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'Amazing Race' producer poisoned in Uganda

KAMPALA, Uganda, Feb. 22 (UPI) -- U.S. producer Jeff Rice, who worked on TV's "The Amazing Race," was found dead in a Uganda hotel room, the victim of a suspected poisoning, his wife said.

His assistant, who police suspect was also poisoned, is hospitalized in a coma, Rice's widow Sally Blackman told FoxNews.com. Blackman did not disclose the assistant's name, but said she worked for Rice's Maverick Entertainment production company.

"They were not attacked but [evidence] points towards being poisoned," Blackman said. "[A]t this stage it is quite difficult to give you any firm reports as the incident is currently under investigation by the Uganda police."

The news channel cited an unnamed source as saying the pair were allegedly poisoned after they refused to give into the demands of local criminals. Blackman, however, declined to guess about what happened leading up to her husband's death.

"I would not like to speculate or even attempt to give my views on this as this may jeopardize the investigation going forward," she said.

Rice, a father of two young children, and his assistant were not working on "The Amazing Race" during their most recent time in Uganda, Blackman said. Rice lived in South Africa and worked on various film and TV projects around Africa.

Fox News said CBS, which airs "The Amazing Race," had no comment when asked about Rice's death.

'Seinfeld,' 'Super Troopers' actor shot

CINCINNATI, Feb. 22 (UPI) -- Actor Daniel von Bargen is hospitalized in critical condition after shooting himself in the head at his home in Cincinnati, TMZ reported.

Von Bargen, 61, played recurring roles on the TV sitcoms "Malcolm in the Middle" and "Seinfeld," and appeared in the films "Clive Barker's Lord of Illusions," "RoboCop 3," "Basic Instinct," "Broken Arrow," "Philadelphia," "The Silence of the Lambs," "The Postman," "A Civil Action," "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" and "Super Troopers."

TMZ said von Bargen shot himself in the temple Monday, then called 911.

"I've shot myself in the head ... and I need help," the celebrity news Web site quoted von Bargen as telling the 911 operator.

Asked if it was an accident, TMZ said the actor replied: "I was supposed to go to the hospital and I didn't want to. ... They were supposed to amputate at least a few toes."

There was no word on the state of von Bargen's health before the apparent suicide attempt.

TBS renews 'Conan' through 2014

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 22 (UPI) -- U.S. cable network TBS says it has renewed Conan O'Brien's late-night chat show "Conan" through April 2014.

The show premiered in November 2010. It is taped in California.

"We are proud to be in business with Conan O'Brien for the long run," Michael Wright, executive vice president and head of programming for TBS, TNT and Turner Classic Movies, said in a statement Wednesday. "Night after night, Conan and his team have put together terrific shows that draw a young and fiercely loyal audience. As if that weren't enough, they have also built a dynamic online presence that keeps fans engaged like no other show in late night."

"I am excited to continue my run with TBS because they have been fantastic partners," O'Brien said. "This means I'll be taping episodes of 'Conan' well into the Ron Paul presidency."

'21' is No. 1 album for 21st week

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 22 (UPI) -- Adele's "21" is No. 1 on the U.S. album chart for a 21st week, Billboard.com reported Wednesday.

The album is the longest-running chart topper since "The Bodyguard" soundtrack, featuring music by the late Whitney Houston, spent 20 weeks at No. 1 in 1992-1993.

Houston died Feb. 11, the day before Adele won six Grammy Awards. Houston had been scheduled to attend the music awards ceremony in Los Angeles.

Coming in at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 is Houston's "Whitney: the Greatest Hits," followed by the "Now 41" compilation CD at No. 3," Adele's "19" at No. 4 and the "2012 Grammy Nominees" album at No. 5.

Rounding out the top tier are Van Halen's "A Different Kind of Truth" at No. 6, Paul McCartney's "Kisses on the Bottom" at No. 7, Bruno Mars' "Doo-Wops & Hooligans" at No. 8, Lady Antebellum's "Own the Night" at No. 9 and Civil Wars' "Barton Hollow" at No. 10.