Justin Bieber, from YouTube Phenom to Genuine Star - NY Times

Justin Bieber at a signing at the Nintendo Store, New York City, Sept. 1, 2009. Photo: Kevin Aranibar

Teen heartthrob Justin Bieber is the subject of a good-sized article in the Sunday, Jan. 3rd edition of the New York Times. The article notes:
"But as he takes his place in the venerable line of Leifs and Shauns who have ruled the Tiger Beat princedom, he is also a creature of this era: a talented boy discovered first by fans on YouTube, then cannily marketed to them through a fresh influx of studiedly raw videos on the Web site."

The Justin Bieber article notes how the R&B star Usher has taken Bieber, a native of Ontario, Canada, under his wing and is part of a team that includes a "swagger coach," a former assistant to Usher who advises Bieber in fashion, moves, and attitude.

Infomercial Pitchman Billy Mays Dead at Age 50

Billy Mays, the bearded commercial pitchman known for promoting OxiClean and other products, died this morning at age 50 in his home in Tampa, Florida Sunday morning. No cause of death has been identified. His wife found him unresponsive this morning.

The death of Billy Mays was mentioned this morning in several posts by his son, Billy Mays III, on his Twitter account, http://twitter.com/YoungBillyMays.

A post from Mays III made at about 11 a.m. EST reads, "My dad didn't wake up this morning. I'm sure you'll all hear about it. It hasn't yet hit me but it's about to." About a half hour later he posted, "On my way to the house. He's gone. I'm gonna be strong for him. Thank you for all the thoughts and prayers everyone."

Billy Mays was known for his beard and his loud voice, and he found success doing commercial pitches for OxiClean and Orange Glo, as well as other household and cleaning products.

Recently Mays also done a series of commercials for ESPN in which he poked fun at his own image.

Billy Mays was a passenger on board a U.S. Airways jet that made a safe landing at Tampa International Airport yesterday after suffering a blowout of one of its front tires. It's not known if his death is in any way related to that incident.

PETA Wants to Make Tofu Flavored with George Clooney's Sweat

Yes, you read that correctly. Apparently a towel that George Clooney used at a gym has been passed on to PETA, which wants to make tofu that uses Clooney's sweat as a flavoring.

According to an article in the L.A. Times, PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) has written to Clooney asking his permission to use his sweat for tofu. It seems its possible to use sweat, which has its own "odor profile" for each person, as a flavoring.

The letter tells the actor that they want to turn his sweat into "George Clooney-flavored tofu (CloFu). We could do that and give the tofu away."

PETA, which recently has attracted publicity for re-branding fish as "sea kittens" to create sympathy for the wet scaly critters, goes on to say in its letter to the actor that while Clooney's fans would "swoon" at the idea of eating "CloFu," the group's main interest is to get people to eat tofu.
Clooney's response to the offer, as relayed to the Washington Post: "As a mammal, I'm offended."

James Taylor's Eye Patch - What's Up with That?

Anybody who's seen James Taylor on TV lately has noticed that he's sporting a new accessory on his head... no, not a toupee, but an eye patch on his left eye. So what's up with that? Did Sweet Baby James forget that "National Talk Like a Pirate Day" was several months ago? Is he trying to Go to Pirates of the Caribbean in his Mind?

Apparently it's nothing of the sort. I saw a brief bit of Taylor's appearance on the Larry King Show Saturday night and was surprised to see that black eye patch. Fortunately, guest host D.L. Hughley asked what countless viewers no doubt were wondering... Why are you wearing an eye patch?... and The Handyman replied that he had fallen down (maybe he's not so handy when comes to walking?).

Taylor didn't explain the nature of the accident, and Hughley didn't pursue it. But it's a bit of unfortunate timing, since James Taylor is making a number of public appearances these days in the lead-up to his performance at today's inaugural concert on the national mall.

But if he decides to hang on to that eye patch, he's got a head start on a fun Halloween costume.

Fantasy Island's Ricardo Montalban Dies at Age 88

Ricardo Montalban, the actor known as the proprietor of TV's Fantasy Island, has died at the age of 88. He also starred in movies including Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn. He also appeared in the Spy Kids movies. You can read more about Ricardo Montalban's death on the People magazine Web site.

Since I never watched Fantasy Island much, my exposure to Ricardo Montalban is mostly from his much-lampooned car commercials for the Chrysler Cordoba, during which Montalban would mention the "seats available in rich, crushed velour... or soft, Corinthian leather!"

He would later add in the commercials, "I like what they've done to my car!"

Rest in peace, Ricardo... hopefully in some soft, Corinthian leather.

Bristol Palin's Mother-In-Law Arrested on Drug Charges

If you thought the odd saga of Sarah Palin and her family couldn't get any stranger, it has. Sherry Johnston, the future mother-in-law of Bristol Palin, has been busted in Alaska on drug charges... six felony drug counts, in fact.

