Boxing legend Joe Frazier dies at age 67

Joe Frazier had to throw his greatest punch to knock down "The Greatest." A vicious left hook from Frazier put Muhammad Ali on the canvas in the 15th round in March 1971 when he became the first man to beat him in the Fight of the Century at Madison Square Garden. "That was the greatest thing that ever happened in my life," Frazier said. It was his biggest night, one that would never come again. The relentless, undersized heavyweight ruled the division as champion, then spent a lifetime trying to fight his way out of Ali's shadow. During their third and final fight Ali said to Fraizier at one point "They told me Joe Frazier was through." "They lied," Frazier said, before hitting Ali with a left hook. Finally, though, Frazier simply couldn't see and Futch would not let him go out for the 15th round. Ali won the fight while on his stool, exhausted and contemplating himself whether to go on. Frazier, who died Monday night after a brief battle with liver cancer at the age of 67, will forever be associated with Ali. No one in boxing would ever dream of anointing Ali as The Greatest unless he, too, was linked to Smokin' Joe. "I will always remember Joe with respect and admiration," Ali said in a statement. "My sympathy goes out to his family and loved ones."  Bob Arum, who once promoted Ali, said he was saddened by Frazier's passing. "He was such an inspirational guy. A decent guy. A man of his word," Arum said. "I'm torn up by Joe dying at this relatively young age. I can't say enough about Joe."  Frazier's death was announced in a statement by his family, who asked to be able to grieve privately and said they would announce "our father's homecoming celebration" as soon as possible.
 Margaret O’Mahoney, a successful television actress and the mother of Sally Field, died of cancer on Sunday in Malibu, Calif. She was 89 years old. She appeared in approximately 90 films and television shows between 1945 and 1973, including a starring role in The Man From Planet X (1951) with Robert Clarke. She married Richard Field in 1942 and had two children, Sally and Richard. She divorced from Field in 1950, married stuntman Jock Mahoney and had another daughter, Princess. “The family grieves the loss of such an inspiring and loving woman but couldn’t be more thankful for the rich and wonderful times they got to enjoy with her,” her family wrote in a statement. “She truly did laugh all her laughter and cry all her tears and died knowing she will be loved eternally by those left behind.”

Michael Jackson's Doctor Conrad Murray Convicted

Dr. Conrad Murray was convicted Monday of involuntary manslaughter in the June 25, 2009, death of Michael Jackson. A bewildered-looking Murray was handcuffed and led out of the courtroom. He was held without bail pending sentencing. "This is a crime where the end result was the death of a human being," said Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor. "That factor demonstrates rather dramatically that the public should be protected." Earlier, Murray showed no emotion as the clerk read the verdict, which was reached after 10 hours of deliberation. As the verdict was read in the courtroom, Jackson's sister La Toya said, "Yes!" His mother Katherine dabbed tears with a tissue. Other Jackson family members and fans shouted in joy. At his sentencing on Nov. 29, Murray faces a penalty ranging from probation to four years in prison. Throughout the six-week trial, prosecutors portrayed Murray, 58, as a reckless doctor who, for $150,000 a month, sold out the Hippocratic oath, and to treat Jackson's insomnia, gave the King of Pop a nightly drip of propofol, an unpredictable and potentially fatal anesthetic. "It's bizarre behavior from anyone, let alone a doctor, this extreme criminal negligence," Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney David Walgren told jurors in his closing argument Nov. 3. Conceding that Murray didn't do everything by the book in his treatment of Jackson, Chernoff said Murray nonetheless should be acquitted because the prosecution failed to prove that these shortcomings caused Jackson's death. Walgren said that even if the jury believed that Jackson took the extra drugs behind Murray's back, Murray still was responsible for Jackson's death by leaving fatal drugs within reach of someone he believed had a drug addiction or obsession.


Adele has Throat Surgery
Adele has undergone throat surgery to stop a recurrent condition that caused her to cancel tour dates and promotional appearances for the rest of the year. A spokesman for Massachusetts General Hospital says the British singer underwent vocal cord microsurgery to stop recurrent bleeding from a benign polyp. The condition is usually the result of unstable blood vessels in the vocal cord that can rupture. The hospital says the 23-year-old Grammy winner came to Boston to undergo the surgery with Dr. Steven Zeitels, director of the Massachusetts General Hospital Voice Center. The hospital says Zeitels expects Adele to make a full recovery from the laser microsurgery.




