LittleJudy.com

In The Mix - August 3rd edition

Here's what we covered on The Showbuzz Wednesday:

Mel Gibson was charged with drunken driving (three counts in all). The Museum of Jewish Heritage, in my old nabe of Battery Park City, has invited Mel to stop in and get a tour and a lesson on Jewish history. Of course, The View's Joy Behar thought giving Mel a bris would be a better way to put him on the "path toward healing." I'll bring the schnapps and a nice deli plate.

Shannon Doherty threatened to sue Star magazine for saying she had plastic surgery and printing a horrible picture of her on their front page. You know, you can take a bad picture of almost anybody, especially if they're talking or eating. I've taken literally thousands of celeb photos and most of the time you get four or five attractive shots per dozen photos (roughly). Depends on the artist, though. Shakira is the only exception to the rule -- with her all the pictures come out great!

Aaron  Carter had a surfboard accident, but he's out of the hospital and "recovering nicely" at home his publicist tells me. I get a kick out of Aaron. He's so much fun to interview because he's so open.

And speaking of naughty tabloids, Marie Osmond says she was hospitalized for a reaction to medication she was taking and not because of a suicide attempt as reported by the National Enquirer.

Well, you have to hand it to the French for being good sports about their world cup loss, at least good enough sports to make a song parodying Zidane's famous head butt number one on the charts.

Christie Brinkley met wih her sorry excuse for a husband at a secluded location yesterday (he's next in line for that bris we're throwing for Mel.)

We have some cool video of the band Train who performed on our Early Show.

I'm going to be interviewing JoJo this afternoon...love her! Mo Rocca was in today, he was hilarious and so much fun and as I was walking him out who should be in the lobby but Katie Couric who it turns out is a big fan of Mo's work. I don't think she's that much taller than me, maybe I can get to know her and get her hand-me-downs! Seriously, I hear she's going to be blogging and doing a webcast so I hope I get to work with her at some point. She seemed really nice, very genuine.

I'm also interviewing Jonathan Davis of Korn tomorrow. There's a lot going on with them right now, some of which is not so great (a fan died in the mosh pit at one of their concerts last week). I'll probably do the whole thing as a podcast.

In the Mix - August 2nd

Today was Mel, Mel and more Mel! I really wanted to caption the photo at left with "Mel to Jews: Oy Such Tsuris I've Got From This Shandeh, Zayt Moykhl" but that wouldn't fly at work. Actually the photo is from a press conference where Mel was announcing the start of production of "The Passion of the Christ."

Anyway, we have an article about what bloggers are saying as well as another about PR gurus giving their opinion on Melgate.

It turns out that the arresting officer in the case, a Deputy Mee, is Jewish. He was interviewed by several media outlets today. Seems like a nice guy, very cool under pressure. I Just wanna know: is he single?

All the Mel madness has overshadowed some other stories that came out today. Michael Jackson is in more trouble now that a second team of lawyers has quit on him. Attorneys at Wachtel and Masyr say they haven't been paid and also that Jackson doesn't return phone calls and emails. You can't represent someone without being able to communicate with them. The lawyers withdrew from a case in which a financial company is suing the King of Pop for $48 million.

Wanna smell like a Yankee? Derek Jeter is launching a new fragrance called 'Driven.'  Avon will begin selling it in November.  Jeter helped develop the fragrance which is "a blend of crushed leaves, black pepper, chilled grapefruit, rhubarb, lavender, spearmint, bamboo, driftwood and oak moss." I didn't realize that chilled grapefruit smelled different than room temperature grapefruit.

Heath Ledger has been tapped to play The Joker in the next Batman movie, "Dark Knight."

Model and actress Elizabeth Hurley is getting married to Indian businessman Arun Nayer.

Michele Balan got voted off Last Comic Standing tonight. I liked her, but last week's monologue was kind of weak.  I'm rooting for Ty Barnett.

Check out a great video we have with Leigh Nash, former lead singer of Sixpence None The Richer. She's gone solo and did a little mini-concert for us in our studios.

Amy's got a great interview with food expert Alton Brown.

