Cyrus hosts SNL before album release
Miley Cyrus cautioned viewers she wouldn’t be twerking on “Saturday Night Live.”
But she commanded the stage on this week’s edition of the NBC sketch comedy show, serving as both host and musical guest.
And she did some shimmying as Congresswoman Michele Bachmann in a parody video about the government shutdown.
Cyrus seized attention and criticism in August for her sexually charged MTV Video Music Awards performance, which featured the singer in scanty garb while exhibiting suggestive twerking gyrations.
During Saturday’s open, Cyrus made sport of the hubbub surrounding her racy display. She joked that she used to think twerking was cool but changed her mind now that white people are doing it.
Besides participating in several sketches, she performed two songs.
Her album “Bangerz” is out Tuesday.
Penn supports Haitian marathoners
Sean Penn is ecstatic that his relief organization will sponsor runners from Haiti to participate in the New York City Marathon next month.
“We’ve got five Haitian runners, 10 runners total, running for the team representing Haiti and our organization J/P HRO coming to the New York City Marathon,” Penn said.
The 53-year old actor expressed satisfaction that the organization continues to rebuild Haiti with its medical, relocation, structural and community development programs – but also that it brings hope to the island nation.
Penn started the J/P Health Relief Organization after a magnitude-7.0 earthquake ripped through Haiti in January 2010, killing more than 100,000 people. The organization set up camps for displaced residents and facilitated medical clinics. Penn is CEO and chairman.
The two-time Oscar-winning actor made the comments at the world premiere of his film “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” at the New York Film Festival. Penn stars alongside writer-director Ben Stiller.
The birthday bunch
Retired South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu is 82. Comedian Joy Behar is 71. Actress Jill Larson is 66. Singer John Mellencamp is 62. Actress Mary Badham (“To Kill a Mockingbird”) is 61. Cellist Yo-Yo Ma is 58. Recording executive and TV personality Simon Cowell is 54. Rhythm-and-blues singer Toni Braxton is 46. Rock singer-musician Thom Yorke (Radiohead) is 45. Rock singer-musician Damian Kulash (OK Go) is 38. Singer Taylor Hicks (“American Idol”) is 37.