CMT Music Awards



Rep. Anthony Weiner's Wife Is Pregnant
Two days after Anthony Weiner admitted to sending a lewd photo of himself and engaging in online relationships with several women, the New York Times is reporting his wife is pregnant with their first child. Huma Abedin, 35, is in the early stages of pregnancy, according to the Times, and has not been seen since the the scandal broke. Weiner, 46, a New York congressman, emotionally told reporters Monday that he and Abedin, an aide to Hillary Rodham Clinton, had no plans to split. "We will weather this," he said. "I love her very much, and she loves me."

Jennifer Connelly Gives Birth to Daughter in Birthing Pool

The Oscar winner gave birth to her third child at her home in New York City. Jennifer and her husband Paul Bettany are not proud parents of a baby girl they named Agnes Lark Bettany. Jennifer had her baby girl via water birth in a birthing pool. Connelly already has two boys age, 13 and 7 making Agnes the first girl in her family. Jennifer and Paul met back in 2001 on the set of A Beautiful Mind and wed in Scotland in 2003.

 Just days after welcoming baby girl Willow Sage Hart – her first child with husband Carey Hart – Pink enjoyed a family beach day. In the first photos snapped of the newborn, Hart, 35, totes 5-day-old Willow in a brown baby sling as the new mom, dressed in workout gear, leads the way on their hike.


Bret Lockett: Kim K Is LYING, We HOOKED UP
NFL player Bret Lockett says he's not afraid of Kim Kardashian's legal threats saying he has CONCRETE PROOF the two hooked up while Kim was dating fiance Kris Humphries. Kim threatened to sue Lockett and In Touch Weekly for defamation -- over a story in which Lockett claimed Kim's been cheating on her fiance Kris Humphries ... with him. Lockett says he has phone records, text messages, cell phone photos of Kim. He says if push comes to shove, he's willing to present the evidence in court.


Actor Nicolas Cage’s Son Has Been Hospitalized For Mental Evaluation
Nic Cage’s son, Weston Cage, has been taken to the hospital by ambulance for a mental evaluation and a 5150 psychiatric hold. Weston was at The Farmer’s Kitchen in Hollywood, when his trainer told him he shouldn’t eat something on the menu. Weston went off and started pushing the trainer in a violent way, at one point trying to roundhouse the trainer. The trainer took Weston down, and someone else tried calming Nic’s son down, to no avail. Weston got up and continued freaking out. Cops showed up and told Weston if he didn’t get on the ground they would tase him. Weston then complied. Cops put Weston in handcuffs but they were so worried he was unstable they strapped him to a gurney. Cage was married less than two months ago.



Harpo Studios Planning Mass Layoffs
Harpo Studios, Inc. filed a notice in early-May alerting the Illinois Department of Employment Security that it would be laying off at least one-third of its current 400 full and part-time employees, though the company didn't specify the exact number of jobs it plans to eliminate. "Employees are being notified on a departmental basis whether their jobs will be eliminated," a Harpo spokeswoman says. "Most of those leaving us are doing so voluntarily to pursue other interests." About 50 employees decided to relocate with Oprah to the L.A. offices for OWN, leaving about 400 behind. But, we remember Oprah saying that the rest of the employees would remain in Chicago working on new shows, including Rosie O'Donnell's new talk show for OWN. According to the spokeswoman, the layoff process began on May 25. "All employees were made aware of this rightsizing months ago," the spokesperson says.


Shania Twain Performing Two-year Residency in Las Vegas
Twain held a press conference on Wednesday, June 8, to announce that she will be performing a two-year residency at The Colosseum at Caesar's Palace. Her residency, titled "Still The One," will begin on Dec. 1, 2012. "I'm beyond excited," Twain said. "I feel like I'm on top of the world. This is really beautiful and lovely." "I just can't wait. I wish I could just get started tomorrow," Twain says of performing for her fans again after losing her voice. "I feel as thought I'm about to step into a world of endless creative possibilities." This is the first time Caesar's Palace has played home to a "certified country music legend." The current line-up includes Celine Dion, Elton John and Rod Stewart.


Titanic II Sinks
A 16-foot boat, named Titanic II, recently sunk in a bay in Dorset, England. Owner Mark Wilkinson says his vessel disappeared beneath the waves after springing a leak on its maiden voyage. He says, "If it wasn’t for the harbor master, I would have gone down with the Titanic. It’s all a bit embarrassing and I got pretty fed up with people asking me if I had hit an iceberg." Mark paid $1,000 for the boat and was fishing when he sprung a leak.



TV NEWS
First Lady Michelle Obama will play herself in a January episode of Nickelodeon’s iCarly. Obama will promote Joining Forces, “an initiative aimed at increasing awareness and support for military families.”



"The Oprah Winfrey Show" finale attracted 16.4 million viewers, the long-running daytime talk program's production company announced.



Chloë Sevigny has landed her first major post-Big Love TV gig, and it’s taking her across the pond.
Sevigny has been cast as the lead in Hit and Miss, a provocative new six-episode British series by Shameless creator Paul Abbott.



BBC has ordered 14 additional episodes of the Matt Smith-starring Doctor Who.



Encore Westerns will pay tribute to late actor James Arness with a 24-hour Gunsmoke marathon this Saturday, June 11, beginning at “high noon” (aka 12 pm).



Fox just announced some tweaks to its summer schedule: Masterchef will soon become a two-night affair, with episodes airing Mondays at 9/8c (beginning June 13) and Tuesdays at 8 pm, until it moves to its new 9 pm slot on July 19; Hell’s Kitchen‘s two-night premiere will be served up on Monday, July 18 and Tuesday, July 19 at 8 pm; and Fox’s newest unscripted reality series, Buried Treasure, begins Wednesday, August 24 at 8 pm.

Rohan Marley Denies Lauryn Hill is Pregnant With His Child
While Lauryn Hill recently announced that she was pregnant with her sixth child, the father, reportedly Rohan Marley, declared via Twitter that the child was not his. “2 Things, I’m not married and I don’t have anyone expecting anything,” Rohan wrote from his twitter account. Responding to inquiries from other Twitter followers about his marriage to Lauryn Hill and the pregnancy, he stated that his previous statement was in fact true. “Trust me, the info out there is so incorrect for so many years… Thx for twitter. I check a few things,” Rohan continued to Tweet.

