Quick Takes - July 14, 2010

Sequel to ‘The Secret’

The author of “The Secret� now wants to share “The Power.�

Atria Books announced Tuesday that Rhonda Byrne’s follow-up to her pop-culture phenomenon that sold millions of copies comes out next month. “The Power,� like “The Secret,� is a guide to positive thinking, how “everyone is meant to have an amazing life.�

Atria, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, plans a first printing of 2 million copies.

Byrne is an Australian who has worked as a television and film producer.

—Associated Press

Sela Ward will join ‘CSI: NY’

A day after annoucing that Melina Kanakaredes was leaving “CSI: New York� after six seasons, CBS said Tuesday that Sela Ward had been hired to take over as the new partner for Det. Mac Taylor (Gary Sinise).

Ward, a former star of “Once and Again� and “Sisters,� will play an investigator from Washington, D.C., “whose work is driven by her empathy for the victim,� according to a CBS release.

—Yvonne Villarreal

Amanpour starts Aug. 1

Former CNN international reporter Christiane Amanpour will begin her stint as host of the Sunday morning talk show “This Week� on Aug. 1, ABC said Tuesday.

Amanpour was a surprise hire to replace George Stephanopoulos on the show, which competes with NBC’s “Meet the Press� and CBS’ “Face the Nation.� ABC wants her to get in the Sunday morning rhythm and get a few shows done before the political season starts in earnest.

Jake Tapper has filled in as host for the last several months.

—Associated Press

Funny, sounds just like Jewel

On a recent Monday night at a Los Angeles karaoke bar, a meek-looking woman in a business suit and glasses was coaxed on stage by her co-workers.

While the boozy crowd readied itself for four minutes of awkward singing, the woman — “Karen� — suddenly belted out exquisite, pitch-perfect renditions of the Jewel songs “Who Will Save Your Soul� and “Foolish Games.�

Astonished crowd members picked their jaws off the floor and cheered wildly. One person was heard comparing Karen to “an American Susan Boyle.�

Unbeknownst to them, they had been victims of “undercover karaoke.�

Karen really was Jewel, and the proceedings had been filmed by FunnyOrDie.com, the comedy video website co-founded by Will Ferrell and Adam McKay. The video was posted Tuesday and was rapidly circulating online, with more than 160,000 views as of evening.

Though Jewel is principally a singer-songwriter, she has acted before, most notably in the 1999 Ang Lee film “Ride With the Devil.�

—Associated Press

Charge against Torn dropped

Prosecutors in Litchfield, Conn., on Tuesday dropped a felony burglary charge against actor Rip Torn, clearing the way for him to seek special probation that might settle charges that he broke into a bank while drunk and armed in January.

The Emmy-winning actor, 79, applied for accelerated rehabilitation, a program for first-time nonviolent offenders that allows charges to be dropped after a probation period.

Torn has pleaded not guilty to criminal trespass, carrying a weapon while intoxicated, carrying a weapon without a permit and criminal mischief. He completed an alcohol rehabilitation program over the winter and remains in outpatient treatment including Alcoholics Anonymous and has gotten rid of all his weapons, his attorney said.

—Associated Press

Still ‘Y.M.C.A.’ to the band

The Village People won’t be changing their hit song “Y.M.C.A.� just because the YMCA is now known officially as just “the Y.�

Victor Willis, lead singer of the original group, released a statement after the nonprofit announced this week that it’s changing both its logo and name to “the Y� after learning that many people don’t understand its mission.

Willis said the switch won’t affect the song or the dance that goes along with it, in which participants use their arms to make the shape of each letter.

—Associated Press