News
Couple sues KISS rocker Gene Simmons over alleged attack at Los Angeles mall
By Associated Press - December 25, 2009
LOS ANGELES (AP) A couple who said they were assaulted by Gene Simmons sued the KISS bassist for unspecified damages Thursday, court records show. Nathan Marlowe and his wife Cynthia Manzo said Simmons attacked them, threatened them and took their video camera at the upscale The Grove...
The horse talked but Alan Young says 'Mr. Ed's' Connie Hines won hearts with just a smile
JOHN ROGERS - December 24, 2009
LOS ANGELES (AP) He had the talking horse. Now all Alan Young had to do was find the right woman to play his wife on television's "Mr. Ed." It was a task made simple, the veteran actor said Thursday, the moment he met a young actress named Connie Hines who had moved to Hollywood just...
James Gurley, innovative guitarist for Janis Joplin's Big Brother band, dead at 69
JOHN ROGERS - December 24, 2009
LOS ANGELES (AP) James Gurley, the innovative guitarist who helped shape psychedelic rock's multilayered, sometimes thundering sounds as a member of Big Brother and the Holding Company, the band that propelled Janis Joplin to fame, has died of a heart attack. He was 69. Gurley was...
Jose Feliciano protests use of his 'Feliz Navidad' for musical spoof about illegal immigrants
SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS - December 24, 2009
NEW YORK (AP) Grammy-winner Jose Feliciano has gotten an apology after accusing a pair of radio producers of trashing the spirit of Christmas by using his popular holiday song, "Feliz Navidad," for a racist musical spoof about undocumented immigrants. Feliciano released a statement...
Michael Moore, Jeff Garlin plan winter comedy festival to warm hearts in northern Mich. town
JOHN FLESHER - December 24, 2009
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) Filmmaker Michael Moore started a summer film festival five years ago in his adopted hometown of Traverse City, Mich. Now he's teaming with Emmy winner Jeff Garlin to organize a mid-winter comedic counterpart. The inaugural Traverse City Comedy Arts Festival...
Actress Brittany Murphy laid to rest at small, private Christmas Eve funeral in Los Angeles
SANDY COHEN - December 25, 2009
LOS ANGELES (AP) Brittany Murphy's family and friends celebrated her life at a private Christmas Eve funeral, saying words cannot express their devastation at her passing. "Brittany was an incredibly loving and passionate person and an artist to her core she loved acting, singing,...
'American Idol' returns for 9th season with two-night premiere Jan. 12-13 featuring auditions
By Associated Press - December 24, 2009
NEW YORK (AP) The Fox network says "American Idol" will return for its ninth year next month with a two-night season premiere featuring auditions in Boston and Atlanta. The Boston auditions for the hit singing contest will air Jan. 12, and the Atlanta auditions will air Jan. 13....
NJ lawmakers say 'Jersey Shore' show offensive, degrading; ask network to pull the plug
By Associated Press - December 24, 2009
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) MTV is getting more pressure to cancel its "Jersey Shore" reality show. The latest criticism comes from the New Jersey Italian American Legislative Caucus, which says the show promotes derogatory ethnic stereotypes and is "wildly offensive." In a letter...
Billy Ray Cyrus writes song for Hallmark Channel movie 'Christmas in Canaan'
CAITLIN R. KING - December 24, 2009
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Billy Ray Cyrus has been preparing his whole life for the role of Daniel Burton in the Hallmark Channel movie "Christmas in Canaan." "I started digging through like old boxes of stuff and finding old Polaroids of my dad from 1964," the 48-year-old country singer...
Brother says Simon Cowell to leave 'American Idol' after 2010 season to focus on another show
By Associated Press - December 24, 2009
LOS ANGELES (AP) Simon Cowell's brother says the next season of "American Idol" will be the judge's last. Tony Cowell said in his weekly podcast, "The Cowell Factor," that a statement was being prepared that would certify that the acerbic British judge was leaving the popular Fox signing...
