‘Idol Gives Back’ Raises Nearly $45 Million

This year’s “Idol Gives Back” special raised almost $45 million for child hunger and health charities in the United States and Africa, organizers said on Friday. Elton John, Alicia Keys and Carrie Underwood were among the stars who performed on last Wednesday’s live special. Two previous editions of “Idol Gives Back,” in 2007 and 2008, raised a total of around $140 million from donations. Some 18.3 million Americans watched the show last week, which was scaled down partly because of the recession. The $45 million is expected to rise when proceeds from iTunes sales are added, Fox said. The money raised will be shared between the Children’s Health Fund, Feeding America, Malaria No More, Save the Children and the United Nations Foundation.

Jesse James Vandalism Case Postponed

The investigation into Jesse James’ recent run-in with a paparazzo has been postponed because police can’t talk to James while he’s in rehab. Ulises Rios was embroiled in a dispute with Sandra Bullock’s estranged husband last month close to the star’s home in Long Beach, California. Both men made citizen’s arrests, with Rios accusing James of damaging his car in a scuffle. James was cited for vandalism, but no charges were made against him. Police raided Rios’ home earlier this month and confiscated several items including videotapes and photographs as part of their investigation. But officers decided to put any further inquiries on hold until James is released from rehab next month. James’ publicist issued a statement claiming James would spend April in treatment for an undisclosed issue following allegations he cheated on Bullock.

Actor Wants $50 Million For Being ‘Imprisoned’ At The Oscars

An actor denied entrance to the Oscars last month has sued the Academy for false imprisonment, claiming he and his wife were detained for hours without their consent. Michael Avmen, who appears in the upcoming films “Battle: Los Angeles” and “Straw Dogs,” claims he and his wife Mandy were unlawfully imprisoned outside the ceremony after a ticket mix-up. Avmen says his publicist arranged for him to attend the March 7th ceremony at the Kodak Theater and told him he could pick up his tickets once inside the venue. But when the couple arrived on the red carpet without tickets, they say they were “rushed away to an AMPAS detention center where they were held and questioned about how they had been able to get onto the red carpet.” Six hours later, they were transferred to the police station and released without charges. They want $50 million in damages from the Academy.

Lindsay Lohan Dropped From Movie

Lindsay Lohan has been dropped from her latest film, “The Other Side.” Sources close to the project, which stars Woody Harrelson, Giovanni Ribisi, Dave Matthews and Alanis Morissette, claim that people financing the film deemed her not “bankable.” Director David Michaels told TMZ, “Our team simply chose to move on from Lindsay.”

Contacting Aliens ‘A Bad Idea’ Warns Hawking

Aliens are very likely to be out there, according to eminent scientist Stephen Hawking – but we should keep quiet and hope they don’t notice us. The theoretical physicist says aliens may look to conquer and colonize. In a new documentary for the Discovery Channel, Hawking claims such space life would only abuse Earth’s resources and move on. “We only have to look at ourselves to see how intelligent life might develop into something we wouldn’t want to meet,” he said. “I imagine they might exist in massive ships, having used up all the resources from their home planet.” He says if aliens visit us, the outcome would be similar to when Columbus landed in America, “which didn’t turn out well for the Native Americans.” The documentary, “Into the Universe,” took three years to complete and was spearheaded by Hawking, who suffers from neuro-muscular dystrophy.

ABC Planning Live ‘Lost’ Event

ABC has announced plans for an event called “Lost Live: The Final Celebration” at UCLA’s Royce Hall in Los Angeles. The May 13th show will feature appearances by “Lost” cast members including Nestor Carbonell, Michael Emerson and Jorge Garcia. Oscar-winning composer Michael Giacchino will conduct a live orchestral performance featuring the music of “Lost.” A special preview of the next–to-last episode will be screened immediately after the concert. The sixth and last season of “Lost” will wrap with a 2-hour finale on May 23rd. Preceding the finale will be a 2-hour recap special.

Spelling Mansion For Sale

Candy Spelling is selling her massive Los Angeles mega-mansion for $150 million. The Beverly Hills property is one of only five homes in the U.S. on the market for more than $100 million. It is reportedly the most expensive home for sale in the world. The widow of TV mogul Aaron Spelling says she’s selling the mansion, built in 1991, because it is “too big” for her. The Holmby Hills estate, known as The Manor, is 56,500 square feet. Reports suggest the estate has 100 rooms.

 

 

‘Survivor’ Villain Arrested In Louisiana

A contestant on “Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains” was arrested on charges of pushing a woman in Lafayette, Louisiana. Russell Hantz was taken into custody early Friday and released a few hours later. Jail records showed he was charged with battery. Police said officers received a call about a fight and were told by the 18-year-old victim and a witness that she and Hantz had gotten into an argument and he pushed her to the ground, causing minor injuries. Hantz, 37, a member of the Villains tribe on “Survivors,” believes the cops mistreated him during the incident and he’s considering taking legal action against the arresting officers.

Pamela Bach Jailed

David Hasselhoff’s ex-wife Pamela Bach has been sentenced to 90 days behind bars for DUI. A judge in Los Angeles sentenced Bach to 30 days in jail and another 60 were added because her November arrest constituted a parole violation. Bach will begin her jail time on May 3rd. She and Hasselhoff divorced in 2006.

