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ROSEANNE BARR is eyeing a return to the small screen with a comedy series - 12 years after her TV hit ROSEANNE ended its nine-year run.
The comedic actress has teamed up with former Roseanne producer Caryn Mandabach to create a pilot episode in which she again plays a family matriarch.
Barr’s TV career took off in the 1980s with her stand-up comedy routine and the hit show, which went off-air in 1997.
She has since fronted a TV talk show and starred in her own reality programme The Real Roseanne Show, which aired in the summer of 2003.
According to the New York Post, the pilot episode, written by Arrested Development’s Jim Vallely, has been pitched to Fox network.

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JENNIFER HUDSON’s sister JULIA walked down a fashion show runway this weekend (begs21Mar09) in her first public appearance since her mother, son and brother were gunned down five months ago.
The siblings’ mother, Darnell Donerson, and brother, Jason, were found shot dead at their home in Chicago, Illinois on 24 October (08). The singer/actress’ seven-year-old nephew, Julian King - son of Julia - was also killed; his body was found in an abandoned car three days later.
Julia’s estranged husband, William Balfour, has pleaded not guilty to charges of first degree murder and home invasion.
But the 31-year-old told reporters she was determined to participate as a plus-sized model in the show, held at Chicago’s Navy Pier, to send Balfour a message of defiance and to prove she was healing after the devastating murders.
Referring to Balfour, Hudson said: "You did this to basically kill me. In so many words, to take my life, but it was not. And my mother and my brother and my son, they wouldn’t have wanted that.
"If I was to not be able to function, if I was to not be able to get up, that would mean William and the devil won. They took enough from me. They won’t take nothing else from me. So I have to go on." And Julia hopes her public appearance will inspire others in similar situations to be courageous: "To see me standing here, you know, a lot of people wouldn’t be able to stand. But as I said before, to see me stand here and to know that you can go on - there is hope." The Dreamgirls star did not attend the event, but other family members were present to cheer Julia on as she was honoured with an award for keeping a positive spirit in light of the tragedy.
Her uncle Tyron Hudson said, "We’re here celebrating her, lifting her up and letting her know that we’re all here as a family."

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Former SOPRANOS star JAMES GANDOLFINI is relishing his new role in Broadway play GOD OF CARNAGE - because he gets the chance to "make people laugh".
Gandolfini is most famous for his Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning portrayal of brutal mob boss Tony Soprano in the long running TV drama series.
And he admits he leaped at the chance to take on a lighter role in the New York stage comedy about about two warring couples.
The play, which co-stars Jeff Daniels, Hope Davis and Marcia Gay Harden, opened on Sunday (22Mar09) to rave reviews.
And the heavyweight actor is having a great time.
He tells the New York Daily News, "I’m making people laugh now. And that’s a good thing." Gandolfini admits he suffered stagefright during rehearsals and still makes the occasional slip-up, adding, "I still f**k up now and again, but that’s life. I don’t get nervous now. It’s starting to become fun…
"Once you get the hang of it, you’re fine." The 47-year-old’s run in God of Carnage marks his first stint on Broadway since a 1992 production of On the Waterfront.

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Former child star DUSTIN DIAMOND is facing legal action from a U.S. energy company after allegedly failing to pay his utility bills.
A lawsuit filed by We Energies indicates that the actor, who played nerd Screech Powers in the teen sitcom Saved By The Bell, has failed to pay an outstanding bill of $2,079 (£1,400) for amenities provided to his home in Port Washington, Wisconsin.
Diamond, 32, has until 15 April (09) to respond to the lawsuit, filed in Wisconsin’s Ozaukee County Circuit Court and obtained by the Journal Sentinel newspaper.
It isn’t the first time the star has landed in financial trouble - in 2006 he faced the foreclosure of his home unless he paid the $272,000 (£185,000) he owed under a land contract.
He called on fans to help him come up with the cash by buying T-shirts that read: "I paid $15.00 to save Screech’s house." The foreclosure case was dismissed after Diamond was able to secure the funds.
But his bad luck returned in November (08) when Ford Motor Credit Co. repossessed his car.

