HOLLYWOOD - Top Story: Van Der Beek Weds Actress McComb
James Van Der Beek, star of the WB show Dawson's Creek--which recently ended its six-year run--married actress Heather McComb (All the Real Girls) Saturday in Malibu, Calif., The Associated Press reports. McComb wore a Vera Wang gown, and the groom wore Armani, Van Der Beek's publicist, Cindy Guagenti, told AP Monday. The reception was held under a white organza tent. Guests included Van Der Beek's Dawson's Creek castmates Michelle Williams, Meredith Monroe, Busy Philipps, Hal Ozsan and Mary-Margaret Humes, along with fellow actors Soleil Moon Frye, Teri Polo and Eric Balfour.
Eminem Buys a House
Not just any old house. The bad boy rapper bought a 29-room, 15,000 square-foot mansion previously owned by former Kmart Corp. chairman Chuck Conaway, AP reports. Eminem paid nearly $4.8 million for the house, which sits on six acres near Rochester Hills, Mich.
McCord Runs for SAG Prez
Screen Actors Guild treasurer Kent McCord, best known for co-starring in the hit TV show Adam-12, has decided to run against current SAG president Melissa Gilbert, Variety reports. McCord has been one of the more vocal critics of Gilbert's presidency, including the recent merger proposal between SAG-AFTRA, which fell 2 percent short of approval last week. SAG board member Esai Morales has agreed to serve as McCord's running mate for the newly created post of secretary-treasurer, Variety reports.
Lee and Viacom Settle Dispute Over Name
Director Spike Lee has settled his legal dispute with Viacom, Inc., over the media giant's plans to rename its cable network TNN "Spike TV." According to Reuters, terms of the settlement were not disclosed, but Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Walter Tolub lifted an order that he had issued last month barring Viacom from using the "Spike" name. A source familiar with the situation told Reuters the lawsuit was being withdrawn and that TNN was proceeding with the name change.
Bachelorette Cashes in on Wedding
Reality television star Trista Rehn, aka The Bachelorette, and her fiancé Ryan Sutter will receive $1 million for the TV rights to their fall wedding, AP reports. The couple also had to give the ABC reality show's producers final say on everything from the bridal gown to the flowers, according to The Smoking Gun Web site, which posted the contract between the show's producers and Rehn and Sutter on Monday. ABC will air the two-hour wedding in the fall.
Princess Di Reincarnated as Comic Book Superhero
No, we are not kidding. Marvel Comics has apparently developed a new comic book that features the late Princess Diana as part of a team of super-powered mutants, Reuters reports. The five-part series, called Di Another Day, is part of Marvel's X-Statixa monthly comic series that takes a satirical look at fame and pop culture. The first of the Di comic books hits stands Sept. 10.
MSNBC Host Fired for Derogatory Remarks
Conservative cable news station MSNBC fired Michael Savage Monday from his job as the host of The Savage Nation after the controversial radio personality called a caller a "sodomite" and wished AIDS on him, Reuters reports. On Saturday's show, Savage railed against one caller, saying "Oh, you're one of the sodomites! You should only get AIDS and die, you pig!" An MSNBC representative was not immediately available for comment, but a source familiar with the matter confirmed to Reuters that the show had been canceled. MSNBC hired Savage in February to host a TV version of his popular talk radio show; despite protests from gay rights groups at the time, the show debuted in March.
Role Call: Ryder Eyes Embers, Claire
Winona Ryder has signed up to star with Sean Connery in Milos Forman's Embers, and is also attached to Robert Altman's The Widow Claire. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Embers is about two men (Connery and Klaus Maria Brandauer), once best friends, who meet 41 years later to discuss what drove them apart--a young woman (Ryder) who ended up marrying Connery's character but may have been having an affair with the other man. Claire is set against the backdrop of World War II; Ryder plays a young widow with two children who is caught between the affections of two men--a sweet young soldier about to go to war and the town's most sought-after playboy. Jake Gyllenhaal and Matthew McConaughey have met with Altman about the male roles.