TUESDAY, JULY 30
NATIONAL HEADLINES:
MORE THAN 100 TEENS RESCUED AFTER SEX-TRAFFICKING STING
More than 100 teenagers were rescued over the weekend in a sweeping sex-trafficking sting, the FBI said yesterday. Many of the victims were from broken homes and the youngest was 13 years old. The crackdown, which took place over three days beginning Friday, spanned more than 70 cities and resulted in the arrest of 159 “pimps” from San Francisco to Miami who were involved in the exploitation of both adults and children. In some of the cases, the pimps used a popular online classified site, Backpage, to sell the children for sex. Authorities said criminal charges against the 159 will include human trafficking. Ronald Hosko, assistant director of the FBI’s criminal investigative division, said it was the FBI’s largest action to date focusing on the recovery of sexually exploited children.
POPE FRANCIS SAYS HE DOESN’T JUDGE GAY PEOPLE
Pope Francis discussed controversial topics for the Catholic Church yesterday, namely homosexuality within the priesthood and the ordination of women as priests. The pontiff spoke candidly on the issues during his flight from Brazil back to the Vatican. When asked what his response would be if he learned a cleric was gay, though not sexually active, Pope Francis said, "If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?" Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi later clarified that the pope was “for sure” not just referring to gay priests, but to all gays. Lombardi said this did not represent a change in church teachings – the difference is in the pope’s attitude, which puts mercy, forgiveness and understanding "in the forefront." When Pope Francis was asked about women becoming priests, he said the ban of female priests will remain intact.
VALUE OF CANNES JEWELRY HEIST MORE THAN DOUBLES
It seems the Cannes jewelry heist was even more costly than previously thought. The value of the brazen burglary, which occurred in broad daylight Sunday at the Carlton Intercontinental Hotel, was more than doubled yesterday to $136 million as new details emerged. The armed thief made off with newly fashioned diamond jewelry as it was about to be placed into secure display cases for exhibition. While escaping, he dropped some of his loot, but he still managed to make off with $136 million of it – raised from the initial total of $53 million. Police were still hunting the suspect, who was said to be a man in his mid-40s. It was the third such heist in the French Riviera resort in as many months. Ironically, the same hotel served as a movie set for To Catch a Thief, the 1955 Alfred Hitchcock film starring Cary Grant as a former jewel thief.
ARIEL CASTRO’S SON SPEAKS OUT
The son of Cleveland kidnapper Ariel Castro spoke out yesterday, saying he’s glad his father will spend the rest of his life in prison. “I think that if he really can’t control his impulses and he really doesn’t have any value for human life, the way this case has shown, then behind bars is where he belongs for the rest of his life,”Anthony Castro told Today’s Savannah Guthrie. Anthony had witnessed his father’s dark tendencies firsthand, saying he grew up in a house “with a lot of fear and violence.” He said he witnessed his father beat his mother and said he often faced “physical consequences” if he crossed his father. Ariel Castro was convicted of kidnapping and raping three women – Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight – over the course of 10 years. He pleaded guilty to 937 criminal counts and was sentenced to life in prison plus 1,000 years.
ROW HOUSE COLLAPSES IN PHILLY, INJURES 8
A row house collapsed yesterday in Philadelphia, damaging neighboring houses and injuring eight people. The collapse occurred at an unoccupied home that was being remodeled. A contractor was working in the basement at the time of the collapse and was critically injured. A baby was also among the wounded. Investigators were trying to determine what caused the collapse and neighbors reported hearing an explosion. Last month, a building collapse at a downtown Philadelphia demolition site killed six people and injured 12.
SHOWBIZ NEWS:
LEA RETURNS TO TWITTER
Lea Michele took to Twitter yesterday to thank the public for their support since the death of her boyfriend and Glee co-star Cory Monteith earlier this month. “Thank you all for helping me through this time with your enormous love & support,” she wrote, alongside a happy picture of the couple. “Cory will forever be in my heart.” Cory died July 13th from an accidental drug overdose.
