Finally a chance to catch my breath after these past incredibly difficult 6 weeks.

Our mother passed away Monday, July 5th at Scarboro Hospital surrounded by 10 of her family after being hospitalized with lung and liver cancer which was discovered after she was admitted with pneumonia (See “Tribute” section)

KILLER SHOW PREP will return August 1/10 once I get my feet back on the ground.

Thanks for your patience and understanding these past several weeks.

Cheers,

Johnny H ;-0

We apologize for any inconvenience but I must attend to this important family matter and have dedicated all my time to be with her in her final days.

We’ll be back once things have settled down.

Thanks for your understanding.

Sincerely your’s in Killer Show Prep,

Johnny H ;-0

Johnny H with new wife, Ingrid

Johnny H with new wife, Ingrid (seated) & daughter, Rachael

Rachael, Ingrid, John, Werner & Carmen Leuschner (www.idomartials.com)

I was doing a contest called “Timeline” last week on 104.7 HEART FM and the caller kinda pantsed me…very funny !

Enjoy ;-O

*** MOST THOUGHT TIGER WOODS APOLOGY WAS SINCERE***

*** A poll of 1,090 Americans by HCD Research using its MediaCurves.com Web site sez 60% thought Tiger Woods was sincere with his televised apology Friday regarding his extramarital affairs.

* But viewers were split on whether Woods’ statements changed their perception of him

* 52% said their perception of him hadn’t changed

* 31%’s perception had changed in a positive way

* 17%’s perception of him had changed in a negative way.

* 64% said Woods’ apology was sufficient, while 36% said it wasn’t.

*** AU CONTRAIRE***

*** Surprising new research shows members of a group or team will work harder when they’re competing against a group with lower status than when pitted against a more highly ranked group… contrary to the common belief that underdogs have more motivation because they have the chance to ‘knock the higher-status group down a peg.

Researchers at Ohio State University’s Fisher college of business found over and over again during many studies people worked about 30% harder when their group was competing against a lower-status group

*** OLYMPIC UPDATES***

*** MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT SKED***

*** Feist, Usher, The Roots, The Fray, Our Lady Peace, Stars, All American Rejects, Jet, K’Naan and Devo are some of the groups that are playing nightly the victory ceremonies at Whistler Medals Plaza during the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics Feb. 13 through Feb. 27 in Whistler, British Columbia.

*** HAITI UPDATES***

*** Sean Penn flew back to Port-au-Prince, Haiti Saturday to help the survivors of the January 12 earthquake. Penn slept in a tent and survived on just a few hours of sleep a night during his recent 3-week stint and this time’s helping move homeless Haitians to safety before the rains come. His relief efforts may force him to quit a planned Three Stooges movie.

*** Johnny Depp recorded his guitar part Friday for former Pogues frontman Shane McGowan’s charity song for Haiti, a cover of Screamin’ Jay Hawkins 1956 hit I Put A Spell On You. McGowan and his long term girlfriend, writer Victoria Clarke chose the song because the Haiti earthquake took place on the 10th anniversary of Hawkins’ death and he thinks the song’s a modern day ‘hymn for hope and love.’ Other stars appearing on  I Put A Spell On You include Nick Cave, Primal Scream singer Bobby Gillespie, former Sex Pistol Glen Matlock, Pretenders singer Chrissie Hynde, ex-Clash guitarist Mick Jones and Paloma Faith.

*** Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell and Nicola Roberts were among the supermnodels who hit the catwalk for Fashion For Relief Thursday in London. Naomi and Kate wore designs from Alexandra McQueen’ last Spring/Summer 2010 collection in a tribute to him after his suicide last week. Other celebs who took to the catwalk included Girls Aloud singer Kimberley Walsh, Welsh diva Dame Shirley Bassey, former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell and socialite Pixie Geldof.

*** Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban are donating $50,000 a year for 5 years (total-$250,000) to fund a school in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti. The couple’ll be working with Oscar-winning director Paul Haggis and the Artists for Peace and Justice organization on the project.

*** ELTON JOHN SEZ JESUS WAS GAY***

*** Sir Elton John told Parade magazine: “I think Jesus was a compassionate, super-intelligent gay man who understood human problems.” Elton also sez he fears he could be killed by a crazed fan – just like John Lennon and Gianni Versace.

*** AND*** Sir Elton John’s outraged bloggers and tweeters after saying Jesus Christ was gay in a new online interview with Parade.com as part of an article which’ll appear in the website’s sister weekend magazine.

*** TIGER WOODS UPDATES***

*** “I said, ‘I’m so proud of you. Never think you stand alone. Mom will always be there for you and I love you.’ “- The supportive words of Kultida Woods to son Tiger Woods as she hugged him in the Sunset Room at the TPC Sawgrass golf course clubhouse in Ponte Vedra, Fla., after his speech Friday morning. Kutilda told reporters she was upset the way media treated him like he’s a criminal. She also said his return to Buddhism, “will make him a much better person.”

*** Tiger Woods broke his silence Friday morning at an orchestrated appearance at the TPC Sawgrass Clubhouse in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., home to the PGA Tour…his 1st public remarks since his car crash turned into a highly-publicized sex scandal were…

“I want to say to each of you simply and directly: I am deeply sorry for my irresponsible and selfish behaviour.”

Woods said he and wife Elin Nordegren have “started the process of discussing the damage caused by my behaviour.” Nordegren wasn’t there but his mother Kultida Woods was.Woods said he plans to resume playing professional golf maybe even this year…and said… “When I do return, I need to make my behaviour more respectful of the game.”

Woods said he spent 45 days in inpatient therapy “receiving guidance” for his problems between late December and early February. He said he’ll resume his treatment on Saturday.

Check it out on YouTube...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q349YczkqFk

Full apology…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZU8XMS9xn0&annotation_id=annotation_809603&feature=iv

*** Tiger Woods returned to the golf course for the 1st time Thursday after being snapped on a range near his £1.7million home in Windermere, Florida. This is the 2nd time he’s been spotted in as many days after being photographed Wednesday going for a jog with a personal trainer. Meanwhile, Woods’ wife Elin Nordegren came out her home in Florida wearing Nike clothing made by her husband’s major sponsors. She’s now living 1/2 a mile away in rented house with their 2 young children. She’s put the divorce on hold for 6 months after Tiger spent 6 weeks at a sex rehab clinic in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

*** MJ UPDATES***

*** A LA judge ruled Friday Joe Jackson will be allowed to search thru Michael’s medical records but only those made on the day his son died (June 25/09) at UCLA Medical Center. Jackson wants the medical records so he can see if anyone was to blame for Michael’s death. The administrators of the singer’s estate previously lodged an objection with the court, claiming Joe wasn’t entitled to the documents because he wasn’t a dependent of his son.

*** Joe Jackson sez his son Michael must have met with Elvis’ former doctor, George Nichopoulos, also known as Dr. Nick to prescribe him drugs before his death last June and wants him investigated by officials. Jackson claims Dr. Conrad Murray who faces involuntary manslaughter charges isn’t the only high-profile doctor who could be linked to Michael’s death.

*** Kai Chase, the personal chef who was with Michael Jackson when he died’s filed a creditor’s claim against the late star’s estate. Chase who worked at Jackson’s California home, claims her company Kai Chase Incorporated’s owed $8,000 (GBP5,000) for missing pay between June 2-25 before Jackson suffered fatal cardiac arrest.

Her claim now brings the total against the King of Pop’s estate to more than $22 million (GBP13.75 million)…including Jackson’s former accountant Diane Williams, his spiritual adviser Reverend June Juliet Gatlin, his former skin doctor Arnold Klein, choreographer LaVelle Smith Jr. and hiss one-time manager and adviser Dr. Tohme Tohme.

*** Michael Jackson called his personal doctor the “best in the world” just 2 days before he died of a lethal dose of propofol adimittedly administered by Conrad Murray whose been charged with involuntary manslaughter over the singer’s death.

“My doctor is the best in the world. I feel completely comfortable with him. I trust this guy with my life. He’s an incredible guy and understands what I need. He is a friend to me and my family,” News of the World quoted him as apparently telling aides.

*** MORE IDOL CHATTER***

*** Simon Cowell’s denied Howard Stern will replace him when he leaves American Idol next year to launch his British talent show The X Factor in the U.S. Other stars said to replace him…Sir Elton John, Jamie Foxx, Oasis rocker Noel Gallagher and Madonna. Cowell’s shortlisted Lady Gaga and blogger Perez Hilton.

*** AND*** Simon Cowell sez Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher could be his replacement on “American Idol.” Cowell sez Gallagher, 42, would be a better fit as an “Idol” judge than someone like Madonna cuz the demands of working on the show are likely too much for a pop star like her. Gallagher quit Oasis last summer after a nasty bustup with brother Liam just before stepping on stage and is playing a pair of solo performances in London in late March.

*** Simon Cowell’s mother, Julie sez his girlfriend Mezhgan Hussainy moved in to his LA home on Wednesday despite Cowell’s longtime publicist Max Clifford’s denial the couple’s engaged. Rumours flew he proposed to Hussainy after she was snapped sporting a diamond band on her ring finger following an intimate Valentine’s Day date with Cowell last Sunday.

*** Fantasia Barrinto’s stepped up security for her LA run in The Color Purple after receiving a threatening letter on Friday that contained several racial slurs as well as the line, “Go back (to) where you came from and die.”

*** Adam Lambert feels bad about telling a fan to shut up when she was talking on her cell phone during a recent concert but sez she needed to “learn a lesson” about concert etiquette. The former American Idol runner-up was performing at New York’s PC Richard & Son Theater on Monday when he told the fan “You’re not watching TV, honey – it’s a live show!”

*** X-FACTOR UPDATES***

*** US political aide Ann Corbitt sez Ashley Cole begged her to keep quiet about their one-night stand, while he was on a pre-season tour with the Chelsea soccer club last July. And according to the News of the World he told her: ‘I can’t lose my wife over this. If I lose my wife, I don’t want to live.’ Corbitt told the paper she didn’t know Cole was married until the morning after they had sex in his hotel room in Seattle and turned down his requests for a 2nd session after she found out.

Meanwhile, a 5th woman, Alexandra Taylor claims she slept with him just hours after he and Cheryl went public with their relationship on the evening of the National Television Awards in October 2004. The ‘glamour model’ said he came onto her in the Funky Buddha club in London just minutes after Cheryl had left with her Girls Aloud bandmates. Taylor and her friend were the invited back to his north London flat where she said the sex was really lousy cuz he was so drunk.

*** X-Factor judge-Girls Aloud star Cheryl Cole reportedly sent a limousine to pick 24-year-old Derek Hough, Strictly Come Dancing pro dancer, then enjoyed watching Valentine’s Day together. They then met up again for an intimate meal at Hollywood eaterie Katsuya. Cole’s dates follow her recent discovery of husband Ashley’s raunchy texts and photos to a woman he’d reportedly been seeing.