 

Producer’s E-Mails Leaked To Gossip Site

A lawyer for a slain Los Angeles restaurant owner’s family is asking the person who has been selling sensitive e-mail messages to a celebrity gossip Web site to stop. Monica Beresford-Redman was killed earlier this month while on vacation with her husband, reality TV producer Bruce Beresford-Redman, in Cancun, Mexico. Bruce has been identified by police as a person of interest in the case and will not be allowed to leave the country until the investigation into his wife’s death is complete. CNN said someone described as a “very close friend” of Monica’s sold e-mail messages allegedly exchanged between Monica, Bruce and his alleged mistress to Radaronline.com, which published the messages online last Thursday. The Web site would not disclose who sold the messages or how much they were paid for them. An attorney told CNN the dead woman’s family is asking “the person who has obtained (the messages) to stop leaking information to the media that may be critical to the pursuit of justice.”

Bravo Casting For Songwriters Reality Show

A new reality series is looking for talented songwriters. The Bravo show “Hitmakers” will follow undiscovered songwriters as they go through different writing challenges. The winner will receive a cash prize and publishing deal. Casting calls will be held in the next few weeks in Los Angeles, Atlanta, Nashville and New York. No word on when the series will premiere.

‘Avatar’ On DVD, The Sequel

Even though there aren’t extras on the “Avatar” DVD that came out on Earth Day, James Cameron is working on them for the next home release, hoping to add deleted scenes. He says it’ll be “six minutes of cool stuff.” Cameron says the scenes were only partially done when the decision was made not to include them in the original movie. Now, he and his staff are working on finishing the scenes. As for “Avatar 2,” Cameron says he’s working some of the story points now.

Randy Quaid And Wife Suing Ex-Lawyer For Gossip Stories

Randy Quaid and his wife Evi are suing their former lawyer, accusing him of “gossip mongering” by allegedly running stories about them on his Web site. The couple claims they hired attorney Lloyd Braun to negotiate business deals. The Quaids say he became a close family friend but eventually betrayed them by posting photos and information about them on his entertainment Web site. A lawyer for Braun dismissed the accusations, telling TMZ, “The alleged facts are palpably untrue. Lloyd Braun hasn’t represented these people for more than a decade and the files were turned over to other entertainment lawyers when Lloyd left the practice of law.” Quaid and his wife are currently in the middle of a legal battle over an unpaid $10,000 hotel bill. They have been accused of burglary and defrauding an innkeeper. They’ve had a number of warrants issued for their arrest over past court no-shows.

Bret Michaels In Critical Condition

Poison frontman Bret Michaels was hospitalized at an undisclosed location with a brain hemorrhage on Thursday and is in critical condition. According to a post on Michaels’ Web site yesterday, doctors are trying to find the source of bleeding in his brain. This hospital stay comes after Michaels underwent an emergency appendectomy in San Antonio on April 12th. Michaels is currently a contestant on “The Celebrity Apprentice.”

No One Fired On ‘Celebrity Apprentice’

No one was booted from “Celebrity Apprentice” last night. Donald Trump thought both teams, Tenacity and RockSolid, did extremely well with their latest task, although Tenacity actually raised more money. After the departure of another male member last week, Trump had to shuffle the contestants so that it wouldn’t be five against two. Curtis Stone joined Tenacity with Summer Sanders and Cyndi Lauper, along with project manager Holly Robinson Peete. Sharon Osbourne took the lead for RockSolid, helped by Bret Michael and Maria Kanellis. Their task was to create a workout class for 24 Hour Fitness and to raise funds from it. The team with the most original workout was awarded $24,000 and the money went to RockSolid. However, Tenacity raised $206,090, while RockSolid got $131,803.

Sandra Bullock Asked To Give Razzie Back

Sandra Bullock is being asked to return the Razzie Award she received for her performance in “All About Steve.” When Bullock won the Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress in the comedy, she was inadvertently given the prototype trophy instead of a $4.79 replica the winners are normally given. The Razzies are now asking her to please return the very valuable trophy. “As Sandra was in such a rush after winning Worst Actress she ran off with the original handmade prototype which has been present at ceremonies since the 1980s,” Razzie Awards co-founder John Wilson said. He added, “It’s really about the sentiment of it. The one she has is the very first, the one I designed and handmade 30 years ago.” Bullock probably won’t have much of a problem parting with the Razzie trophy, as she won an Oscar for her performance in “The Blind Side” the very next day. 

Marie Osmond’s Son’s Death Ruled Suicide, No Drugs

The coroner has released the autopsy for Michael Bryan, Marie Osmond’s son, showing the cause of death was, “multiple blunt trauma” and “jumped from height.” According to the L.A. County Coroner’s Office, drugs were not found in Bryan’s system. Bryan died on February 26th in Los Angeles after jumping from his apartment building. His death was ruled a suicide. Michael had been suffering from depression due to “bad school grades and a recent visit from a former girlfriend,” according to witness statements in the coroner’s report. Ruthann Clawson, a close friend of Michael’s, said he also confided in her that he had three previous suicide attempts by hanging.

