Quick Takes: Trailer for ‘The Dilemma’ pulle over joke

Reacting to criticism that it was insensitive at a time when the bullying of gay teens has been in the news, Universal Pictures said Friday it was pulling a trailer for “The Dilemma” because of a scene in which Vince Vaughn’s character is seen denigrating an electric car with the comment, “It’s gay.”

“The teaser trailer for ‘The Dilemma’ was not intended to cause anyone discomfort,” the studio said in a statement. It said a new trailer would be unveiled later that day. The statement did not address whether the joke would remain in the film, a buddy comedy that also stars Kevin James.

In an appearance on Ellen DeGeneres’ talk show this week, CNN’s Anderson Cooper said of the trailer: “I just find those words, those terms — we’ve got to do something to make those words unacceptable ‘cause those words are hurting kids. I think we really need to focus on what language we’re using and how we’re treating these kids.”

—Patrick Goldstein

Pair gets 4 years in Stamos case

A Michigan couple convicted of trying to extort $680,000 from actor John Stamos were sentenced Friday to four years each in prison.

Allison Coss and Scott Sippola were hoping to receive sentences of less than two years in prison, but U.S. District Judge R. Allan Edgar ordered a stiffer punishment.

They were convicted in July of conspiracy and using e-mail to threaten a person’s reputation.

—Associated Press

‘Jersey Boys’ heads to movies

Get ready to “Walk Like a Man” — all the way to the movie theater.

“Jersey Boys,” the hit musical based on the lives of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, is making its way to the big screen.

Graham King’s GK Films announced on its website that the production company has acquired feature film rights to the musical.

—CNN

‘Deadliest Catch’ cast to return

Even though Discovery announced last week that Capts. Sig Hansen and Johnathan and Andy Hillstrand would not return for the seventh season of “Deadliest Catch,” the network said Friday that all three men would be part of the high-seas series when filming begins next week.

Hansen had threatened to drop out of the hit show after Discovery sued the Hillstrand brothers for $3 million, claiming they didn’t perform their contracted duties on a spinoff, “Hillstranded.”

The fishermen brothers responded by quitting “Deadliest Catch,” and Hansen said he would leave too, out of solidarity with his friends.

—Maria Elena Fernandez

Faith Hill helps Wynette exhibit

Faith Hill grew up with Tammy Wynette’s music, belting out such classics as “Stand by Your Man” when she was 12 years old — even though Hill probably didn’t quite understand what it truly meant.

Now the country superstar wants to make sure that other young girls, and music fans in general, are as acquainted with the “First Lady of Country Music” as she was.

Hill has lent her voice to a new exhibit on Wynette at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville.

“I’m sure there are a few that are aware of Tammy and listen to her music, but you can’t have too many,” said Hill, who narrates a film on Wynette. “Especially with the next generation developing and creating their music, I think it’s important they hear Tammy Wynette.”

Wynette, who died in 1998 at age 55, was the prototype for today’s female country music star.

—Associated Press

Burns to help design tours

Filmmaker Ken Burns is partnering with the Tauck tour company to offer trips to national parks, Civil War sites and other destinations related to Burns’ documentaries.

Burns and his longtime collaborator Dayton Duncan will create two Tauck itineraries for 2011, one for national parks in the Southwest and another for Civil War sites in Washington, D.C., Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania.

In addition, Burns and Duncan will produce more than 30 documentaries, five to 15 minutes long, to be shown while guests are transported by motor coach on a dozen other Tauck trips.

Tauck spokesman Tom Armstrong said pricing and exact dates will begin to be listed at the Tauck.com website within a month. The company is based in Norwalk, Conn.

—Associated Press