07/04/2008 @ 3:00am PST "HOLLYWOOD BUZZ"! Bozo The Clown, Larry Harmon, dead at 83!
Larry Harmon, who turned the character Bozo the Clown into a show business staple that delighted children for more than a half-century, died Thursday of congestive heart failure. He was 83. His publicist, Jerry Digney, told The Associated Press he died at his home. Although not the original Bozo, Harmon portrayed the popular clown in countless appearances and, as an entrepreneur, he licensed the character to others, particularly dozens of television stations around the country. The stations in turn hired actors to be their local Bozos.
Pinto Colvig, who also provided the voice for Walt Disney's Goofy, was the first Bozo the Clown, a character created by writer-producer Alan W. Livingston for a series of children's records in 1946. Livingston said he came up with the name Bozo after polling several people at Capitol Records. Harmon would later meet his alter ego while answering a casting call to make personal appearances as a clown to promote the records. He got that job and eventually bought the rights to Bozo.
Along the way, he embellished Bozo's distinctive look: the orange-tufted hair, the bulbous nose, the outlandish red, white and blue costume. "I felt if I could plant my size 83AAA shoes on this planet, people would never be able to forget those footprints," he said. The business - combining animation, licensing of the character, and personal appearances - made millions, as Harmon trained more than 200 Bozos over the years to represent him in local markets.
He became caught up in a minor controversy in 2004 when the International Clown Hall of Fame in Milwaukee took down a plaque honoring him as Bozo and formally endorsed Colvig as the first. Harmon denied ever misrepresenting Bozo's history. He said he was claiming credit only for what he added to the character - "What I sound like, what I look like, what I walk like" - and what he did to popularize Bozo.
CHRISTIE BRINKLEY FEELS SORRY FOR "THE OTHER WOMAN" IN DIVORCE TRIAL!
Christie Brinkley has been through a lot—and she still has a lot to go through—but she hasn't lost her ability to empathize.
"I'd just like to say after two days of testimony that I can't help but think about Diana Bianchi, and I want her and her family to know that I feel really badly for them," the jilted former supermodel said after court Thursday, referring to the woman who was a teenager when she had an affair with Brinkley's soon to be ex-husband, Peter Cook.
"I feel bad for her and I forgive her completely." Brinkley testified earlier today that she learned about the affair from Bianchi's policeman stepfather. "Today was really difficult reliving all the horrors" of that time, she told reporters outside the courthouse.
Testimony is scheduled to resume Monday.
CHRISTINA APPLEGATE TALKS ABOUT THE DEATH OF EX-BOYFRIEND!
Christina Applegate says she is "profoundly saddened" by the recent death of her ex-boyfriend, 26-year-old Lee Grivas.
"Lee was an incredible human being who was an extremely important and beautiful part of my life," Christina said in a statement. "He is missed beyond words. He touched so many and I feel much sadness for his mother, brother and all of his family and friends."
The Los Angeles Coroner's Office confirmed that the young man was found dead on July 1 at 5:25 p.m. at his home. The cause of death will be released pending the results of toxicology tests.
LINDSAY LOHAN CELEBRATES 22ND BIRTHDAY WITH GAL-PAL SAMANTHA!
Lindsay Lohan turned 22 Wednesday and Hollywood.tv was there for a busy day of birthday action as even the paparazzi got in on the act, singing "Happy Birthday" outside La Scala in Beverly Hills.
Then she and gal pal Samantha Ronson jumped into her SUV and headed to dinner at Magnolia before her big party at Teddys. The two left around 1 a.m. after a full day and night of celebrating.
FINALLY, WEIRD AL YANKOVIC'S TRIBUTE TO ALL OF YOU WHO SHOP ON EBAY!
07/03/2008 @ 8:45am PST "HOLLYWOOD BUZZ"! Madonna and A-Rod Rumors latest twist!
Alex Rodriguez has been at the center of the latest Madonna and Guy Ritchie divorce rumors. Now it seems the real reason for his late night visits with Madonna could be for consolation.
It is now being reported that A-Rod’s wife of six years, Cynthia Rodriguez, has left him less than three months after the birth of their second daughter.
The plot only thickens. Sources are now saying that 34-year-old Cynthia has been seeing rocker Lenny Kravitz, and that the two are currently enjoying a romantic getaway in Paris.
Madonna’s rep has denied rumors of an imminent divorce and says Rodriguez and Madonna share the same manager, Guy Oseary, and are “just friends.” Rodriguez walked away from reporters at Yankees
DAY 2 OF THE CHRISTIE BRINKLEY - DAVID COOK DIVORCE TRIAL TODAY!
Looking classy in a blue sweater and pencil skirt, Christie Brinkley arrived at a Long Island, New York courthouse this morning for the second day in her and estranged husband Peter Cook's divorce trial.
Christie, who is testifying today, walked into the courthouse with her good friend, Jill Rappaport, who also took the stand today revealing that she was the one who introduced Christie to Cook. Jill went on to day that she was by Christie side on the emotional day the step-dad of Cook's former mistress Diana Bianchi confronted Christie about Cook and Bianchi's affair.
Jill and Christie's testimonies follow Cook, Bianchi and Chrisite's daughter Alexa Ray Joel's, who all took the stand on Wednesday.
Diana Bianchi -- whom Cook admitted to having an affair with -- testified but didn't speak to the press as she entered courthouse.
Meanwhile, once the estranged couple was in the courtoom they avoided eye contact and in the opening statements, Brinkley's lawyer claimed that Cook spent thousands of dollars on Internet pornography and also claimed Christie had to pay for her own Mother's Day flowers because Cook would charge them to her account.
It was then Cook's turn to take the stand, where he did state under oath that he had a sexual relationship with Bianchi, saying the affair lasted less than a year. He also said he bought her Victoria's Secret lingerie and a $2,000 watch.
Alexa Ray Joel, the daughter of Christie and her ex-husband Billy Joel, testified today as well. She revealed an incident regarding a water leak, saying Cook allegedly stormed into the bathroom while she was taking a shower and yelled at her to get downstairs to "clean this mess." She claimed that she was not given a chance to get dressed before Cook forced her to go downstairs, and that he pushed her head into the leaked water and forced her to clean it up while she was naked.
After court adjourned for the day, Brinkley addressed the press at a conference, saying, "You know, it's been a really long day, and I heard a lot of new things that I didn't know, and so I really think I'm not going to comment right now; I need some time to let it all absorb."
Appearing overwhelmed, Christie deferred to her lawyer, who added, "It's been a really tough day as well as a long day, and we've got to be back tomorrow, so everybody needs to rest and the lawyers need to prepare, and we appreciate all the attention that all of you people have been giving."
"HANCOCK", BIG FIRST DAY AT THE BOX OFFICE, & MAY DO A $100M WEEKEND!
Hancock," the new Will Smith action movie opening ahead of the July Fourth holiday, seems sure to extend Hollywood's latest hot streak, keeping the U.S. box office on pace to exceed last year's record summer.
Starring Smith as a chronically hung-over, often-reckless superhero, "Hancock" is expected to give Sony Pictures its first No. 1 release of the lucrative season and gross $70 million to $80 million in its opening weekend.
Smith's last movie, dystopian thriller "I Am Legend," raked in a whopping $77.2 million its first weekend in mid-December last year, a career best for the 39-year-old star.
Counting ticket sales from Tuesday evening previews slated for most of the 3,965 theaters showing the film this weekend, the movie's North American tally through Sunday is virtually certain to surpass $100 million, analysts predicted.
Despite mixed early reviews, the film got off to a robust start with Sony reporting nearly $7 million collected from advance screenings Tuesday night.
That's about twice the $3.5 million rung up by Marvel blockbuster "Iron Man" from Thursday previews in 2,000-plus theaters in May, according to distributor Paramount Pictures. "Iron Man" has gone on to gross more than $300 million domestically.
CELEBRITY CIRCUS STAR CHRISTOPHER KNIGHT SAYS HE'S LEAVING THE SHOW!
In a bombshell announcement on NBC's "Celebrity Circus," former "Brady Bunch" and "My Fair Brady" star Christopher Knight announced that he would be leaving the show due to a broken arm.
He announced that he had fallen in rehearsal the day before and did more damage to his already-injured arm. "This has been an incredible journey," Christopher said on Wednesday night's show, "and I really wish that I could continue the journey with you, but the doctors shut me down."
Christopher said, "I have to go start some new therapy tomorrow and re-heal it because it's now broken again, but it doesn't hurt, which is sort of troubling, you know, so I have to remember that it's broken so I don't use it."
