*** HOW MUCH SKIN SHOULD A WOMAN SHOW TO SNAG A MAN ?***
*** British scientists from Leeds University sent 4 female researchers to one of the city’s biggest nightclubs dressed in outfits that bared a certain percentage of skin to find out how much a woman should bare to catch a man’s attention.For the purposes of the study, each arm accounts for 10%, each leg for 15% and the torso for 50%. They believe the answer is…an outfit that reveals 40% of a woman’s skin’s just the right amount of attention. Their bare results…
* Women who showed off around 40% of their skin were approached by twice as many men as those who were more covered up.
* The women who got the most hits combined the 40% rule with tight clothing and sexy dancing.
***MICHAEL JACKSON DUMBEST PERSON OF 2009***
*** Each year, “MAD” magazine selects the 20 dumbest people and events of the previous 12 months for its “MAD 20″ list. This year’s #1 Dumbest Thing of 2009′s Michael Jackson. For the rest of the ” MAD 20” list, including David Letterman, Kanye, Jon & Kate, and Glenn Beck, check out the new issue, which hits stands tomorrow.
*** BEST ALBUMS OF THE DECADE***
*** The Strokes’ debut album Is This It’s been named the best album of the decade by music magazine NME. The Libertines’ 2002 debut Up the Bracket came in 2nd in the list of the top 50 albums, with Primal Scream’s XTRMNTR coming in 3rd. Radiohead and Arctic Monkeys, plus record producers and label bosses were among those who cast their votes. Guitar-led rock acts dominated the list with 9 out of the top 10 places.
*** Johnny Depp’s agreed to return for the next film, after negotiating a whopping $42 million (£21 million) ‘basic’ pay deal making him the highest paid star in Hollywood.
*** MOST EMPLOYEES WANT WORKPLACE SMOKING BANNED***
*** A survey by RTI International and Harris Interactive sponsored by Pfizer of than 3,500 employees who smoke and more than 1,400 employers, both smokers and non-smokers, in 14 counties want smoking in the workplace banned. Here’s what everyone’s puffing about…
* 74% of smoking employees and 87% of employers felt the workplace should be smoke-free.
* Workers in India favour the workplace smoking ban the most at 85%.
* 75% supported the ban in Japan
* 33% favour the ban in Germany and 37% in Poland.
* Employees estimate they spend an average of 1 hour per day smoking at work, but almost 70% say they didn’t believe that it had a negative financial impact on their employer.
* BUTT (:-)… About 1/2 of the employers say they believe smoking had a negative financial impact on their organization.
*** TOY TESTING COUNCIL’S TOP TOYS FOR 2010***
*** A peek-a-boo baby play centre, a tumbling top and a reversible costume set -they all made the grade for the top toys for 2010 chosen by the Canadian Toy Testing Council.This year’s faves included mostly educational and fun toys. Here’s the list of Children’s Choice and Best Bet Awards toys and books…
Top Battery-Operated Toy:
Songs ‘N Smiles Sillytown — Fisher Price
Children’s Choice Awards:
Explore ‘N Grow Tumble ‘N Twirl Top — Playskool-Hasbro
Light-Up Learning Camera — V-Tech
Sand and Water Transportation Station — Step 2
Reversible Dragon-Knight Cape and Hood — Creative Education of Canada
Deluxe Foam Sword — Creative Education of Canada
Snow White-Sleeping Beauty Reversible Pinafore — Creative Education of Canada
Princess Slippers — Creative Education of Canada
Curious George Discovery Beach Game — I Can Do That Games
Dr. Seuss One Fish, Two Fish Memory Game — I Can Do That Games
Research Submarine — Playmobil
Too Many Monkeys — Gamewright
Wedgits On Wheels — Imagability
Yamslam — Blue Orange Games
Art Nouveau Workshop (Felt Tip Markers) — Djeco
Fashion Workshop (Felt Tip Markers) — Djeco
Abstract Workshop (Pastel) — Djeco
Best Bet Awards:
Dream & Play Light-Up Mobile — Vtech
Teach My Baby — Teach My Toddler Inc.
Sort & Spin Blender — Vtech
Wedgits Starter Activity Tote — Imaginability
Trio Building Set (Bricks, Sticks and Panels) — Fisher Price
Sand Play Set — The Original Green Toy
Uno Moo! — Mattel
Webkinz Jr. — Ganz
Backseat Drawing Junior — Out Of The Box
Richard Scarry’s Busy Town Eye Found It! — I Can Do That Games
Playmobil Vet Operating Room — Playmobil
Gobblet Gobblers — Blue Orange Games
Colour Code — Smart Games
Villa Paletti — Wiggles 3D
Paper Beads — Klutz Inc.
Track Turbo Racer RC — Lego
How To Draw Funny — Klutz Inc.
Murder Mystery Mansion — University Games
36 Cube — Thinkfun
Backseat Drawing — Out Of The Box
Take A Letter — University Games
Monopoly City (3D) — Milton Bradley/Hasbro
Great Books For Children:
Dance Baby Dance — by Andrea Spalding
Saffy — by Paola Opal
Chicken, Pig, Cow — by Ruth Ohi
Bradley McGogg, The Very Fine Frog — by Tim Beiser, illustrated by Rachel Berman
Tulipe: Mon pyjama a moi — by Lucie Papineau, illustrated by Stephane Jorisch
A Royal Little Pest — by Anita Reynolds MacArthur, illustrated by Karen Roy
The Little Toy Shop — by Frances Wolfe
Savais-tu? Les serpents — by Alain M. Bergeron, Michel Quintin and Sampar, illustrated by Sampar
Inside Hockey! The Legends, Facts and Feats That Made The Game — by Keltie Thomas
Good-Bye Marianne — by Irene N. Watts, illustrated by Kathryn E. Shoemaker
***X-FACTOR’S JEDWARD MORE POPULAR THAN THE BEATLES***
*** An online poll by bookmakers Paddy Power shows The X Factor’s John and Edward are more popular than The Beatles. The poll on the bookies’ homepage asked ‘Who is the greatest boyband ever?‘ and Jedward gained 45% of the vote compared to 33% for The Fab Four. Over 1,300 people had their say in the poll which also saw Take That in 3rd place with 14% of the vote.
*** MJ UPDATES***
*** The Los Angeles city attorney’s still seeking reimbursement for the more than $3 million the city spent for the Michael Jackson memorial despite there was no law at the time forcing a payback. Monday, City Council’s Public Safety Committee reviewed the report that shows Los Angeles spent $3.2 million on the July memorial at Staples Center, including $2 million in police overtime. It also says the memorial gave the local economy a $4 million boost.
*** Janet Jackson, whose new album, Number Ones‘ out today, blames Dr. Conrad Murray for her brother Michael’s death. She told ABC News in an interview to air Wednesday Murray should no longer be allowed to practice medicine cuz he was the one that was administering and she thinks he’s responsible. Prosecutors in LA are considering charges against Murray in his death. Murray told police he administered a powerful anesthetic to the singer shortly before Jackson died June 25 and still maintains he neither prescribed or administered anything to Jackson that should’ve killed him.
