THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2007
PEOPLE IN THE NEWS
7A
CELEBRITY
DeVito unveils new liqueur
Phil McCarten/ASSOCIATED PRESS
Danny DeVito answers questions during a television news conference Jan. 9; in Pasadena, Calif. DeVito is launching Danny DeVito's Premium Limoncello.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK — Danny DeVito is taking an embarrassing moment on ABC's "The View" and turning it into his own brand of limoncello, a lemon-flavored liqueur.
"I knew it was the last seven limoncellos that was going to get me." DeVito said on the show.
The 62-year-old actor-director made a loopy appearance on the daytime talk show last November, saying he'd had a late night out with George Clooney.
DeVito — who was promoting his new comedy, "Deck the Halls" — slurred his speech and used some bad language when joking about President Bush, among other gaffes, during his appearance on "The View."
When Clooney was later asked how much was consumed, he replied: "A lot. ... I got to the point where I was dumping the shots into, ah, you know, a plant next to me and, um, I don't think ... I don't think Danny saw me do that."
DeVito is now launching Danny DeVito's Premium Limoncello, which was unveiled Monday at the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America Annual Convention in Orlando, Fla.
His 60-proof liqueur, to be launched later this year, is the "best limoncello you ever tasted," DeVito said.
FUNERAL
Celebrities gather to honor Valenti
J. Scott Applewhite/ASSOCIATED PRESS
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Director Steven Spielberg dons a cap as he leaves the funeral of Jack Valenti, the former White House aide and film industry lobbyist, Tuesday at the Cathedral of Saint Matthew the Apostle in Washington, D.C.
WASHINGTON — The stars of Hollywood and Washington came out Tuesday to pay their respects to Jack Valenti, a man at home in the power structures of both cities.
Five days after his death at 85, friends and family members honored Valenti in the Cathedral of Saint Matthew the Apostle, just a few blocks from the White House where he served as assistant to President Lyndon Johnson. Later, as chief of the Motion Picture Association of America, Valenti was a passionate film industry lobbyist, deflecting criticism of Hollywood and fiercely combating threats to the industry such as film piracy.
"If you were Jack's friend, your troubles became his troubles," Douglas said. "When the time' comes for me to be upstairs waiting for St. Peter to see me, I expect Jack to find me and bring me to the big man."
Describing his final visit with Valenti, Douglas said: "He was in a coma. I held his hand and talked to him."
Among the other attendees were actors Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta Jones and director Steven Spielberg.
In his eulogy, Charles Bartlett — a Valenti friend and Washington neighbor — spoke to the dual nature of Valenti's career, saying
he flew from coast to coast in an attempt to balance popular culture and public favor — serving, in effect, two masters.
The political side of the spectrum was represented by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, and Sens. Patrick Leahy, Dianne Feinstein, and John Kerry, among others.
The list of honorary pallbear
ers included big names from all aspects of Valenti's life: California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and his wife Maria Shriver, television producer Bochco, television host and former Johnson staffer Bill Moyers, investor Warren Buffett and actor Clint Eastwood.
At the service, several mourners read selections from Valenti's memoir, "This Time, This Place," to be published in June.
LAWSUIT
Management firm sues Hewitt Handprint Entertainment claims actress reneged on deal
ASSOCIATED PRESS
LOS ANGELES — The lawsuit against Jennifer Love Hewitt alleging breach of contract reads like a Hollywood treatment.
Hewitt, who stars on CBS "Ghost Whisperer," "plays a young woman with the unique ability to talk to 'earth bound spirits' who seek help in 'resolving unfinished business with the living.'" it reads. "In real life, however, Love Hewitt is having troubles 'resolving unfinished business with the living.'"
Handprint Entertainment LLC,
Hewitt's former management firm,
claims the 28-year-old actress has reneged on a 2002 oral agreement to pay a 10 percent commission on all deals negotiated during the company's tenure.
The contract should include earnings from "Ghost Whisperer," Handprint said in the complaint filed in Superior Court.
Hewitt's publicist, Sarah Fuller, referred all questions about the case to the actress' attorney Bob Wallerstein, who didn't immediately return a message left at his office.
Handprint said Hewitt acknowledged the agreement by paying 10 percent of her earnings from her first season on "Ghost Whisperer; even after replacing the company.
riewitt, star of the slasher flick "I Know What you Did Last Summer," "knows what she did last season," the complaint said.
Jennifer Love Hewitt arrives at the Entertainment Tonight/People Magazine Emmy Party in Los Angeles. Hewitt is being sued by her former manager.
Branimir Kvartuc/ASSOCIATED PRESS
》 LEGISLATION
Bono pushes funding for education
ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — Rock, star Bono has tried to feed the world and he's tried to heal the world. Now, he's trying to help some U.S. lawmakers teach the world.
The lead singer of the Irish group U2 — and perennial advocate for anti-poverty programs — on Tuesday joined Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., and other lawmakers seeking to expand basic education around the world.
"I can't vote for any of them, but I'm thankful for what they're doing." Bono said from Ireland during a conference call with legislators. "This is why I'm a fan — and an annoying fan at times — of America."
The singer joined Clinton and Reps. Nita Lowey, D-N.Y., and Spencer Bachus, R-Ala., in pushing long-dormant legislation that would add $10 billion to a global fund to provide education to millions of children in Africa and elsewhere.
An estimated 77 million children worldwide — and 38 million in Africa alone — lack access to education up to the sixth grade. Similar data show that the more education a person has, the more money he or she earns and the less likely he or she is to be infected with HIV.
The group argued that a generous effort by the United States for the world's poorest children would go a long way toward improving the country's international standing, and
reducing the threat of terrorism.
A version of the bill was offered in 2004, but with only Democratic sponsors it went nowhere. Bono and others are hopeful a bipartisan effort could advance the measure.
"Young people who are reading books aren't building bombs," Bachus said.
Action by the U.S. would also compel European nations to offer even more, Bono argued.
certainly doubled up and I will be working on trebling it. I think we can guarantee the double," he said.
Gene Sperling, a former adviser to President Bill Clinton, said Washington is slowly warming to the notion that advancing education abroad helps combat problems of poverty, HIV/AIDS and hunger.
"In 2004, it was partisan legislation that seemed like a pipe dream, and the earth has shifted some on the issue of education in developing countries," Sperling said.
"The United States is just one third of this. Your money will be
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