Cameron Diaz and Alex Rodriguez Scout Property

Further putting to rest rumors of a breakup, Cameron Diaz and Alex Rodriguez seem to be moving forward with their relationship – and looking for a place to move. The two were spotted with Rodriguez's family on Monday checking out a Miami building site, where the New York Yankees slugger, 35, is reportedly building a new house. Just one day prior, the pair, who began dating in May 2010, hushed talk of a split when they were seen getting cozy Sunday night at a West Hollywood MTV Movie Awards afterparty.

Tupac Director Antoine Fuqua Leaves Flick

After years of trying to get a Tupac Shakur biopic made, fans rejoiced last year when it was announced that director Antoine Fuqua (Training Day, Brooklyn’s Finest) would be helming a feature-length film based on the life and times of one of the greatest rappers, poets, and personality’s of all time. Today, that is no longer the case.  Fuqua has left the "Tupac" biopic to direct Dreamworks Pictures’ Southpaw, a boxing project written by “Sons of Anarchy” creator Kurt Sutter and starring Eminem ("8 Mile").  No reason was given for Fuqua’s departure. "Southpaw" tells the story of a left-handed welterweight (Eminem) whose quick rise to stardom turns into a life of trials and tribulations that he must overcome to reclaim his crown.

Rapper Ja Rule due to go to prison in NYC gun case

Multiplatinum-selling rapper Ja Rule is set to go to prison, but he's leaving fans with an album on the way. The rapper-actor — whose gravelly voice, thuggish tough talk and duets with R&B divas made him one of rap's stars in the early 2000s — is set to be sentenced Wednesday to two years in a New York prison. "My last day out," he Tweeted Tuesday afternoon, adding that he was spending it at the movies with his family. Ja Rule, 35, pleaded guilty in December to attempted criminal possession of a weapon, resolving a nearly four-year-old case.



TV NEWS

CSI is moving to Wednesdays next season, and Laurence Fishburne is not going with it. After two and a half seasons on the current granddaddy of CBS procedurals, the Oscar nominee has opted not to renew his contract.

For all of your summer and winter Olympic needs — through the year 2020 — there’s only one place to go: NBC. The network has officially won the rights to air four consecutive games beginning in 2014, NBCSports.com reports, in addition to an earlier deal securing them both the 2010 and 2012 outings.

The jury is in, and it appears neither Brittany Snow nor Aml Ameen will be a part of the second season of Harry’s Law. Sources confirm that Snow and Ameen have parted was with show in what an insider describes as a “mutual decision” with producers. Both actors have been invited to return as guest stars.

On the heels of Days of Our Lives delivering pink slips to Louise Sorel (Vivian) and Crystal Chappell (Carly), Nadia Bjorlin is leaving the NBC sudser when her contract expires later this summer. Bjorlin created the role of Chloe in 1999, worked on and off contract in 2004 and ’05, and then rejoined the cast as a regular in late 2007.  Bjorlin already has her next gig lined up — a movie that she starts filming on August 1

TLC has renewed its money-saving sensation Extreme Couponing for a second season. The cabler has ordered a 12-episode encore of the docu-series, set to premiere this September.

VH1 has announced the next batch of stars headed to "Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew." Sean Young and Michael Lohan head up the reality cast.  The actress ("Blade Runner") and Lindsay Lohan's headline-making father will be joined by infamous "Long Island Lolita" Amy Fisher, actress Bai Ling, former "Survivor" contestant Jessica "Sugar" Kiper, baseball player Dwight "Doc" Gooden, Guns 'n' Roses drummer Steven Adler and former "Baywatch" star Jeremy Jackson.

Bravo isn't waiting around for Season 3 of "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" to finish before it locks down the women for another season. The network announced that the New Jersey gals are coming back for a fourth season.

Atlanta Rapper 4-Ize Investigated Over Sticker Campaign

Independent rapper 4-ize has landed in hot water with officials in Atlanta, over a guerilla marketing campaign that left dozens of light poles plastered in stickers around the city. Hundreds of stickers promoting 4-ize have been plastered around Atlanta, including on the exit ramp off of I-20 East.  The stickers have been found on street signs and light poles in over 11 different intersections in Atlanta. "Stickers or other items installed within the public right of way without the permission of the city of Atlanta are considered illegal," a spokesman for Atlanta Public Works Department said in a statement.

Rep. Anthony Weiner Admits He Lied About Lewd Twitter Photo

New York congressman Anthony Weiner has come forward about the "terrible mistakes" he made recently. On Friday, when a photo of a man's bulging crotch in boxer briefs appeared in Weiner's Twitter stream, the lewd photo was quickly removed and the politico claimed his page was hacked. But fast forward to Monday and Weiner, 46, admits he was the only person using his account. The photo, which he says he "regrets," was in fact meant to send as a direct message, but accidentally posted in his main feed. "This was a very dumb thing to do," he said during a Manhattan press conference. "[It was] a destructive thing to do. The picture was of me and I sent it." A visibly choked up Weiner confessed he had been inappropriately communicating with six women over the last three years, including while he was married. He claims none of these interactions were physical, and they were all "women that I met on Facebook." "I haven't told the truth," he said. "I have done things I deeply regret. I apologize to my wife and our families. I'm deeply ashamed." He and his wife, Huma Abedin, "have no intention of splitting up," Weiner said. "I love my wife very much. We’ve been through a great deal together and will weather this.”

Lauryn Hill Pregnant With 6th Child

Rapper/singer Lauryn Hill has announced that she is pregnant with her sixth child. Lauryn Hill made the announcement during a show at Chene Park in Detroit. Hill's unexpected announcement calmed the crowd, who had grown a bit irritable, because she was over an hour and a half late for the show. She’s keeping quiet on the identity of the father. The former Fugees singer – who already has five children, Zion David-Nesta, 13, Selah, 12, Joshua, nine, John, seven, and three-year-old Sarah with on/off partner Rohan Marley. Although, it is believed to be Marley. Lauryn, 36, is in her second trimester and will give birth later this year.



