Day in Pop Report for 05/15/2012
The singing talent show got off to a slow start in the U.S. with disappointing ratings, so for the second season new blood in the form of the two popular singers as judges is expected to boost the ratings. The announcement was made at the Fox's Upfronts presentation in New York on Monday. "I am so excited about this whole experience. It's gonna be so much fun and so different from anything I've ever done," Spears said during the event according to Billboard. Lovato said of her new job, "I am totally stoked to be here because of not only the opportunity to be a judge here but the presence of you guys is just an honor to be standing next to you." Read the Billboard report here.
According to WBRZ.com, Mitchell was discovered at 9 AM in St. Martin Parish, Louisiana. Law enforcement sources tell us ... someone tried to perform CPR on Guist ... but attempts to resuscitate the reality star were unsuccessful. Sources close to Mitchell tell us ... Guist had recently fallen ill ... but the nature of his illness is still unclear. Update: Law enforcement sources tell us ... Mitchell was out in his boat along the Belle River ... when he "fell." Witnesses say he appeared to have been suffering from a seizure. We're told another person on the boat returned the vessel to the dock and called 911. Emergency personnel responded to the scene and transported Mitchell to a nearby hospital ... but it was too late. more on this story
As we reported, Mystikal -- real name Michael Tyler -- was arrested in Baton Rouge on a domestic abuse charge back in February, and a judge ruled it was a violation of his probation. The circumstances surrounding the arrest are unclear. Mystikal was put on 5-year probation following a 6-year prison stint for sexual battery and extortion. Mystikal pled guilty in 2003 to forcing his hairstylist to perform oral sex on him. The judge has already given Mystikal credit for 9 days served while he was detained following his February arrest. He has 81 days left. more on this story
The steward, Fabian Zanzi, claims he was delivering something to Travolta's stateroom when the actor asked him for a neck massage. Although the report doesn't expressly name Travolta, we've confirmed the actor was indeed the guest in question. Fabian claimed he obliged -- and Travolta "then told him he was a beautiful person and invited him to return to visit him later that night." Fabian claimed he refused because of a strict company policy banning RC employees from fraternizing with guests. Fabian reported the incident and was disciplined for the neck massage, which is a violation of the no-fraternization rule. He was subsequently fired. Fabian now says the encounter was much more than described in the incident report, claiming Travolta opened his robe and gave him a big hug while his private part was erect ... and offered him $12,000 for sex and silence. More including video here.
Chantal Spears has filed legal docs saying she'll drop the case if Khloe antes up $150,000. But we did some digging and here's what we know. - There is surveillance video which shows there was NO contact between Khloe and Chantal - The video shows ... after Khloe and Lamar enter the club, Chantal seems completely unfazed - The valet who escorted Khloe and Lamar out of their car on December 5, 2009 says he was standing between the couple and Chantal and there was never any contact - Chantal was interviewed by the LAPD and said she was not injured - The LAPD investigated the case and decided there was nothing there and declined to prosecute The only question -- Will Khloe pay something to make Chantal go away. more on this story
Law enforcement sources tell TMZ, 18-year-old ex-Miss Arizona Teen USA Tori Vance was pulled over last Saturday night around 9:15PM after making an illegal U-turn in Hollywood. The officer approached her Mini Cooper (duh) and law enforcement tells us Tori showed signs of intoxication -- so the cop asked her to get out of the car. According to law enforcement sources, the officer administered a field sobriety test -- and Tori PASSED WITH FLYING COLORS. Just kidding, Tori bombed ... so she was arrested. Tori was then taken to a nearby police station and booked for misdemeanor DUI. We're told Tori registered a blood alcohol level of just over .08 -- the legal limit in California. Attempts to reach Tori were unsuccessful. more on this story
Valtari Hour is the special time when you can hear the band's new record, which will be released in North America on May 29th on XL Recordings, but where and how you do that is up to you. The album will be playing via a local radio station, at your local record store, or through the special listening platform the band built on their site �here. Valtari Hour will allow the band's fans worldwide to collectively experience their new album throughout the course of a twenty-four hour day. more on this story
The event will serve as the first-ever concert kick off for the 2012 St. Jude Classic. "The John Rich & Friends concert is an incredible way for us to kick off this year's FedEx St. Jude Classic and celebrate the 50th anniversary of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital," said Richard Shadyac Jr., CEO of ALSAC/St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. "This year's tournament is about so much more than golf. We've planned a full week of events for our supporters to enjoy while also helping St. Jude continue its mission of finding cures and saving children." St. Jude patient Ben is especially looking forward to the concert. In 2011, on the day Ben, 19, was admitted to St. Jude, Rich made a special appearance at the hospital. Rich spent time with Ben that day and invited him to attend a concert when he was feeling better. Ben is just one of the many patients who have been touched by Rich in his 15 years of dedication to St. Jude. more on this story
