Ex-'Sopranos' actor nixes plea deal in assault case

Ex-'Sopranos' actor nixesplea deal in assault case
NEW YORK -- Time will tell if Big Pussy was really a wise guy. Former "Sopranos" star Vincent Pastore has rejected a plea deal offered by New York City prosecutors that would've let him avoid jail and do five days of community service on allegations that he assaulted his girlfriend, E!Online reports. The burly actor, who played goodfella Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero on HBO's hit mob drama, turned up in Manhattan Criminal Court on Thursday for a hearing on four misdemeanor charges of roughing up ex-fianc & eacute; Lisa Regina. Pastore, 58, faces two counts of assault, another for attempted assault and one count of harassment stemming from an encounter in April in a parked car in Little Italy. Prosecutors allege Pastore punched Regina in the back of the head, then grabbed her by the hair and pulled her down, smashing her eye into the vehicle's gear shift. Police also say he jerked her by the arm and threw her backward out of the car before driving off. Regina, 44, was treated for cuts and bruises at a nearby hospital. No word what led to the fight, but media reports indicate the ex-TV mobster was angry because she was running late. The two had been planning to tie the knot in June. At his April 5 arraignment, Pastore pleaded innocent to the charges.
'Apprentice' finale pitswoman against woman
NEW YORK -- The last man standing on NBC's "The Apprentice" has been fired. "I don't want to call it the women's season, but it is," Craig Williams told The Associated Press Friday. "You don't have to consider that, but it is a reality. We can't just overlook that. At the same time, we don't want to make that the excuse for why I'm not 'The Apprentice."' After a series of interviews with fast-talking executives, Donald Trump fired the odd man out for his lack of depth, leaving Tana Goertz and Kendra Todd as the final two candidates for the $250,000 job with The Trump Organization. "Did they get the better man?" said Williams. "Of course not. Did they get the better woman? I believe so." Williams said Goertz, the happy-go-lucky Mary Kay saleswoman and mother of two from Des Moines, Iowa, has what it takes.
J.Lo has a new goal:first female president
NEW YORK -- Watch out, Hillary Clinton -- Jennifer Lopez could be in the running, too. Apparently, J.Lo, who will soon be seen on the big screen with Jane Fonda in "Monster-in-Law," says she wants to be the first female president, reports Agence France-Presse. "If it were up to me, I'd love to be the first female president -- it would be fascinating," Lopez said. "The first thing I would do is redecorate the White House and make it more cozy and inviting." Lopez added that she loves doing her own housecleaning and knows that she and husband Marc Anthony will never part ways.
Lovitz gets reality gig
LOS ANGELES -- Seems the world is "Punk'd" drunk. The Hollywood Reporter says CBS is developing a reality show in the vein of MTV's Ashton Kutcher-starring prank fest, to star "SNL" alum Jon Lovitz. The show will mix and match game-show elements with hidden camera stunts that will feature Lovitz getting unsuspecting guests into embarrassing and otherwise puerile situations. No word on a broadcast date.
Paris to marry Paris?
NEW YORK -- From the You-Can't-Make-This-Up (Even if You Tried) Department, Paris Hilton announced on the air of "The View" last week that she is marrying a guy named Paris. No last name given (but wouldn't it be smashing if it was "France?") Apparently they've known each other 10 years, and that "we're so in love," she said. The best exchange during the big announcement was this. Hilton says, "He calls me Princess, and I call him Babaluna." Joy Behar: "Babaluna?" Barbara Walters: "That's the sweetest thing I've ever heard ... thank you for sharing that with us."
Today's birthdays
Comedian Don Rickles is 79. Environmentalist Sir David Attenborough is 79. Author Peter Benchley is 65. Actor James Mitchum is 64. Country singer Jack Blanchard is 63. Singer Toni Tennille is 62. Jazz musician Keith Jarrett is 60. Singer Philip Bailey (Earth, Wind and Fire) is 54. Rock musician Chris Frantz (Talking Heads) is 54. Rockabilly singer Billy Burnette is 52. Rock musician Alex Van Halen is 52. Actor David Keith is 51. Actor Stephen Furst is 51. Actress Melissa Gilbert is 41. Rock musician Dave Rowntree (Blur) is 41. Country musician Del Gray is 37. Rock singer Darren Hayes is 33.