Chili Peppers to release first album in 5 years
The Red Hot Chili Peppers are gearing up to release their first album in five years on August 30, the rock band said. "I'm With You" also marks their first album since guitarist John Frusciante quit for a second time in 2009 and was replaced by Josh Klinghoffer. As usual, "I'm With You" was produced by Rick Rubin. Their previous collaboration, the 2006 double album "Stadium Arcadium," debuted at No. 1 in 28 countries, including the United States where it went on to sell 2.3 million copies. It also won the Grammy for best rock album.

Angelina Jolie may return for 'Salt' sequel

Angelina Jolie wants to play Evelyn Salt again in a sequel to 2010's "Salt." Kurt Wimmer, who wrote the original movie, is onboard for the second, also at Columbia. The main character, a CIA agent who is accused of being a Russian spy, originally was written as a man. Jolie, however, carried the role credibly, carrying the Sony thriller to $293.5 million in global box office receipts.

West Pointer who sued diva LaBelle leaves academy

The U.S. Military Academy says a cadet who is suing R&B diva Patti LaBelle over a scrape at a Houston airport has left the academy at West Point. A West Point spokeswoman says Richard King left the academy. Lt. Col. Sherri Reed cited privacy laws that prevent her from saying if his exit was related to the lawsuit or the altercation. The academy acknowledges it investigated the March 11 incident. King says he was in his hometown airport standing near LaBelle's luggage when three of her bodyguards attacked him. In court papers, he says LaBelle thought he was standing too close to her bags. Video shows King on the phone and a shoving match ensuing, with three people pushing and punching King. His lawyer says he suffered a concussion.



Star Trek 2 News

J.J. Abrams says the "Star Trek" sequel could be delayed if he feels the film isn't ready - "I care much more about it being good than it be ready…we’re doing everything we can to make sure schedules don’t get screwed up. I don’t think anyone wants a movie on time that’s not worth your time". He also confirms that he isn’t yet considering 3D for the film.



G.I. Joe: Cobra Strikes
Dwayne Johnson is in discussions with Paramount Pictures to join the Jon M. Chu-directed 3D sequel "G.I. Joe: Cobra Strikes." Johnson's role is a character named Roadblock, likely joining returning co-star Channing Tatum.



Paul Thomas Anderson's Next
Rami Malek ("24," "Night at the Museum") and Madisen Beaty ("The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button") have joined the cast of Paul Thomas Anderson's untitled religious drama. Malek will play Clark, the son-in-law of Lancaster Dodd (Philip Seymour Hoffman) the creator of a new faith that closely mirrors Scientology. Beaty's role is unknown at present. Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams, Laura Dern, Jesse Plemons, David Warshofsky, and Lena Endre also star.
 Are Jessica Simpson and Jessica Alba about to hit the books at Yale University? Not quite – but the two A-listers did tour the New Haven, Conn., campus over the weekend in support of their men, who were in town for their 10-year reunion. Alba's husband, Cash Warren, 32, and Simpson's fiancé, NFL player Eric Johnson, 31, both graduated from the Ivy League college in 2001.

Music promoter gets 21 months in Mariah Carey scam

 purported music entrepreneur who bilked a New Jersey investor out of $330,000 by claiming he was promoting a series of Mariah Carey concerts in Dubai has been sentenced to 21 months in federal prison.
Antywan Ross also was sentenced to pay more than $325,000 in restitution. The shows never took place, the investor was never repaid and Ross admitted that he used most of the money for his own benefit. He pleaded guilty last year to wire fraud.

Dr. Dre settles lawsuit over 'Chronic' sales

Dr. Dre won't be behind the microphone at a federal courthouse after all — the rapper settled a lawsuit over damages from unauthorized online sales of his album "The Chronic" a day before trial. In April a judge ruled that WIDEawake Death Row Records didn't have the proper permission to sell Young's music online or repackage it on new CD releases. The label purchased the holdings of original Death Row Records, which launched the careers of several rappers, out of bankruptcy. He sued WIDEawake Death Row in 2010 for breach of contract, trademark infringement and misappropriation of his likeness. Young was a co-founder of the label, but negotiated a deal to leave the company that required Death Row to obtain his permission before selling his music digitally. On Monday, "The Chronic" was no longer available for download on Apple's popular music service iTunes.



Dumb and Dumber 3
Jim Carrey says he's looking into revisiting some characters from his back catalogue. "We're talking about maybe returning to some old characters that everyone has been asking about. There's Bruce Almighty and we're talking about maybe another Dumb & Dumber."

Cypress Hill Emerges Victorious In $29 Million Lawsuit Over Sample Clearance

Soul music legend Syl Johnson lost a round in court this week, when a long-running lawsuit against rap group Cypress Hill was officially dismissed. Syl Johnson sued Cypress Hill in 2003 for copyright infringement, claiming the group illegally sampled his song "It it Because I'm Black," which was featured on the track "Interlude" on the group's hit album Black Sunday. Cypress Hill originally won a judgment for lawyer fees and court costs in 2008, after a judge ruled that Syl Johnson's original recording was not protected under law, because it was recorded three years before the Federal Copyright Act was passed in 1972. Johnson appealed the original 2008 judgment in favor of Cypress Hill, but the appeal was dismissed.


TV NEWS
Josh Duhamel is going home again for the final season of "All My Children," returning to lend his talents to the show that gave him his start over 10 years ago. The actor will make a cameo in August, the month before the show's final broadcast, as Leo du Pres, the character he embodied for several years until 2003.

Katie Couric has signed a multi-year deal with ABC to host and produce a nationally syndicated talk show and join the ABC News team. The talk show will debut in September 2012, joining a daytime landscape in flux after Oprah Winfrey's exit from broadcast airwaves last month. It will be produced by Jeff Zucker, the former CEO and president of NBCUniversal who executive produced "Today" when Couric co-hosted the show with Matt Lauer.

Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton will open The Voice‘s first-ever live episode Tuesday with a Queen medley, including “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “We Will Rock You” and “We Are the Champions.”

Another 90210 resident is heading for the hills. Sources confirm that Trevor Donovan — whose heretofore-closeted alter ego Teddy was at the center of a high profile coming out storyline last season — will not be returning to The CW soap as a series regular for Season 4.



Marv Albert is joining CBS Sports as a play-by-play announcer for The NFL on CBS. Albert will continue in his lead role as play-by-play announcer for TNT’s Thursday night NBA regular-season and playoff coverage.