Today I'm interviewing Mo Rocca, tomorrow I've got JoJo and on Monday it's Israeli-born hip-hop violinist Miri Ben Ari whom I would imagine Mel Gibson won't be calling to do a soundtrack for his next movie.

Why I'm Not Shocked About Mel Gibson

So, Mel Gibson was pulled over on suspicion of drunk driving early Friday morning and launched into an anti-Semitic tirade at the authorities involved.

There's a lot of fuss over the incident, with some Hollywood types (Barbara Walters and super agent Ari Emanuel among them) demanding an industry boycott of Gibson.

Gibson was planning to produce an ABC mini-series about the Holocaust, and of course I don't want that subject in the hands of an anti-Semitic producer. The Wall Street Journal reported late tonight that ABC has decided to pull the plug on the project.

But, I wasn't shocked by Mel Gibson's anti-Semitic remarks.

The truth is, I'm shocked when somebody is not anti-Semitic. I think most people are, whether they like to admit it or not.

I base this on experience, not paranoia.

Many people think that all Jews speak with a Jewish "accent" -- which they think is somewhere between Brooklyn and the Old Country. 

I speak like a Midwesterner, so throughout my life (ignorant) people often assumed I was not Jewish even though I think it's so obvious that I'm a member of the tribe. Most people usually think I'm Irish, although I'm not quite sure why.

As a result I've been in social or work situations where people thought there were no Jews around. And I've heard the comments that people make. 

• I've been told: "well, why don't you Jew them down and get a better price?"
• I've been told: "Jews control the media." (Nu? So where's my raise?)
• I've been told: "Jews control banking." (Nu? So where's my free checking?)
• I've had people complain to me about their "stingy Jew boss" to me.

And even once people know I'm Jewish, the comments continue:

• I've been told: "I'm not anti-Semitic, I'm anti-Israel"
• I've been asked: "why do Jews have sex through a hole in a sheet?"
• I've been told: "Oh, I forget your Jewish, you're not like the rest of them."
• and so on, and so on, and so on...

I think that anti-Semitism is so deeply ingrained in most people that no amount of sensitivity training can expunge its ugly stain.

The only thing that makes Mel Gibson different than any other anti-Semite is he was stupid, got drunk, and got caught.

What's doing on The Showbuzz

I have a few interviews on TheShowbuzz.com I've done recently that you might enjoy:

• Tom DeLonge, formerly of Blink-182, presently of Angels and Airwaves
• I interviewed Los Lonely Boys, watch part 1 and part 2
• In this week's episode of my weekly BlogBuzz podcast, I interview Danielle from Celebrity Baby Blog.

BlogBuzz Podcast: Open All Night!

Check out my new BlogBuzz podcast on TheShowbuzz.com!

I'll be interviewing a different celebrity blogger each week. There are two on here which you'll enjoy. The first is with Vera of ImNotObsessed.com and the second is with Bennet from the Open All Night blog at oanmedia.com....enjoy!

Link: BlogBuzz Podcast: Open All Night!, Dish About Celebrity Train Wrecks And Who's Posing Shirtless With Katie Holmes - The ShowBuzz.

¡Dile Weeeepa! Miss Puerto Rico Crowned Miss Universe

I know beauty contests are so last century, but I thought my Boricua readers might be interested to know that Miss Puerto Rico has been crowned the new Miss Universe:

Zuleyka Jerris Rivera Mendoza,18, is the 5th Miss Puerto Rico to win the title. The two winners before her were Denise Quiñones who won in 2001, and Dayanara Torres who won in 1993.

Puerto Rico is second only to the U.S. which has had seven contestants win Miss Universe.

Link: Miss Puerto Rico Crowned Miss Universe - Forbes.com.

The ShowBuzz Has Landed!

I'm excited to announce that the hot web site I've been slaving over for the last three months has FINALLY launched (champagne for everybody!)

It's called The Showbuzz and it's at TheShowBuzz.com

There's a whole lotta stuff there to look at, and we plan a whole lot more. I'm so excited to be a part of CBS News Digital Media and this project.

