September 5th
Jude Law: It’s time for TVNow to call in Sherlock Holmes to get to the bottom of this story. Scotland Yard is on Law’s case and the facts need to be examined by someone with an eye for details. The Times of London reported that the star of The Talented Mr Ripley was rip-roaring mad at a photographer yesterday who tried to snap some shots of the actor in front of his home in the Maida Vale district of West London. Law was arrested for allegedly attacking the camera crazy and released on bail. He was told to return to the police station next month, after the local authorities have time to examine all information related to the incident. Law’s new movie, Sleuth, will premiere in select American cinemas on October 12. That gives him two things to look forward to next month.
Halle Berry: In 1999, a drug sting operation aimed mainly at African Americans in Tulia, Texas ended with more than ten percent of the minority community under arrest. When it was proven that the testimony given by an undercover officer to convict many of them was tainted and given by a man who was biased in his own views about race, another trial was ordered. A Texas judge who freed the defendants called the officer, “the most devious, non-responsive law enforcement witness this Court has witnessed in twenty-five years on the bench in Texas.” Berry and her Monster’s Ball co-star Billy Bob Thornton were supposed to star in a movie about the controversial case called Tulia under the direction of John Singleton. TMZ reports that the actress is three months pregnant and not able to follow the shooting schedule, thus the project has been scrapped for now. Berry currently dates model Gabriel Aubrey.
Bill Engvall: The popular comedian got some major applause from his bosses at TBS Tuesday. His The Bill Engvall Show, which is one of ad-supported cable’s top sitcoms, was renewed for a full second season. Engvall stars on the sitcom as family counselor Bill Pearson, a man whose own family needs as much help as most of his clients. Nancy Travis, who was great with Ted Danson on Becker after Terry Farrell left the cast, plays Bill’s wife. The series airs on Tuesdays at 9 p.m. (ET/PT).
Whoopi Goldberg: The loss of Rosie O’Donnell on The View did not end the controversy that flows with the series these days. Goldberg began her run as a new co-host on the show this week by jumping into Rosie’s frying pan to start the flames up again. The comedian sort of defended NFL star Michael Vick’s participation in a dogfighting ring when she said, “It’s like cockfighting in Puerto Rico. There are certain things that are indicative to certain parts of the country.” Cruelty should not be indicative to any part of this grand country. Goldberg should know better, and probably does. Forcing dogs to battle to the death is a blood sport that should not be tolerated by a civilized society.
Paris Hilton: People often pay the socialite to appear at events because her appearance drives up the press coverage. She shows up at other events to help promote the common good or charitable causes. Hilton was at the first annual International Philanthropic Summit “Playing for Good” on the beautiful island of Mallorca, Spain over the weekend to present the Award of Charitable Excellence to ASPANOB. The organization helps fund children’s cancer research, patient care and family support programs. ASPANOB also got a hefty $250,000 donation from the Playing for Good Foundation (web site). Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria served as the master of ceremonies for the gala awards dinner that also saw Terrence Howard present Goldie Hawn an award and similar donation for her charity, The Hawn Foundation. Spread the Net, Millennium Promise and Keep a Child Alive were also honored.
Michael Imperioli: The actor won an Emmy for his portrayal of Christopher Moltisanti, one of Tony Soprano’s brutal colleagues on HBO’s The Sopranos. It was a series about the violent world of mobsters. Imperioli will have to deal with some violence in the real world today. At 1:30 a.m. Tuesday morning, a small bomb went off in front of the New York City theatre the actor and his wife own on West 29th Street. Early reports from the area indicate that not much damage was done to Imperioli’s Studio Dante. ABC News in the Big Apple reported that the blast was not terrorist related. Local authorities are working on the theory that the bomb was meant to deliver a message to someone on the block. It sure sounds like a storyline for The Sopranos to this writer.
