Wilko Johnson, the former guitarist for '70s band Dr. Feelgood and current actor on Game of Thrones, has terminal cancer, his manager has revealed. "I am very sad to announce that Wilko has recently been diagnosed with terminal cancer of the pancreas. He has chosen not to receive any chemotherapy," his manager Robert Hoy wrote in a post on Johnson's Facebook page Wednesday. "He is currently in good spirits, is not yet suffering any physical effects and can expect to enjoy at least another few months of reasonable health and activity." Johnson – who plays the mute executioner Ser Ilyn Payne on the hit HBO show, but is best known to his fans as musician – doesn't plan to slow down much in the next couple of months. "He has just set off on a trip to Japan; on his return we plan to complete a new CD, make a short tour of France, then give a series of farewell gigs in the U.K.," his manager writes. In the message, Hoy says Wilko thanks his fans who have "generally made his life such an extraordinarily full and eventful experience."

Justin Timberlake is back in the studio

Justin Timberlake threw the Twitter-verse into a tailspin last night when he teased, "Thursday, January 10th, 2013 at 9:01 am PST... Fans were holding out that this morning would bring the announcement of new music, and that's exactly what they got. In a video he released, called "I'm ready," Timberlake says, "Someone asked me the other day, 'So are you just done with music?'" Thankfully, the answer is no, as the video ends with the "SexyBack" singer stepping into the recording studio. New music from the singer is rumored to be released as early as March.

Britney Spears reportedly quitting 'The X Factor'

Though nothing is official just yet, the Web is abuzz with reports that Britney Spears is planning to beat Simon Cowell to the punch and give up her seat at the "X Factor" judges table. After just one season, reports claim that the singer will not return to the show after it was thought Cowell was going to fire her anyway. Spears, 31, was rumored to be earning an estimated $15 million on "The X Factor." She has hinted that she'll be releasing her eighth studio album in 2013. Judge L.A. Reid has already revealed he will not be returning to the FOX show for a third season, though nothing has been said about Demi Lovato.

Ex-bodyguard sues Justin Bieber for assault, wages

A former bodyguard for Justin Bieber sued the pop superstar Thursday, seeking more than $420,000 in overtime and other wages and claiming the singer repeatedly struck him during an October confrontation. Moshe Benabou's lawsuit claims Bieber berated him and repeatedly punched him in the chest after a disagreement about how to handle a member of the Grammy-nominated singer's entourage. After he walked away, Bieber fired him, Benabou's lawsuit claims. Benabou also says he was mistakenly told that he wasn't entitled to receive overtime despite working 14 to 18 hour days between March 2011 and October 2012.  Benabou is seeking unspecified damages on the assault and battery claims and $421,261 in unpaid overtime, vacation and other wage benefits. "For nearly two years Mr. Benabou devoted himself completely to ensuring Mr. Bieber's personal safety," Benabou's attorney, Ilan Heimanson, wrote in a statement. "Mr. Benabou deserved, as does any employee, to be treated with respect, dignity and in accordance with the law. Unfortunately, he was not. " Bieber's album "Believe" ranked No. 6 in 2012 sales with more than 1.3 million units sold.

 

Tim Tebow won't go to Jacksonville if released by the Jets

If Tim Tebow is released by the New York Jets as expected, he can cross his hometown team off the list of potential places to end up. The Associated Press reports that the Jacksonville Jaguars aren't interested. Jaguars general manager David Caldwell shut the idea down at a news conference saying, "I can't imagine a scenario in which he'll be a Jacksonville Jaguar -- even if he's released."  A year ago Shad Khan, owner of the Jaguars, made a push to sign Tebow, but is deferring to his GM this time. "It's not my decision," Khan says, "I want to do whatever to help this team win. Who the players are is really the general manager's and coaches' -- it's a football-side operation decision. It's really not my decision." It was Tebow who chose to join the Jets over the Jaguars when he was traded from the Broncos last season.  It's believed he thought he had a better chance at competing for starting quarterback against Jets' QB Mark Sanchez than Blaine Gabbert in Jacksonville.  That obviously didn't work out so well for him.

Oscar Nominations

BEST PICTURE

• Amour
• Argo
• Beasts of the Southern Wild
• Django Unchained
• Les Miserables
• Life of Pi
• Lincoln
• Silver Linings Playbook
• Zero Dark Thirty

BEST ACTOR

• Bradley Cooper, “Silver Linings Playbook”
• Daniel Day-Lewis, “Lincoln”
• Denzel Washington, “Flight”
• Hugh Jackman, “Les Miserables”
• Joaquin Phoenix, "The Master"

BEST ACTRESS

• Emmanuelle Riva, “Amour”
• Jennifer Lawrence, “Silver Linings Playbook”
• Jessica Chastain, “Zero Dark Thirty”
• Naomi Watts, “The Impossible”
• Quvenzhane Wallis, “Beasts of the Southern Wild”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

