Jackson to skip Secrest
Jackson to skip Secrest
LOS ANGELES -- So how is "American Idol" judge Randy Jackson planning to celebrate New Year's Eve? "I'm just trying to get ready for that New Year's Eve ball drop with Ryan Seacrest," Jackson joked. Seacrest, who is host of the Fox reality show, will co-host ABC's special for the traditional ball drop and countdown to midnight in New York's Times Square. So Jackson isn't planning to be in front of the TV watching Seacrest? "No, never!" Jackson told AP Radio. "I told him I'd only watch if he rides the ball. If he jumps on the ball and has a fit of rage and rides it down." Seacrest will join Dick Clark, who is returning to "New Year's Rockin' Eve" after suffering a stroke last December. Hilary Duff will anchor and perform at the Hollywood segment of the show. "New Year's Rockin' Eve" will air tonight starting at 10 (EST).
Pimp C is out of prison
HOUSTON -- All those "Free Pimp C" T-shirts and baseball caps can be put away. Rap star Pimp C -- half of the acclaimed duo Underground Kingz, or UGK -- was released on parole Friday after serving about half of an eight-year sentence. Since he was imprisoned in January 2002, "Free Pimp C" has been a rallying call for rappers and UGK fans across the country. Numerous rap stars have appeared in music videos and at concerts and awards shows wearing gear with the phrase. Pimp C (real name: Chad Butler) was sentenced when he fell behind on community service required after pleading no contest to aggravated assault. He was charged after brandishing a gun during an argument with a woman at a mall. Several people waited for him outside the state prison in Huntsville and he spoke with them for about 10 minutes before leaving, Texas Department of Criminal Justice spokeswoman Michelle Lyons said Friday. Pimp C, who turned 32 Thursday, has sold more than a million records since 1992 from five major-label releases with UGK.
2 men arraigned in caseof Lopez, Anthony video
NEW YORK -- Two men have been arrested on charges of trying to sell Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez's stolen wedding video back to the couple for $1 million, authorities said. The men tried to ransom the video after first shopping it around unsuccessfully to media outlets including People, Us Weekly and "Access Hollywood," according to a criminal complaint filed against them. Tito Moses, 31, and Steven Wortman, 49, were arraigned late Wednesday in Manhattan Criminal Court on charges of conspiracy, attempted grand larceny and possession of stolen property. A copy of the celebrity couple's wedding video was in a laptop computer that was in Anthony's car when it was stolen in Linden, N.J., last October. The car was later recovered but the laptop was gone. According to the complaint, once they failed to sell the video to the media, Moses and Wortman called Marc Anthony Productions and tried to sell it back to the salsa star. An NYPD detective posing as an Anthony associate engaged in a series of negotiations with Moses and Wortman between Dec. 20 and Dec. 27, during which the men demanded $1 million for the laptop, the complaint said.
At one point the detective refused the $1 million demand and Wortman threatened to destroy it, the complaint said. Moses and Wortman were arrested in a sting Tuesday when they allegedly met with police to sell the laptop for a lesser amount.
Notable death
PORTLAND, Maine -- Bud Blake, who created the award-winning comic strip "Tiger" after quitting his job as a New York ad man to pursue his love of drawing, has died. He was 87. Blake died Monday at Maine Medical Center, according to King Features Syndicate, which distributes the comic.
Today's birthdays
Folk and blues singer Odetta is 75. Actor Sir Anthony Hopkins is 68. Actor Tim Considine ("My Three Sons") is 65. Actress Sarah Miles is 64. Rock musician Andy Summers is 63. Actor Ben Kingsley is 62. Rock musician Peter Quaife (The Kinks) is 62. Producer-director Taylor Hackford is 61. Fashion designer Diane Von Furstenberg is 59. Actor Tim Matheson is 58. Pop singer Burton Cummings (The Guess Who) is 58. Singer Donna Summer is 57. Actor Joe Dallesandro is 57. Rock musician Tom Hamilton (Aerosmith) is 54. Actor James Remar is 52. Actress Bebe Neuwirth is 47. Actor Val Kilmer is 46. Singer Paul Westerberg is 46. Rock musician Ric Ivanisevich (Oleander) is 43. Rock musician Scott Ian (Anthrax) is 42. Actress Gong Li is 40. Pop singer Joe McIntyre is 33.