American Morning
Critics: 'Avatar' is anti-military & anti-religion
20th Century Fox says James Cameron's 3D epic "Avatar" has officially sunk "Titanic, taking the crown for the biggest movie ever.
It has topped more than $1.84 billion so far, but some critics aren't too happy about that success. Our Jason Carroll has the report.
Why Jonathan Demme loves Haiti
By Alina Cho, CNN
Jonathan Demme has had a love affair with Haiti for more than 20 years. So when he heard about the earthquake, he wanted to help.
"I almost went last weekend. I've got my shots, I get on a plane, I'm going to go down, I'm going to help. What am I going to do?"
The Academy-Award winning director's passion for Haiti came first through art.
Walking by a gallery in the mid-1980's he says, "I was really overwhelmed by the creativity of these paintings, the excitement of the music and I thought, 'Wow, Haiti. This is very interesting.' And I bought a painting."
That eventually led him on a trip to Haiti to find more paintings. What he discovered was a country full of people who were as vibrant as their art. It was 1986.
'Hope for Haiti' to dominate the airwaves
Programming Note: Watch "Hope for Haiti" starting at 8 p.m. ET on Friday, January 22, on CNN and CNN Live.
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/01/22/clooney.george.gi.art.jpg caption="It took only a phone call from George Clooney to get the "Hope for Haiti" telethon started."]
By Lisa Respers France, CNN
If you're looking to watch "Hope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief" on Friday night, you won't have any trouble finding it.
The two-hour, star-studded telethon is set to be one of the most widely distributed prime-time televised benefits in history, appearing simultaneously on more than 25 networks - including CNN, where Anderson Cooper will report live from Haiti during the event.
Other networks airing "Hope for Haiti" include ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, BET, The CW, HBO, MTV, VH1 and CMT. The show will even air on the Discovery's eco-lifestyle television network, Planet Green.
MTV is presenting the benefit, which will be helmed by Oscar-winning actor George Clooney in Los Angeles, California, and musician Wyclef Jean from New York. CNN's Anderson Cooper will report live from Haiti.
Plenty of entertainers have joined the roster to raise awareness about the earthquake in Haiti that has left tens of thousands dead and many more homeless and injured.
Study: Movies often show unsafe situations
A new study shows Hollywood's doing more to send the right message about safety to your kids. But they could be doing a whole lot better. Our Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen has the report.
NBC pulls plug on Leno in prime-time
Los Angeles, California (CNN) - NBC host Jay Leno is going back to late nights after a low-rated experiment in prime time, the network announced Sunday.
Leno's prime-time talk show, which debuted in September, "didn't meet affiliates' needs," said Jeff Gaspin, chairman of NBC Universal Television Entertainment.
The program will go off the air February 12, when the 2010 Winter Olympics begin.
The network is now negotiating with Leno and its current late-night hosts, Conan O'Brien and Jimmy Fallon, to decide who ends up with which time slot, Gaspin said.
O'Brien took over NBC's flagship "Tonight Show" when Leno moved to the 10 p.m. slot in September. Fallon took over O'Brien's former show, "Late Night."
Actress Brittany Murphy dead at 32
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/12/21/brittany.murphy.art.jpg caption="Actress Brittany Murphy was pronounced dead at 10:04 a.m. PT, according to a spokesman at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. She was 32."]
Los Angeles, California (CNN) - Brittany Murphy, the bubbly, free-spirited actress who appeared in such films as "Clueless" and "8 Mile," died Sunday, apparently of natural causes, the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office said. She was 32.
Murphy was pronounced dead at 10:04 a.m. PT Sunday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, hospital spokeswoman Sally Stewart told CNN Radio.
An autopsy had not been scheduled as of Sunday night, but Captain John Kades, a spokesman for the coroner's office, told CNN that there was no sign of foul play or trauma. He added that it's not unusual for a younger person to die of natural causes.
The coroner's office is looking into Murphy's medical history. A final report could take up to eight weeks.
The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating the death, and robbery and homicide detectives will be at her home, LAPD spokeswoman Norma Eisenman said.
"The sudden loss of our beloved Brittany is a terrible tragedy," her family said in a statement issued by her publicist. "She was our daughter, our wife, our love and a shining star. We ask you to respect our privacy at this time."
Funeral arrangements are pending, the family said.
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