Whitney Houston Gives Gift to Headline Writers

Pop star Whitney Houston is having a terrible time during her “comeback” tour in Europe. Her tour has been plagued with cancellations and complaints, with critics saying Whitney is a mere shadow of her former self. Actually, they’re saying she’s a really big shadow now, having put on some pounds.

Pete Rose and a Corked Bat

This long tale from Deadspin is all about a collector who has a bat that once belonged to baseball bad boy Pete Rose. The bat comes from the 1985 season, when Rose was chasing baseball’s hit record. An x-ray of the bat shows an interior of cork. Corking a bat is illegal.But Pete Rose is banned from baseball for life, and it’s doubtful he’ll make it into the Hall of Fame anytime soon. So big deal.

Jack Abramoff Released From Prison, Sort Of

Tax fraud and Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff was sentenced to four years in prison back in 2008. Earlier this week he was moved to a halfway house — a residential facility that’s not quite prison and not quite home. “Halfway” must mean “you’re halfway done with your sentence, so out you go.”
Read the story here.
And watch this trailer for a new documentary called Casino Jack

Lady Gaga, Lady Gaga, Lady Gaga

Imagine if Marilyn Manson made a Madonna video, then add the self-indulgence of Michael Jackson so that it’s way too long, and you’ve got Lady Gaga’s newest video, “Alejandro.” Good luck sitting through all nine minutes of it — these days that seems like a lot to put up with, just to see a minute or two of sexy role playing:

Happy Birthday, Elvis

Had Elvis Presley not died in 1977, he would be 75 years old today. Only 75 years old, I might add.

Moby: “Gone to Sleep”

Recording artist Moby participated in a National Public Radio program called Project Song last month. The radio show was titled Moby: One Song, Two Days, Three Versions.

Paula Deen Says Her Maid Robbed Her

Fried butter chef Paula Deen says her maid swiped jewelry worth thousands of dollars. So she fired her. And had her arrested. The news just came in from TMZ.

Happy Birthday, Prince

Today is the birthday of pop star Prince, or, as you may know him, The Artist Formerly Known As Prince Who Is Now Known As Prince Again. He’s 52 years old.
In tribute, here’s a 2009 interview with Tavis Smiley of PBS:

Paul McCartney Gives Republicans Fits

Republican and House Minority Leader John Boehner wants an apology from Sir Paul McCartney. Stop the presses.

The story is here.

The Recurring Prop Newspaper

Thanks to the wonders of the internet, we now know that Hollywood prop masters recycle newspapers. In this case, it’s a specific newspaper prop, one that shows up over and over in movies and on TV.
Here’s the link.