LEGEND REGIS PHILBIN EXITS 28 YEARS ON ABC

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THE WEB GOSSIP
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Aidan Quinn

PRIME SUSPECT SHUTTERED -- Mario Bello's NBC show Prime Suspect officially shut down production yesterday; just after they wrapped their 13th show. It's a situation where the show was critically praised, but NBC, even after airing each episode three times a week, just couldn't pull enough viewers. Ironic, as the network, for a change, really did try to pull viewers. As readers know, I think the world of Bello, and felt she was terrific on this show. Also, Aidan Quinn, raised the bar every time he appeared on screen. To tell you the truth, each subsequent episode was much, much better; given a full season it might have become a winner. Sad!


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Jennifer Lopez

BASTONE RETURNS --- In the halcyon '80s, when DJs first became major players on the music scene; for re-mixing records as well as producing ... one of the most significant was Freddy Bastone. Born in the Bronx, he made his DJ-cred for the most part spinning at the now-legendary club Danceteria and ended up re-mixing records for the likes of Queen, Bananarama, Brandy, Judas Priest, Radiohead, Rod Stewart and Taxi Doll. He scored #1 singles with Will to Power (Lynn Goldsmith), Nu Shooz, Jennifer Lopez and Jamiroquai. He also signed Run DMC to their first record deal (in the early '80s) to Cory Robbins' Profile Records. Of late, he's done remixes for Justin Timberlake, Lopez, Jill Scott and Hall and Oates. He's also an actor who has appeared in The Sopranos and Law & Order. Bastone's father was a musician, a drummer, and it's always been evident he's had music in his blood. Armed with a new manager, and several new ideas and projects, look for him to return to the scene in a big way. We could say welcome back, but it's clear with his influence and taste he's never left the music scene.



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Cloris Leachman

RIVERDANCE PREMIERS IN L.A. -- Quiet a crowd turned up last night at L.A.'s Pantages Theatre for the premiere of Riverdance. Seen in the crowd were: Kevin Sorbo; Micky Dolenz; Cloris Leachman; Lauren Storm; Ken Davitian; Greg Louganis; Iqbal Theba (Glee); and, Michael Gross (Family Times).


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Neil Patrick Harris

THE REEGE MOVES ON -- With Regis Philbin exiting his daily-chat-show this Friday (after 28 years on that show; and, 50 in the biz) I am guessing that this will be our final dispatch on that show. Sure, Jerry Seinfeld and Neil Patrick Harris have already been announced as temporary-guest hosts; yet, there's just no way that it will be able to continue. Kelly Ripa (who was born in 1970!) has grown on me, but there's just now way her limited talents and show-biz knowledge will be able to maintain the frenetic energy that Philbin brought to it. The past two weeks, which have basically had some of the show's best-guests ever; as well as a fabulous retrospective of pristine-Philbin-moments, have shown just how good he is; from his terrific interviews with best-pals Don Rickles and David Letterman; to the awesome assemblage of pranks and stunts that he has participated in. Amazingly, some of the best moments were with original co-host Kathie Lee Gifford.; it has almost been like a master-class. His brand new book How I Got This Way (Harper Collins) is just out and although I've not yet received a copy to read, I'm sure it'll be just like he is … totally original. We'll miss Reege big time; face it, there's no one else like him on TV. A class act for sure!



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Channing Tatum

UNCLE UNCLE -- Director Steven Soderbergh, who just directed Channing Tatum in Magic Mike, is reportedly eyeing him for the title role in The Man From U.N.C.L.E. Both films will be for Warner Brothers and since George Clooney pulled out as the lead character Napoleon Solo, the role has remained a hot catch in the biz. As a huge fan of the 60's TV series, I'm wondering if original stars, Robert Vaughn and David McCallum (now, hotter than ever on CBS' NCIS) …will make cameos … they should!


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TRI STATE OF MIND -- PR-guru David Salidor has tipped us off to a irresistible new project coming in January of 2012. A new artist called TriState; with a multi-instrumental ensemble that recently appeared at Webster Hall with a 12-piece orchestra … as sort of sneak. We've heard a brief snippet and perhaps the best description we can give right now, is: a melange of synthesized state-of-the-art music and sounds. It was rather stunning. We wanted to debut it here first; we'll have a more comprehensive re-cap soon.

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Bradley Cooper

COOPER COOPS A COVER -- People Magazine's NEW sexiest man of the year ... is: Bradley Cooper. What!!??



Photos By: RD/Orchon/Kirkland/Leon/Retna