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Rob Wants a Bigger Pad

June 23, 2006

“Sam Seaborne” narrowly won approval from planners for a massive dream estate on his $8.5 million Montecito lot in Northern California, despite a neighbor's complaint the mansion would spoil his own panoramic ocean view.

''I've always been a big believer in the process. I'm obviously pleased with the outcome,'' the 42-year-old actor said after Wednesday's 3-2 vote by the Montecito Planning Commission.

The vote came after a day-long debate over whether the proposed 14,260-square-foot estate would overwhelm the Picacho Lane neighborhood, which is also home to mystery writer Sue Grafton.

Lowe's proposal calls for a 24-foot-high privacy hedge that would screen the estate from neighbor Fred Gluck, former head of the international consulting firm McKinsey & Co. Gluck said the hedge would partially block views of the Pacific. Lowe purchased the 3.4-acre undeveloped property for about $8.5 million last year. Gluck first complained about potential view loss, then on the size of the home.

Lowe and his people noted that Gluck's 8,577-square-foot home also exceeds Montecito guidelines Lowe's proposal is to build a 9,860-square-foot home with a 2,000-square-foot basement, an 800-square-foot guesthouse, an 800-square-foot second-story cabana with an 800-square-foot garage below.

Lowe also plans to build a swimming pool, spa and tennis court.

Chaka Khan Receives BET Award

Best known for deeply-felt singing, R&B diva Chaka Khan received a Lifetime Acheivement Award Tuesday night from Black Entertainment Television at a ceremony in Los Angeles.

At only 53, it seems early for a “lifetime achievement” award -- but Khan first broke into the pop charts when she was only 17, with the band Rufus. Since then she’s had a continuous string of hits, including ''I Feel For You,'' ''I'm Every Woman,'' ''Tell Me Something Good'' and ''Ain't Nobody.''

All the while she’s overcome serious personal adversity -- including including the horror of her son, Damien Holland, 27, facing murder charges and ultimately being acquitted.

About the BET award, Khan said: “It's brilliant. I'm excited about it and I'm very grateful. I'm grateful to be acknowledged at that level by our (black) people. It's a wonderful thing."

When asked if a lifetime achievement award means she’s made it, Khan demurred.

“I still don't (think so). I'm waiting for that moment. Making it for me is just being able to touch a lot of lives in a positive way and to do God's will. To do what I'm put here to do. You know, that's an ongoing journey.”

Khan’s next CD will be released in October 2006.

Captain Kirk to Roast, But Will He Burn?

William Shatner has always done an excellent job of poking fun at himself, but he's going to have plenty of help this summer.

The 75-year-old actor will be the recipient of cheap shots and bawdy jokes—as Pamela Anderson was last year—at a Comedy Central celebrity roast in his honor.

''The Comedy Central Roast of William Shatner,'' scheduled to air Aug. 20 (10 p.m. EDT), will be taped earlier that month in Los Angeles.

''It takes a real man to follow Pamela Anderson into the 'Roast' pit and William Shatner is truly a hero among men,'' Elizabeth Porter, senior vice president, specials and talent for Comedy Central, said in a statement. ''By the end of this year's 'Roast,' Shatner may wish he was in a galaxy far, far away.''

Fans of Shatner “need” to check out the episode of “Cooking’s A Drag” airing on OUTzonetv.com.

Blige Delivers More "Drama" on Soap

June 22, 2006

Though she famously sang about wanting ''No More Drama'' in her own life, Mary J. Blige is taping an appearance on ABC’s soap opera, “One Life to Live.”

Fans of the diva can relax. She will not be acting. Blige will be playing herself.

The 35-year-old R&B diva, whose latest album, ''The Breakthrough,'' has sold more than two million copies, will perform two hits from that disc at the club Capricorn in the town of Llanview. The episode is set to air July 28.

''The cast and I, being huge fans of Mary J. Blige's tremendous talent, are thrilled that she will be appearing on 'OLTL,''' said executive producer Frank Valenti in a recent statement.

“OLTL”—not to be confused with the MTV show “TRL”—is making a name for itself with musical guest appearances. Erykah Badu and Chris Botti have previously performed on the show.

Is Coop After King's Crown?

Is Anderson Cooper after Larry King’s job? With two high-profile celebrity interviews in a row on his show, “360,” Cooper is rapidly moving in on King’s celebrity turf.

