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Recently in Celebrity News Category
By TOM IACUZIO and KELLY CUCULIANSKY
Local contestant Danny Veltri cooked his way to the top of the Fox reality cooking competition "Hell's Kitchen."
Veltri, who was in Atlantic City for the finale viewing party Thursday, said in an e-mail message that he was elated with the outcome.
"I'm totally pumped that I won, it's surreal," he said. "I just went through the most intense six weeks of my life and here I am standing as the winner after beating out 15 other chefs. "
More than 350 supporters gathered at Flip Flops Grill and Chill in New Smyrna Beach., where Veltri is head chef. It was standing room only as fans watched two big screen TVs outside.
Cheers and fists shot into the air as Veltri, 23, opened the door to his future.
Although the progression of the show had edgy moments, for friends and fans like Doty Marott<cm cq>, it validated what she knew all along.
"I was confident enough to not be so worried about it," said Doty, 27, who attended the viewing party with a big group.
Laurie Giangrasso, a manager at Flip Flops, said it was an emotional night for the Flip Flops family.
"It's a huge lesson for him. He has worked so hard," she said. "And you know what? He's as humble as the day is long. None of this has ever gone to his head."
In an interview last week, Veltri, an Edgewater resident, seemed more than happy with his performance on the show and the way he was portrayed.
"I was curious to see how I would be portrayed," said the 23-year-old chef. "I mean they play up a certain side of everyone's personality. I got a lot of the more quiet side."
But what about his cocky attitude? "That's all me," Veltri was happy to admit. "I think you have to be. You definitely have to have a little chip on your shoulder, a little swagger. It's a dog eat dog business. You need to throw yourself out there."
Veltri also talked about the new digs for Flip Flops. "It's insane. My kitchen there is bigger than our old place," said Veltri. "We're getting all the wrinkles ironed out. It's going to be killer."
But results aside, he said the competition
taught him one thing. "It reminds me how much I love to cook. I'm definitely in the right business."
 I'm over it. Please stop writing stories about Susan Boyle. Associated Press? Do we really need a story every time Boyle changes her clothes? Yes, I get it. She's a good singer. Guess what? Ugly people have been able to sing in the past. Odds are they will in the future. Boyle dyed her hair? We need a new story! She put on a leather jacket? We need a new story! To quote the most recent episode of "South Park," "if one more person talks to me
about that Susan Boyle performance of "Les Miserables" I was going to puke my
***** out through my mouth." So please, Susan, I know you can sing. We all know you can sing. The clock has struck 15. Go away. PHOTO: The Sun
 By now, you've heard about the Chris Brown situation. If you haven't, the hip-hop star has been accused of assault by who we now know is girlfriend and pop star, Rihanna. The latest in the story has cops reporting that her injuries were "horrific." Accordign to TMZ, "the photos show major contusions on both sides of the
singer's face -- there is serious swelling and bruising. Her lip is
split and her nose bloody. We have now confirmed there are bite marks
on one of her arms and on several fingers." TMZ is reporting that Brown struck her with fists. If these reports are true, and it looks like they are, Brown should be hung up to dry for a long time. I've gotten into some fierce arguments with my wife to the point that someone maybe throws something across the room, it happens. But to beat a woman with fists? No reason for it. None. Brown seemed like one of the likable guys in an industry that doesn't have many. And when this story is truly confirmed, I hope Brown tries his tough guy act on Bubba in cell block D. Dirtbag.
 Whether it be death or just a simple retirement, the behind the scenes world of Hollywood has a bad week.
With the passing of Don LaFontaine and Bill Melendez comes the news of the retirement of one of the greatest poster artists of all time, Drew Struzan.
Here's a collection of some of his greatest work...
Plenty more after the jump...
PHOTOS: Drewstruzan.com
 Bill Melendez, the guy who animated some of my favorite holiday classics like "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown," has died.
Melendez was an Oscar nominee and an 8-time Emmy winner. He was the only man Peanuts creator Charles Schulz would allow to oversee the series. Over the course of his career, Melendez animated 68 TV specials, four films and over 350 commercials. He was also the voice of one of the coolest cartoon dogs ever, Snoopy.
Melendez was 91.
PHOTO: AP
 Fanboy's favorite Golden Girl has passed on.
Estelle Getty, who played Bea Arthur's wise-cracking Sicilian mom Sophia on the '80s hit "The Golden Girls" died this morning three days shy of her 85th birthday.
Getty (pictured front) suffered from advanced dementia according to her son, Carl Gettleman.
"She was loved throughout the world in six continents, and if they loved sitcoms in Antarctica she would have been loved on seven continents," Gettleman told the Associated Press.
Getty's career began in 1978 when she played a teacher in a film called "Team-Mates." Until her retirement in 2000, Getty starred in numerous films including "Stop Or My Mom Will Shoot" and "Stuart Little."
But it's "The Golden Girls" which ran from 1985-1992 that will cement her place in pop culture history.
PHOTO: Associated Press
 Christian Bale, the star of "The Dark Knight," has been arrested in London by police investigationg claims of assault against his mother and sister.
According to British newspaper, The Sun, Bale allegedly "lashed out at his mother and sister in his suite at London's Dorchester Hotel" on Sunday evening, the day before the European premiere of "The Dark Knight."
The actor was allowed to attend the premiere and reported to a London police station "by appointment" Tuesday morning after the assault allegation.
The spokesman at the station said there were three likely outcomes to the questioning including his release or his being given bail pending further investigation. Bale also could be charged with the assaults.
Balemay have taken the ad campaign for the film and Burger King urging people to give in to their "dark sides" a little too seriously.
PHOTO: Associated Press
Call it Mole-Gate.
 At the All Star game this past week, a photo was taken of Sarah Jessica Parker sans mole. First reaction from fans and magazines was that the photo was airbrushed. We now know that it wasn't.
The mole has been smote.
"It's true. She did have it done," a friend of Parker told US magazine. "There was no reason for it, it wasn't because she didn't like her mole, and it wasn't because of any medical reason, it was simply because she was in the mood to have it removed. That's all."
No reason for it? Really?
OK, maybe Parker just felt like getting it taken off one day. But I find it hard to believe that being named the "unsexiest woman alive" by Maxim Magazine and a scathing review of Parker's face in "Sex and the City" by Rex Reed had nothing to do with it.
As for the mole? Perhaps it will strike out on its own much like Jerry Lewis did upon breaking up with Dean Martin.
PHOTO: AP
It seems like every other day we find out there is a new celebrity sex tape. Everyone has one: Pamela, Paris, R. Kelly, even Screech from "Saved By the Bell" has a sex tape. Now we get word of a new one.
Verne Troyer. Yes, Mini-me. I can't possibly explain to you how weird this is.
Now don't take offense, I have NOTHING against short people. But for some reason this is just creepy. I see these photos and all I can think of is a dementor sucking the life out of Harry Potter. It's just...scary.
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