Former Miss Venezuela dies of breast cancer at 28

Former Miss Venezuela Eva Ekvall, who appeared bald and without makeup in a recent book about her struggle against breast cancer, died in Houston on Saturday after losing her battle with the disease. She was 28. Ekvall won the Miss Venezuela title in 2000 and was a third runner-up for Miss Universe in 2001. She also worked as an actress and television anchor. Although known for her beauty, Ekvall was depicted bald and without makeup in her book Fuera de Foco (Out of Focus) released this year, which chronicled her fight with breast cancer for readers around the world. Photographer Roberto Mata showed the beauty queen throughout her cancer treatment and as her illness regressed. She wrote the text of the book.
 Actress Jessica Lange and her longtime partner, playwright and actor Sam Shepard, have ended their relationship. The couple, who have been together since 1982, have two children, Hannah and Samuel, together. "They both are pursuing independent lives," says a source. Lange, 62, who stars as Constance in FX's hit series, American Horror Story, was just nominated for a Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild award. She will be seen next in The Vow, costarring Rachel McAdams, in February. A rep for Lange confirms the split – but has no additional comment.

Judy Greer Ties the Knot

Judy Greer has lots to celebrate this holiday season! The Descendants actress, 36, and her Real Time with Bill Maher co-executive producer beau, Dean Johnsen, tied the knot on Saturday night. The former Mad Love star and Johnsen said, "I do" at the Los Angeles Athletic Club in front of approximately 200 friends, including Bill Maher, Rashida Jones, and her former CBS costars Jason Biggs, Sarah Chalke and Tyler Labine.

Piers Morgan faces UK media inquiry

CNN star interviewer Piers Morgan will talk about his former job as editor of one of Britain’s troubled tabloids at a judge-led inquiry into the practices of Britain’s scandal-tarred press. Morgan will give evidence via videolink Tuesday to the Leveson inquiry in London. The inquiry was set up following the disclosure that the now-defunct News of the World tabloid had for years illegally eavesdropped on the voice mail messages of celebrities, athletes, and crime victims. Morgan shot to national prominence when he was picked by Rupert Murdoch to run the News of the World at age 28. Under his tenure, the tabloid exposed actor Hugh Grant’s liaison with Hollywood prostitute Divine Brown. Grant has already given evidence about press abuse to the inquiry. Since January 2011, he has hosted Piers Morgan Tonight on CNN in the time slot previously occupied by Larry King Live.
 Meet Boone McCoy Church! Singer Eric Church and wife Katherine, who welcomed their first child on Oct. 3, are ready to show off their son.  Church, who plans to celebrate the holidays in Nashville, will have plenty of time to spend with Katherine and baby Boone before he heads out on The Blood, Sweat, and Beers Tour in January.

Acting professor sues NYU claiming he was fired for giving James Franco a 'D'

James Franco’s multi-pronged academic pursuits have been well-documented over the past few years, and one of the common refrains has been awe and disbelief that the actor could manage to squeeze in all the necessary course work while also taking time to shoot movies like 127 Hours and Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Well, according to one former NYU professor, Franco’s secret was not coming to class much at all. Jose Angel Santana is reportedly suing the university for wrongful termination, discrimination, and harassment, alleging that when he gave Franco a “D” in Directing the Actor II for missing 12 out of 14 classes, he was demoted, systematically isolated from the university, and eventually denied reappointment. Santana also alleges that Franco hired another professor, Jay Anania, to write and direct a feature film starring the actor, and that the chair of the graduate film department John Tintori appeared in a cameo role in the film. (That film, The Stare, a psychological thriller, reportedly finished filming this month.) “We have not seen the lawsuit yet, but the claims we are seeing in the media are ridiculous,” says a university spokesman in a statement. “Beyond that, it is regrettable and disappointing to see a faculty member — former or otherwise — discuss any student’s grade for the purpose of personal publicity.”
 Chaz Bono and his fiancée, Jennifer Elia, have called off their engagement and ended their relationship. "They leave this relationship with great love, respect and affection towards one another," the couple's publicist, Howard Bragman said. "Thanks for your concern about our separation," Bono, 42, Tweeted. "I'm doing fine, and we remain on good terms with nothing but respect and affection 4 each other." They got engaged earlier this year when Bono proposed to Elia in Seattle. Though the couple started dating before Bono transitioned from female to male, Elia said in 2009 that she fully supported his decision.

Daniel Craig to Play James Bond in Five More Films?

Daniel Craig is currently hard at work shooting Skyfall, the 23rd James Bond adventure, and his third go-round as the suave secret agent.  But if a new report is to believed, 007 movie producer Michael G. Wilson is looking to sign Craig onto five more James Bond adventures, breaking by one Roger Moore's cinematic streak as the legendary spy. "Filming has gone very well and I'd love Daniel to surpass Roger's record and do eight pictures," Wilson said. "Filming has gone very well and I'd love Daniel to surpass Roger's record and do eight pictures," Wilson told the newspaper The People.  "A lot of people have said Daniel's been their favorite Bond since Sean Connery and I can’t argue with them.  He’s doing a great job." Salary talks with the busy Craig -- who will be seen soon in theaters in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and heard as a voice in The Adventures of TinTin -- will reportedly start as soon as Skyfall wraps. That film is slated to open Nov. 9, 2012.

Man sentenced to one year in federal prison for pirating 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine'

A New York man has been sentenced to a year in federal prison for illegally uploading and distributing a copy of X-Men Origins: Wolverine before the movie’s premiere. Forty-nine-year-old Gilberto Sanchez was sentenced Monday in Los Angeles federal court. The judge also imposed a year of supervised release and numerous computer restrictions. Sanchez pleaded guilty in March to one count of uploading a copyrighted work being prepared for commercial distribution. Prosecutors say he admitted uploading a “workprint” copy of the 2009 film about one month before it was released in theaters, then publicizing the upload on two websites. Prosecutors said in court documents that the film proliferated like wildfire throughout the Internet, resulting in up to millions of infringements.



TV NEWS
Daniel Radcliffe is set to make his hosting debut on SNL Jan. 14, the network has announced. Lana Del Rey will be the musical guest. The show also announced former NBA star Charles Barkley would return as host on Jan. 7, the first new episode of 2012. Barkley last hosted in Jan. 2010, when he also helmed the first episode of the new year. The musical guest this time will be Kelly Clarkson.



A new generation of celebrities are gonna get Punk’d. After months of rumors, MTV is officially reviving the hidden-camera prank classic, ordering a new version of Punk’d to series. Jason Goldberg and Ashton Kutcher are back on board as executive producers. But the show’s host iS… a different question. MTV plans to announce the show’s host/hosts during its New Years Eve party live telecast next week.