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JENNIFER ANISTON reportedly dumped boyfriend JOHN MAYER because of his obsession with social networking website Twitter.
The pair ended their romance earlier this month (Mar09), with some reports alleging it was Mayer’s decision to break up.
But, according to U.K. magazine Star, Aniston ended the relationship after discovering Mayer was spending hours posting updates on Twitter.com, despite claiming he was too busy to get in touch with her.
A source close to Aniston tells the publication, "Jen was fuming. There he was, telling her he didn�t have time for her and yet his page was filled with updates! Every few hours, sometimes minutes, he�d update with some stupid line.
"She was like, �He has time for all this Twittering, but he can�t send me a text, an email, make a call?� He didn�t deny it. He knew he was avoiding her. So when she ended things, he just said OK, and he was sorry it didn�t work out.�

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MADONNA’s troubled love life could jeopardise her chances of adopting another child from Malawi, according to a government official.
The pop superstar recently confirmed reports she is thinking about adopting a second child from the African country after welcoming little David Banda into her family in 2006. His adoption was officially signed off in 2008.
She told the country’s Nation newspaper, "It’s something I have been considering, but would only do if I had the support of the Malawian people and the Government." However, the Material Girl’s recent divorce from her second husband Guy Ritchie, followed by her reported romances with married sports star Alex Rodriguez and 22-year-old toyboy Jesus Luz, could hamper her chances of mothering another Malawian child.
According to the New York Daily News, a senior official for Malawi’s Ministry of Women and Child Welfare, says, "Our official policy is that we do not encourage our children to be sent into broken homes.
"The news she is linked to another woman’s husband and a young man less than half her age makes us question her morals." And the singer’s raunchy image could also damage her adoption bid.
Simon Chisale, Malawi’s child welfare chief, adds, "We do not only look at the material issues, but also the moral standing of prospective adoptive parents, because we do not want our children’s morals to be corrupted." Madonna was alleged to be in the process of adopting a young girl named Mercy James last year (08), but the reports never came to fruition.

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DEMI MOORE has reached out to a terminally-ill fan who plans to have cosmetic surgery to look like the actress before she dies - urging her not to go under the knife.
Brit Lisa Connell was diagnosed with an in-operable brain tumour in 2006, and as a lifelong fan of the Ghost beauty, wants to splash $60,000 (£42,000) on surgery to transform herself into a Moore look-a-like.
Connell wants to undergo an extensive make-over before she succumbs to the disease, including liposuction, breast enhancement, an eyebrow lift and extensive dental and dermatological work.
In her blog, the 29-year-old explains, "Demi Moore is an absolutely stunning woman and it has been mentioned that I have similar features even before she had all that surgery done, back in the early days in the 1980s/90s she was just as stunning. If someone asks me who do I think is beautiful in the public eye I would have to say Demi Moore.
"People think I’m crazy for doing this, but I know it will make my last months or years happier." Now, Moore has reacted to Connell’s aesthetic ambitions, begging her to rethink her surgery plans.
On her Twitter page, the star writes, "Wish I could contact this woman Lisa Connell who wants to have surgery to look like me & encourage her to not to! She is a beautiful girl!" Moore is reported to have undergone a body overhaul in 2004 - allegedly spending $308,000 (£220,000) on a head-to-toe surgical makeover.

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Rocker CHRIS CORNELL has defended his decision to let TIMBALAND produce his latest album - after the record was widely panned by critics.
The former Soundgarden and Audioslave frontman teamed up with the R&B superproducer for a different sound on new solo record Scream.
But the album has not been well received by critics, fans and fellow musicians - with Nine Inch Nails star Trent Reznor even describing it as "embarrassing".
But Cornell is adamant he is happy with the final outcome.
He tells Alternativeaddiction.com, "Older American fans don’t like it because they are typically my core fans that really supported me in Soundgarden and really loved that band. To them that’s kind of who I am, I’m that guy in that band, and I’m that guy who wrote those songs.
"I’m thrilled with the album that I made. I think it’s really exciting, I have listened to it as much or more than any album I have ever made. As a song writer and creative person, I have to do what makes me happy. That changes, it goes into different worlds."

