Kim Basinger Narrating Hope Diamond Special

Kim Basinger will narrate a Smithsonian Channel documentary on the rare blue Hope Diamond, thought to be the world’s most valuable gem. The special marks the 50th anniversary of the diamond’s donation to the National Museum of Natural History by Harry Winston, its last private owner. “Mystery of the Hope Diamond” premieres November 21st. The diamond was discovered in India in the 17th century. Its owners have included King Louis XIV of France and King George IV of England. For many years, the 45-carat diamond was considered cursed, and it glows a fiery red when placed under an ultraviolet light.

Gibson’s Ex Shut Down In Court

Oksana Grigorieva has lost her motion to keep the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department away from her computer in connection with the extortion investigation. The Sheriff’s Department wants full access to Grigorieva’s computer to determine if there’s evidence she tried to extort Mel Gibson. The Sheriff’s Department told the judge they haven’t even begun looking at the material in the computer. Investigators are trying to convert the stuff into a viewable format.

‘PSYCH’ Goes Back To College

USA Network’s hit series “PSYCH” will embark on a 10-city college campus tour starting Monday at The University of Florida in Gainesville. The campuses will be overloaded with “PSYCH”-themed activities, including an advanced sneak peek of the show’s fall season premiere, “Extradition II: The Actual Extradition Part,” which premieres November 10th. “PSYCH” stars James Roday and Dule Hill will be making special appearances at select campuses throughout the tour, and each event will be hosted by a member of the “PSYCH” writing team, as well as creator, writer and executive producer Steve Franks.

MTV Sued By ‘Smelly Old Man’

A man referred to as a “smelly old man” on MTV’s “Rob Dyrdek’s Fantasy Factory” is suing the network over skateboarder Rob Dyrdek’s comments. The man was mocked as Dyrdek and crew members were trying to find out the source of a nasty odor. The man says he never gave permission for MTV to use his image on TV and claims that since the episode aired “friends and relatives began teasing or mocking [him], buying him air freshener.” He’s also upset Dyrdek and his buddies mocked the way he walks, claiming he suffers from “spinal stenosis.” He’s suing for $25,000.

‘The Simpsons’ Are Presbylutherans

“The Simpsons” and their spiritual beliefs are back in the news. The Vatican newspaper had said Bart and Homer had converted to Catholicism, based on an episode from 2005. But the show’s producer, Al Jean, says they’ve “always shown them as a Protestants” going to what the writers call a Presbylutheran church. Jean admits, “Bart and Homer were very interested in Catholicism. They liked the spaghetti dinners, and they liked the confession, where you could just absolve yourself of all your sins.” But, Jean adds, “Homer would have difficulty not eating meat on Friday, not even for an hour.”

New Opening Scene For ‘Avatar’

James Cameron is giving “Avatar” a different opening on the DVD and Blu-ray release of the film. The sequence offers a glimpse of life on crowded, polluted 22nd century Earth, where city dwellers are bombarded with digital ads and wear masks for protection from the foul air. The scene, which had been cut from the movie, shows Jake Sully, played by Sam Worthington, before he’s invited to join the Avatar program on the distant moon Pandora. The DVD and Blu-ray disc will be available beginning November 16th.

U.S. Version Of ‘Top Gear’ On Its Way

Production has started on the U.S. version of the hit British show “Top Gear,” according to the History channel. Comedian and car buff Adam Ferrara, champion rally and drift racer Tanner Foust and racing analyst Rutledge Wood will be the hosts of the American spin-off, which premieres next month. Among the guests lined up for the show, which showcases “an offbeat celebration of automobiles and driving,” are astronaut Buzz Aldrin, actors Tim Allen, Ty Burrell and Dominic Monaghan, skateboarder Tony Hawk, musicians Bret Michaels and Kid Rock, and actress Michelle Rodriguez. The new series will feature a “Stig,” a mystery masked stunt driver that will take each one of the featured cars for a test drive that will set the benchmark time by which each car will be judged.

