Geraldine Ferraro Dies

Geraldine Ferraro, who marked a significant moment in American history as the first woman vice-presidential nominee for a major party, died Saturday. She was 75. As presidential candidate Walter Mondale's running mate against Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush in 1984, Ferraro was a surprise gambit – something like Sarah Palin in 2008, if politically a different animal. ("Modern life is confusing," she said. "Make no Ms.-take about it.") A little-known New York State congresswoman, she also was the first Italian-American on such a prominent ticket. (First-generation, as well.) Accepting the nomination, she announced, "I stand before you to proclaim tonight: America is the land where dreams can come true for all of us." Surrounded at the end by her loved ones at Massachusetts General in Boston, "Gerry," as she was known, had been battling cancer for more than a decade.

BET Host DJ Megatron Shot and Killed in New York City

DJ Megatron, born Corey McGriff, was found dead in the New York City borough of Staten Island Sunday morning. The 32-year-old BET host and radio personality was reportedly killed while walking to the store near his home in Staten Island. Police say it was a gunshot wound to the chest, and no arrests have been made yet. McGriff hosted BET's "What's Good" segment on 106 & Park, and was also a notable on hip-hop and R&B radio stations in New York and Boston. He's also appeared in the movie State Property 2 in 2005. His manager Regg Rocc released this statement: "Mega's family is grateful for all of the condolences and warm thoughts of his fans and friends. Please continue to uplift your prayers of support as an ongoing investigation is currently being conducted by law enforcement officials."

 

 

Mariah Carey Home from Hospital After Contractions

Mother-to-be – of twins! – Mariah Carey nearly had her hands full on her birthday, Sunday, March 27. The babies, Carey, 42, Tweeted in the early hours of Sunday, "really wanted 2 celebrate w/us/share the anniversary! I started having contractions last night..went 2 the hospital." Then, she said, "They almost came on 3/27- happy anniversary in deed!!! We have a few more weeks 2 go but- wow!!!: )" Meanwhile, Papa-to-be Nick Cannon, 30, did some Tweeting of his own on Thursday. He said, "I am probably going to faint in the delivery room! I need to man up! Or maybe I should say WOMAN UP since they are the ones that have to be the strongest in the whole ordeal! I am in awe of my wife!"

Weekend Box Office

Fox 2000's sequel Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules easily won the weekend box office race, grossing a hearty $24.4 million and delivering Fox a new franchise. Warner Bros.' Sucker Punch wasn’t as lucky, grossing $19 million in a soft start for the femme powered action-fantasy, from director Zack Snyder. Back on the top 10 chart, holdovers Limitless and The Lincoln Lawyer both enjoyed strong holds in their second weekend, coming in No. 3 and No. 4 respectively.

Reese Witherspoon weds agent beau in California

Reese Witherspoon has walked down the aisle. A spokeswoman for the actress says the "Walk the Line" star wed her fiance, Hollywood agent Jim Toth, in Ojai, Calif., about 90 miles north of Los Angeles. Publicist Nicole Perna did not reveal details about the Saturday ceremony. The Oscar-winning actress and Toth announced their engagement in December. Toth is an agent for Creative Artists Agency, which represents Witherspoon through another agent. The 35-year-old actress won an Academy Award for her portrayal of June Carter in 2005's "Walk the Line." Witherspoon's other film credits include "Legally Blonde," "Four Christmases" and the forthcoming "Water for Elephants." She was previously married to actor Ryan Phillippe, with whom she has two children: 11-year-old daughter Ava and 7-year-old son Deacon.

Bret Michaels Sues CBS and Tony Awards over Head Injury

The June 2009 Tony Awards scenery mishap that resulted in a head injury to Bret Michaels has now erupted into a lawsuit that the musician filed Friday in Los Angeles. Michaels's attorney, Alex Weingarten, issued the following press statement, "The Tony Awards dropped a piece of the stage on Bret’s head, and then instead of doing the right thing, joked about it and played it off for ratings … Bret never wanted to file a lawsuit, but the Tony Awards have left us with no choice. They must be held accountable for almost killing Bret, and that is what we are going to do." In the suit against CBS and the Tony Awards for unspecified damages, Michaels – who ever since the incident has suffered precarious health – claims that despite his asking producers for instructions on where to stand on the Radio City Music Hall stage during his performance, he was only told to "simply exit the stage from the rear."

Amy Adams cast as Lois Lane in "Superman"

Amy Adams will play Lois Lane in the upcoming Superman reboot, filling iconic shoes worn at various times by Noel Neill, Margot Kidder, Teri Hatcher and Kate Bosworth. She will play the enterprising Daily Planet journalist and key love interest opposite British actor Henry Cavill, who was previously cast as Superman/Clark Kent. Diane Lane and Kevin Costner will play his adoptive parents. Zack Snyder ("Sucker Punch") will direct the Warner Bros. project, which is set for a December 2012 release. Adams received an Oscar nomination this year for her supporting role in "The Fighter."


TV NEWS
Film star Tom Hanks is poised to make his first acting appearance on primetime network TV in more than two decades when he guest stars on NBC’s 30 Rock this spring. No details on Hank’s role are yet available — and as with some 30 Rock guest stars it’s possible he will appear as himself. But if he is playing a character, it will by and large mark the two-time Academy Award winner’s first network TV role since the early 1980s, when he guest-starred on multiple episodes of Family Ties as alcoholic Uncle Ned.


The Queen of Daytime has set the precise end date to her 25-year reign. The Oprah Winfrey Show will air its series finale Wednesday, May 25, HARPO officially announced Friday. New episodes of the groundbreaking talk show return Thursday, April 7.


Hours after performing on Good Morning America, Britney Spears will grace the Jimmy Kimmel Live stage the night of Tuesday, March 29, ABC has confirmed. The concert coincides with the release of her brand new album, “Femme Fatale,” out on the same day.


Funnylady Maya Rudolph is reteaming with her former Saturday Night Live boss Lorne Michaels on his new NBC comedy pilot. Rudolph joins the already-cast Christina Applegate in the untitled project about a look at parenthood through the eyes of Applegate’s “acerbic working mom.”


The Amazing Race and Undercover Boss will live to see another season. CBS announced that it has renewed both reality series, for 19th and third seasons, respectively.

Former Heroes star Adrian Pasdar is back at NBC, this time on the comedy side. In what would be his first regular gig in a half-hour series, Pasdar has been tapped as the male lead opposite Sarah Paulson in NBC’s untitled pilot from New Adventures of Old Christine creator Kari Lizer. The workplace comedy revolves around Mary Leahy (Paulson), a relationship-challenged woman who, with the help of her co-workers, guides people through unexpected career transitions. Pasdar will play Brad, a super confident guy who has drunk sex with Mary in a bar bathroom. After seeing how charming he is, Mary and her partner ask him to join their company. Pasdar recently did an arc on ABC’s Castle.