Oops... She's done it again. Britney Spears has commentators wondering about her mental state, after being spotted in an "agitated state" in Sherman Oaks getting a couple of new tattoos, just days after she was rumoured to have checked out of a Rehab facility in Antigua after just24 hours.


Britney Spears fans also aren't impressed with her new "bald" look, after she decided to get rid of her long locks and completely shave her head. Some reports suggest she had seeked professional salon help, when bald spots began to appear after constant peroxide bleachings.

Meanwhile, former assistants are questioning Britney's mental state, and believe she needs urgent help as her life appears to be hitting rock bottom.



* CNN.com: Britney Spears goes bald
* That Other Blog: Britney Was Already Balding Because of Cheap Peroxide Bleachings

The UK Singles Music Chart has been around for many years, but recently it has been given a much needed shakeup with the arrival of music downloads. Digital downloads have been progressively included in sales figures, but only if they matched a physical CD single.

The inclusion of digital sales has all but killed the trend of singles going straight in at #1. Instead, last year we saw songs making a huge jump in chart position... from their digital download chart placing, to their combined chart placing the following week after the CD single was released.


But the UK chart rules changed again in January 2007, and now all digital downloads count towards the Singles (and Album) charts. This has seen a number of classic tracks reappearing at the bottom end of the charts, while album tracks are appearing on the singles chart before any official release.

This week, singer Mika scored a #1 with his hit Grace Kelly, while also managing a minor #62 chart placing for track number 2 Lollipop.

The chart changes may make it more difficult for artists to achieve high chart placings in their first week of 'official release'. Take That's next single Shine is already sitting at #17 in the UK Singles Chart, despite the official release being two weeks away.


It's also given die-hard fans a new hobby... trying to return songs from their favourite bands and artists to the charts. Those currently trying for a repeat chart hit are a group of Spice Girl fans with Stop, and Busted fans with What I Go To School For.

A new website, It Should Have Been Number One, is hoping to hype a different "forgotten hit" back into the charts each week. (I won't link to it tho, as they're currently promoting the dire Oasis song Roll with it, which quite rightly lost out to Blur's brilliant Country House for #1 in 1995).

The days of wall-to-wall prime-time soaps on US network MyNetworkTV are limited.

The fledgling network is ditching its telenovela strategy from March 8th, adding movies and a popular form of Martial Arts known as 'Ultimate Fighting' to their schedule.

MyNetworkTV will showcase ultimate fighting on Monday nights, with the International Fight League's Total Impact, hosted by Joe Rogan (Fear Factor). Movies will now screen on Thursday and Friday nights.

A third installment of telenovelas is already in production, but these will now only screen in two hour blocks on Tuesday (American Heiress) and Wednesday nights (Saints & Sinners, starring Robin Givens).
The lineup changes come after poor ratings for the experiment of screening english telenovelas six nights a week. MyNetworkTV was created by Fox to fill the gap created when the WB and UPN networks merged, leaving at least one local station in most cities without programming.

* MediaWeek: MyNetworkTV Shuffles Schedule

Internet retailer Amazon.com is currently offering customers a Free TV Show Video Download when they buy any DVD through their site.
The deal is to help promote their Amazon Unbox programme, which lets you buy or rent your favourite movies and TV Shows to download and watch on your PC. Customers can watch free previews online before buying. (Service limited to users in the United States).

Fans can buy DVDs of their favourite TV show, then also download current episodes before they're released on DVD. Regular prices start from just (US) $1.99 for tv shows, and from just $3.99 for movies.


Use the links below to buy any DVD on Amazon.com, and receive an instant $1.99 rebate for use through Amazon Unbox (their video download store). You can download a tv show for free with this e-coupon, or put the rebate towards a movie download. (Rebates need to be redeemed within 24 hours of purchase).

>> Buy a DVD, Get a Free TV show download ($1.99 instant rebate)


* Or click below to browse the Video Downloads available for purchase (Free Previews available)...

New Zealand actor Martin Henderson will take over from Brad Pitt, playing professional assassin John Smith in the ABC's small-screen version of the hit movie Mr & Mrs Smith.


The 32 year old kiwi-born actor will star opposite Jordana Brewster (The Fast and the Furious) in the tv pilot of Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Brewster will take over the Angelina Jolie role of hit-woman "Jane Smith".

The pilot picks up a few months after the events of the blockbuster movie, with the married secret assassins trying to restart their lives in a new home,

Henderson is currently appearing onscreen alongside Ben Affleck, Jason Bateman, and Andy Garcia in the assassin movie Smokin’ Aces. Other credits include Flyboys, The Ring, Bride & Prejudice, Little Fish, and a four year on New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street.


Henderson will continue on to another film project when he's finished shooting the ABC TV pilot. Experienced director Doug Liman (The Bourne Identity) is helming the tv version as Director and Executive Producer, which should improve the chances of ABC greenlighting a series.

* NZ Herald: Kiwi actor takes Brad Pitt role in TV movie

While shooting is due to begin in Utah this month on the sequel to Disney's smash hit tv movie, High School Musical, big plans have been revealed for the third movie in the franchise series.

Disney are planning to release High School Musical 3 - titled Haunted High School Musical - on the big screen in 2008. The motion picture sequel is described by Disney as "an all-new musical adventure".


Few details about the film have been announced yet, but it's expected that the third instalment will look to reunite the original High School Musical cast of Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Lucas Grabeel, Corbin Bleu and Monique Coleman... along with director and choreographer, Kenny Ortega.

Meanwhile, High School Musical 2: Sing It All or Nothing! is set to premiere on the Disney TV Channel in the United States in August.


The plot sees the East High Wildcats getting summer jobs at the Evans' (Sharpay and Ryan) country club, where they help put on the annual show. Producers say to expect a "swimming pool musical number", and the "long-awaited kiss between Troy and Gabriella".

* Zap2it.com: Big-Screen 'High School Musical' Sequel Planned

Take That are preparing to continue their successful comeback, with their new single Shine. It's the followup to smash comeback single Patience, and the second track to be taken from their multi-platinum selling album, Beautiful World.


Shine, described as "Beatles-esqe with a hint of ELO", features Mark Owen on lead vocals.

But Take That's video for Shine had to be partially re-shot, because Gary Barlow (36) was looking too chubby, was unable to do up his tuxedo jacket, and struggling to keep with the other guys in the dance routines.

Producers chose instead to bring in a grand piano for Gary to sit behind, while the other three guys did the dance routine. The video recreates the atmosphere and style of a Busby Berkley musical (1930s/40s/50s Hollywood movie director and choreographer).


The classy video features stairs that reach to the sky, classic Kaleidoscopic Choreography, and a backdrop of women in outfits ranging from burlesque to fifties swimwear glamour.

Shine is officially released in the UK on February 26th (although the way the UK Singles Chart works now, it's already in the Top 40 thanks to digital downloads from the album).


* Golden Square Post Production company: Take That "Shine"

The UK's top two girl groups, Girls Aloud and Sugababes, have teamed up to record a cover of the classic 80's track, Walk This Way.

A massive hit in 1986 for American rockers Aerosmith and rappers Run DMC, this new collaboration between the girl bands is in support of Comic Relief's Red Nose Day 2007.

The official video parodies the original Aerosmith and Run DMC video, with the two groups practising in studio room opposite each other... eventually breaking the walls between the rooms with a mic stand.

The Girls Aloud vs Sugababes version of Walk This Way will be released in the UK on March 12th, in support of the 2007 Comic Relief fundraiser...