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Mom loves Tupac hologram

LOS ANGELES, April 17 (UPI) -- Afeni Shakur's publicist says Tupac's mother was thrilled with the lifelike hologram of the late rapper shown on stage at California's Coachella music festival.

The hologram made it look like the dead hip-hop star was very much alive -- interacting with the audience and performing with former collaborators Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg. A YouTube video clip of the virtual performance has gotten more than 3.5 million hits since the weekend.

Afeni Shakur's representative told TMZ Dr. Dre asked Tupac's mother for permission before having the hologram created for the virtual performance. He then made a donation to The Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation as an expression of his gratitude. The amount was not reported.

The celebrity news Web site said Afeni Shakur watched the performance stream live online and was thrilled with the results.

Tupac Shakur died nearly a week after being gunned down in 1996 in Las Vegas. He was 25.

No one has been convicted in his slaying.

He has sold more than 75 million albums worldwide.

Alec Baldwin in for Season 7 of '30 Rock'

NEW YORK, April 17 (UPI) -- Alec Baldwin says he will stay on the New York-set sitcom "30 Rock" through its seventh -- and likely last -- season.

The Hollywood Reporter said the actor made the announcement Monday while speaking at the National Press Club where he was lobbying on behalf of the non-profit Americans for the Arts.

Baldwin has earned Emmy, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild awards for his portrayal of fictional television executive Jack Donaghy on NBC's "30 Rock," which is wrapping up its sixth season this spring.

However, he has in recent years flirted with the idea of retiring from acting. He also this month voiced his frustration via Twitter with NBC, which sent news vans to his home when an alleged stalker was arrested.

Author calls '50 Shades' 'romantic'

NEW YORK, April 17 (UPI) -- British author E.L. James says she thinks of her popular erotic novel "Fifty Shades of Grey" as a "love story" with "quite a lot of sex in it."

James talked about the surprise hit, which started out as an e-book, in her first prime-time television interview with "20/20" co-anchor Elizabeth Vargas.

"It's a contemporary, romantic fiction, with quite a lot of sex in it," James said. "I think it's the love story [that appeals to people. ... I hope it's because of the love story."

The book and its two sequels -- "Fifty Shades Darker" and "Fifty Shades of Freedom" -- have been dubbed by the media "mommy porn."

The series follows dashing billionaire Christian Grey as he uses bondage, discipline, sadism and masochism in his relationship with his young, inexperienced lover Ana.

ABC News said James, a former television executive who writes under a pseudonym, began posting her writing on a fan fiction Web site for Stephenie Meyer's "Twilight" books.

She called her "Fifty" series of novels her "midlife crisis."

"It's all my fantasies in, in one thing," she said. "I was inspired by Stephenie Meyer. She just flipped this switch."

Like Meyer, James has signed a deal to have her books brought to the big screen, ABC News said.

Ferguson takes show home to Scotland

EDINBURGH, Scotland, April 17 (UPI) -- Craig Ferguson says he was happy to bring his Los Angeles-based "The Late, Late Show" home to Scotland for a week of tapings.

"This whole trip to Scotland, I can't tell you how lovely it is. How great the people are, how beautiful the towns are. I'm shocked… my memory is completely wrong," Ferguson told guest Rashida Jones while filming in Arbroath Harbour.

Other stars to appear on the special editions of the late-night chat program are actress Mila Kunis, actor Michael Clarke Duncan, author David Sedaris and "Flying Wild Alaska" star Ariel Tweto.

Throughout the week, Ferguson will be seen exploring Edinburgh, Glasgow and his hometown of Cumbernauld. Along the way, he also visits Edinburgh Castle, The Royal Mile, Calton Hill, Glamis Castle and Kelvingrove Art Gallery, as well as his childhood home and high school, among other locations. The episodes will air on CBS May 14-18.