53 minutes ago

LOS ANGELES - The plastic surgeon who operated on Kanye West’s mother before she died said his practice has been hard hit by bad publicity following her death.

Dr. Jan Adams told CNN’s “Larry King Live” on Tuesday that fallout from Donda West’s death had affected his practice “horribly … it’s almost destroyed.”

Adams told King that as a television personality he was a target for bad press and lawsuits, but said he planned to continue performing surgeries.

He hosted the series “Plastic Surgery: Before and After” for five years until June. He has also appeared on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” and “Entertainment Tonight,” sells a line of skin care products and has written two books on plastic surgery.

West, 58, died at a Los Angeles-area hospital Nov. 10, a day after she underwent breast reduction, tummy tuck and liposuction procedures.

A coroner’s autopsy report found that West most likely died of heart disease coupled with complications after plastic surgery, but also said the exact cause of death couldn’t be known.

“The autopsy said what I expected,” said Adams, who declined to discuss specifics of West’s case, citing patient-doctor privilege.

He had previously said he believed West likely died of a heart attack or other non-surgery related health problems.

In November, Adams abruptly walked off King’s show, saying West’s family asked him not to appear.

He said Tuesday he had been in contact with the family’s lawyers but not Kanye West. He did not elaborate.

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51 minutes ago

LOS ANGELES - The wife of Britney Spear’s paparazzi pal has filed for legal separation from him.

Azlynn Elizabeth Berry cites irreconcilable differences with Adnan Ghalib for the split after four years of marriage, according to documents filed Friday in Superior Court.

Berry, representing herself in court papers, seeks spousal support, and for Ghalib to pay her legal fees, the filing said. Her phone number was not listed.

In recent weeks, Ghalib has been seen accompanying Spears on shopping excursions, restaurant outings and to the courthouse. Ghalib is said to work for the photo agency FinalPixx. An after-hours call to the agency was not answered Tuesday.

Ghalib told the syndicated television magazine show “The Insider” on Tuesday that he had photographed Spears for several years before they grew closer in late December. He said their relationship blossomed after Spears was released from a hospital following a standoff in her home when she refused to return her children to ex-husband Kevin Federline’s bodyguard.

“We managed to spend a long time together, away from the media,” Ghalib said.

In another interview with the TV show “Entertainment Tonight,” Ghalib denied accusations that he was profiting from his relationship with the pop star.

“A lot of people perceive to know or understand her, she’s the most photographed woman in the world,” Ghalib said. “But if you take time to scratch the surface, then you can understand how amazing she is.”

Joal Ryan Tue Jan 22, 11:58 AM ET

Los Angeles (E! Online) - Kanye West can win, or lose, Grammys in peace.

Hollywood's striking writers said Tuesday that they won't picket the 50th Annual Grammy Awards, set for Feb. 10 in Los Angeles.

The announcement means the Grammys, along with this coming weekend's Screen Actors Guild Awards, may be the only major events of award season to go on as usual. The threat of a star-repelling picket line still hangs over the Academy Awards, scheduled for Feb. 24.

Recording Academy president Neil Portnow in a statement of understatement said Grammy organizers were "pleased" with the writers' decision.

"We are gratified that the 50th Annual Grammy Awards will focus solely on the great music, artists and charitable work resulting from our show," Portnow said.

So far, the strike has helped strike down the TV ratings for the People's Choice and Golden Globe shows. The Grammys could have been the third.

There were rumors that the writers' union was pressuring Grammy invitees who moonlight as actors—think Beyoncé, Justin Timberlake and Queen Latifah—to stay away from L.A.'s Staples Center should the scribes stage a scene. Unlike the People's Choice and Globes, though, there were signs that the hyphenates, being musicians and all, were going to be harder control. Beyoncé, for one, said she intended to attend the Grammys, picket line or no. The Foo Fighters was another name act that said it was still on board.

Tuesday's news came amid a détente between writers and producers. The Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers jointly announced they will "begin informal discussions to determine if there is a basis for both parties to return to formal negotiations."

Just because the writers won't strike the Grammys, though, doesn't mean they'll help write the show. The union reminded Tuesday that it had not granted a waiver that would allow its members to pen presenter banter. If the waiver doesn't get granted, then Jay-Z, et al., presumably are on their own on stage.

West leads all Grammy nominees, with eight nods. "Rehab" singer Amy Winehouse is the other top nominee, with seven.

