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'Gone Wild' creator Francis gets probation

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 7 (UPI) --

Girls Gone Wild video creator Joe Francis will serve one year of probation for felony bribery and misdemeanor tax evasion, a judge said in Los Angeles.

The Reno (Nev.) Gazette Journal reported Saturday that U.S. District Judge James Otero sentenced Francis to a year of federal probation and time served after the video entrepreneur pleaded guilty to one bribery count and two tax evasion counts.

Francis, 36, was accused of attempting to bribe three jail staff members in Washoe County, Nev., in return for food and special privileges while he was incarcerated.

The creator of the nudity-flashing Girls videos also was accused of under-reporting his income in 2003 by more than $500,000.

In addition to his probation sentence, Francis was ordered Friday to pay the Internal Revenue Service nearly $250,000 in back taxes, interest and restitution, as well as a $10,000 fine.

The Gazette Journal said Francis alleges his former accountant is the individual truly responsible for his financial troubles.

I have asserted my innocence on the felony charges against me in this matter for two years, he said in a statement. I accept responsibility for that. I trusted people who turned out to be crooks.

Former 'Idol' contestant joins 'Thriller'

MEMPHIS, Nov. 7 (UPI) --

Former American Idol contestant Gedeon McKinney said he is living the dream touring Europe with a production of Thriller Live.

The Memphis native said being chosen to join the touring production of Britain's version of the Broadway musical as an understudy was a major career opportunity, The (Memphis) Commercial Appeal reported Saturday.

Now I'm living my dream, McKinney, 21, said.

I had three call-backs. I sang 'Out of My Life,' 'Billie Jean' and 'Rock With You,' he said of the Michael Jackson songs that helped earn him the understudy role that began in October.

McKinney, whose family was once homeless, said touring London in his free time has given him the feeling of truly experiencing the world.

I even went to the queen's house (Buckingham Palace). I didn't meet her, but one day I will, the contestant from the fifth season of Idol told The Commercial Appeal.

Newton thanks veterans at Phoenix site

PHOENIX, Nov. 7 (UPI) --

Singer Wayne Newton said a personal thank you to U.S. veterans gathered at a community living center in Phoenix.

The Arizona Republic reported Saturday the popular Las Vegas showman appeared at the Veterans Affairs Health Care System's Community Living Center in Phoenix to humbly thank veterans for their sacrifices for their country.

I can't thank you enough for what you've done, Newton said Friday. I love you with all my heart. God bless you.

The 67-year-old singer, who was unable to serve in the military due to asthma, personally met with Vietnam War veteran Bill Greene during his visit.

If there is anything I can do for you, Newton told the veteran, you let me know, sir.

The Republic said center resident Jamie Powers, 34, even got a pair of her underwear signed by the Danke Schoen singer, who was happy to oblige her request.

I'll be back, Wayne, Newton wrote on the underwear.

Singer Jones donates work rights to TSU

NASHVILLE, Nov. 7 (UPI) --

Gospel singer Bobby Jones said he donated the rights to all of his performances and TV appearances to Tennessee State University.

The 70-year-old singer said in a statement he donated the collection, which has an estimated worth of $6 million, to his alma mater as a token of his appreciation for the influence the college had on his life, The (Nashville) Tennessean reported Saturday.

I felt it was important to give something back to the institution that shaped me into who I am today, and this is a fantastic way to leave a legacy for future generations, Jones said of Friday's donation.

The collection, which includes the rights to Jones's Black Entertainment Television appearances, should prove beneficial to the college, the coordinator of the TSU commercial music program said.

"It'll be a good way for students to research, experience and listen to

this genre, TSU Professor Mark Crawford told the newspaper. Hopefully, they'll be able to see the musical changes, the marketing changes, even the formatting changes" during Jones's career.

China opposes sale of 18th century relic

BEIJING, Nov. 7 (UPI) --

China's State Administration of Cultural Heritage said it opposes the recent auction sale of an 18th century Qing Dynasty seal.

