newsmakers

September 22, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

newsmakers

Queen of Soul’s son is badly beaten

DETROIT

Aretha Franklin’s son was severely beaten at a gas station in Detroit, the singing legend’s spokeswoman said Tuesday.

Eddie Franklin was attacked Monday night and was undergoing surgery at a hospital, Gwendolyn Quinn said in a statement. She said three people may have been involved in the attack but did not address a possible motive.

Quinn told The Associated Press she didn’t have any additional information beyond the written statement.

Detroit police spokeswoman Eren Stephens said a female acquaintance was with Franklin just before the beating took place. The woman walked into the gas station, and when she returned, the assault had taken place, Stephens said.

Police said the woman then drove Franklin to the hospital, dropped him off and headed to a police station to file a report.

Stephens said investigators want to talk to Franklin about the circumstances of the attack once he’s able to speak to them.

Aretha Franklin, known as the Queen of Soul, is one of the most honored musicians in American history, having won numerous Grammys; the National Medal of Arts; the Presidential Medal of Freedom and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Her hits include “[You Make Me Feel Like] A Natural Woman,” “Chain of Fools” and her signature song, “Respect.”

Seinfeld show on Broadway

NEW YORK

Colin Quinn’s one-man show directed by Jerry Seinfeld is moving up to Broadway.

The comedians’ satirical take on the history of the world is headed to the Helen Hayes Theatre for an 11-week run beginning Oct. 22. The show debuted off-Broadway this summer.

“Colin Quinn: Long Story Short” is a daffy, 75-minute journey about mankind from the dawn of civilization to the tech age. Quinn, a former “Saturday Night Live” star with a raspy, jerky delivery, previously was on Broadway in “Colin Quinn: An Irish Wake” in 1998.

Seinfeld, making his stage-directing debut, has paced the show as a series of self-contained, 10-minute or so routines, helping provide a base for Quinn’s path through time and space.

Copter in film hits powerline

SHERIDAN TOWNSHIP, Mich.

Authorities say a helicopter used in the filming of the Hugh Jackman movie “Real Steel” snagged a power line in Michigan, causing a brief power outage and closing a road.

Huron County Sheriff Kelly J. Hanson told the Huron Daily Tribune of Bad Axe that no injuries were reported after the Sunday evening incident in Huron County’s Sheridan Township, about 90 miles north of Detroit.

A section of a nearby road was closed for a short time.

Hanson says the helicopter was equipped with a front-mounted camera. Hanson says the helicopter hooked the electrical wire, then seemed to have “directional control issues” before safely flying away.

“Real Steel” is a futuristic drama about robot boxing. The DreamWorks Studios’ film is scheduled for a 2011 release.

Associated Press