Reuters Entertainment News Summary

Following is a summary of current entertainment news briefs. Judge OKs new Harvey Weinstein lawyers who once represented accuser

A New York state judge on Friday approved Harvey Weinstein's overhaul of his legal team to defend him against criminal sexual assault charges, though two of his new lawyers represented one of the disgraced Hollywood mogul's most vocal accusers, actress Rose McGowan. At a Manhattan court hearing, Weinstein told Judge James Burke he accepted the potential conflicts of interest that Jose Baez and Ronald Sullivan might have from recently representing McGowan in a Virginia drug possession case, where she pleaded no contest. Oscar body distances itself from UK controversy on child murder film

The body that hands out the Oscars on Friday sought to distance itself from a furor over the Academy Award nomination of a film about two boys who murdered a British toddler in 1993. "Detainment," a 30-minute film about the death of two-year-old James Bulger, made headlines in Britain after it was nominated for an Oscar on Tuesday in the short film category. Oscar-crowned French composer Michel Legrand dies at 86

French composer and pianist Michel Legrand has died at 86 after a career in which he stood out for soundtracks in screen musicals with Catherine Deneuve and that won him three Oscars. The artist died earlier on Saturday, according to a message posted on his Facebook page by his management company City Lights. Comedian Roseanne, shunned since racist tweet, visits Israel

Roseanne Barr, the American comedian whose television show was canceled last year after she made a racist remark on Twitter, visited Jerusalem's Old City on Sunday as part of a tour of Israel. Barr arrived in Israel last week with celebrity U.S. rabbi Shmuley Boteach. Director says no harm intended with Oscar-nominated child murder film

The director of an Oscar-nominated short film about two boys who murdered a British toddler in 1993 on Thursday defended the film, saying he never intended to bring fresh anguish to the families involved. "Detainment," a 30-minute film about the death of James Bulger, caused a furor in Britain after it was nominated for an Oscar on Tuesday in the short film category. An online petition asking for the film to be withdrawn from Oscar contention has attracted more than 130,000 signatures. Lady Gaga, Christian Bale compete for top Screen Actors Guild awards

Lady Gaga and the cast of musical drama "A Star is Born" are competing for awards from Hollywood's Screen Actors Guild (SAG) on Sunday at a red-carpet ceremony that may provide clues about which film has an edge in next month's wide-open Oscars race. Gaga and co-stars Bradley Cooper and Sam Elliott are in the running for best movie ensemble, the top film honor at the SAG Awards, alongside the casts of superhero flick "Black Panther," historical dramedy "BlacKkKlansman," romantic comedy "Crazy Rich Asians" and Golden Globes best drama winner "Bohemian Rhapsody."