WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 21

NATIONAL HEADLINES:

COLLEGE BASEBALL PLAYER GUNNED DOWN BY BORED TEENS IN OKLAHOMA

A college baseball player was randomly gunned down in Oklahoma last Friday by three teenagers who told police they did it because they were “bored.” Prosecutors were expected to file first-degree murder charges against the teens, aged 15, 16 and 17, yesterday. Christopher Lane, a 22-year-old native Australian who played baseball for East Central University, was jogging in the town of Duncan when he was targeted by the teens. One of the suspects told police, “We were bored and didn’t have anything to do, so we decided to kill somebody.” Witnesses said Lane collapsed on the road after he was shot in the back with a .22-caliber revolver. Lane’s father, Peter, said that the killing was “heartless, and to try to understand it is a short way to insanity.”

SAN DIEGO KIDNAPPER HAD HEAD START/CHRISTINA ANDERSON DIED OF HEAD INJURY

San Diego police revealed yesterday that 16-year-old Hannah Anderson and her kidnapper, 40-year-oldJames Lee DiMaggio, were caught on camera days before they were discovered in the Idaho wilderness. The image of the two in DiMaggio’s Versa was caught at a Border Patrol checkpoint and indicated DiMaggio had about a 20-hour head start on police. The footage also meant the two were on the road hours before DiMaggio’s home went up in flames on August 4. “We knew he had planned this event,” said sheriff’s spokeswoman Jan Caldwell. “We knew he had put some of the material that caused the fire on a timer.” Hannah’s mother, 44-year-old Christina Anderson, and brother, 8-year-old Ethan Anderson, were found dead in the fire. A coroner’s report revealed that Christina Anderson died of blunt force injury to the head. FBI agents rescued Hannah and killed DiMaggio six days after the murders. Meanwhile, a family spokesperson said DiMaggio – family friend of the Andersons – left a $112,000 insurance policy to Bernice Anderson, Hannah’s paternal grandmother.

SUSPECT IN CUSTODY AFTER FIRING SHOTS AT GEORGIA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

A suspect was in custody yesterday after shots were fired at a Georgia elementary school. The gunman allegedly entered the Ronald McNair Discovery Learning Academy in Decatur, and told a clerk to call AtlantaTV station WSB. He reportedly wanted the station to "start filming as police die." The shooter, identified as 20-year-old Michael Brandon Hill, then barricaded himself in a school office and opened fire at arriving police officers. He surrendered when police returned fire. The school was evacuated and all students, faculty, and staff have been accounted for. No one was injured. The suspect's motive remained unclear. 

INJURIES OF SURVIVING BOSTON BOMBER REVEALED

Testimony revealing the injuries of the surviving Boston Marathon bombing suspect was unsealed yesterday. According to the doctor who treated Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, he sustained multiple gunshot wounds, a skull fracture, and various other injuries when he was captured three days after the April 15 bombings. Dr. Stephen Ray Odom described the most severe injury as a gunshot wound to the face that "appears to have entered through the left side inside of his mouth and exited the left face, lower face." He added that the injury resulted in a skull-base fracture. Tsarnaev also had multiple gunshot wounds to the extremities. The 19-year-old Tsarnaev was found bloodied in a boat in a Watertown backyard on April 19 and taken into custody. He has pleaded not guilty to the bombings.

TAXI CAB PLOWS INTO PEDESTRIANS IN NYC, TOURIST’S LEG SEVERED

A taxi cab plowed into a crowd of pedestrians in Midtown Manhattan yesterday, severing the leg of a Britishtourist. Several people rushed to the woman’s aid, including celebrity doctor Mehmet Oz who was working nearby. A plumber fashioned a tourniquet for the woman’s leg before paramedics arrived and street vendors put her severed leg on ice. The woman, identified as 23-year-old Sian Green, was listed in critical condition at Bellevue Hospital. A cyclist, who was among several people hit by the cab, said the incident was sparked by road rage. He said he was riding alongside the cab when the driver tried to make a left turn. "I told him, 'Stop,'" he said. "He gets angry. He honked his horn and accelerates." The cyclist was struck and the cab then swerved onto the sidewalk. Police were questioning the driver.

