newsmakers

newsmakers

‘Sopranos’ cast attends induction of Gandolfini into NJ Hall of Fame

ASBURY PARK, N.J.

Six cast members of “The Sopranos” were on hand as the man who played mob boss Tony Soprano was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame. James Gandolfini died in Italy last year.

In comments before Thursday night’s ceremony in Asbury Park’s Convention Hall, Vincent Pastore, who played mobster Salvatore Bonpensiero, said Gandolfini was a Jersey guy through and through.

Other inductees include NBC News anchor Brian Williams, jazz great Dizzy Gillespie, chef Alice Waters, author Dorothy Parker, basketball great Patrick Ewing, The Shirelles and former Gov. Jim Florio.

Since 2008, 80 people with ties to New Jersey have been inducted into the Web-based hall. They include Bruce Springsteen, Jack Nicholson, Whitney Houston, Toni Morrison, Buzz Aldrin and Yogi Berra.

West welcomes first ‘Batman’ DVD release

LOS ANGELES

No surprise: Adam West has an excellent sense of humor.

The actor, after all, was immersed in a madcap brew of scenery-chewing villains and pun-filled dialogue in the 1960s TV series “Batman” and yet managed to portray the caped crusader as both in on the joke and properly superheroic.

In a phone call to discuss the first home-video release of “Batman,” West cut drolly to the chase.

“I’m so tired of people asking me, ‘When, when, when?’” he said, feigning an air of annoyance about the pent-up demand, then added, “I’m totally delighted it’s out now.”

“Batman: The Complete Television Series,” available in limited edition Blu-ray as well as DVD and digitally, includes the 120 original ABC broadcast episodes.

Associated Press