Fame Meter

Will Conan Move from NBC to Fox?

2010-01-11T08:52:00.001-08:00

The Fox network is apparently pouring cold water on NBC's plans to keep Jay Leno, Conan O'Brien and Jimmy Fallon on its late night slate.

Fox execs have leaked to media sources that the network would be interested in a Conan-led late night franchise.

A Fox source indicated that there was interest in O'Brien but acknowledged a legal impediment, that being O'Brien's contract with NBC.

NBC and O'Brien continue in their efforts to, in essence, renegotiate O'Brien's deal.

And entertainment contracts are notorious for not necessarily being ironclad.

A major late night offering would make sense for Fox. Excerpt CLICK HERE for more...

Jasper Schuringa is the hero who helped stop a terrorist attack

2009-12-26T11:06:00.001-08:00

A man identified as Jasper Schuringa, heroically risked his life to save his fellow passengers from the plans of suspected terrorist Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab on Northwest Airlines Flight 253. Are you paying attention Oliver Stone?

Excerpt: for more, CLICK HERE.

ABC’s ‘V’ Slams Obama and Pelosi

2009-11-06T19:56:00.001-08:00

An amazing thing happened at a recent debut of a much-touted ABC pilot.

A not-so-subtle message was sent to a large viewing audience.

The targets of the TV communiqué were Democrats in power. If you can believe it, the Obama administration, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and the Democrats in Congress were smacked by Hollywood on a major television broadcast.

Rather than use the tired old clichés of villainous conservatives, Christians, gun owners or Republicans, the new show "V" went after the current D.C. free-enterprise-destroying agenda, and did so with an interplanetary vengeance.

Sci-fi tales are known as the repository for parables that describe current circumstances in society. Orwell, Huxley, and H.G. Wells wrote social commentary in the form of narrative fantasy. "1984" was a warning about totalitarianism, "Brave New World" showed the consequences of science without moral limitations, and "War of the Worlds" displayed the danger of complacency.

EXCERPT, FOR MORE CLICK HERE

Lindsay Lohan seeks restraining order against her dad

2009-10-18T18:22:00.001-07:00

Lindsay Lohan at a screening of "Inglourious Basterds" in New York.

(AP Photo/Peter Kramer, file)

Michael Lohan, father of troubled actress, Lindsay Lohan plans to meet with a judge to seek a conservatorship over his daughter. For the court to make Michael a conservator, he would have to establish that Lindsay is no longer able to handle her own affairs. Her father would then be in charge of her finances. But People magazine reports that Lindsay is looking to the courts to protect her from Michael. Linsay plans to obtain a restraining order against her father.

Excerpt - CLICK HERE FOR MORE

Court may fire Blago from 'Apprentice'

2009-10-17T19:31:00.001-07:00

Former Governor Rod Blagojevich

(AP Photo/Paul Beaty, file)

Rod Blagojevich loves reality shows. But the judge in his pending criminal trial may have other ideas.

A dramatic hearing will take place in a courtroom Monday to determine if the former Illinois governor will get the chance to be fired by Donald Trump on "Celebrity Apprentice."

Federal prosecutors plan to present arguments to the court at a scheduled status hearing that by appearing on the NBC reality show, Blago may influence prospective jurors in a corruption trial scheduled for June 3.

The judge who will make the decision in James Zagel, who has already refused to allow Blago to go to Costa Rica for another reality program...EXCERPT CLICK HERE FOR MORE

Impeached Ill. Gov. Blagojevich to appear on 'Apprentice'

2009-10-09T20:22:00.001-07:00

Rod Blagojevich is currently facing federal corruption charges for trying to sell President Barack Obama's former U.S. Senate seat.

But that won't stop the impeached Illinois governor's pursuit of reality stardom.

Blago has will appear on this season of Donald Trump's The Celebrity Apprentice and try to avoid being fired from this gig...

EXCERPT FOR MORE, CLICK HERE

Mystery Shrouds Defense of Accused Letterman Blackmailer: 'Screenplay' Defense?

2009-10-05T09:34:00.000-07:00

How did a veteran "48 Hours" producer end up being accused of a $2 million blackmail attempt on David Letterman?

"There is another side of this story," Gerald Shargel, attorney for Robert J. Halderman, said. "This story is far more complicated."

What could the plot to the other side of the story be?

Halderman has already entered a "not guilty" plea to first-degree attempted grand larceny.

