Nora Ephron, Writer-Director of Sleepless in Seattle, Dies at Age 71

Nora Ephron, one of the most powerful figures in Hollywood as the creative force behind such blockbusters as You've Got Mail, Sleepless in Seattle and When Harry Met Sally, died on Tuesday at age 71. The three-time Oscar nominee "passed away June 26, 2012 at 7:40 pm at New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center surrounded by her family. The cause of death was acute myeloid leukemia," her family said. A writer and director who was as comfortable with romantic comedies as she was with hard-hitting dramas with social themes, Ephron's films featured strong female roles that attracted such A-listers as Meg Ryan, Meryl Streep, Amy Adams and Cher. She also wrote the screenplays for the drama Silkwood (starring Streep and Cher) about nuclear activist Karen Silkwood, but was best known – and reached the highest levels of success – with her lighter fare. Described both affectionately – and sometimes not – as "chick flicks," the wildly successful trio of Harry, Sleepless and Mail (co-written with sister Delia), had Ryan falling in love with Billy Crystal or Tom Hanks – and turned the actress into a mega-star. Ephron's last film was the time-shifting Julia Child foodie flick Julie & Julia and in 2008 she wrote a bestseller about aging called I Feel Bad About My Neck. At the time of her death she was married to her third husband, Goodfellas writer Nicholas Pileggi.
 Doris Singleton, a character actress and comedian best known as Lucy and Ricky Ricardo’s neighbor – and Lucy's frequent frenemy – Carolyn Appleby on I Love Lucy, has died, Lucie Arnaz, the daughter of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, confirmed. "A day of saying hasta luego to two great ladies, Nora Ephron and Doris Singleton," Arnaz wrote on her Facebook page. "May they both fly swiftly heavenward and enjoy a blissful rest for jobs well done down here. They were loved and appreciated and will be missed." In addition, she appeared on such shows as Adventures of Superman, Hogan's Heroes, My Three Sons, Hazel, The Munsters, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., The Fugitive, The F.B.I., Marcus Welby, M.D., Phyllis, Days of Our Lives and Dynasty. Singleton's husband of 61 years, comedy writer, director and producer Charles Isaacs, died in 2002. Singleton was 92.

 

Don Grady, My Three Sons Star, Dies at 68

Don Grady, who played the dimpled-chinned Robbie Douglas on the 1960-72 sitcom My Three Sons – and, at age 12, was a Mouseketeer on Walt Disney's original The Mickey Mouse Club – died Wednesday in Thousand Oaks, Calif., after a battle with cancer. He was 68. As the middle son (Tim Considine and Stanley Livingston played the other two), Grady helped keep the sitcom's evolving roster of characters going, though, by the final season, Robbie, by then a married man, was written out of the show – when he was sent to Peru to work on a bridge as a structural engineer. When that happened, "I needed to start to learn to grow up," Grady said. Only, like many child stars, he found the adjustment back to the real world difficult. A musical prodigy who played eight instruments before he hit his teens, Grady was able to make a successful career transition to composer, working in a music studio he set up in his Studio City, Calif., home. "Now it seems like I work a lot harder for less money," he said "but I'm doing what I really want to do." Grady is survived by his second wife Ginny, a former choreographer, and their two grown children, Joey and Tessa, as well as his mother, Mary and several siblings.
 Ann Curry will no longer co-host the Today show – effective immediately. "This is not easy to say," a choked-up Curry, 55, announced on Thursday's show, as her costars sat on the sofa next to her. She said Thursday would be her last day as a regular on the show, but "I will still be part of the Today show family, in a different role." She said she has been "given a fancy new title" and will roam the globe for NBC, reporting the news. With tears in her eyes, she expressed her gratitude and love for the viewers and the behind-the-scenes staff, and said, "To those of you who saw me as a groundbreaker, I am sorry that could not carry the ball across the finish line – but, man, did I try." During a phone interview Wednesday, an emotional Curry told USA Today that in anticipation of her announcement, Thursday was "going to be a bit of a tough day. … I'm going to have to tell our viewers. That's what makes me more emotional than anything. I don't want to leave them. I love them. And I will really miss them." Curry's announcement comes after several days of news stories tracking the behind-the-scenes machinations of her departure. These have included unconfirmed reports that she will be succeeded by Savannah Guthrie, who currently is the show's legal analyst and 9 a.m. anchor. Curry assumed the co-anchor seat next to Matt Lauer, 54, slightly more than a year ago, when Meredith Vieira tended her resignation, for personal reasons. Since Vieira's departure, Today ratings have slipped, and recently have been either neck-and-neck or even trailing those of ABC rival Good Morning America.


