The Oprah Winfrey Show

The Oprah Winfrey Show has featured many celebrities over the years, but that´s only one side of it. There´s also Oprah´s eternal quest to better herself, and to make the viewers change themselves. Oprah has started several organizations: Oprah´s angel network, Oprah´s book club, and O Magazine. For a couple of years now, the show frequently ends with a "Remember your spirit" segment. The show is produced by Oprah´s own company, Harpo (which spells Oprah backwards). The Oprah Winfrey show ended after its 25th year of production.

Gwyneth Paltrow enjoys birthday with Beyonce

Gwyneth Paltrow celebrated her 39th birthday with Beyonce Knowles and Jay-Z.

The 'Contagion' actress was joined by her husband, Coldplay singer Chris Martin, and the superstar couple, who are currently expecting their first child together, for an intimate dinner at Spanish restaurant Tertulia in New York's West Village on Monday (26.09.11).

However, the long-term friends - who recently spent time together at the Glastonbury Festival in the UK where both Beyonce and Chris performed - did not stay out late, with Gwyneth up in the morning to take her daughter Apple, seven, to school.

She was also quick to thank her fans for their birthday wishes, writing on twitter: "Thank you for all of my happy birthday wishes, just read so many ... you guys make my life great, thank you xgp (sic)"

Gwyneth - who also has five-year-old son Moses - has been giving Beyonce pregnancy tips, urging her to pick the right food supplements.

A source said: "Gwyneth has known about this pregnancy for over a month and has been telling Beyonce to drink a shot of wheatgrass each morning and to rub her belly with coconut oil to prevent stretch marks.

"She's also advised her to meditate for an hour every day and soak her feet in ice water to prevent swelling."

Stacey Dash

Stacey Dash isn't one of TV's "Single Ladies" anymore, but she's finally a single lady in real life, thanks to a judge's decision to sign off on her divorce from Emmanuel Xuereb.

The 45-year-old actress -- who took her "Clueless" diva Dionne from film to TV in the '90s, and recently decided to walk away from VH1's Atlanta-based "Ladies" -- had filed for divorce from Xuereb in January 2010.

She obtained a restraining order at the same time, alleging that over the two years they were married Xuereb had repeatedly hit her in the face, head and body. The split was official last week, TMZ said Friday.

"I have to be back in L.A. with my children right now and the 'Single Ladies' shooting location makes that impossible," Dash said in August about leaving the show. The one-time Playboy model -- she posed at age 40, but sure as heck didn't look 40 -- has a son and a daughter, both born before her marriage to Xeureb.

(Unlike her "Clueless" costar Alicia Silverstone, mother of little Bear Blu, Dash gave her kids freakishly normal names for celebrity offspring: Austin and Lola.)

The marriage to actor-producer Xeureb was Dash's third, and she's been engaged six times, she told Wendy Williams in March 2010. Why so much action in the weddings-and-engagements department? "You know what happened is I slept with all of my husbands on the first date, they said, 'Marry me' and I said, 'Yes!,' " Dash explained.

"So there you go."

Jennifer Lopez

Jennifer was born on July 24, 1969, in the Castle Hill section of the Bronx. Her father, David, was a computer technician. Her mother, Guadalupe, taught kindergarten. Jennifer is the middle of three daughters. Her elder sister, Leslie, is a housewife who sings opera. Her younger sister, Lynda, is a DJ on New York's WKTU, a VH1 VJ, and a morning news show correspondent on New York's Channel 11. Jennifer's parents were born in Puerto Rico, but did not meet until both came to America. Her mother's parents were Europeans who settled in Puerto Rico. She says that it was her parents' work ethic that made a difference in her life. Jennifer took singing and dancing lessons from age 5. She attended 12 years of Catholic school, including an all-girl high school. She played softball and tennis in high school and was a gymnast.

Lady GaGa Performs At EuroPride In Rome

Lady GaGa has continued to show her support for gay rights by performing at EuroPride in Rome, Italy over the weekend.

The 25-year old, who has previously spoken about equality at the Don't Ask, Don't Tell event last year, took to the stage at the city's Circus Maximus stadium to perform stripped-down versions of tracks Born This Way and The Edge of Glory on a piano.

SEE PICS OF GAGA AT DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL RALLY HERE

As well as singing at the Italian gay rights rally, GaGa also addressed her adoring crowd, with her describing homosexual people as "revolutionaries of love" and stating that she will continue to campaign for "full equality."

According to the Associated Press, the Judas singer claimed: "We're all from the same DNA. We were just born this way. I stand here as a woman of the world and I ask governments, with you, worldwide to facilitate our dream of equality."

CHECK OUT SEXY SNAPS OF LADY GAGA HERE  

"Let us be revolutionaries of love and use our very strong human powers to save lives and encourage unity around the world."

GaGa then revealed that she is often asked "how gay" she is, to which she told her audience: "My answer is: 'I am a child of diversity',"

SEE WHY MTV LOVES LADY GAGA HERE!!  

In other Lady G news, the eccentric singer has been named as the highest paid celebrity under thirty, beating the likes of Justin Bieber and Katy Perry with her estimated $90million fortune.

Watch MTV News on the hour every hour on MTV - Sky Channel 126 and Virgin Channel 311

Paris Hilton Greets Fans At The Jimmy Kimmel Show!

Paris Hilton was all smiles while signing a giant portrait of herself while greeting fans at the Jimmy Kimmel Show yesterday!

Tags: Paris Hilton

Karina Smirnoff Looked Great While Hosting An Event At Tao In Las Vegas!

Karina Smirnoff was all smiles while hosting an event at Tao nightclub in Las Vegas this weekend! Tony Parker and dancer Peta Murgatroyd were also at the event!

Kristen Stewart

Though most famous for her role as Bella Swan in the Twilight saga, Kristen Stewart has been a working actor since her early years in Los Angeles, California. Her parents, John Stewart and Jules Mann-Stewart, both work in film and television. Her mother is Australian. The family includes three boys, her older brother Cameron Stewart, and two adopted brothers Dana and Taylor.

After a talent scout caught her grade school performance in a Christmas play at the age of eight, she appeared on television in a few small roles. Her first significant role came when she was cast as Sam Jennings in The Safety of Objects (2001). Soon after that, she starred alongside Jodie Foster in the hit drama, Panic Room (2002) and was nominated for a Young Artist Award.

Shakira

Grammy-winning Latina pop singer Shakira was born in Barranquilla, Colombia, on February 2, 1977. Her father is a Lebanese-American immigrant and her mother a native of Colombia of Italian and Spanish decent. Shakira began her musical career at age 12 and quickly captured fans throughout Latin America. She won the 2001 Best Latin pop Grammy for her "MTV Unplugged" album.

Gwyneth Paltrow

Gwyneth Paltrow is the daughter of producer Bruce Paltrow and actress Blythe Danner. After attending the Spence School in New York City, she moved to California where she attended the University of California in Santa Barbara, majoring in Art History. She soon quit, realizing it was not her passion. She began acting in the Williamstown Theatre play "Picnic, " with her mother. In 1991 she appeared in her first film, Shout (1991) with John Travolta. She met Steven Spielberg and was cast in his film Hook (1991). After a bit part in the 1995 film Se7en (1995) she began dating her co-star Brad Pitt. She appeared in The Pallbearer (1996) and Emma (1996) and received her first Oscar nomination in 1999 for her role as Viola in John Madden's, Shakespeare in Love (1998)

Kim Lee Shakes Her Milkshake At Millions Of Milkshakes!

The Hangover 2 movie’s Kim Lee makes her very own milkshake at Millions Of Milkshakes in West Hollywood to benefit Tornado victims!

San Diego Chargers' Marcus McNeill To Give Free Bike Helmets To Kids

San Diego Chargers’ Marcus McNeill is giving away 250 free bike helmets to kids.

Join Kaiser Permanente at Westfield Parkway in San Diego on Saturday, June 4th from 12pm-2:30pm for a Kids Bicycle Helmet giveaway taking place near the Carousel by Pat & Oscar’s. The first 250 kids under 12 will be given a free helmet just for showing up. Children must be present to be fitted.

Plus, enjoy these other great activities while you’re there:

Meet San Diego Chargers player Marcus McNeillEnjoy tasty fruits for kidsConsult a DieticianLearn about San Diego’s in-school Agricultural Education ProgramsLearn about Westfield Parkway’s Family ProgramSpin a prize wheel to win free prizes like free movie tickets to Regal Cinemas inside Westfield Parkway

Marcus is also taking registrations for a fantastic charity 5K run on July 23 that benefits his own charity, Mack's Miracles. The race will start at 7 a.m. in front of Chargers Park and finish on the field at Qualcomm Stadium, where a 1K children’s fun run will take place.

Registration is $33 for adults through July 1 and $12 for children 12-and-younger. Spots are limited and the event is expected to sell out.
In addition to a powder blue Dri-Fit running shirt provided to all participants and a medal for children that complete the fun run, each person will get a chance to see themselves on the JumboTron as they dash to the finish at Qualcomm Stadium’s 50-yard line.

Proceeds will benefit Mack’s Miracles, a non-profit charitable foundation started by Chargers offensive tackle Marcus McNeill that promotes a healthy lifestyle, physical activity, education and financial literacy for youth.

Elizabeth Taylor To Be Honored By Women In Film

Women In Film has announced that film and television actress Melissa McCarthy will host this year’s Crystal + Lucy Awards on Thursday, June 16 evening, in the Beverly Hilton International Ballroom.

Making the announcement, Women In Film President, Cathy Schulman said, “This year, WIF is highlighting the impact women make on the media. Having laughed at Melissa’s years of trend setting and zeitgeist performances, topped by the wonderful ‘Megan’ in Bridesmaids, we’re thrilled to have Melissa hosting our event. We’re bound to have an unforgettable night.”