SHOWBIZ NEWS:

SIMON “PROUD” TO BE A DAD

Simon Cowell has finally made his first public comments about becoming a father. “Things are changing in my life right now, for the better,” the 53-year-old told the BBC at the London premiere of the One Direction film. “I’m proud to be a dad.” As for his baby mama Lauren Silverman, who recently settled her divorce from husband Andrew, Simon called her “a very special girl,” and said that while he never before considered becoming a father, “now I feel good about it.”

GIA FOUGHT WITH BEAU ON DAY OF DEATH

TMZ reports that relationship troubles could have been what drove Bachelor contestant Gia Allemand to suicide. The site claims Gia and her boyfriend, NBA star Ryan Anderson, fought during lunch on the day she died. She allegedly accused him of being unfaithful. On the way home from lunch, they stopped at a drug store, after which Gia told Ryan she was still in love with him, but he told her “I don’t love you anymore.” According to TMZ, the police report says Gia hanged herself with a vacuum cleaner chord that was tied to her spiral staircase. Gia’s mom told cops she was on the phone with her daughter when it suddenly “had gone silent” leading to speculation Gia was on the phone with her mom when she killed herself. Ryan reportedly went back to the apartment to check on Gia and found her. She left a suicide note in which she left all her belongings to her mother.

GIA’S FATHER WISHES HE SAID SORRY

The father of Bachelor contestant Gia Allemand wishes he had had the chance to make up with his daughter. Eugene Allemand told the New York Daily News he and his daughter argued earlier this year and they hadn’t had a chance to patch things up. “We had a fight on Mother’s Day and I said some things I regret,” he explained. “I wish I could take them back, but it’s too late. If she were still here, I would tell her I’m sorry and that I love her and that she will always be my rainbow.” Eugene and Gia’s mom Donna Micheletti split back in 1992, but he says he always stayed in touch with his daughter. “We always had a good relationship,” said Eugene, adding that their fight occurred after Gia forgot to send a Mother’s Day card to his mom. “I said don’t bother calling me on Father’s Day” he said. “It was lots of nasty things said in the heat of the moment.”

KANYE “SO IN LOVE” WITH KIM/DEBUTS BABY PIC ON KRIS' SHOW

Kanye West makes an appearance on Kris Jenner’s talk show Friday and during the interview jokes that he almost considered changing professions for Kim Kardashian. Kanye said that he’s “so in love” with Kim he thought about “playing sports,” a reference to Kim’s past relationships with NFL star Reggie Bush and NBA star Kris Humphries. The rapper also reportedly debuted a picture of the couple’s daughter North. Kanye is expected to turn up on Friday’s episode, which will be the last show in Kris’ six-week trial run. Her stint hasn’t been a smooth one, with Kris getting low ratings and horrible reviews.

KIM SHOWS OFF BABY NORTH

Kanye West and Kim Kardashian took baby North to Oklahoma over the weekend for Kanye’s grandfather’s funeral, and those in attendance say Kim was happy to show off her bundle of joy. “Kim held North close to her but gave guests a glance at the baby, who was dressed in white with cute pink shoes on,” a source tells Radaronline. “She’s got a head full of hair and a beautiful olive skin tone.” Another source claims North “looks like (Kourtney’s son) Mason when he was born.” Adds the insider, “They even have the same eyebrows.”

KIM’S BFF ALMOST ROBBED OF $500K WATCH

Kim Kardashian’s best bud Jonathan Cheban learned the hard way that it’s not smart to boast on social media. According to the New York Post, Cheban was dining in the Hamptons when he decided to post a picture of his meal announcing his location to fans. After a bunch of women came by to take his picture, he then posted a snapshot of his $500,000 watch with the caption, “I think I overdressed my wrist today….22 karats is a bit much for daytime LOL.” Well, he wasn’t laughing long because, according to a witness, soon after, “a guy came over and started asking questions” and then pushed Jonathan and tried to steal the watch. A security guard quickly stepped in and the thief got away. A friend claims Jonathan decided not to file a police report, and quickly left the Hamptons.

