'Kiss' drummer Criss had breast cancer
Peter Criss, the Catman of the rock band Kiss, is a breast cancer survivor. He came out, if you will, earlier this month because it seemed right to do so during national Breast Cancer Awareness month, but he didn't do so until, as he puts it: "I prayed on it." I talked with him last week and found him to be a man of faith who really wants to help men who might not otherwise pay attention to their health. "I'm not a holy roller, but I have a whole way of being spiritual and, yes, I do stop by church once a week... Through all the craziness in my life, I would always go and pray," says Criss, bottom left in photo. So he asked God whether he should announce that he's had breast cancer and he got a yes. His aim, Criss says, is to let men know that they can get breast cancer, too, (about 1% of cases) and that early detection is the key to living. "Don't think it will go away." Criss was diagnosed in 2008 after he discovered a lump in his left breast, which was removed surgically. He didn't need chemo or other treatment because it was found early and he's grateful for that. Criss is working on a solo album and a memoir and he says "every day to me is a holiday because I got to go back to my work."
Who's News on 'House' and 'Southland'
Writers of the Fox drama House have been shaking things up this season and Jennifer Morrison, who plays Dr. Allison Cameron, is an unfortunate casualty of their new vision. When we talked with Morrison, right, for this week's Who's News column she wasn't aware that her time was short; the news broke as we were going to press. Everyone involved is now talking about how it's not a firing, that the plot development requires it, that she'll come back in a guest spot, blah, blah. The plot requires it? They make this stuff up! So making up stuff that requires she leave seems like an ungracious way of firing someone to me.
Also in Who's News this week:
• Actor Michael Cudlitz, who spoke to me while he was still shooting Southland, then found out that NBC was canceling the police drama before they even put it on the air this season. Cudlitz has had a long career in TV in "character" parts so he's sure to be fine. NBC, however, may not fare as well.
• Ann and Nancy Wilson, the sisters who front the band Heart, talked with me about the 30th anniversary of their hit Dog & Butterfly. I have long been a big fan of the band, so it was nice to hear how much they appreciate their fans. They'd spent much of the summer on tour and were eager to get home to their children.
• Emmy Rossum, of Phantom of the Opera fame, has a new movie and a new beau.
Don't forget you can leave me a question for the print Who's News column here.
Romano and friends talk age in L.A.
Photo by Dan MacMedan
Spencer Grammer on Monday's midseason finale of 'Greek'
Monday night brings the mid-season finale of the college-centric ABC Family show Greek, and it will be of much interest to longtime viewers because the end of this week’s episode featured a long-awaited kiss between two of the show’s main characters. Former lovers Casey — the bubbly, driven sorority girl played by Spencer Grammer (daughter of Cheers and Frasier star Kelsey Grammer) — and Cappie, Scott M. Foster’s witty slacker frat guy, have been on and off friends so far in the show’s three seasons, but many fans have wanted to see them back together for a while now. Our Brian Truitt talked with Grammer, 26, who’s just as effusive as her character, just after she finished up an archery lesson for an upcoming episode (“It really hurts when you hit yourself with the bow, just so you know,” she quips), so read below for their conversation and check out a clip featuring Grammer and Foster from Monday's Greek.
Photos courtesy of ABC Family
Celebrity Birthdays: Gavin Rossdale, Nia Long
October 29, 2009
Celebrity Birthdays: Winona Ryder, Richard Dreyfuss
Winona Ryder, who is part of executive producer Brad Pitt’s ensemble cast in The Private Lives of Pippa Lee (scheduled for limited release in November), celebrates her 38th birthday today. (You can watch a trailer of her new movie below.) Actor Richard Dreyfuss, most notably of Mr. Holland’s Opus and The Goodbye Girl, turns 62. He stars next opposite Ed Norton and Susan Sarandon in the comedic thriller Leaves of Grass, hitting theaters in December. American Idol judge Randy Jackson is 48, and you can see him back on the small screen, with new judge Ellen DeGeneres, when season nine premieres in January.
October 28, 2009
Celebrity Birthdays: Julia Roberts, Joaquin Phoenix
Pretty Woman Julia Roberts, who has the leading role in the upcoming screen adaptation of the popular memoir Eat, Pray, Love, celebrates her 42nd birthday today. Joaquin Phoenix, who made a spectacle of himself on David Letterman's show earlier this year, turns 35. Bill Gates, the multi-billionaire Microsoft founder, is 54. NCIS star Lauren Holly, appearing in the upcoming thriller Final Storm, turns 46, and gold medal-winning track star (and stepdad to Kim, Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian) Bruce Jenner is 60.
October 27, 2009
Dean Stockwell talks about his new 'Battlestar' movie, 'The Plan'
Dean Stockwell has starred in a lot of great movies and TV shows in the 66 years he has been acting — including 1962’s Long Day’s Journey Into Night with Katharine Hepburn and Jason Robards; two David Lynch films, Dune and Blue Velvet; 1988’s Married to the Mob (he was nominated for an Oscar) and the early-’90s series Quantum Leap (he won a Golden Globe). Most recently, he starred as a Cylon, a model named Cavil, on Battlestar Galactica, which ended in March. Now, the formidable 73-year-old actor stars in Battlestar Galactica: The Plan, a new DVD film on sale today that explores the Cylons’ back story (check out a clip below). Our BSG expert, copy chief Jill Golden, recently spoke with Stockwell about the new DVD and his evil character as well as his own burgeoning art career. SPOILER WARNING: If you want to avoid Plan spoilers, then read this after you’ve watched the DVD.
Photos courtesy of Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Celebrity Birthdays: John Cleese, Kelly Osbourne
British actor and funnyman John Cleese celebrates his 70th birthday. IFC recently aired a six-part documentary about Cleese and his partners in Monty Python, Monty Python: Almost the Truth. Dancing With the Stars contestant (and daughter of Ozzy Osbourne) Kelly Osbourne turns 25. Patrick Fugit, who starred in Almost Famous and currently appears in Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant, is 27. And three notable singers have birthdays today: Stone Temple Pilots frontman Scott Weiland is 42, Duran Duran singer Simon Le Bon is 51, and country singer Lee Greenwood turns 67.
October 26, 2009
Movie awards season is here
Two announcements today make it clear that movie award season is upon us. First, British actor and comedian Ricky Gervais, most recently the star of The Invention of Lying, will host the Golden Globe Awards on January 17. Gervais is the first host of the show since 1995. His presenting skills at both the Emmys and last year's Golden Globes (watch him below) were a cut above all the rest. Second, The Hollywood Reporter, announced the return today of its yearly Awards Watch, both online and in print. It's not the only publication covering entertainment with an informed look at films – my friend Tom O'Neil does a masterful job at his Goldderby.com (take a look at his 12 front-runners now). Bookmark both if you're awards obsessed.
