WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7
NATIONAL HEADLINES:
FT. HOOD SHOOTER MAKES OPENING STATEMENT AT COURT-MARTIAL
The suspect in the mass shooting at Texas’ Fort Hood military base made his opening statement in court yesterday. Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, a former Army psychiatrist, is representing himself in the court-martial. He told jurors that “evidence will clearly show” that he was the gunman responsible for killing 13 soldiers and wounding 32 others on Nov. 5, 2009. But he also cautioned that the evidence wouldn’t tell the entire story. He told jurors evidence will show "that we are imperfect Muslims trying to establish the perfect religion…I apologize for any mistakes I made in this endeavor." The 42-year-old American-born Muslim is acting as his own defense attorney after twice dismissing his legal team. Hasan was shot by a civilian police officer and paralyzed from the waist down following his rampage, and is now confined to a wheelchair. He faces the death penalty if convicted of 13 counts of premeditated murder and 32 counts of attempted murder.
U.S. URGES ALL AMERICANS IN YEMEN TO LEAVE
The U.S. has urged all Americans in Yemen to leave the country “immediately” amid an “extremely high” threat of a terrorist attack. Officials said yesterday that a “non-emergency evacuation” of nearly 100 U.S. government workers was carried out by a US Air Force plane which left from the Yemeni capital of Sana’abound for Ramstein air base in Germany. The operation took place at around the same time a U.S. drone strike killed four suspected al Qaeda militants in Yemen. Intelligence indicated that Ayman al-Zawahiri,Osama bin Laden’s successor as the head of al Qaeda, and Nasir al-Wahishi, leader of Yemen-based al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, wanted to plan a significant attack to coincide with a Muslim holiday known as “The Night of Destiny.” A total of 19 U.S. embassies remain closed because of the threat.
TWO CANADIAN BOYS KILLED BY ESCAPED PYTHON
Two young Canadian brothers were apparently strangled to death by a python that escaped from a pet store Monday. An autopsy on the boys, identified as Connor Barthe, 7, and Noah Barthe, 5, was set to take place. The two were sleeping over at the apartment of a friend located above Reptile Ocean Inc., an exotic pet store in Campbellton, New Brunswick, when the tragic incident occurred. The snake had allegedly escaped from its enclosure sometime during the night and was believed to have crawled through a ventilation system into the upstairs apartment. The boys were killed in their sleep. A friend of the boys was sleeping in another room and was unharmed. Police said the owner of the pet store lived in the apartment. The python was captured and put down.
GEORGE W. BUSH HAS HEART SURGERY
Former President George W. Bush underwent successful heart surgery yesterday to repair a blocked artery. The 67-year-old had a stent implanted after doctors discovered the blockage during a routine physical on August 5. The procedure – called an angioplasty – was performed at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital inDallas. Bush was reportedly in high spirits and eager to return to his normal schedule. He’s set to be released on Thursday.
2 MEN CREDITED WITH STOPPING PA TOWN MEETING SHOOTER
Two Pennsylvania men were being hailed as heroes yesterday for tackling a gunman to the ground after he opened fire on a town meeting Monday night. The shooter, 59-year-old Rockne Warren Newell, killed three people, but police said it “could have been much worse” had it not been for the brave efforts of Bernie Kozenand Mark Kresh. Police said Newell began firing through a window and into the meeting room where 18 people were gathered for a monthly meeting of Ross Township supervisors. At one point, he went back to his vehicle to retrieve another weapon, and that’s when Kozen positioned himself near the door and tackled the gunman as he entered the room. He restrained Newell with the help of Kresh. The victims were identified asDavid Fleetwood, Gerard Kozic and James LaGuardia. Newell had been in a long-running dispute with township officials over the dilapidated condition of his property and authorities said this motivated his attack. As he was being taken from the scene, he reportedly said, “I wish I killed more of them.”