At this point, the Oscars, Hollywood's ultimate showcase, seem less likely to get a pass from the writers' union. Still, the Motion Picture Academy unveiled its nominations Tuesday, with producers earlier vowing that the show will go on. Somehow.

Josh Grossberg Tue Jan 22, 1:06 PM ET

Los Angeles (E! Online) - Sean Combs is going to face the music.

A Los Angeles judge has set May 27 as the start date for a civil case filed by a California man, who contends he was assaulted by the rap impresario at a Hollywood nightclub last year.

The news comes after Tuesday hearing and following the depositions of four witnesses, all of whom testified under oath that Combs punched Gerald Rechnitzer around 2:30 a.m. on Feb. 26, 2007. The alleged slugging took place after the two left a post-Oscar bash at chic night spot Teddy's at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.

The hip-hop entrepreneur—who recently dropped his Diddy moniker in favor of Sean John, after his clothing label—supposedly roughed up Rechnitzer in a parking lot outside the club and after Rechnitzer confronted Combs for chatting up his fiancée, Sofia Sokolov.

According to court documents filed last week, four witnesses deposed by Rechnitzer's attorney, Michael M. Marzban supported Rechnitzer's version of events.

One, Marianna Ruiz, said that she and her friends were "just standing around and not paying attention" when she saw the "Can't Nobody Hold Me Down" emcee strike Rechnitzer's face unprovoked with the back of his right hand, causing him to "go flying" backwards.

"What caught my attention the most was I saw Mr. Combs reach back towards his left hand and socked Gerard in the face," Ruiz stated.

Another bystander, Michael Sherman, said in his deposition that the two men were staring each other down when "all of a sudden…Sean said something stupid like, 'I'm going to smack fire out of your [ass].'

"And then all of a sudden, he hit him.  And there was a taxi behind Gerard. Gerard got knocked into the taxi."

Sherman added that Combs, surrounded by his entourage, then turned his attention to Ruiz and spat in her direction when she started screaming at him.

The third witness was Sokolov. The model and aspiring actress recalled that the Bad Boy mogul yelled as she and Rechnitzer walked away.

"He got angry and said, 'What the f–k are you looking at?' " she testified.

The fourth person, Nick Bregman, said he saw Rechnitzer falling backwards after the punch.

"I didn't necessarily see where he went," Bergman said. "It was kind of shocking at the moment that that occurred."

Following the incident, Rechnitzer filed a complaint with the Los Angeles Police Department.  But after a brief investigation, no charges were filed.

Attorneys for both sides declined to comment Tuesday, citing pending litigation.

In November, the Manhattan District Attorney's Office declined to file criminal charges after probing a reported dustup that took place a month earlier at a New York nightclub between the Grammy winner and a 31-year-old man named Steven Acevedo. Again, the incident involved a woman.

Combs was also sued for $5 million by a 27-year-old hip-hop promoter who claimed he was beaten up by his bodyguards. That case is pending.

By Steve Gorman 50 minutes ago

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The union for striking Hollywood screenwriters said on Tuesday it has decided to spare next month's Grammy Awards from picketing that could dampen the recording industry's highest honors.

The announcement by the Writers Guild of America marked a surprise reversal from the union's previous stance that it would probably picket the Grammys show, which is scheduled for a live telecast on February 10 from the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles.

No reason was given for the union decision, which came in a vote by the Writers Guild's board of directors, according to a union spokesman.

Writers Guild has been using the threat of picketing of major entertainment awards to draw attention to its cause and to press the major film and TV studios to renew negotiations aimed at settling the union's 11-week-old strike.

While the Grammys largely consist of musical performances and winners taking the stage to give acceptance speeches, much of the introductory remarks and banter by presenters are normally prepared in advance by union writers.

While the Writers Guild has yet to grant a special waiver of strike rules barring its members from working on the show, Tuesday's decision clears the way for the Grammys to go on without the spectacle of stars having to cross picket lines.

A number of high-profile Grammy nominees this year, including Justin Timberlake, Beyonce and Alicia Keys, also are members of the WGA's sister union for TV and movie performers, the Screen Actors Guild.

It was the threat of an awards boycott by SAG members that derailed the Golden Globe Awards, forcing organizers to scrap their traditional gala event in favor of a bare-bones news conference to announce winners.

The threat of WGA picketing still hangs over the film industry's most prestigious honors, the Oscars, whose organizers vow to go on with some form of their ceremony as scheduled on February 24.