The Chinese agency voiced strong opposition of the sale of any relics looted from China and spread worldwide during the colonial era, The Daily Telegraph reported Friday.

Sotheby's of London sold the former seal of Chinese emperor Qian Long Wednesday for $5.98 million amid a barrage of bids from eight collectors, the British newspaper said.

The green jade seal's catalogue notes claim the relic was purchased by a European collector in France during the 1970s.

The auction featured 261 lots and earned $13.79 million.

Chinese residents also voiced opposition on the Internet regarding the sale of the historical seal.

Bandits have seized our treasures and are now selling them off at auction for ridiculous profits. How can we tolerate such behavior, an unidentified Sohu Internet portal user said.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization estimates 200 museums currently house 1.67 million Chinese relics and millions more sit in personal collections worldwide.

McGraw credits Hill with saving his life

NASHVILLE, Nov. 7 (UPI) --

U.S. country music singer Tim McGraw said his wife, singer Faith Hill, saved his life by loving him through good times and bad.

McGraw, 42, said despite enjoying an active music and film career, he remains happiest when he is with his 42-year-old wife and their daughters, Gracie, 12, Maggie, 11, and Audrey, 7, People magazine reported online Saturday.

Faith has kept me alive, McGraw told People. She's saved my life in a lot of different ways -- from myself more than anything. She's loved me through times when I didn't love me.

Without having Hill in his life, McGraw admits he likely would have made some bad decisions.

I'd be dead. Oh yeah, I would have partied too hard, said McGraw, who is promoting his new album Southern Voice.

McGraw, who is to appear on the big screen in The Blind Side, told People he is more stern as a parent than is Hill.

I'm probably more the disciplinarian. I do try to be tough, not mean, just firm, he said. You have to be; it's just scary with girls. There's so much that could go wrong.

Appeals court backs Clinton over lyrics

CINCINNATI, Nov. 7 (UPI) --

The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Funkadelic singer George Clinton is the exclusive owner of the lyrics, bow wow wow, yippie yo, yippie yea.

The (Nashville) Tennessean reported Saturday the appellate court supported a lower federal court's ruling that Bridgeport Music should be paid $89,000 in damages by Universal Music Group for the unauthorized use of the Clinton lyrics in a hip-hop song.

At the center of the copyright case was the 1998 song D.O.G. in Me by Public Announcement, one of Universal's musical acts, which featured the Clinton lyrics as well as several uses of the word dog.

Bridgeport, which administers the musical works of Clinton, sued over the use of the lyrics and the word Clinton and two other songwriters first used in the 1982 song Atomic Dog.

The federal court's damages ruling was based on sales of Public Announcement's album, All Work, No Play, which contained D.O.G.

The Tennessean said Bridgeport has filed more than 470 copyright suits since 2001 and the company received more than $2 million in damages in a lawsuit targeting the late rapper Notorious B.I.G.

Miss England runner-up given crown

LONDON, Nov. 7 (UPI) --

The runner-up in this year's Miss England pageant, Lance Cpl. Katrina Hodge, has replaced winner Rachel Christie after an alleged barroom brawl, organizers say.

Christie, 21, gave up her crown following the alleged run-in with another beauty queen this week at a nightclub in Manchester, England, The Daily Telegraph reported Friday.

The encounter between Christie and Miss Manchester Sara Beverley Jones allegedly resulted in Jones being punched in the face. Christie was arrested on suspicion of assault.

Christie, the first black woman to be named Miss England, stepped down to focus on clearing her name, pageant organizers said in a release. Stepping down will also give Christie, a heptathlete, time to prepare for her participation in the 2012 Olympics, organizers said.

Due to the media attention following the allegations against her, Rachel Christie has now decided to withdraw from the Miss World competition and relinquish her Miss England crown, the organizers said.

The Telegraph said Hodge will now represent England in the Miss World Final Dec. 12 in South Africa. The British army soldier has been given leave of her military duties to focus on the pageant.

