Buzz Briefs: Brad Renfro, Pink
911 Tape Released In Brad Renfro Death
Brad Renfro's girlfriend tried to revive the troubled actor after finding him unresponsive at his home last month, according to the 911 call that has been released by fire officials.
On the recording released Tuesday a woman who says the 25-year-old actor was her boyfriend tells a dispatcher that Renfro had an audition later in the day and she has "been trying to wake him up to get ready and he just won't move."
The woman says Renfro's nose was bleeding and mentions the actor may have taken a couple of pills the night before. She tries to give Renfro CPR after being instructed to do so by the dispatcher before paramedics arrive.
Renfro died Jan. 15 of an overdose of heroin and morphine. He had publicly struggled with drugs and alcohol.
Pink And Hubby Carey Hart Separate
2Pink and motocross racer Carey Hart have separated after two years of marriage.
"This decision was made by best friends with a huge amount of love and respect for one another," Pink's representative, Michele Schweitzer, said Tuesday in a statement. "While the marriage is over, their friendship has never been stronger."
Pink, whose real name is Alecia Moore, met Hart at the 2001 X Games in Las Vegas and proposed to him four years later during a race in Mammoth Lakes, Calif. They were married Jan. 7, 2006, in Costa Rica.
Pink, 28, won a Grammy for best female rock vocal performance for her song "Trouble" in 2003. Her hits include "Get the Party Started," "Stupid Girls" and "Don't Let Me Get Me."
"Dancing" Shoes For Priscilla Presley, Marlee Matlin
3Priscilla Presley, Kristi Yamaguchi and Adam Carolla are catching dance fever.
They are among the dozen celebrities who will compete on the next season of "Dancing With the Stars."
The other contestants include Marlee Matlin, Shannon Elizabeth, Steve Guttenberg, Monica Seles, Priscilla Presley, Kristi Yamaguchi and Adam Carolla are catching dance fever.
They are among the dozen celebrities who will compete on the next season of "Dancing With the Stars."
The other contestants include Marlee Matlin, Shannon Elizabeth, Steve Guttenberg, Monica Seles, Penn Jillette, Mario and Miami Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor, ABC announced Monday night. Rounding out the cast will be Cristian De La Fuente and Marissa Jaret Winokur.
The dancing competition is set to begin with a live performance March 17, ABC said.
Spike Lee Urges Students To Be Proactive In Presidential Election
4Filmmaker Spike Lee told a crowd at the University of Dayton to "do the right thing" in this year's presidential election.
"We are living in some very exciting times," Lee said Monday. "And the months leading up to the election in November will determine which way this country is going to go; forward or backward. It's up to you to do the right thing."
He said he supports Barack Obama for the Democratic nomination.
Dressed in a sweater, jeans and ball cap, Lee spoke of growing up in New York City, being a fairly average student at Morehouse College in Atlanta, and becoming a director.
"At first, I didn't know that people actually made movies," Lee said of his childhood. "We would go to the movies on the weekend and stay until our parents dragged us out.
"I didn't decide to become a filmmaker until I went to college. But I did realize that the richness of the African-American experience that I saw on the corner every day was not on the screen."
Last week, Lee was in Columbus to receive the $50,000 Wexner Prize that recognizes innovation, quality and integrity among artists.
Ohio School Rallies Behind "American Idol" Contestant
5A high school is hosting an "American Idol" pep rally to cheer on a local 17-year-old competing as one of the show's 24 semifinalists.
"Vote for Garrett" signs are plastered around Elida High School, where singer Garrett Haley is a junior. Haley will sing for a shot at fame Tuesday night on the Fox talent contest.
After weeks of auditions, the show has been whittled down to 12 males and 12 females. The men will take the stage on Tuesday; the women follow on Wednesday.
Television viewers will vote off two men and two women this week.
T-shirts and buttons in Haley's honor will be passed around the northwest Ohio school, which will have rally for Haley on Friday.
"GMA" Host Chris Cuomo Conquers Fear Of Heights
To conquer his fear of heights, "Good Morning America" host Chris Cuomo jumped from the roof of an Atlantic City casino Tuesday morning.
As part of the ABC morning show's series about overcoming fears, Cuomo and a stunt coordinator used cables to zip nearly 40 stories down the side of the Trump Taj Mahal.
The stunt was carried live on "Good Morning America" as a crowd of onlookers cheered from the ground.
Before the trick, Cuomo told himself he was on "an elevator with no walls."
And after?
Cuomo, the son of former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo, says he was happy he did it.
Martha Stewart Wants A Piece Of Emeril Lagasse's Pie
Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc. is bringing in a new celebrity: popular TV chef Emeril Lagasse.
The New York-based media and merchandising company founded by domesticity maven Martha Stewart announced Tuesday that it bought the rights to the Emeril Lagasse franchise of cookbooks, television shows and kitchen products for $45 million in cash and $5 million in stock at closing.
The final price could rise to up to $70 million if certain benchmarks are achieved.
The company did not acquire Emeril's Homebase, which includes Lagasse's 11 restaurants and corporate office.
Martha Stewart Living said the deal will "contribute immediately to our performance," adding $8 million in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. The acquired assets generated $14 million in revenue in 2007.
Martha Stewart Living expects the deal to close in the second quarter.
Lagasse joined the Food Network in 1993 and has hosted over 1,600 shows. His programs "The Essence of Emeril" and "Emeril Live" reach more than 85 million homes daily.
Hynde Supports Ohio County's Bus Tax
Chrissie Hynde took a ride on an Akron city bus to show her support of a countywide sales tax increase for mass transit.
After the Monday morning ride, the Akron native and the lead singer of The Pretenders said public transportation is "what makes a city a city."
Her ride took her to downtown Akron with other tax supporters, who carried homemade and official Metro Regional Transit Authority signs promoting the tax issue on the March 4 ballot.
"If you feel you have to have a car, you feel trapped," she said, adding that people who rely only on cars "forget what it is to walk and enjoy the city."
Metro RTA, which has a $29 million budget, seeks a permanent 0.25 percent sales tax increase to raise roughly $18 million in additional funding per year. It would raise the total sales tax in Summit County to 6.5 percent.
Officials say all weekend buses and a curb-to-curb service that helps the disabled and elderly would be cut without the increase.
The Temptations Honor Little Richard At Nashville Show
It's a standing ovation for rock 'n' roll pioneer Little Richard and he didn't even perform.
He was seated at the rear of the Ryman Auditorium Sunday night attending a concert by 1960s Motown stalwarts The Temptations and the Four Tops.
Introduced by Otis Williams, an original member of The Temptations, the 75-year-old Little Richard got the extended ovation from the sold-out crowd of about 2,400.
"We've done some shows together," Williams recalled. Richard, a Macon, Ga., native, now lives in Tennessee and recently performed with Jerry Lee Lewis and John Fogerty on the Grammy Awards.
The auditorium is the original home of the Grand Ole Opry.