Streisand pulls out of Israel celebration

April 23, 2008 at 12:00a.m.

JERUSALEM — Israel says Barbra Streisand has pulled out of a celebration of the country’s 60th anniversary next month. Streisand was one of the big-name guests slated to appear at a Jerusalem convention hosted by Israeli President Shimon Peres beginning May 13.

The American diva was supposed to perform a rendition of the Hebrew prayer Avinu Malkeinu, or “Our Father Our King.” But Peres’ office said Tuesday that Streisand has announced she will not be coming. It says she gave no reason for the sudden cancellation.

Cleveland chef to host ‘Dinner: Impossible’

One of the Food Network’s Iron Chefs says he is ready to do the impossible. The network on Monday announced that Ohio chef Michael Symon will take over as host of the “Dinner: Impossible” series, which challenges its chef to prepare meals under extreme conditions.

Symon, who won the network’s The Next Iron Chef competition in 2007 and appears on its Iron Chef America series, replaces Robert Irvine, who left last month after revelations that he’d exaggerated details of his r sum .

Irvine had hosted the show for four seasons. The network says Symon will begin taping 10 new episodes this week. They will begin airing this summer. Also new to the show will be a one-hour format.

“I’m really looking forward to the challenges that are going to be thrown my way and nothing gets me more pumped than someone telling me that something is ‘impossible,”’ Symon said in a statement. Symon, who is chef and owner of Lola and Lolita restaurants in Cleveland, graduated from The Culinary Institute of America and was named by Food & Wine magazine as one of the Ten Best New Chefs in America in 1998.

Today’s birthdays

Actor David Birney is 69. Actor Lee Majors (“Six Million Dollar Man”) is 69. Actress Blair Brown is 60. Actress Joyce DeWitt (“Three’s Company”) is 59. Actor James Russo is 55. Director Michael Moore is 54. Actress Judy Davis is 53. Actress Jan Hooks is 51. Actress Valerie Bertinelli is 48. Comedian George Lopez is 47. Actress Melina Kanakaredes (“Providence”) is 41. Drummer Stan Frazier of Sugar Ray is 40. Country guitarist Tim Womack of Sons of the Desert is 40. Actor Scott Bairstow (“Party of Five”) is 38. Actor Kal Penn (“House M.D.,” “Harold and Kumar”) is 31.