*** Michael Jackson’s eldest son Prince Michael’s inherited his father’s rare skin condition, according to sister La Toya. Michael suffered with vitiligo, a condition which causes depigmentation in patches of skin – making him change colour. Now the disorder’s been passed down to his 12-year-old son.
* Levi Johnston, former boyfriend of her daughter Bristol and father of their child (who’s been bad-mouthing her)- he’s welcome at Thanksgiving to Aunt Katie’s house in Washington. She also says she prays for him.
* Palin said she was “annoyed” by Katie Couric’s now-famous question about her favourite reading materials. She says she thought her agenda was to not necessarily show her in the best light.
*** Playgirl Magazine won’t be showing full frontal nudity shots of Levi Johnston. The news came on the same day Sarah Palin mentioned his “aspiring porn career” on Oprah on Monday. There will be a hockey stick though.
***Leona Lewis-”Echo” -Features more a dozen producers, including “American Idol” judge Simon Cowell and the legendary Clive Davis. Justin Timberlake, who helped produce and added background vocals on several tracks’ one of the many contributors featured on “Echo.”
More new releases:
Beyonce, “I Am…Sasha Fierce-Deluxe Edition” (Sony)
Andrea Bocelli, “My Christmas-Deluxe Edition” (Philips)
Boyz II Men, “Love” (Decca)
The Doors, “Live in New York” (Rhino)
Fall Out Boy, “Believers Never Die–Greatest Hits” (Island)
Kraftwerk, “The Catalogue” (Astralwerks)
Adam Lambert, “Take One” (Rough Town)
Morrissey, “Swords-Deluxe Edition” (Fontana)
OneRepublic, “Waking Up” (Interscope)
Rush, “Working Men” (Atlantic)
Robbie Williams, “Reality Killed the Video Star” (EMI)
***OSCAR BUZZZZZZZZ***
*** Gold Derby dude Tom O’Neil’s given his picks for this year’s Oscar noms and winners. Here are his lists for the best picture and best actor categories. Bullets show the 10 movies he thinks be nominated for best picture.
BEST PICTURE…
FRONT-RUNNERS…
• “Avatar”
“An Education”
• “The Hurt Locker”
• “Inglourious Basterds”
• “Invictus”
“Julie & Julia”
• “The Lovely Bones”
• “Nine”
• “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”
• “The Road”
• “A Serious Man”
“Star Trek”
“Up”
• “Up in the Air”
POSSIBLE…
“Bright Star”
“Brothers”
“District 9″
“The Hangover”
“It’s Complicated”
“The Last Station”
“Sherlock Holmes”
“A Single Man”
“The Young Victoria”
BEST DIRECTOR…
FRONT-RUNNERS…
J.J. Abrams, “Star Trek”
Kathryn Bigelow, “The Hurt Locker”
James Cameron, “Avatar”
Ethan Coen, Joel Coen, “A Serious Man”
Lee Daniels, “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”
Pete Docter, Bob Peterson, “Up”
Clint Eastwood, “Invictus”
John Hillcoat, “The Road”
Peter Jackson, “The Lovely Bones”
Rob Marshall, “Nine”
Jason Reitman, “Up in the Air”
Lone Scherfig, “An Education”
Quentin Tarantino, “Inglourious Basterds”
POSSIBLE…
Neill Blomkamp, “District 9″
Jane Campion, “Bright Star”
Nora Ephron, “Julie & Julia”
Tom Ford, “A Single Man”
Michael Hoffman, “The Last Station”
Nancy Meyers, “It’s Complicated”
Guy Ritchie, “Sherlock Holmes”
Jim Sheridan, “Brothers”
Jean-Marc Vallee, “The Young Victoria”
***FORMER JAY-Z BODY GUARD SHOT DEAD BY POLICE***
*** A former bodyguard for Jay-Z, Mariah Carey and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs was fatally shot in the neck by New York City police Sunday after a bar brawl. Cops were called to Brooklyn club Norwood Palace early Sunday morning after gunfire broke out, allegedly over a spilled drink. A plainclothes police officer fired at Kevin White, who was reportedly holding a gun inside the club, after he failed to obey to instructions to drop the weapon.
Surveillance video footage reportedly shows the 43-year-old bouncer and celebrity security guard shooting at police prior being shot. White had 5 priors for weapon possession.
19 year-old Donovan Wilson was also wounded in the incident after reportedly firing a gun at another club bouncer. He was shot in the elbow and hip after failing to follow police orders to drop his weapon.
***SURGERY TO SEPARATE TWINS SUCCESSFUL***
*** A team of 16 surgeons and nurses successfully completed 25 hours of delicate surgery Tuesday to separate twin Bangladeshi girls who’d been joined at their heads, sharing blood vessels and brain tissue. Doctors said the 2 year old girls, Trishna and Krishna had a 50-50 chance of survival and it’s too early to see if they suffered any brain damage during the marathon operation. The girls will remain in an induced coma for monitoring for several days after the surgery.The medical team began the work Monday morning on separating the girls, who were brought to Australia as infants by a representative from the Children First Foundation after they were found in an orphanage in Bangladesh in 2007.
Plastic surgeons finished reconstructing the girls’ skulls using a combination of their own skin, bone grafts and artificial materials about 5 hours after the separation surgery ended. One member of the surgical team, said the girls were improving as their bodies began to work individually.
*** B.C. HIT WITH EARTHQUAKE***
*** A “strong earthquake” struck off the coast of the Queen Charlotte Islands this morning but British Columbia emergency officials aren’t issuing a tsunami warning becuz there’s no danger from the quake which measured 6.6 on the Richter scale. The quake hit at 7:30 am PT, and there’ve been 3 aftershocks since, the most recent at 8:15 am, measuring 3.4 on the Richter scale.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake was to the southeast of the island group, near the Queen Charlotte Fault – which Earthquakes Canada describes as the equivalent of the San Andreas Fault. Canada’s biggest earthquake since 1700 was in the same area, on Aug. 22, 1949 which measured 8.1 on the Richter scale, with tremors so violent that cows were knocked to the ground,
*** STORMS POUND BRITAIN***
*** Britain was battered today by heavy gale force winds with gusts of up to 100mph and flooding. About 60 homes were damaged in Benfleet, Essex, over an area of about 1/2 square mile. In West Sussex, fire crews were called to 2 lightning strikes, and motorists had to be rescued from cars in Dorset after getting caught in flash floods. The Environment Agency has 24 flood warnings in force, with the majority in southern coastal regions. In Wales, Pembrokeshire was the hardest hit, with widespread flooding of the county’s road network trapping people in their cars.
***IDOL CHATTER***
*THIS WEEK’S NEW RELEASES***
Adam Lambert, “Take One”
*** Adam Lambert was spotted shooting the music video for his new single, For Your Entertainment, in downtown LA Sunday. In the vid, he’s head-to-toe leather while his bondage dancers wear next to nothing. Lambert’s album “For Your Entertainment” will be out in stores in North America next Monday the 23rd. Instant downloads for the title track and 2 other new tunes, “Whataya Want From Me” and “Master Plan”, are available for fans who order the collector’s edition package of the album.
