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Steve Albini Way received its official designation during a ceremony featuring his widow Heather Whinna, Kim Deal, Electrical Audio staff, and others in Chicago on Monday. The public event drew a large crowd of fans and friends to the stretch of West Belmont Avenue that flanks Albini’s Electrical Audio studio — now named Steve Albini Way. It was followed by a private, intimate performance inside the legendary studio featuring a set by Jeff Tweedy, Fred Armisen, and Mekons members Jon Langford and Sally Timms.

During the dedication, Whinna and Electrical...

The former Manchester United footballer David Beckham is sueing Hollywood actor Mark Wahlberg who is the Chief Brand Officer of fitness brand Functional 45 aka F45 for allegedly “duping” him into becoming a brand ambassador for the fitness brand.

For clarity purposes, David and Mark became friends after the footballer and his family relocated to Los Angeles in 2007. Mark joined the F45 in 2019 and went on to create his own workout routines ‘Wahlberg Week’ which are performance-based workouts that are carried out multiple times yearly and it’s exclusive to all F45 studios.

Anyway, Mark was able to convince David to become the brand ambassador for F45 in 2020 and by November of that year, the former Real Madrid player was onboard and took to his social media platforms including Instagram to promote the brand by sharing photos he took in the studio with the customized F45 gym as part of the...

Disney+ Asia Slate Takes Shape

Disney+ has set an Aug. 9 upload date for Korean series “Moving” from webtoon pioneer Kang Full.

The previously announced title forms part of a 20-component slate of films and series from East Asia that will release on the Disney-backed streaming platform in the second half of 2023 and through 2024.

Also from Korea is “The Worst of Evil,” a detective series in which a rural policemen is brought to the big city to bring down a DJ dealing in a potent new drug. It stars Ji Changwook, “Squid Game” actor Wi Hajun and Lim Semi.

Highlights from Japan include “Tokyo Revengers: Tenjiku Arc,” the latest instalments of a popular anime franchise, and the previously announced “Dragons of Wonderhatch,” a hybrid story set in both the “real world” and an anime land where dragons and humans coexist. The multi-dimensional story stars Nakajima Sena, Okudaira Daiken and Mackenyu.

The...

A Senate committee has launched an investigation into the agreement between the PGA and the Saudi-backed Liv Golf League, announced last week despite legal and public acrimony between the two organizations.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-ct), the chairman of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, said that the investigation “is key to understanding the potential risks posed by the Saudi government assuming control of this cherished American institution.”

In a letter to PGA Commissioner Jay Monahan, Blumenthal wrote that the U.S. golf league’s “sudden and drastic reversal of position concerning Liv Golf raise serious questions regarding the reasons for and terms behind the announced agreement.”

Blumenthal is requesting documents and other information related to the agreement. He cited concerns that the Saudi investments are a form of sportswashing, or softening its image despite a “deeply disturbing human rights record at home and abroad.”

“In fact, prior to this agreement, PGA Tour...

Earlier this month, The CW proudly trumpeted how the 2023 Liv Golf League season will air in 100% of markets across the U.S. The 14-event schedule kicks off Friday at the El Camaleón Mayakoba Golf Course in Mexico, with the CW app streaming coverage on Fridays and linear CW broadcast picking up on Saturdays and Sundays.

What was missing from the surprise announcement last week was the list of CW affiliates that declined to air the Saudi-funded tour that has deeply divided professional golf. Since CW affiliates are only contractually obligated to air primetime programming, all eight of the CBS-owned CW affiliates declined to air the weekend tourneys. So did the Weigel-owned CW affiliate Wciu in Chicago, and Tegna-owned CW...

Changes are afoot at The CW.

The Nexstar-owned network closed a multi-year deal with the Liv Golf company this week.

As a result, the network will air 14 Liv Golf events in 2023.

The first event will be a tournament held in Mexico on February 24-26.

Tournaments will air live on the network and app on Saturdays and Sundays, but Friday matches will be exclusive to the app.

"Our new partnership between The CW and Liv Golf will deliver a whole new audience and add to the growing worldwide excitement for the league," CW president Dennis Miller said in a statement.

"With CW's broadcasts and streams, more fans across the country and around the globe can partake in the Liv Golf energy and view its innovative competition that has reimagined the sport for players, fans and the game of golf."

"For The CW, our partnership with Liv Golf marks a significant milestone...

Is this a taste of what the new, Nexstar-owned CW has to offer?

The network has partnered with Saudi-backed Liv Golf to become Liv’s U.S. broadcast television and streaming home, as part of a multi-year agreement announced Thursday. As part of the deal, The CW will air 14 global Liv Golf League live events in 2023; weekend tourneys will air Saturdays and Sundays on The CW, and Fridays on The CW app.

More from TVLineCW Owner Nexstar Called Out for Partnering With Saudi-Backed Liv Golf: 'Saudi Arabia Murdered a Journalist'Sarah Michelle Gellar Reveals She Said No to a Season 2 of Ringer,...

