Sep
30
2008

Janet Jackson’s Rock Witchu Tour has been postponed after the pop diva became suddenly ill while performing a sound check in preparation for her Montreal engangement Monday.
Jackson spent several hours in the Montreal’s Royal Victoria Hospital after being rushed there shortly before she was scheduled to perform.
Though details of her illness have not been released, her Wednesday performance in Boston and her October 2nd date in Philadelphia will be rescheduled while she is recovering. She will resume the tour in Greensboro, NC on October 4th.
Soon after Jackson was hospitalized, rumors began circulating that the celebrity superstar might be pregnant, though there have been no comments made by her camp to substantiate them. Jackson has intimated in recent interviews that having a baby with long time boyfriend and super producer Jermaine Dupri might be something that she’d consider in the future.
The World As I See It
Sep
29
2008

Heather Locklear has been on the celebrity “hot” list for years, but like the younger generation of “it” girls who constantly grab headlines with legal run-ins, she’s also had her share of off screen challenges.
Saturday, the “Melrose Place” alum was pulled over and arrested by a California highway patrol officer after “driving erractically” pulling out of a parking lot in the very upscale community of Montecito in Santa Barbara County. She was booked on the suspicion of driving under the influence of prescription medication, but was also tested for alchohol and drugs.
Just a few months ago, the actress was released from a rehabilitation facility in Arizona where she was reportedly treated for depression and anxiety. Locklear entered the facility in June, and spent four weeks there.
In March, paramedics responded to a 911 call at her home made by a male who is believed to be her doctor. He told the dispatcher that he was concerned about the mental state of one of his patients, but when paramedics arrived, they didn’t find any problems.
The World As I See It
Sep
28
2008
Paul Newman was a great actor and a great humanitarian
Paul Newman was one of the biggest Hollywood celebrities of his generation, but his humantarian contributions and ability to live life on his own terms made him an even bigger human being.
Newman, who died Friday, is being mourned throughout Hollywood and the world. He was one of the most beloved stars in the world during a career that spanned more than 50 years, and will forever be remembered for his ultra-cool demeanor, his bright blue eyes, and his considerable acting talent.
Paul Newman starred in such film classics as “The Hustler”, “Cat On A Hot Tin Roof”, “Cool Hand Luke”, “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid”, and “The Color of Money”, for wich he won an oscar.
He has performed with some of the biggest names in Hollywood, including pool shark Minnasota Fats, Elizabeth Taylor, Robert Redford, and Tom Cruise.
He was an avid race car driver, and even co-owned a race team. He is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest driver to win a race, which he did at 70. His Newmans Own brand of salad dressings has raised more than $250 million for charities around the world.
He was married to actress Joanne Woodward for 50 years.
Sep
26
2008
Hip hop artist Kanye West and actor Shai LeBeouf may have both received a get out of jail free card. At a time when the legal system in Los Angeles has shown little patience with celebrities who push legal limits, both have skirted serious jail time in seperate incidents.
West was arrested on arrested September 11th after a shoving match with a photographer at LAX. He was attempting to board a flight to Hawaii when his picture was taken several times. When West demanded the film, an argument took place, and at some point the camera was dropped and broken.
“The College Dropout” rapper and his road manager were both taken into custody on charges of felony vandalism, but were released later that day. The Los Angeles County Prosecutor office has decided not to persue the felony charges, but has referred the matter to the city attorney’s office to determine whether misdemeanor charges will be filed.

Shia LeBeouf was hospitalized for several days after a West Hollywood traffic accident July 27th. The “Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Crystal Skull” star refused a breathalyzer at the scene, though police say that he was visually impaired.
The Los Angeles DA’s office had insufficient evidence to prosecute him on DUI charges, so the charges will be dropped. He could still have his license suspended for refusing the breathalyzer test, but the California Department of Motor Vehicles has postponed that decision until October 29th.
LeBeouf can be seen in his latest release, “Eagle Eye”, which opens today.
The World As I See It
Sep
25
2008

