For New Year’s, Clark will give way to a Regis fill-in
Regis Philbin will replace the ailing Dick Clark as host of ABC’s “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve 2005.” Clark, 75, who has hosted a New Year’s Eve special for 32 years, remains hospitalized after suffering a mild stroke Dec. 6.
“It’ll feel strange watching it on TV, but my doctors felt it was too soon,” he said Monday. “I’m sure Regis will do a great job, and I’m thankful that he was able to step in on such short notice.”
Clark’s publicist said that “things get a little better every day,” adding: “His brain is 100 percent.”
Subbing for ailing entertainers is becoming a bit of a specialty for Philbin, who filled in for David Letterman when the “Late Show” host underwent heart bypass surgery in 2000 and recovered from an eye infection in 2003.
Philbin, who will host the show from New York’s Times Square, will be joined by singer Ashlee Simpson, who’s hosting the West Coast part of the special.
Live with Regis and … Alicia?
Alicia Keys, meanwhile, will fill in for the vacationing Kelly Ripa by co-hosting “Live With Regis and Kelly” on Dec. 22.
Keys, 23, last week was nominated for eight Grammy Awards, including album of the year for “The Diary of Alicia Keys.” Her 2001 debut album, “Songs in A Minor,” won the R&B singer five Grammys.
Papa’s got a brand new challenge
Rap/rock/funk legend James Brown is scheduled to undergo surgery Wednesday for prostate cancer.
“I have overcome a lot of things in my life,” Brown, 71, said in a statement. “I will overcome this as well.”
Brown, dubbed “the hardest-working man in show business,” just finished a two-week Canadian tour. He’s expected to spend three weeks recovering from surgery.
Still going like the dickens
Veteran country singer Little Jimmy Dickens was released from a hospital after treatment for pneumonia.
Dickens, who turned 84 on Sunday, has performed on Grand Ole Opry almost continuously since 1948.
His hits include “May the Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose,” “A-Sleepin’ at the Foot of the Bed” and “Out Behind the Barn.”
He’s got a dreadlock on it
Members of Bob Marley‘s estate are lobbying the Jamaican government to proclaim the late reggae singer a national hero, the country’s highest honor.
“Anywhere you go in the world the first thing people think of when they hear Jamaica is Bob Marley,” a Bob Marley Foundation spokeswoman said.
Fight, Doggs, fight!
Rapper Snoop Dogg will star in and executive produce a feature film based on his real-life experience as coach of his young son’s football team.
20th Century Fox beat out several bidders, including Sony and Paramount, paying $1 million for the rights to “Coach Snoop.”
David Hoberman, one of the producers, said the story was very inspirational.
“In his real life as in the movie, like any regular overworked father, he put aside his whole career to coach his kid’s football team,” Hoberman said.
The birthday bunch
“60 Minutes” executive producer Don Hewitt is 82. Actor Hal Williams (“227,” “Sanford and Son”) is 66. Actress Patty Duke is 58. Entertainment executive Michael Ovitz is 58. Actress Dee Wallace Stone is 56. Actress Cynthia Gibb (“Fame”) is 41.