Union leaders are expected to open informal discussions with studio executives this week in a bid to pave the way for official bargaining to resume following a deal reached last week between the studios and Hollywood directors.

(Editing by Dan Whitcomb and David Wiessler)

Natalie Finn Tue Jan 22, 11:57 AM ET

Los Angeles (E! Online) - Amy Winehouse prominently stood by her man last week, but under what circumstances? 

Friends and colleagues were expressing their concern for the Grammy-nominated singer Tuesday after a grainy video depicting her inhaling fumes from some sort of pipe was posted by the U.K. Sun tabloid, which reported that the video was shot shortly before her husband's court hearing and that the paper is in possession of more footage of Winehouse doing drugs. 

The Back to Black chanteuse, who has recently dyed her famed black tresses blond, can be heard on the video saying, semi-coherently, "If I was that cat I'd leave on my own accord—I'd call a cab. It ain't right. This ain't Toys 'R' Us. They took my cat." 

When friends ask her to go out with them, she says, "I'd be useless to you because I've had about six Valium."   

Winehouse attended a procedural hearing in hubby Blake Fielder-Civil's witness tampering case on Friday in London, allegedly just hours after the tape was made. The 25-year-old Fielder-Civil has been in jail since November while he awaits trial on assault and conspiracy charges.    

Winehouse, 24, blew kisses to her man in court and, as officers were leading him away, shouted, "I love you handsome, gorgeous one!"

Fielder-Civil has pleaded not guilty to assault, which stems from an alleged bar fight last year, and is reportedly expected to cut a deal on a single charge of perverting the course of justice.

But while he's behind bars, Winehouse is seemingly trapped in a prison of her own device. 

"We are deeply disappointed and upset by these latest revelations and are doing everything we can to offer Amy our full support in dealing with her problems," Universal Records said in a statement obtained by E! News.  

Winehouse's various problems, including a bust for pot possession in Norway that she's currently appealing, could prevent her from performing at next month's Grammy Awards, where she's up for six honors, including Album of the Year and Best New Artist.   

But while the Sun item could be construed as rock-bottom, a rep for the singer told People that, contrary to some reports, Winehouse has not checked into a treatment facility to cure what's ailing her and concerning so many others.  

"Amy is not in rehab," the rep said. "She was seeing a doctor who she regularly sees as part of her ongoing treatment. It was a regular appointment which she attends all the time. She has not checked in overnight."  

Winehouse began the out-patient healing process in November after she cleared her touring scheduled for the rest of 2007, writing on her Website, "I can't give it my all onstage without my Blake."   

These days, however, it looks as if her friends are more interested in seeing Winehouse get to rehab rather than sing about it onstage.   

"It's really sad. Everyone knows she needs help—even she knows she needs help," a friend of the singer told People. "The video is horrible but I hope it forces her to do something."  

"People are tiptoeing around her because of Blake—it's like someone died. She's so crazy about him. When he first went to jail she couldn't function. She didn't know what to do with herself."  

"Amy is locked in a nosedive towards oblivion—she is killing herself," another concerned mate told The Sun. "The video shows a woman completely out of control."

By Ann Donahue 13 minutes ago

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - The Writers Guild of America said Tuesday it won't picket the Grammy Awards, but the Recording Academy hasn't yet secured an interim work agreement for guild writers to participate in a telecast of the February 10 show.

The WGA West board was scheduled to meet Tuesday night, but it was unclear whether the issue of the interim agreement would be raised. Without a deal, no WGA members will be able to write for the music awards show.

What could have been a serious public relations battle has been averted, however, and talent belonging to other unions will be free to perform, present and attend the show.

"We are pleased with the decision made by the WGA today," Recording Academy president Neil Portnow said Tuesday. "In light of this, we are gratified that the 50th annual Grammy Awards will focus solely on the great music, artists and charitable work resulting from our show."

There has been furious behind-the-scenes pressure on WGAW president Patric Verrone to grant the interim agreement to cover the two WGA members who contribute to the Grammys. Producers of the awards show requested an interim pact similar to a work agreement granted David Letterman's Worldwide Pants in December.

Officials with the Recording Academy have met repeatedly with Verrone during the past 10 days to outline the reasoning for an interim deal. Performers' unions the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) and the American Federation of Musicians support the WGA in its contract talks, but both urged the guild not to make the Grammys collateral damage in that labor strife.