According to Manhattan District Attorney Robert M. Morgenthau, Halderman wrote to Letterman stating that he needed to "make a large chunk of money." Attached to his letter was a one-page screenplay treatment, which described how Letterman would have a "ruined reputation" after details of the CBS "Late Show" host's sexual relationships with young female employees were revealed.

The 51-year-old producer used a novel method to deliver the "screenplay." Early in the morning on Sept. 9 the letter and other materials were left in the back seat of Letterman's car, which was parked outside his Manhattan home.

EXCERPT, FOR MORE CLICK HERE

Will Jon Gosselin land in jail?

2009-10-04T21:57:00.001-07:00

Kate Gosselin (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)

A top flight Los Angeles lawyer for Kate Gosselin, Marty Singer, has written a hardball letter to Jon Gosselin's lawyer Mark Heller alleging that Jon withdrew $200,000 from a joint bank account.

According to Singer's letter, Jon and possibly his attorney have violated a court order.

EXCERPT, FOR MORE CLICK HERE

Did Lamar Odom get a prenup before the wedding?

2009-09-28T14:10:00.001-07:00

Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, file)

The whole idea of a prenuptual agreement is that it is signed before a wedding ceremony.

Lakers star Lamar Odom and reality show cast member Khloe Kardashian may have timed their ceremony for the producers of Kardashian's reality show according to TMZ.

And why not, when the bill for the nuptial celebration was reportedly paid by the show in exchange for the chance to air footage from the wedding.

The cost? Merely a cool $1 million. EXCERPT: FOR MORE CLICK HERE

Will Jenny Slate's SNL 'F-Bomb' invite the wrath of the FCC?

2009-09-27T19:36:00.001-07:00

New cast member of Saturday Night Live, Jenny Slate made quite an impression during her first sketch on the long running show.

She dropped a very understandable F-Bomb.

It has made Slate an Internet star, but will the Federal Communications Commission rain on her premiere parade?

The answer is ....EXCERPT, FOR MORE CLICK HERE

Couple's crime boast on 'Dr. Phil' leads to bust

2009-09-20T22:39:00.001-07:00

Syndicated television psychologist Dr. Phil McGraw may inadvertently be assisting federal prosecutors.

McGraw had a San Marcos, California couple on as guests, and the relaxed atmosphere of the show, along with the good doctor's beguiling manner, had his guests announcing on national TV that they'd been fencing stolen property.

Thanks to some boasting by 34-year-old Matthew Eaton and his 26-year-old wife Laura on an episode of "Dr. Phil," it was revealed that the couple procured a cool $100,000 by stealing toys and selling them on eBay. Excerpt - for more CLICK HERE

Police arrest suspect in Lindsay Lohan break-in

2009-09-17T20:39:00.001-07:00

Police have arrested a man suspected of breaking into the homes of two Hollywood stars, Lindsay Lohan and Audrina Patridge.

For more CLICK HERE

Rihanna Photo Investigation Places Two Cops on Suspension

2009-09-12T17:01:00.000-07:00

Two LAPD officers have been placed on a forced leave due to an internal investigation into how a photograph of then beaten and battered pop singer Rihanna was leaked to the TMZ Web site.

The photos of Rihanna are from her February 8th incident with former boyfriend Chris Brown.

The two officers, nine-year veteran Rebecca Reyes and rookie Blanca Lopez, have not had any charges filed against them.

Excerpt: FOR MORE CLICK HERE

'Vampire Diaries' stars arrested for allegedly flashing traffic

2009-09-11T16:37:00.000-07:00

Drivers in Forsyth, Georgia were probably distracted as they drove past the intersection near the Rumble Road Bridge, as some attractive young female actresses from a hot new television show posed for pictures.

Four of the stars of the CW's new series, "The Vampire Diaries" were arrested for purportedly flashing motorists from a bridge.

Excerpt CLICK HERE FOR MORE

Missing bride-to-be Annie Le wrote article on campus safety

2009-09-11T11:10:00.001-07:00

(AP Photo/ Courtesy of Yale University)

Annie Le, the Yale University graduate student who vanished only days before her scheduled wedding wrote an article in the magazine of the medical school.

Le's article was a cover story titled, "Crime and Safety in New Haven." It dealt with the subject of how students could be safe on campus.

