Fans driving new projects

(CNN) -- So, what would you like to see make it to your screen next?

Soon it might just be that easy to bring a movie or TV concept you have been longing for to fruition.

As the recent successful Kickstarter campaign to partially fund a "Veronica Mars" movie proves, fans are having more say today about Hollywood's direction than ever.

It begs the question: Will fans soon have the power to override studios and TV executives altogether to get a project green-lit?

"We are seeing the next wave in the democratization of media," said Craig Detweiler, director of the Center for Entertainment, Media and Culture at Pepperdine University. "It's gone from 'everyone can be a filmmaker' to, in a sense, 'everyone can be an executive.'"

"For decades studio execs have tried to figure out what fans want. Now Kickstarter is giving (fans) the ability to vote with their dollars.

In some ways, it seemed destined to happen.

Thanks to the explosion of social media in the past few years, viewers were able to quickly rally around -- or in some cases skewer -- everything from new music to the latest viral video. Who needs to wait until the morning after to dissect an awards show with friends when you can share your feelings with the Twittershpere in real time, with a hashtag to make it easier to find?

With so many people marathon watching their favorite TV shows, Netflix took the innovative step of making their first original series, "House of Cards," available as a full season at once, rather than week to week like the average show.

The gamble appears to have played right into the hands of consumers who hate to wait. (Don't believe that? Check social media when ABC pulls "Scandal" for a few weeks here and there; the roar from fans is deafening.)

The Verge recently reported that Ted Sarandos, chief content officer at Netflix, said "House of Cards" is "the most-watched thing on Netflix right now." The executive said that despite having an entire season available to viewers to watch at their discretion, or ahead of their friends who may also be watching, "it's still water cooler" chatter. "

"It creates a whole other etiquette around discussing shows and potentially spoiling plot points," The Verge reported on its site. "We're not encouraging people to binge," Sarandos said, but adds he thinks the show works better when watching one or two at a time.

Hollywood appears to be paying attention to the power of the fan. Thomas Gewecke is Warner Bros. Digital Distribution president and was an internal studio advocate for the Kickstarter campaign, which so far has netted more than $3 million in pledges for a "Veronica Mars" film. (Warner Bros. is owned by CNN's parent company.)

"The 'Veronica Mars' show has such an incredible fan base," Gewecke told the Los Angeles Times. "When Rob (Thomas, creator of the 'Veronica Mars' television series) came to us with the Kickstarter idea, we saw a unique opportunity to take a fantastic product, a wonderful universe that has so much richness and depth to it, and to try to have a new approach to how we do these projects."

Pepperdine's Detweiler said it's a smart move by studios.

"You have a built in fan base that is already working as your promotion and marketing department," said Detweiler, who is also the author of the forthcoming book "iGod" about how technology shapes people's spiritual lives. "They've already bought in for the first weekend of screenings, so the only thing you have to figure out is your upside."

It's not just movies and TV where audiences are wielding influence. When '90s female band Luscious Jackson reunited to produce more music, they sought out fan donations via PledgeMusic. Detweiler pointed out that along with the fan support could also come big expectations for those who may have raised their hopes possibly as high as the dollar amounts they paid to get the project off the ground.

Via: Fans driving new projects

New accusations against Elmo star

(CNN) -- The puppeteer who gave Sesame Street's Elmo his voice allegedly threw a crystal meth sex party for a teenage boy in 2004, according to a federal lawsuit filed this week.

Sheldon Stephens, now 24, is the fourth man to sue Kevin Clash, but he was the first one to publicly claim he had a sexual relationship with him as a teen.

Stephens' lawsuit is "meritless and barred by the statute of limitations," Clash lawyer Michael Berger told CNN Tuesday. "Mr. Clash continues to deny any wrongdoing, and we intend to defend this case forcefully."

Although Stephens called it an "an adult consensual relationship" last November, the revelation triggered Clash's suspension from Sesame Street and eventually his resignation.

Clash, who provided the high-pitched voice of the iconic furry red Elmo since 1984, acknowledged a relationship between "two consenting adults" when Stephens' story first emerged, but he said it otherwise was a "false and defamatory allegation."

