BARBARA WALTERS HOSPITALIZED
Journalist Barbara Walters was hospitalized Saturday after suffering a head injury. The View creator, 83, fell on a stair and cut her head open at the Washington, DC home of the British Ambassador. “Out of an abundance of caution, she went to the hospital to have her cut tended to, have a full examination and remains there for observation. Barbara is alert (and telling everyone what to do), which we all take as a very positive sign,” said a rep for ABC.
ARMSTRONG STORY COMING TO BIG SCREEN
Just one day after Lance Armstrong’s doping admission aired on OWN, Paramount Pictures and J.J. Abrams secured the movie rights to a forthcoming book about the disgraced cyclist. Cycle of Lies: The Fall of Lance Armstrong was written by New York Times sports writer Juliet Macur, who covered Armstrong’s career for the past ten years. It is scheduled for release in June.
THE WIRE STAR DIES
Robert F. Chew, best known for known for playing Proposition Joe on HBO’s The Wire was found dead in his apartment in Baltimore Thursday. According to the coroner, Chew died of cardiovascular disease, with “morbid obesity” being listed as a contributing factor.
SWIFT AND FOX ALL GOOD
Taylor Swift is not angry with Michael J. Fox for dissing her last week. When asked by New York magazine about whether he’d want his daughter Sam to date the country star, Fox told the mag, “No. No…Just back off.” Well, Swift took to Twitter to let her fans know she is not holding a grudge against the Back to the Future star. Wrote Swift, “Hey everybody, Michael J. Fox got in touch with me today and we are good. Thank you for having my back.”
JENNER FAMILY THE LATEST SWATTING VICTIMS
Kris and Bruce Jenner are the latest Hollywood stars to fall victim to a swatting hoax. On Friday, police received a 911 call claiming someone was shot at the Jenner home and that gunmen were still inside. Police responded, including several helicopters and officers with machine guns, and forced Bruce, Kris, Kyle and Kendall out of the house while they searched it, but found nothing.
COURIC LANDS TE’O INTERVIEW
Katie Couric has landed the first on-air interview with Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o. Te’o spoke to ESPN’s Jeremy Schaap on Friday but it was not on camera. Manti insisted he was not involved in the hoax involving his fake girlfriend Lennay Kekua. Couric’s interview with Te’o and his family will air on Thursday.
TE’O HOAXER AUDITIONED FOR THE VOICE
The man allegedly behind the hoax involving Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o and his fake girlfriend reportedly tried out for The Voice, and peddled another elaborate, possibly phony, story. Us Weekly reports that Ronaiah Tuiasosopo, the alleged mastermind behind Te’o’s non-existent girlfriend Lennay Kekua, tried out for the upcoming season of the NBC singing competition. He reportedly told producers he and his cousins started a Christian band together and while traveling to a youth conference in Nevada, they were in a “massive” freeway accident that almost left one of them brain dead. “He had this insane sob story before (he sang),” claimed a source. “It would make for great TV.” Unfortunately for Ronaiah, the judges weren’t impressed with his version of Matisyahu’s “One Day,” and passed on him.
TRAVOLTA ALMOST LEFT SCIENTOLOGY TO MARRY BOYFRIEND
The explosive new anti-Scientology book Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood & The Prison of Belief claims John Travolta once threatened to leave the church so he could run off and marry his boyfriend. Author Lawrence Wright says Travolta grew disenchanted with the religion in the 80s and wanted to leave. But the actor had confessed his homosexuality during the church’s “auditing” sessions and officials threatened to expose him as gay if he tried to bolt. A former Scientology official named Jesse Prince told Wright Travolta was so upset about being blackmailed he threatened to walk away completely and “marry” his male lover. In the end, the church convinced Travolta to stay, suggesting that following through with his threat wouldn’t be good for his career.
Q-Travolta’s 1995 film Get Shorty was based on a book by what author? Elmore Leonard
IS GIBSON THE FATHER OF FOSTER’S KIDS?
The New York Post is speculating that Mel Gibson could be the father of Jodie Foster’s two sons, Charlie, 14, and Kit, 12. The paper claims Hollywood insiders are questioning whether Gibson donated his sperm to Foster, especially after she thanked him in her Golden Globes speech by saying, “you know, you save me too.” Insiders believe that if Gibson was indeed the father, it could explain why Jodie has been loyal to him over the years, despite his awful behavior. But a source close to Gibson denies he’s the dad. A friend of the actor tells Gossip Cop any speculation about the kids’ paternity is false and “so stupid.”
Q-Gibson’s Academy Award-winning film Braveheart tells the story of what 13th-century Scottish warrior? William Wallace
GIBSON’S BABY MAMA SUES LAWYERS
Mel Gibson’s baby mama Oksana Grigorieva is suing her lawyers, claiming they duped her into accepting a terrible settlement. Oksana is accusing Ron Litz and Daniel Horowitz of negligence in advising her to agree to the terms of the 2011 deal. She specifically objects to a clause that prevents her from any future legal action against Gibson regarding their child. Should she try to sue him again, she could jeopardize her monetary settlement. In addition, while Mel agreed to buy Oksana and their daughter Lucia a house, the agreement divested her of all ownership rights to that home. “Why can't she just live her life normally and have a good life, raise the kid, live in the house, make music, be happy?,” Horowitz told TMZ regarding the suit. “Why does she always have to be in a struggle - especially with people who care the most about her?”
