Rock is putting the Oscar organizers in a hard place
THE PRODUCER OF THE OSCARS says he’s not worried about first-time host Chris Rock‘s trash-talking about the awards show. “Chris’ comments over the past few weeks are meant to be humorous digs at a show that some people, obviously including Chris himself, think may be a bit too stuffy,” Gil Cates said.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Rock called the notion of giving awards for art “idiotic” and said he has never cared for the Academy Awards, which he likened to a “fashion show.” He said the only time he watched was when black actors were nominated.
“What straight black man sits there and watches the Oscars? Show me one,” Rock was quoted as saying.
Cates’ statement followed a story posted on the Drudge Report Web site which claimed some members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences want Rock removed as host of the Feb. 27 ceremony.
Guess you’d better win this year, Jamie
Speaking of the Oscars, double nominee Jamie Foxx (“Ray,” “Collateral”) has his next project lined up: a big-screen remake of the ‘80s TV series “Miami Vice,” in which he’ll play Detective Ricardo Tubbs opposite Colin Farrell as Sonny Crockett.
The movie will start shooting this spring and is scheduled for a July 2006 release.
Now Lohan is a real doll
“Mean Girls” star Lindsay Lohan is getting the Barbie treatment with a new doll made in her likeness.
The Mattel doll, dressed in full red-carpet splendor in a beige dress and a faux fur-trimmed coat, comes complete with a director’s chair and a velvet rope.
Part of the toy maker’s “My Scene” line, the doll is due out in June and will retail for about $30.
Joan getting visits from … Satan?
“Joan of Arcadia” star Amber Tamblyn has been granted an extended restraining order against a man accused of stalking and threatening her.
The 21-year-old actress says Frederick Cragin Demetz Jr. has been leaving threatening phone messages for her since last October – pledging to torture her for “millions of years” and “drill things into your kneecaps” – and allegedly broke into her trailer on the show’s set.
Puffy’s bio goes up in smoke
Random House is suing Sean “P. Diddy” Combs, alleging that the hip-hop mogul failed to return a $300,000 advance for a memoir he promised to write by 1999.
His rep called it a “disagreement with Random House that we hoped would be resolved without litigation.”
Oh Lord, won’t you buy me some reality TV
Fresh from a Grammy tribute by Melisssa Etheridge and Joss Stone, the late Janis Joplin’s estate has announced “Search for the Pearl,” a reality TV talent search to find the next Joplin.
Singers across the country will audition to re-create the gritty vocal stylings of Joplin, who died in 1970 at age 27. The eventual winner will headline a world concert tour.
The estate also announced that Joplin’s life will be the subject of a film biography starring pop singer Pink and directed by Penelope Spheeris.
The birthday bunch
Actor Pete Postlethwaite is 59. Actor Jeremy Bulloch (Boba Fett in “The Empire Strikes Back”) is 59. Actor William Katt is 54. Singer James Ingram is 49. Actor LeVar Burton is 48. Rapper-actor Ice-T is 47. Actress Lisa Loring (“The Addams Family”) is 47. Drummer Taylor Hawkins (Foo Fighters) is 33. R&B singer Sam Salter is 27.