Ernest Borgnine, the beefy screen star known for blustery, often villainous roles, but who won the best-actor Oscar for playing against type as a lovesick butcher in "Marty" in 1955, died Sunday. He was 95. Borgnine, who endeared himself to a generation of Baby Boomers with the 1960s TV comedy "McHale's Navy," first attracted notice in the early 1950s in villain roles, notably as the vicious Fatso Judson, who beat Frank Sinatra to death in "From Here to Eternity." While he often played the bad guy, Borgnine – who was known for his off-screen professionalism and friendliness – enjoyed a six-decade career that was also filled with many affable roles, from his sensitive, Oscar-winning turn as a homely Bronx butcher who finds love in 1955's Marty, to his popular Lieutenant Commander Quinton McHale on ABC's 1962-66 World War II sitcom McHale's Navy. Borgnine had four children and was married five times, including to Broadway diva Ethel Merman in 1964. The headline-making marriage lasted less than six weeks – and decades later was compared to the short-lived union of Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries. Borgnine later called the Merman marriage the "biggest mistake of my life. I thought I was marrying [singer] Rosemary Clooney." (He said the marriage fell apart on their honeymoon overseas, where fans knew him but didn't recognize her.) His final marriage, in 1973 to Tova Traesnaes, a skin-care mogul, endured until his death. In 2007, he told AP about their union: "That's longer than the total of my four other marriages."

-- Lionel Batiste, the vocalist, bass drummer and assistant leader of the Treme Brass Band, has died. He was 81. Fans of the HBO series "Treme" may not have known Batiste by name, but they often saw him close up. He was the skinny guy with the big drum in the band, one of the acts regularly featured on the show.  Family and others close to Batiste were with him when he died Sunday at the Ochsner Health System's hospital just outside New Orleans, said Batiste's daughter, Karen Williams. Batiste, known as "Uncle Lionel," had been ill for about a month, said band leader Benny Jones Sr. He said Batiste had been with the band since it was formed in 1995, but had played bass drum since childhood. Batiste used his drum to stay afloat in the floods after Hurricane Katrina, Clarinetist Michael White said. "The water kept rising," White said. "He couldn't swim. The water was too high for him to walk out. He saved himself by floating out on top of his bass drum."

Usher's Stepson in Accident

R&B star Usher's stepson has been hospitalized and is reportedly brain dead after he was struck by a Jet Ski in Georgia. Kyle Glover, the 11-year-old son of Usher's ex-wife Tameka Foster, was sitting in an inflatable raft on Lake Lanier when he was hit in the head. Usher chartered a plane for Foster, who was out of town, to be by her son's side.

 A new reality star is born! Kourtney Kardasian and boyfriend Scott Disick have welcomed their second child, a daughter named Penelope Scotland Disick, born early Sunday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Scott and I are overjoyed to welcome our precious angel Penelope Scotland Disick into our lives. We are forever blessed. Mommy and baby are resting comfortably," said the Keeping Up with the Kardashians star – who, with Disick, is already mom to 2-year-old son Mason. Their new arrival weighed 7 lbs., 14 oz. and was delivered via all-natural birth.

Sienna Miller Gives Birth

Sienna Miller and her fiancé Tom Sturridge welcomed their first child over the weekend in London.  Details on the baby's gender, name and weight were not available. The British duo have been dating for over a year and debuted signs of their engagement -- Miller's dazzling diamond engagement ring -- in mid-February.

 Ellie Kemper has finally swapped her bridesmaid dress for a wedding gown. The actress, who stars on NBC's The Office, married longtime boyfriend Michael Koman Saturday in New York, her rep confirmed. Kemper, 32, who also memorably shared screen time with Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph in 2011's Bridesmaids, confirmed her engagement to Koman in December on Conan. (Koman, a writer, previously worked for Conan O'Brien.)


Barney Frank weds longtime partner; first congressman in same-sex marriage

Democratic Rep. Barney Frank wed his longtime partner, James Ready, on Saturday, becoming the first sitting congressman to enter into a same-sex marriage. Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick officiated the ceremony and added some levity by saying Frank, 72, and Ready, 42, had vowed to love each other through Democratic and Republican administrations alike, and even through appearances on Fox News, according to Al Green, a Democratic congressman from Texas. "Barney was beaming," said Green, who attended the ceremony. He added that Frank, a champion of gay rights and the sweeping reform of Wall Street, shed a tear during the ceremony. Frank, a Massachusetts Democrat and a former chairman of the powerful House Financial Services Committee, has been an openly gay congressman since the late 1980s. He is well known for his legislative acumen, including as an architect of the reforms in the Dodd-Frank bill, which U.S. President Barack Obama signed into law in 2010 in the wake of the financial crisis following the collapse of the sub-prime mortgage market.Frank's office in January announced he would marry Ready, whom he met at a political fundraiser in Ready's home state of Maine. Ready lives in Ogunquit, where he does carpentry, painting and welding work. Frank and Ready have been involved since 2007.

 Nearly two years after Ben Harper filed for divorce from Laura Dern, the star of HBO's Enlightened has filed her own papers seeking to split from the singer. Dern reportedly filed legal documents Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court seeking primary physical custody of their two children -- son Ellery, 10, and daughter Jaya, 7 -- and joint legal custody. She is also seeking child and spousal support and wants Harper to pay her attorneys' fees. Dern and Harper were married in December 2005 after five years of dating. Harper first filed divorce papers in October 2010, citing irreconcilable differences and asking the judge not to award her spousal support. In January, the two sparked speculation of a reconcilation when they attended the Golden Globes together -- where she won the award for best actress in a comedy series.  Dern's credits also include Little Fockers and HBO's Recount, for which she won a Golden Globe. Harper is a two-time Grammy Award winner.

NFL star Adrian Peterson arrested after allegedly shoving off-duty cop

Minnesota Vikings star Adrian Peterson was arrested early Saturday in Houston after allegedly shoving an off-duty police officer at a club. The NFL running back was charged with resisting arrest, a misdemeanor, and spent a few hours in jail before being released on $1,000 bond. Peterson was with a group of people at a club in downtown Houston when an off-duty cop who was working security for the club asked him to leave at closing time. The group didn't move, so when the officer asked them again to leave, Peterson turned around, said he heard the officer the first time and shoved the man in the shoulder. The officer then told Peterson he was under arrest, police say, but Peterson started yelling and resisted when the officer tried to handcuff him. Two other off-duty cops eventually subdued Peterson and took him to jail. He complained of shortness of breath there but was deemed OK after medical personnel examined him. A Vikings spokesman says the team is "aware of the situation and working to gather more information. We'll have no further comment at this time."Peterson is scheduled to appear in court on the charge Friday. The Vikings open training camp on July 26.