Stars Line Up For ‘Conan’

Seth Rogen, Tom Hanks, Jon Hamm and Michael Cera are among the celebs booked to appear during the first week of “Conan,” TBS said. Conan O’Brien’s new series debuts November 8th, when Rogen will be interviewed and musician Jack White will perform. Hanks and Jack McBrayer are also set to appear on the following night’s episode, which will feature musical guest Soundgarden. On November 10th, Hamm and Charlyne Yi will be the guests, and Fistful of Mercy will be the musical act. Cera, Julie Bowen and comedian Jon Dore are lined up for the November 11th episode.

Longoria Unhurt In Minor Car Crash

Eva Longoria Parker escaped uninjured from a minor car accident in Hollywood. Wednesday’s collision occurred when another motorist turned left in front of Parker, police said. The accident remains under investigation. The second motorist also was unhurt in the crash, “Access Hollywood” said.

 

Gibson’s Appearance In ‘Hangover 2’ Officially Canned

It’s official, Mel Gibson’s planned cameo in “The Hangover Part II” has been canceled. Warner Bros. and director Todd Phillips say the actor won’t be appearing in the film as a tattoo artist because of his current legal battles with his ex. Filmmakers are worried too much attention will be put on Gibson and not enough on the film.

Tarzan’s Son Dies

Johnny Sheffield, who played the character “Boy” in the “Tarzan” movies of the 1930s and ‘40s, has died. He was 79. Sheffield died Friday of a heart attack at his home in the San Diego suburb of Chula Vista. His wife said he fell off a ladder while pruning a palm tree. Johnny Sheffield beat out more than 300 other youngsters for the role of “Boy” in the 1939 movie “Tarzan Finds a Son!” and went on to co-star with Johnny Wiessmuller in seven more Tarzan films. He later played another jungle boy, Bomba, in a dozen movies, but quit acting after the last one in 1955.

‘Tiger Eyes’ Movie In The Works

Author Judy Blume has written a screenplay with her son Lawrence based on her popular 1981 novel, “Tiger Eyes.” The younger Blume will direct the picture about a teen-age girl trying to start a new life with her mother and brother in New Mexico after her father’s murder in New Jersey. “Gossip Girl” actress Willa Holland will play the female lead, Davey.

Vivino To Lead ‘Conan’ House Band

Jimmy Vivino and the Basic Cable Band have been named the house band for the new “Conan.” The late-night show debuts November 8th on TBS. The Basic Cable Band consists of Scott Healy, Mike Merritt, Mark Pender, Richie “LaBamba” Rosenberg, Jerry Vivino and James Wormworth.” Meanwhile, TBS will switch on a “Live Coco Cam” today at noon. The live view into the Team Coco offices will be up 24 hours a day. Check it out at http://teamcoco.com/live.

VH1, Latifah Team For New Series

VH1 has teamed up with Queen Latifah’s Flavor Unit Entertainment on “Single Ladies,” a dramedy film and series about relationships. Co-starring Stacey Dash, LisaRaye McCoy, Charity Shea and DB Woodside, the series will mark VH1’s first foray into the hour-long scripted genre. A “Single Ladies” movie, featuring guest appearances by Lauren London, Eve, Common, Chili and Kim Porter, was shot last summer. The series is set to begin production later this year with executive producer Latifah to make a guest appearance. The movie and series will both premiere in July 2011.

 

Novak Treated For Breast Cancer

Kim Novak’s manager says the actress is undergoing treatment for breast cancer. Novak, 77, is best known for her work in the classic films “Pal Joey,” “Bell, Book and Candle” and “Vertigo,” as well as the TV’s “Falcon Crest.” She is now retired from acting and lives in Oregon.

Tom Bosley Dies

Tom Bosley, best known as Mr. C on the long-running television series “Happy Days,” has died. He was 83. Bosley died of heart failure early yesterday at a hospital near his Palm Springs home. Bosley’s agent said he was also battling lung cancer. TV Guide ranked Bosley’s Happy Days character No. 9 on its list of the “50 Greatest TV Dads of All Time” in 2004. The show debuted in 1974 and ran for 11 seasons.

Adrien Brody Sues Over Release Of Thriller Film

Adrien Brody has sued the makers of a thriller film for more than $2 million, claiming he hasn’t been fully paid for the project and the movie is being released in the United States without his permission. The actor sued the makers of “Giallo” in federal court in Los Angeles last Thursday, but an emergency petition to stop the film’s DVD release was denied. Sales of the thriller set in Turin, Italy, began yesterday. “Giallo” was shot in 2008. The judge ruled Brody can still seek an injunction against the film’s sale, but must first notify the filmmakers. Brody claims he is owed $640,000 for starring in the film and that its release is likely to cost him at least $2 million in damages.

