After all these years, it seems we still love Lucy
Lucille Ball still is America’s most beloved dead star. “What is there not to like about Lucy?” said Steve Levitt, president of Marketing Evaluations, Inc.
His firm developed the “Q score” used to gauge the popularity of celebrities both living and dead, based on how familiar they are to the public and how likable they are.
Tom Hanks has been the most popular live star in the last few surveys.
Ball, the redheaded sitcom star of the 1950s and ‘60s who died in 1989, has topped past “Dead Q” lists.
Following her in this year’s 6-foot-under Top 10 are Bob Hope, John Wayne, Jimmy Stewart, Red Skelton, Johnny Carson, John Ritter, Jackie Gleason, “Peanuts” creator Charles Schulz and Michael Landon.
Out of 169 deceased personalities tested, diet doctor Robert Atkins had the lowest score, followed by Tupac Shakur and Johnnie Cochran.
No word on a fellow you may have heard of who died 28 years ago today: Elvis Presley.
Don’t ask Paula to the non-frat party
Paula Abdul will return as a judge on “American Idol” after a Fox network investigation found no proof that she had an affair with one of the talent show’s contestants.
Corey Clark claimed that he had a sexual relationship with Abdul when he was a contestant in 2003 and that she helped him prepare for his performances on the show. Two lawyers hired by Fox said they could not substantiate the allegations.
An “enhanced non-fraternization policy” will be in place from now on to prevent future misunderstandings, the network said.
This Clark’s not staying idle
Dick Clark will return to co-host the 34th edition of “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” this year along with “American Idol” host Ryan Seacrest.
Clark, 75, has been recovering at his Malibu home from a Dec. 6 stroke. Last year, Regis Philbin stood in while Clark watched from his hospital bed.
Seacrest has agreed to a multiyear deal as executive producer and co-host, and will eventually take over the show on his own.
Night and day, Ellen’s the one
Ellen DeGeneres, who drew praise for her graceful performance as host of the Primetime Emmy Awards that followed the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, will be back in charge of the ceremony this year.
“You know me, any excuse to put on a dress,” the famously pants-loving DeGeneres joked.
DeGeneres was named best talk-show host and the syndicated “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” was honored as best talk show at the Daytime Emmy Awards in May.
Same old girl, little more cover
After an “amiable separation” in the mid-1990s, Christie Brinkley has agreed to resume doing CoverGirl makeup ads.
Brinkley, 51, began modeling for CoverGirl in 1976. This time around she’s pitching a line called Advanced Radiance, makeup intended for women 30 and older.
“There is such an age phobia in this country, and this ad is showing me being comfortable with the age I am,” she says. “I think it’s a good positive image, something you don’t see enough of.”
The birthday bunch
Actor Fess Parker is 81. Actor Robert Culp is 75. Actress Julie Newmar is 72. Actress Lesley Ann Warren is 59. TV personality Kathie Lee Gifford is 52. Director James Cameron is 51. Actress Angela Bassett is 47. Singer Madonna is 47. Actress Laura Innes (“ER”) is 46. Actor Timothy Hutton is 45. Country singer Emily Robison (The Dixie Chicks) is 33. Singer Vanessa Carlton is 25. Actor Shawn Pyfrom (“Desperate Housewives”) is 19.