Doctors: Robin Gibb is 'fully conscious'
LONDON, April 23 (UPI) -- Robin Gibb's doctors say the British singer-songwriter has advanced colorectal cancer but is "fully conscious" after days in a coma.
The 62-year-old former Bee Gees musician is being treated by Dr. Andrew Thillainayagam, his physician and gastroenterologist; Dr. Peter Harper, his medical oncologist; Roger Springall, his colorectal surgeon; and Dr. John Goldstone, anesthetist in charge of the intensive care team at The London Clinic.
"Despite having advanced colorectal cancer, Robin responded extremely well to Dr. Harper's aggressive chemotherapy treatment, but went on to need two emergency operations in the space of two months. In the aftermath, Robin developed the feared complication of pneumonia when he was very weak and fighting to recover from life-saving surgery for peritonitis," Thillainayagam, of Imperial College Healthcare, said in a statement posted on Gibb's Facebook page Monday.
"He failed to respond to chest physiotherapy and intravenous antibiotics. Therefore, I had to transfer him to intensive care for non-invasive, assisted ventilation," the statement said.
"Unfortunately, he continued to have worsening respiratory distress and lost consciousness for a number of reasons. Eventually, he developed serious respiratory failure and was unable to ventilate his lungs on his own. We had to place him on artificial ventilation. The prognosis was very grave, given that Robin had brain swelling from liver failure, a severe pneumonia and a weakened immune system from malnutrition."
The doctor said he has managed Gibb's medical problems "very aggressively according to his explicit wishes."
Gibb's wife, Dwina, son, Robin John and brother, Barry, were told three days ago "it was very likely that Robin would succumb to what seemed to be insurmountable obstacles to any form of meaningful recovery," the doctor said.
"It is testament to Robin's extraordinary courage, iron will and deep reserves of physical strength that he has overcome quite incredible odds to get where he is now. Robin is fully conscious, lucid and able to speak to his loved ones. He is breathing on his own, with an oxygen mask. He is on intravenous feeding and antibiotics. He is of course, exhausted, extremely weak and malnourished.
"Our immediate goals are to ensure that Robin's swallowing mechanism is safe enough to allow him to eat and drink, and that he recovers enough strength to breathe effectively, without needing high levels of oxygen by mask. When this happens, we will be able to begin the process of nutritional and physical rehabilitation and may be able to move him from the intensive care unit to the ward."
The doctor said Gibb's family was at his bedside every day he was in the coma, talking to him and playing his favorite music.
"The road ahead for Robin remains uncertain but it is a privilege to look after such an extraordinary human being."
Giuliana and Bill's surrogate is pregnant
NEW YORK, April 23 (UPI) -- U.S. reality television couple Giuliana and Bill Rancic say they expect their first child to be born to a gestational surrogate late this summer.
Giuliana Rancic, who is a breast cancer survivor, announced Monday on the "Today" show she and her husband will soon be parents because their surrogate is pregnant.
She said she and Bill know the baby's gender but aren't revealing it right now.
The birth to a gestational surrogate means the baby will be the Rancics' genetic child.
"We are so thrilled that our prayers have been answered," she separately told E! News.
"We are absolutely ecstatic to be sharing this with everyone who has been following our journey," her husband said.
People.com said Giuliana has suffered numerous health issues in recent years. She had a miscarriage in 2010, underwent fertility treatments to try to get pregnant again, then had a double mastectomy last year as part of her cancer treatment.
The Rancics star on Style Network's, "Giuliana & Bill," which is in its fifth season.
Penn Jillette fired on 'Apprentice'
LOS ANGELES, April 23 (UPI) -- Comedian and magician Penn Jillette was the latest contestant to be fired on "The Celebrity Apprentice" in New York.
"I can tell you the rules of chess but I can't tell you the rules of 'Celebrity Apprentice.' That's what's beautiful about it," EW.com reported the entertainer said upon learning his fate.
Jillette got the boot after his team failed to impress the show's judge and producer Donald Trump in the marketing of the real-estate mogul's new fragrance, "Success."
Still competing this season are "American Idol" veteran Clay Aiken, comedian Arsenio Hall, comedienne Lisa Lampanelli, former Miss Universe Dayana Mendoza, singer and actress Aubrey O'Day, and "Real Housewives of New Jersey" star Teresa Giudice.