Women In Film and PANDORA have also announced that the 2011 Norma Zarky Humanitarian Award, presented by PANDORA, will be given to Dame Elizabeth Taylor. It will be accepted by Naomi Wilding on behalf of her late grandmother.

Of this year’s selection, Ms. Schulman said, “We look forward to honoring this community’s revered Elizabeth Taylor. In remembering Ms. Taylor, we are commemorating her many extraordinary moments in the annals of American cinema and a woman who was one of the great humanitarians of all time. Hers is the kind of impact the Norma Zarky Award was designed to recognize.”

“We believe all women of the world are unique and precious. They live different lives in different cultures, and yet they are all fabulous in their own, individual ways. At PANDORA we celebrate all these personalities and their unforgettable moments. All stories are worth sharing and honoring, and so is the story of the humanitarian work done by the late Elizabeth Taylor, which we are thrilled to be able to give tribute to, together with WIF,” said Mikkel Berg, Executive Director of Marketing, about the award.

For nearly two decades, Elizabeth Taylor was a leader in AIDS activism, including her founding role in the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR), and establishment of The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (ETAF).

Elizabeth Taylor began her work as a spokesperson and fundraiser in the struggle against AIDS in the early 1980s. A mysterious virus had appeared in the community, a fatal illness of unknown origin that sent shockwaves of fear across the nation. Great stigma accompanied this fear, and Ms. Taylor’s determined outspokenness was indeed controversial. When Rock Hudson died, a well-known face was put to the disease, and awareness was slowly born. Ms. Taylor’s work began with fundraising for an AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA) dinner, the first major AIDS benefit ever held. This support marked the debut of her public commitment to raising funds and awareness for AIDS.

In 1985, Ms. Taylor joined with Dr. Mathilde Krim and a small group of physicians and scientists to form the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR). As amfAR’s Founding National Chairman, she used her celebrity to take the issue of HIV/AIDS to the mainstream media. Ms. Taylor became a potent force in mobilizing the entertainment, arts and fashion communities to step up their initiatives in connection with AIDS, traveling extensively to speak at conferences, concert venues and benefit events around the globe. She testified before Congress to ensure Senate support for the Ryan White CARE Act, spoke before the National Press Club, and addressed the General Assembly at the United Nations on World AIDS Day.

In October, 1991, Ms. Taylor established The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (ETAF). With a focus on direct patient care, ETAF provides funding to AIDS service organizations throughout the world to assist those living with HIV and AIDS.
Since its inception, the Foundation has raised funds for HIV/AIDS service organizations throughout the world, providing critically-needed support services and prevention education. A current major effort is providing mobile medical van units, bringing doctors and medicines directly to those most in need, whether in cities in the United States or in villages throughout sub-Saharan Africa.

Also being honored at the event are Annette Bening, Nina Tassler (presented by Geena Davis), Katie Holmes (presented by MaxMara’s Nicola Maramotti), director Pamela Fryman (presented by Neil Patrick Harris) and cinematographer Reed Morano (presented by Victoria Mahoney.)

Stars Donate Shoes To Celebrity Charity Auction

Soles4Souls, the international shoe charity, has announced a complete line-up of A-list celebrities who decided to take off their shoes for a good cause.

What began as a staff shoe drive internally at NBCUniversal 30 Rock studios for the charity’s Japan relief efforts quickly caught on to stars such as Sarah Jessica Parker, Sir Elton John, sisters Kim, Khloe, and Kourtney Kardashian, Jessica Simpson, Justin Timberlake, John Krasinski, Michelle Pfeiffer, Mariska Hargitay, Yoko Ono, the TODAY show cast, and many more. Jennifer Wilson, an NBCUniversal employee who helped initiate the celebrity shoe auction, said it was the kindness of organizations like Soles4Souls during Hurricane Katrina that drew her to help.

“I’m a Louisiana girl with family in New Orleans, so I saw first-hand the destruction, pain, and uncertainty that comes with a natural disaster,” Wilson said. “I started this to help those that helped us.”

The celebrity shoe auction that will benefit Soles4Souls will include game shoes from Lamar Odom, The SNL Cast, Spike Lee, and signed game cleats from Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, C.C. Sabathia, Joe Girardi, and Robinson Cano, and will launch in coordination with Soles4Souls’ 4th annual National Barefoot Week on the charity auction site CharityBuzz.com, beginning May 31st and extending until June 22nd.

“We are so excited about our 4th year of hosting Barefoot Week and are honored by our friends at NBCUniversal and Jennifer Wilson who have really put their ‘sole’ into this auction and this year’s festivities,” said Wayne Elsey, Founder and CEO of Soles4Souls. “We encourage the country to follow the lead of these celebrities and take their shoes off for the week to help the world see that there is an incredible global need for footwear.”

Other celebrities that kicked off their soles for the auction include Brooke Burke, Paris Hilton, Matthew Morrison, Chelsea Handler, Tom Brokaw, Joan and Melissa Rivers, Carmelo Anthony, Amaré Stoudemire, Nick Harper, Maria Menounos, Billy Bush, Kenny Rogers, Bill Engvall, Maria Sharapova, Ricky Gervais, Karl Pilkington, Stephen Merchant, Jason Bateman, Guiliana Rancic, Ryan Seacrest, Chace Crawford, Brian Williams, the cast of Law and Order, Jimmy Fallon, Quest Love of The Roots, Lance Bass, NASCAR drivers Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, and Mark Martin, NHL players Alex Ovechkin, Zach Parise, Zdeno Chara, Ryan Getzlaf, and Chris Pronger, the Eureka cast, Jillian Michaels, Camille Grammar, Margaret Cho, Alison Sweeney, Curt Schilling, Phil Mickelson, Wayne Gretzky, Jennie Finch, Stacey Dash, and Jonah Hill.

Stars To Cycle 100 Miles While Standing Still For Charity

David Duchovny is one of the stars expected to attend the 100 Mile-A-Thon to benefit The 100 Mile Man Foundation and the Harold Robinson Foundation at Santa Monica Pier this weekend.

The 100 Mile Man and The Harold Robinson Foundation are teaming up bringing their annual bike ride to the the West Coast at the Santa Monica Pier. 100 Butts. 100 Bikes. 100 Miles! All of the proceeds will go to the Harold Robinson Foundation, providing a camp experience for underprivileged children that would otherwise never get the opportunity. The aim of the event is to raise $ 500,000 which will send 20 different inner-city schools to camp for all expense paid retreats.

100 stationary bikes will be positioned on Santa Monica Pier for the event. You “buy” a bike for the day and can either share the bike with a team (friends/co-workers/family) or ride individually. It should take six hours to ride the entire 100 miles.. Yes, it’s hard…but so is changing the world!

This event was organized to raise funds for the Harold Robinson Foundation, which provides underprivileged children the means, free of cost, to attend a safe, nurturing and non-competitive camp environment where they will experience nature and participate in diverse recreational programs designed to strengthen confidence and independence, build character and develop leadership skills.

Other celebrities expected to attend include Peter Krause (Parenthood), Doug E. Fresh (rapper), Alexandra Paul (Baywatch), Michael Bergin (Baywatch), Brooke Burns (Baywatch), David Chokachi (Baywatch), Greg Bonnan (creator of Baywatch), Mike Newman (Baywatch), Kelly Packard (Baywatch), Felicis Terrell (Point Dume), Vickie Bronaugh (Point Dume), David Braff (Point Dume) and many others.

The event opens at 10am on Sunday, finishing at 5pm. There is a $250 registration fee for each participant. Each bike must raise a minimum of $1,500.

The 100 Mile Man Foundation is a 501c3 that was founded in November 2006, when Jesse Itzler ran 100 miles (non-stop) in under 24 hours. Today, the foundation continues its “physical philanthropy” raising money for various charities through endurance events that test one’s physical and mental strength. To date the foundation has raised over $3 million, supporting over 30 charitable causes.

Jeff Gordon Brings Cancer Treatment To Rwandan Kids

Four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon – alongside Partners In Health representatives, Dr. Larry Shulman and Dr. Sara Stulac – gathered friends and supporters on Wednesday evening to announce their new partnership to bring accessible cancer treatment to children of Rwanda.

The Jeff Gordon Children's Foundation has committed to raise $1.5 million dollars over the course of three years to participate in the development and implementation of proper protocols for pediatric cancer patients in that region.

Rwanda remains Africa’s most densely populated country, and its estimated population of 10 million is expected to double within the next 10 years. Through the funding of the Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation, Partners in Health and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute will develop a comprehensive program to address all components of cancer: prevention, diagnosis, chemo and radiation therapies, surgery and survivor follow-up care for children faced with cancer.

“Childhood cancer occurs randomly, regularly and excludes no ethnicity, socioeconomic class or geographic region and that is why it is imperative we reach beyond our borders and bring access to treatment to countries like Rwanda,” said Gordon. “Partners In Health and the Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation share a mutual desire to reach the day when no child faces the uncertainties of cancer. With our new partnership we are one step closer.”

The evening concluded with a discussion among Gordon, Dr. Shulman and Dr. Stulac and the assembled guests about the newly launched initiative. They answered questions, shared first-hand stories of their personal experiences and showed video footage of rural Rwanda demonstrating the urgent need for pediatric medical care.

Together in partnership, the Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation and Partners In Health and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute are committed to establish and execute a proper infrastructure for oncological treatment and care.

The Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation was established as a non-profit organization in 1999 by the four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion. The Foundation supports children battling pediatric cancer by funding programs that improve patients’ quality of life, treatment programs that increase survivorship and pediatric medical research dedicated to finding a cure. In addition, the foundation also supports the Jeff Gordon Children’s Hospital in Concord, NC.

