MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24

NATIONAL HEADLINES:

UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT FLEES, PARLIAMENT HANDS OVER POWER

Ukrainian President Viktor Yankovych was ousted from power Saturday, and by yesterday the country’s parliament voted to temporarily hand presidential powers to a top official. Following months of unrest and a week of deadly protests, Yankovych fled Kiev and his whereabouts were unknown as of last night. For the time being, powers were handed to speaker Oleksandr Turchinov, a top ally of former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko. In an address to the nation yesterday, Turchinov said the Ukraine would try to improve relations with Russia, but that a return to European integration would be the priority. Parliament also voted this weekend to replace a string of government ministers. The legitimacy of the parliament's decisions remained under question, however. The votes were based on a decision Friday to return to a 10-year-old constitution that grants parliament greater powers, but Yanukovych did not sign that decision into law. The death toll from the political protests last week was at 82, according to the Health Ministry.

OLDEST HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR DIES AT 110

A woman believed to be the oldest Holocaust survivor died yesterday at the age of 110. According to a family member, Alice Herz-Sommer died in a London hospital after being admitted Friday with health problems. Her passing comes just a week before a documentary about her story of survival vies for an Oscar award. Herz-Sommer, her husband and her son were sent from Prague in 1943 to a concentration camp in the Czech city of Terezin. There, inmates were allowed to attend stage concerts in which Herz-Sommer, an accomplished pianist, frequently starred. She credited music with keeping her going during that time. Herz-Sommer and her son, Stephan, were freed from the camp in 1945. The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life is up for best short documentary at the Academy Awards next Sunday. 

U.S. WANTS TO EXTRADITE MEXICAN DRUG LORD

The U.S. said yesterday that it will seek to extradite Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman from Mexico. The 56-year-old kingpin was captured Saturday in the resort city of Mazatlan by U.S. and Mexican authorities following a four-to-five-week-long operation. He is wanted in six districts in the U.S., in addition to charges he faces in Mexico. A spokesman for U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch said Guzman has been charged in New York and authorities there will seek his extradition. He’s also wanted in Chicago, where he was named the first "Public Enemy No. 1" since Al Capone. Guzman's cartel has smuggled billions of dollars worth of cocaine, marijuana and methamphetamines into the U.S.

AMERICAN MURDERER KILLED IN ISRAELI PRISON

One of Israel’s most notorious inmates was killed in a prison raid yesterday, after he seized a guard’s weapon and shot three guards. The inmate was identified as 34-year-old Samuel Sheinbein, an American who fled to Israel in 1997 after committing a gruesome murder in Maryland. He successfully avoided extradition but was tried in Israel in 1999 and sentenced to 24 years for the slaying and dismemberment of 19-year-old Alfred Enrique Tello Jr. Special forces rushed the prison yesterday after Sheinbein stole the weapon and wounded three guards, two of them seriously. A standoff ensued and Sheinbein was killed when he opened fire on the special forces. 

NETFLIX REACHES DEAL WITH COMCAST

Netflix reached a groundbreaking deal with Comcast in an effort to provide better service to customers, it was announced yesterday. It’s the first deal the online video streaming service has reached with an Internet service provider and it’ll ensure that Netflix programs are streamed smoothly to households. The two companies said not only will the deal allow for improved service, but it will also allow for future growth in Netflix traffic. Netflix currently reaches 33 million U.S. streaming subscribers and accounts for about one third of all traffic on the Internet.