Another ‘Real Housewives’ Divorce

There isn’t a lot of love on Bravo’s “Real Housewives of Orange County” lately. Cast member Vicki Gunvalson filed for divorce from her husband Donn Gunvalson on Monday. The two have been married for 16 years and renewed their vows in front of the cameras in 2009. Donn is the insurance agent’s second husband. This marks the second “RHOOC” cast member to file for a divorce this year. Cast member Tamra Barney’s husband Simon filed for divorce in early January.

‘Dragon’ Sequel In The Works

DreamWorks Animation is working on a 3D sequel to “How to Train Your Dragon.” Set for release in 2013, the second chapter in the franchise will again feature the voice talents of Jay Baruchel, Craig Ferguson, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, TJ Miller and Kristen Wiig.

 

Matron At Oprah School Not Guilty Of Abuse

The ex-matron at Oprah Winfrey’s Leadership Academy near Johannesburg, South Africa, was found not guilty yesterday of abusing girls at the school. About 150 South African girls from poor families attend the boarding school, which cost $40 million to build and opened in 2007. Virginia Mokgobo was acquitted of 14 charges related to the alleged sexual and physical abuse of six girls.

‘The Simpson’s’ Opening Sequence Directed By Banksy

Guerilla artist Banksy directed a very alternative version of the famous opening sequence from “The Simpson’s” for Sunday night’s episode, dubbed “MoneyBart.” The themed opening sequence featured Banksy’s name written on some of the famous Springfield landmarks and was inspired by reports the show outsources the bulk of their animation to a company in South Korea. Banksy is an international artist known for his protesting and graffiti work around the world. He has tagged in war zones and other outlandish places. His real identity still remains a secret.

Rhys Ifans Cast As Villain In New ‘Spider-Man’ Flick

Rhys Ifans is playing a bad guy – but just which bad guy remains to be seen. Sony Pictures said Ifans will play the villain in the next “Spider-Man” movie, due out July 3, 2012. Andrew Garfield stars as Peter Parker. Emma Stone will co-star as Gwen Stacy, Spidey’s original love interest.

‘Harry Potter’ Finale Won’t Be In 3D

The first half of the final chapter of the “Harry Potter” saga will not be coming to theaters in 3D after all. Warner Bros. has decided to forgo the 3D treatment for the first part of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” in order to keep the film’s release date on schedule. It is due out November 19th. The final chapter has two parts, however, and it is expected that the second part, due out July 15th, will get the 3D treatment.

Julianne Hough Denies Engagement Rumors

Julianne Hough is denying rumors that she and Ryan Seacrest may get engaged in the near future. In a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight, Hough said, “Well, that’s news to me, and I think it’s news to him.” Although the couple has yet to reveal their status officially, they were spotted vacationing together in Italy this summer.

Minka Kelly Named Esquire’s Sexiest Woman Alive

Esquire has named former “Friday Night Lights” actress Minka Kelly the Sexiest Woman Alive in its November issue. Derek Jeter’s girlfriend turned 30 in June. “I think it’s the most exciting birthday I think I’ve ever had,” Kelly tells the mag. “I’m so excited to be a woman. Done with the twenties.”

‘Jeopardy’ Winner Burglarized

A Massachusetts man who won a tidy sum on “Jeopardy” says his apartment was cleaned out by thieves. Mike Hodel, a 33-year-old waiter from Somerville, told the Boston Herald before his third round that aired yesterday that he and his girlfriend were at Boston’s Fenway Park watching the Red Sox play the Yankees on October 2nd when they learned their apartment had been robbed. Hodel’s “Jeopardy” appearances were taped in August. The shows aired so far reveal he has won more than $20,000.

Courteney Cox, David Arquette Separate

Courteney Cox and David Arquette say they have been separated for some time but still remain committed parents and “best friends.” The actors issued a joint statement yesterday announcing what they call a trial separation. The statement comes after In Touch Weekly reported the pair had split. The couple met on the set of “Scream” in 1996 and married in 1999. They have a 6-year-old daughter. Cox and Arquette are co-starring in the fourth installment of the “Scream” series, due out next year.

