The father of one of Michael Jackson’s molestation accusers killed himself… Johnny Depp’s People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive 2009 beating out Robert Pattison… The GQ Men of The year are out and…British kids eat alot of fast food…lots more harada-data and more in today’s killer show prep
*** BRITISH KIDS SNARF LOTS OF TAKE-OUT***
*** A survey of 3,000 people by the Stroke Association says 1 in 6 children in Britain grab take-out each day and many didn’t realize the health risks of the salt-laden meals.
* As many as 40% said they didn’t know how much was too much salt
* Almost 1/3rd didn’t care ’bout their sodium intake.
*** CO-ED CAMPUSES CAUSE OF BINGE DRINKING***
*** A study of more than 500 US students from 5 college campuses say college students living in co-ed housing are 2.5 times more likely than others to binge drink weekly. And…
* Weekly binge drinking was reported by 42% of students in co-ed housing and by 18% of students in all-male or all-female dormitories.
* More than 90% of college housing in the United States’ co-ed.
*** THE DANGEROUS SPORT OF CHEERLEADING***
*** Researchers at the Center for Injury Research and Policy of The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital says more than 1/2 of U.S. cheerleading injuries are caused by stunts with mostly concussions the most common injury.Other stats…
* 96% of the reported concussions and closed-head injuries were preceded by the cheerleader performing a stunt like cradles, elevators, extensions, pyramids, single-based stunts, single-leg stunts, stunt-cradle combinations, transitions and miscellaneous partner and group stunts.
* The most common injuries were strains and sprains at 53%
* 83% of the injuries occurred most frequently during practice.
* Nearly 90% of the most serious fall-related injuries were sustained while the cheerleaders were performing on artificial turf, grass, traditional foam floors or wood floors.
*** TRUMP GETS THE BUMP***
*** The Trump International Hotel & Tower in Chicago’s been bumped to the world’s 6th-tallest building, after the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat in Chicago changed its criteria for measuring skyscrapers from the distance between the sidewalk outside the main entrance to the structural top to measuring from “the lowest, significant, open-air, pedestrian entrance.” The new calculation adds 27′ to the just-completed Trump building, moving it up 1 spot to #6 on the world’s tallest buildings list. The bump brought the building’s official height to 1,388′, 6 ” ahead of the Jin Mao Building in Shanghai, which stands 1,381′ tall.
*** WORLDEST BIGGEST SCREEN***
*** Cowboys Stadium in Dallas has the world’s largest jumbotron with a screen measuring 180′ wide, 71′ tall.
***MEN AND BREAST CANCER***
*** Men account for only 1% of all breast-cancer cases, but about 2,000 men develop it each year, and 440 die from it, according to the U.S. National Cancer Institute.
***MJ UPDATES***
*** Michael Jackson’s This Is It on TV will be on MTV… but not ’til 2011- the network acquired the rights top the movie for 6 years.
*** Janet Jackson’s denied reports she’s reconciled with her former boyfriend Jermaine Dupri. She called Dupri her “ex” during a new radio interview, saying he was now on her list of past boyfriends. The former couple ended their 8-year relationship in July over disagreement about her music career.
*** Dr. Evan Chandler, the father of Michael Jackson’s molestation accuser Jordan Chandler died on Monday. A 13-month police investigation began in 1993 when Chandler, a dentist reported Jackson to authorities in both Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, charging him with molesting his then 13-year-old son. The father and son also filed a civil lawsuit against Jackson which didn’t go to trial because Jordan received a $22 million (£13.8 million) settlement for personal injuries arising out of claims of negligence from Jackson.
Both parties signed a confidentiality agreement, promising not to talk about the case. But in 1996, Chandler filed a $60 million (£37.5 million) lawsuit against Jackson and his then wife Lisa Marie Presley, claiming they breached the terms of a confidentiality agreement by talking about the case with Diane Sawyer on ABC’s PrimeTime Live the year before. In 1999, a court ruled in Jackson’s favour and threw out the lawsuit.
***UPDATE*** Police in New Jersey now say Chandler committed suicide by shooting himself in the head, after the 65 year old was found dead in bed at his apartment in New Jersey when his doctor alerted a concierge that he had missed an appointment. It’s believed he was suffering a serious illness since 5 different prescription drugs were found at the home. Chandler became estranged from his entire family after he accused Jackson in 1993 of molesting his son Jordan.
*** GQ MEN OF THE YEAR***
*** GQ hits newsstands Nov. 24th with its annual Men of The Year issue but the mag’s website has a sneak preview. This year, there are 5 covers. US President Barack Obama is “Leader of the Year,” Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis and Ed Helms—the stars of The Hangover—are “Funnymen of the Year,” Chris Pine (the new Kirk of JJ Abrams’ Star Trek) is “Breakout of the Year,” New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is “Comeback of the Year,” and Clint Eastwood is “Badass of the Year.”
*** TAYLOR SWIFT GREETING CARDS***
*** Taylor Swift’s hooked up with American Greetings Corp. to create a line of greeting cards, gift packaging, stationery, online photo personalization products and online greetingsthat reflect and demonstrate not only her personality, but bring her stories and words to life. Look for a Spring 2010 launch.
***LEVI JOHNSTON PLAYGIRL SHOTS***
* The 1st teaser picture of Levi Johnston from his upcoming nude, but not full-frontal, photo shoot’s been posted by Playgirl.com. The black and white pic features Johnston in the shower. More photos next week.
***SUSAN BOYLE SPEAKS OUT***
*** In her 1st interview since finishing her debut album, I Dreamed A Dream, Susan Boyle says she was beaten and bullied as a child. The Britain’s Got Talent runner-up says she was lashed with a belt every day by brutal teachers and cruelly taunted by other kids. I Dreamed A Dream comes out next week and is already the most pre-ordered of all time, with worldwide sales of more than 100,000.
***SIDEBAR***Susan Boyle’s rehab stint earlier this year was “a necessity”, according to the Scottish singing sensation. Boyle checked herself into the Priory Hospital in London a day after she finished 2nd on Britain’s Got Talent in May because she was exhausted after suffering from insomnia. The 48 year old spent 3 days in the rehab facility – and she’s happy she got professional help.
***SIDEBAR*** Britain’s Got Talent sensation Susan Boyle rejected a reality TV show’s offer to find her a boyfriend because she’s “too busy” with her singing career.
*** IDOL CHATTER***
*** Johnny Depp ‘s been named People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive 2009 beating favourite was vampire Robert Pattinson. Depp won the coveted title in 2003, the only dude to be named twice along with Brad Pitt and George Clooney.
As people.com puts it: “At 46, the father of two still reigns as Hollywood’s most irresistible iconoclast; as one-of-a-kind as his beloved 15-year-old boots and as smoldering as his favorite Cuban cigars.”
Robert Pattinson did make the list, as did Ryan Reynolds, Jake Gyllenhaal, Bradley Cooper, Robert Downey Jr, David Beckham, Gilles Marini, The guys from Glee, Nick Cannon, Adam Lambert, John Cho, Chris Daughtry, Jerry O’Connell and John Legend.
*** American Idol host Ryan Seacrest’s won a permanent restraining order against a man accused of harassing him. 25 year old Chidi Uzomah, a special forces reserve for the U.S. Army, was charged earlier this month with a felony count of stalking and 2 misdemeanour counts of violating a court order after he was found wielding a knife at Seacrest’s LA office last month. Uzomah pleaded not guilty to stalking Seacrest at a Nov. 3rd hearing.