"Despite safety measures such as door-to-door escort and shuttle services, the Yale community is still plagued with thefts, some involving frightening confrontations," Le wrote in the magazine piece.

Le interviewed Yale's chief of police, James Perrotti, who offered advice...

Excerpt CLICK HERE FOR MORE

Dr. Phil Weighs in on Jaycee Lee Dugard Story

2009-09-10T17:10:00.000-07:00

Michael Moore Calls Capitalism ‘Evil’

2009-09-07T19:22:00.000-07:00

Michael Moore solidified his position as one of the biggest phonies of our times while at a recent Venice Film Festival outing.

He debuted his latest sham documentary called "Capitalism: A Love Story."

Thanks to the free enterprise system, Moore has become super wealthy, which makes the two-hour flick a case study in hypocrisy.

"Capitalism is an evil," Moore proclaims, "and you cannot regulate evil."

According to Moore, regulating capitalism doesn't work, so his prescription is, "You have to eliminate it and replace it with something that is good for all people and that something is democracy."

Guess it all depends on what the meaning of "democracy" is.

Fidel, Hugo, Van, Nancy, and Harry might have a similar definition. Someday someone might ask the president what his is.

In any event, the flimflam filmmaker even stoops so low as to bring in some liberation theology clergy to endorse the idea that capitalism is actually anti-Christian...

Excerpt - for more click here

Joe Francis accused via Twitter of assaulting Playmate of the Year

2009-08-30T21:24:00.001-07:00

"Girls Gone Wild" video maker Joe Francis has been accused of committing assault and battery on Playboy 2008 Playmate of the Year Jayde Nicole, allegedly while at a Hollywood club.

Nicole was dating "Bromance" actor Brody Jenner at the time of the alleged incident.

The way in which the accusation was made public was through the social media phenom, Twitter.

The following was posted by Jenner on his Twitter account: "Joe Francis beat up my lady this morning for no reason! Pulled her to the ground, punched & kicked her? What does that say about him?"

....Click Here for More

Critical time gap may be key to Michael Jackson homicide case

2009-08-28T10:37:00.001-07:00

A critical 81 minute gap between when police indicate that Michael Jackson's personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, found the singer not breathing and when the doctor called 911 may be a key part of a criminal prosecution for the singer's death.

According to the LAPD, Murray found Jackson totally unconscious, but then called his office and remained on the phone call for a half-hour.

The timeline in a police affadavit does not bode well for the physician.

Click Here for More

Sarah Jessica Parker, Matthew Broderick and the 'Cop-arazzi' Case

2009-08-03T09:13:00.001-07:00

by James Hirsen

Two Ohio police chiefs have been charged with felonies over alleged illegalities involving the surrogate mom for actors Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick.

Money is the alleged motivation as paparazzi would typically pay big bucks for items from a surrogate to the stars.

Barry Carpenter, Police Chief of Martins Ferry, was indicted for numerous felonies including two counts of burglary, one count of receiving stolen property and one count of theft in office. If convicted on all counts, he could get 21.5 years in prison.

Chad Dojack, Police Chief of Bridgeport was hit with two counts of complicity to burglary and one count of complicity to receiving stolen property. He could get as much as 14.5 years behind bars, if found guilty on all charges.

Both have pleaded not guilty and have been freed on their own recognizance.

Carpenter allegedly entered the home of Michelle Ross and took items that identified her as the surrogate mother. Carpenter and Dojack then purportedly tried to sell the items to paparazzi.

Despite the alleged bad behavior of the officers, the surrogate mom was not home at the time of the alleged burglary and eventually gave birth to twins who are now living with their famous parents.

Special prosecutor T. Shawn Hervey referred to the case as a "Hollywood Soap Opera."

Denzel Washington to Play Obama in Biopic

2009-07-26T21:37:00.001-07:00

President Obama has expressed his wish that if a movie were ever made about him, he would want the starring role to be given to Will Smith.

Part of the reason for the Smith preference has to do with the size and shape of both men's hearing appendages.

Casting, though, is an unpredictable activity particularly when the movie role is that of a current president.

According the U.K. Daily Mail, Smith isn't going to get the Obama part, but instead it's going to go to Denzel Washington.

The Oscar winner reportedly wanted the role and Obama has apparently given his approval.

"It was at the President's suggestion," Denzel said.

The actor did additionally mention one potential issue that may have to be addressed by the make up artist.

"The only problem is he has bigger ears than me," Denzel divulged.