And what does his wife, model Adrianne Curry, think about his early exit? "Adrianne is actually really sad for me, because she saw part of the act I had planned for tonight last week and was very much looking forward to seeing it tonight."
His final thoughts? "Big bummer, I mean it really is," Christopher says, "'Cause this is just a fun place. … I wish it didn't have to end but it does -- life is what happens when you're making other plans."
"Celebrity Circus" host Joey Fatone announced that Christopher would not have been sent home tonight, so one of the four remaining contestants Jason "Wee Man" Acuna, Stacey Dash, Rachel Hunter and Antonio Sabato Jr. had "gotten a second lease on life." Votes after Wednesday night's show will determine which three contestants will advance on to next week's finals.
AMY WINEHOUSE UNDER HOUSE ARREST.....BY HER RECORD COMPANY!
Rehab singer Amy Winehouse is under house arrest by her record company. The star has been put under 24-hour surveillance in a bid to keep her away from any dealers and drug-taking friends.Amy was discharged from a London clinic on Monday, after collapsing at her home earlier last month. She was subsequently diagnosed with traces of potentially deadly lung disease emphysema.
And, in a very desperate attempt to keep her clean of drugs, executives at her music label Island Records have allegedly put her under the watchful eye of a full-time security guard. A source says, "Effectively, Amy’s been put under house arrest. She is being monitored by 24/7 surveillance to make sure she’s behaving herself and keeping out of harm’s way."There is also a security guard stationed outside her house around the clock to vet any undesirables. From now on, there’ll be no more waifs and strays (random people) coming into her place, wreaking havoc."Crucially, they don’t want known drug dealers coming anywhere near her. Amy has to give them names of people expected. Anyone who turns up uninvited will be sent packing. It’s for her own good."
WILL AND JADA PINKETT SMITH OPEN PRIVATE SCHOOL & DENY RELIGIOUS TIES!
Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith have chosen Scientology-based teaching methods for their new private school amid persistent rumors about their religious affiliations.
The Smiths’ New Village Academy is scheduled to open September 3. The school will reportedly use a teaching method called “study technology,” which “some believe…to be a legitimate teaching method, while others argue it’s merely a way for Scientologists to recruit members.”
The couple has also hired several Scientologists to teach at the school. The school administrator insisted the school had no religious affiliation. While some staff members are Scientologists, she told the L.A. Times, others are Muslim, Christian and Jewish.
KYLIE MINOGUE RECEIVES AN ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE FOR MUSIC!
The Aussie pop star was honored by Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace Thursday, receiving an Order of the British Empire for her services to music.
"It is an incredible honor for me to receive this award," she told the crowd and Prince Charles, who was filling in for mom Queen Elizabeth at the ceremony. "It makes me feel both humble and proud to be recognized for doing a job that I love so much."
Minogue's little sister and fellow pop princess, Dannii Minogue, was also on hand.
"It was surprisingly emotional," the "Spinning Around" singer said afterward of her big day. "I expected to be a little nervous, obviously very excited, but it was very emotional seeing all these people from different walks of life joining together for this event."
In addition to the 40-year-old Minogue, about a dozen other people received the honor.
The British OBE honor comes in the wake of another European laurel; earlier this year she received one of France's top prizes, dubbed a Knight of Arts and Letters for the "cultural pleasure she has given French people."
07/02/2008 @ 10:00am PST "HOLLYWOOD BUZZ"! Madonna and Guy Richie...Happy Together?
With rumors of a breakup swirling around them (which have been denied by Madonna's spokesperson), Madonna and husband Guy Ritchie were spotted hand in hand Tuesday night in New York City where they enjoyed a dinner at the Italian eatery Cesca.
Madonna's rep Liz Rosenberg stated yesterday that the couple has made "no plans to divorce."
ANGELINA JOLIE HAS NOT DELIVERED TWINS YET, BUT SHE'S IN THE HOSPITAL!
Angelina Jolie's doctor has denied reports that Angelina has or is about to give birth to her long-awaited twins.
"Angelina's pregnancy has gone very well so far, and she has absolutely no problems at all," obstetrician Dr. Michel Sussman stated. "But she still has at least two or three weeks to go until she gives birth, and she'll most certainly be staying in the hospital until after she gives birth."
Maybe Dustin Hoffman's previously believed red herring due date of Aug. 19 wasn't so far-fetched after all.
TATUM O'NEAL PLEADS GUILTY TO DISORDERLY CONDUCT ON DRUG CHARGE!
Tatum O'Neal has pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct in connection with her arrest last month for alleged drug possession.
Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Elisa Koenderman ordered O'Neal to spend two half-day sessions in a drug treatment program and pay a $95 fee. If she complies, she will get a conditional discharge and the conviction will be erased if she stays out of trouble for one year.
The Oscar-winning actress, daughter of actor Ryan O'Neal, was arrested June 1 on suspicion of buying cocaine on a Manhattan street. She was the youngest person ever to win an Academy Award for 'Paper Moon' in 1973 at age 10.
O'Neal has struggled with drugs in the past but said in an interview shortly after her arrest that she had recently been sober. "Just when I was about to change that and wreck my life, the cops came and saved me."
CHRISTIE BRINKLEY'S EMOTIONAL ARRIVAL FOR HER DIVORCE TRIAL TODAY!
Christie Brinkley became very emotional as she arrived to a Long Island, New York courthouse for the start of her and estranged husband Peter Cook's divorce trial.
"I really hoped with all my heart that we could've settled this out of court but since we are here to trial today, I'm going to save my comments for the courtroom," Christie said to the swarm of media just moments before tearing up.
When Cook arrived, he told the press, "It's sad that we have to be here ... I never thought I'd get divorced."
BOY GEORGE CANCELS NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DUE TO U.S. VISA PROBLEMS!
Boy George has cancelled his North American tour after U.S. authorities denied him a visa due to a pending legal case in Brtain, Reuters reports.
The former "Culture Club" frontman's tour was scheduled to kick off July 10 in Aspen, Colorado and conclude in Dallas, Texas on August 23.
"I love America and I am really sad that it appears that I am not allowed to visit a place I have called home at various times in my life," George is quoted as saying. "But what has happened to me has nothing to do with the American people -- they are kind people with big hearts."
The 47-year-old musician, whose real name is George O'Dowd, is awaiting trial in London on charges that he falsely imprisoned a man.
IS THE HIGH COST OF GAS EVEN AFFECTING TOM CRUISE'S DRIVING CHOICES?
07/01/2008 @ 7:00am PST "HOLLYWOOD BUZZ"! Screen Actors Guild "The show goes on...!
The Screen Actors Guild has agreed to disagree for the moment.
As the clock on the union's contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and TV Producers continues to tick toward its 12:01 a.m. expiration date, SAG announced Monday night that it has agreed to let members continue to work under the terms of their existing deal until further notice.
The two sides are scheduled to reconvene Wednesday afternoon.
WILL SMITH'S "HANCOCK" OPENS TOMORROW! BIG PREMIERE LAST NIGHT!
Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith, Charlize Theron and Queen Latifah were just a few of the stars who came out for the premiere of sure-to-be-summer blockbuster 'Hancock' in Hollywood on Monday night.
In the film, which opens July 2, Will stars as John Hancock, a reluctant superhero who is more likely to get drunk than try to save the world. Jason plays a public relations exec whose life is saved by Hancock, and Charlize plays Jason's wife, who also happens to be Hancock's biggest critic.
MICHAEL LOHAN UNDERGOES DNA TESTING FOR SECRET LOVECHILD!
Former Hollywood star Lindsay Lohan's dad Michael, has undergone DNA testing with hopes of proving he is not the father of a secret lovechild. Lohan has admitted to having an affair with Kristi Kaufmann during a period in 1995 when he and his now ex-wife Dina had been separated. But the born-again Christian has denied Kaufmann's allegations. She has 13-year-old daughter Ashley, and he has instructed his lawyers to seek the truth of his former mistress' claims.
Lohan tells Star magazine, "I took the DNA test this morning. ... It was important for me to know the truth, so I took the test."Lohan expects the results of the paternity tests to reveal his relationship to the teenage girl within two weeks. He insists he had no idea that his one-time lover had given birth to a child after their romance.Kaufmann hit him with the bombshell news while he was in prison, serving time for a DUI and other charges in 2005.
GUY RICHIE ARRIVES IN NEW YORK TO BE WITH MADONNA BEFORE TOUR!
Guy Ritchie touched down in New York Monday so he can spend as much time with his wife and their brood as possible before she heads out on her next world tour. "He has been planning for a long time to spend all of July in New York," the source said. "It's not a last-ditch effort to save the marriage."