Celebrities Design T-Shirts To Save Japan!

UNIQLO Stores, Save Japan! Project, Vogue Japan and GQ Japan have teamed up with international celebrities Lady Gaga, Nicole Kidman, Victoria Beckham, Cyndi Lauper, Orlando Bloom, Karl Lagerfeld, Charlize Theron, Blake Lively, Gwyneth Paltrow and Alber Elbaz to create a line of Save Japan! T-shirts emblazoned with messages of support for victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake that occurred on March 11.

Approximately 100 million yen raised through the sale of the Save Japan! T-shirts will be donated by UNIQLO to the Japanese Red Cross Society, which is helping with recovery efforts in affected areas in north-eastern Japan.

Each limited edition Save Japan! t-shirt is specially designed by a celebrity and features a personal message of support.

The Academy Award and Golden Globe Award winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow’s heartfelt message reads “One world in it together. Your strength strengthens us.”

Karl Lagerfeld, the legendary fashion designer known for his work at French fashion house Chanel, sends out an inspiring message of “love, hope and courage” written against a backdrop of a graphic design of the sun shining in the sky.

The Save Japan! T-shirts will cost £12.99 (US$19.90) each and will go on sale on June 25 at all UNIQLO stores.

Stars Take The Hollywood Pledge For Charity

Inspired by Bill Gates & Warren Buffett’s Giving Pledge, the Give Back Hollywood Foundation has brought together some of the biggest names in music, fashion, sports and entertainment to demonstrate their commitment to philanthropy with the launch of the “Hollywood Pledge”.

Stars who have already taken the Pledge include Laurence Fishburne, Richard Gere, Dwight Howard, Hugh Jackman, Jewel, Kim Kardashian, Ricky Martin, Kelly Osbourne, Rachel Zoe, Jordin Sparks, Denzel Washington, and many others.

Celebrities take the Hollywood Pledge through the HollywoodPledge.com website and list the charity or charities they support. Fans are also encouraged to give back, whether through monetary donations, volunteer work, or just getting involved in their communities to make a difference.

“For more than seven years, The Give Back Hollywood Foundation has linked celebrities with meaningful causes and produced hundreds of charity events, especially those focused on children, health and disaster relief,” explains founder and president Todd Krim. “The Hollywood Pledge, inspired by the ‘Giving Pledge,’ is a natural evolution of this effort and intended to drive the adoption of charity causes by the leading figures in entertainment, which in turn can become an incredible motivator for fans worldwide to embrace the same commitment.”

The ABC Television Network, The Hollywood Reporter and the Screen Actors Guild Foundation have signed on as official partners of the Hollywood Pledge. All three of these organizations have pro-social initiatives, ABC’s “A Better Community,” The Hollywood Reporter’s July issue focusing on “Philanthropy and Hollywood,” and the Screen Actors Guild Foundation’s Children’s Literacy Initiative. Additional sponsors of the Pledge include JetBlue, Fashion Forms, Glam Rock Watches, Coca-Cola, L’Anza Healing Haircare, LePosh Salon, Niche Your Home, Coffee Bean, Honfoto and Fig & Olive.

The Give Back Hollywood Foundation will host an exclusive VIP Hollywood Pledge Launch Party and Beauty Retreat at a private mansion in Beverly Hills on Saturday, June 4th from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Guests will be introduced to the Pledge and given the opportunity to use social media to support various charities including DoSomething.org, Cancer Research Institute, Can-Do, the Screen Actors Guild Foundation and Children's Miracle Network Hospitals (which will be launching its 100 Million Miracles Campaign at the event). Guests will also be treated to beauty services such as massages, manicures, pedicures and hairstyling, along with a sponsored open bar featuring VNC Cocktails and catered culinary delights from some of Hollywood’s favorite restaurants and Chef Micah Killough. Buddha Bar-style grooves by DJ Josh LeCash and actress Taryn Manning as well as a live musical performance by American Idol finalist Blake Lewis are among the highlights of this one-of-a-kind event.

Scrubs Star To Give Shoes To The Homeless At Celebrity Charity Event

Scrubs star Donald Faison and Price of Beauty’s CaCee Cobb will be handing out shoes at the Los Angeles Mission next week.

National Barefoot Week will be celebrated with the giveaway of several thousand pairs of new shoes at the Los Angeles Mission – as the Mission kicks off its 75th Anniversary Celebration.

Soles4Souls is the title sponsor the series of events nationwide (June 1-7), encouraging people to temporarily go barefoot and donate their shoes. Events will be held in six cities with nearly 10,000 pairs of shoes to be distributed.

At the Los Angeles Mission celebrities and other volunteers will distribute the new shoes as part of this effort. Shoes are donated by manufacturers, shoe stores and individuals.

Footwear is a critical need for the homeless in Los Angeles. Many homeless and poor have foot issues because of ill-fitting or worn shoes, and the inability to take care of their feet adequately. New, correct sized shoes will make a big difference to their overall health and well-being.

Soles4Souls focuses on providing free shoes to needy people around the world. The organization collects and distributes both new and “gently worn” shoes. Soles4Souls was started by professionals in the footwear industry who use industry resources to make a difference around the world.

The event takes place at the Mission at 303E. Fifth Street at 9am on Monday, June 6.

Celebrity Guests To Attend A Charity Evening For Autism

A host of celebrity guests will be out-and-about in Newport Beach on June 11 for An Evening For Autism.

Ali Landry, Karina Smirnoff, Marissa Jaret Winokur, Elisabeth Rohm, Adrienne Maloof-Nassif, Camille Grammar, Max Ryan, Tinsel Korey and Brandi Glanville are just some of the well known faces scheduled to attend the event.

This tropical-themed event celebrates its 3rd year. This first-class, fully-catered event will include four live bands (“Arrest My Sister” rock performance by Scott Siegel, a Steel Drum band, a Pan Jive Band and a Rockin House Party Band), a golf putting green, pool tables, pinball machines, video games, valet parking, red-carpet entrance, and eight beverage bars including a margarita bar, martini bar, mojito bar, wine bar, beer bar and coffee bar as well as a silent and live auction featuring numerous gifts, trips and unique memorabilia such as autographed musical instruments, sports memorabilia, yacht trips and golf experiences.

More than 600 people from across the Southland are expected to attend this VIP event scheduled for June 11, 2011 at 6pm. Hosted by Orange County real estate entrepreneur Barry Saywitz, along with US Bank(Platinum sponsor) and PowerDirect (Diamond sponsor), this event will benefit the following charities: ACT Today! (Autism Care and Treatment Today), Autism Society of America (ASA), Easter Seals Southern California and Talk About Curing Autism (TACA). In addition, proceeds from the event will benefit Newport Mesa School District’s Autism Programs.

West End LIVE line up announced

West End LIVE, the world’s largest theatre festival, will return to the capital for its seventh year on June 18 and 19, 2011.

Enjoy West End LIVE

The eagerly awaited event, will be staged in London’s Trafalgar Square for the first time ever and will showcase some of the biggest and best acts from Theatreland.

The line up includes the productions Billy Elliot The Musical, Chicago The Musical, Wicked, We Will Rock You, The Lion King, Jersey Boys, Legally Blonde The Musical, Love Never Dies, Mamma Mia!, Million Dollar Quartet, Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical, Stomp, Thriller Live, War Horse and ZooNation’s Some Like It Hip Hop.

New musicals Betty Blue Eyes, The Wizard of Oz, Shrek The Musical, Ghost The Musical, Crazy For You, Lend Me A Tenor The Musical, Potted Potter and The Flying Karamazov Brothers will also feature over the weekend and there will even be a special preview of Broadway hit Rock of Ages which will open in the city in September.

A host of big-name stars including The Wizard of Oz’s leading lady Danielle Hope ? who is currently gracing the Palladium’s stage as Dorothy ? and Lee Mead? who will take to the stage as Emmett Forest in Legally Blonde The Musical from mid-June ? are set to make an appearance over the weekend.

A great event for the whole family, West End LIVE will also include fantastic onstage performances by acts such as The Gleeks, West End Gospel Choir and London Gay Men’s Chorus, stalls by exhibitors including the National Gallery and guests the children will love including Bob the Builder.

West End LIVE is free to attend and is expected to attract more than 500,000 people to the capital. The event will run from 11:00am ? 6:00pm on June 18 and 12:00 ? 6:00pm on June 19, so why not come along and join in the fun?

More cast changes for Les Miserables

Published on Thursday 26th May, 10.35am, Written by Jonathan Dudley

Further changes to the cast of Les Miserables have been announced.

Mamma Mia!‘s Caroline Sheen and Katy Secombe will join the cast as Fantine and Madame Thenardier respectively, Wicked‘s Alexia Khadime will play Eponine, Hair‘s Liam Tamne will take the role of Enjolras and West End newcomers Craig Mather and Lisa-Anne Woods will play Marius and Cosette.

The new cast members will join the previously announced Alfie Boe and Matt Lucas on stage. Boe is to play Jean Valjean until November 26, 2011 (excluding Monday evenings and Wednesday matinees) and Lucas is to play Thenardier until September 10, 2011.

Les Miserables will close for three days after the June 18 evening performance to install a new sound system and make the necessary changes to accommodate the 25th anniversary celebration orchestrations. The show will reopen on June 23 with the new cast.

Les Miserables ticket and hotel packages are available from Show-and-Stay.co.uk from ?92 including top tickets and an overnight hotel stay.

Tagged as: alfie boe, hair, les mis 25th anniversary, les miserables, mamma mia!, matt lucas, new cast, wicked

Royal Albert Hall to host Phantom 25th anniversary production

The 25th anniversary of The Phantom of the Opera will be marked by special performances at the Royal Albert Hall this October.

