NEWSMAKERS

NEWSMAKERS

Bieber in Panama after Florida scrape

PANAMA CITY

Pop star Justin Bieber is relaxing at the beach in Panama after being charged in Florida with driving under the influence.

Panamanian radio and television host Eddy Vasquez was filming a show at the Pacific Coast resort in Punta Chame when he spotted Bieber and his entourage walking on the beach.

He and his crew took pictures of the singer and his companions, who got on personal watercraft and traveled to a nearby island.

Police in Miami Beach said they arrested Bieber smelling of alcohol after officers saw him drag-racing before dawn Thursday, with his yellow Lamborghini traveling at nearly twice the speed limit.

‘Ride Along’ runs over ‘I, Frankenstein’

NEW YORK

The Kevin Hart comedy “Ride Along” continued to speed through a typically quiet box-office frame, while the monster-thriller “I, Frankenstein” couldn’t be roused from the dead.

Universal’s buddy cop comedy “Ride Along,” co-starring Ice Cube, cruised to the top of the box office again, taking in $21.2 million in its second weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday.

For the second weekend in a row, Universal claimed No. 1 and No. 2 at the box office, with the Afghanistan war film “Lone Survivor” earning $12.6 million in its fifth week.

In third place was “The Nut Job,” with $12.3 million.

“Frozen” brought in $9 million for fourth place, and “Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit” earned $8.8 million for fifth place.

Dempsey confirms ‘Grey’s’ extension

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.

Patrick Dempsey’s acting and racing careers will be intermingled for the foreseeable future.

Dempsey, a driver/owner racing in the Rolex 24 at Daytona endurance event this weekend, confirmed Saturday night that he has signed a two-year contract extension to continue with the popular television series “Grey’s Anatomy.” The show has not officially been picked up beyond its 10th season, but Dempsey’s deal provides a strong indication that it will be back.

Dempsey also plans to run a full season in the United SportsCar Championship, racing in the fourth-tier GTD class.

Dempsey said the acting gig has been a huge help to his other full-time job. Dempsey and co-driver Andrew Davis plan to race in all 13 events.

When the 48-year-old Dempsey was asked whether he had any thoughts about giving up “Grey’s” for racing, he said, “When I grow up, I want to race full time.”

Dempsey has raced professionally for nearly a decade.

Associated Press