Pop Stand

Josh Sacco was just 4 years old when his dad recorded his impassioned delivery of Herb Brooks' inspirational locker-room speech to his team before it beat the Russian team to win gold in the 1980 Olympics. Wearing a pint-sized version of the outfit actor Kurt Russell wore to deliver the speech in the movie "Miracle," Josh puts conviction into every line. Although he holds a sheaf of papers, they were no help -- he couldn't read yet. Josh absorbed the famous inspirational speech through repeated viewings of the movie -- more than 100, says his dad, whose post of his son's uncanny imitation in July 2009 has gotten more than 2 million hits on YouTube. Watch the original first, then check out Josh.

Here's Kurt Russell:

And here's Josh:

Josh and his dad Jim are at the Vancouver Olympics, invited by the U.S. hockey team to deliver the "This is your time!" pep talk to them. "We got our inspiration here, little Herb Brooks impersonator," said David Backes of Team USA. The undefeated U.S. team plays Finland today in a semifinals game that starts at 3 p.m. Eastern time.

Great moments are born from great opportunities, indeed!

Have a great weekend!

-- Anne Neville

 

The body of missing "Growing Pains" star Andrew Koenig was found by a search party of friends shortly before noon Thursday in Vancouver's Stanley Park. "My son took his own life," said his father in an emotional news conference in the park, during which he urged others suffering from depression to get help. "If you can't handle it anymore, you know, if you could learn anything from this, is that there are people out there who really care," said Walter Koenig, who was searching for his son in Vancouver along with his wife, Andrew's mother, Judy Levitt Koenig, left. Andrew Koenig, 41, had been clinically depressed and vacated his apartment and sold or gave away his possessions before leaving for what his parents thought was just a short visit to Vancouver. Police had searched the area where the body was found since Koenig was reported missing Feb. 16, but failed to see it in the heavily wooded site.

• • •

Before their son's body was found, Koenig's parents explained why they abruptly canceled their appearance on the Larry King show Wednesday night. They backed out after King delayed their planned live appearance on his show by 25 minutes so he could focus on the SeaWorld whale attack. The Koenigs had been waiting in their Vancouver hotel room to be interviewed from 6:30 p.m. Pacific time to 6:55 p.m., when they stood up and asked the producer and cameraman to leave. Walter Koenig, who played Pavel Chekov on the Star Trek TV series, told TMZ that he and his wife felt the show no longer had "enough time to do credit to what we had to say."

• • •

Brittany Murphy's December death was partly caused by "multiple drug intoxication," but until this week nobody knew what the drugs were. The medications found in the bloodstream of the 32-year-old actress included components of Vicodan and antidepressants, along with various prescriptions used to treat respiratory problems. The report also cited "her weakened state" as a cause of death; she also had untreated pneumonia and anemia. TMZ also lists 24 empty prescription bottles found at the scene for prevacid, clonazepam, propranolol, vicoprofen, zolpidem, carbamazepine, klonopin, Ativan, hydorocodone (Vicodin) and multiple vitamins.

• • •

Bristol Palin has won one in court. Levi Johnston, the father of their baby, has been ordered to pay $1,688.42 a month in support, retroactive to Dec. 27, 2008, the date Tripp was born. Palin was in court for the ruling but Johnston was not. Palin's attorney, Thomas Van Flein, tells TMZ, "Bristol is pleased with the court rulings today and looks forward to resolving the remaining issues with Levi."

• • •

Octomom Nadya Suleman impressed the women of "The View" with her raucous Wicked-Witch-type laugh when she appeared on the show. In a clip, Sherri Shepherd calls the shrill shriek "maniacal" and adds, "That's a crazy laugh!" Looking a bit like an android Angelina, Suleman speed-chattered, "I don't like it, I try to suppress it -- somebody told me I need a laugh coach!" Wearing a white minidress, dark tights and go-go boots, seemed distracted and mentioned her flightiness. The audience applauded when Whoopi Goldberg asked, "Do you understand that some people think… maybe you’re not quite all there?" Suleman responded enthusiastically, "I love your question!" While she was in the big city, she also hit a few clubs in Manhattan's Meatpacking District. Although she stayed out past 2 a.m., Suleman wasn't seen drinking or dancing.

