During the Super Bowl XLV halftime show last February, Will.i.am and the rest of the Black Eyed Peas brought out special guests like Usher and Slash to the stage. One year later, Will.i.am has taken it upon himself to reveal one of the performers expected to spice up Madonna's upcoming halftime show and it's no one you'd expect ... he says LMFAO are set to perform! Will.i.am says, "I'm going to the Super Bowl this year to see my group LMFAO perform with Madonna." Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. are also rumored to show up at the Super Bowl performance to sing their collaboration with Madonna, "Give Me All Your Love."
T.I. ASKS FANS TO SIGN ANTI-BULLYING PETITION
T.I. has thrown his support behind an anti-bullying campaign by asking fans to sign a petition promoting kindness in schools. T.I. is promoting Saving Our Daughters, a U.S. organization that aims to empower teen girls and put an end to bullying. He posted a link to the online petition on his Facebook, which reaches millions of followers, hoping they would sign the charity's Take The Oath pledge ... which encourages young women to report acts of bullying.
RIHANNA TO CO-PRODUCE AND STAR IN FASHION TV SHOW
Rihanna is about to take over a new television series. Sky Living, a U.K. TV network, has announced that Rihanna will executive produce a competition show that that will hunt for the next big thing in British fashion design. A group of aspiring designers will compete on the still untitled show, which begins its 10-week run this summer. The winner will get to create Rihanna's outfit for her performance at the Wireless Festival in Hyde Park in July. Rihanna will appear on camera and will take the lead behind the scenes in casting and editing.
JASON DERULO CONFIRMS RELATIONSHIP WITH JORDIN SPARKS
Jason Derulo has finally confirmed he is dating Jordin Sparks ... and says she's been nursing him back to health after fracturing his neck. Derulo injured his neck while dancing three weeks ago when he accidentally landed on his head, snapping a vertebrae, and he says it has brought him closer to the former American Idol winner, who he has been secretly dating since last year. Finally confirming their relationship, he said: "We are together. She lives in Phoenix and she comes [to Miami] and takes care of me, brings me breakfast in bed and she'll go on walks with me. We've gotten closer because of my accident. It's awesome to have someone you can talk to and she's a wonderful person."
Meanwhile, Jason refuses to take a break from work as he recovers ... he's taking piano lessons and writing songs for his next album. He tells People.com, "I'm going to make another album while I'm down. We'll see what comes out of that. I don't know what it's called yet, but it's really inspired."
MJ'S KIDS PAY TRIBUTE TO DAD WITH HAND PRINT
Michael Jackson's kids took part in a hand and footprint ceremony to pay tribute to their late father at Hollywood's Grauman's Chinese Theater yesterday. His three kids - Prince, 14, Paris, 13, and nine-year-old Prince Michael II, better known as "Blanket" – took part in a memorial ceremony and used one of the King of Pop's iconic sequin gloves and a pair of his dancing shoes to make the imprints. The children also made marks with their own hands. Addressing the crowd, Prince said: "This, right here, is his lifetime achievement award. This is what he strived to get, and this is what we are giving him now." Justin Bieber, Chris Tucker, Smokey Robinson and Quincy Jones were all present for the ceremony.
B.O.B. PRODUCERS SUED FOR 'AIRPLANES'
B.o.B.'s producers have been hit with a lawsuit filed by a disgruntled songwriter. Production team Kinetics & One Love are being sued by Christine Dominguez for claiming sole credit for B.o.B.'s 2010 smash "Airplanes." According to the suit, Dominguez was asked by the duo to create a melody and other contributions to two unfinished recordings then-called "Airplanes." Dominguez claims she came up with the finished song's melody and chorus. Dominguez is suing for unfair competition, unjust enrichment, copyright infringement, and failure to account for revenues derived from sampling or other use of the song.
BLUE IVY GETS HER OWN LULLABY!
The Jingle Punks Hipster Orchestra has recorded a lullaby for Beyonce and Jay-Z's baby Blue Ivy Carter. The sounds are relaxing and even include instrumental arrangements of several hit songs by Beyonce and Jay-Z. The orchestra uses a formula of "4 strings and an 808″ to turn hip-hop tunes into easy listening. A member of the orchestra opens the video by saying, "They say that playing classical for your child is good for their development, so we took it upon ourselves to make a lullaby for Blue Ivy." The intro is followed by the opening notes of Jay's 'Dirt Off Your Shoulder' played on violin and transitions into Beyonce's "Crazy in Love."
The medley also features "Irreplaceable," "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)," "Halo" and "Big Pimpin" and finishes off with "Empire State of Mind."
THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM FIRE UP WORK ON FOURTH ALBUM
New Jersey rockers and Bruce Springsteen buddies the Gaslight Anthem have migrated south to Nashville to begin recording their fourth album. Reports are the band kicked up sessions just this past Monday for the follow up to their 2010 record American Slang. In more Gaslight Anthem news, keep an eye out for the band’s cover of the Bob Dylan song “Changing of the Guards,” which is available on the just released four-disc tribute/benefit compilation Chimes of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan Honoring 50 Years of Amnesty International.
