Andy Williams, whose corn-fed good looks, easygoing charm and smooth rendition of "Moon River" propelled him to the heights of music stardom in the early '60s, died Tuesday at his home in Branson, Mo., his family announced. He was 84, and 2012 had marked his 75th year in showbiz. Williams is survived by his wife Debbie and his three children, Robert, Noelle and Christian. With 17 gold and three platinum records to his name, Williams enjoyed his golden years playing golf and dividing his time between La Quinta, Calif., and Branson, where he appeared at his Andy Williams Moon River Theater since 1992. It was on the stage of that theater, in November 2011, Williams announced he had bladder cancer. At the time, he assured fans the disease was no longer a death sentence and that he had every intention of being a survivor.  Despite his own clean-cut good looks – the Williams signature look was a turtleneck under a brightly colored pullover sweater – scandal did touch Williams's life. In the mid-1970s, his ex-wife, French dancer Claudine Longet, went on trial in Aspen for the fatal shooting of her lover, international skiing star Vladimir ("Spider") Sabich. In the end, Longet, who claimed the shooting was an accident, was found guilty of misdemeanor criminal negligence and received only a 30-day sentence, which she served on and off at her convenience. In his 2009 memoir, Williams, who during the trial had accompanied his ex-wife to the courtroom on a daily basis, continued to defend her innocence. Longet and Williams were married from 1961 to 1975 and had three children together: Noelle, Christian, and Robert. They survive him, as does his second wife (since 1991), Debbie Williams.

Whitney Houston's Daughter Bobbi Kristina Involved In Bad Car Accident

Whitney Houston's daughter Bobbi Kristina was involved in a scary car accident in Georgia --DESTROYING the entire front end of the vehicle. The black 2012 Camaro belongs to Bobbi's boyfriend Nick Gordon -- and according to sources close to Bobbi, Nick was driving Sunday night in Alpharetta, GA ... with Bobbi in the passenger seat ... when the accident happened. The details surrounding the accident are unclear, but the couple had been arguing at the time of the crash -- and Nick's Camaro was the only car involved. No one was injured. The accident is currently under investigation.
 It's official: Sean Lowe is starring in the upcoming season of The Bachelor, ABC says. The Dallas businessman and entrepreneur won the hearts of fans across the country as he wooed North Carolina single mom Emily Maynard on The Bachelorette last season, landing in the final three. Maynard sent Lowe, the second runner-up, home as she'd fallen head over heels for Utah entrepreneur Jef Holm, accepting his marriage proposal.  "I was standing at that rose ceremony thinking I was going to marry her," Lowe said last July of the heartbreaking moment when Maynard sent him home. Tuesday's announcement comes after months of speculation, with casting rumors ranging from former Bachelorette Ali Fedotowsky's ex-fiancé Roberto Martinez to Olympian Ryan Lochte. Production is already underway for the 17th season of the reality dating show, which will begin airing in January 2013.
 Despite a critically-lauded cast and a compelling subject matter, Darrell Roodt's Winnie Mandela-centered biopic, "Winnie," premiered way back at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival (yes, we just finished up with the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival) and is still without an American distributor. Starring Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Hudson as Winnie Mandela and Terence Howard as Nelson Mandela, the film is based on the biography by Anne Marie du Preez Bezdrob and has been adapted by director Roodt and Andre Pieterse. The film follows the life story of Winnie, tracing her life from her childhood to meeting her husband to their involvement with apartheid activism to her husband's imprisonment. Though the casting of Hudson and Howard was met with derision from both movie fans and South African citizens, the film itself certainly looks well-made and stirring, as its first trailer shows, but it's worrisome that such a project would be met with such little fanfare and interest.
 The Brooklyn Nets hope to make a splash in their inaugural season in their new digs, and the desire to be edgy and cool apparently extends to their dance team. The uniformswill be worn by the Brooklynettes this season.