***DWTS UPDATES***
*** Here’s what happened on Monday’s Dancing With The Stars semi-finals.
* Each celebrity had to perform 3 numbers, making it the most challenging night in the show’s history.
* Donny Osmond fumbled his 1st dance so badly, he only scored 7 (out of 10) from each Dancing With The Stars judge- his score of 21, combined with a 26 and a 27 in his other 2 dances, left him in last place with a score of 74.
* Kelly Osbourne impressed and charmed the judges enough to earn a 24, a 27 and 29. She’s in3rd place with 78.
* Joanna Krupa scored 27, 27 and 27. She’s in 2nd place with 81.
* Mya blew everyone away with all 3 dances – 28, 30 and 29 -she’s secured 1st place with 87.
*Next week, Whitney Houston performs on the finale.
*** SPEIDI’S BACK !***
*** Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt are back and promoting their new book, How to be Famous: Our Guide to Looking the Part, Playing the Press, and Becoming a Tabloid Fixture. They’re shopping their own show to various networks- they want to continue working on The Hills and their show.
*** BRANGELINA SNAKE JEWELLERY***
*** Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have teamed up with high-end jewelry designer Asprey and are launching a capsule collection of gold jewellery and silver accessories called The Protector — and inspired by the snake. The limited edition collection, which was conceived and designed by Pitt and Jolie’s been on the table for more than a year and will go on sale at Asprey stores in London, New York, Beverly Hills, Tokyo and Dubai later this week.
Prices start at $525 for a silver baby spoon with a curving, serpent-shaped handle, and all net proceeds from sales will go to Education Partnership for Children of Conflict, co-founded by Jolie 3 years ago. The charity raises awareness and funds to educate child victims of war, conflict and natural disasters.
*** RYAN O’NEAL GETS SQUAT FROM FARRAH FAWCETT’S WILL***
*** Farrah Fawcett left longtime lover Ryan O’Neal out of her will and gave $4.5 million to her son Redmond, $100,000 to an ex-lover named Greg Lott, whom she dated in the 1960s, and nothing to O’Neal and Alana Hamilton, who were with her in her final days. She also left $1/2 million each to her nephew Greg Walls and her dad, James. Farrah died from anal cancer on June 25 at age 62, the same day Michael Jackson died. RadarOnline’s posted the document.
***BROCK LESNAR HAS SWINE FLU***
*** UFC Heavyweight Champ Brock Lesnar’s in “bad shape” according to UFC president Dana White and won’t be fighting anytime soon. White said Lesnar’s very ill and is in a hospital up in North Dakota after going to Canada and contracting the virus. Lesnar originally pulled out of a November 18 fight and reports suggested he had swine flu . The fight was re-scheduled for January 2, but then it was announced Lesnar had mononucleosis.
***BATTLE OF THE BLADES***
*** Former Edmonton Oiler Craig Simpson and his pro partner Jamie Sale won CBC’s The Battle of the Blades’ Monday night. 2 time Stanley Cup winner Simpson and Olympic gold medalist Sale earned enough viewer votes to beat out finalists Claude Lemieux and Shae-Lynn Bourne and Stephane Richer and Marie-France Dubreuil — and take home a $100,000 cheque for the Spinal Cord Injury Treatment Centre (Northern Alberta) Society.
*** ALL STAR LINE-UP FOR CNN HEROES***
*** Carrie Underwood and Leona Lewis will perform at the 3rd annual ” CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute” show in Los Angeles hosted by anchor Anderson Cooper at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood on Nov. 26th. Presenters at the ceremony include Nicole Kimdan, Kate Hudson, Neil Patrick Harris, Pierce Brosnan, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Eva Mendes, Randy Jackson and Julia Louis-Drefus. The show honours everyday citizens who are making a difference in their communities and beyond and will air globally on CNN/U.S., CNN International and CNN en Espanol.
***HEY, MAN- CHEECH AND CHONG ARE TOURING AGAIN***
*** Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong announced plans Monday for a 2010 North American comedy tour called “Cheech & Chong: Get It Legal” to “promote policy change through laughter,”with the Marijuana Policy Project. The Live Nation-produced tour kicks off Jan. 16 in Boulder, Colo., at the Macky Auditorium. Tickets are to go on sale in select markets beginning at 4:20 p.m. Nov. 20 at LiveNation.com.
*** HEATHER LOCKLEAR RETURNS TO MELROSE PLACE TONIGHT***
*** 5 years after she first met her ex-husband Peter Andre, glam model Katie Price made her highly anticipated return to the Australian jungle in I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! in an animal print swimsuit and wasted no time showing off her fake boobs. But, Price, aka Jordan faces some stiff competition from busty Kim Woodburn, 67, whose already drawn attention to her naturally large breasts several times.
*** An online poll by bookmakers Paddy Power shows The X Factor’s John and Edward are more popular than The Beatles. The poll on the bookies’ homepage asked ‘Who is the greatest boyband ever?‘ and Jedward gained 45% of the vote compared to 33% for The Fab Four. Over 1,300 people had their say in the poll which also saw Take That in 3rd place with 14% of the vote.
***Mariah Carey’s did the diva thing when she arrived late for her X Factor recording because she didn”t like the car that’d been sent to pick her up. Carey, 39, wasn’t happy with the Mercedes Simon Cowell had sent, and after a minor row, she finally arrived in a £250,000 Rolls-Royce Phantom and taped a performance of her new track ‘I Want To Know What Love Is’, to be screened on next week’s ITV1 show. Carey had originally been booked to perform on the show over the weekend, but pulled out at the 11th hour on Cowell’s orders.
***UNFRIEND HOT WORD FOR 2009***
*** Heart disease patients who meditate have reduced death rates. At a meeting of the American Heart Association they said they’d randomly assigned 201 African Americans to meditate or to make lifestyle changes. After 9 years, the meditation group had a 47% reduction in deaths, heart attacks and strokes.
£ 125.00
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*** A 27-year-old Anchorage, Alaska man’ss been convicted of robbing his mother at gunpoint because she didn’t give him money to help pay a $430 parking ticket. Cheng Saelee (SAY’-lee) was also convicted of illegally contacting his mother from jail and trying to get her to drop the charges. He was arrested in November 2008 after he became angry during an argument with his parents, got a handgun from his room and pointed the weapon at his mother’s head. He’s scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 19 and faces up to 12 years in prison.
*** A town in southern Sweden will allow only one “immigrant wedding” per month to be celebrated in its community center. The “Folkets Hus,” or “The People’s House,” the community center at Landskrona, Sweden’s mostly off-limits for those of certain foreign-born nationalities.
*** A 36 year old Swedish man fooled bank employees into giving him almost $2 million and then gave them with a cream pie as thanks for their fine service. The man was arrested during the summer and has been sentenced for fraud and unrelated drug charges. The man handed 2 phony checks to bank tellers and gave a fake telephone number to verify his checks. The teller phoned the number, spoke with the man’s accomplice and approved the checks. 2 days later the man returned to the bank to pick up his money. After he got the cash, the man handed a pie to the bank staff as a gesture of thanks.
