NEWS MAKERS

July 1, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

‘Eclipse’ sets record for midnight shows

LOS ANGELES

“The Twilight Saga” has rung up another record midnight hour. “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse” took in more than $30 million from midnight screenings early Wednesday, according to distributor Summit Entertainment. That surpassed the previous midnight record of $26.3 million set on opening day last November by its predecessor, “The Twilight Saga: New Moon.”

Summit was still counting the numbers and was not expected to have a final overnight number until Thursday. But Summit reported the figure was likely to come in significantly higher than $30 million.

The huge start for “Eclipse” puts the latest chapter in the vampire-romance series on track for one of the biggest opening days ever. “New Moon” also holds that record, taking in $72.7 million in its first day.

The new midnight record is even more impressive considering “Eclipse” managed it in the middle of the week. “New Moon” opened on a Friday, typically a busier day at theaters.

‘Rebel Without Cause’ actor Corey Allen dies

LOS ANGELES

Corey Allen, who played the high school gang leader who gets in a knife fight with James Dean in “Rebel Without a Cause,” has died. He was 75. Family spokesman Mickey Cottrell says Allen died at his Hollywood home on Sunday.

Allen played Buzz Gunderson in the 1955 movie. His character loses a knife fight with Dean’s and dies when his stolen car plunges off a cliff during a “chicken run” challenge.

Allen had a number of other TV and film roles before turning to television directing in 1969. In 1984, he won an Emmy for directing an episode of “Hill Street Blues.” He also directed the two-hour pilot for “Star Trek: The Next Generation” as well as episodes of that series and the follow up, “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.”

Kagan stays neutral on ‘Twilight’ debate

WASHINGTON

Team Edward or Team Jacob? That’s one debate Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan steered clear of. At her Senate confirmation hearing Wednesday, Kagan was jokingly asked by Sen. Amy Klobuchar about her thoughts on “the vampire versus the werewolf” in reference to “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse” movie.

Kagan, who has declined to say how she might rule on issues that could come before the court, dodged this one — presumably on other grounds, saying she hadn’t seen the film and wished the senator wouldn’t pose the question.

Klobuchar, a Minnesota Democrat, said she realized Kagan “can’t comment on future cases. So I’ll leave that alone.”

Rascal Flatts bassist, wife expecting child

NASHVILLE, Tenn.

Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts and his wife, Allison, a former Miss Tennessee and CMT personality, are expecting their first child.

The bass player recently joked that he felt left out of baby discussions with bandmates Gary LeVox and Joe Don Rooney, both fathers. But he won’t be excluded anymore.

A news release says the child is due in January. The couple was married in 2004.