DJANGO ACTION FIGURES DISCONTINUED
After receiving criticism from the National Action Network and other organizations, the controversial Django Unchained action figures have been pulled. The Weinstein company, which produced the film, contacted the toy makers and told them to discontinue the line of toys immediately. The company agreed, insisting they didn’t mean to offend anyone.
J.LO DENIES SHE’S UNHAPPY WITH PEOPLE COVER
Jennifer Lopez is denying reports that she’s unhappy with how she looks on the cover of this week’s People magazine. Word is, J.Lo’s camp contacted the magazine to complain about the photo, which they say made her look “old and haggard.” (It kinda did.) But J.Lo’s manager Benny Medina denied she was upset over the cover. “Look at the pictures and read the story!,” he said. “We worked closely with the editors of People and we are very pleased with cover photo and the results all around.”
Q-Jennifer Lopez and George Clooney starred together in what Steven Soderbergh-directed film? Out of Sight
J.LO ADOPTS A PUPPY
In other J.Lo news…the singer/actress, whose new movie Parker opens Friday, has added a new member to her family. Lopez’s boyfriend Casper Smart announced on Twitter last week they adopted a boxer puppy, who they’ve named Bear.
STEWART’S SON DATING MALOOF
Rod Stewart’s son Sean Stewart is reportedly dating a much older woman. Unlike his dad, whose current wife Penny Lancaster is 27 years younger than he is, Sean, 32, doesn’t mind dating a cougar, and according to reports, he’s found a new one – 51-year-old Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Adrienne Maloof. Sources say the pair was spotted looking quite cozy while dining at Koi restaurant in Los Angeles. Maloof’s rep acknowledges that she “is dating,” but would not give any specifics about the identity of her new fella.
Q- Which actress and former model is Sean Stewart’s mother? Alana Hamilton
MENTALIST STAR WELCOMES SON
The Mentalist’s Amanda Righetti is a new mom. The 29-year-old and husband Jordan Alan welcomed son Knox Addison Alan on Thursday, January 10th. This is the first child for the couple, who married in 2006.
ANISTON’S THE NEW FACE OF AVEENO
Jennifer Aniston has landed a new endorsement deal. The former Friends star has been named the new face of Aveeno, with insiders claiming she landed an “eight-figure” deal to hawk their skincare line. "We can confirm that Jennifer Aniston will be partnering with Aveeno for skincare," her rep told E! News. "You can expect to see the results of this collaboration later this year."
BUSH DENIES DATING HUTCHERSON
One Tree Hill star Sophia Bush is denying a Star magazine report that claimed she was dating Hunger Games star Josh Hutcherson. The rumors began after the 30-year-old actress and Hit and Run actor Cameron Cruz visited the 20-year-old Hutcherson on the Hawaiian set of The Hunger Games. "Star, I'm offended," Bush tweeted. "I hugged Cameron in Hawaii, too. Don't leave him out of the fun! We all love Josh, but c'mon now."
Q-Sophia Bush was briefly married to her One Tree Hill co-star. Who? Chad Michael Murray
ZOE CALLS SON A LIVING DOLL
Rachel Zoe made her living styling big names like Anne Hathaway, but right now the greatest joy in her life is dressing her two-year-old son Skylar. “Oh my God, my husband laughs at me because I spend more time in his closet in the morning than I do in my own. And you know, it's incredibly fun,” she tells Us Weekly. “It's like having a live doll. And he loves it." She adds, "Right now, he loves getting dressed, which is really fun. At some point, I'm sure in a year, he's gonna hate everything I show him and just wanna wear like soccer uniforms or something." As for Skyler’s look, Zoe says, “It's kind of funny -- I dress him kind of like my husband and then kind of like a little French boy, because in my delusional mind I live in France.”
TV TIDBITS
œTNT has given the go-ahead for a bounty hunter pilot starring Geena Davis. Davis will play an unconventional bounty hunter whose eccentric personality and unusual tactics give her an advantage in her business.
œ There will be some familiar faces when American Horror Story returns for season three. In addition to regular Jessica Lange, Ryan Murphy has confirmed that both Sarah Paulson and Evan Peters will be back next season. Details of the plot are being kept under wraps, although Murphy did confirm it would be a modern-day story centered on Lange’s character.
œ The United States of Tara’s Toni Collette will star in the new Jerry Bruckheimer-produced pilot Hostages. She’ll play a Washington, DC, surgeon who gets caught up in a political conspiracy after being chosen to operate on the President of the United States. Her family is taken hostage and it’s up to her to save their lives.
œ Promised Land star Rosemarie DeWitt has exited HBO’s The Newsroom. DeWitt was to play the recurring role of Rebecca Halliday, a litigator who defends the show’s fictional cable news network from a wrongful termination suit. She had already shot some scenes, but when the production schedule for season two changed, she encountered some conflicts. The part will be recast and her scenes will be reshot.
œ Heather Locklear is joining the cast of TNT’s Franklin & Bash. She’ll be a series regular on the drama’s upcoming third season, playing Rachel King, a trial lawyer who becomes a partner at Jared Franklin (Breckin Meyer) and Peter Bash’s (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) law firm.
