UPDATE: Tyson's daughter dies after accident

The 4-year-old daughter of boxing legend Mike Tyson died Tuesday, a day after she was injured in a treadmill accident at her home.  Exodus Tyson was prounounced dead at 11:45 a.m. local time Tuesday, said Sgt. Andy Hill, a Phoenix police spokesman. 

A Joss Whedon-less 'Buffy' movie? WTF!?

According to the Hollywood Reporter, the rights holders of Buffy the Vampire Slayer -- which began as the 1992 crapmound film starring Kristy Swanson and was later transformed by writer Joss Whedon into one of the best television series of the last 25 years -- are planning a remake/relaunch. Now, fans of the Buffyverse have been clamoring for a feature extension ever since the show's end in 2003; and they've made the Whedon-overseen comic books best sellers. Whedon has long been the hand on the wheel of the Buffy franchise, and his cultish fanbase are legion.

That raucous sound you hear is that fanbase currently consulting an engineer to figure out exactly how to support all of the hell they're gonna raise. Because -- get this -- Whedon isn't involved. AT ALL.

According to the news item, the producers aren't against the idea of Whedon's involvement, but they haven't "reached out to him." What's more, this new "film" would have no connection with the TV series, nor would it feature any of the show's robust supporting cast. In other words, they'd be jettisoning everything and everyone that made Buffy work. I swear, sometimes it's as if Hollywood sets out with "failure" plugged right into the GPS.

The only reason that Buffy remains a viable franchise is because of the rabid, happy-to-purchase fanbase. And the only reason that fanbase exists is because of Joss Whedon. Why leave all that money on the table simply to make a shoddy Twilight-lite? Because there's no way those fans would turn out if Whedon wasn't involved -- what's more, they'd actively work to undermine it in every way possible.

Clearly, Joss has more Buffy stories to tell. Why not let him? Would you go see this film without Joss Whedon at the helm? Vote in our poll. Sound off in the comments section.

Kutcher threatens to stop Twittering

Ashton Kutcher -- Twitter's top tweeter -- warned he may pull the plug on his tweeting if the micro-blogging service partners on a reality TV show.

"It's all fun and games until somebody gets stalked," Kutcher wrote in a Twitter posting late Monday.

Variety magazine reported Monday that San Francisco-based Twitter.com had partnered with TV producers Reveille and Brillstein Entertainment on an unscripted show that would be "putting ordinary people on the trail of celebrities in a revolutionary competitive format."

Twitter co-founder Biz Stone said there was "no official Twitter TV show" in the works, but "we have a lightweight, non-exclusive, agreement with the producers which helps them move forward more freely."

Kutcher used Twitter to post a link to a news report about the partnership along with this message: "Wow I hope this isn't true. I really don't like being sold out. May have to take a twitter hiatus."

"Five Killers" director Robert Luketic, who caught Kutcher's Twitter addiction, also suggested he would disappear from the Twitterverse.

"Ahh yeah. If this is true my shop is closed," Luketic tweeted in response to Kutcher's message.

His wife, actress Demi Moore, also threatened to shut down her Twitter account, which has more than 1 million followers.

"I hope this isn't true -- if it is our Twitter time may come to a quick and sad end!" Moore tweeted Monday.

Obama: She 'will make a great justice'

President Obama today nominated federal Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court. Sotomayor would be the first Hispanic and third female U.S. Supreme Court justice if confirmed. Sotomayor "is an inspiring woman who I believe will make a great justice," Obama said

Twitter Heads To Hollywood, Plans To Develop TV Show

Twitter is crossing mediums to develop a TV show, according to a Variety report. Joining forces with LA-based production companies Reveille Productions and Brillstein Entertainment Partners, Twitter plans to launch an unscripted show that will put "ordinary people on the trail of celebrities in a revolutionary competitive format."

Variety says the show's concept was the brainchild of novelist  Amy Ephron. Founded by NBC Entertainment exec  Ben Silverman, Reveille Productions is  known for producing TV hits like ABC's Ugly Betty and NBC's The Office. The company was apparently bought by Elisabeth Murdoch's Shine Productions in February 2008 for $125 million.

Red Bull will give you more than just wings!

Cocaine test prompts Red Bull removal in Germany

Looks like Red Bull has been a very Bad Bull.  Six German states have told retailers to stop selling Red Bull Cola energy drinks after a test found a trace amount of cocaine.  

The bans started Friday after a sample test conducted by authorities in North Rhine-Westphalia state found 0.4 micrograms per liter in the drink.

Five other states also banned it from shops amid concerns over possible narcotics law violations.

Germany's Federal Institute for Risk Assessment said Monday that the cocaine level was too low to pose a health risk. It planned to produce a more detailed report Wednesday.

Red Bull said its cola is "harmless and marketable in both the U.S. and Europe." It said similar coca leaf extracts are used worldwide as flavoring, and a test it commissioned itself found no cocaine traces.

Tyson's Daughter in 'Tragic Accident'

The near-fatal strangulation of boxer Mike Tyson's 4-year-old daughter appears to be a "tragic accident."  Exodus Tyson was on life support Tuesday after apparently accidentally hanging herself on a cord dangling from a treadmill in her modest central Phoenix home.  

Life hasn't always been kind to Mike Tyson but our hearts and prayers go out to him during this difficult time.

The Day after Memorial Day

Well, it's the day after Memorial Day and for most of us that means heading back from our extended weekend get away and going back to work.  For me it was just that.  A wonderful time in Florida this past weekend and an enjoyable flight back departing at 7am and arriving at JFK at 9:30am and then off to catch a bus to Grand Central Station and work in the West Village.  

And so begins a new week of Counter Point topics...