A California judge awarded Seacrest a temporary protective order against Uzomah, banning him from going within 500 yards (457.2 metres) from him and now the order was made permanent on Tuesday. Uzomah must stay 100 yards (91.4 metres) away from Seacrest for 3 years and is banned from having any direct or indirect contact with him.
*** American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert releases one of the most highly anticipated debut albums, “For Your Entertainment,” on Monday, Nov. 23rd. Lambert collaborated with Lady Gaga, Pink, Muse, Justin Hawkins formerly of The Darkness and Rivers Cuomo of Weezer.
*** Simon Cowell and Myleene Klass attended a star-studded event at London’s Grosvenor House Ballroom that raised £3 million for learning disabilities charity Norwood. Britain’s Got Talent winners Diversity danced for 1,200 guests which included celebs Topshop boss Sir Philip Green, TV host Tania Bryer, former PM Tony Blair’s wife Cherie and casino millionaire Sol Kerzner’s wife Heather. Lulu, Chaka Kahn and Anastacia, with dancer Darcey Bussell made an appearance in a moving video on Norwood. The fundraiser was hosted by Scottish funnyman Ronnie Corbett.
*** Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Hudson will play Winnie Mandela in Winnie, which follows the life of the wife of South Africa’s 1st black president Nelson Mandela, who steadfastly supported her activist husband in his fight against Apartheid. Winnie will be shot on location in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years in prison.
*** X-FACTOR UPDATES***
*** Leona Lewis’ new album looks set to score the #1 spot, with her 2nd album Echo selling more than 50,000 copies since Monday’s release. If it does reach #1, it’ll be the 3rd X Factor-related album in a row to go to #1 on the album chart – following JLS and Cheryl Cole. Leona’s also just announced she’s recorded the theme tune for James Cameron’s hugely anticipated new film, Avatar. I See You was produced by James Horner and Simon Frangle – the duo behind the hugely successful Titanic theme song, Celine Dion’s My Heart Will Go On. Avatar stars Sigourney Weaver and Sam Worthington.
*** X-Factor contestant Olly Murs appeared on Deal Or No Deal 2 years ago, and left with only £10. When he got down to 2 boxes of £10 and £1,000, he turned down the banker’s final offer of £750 before realizing he’d only won £10.
*** I’M A CELEBRITY…GET ME OUT OF HERE UPDATES***
***Camilla Dallerup’s the 1st casualty of I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here… after quitting the show after just 3 days. The Strictly Come Dancing star repeatedly broke down in tears in the camp as she struggled to cope with the Australian jungle conditions. Boxer Joe Bugner, who became one of the sport’s most hated villains in Britain after he beat Henry Cooper for the heavyweight title in ’71 will replace her.
*** Katie Price was left shaking last night during an underground bushtucker trial which was flooded with water. The 31-year-old glamour model screamed for help as a torrent of water was unleashed while she crawled through a series of bug and rat-infested burrows. Medics rescued her as she was left flailing around in a tank of water – her worst nightmare following a swimming accident as a child.
*** UK WKND BOX OFFICE***
*** 2012′s #1 at the UK box office after taking almost $13 million (£6.5 million) over the weekend. Last week’s top film A Christmas Carol dropped to 2nd, with Michael Caine’s Harry Brown, this week’s only other new entry debuting at 3. Disney/Pixar’s Up dropped just 1 place to 4th this week – with George Clooney’s The Men Who Stare At Goats falling 1 spot to 5th.
***MICHAEL BUBLE’S QUIRKY RIDER REQUESTS*** JUST ADD 1 HOCKEY PUCK***
*** The website thesmokinggun.com’s posted a copy of Michael Buble’s concert “rider” -a set of demands for his musicians and crew when performing concerts. One of his demands-he wants one “local team hockey puck.” Buble, a minority owner of the Western Hockey League’s Vancouver Giants’ been obsessed with hockey since he was a child and has aspirations to own an NHL team some day.
* Other items on Buble’s rider…
* A ban on any plastic utensils and the use of “real glasses”
* 1 bottle of premium scotch and 1 “bottle of red and white wine ($25 minimum).”
* A tea service and a medium-sized crudité platter – “5-8 inches in diameter.”
The Smoking Gun’s list of 254 acts and some of their unusual demands:
- Jane’s Addiction: clean boxer shorts
- Kansas: prune juice
- Iggy Pop: an infamously witty 18-page rider that includes a demand for strong fans “So that I can wear a scarf and pretend to be in a Bon Jovi video.”
The complete list can be found at http://www.thesmokinggun.com/backstagetour/index.html
***JOHNNY DEPPS BEATS ROBERT PATTISON AS PEOPLE’S SEXIEST MAN ALIVE FOR 2009***
*** Johnny Depp ‘s been named People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive 2009 beating favourite was vampire Robert Pattinson. Depp won the coveted title in 2003, the only dude to be named twice along with Brad Pitt and George Clooney.
As people.com puts it: “At 46, the father of two still reigns as Hollywood’s most irresistible iconoclast; as one-of-a-kind as his beloved 15-year-old boots and as smoldering as his favorite Cuban cigars.”
Robert Pattinson did make the list, as did Ryan Reynolds, Jake Gyllenhaal, Bradley Cooper, Robert Downey Jr, David Beckham, Gilles Marini, The guys from Glee, Nick Cannon, Adam Lambert, John Cho, Chris Daughtry, Jerry O’Connell and John Legend.
*** ROBIN WILLIAMS BECOMES A MEMBER OF THE HUNG CLUB***
*** Robin Williams’s become the newest member of the Hollywood Hung Club. The funnyman was shooting his new movie, “World’s Greatest Dad” and insisted on stripping for a scene and waxed himself too, and showing he’s so well hung.
***GAGA GETS STIFFED***
*** Lady Gaga may seem like the obvious choice to win the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in January, but according to a report in Variety, she isn’t even eligible cuz since her debut single Just Dance was up for a Grammy earlier this year, it disqualifies her.
*** HILLARY CLINTON FEATURED IN VOGUE***
*** Hillary Clinton turned down Vogue during the presidential campaign for “fear of looking too feminine.” Now, the US Secretary of State’s featured in a profile by Vogue‘s Jonathan van Meter. Here are a few highlights…
* She was “stunned” when Obama asked her to take a cabinet post cuz she didn’t think it was the right thing to do.
* She naps alot and suffers from jet lag.
* She enjoys Mad Men“
* Everywhere she goes people tell her that she is prettier in person
***FRANKLY, SCARLET, THE DID GIVE A DAMN***
*** 70 couples wearing U.S. Civil War-era costumes danced the Virginia reel in celebration of the 70th anniversary of the film “Gone with the Wind” Friday in the Town Square of Marietta, Ga.
4 of the original cast members — Ann Rutherford, who played Carreen O’Hara; Mickey Kuhn, who played Beau Wilkes at age 7; Patrick Curtis, who played baby Beau Wilkes; and Greg Geise, who played infant Bonnie Blue Butler and infant Beau Wilkes were all there along with Bill Dunaway, the mayor of Marietta, who played host and special guest Robert Osborne, Turner Classic Movies’ prime time presenter. The event was topped off with the unveiling of a giant anniversary cake, which was a replica of the O’Hara estate.
