Buzz Briefs: Janet Jackson, Roger Ebert
Gay Rights Group To Honor Janet Jackson
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) will be honoring Janet Jackson with its Vanguard Award at the end of this month, the organization announced Tuesday.
GLAAD president Neil Giuliano said Jackson is being honored because she is a "visible, welcoming and inclusive ally of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) community" within which she has a "tremendous following."
"I have received a number of awards throughout my career but I am so proud to be receiving the Vanguard Award from GLAAD," Jackson said in a statement.
Jackson will receive the award that the 19th Anual GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles on April 26, 2008. Ellen DeGeneres will host the event, GLAAD also announced Tuesday.
Ebert's Pen To Do The Talking
In a letter published in Tuesday's Chicago Sun-Times, the Pulitzer Prize-winning film critic and co-host of TV's "Ebert & Roeper" said surgery in January ended in complications, and his ability to speak was not restored. He said the return of speech would require another surgery.
"But I still have all my other abilities, including the love of viewing movies and writing about them," Ebert said.
Ebert, 65, said he's looking forward to his annual film festival starting April 23.
Ebert, famous for his "thumbs-up" or "thumbs-down" critiques, had surgery in 2006 to remove a cancerous growth on his salivary gland. He also had emergency surgery that year after a blood vessel burst near the site of the operation.
He had undergone cancer surgery three times before the 2006 operation - once in 2002 to remove a malignant tumor on his thyroid gland and twice on his salivary gland the following year.
Ebert said he remains cancer-free, and is not ready to think about more surgery.
The 10th annual Ebertfest at the University of Illinois runs April 23-27. Ebert chose 13 films for the festival.
Becks To Appear On "The Tonight Show"
The Galaxy captain is healthy as he begins his second season with the team. Beckham's debut season was cut short by ankle and knee injuries.
The Galaxy lost their opener in Colorado 4-0 on Saturday.
Beckham sat courtside Sunday night at the Los Angeles Lakers game and afterward met Kobe Bryant for the first time.
Photos: Celebrity Circuit
"They had a tough first game, so I'm sure they're looking to bounce back," Bryant said. "I support him 100 percent."
A Broken Ankle Doesn't Stop Adam Sandler From Winning The Game
The 41-year-old actor broke his ankle over the weekend while playing basketball - but still won the game - according to a statement sent to The Associated Press from Sandler's representative.
Sandler, who starred in "Happy Gilmore" and "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry," is currently shooting Walt Disney Pictures' "Bedtime Stories." In the film, due out later this year, Sandler plays a hotel handyman whose bedtime stories magically come true. The statement said the injury will not affect production.
Jennifer Love Hewitt Back In Paparazzi Viewfinders
According to People, the speculation began when Hewitt was running errands before the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards. The actress was wearing a baby doll style shirt, which led the media to believe she was pregnant.
The actress' rep confirmed to People that the actress is not pregnant.
A few months ago, pictures of Hewitt sporting a bikini on the beach surfaced on the Internet. The paparazzi gave Hewitt a hard time saying that she had gained a lot of weight. Hewitt fought back against the media's obsession with weight and the fixation on body image.
Hewitt also said that when the pictures were taken of her, it happened to be one of the happiest moments of her life, as she had just become engaged to Scottish actor Ross McCall.
Hayden Panettiere's Brother Fed Up With Paparazzi
There are lots of little brothers and sisters who can't wait for their older siblings to go to college or move out on their own, usually so they can have their own room and get a little privacy.
"Heroes" star Hayden Panettiere's baby brother is also looking for privacy, but the source of his problem is different than most kids.
"It's bad. There are actually places in our house where you can't safely change clothes because of the paparazzi hiding outside," 13-year-old Jansen Panettiere told the L.A. Times' Dish Rag.
Jansen said that he doesn't think it's wrong for the paps to follow a celebrity around in public places, but at their home "that's just wrong."
He said that the paparazzi will be moving on soon.
"It should get better shortly because Hayden is buying her own house and will be moving in soon," he said.