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In the news
By Times staff report Poundstone leaves rehabA judge praised Paula Poundstone's recovery progress Wednesday and released the comedian from a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center where she was sentenced after pleading no contest to child endangerment. "You have remained abstinent and have done all the other tasks I asked you to do," Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Bernard Kamins told Poundstone, 41, during a hearing. "Today is really a day for commendation rather than to bite you." Kamins asked Poundstone, who has blamed her problems on drinking, how she felt about her treatment. "Fine," she said softly. Her attorney, Steven Cron, said Poundstone's three adopted children will have monitored visits but will not be allowed to stay with her for the time being. He said family court will decide their future. India downplays Harrison's ashesIndian officials Wednesday played down reports that George Harrison's ashes were to be immersed in the Ganges river. "I think the whole story is a creation of the media," Varanasi city police Inspector-General Vikram Singh told Reuters. Harrison's last rites have been shrouded in secrecy since a Hare Krishna official said Monday the musician's family was expected to visit Varanasi for the ritual symbolizing the journey of his soul to eternal consciousness. History Channel to go liveThe History Channel will produce its first live programming Friday to mark the 60th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack. It will cover the memorial service on the USS Arizona in Hawaii, one of the 21 vessels sunk, beached or damaged in the sneak attack that drew the United States into World War II. Joan Lunden and Josh Binswanger anchor, starting at 12:30 p.m. Earlier in the day, the channel will be live from the D-Day Museum in New Orleans, where a new "Pacific Wing" will be unveiled. TV notesFor the first time since November 1998, ABC'sWorld News Tonight won the November sweeps battle among the evening newscasts in total viewers, edging out longtime leader NBC'sNightly News, Variety says. . . . Gillian Anderson confirmed to TV Guide Online that she will quit The X-Files this spring. . . . ABC has dropped the Spanish-language version of World News Tonight, calling it an experiment that failed to attract viewers. . . . NBC is bringing back Fear Factor starting Jan. 7. The show will move into the 8 p.m. Monday time slot occupied by Weakest Link. Movie notesHarry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, as the movie is known internationally, grossed $60.9-million over the weekend to set the record for highest-grossing weekend overseas, Zap2it.com said Wednesday. Titanic held the title for nearly four years with $50.7-million earned over Jan. 23-25, 1998, at 4,776 venues in 32 nations. Harry Potter was in 6,574 theaters in 31 countries, selling an estimated 12.4-million tickets. It debuts in France and Italy this weekend. . . . Cameron Diaz is near a deal to reprise her role in the Charlie's Angels sequel with a pact that could bring her $20-million, which would make her the second female actor, after Julia Roberts, to hit that benchmark, Variety says. . . . A new version of Monsters, Inc. will be released Friday with specially-created animated outtakes over the end credits.
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From the wire |