'Amazing Spider-Man' weaves box-office bounty

"The Amazing Spider-Man" is spinning box-office gold in the U.S. and abroad, rolling up an estimated $341.2 million worldwide since opening. "Spider-Man" took in $65 million over the weekend, giving it $140 million for the 6-day holiday frame in North America and relaunching the franchise with a bang. The movie cost $230 million to produce and had to ensnare audiences with a fresh approach to a familiar franchise.

The Weekend Top Ten
"The Amazing Spider-Man," $65 million
""Ted," $32.5 million
"Brave," $20.1 million
"Savages," $16.1 million
"Magic Mike," $15.6 million
"Tyler Perry's Madea's Witness Protection," $10.2 million
"Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted," $7.7 million
"Kat Perry: Part of Me," $7.1 million
"Moonrise Kingdom," $4.6 million
"To Rome With Love," $3.5 million

Lily Allen Is Pregnant with Second Child

Another reason to smile: Lily Allen is expecting her second child with husband Sam Cooper. The couple, who wed in Gloucestershire, England, last summer while the pop star, 27, was pregnant with daughter Ethel Mary, now almost 8 months, are "over the moon," a source said. Due in December, Allen, who has since taken her artist husband's last name, "has started telling her friends, and everybody in her close circle is so excited for her," a friend adds, according to the report. Without outright confirming, Allen has made what seems like a sly reference to the pregnancy on Twitter, saying: "Thank you for all your congratulations today. I honestly couldn't be happier. such an honour to be on the list!#Timestop50tweeters." She was more vocal when it came to congratulating another British pop star on her pregnancy: Adele. "Wow," Allen Tweeted. "Adeles preggers!"


Tom Cruise & Katie Holmes Divorce
For much of the past few days, lawyers for Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes have been working behind closed doors to iron out an agreement between the two stars that would avoid a long, public divorce fight. Cruise "doesn't want his family dragged through the mud," says one source. "They both love their daughter." One crucial issue: where Suri, 6, will live and who will raise her. Holmes, 33, who filed for sole legal custody, would like to bring up her daughter in New York City. Cruise, 50, lives primarily in Los Angeles, although he owns properties in Manhattan. Sources around Cruise and Holmes are optimistic that the couple and their legal teams could reach a deal as discussions continue. For the second day in a row, Holmes was spotted at her lawyers Allan Mayefsky and Michael Mosberg's offices on Saturday. As for Holmes's bid for custody, Cruise may be open to Suri living primarily with Holmes, according to a source. But any agreement would have to include generous visitation for Cruise: "There's no world where Tom won't be seeing Suri." "Don't be surprised if Katie quietly retracts her divorce filing and they eventually agree to an amicable divorce and settlement."

Justin Bieber files complaint against paparazzo

Justin Bieber has filed a harassment complaint against a photographer after he was ticketed for speeding in Los Angeles on Friday. Bieber was clocked at more than 80 miles per hour in his luxury Fisker Karma sports car and cops pulled over his vehicle on the 101 Freeway.  Bieber's representative Scooter Braun alleges the star was trying to shake off members of the paparazzi who were following him closely -- and now the 18-year-old has taken action. Bieber has filed a complaint and given a statement against a photographer who was tailing him. An investigation has reportedly been launched.

Representative Jackson Needs ‘Extended Treatment’

.S. Representative Jesse Jackson Jr. needs “extended in-patient treatment,” and his medical condition is “more serious” than initially thought, the Illinois congressman’s office said today.  “Recently, we have been made aware that he has grappled with certain physical and emotional ailments privately for a long period of time,” according to an e-mailed statement today from Jackson’s office. “At present, he is undergoing further evaluation and treatment at an in-patient medical facility.”  There were no additional details in the statement on the condition of Jackson, a Democrat who represents Chicago’s south side and some suburbs, or where he is being treated. His office said on June 25 that he had started a medical leave on June 10 because he was suffering from exhaustion.  Jackson, 47, who is more than halfway through his ninth term in Congress, has faced political and personal stress as he fended off a primary challenge in March from former Representative Debbie Halvorson.  The House Ethics Committee confirmed in December that it was conducting an inquiry into whether Jackson had improperly lobbied then-Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich for appointment to the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama in 2008 after his election as president.  One of the figures at the center of the alleged scheme, Chicago businessman Raghuveer Nayak, was arrested on June 20 on unrelated federal charges that alleged he paid bribes and kickbacks to doctors for patient referrals, according to a statement by the U.S. Department of Justice. Nayak alleged to federal investigators that Jackson had him pay to fly a female “social acquaintance” of Jackson’s from Washington to Chicago at the congressman’s request, the Chicago Tribune has reported. Jackson, a son of civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson, said in a 2010 statement that the situation was a “private and personal matter between me and my wife that was handled some time ago.” Representative Jackson appeared as a defense witness for Blagojevich in May 2011, when he testified that he didn’t raise money for any candidate except himself. Jackson denied any wrongdoing and said that Blagojevich, when running for governor, asked for a $25,000 contribution and that Jackson said no. Blagojevich was found guilty in June 2011 of 17 of the 20 counts against him, which included wire fraud, attempted extortion, bribery, extortion conspiracy and bribery conspiracy. He was sentenced Dec. 7 to 14 years in prison.

Usain Bolt skipping Olympic tuneup in Monaco

Usain Bolt has more than Yohan Blake to worry about ahead of the London Olympics. Now he's got an injury to contend with and likely won't run again until the Games. Exactly one month before the 100-meter final at the Olympics, Bolt pulled out of the July 20 Monaco Diamond League meet Thursday with a "a slight problem" that occurred during the recent Jamaican Olympic trials, his coach Glen Mills said. The withdrawal followed the double blow of losing in the 100 and 200 to training partner Blake at the trials, a reality check before the Olympics. Bolt was scheduled to run the 200 in Monaco in his final tuneup before the games, but will now come to the Olympics following two losses. Despite the withdrawal, the 25-year-old Bolt insisted he'll be at the Games to retain the 100, 200 and 4x100 relay titles he won in Beijing four years ago in world-record times. "I am happy to have earned my spot on the Jamaican Olympic team despite the challenge," Bolt said in a statement. "I will be in London to defend my titles." After congratulating Blake with a big hug after the 200 in Kingston on Sunday, Bolt lay flat on his back and had his right hamstring stretched out by a trainer. His loss two days earlier in the 100 came after a poor start. "After careful assessment I have had to withdraw him from the Samsung Diamond League Meeting in Monaco on July 20 to give him sufficient time for treatment and time to train and prepare for the Olympic Games in London," Mills said. Mills said the injury was from "Usain's participation at the National Trials in Kingston this past weekend where he had a slight problem." He didn't elaborate on the nature of the injury.
 Meet little Samuel! Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner stepped out to celebrate the Fourth of July in Pacific Palisades, Calif., with all three of their kids in tow – providing the first glimpse of their youngest, son Samuel, 4 months. The couple was joined by daughters Seraphina, 3½, and Violet, 6½, at Wednesday's patriotic party.