THE WEEKEND BOX OFFICE FROM BOX OFFICE MOJO

ROCK NEWS:

KISS SCRAPS PLANS TO PERFORM AT ROCK HALL INDUCTION CEREMONY

After months of conjecture concerning whether or not (and with which members) Kiss would perform at their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on April 10 in Brooklyn, the band issued a statement on Sunday saying won’t be playing at all. The statement on the band’s website reads: “This is understandably an emotional situation where there is no way to please everyone. To bring this to a quick end, we have decided not to play any line-up and we will focus our attention on celebrating our induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.” On Friday, original guitarist Ace Frehley reiterated in a radio interview, “I’m not gonna get on the stage with [current guitarist]Tommy [Thayer] wearing my makeup. That’s absurd.” Meanwhile, original drummer Peter Crisswrote on his website that he and Frehley “have been denied a performance with Gene [Simmons] and Paul [Stanley] for our Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction,” labeling the decision “disgraceful.” For their part, Simmons and Stanley claim “we have never refused to play with Ace and Peter.”

NEWSTED NIXES NEW SLOUGH OF SHOWS

After being pulled off planned concerts with Megadeth on Australia’s Sidewave festival, formerMetallica bassist Jason Newsted’s eponymous band has cancelled its own concert dates through March. Newsted told fans via Facebook that the decision to scrap shows is due to “private and personal circumstances… We are all gutted by this turn of events. I’m sorry, sisters & brothers, we were really looking forward to these shows too.”

ALBARN ADMITS HE RARELY THOUGHT OF RECORDING A SOLO ALBUM

As a member of Blur, Gorrilaz and The Good, The Bad and the Queen, Damon Albarnscarcely took time to think about recording a solo album, but two years ago he began work on his upcoming solo debut, Everyday Robots, available April 28. Albarn explained to Rolling Stone the delay in getting down to writing and recording a solo record, saying, “I just never imagined it was something I’d do. Who doesn’t love playing in a band? It’s f***ing brilliant. The best. Maybe Maybe I was just subconsciously avoiding a solo album.”

HAIM HAPPIEST WHILE ONSTAGE

Sibling rock band Haim – Danielle, Alana and Este Haim – has exploded since the release of their debut album Days Are Gone, with Danielle noting in a recent interview, “It’s been a complete whirlwind.” But she is quick to point out that the band is having a great time, and adds, “For us, playing shows is where we have the most fun. I love it when we have big dance parties. Now that the album’s out, people will know our songs and be able to sing back to us, which is awesome…”

FUEL REFUELED, SET TO PUMP OUT FIRST NEW ALBUM IN SEVEN YEARS

Nineties rockers Fuel have welcomed original singer Brett Scallions back to the fold and are now ready to release their first new studio album in seven years, Puppet Strings, on March 4. Of his departure and subsequent return, Scallions told Billboard, “I think getting away from Fuel for awhile was really good for me and my songwriting. So now I feel like it’s my turn to have the freedom of going out and making a record and calling it Fuel and being able to control the destiny of what we do.” Fuel will gas up and hit the road for a spring tour, starting on March 4 in Los Angeles.

ROTH REVIVES “CALIFORNIA GIRLS” WITH BEACH BOYS’ LOVE

A number of stars were on hand last week to help honor Beach Boys singer Mike Love who was named recipient of the 21^st Ella Award, giving out annually by the Society of Singers. Performers in attendance at the Ella Awards (named after jazz icon Ella Fitzgerald) included fellow Beach BoysAl Jardine and David Marks, Micky Dolenz of the Monkees, Dean Torrence from Jan and Dean, Christopher Cross, America, and Van Halen frontman David Lee Roth who joined Love onstage for a rendition of the Beach Boys classic “California Girls” which Roth covered and made a hit in 1985.

POP PICKED TO PLAY HITS ON BBC RADIO

Iconic rocker Iggy Pop is set to host a music show on BBC Radio, starting March 9. The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer as a member of the Sooges told UK music magazine NME, “The act of revisiting my library and memories to share the tunes I have treasured with a radio audience has relit a flame for me.” Pop will be heard Sundays from 4 to 6p (UK time) on BBC 6.

