This Week's Film News: Betty White, Lena Horne, and More

From Lena Horne's death to Betty White's Saturday Night Live hosting gig, Hollywood is buzzing with film news this week.

Here are the top new stories this week in Hollywood film news...

Farewell to Lena Horne

Lena Horne, legendary singer/actress/performer, died Sunday May 9, 2010 at the age of 92.

Horne appeared in:

Harlem Hotshots (1945), That's Entertainment! (1974), That's Entertainment, Part II (1976), The Dean Martin Show (appearances spanning several years), The Wiz (1978), and many other films and TV shows.

Sources:

Lena Horne profile on Imdb.com.

Article by Adam Bernstein posted May 10, 2010 in the Washington Post online edition.

FCC Votes To Allow First-Run Movies to Be Shown on US Home Televisions

At the behest of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to allow first-run movies currently showing in theaters to be streamed into US homes for television viewing. Each movie would be held for 90 days until its release to DVD, but at that point would be available for home viewing.

This could mean trouble for "sleepers" and independent films, as well as the movie theaters, according to the National Association of Theater Owners and the Independent Film and Television Alliance.

Source: Article by Ira Teinowitz posted May 7, 2010 in The Wrap

Movie Gallery (Hollywood Video) Stores Going Out of Business

I was wondering when this was going to happen once and for all because it had been rumored for a good two years or so now that Hollywood Video stores, owned by Movie Gallery, would close. It seems that now, after filing for bankruptcy a third time, the business will finally shut down and close its doors.

Netflix, online viewing, and movie kiosks have been cited as the main reasons for the company's financial downturn.

Source: Article by Michael Felberbaum posted May 10, 2010 in USA Today's online edition.

Lindsay Lohan to Play Linda Lovelace in Upcoming Biopic

US Magazine online reports that Lindsay Lohan is slated to play adult film star, Linda Lovelace, in the upcoming biopic directed by Mathew Wilder.

Source: Article by Tim Nudd posted May 5, 2010 on People.com

Film and Television Actress Betty White Scores a Hit for Saturday Night Live (SNL), Thanks to Facebook

Betty White has been the talk of the town since her May 8, 2010 Saturday Night Live (SNL) hosting gig. The social media blitz on the part of over 500,000 Facebook fans landed White the job, for which she scored NBC's SNL their highest viewing audience in over a year. Videos, online articles, and rumors of deleted sketches have deluged the internet over the last two days.

For more on this, please read my article on the Betty White Facebook campaign.

That's what's new this week in Hollywood film news, stay tuned for more updates as they arise.

Websites cited for all news stories:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/Movies/05/05/lindsay.lohan.as.linda.lovelace.ppl/index.html

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0395043/http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2010-05-10-movie-gallery_N.htm