THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27

NATIONAL HEADLINES:

BREAKING NEWS: AZ GOV. VETOES ANTI-GAY BILL

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer yesterday vetoed a controversial bill that would have allowed businesses to refuse service to gay and lesbians based on religious beliefs. At a news conference following her decision she said the bill “could result in unintended and negative consequences.” She said that while she is a supporter of religious freedom, she felt the bill had the potential to create more problems than it proposed to solve. "It could divide Arizona in ways we cannot even imagine and no one would ever want," she said. Sen. John McCain, R-Az., who urged Brewer to veto the bill, said last night that he hopes "we can now move on from this controversy and assure the American people that everyone is welcome to live, work and enjoy" the state.

KERRY WARNS RUSSIA TO BE CAREFUL IN DECISIONS ABOUT UKRAINE

Secretary of State John Kerry said yesterday that Russia must tread carefully in the decisions it makes about Ukraine. In an interview with NBC’s Andrea Mitchell, Kerry said that Russian President Vladimir Putin should “listen carefully to Ukrainians who have voiced their desire for change.” He also added that theU.S. is not looking for a confrontation and that the U.S. does not view its relationship with Russia as a “sort of continuation of the Cold War.” “This is not Rocky IV,” he said. “Believe me. We don’t see it that way.” His comments came after Putin ordered a military drill to assess the combat readiness of his ground and airborne units. The drills are planned for an area of the country that borders Ukraine, where an uprising recently ousted Russian-backed President Viktor Yanukovych. Meanwhile, new tensions were springing up in Ukraine’sCrimea region.

FED JUDGE RULES TEXAS BAN ON GAY MARRIAGE UNCONSTITUTIONAL

A federal judge ruled yesterday that Texas’ ban on gay marriage is unconstitutional. Judge Orlando Garcia issued the preliminary injunction after two gay couples challenged the law. "Without a rational relation to a legitimate governmental purpose, state-imposed inequality can find no refuge in our United States Constitution," Garcia wrote in his ruling. He did not lift the ban altogether, though. He said he would give the state time to appeal before doing so.

JAILED EX-FOOTBALL PLAYER HERNANDEZ INVOLVED IN JAIL FIGHT

Former football player Aaron Hernandez was involved in a jail fight Tuesday and could now face additional charges. The former Patriots tight end has been behind bars at the Bristol County jail in Massachusetts since being charged with the murder of Odin Lloyd. Police confirmed Hernandez was involved in an altercation with another inmate, but neither man was seriously injured. Hernandez was being held in segregation and it was unclear how he encountered the other prisoner. Authorities said they will be studying surveillance tape of the incident to determine if criminal charges are warranted.

TINY HOUSES COULD SOLVE HOMELESS PROBLEM

How do you solve the nation’s homeless problem? Think small. In various states, designers and advocates have been setting up tiny houses for the homeless. So far, there are projects in Austin, Texas, upstate New York, Utah, Florida, Wisconsin and California. One California artist, 43-year-old Gregory Kloen, has been singlehandedly building small, portable homes using salvaged materials he finds on the street. The shelters cost less than $100 each and help homeless people stay out of the elements and in some cases, out of jail. One Oakland resident recalled how a tiny house changed her life. “Now, I can roll my house down the street. Now the police don’t give me a hard time. I keep my house clean and I have no problems,” Estelle Copeland, 39, said.

DELTA CHANGING ITS FREQUENT-FLIER PROGRAM

Delta Air Lines is changing its frequent-flier program. Starting next year, the program will favor passengers who buy the most expensive tickets, instead of those who fly the most miles. It’s an effort to entice higher-spending business travelers, who often book flights last minute and pay more than leisure travelers. Delta will become the biggest U.S. airline to make such a change.

ROCK NEWS:

GUNS N’ ROSES TO TOP REVOLVER GOLDEN GODS AWARDS BILL

The 2014 edition of the Revolver magazine Golden Gods Awards will take place on April 23 at Club Nokia in Los Angeles and this year’s stellar lineup of performers will be headlined by Guns N’ Roses. The headline slot is fitting since frontman Axl Rose has been chosen as this year’s recipient of the coveted Ronnie James Dio Lifetime Achievement Award. Additional acts inked to perform include Korn, Zakk Wylde (solo), Joan Jett and the Blackhawks, A Day to Remember, the Pretty Reckless, plus more to be announced soon.

