AM580 Blog

Monday July 26, 2010

Well, the vacation is over and the blog is back. Boy, it flew by, but we’re back on the Morning Show – so tune in every morning at 6am. OK? Thanks to Mark for filling in.

Great, now here’s what’s happening:

News Headlines

The White House is condemning the leak of more than 90-thousand previously classified documents related to the Afghan war.  The Obama administration calls the leak by the whistleblower website WikiLeaks.org “irresponsible.”  The documents indicate American and NATO troops are being targeted by the Taliban in Afghanistan with cooperation from Pakistani intelligence agents.

Tony Hayward is reportedly about to be replaced as CEO of British oil company BP.  The company’s board of directors meets in London today to decide who will lead the firm following the disastrous oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.  Hayward became known for making gaffes after the oil spill.  The most well known of them was a comment that he wants his life back.

Opposition parties say agencies that collect Ontario eco-fees should tell taxpayers how they’re spending the money. Conservative Lisa MacLeod says since the fees are mandatory, they are effectively a tax, and Ontarians have a right to know how the millions involved are being spent. Stewardship Ontario and Ontario Electronics Stewardship are non-profit corporations that don’t receive government funds. Stewardship Ontario landed in hot water this month when eco fees
were slapped on thousands of new household items. The fees were dropped amid complaints from both businesses and consumers, but taxpayers are still on the hook for about five million dollars it will cost to keep the program running while it’s being revamped.

Sports Shorts

In game one of yesterday’s doubleheader, it was the Blue Jays over the Tigers 5-3.  Lyle Overbay hit a two-run home run off of Jose Valverde to give Toronto the lead in the ninth inning.  Vernon Wells and Jose Molina also homered for the Blue Jays.  Austin Jackson was three-for-five with a double and a triple for the Tigers.

A three-run double from Ryan Rayburn lifted the Tigers to a 6-5 win over the Blue Jays in the second half of a day-night doubleheader yesterday at Comerica Park.  Detroit trailed 4-2 in the eighth inning when Austin Jackson led off with a single, Ramon Santiago was hit by a pitch, Miguel Cabrera doubled to knock in Jackson, Brennan Boesch walked, and Rayburn cleared the bases to complete the rally.  Reliever Phil Coke picked up the win.  The Tigers are now two games behind Chicago in the AL Central, and start a four-game series at Tampa Bay tonight.

Entertainment

“Inception” is holding strong at the top of the North American box office.  The Leonardo DiCaprio blockbuster about thieves who lift information from people’s subconscious minds pulled in another 43-point-five-million dollars this weekend.  That was enough to outperform “Salt” starring Angelina Jolie.  The spy thriller took second place in its opening weekend with 36-point-five-million in receipts.  In third was the Universal animated film “Despicable Me” at 24-point-one-million dollars.   “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” starring Nicolas Cage scored nine-point-seven million dollars.  Holding on to a spot in the top five was another family film, “Toy Story 3.”  The third film in the Disney Pixar franchise starring Tom Hanks collected nine-million dollars, bringing its cumulative box office total to nearly 380-million dollars.

Actress Lindsay Lohan has been incarcerated at the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department’s regional detention facility in Lynwood, California for less than a week now.  But inmates there are already reportedly sick of her presence.  A relative of one of the inmates housed there is spilling the details to People.com.  Source Maria Medina says, quote, “All the inmates are sick of Lindsay.  It’s almost like Lindsay Lohan’s here, but she’s not.  Like, if she even moves, they put the whole facility on lockdown.  It happens all the time.”  She says that on Friday, the jail was locked down after its most famous inmate had to pay a visit to the clinic.

This fall’s second season of “Glee” will tackle the cult favorite movie “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.”  The Fox show’s creator, Ryan Murphy, made the announcement while at San Diego’s Comic Con on Sunday afternoon.  The “L.A. Times” reports he appeared alongside “Glee” actor Chris Colfer, who is slated to sing the “Rocky Horror” song “Time Warp” next season.  Meanwhile, Murphy still won’t reveal who an upcoming special tribute show will honor.  The “Glee” special is set to honor a big-name musician on Super Bowl Sunday next year.  Murphy says, quote, “We’re in negotiation to do a really big tribute episode, but we haven’t closed it yet, so I can’t say.  Nothing says Super Bowl to me like ‘Glee.’”

Birthdays today: Actress Marjorie Lord is 92, director Blake Edwards is 88, singer Darlene Love is 69, musician Dobie Gray is 70, Grammy Award-winning songwriter Bobby Hebb is 69, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Mick Jagger is 67, Oscar and Emmy Award-winning actress Helen Mirren is 65, Academy Award winning actor Kevin Spacey is 51, Olympic gold medal-winning figure skater Dorothy Hamill is 54, Oscar-winning actress Sandra Bullock is 46, Emmy Award-winning actor Jeremy Piven is 45, actress Kate Beckinsale is 37 and poker star Daniel Negreanu is 36.

On this day in music history:

1960 – Sam Cooke releases “Chain Gang” on R-C-A Records.

1963 – Bob Dylan makes his first appearance at the Newport Folk Festival, performing at afternoon workshops before taking part in the evening’s program, where he is joined by Joan Baez, Peter, Paul and Mary and The Freedom Singers. Two years later, his electric performance at Newport will ignite a huge controversy in the folk music community.

Motown Records releases “Mickey’s Monkey” by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles. It peaks at number-three on the R-&-B charts and number-eight on the pop chart.

1966 – Simon and Garfunkel record “Scarborough Fair/Canticle.”

1967 – The Music Explosion gets a gold record for “A Little Bit o’ Soul.”

1968 – The Jackson 5, a group of brothers from Gary, Indiana, is signed to Motown Records in Detroit.

1969 - “My Cherie Amour” by Stevie Wonder peaks at number-four on the pop chart.

1971 – Rehearsals for the Concert for Bangladesh begin at Nola Sound and the Park Lane Hotel in New York.

1975 – Nat “King” Cole‘s daughter Natalie makes her chart debut with “This Will Be.” It makes it to number-six on pop chart and number-one R-&-B.

The Eagles‘ One of These Nights becomes the number-one-selling album.

2007 – A life-sized statue of Elvis Presley is dedicated in Hawaii by the T-V Land cable channel.

Thursday July 15, 2010

This weekend is a busy cruisin’ weekend on both sides of the border. The Canadian Transportation Museum on Arner Town Line in Essex hosts the car Club Weekend featuring a Country Hoe Down with bon fires and music  Saturday night.

The USMA has two great cruise-ins happening at Gibraltar Trade Center Saturday and Sunday – The Muscle City car Show benefits “Toys for Tots” on July 17 and The Theresia Thompson Memorial Car Show happens on July 18. Check our website events tab.

News Headlines

BP now admits it pressed the British government in 2007 to complete a Prisoner Transfer Agreement with Libya.  The petroleum giant insists in a statement released today that it never specifically discussed freeing Lockerbie bomber Abdel Basset Al-Megrahi.  The Scottish government transferred the terminally ill Al-Megrahi back to his native Libya in 2009.

BP’s pressure tests on its leaking oil well in the Gulf of Mexico have been put on hold again.  The British energy giant delayed starting the test to make sure the pressure inside the well wouldn’t rupture the well casing, which could cause more leaks.  It got the greenlight yesterday to begin testing, only to have a company spokesman later announce that a leak along a line attached to one of the valves had been found.  The leak must now be fixed before moving on to the testing phase.

President Obama travels to Michigan today to promote clean energy.  The President will attend a groundbreaking ceremony in Holland, Michigan for a plant that will make advanced batteries for electric cars.  Obama is promoting clean energy as a jobs producer and a key component of the economic recovery.

