This Just In: Movie about Tesla will be filmed in Pittsburgh
A new movie about famed inventor Nikola Tesla is set to shoot in Pittsburgh in late August.
Michael Anton will write and direct "The Mad Scientist," which will star Serbian actor Branko Tomovic as Tesla. The movie is being produced by Silvermask Productions and North Shore Pictures.
Tomovic has appeared in several films, including "The Bourne Ultimatum," "Interview with a Hitman," "The Wolf Man," "Pope Joan" and "Silent River."
"The Mad Scientist" follows Tesla from when he first came to America in 1884 to his final days living alone in a New York hotel room. It recounts his battles with Thomas Edison and J.P. Morgan and his friendships with Mark Twain and George Westinghouse.
- Tribune-Review
Connick, Muse, Kid Rock slate area concerts
A new round of just-announced concerts run the gamut of musical styles.
• Harry Connick Jr., the pianist, vocalist, band leader, composer and actor, performs at 8 p.m. June 27 at Heinz Hall, Downtown. Tickets, $49.50 to $125, go on sale at 10 a.m. April 12. Details: 412-392-4900 or www.pittsburghsymphony.org
• Kid Rock will bring his "$20 Best Night Ever" tour to First Niagara Pavilion, Burgettstown, on Sept. 7. Tickets for all of the stops on the country-rock artist's summer tour are $20. In the Pittsburgh area, he'll be accompanied by ZZ Top and Uncle Kracker. Kid Rock, who is touring in support of his 10th album, "Rebel Soul," is reserving the first two rows of every show as free upgrades for fans who will be selected at random. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. April 12. Paperless tickets are being used where possible to further help reduce scalping. Details: 800-745-3000 or www.livenation.com
• Pop band Muse will be at Consol Energy Center on Sept. 8, with opening act Cage the Elephant. Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. show are $33.25 to $56.75 and go on sale at 10 a.m. April 12. Details: 800-745-3000 or www.consolenergycenter.com
- Tribune-Review
In an ACM upset, Bryan is the top entertainer
Luke Bryan heard his name called at the end of the Academy of Country Music Awards, accepted the entertainer of the year trophy and then things became a blur.
"It was like I was on the tilt-a-whirl," Bryan said.
Bryan, who co-hosted the show with Blake Shelton, pulled off a dizzying upset, beating out the night's top winner Miranda Lambert, two-time entertainer of the year Taylor Swift and top male stars and good friends Shelton and Jason Aldean for the academy's top award.
Bryan also won an award before the show, sharing vocal event of the year with Aldean and Eric Church for their collaboration on "The Only Way I Know."
Lambert won her fourth straight female vocalist award, joining Reba McEntire and Loretta Lynn as the only singers to win female vocalist of the year four or more times. She also picked up three trophies for her hit song "Over You" - one for single record of the year and two for song of the year. She was the performer of the song and co-wrote it with Shelton, her husband.
Church won two awards, including album of the year for "Chief." Aldean, country's top-selling male act, also won male vocalist of the year. Little Big Town had wins for vocal group and video of the year. Florida Georgia Line won for new artist and were previous winners in the new vocal duo/group category. And husband and wife Shawna and Keifer Thompson continued their feel-good story as Thompson Square won its second straight vocal duo of the year award.
- Associated Press
Levine to get special honor at awards show
Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine for president? Sort of.
Broadcast Music Inc. announced April 8 that Levine will receive the President's Award at the 61st annual BMI Pop Awards on May 14.
The event will be held at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. It also will honor last year's top songwriters in pop.
BMI says the 34-year-old Levine was selected for his "outstanding achievements in songwriting and the global impact he has had on pop culture."
- Associated Press
‘Judge Judy' will keep order for 2 more years
Judge Judy is increasing her television sentence by two years.
Judy Sheindlin and CBS Television Distribution said April 8 that the feisty former New York state judge has signed on for two more years of "Judge Judy." It is one of the top daytime TV shows, seen by roughly 10 million people each episode.
Her current contract runs through 2015, and the new deal extends her through 2017. That would give her 21 years on the air, which she compared to a winning hand in blackjack. Sheindlin, who is 70, gave no indication that she has plans to retire.
- Associated Press
