Some happy news for Vargas
ABC’s “World News Tonight,” scrambling to fill the gap left by its injured anchor, Bob Woodruff, is facing further instability: Elizabeth Vargas, Woodruff’s co-anchor, is pregnant.
Vargas and her husband, singer-songwriter Marc Cohn, are expecting their second child. They have a 3-year-old son, and Cohn has two children from a previous marriage.
She will continue to co-anchor “World News Tonight” and the ABC newsmagazine “20/20” through late summer.
“I told Elizabeth that during such a difficult time for all of us, it’s good to get such wonderful, life-affirming news,” said ABC News President David Westin.
Woodruff is being treated for injuries he suffered in an Iraqi roadside bombing on Jan. 29.
Big, big problem
Tom Sizemore, who was sentenced to three years’ probation Thursday for admitting in court that he used methamphetamine, says he’s struggling to come out from the haze of drug addiction.
The “Saving Private Ryan” and “Black Hawk Down” actor could have faced 16 months in prison after violating probation from a former meth conviction.
“If you are, in fact, dealing with addiction, you have to understand one thing really, you’re not … who you really are,” he says in an interview set to air Monday CNBC’s “The Big Idea With Donny Deutsch.”
Sizemore, 44, was convicted in 2003 of domestic violence involving his ex-girlfriend, former Hollywood madam Heidi Fleiss. He is free on bail pending an appeal in that case.
No ‘Idol’ worship
More than a few folks seem to have noticed that former “American Idol” Kelly Clarkson failed to mention the show that made her famous during two long, tearful Grammy acceptance speeches Wednesday.
“I did thank the fans, and that’s ‘American Idol,’ ” Clarkson, 23, who took home trophies for best pop vocal album and pop vocal performance, said backstage.
Field of dreams
In this era of aging rock stars – Paul McCartney, Bono, the Rolling Stones – Kevin Costner might have picked the right time to launch his band.
The unnamed, five-member group, with the 51-year-old actor-director as lead singer, will debut with a concert for ticketholders and volunteers April 29 at the BMW Charity Pro-Am in Greenville, S.C.
The birthday bunch
Actor Leslie Nielsen is 80. Actress Tina Louise (“Gilligan’s Island”) is 72. Actor Burt Reynolds is 70. Musician Sergio Mendes is 65. Actress Carey Lowell (“Law & Order”) is 45. Singer Sheryl Crow is 44. Actress Jennifer Aniston is 37. Singer D’Angelo is 32. Singer Mike Shinoda (Linkin Park) is 29. Singer-actress Brandy is 27. Actor Matthew Lawrence (“Boy Meets World”) is 26. Singer Kelly Rowland (Destiny’s Child) is 25.