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Oscar winner Morgan Freeman is in serious condition following a car accident late Sunday night. A spokesperson for the Regional Medical Center in Memphis, Tennessee released the actor's condition but did not reveal details of his injuries. His publicist, Donna Lee, later said in a statement that the actor suffered a broken arm, a broken elbow and "minor shoulder damage," but was otherwise in "good spirits." Lee says Freeman will undergo surgery. Freeman was driving north of Ruleville, Mississippi around 11:30 p.m., when his vehicle went off the edge of the road and flipped several times before coming to a stop. Emergency crews needed the jaws of life to remove Freeman and his passenger from the car. Both were airlifted to the hospital in Memphis. The passenger has been identified as Demaris Meyer of Memphis. Lee described Meyer and Freeman as friends. Freeman currently appears in the latest "Batman" film, "The Dark Knight." In 2005, he won an Oscar for his supporting role in "Million Dollar Baby."
The Jacksons are being recognized for their musical contributions to American society and culture. Michael, Marlon, Jermaine, Tito, Jackie, and Randy will receive the 2007 BMI Icon Award at the performing rights organization's annual Urban Awards dinner, which recognize the most performed R&B, rap, and hip-hop songs of the previous year. The event also pays tribute to noteworthy songwriters and artists with the Icon Award and a musical salute during the ceremony. Icon honorees are composer-performers who have made, quote, "a unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers." Previous recipients include James Brown, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Isaac Hayes, and Carlos Santana, while the Bee Gees were last year's Icon winner. The 8th annual BMI Urban Awards dinner will take place at the Wilshire Theater in Beverly Hills, California on September 4th.
Method Man is making a return to television later this year. According to "TV Guide," the rapper-actor has been tapped to guest star on the second season of USA's "Burn Notice." Details are still sketchy about his role and when the episode will air. Method Man's previous TV credits include parts on "Law & Order: SVU," "CSI," "The Wire," "Boston Public" and "OZ." He's also appeared in films like "How High," "Soul Plane" and "Meet the Spartans."
Where do Jennifer Lopez's 2000 Grammy dress and Janet Jackson's "wardrobe malfunction" stack up in the halls of fashion history? That's what "Women's Wear Daily" wants to know. The magazine has launched their "75 Defining Moments in Fashion" poll to find out what the public thinks. Each week for the next three weeks, you can go online to vote for your favorites among the 25 moments posted. Lopez and Jackson are in the running this week, alongside icons like Jackie Kennedy and Farrah Fawcett. To vote, visit www.wwd.com/definingfashion.
Actor Billy Dee Williams has an appointment with "Private Practice." According to TVGuide.com, the veteran star will make a guest appearance on the ABC "Grey's Anatomy" medical drama spinoff during its upcoming second season. Williams will reportedly play a man who has been caring for his wife who has been suffering from dementia symptoms while ignoring his own declining health. Williams has most recently been starring on "General Hospital: Night Shift." "Private Practice" features "Grey's" veteran Addison Montgomery, played by Kate Walsh, who left Seattle to start a new life in California. It also stars Audra McDonald, Tim Daly, Taye Diggs and Amy Brenneman.
The pop band known for their hit "Dirty Little Secret" has decided to join a long list of other celebrities by donning a milk mustache. "People" magazine reports the All-American Rejects will be appearing in the "Got Milk?" ads, following Beyonce, David Beckham, Martha Stewart and others. Rhythm guitarist Mike Kennerty said, quote, "it's definitely a big deal. The only thing bigger than "got Milk?" are those T-shirts that rip off the saying by asking "got" something else." The ads promote the nutritional benefits of drinking milk, which the band members take seriously. Drummer Chris Gaylor stressed how active they are being on the road everyday. He said, quote, "we're playing shows. So that really does help. It's when we come off the road that we're not doing anything but sitting around drinking - that's milk of course."
