LOS ANGELES — A judge on Friday threw out a wrongful-termination lawsuit filed by a former "The Price is Right" employee against CBS and former host Bob Barker.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Malcolm Mackey dismissed the case after finding there were no issues for a trial to resolve, attorneys handling the case said.
Deborah Curling sued Barker and the network in October 2007, alleging she was improperly fired from the show and forced to endure a hostile work environment.
Several claims against Barker were thrown out last year, leaving only a "hostile work environment" allegation against the show's longtime host.
Curling claimed she was dismissed because she testified in a former co-worker's wrongful-termination case. She also accused Barker of making racist and anti-Semitic jokes, but Mackey determined she hadn't proven that claim.
People are also reading…
Curling's attorney, Nick Alden, vowed to appeal the ruling.
Late Fawcett's son is ordered to rehab
LOS ANGELES — Prosecutors say Redmond O'Neal has pleaded no contest to bringing drugs to a jail facility and will be sent to a yearlong rehab program.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office says the son of actors Ryan O'Neal and Farrah Fawcett entered his plea Friday. He will be released from jail and allowed to enter a residential treatment program.
The younger O'Neal has been held since his April arrest for carrying drugs onto the property of a jail north of Los Angeles. It was the latest in a string of drug-related arrests for the 24-year-old.
O'Neal also received three years of probation but faces six years in prison if he gets in trouble again.
Taylor gives Ireland dress to dance in
SANTA BARBARA — Elizabeth Taylor watches "Dancing With the Stars." And if her longtime friend and business partner Kathy Ireland survives long enough into the show's new season, Taylor's presence — and presents — will be apparent.
"For some of the nights, we have to come with our own clothes, and that is not something I am used to doing in my life," explained Ireland, speaking during a break in rehearsals for the series, which returns to ABC Monday.
"And I was so blown away," Ireland continued. "The other day I came home and there was a big package at my door. And I opened it up, and it is this gorgeous Valentino gown from my dear friend, Elizabeth Taylor, who said, 'I know you are so busy trying to learn how to dance and I know how stressful that is for you.' She took the liberty of putting together a complete outfit for me with the accessories."
The 46-year-old former swimsuit model-turned-brand-mogul says the dress is lavender, and "stunning."
And as for the 77-year-old Taylor?
"She is doing excellent," Ireland said. "She is working away, busy as ever. And she is my inspiration."
Suit against Caruso of 'CSI' is dismissed
LOS ANGELES — Court records show David Caruso's ex-girlfriend has agreed to the dismissal of a lawsuit against the actor claiming intentional infliction of emotional distress.
An attorney for Caruso filed for dismissal last week in Los Angeles.
Liza Marquez sued the "CSI: Miami" star in April, claiming he was emotionally abusive during their relationship and had promised to pay her $1.2 million. The couple have two children together.
Records show that Marquez and Caruso will each pay their own lawyers' costs and neither is receiving anything of value as a result of the dismissal. No other details were given.
ILLINOIS
Winfrey's latest pick is story collection
CHICAGO — Oprah Winfrey has blessed the book world's eternal underdog: the short story.
Publishing's surest hitmaker announced Friday that her latest pick was Uwem Akpan's debut collection "Say You're One Of Them," practically guaranteeing hundreds of thousands of sales.
In making her 63rd book selection on "The Oprah Winfrey Show," the queen of talk said she never before had given a book of short stories the nod because, she explained, "usually short stories leave you wanting something and you're like, 'Huh, what happened?' "
Akpan's book, she went on, was an exception.
Akpan, 38, is a native of Nigeria and an ordained Jesuit priest who in 2006 received a master's degree in creative writing from the University of Michigan. His work is set in Nigeria, Rwanda and other African countries and often centers on children in distress.
NEW YORK
Final 'Guiding Light' seals couple's future
NEW YORK — Friday marked the final flicker of CBS's "Guiding Light," as that venerable daytime drama logged its farewell hour after 72 years on the air.
The last episode took an upbeat, life-affirming tone, complete with a scene that gathered many of the characters at a picnic in the park on a beautiful day.
And the closing moments sealed the future of the show's signature on-and-off-again super-couple: Reva (Kim Zimmer, who created the role in 1983) and Josh (Robert Newman, who started on the show in 1981).
They rendezvoused, according to plan, at the local lighthouse and declared their undying love. Then these soul mates climbed into Josh's pickup truck.
"You ready?" asked Josh.
"Always," Reva said.
And they drove away, as the words "The End" flashed on the screen before a final fade-out.
On Oct. 5, CBS will fill the slot "Guiding Light" is vacating with a new edition of the game show "Let's Make a Deal."
Hudson says her son is really into music
NEW YORK — Jennifer Hudson's son is only 1 month old, but she already sees singing in his future.
The Grammy and Oscar winner performed Thursday at the "VH1 Divas" concert. Before the show, she said Daniel David Otunga — named after her fiance — is really into music like she was when she was a child.
The 27-year-old — who suffered tragedy last year when her mother, brother and nephew were slain — says being pregnant was a beautiful experience — and good for her.
And while Hudson thinks her son is in tune with music, she says nothing is set in stone, and she's looking forward to seeing "who he becomes, who he takes after, what he decides to do, if he'll sing."
