MONDAY, OCTOBER 28

NATIONAL HEADLINES:

COUSIN CHARGED IN MURDERS OF MOM, 4 KIDS

A Chinese immigrant was arrested in New York yesterday after implicating himself in the stabbing deaths of his cousin’s wife and her four children. The 25-year-old Ming Don Chen was accused of butchering the victims with a kitchen knife late Saturday in their Brooklyn home. Chen had been staying at the house for a week or so. His victims were identified as 37-year-old Qiao Zhen Li and her children – Linda Zhuo, 9; Amy Zhou, 7; Kevin Zhou, 5; and 1-year-old William Zhou. In addition to murder charges, Ming was charged with assault of a police officer and resisting arrest.

SENATOR SAYS SEBELIUS IS A LAUGHING STOCK

Senator and orthopedic surgeon Dr. John Barrasso, R-Wy., had some harsh words for Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius yesterday. “She’s already, as of Saturday Night Live last night, the laughing stock of America,” he said on This Week. “She’s lost considerable credibility.” Sebelius was parodied on SNL in a skit that mocked the failures of the Healthcare.gov website. Barrasso called for Sebelius to resign as part of a solution to the problem. “The website was supposed to be the easy part of this,” Barrasso. “This is just the tip of the iceberg of problems, with bigger problems to come.” President Obamasaid that despite its glitches, Healthcare.gov had been visited more than 20 million times since its launch on Oct. 1. Only around 700,000 Americans have successfully submitted applications so far.

CALI GOV. GRANTS FREEDOM TO WOMAN SERVING LIFE FOR KILLING PIMP

A Southern California woman sentenced to life in prison as a teenager for killing her former pimp was granted her freedom over the weekend. Gov. Jerry Brown decided not to block a parole board’s ruling that Sara Kruzan should be let free and the parole board was expected to act today. Kruzan was 17 when she was sentenced for the 1994 shooting death of George Gilbert Howard. She claimed Howard had sexually abused her and groomed her for six years to work as a child prostitute. Her case became a high-profile example for advocates seeking to reduce harsh prison sentences for juveniles. According to state Sen. Leland Yee, D-San Francisco, who sponsored the law that allows juveniles sentenced to life in prison without parole to seek new sentencing hearings, Kruzan’s case was the "perfect example of adults who failed her, of society failing her." Yee said justice had finally been served.

RIDE OPERATOR ARRESTED AFTER 5 INJURED AT NC STATE FAIR

A ride operator was arrested and charged with assault with a deadly weapon this weekend after the ride he was operating injured five people in North Carolina. Timothy Dwayne Tutterrow, 46, is facing three felony counts of assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious bodily injury. The victims were injured at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh Thursday night when the “Vortex” ride started to move as they were exiting. Three people remained hospitalized in good to critical condition. Police determined the ride had been tampered with and said they expected there would be more arrests.

WITNESS GOES PUBLIC WITH HIS STORY OF BENGHAZI ATTACK

The first Western eyewitness to go public with his story recounted the events of the Benghazi terror attacks on CBS’ 60 Minutes yesterday. The witness, a former British soldier who was working as a security card, said that al Qaeda forces first attacked the U.S. Special Mission Compound in which Ambassador Christopher Stevens was killed. Then they launched a second attack on a secret CIA annex about a mile away. “They knew what they were doing,” he said. “That was a well-executed attack.” He also said the attack was inevitable, as the terror group had warned they would be targeting Americans in Benghazi. The witness said he was in his apartment about 15 minutes away from the attacks when he learned about them through a call from a Libyan guard. The seven-hour assault on Sept. 11, 2012 left four American dead, including Stevens.