Former contestants from Fox' "American Idol" are headed to Hollywood this week to launch their holiday CD that will be released just in time for 2008's holiday season. The red carpet event, "IDOLS Christmas in August" will take place this Thursday at Hollywood's Cinespace. The two-disc set features 20 Idols singing 30 Christmas songs. Some of the participating members are RJ Helton, Trenyce, Alexis Stone Lopez, Mikalah Gordon, Nikki McKibbin, Amy Davis, Angela Peel and Lisa Leuschner. A few of the Idols are slated to perform at the event. Jodi Jackson of JJ Entertainment, just one organization presenting the event, says, quote, "you gotta love these kids, they are nonstop, action packed performers!" KIIS-FM's Celebrity Thursday, ADMP Inc, Usual Suspects LA & AMERICAN CHRISTMAS are also involved in putting on the red carpet event. "American Idol's" eighth season is set to premiere in January of next year. While thousands of singing hopefuls are showing up for auditions being held all over the country, an underwhelming 300 people took part in the San Juan, Puerto Rico tryouts on Saturday.
Veteran "American Idol" producer Nigel Lythgoe is reportedly stepping down. According to TMZ.com, Lythgoe, who has executive produced the show for its seven seasons, has taken himself off of the program. Apparently he feels it's time for someone else to step in. Lythgoe may have also reportedly lost his passion for the Fox singing competition. No replacement for Lythgoe has been named as yet. Lythgoe also serves as a judge on Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance." Tryouts for the eighth season of "American Idol" are now underway. The next stop is Kansas City, Missouri this Friday. The eighth edition of "Idol" should premiere next year.
Despite a nasty "YouTube" feud that sent insults flying from teen queen Miley Cyrus to her fellow Disney stars Serena Gomez and Demi Lovato, the three say there are no hard feelings. "Access Hollywood" reports Gomez said she was, quote, "surprised" at all the media attention the "YouTube" videos received. The clip in question shows Cyrus and her friend mocking a previously made video of Gomez and Lovato. She imitates Gomez' hair falling over her face and makes comments about a gap Lovato used to have in her teeth. Gomez and Lovato both added that, while they are honored to be compared to Cyrus who is so popular around the world, they want to stick to their own images.
She's the biggest teen superstar in the world, but Miley Cyrus would willingly step up to the babysitting plate for Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz. "Us Magazine" reports the 15-year-old Disney star told Wentz last week, quote, "I just met your beautiful wife backstage, I worship her, I'll babysit!" Wentz gushed about his upcoming fatherhood to "People" magazine saying he is taking it one step at a time and is just excited to meet the baby. He said, quote, "the best advice my dad has given me was, go with your gut. And he said you can't really have expectations." He added that he and Ashlee don't know the sex of the baby adding, quote, "Ashlee's a trooper. She's been really good with this. She's probably one of the most health conscious, spiritually free pregnant women I've ever been around."
Amy Winehouse's bodyguard is definitely fulfilling his job description. TMZ.com reports two British soldiers pestered the guard for a picture with the troubled singer in the middle of the night. The troops became loud and disorderly and threw in some swear words to get their point across. They stressed Winehouse's album was what got them through their six months duty in Afghanistan and a picture is the least she could do for them. Despite the pleas, the bodyguard calmly told them to stop swearing and go away. The soldiers apologized and left the scene.
Federal investigators are ready to force Mary-Kate Olsen to testify in the death of her close friend Heath Ledger. ABC News reports the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency obtained a subpoena in April but so far hasn't served it to the former child star while she tries to work out a deal for immunity. Olsen has refused to cooperate with investigators as they try to figure out from where "The Dark Knight" star obtained all those prescription drugs that, combined, caused his death on January 22nd. Government sources told ABC they've tracked down the origins for every drug except the powerful OxyContin. They want to ask Olsen whether she may have illegally supplied Ledger with the potent pills. Olsen's attorney, Michael Miller, blasted media speculation and insisted his client, quote, "had nothing whatsoever to do with the drugs found in Heath Ledger's home or his body."
