Newsmakers

Newsmakers

Billy Crystal walks red carpet in NO

NEW ORLEANS

Actor Billy Crystal babysat for his granddaughters for five days, and from the experience, a movie was born.

On Friday, Crystal walked the red carpet for a screening of his latest film, “Parental Guidance,” which opens in theaters later this year and co-stars Bette Midler and Marisa Tomei.

“It was exhausting,” Crystal said of his babysitting experience as he walked the red carpet in New Orleans. Crystal said the movie is a fun, touching and comedic take on “the phenomenon of being able to take care of your kids’ kids.”

The film’s director, Andy Fickman, said it was “a dream opportunity as a director to work with two comedy geniuses” in Crystal and Midler.

Fickman, who also walked the red carpet, said he was drawn to the story because many people can relate to the subject matter.

“Every generation thinks they know more than the previous generation,” Fickman said. “We all like to talk about how we were raised.”

Crystal starred in the hit films “City Slickers” and “When Harry Met Sally” and has hosted the Academy Awards nine times. He said he hasn’t been approached to host the Oscars for a 10th time but he’d be up to the challenge.

“I’m always willing to do it,” he said. “We’ll see what they decide, and if it’s me, that’s great, and if it’s not, then good luck to whoever is going to do it.”

Crystal turns 65 next year and has made a career out of turning his life into comedy: “City Slickers” was a story of mid-life crisis. The actor also is working on a book that will be part memoir with jokes about getting older.

“It’s about learning how to navigate the world when the world is moving faster and you’re not,” he said.

Friday’s “Parental Guidance” screening coincided with the AARP’s national convention in New Orleans, which was the site of a visit Friday by Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney’s running mate.

Amanda Bynes faces new charges

BURBANK, Calif.

Prosecutors have charged Amanda Bynes with knowingly driving on a suspended license. It’s the third court case the actress has racked up in recent months.

Bynes was charged Friday in Burbank, Calif., with two counts of driving on a suspended license. The charges stem from an incident Sept. 16 that led to her car being impounded.

Bynes faces two other cases — a drunken driving case and a hit-and-run case involving two accidents. Bynes’ driver’s license was revoked in August, and a judge last week ordered her to stop driving.

The 26-year-old starred in the Nickelodeon series “All That” and the 2010 film “Easy A.” She has pleaded not guilty in the DUI case.

Kings of Leon gets honors in Nashville

NASHVILLE, Tenn.

Nashville has given rock group Kings of Leon a star on the Music City Walk of Fame and the second annual Music City Ambassador Award.

The band was honored Friday by Mayor Karl Dean and the Music City Music Council for helping enhance and promote the city’s creative climate and musical diversity.

Dean said the Nashville-based group showcases the “depth and breadth of music coming out of Music City.”

Top singles from the Grammy-winning Kings of Leon include “Use Somebody” and “Radioactive.”

The Music City Music Council formed in 2009 and has created a music education project and worked with the Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency to create an affordable housing project for up-and-coming artists.

Associated Press