Are zombies the new vampires in Hollywood? (Reuters)

Reuters - What's that shambling over the curb toward the local theater? No, behind the vampires. Could it be a stampede of the undead about to take over Hollywood?

Wife of gospel star Marvin Sapp dies of cancer (AP)

AP - Gospel singer Marvin Sapp is mourning the death of his wife and manager, MaLinda Sapp.

Joe Manganiello Talks 'True Blood' Season 3 Finale: Alcide's 'Gonna Take Care Of Some Business' (omg!)

omg! -

By Jolie Lash

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- In one summer, "True Blood's" Joe Manganiello has gone from rising star, to the hot hunk on everyone's lips.

When AccessHollywood.com first spoke to the Pittsburgh-bred actor earlier this summer -- on the eve of his personal premiere (in episode 3) of the acclaimed HBO series -- he was buzzing and excited about welcoming family and friends to a small party to celebrate his work as Bon Temps' newest arrival. ...

Jessica Simpson Guest Judge at "Project Runway" Finale (Fashion Wire Daily)

Fashion Wire Daily - Though the finalists of Lifetime's "Project Runway 8" are still a secret - the show is only six episodes into the season, well before the final runway challenge episode revealing the top three designers will air - the judge for that episode is no longer a secret. It will be Jessica Simpson.

Jessica Simpson Guest Judge at "Project Runway" Finale (Fashion Wire Daily)

Fashion Wire Daily - Though the finalists of Lifetime's "Project Runway 8" are still a secret - the show is only six episodes into the season, well before the final runway challenge episode revealing the top three designers will air - the judge for that episode is no longer a secret. It will be Jessica Simpson.

Sole new entry "Resident Evil" to top box office (Reuters)

Reuters - "Resident Evil: Afterlife" should set a new opening record for the zombie fright franchise when the 3D film opens Friday as the only new wide release at the weekend box office in North America.

Sole new entry "Resident Evil" to top box office (Reuters)

Reuters - "Resident Evil: Afterlife" should set a new opening record for the zombie fright franchise when the 3D film opens Friday as the only new wide release at the weekend box office in North America.

Lane, Cross join 'Stand Up To Cancer' telethon (AP)

AP - Diane Lane, Marcia Cross and Mark Harmon are set to join more than 100 celebrities for Friday's "Stand Up To Cancer" telethon.

Box Office Preview: 'Evil' to scare away others (AP)

AP - It's going to be a particularly evil weekend as Sony-Screen Gems' "Resident Evil: Afterlife 3D" goes for the best debut in the history of the horror franchise with a 3-D powered gross that is likely to top the $25 million mark.

Co-owner of missing painting charged with fraud (AP)

AP - A con man carried out an "inartful fraud" when he fooled an art collector into thinking they were partners in the $1.1 million purchase of a missing painting but was actually ripping the investor off, a federal prosecutor said Thursday.

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY BEST-SELLERS (AP)

AP - 1. "Freedom" by Jonathan Franzen (Farrar, Straus & Giroux)

Biel, Mendes and Weisz go behind the camera for Glamour (Reuters)

Reuters - Look out Hollywood! Three actresses are delving into movie directing for the first time, thanks to Glamour Magazine.

'Elektra', With Olympia Dukakis, Pamela Reed and Annie Purcell, Opens in Malibu Sept. 9 (Playbill)

Playbill -

Annie Purcell, Academy Award winner Olympia Dukakis, Drama Desk Award winner Pamela Reed and Tony Award nominee Manoel Felciano star in Getty Villa's new outdoor production of Sophocles' Elektra, as adapted by Timberlake Wertenbaker, opening Sept. 9 after previews from Sept. 2 in Malibu, CA.

Hokey hockey musical kicks off Toronto film fest (Reuters)

Reuters - "Score: A Hockey Musical", the movie that opens the Toronto Film Festival on Thursday, is both a departure and a return to tradition for one of Canada's signature cultural events.