Sports Shorts

The  British Open is underway from St. Andrews in Scotland and Rory McIlroy is atop the leaderboard at eight-under par late in his opening round. Sean O’Hair is  one shot back  at minus-seven, while Andrew Coltart and John Daly, who won the  Open championship  at St.  Andrews in  1995, are  in the  clubhouse after carding  rounds of six-under 66. Tiger Woods, a two-time winner at the home of golf, is five-under and playing the back nine.

The  New Jersey Nets have named Billy King as their next general manager. King takes  the  reins from Rod  Thorn, who is stepping  down as team president and general  manager  after 10  years on  the job.  It is  also expected King will assume  the  title of president,  a dual  position new owner Mikhail Prokhorov wanted  to  keep intact.

The  Boston Celtics made  it  official and  signed  six-time All-Star  center Jermaine O’Neal later Wednesday. It was reported last week that O’Neal  agreed to the mid-level exception of $5.7 million for the  2010-11 campaign.

Entertainment

Some of Great Britain’s finest athletes may be looking forward to owning original Stella McCartney designs.  “The UK Guardian” reports that Stella — the fashion designer daughter of music legend Paul McCartney — will serve as Creative Director for Great Britain’s attire “kit” when its athletes compete at the 2012 summer games in London.  Stella will confer on everything from village track suits to threads worn in competition in a partnership with athletic wear provider, Adidas.  British fans can get in on the sartorial splendor, too, as the high-end designer has committed to creating shirts for public purchase.  Andy Hunt, CEO of the British Olympic Association comments, quote, “We know that how an athlete looks and feels in their kit gives them a psychological advantage when competing, and we are delighted that Adidas has brought Stella on board.”

It’s a new direction for team Great Britain, whose Olympic attire has been provided exclusively by Adidas since 1984.

Actor Jaleel White won’t be be facing domestic battery charges for allegedly hitting the mother of his child.  TMZ.com is reporting that there wasn’t enough evidence for the Los Angeles Police Department to proceed with the case.  Bridget Hardy had accused White — who is best known for playing Steve Urkel on “Family Matters” — of punching her in one of her breast implants while they were driving on the Pacific Coast Highway last month.  Hardy also alleged that when they got home White slapped her and pushed her into a toilet so hard that it broke the tank.  Jaleel White’s attorney, Philip Cohen, says there were questions about Hardy’s “credibility and timing,” in part because she waited several weeks to report the incident.

Mark Ruffalo may be getting green for Marvel Studios. Deadline.com reports that the character actor, known for indie fare like “You Can Count On Me” and supporting roles in blockbusters like “Shutter Island,” is under consideration to play The Hulk.  Marvel recently confirmed that former big screen Hulk Edward Norton is not returning to the super hero franchise for the film “The Avengers.”  If Ruffalo is cast as Dr. Bruce Banner — the Hulk’s alter ego — he’ll join Robert Downey, Jr., Scarlett Johanson, Jeremy Renner, and Samuel L. Jackson in the film.  “The Avengers” is expected to hit theaters in 2012.

Today’s birthdays: documentary film maker D.A. Pennebaker is 85, former football player turned actor Alex Karras is 75, actor Patrick Wayne is 71, actor Ken Kercheval is 75, actor Jan-Michael Vincent is 66, singer Linda Ronstadt is 64, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Artimus Pyle (Lynyrd Skynyrd) is 62, Singer David Pack (Ambrosia) is 58 and singer Alicia Bridges is 57.

1952 – Eight-year-old Gladys Knight wins two-thousand dollars and a gold cup for her rendition of “Too Young” on Ted Mack’s Amateur Hour.

1957 – The Everly Brothers‘ “Bye Bye Love” spends the first of seven weeks at the top of Billboard‘s country chart.

1958 – John Lennon‘s mother Julia dies after being hit by a car (driven by an intoxicated off-duty policeman) in Liverpool.

1963 – Elvis Presley starts filming Viva Las Vegas.

1965 – The Zombies and The Searchers kick off a 25-date U-S tour in Chicago. Sam the Sham will do several shows with them, and The Beach Boys will join for a couple of Florida dates.

1966 – Jefferson Airplane and The Grateful Dead begin a three-night engagement together at the Fillmore in San Francisco.

Percy Sledge gets a gold record for “When a Man Loves a Woman.”

1968 – The Temptations introduce their new member, Dennis Edwards, to New York audiences as they kick off a week-long run at Westbury Music Fair.

It’s Happening, a weekday version of the Happening ’68 series, joins the A-B-C daytime schedule. Paul Revere, Mark Lindsay and Keith Allison host.

1972 – “Too Late to Turn Back Now” by Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose peaks at number-two on the pop chart.

Elton John‘s Honky Chateau album hits number-one in Billboard, where it remains for five weeks.

1973 - Onstage at a concert in England, Ray Davies announces he’s leaving The Kinks. His decision is brought on by exhaustion and the stress of marital problems. He returns to the group within the week.

1974 – Cass Elliot kicks off a two-week engagement–her final shows–at the London Palladium.

1980 – On her 34th birthday, Linda Ronstadt begins her first run on stage in The Pirates of Penzance at a the New York Shakespere Festival in Central Park.

Wednesday July 14, 2010

This hump day is really going to be beauty! Enjoy the summer sun! The American League might have lost the game, but Major League baseball should be congratulated on their community “stats” initiative. Last night 26 individuals from each team’s city were on field and honored for the work they do in the community. the players then greeted them and exchanged handshakes and hugs. I thought it a wonderful gesture.

Today is also Metro Detroit Youth Day at Belle Isle athletic fields. A FREE day for youths 8-15 years old.

News Headlines

BP has run into another delay in efforts to stem the flow of oil gushing from its broken underwater well in the Gulf of Mexico.  The company had to postpone a pressure test scheduled for yesterday on a new cap that was placed over the blown-out oil well this week.  Retired Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen said additional analysis would be performed today.

GlaxoSmithKline has agreed to pay 460-million dollars to settle thousands of lawsuits over its diabetes drug Avandia.  The popular medication has been linked to heart attacks and other health risks.  The settlement agreement comes as the Food and Drug Administration prepares to vote today on whether or not to withdraw Avandia from the market.

A government probe into Toyota is blaming driver error for a number of the accidents involving claims of unintended acceleration.  Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reveals some drivers were hitting the gas pedal instead of the brakes when the crashes occurred.

Sports Shorts

Atlanta  Braves  catcher Brian  McCann hit  a three-run  double in the seventh inning, boosting the National League to its first victory at the All-Star Game since  1996, a 3-1  decision over the American League at Angel Stadium. The AL had been unbeaten in the previous 13 midsummer classics, winning five in a row from 1997-2001 before a 7-7, 11-inning tie in 2002 when both squads ran out of pitchers.  The AL was on a seven-game winning streak. This was just the fourth
win  in the last  23 All- Star Games for the NL (4-18-1) which will have home-field  advantage  for the  World Series.  That could bode  well for the Braves considering  they are  in first place in  the NL East, four games ahead of the New York Mets.

Entertainment

It looks like Piers Morgan is in the mix to replace Larry King on CNN.  “The New York Times” reports that Morgan — known to Americans for judging NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” — is close to finalizing an agreement to take over the high-profile talk show when King departs the airwaves.  The English TV personality is still under contract with the Peacock network — which could complicate negotiations, according to sources cited by HollywoodReporter.com.  The 45-year-old already hosts a talk show for CNN in the United Kingdom called “Piers Morgan Life Stories.”  Morgan also has a reality TV win on his resume.  He was named Donald Trump’s first-ever “Celebrity Apprentice” in 2008.