While Larry King is still hugely popular, his show has become a place that old-timers go to wallow in their infirmities (mental and physical). This week, Dan Rather extolled the drama of leaving CBS. And a few weeks ago, Elizabeth Taylor joined the chat host to tell people she did not have Alzheimer’s.

Meanwhile, Cooper scored the an-depth interview with Angelina Jolie. And tomorrow, he’ll be airing an interview with Cher about how she does not support the war in Iraq, but supports the troops.

Maybe because he’s a non-threatening host, both gals have opened up to Cooper in ways that have made headlines days before the interviews actually aired. Young Coop is becoming a master of buzz.

Hogan and Crew "Downscale" and Cash In

Real Estate hounds in Florida are abuzz about Hulk Hogan’s recent purchase of a mansion near Tampa that the ex-wrester just put on the market for $25 million.

The pro ‘rastler/actor, legally named Terry Bollea, moved south to Miami Beach. With his wife, Linda, daughter Brooke, 18, and son Nick, 15, the clan is now shacked up in new $12 million bay front estate.

So why the $25 million dollar price tag for the old digs near Tampa—Tampa!? Because the “French-style manse is familiar to fans of the family's VH1 reality TV series, ''Hogan Knows Best.” The home has seven fireplaces, 2.3-acre grounds overlooking the Intercoastal Waterway and the Gulf of Mexico, a guesthouse, swimming pool, waterfall and four-car garage.

''I've got to downscale,'' Hogan told The Miami Herald. ''We'll head toward Miami like the Beverly Hillbillies.''

Tops Finally Tossed Off The Tube

June 21, 2006

"American Bandstand" went the way of the Dodo decades ago. America’s Top 40 lingers on a few radio stations. Now, finally, the UK is catching up to the demise of countdown shows. The BBC is killing “Top of the Pops” after 42 years.

The last episode will air July 30.

''Top of the Pops'' has featured everyone from The Beatles and The Rolling Stones to Nirvana and the Spice Girls. At its peak, the weekly rundown of Britain's best-selling acts attracted more than 15 million viewers.

The end should have been clear last year when the show was moved from the main BBC1 channel to BBC2, which attracts a smaller audience.

Or, they could have looked to the Yanks and seen that countdown shows for a general audience just don't satisfy the diverse audiences made possible in the digital age.

Hall of Fame Makes Room for Boys

A few good men who toil behind the scenes -- and yes, unfortunately, this year they are all men -- will be inducted into the Academy of Television Art & Sciences Hall of Fame this year.

Not to worry paparazzi: William Shatner, Tom Brokaw and Regis Philbin will be there in person.

The lesser-known talent includes director James Burrows (''Will & Grace,'' ''Cheers'') and former network executive and producer Leonard Goldberg (''Brian's Song,'' ''Hart to Hart'').

The same folks who put on the Emmy Awards organize the Hall of Fame. Hmm … women win Emmys every year. Couldn’t they find a few good women for the Hall of Fame 2006?

Notorious Hollywood Honcho Back In Divorce Court

Robert Evans's illustrious career in movies -- he produced Chinatown and much more -- and "unique personality" was the subject of the documentary The Kid Stays in the Picture. And the subject of a stylish cartoon: “Kid Notorious.”

But his latest claim to fame will be a seventh ex-wife.

Evans filed for divorce this week from Victoria White O'Gara citing irreconcilable differences. The pair were married last August in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. It was the third marriage for White O'Gara, 43, who has three children.

Evans was previously married to former Versace model Leslie Ann Woodward, Ali MacGraw, former Miss America Phyllis George, Catherine Oxenberg, Sharon Hugueny and Camilla Sparv.

Battle of The Network Stars

June 20, 2006

It should surprise no one -- 'cause really, how often do folks change the channel, especially in the morning while they’re brushing their teeth? -- that “Today” has not suffered in the ratings since Katie Couric departed.

In the two weeks since Don't-Call-Me-Perky departed, “Today” without Katie beat second-place “Good Morning America” (led by Diane Sawyer) by an average of 1.3 million viewers a day.

NBC talking heads breathed a sigh of relief and said they were always confident the show would go on, so to speak. While ABC folks say Matt Lauer had big interviews to drive traffic such as tête-à-têtes with Britney Spears and Ann Coulter.