The show’s original choreographer, Gillian Lyne, has been recruited to help stage the anniversary production and Really Useful Group and Cameron Mackintosh Ltd are to produce. Details of the new production remain scant, but sources speaking to The Stage have claimed that it’ll be a “completely new production”.

As suspected, Ramin Karimloo will play The Phantom and it is widely thought that the role of Christine Daae will be reprised by Sierra Boggess. Boggess first played Christine in the Las Vegas production in 2006 and also took on the role for Love Never Dies, in which she starred alongside Karimloo until March 2011.

Speaking to The Stage about the upcoming anniversary performances, Karimloo said: ?It?s going to be great and I will treat it like the Les Mis anniversary concerts, which I recently appeared in and where, because it was performing a part I had played before, I could tap into the work I had done prior. But I will also use it as a chance to try something new. More importantly, though, it?s a celebratory performance. We?re there not for us, but to celebrate the product and why we all love it.?

Also speaking to The Stage, Lighting Designer Patrick Woodroffe explained how much of a challenge the new production would be for the creative team, saying: “Our version will be a take on the old one, but designed specifically for the Albert Hall and created very much with that space in mind. There has been such a welcome from the Phantom camp, particularly from the original lighting designer, Andy Bridge, with whom I am collaborating on this project, that we all feel up to the huge challenge of putting on what is in effect a completely new production of this great musical with only three days? fit up in the Albert Hall.”

Further details are expected during June, keep an eye on Show-and-Stay.co.uk for ticket and hotel packages for the Phantom anniversary production.

Spring Awakening writers working on new musical

Spring Awakening writers Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik are reportedly workshopping a new musical at London’s National Theatre.

Image via Neuro Productions@Flickr

The show is entitled Alice By Heart and was inspired by Lewis Carroll’s surreal 1865 fantasy novel, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. The musical will reportedly add a heightened sense of urgency and even more danger to the classic story, will explore the rather adult themes of grief and loss and will move the story to “a new historical context”.

Speaking to Playbill.com, Steven Sater said: “It’s about how to leave childhood behind and the challenge and struggle in that”.

The National Theatre’s Connections programme, which develops plays for youth theatres across the United Kingdom, commissioned the new musical.

Sater and Sheik aim to have both script and scow complete by July and intend to stage a workshop presentation at the National Theatre some time in November. The presentation is to be attended by the heads of youth theatres from around the country and each of those theatres will have the chance to stage a production of Alice By Heart. One group will then be selected to perform the show at the National in 2012.

The ultimate aim is to see a professional production in London or New York after the 2012 performances at the National.

Reviewed: Shrek The Musical

Walking into the foyer of the Theatre Royal Drury lane to a host of theatergoers donning bright green ears, one thing was certain ? Shrek The Musical has arrived in London and people are excited.

Shrek The Musical at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane

With both kids and adults alike clearly in the mood for a fairytale evening, the atmosphere was electric, however, following mediocre reviews on Broadway, the West End production had to impress. And impress it did.

Based on the 2001 Oscar award-winning Dreamworks film, the musical (on the whole) remains true to the original plot, which if you are unfamiliar with goes something like this. A miserable ogre named Shrek and his noble steed ? a talking, parfait-loving donkey ? set off on a quest to rescue the beautiful Princess Fiona from a tower. Mission complete, they begin their journey back home to Duloc where Princess Fiona is set to marry the tyrannical Lord Farquaad, however, an unexpected love blossoms and a rather strange secret emerges. Throw in a love-sick, fire breathing dragon, a bunch of fairytale misfits and a gingerbread man with ‘tude and you have a fantastic recipe for a West End production.

The costumes were absolutely sensational and credit must go to designer Tim Hatley for bringing the beloved characters of the hit film to life with breathtaking detail. Pinocchio (Jonathan Steward) stood out from the crowd with his nobbly, wooden knees and his ever-growing nose worked like a treat. The cross-dressing (not so big, or bad) wolf was hysterical and the three little pigs’ suitcases designed to look like straw, sticks and bricks were a great touch.

Shrek (Nigel Lindsay) and Princess Fiona (Amanda Holden) resembled the much-loved characters from the movie and their costumes were exquisite. The messy face and body cast sessions clearly paid off and even the fluorescent green skin tone and prosthetic ears looked realistic. The transformation of Princess Fiona from elegant beauty, to grotesque ogre was quick and flawless and the practicality of such a costume had clearly been meticulously thought out.

Leading the cast, Nigel Lindsay was sensational in the role of Shrek and endeared himself to the audience from the off. Maintaining an impressive Scottish accent throughout the show ? even during his musical numbers ? Lindsay did not overact the part, but captured the grumpiness of the much-loved ogre with ease.

Amanda Holden shone in the role of Princess Fiona and her chemistry with Lindsay was particularly apparent during the number I Think You Got Me Beat. A hilarious show tune, with plenty of burping and farting involved, it went down incredibly well with the kids and there were definitely a host of adults chuckling too. Holden gave a strong vocal performance, despite struggling on some of the higher notes and her comic timing was on point.

The absolute star of the show, however, was the sensational Nigel Harman who played a very camp, very deluded Lord Farquaad. Performing every one of his scenes almost entirely on his knees with two artificial legs dangling in front of him, Harman was hilarious and received the biggest cheers of the night. Somehow the silky black, shoulder length wig made Harman’s facial expressions even funnier and his shiny red boots were simply brilliant. With a superb stage presence and the strongest voice in the production, Harman made it worth seeing the show for his scenes alone. Spectacular.

Unfortunately Richard Blackwood’s portrayal of Donkey did not quite live up to expectations. He was a little wooden on stage and seemed to lack the charm and charisma required to play such a much-loved character. However, there were moments throughout the show where he really redeemed himself and his true talent shined through. During the song Make a Move, he was amusing, sang well and seemed to get into the groove, which went down well with the audience. Eddie Murphy (who voiced the lovable ass in the original movie) certainly set standards high, however, with a little more practice, I think Blackwood will be excellent in the role.

The special effects used throughout the production were spellbinding and helped bring the show to life in the West End. The scenes featuring the sassy, soulful dragon were the best in the show and had the whole audience gazing on in awe. With the help of incredible puppeteers, the mythical creature (voiced by Landi Oshinowo) was made to look like she could actually sing and belted out one of the most catchy songs in the show, Forever. Complete with fluttering eyelashes, the dragon commanded the stage with a whole lot of attitude and was wonderful to watch. Landi Oshinowo ? who also voiced Humpty Dumpty ? was the strongest female vocalist in the production and her voice was so powerful it gave me goose pimples.

The finale was also spectacular as a mechanical dragon came out from the audience breathing smoke onto the stage. Staying true to the original ending of the movie, the production team did not shy away from making the final scene spectacular and it certainly paid off. I was amazed as an adult and I could but imagine what the hundreds of children gracing the theatre would have thought.

An enchanting and family-friendly production featuring a selection of fabulous songs including I’m A Believer, Shrek The Musical is a great night out and definitely a must-see. With plenty of jokes the kids will love and several thrown in solely for adults, the production is highly entertaining and wonderfully magical.

Book a theatre break to see Shrek the Musical today.

Scotty McCreery Wins 'American Idol'

America has spoken and 17-year-old Scotty McCreery is their new Idol champion. The teen singer charmed audiences this season with his boyish appearance and amazing baritone voice.Upon winning, Scotty was quick to point out that it's been more than a year since he first encountered runner-up Lauren Alaina, and said the two of them won't be saying goodbye anytime soon. He went on to perform his first single, "I Love You This Big," a country song that shows off his unique vocal quality which is already getting some very good reviews. But he could barely perform the song with all the hugging and tears.Throughout the season, Scotty built a faithful fanbase that consistently kept him safe from elimination. But while some criticized him for a lack of range, Scotty stayed consistent and brought his same country baritone every week with audiences eating it up.On Wednesday night, the front page of the iTunes store was taken over with Scotty's picture and his first single is already available for purchase. Take a listen to the new single below.

A Final Goodbye to Wrigleyville's "The Wild Hare"

Wrigleyville's The Wild Hare, known as "America's Reggae Capital" says goodbye with a weekend farewell concert May 13th through May 15th.  Throughout its history The Wild Hare's legendary stage has graced the likes of both dancehall elites and Roots Reggae luminaries like Ziggy Marley, Sean Paul, and the Maytals. Windy City music lovers are invited to come out for their final experiences at this well-known landmark.  The Wild Hare staple band, Flex Crew, will take the stage alongside reggae power house artists such as Tugs, Dub Dis. Reggae legend Glen Washington has been tapped as the last artist to grace the Wild Hare's historic stage.  The award winning singer, songwriter, producer, and drummer has traveled the world, recorded ten albums, and is the perfect choice to end Chicago's reggae era at the Wild Hare. Washington is known for his heavenly harmonies and tight crisp performances designed to entertain, educate and enlighten all types of people.Don't miss this event 25 years in the making. With a drink in hand and the music flowing, you feel exactly what Bob Marley meant when he sang "Every Little Thing Will Be Alright".The Wild Hare is located at 3530 N Clark St

Sir Richard Branson, Andrian Grenier and Virginia Madsen

Virgin America took over the Windy City on Wednesday, May 25th with a star-studded bash at ROOF atop theWit Hotel located at 201 N. State. The A-list event was in celebration of Virgin America's first flight to Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD). Sir Richard Branson hosted the red carpet event, with additional celebrities spotted mingling amongst the crowd including: Adrian Grenier (Entourage), Johnny Galecki (The Big Bang Theory), Jesse Williams (Grey's Anatomy), Jonathan Sadowski ($#*! My Dad Says) and Tim Meadows (The Ladies Man). Even Creed Bratton (The Office) brought his son along and cracked jokes with the media! Though crippled by crutches and a broken foot, Virginia Madsen (The Event) and her date enjoyed the evening, even stopping for a bite in theWit Hotel's all-american eatery, State and Lake. The always gorgeous Jenna Dewan (Step Up) was one of the last celebs to arrive and she walked the red carpet with friend, Naturi Naughton (3LW, Playboy TV series). For more Gossip & Entertainment News Follow Me! For Tips email: lashonda.matlock@gmail.com

