Entertainment on Parade

Academy Award winning actor Kevin Costner is known for appearing in westerns (think Silverado, Dances with Wolves, Wyatt Earp, and Open Range), but he is venturing into another realm – that of country music.  Costner and his band, Modern West, have decided to go the country music route after over 20 years of playing together.

(Photo source by Master Sgt. Michael Kaplan and is work of the U.S. Air Force and therefore in the public domain.)

The band is set to release their Unknown Truths LP on November 11th.  It will include 12 tracks (six of which Costner co-wrote).  You can also check KevinCostner.com to find out where Costner and Modern West will be touring later this year to promote the CD.

Kathy Griffin is not actually suing herself, but the owners of the domain name kathygriffin.com.  She has filed a cybersquatting lawsuit against the owners; with her lawyer Marty Singer saying the site has been “reaping the uncompensated benefit from the unauthorized use of [Griffin’s] name and identity.”

The site used to list click through advertising and commercial content, but now merely displays the words “Are you looking for Kathy’s official website?  It’s located at kathygriffin.net.”  It looks as if the owners, who bought the domain name through Trafficz.com, are trying to suddenly play nice.  Wanna bet Kathy doesn’t play along?  (Photo by Samantha Quigley / American Forces Press Service and as a work of the U.S. federal government, the image is in the public domain.)

Two high profile celebrities have come out of the closet.  It should come as no surprise that Clay Aiken has finally admitted that he’s gay.  He will grace the cover of this week’s PEOPLE .  I like his reasoning for finally making the announcement.  He said, “I cannot raise a child to lie or to hide things.”

Also admitting that she is involved in a same sex relationship is Lindsay Lohan, who said on Loveline that she and Samantha Ronson had been going out for “a very long time.”

I say good for both of them for being true to themselves.

Well, not just yet.  The gossip rags have been jumping all over the story that Hugh and his girls – Holly, Kendra, and Bridget– are about to part ways.  Rumors have been swirling that Bridget is seeing illusionist Criss Angel.  Hugh told E! Online that Holly still “shares my bed on a nightly basis.”

Of course, Hugh is nothing if not a realist.  He says that the relationships are “in transition” and he is sure in time, the girls will leave to date others.  Maybe they are staying around for now because of their E! reality show “The Girls Next Door.” (Photo source by Luke Ford and is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike license versions 2.5, 2.0, and 1.0)

I don’t know if I believe this one, but Academy Award winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow has said that she doesn’t have a personal chef to cook for her family.  Gwyneth said “I cook all the meals for my house.  I really love to cook.”  I love to cook too, but if I had her money, I think I’d have a personal chef…just in case.

Gwyneth stars in a new PBS series titled “Spain…On The Road Again” in which she and former Iron Chef America star Mario Batali.  The show features the two as they enjoy the culinary pleasures of Spain. (Photo source by Raquel Casas / 20 Minutos and is licensed under Creative Commons “Attribution-ShareAlike 2.1 Spain“)

Former Blink 182 drummer Travis Barker is reportedly in an Augusta, Georgia hospital burn center in critical condition after the Learjet he was in crashed right after takeoff, shortly after midnight in South Carolina.

Barker, who is the star of MTV’s “Meet the Barkers,” was doing a show with Perry Farrell of Jane’s Addiction, Gavin DeGraw and DJ AM. Reports have confirmed that the crash killed four and critically injured two.  DJ AM was admitted to the same burn center in critical condition as well.  It has not been confirmed yet if Farrell or DeGraw were on board or not.  (Photo by Journalist 2nd Class Denny Lester and as a work of the U.S. federal government, the image is in the public domain.)

Sarah Jessica Parker told US Magazine that she and writer Michael Patrick King, who pinned the recent Sex & the City movie, will have a conversation about a possible sequel.  The movie, which premiered in May of this year, has made over $400 million worldwide, with the DVD slated to hit stores next Tuesday (September 23).

Cynthia Nixon, who plays Miranda, said she would like to see the girls go off on some “wild mad cap adventure.”  Frankly, I know the show is known for it, but in the next movie, I could do with a few less costume changes. ( (Photo source by Laura Latham (from lauralatham.com) is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0)

“Diff’rent Strokes” diminutive star Gary Coleman was charged with reckless driving and disorderly conduct after hitting a man in the parking lot of a bowling alley in Payson, Utah.  Coleman was backing out of the lot late September 6th when he struck Colt Rushton and another car.  Rushton went to the local hospital with minor injuries.

What caused Coleman, 40, to hit Rushton?  Apparently, Rushton used his cell phone to take two photos of Coleman inside the bowling alley.  Given Coleman’s career, or lack thereof, you would think he would be happy people recognize him anymore!  Both charges are misdemeanors. (Photo source by Roebot and is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike license versions 2.5, 2.0, and 1.0)

The actors of FX’s controversial show “Nip/Tuck” want more – more money!  Stars of the show Julian McMahon (Dr. Christian Troy) and Dylan Walsh (Dr. Sean McNamara) are hoping to see their salaries double to almost $250,000 per episode.   Other regulars, including Joely Richardson (Julia McNamara), Kelly Carlson (Kimber Henry), and Roma Maffia (Dr. Liz Cruz), also want hefty increases.

McMahon and Walsh have brought in Marty Singer, who represented many from “The Sopranos,” to help with the negotiations.  The actors argue that while free to take other jobs, others might be hesitant to hire them while still attached to “Nip/Tuck.”

Rosie can trash talk Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie all she wants, but what I see them doing is helping others in a altruistic way.  The couple donated $2 million dollars to build a clinic in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, which will help combat HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis.  Over 1.7 million Ethiopians suffer from HIV/AIDS and another 6,000 are afflicted with the deadly drug-resistant tuberculosis.

The clinic will be named for the Jolie-Pitt’s daughter, Zahara, a native Ethiopian.  Brad said in a statement, “It is our hope when Zahara is older she will take responsibility of the clinic and continue its mission.” (Photo Source by Staff Sgt. Diane Thomas and as a DOD photo is public domain)