Mac in stable condition, expects release in weeks

Mac in stable condition, expects release in weeks

CHICAGO — A spokeswoman for Bernie Mac says the actor is responding well to treatment for pneumonia and hopes to be released in the next few weeks.

Publicist Danica Smith said Thursday in a statement that Mac’s condition is “stable.” Smith first announced Aug. 1st that Mac was hospitalized in Chicago.

Smith has said the pneumonia isn’t related to an inflammatory lung disease Mac also has. That condition has been in remission since 2005.

The Chicago native made waves last month with off-color jokes during a fundraiser for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.

Lawsuit: Blige stole tunes, including iPod ad

NEW YORK — Mary J. Blige has been sued in New York for $2 million by a company that says she stole some of the music she used on her latest hit album, including one used on an iPod commercial.

The Drama Family Entertainment company filed the lawsuit in federal court in Manhattan last week.

The lawsuit claims the company suffered copyright infringement because the singer’s “Growing Pains” album contains the song “Work That.” The suit says the song was created by a producer who worked for the company at the time.

The song was featured with a silhouetted Blige in an iPod commercial. Apple Inc. isn’t named in the lawsuit.

Today’s birthdays

Singer-turned-sausage-king Jimmy Dean is 80. Singer Eddie Fisher is 80. Actress Kate O’Mara (“Dynasty”) is 69. Actor James Reynolds (“Days of Our Lives”) is 62. Singer-flutist Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull is 61. Mandolin player Gene Johnson of Diamond Rio is 59. Actress Rosanna Arquette is 49. Actor Antonio Banderas is 48. Drummer Jon Farriss of INXS is 47. Singer Aaron Hall is 44. Actress Angie Harmon (“Law and Order”) is 36. Country singer Jennifer Hanson is 35. Singer Nikki Bratcher of Divine is 28.