Thursday, December 25, 2003
William Shatnermakes music again
LOS ANGELES -- Former "Star Trek" legend William Shatner is using his musical talent again. While making a commercial for Priceline.com's new airline ticketing service, Shatner -- who infamously covered "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" decades ago -- told the crew he just finished a new album produced by Ben Folds, reports The New York Post.
Guest singers include Joe Jackson and punk rocker Henry Rollins, with one track written by country star Brad Paisley. Shatner and Paisley have been friends since Capt. Kirk played a pampered Ferrari owner in Paisley's video "Celebrity."
Timberlake takessome time off
LONDON -- Justin Timberlake says he's going to take a year off from music to spend more time with girlfriend Cameron Diaz.
The "Rock Your Body" singer, who has been working almost nonstop since he was 16, says he also wants to spend more time with family and friends, especially his two little brothers.
"I've two little brothers and I've hardly seen them as I've been away so much," Timberlake told Britain's Daily Star. "So I'm planning to make 2004 the year for me to be at home with them and my friends."
Catch her if you can:Leo is reportedly engaged
LOS ANGELES -- Are Leo and Gisele close to tying the knot?
Leonardo DiCaprio is reportedly planning to marry on/off supermodel girlfriend Gisele Bundchen next year, reports Teen Hollywood.
The 28-year-old star of "Catch Me If You Can" and the upcoming "Alexander the Great" project is said to have proposed over the summer with a $210,000 ring.
But Bundchen, 22, kept him sweating and accepted only a few weeks ago.
"Women in Brazil like to keep their guys waiting before finally accepting a wedding proposal," the magazine quoted a friend as saying. "But Gisele really put Leo through the emotional mincer."
The ceremony is expected to take place either in America or Brazil.
Notable death
Dave Dudley, who had a hit record in the 1960s with the truck-driving song "Six Days on the Road," died Monday of an apparent heart attack, said his wife, Marie. He was 75. Dudley recorded more than 70 albums during his career.
Today's birthdays
Singer Tony Martin is 90. Actor Dick Miller is 75. Actress Hanna Schygulla is 60.
Rhythm and blues singer John Edwards (The Spinners) is 59. Actor Gary Sandy is 58. Singer Jimmy Buffett is 57. Football Hall-of-Famer Larry Csonka is 57. Singer Barbara Mandrell is 55. Actress Sissy Spacek is 54.
Singer Annie Lennox is 49. Reggae singer-musician Robin Campbell (UB40) is 49. Country singer Steve Wariner is 49. Singer Shane McGowan (The Popes) is 46.
Actress Klea Scott is 35. Rock musician Noel Hogan (The Cranberries) is 32. Singer Dido is 32. Rock singer Mac Powell (Third Day) is 31. Country singer Alecia Elliott is 21.
Carson Daly receivesdisturbing death threats
LOS ANGELES -- MTV presenter Carson Daly has been receiving chilling death threats from a man who claims he was solicited to kill Robert Blake's wife, Bonnie Lee Bakley, reports IMDB.com.
Former "Baretta" star Blake is the main suspect in the shooting of his wife, but a man who calls himself Kevin Hulk has left a message on the answering machine of Blake's attorney Tom Mesereau claiming he was approached for the murder.
Hulk says on the recorded message, "I had agreed to kill Bonnie Lee Bakley. If I did kill her I would tell you that I killed her, but someone else killed her anyway."
Hulk says he contacted the lead detective in the Blake case but no one followed through to investigate.
Scott Ross, Blake's private investigator, says, "Here's another clue that's being ignored. Here's somebody who says, 'I was solicited.' How come they're not out investigating to find out who did the solicitation? This person says, 'I want to kill Carson Daly.' How is this not being taken seriously?"
Hulk claims he had a strong reason for wanting to kill Bakley.
"I was gonna kill her because she had my address book. My address book is precious."
Hulk claims that after he lost his address book, he put his phone numbers in a two-way pager that somehow ended up in the hands of Daly. He says in the message, "What I'm telling you is, I'm gonna kill Carson Daly because he has my two-way, and I actually saw a picture of him on MTV with my two-way. I'm gonna kill him."
The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating the matter. Daly's representatives have yet to comment.