Noted film producer signs on as Quinnipiac mentor (AP)

HAMDEN, Conn. – A film producer and director whose work includes the hits "Home Alone" and "Mystic Pizza" has signed on as a mentor for students in Quinnipiac University's School of Communications.

Scott Rosenfelt will be a professional-in-residence in film, video and interactive studies for the 2011-12 academic year.

In addition to "Home Alone," his prominent films include "Teen Wolf" and "Extremities." He has also produced and directed several award-winning independent films.

Rosenfelt's work at Quinnipiac will include critiquing students' projects, giving guest lectures and helping students win internships in Los Angeles and New York. He will also launch a weekend workshop for aspiring producers.

He said in a statement released by Quinnipiac that he wants to help students develop their own visions without being hindered by the industry's myths and roadblocks.

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"American Idol" reject Pia Toscano signs record deal (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – "American Idol" contestant Pia Toscano, whose early exit from the TV show shocked viewers, has signed a record deal with Interscope Records, the company said on Wednesday.

The 22 year-old Toscano, with her dark hair and powerful singing voice, was considered one of the front-runners for the top prize on "Idol" this year. But she was voted off by viewers to finish in 9th place.

Toscano will release her debut single "This Time" -- described as an acoustic guitar and beat-driven track -- on July 12, said Interscope Records. She will release her first album later this year.

Toscano described the record deal as "a dream come true".

This year's "Idol" winner was deep-voiced country singer Scotty McCreery, a former grocery store clerk.

(Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis: Editing by Jill Serjeant)

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Songwriter Carole King signs book deal (Reuters)

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Singer-songwriter Carole King, whose rich tapestry of tunes has topped pop charts over five decades, is now weaving her life into a book.

"A Natural Woman," scheduled for publication next April, will chart King's story from her beginnings in Brooklyn to her rise to the top of the U.S. album charts through to her current role as environmental and political activist.

Grand Central Publishing, an imprint of Hachette Book Group, said Tuesday it acquired world rights to King's memoir from Joy Harris Literary Agency in an auction last week.

Born Carol Klein to a Jewish family in New York City, King scored her first No. 1 hit as a songwriter in 1961, at age 18, with "Will You Love Me Tomorrow," which she wrote with Gerry Goffin. King also wrote or co-wrote such hits as "Up on the Roof," "You've Got a Friend" and "The Reason."

As a singer, King's "Tapestry" album topped the U.S. album chart for 15 weeks, and sold more than 10 million copies in the United States alone.

King has won four Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for her songwriting.

Since 1990, King has been working with environmental groups. She is also an active supporter of the U.S. Democratic Party, and has campaigned for John Kerry, Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama.

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Songwriter Carole King signs book deal (Reuters)

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Singer-songwriter Carole King, whose rich tapestry of tunes has topped pop charts over five decades, is now weaving her life into a book.

"A Natural Woman," scheduled for publication next April, will chart King's story from her beginnings in Brooklyn to her rise to the top of the U.S. album charts through to her current role as environmental and political activist.

Grand Central Publishing, an imprint of Hachette Book Group, said Tuesday it acquired world rights to King's memoir from Joy Harris Literary Agency in an auction last week.

Born Carol Klein to a Jewish family in New York City, King scored her first No. 1 hit as a songwriter in 1961, at age 18, with "Will You Love Me Tomorrow," which she wrote with Gerry Goffin. King also wrote or co-wrote such hits as "Up on the Roof," "You've Got a Friend" and "The Reason."

As a singer, King's "Tapestry" album topped the U.S. album chart for 15 weeks, and sold more than 10 million copies in the United States alone.

King has won four Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for her songwriting.

Since 1990, King has been working with environmental groups. She is also an active supporter of the U.S. Democratic Party, and has campaigned for John Kerry, Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama.

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CBS signs Ashton Kutcher for "Two and A Half Men" (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Actor Ashton Kutcher will join the cast of top-rated TV comedy "Two and A Half Men", CBS television said on Friday, replacing fired star Charlie Sheen.

"We are so lucky to have someone as talented, joyful and just plain remarkable as Ashton joining our family," Chuck Lorre, creator and executive producer of "Two and A Half Men" said in a statement.

CBS said production on the 9th season of the comedy would start in the summer for broadcast in the fall of 2011. Friday's statement did not say which role Kutcher would play.

Kutcher, 33, is the husband of actress Demi Moore and is best known for his role as a dim-witted stoner in "That '70s Show," a comedy that aired for eight seasons on Fox and remains popular in syndication.

He was last seen in the January romantic comedy "No Strings Attached" opposite Natalie Portman. He was an early adopter of Twitter, with a huge following of 6.8 million people.

"Two and A Half Men" is the most-watched TV comedy in the United States with about 15 million regular viewers and has been a lucrative source of advertising revenue for CBS, and syndication fees for its makers Warner Bros. Television.

But the future of the comedy has been in disarray since Sheen was fired in March from his starring role as a womanizing bachelor after weeks of erratic behavior and for publicly insulting the producers.

Production was shut down for the remaining eight episodes of the 2010-11 TV season.

"I can't wait to get to work with this ridiculously talented 2.5 team and I believe we can fill the stage with laughter that will echo in viewers' homes," Kutcher said in a statement.

"I can't replace Charlie Sheen but I'm going to work my ass off to entertain the hell out of people!", he added.

Producers have been working for weeks to retool the money-spinning show without Sheen, or add new characters. Hugh Grant was reported earlier this week to have pulled out of talks citing "creative differences."

Sheen, 45, who has been in and out of drug rehab for the last 12 months, was the highest-paid actor on U.S. television, earning more than $1.2 million per episode.

Warner Bros. last month strongly denied claims by Sheen that the studio was in talks to reinstate him, and said there was no chance of him returning to the show.

(Reporting by Jill Serjeant; editing by Christine Kearney)

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Funny signs from ‘Ellen’ viewers (The Upshot)

Some signs tell you the speed limit.  Some command you to wear a shirt and shoes while in McDonald's. Talk show host Ellen DeGeneres isn't interested in those. Instead, she asks her viewers to send in pictures of signs that are, well, funny--intentionally or otherwise. Keep clicking for some of our favorites, or check out the complete collection at Ellen's official site.

Slideshow: The world's silliest signs

Courtesy The Ellen Show

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