‘Napoleon Dynamite’ Headed To TV

“Napoleon Dynamite” is headed for TV. Fox is giving a series order to a project based on the movie, one of two new teen-friendly animated projects by the network. Fox has picked up six episodes of the show, with the original cast from the film on board as voice talent – including John Heder as the title character.

Marisa Miller Joins NFL

Sports Illustrated model Marisa Miller is teaming up with the NFL. Miller has signed on as the spokesperson for the NFL’s 2010-2011 season. Miller will promote the league’s special events, including the October 31st International Series game between the 49ers and Broncos in London, which will air on CBS in the United States. In case you’re wondering, Miller’s favorite team is San Francisco.

Laura Ling To Investigate For E!

Entertainment channel E! has hired Laura Ling, who was detained with a Current TV colleague in North Korea last year, to host the series “E! Investigates” starting December 9th. The show, which takes a look at the hard-news side of pop culture, will feature Ling exploring such topics as teen suicide and the lives of military wives.

O’Donnell Says ‘SNL’ Spoof ‘Really Funny’

A recent ad for Delaware Senate candidate Christine O’Donnell was fun fodder for “Saturday Night Live.” In “SNL’s” spoof of O’Donnell, who was played by Kristen Wiig, the parody was an over the top mocking of O’Donnell’s previous claims that she dabbled in witchcraft, as well as touching on the year of the Salem witch trials. Wiig joked that the state “deserves” a candidate who is not a witch saying, “That’s the kind of candidate Delaware hasn’t had since 1692.” O’Donnell responded with a Twitter posting saying the skit was funny. “I have to admit, her hair looked better than mine,” O’Donnell tweeted.

‘Sesame Street’ Spoofs Old Spice Commercial

The Old Spice commercial that made Isaiah Mustafa a household name has made its way to “Sesame Street.” In a new parody of the viral hit, “Sesame Street’s” Grover urges viewers to “Smell Like a Monster,” in an effort to teach kids the word “on.” The clip features Grover on a boat and, similar to the original commercial, it ends with Grover on a horse – make that a cow.

Stamos Extorters Sentenced

Michigan residents Allison Coss and Scott Sippola were sentenced to four years in prison Friday for attempting to extort money from John Stamos. Coss, who met the actor in Florida in 2004 when she was 17, and Sippola demanded almost $700,000 from Stamos in exchange for embarrassing photos they claimed to have. According to the FBI, the pictures do not exist. The judge refused Stamos’ request for $15,000 to cover attorney fees

Kelsey Grammer’s Girlfriend Suffers Miscarriage

Kelsey Grammer’s girlfriend, Kayte Walsh, 29, had a miscarriage six weeks ago. The couple said they “needed a little time to heal, time to find some solace before we publicly acknowledged our loss.” Grammer was first spotted with Kayte just weeks after his soon-to-be-ex-wife, Camille, filed for divorce in July. This would have been Kelsey’s fifth child. The couple announced the pregnancy in August.

 

Leno Drops By Palin Hometown To Visit Troops

Jay Leno dropped by Sarah Palin’s hometown to help open an Air Force Reserve recruiting office. The host of “The Tonight Show” was in Alaska to perform a show Saturday at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage. He also helped cut a ribbon for the opening of an Air Force Reserve recruiting office in Wasilla, the home of Palin.

Stan Lee Joins With MTV To Create New Comic Series

MTV is joining forces with Stan Lee’s POW Entertainment to create a new digital comic series called “The Seekers.” “It involves superheroes, it involves a very high-concept plot, it’s a story such as you never have seen before, and it spans the centuries,” Lee said. MTV will hold a contest to find an undiscovered writer and artist to work on the new comic series. The winners will work with Lee and POW to develop the concept and create the series. “The Seekers” will be available for free on the new website www.mtv.com/geek. The site offers comics, horror, sci-fi and gaming news, as well as coverage of comic-book conventions and previews of new comic books, games and movies.

