ELMO PUPPETEER RESIGNS AFTER SECOND ACCUSER COMES FORWARD
After weeks of bad press surrounding his alleged sexual relationship with an underage boy, Elmo puppeteer Kevin Clash resigned from Sesame Street yesterday. In a statement, the Sesame Workshop said “the controversy surrounding Kevin's personal life has become a distraction that none of us want," and Clash has concluded "that he can no longer be effective in his job." The statement added, “This is a sad day for Sesame Street.” Clash’s departure came not long after he was accused of sexual abuse by a second youth. Cecil Singleton filed a federal lawsuit in New York claiming he was 15 when Clash convinced him to meet for sexual encounters. According to TMZ, Singleton, who is now 24, met Clash on a gay phone chat line when Clash was 32. Singleton claims Clash was “preying on teenage boys to satisfy his depraved sexual interests.” During a press conference, Singleton said he and Clash never had intercourse when he was underage, but did engage in "groping, masturbation, intense kissing, dry-humping." They did have sex years later when Singleton was an adult. He is seeking more than $5 million. On Monday, Clash’s first accuser Sheldon Stephens, who had recanted his story after agreeing to a settlement, changed his tune once again. He now says the underage sex did happen, and he was pressured into recanting his claim.
LINDSAY CLAIMS TO HAVE NEVER BEEN DRUNK ON SET
In a new an interview promoting her upcoming Lifetime movie Liz & Dick, Lindsay Lohan tells Us magazine that there is one big difference between her and Elizabeth Taylor. (you mean other than Lindsay’s lack of talent?) "Elizabeth was drunk on sets. I've never been drunk on set, ever. I did my time and I respect the law,” said Lindsay, who added that she learned a lot while being locked up in 2010. "As hard as it was for me to admit it when I was in denial, it was a blessing in disguise. I was in solitary confinement and I took the time to really get into the right headspace."
ARIEL WINTER’S MOM A BAD PARENT
The Los Angeles Department of Child and Family Services issued a report yesterday regarding the guardianship of Modern Family star Ariel Winter. According to the report. Winter’s mother Chrystal Workman did indeed emotionally abuse the 14-year-old star, although they said evidence of physical abuse is “inconclusive.” The report concludes that Workman should be stripped of her custody of Ariel, and her sister Shanelle Gray should be named permanent guardian (although they initially thought the situation was so bad Ariel needed to become a ward of the state). Chrystal’s lawyer tried to argue that Shanelle is simply after Ariel’s money, but the judge stopped him.. A trial date must now be set to determine if Shanelle will get permanent guardianship of Ariel.
KELLY PRESTON TALKS ABOUT SON’S AUTISM
Kelly Preston is opening up for the first time about her son Jett’s autism. For years Kelly and husband John Travolta refused to acknowledge Jett’s diagnosis because their religion, Scientology, did not recognize it. But when Jett died from a seizure in 2009, Travolta finally revealed the truth in a police report. On today’s episode of The Doctors, Preston discusses what she thinks caused Jett’s autism. She blames her “fast and hard” labor,” “the chemicals in our environment and in our food," as well as antibiotics she was given while breastfeeding. Kelly said the drugs “gave (Jett) thrush,” which is an infection some studies have linked to autism symptoms.
Q-Kelly starred alongside fellow Scientologist Tom Cruise in what 1996 Cameron Crowe film? Jerry Maguire
HOUSEWIVES’ ROSSI GETS RESTRAINING ORDER
Real Housewives of Orange County’s Gretchen Rossi has obtained a 3-year restraining order against Jay Photoglou, who claimed to be her ex-boyfriend. Gretchen recently won a lawsuit against Jay, who had been badmouthing her in the press since she first got the gig on Housewives. Jay has insisted he was still having sex with Gretchen while she was with her fiancé, Jeff Beitzel. The restraining order requires Jay to stay 100 feet away from Gretchen, and prevents him from contacting her.
JESSE JAMES ENGAGED?
Jesse James has somehow found a woman who’ll trust him. Hollyscoop reports that Sandra Bullock’s cheating ex is dating racer Alexis DeJoria, daughter of billionaire John Paul DeJoria, co-founder of hair care giant Paul Mitchell. According to reports, Jesse and Alexis have been dating since September, and Hollyscoop says they may even be engaged. Although neither has confirmed the news, DeJoria didn’t exactly deny it when a Twitter follower wrote, “I used to admire you now I feel sorry for you. Moving in and getting engaged to a guy you've been dating for a month." Instead she responded, “Am I supposed to wait till I'm married to sleep with a man too?! Lol! You've been brainwashed into what society says is right."
Q-After splitting from Bullock, James dated, and was briefly engaged to, what reality show star/tattoo artist? Kat Von D
KIM HEADED TO MIDEAST
Last week Kim Kardashian got a lot of flak for a set of tweets about the current Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and it has sparked her desire to educate herself about the political situation in the region. Kim is planning a trip to Kuwait and Bahrain to appear at openings of some Millions of Milkshakes shops, and she’s hoping it will be a learning experience. “Kim wants to be as informed as possible…so she can use her celebrity to help those in need and raise awareness about important issues in the area,” a source told TMZ. The site claims Kim has already set up meetings with local leaders in both countries.
SUSPICIOUS WHITE POWDER SENT TO KHLOE
A letter containing a suspicious white powder was sent to Khloe Kardashian on Tuesday and now the FBI is investigating the incident. The letter arrived at the CBS studio where X Factor is taped, and the FBI eventually determined the powder was harmless. This is the third time suspicious powder has been set to the CBS studio. The previous times the letters were sent to Bristol Palin.
