Entertainment News From America

I'm sure a lot of you out there watch 24. The seventh season of the show will be starting early next year and Janeane Garofalo will be joining the cast this time around. She will be playing a government agent assigned to assist Jack Bauer. Madonna is in talks to part ways with her record label, Warner Music Group, after her current contract ends. The contract will end after she releases two more albums on the label. It is rumored that she is considering heading over to LiveNation, an Los Angeles-based promotions company and venue owner.

Speaking of music news, The Violent Femmes are heading to court. Bassist Brian Ritchie is suing lead singer Gordon Gano, claiming he was denied credit for some of the group's songs and the earnings that go along with it. There are also accusations of Gano trashing the band's reputation by allowing "Blister In The Sun" to be used in a Wendy's commercial. Ritchie seeks a ruling that will name him half-owner of the band, an accounting of past and future royalties, as well as unspecified damages.

Finally, Lionsgate has filed lawsuits against several companies for selling merchandise with the phrase "Nobody puts Baby in the corner" from Dirty Dancing. They are claiming that 15 companies are using Lionsgate's registered trademark without permission. The suit alleges that the unauthorized merchandise, which is mostly baby apparel, has created a likelihood of confusion with official Lionsgate merchandise. They are seeking a court order requiring the defendants to pay restitution, a myriad of damages and stopping the sale of all merchandise featuring the famous phrase.