SHOWBIZ NEWS:
SIMON’S SNEAKY MISTRESS
Simon Cowell’s baby mama is apparently a good liar. According to the New York Post, Lauren Silverman would tell her husband Andrew she was going to Miami to visit her mother, but instead would meet up with the X Factor judge. Most recently, Lauren flew to England to be with Simon for the June 8th season finale of Britain’s Got Talent. Sources believe it was during that visit that she got pregnant. One insider suggested Lauren was having an affair with Simon while trying to convince her husband to give their relationship another try so the marriage would make it to ten years, which was beneficial for her in their prenup. But a lawyer for Lauren calls the stories “cheap shots” from people close to Andrew, which “serve only to sabotage ongoing efforts” to settle the divorce.
OPRAH COMMENTS ON DEEN CONTROVERSY
Oprah Winfrey interviewed Paula Deen back in March 2012, and even spent the night at the chef’s Georgia home. So with the recent racial controversy surrounding the former Food Network star, it’s no surprise someone would ask Oprah to chime in on the scandal. “In the very first days I tried to reach her and then I decided to stay out of it as I saw it blowing up,” Oprah toldEntertainment Tonight. “In time she will be fine. For me, it all just felt kind of sad.” When asked about it by Extra, Winfrey refused to discuss the issue anymore. “Oh my god,” she said. “I don’t have anything to do with Paula Deen. She is not the first white lady to use the N-word! Good lord!”
USHER’S SON HOSPITALIZED AFTER POOL ACCIDENT
Usher’s son Usher Raymond V was rushed to an Atlanta hospital Monday after an accident in the singer’s pool. The 5-year-old is currently in ICU. According to TMZ, the child noticed a toy in the pool’s drain and dove in to get it and got his arm stuck. His aunt and a maid immediately dove in to rescue him but they couldn’t release his hand. Two men working at the home were able to free the boy and gave him CPR, before he was rushed to the hospital. Usher and the boy’s mother Tameka Foster are currently at the hospital. According to sources, doctors believe the child will be okay. The accident prompted Tameka to file legal documents yesterday asking for an emergency hearing, claiming Usher’s home is a dangerous environment for their children. In the docs, she claims Usher, who has primary custody of their two children, is passing off his parental duties on other people, specifically his aunt, and she and the staff are not doing a good job.
CHARLIE DATING PORN STARS AGAIN
Charlie Sheen is back to his womanizing ways. According to Radaronline, Charlie is currently sharing his L.A. mansion with two porn stars, Capri Anderson and Georgia Jones. Anderson is the same porn star who accused the Anger Management star of assault and battery back in 2010 after he locked her in a closet during his rampage at the Plaza Hotel. But apparently they’ve made up, and the 25-year-old even joined him on his hunt for the Loch Ness Monster back in July. Meanwhile, TMZ reports Charlie took three new porn stars on a recent trip to Hawaii. Calling them his “Angels,” as in “Charlie’s Angels,” Charlie posed for photos with the trio of topless gals, who go by JL, JJ and CS. (They were later identified as hardcore porn stars Jayme Langford, Jana Jordan and Celeste Star.)
BROOKE GETS VISITS WITH KIDS
Meanwhile, Charlie Sheen’s ex is finally spending time with their sons. Radaronline reports thatBrooke Mueller has been granted twice-weekly supervised visits with four-year-olds Bob andMax, who are currently living with Charlie’s other ex-wife Denise Richards. Social workers have been ushering the children from Denise’s home to Brooke’s beach rental in Orange County. “The boys typically see Brooke on the weekend, when they aren’t in their pre-school,” explains a source. Brooke, who lost custody of the children in May because of her drug problems, is currently living with a sober coach, as well as several staff members from a nearby rehab clinic where she is an outpatient.
SCARLETT COMPARED TO MARILYN
Scarlett Johansson appears in Harper’s Bazaar’s annual fashion portfolio, which is considered one of fashion’s biggest honors. The magazine calls The Avengers star “our modern Marilyn” in a feature titled “Singular Beauties.” The annual shoot was photographed by designer Karl Lagerfeld, and also features shots of Dakota Fanning, Lily Collins, Zoe Kravitz and Gabourey Sidibe.