*** Thieves tried to break into Cheryl and Ashley Cole’s $ 7 million (£3.5 million) mansion Thursday to try to steal the singer’s wedding rings. The attempted burglary came just hours after the X Factor judge was snapped flying to LA without her wedding ring.Cole was woken at 4.30am as thieves tried  to gain entry through a window at the Surrey mansion. He then called cops who arrived minutes later but the thieves had fled.

*** DWTS UPDATES***

*** Brooke Burke, who won Dancing With The Stars in November 2008 with pro partner Derek Hough’s confirmed she’s in the running to replace Samantha Harris as the new co-host of the show. Other names… Pam Anderson, John Stamos, Jennifer Grey, former mixed martial arts fighter Jason Chambers, NFL player Chad Ochocinco, and rapper Dirt Nasty. Celebs who want to be on the show- Olympic diver Greg Louganis and Kate Gosselin.

*** BAFTAS SUNDAY  NIGHT***

*** “The Hurt Locker” was the big winner Sunday night at the BAFTA awards, winning Best Film and won 5 other trophies.

*** James Cameron’s ex-wife Kathryn Bigelow won Best Director and Mark Boal won for Best Original Screenplay

“The Hurt Locker” also won for Editing, Cinematography and Sound.

“Avatar” and “Up in the Air” both won 2 awards- “Avatar“won Production Design and Special Visual Effects.

“Up” won for Best Animated Film and Music.

Colin Firth won the Best Actor award for “A Single Man”

Carey Mulligan won Best Actress for “An Education.”

Christopher Waltz won Supporting Actor for “Inglourious Basterds”

Mo’Nique was named Best Supporting Actress for “Precious.”

Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner won for Best Adapted Screenplay for “Up in the Air.”

“Fish Tank” was named Best British Film.

“The Prophet” was named Best Film not in the English language.

“Young Victoria” won for Best Costume Design and Makeup and Hair.

*** WKND BOX OFFICE***

*** Martin Scorsese and Leonardo Di Caprio’s Shutter Island’s #1 at the U.S. box office  taking $40.2 million (GBP25.1 million) in its debut weekend. Their last Oscar-winning movie, The Departed, debuted at $26.9 million (GBP16.8 million) in 2006. They also worked together on Gangs of New York and The Aviator.

Valentine’s Day slipped to #2 with $17.2 million (GBP10.8 million).

James Cameron’s Avatar’s at #3 with $16.1 million (GBP10.1 million.) The 3-D blockbuster’s record-breaking U.S. total total’s $687.8 million (GBP429.9 million). Worldwide, the film’s cashed in on $2.47 billion.

Rounding out the top 5…

Pierce Brosnan’s Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief and Benicio Del Toro’s The Wolfman, with total earnings of $15.3 million (GBP9.6 million) and $9.8 million (GBP6.1 million) respectively.

*** PICKLE FACEBOOK GROUP BEATS NICKELBACK***

*** The Facebook group – Can this pickle get more fans than Nickleback?, set up on February 8th’s beat Nickelback for followers with more than 1,414,000 fans, compared to Nickelback’s 1,413,167 fans. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Can-this-pickle-get-more-fans-than-Nickleback/282013353726?ref=search&sid=606228427.3074651150..1

*** OLYMPICS SHOULD SET EXAMPLE OF IMPORTANCE OF HELMET USE***

*** Dr. Michael Cusimano, a neurosurgeon at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto sez the world’s elite athletes at the Olympic Winter Games compete with helmets but too many people don’t bother wearing them. In a commentary published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, Dr. Cusimano calls for skiers to forget the cultural stigma or fashion faux pas associated with wearing helmets to encourage helmet use as a regular part of skiing and snowboarding. Research shows about 120,000 people in North America suffer head injuries while skiing or snowboarding each year and helmets help reduce the risk of head injuries by up to 60%.

*** SARAH PALIN-FAMILY GUY BATTLE***

*** Family Guy voice actor Andrea Fay Friedman, who suffers Down Syndrome sez former Alaska Governor-Republican candidate Sarah Palin has no sense of rumour after Palin and her daughter, Bristol, lashed out at the show. Last Sunday’s episode from ‘Family Guy’ was quickly slammed by mentally disabled advocates, including Palin, whose youngest son, Trig, has Down Syndrome.

Gawker.com sez the report posted by the Times omitted a line from Friedman’s letter when she said… “My mother did not carry me around under her arm like a loaf of French bread the way former Governor Palin carries her son Trig around looking for sympathy and votes.”

Friedman denies her “Family Guy” role was meant to ridicule Trig…she told the Times she was making fun of Sarah Palin, but not her son.

*** LANCE ARMSTRONG ACCIDENTALLY CALLS 911***

*** Lance Armstrong was embarassed when police arrived at his Texas home on Saturday after he accidentally called 911. The former Tour de France champion was at his home in Austin, Texas with his children, Luke, Isabelle and Grace, when he attempted to dial his pal Dave Bolch, whose first 3 numbers are 913. He realized his mistake when cops showed up unexpectedly at his house.

***PLEASEROBME.COM WEBSITE DEEMED IRRESPONSIBLE

*** Pleaserobme.com, which aims to highlight the dangers of sharing information about your location on social networking sites’ been called “irresponsible”. The Dutch site, http://pleaserobme.com/ lists updates on Twitter from people who broadcast where they are at any given time to make the point that if people are telling the world they’re not at home, they’re leaving themselves open to be robbed. The site lists “all those empty homes out there” and gives a running total of “new opportunities”. The developers of the site took just a few hours to put up the site after thousands began posting updates about where they are in the online social game Foursquare. Users of Foursquare, a Twitter-type app, check in on their cell phone to record their position on a map, indicating where they are – and where they’re not.

*** SINGING HELPS STROKE VICTIMS***

*** Teaching stroke patients to sing “rewires” their brains, helping them recover their speech, say scientists at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School in Boston. Patients use their “singing centre,” a different area of the brain from the area involved in speech if their “speech centre”‘s damaged by a stroke. Researchers first used this technique when it was discoveredt stroke patients with brain damage that left them unable to speak were still able to sing.

*** NAP HELPS RECHARGE LEARNING***

*** That afternoon siesta goes a long way in not only rejuvenating the body but the mind as well…so much, it actually improves the brain’s ability to absorb new information, claim scientists from the University of California at Berkeley. Volunteers who slept for 90 minutes during the day did better at cognitive tests than those who were kept awake. The results show the brain may need sleep to process short-term memories, creating “space” for new facts to be learned.

*** SCORPION VENOM THE NEW MORPHINE***

*** Scorpion venom ‘s being touted as an alternative to morphine, according to researchers at Tel Aviv University looking at new ways to develop a novel painkiller based on natural compounds found in the venom. Peptide toxins in scorpion venom interact with sodium channels in nervous and muscular systems — and some of these sodium channels communicate pain. Gurevitz sez he’s trying to develop painkillers that mimic the venom’s bio-active components to modify elements of the venom so a future painkiller can be designed that can work like the toxins and be as effective, while eliminating or reducing side effects.

*** MUMMIES OF WORLD EXHIBIT ***

*** The debut of “Mummies of the World,” billed as the largest travelling exhibition of mummies ever assembled with more than 150 objects and artifacts from around the world opens July 1 at the California Science Center. The 3-year tour will hit museums and science centers in 6 other major cities in the US after its LA run.

*** CELL PHONES FOR BETTER EATING***

*** Georgia Institute of Technology researchers are testing if the new EatWell system using cell phones will help steer people away from chocolate cake and toward fruits and vegetables. Andrea Grimes’ new invention allows people to use their cellphones to record and share stories about what they’re eating. EatWell uses cellphones to record and share audio stories with members about how they’ve overcome temptation or tried something healthier.

*** Catholic leaders in Connecticut are trying to fill confessionals during Lent by taking out billboards seeking sinners. Bishop William Lori of the Bridgeport Diocese said he took out a full-sized billboard urging Catholics to take advantage of the extended confessional hours being offered every Tuesday until the end of Lent.

*** Catholics in New York said the luxuries they’re giving up for the 40-day observance of Lent include drinking, swearing, Facebook and road rage. Irish tourist Tasha McClure said she’s logging off from Facebook. New Yorkers Jamie Crapanzo and Roxann Romano plan to give up swearing-Romano’s also not yelling at her kids and drinking. Gary Fandl  said he hopes to spend his Lent staying calm in the driver’s seat.

*** 33-year-old Daniele E. of West Germany was arrested in November for scaling a steel fence to break into the prison where his girlfriend was serving time for drug-related offenses to have sex with her. On Tuesday, the Bielefeld public prosecutor charged Daniele E. with trespassing. E’s lawyer said he thought the charges were excessive and said- “Couldn’t we have just laughed this one off and cancelled the trial?”

*** Turkish officials are trying to figure out why a funded film festival that hasn’t taken place yet gave a best music award to a film with no music . The festival was billed as international to run in Ankara Dec. 14-20, allegedly organized by the Public Works Ministry. The festival received $16,500 from the Ministry of Culture, but neither the jury members nor the award winners attended the event. Suspicions arose when the 2 directors of a film received plaques awarding them best music soundtrack even though their film has no music.

*** A late-night drunken brawl between a Florida couple started when the husband got out of bed to use the restroom and missed the toilet. Pasco County Sheriff’s deputies  arrived at the trailer home of Deanne Elsholz, 44, and David Elsholz, 50, in Wesley Chapel late Monday night and found both spouses drunk and with slightly different accounts of the evening’s confrontation. Deanne told cops she heard him peeing on the floor and he struck her in the head with a towel, then she threw the glass that hit him in the nose, causing blood to flow onto his chest and arms… then ran into the bathroom and slipped on David’s pee…then he kicked her in the ribs while she was on the ground.

David denies hitting her with the towel, saying she threw the glass at him while he was trying to go back to bed. He also made no mention of kicking her.

Deanne was deemed the aggressor in the conflict and arrested for domestic battery, a charge David’s faced twice in recent years. She was examined by a doctor who determined her ribs weren’t injured.

*** Australia’s most biggest bookie said he’ss getting out of Sydney’s betting business due to the dismal state of the market. Con Kafataris of Sydney said he’s leaving gambling in New South Wales behind due to the state of the industry, which he blamed in part on “draconian” legislation barring around-the-clock betting, Internet access for clients and additional measures available to competitors in other states. Kafataris sez he was averaging turnover between $2-$3 million on a Saturday but is now lucky to hold $750,000.