"I am a gay man," Clash, 52, said in a statement in November. "I have never been ashamed of this or tried to hide it, but felt it was a personal and private matter."

When heroes disappoint our kids

Three other men soon emerged with federal lawsuits, filed last November and December, accusing Clash of befriending them as teenager then engaging in sex with them. They are all represented by Florida lawyer Jeff Herman, who also filed Stephens' lawsuit Monday.

Clash's lawyer has asked a judge to dismiss the three other suits based on his argument that the men waited too long to sue. The federal statute of limitations on such civil cases is six years, while their allegations involve relationships that ended more than 10 years ago, Berger said in a court filing this month.

Each lawsuit contends that the men only realized in the last year or so that they suffered psychological and emotional damage from their encounters with Clash.

"Clash was an adult male living a prominent public life centered around the entertainment of toddlers, while at the same time he was, in secret, preying on teenage boys to satisfy his depraved sexual interests," the Stephens suit alleged.

While the allegations in the newest suit mirror what the other men contend, Stephens' complaint is the only one to allege drug use by Clash.

"Clash smoked crystal meth while engaging in sexual activity with Sheldon," the lawsuit said. "Clash also gave Sheldon 'poppers' as a sexual aide. While Clash had sexual contact with Sheldon, the chauffeur watched and masturbated." "Poppers" generally refers to alkyl nitrites in capsule form that produce a physical rush when broken and inhaled: crystal meth refers to crystal methamphetamine.

Stephens was 16 when he met Clash in New York "at a social networking event for models and actors," the suit said.

"Clash told Sheldon he would help Sheldon with his acting career," it said.

Clash resigned from his job on "Sesame Street" after the first lawsuit was filed in November.

"I am resigning from Sesame Workshop with a very heavy heart," Clash said in a written statement at the time. "I have loved every day of my 28 years working for this exceptional organization. Personal matters have diverted attention away from the important work Sesame Street is doing and I cannot allow it to go on any longer. I am deeply sorry to be leaving and am looking forward to resolving these personal matters privately."

Via: New accusations against Elmo star

Lohan accepts plea deal

Los Angeles (CNN) -- Lindsay Lohan agreed to spend 90 days in a "locked in" drug rehab facility as part of a plea deal to settle criminal charges against her Monday.

The actress entered pleas of no contest on two misdemeanor charges relating to a traffic accident last summer, and she did not challenge the finding that she violated her shoplifting probation with those convictions.

"A suggestion -- don't drive," Los Angeles Superior Judge James Dabney told Lohan after he handed down her sentence.

Her six years of legal troubles trace back to two drunken driving arrests in 2007 and include other incidents in which she was behind the wheel.

While Michael Lohan was satisfied his daughter would get drug treatment in rehab -- not jail -- her father expressed anger outside the courthouse with her lawyer, Mark Heller.

"I want to know why are you're still up here?" Michael Lohan shouted at Heller. "Go home, you've done enough damage. Leave my daughter alone and stay out of the press. You're a parasite."

Lawyer: Lindsay Lohan needs luck

Lohan said Heller "just wants to use my daughter as way to get his name in the papers."

A sheriff's deputy stepped between Michael Lohan and Heller to separate the men.

"My reaction is one of sadness and compassion for the conduct that that gentleman is displaying publicly," Heller told reporters later.

Michael Lohan accused Heller of unethical and criminal conduct in his representation of his daughter, saying prosecutors were investigating Heller for tampering with "a star witness" in Lohan's case.

"It is an open investigation and they just told me they are investigating him," Michael Lohan said.

Los Angeles County district attorney spokeswoman Jane Robison said that office is not involved in the case.

The spokesman for the Los Angeles city attorney's office said he was unaware of any probe. The spokeman for the Santa Monica city attorney's office, which was involved in the case, did not immediately respond to CNN's call.

Heller said he was not aware of what Michael Lohan was alleging.

"That's a very sad and unfortunate statement," Heller said. "Anybody is able in this great country to make any allegations that they want."

He then brought the interview back to Lindsay Lohan.

"The only issue here today is that a sweet, wonderful 26-year-old girl has finally been able to bring some closure to a chapter in her life that has been very unfortunate," Heller sad. "Lindsay Lohan has been very fragile and very concerned by what's been happening here and the only thing I've been concerned about is that we've been able to give her story a very, very happy ending."