Rihanna sues ex-accountants for millions in losses

Rihanna sued her former accountants Thursday, blaming them for tens of millions of dollars in losses, shoddy bookkeeping, a failure to recommend she trim expenses when a 2009 tour was losing money and an ongoing audit by the Internal Revenue Service. The lawsuit in federal court in Manhattan sought unspecified damages against New York-based Berdon LLP and two accountants. A Berdon spokeswoman said the company had no immediate comment.  The singer, suing under her real name, Robyn Fenty, alleged through her attorneys that the defendants drained tens of millions of dollars from revenues while she launched four national and international tours over a five-year period. By the "Last Girl on Earth" tour in 2009, Rihanna learned that the tour had managed "significant net losses" despite robust revenues, though the defendants had managed to pocket 22 percent of the tour's total revenues while paying Rihanna just 6 percent of revenues, the lawsuit said. It said Berdon's unusual accounting practice of paying itself a percentage of gross tour income as commissions left it no incentive to "counsel" Rihanna to reduce expenses or put in place appropriate financial controls. The lawsuit alleged that the practice of paying itself commissions on revenues was not standard in the accounting and business management industry and created a clear conflict of interest. Rihanna's lawyers also blamed the accounting firm for an ongoing IRS audit of her tax returns, saying she was forced to spend significant resources to correct errors resulting from negligence. Since firing the firm and its accountants in September 2010, Rihanna's fortunes already have reversed, the lawsuit said. The "Loud" tour stretching from June 2011 to December 2011 produced a net profit equal to more than 40 percent of total tour revenues, it added. According to the lawsuit, the singer hired the accountants in 2005 when she was a 16-year-old from Barbados launching her career. She alleged that they repeatedly breached their agreements, engaged in misconduct and malfeasance, paid themselves excessive commissions, created entities without regard to their effect on her taxes and failed to document revenue and expenses and implement a proper budget. The lawsuit also blamed the company for Rihanna's 2009 purchase of a new home, saying competent business managers would have told her that her tour was losing money and that it would not be advisable to buy such an expensive home at that time. Last year, Rihanna sued a real estate company in Los Angeles over the $6.9 million purchase of a hillside home in 2009, saying it had serious structural defects that made it inhabitable.

Report: Heat make pitch to Ray Allen

Ray Allen seems to be taking a serious look at joining the NBA champion Miami Heat.  A person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press that the free agent guard visited the Heat in Miami on Thursday. Allen was planning to remain in South Florida until Friday, according to the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because no details of the meeting were publicly revealed. Miami's desire to add Allen is no secret. League MVP LeBron James has tweeted about the notion, and posted a doctored-up image of Allen wearing a Heat jersey on his Facebook page earlier this week with the message, ''This looks damn good to me.'' And Dwyane Wade posted a cryptic message on his Twitter account Wednesday night, saying Thursday would be ''a big day'' for the Heat. No deal could be finalized until at least July 11 because of the NBA's moratorium. Allen has spent the last five seasons with the Boston Celtics, who have offered the NBA's 3-point field goal leader a $12 million, two-year deal. The Heat - who have ousted Boston from the past two NBA postseasons - can only offer Allen the mini mid-level exception, which would pay about $3 million this coming year. From an offensive standpoint, Allen would seem to be a perfect fit because the Heat have spent two years trying to surround James, Wade and Chris Bosh with shooters who extend defenses and create room around the basket. Miami was 9-1 in the playoffs when connecting on at least eight 3-pointers in a game, and just 7-6 when not. Allen is coming off surgery to remove bone spurs from his right ankle. But he clearly can still shoot, and made a career-best 45 percent of his attempts from 3-point range for the Celtics this past season.

Fired Lifeguard Offered His Job Back – And He Says No

Fired Florida lifeguard Tomas Lopez has been offered his job back after being let go for saving a swimmer outside his jurisdiction – and the 21-yea-old has declined the offer. "It's another chapter in my life closed and I am just going to continue to get my schooling finished and get on with my career," Lopez said on Thursday. The much-publicized incident took place at Hallandale Beach, north of Miami, on Monday, when Lopez instinctively went after a drowning man, though the swimmer outside of Lopez's coverage zone. Lopez said the man had turned blue and "was having a lot of trouble breathing." The pink slip was handed down by the Jeff Ellis Management company, which said lifeguards are not insured to go beyond the perimeter of the beach for which they are responsible. As for the drowning victim, a nurse on the beach assisted him until emergency medics arrived. He was rushed to Aventura Hospital and on Thursday was said to be in good condition.
  Cam Gigandet and longtime love Dominique Geisendorff are expecting their second child. The couple, who were spotted strolling on the beach in Malibu, Calif. on Wednesday, are already parents to daughter Everleigh Rae, 3. Gigandet, 29, can next be seen in the film Free Ride, costarring Anna Paquin, and will soon appear in Red Sky and Code Name: Geronimo as well.

Previously-unheard Amy Winehouse vocals to be featured on Nas' album

Late British soul star Amy Winehouse looks set for another posthumous return to the charts --- a previously unreleased collaboration with rapper Nas is to feature on his upcoming album.  The "Rehab" hitmaker was introduced to Nas by their mutual friend and producer Salaam Remi, and they teamed up to record "Like Smoke," which was included on "Lioness: Hidden Treasures," the first Winehouse project to be released following her sudden passing last year. This week, new vocals from the tragic singer surfaced online on the track "Cherry Wine," taken from Nas' forthcoming album "Life Is Good."  On the chorus, she sings, "Where is he/the man who is just like me/I heard he was hiding/somewhere I can't see. "'I'm alone/and I realize that when I get home/I want to go to my red and my cherry."  "Life Is Good" will be released in the U.S. on July 17, a week before the first anniversary of Winehouse's death.

Jillian Michaels' Bentley is stolen and wrecked

Jillian Michaels no doubt has a lot weighing on her mind right now. The former "Biggest Loser" trainer found herself on the, well, losing end of a break-in at her home. It seems Michaels woke up on Tuesday morning and noticed the keys to her Bentley were missing. Sure enough, upon stepping outside, she saw that her expensive set of wheels was indeed gone. Police later spotted the stolen vehicle being driven, but soon after a pursuit began, the suspect ended up crashing into a light pole. The man was subsequently taken into custody and is also believed to be the person who burglarized Michaels' residence as well.

