Quick Takes: John Wood honored at Venice Film Festival

The Venice Film Festival on Friday honored Hong Kong director John Woo, one of the few Asian filmmakers to enjoy box office success in Hollywood as well as at home.

Woo was awarded a lifetime achievement Golden Lion at the world’s oldest film festival on the same day it showcased his latest movie, “Reign of Assassins,” which he co-directed with Su Chao-Pin and also produced.

Woo, 64, has directed more than 26 films in nearly 30 years, beginning his career in Hong Kong in the 1970s before moving to Hollywood in the 1990s. His U.S. feature debut was “Hard Target” in 1993, followed by “Broken Arrow,” “Face/Off” and “Mission: Impossible II,” which grossed more than $1 billion worldwide.

“I would like to be a bridge between the good things of the West and the East, so we can further our mutual knowledge and build a strong friendship,” Woo said.

—Wire Reports

KCBS to add 4:30 newscast

KCBS-TV Channel 2 will join the early-morning news race Tuesday when it adds a newscast at 4:30, station officials said Friday.

The newscast, which will be anchored by Kent Shocknek and Lisa Sigell, will replace the “CBS Morning News.”

With the addition, the pre-dawn local news race will become even more competitive. KNBC-TV Channel 4, KTLA-TV Channel 5, KABC-TV Channel 7 and KTTV-TV Channel 11 all have newscasts starting at 4:30 a.m., hoping to attract early-morning commuters and students.

—Greg Braxton

Hogan allowed to return to U.S.

Actor Paul Hogan, star of the “Crocodile Dundee” movie trilogy, has been cleared to return home to the United States after he was barred last month from leaving Australia because of a disputed tax bill, his lawyer said Friday.

The 70-year-old Australian-born actor, who currently lives in Los Angeles, arrived in Sydney on Aug. 20 to attend his mother’s funeral and was served with an Australian Taxation Office order barring him from leaving Australia until he settles a multimillion-dollar tax bill, lawyer Andrew Robinson said last week.

On Friday, Robinson said that after a “cordial and cooperative” meeting between Hogan’s lawyers and tax officials, an agreement was reached that will allow Hogan to return to the U.S.

“While the Commissioner and Mr. Hogan remain in dispute on more general taxation issues, Mr. Hogan continues to protest his innocence and denies any wrongdoing,” Robinson said in a statement.

The tax office refused to comment due to a policy of not discussing individual cases.

—Associated Press

Brooks & Dunn bow out

The first song Brooks & Dunn ever sang together has become their last.

The country music duo closed out a 20-year career

at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Thursday night with their 1991 debut single, “Brand New Man,” during the encore.

The sold-out show was the final stop on their Last Rodeo Tour and doubled as a fundraiser for the Country Music Hall of Fame and

Museum.

They ran through many of their 23 No.1 hits, including “Neon Moon,” “My Maria,” “Red Dirt Road” and “Boot Scootin’ Boogie.”

Both Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn joked about the reasons for their split. Brooks blamed it on his crazy concert ideas, like picking old songs and hoping the crowd would help if he forgot the words. Dunn said he was jealous of the cowboy hats Brooks got to wear all these years. Dunn explained that it was the reason he got a tattoo of the word “Cowboy” on his right forearm.

Walking off stage for the final time, Brooks gave Dunn a playful push.

—Associated Press

Snoop Dogg on ‘Rock Band’

Fans of the hit game “Rock Band” will get a chance to jam to some hip-hop, thanks to Snoop Dogg. He’s the first rap artist to be featured in the video game, which already has songs from top artists like Jimi Hendrix, the Who, AC/DC and Green Day.

Eight Snoop Dogg tracks will appear in the “Rock Band” music store Tuesday, including “Drop It Like It’s Hot,” “Who Am I (What’s My Name)?” and “Sensual Seduction.”

—Associated Press

‘Jamie Oliver’ show is renewed

Fresh off winning an Emmy Award as best reality program, “Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution” has received a second season order from ABC.

The network said the next batch of six episodes would be set in Los Angeles and would continue the host’s quest to “attack the problems of obesity, heart disease and diabetes.” No air date was announced.

—From a Times staff writer