Johnny Depp to Play Carol Channing?

2009-07-19T21:02:00.001-07:00

by James Hirsen

I'm not kidding.

Johnny Depp is making a play for the lead role in a movie biography of singer-actress Carol Channing.

Forty-six-year-old Depp was out promoting his latest flick, "Public Enemies," when the subject of future role choices came up.

According to the U.K. Daily Mirror, the actor is ready to get in touch with his inner songstress.

"My dream role would be to play musical legend Carol Channing in a biopic of her life," he explained.

"I love her, I really do. She's amazing," he added. "With all the digital technology available these days, I could probably pull it off."

Jack Sparrow-turned-Dolly?

Well, he got the mascara thing right but he's going to need some major hair highlighting help from Kojo.

A Futile Motive Emerges for the Brutal Billings Murder

2009-07-17T18:17:00.000-07:00

by James Hirsen

A pathetically sad motive is emerging for the brutal murder of Byrd and Melanie Billings in their Florida home on July 9.

Police and prosecutors said images captured on the Billings’ home’s security cameras led investigators to the suspects. The videos showed masked men dressed as ninjas coming through the front and back doors.

The suspects, who had trained for 30 days ranged in age from 16 to 56. They were in the house only four minutes.

The murdered couple had become well known for adopting children with special needs.
Nine of the couple’s 13 adopted children were home during the break-in and three of them saw the intruders.

The suspects were apparently after a safe - - which, in the end, contained only children's medication, family documents and some jewelry.

The safe was found buried in the backyard of a home owned by a wealthy 47 year-old real estate mogul Pamela Wiggins.

Wiggins was the eighth person arrested in connection with the deadly home invasion. Seven others were charged with murder and Pensacola police are looking for one more person who they believe disabled the Billings security system.

Wiggins is the only suspect not charged with murder. She is accused of knowing about the fatal shootings after the fact.

Wiggins also owns the red van that was used to transport both the safe and the weapons used during the deadly crime according to the police report. She was riding in the van while the guns were being transported following the robbery and "had knowledge" they had been used in the murders, a cooperating suspect said in the report.

She was found on her yacht, the Classy Lady, in Alabama on Wednesday. She also owns a dozen properties in three states and a Rolls Royce.

Wiggins’ previous husband, Malden, said his former wife seemed to have a lot of cash that couldn’t be easily explained and that she had boasted about her wealth and “her position in society.”

Several weapons were recovered including the probable "murder weapon or weapons."

Wiggins was released on $10,000 bail. If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.

So this deadly crime that was allegedly executed by this large group of suspects appears to be a robbery done military style. Why?

The Billings appeared to have money. At the time of their death, they were living in a $700,000 home - luxurious by Pensacola standards - they employed several people to care for the children. But the safe the suspects allegedly killed for appears to contain very little in the way of value. Nothing it would hold could be more valuable than a human life.

Jackson, Lennon and Elvis

2009-07-05T22:08:00.001-07:00

by James Hirsen

Media coverage of the death of Michael Jackson has reached a fever pitch with his memorial service that is scheduled to take place this week in Los Angeles.

Fans from all over the world have registered for the chance to receive tickets to attend the event, although only 11,000 people will actually be allowed into the Staples Center.

All three networks will broadcast live coverage of the service with their primetime attendant anchors present at the arena.

The cable news channels will feature wall-to-wall coverage of the event, too, and the memorial service will likely be the lead story on the evening news everywhere.

As we have all witnessed, numerous stories of significance involving foreign policy and domestic legislation have been shunted aside in favor of Jackson interviews, retrospectives and specials. This is part and parcel of what our celebrity loving country has come to expect.

Regrettably, the tragic scenario has played out a number of times before. A music icon dies suddenly and unexpectedly, and under a mysterious set of circumstances. Along with Jackson, two other legendary stars come to mind, and their passing had the same dramatic effect on the public and the culture.

It was a chilly December day when John Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono finished a routine recording session. They had no idea how deep a darkness would soon fall.

The world at the time was consumed with things other than a former Beatle's solo career. A new leader, Ronald Reagan, had just been elected President of the United States, with a full slate of issues ahead of him that included a faltering economy and enemies abroad.

