Top Story: Courteney Cox and David Arquette Expecting
Friends star Courteney Cox, who has spoken openly about having difficulty conceiving, is expecting her first child with actor husband David Arquette, Reuters reports. Cox‘s publicist said Tuesday the 39-year-old actress is expecting a baby but gave no other details. Cox‘s pregnancy conveniently coincides with the 10th and final season of Friends, as her character Monica and onscreen husband Chandler (played by Matthew Perry) are having difficulty conceiving and are looking into adoption. Cox told Barbara Walters in an interview for ABC’s 20/20 in October that she has had “many miscarriages” but that she and Arquette were still trying with in vitro fertilization. At the time, Cox and Arquette, who were married in 1999, said they’d consider adopting a child, but she added, “I do want his genes, and I would try probably a surrogate before that … but then, absolutely, adoption.”
Hatfield’s Death Caused by Cocaine
According to the official autopsy report, Righteous Brothers singer Bobby Hatfield’s death last November was caused by cocaine and not just heart failure. Hatfield, 63, died Nov. 5 just hours before a Righteous Brothers concert. According to the AP, chief medical examiner for Kalamazoo County Dr. Richard Tooker told the Kalamazoo Gazette Tuesday that Hatfield’s death was triggered by acute cocaine intoxication. “This is a shock to me,” his partner Bill Medley told The Orange County Register from his home in Newport Beach, Calif. “I never saw him (use cocaine). I knew absolutely nothing about it. If I had known, I would have said something to him.”
Croc Hunter Still in Running for Australian of the Year
Steve Irwin, the host of the TV wildlife program Crocodile Hunter, remains in the running for Australian of the Year despite a rash of criticism over his feeding of a 13-foot crocodile while holding his one-month-old son. According to The Associated Press, Queensland Premier Peter Beattie said Tuesday he wouldn’t retract Irwin‘s nomination for the top national award, adding: “He has been one of the best ambassadors for Queensland in the modern era. He is known internationally.” The Australian of the Year award is decided by the Australia Day Council, a non-governmental citizens group that promotes celebrations for the country’s national day Jan. 26.
No Babies for Jessica Simpson–but Maybe a Dog
Singer-turned-reality star Jessica Simpson, who is married to singer Nick Lachey, is in no hurry to become a mother. Simpson, 23, told People magazine in its Jan. 12 issue that she is not even sure she would want her pregnancy chronicled on her hit MTV reality show Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica. “Brandy did that, but I see our show just being the `Newlyweds,'” she tells the magazine. “I don’t think I am going to get pregnant. I am trying not to. But we might get a dog.”
Shriver and NBC To Discuss Dateline
NBC News president Neal Shapiro is denying a New York Daily News report that the network asked California first lady Maria Shriver to resign over concerns about maintaining a reporter’s objectivity while involved in the administration of her husband, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. But according to the AP, Shapiro is expected to meet with Shriver next week in California about an extended leave from her Dateline NBC job. Shriver, who took a leave last August to work on Schwarzenegger‘s campaign, has since made two appearances as an anchor on the newsmagazine program, but has reported no stories.
Jackson Special Fails To Crack Top 10
CBS and ABC dominated the Top 10 in primetime viewership numbers compiled by Nielsen Media Research for the week of Dec. 29-Jan. 4. Conspicuously absent from the list, however, is CBS’ Michael Jackson special, Number Ones, which came in 26th for the week with only 10.5 million viewers. The Top 10 shows were: AFC/NFC Showcase, ABC (25.1 million viewers); NFL Playoff: Dallas at Carolina, ABC (24.7 million viewers); Sugar Bowl: Oklahoma vs. LSU, ABC (23.9 million viewers); AFC Wildcard Postgame Show, CBS (19.1 million viewers); Rose Bowl Postgame Show, ABC (17.9 million viewers); Sugar Bowl Pregame Show, ABC (17.4 million viewers); CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CBS (16.2 million viewers); 60 Minutes, CBS (15.8 million viewers); Everybody Loves Raymond, CBS (15.1 million viewers); CSI: Miami, CBS (15.1 million viewers).
Duvall Says Money Was Issue With Godfather III
In an interview to air Wednesday on CBS’ 60 Minutes II, actor Robert Duvall says money was the reason he didn’t appear in Francis Ford Coppola‘s The Godfather, Part III. “If they paid (Al) Pacino twice what they paid me, that’s fine, but not three or four times, which is what they did,” Duvall, 73, tells 60 Minutes II correspondent Charlie Rose. Duvall, who starred in 1974’s The Godfather, Part II, was nominated for a Supporting Actor Oscar for his role as Tom Hagen in 1972’s The Godfather.
Celine Dion Gets Hollywood Star
Celine Dion received a star Tuesday on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in front of the Kodak Theater. The 35-year-old French-Canadian singer broke down in tears before nearly 1,000 fans as she thanked her late father for being her “No. 1 fan” during a ceremony. Her father, Adhemar Dion, died late last year at the age of 80 after a lengthy illness. “How often do natural blondes from Quebec make it big in Hollywood?” Tonight Show host Jay Leno joked in introducing Dion, who thanked the comedian for inviting her to perform on his show 13 years ago, giving her a big break on American TV.