TV NEWS
Is Seth Meyers the next Regis Philbin? The Saturday Night Live funnyman is currently the frontrunner to succeed the retired co-host on Live! With Kelly. Meyers’ new hosting gig, however, isn’t a done deal just yet. Live! producers are said to have narrowed down the potential-host field to three, with former NFL star Michael Strahan and recording artist Josh Groban also in the running. All three have showcased their skills opposite Kelly Ripa in recent months, and will likely continue to do so until a new co-host is named for the upcoming season, which begins in September. Meyers begins a five-day hosting stint on Monday, July 9 — the talker’s first week-long fill-in since Neil Patrick Harris late last year.


Eileen Davidson is returning to “Days of Our Lives” this fall, October 11. With her “The Young and the Restless” character Ashley set to leave the canvas, Davidson will bring villainous Kristen back from the presumed dead and into the "Days" action this October. It’s unclear whether doppelganger Susan Banks will follow. In Davidson’s final years at “Days,” she played five roles, including Susan’s brother Thomas, Sister Mary Moira and Penelope, with it all leading up to Kristen’s presumed death. In reality, Kristen was left stranded with the island harem she’d sold Susan into, while Susan was off enjoying her life.


Fox has banished the George Lopez-hosted Take Me Out to Saturday nights at 9/8c


Irish beauty Sarah Bolger shall also be a Sleeping Beauty, on ABC’s Once Upon a Time. Princess Aurora, will be introduced during the sophomore run of Once, which was last season’s highest-rated freshman drama. The fantastical series will again air Sundays at 8/7c; ABC has not yet announced their fall premiere dates.


NBC is said to be eyeing an all-star edition of Celebrity Apprentice, and past “celeb” participants are coming out in droves to take part in the latest cycle. Former winners Piers Morgan, Joan Rivers and Bret Michaels are currently in the running to join, as well as “standouts” Gary Busey, Trace Adkins, Jesse James, Omarosa, Gene Simmons, Lennox Lewis, Meat Loaf, Marlee Matlin, Sharon Osbourne, Cyndi Lauper, Marilu Henner and Dennis Rodman.

Brandon and Kelly and Dylan, oh my! Jennie Garth gave Beverly Hills, 90210 fans a treat on Wednesday when she tweeted this pic of a reunion between the members of West Bev’s most beloved love triangle, as she, Jason Priestley and Luke Perry reportedly shot an Old Navy commercial.


FX, which currently pumps out repeat broadcasts of "Two and a Half Men" and "How I Met Your Mother," has secured the privilege of adding "Mike & Molly" to its pre-primetime comedy roster. The article also says FX is paying a relative bargain-priced sum of under $1 million an episode, and that fans can expect "M&M" to appear on its schedule as of September 2014.


90210 is losing its southern drawl in Season 5: Justin Deeley is poised to exit the CW soap after just one season. According to sources, the actor — who first joined 90210 last year as Austin, a California cowboy with a thing for AnnaLynne McCord’s Naomi — will be written out in the season premiere (airing Monday, Oct. 8 at 8/7c). However, a rep for the show maintains that the “door is still open for him to reappear in future episodes.”

 Television icon Andy Griffith, best known as the sage town sheriff in the ’60s sitcom The Andy Griffith Show and as a cantankerous defense attorney on 1980s-’90s drama Matlock, died today in Roanoke Island, N.C. He was 86 years old. Born an only child in Mount Airy, N.C., Griffith spent his boyhood listening to music. He aspired to be an opera singer before turning his attention to acting after college at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. He began his career as a comedic monologist with the 1953 release of What It Was, Was Football, a massive hit both on radio and in stores. On Broadway, he earned Tony nominations playing a country bumpkin in the Army-based comedy No Time for Sergeants and a sheriff in the musical Destry Rides Again. Then Hollywood beckoned. In his first film, Elia Kazan’s critically acclaimed A Face in the Crowd, Griffith portrayed another country boy, this time with a manipulative and power-hungry streak. He followed it with a film version of No Time for Sergeants, featuring future Andy Griffith Show costar and lifelong pal Don Knotts. In 1960, Griffith found runaway success with The Andy Griffith Show. The show, starring Griffith as the wise sheriff in the quirky and fictional North Carolina town of Mayberry, was an instant hit and a ratings powerhouse for the eight seasons in which Griffith starred. Famed director Ron Howard played Griffith’s sweet son, Opie, and Knotts played the inept deputy Barney Fife, a scene-stealer who snagged five Emmy Awards for the role. Griffith, meanwhile, never managed a single nomination for the show that bore his name. Griffith endured several short-lived series in the ’70s and then suffered temporary leg paralysis from Guillain-Barre syndrome in the ’80s before enjoying an unlikely career renaissance in the title role of the legal drama Matlock, which debuted in 1986.  Guillain-Barre syndrome is a rare neurological disorder that can cause sudden paralysis. He suffered a heart attack and underwent quadruple bypass surgery in 2000. Griffith continued to work steadily into his later years, reprising his Matlock role on Diagnosis: Murder alongside Dick Van Dyke in 1997; guest-starring on an episode of Dawson’s Creek in 2001; and playing the owner of the pie diner in Adrienne Shelley’s 2007 Sundance fave Waitress. He even returned to his musical roots, winning a Grammy and solid sales for his 1997 album, I Love to Tell the Story: 25 Timeless Hymns before settling into a quiet life in North Carolina — not unlike the life he portrayed on screen in his most memorable role. He and his first wife, Barbara Edwards, had two children: Sam, who died in 1996, and Dixie. His second wife was Solica Cassuto. Both marriages ended in divorce. He married third wife Cindi Knight Griffith in 1983.
 Anderson Cooper has some news to share. "The fact is, I'm gay, always have been, always will be, and I couldn't be any more happy, comfortable with myself, and proud," the CNN anchor, 45, wrote Monday in an open letter to his longtime friend Andrew Sullivan of the Daily Beast. The host of Anderson Cooper: 360 also says that he has waited until now to announce the fact because, "As long as a journalist shows fairness and honesty in his or her work, their private life shouldn't matter." Cooper, who also hosts his own syndicated talk daytime show Anderson, addressed the subject after Sullivan – a British writer who is openly gay and Catholic – put the question to him in light of a cover story in the current Entertainment Weekly. The article focused on how gay people in the public life are currently coming out in understated and matter-of-fact ways.
 

Matthew & Camila McConaughey Expecting Third Child

Baby makes five! A month after marrying, Matthew and Camila McConaughey are set to expand their family once again, the couple announced via Twitter Wednesday. “Happy birthday America, more good news, Camila and I are expecting our 3rd child,” the actor, 42, Tweeted. “God bless, just keep livin.” His wife, 29, Tweeted the same message just 20 minutes before. The couple, who wed June 9 at their home in Texas, are already parents to daughter Vida, 2½, and son Levi, who turns 4 this week.
 Her so-called life just got a little happier! Claire Danes and Hugh Dancy are expecting their first child, her rep confirmed.  Danes, who won a Golden Globe in January, wed Hannibal star Dancy, 37, in a private ceremony in France in 2009. While there was no official comment from Homeland‘s production company, Fox 21, a spokesman says that Danes’ pregnancy is not expected to impact the production of season two — which premieres on Showtime Sept. 30 — in any way.


