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MICHAEL JACKSON: "THRILLER" PUT IN NATIONAL FILM REGISTRY

WASHINGTON (AP) — Officials with the National Film Registry say they had thought about adding Michael Jackson's "Thriller" music video to the list before. But the head of the National Film Preservation Board says after Jackson's death, they decided "the time was right." And so, Jackson's video for "Thriller" is now in the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress. It's the first music video to be named to the registry. Coordinator Steve Leggett says officials with the registry thought it would be a good idea to go back to acknowledge the development of the music video in this year's class of film, TV and sound recordings. Thriller is one of 25 films to be inducted this year. Joining Jackson's video will be 1979's "The Muppet Movie" — which was the first time Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy were on the big screen together.

On the Net:

National Film Preservation Board: http://www.loc.gov/film

Sound:

<<CUT …012 (12/31/09)>> 00:31 "''

Michael Weinfeld

The Library of Congress has picked 25 new entries to the National Film Registry. And as AP Entertainment Editor Michael Weinfeld tells us, one of them by Michael Jackson isn't a movie at all.

<<CUT …013 (12/31/09)>> 00:51 "''

archive excerpt of Michael Jackson singing "Thriller"

Here is an archive excerpt of Michael Jackson singing "Thriller."

<<CUT …014 (12/31/09)>> 00:08 "been my dream"

archive sound of Kermit the Frog and Fozzie Bear, in scene from "The Muppet Movie"

Here is archive sound of Kermit the Frog and Fozzie Bear, in scene from "The Muppet Movie."

<<CUT …015 (12/31/09)>> 00:09 "in charge here"

archive sound of Al Pacino in scene from "Dog Day Afternoon"

Here is archive sound of Al Pacino in scene from "Dog Day Afternoon."

<<CUT …016 (12/31/09)>> 00:33 "off that water (sound of water)"

Jack Rockwell and Roy Rogers

Here are Jack Rockwell and Roy Rogers in a scene from the 1938 film, "Under Western Stars" which was Rogers' first movie and has been added to the National Film Registry.

NIA LONG: LOOKING FOR MR. RIGHT (ROLE)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Nia Long says Hollywood is going through a slow period. Not at the box office, where records are being set — but when it comes to creativity. She says lately "it's been slow" for roles, especially roles for African-American women. Long says lately there have been "fewer and fewer projects of quality" out there. She feels that makes things especially hard on her, because she tends to be picky about the roles she chooses. Long says she tries to accept roles "that are different" or that put her in position to "try to do things that haven't been done before." But she notes that these days, those opportunities are rare. Her last movie role was in Chris Rock's documentary "Good Hair" — and Long says she passed up on another role to continue working on Rock's movie.

Sound:

<<CUT …020 (12/31/09)>> 00:10 "are out there"

Nia Long

Nia Long says it's tough finding good roles in Hollywood these days.

<<CUT …021 (12/31/09)>> 00:05 "been done before"

Nia Long,

Nia Long says she looks for uniqueness in a movie project.

LAMONT DOZIER: MOTOWN'S CIVIL RIGHTS LEGACY

WASHINGTON (AP) — Martin Luther King, Medgar Evers ... The Temptations and the Supremes? Not a far fetched as you might think. Legendary Motown songwriter Lamont Dozier says he believes Motown artists had a key role in gaining acceptance for blacks during the civil rights era. While people like Dr. King and other civil rights leaders held protests and marches, Dozier notes that artists like The Temptations, Supremes, Stevie Wonder and Smokey Robinson gave whites a more positive view of blacks than they were used to get on the local news, where blacks were often portrayed as criminals or poverty stricken. Dozier says because the artists were trained to carry themselves so well, whites "weren't so afraid anymore" because they saw artists who seemed to have the same set of standards and values as others.

Sound:

<<CUT …017 (12/31/09)>> 00:31 "''

Oscar Wells Gabriel

Abraham, Martin...and Smokey? AP Correspondent Oscar Wells Gabriel reports Motown artists are getting props for being part of the civil rights movement.

<<CUT …018 (12/31/09)>> 00:05 "us, you know"

Lamont Dozier

Lamont Dozier says Motown artists were, in a sense, part of the civil rights movement bringing black artists to the attention of white audiences.

<<CUT …019 (12/31/09)>> 00:12 "to those standards"

Lamont Dozier

Lamont Dozier believes many whites got their first positive view of blacks as a result of watching Motown performers.