Rod Argent says the idea to reunite his ’70s band Argent began two years ago at a charity show. He tells Britain’s Classic Rock magazine that when he and Zombies  bandmate Colin Blunstone were playing with Roger Daltrey and onetime Argent member Russ Ballard, a local DJ suggested that the impromptu group play “Hold Your Head Up.”

And now on July 25th, Argent, Ballard, drummer Bob Henrit and bassist Jim Rodford (who’s also in the current Zombies lineup) will play at London’s High Voltage festival. Rod says there’ve been some “intensive rehearsals,” but “36 years later, I haven’t got a clue what to expect.”

The Doobie Brothers are without the services of bass player Skylark and drummer Mike Hossack. Skylark has broken his silence, saying he suffered a stroke. He writes on DoobieBros.com, “Every day has been a good day, filled with signs of recovery. I’ve been working hard, doing all kinds of exercises, feeling real good about my progress, and I’m really looking forward to the day I can join my brothers onstage.”

Hossack is once again hampered by injuries suffered in a 2008 auto accident. He says, “I needed to take some time off to address these issues and get my health back on track. Things are improving, but it may be several months before I’m able to get back to touring.”

The Doobies are on tour with Chicago and play DTE in Detroit tonight.

Nothing is stopping Bret Michaels these days. That’s according to the 47-year-old himself, who appeared on HLN’s “The Joy Behar Show” on Tuesday to promote his new album, “Custom Built.”  Michaels also confirmed on Tuesday that rumors that he’s interested in filling Simon Cowell’s shoes on “American Idol” are indeed true.  The rocker went so far as to say that he’d “love to” do the show and that — while Cowell was excellent — he would bring something different to the table.

Tuesday July 13, 2010

Just summer heat in store for the next week or so – so settle in and find that air conditioner – or your fave pool.

News Headlines

BP officials say the will know by Thursday if a new cap placed atop the damaged oil well in the Gulf of Mexico is a complete success.  Workers will pressure test the cap today to be certain it will stay in place after relief valves are closed.  If it works, all the oil being spewed into the Gulf will be captured.  National Incident Commander Admiral Thad Allen said Monday testing of the new cap will involve closing one or more valves for a period of time to make sure the cap is secure.

Lawrence Taylor will be in court today in Rockland County, New York to answer to charges that he raped a teenager in a hotel room back on May 6th.  The Pro Football Hall of Famer and former New York Giants great was released on bail after cops say he raped the 16-year-old girl described by police as a prostitute.  Taylor’s lawyers have said their client is not guilty.  If he is found guilty, however, Taylor faces four years behind bars.

Sports Shorts

The 2010 Home Run Derby at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Monday night was won by Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz.  He clubbed eleven home runs in the final round to defeat Hanley Ramirez of the Florida Marlins.  Ortiz smacked 32 homers over the three rounds of the event.  Ramirez had five homers in the final round and 26 overall.  Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Corey Hart finished in third place.  Hart led after the first round with 13 homers, but came up empty in the second round.  The 81st edition of the All-Star Game will get underway at 8:30 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday night.

Entertainment

This is one instance when the LAPD just isn’t getting its man.  Los Angeles District Attorney Steve Cooley issued a statement on Monday regarding the decision of Swiss officials not to extradite Roman Polanski.  According to Deadline.com, Cooley said in his statement that he was “disappointed,” adding, quote, “Our office complied fully with all of the factual and legal requirements of the extradition treaty and requests by the U.S. and Swiss Departments of Justice and State.”  The filmmaker faced sentencing in the U.S. in connection with a 1977 child sex case.  The extradition request from American prosecutors came more than 30 years after the “Chinatown” filmmaker fled the U.S. to live in France, avoiding jail time in the process.

Swiss authorities also announced on Monday that the electronic monitoring bracelet worn by Polanski during his ten months of house arrest had been turned off and he was free to leave the country.  Polanski was arrested in September 2009 in Switzerland while he was there to pick up an industry award.  French officials say they welcome his return to that country so that he may pursue more film projects.

A biopic about Oprah Winfrey is headed to the small screen next year. Writer Kitty Kelley has optioned her unauthorized biography, “Kitty Kelley’s Oprah: A Biography” to become a TV movie or miniseries.  Kelley’s book reportedly paints a sometimes unflattering portrait of Winfrey and is filled with personal details about her life, like a romantic relationship with TV host-turned-musician John Tesh.

Producer Larry A. Thompson is slated to direct the film about the woman who has set trends and helped to make stars on her popular daily talk show.  Thompson’s previous credits include biopics about Desi Arnaz, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, and Sonny Bono and Cher.  The Winfrey biopic is on track to hit the airwaves in the fall of 2011, around the same time that “The Oprah Winfrey Show” ends its run.

Scottish songbird Susan Boyle is giving one fan the chance of a lifetime. She has launched “Susan’s Search” on her official website, SusanBoyleMusic.com, in order to find a duet partner.  Boyle, who got her start with an audition on “Britain’s Got Talent,” says she wants to give someone else the kind of chance she has had.  She says, quote, “I am running an international competition to find a singer to duet with me on my next album.  And I want you to enter!”  Boyle’s 2009 audition on the UK talent show went viral around the world overnight, making her an instant sensation.  She was reportedly paid millions in music royalties on her 49th birthday on April 1st.  The singer also has an autobiography in the works called, “The Woman I Was Born To Be.”

Fans are encouraged to send in videos of themselves singing “Silent Night” to Boyle via her official YouTube channel.  She will personally select one winner to sing along with her on a duet.

Birthdays today: actor Patrick Stewart is 70, actor Harrison Ford is 68, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Roger McGuinn (The Byrds) is 68, actor and comedian Richard “Cheech” Marin is 64, actress Daphne Reid is 62, inventor Erno Rubik (Rubik’s Cube) is 66, Academy Award-winning film writer Cameron Crowe is 53, actress Didi Conn is 59, musician Stephen Jo Bladd is 68 and Musician Stephen Jo Bladd (J. Geils Band) is 68.

On this day in music history:

1957 – Elvis Presley‘s “All Shook Up”–his seventh American chart-topper–becomes his first number-one in England.

1959 – The Shirelles‘ “Dedicated to the One I Love” is released.

1964 – The Dave Clark Five release “Because,” the London band’s first ballad, which becomes their fifth straight Top 5 hit.

The Beatles release “A Hard Day’s Night” as a single. “I Should Have Known Better” is the B-side.

In Detroit, The Supremes record “Come See About Me,” which will hit number-one.

1967 – Herman’s Hermits perform at the Calgary (Canada) Stampede Corral to kick off their summer tour. The Blues Magoos open for them. The Who join the tour the following night in Portland, Oregon.

The Doors perform at the Coliseum Arena in Oakland, California. The band–whose “Light My Fire” is a Top 10 hit that week–continue their California tour on the 14th at the State Fairgrounds Grandstand in Sacramento. They team up with Jefferson Airplane on the 15th at the Anaheim Convention Center and both play Devonshire Meadows Raceway in Northridge on the 16th as part of the Fantasy Faire and Magic Music Festival with Canned Heat, The Grass Roots and The Paul Butterfield Blues Band.

1968 – Steppenwolf‘s “Born to Be Wild” is released.

1970 – George Harrison arrives in New York City to arrange the Concert for Bangladesh.

1973 – Smokey Robinson hosts The Midnight Special and joins The Miracles to sing “Tears of a Clown.” Also on the show are The Stylistics (“You Are Everything,” “You’ll Never Get to Heaven”) and Rare Earth (“Hey Big Brother”).

The Everly Brothers call an abrupt end to their concert at Knott’s Berry Farm when Phil smashes his guitar and storms off stage.

1974 – “Rock Your Baby” by George McCrae replaces “Rock the Boat” by The Hues Corporation as the number-one pop single in Billboard.