*** Tsue Chong Co, a Seattle fortune company cookie’s unveiled a line of cookies bearing messages on behalf of the U.S. Census Bureau. The 5 census messages will appear on the flipside of 2 million otherwise commonplace fortunes inserted into the cookies. The fortunes, including messages that “Real Fortune is being heard” and readers should “Put down your chopsticks and get involved in Census 2010,” will appear in cookies distributed to restaurants and stores in Washington, Oregon, Montana and Idaho. The cookies are part of the government’s $320 million media campaign to promote participation in the April 1 census.

*** An Australian chef says he has an alternative to the government’s plan to poison wild rabbits — cook and eat them. Chef Matt Moran of award-winning Sydney restaurant Aria said the booming wild rabbit population, which the New South Wales government plans to solve by releasing the deadly calicivirus, should instead, be eaten. Moran said rabbit was seen as a cheap and easily accessible source of meat during the Great Depression.

*** Police in Atlanta, Georgia chased a runaway zebra though rush hour traffic after it escaped from a circus. Several police cars and motorcycles followed the scared animal for several miles before it was eventually captured. The zebra named Lima escaped from an outdoor enclosure of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus.

*** A 2nd hand shoe shop owner stole more than 1,200 pairs of designer shoes by posing as a mourner in South Korea. The 59-year-old thief, named only as Mr Park by police, had literally walked off with his haul from funeral homes and hospitals across the capital. His victims were the mourners who’d slipped off their shoes out of respect, according to the national tradition. Park would take off his own footwear, pay his ‘respects’, then put on a more expensive pair and walk off. When police caught up with him after setting up a surveillance operation he led them to a warehouse stacked high with the expensive footwear. His stash’s been put on display by police in Seoul in the hope of reuniting as many as possible with their rightful owners.

*** A 22 yr old German snowboarder stranded in the Alps for 6 hours was rescued after attracting attention by setting fire to his money. Dominik Podolsky of Munich, was stuck after the ski lift was switched off at dusk in Hochzillertal, Austria, leaving him trapped about 10m (33ft) above ground. He’d forgotten his cell and screamed for help. When darkness fell and the temperature dropped to -18C, he began to burn paper handkerchiefs, restaurant bills and business cards with a cigarette lighter, then the last of his euros before he was finally spotted by ski lift cleaners. After being treated for hypothermia at a local hospital, he took the train home that night. Podolsky sez he’s considering suing the company that operates the lift.

*** A Saudi Arabian court handed down a 120-lash sentence to a man who was married to 6 women at once-2 more than the legal limit.The un-I.D.-ed dude told the Jizan province court he didn’t know he was violating Shariah, Islamic law, by having more than 4 wives at the same time. The defendant, a member of the Saudi Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, a religious police force, was also ordered to read 2 chapters of the Koran and was banned from leading prayers.

*** Canadian airline Jazz Air passengers say a man with strong body odour was removed earlier this month from a flight from Prince Edward Island. A woman who sat near the smelly man told a reporter other passengers “were just mumbling and staring” at him.

***A 45 yr old woman thought to be dead was sent back to a hospital in Colombia after workers at a funeral parlor noticed she was breathing and moving. Noelia Serna was taken to the funeral home hours after she was pronounced dead of multiple organ failure. She was in a coma when she started breathing and moving when funeral home workers began to apply formaldehyde to her body. Doctors at the hospital say Serna may have been suffering from Lazarus Syndrome, an extremely rare phenomenon where circulation restarts spontaneously.

*** Doctors at 21st Century Urology in Orland Park, Chicago have launched a 2-week March ad campaign to encourage men to get a vasectomy before the 1st 2 weekends of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. The doctors say picking that time slot for a vasectomy will allow basketball fans to stay home and watch all the games. All vasectomy patients receive a free pizza and a bag of frozen peas to help with any swelling.

*** An 85 yr old Florida woman found an unopened envelope containing a 32-year-old check for $17,500 in the bottom drawer of her night stand. Barbara Cosgrove of Lauderhill, Fla. said she doesn’t remember who gave her the envelope or why she put it away instead of cashing the check, but she said she does remember the money’s from an insurance settlement when her car was smashed by water that fell 200′ from a tarp April 1, 1976 on New York’s Brooklyn Bridge. The former New Jersey resident said the check was void 60 days after it was issued.

***A 33 yr old British woman whose had 18 miscarriages was finally able to give birth, thanks to special treatments by a London doctor. Angie Baker of Peacehaven, England delivered a 7-pound baby girl Dec. 9 after 18 previous failed attempts because of treatment from Dr. Hassan Shehata at St. Helier Hospital in London. Baker said previous doctors told her the frequent miscarriages were “just one of those things.”

*** The French town of Roubaix’s filed a discrimination complaint against fast-food restaurant Quick removed pork and other non-halal items from the menu of the Roubaix branch and several other locations in November that don’t conform to Islamic dietary laws from its branch. The town council filed a discrimination complaint against the chain. The manager of the Roubaix Quick branch said business’ increased slightly since the menu went halal-only.

*** Parade goers at Saturday’s Chicago’s Argyle Street Lunar New Year Parade saw the return of firecrackers to the annual event. Parade coordinator Kelly Cheng said the Lunar New Year parade’s designed to chase off the bad spirits of the previous year and make way for a good new year, and Chinese tradition holds red firecrackers are the most effective means. However, Chicago regulations bar use of firecrackers without proper permits and employment of a licensed pyrotechnic company. Cheng said organizers tried alternatives in recent years, including drums and dances, but this year they decided to go through the city’s channels to get a firecracker permit.

*** “I’d really like to have a slumber party with Elton John and David Bowie. We could all do each other’s make-up, I think we all share an affinity for glitter.”- Singer Ke$ha

Sparky Anderson 76

Julius Earving 60

Vijay Singh 47

Michael Chang 38

Drew Barrymore 35

1992- Ed MacMahon and ad executive Pam Hurn were married in Boulder City, Nevada. Ed’s 6-year-old daughter, Katherine Mary was ring bearer and best man.

1968- Genesis released their 1st single ‘The Silent Sun.’

1974- Ten Years After’s final concert in London, England.

1975- The Average White Band were #1 on the US singles chart with ‘Pick Up The Pieces’

1976- The Supremes’ Florence Ballard died of heart attack at 32.

1977- The Sex Pistols won ‘Turkey Of The Year’ in NME readers poll.

1977- “Car Wash” by Rose Royce was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.

1978- The Police appeared in a Wrigley’s Chewing Gum commercial for US TV, the band dyed their hair blonde for the appearance.

1986- MTV ran a 22 hours Monkees marathon, showing all 45 episodes of the original Monkees TV series.

1987- Andy Warhol, pop artist and producer died after a gall bladder operation.

1988-Stevie Wonder won the 1998 MusiCares Person Of The Year at a concert in Los Angeles.

1990- Stevie Wonder won a plagiarism lawsuit filed against him in Los Angeles over “I Just Called To Say I Love You”.

1997- No Doubt was #1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Don’t Speak.’

1997- The Spice Girls’ 4 week run at #1 on the US singles chart with ‘Wannabe’

1997- Jennifer Lopez married her 1st husband, Cuban waiter Ojani Noa. The marriage only lasted 1 year

1998- Tori Amos married sound engineer Mark Hawley.

2000- The engagement ring Sex Pistol Sid Vicious gave to his girlfriend Nancy Spungen went on sale for auction at £1,500 ($2,550). Also on sale was a pair of John Lennon’s jeans for £2,250 ($3,825).

2001- Winners at the 43rd Grammy Awards included U2, record of the year and song of the year with ‘Beautiful Day’

Steely Dan won album of the year for ‘Two Against Nature’

Macy Gray won Female pop vocal for ‘I Try’

Sting won Male pop vocal for ‘She Walks This Earth’

Eminem won Best Rap album from ‘The Marshall Mathers LP’

Johnny Cash won Best Male country performance for ‘Solitary Man’

Shelby Lynne won best new artist award.

2003-Sir Paul McCartney played a private show in San Diego for the 50th birthday of Wendy Whitworth, the executive producer of CNN’s Larry King Show. Sir Paul donated his $1 million (£0.6 million) fee to the Adopt-a-Minefield charity.

2004- Bobby Vinton, 68, collapsed on stage during a performance at the American Music Theatre in Lancaster, PA. He was then taken backstage where his condition seemed to improve, and when an ambulance arrived, Vinton said he was fine and refused hospitalization.

2004- Norah Jones’ 6 week run at #1 on the US album chart with ‘Feels Like Home’. Usher, Lil Jon and Ludacris were #1 on the US singles chart with ‘Yeah.’

2004- The Sex Pistols’ ‘Anarchy in the UK’ was named the most influential record of the 1970s in poll by Q magazine. Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ was 2nd and Donna Summer’s ‘I Feel Love’ was 3rd, T Rex’s ‘Get It On’ was 4th and Special AKA’s ‘Gangsters’ 5th.

2005 – Gretchen Wilson’s “Here For The Party” album was certified quadruple-platinum

2003 -Blake Shelton had the #1 single on Billboard with “The Baby”

1997- Brooks & Dunn were #1 on the Billboard country chart with “A Man This Lonely”

1989- K.T. Oslin’s “Hold Me” won Best Country Song and Best Country Vocal Performance, Female–at the 31st annual Grammy awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles

1969- Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs’ final public appearance on the Grand Ole Opry before a nasty split

1968- Johnny Cash proposed to June Carter when they perform in London, Ontario. She said yes.

2003-Sir Paul McCartney played a private show in San Diego for the 50th birthday of Wendy Whitworth, the executive producer of CNN’s Larry King Show. Sir Paul donated his $1 million (£0.6 million) fee to the Adopt-a-Minefield charity.

*** A chilling 1968 photo of John Lennon playing dead with the rest of the Beatles standing over him was released Friday as part of several of photos made public after being left in an envelope for decades. The shot’s a haunting premonition 12 years before Lennon was gunned down in New York by crazed fan Mark Chapman.

The image was captured by society photographer Tom Murray during the Fab Four’s last official photoshoot in 1968. He’s selling copies of the photographs for £325 each or £425 with a frame but experts believe the originals are worth £100,000 each. Another photograph shows The Beatles standing on a rooftop, their fists raised, in a mock fight.

The unseen pics are part of a collection known as the Mad Day Out, cuz the shoot was last minute and the schedule so hectic.

Photo; Newsteam.co.uk

*** Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber’s going to step in to save Abbey Road Studios by raising the estimated $20 million (£12.5 million) after EMI bosses put it up for sale this week. Sir Paul MCCartney said a consortium’s been set up in a bid to save Abbey Road.

*** NEW-UPDATE*** EMI’s denied it’s selling London’s Abbey Road studios after releasing a statement saying the studios should stay under its ownership. The label rejected a offer for the historic building last year and was working with “third parties” about funding a “revitalization project”…it was looking for an investor in the site, based at 3 Abbey Road in St John’s Wood and wasn’t looking for a buyer.

