AP - As the Summer Games open in Beijing, actress activist Mia Farrow is Web-casting her own "Darfur Olympics" from a refugee camp on the barren Sudan-Chad border, aiming to shame China into using its influence with Khartoum to end the Darfur conflict.

AP - The parents of an assistant propmaster killed in an accident during the filming of "The Kingdom" have sued director Peter Berg, seeking reimbursement of funeral expenses and other damages.

Reuters - The stoner film comedy "Pineapple Express" launched on a high note as it grossed over $12 million its first day in North American theaters, a new record for a Wednesday debut in August, distributor Sony Pictures said on Thursday.

AP - A spokeswoman for Bernie Mac says the actor is responding well to treatment for pneumonia and hopes to be released in the next few weeks.

AP - A long-running lawsuit filed by Tim Burton's ex-girlfriend over his assets should be dismissed, an appeals court has ruled.

Reuters - Brad Pitt officially has gone inglorious.

Reuters - As the box office wags are putting it: "Wednesday is the new Friday."

E! Online - Get ready for a Battlestar Galactica of frakkin' supersized proportions.

E! Online - I'm wondering about straight-to-video releases. It has to be obvious to everyone involved during filming that the movie they had hoped would be "box-office magic" is actually a stinker, especially when the lead actors are terrible (hello, Jessica Simpson!). So why go through with something that not only has no hope of ever making any money but will eventually be an embarrassment for all?

AP - Nicole Kidman appealed to the Sydney media on Thursday for "a little space" as she travels around Sydney with her new baby.