TERESA AND JOE GIUDICE INDICTED ON FRAUD CHARGES
Real Housewives of New Jersey’s Teresa and Joe Giudice were indicted Monday on 39 counts of fraud and tax charges. According to the Department of Justice, the pair was charged “in a conspiracy to defraud lenders and illegally obtain mortgages and other loans as well as allegedly hiding assets and income during a bankruptcy case.” They are accused of “conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, bank fraud, making false statements on loan applications and bankruptcy fraud.” Joe is also accused of failing to file taxes between 2004 and 2008. The pair has yet to be arrested, but are expected in court today. According to TMZ, they face 50 years in prison if convicted.
LOHAN TO CUT BAD FRIENDS…PLUS THE CANYON REVIEWS ARE IN
Lindsay Lohan has finally realized some of the people she hangs out with may not have her best interests at heart. According to TMZ, after sitting through a therapy session about “toxic friends and influences” Lindsay made two lists, one of friends she plans to keep post-rehab, and one of “friends” she plans to cut loose. Sources say there were about 80 people on her “cut” list. Meanwhile, reviews of Lindsay’s movie The Canyons have started to come out, and they are for the most part brutal. “Lohan’s performance is certainly terrible,” wrote the critic from Indiewire. “Lohan is as bland and unfocused as the material.” The critic for Variety is one of the few who liked Lindsay’s performance, which is apparently the only review she read. Lindsay was so pleased with it, on Sunday she tweeted a link to the review, with the caption, “Wow…humbled and feeling so much gratitude.” The Canyons opens August 2nd on Video on Demand.
And in final Lindsay news…E! announced yesterday she will fill in for Chelsea Handler on Monday’s Chelsea Lately. Lindsay, who is due out of rehab this week, is expected to run the roundtable, interact with Handler’s side-kick Chuy and interview celebrity guests.
JOLIE IS FORBES’ HIGHEST PAID ACTRESS
Angelina Jolie has topped this year’s Forbes list of the Highest Paid Actresses in Hollywood. The Tourist star made a whopping $33 million last year to nab the top spot, with The Hunger Games’Jennifer Lawrence coming in second with $26 million (and a new Oscar). Twilight’s Kristen Stewart came in third with $22 mil, followed by Jennifer Aniston ($20 mil) and The Amazing Spider-Man’s Emma Stone ($16 mil). [See Spotlight On for more.]
FORBES’ HIGHEST PAID ACTRESSES
1. Angelina Jolie
2. Jennifer Lawrence
3. Kristen Stewart
4. Jennifer Aniston
5. Emma Stone
6. Charlize Theron
7. Sandra Bullock
8. Natalie Portman
9. Mila Kunis
10. Julia Roberts
BYNES OBSESSED WITH BEING THIN
Amanda Bynes’ parents are trying to get a conservatorship over their daughter, but they may be to blame for her problems. Ana Rivera, a former neighbor and close friend of the What A Girl Wants star, says Amanda’s issues stem from a major obsession with her weight, and the actress’ mother may have been responsible for it. Ana tells Radar Amanda was desperate to get down to 100 pounds, the same weight she was when she filmed the movie Love Wrecked. According to Ana, Amanda lost the weight because she had mono, and Amanda’s mother actually told her daughter “she’d never looked better.” Ana also says Amanda resents her “overprotective” parents for pushing her into acting. Amanda “was frustrated, as they wanted her to act and she didn’t want to do it anymore,” said Ana. “She didn’t get any enjoyment out of acting.”
HODA TO THE VIEW?
The New York Post reports that The View is trying to lure Hoda Kotb away from Today. Sources say ABC chiefs are interested in bringing Hoda on as a replacement for Joy Behar, who is exiting the show after 16 years. Hoda currently hosts the fourth hour of Today with Kathie Lee Gifford, and sources say she is “very happy laughing and scratching with Kathie Lee every day.” A rep for ABC claims there is “absolutely zero truth” to reports they want Hoda for The View.