Whether that's because the marriage is already over and there's nothing to save remains to be seen. But for now—and for awhile now—those close to the couple, including Ritchie's mum, are quick to deny that there's trouble at home.
The filmmaker was spotted last night heading into the family's Upper West Side apartment, where he's aiming to stay. "There are no plans to get a divorce," sources said. "She is working all the time, but they are still completely in love." Madonna's Sticky & Sweet Tour kicks off August 23 in Cardiff, Wales.
For Ritchie, the source added, the biggest issue in their marriage has been all the media attention. As for the couple's ringless fingers, the Ritchie source said that the Brit hasn't been in the habit of wearing his wedding band for ages, while Madonna's rep said that the singer has rarely slipped hers on over the last six years, either.
The duo tied the knot Dec. 22, 2000, and are parents to Lourdes, Madonna's daughter from a previous relationship; biological son Rocco; and adopted son David.
JESSICA ALBA HAS SHED HER PREGNANCY WEIGHT ALREADY, PICTURES SHOW!
Less than a month after giving birth, Jessica Alba has shed all her extra weight. The Fantastic Four star appeared to have regained her figure as she spent the afternoon shopping in Beverly Hills yesterday.The 27-year-old, who married her long-time boyfriend Cash Warren three weeks ago, delivered her first child, Honor Marie Warren, at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles at the beginning of the month.
PAMELA ANDERSON'S CAR AUCTIONED OFF TO BENEFIT PETA PETS!
Pamela Anderson's 2000 Dodge Viper was auctioned off in Las Vegas last weekend for $65,000 to benefit People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
A PETA spokesman said that Anderson's contribution will be used to raise awareness about the cruel methods used to skin reptiles for shoes, belts, bags and other fashionable accessories.
"I just realized I have too many things," Anderson said when asked why she decided to part with her favorite ride.
06/30/2008 @ 9:35am PST "HOLLYWOOD BUZZ"! Wall-E #1 movie this weekend!
A lonely little movie robot made millions of friends during the weekend -- and even outgunned Angelina Jolie at the box office.
WALL-E, the Pixar Animation tale of a robot toiling away on a long-abandoned Earth, debuted as the No. 1 movie with $62.5 million in ticket sales at theatres in Canada and the United States. Jolie's assassin thriller, `Wanted,' opened in second place with $51.1 million.
Studio estimates Sunday show the two movies combined to keep Hollywood on a roll. The top 12 films took in $179.2 million at the box office, up 22 per cent from the same weekend last year, when Pixar's `Ratouille' opened with $47 million.
The previous weekend's No. 1 movie, the Warner Bros. comedy `Get Smart,' slipped to third place with $20 million, raising its total to $77.3 million.
It was the fifth straight weekend that revenues climbed. According to box-office tracker Media By Numbers, revenues for the summer season that began May 2 are up six per cent over last year's record pace.
1. "WALL-E," $62.5 million. 2. "Wanted," $51.1 million. 3. "Get Smart," $20 million. 4. "Kung Fu Panda," $11.7 million. 5. "The Incredible Hulk," $9.2 million. 6. "The Love Guru," $5.4 million. 7. "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull," $5 million. 8. "The Happening," $3.9 million. 9. "Sex and the City," $3.8 million. 10. "You Don't Mess With the Zohan," $3.2 million.
SCREEN ACTORS GUILD UNION LEADER SAYS "NO STRIKE IMMINENT"!
The Screen Actors Guild leader has said that strike action is not imminent as their contract with Hollywood studios comes close to running out. Alan Rosenberg the union has taken "no steps" to initiate industrial action and called speculation "a distraction".
TV and movie studio bosses took out adverts in the industry press calling any strike "harmful and unnecessary". Several projects have already been put on hold in case actors walk off set if a dispute over new contracts escalates.
The two sides remain locked in talks to thrash out a new agreement before the existing contract becomes null and void at midnight Tuesday. A spokesman for the Alliance of Motion Pictures and TV Producers (AMPTP) blamed the shutdown of the industry on the actors' union for taking talks beyond the deadline.
Mr Rosenberg said SAG was "coming to the bargaining table every day in good faith to negotiate a fair contract for actors". The union represents some 120,000 film and TV actors. They are also contesting a deal reached with studio bosses by another acting guild, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA). There is concern in Hollywood that there will be a repeat of the Screen Writers Guild strike which damaged film and TV production from November to February.
AMY WINEHOUSE RETURNS, AND PUNCHES FAN DURING WEEKEND CONCERT!
Amy Winehouse returned to the stage over the weekend, once again creating headlines with her somewhat strange antics. According to reports, the singer punched a fan during a performance at the Glastonbury Festival in Somerset, England.
In a video posted by the BBC and on YouTube, she can be seen flailing her arm wildly, apparently at an audience member just off-screen.
Reports indicate she was reacting to being grabbed by an audience member.
British police say that have not received complaints about the incident, while a festival spokesman said there would not be an investigation into the matter.
20-YEAR-OLD SUPERMODEL PLUNGES TO HER DEATH IN APPARENT SUICIDE!
A European Vogue cover model fell to her death from her Manhattan apartment building Saturday in an apparent suicide, published reports said.
Ruslana Korshunova, 20, died around 2:30 p.m. in a fall from a building on Water Street, in Manhattan's Financial District, The New York Post, the Daily News and Newsday reported. The newspapers cited unnamed officials and police.
Police said the fall was under investigation. Korushnova's New York agency and a spokeswoman for medical examiners did not immediately return telephone messages.
Originally from the former Soviet republic of Kazakhstan, the almond-eyed, flowing-haired Korshunova appeared in advertisements and on runways for such designers as Marc Jacobs, Nina Ricci and DKNY. British Vogue hailed her as "a face to be excited about" in 2005.
Her break came when modeling booker Debbie Jones noticed her while perusing an in-flight magazine article about Korushnova's hometown of Almaty, according to the Vogue report. "She looked like something out of a fairytale!" Jones told the magazine. "We had to find her and we searched high and low until we did!"
FORMER "AMERICAN IDOL" RUBEN STUDDARD MARRIES OVER THE WEEKEND!
Former "American Idol" Ruben Studdard has married Surata Zuri McCants at a church in a suburb of Birmingham, Alabama. But there was no singing during the 30-minute ceremony -- just an exchange of vows, prayers and music provided by a string ensemble.
The groom, nicknamed the "Velvet Teddy Bear" on "Idol" for his big frame and sonorous voice, wore a black tuxedo with white bow tie for Saturday's ceremony.
His bride wore a white and ivory wedding gown.
Alabama will be their home as the 29-year-old-singer gets set to release a new album later this year.
PAMELA ANDERSON BLAST JESSICA SIMPSON'S LATEST T-SHIRT MESSAGE!
Pamela Anderson has some words about Jessica Simpson's "REAL GIRLS EAT MEAT" according to The Sun.
Speaking on radio in Australia – where she’s waiting to go into the Big Brother house – the star slammed her rival buxom blonde. "I think she is a bitch and whore. Actually, I don't know if she was talking about food or men."
She added that she is proud of not eating meat, saying: “I think it's healthy, good for your body and good for the environment."
INDIANA JONES THE LATEST CHARACTER TO STAR IN A LEGO VIDEO GAME!
Everyone's favorite fedora-wearing, bullwhip-wielding archeologist is the latest character to get the Lego video game treatment in "Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures."
The game compares well with 2005's "Lego Star Wars." All the memorable moments and characters from the first three Indiana Jones movies are done up Lego-style.
"Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures," published by LucasArts and developed by England's Traveller's Tales, is broken into three maps each reflecting the plot of one of the original Indiana Jones movies -- "Raiders of the Lost Ark," "Temple of Doom," and "The Last Crusade."
There's no real talking -- just mumbling, snickers and lots of body language -- but the storylines are easy to follow and the characters are surprisingly emotive.
"Lego Indiana Jones" can be played solo, with two characters onscreen and the ability to swap between them, but the real fun is when two players tackle puzzles together.
You wander around various Jones-inspired landscapes done in Lego blocks and the game really nails camera angles. Puzzles in the action-adventure game are well thought out and resolved, using the elements to build, bust or pull various Lego creations.
"Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures" is available for the PSP, PlayStation 2 and 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS and Wii -- all rated Everyone (10+), except for the Nintendo DS version which is rated Everyone (6+).
Some parents may be concerned with the fighting and gun play. You do bust up enemies -- and frequently each other -- into small Lego pieces and have access to Lego firearms. But there is no gore and it's nothing that most kids haven't done by "blowing up" their own Lego creations. Death in the game happens often and is treated in the Lego way.