KAISER CHIEFS READY TO HIT REFRESH BUTTON
Britain’s Kaiser Chiefs are gearing up for the March 6 release of Start the Revolution without Me, their first U.S. offering since 2008’s Off with Their Heads. The band is also slated to begin a fresh U.S. tour that same night in Boston. Frontman Ricky Wilson told Rolling Stone the time off did the band a world of good, saying, “You take a little step back, and now we’re going back to America and we’re flying first class and we’re playing on Letterman… We’re playing Coachella and doing our biggest U.S. tour. It’s actually really exciting.”
THEORY OF A DEADMAN SET 2012 LIVE SCHEDULE
Canadian rockers Theory of a Deadman will kick off its 2012 U.S. headlining tour on April 9 in Tallahassee, FL. So far, the group has inked 21 dates (with more to be announced soon) across the country, with stops planned in cities such as Knoxville, Atlanta, Portland, ME, Buffalo, Chicago, and Wichita, among others, before the tour closes on May 11 in Metropolis, IL. Opening acts will include Pop Evil and Stellar Revival.
BEN FOLDS FIVE REUNITES; NEW ALBUM DUE THIS SPRING
The 13-year wait for a Ben Folds Five reunion is over. The singer-keyboardist announced he and bandmates Robert Sledge and Darren Jessee have regrouped and are already hard at work on a brand new studio album. The tweet read: “It’s happening fo sho – Day 1 in studio with Robert and Darren through March. Spring release.” The upcoming album will be the group’s fourth studio effort and first since 1999’s The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner.
HULK HOGAN: HEAVY METAL HERO?
In an interview with UK newspaper The Sun, former wrestler/reality television star Hulk Hogan revealed he was once offered an opportunity to become a member of Metallica. The Hulkster said, “I used to be a session musician before I was a wrestler. I played bass guitar. I was big pals with Lars Ulrich and he asked me if I wanted to play bass with Metallica in their early days but it didn’t work out.
NEW AC/DC ALBUM DELAYED DUE TO BAND MEMBER ILLNESS
Work on the next AC/DC album has been delayed due to a band member’s unspecified health problems, frontman Brian Johnson said in a recent radio interview. The Scottish-born singer would not be specific or give many details, but he did say, “One of the boys is a little sick and I can’t say anything, but he’s getting better. He’s doing wonderful. Full recovery fully expected.”
VAN HALEN PUTS ITS STAMP ON U.S. ROCK SONGS CHART
The first single off of Van Halen’s forthcoming album A Different Kind of Truth (due February 7) has climbed to the top of the Billboard Rock Songs chart. “Tattoo” is currently at No. 1 on the Rock Songs survey, it is the No. 1 Most Played Song at Classic Rock radio, and it holds the distinction of being the No. 1 most added song on Mainstream and Active Rock radio as well. Since its release on January 10, “Tattoo” has left its mark on over 160 rock stations across the country.
JOURNEY DRUMMER LOCKED UP FOR ASSAULT
Longtime Journey drummer Deen Castronovo was arrested last Saturday in Oregon for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend after a heated argument turned physical. According to local authorities, Castronovo was booked into Polk County jail on a series of charges, including assault, coercion, criminal mischief, harassment, and interfering with making a police report. The drummer posted $52,500 bail and was released.
DEMI 911 CALL TO BE EDITED!
When TMZ gets a hold of the 911 call made Monday that led to Demi Moore's hospitalization, it won't reveal much. That's because, according to the site, the LA City Attorney's office is recommending that all references to drugs be erased from the call before it is released to the public. The Attorney's office is citing patient privacy as the reason for the edits. According to TMZ, Demi suffered seizure-like symptoms after inhaling nitrous oxide.
SAJAK SAYS HE HOSTED WHEEL DRUNK!
Longtime Wheel of Fortune host Pat Sajak has admitted in a new interview that he and co-host Vanna White used to host the game show drunk. The 65-year-old Sajak, the show's host since 1981, told Dan le Batardthat during long dinner breaks, he and White used to go to a Mexican restaurant and have a few margaritas. "Vanna and I would go across and have two or three or six and then come and do the last shows and have trouble recognizing the alphabet. They're really great tapes to get a hold of," Sajak said. "I had a great time. I have no idea if the shows were any good, but no one said anything, so I guess I did OK."
DEEN CAUGHT EATING BURGER ON CRUISE!
Diabetes has not lessened Paula Deen's appetite one bit. While on her annual Party At Sea cruise, Deen was photographed chowing down on a fattening cheeseburger, despite the cruise ship's many healthier options. Deen revealed earlier this month that she had been diagnosed with type 2 Diabetes three years ago. She only decided to go public with the news after signing a deal to endorse a Diabetes drug.