The Big Bang Theory‘s Jim Parsons is bringing his personal brand of awesome to Nickelodeon’s iCarly.
The Emmy-winning funnyman will guest star on the tween hit’s fourth season later this year as Caleb, a psych patient who thinks he might actually be from the future.



CMT has ordered a new docu-series, Texas Women. The “reality” show is set to follow “a quartet of friends who work in the rodeo and country music scene by day and party by night in the Lone Star State.”

MTV Movie Award Picts

Dr. Jack Kevorkian Dies

Dr. Jack Kevorkian died early Friday morning after suffering from kidney and heart ailments. He was 83. “Dr. Death” has assisted many people's suicide, but it was his time to go. He did not want to be placed on life support , according to his attorney. His niece, Ava Janus, was by his side at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Mich., at the time of death. The controversial doc was an advocate for assisted suicide for the terminally ill and was even convicted of second-degree murder in 1999, but he didn't believe there was anything wrong with what he was doing. Dr. Kevorkian assisted around 130 terminally ill patients in their deaths during the '90s until he was found guilty of second-degree murder. Al Pacino won an Emmy last year for his portrayal as Dr. Jack Kevorkian in the HBO film, You Don't Know Jack.

 

 

 

James Arness, best known for "Gunsmoke," has died

James Arness, the tall, iconic actor best known for playing Marshal Matt Dillon on the long-running television series "Gunsmoke," has died. He was 88. He made few films during the 20-year "Gunsmoke" run. (There were 635 episodes produced in the series over its long tenure.) Arness was nominated for three Emmys over those 20 years and reprised his role as Dillon in made-for-TV "Gunsmoke" movies in the 1980s and 1990s. He also starred in mini-series "How the West was Won" in the late 1970s. He is survived by his wife, Janet, two sons and six grandchildren. His younger brother was actor Peter Graves (their family name is Aurness), who died in March 2010.

Trace Adkins loses house in fire, singer's family is OK

Country singer Trace Adkins' home in Tennessee was destroyed in a fire Saturday (June 4), but no one in the house at the time was hurt. Adkins, his wife, Rhonda, and their children had lived in the 5,000-square-foot mansion in Brentwood, Tenn., a Nashville suburb, for 11 years. It caught fire shortly after 3:30 p.m. Saturday and although firefighters were on the scene within a few minutes, the home was a "total loss." "I'm just numb," Rhonda Adkins said. "I'm sad because we lost irreplaceable things like all Trace's awards and our family photos." Adkins, a four-time Grammy nominee and former "Celebrity Apprentice" contestant, was flying to Alaska Saturday for a fishing trip. Wire reports say that when he landed, he immediately caught another flight home. Rhonda Adkins says she was driving home from Atlanta Saturday afternoon and was about 10 minutes from home when a neighbor called her about the fire. The couple's two youngest children, ages 9 and 6, and houseguests who were watching the kids escaped the house unharmed, as did the family pets. The fire started in the garage, but its cause is currently unknown.

Fourth Child On the Way for Piers Morgan

Piers Morgan is expanding his family. The Piers Morgan Tonight host, 46, confirmed the addition via Twitter Sunday morning, linking to a report and remarking, "This is true." The news? Wife Celia Walden, 34, is four months pregnant with the couple's first child together. A feature writer and columnist for the U.K.'s Daily Telegraph, Walden wed Morgan in June 2010. Morgan, who also judges America's Got Talent, is already dad to three boys – Spencer, 17, Stanley, 13, and Albert, 10 – from his previous marriage.

 

'Twilight' Star Nikki Reed Engaged to 'Idol' Alum

Twilight star Nikki Reed is engaged. Reed has been dating American Idol castoff Paul McDonald. Not only did they confirm they were dating by snuggling up to each other on the way to the MTV Movie Awards but she basically just announced their engagement: "He's the one," she told the press when asked if the couple has plans to wed. A source confirms that the two are indeed engaged. Reed says her soon-to-be-husband has a new EP coming out, and she's the star. "He's says he's going to release a Nikki Reed EP," Reed boasted.

 

 

Latest 'X-Men' flick tops weekend box office

"X-Men: First Class," a prequel that drops the franchise's mutants into the Cuban Missile Crisis, deputed atop the North American box office with $56 million. The well-received fifth installment, starring James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender, shines light on the beginning of the X-Men saga and a "secret history" of the Cold War.
"X-Men: First Class" $56 million
"Hangover Part II" $33.9 million
"Kung Fu Panda 2" $24.3 million
"Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" $18 million
"Bridesmaids" $12.1 million 

 

Cameron Diaz and Alex Rodriguez Split Again

They’ve been going strong for a while now, but reports are surfacing that Cameron Diaz has split with boyfriend Alex Rodriguez. An insider says “They’ve broken up.” The insider explains that Rodriguez “told her that he needs to focus on baseball and that’s all there is to it.”

 

 

Rihanna Reacts to Video Backlash

Rihanna is lashing back at the people who have been criticizing her violent new music video for "Man Down" saying "What's up with everybody wantin me to be a parent?"  Rhianna, reacting to complaints by the Parents Television Council she tweeted, "I'm a 23 year old rockstar with NO KIDS!  She continued, "We have the freedom to make art, LET US! U can't hide your kids from society, or they'll never learn how to adapt! This is the REAL WORLD." BET says they will continue to run Rhianna's video, including the graphic murder sequence.

 

 

Olivia Wilde to join Bradley Cooper for new film

Wilde has signed on to co-star with "Hangover" actor Bradley Cooper in the upcoming dramatic thriller "The Words."  The film features Cooper as a successful writer who discovers the price he must pay for stealing another man's work. Jeremy Irons, Ben Barnes and "Avatar" actress Zoe Saldana also co-star. Wilde's other upcoming films include "Cowboys & Aliens," "The Change-Up" and "In Time."

 

 

 

My Life with Frank

According to the new book, "Lady Blue Eyes: My Life with Frank" Sinatra was "obsessed" with being clean that he often took up to 12 showers a day. Barbara Sinatra also said that Frank "always smelled like lavender" and "made her feel special." She also talks about his conflict with alcohol writing, "Gin, I think, made him mean. So when I'd come out of my room and see the gin bottle on the bar, I'd turn right around, go back in my room, lock the door, because I didn't want to deal with it."  Barbara was Frank's fourth and final wife. The couple was married for 22-years up until Frank's death in 1998 following a heart attack.


