BOOKS/ ITS "CARTE BLANCHE" FOR BOND: The new James Bond book, written by thriller author Jeffery Deaver, will be called "Carte Blanche". The title and cover were just unveiled in Dubai where parts of the book are set. Deaver said the novel, to be published in May, posed "the looming question of what is acceptable" in security matters. Deaver, 60, said giving an agent carte blanche on a mission "comes with an enormous amount of trust and constantly tests both personal and professional judgement". "Are there lines that even James Bond should not cross?" he added. The publishers said in the book, Bond "spends a number of thrilling hours in Dubai both meeting up with an old friend and tracking a very disturbing villain". Sebastian Faulks and John Gardner are among other authors to have written officially-sanctioned Bond novels since creator Ian Fleming's death in 1964. Unlike Faulks' 2008 Bond period piece "Devil May Care," "Carte Blanche" will be set in the present day.
MUSIC/ NEW SINGLES POLICY FOR 2 UK COMPANIES: Starting next month, 2 of the UK's biggest record companies will make singles available for sale on the same day they're released to radio stations. Tracks are often heard on radio weeks before they can be officially bought. The new shake-up, called "On Air, On Sale", will be introduced by Universal and Sony from Tuesday February 1. The Universal Music UK chairman said the changes are being made because "we live in an immediate world". He said: "On Air, On Sale is good news for any music fan and exciting for our artists who can now go into the studio knowing they don't have to wait weeks, or sometimes months, to see the music they have created go on sale. I can only make the decision on behalf of our artists and our company, but I'm absolutely convinced that in the next few months everyone will have the same policy." The change is a big shift from established music industry practice. Previously, tracks would be played on radio for weeks before they were available to buy, a practice known as "setting up" a song.
A special holiday episode of "Downton Abbey" is set to air in December in the UK. The popular drama, which has already been commissioned for a 2nd season, stars Dame Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville and Penelope Wilton. The Christmas special will continue where the 2nd season, due to air in the autumn, leaves off. The program follows the life of the Crawley family and their domestic staff at their country house. Written by Oscar winner Julian Fellowes, the last episode of the 1st series attracted 10 million viewers in the UK. "Julian has come up with a fantastic story that will give audiences the chance to enjoy the experience of the festive experience at Downton Abbey," said the director of drama at ITV. The 1st season of "Downton Abbey" had its US premiere on PBS on January 9.
FILM/ HALLE BERRY DISMISSES ARETHA ROLE: In a recent conversation, Aretha Franklin said she wants Halle Berry to play her in an upcoming movie about her life. But Berry isn't ready to sign on. "I can't sing!" she told E!'s Ryan Seacrest before Sunday's Golden Globes. "If I could carry a tune, I'd consider it. Someone should tell Aretha that I can't do her justice". As posted yesterday, Franklin is putting together a film based on her memoir "Aretha: From These Roots". The Queen of Soul called into the Wendy Williams show and discussed plans for the film. In addition to Berry, Franklin said she wanted Denzel Washington to star as Franklin's father and Terrence Howard as Smokey Robinson.
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