NEWSMAKERS | ‘No Strings’ attaches to No. 1 at box office

NEWSMAKERS

‘No Strings’ attaches to No. 1 at box office

Los Angeles

Audiences weren’t afraid of committing to “No Strings Attached,” making it the No. 1 movie at the box office in its opening weekend.

The romantic comedy from Paramount Pictures earned an estimated $20.3 million, according to studio estimates released Sunday.

Ashton Kutcher and Natalie Portman star as friends who try to maintain a purely sexual relationship with each other, even as they find they’re falling in love. The strong supporting cast includes Greta Gerwig, Mindy Kaling, Lake Bell and Kevin Kline.

Last week’s No. 1 movie, Columbia Pictures’ action comedy “The Green Hornet,” dropped to second place with $18.1 million. It has now made $63.4 million total. Seth Rogen stars as the title playboy-turned-superhero, based on the 1930s radio show, with Taiwanese pop star Jay Chou as his sidekick, Kato.

Rounding out the top five films on the list were “The Dilemma” with $9.7 million, “The King’s Speech” with $9.2 million and “True Grit” with $8 million.

Di inspired photos for Wills’ engagement

LONDON

The engagement photos of Prince William and Kate Middleton were inspired by the mood at photo shoots with Diana, Princess of Wales, photographer Mario Testino said.

The celebrity photographer told American Vogue that playing music by French singer Dalida — the same tracks used while he photographed Diana, William’s late mother — was the secret to the royal couple’s relaxed poses.

“The contrast of the contemporary informal music playing in the beautiful rooms with so much history caused a lot of laughter,” he was quoted as saying.

William and Middleton chose two images for release after the photo shoot at St. James’s Palace last month, shortly after they announced their engagement. The couple is set to wed April 29.

The Peruvian fashion photographer has worked with William many times in the past, and is a royal family favorite who captured some of the most iconic images of Diana.

Rapper opens eatery

CLINTON, Iowa

Rapper and reality TV star Flavor Flav is bringing the flavor of chicken to Iowa.

Flav’s Fried Chicken opens today in Clinton. Flav has been there preparing for the launch and told the Clinton Herald he’ll visit often.

Flav says it’s the first in a chain that stemmed from the 99 cent wings he served at Mama Cimino in Las Vegas. His business partner is the brother of that restaurant’s owner.

Flavor Flav, whose real name William Drayton Jr., founded hip-hop group Public Enemy in the ’80s.

Elton John feels like ‘second-class citizen’

LOS ANGELES

Sir Elton John is “fed up” with being a treated like a “second-class citizen” in the U.S.

That’s why the 63-year-old gay singer said he took a stand last week during a performance at a private Beverly Hills fundraiser for the ongoing legal challenge to California’s gay marriage ban. The outspoken British piano man, who became a parent to a baby boy on Christmas Day with partner David Furnish, added that “as I get older, I get more angry about it.”

“In this country, we need more dialogue,” he said during an interview Friday. “We don’t need any more stone throwing. We don’t need any more vitriol. We need people to say, ’OK. I’m straight. You’re gay. Let’s get along. I’m Republican. You’re Democratic. Let’s work together.’ I’m sick and tired of people being hateful to each other in this country.”

John disappointed some gay-rights activists after California’s Proposition 8 banning gay marriage passed in 2008 when he said he had no desire to get married and was satisfied with his civil partnership in England. He sang a different tune last week when he praised the effort to overturn Proposition 8 and promised to do everything he could to support it, even though he is British.

Wrestler ‘Sycho Sid’ faces drug charge

MEMPHIS, TENN.

Wrestler “Sycho Sid” Eudy is free on bail after being arrested in Memphis on a marijuana possession charge.

Police say they pulled the 50-year-old Eudy over Friday for not wearing a seatbelt. WMC-TV in Memphis reports an officer saw a bag containing 18 grams of marijuana on an arm rest in the car. Eudy also faces charges of driving without a license. He was released on $1,000 bond.

Eudy, of Marion, Ark., was known as Sid Vicious in World Championship Wrestling, and as Sid Justice and Sycho Sid in the World Wrestling Federation.

Associated Press