• • •

Former game-show host Bob Barker has teamed up with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals to demand in an open letter that all SeaWorld parks be closed and that the owner build coastal refuges for the marine animals who now are displayed and perform in the parks. The former host of "The Price is Right" writes, "The death of yet another trainer at SeaWorld did not have to happen, and I must appeal to you to take strong action now so that it never happens again." Barker writes, "I urge you to ... start moving the captive orcas and other marine mammals to transitional coastal and wildlife sanctuaries..." Barker suggests that SeaWorld replace its living animals with "state of the art virtual reality exhibits, such as those used in the hugely popular 'Walking with Dinosaurs' exhibits." Also speaking up on the situation was Laz Alonzo, who posted more than 20 tweets, among them, "Set him free. ... It belongs in the wild. Killer whales should not b in captivity & jumping around 4 ur selfish enjoyment. They're called 'Killer' 4 a reason dummies."

• • •

Video clips and reviews tell one story -- that Whitney Houston is hoarse, disoriented and taking lots of breaks from singing on her Australian tour. But her publicist says she is fit and doing a great job in her packed arena shows. "Whitney is in great health and having a terrific time on her tour and with her fans," says publicist Kristen Foster. "There were over 9,000 people at her show in Brisbane, and there were over 12,000 at Acer Arena last night in Sydney. Her fans were dancing and singing along with her and Whitney appreciates their support." E!Online reports that on some songs, Houston seemed to rely on her backup singers, who include her brother Gary Houston.The Sydney Morning Herald said that while she "rocked' the crowd during the first half, the show became "bizarre and weird" and she was occasionally incoherent. The reviewer wrote, "During her acoustic and gospel songs she couldn't reach some of the higher notes."

• • •

With husband Charlie Sheen in rehab, Brooke Mueller has returned home -- but she's brought a rehab team with her. TMZ reports that therapists, coaches and other rehab staffers have moved in, bringing so much luggage that, a source says, "It looks like a circus." Charlie's mom and dad, Martin Sheen and Janet Templeton, are also said to be staying at the house and helping care for Charlie and Brooke's 10-month-old sons, Max and Bob. TMZ also says that Charlie was reported to be "calm and committed" after his first day of rehab.

• • •

Remember the clampdown on the set of "Two and a Half Men" in December after somebody reportedly threatened the life of Sheen's co-star, Jon Cryer? Court paper filed in the custody battle between Cryer and his ex-wife Sarah Trigger, seen at left with Cryer in happier days, trace the whole scare back to a threat from either Trigger or one of her ex-boyfriends. According to the documents, Trigger's lawyer reported that Trigger told her that her ex-boyfriend, Eddie Sanchez, said he was going to kill Cryer and Trigger's estranged husband, David Dickey. Trigger's lawyer warned lawyers for both Cryer and Dickey. On Jan. 10, Dickey confronted Sanchez, who "not only flatly denied making such a statement, but he said that it was [Sarah Trigger] who had contacted him on numerous occasions, stating that she wanted to see the pair [Cryer and Dickey] dead, and even asking Mr. Sanchez if he would kill the pair, or if he would not, inquiring whether she could speak with Mr. Sanchez's father about this issue." Trigger's attorney, Vicki Greene, says, "Sarah has not threatened anyone, especially Jon, and those are statements that are refuted and she has evidence to show that Mr. Sanchez has already recanted those statements to her."