Lake Worth Monster expert Clarke dies

BENBROOK, Texas, Nov. 7 (UPI) --

Texan Sallie Ann Clarke, known as the authority on the legendary Lake Worth Monster, has died at the age of 80, one of her children said.

Clarke wrote a 1969 book about the Lake Worth Monster, a 7-foot-tall man-goat creature allegedly first seen near the Texas lake that year.

Clarke, who claimed to have seen the Lake Worth Monster on three occasions after penning her book, said in a 1989 interview that her experiences with the creature made her regret her book's tone.

If I'd seen it before I wrote the book, the book would have been quite a lot different, she said. It wouldn't have been semi-fiction. It would have been like a history.

Clarke's husband, Richard Lederer, said while some dismissed the Lake Worth Monster as a teenage prank, his wife remained a true believer.

She offered a $5,000 reward for any person who could pass a polygraph that they were the monster, Lederer said.

The Fort Worth (Texas) Star-Telegram reported Saturday that Clarke, who died of unspecified causes Tuesday following a long illness, is survived by Lederer, three children, six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Perry says Tyler likely leaving Aerosmith

BOSTON, Nov. 7 (UPI) --

Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry says the U.S. rockers' lead singer, Steven Tyler, apparently bagged on the band after a United Arab Emirates show.

Speaking with the Las Vegas Sun Friday, Perry said he believes Tyler quit Aerosmith after a recent concert in Abu Dhabi and an online report appears to confirm his suspicion.

Steven quit, as far as I can tell, Perry said. I don't know anymore than you do about it. I got off the plane two nights ago. I saw online that Steven said that he was going to leave the band. I don't know for how long, indefinitely or whatever.

Perry told the Sun he would attempt to keep Aerosmith moving forward, even if Tyler part ways with his bandmates.

Right now I'm adjusting to how we're going to go on, Perry said from his home in Boston.

Aerosmith bassist Tom Hamilton told the Boston Herald Tyler, 61, announced after the band's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix show that he was planning on going solo.

Hamilton downplayed Tyler's comment, saying Aerosmith members are no strangers to conflict from their nearly 40 years together.

Steven's always mad at us, Hamilton said.

'Got Talent' star Boyle due on 'Dancing'

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 7 (UPI) --

A representative for Susan Boyle says the Britain's Got Talent star has agreed to make a guest appearance on the U.S. TV series Dancing with the Stars.

The unidentified representative confirmed the 48-year-old Scottish singer, who gained fame for singing I Dreamed a Dream on the British talent series in April, will arrive in Los Angeles next week to tape her Dancing guest spot, People.com reported Saturday.

The upcoming appearance comes after the singer appeared on America's Got Talent in September. The Dancing spot also comes weeks before Doyle releases her new album, I Dreamed a Dream, on Nov. 24.

Boyle's brother, John, told People magazine his sister is excited to leave her home in Blackburn, Scotland, for her U.S. visit.

She's excited and happy, John Boyle said. She loves America and loves the people. She appreciates their honesty.

Hedren says Jackson tigers doing 'great'

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 7 (UPI) --

Actress Tippi Hedren says two tigers that used to belong to the late pop star Michael Jackson are doing great at a preserve outside Los Angeles.

Hedren, who adopted Thriller and Sabu in 2006, said the big cats appear to have adjusted to life at the Shambala Preserve, the New York Daily News reported Saturday.

They're just great, and they were beautiful when they came to us, said Hedren, who runs the California preserve. It took awhile to adjust, because anytime anybody moves, it's a period of adjustment. But they're wonderful and very beautiful.

Hedren, whose preserve houses more than 70 big cats, said she was disappointed to learn Jackson, who died June 25 at age 50, did not leave money for the tigers' care in his will.

I was hoping that his legacy would include his tigers, Hedren said.

'Sesame Street' set to turn 40

NEW YORK, Nov. 7 (UPI) --

The creators of Sesame Street say the U.S. children's TV series' 40th birthday is being marked with special ceremonies in New York and Washington.