The announcement ends days of speculation after it was reported the struggling record company would sell Abbey Road to ease debts…this led to Facebook campaigns to try to save it, the National Trust said it’d look into buying the property and composer Andrew Lloyd Webber said he’d buy it.

*** Katya Ivanova sez when she and Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood were snapped hugging on her doorstep of her flat in North London, where he stayed for several hours, they met to have a civilized and sober final meeting and to remain friends.

She sez she had a couple of friends with her and nothing happened- they ate tuna sashimi, drank water and laughed about how crazy their relationship had been. He also apologized for his behaviour for the 1st time and she forgave him.

They also talked about his new girlfriend, 30 yr old Brazilian polo coach Ana Araujo.

*** Sir Mick Jagger wore a pair of built-up Nike Air Force 1 trainers to the New York premiere of Shutter Island to bridge the gap between himself, at 5’10″  and girlfriend L’Wren Scott, 42, whose 6’4″. The shoes were just $45 (£30.)

Photo- Splash

*** Former Rolling Stones Bill Wyman doesn’t like today’s music cuz albums by rock bands like the Arctic Monkeys are disposable…and thinks today’s bands will be forgotten unless they starts making more memorable music.

*** Justin Timberlake sez Mick Jagger inspires his designs for fashion house William Rast.

*** OLYMPIC UPDATES***

*** MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT SKED***

*** Feist, Usher, The Roots, The Fray, Our Lady Peace, Stars, All American Rejects, Jet, K’Naan and Devo are some of the groups that are playing nightly the victory ceremonies at Whistler Medals Plaza during the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics Feb. 13 through Feb. 27 in Whistler, British Columbia.

Photo- Splash

*** Justin Timberlake sez Mick Jagger inspires his designs for fashion house William Rast.

*** Katya Ivanova sez when she and Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood were snapped hugging on her doorstep of her flat in North London, where he stayed for several hours, they met to have a civilized and sober final meeting and to remain friends.

She sez she had a couple of friends with her and nothing happened- they ate tuna sashimi, drank water and laughed about how crazy their relationship had been. He also apologized for his behaviour for the 1st time and she forgave him.

They also talked about his new girlfriend, 30 yr old Brazilian polo coach Ana Araujo.

*** Former Rolling Stones Bill Wyman doesn’t like today’s music cuz albums by rock bands like the Arctic Monkeys are disposable…and thinks today’s bands will be forgotten unless they starts making more memorable music.

*** The Facebook group – Can this pickle get more fans than Nickleback?, set up on February 8th’s beat Nickelback for followers with more than 1,414,000 fans, compared to Nickelback’s 1,413,167 fans. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Can-this-pickle-get-more-fans-than-Nickleback/282013353726?ref=search&sid=606228427.3074651150..1

*** A new movement’s in place to urge John Mellencamp to run for Evan Bayh’s Democratic Indiana senate seat.

*** Fergie’s teaming up with with Slash for his upcoming self-titled solo album…and will also use him on her next solo album.

*** Sex Pistols’ John Lydon show down Pink Floyd’s invite to re-record Dark Side of the Moon because he was afraid he’d appear pretentious. Lydon sez he’s a huge fan of the band despite a famous photograph of him wearing a T-shirt with the slogan I Hate Pink Floyd - claiming the band’s early music heavily influenced the Sex Pistols.

*** Marc Bolan and David Bowie would’ve been bandmates if it wasn’t for the T-Rex star’s wife, who disliked Bowie. Legendary producer Tony Visconti sez Bowie and Bolan worked together in the late 60′s and came very close to forming their own supergroup but went their own ways.

*** Lady Gaga had an exchange of words with Courtney Love after she criticized Gaga’s Brit Awards act by saing ‘I wish she’d have played something we all knew’ after her set on stage. They patched things up over a cup of tea at the after party.

*** Paul Stanley’s showing off his new art at The Boca Raton and Fort Lauderdale exhibitions March 19th and 20th respectively. The Kiss frontman’s painted for years in his spare time and successfully sold many of his artworks, taking in $2 million in 2007.

*** Alice in Chains’ Jerry Cantrell and Sean Kinney have slammed producers of Celebrity Rehab for “exploiting” former drummer Mike Starr and the mother of their late frontman Layne Staley when Starr’s rehab stint became part of Thursday night’s show.

The episode, taped last year showed Starr still struggling to come to terms with the drug-related 2002 death of his friend Staley and featured an appearance by his mother, Nancy MCCallum. Starr appears in the current season of Celebrity Rehab with Tom Sizemore, Mindy MCCready and Mackenzie Phillips.

*** Simon Cowell sez Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher could be his replacement on “American Idol.” Cowell sez Gallagher, 42, would be a better fit as an “Idol” judge than someone like Madonna cuz the demands of working on the show are likely too much for a pop star like her. Gallagher quit Oasis last summer after a nasty bustup with brother Liam just before stepping on stage and is playing a pair of solo performances in London in late March.

*** Creation Records boss Alan Mcgee sez Oasis’ success’ cuz the band wouldn’t have made it as big as they did if he wasn’t sober. The retired music mogul stopped drinking and doing drugs in ’94 but had “a brief relapse with alcohol” in 2002, but he quit again after his wife made him realize he was becoming “an embarrassment”.

*** Sting’s taking heat after being called ‘a hypocrite’ for playing a sold-out concert in Uzbekistan organized by the brutal regime of Islam Karimov. Enemies of the 72-year-old dictator have been shot in the street and a former British ambassador to the ex-Soviet state even accused him of boiling alive his political opponents.

Sting was paid up to $3 million (£2 million) to play for Gulnara Karimova, the leader’s daughter and heiress at the National Opera House in the capital, Tashkent last October. Tickets went for $2,100 (£1,400) – 45 times the average local monthly salary.

*** AND*** Sting’s defended his decision to perform for Uzbekistan’s president, because calling off the show would have been a “pointless gesture”.

*** Cult rockers Vampire Weekend’s new video, Giving Up the Gun features rappers RZA and Lil Jon, actor Jake Gyllenhaal and Jonas Bro Joe Jonas.

*** Ashlee Simpson-Wentz’s put her $4 million 5 bedroom, 6 bathroom villa which she bought in 2007 for $4.5 million before she married Fall Out Boy rocker Pete Wentz on the market.

*** Kings of Leon’s June 30th outdoor gig at Hyde Park in London’s sold out.

*** Gwyneth Paltrow, currently filming Love Don’t Let Me Down in Nashville, while hubby Chris Martin’s back in London looking after their children, Apple and Moses’ been eating comfort food and her macrobiotic diet’s gone out the window, causing her to pile on the pounds. She’s also been confiding in her co-star, Tim McGraw, sez a source.

*** Former Oasis guitarist, Bonehead’s supported Liam Gallagher’s bad behaviour at The Brit Awards when he threw Oasis’ ‘Best Album of the Past 30 Years’ trophy into the audience prompting host Peter Kay to call him a “knobhead.”

*** Kelly Osbourne wants to follow in the footsteps of Gwen Stefani by launching her own clothing line only if she has a hand in the designs.

*** The Bare Naked Ladies are prepping to launch a spring tour to support the band’s 1st album without founding member Steven Page. The reorganized 4-piece, kicks off their North American tour April 6 in Victoria, British Columbia, travels thru Canada then opens their US leg May 10 in Nashville, TN through a June 5 show in Charleston, SC.

April 2010
6 – Victoria, British Columbia – Save on Foods Memorial Centre
8 – Calgary, Alberta – Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
12 – Saskatoon, Saskatchewan – TCU Place
13 – Regina, Saskatchewan – Conexus Arts Centre
14 – Edmonton, Alberta – Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
17 – London, Ontario – RBC Theatre @ John Labatt Centre
20 – Kingston, Ontario – OLG 1000 Islands Casino Theatre @ K-Rock Centre
24 – Halifax, Nova Scotia – Metro Centre
28 – Hamilton, Ontario – Hamilton Place Theatre
30 – Montreal, Quebec – Metropolis

May 2010
1 – Oshawa, Ontario – General Motors Centre
10 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium
11 – Columbus, OH – Palace Theater
12 – Grand Rapids, MI – DeVos Hall
14 – Toledo, OH – Toledo Zoo Amphitheatre
15 – Louisville, KY – Louisville Palace Theater
16 – Davenport, IA – Adler Theatre
17 – Minneapolis, MN – Orpheum Theatre
20 – Missoula, MT – The Wilma Theatre
21 – Boise, ID – Idaho Botanical Gardens
22 – Spokane, WA – Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox
23 – Portland, OR – Keller Auditorium
25 – Santa Rosa, CA – Wells Fargo Center
28 – Reno, NV – Grand Theatre, Grand Sierra Resort
31 – Austin, TX – Bass Concert Hall

June 2010
1 – Tulsa, OK – Brady Theatre
3 – Knoxville, TN – Tennessee Theatre
4 – Richmond, VA – Innsbrook After Hours
5 – Charleston, SC – N. Charleston Performing Arts Center

*** Scottish rockers The View say they’ll cut down on their drinking focus completely on their music career following the tragic death of Kyle Falconer’s mother, Elizabeth who died in November.

*** Prog metal rockers Protest The Hero’s headlining the 1st Canadian version of the SnoCore Tour this spring with help Hawthorne Heights and other acts. The 9 city tour kicks off March 23 in Montreal and runs through an April 4 dhow in Victoria, British Columbia.

March 2010
23 – Montreal, Quebec – Club Soda
24 – Ottawa, Ontario – Capital Music Hall
26 – Toronto, Ontario – Sound Academy
27 – Thunder Bay, Ontario – Roxy’s Nightclub
29 – Winnipeg, Manitoba – The Garrick Centre at The Marlborough
31 – Edmonton, Alberta – The Starlite Room

April 2010
1 – Calgary, Alberta – MacEwan Ballroom at University of Calgary
3 – Vancouver, British Columbia – Rickshaw Theatre
4 – Victoria, British Columbia – Venue to be announced

*** Iggy Pop’s considering “a 3-year cycle” for the current Stooges that’ll include the expanded re-release of 1973′s seminal “Raw Power” album, touring and possibly recording. The Stooges & Scott Thurston, now with Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers will perform at the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame Induction ceremony March 15 in New York City.

Backstreet Boy Brian Littrell 35

*** OLYMPIC UPDATES***

*** MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT SKED***

*** Feist, Usher, The Roots, The Fray, Our Lady Peace, Stars, All American Rejects, Jet, K’Naan and Devo are some of the groups that are playing nightly the victory ceremonies at Whistler Medals Plaza during the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics Feb. 13 through Feb. 27 in Whistler, British Columbia.

*** J-Lo’s going to be busy… she’ll be guest host and musical act on “Saturday Night Live” for the 2nd time Feb. 27….and…her 7th studio album “Love?” drops in April… plus, she’ll also be seen in the romantic comedy “The Back-Up Plan” in theaters April 23.

