NEWSMAKERS

NEWSMAKERS

Bill Cosby’s deposition in sex-abuse lawsuit set for October

LOS ANGELES

Bill Cosby is expected to give sworn testimony in October in a lawsuit from a woman accusing the comedian of sexually abusing her when she was 15 years old.

The Oct. 9 date for his deposition was noted in a ruling Wednesday that requires Cosby to testify before his attorneys take the statement of his accuser, Judy Huth.

Huth claims Cosby abused her after bringing her to the Playboy Mansion around 1974. Cosby’s lawyers have called Huth’s lawsuit an extortion attempt and say she tried to sell the allegations to a tabloid years ago.

‘Orange Is the New Black,’ ‘Glee’ stars join ‘The Wiz Live!’

NEW YORK

Uzo Aduba from “Orange Is the New Black” and Amber Riley from “Glee” have joined the cast of NBC’s Dec. 3 live production of “The Wiz Live!” as witches.

Aduba, best known for her role as Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren on the Netflix series set in a prison, will play Glinda, the Good Witch of the South. Riley, who played Mercedes Jones on “Glee” for six seasons, will play Addaperle, the Good Witch of the North.

The rest of the cast includes Queen Latifah as The Wiz, Mary J. Blige as the Wicked Witch of the West and David Alan Grier as the Cowardly Lion. Newcomer Shanice Williams from New Jersey will play Dorothy.

The show is adapted from “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” by L. Frank Baum, with a book by William F. Brown, and music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls. The production opened on Broadway in 1975 and won seven Tonys, including best musical.

The original Broadway production featured Stephanie Mills as Dorothy, Dee Dee Bridgewater as good witch Glinda and Andre De Shields as the Wiz. Mills returned as Dorothy in a 1984 revival and will play Auntie Em in the live version.

A 1978 movie version of “The Wiz” starred Diana Ross, Lena Horne and Richard Pryor in those respective roles. Michael Jackson co-starred as the Scarecrow, with Nipsey Russell as the Tinman and Ted Ross as the Lion.

Feds cite carburetor problem in Harrison Ford plane crash

LOS ANGELES

A problem with a carburetor part led to engine failure and the crash of a vintage airplane piloted by actor Harrison Ford in California earlier this year, federal investigators said Thursday.

The part known as a main metering jet likely came loose over the years since the World War II-era craft was restored, the National Transportation Safety Board said. The problem allowed too much fuel to flow, resulting in a loss of engine power.

Ford had just taken off from Santa Monica Airport on March 5 when he reported engine failure at an altitude of 1,100 feet and requested an immediate return.

The single-engine Ryan Aeronautical ST3KR struck a tree and crashed on a golf course about 800 feet from the runway, injuring the 73-year-old actor. No one on the ground was hurt.

Associated Press