Kardashian ‘OK’ After Bar Fight

Kim Kardashian said she’s “totally fine” after a bar brawl in New York City. The reality TV star was celebrating her sister Khloe’s birthday last night in New York at Juliet Supper Club when a drunken male fan asked if Kim would take a picture with him. But the fan’s girlfriend, who was also drunk, became upset and threw her drink in Kim’s face. Sister Kourtney and her boyfriend, Scott Disick, were also at the bar. Disick was eventually kicked out of the bar after he jumped in to help Kim out. Kim said none of her crew was drinking and they just wanted to have a “fun family night out.”

‘America’s Got Talent’ Auditions Begin

Auditions for the summer 2011 season of “America’s Got Talent” kicked off over weekend in Denver. Future auditions will be held in Los Angeles on October 23rd and 24th, Chicago on November 6th and 7th, and New York on November 14th and 15th. Auditions are also set for Atlanta, Seattle and Houston. Find out more online at www.NBC.com.

Kutcher, Moore Seek Peace In Mideast

Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher are seeking inspiration in the Holy Land to heal their marriage. “Sharing Love & Light while in Israel,” Kutcher tweeted Saturday night, hours after the couple flew out of Los Angeles. “Asking 4 the energy 2 forge bonds with our similarities & find compromise in our differences.” Kutcher took to his Twitter page last month to deny rumors of infidelity. Since then, they have put up a united front, appearing at the Clinton Global Initiative, spending time in Michigan on the set of Moore’s upcoming film, “The Reasonable Bunch,” and stepping out for a movie date in Los Angeles.  

Osmonds Sued By Vegas Show Producer

Donny and Marie Osmond have been sued by a Las Vegas show producer. Chip Lightman claims the siblings forced him to accept a 50% pay decrease or face a breach of contract lawsuit for their show at the Flamingo Hotel. According to the suit, the Osmonds threatened to walk out of their agreement to perform in “The Donnie and Marie Show” until 2012 unless Lightman took the pay cut. Lightman is suing the Osmonds for “unspecified damages for breach of contract, unjust enrichment, fraud and contractual interference.”

 

No More ‘Gay’ ‘Dilemma’

Universal has released a new trailer for Ron Howard’s big-screen comedy, “The Dilemma,” in response to backlash stemming from a joke in the original trailer about electric cars being “gay.” The studio said that the teaser trailer was “not intended to cause anyone discomfort.” The film, which stars Vince Vaughn and Kevin James, is slated to hit theaters on January 14th.

Harper, Dern Divorcing

Musician Ben Harper has filed for divorce from actress Laura Dern, his wife of five years. Citing irreconcilable differences in Friday’s filing, Harper asked the judge to deny Dern spousal support. The filing said the couple separated in January, but people connected with the couple said they were living and traveling together as recently as last week. Harper wants joint legal and physical custody of their two children.  

Jury Gets Case In Anna Nicole Trial

The trial of three people charged with keeping Anna Nicole Smith loaded up on drugs went to the jury on Friday after two months of testimony. Prosecutors ended final arguments, allowing the judge to hand the case to the 12-member jury that will decide the fate of Smith’s companion, Howard K. Stern, and her two doctors, Kristine Eroshevich and Sandeep Kapoor. Jury deliberation begins tomorrow. If convicted, they could be sentenced to more than five years in prison.

Miss USA Stripped Of Title Dies

Leona Gage, who in 1957 was named Miss USA but lost the title the next day when pageant officials found out she was married and a mother of two, has died. She was 71. Gage died Tuesday of heart failure after spending several weeks in the hospital, according to her son.

Hit Nick Show Spawns Hit Food

The creator of the Nickelodeon series “iCarly” said he was shocked at how one of the show’s jokes, spaghetti tacos, became a kids’ cuisine sensation. Dan Schneider said he didn’t foresee spaghetti tacos becoming a sensation, often featured on cooking blogs and parenting sites, when they were first prepared on the show by Spencer, the title character’s brother. “It was just a little joke I came up with for one episode,” Schneider said. “Then it turned into a running joke. And now it’s this thing people actually do.”

Hurt ‘Transformers’ Extra’s Family Sues

The family of an extra injured on the set of “Transformers 3” has filed a lawsuit in Chicago’s Cook County Circuit Court against Paramount Pictures. Gabriela Cedillo was hit in the head by a piece of flying metal during the shooting of the movie last month. She can now only mouth words and is unable to walk, according to her brother, Adolfo Romo. Romo said his sister is undergoing treatment at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, but her prognosis for recovery is unclear. The family is seeking unspecified damages in the lawsuit against the movie studio and Ryerson Inc., a Chicago-based metal distributor.

