Tag: celebrity news
Ryan Seacrest Talks ‘American Idol,’ Kardashians And More

Ryan Seacrest Talks ‘American Idol,’ Kardashians And More

By Neal Justin, Star Tribune (Minneapolis)

MINNEAPOLIS — The forklift carrying one of entertainment’s valuable properties began to rise above the masses when a producer brought it to a halt.

“Perfect height!” he barked through a megaphone.

The cargo, also known as Ryan Seacrest, waited a beat before responding: “That’s the first time I’ve ever heard that.”

What Seacrest lacks in stature (he’s 5 feet 8, if you must know), he makes up for in power. He is paid roughly $15 million a year to host “American Idol,” the ground-breaking reality show that drew 2,000 people to the University of Minnesota’s Mariucci Arena last week for auditions. He hosts two radio shows, including a morning program on more than 150 stations in North America. As an executive producer, he’s quickly bulking up his portfolio, which will include an NBC drama in 2015 starring Jennifer Lopez.

What’s annoying is that, despite the challenging schedule, Seacrest, 39, looks like he just got back from a two-week vacation in the Bahamas.

“Look what I get to do,” he said, gesturing to the hyped-up crowd after taping some promotional sports and flirting with fans. “I like a Saturday off every once a while, but I get out here and my adrenaline starts to rush. I really enjoy the pace.”

Not that everything he touches is destined for greatness.

It was Seacrest who masterminded the Rise of the Kardashians, a family he vehemently defends. Last this week, Fox announced it was canceling his spoof dating series, I Want to Marry Harry, after only four episodes.

“I think like with anything, especially the TV business, you’ve got to take a lot of swings to get a hit,” said Seacrest, dressed entirely in black and wearing a jacket despite the rising humidity. “Selecting what we want to do is always an interesting process. You have to pick something you believe in, that your gut tells you might have a chance. I’ve also learned to listen to a lot of people around you. I have a great team that’s smarter than I am.”

One wise thing Seacrest did was remain with Idol, even if it’s no longer a juggernaut. Last season drew an all-time low of 12.3 million. Fox president Kevin Reilly has said that the show will be more “streamlined” in 2015 with roughly 37 hours of programming compared to 50-plus in the past. The network has also canceled The X Factor, a move that gives Idol some breathing room.

“We were on the air for so many years without any other singing shows. That was a unique time,” Seacrest said. “Then other shows came along and there was a bit of saturation, but what we try to do is focus on making the kind of great show we’ve always made. That’s what we can do and can control.”

Photo: Jorge Quinteros via Flickr

Justin Bieber Still Could Face Charges In Egg-Throwing Case

Justin Bieber Still Could Face Charges In Egg-Throwing Case

By Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times

LOS ANGELES — Justin Bieber isn’t quite out of the legal woods yet.

On Monday, authorities said they would not file charges over claims the pop star snatched a woman’s cell phone at a miniature golf course and batting cages center in Sherman Oaks in Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley.

But Bieber could still face a vandalism charge in connection with the January egging of a neighbor’s home in Calabasas.

The egging was considered a possible felony because damage totaled $20,000, authorities said. Through his attorney, Bieber has denied any wrongdoing in the matter.
Bieber has had a series of run-ins with law enforcement this year, in Los Angeles as well as in Florida.

In the phone-snatching case, the woman alleged she was with her 13-year-old daughter at the Sherman Oaks Castle Park miniature golf course and batting cages on May 12 when Bieber accused her of recording him with her cell phone.

She told detectives she had already put her phone in her purse after Bieber’s security guard said she could not take pictures. But she accused the pop star of reaching into her purse and trying to pull the phone out anyway.

The woman said she never let go of the phone as they struggled for control of it. After she promised to show him that she had not been recording, he allegedly released the phone and she displayed the screen.

She told police detectives that Bieber said: “Why don’t you leave, you’re embarrassing your daughter.” The woman said at that point her daughter started to cry and they left. The woman called TMZ.com the next day and also filed a police report.

Detectives verified the woman’s account with her daughter, who said she had been crying with excitement at seeing Bieber, according to the district attorney’s report.

Bieber refused to be interviewed by authorities. Security cameras at the miniature golf center did not capture the incident and no one has come forward with any other evidence, prosecutors wrote.

Nine employees were interviewed but none saw Bieber grab the phone or engage in any physical altercation, authorities said.

The Los Angeles city attorney’s office declined to file misdemeanor charges against the 20-year-old Canadian performer related to the incident.

The office received the case after the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office determined evidence was insufficient for a more serious felony filing.

AFP Photo/Joe Raedle

Sandra Bullock Gets Emergency Protective Order After Home Break-In

Sandra Bullock Gets Emergency Protective Order After Home Break-In

By Veronica Rocha, Los Angeles Times

LOS ANGELES — An emergency protective order was issued Monday for actress Sandra Bullock after a man broke into her West Los Angeles home, police said.

The protective order is good for five days, after which Bullock must apply for a permanent restraining order with the Los Angeles County Superior Court, said officer Wendy Reyes of the Los Angeles Police Department.

Joshua James Corbett, 39, of Glendale, California, was arrested about 6:45 a.m. Sunday inside the Academy Award-winner’s home, said Los Angeles police Sergeant Albert Gonzalez.

The protective order means Corbett has to stay away from Bullock.

Police originally described him as a “hot prowler suspect” but have since booked him on suspicion of residential burglary.

While detectives are still investigating the case, Gonzalez said there is no indication Corbett stalked Bullock or has broken into her home in the past.

“By all accounts, this seems to be the first time he has broken into anybody’s home for that matter,” he said.

Police said it does not appear that Corbett stole anything from the Miss Congeniality star’s home.

Corbett was being held on $50,000 bail, police said.

Photo: Gage Skidmore via Flickr

3 Armed Men Rob Scotty McCreery, Friends At Apartment

3 Armed Men Rob Scotty McCreery, Friends At Apartment

The News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.)

RALEIGH, N.C. — Three armed men robbed country singer Scotty McCreery and some friends in an apartment in the southern part of the city early Monday, police said.

No one was hurt when the trio entered the apartment and took wallets and electronics, Raleigh police spokesman Jim Sughrue said.

McCreery, a Garner, North Carolina, native who was the winner of the 2011 American Idol competition, posted a statement on his Twitter feed Monday afternoon.

“Yes, it was definitely a very scary night. Luckily my friends and I are safe and the Raleigh PD is on the case,” McCreery said. “I will share more when the time is right, but as of now we do not want to do or say anything that could hinder the investigation.

“Thanks to everyone for the prayers and support. A huge thank you to the Raleigh PD for their quick response and hard work in solving this case.”

The robbery took place about 1:45 a.m. A resident of the apartment who was trying to sleep in a bedroom called 911 to report the incident. He said the three men were armed with two pistols and an assault rifle and told everyone to get down on the floor.

“They took everything they had,” the caller said on a recording of the call released Monday afternoon. The caller’s name was not released.

McCreery was visiting a friend at the apartment.

McCreery, a sophomore at North Carolina State University, went on from Idol to win best new artist awards from the Academy of Country Music and the American Country Awards. He released his third CD, “See You Tonight,” last fall.

Photo: Walmart Corporate via Flickr