john travolta (53 posts)

Fox Searchlight; Warner Bros. Pictures; Dimension Films; Freestyle Releasing

Do you like ninjas and talking animals? Or do you prefer Zac Efron and Viggo Mortensen? Oh, or maybe you're into old guys like John Travolta, because who isn't, right? Well, then this is the weekend for you.

Obviously, a certain vampire movie still looms large over the megaplex, but there's a ton of new stuff in theaters, none featuring the sparkly undead.

Here's our handy rundown of what's out, and what's good:

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Ellen Degeneres Show

John Travolta, nearing the end of the toughest year of his life, was able to put on a happy face today.

"I just want to take one moment to thank each and every one of you throughout this country, throughout the world, for all your support and all your love for our family. Thank you very much," Travolta said to kick off his interview with Ellen DeGeneres, which airs tomorrow.

The actor's 9-year-old daughter—and Old Dogs costar—Ella Bleu was also in the house, making her first-ever talk show appearance.

Having sat out the publicity tour for The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, this was Travolta's first TV interview since he and Kelly Preston lost their 16-year-old son, Jett, in January.

Talking about Ella's good work alongside him (and her mom) and Robin Williams in the family comedy Old Dogs, a beaming Travolta couldn't keep his pride inside.

"I'm holding back the tears," he said.

"No, really you're not," Ellen deadpanned, offering up a box of tissues.

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See what else besides Old Dogs is coming to a theater near you in our 2009 Holiday Movie Guide.

AP Photo/Tim Aylen

When it comes to apologies, it's better late than never. When it comes to shooting off your mouth and marring the verdict of a closely watched international trial, never would have been a lot better than any time at all.

Picewell Forbes, the Bahamian MP whose loose lips resulted in a mistrial in John Travolta and Kelly Preston's $25 million extortion case, has finally offered his apologies for his televised and logic-defying declaration that the alleged extortionists had been cleared…before a verdict had actually been rendered.

"My statements were reckless and interfered with the course of justice in that case and were further capable of bringing disrepute to the whole administration of justice," Forbes told reporters during a brief press conference this morning.

Forbes took no questions, as the matter of his gaffe is still pending. His lawyer has maintained that the politico was simply repeating a rumor, though has not yet disclosed the source. A local radio personality as well as a member of parliament, Bahamian papers are speculating that Forbes could invoke journalistic privilege in not explaining how he came into the knowledge of the supposed verdict, though that argument would likely not stand.

He's due to appear in Nassau court on Thursday, when he could face a contempt charge. A retrial is slated to begin early next year.

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Check which other stars had their day in court recently with a flip through our Court Appearances gallery.

AP Photo/Tim Aylen

John Travolta may have made a career out of cliff-hangers, but this is probably not what he had in mind.

While Picewell Forbes, the Bahamian politico behind the mistrial in Travolta and Kelly Preston's $25 million extortion case, was ordered before a judge this morning. He was expected to be grilled on why he publicly announced there was an acquittal before the jury even finished deliberations and try his hardest not to be held in contempt.

Instead, he was given one more week to come up with something good. And no, "the dog ate my common sense" will probably not fly.

Bahamian Senior Justice Anita Allen told the Progressive Liberal Party MP that he has until next Thursday to enlighten the world—and the court—as to both the rationale and sourcing behind his justice-marring outburst.

"One can see that the fairness of the trial could have been compromised," Allen lectured him in court.

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AP Photo/Hendricks McIntosh

It's safe to say Picewell Forbes has some serious 'splaining to do.

The man effectively responsible for screwing John Travolta and Kelly Preston out of a verdict in their monthlong $25 million extortion trial has been ordered to appear in Nassau court tomorrow morning to explain how—and why—he managed to announce the acquittal of one of the alleged extortionists before a verdict had even been reached.

Not to mention offer up his best excuses for why he shouldn't be held in contempt of court.

Picewell Forbes, an MP with Bahamas' Progressive Liberal Party—the same party, incidentally, that defendant and former senator Pleasant Bridgewater is a member of—impulsively announced during a political convention last night that Bridgewater was "a free woman."

Problem was, she wasn't. Though even if she was about to be, the only people who should've known that were sequestered in a jury deliberation room.

Reeking, as it did, of juror misconduct, a mistrial was declared, the PLP party offered a lightning-quick apology and the Travoltas were a lot more gracious than they needed to be about the whole thing.

For his part, Forbes has yet to publicly comment on his preemptive announcement, but his attorney previously claimed he was simply caught up in the moment, repeating a rumor he had heard on the convention floor.

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Get everything we have on the Travolta trial.

AP Photo/Hendricks McIntosh

John Travolta is hanging tough.

Hours after a Bahamian judge declared a mistrial due to possible juror misconduct in the extortion case over the death of son Jett, the star is gearing up for another shot at former Sen. Pleasant Bridgewater and ambulance driver Tarino Lightbourne, who tried to make off with a quick $25 million from the mourning Travolta and wife Kelly Preston.

The actor gave an emotional testimony last month chronicling the moments before and after he found his 16-year-old unconscious. And now, he's preparing to do it all over again.