Lindsay Lohan: The reality show we don't want to watch

She is "now on a wonderful path and a journey that I think is going to be very rewarding," he said. "Today marks the first day of the rest of her life and her comeback is right before us."

Although Lohan was sentenced to jail time, including five days and 90 days on two charges, the judge will allow her to serve it in rehab.

The sentence extends Lohan's probation for two years and requires 18 months of psychotherapy.

"This is it," Dabney told her. "You violate your probation, and we're not going to have discussions of putting you back on probation."

Lohan was charged with reckless driving and lying to a police officer about a June 2012 car crash in which her Porsche crashed in to a dump truck on the Pacific Coast Highway in Santa Monica, California. Her arrest triggered the probation violation charge.

The police report said Lohan denied being behind the wheel, but the prosecutor was expected to call witnesses who say she was driving.

"I think Lindsay needed to go and just deal with some of her issues," her father said Monday. "She got exactly what she needs.

Lindsay Lohan acknowledged her drug and alcohol addiction in past court appearances.

She's spent 250 days in five rehab facilities since January 2007, including one long court-ordered stint after a failed drug test.

The actress has appeared in court at least 20 times before four Los Angeles judges who have now found her in violation of probation six times and sentenced her to a total of nine months in jail.

Lohan has spent about two weeks behind bars in six trips to the Los Angeles County jail, served 35 days under house arrest and worked about 67 days of community service at the county morgue.

Via: Lohan accepts plea deal

Rapper released from hospital

Los Angeles (CNN) -- Rapper Lil Wayne has been released from a Los Angeles hospital where he was taken after suffering a seizure last week, his publicist said late Monday night.

The 30-year-old rapper's hospitalization at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center triggered media reports that he was near death -- rumors his associates were quick to squash. Few details about his medical condition were made public.

On Monday night, Mack Maine, the president of Wayne's label, Young Money, thanked the hospital.

"@LilTunechi has been officially been released and is headed home...God is great," he tweeted.

Lil Tunechi is Lil Wayne's nickname, as well as his Twitter handle.

An online report that Lil Wayne was near death and on life support Friday cause panic among his fans and caused Twitter to light up with messages of concern.

"I'm good everybody," the rapper tweeted Friday evening, helping defuse the concerns. "Thnx for the prayers and love."

Young Money publicist Sarah Cunningham acknowledged Friday that Lil Wayne had had a seizure, but members of the New Orleans artist's camp have shot down reports that he was near death.

"Dont believe the nonsense about comas and tubes to breathe ... that's false!!" Maine tweeted Friday night.

Instead of ighting for his life, Lil Wayne was watching the Syracuse University Orange play the Georgetown Hoyas in the Big East men's basketball tournament, he said.

Born Dwayne Carter, Lil Wayne is one of the rap world's most successful artists.

He won best rap album for "Tha Carter III" at the 2008 Grammy awards and took home three more Grammys the next year.

Beyond winning over critics, he's also been a commercial success.

In September, Billboard reported the rapper had tallied 109 hits on its Hot 100, surpassing the record previously held by Elvis Presley.

But he's also run into trouble outside the studio and off stage.

Via: Rapper released from hospital

Lil Wayne 'good, just resting'

Los Angeles (CNN) -- Rapper Lil Wayne's "just resting" two days after suffering a seizure that sent him to a Los Angeles hospital and triggered media reports that he was near death.

Details about the Grammy-winning and multiplatinum-selling hip hop artist's medical problem have been few, but it appears the reports of his demise were exaggerated.

"He's good, just resting," said a close friend who visited the rapper at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Saturday night.

Lil Wayne fans around the world were stunned by the reports. Twitter lit up with rumors, spreading fears of the worst for Wayne's outcome, but a Tweet in his name attempted to calm the tempest. "I'm good everybody," read a message from Lil Wayne's Twitter account Friday evening. "Thnx for the prayers and love."

There was no weeping for "Weezy," as he's known among his friends, in the hallway near his hospital room Friday night. They talked more about a Twitter feud that erupted Friday between rappers Gucci Mane and Waka Flocka than about Lil Wayne's condition.