• • •

Former "Dancing With the Stars" contestant Mel B. could be back on the show -- to fill Samantha Harris' shoes as co-host. Mel B., who became known as "Scary Spice" of the Spice Girls, finished second in season five to Helio Castroneves. She did a screen test at the studio Wednesday, TMZ reported. Others said to be in the running for the spot are former contestants Melissa Rycroft and Kelly Osbourne, season 7 winner Brooke Burke or Vanessa Minnillo. Harris left what she caled her "dream job" to devote more time to other projects, including work on "The Insider."

-- Anne Neville

On the first results show of Season 9 tonight, four Idol singers will go home.

Four men could easily be dropped: Alex Lambert, Tim Urban and John Park all failed to distinguish themselves, and Tyler Grady stood out in a bad way with his faux Jim Morrison posturing.

On the women's side, the singers who didn't stand out were Lacey Brown and Janell Wheeler. The two who stood out in a bad way were Haeley Vaughn and Katie Stevens.

My four choices are John Park, Tim Urban, Lacey Brown and Katie Stevens, but any of the eight could easily go home and not be missed.

UPDATE: I'm ZERO for four. The four sent home were Ashey Rodriguez, Janell Wheeler, Joe Munoz and Tyler Grady.

The show's performers are Allison Iraheta and Kris Allen, who talked about his trip to Haiti and ask for contributions to the Haiti mission of "Idol Gives Back."

-- Anne Neville

Walter Koenig and his wife, Judy, abruptly left "Larry King Live" last night without explanation. The parents of the missing Andrew Koenig, aka Boner of "Growing Pains," were in their seats, communicating with producers about their interview in minutes, when all of a sudden they got up and left. Larry King' said of the Koenig's departure, "We checked them out, they were prepared to go on, I said 'hello,' they said 'hello.' We said we'd be on in two minutes, they said 'fine.' And they got up and left, for reasons unknown."

• • •

Andrew Koenig's friend, Jenny Magenta, tells Us Weekly that she fears he may have taken his own life. "[T]here are a lot of classic signs -- things that he has done in the past couple months -- that point to the possibility that he’s taken his own life," she said. Koenig was said to have cleared out his Los Angeles apartment, having a 'yard sale' of sorts, and giving away many of his belongings. The friend also described Koenig as spending money while in Vancouver, which was uncharacteristic, as if he were trying to simply enjoy the last days of his life.

Magenta said that she awoke one morning to find a simple note of gratitude, and discovered he'd left while she was sleeping. Magenta also confirmed that Koenig's parents received a letter from their son which was "disturbing," and which prompted the call to police.

• • •

Conan O'Brien has joined the ranks of celebrity tweeters, making his first Twitter posting yesterday. The ousted "Tonight Show" host tweeted, "Today I interviewed a squirrel in my backyard and then threw to commercial. Somebody help me." In 24 hours, Conan has nearly 230,000 followers, but no other tweets since. O'Brien is said to be considering a national stage tour, while waiting for another opportunity for a television talk show.

Last night we heard the women, and there were some hits and some misses. America voted, so the bottom two women have already been decided. Re-read our live chat as the 12 men took a shot at the Top 10 Billboard Hot 100 hits.

Thursday night at 8 p.m., in a one-hour results show, we say goodbye to two men and two women -- plus we see last year's finalist Allison Iraheta perform her new hit single, "Scars," as well as Kris Allen.

 -- Anne Neville

Charlie Sheen, whose wife, Brooke Mueller, is already rehab, has entered rehab himself "as a preventative measure," his rep says. TMZ reports that he will be in rehab for two weeks, and had told sources on his show that he was getting help for a substance abuse problem. Sheen is facing felony and misdemeanor charges after a drunken battle with Mueller on Christmas Day in Aspen, where the two were staying with their 10-month-old sons. "He will take some time off his series "Two and a Half Men,'" his rep said. Both Mueller and Sheen have battled alcohol or drug abuse in the past. TMZ reported Tuesday that "a very well-connected source says Sheen made the decision himself and there was "no one big thing that happened that made him go," that the twins, Max and Bob, are at home with their nannies and both grandmothers will spend lots of time there.