*** Simon Cowell sez Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher could be his replacement on “American Idol.” Cowell sez Gallagher, 42, would be a better fit as an “Idol” judge than someone like Madonna cuz the demands of working on the show are likely too much for a pop star like her. Gallagher quit Oasis last summer after a nasty bustup with brother Liam just before stepping on stage and is playing a pair of solo performances in London in late March.

*** Brooke Burke, who won Dancing With The Stars in November 2008 with pro partner Derek Hough’s confirmed she’s in the running to replace Samantha Harris as the new co-host of the show. Other names… Pam Anderson, John Stamos, Jennifer Grey, former mixed martial arts fighter Jason Chambers, NFL player Chad Ochocinco, and rapper Dirt Nasty. Celebs who want to be on the show- Olympic diver Greg Louganis and Kate Gosselin.

*** Drake’s giving fans a heads up when booking tickets to gigs following several scams by “false promoters” who have allegedly used his name to advertise events. Last year, Drake and Lil Wayne were both targeted by a fraudster who posed as the boss of their management company and set up fake Twitter pages and email accounts to make false bookings and club appearances.

*** Robbie Williams, whose won more BRIT awards in his career than any other pop star’s in talks about making a movie about his life. The former Take That singer who was just 16 when he joined the boy band was honoured on Tuesday at the BRITS in London for Outstanding Contribution to Music.

*** Westlife won the Best Pop Act award at the annual Meteor Ireland Music Awards on Friday for a record 10th time.  Snow Patrol took Best Band, The Script won Best Irish Live Performance of the Year for their set at the Oxygen festival in the city last year.  U2′s No Line on the Horizon was beaten for Best Album by The Coronas’ -Tony Was An Ex-Con – and the group was stunned to be handed the top honour. Florence and the Machine took home the Best International Band award, and Brian Kennedy won this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

*** Miley Cyrus’ ex-boyfriend, underwear model Justin Gaston wants to record a duet with her. The 2 dated for 9 months until June 2009 after they met when Miley’s dad, Billy Ray Cyrus was presenting talent show ‘Nashville Star‘ in 2008 where he was a contestant. They split after Miley went to shoot the movie ‘The Last Song’ and started dating co-star and former ‘Neighbours’ actor Liam Hemsworth.

*** Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, Reba McEntire, Keith Urban, the Zac Brown Band and Rascal Flatts are some of the 1st performers to be announced as part of this summer’s CMA Music Festival. The 4-day fan-appreciation fest June 10-13 in Nashville’s also featuring Lady Antebellum plus Jason Aldean and Darius.

*** OLYMPIC UPDATES***

*** MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT SKED***

*** Feist, Usher, The Roots, The Fray, Our Lady Peace, Stars, All American Rejects, Jet, K’Naan and Devo are some of the groups that are playing nightly the victory ceremonies at Whistler Medals Plaza during the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics Feb. 13 through Feb. 27 in Whistler, British Columbia.

*** Miley Cyrus’ ex-boyfriend, underwear model Justin Gaston wants to record a duet with her. The 2 dated for 9 months until June 2009 after they met when Miley’s dad, Billy Ray Cyrus was presenting talent show ‘Nashville Star‘ in 2008 where he was a contestant. They split after Miley went to shoot the movie ‘The Last Song’ and started dating co-star and former ‘Neighbours’ actor Liam Hemsworth.

Buffy Sainte-Marie 69

J. Geils 64

Cheap Tricker Jon Brant 55

*** OLYMPIC UPDATES***

*** MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT SKED***

*** Feist, Usher, The Roots, The Fray, Our Lady Peace, Stars, All American Rejects, Jet, K’Naan and Devo are some of the groups that are playing nightly the victory ceremonies at Whistler Medals Plaza during the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics Feb. 13 through Feb. 27 in Whistler, British Columbia.

*** Former Rolling Stones Bill Wyman doesn’t like today’s music cuz albums by rock bands like the Arctic Monkeys are disposable…and thinks today’s bands will be forgotten unless they starts making more memorable music.

*** A new movement’s in place to urge John Mellencamp to run for Evan Bayh’s Democratic Indiana senate seat.

*** Sting’s taking heat after being called ‘a hypocrite’ for playing a sold-out concert in Uzbekistan organized by the brutal regime of Islam Karimov. Enemies of the 72-year-old dictator have been shot in the street and a former British ambassador to the ex-Soviet state even accused him of boiling alive his political opponents.

*** AND*** Sting’s defended his decision to perform for Uzbekistan’s president, because calling off the show would have been a “pointless gesture”.

Sting was paid up to $3 million (£2 million) to play for Gulnara Karimova, the leader’s daughter and heiress at the National Opera House in the capital, Tashkent last October. Tickets went for $2,100 (£1,400) – 45 times the average local monthly salary.

*** The Bare Naked Ladies are prepping to launch a spring tour to support the band’s 1st album without founding member Steven Page. The reorganized 4-piece, kicks off their North American tour April 6 in Victoria, British Columbia, travels thru Canada then opens their US leg May 10 in Nashville, TN through a June 5 show in Charleston, SC.

April 2010
6 – Victoria, British Columbia – Save on Foods Memorial Centre
8 – Calgary, Alberta – Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
12 – Saskatoon, Saskatchewan – TCU Place
13 – Regina, Saskatchewan – Conexus Arts Centre
14 – Edmonton, Alberta – Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
17 – London, Ontario – RBC Theatre @ John Labatt Centre
20 – Kingston, Ontario – OLG 1000 Islands Casino Theatre @ K-Rock Centre
24 – Halifax, Nova Scotia – Metro Centre
28 – Hamilton, Ontario – Hamilton Place Theatre
30 – Montreal, Quebec – Metropolis

May 2010
1 – Oshawa, Ontario – General Motors Centre
10 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium
11 – Columbus, OH – Palace Theater
12 – Grand Rapids, MI – DeVos Hall
14 – Toledo, OH – Toledo Zoo Amphitheatre
15 – Louisville, KY – Louisville Palace Theater
16 – Davenport, IA – Adler Theatre
17 – Minneapolis, MN – Orpheum Theatre
20 – Missoula, MT – The Wilma Theatre
21 – Boise, ID – Idaho Botanical Gardens
22 – Spokane, WA – Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox
23 – Portland, OR – Keller Auditorium
25 – Santa Rosa, CA – Wells Fargo Center
28 – Reno, NV – Grand Theatre, Grand Sierra Resort
31 – Austin, TX – Bass Concert Hall

June 2010
1 – Tulsa, OK – Brady Theatre
3 – Knoxville, TN – Tennessee Theatre
4 – Richmond, VA – Innsbrook After Hours
5 – Charleston, SC – N. Charleston Performing Arts Center

*** BB King returns to the road April 19 in Denver, and later wraps his tour up in Canada Nov. 21 in Ottawa.

April 2010
19 – Denver, CO – Temple Hoyne Buell Theatre
20 – Rapid City, SD – Rushmore Civic Plaza
21 – Sioux Falls, SD – Washington Pavilion of the Arts and Sciences
23 – Springfield, IL – Sangamon Auditorium
24, 25 – Chicago, IL – House of Blues
28 – Columbia, MO – Jesse Auditorium
29 – Evansville, IN – Evansville Auditorium & Convention Center

May 2010
2 – New Orleans, LA – New Orleans Fairgrounds
8 – Augusta, GA – William Bell Auditorium
9 – Jacksonville, FL – Florida Theater

July 2010
15 – Baltimore, MD – Pier Six Concert Pavilion

August 2010
13 – Santa Ynez, CA – Chumash Casino

November 2010
3 – Eugene, OR – Huit Center for Performing Arts
5 – Coquitlam, British Columbia – Red Robinson Theater
8 – Calgary, Alberta – Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
10 – Regina, Saskatchewan – Conexus Centre of the Arts
11 – Winnipeg, Manitoba – Centennial Concert Hall
12 – Minneapolis, MN – State Theater
13 – Milwaukee, WI – Riverside Theater
21 – Ottawa, Ontario – National Arts Center

*** Gordon Lightfoot sez he feels “fine” after a prank death message was posted Thursday on Twitter.

*** Marie Osmond’s the spokeswoman for the Go Red for Women campaign which encourages women to take up healthy habits to help wipe out heart disease and strokes…in honour of her late mother – whose dying wish was for her daughter to lose weight and improve her fitness. Olive died in ’04 from complications after a stroke.

*** Simon Cowell’s mother, Julie sez his girlfriend Mezhgan Hussainy moved in to his LA home on Wednesday despite Cowell’s longtime publicist Max Clifford’s denial the couple’s engaged. Rumours flew he proposed to Hussainy after she was snapped sporting a diamond band on her ring finger following an intimate Valentine’s Day date with Cowell last Sunday.

*** Hilary Duff and Edmonton Oilers star Mike Comrie were engaged this weekend while vacationing in Hawaii.

*** James Bond hunk Daniel Craig’s sparked rumours he secretly married his longterm girlfriend Satsuki Mitchell after being seen strolling through Brentwood, California wearing a gold band on his left hand.

*** Twilight hunk Robert Pattinson’s put his home in Canada on the market and plans to move back to London amid rumours he’s split from co-star Kristen Stewart. Kristen fuelled rumours when she was snapped with Sean Penn in Hollywood earlier this month. Meanwhile, Robert’s been partying in London with a mystery redhead.

A steamy sex scene of Robert Pattinson, who plays Edward Cullen in the movie, getting his teeth into Kristen Stewart (Bella)’s leaked from the latest Twilight movie, Eclipse. Then… Bella rips off Edward’s shirt and goes for his heart. Eclipse hits theatres in June.

*** Lady Gaga had a roll in the hay before the Brits Award when she borrowed the barn from farmer Howard Baines of Crofton, near Wakefield, West Yorks who even put down extra hay for her 45-minute fling.

*** US political aide Ann Corbitt sez Ashley Cole begged her to keep quiet about their one-night stand, while he was on a pre-season tour with the Chelsea soccer club last July. And according to the News of the World he told her: ‘I can’t lose my wife over this. If I lose my wife, I don’t want to live.’ Corbitt told the paper she didn’t know Cole was married until the morning after they had sex in his hotel room in Seattle and turned down his requests for a 2nd session after she found out.

Meanwhile, a 5th woman, Alexandra Taylor claims she slept with him just hours after he and Cheryl went public with their relationship on the evening of the National Television Awards in October 2004. The ‘glamour model’ said he came onto her in the Funky Buddha club in London just minutes after Cheryl had left with her Girls Aloud bandmates. Taylor and her friend were the invited back to his north London flat where she said the sex was really lousy cuz he was so drunk.

