Oscar de la Renta needles celebrity designers

Designer Oscar de la Renta may be a celebrity favorite, but the feeling isn't mutual when it comes to stars and athletes who want to delve into fashion design.

"Today you can hit a good tennis ball and be a fashion designer," said de le Renta in an interview Wednesday. "Today you can be a movie star and if your last movie didn't do too well, you become a fashion designer. But you know it's craft that you learn. It's craft of passion."

De la Renta's celebrity pals, including Martha Stewart, Barbara Walters and Sarah Jessica Parker, were on hand to show their support Wednesday as The Fashion Institute of Technology presented him with the 2012 Couture Council Award for Artistry.

"It's interesting to me that he dresses the possible first lady, Mrs. Romney. He dresses Hilary Clinton. He is bipartisan, non-denominational, just wonderful clothes," said Walters before finding her seat at de la Renta's table for the afternoon soiree at Lincoln Center.

Ann Romney, wife of the Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, donned a bold red Oscar de la Renta dress last week during her speech at the Republican National Convention.

Designer Diane von Furstenberg and Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour also sat with de la Renta during the presentation, which included a speech from New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Despite the pomp and circumstance, de la Renta's focus was elsewhere - on his next collection headed down the runway Tuesday during New York Fashion Week.

"This is what I call in the business `panic time.' If I tell you what the collection is going to look like now I don't know. I will know once the girls start walking the runway," he said.

So does the 80-year-old, who also recently launched a children's collection, have any plans of slowing down?

"Not now," he said. "Every single day is a learning process. And I think that to be a good fashion designer, it's not what I did. It's what I'm doing. You know, it's about now."

Julian Assange’s celebrity backers, already down $318K in bail money, may lose even more Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/julian-assange-celebrity-backers-318k-bail-money-lose-article-1.1152551#ixzz25g4SxbuN

OLIVIA HARRIS/REUTERS

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has fled to the Ecuadorian embassy in London to avoid extradition to Sweden. A court has ruled this violates the terms of his bail and could cost his celebrity backers as much as $500,000.

Helping out WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is turning into an expensive affair for his celebrity friends, who have lost $318,272 in bail money and another nine could lose even more.

The additional nine did not give money to the court directly, but instead promised to pay up to $31,800 each on Assange’s behalf as “sureties.”

In a surprising revelation made Tuesday, a British court clerk told reporters that the first amount of money — which celebrities like director Michael Moore and socialite Jemima Khan allegedly gave the court — was taken because Assange breached conditions of bail.

The Australian anti-privacy activist was supposed to stay in a home in England, reported to the police daily, and keep to a 10 p.m.-to-8 a.m. curfew, according to the Telegraph.

But Assange broke these terms when he fled to an Ecuadorean embassy in a posh district of London in June. He sought asylum in the embassy because English authorities were set to send him to Sweden, where he is wanted for rape charges dating back to 2010.

These charges are just a ruse that Sweden plans to use in order to send him to the United States, Assange has said, claiming that he could face the death penalty in America.

European officials have denied Assange’s claims, with England’s foreign secretary, William Hague, even saying they are “without foundation.”

Whatever they think of the death penalty claims, nine other backers of Assange will have one month to convince the 41-year-old activist to surrender to police, district Howard Riddle said.

"At the moment I'm not persuaded that any reasonable surety would not be using every effort, publicly and privately, to persuade Mr. Assange to surrender himself to UK authorities," he told the Guardian.

These nine other backers include: Sir John Sulston, a Nobel prize-winning biologist; Caroline Evans, a famous politician’s wife; and Vaughan Smith, founder of the Frontline Club.

They also did not appear in court Tuesday, which Riddle said was "absolutely striking.”

A defense attorney for several of them, Henry Blaxland, said several of the backers were abroad, either working on projects or on holiday.

The total amount Assange’s backers could lose if they do not convince him to turn himself in to police totals over half-a-million dollars, according to the Guardian.

Celebrity influences should hold no place in politics

Every four years, the Republican and Democratic parties hold national conventions for the purpose of nominating a candidate to run in the general presidential election. This nominee is usually the candidate who carried the most delegates from the various primaries and caucuses held in each respective state in the prior eight months leading to the convention. Nowadays, with the increasing focus on primary season by the candidates and the media, it is often known who will be the eventual victor come convention time. This year, with a Democratic incumbent already in office, almost all the attention has been on Mitt Romney’s inevitable nomination by the Republican Party.