Your character simply busts up into the basic Lego pieces -- you essentially fall apart. It's hilariously overdone and akin to a house of cards collapsing.
There's no shortage of things to try: boat riding, rope climbing, plane repair, ledge leaping, to name a few. The environment is super-destructible - just about everything is built out of Lego and can be smashed, rebuilt or thrown about and it's fun to just wander around busting things up and digging for loot.
The game will likely keep your attention for a while - there's dozens of different characters that you can unlock and secret locations and treasure to discover.
'Lego Batman: The Videogame' is due out later this year.
AND THE LATEST MILEY CYRUS VIDEO, MOMS AND DADS, IS "7 THINGS"!
06/27/2008 @ 10:45am PST "HOLLYWOOD BUZZ"! George Clooney offers ideas to prevent actors strike!
George Clooney is talking, regarding squabbling going on between the two Hollywood actors' unions, the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.
Both unions' contracts were set to expire on June 30 -- AFTRA signed a new contract with the producers' union, but SAG is holding out on making a deal. As a result, words have been flying between both unions and actors have been taking sides.
Clooney who has, until now, has been quiet on the disagreement, is speaking his mind in a new statement, saying that he doesn't want artists to be pitted against other artists. "Maybe we could find a way to get what both unions are looking for," Clooney says hopefully.
In his statement Clooney says that he feels that it's his duty as one of the highest-earners in his field, to protect working actors: "I’ve been very lucky in my career, which has put me in the place that I don’t need a union to check on my residuals, or my pension, or protect my 12 hour turnaround. I used to need that, and may again... but right now I don't. That means it's my responsibility to look out for actors who are trying to stay afloat from year to year. Anything less is irresponsible of me."
Clooney suggests forming a panel of top actors to help with negotiating. He says, "First, we set up a panel… Jack Nicholson and Tom Hanks, for instance... ten of them that sit down with the studio heads once a year… ten people that the studio heads don’t often say 'no' to. Those ten people walk in the door with all the new data that SAG and AFTRA compile, and adjust the pay for actors... once a year."
He also advocates raising the dues for actors who earns millions per year, saying, "Right now, there's a cap of six thousand bucks that actors pay their union... based on a million dollars in earnings. Make it $6,000 for every million... if someone makes $20 million, they pay $120,000 into the union. That could go a long way in helping pensions and health care."
Clooney, with his typically humble attude, says in closing, "To be sure, I'm not the brightest bulb out there. So maybe someone has a lot better idea... I just happen to believe so strongly in both unions... my father, my mother, aunt, uncle, even cousins were all members of either SAG or AFTRA long before me.
DISNEY AND PIXAR'S LATEST FILM "WALL-E" OPENS TODAY TO GREAT REVIEWS!
ANOTHER MOVIE EXPECTED TO DO BIG BUSINESS THIS WEEKEND: "WANTED"!
AMY WINEHOUSE STILL SCHEDULED TO SING FOR NELSON MANDELA BIRTHDAY!
Despite recent reports of health problems, Amy Winehouse is still scheduled to sing at today's star-studded birthday bash in London for Nelson Mandela, Reuters reports.
Nearly 50,000 fans are expected to attend the concert honoring the statesman, who is celebrating his 90th birthday. Also tapped to perform are Annie Lennox, Queen and Simple Minds. Proceeds from the concert will benefit his 46664 charity. The show coincides with the 20th anniversary of London's Free Mandela concert, which called for his release from prison.
Meanwhile, the concert is just a part of the week-long celebration. On Wednesday Will Smith, Oprah Winfrey and Leona Lewis were just a few of the A-listers to attend a dinner paying tribute to Mandela.
CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF LOS ANGELES ANNOUNCES BIG PARIS HILTON GIFT!
Childrens Hospital Los Angeles announced Thursday that the hotel heiress has made an "extremely generous" donation toward the construction of a new 460,000 square-foot medical tower at the downtown facility.
Hospital officials didn't specify the amount Hilton gave, but said her contribution will trick out a double-patient room in the Childrens Center for Cancer and Blood Diseases, which is slated to open in 2010.
"I am so happy and fortunate to announce my support for Childrens Hospital Los Angeles," Hilton said in a statement. "The children I have met through my involvement at Childrens Hospital have truly touched my heart."
KEVIN FEDERLINE GIVES BRITNEY MORE TIME WITH THEIR KIDS AGAIN!
Kevin Federline wants Britney Spears to once again play a major role in their children's lives. Just not more of a role than his.
K-Fed's attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan, said Thursday's all-day mediation session, in which both sides were seeking to hash out a custody agreement in advance of an August trial that "Kevin is seeking to maintain the sole legal and physical custody that he presently has," Kaplan said. "There's nothing magical about 50-50. There's nothing magical about 60-40. What's magical is that whatever order is in place, it's the order that best suits the best interest of the children."
Which, ideally, would give the 30-year-old Federline full custody, simply making permanent the present temporary order. "Kevin has had sole legal custody since January. He wants that to become the permanent order at trial, and the visitation to be consistent with what the court expanded it to this week."
Namely, allowing Spears, 26, overnight visitation with sons Sean Preston and Jayden James, which will begin Saturday night. In addition to the sleepover, she is also allowed two day visits per week. For his part, Kaplan said Federline is more than happy to give the stabilized Spears not only more custody rights but the ability to be "involved in their lives in a very substantial and meaningful way," and credits the conservatorship with her recent turnaround.
But while Thursday's mediation didn't result in any brokered accords—it would have been surprising if it had—it did get both parties started on the right path to like-mindedness.
"The mediation didn't result in an agreement that would avoid the trial set in August...The mood was comfortable, positive and it was a mood that was consistent with opening at least a great dialogue, which is necessary."
As for what would call off this summer's planned court date..."The trial in August is going to determine two primary issues," Kaplan said. "Custody and visitation, and attorneys' fees...In order to avoid the trial in all respects, there would have to be an agreement between the parties to resolve the attorneys' fees, and to put in place a custody arrangement that would carry forward...an expansion of the visitation.
"If the existing arrangement was acceptable to both parties, we would have an agreement and we wouldn't have to go to trial...But that didn't happen."
JENNIFER LOPEZ SUED FOR $5 MILLION FOR ATTACK OF HER GUARD DOG!
A former flight attendant is seeking $5 million in damages and lost wages as a result of an alleged attack by a celebrity's guard dog.
In a suit filed Thursday in Brooklyn, former flight attendant Lisa Wilson claims she was attacked on July 3, 2006, by Lopez's canine companion during a cross-country flight in a private jet, reports the New York Daily News.
A suit filed Thursday seeks $5 million dollars from Jennifer Lopez. The plaintiff, former flight attendant Lisa Wilson, alleges that J-Lo's guard dog bit her pant leg, send her falling to the ground and leaving her with injuries that led to back surgery and a loss of wages. Wilson says that as she walked by, the dog lunged for her, despite assurances that he was well behaved. When the dog caught Wilson by the pant leg, she was sent tumbling her to the ground.
In her suit Wilson claims that the fall left her with back problems that ultimately required surgery and have left her unable to work. She says that Lopez is "absolutely liable for all injuries" because she "should have known the dog had vicious propensities."
LINDSAY LOHAN AND "FRIEND" DJ SAMANTHA RONSON TOGETHER 2 NIGHTS AGO!
Pop superstar Madonna has lined-up Paul McCartney's divorce lawyer after her relationship with her film director husband Guy Ritchie collapsed, it's being reported.
The Material Girl singer, whose seven-year marriage with Ritchie is widely reported to be close to divorce, first held talks with Fiona Shackleton in April. A source close to the star said, "Madonna always seeks out the best in whatever field she is interested in at any given time. "Fiona Shackleton is the best."
Madonna, 49, is understood to have been hopeful that differences with Guy could be resolved and no papers have been filed. But relations between the couple have hit rock bottom and Madonna has now opted for a proper consultation.
Shackleton, 52, earned herself a fearsome reputation in her handling of two of the highest-profile divorces - Charles and Diana followed by Macca v Mucca. Fiona's charm and resoluteness, together with her blonde looks, have earned her the nickname Steel Magnolia.
One friend of Ms Shackleton's said, "Apparently Madonna was impressed by Fiona's work for Sir Paul and the way she handles herself in the public eye. She is a consummate professional." It is believed Madonna and Guy didn't sign a pre-nuptial agreement, leaving the singer's multi-million dollar fortune vulnerable to any aggressive legal team he might field.