ALCATRAZ FANS AREN'T TOO BRIGHT!
It appears some TV fans have a hard time distinguishing fantasy from reality. TMZ reports that fans of the new Fox show Alcatraz have been wandering off the National Parks Service guided tours of the island to try and sneak into "closed areas" of the prison. According to a Parks Service rep, many of the wandering tourists have admitted they were looking for the secret "bat-cave underneath Alcatraz" which is headquarters for the show's detectives. The Parks Service has now been forced to post signs informing folks that "the TV show Alcatraz is fictional," and that areas are closed off to "protect you, historic structures and nesting birds."
VIENNA BACK WITH EX!
Vienna Girardi has gone back to an ex-boyfriend. The former Bachelor Pad contestant was spotted hanging out in Miami Tuesday with Lee Smith, the guy she was allegedly sending flirty emails to while still engaged to BachelorJake Pavelka. Just last month, Vienna walked off the set of VH1's Relationship Rehab, where she was trying to work things out with ex-beau Kasey Kahl. Vienna left after producers brought Lee on set for a surprise sit-down. Sources say that since the incident Vienna and Lee have been talking, and decided to work on their relationship.
WELCOME BACK KOTTER STAR ROBERT HEGYES DIES
Former Welcome Back Kotter star Robert Hegyes died yesterday morning from an apparent heart attack. He was 60. Hegyes is best known for playing Jewish/Puerto Rican “Sweathog,” Juan Epstein alongside co-star John Travolta in the 70s hit series. In addition to Kotter, Hegyes appeared in Cagney and Lacey.
MELISSA McCARTHY STAR STRUCK!
There's no doubt Bridesmaids'Melissa McCarthy is a huge star now, but that doesn't mean she doesn't get star struck around other A-listers. McCarthy, who this week earned a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination, was shocked when her idol Meryl Streep walked over to her on the Golden Globes red carpet to introduce herself. "Literally like my brain snapped in two," Melissa told Ellen DeGeneres. "And then I really didn't know what to say. I just kept going 'Oh, my god. You're Meryl Streep.' And she was chatting like a normal human being. And I said, 'Oh my god. I'm sorry. I thought over the years so many things if I ever got to meet you what I would say. This is not it.'"
DREW CAREY CALLS OFF ENGAGEMENT!
Drew Carey and long-time fiancée Nicole Jaracz have called off their engagement, five years after the Price is Right host popped the question. "He and Nicole still have a great deal of love and affection for one another," Carey's rep told People in a statement. "He will still be very involved with their son's life." Nicole has a six-year-old son Connor from a previous relationship.
TODDLERS & TIARAS MOM SUES MEDIA!
The mother of one of the tots featured on TLC's Toddlers & Tiaras is suing the media for "sexualizing" a story about her 5-year-old daughter. Isabella Barrett's mother Susanna is suing The Huffington Post and other sites that posted a video of her daughter singing LMFAO's "I'm Sexy and I Know It," describing it as a clip of a little girl "gyrating in a nightclub and singing about her sex appeal." Susanna claims the media was incorrectly portraying the clip as erotic. “She did not understand the concept of sex, let alone ‘sex appeal’ and could not have been singing about her own sex appeal,” the family claims in court papers. The Barretts are seeking $30 million, claiming the story has caused Isabella to be, "perceived sexually, erotically and pornographically,” placing her “in serious physical danger, attracting the attention of others who would seek to sexualize a child.”
THE ARTIST DOG TO RETIRE!
Uggie, the cute dog from the Oscar-nominated film The Artist, is getting out of showbiz. "I'm retiring him," Uggie's trainer Omar von Muller tells Life & Style. "He may do a couple of little things here and there because he enjoys them, but I don't want to put him through long hours anymore. He's getting tired." Omar says he plans to keep the business going by using Uggie's younger brother Dash in future movies. "I think he will be fine with Dash stepping in," said Omar. "Uggie is 10-years-old and has done a lot of work. He wants to relax at home."
TV TIDBITS!
● NBC is reportedly developing a spin-off of The Office which will revolve around Rainn Wilson's character Dwight Schrute. The series will likely explore the Schrute family farm, and will involve multiple generations of the family.
MISCELLANEOUS MOVIE NEWS!
● Selena Gomez is trying to shed her good girl image. Justin Bieber's main squeeze has signed on to appear in the indie film Spring Breakers, directed by controversial Kids director Harmony Korine, and also starring James Franco, Vanessa Hudgens and Emma Roberts. The three actresses will play friends who rob a bank to pay for their spring break vacations.
● Russell Brand has signed on to star in the haunted house movie The Hauntrepreneur. According to Variety, the film "revolves around a family that has trouble adjusting to a new town and hires a peculiar man…to help them. In an attempt to bring them together, the man creates a haunted house filled with an odd cast of characters.”