These conventions also act as a launching pad where party officials and general party members come together to rally around the nominee and garner support for the party’s platform. Prominent individuals from all corners of society make appearances. These guests are often crowd pleasers; celebrities or performing artists who wish to show their support for the party or a special interest. Last week at the Republican National Convention in Tampa Bay, Kid Rock performed as well as a member of Brooks and Dunn. This week in Charlotte at the DNC, the Foo Fighters are slated to perform. With this in mind, it should be considered whether or not it is appropriate for celebrities who are influential to the electorate for reasons outside of the political realm should be allowed to be used by the parties as tools to garner support.

Of course, celebrities are protected by their First Amendment rights and should be allowed to voice their political opinions. However, celebrities who use their fame as means to their political ends are often influencing voters, not because their views or arguments are convincing, but because of their stature in society. By using their influence in this way, they are damaging the integrity of fair and honest elections because voters are inevitably swayed by those they admire in entertainment, whether it is their favorite actor or musician. That admiration can distort a person’s sense of responsibility as an informed voter.

As mentioned before, the parties know the effectiveness of this method of influence and use the conventions for this purpose. The most recent and notable example was last week in Tampa when a surprise appearance by Hollywood legend Clint Eastwood went horribly awry, backfiring on what was supposed to be a speech made by the respected “man’s man” of the silver screen.

For decades, Clint Eastwood portrayed characters that were bold, brazen and moral (all while kicking some serious ass, I might add.) Clint Eastwood was introduced at the RNC in front of a backdrop graphic of his portrait harkeningback to his days as a spaghetti Western hero, where his characters exuded courage and honesty in the face of opposition and corruption. These characteristics, not coincidentally, make for a strong candidate for the presidency. When Clint Eastwood speaks, people listen. However, the results were opposite of those intended. Clint Eastwood, 82, appeared spacey and confused during his extemporaneous 12 minute speech where he attempted to question an invisible Barack Obama sitting in a chair alongside the podium.

Ever since that debacle Thursday night, political commentators have exploded with ridicule aimed at Eastwood’s poor attempt at degrading Obama, which stole the show on a night where Mitt Romney gave his acceptance speech for the party’s nomination. But what if the opposite happened? What if Clint Eastwood, as many celebrities in his position have done before him, gave a fiery speech on the dangers of reelecting Barack Obama? Wouldn’t that in some ways be worse than what actually happened?
If his speech had been flawless there would assumingly be voters out there who would have voted on behalf of a man who arguably had no reason to be speaking at a national political convention. Celebrity should not be used as a political vehicle because it is a term synonymous with a form of influence entirely independent (though equally effective) of which is used in politics. For that matter, any method which implies a person should vote for reasons separate from their political, civic and moral self is inappropriate.

Celebrity culture exists at BU according to task force report

A “celebrity culture” exists among Boston University men’s hockey players, one that can lead to “unacceptable and destructive behavior,” according to the report of a school task force released Wednesday.

The task force was put together last spring by BU president Robert Brown after two men’s hockey players were charged with sexual assault last season. Its task was to identify if changes were needed on campus in relation to student-athletes’ conduct. It identified fourteen recommendations, including the elimination of the executive athletic director position held by men’s hockey coach Jack Parker. Parker agreed to step down from the executive athletic director position and stay on as head coach of the Terriers.

The complete report can be found on Brown’s website, with highlights below.

“The Task Force concluded that the unique culture of men’s ice hockey, played at the highest collegiate level, and the preeminent status of our team on campus contribute to a celebrity culture and an isolation of these athletes from the majority of our student body. I believe this situation is exacerbated in men’s college hockey where professional teams frequently draft players before they enter college, an observation contained in the Task Force’s report. This insular and elevated status can lead to unacceptable and destructive behavior, including a culture of sexual entitlement and abuse.
The 14 recommendations the Task Force has made are based, I believe, on careful consideration of information collected in the course of the group’s deliberations and are designed to improve oversight of the hockey program and foster the success of these student-athletes and their integration into the university community. Other recommendations deal with more systemic issues of sexual assault/harassment and alcohol abuse on campus. We are moving to implement the majority of the Task Force’s recommendations as rapidly as possible.
For example, the new Sexual Assault Response and Prevention Center (SARP) opened on August 27 at 930 Commonwealth Avenue. The center’s staff will work with victims of sexual assault and sexual harassment from across campus. In addition, the SARP staff will offer sexual assault awareness and prevention education. We are also implementing sexual assault and violence prevention educational programs for the members of the men’s hockey team. The report and the investigation of possible breaches in NCAA rules both highlighted the lack of clear reporting lines for the men’s ice hockey program. To regularize reporting relationships, Jack Parker, men’s ice hockey coach, has stepped down as executive director of athletics and will focus all his efforts on coaching. We also have reorganized reporting relationships in the athletics department to provide clear lines of responsibility and accountability among the coaching staff, the athletic director, senior administrative leadership, and me. These changes also will ensure that potential violations of the code of student responsibilities by student-athletes will be handled through the university’s judicial process under the auspices of the dean of students.
Also as recommended by the Task Force, the athletics department has been charged with updating its student-athlete code of conduct so that it clearly articulates our expectations for student-athlete behavior and the sanctions that will be imposed for violations. This code and team rules must be consistent with the university’s code of student responsibilities.
It is clear that excessive alcohol consumption has played a role in the majority of the instances of alleged sexual assault or other inappropriate behavior that have been identified through the work of the Task Force. We are reviewing the recommendation about how best to implement a comprehensive, campus-wide program aimed at moderating alcohol use by our students.