*** X-Factor judge-Girls Aloud star Cheryl Cole reportedly sent a limousine to pick 24-year-old Derek Hough, Strictly Come Dancing pro dancer, then enjoyed watching Valentine’s Day together. They then met up again for an intimate meal at Hollywood eaterie Katsuya. Cole’s dates follow her recent discovery of husband Ashley’s raunchy texts and photos to a woman he’d reportedly been seeing.

*** Katya Ivanova sez when she and Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood were snapped hugging on her doorstep of her flat in North London, where he stayed for several hours, they met to have a civilized and sober final meeting and to remain friends.

She sez she had a couple of friends with her and nothing happened- they ate tuna sashimi, drank water and laughed about how crazy their relationship had been. He also apologized for his behaviour for the 1st time and she forgave him.

They also talked about his new girlfriend, 30 yr old Brazilian polo coach Ana Araujo.

*** Harry Potter actress Bonnie Wright’s confirmed she’s dating Twilight dude Jamie Campbell Bower. The couple was 1^st rumoured to be dating after they attended a British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) event together last year. Wright sez Bower will be her date for the BAFTA Awards in London on Sunday.

*** Katie Price’s making secret plans to safeguard her 30-million-pound fortune from her new husband Alex Reid. She previously announced she’d share her wealth with the Celebrity Big Brother winner and would set up a joint account but now wants him to stay away from her money.

*** Lily Allen and her boyfriend Sam Cooper’s night out at the Brits turned nasty after Lily swore at Sam and screamed in his face before storming off.

*** Celine Dion’s left “bruised and numb” from her ongoing in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment and constantly cries over her pregnancy heartache. She’s been trying for a 2nd child with husband Rene Angelil and has undergone 4 failed attempts by doctors to implant embryos in her uterus in their attempt to have more kids. They have 9 year old Rene Charles.

*** Na’s pleaded not guilty to contempt of court amid allegations he failed to pay $200,000 in child and spousal support to his estranged wife Lelis, who filed for divorce last year, just months before giving birth to their son Knight in July. A contempt hearing’s set for next month.

*** Paris Hilton’s boyfriend Doug Reinhardt got into a shouting match with her ex Brandon Davis, who ended up being thrown out of her birthday bash in LA. Reinhardt was said to have had an argument with Hilton during her 29th-birthday bash at Tea Room before he got into a fight with Davis. An insider claims Davis arrived unexpectedly and appeared to be really wasted. He started causing a scene and talking trash to Doug’s friends, so they all decided they should have him kicked out.

*** Faith healer-televangelist Benny Hinn’s wife, Suzanne Hinn’s filed for divorce. The couple married in 1979 and have 4 kids.

*** Carrie Underwood’s little dog, Ace’s in her new PSA video for the Pedigree Adoption Drive campaign. Ace will also be the ring bearer in her summer wedding to Ottawa Sens player Mike Fisher. Check it out out YouTube… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5HaKRWQnQM

*** Dolly Parton sez her 44-year marriage with Carl Dean works so well because he stays out of the spotlight and they never need to compete with one another. She also doesn’t think she and Carl would still be together if he’d tried a career in showbiz.

*** Sienna Miller’s been spotted wearing the engagement ring Jude Law gave her when he proposed in 2004, sparking speculation the reunited couple’s getting married soon.

*** Justin Timberlake’s mother Lynn Harless ‘s been pressuring her son to settle down with girlfriend Jessica Biel cuz she really wants grandchildren.

Kim Kardashian’s thinkin’ ’bout designing a unisex fragrance with her boyfriend New Orleans Saints Super Bowl champ Reggie Bush.

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*** HAITI UPDATES***

*** Sean Penn flew back to Port-au-Prince, Haiti Saturday to help the survivors of the January 12 earthquake. Penn slept in a tent and survived on just a few hours of sleep a night during his recent 3-week stint and this time’s helping move homeless Haitians to safety before the rains come. His relief efforts may force him to quit a planned Three Stooges movie.

*** BAFTAS SUNDAY  NIGHT***

*** “The Hurt Locker” was the big winner Sunday night at the BAFTA awards, winning Best Film and won 5 other trophies.

*** James Cameron’s ex-wife Kathryn Bigelow won Best Director and Mark Boal won for Best Original Screenplay

“The Hurt Locker” also won for Editing, Cinematography and Sound.

“Avatar” and “Up in the Air” both won 2 awards- “Avatar“won Production Design and Special Visual Effects.

“Up” won for Best Animated Film and Music.

Colin Firth won the Best Actor award for “A Single Man”

Carey Mulligan won Best Actress for “An Education.”

Christopher Waltz won Supporting Actor for “Inglourious Basterds”

Mo’Nique was named Best Supporting Actress for “Precious.”

Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner won for Best Adapted Screenplay for “Up in the Air.”

“Fish Tank” was named Best British Film.

“The Prophet” was named Best Film not in the English language.

“Young Victoria” won for Best Costume Design and Makeup and Hair.

*** WGA AWARDS SATURDAY NIGHT***

“The Hurt Locker” and “Up in the Air” won the Writers Guild of America‘s top movie writing trophies Saturday in Los Angeles and New York.

Mark Boal won for best original screenplay for “The Hurt Locker.”

Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner won for best adapted screenplay for “Up in the Air.

Both are nominated for Oscars. Other WGA winners...

Mark Monroe won the WGA award for documentary screenwriting for “The Cove.”

“Mad Men” won the WGA award for drama series

“30 Rock” won for comedy series

Modern Family” won for best new series

“ Simpsons” won for animation writing.

There was a tie for comedy/variety writing between “Saturday Night Live” and “The Daily Show.”

“The Young and the Restless” won for daytime serial writing.

The Paddy Chayefsky Laurel Award for Television went to Larry David of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and “Seinfeld.”

Barry Levinson scooped the Screen Laurel Award for lifetime achievement

Anthony Peckham, the writer of “Invictus,” received the Paul Selvin Award, in recognition of work that spotlights constitutional rights and civil liberties.

Gary David Goldberg (“Family Ties”) received the Herb Sargent Award for Comedy Excellence.

*** WKND BOX OFFICE***

*** Martin Scorsese and Leonardo Di Caprio’s Shutter Island’s #1 at the U.S. box office  taking $40.2 million (GBP25.1 million) in its debut weekend. Their last Oscar-winning movie, The Departed, debuted at $26.9 million (GBP16.8 million) in 2006. They also worked together on Gangs of New York and The Aviator.

Valentine’s Day slipped to #2 with $17.2 million (GBP10.8 million).

James Cameron’s Avatar’s at #3 with $16.1 million (GBP10.1 million.) The 3-D blockbuster’s record-breaking U.S. total total’s $687.8 million (GBP429.9 million). Worldwide, the film’s cashed in on $2.47 billion.

Rounding out the top 5…

Pierce Brosnan’s Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief and Benicio Del Toro’s The Wolfman, with total earnings of $15.3 million (GBP9.6 million) and $9.8 million (GBP6.1 million) respectively.

*** SARAH PALIN-FAMILY GUY BATTLE***

*** Family Guy voice actor Andrea Fay Friedman, who suffers Down Syndrome sez former Alaska Governor-Republican candidate Sarah Palin has no sense of rumour after Palin and her daughter, Bristol, lashed out at the show. Last Sunday’s episode from ‘Family Guy’ was quickly slammed by mentally disabled advocates, including Palin, whose youngest son, Trig, has Down Syndrome.

Gawker.com sez the report posted by the Times omitted a line from Friedman’s letter when she said… “My mother did not carry me around under her arm like a loaf of French bread the way former Governor Palin carries her son Trig around looking for sympathy and votes.”

Friedman denies her “Family Guy” role was meant to ridicule Trig…she told the Times she was making fun of Sarah Palin, but not her son.

***The LA City Attorney’s office’s charged Sean Penn with 2 misdemeanors Friday in connection to a 2009 scuffle the Oscar-winning actor had with a photographer. Penn’s accused of kicking a paparazzo and breaking a camera Oct. 12 when the man tried to snap his picture on a residential street in Brentwood, Calif. He was charged with one count of battery and vandalism and will be arraigned March 22.

*** Zachary Loring, the man accused of stalking The Hills star Audrina Patridge last year was arrested Friday outside her LA home. Patridge was granted a 3-year restraining order against Loring last September after claiming he’d shown up on her doorstep several times and refused to leave the actress and her brother, who lives with her, alone despite repeated requests. She claimed Loring tried to give her beer, wine, poetry and drawings. Loring’s been booked for stalking and violating a restraining order.

*** Jake Harris, 24, one of the stars of Discovery Channel’s “Deadliest Catch,” was arrested for suspicion of DUI, hit and run and driving with a suspended license following an accident Thursday night.

*** Former child star Brian Bonsell was arrested in Boulder, Colorado and appeared in court on Friday for violating the terms of his probation by openly using marijuana. His defence attorney told the court the actor needs marijuana for headaches and has applied for a medical marijuana card. Bonsall, 28, also pleaded not guilty to an assault charge and a failure to report charge involving another case. He’s accused of repeatedly hitting a friend in the head with a broken stool in December and missing a court hearing in 2007 in another assault case. Bail was set at $10,000 (GBP6,250)

*** Hulk Hogan’s settled a negligence lawsuit over a 2007 car crash by the family of the 19-year-old ex-Marine who was left with permanent brain damage. Hogan’s son Nick Bollea pleaded no contest to reckless driving for his part in the high-speed collision in Clearwater, Florida, which left passenger John Graziano with a skull fracture. He completed 166 days of an 8-month prison sentence in 2008.

Graziano’s family filed an auto negligence civil lawsuit against Nick, his wrestler dad Hogan, his mother Linda Bollea and friend Daniel Jacob in March, alleging they were negligent in their actions, which led to Graziano’s injuries.

*** Fantasia Barrinto’s stepped up security for her LA run in The Color Purple after receiving a threatening letter on Friday that contained several racial slurs as well as the line, “Go back (to) where you came from and die.”

*** Roman Polanski won the Silver Bear for best director at the Berlin Film Festival for his new political thriller, The Ghost Writer Saturday night. Polanski couldn’t accept the award due to his house arrest over a more than 30 years conviction for having sex with a 13 year old girl in the US in 1977.

The Turkish film, Bal (Honey), was the surprise winner of the coveted Golden Bear for best picture while the runner-up award went to the Romanian entry, Eu Cand Vreau Sa Fluier, Fluier (If I Want To Whistle, I Whistle.)

*** Kristen Stewart wants movie bosses to split the final Twilight movie into 2 parts. She’s just finished the 3rd installment in the vampire franchise, The Twilight Saga; Eclipse and has signed up to star in the final film Breaking Dawn.

*** Alice in Chains’ Jerry Cantrell and Sean Kinney have slammed producers of Celebrity Rehab for “exploiting” former drummer Mike Starr and the mother of their late frontman Layne Staley when Starr’s rehab stint became part of Thursday night’s show.