About Last Night
Kevin Hart (Think Like a Man) will star in a reboot of the 1986 Brat Pack flick About Last Night, about a man and woman who turn a one night stand into a rocky relationship. Hart will play the role of the man’s best friend who isn’t too keen on his buddy’s new girlfriend, originally played by Jim Belushi. 

Rielle Hunter Says She and John Edwards 'Are No Longer a Couple'

Just a week after she said she was still dating John Edwards and the two were spotted getting cozy at their North Carolina beach house, Rielle Hunter says that they are no longer in a relationship (again). "We are a family, but as of the end of last week, John Edwards and I are no longer a couple," she said on Tuesday's Good Morning America, the same day her tell-all arrives in bookstores.
 Paula Deen knew it was time for a change. Nearly six months after announcing she was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, the Food Network star, 65, opened up her Savannah home – and fridge. "I do think differently now" about food, Deen says in this week's cover story. "I'm more aware." So instead of regular meals with her favorite trigger foods (so long, mashed potatoes), the Southern chef has developed a new-found love for Greek salads and baked fish. Her focus has paid off: So far, she's dropped 30 lbs. – and counting. "It took me a couple of years to get to this point," says Deen, who learned she had diabetes almost three years ago and faced harsh criticism when she finally announced her diagnosis in January. "If you make a few small changes, they can add up to big results."
 Jessica Simpson is clearly smitten with her 8-week-old baby girl, Maxwell Drew. The new mom, 31, took to cyberspace Tuesday with a new look at her daughter with fiancé Eric Johnson.

TV NEWS
"Dexter" executive producer Sara Colleton confirms that the Showtime drama is ending after Season 8, which will air in 2013, and that the showrunners know where the show is headed for its grand finale. "We wanted to end it this year, but the network convinced us that it would be best to do it in two years," says Colleton. "We have worked that out and know where it's going to end. Next year will definitely be the last year of 'Dexter.' Absolutely."

Syfy’s Face Off will premiere Season 3 in a new time slot — Tuesdays at 9/8c — starting Aug. 21.


The Good Wife continues to add some very good talent to its Season 4 ranks. On the heels of casting ER alum Maura Tierney, Broadway vet Kristin Chenoweth and British actor Marc Warren (as Kalinda’s ex) in recurring roles for its upcoming season, the acclaimed CBS drama has recruited two-time Tony Award winner/three-time Emmy nominee Nathan Lane to appear in multiple episodes. Lane will play a bean-counter assigned by the bank to trim the fat at Lockhart & Gardner, which in the season finale lost one of its biggest clients, and get the firm back to fiscal health. As such, he will find himself at odds with Will, Diane and others at the firm.


Dunder Mifflin will be seeing a lot less of paper pusher Ryan Howard, as B.J. Novak won’t be returning to The Office full-time for its upcoming ninth season. The actor — who has also served as a writer and producer on the NBC comedy since its 2005 debut — is no longer under contract with series producer Universal TV, and as such has opted not to stay on board as a series regular. Novak, however, is still scheduled to make recurring appearances in Season 9, and could possibly continue to write and direct episodes.


One Tree Hill/Hellcats alum Robbie Jones has booked a three-episode arc on USA Network’s Necessary Roughness, playing the  Hawks’ hot new star — a wide receiver who butts heads with Mehcad Brooks’ TK. Jones’ stint is slated to air during the second batch of Season 2, airing this winter.