This Week In Hollywoodland

Sep 26, 2010

BEVERLY HILLS—This week in Hollywood, there was news of Lindsay Lohan’s failed drug test, Paris Hilton got a slap on the wrist for cocaine possession, “American Idol” announced their new judging lineup, “Dancing With The Stars” returned with higher ratings than ever before and there are some upcoming events we have to tell you about.

Handsome star Jack Wagner, who portrays Dominic “Nick” Marone on CBS’s “Bold and the Beautiful,” uses his stardom to help those in need of cancer treatment and research. Every year Jack hosts a golfing event to raise funds and awareness for this issue. Jack tells Canyon News, “I lost my father in 1990 to multiple Myeloma and in 1999 my brother Dennis was diagnosed with leukemia. He has relapsed four separate times, enduring many rounds of chemotherapy and the challenges that come along with recovery. In 2007, Dennis received a complete bone marrow transplant and is still fighting a daily battle against complications associated with the procedure.”

Jack speaks very warmly of his brother and is tireless in his efforts to make a difference in his life and many others like Dennis. “Despite several hospitalizations over the past year, Dennis remains positive and grateful for the support of his family. He also remains committed to the important work that’s being done by The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) to find a cure for all blood cancers,” said Wagner. “That’s why I got involved and started the Jack Wagner Celebrity Golf Classic benefiting LLS. There is so much left to do.”

On Saturday, October 2, Jack Wagner will be hosting The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s annual Light the Night Walk in Griffith Park. On that night, more than 2,500 survivors and their loved ones will gather to offer help and hope to the millions of people like Jack’s brother, Dennis, who are living with blood cancer and to pay tribute to the many that have lost their battle with this terrible disease.

Click the link below to find out more about LLS, Light the Night, and how you can walk, or donate, to help us on our mission to find a cure.

http://pages.lightthenight.org/los/griffith10/TheBoldandtheBeautiful

Just on the heels of a guilty plea for cocaine possession and obstructing a police investigation in Las Vegas, celebrity Paris Hilton attempted to fly to Japan, where she has extensive business dealings and a clothing line. The Japanese officials at the airport turned Hilton away and refused her entry into their country due to her guilty pleas two days prior to her Asian trip.

Lindsay Lohan began tweeting on Friday night that she was fighting a disease and that her failed drug test is just a setback. Her day in court on Friday did not go as she had planned as the judge ordered Lohan to remain in jail until another hearing scheduled on October 22. Hollywood insiders speculate that Lohan’s career may end a lot sooner than we all hope.

My friend Florence Henderson is still in the running to win “Dancing With The Stars” on ABC. The debut on Monday night was a mind-blowing ratings hit. On Tuesday, David Hasselhoff was the first to be voted off by the judges. While FOX hopes to compete this season with “DWTS,” they rolled out their heavy-hitter judging panel for the upcoming season of “American Idol”. Jennifer Lopez and rock star Steven Tyler join music icon Randy Jackson as judges for the show. Tryouts around the nation start next week.

Wonder what happened to the original Gidget, Kathy Kohner Zuckerman? Kathy’s life became a best-selling novel for her father, then both Sandra Dee and Sally Field became superstars when the story was put on the silver screen and then on television. The documentary “Accidental Icon: The Real Gidget Story” will be shown at sundown at the Malibu Pier on Thursday, September 30. The story that started over 50 years ago is about to be revealed.

The documentary’s producer Brian Gillogly, who has spent countless hours putting this project together, will be at the show, and also Kathy herself will be there. Gillogly tells Canyon News, “The hurdles to get this project done, including getting the tough interviews and working through copyright issues with Jack Lerner’s IP Law Clinic at USC—were the biggest I’ve ever encountered in my many years working in film and TV. It turned into a personal test, but at the same time I could not have done it without the support of family and friends. To the extent that this is a victory, they share in the glory.”

Brian promises an unforgettable evening. The free screening is open to the public. “Just don’t forget your own chair,” concluded Brian Gillogly.

Sad news in Hollywood also this week. Actress Grace Boyd, the widow of cowboy star Hopalong Cassidy, has died. She was 97. Also, ’50s icon Eddie Fisher, who shot to fame with his golden voice, then fell from grace after leaving his wife Debbie Reynolds for her best friend Elizabeth Taylor in the 1960s, has died. After decades of battling alcholism and gambling addiction, he later married and then moved to San Francisco. The star recently underwent hip replacement surgery. Fisher is the father of actress Carrie Fisher. He was 82.

Sending everyone good wishes for the week ahead. See you next week! XOXO

Photographs are Courtesy: Jack Wagner by Gilles Toucas, Bell Phillip Television Productions and Brian Gillogly by The Accidental Icon

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