Bandleader, composer accompanied Monroe’s birthday salute to JFK

Jazz pianist, bandleader and composer Hank Jones, whose career spanned seven decades and included stints with such legends as Ella Fitzgerald, Charlie Parker and Benny Goodman, died May 16 in New York after a brief illness. He was 91.

Jones recorded more than 60 albums under his own name and played regularly with his two younger brothers -- trumpeter Thad and drummer Elvin, both of whom predeceased him. The Mississippi native also served as staff pianist for CBS studios from 1959 until 1975 and -- in one of his less-publicized, but most widely heard roles -- accompanied Marilyn Monroe when she serenaded President Kennedy with an iconic rendition of "Happy Birthday."

In 2008, Jones was honored with the National Medal of Arts, and a year later, he was awarded a lifetime achievement Grammy by NARAS. He continued to perform live, mostly around his adopted home in New York City, and was scheduled to play at Gotham's Birdland next week. He is survived by his wife, Theodosia.

Heavy metal rocker played with Black Sabbath, fronted own band

Ronnie James Dio, the diminutive, big-voiced singer who fronted the popular heavy metal bands Black Sabbath, Rainbow and Dio, died Sunday. He was 67.

The vocalist was diagnosed with stomach cancer last summer after he completed a tour with Heaven and Hell, a reconstituted latter-day edition of Sabbath.

Premature reports of his passing that reached the Internet Saturday night had been denied by his wife and manager Wendy Dio. However, she confirmed his death early Sunday morning in a post on his Web site. "Today my heart is broken," she wrote.

Born Ronald James Padavona in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Dio apprenticed in rockabilly bands before making his mark in the early '70s with the hard rock group Elf, which was signed to Deep Purple's label Purple. In 1975, he became the front man of Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore's band Rainbow.

From 1979-82, Dio fronted Black Sabbath, replacing the pioneering metal group's lead singer Ozzy Osbourne. He appeared on the platinum album "Heaven and Hell" (1980) and its gold follow-up "Mob Rules" (1981).

Dio, who returned to Black Sabbath in 1992 and fronted Heaven and Hell from 2007-2009, sparked much argument among Sabbath fans, some of whom maintained that his power as a singer outstripped that of founder Osbourne. Rhino issued a compilation of Dio-era Sabbath material in 2007.

Dio stepped out on his own in 1983 with his eponymous band, which recorded and toured for two decades. Though the group released two platinum albums and waxed such signature tunes as "Rainbow in the Dark" and "Holy Diver," it never achieved Sabbath's long-term chart preeminence.

His crucial role in the Sabbath legacy was reiterated with the formation of Heaven and Hell, which also included charter Sabs members Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler and latter-day drummer Vinny Appice in its lineup. Rhino issued the band's only studio album, "The Devil You Know," last year.

Dio's influence extended into metal iconography: He has been widely credited with popularizing the "devil horns" hand gesture – an upraised hand with extended pinkie and index fingers – flashed by head-banging concert-goers.

NBC in talks with Turner execs to revive series on TNT

The case isn't closed on "Law and Order" just yet. NBC Universal has set up meetings with Turner execs in the coming weeks to discuss the possibility of the "Law and Order" mothership living on at TNT.

According to insiders, Peacock execs are crunching numbers to come up with a license fee that might be palatable to Turner. Under discussions this spring to bring "Law and Order" back for a 21st season, NBC pitched Turner the idea of splitting an order: Eight originals on NBC, and eight on TNT.

But that plan didn't get anywhere, and Turner released a statement last week that they weren't in talks to acquire the storied franchise. That's true, they're not in talks -- yet. But Turner made a play for "Law and Order" in 2007, and could very well be interested in first-run episodes again -- if a deal makes sense.

It might be a longshot. Turner has already paid handsomely recently for Conan O'Brien's new show, and a deal to acquire "Southland" (another canceled NBC show) from Warner Bros. TV wasn't easy, as broadcast and cable economics are very different.

But never underestimate the power of Dick Wolf. Wolf is looking to break the 20-season "Gunsmoke" record, something he'd be able to do if the show continued on TNT. It's unclear whether NBC U plans to talk to other cablers as well. For his part, Wolf told the New York Times on Monday that he was seeking "other offers" for the show.

