McConaughey Steps In for Wilson

Matthew McConaughey will appear in an uncredited cameo for the upcoming film "Tropic Thunder". This is really only newsworthy because he replaces ailing star Owen Wilson in the role.

The film, according to E! News, "centers on a group of actors who congregate on a remote island to begin shooting a big-budget war movie, only to be forced into becoming the soldiers they're meant to play." It stars Ben Stiller (who also directs), along with Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr., Bill Hader, Steve Coogan and Nick Nolte.

McConaughey will spend less than a week filming his scenes in Hawaii this month, according to reports. "Tropic Thunder" is set for release in July 2008.

The decision to replace Wilson came after his reported suicide attempt last month, which has been confirmed by police logs but still not by his public relations team. He asked through his publicist shortly after the incident that the media respect his privacy and allow him time to "heal", but Wilson has made no further public statement since that time.

"Chuck" Screened for Charity

A screening of "Good Luck Chuck", the comedy starring Jessica Alba and Dane Cook, raised $260,000 for a Tennessee charity Tuesday. The stars both attended the screening.

The money raised will benefit Variety of Eastern Tennessee, an organization which helps children with disabilities. Bill Haslam, mayor of Knoxville, also proclaimed the day "Jessica Alba and Dane Cook Day".

"I've never had a proclamation except, 'You're fired,'" quipped Cook at the event.

The film opens nationwide Sept. 21.

Grammer Returns to Television

Kelsey Grammer returned to television tonight in the series premiere of "Back to You", a FOX sitcom set in a television news station in Pittsburgh. Grammer plays Chuck Darling, who shares the station's anchor desk with the formidable Kelly Carr (Patricia Heaton).

Grammer spent the majority of his professional career portraying Dr. Frasier Crane on two different long-running series ("Cheers" and its spin-off "Frasier"). Heaton, of course, is best known as Debra Barone in "Everybody Loves Raymond".

The combination of the two could prove to be a double-edged sword. While an established fan base for each star will undoubtedly bring viewers, it remains to be seen whether those viewers are prepared to embrace their favorites in unfamiliar roles. At least the creative team behind the new series (Steven Levitan and Christopher Lloyd) have already proven their hit-making abilities as the force behind "Frasier" and other notable shows.

"Back to You" also features Fred Willard, Ty Burrell, Josh Gad, Ayda Field and Laura Marano.

Hanks to Debunk JFK Myths

Tom Hanks has signed on to produce a 10-part miniseries for HBO based on the book "Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy".

The book, written by Vincent Bugliosi, debunks various conspiracy theories about Kennedy assassination and supports the Warren Commission's finding that Oswald acted alone.

Hanks will executive produce the miniseries through his production company, Playtone Prods., along with "Apollo 13" co-star Bill Paxton and Playtone exec Gary Goetzman. Hanks and Paxton most recently collaborated on "Big Love" for HBO.

"Based on the facts and evidence that Vincent Bugliosi so masterfully presents, it's a story that has haunted me and my generation our whole lives," Paxton told the Hollywood Reporter. "Now, with the 50th anniversaries of President Kennedy's inaugural address and assassination looming in the next few years, we felt it was the right time to pursue this project."

Bugliosi, who rose to fame as the prosecutor in the Manson Family murder trials and the author of "Helter Skelter" based on the case, expressed his hope that Hanks and HBO can "finally bring the truth to the American public" about the Kennedy assassination.

Unfortunately, Bugliosi may be setting his sights a bit high. Lets face it: conspiracy theories are interesting, and this particular one has fed the public fascination for years. Terms like "lone gunman" and "grassy knoll" have even made their way into American pop culture and are immediately associated with this case. It will take much more than a 10-part miniseries to dispell that.