Published in Adrian Grenier, Celebrities, Celebrity Sightings, Celebrity Sightings Chicago, Chicago, Chicago Celeb Gossip, Chicago Entertainment News, Chicagonow, Chicagonow.com, Creed Bratton, Entertainment, Entertainment News, Event, Gossip, Jenna Dewan, Jesse Williams, Johnny Galecki, Jonathan Sadowski , LaShonda, LaShonda Matlock, Naturi Naughton, Pop Buzz!, Pop Culture, ROOF, Sightings, Sir Richard Branson, Tim Meadows , Virginia Madsen, theWit Hotel and tagged Adrian Grenier, Celeb Sightings, Celebrities, Celebrity, Celebrity Sightings, Chicago, Chicago Celebrity Sightings, Chicagonow, Chicagonow.com, Creed Bratton, Entertainment, Entertainment News, Jenna Dewan, Jesse Williams, Johnny Galecki, Jonathan Sadowski, LaShonda, LaShonda Matlock, Natiuri Naughton, Pop Buzz!, Pop Culture, ROOF, ROOF at theWit Hotel, Sightings, Sir Richard Branson, theWit Hotel, Tim meadows, Virgin America, Virgin America party Chicago, Virginia Madsen

Michael Bolton Steals the Show on 'Saturday Night Live'!

Appearing in the SNL Digital Short "Jack Sparrow" along with Andy Samberg's Lonely Island, singer Michael Bolton proved he had a lot more than just a massive voice. He has a great sense of humor and some impeccable comedic timing!

It all starts when Bolton rolls into the recording studio after watching a "Pirates of the Carribean" marathon, channeling Captain Jack Sparrow all the way. When it becomes apparent that references from the "Pirates" film franchise aren't flying with the Lonely Island guys, Bolton experiments with a few other films, including "Forrest Gump," "Scarface," even "Erin Brockovich."

Celebrity Marilyn Monroe

Actress. Born Norma Jeane Mortenson (later baptized as Norma Jeane Baker) on June 1, 1926, in Los Angeles, California. During her all-too-brief life, Marilyn Monroe overcame a difficult childhood to become of the world's biggest and most enduring sex symbols. She never knew her father, and her mother Gladys, developed psychiatric problems and was eventually placed in a mental institution. Growing up, Monroe spent much of her time in foster care and in an orphanage. In 1937, a family friend and her husband, Grace and Doc Goddard, took care of her for a few years. But when Doc's job was transferred in 1942 to the East Coast, the couple could not afford to bring Monroe with them.

Once again, Monroe faced life in foster care. But she had one way out—get married. She wed her boyfriend Jimmy Dougherty on June 19, 1942. A merchant marine, Dougherty was later sent to the South Pacific. Monroe went to work in a munitions factory in Burbank where she was discovered by a photographer. By the time Dougherty returned in 1946, Monroe had a successful career as a model. She dreamt of becoming an actress like Jean Harlow and Lana Turner.

Her marriage fizzled out as Monroe focused more on her career. The couple divorced in 1946—the same year she signed her first movie contract. With the movie contract came a new name and image, she began calling herself "Marilyn Monroe" and dyed her hair blonde. But her acting career didn't really take off until the 1950s. Her small part in John Huston's crime drama The Asphalt Jungle (1950) garnered her a lot of attention. That same year she impressed audiences and critics alike as Claudia Caswell in All About Eve, starring Bette Davis.

In 1953, Monroe made a star-making turn in Niagara, starring as a young married woman out to kill her husband with help from her lover. The emerging sex symbol was paired with another bombshell, Jane Russell, for the musical comedy Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953). The film was a hit and Monroe continued to find success in a string of light comedic fare, such as How to Marry a Millionaire with Betty Grable and Lauren Bacall, There's No Business like Show Business (1954) with Ethel Merman and Donald O'Connor, and The Seven Year Itch (1955). With her breathy voice and hourglass figure, Monroe became a much-admired international star.

Tom Hanks at Spiaggia

Chef Tony Mantuano took to Twitter on Monday night (May 16th) to express his excitement as Academy Award winning actor Tom Hanks dined at the one and only Spiaggia restaurant.  "Tom Hanks and family enjoying strangozze pasta w morels at www.spiaggiarestaurant.com tonight. fellas, you called me"For more Gossip & Entertainment News Follow Me! For Tips email: lashonda.matlock@gmail.com

Published in Celebrities, Celebrity Sightings, Celebrity Sightings Chicago, Chicago, Chicago Celeb Gossip, Chicago Celebrity Gossip, Chicago Celebrity Sightings, Chicago Entertainment News, Chicagonow, Chicagonow.com, Entertainment, Entertainment News, Gossip, LaShonda, LaShonda Matlock, Local, Local Celeb Gossip, Oak Street, Pop Buzz!, Pop Culture, Sightings, Tom Hanks and tagged Celeb Sightings, Celebrities, Celebrity, Celebrity Sightings, Chef Tony Mantuano, Chicago, Chicago Celebrity Sightings, Chicagonow, LaShonda, LaShonda Matlock, Local, Michigan Avenue, Pop Buzz!, Pop Culture, Rita Wilson, Sightings, Spiaggia, Tom Hanks, Victoria

Cheryl Cole Not Returning To X Factor UK?

Cheryl Cole’s week just got even worse, as she is apparently out of the running to return to the UK’s X Factor.

The singer was axed from the X Factor USA after just four days on the job, and came home to the UK to consider her next move. She was reportedly offer £2.5million to return to her previous role on the show, but was given a short deadline to decide.

According to the News of the World, Cheryl was given until midnight last night to make a decision about whether she would go back to the ITV show. She apparently refused to speak to Simon Cowell and the programme’s bosses, and the show will now go on without her.

An insider said: “The brutal truth is that no one is bigger than the show – not Cheryl and not even Simon.

“We have a huge show and we need to get on the road on Wednesday and we needed to know if Cheryl was coming with us.

“We have bent over backwards for Cheryl and she hasn’t engaged with us. She is out. That’s showbusiness.”

It now looks like the judging panel will be Louis Walsh, Gary Barlow, Kelly Rowland and Tulisa Contostavlos.

Various sources claim the BBC is interested in signing up Cheryl for their new singing show, The Voice. Would you like to see her take up that offer?

Cheryl's best X Factor moments...
Viewers warmed instantly to Cheryl Cole, her easy going nature and personality made hopefuls feel at ease staright away...

Pippa Middleton Looks Stylish On Shopping Trip

Pippa Middleton is taking her new style icon status seriously, and once again looked hot to trot on a trip out in London yesterday.

With a pair of sunnies on her head and several bags of goodies in hand, Pippa smiled as she strolled down the street.

Kate Middleton’s younger sister is perfecting her look and it’s easy to see why Pippa has the most searched for celebrity style, beating her big sis and Cheryl Cole to the top spot.

Kate Middleton And Prince William Are 'A Young Couple In Love'

By Elle Taylor On May 28, 2011 According to Mario Testino...

Mario Testino has revealed behind-the-scenes info from Kate Middleton and Prince William’s engagement photo shoot.

The famed photographer chatted to People.com about the day he snapped the royal couple.

Mario said: "You know, it's not so much what they say to each other because there is no time."

He added: "Everything is compacted into a very short time because we have to produce these pictures. It's more like me screaming and trying to get everything to go.

"Well, not screaming, but getting in a fluster, I guess you say."

The photographer also revealed that Kate "looked fabulous" and even helped apply her own make-up.

It sounds like Kate and Wills made a lasting impression on Mario. He summed up their relationship by saying they exuded "sheer happiness" and "are a young couple in love".

Wills and Kate’s public appearances...

You can keep up to date with all the latest news from Entertainmentwise by following us on Twitter and liking us on Facebook.

Tags : Kate Middleton, Prince William, Royal Wedding

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Brad Pitt Hints Marriage Could Be On The Cards

Brad Pitt has given the strongest indication yet that he and Angelina Jolie will get married.

In an interview with USA Weekend, the actor said: “The kids ask about marriage.”

He added: “It's meaning more and more to them. So it's something we've got to look at.”

Brad had previously stated in 2009 that he would only consider marrying again when it was legal for everyone to wed, speaking out in support of same-sex marriage.

In the interview he also revealed how he and Angelina make time for their relationship, saying: “There are no secrets at our house”.

He explained: “We tell the kids, ‘Mom and Dad are going off to kiss.' They go, ‘Eww, gross!' But we demand it.”

Do you think wedding bells will be ringing soon?

Celebrity Lisa Raye

LisaRaye McCoy-Misick was born September 23, 1966 in Chicago, Illinois. She is of African American and Native American descent and is proud of her heritage. She later attended Eastern Illinois University but she never really took the idea of a career in acting seriously until persuaded by an insistent roommate to attend a local audition in Chicago.

Adam West

Adam West is a true American icon. From his humble beginning on a wheat ranch in Walla Walla, Washington, Adam skyrocketed to fame in Hollywood, pursuing an extraordinary career in entertainment that has spanned half a century. His role as Batman in the classic television series and feature of the same name continues to be seen throughout the world more than 40 years after its debut. While Batman, and his alter ego, Bruce Wayne, remains his signature role, Adam has a multitude of motion picture, theater, and TV credits to his name.

