The prestigious TED gathering known for perspective-shifting presentations by the brilliant and famous is tailoring "ideas worth spreading" for a television audience.

TED teamed with the U.S. Corporation for Public Broadcasting to create an education-focused version of its real-world conferences for a show set to air on PBS stations nationally on Tuesday and again on Thursday.

Written by Anthony Sargon

How do you follow the immensely popular "The Avengers" without leaving audiences feeling a little empty? It was the first movie of its kind after all, and it basically spoiled us to the point of no return. Lucky for us, Robert Downey Jr. is the perfect man to kick-off Marvel's second phase of movies, which will eventually lead us to "The Avengers 2". "Iron Man 3" is a great addition to the Marvel canon that offers loads of entertainment while keeping the series from going stale.

A lawyer for Reese Witherspoon says the actress has pleaded no contest to a disorderly conduct charge resulting from a heated confrontation with a state trooper in Atlanta.

Municipal Court of Atlanta Deputy Solicitor Ronda Graham said in a statement Friday that Witherspoon entered the plea and paid a $100 fine, resolving the case.

Hollywood star Will Smith said Friday that he will probably shoot a comedy with his son Jaden when they team up for the third time in film-making.

Smith, who arrived in Taiwan on Thursday on a promotional tour, said it was "fantastic" to work with the 15-year-old in their second movie together, the sci-fi flick "After Earth", set to hit cinemas in June.

Director Ken Loach is not impressed. "Happy films for happy people" is the withering verdict of the man who made his name with the likes of "Cathy Come Home" and "Kes" on much of today's film and television.

Movies and programs now "don't ask questions... like a soft cushion for the brain... the life squeezed out of it by so many bureaucrats above," he says.

Michael Jackson's family tried several times to carry out "interventions" on the singer to help him fight drug addiction, but he denied having a problem, a trial heard Thursday.

The late King of Pop's mother Katherine Jackson told police a few months after his June 2009 death about the attempts to convince her son to do something about his drug abuse, a detective said.

India's movie industry toasted its 100th birthday on Friday with the release of two films celebrating its humble origins in the silent era and the influence of glamorous modern-day Bollywood.

"Bombay Talkies" comprises four short stories inspired by India's love of cinema and the impact of the movies, created by some of the country's leading filmmakers.

"Iron Man 3" is expected to launch America's summer blockbuster season with a bang this weekend, having already taken global box offices by storm, industry analysts say.

Robert Downey Jr returns as the metal-suited Marvel superhero, in a sequel to the last "Iron Man" movie in 2010, but also playing off the back of last year's comic-book mega hit "The Avengers," which also featured him.

An Algerian singer accused of poking fun at the police in one of his songs on Thursday was given a suspended six-month sentence and fined around 1,000 euros, an Agence France Presse correspondent at the court reported.

A court in the western city of Oran issued the verdict against Cheb Faisal, 29, who was arrested last month after a complaint was filed by the general directorate of national security (DGSN) for performing a song that allegedly made fun of the police agency and its head, Abdelghani Hamel.

The much-anticipated Spice Girls musical "Viva Forever" will close June 29 after a disappointing six-month run in London.

Producer Judy Craymer said Thursday that despite improvements to the show "we just can't make it work."