But sources close to Richie insisted he is not interested in his wife's millions. Work has begun extending the couple's accommodation in London and New York, fueling speculation the couple aim to stay close for the sake of their three children. But friends say of the couple say all hope is not lost of saving their marriage.
One pal told Britain's Daily Mirror newspaper, "They have told people it's over and they are just waiting for the right time to announce it, most likely when her tour ends at the end of November. "They have had separate rooms for a while and are now even on different floors. But you never know with them. It's just possible she is trying to call his bluff and jolt the marriage back to life."
HOLLYWOOD BRACES FOR ANOTHER STRIKE, THIS TIME BY THE ACTORS!
The Screen Actors Guild on Wednesday accused major Hollywood studios of offering the union a contract deal worth less than an agreement already approved by the leaders of a smaller actors union.
SAG made the claim amid demands in Hollywood that it end the possibility of a strike or lockout by accepting the same deal as the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. "When we came back to the table, what they offered us, then and since, is tens of millions of dollars less than the AFTRA deal itself," SAG executive director Doug Allen told The Associated Press. "It's obvious that they are trying to get us to bargain up to a deal they already know is unacceptable," he said.
SAG declined to provide details on the differences between the offers.
The contracts of both unions are set to expire Monday. The lack of a deal has left studios reluctant to greenlight major movie productions. Jesse Hiestand, a spokesman for the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, declined to comment on the bargaining position of the studios. "We are approaching the conclusion of the process," he said. "The bargaining continues."
SAG represents 120,000 actors in movies, TV and other media. The TV and radio federation represents 70,000 members, including actors, singers, announcers and journalists. SAG and AFTRA share 44,000 dual members.
SAG president Alan Rosenberg also note that SAG must negotiate terms for actors in movies roles who are not covered by AFTRA. "We have to go back and keep bargaining. People in their fatigue don't understand that," Rosenberg said. The guild also said the AFTRA deal did not address product advertising woven into scripted scenes.
Months ago, SAG had vowed to gain a better contract than its sister union. It has since focused on such areas as residual payments for DVD sales, mileage reimbursement and fees for Internet content.
SAG is urging the 44,000 actors who are members of both unions to vote against the AFTRA contract because its approval would handcuff ongoing talks between SAG and the studios. Results of the AFTRA ratification vote are expected to be announced on July 8.
ANGELINA JOLIE AND BRAD PITT DONATE $1 MILLION TO CHILDREN OF IRAQ WAR!
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's foundation has donated $1 million to children affected by the Iraq war. The Jolie-Pitt Foundation will provide $500,000 for school supplies and education programs for refugee children in Iraq and $500,000 for American children who either lost a parent deployed in Iraq or have a parent serving in that country.
The donations for American children will go to a tutoring initiative at the Armed Services YMCA Operation Hero Program. Jolie – who is pregnant with the couple's twins – traveled to Iraq in February. She is a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
"My visit to Iraq left me even more deeply convinced that we not only have a moral obligation to help displaced Iraqi families, but also a serious, long-term, national security interest in ending this crisis," she wrote in an op-ed for the Washington Post.
Jolie, 33, and Pitt, 44, forked over $8 million for their foundation in 2006. That year, the foundation gave $1 million gifts to Doctors Without Borders (International Division) and the Global AIDS Alliance.
MICHAEL SCOTT (STEVE CARELL) SIGNS UP FOR 3 MORE YEARS IN "THE OFFICE"!
Michael Scott can look forward to putting in more long, hard, late nights at Dunder-Mifflin Scranton. At least, that's what he said. The "he" in this case being cocreator, executive producer and star of the original British version of The Office, Ricky Gervais, who revealed in a posting on his official website that Steve Carell has renewed his contract for the NBC hit.
"Had some great news today about the American version of The Office," Gervais wrote. "Steve Carell (now one of the most bankable film stars in the world) has just signed up for another three years with us.
"He is the hardest working man in Hollywood and the harder he works the better it is for me. I mean...well done Steve you are wonderful...He is a very nice man and deserves all his success. I am just as dedicated to my art without compromise but only between the hours of 9 and 3 p.m."
In addition to revealing the contract coup, Gervais also confirmed another of NBC's badly kept and somewhat fan-derided scoops: that a satellite Office is already in the works.
Earlier this month, word spread that Rashida Jones, who played Jim's pre-Pam hookup, Karen, on the show and who currently has a talent holding deal with the network, would be heading up the new cast, though Gervais kept mum on any casting or potential story points.
"We are also working on a spinoff series of the American Office," he wrote, "but I can't tell you anything about that yet."
THE "GHOST WHISPERER" GETS A LITTLE LIGHTER FOR THE SUMMER!
Jennifer Love Hewitt is spotted sporting a new, lighter, summer 'do as she takes a break on the set of her hit CBS drama "Ghost Whisperer." Meanwhile, the actress was sharing scenes Wednesday with funnyman Jamie Kennedy, who's been tapped to star as one of the show's regulars.
MATT DAMON "THE BOURNE EXPANSION" HAPPENING RIGHT BEFORE YOUR EYES!
Seeing the one-time Sexiest Man Alive appear somewhat less than that, while shooting "The Informant" in Hawaii has shocked some viewers. What do you think?
Heather Locklear has checked into a rehab facility in Arizona psychological treatment.
“Heather has been dealing with anxiety and depression. She requested an in-depth evaluation of her medication and entered into a medical facility for proper diagnosis and treatment,” the actress’ rep said in a statement. “This is a confidential medical matter and no further statement will be released.”
Heather’s doctor called 911 back in March, saying he was concerned that she was suicidal.
BRITNEY SPEARS GETS OVERNIGHT VISITATION RIGHTS WITH HER KIDS!
It was a good day in court for Britney Spears. She appeared in Los Angeles Superior Court for a hearing that included her ex husband Kevin Federline and his lawyer Mark Vincent Kaplan.
The first order of business was a change of lawyers for Spears. She informed the court that she will no longer be represented by Stacy Phillips. She has returned to her previous legal representative Laura Wasser.
The closed door session included testimony from parenting coach Lisa Hacker, who has observed Britney with her young sons Sean Preston and Jayden James. People magazine indicates the pop star has been granted overnight visitation rights with her children. Federline and Spears are due back in court on July 15 for another hearing.
Federline appeared in court wearing a conservative suit and tie. Britney, accompanied by her father Jamie Spears, wore a demure white blouse and khaki tan capri pants with high heeled sandals. She and her bodyguards made a side trip for some shopping at Fred Segal in West Hollywood after the court proceeding.
COLDPLAY'S GOT THE #1 ALBUM WITH THE BIGGEST SALES SINCE THEIR LAST ONE!
No rock group has rung up this many copies since Coldplay's X&Y sold 737,000 first-week units in 2005. The only acts to come close are the Eagles (711,000) and Linkin Park (623,000), both last year. To find a bigger week, we gotta turn back the calendars to 2004, when U2's How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb debuted with 840,000 copies.
Coldplay's latest also set a new record by selling 288,000 digital copies, the most ever and more than double the previous record (139,000 copies) set by Jack Johnson's Sleep Through the Static earlier this year. Not surprisingly, Viva la Vida was the biggest preorder in iTunes history.
On the other side of the pond, Viva la Vida entered its second week at No. 1 as the U.K.'s fastest-selling album of the year. The title track also reached No. 1 there. Elsewhere, the album has registered chart-topping bows in Japan, Australia, Canada, France and Germany.
Coldplay launches its North American tour July 14 in Los Angeles.
After last week's million-copy debut, Lil Wayne slipped to No. 2, selling another 309,000 copies of Tha Carter III. Prior to last week, only three albums this year sold more copies in their first weeks.
In a year of slumping sales, Weezy and Coldplay just delivered one of the biggest one-two punches in music history. There's only been one other instance in which albums debuted with 700,000-plus copies in back-to-back weeks: Britney Spears' Oops!...I Did It Again (1.3 million) and Eminem's The Marshall Mathers LP (1.8 million) on May 24 and 31, 2000.
ANNE HATHAWAY'S EX HELD ON A MULTITUDE OF CHARGES AND $21 MILLION BAIL!
During a hearing Tuesday afternoon, a federal judge ordered that Raffaello Follieri be held on $21 million bail on charges of bilking investors out of between $2.5 million and $6 million by pretending to be a real estate point man for the Vatican.
"In short, your honor, he is a con man," U.S. Attorney Reed Michael Brodsky said in court. "He was able to con a lot of people out of a lot of money over a long period of time."
Until he posts bail, at least $16 million of which must come from his own liquid assets, Raffaello is confined to his New York home. "This is one the stiffest bail packages I have ever seen," his attorney, Flora Edwards, told reporters outside the courthouse. "We are going to do everything we can to meet it."