The CW is officially getting into the Liv Golf business.

The Nexstar-owned broadcast network has signed a multi-year deal with the startup golf association, which is backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.

Under the terms of the deal The CW will air 14 Liv Golf events in 2023, beginning with a tournament to be held in Mexico Feb. 24-26. The tournaments will air live on The CW and stream on the CW app on Saturdays and Sundays, with the Friday matches streaming on the app.

The Hollywood Reporter previously reported that the two sides were “very close” to a deal.

Notably, Liv Golf will continue to produce its own event coverage for the 2023 tournament season (it produced the 2022 season, which it streamed on its YouTube channel). Arlo White will return as play-by-play host with David Feherty and Jerry Foltz serving as analysts.

Financial terms were not disclosed, so it is...

Who knew when the year began that a sequel to a 36-year-old movie starring its 60-year-old actor who headlined the original would be the box office champ so far this year? But “Top Gun: Maverick” starring Tom Cruise, which was released Aug. 23 on digital formats while still flying high in theaters is not only the No. 1 film of the year with a staggering haul of 683.4 million domestically and 720 million overseas. And the acclaimed film didn’t even play in China or Russia. “Top Gun: Maverick” is also the biggest film of Cruise’s career which began in 1981 with Franco Zeffirelli’s “Endless Love.”

And with the digital release, let’s relive 1986, the year we first felt the need for speed and flew into the danger zone. The year the original “Top Gun” took our breath away.

Top 10 Box Office Hits

Top Gun (natch)

Crocodile Dundee

Platoon

The Karate Kid Part...

“We’re not taking sides in this,” said Tucker Carlson on his popular Fox News show last night, “but one of the biggest controversies in sports in many years is taking place between the PGA Tour and an upstart tour called Liv.”

Carlson then offered up an interview with Liv tour CEO and golf legend Greg Norman.

“Why is it so offensive to some American golf fans that you’re doing here?” the Tucker Carlson Tonight host asked.

“I don’t know. I really don’t really care, quite honestly. I really just want to grow the game of golf,” replied Norman. “We at Liv see that opportunity not just for the men but for the women. We at Liv see it for NCAA and younger generations. We at Liv see it as a pathway to opportunities for these kids to experience a new world out there. Liv is the future of golf.

Rumors have swirled of late that the latest big name who may decamp to the Saudi-backed Liv golf tour is TNT NBA analyst and onetime owner of the worst swing in golf, Charles Barkley.

PGA legend Greg Norman is the league’s CEO, and big name U.S. players like Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson have already signed on for eye-popping sums. Tiger Woods turned Liv down.

Saudi Arabia’s human rights record, the killing of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi and questions about the country’s ties to the Sept. 11 attacks have many reluctant to partner with Liv for any price. Indeed, families of 9/11 victims have called the decision to go forward this weekend with an Liv tournament at Donald Trump’s Bedminster golf club in New Jersey, not far from where the attacks took place, “offensive, disrespectful and hurtful.”

As a result, no U.S. broadcaster or cable...

The fourth season of Netflix’s “Stranger Things” is set in 1986. Talk about déjà vu.

The top movie of the year was “Top Gun” starring Tom Cruise and this year, the sequel “Top Gun: Maverick” is the top flick earning nearly 582 million in North America. “Cobra Kai,”the TV sequel to “Karate Kid,” is one of the most popular series on Netflix and several “Star Trek” series have blasted off on “Paramount+.

A handful the top ten TV series including “Cheers,” “Murder, She Wrote” and “The Golden Girls” are living on in repeats. One of the top series, “60 Minutes,” is still chugging away on CBS after 54 seasons making it the longest running primetime series on the small screen. And Michael J. Fox, who won the Emmy that year for “Family Ties,” will receive an honorary Oscar this fall.

So, in honor of “Stranger Things” let’s take the time...

Six-time major winner Phil Mickelson today announced he will return to golf in Liv Golf’s London tournament this Thursday. “Lefty,” as he is known, took a four-month break after remarks he made about the PGA and Saudi Arabia.

Today, with a post to social media, Mickelson reiterated his apology from four months ago, said he’s been through a lot of therapy and is “thrilled to begin with Liv Golf and appreciate everyone involved” in the burgeoning new circuit financed by the Saudi Public Investment Fund.

pic.twitter.com/riT2ot0yvk

— Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) June 6, 2022

Michelson, a ratings draw, will reportedly receive a payday between 100 million and 200 million to play in the events — and that’s before any prize money. He also intends to still play in PGA majors.

In February, the same month he played his last Liv Golf tournament, Mickelson told author Alan Shipnuck of the Saudis,...

At what point does self-awareness turn inside out, to become the very thing it’s observing? “The Phantom of the Open” tries so hard to be a winking commentary on British heartwarmers about lovable outsiders. And its efforts are, as often as not, entertaining. But after a while, it becomes clear that what it wants more than anything is to be embraced as a crowd-pleasing comedy itself.