REMINI HINTS AT REASON BEHIND SCIENTOLOGY DEPARTURE
Leah Remini has spoken out for the first time since it was revealed she had left the Church of Scientology. Reports claimed Leah was upset families were being forced to shun members who had left the church. She also reportedly got in trouble for questioning Scientology leader David Miscavige. “I believe that people should be able to question things,” she told People. “I believe that people should value family, and value friendships, and hold those things sacrosanct. That for me, that's what I'm about. It wouldn't matter what it was, simply because no one is going to tell me how I need to think, no one is going to tell me who I can, and cannot, talk to."
DEPP TO RETIRE
Johnny Depp has had a string of flops lately (The Lone Ranger, Dark Shadows), which may be why he’s ready to give up his career. In a recent interview with the BBC, Depp said he’s been thinking about quitting acting. “Are there quieter things I wouldn’t mind doing? Yeah, I wouldn’t mind that,” he said. “I wouldn’t say I am dropping out any second but I would say it’s probably not too far away.” Depp is still signed on for sequels to Pirates of the Caribbean and Alice in Wonderland, but it sounds like he’s growing tired of all the work. Said Depp, “When you add up the amount of dialogue that you say per year, for example, and you realize you’ve said written words more than you’ve actually had a chance to say your own words, you start thinking of that as an insane option for a human being.”
BETHENNY’S ASSISTANT QUITS
Bethenny Frankel’s new daytime talk show doesn’t premiere until September, but there are already problems behind the scenes. According to the New York Post, Bethenny is “very particular and difficult” and things have gotten so bad that her personal assistant Marilyn recently quit. “Marilyn quit after less than a month because Bethenny was so mean to her,” said a source. “Marilyn has a lot of experience working with celebrities and complained she had ‘never been treated this badly.’” Producers are now scrambling to find another assistant, but applicants are being told they can’t “talk to Bethenny unless she talks to them first.” Said the insider, “They have interviewed more than 40 people but she doesn’t like anybody.” Bethenny premieres September 9thon Fox.
PROJECT RUNWAY’S SIRIANO ENGAGED
Project Runway winner Christian Siriano is getting married. The designer and his longtime boyfriend Brad Walsh have gotten engaged and he announced the news on Twitter over the weekend. "Yesterday @BradWalsh and I exchanged engagement bracelets!" the 27-year-old Siriano wrote. "We've told our moms so now we can tell you.”
PABLO’S NCIS DEPARTURE WASN’T ABOUT MONEY
NCIS fans were particularly upset when they heard Cote de Pablo decided not to return for an 11th season, but CBS wants everyone to know her decision had nothing to do with money. “I really want to clarify we offered her a lot of money, then we offered her even more money,” CEO Les Moonves told critics at the Television Critics Association press tour Monday. “We didn’t want to lose her. We thought she was terrific. It was purely her decision. Ultimately she didn’t want to do the show. We don’t like losing anybody. We did everything humanly possible.”
MOONVES CALLS BIG BROTHER RACISM APPALLING
CBS CEO Les Moonves also addressed the subject of this season’s racism on Big Brother, and it sounds like he’s not happy about what’s going on. “I find some of the behavior absolutely appalling,” he says, explaining, “I think we’ve handled it properly.” He added, “I’ve watched every episode – obviously, my wife (Big Brother host Julie Chen) would kill me if I didn’t – we discuss it quite a bit.” When asked whether reality casting directors are “trying too hard” to get controversial castmates, Moonves disagreed. “You don’t want wallflowers on reality shows,” he said. “They are social experiments – trying too hard? I don’t think there’s any such thing.”
PERRY & KUDROW WISH FRIENDS DIDN’T END
If it was up to Matthew Perry and Lisa Kudrow, we might still be enjoying Friends today. Matthew was a guest host on Piers Morgan Tonight Friday, and had Kudrow as his guest. The two started reminiscing about their Friends days and Perry admitted, “If I had a time machine, I would go back to 2004 and not have stopped.” And apparently Kudrow felt the same. “If it were up to us, you know, individually, then yes. I would keep going,” she said. “I figure…there would have come a time anyway, when someone would have said, ‘We’ve had enough.’ But why not have fun until they do.” Added Kudrow, “We had a lot of fun.”
