Leno's motorcycle raises $500K for Katrina victims

Leno's motorcycle raises$500K for Katrina victims
BURBANK, Calif. -- It looks like Jay Leno's celebrity-autographed motorcycle has raised nearly a half-million dollars for victims of Hurricane Katrina.
Bidding for the bike closed on the eBay auction Web site at 5 p.m. Thursday, and Leno announced during the taping of Thursday's "Tonight Show" that the winning bid was $505,100. Ninety-five percent of the winning bid will be donated to the American Red Cross for Katrina relief efforts.
For the past four weeks, "Tonight Show" guests and surprise arrivals have been autographing the Harley-Davidson motorcycle. The final signers on Thursday were guests Matthew McConaughey and Angie Harmon and surprise walk-ons Jimmy Smits and Jennifer Love Hewitt.
Previous signers include Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Billy Crystal, Reese Witherspoon, Adam Sandler, Jennifer Garner and Pamela Anderson.
Theron gets staron walk of fame
LOS ANGELES -- Oscar winner Charlize Theron's career came full circle Thursday when she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame only blocks from where she was first "discovered."
"I had big dreams when I came here, but this is an incredibly amazing gift. ... Two cherries on top of the cake," Theron told a cheering crowd at the star's unveiling.
Surrounded by family and friends from her native South Africa, Theron recounted how at 18 an agent found her in line at a bank on Hollywood Boulevard. Her mother had pushed the tall, beautiful star to move to Los Angeles to pursue film acting.
Initially a model, and then a ballerina, Theron danced for New York's Joffrey Ballet before rising through the ranks in Hollywood.
"She is a movie star in a classic sense," said Niki Caro, director of Theron's upcoming movie "North County."
Theron, 30, began her film career as James Spader's love interest in 1996's "2 Days in the Valley" before starring in such movies as "The Cider House Rules," "The Italian Job" and Woody Allen's "Celebrity."
But it was her frightening portrayal of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in 2003's "Monster" that cemented her status and earned her an Oscar and Golden Globe award. Theron gained weight and wore false teeth for the role.
kAbdul's happy to do what she's doing
SAN FRANCISCO -- "American Idol" judge Paula Abdul dodged questions about a review that Fox-TV said found no evidence that she had an affair with a former contestant, and Simon Cowell said viewers can expect more scandals among competitors.
"I'm sitting right here happy doing what I'm doing," Abdul said Wednesday when asked if she felt vindicated by a report last month by two law firms that found nothing to corroborate former contestant Corey Clark's claim of an affair with the former pop star.
Abdul did say later that "when you have a show this successful it's crazy we haven't had any more discrepancies."
Abdul, Cowell, fellow judge Randy Jackson and host Ryan Seacrest were in San Francisco for auditions for the upcoming season, which starts in January.
The judges also said viewers shouldn't expect every contestant to have a flawless background and that a good scandal can keep the show interesting.
"Not everybody is perfect and I don't think we should be looking for perfect people," said Cowell, who routinely skewers "Idol" candidates he deems aren't up to snuff. Cowell also promised to be "nice."
The allegations that Abdul had an affair with Clark, who competed unsuccessfully in 2003, received nearly as much publicity as the Fox show last year and led to an ABC special called "Fallen Idol."
Asked if a lack of distractions would make the new season easier, Abdul looked at Cowell and Jackson and said: "It's never easy sitting between these two."
Today's birthdays
Country singer-musician Leon Rausch (Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys) is 78. Former Dodgers shortstop Maury Wills is 73. Movie critic Rex Reed is 67. Singer-songwriter Don McLean is 60. Cajun/country singer Jo-El Sonnier is 59. Actor Avery Brooks is 57. Photographer Annie Leibovitz is 56. Rock musician Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike & amp; the Mechanics) is 55. Singer-actor Sting is 54. Actress Lorraine Bracco is 51. Country musician Greg Jennings (Restless Heart) is 51. Rock singer Phil Oakey (The Human League) is 50. Rhythm-and-blues singer Freddie Jackson is 47. Singer-producer Robbie Nevil is 47. Rock musician Bud Gaugh (Sublime) is 38. Folk-country singer Gillian Welch is 38. Country singer Kelly Willis is 37. Rhythm-and-blues singer Dion Allen (Az Yet) is 35. Actress-talk show host Kelly Ripa is 35. Singer Tiffany is 34. Rock singer Lene Nystrom is 32. Rhythm-and-blues singer LaTocha Scott (Xscape) is 32. Rapper Big Proof (D12) is 28.