*** Members of the 4-year-old Atlanta Vampire Alliance who claim to be real-life vampires say the hot young, pouty vampires of the “Twilight Saga” movies and the CW Network’s “Vampire Diaries” have little in common with them. The real life vamps say they suck energy from people and only occasionally drink small amounts of blood. Vampire groups have been around for years, with a recent academic study of the phenomenon indicating most self-styled vampires blend in with everyday people in appearance and behaviour … though some vampires wear fake fangs and “goth” fashions.
*** Officials at a Massachusetts high school that banned the word “meep” have been receiving e-mailed complaints about the removal. Officials from Danvers High School sent cops copies of 6 e-mails complaining about the decision to ban “meep,” a word popularized by Beaker from “The Muppet Show.” The school principal said the ban was put in place because of a plan posted to Facebook for a major disruption involving the word “meep.”
*** A 96-year-old photographer in Oregon held his own wake prior to his death so he could attend the event Sunday at the Beaverton home of friend Edda Sigurdar. Ackroyd, a father of 2 whose wife died 12 years ago, sat in his padded wheelchair and greeted his friends as they arrived for the event. He said one of his favourite items at the wake was a wreath bearing a ribbon reading: “Eventually, Hugh, rest in peace.”
*** A 24 year old Oklahoma man commutes 1,680 miles a week to take an improv comedy class at the famous Chicago school that trained his hero Chris Farley. Thomas Crane, of Blanchard, Okla. drives 840 miles each Thursday to attend a Friday class at iO Chicago and leaves immediately after class for the 840 mile drive home — a commute he said takes about 15 hours in each direction. Crane said he decided to take a class at iO after learning from a TV special that Farley went to the school. He spends about $150 on gas each week and more for hotel rooms.
*** A Chinese burglar got stuck after he tried to crawl through a tiny opening built for a farmer’s pet dog to steal some chickens. The man had to be rescued by firefighters after he got stuck fast in the hole in a barn wall on the farm in Tianlin town, Guangxi province. Firefighters said the man was blue with cold and could hardly talk because he was shivering so badly by the time they arrived.
*** This holiday season, kids 4-10 can enter the Nieman Marcus store in Dallas though a plate-glass window at the storefront and into an 85′ tube with windows that allows their parents to check on them. Local children helped the store manager think up displays for the tube featuring visual ideas about energy. Those ideas were turned into pretend elephants flying after eating peanuts and pretend monkeys levitating from energy transferred to their shoes after stomping grapes.
*** Al Fastier, the head of a New Zealand expedition team’s attempting to retrieve whiskey that explorer Ernest Shackleton with him during his failed 1909 South Pole expedition. Crates containing the whiskey were abandoned by the British explorer and are currently frozen in ice in Antarctica. Fastier said his expedition team will use special drills to locate the trapped crates and he hopes to procure a bottle of the McKinlay and Co. whiskey. Whyte & Mackay, the company that owned the now-defunct McKinlay and Co. asked for a sample of the whiskey so it could attempt to replicate it.
*** “We’re going to adopt an African baby, date Vince Vaughn, shave our heads, pretend Spencer is trapped in a balloon and have octuplets.”- Heidi and Spencer in promoting their new book, How to be Famous: Our Guide to Looking the Part, Playing the Press, and Becoming a Tabloid Fixture
Guitarist Gerry McGee of The Ventures is 72.
Gordon Lightfoot is 71.
Movie director Martin Scorsese is 67.
Lauren Hutton is 66.
Saturday Night Live producer Lorne Michaels is 65.
Danny DeVito is 65.
Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio is 51.
RuPaul is 49.
Dylan Walsh (Nip/Tuck,Brooklyn Bridge) is 46.
Daisy Fuentes is 43.
Sophie Marceau (Braveheart) is 43.
Singer Ronnie DeVoe of New Edition and Bell Biv DeVoe is 42.
Keyboardist Ben Wilson of Blues Traveler is 42.
Actress Leslie Bibb (ER,Popular) is 36.
Aaron Lines is 32.
Rachel McAdams (Wedding Crashers) is 31.
Guitarist Isaac Hanson of Hanson is 29.
Today is Homemade Bread Day, a day to make bread at home, sponsored by the Homemade Bread Day Committee of Montague, Michigan.
Today is National Baklava Day
3 BC… Jesus, the son of Mary and step-son of Joseph, was born in Bethlehem, Judea, according to the Greek Christian theologian Clement of Alexandria. Clement’s believed to have lived from about 150 to 220 A.D and is the founder of the Alexandrian school of theology.
1981…Laura and Luke were married on General Hospital-TV’s highest-rated daytime program until the O.J. Simpson verdict.
1995…The movie Goldeneye, starring Pierce Brosnan as Agent .007, premiered in North America
1998…The public heard Monica Lewinsky’s voice for the 1st time as the House Judiciary Committee released 22 hours of recordings secretly made by Linda Tripp.
*THIS WEEK’S NEW RELEASES***
***Leona Lewis-”Echo” -Features more a dozen producers, including “American Idol” judge Simon Cowell and the legendary Clive Davis. Justin Timberlake, who helped produce and added background vocals on several tracks’ one of the many contributors featured on “Echo.”
More new releases:
Beyonce, “I Am…Sasha Fierce-Deluxe Edition” (Sony)
Andrea Bocelli, “My Christmas-Deluxe Edition” (Philips)
Boyz II Men, “Love” (Decca)
The Doors, “Live in New York” (Rhino)
Fall Out Boy, “Believers Never Die–Greatest Hits” (Island)
Kraftwerk, “The Catalogue” (Astralwerks)
Adam Lambert, “Take One” (Rough Town)
Morrissey, “Swords-Deluxe Edition” (Fontana)
OneRepublic, “Waking Up” (Interscope)
Rush, “Working Men” (Atlantic)
Robbie Williams, “Reality Killed the Video Star” (EMI)
*** Sir Paul McCartney’s being honoured by the U.S. Library of Congress when he becomes the 1st non-American to receive the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song in Washington, D.C. early next year (10). McCartney’s only the 3rd performer to be awarded the honour behind Paul Simon and Stevie Wonder.
*THIS WEEK’S NEW RELEASES***
***Leona Lewis-”Echo” -Features more a dozen producers, including “American Idol” judge Simon Cowell and the legendary Clive Davis. Justin Timberlake, who helped produce and added background vocals on several tracks’ one of the many contributors featured on “Echo.”
More new releases:
Beyonce, “I Am…Sasha Fierce-Deluxe Edition” (Sony)
Andrea Bocelli, “My Christmas-Deluxe Edition” (Philips)
Boyz II Men, “Love” (Decca)
The Doors, “Live in New York” (Rhino)
Fall Out Boy, “Believers Never Die–Greatest Hits” (Island)
Kraftwerk, “The Catalogue” (Astralwerks)
Adam Lambert, “Take One” (Rough Town)
Morrissey, “Swords-Deluxe Edition” (Fontana)
OneRepublic, “Waking Up” (Interscope)
Rush, “Working Men” (Atlantic)
Robbie Williams, “Reality Killed the Video Star” (EMI)
*** The Strokes’ debut album Is This It’s been named the best album of the decade by music magazine NME. The Libertines’ 2002 debut Up the Bracket came in 2nd in the list of the top 50 albums, with Primal Scream’s XTRMNTR coming in 3rd. Radiohead and Arctic Monkeys, plus record producers and label bosses were among those who cast their votes. Guitar-led rock acts dominated the list with 9 out of the top 10 places.