THE WEEKEND BOX OFFICE FROM BOX OFFICE MOJO

SHOWBIZ NEWS:

BROWN ARRESTED FOR FELONY ASSAULT

Chris Brown was arrested in Washington, DC, early Sunday morning after getting into an altercation in front of his hotel. According to TMZ, two women asked Brown if they could take a picture with him, and before it could be snapped, two men jumped in the photo. Brown then reportedly said “I’m not into this gay s**t, I’m into boxing,” and punched one of the men in the face, breaking the victim’s nose. Sources close to Chris say the man and the two women were trying to get on the R&B star’s tour bus and he was simply trying to stop them. Brown, who is still on probation in Los Angeles for beating Rihanna, was arrested along with his bodyguard for felony assault. They were both expected to stay in jail until they appear in front of a magistrate later today.

ROCKER LOU REED DIES

Legendary rocker Lou Reed passed away Sunday at the age of 71.   A cause of death has not been released, although he underwent a liver transplant in May. Reed is best known for his work in the late sixties with his influential rock band The Velvet Underground, as well as his hit solo single “Walk on the Wild Side.” His most recent release Lulu, a collaboration with Metallica, came out in 2007. He is survived by his wife, musician Laurie Anderson, who he married in 2008.

SUDEIKIS & WILDE EXPECTING

Some happy news for Jason Sudeikis and fiancée Olivia Wilde. People reports that the couple, who got engaged in January, is expecting their first child together. “They are incredibly happy,” a source tells the mag. “They’re very excited to welcome a new member into their family.”

HOUGH APOLOGIZES FOR HALLOWEEN COSTUME

Julianne Hough has apologized for her inappropriate choice of a Halloween costume. Over the weekend the former Dancing with the Stars hoofer dressed as the Orange is the New Blackcharacter Crazy Eyes, and stepped out in blackface. After receiving criticism on Internet, the 25-year-old took to Twitter to apologize. "I am a huge fan of the show Orange is the New Black, actress Uzo Aduba, and the character she has created,” tweeted Hough. “It certainly was never my intention to be disrespectful or demeaning to anyone in any way. I realize my costume hurt and offended people and I truly apologize."

ORLANDO BLOOM AND MIRANDA KERR SPLIT

Say it ain’t so! Orlando Bloom and Miranda Kerr have called it quits after three years of marriage. In a joint statement, the two confirmed they have been amicably separated for the past few months. "Despite this being the end of their marriage, they love, support and respect each other as both parents of their son and as family,” the statement said.  Despite their separation announcement, Orlando and Miranda still appear to be close. They were spotted walking arm in arm along with their son in New York on Saturday. The 36-year-old British actor, currently starring on Broadway in Romeo and Juliet, and the 30-year-old Australian Victoria’s Secret model, are parents to two-year-old son Flynn. They began dating in 2007 and got hitched in July 2010. [SeeSpotlight On for more!]

PRINCE GEORGE’S OFFICIAL CHRISTENING PORTRAITS

Following Prince George’s royal christening last Wednesday, proud parents Kate Middleton and Prince William have released four official portraits from the special day. The images were snapped by celeb photographer Jason Bell in the Morning Room at Clarence House, Kensington Palace, just after the ceremony. One photo shows just the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with their three-month-old bundle of joy – the little prince is even waving his arms for the camera. Another photo shows Queen Elizabeth II and the three future monarchs – Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince George. The third portrait shows the Duke and Duchess with Prince George and other members of the royal family, and the fourth photo includes the Duchess’ family. And over the weekend, they released yet another photo, this time a closeup of William, Kate and their bundle of joy. 

KIM AND KANYE WILL HAVE A PRENUP

He ain’t sayin’ she’s a gold-digger! But TMZ has learned that Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are drawing up a prenup before they tie the knot. Sources said they are not signing the prenup because they’re worried the marriage won’t last – they’re signing it because they’re both business people and know the importance of being smart with their money. The sources added that even though they will keep their assets separate, they will also have a joint account for living expenses.

KIM CELEBRATES BIRTHDAY IN VEGAS

Meanwhile, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West celebrated Kim’s 33^rd birthday in Las Vegas Friday. The pair partied at Tao at The Venetian, along with Kim’s sisters Khloe and Kourtney, and mom Kris Jenner. As for her engagement, Kim insists she was shocked by Kanye’s proposal. “I truly had no idea,” she insisted. "I was shaking the entire time. It was like an out of body experience."

