Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009

Eastwood rises in French Legion

Paris -- American screen icon Clint Eastwood was made a commander in France's prestigious Legion of Honor on Friday.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy presented the 79-year-old actor and director with the decoration, honoring his body of work, his longevity and his ability to delight audiences around the globe, according to the award citation.

Former French President Jacques Chirac had honored Eastwood as a knight of the Legion of Honor two years ago, and Friday's decoration was a step up for Eastwood to grade three on the legion's five-grade scale.

Speaking in English, Eastwood thanked Sarkozy and the French people.

"This is a wonderful honor," Eastwood said. "It is just a great pleasure for me. I really love France. I love movies, and I love the appreciation that the French people have for movies."

MGM up for sale

Los Angeles Struggling movie studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. is looking for a buyer.

The home of the James Bond and Pink Panther franchises said Friday it has begun to explore strategic options including "a potential sale of the company."

Opry goes live online

Nashville, Tenn. The Grand Ole Opry and MySpace are uniting to live stream an Opry performance with video for the first time this Saturday.

Opry performances between 9 and 10 p.m. EST will be shown, including appearances by Carrie Underwood, Martina McBride, Rodney Atkins, Jake Owen and others.

Underwood will perform music from her just-released CD "Play On," including the fastest-rising single of her career to date, "Cowboy Casanova."

Gosselin sues TLC

Washington Jon Gosselin has filed a counter lawsuit against the TLC network, claiming television producers violated Pennsylvania's child labor laws in filming the hit reality show "Jon & Kate Plus 8" and are preventing him from working.

The suit seeking more than $5 million in damages was filed Thursday in Maryland's Montgomery County Circuit Court in response to a network lawsuit alleging Gosselin failed to meet his obligations as an employee.

Birthdays today

Jazz pianist Ellis Marsalis, 75

Writer P.J. O'Rourke, 62

Musician Buckwheat Zydeco, 62

Guitarist James Young, 60

Pianist Yanni, 55

Actor D.B. Sweeney, 48

Actress Laura San Giacomo, 48

Rapper Reverend Run, 45

Actor Patrick Warburton, 45

Actor Josh Duhamel, 37

Drummer Travis Barker, 34