People: Singing isn’t over for the fat man?
Luciano Pavarotti says he has no intention of letting the curtain fall yet on his singing career despite recent surgery for pancreatic cancer.
“I have every intention of returning to singing,” the 70-year-old tenor says.
“I want to finish my tour. I can’t give precise dates because I’ll have to discuss it with the doctors, but I think I’ll start again next year.”
Pavarotti was preparing to leave New York earlier this month to resume his farewell tour when doctors discovered a malignant pancreatic mass. He underwent surgery and his remaining 2006 concerts were canceled.
Because pancreatic cancer is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage, it has one of the worst recovery rates of all types of malignancies. But Pavarotti’s cancer was contained and doctors were able to surgically remove it, offering improved odds for survival.
“Better, better, better,” he said when asked how he was feeling. “I’m finally at home, my home, finally out of the hospital. What can I say? It’s a marvelous feeling.”
Art imitates ‘Live’
It’s official: Tina Fey is leaving “Saturday Night Live” to focus on her new fall series, “30 Rock” – in which she stars as a sketch-comedy writer for a show not unlike “SNL.”
“I’m out of the fake news business now,” says Fey, the former “Weekend Update” co-anchor who started as a “SNL” writer in 1997.
Rachel Dratch also is leaving the late-night comedy show for a role on “30 Rock,” which co-stars another former “SNL” regular, Tracy Morgan, and a frequent guest, Alec Baldwin.
Hoff wants off
David Hasselhoff is sounding none too thrilled with his job as a judge on the NBC reality show “America’s Got Talent.”
“This is not my cup of tea,” Hasselhoff says. “I signed on for one season, and Simon Cowell conned me into it – ‘here’s a lot of money’ – and it’s like ‘The Gong Show.’ “
Adds the former “Baywatch” star: “I’m trying to get on a sitcom or maybe even my own show, ‘Travels With the Hoff.’ “
Where the sun don’t shine
Former “Survivor” winner Richard Hatch has been sent to a federal prison in Oklahoma to serve a 51-month sentence for failing to pay taxes on his $1 million prize money.
“He should be in a (prison) camp,” says his lawyer, Michael Minns. “They are still jails, but (inmates) get to see the sky and be outside. It’s bad for Richard, who is an outdoor person.”
Hatch became known on “Survivor” as the “fat naked guy” for refusing to wear clothes.
Stalk market report
Finally, on the celebrity stalking beat, Colin Farrell has obtained a restraining order against a woman who walked up to him during his appearance on the “Tonight Show” last week.
Dessarae Bradford, a former phone sex operator who wrote a self-published book titled “Colin Farrell: A Dark Twisted Puppy,” claims to have had a relationship with the actor and has sued him for libel, assault and slander.
And a woman whom Jon Cusack took out a restraining order against last week, saying she was stalking him, has gotten her own court order – requiring Cusack to stay away from her.
The birthday bunch
Actress Estelle Getty is 83. Supermodel Iman is 51. Actress Illeana Douglas is 41. Actor Matt LeBlanc is 39. Actor Brad Renfro is 24.