Meanwhile, a rep for Follieri told the New York Daily News that he is planning to "vigorously" defend himself against the charges. A status hearing has been set for July 9. It's probably safe to say that Anne Hathaway's ex-boyfriend isn't having the best week ever.
Just one week after he and the Get Smart star parted ways after four years together—in the nick of time, as it turns out for her—Italian businessman Raffaello Follieri has been arrested in Manhattan on charges of wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering.
Follieri allegedly padded his résumé a bit too liberally. He's accused of telling an investor that no less an institution than the Vatican had appointed him its chief financial officer.
It hadn't. According to prosecutors, the newly single businessman claimed the holy connection in order to purchase U.S. properties owned by the Catholic church at a discounted rate.
Unfortunately for him, it's not the first time the 29-year-old has had a run-in with the law. Last week, a default judgment had been filed against the businessman after he failed to pay American Express Bank $499,100.21, with interest dating back to last September.
Earlier this month it was also revealed the entrepreneur was under investigation by the New York State Attorney General after it was discovered he failed to file the requisite IRS tax disclosure forms for his charitable Follieri Foundation.
He was also arrested back in April, when he allegedly bounced a $215,000 check to a business associate. But that charge was eventually dropped.
GWEN STEFANI, VERY PREGNANT WITH HER SECOND, SPENDS DAY AT THE ZOO!
Gwen Stefani, very pregnant with her second child, spent the afternoon with hubby Gavin Rossdale and 2-year-old son Kingston at the London zoo on Tuesday.
Stefani, who admits to being obsessed with her weight, sparked concern with her rapid weight loss after giving birth to Kingston. The singer regained her pre-pregnancy figure in just three months with the help of a personal trainer, and has stated that she has had to work hard all her life to stay in shape.
DREW LACHEY JOINS THE BROADWAY COMPANY OF "SPAMALOT" YESTERDAY!
Drew Lachey joined the Broadway company of Monty Python’s Spamalot on June 24, 2008. The actor was the second season champ on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars. He will play the role of Patsy, Arthur’s trusted manservant at the Shubert Theatre in New York City.
The production tells the tale of King Arthur and his Knights of the Roundtable who are on a quest from God for the Holy Grail with a short stop in dazzling Camelot.
The show has had a three year run, with celebrities stepping into various roles for limited duration. Clay Aiken of American Idol fame, recently did a three month stint in the production. Lachey made his Broadway debut in Rent.
BROOKE HOGAN IN MAXIM MAGAZINE PHOTO SHOOT...YES, HULK WAS THERE!
20-year-old Brooke Hogan, under daddy Hulk Hogan’s watchful eye, posed for a super-sexy photo shoot for the July issue of Maxim magazine.
Hulk Hogan showed up unexpectedly at the shoot presumably to be sure that his little girl didn’t bare too much flesh, however, he must have gone out for lunch when the seductive shots in the video below were taken.
In March it was announced that Brooke will be getting her own reality show on VH1, a spin-off of Hogan Knows Best called Brooke Knows Best which will focus on Brooke and her two roommates.
HERE'S VIDEO OF BROOKE'S PHOTO SHOOT WITH DAD HULK'S COMMENTS!
What's a crack-smoking, rehab-going troubled singer to do just hours after being released from the hospital thanks to collapsing and being diagnosed with emphysema? If you're Amy Winehouse, smoking a cigarette makes perfect sense.
The British 'Rehab' songstress was caught lighting up a smoke in London despite ominous quotes from her father like "The doctors have told her if she goes back to smoking drugs it won't just ruin her voice, it will kill her," and "with smoking the crack cocaine and the cigarettes her lungs are all gunked up."
Just days after leaving a British hospital after a week-long stay that culminated with Amy Winehouse being diagnosed with the lung disease emphysema, the starlet was caught smoking a cigarette despite her condition. Winehouse's dad also said that his daughter has "got 70 percent lung capacity," and that "she's only 24 yet she has the lungs of an 80-year-old."
Winehouse's career has been in limbo for months thanks to her erratic behavior and substance abuse issues. She collapsed last week at her north London home after signing autographs for a group of fans. An assistant caught her before she hit the ground.
GEORGE CARLIN BEING REMEMBERED. HERE'S SOME LARRY KING CLIPS!
COMEDIAN DODY GOODMAN, WHO SPANNED GENERATIONS, HAS DIED AT 93!
Dody Goodman, the delightfully daffy comedian known for her television appearances on Jack Paar's late-night talk show and as the mother on the soap-opera parody "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman," has died at 93.
Goodman died Sunday at Englewood New Jersey Hospital and Medical Center, said Joan Adams, a close family friend. The actress had been ill for some time and had lived in the Actors Fund Home in Englewood since October, Adams said.
Dody Goodman, June 22: The eclectic actress, known for her role on TV's 'Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman' as well as her role as principal's assistant Blanche in the 'Grease' movies, dies at the age of 93.
Goodman, with her pixyish appearance and Southern-tinged, quavery voice, had an eclectic show-business career. She moved easily from stage to television to movies, where she appeared in such popular films as "Grease" and "Grease 2," playing Blanche, the principal's assistant, and in "Splash."
It was on "The Tonight Show" when Paar was the late night TV program's second host in the late 1950s that Goodman first received national attention. Her quirky, off-kilter remarks inevitably got laughs and endeared audiences.
After a falling out with Paar, other chat shows took up the slack, including "The Merv Griffin Show" and "Girl Talk." And there were roles on TV series, too, most notably her appearances as Martha Shumway (Louise Lasser's mother) on "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman," starting in 1976, and guest shots on such shows as "Diff'rent Strokes," "St. Elsewhere" and "Murder, She Wrote."
In more recent times, she appeared on David Letterman's late-night talk show. "He understands my sense of humor. I will do a dumb thing for fun. That's how I got the reputation for being dopey and dumb. I don't like dumb jokes but I will do dumb things for a laugh," she said in the AP interview.
Goodman, who never married, is survived by seven nieces and nephews, 11 great nieces and nephews and 15 great-great nieces and nephews, Adams said.
A memorial service is planned.
BOY GEORGE DENIED U.S. VISA TO START AMERICAN TOUR NEXT MONTH!
Culture Club frontman Boy George's North American summer tour is in doubt after U.S. authorities refused to issue him a visa, citing looming legal issues overseas. George's 24-date trek is scheduled to begin July 11 at the House of Blues in Las Vegas, and wrap August 23 at the House of Blues in Dallas.
"At the moment, Boy George cannot come to the United States of America because he has been refused permission to enter by the USA Administration," read a statement from the artist's management. "This is not in respect of anything he has done in the past but because he is facing a trial in November in London for something that happened in April last year.
George's lawyers in London have absolutely forbidden us to speak about the facts of that case and all I can say is that George is astounded at the decision and is having lawyers here in the States look at it in the hope that someone will change their mind, George really would love to come to America and repay his American fans loyalty and that is why we are asking the US Authorities to reconsider their decision."
George was arrested last year after a 28-year-old male escort from Norway accused the singer/DJ of false imprisonment and assault. George later denied the allegations and was released on bail.
LINDSAY LOHAN ON SET IN NORTH HOLLYWOOD OF NEW MOVIE, "LABOR PAINS"!
Shooting on location in North Hollywood, the actress was on set for a full day of shooting, starting at 10a.m. and going till 5p.m.
MADONNA TAKES THE KIDS OUT TO THE OLD BALL GAME AT YANKEE STADIUM!
Madonna takes her three kids, Lourdes, 11, Rocco, 7, and David, 2 1/2, to cheer on the New York Yankees at a baseball game on Sunday in New York City’s Bronx.
The Yankees beat out the Cinncinnati Reds, 4-1. Also at the game was Madge’s manager Guy Oseary.
SHAQ'S RAP RIPPING KOBE, BUT WHO'S ON THE OLYMPIC TEAM, SHAQ? KOBE!
06/23/2008 @ 10:10am PST "HOLLYWOOD BUZZ"! Shocker! George Carlin is Dead!
George Carlin loved words. The iconic stand-up comic, whose routine about the seven words "you can't say on television" was heard from college campuses to the Supreme Court, died Sunday night of heart failure at Santa Monica's St. John's hospital, his publicist announced. He was 71.
Carlin, who suffered his first heart attack at age 41, was admitted to St. John's in Santa Monica after complaining of heart trouble, the statement said. He died at 5:55 p.m. Sunday night.
If there was one thing Carlin wasn't, it was the retiring type. "Yes, I've accomplished all the things I've wanted to and way more, I couldn't have really predicted some of the paths," Carlin told Salon in February. "But I know that there's a restlessness, you know, artists are never finished."