Bowersox finds out her files were checked in Ohio (AP)

AP - More than a half-dozen public employees snooped in confidential state records for personal information on "American Idol" runner-up Crystal Bowersox, officials said Thursday.

Austrian kidnap victim details ordeal in new book (AP)

AP - An Austrian woman kidnapped at age 10 says she was repeatedly beaten, starved and forced to do housework half-naked during her 8 1/2 years at the mercy of a man who admired Hitler and considered himself an Egyptian god.

Japanese cult director in Venice with samurai film (AP)

AP - Japanese cult director Takashi Miike says he remade the 1963 classic "Thirteen Assassins" to help Japan's younger generation learn about the past.

Viewers are Oprah's focus during 25th, last season (AP)

AP - The 25th and final season of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" starts airing Monday and the talk show host says she plans to focus on the people she thinks are responsible for the show's success: the viewers.

Star-studded films vie for attention in Toronto (Reuters)

Reuters - Get ready for a high-stakes, star-packed game of musical chairs as the 35th Toronto International Film Festival gets under way Thursday.

Discovery-Hasbro kids network faces challenges (Reuters)

Reuters - 10/10/10. That's the date when the kids TV market will get even more crowded with the launch of the Hub, a network joint venture of Discovery Communications and toy giant Hasbro.

Briton Piers Morgan named Larry King replacement (Reuters)

Reuters - British television host Piers Morgan is to replace veteran CNN talk show host Larry King in January, bringing what is expected to be a more acerbic tone to the long-running prime time U.S. interview show.

Discovery, Hasbro ready Hub network for launch (Reuters)

Reuters - Discovery Communications and toy maker Hasbro Inc said on Wednesday their new joint-venture cable network The Hub, to launch next month, would target an under-served market of children aged 11 and younger.

Disney hires new marketing guru for "Pirates 4" (Reuters)

Reuters - Disney has taken the unusual step of bringing in a consultant to handle the marketing of its fourth "Pirates of the Caribbean" film, a move bound to raise questions about the marketing boss hired by the studio five months ago.

Spyglass signs letter of intent with MGM: source (Reuters)

Reuters - The founders of production company Spyglass Entertainment have signed a nonbinding letter of intent to take over management of financially troubled movie studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, a source familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.

Spain's Alejandro Sanz among top Latin Grammy nominees (Reuters)

Reuters - Superstar Spaniard Alejandro Sanz and three other singer-songwriters from Mexico, Uruguay and the Dominican Republic led the field of contenders unveiled on Wednesday for the 11th annual Latin Grammys with four nominations each.

Sony Pictures to animate Marvel characters: report (Reuters)

Reuters - Sony Pictures Entertainment, a division of Sony Corp, will partner with Marvel Entertainment to animate characters such as Iron Man, X-Men and Blade in Japan and broadcast them worldwide, the Nikkei business daily reported.

Rockers Disturbed dethrone Katy Perry on album chart (Reuters)

Reuters - Alt-metal rock band Disturbed claimed its fourth No. 1 album on the U.S. pop chart Wednesday despite a hefty drop in first-week sales.

Venice film fest fights its corner as crisis bites (Reuters)

Reuters - A dearth of big Hollywood stars, Venice's notoriously high costs, fierce competition from Toronto -- this year's film festival on the Lido is fighting to keep its place on the map as one of cinema's most prestigious events.

Playboy board hires advisers to weigh Hefner bid (Reuters)

Reuters - The Playboy Enterprises Inc special board committee tapped to evaluate Hugh Hefner's offer to take the company private said on Tuesday it retained Raine Securities LLC and Kaye Scholer LLP as its financial and legal advisors, respectively.

David Westin resigning as news head at Disney's ABC (Reuters)

Reuters - ABC News President David Westin said on Monday he was resigning after 13 years, according to a memo he sent to employees that was released on the network's website.