newsmakers

newsmakers

Colbert to auction doctored portrait

NEW YORK

Stephen Colbert is trying a new role: art dealer. Comedy Central announced Friday that the host of “The Colbert Report” is putting one of his portraits up for auction. Colbert repeatedly has had himself painted in comically self- aggrandizing style. This one is referred to as “Portrait 5, Stephen(s).”

But it’s potentially the most valuable: Artists Frank Stella, Shepard Fairey and Andres Serrano each added their touch to the work in December.

It will be sold March 8 by auction house Phillips de Pury & Company, with proceeds going to DonorsChoose.org, which helps classroom projects.

Baltimore cuts off Poe House funding

BALTIMORE

Baltimore has cut off funding for the Edgar Allan Poe House and Museum, one of the strongest links between the literary icon and the city that claims him as its own. Curator Jeff Jerome says he’s been told that the Poe House must become self-sustaining by mid-2012, or it will close. The city hasn’t been funding the museum since last summer, but Jerome is keeping it open with money he’s raised over the years.

The Poe House had been funded at $80,000 a year, which includes Jerome’s salary, a security system, utilities and supplies. Jerome has been the curator and sole employee since the city took control of the building in 1979. Poe lived in the tiny west Baltimore rowhouse with his aunt and cousins during some lean years in the 1830s, before he became famous.

Bruno Mars gets date for cocaine plea deal

LAS VEGAS

Pop star Bruno Mars told a Las Vegas judge Friday that he’ll plead guilty in state court on Valentine’s Day to a felony cocaine charge that would be wiped from his record if he stays out of trouble for a year.

Mars, whose real name is Peter Hernandez, and a trio of defense lawyers agreed not to contest police accounts that he possessed 2.6 grams of cocaine when he was arrested early Sept. 19 after a Las Vegas nightclub performance.

Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Joseph Sciscento set the Feb. 14 date for his plea — the day after the 53rd Grammy Awards show in Los Angeles.

The 25-year-old singer-songwriter is nominated for seven Grammy awards.

Paltrow, Moore to sing on Oscar show

LOS ANGELES

Gwyneth Paltrow, Mandy Moore, Randy Newman, Zachary Levi and Florence Welch of Florence + The Machine will sing on the Oscar stage.

Academy Awards producers Bruce Cohen and Don Mischer say the entertainers will perform the year’s nominated songs during the Oscar ceremony, along with nominated composers A.R. Rahman and Alan Menken.

The 83rd annual Academy Awards will be presented Feb. 27 at the Kodak Theatre and broadcast live on ABC.

Vindicator wire services