Warner Home Video Tuesday released on Blu-ray and DVD the “Gone with the Wind 70th Anniversary Ultimate Collector’s Edition.” TCM will screen the classic romance starring Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh and Leslie Howard on Dec. 15, the anniversary of the film’s premiere in Atlanta.
***BLACK EYED PEAS DUDES KISS AND MAKE UP (KINDA, SORTA) WITH PEREZ HILTON***
*** Black Eyed Peas manager Liborio Molina apologized publicly to gossip blogger Perez Hilton and the assault charge against him was dropped Wednesday after her issued a written apology to Hilton. Molina was accused of punching Hilton, real name Mario Lavandeira –following a heated argument between the blogger and Black Eyed Peas leader will.i.am at a party following the MMVAs in June. Hilton, whose openly gay’s admitted he made a homophobic slur at the Black Eyed Peas leader during the altercation. Molina’s lawyer, Mark Sandler, read the apology outside the Toronto courthouse.
*** BRITISH COMEDIAN PISSES OFF THE ROYAL FAMILY***
*** British comedian Ben Elton’s raised the eyebrows of the Royals after insulting the Queen on Australian TV. The 50-year-old appeared on comedy quiz show Good News Week where he launched a foul-mouthed tirade against the Royal Family in a word-association game. He described the Queen as “a sad little old lady”, her husband Prince Philip “a mad old bigot who wishes it was still the war”, Prince Charles as a disillusioned ex-hippy, Prince Andrew as a bit of a yob, and stirred controversy about whether Prince Edward was gay.
The findings may have uses for childbirth, where the father’s presence in the delivery room could reduce the mother’s pain. They may also explain why a mother can apparently give instant comfort to an injured child by ‘kissing it better’.
*** WOMEN CAN GROW NEW BREASTS…FROM PIGS (THE ANIMAL, NOT THE MALE CHAUVINIST)***
*** Women who lose breasts to cancer could grow new ones after surgery. The revolutionary technique gives new hope to the thousands of women every year who lose breasts during a mastectomy. The new method would create breasts that look and feel more natural, while reducing the amount of scarring. The new technique could be good to go in 3 years which sees growing breast tissue from a teaspoonful of cells. The Australian doctors behind the surgery have already successfully tested it on pigs and plan to carry out operations on women within months.
***EVEN THE EGYPTIANS HAD HARDENING OF THE ARTERIES***
*** A team of US and Egyptian scientists found hardening of the arteries in Egyptian mummies – suggesting that the risk factors for heart disease may be ancient. They found evidence of hardened arteries in 3 of 22 mummies from Cairo’s Museum of Antiquities and possible heart disease in 3 more. All the mummies were of high socio-economic status and would’ve had a rich diet. Details of the study by the University of California, the Mid America Heart Institute, Wisconsin Heart Hospital and Al Azhar Medical School in Cairo appear in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
*** A Danish political party named partially after a male sex organ’s claimed responsibility for covering other parties’ campaign posters in penis stickers. The P.I.K. party — an acronym for Penge i kommunekassen, or Money in the Council Coffer, which also spells out “pik,” a crude form of the Danish word for penis claimed responsibility for covering posters in yellow stickers shaped like penises. The party’s now had 10,000 visitors to their Web site and has 500 new Facebook friends.
*** An Indian woman divorced her husband after he refused to allow her to watch soap operas. The husband’s ban led to daily arguments between the couple from Pune, south-east of Mumbai. Eventually, the wife decided the situation was unbearable and she filed for divorce. Television soap operas have a huge following in India, ‘specially among housewives or women who work as domestic help.
*** Police in Tennessee busted 2 men less than a minute after receiving a 911 call about a robbery at a McDonald’s. Someone called the emergency number shortly after 10 p.m. Sunday to report a pair of bandanna-wearing men were robbing a McDonald’s about a block from the police station and cops arrived less than a minute later to find 2 men sprinting toward a getaway car they’d left running in the parking lot. Memphis residents Rodney Benton Jr., 20, and Arthur Chandler, 23, were arrested and charged with aggravated robbery, aggravated kidnapping, resisting arrest, possession of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony, unlawful possession of a weapon by a convicted felon and theft of property. They were ordered held in lieu of $250,000 bond each.
***A French woman was granted a wedding to her fiance nearly a year after his death in a car crash. Magali Jaskiewicz, 26, petitioned to be granted a posthumous wedding to Jonathan George, her partner of 6 years and father of her 2 kids after he died in a road accident 2 days following his Nov. 25, 2008, marriage proposal. Jaskiewicz stood in her wedding gown next to a picture of George during Saturday’s ceremony in Dommary-Baroncourt. French officials said dozens of posthumous weddings are approved each year.
*** Slash once partied at Los Angeles’ famous Rainbow bar in drag – because a doorman refused him entry with fake ID. The then teenage rocker and buddy Steven Adler both tried to get into the club despite being underage; Adler made it through the door but Slash was stopped and sent home. A drunken Slash then dressed up in his mother’s clothes and returned to the Sunset Strip club. It was ladies night, so he got in free.
*** Michael Buble caught a starstruck fan when she passed out. Buble was taking a cigarette break after a recent show when a female fan in her early 20′s started chatted with him then started to faint but Buble caught her in time. When she came to, she was very embarassed.
*** An intoxicated man in Seattle over-estimated his own ninja skills and impaled himself on a fence post. An officer heard screams at about 11:15 p.m. PST Monday and found the man impaled on a spike atop a 4- to 5-foot-tall fence. Fire Department responders freed the man from the spike and he was taken to hospital for treatment.
*** An Alaskan dog sled racer bought an elephant treadmill from the Alaska Zoo to help train his team for the Iditarod race. Martin Buser, a 4-time winner of the 1,150-mile Iditarod, said the 22′-long treadmill at his Happy Trails Kennels in Big Lake formerly belonged to Maggie, an 8,000-pound African elephant that left the Alaska Zoo in 2007 for a new home in California . Buser said the treadmill may not be up and running until after the upcoming Iditarod race, which begins March 6, but it’ll be a valuable tool for future training. He said the indoor training area will allow him to do health and fitness tests on his dogs with monitors that couldn’t be used out on a trail.
*** A vacant 200-year-old Canadian church in west-central Nova Scotia’s being dismantled and shipped to Louisiana to replace one lost to Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The All Saints Anglican Church in rural Granville Center became redundant in 2005 when 3 area parishes combined. The church will become a Baptist church once it’s set up in Louisiana.
*** “I haven’t had a drink in a month, I don’t drink. I’ll drink champagne sometimes and I’ll get a little crazy, doing back flips and you know wrestling people on the floor, but I’m taking a break right now, my friend calls it ‘detox so you can retox’.”- Pamela Anderson commenting on her party habits.
Brenda Vaccaro is 70.
Linda Evans is 67.
Susan Sullivan is 67.
Country singer Jacky Ward is 63.
Jameson Parker is 62.
Singer Graham Parker is 59.
Actor Oscar Nunez (The Office) is 51.
Singer Kim Wilde is 49.
Elizabeth Perkins is 49.
Guitarist Kirk Hammett of Metallica is 47.
Tim DeLaughter of Polyphonic Spree (and Tripping Daisy) is 44.
Owen Wilson (The Royal Tenenbaums,Zoolander) is 41.