• Alan Arkin, “Argo”
• Christoph Waltz, “Django Unchained”
• Philip Seymour Hoffman, “The Master”
• Robert De Niro, “Silver Linings Playbook”
• Tommy Lee Jones, “Lincoln”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

• Amy Adams, “The Master”
• Anne Hathaway, “Les Miserables”
• Sally Field, “Lincoln”
• Helen Hunt, “The Sessions”
• Jacki Weaver, “Silver Linings Playbook”

BEST DIRECTOR

• Ang Lee, "Life of Pi"
• David O. Russell, “Silver Linings Playbook”
• Behn Zeitlin, "Beast of the Southern Wild"
• Michael Haneke, “Amour”
• Steven Spielberg, “Lincoln”

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

• “Amour”
• “Django Unchained”
• “Flight”
• “Moonrise Kingdom”
• “Zero Dark Thirty”

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

• “Argo”
• “Beasts of the Southern Wild”
• “Life of Pi”
• “Lincoln”
• “Silver Linings Playbook”

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

• “Brave”
• “Frankenweenie”
• “ParaNorman”
• “The Pirates! Band of Misfits”
• “Wreck-It Ralph”

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

• “Anna Karenina”
• “Argo”
• “Life of Pi”
• “Lincoln”
• “Skyfall”

BEST ORIGINAL SONG

• “Before My Time” from "Chasing Ice"
• “Everybody Needs a Best Friend” from "Ted"
• “Pi's Lullaby” from "Life of Pi"
• “Skyfall” from "Skyfall"
• “Suddenly” from "Les Miserables"

Alicia Keys announces 'Set the World on Fire' tour

Alicia Keys is gearing up to hit the road for a North American tour. The tour will be in support of last year's "Girl on Fire," which debuted on top of the Billboard charts moving 159,000 copies during its first week of sales. The 24-date tour begins on March 7 in Seattle and ends April. 18 in Chicago. She's bringing fast-rising R&B star Miguel with her as her opening act. Tickets for the tour go on sale Jan. 18. 

March 7:  Seattle - Wamu Theatre
March 8: Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena
March 10: Oakland, Calif. – Oracle Arena
March 12: Los Angeles – Staples Center
March 13: San Diego, Calif. – Valley View Casino
March 15: Las Vegas – Mandalay Bay Center
March 17: Dallas, Texas – Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie
March 18: Houston, Texas – Toyota Center
March 21: New Orleans – New Orleans Arena
March 23: Miami – American Airlines Arena
March 24: Tampa, Fla. – Tampa Bay Time Forum
March 27: Southaven, Mass. – Landers Center
March 29: Atlanta – Philips Arena
March 30: Greensboro, N.C. – Greensboro Coliseum
April 2: Toronto, Air Canada Centre
April 3: Montreal, Bell Centre
April 5: Brooklyn, Barclay’s Center
April 6: Mashantucket, Conn. - MGM Grand at Foxwoods
April 10: Boston, Mass – Agganis Arena
April 11: New York– Madison Square Garden
April 13: Atlantic City, N.J. – Mark G. Etess Arena
April 14: Washington DC – Verizon Center
April 17: Detroit – Joe Louis Arena
April 18: Chicago – United Center

Angus T. Jones returning to 'Two and a Half Men' set

Angus T. Jones is heading back to the "Two and a Half Men" set after he publicly trashed the hit sitcom in a taped rant last November. The 19-year-old's role as Jake Harper was thrown into doubt when he branded the series "filth" in a Forerunner Christian Church video testimony, which went viral when it appeared online. The show's executive producer and creator, Chuck Lorre, says he spoke with Jones about the comments, and he insists the teen is still part of the "Two and a Half Men" family. Jones has enjoyed less screen time in the current 10th season due to his character joining the Army, but he will be back on set next week to shoot more episodes. Lorre tells USA Today, "He's coming back next week. He's part of our show. He's part of our family. We love him. I was concerned about him continuing with us, but he's entitled to his journey. He's a sweetheart. He's fine. He's 19, man. Cut him some slack. He is a beloved member of the cast. He has been a great, great young man for 10 years."  In his first episode back, Jake will get a new girlfriend, to be played by former "My Name Is Earl" star Jaime Pressly. The episode introduces his new girlfriend, an older woman with three kids, a tattoo artist, played by Jaime Pressly."

Destiny's Child readies new song, compilation CD

The R&B trio announced Thursday they will release a new track called "Nuclear." The song is the group's first new offering since 2004. "Nuclear" will appear on the compilation album "Love Songs," out Jan. 29. It features 13 previously released Destiny Child's ballads, including the hits "Emotion" and "Cater 2 U."  "Nuclear" was produced by Pharrell, who co-wrote the song with Michelle Williams.

Jon Gosselin hit with tax lien for $39,000

Former TLC reality star Jon Gosselin has been hit with a tax lien from the IRS to the not-so-sweet tune of $39,000. The "Jon & Kate Plus 8" dad, 35, owes the money from 2009, the same year he split from ex-wife Kate Gosselin, with whom he shares eight children: twins Cara and Madelyn, 12, and sextuplets Aaden, Collin, Joel, Leah, Alexis, and Hannah, 8. Gosselin has been strapped for cash ever since the couple's acrimonious divorce, which temporarily resulted in him paying $22,000 a month in child support. After he was cut from the TLC deal -- Kate continued to appear on the network in "Kate Plus 8" and later had a stint on ABC's "Dancing With the Stars."