The role of intercollegiate athletics is to provide opportunities for individuals who are fully committed to their college education to participate in competitive sports. Our community revels in the success of our teams and our individual athletes. Men’s ice hockey has a storied history and has defined the pinnacle of athletic success at Boston University. We owe it to our student-athletes, including the members of our men’s ice hockey team, to help them be successful students at Boston University while performing at the high level required for NCAA Division I sports. The athletics department has been asked to develop a plan that will help better integrate members of our hockey team into the student community, paying special attention to student housing accommodations and student life.

Issues such as excessive use of alcohol and a sense of sexual entitlement in a subset of students, which were studied and discussed by the Task Force, have plagued college campuses for decades and are strongly coupled to norms that are deeply embedded in our society and extend beyond the boundaries of any one campus. We must work diligently toward providing our students the best possible environment for living and learning in the context of the pressures from society and each other.

“I appreciate all the time and effort put forth by the members of the task force to complete their thorough review of our men’s ice hockey program,” BU assistant vice president and athletic director Mike Lynch said in a statement. “The university has our full support as our staff incorporates the findings. We look forward to putting into action their recommendations, many of which we have already begun. Throughout this process, we have ensured that the university administration and our athletic department continue to share the same goals in regards to our men’s ice hockey program and its future as part of BU’s campus life.

“This has been a challenging year, but we are ready to move forward as an even stronger athletic program.”

The task force reported that it found no evidence of major NCAA violations, and also no evidence that the issues are unique to Boston University.

“I would like to commend the members of the task force for all the hard work they put in this spring and summer,” Parker said in a statement. “I think their summary of findings is accurate. More importantly, I feel their recommendations for action will help our team, other student-athletes and the student body in general to ensure a better all-around experience. I fully agree with the NCAA and task force’s recommendation to split up my two jobs. When asked to choose one or the other, it was easy for me to choose my position as our head hockey coach. My staff and I endorse the findings and it is our job to implement and monitor the recommendations that are specific to the hockey team.”

Do celebrity endorsements matter? If so, who?

Winfrey with then-Sen. Barack Obama in Iowa in 2007. (Getty)

So Hank Williams Jr., Chuck Norris and Clint Eastwood and his chair are among those down on President Obama. OK.

(Actually, Williams hates … a lot.)

I guess Hollywood elites are OK … except the ones who are down on Mitt Romney and supporting the incumbent.

Ah, the celebrity endorsement. The question is not “Who cares?” but “Does any of this matter at the polls?”

Most celebs sit out the political rhetoric: Why tick off potentially half your audience?

Williams: “We’ve got a Muslim for a President who hates cowboys, hates cowgirls, hates fishing, hates farming, loves gays, and we hate him!” (Photo by Wade Payne/Invision/AP)

“Nothing doing on politics,” Babe Ruth once said, after refusing to have his photo taken with Republican candidate Herbert Hoover in 1928. (It caused a furor, since Ruth had posed for a campaign photo for Al Smith. He later had a picture taken with the candidate.)

But more than a few wade in, backing candidates and causes. The question is: Does the celebrity endorsement make a difference?

A 2010 study of young voters says the answer by and large is no. If anything, there can be a negative impact.

But a recent study said Oprah Winfrey’s endorsement of Barack Obama for 2008 may have been worth a million votes.

After a point endorsements become predictable based on political leanings. (That said, the appearance by the libertarian-leaning Republican Eastwood at the GOP convention caused a stir.) There is little “Wow” factor, other than the outrageousness of some of the rhetoric. Mention a name star’s name and odds are you know which way they will lean already.

So here is the question I’m wrestling with — and have yet to come up with a good answer:

What public figure’s endorsement could actually impact this presidential election? That person could come from any arena. I’m drawing a blank beyond the usual suspects; if that person exists I can’t think of him or her. Help.

