Entertainment Briefs for July 15, 2010

Norton won't play Hulk in flick

LOS ANGELES - Ed Norton is speaking out on Facebook after Marvel Studios announced last week that the actor won't reprise his Hulk role in its forthcoming "Avengers" film.

Norton says he took to the social-networking site Monday because he felt it would be rude not to respond to an outpouring of support from fans.

Following Marvel president Kevin Feige's announcement Saturday that the studio would replace Norton with "an actor who embodies the creativity and collaborative spirit of our other talented cast members," Norton apologized to fans that "it won't work out" for him to play Bruce Banner again, adding he is proud of his work in the "Hulk" film and grateful to the studio for the opportunity to play the part.

Marvel had no comment Tuesday.

Ward stepping into 'CSI: NY'

NEW YORK - Sela Ward is coming aboard "CSI: NY."

CBS said Tuesday that Ward will join the crime drama this fall for its seventh season. She will play an experienced investigator arriving from Washington, D.C.

Ward won best actress Emmys for her roles on the dramas "Sisters" and "Once and Again." She also landed a Golden Globe award for "Once and Again."

She will replace exiting cast member Melina Kanakaredes, whose departure was announced Monday. The show resumes production on July 28.

Plant gets star in music sidewalk

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant is being honored with a star in a music sidewalk in Memphis, Tenn.

Plant was presented Monday with a star that will be placed on the Orpheum Theater Sidewalk of Stars on Beale Street.

The Commercial Appeal reports that the award honors Plant for what are described as tireless efforts to preserve the blues.

During the presentation ceremony, Plant spoke of blues pioneers like Sonny Boy Williamson, Sleepy John Estes and W.C. Handy in acknowledging that a generation of British musicians owe a debt to early Southern blues artists.

Rip Torn applies for probation

LITCHFIELD, Conn. - Rip Torn has applied for a probation program to settle charges that he broke into a Connecticut bank while armed and intoxicated in January, thinking it was his house. Prosecutors oppose the move.

The actor's attorney, A. Thomas Waterfall, applied for accelerated rehabilitation Tuesday on his behalf. The program for first-time, nonviolent offenders allows charges to be dropped after a probation period.

Prosecutors say they will oppose the 79-year-old actor's request for the program at an Aug. 11 hearing. Prosecutors also dropped a burglary charge, agreeing that Torn didn't intend to burglarize the bank in the town of Salisbury.

Torn has pleaded not guilty to trespassing and other charges. He played Chief Zed in the 1997 film "Men in Black."

Anthony, Vazquez marry in NYC

NEW YORK - Denver Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony and actress LaLa Vazquez have tied the knot in New York City.

Michael Gagliardo, a publicist for Vazquez, confirms that the wedding took place Saturday night at the Manhattan restaurant Cipriani. He provided no details.

Us Magazine first reported the nuptials on its Web site.

The magazine says 30-year-old Vazquez and 26-year-old Anthony were escorted down the aisle by their 3-year-old son, Kiyan.

Vazquez wore a Vera Wang gown and carried red and hot pink flowers.

Kim Kardashian, Serena Williams, Spike Lee and LeBron James were among the roughly 300 guests.

Vazquez, a former MTV VJ, and Anthony, an All-Star forward, were engaged in 2004.