Two more seasons on HBO for Oliver
HBO says it has picked up two more seasons of John Oliver’s “Last Week Tonight,” which puts to rest any thought that Oliver would return to Comedy Central to replace Jon Stewart on “The Daily Show.”
Oliver just began the second season at HBO of his critically acclaimed comedy show. HBO said it has agreed to air 35 new episodes each in 2016 and 2017.
Oliver came to HBO’s attention when he subbed for Stewart at “The Daily Show” during the summer of 2013. Stewart announced last week he was leaving “The Daily Show.”
Geffen stalker gets probation
A former North Dakota college football player has been given probation for stalking billionaire David Geffen.
Jamie Ralph Kuntz, 21, pleaded no contest earlier this month to one misdemeanor count of stalking and was ordered to stay 200 yards away from Geffen for 10 years, said Jane Robison, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles district attorney.
Kuntz was charged with felony stalking and five counts of violating a restraining order to stay away from Geffen’s homes in Beverly Hills, California, and Malibu, California, after being convicted of trespassing on the entertainment mogul’s property.
Defense lawyer David Wohl said Kuntz got into trouble for showing up at Geffen’s homes after their short-term relationship ended.
Wohl said he thought Kuntz would have prevailed at trial, but had already been in jail more than three months because he couldn’t afford the $150,000 bail and didn’t want to spend more time awaiting his day in court. Kuntz must attend psychiatric counseling twice a week for a year as a condition of his two-year probation term, Robison said.
“It’s celebrity justice in reverse,” Wohl said. “The victim is a celebrity, and judges are afraid of something happening to them.”
Geffen, who made his fortune as a record producer and co-founded DreamWorks Pictures, is a powerful player in Hollywood.
More ‘Happy’ news for Pharrell
Pharrell Williams has a “Happy” deal for a series of children’s picture books. The Grammy Award-winning performer has an agreement with Putnam Books for Young Readers for four picture books, starting with one inspired by his hit song.
Putnam announced Tuesday that the book, “Happy,” will be published Sept. 22 and will feature photographs of children from around the world “celebrating what it means to be happy.” It plans a first printing of 250,000 copies.
Williams has won 10 Grammys, including two for “Happy.” “Happy” was featured on the soundtrack of “Despicable Me 2” and was an Oscar nominee last year for best song.
The birthday bunch
Actor George Kennedy is 90. Singer Yoko Ono is 82. Singer Irma Thomas is 74. Actress Cybill Shepherd is 65. Singer Juice Newton is 63. Actor John Travolta is 61. Actor John Pankow is 60. Game show host Vanna White is 58. Actor Matt Dillon is 51. Rapper Dr. Dre is 50. Actress Molly Ringwald is 47. Singer-musician Sean Watkins (Nickel Creek) is 38. Rock-singer musician Regina Spektor is 35.