1984 – During a solo club appearance in Oakland, California, Phillippe Wynne, former lead singer of P-Funk and The Spinners (for whom he sang lead on such hits as “I’ll Be Around” and “Could It Be I’m Falling in Love”), collapses on stage and dies of a heart attack at age 43.

1985 – The Live Aid concerts, organized by Bob Geldof of The Boomtown Rats to help starving people in Africa, are held in Philadelphia and London. The day-long shows, which are televised around the world, feature dozens of top acts and are seen or heard by an estimated one-point-five-billion people.

Friday July 9, 2010

We mentioned Sir Paul McCartney jumped on stage this week on Ringo’s 70th birthday to do a version of “Birthday.”

Here’s a great video captured at the show:

Paul McCartney and Ringo’s All-Star Band doing Birthday

News Headlines

The spy swap between Russia and the U.S. is a done deal.  The exchange took place on an airport tarmac in Vienna this morning amid a strict news blackout.  Ten undercover agents arrested in the U.S. in late June and four convicted spies in Russian prisons were shuttled between two waiting airplanes.

President Obama will be on the road again today talking about the economy.  He’ll speak to an invitation-only crowd at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas this morning before heading back to Washington, DC.  During a stop yesterday in Kansas City, Obama defended his economic record while promoting alternative energy.

The end of the line is near for Chrysler’s PT Cruiser. The last new Cruiser is scheduled to roll off the assembly line today.  The PT Cruiser’s retro design made it a big hit when it debuted back in 2000.  Since then, more than one-point-three-million have been sold.

Sports Shorts

About two dozen fans were on hand early this morning to greet LeBron James at Miami International Airport.  Also there to greet King James at 3 a.m. Eastern time was Miami Heat president Pat Riley.  Just a few hours earlier, James finally ended weeks of speculation about his future by announcing he was leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers to play for the Miami Heat.

Entertainment

The nominees for the 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards have been announced.  “Community’s” Joel McHale and “Modern Family’s” Sofia Vergara joined Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Chairman and CEO John Shaffner in announcing the nominees Thursday morning.

In one of the morning’s surprises, short-lived “Tonight Show” host Conan O’Brien earned his first and only Emmy nomination for his work on the NBC late night talk show. This, after the 47-year-old he was unceremoniously dumped from the show earlier this year.  O’Brien’s “Tonight Show” predecessor  –  and successor  –  Jay Leno was not nominated.  In January, NBC bought O’Brien out of his contract with the network to make room for Leno’s return as host of the “Tonight Show.”  The move came just seven months after Leno handed the show off to O’Brien after a 17-year run as host.  O’Brien will have a new show on TBS beginning in November.

This year’s other contenders are the hit Fox musical comedy “Glee,” which picked up 19 nods this year.  AMC’s “Mad Men” is also vying for multiple honors with 17 Emmy nominations.  Leading all nominees this year, however, is the HBO World War Two mini-series “The Pacific,” which nabbed 24 nods.  Acting nominations in the drama categories went to “Mad Men” star Jon Hamm, Michael C. Hall for “Dexter,” Julianna Margulies for “The Good Wife” and Glenn Close for “Damages,” among others.  Nominated comedy actors include Steve Carell of “The Office,” Alec Baldwin of “30 Rock,” Amy Poehler for “Parks and Recreation” and Lea Michele in “Glee.”

Gary Wright is on his second summer tour with Ringo Starr‘s All Starr Band. While he’d recorded extensively with George Harrison, the singer-keyboardist tells us he was “thrilled to tour with one of the Beatles” — since George rarely did. “When I got the call from Ringo, two years ago, I thought ‘There’s a desire I’ve long had. It was a fabulous tour. And to have been called back a second time, was even greater.

Wright’s association with the Beatles began in 1970, when Klaus Voorman, who’d worked on a couple of Gary’s albums, called him with the offer to play on Harrison’s “Isn’t It a Pity.” George was so pleased that he invited Wright back to work on more songs — including “My Sweet Lord.” It was the start of a friendship that continued for the rest of Harrison’s life.

The All Starr Band plays tonight (Friday) in Cincinnati, where the Beatles performed in 1966.

Birthdays include:  singer Ed Ames is 83, actor James Hampton is 74, actor Brian Dennehy is 72, actor Richard Roundtree is 68, sci-fi writer Dean Koontz is 65, football Hall of Famer O.J. Simpson is 63, Academy Award-winning actor Chris Cooper is 59, musician and television personality John Tesh is 58, Award-winning actor Tom Hanks is 54, Emmy Award-winning actor Jimmy Smits is 55 and Actress Kelly McGillis is 53.

1955 – Bill Haley & His Comets top the Billboard singles chart with “Rock Around the Clock,” the first rock and roll song to reach number-one.

1956 – Dick Clark becomes the host of Bandstand, a local afternoon T-V dance show in Philadelphia. Its tremendous success lands it on the A-B-C network 13 months later.

1963 – Elvis Presley starts three days of sessions for soundtrack songs of Viva Las Vegas. Glen Campbell is one of the musicians — and will play lead on the title track.

The Miracles record “Mickey’s Monkey.”

1964 – The Animals hit number-one in England with “House of the Rising Sun.” The single will top the U-S charts two-and-a-half months later.

1967 – The Doors perform at Memorial Auditorium in Dallas. “Soul Kitchen” opens the show and “Light My Fire” closes it. During that song’s extended instrumental, Jim Morrison jumps offstage and offers his microphone to audience members. Several people shout happily into it, but a policeman does not. Morrison then mocks the cop by mimicking being frisked.

1969 – The Beatles record “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer” in John Lennon‘s first session since his June car crash.

1972 – Paul McCartney & Wings, traveling aboard their double-decker bus, begin a 26-stop European tour in Chateauvillan, France. It’s McCartney’s first time on the road since the end of The Beatles.

1976 – On the first day of an all-star two-day soul music show at Shea Stadium in New York, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, Smokey Robinson and Teddy Pendergrass do their things. The next day, James Brown, The Spinners, M-F-S-B, Archie Bell & the Drells and Ray Charles perform.

2006 – Commodores co-founder and keyboardist Milan Williams dies of cancer. He was 59

Wednesday July 7, 2010

It’s another heat advisory today – also a smog advisory/ozone action day. Whew! The heat sticks around another day or two and then relents for the weekend.

The Netherlands are already in the World Cup finals – today will it be Spain or Germany getting through to face the Dutch?

News Headlines

An attorney for a nuclear weapons scientist jailed in Russia for allegedly spying for the U.S. says Moscow is open to a swap for one of the alleged Russian spies arrested by the FBI.  Igor Sutyagin was sentenced by a Russian court in 2004 to 15 years behind bars for passing along classified military information to a British company that Russian prosecutors claimed was a front for the CIA.  Sutyagin’s attorney says Russian officials want to trade him for one of the ten suspected spies arrested in the U.S. last month They reportedly want the trade to take place by Thursday.

The man nicknamed “America’s Toughest Sheriff” says the new illegal immigration law in Arizona and the Justice Department lawsuit challenging it won’t change what he does.  The law, set to take effect July 29th, requires police to ask about the citizenship of suspected illegal immigrants.  Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio said the federal government should be asking for his state’s help in fighting illegal immigration instead of going to court.  Arpaio has made a name for himself in Arizona for conducting crime suppression sweeps and rounding up suspected illegal aliens.

A little girl kidnapped from her front yard in Louisiana, Missouri on Monday has been found unharmed.  Four-year-old Alisa Maier was apparently dropped off at a car wash in Fenton, Missouri Tuesday night.  She was later reunited with her parents at an area hospital.  Alisa was playing with her brother in the front yard of their home Monday night when she was abducted by a stranger.  Her brother told police Alisa got into a four-door dark-colored car with a white man in his late teens or early 20s.  The search for the kidnapper is still underway.