AFTRA applauded the WGA's decision. "(We are) pleased that the Writers Guild of America has decided not to picket the Grammy Awards," AFTRA national president Roberta Reardon said Tuesday. "This event is a crucial platform for the Recording Academy's ongoing efforts to protect and advance the rights of musical artists — an effort we at AFTRA regard as central to our mission."

The Recording Academy has hired a public relations firm that specializes in crisis management to press its views in the matter. Among the critical elements emphasized to Verrone are the charities that benefit from Grammy Week and the telecast, in particular MusiCares, which provides health care and other services to members of the music community.

The WGA recently granted waivers to the NAACP Image Awards and the SAG Awards, citing in part the groups' societal contributions.

Several artists, including Foo Fighters and SAG member Beyonce, have said they intend to perform at the 50 annual Grammy Awards regardless of how the labor dispute turns out. CBS is set to broadcast the show February 10 from Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter

By Andrew Stern 42 minutes ago

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Couples touch hands or link arms, their hips and toes gyrating smoothly in unison, gliding through dance moves known as "Steppin"' and making it look easy.

"When you step with a woman, she feels your moves and everything. She knows your every expectation. It's like seduction in dance," steppin' instructor Mel McElroy said over a blaring loudspeaker near a makeshift dance floor set up inside Chicago's Daley Center courthouse.

Steppin' has been around under various monikers for decades as a decidedly smoother and less strenuous take on the 1940s-era jitterbug, and an evolution of 1950s-era "the Bop."

But the twirling dance has spread well beyond its origins in Chicago's largely African-American nightspots to mostly urban settings across the United States and around the world.

"It's all over the United States and actually in the UK too. It's everywhere," said dance teacher Kenneth Watkins, who was master of ceremonies at the monthly dance open to all at the Chicago courthouse.

"It's a form of dance that black culture has developed out of 'the Bop;' a mixture of salsa, a combination of a number of dances," Watkins said.

The spread of steppin' from city to city is evident in the scores of instructors who utilize dozens of Web sites that alert dancers to upcoming classes that teach the various styles, and to "steppin' sets" — or dance parties.

The music is "old-school" R&B, Motown hits, and fresh singles like R. Kelly's "Step in the Name of Love," a 2003 song which steppin' advocates say has spread the dance as far as China.

Many steppers tend to be middle-aged or older, like 54-year-old Rhonda Collins, who has gained a lot of friends and lost a lot of weight dancing four nights a week.

"Two years ago I didn't know any of these people. Now I know, from steppin' and the community, all these people. It's a family, there's a camaraderie. Steppin' sets are held in clubs, bars, banquet halls, everywhere," Collins said.

But what accounts for its popularity, Collins is asked.

"Look at that, it's so smooth, so cool," she said, as a dozen couples who appear to be in their 40s and 50s go through their paces.

In the hands of younger practitioners, steppin' is evolving in ways that may phase out older styles, Watkins said.

"The difference now is there's more energy. Instead of using an eight-step count they're using a six-step count and it's a lot quicker, requiring a lot more energy," he explained.

Some say steppin' is to ballroom dancing as jazz is to classical music. It grew out of a desire for a mellower version of the frantic jitterbug, with gyrations on every other beat instead of every beat.

"It's like a marriage," McElroy, 47, said.

That may be, but it's a marriage in which the man leads, Collins said.

"The improvising is mostly by the guys. She's there to keep count," Collins said. "There are a million-and-two turns — three basic ones," which keeps the dance interesting for both partners.

"Oh yeah, the lady gets swung, multiple turns, triple turns, double change positions, dipping, the whole nine yards," Watkins said.

Reuters/Nielsen

By LYNN ELBER, AP Entertainment Writer 35 minutes ago

LOS ANGELES - Striking writers guild have decided against picketing the upcoming Grammy Awards, but the Writers Guild of America’s board of directors has yet to grant the music industry show a waiver that would allow its members to work on the ceremony, the guild said Tuesday.

The guild previously said it was unlikely to grant the Recording Academy a waiver for the Feb. 10 show, the music industry’s most important event, set to be broadcast live on CBS from Los Angeles.

The writers guild refused to grant a waiver for the Golden Globes and threatened picketing, and the Screen Actors Guild encouraged its stars to stay away as well.

As a result, the typically lavish three-hour televised awards extravaganza was reduced to a one-hour, celebrity-free newscast on Jan. 13.

Recording Academy President Neil Portnow has insisted that a full-scale Grammys will continue no matter what — and Beyonce and the Foo Fighters announced they still plan to perform at the event.