Top Story
Reuters reports actor/comedian Paul Reubens, best known as the goofy children’s show host Pee-wee Herman, pleaded innocent Wednesday to a misdemeanor charge of possessing child pornography. The charge stems from a November 2001 search of the actor’s house, where authorities “uncovered materials that we believe depict minors engaged in sexual activity,” the Los Angeles City Attorney’s office told Reuters. Reubens, however, released a statement saying the charge was “untrue and without merit.” According to Reubens‘ lawyer, what the police found were a handful of images from “an extensive collection of vintage physique art photography.” The 50-year-old actor was not present at the arraignment. A pre-trial hearing is set for Jan. 3.
Celebs
The drug possession charge against The West Wing creator Aaron Sorkin was dismissed Wednesday after the writer/producer completed his drug rehabilitation. Sorkin was arrested in April 2001 at the Burbank Airport in Los Angeles for possession of cocaine, marijuana and hallucinogenic mushrooms. The charges were dropped on the recommendation of Sorkin‘s probation officials.
Actor Adam Rich, who starred as cute little Nicholas on the 1970s show Eight Is Enough, was arrested Wednesday for suspicion of driving under the influence. The 34-year-old actor drove his car into a closed highway lane and nearly struck a California Highway Patrol car, AP reports.
A judge finalized The Sopranos star James Gandolfini‘s divorce Wednesday after he and his wife, Marcella, settled their disputes without a trial. The couple was married for three years and has a 3-year-old son.
Oprah Winfrey narrowly escaped harm Tuesday when a tent collapsed during a function she was attending at a secondary school in South Africa, injuring 10 people including two children, Variety reports. For the last month the talk show host has been playing Santa to South African children as part of the Oprah Winfrey Foundation’s Christmas Kindness Project.
Movies
Variety reports Igby Goes Down star Amanda Peet will join Jack Nicholson, Keanu Reeves and Diane Keaton in an as-year-untitled comedy for writer/director Nancy Meyers (What Women Want). The story concerns an older man who suffers a heart attack at the house of his young girlfriend’s mother. Both he and his young doctor fall for the older woman.
Danny Leiner, the director of Dude, Where’s My Car? (a somewhat surprising hit in 2001) is in negotiations to direct Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle. According to Variety, the story focuses on two stoner roommates in their 20s–one a Korean investment banker, the other an Indian medical resident–who decide to journey to a faraway White Castle burger stand for their famous 39 cent hamburgers. Of course, they find the road is paved with many obstacles. We can only imagine.
Nick Cannon, hot off his performance in Drumline, is set to star and executive produce The Underclassman for Miramax. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the film is a cross between Beverly Hills Cop and Never Been Kissed. It is based on Cannon’s idea about a young-looking 24-year-old detective sent to do an undercover assignment at a private school where he discovers a ring of car thieves.
Music
Pink’s drummer William Johnson was arrested Sunday when a routine passport check turned up a warrant for his arrest for grand larceny in New York, AP reports. Despite his arrest, Pink finished her six-month world tour in Honolulu, Hawaii Wednesday, with Johnson out on $50,000 bail.
Hip-hop artist Nelly’s No. 1 hit “Hot in Herre” has been dubbed the best driving song in a Yahoo! poll, getting 20 percent of nearly 4,200 votes. Runners-up were Eminem’s “Without Me” with 19 percent and Sheryl Crow’s “Soak up the Sun” with 10 percent.
