Comedian Dane Cook's sister-in-law, ordered to pay millions in restitution after pleading guilty to stealing from the entertainer, asked a judge on Friday to allow her to keep two gold wedding bands she says are family heirlooms.

The rings are not worth much money but have sentimental value to Erika McCauley, lawyer Scott Matson said. Judge Mary-Lou Rup did not immediately rule.

McCauley and her husband, Darryl McCauley — Cook's half brother — have been ordered to pay Cook $12…

Roman Polanski's "The Ghost Writer," a story of a journalist hired to write the memoirs of a British prime minister, has won the prize for best film at the European Film Awards.

Polanski, who was awarded the Silver Bear for best director at the Berlin Film Festival, also took five other key prizes at the ceremony held in the Estonian capital, Tallinn, late Saturday.

Nominated in seven categories, the movie won the best director prize, best actor for Ewan McGregor, and best…

Mainstream online video destinations don't do enough to keep explicit content from kids, the Parents Television Council said in a report released Wednesday.

The advocacy group, which monitors decency issues, evaluated the child appropriateness of four online video portals: Hulu, Comcast's Fancast, AOL's Slashcontrol and AT&T's U-verse. None received a better grade than a D.

The study looked at home pages and 602 videos over a three-week period. The council found that…

Two actors unions have tentatively agreed to a proposed contract from Hollywood movie and television studios.

The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and the Screen Actors Guild reached the agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers after more than two months of negotiations.

The agreement would increase benefit contributions. Wages would increase by 6 percent over the three-year span of the contract.

The deal announced early…

In an iTunes world, Elvis Costello has come up with a double album — put the emphasis on album.

Though it is available digitally and as a CD, vinyl is his delivery system of choice. His new 16-song "National Ransom," produced by buddy T Bone Burnett, is some of the widest-ranging music he's put out at one time — from a title cut that wails about a failed financial system to some that take inspiration from the days before rock 'n' roll.

While on tour with his last album, made…

Elisabeth Hasselbeck is taking some time to appear on more than just "The View."

ABC announced Thursday that Hasselbeck is joining "Good Morning America" as a contributor, covering "hot-button family, lifestyle and child-rearing issues." The network said her first report, looking at the growing trend of parents and kids getting tattoos together, will air Monday. She said she was "thrilled" to explore issues facing parents and children.

Hasselbeck joined "The View" as a co-host…

Nearly 40 nations on Saturday reached basic agreement in international trade talks aimed at reducing copyright and trademark theft that causes losses of billions of dollars annually.

One of the key features of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) will mandate that customs officials have "ex officio" authority to seize counterfeit goods without a request from the rights holders or a court order, according to statements from Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry…

Barry Diller, the media mogul who claimed credit for the merger of Live Nation and Ticketmaster, said Tuesday he would resign as chairman of the merged company after a boardroom power struggle with another media giant and director, John Malone, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.

Diller announced his resignation at a board meeting on Tuesday, effective as of the next meeting, said the person, who declined to be identified because of the sensitivity of the situation.…

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art celebrated the opening of its newest exhibition hall on Saturday with a glitzy party, complete with Hollywood heavyweights, art icons and entertainment by Christina Aguilera.

Among the actors in the star-studded crowd were Tom Hanks and wife Rita Wilson, Teri Hatcher, James Franco, Joan Collins, Don Cheadle, Molly Sims and Olivia Wilde. Producers Brian Grazer and Mark Burnett and reality starlets Nicole Richie and Kim Kardashian also attended…

Actor Paul Hogan, star of the "Crocodile Dundee" movies, has struck a deal with Australia's tax office which will allow him to return home to his family in Los Angeles, his lawyer said on Friday.

Hogan, 70, has been barred from leaving Australia for nearly two weeks after the Australian Taxation Office served him with a departure-prohibition order while he was in the country to attend his 101-year-old mother's funeral.

The office has refused to comment on reports that it was…