Dan Wheldon killed in crash at Vegas
Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon died Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway after his car became ensnarled in a fiery 15-car pileup, flew over another vehicle and landed in a catch fence just outside turn 2. Three other drivers, including championship contender Will Power, were hurt in the pileup during Lap 11. Wheldon was airlifted from the track to University Medical Center; about two hours later, his colleagues were told of his death. ''IndyCar is very sad to announce that Dan Wheldon has passed away from unsurvivable injuries,'' IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard said. ''Our thoughts and prayers are with his family today. IndyCar, its drivers and owners, have decided to end the race.'' In his honor, drivers, many sobbing openly, took part in a five-lap salute around the 1.5-mile oval. ''One minute you're joking around at driver intros. The next, Dan's gone,'' said Dario Franchitti, whose wife, actress Ashley Judd, had to bring him a box of tissues. ''I lost, we lost, a good friend. Everybody in the IndyCar series considered him a friend. He was such a good guy. He was a charmer.'' The race was only minutes old when Wheldon, who started at the back of the 34-car field and was in position for a $5 million payday if he had won, couldn't steer clear of a wreck that started when two cars touched tires. Within seconds, several cars burst into flames and debris covered the track nearly halfway up the straightaway. Some points of impact were so devastating workers had to patch holes in the asphalt. Also injured in the crash were JR Hildebrand and Pippa Mann. Both will remain in the hospital overnight. IndyCar said Mann was being treated for a burn to her right pinkie finger and will be released Monday morning; Hildebrand was awake and alert but will be held overnight for further evaluation. Power was evaluated and released. An autopsy was planned Monday for Wheldon. IndyCar has not had a fatality since Paul Dana was killed at Homestead in 2006, during a crash in a morning warmup.

Rick Ross Hospitalized – Twice

Rapper Rick Ross remained hospitalized in Alabama Saturday morning after suffering two separate medical emergencies within six hours of each other aboard Memphis-bound flights Friday afternoon, forcing both aircrafts to make special landings. Mike Jachles, spokesman for Florida's Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue, told the Associated Press after the first incident that paramedics met the returned Delta flight at the Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and performed "advanced life-support care," although not CPR, on the "Aston Martin Music" and "Hustlin' " Miami-based gangsta rapper, 34. Ross, who in both instances was en route to appear at a Memphis basketball event, was described as conscious and breathing but was still taken to a Ft. Lauderdale hospital for treatment after the first landing, aboard a commercial Delta flight. He next flew private, only to suffer a seizure aboard, readding once Ross landed, he was rushed to the Emergency Room of the University of Alabama-Birmingham Hospital, which would not comment on his condition. Saturday Ross still intended to perform as scheduled. Later, it was reported that Ross's Saturday evening appearance was canceled.

Exhaustion Blamed for Tone Loc's On-Stage Collapse in Atlanta

Less than two weeks after pleading no contest to battery and firearms charges, Tone Loc is making headlines once again. The "Funky Cold Medina" rapper collapsed on stage during a show in Atlanta on Saturday, October 15 night, and his manager blamed exhaustion for his health issues.  Following his episode, Loc was taken to a nearby hospital and given an IV. His manager the 45-year-old was merely suffering from exhaustion following 12 concerts in two months, but assured he is doing fine now. Several concert-goers suggesting that Loc suffered from a seizure. If it is true, it would not be the rapper's first in public. In 2009, he collapsed during an outdoor performance in Pensacola Beach, Florida, and a spokesman for the Escambia County Sheriff's Department said at the time, it appeared he had a seizure because of overheating.

 

Bee Gees Singer Robin Gibb Hospitalized

Bee Gees co-founder Robin Gibb is undergoing tests in a U.K. hospital for abdominal pain and inflammation of the colon. He was rushed there by ambulance after complaining of pain.



Larry Hagman Battling Cancer
Not even cancer can stop J.R. Ewing. Dallas legend Larry Hagman — who is set to reprise his iconic role in the upcoming TNT reboot — has been diagnosed with a “highly treatable” form of the disease. Hagman still intends to report to work on Oct. 17 when production on the series resumes. “As J.R., I could get away with anything — bribery, blackmail and adultery,” Hagman said in a statement. “But I got caught by cancer. I do want everyone to know that it is a very common and treatable form of cancer. I will be receiving treatment while working on the new Dallas series. I could not think of a better place to be than working on a show I love, with people I love. Besides, as we all know, you can’t keep J.R. down!”

Zachary Quinto: I'm a Gay Man

Zachary Quinto's eight-month run in the recent New York stage revival of Angels in America was an eye-opening experience for him. Since the project, the actor, 34 – who had an acclaimed role as Louis Ironson, a man who abandons his AIDS-stricken boyfriend – publicly discusses his much-questioned sexual orientation for the first time. In a new interview in New York, Quinto calls his work in the off-Broadway play the "most challenging thing I've ever done as an actor, and the most rewarding."  "At the same time," he adds, "as a gay man, it made me feel like there's still so much work to be done, and there's still so many things that need to be looked at and addressed." The star of Star Trek and TV's Heroes had long refused to comment about his sexuality, though he has been an outspoken supporter of bully victims and has played a number of gay roles, including on Tori Spelling's TV show So NoTORIous and on the new FX series American Horror Story.