DRUNK AYERS THREATENED GUNVALSON ON TAPE

Vicki Gunvalson’s ex-boyfriend Brooks Ayers has been [NOTE CONTENT] caught on tapemaking drunken threats at the Real Housewives of Orange County star. Radaronline got a hold of the tape in which an inebriated Brooks is heard calling Vicki a “f***ing whore” and threatening to “beat her a**.” The site claims the tape is from a conversation Brooks had with Vicki’s son-in-lawRyan Culberson. Sources say the family decided to tape Brooks because they were worried he was going to harm Vicki. Not that Ryan is an angel. New reports claim that back in 2010 he tried to fight a restraining order request made by his ex-girlfriend Rachel Lawrence. Lawrence claimed that after they broke up he followed her and “threatened men that” she danced with at clubs. She added that “Ryan Culberson, usually in a drunken state, often waits in the parking lots of these dance clubs. He tries to start fights with my friends, as well as harass and threaten me that he will harm my friends.” Ryan denied the accusations, and insisted he broke up with Rachel, not the other way around.

TRUE BLOOD FAVORITE TO RETURN

SPOILER ALERT: True Blood fans worried that Alexander Skarsgard’s character Eric burned up in the season finale can breathe a sigh of release. “I can tell you that Alexander Skarsgard is going to be part of the next season of 'True Blood,'" show boss Brian Buckner told TV Line. "He will be a series regular. I'm not going to take Alex Skarsgard out of people's living rooms."

GET SHORTY AUTHOR ELMORE LEONARD HAS DIED

Author Elmore Leonard passed away yesterday from complications from a stroke he suffered in July. He was 87. Leonard wrote more than 40 books, and several of them have been turned into movies, including Out of Sight, 3:10 to Yuma, Jackie Brown and Get Shorty. He also wrote the novella Fire in the Hole, which was the inspiration for the FX series Justified. 

GISELE IS FORBES’ TOP MODEL

Supermodel Gisele Bundchen has topped Forbes’ annual list of the highest paid models, raking in $42 million in 2012, which is more than her husband, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, made that year. It is her seventh year in a row in the to spot. Coming in second is Victoria’s Secret Angel Miranda Kerr, with $7.2 million, followed by Adriana Lima ($6.2 mil), Kate Moss($5.7 mil) and China’s Liu Wenn ($4.3 mil).

JOHNSON LEAVING DANCING

Kym Johnson is taking a break from Dancing with the Stars. After 14 seasons, the Australian dancer will be sitting out the upcoming cycle. "I will be taking the next season off from DWTS USA, so that I may accept an amazing work opportunity back home in Australia," Johnson told Us Weekly. "I am excited, nervous and humbled by this chance and look forward to sharing more about it with you soon." Kym, who is a two-time Mirror Ball champ, did not elaborate on what that opportunity was.

GIBSON IS NO CHEAT

Thomas Gibson may have been Catfished, but he wasn’t cheating. Over the weekend, TMZ posted an embarrassing video of the Criminal Minds star, which he reportedly sent to a woman he had thought was a porn star (turns out she wasn’t). Initial reports claimed Gibson was cheating on his wife with his Internet friend, but TMZ now says Gibson and his wife Christine Gibson have been separated for over two years. Sources say they still live in the same house for the sake of their children.

MILEY SICK OF SHORT ‘DO

Miley Cyrus has fallen out of love with her short hairdo. During a Fashion Police interview with friend Kelly Osbourne, Miley confessed that she really misses her long hair. “I’m secretly tugging on it every night and taking Viviscal (a hair-growth vitamin supplement),” said Miley. “I’m not going to lie. But I’m going to rock it while I have it.” Cyrus cut her hair last August, and six months later declared, “you will never see me with long hair again.” Guess a girl has a right to change her mind.

RESTRAINING ORDER TAKEN OUT AGAINST SHAHS’ GG

Shahs of Sunset star GG (Golnesa Gharachedaghi) is a dangerous woman, according to her ex-boyfriend Sean Sette. Sette recently took out a restraining order against the reality show star, claiming she’s been out to destroy him ever since they broke up earlier this month. Sette claims GG has been stalking him and “threatening my sexuality.” He also says he fears for his life because she owns “an abundance of knives.” GG has been ordered to stay 100 yards away from Sette at all times. They are both due back in court next month.

TOMLIN MAY WED LONGTIME PARTNER

Lily Tomlin may be getting married. The actress told E! that she and partner Jane Wagner are thinking about tying the knot now that gay marriage is legal in California. “Jane and I have been together for 42 years,” she said. “We’re thinking maybe we’ll get married.” Talking about the repeal of DOMA, Tomlin said she “didn’t think that would happen,” but admits, “It’s pretty remarkable.” She adds “You don't really need to get married, but marriage is awfully nice. Everybody I know who got married, they say it really makes a difference. They feel very very happy about it." But don’t expect the pair to make a big deal about their wedding. Said Lily, “no rings, no bridal dresses. Maybe we’ll be dressed like chickens.”

