New Zealand grants visa to James Brown for show

New Zealand grants visato James Brown for show
LOS ANGLES -- James Brown will perform in New Zealand after the government granted the Godfather of Soul a special visa, despite a string of criminal convictions that would normally ban him from the country.
Brown, 70, received a special event work visa to perform a "one night only" show in the northern city of Auckland on Wednesday night, reports The Associated Press.
The singer faces a jury trial in South Carolina in a criminal domestic violence case involving his wife. Eight months ago, he was pardoned by a state board for seven convictions he had collected over 10 years, mostly involving weapons.
He has further convictions involving assault, drugs and high-speed car chases.
Is reconciliation in futurefor Pamela and Tommy?
NEW YORK -- MSNBC.com's "The Scoop" is making alarming noises about a possible romantic rapprochement between Tommy Lee and Pamela Anderson.
Lately, Lee has been seen squiring around Doylestown, Pa.'s first girl, Pink, and, according to rumors, has also made the moves on supermodel Naomi Campbell.
But sources tell MSNBC.com that the couple, who spent the mid-'90s in a manic-depressive symphony of separation-divorce-reconciliation-separation, were spotted getting very cozy at an animal-rights function in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., over the weekend.
Michael and Janet: King and queen of fools?
PARIS -- Beleaguered pop star Michael Jackson and his little sister Janet have earned the dubious distinctions of being named the most foolish Americans of 2004, reports Agence France-Presse.
It marked the second time in a row that the erstwhile King of Pop, who is facing child molestation charges, has snatched the April Fool's Day award as the "Most Foolish American" in a U.S. telephone survey, conducted March 19-22.
In the poll of 1,016 Americans carried out by New York-based public relations consultant Jeff Barge, 77 percent of respondents voted Michael Jackson to the top of the fool's list.
Janet Jackson came in a close second, backed by 70 percent of respondents. The female performer made front-page news after the exposure of her breast, or "wardrobe malfunction," during the Super Bowl halftime show.
Pregnancy keeps Messingfrom 'Will & amp; Grace' taping
LOS ANGELES -- Debra Messing will not appear in the last three episodes of "Will & amp; Grace" because her doctor has asked her to stay off her feet for the rest of her pregnancy, an NBC spokesman said Tuesday.
"We've written around it, and we're getting ready to tape our season finale this week," said NBC spokesman Jamie French.
The hourlong episode, which features a wedding in Las Vegas and a guest appearance by Jennifer Lopez, is set to air April 29.
Notable death
Art James, who was an announcer or host for a dozen TV game shows over three decades, including "Concentration" and "Family Feud Challenge," has died. He was 74. James died Sunday, his former wife, Sandra Pietron, said. She said he was stricken by a sudden illness.
Today's birthdays
Author William Manchester is 82. Actor George Grizzard is 76. Actress Jane Powell is 75. Actress Grace Lee Whitney is 74. Actress Debbie Reynolds is 72. Country singer Jim Ed Brown is 70. Actor Don Hastings is 70. Actress Ali MacGraw is 66. Rhythm and blues singer Rudolph Isley is 65. Reggae singer Jimmy Cliff is 56. Movie director Barry Sonnenfeld is 51. Country singer Woody Lee is 36. Movie directors Albert and Allen Hughes are 32. Tennis player Magdalena Maleeva is 29. Singer Bijou Phillips is 24. Actor Sam Huntington is 22. Actor Josh Zuckerman is 19.