Clark and Seacrest to host 'Rockin' Eve'
NEW YORK, Dec. 8 (UPI) -- Dick Clark still battles the effects of a stroke two years ago, but he will join Ryan Seacrest for the New Year's Eve broadcast from New York's Times Square.
Musical guests like Christina Aguilera, Rascal Flatts, Fergie, RBD, Natasha Bedingfield and Meat Loaf will join actors from Broadway's "Jersey Boys" for the 10 p.m. show Dec. 31 on ABC. This show will feature more performers than past shows, the New York Daily News reports.
Seacrest told the Daily News Clark has "definitely improved" over the last twelve months. He and Clark did a photo shoot two weeks ago. Seacrest says Clark looks forward to the New Year's Eve broadcast all year. He says Clark will continue "as long as he wants to."
Romijn to join 'Ugly Betty' cast
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 8 (UPI) -- Model-turned-actress Rebecca Romijn is joining the cast of ABC's "Ugly Betty" to take over the character of the mysterious masked woman.
Best known as the shape-shifting Mystique in the three "X-Men" films, Romijn will make her first appearance on the series sometime early next year, Zap2it.com reports.
The character Romijn will assume has already appeared in seven episodes, swathed in giant sunglasses and a surgical mask.
An actress named Elizabeth Penn Payne has been under the disguise.
The addition of Romijn to the cast brings the number of regulars on the show to 12.
"Ugly Betty" also has a number of recurring characters including executive producer Salma Hayek, who plays the editor of a rival magazine.
Benjamin in basketball flick with Ferrell
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 8 (UPI) -- Andre Benjamin has been signed to co-star with Will Ferrell in a basketball comedy called "Semi-Pro" from New Line Cinema.
In the movie Benjamin will portray a self-styled ladies' man who is the best player on the team, The Hollywood Reporter says.
Written by Scot Armstrong, "Semi-Pro" is the story of the fictional Flint Michigan Tropics whose owner-coach-player Jackie Moon (Ferrell) engages in a desperate attempt to get the team to the big leagues.
Woody Harrelson has also been cast in the movie.
Benjamin is the co-creator of the Cartoon Network's "Class of 3000," and is one of the voices in the upcoming movie "Charlotte's Web." His band, OutKast, received two Grammy nominations Thursday for songs on their "Idlewild" album.
Jazz great Jay McShann dies
KANSAS CITY, Mo., Dec. 8 (UPI) -- Jay McShann, whose piano boogie-woogie, blues and swing music influenced Kansas City jazz for more than 70 years, has died at the age of 90.
He performed last year at the Folly Theater and died Thursday after checking into St. Luke's Hospital on Nov. 27 with breathing problems, The Kansas City Star said.
The Web site jaymcshann.com says he was born Jan. 12, 1916.
McShann was traveling to Omaha in 1936 when he stopped in Kansas City. He got a gig two days later.
Born in Muskogee, Okla., McShann taught himself to play piano by ear. A Kansas City insurance man financed McShann's big band in 1939. Charlie Parker played saxophone.
McShann was drafted in 1944. After the war he found a big band too costly, so he played in small groups. From the 1970s to the '90s he performed frequently in the United States, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Performances in Kansas City drew enthusiastic fans.
McShann was one of the jazz greats interviewed by documentary filmmaker Ken Burns for the "Jazz" series on PBS.
Three daughters and his longtime companion and manager Thelma Adams survive McShann.