Setting records and having fun at MAGIC

Robin Leach

Tue, Aug 21, 2012 (6 p.m.)

Magic: Soulja Boy, Whitney Port, Ami James

SCOTT HARRISON/WWW.HARRISONPHOTOS.COM - Rapper Soulja Boy at the BLVD Supply booth at the Magic convention on Monday, Aug. 20, 2012.

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Robin Leach's Vegas DeLuxe

• Check outVegasDeLuxe.com for more celebrity and arts and entertainment coverage.
• Events guide: MAGIC afterparties fall 2012

Photo: Amanda Nowak

2011 Miss Nevada USA Sarah Chapman is the $2 million woman in Lili Jewelry.

Photo: Bill Hughes

Big Boi at the Chelsea inside the Cosmopolitan

Celebrities and nightclub parties are in full swing and helping set record numbers for this year’s MAGIC fashion shows.

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Association reported early Tuesday that a record 81,000 delegates will contribute a record $103 million to our local economy. Exhibitors anticipate writing $600 million in fashion sales!

First-day celebrities at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center included reality starWhitney Port from “The Hills" presenting her Whitney Eve line, rapper Soulja Boy at the BLVD Supply booth and celebrity tattoo artistAmi James at his Ink displays. Playboy centerfold Jessa Lynn Hinton leads a huge turnout of local beauties, including Miss Nevada USA 2011 winner Sarah Chapman, who have been booked for the fashion presentations of the 2013 spring and summer lines and fall winter 2013/14 trends. In all, there are over 5,000 different brands from over 80 countries!

MAGIC is the largest fashion trade event in North America and runs through Thursday. At Mandalay Bay, it's a showcase of street outfits, menswear and pool fashions. There’s even a showcase of classic and collectible cars and cigar-rolling demonstrations. LA Fashion Magazine has set up a three-day on-site studio for photo shoots of today’s fashionable young men.

The Las Vegas Convention Center has booths of fashions for women and young people. Chinese fashion executives have a pavilion with 500 factories trying to lure more manufacturing from the USA. Nicaragua is another country exhibiting to lure manufacturing there.

Celebrities and athletes are hired to promote their own fashion industry ideas and simultaneously lure buyers. Socially Loud’s Rip the Runway showcase features celebrity designer Angel Brinks, NBA playersTyreke Evans and Doc Evans and reality star Draya from "Basketball Wives" with her Mint swimwear.

Parties abound. Tonight is the 40th anniversary party for Boast USA. The all-American athletic brand formed 1973 and was inspired by young '70s tennis rebels John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors. Hip-hop icon Big Boi of OutKast will host and perform at Pure nightclub in Caesars Palace; Scrapbook Clothing hosts live performances by Jayseanand Skylar Grey at Hyde in the Bellagio and rapper Araabmuzikperforms for the Bornfly, Kamaloop and Flud culture lines at Haze nightclub in Aria.

Be sure to check Laura Croft’s guest fashion column as part of our Vegas Deluxe welcome to the MAGIC convention delegates.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Prince Harry is caught cavorting naked at party...

LONDON: Britain's Prince Harry has been caught on camera doing something embarrassing - again.

Celebrity gossip website TMZ posted photos of the 27-year-old royal cavorting nude with an unidentified woman in a VIP suite in Las Vegas.

It's hardly the first time the prince - who allegedly disrobed as part of a game of strip pool - has been filmed misbehaving. The third-in-line to the throne was earlier photographed wearing a Nazi uniform for a costume party. Some would argue footage in which he was heard to utter a racial slur while teasing a fellow army cadet from Pakistan was more serious.

If the reaction of Britons to Harry's Las Vegas adventure was anything to go by, the nude photos will do little to tarnish his generally positive, party-prince image.

Referring to the prince's naked romp and asked if Harry had done anything wrong, Jim Conlon, a 60-year-old construction worker said, "No." Conlon was genuinely offended by the very question. "I'd be proud of him if he were my son," he said.

Conlon's opinion was typical of a country where thousands of streets and pubs are named for the royal family. Polls published earlier this year showed support for the monarchy at an all-time high, perhaps buoyed by the celebrations surrounding Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee celebrations marking her 60 years on the throne.

Interviews with Londoners up and down the capital's Prince of Wales Road yielded few critics of Harry's antics.

Craig Martin, 38, another construction worker, said: "He's the prince. He can have any bird he wants!"

Down the road, caregiver Shirley Ashard laughed at the news of Harry's naked adventure, dismissing questions about the propriety of running around a plush hotel room in the buff with a boys-will-be-boys shrug.

