Dancer Cyd Charisse dead at 86
LOS ANGELES, June 18 (UPI) -- Movie dancer Cyd Charisse died in California early Tuesday after an apparent heart attack at the age of 86, her representative said.
Born Tula Finklea, the Texas native appeared in the classic movie musicals "The Bandwagon," "Silk Stockings," "Singin' in the Rain" and "Brigadoon," People.com noted.
Charisse died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
She is survived by singer Tony Martin, her husband of 60 years, the entertainment news Web site said.
Kelly witness said she was paid for tape
CHICAGO, June 18 (UPI) -- A witness in R. Kelly's child pornography trial in Chicago claims she was paid $100,000 to return a sex tape she made with Kelly and his underage goddaughter.
Kelly, a Grammy Award-winning R&B artist, was acquitted last week of child pornography charges involving another sex tape prosecutors said he made with the girl several years ago.
Newly unsealed court documents reveal Lisa Van Allen claimed an associate of Kelly's paid her the money to give back a tape she snatched from Kelly's duffel bag with the intention of blackmailing the singer, the Chicago Tribune said.
Van Allen said in the court documents the tape showed her, Kelly and the same girl who was the focus Kelly's recent child pornography trial having sex. She also said one of Kelly's employees threatened her.
No one has been charged in Van Allen's allegations.
The Tribune reported jurors said after the verdict they dismissed Van Allen's testimony regarding an alleged encounter with Kelly and the girl largely because of her connections to convicted felons.
"Ms. Van Allen is an admitted thief and liar," Kelly's representative Allan Mayer told the newspaper. "She wasn't believed in court and she shouldn't be believed now."
Rivers booted from U.K. show for swearing
LONDON, June 18 (UPI) -- U.S. comedian Joan Rivers was asked to leave the British daytime talk show "Loose Women" where she was a guest after she swore on-air.
The BBC said the 75-year-old performer used foul language to describe actor Russell Crowe on the ITV program, then was escorted off the set by producers during a commercial break.
Rivers said she was thrilled since this marked the first time she had been removed in 40 years of performing.
Rivers, who is promoting her London acting debut in her autobiographical play, said she had warned the folks at "Loose Women" to "get ready to bleep." She said she didn't realize the producers couldn't edit out bad language.
"I said, 'I apologize.' Everyone apologized. It was hilariously funny," Rivers told the BBC.
"Guests are always briefed that it is a live daytime show and are reminded not to swear or use inappropriate language," an ITV representative told the BBC. "An editorial decision was taken that Joan Rivers should not appear in the final part of the program. We would like to apologize to 'Loose Women' viewers for the inappropriate language used on today's show."
'Vertigo,' 'Godfather' top AFI lists
LOS ANGELES, June 18 (UPI) -- The American Film Institute has named "Vertigo" the best movie in the mystery genre and "The Godfather" the best gangster picture in a new television special.
The AFI revealed its selection of the 10 greatest movies in each of 10 Hollywood film genres in "AFI's 10 Top 10," a three-hour special that aired Tuesday night on CBS.
The rankings were based on the votes of a jury of 1,500 film artists, critics and historians.
"2001: A Space Odyssey" topped the list of science fiction films, while "City of Lights" was named best romantic comedy, "Lawrence of Arabia" was the No. 1 epic, "Raging Bull" the best sports movie and "The Searchers" ranked highest among westerns.
"Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" topped the list of animated films, "To Kill A Mockingbird" was ruled the best courtroom drama and "The Wizard of Oz" was the No. 1 fantasy film.
The AFI special enlisted the help of celebrity hosts for each genre's list. Appearing on the show were Jessica Alba, Sean Astin, Gabriel Byrne, Kirk Douglas, Clint Eastwood, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Jennifer Love Hewitt, Quentin Tarantino, Sigourney Weaver and James Woods.
