Celebrities Fill White House For Kennedy Center Honors

The White House was full of celebrities yesterday when President Barack Obama played host to this year’s five Kennedy Center honorees. Among the entertainers spotted attending the East Room reception were John Lithgow, Robert De Niro, Andre Previn, Emily Blunt, John Krasinski, Matthew Broderick, Sara Jessica Parker, Smokey Robinson, Stanley Tucci, Christine Baranski, Michelle Lee, Itzhak Perlman and Florence Henderson. The Kennedy family was represented by Vicki Kennedy, Jean Kennedy Smith and Caroline Kennedy. Obama called this year’s honorees – singer-actress Barbara Cook, singer Neil Diamond, cellist Yo Yo Ma, jazz saxophonist Sonny Rollins and actress Meryl Streep – “five giants from the world of the arts” being honored for “a lifetime of greatness.” He joked Ma is at the White House so often, “We need to give him a room.” CBS will broadcast the show on December 27th.

Former Miss USA Arrested On DUI Charges

Former Miss USA Rima Fakih is facing drunken driving charges after a weekend arrest in Highland Park, Michigan. She tweeted on Saturday: “Let’s clear things up now. ... I’m NOT in Michigan and I’m NOT in jail! Wrong Fakih.” But the post has since been removed, and her attorney Doraid Elder confirmed the arrest yesterday. Elder had few details of the arrest but said Fakih’s record “has not a single blemish,” adding that the beauty queen is “very saddened and very apologetic for the situation that she’s in right now.” In 2010, Fakih became the first Miss Michigan to win the Miss USA title since 1993 and the first Arab American ever to win the pageant. She competed for Miss Universe later that year but lost.

Demi Lovato Returns To Treatment Center To Help Others

Demi Lovato has returned to the treatment center where she spent the holidays last year in order to share her story of recovery with current patients. Lovato took a three-month break from the limelight at the end of 2010 to seek help and counseling for a series of emotional issues, which had led to an eating disorder and self-harming.  Now on the road to recovery, Lovato returned to Timberline Knolls in Illinois to meet the women and girls struggling with their own issues. In a series of tweets on yesterday she wrote, “Wow what an inspiring day... Many tears were shed and many memories were brought back at Timberline Knolls today. She also urged fans to “say a prayer for all of those struggling with eating disorders, self harm, mood disorders, and substance abuse.”

Abdul, Scherzinger Receive Death Threats

Drew Ryniewicz fans are not pleased. After “X-Factor” hosts Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger voted off Drew on this past Thursday’s show, fans have made threats against both of them.  Sources add that Simon Cowell gave both of the women the cold shoulder after the show because he was upset with their decision. But the tweets and Facebook messages were worse, filled with profanity and threats.

Kate Major Missing

Michael Lohan’s ex-girlfriend Kate Major has reportedly gone MIA after wandering off from a hospital in Florida. According to her rep, Major was transferred from rehab in Boca Raton to a nearby hospital after suffering a seizure. The rep explained, “She was being treated in the hospital and somehow walked out of the hospital with no one noticing. We don’t know if she’s okay or if she has had another seizure. But she is missing and has only the clothes on her back, no money, no credit cards, no phone. We are very worried about her.” Major, who recently filed restraining orders against Lohan, had voluntarily checked herself into rehab for alcohol abuse in November after an alleged drunken plane fight a few weeks prior.

Brooke Mueller Arrested

Charlie Sheen’s ex-wife Brooke Mueller has been arrested on suspicion of assault and cocaine possession. Mueller, who has two sons with Sheen, was detained in Aspen, Colorado, on Friday night after the police were called to investigate a nightclub scuffle. During a routine walk-through of the Belly Up nightclub, police learned that Mueller had been involved in an altercation and left the club. Police caught up with Mueller and arrested her at a nearby bar. She was placed under arrest and charged with third degree assault, a misdemeanor, and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, a felony. She was released from jail Saturday morning after posting $11,000 bail and is set to appear in court on December 19th.

Roger Ebert Announces ‘At The Movies’ Hiatus

Roger Ebert has announced that his film review program “Ebert Presents: At the Movies” will go on hiatus starting at the end of the year. The show launched on January 21st, but now the renowned critic says it will come to end if they don’t get a major cash infusion. Ebert and his wife and co-producer Chaz have already funded the show to the tune of $25,000 but in his Chicago Sun-Times blog, Ebert says the hiatus is a last resort.