CHRISTINA RICCI WEDS

Christina Ricci wed fiancé James Heerdegen Saturday at the Harold Pratt House and Peterson Hall in New York City. The couple, who met on the set of Ricci’s now cancelled series Pan Am, announced their engagement in February.

JAY-Z RESPONDS TO CRITICS

Jay-Z is fighting back against critics who want him to cut ties with the upscale store Barneys New York. After the company was accused of detaining two black customers in separate incidents, a Change.org petition was started calling for Jay-Z to pull out of his planned holiday collaboration with the store. On Sunday, he took to his website to explain why he hadn’t yet spoken out about the allegations against Barneys. “I move and speak based on facts and not emotion. I haven’t made any comments because I am waiting on facts and the outcome of a meeting between community leaders and Barneys,” he wrote, asking, “Why am I being demonized, denounced and thrown on the cover of a newspaper for not speaking immediately?” Jay-Z added that he is not making any money off the upcoming collaboration, and that proceeds from the sales will go to The Shawn Carter Foundation. “This money is going to help individuals facing socio-economic hardships to help further their education at institutions of higher learning,” he said, adding, “Making a decision prematurely to pull out of this project, wouldn’t hurt Barneys or Shawn Carter, but all the people that stand a chance at higher education.”

THE SIMPSONS’ MARCIA WALLACE DIES

Actress Marcia Wallace, best known for playing receptionist Carol on The Bob Newhart Show and for providing the voice of Edna Krabappel on The Simpsons, passed away Friday in Los Angeles. She was 70. Her son Mikey told TMZ Wallace, a breast cancer survivor and activist, died from pneumonia complications. In addition to her acting roles, Wallace spent three decades appearing on various game shows including Hollywood Squares, The $25,000 Pyramid and Match Game.

TV TIDBITS

• Fox has announced that American Idol will return with a two-night, four-hour premiere Wednesday, January 15^th and Thursday, January 16^th. In addition, the series’ results show will now be cut down to 30 minutes. Fox also revealed that the Kevin Bacon series The Following will premiere Monday, January 20^th at 9 pm following the season finale of Sleepy Hollow. 
• Oscar winner Octavia Spencer will star in a remake of Murder She Wrote for NBC. She’ll play Jessica Fletcher, the role made famous by Angela Lansbury.
• Fox has picked up Seth MacFarlane’s freshman comedy Dads for a full season.
• Lifetime has ordered a seventh season of Drop Dead Diva. The once-cancelled drama recently returned for a 13-episode sixth season.

ROCK NEWS:

LOU REED DEAD AT 71

Rock icon Lou Reed died Sunday on Long Island, less than six months after undergoing liver transplant surgery. He was 71. Though the actual cause of death has not been announced, his literary agent said he died of an ailment related to his liver transplant. Reed was always open about his longtime addiction to drugs and alcohol, and often wrote about his battles with both in his songs including The Velvet’s “Heroin.” Born in Brooklyn, NY in 1942, Reed, along with keyboardist John Cale, guitarist Sterling Morrison and drummer Maureen Tucker, formed the Velvet Underground in 1965 in New York City. The following year artist Andy Warhol hired them as the de facto house band at his studio, The Factory, and his mixed-media “Exploding Plastic Inevitable” review. The Velvet Underground was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996, leaving its mark on rock with essential songs such as “I’m Waiting for the man,” “White Light, White Heat,” “Sweet Jane” and “Rock and Roll.” Reed began a solo career in 1970 which produced a host of hugely influential tunes including “Walk of the Wild Side,” “Satellite of Love,” “Dirty Blvd.,” “Sally Can’t Dance” and “I Love You, Suzanne.”