BLACK EYED PEAS/JAY-Z/RIHANNA: OUT FOR NEW YEAR'S EVE

LOS ANGELES (AP) — You can party tonight with the Black Eyed Peas, Jay-Z and Rihanna — without having to get dressed up, leave your house or pay a cover charge. All you need to do is admit that you were home watching TV on New Year's Eve, instead of partying out at some club. The Black Eyed Peas will be performing along with Jennifer Lopez and Robin Thicke as part of "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest." That show airs on ABC. Jay-Z and Rihanna team up to perform on NBC as part of "New Year's Eve with Carson Daly."

HALLE BERRY: AMONG PRESENTERS AT GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Halle Berry will be among the presenters at this year's Golden Globes. She will join a number of stars already lined up to take part in the January 17 event at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Others already on the list to present awards are Steven Spielberg, Nicole Kidman and "Avatar" star Sam Worthington. The awards show will air live on NBC.

On the Net:

Golden Globes site: http;//www.goldenglobes.org

TONY DUNGY: READY FOR SOME JANUARY FOOTBALL

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (AP) — 'Bout tired of the run of holidays? Former Super Bowl Champion coach Tony Dungy is looking to add one more. He's teaming up with Papa John's pizza to promote January as "National Football Month." Between the race to the Super Bowl, including the various NFL playoff games and college bowl games, there will be nearly 200 hours of televised football this coming month. Dungy says he's happy to help promote what he calls a "long overdue holiday."

On the 'Net:

National Football Month site: http://wwwnationalfootballmonth.com

NEGRO LEAGUES/OSCAR MICHEAUX TO BE HONORED IN POSTAGE STAMPS

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Negro Leagues will be among the national icons that will be featured on U.S. postage stamps next year. The new stamps will be issued in June to honor the haven for black players who were barred from playing in the major leagues. The leagues operated from 1920 to nearly 1960 and featured some of the greatest players ever to perform in organized baseball. Other stamp subjects include one dedicated to director Oscar Micheaux (mee-SHOH'), as well as movie stars Katharine Hepburn and Gene Autry.

WILL SMITH AND JADA PINKETT-SMITH: LOOKING BACK

UNDATED (AP) — On this date in 1998, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett were married. They took their vows in Baltimore, in a ceremony that was kept secret from the media.

WILL SMITH: LOOKING BACK

UNDATED (AP) — On this date in 2001, Will Smith's movie in which he starred as Muhammad Ali finished third in its debut weekend. "Ali" took in 15.3 million dollars in its first weekend, finishing behind "The Lord of the Rings" and "Ocean's Eleven." Smith was nominated for a best actor Oscar for his portrayal of the three-time former heavyweight champion. But he lost to Denzel Washington.

SEAN "PUFFY" COMBS: LOOKING BACK

UNDATED (AP) — On this date in 1998, a judge in New York ruled producer Sean "Puffy" Combs and rapper Heavy D were 50-percent responsible for a 1991 stampede at a celebrity basketball game. The incident left nine people dead. The judge said the City College of New York, where the game was held, bore the rest of the responsibility.

BIZ MARKIE: LOOKING BACK

UNDATED (AP) — On this date in 1991, Gilbert O'Sullivan won his lawsuit against rapper Biz Markie for using a sample of his song "Alone Again (Naturally)" for Markie's song "Alone Again." The case changed the rules of sampling by requiring that all samples be cleared before releasing them on another record.

ARETHA FRANKLIN: LOOKING BACK

UNDATED (AP) — On this date in 1997, Aretha Franklin performed a New Year's Eve show for patients and staff at the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit.

MICHAEL JACKSON: LOOKING BACK

UNDATED (AP) — On this date in 1992, the New York Post reported Michael Jackson chose a white boy over a black one to portray him as a youngster in a Pepsi TV commercial. Jackson denied the story.

DONNA SUMMER: BIRTHDAY

UNDATED (AP) — It's birthday number 61 for Donna Summer. She was born in Boston and rose to fame along with the beat-heavy music that dominated much of the 1970's. Her first hit was the moan-filled "Love To Love You Baby," and her other hits included "I Feel Love," ''Last Dance," ''Hot Stuff," ''Bad Girls" and "She Works Hard For The Money."

by Oscar Wells Gabriel II