Sports Shorts

Johnny Damon ended a record night with a two run walk off homer in the bottom of the 11th inning to lift the Tigers to a 7-5 win over the Baltimore Orioles last night at Comerica park.  Damon became the 92nd player in the Major League history to reach 25-hundred career hits with a single in the third and finished the night two-for-five at the plate.  Miguel Cabrera hit a two run shot in the ninth to tie the score at five and send the game into extra innings.  Armando Galarraga went six and two thirds innings, giving up three runs on 10 hits and Ryan Perry earned his second win of the season pitching a scoreless 11th.  Max Scherzer gets the start for Detroit in tonight series finale, while Brad Bergesen takes the mound for Baltimore.

The funeral for former Red Wings enforcer Bob Probert will be held Friday.  Probert collapsed on a boat in Lake St. Clair Monday afternoon after complaining of chest pains and was later pronounced dead at  Windsor Regional Hospital.  Visitation is scheduled today from 7-9 p.m. and tomorrow from 2-5 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. at Families First Funeral Home in Windsor.  A funeral service will be held at Windsor Christian Fellowship at 10 a.m. on Friday.  An autopsy preformed yesterday showed no signs of foul play.  He was drafted by the Red Wings in 1983 and spent nine of his 15-years in the NHL with Detroit.  Bob Probert was 45 years old.

The  Netherlands  will seek its first  World Cup title  against the winner of Wednesday’s  semifinal showdown  between Germany  and Spain.  Germany lost  to Spain in the Euro 2008 final, but much has changed since that matchup, and the semifinal  figures to be one of the World Cup’s best games. Germany has proven to  be  an offensively  dynamic team, beating  England 4-1 in  the round of 16 before dominating Argentina, 4-0, in the quarterfinals. While Germany has been the  tournament’s highest-scoring  team, Spain has advanced by the skin of its teeth in the knockout stage, getting 1-0 victories over Portugal and Paraguay. Spain  is led  by David  Villa (five  goals) and  is seeking  its first  final appearance.

Entertainment

Ringo Starr has a birthday wish as he turns 70 today. The former Beatle wants peace and love — at noon local time, to be precise.  Examiner.com reports that Starr would like people across the globe to take a moment to say the words “peace and love” in honor of his milestone birthday.  Ringo’s going one step further for his fans in London and Los Angeles, where he’s asking them to gather in front of Abbey Road Studios and the rocker’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame respectively.  Earlier this year in January, Starr released the LP, “Y Not.”  The album features “Walk With You,” a track Starr co-performed with Sir Paul McCartney, the only other surviving member of The Beatles.  As for Sir Paul, he won’t turn 70 until June of 2012.  Had they lived, Beatles members John Lennon would have hit 70 this October 9th and George Harrison would have observed the milestone on February 25th, 2013.

A Beverly Hills judge isn’t playing nice with “Mean Girls” star Lindsay Lohan.  The 24-year-old actress was sentenced to 90 days in jail on Tuesday for violating her probation.  The sobbing performer was also ordered to participate in a 90-day inpatient drug and alcohol abuse program.  She was ordered to surrender to serve the time on July 20th.  Beverly Hills Municipal Court Judge Marsha Revel found the violation after a hearing to determine if Lohan had followed the orders of the court for attending alcohol education classes.  Revel’s order came after Lohan offered a tearful statement to the court presenting rationalizations for her actions.

Actor Javier Bardem is the latest big-screen name to join the small-screen cast of Fox’s “Glee.”  Ew.com reports that the Academy Award winner grabbed his spot on the hit musical sitcom by pitching an idea to show creator Ryan Murphy.  Bardem will play a rock star who befriends the wheelchair-bound student Artie, played by actor Kevin McHale.  It may have been easier for Bardem to give Murphy an elevator pitch than it would be for other Hollywood actors since he stars in the Julia Roberts movie “Eat Pray Love” that the “Glee” godfather directed.  The actor says, quote, “We’re going to rock the house.  We going to do some heavy metal  –  Spanish heavy metal, which is the worst.”  Catch Bardem and Roberts in “Eat Pray Love” when it arrives in theaters August 13th.

Birthday’s include: Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Ringo Starr is 70, trumpeter, bandleader Doc Severinsen is 83, fashion designer Pierre Cardin is 88, Emmy Award-winning actor Joe Spano is 64, actress Shelly Duvall is 61, women’s basketball star Lisa Leslie is 38, Olympic figure skater Michelle Kwan is 30 and mistress and model Jessica Hahn is 51.

On this day in music history:

1962 – David Rose‘s “The Stripper” is number-one on the Billboard pop chart.

1965 – Otis Redding records “Respect.”

The Byrds lip-synch “Mister Tambourine Man” on Where the Action Is.

Sonny & Cher sing “I Got You Babe” on Shindig. The Kinks do “Tired of Waiting for You.” Aretha Franklin and Marianne Faithfull also appear on the show.

1967 – The Supremes finish recording “In and Out of Love.”

The Beatles‘ “All You Need Is Love” goes on sale in England. The U-S release comes 10 days later.

1968 – The Yardbirds officially break up, although guitarist Jimmy Page agrees to fulfill Scandinavian concert obligations, calling the new group he has assembled The New Yardbirds. After Keith Moon of The Who suggests that “…it’ll probably go over like a lead zeppelin,” Page renames the group Led Zeppelin.

1969 – The Beatles record “Here Comes the Sun” in London without John Lennon, who is in the hospital following a June auto accident in Scotland.

1971 – Jim Morrison is buried in Pere Lachiase Cemetary in Paris four days after his death.

1980 - In Berlin, the original Led Zeppelin gives its final show ever. It comes 12 years to the day after the last show by The Yardbirds, whose Jimmy Page would found Zeppelin. (Following John Bonham‘s death, the three survivors will reunite for Live Aid five years later.)

1997 – Michael Jackson‘s Thriller album is certified 25-times-platinum.

2000 – Brian Wilson kicks off a tour in Easton, Pennsylvania. The tour features Wilson performing The Beach Boys masterpiece Pet Sounds, backed by an orchestra.

2001 – Reclusive singer-songwriter Fred Neil, who wrote Nilsson‘s hit from Midnight Cowboy, “Everybody’s Talkin’,” and had songs covered by The Lovin’ Spoonful, Jefferson Airplane and others, dies at 66.

2006 - Original Pink Floyd singer-guitarist Syd Barrett dies of complications from diabetes in Cambridge, England at 60.

Tuesday July 6, 2010

The heat is still with us – high heat indexes make it dangerous to take on outdoor activities again today. The high heat warning lasts until tomorrow night.

News Headlines

It’ll be another hot day for much of the eastern United States and Canada. The heat wave that’s hitting the region this week is expected to be at its worst today.  Temperatures will hover around 100 from Hartford, Connecticut and New York City all the way down the coast and into the Carolinas.  On average, temperatures will be ten to 15 degrees above normal.

More bad weather could be on the way for the Gulf of Mexico. The National Hurricane Center says a system of “disorganized thunderstorms” may form a tropical depression in the Gulf of Mexico.  Forecasters say there’s a 30-percent chance the system may become a tropical storm over the next couple of days.

Former hot dog eating champion Takeru Kobayashi has been released from a New York City jail after being arrested at the annual Nathan’s hot dog eating contest Sunday.  At the event, Kobayashi stormed the stage and then was tackled by police.  He was released without bail on charges of trespassing, resisting arrest and obstructing governmental administration.

A funeral for a Canadian Forces medic killed in Afghanistan will be held today at C-F-B Petawawa. Master Corporal Kristal Giesebrecht died on June 26th when her vehicle hit a roadside bomb near Kandahar City. Another medic based at C-F-B Petawawa, Private Andrew Miller, was also killed. He was laid to rest on the weekend in Sudbury.