There's been a scare behind the scenes of Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance" reality competition. Show judge Mary Murphy told "People" magazine Sunday that two of the four finalists on the show collapsed during rehearsals Saturday and had to be taken to the hospital by ambulance. She said that the pair were "completely dehydrated," adding, quote, "I'm sure they're doing a lot of blood work to see if there's anything else." A source close to the show tells "People" that the two dancers, whose identities have not been revealed, have since been released from the hospital, are doing better, and were expected to return to rehearsals yesterday. A rep for Fox would not comment. The four remaining "So You Think You Can Dance" contestants are Stephen "Twitch" Boss, Katee Shean, Courtney Galiano and Joshua Allen. The show's live season finale airs this Thursday at 7p.m. on Fox.
The hosts of "Live with Regis & Kelly" have landed a guest spot. Zap2It.com reports that Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa will play themselves on the upcoming season premiere of ABC's "Ugly Betty." The episode will feature fashion magazine mavens Wilhelmina Slater, played by Vanessa Williams, and Alexis Meade, played by Rebecca Romijn, paying a visit to the co-hosts' daytime talk show. As previously announced, Ripa's real life husband, actor Mark Consuelos, will also have a guest role on "Ugly Betty" during the upcoming season. "Ugly Betty" will return with new episodes September 25th. The series stars America Ferrera as an ordinary girl trying to make it in the world of high fashion.
Oprah Winfrey's piggy bank isn't lacking in funds. According to "TV Guide's" annual star salary survey, the talk show icon brings in 385-million-dollars a year. Other big earners include "American Idol" judge Simon Cowell, who banks 50-million-dollars annually, and "Late Show" host David Letterman, who earns 32-million-dollars a year. The highest paid primetime comedy star, according to "TV Guide," is "Two and a Half Men's" Charlie Sheen, with a paycheck of 825-thousand-dollars an episode, while the highest paid actor in a drama is departing "CSI" star William Peterson, with 600-thousand-dollar per episode. Behind-the-scenes, "Family Guy" creator Seth MacFarlane, who voices a character on the show, recently signed a deal with Fox that will earn him 100-million-dollars through 2012. The complete list of star salaries is available in the new issue of "TV Guide," on newsstands this Thursday.
Robert DeNiro and Mel Gibson have signed on to star in a new movie called Edge of Darkness. In the film, Gibson will play a detective who discovers his daughter led a secret life after she is murdered on his doorstep. De Niro will play the operative sent to clean up the evidence.
Pamela Anderson has banned close-up shots of her face from her new TV show, Girl On the Loose. A source says, "Pamela still looks fantastic but is clearly determined to look as great as possible on the show. Producers have been informed she has to appear in only flattering lighting - and close ups on her face are apparently a no-no. Pamela has been around this game long enough to know the pitfalls of a bad camera angle."
Missy Elliot says she plans to adopt because she's scared of the pain associated with child birth. "I most definitely want kids, but I'll probably adopt. I don't know if I can take the kind of pain women go through with childbirth. Maybe in the year 2020 you could just pop a baby out and it'd be fine. But right now I'd rather just adopt."
Katy Perry says her best friend inspired her to write "I Kissed A Girl." "Yeah, I kissed a girl. Of course! I was inspired by that curiosity I had with girls. I remember growing up and my best friend was the most beautiful person ever. I think I had a big crush on her."
Chris Brown is coming out with his own line of baseball caps. New Era Cap is putting them on sale on August 14th. Brown has designed six styles including one with an image of a boom box and another featuring the initials "CBE," for Chris Brown Entertainment. Each cap will retail for between for $35 and $40.
David Banner has joined the cast of Ice Cube's new movie, The Longshots. The film is being directed by Limp Bizkit's Fred Durst and is based on the true story of a young female quarterback.
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