'The Amazing Spider-Man' earns a record-breaking $35 million on Tuesday
Sony Pictures' reboot The Amazing Spider-Man grossed $35 million on its opening day in theaters ($7.5 million of that came from midnight showings, and $4 million from 307 IMAX screens), thereby beating the 2-D, IMAX-less Transformers, which earned $27.9 million on its opening day on July 3, 2007, and setting a new Tuesday box office record.
  She may be all about the baby carriages, but Nia Long isn’t ready for marriage — and the actress is making no apologies. Already mom to 10-year-old son Massai, Long and her boyfriend Ime Udoka recently welcomed their first child together — 8-month-old son Kez Sunday — but the proud parents aren’t looking to rush down the aisle any time soon. “Marriage is not a priority for me. I’m not saying I’ll never do it; It’s just not where we are as a family,” the Mooz-lum star, 41, reveals in the August issue of Essence. However, although confident in her choices, Long isn’t oblivious to the constant scrutiny from being in the public eye. “I’ll be at home with my man, having a perfectly loving time, and I’ll see all these comments on some site about how wrong I am for not being married,” she says. “I don’t feel less loved or less loving because I’m not married.” Admitting she has “never seen a marriage work,” Long is instead focused on finally having reached “emotional maturity” — from her life with Udoka to her relationship with Massai’s father. “Massai’s dad and I have had the most challenging times, and I wasn’t always sure we wouldn’t end like my mother and father,” she says. “But we’ve arrived at a place where I can truly say he’s not a baby daddy, he’s my friend, finally. He is an amazing father.” The mom-of-two has also recently reconciled with her own father; For Long, the growing bond between father and daughter has allowed her to reevaluate and evolve in her personal life.  “I’m a lot calmer. Less clingy and demanding. When Ime has to be gone for long stretches at a time, as he had to the first few months after Kez was born, I took it as an opportunity to nest,” she explains. “It had been a minute since I had an infant and I had to get back into the rhythm of being a new mom. I really enjoyed having the space to do that at my own pace.” Completely content with her family of four, everything in Long’s life is very much wanted — and perfectly planned. “Motherhood is not easy, but it’s natural,” she says. “I worked hard to have the career I wanted, but I’ve also been deliberate about my personal life. None of this is a mistake.”

Katie Holmes Not Seeking Emergency Hearing, Lawyer Says

Katie Holmes's lawyer is denying reports that the actress wants an emergency hearing on custody and child support in the Tom Cruise divorce.  "Other than her action for divorce, the only pending application filed by Ms. Holmes remains her request for an anonymous caption," her lawyer Jonathan Wolfe says. An anonymous caption means that the papers in the case are filed anonymously. The statement is response in to online reports that Holmes, 33, on Tuesday filed what is called an emergent application that could have resulted in a public hearing in a New York court. Since her surprise filing last week – in which Holmes, 33, reportedly asked for sole legal custody of their daughter Suri, 6 – Holmes has remained in New York with Suri. Cruise, who hasn't filed any legal papers yet, flew from Iceland to Los Angeles, where he spent his 50th birthday with his older children, Isabella and Conner.
 He may not have found lasting love on on The Bachelor, but Travis Stork got his happy ending after all! On Saturday, The Doctors co-host wed his girlfriend of over three years, pediatrician Dr. Charlotte Brown. The couple got engaged last year, during a romantic vacation in Hawaii. Surrounded by family and friends, the two physicians exchanged vows in an intimate ceremony nestled in the Colorado mountains – and it seems that Stork couldn't have been more thrilled. "My days as a "bachelor" are nearing an end!" he Tweeted on June 20. "My wedding ring has arrived… getting excited!"

Frank Ocean from Odd Future opens up about sexuality

Following in the matter-of-fact footsteps of Anderson Cooper, R&B singer Frank Ocean, part of the group Odd Future, came out on his blog yesterday, revealing that an old love was a man. “What i’m about to post is for anyone who cares to read. it was intended to fill the thank you’s section in my album credits [Upcoming album "Channel Orange"], but with all the rumors going round.. i figured it’d be good to clarify,” Ocean first posted. Then, in a long blog post, Ocean wrote, in part, “4 summers ago, I met somebody. I was 19 years old. He was too. We spent that summer, and the summer after, together. Every day almost, and on the day we were together, time would glide. Most of the day I’d see him, and his smile. By the time I realized I was in love, it was malignant. It was hopeless….It’s December 27,2011….I wanted to create worlds that were rosier than mine…Before writing this I’d told some people my story…I feel like a free man.” Tyler, the Creator tweeted his support early this morning. In a response article, Russell Simmons just wrote on Global Grind, “Today is a big day for hip-hop. It is a day that will define who we really are.  How compassionate will we be? How loving can we be? How inclusive are we? I am profoundly moved by the courage and honesty of Frank Ocean….”
 One down, one more to go. The role of Johanna Mason — one of the most anticipated new characters in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire — may be taken. Lionsgate has reportedly already offered the part — a cunning, sarcastic Tribute from District 7 — to Malone, star of Saved!, Sucker Punch, and, most recently, the A&E mini-series Hatfields & McCoys. Mason, who eventually allies herself with Jennifer Lawrence’s Katniss and Josh Hutcherson’s Peeta, also appears in Suzanne Collins’ third book Mockingjay, so we can probably expect to see Malone in forthcoming sequels. Still to be cast is the role of Finnick Odair, another Tribute that aids the series’ protagonists, even though production is expected to begin in September with Francis Lawrence directing.

Princess Caroline's Son Andrea Casiraghi to Marry Longtime Girlfriend

Princess Caroline's son Andrea will tie the knot with his longtime girlfriend, the palace in Monaco confirmed. "I have the joy to announce the engagement of my son Andrea Casiraghi to Miss Tatiana Santo Domingo," Princess Caroline, 55, says in a statement. It was signed Her Royal Highness, the Princess of Hanover (Caroline is married to Prince Ernst of Hanover). The couple, both 28, met through mutual friends at the American University in Paris and have been dating for seven years. Casiraghi, is the first of the late Princess Grace's grandchildren to be set to wed. Casiraghi is the eldest of Caroline's four children (his father is the late Stefano Casiraghi, who died in a speedboat crash in 1990) and follows his uncle Prince Albert II of Monaco in the line of succession to the Monaco throne, until Albert and his wife Charlene have produced an heir.