Singer Duncan Sheik is 40.
Chloe Sevigny (Boys Don’t Cry) is 35.
Rapper Fabolous is 30.
Rapper Mike Jones is 29.
Actor Nathan Cress (iCarly) is 17.
Today is Mickey Mouse Day. His first cartoon, “Steamboat Willie,” opened in New York on November 18, 1928. 2 other cartoons, “Plane Crazy” and “Gallopin’ Goucho,” were completed first but released later. Mickey’s voice was Walt Disney, but the character was created by artist Ub Iwerks.
Today is Push-Button Phone Day, marking debut of telephone push buttons on this date in 1963. Touch tone service was available at an extra charge in only 2 Pennsylvania cities.
1307… According to legend, using a bow and arrow, William Tell shot an apple off his son’s head.
1963…Bell Telephone introduced the 1st phone with push buttons.
2007…The Contemporary Music Festival in Hudderfield, England, announced it’d feature The Vienna Vegetable Orchestra, whose dulcet tones came from instruments made of fresh vegetables. The edible ensemble performs using celeriac bongos, carrot recorders, crunching onion skins, squeaking lettuce leaves and a multi-vegetable “cucumberphone” to play everything from contemporary to jazz to classical
*** Oscar nominated David Lynch will make a film about Transcendental Meditation ™ guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the spiritual leader of the Beatles. Lynch will head to India next month to start shooting on the life and teachings of Maharishi. Lynch’s been trying to introduce TM in schools globally. Maharishi, died last year at 91 and was associated with The Beatles,The Beach Boys,
Mick Jagger, Vidal Sassoon, Mia Farrow and others. He established about 1,000 TM centres worldwide and had about 4 million followers
*** Del Fuegos rocker turned family music superstar Dan Zanes got permission from Paul McCartney’s MPL Music Publishing to record Zanes’ new “76 Trombones” Broadway songs collection. Zanes chose material such as “Hello Dolly” (performed with Carol Channing) and songs from “Annie,” “A Chorus Line,” “The Most Happy Fella” and other Great White Way classics. “76 Trombones” comes out Tuesday, with his Friends band and other guests such as Matthew Broderick and Brian Stokes Mitchell. Zanes’ planning to turn “76 Trombones” into a musical stage piece in the new year. He’s also starting work on a project applying music as a therapy for autism.
*** Oscar nominated David Lynch will make a film about Transcendental Meditation ™ guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the spiritual leader of the Beatles. Lynch will head to India next month to start shooting on the life and teachings of Maharishi. Lynch’s been trying to introduce TM in schools globally. Maharishi, died last year at 91 and was associated with The Beatles,The Beach Boys,
Mick Jagger, Vidal Sassoon, Mia Farrow and others. He established about 1,000 TM centres worldwide and had about 4 million followers.
*** Chuck Leavell, keyboardist for The Rolling Stones talks about fighting childhood obesity and training the next generation of farmers on his new website called the Mother Nature Network. http://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/ecollywood/mnntv/in-the-green-room/in-the-green-room-country-star-gretchen-wilson-on-the
***THIS WEEK’S CHART NOTES***
***Bon Jovi scored their 4th #1 album on the Billboard 200 chart, after “The Circle“sold 163,000 copies. It’s the New Jersey rockers’ 2nd chart-topper in a row, following its 2007 release “Lost Highway,” which sold 292,000. The band previously hit the top with “Slippery When Wet” in ’86 and “New Jersey” in ’88. Last week’s Billboard 200 #1, Carrie Underwood’s “Play On,” drops to #3 with 128,000 (down 60%), Andrea Bocelli’s “My Christmas” climbs from 3 to 2. Michael Jackson’s “This Is It” slips from 4 to 6 while Taylor Swift’s “Fearless” moves up 1 spot to #5 following her 4 wins last week on the Country Music Association Awards show.
*** Johnny Depp ‘s been named People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive 2009 beating favourite was vampire Robert Pattinson. Depp won the coveted title in 2003, the only dude to be named twice along with Brad Pitt and George Clooney.
As people.com puts it: “At 46, the father of two still reigns as Hollywood’s most irresistible iconoclast; as one-of-a-kind as his beloved 15-year-old boots and as smoldering as his favorite Cuban cigars.”
Robert Pattinson did make the list, as did Ryan Reynolds, Jake Gyllenhaal, Bradley Cooper, Robert Downey Jr, David Beckham, Gilles Marini, The guys from Glee, Nick Cannon, Adam Lambert, John Cho, Chris Daughtry, Jerry O’Connell and John Legend.
*** Oscar nominated David Lynch will make a film about Transcendental Meditation ™ guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the spiritual leader of the Beatles. Lynch will head to India next month to start shooting on the life and teachings of Maharishi. Lynch’s been trying to introduce TM in schools globally. Maharishi, died last year at 91 and was associated with The Beatles,The Beach Boys,
Mick Jagger, Vidal Sassoon, Mia Farrow and others. He established about 1,000 TM centres worldwide and had about 4 million followers.
*** Chuck Leavell, keyboardist for The Rolling Stones talks about fighting childhood obesity and training the next generation of farmers on his new website called the Mother Nature Network. http://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/ecollywood/mnntv/in-the-green-room/in-the-green-room-country-star-gretchen-wilson-on-the
*** Sir Elton John’s telling teens to be more vigilant about the dangers of AIDS – insisting the message of safe sex needs to be drilled in to every new generation. John’s been battling E. Coli and a nasty bout of the flu and made an appearance at the Elton John AIDS Foundation gala in New York on Monday night. John warns teenagers are still not educated enuff ’bout the dangers of unprotected sex.
*** Former Simply Red frontman Mick Hucknall’s the favourite to replace Rod Stewart in the newly reunited The Faces. Ron Wood, Kenney Jones and Ian McLagan rejoined Stewart for rehearsals late last year with plans of touring together in 2009 – but scheduling conflicts forced Stewart to step back. Wood, McLagan and Jones are considering a 2010 spring tour – with or without Stewart and Hucknall, who joined the band as a guest for the October 25th concert at the Royal Albert Hall’s now the frontrunner for the gig.
***Rod Stewart’s being sued by his former lawyers for $3.3 million (£2 million) payout over 3 alleged unpaid legal bills.
*** In 2007, former KISS drummer Peter Criss was diagnosed with breast cancer and had surgery to remove the lump on his left breast. After a 2nd surgery to remove it in March, 2008, he didn’t need chemotherapy, radiation or medication. Now, Criss’ speaking out about his illness to encourage other men to get tested for breast cancer — a disease more commonly associated with women, who are routinely urged to get regular mammograms at a certain age.
*** Slash once partied at Los Angeles’ famous Rainbow bar in drag – because a doorman refused him entry with fake ID. The then teenage rocker and buddy Steven Adler both tried to get into the club despite being underage; Adler made it through the door but Slash was stopped and sent home. A drunken Slash then dressed up in his mother’s clothes and returned to the Sunset Strip club. It was ladies night, so he got in free.
*** My Chemical Romance’s wrapping up their 4th studio album, due next Spring
*** American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert releases one of the most highly anticipated debut albums, “For Your Entertainment,” on Monday, Nov. 23rd. Lambert collaborated with Lady Gaga, Pink, Muse, Justin Hawkins formerly of The Darkness and Rivers Cuomo of Weezer.