Sports Shorts

Former Red Wing enforcer Bob Probert has died. Probert collapsed on a boat in Lake St. Clair yesterday afternoon after complaining of chest pains.  He was taken to Windsor Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead.   The Windsor native was drafted in the third round by the Wings in 1983 and played nine years in Detroit before joining the Chicago Blackhawks in 1994.  During his Red Wings career, he scored 114 goals, had 259 points, collected two-thousand and 90 penalty minutes and was named as an NHL All-Star in 1988.  When he retired in 2002, he had been involved in over 240 fights on the ice and amassed 33-hundred penalty minutes.  He had battles off of the ice as well, including an arrest for smuggling cocaine into the United States from Canada at the Detroit Windsor Tunnel.  In a statement, Red Wings owners Mike and Marian Illitch said the forward “was a part of our very first NHL Draft class that also included Steve Yzerman, Joe Kocur, Petr Klima and Stu Grimson.  Bob was always there for his teammates and was one of the toughest men to play in the NHL.  He was also one of the kindest, most colorful and beloved players Detroit has ever known.”  Probert and Kocur played on the same line in the late 80′s and were known as the “Bruise Brothers.”  Bob Probert was 45 years old.

Brandon Inge went 3-for-4 with four RBI to help lead the Tigers over the Baltimore Orioles 12-9 yesterday at Comerica Park.  Carlos Guillen had a three hit, three RBI day while Johnny Damon went three-for-six, one hit away from 25-hundred for his career.  The heat and opposing bats were not kind to starting pitching yesterday, as Baltimore’s  Kevin  Millwood was chased after just one inning after giving up five runs on five hits.  Detroit’s  Andrew Oliver lasted one and one and two thirds innings, surrendering six runs, five earned, on four hits.  Eddie Bonine picked up his fourth win of the season in relief.  With the win, the Tigers have sole possession of first place in the AL Central, gaining a half-game on idle Minnesota.  Tonight, Armando Galarraga takes the mound for Detroit and Jake Arrieta gets the start of Baltimore.

Entertainment

The barbecue, American flags, and sparklers are all a memory, but TV’s major networks are probably still talking about the 4th of July.  Deadline.com reports that holiday-themed programming took the top two spots in the ratings race on Sunday night.  NBC’s “Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks” was number one on Sunday night.  “Macy’s 4th” — which featured performances from Justin Bieber and The New York Pops — attracted seven-point-one-million viewers overall.  CBS’ “Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular” pulled in Sunday’s second highest overall rating with six-point-seven-million viewers.  The CBS show featured special guests Toby Keith and Craig Ferguson.

One of the stars of NBC’s “The Office” mixed in a few wedding bells with her fireworks over the weekend.  E! News is reporting that Jenna Fischer married writer Lee Kirk on Saturday.  While details surrounding the ceremony are scarce, Fischer’s “Office” co-star Rainn Wilson said it was a wonderful day.  He tweeted, quote, “Went to the most beautiful wedding I’ve ever experienced.  Total Love, Jenna Fischer & Lee Kirk.”  Fischer and Kirk have been dating since 2008, and got engaged last summer while vacationing in Europe.  Fischer was previously married to director James Gunn.  They tied the knot in 2000, and divorced in 2007.

Curvy “Mad Men” star Christina Hendricks says she still feels the sting over harsh media criticism of her curves.  In the upcoming issue of “Health” magazine, Hendricks comments, quote, “I still remember all those negative comments, despite all the wonderful positivity.”  The 35-year-old actress adds that her body image changed when she was modeling, adding, quote, “Back when I was modeling, the first time I went to Italy I was having cappuccinos every day, and I gained 15 pounds.  And I felt gorgeous!  And I never tried to lose it, cause I loved it.”

Hendricks will reprise the role of office manager Joan Holloway when “Mad Men’s” fourth season debuts on AMC on July 25th.

Birthdays include: former First Lady Nancy Reagan is 89, actor William Schallert is 88, singer and actress Della Reese is 79, Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama is 75, singer Gene Chandler is 73, actor Burt Ward is 65, former President George Walker Bush is 64, actor Sylvester Stallone is 64, actress Shelley Hack is 63, actor and former professional football player Fred Dryer is 64, Academy Award-winning actor Geoffrey Rush is 59.

On this day in music history:

1955 – “Baby Let’s Play House” is Elvis Presley‘s first single to place on the national charts.

1957 – John Lennon meets Paul McCartney at a church picnic in the Liverpool suburb of Woolton. After Lennon’s group, The Quarrymen, do a 5:45 p-m set, bandmate Ivan Vaughn introduces the guys. 16-year-old John is very impressed when the 15-year-old Paul tells him his guitar is out of tune. The two jam on either “Twenty Flight Rock” and “Be-Bop-a-Lula” or “Long Tall Sally” and “Tutti Frutti,” depending on whose memory is correct. Two weeks later, McCartney is invited to join the group.

1961 – The first issue of Mersey Beat – a newspaper chronicling Liverpool’s beat music scene, and especially The Beatles – is published by Bill Harry.

1962 – The Beatles give a shipboard concert on a brief cruise sponsored by the Cavern Club on the fifth anniversary of John Lennon meeting Paul McCartney. The Fab Four co-star with clarinetist Mister Acker Bilk, whose “Stranger on the Shore” was a number-one hit in the U-S.

1963 – Barbara Lewis tops the soul charts with “Hello Stranger.”

1964 – The Beatles‘ first movie, A Hard Day’s Night, opens at the London Pavilion Cinema — on the seventh anniversary of the day John Lennon met Paul McCartney.

1966 – Lou Rawls records “Love is a Hurting Thing,” which becomes his first Top 20 pop hit.

Manfred Mann changes singers as Paul Jones, the voice of “Do Wah Diddy Diddy,” is replaced by Mike D’Abo, who’ll be featured on “The Mighty Quinn.”

1968 – The Temptations‘ “I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)” hits number-one on Billboard‘s R&B chart.

1969 – Plastic Ono Band‘s “Give Peace a Chance” becomes the first solo single by a member of The Beatles.

1971 – Jazz great Louis Armstrong, who enjoyed a chart-pop career in the ’60s, dies in New York.

1979 – Van McCoy dies of a heart attack. The former producer of Barbara Lewis, Peaches & Herb and Gladys Knight, whose career was highlighted by the chart-topping dance smash “The Hustle,” was 45.

1988 – Roy Rogers, “The King of the Cowboys,” dies at his home in Victorville, California, from complications connected to congestive heart failure. He was 86.

2005 – The surviving members of The Comets are on hand when a star is unveiled for Bill Haley on Hollywood’s RockWalk.

Monday July 5, 2010

Happy Holiday Season! The Canada Day/July 4th long weekend stretches out with real summer heat. Yesterday was the hottest day of the summer so far – today we’ll top that. There’s a heat advisory in effect for today and tomorrow. Keep cool – keep an eye on the kids – and pets.

News Headlines

The more than two-million Americans who wear U.S. military uniforms were praised on Sunday by President Obama during an Independence Day picnic on the South Lawn of the White House.  The gathering was to honor military members, veterans and their families.  The President said all Americans should ensure that U.S. troops always have the support they need in the missions asked of them, including “support here at home.”  After a picnic of hotdogs, hamburgers and fried chicken, Obama’s 12-hundred guests enjoyed the fireworks display on the National Mall.

