Faces & Names: No end to Spears conservatorship

Britney Spears has met with a judge overseeing her conservatorship, but no changes are being made.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Reva Goetz also met Thursday with the singer’s father, Jamie Spears, who retains control with attorneys over his daughter’s personal and financial affairs.

Wearing a black dress and black boots, Spears was ushered into the judge’s chambers by deputies.

Goetz later said in open court, “We had a very nice conversation.”

She then said no changes were being made to the 28-year-old singer’s conservatorship, which was established in February 2008 after Spears was involved in several high-profile incidents of erratic behavior.

Meanwhile, Spears was a dream for Fox’s hit musical “Glee.”

Tuesday’s episode that featured the star in some dream-sequence cameos drew an estimated 13.5 million viewers. The Nielsen Co. said it was the second most-watched episode of the show ever, behind last spring's return from a hiatus.

That’s also an increase from the 11.1 million people who had tuned in to the “Glee” season premiere a week earlier.

Bergen to write second memoir

Candice Bergen will pen a second memoir as a follow-up to her 1984 book “Knock Wood.”

Simon & Schuster Executive Vice President and Publisher Jonathan Karp said Thursday that Bergen’s new memoir will be published in 2012. The currently untitled book will cover Bergen’s time on the acclaimed TV show “Murphy Brown,” as well as the death of her husband, director Louis Malle.

Bergen, who won five Emmys for her performance on “Murphy Brown,” recently starred in the drama “Boston Legal,” which finished its four-year run in 2008. She’s also had roles in the recent films “The Romantics,” “Sex and the City” and “The Women.”

‘SNL’ alumni to honor Fey

Betty White will join “Saturday Night Live” cast members when they toast Tina Fey with the nation’s top humor prize at the Kennedy Center in Washington.

White will join “SNL” comics and alumni Fred Armisen, Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers and show creator Lorne Michaels in awarding Fey the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor on Nov. 9.

They’ll join top entertainers, including Steve Martin, singer and actress Jennifer Hudson and actor Jon Hamm, who plays Don Draper on TV’s “Mad Men.”

Fey, known for her impression of former vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin, returned to “SNL” in May when the 88-year-old White drew rave reviews as host. Fey was the show’s first female head writer.

The award show honoring Fey will be taped for broadcast on PBS stations Nov. 14.

Dreyfuss honored for education initiative

Oscar winner Richard Dreyfuss has received the 2010 Empire State Archives and History Award for his efforts to improve civics education in America’s schools.

According to the Archives Partnership Trust, the award ceremony was part of a public discussion with nationally prominent Lincoln scholar Harold Holzer held Tuesday night in Albany, N.Y.

Dreyfuss launched The Dreyfuss Initiative last year to spur interest in strengthening American democracy by promoting civics education. His films include “Jaws” and “The Goodbye Girl,” for which he won an Academy Award for best actor.

Previous recipients of the Empire State Archives and History Award include actor Sam Waterston and historians Doris Kearns Goodwin and Henry Louis Gates Jr.

Duluthians selected for Target Field honor

Duluthians have been selected to raise the flag before Twins games today and Saturday at Target Field in Minneapolis.

New UMD Chancellor Lynn Black will raise the flag just before the Twins take on the Toronto Blue Jays baseball game at 7 tonight. Over 200 University of Minnesota Duluth alumni will be cheering from Section U on the Skyline Deck for the game, according to university sources.

Judge Larry Stauber of the Minnesota Court of Appeals will raise the flag at the game on Saturday (game time is

12:10 p.m.). Stauber, a longtime Duluth attorney until his appointment to the appellate bench two years ago, was selected in recognition of his service in the Army from 1970-74.

Stauber is running for re-election to the Court of Appeals against International Falls lawyer Dan Griffith in November.

Huffington pledges free bus rides

Website publisher Arianna Huffington has a ticket to ride, one for everybody who wants to get to Washington from New York for the rally scheduled by Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert next month.

Appearing on Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” on Tuesday, Huffington told Stewart that anyone who arrives at her office in lower Manhattan on Oct. 30 can hitch a free ride on one of her buses.

She said her “promise” is to have as many buses as people to fill them.

An information sign-up list is on the Huffington Post website.

Stewart’s “Rally to Restore Sanity” and a competing “March to Keep Fear Alive” led by his fellow TV host, Colbert, will take place on the National Mall.

Alaska checking Palin’s bar stop

A state investigator apparently is checking whether it was legal for “Dancing with the Stars” contestant Bristol Palin to be in a downtown Anchorage establishment while dancing partner Mark Ballas performed.

The question is Palin’s age, 19. She could only legally be in Rumrunners Old Towne Bar and Grill last Friday if accompanied by a parent, spouse or legal guardian over 21. State law also would allow her to be there if it’s been designated as a bona fide restaurant, and she was there only to eat.

The Alaska Dispatch reported Tuesday that a state Alcohol and Control Board investigator visited their office, asking for copies of raw video shot at Ballas’ performance. The request was denied.

An Alaska Department of Public Safety spokeswoman said they never discuss investigations unless someone is charged.

Bon Jovi, Alice Cooper, up for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

It could be a blaze of glory for Bon Jovi at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The Jersey boys are up for possible induction in the hallowed hall, along with first-timers Donovan, Dr. John, Alice Cooper and Neil Diamond.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame released its list of nominees Tuesday. There were some familiar names: Darlene Love, LL Cool J, Donna Summer and the Beastie Boys have been up for the prestigious honor before.

