Quick Takes: Hopper memorial draws stars, local fans

Jack Nicholson and Val Kilmer were among the actors who mixed Wednesday in New Mexico with dozens of Dennis Hopper’s relatives, friends and Taos locals to remember the two-time Oscar nominee at a memorial Mass. Hopper’s simple wooden coffin was ushered into the adobe chapel at historic San Francisco de Asis church in Ranchos de Taos.

Hopper, who was twice nominated for Oscars and earned a star this year on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, died Saturday at age 74 at his home in Los Angeles. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2009.

Hopper first came to New Mexico in 1969 to scout locations for the iconic film “Easy Rider.” He lived in Taos for 12 years through the early 1980s.

—Associated Press

Patrick Stewart? Just call him Sir

Patrick Stewart has been upgraded from captain to knight.

The 69-year-old actor — famous for playing Capt. Jean-Luc Picard on “Star Trek: The Next Generation” — officially became Sir Patrick Stewart when he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday.

Although “Star Trek” introduced him to a different group of fans, Stewart is also a widely respected stage actor. He joined Britain’s storied Royal Shakespeare Company in his 20s, and in 2008 was nominated for a Tony Award for the leading role in “Macbeth.”

—Associated Press

Hometown plans Jackson center

Work could begin next year on a $300-million museum and arts center dedicated to Michael Jackson in his hometown of Gary, Ind., his father and city officials said Wednesday.

The late singer last visited Gary in 2003 to talk about the project but no progress was made on it before his death last year. His father, Joe Jackson, said Wednesday that he was “just carrying out his legacy” by getting involved.

The money to build the Jackson Family Museum and Hotel and the Michael Jackson Performing Arts and Cultural Center and Theaters will come from investors and donations, Gary Mayor Rudy Clay said. “This project will be the magnet that will draw people from all over the world,” he predicted.

—Associated Press

It’s Green Day, the punk brand

With a hit Broadway show and now its own edition of the Rock Band franchise, Green Day is establishing a punk rock brand.

“I just like being diverse and trying new things as far as Green Day is concerned,” says frontman Billie Joe Armstrong.

The Grammy-winning, multiplatinum trio joins the Beatles as the only other act immortalized in Rock Band; the video game is being released Tuesday.

“It’s like a glorified karaoke machine,” Armstrong said. “Or Mortal Kombat with guitars.”

As players progress through the game, they gain access into the band’s media vault, where they can unlock rare collectible images and more than 40 minutes of unreleased video. These include performances, outtakes, interviews and even a tour of their transportation.

—Associated Press

Coalition targets proposed show

Conservative and religious groups that have long complained about the irreverent treatment of Christianity on Comedy Central have a new target: an animated series about Jesus Christ living in modern-day New York.

It’s unclear whether the show — one of 28 projects the network listed last month on its slate of potential programs for the coming season — will make it out of script development. But that hasn’t stopped a coalition of media watchdog groups from launching an effort to persuade advertisers to boycott the project, if it comes to fruition.

Citizens Against Religious Bigotry plans to hold a conference call with reporters Thursday to denounce the show, which it decried as “an abomination purported to be entertainment.” The coalition includes the Media Research Center, the Family Research Council, the Catholic League, the Parents Television Council, the American Alliance of Jews and Christians, and radio talk-show host Michael Medved.

The group says that the series would continue the network’s track record of mocking and disparaging Christianity, and argues that Comedy Central has a double standard when it comes to portrayals of Islam and the Prophet Muhammad. In April, the network edited out references to Muhammad from an episode of “South Park” after a radical Muslim group warned that the show’s creators could end up killed for the portrayal.

Comedy Central had no comment.

—Matea Gold

Finally

New gig: After starring in one of the most successful sitcoms in the history of television, Jerry Seinfeld is adding theatrical director to his résumé. The project: a one-man off-Broadway show by former “Saturday Night Live” cast member Colin Quinn titled “Colin Quinn Long Story Short.”