*** U2′s’s 2010 North American tour’s added a new stop in the Midwest and a previously announced Montreal stop. The tour kicks off with an early June two-night stand in Southern California plus a June 27 show at Minneapolis’ TCF Bank Stadium, and July 16 in Montreal at the Hippodrome stadium.
June 2010
6, 7 – Anaheim, CA – Angel Stadium
12 – Denver, CO – Invesco Field at Mile High
16 – Oakland, CA – Oakland Coliseum
20 – Seattle, WA – Qwest Field
23 – Edmonton, Alberta – Commonwealth Stadium
27 – Minneapolis, MN – TCF Bank Stadium
30 – East Lansing, MI – Spartan Stadium
July 2010
3 – Toronto, Ontario – Rogers Centre
6 – Chicago, IL – Soldier Field
9 – Miami, FL – Land Shark Stadium
12 – Philadelphia, PA – Lincoln Financial Field
16 – Montreal, Quebec – Hippodrome
19 – East Rutherford, NJ – New Meadowlands Stadium
*** The Verve will support their just-released “The Family Album,” with US shows that run through the end of February. The trek finishes with a 2 week stretch that kicks off Feb. 14 in Grand Rapids, MI, and continues through a Feb. 28 gig in Norfolk, CT.
November 2009
24 – New Buffalo, MI – Performing Arts Center
28 – Bay City, MI – State Theatre
December 2009
12 – Chicago, IL – Schubas Tavern
18 – Ferndale, MI – The Magic Bag
19 – Grand Rapids, MI – The Intersection
January 2010
16 – Ann Arbor, MI – The Ark
February 2010
14 – Grand Rapids, MI – Peter Martin Wege Theater
18 – Columbus, OH – The Basement
20 – Pittsburgh, PA – Club Cafe
21 – Vienna, VA – Jammin’ Java
22 – Annapolis, MD – Rams Head On Stage
23 – Philadelphia, PA – World Cafe Live
27 – Fairfield, CT – StageOne
28 – Norfolk, CT – Infinity Hall
*** Foo Fighters Dave Grohl’s such a big fan of late Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham, he has the rocker’s Zoso symbol tattooed 3 times. Bonham came up with the 3-circle design when asked to create a symbol to represent him on the cover of the Led Zeppelin IV album by artistic bandmate Jimmy Page.
*** Queen drummer Roger Taylor’s planning to collaborate with Foo Fighters’ Taylor Hawkins.
*** The makers of Rock Band have announced Them Crooked Vulture’s ‘New Fang‘ will be available to play on the game from today (November 17). To coincide with the release of their self titled debut album the supergroup, Dave Grohl, Josh Homme and John Paul Jones have made the song playable on Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii and Playstation 3. The song will cost Xbox users 160 Microsoft points, Nintendo customers 200 Wii points and PS3 gamers 99 pence.
*** Sir Paul McCartney’s being honoured by the U.S. Library of Congress when he becomes the 1st non-American to receive the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song in Washington, D.C. early next year (10). McCartney’s only the 3rd performer to be awarded the honour behind Paul Simon and Stevie Wonder.
*** Ozzy Osbourne was stunned when Sir Paul McCartney refused to collaborate with him – because the former Beatle said he didn’t want to spoil the rocker’s record cuz he didn’t feel he could improve Ozzy’s song.
*** Pattie Boyd, the former wife of Beatle George Harrison says she regrets being wooed by Eric Clapton. The model married Harrison in 1970 but the marriage lasted 7 years. She wed Clapton, a friend of her former husband, 2 years later and the pair split in ’89.
*** Ashlee Simpson-Wentz’s going to make her Broadway stage debut as Roxie Hart in Chicago for a 10-week limited engagement from Nov. 30 through Sunday, Feb. 7, 2010 at the Ambassador Theatre. Simpson-Wentz’s played Roxie Hart before and she received critical acclaim when she played the role in 2006 in a West End production of Chicago in London.
*** Jet’s postponed their headline shows in Sydney and Melbourne to tour with Green Day instead. Green Day kicks off the Australian leg of the 21st Century Breakdown tour in Perth on December 4.
CONCERT DATES…
December 4, Perth, Burswood Dome
December 6, Adelaide, Entertainment Centre
December 8 & 8, Brisbane, Entertainment Centre
December 11 & 12, Sydney, Acer Arena
December 14 & 15, Melbourne, Rod Laver Arena
*** Lucinda Williams debuted a new song written in honour of Janis Joplin at a concert called Kozmic Blues: The Life and Music of Janis Joplin put on by The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum and Case Western Reserve University as part of the American Music Masters series last night. The show featured performances by Williams, Roky Erickson, Ray Benson and many more and closed with Williams’ yet-to-be-titled song at the end after she also played ‘Me and Bobby McGee’ and ‘Ball and Chain’.Soul singer Betty LaVette was on hand to perform her version of ‘Piece of my Heart’, which she recorded in 1969 and former 13th Floor Elevators front man Roky Erickson played his former band’s ‘You’re Gonna Miss Me’ and Joplin’s ‘Oh My Soul’. The 13th Floor Elevators were a huge early influence on Janis Joplin from her early days in Texas.
*** 30 Seconds To Mars will play 5 dates in February in support of their upcoming studio album ‘This Is War’, to be released on December 7.
*** Former Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash’s defended his decision to recruit Fergie to sing on a remake of Paradise City, saying critics of her will be blown away by her vocals. He’s also lined up Ozzy Osbourne, M. Shadows and Cypress Hill as special guests on his album.
*** Nicole Richie was in court Monday afternoon to get a permanent restraining order against the 2 paparazzi whom she claims harassed her and caused her to get into a car accident. Since she and Good Charlotte rocker husband Joel Madden aren’t married, the restraint order will only cover the couple’s 2 kids.
*** After performing with guests at an Oct. 25 show at London’s Royal Albert Hall for the British Performing Rights Society’s Music Members’ Benevolent Fund, the Faces’ 3 surviving members — guitarist Ron Wood, keyboardist Ian McLagan and drummer Kenney Jones — are “seriously talking about touring” in the spring with or without Rod Stewart. Rod’s busy promoting his latest album, “Soulbook,” with his own touring in 2010.
The London charity show saw former Stones bassist Bill Wyman filled in for the late Ronnie Lane and guest vocalists included Simply Red’s Mick Hucknall, Paul Carrack and Andy Fairweather-Low.
Wyman, who doesn’t like to fly’s highly unlikely to be part of the tour. McLagan says his 1st choice on bass would be original Sex Pistols member Glenn Matlock, who the keyboardist says “started playing bass because of Ronnie Lane.
McLagan says he, Wood and Jones are also likely to ask Hucknall if he wants to be part of the tour but will ask other singers as well.