"I've got kids. They do things like that," the 59-year-old said. "He's a lad, for God's sake."

Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine said Harry's romp will not harm his image or that of the royal family. Seward felt Harry's party-boy image was part of his approachable, normal persona.

"Of course it's stupid, but it doesn't make people dislike him - quite the opposite," she said. "It shows that he is a guy who gets into trouble and he's the one people love to love. It could only happen to Harry - but we love him for it."

She did think, though, that Harry might get a talking-to from Prince Charles. Prince Harry's office confirmed yesterday that the photos were of the prince but declined to make any further comment.

The blurry, low-resolution photographs appear to have been snapped from inside a hotel suite, and it isn't clear if the prince was aware that they were being taken. That could be a violation of the royal's privacy. It might also explain why Britain's scandal-hungry tabloids were steering clear of the images.

Ashard said the only outrage she could muster was against the photographer.

"That's out of order," she said. "How would you like it if someone took pictures of you in your hotel room?"

From fan to friendship – what I learned from Phyllis Diller

Wade Allen

I was 15 years old when I first corresponded with comic Phyllis Diller. As a fan, I was seeking an autograph from a celebrity whom I’d seen on TV.

It never occurred to me that she was 70 years my senior or that others my age probably weren’t familiar with her illustrious career. I just thought she was very funny.

After nearly a decade of correspondence with one of the world’s most beloved entertainers, I came to understand that it was quite extraordinary.

People began to tell me how awesome it was that I wrote Phyllis. In my letters, I would often request autographs, extend greetings and let her know how much I admired her career.

We exchanged Christmas cards and for the past several years, I sent her birthday gifts and cards — anything to let her know that she was being thought of and appreciated.

And to my great surprise, she seemed to take an interest in me. It was “a thriller from Diller,” as she jokingly called the correspondence, to go to the mailbox and see an envelope with her return address label affixed to it.

I amassed quite a collection of memorabilia associated with her career including dozens of signed photographs. I even purchased a few memorabilia items at auctions including some autographed handbags.

When I was growing up, I watched Phyllis on television. I was also interested in watching video tapes containing recordings of her appearances on Dean Martin’s Celebrity Roasts, The Tonight Show and other programs.

Bounding out on stage wearing a wild wig, gaudy dress, zip-up boots, and shiny gloves, she held a long cigarette holder into the air.

Phyllis spoke a few keen comedic lines, just enough to get the audience roaring with laughter, and then proceed to arch back and belt out her signature cackling laugh. “ Ahhh-haaaa-ha-ha-ha !”

MEETING THE STAR

On a trip to Los Angeles in May, I finally got the chance to meet Phyllis Diller. Her personal assistant invited me over.

As I toured her home in amazement, it seemed that she really considered it to be an oasis where friends were welcome and entertaining came second nature. On the walls were framed photographs of her and dozens of fellow comedians including Jack Benny, Milton Berle , Bob Hope and Lucille Ball.

On one table sat a framed picture of Bette Midler. On a grand piano sat photographs of Mr. and Mrs. Bob Hope, Mr. and Mrs. Jim Backus and Betty Ford.

Phyllis’ office was filled with plaques and awards. Framed pictures of her posing alongside American presidents including Ronald Reagan and Lyndon B. Johnson were on display.

The legendary comic greeted me and my friend Lauren Foulk in a sunroom of her home overlooking a courtyard. I made Phyllis laugh without realizing it; she thought my southern accent was hilarious.

Commenting on how much she admired Lauren’s eye makeup, Phyllis asked me several questions and then I casually made conversation.

“What’s old Fang been up to?”

She cackled and held her arms in the air and exclaimed, “Same as always… nothing!”

Lauren and I were laughing as Phyllis leaned back on a sofa she was sitting on. She observed us chuckling and suddenly let out her signature bellowing laugh that went on and on. The antic sparked even more laughter.

“They’re funny and they don’t even know it,” Phyllis told her assistant, as she looked at me and Lauren.

I thought for a moment – is this really happening? Is Phyllis Diller really entertaining me? If this is a dream, please don’t wake me.

She then took my hand as we adjourned to the Bob Hope salon in her home where Phyllis played several songs on the grand piano.

Even the instrument itself was famous, being played decades earlier by Liberace.

‘LOOK AROUND, LAUGH AND BE HAPPY’

After the short concert, Phyllis posed for a few pictures with us. I was incredibly excited as a sat on the piano bench with her and the camera flashed.

As Phyllis stood from the bench, I thanked her for a memorable afternoon.

“Look around, laugh and be happy,” she said, as her assistant accompanied her to the rear of the home where Phyllis was going to rest.

