Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Donny and Marie held over at Flamingo
LAS VEGAS — Brother-and-sister entertainers Donny and Marie Osmond are extending their variety show at the Flamingo Las Vegas for two additional years.
The hotel made the announcement Monday. Flamingo President Don Marrandino cited the success of Donny and Marie’s 90-minute greatest-hits multimedia show, which opened Sept. 9.
They will continue to appear at the Flamingo Showroom through October 2010. Financial terms weren’t disclosed.
Donny and Marie took over as Flamingo headliners after Toni Braxton’s show ended in April due to Braxton’s health concerns.
Keanu Reeves in court over paparazzo’s lawsuit
LOS ANGELES — It’s not exactly “The Matrix,” but Keanu Reeves is venturing into a different kind of alternate universe: a Los Angeles courtroom.
The civil trial of a paparazzo suing the actor got under way Monday with attorneys wrangling over last-minute issues before jury selection began.
Alison Silva is suing Reeves over a March 2007 accident in which he fell while photographing the “Matrix” star behind the wheel of his Porsche. Reeves was pulling out of a parking space, and Silva says he was knocked down.
A judge has already thrown out the possibility of punitive damages and other claims by the photographer.
Reeves will play at least a supporting role during the trial: He arrived Monday dressed in a brown suit.
Broadcaster cancels show on Hitler’s favorite meal
BRUSSELS, Belgium — Amid widespread criticism, a Belgian public broadcaster on Monday scrapped a television show on Adolf Hitler’s favorite meal.
Belgium’s Flemish broadcaster VRT said the episode on Hitler’s culinary tastes was “too sensitive” to air and did not fit the series “Plat Prefere,” or “Favorite Dish,” which profiles the favorite foods of famous people.
Other episodes have featured more positively viewed subjects, including British singer Freddie Mercury, opera legend Maria Callas and artist Salvador Dali.
“There was a wrong perception that the show about Hitler would humanize or, worse, glorify” Hitler, VRT said on its Web site.
A preview of the Hitler episode showed professional cook Jeroen Meus going to Hitler’s haunts in southern Germany to prepare trout with butter sauce, which is believed to have been one of Hitler’s favorite meals.
Presidential dolls
LOS ANGELES — Move over, Tina Fey, there’s a new Sarah Palin impersonator in town.
Four one-of-a-kind Cabbage Patch Kids dolls crafted in the likeness of presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain and vice presidential candidates Joe Biden and Palin will be auctioned on the eBay.com Web site.
The dolls sport outfits inspired by their counterparts, with the Palin doll wearing the Republican candidate’s signature rimless eyeglasses, red suit and heels.
“These four folks in particular seemed like the perfect candidates, if you will, to become one-of-a-kind Cabbage Patch Kids,” said Jakks Pacific Inc. spokeswoman Genna Rosenberg. All proceeds from the auction, which begins Thursday and ends Nov. 4, will benefit the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation.
Today’s birthdays
Country musician Charlie Daniels is 72. Actress Jane Alexander is 69. Actor Dennis Franz (“NYPD Blue”) is 64. Actress Annie Potts is 56. Actress Daphne Zuniga (“Melrose Place”) is 46. Actor-comedian Andy Richter is 42. Actress Julia Roberts is 41. Singer Ben Harper is 39. Country singer Brad Paisley is 36. Actor Joaquin Phoenix is 34. Singer Justin Guarini (“American Idol”) is 30.
2008, The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.