 He captured America's fancy when he appeared on screen in the first Sex and the City movie, then he waltzed into the country's living rooms on Dancing with the Stars. Now, just in time for the Fourth of July, Gilles Marini will celebrate just like many Americans – by manning the grill and watching fireworks.  "I'm a very happy camper," Marini, 36, who was born in France, says of officially becoming an American citizen on June 27. The star of ABC Family's Switched at Birth star found the Los Angeles swearing-in ceremony to be "such an emotional thing. I wasn't expecting it," he said. "I cried about becoming an American. It's inexplicable the love I have for this country. I'm on cloud nine and I can't get down."

BET Awards Fashion... news below

Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes Are Divorcing

After five years of marriage, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes are getting a divorce. "This is a personal and private matter for Katie and her family," says Holmes's attorney Jonathan Wolfe. "Katie's primary concern remains, as it always has been, her daughter's best interest." Cruise's rep says: "Kate has filed for divorce and Tom is deeply saddened and is concentrating on his three children. Please allow them their privacy." The Rock of Ages star, 49, wed actress Holmes, 33, in an Italian castle in November 2006. They have daughter Suri, 6.

Katie Holmes and Suri Move Out

On the morning that Katie Holmes filed for divorce from Tom Cruise, the actress made another big decision. Holmes, 33, and daughter Suri, 6, were spotted on June 28 moving their bags from the New York City apartment they shared with Cruise to a new apartment elsewhere in the city. The new digs are close to some of Katie and Suri's favorite places, including a gymnastics studio where Suri takes classes. The 3-bedroom apartment rents for between $10,000 and $12,000 a month. The move is going on while Cruise, who turns 50 on Tuesday, remains in Iceland, where he's filming Oblivion.

Lauryn Hill Pleads Guilty in New Jersey Tax Case

Lauryn Hill plead guilty to failing to file income tax returns for several years with the IRS. On Friday, Hill appeared in a New Jersey court, admitting that she did not file tax returns from 2005-2007 on the $1.5 million earned over those three years. Hill's sentencing is scheduled for November in order to give her time to repay the taxes. The Grammy-winning singer faces the maximum of one year in jail on each count.

'Ted' beats the stuffing out of 'Magic Mike'

Universal's "Ted," Seth MacFarlane's tale of a potty-mouthed teddy bear come to life, beat the stuffing out of its box office rivals and pre-release projections with a stunning $54.1 million debut weekend. Another of the weekend's R-rated openers, Channing Tatum's "Magic Mike," shook its box-office booty, bump-and-grinding its way to $39.1 million for Warner Bros., well beyond expectations. The audience for the No. 2 movie, not surprisingly, was 73 female. Both of them topped last week's No. 1 "Brave," as audiences went for raunch rather than the family fare that has dominated the past three weeks. Disney's latest Pixar film still made $34 million for third place, upping its domestic total to $133 million in two weeks. "Tyler Perry's Madea's Witness Protection" bowed to $26.3 million over the three days to claim the No. 4 spot for Lionsgate.

Here are the top 5 movies from the weekend:
"Ted," $53.1 million
"Magic Mike," $39.1 million
"Brave," $34 million
"Tyler Perry's Madea's Witness Protection," $26.3 million
"Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted," $11.8 million

Marcus Jordan Arrested

Marcus Jordan, youngest son of NBA legend Michael Jordan, was arrested early this morning Omaha, NE. Police say Jordan (a member of the University of Central Florida's basketball team) was spotted outside a hotel at 2:10 AM by an off-duty officer who was working security for the hotel. The officer said Jordan, who appeared to be intoxicated, was arguing with two females. Police told the paper Jordan became uncooperative when the officer approached him and it eventually took multiple police officers to handcuff him. Jordan was booked in the Douglas County Department of Corrections for resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and obstructing. He was since been released.

 

Child Visitation Rights Switch for Dwyane Wade’s Ex

A Cook County judge ruled that Dwyane Wade's former wife would need to shift visits with their children from Chicago to Florida, until the court determines if she was involved with interfering with a previously arranged visitation schedule. She was arrested June 16 for allegedly refusing to return their children to Wade’s sister for over eight hours. As a result, she’ll have to travel to Florida to see their two sons. “Read my lips on this – you tell the kids: ‘I got arrested, your dad got me arrested’ … I take away your visitation,” Judge Leslie Berger told Siohvaughn Funches-Wade, who donned a blue sling on her right arm, reports the Chicago Tribune. “The children should not be in the middle of this.” According to the athlete’s attorneys, the boys missed their flight that afternoon, prompting Wade to hire a private plane to transport the children so they could spend Father’s Day together. However, Funches-Wade says it was all a misunderstanding and the situation has been blown out of proportion.

 

Kelis Owes over $300k in Taxes

Kelis apparently took away one very important life lesson from her ex-hubby Nas ... mainly how NOT to pay her taxes ... to the tune of $300,000. According to a tax lien filed in NYC, the government wants Kelis to fork up over $330,426.71 in unpaid taxes for the years 2004 and 2010. Both 2004 & 2010 were good years for Kelis. In 2004, the "Milkshake" singer went on tour with Britney Spears. In 2010, she headlined her first US tour with singer Robyn. 

 

Bonnie Wright and Jamie Campbell Bower break up, calling off engagement

"Harry Potter" star Bonnie Wright, best known as Ginny Weasley, has called off her engagement to fellow Hogwarts alum Jamie Campbell Bower. Twenty-three-year-old Bower played the memorable role of Gellert Grindelwald in flashbacks in the final "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" film. Bower and Wright confirmed in February 2010 that they were, indeed, dating. In April 2011, the couple announced their engagement. Bower proposed to Wright after only six months of dating. Bower confirmed the split, admitting that he is "heartbroken" over the separation. Bower will next be seen in "City of Bones," playing the lead role of Jace Wayland in the adaptation of the Cassandra Clare best-seller.


Basketball Wife's Husband Had Secret Child
Former NBA star Eric Williams -- the estranged husband of "BB Wives" star Jennifer Williams -- allegedly had a secret child in 2011 ... and now the baby mama wants him to pony up some child support ASAP. Tavia Serena Cannon filed a Complaint for Support in PA last week, she claims she had a child with Eric in October 2011. Cannon says she makes $300/week babysitting and wants Williams to fork over some cash and medical coverage for the kid.  Here's the rub ... at the time the baby was allegedly conceived -- Jan/Feb 2011 -- the former NBAer was still married to Jennifer ... who didn't file for divorce until June 2011. Their divorce is still pending in a NJ court.


