Longtime Turner sportscaster Jim Huber dies
Veteran sports broadcaster Jim Huber, a former CNN journalist, died Monday at the age of 67. He was recently diagnosed with acute leukemia. Huber, who spent more than 27 years with Turner Broadcasting, most recently worked for Turner Sports' TNT network, covering golf and the NBA. "We are saddened by the passing of our colleague and friend Jim Huber," said David Levy, president of sales, distribution and sports for Turner Broadcasting. Before his move to Turner Sports, Huber was an anchor for CNN/Sports Illustrated, a 24-hour sports news network.  Huber started at CNN in 1984 but began his career in print journalism, covering the NFL at the Miami News, followed by The Atlanta Journal, where he covered the city's professional football and basketball teams. Huber is survived by his wife, Carol, and son, Matt.

Snoop Dogg scores $72K for charity on 'Price Is Right'

"The Price Is Right" kicked off its Celebrity Charity Week with rapper Snoop Dogg winning big. Each episode of the week long series features a celebrity assisting a regular contestant in the game, with the show matching the prize winnings for a charity of the celebrity’s choosing. Snoop Dogg, a longtime fan of "The Price Is Right," played for his inner-city youth organization, the Snoop Football League, which mentors at risk youth via football teamplay. "The Price Is Right" will feature Jenny McCarthy, Neil Patrick Harris, Chris Daughtry and Heidi Klum this week.

Soul singer Aretha Franklin is engaged
Legendary soul singer Aretha Franklin is engaged to her "longtime friend and confidant," William 'Willie' Wilkerson, Franklin's spokeswoman said in a statement. The "forever friends" are thinking about getting married in Miami Beach, Florida, with a reception afterward aboard a luxury yacht, the statement added. The 69-year-old singer is considering Donna Karan, Valentino and Vera Wang to design her dress. "We're looking at June or July for our date and no I'm not pregnant, LOL!" Franklin said in the statement. Franklin, the Queen of Soul, was the first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She is known for hits including "Respect" and "Chain of Fools."

Demi Moore Cast as Gloria Steinem in Linda Lovelace Biopic

Demi Moore is getting right back to work. The actress, 49, who filed for divorce from Ashton Kutcher in November, has been cast to play feminist and journalist Gloria Steinem in Lovelace, a biopic about deceased Deep Throat star Linda Lovelace. The film, which also stars Amanda Seyfried as Lovelace, and Eric Roberts, Sharon Stone and James Franco (as Hugh Hefner), is not to be confused with Inferno: A Linda Lovelace Story, another upcoming film which was originally set to star Lindsay Lohan, who was replaced by Malin Ackerman. Steinem, who co-founded Ms. magazine, was passionately opposed to pornography. Lovelace is currently shooting in L.A. and is set for a 2012 release.
 It's the ultimate gold medal: a wedding band! Figure skating champion Johnny Weir and his boyfriend Victor Voronov have tied the knot. "I'm married!" Weir Tweeted. "No more livin' in sin!" "Johnny Weir, 27, married Georgetown Law graduate, Victor Voronov, 28, in an early morning civil ceremony at the New York City Courthouse on Friday, Dec. 30, 2011," said Weir's rep. "The couple exchanged handwritten vows in the company of loving parents, Tony and Lili Voronov and Patti and John Weir. The couple has taken the new surname, Weir-Voronov, but professionally, Johnny will continue to be known as Johnny Weir." While "all the official stuff is done," the stylish star himself Tweeted, "Johnny and Victor will have a large wedding in July 2012 to celebrate with friends and family," adds the rep. His statement also said, "I am so happy to have found my match. Finding someone to share your life with is one of the most important things a human can do and was preached to me by my mother. Victor is the epitome of a gentleman, as handsome as he is clever and loving. Our road to marriage has been a fast one, but one I never waivered on. I am honored to have been married in the great state of New York, and I hope more states pass laws allowing all Americans to be united through love and marriage."
  

Murder Inquiry on Queen's Estate After Corpse Found

The discovery of the remains of a woman in a remote location on Queen Elizabeth's Sandringham country estate has triggered a murder investigation. Police "have launched a murder investigation following the discovery of human remains in an area of woodland" on the Queen's land in Norfolk, about 110 miles north of London. "The remains of a female were found by a member of the public who reported the incident to police shortly after 4 p.m. on Sunday 1 January," Norfolk constabulary added in the statement. A forensic search is underway, and an autopsy is scheduled for later Tuesday once the body has been removed. "The area has been sealed off and a detailed search is currently being carried out. Examinations of the scene are being conducted by forensic experts in pathology and anthropology and should be completed today," according to the statements. Detective Chief Inspector Jes Fry said in a press conference Tuesday that the investigation was in the "very early stages." He added, "The circumstances suggest this is a murder case, and we are looking at missing persons reports and cold cases, both locally and nationwide." The discovery is thought to be around three miles from Sandringham House, where the royals spent the holidays. The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh, who is recovering from his emergency surgery at Christmas, are in residence at the moment, and the Queen was seen out riding her horse Monday. Officials at the Palace are not commenting on the situation, referring all calls to the police.
 Was Olivier Martinez smart enough to put a ring on it? It seemed to be the case after photogs caught shots of Halle Berry accessorized with a certain piece of jewelry on a very specific finger. So, what's the deal? Both of the lovebirds' reps were contacted and had either no comment or no information to give.  So, are they playing it coy or is that just a random piece of jewelry that she decided to place on her ring finger (knowing we'd totally get excited)?
 

