Madonna’s film earns praise from Moore

Madonna’s film earns praise from Moore

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — Madonna’s new film on the impoverished nation of Malawi has wowed another maker of documentaries: Michael Moore.

Moore announced Thursday that Madonna, like himself a Michigan native, will appear for a screening of “I Am Because We Are” during the Traverse City Film Festival on Aug. 2.

“She’s sort of entered my realm,” Moore said. “When I saw it, I thought, ‘Wow, it’s like she’s been making these films for years.’”

Madonna produced and narrated the documentary after traveling to Malawi, where she met the toddler David Banda. She and husband Guy Ritchie are adopting the child.

“I Am Because We Are” illustrates the poverty that children of the southern African country face, how the AIDS crisis is claiming lives, and the conditions that cause disease and other misery there. But the film urges people to volunteer and tries to offer hope.

Grammy Awards show returns to Staples Center

LOS ANGELES — Music lovers, mark your calendars. The 51st annual Grammy Awards will be at Staples Center on Feb. 8, 2009, and broadcast live on CBS.

“What better place to host music’s biggest night than ... right in the heart of the great city of Los Angeles,” Jack Sussman of CBS said in a statement Wednesday. The Grammys were first presented at Staples Center in 1999.

Presented by the Recording Academy, the Grammy Awards honor musical achievements in various genres.

Grammy nominees will be announced Dec. 4.

‘Law Order’ to stay on USA Network

LOS ANGELES — “Law Order: Criminal Intent” will remain on the case for another season on USA Network.

The show has been renewed for a 16-episode eighth year, the network said Thursday.

Part of the three-series “Law Order” franchise created by Dick Wolf, “Criminal Intent” originally aired on NBC. But when the network decided that this season’s schedule had room for only two of the shows, a deal was struck to air “Criminal Intent” first on USA, then on NBC.

Today’s birthdays

Songwriter Hal David is 87. Country singer Tom T. Hall is 72. Actor Ian McKellen (“Lord of the Rings”) is 69. Actress Dixie Carter is 69. Country singer Jessi Colter is 65. Actress-singer Leslie Uggams is 65. Director-Muppetteer Frank Oz is 64. Actress Karen Valentine is 61. Singer Klaus Meine of Scorpions is 60. Actress Patti D’Arbanville (“New York Undercover”) is 57. Actress Connie Sellecca is 53. Singer-guitarist Paul Weller of The Jam is 50. Actor-comedian Mike Myers is 45. Actresses Sidney and Lindsay Greenbush (“Little House on the Prairie”) are 38. Actor Jamie Kennedy (“Scream”) is 38. Actor Justin Henry (“Kramer Vs. Kramer”) is 37. Singer Lauryn Hill is 33. Actor Ethan Suplee (“My Name Is Earl”) is 32. Guitarist Todd Whitener of Tantric is 30.