 
Chris Lighty's Wife To Inherit Entire Estate, 50 Cent Orders Investigation Into Mogul's Death
Despite his death being ruled a suicide by the medical examiner, the circumstances of Hip-Hop mogul Chris Lighty's untimely passing left many skeptical about its cause. Now 50 Cent, at the behest of the late "Baby Chris's" mother, has hired a "high-powered" investigative teem to look into his former manager's death. a copy of Lighty's will, and all his worldly possessions have been left to his wife, Veronica Lighty. Although Chris Lighty was in the process of moving out of the Riverdale home he shared with his wife and was reportedly in an argument with her moments before he allegedly shot himself in the head, his entire estate has been left to Veronica. "I give my entire residuary estate, real and personal, to her," reads the will. The last will and testamentent was created in 2007 and also leaves a $1.6 million trust fund to his children. Although they were reportedly in the midst of a divorce, Monica Lighty has stated that she called off the proceeding as a Father's Day gift. Lighty's family hired Dr. Michael Baden to conduct another autopsy before the Violator Management founder was laid to rest, but so far results beyond his being killed by a gunshot wound to the head have been inconclusive. Baden is awaiting further test result.
 Josh Hamilton returned to the Texas Rangers lineup on Monday night after an optometrist diagnosed the vision problem that caused him to miss the past five games.His affliction? Ocular keratitis, which dried out Hamilton's corneas and forced him to leave a game last Tuesday night with what he initially believed to be a sinus infection. Blurred vision and balance problems followed and caused Hamilton to miss the entire weekend series against the Seattle Mariners.  Doctors say high caffeine consumption can cause ocular keratitis. That might sound strange, but Hamilton wouldn't be the first baseball player to be told to cut back. Atlanta Braves catcher Brian McCann struggled with a mysterious and extended vision problem  before decreasing his amount of caffeine consumption in 2010. Johnny Damon also cut caffeine while experiencing similar symptoms with the New York Yankees in 2009. Hamilton returns just in time as the Rangers welcome Oakland to Arlington for a four-game set that will help decide whether Texas can win its third straight AL West title. The Rangers hold a four-game lead on the A's and still have a three-game series in Oakland remaining on the schedule. Hamilton is also tied with Miguel Cabrera for the AL lead in homers with 42 and could ruin the Detroit third baseman's quest for baseball's first Triple Crown since 1967.
 It's been just eight months since Beyonce welcomed daughter Blue Ivy into the world, but the rumor mill is already burning up with speculation over whether there's another bun baking in her barely cooled-down oven. The baby talk began after the superstar was photographed in New York last weekend sporting a leopard-print dress that appeared to show a barely discernible bulge around the belly area. The singer's mother says Beyonce is not pregnant.

Jennifer Lopez wins big at appeals court in lawsuit over Telemundo movie

Two years ago, the singer-actress was sued for allegedly interfering with a film that would have told the story of her doomed marriage to Ojani Noa. The film, which was being developed for Telemundo under the working title "I Owe JLo," hit problems after Lopez's attorneys sent cease-and-desist letters to Noa, his business partner Ed Meyer and a producer named Claudia Vazquez. Vazquez sued Lopez for $10 million for tortious interference. At a preliminary stage, Lopez attempted to strike the lawsuit. Instead, Vazquez got a stunning victory when a Los Angeles judge decided that the producer was likely to prevail over the star. On Monday, the Second District Court of Appeals reversed the judgment. Vazquez's hopes of collecting millions of dollars after Lopez rendered her "radioactive" in the entertainment industry have nearly evaporated.


TV NEWS
USA Network’s popular summer dramas White Collar, Covert Affairs and Royal Pains will return next year, the cabler announced Tuesday. White Collar and Covert Affairs each merited another 16-episode cycle, bringing them to Seasons 5 and 4, respectively. Royal Pains received a regal order indeed: two more seasons – 26 episodes total – of the Hamptons-based medical drama, which will carry it through Season 6.  Meanwhile, several other of the network’s dramas — including Common Law, Necessary Roughness, Political Animals and Fairly Legal – are still on the bubble as they wait to hear whether they’ll shoot another season. Covert Affairs’ third season continues Tuesday, Oct. 16 at 10/9c and wraps in November. White Collar‘s Season 4 continues in January. Royal Pains’ two-hour winter movie, “Off-Season Greetings,” is scheduled to air Sunday, Dec. 16 at 9/8c.

 
"Dog The Bounty Hunter" may be no more, but CMT has a new home for everyone's favorite Dog, Duane Chapman. CMT has officially ordered 10 episodes of of the unscripted "DOG," set to focus on Dog and Beth Chapman’s "journey into the American heartland" as they work to aid other bail bondsmen and bounty hunters in their day-to-day struggles to catch fugitives.