Born May 12, 1937, in New York, Carlin celebrated his 50th anniversary in show business last year. "I loved to watch Danny Kaye in the movies," he told Variety for a piece marking the anniversary. "I thought I'd be an actor. I'd start by being a deejay, then a comedian, then I'd get into the movies." Aside from failing to become a noted song-and-dance performer, à la Kaye, Carlin pretty much kept to the plan.
He worked in radio, segued to nightclubs—at first, with partner Jack Burns—made it to TV and, eventually, found work as an actor.
Comedy clubs and comedy albums were where Carlin, who saw himself as a writer above all, flourished. A clean-cut solo act starting in 1962, by the end of the turbulent decade, he was getting fired in Las Vegas for uttering the word "ass" on stage. By 1970, he was bearded, and ready to take off—his look, conventional wisdom-questioning routines and unflinching devotion to all words, no matter how many letters, a perfect match for the times. By 1972, he was playing Carnegie Hall and getting busted for "disturbing the peace" with his mouth at a concert in Milwaukee. In 1973, he won his first Grammy, for his album FM and AM.
It was a cut off another album, Occupation Foole, however, that gave Carlin his most noteworthy achievement.
A listener hearing New York's WBAI-FM play Carlin's "Filthy Words" routine on Oct. 30, 1973, in its unaltered entirety lodged a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission. The FCC, in turn, threatened to pull WBAI's license. WBAI appealed the FCC's bark all the way to the Supreme Court, where in 1978, the justices ruled in favor of the FCC, agreeing that the seven words "you can't say on television," shouldn't be said on the radio, either—not during hours that children might hear them. The battle lines for future Howard Stern wars had been drawn.
"It's a perverse badge of honor to be the only comedian whose routines were the subject of a case in the United States Supreme Court," Carlin told the A.V. Club in 2005.
Officially indecent, though not obscene, Carlin loomed larger than ever. His appearance on the first SNL in 1975—he performed stand-up only, and didn't participate in the sketches—served as the show's stamp of underground approval.
Through a 1970s cocaine habit, and a second heart attack in the 1980s, Carlin kept working, in showrooms, on late-night TV shows and in HBO specials, the final and 14th of which, George Carlin—It's Bad for Ya!, aired this year.
In the 1990s and 2000s, Carlin returned to Hollywood as a revered elder statesman—a revered elder statesman with an always-young mind. He appeared in the Bill & Ted movies, earned two Daytime Emmy nominations for the children's show Shining Time Station and starred in a short-lived sitcom, The George Carlin Show. He found a kindred spirit in Kevin Smith, and vice versa, and appeared in three of the filmmaker's dialogue-driven comedies: Dogma, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back and Jersey Girl.
In 2006, he was deigned suitably family friendly for Disney/Pixar's Cars and was asked to voice the Volkswagen burnout, Fillmore.
Offstage, Carlin's life, drug escapades excepted, was, in a word, square. He was married to his first wife, Brenda, from 1961 until her death in 1997. He was married to his second wife, Sally Wade, until his death.
In my website's "CLIPS" section for Monday, June 23rd, there is a portion of my last interview with George just over a year or so ago. And as a final tribute, here's a video of George's own views on death, I think he would want to share this at this time with his fans so we could have a few last laughs with one of the funniest men to have ever lived. (CAUTION: STRONG LANGUAGE SOME MAY FIND OFFENSIVE)
STEVE CARREL'S "GET SMART" MOVIE #1 AT THE WEEKEND BOX OFFICE!
The Steve Carell adaptation of the 1960s television show did $5 million more than expected, taking first place with $39.1 million, according to studio estimates
The haul made it an easy winner at theaters for the weekend, particularly given the weak showing of the Mike Myers comedy The Love Guru. Myers' first live-action comedy in five years was pummeled by critics and did just $14 million, almost $10 million below some projections and good for just fourth place.
Kung Fu Panda continued its strong run, taking second place with $21.7 million and bringing the animated comedy's total to $155.6 million. The Incredible Hulk was third with $21.6 million, leaving its future, at least as a stand-alone franchise, in question. The film dropped 61% from its debut. While that's not as imposing as the 70% drop of the 2003 Hulk, the new film has done $96.5 million — well below its $150 million budget.
M. Night Shyamalan's The Happening also took a significant tumble, dropping 67% from its opening to do $10 million and fifth place. It has done $50.3 million in 10 days.
Iron Man became the first movie of the year to pass $300 million, bringing in $4 million this weekend and lifting its total to $304.8 million.
1. Get Smart - $39.2M 2. Kung Fu Panda - $21.7M 3. The Incredible Hulk - $21.6M 4. The Love Guru - $14M 5. The Happening - $10M 6. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull - $8.4M 7. You Don't Mess With the Zohan - $7.2M 8. Sex and the City: The Movie - $6.5M 9. Iron Man - $4M 10. The Strangers - $1.9M
X-RATED LANGUAGE BRAWL ON MALIBU BEACH BETWEEN SURFERS & PAPARAZZI!
A brawl broke out on the beaches of Malibu Saturday afternoon when a group of surfers attacked paparazzi who were snapping pics of Matthew McConaughey.
One shutterbug told police that a mob of surfers approached the photogs near Paradise Cove where the often-shirtless actor was surfing with friends. The surfers demanded everyone stop filming and taking pictures, but when that didn't happen, things got physical.
"The surfers formed a semicircle in front of his camera and they said McConaughey didn't want him to film," Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department spokesman Steve Whitmore told the Los Angeles Times. "They got into an argument, and the photographer indicated that he received injuries...The surfers took the video camera and threw it in the water."
There are reports that another paparazzo suffered a broken nose.
AMY WINEHOUSE DIAGNOSED WITH EMPHYSEMA FROM SMOKING & CRACK!
Amy Winehouse's hard-partying ways have officially caught up with her. The 24-year-old soul singer has been diagnosed with emphysema, her father, Mitch Winehouse, tells Britain's Sunday Mirror.
"With smoking the crack cocaine and the cigarettes, her lungs are all gunked up," he said. "There are nodules around the chest and dark marks. She's got 70 percent lung capacity."
The elder Winehouse went on to say, "The doctors have told her if she goes back to smoking drugs it won't just ruin her voice, it will kill her. The doctors have said that if she had continued the way she was going, she could have ended up an invalid—she wouldn't have been able to breathe."
The trouble-prone "Rehab" chanteuse has been hospitalized since fainting at her home last week. In the interview, her father called on drug dealers to help Winehouse's recovery by refusing to supply her with crack cocaine.
Mitch said that working has helped keep his daughter away from drugs in the past and that there is no medical reason why she can't perform at the Glastonbury Festival next weekend.
NBC SAYS TOM BROKAW WILL HOST "MEET THE PRESS" THROUGH ELECTIONS!
NBC announced Sunday morning that Tom Brokaw, the former anchor of "NBC Nightly News," will host "Meet the Press" in Tim Russert's place through the November elections.
The popular Russert died June 13. In addition to the public mourning, his sudden death created an important vacancy within NBC's news division. For the past week, the leading candidates appeared to be NBC News Chief White House Correspondent David Gregory, PBS’ Gwen Ifill, MSNBC’s Chris Matthews and NBC Political Director Chuck Todd.
On Thursday, NBC News President Steve Capus spoke to the Times about filling Russert's shoes. “Tim is truly irreplaceable, and there’s no single person who can step in and do all this. So we have a considerable list of roles that need to be filled. We’re just going to take them one at a time.”
By choosing Brokaw as the interim host, Capus and NBC has brought in a stabilizing force while the network makes a longer-term decision. Brokaw served as the "Nightly News" anchor for 22 years and retired from that position four years ago but has remained the special correspondent for NBC News. When Russert died, it was Brokaw who announced it, and he also led the discussion about Russert's life and career on the June 15 "Meet the Press."
In the NBC press release, Brokaw signaled "Meet the Press' " enduring nature beyond any one host.
"I've been appearing on 'Meet the Press' since the days of Watergate when it was moderated by Lawrence E. Spivak right through the distinguished tenure of my great friend, Tim Russert, so I feel right at home," it read. "Tim made 'Meet the Press' the center of the universe for informative and lively discussions of public affairs, particularly the exciting 2008 campaign for president, and I intend to continue that commitment to our viewers."
ELLEN DeGENERES AND RACHAEL RAY TOP DAYTIME EMMY AWARDS FRIDAY!
