Harper cashes in on Bollywood cachet Jackson blames doc for brother's death

Published Tuesday November 17th, 2009
D3

First Stephen Harper got by with a little help from the Beatles.

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The Canadian Press
Prime Minister Stephen Harper pumps his fist as he appears on ‘Dance Premier League,’ a reality dance contest show, during a stop at television studios in Mumbai, India, on Monday.

Now the prime minister is cashing in on a little Bollywood cachet.

Harper and his wife Laureen visited the set of Dance Premier League before leaving Mumbai on Monday, where they were treated to a rollicking mujra-inspired Bollywood dance number.

With the segment set to air on the wildly popular Indian "reality" contest show, Harper may have topped his recent appearance singing a Beatles song at the National Arts Cente in Ottawa.

But it was a political performance fraught with peril. The prime minister failed to see a step during his introduction and almost tumbled as he walked on to the stage in the elaborately lit and thunderously loud TV theatre.

After sitting through most other performances, Harper eventually joined the dance ensemble on stage again for the finale, clapping along as a bevy of traditionally clad women writhed around him. He then offered them "a sixer-" a perfect score.

The bust-a-gut photo-op in India had some Canadian connections.

One of the show's top judges is Indo-Canadian choreographer Shiamak Davar, who has dance schools in Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto.

And four of the eight dancers were also Indo-Canadians.

*****

Janet Jackson blames Dr. Conrad Murray for her brother Michael Jackson's death.

She told ABC News in an interview to air Wednesday that Murray should no longer be allowed to practice medicine. Murray faces manslaughter charges for the pop star's death this summer.

A spokeswoman for the doctor, Miranda Sevcik said Monday he continues to maintain he neither prescribed or administered anything to Jackson that should have killed him.

Jackson told ABC's Robin Roberts that she was at her home in New York on June 25 when her assistant called to say Michael had been taken to the hospital. She told relatives to call her when they got to the hospital and grew concerned when she wasn't getting any calls back. She says that a day doesn't go by when she doesn't think of him.

*****

Prosecutors say they are opening an investigation against a German man suspected of trying to extort money from former supermodel Cindy Crawford and her family in the United States.

Claudia Krauth, a spokeswoman for the Stuttgart prosecutor's office, said Monday investigators are trying to determine if there is enough evidence to arrest Edis Kayalar, who is currently vacationing in Turkey.

The 26-year-old has been charged in the U.S. with trying to extort US$100,000 from Crawford and her entrepreneur husband Rande Gerber by threatening to release a photo of their daughter bound to a chair and gagged when she was seven.

According to court papers, the girl says a former nanny took the picture as part of a "cops and robbers" game, and Kayalar obtained it. Kayalar was deported from the U.S. three months ago for an immigration violation.

*****

Want to get away, Boss?

Bruce Springsteen bellowed "Hello, Ohio!" to his fans at the Palace of Auburn Hills. That's in Michigan.

The 60-year-old rock legend referred to the neighbouring state several times Friday night until E Street Band guitarist Steve Van Zandt whispered in his ear. A visibly embarrassed Springsteen grinned and said such a mistake was "every front man's nightmare."

The Detroit Free Press says Springsteen rocked the forgiving audience for nearly three hours with new and old hits, including a complete performance of his album Born to Run.

*****

American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert has broken up with his boyfriend interior designer Drake LaBry, according to reports.

US Weekly says the pair remain friends and will still talk and see each other. US Weekly speculates that Lambert, whose new album For Your Entertainment drops next Monday, is too busy to commit to a relationship at the moment.

The couple went public when Lambert officially came out in a Rolling Stone cover story in June.

*****

The Library of Congress is awarding Paul McCartney its third Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.

Librarian of Congress James Billington announced the prize Monday. An all-star tribute concert is planned for spring next year, though the library hasn't announced who will perform.

The 67-year-old former Beatle recently completed a five-week summer tour of the United States, including a stop in the Washington area.

Billington says it's hard to think of another performer and composer who has had a more transformative effect than McCartney.

*****

A prosecutor says the woman who carried twins for Hollywood couple Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick is expected to testify at the trial of an Ohio police chief accused of stealing from her home.

Barry Carpenter is suspended as chief in Martins Ferry, the eastern Ohio town where surrogate Michelle Ross lived. Carpenter and Police Chief Chad Dojack from nearby Bridgeport are accused of scheming to sell items from the woman's home to celebrity photographers.

Prosecutor T. Shawn Hervey says two photographers are also slated to testify. Jury selection began Monday in Carpenter's trial on multiple felonies, including burglary. Dojack's trial is set for January. Both men have pleaded not guilty.

 

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