Bolt helps ‘SNL’ parody veep debate
“Saturday Night Live” parodied the vice presidential debate with a little help from the world’s fastest man.
Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt dropped by the NBC sketch show’s mock debate after Taran Killam, playing Mitt Romney’s running mate, Paul Ryan, claimed he won the 100-meter race at the London Olympics. Ryan has been criticized for exaggerating his marathon time.
“SNL” had fun with the vice president candidates following Thursday’s contentious debate. While President Barack Obama and Romney’s first debate didn’t offer as much obvious satire, the show happily skewered Vice President Joe Biden and Ryan.
Jason Sudeikis, as Biden, called himself “Big Daddy Joe” and insisted he was “monkey strong” unlike his younger foe, whom he referred to as “shark eyes.” Killam played Ryan with an Eddie Munster-like widow’s peak.
Trial will focus on Spears’ meltdown
Testimony is scheduled to begin this week in a trial that will focus on Britney Spears’ darkest days, but jurors are unlikely to hear from the pop superstar directly.
Jury selection began Friday in a libel and defamation trial filed by Spears’ former manager and confidant, Sam Lutfi. He claims he’s owed a share of the singer’s fortune and that he’s been unfairly vilified by Spears’ mother.
A judge overseeing Spears’ ongoing conservatorship has ordered the singer not to appear at the trial. Lutfi’s attorney has sought the 30-year-old’s testimony to prove that statements made about Lutfi’s involvement in her public meltdown are untrue.
Spears’ mom Lynne accused Lutfi in court filings of drugging and isolating her daughter, and the claims were repeated in a 2008 book.
Lewis band member killed in shootout
Police say a member of Jerry Lee Lewis’ band has been killed in a Memphis shootout.
Police said the shooting happened around 2 a.m. Sunday at the Cherry Crest apartments in southeast Memphis.
Musician B.B. Cunningham Jr., who was a security guard in a neighboring apartment complex, heard a shot in the Cherry Crest apartments and went to investigate. Police didn’t provide details, but they said when officers arrived, both Cunningham and a 16-year-old boy were found dead from gunshot wounds.
The teenager has not been identified.
Cunningham had been a member of Lewis’ band since 1997.
The birthday bunch
Singer Barry McGuire is 77. Actress Linda Lavin is 75. Actress-director Penny Marshall is 69. Musician Richard Carpenter (The Carpenters) is 66. Singer Tito Jackson is 59. Actor Jere Burns is 58. TV chef Emeril Lagasse is 53. Singer Eric Benet is 46. Actor Vincent Martella (“Everybody Hates Chris”) is 20.