Jay Leno will appear on Oprah later today, and tells his side of the story in the late night fiasco at NBC. Leno tells Winfrey that he felt stung by the jokes
made by Conan O'Brien as his reign on "The Tonight Show" was ending,
but says that they were jokes and were okay with him. He also says that
he has not yet spoken to O'Brien about the situation, and wants to wait
for things to "cool down" before calling O'Brien.
Meanwhile O'Brien doesn't seem to be letting his ouster get in the way of business. NBC has announced that it has picked up a pilot from O'Brien's production company. The drama series involves a Supreme Court justice who leaves the bench to start his own law practice. Despite leaving "Tonight," O'Brien will continue his development deal with the network.
• • •
Former presidential candidate John Edwards released a statement in response to the news that wife Elizabeth has decided to separate. "It is an extraordinarily sad moment, but I love my children more than anything and still care deeply about Elizabeth," Edwards writes. The final straw for Elizabeth was the confirmation that her husband had indeed fathered a child with his mistress. Elizabeth reportedly told her husband, "I've had it. I can't do this. I want my life back,'" and has since decided to move on with her life without him in it.
• • •
Brooke Mueller has entered a "wellness program" at a facility in North Carolina, as she recovers from an infection. Mueller's lawyer insists she is not attending a drug rehab program, and that this is simply a facility where she can get rest to recover from the infection, which reached a point where death was a possibility, according to news reports.• • •
Michael Douglas' son, Cameron, has pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to distribute drugs and heroin possession. The younger Douglas also admitted to selling meth and cocaine in the previous year before his arrest. The plea deal he is accepting could send Cameron to prison for a minimum of 10 years.
• • •
Zelda Rubinstein, famously known for her role in Poltergeist, has died at the age of 76.
Rubinstein, who played psychic Tangina in the horror film, had recently
suffered a heart attack. She died at a Los Angeles area hospital
yesterday.
• • •
E! News reports that last month rocker Pete Doherty made a bonehead move when in court for a drunk-driving case. While passing through security Doherty dropped a baggie of heroin from a pocket, which was picked up by a guard. Because Doherty was already on his way to private rehab, the court decided to fine him, rather than order him to court-ordered rehab. Doherty's lawyer blamed his vast wardrobe for the mix-up. "He has a great many items of clothing," he said.
• • •
Nicholas Cage has just sold his 14,300-square foot house in Las Vegas at a loss, as he battles financial woes stemming from poor investments. Cage owes the IRS $14 million and has begun liquidating some of the homes and 'toys' that he has purchased in recent years. The home in Vegas sold for $4.95 million, at a loss, since Cage purchased the home for $8.5 million in 2006.
• • •
Adrian Pasdar, who played the flying Nathan Petrelli on NBC's 'Heroes,' was stopped in Los Angeles yesterday for DUI. Pasdar was observed speeding and swerving on an L.A. freeway in his pickup truck, and, when stopped, an aroma of alcohol was detected by officers when they spoke to him through his window.
• • •
Susan Boyle discovered her home was being burgled Tuesday night as she returned after a brief trip to London. The man was arrested, then later released without charges, pending further investigation. Even with her success since appearing on "Britain's Got Talent," Boyle has remained in her humble home in Blackburn. Boyle had been in London to record her portion of Simon Cowell's star-studded charity version of REM's "Everybody Hurts," which will be released to raise money for Haitian relief.
-- Dave Valenzuela
tagged
Celebrities