A 60-year-old woman was killed and 20 others injured during a traditional Independence Day parade in Bellevue, Iowa.  The tragic accident occurred when a pair of horses pulling an old-fashioned wagon stampeded and plowed into a crowd.  Five people were listed in critical condition and another five were in severe condition.  Many others were treated for minor injuries after the bridle of one horse came loose causing the driver to lose his ability to control the steeds.  The horses ran wild for about six blocks, scattering bystanders along the parade route.  Half of those injured were children under the age of 12.

A massive oil skimming ship called “A Whale” is waiting approval by the federal government to join the cleanup efforts in the Gulf of Mexico.  The ship is currently being tested and can skim 21-million gallons of oil per day out of the Gulf waters.  By comparison, it’s estimated as many as two-point-five million gallons or 60-thousand barrels of oil have been spewing into the water every day.  The massive skimmer is owned by a shipping company from Taiwan and arrived in the Gulf on Wednesday.

Sports Shorts

Russell Branyan and Casey Kotchman both hit three run home runs, and Cliff Lee pitched eight innings as the Seattle Mariners topped the Tigers 8-1 at Comerica Park.  Lee scattered nine hits and allowed one run, improving to 8-and-3.  Lee also struck out a season-high 11 to win his fourth straight start.  Detroit broke through with a first inning run, but could not dent the plate again.  Branyan homered in the third off Jeremy Bonderman, and Kotchman took him deep in the fifth.  Bonderman was tagged for seven runs on nine hits and was ejected after five innings.  He dropped to 4-and-6 with the loss.  Brennan Boesch collected two of the Tigers 10 hits.  Detroit remained in a virtual tie for first in the AL Central with Minnesota, which lost to Tampa Bay.

Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera and reliever Jose Valverde have been selected to the American League All-Star Team.  Cabrera ranks fifth in the A-L with a .339 average, and ranks second both with 20 home runs and 69 RBI.  It is the fifth time Cabrera has been named an All-Star and first in the American League.  Valverde has converted 18-of-19 save chances this season and has posted a 0.51 ERA.  The right-hander’s only other All-Star appearance came in 2007 while with the Arizona Diamondbacks.  The game is July 13th in Anaheim.

A week after coughing up the final-round lead, Justin Rose made sure it didn’t happen again.  Rose parred his final seven holes Sunday to post an even-par 70 and win the AT&T National at Aronimink Golf Club by one shot.  He finished at 10-under-par 270.  Ryan Moore fired a five-under 65 Sunday to put pressure on Rose, but he ultimately fell one stroke short.  Moore ended alone in second at minus-nine.  Jeff Overton took third at eight-under-par 272.

World number-one Rafael Nadal followed up his French Open title with his second Wimbledon championship in three years.  The 24-year-old Spaniard beat Czech Tomas Berdych  6-3, 7-5, 6-4 for his eighth career Grand Slam title.

Entertainment

Bing Crosby may be gone, but the company that holds the late singer’s property rights is now two-million-dollars richer.  The “Variety” website reports a Santa Monica, California jury awarded the money June 30th in a Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit involving HLC, Incorporated and Universal Music Group.  HLC, which administers Crosby’s rights, claimed Universal owed royalties on CDs issued by UMG.  Crosby racked up nearly three-hundred chart-topping records for Decca between 1931 and 1954.  Among them is “White Christmas,” generally regarded as the best-selling single of all time.  UMG holds “Der Bingle’s” masters dating back to his Decca recordings of the early 1930s.  The court battle lasted over ten years.  Harry Lillis “Bing” Crosby died in 1977.

To no one’s surprise, the latest installment of  “The Twilight Saga” is tops at the movie box office this holiday weekend.  “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse” raked in 162-million dollars in ticket sales at the North American box office during its first five days of release to open at number one.  The film is now also the seventh biggest five-day opener of all time.  “Eclipse’s” five-day total fell just short of its predecessor, “The Twilight Saga: New Moon,” which earned 165-million-dollars during the same five-day period last fall.  “Eclipse” distributor Summit Entertainment predicts the film will end up with a six-day haul of about 181-million-dollars after sales from the Fourth Of The July holiday Monday are counted.

For the traditional Friday-to-Sunday box office weekend haul, “Eclipse” took in approximately 69-million dollars.  It was followed by M. Night Shyamalan’s “The Last Airbender” which opened at number two with just over 40-Million-dollars.  Falling to third place after two weeks at number one is “Toy Story 3″ with 30-point-two-million-dollars in box office receipts.  The film has grossed 289-million-dollars since its June 18th release date.

The woman identified by several media outlets as the waitress who punched Lindsay Lohan on the actress’ 24th birthday last Friday, denies laying a hand on her.  In a statement to “Access Hollywood,” Jasmine Waltz said, quote, “I didn’t hit her.  But I’d like to.”

Five alleged members of a theft ring that targeted the homes of celebrities were arraigned Friday on a wide variety of charges related to the alleged crime spree.  Charges range from conspiracy, burglary to receiving stolen property.  Each defendant pleaded not guilty.  The indictment, which supercedes an existing case, charges the defendants with one count each of conspiracy to commit burglary.  Between September 2008 and August 2009, the crew allegedly netted more than three-million-dollars in jewelry, designer clothes and accessories from the homes of Orlando Bloom, Lindsay Lohan, Brian Austin-Green and Paris Hilton, among other celebrities.  Bail for the defendants ranged from 90 to 200-thousand-dollars.

Dating life after NFL star Tony Romo has reportedly led Jessica Simpson back to professional football  –  somewhat.  TMZ.com quotes sources who say the singer has been spending a lot of time with former San Francisco 49ers tight end Eric Johnson of late.  Johnson, who last played for the New Orleans Saints back in 2008, filed for divorce from his wife in February.  He and Simpson have reportedly been dating since May.  The source tells TMZ.com that the two are “very happy.”

Dave Quaife, the brother of late Kinks bassist Pete Quaife, is trying to raise money for his funeral. He says he’s set up a PayPal account with “donations being used firstly for Pete’s funeral costs, wake and gravestone.” Whatever is leftover will be “donated to an appropriate registered dialysis fund.” Quaife was 66 when he died of kidney failure last week. His funeral is set for July 13th in Denmark.

Comedian-actor Bobcat Goldthwait is going ahead with plans to turn The Kinks’ 1975 concept album Schoolboys in Disgrace into a movie. The album tells the story of a schoolboy’s ongoing battle with the educational establishment. Kinks frontman Ray Davies will be the executive producer.

Birthdays include: Actress Katherine Helmond is 82, Emmy Award-winning actress Shirley Knight is 74, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Robbie Robertson is 67, Judge Joe Brown is 63, singer Huey Lewis is 60, Emmy Award-winning actress Edie Falco is 47 and actress Kathryn Erbe is 44.

On this day in music history:

1954 - At his first session for Sun Records in Memphis, Elvis Presley cuts “That’s All Right.”

1961 – Ray Charles records “Hit the Road Jack” in New York.

1965 – The Four Tops record “The Same Old Song” at Motown’s Hitsville, U-S-A studio in Detroit.

1968 – The Doors headline the Hollywood Bowl in L-A. Steppenwolf and The Chambers Brothers open the show, which is later released on video as The Doors at the Hollywood Bowl.

1969 – The Rolling Stones give a free concert for 250-thousand fans in London’s Hyde Park. With the cancellation of two June dates in Rome, the show was organized to introduce the band’s new guitarist, Mick Taylor. But following the death of Brian Jones, it becomes a tribute.

1973 – Dobie Gray gets a gold record for “Drift Away.”

2001 – Ernie K-Doe (Ernest Kador), the New Orleans soul star whose “Mother-in-Law” hit number-one in ’61, dies of cirrhosis at age 65.

