This Week: Upsets And Losses
This week's news included angry writers ready to strike, celebs speaking out against the paparazzi, a disappointment for a favored reality star and controversy over a shock jock and a musician who are far from politically correct.
TV writers unhappy with royalty payments for DVDs and Internet downloads of television programs have decided to strike. An announcement was expected by Friday afternoon.
Heather Mills McCartney said this week that she's sick and tired of being vilified by the press. "We've had death threats, I've been close to suicide. I'm so upset about this," she said on an ITV morning show in the U.K. "I've had worse press than a pedophile or a murderer, and I've done nothing but charity for 20 years."
When TV bounty hunter Duane "Dog" Chapman used the "N" word in reference to his son's girlfriend during a private telephone conversation, the son was apparently so angry that he leaked a tape of the convo to the National Enquirer. Chapman issued a formal apology Wednesday, just after the clip was posted on the tabloid's Web site. Executives at A&E said Friday the network is taking his reality show off the network schedule "for the forseeable future."
Photos: Heather Mills McCartney
Sabrina Ryan was the loser in a shocking upset on "Dancing With The Stars" this week. Usually a judge's favorite, Sabrina gave a so-so (for her) performance on Monday and didn't have enough fan votes to keep her in the competition.
A Croatian rock star set to launch a North American tour with two concerts in New York is drawing protests from groups who say his shows glorify the puppet government in Croatia that collaborated with the Nazis.
Photos: "Dancing With The Stars"
Officials for the South Carolina State Democratic Party rejected comedian Stephen Colbert from the party's presidential primary ballot. An annoyed official said, "He's really trying to use South Carolina Democrats as suckers so he can further a comedy routine."
Nine months after he created an uproar by making a racist and sexist remark on the air, shock jock Don Imus is making his return to radio. His show will originate from WABC-AM in New York
Celebrities were saddened this week by the brutal death of real estate agent to the stars Linda Stein, who was found murdered in her New York City apartment. Friends like Madonna and Elton John recalled Stein's indomitable personality, her days as a fixture on New York's punk rock scene, and her triumph against breast cancer.
Photos: Don Imus
Fans also mourned the death of Robert Goulet, the handsome, big-voiced singer whose Broadway debut in "Camelot" launched an award-winning stage and recording career. He was 73.
Goulet will live on in his recordings; his rich baritone might be just the cure for an upsetting week.
Photos: Robert Goulet
By JUDY FABER