Already eliminated from the show were "American Chopper" star Paul Teutul Sr., actor Lou Ferrigno, singers Debbie Gibson and Dee Snider, actresses Tia Carrere and Patricia Velasquez, radio host Adam Carolla, "Star Trek" actor George Takei, IndyCar team owner Michael Andretti, author Victoria Gotti and supermodel Cheryl Tiegs.
The last person standing will receive a $250,000 check to be given to a designated charity.
'Nice Work' up for 9 Outer Critics Awards
NEW YORK, April 23 (UPI) -- The Broadway musical "Nice Work If You Can Get It," starring Matthew Broderick, is up for a leading nine Outer Critics Circle Awards, organizers said Monday.
Among the prizes the show was nominated for are Outstanding Book of a Musical, Director of a Musical, Choreography, Set Design and Costume Design.
The musicals "Newsies" and "Once" followed close behind "Work" with seven nominations apiece.
Nominated for Outstanding New Broadway Play are "The Lyons," "One Man, Two Guvnors," "Seminar" and "Stick Fly."
In the running for Outstanding New Broadway Musical are "Bonnie & Clyde," "Newsies," "Once" and "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark."
Shortlisted for Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play are "Blood and Gifts," "The School for Lies,"
"Sons of the Prophet" and "Tribes."
The nominees for Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical are "Death Takes a Holiday," "Lucky Guy," "Play It Cool" and "Queen of the Mist."
Vying for the title of Outstanding Revival of a Play are "The Best Man," "Death of a Salesman,"
"The Lady From Dubuque" and "Private Lives."
Up for the prize for Outstanding Revival of a Musical are "Carrie," "Evita," "Follies" and "Porgy and Bess."
Nominated for Outstanding Actor in a Play are
James Corden for "One Man, Two Guvnors,"
Santino Fontana for "Sons of the Prophet," Russell Harvard for "Tribes," Philip Seymour Hoffman for "Death of a Salesman" and Hamish Linklater for "The School for Lies."
Shortlisted for Outstanding Actress in a Play are
Tracie Bennett for "End of the Rainbow," Tyne Daly for "Master Class," Linda Lavin for "The Lyons," Nicole Ari Parker for "A Streetcar Named Desire" and Laila Robins for "The Lady From Dubuque."
In the running for Outstanding Actor in a Musical are Danny Burstein for "Follies," Raul Esparza for "Leap of Faith," Jeremy Jordan for "Newsies," Steve Kazee for "Once" and Norm Lewis for "Porgy and Bess."
Mentioned for Outstanding Actress in a Musical are Jan Maxwell for "Follies," Marin Mazzie for "Carrie," Audra McDonald for "Porgy and Bess," Cristin Milioti for "Once" and Kelli O'Hara for "Nice Work If You Can Get It."
The nominees for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play are Will Brill for "Tribes," Tom Edden for "One Man, Two Guvnors," Andrew Garfield for "Death of a Salesman," James Earl Jones for "The Best Man" and Jefferson Mays for "Blood and Gifts."
Up for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play are Joanna Gleason for "Sons of the Prophet," Spencer Kayden for "Don't Dress for Dinner," Angela Lansbury for "The Best Man," Judith Light for "Other Desert Cities" and Daphne Rubin-Vega for "A Streetcar Named Desire."
Nominated for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical are Phillip Boykin for "Porgy and Bess," Andrew Keenan-Bolger for "Newsies," Michael McGrath for "Nice Work If You Can Get It," Patrick Page for "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark" and Chris Sullivan for "Nice Work If You Can Get It."
Vying for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical are Jayne Houdyshell for "Follies," Judy Kaye for "Nice Work If You Can Get It," Rebecca Luker for "Death Takes a Holiday," Da'Vine Joy Randolph for "Ghost: The Musical" and Melissa Van Der Schyff for "Bonnie & Clyde."
The Outer Critics Circle is an organization of writers and commentators covering New York theater for out-of-town newspapers, national publications and other media.
The winners of this year's awards will be announced May 14 and the prizes handed out at a ceremony May 24 at Sardi's Restaurant in Manhattan.