Comedian Ellen DeGeneres and cooking-lifestyle guru Rachael Ray shared the Daytime Emmy spotlight Friday as they split U.S. television's top two awards for entertainment talks shows.
In another high point of the evening, Jeanne Cooper, the grand dame of America's longtime No. 1 soap opera, was named best lead actress in a drama series for her 35-year role as Katherine Chancellor on "The Young and the Restless."
It was the first Emmy win after eight nominations for Cooper, who is one of only two remaining "The Young and the Restless" cast members from the early days of the show. "I bet you thought I died," the 79-year-old actress joked as she accepted her award, adding later, "This is totally shocking to me."
Veteran "General Hospital" star Anthony Geary, who plays the popular Luke Spencer character (of Luke and Laura renown), won his sixth trophy as best lead actor. "General Hospital" was named best daytime drama series for a record 10th year.
The victory for "Rachael Ray" in the race for best talk show marked an upset triumph over "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," which had won the prize in each of the last four years. "Wow! Holy cat," a stunned Ray enthused on stage. "I really can't breathe."
Although her program lost out to Ray, DeGeneres pulled off a triumph for a fourth straight year as best talk show host. In doing so, she prevailed again over the co-hosting ensemble of "The View," led by creator-producer Barbara Walters and newly installed moderator Whoopi Goldberg.
Another team of perennial joint nominees, Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa of the morning show "Live with Regis and Kelly," extended their losing streak as well.
But Philbin, 76, was not sent home empty-handed. The veteran TV personality, who got his big break as Joey Bishop's sidekick in the 1960s and hosted the game show hit "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" decades later, received a lifetime achievement award recognizing his 47 years in the business.
Several winners on Friday paid tribute to Oprah Winfrey in their remarks, including Ray and supermodel Tyra Banks, whose own self-titled weekday program won the newly created award for best "talk show/informative."
"I want to thank Oprah Winfrey for the inspiration. She is the queen," said Banks, who also hosts the prime-time show "America's Next Top Model." "I want to thank my mama for her perspiration, and just doing everything that she could to instill power inside of me."
Winfrey has taken herself out of the running for best talk show and host in recent years after collecting a total of 16 Emmys in those two categories during the 1980s and '90s.
Another bittersweet moment Friday night came as Jennifer Landon, 24, the daughter of the late TV star Michael Landon ("Bonanza," "Little House on the Prairie") saluted her father in French as she accepted her third consecutive award as best younger actress for her role on "As the World Turns."
FATAL CRASH OF NHRA DRIVER SCOTT KALITTA AT SUNDAY'S SUPERNATIONALS!
Naomi Campbell pleaded guilty today to assaulting two police officers after causing a stink aboard a BA flight at London's Heathrow Airport in April.
But she managed to avoid the maximum six-month jail term. Instead she was sentenced to 200 hours of community service for the air-rage ruckus, fined $4,600 and ordered to pay $400 to each of the police officers she attacked and $300 to the captain of the flight.
There is a new baby in the Spears clan! Jamie Lynn Spears and her fiancé Casey Aldridge welcomed a baby girl at a hospital in Mississippi, near her Louisiana hometown, at 9:30 a.m. Thursday morning.
People confirms exclusively the baby was named was named Maddie Briann. "Just the family was there," says a source. "Everyone is healthy and happy."
Jamie Lynn's sister Britney, father Jamie and brother Bryan flew in Wednesday to be with her for the birth; her mother Lynne had been with her helping her get ready for the baby.
Over the last few months, Spears has kept busy by passing her GED exam, preparing the nursery and attending multiple baby showers.
A source close to the new mom said that Jamie Lynn, Casey, and, of course, their day-old daughter, will be spending their first week or so as a family shacked up at grandma Lynne Spears' Louisiana home.
Though the young couple already owns a home, complete with baby-ready nursery, in Mississippi, they've opted to move in with her mother for the time being to take advantage of the in-house help, which includes father Jamie, brother Bryan and another relative, named Britney
Jamie Lynn's Zoey 101 costar, Erin Sanders, told PEOPLE earlier this year that the actress will be a fun mother.
"She is just a very good-hearted and warm person," he said. "We would always hang out on the set and she is a lot of fun, so I think she's going to be an easygoing, fun mom."
AMY WINEHOUSE HOSPITAL RUMORS ARE FALSE! MORE TESTS TO COME!
After spending several days in the hospital, rumors abound that troubled songbird Amy Winehouse is fighting a deadly illness.
But her rep tells People that reports of her coughing up blood are false. "She has a chest infection," he tells the mag, adding that "she had a routine test for TB, which came back negative."
The 24-year-old is still being kept under observation while she undergoes more testing. Doctors have yet to determine if she will be able to resume performing in the near future. She is scheduled to perform for Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday celebration in London.
"She would really love to do the show," her rep says. "She always wants to do these things, but she will listen to her doctors."
ROBE LOWE WINS FIRST SMALL VICTORY IN LEGAL BATTLE WITH NANNY!
Rob Lowe came out on top in court yesterday, winning his first small victory in his legal battle with a former nanny in Santa Barbara Superior Court.
A judge threw out two of the 12 damning allegations made against the actor and his wife by ex-staffer Jessica Gibson.
While the bulk of the suit—including all the sexual-harassment allegations—remain, the two charges tossed related to labor code violations and were tossed after it was determined they had no legal basis.
ROBERT DOWNEY JR. AMONG THE HOLLYWOOD STARS NEXT ON WALK OF FAME!
Robert Downey Jr. is among a new list of stars to be honored on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Other actors receiving Hollywood stars include Ralph Fiennes, Sir Ben Kingsley, Hugh Jackman, Cameron Diaz and director Tim Burton.
The Village People, pop singer Shakira and Desperate Housewives actress Felicity Huffman and husband William H. Macy, will also be enshrined on Hollywood's famous sidewalks.
The stars, which were selected by The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce's Walk of Fame Committee, will be unveiled in 2009.
STEVE CARELL TURNS THE TABLES, OR DESK, IN THIS CASE, ON JIMMY KIMMEL!
The biggest movie of the summer just became the biggest movie of the year. Iron Man became the first film of 2008 to pass the $300 million mark at the domestic box office today.
The Robert Downey Jr. career-resuscitating, comic-book adaptation had grossed an estimated $299.3 million through Tuesday, per the number crunchers at Box Office Mojo, and should have reached the milestone by the time you read this.
Wednesday's totals were not yet available, but the film has so far made no less than $680,000 per day in ticket sales, meaning if the Marvel flick didn't hit the mark last night, it's a statistical certainty it will do so today.
Worldwide, the film has grossed an additional $250 million, bringing its global gross to more than $550 million. And yes, a sequel is on its way.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT, HERE'S MICHELLE OBAMA ON "THE VIEW"!
BRITNEY SPEARS IS BACK HOME WITH HER SISTER FOR BABY'S BIRTH!
According to People, Britney Spears is back in her home state of Louisiana. The mag reports that Britney made the trip so she could spend time with little sis Jamie Lynn as the time nears for her to give birth to her first child.
Britney traveled with her father, brother and assistant -- arriving Wednesday afternoon. After the Spears crew touched down they headed straight to their Serenity mansion in Kentwood.
BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM! NEW SHOTS OF SOCCER STAR IN AUGUST VANITY FAIR!
Becks has done it again! The sexy soccer stud flexes his killer abs and much more in a new black-and-white ad campaign for Emporio Armani Underwear, unveiled today on a giant billboard at Macy's in San Francisco.
The new David Beckham pics were shot on Malibu Beach in California by the same photography team, Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, that shot his last campaign. They'll debut in the August edition of Vanity Fair magazine.
CHRISTIE BRINKLEY AND PETER COOK DIVORCE - PUBLIC OR PRIVATE?
Lawyers for Christie Brinkley and Peter Cook will meet at a hearing this morning in New York Supreme Court to discuss whether or not their divorce trial will be open to the public and the press. The custody, visitation rights and child support are at stake. Lawyers for news media will also have an opportunity to file motions for or against the notion.
According to Newsday, law guardian Theresa A. Mari is expected to argue that the former supermodel's two younger children would be harmed by press exposure to certain facts of the case, which may begin as early as next month.
The custody, visitation rights and child support of the couple's two young children, Sailor, 9, and Jack, 12, are at stake. Jack, who was adopted by Cook, is Brinkley's son from her previous marriage to Richard Taubman. Brinkley also has a 22-year-old daughter, Alexa Ray Joel, with first husband Billy Joel.
After a decade of marriage, Brinkley filed for divorce from Cook after she learned that he was having an alleged affair with his 18-year-old assistant, Diana Bianchi, in the summer of 2006.
