Hollywood Offender

Smokey Robinson and Denzel Washington To Be Honored at the Apollo

Smokey Robinson and Denzel Washington will be honored at the Apollo Theater's fourth annual Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Harlem, New York.

Robinson is to be inducted into the Apollo Legends Hall of Fame at the June 2 event, while Washington and his wife Pauletta are to receive the Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis Arts and Humanitarian Award, the Apollo Theater Foundation announced Monday.

Washington recently worked with Dee in the Harlem-set film, "American Gangster."

Earth Wind & Fire, India.Arie and Nnenna Freelon are scheduled to perform at the Apollo event, while comedienne and actress Wanda Sykes will act as host.

Arlo Guthrie Opens "Alice's Restaurant" at Hard Rock Park

Okay, so some {most?} of you may be too young to know who Arlo Guthrie {son of folk singer Woody Guthrie} is, but back in the day - more specifically, in the mid to late 1960's - Guthrie was a singer, song writer and political activist, who rose to fame with a song called, "Alice's Restaurant," a little folksy tune which protested the Vietnam War and was based on Guthrie's experience when he was rejected for the draft   The song struck a nerve in the counter-culture, and a film of the same name was released in 1969.

Guthrie was a staple of the anti-war movement, attended the Woodstock Festival in 1969 and came to symbolize social injustice everywhere.

Well, the days of "Make Love, Not War" are over and it seems, Guthrie has turned his energy into the restaurant business - and this time for real - since he's ready to open the doors to his new eatery, aptly entitled "Alice's Restaurant" {could it be named anything else?} at Hard Rock Park, the new 55 acre Rock 'n Roll theme park, located in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

The park officially opens on Friday, May 9th.

Rock on!

Cher: The Colosseum at Caesars Palace

 

Cher began her nearly 200-show, three-year-long contract at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas on Tuesday night.

In the 90-minute, concert/style show, she performs hits like, "If I Could Turn Back Time," "Believe" and "Strong Enough."

The production also offers vintage footage of rarely-seen Sonny and Cher clips and a stage that changes scenery for every song.

"If you thought my other shows were exciting, just wait until you see this one. This show is me...but bigger. It takes some of my favorite elements from my touring shows and kicks them up a notch."

Through October, tickets are on sale and range between $95.00 and $250.00.

Stan Lee Teams With Virgin Comics

I collect comic books, so I had to post about Stan Lee's newest venture. Lee, who is the co-creator of "Spider-Man," "X-Men," "Fantastic Four," "Hulk," "Iron Man" and the Marvel Universe of superhero characters, has just announced his plans to form a new partnership with Virgin Comics.

Reportedly, the new universe will initially be anchored around the exploits of a team of ten superheroes of various backgrounds and origins and as the team evolves, we'll learn that not all of these heroes are what they seem - think power abuse and internal struggles here. Alas, our new heroes could learn the real villains may lurk within themselves.

Says Lee:

"What a dream assignment! I can't wait to start pitting my newest, most exciting superheroes against comicdom's most powerful, diabolical super villains and then have the fun of tossing them into far-out, thrill-a-minute adventures to challenge the readers' imagination! And who better to share in the fun, creating wondrous new worlds without limit, than the incredibly talented and dedicated guys at Virgin Comics!"

Daily Offenders

Mary Kate Olsen Tries To Bring Back The Headband - Ayyyy

Papa Joe Simpson Pimps Out Ashlee - IDLYITW

Marilyn Monroe Sex Tape: Just A PR Stunt - Hollywood Rag

Paris's Parents Love Benji Madden - Celebrity Nation

Heath Ledger Took His Joker Role Too Seriously - Gabsmash

John Mayer Goes Tattoo Crazy - A Socialite's Life

Kanye West Explains Why He's A Breast Man - Daily Stab

Jane's Addiction Reunites For One Night Only - The Evil Beet

George Clooney Hates Kids - Mollygood

Barbra Streisand Has A Heart

Awww, 1970's era Barbra Streisand--love it!  Love the cheesy perm and the perfect lighting to try and make her look as attractive as possible.  Plus--and this is my true confession--I love her screwball '70's era comedies. "What's Up, Doc?"-- never miss it, and "For Pete's Sake" is must-see viewing for me. Do not get me going on "The Way We Were."  See ya, Hubbell, indeed.  Judge me as you see fit--I'm not proud of these facts.

Regardless, that was then and in the present?  Babs does nothing for me.  She's turned into a cranky old broad.  I picture her sitting in her Malibu compound ordering around her staff with such pressing needs as making sure her prize roses have the exact perfect fertilizer and insuring that her art collection is properly categorized.  If it's not?  Well, I guess they're staying til it is correct!

However, Barbra has done something noteworthy recently.  She donated $5 million to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center to be used for women's heart research.  Very good cause.  Of course, the program will now bear her name for her efforts.  The Barbra Streisand Cardiovascular Research Education Program (could they come up with a more cumbersome name?) will conduct trials on new drugs and try to identify the role gender plays in the disease. 

Considering she's probably made more than a few people's blood pressure rise, I'd say this is a great match.

Brigitte Bardot Facing Charges

Hollywood legend Brigitte Bardot, the French movie actress turned animal rights activist, says she's being harassed by anti-racism groups.

Bardot, who is now 73, has drawn criticism and legal charges for comments she made denouncing the Muslim practice of slaughtering sheep without first stunning them.

A prosecutor in Paris on Tuesday recommended Bardot receive a two-month suspended prison sentence and a $25,000.00 fine for inciting racial hatred in a letter she wrote to French President Nicolas Sarkozy in December 2006.

A verdict is expected June 3.

In the letter to Sarkozy, Bardot wrote:

"We're fed up with being led by the nose by this population that is destroying us, destroying our country by imposing its acts."

Bardot, who has been convicted on similar charges at least three times in the last 11 years, didn't attend the Tuesday hearing, however she issued a statement through her lawyer saying she was appalled by the criticism levied against her, which she says is harassment:

"I will never be quiet until the ritual slaughtering practices are changed."

Daily Offenders

Did Gerard Butler Call Cameron Diaz A Dog?!? - Agent Bedhead

Elizabeth Taylor Tried To End It All - A Socialite's Life

Donald Trump Just Can't Stop Ragging On Rosie - Celebrity Smack

Jessica Alba Is Superstitious - I'm Not Obsessed

Heather Mills NOT Booed At Miss USA Pageant - Celebitchy

Hayden Panettiere Finds Celebrity Intrusive - Mollygood

Madonna's Husband Prefers Cookies To Sex With Her - Dlisted

When Botox Attacks - LA Times