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Entertainment Today: Showbiz News

By KAREN BUTLER, United Press International
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JOHNNY PAYCHECK DEAD AT 64

Country music sensation Johnny Paycheck lost his battle with emphysema Tuesday and died in a Georgia nursing home. He was 64.

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Known equally for his hell-raising ways and his ode to factory workers, "Take This Job and Shove It," the Ohio native had long suffered from emphysema and respiratory illnesses related to the disease. The Grand Ole Opry on Wednesday confirmed that Paycheck had died.


MEL C: NO PLAN FOR 'SPICE GIRLS' REUNION

Former Spice Girl Mel C says she would have walked out of the group's meeting Monday if anyone had mentioned the word "reunion."

The band that promoted girl power in the mid- to late-1990s got together earlier this week for the first time in nearly five years to "catch up."

But Mel denied that the band is planning to get back together.

"It was just a friendly get together, it was just a social thing, and none of us are interested in getting back together, none of us are interested in a reunion," she told the British Broadcasting Corp.

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"We didn't discuss the Greatest Hits, it was just a get together -- and it was just to catch up and that's it. That is the God's honest truth. I swear on my mother's life."

Asked whether the group would reunite for a farewell tour, the singer replied: "I don't think that any of the girls had that intention in mind. But I think if that had been raised at the dinner I would have left because I'm absolutely not interested, and I don't think any of them are either."


ADAM RICH TO BE ARRAIGNED

Former child star Adam Rich is scheduled to be arraigned on misdemeanor Driving while Under the Influence charges Thursday.

Best-known as Nicholas on the classic TV show "Eight is Enough," Rich was arrested Dec. 18 after he allegedly drove onto a closed section of California's Interstate 10.

California Highway Patrol officers who pulled the actor over said he failed a field sobriety test. Rich was released on $2,500 bail.


'SOPRANOS' CO-STAR INSPIRED JOEY PANTS

Joseph Pantoliano says Edie Falco's performance in "Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune" was the main reason he decided to join the play.

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Pantoliano and Falco co-starred on the hit HBO drama, "The Sopranos," for two years before Pantoliano's character, Ralphy, was whacked by Falco's TV husband last season. Pantoliano and Rosie Perez took over for Falco and Stanley Tucci as the title characters in the two-person Broadway play, "Frankie and Johnny" last month.

In a recent interview with United Press International, Pantoliano recalled seeing Falco perform in the play for the first time.

"I was invited by Edie to see the opening night and I was inspired," he said. "Watching them was the reason why I wanted to be in the play and knowing Kathy Bates who created the role and Ken Walsh and the Al Pacino film version of it. ... I was inspired and so proud of Edie and Stanley and to be a part of that production when I saw them in it."

The actor known as Joey Pants said the fact that he loves the play also factored into why he chose the drama for his Broadway debut.

"If that was playing down in Des Moines, I would have done it," he explained. "I never considered the idea of Broadway as being any different than another building. Just more people and better lighting. I just like the play so much and wanted to be in it, if I could. And I had the time to do it. I really like Terrence McNally. I like the play so much."

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