with the annual Mariachi USA showcase at the Hollywood Bowl.

"When you are passionate about something you can always come back to that road," Rodriguez says. "I know she's tried different things, but her road always brings her back to what she's good at."

Rojas admits that her first gig opening for Fernandez on May 6 in Fresno, Calif., gave her butterflies. But she says it also felt like a homecoming.

"It was exhilarating and I am grateful," she says.

(Editing by Chris Michaud)

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Soundgarden reunion fell into place by chance (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – As rock'n'roll reunions go, the current reemergence of Soundgarden after a 13-year split is sadly short of salacious intrigue.

The four members of the hard rock band, working on a new album and preparing to begin a monthlong North American tour in July, did not have to complete prison terms or rehab stints.

And, despite a report in the satirical newspaper The Onion, lead guitarist Kim Thayil was not working as a daytime supervisor at a Cinnabon baked-goods store.

Thayil, 50, who did indeed keep a low profile after the band fell apart in 1997 amid internal tensions, told Reuters on Friday that the foursome remained good friends.

They frequently saw each other socially in their Seattle hometown, including at bars, concerts and each others' homes.

"Any acrimony was toward the band as a collective, not toward any individual," he said. "We're just too interconnected, going back to the '80s with so many mutual friends and family in common."

Still, with singer Chris Cornell pursuing an intermittent solo career and drummer Matt Cameron firmly ensconced in Pearl Jam, any chance of a reunion by one of the biggest bands of the 1990s "grunge" era seemed remote.

Cornell inadvertently dropped the first hint on the first day of 2010 when his cryptic tweet about the relaunch of the band's website and merchandising efforts was misinterpreted as a reunion announcement. Thayil was inundated with calls from people who had read frenzied news reports on the Internet.

MOM, WE'RE NOT REUNITING!

"I spent a lot of time on the phone with my mom," Thayil recalled. "'Are you going to believe what someone told you they saw on the Internet? Or are you going to believe what your son told you? ... We're not back together.'"

Still, Soundgarden's belated move to fix its woefully neglected online presence generated interest from concert promoters. The band accepted some of their offers, and accordingly started dusting off its old songs in rehearsals around March 2010. It played a handful of shows last year including the Lollapalooza festival in Chicago.

"There never was a time when we said, 'Hey we're a band again'," Thayil said. "(But) I think some time last fall ... we realized we're doing all the things that a band does now, not just designing a website."

That was about the time that the band, at Cameron's behest, entered the studio to turn the new song fragments generated during rehearsals into material for its first new album since 1996's "Down on the Upside." Thayil said the songs are in various stages of completion, with all members contributing ideas. The lineup is rounded out by bassist Ben Shepherd.

Soundgarden has a deal with the successor company to its old A&M Records label, but it is unlikely the album will come out this year.

"If we were to say, 'Let's get this record out by the fall', I think it would put a lot of pressure on us and the quality would at some point suffer," Thayil said. "And the more we enjoy it, the more our fans should end up enjoying it."

Meanwhile, the North American tour kicks off in Toronto on July 2. A fall leg is probable, Thayil said, and the band is drawing up a "wish list" of international dates.

Beyond that, the future is uncertain especially since Cameron's commitments to Pearl Jam take priority, and Cornell also has solo interests, Thayil said. That's fine with him.

"The band is definitely handling its career situation in a lot freer way than it did before," he said. "The way we're doing it is diminished pressure for us. Probably consequently, maybe it's diminished expectation!"

(Editing by Eric Walsh)

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