Fellow rapper Drake was one of several of Lil Wayne's Young Money record label mates who have visited him since Friday night.

Young Money publicist Sarah Cunningham acknowledged Friday that Lil Wayne had had a seizure, but members of the New Orleans artist's camp have shot down reports that he was near death.

"Dont believe the nonsense about comas and tubes to breathe ... that's false!!" tweeted Mack Maine, the president of Lil Wayne's Young Money label, around 5:20 p.m. (8:20 p.m. ET) Friday.

Maine didn't offer much detail, though he did say that he and Lil Wayne had been watching the Syracuse University Orange play the Georgetown Hoyas in the Big East men's basketball tournament.

"Wayne is alive and well!" the record label president wrote on Twitter.

The rapper's independent publicist, Kia Selby, said only, "Lil Wayne is doing well." She strongly denied reports he was in a medically induced coma, as reported by TMZ.

Born Dwayne Carter, Lil Wayne is one of the rap world's most successful artists. He won best rap album for "Tha Carter III" at the 2008 Grammy awards and took home three more Grammys the next year.

Beyond winning over critics, he's also been a commercial success. Last September, Billboard reported the rapper had tallied 109 hits on its Hot 100, surpassing the record previously held by Elvis Presley.

But he's also run into trouble outside the studio and off stage.

Via: Lil Wayne 'good, just resting'

Court drama awaits Lohan

Los Angeles (CNN) -- Lindsay Lohan agreed to spend 90 days in a "locked in" drug rehab facility as part of a plea deal to settle criminal charges against her Monday.

The actress entered pleas of no contest on two misdemeanor charges relating to a traffic accident last summer, and she did not challenge the finding that she violated her shoplifting probation with those convictions.

"A suggestion -- don't drive," Los Angeles Superior Judge James Dabney told Lohan after he handed down her sentence.

Her six years of legal troubles trace back to two drunken driving arrests in 2007 and include other incidents in which she was behind the wheel.

While Michael Lohan was satisfied his daughter would get drug treatment in rehab -- not jail -- her father expressed anger outside the courthouse with her lawyer, Mark Heller.

"I want to know why are you're still up here?" Michael Lohan shouted at Heller. "Go home, you've done enough damage. Leave my daughter alone and stay out of the press. You're a parasite."

Lohan said Heller "just wants to use my daughter as way to get his name in the papers."

A sheriff's deputy stepped between Michael Lohan and Heller to separate the men.

"My reaction is one of sadness and compassion for the conduct that that gentleman is displaying publicly," Heller told reporters later.

Michael Lohan accused Heller of unethical and criminal conduct in his representation of his daughter, saying prosecutors were investigating Heller for tampering with "a star witness" in Lohan's case.

"It is an open investigation and they just told me they are investigating him," Michael Lohan said.

Los Angeles County district attorney spokeswoman Jane Robison said that office is not involved in the case.

The spokesman for the Los Angeles city attorney's office said he was unaware of any probe. The spokeman for the Santa Monica city attorney's office, which was involved in the case, did not immediately respond to CNN's call.

Heller said he was not aware of what Michael Lohan was alleging.

"That's a very sad and unfortunate statement," Heller said. "Anybody is able in this great country to make any allegations that they want."

He then brought the interview back to Lindsay Lohan.

"The only issue here today is that a sweet, wonderful 26-year-old girl has finally been able to bring some closure to a chapter in her life that has been very unfortunate," Heller sad. "Lindsay Lohan has been very fragile and very concerned by what's been happening here and the only thing I've been concerned about is that we've been able to give her story a very, very happy ending."

She is "now on a wonderful path and a journey that I think is going to be very rewarding," he said. "Today marks the first day of the rest of her life and her comeback is right before us."

Although Lohan was sentenced to jail time, including five days and 90 days on two charges, the judge will allow her to serve it in rehab.

The sentence extends Lohan's probation for two years and requires 18 months of psychotherapy.

"This is it," Dabney told her. "You violate your probation, and we're not going to have discussions of putting you back on probation."

Lohan was charged with reckless driving and lying to a police officer about a June 2012 car crash in which her Porsche crashed in to a dump truck on the Pacific Coast Highway in Santa Monica, California. Her arrest triggered the probation violation charge.