FOX WON’T RESHOOT DADS

Fox has turned down an Asian organization’s request that they reshoot scenes of the upcomingSeth MacFarlane series Dads. Media Action Network for Asian Americans sent a letter to the network last week asking them to change scenes that depicted “racial and sexual stereotypes,” including one where actress Brenda Song dressed up as a “sexy Asian schoolgirl.” In the rejection, Fox COO Joe Early wrote, “You will see that Brenda Song’s character is a strong, intelligent, empowered young woman who basically runs the company, and who almost always gets the upper hand on the guys.” He adds, “This is a show that will be evocative and will poke fun at stereotypes and bigotries — sometimes through over-the-top, ridiculous situations…That said, we do recognize comedy is subjective, and we may not be able to please everyone, all the time."

RANDY JACKSON UPSET ABOUT PARIS

Michael Jackson’s brother Randy Jackson is openly upset his niece Paris is still in a psychiatric hospital, two months after she attempted suicide. “I just hate the fact that you (Paris) will probably still be there on my brother’s birthday,” Randy tweeted, later adding. “She is not psychotic. There is no reason for her to be in a psychiatric hospital this long away from her family.” But Paris’ momDebbie Rowe says Randy has got it all wrong. Sources tell TMZ Rowe told them, “as usual, he’s grossly misinformed. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about. He has no idea where she is. She is not in a psychiatric hospital.” The sources add that Rowe is claiming Randy is just upset no one wants him to testify at the Michael Jackson wrongful death trial.

TV TIDBITS

• Marg Helgenberger is coming back to CSI. The actress will reprise her role of Catherine Willows in the show’s 300^th episode, scheduled to air October 23^rd. Willows will be back to help solve a cold case that has haunted the team for 14 years. Helgenberger left the series in the middle of the show’s 12^th season. Season 14 premieres September 25^th.
• Ÿ Justified’s Timothy Olyphant will guest star on Fox’s The Mindy Project. He’ll play a professional skateboarder who, “nearly runs Mindy over in Union Square before asking her out on a date.” The new season of The Mindy Project premieres September 17^th.
• Ÿ NBC yesterday announced the creation of the Today Book Club. The first edition will be a discussion of The Bone Season, the debut novel of 21-year-old Samantha Shannon, and will take place September 16^th. New books will be picked every four to five weeks.
• Ÿ Giuliana & Bill’s Bill Rancic will star in a new reality series titled Training Day, in which the former Apprentice winner will take part in adrenaline-charged training sessions for the country’s most dangerous jobs. So far, no network is attached to the series.
• Ÿ FX has teamed with comedian D.L. Hughley for an autobiographical comedy based on his life. He’ll play an unapologetically honest family man and radio host. In real life, Hughley has been married for more than 25 years and has three children.
• Ÿ Oscar winner Adrien Brody will star as illusionist Harry Houdini in a miniseries for A&E. The series will follow Houdini’s rise from desperate poverty to worldwide fame. House of Cards’ Kristen Connolly is also on board to play Houdini’s wife.

MISCELLANEOUS MOVIE NEWS

• Ÿ Boardwalk Empire’s Bobby Cannavale has joined the cast of the big screen musical Annie. He’ll play a political strategist who is helping Jamie Foxx’s character, Benjamin Stacks, run for mayor. The film stars Quvenzhané (kwuh-VEN-zhuh-nay) Wallis in the title role, withCameron Diaz and Rose Byrne rounding out the cast.
• Ÿ 300’s Rodrigo Santoro will join Will Smith in the thriller Focus. The film stars Smith as a conman who becomes romantically involved with a novice, played by Margot Robbie. Santoro will play the owner of an international auto racing team who is vying for Robbie’s affection.

ROCK NEWS:

LINKIN PARK FREE FACEBOOK GAME DUE SEPTEMBER 12

Fans of Linkin Park who registered early to play the band’s new free Facebook game LP Recharge yesterday received a download of a sample of a new song called “A Light That Never Comes.” LP Recharge will be available September 12, and through the game, players will be able to unlock the complete song, which is a collaboration between the band and EDM superstar Steve Aoki.