He has made nearly 50 movies, including starring or co-starring roles in Drop Dead Gorgous, The New Age, The Young Philadelphians, An American Vampire Story, Soldier in the Rain, Robinson Crusoe on Mars, and Nevada Smith.

He has had starring roles in several TV series other than Batman, including The Detectives, The Last Precinct, and The Clinic. His theater credits include Volpone at the Mark Taper Forum at the Los Angeles Music Center.

Adam West has also lent his voice to animated characters in such well-known series as Family Guy, The Simpson, Rugrats, Batman, Animaniacs, Jonny Bravo, Spydogs, The Super Adventure Team, and many others. His voice-over work in animated film includes the roles of “Ace, Hollywood Chicken Little” in Disney’s Chicken Little, and “Uncle Art” in Disney’s Meet the Robinsons. In 2000, he also contributed the voice of “Leonard Fox” to the animated short, Redux Riding Hood, which went on to win an Acadamy Award nomination.Adam West

Adam West is the author of two books, Back to the Batcave and Climbing the Walls. He lends his support to numerous charities and won $250,000 on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, on behalf of an organization supporting underprivileged women and children in Idaho. Adam splits his time between homes in Palm Springs, California, and Ketchum, Idaho.

More than 50 years after starting his career in Hollywood, Adam West continues to work consistently in TV and film. His most recent work includes a guest starring role on the hit series 30 Rock and a viral video for Funny or Die. His undeniable talent and unique brand of humor have become truly iconic in entertainment and he continues to entertain fans around the world.

Do You Want To See Cheryl Cole On The Voice?

Cheryl Cole must be planning her next career move after getting the axe from X Factor USA and apparently missing out on the chance to return to the UK version.

If reports are to be believed, her record company Universal want Cheryl’s next big TV gig to be over on the BBC.

The Observer reports that Universal has business links with The Voice, the American import for which the BBC is busy recruiting a judging panel.

UK boss at Universal, David Joseph reportedly wants to steer Cheryl towards The Voice and away from Simon Cowell. With Cheryl allegedly missing the midnight deadline to sign on the dotted line for X Factor UK, he might get his wish.

A record company employee said: "Universal are heavily involved in recruiting judges for The Voice when it moves to the BBC and they are urging Cheryl to be the big star of that show."

The insider added the move would be "a great way of sticking two fingers up at Simon Cowell".

Kim Kardashian And Kris Humphries Toast Their Engagement

Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries had that newly engaged glow as they made their first public appearance together since announcing their engagement.

The couple attended the Amber Lounge Fashion Monaco last night to benefit the Special Olympics charity.

News broke this week that Kris had popped the question with the help of some specially arranged rose petals – aww.

Befitting a bride to be, Kim wore a floor-length white gown and had the best accessory of all – her massive 20.5 carat engagement ring, which is apparently worth a whopping $2million!

Kim tweeted: “Backstage at the Matthew Williamson fashion show! He is amaze! Prince Albert & Charlene here too! About 2 go on stage! I always get nervous”.

Word is their wedding ceremony will be broadcast on TV, so we’ll all get to watch as Kim becomes Mrs Humphries.

Are you excited for Kim’s nuptials?

Kim and Kris (and that ring) in Monte Carlo...

"The Biggest Loser" winner shed 129 pounds

May 25, 2011 9:44 AM Sisters Hannah Curlee, left, and Olivia Ward embrace during Tuesday night's finale of "The Biggest Loser."

(Credit: NBC)

(CBS) Who won "The Biggest Loser" this season? One thing is for sure, it was a woman. An all-female group of three went into Tuesday night's finale on NBC (Spoiler alert).

New York opera singer Olivia Ward emerged as the winner, losing 129 pounds over the course of eight months.

The 35-year-old winner beat out her sister Hannah Curlee and full-time student Irene Alvarado for the Season 11 title. Curlee and Alvarado lost 120 and 116, pounds respectively.

Ward and Curlee became breakout stars in the competition for the $250,000 prize with their run in New Zealand.

Tuesday's show marks the end for trainer Jillian Michaels, who said she was looking forward to taking her work "to the next level." She is being replaced next season by tennis player Anna Kournikova.

Scotty tops Lauren for "Idol" crown

May 25, 2011 10:05 PM Finalists Lauren Alaina, left, and Scotty McCreery are seen at the "American Idol" finale on May 25, 2011, in Los Angeles.

(Credit: AP Photo)

(CBSNews.com) After a record-breaking 122.4 million votes, the American Idol crown went to Scotty McCreery.

It was not preordained as the judges gave their nod to Lauren in Tuesday's performance finale. Lauren's final performance on Tuesday, which included a choreographed moment when she left the stage in mid-song to hug and sing to her mother before returning to the stage for some final big notes, made Scotty's final effort seem tepid.

JLo said, "With that song you may have just won." Steven agreed and called her his "American Idol". "Lauren has it hands down," he added for emphasis.

As the all-country finale got underway, the two finalists entered the arena both dressed in pure white, with some country styling, as were the top 13 eliminated contestants who started off the show with a rendition of Lady Gaga's "Born This Way."

Finalists Scotty McCreery, left, and Lauren Alaina are seen onstage before host Ryan Seacrest announced the winner at the "American Idol" finale on May 25, 2011, in Los Angeles.

(Credit: AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

It wasn't clear if the wardrobe color choice was to signify the purity and innocence of the young finalists or just a fashion statement. Even judges Steven Tyler and Randy Jackson sported whitish outfits.

Pictures: "American Idol" Season 10 finale

The American Idol producers managed to make the two-hour marathon finale an entertaining variety show of performances from this season's contestants and an array of music industry stars including Beyonce, Gladys Knight, Tony Bennett, Bono, Mark Anthony, Lady Gaga, Tom Jones and judge Steven Tyler.

Idol heavy metal rocker James Durbin, who was an early favorite to win the competition, performed "Breaking the Law" with Judas Priest, the entire ensemble dressed in black leather in contrast to the opening outfits for Lauren and Scotty.

Jack Black, left, and Casey Abrams perform at the "American Idol" finale on, May 25, 2011, in Los Angeles.

(Credit: AP Photo)

Big-voiced Jacob Lusk, who made it into the top 10, took the stage with gospel star Kirk Franklin, soul legend Gladys Knight and a big chorus. Jazzy Casey Abrams rocked out with "School of Rock" and "Gulliver" and the forthcoming "Kung Fu Panda 2" Jack Black. The contingent of female competitors, sans Lauren, combined with Beyonce for a sexy number.

Pictures: "American Idol" Season 10
Special section: "American Idol"

Haley Reinhart strutted her stuff with the legendary, 85-year-old Tony Bennett, singing and dancing to Irving Berlin's "Steppin' Out with My Baby." It was a major highlight of the entire season...or of all ten seasons.

Singers Haley Reinhart (L) and Tony Bennett perform during the American Idol Season 10 Live Grand Finale 2011 at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on May 25, 2011 in Los Angeles, California.

(Credit: Photo by Ray Mickshaw/Fox/PictureGroup)

Scotty, now dressed in black, took the stage with country star Tim McGraw, singing "Live Like You Were Dying." He showed that he belongs on that stage--he just needs some seasoning, the kind you get after leaving the familial nest.

JLo's spouse Mark Anthony livened up the finale with his Latin beat, which included JLo herself shaking her booty and dancing, while leaving the singing to the superior voice of her husband. Another major Idol finale highlight in what will go down as one of the year's best musical variety shows.

The top six men, all in black, performed a Tom Jones medley, and as expected the classic ballad singer joined them for a brief rendition of one of his many hits.

In an interlude from the musical acts, Lauren and Scotty were shown inviting their respective high school principal and chorus teacher to the finale. As part of the extensive product placement during the program, the two finalists presented the each of the educators with the keys to a Ford Focus. And to top it off, host Ryan Seacrest told Lauren and Scotty that Ford would give them the vehicle of their choice. You can imagine the two country singers choosing a Ford Bronco or F-100 as their ride.

The car presentation was followed by the exotic Lady Gaga performed her new hit, "The Edge of Glory." And following Lady Gaga, Lauren and Carrie Underwood teamed up for a rousing "Before He Cheats," followed by Beyonce debuting her new single, "One Plus One."

Bono and The Edge gave a lift to their troubled Spiderman theatrical franchise, performing one of the features songs as a Spidey flew on wires above the crowd and judges at the Nokia Theater.

The final performance was Steven Tyler showing off his vocal skills with his Aerosmith hit "Dream On," a fitting theme for end of the 2011 version of American Idol.

 "American Idol" Season 10

Tags:scotty mccreery ,lauren alaina ,american idol ,reality tv ,recaps ,cbsidol Topics:Television ,Music ,News

Oprah Winfrey says goodbye on final show

May 25, 2011 5:08 PM Oprah Winfrey waves as her show taped for the last time on Tuesday, May 24, 2011, in Chicago.

(Credit: AP/Harpo Productions)

(CBS/AP) CHICAGO - After 25 years on the air, Oprah Winfrey ended her famous talk show on Wednesday by sharing memories, reflecting on life lessons and thanking fans for coming along on the journey with her.

The episode featured no guests - just Winfrey herself, standing alone on stage. It opened with a clip from her first show, and she then spent the hour showing favorite clips from throughout the years and recounting what she's learned during the show's quarter-century run.

Pictures: Oprah Winfrey's "Farewell Spectacular"
Fans gather for final taping of Winfrey's show
Oprah's Greatest TV Moments

She told viewers that sometimes she was a teacher - calling her show "the world's biggest classroom" - but more often her viewers instructed her. She called Wednesday's episode her "last class."

