Stress over 'Harmony' lands Manilow in hospital

Stress over 'Harmony'lands Manilow in hospital
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. -- Barry Manilow was hospitalized after suffering from chest pain because of stress, his publicist said.
Manilow, 57, was hospitalized Saturday after returning to his home from New York, where he and co-writer Bruce Sussman had taken part in "two of the most grueling days of arbitration" in a lawsuit over rights to the musical "Harmony," publicist Jerry J. Sharell said. "Harmony" was supposed to run in Philadelphia but was canceled in November because it fell short of its capitalization. A 1997 production at the La Jolla Playhouse in California also faltered and closed after mixed reviews.
The show, which has music by Manilow and book and lyrics by Sussman, is about the Comedian Harmonists, a group of singers popular during the last days of Germany's Weimar Republic.
Broad success of 'CSI'was surprising, star says
PHILADELPHIA -- When "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" debuted on CBS in 2000, the last guy who expected it to be a breakout hit was its star William Petersen.
"We thought we would have a niche audience of loyal viewers like 'X-Files' or 'West Wing.' But we have a huge audience that crosses all kinds of boundaries. It's unique. It's bizarre," Petersen told The Philadelphia Inquirer in Sunday editions. Since its launch, the science-centric and graphically visceral show about forensic technicians has become the nation's No. 1 drama and birthed one spin-off, "CSI: Miami," and another based in New York on the way. "I assume that part of it is due to the quality of the show and the characters and their chemistry," said Petersen, who plays Gil Grissom. "People like the way it twists and turns on itself. Each week is a puzzle, a really well-done puzzle." Petersen, 50, has also found himself something of a sex symbol, even though he portrays a workaholic wonk with an affinity for insects.
A happy trailfor fans: Stretchhonors Hopalong
PALM DESERT, Calif. -- Hopalong Cassidy fans have a trail in Palm Desert to walk along to honor the late actor who played the cowboy hero. "It's a bit of a tourist attraction, it's a bit of nostalgia and a wonderful trail, all rolled together," Councilman Buford Crites said of the one-mile Hopalong Cassidy Trail. Writer Clarence Mulford created Hopalong Cassidy in novels and short stories, and Ohio native William Boyd brought him to life in dozens of movies and TV shows from 1935-51. Boyd moved to Palm Desert in the mid-1950s. He died in 1972. The city's trail system will soon have other paths named after prominent early Palm Desert residents. One will be named after actor George "Gabby" Hayes, who was perhaps best known as Roy Rogers' sidekick.
Crowd toasts Oprah at 50
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- Oprah Winfrey's 50th birthday bash attracted a star-studded crowd to a San Ysidro ranch owned by one of the talk-show host's friends.
Marlene Veloz hosted the gala Saturday which attracted Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, and his wife, Maria Shriver, John Travolta, Kelly Preston and Carol Burnett.
Winfrey even made a brief appearance at the ranch's main gate to tell fans she loved being 50.
In January, Winfrey was named America's favorite talk-show host at the 30th People's Choice Awards.
Today's birthdays
Comedian Joey Bishop is 86. Actor John Fiedler is 79. Comedian Shelley Berman is 78. Sen. Paul Sarbanes, D-Md., is 71. Football Hall-of-Famer Fran Tarkenton is 64. Actress Bridget Hanley is 63. Actress Blythe Danner is 61. Singer Dennis Edwards is 61. Football Hall-of-Famer Bob Griese is 59. Singer-guitarist Dave Davies (The Kinks) is 57. Singer Melanie is 57. Actress Morgan Fairchild is 54. Actor Nathan Lane is 48. Rock musician Lee Renaldo (Sonic Youth) is 48. Actor Thomas Calabro is 45. Actor-director Keith Gordon is 43. Actress Michele Greene is 42. Country singer Matraca Berg is 40. Actress Maura Tierney is 39. Rock musician Nick Hawkins (Big Audio) is 39. Actor Warwick Davis is 34. Musician Grant Barry is 27.