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COLDPLAY frontman CHRIS MARTIN is desperate to score a ticket to one of MICHAEL JACKSON’s comeback concerts - after missing out when the shows went on sale earlier this month (Mar09).
The rocker is a huge fan of the King Of Pop and was thrilled when Jackson announced his upcoming This Is It run at London’s O2 arena.
But he was devastated after the Thriller legend’s 50-date residency sold out within hours of going on general sale, leaving Martin without a ticket to much-hyped shows.
He says, "I was looking at it on the Internet and thought, ‘I’d better buy some for myself’ and I couldn’t. They were totally sold out.
"To sell out like that is a testament to talent. It is just amazing to sell out 50 shows in one city in a big arena. It’s the biggest comeback since Lazarus. It’s good news - but not for me." Jackson’s gigs kick off on 8 July (09) and will run into February 2010.

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SIR PAUL McCARTNEY’s ex-wife HEATHER MILLS has denied reports she is set to promote vegetarian food for Burger King - but insists it’s her dream to front such a campaign.
Reports surfaced earlier this week (begs23Mar09) alleging the animal rights activist, who is working on launching a vegan eatery in the U.K., would be promoting a new meat-free burger for the fast food chain.
But while the former model admits there is no truth to the speculation, she is adamant she would love to team up with Burger King to help people change their eating habits.
Her manager tells WENN, "The Burger King story isn’t true.
"Heather hasn’t been paid three million but she would love to get vegan burgers or any vegan food out there via any avenue possible and Burger King would be a great place to begin."

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LADY GAGA would have loved to have been a hippie in the 1960s - so she could have been a groupie chasing after JOHN LENNON.
The 23-year-old singer is convinced she was born in the wrong era, insisting she would have fit right in when The Beatles were at the height of their fame.
And she would have wasted no time in going after Lennon - even if it meant fighting off his partner Yoko Ono.
She says, "I’m quite sure that if it were 1968 I may not be the Lady GaGa that I am today.
"I might be arguing with Yoko Ono and trying to win John Lennon’s heart and chasing The Beatles in a bus on LSD, hoping that one of them hands me a microphone one day."

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British singer-turned-reality star KERRY KATONA has threatened legal action against a U.K. tabloid after the publication printed a story accusing her of using drugs.
Katona has admitted battling illegal substance abuse in the past, but insists she is now free of her addictions.
And the star was rocked by allegations printed in Britain’s News of the World newspaper on Sunday (22Mar09) that she has fallen back into bad habits in a bid to deal with her financial and personal woes.
Katona’s publicist has released a statement announcing the star is now taking legal advice and wants to pursue the matter through the courts.
The statement reads, "A News of the World article has made several extremely defamatory allegations today about Kerry Katona and drug abuse.
"These allegations are completely untrue and we will be speaking to our solicitors today about taking legal action against this story." Katona has faced a turbulent year - she was reportedly made bankrupt last year (08) and recently announced she plans to divorce her husband Mark Croft, although the pair has since thought to have reconciled.

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AMERICAN IDOL champion DAVID COOK has warned overzealous fans he will be forced to take "preventative measures" if they continue to harass him while he’s on tour.
The singer, who walked away the winner’s title last year’s (08), hit the road with his The Declaration Tour in February (09), and sold out seats for his April (09) homecoming gig in Missouri in a matter of minutes.
But Cook admits he is concerned with the "disturbing" behaviour of some eager fans - condemning the way they hound him after gigs.
He writes on on his MySpace.com blog, "First off, I want to say thank you to everyone who has been coming out to the shows since my last post. The vibe at these shows has been amazing.
"Secondly, I have to address some behaviour that has become disturbing. We pride ourselves on being accessible to you as fans, but in contrast, we do enjoy what little privacy we can muster.
"To that end, the efforts by some fans to find our hotel rooms, call our hotel rooms, attach things to our bus, etc., is something I have to condemn. This relationship only works when it remains healthy for both parties, and should this behaviour continue, the only thing we can do is take more preventative measures to maintain our privacy, which in turn makes us less accessible to you."