CRITICS BLAMED FOR LONE RANGER’S FAILURE
The folks behind the box office disaster The Lone Ranger won’t admit their movie stunk. In fact, stars Johnny Depp and Armie Hammer, along with producer Jerry Bruckheimer, blame the movie’s disappointing box office on the critics. "I think the reviews were written 7-8 months before we released the film," said Depp. "They had expectations that it must be a blockbuster. I didn't have any expectations of that. I never do." Hammer added, "This is the deal with American critics: They've been gunning for our movie since it was shut down the first time, that's when most of the critics wrote their initial reviews." Bruckheimer believes the film will be looked at differently in the future. “It’s one of those movies that whatever critics missed in it this time, they’ll review it in a few years and see that they made a mistake,” he said. Doubt it.
GLEE GOES BACK TO WORK
The cast of Glee headed back to work Monday, their first day of production since the death of co-star Cory Monteith. "Today was first day back," a source told E! News. "Last week was rehearsals but today was first official day of production on new season. Everything went as well as it could have. Very emotional but everyone is starting to move forward. Getting back on track." Cory’s girlfriend Lea Michele recorded her first song of the year, and tweeted, “Couldn’t have picked a more beautiful & perfect song to start the year with…” She did not reveal the name of the tune. Later, Alex Anders, Glee's vocal producer and recording engineer, tweeted Michele a message, saying, "You were absolutely magnificent today. I am in awe of your strength and your sweet spirit. Love you. #leastrong."
HOWARD’S EX GETS RESTRAINING ORDER
Terrence Howard’s ex-wife Michelle Ghent was granted a restraining order yesterday, which forbids the actor from contacting her or coming within 100 yards of her. TMZ reports that Terrence and Michelle got into a huge argument last week in Costa Rica, and Terrence beat her up. In her request, Ghent claimed Howard sucker punched her in the face, grabbed her by the neck and threw her against the wall. She actually showed up in court with a black eye. She did admit to pepper spraying him, but only after he walked over to a bedside table where he kept two knives. She said the actor then knocked her down and kicked her in the head. Terrence denies the allegations and claims Michelle has been threatening to kill his family, and he has text messages to prove it. Another hearing on the matter is scheduled for later this month.
BACHELORETTE DESIREE TO WED NEXT SUMMER
Bachelorette Desiree Hartsock insists she’s ready to marry her pick Chris Siegfried, despite him being her second choice. “I will marry him tomorrow if I could,” she said on Good Morning America. “When I knew, I just knew.” As for when they’ll tie the knot, she told Live with Kelly and Michael, “We would like to get married in the summer – next summer.” Before accepting Chris’ proposal, Desiree seemed heartbroken when contestant Brooks Forester abruptly quit the show, but she says she quickly got over it. “That's the beauty of this whole experience: the feelings are really accelerated, because you do get to know these guys in a really short amount of time, and that's actually what helped me get past the hurt," she explained.
FORD REPLACING WILLIS IN EXPENDABLES 3
Harrison Ford has been added to the cast of Sylvester Stallone’s upcoming The Expendables 3.Apparently Bruce Willis has decided not to return for the third installment, and it sounds like Sly isn’t happy about it. “WILLIS OUT… HARRISON FORD IN !!!! GREAT NEWS !!!!! Been waiting years for this!!!!” tweeted Sly, before adding, presumably about Willis, “GREEDY AND LAZY …… A SURE FORMULA FOR CAREER FAILURE.”
JACK OSBOURNE AND WIFE EXPECTING BABY NUMBER TWO
Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne are going to be grandparents again. Their son Jack and his wifeLisa tell People they are expecting their second child. “I knew I was pregnant when all I could think about was Taco Bell and donuts right after I’d already eaten dinner,” Lisa told the magazine. The couple, who married in Hawaii last October, are already parents to a 15-month-old daughter Pearl Clementine.
