Celebrity Scoop
It's not exactly what David Letterman had in mind, but Muncie, Indiana, has decided it will name an alley after the "Late Show" host. Indiana native Letterman had hoped to get a highway renamed in his honor, but that request, made in October, hasn't gone too far.
Muncie, on the other hand, is rising to the challenge, although it hasn't decided yet exactly what the alley will be called. Brian Lough, Muncie's downtown development director, says the South Walnut Street alley is near a bar and a comedy club. It will be dedicated in December and will eventually be equipped with a webcam.
Raleigh, N.C., isn't renaming a street, or even an alley, but it has okayed a statue portraying Mayberry Sheriff Andy Taylor and his young son Opie on the way to their favorite fishing hole. The sculpture would be donated and maintained by TV Land - part of Viacom, as is CBS - which sponsored statues of Honeymooners bus driver Ralph Kramden in New York and Mary Richards of "Mary Tyler Moore" in Minneapolis. The fictional Andy and Opie were, of course, the heart of "The Andy Griffith Show," still alive and well in re-runs, decades after its cancellation. Director and actor Ron Howard, 48, who began his role as Opie before he even knew how to read, says he thinks the sculpture is "a wonderful idea."
Justin Timberlake of 'N Sync has canceled performances for next two weeks after breaking a foot. The BBC says Timberlake, whose solo, R&B-tinged album "Justified" has been selling well in the United States, had the accident in London while rehearsing for an awards party sponsored by Smash Hits magazine. He was scheduled to host the T4 Poll Winners Party with Kelly Osbourne, June Sarpong and Vernon Kaye, but Timberlake canceled that appearance after his doctors advised him to rest. "I am sorely disappointed that I must miss any scheduled events," says Timberlake. "However, I must adhere to my physician's recommendations and rest. I look forward to being able to perform again and hope to see all my fans soon."
Tom Jones, on the other hand, is going strong. The Welsh singer, who could probably give Timberlake a few tips on coping with female fans, will receive the Outstanding Contribution prize at the Brit Awards in February. "Tom Jones is one of the truly great British recording artists who commands respect and admiration from artists in all genres of music," says Brit Awards chairman Tom Wadsworth. Jones says it's "great news." Past recipients include Sting, U2, David Bowie, Elton John and The Who. Jones isn't letting any grass, green or otherwise, grow under his feet, however. His new album, "Mr. Jones," was released this month. It's a collaboration with Wyclef Jean, and is also Jones' debut as a songwriter.
Who says variety shows are a thing of the past? MTV has signed on the line with Snoop Dogg, who'll have his own variety show on the Viacom-owned network. The title: "Doggy Fizzle Televizzle." The rapper and actor plans to mix comedy with music and man-on-the-street segments. That's not the only iron in the fire for Snoop. According to the Hollywood Reporter, he's also in negotiations to star in a feature film based on the 1970s TV series "Starsky and Hutch." The publication says Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson are already on board.
Co-starring in "The Graduate" on Broadway made Alicia Silverstone realize that maybe she should try TV. Silverstone tells Variety that she realized that as long as the material is interesting, it doesn't matter what medium it is. So, she's agreed to star in an NBC series that's described as a "dramedy." Silverstone will play a matchmaker whose own love life is less than perfect. The 26-year-old actress, who's perhaps best known for 1995's "Clueless," has already had a varied career including everything from appearances in Aerosmith videos to roles in 1999's "Blast from the Past" and this year's "Rock My World" and "Scorched."
The U.S. is about to be introduced to Hanuman, the Hindu monkey god who soars through the skies and beats up enemies with a mace. He's the star of India's first animation feature film, scheduled for release next year in both Hindi and English, in Asia, Britain and the United States. The movie shows Hanuman protecting villages and Hindu priests by chasing away fire-breathing dragons, seven-headed serpents and green demons. "We have tried to go beyond Superman. Hanuman is like a super superhero," says V.G. Samant, head of animation at the production company Silvertoon, which is making the film. He's got his dark side, however. In Hindu mythology, Hanuman is said to have swallowed the sun, plunging the Earth into darkness until the other gods persuaded him to spit it out.