As John and Yoko returned to their Manhattan apartment at the Dakota, a disturbed fan, Mark David Chapman, sent four hollow point bullets racing Lennon's way. Police took the legendary musician to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The media behaved quite differently the day the Lennon music died. The New Media was not yet in force. Cable news programming was still in formation. Much of the public heard the word of Lennon's death from Howard Cosell during a broadcast of "Monday Night Football."

Still, news of the former Beatle's passing spread fast. It was the lead story on all of the major networks and above the fold in newspapers around the world.

As the sad news traveled, crowds gathered outside the Dakota. Much like the throngs who mourned for Jackson in New York, London and L.A., Lennon fans sang songs and recited lyrics in his honor. Yoko Ono asked the mourners to return the next Sunday for a memorial for John. That Sunday, Central Park was overrun with over 100,000 people. A similar gathering took place in John's hometown of Liverpool with 30,000 people in attendance.

Many radio stations played Lennon music exclusively for several days in a row.

Although John's death was similar to Michael's in terms of public reaction, media coverage and cultural impact, another pop music icon passed on under much more eerily parallel circumstances.

His career was fading. His performances had fallen far below expectations with the resultant criticism from the entertainment press. He appeared unhealthy, but he and his handlers decided it was time for a summer comeback tour.

Just like in Jackson's case, the tour never happened. In August of 1977, Elvis Presley was found dead on the floor of his Graceland home by his fiancee, Ginger Alden.

His death was the lead story on all of the broadcast networks except for CBS, which made it second to a Panama Canal story, possibly because Walter Cronkite was away on vacation.

For years insiders at the CBS newsroom were said to have repeated the words "remember Elvis," because the network felt as if it had been remiss in its coverage of the star.

The day the Elvis music died dominated the media cycle for weeks on end. Much like the death of Jackson, the cause of Elvis's death would remain a mystery and consume massive amounts of media airtime.

Early reporting indicated that Presley died from a cardiac arrhythmia, which fit with the excess weight he was carrying. But an autopsy of the legendary singer showed large quantities of a host of drugs including Morphine, Demerol, Valium, Codeine and Quaaludes, some of which were also found in Jackson's home.

The passing of Jackson, Lennon and Elvis invites the kind of speculation that, like their iconic images, goes on forever.


James Hirsen, J.D., M.A. in media psychology, is a media analyst, 
teacher of mass media and entertainment law at Biola University, 
and professor at Trinity Law School.

Farrah Fawcett, Angel in Waiting

2009-06-26T14:12:00.001-07:00

Farrah Fawcett, Angel in Waiting

By: James Hirsen

It's not a typical celebrity passing.

In American pop culture terms, Farrah Fawcett was an icon.

She burst onto the Hollywood scene with her sparkling smile, sweet nature and blonde windblown tresses that set hairstyle trends for a decade.

Farrah's image adorned magazine covers galore, but more importantly her poster was tacked onto teen lockers, shop halls and office walls.

All-American places. All-American dream girl.

She was cheerleader, prom queen, sorority sweetheart and pageant winner all rolled into one. And she graced her way right on up to full-fledged movie star.

Farrah's career, from "Charley's Angels" to the reality genre, was a shining example of an actress who lithely coped with a changing media landscape.

Amazingly, the role that defined her fame, that of glamorous detective Jill Monroe who took assignments from the mysterious Charley, only lasted a year.

The TV show was such a hit Farrah became part of that unusual celebrity club of those stars known by their first names only. If you said Farrah, folks knew exactly who you were talking about.

Like Betty Grable in an earlier era, Farrah became the pin-up girl of her generation. The photo of Farrah in a red bathing suit quickly became the biggest selling poster of all time with an unprecedented 12 million copies sold.

Farrah proved she was more than just a pretty face when she took a part in an Off-Broadway play called "Extremities," and she received critical acclaim. She then tackled a difficult subject in "The Burning Bed," a TV-movie about an abused woman. It earned her an Emmy nomination.

She starred in another complex made for TV film, "Nazi Hunter: The Beate Klarsfeld Story." And she garnered a second Emmy nomination for a miniseries "Small Sacrifices."

More critical praise for her acting came from her portrayal of a wayward wife to Robert Duvall's character in "The Apostle."

When she appeared as herself in the 2005 reality show, "Chasing Farrah," the public had a glimpse of the deep love she and Ryan O'Neil shared. The tender relationship supplied a sort of tonic to the public, which offset the disappointing failure of marriages that is so widespread from Hollywood to D.C.

Looks like the Angel got her wings.