Lisa Rinna’s New Reality Show

Now that Lisa Rinna has fixed her upper lip, she’s showing off her new kisser in a reality series, “Harry Loves Lisa,” with husband Harry Hamlin. Rinna says her series is more of a family sitcom, done in reality-show style. It premiered last night on TV Land.

‘Glee’ Cast Beats Out Beatles For Billboard Record

The “Glee” cast has surpassed the Beatles for the most appearances on the Billboard Hot 100 chart by a non-solo act. The cast of the hit Fox series has six debuts on the chart this week, giving them a total of 75 songs on the chart to the Beatles’ 71. Elvis Presley still leads overall with 108 songs to chart on the Hot 100, followed by James Brown with 91, then “Glee.” The Beatles are sixth, behind Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin. Lil Wayne, Stevie Wonder and Jay-Z round out the Top 10. The “Glee” cast has sold 2.8 million albums and 11.5 million downloads.

Gordon-Levitt’s Brother Dies

Actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt announced via Twitter his older brother, Dan, died, but he didn’t disclose the cause of his death. The star’s brother was a 36-year-old fire-spinning artist and arts teacher at Flow Temple Arts School in Venice Beach, California. He went by the nickname Burning Dan. The cause of death was unknown at press time, however officials from the L.A. County Coroner’s office told RadarOnline.com that drugs are suspected to have played a role. Coroner’s spokesperson Ed Winter said Gordon-Levitt was pronounced dead on October 4th at 3:58 a.m. in Hollywood. Two friends were with him at the time.

Oksana Won’t Be Talking To Oprah

Mel Gibson’s ex-girlfriend won’t be talking to Oprah after all. Oksana Grigorieva and Gibson just hashed out a joint-custody deal for their daughter, Lucia, in which Gibson has been ordered to pay $20,000 a month in child support. Due to the nature of the proceedings in family court, a judge has put a gag order on the couple, which will keep Oksana off Oprah’s couch. “Neither party in the case should be speaking,” a source told E!

‘Dexter’ Star Sues Over Prop

“Dexter” star Brando Eaton is suing a prop company for an incident on the site while on the show “Miami Medical” last year. Eaton was playing a character who was shocked with a defibrillator, but the “prop” turned out to be the real deal and juiced him up real good. Eaton was rushed to the hospital and alleges he needed “treatment and counseling for the anxiety, flashbacks and apprehension from his incident.” He’s seeking some serious unspecified cash.

Michael Douglas Near End Of Cancer Treatment

Michael Douglas is nearly finished with his eight weeks of chemo and radiation to treat his throat cancer. The actor’s publicist, Allen Burry, said the 65-year-old star has one more treatment this week and “no further treatments are scheduled.” He is expected to be completely recovered within six weeks.

MDA Telethon Getting Shorter

The Muscular Dystrophy Association’s Labor Day Telethon is getting shorter. The group says it plans to shave more than 15 hours off its annual telecast. The 2011 MDA Labor Day Telethon will now be a six-hour, primetime program. Last month’s Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon raised $58.9 million to fund research to find a cure for muscular dystrophy and ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease.

‘Iron Man 2’ Sells More Than 1 Million DVDs In 1 Day

Everyone knew “Iron Man 2” would be the biggest home video seller and renter of the week, but nobody knew just how big. The flick sold more than 1.1 million DVDs in its first day in stores and ended the week just past the 5-million mark. “Iron Man 2” grossed $312 million at U.S. theaters.

Rick Sanchez Fired From CNN

Rick Sanchez was fired from CNN’s “Rick List” on Friday after making comments about Jon Stewart and Jews during a radio interview. Rick also blasted Stephen Colbert and Keith Olbermann. Sanchez said during the interview, “I think to some extent Jon Stewart and [Stephen] Colbert are the same way. I think Jon Stewart’s a bigot.” Sanchez also claimed that CNN is “run by Jews.” Stewart mocked Sanchez over the weekend during his role as host on Comedy Central’s “Night of Too Many Stars.” “If you went on radio and said the Jews control the media...you may want to hold on to your money,” Stewart said. “All he has to do is apologize to us, and we’ll hire him back,” he continued. Jokes about Sanchez continued throughout the show, most notably when David Letterman said he was late because he had been “helping Rick Sanchez clean out his office.”