PRICE IS RIGHT MODEL WINS WRONGFUL TERMINATION SUIT
Former Price is Right model Brandi Cochran has won a wrongful termination lawsuit. Cochran sued the game show back in 2010 claiming producers subjected her to cruel insults when she became pregnant, and eventually fired her. Well, she’s gotten the last laugh, because on Tuesday a judge awarded Cochran $775,000 in damages, and she could get more if a jury finds producers acted maliciously.
FEDERLINE’S EX DATING SPEARS’ EX
Talk about an odd couple…Radaronline reports that Kevin Federline’s ex Shar Jackson is dating Jason Alexander, the other ex-husband of Kevin’s ex-wife Britney Spears (they were married for 55 hours). According to a source, Shar, who is the mother of three of Kevin’s kids, has been friends with Jason for years, but they only recently began dating. "Shar has had a rough year after her assistant’s suicide, her best friend Yvette Wilson’s passing from cancer and her mother’s health issues,” claimed a source. “Jason stood by her side, and he gets along great with her children and has also faced a lot of the same media scrutiny that she has.”
Q-In 2011, Kevin welcomed his sixth child, his first with girlfriend Victoria Prince (he has three with Shar, two with Britney). What was the sex of the baby? A girl (Jordan Kay)
ESPOSITO SAYS CBS KEEPING HER FROM WORKING
Former Blue Bloods star Jennifer Esposito is furious at CBS. First she was mad for being dropped from the crime drama after she took a medical leave to cope with Celiac disease. But now she’s even angrier because even though they fired her, CBS is making it hard for her to find work. “Last week I believe I was told I was on suspension, which meant I am still in contract, not being paid, because that’s suspension and they illegally stopped paying,” she told Fox News. “And I am not able to work on any other TV show, on network. I can do a film or Broadway or something on cable that doesn’t go in the ten o’clock time slot. So they kept me in my contract without pay and yes it’s completely illegal but they also knew that I didn’t have the money or the means to sue them.”
Q-Jennifer Esposito was once married to this actor, who last year was named People’s Sexiest Man Alive. Who is he? Bradley Cooper
HOPKINS WON’T BEG FOR AWARDS
Anthony Hopkins is joining Joaquin Phoenix in bashing the “utter bullsh*t,” that surrounds Hollywood’s award show season. ”Having to be nice to people and to be charming and flirting with them … oh, come on! People go out of their way to flatter the nominating body and I think it’s kind of disgusting. That’s always been against my nature,” Hopkins, who won an Oscar in 1991 for The Silence of the Lambs, told The Huffington Post. “I can’t stand all that. I find it nauseating to watch and I think it’s disgusting to behold. People groveling around and kissing the backsides of famous producers and all that. It makes me want to throw up, it really does.”
Q-Hopkins’ Silence of The Lambs co-star Jodie Foster also won an Oscar for the film. It was her second Oscar. For what film did she win her first? The Accused
TOLKIEN ESTATE SUES OVER SLOT MACHINES
The estate of author J.R. R. Tolkien is suing the producers of The Lord of The Rings and The Hobbit over merchandising. The estate and Tolkien’s book publisher are particularly upset that Warner Bros. has allowed the Lord of The Rings name to be attached to online slot machines. The estate calls the digital exploitation “highly offensive” and is also upset over plans to produce traditional slot machines with Rings characters as well. The estate wants an injunction to stop the machines, as well as $80 mil in damages.
Q-Of the three Lord of the Rings films, only one won the Oscar for Best Picture. Which one? The third one, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
TEEN MOM 2’S JENELLE ENGAGED
Teen Mom 2 trainwreck Jenelle Evans is getting married. On Monday, the 20-year-old star announced on Twitter that she has gotten engaged to her boyfriend of two months, Courtland Rogers. She also revealed the news on MTV’s Ustream channel, where she insisted she is not pregnant.
SCHNEIDER & WIFE WELCOME DAUGHTER
Deuce Bigalow star Rob Schneider is a dad again. The actor and wife Patricia Azarcoya Schneider welcomed daughter Miranda Scarlett on November 16th. Miranda is the couple’s first child. Schneider is also father to daughter Elle, 23, from his first marriage.
TV TIDBITS
House’sHugh Laurie may be headed back to TV. Deadline.com reports that Laurie is in talks to star in NBC’s upcoming series Crossbones, where he’ll play pirate overlord Edward Teach, a.k.a. Blackbeard.
Kelsey Grammer is out of a job. Starz announced yesterday they will not order a third season of Grammer’s drama Boss.
Saturday Night Live’s Kenan Thompson will write, star in and executive produce an untitled comedy for NBC. SNL creator Lorne Michaels is also on board to produce the project, which stars Thompson as a guy who gives up his New York life and moves in with his in-laws in the suburbs.
CBS is planning a CSI crossover event for February sweeps. EW.com reports that on Wednesday, February 6th, CSI: NY’s Detective Mac Taylor (Gary Sinise) will visit Las Vegas to surprise his girlfriend, who turns up missing, forcing him to join forces with D.B. Russell (Ted Danson) and his team. The story then picks up on Friday, February 8th, with Russell heading to New York to help Taylor.
The Wire’s Chad Coleman (he played Cutty) will play Tyreese on AMC’s The Walking Dead. Tyreese is an important character in the Walking Dead comic books, and served as a member of Rick’s crew for a good portion of the series.
MISCELLANEOUS MOVIE NEWS
Lenny Kravitz will reportedly play the late R&B singer Marvin Gaye in a new biopic. According to The Evening Standard, the film, Midnight Love, will center on Gaye’s later years living in London.
Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne will return for the sequel to their 2010 horror hit Insidious. Production on the film, Insidious Chapter 2, begins January 15th in Los Angeles. The original, which was made for only $1.5 million, grossed $97 million worldwide.