The Boston Globe reported Saturday in addition to the ceremonies, the series' birthday Tuesday will bring about a new 13-episode season of Sesame filled with trendy celebrity guests and updated parodies.

Among the stars to appear on the newest season of the puppet show are NBA star Kobe Bryant, actress Christina Applegate and Michele Obama, wife of U.S. President Barack Obama.

Also, after airing nearly 4,200 episodes to date, Sesame will introduce its first computer-generated Muppet character.

Sesame executive producer Carol-Lynn Parente told the Globe while her series now targets children 3 years and younger instead of 4- and 5-year-olds, it still remains a popular early-education tool for parents.

Parents have grown up with these characters and make us their first choice for young kids, said Parente, referring to the PBS series' characters like Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Big Bird, Count Von Count and Elmo. We're proud of that.

Comic-Con architect Dorf dead at age 76

SAN DIEGO, Nov. 7 (UPI) --

Comic book collector Shel Dorf, who organized the first Comic-Con convention in San Diego, has died at the age of 76, his brother said.

Dorf drew 300 people to a San Diego hotel for the first incarnation of the annual comic book convention in 1970, the Los Angeles Times reported Friday.

I just felt that the cartoonists who entertained the popular masses were not getting their fair share of recognition, Dorf said in a 2006 interview.

In August, the 40th annual Comic-Con convention drew more than 125,000 people.

He brought recognition to creators of comics at a time when no one did. It was considered a children's medium, Comic-Con spokesman David Glanzer said. He understood the historical value of comics in addition to their artistic value.

Dorf, who died Tuesday in San Diego of complications related to diabetes, donated most of his comic book and memorabilia collection to Ohio State University for the school's pop culture archives.

Dorf is survived by his brother, Michael.

Victorians give warm welcome to Charles

VICTORIA, British Columbia, Nov. 7 (UPI) --

Prince Charles and Camilla Duchess of Cornwall got a warm welcome when they arrived in a drizzly British Columbia.

About 2,000 people waited outside the Parliament building Friday evening for the royal couple, The Vancouver Sun reported. They clapped when the royal motorcade appeared.

Prince Charles spent three days in the Toronto area before moving on to British Columbia, where he is to stay for four days of his 11-day Canadian trip. The heir to the British throne is an old hand at official Canadian tours but this is his first with Camilla as his wife.

Earlier Friday, Charles and Camilla opened the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto, where they spent much of their time wandering separately through the exhibits.

I can't wait until I get home and tell my family, because no one would believe I shook his hand, Marilena Seroski from the Hamilton area said after meeting the prince at a pig exhibit.

Comedy Central to air 'Goode Family'

NEW YORK, Nov. 6 (UPI) --

Comedy Central says it will begin airing next year the animated U.S. comedy series The Goode Family, which started out on ABC.

Media Rights Capital, Ternion Pictures, 3Arts Entertainment and Comedy Central announced Friday the show from Mike Judge, John Altschuler and Dave Krinsky will start airing on its new network Jan. 6. The complete first season of The Goode Family will be broadcast on Wednesday nights.

The show first premiered on ABC last May.

Mike, John and Dave certainly turn the tables on liberals with this show. That's not done very often on television, but the humor comes from skewering extremism and taking things too far, either to the left or the right, Modi Wiczyk -- co-chief executive officer of MRC -- said in a statement. We know Comedy Central viewers will embrace 'The Goode Family.'

Altschuler, the show's creator and executive producer, said the show isn't just about ridiculing liberals.

It's about tackling the issues most TV shows haven't, he said. I mean where else are you going to see an episode about class warfare in the lesbian community or the downside of consorting with eco-terrorists?

The voice cast includes Judge, Nancy Carell, Dave Herman, Linda Cardellini and Brian Doyle Murray.

RFK Center to honor Bono, Jean

NEW YORK, Nov. 6 (UPI) --

The Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights in New York says it plans to present Bono and Wyclef Jean with its 2009 Ripple of Hope Award.