Crowe epic takes in north of $100 million worldwide
While Paramount and Marvel Entertainment's "Iron Man 2" continued its domestic domination this weekend, Universal-Imagine Entertainment's epic "Robin Hood" proved potent on the international front.

Stateside figures for "Robin Hood" were moderate, with an estimated $37.1 million at 3,503 locations, but were augmented by a healthy $74 million start overseas for an estimated worldwide launch of $111.1 million. Still, U's epic tale couldn't catch "Iron Man 2" domestically. Sequel fell 59% in its soph sesh for an estimated take of $53 million at 4,390; worldwide cume now stands at a hefty $450.4 million.

A pair of femme-driven openers fell in line behind the majors' B.O. heavyweights. Summit's "Letters to Juliet," toplining Amanda Seyfried and Vanessa Redgrave, opened with an estimated $13.8 million at 2,968 engagements, followed by Fox Searchlight's Queen Latifah starrer "Just Wright," with an estimated $8.5 million at 1,831. Focus Features' "Babies" continued cooing after a profitable opening last weekend. Docu dropped 54% in its second outing for an estimated weekend take of $1 million at 543 locations, bringing its domestic cume to $3.9 million.

After last weekend's $128.1 million domestic debut, "Iron Man 2" was expected to reap top coin this weekend. "Robin Hood" was relegated to the No. 2 spot domestically but matched studio expectations. Nikki Rocco, prexy of domestic distribution for U, admitted that given the presence of "Iron Man 2" in the market, the studio remained realistic about "Robin Hood's" domestic projections.

"The intent was always that this was going to be a global film," Rocco said. "Because of the way the world is today, you have to look at a film like this as a global effort. "And so domestically, it's where we thought it would be," she added.

With an estimated $155 million budget, "Robin Hood" boasts major overseas appeal, shot in the U.K. by Brit helmer Ridley Scott and starring Aussies Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett. While international prospects are strong, some insiders question the film's domestic playability, especially given its B- CinemaScore rating from U.S. auds. "Robin Hood" scored best among older men, with a 56%-44% male-female split. In fact, older auds accounted for most of the moviegoers as many teens were tied up at high school proms this weekend. Fox Searchlight's PG-rated sports romancer "Just Wright" saw 71% of its aud over 25, while 63% of Summit's "Letters to Juliet" was over 25. Summit sneaked "Letters" last weekend, timed for a strategic Mother's Day promotion. "Letters" nabbed an A- CinemaScore rating and, according to Summit prexy of domestic distribution Richie Fay, will continue to benefit from positive word of mouth among its core female demo. Like "Letters," the femme-driven "Just Wright" was effective counterprogramming to "Robin Hood" and "Iron Man 2."

"Iron Man 2" fell 51% on Saturday and 70% Friday, mainly because of added midnight grosses opening day. Par vice chair Rob Moore attributed the sequel's top weekend performance, in part, to strong turnouts midday Saturday, when it grossed $24.5 million.

"Certainly, given the way the movie played (Saturday), you can say people are becoming comfortable with the age range they can bring to the movie," Moore said. "So the movie is doing a lot of daytime business." 3D toon "How to Train Your Dragon" and "Iron Man 2" each topped the frame twice.

"Dragon," which has gone relatively unchallenged on the kid front, fell just 23% in its eighth frame, earning an estimated $5.1 million; domestic cume is $207.8 million. Toon could finally give up auds next weekend to Par and DreamWorks Animation's "Shrek Forever After."

Other prominent holdovers included Warner Bros. and New Line's horror reboot "A Nightmare on Elm Street" and 20th Century Fox's romantic comedy "Date Night." "Nightmare" dropped 48% in its third frame, grossing an estimated $4.7 million, while "Date Night" slipped 27% in its sixth frame for an estimated weekend take of $4 million. Pics' cumes stand at $56.1 million and $86.7 million, respectively.

In limited release, Sony Pictures Classics expanded Rodrigo Garcia's "Mother and Child" to 18 locations in its soph sesh. Pic earned an estimated $58,791 for a low-end per screen

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