SHARON OSBOURNE SHARES HER OPINIONS
Sharon Osbourne has an opinion about everything and she shares quite a few of them in a new interview with The Daily Beast. On the subject of Justin Bieber, who she once said wouldn’t “stand the test of time,” Sharon says, “he wants to be a mean boy, and he’s about as mean as a f**kin’ kitten, and he’s trying to act out.” She adds, “And I think that he’s lost, I really do. I think he doesn’t realize he’s white and not black, that’s a huge problem.” On Anthony Weiner, Sharon says, “I’d like to slap him. You’re a grown man with a great education, and you think, in this day and age, you can send pictures of your penis over the Internet and not get caught?” As for her recent marital problems with Ozzy, Sharon says she never thought about ending her marriage for good. “It was not a case of divorce. I would never divorce my husband. Ever,” she said. “I love him too much…You just don’t walk away from people because they have a problem — unless they write on their c*ck and send it all around the world!”
WOOD & BELL WELCOME BABY BOY
Evan Rachel Wood and Jamie Bell are first time parents. The couple, who tied the knot last October, welcomed a baby boy. “Parents and baby are all doing well,” said a rep for the actress.Details on the child’s name and date of birth were not released.
TEEN WOLF STAR ENGAGED
Teen Wolf star Tyler Posey has gotten engaged to longtime girlfriend Seana Gorlick. According toUs Weekly the middle-school sweethearts have been dating for 10 years. "I've been wanting to ask her to marry me for years now and I finally did it," Posey, 21, revealed. "It's everything I've wanted to do. I finally feel like myself.” Tyler popped the question during a recent Hawaiian vacation. "I was so damn nervous," he said. "I just asked her and it was the coolest thing in the world. Her reaction was the sweetest — I can't even explain it!"
TV TIDBITS
● Oprah Winfrey will make her first ever appearance on Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live on Thursday, August 15th.
● CBS has ordered a second season of Stephen King’s Under the Dome. The network also announced that King will write the first episode of season two.
● CBS has pushed back the premiere of the new Will Arnett comedy The Millers by a week. The kick-off was originally scheduled for September 26th at 8:30 pm, but will now air October 3rd at 8:30 pm. On September 26th, the network will instead air back-to-back new episodes of The Big Bang Theory.
● Producers of the Syfy hit Sharknado are denying a TMZ report that claimed Tara Reid was not asked back for the upcoming sequel. “The short answer is: Nope. Tara is invited back," producerDavid Latt told The Hollywood Reporter. "Honestly, I don't know where that [TMZ story] came from." Latt said the sequel doesn’t have a script yet. The only thing that is known for sure is that it will take place in New York and involve a tornado and sharks.
● Lifetime has ordered a second season of Devious Maids.
● Glee’s Darren Criss and Pretty Little Liars’ Lucy Hale will co-host the Teen Choice Awards,airing Sunday, August 11th on Fox.
MISCELLANEOUS MOVIE NEWS
● Deadline.com reports Paramount is moving forward with a fourth installment of Beverly Hills Cop.Eddie Murphy will once again star as Axel Foley in the flick. Murphy was supposed to reprise his role for a CBS TV drama this fall, but the network eventually passed on the project.
● John Williams is returning to Star Wars. The legendary composer, who wrote the score for all six Star Wars flicks, will be once again handling the duties for J.J. Abrams’ Episode VII (7).
ROCK NEWS:
METALLICA PREPS METALLICA THROUGH THE NEVER SOUNDTRACK
Hard rock heavyweights Metallica Monday announced the September 24 release date forMetallica Through the Never (Music from the Motion Picture), the accompanying soundtrack to the band’s forthcoming 3D feature film. The 2-CD and digital editions will be available September 24, with 33 1/3RPM LP and 45RPM versions to follow in the fall. Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich states, “Let’s hear it for the old school soundtrack! Not only are we beyond psyched about our movie coming your way shortly, but the fact that we get to share the music directly in all these formats is way f***in’ cool.”