HOFFMAN TREATED FOR CANCER
A rep for Dustin Hoffman revealed yesterday that the actor has been “surgically cured” of cancer. The nature of the star’s illness was not revealed, but the rep said it was “detected early” and he is “feeling great and is in good health.” He is expected to undergo preventative treatment to reduce the chance of the disease reappearing.
DICK CAUGHT PEEING
Andy Dick has fallen off the wagon again. Radaronline reports the comedian, who was sober during his time on Dancing with the Stars last season, has started drinking again, and it’s gotten so bad, he was caught relieving himself on a public street last month. Video shot on Santa Monica Boulevard on July 8th shows Andy going to the bathroom, and then giving the finger to the folks taping him. “Andy just can’t seem to stay clean,” a source told Radar. “And he doesn’t just have a drink or two, he goes all out. Every time. And the breakup from Jennifer Gimenez really sent him over the edge.” Jennifer and Andy began dating while he was on Dancing, but broke up because of their busy schedules.
MODERN FAMILY STAR PRAISES SISTER
Modern Family star Ariel Winter seems to be doing well living with her sister. In fact, the TV star took to Instagram Saturday to praise older sis Shanelle Gray, who currently has custody of the 15-year-old. "Happy birthday to the most amazing mister, (sister/mommy) on the planet @shanelle_gray! I love you so much," Winter wrote. "You have helped me become a better person and grow into the woman I want to be. You are my inspiration. The things you have done for me, I'm honestly speechless. There are no words to describe how grateful I am to have you." Winter was removed from her mother Chrisoula Workman’s home amidst allegations of abuse.Workman tried to regain custody just last month, but was denied. A custody trial is set to begin in September.
PARKER TALKS ABOUT MARRIAGE
Sarah Jessica Parker opens up about her 16-year marriage to Matthew Broderick in this month’sHarper’s Bazaar. "I love Matthew Broderick. Call me crazy, but I love him," says the Sex and the City star. "We can only be in the marriage we are. We're very devoted to our family and our lives. I love our life. I love that he's the father of my children, and it's because of him that there's this whole other world that I love." The couple, parents of three, do their best to keep their private life as private as possible. “Matthew and I come from a different time and place," she says. "When we were young people, all we ever wanted was to be good working actors. We didn't think of fame or money because, honestly, money was never part of the dream." She adds, “People have asked me about my marriage, 'How do you make it work?’ and I say, 'We don't talk about it.' That's not really true. It's sort of a nasty response."
ROKER OVERSLEEPS
Al Roker is used to getting up very early for work, but yesterday, for the first time ever, he missed a morning show because he didn’t wake up. “After 39 years, it happened. I overslept and missed a show. Missed #WUWA. But will be on time for @today,” he tweeted at 5:41 a.m. Roker missedWake Up With Al on the Weather Channel, but did make it to Today. Later he was caught yawning at the Today desk, which prompted him to post a Vine video with the caption, “Morning, Sleepyhead. Overslept and missed #wuwa Here on time for TODAY.”
MISCELLANEOUS MOVIE NEWS
● Steven Spielberg will not be directing Bradley Cooper in the film American Sniper. Spielberg had planned to direct the adaptation of Navy SEAL Chris Kyle’s autobiography, but has left the project due to budget issues. This is the second film Spielberg has dropped this year. In January he put his action blockbuster Robopocalypse on indefinite delay due to script problems.
● 1600 Penn’s Josh Gad is set to play Sam Kinison in the long-in-the works film about the late stand-up comedian. Borat director Larry Charles will direct the project, which picks up in the 80s as Kinison transitions from being a Pentecostal preacher to doing stand-up in Hollywood.