Among the life lessons she shared was, "You are responsible for the energy you create for yourself, and the energy you bring to others. Don't wait for somebody else to save you, to complete you, to fix you."

"Each one of you has your own platform. You can help somebody, you can listen, you can forgive," she said. "My greatest wish for all of you ... is that you carry whatever you are supposed to be doing and don't waste any more time."

She also thanked viewers for watching throughout the show's 25 years.

"Twenty-five years and I'm still saying, 'Thank you America,'" Winfrey said. "Thank you so much. There are no words to match this moment."

The taping came a week after Hollywood A-listers and 13,000 fans bid Winfrey farewell in a double-episode extravaganza at Chicago's United Center. The shows that aired Monday and Tuesday included Aretha Franklin, Tom Cruise, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jordan and Madonna, among other stars of television, music and movies. They were just a few of the approximately 30,000 guests who have appeared on the show over 25 years. On Wednesday, Winfrey called the event "a love intervention on steroids."

Winfrey ended Wednesday's show by saying she felt "all sweet, no bitter."

"I won't say goodbye," she told fans. "I'll just say until we meet again."

Winfrey then stepped off the stage and through the audience and hugged and kissed longtime partner Stedman Graham before walking through the halls of Harpo Studios in Chicago, hugging, crying and high-fiving members of her staff.

She shouted "We did it!" The last shot of the finale showed Winfrey walking away with her cocker spaniel, Sadie.

Tell us: What did you think of Winfrey's final show?

"American Idol": Scotty McCreery tops Lauren Alaina to win "Idol" title

Scotty McCreery learns that he is the next "American Idol" during the Season 10 finale on May 25, 2011, in Los Angeles.

(Credit: FOX)

(CBS) America voted with its heart. The heart of a six-year old.

Scotty McCreery is the new "American Idol," following a path recently laid (to rest) by the likes of Kris Allen and Lee DeWyze, two splendidly anonymous names in the annals of American music or even the annals of American ka-ching.

Pictures: "American Idol" Season 10 finale
Pictures: "American Idol" Season 10
Pictures: "Idol" winners
Special section: "American Idol"

Once we move past the feelings of those who believe that McCreery is the second coming of their first date, let us consider what mathematicians might make of this result. The Tuesday evening performance face-off was the lowest-rated "American Idol" finale in the 18 to 49 "adult" demographic in the show's history, although it was competing against a "Dancing with the Stars" finale.

Yet 122 million votes were allegedly cast by those who simply had to exercise their democratic right to decide between one teenage country singer and another teenage country singer. And, you didn't need to be 18 to vote in this election.

What would America have decided at the last election if everyone had the opportunity to cast up to 50 votes online?

In order to mask the essential skewing and narrowing of the voting public, the Idol producers decided, as usual, to persuade some musical greats to give it the credibility that the two sweet teeny finalists could not.

After the obligatory (and obligatorily disastrous) group number featuring the 13 finalists doing something to a Lady Gaga song that had never been done before, we had the privilege of quickly witnessing such greats as Judas Priest, Gladys Knight and, um, Jack Black.

Black was there to add some humor (as if it was needed) to accompany the great (but slightly wayward) talent of Casey Abrams through a rendition of "Fat-Bottomed Girls." How different the finale might have been if Abrams had somehow managed to squeak through the nonsensical voting regulations to replace, say, McCreery.

Suddenly, there was Beyonce singing backup for Pia Toscano and the rest of the girl finalists, all of whose names you might not have remembered. No, wait, Beyonce took the lead, something the audience seemed truly to appreciate.

Soon we had Haley Reinhart performing with her dad. No, that wasn't her dad. She'd already performed with him. This was her granddad - Tony Bennett. And what fun the two of them had. Did Ryan Seacrest have to point out that Bennett is 85? Of course he did.

McCreery offered a duet with Tim McGraw, one that existed to give him some of the country credibility that he is currently lacking. At the end of the performance, Steven Tyler tapped his heart, perhaps to check that he really was still alive.

Then it was Marc Anthony time. What a pulsating time it was. This was what music is supposed to do - move you to somewhere just a little different, somewhere where you have to check your heart for the right reasons. Anthony is such an amusing and confident performer, so much so that not even his wife storming on to the stage to demand he come home could move him away from lifting the theater to something above the entirely soporific.

As an interlude, might I just inform you that Tom Jones is still very much alive? Thank you. Sadly, in order to get some supper, he was forced to sing with all of the boy finalists.

Before we could catch our breath or our swiftly-escaping sanity, there was Lady Gaga. Her Ladyship showed her neutrality with respect to the two finalists by wearing a skimpy little bikini and a very large crucifix. She was supported by one of the great sax players of all time - Clarence Clemons. She sang something about being on the edge. This was entirely understandable. This show was scheduled to last 2 hours and 7 minutes.

Lauren Alaina got to sing with her avowed idol - former "Idol" winner Carrie Underwood. They sang about their cheating lover. Alaina wasn't overawed. If only she'd showed this much confidence through the rest of the competition.

Confidence is something that a theatrical show called "Spider Man: Turn off the Dark" has severely lacked. So here was Bono - yes, the world's substitute Pope, HERE! TONIGHT! ON "AMERICAN IDOL"! - singing away in an attempt to revive support for a show in which he appears to have a great creative and financial interest.

Bono and Scotty McCreery on the same stage. Is this what music has come to? Let us pause for a moment's silence to celebrate. Bono wasn't even given top billing. That went to the ultimate symbol of the new "American Idol": Steven Tyler.

Tyler has hammed his way through being a judge on this series. It was as if he was being played by Russell Brand, offering the occasional swear word, the frequent leer at lady contestants and a level of criticism beneath which no human could limbo.

Finally, finally, it was time for the results. They tried to make it seem terribly official, as if a million accountants and election officials had poured over these numbers. Who could have believed it? Scotty McCreery is the new American Idol. He bowed in shock. He can't have been all that surprised, can he? He's a phenomenon - like the Rubik's Cube, but slightly less sophisticated.

With an inevitability that smacked of last week's Rapture-believers, McCreery thanked the Lord. He spoke of how he and Alaina would be together forever. What? Together forever. These two are dating? But please don't let them sing together - Alaina overpowers him every time.

McCreery then proceeded to croon his way through his new and very colorful hit "I Love You This Big," while hugging everyone in as big a manner as he could.

I wonder if they might think of changing the voting rules for next year. I wonder if they might change the judges. I wonder if the ratings will keep on going down.

"American Idol": Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina sing for the win

Lauren Alaina and Scotty McCreery during the "American Idol" finals on May 24, 2011.

(Credit: FOX)

(CBS) Last night's "American Idol" finale began with footage of a very young Carrie Underwood, singing in a very rudimentary manner. The message seemed to be: "Don't worry if the contestants can't sing all that well. They do get better."

And then we had Ryan Seacrest reminding those pink, fluffy children who vote that this would be night when they would change lives.

Pictures: "American Idol" Season 10
Pictures: "American Idol" winners
Special section: "American Idol"

Sadly, though, we had already been forced to endure rumors that Lauren Alaina's voice was shot and she was ready to withdraw.

Alaina insisted she was fine. Her doctor came on stage and declared that she had blown out one of her vocal chords. Don't worry, he declared, she's got some others. She'll be just fine. Like Derek Jeter with a broken leg. Well, almost.

This was the "boy next door" versus the "Southern Belle" insisted Seacrest. Not quite. This was the pretty-boy country singer who doesn't sing all that well versus the pretty-girl country singer who can. Prettiness would play a huge role in what ensued.

Scotty McCreery began by making a few grunting noises and repeating his performance of Montgomery Gentry's "Gone." He offered a new left-handed, airy-fairy gesture, which he might have borrowed from the Court of King James - or perhaps a cursory viewing of the royal wedding.

Alaina and her broken vocal chord opened with her favorite song of the season. This was Carrie Underwood's "Flat on the Floor." Understandably, she seemed reluctant to floor it, so the effect was a little flat.

Still, we didn't have to tolerate the judges' platitudes after every performance. After a couple of commercials, we were straight into songs suggested by the contestants' heroes - in this case, George Strait for McCreery and Underwood for Alaina.

"Check Yes or No," sang McCreery, clutching a guitar and reeking confidence. However, the song, as so many of McCreery's performances, reeked of a karaoke bar in Spokane, which isn't to decry his obvious popularity, merely to suggest that many children have interesting tastes out of which they grow.

Alaina, thanks to Underwood, sang Pam Tillis' "Maybe It Was Memphis." She wore a dress borrowed from one of the more miserable members of the Bolshoi Ballet. She tried to push her voice into its stronger ranges, but still one felt she was holding back, as she has been doing throughout this competition.

Suddenly, the judges, whose vocal chords had been entirely redundant throughout this competition, decided to exercise them, in a fashion.

"America, these are the two that you chose," said Randy Jackson, as if to remind voters of their limited level of taste. Still, he decided that McCreery won round one and Alaina won round two.

Jennifer Lopez thought it was an explosive start. Explosively, she agreed with Jackson's assessment.

Tyler, demonstrating just how deep his analysis flows, declared both rounds for Alaina because she's prettier than McCreery. Surely no one at home can have deduced something so cerebral.

McCreery's final song was to be his new single. Would there be a gospel choir? Would they emerge from the wings, in order to give flight to his reedy voice?

The song had a touchingly ironic title: "I Love You This Big." It has gorgeous lyrics: "I know I'm still young, But I know how I feel, I might not have too much experience, But I know when love is real."

Oddly, the gospel choir didn't materialize. This left perhaps the smallest performance that McCreery has offered throughout this competition.

"I'm not sure that's the perfect song for you," offered Jackson, with cryptic perceptiveness. Lopez thought it amazing. And Tyler thought he still wasn't as pretty as Alaina, but at least could make a three-point shot in a video. I paraphrase, but only at the margins.

