Bardot asks Obama to save the seals

February 21, 2009 at 12:00a.m.

PARIS — Brigitte Bardot wants President Barack Obama to save the world’s seals.

The French movie icon and longtime animal-rights activist has sent a letter to Obama urging him to speak out against seal hunting.

Bardot told The Associated Press on Friday that she has “immense hope” in Obama, “even if I know that he is in demand from all directions and he already has a lot to do in his own country.”

The letter was linked to Obama’s visit Thursday to Canada, whose large annual seal hunt often is criticized.

The U.S. banned Canadian seal products in 1972.

The European Union is considering a ban on seal products, and Bardot expressed hope that Obama could use his positive image in Europe to lobby for the ban.

Former Miss Ohio is voted off ’Survivor’

LOS ANGELES — The tribe has spoken — and has voted off a former Miss Ohio USA from the current go-round of the TV reality series “Survivor.”

Dayton native Candace Smith had her torch snuffed out Thursday night on “Survivor: Tocantins,” taped in Brazil. The 32-year-old attorney was targeted on the CBS show after she clashed repeatedly with another contestant, Benjamin “Coach” Wade.

Meanwhile, competitor Taj Johnson-George told her tribemates that she’s the wife of Ohio State Heisman Trophy winner and current football commentator Eddie George. That had her fellow contestants questioning whether Johnson-George needs the $1 million prize.

Johnson-George hasn’t revealed that she’s been in the spotlight herself — as a member of R&B music group SWV.

Tomlin leads nominees for Dove Awards

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Chris Tomlin is the lead nominee for gospel music’s Dove Awards with seven nods.

Among the awards he was nominated for include artist of the year, male vocalist of the year and song of the year for “Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone).”

The nominations were announced Friday. If Tomlin wins male vocalist, it would be his fourth trophy in that category.

Natalie Grant and newcomer Francesca Battistelli received five nominations apiece. Grant, a three-time female vocalist winner, is up for that award again this year. Battistelli broke into the Christian music scene last summer with her hit “I’m Letting Go.”

The 40th annual Dove Awards will be April 23 at the Grand Ole Opry House.

Today’s birthdays

Actress Rue McClanahan is 74. Record company executive David Geffen is 66. Actress Tyne Daly is 63. Actor Anthony Daniels (C3P0 in “Star Wars” films) is 63. Actor Alan Rickman is 63. Actor William Petersen (“C.S.I.”) is 56. Actor Kelsey Grammer is 54. Singer Mary Chapin Carpenter is 51. Singer Ranking Roger of General Public and of English Beat is 48. Actor William Baldwin is 46. Actress Jennifer Love Hewitt is 30. Opera/pop singer Charlotte Church is 23. Actress Ellen Page (“Juno”) is 22. Actor Corbin Bleu (“High School Musical,” “Jump In!”) is 20.