Warrant Issued For ‘Deadliest Catch’ Star

Jake Harris – one of the stars of “Deadliest Catch” – is officially a wanted man after blowing off a court appearance in his reckless driving case yesterday. A judge in King County, Washington, issued a bench warrant for the 24-year-old after he failed to appear for his pretrial hearing. Jake, the youngest son of the late Captain Phil Harris, was arrested in February after allegedly driving recklessly and causing a late-night car crash. In addition to reckless driving, Jake was originally charged with DUI and hit-and-run, but those two charges were eventually dropped.

 

Power Ranger Escapes DUI Charge

Former Mighty Morphin Power Rangers star Walter Jones has had DUI charges dismissed by an Alabama judge. The 39-year-old actor, who played the original Black Power Ranger, pleaded not guilty to the charges following his arrest in Huntsville, Alabama, in July 2009. A reason for yesterday’s dismissal has yet to be revealed but Jones was allowed to walk away a free man after handing over $200 to cover his court costs.

 

‘Men In Black’ Back, In 3D

Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones are headed back to the big screen for a third “Men In Black” movie. The duo will reteam as Kay and Jay in a 3D sequel. So far, the hit franchise has made well over $1 billion globally.

 

Letterman Making ‘Live’ Visit With Regis And Kelly

David Letterman will drop in next week on “Live with Regis and Kelly.” The CBS “Late Show” host will join Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa on April 30th. It will be his first visit since Philbin returned to the air after heart surgery in April 2007. During that appearance, the two compared scars and swapped stories about their bypass operations.

Secret Service Investigating Kal Penn Robbery

The crook who robbed Kal Penn messed with the wrong guy. Penn was held up at gunpoint early Tuesday morning in Washington, D.C., by an unidentified man who took off with his wallet and personal belongings. The robber also made off with Penn’s two cell phones – one of which belongs to the U.S. government. The “Harold & Kumar” actor is a member of President Obama’s staff, serving as the Associate Director in the Office of Public Engagement. Since the thief stole Penn’s government issued cell phone, the Secret Service has joined the D.C. Metro Police Department in the investigation. White House communications immediately stopped service on the stolen phone once they were contacted by Penn, who has since been issued a new device. Penn is set to leave his White House gig to continue his acting career. He will begin shooting a Christmas-themed third installment of “Harold & Kumar” in June.

Two More Make Sexual Harassment Claims Against Seagal

Two more women who worked for Steven Seagal as personal assistants have come forward to allege he made inappropriate sexual advances towards them – and one is Ray Charles’ granddaughter. Both have provided sworn statements to Kayden Nguyen’s legal team. Kayden sued Seagal for $1 million, alleging he sexually harassed her and engaged in sex trafficking. Blair Robinson claims she first met Seagal at her famous grandfather’s funeral in 2004. She says she was invited to Seagal’s home after the funeral, along with her father, Ray Charles Jr., to discuss a job opportunity with the actor. Blair took a job as Seagal’s assistant a month later, but on the first day she claims Seagal came to her room and told her she was required to give him massages. The other woman accuses Seagal of luring her into his bedroom and putting his hands on her breasts because he was “checking just as a doctor would for lumps.” Like Nguyen, both women quit after the incidents.

Heather Locklear Cited For Hit-And-Run

Heather Locklear was arrested for allegedly hitting a no-parking sign on a public street early Saturday morning near her gated-community home in Ventura County, California, and leaving without notifying anyone. The actress, who was driving a black 2005 BMW, was cited for misdemeanor hit-and-run after deputies examined debris left at the scene and traced it back to her car. While Locklear was technically arrested, she was not handcuffed or taken to a station because it was just a misdemeanor charge, police said. She is due in court on May 17th. Her attorney says Locklear may not have been at the wheel at the time. Locklear is currently serving a three-year probation term after she pleaded no contest to reckless driving following her DUI arrest in September 2008. The DUI charge was ultimately dropped in that case.

 

‘The Simpsons’ Meet ‘American Idol’

Ryan Seacrest and the judges on “American Idol” are heading to Springfield. They’ll guest-star as themselves on the May 23rd season finale of “The Simpsons.” The episode has Moe discovering he has a talent for judging contests. He is invited to judge on “American Idol.”

Muslim Group Warns ‘South Park’ Creators Of Death

A radical Muslim group has warned the creators of “South Park” that they could face a violent death for depicting the prophet Muhammad in a bear suit during last week’s episode. The Web site RevolutionMuslim.com has since been taken down, but did show a message to creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone. The site said the men “outright insulted” the religious leader. CNN, which first reported the posting, said the New York-based site is known for postings in support of jihad, or holy war, against the West and Osama bin Laden.

Leonard Nimoy Hangs Up His Ears

Leonard Nimoy, best known as Spock on “Star Trek” for over 40 years, has announced he’s officially hanging up his Vulcan ears for good. Nimoy, 79, plans to retire from show business and the “Star Trek” convention circuit. Nimoy also currently guest stars on the TV show “Fringe.”

Another Finalist Leaves ‘American Idol’

Tim Urban, a 20-year-old college student from Duncanville, Texas, was eliminated from “American Idol” last night at the end of the “Idol Gives back” charity event. Urban received the fewest viewer votes. The other finalists remaining on the show include Crystal Bowersox, Lee Dewyze, Michael Lynche and Siobhan Magnus. The singers will be mentored next week by Shania Twain.