*** Live Aid promoter Maurice Jones, 64, lost his battle with cancer last week. After starting his music career managing British band Slade, Jones founded his own promotions company, which worked with AC/DC, Def Leppard, Simply Red, Eurythmics, UB40, Simple Minds and Oasis. In 1984, Jones teamed with Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to promote Live Aid then later founded British rock festival Monsters of Rock. He’s survived by his wife Diana and daughters Kristy and Nicola.
*** Norwegian heavy metal rockers Mayhem were arrested in the Netherlands after allegedly trashing their room at the Hotel Central in Tilburg following a concert on Sunday, causing an estimated $7,500 (£4,690)-worth of damage. A staff member went to check the band’s room and found the TV and mirrors smashed, curtains torn and a sink demolished. Plants had also been thrown out on to the street below, while the beds were allegedly destroyed. The 6 rockers and some crewmembers were arrested by police and are currently being held behind bars.
*** Tonight’s (Tuesday) Face2Face concert with Billy Joel and Elton John at the HP Pavilion at San Jose, Calif.’s been hooked cuz Joel’s now sick. John recently cancelled several solo gigs, as well as some joint concerts with Joel, because he was suffering from the flu and an E.coli infection.
*** Sharon Stone was honoured for her work on behalf of those suffering from HIV, along with former U.S, president Bill Clinton at Elton John’s fundraiser for his Aids Foundation in New York. Bond actor Daniel Craig and Courtney Love were 2 of the guests.
*** Elton John attended his annual Enduring Vision fundraiser for the Elton John Aids Foundation in New York last night- his 1st public appearance since he left hospital following a bout of flu and treatment for E.coli.*** 79 year old Australian entertainer Rolf Harris’ teamed up with 61 year old Status Quo singer and guitarist Rick Parfitt to record Christmas In The Sun which’ll released on December 7th. Harris, who wrote the song scored his last Christmas hit in 1969 with Two Little Boys.
*** Bob Dylan wears a Santa hat and hosts a raunchy house party in his 1st festive release from his new holiday album, Christmas In The Heart. The quirky video’s the 1st promo Dylan’s appeared in since Not Dark Yet in ’97.
*** The Prodigy’s releasing a limited edition photo book with over 500 images spread over 350 pages signed by Liam Howlett, Keith Flint and Maxim Reality priced at £99.
*** 50 Cent, Joan Jett and Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi were some of the stars who attended the premiere of Twliight’s New Moon in LA last night.
*THIS WEEK’S NEW RELEASES***
***Leona Lewis-”Echo” -Features more a dozen producers, including “American Idol” judge Simon Cowell and the legendary Clive Davis. Justin Timberlake, who helped produce and added background vocals on several tracks’ one of the many contributors featured on “Echo.”
More new releases:
Beyonce, “I Am…Sasha Fierce-Deluxe Edition” (Sony)
Andrea Bocelli, “My Christmas-Deluxe Edition” (Philips)
Boyz II Men, “Love” (Decca)
The Doors, “Live in New York” (Rhino)
Fall Out Boy, “Believers Never Die–Greatest Hits” (Island)
Kraftwerk, “The Catalogue” (Astralwerks)
Adam Lambert, “Take One” (Rough Town)
Morrissey, “Swords-Deluxe Edition” (Fontana)
OneRepublic, “Waking Up” (Interscope)
Rush, “Working Men” (Atlantic)
Robbie Williams, “Reality Killed the Video Star” (EMI)
*** A former bodyguard for Jay-Z, Mariah Carey and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs was fatally shot in the neck by New York City police Sunday after a bar brawl. Cops were called to Brooklyn club Norwood Palace early Sunday morning after gunfire broke out, allegedly over a spilled drink. A plainclothes police officer fired at Kevin White, who was reportedly holding a gun inside the club, after he failed to obey to instructions to drop the weapon.
Surveillance video footage reportedly shows the 43-year-old bouncer and celebrity security guard shooting at police prior being shot. White had 5 priors for weapon possession.
19 year-old Donovan Wilson was also wounded in the incident after reportedly firing a gun at another club bouncer. He was shot in the elbow and hip after failing to follow police orders to drop his weapon.
*** 3 finalists will be named on Tuesday night’s results show of “Dancing with the Stars.” Tonight’s (Tuesday) performers include Alicia Keys, Leona Lewis, Barry and Robin Gibb and an appearance by Season 8 “DWTS” fave Melissa Rycroft.
*** Carrie Underwood and Leona Lewis will perform at the 3rd annual ” CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute” show in Los Angeles hosted by anchor Anderson Cooper at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood on Nov. 26th. Presenters at the ceremony include Nicole Kimdan, Kate Hudson, Neil Patrick Harris, Pierce Brosnan, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Eva Mendes, Randy Jackson and Julia Louis-Drefus. The show honours everyday citizens who are making a difference in their communities and beyond and will air globally on CNN/U.S., CNN International and CNN en Espanol.
*** Kanye West made a surprise appearance at Beyoncé’s concert at the 02 Arena in London on Sunday night and rapped his verse from the Ego remix. Beyoncé also brought out hubby Jay-Z during her set for Crazy in Love.
* AND... Beyoncé’s new video Video Phone, featuring Lady Gaga premiered last night (Monday) at midnight on MTV.com.
*** Beyonce and Lady Gaga have joined forces to collaborate for Beyonce’s latest single, Video Phone. Beyonce’s seen wearing eye masks, figure-hugging Perspex basques, miniscule sequin hotpants and even a structured black and white bikini. Check it out… http://www.marieclaire.co.uk/news/celebrity/431065/watch-beyonce-goes-lady-gaga-for-new-single-video-phone.html
*** Jailbird T.I. plans to marry his longtime girlfriend, Tameka “Tiny” Cottle when he’s released from his a year and a day illegal possessions sentence next year. The couple, who’ve dated since 2001 and have 2 sons together, was previously rumoured to have exchanged vows in a low-key ceremony days before T.I. entered prison earlier this year – but the reports were denied.
*** 50 Cent, Joan Jett and Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi were some of the stars who attended the premiere of Twliight’s New Moon in LA last night.
*** Former Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash’s defended his decision to recruit Fergie to sing on a remake of Paradise City, saying critics of her will be blown away by her vocals. He’s also lined up Ozzy Osbourne, M. Shadows and Cypress Hill as special guests on his album.
*** Derek Boland, the British hip-hop artist known professionally as Derek B’s died of a heart attack. He was 44.
*** Travis McCoy’s working on his debut solo record and a 4th Gym Class Heroes set. He has a new documentary, “Travis McCoy’s Unbeaten Track,” and new charity single, “One at a Time,” which reflects his experiences travelling to South Africa, India and the Philippines with MTV’s Staying Alive Foundation, a nonprofit organization that promotes HIV/AIDS prevention.
*** Members of hip hop group N-Dubz are being sought by police as potential witnesses to an alleged rape Cops want to speak to Dappy and Fazer, real name Dino Contostavlos and Richard Rawson, and have contacted the group’s manager. A 22-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of rape and common assault after an alleged incident at a Butlins holiday park in Skegness last Friday night or Saturday morning.