MVD sent over these details: Divinyls - Live: Jailhouse Rock was recorded in 1993 in Queensland's notorious Boggo Road prison This scorching live show, part of a triple bill with Rose Tattoo and Billy Thorpe and his Aztecs, sees Chrissie Amphlett and the band deliver blistering renditions of all the big hits from their five albums. Launching the show with the early hit "Boys in Town", the band play their biggest, and most controversial single, "I Touch Myself", before powering through Oz rock folklore on songs like "I'll Make You Happy", "Only Lonely" and "Pleasure and Pain". more on this story
Howard will be playing dates this month and next including the Sasquatch! Music Festival and Bonnaroo. He will be returning the this fall of a full North American tour in support of his debut album Every Kingdom. more on this story
The tour will include various dates in New York, Washington DC, Philadelphia, Delaware, New Jersey and West Virginia. Yael Meyer us hitting the road in support of her latest release "Everything Will Be Alright". More dates for the trek will be announced soon. more on this story
Sources tell us, the couple -- who's trying to settle a nasty custody dispute -- is deadlocked in mediation, and the biggest bone of contention is Usher's Georgia mansion. Tameka's currently living there -- but under the divorce settlement Usher can sell the property whenever he wants ... as long as he gives her a 60-day heads up. We're told Tameka fears Usher is going to pull the trigger -- leaving her buried in legal debt with no place to live -- so she's asking him for a permanent home for her and Usher's kids. Usher's response ... no way, no how. He says he's already paid her enough. And that's why judges are in business. The trial continues later this month. more on this story
Oosterhouse -- who once hosted "Trading Spaces" -- is going to war with a company called World of Floors ... which sells flooring ... duh. In the suit, filed in L.A. County Superior Court and obtained by TMZ, Oosterhouse claims, among other things, he signed a deal with WOF which ONLY gave them the right to exploit his mug for WOF ads featured in Michigan ... but the company used his image to market an affiliated national chain of furniture stores. Big problem for Oosterhouse -- who describes himself in the suit as a "handsome and wildly popular TV personality." Mr. Modest also claims his image is extremely valuable. In fact, his image is so valuable, Oosterhouse wants more than $500k from WOF and an ad agency that worked on the campaign. TMZ spoke with Alan Sussman -- a rep for the ad agency -- who tells us, "The lawsuit is erroneous ... just like Mr. Oosterhouse's talent." Fun Fact: Oosterhouse is married to Amy Smart ... and during a recent stop at LAX, he told us all about how they converted their home into a "green house." See that here.
According to a lawsuit filed today in L.A. Superior Court, Elisabeth Thieriot was the subject of an article on TheWrap.com on May 9 that accused her of the aforementioned wrongdoings (plus filming on government land w/o authorization). In the lawsuit, Thieriot says the allegations are completely false and the site should have known they were false ... but published the story anyway. Thieriot claims the entire story was based on lies from the film's producer, Raul Julia-Levy. In the papers, Thieriot says she is the victim of Julia-Levy's fraud in an attempt to "hijack a very important film project." She is suing for damages in excess of $1,000,000. A call to TheWrap.com was not returned. Attempts to contact Julia-Levy were unsuccessful. more on this story
As we reported, 44-year-old Patricia Krentcil would happily accept an invitation to bare her leathery hide for Playboy ... that is, if the nudie mag offered. But Playboy sources tell TMZ, "It wouldn't even be considered" -- Hef wouldn't let TM pose in the magazine or ANY Playboy outlet. Simply put -- Tanning Mom just isn't Playboy material. more on this story
"Ball of Confusion" was an early '70s hit for The Temptations, but it's a fair description of the Motown group's lineup during that period, as well. The "Classic Five" lineup of the band had long since splintered, with David Ruffin being sent packing in 1968 due to an unhealthy combination of ego and cocaine. The group's other lead vocalist, Eddie Kendricks, tired of internal bickering, unhappy with the group's musical direction and depressed by the declining health of founding member Paul Williams, left the band to pursue a solo career in 1971. Williams, who suffered from sickle-cell disease as well as alcoholism, retired from the band the same year. Down to just two original members, Otis Williams and Melvin Franklin, it seemed the legendary R&B group was on their last legs. Yet somehow it was under these dire circumstances that The Temptations made perhaps their greatest�or at least, their most ambitious�recording. Norman Whitfield was a crucial figure in the evolution of The Temptations. While not a member of the vocal group, the former Motown quality control staffer took on the role of The Temptations' chief producer in 1966 after his "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" outperformed the Smokey Robinson-written-and-produced "Get Ready." Whitfield steered the band away from the pop ballads that had brought them fame the previous two years and pushed their sound into psychedelic rock frontiers. Songs like "Cloud Nine" and the aforementioned "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World is Today)" added distorted guitars and funkier, Sly Stone-esque beats to the mix, creating a unique and powerful new sound for the group. Whitfield's direction chaffed Kendricks, who wanted to continue mining "My Girl" territory. Ruffin embraced Whitfield's edgier sound, as did his replacement, a powerful, gritty singer named Dennis Edwards, who was initially discovered by Funk Brothers bass legend James Jamerson and cut his teeth with The Contours before being offered the Temptations gig. Edwards picked up right where Ruffin left off, following Whitfield into more experimental terrain. more on this story
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