TV NEWS
David Letterman is celebrating "Drum Solo Week," starting Monday, June 6th. The week kicks off Monday with a drum solo by the LATE SHOW's very own Anton Fig, longtime drummer for Paul Shaffer and the CBS Orchestra.  On Tuesday, June 7, renowned drummer and percussionist Sheila E. performs on the broadcast.  On Wednesday, June 8, legendary drummer Roy Haynes and on Thursday, it's Neil Peart, drummer for the legendary rock band Rush.


ABC and Katie Couric are just about done with a deal that would have Couric hosting a daytime show and other duties at ABC News. The new show, which would launch in 2012, could be announced as early as Monday.



Following NBC's decision last month to extend this season of "The Voice" the network will now double up on the singing competition for its last two weeks, adding a second live show on Wednesday in addition to the one on Tuesday with the finale airing June 29th.


HBO and the BBC will co-produce a World War I-era miniseries called "Parade's End," based on a series of novels by Ford Madox Ford. Benedict Cumberbatch ("Sherlock") and Rebecca Hall ("The Town") are set to star in the miniseries, which tells the story of a British aristocrat serving in the army during WWI and a love triangle involving him, his wife and another woman.


The Ryan Murphy-Brad Falchuk FX pilot "American Horror Story" has added to its cast. Shelby Young ("Days of Our Lives") will have a recurring part as a "mean girl" who bullies the daughter of Dylan McDermott and Connie Britton's characters.

Pink Welcomes a Baby Girl

The singer, 31, gave birth to a daughter, Willow Sage Hart, in Los Angeles. "We are ecstatic to welcome our new beautiful healthy happy baby girl, Willow Sage Hart," Pink wrote. "She's gorgeous, just like her daddy [Carey Hart]. #beyondblessed"

Sean Penn & Scarlett Johansson Call it Quits

Scarlett Johansson, 26, and Sean Penn, 50, have ended their courtship, a source said. The couple made headlines earlier this year when spotted vacationing together in Cabo San Lucas, and also when they were snapped at the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington D.C. The reason for their break up is not known but Scarlett was suspiciously absent from the Cannes Film Festival premiere of Sean's movie 'The Tree of Life,' the." Scarlett is currently filming 'The Avengers,' set to open May 4, 2012.


Jennifer Lopez nude honeymoon video reportedly being shopped around porn industry
Jennifer Lopez may be showing more than just that mega-watt smile in a private home video taken by first husband, Ojani Noa. The video, which reportedly contains "15-20 minutes of total nudity," will not fall under the category of "sex tape" (technically speaking). Nevertheless, there are several companies reportedly vying for the rights. Noa's manager says that starting bids were "in the hundreds of thousands" and are only expected to increase. "I've gotten emails from Pornhub, YouPorn, Pulse Distribution, Red Light District and Kevin Blatt, who brokered Paris Hilton's sex tape," he dishes. "If an offer looks good, we'll definitely take it." Lopez and Noa wed in February 1997 and divorced just one year later. This isn't the first time her ex has attempted up Jenny's spot -- he previously worked on a tell-all book and "biopic" of the "American Idol" judge, which she successfully blocked in 2006. Last week, a Los Angeles judge cleared the nude tapes for release. Lopez is currently married to fellow musician, Marc Anthony. They have two children together.

Amy Winehouse checks out of rehab

A representative for Amy Winehouse says the singer has checked out of a treatment program in London following a week there. Spokesman Chris Goodman said that the 27-year-old is now looking forward to touring Europe this summer and is "raring to go." Goodman says Winehouse will be seen as an outpatient at the Priory Clinic, which offers treatment for range of psychiatric problems, as well as drug and alcohol addiction. He did not say why Winehouse was there.

'Hunger Games' trilogy will be made into four films

The highly anticipated "Hunger Games" series will be following in the footsteps of its tween fantasy predecessors "Harry Potter" and "The Twilight Saga" by splitting one of its installments into a two part series.

'Bond 23' gets a release date, other details still scant

We at least know one thing about the next James Bond movie: It will arrive in American theaters on Nov. 9, 2012. MGM and Sony have announced the release dates for the film, which is currently known only as "Bond 23." It will debut in the U.K. and Ireland on Oct. 26, 2012, and open to the rest of the world two weeks later. We also know that Daniel Craig will once again be playing James Bond, that Sam Mendes is directing and that "Casino Royale" and "Quantum of Solace" writers Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, as well as John Logan ("Gladiator," "Rango") worked on the screenplay. Javier Bardem was approached for a starring role (as the bad guy, perhaps), and figure Judi Dench to reprise her role as M. As for anything resembling a detail about the movie's story (or even its title), the Bond camp continues to do an excellent job of keeping things secret.

Camille and Kelsey Grammer Still Fighting Over Custody

With Kelsey Grammer in New York and ex-wife Camille in Los Angeles, it's not going to be easy to work out a custody agreement. Not too long ago, Kelsey filed for joint custody of his kids, and Camille has been fighting it ever since. Now she's claiming Kelsey only wants his son, Jude, to come live with him. "She will continue to fight aggressively to keep her kids and keep her kids together," a source close to Camille says. "Kelsey's not been civil. [Camille] has tried to reach out without lawyers on multiple occasions and been rebuffed." They have a daughter who, according to Camille, Kelsey doesn't care about. Camille Grammer is fighting back against estranged husband Kelsey. Camille, 42, is filing for primary custody of the their two kids, Mason, 9, and Jude, 6. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star claims Kelsey's filings were "done in order to create a false impression to the media and to wrongfully disparage" her.

 

Tarzan Trilogy Planned

"Footloose" and "Hustle and Flow" director Craig Brewer is set to direct and write a new film adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs' classic character "Tarzan" for Warner Bros. Brewer's version apparently tells the Tarzan story over three films and he hopes the first one will be his next directing assignment.

TV NEWS
FX has changed the premiere date for Rescue Me‘s seventh and final season. The series’ nine-episode swan song will now get started on July 13, where it will air Wednesdays at 10/9c.



A teaser trailer for the final season of HBO’s Entourage has hit the web. Its message? “It all begins and ends with your friends.”



