Maria & Madeleine plus Kate
Maria Shriver’s annual women’s conference has always been an A-list affair, and this year’s event is no different.
Cindy McCain, Elizabeth Edwards, Katie Couric, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and actress Kelly Preston are among the featured speakers for the October gathering.
But the guest likely to draw the most attention is reality TV personality Kate Gosselin.
California’s first lady says she invited the star of TLC’s “Jon & Kate Plus 8” at the suggestion of her teenage daughters.
The invitation was sent five months ago, before Gosselin announced that she and her husband, the parents of 5-year-old sextuplets and 8-year-old twins, were splitting after 10 years of marriage. The series has been put on hiatus.
“I think her life has certainly changed dramatically, but so be it,” Shriver says. “I think that’s the beauty of this conference – to have Madeleine Albright and Kate Gosselin at the same place.”
Gosselin will have 15 minutes on a small stage where she will be selling her book, “Eight Little Faces: A Mom’s Journey.”
A na-new round of Robin
Robin Williams is bringing his stand-up act back to HBO.
The cable network says a special of Williams performing in Washington as part of his “Weapons of Self-Destruction” tour will air in December.
His most recent of four previous HBO specials, in 2002, received five Emmy nominations.
No laughing matter
Dane Cook’s half brother has been indicted on new charges that he stole more than $11 million from the comedian while acting as his business manager.
Darryl McCauley previously pleaded not guilty to larceny.
The birthday bunch
Actor Ron Glass (“Barney Miller”) is 64. Singer Arlo Guthrie is 62. Banjo player Bela Fleck is 51. Country singer Gary LeVox (Rascal Flatts) is 39. Actor Adrian Grenier (“Entourage”) is 33. Actor Thomas Ian Nicholas (“American Pie”) is 29. Singer Jessica Simpson is 29.