Pretty Little Liars Star Arrested for DUI
Actor Ryan Merriman, known for his roles on ABC Family's "Pretty Little Liars" and Disney Channel's "Smart House," was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. The 28-year-old was pulled over for a routine traffic violation when "officers observed symptoms that he had been drinking and driving," according to Kathy Lowe, spokeswoman for the Newport Beach Police Department. "They performed a field sobriety test, which he then failed," Lowe said. Merriman was booked at a nearby police station on DUI charges. His bail was set at $2,500, though it's unclear if it has been posted.

Merriman's other film credits include "Final Destination 3," "The Ring Two," "Halloween: Resurrection" and "The Luck of the Irish."

Kelly Osbourne Recovering From a Concussion

Kelly Osbourne is recovering from a head injury she suffered over the weekend in Miami when she "split her head open" while dancing at a club, according to her mother Sharon. "Long story short I cracked my head open then kept passing out," Osbourne, 27, Tweeted on Sunday. Sharon Osbourne flew cross-country to be with her daughter over the weekend, and elaborated on Kelly's injury on her daytime talk show, The Talk, on Monday afternoon. Kelly, a former Dancing with the Stars contestant, was dancing at a club when the injury happened, according to her mother. "The guy takes down her to dip, and as her dips her down, she hits her head on an amplifier," Sharon Osbourne said on The Talk. "It split her head open." Kelly returned to her hotel after the mishap, but was later taken to a hospital after she fainted twice. There, she received stitches and was told she had a concussion, Sharon said. She's now back in Los Angeles recovering. "I just want 2 thank all the incredible doctors and nurses @ Mercy hospital in Miami 4 taking such good care of me," Kelly Tweeted. "U guys really are amazing!"

Brett Ratner apologizes use of gay slur

Ratner apologized today for using a gay slur during a Q&A after a Friday-night screening of his new action-comedy Tower Heist. According to various reports, when asked by a moderator about whether he rehearsed with his cast before shooting a scene, Ratner dismissively said, “Rehearsal is for fags.” Facing criticism for the remark, Ratner released a statement, saying, “I apologize for any offense my remarks caused. It was a dumb way of expressing myself. Everyone who knows me knows that I don’t have a prejudiced bone in my body. But as a storyteller I should have been much more thoughtful about the power of language and my choice of words.” In response to Ratner’s remarks, GLAAD issued a statement saying, “This apology is a good start, but we’re working with Ratner’s people for more action, to clearly send a message to Hollywood that the anti-gay slurs used by bullies and bigots have no place in the world of entertainment, or anywhere else.” The incidents aren’t just throwing a wrench in the publicity campaign for Tower Heist. Ratner has been hired to produce this year’s Academy Awards telecast along with veteran TV producer Don Mischer, and, since the Oscars are supposed to represent the film industry’s highest values and achievements (and since the star who’s been hired to host the show, Eddie Murphy, has his own history of drawing fire for using homophobic slurs), his remarks are sure to draw extra scrutiny.


Eva Longoria Denies She's Dating L.A. Laker Matt Barnes
For a moment it looked like Eva Longoria might have her eyes on another basketball player. This time he's a LA Laker. The New York Post's Page Six printed a story which romantically linked Longoria to LA Laker Matt Barnes. The article said the Desperate Housewives star and the basketball player seemed very flirty during dinner at the West Village restaurant Il Mulino. The news came as a shocker as Longoria is still reportedly dating Penelope Cruz's younger brother, singer Eduardo Cruz. reporting a comment from Eva's representative saying the actress and Barnes are "just friends." Although the actress' love life has been very public, she has never been accused of cheating on her partner. Longoria and Cruz went public with their relationship in February 2011 after photos of them lounging on a yacht in Spain appeared. Since then, photos of the couple canoodling in public - including at Disney World - have routinely appeared in magazines, websites and TV. No news of a breakup between Longoria and Cruz has been reported. Before her romance with Cruz, Longoria went through a very public divorce with San Antonio Spur's guard point Tony Parker back in 2010. The split was due to a "sexting" scandal involving Parker and a mutual female friend.



A Good Day To Die Hard
Liam Hemsworth ("The Last Song"), Aaron Paul ("Breaking Bad"), James Badge Dale ("24"), and D.J. Cotrona ("Dear John") have emerged as the finalists to play Bruce Willis’ son in "A Good Day To Die Hard" at 20th Century Fox. Hemsworth is apparently the easy front runner for the part but all will undergo chemistry reads with Bruce Willis next weekend with a decision to be made soon after.
 Kim Kardashian is back in Los Angeles after briefly visiting Kris Humphries in Minnesota. The reality star, 31, and the NBA player, 26, visited with the pastor who married them in an effort to find closure following their sudden and tumultuous breakup. Kardashian and Humphries got married Aug. 20 in a lavish ceremony in Montecito, Calif., in front of 440 guests. But the happily-ever-after was short lived, as Kardashian filed for divorce on Oct. 31 – only 72 days later.