NBC is reviving its reality action show "Fear Factor." Paul Telegdy, head of NBC's alternative programming, said the network thought of the idea after seeing the show's repeats draw high ratings on its sister cable channel Chiller. Joe Rogan hosted the original show, but it's not yet clear if he will be returning or it a new host will be selected. The show should launch midseason or next summer.


Rocker Gavin Rossdale is busting out his acting chops for another small screen gig (having previously appeared in a 2009 episode of Criminal Minds). The Bush frontman will guest star in the eighth episode of Burn Notice‘s upcoming fifth season (premiering June 23), as a “wealthy and powerful villain.”


NBC’s The Voice — which this week hit a series high in total viewers — is adding to its playlist a live results show to air Wednesday, June 22, at 8/7c. The Peacock has also set a date for the freshman finale, which will also air live: Wednesday, June 29, from 8 to 9 pm.

Cosby Show Actress Clarice Taylor Dies

Clarice Taylor, who played Bill Cosby's mother on The Cosby Show, died at age 93, her rep said. She succumbed to heart failure and was surrounded by family when she passed. Taylor earned an Emmy nomination in 1986 for her recurring role as Dr. Cliff Huxtable's mother, Anna Huxtable, on the long-running sitcom. She also starred alongside Liza Minnelli in 1970's Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon and played Grady's Cousin Emma on Sanford and Son. Taylor is survived by her two sons, William and James, and her five grandchildren.

Shaquille O'Neal announces retirement on Twitter

Instead of holding a press conference, Shaquille O'Neal announced to his nearly 4 million followers on Twitter that he is retiring from the NBA after 19 seasons. In a video (using Tout, a real-time video messaging service) posted on his Twitter account, Shaq, 39, says, "We did it. 19 years baby. I want to thank you very much. That's what I'm telling you first. I'm about to retire. Love you. Talk to you soon." Shaq is the NBA's fifth all-time leading scorer (28,596 career points) and has four championship rings (three with the Los Angeles Lakers and one with the Miami Heat). He was the first overall pick in the 1992 draft (selected by the Orlando Magic) and also played for the Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics. "I tried to make people happy and I tried to have fun. I think I did both," Shaq says. He will be holding a press conference on Friday at his Isleworth home, where he will talk about his prolific career.

Billy Bob Thornton's daughter guilty in death

The estranged daughter of actor Billy Bob Thornton has been found guilty of aggravated manslaughter of a child in Orlando. 32-year-old Amanda Brumfield was convicted Friday. She is expected to be sentenced in July. She was acquitted of first-degree murder and aggravated child-abuse charges. Authorities say Brumfield killed her best friend's daughter during an overnight stay in October 2008. Brumfield says 1-year-old Olivia Madison Garcia was trying to climb out of a playpen and hit her head. The defense suggested the fall may have aggravated a previous injury, causing her death. Prosecutors say it's impossible that a fall from that height caused a three-and-a-half inch fracture on the back of the girl's skull and the bleeding and swelling found in her brain.
 Photos circulating the web of a naked Blake Lively are reportedly false. The actress has hired a lawyer to say the "photos are fake, phony, photoshopped, fabricated and simply not Blake's body." He also stated, "anyone who publishes the pictures or indicates it is her will be dealt with legally."

'60 Minutes' Will Not Apologize for Lance Armstrong Exposé

CBS newsmagazine 60 Minutes is standing by its story centered on the Lance Armstrong doping case, which aired a few weeks ago, after Armstrong's lawyers demanded an apology. In a statement issued by Jeff Fager, chairman of CBS News and an executive producer of 60 Minutes, he said, "60 Minutes stands by its story as truthful, accurate and fair." The exposé revealed new allegations that the seven-time Tour de France champion may have used performance-enhancing drugs while competing at the 2001 Tour de Suisse. "Lance Armstrong and his lawyers were given numerous opportunities to respond to every detail of our reporting for weeks prior to the broadcast and their written responses were fairly and accurately included in the story," Fager said. "Mr. Armstrong still has not addressed charges by teammates Tyler Hamilton and George Hincapie that he used performance enhancing drugs with them."

Jennifer Hudson Cast as a Nun in 'Three Stooges'

Jennifer Hudson is headed for the nunnery — in 20th Century Fox’s The Three Stooges, from the Farrelly brothers. She’ll play one of the nuns in the orphanage where the Stooges spend time. Hudson joins a cast led by Chris Diamontopoulos, Sean Hayes and Will Sasso as the three leads. Larry David, Stephen Collins and Jane Lynch, who plays the Mother Superior, also star. The Farrellys are producing Three Stooges, currently in production.

Kim Zolciak, Kroy Biermann welcome baby boy

"Real Housewives of Atlanta" star Kim Zolciak and her fiance, NFL player Kroy Biermann, welcomed their first child together on Tuesday, May 31. Their son was named after his father -- Kroy Jagger Biermann. The couple tweeted the happy news to their followers, saying, We  "are happy to announce the birth of our son today Kroy Jagger Biermann is healthy & beautiful We are so in love!" When Zolciak announced her pregnancy in November, she said, "I was surprised! While it wasn't planned, God clearly has a bigger and better plan for us and we're excited." The "Google Me" singer also said, "I can see myself marrying Kroy in the future." Kim has two daughters from a previous marriage, Brielle, 14, and Ariana, 9.


Hangover 3?
After taking in more than $137 million dollars over the Memorial Day weekend it shouldn't come as much of a surprise that the "Hangover" franchise has already been given the go-ahead for a third installment.  Reportedly, screenwriter Craig Mazin, who co-wrote the second movie, is on board to write the third installment.  None of the franchise's main stars, Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis or Ed Helms, have signed on for a third round yet.
 First look Captian America posters

Mark-Paul Gosselaar Divorce Finalized
Thirty-seven year old "Saved By The Bell" star, Mark-Paul Gosselaar is officially back on the market.  A judge has finalized his divorce from Lisa Ann Russell with whom he has two children. According to documents filed May 27 in L.A. County Superior Court, Mark -- who's playing a lawyer in his new show, "Franklin and Bash" will be paying both custody and spousal support.