The Vocal Group Hall of Fame inducts its Class of 2004 — The Beatles, The Doobie Brothers, The Stylistics, The Tokens, The Ronettes, The O’Jays, The Marvelettes, The Penguins, The Jordanaires, The Dells, The Crests and The Cadillacs — and this year, the Hall welcomes its first duo, The Everly Brothers. The ceremonies and concerts are held in Wildwood, New Jersey.

Shirley Pixley Goodman, who sang the ’50s classic “Let the Good Times Roll” with Leonard Lee and returned to the charts in ’73 on the Caribbean dance hit “Shame, Shame, Shame,” dies at 69.

Tuesday June 29, 2010

For some reason with all the World Cup football going on that wacky 60′s comedy movie title just came into my head. It’s a gorgeous Tuesday with lower humidity, cooler temps and lots of sunshine. I don’t about you – but I wouldn’t mind 365 days like that – is there a place anywhere like that?

News Headlines

The second day of confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagen is underway.  Vermont Senator Pat Leahy and Alabama’s Jeff Sessions are kicking off the questioning by the Senate Judiciary Committee.  During yesterday’s first day of confirmation hearings, Kagan pledged to listen and work hard “with commitment to principle and in accordance with law.”  The 50-year old Kagan is the U.S. Solicitor General and was nominated by President Obama to replace Justice John Paul Stevens after Stevens announced his retirement.

Tropical Storm Alex is expected to become a hurricane later today.  The storm is gaining strength as it churns through the southwestern Gulf of Mexico.  The National Hurricane Center in Miami says Alex’s maximum sustained wind speeds have increased to near 70 miles per hour, with higher gusts.  Alex is centered about 460 miles southeast of Brownsville, Texas.  On its present track, the storm should hit land sometime tomorrow south of Brownsville.

Kitchener’s mayor says world leaders should hold future G-8 and G-20 summits in more remote locations — like an island in the Pacific Ocean. Carl Zehr, who’s chair of the big-city mayors caucus, says the weekend G-20 violence in Toronto shows how hard it is to prevent troublemakers from hijacking peaceful protests in the heart of a major urban centre. After what happened in Toronto Zehr and many other Canadian mayors are saying they don’t want any summits in their cities.

Sports Shorts

The Tigers beat the Twins 7-5 last night at Target Field to take a half-game lead over Minnesota in the AL Central.  The win may have come at a price, though, as reliever Joel Zumaya grabbed his right arm and collapsed following a pitch to Delmon Young in the eighth inning.  He is scheduled to have an MRI today.  Jeremy Bonderman got the start and the win, giving up four runs on nine hits over five-and-a-third innings of work.  Jose Valverde earned his 18th save of the season, pitching one-and-two-thirds scoreless innings.  Ryan Raburn, Miguel Cabrera and Brennan Boesch all finished the night with two RBI, and Gerald Laird hit a solo homer in the eighth.  In the second game of the three-game set, Armando Galarraga will take the mound tonight for Detroit while Minnesota counters with Nick Blackburn.

The CFL and its players have ratified their new collective bargaining agreement.  The four-year deal includes  increased salaries and a year-round drug testing program. League commissioner Mark Cohon calls the deal a “major step forward” for the league. Drug testing will officially begin in 2011. Under the agreement, the minimum player salary grows from $41,000 in 2009 to $45,000. The previous collective agreement expired prior to the start of training camp. The two sides reached a tentative deal last month.

Entertainment

Sandra Bullock has made a legal break from Jesse James. TMZ.com reports that the Oscar winner and the West Coast Choppers owner signed off on the dissolution of their marriage last week in Travis County, Texas.  The estranged couple’s divorce papers are reportedly sealed from public access.  Bullock first initiated proceedings in late April, citing “discord or conflict of personalities” in court documents.  Also in late April, Bullock told “People” that she and James were raising an adopted baby boy — Louis Bardo Bullock — when reports of James’ infidelity surfaced.  TMZ cites a source who says the divorce agreement will allow the “Miss Congeniality” star to pursue a single parent adoption.

In late March of this year, a woman named Michelle “Bombshell” McGee announced that she’d had an affair with James.  The revelation came just weeks after Bullock had thanked her then-husband during her acceptance speech at the Academy Awards where she won the Best Actress category for “The Blind Side.”

One of the original stars of the 1990s series “Melrose Place” is in serious trouble with the law. E! Online reports that Amy Locane — the actress who played an actress on the FOX series — has been charged with second-degree vehicular manslaughter and third-degree assault by auto in the Garden State.  Locane allegedly caused a DUI crash in Montgomery, New Jersey on Sunday night that led to a fatality.  The 38-year-old’s bail was set at 50-thousand dollars during her arraignment in Somerset County on Monday afternoon.  If convicted, Locane could serve up to 10 years in jail.

In addition to her “Melrose Place” stint, Locane is known for her roles in 1990′s “Cry Baby” with Johnny Depp and for her lead role opposite Brendan Fraser in the 1992 film “School Ties.”

NBC’s hit comedy series “The Office” will be in the market for a new branch manager next year.  Steve Carell — who plays Michael Scott on the show — spoke with E! News during the Sunday night premiere of his new film “Despicable Me,” and revealed that he’s leaving the series after this upcoming season.  Carell remarks, quote, “I just think it’s time.  I want to fulfill my contract.  When I first signed on I had a contract for seven seasons, and this coming year is my seventh.  I just thought it was time for my character to go.”  Carell doesn’t believe that his departure will lead to the end of “The Office,” as he notes that the show has plenty of talent to keep creating funny episodes.  He adds, quote, “It doesn’t certainly mean the end of the show. I think it’s just a dynamic change to the show, which could be a good thing, actually. Add some new life and some new energy…I see it as a positive in general for the show.”

Steve Carell’s “Despicable Me” opens in theaters on July 9th.  The seventh season of NBC’s “The Office” will debut in September.

Today’s birthday’s include:

Actress Cara Williams is 85, producer and actor Robert Evans is 80, actor Gary Busey is 66, Actor and comedian richard Lewis is 63, drummer Ian Paice (Deep Purple) is 62, musician Colin Hay (Men At Work)is 57 and NASCAR driver Jeff Burton is 43.

On this day is music history:

1957 – Buddy Holly records “Peggy Sue” at Norman Petty‘s Clovis, New Mexico studio.

1959 – Sam Cooke lip-synchs “Only 16″ and “Everybody Likes to Cha Cha Cha” on American Bandstand.

1963 – Del Shannon‘s single of “From Me to You” becomes the first John Lennon and Paul McCartney song to appear on Billboard‘s Hot 100 singles chart.

1965 – The Zombies do “She’s Not There” on Where the Action Is.

1966 – The Beatles perform in Tokyo, before a sold-out audience. 500 police are called to control the crowd.

1967 – The Bee Gees arrive in the U-S for their first visit. During the trip, the brothers are inspired to write “Massachusetts.”

Keith Richards is found guilty of allowing his property to be used for the smoking of marijuana and is fined and sentenced to a year in jail. Mick Jagger is found guilty of illegal possession of pep pills and is sentenced to three months in jail.

1968 – Pink Floyd, Jethro Tull and Roy Harper play the first free rock concert ever held at London’s Hyde Park on the day Pink Floyd‘s second album, A Saucerful of Secrets, is released in Britain.

Aretha Franklin headlines a New York benefit show for The Martin Luther King Memorial Fund. Joe Tex, Sam & Dave, The Rascals, Sonny & Cher and King Curtis round out the Madison Square Garden bill.

1969 – Motown singer Shorty Long dies in a boating accident on the Detroit River at 29. A year earlier he’d had his biggest hit with “Here Comes Da Judge,” inspired by a skit on the T-V show Laugh-In.

1974 – “Be Thankful for What You Got” by William DeVaughn peaks at number-four on the pop chart.

1978 – Peter Frampton is injured in a car crash in the Bahamas.