newsmakers

newsmakers

Family: Joan Rivers on life support

NEW YORK

Joan Rivers’ family is confirming that the comedian is on life support after going into cardiac arrest last week during a procedure at a doctor’s office.

Her daughter, Melissa Rivers, said in a statement Tuesday that her mother is on life support “at this time.” Melissa said the family is extremely grateful for the public support.

Joan Rivers was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan on Thursday. The 81-year-old comic and red-carpet commentator has maintained a busy career as host of “Fashion Police” on the E! network and co-star of the WEtv reality show “Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best?”

Melissa Rivers said Tuesday that she knows her mother would be overwhelmed by the continuing outpouring of kindness.

Larry David play heads to Broadway

NEW YORK

Theater fans, get ready to laugh uncomfortably — Larry David has found a Broadway theater and some co-stars for his writing and acting stage debut.

Producers said Tuesday that the “Curb Your Enthusiasm” star’s play “Fish in the Dark” will star Rosie Perez, Jayne Houdyshell, Jake Cannavale, Jonny Orsini and Jerry Adler. Anna D. Shapiro, who won a Tony Award for staging “August: Osage County,” will direct.

Previews will begin Feb. 2 at the Cort Theatre, and opening night is set for March 5.

David, who also was the co-creator, head writer and executive producer of “Seinfeld,” has called his play “a comedy about a death in the family.”

Sotomayor to receive honor from Bryn Mawr

BRYN MAWR, Pa.

Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor will be honored by Bryn Mawr College for her trailblazing legal career.

The women’s liberal arts school near Philadelphia announced Tuesday that Sotomayor will receive the 2015 Katharine Hepburn Medal, given to women who embody “the intelligence, drive and independence” of the Oscar-winning actress. Hepburn was a 1928 graduate of Bryn Mawr.

School officials say Sotomayor shows “an unflinching commitment to justice and a fundamental dedication to real equality in our diverse society.”

Sotomayor is the first Hispanic on the nation’s highest court. She’ll receive the Hepburn Medal on April 17.

The medal also is named for the actress’ mother, Katharine Houghton Hepburn. She was an early women’s-rights activist and 1900 Bryn Mawr graduate.

Previous recipients include actress Lauren Bacall and rocker Patti Smith.

Venezuela rails against portrayal in US spy drama

CARACAS, Venezuela

Critics mostly have ignored the new TNT spy drama “Legends,” but it’s creating a furor in Venezuela.

Officials in the South American country are denouncing the show for portraying the socialist government stockpiling nerve gas to quash dissent.

The telecommunications commission opened an investigation Tuesday into the series over an episode in which a character fingers President Nicolas Maduro and his socialist party, which goes by the initials PSUV, as the buyer of chemical weapons. On Monday, Minister of Information Delcy Rodriguez denounced the script as hostile and “imperialist.”

Producer Fox 21 apologized and said the show was just fiction.

“The producers did not intend to imply that the show was reporting any actual events when it mentioned President Maduro’s name. We sincerely apologize to President Maduro,” the company said in a statement.

Associated Press