Meanwhile, over at CBS, employees are rejiggering their summer vacation plans in order to prepare for Katie’s arrival. So far they’ve hired an old friend of the new anchor to be “creative director,” and all teams -- from “Evening News” to “Special Events” -- are planning tutorials to teach Katie what she needs to know before a big event (i.e. the November elections).

But back on the morning schedule: Charlie Gibson leaves “GMA” next Wednesday. And the real battle will begin in September when Meredith Viera takes over for Katie, and ABC settles on a new sunrise team.

Let the games begin!

Amazonian Comedy For Bleak Times

Bill Maher says his new half-hour comedy airing on Amazon.com is “the future” in spite of its odd and unruly title: “Amazon Fishbowl With Bill Maher.”

The first weekly episode is history and the results pleased everyone involved -- although no numbers were released publicly.

A show on a website that sells books and diapers “is kind of an odd choice,” Maher admits. “Because I'm not the most tech-savvy person in the world.” But “it’s the future and I’m glad they're inviting me to lead the parade.''

Before hitting the ‘Net, Maher earned 18 Emmy nominations during the nine years that his hit program, “Politically Incorrect,” was on.

In a promotional interview for his new “Fishbowl,” Maher said he is not hopeful for the future of the country, but that such a state is a good thing for comedy because: “People need to laugh all the more when things are bleak.”

We couldn’t agree more.

Did Star Throw Paparazzi "Over The Hedge"?

Not according to Bruce Willis, he didn't

The actor, ex-of Demi Moore, and current star of the animated feature, Over the Hedge, filed a defamation lawsuit Monday against a photographer who accused the ''Die Hard'' actor of attacking him outside a restaurant.

The complaint says the snapper made ''malicious, fabricated and defamatory statements'' about an encounter as Willis entered the Los Angeles restaurant Koi.

Willis, 51, was entering the restaurant when he was confronted by Goodrich and other ''stalker-paparazzi'' flashing high powered strobe lights, the suit said. The suit seeks no less that $1 million in general, special and consequential damages as well as punitive damages to be determined at trial.
No one was hurt in the incident, and the doorman at Koi supports Willis’s story.

Save Dustin. Buy a T-Shirt.

June 19, 2006

Best known as geeky Screech Powers on the 1989-1993 teen comedy series ''Saved by the Bell,'' Dustin Diamond is selling T-shirts with his photo on them to try to raise $250,000 so he doesn't lose his gray, two-story house under a foreclosure order.

''If the public didn't care, I, as an entertainer, wouldn't have been a success,'' he said.

Diamond, 29, is trying to sell nearly 30,000 shirts — for $15 or $20 (autographed) — to supplement the income he makes as a standup comic so he doesn't have to move from his Port Washington home, about 25 miles north of Milwaukee.

The T-shirt has a photo of Diamond holding a sign that says, ''Save My House.'' The back of the shirt reads, ''I paid $15.00 to save Screeech's house.'' The third ''e'' was added to get around copyright laws, he said. Shirts are available via his web site: getdshirts.com

The foreclosure order was filed last month in Ozaukee County Circuit Court. Diamond appeared on Howard Stern's satellite radio show Tuesday to plead his case. ''I'm doing great with my comedy, but this is definitely a low point,'' he said. ''Real life comes in and affects you.''

Judgment Day on Today

The talented folks who will cast votes on the new show, “America’s Got Talent,” appeared together on “Today” this morning.

Talent is such a relative and diverse term, as we will apparently learn from this show -- both from the judges and the contestants.

Host Regis Philbin headlines an all-star cast of judges including David Hasselhoff (a megastar in … Germany), Brandy (best knows as “Moesha”) and Piers Morgan (former editor of Brit tabloid The Daily Mirror).

The crew greeted Matt Lauer this morning with a clip of a contestant balancing a washing machine on his nose. We are hoping (praying?) that this was only a joke. The show premieres June 21.

No Pants Party Lights Up Fuse

Jodie Sweetin, the unsung, unheralded sister to the Olsen twins on ''Full House,'' will return to the small screen on Fuse Music Television. Sweetin is set to host the reality show ''Pants-Off Dance-Off.''

The reality show/dance party begins July 18.

The 24-year-old actress told ''Good Morning America'' earlier this year that she checked herself into rehab in March 2005 to recover from methamphetamine addiction. She plans to visit college campuses around the country to speak about her recovery.

But not until after she dances her pants off. Okay, we admit it. We just like to say "no pants." It's fun.