Singer Katy Perry performs Roar during the release party of her album Prism at the iHeartRadio Theater Los Angeles in Burbank, Calif. October 22, 2013.MARIO ANZUONI/Reuters
THE BIG SPLIT
Don't expect any more romantic duets from Katy Perry and John Mayer. The superstar music couple have reportedly broken up for the second time in recent years. Perry and Mayer went public with their relationship in early 2012 and except for a short break that fall, they've been together ever since. Last December, the pair even recorded and released a romantic love song, Who You Love, and appeared together in the accompanying video. According to anonymous sources, the split is largely due to Perry's upcoming exhaustive world tour. "She's stressed out about the tour, they've been fighting," the source said. "But for now, they are done."
Source: Us magazine
SAY CHEESEY
The Muppets are hyping their next movie with a series of selfies. In preparation for the arrival of the big-screen feature Muppets Most Wanted, the creative minds behind the adorable sock-puppet creatures started an Instagram account in early January, with the first snapshot showing a slightly off-center self portrait of Kermit, Miss Piggy and Gonzo. As of this week, more than a dozen more Muppet selfies have appeared on the account, including Rizzo the Rat, The Swedish Chef, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and Statler and Waldorf (aka the two cranky old men who sat in the balcony during The Muppet Show). Muppets Most Wanted opens in theatres on March 21.
Source: Zap2it
FAB FOUR
How would Beatlemania have unfolded if social media existed in the early sixties? The question was answered on last night's episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon with a sketch suggesting the Fab Four were actually right on top of Twitter, Facebook and other social-media modalities. Host Fallon claimed to have "unearthed" new footage of the group talking to the audience during their landmark 1964 debut appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. In the grainy black-and-white clip, Fallon wears a mop-top wig and suit to play guitarist John Lennon, who shamelessly plugs the group's Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts in between songs. Former Saturday Night Live regular Fred Armisen also acquitted himself nicely as drummer Ringo Starr.
Source: Mashable
SERIOUS SETH
Call it Mr. Rogen goes to Washington. Canadian comic actor Seth Rogen visited Capitol Hill on Wednesday to make a case for increased funding for Alzheimer's disease research. Rogen, whose mother-in-law is afflicted with Alzheimer's, addressed a Senate committee tasked to investigate the neurodegenerative disorder. And while the star of Knocked Up and This Is the End played it straight for most of his appearance, he still generated some laughs, starting with his opening statement: "I came here today for a few reasons. One, I'm a huge House of Cards fan. Just marathoned the whole thing, had to be here."
Source: Los Angeles Times
MUSIC NOTES
Dolly Parton and Canadian indie rockers Arcade Fire have joined the talent lineup at this year's Glastonbury Festival. Event organizer Emily Eavis has confirmed that Parton will make her debut at the annual music event scheduled for the last weekend in June. "It's something we've been wanting to happen for a long time and she finally said yes," Eavis said. Arcade Fire are also confirmed headliners and will appear at the event along with Lily Allen, Suzanne Vega and Blondie.
Source: The Guardian
IN MEMORIAM
Sad news for devotees of sixties-era game shows: Jim Lange, the founding host of the popular game show The Dating Game, has passed away at his home in Mill Valley, Calif., at age 81. According to the Associated Press, Lange died Tuesday morning after suffering a heart attack. Following 15 seasons of The Dating Game, Lange hosted the popular gamers Hollywood Connection, $100,000 Name That Tune and The New Newlywed Game.
Source: MSN News