FIRST THREE OASIS ALBUMS TO BE REMASTERED, EXPANDED, REISSUED

There is no maybe about it; Big Brother Recordings will definitely reissue the first three Oasisalbums – Definitely Maybe, (What’s the Story) Morning Glory and Be Here Now – as part of the company’s new Chasing the Sun series. This year marks the 20^th anniversary of the release ofDefinitely Maybe, so it makes sense that the multi-platinum set will be reissued first, on May 20. Each release will include a remastered edition of the original album, plus the deluxe box set holds two additional discs featuring B-sides and rarities.

MOTLEY CRUE ADDS MORE DATES TO THE FINAL TOUR SCHEDULE

United States fans of Motley Crue will have at least three more opportunities to catch their hard rock heroes live in concert now that the retiring band has added three more U.S. dates to their The Final Tour itinerary, including the band’s very last performance in the Big Apple. New dates include a second night in Hollywood, FL on October 18, a new stop in Spokane, WA on November 22, and the group’s final farewell performance in New York City on October 28 at Madison Square Garden.

NEIL NOW NODS HIS APPROVAL OF COUNTRY TRIBUTE TO MOTLEY CRUE

It took some convincing and coaxing from a content girlfriend to get Motley Crue singer Vince Neilto finally come around to liking the idea of a group of top shelf country acts covering Crue tunes for the forthcoming Country Music Tribute to Motley Crue, due later this year. Neil recently confessed to the Tennessean, “I was like, ‘Eh, I don’t know. Let me think about this one for a minute.’ The more I thought about it, the cooler it got…” The clincher came when the idea made him look cooler in his girlfriend’s eyes. He said, “It’s fun because my girlfriend is a country girl. She’s a barrel rider in the rodeo. When I showed her the names, she was like, ‘Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh my God.’ I’m like, ‘Tel me, tell me. Fill me in.’”

OF MICE & MEN ROLL OUT “BONES EXPOSED” VIDEO

Southern California’s Of Mice & Men on Wednesday premiered a brand new video for their song “Bones Exposed,” a track off the group’s current Restoring Force album, which arrived last month. Of Mice & Men are currently rattling bones on the sold out American Dream Tour with Bring Me the Horizon which continue tonight in Worcester, MA and moved on to New York City tomorrow and Saturday and runs through March 30 in san Diego.

LAMONTAGNE SERVES UP “SUPERNOVA” SINGLE

Grammy Award winning singer/songwriter Ray LaMontagne has released his new single “Supernova,” available now at all digital retailers. The tune is the title track of LaMontagne’s forthcoming fifth studio album Supernova, available May 6. Dan Auerbach of the Black Keysproduced the record which was recorded in Nashville. LaMontagne’s 2010 God Willin’ & The Creek Don’t Rise won the Grammy for Best Contemporary Folk Album.

EXHAUSTIVE PINK FLOYD EXHIBIT COMING TO ITALY

Organizers are promising a “major retrospective exhibition” laser focused on the sights and sounds of Pink Floyd, opening this September in a former factory in Milan, Italy. The Pink Floyd Exhibition: Their Mortal Remains opens September 19, and according to one of the curators, Hipgnosis album art design group co-founder Aubrey Powell, “Selecting what to include from such a treasure trove is both a dream and a nightmare. We’ll be aiming for state-of-the-art visuals and sonic deliver, similar to the experience of attending a Pink Floyd concert; you’ll never know what to expect next.”

SHOWBIZ NEWS:

HUDSON & BELLAMY ON THE ROCKS
Just a week after the New York Daily News reported relationship trouble for Kate Hudson and Matthew Bellamy, sources are reiterating the rumors to People magazine. "Kate and Matt have been on the rocks for some time," a source close to Hudson tells the mag. "They're not in a great place." The couple was last seen together over Christmas, spending time with Matt’s family in the UK, but they haven’t been spotted with each other since. In fact, on Tuesday Kate went to a party at Soho House in LA and she wasn’t wearing her engagement ring. But, the pair hasn’t completely called it quits. The source says they “are still living together” adding, “Kate is not giving up.”