Lindsay Lohan and the case of Liz Taylor's purportedly pilfered bracelet

Here it is less than two weeks into 2013, and stories of Lindsay Lohan's supposedly sticky fingers are once again making the rounds. This latest tale claims that during the filming of her Lifetime movie-slash-drinking game "Liz & Dick," LiLo walked off with a bracelet that once belonged to Elizabeth Taylor herself. Lohan's camp adamantly denies the allegations, which go like this: During production, Lindsay became friendly with Taylor's longtime nurse, who kindly showed her the "expensive" bauble given to her by the late legend. "Lindsay immediately fell in love with the bracelet the minute she saw it, and was very vocal about how much she admired it," contends a source. "A short time later, the bracelet disappeared from the nurse's house … on the very same day Lindsay had been to visit." the nurse called and confronted Lohan, who, just as she did when she was accused of trashing the trailer Taylor used during "Cleopatra," denied everything. In the end, it took over a week to get the bracelet back from Lindsay, and it was only returned after the nurse threatened to call the cops," maintains the insider. "One of Lindsay's people eventually returned the bracelet to the nurse, who was extremely upset about what had transpired."

TV NEWS

 

Once Upon a Time is adding another queen to its ranks. Ubiquitous guest star Rena Sofer has been cast as Snow White’s mother Queen Eva on the ABC fairy-tale drama. The actress will appear in flashbacks in an early March episode, which also will reveal that Eva has a surprising connection to someone we already know.

 

 

Meredith Vieira is leaving "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" after 11 years as host of the syndicated game show. The former "Today" show host and two-time Emmy winner as best game show host said Thursday she's leaving for other ventures including more work at NBC News.

Salma Hayek is set to reprise her "30 Rock" Season 3 guest starring role as Elisa, one of Jack Donaghy's many love interests, in the show's series finale on Jan. 31.


Niecy Nash is coming to Ben and Kate to confront kinda, sorta homewrecker BJ. The Reno 911 actress will guest-star in an upcoming episode of the Fox comedy. She’ll  play Roz, the soon-to-be-ex-wife of Rob Corddry’s bar owner Buddy. Nash drops in to scare the bejebus out of Lucy Punch’s BJ after she learns that her former hubby has transferred all of his assets to the other woman’s name. Ben and Kate airs Tuesdays at 8:30/7:30c.


In their second night of head-to-head-to-head competition, Jimmy Kimmel (with 2.86 million viewers and a 0.9 rating) rose two tenths in the demo to catch up to Jay Leno (3.55 mil/0.9), while David Letterman (3.04 mil/0.8) edged past Kimmel in total audience and closed the gap in the demo (rising three tenths from Tuesday).


Grey’s Anatomy is giving its new crop of interns a nice vote of confidence heading into next season. The soap’s boss, Shonda Rhimes, has added a series regular option to the contracts of recurring players Jerrika Hinton (Stephanie), Gaius Charles (Shane) and Tessa Ferrer (Leah). Fellow newbie Camilla Luddington (Jo) already had such a clause in her deal, while the fate of Tina Majorino (Heather) is complicated by her role in the TNT pilot Legends. If that series fails to snag a series order, Majorino likely will return to Grey’s.


Conan is headed to Atlanta for a week of shows taped at The Tabernacle concert hall April 1-4.


After its somewhat surprising renewal for a third season, "Body of Proof" underwent many changes. Several cast members have left and have been replaced by new actors in new roles. The format of the show promises more action and changes for many of the existing characters, including medical examiner Megan Hunt (Dana Delany) herself. Mark Valley and Elyes Gabel have joined the cast as police detectives. Valley's character, Detective Tommy Sullivan, in particular, will be important on the show -- at some point in the past, Tommy and Megan had a romantic relationship. Their tension will be important to the new season.


E! has ordered six more episodes of Whitney Cummings’ weekly talk show, Love You, Mean It With Whitney Cummings.


Tonight's Premiere:Cinemax: Banshee at 10p
Saturday's Special:ABC: The 2013 Miss America Competition at 9p
Saturday's Premieres:Food Network: Barefoot Contessa at 11a
Investigation Discovery: Deadly Sins at 9p
OWN: Staten Island Law at 9p & 930p
WE tv: Cyndi Lauper: Still So Unusual at 9p & 930p
DIY Network: The Bronson Pinchot Project at 11p
Sunday's Special:NBC: The 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards at 8p
Sunday's Premieres:HBO: Girls at 9p; Enlightened at 930p
National Geographic Channel: Wicked Tuna at 9p; Mudcats at 10p
Showtime: Shameless at 9p; House of Lies at 10p; Californication at 1030p
truTV: Container Wars at 1030p