Hollywood headlines: A crazy week in review
Former wrestler Hulk Hogan went on the “Today” show Wednesday to discuss the excerpt of his sex tape that leaked online last week. Turns out the tape, which surfaced in March, was made six years ago at a time when Hogan said he was at a “very, very low point” in his life. He said he didn’t know there was a camera in the room and that he’s working with authorities to track down the person or people who made and released the tape. A police report was filed in Florida on Tuesday morning, according to TMZ, on grounds that Hulk was illegally recorded without consent.
Full story: Hulk Hogan sex tape: The wrestler shares his side of the story (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)
Bobbi Kristina Brown is engaged -- or not. Or was but isn’t now. Or something like that. Whatever it is, it’s quite the teaser for “The Houstons: On Our Own,” which premieres later this month on Lifetime. The reality show features some of those closest to the late Whitney Houston, including brother and sister-in-law Gary and Patricia Houston, plus Bobbi Kristina, the singer’s daughter with Bobby Brown, and Whitney’s informally adopted “son,” Nick Gordon.
Full story: Bobbi Kristina Brown and Nick Gordon are … on a show together (Frazer Harrison / Getty Images)
For all of Rihanna’s sci-fi S&M garb and unfortunate resilience in the tabloids, she’s released hits with enough speed and consistency to rival anyone in pop history. On Nov. 19, she’ll return with “Unapologetic,” a new full-length for Island Def Jam that continues her streak of about an album per year with nary a chart miss in the bunch. The album, her seventh, should return focus to her hit-making acumen after a grind of speculation about her wishy-washy connections with Chris Brown.
Full story: Rihanna sets new album ‘Unapologetic’ for Nov. 19 | First listen: Rihanna scales it back for ‘Diamonds’ (Christopher Polk / Getty Images)
The executive exodus continues at Nickelodeon. On Thursday, the embattled children’s network witnessed two more departures of high-level executives: Paul Ward, a 22-year veteran of MTV Networks and head of prime-time acquisitions, and Pete Danielsen, executive vice president of programming. Danielsen, who has worked at Nickelodeon for 12 years, was in charge of scheduling. Both were based at Nickelodeon’s New York headquarters.
Full story: Nickelodeon management shakeup continues (Neilson Barnard / Getty Images for Nickelodeon)
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Alex Karras, an All-Pro defensive tackle for the Detroit Lions who later worked as a “Monday Night Football” co-host and parlayed his hulking strength into a Hollywood acting career, died Wednesday. He was 77. Karras died at his Los Angeles home, his attorney Craig Mitnick said. Karras had suffered kidney failure days earlier, the latest in a variety of health problems that included dementia and cancer. He was one of more than 3,500 former NFL players who are suing the league in a dispute over concussion-related injuries.
Full story: OBITUARY: Alex Karras dies at 77; NFL star turned actor | PHOTOS: Alex Karras | 1935-2012 | | Alex Karras’ long TV career included ABC football, ‘Webster,’ ads (NFL / AP)
Stacey Dash, in the wake of a flood of ugly tweets in reaction to her endorsement of Mitt Romney over the weekend, is defending her right to free speech and to vote for the candidate of her choice for the top job in the country. Dash, the “Single Ladies” actress best known for her role on “Clueless,” appeared on Piers Morgan’s show Tuesday night to discuss the backlash after she tweeted Sunday, “Vote for Romney. The only choice for your future.” She followed it up with, “My humble opinion... EVERYONE is entitled to one.”
Full story: VIDEO; Stacey Dash reacts to backlash over her Mitt Romney endorsement (Frazer Harrison / Getty Images)
Nelly and his entourage are the latest famous folks to fall victim to That Checkpoint -- the one on I-10 in Texas where it seems as if everyone and his brother gets busted for having something shady on the tour bus. The rapper and six other people who were on Nelly’s bus were detained during a search Wednesday night in which the Border Patrol allegedly found about 10 pounds of weed, some heroin and a loaded gun on board, TMZ reported. Ultimately, Brian Keith Jones took responsibility for the drugs and gun; he was arrested, while the others were let go.
Full story: Nelly detained as drugs, gun are found on his tour bus in Texas | PHOTOS: Celebrity mug shots (Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images)