KATY PERRY & JOHN MAYER SPLIT RUMORS

Looks like the romance may be over for Katy Perry and John Mayer. Sources tell E! that Katy dumped the “Your Body is a Wonderland” singer in the “last few days.” Details of the breakup are still not known, and neither star has yet to comment, but Katy did go solo to London for the Brit Awards and was also alone during a recent trip to Milan. If they have called it quits, it won’t be the first time. The pair briefly broke up in March, but later reconciled.

MOB WIVES STAR SUES OVER VIDEO GAME

Former Mob Wives star Karen Gravano, daughter of mobster Sammy “The Bull” Gravano, is suing Rockstar Games, the makers of Grand Theft Auto, for using her life story without permission.   Grand Theft Auto V features the fictional character of Antonia Bottino, who Karen claims is based on her life. In her lawsuit, Karen’s lawyers argue “her story is unique and is hers to tell, not that of the writer in the video game.” Gravano is also upset because she was planning to release a book which will contain “the parts of the not-so-known aspects of the story used by Grand Theft Auto V.”

WORTHINGTON ARRAIGNED/ORDERED TO STAY AWAY FROM PAPARAZZO
Sam Worthington was in a New York courtroom yesterday in connection with his arrest this past weekend for attacking a paparazzo. Worthington was charged with two counts of third degree assault, one count of attempted assault and one count of harassment for punching photographerSheng Li, who had been following the Avatar star’s girlfriend Lara Bingle. If convicted, the actor faces a maximum of one year in jail. In addition to the charges, Worthington was hit with a restraining order, which prohibits him from having any contact with Li. Worthington is due back in court May 8^th.

BULLOCK’S HUGE GRAVITY PAYDAY

Regardless of whether or not Sandra Bullock wins an Oscar for Gravity this weekend, she’s already a big winner thanks to the space movie. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the 49-year-old will make at least $70 million from the film. Sources say Bullock was paid $20 million upfront, in addition to 15% of the gross. So far Gravity has made more than $700 million worldwide, which means Bullock could get an additional $50 million, and that doesn’t even include a percentage from home video and TV revenue which she’ll get as well.

ALLISON WILLIAMS ENGAGED

Girls star Allison Williams, daughter of NBC News anchor Brian Williams, has gotten engaged to longtime boyfriend Ricky Van Veen, co-founder of College Humor. The couple has been dating for three years.

KUDROW ORDERED TO PAY FORMER MANAGER $1.6 MILLION

Lisa Kudrow may soon be out a few bucks. The former Friends star yesterday lost a lawsuit brought by her former manager, who claimed she owed him money. Scott Howard sued the actress back in 2008, a few months after he was let go. He claimed he and Kudrow had an oral agreement that would pay him 5% of her earnings from continuing residual work negotiated when he represented her. Kudrow claimed no such agreement was in place, but a jury ruled in favor of Howard, and awarded him $1.6 million. Kudrow plans to appeal the ruling.

OFFICE STAR EXPECTING BABY NUMBER TWO

Jenna Fischer is going to be a mom again. The Office star and husband Lee Kirk are expecting their second child later this year. The couple, who wed in 2010, are already parents to a 2-year-old son, Weston.

DEEN WANTS HER NAME BACK

Paula Deen tells People magazine that during the height of last summer’s racial slur scandal she could barely get out of bed. “When I woke up each morning, it was like my world was crashing down again,” the 67-year-old says. Now almost nine months later, Deen has launched a new company, thanks to a $75 million deal with a private investment firm. “I’m fighting to get my name back,” she says, adding that the scandal forced her to confront her “greatest fear.” “I used to have dreams that I lost everything,” she says. “And when it finally happens you think, ‘I’m still alive.’”

BACHELOR CALLED SLEAZY BY FORMER CONTESTANT

The newest Bachelor Juan Pablo hasn’t made a very good impression on former contestant Jef Holm, who won Emily Maynard’s heart on season eight of The Bachelorette (they have since broke up). “I think he’s by far the sleaziest Bachelor that’s been on the show,” Holm told Us Weekly. “He basically just hooks up with the girls.” And apparently, some of Juan Pablo’s suitors aren’t too impressed either. “I’ve had the chance to talk to a few of the girls from his season who have been at events and things, and I mean there are very few good things that have been said about him,” says Holm. “I actually don’t know of any good things that have been said about him.”