It's a long way from Little Judy's Wepa Page (c. 1994) and LaMusica.com (c. 1995), right?

Take a look, and let me know what you think. Make sure and check out the Jerry Lewis Friars' Club Roast video -- I had a lot of fun talking to Robert Klein, Jerry Stiller, Pat Cooper, et al...(it's on the Comedy section)

USA already did a write-up here.

In The Mix - June 8, 2006

Loretta Lynn breaks shoulder in fall; shows canceled

Country singer Loretta Lynn broke her shoulder in a fall at her home and was scheduled to have shoulder replacement surgery, a spokesman said Wednesday.

Lynn, 71, injured her left shoulder Sunday. She was expected to have the surgery Thursday at a Nashville hospital and go home to recuperate, spokesman William Smithson said in a news release.
Lynn was forced to cancel nine concerts scheduled for June and July because of her injury. (More)

Bunny Wailer to Tour With Marleys

Bunny Wailer, the reggae legend who was one of the original Wailers along with Bob Marley and Peter Tosh, will tour for the first time with a new generation of Marleys.

Wailer will play alongside Marley's sons, Stephen and Ziggy, on the Roots, Rock, Reggae Festival, a month-long tour that opens Aug. 6 in Redway, Calif., after a year hiatus. (More)

John O'Hurley and wife expecting first baby

Television actor and "Dancing With the Stars" competitor John O'Hurley announced Wednesday that he and his wife, Lisa, are expecting their first child.

They married in 2004.

O'Hurley, 51, is known for his role as catalog king J. Peterman on the long-running "Seinfeld" television sitcom. He also won a championship last October on "Dancing With the Stars," in which
celebrities are paired with professional dancers and compete against one another in choreographed performances. (More)

Charlie Sheen and Denise Richards agree to extend restraining order

Charlie Sheen and Denise Richards agreed Wednesday to extend a temporary restraining order requiring the actor to stay away from his estranged wife.

Neither actor was present in Superior Court, where their lawyers agreed to an extension that keeps the order in effect until June 28, according to Gus Morales, court clerk for Judge Marjorie
Steinberg.

The original order was issued on April 21. It requires Sheen to stay at least 300 yards from Richards and their daughters, 2-year-old Sam and year-old Lola, except during supervised visits.

The 35-year-old actress alleged in court papers that Sheen pushed, shoved and threatened her and her parents.

Sheen, 40, has denied the allegations. (More)

Rapper Chingy Sued

A St. Louis man is suing Chingy and his record producers for more than $250,000, alleging the platinum-selling rap star broke a record deal in 2002 so he could join rap star Ludacris' national recording label.

Ronald R. Gavin claims that Chingy, born in St. Louis as Howard E. Bailey, broke a contract to sign with producers called the Trak Starz and eventually make a deal with Capitol Records and Ludacris,
according to a lawsuit filed last week in St. Louis County court.

Family of Pianist Not convinced Death Was Accident

he family of pianist-composer Hilton Ruiz is not convinced that an accidental fall caused his death, their new New Orleans attorney said Wednesday.

"Although it is the family's understanding that the New Orleans Police Department has closed its file in this matter, the family confirms that they continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding his injury and death," lawyer Scott M. Galante said.

Galante said he has not seen the evidence that police showed to Ruiz's ex-wife and daughter, both named Aida, while Ruiz was still on life support. Attorney Mary Howell, representing them at the
time, said then that they had accepted the conclusion reached by police.

Ruiz, 54, of Teaneck, N.J., had come to New Orleans on May 18 to shoot video to go with a planned compact disc to benefit New Orleans, recorded only days before he left the New York area. He was injured on Bourbon Street about 4:30 or 5 a.m. on May 19. Ruiz died on Tuesday.

In The Mix

Felicidades, Shakira! The Colombian songbird's "Hips Don't Lie" featuring Wyclef Jean became the most played song in pop radio history according to Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems. The song was played more times in one week beating out the previous record by Gwen Stefani's "Hollaback Girl" made in the week ending June 5, 2005. Shakira's song's total of 9,657 times played on the radio, broke Stefani's previous record of 9,582.

