MUSIC/ ARETHA TO RETURN TO STAGE: Aretha Franklin has announced she is to return to the stage in May, months after being admitted to hospital for an undisclosed ailment. The 68 year old, who also said she has plans to release a new album, will perform at the Seneca Niagara Casino in Buffalo, New York on May 28. Last November, Franklin cancelled all concerts and public appearances for 6 months under doctor's orders. The following month she had what she described as "more than minor surgery". Since then the Queen of Soul has revamped her diet and lost weight. "I want to not only maintain the weight I am at now, but better it by one dress size," she said in an interview. In January, she told Jet magazine that she was "feeling great" and her medical condition had been resolved. Last weekend saw Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Hudson, Florence Welch and others perform a tribute to Franklin at the Grammy awards. Franklin made an appearance via satellite to say thank you for the Grammy tribute. Viewers have commented on boards across the country that while Franklin looked well, she had obviously lost a tremendous amount of weight.
Justin Bieber has suggested that homosexuality is a choice and that abortion is wrong even when pregnancy is caused by rape. In an interview in the new issue of Rolling Stone magazine, he appeared to label homosexuality as a choice rather than something that is uncontrollable. He also spoke out against abortion even when pregnancy is caused by rape, saying “everything happens for a reason.” When asked what his views on homosexuality are, Bieber responded: “It’s everyone’s own decision to do that. It doesn’t affect me and shouldn’t affect anyone else". It is not clear whether he intended to label homosexuality as a lifestyle choice. In the interview, Bieber went on to say “I think you should just wait for the person you’re in love with,” when asked about abstinence. Despite his strong Christian background he did not argue against pre-martial sex. “I really don’t believe in abortion,” he told the magazine “I think an embryo is a human. It’s like killing a baby". He added that while it is “really sad” for a woman to become pregnant after being raped, he claimed that “everything happens for a reason.” “I don’t know how that would be a reason,” he added. “I guess I haven’t been in that position, so I wouldn’t be able to judge that". Since sections of the interview hit the media, Bieber's handlers have attempted to downplay his comments.
Maria Bello is putting the final touches on a deal to reprise the role originated by Helen Mirren in NBC's adaptation of "Prime Suspect". According to media reports, Bello, who has been courted for the pilot since last year, has met with executive producer Peter Berg." Prime Suspect" has been in development at NBC for several years. It was originally targeted as a midseason replacement series for the 2010-11 season. But new NBC entertainment chief Bob Greenblatt has revived the project as a contender for fall. Mirren played hard-bitten Detective Inspector Jane Tennison for 7 seasons on the UK Granada Television series, racking up critical accolades and awards, including multiple Emmys. Last year, Bello did a 2 episode stint on "Law & Order: SVU". But she hasn't been a series TV regular since 1998, when she did 1 season of "ER". Since then, she has focused on a film career including roles in "The Company Men" and "A History of Violence".
TV/ "WONDER WOMAN" IS CAST: "Friday Night Lights" star Adrianne Palicki is the new Wonder Woman. The actress has been cast as the title character in "Wonder Woman," David E. Kelley's pilot for NBC. The project, from David E. Kelley Prods. and Warner Bros. TV, is a retelling of the DC Comics title in which Wonder Woman (Palicki), aka Diana Prince, tries to balance her life as a vigilante crime fighter, a successful corporate executive and a modern woman. Palicki, who appeared as Tyra Collete in the NBC/DirecTV series "Friday Night Lights," stars in the upcoming film "Red Dawn". Her most recent series regular role was Fox's short-lived Texas-set drama "Lone Star," which aired only 2 episodes last fall.
TV/ LEN LESSER DIES AT 88: Len Lesser, the veteran character actor best known for his scene-stealing role as Uncle Leo on "Seinfeld," has died. He was 88. Lesser's family said in a statement that he died Wednesday in Burbank, California, from cancer-related pneumonia. Lesser's lengthy list of television credits included parts on "Get Smart," "That Girl," "The Munsters," "The Monkees," "The Rockford Files," "thirtysomething," "ER," and "Everybody Loves Raymond," which featured Lesser in a recurring role as the arm-shaking Garvin. His film credits included "Outlaw Josey Wales," "Kelly's Heroes," "Birdman of Alcatraz" and "Death Hunt." He most recently appeared on the TV drama "Castle". He is survived by his family.
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