Copperfield Rape Accuser Drops Lawsuit

The fashion model who claims David Copperfield raped her has announced she’s dropping her lawsuit against the magician, claiming she’s “had enough.” Lacey Carroll filed the suit last year, claiming Copperfield spotted her in the audience of one of his shows in 2007 and invited her to his private island in the Bahamas where the alleged incident occurred. This past January, authorities cleared Copperfield of any wrongdoing. Officials later brought charges against Carroll for filing a false police report in another case in which she was also charged with prostitution. Carroll issued a statement saying, “It’s never been about money ... I just wanted him held accountable for what he did.” Copperfield also issued a statement saying he did not pay Carroll “a dime to drop her lawsuit.”

Kal Penn Robbed At Gunpoint

Actor Kal Penn was robbed at gunpoint yesterday. Penn is a UCLA graduate best known for his roles in the movie “Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle” and the TV series “House.” He took a break from acting last year to work as associate director of public engagement for the Obama administration. TMZ said a man with a gun approached Penn at about 1:20 a.m. yesterday as the actor was walking through Washington and took his wallet and other personal property. Police are investigating.

‘Daily Show,’ ‘Colbert’ Get Renewed

Comedy Central has renewed “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” and “The Colbert Report.” Stewart’s contract extension with Comedy Central will keep him at the helm of “The Daily Show” through June 2013. He’ll continue to serve as executive producer, writer and host. Colbert’s extension will keep him and “The Colbert Report” on the network through the end of 2012. Colbert serves as executive producer, writer and host for the show.

Idol Gives Back’ Promises Bill Gates Surprise

Bill and Melinda Gates are appearing on “American Idol” tonight as part of the show’s “Idol Gives Back” feature. They’ll be interviewed by Ryan Seacrest during an episode featuring celebrities such as Elton John and Alicia Keys. Show producer Simon Fuller said the Gates “have done something very special, quite incredible, this year.” A Gates Foundation spokesperson said they made a donation to support “Idol Gives Back.” Their appearance is also an opportunity to introduce global health issues and thank viewers for their support of the charitable effort. “Idol Gives Back,” which has raised more than $140 million, will benefit Children’s Health Fund, Feeding America, Malaria No More, Save the Children and the United Nations Foundation. The fundraiser is airing as part of the weekly elimination episode. Seven contestants remain. Others performing for “Idol Gives Back” are the Black Eyed Peas, Annie Lennox, Jeff Beck, Joss Stone, Mary J. Blige and Justin Bieber.

New Charge Filed In Stamos Extortion Case

Federal prosecutors in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula have filed a fresh criminal charge against two people accused of trying to extort money from John Stamos. Scott Sippola and Allison Coss are charged with using interstate commerce to make the threat. It was filed as “felony information,” which means a guilty plea is likely. Sippola and Coss are accused of threatening to sell photos of Stamos unless he paid them $680,000. They were arrested in December at an airport near Marquette. At the time, Stamos’ spokesman said there was nothing embarrassing about the images. Stamos met Coss in Florida in 2004 and attended a party where the photos were taken.

‘Octomom’ Says She’ll Never Do Reality TV

Octuplets mother Nadya Suleman says being known as “Octomom” makes her feel like a “carnival attraction.” Appearing on “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” the mother of 14 children told Winfrey that she will never do a reality TV show and that “a parent must provide for their kids, not the other way around.” Last June, Suleman’s lawyer said she had signed a deal to star in a reality TV series to be filmed by a Netherlands-based production company. Suleman gave birth to six boys and two girls in January 2009. The eldest of her six other children is eight.

Michael Douglas’ Son Sentenced To 5 Years

A New York judge sentenced Michael Douglas’ son to five years in prison on drug charges yesterday, calling it his “last chance to make it.” Federal Judge Richard Berman announced the sentence after hearing Cameron Douglas apologize and admit that he had squandered a lot of opportunities to turn his life around. The judge said earlier that he did not have confidence that Douglas would turn his back on drugs after pleading guilty in January to drug charges. The 31-year-old son admitted to dealing methamphetamine and cocaine. He had faced 10 years behind bars.

Volcanic Ash Hurting Celebrity Travel

The travel mess created by that volcanic ash is affecting celebrities. Miley Cyrus couldn’t get to London for the British premiere of “The Last Song” last night because of the ash. And the world premiere of “Iron Man 2” is being moved from London to Los Angeles. It’s scheduled for Monday.

 

Love On ‘Dancing With The Stars’

Is there more than dancing going on with “Dancing With the Stars?” NFL star Chad Ochocinco has given his partner, Cheryl Burke, an enormous platinum ring with diamonds. The bling, from Jason of Beverly Hills, reportedly costs more than $10,000. But they insist their relationship is just professional. Chad said the ring was just a thank-you gift for all of Cheryl’s hard work. Erin Andrews got a big laugh Monday night when she said nothing romantic was going to happen until she gets a ring like that from her partner, Maks.

 

James Bond On Ice

The next James Bond film has been put on indefinite hold because the studio, MGM, is having big money troubles. The Broccoli family, which produces the Bond films, issued a statement saying: “We do not know when development will resume and do not have a date for the release of ‘Bond 23.’” Daniel Craig reportedly said last fall that the 23rd James Bond movie would start shooting later in 2010, but the studio never confirmed that.