Rick Ross is Not the Father
Rick Ross did NOT father a secret child in Florida three years ago -- so says the results of a court-ordered DNA test in the rapper's recent paternity case. 36-year-old Tyrisha Childers filed a paternity lawsuit against Ross last year -- claiming the rapper knocked her up a few years ago ... and never paid a dime for child support. Rick fired back, insisting he never even slept with Childers -- let alone fathered her baby -- so the court ordered both parties to submit to a DNA test. According to the test, there's a zero percent chance Rick's the dad. Childers has since voluntarily dismissed her case,


TV NEWS
Confirming reports that had been swirling for a week, Savannah Guthrie has been named as ousted "Today" co-host Ann Curry's replacement, NBC announced Friday. Guthrie, who had previously co-hosted the morning show's third hour, was widely reported as the heir apparent to Curry's spot. Curry announced her departure from the show in a teary speech Thursday, following two weeks of reports that she was being ushered off the show.


Carrie Wells will live to remember another day, now that CBS has officially resurrected-slash-renewed Unforgettable for a 13-episode sophomore run, to air next summer. Said sophomore run would be targeted for a Summer 2013 bow.  Unforgettable, which aired Tuesdays at 10, drew 11 million total viewers and a 2.0 demo rating with its Season 1 finale, yet it wasn’t among the 19 shows renewed by CBS for the 2012-13 TV season.


Actor Lane Garrison has been freed on bail as he fights a misdemeanor domestic violence charge. The former "Prison Break" star was arrested in April amid allegations of a bust-up with his ex-girlfriend Ashley Mattingly at her home in Beverly Hills. He is due to stand trial in July, but on Friday he was released after posting a $50,000  bond. Garrison had been kept behind bars because, at the time of his arrest, he was on probation following his 2007 conviction for vehicular manslaughter and drunk driving. He was released from prison in 2009 after serving part of a 40-month sentence.


Tears followed Erin Andrews’ decision to sign a multiyear deal with FOX Sports, which on Sunday officially announced the studio host and sideline reporter will join its family of networks. “It was very hard," said Andrews, who spent the past eight years at ESPN. "No matter where you work, if you spend that much time around people, you get to know them. There has been a lot of crying as I let people know."Andrews, 34, will host a new 30-minute program that precedes FOX Sports’ first regular-season, over-the-air college football package, according to a news release. Coverage begins Sept. 1 as USC hosts Hawaii. She also will be "making significant contributions" to the network’s coverage of the NFL, MLB and other sports properties, according to the release.

A&E has renewed "Longmire" for a second season less than a month after its series premiere. The western-themed series, which stars Robert Taylor as Wyoming sheriff Walt Longmire and Katee Sackhoff as his deputy Vic Moretti, premiered Sunday, June 3 at 10 p.m. with a particularly strong 4.1 million total viewers, making it the year's top new scripted cable drama.

TBS recently announced that Men at Work will be back for a second season. The Thursday-evening comedy stars Danny Masterson (That ’70s Show) as a recently dumped dude whose friends — played by Adam Busch (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), James Lesure (Las Vegas) and Michael Cassidy (The O.C.) — want to help him find a new relationship. Season 2 will consist of 10 episodes that will air in 2013. 


Chris Zylka has just booked himself another spooky gig. Zylka, who plays witch Jake Armstrong on the CW series "The Secret Circle," has joined the cast of FX's "American Horror Story" for its second season.


Though subscribers hoped that Dish Network and AMC would come to an agreement before the end of the day on Saturday June 30, there was no such luck. The cable provider and the network have been warring for months, and on Saturday evening at 11:59 p.m. EST DIsh officially discontinued broadcast. AMC isn't the only network affected, though with shows like "Mad Men," "The Walking Dead," and "Breaking Bad," its absence will certainly be noted by Zap2it readers. Dish Network has also removed WeTV, the Independent Film Channel (IFC), and Sundance from its subscribers' televisions. The provider informed customers that AMC has been replaced by HDTV movies  on Channel 130, Style on Channel 128, and HDNet on 131.

Bristol Palin, the political progeny who first captured the world's attention thanks to her out-of-wedlock shenanigans, has had a rough go of it lately. Her Lifetime reality show, "Bristol Palin: Life's a Tripp," premiered June 19 to dismal ratings and a critical drubbing. Now, Lifetime is yanking the program from prime time and pushing it back an hour on Tuesday to 11 p.m, a network spokesperson confirmed.

BET Award Winners:
Best Group: The Throne (Kanye West & Jay-Z)
Best Actor: Kevin Hart
Best New Artist: Big Sean
Best Male R&B Artist: Chris Brown
Best Collaboration: Wale ft. Miguel
Best Gospel: Yolanda Adams
Best Female R&B Artist: Beyoncé
Best Female Hip-Hop Artist: Nicki Minaj
Lifetime Achievement Award: Maze featuring Frankie Beverly
Video Of The Year: “Otis,” The Throne (Kanye West & Jay-Z)
BET Humanitarian Award: Rev. Al Sharpton
Viewers’ Choice Award: Mindless Behavior
Video Director Of The Year: Beyoncé & Alan Ferguson
AOL Fandemonium Award: Chris Brown

Barry Becher, of Ginsu knives fame, dies at 71
Barry Becher, a marketing mastermind and infomercial pioneer best known for bringing Ginsu knives to the American public, has died. He was 71. Becher had been suffering from kidney cancer and died at a hospital of complications from surgery, his stepdaughter Stacy Paradise said. He had lived in Parkland. Though Becher brought many campaigns to the airwaves with his business partner Ed Valenti, they are forever linked with Ginsu, the ubiquitous knives shown slicing through tin cans and chipping a wood block. Millions were sold from the commercial's debut in 1978 into the early 1980s, with audiences mesmerized by images of an exotic-sounding knife that seemed able to cut through anything. The infomercial promised a 50-year guarantee and "much, much more." Becher was running two AAMCO franchises near Warwick, R.I., when he met Valenti, an account executive for a local television station who was handling the auto shops' advertising. They drove the same Datsun 240Z, had wives who were schoolmates, shared a passion for sales and became fast friends. They decided they wanted to find a product they could market through an extended TV commercial, the way some records were sold. Becher found a mohair-bristled paint pad that prevented splatter and cut work times. They were roundly rejected when they pitched the product to Madison Avenue firms and ultimately produced it themselves through a joint company initially run out of Becher's garage. Their first two-minute commercial was on the air, and the Miracle Painter was born. They sold more than a million units and repeated their winning formula with products others created. But the duo rechristened and popularized: Armourcote Cookware, the Miracle Slicer, Lusterware Silverware and Royal DuraSteel mixing bowls. Becher and Valenti eventually shifted their business to become mainly a media buying firm, PriMedia, but their legacy was sealed. They helped popularize the use of credit cards and 800-numbers for over-the-TV sales and their work is seen as a precursor to extended 30-minute infomercials and round-the-clock shopping channels, including Home Shopping Network.

