Registered: Oct 2000
Location: Dumbfucksville!
Posts: 12164

GFY!'s PEOPLE REPORT for 3/14/01

THE 'PUFFY' TRIAL

After two hours of instructions from Judge Charles H. Solomon, jurors started deliberations Wednesday in trial of rap mogul Sean "Puffy" Combs, 31. During six hours' worth of closing arguments on Tuesday, Assistant District Attorney Matthew Bogdanos told the jurors he didn't call Combs's former girlfriend, Jennifer Lopez, as a witness in the case because he feared the singer-actress would color her testimony in Combs's favor, reports the Associated Press. As it is, Bogdanos railed against celebrity in his closing arguments, especially the celebrity of Combs, reports PEOPLE. "There is a current that runs through this courtroom, and the current is celebrity," Bogdanos said in the courtroom. "Let me talk about power or, more appropriately in this case, the arrogance of power." He said that everyone in the world recognizes Combs. "Power corrupts," said Bogdanos, "and absolute power corrupts absolutely. When you've been rich and famous for so long, you begin to believe you are above the law. You believe the law doesn't apply to you." Combs has been on trial in New York State Supreme Court for the past seven weeks, accused of bribery and gun possession after a 1999 shooting in a Times Square nightspot. Combs's protege and co-defendant, Jamaal "Shyne" Barrow, was charged with shooting three people in the club. Combs' bodyguard, Anthony "Wolf" Jones, faces the same possession and bribery charges as Combs, who, if convicted, faces up to 15 years in prison.

A JORDAN COMEBACK?

Citing a source "very close to Jordan," Sports Illustrated columnist Rick Reilly reported in this week's issue that former NBA great Michael Jordan, 38, is "90% committed" to making a comeback next season with the Washington Wizards (the team he is now managing) -- and the speculation mounts: Will he? The story has been further fueled by reports the former Chicago Bull is spending up to six hours a day in a gym to get back into playing shape. Jordan told The Washington Post on March 8 that a comeback "has not crossed my mind, but I will never say never . . . The first time I said never, I ended up coming back, but I can say that there's a 99.9% chance that I am not coming back." Downplaying the report, Jordan is insisting that he is simply working out so he can fit in his suits. "I am working out because I got up to 240 pounds, and I'm trying to lose weight," he is quoted as saying in Wednesday's Washington Post. Still, there are those who are hoping for more.

PRINCE CHARLES ROCKS OUT

Prince Charles, 52, joined the working world in London on Tuesday when he played disc jockey while visiting the Centrepoint shelter for homeless youth that is supported by his charitable Prince of Wales Trust, reports the Associated Press. "Dig that crazy rhythm," the prince, not known for such types of outbursts, exclaimed as he blended DJ Dee Kline's dance hit "I Don't Smoke" with "Little Man" by Long Lost Brother. "He's got big hands, which are very important for mixing," noted one 18-year-old who gave his name as Darren. Charles also reportedly told the kids that his son, Prince William, is a big fan of that type of music. On Monday night, stars including Sting, Mick Jagger, Jerry Hall, Ben Kingsley, Geri Halliwell and Sir Elton John celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Prince's Trust, which assists disadvantaged young people. Camilla Parker Bowles, the prince's longtime significant other, mingled with the 80 guests at a champagne reception before dinner.

'SURVIVOR' STILL SWINGING

Those outdoors people are still attracting armchair adventurers. CBS's "Survivor: The Australian Outback" was easily the No. 1 program of last week, with 28.72 million viewers in 17.5 million homes, according to Nielsen. Another new show (this season) on the same network, "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" was No. 2 for the week and was especially popular among the highly coveted (by advertisers) 18-49-age group demographic. And despite rumblings that the show is losing its ratings grip, all four episodes of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" made this week's Top 10. Perhaps it's the $2 million-plus jackpot that's up for grabs -- the largest in TV history. (The rating is the percentage of the nation's estimated 102.2 million TV homes. Each ratings point represents 1,022,000 households.) The Top 10 for the week of March 5-11:
1. "Survivor: The Australian Outback," CBS, 17.1, 17.5 million homes
2. "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," CBS, 14.4, 14.7 million homes
3. "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire," Wednesday, ABC, 14.0, 14.3 million homes
4. "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire," Tuesday, ABC, 12.8, 13.0 million homes
5. "The Practice," ABC, 12.4, 12.7 million homes
6. "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire," Sunday, ABC, 12.1, 12.4 million homes
7. "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire," Thursday, ABC, 11.8, 12.1 million homes
8. (tie) "Everybody Loves Raymond," CBS, 11.7, 12.0 million homes
8. (tie) "Frasier," NBC, 11.7, 12.0 million homes
10. (tie) "60 Minutes," CBS, 10.7, 11.0 million homes
10. (tie) "Becker," CBS, 10.7, 11.0 million homes

'VILLAGE PERSON' DIES

Village People leatherman Glenn Hughes, 50, a member of the disco band from its 1976 inception until 1995 (when he stopped performing with the group), died March 4 after a long illness, according to Rolling Stone.com.

STARR, SPRINGSTEEN PERFORM

Former Beatle drummer Ringo Starr, 60, is resurrecting his "All Starr" band for a summer tour, says his New York rep, while Bruce Springsteen, 51, and the E Street Band have "fooled around" with some songs, group guitarist Steven Van Zandt told the Newark (N.J.) Star-Ledger.

BABY GILL GETS NAME

The newborn child of country singers Vince Gill and Amy Grant now has a name: Corrina Grant Gill, says a spokesperson for the Nashville couple.

'SCHINLDERS'S' SURVIVOR DIES

Holocaust survivor Leopold "Paul" Page, 87, whose personal recollections inspired the book and film "Schindler's List," died on Friday in Los Angeles, it has been announced.

SERIAL KILLER LEE DIES

Serial killer Henry Lee Lucas, 84, the one-eyed drifter who confessed to hundreds of murders across the nation but later recanted, died in prison on Monday of an apparent heart attack, said a spokesman for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

HALLIWELL LOSES LICENSE

Former "Ginger Spice" Girl Geri Halliwell (real name: Geraldine Estelle Halliwell) was banned from driving on Wednesday for having raced through an English town in her sports car at double the posted speed, reports
Reuters.

OUTFEST'S FIRST OUTING

Johnny Depp, Javier Bardem, Robert Downey Jr., and Chloe Sevigny are among the stars nominated for the first Outfest Screen Idol Awards, organizers announced Tuesday.

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Sedona, Arizona
Posts: 19115

I am truly saddened to hear of the loss of Ginger's license. To think, she will be forced to drive illegally now.
Go Giiiinger Go Giiinger

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Don't argue with me.

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Sedona, Arizona
Posts: 19115

quote:

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Originally posted by RogueWarrior:
What's an "Ouchfest"???

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Registered: Nov 2000
Location: Gehenna
Posts: 1018

Whew! I'm glad you told me that!

I thought that maybe that was where all the overpaid fucktards got together to beat one another with pointed and painful objects, and I was about to get tickets.

Thanks, Wonder! You're the MAN!

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What you would kill to see brings out the GOD in me.

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Registered: Nov 2000
Location: Gehenna
Posts: 1018

What's an "Ouchfest"???

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What you would kill to see brings out the GOD in me.

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