J.K. Rowling's magical Midas touch has landed her on the cover of Entertainment Weekly as the magazine's entertainer of the year.
Author J.K. Rowling signs books for fans at the Elgin and Winter Garden theatre in Toronto, in October.
(Canadian Press)
The magazine said the Harry Potter author deserved the award for getting "people to tote around her big, old-fashioned printed-on-paper books as if they were the hottest new entertainment devices on the planet."
Rowling has sold nearly 400 million copies of her boy-wizard series, which she completed this year with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. It also has been adapted into a successful movie franchise.
Rowling was in a class by herself on the magazine's list of the year's top entertainers.
Editors divided celebrities into five categories using terminology drawn from high school: prodigies, class clowns, most popular, most buzzed about and valedictorians.
Seth Rogen 'class clown'
Canadian Seth Rogen earned a mention as class clown, along with Knocked Up and Superbad director Judd Apatow and acting buddy Paul Rudd.
Tina Fey, creator and co-star of 30 Rock, also was recognized as a class clown for her hilariously cringe-inducing portrayal of comedy-show producer Liz Lemon on the NBC sitcom.
"I love going to those uncomfortable places," she said in an interview with the magazine. "I'll go down any weird avenue."
Other class clowns were Vanessa Williams and The Simpsons.
Actor, director and activist George Clooney earned a place as a valedictorian because he has "deftly balanced box-office viability with personal responsibility."
Will Smith, Angelina Jolie and the cast of The Sopranos were also considered high achievers.
On the list of most popular were actor Matt Damon, country singer Carrie Underwood, TV star Katherine Heigl, film actor Johnny Depp and singer Kanye West.
The prodigies were youngsters Zac Efron and Shia LaBeouf, both of whom have made a name with Disney and singers Rihanna and Miley Cyrus.
Amy Winehouse, Gerard Butler, Tyler Perry and the A&E series Mad Men were named the most buzz-worthy.
Related
More Books Headlines »
- Acclaimed French writer Julien Gracq dies
- Julien Gracq, who was considered one of France's leading writers of the 20th century and was known for his surrealist style, has died at 97.
- Chuck Norris sues author, publisher of 'The Truth About Chuck Norris'
- Tough-guy actor Chuck Norris has delivered a legal blow to the Penguin Group and the author of a satirical book titled The Truth About Chuck Norris, to prevent the book's distribution.
- Karl Rove sells memoir for more than $1.5M
- Republican strategist Karl Rove will dissect the presidency of George W. Bush in a memoir said to be worth more than $1.5 million US.
- Romance cuts across racial lines, publishers find
- Publishing houses across North American are creating new lines of romances aimed at people of Asian and African descent, according to Brian Miller, a Seattle journalist who follows the market for romance novels.
- Keep quiet and stay out of sight, India tells controversial writer
- India has told Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen to either remain under government security or leave the country.
More Arts Headlines »
- Canadian jazz great Oscar Peterson dies
- The jazz odyssey is over for Oscar Peterson: the Canadian known globally as one of the most spectacularly talented musicians ever to play jazz piano has died at age 82.
- Tributes pour in for 'giant in music' Peterson
- Tributes are pouring in for Canadian jazz musician Oscar Peterson, who died Sunday at age 82.
- Broadway, Hollywood choreographer Michael Kidd dies
- American choreographer Michael Kidd, who created dance for the stage musical Finian's Rainbow and the movie Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, has died.
- German avant-garde composer Hans Otte dies
- German avant-garde composer and pianist Hans Otte has died, his former employer Radio Bremen said Wednesday. He was 81.
- Bangladesh cancels Paris exhibit after statues stolen
- Bangladesh has cancelled a cultural exhibition in Paris after centuries-old artifacts were stolen en route to France.
Arts Features
Blog Watch
Most Blogged about CBC.ca Articles
Note: CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external sites - link will open in new window