Lauren and I stood in the beautifully-appointed room, speechless from the experience we’d just shared.

I looked around the Bob Hope salon at the regal fixtures and decorative items. She had a charming, picturesque living environment. A large painting of a distinguished-looking Hope sat on a wooden easel by the piano.

About 15 minutes later, Lauren and I left the home and drove to the Santa Monica Pier for sightseeing. We sat on a bench at the end of the pier, talking each other’s ears off about how cool the day had been.

I’m grateful for what Phyllis subtly taught me – to exercise generosity, show genuine interest, and share humor with others.

That’s why I’ll always be a fan of Phyllis Diller.

Read more: http://www.gastongazette.com/articles/diller-74636-phyllis-fan.html#ixzz24KeFBVeF

Craig David shows up to fans' wedding

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Craig David shows up to fans' wedding

Singer Craig David surprised a couple who made a spoof YouTube video inviting him to their wedding.

The pop star turned up to the nuptials of Theo Coyne, 28, and Lisa Potter-Dixon, 29, who say they are his biggest fans.

In the clip viewable online they changed the lyrics of Craig's hit 'Seven Days' to create the internet invitation to their big day.

The four-minute short went viral before it was eventually spotted by the singer.

British Craig, 31, then travelled all the way from his home of Los Angeles, California to Lisa's parents' home in Ely, Cambridgeshire in England.

He performed an hour-long set in the back garden at the reception.

One wedding guest said to the Daily Star newspaper: "Craig was absolutely amazing

"He was so down-to-earth that we almost forgot he was a celebrity. It really was a dream come true for Theo and Lisa."

Lisa later tweeted: "Craig!! Thank u! U are the man!"

And Craig wrote online on Sunday (19.08.12): "Had the most amazing experience last night surprising Theo & Lisa!

"Seeing them so happy having me attend & hearing me sing was as emotional for me as it was for them!"

‘The Office’ will soon be closing for good

World Entertainment News Network

The upcoming ninth season of the hit NBC comedy “The Office” will be its last.

The Emmy Award-winning series, based on comedian Ricky Gervais’ hit British incarnation of the same name, premiered in 2005, launching the careers of several little-known actors, including Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski, Mindy Kaling and Jenna Fischer.

The program has gained a large following ever since, thanks to lead characters Ed Helms and Steve Carrell, who quit the series last year. But on Tuesday, executive producer Greg Daniels shocked fans by announcing the show is calling it quits.

He tells The Hollywood Reporter, “At some point you have a choice: to always tell the beginnings of stories and the middles or to allow a story to end, and I think endings can be very powerful and meaningful pieces of the story … As we head into the home stretch, we have a lot of exciting things I’ve been wanting to do since season two. The end should be pretty cool.”

The final season of “The Office” will kick off on Sept. 20.

Interview with the “Voice of New York” Angie Martinez

“The Voice of New York” herself, Angie Martinez, the radio personality of Hot 97 and The Angie Martinez Show is well-known around the city of New York for her insight on the Hip Hop community.

TheCelebrityCafe.com had an opportunity to speak with Angie Martinez about how her love of Hip Hop began. Martinez also opens up about what inspires her and who is left on her list of great people that she would like to speak with on her show.

TheCelebrityCafe.com: Can you tell me how you began your career in radio?

Angie: I got an internship when I was 16. I lived in Miami for a couple of years. My mother moved me there when I was a kid. She moved me there from 16-18. I got an internship with the radio station out there, Power 96. When I moved back to New York at 18, I did an internship at Hot 97 and been there every since.

TCC: It sounds like you had a great start!

Angie: It’s like I grew up at Hot 97.

TCC: You have been appearing on the reality television show, Empire Girls: Julissa and Adrienne along with the stars of the show Julissa and Adrienne. How do you feel about the current representation of Latin women on television and reality television shows?

Angie: One of the things that appeal to me about this show is that it is a positive representation. It’s two young girls trying to find their way and they have great families and great friends. There is nothing negative about who they are and what they’re trying to do. It’s an amazing representation of young Latin women. You know everyone gets stereotyped and you know sometimes stereotypes are annoying today.

TCC: Of course.

Angie: So it’s nice to have a little more diversity, you know what I mean? Not every Latin woman says ‘mami’ and ‘papi,’ and wears tight dresses. It’s nice to see different variations of what we are.

TCC: It is definitely good to see a nice variety!

TCC: You have interviewed quite a bit of celebrities from The Kardashians to Nicki Minaj. Is there anyone left in the Hip Hop community that you would like to interview next and why?