Ryan Phillippe and Amanda Seyfried Call It Quits... Again

They have said they plan to stay friends, “It was mutual. They were never fully committed. There’s no bad blood. They’re cool,” a source says. Phillippe, 36, and Seyfried, 25, were never super serious about their relationship and continued to see other people. However, when Phillippe’s former girlfriend, Alexis Knapp, announced she was pregnant with his baby, Seyfried stayed with Phillippe throughout the baby daddy drama. That sounds pretty serious to me. Phillippe was previously married to Reese Witherspoon, with whom he has two children.

Taylor Lautner publicist quits; Difficult dad to blame?

Taylor Lautner has been dropped by his publicist after only three months on the job. Slate PR's Robin Baum, who also reps Johnny Depp and Daniel Craig, has resigned from the "Twilight" star's account. The news comes a few short months before Lautner makes his action debut in "Abduction" this September. So what gives? Word on the street is Papa Lautner hasn't been easy to work with, describing him as "demanding."



TV NEWS
True Blood‘s fourth season (finally) debuts Sunday, June 26.


Nearly three weeks after NBC formally canceled its freshman science fiction thriller, "The Event," it now appears that the show might not be completely dead after all. NBC sister network Syfy is currently in talks to resuscitate it as a miniseries -- and possibly add on another season if the mini performs well. There's still a lot to consider for the network and producers at Universal Media Studios. A move to Syfy would greatly decrease the budget, and every day the show stays dead, the more cast members enter commitments to other opportunities.


Halle Berry could be heading to TV. The actress is reportedly attached to a spec script called "Higher Learning" currently floating around pay cable networks, including Showtime and HBO.


NBC's midseason drama, "The Firm," may finally have its lead. Josh Lucas ("Sweet Home Alabama") is reportedly in final talks to play Mitchell McDeere, a role made famous by Tom Cruise in the 1993 film adaptation of John Grisham's best-selling novel. The series picks up Mitchell 10 years after the events of the original.


Andrea Anders, whose TV resume most memorably includes the acclaimed (if undersampled) Better Off Ted and most recently (if only briefly) added Mr. Sunshine, has landed a new gig. The super-sunny and often funny actress can next be seen in multiple episodes of Necessary Roughness, one of USA Network’s new summer dramedies. Anders will play Laura, a PR exec that King’s team hires to rehab his image.


Syfy has renewed it’s paranormal sensation Ghost Hunters for an eighth season, set to bow in 2012 with 20 new episodes.


Former National Public Radio president and CEO Vivian Schiller is close to finalizing a deal to join NBC News where she’ll head up digital projects, sources at the network confirm. Before her two-year stint at NPR, Schiller was a senior executive at the New York Times web site. Prior to that she ran Discovery Times, the cable channel that was a joint venture between the New York Times and Discovery Communications.


Jennifer Lopez and her husband, Marc Anthony are creating a new show called "Q'Viva" The Chosen. They will be traveling to 21 countries across the Americas, searching for the "world's most extraordinary talent". The show will be filmed in three languages and broadcast simultaneously on leading TV networks across the Western Hemisphere. The search for the talent begins in July.  By the way, there will be no auditions...instead, Lopez, Anthony and their producer will be "guided by the locals" who know who really can sing and will be invited to come back with them to Hollywood for the competition.

Octomom's Fertility Doctor to Lose His License

California will yank the medical license of the Beverly Hills fertility doctor who implanted 12 embryos into "Octomom" Nadya Suleman three years ago. Dr. Michael Kamrava will lose his license effective July 1, said the state Medical Board, in a decision more severe than an administrative law judge's recommendation that Kamrava get probation for five years. At a hearing last year, Kamrava apologized for implanting the embryos into Suleman instead of referring the 33-year-old unemployed single mother of six to a mental-health evaluation. The board found that Kamrava "did not exercise sound judgment" in treating Suleman and two other patients – a 48-year-old who had complications after becoming pregnant with quadruplets and a 42-year-old who contracted ovarian cancer after fertility treatments. The board found that Kamrava "committed gross negligence, repeated negligent acts, and incompetence."

George Clinton Hospitalized
George Clinton, 69, the leader of the bands, Parliament/Funkadelic has been hospitalized for a staph infection in his leg.  His rep says that George will be fine and appreciates all the prayers and good thoughts.

Claudia Schiffer: January Jones Pregnancy Rumors are 'Complete Nonsense'

Last week, rumors surfaced that Claudia Schiffer’s husband, Matthew Vaughn, was the father of January Jones’ baby. Vaughn is directing the upcoming X-Men flick Jones stars in. Vaughn told reporters the claim was a “complete lie”. Now, Schiffer’s spokesperson is denying the story as well, calling it “complete nonsense.”  Rumors started surfacing when Vaughn failed to appear to the X-Men premiere and the couple moved out of their home when Jones announced her pregnancy. Vaughn and Schiffer have been married for nine years and have three children together.

 Tony Romo is off the market – and it appears he couldn't be happier. The Dallas Cowboys quarterback, 31, said "I do" to Chace Crawford's sister Candice, 24, on Saturday at Arlington Hall in Dallas in front of approximately 600 guests.

Molly Sims Is Engaged

Molly Sims is getting married. The actress and jewelry designer is engaged to Love and Other Drugs producer Scott Stuber, her rep says. Sims, 38, dated Stuber, 42, for a year-and-a-half before he popped the question the weekend of May 20. As a bonus, he flew her parents into Los Angeles to celebrate the occasion. Sims starred in TV's Las Vegas and the movie Yes Man.

Andrew Garfield Splits with Shannon Woodward

It looks like Spider-Man is no longer entangled in a romantic web. Andrew Garfield has split with his girlfriend of three years, Raising Hope actress Shannon Woodward, a source confirmed.Garfield, 27, began dating Woodward 26,  well before making a splash in the States with his role as Eduardo Saverin in The Social Network. Garfield recently completed a rigorous, time-consuming shoot for the new Spider-Man franchise, The Amazing Spider-Man.
 

Haynesworth's road rage case dismissed

Washington Redskins defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, accused of punching a man in the face during a road rage incident, could breath a sigh of relief after a Virginia judge dismissed the case. Haynesworth, 29, was accused of punching Leesburg, Va., resident Arthur Velazques during a traffic incident in February. But Velazques reached an "accord and satisfaction agreement" with Haynesworth's attorneys, prompting the judge to dismiss the case under state law. The dismissal allows Haynesworth to turn his full attention to his next legal battle. The troubled defensive lineman has pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor sexual abuse charge. He is accused of fondling a waitress at a rooftop lounge at the W Hotel in Washington, D.C. Haynesworth, who is due in court on July 11, faces up to 180 days in jail and a fine of up to $1,000 if convicted on the sexual abuse charge.


