newsmakers

April 15, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

newsmakers

‘South Park’ creators aim for Broadway

NEW YORK

The creators of the cheeky animated TV series “South Park” are taking aim at Broadway. Trey Parker and Matt Stone have written a musical comedy called “The Book of Mormon” that will open on Broadway in March 2011. The two wrote the show’s book, music and lyrics, along with Robert Lopez, one of the creators of the Tony-winning “Avenue Q.” The musical will be directed by Parker and Jason Moore, who directed “Avenue Q.”

‘Idol’ music chief moves to ‘Tonight’

NEW YORK

NBC says Rickey Minor of “American Idol” is taking over as music director of “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.” He replaces Kevin Eubanks, who made his May 28 departure date official Monday. In an announcement Tuesday, NBC says Minor is expected to debut on the show June 7. Minor is the music director of “American Idol,” whose season ends in late May. He will continue to consult with “American Idol” creator Simon Fuller on various projects. Minor also has served as music director of the Super Bowl, the Grammy Awards and “The NAACP Image Awards.”

King files for divorce from seventh wife

LOS ANGELES

Court filings show Larry King has filed for divorce from his seventh wife. The host of CNN’s “Larry King Live” filed Wednesday in Los Angeles to end the couple’s nearly 13-year marriage, citing “irreconcilable differences.” He married Shawn Southwick in a hospital room in 1997 shortly before surgery to clear a clogged blood vessel. He is seeking joint custody of the couple’s two sons, ages 11 and 9. Howard Rubenstein is a spokesman for King. He says King’s “major concern is the welfare of his children.”

Octomom to appear on Oprah’s show

LOS ANGELES

Nadya Suleman’s attorney says the octuplets’ mother will appear on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” next week and discuss how she is raising her 14 kids.

Jeff Czech told the Orange County Register on Tuesday that Oprah sent a TV crew to film at Suleman’s La Habra home last week.

He says Suleman went to a Los Angeles studio to film a remote interview with Oprah that is scheduled to air Tuesday. The attorney says the interview covered “straight talk” about surviving with her family of 14 and Oprah asked his client “some hardballs.”

Group continues effort to save Hollywood sign

LOS ANGELES

The effort to preserve the land beside the world-famous Hollywood sign has taken a typical Tinseltown twist: “To be continued.” The Trust for Public Land said Wednesday it has received a 16-day extension to finish raising the $12.5 million it needs to buy and preserve the hilltop property from private developers. Its purchase option was originally scheduled to expire Wednesday. The group says it’s $1.5 million away from its goal.