Marc Anthony is the Grand Marshall of this year's National Puerto Rican Parade which takes place Sunday, June 11 in New York. The annual event draws over 3 million people. Marc performed on the parade stage several years ago (I think it was 1999). Future wife Jennifer Lopez joined him on the stage at one point to dance while he sang. And...Defamer.com reported today that Marc took out an ad in Variety as a declaration of love for his mujer. The ad was in the form of a mock screenplay in which Jennifer as "Lola" (Marc's nickname for her) received an award while he mouthed the words "Here's to never waking up baby, you deserve it."

Coming in second ain't so bad for American Idol runner-up Katharine McPhee.  Miss Thing just inked a record deal with Sony-BMG exec Clive Davis in conjunction with Simon Fuller's 19 Entertainment. "It would really just be silly to feel bad for me at this point. I got a record deal, a new car," Kat told the AP. Duh!

Hello, Lay-deeeee!  Jerry Lewis is planning to bring his comedy classic "The Nutty Professor" to the stage -- as a musical, yet. The first show is planned for January at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, where the 80-year-old comedian has a houseboat. Jerry has been battling different illnesses over the past few years, but he plans a Las Vegas stint in July.

Attention, ladies: Keanu Reeves is lonely. The 41-year-old actor tells Parade magazine that he continues to mourn the loss of his stillborn daughter in 1999 and the death of the baby's mother, Jennifer Syme, in a car crash in 2001. But, he says he is beginning to look to the future. "I'm trying not to be alone so much," he says. "And man, it's a struggle. I want to get married. I want to have kids. That's at the top of the mountain. I've got to climb the mountain first. I'll do it. Just give me some time."

Perhaps Uri Geller isn't much of a psychic when it comes to real estate. Michael Jackson's former pal said last week that he'd bought Elvis Presley's first post-success home for $905,000 through an eBay auction. But the home's owner said Monday that they were unable to finalize the contract, so she and her husband sold it to Nashville record producer Mike Curb for $1 million.

"American Idol" Season 1 winner Kelly Clarkson says she's got nothin' but love for the show. "People have the wrong idea, like I don't want to talk about it," she says. "I think it's a great thing. It was obviously the best way for me to come into the business and it's just a great opportunity for everyday normal people. It's like a Cinderella story every day."

In The Mix

Today was a very sad day in music. We lost both Latin jazz great Hilton Ruiz and the "5th Beatle" keyboard whiz Billy Preston. Very sad.

Meanwhile, it seems that photos of baby Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt have surfaced on the Internet only days before they are to appear in print in People and Hello! magazines. China Daily, Perez Hilton, Pink Is The New Blog and others had a photo of what's purportedly the cover of Hello! which bought the UK rights to the photos. People, who reportedly bought the US rights for over $4 million, has requested those sites remove the photos. But my pal Liza Sabater over at CultureKitchen.com is protesting the photo ban by posting the picture on her blog (and earning some nice media attention in the process, go girl!)

Brad and Angelina are giving the proceeds to charity to a yet-to-be-named foundation.  The photos were linked on defamer.com and elsewhere.

Now that's what I call a mitzvah!

If you're a big fan of Pee-Wee Herman then you're in luck. The Cartoon Network's Adult Swim lineup will include all 45 episodes of the show, beginning July 10. The show's creator and star Paul Reubens, who is now 53 --- FIFTY-FREAKIN'-THREE! -- said that this is a dream come true. The Emmy Award-winners career took a dive after he was caught with his pants down at a Florida adult movie theater in 1991. He managed to resurface in 1991 in the film "Blow."

Montell Williams will be speaking to a New Jersey Senate Panel on Thursday about how marijuana has helped him beat the chronic pain associated with multiple sclerosis. He's joined a campaign to enact medical marijuana laws. Montell will be appearaing at the Marijuana Policy Project's Awards Gala in New York next Monday night. I'll be covering the event. I'm dying to see what they're serving for dessert...brownies, perhaps?