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Former EURYTHMICS star ANNIE LENNOX finds it difficult to trust people in the music industry - after experiencing how "vile" executives in the business can be.
Lennox has found worldwide success as a singer, selling more than 80 million records during her career - but she has found herself repulsed by many elements of the industry after witnessing widespread corruption firsthand.
She says, "The music industry is a bloody nightmare. The eggs, the slightly criminal elements, the betrayers, the ones who want to screw you, the ones who were in it for this, that or the other.
"Sometimes I’ve been so shocked at how vile somebody has been. But you just have to let it go, otherwise it could drive you mad."

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LARS ULRICH has no plans for METALLICA to follow in the footsteps of U2 by signing a deal with concert promoters Live Nation - insisting the group will never "sell out".
U2 were one of the first high profile bands to sign a contract with Live Nation last year (08), in a $100 million (£70 million) deal.
The company will act as a record label for artists on its roster, including Madonna, Jay-Z and Shakira, and deal with the promotion of concerts, merchandising and sponsorship.
But Ulrich isn’t keen on handing over control of his band’s image to Live Nation like many of his contemporaries, insisting the company is not offering anything the rockers need.
He says, "We haven’t sold out to Live Nation, and we are certainly not planning on it. And we are very, very fortunate that we do not need what they offer to continue to be who we are." And the drummer also insists Metallica don’t need the backing of a label record giant to get their records released.
He adds, "Let’s cut to the chase. . . . The primary, not the only, but the primary - function of a record label is to act as a bank.
"When you’re fortunate enough to be successful and so on, you don’t need to rely on record companies as the banks." Live Nation announced last month (Feb09) that company executives had kicked-started merger talks with ticketing giant Ticketmaster to create an industry superforce.

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Music mogul DAMON DASH has been dealt another legal blow - his wife has handed him divorce papers, according to reports.
Rachel Roy filed a divorce suit in New York’s Manhattan Supreme Court earlier this month (Mar09), signalling the end of her marriage to the Roc-A-Fella Records co-founder, who she married in Mexico in January 2005.
And it seems Roy, who launched her own women’s fashion line with her husband’s backing, is aware of the hip-hop executive’s financial woes as the divorce is for "nonmonetary relief", according to an electronic record of the case obtained by the New York Daily News.
The publication reports that Dash is facing foreclosure on his two Tribeca, New York properties and owes $2 million (£1.4 million) in state taxes.
A judge also ordered Manhattan officials to seize his car last year (08) after he failed to make his monthly payments.
And Dash’s troubles don’t end there - he is also being sued by various law firms and landlords over allegedly unpaid bills.

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A prosecutor in the PHIL SPECTOR murder retrial has closed her argument by branding the music mogul a "demonic maniac" with a "conscious disregard for human life".
Spector is accused of shooting actress Lana Clarkson in the foyer of his Alhambra, California mansion in 2003. His defence team maintains Clarkson shot herself.
However, Deputy District Attorney Truc Do painted a dark picture of the producer in her last attempt to convince the jury of his guilt - urging them to convict a man who "grabs a gun" when in a drunken rage.
She told the Los Angeles courtroom on Monday (23Mar09), "When he’s ignited, he always does the same thing - he grabs a gun.
"In every single one of these incidents, Mr. Spector demonstrates conscious disregard for human life… Her death was a death waiting to happen in his world.
"This case is about a man who has had a history of playing Russian roulette with the lives of women." In Spector’s first trial, the jury was deadlocked with the majority favouring a conviction. The second trial began in October (08).

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DITA VON TEESE is grateful to her tattoo artist for rejecting a design she once dreamed up - because it would have disfigured her porcelain face.
The burlesque dancer was once obsessed with having a star tattooed on her left cheek - but the parlour employees refused and instead agreed to give her a beauty spot in its place.
She explains, "You have to understand I was pretty eccentric. I was always drawing hearts and stars in that spot. I went in thinking I wanted a star there, but they wouldn’t do it.
"They were the voice of reason. They were so right." And Von Teese, who was once married to shock rocker Marilyn Manson, once had another idea she now realises she would have lived to regret.
She adds: "In the early nineties I almost got seams (tattooed) up the back of my legs but I’m so glad I didn’t. Can you imagine how hard it would be to match up the seams with real stockings? It would have been a nightmare.
"At that time I was researching everything about the forties, about how during World War II women would draw seams on. I thought, ‘Wouldn’t that be cool?’ I had them henna tattooed on, but I never went all the way."

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