Thanks to Bruce, this Rising’s headed for a fall
IT’S GOOD TO BE THE BOSS. Developers in Asbury Park, N.J., planned to call their waterfront condominium project The Rising – the same as Bruce Springsteen‘s Grammy-winning album and song.
But after Springsteen complained in a letter to a local newspaper, they agreed to change the name.
” ‘The Rising’ was written in the shadow of September 11th and should remain connected to the heartbreak and courage of that day,” wrote Springsteen, who rose to fame playing Asbury Park clubs.
“I respectfully ask the city fathers and developers to place both my and my song’s names out of the running for any new buildings, streets, hot dog stands (well, maybe hot dog stands) as the city moves toward its exciting future.”
Metro Homes LLC will instead have a contest for city children to suggest a new name.
“I’m a big fan of Bruce Springsteen’s. I’ve been following him since the 1970s. When I read the article, it made a lot of sense,” said Metro Homes’ Dean Geibel.
For Jessica, it’s not just Dessert
Jessica Simpson has been sued by a California cosmetics company that claims it is still owed nearly $200,000 for products it supplied for the Dessert beauty line she endorses.
Simpson maintains she was simply a spokeswoman for Dessert and was not responsible for the company’s accounting and billing procedures.
Meanwhile, the singer also has signed a deal with New York-based Andrew Sports Club to produce a line of junior sportswear including kids’ clothes, hats, watches, jewelry and even undies under the Jessica Simpson and Sweet Kisses brand names.
Now Nicky’s life is simpler, too
Hotel heiress Nicky Hilton and businessman Todd Andrew Meister were officially granted an annulment Tuesday by a Las Vegas judge, ending their brief marriage.
Hilton, 21, the younger sister of “The Simple Life” star Paris Hilton, married Meister, 33, at the Las Vegas Wedding Chapel on Aug. 15.
Hiltons get a kick from the Duffs
Teen sisters Hilary and Hayley Duff will play sibling heiresses who bear uncanny resemblances to Paris and Nicky Hilton in the upcoming movie “Material Girls.”
Produced by Madonna‘s Maverick Films and due to start filming in January, it tells the uplifting tale of two wealthy young women who find themselves embroiled in scandal and must struggle to reclaim their dignity.
There’s been little love lost between the Duffs and the Hiltons since last summer, when Hayley and Paris competed to be first to release a song called “Screwed.” Paris won.
Asked if “Material Girls” lampoons the Hiltons, Hilary replied: “You didn’t hear that from me.”
From the grave, he cries out: ‘Stella!’
Marlon Brando was posthumously honored with the Stella Adler Award, which was accepted Monday on his behalf by Warren Beatty.
Brando and Beatty both studied at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting, founded in 1949 by actress Stella Adler, who also coached Robert De Niro, Harvey Keitel and Candice Bergen. Adler died in 1992 after teaching acting for more than 40 years.
The birthday bunch
Actor Russell Johnson (“Gilligan’s Island”) is 80. Actor Roy Scheider is 72. Lyricist Tim Rice is 60. Singer-guitarist Greg Lake (Emerson, Lake and Palmer) is 56. Actress-dancer Ann Reinking is 55. Actor Jack Scalia is 53. Actor-comedian Sinbad is 48. Actress Mackenzie Phillips (“One Day at a Time”) is 45. Actor Michael Jai White is 40. Country singer Chris Cagle is 36. Rapper Warren G is 34. Actress Brittany Murphy is 27. Rapper Eve is 26. Actress Heather Matarazzo is 22.