● Tom Hiddleston has confirmed that The Avengers villain Loki will not return for the film’s sequel,The Avengers: Age of Ultron. "He's not in it," Hiddleston told EW.com about his character. "Here's the thing: I don’t think there’s anything else Loki could contribute to The Avengers, narratively.Joss (Whedon) gave me so many wonderful things to do in that first film that we'd only be trying to repeat ourselves, and probably less well in the second one."
● The Conjuring has passed the $100 million mark, one of only 11 horror flicks to make that much money. The Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga film, which is still in theaters, lands currently at number six on the list with $108 mil, with the classic The Exorcist at number one with $233 mil. Rounding out the Top Five are: What Lies Beneath ($156K), The Blair Witch Project ($140K), The Ring ($129K) and The Grudge ($110K).
● Christopher McQuarrie has been tapped to direct the next Mission Impossible flick. The movie reunites McQuarrie with Tom Cruise, who he directed in 2012’s Jack Reacher. “I am thrilled to reunite with Chris for the latest installment in the Mission series," Cruise said in a statement. “Chris is an extraordinary filmmaker who will deliver the heart-pounding action and thrills that audiences around the world have come to expect from the Mission: Impossible franchise."
TV TIDBITS
● PBS announced yesterday that the fourth season of Downton Abbey will premiere Sunday, January 5th, 2014.
● Starz has cancelled Magic City after two seasons. The series finale is set to air Friday at 10 pm.
● MTV has given the go-ahead for four new non-music programs. The Untitled Virgins Project is a docu-series following the lives of young adults dealing with sexual pressures while trying to maintain their virginity. The network also ordered MTV House of Food, a Top Chef-style competition with four aspiring chefs living together in a home and competing in food challenges. Another food competition show, which will air in the afternoon, is Smackdown, which challenges young cooks to create dishes from standard “munchies fare.” And finally, The Ex and Why is a 30-minute daytime show following young adults with unresolved feelings for their exes.
● Donald Glover, who’ll only appear in 13 episodes of Community this season, will write, executive produce and star in a new half-hour comedy for FX. Tentatively titled Atlanta, the series will revolve around the Atlanta music scene.
ROCK NEWS:
BLACK KEYS’ AUERBACH DETAILS BITTER DIVORCE BATTLE
The artistic/borderline personal feud between Black Keys singer/guitarist Dan Auerbach and Jack White pales in comparison to the nasty divorce he’s going through with his estranged wife,Stephanie Gonis. Legal documents obtained by TMZ show Auerbach claims Gonis once tried to commit suicide twice in one day – first by slicing open her leg and ankles in front of their daughter, then again by trying to burn their house down. Meanwhile, Gonis says the leg-gashing “suicide” attempt was a result of years of years of abuse during their marriage, and the house burning thing was just an accident that later led to her voluntarily committing herself into a treatment center. A judge has granted Auerbach temporary custody of their daughter.
JOURGENSEN EYES JETTISONING MINISTRY AFTER NEXT ALBUM
Multi-talented and multi-faceted industrial rock icon Al Jourgensen says he’s contemplating ending his band Ministry following the release of its 13th studio album From Beer to Eternity, due September 6. He told Billboard, “We’ll see if we ever do another Ministry gig again or not. I’m not saying yes or no yet. All I’m saying is I know there’s no new Ministry studio CDs coming ever again. I promise.” Among his many future projects, he says he has enough material to write another “three or four” memoirs to follow up his recently released autobiography Ministry: The Last Gospels According to Al Jourgensen, and he’s negotiating a comic book featuring an “arch enemy who’s based on Ted Nugent. I fight for good, for right, and this guy just shoots deer and writes songs about vaginas.”
KINGS OF LEON LET LOOSE IN “SUPERSOAKER” VIDEO
The members of Kings of Leon are in a super playful mood in the video for their high energy new tune “Supersoaker,” the first single off their forthcoming album Mechanical Bull, available September 24. Mechanical Bull will serve as the follow up to their ho-hum 2010 effort Come Around Sundown album. The band is currently on tour in Europe, with their next U.S. concert slated to take place October 5 at the Austin City Limits Festival. Finally, the band just debuted “Wait for Me,” another cut off Mechanical Bull.