Other previous nominees include the J. Geils Band, Tom Waits, Chuck Willis, Chic and Joe Tex.

To be eligible for the hall, an act must have released its first batch of music at least 25 years ago.

Lopez, wife ending 17-year marriage

A publicist says George Lopez and his wife are ending their 17-year marriage.

A brief statement issued Monday by publicist Ina Treciokas says the comedian and his wife, Ann, came to the decision together and the breakup will be amicable.

It did not offer further details, other than to say the pair would remain business partners in a charitable foundation.

Court records did not indicate the couple had filed a petition for divorce or legal separation.

The 49-year-old comedian hosts the late-night talk show “Lopez Tonight” on TBS. Ann Lopez donated a kidney to her husband in 2005.

The couple has a teenage daughter.

Palin supports Bristol on ‘Dancing’

Sarah Palin may be outspoken, but she kept her opinions to herself on “Dancing With the Stars.”

The former vice-presidential candidate was in the ABC ballroom Monday to cheer on her daughter, who she called “Bristol the pistol.”

Palin had only good things to say about her daughter’s competitors and the show’s three judges when interviewed briefly by show host Tom Bergeron.

Palin praised the “courage, joy and exuberance” of the dancers and kept mum about the judges, saying, “It’s like a hockey game. You’re not going to chew out the refs before your team is up.”

Bristol Palin was the night’s final performer, collecting 22 points out of 30 for her quickstep with professional partner Mark Ballas.

So what’s it like to have mom in the audience?

“It’s awesome,” the 19-year-old said.

Sha Na Na alumni gather for New York reunion

The gold lame varsity jackets still fit.

Four decades after performing as the penultimate act at Woodstock (having been invited by Jimi Hendrix) and three decades after a hosting a long-running TV variety show and appearing in the movie classic, “Grease,” several former members of the doo-wop singing group Sha Na Na are reuniting this weekend for a special one-time-only performance.

“It feels so natural that I just have not had as much fun or felt in harmony with anybody since,” said Robert Leonard, a longtime Hofstra University linguistics professor who in 1969 helped form Sha Na Na. He spent two years with the band before being offered a fellowship to Columbia Graduate School that led to a career in education.

Leonard, who sang bass and can be seen in the Woodstock movie wearing the group’s signature gold lame jacket, is bringing together former members of the group for a performance Saturday at a celebration marking Hofstra’s 75th anniversary. Other performers on the bill include Public Enemy, Blue Oyster Cult, Fountains of Wayne, Lisa Lisa, and hip-hop star Trey Songz

‘Wall Street’ leads box office with $19 million debut

Movie fans are investing in Michael Douglas and Oliver Stone’s “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps,” which opened as the No. 1 weekend movie with $19 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.

The 20th Century Fox release led a crop of so-so to weak newcomers, though the sequel to Douglas and Stone’s 1987 hit “Wall Street” did not quite set off a bull market at the box office.

Its financial returns were solid but unspectacular as Hollywood experienced a typically sleepy early fall weekend, with audiences finding nothing to bring them out in huge numbers.

The Warner Bros. animated adventure “Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole” was No. 2 with a soft opening of $16.3 million.

It finished barely ahead of the $16 million haul for Warner’s “The Town,” the Ben Affleck heist drama that was the previous weekend’s No. 1 release.

“The Town” held up well and raised its 10-day total to $49.1 million, giving it a solid shot at hitting the $100 million mark, said Dan Fellman, head of distribution at Warner.

Sony’s teen comedy “Easy A,” which had been No. 2 a weekend earlier, also held up well with $10.7 million to finish at No. 4. “Easy A” lifted its 10-day total to $32.8 million.

Disney’s mother-daughter comedy “You Again,” starring Kristen Bell, Jamie Lee Curtis and Sigourney Weaver, debuted at No. 5 with an anemic $8.3 million.

A laugh a minute for 40 hours

Comedian Bob Marley raised more than $12,000 for the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital in Portland, Maine, by joking his way to a record standup act that lasted 40 hours.

Marley got a thumbs-up from an official of the Guinness Book of Records night at Portland’s Comedy Connection, where he broke the previous record of 38 hours, 6 minutes, held by Lindsay Webb of Australia.

Marley started Wednesday morning and yukked it up until he reached the 40-hour mark. He says he went 18 hours before having to repeat jokes.

Guinness rules allowed a five-minute break every hour. Rules also stipulated that there had to be at least 10 people in the audience at all times. They paid $10 per hour to watch. The event was carried live on Sirius radio’s Comedy Showcase.

Wilson, Crowe divorce in the works

Court records show rocker Nancy Wilson has filed for divorce from writer-director Cameron Crowe after more than 20 years of marriage.

The Heart singer-guitarist cited irreconcilable differences for the divorce, which was filed Sept. 16.

The court filings say Wilson and Crowe separated in 2008.

They were married in 1986 and have twin 10-year-old sons. Wilson is seeking joint custody.

Crowe is known for directing films such as “Jerry Maguire” and “Say Anything.” He won an Oscar for writing the screenplay for the film “Almost Famous.”

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