Ed Asner, best known for his portrayal of Lou Grant -- first on the Mary Tyler Moore show from 1970-77, then on the spin-off Lou Grant from 1977-82 -- has accused CBS founder and chairman William S. Paley of canceling the Lou Grant series because of Asner's political activism at the time. In an interview with the website Fancast, Asner said, "Bill Paley was responsible for the cancellation of my show." Paley, he said, acted after Asner publicly supported a fundraising campaign for medical aid to leftist El Salvador rebels. "When I returned to L.A., I came under a tremendous amount of attack and the show was threatened with being blacklisted. Charlton Heston took me on and called me a 'dangerous, dangerous man' and then the show was indeed canceled." Asner did not disclose how he learned that Paley, who died in 1990, personally decided to cancel the show, which had won 13 Emmys. Asner said that, as a result of that experience, he has learned how "to pick and choose" his political causes. "I want to work as much as the next man," he said.
See Also
Friday, 27 June 2008
Sunday, 22 June 2008
Rapper Young Jeezy in the Big Heezy!
TMZ has learned rapper Young Jeezy was popped early this morning in Atlanta driving like a crazy person!Cops arrested the Jeez around 2:30 AM on a whole mess o' charges, including DUI, speeding, reckless driving, no tags, driving with an open container and no proof of insurance. Somebody get Geico on the phone!
Jeezy -- whose real name is Jay Jenkins -- was released this morning on bail. He'll be back in court on July 17.
We tried to reach his reps, but they haven't called us back yet.
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Saturday, 14 June 2008
Davids duke it out for the "American Idol" title
NEW YORK (Reuters) - "American Idol"'s dueling Davids faced off on Tuesday as the two remaining finalists each performed three songs in their bid to take the crown in the talent show's seventh season.
Despite rocker David Cook's surge in recent weeks, the judges were uncharacteristically united in proclaiming early fan favorite teen David Archuleta had outperformed his rival.
"You came out here tonight to win, and what we have witnessed is a knockout," said prickly judge Simon Cowell.
Judge Randy Jackson concurred, proclaiming "the best singer of season 7 is right there," following Archuleta's rendition of John Lennon's "Imagine," a song that earlier in the competition had brought him some of his best feedback.
Cook, 25, and Archuleta, 17, each performed three times in the live telecast before some 7,000 people at Los Angeles' Nokia Theatre.
One song was chosen for each by Sony BMG executive Clive Davis, who assigned U2's "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" to Cook, and the Elton John ballad "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" to Archuleta.
Cowell, who had earlier predicted Cook would triumph, firmly stated "Round 1 goes to David Archuleta."
The next set was chosen from the "American Idol" songwriting contest's top 20 submissions, with Cook doing "Dream Big" by Emily Shackelton, while Archuleta went for Ryan Gillmor's "In This Moment."
Despite rocker David Cook's surge in recent weeks, the judges were uncharacteristically united in proclaiming early fan favorite teen David Archuleta had outperformed his rival.
"You came out here tonight to win, and what we have witnessed is a knockout," said prickly judge Simon Cowell.
Judge Randy Jackson concurred, proclaiming "the best singer of season 7 is right there," following Archuleta's rendition of John Lennon's "Imagine," a song that earlier in the competition had brought him some of his best feedback.
Cook, 25, and Archuleta, 17, each performed three times in the live telecast before some 7,000 people at Los Angeles' Nokia Theatre.
One song was chosen for each by Sony BMG executive Clive Davis, who assigned U2's "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" to Cook, and the Elton John ballad "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" to Archuleta.
Cowell, who had earlier predicted Cook would triumph, firmly stated "Round 1 goes to David Archuleta."
The next set was chosen from the "American Idol" songwriting contest's top 20 submissions, with Cook doing "Dream Big" by Emily Shackelton, while Archuleta went for Ryan Gillmor's "In This Moment."
Sunday, 1 June 2008
John Mayer gushes over Pete Wentz in blog
John Mayer has written a gushing open letter to Pete Wentz, and published it on his personal blog,
The singer says he could have emailed Wentz his appreciation, but instead decided to publicly show his support for him because Wentz had previously written positively about Mayer on his blog.
�??I could have easily written this to you in an email, but you've been so cool to write positive things about me on your blog(s) that I want to respond in kind,�?� Mayer wrote.
�??You're one of the best eggs in the music industry, hands down.�?� He continued. �??With as much talent as you have, I'd expect you'd have some eccentric ego, but from what I can tell you seem to have none. (That actually makes you more talented, by way of some crazy cosmic arithmetic.) Every time we get the chance to hang I'm inspired by your creativity. Your mind is like a stadium with the dome open�?� you have ZERO judgment when it comes to things that move you. When most people get the feeling they might like an idea, or a shirt, they run it through a series of filters; 'what should I think, given my personal attributes?' 'How does this read?' 'What would Kanye do?' You have what makes talented people successful for years and years - a brave sense of self and a completely authentic relationship with your tastes.�?�
Mayer also complimented Wentz on his ability to deal with his celebrity, and congratulated the father-to-be on his recent nuptials:
�??Point is, I think the world of you. And wish you all the happiness your artsy head will accept. Fame is just one big lesson in being a man, and you're doing a bang up job�?� Best to you and your lovely wife�?��?�
Wentz yesterday confirmed he and new wife Ashlee Simpson will be parents later this year.
--By our New York staff.
Find out more about NME.
The singer says he could have emailed Wentz his appreciation, but instead decided to publicly show his support for him because Wentz had previously written positively about Mayer on his blog.
�??I could have easily written this to you in an email, but you've been so cool to write positive things about me on your blog(s) that I want to respond in kind,�?� Mayer wrote.
�??You're one of the best eggs in the music industry, hands down.�?� He continued. �??With as much talent as you have, I'd expect you'd have some eccentric ego, but from what I can tell you seem to have none. (That actually makes you more talented, by way of some crazy cosmic arithmetic.) Every time we get the chance to hang I'm inspired by your creativity. Your mind is like a stadium with the dome open�?� you have ZERO judgment when it comes to things that move you. When most people get the feeling they might like an idea, or a shirt, they run it through a series of filters; 'what should I think, given my personal attributes?' 'How does this read?' 'What would Kanye do?' You have what makes talented people successful for years and years - a brave sense of self and a completely authentic relationship with your tastes.�?�
Mayer also complimented Wentz on his ability to deal with his celebrity, and congratulated the father-to-be on his recent nuptials:
�??Point is, I think the world of you. And wish you all the happiness your artsy head will accept. Fame is just one big lesson in being a man, and you're doing a bang up job�?� Best to you and your lovely wife�?��?�
Wentz yesterday confirmed he and new wife Ashlee Simpson will be parents later this year.
--By our New York staff.
Find out more about NME.
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