"We are disappointed to hear about the alleged juror misconduct since we know that the Bahamian government, the court, the other jurors and John Travolta as the victim want to have this matter adjudicated through the judicial system," Travolta's rep, Sam Mast, tells E! News. "Mr. Travolta has and will continue to cooperate with the Bahamian authorities in the prosecution of the defendants for extortion."

Travolta's lawyer, Michael Ossi, confirmed yesterday that the star is "committed to seeing justice served" and would be willing to return to the Bahamas to testify in the retrial, which has yet to be scheduled.

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Get all the latest star-studded courtroom drama right here!

AP Photo/Kris Ingraham

John Travolta's nightmare continues.

Suspecting juror misconduct, a Bahamian judge has declared a mistrial in the case of two people accused of trying to extort $25 million from Travolta's family after a local politician said in a speech played on radio and TV that former senator Pleasant Bridgewater had been acquitted.

Well, who the heck told him that?!

Closing arguments concluded this morning and the case went to the jury shortly afterward.

Travolta's attorney, Michael Ossi, said that his client will fully cooperate with future proceedings and testify again if need be.

In an emotional appearance on the witness stand, Travolta recalled finding his son, Jett, unconscious at their hotel in the Bahamas on the day the 16-year-old died after suffering a seizure.

AP Photo/Kris Ingraham

John Travolta's peace of mind is now in the hands of a dozen Bahamians.

The jury is expected to begin deliberations today in the case of two locals who allegedly targeted Travolta and Kelly Preston with a $25 million extortion scheme following the death of son Jett.

Exactly one month after the trial began, closing arguments wrapped up in Nassau court this morning. The Travoltas were not present, having long since departed from the island (and absconded to England with Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes for a Scientology bonanza) after the actor's emotional testimony was complete.

Former Sen. Pleasant Bridgewater and ambulance driver Tarino Lightbourne have both pleaded not guilty.

The defense implored the jury to "set my people free," floating the theory during the trial that Travolta's attorney, with "evil in his heart," had come to the Bahamas with a plan to "corner" and "set up" the defendants.

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AP Photo/Kris Ingraham

A week after he first took the stand in the extortion trial against himself and wife Kelly Preston, John Travolta was once again testifying in the Bahamas this morning.

This time around, rather than his testimony focusing on the emotional morning he discovered his 16-year-old son Jett was unconscious, Travolta spoke about how he came to realize former senator Pleasant Bridgewater and ambulance driver Tarino Lightbourne were allegedly trying to extort $25 million from his mourning family.

The actor said that it was one of his employees who first informed him of the threat and that he immediately consulted with his lawyer, Michael McDermott.

Travolta, who said he was never directly approached by Bridgewater or Lightbourne, said that the duo threatened to release information claiming he was at fault for his son's death if he didn't hand over the payment, saying they threatened to "imply that the death of my son was intentional and I was culpable in some way."

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Courtesy of Travolta Family

In what will no doubt go down as the second most difficult day of his year, John Travolta took the stand this morning in the trial into the alleged $25 million extortion plot against his family.

Both Travolta and wife Kelly Preston arrived at the Bahamas courthouse this morning escorted by a fleet of security.

The actor took the stand and immediately began describing his recollection of the moments before his 16-year-old son Jett's death on Jan. 2.

Travolta said that Jett's nanny woke him and Preston up at roughly 10:15 a.m. that morning, informing them that the teen was found unconscious in his bathroom.

"I ran downstairs with my wife to help my son," Travolta said, adding that when he got to him, one of the boy's caretakers was already performing chest compressions. The actor quickly jumped into action and began administering CPR to his son.

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Courtesy of Travolta Family

What with the recent spate of celebrity deaths, it's easy to forget one of the first and most heart-wrenching of 2009: John Travolta and Kelly Preston losing their 16-year-old son, Jett.

But the Bahamian New Providence Supreme Court has remembered, and how: a jury was selected today in the alleged $25 million extortion plot against the Travolta family.

Former Bahamian Sen. Pleasant Bridgewater and ambulance driver Tarino Lightbourne will stand trial in proceedings expected to last three weeks.

Travolta may also be making a cameo appearance, perhaps as soon as this week—his name is at the top of the 14-person list of potential witnesses. Testimony is expected to begin Tuesday.

Bridgewater and Lightbourne have both pleaded not guilty to respective extortion charges.

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Courtesy of Travolta Family

Last week, John Travolta finally emerged in public and thanked fans for their support in the wake of son Jett's death. Next week, he is expected to relive that horrific experience.

As we previously reported, Travolta is a key prosecution witness in the extortion case against the paramedic who administered to Jett and then allegedly tried to shake down Travolta and wife Kelly Preston. The long-delayed case finally begins Monday, and John Travolta plans to be there.

The 55-year-old actor, who has been in Los Angeles for some preliminary publicity for his upcoming film, Old Dogs, is said to be planning to fly to Nassau to testify against ambulance driver Tarino Lightbourne and his lawyer, former Bahamian Sen. Pleasant Bridgewater.

They are accused of demanding $25 million not to release the information to the public.

Jett died Jan. 2 after suffering a seizure at the family's Bahamian retreat.

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