Minaj, Urban named newest ‘Idol’ judges
The “American Idol” judges’ panel is now complete with the naming of singer-rapper Nicki Minaj and country crooner Keith Urban.
The Fox network announcement also settles the status of Randy Jackson. He will stay put as the sole remaining original “Idol” judge, scotching rumors of a different role for him on the popular talent competition.
This trio joins newcomer Mariah Carey on a panel now expanded to four members from its previous three.
They fill vacancies left by Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez, who announced their exits in July.
“American Idol” returns for its 12th season in January.
Rush regretting script anecdote
Geoffrey Rush – who played speech therapist Lionel Logue in the Oscar-winning film “The King’s Speech” – has repeatedly said he first found the script left in brown paper wrapping on his Australia home’s doorstep. Now, he says he wishes he had kept that story to himself.
Rush says other aspiring filmmakers have followed suit, leaving all manner of projects at his front door in Melbourne since the movie first came out in 2010. As he puts it: “The brown paper package phenomenon continues.”
In a recent interview promoting his film “Eye of the Storm,” the actor asked that prospective Oscar-winners route submissions through his agent. He assured them that if their script has a “keen and interesting and enthusiastic” cover letter, it will be read.
Plus, Rush says he might accidentally bury a doorstep delivery “under a pile of correspondence or something and forget about it.”
No plans to end Prince Harry’s tour
Britain says it doesn’t plan to cut short Prince Harry’s deployment to Afghanistan, despite the Taliban attack on the base where he is stationed.
Two U.S. Marines died in the assault on Camp Bastion in Helmand Province Friday, and the Taliban claimed it carried out the attack to avenge an anti-Islamic film that insulted the Prophet Muhammad and because Harry is there.
Britain’s defense ministry said the prince’s deployment was carefully planned and the threat to all British troops “is continually assessed and all measures taken to mitigate it.”
The birthday bunch
Singer LaMonte McLemore (The Fifth Dimension) is 77. Singer Fee Waybill (The Tubes) is 62. Actress Elvira is 61. Comedian Rita Rudner is 59. Puppeteer Kevin Clash (Elmo on “Sesame Street”) is 52. Actor Kyle Chandler is 47. Actor Malik Yoba is 45. Actor Billy Miller (“The Young and the Restless”) is 33.