KINGS OF LEON, SLAYER INKED FOR FIRST DIGITAL FOREVER FESTIVAL
Fittingly, a slew of acts from across the musical map will lend their talents to the inaugural Forever Festival, billed as “Earth’s first live digital music festival,” broadcast live on irocke.com August 4 through August 11. Among the myriad acts confirmed to perform are Kings of Leon, Slayer,Anthrax, Lamb of God, Phish and Grateful Dead and Further icon Bob Weir with his other bandScaring the Children.
INCUBUS’ BOYD BOWS SELF-TITLED SIDE PROJECT SONS OF THE SEA CD
The self-titled debut album from Sons of the Sea, the side project helmed by Incubus frontmanBrandon Boyd, will be available September 24. According to various reports, the band’s inaugural release will feature 60s and 70s-inspired vocal harmonies and musical arrangements based on piano and guitar, along with strings, organs, bells and synthesizers. The full-length debut follows the release of the group’s EP Compass, released last month.
WHITE DONATES TO NATIONAL RECORDING PRESERVATION FOUNDATION
Musician Jack White has generously donated $200,000 to the National Recording Preservation Foundation, an organization working to safeguard the country’s recorded sound history. White’s financial contribution is the first the group has received, confirmed executive director Gerald Seligman, who added, “With this contribution we can now put up our basic structure, begin enacting the preservation plan – and give out our first grants.”
PUDDLE OF MUDD’S SCANTLIN ADDRESSES ARREST, NEXT ALBUM
No stranger to the long arm of the law, Puddle of Mudd frontman Wes Scantlin feels he got the short end of the stick after being arrested last week for allegedly vandalizing his neighbor’s property. The singer claims he’s the victim because his neighbor built a patio on part of his property while he was a way on tour. Scantlin claims he was simply “repairing and remodeling my property to the way it used to be.” As for getting back to doing what he does best, Scantlin says he has “tons and tons of hew hit songs,” adding, “We’re getting ready to go in and do the record, tour a little bit for the summer, and then do the full production and get back on the scene.”
AC/DC’S YOUNGS UP THERE ON DOWN UNDER RICHEST FAMILIES LIST
“Hells Bells” sells according to a recent survey conducted by Australia’s Business Review Weeklymagazine which named AC/DC brothers Angus and Malcolm Young, along with their producer/songwriter brother, George, among the wealthiest families Down Under. The financial publication estimates the Youngs are worth around $233 million, making them the 24th richest family in Australia.
VAMPIRE WEEKEND, MGMT TOP VIRGIN MOBILE FREEFEST LINEUP
The lineup for this year’s edition of the Virgin Mobile Freefest taking place September 21 in Columbia, MD features Vampire Weekend, MGMT and City and Colour towards the top of the bill. Additional acts include Kascade, the Avett Brothers, and Pretty Lights, among others. Get more details, including the complete lineup and ticket information, at virginmobilefeed.com.
LENNON & MCCARTNEY TOP TOP SONGWRITERS SURVEY
British-based music website MusicRadar.com last week conducted a poll of the greatest songwriters of all time and to absolutely no one’s surprise, the incomparable pair of John Lennonand Paul McCartney topped the survey. The site noted: “The remarkable thing isn’t how well their songs have aged – it’s that they haven’t aged at all,” adding that the twosome’s compositions “changed, challenged and defined the times with a beauty that still feels endless.” The rest of the top 10 includes Bob Dylan, Queen, Neil Young, Kurt Cobain, Bruce Springsteen, Roger Waters & David Gilmour, Noel Gallagher, Radiohead and David Bowie.
MCKAGAN WISHES WEILAND WELL
Despite having voted to fire Scott Weiland as lead singer of Velvet Revolver back in 2008, Duff McKagan still would like to see Weiland succeed. Asked about Weiland being fired from Stone Temple Pilots in February, McKagan told Billboard, “You could kind of see it coming, I suppose. It’s a sad situation any way you look at it. That guy…you hope he pulls it together. I shared enough good times with that guy that I wish him nothing but the best.”
NEW ALBUM RELEASES
New albums out today: Five Finger Death Punch – The Wrong Side of Heaven and the Righteous Side of Hell – Vol. 1; Michael Franti & Spearhead – All People; Moreland & Arbuckle – 7 Cities.