*** Sugarland will be performing with Mary J. Blige, Usher, Neil Diamond, and Rob Thomas at the annual TNT holiday program Christmas in Washington on December 2oth at 8pm EST.
*** Brad Paisley and Martina McBride surprised fans at the REO Speedwagon concert in Nashville on Sunday when they joined the band on stage to sing “Roll with the Changes.”
*** Pamela Anderson says she took coke when she was young but didn’t enjoy the effects the illegal substance had on her. The mother of 2 sons (with Tommy Lee) admits she still drinks on occasions.
*** Queen drummer Roger Taylor’s planning to team up with Foo Fighters’ Taylor Hawkins for a 2010 tour.
*** Steven Tyler’s Aerosmith’s bandmates say they’re worried about his health and well being. Drummer Joey Kramer tells Billboard.com. Tyler isolates himself more than ever…guitarist Brad Whitford suspects he’s having problems with drug abuse like he has in the past. Kramer writes about his complex, passive-aggressive relationship with Tyler in his new memoir “Hit Hard: A Story of Hitting Rock Bottom at the Top.”
Tyler’s only public comment about rumours he was leaving the band came on Nov. 10, when he made a surprise appearance at the Joe Perry Project’s concert in New York City and announced “I’m not leaving Aerosmith.” The rest of the band, meanwhile — including guitarist Perry and bassist Tom Hamilton’s in daily communication and focusing on the band’s future plans.
*** OneRepublic’s highly anticipated album ” Waking Up” dropped Tuesday and was recorded in their hometown of Denver, Colorado with help from composer Danny Elfman (with whom singer Ryan Tedder’s shared ideas).
**Ozzy Osbourne says he still has good sex with his wife Sharon.
*** The original members of the Velvet Underground are reuniting at the New York Public Library on December 8th to answer questions from music journalist David Fricke as part of the Live from the NYPL festival. Lou Reed, Maureen Tucker and Doug Yule will also be promoting new coffee table book The Velvet Underground: New York Art, which features previously unseen photos, band artwork designed by Andy Warhol, Reed’s handwritten music and lyrics and posters, among other memorabilia. The book also features a recorded conversation between Reed and Tucker.
*** Grizzly Bear had to cancel a concert in Italy last week, after a bus crash left them stranded by the side of the road in Austria on Thursday as the group travelled from a concert in Munich, Germany to their gig with Wilco in Milan. No one was hurt in the crash, but bandmembers couldn’t make it to the show because a new bus didn’t arrive in time.
*** Del Fuegos rocker turned family music superstar Dan Zanes got permission from Paul McCartney’s MPL Music Publishing to record Zanes’ new “76 Trombones” Broadway songs collection. Zanes chose material such as “Hello Dolly” (performed with Carol Channing) and songs from “Annie,” “A Chorus Line,” “The Most Happy Fella” and other Great White Way classics. “76 Trombones” comes out Tuesday, with his Friends band and other guests such as Matthew Broderick and Brian Stokes Mitchell. Zanes’ planning to turn “76 Trombones” into a musical stage piece in the new year. He’s also starting work on a project applying music as a therapy for autism.
***THIS WEEK’S CHART NOTES***
***Bon Jovi scored their 4th #1 album on the Billboard 200 chart, after “The Circle“sold 163,000 copies. It’s the New Jersey rockers’ 2nd chart-topper in a row, following its 2007 release “Lost Highway,” which sold 292,000. The band previously hit the top with “Slippery When Wet” in ’86 and “New Jersey” in ’88. Last week’s Billboard 200 #1, Carrie Underwood’s “Play On,” drops to #3 with 128,000 (down 60%), Andrea Bocelli’s “My Christmas” climbs from 3 to 2. Michael Jackson’s “This Is It” slips from 4 to 6 while Taylor Swift’s “Fearless” moves up 1 spot to #5 following her 4 wins last week on the Country Music Association Awards show.
*** Jay-Z will score his 4th Hot 100 #1-his 1st as a lead or co-billed performer, as his collaboration with Alicia Keys, “Empire State of Mind,” will top the chart to be released Thursday. Lady Antebellum’s “Need You Know” jumped from 22 to 5. The group won Vocal Group of the Year and Single of the Year (for “I Run To You“) on ABC’s “Country Music Awards” Nov. 11th and as a result, digital downloads soared 162% to 157,000, the highest one-week total for a song by a country group since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking digital sales in 2003. Among all country acts, only Taylor Swift’s moved more downloads for a track in a single week
*** Johnny Depp ‘s been named People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive 2009 beating favourite was vampire Robert Pattinson. Depp won the coveted title in 2003, the only dude to be named twice along with Brad Pitt and George Clooney.
As people.com puts it: “At 46, the father of two still reigns as Hollywood’s most irresistible iconoclast; as one-of-a-kind as his beloved 15-year-old boots and as smoldering as his favorite Cuban cigars.”
Robert Pattinson did make the list, as did Ryan Reynolds, Jake Gyllenhaal, Bradley Cooper, Robert Downey Jr, David Beckham, Gilles Marini, The guys from Glee, Nick Cannon, Adam Lambert, John Cho, Chris Daughtry, Jerry O’Connell and John Legend.
*** Black Eyed Peas manager Liborio Molina apologized publicly to gossip blogger Perez Hilton and the assault charge against him was dropped Wednesday after her issued a written apology to Hilton. Molina was accused of punching Hilton, real name Mario Lavandeira – following a heated argument between the blogger and Black Eyed Peas leader will.i.am at a party following the MMVAs in June. Hilton, whose openly gay’s admitted he made a homophobic slur at the Black Eyed Peas leader during the altercation. Molina’s lawyer, Mark Sandler, read the apology outside the Toronto courthouse.
*** Lady Gaga may seem like the obvious choice to win the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in January, but according to a report in Variety, she isn’t even eligible cuz since her debut single Just Dance was up for a Grammy earlier this year, it disqualifies her.
*** British website The Daily Mail Online’s posted unflattering pics of Rihanna getting into her limo after a night at the Mahiki nightclub where she held a secret preview of her latest album, “Rated R” for her fans. The 21-year-old singer who wore a mini-dress and shoe-boots tried unsuccessfully to hide her cottage cheese thighs but was napped by photogs.
*** Rihanna wowed fans at London’s Brixton Academy Monday, her 1st gig in Britain after she was assaulted by former boyfriend Chris Brown in February. Her music mentor Jay-Z joined her onstage along with Tinchy Stryder, Chipmunk, and Adele. After the show, Rihanna headed to club Mahiki to party with Jay-Z and his wife Beyonce.
*** Beyonce thrilled fans at her O2 Arena, London show on Monday night when she crowd surfed in a skimpy outfit and heels midway through Halo. She was then carried across the stadium floor before being returned to the podium for the end of the song.
*** Beyonce partied the night away with Jay-Z and Rihanna wearing a £20 T-shirt from high street store New Look at celeb hangout Mahiki to celebrate another crowd-wowing show at London’s O2 arena. She got the British shirt a couple of sizes too big and wore as a dress.
*** American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert releases one of the most highly anticipated debut albums, “For Your Entertainment,” on Monday, Nov. 23rd. Lambert collaborated with Lady Gaga, Pink, Muse, Justin Hawkins formerly of The Darkness and Rivers Cuomo of Weezer.
