Newsmakers

Newsmakers

Zadan, Meron will produce 3rd Oscars

LOS ANGELES

The producers behind the last two Oscar telecasts are coming back for a third time.

The film academy announced Monday that Craig Zadan and Neil Meron will return to produce the 87th annual Academy Awards. The two were responsible for the 2013 show hosted by Seth MacFarlane and this year’s telecast starring Ellen DeGeneres.

Film academy chief Dawn Hudson said Zadan and Meron “are masters at tapping into the zeitgeist.” This year’s show set social-media records when DeGeneres’ star-studded selfie became the most re-tweeted image ever.

Meron said on Twitter on Monday that it’s “a great honor” to produce the Oscar show again.

The 87th Oscars will take place Feb. 22, 2015, at Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre.

Brown’s trial delayed

WASHINGTON

Singer Chris Brown’s trial on an assault charge in Washington, which had been set for Monday, has been postponed until Wednesday.

A judge delayed it while attorneys work out issues over testimony from Brown’s bodyguard, who was convicted of assault in a separate trial.

Both Brown and bodyguard Christopher Hollosy were arrested in October after a man accused them of punching him outside a Washington hotel. Hollosy told police that he punched the man after he tried to get on Brown’s tour bus. But the man says Brown — and later Hollosy — punched him after he tried to get in a photo Brown was taking with two women.

Judge Patricia Wynn set Hollosy’s sentencing for June 25.

Brown’s attorneys now want Hollosy to testify at the singer’s trial. Hollosy would be expected to say that he, not Brown, punched 20-year-old Parker Adams outside the W Hotel. But Hollosy’s lawyer, Bernard Grimm, told a judge he plans to appeal his client’s conviction.

Unless prosecutors grant Hollosy immunity, testifying in Brown’s case could affect his appeal. Prosecutors haven’t said if they will grant Hollosy immunity, and waiting until his appeal is over could take a year, prosecutors have said previously.

Brown’s attorney Mark Geragos said outside court that he wants to move forward.

Travolta to appear at Indian film awards

TAMPA, Fla.

John Travolta will appear during the 15th International Indian Film Academy awards in Tampa.

Organizers of the event said Monday that Travolta will receive the “Most Popular All-Time International Star in India” at the awards ceremony.

The awards, making their debut in the United States, will be held Wednesday through Saturday at various venues in Tampa. The main event is Saturday at Raymond James Stadium.

Some 30,000 people are expected to attend the event, which celebrates Indian film.

Travolta is best known for his roles in such films as “Saturday Night Fever,” ‘’Pulp Fiction,” ‘’Grease,” and “Get Shorty.”

Associated Press