Newsman Cooper temporarily blinded
Anderson Cooper says a reporting assignment turned into a temporary blindness scare.
On his talk show Tuesday, Cooper said he was in Portugal last week working on a story for “60 Minutes” and spent two hours on the water. The newsman said that later he developed a burning sensation in his eyes and lost sight for 36 hours.
Showing a photo he took of himself with an eye patch, Cooper joked it would be his new online dating picture.
Dr. Nancy Snyderman, chief medical correspondent for NBC News, explained to Cooper that he had suffered a retina burn. Snyderman cautioned that “everybody needs sunglasses,” adding that protection from the sun can prevent cataracts later in life.
Hef, girlfriend get marriage license
Hugh Hefner and Crystal Harris are again taking steps toward the altar, more than a year after the centerfold canceled their previous engagement and was branded a “runaway bride” in Playboy.
The couple obtained a marriage license Tuesday at a courthouse in Beverly Hills.
The 20-something Harris called off the couple’s previous engagement in June 2011, prompting Playboy to affix “runaway bride” stickers to an issue introducing her as Mrs. Hefner.
Celebrity website TMZ first reported the couple’s license. It says they reunited earlier this year and plan to wed on New Year’s Eve.
Former ‘Seinfeld’ star lands gig
TV Land says it has cast “Seinfeld” star Michael Richards in a pilot for a prospective new sitcom.
The series, “Giant Baby,” also would feature “Cheers” alums Kirstie Alley and Rhea Perlman.
TV Land said Tuesday the pilot will be taped next week.
“Giant Baby” focuses on Broadway star Maddie Banks, played by Alley. Richards plays her limo driver, while Perlman plays her assistant.
This would be Richards’ first regular series role since his short-lived NBC sitcom aired in 2000. Before that, he played Jerry Seinfeld’s kookie neighbor Cosmo Kramer on the wildly popular “Seinfeld” series.
The birthday bunch
Singer Little Richard is 80. Pop singer Jim Messina is 65. College Football Hall of Famer Jim Plunkett is 65. World Golf Hall of Famer Lanny Wadkins is 63. Country singer Ty England is 49. Rock singer-musician John Rzeznik (Goo Goo Dolls) is 47. Comedian-actress Margaret Cho is 44. Writer-director Morgan J. Freeman is 43. Actor Nick Stahl is 33. Actor Frankie Muniz is 27. Actor Ross Bagley is 24.