The prize is to be presented at the center's annual dinner Nov. 18.

As champions of justice, Bono and Wyclef have brought the national spotlight to human rights violations, empowered local activists and transformed the lives of millions of people living in poverty from Port-Au-Prince to Darfur, Kerry Kennedy, founder of the RFK Center for Justice and Human Rights, said in a statement Friday. Their efforts evoke the spirit of my father and we are honored to recognize them.

The award will honor Bono, lead singer of U2 and co-founder of the advocacy organization ONE and (Product) RED, for his efforts in the fight against extreme poverty and preventable disease, particularly in Africa.

The center also said it will recognize Jean for his work to strengthen and inspire change in his native Haiti through his Yele Haiti organization.

Rich named Nashville parade grand marshal

NASHVILLE, Nov. 6 (UPI) --

Recording artist John Rich has agreed to serve as grand marshal for the 57th annual Nashville Christmas Parade, organizers said.

Presented by Piedmont Natural Gas, the event is intended to benefit Piedmont's Share the Warmth Round Up program, as well as to kick off the holiday season in downtown Nashville.

The festivities are to take place Dec. 4.

Piedmont Natural Gas is proud to continue this Nashville holiday tradition. This is the 57th straight year for the Nashville Christmas parade and the people of Nashville and all of Middle Tennessee have enjoyed and supported the parade with huge turnouts every year, Tim Greenhouse, regional executive of Piedmont Natural Gas, said in a statement. We are especially excited to have John Rich join us as grand marshal in support of the Share the Warmth Round Up program.

Rich called it an honor to lead the parade and said he was proud to support the Share the Warmth Round Up program.

There is no more basic need than helping our neighbors stay warm this winter and by donating just a few cents a month, we can make that happen, Rich said. This parade will showcase the best that Music City has to offer and spotlight a great cause. I can't wait to kick it off! Can I get a YeeHaw?

Brown wishes Rihanna kept beating private

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 6 (UPI) --

U.S. singer Chris Brown says he supports Rihanna's right to speak publicly about their infamous altercation, but wishes the details had remained private.

Brown, 20, was ordered to go for counseling and do community service work after he pleaded guilty to assaulting Rihanna, 21, last February.

After months of keeping a low profile, Rihanna recently granted in-depth interviews to Glamour magazine, and TV's 20/20 and Good Morning America programs.

While I respect Rihanna's right to discuss the specific events of Feb. 8, I maintain my position that all of the details should remain a private matter between us, Brown said in a statement to MTV News. I do appreciate her support and wish her the best. I am extremely sorry for what I did, and I accept accountability for my actions. At this point, I am taking the proper steps to learn about me and grow from my mistakes. I only hope that others in similar situations can learn from our experience as well. Abuse of any kind is always wrong. The rest I leave it to God.

Former AMPTP president Counter dies

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 6 (UPI) --

Nick Counter, retired president of the U.S. Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, has died, his family confirmed Friday. He was 69.

The Los Angeles Times said Counter was taken to West Hills Hospital this week after collapsing in his Los Angeles home. The cause of his death was not reported.

Counter was AMPTP president for 27 years from its formation in 1982 until his retirement this past March.

Nick will be greatly missed as a husband, father and grandfather, and as a wonderful friend and colleague to so many both inside and outside the Hollywood community, the family said in a statement. He will be remembered for his passion and integrity at the bargaining table and he considered his work with the industry health and pension plans to be his greatest achievement. Nick approached life with a lively mix of tenacity and courage, straightforwardness and good humor.

Current AMPTP President Carol Lombardini lamented Counter's death.

We will all remember Nick for his passionate leadership, which was always guided by a resolute sense of fair play and an earnest desire that everyone come out a winner, she said. Nick had a particular proficiency for developing consensus among diverse points of view and he used this skill to great advantage in negotiating hundreds of collective bargaining agreements that led to a sustained era of labor peace. Those of us who worked directly with him have lost a valued colleague and a dear personal friend.