Wade elects for surgery, health over Olympics

Miami guard Dwyane Wade is out of the London Games, and his Olympic career is over. Wade, who battled a left knee problem during the playoffs while helping the Heat to the title, called USA Basketball Chairman Jerry Colangelo and coach Mike Krzyzewski on Thursday to tell them he would be dropping out of the games due to needing knee surgery. Wade, a 2004 bronze medalist and 2008 gold medalist, had first told FOX Sports Florida last January the London Olympics would be his last. “It wasn’t a surprise,’’ Colangelo said in a phone interview with FOX Sports Florida. “We knew it was 50-50 at best (Wade would play), especially with the circumstances regarding the injury. So it was not a surprise. As I told him, he’s making the right decision. He needs to take care of his career …. He needs to be right (with his knee). He wants to fully recover and be ready for the season.’’ Wade’s agent, Henry Thomas, told FOX Sports Florida his client’s surgery will be July 9 and will be performed by Heat team doctor Harlan Selesnick. Colangelo said Wade told him the recovery process will be four-to-six weeks. Thomas didn't disagree with that, but was told by Selesnick that’s an “optimistic’’ projection, and it’s possible recovery could be longer than six weeks. But Thomas has no doubt Wade would be ready for the start of training camp in late September.

 

Emily Robison Expecting Fourth Child

Emily Robison is expecting her fourth child, a rep for the musician confirms. “She’s excited!” the rep says, adding that the baby is due in early September. This will be the Dixie Chicks and Court Yard Hounds singer’s first child with boyfriend Martin Strayer; Robison, 39, is also mom to twins Juliana Tex and Henry Benjamin, 7, and son Charles Augustus, 9½, with ex-husband Charlie Robison. Bandmates Natalie Maines and Martie Maguire are mothers as well; Maines has two sons while Maguire has three daughters.
 Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi may be pregnant and sober, but she still couldn't stay upright while going for a stroll in platform sandals on the Jersey shore. "She's fine. She slipped. I don't know if it was the shoe that was the issue or something on the sidewalk like a bump or something that she tripped over," a source said. "Sad thing was that the paparazzi all kept snapping their photos and no one went to help her. That's kind of sleazy. If you see any pregnant woman fall you should help them." Maybe just flats from now on? Not anytime soon, adds the source: "She's feeling good and she loves her footwear. Jessica Simpson wore heels almost to the end."


Lamar Odom returns to Clippers after three-team trade
Lamar Odom is headed back to Los Angeles for a second chance with the Clippers and Mo Williams will be reunited with the Utah Jazz. That person spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because a three-team deal between the Dallas Mavericks, Clippers and Jazz is contingent on Williams exercising his $8.5 million player option for next season. That person said that was expected to happen by Friday. Williams was drafted by the Jazz in 2003 and played 57 games as a rookie before going to Milwaukee, Cleveland and then the Clippers. The Jazz are in position to absorb Williams' salary without sending a player to Dallas by using a trade exception created last season when they dealt Mehmet Okur to New Jersey. Dallas faced a Friday deadline on a $2.4 million buyout of Odom's $8.2 million option for next season. Now the Mavericks instead will have an $8.2 million trade exception, similar to what they used to acquire Odom from the Los Angeles Lakers last December before the strike-shortened season.  Odom, drafted fourth overall by the Clippers in 1999, is coming off an underwhelming 50-game stint with Dallas that didn't even take him through the entire season. He was the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year for the Lakers for the 2010-11 season. The 32-year-old Odom has averaged 14.2 points and 8.6 rebounds in 879 career games.

No charges in leak of Rihanna beating photo, Los Angeles DA says

Two Los Angeles police officers won't face criminal charges alleging they leaked a photo of pop star Rihanna's bruised and beaten face after she was assaulted by singer Chris Brown, the Los Angeles County district attorney's office said. An internal report by prosecutors says that after a three-year investigation, they didn't have enough evidence to show celebrity news website TMZ paid the accused officers for the photo, and that became an obstacle in charging them. Officers Blanca Lopez and Rebecca Reyes may still get fired. They are slated to appear before disciplinary panels in August. Brown, who was Rihanna's boyfriend at the time, was arrested on suspicion of beating the Grammy winner on Feb. 8, 2009, leaving her bloody and bruised. Prosecutors allege the photo was leaked after a stack of photographs of Rihanna's injuries was left lying on a desk at the Wilshire police station and Reyes took a picture of the top photo with her phone. Prosecutors say Reyes later emailed the image from her LAPD email address to her personal email address. Reyes and Lopez were roommates at the time, and phone records showed that they made multiple phone calls to Fox Television and TMZ in February. But despite a search of Reyes' and Lopez's bank accounts, a money trail was not discovered tying the leak to them, prosecutors said.

 Although Depp, 49, and longtime love Vanessa Paradis announced their split June 19 after 14 years and two children together, the Dark Shadows actor has already moved on -- with his sexy Rum Diary costar Heard, 26. After meeting on the set of Rum Diary back in 2009, the duo didn't become romantic until the film's promotional tour in 2011, when Depp and French model-actress Paradis, 39, were already seriously estranged. "They started sleeping together during the press tour," a pal says of the bisexual actress, who recently called it quits with girlfriend Tasya van Ree.


Son Of The South
Rafe Spall ("Prometheus") has scored the lead role in the Spike Lee-produced, Barry Alexander Brown-directed indie drama "Son of the South". The story follows a white author who grew up in Alabama as the son of a minister and grandson of a KKK member, and who later joined the Civil Rights Movement.

Can a Song Save Your Life?
Cee Lo Green has joined the cast of John Carney's new film "Can a Song Save Your Life?" which begins filming on Monday in New York City. Green will play a successful hip hop star named Troublegum. Keira Knightley, Mark Ruffalo, Adam Levine, Hailee Stanfied and Catherine Keener star.

Interns
JoAnna Garcia has joined the cast of Shawn Levy's new comedy "Interns". Garcia plays Vince Vaughn’s girlfriend in the film which shoots this Summer in Atlanta. Owen Wilson and Vaughn as two middle-aged guys who lose their jobs and have to start at the bottom in the new American workforce.

White Bird
Shailene Woodley ("The Descendants") has hopped on board Gregg Araki's "White Bird." The story follows a young woman whose mother disappears, turning her life upside down. Woodley is expected to shoot James Ponsoldt's "The Spectacular Now" first.

 The Castlemartyr Resort in east Cork was one popular spot last weekend. Former President Bill Clinton was staying in the picturesque spot for the annual Irish Funds conference, while Minneapolis couple Kelly Seamans and Patrick Howard were celebrating their wedding. Naturally, a chance meeting made for a great photo opp!

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.