NEWSMAKERS | Obamas to tape ‘Oprah’ episode

NEWSMAKERS

Obamas to tape ‘Oprah’ episode

CHICAGO

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama will appear on one of the final episodes of “The Oprah Winfrey Show.”

Harpo Productions and the White House confirmed Tuesday that the Obamas would tape the episode April 27 at Harpo Studios in Chicago. The show is to air May 2.

Winfrey announced live on the show in November 2009 that she would end its run after 25 years. She has since launched cable’s Oprah Winfrey Network.

The last episode of “The Oprah Winfrey Show” will air May 25. The final episode brings an end to what has been television’s top-rated talk show for more than two decades. It airs in 145 countries worldwide.

Court hears appeal in Phil Spector case

LOS ANGELES

Attorneys for music producer Phil Spector have presented arguments to a California appellate court as they try to overturn his second-degree murder conviction on grounds that a Los Angeles judge made judicial errors.

However, judges on the state’s 2nd District Court of Appeal asked pointed questions at Tuesday’s hearing and seemed reluctant to accept arguments that the judge acted improperly.

The panel also questioned points made by the state attorney general’s office about admissibility of evidence in the case. The judges have 90 days to make a decision.

Spector was convicted two years ago of shooting to death actress Lana Clarkson at his Alhambra mansion in 2003. He’s serving 19 years to life and didn’t attend the hearing.

If the appellate court grants Spector a new trial, it would be his third. Spector’s first jury deadlocked in the case in 2007.

Queen Elizabeth II’s husband to mark 90th

LONDON

Add another celebration to the British royal family’s packed calendar: the 90th birthday of Queen Elizabeth II’s husband.

Buckingham Palace said Tuesday that the family will mark Prince Philip’s milestone with a service at Windsor Castle’s chapel and reception June 12, two days after his actual birthday.

The occasion comes at a busy time for the 84-year-old queen.

In the coming months, she will celebrate the April 29 wedding of grandson Prince William to Kate Middleton and the July wedding of granddaughter Zara Phillips.

The palace said it had created a dedicated website, where well-wishers can peruse photos and leave a birthday message for Philip, who in 2009 became the longest-serving consort in British history when he outlived Queen Charlotte, the wife of King George III.

Kathy Griffin to guest on ‘Drop Dead Diva’

LOS ANGELES

Kathy Griffin is looking forward to causing trouble when she guest stars on the Lifetime series “Drop Dead Diva.”

In an episode of the upcoming third season, Griffin plays the sister of series regular Kate Levering’s Kim and clashes with Margaret Cho’s character, Teri.

Griffin said acting as a total witch to her good friend Cho is “the role I was born to play.”

Other “Drop Dead Diva” guest stars for the coming season include Wanda Sykes, LeAnn Rimes and Paula Abdul.

“Drop Dead Diva” stars Brooke Elliott as a shallow model who dies in an accident and finds her soul has entered the body of a brilliant, plus-size attorney.

Simon releases CD with picture book

NEW YORK

Baseball is more than a pastime for singer Carly Simon. Her version of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” is included on a CD that accompanies a recently released picture book of the same name.

Simon told The Associated Press on Tuesday that her family was friendly with Jackie Robinson’s family when she was a girl.

She says the Brooklyn Dodgers star used to bring her to games and call her his “lucky charm.”

Simon says she found the classic baseball tune “pretty enchanting” and even once tried to write her own baseball number about her daughter playing centerfield.

The “You’re So Vain” and “Anticipation” songstress muses: “I really should finish it.”

Robinson died in 1972, but Simon remains close to his widow, Rachel Robinson.

“She’s a fantastic spirit,” Simon said. “And she’s very vigilant about Jackie’s legacy.”

Vindicator wire reports