The police report said Lohan denied being behind the wheel, but the prosecutor was expected to call witnesses who say she was driving.

"I think Lindsay needed to go and just deal with some of her issues," her father said Monday. "She got exactly what she needs.

Lindsay Lohan acknowledged her drug and alcohol addiction in past court appearances.

She's spent 250 days in five rehab facilities since January 2007, including one long court-ordered stint after a failed drug test.

The actress has appeared in court at least 20 times before four Los Angeles judges who have now found her in violation of probation six times and sentenced her to a total of nine months in jail.

Via: Court drama awaits Lohan

More court drama awaits Lindsay Lohan

Los Angeles (CNN) -- The soap opera that is Lindsay Lohan offers more drama after the actress missed a Sunday night flight to Los Angeles where she goes on trial Monday morning.

The good news is the courthouse is close to Los Angeles International Airport, in case Lohan, 26, finds another red-eye flight from New York.

Travel logistics may not be Lohan's biggest worry, though.

Which lawyer will represent her in her lying-to-cops trial this week is uncertain after a judge said he was "somewhat concerned" her New York lawyer didn't have a good grasp of California criminal law.

"Somebody needs to come in to assist you who has some experience in California law for procedure, or Miss Lohan is going to have to come in here and waive her right to have attorneys who are competent in California law and procedure to go forward," Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James Dabney told attorney Mark Heller at a March 1 hearing.

Lohan faces charges of lying to a police officer about a car crash, reckless driving and violating her probation for a shoplifting conviction.

She faces the possibility of going to jail if she is found guilty of any of the charges.

If so, she may have to serve 245 days -- the remainder of her suspended sentence from a shoplifting conviction.

Lohan in court?

She does not have to attend her own trial, since the charges are misdemeanors, her previous judge said in January.

But Judge Dabney did make it clear at the last hearing that Lohan had to be at court this Monday unless Heller has an experienced California criminal lawyer by his side.

While Lohan sat in a John F. Kennedy International Airport concourse late Sunday searching for a new flight to Los Angeles, she may have also considered accepting help from her her father -- someone she has publicly feuded with.

Michael Lohan, who has been critical of Heller's legal skills, hired David Wohl, who practices criminal law in Orange County in hopes his daughter would allow him to defend her.

Adding Wohl to the defense team could get Lohan off the hook for having to get to court Monday morning.

Wohl used a Twitter message Friday in an effort to convince Lohan to accept him: "@lindsaylohan My law firm was hired by your Dad. He wants nothing but the best for you. We will be there Monday to help, if we're allowed."

Beating the rap

Even with that hurdle jumped, beating the rap still stands before Lohan.

The lying charge stems from what Lohan told a police officer at the hospital emergency room after her Porche crashed in to a dump truck on the Pacific Coast Highway in Santa Monica.

The police report said Lohan denied being being the wheel, but the prosecutor is expected to call witnesses who say she was driving.

Heller has questioned the legality of police questioning Lohan while she was being checked by doctor at a hospital. He said he would try to get her statement excluded from the trial.

But if Lohan is found not guilty of lying, the judge could still decide that she violated her probation by being arrested.

Another possibility is the charges could be settled with a plea deal, but Heller made it clear another stint in drug rehab is not on the table.

"She does not need rehab," Heller told reporters after the last hearing. "I am hoping we will be able to come to some creative out-of-the-box answer."

Lohan is already undergoing "one-on-one psychotherapy," he said.

"Lindsay doesn't have a problem with alcohol and drugs," Heller said. "Lindsay has other types of issues that are being dealt with."

Another installment

Lohan acknowledged her drug and alcohol addiction in past court appearances.

She's spent 250 days in five rehab facilities since January 2007, including one long court-ordered rehab stint after a failed drug test.

Whatever happens in court Monday -- with or without Lohan -- it will be another installment in a six-year soap opera that shows no signs of being canceled.

It is a drama in which the lead actress has appeared in court at least 20 times before four Los Angeles judges who found her in violation of probation five times and sentenced her to a total of six months in jail.

Via: More court drama awaits Lindsay Lohan