Kate Gosselin Axed From ‘Dancing’

Reality TV mom Kate Gosselin was eliminated last night from “Dancing With the Stars,” leaving seven couples in the competition. Gosselin landed near or at the bottom of the judges’ leader board during five weeks of dancing. She and professional partner Tony Dovolani came into last night’s results show with the week’s lowest score: 15 points out of 30 for a lackluster foxtrot. Gosselin said through tears that she was honored to have been on the show. “I love everyone that I met,” she said, apologizing for being “a crybaby.” Returning to dance on Monday’s episode are Nicole Scherzinger, Evan Lysacek, Pamela Anderson, Niecy Nash, Jake Pavelka, Erin Andrews and Chad Ochocinco.

‘Bachelor’ Winner Elopes

Reality TV star Shayne Lamas has stunned family and friends by marrying her boyfriend of just a day in Las Vegas. The daughter of Lorenzo Lamas married Nik Richie at the Little White Wedding Chapel, where Britney Spears exchanged vows with childhood friend Jason Alexander in 2004. The new couple reportedly met on Saturday and eloped within 24 hours. Lamas broke off her engagement to “The Bachelor” star Matt Grant in July 2008 after winning the competition. Richie, the founder of celebrity Web site TheDirty.com, announced the news with a short note on his Twitter page on Monday that read “Married.”

Larry King Divorce

Larry King and Shawn Southwick have reached a two week truce in their divorce battle. “There’s a 50-50 chance this divorce is not happening,” King’s lawyer, Dennis Wasser, tells People. “His focus is on the best interest of his children. It’s not clear to me which way he’s going to turn on this issue.” TMZ reports the two were headed to marriage counseling yesterday. The news comes after Larry and Shawn were seen walking arm-in-arm Sunday at their son’s baseball game in Los Angeles. The couple has been married for 12-and-a-half years.

‘Lord Of The Flies’ Star Dies

James Aubrey, who broke into acting with a featured role in “Lord of the Flies,” has died of pancreatitis at his home in England. He was 62. Aubrey died April 6th in Cranwell. He was a 13-year-old untested actor when he was cast in the 1963 film adaptation of William Golding’s novel. His film credits also include “Galileo,” “The Hunger” and “Cry Freedom.”

Mel Gibson’s Ex-Girlfriend To Help Chernobyl Kids

The Russian-born singer who split from Mel Gibson earlier this month says she’ll perform a charity concert in Moscow to aid victims of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Oksana Grigorieva said proceeds will pay for vital surgery for children born in the area affected by radioactivity from the 1986 nuclear plant explosion and fire. Grigorieva said she already has funded operations for 50 children with heart conditions and leukemia in Ukraine, Belarus and Russia. Grigorieva and Gibson split this month after a three-year romance. She said they had agreed to raise their baby daughter Lucia together. Grigorieva also has a son with actor Timothy Dalton.

Charlie Sheen’s Lawyers Argue Over Lack Of Miranda

An attorney for Charlie Sheen wants statements thrown out that the actor made to police investigating the alleged Christmas Day attack on his wife. Sheen’s lawyer says an officer questioned Sheen without advising him of his rights. The motion does not reveal what Sheen actually said to police. Charlie Sheen is charged with menacing, criminal mischief and assault in the case involving his wife Brooke Mueller Sheen. He’s pleaded not guilty. A jury trial is set for July 21st.

Biden To Appear On ‘The View’

Vice President Joe Biden is facing the ladies of “The View” this week. Biden will be a featured guest on Thursday’s show. Executive producers Barbara Walters and Bill Geddie say it’s part of the program’s ongoing “Red, White and View” series of political discussions. Biden last appeared on “The View” in 2007 while promoting his book about his life in politics.

KICKED OUT OF STRIP CLUB!

24 actor Kiefer Sutherland was kicked out of a London strip club late last week for fighting. According to TMZ, the actor took his shirt off and was dancing around before getting into a fight with someone. He was kicked out by bouncers at around 3:30 AM.

Ryan Seacrest Keeps ‘Idol’ Contestant From Quitting

Overwhelmed by the stress and pressure of being on “American Idol,” frontrunner contestant Crystal Bowersox threatened to walk off the show. “Idol” host Ryan Seacrest stepped in and had a quick heart-to-heart with her in the show’s parking lot. Sources claim Bowersox told him she couldn’t handle the competition and didn’t like all the media attention; she threatened to move back to Ohio to be with her family. Seacrest finally convinced Crystal to stay on the show after explaining, “The greatest thing I ever did was make enough money so I could buy my mom a house. You can buy your mom a house.” After the news hit the Internet about her possible departure, Bowersox took to the official “American Idol” Facebook page to respond. She writes, “No apologies for being human. Life is always testing one’s strength and weakness threshold. That’s how we learn how strong we really are.”

Paltrow Pulls Out Of Kidman Movie

Gwyneth Paltrow will no longer be playing Nicole Kidman’s wife in the upcoming film “The Danish Girl,” after deciding she would rather spend more time with her family. Paltrow signed up for the movie in November, replacing Charlize Theron. “Danish Girl” tells the story of a man who undergoes the first sex-change operation (played by Kidman) and the wife that stands by her. Paltrow explained that after the film’s location was changed, she couldn’t bear spending so much time away from husband Chris Martin and her kids, Apple, 6, and Moses, 4.