Hilary Duff’s Hubby Behind On Car Payments

Hilary Duff’s husband, NHL star Mike Comrie, bought a 2009 Mercedes-Benz CL550 for $165,000 before he wed Duff. According to documents filed in L.A. County Superior Court, the Pittsburgh Penguins star has defaulted on the payments. The finance company claims they tried to repossess the car from Comrie, but he has “refused to allow Plaintiff possession.” The company is looking for him to pay the rest of his contract, which is $103,398.57, plus other costs.

‘Dog The Bounty Hunter’ Hospitalized

Duane “Dog” Chapman, star of “Dog the Bounty Hunter,” was injured while on a bounty hunt, but is believed to be in excellent condition, his wife Beth tweeted yesterday morning. Chapman was taken to the UCLA Medical Center in California Saturday night and treated and released for internal bleeding. “He was admitted for tests for a possible blood clot following an injury he suffered on a bounty hunt,” Beth posted on dogthebountyhunter.com.

ABC’s ‘My Generation’ Dumped After Second Telecast

After just two airings, “My Generation” has become the fall TV season’s second casualty. ABC pulled the plug on the new drama after Thursday’s little-watched episode drew fewer viewers than the premiere a week earlier. Staged in the form of a documentary, “My Generation” focused on a group of young people 10 years out of the high school. The axing followed word last week that Fox had dumped its new drama, “Lone Star,” after only two airings.

Steve Carell To Star In Remake Of ‘Of All The Things’

Steve Carell has signed on to appear in and produce a feature film remake of the 2008 documentary “Of All The Things,” which gives an inside look into the life of songwriter/producer Dennis Lambert. Lambert is best known for bringing songs such as “Rhinestone Cowboy,” “Nightshift” and “We Built This City” into existence.

‘A-Team’ Producer Dies

Stephen J. Cannell, writer-producer of dozens of series including “The Rockford Files,” “The A-Team” and “The Commish,” died at his home in Pasadena Thursday night from complications associated with melanoma. He was 69. During his TV heyday, Cannell was featured on the ID that followed each of his shows. He was seen typing on his Selectric before ripping a sheet of paper from the typewriter carriage, which then morphed into the C-shaped logo of Cannell Entertainment. He was also an occasional actor, most recently with a recurring role on ABC’s “Castle.” Cannell focused on writing in recent years. His 16th novel, “The Prostitute’s Ball,” will be released this month. He was also a producer of the feature film updating “The A-Team,” released earlier this year.

NASA Workers Appear At Casting Call

A NASA spokesman said about 600 people with security clearance at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center showed up at a casting call for “Transformers 3” extras. NASA spokesman Allard Beutel said space center workers received an e-mail recently seeking workers with “badged” security clearance to appear in scenes of the Michael Bay film being shot at the NASA facility. It was not known how many would be selected to appear in the third installment of the blockbuster franchise. The director wanted extras with security access to reduce the vetting process and said having experts as extras would reduce the amount of training required.  

Who Pays Don Johnson ‘Nash’ Money

Don Johnson’s reps say the actor will be paid $51.7 million in “Nash Bridges” money by billionaires Mark Cuban and Todd Wagner and their 2929 Entertainment business. A judge ruled late Thursday that it was Cuban and Wagner’s 2929, along with Rysher Entertainment and investment firm Qualia Capital that should pay the bill for money owed the actor stemming from his partial ownership of “Nash Bridges,” a TV series he co-created. Johnson starred with Cheech Marin in the cop show from 1996 to 2001.

 

Nicole Richie – Novelist

With her second novel in stores now, Nicole Richie is moving away from being famous just for being famous. In addition to her famous father, famous tabloid appearances and a clothing and accessories line, she’s now a novelist. “Priceless” is about a wealthy young woman in New York whose father is busted for embezzling millions of dollars. She moves to New Orleans and creates a new life for herself, making her own decisions for the first time. Richie says she’s been writing since she was a kid. With two kids and a wedding in her future, she says she writes in her downtime.

