MotorWin Motorcycle Specialist

Beyond the bubble: Entertainment news from the outside

Date 4/6/2006 12:00 AM | Topic: Arts & Culture

Finus Maximus possible for smoking Crowe

Public Health authorities in New Zealand are calling Russell Crowe "smoking," but they're not referring to his good looks.

Crowe chain-smoked through a set with his new band the Ordinary Fear of God at Wellington, New Zealand's Illot Theatre.

Crowe's fondness for cigarettes violated the Smoke-Free Environments Amendment Act, which bans New Zealanders from smoking in bars, casinos and restaurants. The Act applies to indoor concert venues such as the Illot.

Brent Eccles, Crowe's promoter, says the actor was smoking discreetly and was never told to stop.

The New Zealand Herald reported a different story, saying Crowe was informed to put out his cigarette at least once.

Crowe may not be the one answering for his actions that night. Club management, not performers, are usually assigned blame for failing to keep a smoke-free environment.

If Public Health authorities decide Crowe was in violation of the Act, the venue could face a fine upwards of $1,422 if prosecuted.

Clooney takes up stalking

George Clooney turned the tables on Gawker.com recently when the actor decided to flood Gawker's celebrity sitings hot line with phony celeb spottings.

Clooney asked his publicist and 15 publicists in contact with his rep to inundate the site's virtual tip line with hundreds of conflicting celebrity sitings.

The Web site relies on fan tips to chart the locations of various celebs on a map, a new system for Gawker.com.

Gawker.com used its own system to find Clooney in New York (although it's no secret he's filming in Manhattan) and offered their readers DVD copies of Clooney's movies "Ocean's 11" and "Ocean's 12" if they got a camera phone shot of Clooney in the Big Apple.

If would-be photogs catch Clooney flipping the bird, the site will throw in a copy of "Solaris."

Clooney isn't the only one bad-mouthing the celebrity finding site. The New York Press ranked Gawker.com 32nd on their list of the 50 most loathsome New Yorkers.

Myspace.com page searched for missing child star

Myspace.com hosts 63 million webbloggers and one missing boy.

Joe Pichler, young co-star of movies like "Beethoven's 3rd" and "4th" and "Varsity Blues," went missing from his Northwestern hometown nearly three months ago.

Pichler left behind few clues but police, family and friends hope Pichler's Web page on myspace.com will help them locate the young actor.

Pichler goes by the screen name "McBadass." He listed preferences for the Beatles, beer and "hot gerls."

Myspace.com lists for public viewing when people last logged into the site. The counter on Pichler's site shows he hasn't logged in since Jan. 3.

Yanni cleared of battery charges

New age musician Yanni, 55, was arrested March 3 after his girlfriend since 2002, Silvia Barthes, 33, claimed he shook her, tossed her on a bed and body-slammed her.

Barthes also claimed the music maker slapped her following an argument where Yanni told Barthes to pack her bags and move out of his home in Manalpan, N.J.

Yanni, whose real name is John Yanni Christopher, was charged with misdemeanor domestic battery.

Christopher claimed he grabbed Barthes, but only after she kicked him in the groin.

Mike Edmondson, a spokesman for the state's attorney, said Christopher was cleared of all charges because the events took place in private without any independent witnesses, making the incident a "he said, she said" case.

Barthes moved into Christopher's estate last December. He claimed she was trying to get money out of him prior to the argument.

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