The episode, taped last year showed Starr still struggling to come to terms with the drug-related 2002 death of his friend Staley and featured an appearance by his mother, Nancy MCCallum. Starr appears in the current season of Celebrity Rehab with Tom Sizemore, Mindy MCCready and Mackenzie Phillips.

*** Bill Pullman’s joined the cast of “Nathan” and will star as the father of actor Jay Harrington’s character, a man whose reunited with one of his sons, a heart surgeon played by Harrington, 35 years after the son was adopted.

** Maggie Grace (Shannon) and Andrea Gabriel (Nadia,) whose characters were killed off on “Lost,” are returning for the last season. Both were love interests of Naveen Andrews’ character Sayid.

*** Carla Gugino (“Spin City,” “Entourage,”"Night at the Museum,” “Watchmen,” “Righteous Kill” and “Spy Kids”)’s signed on to star in the revenge thriller “Faster.” She joins Dwayne Johnson, Billy Bob Thornton and newcomer Oliver Jackson-Cohen. Gugino and Johnson previously worked together on “Race to Witch Mountain.”

*** Quentin Tarantino wants to make “Kill Bill: Vol. 3″ in 3D in 2014. Tarantino’s been a fan of 3D movies for several years and wishes he used it before the release of “Kill Bill: Vol. 1″ in 2003.

*** Quentin Tarantino’s bought LA’s the New Beverly Cinema to save it from closing. He’s been watching films at the New Beverly since he was a teenager and several years ago he contacted the manager, Sherman Torgan, and offered to give the movie theater $5,000 a month to keep the business running. But after Torgan passed away in 2007, the landlord who rented the space to the family wanted to sell, so Torgan’s son Michael contacted Tarantino who bought the building to keep his beloved theatre open.

*** Leonardo DiCaprio’s denied he’s playing Frank Sinatra in Martin Scorsese’s new film,‘My Way.’

*** 60′s fave “Bewitched”‘s airing on the TV Land lineup starting March 1 with a marathon of episodes planned for March 20-21. The series originally aired on ABC from ’64-72, starring Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick York, Dick Sargent and Agnes Moorehead.

*** Owen Wilson will join France’s 1^st Lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy in the unnamed Woody Allen movie this summer.

*** Meryl Streep’ll receive the Barnard Medal of Distinction when she appears as the keynote speaker at Barnard College’s 118^th commencement ceremony May 17. She’ll address about 600 members of the Class of 2010, as well as their families and the school’s faculty.

*** Movie fans will have a chance to get their pictures taken holding the actual Oscar statuettes, including the Best Actor trophy as part of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ “Meet the Oscars, Chicago” event, presented by Kodak, at The Shops at North Bridge on Michigan Avenue in Chicago. The free exhibition opens Feb. 25 and runs through March 7.

The exhibition’ll also include the trophy Bette Davis won for her role in “Jezebel” in 1939.

This year’s Best Actor nominees are Jeff Bridges for “Crazy Heart,” George Clooney for “Up in the Air,” Colin Firth for “A Single Man,” Morgan Freeman for “Invictus” and Jeremy Renner for “The Hurt Locker.”

*** Jennifer Hudson’s joined the National Milk Mustache “Got Milk?” campaign in support of Black History Month with a new message that’s especially important for African- American families who are less likely to put milk on the table. Hudson’s ad will reinforce the importance of milk for her family. Her son David was born last August.

*** Carnival cruise line’s hosting a 5 night “So Long Springfield Tour“for fans that’ll feature a dozen of its stars on board the 2,978-passenger Carnival Glory sailing out of New York City and hits Saint John, New Brunswick and Halifax, Nova Scotia. It begins July 31.

*** Well-known actor and film director Lionel Jeffries’ died at the age of 83 in a nursing home in Poole, Dorset, England. Best known for directing The Railway Children and appearing in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, his long career spanned theatre, film and television.

*** Cult rockers Vampire Weekend’s new video, Giving Up the Gun features rappers RZA and Lil Jon, actor Jake Gyllenhaal and Jonas Bro Joe Jonas.

*** Heidi Montag’s coming out with her own fashion line to showcase her 10 surgeries-in-1-day altered body…and… a budget line for her fans, as well as a bikini collection.

*** Simon Cowell’s denied Howard Stern will replace him when he leaves American Idol next year to launch his British talent show The X Factor in the U.S. Other stars said to replace him…Sir Elton John, Jamie Foxx, Oasis rocker Noel Gallagher and Madonna. Cowell’s shortlisted Lady Gaga and blogger Perez Hilton.

*** Kristen Stewart, who plays Bella Swan in Twilight sez there are no “concrete” plans for a 4th movie, ‘Breaking Dawn‘ and won’t take anything for granted until they begin shooting.

*** Ryan O’Neal’s making a 2nd documentary about Farrah Fawcett’s battle with cancer with producer Stephanie Lynn, whose regularly been pictured with Ryan since Farrah’s death. A film crew’s been in Texas to shoot a series of one-on-one interviews with Farrah’s friends and family. The documentary will also include photographs taken by Samuel Lippke at her funeral at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in LA.

***Patrick Swayze’s widow, Lisa Niemi’ selling the New Mexico ranch where the actor spent his final days because she can no longer cope with being there alone. Swayze lost his battle against pancreatic cancer last September and Lisa’s said to be seeing a psychic to help ease her pain.

*** Paris Hilton’s boyfriend baseball player Doug Reinhart’s being sued by his former landlord, over allegations he trashed the LA home which was rented for his stint in The Hills. Last September, Reinhardt sued landlord Mark Rooke after the real estate developer refused to repay a $24,000 (£16,000) security deposit for damage to the property caused by filming the show. Reinhardt demanded the full amount back, minus the $2,332 (£1,554) he agreed to pay in repairs. Rooke’s withholding the deposit and is him forcausing “substantial physical and other damage” to the house. Rooke’s also suing MTV, claiming they trespassed on the property, therefore breaking his initial contract with Reinhardt.

*** Gwyneth Paltrow, currently filming Love Don’t Let Me Down in Nashville, while hubby Chris Martin’s back in London looking after their children, Apple and Moses’ been eating comfort food and her macrobiotic diet’s gone out the window, causing her to pile on the pounds. She’s also been confiding in her co-star, Tim McGraw, sez a source.

*** Big milestone for Drew Carey March 10th- it’ll be his 500th episode as host of  “The Price is Right,” since October 2007, since succeeding Bob Barker. To celebrate this milestone, every contestant who makes it on stage will receive $500,” all games will have a ’500′ theme and the showcases will reference Drew’s 500th show with  prizes like a trip to Las Vegas via private jet and a home theatre with surround sound.

*** “Meet the Oscars, New York” will give movie fans the chance to have their picture taken holding an actual Oscar trophy Feb. 25 thru March 7 at The Shops at Columbus Circle at Time Warner Center in Manhattan. The statuette to be presented to this year’s best actress Oscar winner’ll also be on display  ahead of next month’s awards ceremony.

*** Brooke Burke, who won Dancing With The Stars in November 2008 with pro partner Derek Hough’s confirmed she’s in the running to replace Samantha Harris as the new co-host of the show. Other names… Pam Anderson, John Stamos, Jennifer Grey, former mixed martial arts fighter Jason Chambers, NFL player Chad Ochocinco, and rapper Dirt Nasty. Celebs who want to be on the show- Olympic diver Greg Louganis and Kate Gosselin.

*** Renee Zellweger’s denied reports she’s holding up negotiations for a 3^rd Bridget Jones Diary movie film by refusing to gain weight for the role. Zellweger was said to have infuriated producers after choosing to gain weight to play the hapless full-figured diary-keeper like she did in the 1st 2 hit instalments. It’s reported she demanded the script to be altered so her character would have a smaller frame.

*** Drew Barrymore and Wanda Sykes will receive this year’s top gay honours at the 21st annual GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles on April 17. The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation will give their Vanguard Award to Barrymore, after she played Robert De Niro’s lesbian daughter in Everybody’s Fine, nominated for Outstanding Film at the event. Gay comedienne Wanda Sykes will receive the Stephen F. Kolzak Award.

*** J-Lo’s going to be busy… she’ll be guest host and musical act on “Saturday Night Live” for the 2nd time Feb. 27…and…her 7th studio album “Love?” drops in April… plus, she’ll also be seen in the romantic comedy “The Back-Up Plan” in theaters April 23.

*** Kevin Eubanks sez he’ll play a smaller role on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” when the show returns March 1. Eubanks began working with Leno on “Tonight” in 1992, then followed him to the prime-time series “The Jay Leno Show” after Leno was ousted at the end of last season to make way for Conan O’Brien, then O’Brien left after 7 months.

*** Morgan Freeman says he still hasn’t healed since his August 2008 car crash in Mississippi, even though he had surgery to  reconnect nerves in his left arm and hand soon after it happened.

*** Colin Farrell’s been fined for speeding after he was nailed driving at 45 miles per hour (72.4 kilometres per hour) in a 30 mph (48 kph) zone in Bath, England on June 27. Farrell had to appear at Bath Magistrates Court on Thursday to face 2 charges, but he failed to show up and sent a letter of apology instead. He pleaded guilty to the speeding offence and failure to provide information to identify himself as the driver of the car. Farrell claimed the vehicle was registered to a film production company based at London’s Ealing Studios.

*** Pamela Anderson pissed off several people during New York Fashion Week on Wednesday after arriving late to designer Richie Rich’s A*Muse show, held in her honour. Anderson’s plane was delayed and she was 3 hours late but calmed the crowd by wearing a sparkly silver leotard for the finale.

*** Robbie Williams, whose won more BRIT awards in his career than any other pop star’s in talks about making a movie about his life. The former Take That singer who was just 16 when he joined the boy band was honoured on Tuesday at the BRITS in London for Outstanding Contribution to Music.

*** Morgan Freeman still hasn’t completely healed from his 2008 car accident whose left hand was paralyzed and wears a glove to help reduce swelling due to nerve damage.

*** Gia Allemand, a New York swimsuit model and has been in the pages of Maxim sez  she wouldn’t mind being the next Bachorlette but wouldn’t pose for Playboy cuz her family would disown her.

*** Twitter personality Justin Halpern sez CBS’ creating a sitcom starring William Shatner based on his Twitter account and hopes the network will name the series after his popular Twitter account, simply editing out the title’s sole profanity so it reads something like “S#&% My Dad Says.”

Kudos to the volunteers and walkers !

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Looks as though Jon Gosselin from Jon and Kate Plus 8′s redeeming himself…or, so it seems.

