Celebrity Birthdays
Paul Harvey-90 Richard Wingo (Jagged Edge)-33
Damon Wayans-48 Wes Bentley (American Beauty)-30
Mitzi Gaynor-77 Noah Taylor-39
Jennifer Salt (Soap: Eunice)-64 Ione Skye-37
Judith Ivey (Designing Women: B.J. Poteet)-57
Khandi Alexander (CSI: Miami: Alexx Woods)-51
Kim Thayil (Soundgarden)-48 Beyoncé Knowles-27
Celebrity News Update: Mackenzie Phillips Charged With Drug Possession Mackenzie Phillips has been charged with felony possession of drugs after she was allegedly found carrying narcotics at Los Angeles International Airport. Phillips was charged with two felony counts of possession of a controlled substance, heroin and cocaine. She also faces a misdemeanor count of unauthorized possession of a needle or syringe. Phillips, 48, is out on $20,000 bail.
Judge Nixes Claims In Heath Ledger Tape Lawsuit A judge says a lawsuit filed by a freelance reporter over a video that supposedly shows Heath Ledger doing drugs does not have legal legs to stand on. The judge tentatively dismissed 11 of 12 allegations filed against Splash News & Picture Agency and two of its photographers accused of
secretly filming Ledger in a hotel room in 2006. The judge allowed attorneys to file an amended complaint that could restore some of the claims.
Jessica Biel Denies Pregnancy Rumors Jessica Biel has once again been forced to deny reports she is expecting her first child with boyfriend Justin Timberlake. The actress has been at the center of pregnancy rumors since reportedly moving into Timberlake’s Hollywood Hills home in June. Biel’s rep says the continuing reports are “false.”
Anne Hathaway Loaned Ex Thousands Before Break-Up Anne Hathaway loaned ex-boyfriend Raffaello Follieri hundreds of thousands of dollars over the course of their relationship, according to Vanity Fair magazine. Hathaway split from the Italian businessman in June, shortly before he was arrested on suspicion of unscrupulous business
dealings. She reportedly paid Follieri’s $37,000-a-month rent at his New York apartment until his lease ran out in June. Follieri has been charged with a dozen counts of federal wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering and will remain in jail until he can post $21 million bail.
David Letterman Staying Put While Jay Leno is getting ready to pack up and leave, David Letterman plans on staying where he is, at least through 2010. Dave tells Rolling Stone that he’d like “to go beyond 2010.” Letterman adds
that “if the network is happy with that, great,” but if they want to make a change he’s fine with that too. Celebs Helping AARP Celebrate The Big 5-0 The AARP is celebrating the big 5-0 with a celebrity-studded bash at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington today. Wynonna Judd will perform, Sally Field will speak, and Leeza Gibbons will emcee. The event will be followed by a two-day expo with performances by Paul Simon, Natalie Cole, Chaka Khan and Chicago.
Man Denies Ramming Playboy Mansion Gates A man accused of ramming a car into the gates at the Playboy Mansion twice in less than a week pleaded not guilty Tuesday to a pair of felony vandalism charges. Glen Allan Meador is due back in court on September 12th for a hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to require him to
stand trial. He remains jailed in lieu of $250,000 bail. Police said Meador slammed into the gates twice in August over an ongoing dispute, but have not offered further details. Hugh Hefner was not at home on either occasion.
Oprah And The Olympians About 150 members of the U.S. Olympic team participated in a special taping of “The Oprah Winfrey Show” at Chicago’s Millennium Park yesterday. The season premiere episode, which was taped in
front of 5,000 people, is slated to air on Monday. Among those who turned out to honor the athletes were Mayor Richard M. Daley and several Chicago aldermen. Throughout the taping, the athletes watched highlights from last month’s Olympic Games in Beijing and talked to Winfrey about their experiences and feelings. Chicago is a candidate city for the 2016 Games.
‘Peanuts’ Animator Dies The man who gave Snoopy, Charlie Brown and other “Peanuts” characters their life has died. Bill Melendez died of natural causes on Tuesday. He was 91. Melendez’s nearly 70 years as a professional animator began in 1938 when he was hired by Walt Disney Studios and worked on Mickey Mouse cartoons and animated features such as “Pinocchio” and “Fantasia.” He went on to animate TV specials such as “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and was the voice of Snoopy, who never spoke but always howled and sighed.
Akon Headed To Court Over Fan-Toss Akon is headed to trial on charges he tossed a teenage fan offstage at a concert last summer in Poughkeepsie, New York. Another concertgoer said she suffered a concussion when the boy landed
on her. Akon asked for a jury trial during a brief appearance in Fishkill Town Court yesterday. He’s due back in court on December 1st unless a deal is negotiated first.
Bon Jovi Donates $1 Million To Housing Project Jon Bon Jovi has donated $1 million to help build new affordable housing in his home state of New Jersey. Bon Jovi joined Governor Jon Corzine, Newark, New Jersey Mayor Cory Booker, and fashion designer Kenneth Cole on Tuesday to announce the $15 million project. The singer’s Philadelphia
Soul Charitable Foundation will provide the donation to the 51-unit building in Newark, which will house the homeless and people with special needs.
Britney Spears Credits Father With ‘Saving’ Her Life Britney Spears says her father Jamie saved her life after he stepped in to help her following a series of breakdowns. Britney was hospitalized at the beginning of this year under a mental health order, and her father subsequently took over her legal and business affairs. She was also stripped of
visitation rights to her two sons, but after several months under the guidance of her dad she has won back the right to see her children and is now working on a career comeback. She tells the Daily Star, “My father saved my life. I probably wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for him.”
Aguilera Signs Exclusive Deal With Target Christina Aguilera’s greatest hits CD “Keeps Gettin’ Better – A Decade of Hits” will be released exclusively at Target. The CD, out November 11th, will feature two new songs as well as rerecorded versions of “Genie in a Bottle” and “Beautiful.”
Joey Fatone To Cover Emmys For TV Guide Network Joey Fatone will return to the red carpet for the Emmys on September 21st in Los Angeles. Fatone will team up once again with Lisa Rinna to cover the red carpet for the TV Guide Network.
Britney Spears To Open VMAs Britney Spears says she will open the MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday, but did not reveal what she would be doing. Her manager recently denied reports Spears was going to sing
at the event to make up for last year’s lackluster performance of “Gimme More.” Spears is up for Best Female Video, Best Pop Video and Video of the Year for her song “Piece of Me.”
Carrie Underwood Joins Cancer Benefit Carrie Underwood has joined Mariah Carey, Beyoncé , Mary J. Blige, Rihanna, Sheryl Crow and Melissa Etheridge, among others, to record the charity single “Just Stand Up.” All proceeds from the single will be donated to the “Stand Up To Cancer” charity effort. The all-star line-up of female artists will debut “Just Stand Up” during the “Stand Up To Cancer” fundraising event tomorrow. The onehour commercial-free special will be broadcast simultaneously on ABC, CBS and NBC. The “Just Stand Up” single is available for purchase exclusively at iTunes.
U2 Cancels Plans To Release Album U2 has postponed the release of their new album, because they can’t stop writing new songs. The group has been recording tracks for the follow-up to “How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb” in Morocco and France, where frontman Bono has a vacation home. Bono says they have “50 to 60” tracks
written, and more on the way.
