Seriously? OMG! WTF?

Ron Carey, the comic character actor who was best known as the constantly self-promoting Officer Levitt on the television series "Barney Miller," but who also boasted stage and film credits, died Jan. 16 in Los Angeles of complications from a stroke, it was reported. He was 71. Mr. Carey’s Carl Levitt was a relentlessly brown-nosing Manhattan policeman. In a typical visit to the detectives room depicted in the sitcom "Barney Miller," he used the delivery of mail as an excuse to offer unsolicited advice on crime cases and find ways to remind Captain Miller (Hal Linden) of his qualifications for promotion to plain-clothes detective. His foolish persona was accented by Mr. Carey’s small stature (he was 5-feet-4-inches). Levitt made up for the fact that he stood a good four inches shorter than the rest of the detectives by hoisting himself briefly on tiptoes after making what he considered to be a good point. For his pains, Levitt was finally promoted late in the run of the series. To proclaim his new status, he donned a series of garish plaid sport jackets, much to the horror of office clotheshorse Detective Harris (Ron Glass). Mr. Carey was born Ronald Cincenia in Newark, New Jersey, on Dec. 11, 1935. His early years in show business were spent as a comedian. He made stand-up appearances on "The Merv Griffin Show," "The Mike Douglas Show" and "The Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson. He starred on Broadway in Renee Taylor and Joseph Bologna’s 1968 comedy Lovers and Other Strangers. With his high, nasal voice and New Joisey manners, he often came off as something like Joe Pesci’s nicer kid brother. He was also a favorite of film director Mel Brooks, who cast him in "Silent Movie," "High Anxiety" and "History of the World, Part I." He also starred in the movies "Fatso" and "Johnny Dangerously."

Playbill (story) and Barney Miller TV Home Page (photo)

He was so cute and funny in whatever he did. 

ET breaks news that "Dharma & Greg" alum JENNA ELFMAN, 35, and her husband BODHI ELFMAN, 37, are expecting their first child together! In statement given to ET, the couple, who have been married almost 17 years, say they are "elated about the impending birth" and "are overjoyed to add an exciting new addition to their loving home." Jenna was most recently seen on TV as the titular character of the 2006 sitcom, "Courting Alex."

Entertainment Tonight 

I wonder if they used the same method that Tom Cruise used to impregnate Katie Homes?

A Bahamas law firm says it is suing former Playboy Playmate and oil heiress Anna Nicole Smith for unpaid legal fees of $113,000. Callenders, based in Nassau, secured an injunction from the Bahamas Supreme Court forbidding Smith to reduce the balance in her local bank accounts below $125,000. Attorney Tracy Ferguson said Smith had repeatedly failed to pay fees due her company. "We are determined to pursue this. We will be paid. Ms. Smith now needs to respond to this and stop being evasive," the Nassau Tribune newspaper quoted Ferguson as saying on Friday. An attorney for Smith could not be reached for comment. Smith hired Callenders in September to handle affairs surrounding her 20-year-old son Daniel, who died at his mother’s hospital bedside three days after she gave birth to daughter Dannie Lynn Hope. The firm later withdrew its services, but only after several weeks of work. This week, the firm filed a lawsuit seeking to enforce the injunction to recoup fees, interest and costs. In an affidavit, Ferguson said she believed Smith had the funds to pay "but that she has a total aversion to paying her bills and that she will seek to avoid paying the fees by any means that occur to her, including by sending her money within this jurisdiction abroad."

Reuters 

You would think with the inquest in to her son’s death coming up she would want to have as many lawyers on her side in the Bahamas, guess not?

A rock band have been banned from an entire hotel chain after causing thousands of pounds of damage, the hotel has said. Up-and-coming Dundee four-piece The View damaged several rooms at a Travelodge in Liverpool following a show in the city in November. Damage was eventually estimated at about £7,000, and a bill was presented to their manager. Travelodge also sent a letter to the band’s management this week advising them the musicians were banned from all of its 300 UK hotels. A Travelodge spokesman said: "The View are banned from every Travelodge in the country. "We don’t care who they are, they acted offensively and were anti-social to other residents. They are not welcome back. "This rock and roll behaviour is not acceptable. People come to us for a good night’s sleep and we have to be mindful of that." The Daily Record newspaper reported that staff at the hotel were forced to break into the band’s room to turn off taps and stop a ceiling from caving in from flooding. The View – bassist Kieran Webster, lead guitarist Pete Reilly, lead singer Kyle Falconer, and drummer Steve Morrison – release their debut album Hats Off To The Buskers next week. It has already produced two hits, Superstar Tradesman and Wasted Little DJs.

Daily Snack (story) and The View’s MySpace (photo)

I wonder where they are going to stay now?

With "American Idol" already ushering in its annual spring renaissance, FOX has juggled its schedule to allow for three midseason premieres. Through March and April, FOX will launch "The Wedding Bells," "The Winner" and "Drive," while giving new time periods to "’Til Death," "The War at Home" and "Standoff." Among the new shows, the first out of the box is "The Winner," a comedy from Ricky Blitt ("Family Guy"). The Rob Corddry vehicle will get a two episode dose on Sunday, March 4 and FOX will burn through the rest of the episode order by showing "The Winner" at 8:30 and 9:30 on three consecutive Sundays. Sunday will also welcome "The War at Home" back into the fold. The second-year comedy began on Sunday, but had a temporary move to Thursday nights. As of March 4, "The War at Home" will make its home at 7:30 on Sundays. David E. Kelley’s romantic dramedy "The Wedding Bells," will get a special premiere on Wednesday, March 7 after "American Idol" before moving to its regular Friday night 9 p.m. ET time slot. "Wedding Bells" will be joined by freshman drama "Standoff," as the negotiators series goes to Friday nights at 8 p.m. The third new series, Tim Minear’s "Drive," is held off to April. Focusing on an underground car race across America, "Drive" will premiere in a two-night, three-hour event on Sunday, April 15 (8-10 p.m.) and Monday, April 16 (8-9 p.m.). Subsequent episodes will stay in the Monday 8 p.m. slot leading into "24." Also shifting in the spring is "’Til Death." The Thursday night survivor will go to Wednesdays at 9:30 p.m., taking advantage of the post-"American Idol" boosts. "’Til Death" will face its final Thursday slaughter on Feb. 15 before airing post-"Idol" on Feb. 27 and Feb. 28 post-"Idol," going to its regular time period on Wednesday, March 14. What of Thursday? The competitive night has already lost "Happy Hour" and "The O.C." will have its series finale in late February. Leading contenders include a new installment of "Hell’s Kitchen," as well as the second year comedy "The Loop," which has filmed 10 episodes without a schedule slot.

Zap2It 

I am really looking forward to The Wedding Bells and The Winner, but I am bummed that they moved Standoff to the Fox’s death night.

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