Lucky Don Rickles: The Friars Club holds a night in his honor and everyone plays nice.

Almost everyone.

Oscar-winning director Sam Mendes' reinterpretation of "Charlie And The Chocolate Factory" is set to open in London's West End.

Mendes' show based on the much-loved children's book by Roald Dahl features new songs along with sets and costumes designed to recreate the world of the factory run by the flamboyant yet secretive Willy Wonka.

Thousands of Gazans gave an ecstatic welcome to Abdelmalek Sellal on Tuesday as the 23-year-old Palestinian singer returned home after winning this year's Arab Idol talent competition.

Young and old waved Palestinian flags and held up posters of Mohammed Assaf, raising banners congratulating him on his win in Beirut on Saturday, when he beat off stiff competition from fellow singers from across the Arab world.

Johnny Depp and Tom Cruise hailed veteran producer Jerry Bruckheimer on Monday, as the man behind "Top Gun" and "Pirates of the Caribbean" got a star on Hollywood's storied Walk of Fame.

The A-listers joined Bruckheimer at a ceremony adding his name on the famous stretch of Hollywood Boulevard sidewalk, which is lined with stars in tribute to generations of entertainment celebrities.

Earth, Wind and Fire initially wanted to release its new album around the 2012 presidential election, but the band realized it wasn't satisfied with the songs it created.

"Now, Then & Forever," the group's first album in eight years, will be released September 10. Singer Philip Bailey says the band called co-founding member Larry Dunn and others to help produce its latest sound.

Bobby "Blue" Bland, a distinguished singer who blended Southern blues and soul in songs such as "Turn on your Love Light" and "Further on up the Road," died Sunday. He was 83.

Rodd Bland said his father died about 5:30 p.m. Sunday due to complications from an ongoing illness at his Memphis, Tenn., home surrounded by relatives.

Turns out zombies and Superman are no match for monsters.

Disney's "Monsters University" is the weekend box-office winner, according to studio estimates released Sunday. The animated family film, which reunites stars Billy Crystal and John Goodman and their characters from the 2001 hit "Monsters, Inc.," debuted in first place with $82 million, beating out swarming zombies in "World War Z" and Superman himself in "Man of Steel."

U.S. daredevil Nik Wallenda became the first man to cross the Grand Canyon on a tightrope Sunday, completing his latest record-breaking feat in just under 23 minutes.

The 34-year-old, who walked across the Niagara Falls last year, prayed repeatedly as he crossed a tributary gorge of the U.S. landmark on a high wire some 1,500 feet (457 meters) above the Little Colorado River.

Written by Anthony Sargon

After years of the behind-the-scenes turmoil and significant reshoots, "World War Z" finally hits theaters this weekend. Although it definitely has its fair share of problems, the movie is surprisingly entertaining and strongly benefits from its epic scope as well as Brad Pitt's solid leading performance.

Jubilant Palestinians took to the streets in their thousands early Sunday after singer Mohammed Assaf won a pan-Arab singing contest that has had millions of viewers fixed to their TV screens since March.

Saturday's televised victory was the first such success for a Palestinian entertainer and sparked an unprecedented response in the occupied territories.