Archive for August, 2009

Eunice Kennedy Shriver Funeral Held Today

The funeral for Eunice Kennedy Shriver was held today. Celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey, Stevie Wonder and Jon Bon Jovi attended, as well as family members including her daughter, California First Lady Maria Shriver and Maria's husband, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. During the service, titled "Celebrating The Transformative Eunice Kennedy Shriver," Oprah could be seen crying. Later, Gov. Schwarzenegger went to the podium for a reading. Her grandchildren also spoke, expressing their thanks for everything from life lessons she taught them -- like helping them to get over their fears and teaching them faith --- to taking them out for strawberry shakes. Read More »

Susan Lucci’s Adventure in Africa

"All My Children" star Susan Lucci traveled to Kenya with Feed the Children, an international, non-profit relief organization, and the star tells ET all about the life-changing trip and emotional experience. "They are strong and resilient, they are little treasures," Lucci says of the children she spent time with in Kenya. "They're so precious, so full of life. You get so close to these babies that to leave them, to walk away from them is heart-wrenching." The daytime star joined Feed the Children in delivering food and items to the needy, and visiting local schools and an abandoned baby center that was built by the Feed the Children organization. Read More »

Michael Phelps in Car Crash

ET can confirm that Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps was in a car accident in Baltimore on Thursday night. Read on for the details. A Baltimore Police spokesman tells us that Phelps was involved in a two-car collision, but he wasn't injured. The Olympian swimmer was behind the wheel of a late-model Cadillac Escalade that collided with a Honda Accord driven by a female. The spokesman says the woman was "shaken up" and taken to the hospital as a precautionary measure. Police interviewed Phelps and witnesses of the accident. Read More »

New Video: Freed Reporters Laura Ling and Euna Lee

Laura Ling and Euna Lee, two reporters who were held captive by the North Korean government for almost five months, are speaking out in a new video posted on their employer, Current TV's, Web site. In the video, they thank grass roots supporters who sent letters and even started a Facebook campaign on their behalf. The women say that they will tell their story at some point, but for now, they ask for privacy to spend time with their family. Ling and Lee were granted a pardon by the North Korean government and freed last week after former U.S. President Bill Clinton traveled to the Asian country to negotiate for their release. The North Korean government had convicted the women of entering the country illegally and had sentenced them to 12 years hard labor. Read More »

Mourners Including Oprah Celebrate Eunice Kennedy Shriver

Oprah joined family and friends of Eunice Kennedy Shriver to say goodbye at Mrs. Shriver's wake in Centerville, Mass., on Thursday evening. Oprah and her good friend Gayle King joined Mrs. Shriver's husband Robert Sargent Shriver, Jr., and more family, including her daughter, California First Lady Maria Shriver and her husband, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, for a moving tribute to the woman who helped to bring the Special Olympics to the national stage. Other family members in attendance included Mrs. Shriver's children and grandchildren, her sister-in-law, Ethel Kennedy, her niece Caroline Kennedy and nephew Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Actress Susan Saint James and her husband Dick Ebersol also attended, as did the Governor of Massachusetts Deval Patrick. The service to remember Mrs. Shriver, who passed away on Tuesday, included personal remembrances, music and prayer. Read More »

Report: John Edwards Expected to Admit Paternity of Former Aide’s Toddler

According to North Carolina TV station WRAL, sources say that former U.S. Senator John Edwards is expected to claim paternity of his former mistress' young daughter. The former mistress, Rielle Hunter, gave birth to a daughter named Frances in 2008, but Edwards has previously said that his affair with Hunter ended before the little girl was conceived. WRAL reports that Edwards, who is being criminally investigated for allegedly improperly funneling campaign funds to Hunter, could publicly admit to being the child's father before the investigation concludes. Read More »

Jackson Death Investigators Sought Evidence of Anesthetic During Pharmacy Search

ET has obtained the search warrant from last Tuesday's raid on a Las Vegas pharmacy related to the death investigation of Michael Jackson. Read on for details… According to the papers, authorities were seeking evidence that Jackson's former personal physician Dr. Conrad Murray or his employees "administered, prescribed, obtained, transferred, sold, distributed, and/or bought" the anesthetic Propofol. Last month, Dr. Murray had his Las Vegas home searched by the DEA, LAPD and Vegas law enforcement officials. Read More »

La Toya Jackson on Michael’s death: ‘It’s a Very Difficult Moment for All of Us’

ET was with Michael Jackson's sister, La Toya, as she lent a helping hand to AIDS Project Los Angeles in honor of her late brother. La Toya was at APLA in Los Angeles on Thursday to honor Jackson by working with one of the many organizations he cared for. "It's a very difficult moment for all of us…," La Toya tells ET. "It's almost -- you don't believe it -- so you try to do the best you can by feeling his love, by helping and doing something he would want you to do." Read More »

A Mini-‘Will & Grace’ Reunion!

Debra Messing and Eric McCormack come together again for a cause they believe in. Messing, McCormack, and a host of others, including Jason Alexander, Lisa Edelstein, Zachary Quinto and Timothy Olyphant will take part in a one-night-only benefit reading of Standing on Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays for the Human Rights campaign. The event will take place on Saturday, Sept. 12 at the El Portal Theater in North Hollywood, Calif. The reading is in response to the recent ruling on Proposition 8 in California. Read More »

Jon Gosselin Set to Party Poolside in Vegas

"Jon & Kate Plus 8" star Jon Gosselin is planning to hit Sin City for a big poolside bash -- sans his big family. People.com reports that the reality star is set to host a pool party at MGM Grand's Wet Republic on Aug. 29. According to an announcement obtained by People, Jon will be there for "a little R&R and will be hosting poolside." Read More »