Will Smith: a star you can bank on, says Forbes
Will Smith was voted the most bankable star in Hollywood in a survey of industry professionals by Forbes.com.
The financial magazine's Web site gives the actor a score of 10 out of 10 for his bankability in its first "star currency" list, compiled by surveying more than 150 industry professionals.
Following Smith on the list: Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio, who all tied for second with a score of 9.89. Tom Hanks, George Clooney, Denzel Washington, Matt Damon and Jack Nicholson rounded out the top 10.
The survey, which acknowledged that it was "subjective," also took into account the 40-year-old star's ability to attract financing for a project. It was released Tuesday.
Did it start with a text?
The weekend altercation between Rihanna and Chris Brown began when he got a text message from another woman who wanted to hook up with him later, the New York Daily News reports on its Web site.
"Rihanna saw it and she got upset. They started to argue. She got out of the car. He wanted her to get back in, so he grabbed her," the Daily News quotes an unidentified source as saying. "She pulled away. That's when she's told people he hit her."
Brown, 19, was booked Sunday on a felony count of making threats; he's free on $50,000 bail. Los Angeles prosecutors said Tuesday that they want more evidence from police before determining whether to press charges against Brown
Rihanna, 20, whose full name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty, is cooperating with detectives, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Appearances this weekend by both singers have been abandoned. Rihanna canceled a concert tomorrow in Malaysia; Brown will not participate in events surrounding Sunday's NBA All-Star Game in Phoenix.
WAKS-FM, a Cleveland-area radio station, has stopped playing Brown's music until the allegations are resolved after outraged listeners called to criticize the singer. Stations in Pittsburgh and Indianapolis also reportedly pulled Brown's music.
Piano men
Promoters announced Tuesday that Billy Joel and Elton John will play together at Chicago's Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs, on July 21.
The singer-songwriters will perform duets playing twin pianos and trading vocals. Each will play a set with his own band, followed by both bands joining for a finale.
Tickets, which go on sale Saturday, range from $55 to $175 before fees and service charges.
Helping hands
Inspired by The Soloist, a movie about a cellist who became homeless, the New York Philharmonic, the Detroit Symphony and about 160 other orchestras in 45 states will participate in food drives in late March, a month before the movie's release on April 24, the League of American Orchestras said yesterday.
The film is based on the true story about a schizophrenic Juilliard-trained cellist (played by Jamie Foxx) who becomes homeless and is helped by Los Angeles Times journalist Steve Lopez (Robert Downey Jr.).
The food will be distributed to local assistance organizations associated with the group Feeding America, which says its network provides food to more than 25 million Americans a year.
today's birthdays
Movie director Franco Zeffirelli, 86.
Basketball Hall of Famer Bill Russell, 75.
Author Judy Blume, 71.
Rock musician Ray Manzarek, 70.
Rock singer Michael McDonald, 57.
Actor Josh Brolin, 41.
Singer Chynna Phillips, 41.
Actress Christina Ricci, 29.