He’s one of the most prolific actors working today, and in Decenber, Samuel L. Jackson will be honored with the 23rd American Cinamatheque Award. The award recognizes artists who are “fully engaged in his or her work and is committed to making a significant contribution to the art of the motion picture.”
Jackson’s diverse body of work began more than 30 years ago. His first appearance in a major motion picture was in the 1981 film “Ragtime”, which featured Howard Rollins, Jr. Since then, he has acted in 68 films, which have grossed $7.42 billion. His films have included such box office smashes as “Pulp Fiction”, “Jurassic Park”, “Die Hard With A Vengence”, and three Star Wars movies.
In the past, he’s been vocal about his snub at the Academy Awards, but in more recent years, he’s allowed his body of work speak for his being deserving of an oscar. He’s considered a true professional by his peers, often being the most prepared actor on a movie set.
The 2009 Guiness Book of World Record recognizes him as being the highest grossing actor in the world.
Sep
24
2008
Johnny Depp may be the most mercrucial actor working today. His quirky and off-beat choice of roles have endeared him to legions of fans and well deserved critical acclaim. The director who seems to cast him as the most outlandish of characters is Tim Burton. And once again, the pair team up in the upcoming Disney project, “Alice In Wonderland”.
Depp will play the Mad Hatter in Burton’s new film. The two began working together in 1990 on the dark drama, “Edward Scissorhands”, but have also filmed “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” together, and most recently, last year’s “Sweeney Todd”.
The film will also feature young Austrailian actress Mia Wasikowska as Alice, and Matt Lucas, from the comedy series “Little Britan USA”, will play the dual role of Tweedledee and Tweedledum.
Depp also has other projects in the works. Variety reports that he has inked a deal to star in the fourth “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie, and he is slated to star as Tonto in “The Lone Ranger”.
Sep
23
2008

Clay Aiken wowed the world with his voice on “American Idol”, and surprised millions just a few weeks ago when he became a father. Now he says that he wants everyone to know the truth about his sexuality. And just in case the birth of his son, Parker Foster Aiken, might have diminished rumors about his sexual preferrence, the crooner casts all doubts aside in the upcoming issue of People by revealing the truth… Clay Aiken is gay.
The new issue of People features a photo of the singer with his son, and though questions have surfaced since his days on the reality show, Aiken has never before discussed his sexualuality in public. But he confided, “I cannot raise a child to lie or hide things”.
Thought Aiken didn’t win as the “American Idol”, his career after Reality TV has really taken off. He is still one of the most popular of the American Idol alumni, and his boy-next-door persona has endeared him to millions of fans.
Aiken is currently starring in “Spamalot” on Broadway.
Sep
22
2008

The television industry broke new ground while celebrating it’s history at the 60th anniversary of the Primetime Emmy Awards at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles.”Mad Men”, the AMC drama about the world of advertising set in the 1960’s, won the award for best drama, becoming the first basic cable program to win in that catagory.
The other big winner of the night was the NBC comedy “30 Rock”, which won the best comedy award for the second year in a row.Actually, the cast of “30 Rock” picked up four statues on the night, including Alec Baldwin for best lead actor in a comedy series, and Tina Fey, who won for best actress and best writing in a comedy series. Fey is also the producer of the NBC hit.
Tina Fey has been riding a huge wave of success in recent years. She joined Saturday Night Live as a writer in 1997, and just two years later, was promoted to head writer for the program, becoming the first female to hold that position in the history of the show.
Fey developed 30 Rock for NBC in 2006.
Sep
21
2008
George Michael spends way too much time in public bathrooms.
The British pop star who first gained celebrity as the frontman for the ’80’s music group Wham! was arrested Friday in another public restroom. This time, the arrest happened in London, and the charges were for the possession of drugs. The arrest came after a tip from an attendant who became suspicious after he noticed Michael loitering.
The 45 year old star was hanging out in a run down area of London known as Hampstead Heath. The public restrooms in that area are known to police as meeting places for gay men who are out “cruising”. He was caught with was is reported to have been small amounts of marijuana and crack cocaine.
This isn’t Michael’s first brush with the law, and it certainly isn’t his first time being arrested in a restroom. In 1998, he was arrested by undercover officers in California for committing a lewd act in a public restroom. He has also been arrested two other times for driving under the influence of drugs.
The World As I See It
Sep
20
2008
Mark Wahlberg Welcomes A New Son

Mark Wahlberg and his fiancee’, Rhea Durham, celebrated the birth of their third child today. No details have been released about the name of the baby, but sources have confired that it is a boy. The couple have another son, Michael, who is 2, and a 4 year old daughter named Ella.
Wahlberg is starring in the upcoming thriller, “Max Payne”.
Another Week Marked By The Deaths of Celebrity Legends

Norman Whitfield was a prolific songwriter who was one of the leading contributors to the Motown sound during the ’60’s and ’70’s. He wrote some of the most memorable r&b ballads performed by The Temptations including, “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg”, “I Wish It Would Rain”, and “Just My Imagination”.
Whitfield won a Grammy Award in 1977 for Best Score Soundtrack Album with the “Car Wash” movie soundtrack.
Norman Whitfield was 67.

Richard Wright was a founding member and played piano and keyboards for the super-rock group, Pink Floyd.
Though not as well known as his bandmates, Roger Waters and Nick Mason, he made significant contributions to many of the group’s early albums. He is credited with writing “The Great Gig In The Sky” and “Us and Them” which were recorded on ”The Dark Side of The Moon” album.
Richard Wright was 65 years old.