HOLLYWOOD DIRT OVERFLOW (10-15-09)

CAPTAIN LOU ALBANO HAS PASSED AWAY:

One of the all-time legends of pro rassling has passed on. CAPTAIN LOU ALBANO died of natural causes at his home outside New York City yesterday. He was 76.

Captain Lou broke into wrestling in the late 1950s . . . but he was more famous for managing OTHER wrestlers in the '70s and '80s . . . including The Magnificent Muraco, Greg Valentine, The Moondogs and The Wild Samoans. -He was also a major figure in the whole "Rock and Wrestling" era that helped the WWE . . . (--Which was called the WWF at the time) . . . become a mainstream sensation in the early '80s.

It was all built around Albano's phony feud . . . and subsequent reconciliation . . . with a rising star by the name of CYNDI LAUPER. The chaos included cross-promotion between the WWF and MTV, and involved the biggest wrestlers of the time, including HULK HOGAN and ROWDY RODDY PIPER.

Albano appeared in several of Cyndi's videos, including "Girls Just Want to Have Fun", "She Bop", "Time After Time" and "The Goonies R' Good Enough". --He was also in a few movies, including "Wiseguys" and "Bodyslam". AND he played Mario on the "Super Mario Brothers Super Show" from 1989 to 1991.


PUCKER UP

Would you like to see ADAM LAMBERT drop a wet kiss on his boyfriend's lips??? (--Check out this video . . . the kiss happens toward the end, after they get into their car . . .)http://www.tmz.com/videos?autoplay=true&mediaKey=34db79f5-c220-4a37-a31c-9e792b47fa64


MICHAEL JACKSON'S KIDS WILL NOT APPEAR ON THE JACKSON FAMILY'S A&E REALITY SHOW:

There was a big "story" yesterday about how a rift was developing in the Jackson family over their upcoming A&E documentary series, "The Jacksons: A Family Dynasty".

The story was that family members were fighting over whether or not MICHAEL JACKSON'S kids should be part of the show. --I could go into detail, but there's no need . . . because it's actually already been decided that the kids will NOT be featured on the show. --Both a rep for A&E and KATHERINE JACKSON herself . . . (--Michael's mother AND the legal guardian of his three kids) . . . have denied the story.

Katherine pointed out that Michael went to great lengths to keep the kids out of the public eye . . . so obviously, he'd never want them doing a TV show.

SOME JERK INEXPLICABLY ATTACKED BRITISH SINGER LEONA LEWIS AT AN AUTOGRAPH SIGNING:

British singer LEONA LEWIS . . . a former "X-Factor" winner you may know from her hit, "Bleeding Love" . . . was attacked during an autograph signing yesterday.

Leona was signing copies of her new autobiography, "Dreams", at a bookstore in London. About an hour and a half into it, a man in line assaulted her.

Some reports say he slapped her . . . some say he "punched her in the head" . . . and others say he slapped AND punched her. --One person who was also in line told reporters, quote, "[The man] walked up there with the book, she signed it and, as she looked up, he just punched her. She was running out with her hand over her eye . . . and I just saw a man on the floor."

The attacker . . . who has only been described as a 29-year-old male . . . was immediately taken down by Leona's security team. He was later arrested on "suspicion of assault." As of last night, he was still in custody.

No one seems to have any idea WHY this happened. According to witnesses, the man didn't say anything before hitting her. --Fortunately, Leona is fine. She did go to the hospital, but only "as a precaution."

In a statement, her rep said, quote, "Leona was the victim of an unprovoked attack. The police were called immediately and medical attention has been sought. Leona is understandably shaken and apologizes to the fans she was unable to meet."


FOX AND BURGER KING ARE APOLOGIZING . . . FOR MAKING FUN OF JESSICA SIMPSON'S WEIGHT:

This past weekend, Fox NFL Sunday aired an animated skit featuring members of the Dallas Cowboys making fun of JESSICA SIMPSON'S weight. --For instance, a cartoon MARION BARBER says, quote, "Man, I still can't believe Tony [Romo] dated Jessica Simpson, even AFTER she blew up bigger than Flozell Adams!"

JASON WITTEN says, quote, "Unlike Tony, at least Jessica comes up big when it counts!" --And an animated version of Cowboys coach WADE PHILLIPS says, quote, "Say Tony, is Jessica around? We could use a defensive tackle!"

The cartoon was sponsored by Burger King. (--The full clip WAS on YouTube, but Fox had it pulled. You can see a portion of it in a news clip at this address . . .)http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/14/jessica-simpsons-weight-m_n_320698.html--

Not surprisingly, a lot of people found this hugely inappropriate. So both Fox and Burger King have apologized. And they both agree that Burger King had nothing to do with it.

Fox said, quote, "Burger King Corp. did not have any editorial input in the creation of the animation that ran last Sunday, and no one from Burger King Corp. approved it before it aired. --"Upon reflection, our poor attempt at humor was insensitive and we deeply apologize to anyone who might have been offended."

And BK said, quote, "Burger King has a long-standing relationship with FOX Sports, as well as an extensive media partnership with the network. --"The specific content for this sketch involving Jessica Simpson was not developed or aired by BKC or any of its agencies."

COUGHT RED HANDED

MARIA SHRIVER has apologized for talking on her cell phone while driving. --She says, quote, "I'm sorry. I will be donating my favorite old cell phone to my Women's Conference partner Verizon through their HopeLine program that helps domestic violence shelters.

"I invite anyone else who want to recycle their old phone to join me. That's my version of swift action with a higher purpose." (--That "swift action" line is a response Maria's husband, ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER . . . who jokingly promised "swift action" when informed that his wife was flagrantly breaking the law in his state.)


JON GOSSELIN HAS ADMITTED THAT HE MADE A MISTAKE IN REMOVING MONEY FROM THAT JOINT ACCOUNT:

Now that JON GOSSELIN has been ordered to return $180,000 of the $235,000 that KATE claims he took from their joint account, Jon is admitting he made a mistake. --He tells "Entertainment Tonight", quote, "After arbitration, we weren't supposed to take money out of the restrictive account and we both did. I was found in contempt for doing so . . . I didn't realize, I was just like taking my paycheck out."

Jon previously copped to removing $22,000 from the account. He was even going around to various talk shows waving around a receipt as "proof" that he didn't take more. Well, now he's admitting that he took around $155,000.

He says he doesn't know how much Kate took out . . . quote, "It's unaccounted for. [Soon] we'll know her complete accounting . . . I'm gonna be truthful and abide by the court and I'll put it back. And she has to do the same."

Meanwhile, it sounds like "Jon & Kate Plus Eight" will end next month. RadarOnline.com is reporting that TLC isn't going to fight to keep the show going. --A so-called "source" tells them, quote, "They are taking what [footage] they have and seeing how many more episodes they can get out of it. TLC has no plans to film unless the situation is resolved." (--So, it'll die unless Jon reverses his position on them filming the "Plus Eight." But if he does that . . . that proves this was all more about money than his children.)