David Beckham Turns Down French Soccer Team

David Beckham isn't saying "au revoir" to L.A. anytime soon. The Los Angeles Galaxy star, 36, recently turned down an offer to join Paris Saint-Germain's soccer club, leaving the organization's president Nasser al-Khelafi "disappointed." But Beckham's decision was not a selfish one, as he made the choice based on "family reasons," according to PSG's sporting director, who goes by Leonardo. "It's a shame," Leonardo was quoted as saying. "But the well-being of his family in Los Angeles and the desire to not change everything in his life weighed heavily." The athlete, whose wife Victoria Beckham, 37, recently gave birth to the couple's fourth child, was surrounded by speculation that he would transfer teams, following the end of his five-year Galaxy contract that finished on Dec. 31.
 Audra McDonald is giving marriage another shot! The 41-year-old Private Practice star and four-time Tony Award winner is engaged to Broadway star Will Swenson. This will be second marriage for McDonald, who divorced bassist Peter Donovan in 2009 after nine years of marriage; she and Donovan have a daughter, Zoe Madeline, 10. It will also be the second for Swenson, 38, who has two sons -- Bridger and Sawyer -- with ex-wife Amy Westerby.

Taylor Swift, Amanda Seyfried get 'Les Miserables' gigs over Lea Michele

When word hit the web that Taylor Swift and Lea Michele were both vying for the role of Eponine in "Les Miserables" -- which is already getting Oscar buzz -- we figured it would be an easy win for Michele, who has a background in musical theater and who has played the role before. Not so fast. Taylor Swift has been officially offered the highly coveted role, giving her the chance to play waifish, lovelorn Eponine and to sing the iconic "On My Own" in the film adaptation. Also offered a role is Amanda Seyfried, who is expected to play Cosette -- also a role Lea Michele has had before, on stage. Though neither star has signed a deal yet, Universal is expected to make the casting announcements shortly, as rehearsal begins at the end of the month.
 

Franchises to Rule Again in 2012

The Top 7 movies of 2011 were all sequels, and that list could grow to nine once Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol and Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows have ended their runs. It may be similar in 2012, albeit with more prequels and spin-offs sprinkled in as well. Including Prometheus, which now appears to be an Alien prequel, there are at least 27 sequels, prequels or spin-offs already scheduled, which represents roughly 20 percent of the nationwide releases currently on the calendar. Sure ThingsThe Avengers (May 4): After five movies and four years, Marvel's superhero squad The Avengers is finally set to assemble on the perennially lucrative first weekend of May. People who haven't seen Thor or Captain America may balk at seeing this one, though Disney already appears to be combatting that by essentially selling the movie as "Iron Man & Friends." Five months out, The Avengers is all-but-assured to be one of the biggest movies of the year.


TV NEWS
Cybill Shepherd will star opposite Jennifer Love Hewitt in Lifetime's new series "The Client List." Shepherd, who's taking her first regular series role since "Cybill" left the air in the late '90s, is reprising her role from the 2010 TV movie as Hewitt's mom; the character's name, however, has been changed from Cassie to Lynette.


All My Children may no longer be headed to the web, but a little piece of Pine Valley will soon live on in Genoa City. Darnell Williams has booked a role on CBS’ The Young and the Restless, the current home of his longtime AMC leading lady, Debbi Morgan. Details surrounding Williams’ role are being kept under wraps. Y&R‘s casting coup marks the fourth series on which Williams and Morgan have co-starred. They also played opposite each other on ABC’s Loving and its spin-off The City.


Michael B. Jordan is checking into House. The Friday Night Lights alum will guest-star in Episode 14 of the Fox medical drama’s eighth season playing a blind patient.


Drop Dead Diva regular Josh Stamberg has boarded Castle‘s big February sweeps arc. Continuing what has become a bit of an annual tradition for the ABC drama, this year’s high-octane two-parter has former Chicago Code cop Jennifer Beals following in the footsteps of Dana Delany and Adrian Pasdar by guest-starring as a “smart, commanding, and sexy” CIA agent who helps Castle and Beckett search for a fellow operative who has gone rogue.


Let’s Make a Deal host Wayne Brady will guest-star as himself on the Jan. 18 installment of The Bold and the Beautiful when two of the CBS soap’s stars appear on the game show.


The members of Flashpoint’s Strategic Response Unit will keep on reporting for duty, now that the cop drama’s new home, ION Television, has picked up the Toronto-produced series for another season. Season 5, to consist of 13 episodes, begins production next month. Originally acquired by and aired in the U.S. on CBS, Flashpoint moved to ION’s slate in October 2011 after the network acquired all Season 1-3 episodes from along with 11 Season 4 originals. On Dec. 27, the drama delivered its ION highs in total viewers (2.1 million) and in some key demos.


When news of Kim Jong-Il's death broke last month, surely you thought, "What does this mean for '30 Rock'?" Fear not: Avery's (Elizabeth Banks) situation in North Korea will be addressed, and exec producer Robert Carlock says the show had never name-checked Kim, although Margaret Cho appeared on screen as the Dear Leader last season.


NBC has sold out its Super Bowl ad inventory and is commanding rates averaging $3.5 million per "package," which may include spots during the live stream of the game or on other NBC Sports properties. Last year, FOX got about $3 million per commercial.