GLAAD Media Awards

The 21st Annual GLAAD Media Awards-Los Angeles were held at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza on Saturday. Wilson Cruz and Candis Cayne hosted the event. Winners included “Glee” for Outstanding Comedy Series, “A Single Man” for Outstanding Film (Wide Release), and RuPaul’s “Drag Race” for Outstanding Reality Program. GLAAD also honored Drew Barrymore with the Vanguard Award, and Wanda Sykes with the Stephen F. Kolzak Award. Visit www.glaad.org for a full list of winners.

Christina Applegate Engaged

Christina Applegate and musician Martyn LeNoble are getting married. “The couple, who have been dating for two years, got engaged on February 14, 2010,” a rep for the actress confirmed. There is no set date for the wedding. It’s the second marriage for both. Applegate divorced actor Johnathon Schaech in 2007. Applegate overcame a bout with breast cancer in August 2008 following a double mastectomy. She remains cancer-free. Netherlands-born LeNoble, 41, is a founding member of the rock group Porno for Pyros.

Larry King, Estranged Wife Seek Counseling

Larry King and Shawn Southwick have agreed to undergo marriage counseling, but not to save their marriage. King, 76, and Southwick, 50, discussed sessions with the counselor after divorce papers were filed last week, but it was for the sole reason of maintaining stability for their two sons during the separation, sources told the Daily News. The two are parents to 11-year-old Chance and 9-year-old Cannon. King’s divorce lawyer said the chances of a possible reconciliation seem dim. Divorce papers were filed by Southwick over her suspicions of King having an affair with her 46-year-old sister. In his divorce petition, King is seeking joint custody of the kids, while his wife is asking for primary physical custody as well as spousal and child support.

Sandra Bullock’s Bogus Murder Plot

The FBI has reportedly decided a tip about a plan to kill Sandra Bullock is “not credible.” The tip came from Shane Modica, ex-husband of Michelle “Bombshell” McGee and mistress of Bullock’s estranged husband, Jesse James. Modica said a Missouri man had called him to say McGee wanted him to kill both her ex- and Bullock. The man also reportedly called the FBI in Missouri. Agents talked to the local sheriff’s office who said the man had suffered a head injury that led him to “lose sense of reality.”

Man Claims He’s Oprah’s Father

An 84-year-old farmer says he’s Oprah Winfrey’s biological dad. Nohr Robinson wrote Oprah a letter, agreeing to submit to a paternity test to prove his allegations. “I told her [in a letter], if she wanted, I’d give her one (DNA test),” Robinson told the New York Post. The talk show host never wrote back, according to Nohr. “I never got no answer. I never did get no answer. If I did, it didn’t get to me,” he added.

Danny Glover Among Protestors Arrested In Maryland

Danny Glover was among a dozen people arrested during a labor union protest on Friday at the Maryland headquarters of a food service company called Sodexo. Police said Glover and others stepped over yellow police tape and were asked to step back three times. When they refused, they were arrested, issued citations for trespassing and released. They face a $1,000 fine or 90 days in jail. The Service Employees International Union was protesting what it calls Sodexo’s unfair and illegal treatment of workers. Sodexo says the union was spreading misinformation. Sodexo made more than a billion dollars profit in 2009, but pays its U.S. workers as little as $7.50 an hour. It offers no affordable health insurance for two-thirds of its employees, according to the union.

Goldberg Fired From ‘Celebrity Apprentice’

“Celebrity Apprentice” had a country flavor last night, with country star and last season’s “Celebrity Apprentice” runner-up Trace Adkins filling in for Ivanka Trump. Adkins guest starred during a task where the team had to do a makeover for country music stars Emily West and Luke Bryan. The women’s team, Tenacity, had West, while RockSolid had Bryan. The men chose wrestler Bill Goldberg as project manager and the women chose Cyndi Lauper. While Goldberg was the team leader, Bret Michaels pretty much took over. The women had an advantage when Sharon Osborne came back from sick leave to help. The women won. Overall, the executives liked the men's promo kit better than the women's, but the women did better on the makeover portion and the performance, ultimately doing a better job making a "break out star." Cyndi Lauper was given $20,000 to give to her charity, The True Colors Fund, which works to empower the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. In the boardroom, Bret Michaels and Curtis Stone both selected Michaels to go home – yes, Michaels picked himself to go home. However, Trump targeted Goldberg for appointing Michaels to do most of the work and for taking on the task to begin with. Trump fired Goldberg. Afterwards, Trace Adkins – who had already jumped on Trump twice for comments he made about bandanas during the boardroom meeting – told The Donald that he didn’t agree with his decision to fire Goldberg. He felt Bret Michaels should have been the one to go.

Jesse James Agrees With Sandra Bullock – Sex Tape

Sandra Bullock said there was no sex tape, and Jesse James is backing her up. Speaking through his rep, James concurs that the two do not appear together in a sex tape. He also refutes Internet reports that he appears on a tape with other women. “The claims of sex tapes are untrue and completely fabricated,” Jesse’s rep told People magazine.