Angie: I think I’ve probably interviewed every single person in the Hip Hop community. I mean, there are people outside of the Hip Hop community that I haven’t interviewed, but within the Hip Hop community, I don’t think there is anyone that has not come to see me.

TCC: Who outside of the Hip Hop community, do you have a big interest in interviewing?

Angie: Probably my dream would be to interview Oprah. She’s the only person left on my list that I haven’t gotten to yet. I think that’s the only person left. I’ve really been lucky! I’ve even interviewed Barack Obama…

TCC: Why are you drawn to Oprah?

Angie: Just for one, She’s Oprah Winfrey! Just for me personally, what I do for a living, I’m truly inspired by her. I mean the woman has changed the world, literally. How many people can say that? I would just like to have a conversation with her, in general. I’m sure plenty of people in the world would! I did get close to her though. I got Gayle!

TCC: You’re getting one step closer! Was it a great interview?

Angie: It really was! She likes Hip Hop so we were talking about Jay-Z… we were talking about music.

TCC: What advice can you give young women fresh out of college, who are looking to become entrepreneurs and aspire to make a difference in this world?

Angie: I think it’s important to find what you love. Life is so short. Life is too short to work hard at something you don’t love. And the only way you are going to be successful is if you work hard. It’s like the best choice in life to find something to do that you love. It makes for a better quality life. Also, know your craft and then go for it!

TCC: Back to music! What was the first Hip Hop track that inspired you?

Angie: Geez… that’s hard to say. I don’t remember the first song but I remember the first piece of music I bought with my own money, Slick Rick and Doug E. Fresh, La-Di-Da-Di, flip side with The Show. I remember I was a little kid peaking into my aunt’s house party. I was like a little kid in my pajamas. I thought it was the cutest thing. It’s been a part of my life forever.

TCC: And I bet it’s still growing… like your falling in love every time you hear a new song.

Angie: I do! I mean, I don’t love everything, but I do still love the culture and there are still artists that come out that I appreciate.

TCC: Do you feel like there’s been a change in the way Hip Hop is today? Do you wish Hip Hop was how it used to be?

Angie: Well, nothing can be like it used to be, not music, not food, not the world. It’s evolution! Everything evolves. Hip Hop was great in the 80s, it was great in the 90s. Some people liked it better in the 80s and some people liked it better in the 90s. It’s just a constant evolution. I don’t think one is better that the other. You know, we’re all different now. Social media and the way in which people get music have changed. When Hip Hop first started, you used to have to work for it. You used to have to stay up late to listen to the radio on a Friday night because that’s the only time they played it! It was a culture that used to have to work to get it. Now it’s like, you punch something into a computer and you can have an artist’s whole new album in a couple of minutes. By the next month, people are over it.

TCC: The music industry does go by a lot faster now.

Angie: Being invested in an artist, that part I do miss. Now I feel like everything happens so fast that it’s “on to the next… on to the next…”

TCC: If you were to create a playlist right now, what songs would be on your list? Whether you are going to the gym or out with your girls, what songs would you want to listen to today?

Angie: Oh my God, that’s so hard, because it depends on my mood.

TCC: So what mood are you in today? What do you want to hear?

Angie: I always go back to the El Cantante soundtrack. That’s my go-to soundtrack. Right now I’m listening to the Nas album, the Rick Ross Album. Honestly, I still have the Adele album in my car. That’s about it so far.

TCC: Angie, I would like to thank you for speaking with me today!

Angie: Thank You!

Avril Lavigne and Nickelback singer Chad Kroeger engaged to be married

Pop singer Avril Lavigne and rocker Nickelback frontman Chad Kroeger have been secretly dating, and on Tuesday the couple announced that they are engaged to be married after only dating for six months.

People reported that Avril Lavigne and Chad Kroeger have managed to keep their romance a complete secret from their fans for six months, and now they are ready to go public with their big news that they are engaged, and planning to marry.

Avril's close friend told people: "A romantic relationship blossomed as they spent time writing together."

Lavigne, 27, and Kroeger, 37, first got together in February to co-write a song for Lavigne's upcoming fifth studio album.

Engagement Details:

Chad Kroeger asked Avril Lavigne to be his wife on August 8,, presenting the singer with a huge 14-carat diamond engagement ring.

A member of Avril's family stated to the magazine: "He makes her so happy. Both of their families could not be more excited."

This will be Avril Lavigne's second marriage, she divorced Sum 41 lead singer Deryck Whibley in 2009. She has also been linked with Brody Jenner. For Chad Kroeger this will be his first marriage.

In April 2012, Lavigne confirmed that she had "finally" finished work on her fifth album and that she would be taking a short hiatus before releasing it and embarking on "[her] next artistic journey".

