‘My Sharona’ lead singer Doug Fieger dies at 57

February 16, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. — Doug Fieger, leader of the power pop band The Knack who sang on the 1979 hit “My Sharona,” died Sunday. He was 57. Fieger, a Detroit-area native, died at his home in Woodland Hills near Los Angeles after battling cancer, according to The Knack’s manager, Jake Hooker.

Fieger formed The Knack in Los Angeles in 1978, and the group quickly became a staple of Sunset Strip rock clubs. A year later, he co-wrote and sang lead vocals on “My Sharona.” Fieger said the song, with its pounding drums and exuberant vocals, was inspired by a girlfriend of four years. “My Sharona” emerged during disco’s heyday and held the No. 1 spot on the Billboard pop chart for six weeks, becoming an FM radio standard. It became a pop-culture phenomenon, parodied by Weird Al Yankovic and others and sampled by rap group Run DMC.

Kevin Smith raises stink over ejection from plane

LOS ANGELES — Kevin Smith says he’s “way fat,” but that shouldn’t stop him from flying. The director and actor says a pilot ejected him from a Southwest Airlines flight from Oakland to Burbank, Calif., saying he didn’t fit properly in a single seat.

Smith raised a stink about the incident on his Twitter page Sunday, saying “I’m way fat, but I’m not there just yet,” and “If you look like me, you may be ejected from Southwest Air.” He posted a picture of himself sitting on the plane with his cheeks puffed out.

Southwest says its “Customer of Size” policy requires travelers to be able to fit safely and comfortably in one seat or make other arrangements. After a storm of angry online comments from Smith and his fans, the airline issued an apology first from its own Twitter account and later in a statement on its Web site titled “Not So Silent Bob,” a jovial jab at the Silent Bob character Smith plays in many of his films.

This year’s Oscars special will be last for Walters

NEW YORK — Barbara Walters says next month’s Oscar interview special will be her last, ending a 29-year tradition. Walters made the announcement Monday on her weekday talk show, “The View.” She says she feels that she has “been there, done that.”

Walters’ farewell Oscar special is tied to ABC’s Oscar Awards telecast and will air March 7. It will feature Academy Award Best Actress nominee Sandra Bullock and Best Supporting Actress nominee Mo’Nique, along with a retrospective of past specials.

Walters says she will continue her other annual ABC News special, “The 10 Most Fascinating People,” as well as co-hosting “The View” and other assignments.

Today’s birthdays

Actor Jeremy Bulloch (Boba Fett in “The Empire Strikes Back”) is 64. Actor LeVar Burton is 53. Rapper-actor Ice-T is 52. Actress Lisa Loring (“The Addams Family”) is 52. Guitarist Andy Taylor (Duran Duran) is 49. Drummer Taylor Hawkins of Foo Fighters is 38. Rapper Lupe Fiasco is 28.