Alaina's single - should she win, of course - was called "Like My Mother Does."

She sang it just for her mother. Crazily, mentor Jimmy Iovine thought moms "would be moved by this like crazy."

Surely Alaina would have a gospel choir. But, no. "She's an angel. She's my heart and soul," sang Alaina. She tried to give it as much heart and soul as her remaining vocal chords would allow. She walked over to her mother and hugged her as she sang.

America wept. This was what they call a moment. It lasted at least two moments.

Surely this would move all of those who only dedicate themselves to "Dancing with the Stars" to exercise their fingers and phones just a little more to vote for Alaina - at least 70 times.

"You sang that Mariah Carey soft whisper voice at the end," said Jackson. He declared that she had arrived.

"With that song, you may have just won," said Lopez, as Alaina desperately tried (and failed) not to cry.

Steven Tyler told her, "You are 'it' in my eyes." It helps to be prettier than Scotty McCreery.

The judges declared that Alaina won the third round - "hands down", according to Tyler.

In truth, it doesn't really matter who wins. Both of these will be marketed to the country crowd with a relentless abandon last seen in the Civil War.

For those who enjoy performers who can actually sing, Alaina with a limping voice is still better than McCreery at his dreary best.

Oh, and she's prettier too.

TOP SINGER: Lauren Alaina
BOTTOM SINGER: Scotty McCreery

Kate Middleton's dress sells out in hours

May 25, 2011 3:04 PM First lady Michelle Obama talks to Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge at Buckingham Palace in London on May 24, 2011.

(Credit: AP)

(CBS) Kate has done it again.

In her first official appearance after returning from her honeymoon in the Seychelles, the Duchess of Cambridge, formerly known as Kate Middleton, has helped a designer sell out a dress.

Pictures: A royal welcome
Special section: The royal wedding

The cap-sleeved, caramel-colored form-fitting dress that the duchess wore when she and Prince William met Barrack and Michelle Obama at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday sold out online within hours after photos hit the Internet.

Demand for the Reiss dress, which is called Shola and retails for $340, was so great it caused the fashion brand's Web site to crash, according to The Washington Post.

A Reiss spokesperson told the newspaper traffic to the site increased by over 300 percent. The web site still appears to be down at 2:30 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, having returned briefly Wednesday afternoon only to crash again minutes later.

The brand even tweeted about its trouble: "Due to unprecedented demand, Shola mania has crashed our website! We are endeavouring to bring the Reiss brand back to you ASAP!"

Both the royal blue wrap dress that the duchess wore when she announced her engagement and a cream-colored dress that she later wore when posing for engagement pictures also sold out in just hours.

"Dancing with the Stars" winner: Hines Ward wins the Super Bowl of dancing

Hines Ward and Kym Johnson pose with their trophies after they were named "Dancing with the Stars" champions on May 24, 2011.

(Credit: AP/ABC)

(CBS) Does it really take two hours to crown the champion of amateur - sometimes very amateur - dancing? It does if you want to sell a lot of commercial airtime on America's most popular television show.

In any case, surely you wanted to see one more performance from all those "Dancing with the Stars" contestants whose names you forgot once your hard-hearted votes eliminated them from the show.

Oh, of course Hines Ward won. Any NFL player who can smile and move with even vague competence (there aren't many) will win the mirrorball trophy.

Pictures: "Dancing with the Stars" Season 12
Timeline: Past "DWTS" competitors and champions

NFL players are the ultimate older lady's fantasy. Well, polite, smiley NFL players like Emmitt Smith and now Ward. Chelsea Kane, the actual best dancer in the competition, reminds the voters of everything they used to be - or wished they had once been. Surely, therefore, she couldn't curry enough favors from the envious.

Optimists will have wondered whether maybe, perhaps, the one more dance that was offered last night would somehow thrust Kane beyond the whims of the voters.

This would only be subject to the judges' voting. These judges could make all the difference.

Soon, these judges showed that they possessed the courage of limping llamas in Lima. Well, when I say "soon," I mean it took what seemed like hours before the contestants were actually allowed to take the floor for their final dances.

First, those who weren't watching on DVR were forced to endure performances from all the contestants whom the viewers had rejected. This was a beautiful joy that might only have been matched by blowing one's nose for a full hour and a half when one doesn't even have a cold.

It was more than one hour and 20 minutes into the show that the actual competition started.

Chelsea Kane and Mark Ballas decided to perfect their Viennese Waltz - which they know as "The Wizard Waltz." They wept in rehearsal. This was emotional. They might never dance together again. Unless Disney offers Ballas a co-starring role in an upcoming new, elevated version of "Beauty and the Beast."

When it came to the real thing, Kane and Ballas again offered something as fantastical and inventive as the one decent "Harry Potter" movie. Of course, it was all too inventive for the voters at home. But here was a chance for the judges to declare that this was dancing of an entirely superior character.

"Bottom line, you are a fantastic dancer," said Goodman. He then muttered dark prognostications about "whatever happens tonight," as if he knew that not enough viewers would have offered her votes to some obscure Disney Channel starlet.

The judges all offered 10s. Surely this would be the standard by which others would be judged. Surely you believe that the moon is made of Paski Sir, the award-winning Croatian cheese.

Kirstie Alley and Maksim Chmerkovskiy also had an emotional rehearsal of their favorite dance - the cha-cha. Alley has gained confidence and lost weight during these 13 weeks. And she gave this last performance every element of joy that she could muster. She doesn't stretch her legs as far as some, but her feet are often precise and her eyebrows are never short of being overly expressive.

"You saved the best for last," said Tonioli, before spitting out some multi-syllabic adjectives.

Carrie Ann Inaba offered nouns like "authenticity" and "transformation."

There was, however, nothing authentic and transformative about the fact that the judges all gave her 10s. This was a suitably crass abdication of responsibility, one that would inevitably mean that Kane and Ballas would be gone.

Ward and his partner Kym Johnson performed the samba, the dance that supposedly shows off Ward's hip movements. It also shows off his remarkably stiff torso.

Ward does, though, offer an innocent exuberance - as well as a lovely kiss for his mom - so who couldn't be charmed? Even Emmitt Smith was forced to smile - although Sarah Palin, also in the audience, seemed less than convinced. Perhaps she felt Bristol had been better than all of this.

"What is so appealing about you is the packaging," said Goodman, with arrant wisdom.

"When you're out here, we all fall in love," said Tonioli.

Guess what? The judges all gave Ward 10s. Which made these dances spectacularly irrelevant fillers of airtime.

With just a few minutes left, Kane and Ballas were inevitably told that they were in third place. Host Tom Bergeron had to hustle the show along, absolving Kane of the need to offer a few empty, heartfelt words.

We were down to two. Surely Alley didn't think she would win. Oh, but it looked like Chmerkovskiy did. When the winners were announced, the cameras were swiftly focused just on Ward and Johnson. Ward thanked all of the voters from his University of Georgia and Pittsburgh Steelers - or at least those who knit sweaters with Bulldogs and Steelers logos.

It was warming to see Johnson, the most lovable of professionals, partake of this glory. So, as we drifted away from this, America's most popular show, we could already feel the excitement to come when "Dancing with the Stars" returns in September. Yes, so soon. Or at least the "Dancing with the Stars" version of "soon."

But perhaps the greatest giggle was left upon hearing Chmerkovskiy. declare that Alley was his 10th trophy. What could he have possibly meant? And who might enjoy being his eleventh?

Tom Jones On American Idol, Mick Jagger On Grammys - Ageless Rockers

More at Zennie62.com | Follow me on Twitter! | Get my widget! | Visit YouTube | Visit Facebook.com America got quite a cultural wake up call watching American Idol Wednesday night. After Scotty McCreery...

America got quite a cultural wake up call watching American Idol Wednesday night. After Scotty McCreery, who's bent is toward country music, won the singing competition, and got to meet Carrie Underwood backstage, the show ended with a performance by Sir Tom Jones.

Tom Jones, born June 7, 1940, is now 71 years old and from a time, the 1960s, of Go-Go Girls, James Bond, and his own show, demonstrated to a whole new audience that he's not only still got it, but at a high level.

The reaction to Mr. Jones was tremendous. "Tom Jones" as a keyword search was number one and listed as "Volcanic" on Google Trends and a top Twitter Topic, as well. When I shared a YouTube video of Jones' performance with my Mom - this one...

..My Mom's reaction was one of pure joy; she has been a big Tom Jones fan, and she raved about his performance, saying "He's from my time!"

With his American Idol presentation, Sir Tom effectively pushed together Americans who were 13, 33, 53, and 73 years old. Only a few performers can do that; Tom Jones and Mick Jagger are part of that club.

We're in a wonderful place where digital media has fused our culture in a way not possible 20 years ago. Jagger, The Rolling Stones front man, was rocking at the time of Tom Jones, and when he gave his rendition of "Everybody Needs Somebody," the reaction to 67-year-old Mick Jagger throwin' down at The 2011 Grammy's was equal to that of Tom Jones. And, like Jones, young people who use Twitter to get their information, were sharing tweets about a person some in the media considered as getting too old to do his craft.

Forget it.

Mick Jagger and Tom Jones have shown that it's possible to have entertainers who transcend generations, and vast distances of time and culture, but that only could have happened with social media.

Social media has a larger and broader demographic distribution pattern than for standard media. So, a much larger part of the American culture is aware that Tom Jones and Mick Jagger kicked ass in the 21st Century, than would have been the case in the 20th Century.

Stay tuned. Posted By: Zennie62 (Email) | May 26 2011 at 03:31 AM

Tom Jones On American Idol, Mick Jagger On Grammys - Ageless Rockers Share