Arnold Schwarzenegger’s name removed from hometown stadium over death-penalty flap: Death-penalty opponents in the California governor’s birthplace of Graz, Austria–“the City of Human Rights”–decried the politician’s refusal to block the execution of a convicted murderer. At the governor’s request, his name was removed from a local soccer stadium and from the city’s promotional web sites.
Apparently, Schwarzenegger’s hometown fans picked up not a hint of his pro-death stance via his roles in movies like “The “Terminator,” “Commando,” “Predator,” and “Conan the Barbarian.”
Food is the new ‘Sex:’ Gourmet magazine editor, bestselling author, and former New York Times food critic Ruth Reichl will produce a new TV show for HBO about a glamorous newspaper columnist who finds herself entangled in a series of complicated romances. The plotlines will be based on Reichl’s own life story, and she and her co-producers reportedly hope the program will become the heir apparent to previous HBO hit “Sex and the City.”
Of course, Reichl herself is a bit more Miranda Hobbes than Carrie Bradshaw in the attractiveness department…but central casting will presumably find a swan to play the story’s less-than-hot duckling. Whom would you cast as the bohemian foodie? Jenna Elfman’s got the bohemian part down, but is sorely lacking the necessary Jewish vibe. Other suggestions?
Mike Myers and wife Robin Ruzan to divorce after 12 years of marriage. As Myers’ cult Saturday Night Live character Linda Richman (who was based on Myers’ real-life mother-in-law) would say, “It’s coffee talk, no big whoop. I’ll give you a topic: Wedded bliss is neither wedded nor bliss. Discuss.”
Dick Clark takes on Regis Philbin in “Smackdown of the Dorian Grays:” Committed to appear on ABC’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve special for the first time since his stroke last December, 76-year-old Clark will face off against 74-year-old Philbin, who will headline FOX’s show after filling in for Clark last year. Third wheel in the mix, NBC’s New Year’s Eve host Carson “Does he still have a show?” Daly admitted for the record that even his father would probably be watching the cage match between Clark and Philbin.
Will Smith identity thief sent to prison. Carlos Lomax was arrested after opening 14 credit card accounts at Pittsburgh-area stores using the legal name of the “Men In Black” star. Lomax was apparently tripped up when a clever sales clerk questioned his Pittsburgh address, remembering that the Fresh Prince had moved from Pennsylvania to Bel-Air many, many years ago.
