'Virgin' actor arrested in stabbing
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Shelley Malil, an actor who appeared in "The 40-Year-Old Virgin," reportedly was arrested for allegedly stabbing his ex-girlfriend in her home near San Diego.
Authorities told TMZ.com that Malil chased his former flame in and outside her house, and stabbed her as many as 20 times while her two children were at home.
The woman's neighbor intervened and her assailant fled the scene.
TMZ.com said Malil was later arrested at an Amtrak train station in San Diego.
The entertainment news Web site said the victim's identity and condition were not disclosed.
The Internet Movie Database lists dozens of U.S. film credits for the 43-year-old Indian actor, including appearances on "Scrubs," "The West Wing" and "Seinfeld."
He played the supporting role of Haziz in the 2005 big-screen comedy, "The 40-Year-Old Virgin," starring Seth Rogen and Steve Carell.
Child performer lip-synched Olympics song
BEIJING, Aug. 12 (UPI) -- The musical director for the Summer Olympics in Beijing admitted the girl who sang "Ode to the Motherland" during the opening ceremony was lip-synching.
The BBC said officials made the decision because 9-year-old Lin Miaoke had the "flawless" look they were looking for that they said the actual singer, 7-year-old Yang Peiyi, lacked.
Musical director Chen Qigang told Beijing Radio: "After several tests, we decided to put Lin Miaoke on the live picture, while using Yang Peiyi's voice. The reason for this is that we must put our country's interest first. The girl appearing on the picture must be flawless in terms of her facial expression and the great feeling she can give to people."
The BBC said that Lin has become a media darling since she appeared at the opening ceremony.
The British broadcaster also said Chinese news reports suggest Yang has been a good sport about the whole situation, quoting her as saying, "I'm satisfied to have had my voice in the opening ceremony."
Stiller: Actors, not disabled, are targets
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 12 (UPI) -- U.S. actor-director Ben Stiller says "Tropic Thunder" skewers actors who play disabled people in pursuit of Oscar glory; it doesn't poke fun of the disabled.
The comedy about a group of actors -- which was directed and co-written by Stiller -- has come under fire for what some feel is its insensitive portrayal of the intellectually disabled.
Stiller plays an actor who portrays a character called Simple Jack in a fictional film frequently referred to within "Thunder." The word "retard" reportedly is used numerous times in relation to Stiller's character's previous portrayal of the Jack character.
"It's sort of edgy territory but we felt that as long as the focus was on the actors who were trying to do something to be taken seriously that's going too far or wrong, that was where the humor would come from," Stiller told MTV News. "(The joke is on) actors reaching for roles in terms of hopefully winning awards."
"Some people have taken this as making fun of handicapped people but we're really trying to make fun of the actors who use this material as fodder for acclaim," co-writer Etan Cohen told MTV News. "The last thing you want is for people to think you're making fun of the victims in this who are having their lives turned into fodder for people to win Oscars."
Kiss's Paul Stanley to be dad again
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Kiss front man Paul Stanley says his attorney wife, Erin, is pregnant with their second child.
"Erin and I are thrilled and can't wait to meet our newest addition," Stanley said in an exclusive statement to People magazine. "We've been extremely blessed and we're excited to see what the future holds. I often joke that I've traded the Viper Room for the diaper room, and it looks like my tour's been extended!"
The baby is due this winter, People.com said.
The couple have been married for about three years and are the parents of Colin, who will be 2 next month.
Stanley also is the father of 14-year-old Evan, his son from a previous marriage.