• • •

Mueller was in The Canyon rehab center in Malibu until she left on Sunday night, allegedly because a staff member leaked her intake document, which listed the reason she had entered rehab. On Tuesday, attorney Yale Galanter is threatening to file a lawsuit on Mueller's behalf, blaming The Canyon for "a major breach of confidentiality." Galanter told People , "I am livid. These people are buffoons." Mueller left The Canyon on Sunday night and checked into what Galanter calls "a more secure, confidential and private environment."

• • •

Tiger Woods is still apologizing. He and wife Elin Nordegren have reportedly written a letter to the parents of their daughter Sam's preschool classmates, apologizing for the media attention the school has received since Woods' sex scandal was revealed. Florida's WFTV.com posted a copy of the document on its Web site. It says, "We would like to share our appreciation for your support over the past several months and offer our personal apology for any inconvenience you are experiencing due to the increased media scrutiny surrounding our children," reads the letter. When reached by People, the school, Premier Academy, would not verify the authenticity of the letter.  The letter says Woods and Nordegren are trying to "keep life as normal as possible" for daughter, Sam, 2, and son Charlie, 1. "For Sam, that normalcy means attending the school that she enjoys so much."

• • •

Vancouver police say they are hoping to find missing former child actor Andrew Koenig alive, although there has been no activity on his cell phone or bank account since he was last seen in the city on Feb. 16. "Police are still hopeful that Andrew will be found alive," the Vancouver Police Department said. After news of  Koenig's disappearance was released on Sunday, police received "a substantial amount of tips and information" in the case, and that various "investigative avenues are being checked and re-checked." His father, Walter Koenig, who played Pavel Chekov in the original Star Trek series, says he was on his way to Vancouver to speak with police. Koenig says his son, left, had battled depression and he and his wife had received a disturbing letter from Andrew days after he missed his flight back home to California. Andrew Koenig, 41, played Richard "Boner" Stabone in the '80s sitcom "Growing Pains." Meanwhile, Koenig's California landlord says the actor gave him 30 days notice, cleaned out his apartment and left town.

• • •

The guy who has been stalking Audrina Patridge flipped out in court Tuesday, yelling incoherently, making obscene gestures and demanding to be allowed to plead guilty. Zachary Loring, 24, who was behind a grill and guarded by a deputy, was shushed by his attorney and the judge and finally the video of his comments was turned off. Loring is facing a felony charge of stalking and three misdemeanors and five year protective order was granted for Audrina and her family. He was arrested outside Patridge's house Feb. 19.

• • •

With Angelina Jolie shooting "The Tourist" in Venice, Brad Pitt took the couple's two older girls, Zahara, 5, and Shiloh, 3, on a shopping trip. "Zahara chose very girlie outfits, but Shiloh only wanted items from the boys' collection, which is in another boutique across the street," a source told People. Shiloh, who has been sporting a short haircut recently, picked out some yellow boys' jeans, shirts and cotton scarves.

• • •

Gary Busey has started over as a dad. The actor, 65, and girlfriend Steffanie Sampson welcomed Luke Sampson Busey with girlfriend Steffanie Sampson, according to ET.com. "This feels like a dream," the couple, left, said in a statement. "We feel so blessed and are overwhelmed with happiness at Luke's arrival." Among the first to arrive at the hospital to congratulate the new parents was Busey's other child, son Jake, 38.

-- Anne Neville

We heard from the ladies as the top 12 "American Idol" female contestants take the stage to sing live for the first time. The theme will be Top 10s from Billboard's Hot 100 chart. Who soared and who sank? Read what we thought as we heard the women, then tune in Wednesday night to chat as we listen to the guys!

Thursday night at 8 p.m., in a one-hour results show, we say goodbye to two men and two women -- plus we see last year's finalist and fan favorite Allison Iraheta perform her new hit single, "Scars," which was written by Toby Gad and Alyssa James.

See you back here tonight!