*** British rapper Tinchy Stryder was left shaken after he was robbed of $16,000 (£10,000) worth of jewellery while partying with pals in Essex, England on Sunday night. Police raced to the scene and arrested one man for a public disorder offence. The star’s valuables were found and returned to him.
*** A young boy who lived in Rio De Janeiro’s Morro Dona Marta slum managed to sneak past Madonna’s security entourage for a one-to-one with the star. Madonna was walking down a staircase chatting to Rio’s Governor Sergio Cabral when the boy climbed up to reach her. She was seen laughing as the boy offered her services as a tour guide through the favelas.
*** For the 1st time in its more than 20-year history, the 2010 Billboard Latin Music Awards will take place in Puerto Rico, the 1st time the show goes on the road from its traditional Miami homebase. The awards, presented by State Farm, will be broadcast live on April 29, 2010, by the Telemundo network. As part of the agreement signed between Telemundo, Billboard and the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, Billboard’s Latin Music Conference will run April 26-April 29 at the Conrad, San Juan, Condado Plaza in Puerto Rico.
*** Carrie Underwood and Leona Lewis will perform at the 3rd annual ” CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute” show in Los Angeles hosted by anchor Anderson Cooper at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood on Nov. 26th. Presenters at the ceremony include Nicole Kimdan, Kate Hudson, Neil Patrick Harris, Pierce Brosnan, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Eva Mendes, Randy Jackson and Julia Louis-Drefus. The show honours everyday citizens who are making a difference in their communities and beyond and will air globally on CNN/U.S., CNN International and CNN en Espanol.
*** Carrie Underwood’s denied reports she and Ottawa Senators hockey player Mike Fisher have taken their relationship to the next level by moving in together.
*** Nicole Kidman whose married to Keith Urban did an interview with Ladies Home Journal… here are a couple of bits…
* “They’re not very big, my boobs, so they just became normal size. I loved it! I felt very Woman. When you’ve had a slightly androgynous body your whole life, having breasts is a nice feeling.”
* Daughter “Sunday’s 3rd word was ‘wow.’
*** George Strait will star in “A Pure Country Gift” the follow-up to his 1992 film “Pure Country” for Warner Bros. “A Pure Country Gift“‘s directed by Chris Cain, who also produced the 1st film. He co-wrote the new screenplay with his son, “Lois & Clark” actor Dean Cain, who also has a role in the film. The father-son collaboration’s their 1st.
2 – Alexandria, VA – The Birchmere
January 2010
9 – Park City, UT – Eccles Center
30 – Ann Arbor, MI – Ann Arbor Folk Festival
February 2010
10 – Iowa City, IA – Englert Theatre
April 2010
15 – Durham, NC – Page Auditorium
*THIS WEEK’S NEW RELEASES***
***Leona Lewis-”Echo” -Features more a dozen producers, including “American Idol” judge Simon Cowell and the legendary Clive Davis. Justin Timberlake, who helped produce and added background vocals on several tracks’ one of the many contributors featured on “Echo.”
More new releases:
Beyonce, “I Am…Sasha Fierce-Deluxe Edition” (Sony)
Andrea Bocelli, “My Christmas-Deluxe Edition” (Philips)
Boyz II Men, “Love” (Decca)
The Doors, “Live in New York” (Rhino)
Fall Out Boy, “Believers Never Die–Greatest Hits” (Island)
Kraftwerk, “The Catalogue” (Astralwerks)
Adam Lambert, “Take One” (Rough Town)
Morrissey, “Swords-Deluxe Edition” (Fontana)
OneRepublic, “Waking Up” (Interscope)
Rush, “Working Men” (Atlantic)
Robbie Williams, “Reality Killed the Video Star” (EMI)
*** Sir Paul McCartney’s being honoured by the U.S. Library of Congress when he becomes the 1st non-American to receive the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song in Washington, D.C. early next year (10). McCartney’s only the 3rd performer to be awarded the honour behind Paul Simon and Stevie Wonder.
*** Pattie Boyd, the former wife of Beatle George Harrison says she regrets being wooed by Eric Clapton. The model married Harrison in 1970 but the marriage lasted 7 years. She wed Clapton, a friend of her former husband, 2 years later and the pair split in ’89.
*** 3 finalists will be named on Tuesday night’s results show of “Dancing with the Stars.” Tonight’s (Tuesday) performers include Alicia Keys, Leona Lewis, Barry and Robin Gibb and an appearance by Season 8 “DWTS” fave Melissa Rycroft.
The show was criticized after they survived their sing-off against Lucie Jones when Simon Cowell controversially let the judges’ vote go to a tie which meant the public votes saved the bros.. This weekend, the acts will perform either Wham! or Elton John songs.
*** After performing with guests at an Oct. 25 show at London’s Royal Albert Hall for the British Performing Rights Society’s Music Members’ Benevolent Fund, the Faces’ 3 surviving members — guitarist Ron Wood, keyboardist Ian McLagan and drummer Kenney Jones — are “seriously talking about touring” in the spring with or without Rod Stewart. Rod’s busy promoting his latest album, “Soulbook,” with his own touring in 2010.
The London charity show saw former Stones bassist Bill Wyman filled in for the late Ronnie Lane and guest vocalists included Simply Red’s Mick Hucknall, Paul Carrack and Andy Fairweather-Low.
Wyman, who doesn’t like to fly’s highly unlikely to be part of the tour. McLagan says his 1st choice on bass would be original Sex Pistols member Glenn Matlock, who the keyboardist says “started playing bass because of Ronnie Lane.
McLagan says he, Wood and Jones are also likely to ask Hucknall if he wants to be part of the tour but will ask other singers as well.
*** Lucinda Williams debuted a new song written in honour of Janis Joplin at a concert called Kozmic Blues: The Life and Music of Janis Joplin put on by The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum and Case Western Reserve University as part of the American Music Masters series last night. The show featured performances by Williams, Roky Erickson, Ray Benson and many more and closed with Williams’ yet-to-be-titled song at the end after she also played ‘Me and Bobby McGee’ and ‘Ball and Chain’.Soul singer Betty LaVette was on hand to perform her version of ‘Piece of my Heart’, which she recorded in 1969 and former 13th Floor Elevators front man Roky Erickson played his former band’s ‘You’re Gonna Miss Me’ and Joplin’s ‘Oh My Soul’. The 13th Floor Elevators were a huge early influence on Janis Joplin from her early days in Texas.
*** Bob Dylan wears a Santa hat and hosts a raunchy house party in his 1st festive release from his new holiday album, Christmas In The Heart. The quirky video’s the 1st promo Dylan’s appeared in since Not Dark Yet in ’97.
*** Catharine Hardwicke put Twilight stars Robert Pattison and Kristen Stewart to the test to see if they’d have the right on-screen chemistry by auditioning the pair in the privacy of her own bedroom of her Venice, California, home. It obviously worked- the 2 co-stars are now a real life couple off screen.
*** Victoria’s Secret underwear model Adriana Lima, who earned a top 10 place in FHM’s 100 Sexiest Women In The World 2009 survey in June and her husband, Memphis Grizzlies basketball star Marko Jaric welcomed baby daughter Valentina in New York City on Sunday.