NINE INCH NAILS SHOWS OFF SCALE OF UPCOMING TOUR STAGE SET-UP

Fans of Nine Inch Nails got a sneak peek at the size and scope of the band’s stage for their upcoming tour via a series of rehearsal photographs posted on Tumblr. The North American leg of their Tension 2013 tour gets underway September 1 in Philadelphia and runs through November 25 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and is designed to tout the September 3 release of their new album,Hesitation Marks.

AVENGED SEVENFOLD’S HAIL TO THE KING STREAMING NOW ON ITUNES

Fans of Avenged Sevenfold can take their forthcoming sixth studio album, Hail to the King, for a test spin right now exclusively at itunes.com/avengedsevenfold, one week before the album is officially released this Tuesday. The band’s Hail to the King tour featuring Deftones and Ghost B.C. begins October 3 in Chicago and runs through October 26 in Las Vegas.

ITALIAN EDM ACT BLOODY BEATROOTS RECRUITS BIG NAMES FOR ALBUM

Italian electro house and dance-punk artist Sir Bob Cornelius Rifo, aka Bloody Beatroots, has managed to convince some very big name rockers to appear on the forthcoming Bloody Beatroots album, Hide, due September 17. Guest musicians scheduled to lend a hand include Motley Cruedrummer Tommy Lee, Paul McCartney and his longtime collaborator Youth (a member of the former Beatles’ EDM side band the Fireman since 1993) and guitarist Peter Frampton.

WEILAND WONDERS WHY BENNINGTON JOINED STONE TEMPLE PILOTS

During a solo gig last weekend in Philadelphia, former Stone Temple Pilots frontman Scott Weiland sat back and listened to fan chanting, “F*** you, Chester,” a reference to new STP singerChester Bennington of Linkin Park. Weiland eventually responded to the chants, saying, “It’s just a big ol’ planet, a big ol’ universe, it all sort of works out anyway. Actually, Chester has his own band that makes a lot of money – I’m not sure why he joined a band that’s actually nameless.” He later added, “I shouldn’t have said anything at all. I apologize to those fans out there who feel like they’re caught in the middle of it, because I sure feel like I’m caught in the middle of it emotionally. All I want to do is play music.”

ARCADE FIRE’S “READY TO START” REWORKED BY TEARS FOR FEARS

Eighties new wave act Tears for Fears has ambitiously taken on the task of reinterpreting theArcade Fire track “Ready to Start” from their Grammy-winning album, Suburbs. There has been no indication whether Tears for Fear’s version, which the group describes as “some reciprocal cross-generational love,” will appear on their upcoming album, tentatively titled Reflektor, scheduled to be out October 29.

MAY HEADS BACK TO STUDIO FOLLOWING KNEE REPLACEMENT SURGERY

Two weeks after undergoing knee replacement surgery, Queen guitarist Brian May is back in the studio recording with longtime collaborator British actress and singer Kerry Ellis. May gave fans an update on his condition via Twitter yesterday, writing: “Folks, an apology for absence. This knee replacement journey demands a lot of patience and attention. I had to turn off, and ‘do’ recovery… I’m on the mend, slowly but surely. First day back at work today.”

PALMER COULD HAVE REPLACED WARD AS BLACK SABBATH DRUMMER

Former Emerson, Lake & Palmer drummer Carl Palmer has revealed Black Sabbath guitaristTony Iommi offered him the drumming gig for Sabbath’s reunion, but Palmer was too busy keeping the beat for Asia to be able to replace Bill Ward. Palmer confirmed, “Tony and I did talk… I couldn’t have done it but I would have loved to. It just wasn’t in the cards.” Palmer also reiterated he has no intention of reuniting with former ELP bandmates Keith Emerson and Greg Lake, saying, “I don’t really want to play with ELP anymore. I’ve made that very clear.”

HAGAR SWAPS SONGS, STORIES AND SMILES WITH FRIENDS

The Red Rocker Sammy Hagar has released a teaser trailer video for his much-anticipated album, Sammy Hagar & Friends (available September 24), that encapsulates the essence of the man making the music, and the music that makes the man. As Hagar says in the clip, the album and his current Four Decades of Rock tour are “a celebration of my whole career and bringing it to where I am now, but not losing touch of where I started in ’72 with Montrose.” The tour continues Friday in Chicago, followed by stops in St. Paul, MN, Detroit, Toronto, Washington, DC, Maryland Heights, MO, Paso Robles, CA, Lincoln, CA and San Francisco.