NUGENT ISSUES HALF-HEARTED APOLOGY FOR INSULTING OBAMA

Right-wing rocker Ted Nugent issued a rather subpar apology on Friday for calling President Barack Obama a “subhuman mongrel,” among other things. Last month, the conservative musician attacked Obama for being “a Chicago communist-raised, communist-educated, communist-nurtured subhuman mongrel.” During a radio interview on Friday, Nugent said, “I did cross the line. I apologize – not necessarily to the president – but on behalf of much better men than myself.” He later added that he regrets “using the street-fighter terminology of ‘subhuman mongrel’ instead of just using more understandable language, such as ‘violator of…the Constitution…the liar that he is.”

BROOKE OUT/ERIN IN AT DANCING WITH THE STARS

Dancing With the Stars made a big change over the weekend. Co-host Brooke Burke-Charvetannounced Friday night that she had been let go from the ABC hit, and by Sunday rumors claimed her replacement will ESPN’s Erin Andrews. ”I have enjoyed seven seasons co-hosting ‘DWTS’ but understand the need for change considering the position of the show at this juncture,” said Brooke in a statement., adding, “I’ve seen my fair share of shocking eliminations in the ballroom but this one takes the cake.” As for Erin, reps for DWTS have yet confirm she’s replacing Brooke. Erin, of course, is no stranger to the show. She competed in season ten, paired with Maksim Chmerkovskiy. Season 18 of Dancing with the Stars premieres March 17^th.

LAMAR SAYS KHLOE WILL ALWAYS BE HIS WIFE

Lamar Odom has spoken out for the first time since his wife Khloe Kardashian filed for divorce. “I love my wife. She’ll always be my wife, no matter what,” said Lamar following a press conference for his new Spanish basketball team Laboral Kutxa. As for whether there was a chance the pair would get back together, Lamar added, “Who knows? We don’t know exactly if [the divorce will be finalized]. Only time will tell. I hope not. But even if we were divorced, she would always be my wife.”

PIERS MORGAN’S SHOW CANCELED

Piers Morgan says his CNN show has been canceled. In an interview with The New York Times,Piers, who succeeded Larry King in January 2011, said, “it’s been a painful period lately and we have taken a bath in the ratings,” adding that Piers Morgan Live will “probably” air its last episode next month.

KIMMEL CRIES WOLF

Jimmy Kimmel has pranked us again. Last week a video showing a wolf outside U.S. Luger Kate Hansen’s Sochi hotel room went viral, but it turns out the whole thing was fake. Apparently, Hansen let Kimmel’s team take over her Twitter account and post the video, which was actually shot in Los Angeles. During Thursday’s Jimmy Kimmel Live, the comedian admitted he was behind the video and showed the rest of the clip where he is seen skiing down the hallway calling out “Garfield” and asking “have you seen my wolf?” Hansen later admitted she received a bit of backlash after the video went viral and Olympic security started freaking out.

LETTERMAN WANTS LENO

David Letterman has a plan to beat Jimmy Fallon in the ratings and it involves his former rival. According to the New York Daily News, Late Show bookers are desperately trying to snag newly departed Tonight Show host Jay Leno to appear on Letterman’s show. “There’s been quiet talk behind the scenes for months that Dave will have Jay Leno on as a guest,” claims an insider. “(Letterman’s) producers waited until Fallon debuted, give him space out of respect, but are now ready to pull out all the stops.” Leno and Letterman used to be friends but fell out after Leno got theTonight Show over Letterman. Sources say the pair patched things up recently.

GLANVILLE OWES EX MONEY

Brandi Glanville recently claimed her ex-husband Eddie Cibrian was now trying to get child support from her, but it turns out she wasn’t being truthful. According to TMZ, lawyers recently determined that Eddie actually overpaid Brandi more than $100,000 in spousal support, which he is trying to get back. Both sides hired lawyers and an audit found Eddie had paid his ex $114,738 more alimony than was required. Meanwhile, a Radaronline report revealed that while Eddie and Brandi were married, she claimed to have expenses of $40,000 a month, including $3,000 for clothes, $4,000 for dining out, $4,000 for entertainment and $2,000 for groceries.