No Takers For Nicolas Cage Mansion

A Bel-Air mansion owned by Nicolas Cage had no takers in a foreclosure auction. The opening bid for the actor’s 12,000-square-foot home was $10.4 million. The Tudor mansion boasts six bedrooms, home theater and an Olympic-sized pool. The house reverted to the foreclosing lender at Wednesday’s auction in Pomona. Cage owes millions in unpaid taxes and in January his foreclosed home in Las Vegas sold for nearly $5 million. Cage sued his former business manager in October for $20 million, claiming the man’s advice led him to financial ruin. The ex-manager says Cage is a spendthrift.

Gibson Donating Movies To Mexican Museum

Mel Gibson is donating sets from the movie he’s currently working on to a future Mexican museum, according to the governor the Mexican Gulf coast state of Veracruz. Governor Fidel Herrera says several sets were built inside the Ignacio Allende prison in Veracruz and that the jail will be converted into a museum once Gibson is done filming. In January, 1,500 inmates were transferred out of the prison to make room for Gibson’s film, tentatively titled “How I Spent My Summer Vacation.” Gibson filmed his 2006 movie “Apocalypto” in Veracruz.

Search Warrants Served In Jesse Vandalism Case

Cops executed two search warrants Wednesday in connection with a Jesse James’ vandalism and stalking cases. According to TMZ, the Long Beach Police Department was looking for evidence connected to a March 25th incident in which Jesse claimed he was being stalked by a paparazzo and the paparazzo claimed Jesse vandalized his car. Sources say investigators searched two homes where the paparazzo had been staying and seized several items including videotapes and photographs, which presumably show the confrontation. Both Jesse and the photographer made citizen’s arrests. No charges have been filed.

Hollywood Producer Suspect In Wife’s Death

“Survivor” and “Pimp My Ride” producer Bruce Beresford-Redman is a suspect in his wife’s death, days after reporting her missing in Cancun, Mexico. The body of Monica Beresford-Redman was found in a sewer at the swanky Moon Palace resort, where the family was vacationing. A witness at the hotel saw the couple arguing Sunday. Bruce Beresford-Redman has been detained as a suspect. The cause of death has not been determined. Beresford-Redman told police Tuesday that his wife left the hotel the previous day and never returned.

Kate Gosselin Gets New TLC Shows

TLC says two shows starring Kate Gosselin will be on its 2010-11 programming schedule. Gosselin starred in the TLC hit “Jon & Kate Plus 8” before her divorce from Jon last year. In “Twist of Kate,” Gosselin “steps into the lives of other women and moms experiencing challenges and triumphs,” the network said yesterday. Gosselin will also appear with her eight children in “Kate Plus 8.”

Oprah To Star In New Show On OWN Network

Oprah Winfrey will star in a new lifestyle series on her OWN network. Winfrey, who plans to wrap syndicated “Oprah Winfrey Show” in 2011 after 25 seasons, announced yesterday that the Oprah Winfrey Network, which launches January 1st, will include “Oprah’s Next Chapter,” a one-hour show that will feature Winfrey hitting the road to have “more riveting conversations with the people we all want to hear from in some very unexpected places.” The show was one of five new series announced; the others include “Visionaries: Inside the Creative Mind,” “Your OWN Show: Oprah’s Search for the Next TV Star,” “Gayle King Live!” and “Why Not? With Shania Twain.”

Erin Andrews Slams ‘Dancing’ Dating Rumors

Erin Andrews is slamming rumors she and “Dancing With The Stars” partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy are in a “hot romance.” Andrews tells Sports Illustrated that she was “shocked” when she saw People magazine’s latest cover, which says, “Dancing’s Erin & Maksim: Their Hot Romance.” “According to People, our ‘romance’ is official, but People must know people because we don’t know the people that they know. The thing is, what Maks and I do joking around gets taken seriously,” Andrews said. “Our official word is that we thank People for letting us know about this hot romance because we didn’t know we had it.”

‘Police Women’ Want To Mentor Lindsay Lohan

The stars of the TLC reality show “Police Women of Maricopa County” have offered to help Lindsay Lohan get her life back on track, “That way she can be that great role model for our kids because she’s on TV so much,” said Deputy Amie Duong. “It would be nice to straighten her out,” she added.

‘Idol Gives Back’ Holding Online Auction

The auction for the “Idol Gives Back” fundraiser is now online. Up for bid are two tickets to the “American Idol” Season 9 finale on May 26th. A meet-n-greet with Simon Cowell goes with it. There’s also a package for next season that includes a seat at every performance and results show from the Top 10 through the May 2011 finale. You can also get a private singing lesson from Kara DioGuardi and Randy Jackson. Check it out at www.idolgivesback.org. “Idol Gives Back” will air April 21st on Fox.

Tiger Heckled By Planes

Security may be extremely tight on the ground at Augusta National Golf Course, but not in the air. A heckler flew over Tiger Woods at the Masters yesterday. As he played his first hole, a small plane flew overhead carrying a banner reading “Tiger: Did you mean ‘bootyism?’” The quip was a reference to several public apologies made by Woods in late March when he said he had “gotten away from my Buddhism. And I quit meditating.” Woods didn’t appear to see the banner – or the one carried by another plane that read “Sex addict? Yeah. Right. Me Too!!” Tiger finished his first round with a four-under 68, just two shots off the lead. It was his best opening round ever at the Masters.

