New ‘Idol’ Judge: The Guys Have It!

January 06, 2009

LOS ANGELES, Calif.

New “American Idol” judge Kara DioGuardi says the singing contest’s eighth year begins with the balance tilted in favor of male contestants.

DioGuardi says she spotted some unique performers during auditions for the Fox TV show, especially among the men.

ROLL CALL: Josh Brolin’s Not So Kind Words For Russell Crowe

January 06, 2009

By Jesse Spero

LOS ANGELES, Calif.

Plus, what two actors had an impromptu dance off? Madonna spreads the Louis love! And, Amy Winehouse enjoys a slice of beef cake!

Get your Daily Dispatch of Celebrity Shenanigans inside!

Patrick Swayze Faces Cancer & New TV Series Bravely

January 06, 2009

NEW YORK CITY, N.Y.

Patrick Swayze says his yearlong battle with pancreatic cancer didn’t stop him from pushing ahead on his new TV series.

Swayze says his new A&E cop drama, “The Beast,” which premieres next week, meant grueling 12-hour workdays, with chemotherapy sessions on the weekends.

The 56-year-old actor tells ABC’s Barbara Walters in an exclusive interview Wednesday that he rejected painkilling drugs that would have taken the edge off his performance.

Taylor Swift Raves About ‘Unreal’ Present For Her Mom’s Birthday

January 05, 2009

NEW YORK, NY

Chart-topping singer Taylor Swift has a special present for her mother’s birthday this weekend – a performance on “Saturday Night Live.”

Pregnant Kelly Rutherford Files For Divorce

January 03, 2009

LOS ANGELES, Calif.

“Gossip Girl” actress Kelly Rutherford has filed for divorce from her husband – while pregnant with the couple’s second child.

According to People, the star is splitting from German businessman Daniel Giersch due to “irreconcilable differences.” She reportedly filed for divorce on December 30, 2008, with Daniel filing for legal separation the same day.

Deal Keeps MTV, Comedy Central On Cable Airwaves

January 01, 2009

LOS ANGELES, Calif.

Millions of Time Warner Cable customers won’t lose their access to MTV and 18 other channels after the cable giant reached an agreement early Thursday with media conglomerate Viacom Inc.

The two sides, citing disagreement over fee hikes, had threatened a damaging blackout at a minute past midnight Thursday that would have cut off shows such as “SpongeBob SquarePants” and “The Colbert Report” to about 15.7 million subscribers.

Former ‘Idol’ Contestant Gina Glocksen Says ‘I Do’

December 31, 2008

LOS ANGELES, Calif.

Gina Glocksen, who was a top ten finalist on “American Idol” Season Six, married longtime boyfriend Joe Ruzicka on Wednesday, according to People.

Gina, 24, married Joe, 32, who is a school teacher, in a nondenominational ceremony at the Century Memorial Chapel at Naper Settlement in Naperville, Illinois, on New Years Eve.

Atlanta Inner-City School Gets $365K From Oprah

December 31, 2008

ATLANTA, Ga.

A letter from Oprah Winfrey last week seemed like the world’s best Christmas present — until teacher Ron Clark noticed an extra piece of paper flutter out of the envelope.

That’s when the Atlanta educator saw the $365,000 check for the innovative private school he opened in one of the city’s poorest neighborhoods in 2007. It was, quite literally, an answer to a prayer.

Former ‘Biggest Losers’ Marty & Amy Announce Pregnancy

December 31, 2008

LOS ANGELES, Calif.

Former “Biggest Loser” contestants Marty and Amy Wolff, who met during the third season of the NBC show and were married in March 2008, are now expecting their first child, People reports.