During his arraignment Tuesday on one count of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Michael Jackson, Dr. Conrad Murray told Judge Michael Pastor, "Your honor, I am an innocent man. I therefore plead not guilty." Relatives of Jackson's, including his mother, Katherine Jackson, and his brother Randy, attended the arraignment. The cardiologist is accused of injecting Jackson with a lethal dose of Propofol, a sedative used in hospitals under the direct supervision of a physician, and then leaving the room briefly. Murray has said that Jackson demanded the medication because of his persistent and severe insomnia. The trial, which is set to start on March 28, could last one to two months, according to the district attorney and one of Murray's attorneys. "Dr. Murray is looking forward to telling his side of the story," Murray's lawyer, Ed Cherniff, said at a press conference afterward. "Dr. Murray's been waiting 22 months for the opportunity to do this, and this is the first chance we have to force the issue." If convicted, Murray faces a maximum of four years in prison.
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Italy better brace itself. The entire "Jersey Shore" crowd of self-proclaimed "guidos" and "guidettes" is traveling to the ancestral homeland for filming of Season 4. TMZ reports that the producers have already lined up some Vinny's Italian relatives to host an authentic Guadagnino dinner for the group. But not everybody is delighted about having Snooki, the Situation and the others hit Italy. The Italian-American interest organization UNICO says the "Shore" kids will make all Americans look like "buffoons and bimbos." The group says, "People used to go to the circus to see the freak show –- that is what this will be." The rep adds, "It will not only hurt Italians but all Americans … their outrageous, reprehensible behavior will make us look like buffoons and bimbos." UNICO previously asked viewers to boycott the show, which it calls a "denigration" of Italian Americans.
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The "singing waitress" who got a golden ticket to Hollywood at the "American Idol" audition shown last week -- which also showcased her place of employment, Ellen's Stardust Diner in Manhattan -- lost her job when she left work to try out. Sources close to Devyn Rush, left, told TMZ that she told her bosses about her trip and expected to have a job when she returned. But when Rush got back, she was told she'd been replaced. Staff members at Ellen's said they couldn't hold Rush's position because she was gone during the diner's "busy season," but a diner rep says Rush's employment is still in "limbo," and both sides are trying to work out the issue. "Idol" continues tonight with a two-hour audition show.
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Jaime Pressly, who starred in "My Name is Earl," has split from her husband, entertainment lawyer Simran Singh, after 16 months of marriage. Neither has yet filed for divorce. Pressly was arrested earlier this month on suspicion of DUI in Santa Monica and released on $15,000 bail. Pressly and Singh are said to be living separately, but it is not known who is living in the couple's $2.25 million Los Angeles home. A friend told Us magazine, "I think it comes down to she married this guy too fast." Pressly was previously engaged to actor Eric Cubiche, with whom she has a 3-year-old son.
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Lindsay Lohan, fresh out of rehab, has not only patched things up with ex-girlfriend and current neighbor Samantha Ronson, she has been out celebrating -- without drinking, onlookers say. Lohan was seen celebrating at a friend's birthday party with Ronson and socializing at Trousdale, a Hollywood nightclub where she was barred last year after throwing a drink at Ronson last spring. In neither case was she seen drinking, sources say.
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Although she arrived already "giggly," according to EOnline, and the crowd of freinds chanted her name, they couldn't persuade Betty White to dance on a table at her 89th birthday party last week. The party held by TV Land at Le Cirque restaurant in New York City drew such celebs as Valerie Bertinelli, Sherri Shepherd and Jack McBrayer, and they enjoyed crab cakes, hot dogs and plenty of cocktails. White "was eating hot dogs and throwing back vodka — Grey Goose, rocks, lime rim," one partygoer said, "She was amazing. We were all trying to get her to table dance. We were chanting 'Betty! Betty!' and trying to get her up there all night. And that was after a very busy day. She was laughing at all of it. We thought maybe she would, but she was shaking her head and saying, 'Oh no! No.'"
-- Anne Neville
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American Idol | Celebrities | Entertainment