Wash. family being sued for Oscar sales
EVERETT, Wash., Sept 1 (UPI) -- A woman in Washington state and her relatives are being sued by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences for attempting to sell three inherited Oscars.
The academy is going after Everett resident Kim Boyer and two relatives for their plan to sell three Oscars once belonging to film stars Mary Pickford and Charles "Buddy" Rogers, The Seattle Times said Saturday.
Attorney David W. Quinto said the lawsuit, filed in a Los Angeles court this week, is an attempt by academy officials to protect the sanctity of the awards.
"When the Oscar was created, it never occurred to people that it could become an article of commerce," Quinto said.
The academy's current bylaws state that if the rightful owner of an Oscar intends to sell the award, they must first make it available to the film group for $10.
Previous sales of Oscars have ranged from $50,000 to $1.5 million.
Boyer maintains she only intended to sell one inherited Oscar awarded before those bylaws were instituted in the 1950s, the Times said.
Usher hoping to pass name on to son
BURBANK, Calif., Sept 1 (UPI) -- R&B star Usher appeared on the set of "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" in California this week to say he hopes to pass his name onto the son he may soon have.
The Grammy Award-winning singer, whose full name is Usher Raymond, told DeGeneres that if his new wife does have a baby boy, he wants to pass along his now famous moniker, People magazine reported Friday.
"If it's a boy, I'm going to name him Usher," he said. "I've been playing with a few names. I'm the fourth. Usher Raymond IV. I just want to pass the name on."
The "Caught Up" singer married his girlfriend, Tameka Foster, Aug. 3 and now the couple is expecting their first child together.
While Usher may be longing for a male heir to his name, DeGeneres joked on her Burbank set while filming next Tuesday's show that his public admission may have the opposite effect.
"Now, you're going to have a girl, and she's going to see this tape and say, 'Daddy, why don't you love me?' DeGeneres joked.
Rumors abound following Dick's Ohio visit
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Sept 1 (UPI) -- Comedian Andy Dick's recent visit to Columbus, Ohio, has resulted in one charge of public urination and a litany of rumors about his alleged misbehavior.
The Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch said Friday that in addition to being charged with urinating on a building this week, Dick is accused of acting inappropriately at a comedy club during a series of performances there.
Dave Stroupe, managing partner of the Funny Bone Comedy Club, alleged Dick was drunk during his performances last weekend and acted inappropriately towards club attendees.
Stroupe alleged Dick not only made inappropriate comments to several club patrons, but groped several others and even urinated on one.
Other media reports said once Dick returned home to Los Angeles this week, his controversial actions continued.
The Dispatch said Dick was accused of throwing beer bottles into one of his neighbors' yards and of attacking a photographer outside a Hollywood nightclub.
Bobby Brown seeking custody of daughter
SANTA ANA, Calif., Sept 1 (UPI) -- Singer Bobby Brown was in a California court this week as he tries to gain legal custody of his 14-year-old daughter, Bobbi Kristina.
The former New Edition star said after Friday's Orange County court hearing that he was prompted to begin custody proceedings against his ex-wife, pop star Whitney Houston, by a severe longing to be reunited with his daughter, People magazine reported.
"I miss watching her sleep, making her laugh, everything. It's the simple things," Brown said. "She looks like me – it's like looking in the mirror. The goal is to see her a lot more and to be involved in the decision-making in her life, the places she goes, the people she hangs out with. All of that."
The couple's marriage was officially dissolved in April and Houston received legal custody of their sole daughter.
People said the presiding judge ruled Friday that both parents give depositions on the matter before a final custody decision is handed down Oct. 22.