 

Tony Curtis Dies

As we reported yesterday, Tony Curtis died Wednesday evening at his Las Vegas area home of a cardiac arrest. He was 85. The father of Jamie Lee Curtis appeared in more than 140 movies and TV shows, co-starring with hundreds of famous actors including Marilyn Monroe and Jack Lemmon. Curtis continued acting up until 2008 when his chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ended his career. Curtis had been married six times and is survived by wife Jill and five children.

Anderson Cooper Plots New Daytime Show

CNN’s Anderson Cooper has announced plans to debut a daytime talk show next fall. The “AC 360” host says the as-yet-untitled project will cover popular topics like celebrities, pop culture and social issues in a journalistic style. Cooper will still do his “360” show.

Pratt, Montag Call Off Divorce

Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag are back together. “We are back together trying to make things work,” the pair told People magazine. “Costa Rica really put things in perspective. We do love each other and realized we do want to spend the rest of our lives together,” they added.

David Simon Awarded With Genius Grant

David Simon, creator of “The Wire” and “Treme,” has been awarded the prestigious MacArthur Foundation “genius grant.” The MacArthur grant awards each recipient with $500,000 in “no strings attached” support over the next five years. The purpose is to financially support great minds so that they can pursue projects that might lack financial backing.

Candice Bergen To Write Second Memoir

Candice Bergen will pen a second memoir as a follow-up to her 1984 book, “Knock Wood.” The as-yet-untitled book will cover Bergen’s time on the TV show “Murphy Brown” as well as the death of her husband, director Louis Malle. The book is due out in 2012.

Musical Chairs ‘American Idol’ Style

The new seating arrangement for the judges on “American Idol” is all mixed up. A photo tweeted by Nigel Lythgoe shows Randy Jackson sitting in Simon’s old spot; he was previously at the other end of the table. Jennifer Lopez is sitting in the middle, where Paula Abdul used to be, and Steven Tyler is at the end, where Jackson used to sit.

Auditions Set For Paula Abdul’s Dance Competition Show

Paula Abdul is ready to see what kind of dancing talent is out there. CBS is holding open casting calls for “Live to Dance,” formerly called “Got to Dance.” Auditions will be October 14th in New York and October 28th in Los Angeles. Abdul will serve as coach and mentor to the contestants. The winner gets $500,000. An air date for the show has not yet been announced.

Heidi Klum Leaves Victoria’s Secret

Heidi Klum says she’s done representing Victoria’s Secret after a 13-year association. “All good things have to come to an end,” she said. “I will always love Victoria’s Secret. It has been an absolutely amazing time.” Klum plans to focus on her many other ventures, including “Project Runway” and her multiple clothing lines. Meanwhile, Klum’s husband, singer Seal, debuted a new video this week. The video for “Secret” features Seal and his wife naked.

Paris Hilton’s Boyfriend Cited For Hit-And-Run

Paris Hilton’s boyfriend has been busted for hit-and-run. Paris and Cy Waits were dining at Boa, an upscale steakhouse in West Hollywood, Wednesday night. As they tried to leave in Wait’s Bentley, the paparazzi surrounded the car. Witnesses said Waits tried to escape by “gunning” the engine. He hit a photographer identified only as Carol, knocking her to the ground. Waits asked if Carol was okay. Another paparazzo said yes and told Waits to go. After leaving the scene, Waits took Hilton to her house; he was later given a field sobriety test. The photographer managed to get away with just a cut on her right shin. Waits was detained and then released with a citation and court date.

Michael Bolton Not Getting ‘DWTS’ Apology

Producers of ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars” have announced that judge Bruno Tonioli will not be forced to apologize to Michael Bolton after the singer was booted from the show on Tuesday night. After Tonioli called Bolton’s jive the worst he had ever seen, Bolton called the judge “inappropriate and disrespectful.” On “Good Morning America” Wednesday Bolton said, “I think he should apologize publicly and be reprimanded for it.” Michael said he was “disappointed” in the critique – not only for himself, but because his 90-year-old mom was present to witness it. However, “DWTS” producers have stated that they “don’t feel Bruno should be expected to apologize for doing his job.”