Dishonorable Discharge
Walt Disney Co. said it will withdraw an application to trademark the term "SEAL Team 6," the name of the military unit that took out Osama bin Laden. Less than a week after the Navy SEAL team's successful mission, Disney moved to patent the name in the hopes of exploiting it for toys and entertainment, making the company the butt of jokes for its greed and annoying the Navy. After the Navy filed its own trademark claim, Disney bailed out.

 

Investigation Against Mariah and Nick Concluded
The L.A. County Department of Children and Family Services has just wrapped up an investigation of Mariah Carey and her babies...  The report came to the conclusion that  her twins are in a healthy and safe environment.  The investigation was triggered by an anonymous phone call to DCFS complaining that Mariah drank a Guinness beer while she was breast feeding.  Carey did drink the one beer while in the hospital after she was told by hospital staffers that the dark beer would assist in her lactation. Several people connected with DCFS are privately critical of the agency for honing in on anonymous tips against celebrities ... and devoting "extensive resources" when the agency should be looking at serious cases of abuse.


The Hobbit Movie News
Fans of J.R.R. Tolkien will want to mark these dates on their calendar... Dec. 14, 2012 and Dec. 13, 2013. Those are your tentative release dates for The Hobbit films, currently being filmed in New Zealand, under the direction of Peter Jackson. The first will be called The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, and the sequel will be The Hobbit: There and Back Again. The films are prequels to The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
 Russell Brand and Alec Baldwin in Rock of Ages, the movie also stars Tom Cruise and Catherine Zeta-Jones.


Sutherland Added to Hunger Games
Lionsgate and the filmmakers behind the upcoming "The Hunger Games" have announced that Donald Sutherland has been cast in the role of President Snow in the much anticipated film adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ best-selling novel. In the books, President Snow has been the autocratic ruler of Panem and its contained districts for some 25 years at the outset of the story.


Lady Gaga album sells 1.1 million copies in first week
Lady Gaga has scored her first No. 1 album in the United States after a 99-cent promotion by Amazon.com sent the much-hyped release past the rare million-copy mark in its debut week. "Born This Way" sold 1.11 million copies during the week ended May 29. It marks the biggest first-week sales total since rapper 50 Cent's "The Massacre" debuted to 1.14 million copies in March 2005. The last album to break the million mark was country starlet Taylor Swift's "Speak Now," which started with 1.01 million copies last November.
In all, just 17 albums have sold more than one million copies in their first week since tracking firm Nielsen SoundScan began collecting point-of-sales data in 1991. Boy band 'N Sync holds the first-week record with 2.4 million copies for its 2000 album "No Strings Attached."


TV NEWS
Never-before-heard tapes of Jacqueline Kennedy talking about the assassination of her husband, John F. Kennedy and her years in the White House will air in September in a prime time special on ABC.  The tapes were recorded in 1964. The recordings are a conversation Jackie had with historian, Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. shortly after JFK's death. The late First Lady stipulated that they not be made public until after her death. This year is the 50th anniversary of the Kennedy inauguration.  The actual date of the program has not yet been released.


AMC has finally announced the premiere date for Breaking Bad hotly anticipated fourth season, Sunday, July 17 at 10/9c. Added bonus: For those wanting to catch up before Bad‘s 13-episode run kicks off, AMC is offering Season 3 on demand beginning Monday, June 20.


Ellen Pompeo may be unsure about whether she’ll stick with Grey’s Anatomy after her contract expires next season, but it sounds like her onscreen hubby has made up his mind. In the new issue of the Italian Vanity Fair, Patrick Dempsey confirms that the show’s upcoming eighth season will be his swan song. “It’s gonna be my last,” he told the mag. “I do not know what’s going to happen to the other characters, but for me it’s done.”

While an official announcement has yet to be made, Randy Jackson says he and his fellow "American Idol" Season 10 judges, Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler, will be back for Season 11.  Jackson made the statement while being a guest on the George Lopez show.


Just a week after NBC Sports Group Chairman Dick Ebersol announced his exit from the network, his longtime No. 2 is expected to leave as well. Ken Schanzer, who has been with NBC for 30 years and spent the last 13 as president of NBC Sports, will announce his retirement as early as Thursday.


Just two weeks after ABC canceled cult favorite V, the show’s breakout alien Morena Baccarin has joined another drama series, Showtime’s Homeland. The upcoming thriller, from 24 executive producers Howard Gordon and Alex Gansa, centers on Marine Sergeant Scott Brody (Damian Lewis), who returns home eight years after going missing in Iraq, and Carrie Anderson (Claire Danes), a driven CIA officer who suspects he might be plotting an attack on America. Baccarin co-stars as Jessica Brody, Scott’s smart, strong wife. She replaces Laura Fraser who played the role in the pilot.


In what would mark his first major TV role since Law & Order signed off in 2010, Sam Waterston has joined the cast of the tentatively-titled More As This Story Develops, Aaron Sorkin’s HBO drama pilot set behind the scenes at a cable news network.


NBC's new hit series "The Voice" is getting the choice post-Super Bowl spot next year, the network said. It announced that a special edition of "The Voice" will air Feb. 5 after the NFL championship game. NBC Entertainment Chairman Bob Greenblatt called the post-game slot the best showcase on TV and said the singing contest deserves the exposure. The network's early decision regarding an event eight months away represents a vote of confidence in the freshman program.


Lindsay Lohan's House Arrest
While she's cooling her heels at home, serving her jail time for the next month or so, here are some of the do's and don't's that Lindsay Lohan must follow.

ALLOWED
Leaving home only for medical appointments or to go to the probation department, as long as advance notice is given.
Visitors can come and go without restrictions.
Unlimited phone and Internet use.

NOT ALLOWED
Going outside the "interior premises" of the home without prior authorization; that'll set off her ankle bracelet.
Going to work-related events outside the home. (Lohan also can't perform her community service while confined.)
Tampering with the ankle bracelet, which would sound an alarm to her monitors.