November 26, 2004 |
HE NEEDS THAT ANGEL
It was inevitable: Plus-size American Idol champ Ruben Studdard was hospitalized Monday in Alabama. A rep for his record label said Studdard — who was in the midst of a publicity tour for his new album, I Need an Angel — was suffering from exhaustion, although more tests are being performed. He'll likely remain in the hospital through the end of the week. Studdard recently embarked on a highly publicized low-carb, low-cal diet that was being chronicled by Extra. He allegedly shed 12 of his 449 lbs. when reports surfaced that he had given up. Things have gotten so bad that doctors are recommending he borrow Anna Nicole's intravenous TrimSpa drip. |
MARTHA SPEAKS
Jailed domestic diva Martha Stewart issued a Thanksgiving message to her fans Thursday via her website. "As you would expect, the loss of freedom and the lack of privacy are extremely difficult," she wrote. "But I am safe, fit and healthy.... Visits from my friends, family and colleagues — together with your goodwill and best wishes — will get me through this chapter in my life. For this friendship and support, I am very grateful this Thanksgiving." Read between the lines, folks. Sister friend wants out of that hellhole — now. |
THE CONTENDERS
Correspondents John Roberts and Scott Pelley are pegged the early front-runners to replace Dan Rather behind the CBS Evening News anchor desk. On Tuesday, Rather announced that he was stepping down after 24 years on the job. Check out today's The Biz for more on this story. |
DIVINE INTERVENTION
With ratings down sharply this season, CBS' Joan of Arcadia has scored a rather heavenly casting coup for February sweeps. Who'd they snag? Read this week's "Ask Ausiello" to find out! And while you're there, you'll also get scoop on an upcoming Sopranos/Joey crossover, find out what Apprentice loser Wes didn't get to say in the boardroom last Thursday and read the latest on the Smurfs' big comeback. It's so exciting I bet even Grouchy Smurf cracked a smile! |
DELAYED
Universal has delayed the release of Joss Whedon's Firefly flick, Serenity, from April 22 to Sept. 30. No reason was given for the postponement. The studio has also pushed back the opening of the Sean Penn-Nicole Kidman thriller The Interpreter from Feb. 18 to April 22. |
IT'S OVER
Taking some of the focus off his embattled bro, Jermaine Jackson has filed for divorce from his wife, Alejandra, after nine years together. The couple have two young sons, Jaafar and Jermajesty. It's unclear what led to the split, but I'm betting it had something to do with the kids' names. |
SHORT CUTS
Viacom has agreed to shell out $3.5 million in fines to the FCC to resolve indecency probes related to shock-jocks Howard Stern and Opie and Anthony... The MPAA has slapped Pedro Almodovar's Bad Education with a dreaded NC-17 rating due to "a scene of explicit sexual content" involving two men. |
MEDICAL UPDATE
Is Noah Wyle reconsidering his decision to bolt ER at the end of the season? In the upcoming issue of TV Guide magazine (on sale next week), the actor says he's "doing a bit of soul-searching about" his impending exit, adding that he's "fairly confident" he'll be checking out come May. I don't know about you, but I'm sensing a lot of wiggle room there, folks. |
|
|
|