-- Anne Neville

Lindsay Lohan tells the British tabloid,The Sun, that she used alcohol and drugs to deal with her personal problems, and talks candidly about her tumultuous 2007, when she had several brushes with the law.

"I tried to mask my problems with alcohol, cocaine and mind-altering substances. Now I'm in a place where I don't need to use anything and I can feel emotions because I choose to," Lohan says.

LiLo says that her problems started when her father, Michael, went public and began talking about her.  "When my father was going public, that's when I hit rock bottom. I abused substances too much and it wasn't the answer to my problems. People need to know that."

After collapsing on her bathroom floor after taking sleeping pills, Lohan says she was scared enough to start seeking help. She tells The Sun that she now regularly attends sessions with a therapist, as well as alcohol education meetings. 

Lohan hopes that she can be a role model to teens. "I learnt from my mistakes and I'm now healthy and happier. ... If I can teach others, especially teens, by sharing my experiences, then that's what I will continue to do."

• • •

Carrie Fisher says that her father, actor Eddie Fisher, is "kind of losing it." Carrie says that her father, now 81, is confined to a wheelchair these days, and "thinks he is locked in a bakery and needs to attend a charity fundraiser that he has organized with President Barack Obama and a famous baseball player." Carrie thinks she knows why he's losing it: he "shot speed (for) 13 (years)."

• • •

Gossip site TMZ is being sued for its part in a leaked interview with Michael Jackson's ex-wife, Debbie Rowe, being posted online. F. Marc Schaffel Productions is suing TMZ in California District Court, saying that the site violated copyright, by confusing the line of entertainment vs. fair-use news. The clip involved Rowe joking about needing sedatives to deal with stage fright, but presented by TMZ as though it was related to Jackson's death by drug overdose.

• • •

The cast of FOX's "Glee" will perform at the White House annual Easter egg roll this year. The cast was invited by First Lady Michelle Obama, and will take part in the April 5 event. The cast was all over Twitter with the news. Cast member Amber Riley tweeted, "Singing at the white house. I'm in total disbelief... So excited to meet my President and First Lady!!!! Yay!!!"

• • •

Kirk Cameron says he is praying for his former "Growing Pains" cast mate Andrew Koenig, who remained missing.  "I am praying for his family during this time of distress and for his safe return. ... Mike and Boner could always work things out when they put their minds to it. I'm praying for you, pal. Hope to hear from you soon,"  Cameron said. Koenig was supposed to return to Los Angeles from Vancouver Feb. 14, but failed to show up.

But TMZ reports that Vancouver police have been inundated with reports of sightings of Koenig, as far as away as the remote west coast of  Vancouver Island. Vancouver police say that they are still looking "for a living person."

• • •

Wrestling legend Ric Flair was attacked by  his wife of three months in their North Carolina home. Flair had minor injuries from the altercation, but refused treatment by paramedics on the scene.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police charged Jacqueline Beems with misdemeanor assault. Flair calls the incident a "misunderstanding," and says his wife did nothing wrong.

• • •

Chris Golightly made the "American Idol" Top 24 during Hollywood Week, but at the end of the show last week, he wasn't part of the group of guys. What happened? Golightly seemed to have had a two-year contract with a recording company, which disqualified him. TMZ has the exclusive contract Golightly signed with Dream Projects Entertainment, which was signed just one month before he auditioned for the show. Golightly says that he was released from his contract, and is planning a press conference today where he will beg the show for another chance.

Speaking of "American Idol," join Anne Neville back here tonight at Pop Stand for live chatting during the "Idol" broadcast beginning at 8 p.m.