In case you erased her name from your memory after the election, Bristol Palin is one of the five children of Alaska Governor and former Republican VP candidate Sarah Palin. It came out during the campaign that Bristol was pregnant with the child of her boyfriend Levi Johnston.

Police say the arrest of Levi's mother Sherry Johnston came after a lengthy undercover investigation. The charges are said to be related to the prescription painkiller OxyContin.

With the baby of Bristol and Levi due any day now, the arrest of the 42-year-old Mrs. Johnston should make for interesting conversation between the two grandmothers, one a governor and the other an accused felon.

You can't make this stuff up. Well, you could, but no one would believe you.

Bettie Page, the Original Pinup Girl, Dies at Age 85

Bettie Page, the original pinup girl whose racy photos created a stir back in the 1950s, has died at the age of 85. Back in the conservative days of the Eisenhower administration, Bettie Page caused a sensation by posing in the buff, in various bondage positions, and in naughty-but-nice poses that combined girl-next-door innocence with brazen sexuality. She was often credited for setting the stage for the sexual revolution of the 1960s.

Bettie Page died Thursday, December 11th in Los Angeles. Her agent announced her passing on her official Web site, www.bettiepage.com.

Page had undergone a surge of interest in the last two decades, and had a cult following. An authorized biography, “Bettie Page: The Life of a Pin-Up Legend,” was published in 1996, and she was the subject of the movie “The Notorious Bettie Page” two years ago, which starred Gretchen Mol as Page.

Ironically, Page voluntarily left public view in the late 1950s, and pretty much disappeared from public view. In that time she went through a variety of life changes, from failed marriages to mental illness to becoming a born-again Christian.

Pricey Call Girl Ashley Dupre is Interviewed on ABC's 20/20

Disgraced former New York governor Eliot Spitzer has been keeping a low profile but Ashley Dupre, the high-priced hooker who led to his downfall, is revving up for another fifteen minutes of fame. She sat down for an interview with Diane Sawyer of ABC and that segment will be appearing on the show this Friday, November 21st.

Dupre, who went by the name "Kristen" at the sex ring and who is originally from the Jersey shore, ended up working for an exclusive New York City prostitution ring at which Spitzer, who became known in court documents as "Client 9," was a repeat customer and had asked for Dupre.

After her name was made known during the criminal investigation into the hooker ring, Dupre's name and photo were splashed all over the tabloids and the aspiring singer, received several million hits on her MySpace page within a week.

You have to wonder how Diane Sawyer feels about interviewing Ashley Dupre. She's a veteran journalist who has interviewed top politicians, heads of state, and many other important figures; how does chatting with a onetime prostitute and wannabe singer fit into her journalistic resume?

Celebrity News: Tatum O'Neal, Gina Gershon, Uma, and More

It's been a busy day in the ever-bizarre world of celebrities and their hijinks. Here are links for more information:

Gina Gershon is in the news for a role, but not on the big screen: a new article in Vanity Fair implies that Gershon was one of several women former president Bill Clinton might have had affairs with during his travels around the country. The article refers to these as "rumors" or "gossip," so it's unclear how much truth there may be to the reports. (And some news sources insist on calling her Gina Gerson.)

Tatum O'Neal, is arrested on possession of crack and cocaine near her New York apartment, along with the guy who was selling it to her. The actress who won our hearts as nine-year-old in Paper Moon is now 44 years old.

Kelsey Grammer of "Frasier" and "Cheers" has been hospitalized in Hawaii after suffering a mild heart attack.

The man who's been stalking Uma Thurman has been ordered released from jail. He will be on probation and will be required to seek psychiatric care.

And on a sad note, rock and roll innovator Bo Diddley has died at the age of 79 of heart failure. Rest in peace, Bo.

Christian Brando, Son of Marlon Brando, Dies at 49

Christian Brando, eldest son of the legendary actor Marlon Brando, died of pneumonia on Saturday at the age of 49. His ex-wife said he had been in a hospital since January 11 with pneumonia, and that he had been comatose and on a respirator.

Christian Brando gained notoriety in 1990 when he killed Dag Drollet, the boyfriend of his half-sister Cheyenne Brando, when Cheyenne told Christian that Drollet had been beating her.

The trial made headlines around the world, especially when Marlon Brando pleaded with tears in his eyes for leniency for his son. Christian Brando was sentenced to 10 years in prison but was released after five years. He claimed he didn't mean to shoot Drollet, and that the gun went off accidentally when he and Drollet were struggling.

In another Brando familiy tragedy, Cheyenne Brando hung herself in 1995. She was 25.

Marlon Brando was one of the most acclaimed actors of all time, appearing in many iconic roles in classic films from "A Streetcar Named Desire" in 1951 to "On the Waterfront," "The Godfather," and "Mutiny on the Bounty," He also appeared in "Superman." Marlon Brando died at the age of 80 in 2004.

In a twist related to another celebrity murder trial, Christian Brando once dated Bonnie Lee Blakely, later the wife of actor Robert Blake. Blake's defense suggested at one point that Brando could have been the murderer, but Brando was cleared of any involvement in that crime.