Jim Bob & Michelle Duggar: 'We're Expecting Again!'

They're going for an even 20! Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar, stars of TLC's 19 Kids and Counting, are expecting their 20th child this spring. "We are so excited," says Michelle, 45, who is now about three-and-a-half months into her pregnancy and due in April. "I feel good. I am past the sickness stage now." The Tontitown, Ark., couple, who are parents to children Joshua, 23 (who is married to Anna, 23 and has two children, Mackynzie, 2 and Michael, 4 months), twins Jana and John-David, 21; Jill, 20; Jessa, 19; Jinger, 17; Joseph, 16; Josiah, 15; Joy-Anna, 14; twins Jedidiah and Jeremiah, 12; Jason, 11; James, 10; Justin, 8; Jackson, 7; Johanna, 6; Jennifer, 4; and Jordyn, 3, weathered the medical emergency of their youngest daughter, Josie's birth on Dec. 10, 2009.  She was born following Michelle's preeclampsia diagnosis at a mere 25 weeks, weighing only 1lb., 6 oz. 


Weston Cage Files for Divorce
Weston Cage has filed for divorce from his wife of six months, Nikki Williams. He is the son of actor Nicolas Cage. And by the looks of their respective Facebook accounts, the two are already airing their dirty laundry. “The single life is perfect,” Williams, who has removed “Cage” from her profile name, posted on her Facebook wall. Cage, 21, isn’t wasting any time rubbing Williams’ nose in his newfound freedom either. “WELL ITS OFFICAL . THE DIVORCE IS SETTLED! ………………LADIES, DADDY IS BACK ahahahhahahaahh oh god! its on,” he wrote on his wall. The back and forth feuding is the latest chapter in the estranged couple’s war of words. Cage listed the date of separation as Oct. 24, their six-month wedding anniversary. Major cracks first appeared between Cage and 22-year-old Williams on the Fourth of July. Los Angeles police rushed to the newlyweds’ residence in response to a 911 call about a fight, and arrested both on suspicion of felony domestic violence.



TV NEWS
Starz must be feeling pretty confident about Spartacus‘ second season (not to mention new leading man Liam McIntyre): The network has greenlit a third season more than two months before the premiere of Season 2. Production on the as-yet-untiled third season will begin in early 2012. Meanwhile, Season 2 — titled Spartacus: Vengeance — bows Friday, Jan. 27 at 10/9c with McIntyre succeeding the late Andy Whitfield in the title role.



Sons of Anarchy will run a little longer: FX just announced that it ordered a 14th episode of the show that will air Dec. 6. The drama from Kurt Sutter is in its fourth season and has already been picked up for a fifth. This is the highest-rated season of SOA, thanks to the high-octane story line about aging club leader Clay (Ron Perlman) and his controversial decision to get the Sons in the drug trade. The 10th episode airs tomorrow.




A new (and very familiar) face is checking into Nurse Jackie: Oscar winner Joel Grey. The acting vet — who’s currently starring in the Broadway revival of Anything Goes — will guest star during the Showtime dramedy’s fourth season. Grey joins a Season 4 guest cast that also includes Rosie Perez, who will similarly be playing a patient.


Fresh off of her stint on The CW’s short-lived Hellcats, Gail O’Grady has landed a guest spot the Hawaii Five-0. The American Dreams star will play a woman who discovers that her dead son may actually be alive.




Fred Willard is bringing his universal brand of funny to Fox’s Raising Hope. the veteran actor will play Jimmy’s former high school teacher, Mr. Swift, in an upcoming episode of the Fox comedy. The two reconnect when Hope‘s leading man reenters the educational system to earn his GED.



T.J. Miller, aka Happy Endings’ infamous doof-turned-newlywed Shershow, has a standup special airing Nov. 12 on Comedy Central.



General Hospital is once again losing its prodigal son, Lucky Spencer, now that Daytime Emmy winner Jonathan Jackson has reportedly decided to exit what will soon be ABC’s sole-surviving soap. Jackson is slated to make his final GH appearance sometime between mid-December and early January 2012.



Royal Pains cutie Meredith Hagner will be guest-starring on a December episode of CSI: Miami. The actress, who was also one of the daughters on FX’s Lights Out, will play a kiddie beauty pageant contestant’s big sister who harbors some jealousy toward her spotlight-hogging sibling, and thus falls under suspicion when their mother is murdered.