LOSERS WIN BIG WITH ACADEMY GIFT BAG

It’s not so bad to be a loser at the Academy Awards. While winners take home a nice gold statue, losers will go home with a gift bag worth $80,000. Some of the items in the swag bag include: a train trip through the Rocky Mountains worth $6,850; $280 worth of maple syrup; trips to Japan ($15,000) and Las Vegas ($9,000); a home spa system ($7,455) and an O-shot procedure, which “rejuvenates and enhances the genital tissue of a woman,” at a cost of $2,700. The 86^th Annual Academy Awards air Sunday, Mach 2^nd on ABC. 

GIBSON’S EX FINED FOR TALKING ABOUT HIM

Mel Gibson’s ex learned the hard way that she needs to keep her mouth shut. According to TMZ,Oksana Grigorieva, mother of Mel’s 4-year-old daughter Lucia, violated a confidentiality agreement when she gave a radio interview which resulted in her forfeiting half of her settlement with the actor. Although Oksana tried to skirt the issue of Mel during the interview, and was very vague when asked about the Oscar winner, a judge still ruled she talked about him and she lost the remainder of her $750,000 deal. She was reportedly still owed about $375,000. Earlier this month it was revealed that Oksana filed for bankruptcy. Guess we now know why.

LIAM STILL CAN’T BELIEVE WIFE IS GONE

Liam Neeson told 60 Minutes Sunday that even though it’s been five years since his wife Natasha Richardson died, he sometimes finds it hard to believe she’s gone. Neeson, who stars in the new movie Non-Stop, says Richardson’s death following a skiing accident “was never real. It still kind of isn’t.” "There's periods now in our New York residence when I hear the door opening, especially the first couple of years…Any time I hear that door opening, I still think I'm going to hear her," he says. "It hits you. It's like a wave. You just get this profound feeling of instability. The Earth isn't stable anymore and then it passes and it becomes more infrequent, but I still get it sometimes."

CREW MEMBER KILLED ON GREGG ALLMAN BIOPIC

A female crew member on the Gregg Allman biopic Midnight Rider was killed by a train on location in Georgia. Seven other crewmembers were injured in the accident which occurred on the train trestle over the Altamaha River. According to law enforcement, crew members had placed a mattress on the tracks before the train arrived. The identity of the woman who died has not been released. The incident is reportedly under investigation.

MISCELLANEOUS MOVIE NEWS

● Here’s some good news for Anchorman fans. Paramount Pictures announced Friday they are releasing a new, super-sized R-rated version of Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues. The new version, which will hit theaters for one week starting February 28^th, will feature 763 entirely new jokes.

TV TIDBITS

● NBC is bringing back Heroes. The network announced that the Tim Kring series will return as a 13-episode miniseries, titled Heroes Reborn. For now, the storyline and characters are being kept under wraps. The show is expected to air sometime in 2015.

● Remember the Titans’ Kip Pardue has landed a multiple episode arc on Showtime’s Ray Donovan. He’ll play FBI agent Volchek, who works for Hank Azaria’s character; the head of the L.A. division of the FBI.

● Homeland’s Morena Baccarin will star in the ABC medical drama Warriors. The series follows an elite group of military doctors and nurses taking care of wounded warriors returning home from Afghanistan.

● Don’t Trust the B***h in Apartment 23’s Krysten Ritter will star in NBC’s space comedy pilotMission Control. The series, from executive producer Will Ferrell, is set in 1962 and looks at what happens when a strong woman goes head-to-head with a macho astronaut in the race to land on the moon.

● Heroes’ Milo Ventimiglia, last seen on the now-canceled TNT series Mob City, has landed a co-starring role in the ABC alien drama The Visitors. The Steven Spielberg-produced series revolves around an alien enemy out to destroy the world using the Earth’s children.

 ● Former SNL star Tim Meadows will join Casey Wilson and Ken Marino in the NBC comedy pilot Marry Me, about a young couple dealing with their recent engagement.