 
Stephon Marbury isn’t headed back to MSG. His wife, Tasha, is “in final talks” to star in season five of VH1′s “Basketball Wives.”  Mrs. Starbury was previously approached for the inaugural season of “Basketball Wives,” but her ex-NBA star husband put the kibosh on it. The show has featured Shaunie O’Neal, ex-wife of Shaquille O’Neal; Tami Roman, ex-wife of Kenny Anderson; Evelyn Lozada, Antoine Walker’s former fiance; and Royce Reed, ex-girlfriend of Dwight Howard and mother his child. Tasha Marbury, who married Stephon in 2002, was asked to take part in the reality series because “she’s actually a basketball wife” and is friendly with other cast members.  Stephon Marbury’s career in New York was marred by lackluster play and coaching clashes. The Brooklyn-born guard led his Beijing Ducks to the Chinese Basketball Association title last season.
 Bad news for Nick: Adalind is here to stay! Grimm has promoted Claire Coffee (a.k.a. Nick’s Hexenbiest nemesis) to a full-fledged series regular, effective immediately.  Coffee, whose credits also include a semi-regular stint on TNT’s Franklin & Bash, has recurred on the NBC thriller since the pilot. Grimm resumes its sophomore season this Friday at 9/8c.

 
MSNBC’s Morning Joe co-host Willie Geist has been named co-host of Today‘s 9 am hour. An official announcement from NBC is expected later this week. In addition to his day-to-day duties, Geist will act as a backup for host Matt Lauer in Today‘s 7-9am time slot.

 
Two weeks into The Voice‘s third season, NBC has renewed the singing competition for not one but two more cycles. Seasons 4 and 5 will air in the Spring and Fall of 2013.

 
Kenya Moore and Porsha Williams-Stewart have officially joined the cast of The Real Housewives Of Atlanta. Following months of speculation, Bravo execs have finally confirmed the addition of Moore and Williams-Stewart to the Atlanta lineup, joining Cynthia Bailey, Kandi Burruss, NeNe Leakes and Phaedra Parks.

 
Teri Polo (Meet the Parents) and Sherri Saum (One Life to Live) have been tapped to star in The Fosters, ABC Family’s Jennifer Lopez-produced drama pilot which follows a multi-ethnic family of foster and biological kids being raised by two moms.

 

Alexis Bellino has quit "The Real Housewives of Orange County" after three seasons. Following weeks of rumors suggesting the reality star would be leaving the program following a tumultuous season, Bellino has confirmed her departure in a statement. It reads: "After three seasons of appearing on 'The Real Housewives of Orange County,' I have made the difficult decision not to return for season eight. Although Bravo made me a very generous offer and I'm thankful to have had this experience, I will be leaving the show behind to focus on my family and other opportunities." The mother of three was open about her uncertain future on the program after fallouts with most of her castmates, and she recently poured her heart out about how hurt she was when she watched the shows back and heard her former friends badmouthing her and her family. But the 35-year-old insists she will never regret signing on to become a "Housewives" member: "I am so grateful to have gone through this amazing journey and to have met so many incredible fans. My heart is at peace and I remain so excited for my future."

 

With the end of 30 Rock drawing near, Tina Fey has signed a four-year overall deal with Universal Television. The pact will find Fey developing new projects, with the potential to star in one.


Tonight's Premieres:ABC: The Middle at 8p; Modern Family at 9p; The Neighbors (series debut) at 931p
NBC: Animal Practice at 8p; Law & Order: SVU at 9p
CBS: Criminal Minds at 9p; CSI at 10p
TV One: Save My Son at 9p
Cooking Channel: Nadia G's Bitchin' Kitchen at 10p

Tonight's Finales:Bravo: Top Chef Masters at 10p
TLC: Here Comes Honey Boo Boo at 10p
 With mama-to-be Holly Madison set to step down from her job as a Vegas headliner, Peepshow producers were determined to find someone just as sexy -- and spunky -- to fill the Girl Next Door alum's stilettos. Now, they've found their star: Ice-T's love, Coco Austin, who confirmed she'll be replacing Madison on Twitter this week. "I'll be taking Holly Madison's place headlining for the sexiest show in Vegas at Planet Hollywood's Casino called 'Peepshow,'" she wrote. "I start performing in Vegas December 3rd through March 10th . . . Now you can see me up close & personal & I'll get to meet my fans in real life!!" Madison, who first announced she's expecting her first child (with boyfriend Pasquale Rotella)\ August 29, will finish up her Peepshow duties October 21.

Snooki law would let NJ towns regulate reality TV

A New Jersey lawmaker wants towns to have a say in the filming of reality TV shows within their boundaries before a situation develops. Ocean County Republican Assemblyman Ronald Dancer on Monday introduced legislation for a Snookiville Law. The law would let towns impose conditions, including requiring TV crews to pay for additional police officers to assure public safety during filming.  Dancer named the bill after "Jersey Shore" cast member Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi, whose show with Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino and others recently ended its three-year run in Seaside Heights. The MTV show's cast members were involved in scuffles and drunken public displays. Police officers routinely were assigned to areas where filming occurred. Snooki and co-star Jennifer "JWoww" Farley have been filming a spinoff series in nearby Manchester. Authorities there have reported no problems.