*** Black Eyed Peas Taboo’s blasted rumours Fergie’s having marital problems, saying her relationship with Josh Duhamel’s full of “love”. Reports of trouble in their marriage surfaced after a stripper claimed to have had sex with the Transformers star. The couple denied the accusations and said she’d take a lie detector test to prove she was telling the truth.
*** Curtis ’50 Cent’ Jackson and Val Kilmer are reuniting for The Gun, a new thriller about the world of gun dealing. Jackson himself was shot9 times during an incident in 2000. The Gun marks the 1st of 3 scripts for potential feature films Fiddy’s written. He’s previously starred alongside Kilmer and Sharon Stone in the New Orleans set thriller Streets of Blood.
*** Lil Wayne’s a dad for the 2nd time this year, after his 4th child, a son with R&B singer Nivea was born over the weekend – just 2 months after actress Lauren London had little Lennox Samuel Ari in September. Wayne – real name Dwayne Carter, Jr. – missed the birth due to a prior engagement in Atlanta, Georgia. He also has another son, Dwayne Carter III, who was born to an unidentified woman last year, and a daughter, Reginae, with ex-wife Antonia Carter. Nivea has 3 other children from her previous relationship with producer The-Dream.
*** Leona Lewis’ new album looks set to score the #1 spot, with her 2nd album Echo selling more than 50,000 copies since Monday’s release. If it does reach #1, it’ll be the 3rd X Factor-related album in a row to go to #1 on the album chart – following JLS and Cheryl Cole. Leona’s also just announced she’s recorded the theme tune for James Cameron’s hugely anticipated new film, Avatar. I See You was produced by James Horner and Simon Frangle – the duo behind the hugely successful Titanic theme song, Celine Dion’s My Heart Will Go On. Avatar stars Sigourney Weaver and Sam Worthington
*** John Mayer wants the media and public to cut Kanye West some slack for his MTV Video Music Awards stage invasion – because he thinks he’s been punished enough. Mayer’s teamed up with Taylor Swift, the victim of West’s onstage rant on a new track, but he’s not about to join those publicly hating the rap star.
*** Russell Brand took girlfriend Katy Perry see 2012 at the theatre in the Grove shopping complex in Los Angeles yesterday.*** Madonna’s secured a $7 million dollar donation Brazil’s richest man Eike Batista for her Success for Kids children’s charity in Brazil. Madge was in tears after Batista agreed to give her the balance of the $10 million she’s collected for her charity while having dinner with her.
*** The manager of Jennifer Lopez’s ex-husband Ojani Noa says she has him under constant surveillance since he publicized plans to release home videos of their brief marriage. Lopez successfully applied for a restraining order against her former partner to prevent him putting footage of their honeymoon in his mockumentary How I Married Jennifer Lopez: the J.Lo and Ojani Noa Story and also launched a $10 million (£6.25 million) lawsuit against Noa, alleging he’d violated terms of a confidentiality clause he signed in 2005.
*** Michael Bolton’s laughed off rumours he and Lady Gaga are an item because he found the stories hilarious. The 56 year old hooked up with Gaga on his latest album One World One Love, and the collaboration sparked speculation of a romance.
*** OneRepublic’s highly anticipated album ” Waking Up” dropped Tuesday and was recorded in their hometown of Denver, Colorado with help from composer Danny Elfman (with whom singer Ryan Tedder’s shared ideas).
*** Taylor Swift’s hooked up with American Greetings Corp. to create a line of greeting cards, gift packaging, stationery, online photo personalization products and online greetingsthat reflect and demonstrate not only her personality, but bring her stories and words to life. Look for a Spring 2010 launch.
*** Taylor Swift’s hosting a 27 minute special that discusses the challenges of being a young teenager in today’s society “Fifteen: The Times & Trials of the American Teenager“. This public service special’s aimed at parents and teenagers, and will include a round table discussion featuring teenagers and commentary from a high school guidance counselor . Taylor will also share the inspiration behind her hit song “Fifteen”. The special airs across the US during the weekends of November 21st & 22nd, November 28th & 29th and December 5th & 6th.
*** Carrie Underwood’s new video Temporary Home, a song from her new “Play On” disc’s available for viewing at the CMT web site. Check it out…http://www.cmt.com/videos/misc/457122/temporary-home-from-invitation-only.jhtml?id=1626425
*** Miley Cyrus won’t be seeing the new Twilight movie cuz she’s afraid of vampires.
*** Michael Buble caught a starstruck fan when she passed out. Buble was taking a cigarette break after a recent show when a female fan in her early 20′s started chatted with him then started to faint but Buble caught her in time. When she came to she was very embarassed.
*** Michael Buble once dated a fan and says he’d do it again.
***THIS WEEK’S CHART NOTES***
***Bon Jovi scored their 4th #1 album on the Billboard 200 chart, after “The Circle“sold 163,000 copies. It’s the New Jersey rockers’ 2nd chart-topper in a row, following its 2007 release “Lost Highway,” which sold 292,000. The band previously hit the top with “Slippery When Wet” in ’86 and “New Jersey” in ’88. Last week’s Billboard 200 #1, Carrie Underwood’s “Play On,” drops to #3 with 128,000 (down 60%), Andrea Bocelli’s “My Christmas” climbs from 3 to 2. Michael Jackson’s “This Is It” slips from 4 to 6 while Taylor Swift’s “Fearless” moves up 1 spot to #5 following her 4 wins last week on the Country Music Association Awards show.
*** Jay-Z will score his 4th Hot 100 #1-his 1st as a lead or co-billed performer, as his collaboration with Alicia Keys, “Empire State of Mind,” will top the chart to be released Thursday. Lady Antebellum’s “Need You Know” jumped from 22 to 5. The group won Vocal Group of the Year and Single of the Year (for “I Run To You“) on ABC’s “Country Music Awards” Nov. 11th and as a result, digital downloads soared 162% to 157,000, the highest one-week total for a song by a country group since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking digital sales in 2003. Among all country acts, only Taylor Swift’s moved more downloads for a track in a single week.
*** Taylor Swift’s hooked up with American Greetings Corp. to create a line of greeting cards, gift packaging, stationery, online photo personalization products and online greetings that reflect and demonstrate not only her personality, but bring her stories and words to life. Look for a Spring 2010 launch.
*** Taylor Swift’s hosting a 27 minute special that discusses the challenges of being a young teenager in today’s society “Fifteen: The Times & Trials of the American Teenager“. This public service special’s aimed at parents and teenagers, and will include a round table discussion featuring teenagers and commentary from a high school guidance counselor . Taylor will also share the inspiration behind her hit song “Fifteen”. The special airs across the US during the weekends of November 21st & 22nd, November 28th & 29th and December 5th & 6th.
*** Carrie Underwood’s new video Temporary Home, a song from her new “Play On” disc’s available for viewing at the CMT web site. Check it out…http://www.cmt.com/videos/misc/457122/temporary-home-from-invitation-only.jhtml?id=1626425
*** John Mayer wants the media and public to cut Kanye West some slack for his MTV Video Music Awards stage invasion – because he thinks he’s been punished enough. Mayer’s teamed up with Taylor Swift, the victim of West’s onstage rant on a new track, but he’s not about to join those publicly hating the rap star.
