Buzz Briefs: Oprah Winfrey, Tim McGraw
Oprah En Español
"The Oprah Winfrey Show" is becoming bilingual.
Chicago-based Harpo Productions says the show is being made available in Spanish through Secondary Audio Programming and closed captioning.
The Spanish-language offerings launched Monday in the country's six largest Hispanic TV markets, including Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Houston and Dallas. More cities are expected to be added this season.
"The Oprah Winfrey Show" is now in its 22nd season. It's syndicated to 214 domestic stations and 139 countries.
Tim McGraw Pens Children's Book For Daddy's Little Girls
As the father of three girls, country singer Tim McGraw understands the challenges that face dads who want to please their daughters.
So his new children's book, "My Little Girl," has some simple advice: As long as you're spending time with your daughters, it doesn't really matter what you do.
McGraw says he's found that his daughters, ages 11, 10 and 6, like coming along while he does simple, everyday stuff, like running to the grocery store or stopping by the office.
Says McGraw: "Do what you have to do in your regular routine and take them with you. It makes all the difference in the world."
Court Allows Prosecutor To Remain On "Alpha Dog" Case
The Supreme Court is allowing a prosecutor who helped in the making of the movie "Alpha Dog" to remain on the death penalty case on which the film is based.
The justices, in an order Monday, denied an appeal from Jesse James Hollywood, who prosecutors say masterminded a plot to kidnap and murder 15-year-old Nicholas Markowitz. He was killed in 2000 because his older half brother owed Hollywood money, prosecutors say.
A California appeals court had removed Santa Barbara County Deputy District Attorney Ron Zonen from the case after he turned over probation reports, police files and other sensitive materials to director Nick Cassavetes. "Alpha Dog," a fictionalized account of the killing of a Southern California teen starring Bruce Willis, Sharon Stone and Justin Timberlake, was released last year.
Zonen said in court documents that he helped Cassavetes with "Alpha Dog" to help publicize the hunt for Hollywood, who was captured in 2005 in Brazil after spending nearly five years on the lam.
The state Supreme Court said Zonen could participate.
The case is Hollywood v. California, 08-181.
Sean Penn Visits Venezuela's Chavez Again
U.S. actor Sean Penn is visiting Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez -- again.
Venezuela's state-run news agency reports that Penn accompanied Chavez during the inspection of a natural gas pipeline on Sunday.
Chavez has praised Penn for his criticism of the U.S. war in Iraq, but he did not mention Penn's visit during a televised address. Nor did state media broadcast images of the Oscar-winning actor.
It was Penn's second meeting with Chavez. The actor also visited in August 2007, when he went as a freelance journalist.
Photos: Political Action Part 2
Chavez has hosted visits by several Hollywood stars including actors Danny Glover and Kevin Spacey. British supermodel Naomi Campbell visited last year, expressing support for Chavez's efforts to help the poor.
Bob Hope Auction Items Net $601,000
An autographed photo of Lucille Ball, complete with blacked out teeth, fetched more than $6,500, an inscribed photo of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor went for $27,500, cufflinks from President Nixon brought $10,000.
The items were among the nearly 800 mementoes belonging to Bob Hope that the late comedian's family auctioned off over the weekend as a charity fundraiser.
The auction reaped more than $601,000, with some items fetching 10 to 20 times more than expected, said Darren Julien, president of Julien's Auctions, who has arranged similar sales for Cher, Barbra Streisand, Ozzy Osbourne and other celebrities.
Fellow comedian and fellow duffer George Lopez was one of the bidders. He snatched up some of Hope's beloved golfing gear, including hats he wore on the links.
"They were both fanatical golfers," said producer Ann Lopez, George's wife. "George hosted the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic for two years. He wants to wear the hats on the course to keep Mr. Hope out there in spirit, still golfing."
The pieces of Hope history were sold to fans and dealers alike at the auction, which was spread over Saturday and Sunday. The sale was televised live and online by the Auction Network, allowing viewers worldwide to participate in real time.
Proceeds from the auction will benefit charities and causes that were important to Hope, who died in 2003 at age 100.
Soul Singer Dee Dee Warwick Dies At 63
Soul singer Dee Dee Warwick has died at age 63.
She had won recognition for both her solo work and her performances with her older sister Dionne.
A family spokesman says Dee Dee Warwick died at a nursing home in Essex County, N.J.. The spokesman says she had been in failing health in recent months, and her sister was with her when she died.
Warwick had several hits on the soul and R&B charts in the 1960s and 70s, including "Foolish Fool," "She Didn't Know (She Kept on Talking)" and a version of "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" that was later covered by Diana Ross and The Supremes.
Warwick also was a two-time Grammy Award nominee and sang backup for Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett and others before starting her solo career.
Warwick was the niece of gospel singer Cissy Houston and a cousin of Whitney Houston.
Screen Actors Guild Requests Mediator To Resolve Contract Gridlock
Screen Actors Guild leaders voted on Sunday to ask a federal mediator to step into stalemated contract negotiations with movie producers and, if the mediated talks fail, to poll guild members whether to authorize a strike.
More than 96 percent of SAG's National Board of Directors voted in favor of the measure.
"We hope mediation will help move this process forward," said Screen Actors Guild National President Alan Rosenberg in a statement.
SAG National Executive Director Doug Allen, who is also the chief negotiator, said the union's number one goal remains securing a favorable contract without a strike.
Actors in primetime television shows and movies have been working under the terms of a contract that expired June 30 in hopes of avoiding a repeat of the 100-day writers' strike that ended in February. That strike cost the Los Angeles area economy an estimated $2.5 billion.
The studios, represented by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, said in a statement issued Sunday that they would like to close the SAG contract this year, but SAG negotiators must remain realistic in view of the grim economic climate.
The alliance has stuck by a final offer it made June 30, which it said mirrored deals accepted by directors, a smaller actors union called the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, and writers following their strike.
The two sides met for 44 days of formal negotiations and failed to come to an agreement.