Buzz Briefs: Emeril, Wedding Bells
Emeril Lagasse Spices Up Rose Parade As Grand Marshal
The 119th edition of the Tournament of Roses Parade wowed spectators along a 5.5 mile route down Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena, Calif., on New Year's Day. Part of the attraction was celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse, who was grand marshal of the extravaganza with the theme "Passport to the World's Celebrations." Lagasse rode in a vintage car along with his wife and son, and waved to the crowd -- lined 10 people deep-- along the parade route.
Holiday Weekend Proves Popular For Tropical Proposals
Photos: Rose Parade
The couple, who have been dating for two years, will talk about a date and location for their nuptials once they return to Los Angeles, according to Brenda Rodriguez, Sanchez's publicist in Puerto Rico.
Sanchez appears in the CBS series "Without a Trace" and produced the 2007 movie "Yellow." Winter has appeared in a variety of TV shows, including "Days of Our Lives."
And it looks like San Francisco is about to lose its most eligible bachelor. Mayor Gavin Newsom proposed to his girlfriend, actress Jennifer Siebel, while the couple was vacationing over the weekend in Hawaii. A personal friend says a wedding date has not been set.
Photos: Celebrity Weddings, Engagements
It will be Siebel's first marriage and the second for Newsom, whose four-year marriage to legal analyst Kimberly Guilfoyle ended in divorce in March 2006.
Rick James Estate Settles Lawsuit Over Licensing
The suit claimed a music publishing company collected money from licensing James' songs without permission. An attorney for the estate announced the
settlement in court late last week. Trial had been set to begin
this coming Monday. Dozens of James' compositions, were involved in
the lawsuit against Brooklyn Music Publishing Group. However, his
biggest hit, "Super Freak" wasn't among the songs allegedly used
without proper clearance.
Rick James died of heart failure at his home in Burbank,
California in 2004. He was 56.
Hollywood PI Seeks To Represent Self
Hollywood private eye Anthony Pellicano is seeking to represent himself in his trial for illegally wiretapping celebrities. Pellicano filed a request with a federal court Friday, Dec. 28, 2007, to replace lawyers Michael Artan and Steven Gruel. A hearing on the request is set for January 7.
Pellicano is in federal custody pending trial. An indictment accused him of tapping phones and bribing police to get information on celebrities including Sylvester Stallone and comedian Garry Shandling.
Pellicano and five co-defendants have pleaded not guilty to wiretapping and conspiracy.
K-Fed's Lawyer Wants To Depose Britney Soon
"Britney Spears will have her deposition early (next) year," Mark Vincent Kaplan told People.com late Saturday outside a Beverly Hills restaurant. "We've got a lot to talk about."
Spears, 26, called in sick to a court-ordered deposition Dec. 12, although she was photographed that day driving with a friend.
"She was, in fact, out later that day and night," Kaplan said. "It's not fourth grade where you get a doctor's note and it's all OK."
Spears and Federline have been wrangling for months over custody of their sons, 2-year-old Sean Preston and 1-year-old Jayden James.
Federline, 29, has temporary custody of the children because Spears, who has limited visitation rights, has defied court orders. Spears and Federline were married in October 2004 and finalized their divorce in July.
Country Singer Mindy McCready Out Of Jail
A Williamson County jail clerk says McCready was released Sunday morning.
She received a one-year sentence in September after violating probation from a 2004 drug arrest.
The violation occurred in July when she was accused of scuffling with her mother and resisting arrest at her mother's home in Fort Myers, Fla.
She still must serve two years probation. Her attorney, Lee Ofman, says McCready has learned her lesson and will stay out of trouble.
McCready had a No. 1 single in 1996 with "Guys Do It All the Time."
Jennifer Garner A Homestate Hero
Actress Jennifer Garner has been honored as the 2007 West Virginian of the Year by her hometown newspaper.
The Sunday Gazette-Mail says it chose Garner for her dedication, hard work and service as an ambassador and role model for West Virginia.
Garner is balancing the raising of her 2-year-old daughter Violet, her marriage with fellow actor Ben Affleck and a career that includes a starring role in "Cyrano de Bergerac" on Broadway, the new film "Juno," and two more films yet to shoot.
Garner is actually a Texas transplant, but moved to the Mountain State as a 4-year-old and considers West Virginia home.
Dec. 28, 2007
Brandy Won't Be Charged In Deadly Car Crash
The Los Angeles city attorney's office says it will not charge actress-singer Brandy Norwood for a deadly car crash last year.
Spokesman Nick Velasquez said Friday there was "insufficient evidence" for a jury to find her guilty of misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter beyond a reasonable doubt.
The decision runs counter to a recommendation from the California Highway Patrol that Brandy be charged in the crash.
The 28-year-old entertainer was driving on a Los Angeles freeway December 30 last year when traffic slowed and her Land Rover smashed into the back of a Honda.
That car was involved in several other collisions. The driver, 38-year-old Awatef Aboudihaj, died in the accident.
It's Splitsville For Sean Penn And Robin Wright
Senn Penn and Robin Wright are splitting up.
Their publicist tells People magazine's Web site that Penn and Wright are divorcing after 11 years of marriage. She didn't say why.
Penn and Wright have two children. Hopper Jack is 14 and Dylan Frances is 16.
Photos: Celebrity Couples