After his girlfriend, his soulmate Haley Glassman tearfully spilled her guts out on TV that she was tired of his mantrums and having him take out his frustrations on her, Jon told Usmagazine he “carried away by the challenges of fame” and is consulting with a rabbi to “reconnect with my deeper, more spiritual, more altruistic self.” AND…“My father was my inspiration and moral compass. I intend to serve the same role for my own children by taking responsibility for my errors and making right any pain I have caused to those I love. “I have therefore agreed to a forum at New York’s West Side Synagogue this Sunday where I intend to publicly apologize in a sacred space to those whom I have hurt.

If he’s woken up and smelled the cappucino and realized he’s been somewhat of a real “douchebag” as many sites have been calling him, then this is very cool and my kudos go out to him.

Divorce can be nasty- exes can be nasty and it’s so easy to lose it and get caught up in all the craziness of striking back… “getting even” with the ex and going to great lengths to justify your anger, frustration and making sure you don’t look like the bad guy…all in the name of ego.

Breakups (especially when there are kids involved) can make you absolutely crazy…but only if you allow it to.

In the end, it doesn’t matter whose right and whose wrong cuz when there are kids involved…in this case, 8, the only right thing to do is step back, take inventory and fix what needs to be fixed within your own soul.

Cuz in the end, it’s always the kids who pay the price. They have a difficult enough time as it is trying to adjust to the loss of having both parents under one roof (in many cases, it’s a blessing to have them apart) and living together as a family unit.

Kids pick up the energy of both parents and most often, it’s not good and very negative when going through a nasty divorce.

If Jon’s fixing himself and wants to make restitution, then he’s a much bigger man/person than most.

I hope this isn’t a lame ass bid to win back his girlfriend cuz perhaps his fear now is losing her and looking like the real douchebag some of the gossip sites are saying he is…and looking like a two-time loser after splitting from ex-wife Kate.

I’m hoping for his sake, he’s truly honest and sincere about taking inventory and seeking restitution… and…for the sake of his 8 young children.

You can’t fix a relationship unless you fix yourself and if Jon’s truly in the repair shop, then he will be a true inspiration to all !

Yeah, I, like millions of others got duped by the TV coverage of the “Balloon Boy” ordeal on Thursday when I first heard about the breaking story on CNN, the most trusted news source in the world.

This network really made its mark with the start of the Iraq war, 911, Hurricane Katrinia, the death of Michael Jackson, countless other top news stories and of course, the legendary Larry King. They got pantsed just like everyone else.

So, I guess the hoax was successful afterall.

Richard Heene and his wife, Mayumi plotted this sick hoax and even more twisted, included all 3 of their young sons (6, 8, 10) for 2 weeks to create publicity for their dumbass weather balloon cuz they wanted to score a TV reality show.

Cops say they could be charged with conspiracy, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, filing a false report with authorities, and with attempting to influence a public servant.

Falcon, the 6 year old who was supposedly missing and the subject of the intense search while news media from around the world covered this story live with millions of people holding their breath kinda spilled the beans to Wolf Blitzer of CNN when he said they did it “for the show.”

Suspicions rose when he blurted out the truth, as honest and truthful most young kids are…when all along, he was hiding in the attic above the garage.

First of all, many questions come to mind- what stable, healthy parents would even think of pulling off the biggest dumbass prank evuh…what would have happened if there was a REAL emergency during the hoax and these rescue crews were needed for a REAL missing kid …or any other kind of 911 situation ?

What parent in their right mind would have involved their young kids to be so deceitful, dishonest, twisted, sick and manipulating, let alone pathetic enough to have to go these lengths for attention because they thought it was a great publicity stunt to score a reality TV show ?

Man… these parents need …

A) Major head shrink time.

B) Parenting skill courses.

C) Time in jail to reflect upon their stupidity and for using their kids for their own sad, bruised, tattered, egg shell egos.

D) To pay hefty fines.

E) To pay back ALL the rescue operation costs.

F) To make a public apology for screwing everyone around, especially the rescue teams.

G) To make a public apology to their kids for their shortsightedness, incredibly poor judgement and for using them for their own personal gain.

They used and manipulated the media with their lies and deceit now they can pay the price for the media manipulating them with the truth and honesty.

Should we give Richard and Mayumi Heene a 50 yard head start ?

***WTF !!!***

***A new survey of 1,000 adults by the Consulta Mitofsky polling firm says Mexican adults curse an average of 20 times a day, or about 1.3 billion swear words daily (Mexico has 65 million adults over 18 out of a population of 107 million.)

*The survey says 1 in 10 Mexicans claim they don’t curse at all.

*Upper class citizens report swearing more than the poor

*People in the heavily Indian southern part of the country curse less than northerners.

*Poll respondents used their own judgment as to what constituted swear words, but almost all were harsher than “caramba,” roughly the equivalent of “gosh!”

***MAT LEAVE FOR CHILDLESS WORKERS***

***A survey of 2,000 British women by Red Magazine found 74% of those polled would be in favour of allowing working women without kids to take a 6-month or more break from work in the same way new mothers are given

***MJ UPDATES***

***Earlier this week, it was learned Paul Anka was the co-writer of Michael Jackson’s new song, This is It which dropped last Sunday at Midnight. The Ottawa-born native will now get 1/2 the royalties from sales of the song. The song was actually written by Anka and Jackson in ’83 and was recently discovered after The King of Pop’s untimely death in June. Here’s how everything unfolded…

*Anka and Jackson were working together for 4 weeks at Anka’s studio in Carmel, Calif., in 1983 (before the success of Thriller,) Jackson was staying in the guesthouse but before the tracks were completed, one of his female assistants took off with the master tapes.

*Although the track was originally called brand new by Sony,  it became obvious the song was an undisguised version of I Never Heard (like Jackson and Paul McCartney’s The Girl is Mine,) co-written by Jackson and Anka for Anka’s 1983 album Walk a Fine Line .

*Anka, needed the master tapes to boost his comeback album, but was told by lawyers that they’d lost the file containing the Anka-Jackson contract.

*Anka threatened them with legal action and eventually, the tapes were returned.

*Before returning Anka’s master tapes in 1983, Jackson copied the piano part and his own vocals onto a DAT recorder. That tape and others were found after he died on June 25, 2009, with the raw I Never Heard track built up in the studio and renamed This Is It to coincide with the forthcoming concert film of the same name.

*Later, in 1991, I Never Heard appeared on an album by the Latino-American singer Safire. But it never made it onto Anka’s album, and he abandoned his comeback which didn’t make him happy.

*Years later, the two bumped into each other at an L.A. office building. Jackson apologized for taking the tapes, and Anka accepted his apology.

*Anka believes the song will net him “several million dollars.”

*When record executive and estate executer John McClain called Anka this week to apologize over the This Is It song, he told him he found another “great song” from Jackson’s collection who then played Love Never Felt So Good..another song Anka co-wrote with Jackson.

***Joe Jackson’s throwing a fundraiser for himself at the Palms Hotel and Casino on Oct. 27, the night before Michael’s “This Is It” movie-doc opens around the world. The tickets are $3,000, for a select group of his fans and Jackson will be there in Las Vegas to meet and greet these lucky people for the Platinum VIP event. Jackson’s altered Sony’s trailer for “This Is It,” using it as a video invite (http://showbiz411.blogs.thr.com/joe-jackson-michael-jackson-movie-party/)

***On Tuesday’s Dancing with the Stars results show (ABC, 9 p.m. ET) all 16 pro dancers from Season 9 will honour Michael Jackson’s music and influence on dance with a fusion of classic ballroom and Latin styles.

DANCERS ARE...Mark Ballas, Cheryl Burke, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Anna Demidova, Tony Dovolani, Chelsie Hightower, Derek Hough, Kym Johnson, Alec Mazo, Jonathan Roberts, Lacey Schwimmer, Edyta Sliwinska, Karina Smirnoff, Anna Trebunskaya and Louis Van Amstel.

Derek Hough  said in a release, Michael Jackson was the reason he started to dance.

***Debbie Rowe, Michael Jackson’s ex’s suing Rebecca White, a Florida woman who told a television interviewer she was only interested in getting money from Jackson’s family and wasn’t interested in gaining custody of her 2 children.  In a filing last week, Rowe’s lawyers said the mother of Jackson’s 2 oldest kids, should be awarded $490,000 in general and punitive damages. Rowe sued Rebecca White in July for White’s comments to “Extra” for defamation and invasion-of-privacy to recoup any money that White may’ve been paid for the interview, which aired in July. Rowe’s lawyers estimated those earnings at $100,000 on a court filing plus they’re also seeking $100,000 for emotional distress, $45,000 for medical and legal fees and $245,000 in punitive damages.

***BALLOON BOY UPDATES***

***Colorado Sheriff Jim Alderen held a news conference Friday to update the media about the “Balloon Boy” ordeal Thursday that had search and rescue teams combing a 50 mile radius for 6 year old Falcon Heene who was feared to have climbed aboard his father’s weather balloon and possibly fallen out of it. He said authorities “believe at this time that it’s a real event” and he finds it difficult to believe that a child as active as Falcon could have remained quiet in the attic as part of some kind of elaborate hoax.

***OTHER NOTES…

*The Heene family’s been featured twice on Wife Swap.

*Father, Richard Heene, 48, wanted to get into show business

*Heene and his wife, Mayumi, who met at an acting school, owe thousands of dollars in connection to a company called My You Me Productions.

*The Heenes approached the TLC  network “months ago” with a reality show idea, but the network passed.

*A former associate of Heene’s says he met Heene in the mid-90′s while working in a restaurant in Woodland Hills, Calif.  One of his filmmaking projects was Psyience Detectives. Perry Caravello said Heene would drive a motorcycle into the center of a tornado to get his readings.

*Spanish teacher Karin Martel, of Trumbull, Conn., entered the Heene household as the new “wife” on Wife Swap last October. She says the Heene household was rambunctious…the boys slept in their clothes so they could leap out of bed in an instant if a storm approached. Mayumi Heene would alert the boys with a megaphone.

***The family of the Colorado “balloon boy” could be billed for the massive search if officials determine they staged an elaborate publicity stunt. The disappearance of 6-year-old Falcon Heene of Fort Collins set off a massive search Thursday after his parents feared he may have been carried off in their homemade weather balloon. Richard Heene and his wife could face a misdemeanor charge of filing a false report-if they’re charged, they’d be billed by the county for the cost of the search. Heene called KUSA-TV and asked for a news helicopter to chase the balloon — although he believed a TV station would be in the air more quickly than police.

***JON AND KATE UPDATES***

***The TLC network’s sued Jon Gosselin for allegedly breaching his contract for “Jon & Kate Plus 8.” The lawsuit, filed Friday in Maryland court, alleges Gosselin’s failed to meet his obligations as an exclusive employee of the network, while appearing on rival networks’ programs for pay and making unauthorized public disclosures about the show. The suit’s seeking unspecified compensatory damages from Gosselin; is demanding he return income gained as a result of his alleged breaches of the agreement and to refrain from future violations.