Christie Brinkley Owes The Tax Man

Records show Christie Brinkley owes $531,000 in back taxes and the IRS has filed a lien against her. The tax lien was filed November 21st on a mansion in Bridgehampton on New York’s Long Island, where she lives. A spokeswoman for Brinkley says the star was surprised to hear the lien had been filed and that the supermodel has ‘instructed her team to resolve the matter immediately.”

Utah Home Inspired By Disney Movie ‘Up’ Sold

Two self-described Disney “fanatics” have purchased a house in Utah modeled after the colorful home featured in the animated movie “Up.” Discovering the house in the Salt Lake City suburb of Herriman, Utah, was a dream come true for Clinton and Lynette Hamblin of Petaluma, California. The couple had been looking for a house with some of the same flourishes as the one in the movie, such as a multi-colored exterior or a blue kitchen with retro appliances. They initially looked in California until they saw news reports about the house in Utah that included every possible detail from the movie and was even officially recognized as the “Up” house by Disney. Even more surprising was the $400,000 price tag, which was less than homes they looked at in California. The Hamblins plan to move into the home after closing January 4th, which happens to be Lynette Hamblin’s birthday.

Tom Cruise Visits Taj Mahal

Tom Cruise says his visit to India follows a lifelong desire to see the country. He said while touring the iconic, white-marble Taj Mahal mausoleum in Agra that he is “very excited” about being in the country for a fan screening of his latest action-thriller, “Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol,” days ahead of its world premiere on Wednesday. Cruise joined Bollywood star Anil Kapoor for the red-carpet screening yesterday in Mumbai. The film sees Cruise reprise his role as secret agent Ethan Hunt, while Kapoor plays an Indian business tycoon.

J.R. Martinez Honored

“Dancing With The Stars” champ J.R. Martinez was honored Friday night with the Unsung Hero Award at philanthropist Lois Pope’s Lady in Red Ball in Palm Beach. The Unsung Hero Award saluted Martinez, who was guest of honor at the annual ball, for “overcoming devastating injuries to make a full life for himself and in so doing bring the plight of America’s three million living disabled veterans into our country’s consciousness.” Martinez suffered severe burns over 40% of his body when his U.S. Army vehicle hit a land mine in Iraq in 2003. After a three-year recovery, he began working as a motivational speaker and actor, appearing on “All my Children.” A fan favorite, Martinez and his “DWTS” partner, Karina Smirnoff,” won the competition on November 23rd.

American Giving Awards

Miley Cyrus and Jackie Evancho will be presenting at the 2011 American Giving Awards next week. “Modern Family’s” Jesse Tyler Ferguson, J.R. Martinez and Gabrielle Union will also be presenters, and Jackie will be performing her hit song, “Angel.” Rodney Atkins will perform his new hit “Take a Back Road.” Hosted by Bob Costas, the American Giving Awards are the first-ever televised celebrity tribute to community heroes, offering five charities an opportunity to share in $2 million in Chase grants. Now through December 8th, Facebook fans of Chase Community Giving and Chase online customers will determine how much each charity will receive by voting for their favorite featured charity online. The winning charity will receive a $1 million grant from Chase, while the runner-up will be granted $500,000, and a third organization will receive a $250,000 grant. Two organizations will be given $125,000 grants. The charity receiving the $1 million grand prize will be revealed during the televised broadcast. The AGAs will air Saturday, December 10th, on NBC.

Flavor Flav, Gary Busey Set For ‘Wife Swap’

Gary Busey, rapper Flavor Flav and rocker Dee Snider are set to star in the reality series “Celebrity Wife Swap,” ABC said. Also set to trade spouses for a week are Evangelical pastor Ted Haggard, former child stars Tracey Gold and Tina Youthers, singer Carnie Wilson, wrestler Mick Foley, actor-model Antonio Sabato Jr., and comedienne Niecy Nash. The series is scheduled to premiere next month.

