Quaid drops lawsuit over 'Brokeback Mountain' pay

Quaid drops lawsuit over'Brokeback Mountain' pay
LOS ANGELES -- "Brokeback Mountain" co-star Randy Quaid has dropped a lawsuit over his compensation for the Academy Award-winning film. Quaid had sued Focus Features and producers David Linde and James Schamus in March, claiming he was fleeced into working cheaply by the filmmakers' assertion that "Brokeback Mountain" was "a low-budget, art-house film, with no prospect of making any money." "Brokeback Mountain," whose three Oscars included best director for Ang Lee, topped $82 million at the domestic box office. Quaid had been seeking at least $10 million. His publicist, Susan Madore, said Thursday that Quaid decided to drop the lawsuit after his lawyers told him Focus agreed to pay him a bonus, which he wants to split with other principal cast members. Focus Features denied making any settlement with Quaid. "The circumstances of him dropping the suit are as mysterious as the circumstances under which he filed his claim," Focus spokeswoman Adriene Bowles said.
CBS starts Web channel
NEW YORK -- CBS Corp. on Thursday launched a new broadband channel called "innertube," an ad-supported outlet that will include specially created Web series and some use of material that has already run on CBS. The site, available on the CBS.com home page, is streaming three shows a day at first, at least one of them new each day. Material already shown will be archived and available for free to computer users. Among the shows debuting this month: "Greek to Chic," a makeover reality series for college students; "BBQ Bill," a sketch comedy series with Rick Najera; "Animate This!," where celebrities narrate funny stories from their lives that are animated; and "Beyond Survivor," a behind-the-scenes look at the reality show.
Ready for 'Da Vinci Code'
ROME -- Roman Catholic scholars gathered Thursday to explore whether the soon-to-be-released film version of "The Da Vinci Code" will spread hostile sentiment against the church or provide an opportunity to draw people closer to religion. Scholars including members of Opus Dei -- the conservative religious order depicted as a murderous, power-hungry sect in the best-selling Dan Brown novel -- were participating at the forum on the potential effects of the movie, set for release May 17-19 around the world.
Storm Trooper Lucas
LOS ANGELES -- Not that long ago, in a nearby galaxy, George Lucas joined forces with the dark side. The "Star Wars" creator has become a Storm Trooper. Hasbro, maker of "Star Wars" toys, is paying plastic tribute to Lucas, interpreting him as a limited-edition action figure in Storm Trooper attire. The head of the toy maker's "Star Wars" division called Lucas "the greatest character in the universe." This is the first time Lucas has been honored with an official "Star Wars" action figure.
Today's birthdays
Actress Ann B. Davis is 80. Actor Michael Murphy is 68. Actor Lance Henriksen is 66. Comedian-actor Michael Palin is 63. Actor John Rhys-Davies is 62. Actor Richard E. Grant is 49. Broadcast journalist John Miller is 48. Rock singer Ian McCulloch (Echo and the Bunnymen) is 47. NBC News anchor Brian Williams is 47. Actress Tina Yothers is 33. Singer Craig David is 25. Rock singer Skye Sweetnam is 18. Rhythm-and-blues singer Chris Brown is 17.