-- Dave Valenzuela

The parents of Andrew Koenig, 41, who starred as Richard "Boner" Stabone on the late '80s sitcom "Growing Pains" reported him missing after he failed to return home to California from Vancouver and they received a distressing note from him. "He sounded despondent," his father, Walter Koenig, told People. "Nobody has seen this [note] but my wife and I." The elder Koenig, who played Pavel Chekov in the original Star Trek TV shows, says he and his wife received the note Feb. 16, two days after Andrew missed his flight home. "He went to visit some friends in Toronto and after there, he went to Vancouver," where he had lived for several years and felt comfortable, says his father. Drugs were not an issue, says Koenig, adding that his son's problem is "something that has been a part of his makeup for a long time. There’s no single trauma. There’s no episode." Koenig told TMZ that his son had been suffering from depression and was "not doing good" in the days leading up to his disappearance. Celebs who have expressed their concern via Twitter messages include Alyssa Milano, Sarah Silverman, Kevin Smith and Doug Benson.

• • •

Travis Barker got into a confrontation with paparazzi outside a restaurant and police were called, says TMZ, but police refused to comment on the exact nature of the complaint. Barker, drummer for Blink-182 and now the sole survivor of the September 2008 plane crash that killed all on board except himself and DJ AM, was entering a Calabasas eatery with his daughter when he confronted a photographer from x17 online who asked him, "Why are you speeding?" An 8-minute video shot by paparazzi apparently after Barker left the restaurant shows a profanity-filled clash between Barker and several pals and paparazzi in which one photographer's phone was temporarily taken and he alleged that his car's tires were slashed. Police took a vandalism report but made no arrests.

• • •

Reports that Jon Voight has reconciled with his long-estranged daughter Angelina Jolie were proven true on Saturday when the two were photographed together, left -- along with Brad Pitt and several of their children. Voight joined the Pitt-Jolie family for a trip down Venice's Grand Canal, and were photographed as they were entering one of the city's famous water taxis. The family has been touring the Italian city, where Jolie is preparing to star opposite Johnny Depp in "The Tourist." It's the first time Voight and Jolie have appeared in public together in several years.

• • •

Racist hate mail written to "American Idol" winner Fantasia Barrino has resulted in beefed-up security around the Los Angeles Pantages Theater, where she is appearing in "The Color Purple." The letter that alarmed Barrino contained racial slurs and the line, "go back where you came from and die." TMZ reports that the writer claims he worked as a security guard for Fox while Fantasia was on "Idol." A report was made to police and Fantasia has been taking extra precautions, the source says, but she also said, "I will not be defeated by one isolated person's hatred."

• • •

Adrian Pasdar, the husband of Dixie Chick Natalie Maines and who played Senator Nathan Petrelli on "Heroes," now faces a charge of DUI as a result of his arrest last month in L.A. Padar was pulled over for doing 90 on the 405 Freeway on Jan. 27. Pasdar was given a field sobriety test, then released on $15,000 bail. He's due back in court on Wednesday.

• • •

Dakota Fanning will be 16 on Tuesday, so she celebrated a few days early by hosting 40 guests at the fancy Beverly Hills restaurant Villa Blanca, an eyewitness tells E! News. The dinner party to honor the "New Moon" star went from 7 to 11 p.m. and included parents, family and several friends, a source told E. "She looked like she was having fun and was really cool," the source says of Fanning, who did not bring a date. "She was talking to her friends and laughing all night."

• • •

Brooke Mueller's mom Moira Fiore said her daughter was in a spa, not rehab after she was released from the hospital in late January after treatment for pneumonia. But Mueller did check into drug rehab at the Canyon rehab center in Malibu immediately after the Feb. 8 court hearing in her husband Charlie Sheen's assault case and is now, according to a source, "doing very well." The source told EOnline, that "ever since Aspen," when Mueller called police on Sheen after a physical altercation on Christmas Day, "she's been committed to getting herself in shape by getting healthy again and going to a rehab to continue her regimen with her sobriety." Both Sheen and Mueller, who have been treated for drug and alcohol addiction in the past, had been drinking alcohol before the Christmas Day fight. Mueller sees her children with Sheen, 10-month-old twins Max and Bob, daily at the rehab center.

-- Anne Neville