Quick Takes - Sept. 24, 2010

Cirque names show, team

The long-awaited Cirque du Soleil production that will take up residence at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood next summer finally has a name and a creative team.

“Iris,” written and directed by Philippe Decouflé, will pay homage to the history of filmmaking and is expected to feature dance, acrobatics, live video, filmed sequences and animation.

The production marks Decouflé’s first collaboration with Cirque. The Paris-born stage artist is founder and artistic director of the dance company DCA and has performed as a soloist around the world. His other directorial credits include music videos, commercials and the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France.

Danny Elfman is writing the original score for “Iris.” Elfman is best known for his scores to the movies of Tim Burton as well as the opening theme for the animated TV series “The Simpsons.”

The company has said that it expects the show to run year-round, with close to 368 performances annually. It will feature a cast of more than 72 performing artists from around the world.

—David Ng

Larry Elder returns to KABC

Talk-radio host Larry Elder, who left KABC-AM (790) in 2008 after a 15-year run, will return to the station Monday, taking over the 9 a.m.- to noon weekday slot that has been occupied by “The Frosty, Heidi & Frank Show.”

“Having Larry rejoin our station is the first step in returning KABC to the market dominance it has enjoyed,” program director Jack Silver said Wednesday, alluding to the fact that the onetime talk radio giant has languished in the ratings for years behind rival KFI-AM (640).

Elder, an L.A. native and former attorney, had been the station’s afternoon host until abruptly announcing in December 2008 that he was leaving the next day, apparently because he had not been able to come to terms on a new contract.

Frosty Stilwell, Heidi Hamilton and Frank Kramer told listeners recently that KABC had decided not to renew their contracts. They joined the station last October after an earlier stint on KLSX-FM (97.1). Hamilton and Kramer plan to launch a podcast, “The Heidi & Frank Show,” at https://www.heidiandfrank.com.

—Lee Margulies

Kennedy Center gets large gift

Kennedy Center chairman David Rubenstein announced a $10-million gift to the performing arts complex Wednesday to support the National Symphony Orchestra’s new music director and the center’s programs.

The Carlyle Group co-founder said half of the five-year commitment would be devoted to the orchestra to celebrate Christoph Eschenbach’s arrival. The new music director is planning some larger-scale projects, including touring and recording.

Rubenstein, of Bethesda, Md., became chairman in May after serving on the board for six years.

— Associated Press

‘Junior’ Gotti to work in showbiz

Hollywood has produced no shortage of movies and TV shows about the mob, but this one’s coming straight from the most high-profile source imaginable: John “Junior” Gotti has sold the rights to his life story.

The 46-year-old son of the late legendary Gambino crime family leader, “Dapper Don” John Gotti, has agreed to a deal with the independent production company Fiore Films. Financial details weren’t made available because of a signed nondisclosure agreement, but a film about Gotti’s life is in the works with a production budget of $15 million.

Gotti was tried four times since 2005 for racketeering, with each trial ending in a hung jury. He was released from prison in December after serving nine years in a previous racketeering case. He has said he left the life of organized crime in 1999.

Gotti resides in the Long Island town of Oyster Bay, N.Y., with his six children who range in age from 4 to 20.

— Associated Press

Hilton cancels her Asia tour

Paris Hilton canceled her Asia tour and returned home when she was denied entry at Tokyo’s airport Wednesday following after a drug violation in the U.S. — running afoul of strict Japanese laws that have tripped up celebrities from including Paul McCartney to and Diego Maradona.

The 29-year-old celebrity socialite had arrived at Narita International Airport, outside the Japanese capital, after pleading guilty Monday to a misdemeanor drug charge in Las Vegas.

Japan has strict immigration laws that bar entry to those convicted of drug offenses, although exceptions are occasionally granted.

Hilton also canceled planned appearances in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and Jakarta, Indonesia.

— Associated Press

Linkin Park tops music charts

Linkin Park was back atop the music charts Wednesday with its fourth No. 1 album, but with sales far below the rock band’s last studio album, Billboard reported.

The trade publication said Linkin Park’s “A Thousand Suns” tallied 241,000 copies sold for the week ending Sunday, compared with 623,000 for the first week of 2007’s “Minutes to Midnight.”

R&B singer Trey Songz was second on the Billboard chart, selling 240,000 copies of “Passion, Pain & Pleasure.” Eminem’s “Recovery” placed third.

—From a Times staff writer