Joel Osteen Nabs Reality Show

The pastor of America’s largest congregation could soon be starring in his own reality TV show. The Rev. Joel Osteen says he’s signed an agreement to work with producer Mark Burnett to develop a reality show that features him taking mission trips with members of Houston’s Lakewood Church. The program would also feature Osteen’s wife, Victoria. Burnett is executive producer of “Survivor.” He and his wife, actress Roma Downey, have attended Lakewood Church and become friends with the Osteens. Joel Osteen said a typical show would feature him and several hundred church members boarding a plane and flying somewhere to help people in need. Lakewood Church attracts more than 40,000 worshippers to its weekly services in a former sports arena.

Trey Parker, Matt Stone Named mtvU’s Men Of The Year

Trey Parker and Matt Stone are mtvU’s Men of the Year. MTV’s college network honored Parker and Stone for their 15 seasons of “South Park.” mtvU says they have “fearlessly pushed boundaries by taking shots at everyone from liberals and conservatives to the ultra-religious.” They even recently spoofed the Penn State scandal.

CBS Gives ‘Early Show’ New Name

CBS Gives ‘Early Show’ New Name
CBS says its new morning program will be called “CBS This Morning” when it debuts next month. Anchored by Charlie Rose, Gayle King and Erica Hill, the program will replace the low-rated “The Early Show” starting January 9th. John Miller will join the broadcast as senior correspondent, while Rebecca Jarvis will serve as business and economics correspondent, and Jeff Glor will be a special correspondent. “The Early Show” had been the name of CBS’s very early morning program since 1999.

Seth McFarlane, Betty White Up For Grammys

The guy who does the voice of Stewie on “Family Guy” is up for a Grammy for a standards album. Seth McFarlane’s debut album, “Music is Better Than Words,” is up for Traditional Pop Vocal Album. McFarlane is also up for Best Song Written for Visual Media, for co-writing “Christmastime is Killing Us” for “Family Guy.” Zooey Deschanel is also up for that award for writing “So Long” from “Winnie the Pooh.” Betty White could win her first Grammy. She’s up for Best Spoken Word Album for “If You Ask Me.” Her competition includes Tina Fey for “Bossypants” and Val Kilmer for “The Mark of Zorro.” John Larroquette and Daniel Radcliffe could win their first Grammys, for Musical Theater Album for “How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying.”

Clark Gable’s Secret Daughter Dies

Judy Lewis, the secret daughter of Clark Gable and Loretta Young, has died. Lewis died Friday in the Philadelphia suburb of Gladwyne. She was 76. Lewis was conceived while Young was unwed and Gable was married to his second wife, Maria Langham. The two were filming “The Call of the Wild.” Their affair resulted in a secret pregnancy and a hush-hush birth. The actress left her love child at an orphanage for 19 months, returning only then to adopt her. Young kept her daughter in the dark about her family history. Judy was eventually raised by her mother and Young’s husband, Tom Lewis, whose last name she took. Lewis never did have a relationship with her biological father, although when she was 15 Gable visited her without telling her why. It took 31 years for her to learn the truth, which her mother told her privately but would not admit to publicly. Young eventually did admit that Lewis was her daughter with Gable in her authorized biography, “Forever Young,” published after her death in 2000. Lewis first followed an acting career, with roles in “General Hospital,” but left the theatrical world to become a therapist.

Daniel Craig Blasts Kardashians

Daniel Craig is blasting the Kardashians, calling them “(expletive) idiots” in an interview with GQ. Craig criticizes them for showing their lives on TV and then complaining when they try to get some of their privacy back. He says “we’ve been in your living room. We were at your birth. You filmed it for us and showed us the placenta and now you want some privacy?” Craig says it infuriates him when he sees how much money the Kardashians make. He says “you see that and you think, ‘what, you mean all I have to do is behave like an idiot on television and then you’ll pay me millions?’” Not only do they make millions, the Kardashians are on Barbara Walters’ list of the most fascinating people of 2011.

Action Comics 1 Sells For $2.16 Million At Auction

A rare and pristine copy of the first issue of Action Comics, famed for the first appearance of Superman, set a record Wednesday for the most money paid for a single comic book: $2.16 million. The issue, graded at 9.0, was auctioned online at www.comicconnect.com. The seller was Nicolas Cage, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Cage turned a super-sized profit – he bought the 1938 Man of Steel original 14 years ago for roughly $150,000. The buyer has remained anonymous. The issue was published in 1938 and cost just 10 cents.