*** Miley Cyrus won’t be seeing the new Twilight movie cuz she’s afraid of vampires.
*** Tim McGraw says he’s not giving up his music career to move into movies.
***AND*** Tim loves football so much, he’d take his bank account with him if he could play football.
*** Faith Hill and manager Gary Borman have confirmed they’re parting ways after 16 years.
*** Feds from the US Fish and Wildlife Service searched the Gibson Guitar plant in Nashville Thursday for signs of violation of the Lacey Act, which enforces the illegal importation of woods used by guitar makers, such as the endangered Brazilian and Madagascar rosewood.
*** Wynona will join Santa on the 67th Annual Santa Train this Saturday, November 21st. Wynonna and her children will join volunteers in handing out 15 tons of toys and gifts to Appalachian families along the train route.
*** Sugarland will be performing with Mary J. Blige, Usher, Neil Diamond, and Rob Thomas at the annual TNT holiday program Christmas in Washington on December 2oth at 8pm EST.
*** Sugarland, Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush are on Oprah November 30th.
*** Diamond Rio’s Jimmy Olander and Marty Roe are getting ready to upgrade last years running shoes and continue to add to the over 133,000 training miles that’ve been walked or run as part of an initiative to raise money and awareness for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee. Diamond Rio’s opened recruitment for runners or walkers for Team Rio 2010 in preparation for the Country Music Marathon and Half Marathon on April 24, 2010. For more information on how you can get involved, visit www.teamrio.org.
*** Brad Paisley and Martina McBride surprised fans at the REO Speedwagon concert in Nashville on Sunday when they joined the band on stage to sing “Roll with the Changes.”
*** Vince Vaughan was the special surprise guest at Chicago Bear Greg Olsen’s charity country music concert Friday night in Nashville. Bear teammates who joined him for the event included Jay Cutler, Tommy Harris, Hunter Hillenmeyer, and Earl Bennett. NHl-er Chris Chelios was also at the event which raised over $40,000 for Olsen’s Receptions for Research Foundation benefiting Breast Cancer Research.
*** Dierks Bentley’s releasing 2 albums in 2010-both country and bluegrass albums.
*** Keith Burns, formerly of Trick Pony, and Michelle Poe along with Cowboy Troy and the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders filmed the music video for the Cowboy Stomp, the Dallas Cowboys’ 2009 season theme son Monday inside the newly built Cowboys Stadium. The song’s been played in the Cowboys Stadium throughout the 2009 season; the video will be broadcast on the stadium’s jumbotron, the largest in the world with a screen measuring 180′ wide, 71′ tall. The “making of” video (as filmed in the recording studio) can be seen at www.myspace.com/burnsandpoe.
*** Monsters of Folk – Conor Oberst, Jim James, M. Ward and Mike Mogis – shot a video for the quartet’s new single, Say Please. The video can be seen now at http://new.music.yahoo.com/videos/Monsters-Of-Folk–218604944. The broadcast premiere of the Say Please video aired Tuesday on the Independent Film Channel at 9 p.m. Eastern/Pacific.
*** Dolly Parton told CNN host Joy Behar she’s in favour of granting gays and lesbians the rights to marry.
*** Bruce Springsteen’s final show of his 2009 tour on November 22 in Buffalo will include a charity meet & greet to benefit The Kristen Ann Carr Fund, which provides grants for cancer research, and the Musicians on Call Organization, which brings live and recorded music to the bedsides of patients in healthcare facilities. Fans can bid at charitybuzz.com for a chance to win 4 tickets in the 1st 5 rows of the concert, E-Street Lounge passes and admission to the sound check.
*** Todd Rundgren will play his 1973 album A Wizard, A True Star live in its entirety at 4 shows in California next month-San Francisco (12/1), Sacramento (12/1), Los Angeles (12/4) and Ventura (12/5).
*** Sir Elton John’s telling teens to be more vigilant about the dangers of AIDS – insisting the message of safe sex needs to be drilled in to every new generation. John’s been battling E. Coli and a nasty bout of the flu and made an appearance at the Elton John AIDS Foundation gala in New York on Monday night. John warns teenagers are still not educated enuff ’bout the dangers of unprotected sex.
*** Oscar nominated David Lynch will make a film about Transcendental Meditation ™ guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the spiritual leader of the Beatles. Lynch will head to India next month to start shooting on the life and teachings of Maharishi. Lynch’s been trying to introduce TM in schools globally. Maharishi, died last year at 91 and was associated with The Beatles,The Beach Boys,
Mick Jagger, Vidal Sassoon, Mia Farrow and others. He established about 1,000 TM centres worldwide and had about 4 million followers.
*** Del Fuegos rocker turned family music superstar Dan Zanes got permission from Paul McCartney’s MPL Music Publishing to record Zanes’ new “76 Trombones” Broadway songs collection. Zanes chose material such as “Hello Dolly” (performed with Carol Channing) and songs from “Annie,” “A Chorus Line,” “The Most Happy Fella” and other Great White Way classics. “76 Trombones” comes out Tuesday, with his Friends band and other guests such as Matthew Broderick and Brian Stokes Mitchell. Zanes’ planning to turn “76 Trombones” into a musical stage piece in the new year. He’s also starting work on a project applying music as a therapy for autism.
*** Chuck Leavell, keyboardist for The Rolling Stones talks about fighting childhood obesity and training the next generation of farmers on his new website called the Mother Nature Network. http://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/ecollywood/mnntv/in-the-green-room/in-the-green-room-country-star-gretchen-wilson-on-the
*** Former Simply Red frontman Mick Hucknall’s the favourite to replace Rod Stewart in the newly reunited The Faces. Ron Wood, Kenney Jones and Ian McLagan rejoined Stewart for rehearsals late last year with plans of touring together in 2009 – but scheduling conflicts forced Stewart to step back. Wood, McLagan and Jones are considering a 2010 spring tour – with or without Stewart and Hucknall, who joined the band as a guest for the October 25th concert at the Royal Albert Hall’s now the frontrunner for the gig.
***Rod Stewart’s being sued by his former lawyers for $3.3 million (£2 million) payout over 3 alleged unpaid legal bills.
*** Queen drummer Roger Taylor’s planning to team up with Foo Fighters’ Taylor Hawkins for a 2010 tour.
*** Bond stars Sean Connery and Dame Shirley Bassey are reuniting for a new animated feature film. Connery will be the voice of the lead character Sir Billi, while Bassey, who sang the title track for his 1964 Bond movie Goldfinger will sing the title song, Guardian of the Highlands.
*** Simon Cowell and Myleene Klass attended a star-studded event at London’s Grosvenor House Ballroom that raised £3 million for learning disabilities charity Norwood. Britain’s Got Talent winners Diversity danced for 1,200 guests which included celebs Topshop boss Sir Philip Green, TV host Tania Bryer, former PM Tony Blair’s wife Cherie and casino millionaire Sol Kerzner’s wife Heather.Lulu, Chaka Kahn and Anastacia, with dancer Darcey Bussell made an appearance in a moving video on Norwood. The fundraiser was hosted by Scottish funnyman Ronnie Corbett.
*** Yusuf Islam, formerly known as Cat Stevens was stunned when his fans booed him and walked out of his 1st concert in 33 years in Dublin, Ireland on Sunday. He stopped the concert to make a 40-minute presentation of his new London West End show, Moonshadow - but several members of the audience weren’t impressed, and began chanting, “We’re bored” before leaving the O2 arena. Islam was baffled by their reaction, because he can’t understand why his fans would expect him only to play his old songs.
