LONDON – Daniel Radcliffe was expecting a tender embrace when it came time to kiss co-star Emma Watson in the new “Harry Potter” film. What he got was torrid necking, Radcliffe said.

“I thought it was going to be like a soft, sensual sort of moment, and it was this very vigorous kissing scene. She really went for it, I have to say,” said Radcliffe, reprising the title role in “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1,” the second-to-last of the big-screen adventures about the teen wizard.

Opening worldwide this week, the film casts Harry and best pals Hermione Granger (Watson) and Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) out into the world to fend for themselves, and the journey puts a severe strain on their friendship.

Under the spell of an artifact containing part of evil nemesis Voldemort’s soul, Ron is sent into a jealous rage by a vision of Hermione, the girl he loves, and Harry taunting him as a third wheel in their relationship. Hermione and Harry then turn to each other and do some kissing that looks positively bestial.

“That was mainly Emma, I have to say,” said director David Yates.

“I guess I just realized that I would have fewer takes to do if I just got on with it and just gave David what he wanted, which was a passionate kiss,” Watson said.

The more Keith rebels, the bigger his audience

 

NEW YORK – A suspension is proving good business for MSNBC and Keith Olbermann — at least in the short term.

The size of the combative liberal host’s audience shot up in the days after his return from a two-day suspension for donating to three Democratic candidates. The Nielsen Co. said Olbermann’s show reached 1.3 million viewers the first three days after his return last week, up from the 1.08 million he averaged in October.

Olbermann’s suspension, and subsequent non-apology to NBC News, has caused backstage controversy at the network. MSNBC chief executive Phil Griffin threatened to fire Olbermann if he went ahead with a threat to talk about the issue on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” the website The Daily Beast reported Monday. An MSNBC spokesman said the network had no comment.

Snipes fights to stay free

 

OCALA, Fla. – Federal attorneys have asked a Florida judge to revoke Wesley Snipes’ bond if the actor is not granted a new trial for tax evasion. He is facing a three-year prison sentence.

Snipes did not attend the hearing Monday in a federal court in Ocala. His attorneys say he deserves a new trial because of jury bias in his 2008 conviction. They say two jurors are now accusing other jurors of deciding the case without hearing evidence, and that prosecutors hid damaging information about a key witness.

Prosecutors said Monday that questioning those jurors about their deliberations would violate juror rules and intimidate future juries.

Palin’s debut show sets TLC viewer record

NEW YORK – Sarah Palin made TLC history. The debut of “Sarah Palin’s Alaska,” the former governor’s travelogue about her home state, had just under 5 million viewers Sunday night on TLC.

The Nielsen Co. says that was the top-rated series premiere in the network’s history, besting “What Not To Wear” in 2003.

During her first episode, the ex-vice presidential candidate did some fishing and rock climbing, along with trying to keep her daughter Willow’s new boyfriend away from the girl’s room.

Nielsen says the show reached triple the audience of what TLC had been reaching in that Sunday night time slot this fall.

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