No wedding date has been set as of yet that has been reported anyway, but with as sneaky as these two rockers are they will have their wedding without none the wiser.

What do you think about Avril Lavigne and Chad Kroeger's engagement news?

Gabriel Aubry thinks Halle Berry could die like Diana

Halle Berry ex-boyfriend thinks she faces the same tragic fate as Princess Diana if she moves to France.

Gabriel Aubry's attorney made the claim in a Los Angeles court as he fights for custody over their daughter Nahla.

Halle and Gabriel are embroiled in a court battle over whether the mother should be allowed to move to the European country - where her fiance Olivier Martinez is from - with their young girl.

The actress believes their offspring will be better protected from aggressive paparazzi in France due to the country's strict laws about professional celebrity photographers.

But Gabriel's attorney argued Halle and Nahla would be making the situation worse as France is the same country where Princess Diana was killed in a wild paparazzi car chase back in 1997, according to website TMZ.com.

Halle's lawyer called several French lawyers - who testified that French judges will punish any photo press members who pursue the family.

Under French laws, paparazzi cannot photograph famous people who don't want their pictures taken, even if they're out in public.

Photographers who violate the law can be sued and if they harass the well-known person they can be criminally prosecuted.

Jackie Evancho’s Star Rises In Hollywood

Jackie Evancho first got everyone’s attention as the pint-sized singer with the big, classical voice on the fifth season of America’s Got Talent in 2010. Now the 12-year-old – who has the distinction of being the youngest top-10 debut artist in U.S. history and the youngest solo artist ever to go platinum – is heading to the big screen to play Robert Redford’s daughter in his next film The Company You Keep.

In an exclusive interview Celebrity Teen Scoop chatted with Jackie and got the latest buzz on her exciting new acting career, her upcoming album ‘Songs From The Silver Screen’ and which Nickelodeon star this tween is dying to meet (it’ll surprise you.)

Celebrity Teen Scoop: Congratulations on your upcoming album, ‘Songs From The Silver Screen’, that features movie tunes. Tell us a little bit about it.
Jackie: I was first inspired to sing by a song from a movie – Phantom Of The Opera. So I thought it would be a good idea to make an album of songs from films. There are some old movie songs and some that are newer. From those songs I think there’s at least one song for everybody. I think this album will take people on a journey

CTS: Are you a big movie fan? What are some of your favorite movies?
Jackie: I still watch Phantom Of The Opera a lot – I LOVE IT! I watch all types of films, from horror to comedy!

CTS: You got your big break on America’s Got Talent. Tell us what that experience was like.
Jackie: It was a great experience and I had a lot of fun doing the show. I met a lot of nice people there that I still stay in touch with. I’m very grateful to America’s Got Talent and the judges because that’s what gave me my big break

CTS: You have a part in Robert Redford’s upcoming film The Company You Keep. Tell us how that came about.
Jackie: Robert Redford saw me singing on TV and contacted my manager to see if I could be in the film. A week later I was on set shooting! It happened very fast.

CTS: Was this your first experience as an actress?
Jackie: As a professional actress, yes. When I was younger my brother and I were in a local production of High School Musical and A Christmas Carol.

CTS: Would you like to continue acting in the future?
Jackie: Yes, I loved it and would like to do more.

CTS: Do you ever get stage fright? If so, what do you do to get over it?
Jackie: I don’t get stage fright but I do get a little nervous before I go on stage. When that happens I say to myself, “Jackie, you can do this!” and then I say a little prayer. 

CTS: Besides singing, what other hobbies do you have?
Jackie: Playing with my brothers, sister and friends is my biggest pasttime! I like swimming, sewing, drawing, writing poems, etc.

CTS: You’ve found fame at such a young age – what advice can you give to young people your age who have dreams of stardom?
Jackie: I’ve said this before, but the best advice I can give is to always follow your dreams! Your dreams won’t just happen, though, you have to work hard at accomplishing them.

CTS: What celebrity/celebrities do you want to meet that you haven’t met yet?
Jackie: There are so many I would like to meet, but one that comes to mind right now is George Lopez! I watch his show on Nickelodeon [Lopez' show runs in syndication on Nick At Nite] and I think he is really funny. I saw him in the audience when I sang on Dancing With The Stars but we didn’t get to meet.

CTS: How do you balance school, your career, friends and family life?
Jackie: My parents are very strict about this. They create a balance between working/singing and being home. The longest they allow me to be away is normally a week, and when I do travel besides having a parent with me I usually have one of my brothers or sister there, too, so that it doesn’t get boring for me waiting to do my shows. When it’s not the summer I study every day as my schooling is important.