*** Sugarland will be performing with Mary J. Blige, Usher, Neil Diamond, and Rob Thomas at the annual TNT holiday program Christmas in Washington on December 2oth at 8pm EST.
*** Michael Bolton’s laughed off rumours he and Lady Gaga are an item because he found the stories hilarious. The 56 year old hooked up with Gaga on his latest album One World One Love, and the collaboration sparked speculation of a romance.
*** Janet Jackson’s denied reports she’s reconciled with her former boyfriend Jermaine Dupri. She called Dupri her “ex” during a new radio interview, saying he was now on her list of past boyfriends. The former couple ended their 8-year relationship in July over disagreement about her music career.
*** Black Eyed Peas Taboo’s blasted rumours Fergie’s having marital problems, saying her relationship with Josh Duhamel’s full of “love”. Reports of trouble in their marriage surfaced after a stripper claimed to have had sex with the Transformers star. The couple denied the accusations and said she’d take a lie detector test to prove she was telling the truth.
*** Britain’s Got Talent sensation Susan Boyle rejected a reality TV show’s offer to find her a boyfriend because she’s “too busy” with her singing career.
*** Michael Buble once dated a fan and says he’d do it again.
**Ozzy Osbourne says he still has good sex with his wife Sharon.
*** Lil Wayne’s a dad for the 2nd time this year, after his 4th child, a son with R&B singer Nivea was born over the weekend – just 2 months after actress Lauren London had little Lennox Samuel Ari in September. Wayne – real name Dwayne Carter, Jr. – missed the birth due to a prior engagement in Atlanta, Georgia. He also has another son, Dwayne Carter III, who was born to an unidentified woman last year, and a daughter, Reginae, with ex-wife Antonia Carter. Nivea has 3 other children from her previous relationship with producer The-Dream.
*** In a new interview with Life & Style magazine, Kim Kardashian says her family was torn apart after Kourtney and Scott Disick said they were expecting. The family tried to be supportive but it was apparent Disick seemed more interested in partying than being a family man. Kourtney had a tough time trying to convince her family that Disick would be a good father.
*** Russell Brand took girlfriend Katy Perry see 2012 at the theatre in the Grove shopping complex in Los Angeles yesterday.
*** Alan Rickman, Jeremy Irons and Emelia Fox were among hundreds of mourners, including actors, politicians and members of British royalty who gathered at Southwark Cathedral in London to pay tribute to the late Sir John Mortimer on Tuesday. Mortimer’s actress daughter Emily, who lives in New York, couldn’t attend the ceremony – because she’s pregnant with her 2nd child. Mortimer died in January following a lengthy illness.
*** Family comedy Outnumbered leads this year’s British Comedy Awards with 5 nods. All 3 of the BBC One comedy’s child stars earned newcomer nods as well as a best actress nomination for Claire Skinner who plays mother Sue Brockman. The show will also compete against Channel 4′s Peep Show and The IT Crowd in the best sitcom category.
Funnymen Michael McIntyre and Alan Carr have 3 nominations each and are up against Harry Hill in both the best comedy entertainment personality and entertainment program categories. McIntyre’s also nominated for best live stand-up this year, while Alan Carr: Chatty Man’s also up for best new British TV comedy.
In the best actor category- Rob Brydon, The Inbetweeners’ and Simon Bird and Robert Webb for Peep Show. Sacha Baron Cohen’s controversial movie Bruno and In The Loop - the movie spin-off of the BBC’s dark political comedy The Thick of It – are both up for best film.
The awards will be televised on ITV1 and ITV2, will be hosted by Jonathan Ross on December 12 in London.
*** Curtis ’50 Cent’ Jackson and Val Kilmer are reuniting for The Gun, a new thriller about the world of gun dealing. Jackson himself was shot9 times during an incident in 2000. The Gun marks the 1st of 3 scripts for potential feature films Fiddy’s written. He’s previously starred alongside Kilmer and Sharon Stone in the New Orleans set thriller Streets of Blood.
*** Oscar nominated David Lynch will make a film about Transcendental Meditation ™ guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the spiritual leader of the Beatles. Lynch will head to India next month to start shooting on the life and teachings of Maharishi. Lynch’s been trying to introduce TM in schools globally. Maharishi, died last year at 91 and was associated with The Beatles,The Beach Boys,
Mick Jagger, Vidal Sassoon, Mia Farrow and others. He established about 1,000 TM centres worldwide and had about 4 million followers.
*** Cameron Diaz’s new movie, The Box’s been voted one of the worst films of all time by moviegoers – just days after its release. The thriller, based on Richard Matheson’ 1970 short story “Button, Button,“‘s been rated by film buffs in America, with officials at CinemaScore, who monitor fan reaction to movies, giving the flop an “F” rating – the lowest score possible.
*** Neil Patrick Harris joined Twitter a little more than a day ago and he’s already got 64,000+ followers.
*** British Page 3 model Keeley’s posed naked with a toy cheetah to highlight PETA’s anti-fur campaign. Keeley, 23, said she refuses to wear fur on shoots.*** Carmen Electra’s starring in a saucy new video that leaked online. The actress/model’s seen dancing seductively wearing nothing but black high heels, stockings, panties, a red bra and a diamond-studded choker in a new short posted on website http://nucleonforce.wordpress.com/. Electra, who has released a successful stripper-pole guide DVD, also cavorts with a brunette pal, simulating a little lesbian foreplay, and at one point, she unzips the cameraman’s trousers – but there’s no actual sex involved in the footage.
*** An exhibition celebrating the work of filmmaker and artist Tim Burton opens Sunday through April 26 at New York’s Museum of Modern Art. The exhibition brings together more than 700 examples of rarely or never-before-seen drawings, paintings, photographs, storyboards, moving-image works, puppets, maquettes, costumes and cinematic ephemera, and includes an extensive film series of Burton’s 27-year career.
*** Leona Lewis’ new album looks set to score the #1 spot, with her 2nd album Echo selling more than 50,000 copies since Monday’s release. If it does reach #1, it’ll be the 3rd X Factor-related album in a row to go to #1 on the album chart – following JLS and Cheryl Cole. Leona’s also just announced she’s recorded the theme tune for James Cameron’s hugely anticipated new film, Avatar. I See You was produced by James Horner and Simon Frangle – the duo behind the hugely successful Titanic theme song, Celine Dion’s My Heart Will Go On. Avatar stars Sigourney Weaver and Sam Worthington.
*** Keanu Reeves will play a samurai swordsman in epic drama 47 Ronin about a band of warriors who come together to avenge the death of their master in 18th century Japan.
*** Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Hudson will play Winnie Mandela in Winnie, which follows the life of the wife of South Africa’s 1st black president Nelson Mandela, who steadfastly supported her activist husband in his fight against Apartheid. Winnie will be shot on location in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years in prison.
*** Bond stars Sean Connery and Dame Shirley Bassey are reuniting for a new animated feature film. Connery will be the voice of the lead character Sir Billi, while Bassey, who sang the title track for his 1964 Bond movie Goldfinger will sing the title song, Guardian of the Highlands.
*** Miley Cyrus won’t be seeing the new Twilight movie cuz she’s afraid of vampires.