*** Jailbird T.I. plans to marry his longtime girlfriend, Tameka “Tiny” Cottle when he’s released from his a year and a day illegal possessions sentence next year. The couple, who’ve dated since 2001 and have 2 sons together, was previously rumoured to have exchanged vows in a low-key ceremony days before T.I. entered prison earlier this year – but the reports were denied.
***Ken Ober, comedian and host of the ’80′s MTV game show Remote Control was found dead Sunday in Santa Monica, Calif. The cause of death’s still not known. Lee Kernis, a manager at Brillstein Entertainment Partners who represented Ober for more than 20 years, said Ober was last heard from on Saturday night, when he spoke to a friend and complained of a headache and flu-like symptoms. He was 52.
*** Gold Derby dude Tom O’Neil’s given his picks for this year’s Oscar noms and winners. Here are his lists for the best picture and best actor categories. Bullets show the 10 movies he thinks be nominated for best picture.
BEST PICTURE…
FRONT-RUNNERS…
• “Avatar”
“An Education”
• “The Hurt Locker”
• “Inglourious Basterds”
• “Invictus”
“Julie & Julia”
• “The Lovely Bones”
• “Nine”
• “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”
• “The Road”
• “A Serious Man”
“Star Trek”
“Up”
• “Up in the Air”
POSSIBLE…
“Bright Star”
“Brothers”
“District 9″
“The Hangover”
“It’s Complicated”
“The Last Station”
“Sherlock Holmes”
“A Single Man”
“The Young Victoria”
BEST DIRECTOR…
FRONT-RUNNERS…
J.J. Abrams, “Star Trek”
Kathryn Bigelow, “The Hurt Locker”
James Cameron, “Avatar”
Ethan Coen, Joel Coen, “A Serious Man”
Lee Daniels, “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”
Pete Docter, Bob Peterson, “Up”
Clint Eastwood, “Invictus”
John Hillcoat, “The Road”
Peter Jackson, “The Lovely Bones”
Rob Marshall, “Nine”
Jason Reitman, “Up in the Air”
Lone Scherfig, “An Education”
Quentin Tarantino, “Inglourious Basterds”
POSSIBLE…
Neill Blomkamp, “District 9″
Jane Campion, “Bright Star”
Nora Ephron, “Julie & Julia”
Tom Ford, “A Single Man”
Michael Hoffman, “The Last Station”
Nancy Meyers, “It’s Complicated”
Guy Ritchie, “Sherlock Holmes”
Jim Sheridan, “Brothers”
Jean-Marc Vallee, “The Young Victoria”
*** Here’s what happened on Monday’s Dancing With The Stars semi-finals.
* Each celebrity had to perform 3 numbers, making it the most challenging night in the show’s history.
* Donny Osmond fumbled his 1st dance so badly, he only scored 7 (out of 10) from each Dancing With The Stars judge- his score of 21, combined with a 26 and a 27 in his other 2 dances, left him in last place with a score of 74.
* Kelly Osbourne impressed and charmed the judges enough to earn a 24, a 27 and 29. She’s in3rd place with 78.
* Joanna Krupa scored 27, 27 and 27. She’s in 2nd place with 81.
* Mya blew everyone away with all 3 dances – 28, 30 and 29 -she’s secured 1st place with 87.
*Next week, Whitney Houston performs on the finale.
*** 3 finalists will be named on Tuesday night’s results show of “Dancing with the Stars.” Tonight’s (Tuesday) performers include Alicia Keys, Leona Lewis, Barry and Robin Gibb and an appearance by Season 8 “DWTS” fave Melissa Rycroft.
*** Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt are back and promoting their new book, How to be Famous: Our Guide to Looking the Part, Playing the Press, and Becoming a Tabloid Fixture. They’re shopping their own show to various networks- they want to continue working on The Hills and their show.
*** Former Edmonton Oiler Craig Simpson and his pro partner Jamie Sale won CBC’s The Battle of the Blades’ Monday night. 2 time Stanley Cup winner Simpson and Olympic gold medalist Sale earned enough viewer votes to beat out finalists Claude Lemieux and Shae-Lynn Bourne and Stephane Richer and Marie-France Dubreuil — and take home a $100,000 cheque for the Spinal Cord Injury Treatment Centre (Northern Alberta) Society.
*** Taylor Lautner unveiled a never-before-seen clip from “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” of a scene with co-star Kristen Stewart Monday night on “The Jay Leno Show.”
*** 50 Cent, Joan Jett and Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi were some of the stars who attended the premiere of Twliight’s New Moon in LA last night.
*** George Strait will star in “A Pure Country Gift” the follow-up to his 1992 film “Pure Country” for Warner Bros. “A Pure Country Gift“‘s directed by Chris Cain, who also produced the 1st film. He co-wrote the new screenplay with his son, “Lois & Clark” actor Dean Cain, who also has a role in the film. The father-son collaboration’s their 1st.
*** Carrie Underwood and Leona Lewis will perform at the 3rd annual ” CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute” show in Los Angeles hosted by anchor Anderson Cooper at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood on Nov. 26th. Presenters at the ceremony include Nicole Kimdan, Kate Hudson, Neil Patrick Harris, Pierce Brosnan, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Eva Mendes, Randy Jackson and Julia Louis-Drefus. The show honours everyday citizens who are making a difference in their communities and beyond and will air globally on CNN/U.S., CNN International and CNN en Espanol.
*** Brooke Shields spoke more candidly about her struggle with post-partum depression while receiving an honour at the Hope for Depression Research foundation. Shields spoke of how, after giving birth to daughter Rowan in 2003, her battle lead her to suicidal thoughts but she eventually sought help from her doctor.
*** Tom Felton who plays Draco Malfoy’s defended his Harry Potter co-star Daniel Radcliffe after he was photographed in Britain’s Daily Mirror newspaper on Friday smoking a roll-up cigarette. Felton says Radcliffe was shaken up by accusations he was smoking a joint.
*** The CW network will re-run the 1st 10 episodes of “The Vampire Diaries,” on 5 consecutive nights next month. 2 shows will air back-to-back each evening from Dec. 14-Dec. 18.
*** Victoria Beckham makes her big screen debut – as the voice of a cartoon character in the much-anticipated Madagascar 3 alongside David Schwimmer and Ben Stiller due in 2012.
*** Hollywood Hills Burglar Bunch suspect Alexis Neiers pled not guilty Monday to her alleged involvement in the burglary of Orlando Bloom’s home last summer Neiers who was charged with one count felony 1st degree residential burglary last month’s back in court on November 30. Alexis’ sister — Playboy model Tess Taylor — was seen wearing what Rachel Bilson believes’ her stolen vest. Bilson, Lindsay Lohan, Audrina Patridge, Paris Hilton, Orlando Bloom and Brian Austin Green are all possible victims of the Burglar Bunch.
*** James Van Der Beek will guest star on “The Forgotten” Dec. 1.
*** Amanda Peet’s friends call her a “serial killer”, because she blacks out the windows at her home to help her 2 year-old daughter sleep and she travels with duct tape and dark-coloured sheets because her daughter Frances needs complete darkness to get a good night’s sleep.
*** Mel Gibson does gardening to become a better person.
