Tattle: That's English the king stammers, so nod is special

AS A PRECURSOR to the Academy Awards and its need to find 10 films worth nominating for Best Picture, the American Film Institute chose its Top 10 movies of the year yesterday.

In no particular order they are: "Inception," "Toy Story 3," "The Social Network," "The Town," "True Grit," "Black Swan," "The Fighter," "The Kids Are All Right," "127 Hours" and "Winter's Bone."

"The King's Speech," an Oscars favorite, was ineligible because it is a British production, and it's the American Film Instiute. But the AFI did present a special award to "The King's Speech."

Another special award went to the education documentary "Waiting for 'Superman."'

The AFI also picked its top-10 TV programs of 2010: "The Big C," "Boardwalk Empire," "Breaking Bad," "Glee," "Mad Men," "Modern Family," "The Pacific," "Temple Grandin," "30 Rock" and "The Walking Dead."

NYC hotel body update

Nicholas Brooks, the 24-year-old son of Oscar-winning songwriter Joseph Brooks, was having trouble accepting his breakup with his swimsuit-designer girlfriend, prosecutors said Saturday, as he was charged with trying to kill her at a swanky New York City hotel.

Nicholas was ordered held without bail during his initial court appearance and was charged with attempted murder and strangulation in the investigation surrounding Sylvie Cachay's death.

Prosecutors said an apology letter from Nicholas to Cachay was found in her purse and showed Nicholas hadn't accepted their relationship was ending.

Brooks' attorney, Jeffrey C. Hoffman, said Saturday before his court appearance that Cachay was "absolutely fine" when Nicholas last saw her.

Does that mean he closed his eyes before he strangled her?

"There's no question in my mind that he's not guilty of any criminal charges in this case," Hoffman said.

Cachay, 33, was discovered, half-clothed and face up, in a tub at the Soho House hotel about 3 a.m. Thursday, after water began leaking through to the floor below. She had red marks around her neck and a bite mark on her hand, investigators said.

Although Nicholas has been charged with attempted murder, police say Cachay's death has been ruled a homicide. The medical examiner's office is awaiting toxicology test results to determine the cause. The results aren't expected until next week.

Tattbits

* British police arrested 21-year-old Charlie Gilmour, the son of Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour, after he was photographed climbing a war memorial during violent student protests.

The behavior was especially odd since "He don't need no education . . ."

Charlie, a Cambridge University student, issued a public apology Friday, saying he felt "nothing but shame" for his behavior.

* "Survivor" Richard Hatch is accused of violating probation on his tax-evasion sentence, which he received for failing to pay taxes on his $1 million prize from winning the show's first season.

Hatch is to appear Wednesday in federal court in Rhode Island to answer charges he violated terms of his three-year probation, which began after he was released from prison last year following more than three years behind bars.

Hatch was convicted in 2006 of failing to pay taxes on his "Survivor" winnings, as well as other income. He received extra prison time because the judge found he lied on the stand. His probation requires him to find work, complete a mental-health program, refile his 2000 and 2001 tax returns and pay all his back taxes.

* Billboard reports that Madonna will follow-up her new Mexico City Hard Candy Fitness Center with a second location - in Moscow.

Located near Red Square, the 35,000 square-foot facility will house a bike studio, a mind body studio and "The Great Wall," where members can practice yoga and capoeira.

* Since 1986, Billboard reports, only two bands have claimed the honor as the top-grossing touring act twice in three years: the Rolling Stones (1998 and 1999) and the Grateful Dead (1991 and 1993).

This year, for the second time in three years, Bon Jovi ranks as the top arena filler.

In an ongoing worldwide tour, Bon Jovi reported Boxscore grosses for the period of Nov. 20, 2009, through Nov. 28, 2010, of $146,507,388 and attendance of 1,591,154. When Bon Jovi was tops in 2008, the trek finished with a gross of $210 million, the 10th-biggest of all time.

* Cameron Crowe has lost his half of Heart.

He and wife Nancy Wilson have finalized their divorce.

The couple had been separated since June 2008 and resolved their split without fanfare, using a retired judge as a mediator to end their 24-year marriage.

Nancy filed for divorce in September. The couple have twin 10-year-old sons.

Tattle TV

TNT announced Friday that "The Closer," starring Kyra Sedgwick, will end after the upcoming season.

* David Hasselhoff's A&E reality TV series won't last that long. It's been canceled after two episodes.

In a tragic loss to pop culture, eight completed episodes will remain unaired.

"The Hasselhoffs" featured the actor and his two daughters, who want to be famous. The Nielsen Co. says the first episode was seen by 718,000 viewers, and the audience sank to 505,000 the second week.

This does, however, prove that a half-million Americans will watch literally anything.

Staff writer Ellen Gray and wire services contributed to this report.

E-mail gensleh@phillynews.com