UPI NewsTrack Entertainment News

• Tweet

Photographer killed snapping pics of Bieber's Ferrari

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- Canadian pop star Justin Bieber was not in the Ferrari a photographer was taking pictures of when he was killed in Los Angeles Tuesday night, TMZ reported.

One of teen singer's friends was driving and another was in the passenger seat at the time of the incident.

Police had pulled the Ferrari over because of the driver's alleged speeding and the paparazzo got out of his vehicle to take photos of the luxury sports car while it was on the side of Sepulveda Boulevard.

The photographer was instructed by police to return to his car, but was hit by another vehicle and killed as he crossed the highway on his way back, TMZ said.

The names and ages of those involved in the incident were not immediately available.

"While I was not present nor directly involved with this tragic accident, my thoughts and prayers are with the family of the victim," Bieber said in a statement released by his publicist to the Los Angeles Times. "Hopefully this tragedy will finally inspire meaningful legislation and whatever other necessary steps to protect the lives and safety of celebrities, police officers, innocent public bystanders and the photographers themselves."

ThiBault Mauvilain went to the crash site to pay his respects to his fellow photographer, a man he identified only as Chris.

"I know a lot of people say, 'Oh, just another crazy paparazzo trying to make the money.' Actually, he was not a paparazzo, he was just another kid from New Mexico," Mauvilain told KNX-AM, Los Angeles.

Singer Bobby Womack says he has early signs of Alzheimer's

LONDON, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- American soul singer Bobby Womack says he has been diagnosed with early signs of Alzheimer's disease at age 68.

"The doctor said, 'You have signs of Alzheimer's,'" Womack told the BBC. "He said, 'It's not bad yet, but it's going to get worse.' How can I not remember songs that I wrote? That's frustrating."

Womack is a prostate and colon cancer survivor who also recently suffered pneumonia twice, as well as collapsed lungs.

He earned great reviews last year for "The Bravest Man in the Universe," his first album of new material in 18 years. He was inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame in 2009.

"I don't feel together yet because negative things come in my mind and it's hard for me to remember sometimes," Womack told the BBC.

"The most embarrassing thing was when we were getting ready to announce [his album's producer] Damon [Albarn] and I can't remember his last name. That's so embarrassing."

No Netflix debut date yet for 'Arrested Development'

NEW YORK, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- Netflix and Fox have not set a debut date for new episodes of the revived U.S. sitcom "Arrested Development," the New York Post reported.

The cult-favorite series about a wealthy dysfunctional family originally aired on Fox from 2003-2006 and won six Emmy Awards. It starred Jason Bateman, Jeffrey Tambor, Will Arnett, David Cross and Michael Cera.

Fox last weekend posted a message on its website, announcing May 4 as the show's Season 4 premiere. However, the posting was quickly removed and Netflix told vulture.com the May 4 date is incorrect.

No new date for the 13-episode fourth season of the series, which reunites all the show's original stars, has been announced, the Post said.

'Peter and the Starcatcher' to get new home off-Broadway

NEW YORK, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- The producers of Broadway's "Peter and the Starcatcher" say the "Peter Pan" prequel will transfer off-Broadway to New World Stages this spring.

The five-time Tony Award-winning play will have its final Broadway performance Jan. 20. It began previews March 28, 2012, and opened April 15, 2012, at Broadway's Brooks Atkinson Theatre.

"We have had an amazing run on Broadway, and audience demand continues to grow," lead producer Nancy Nagel Gibbs said in a statement Tuesday. "In fact, last week we had our highest grossing week ever. Our transfer to New World Stages allows the 'little show that could' to continue to inspire and enchant even more audiences."

The entire Tony Award-winning design team of "Peter and the Starcatcher" will design the New World Stages production. Dates and casting information will be announced shortly, the producers said.