Shelley Long of Cheers briefly hospitalized
Former Cheers star Shelley Long was released from the hospital on Friday after being treated for a minor drug interaction, The Associated Press reports. Long apparently took an extra dose of a medication prescribed for back pain for an injury that happened on the set of Cheers. “Shelley took an extra pain pill for her back, which she hurt when she fell on the set of Cheers many years ago,” said Long‘s manager Martin Mickelson. “She had a reaction to it … but she is now home and she is fine.” Mickelson denied allegations that the actress, 55, overdosed on painkillers after the end of her 22-year marriage with stockbroker Bruce Tyson. Long, who played the neurotic Diane Chambers on the 1980’s hit sitcom Cheers was reportedly hospitalized on Nov. 16.
“Camp Cupcake” inmates enjoy Stewart’s company
Looks like prison inmates at the federal corrections camp in Alderson, West Virginia, are pleased to have Martha Stewart as their fellow inmate. According to the Associated Press, inmates are reportedly vying for the attention of the famous homemaker. At mealtime, inmates look forward to the opportunity to eat their meals with Stewart. Carol Gilbert, 57, who is serving time for obstructing the national defense and damaging government property, says that although the setting could be better, eating with Stewart is an enjoyable experience. (“We’re not talking about a tea party,” said Gilbert’s attorney. “We’re talking about a big cafeteria setting with terrible food.”) Stewart was convicted on obstruction of justice in May and began serving a five-month prison sentence that started Oct. 8. Stewart‘s publicist was not immediately available for comment.
NBC Sports exec survives jet crash
NBC Sports chairman Dick Ebersol and his son survived a corporate jet crash on Sunday morning that left two people dead and his youngest son missing, the AP reports. The jet, carrying six passengers, crashed just after takeoff and burst into flames at the Montrose Regional Airport in southwest Colorado. A witness to the crash said that the cockpit of the plane was ripped off and Charles Ebersol helped his 57-year-old father escape through the front of the plane. The pilot and the flight attendant were killed, Ebersol‘s youngest son is missing, and three other passengers were left hospitalized in Colorado. Ebersol‘s wife of 23 years, actress Susan Saint James, was not on the plane. The plane, a a CL-602 Challenger that can hold up to 19 passengers, was registered to Jet Alliance of Melville, N.J., which offered condolences but gave no additional comment. Best known for his work as executive producer of Saturday Night Live in the early 1980’s, Ebersol became president of NBC Sports in 1989.
Vibe magazine speaks out about awards show violence
Vibe magazine president Kenard Gibbs addressed the violence that happened at the Vibe Awards recently by stating that this will not stop the show from carrying on next year, Reuters reports. “We’re doing the awards show next year,” Gibbs said. “If we don’t, it will be counter to all the things we have been able to do with the brand and the culture.” Young Buck, of the rap group G-Unit, is allegedly responsible for stabbing a man who hit Dr. Dre during the taping of the Vibe awards on Nov. 15; he was released from police custody after making bail. After calling the altercation “sickening,” Gibbs said he wonders how much of an impact recent violence at music and sporting events will affect and ultimately label black artists and athletes. “There’s a common theme to all this,” Gibbs added. “Young black males gone wild. Taking street mentality to resolve conflict and bringing it into entertainment and sports has gone unchecked. All of us within the culture have to look at this and develop some means of accountability.” The January edition of Vibe magazine plans to examine not only the awards night incident, but also attitudes within the hip-hop culture that may take some responsibility.
Brits vote Baywatch worst U.S. TV import
California lifeguard show Baywatch topped the charts as the worst U.S. television import in a recent British survey, the AP reports. Ranked as the world’s most popular program, Baywatch was aired in over 140 countries between 1989 and 2001. Broadcast magazine’s poll of about 20 program buyers for Britain and cable and satellite channels praised the show for being a “series about a muscular lifeguard and his crew of pneumatic young helpers with raging hormones” but criticized the show for scripts “of mind-numbing predictability: beachgoer is saved from drowning.” Second “worst” place went to The Anna Nicole Show. On their 25 best U.S. imports list were The Simpsons, Dallas, M*A*S*H and 24.
Former lead singer of Midnight Oil hospitalized
Former lead singer of the band Midnight Oil Peter Garrett was hospitalized after collapsing on the beach in Sydney following a routine morning swim. According to the AP, Garrett was taken to the Prince of Wales Hospital from Maroubra beach in Sydney early Saturday morning. After undergoing tests to determine why he collapsed, the singer was released from the hospital on Saturday night. Garrett, 51, has no history or medical problems and appears to very healthy and fit. “It’s good to be back on my feet again,” said Garrett. The former rock star was elected in October as a lawmaker with the opposition Labor Party.
Unpaid royalties to be addressed for Pink Floyd song
A group of 23 former London schoolchildren are asking to be compensated for lending their vocal tracks to Pink Floyd’s 1979 classic album Another Brick in the Wall. The teenage students are now asking for compensation for singing the anthem “We don’t need no education.” After deeming the lyrics “scandalous,” the Islington Green School students were not allowed to appear on television, making it harder for them to have proof that their voices were those heard in the famous song. The album sold over 12 million copies and the single became a number one hit in Britain and America. The school was paid about 1,000 pounds ($1,860) and was later given a platinum record of the song, but the students were never given individual compensation for their work. If the application for royalties is considered, the music royalties society will be responsible for paying each person involved about 200 pounds. Pink Floyd will not be responsible for the money.