MOBY, COYNE SEEK VIDEO EXTRAS LOOKING FOR EXPOSURE
Collaborators Moby and Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne yesterday held a casting call in Los Angeles for extras to appear in the video for their song “The Perfect Life” off Moby’s next album Innocents. According to a post on Moby’s website, the perfect candidates for the roles of “20 random partygoers who are comfortable with nudity” ought to be “freaky fun people who are cool with dancing and getting naked.” The video shoot is set to take place this Saturday in L.A.
SATRIANI SETS SIGHTS ON THIRD CHICKENFOOT ALBUM
You might say guitar wizard Joe Satriani is tired of being cooped up and is anxious to get started on Chickenfoot’s next studio album. In a recent interview, Satriani said the Sammy Hagar-led supergorup, which also includes former Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, are hoping to star recording by winter. He said, “I’m keeping Christmas and the first couple of months of next year open for recording the record.”
JETT DISSECTS TRACKS OFF HER FORTHCOMING ALBUM UNVARNISHED
The legendary Joan Jett is taxiing towards the release of Unvarnished (due October 1), her first album in nearly seven years. In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, she talked about some of the record’s very personal songs, including “Fragile,” which she says is about the death of both her parents within the past decade. According to Jett, “Hard To Grow Up” “is about responsibility and realizing that I’ve got to do this” and “Make it Back” is about “Hurricane Sandy and people’s attitudes.” Jett summarized, “The songs have a serious tone, but they’re relatable. They’re songs about stuff everybody goes through.”
PERE UBU FOUNDING BASSIST TIM WRIGHT DEAD
Tim Wright, founding bassist of the Cleveland-bred avant-garde rock band Pere Ubo, died Sunday, according to a Facebook post by Pere Ubu frontman David Thomas. The cause of death and Wright’s age were not immediately revealed, though Wright’s Wikipedia page says he was born in 1952. Pere Ubu formed in 1975 and released its first single, “30 Seconds Over Tokyo,” later that year. Wright left the band in 1978 to join the New York no-wave band DNA.
THE WILD FEATHERS PREP TO UNLEASH SELF-TITLED DEBUT
Melding musical influences as seemingly wildly diverse as the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, The Band, Neil Young and Tom Petty, just to name a few, the Wild Feathers are ready to knock the current musical landscape on its ear with the release of their brilliant self-titled debut album, due this Tuesday, August 13. To celebrate the occasion, the phenomenal five-piece will give a very special performance this Monday at Bardot in Hollywood before hooking up with the legendaryWillie Nelson for a nine-show run, starting Tuesday in Las Vegas. The trek includes stops in Tucson, Wendover, NV, Laughlin, NV, Pozo, CA, Santa Cruz, Sacramento and Redmond, WA before wrapping in Goldendale, WA on August 24.
YOUNG CONTINUES ARCHIVE SERIES WITH LIVE AT THE CELLAR DOOR 1970
Multiple Rock and Roll Hall of fame inductee Neil Young is ready to release more vintage material stored in his vaults as part of his ongoing series of archival releases. Young will swing open the vault door once more on September 6 when he issues Live at the Cellar Door 1970, which as its title implies, is a collection of live performances culled from his six-show residency at the famed Washington, DC venue in 1970. Highlights from the set include “Only Love Can Break Your Heart,” “old Man,” “Down By the River,” “After the Gold Rush” and “See the Sky About to Rain.”
MAY UNDERGOES SUCCESSFUL KNEE REPLACEMENT SURGERY
Recently, Queen guitarist Brian May revealed he had finally reached the point where he needed to undergo knee replacement surgery to hopefully help relieve chronic pain. Yesterday, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame guitarist underwent the operation and tweeted the procedure had been a complete success, writing that he was out of surgery “with a shiny new knee. This was no walk in the park (!) but for 1st time in months I feel optimistic and free of that OLD pain.”
