Michael Jackson
DIGITAL MJ
Don't be surprised to see Michael Jackson moonwalking onstage at this weekend's Billboard Music Awards.
Rumours abound that a hologram version of the late King of Pop will perform the song Slave to the Rhythm from his recent posthumous album titled Xscape.
According to Showbiz411, the producers of this Sunday's Billboard Music Awards have already retained the services of John Textor, who previously created a hologram likeness of the deceased rapper Tupac Shakur that performed at the Coachella Festival in 2012.
Formerly the CEO of the company Digital Domain, Textor has a new, unnamed company specializing in creating holograms of dead celebrities at the behest of their estates. A hologram of Elvis Presley is believed to be in the works.
Should Jackson, who died in 2009 at the age of 50, appear onstage at the Billboard show, it won't be the first time he's been digitally resurrected.
The Cirque du Soleil show Michael Jackson: One currently features a hologram of the late singer in its performances.
RUN, DOS, RUN
Why does it take so long for George R.R. Martin to write each instalment in his bestselling Game of Thrones book series? Possibly because he's using a 30-year-old computer to write them. The 65-year-old author explained his working method to Conan O'Brien during his appearance on Tuesday night's Conan. "I actually have two computers," said Martin. "I have a computer I browse the Internet with, and I get my e-mail on and I do my taxes on. Then I have my writing computer, which is a DOS machine, not connected to the Internet. … Remember DOS? I use WordStar 4.0 as my word-processing system." Why the ancient technology? "It does everything I want a word-processing program to do, and it doesn't do anything else," said Martin.
Source: Us
TWEETING PRINCE
Welcome to Twitter, Prince Harry. The 29-year-old prince finally signed on to the social-media site this week in order to promote his involvement in the Invictus Games in London. The annual event is an Olympic-style competition for injured men and women of the military. On Thursday, Harry promoted the Games by appearing at London's BT Tower where he issued his first tweet on an iPad – albeit by typing the message at a snail's pace. "That's why I joined the army," quipped Harry. "I can't type fast."
Source: People
ALL GIFTS WELCOME
Lil' Kim isn't inviting you to her baby shower, but she'll gladly accept any gifts you care to send her way. Currently pregnant with her first child, the 39-year-old rapper recently posted her baby-shower announcement on Instagram to let her fans know that she's registered with several luxury retailers including Tiffany & Co. and Buy Buy Baby. Among the items available for purchase: A baby carriage ($7,899 U.S.), a cradle ($1,648) and a baby hamper ($1,385). For those on a budget, there's also a piggy bank costing $125.
Source: TMZ
SOUR GRAPES
James Franco is not happy about the upcoming Spring Breakers sequel. On Wednesday, the actor, who played a rapper/gangster named Alan in the original film, went onto Instagram to register his dismay over recently announced plans for Spring Breakers 2, telling fans that the new movie "is not being done with [director] Harmony Korine or my consent." Franco added: "It will be a horrible film."
Source: Us
RATINGS GAME
The kids of Glee will keep singing and dancing for a sixth season – but don't be surprised if Fox shortens the number of episodes. This week's fifth-season finale registered some of the lowest ratings in the show's history, with only 1.9-million U.S. viewers tuned in for the last episode. Fox recently issued Glee a 22-episode order for next fall, but TV industry insiders are already predicting the network will reduce that order in light of the low ratings.
Source: CNN