'Real Steel' knocks out 'Footloose', wins weekend with $16.3 million
A remake, a prequel, and one woefully misguided bird-watching comedy couldn’t take down Hugh Jackman and the robots of Real Steel at the box office this weekend. Steel punched up $16.3 million this weekend. Paramount’s $24 million remake Footloose managed to open in second place with $16.1 million, a rather lackluster result. Instead of playing like a hyped-up event movie, Footloose played much more like a typical dance flick. In third, Universal’s horror prequel The Thing didn’t scare up many ticket sales this weekend, opening with $8.7 million. The top five:
1. Real Steel – $16.3 mil
2. Footloose – $16.1 mil
3. The Thing  – $8.7 mil
4. The Ides of March – $7.5 mil
5. Dolphin Tale – $6.3 mil

Robert Downey Jr. asks Hollywood to forgive Mel Gibson at American Cinematheque Awards

Last night at the 25th Annual American Cinematheque Award Ceremony, which was honoring Robert Downey Jr., the Iron Man actor asked Hollywood to forgive Mel Gibson. Gibson was invited onstage to present Downey Jr. with the prestigious award. Gibson spoke kindly of the star, who he famously helped to make a comeback by paying Downey Jr.’s insurance bond so he could star in 2003′s The Singing Detective. “You are my friend,” Gibson said. “When I saw you all those years ago and got all those warnings, I just thought, ‘There’s nothing so much wrong with him.’” Gibson explained, “You’re a good dude with a good heart.” During Downey Jr.’s acceptance speech, he had even kinder words for Gibson. “I asked Mel to present this award for me for a reason,” he said. “When I couldn’t get sober, he told me not to give up hope and encouraged me to find my faith. It didn’t have to be his or anyone else’s as long as it was rooted in forgiveness. And I couldn’t get hired, so he cast me in the lead of a movie that was actually developed for him. He kept a roof over my head and food on the table and most importantly he said if I accepted responsibility for my wrongdoing and embraced that part of my soul that was ugly – hugging the cactus he calls it — he said that if I hugged the cactus long enough, I’d become a man.”
He continued, “I did and it worked. All he asked in return was that someday I help the next guy in some small way. It’s reasonable to assume at the time he didn’t imagine the next guy would be him or that someday was tonight. So anyway on this special occasion and in light of the recent holidays including Columbus Day, I would ask that you join me, unless you are completely without sin in which case you picked the wrong f—ing industry, in forgiving my friend his trespasses and offering him the same clean slate you have me, allowing him to continue his great and ongoing contribution to our collective art without shame. He’s hugged the cactus long enough.” The crowd in the room applauded vigorously, as Gibson appeared to tear up a bit.

Shannen Doherty Marries in Malibu

Shannen Doherty may have made a name for herself on Beverly Hills, 90210, but when it came to her wedding on Saturday, the zip code of choice was Malibu. The TV actress, 40, who most notably played Brenda Walsh, said "I do" to her fiancé Kurt Iswarienko at sunset. The nuptials reportedly are airing on the season finale of Doherty and her new hubby's upcoming WEtv reality series about planning for the big day. The third time's the charm for the Badass author, who previously had short-lived marriages to Ashley Hamilton and notorious Paris Hilton sex-tape costar, Rick Salomon.


TV NEWS
Some classics — even the cheesiest ones — are better left in the past, and Charlie’s Angels, it seems, is no exception: ABC has shut down production on the reboot from Smallville scribes Al Gough and Miles Millar. A network representative says the show will continue to air on Thursdays, filling the 8 p.m. slot with an unknown number of episodes (four of the show’s eight shot episodes have aired).



The beat will not go on: TNT has canceled cop drama Memphis Beat. The Jason Lee vehicle, which counted George Clooney among its executive producers, ran for two seasons on the cable net.



The doctor is in on Happy Endings, and he’s a riot! Uproarious Party Down grad Ken Marino is joining the criminally underrated ABC comedy as therapist to Zachary Knighton’s Dave. The potentially recurring character debuts in early 2012 and, even though he’s Dave’s shrink, we’re told Marino’s doc will interact with the entire group — particularly Casey Wilson’s Penny.



HBO is turning the Oscar nominated The Kids are All Right into an hourlong drama series. The film’s director, Lisa Cholodenko, is on board to direct the pilot.



Malcolm-Jamal Warner will return to NBC’s Community this fall as Shirley’s ex-hubby, and he has big plans for his rekindled love. Andre intends to re-tie the knot with the Greendale vet.



Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst is set to star in a CBS comedy pilot which centers on a rock legend looking to balance his high profile lifestyle and his family.