ALT DOESN’T UNDERSTAND THE FASCINATION WITH UPTON

Former Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Carol Alt doesn’t understand why everyone makes such a big deal about Kate Upton. "What I don't understand with Kate [Upton] is what's all the hullaballoo," Alt, 53, told the Huffington Post. “I think what it is is that in this moment there's just so much social media and that's why she's had more word of mouth than anybody." Not that Alt doesn’t think Kate is worthy of some attention. "I like Kate, she's a pretty girl," she continued. "But all the girls are nice, and all the girls are pretty. Every cover, to me, deserves to be talked about."

AFFLECK & ROGEN GO TO WASHINGTON

It was celebrity day in Washington, DC on Wednesday. Oscar winner Ben Affleck testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee about security issues in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The actor founded the Eastern Congo Initiative in 2010, a nonprofit organization committed to restoring peace and prosperity to the region. Meanwhile, comedian Seth Rogen testified before a Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing on the current state of research of Alzheimer’s disease treatment and prevention. Rogen’s mother-in-law was diagnosed with the disease at age 55.

MORE SHREK ON THE WAY

Dreamworks studios may have another Shrek movie in the works. CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg told Fox Business News that he believes there’s “another chapter” of the Shrek story left to tell. “I think you can be confident that we’ll have another chapter in the Shrek series,” said Katzenberg. “We’re not finished and more importantly, neither is he.” The last Shrek, Shrek Ever After, hit theaters in 2010 and made over $752 million worldwide.

TV TIDBITS

● HBO has renewed Looking for a second season.

● CBS has given the go-ahead for a remake of The Odd Couple starring Friends’ Matthew Perry. Perry will play the slob roommate Oscar Madison in the project, based on the Neil Simon play. So far no one has been cast to play neat freak Felix Unger.

● Syfy has canceled Being Human after four seasons. The show will air its series finale April 17^th.

● Rashida Jones’ real-life parents, music producer Quincy Jones and actress Peggy Lipton, will play her parents in the TBS comedy pilot Tribeca. The series is described as a satirical look at a police procedural, with Jones playing a 10-year veteran of the LAPD.

● The How I Met Your Mother spin-off has added another castmember. Upright Citizens Brigademember Drew Tarver has joined the cast of How I Met Your Dad, as the best friend of the show’s main character Sally, played by Greta Gerwig. Tarver’s character, Todd, is described as a “warm” and “outgoing” guy who allows Sally to move in with him after she leaves her husband.

● Alec Baldwin is going to play someone he hates. The actor has signed on to portray a newspaper columnist in an upcoming episode of Law & Order: SVU. He’ll play Jimmy McArthur, “who questions the SVU squad’s motives” during a hate crime-rape investigation. The episode will air March 19^th.

● NBC announced that the new season of America’s Got Talent will debut Tuesday, May 27^th at 8 pm. In addition, the next season of American Ninja Warrior will premiere Monday, May 26^th at 8 pm.

● Person of Interest’s Taraji P. Henson will reunite with her Hustle & Flow co-star Terrence Howard for Lee Daniels’ Fox drama pilot Empire, a family drama set in the world of a hip-hop empire.

MISCELLANEOUS MOVIE NEWS

● According to the Hollywood Reporter, the death of comedian Harold Ramis will not affect plans for Ghostbusters 3. Sources say Ramis was only supposed to make a cameo in the film, alongside fellow Ghostbusters stars Dan Aykroyd and Bill Murray. The script is expected to be reworked now that Ramis has passed away.

● Barkhad Abdi, who is up for an Oscar this weekend for his role in Captain Phillips, has found his next project. The Somali actor will star in The Place That Hits The Sun, a film about South African marathoner Willie Mtolo, a Zulu warrior who competed in the 1992 New York City Marathon.
● According to the Hollywood Reporter, Girls star Adam Driver is in talks to play the villain in Star Wars: Episode VII. Details regarding the character are being kept under wraps.