Nancy Kerrigan’s Brother Charged With Manslaughter

Figure skater Nancy Kerrigan’s brother was charged with manslaughter in the death of their 70-year-old father yesterday. Prosecutors said Mark Kerrigan, 45, killed his father, Daniel Kerrigan, during a drunken rage over the use of the family telephone. Kerrigan was indicted by a Middlesex Superior Court grand jury in the January death of his father. He had already been charged with assault and battery on an elderly person resulting in serious bodily injury. Since being released on bail after a psychiatric evaluation, he has been living with his mother in the family’s Stoneham home, where the alleged assault took place. Members of the Kerrigan family have insisted they do not blame Mark for the death of Daniel, who had a pre-existing heart condition. They said in a statement yesterday that they were “deeply disappointed” in the manslaughter charge.

‘Family Ties’ Actor Sentenced

Ex-“Family Ties” actor Brian Bonsall has been sentenced to two years’ probation after pleading guilty to charges connected to a fight with a friend last year in Colorado. Bonsall, 28, entered his plea yesterday in Boulder to felony menacing and third-degree assault. He also pleaded guilty to violating the terms of his probation from a 2007 assault on his girlfriend and was sentenced to five day in a work-release program and 40 hours of community service. Bonsall had tested positive for using pot.

Tiger’s Conquests Included Young Neighbor

The latest girl linked to Tiger Woods is reportedly a young neighbor who’s known him since she was a teenager. As Woods continues to prepare for the Masters tournament, his neighbor’s daughter has come forward to say she had sex with the golfer on a couch near where a crib for one of his kids had been placed, The National Enquirer reported yesterday. Raychel Coudriet, now 22, met Woods for the first time when she was just 14, and later had a one-night stand with him, the tabloid reported. Coudriet said the sexual encounter in his office just a mile from his Florida home left her “shaken and humiliated.” The girl reportedly told friends that Woods did not use a condom and that the sex was “mechanical and unemotional.”

Sharon Osbourne Gifting Old Breast Implants

Sharon Osbourne has apparently decided it’s time to downsize from her 34DD breast implants, though she has no plans to completely retire them. The “Celebrity Apprentice” star said she plans to give one of the old implants to her husband, Ozzy, to use as a paperweight, and the other to her PR chief to use as a “stress buster.”

‘Buffy’ Star Charged In Alleged Cop Attack

“Buffy the Vampire Slayer” star Nicholas Brendon has been charged with four misdemeanors after officials say he tried to fight a bunch of police officers last month. Brendon was charged with one count of resisting arrest, two counts of battery against a police officer and one count of vandalism. Police received a call on March 17th that a drunken man was causing a commotion in Venice, California. When officers arrived, Brendon allegedly tried to throw a few punches before taking off on foot. Officers caught up and Tasered him twice. Brendon is due back in court on April 7th.

Jon Gosselin Files For Custody

Jon Gosselin has officially filed legal papers formerly asking a Pennsylvania judge for primary custody of the eight kids he had with Kate Gosselin. Jon also wants the child support order that is currently in place reviewed by the judge. Jon claims the arbitrator in the divorce “failed to take into consideration the numerous factors provided for by the law in Pennsylvania.” Jon’s lawyer, Anthony F. List, feels Kate is an “absentee mom” now that she’s in Hollywood appearing on “Dancing with the Stars.” Kate currently has primary custody and Jon is required to pay $20,000 a month in child support.

Tiki Barber Cheating Scandal

NFL star-turned-”Today” show correspondent Tiki Barber is leaving his wife of 11 years, Ginny Barber, who is pregnant with their third child. Barber reportedly left Ginny for Traci Lynn Johnson, a 23-year-old former NBC intern.

Diablo Cody Married And Pregnant

Diablo Cody has tweeted two big announcements: she got married last year and now she’s pregnant. In one tweet, Cody writes: “Thanks for the congrats on my fetus! No secrets here; just thought it would be fun to see how big I could get before someone noticed.” As for her husband, Cody says she’s “not secretly married.” She says she got married last summer and “took wedding photos in Times Square, which is pretty much the opposite of secretive.” Her husband, Dan Maurio, works on Chelsea Handler’s show.

Navratilova Diagnosed With Breast Cancer

Tennis great Martina Navratilova says she has been diagnosed with breast cancer, but her prognosis is excellent. Navratilova said a routine mammogram in January found a lump, and a biopsy the following month determined it was a noninvasive cancer called DCIS. The nine-time Wimbledon women’s singles champion had a lumpectomy in March and will start six weeks of radiation therapy next month.

‘Idol’ Judges Save Big Mike

Michael “Big Mike” Lynche was “saved” by the judges last night on “American Idol.” The personal trainer and new father from Queens, New York, was praised for his take on “Eleanor Rigby” during Tuesday’s show. But Big Mike still received the fewest viewer votes. He would have been packing his bags had the judges not used their one-time-only power to “save” a contestant voted off the show. With Lynche safe this week, that means two contestants will go home next week. Joining Lynche at the bottom were Andrew Garcia and Aaron Kelly. Adam Lambert mentors the finalists next week.