ROCKERS REACT TO PASSING OF LOU REED

Scores of musicians posted Twitter tributes to Lou Reed following news of the legendary rocker’s death Sunday. The following are a few examples: Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler: “RIP to a great friend and fellow musician. From Maxes to the masses you made the world sing. I love you Lou!” The Who: “R.I.P. Lou Reed. Walk on the peaceful side.” The Doors drummer John Densmore: “The soul of NYC has broken on thru. Much respect, Lou.” Kiss singer/guitarist Paul Stanley: “RIP Lou Reed. A musician, artist and trailblazer who played by his own rules.” Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx: “RIP Lou Reed. Thank you for your beautiful/dark lyrics/music and stance on life. You inspired me from my teenage years right up till today.” Foo Fighters frontmanDave Navarro: “F***! One of my all time heroes and friends has passed. RIP Lou!: Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea: “I love Lou Reed so much. Always.” Finally, former Velvet Undergroundbandmate John Cale posted on his Facebook page: “The world has lost a fine songwriter and poet… I’ve lost my school-yard buddy.”

SLAYER KICKS OFF TOUR WITH “OLD SCHOOL” SET IN LAS VEGAS

Early last week, Slayer guitarist Kerry King confirmed the band would feature an “old school” set list during their entire North American tour after performing what was originally scheduled to be a one-off “Old School Slayer Night” in Los Angeles. On Friday, the band kicked off its tour in Las Vegas and true to King’s word they played around 20 classic cuts off 1985’s Hell Awaits, 1986’sReign of Blood, 1988’s South of Heaven and 1990’s Season in the Abyss. The tour continues through November 30 in Boston.

PANTERA MANTRA WAS TO GET RID OF GLAM ROCK

According to Pantera founder Philip Anselmo, the band’s mission statement from day-one was to changes the landscape of rock in a major way. In a recent interview, he said, “My whole mission was to destroy the whole club scene in Texas… We started incorporating heavier music and more and more people started coming along…and I started saying, ‘I don’t like glam music and I don’t like popular rock ‘n’ roll…I am never going to wear a pair of spandex again in my life.’”

KINGS OF LEON ANNOUNCE FIRST LEG OF 2014 TOUR

Now that their new album Mechanical Bull is out, Kings of Leon has unveiled the first set of 2014 North American tour dates designed to support the release. So far, 16 dates have been set, starting with a February 5 gig in Atlanta and finishing up with a March 8 show in Chicago. Along the way, then band will stop in cities such as Nashville, Louisville, New York City, Philadelphia, Washington, DC, Montreal, Toronto, Boston, Kansas City and Minneapolis. The band promises more dates will be revealed soon.

PASSION PIT, FITZ & THE TANTRUMS HEAD FIRST COASTLINE FESTIVAL

Florida will host the first-ever Coastline Festival on November 9 in Tampa and the following day in West Palm Beach. Artists slated to appear include Passion Pit, Fitz & the Tantrums, The Joy Formidable, Matt & Kim and Two Door Cinema Club, with more acts to be added soon. The event will include a selection of food trucks, craft beers and a wide selection of art.

BLACK FLAG SET TO RELEASE FIRST STUDIO ALBUM IN 28 YEARS

Reunited punk rockers Black Flag have set a November 5 release date for the uniquely Black Flag titled What the…, the group’s first all-new studio effort in 28 years. Though recording under the Black Flag, well, flag, the “reunited” band includes just one original member, guitarist Greg Ginn, plus singer Ron Reyes, who sang on the 1980 EP, Jealous Again, and two new members, bassistDave Klein and drummer Gregory Moore.

RONNIE MONTROSE TRIBUTE CONCERT COMING TO DVD

The rock world lost one its most influential guitarists when Ronnie Montrose passed away on March 3, 2012. On April 27 of that year, a stable of the musician’s former bandmates and friends including ex-Montrose bandmates Sammy Hagar, Denny Carmassi and Bill Church, among many others, gathered at the Regency Ballroom in San Francisco to pay musical tribute, and now that night of once in a lifetime performances will be available on the forthcoming DVD, Concert for Ronnie Montrose – A Celebration of His Life in Music, available December 10.