After noting that his film is based on a true story, director Craig Roberts begins at the end, with an aged Maurice Flitcroft (Mark Rylance) reminiscing about his rather extraordinary golfing career. Why was it so extraordinary? Because, we learn in flashback, it was the epitome of ordinary.

Back in 1976, Flitcroft is just an unassuming shipyard worker, raising three unassuming boys with his unassuming wife Jean (Sally Hawkins). His teen twins (Jonah and Christian Lees) want to be disco dancers, and his older...

Former ESPN content chief Connor Schell has brought in former colleague Libby Geist to help run his new nonfiction banner Words + Pictures as it ramps up productions of documentary fare.

Libby Geist will serve as the production company’s executive VP and head of documentaries, overseeing the development of one-off docus and docuseries for the New York-based company founded in February 2021 with Chernin Entertainment as its sole investor. Geist worked alongside Schell for more than a decade at ESPN, where she served as VP and executive producer of ESPN Films and Original Content until 2020. During her tenure at ESPN Films, Geist executive produced several seminal nonfiction projects including “The Last Dance,” the “30 for 30” series, and “O.J.: Made in America,” which won an Academy Award in 2017.

As an executive producer on the “30 for 30” series, which Schell co-founded with Bill Simmons in 2007, Geist has worked alongside some of...

Leading Spanish indie sales outfit Filmax has scooped the international rights to “Seve: One Man Army,” a new feature-length documentary about legendary Spanish golfer Severiano Ballesteros, arguably the top golfer of his era and a Spanish icon on and off the course. Filmax will be shopping the title at this year’s American Film Market.

Currently available on Amazon Prime Video in Spain, the documentary is directed by Hugo Stuven (“Solo”) and produced by Luis Velo and Guillermo Gomez, co-producers on the Amazon Original documentary series “The Challenge: Eta,” Netflix’s docu-series “La Linea: Shadow of the Narco,” in addition to another sports-themed documentary in “Huesca, más allá de un sueño.”

“Seve” mixes archival footage with interviews and anecdotes from other world class golfers, referees, journalists and several others close to him during his lifetime. Big names appearing in the film include Gary Player, Greg Norman, Jack Nicklaus, Jose Maria Olazabal,...

‘Holey Moley.’

The Seven Network is counting on new and returning franchises and three new Australian dramas to maintain ratings momentum next year.

Unveiling its 2021 schedule today, Seven trumpeted The Voice, Holey Moley, Ultimate Tag, Big Brother, Farmer Wants a Wife, Australia’s Got Talent and the renewal of Sas Australia.

The network also revealed it will revive Fremantle’s Australian Idol, which last screened on Network 10 in 2009. Production on the reboot is due to start mid-year and it will premiere in February 2022.

The dramas are Endemol Shine Banks’ Rfds ; Roadshow Rough Diamond’s Australian Gangster, which finally makes the schedule after a three-year delay due to legal issues; and the second season of Every Cloud Productions’ Ms Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries, a co-commission with North American streamer Acorn TV.

Among the new factual entertainment shows, Blink TV’s Australia: Now and Then, will ask celebrities, comedians, musicians,...

Fox Corp. CEO Lachlan Murdoch and Fox News and Fox Business personalities Maria Bartiromo and Lou Dobbs were among the guests at tonight’s White House State Dinner for Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

Also on the guest list: Marvel’s Ike Perlmutter and News Corp. CEO Robert Thomson.

This is President Donald Trump’s second state dinner, but it’s taking place just as the news media is fixated on a potentially new bombshell story: A whistleblower’s complaint over a conversation that Trump had with a foreign leader.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that Trump, in a call with Ukranian leader Volodymyr Zelensky in July, repeatedly asked him to investigate Joe Biden’s son, Hunter, who was a director of a Ukrainian gas company.

Trump has dismissed the speculation over what was said in the conversation, calling it “totally appropriate.” He blasted the media coverage and...

Bill Murray still fondly remembers his days working as a “looper”: “You know, a caddie, a jock.” We’ll let this guy explain it to you.

In the new documentary “Loopers: The Caddie’s Long Walk,” Murray narrates the history of the caddie’s importance to the game of golf and even recounts some of his own memories.

“When I first started, I got three dollars a bag. Then they bumped it to four,” the former “Caddyshack” star says in the exclusive trailer obtained by TheWrap. “The money got out of control.”

Also Read: 5 Crazy Stories You Didn't Know About the Making of 'Caddyshack'

As it’s explained in the trailer, an 18-hole round of golf was called a loop, so caddies in turn called themselves “loopers.”

But the documentary “Loopers” goes deeper into the bond shared between golfers and their caddies as they spend hours of time together,...

Chris Evert says she doesn’t need a man to feel complete.

Busy with tennis, fitness, regular commentary for Espn, business deals and endorsements, the tennis legend is thriving and productive.

“I am not dating anybody, and I am not looking,” Evert, 62, tells People Saturday night during the 28th Chris Evert/Raymond James Pro-Celebrity Tennis Classic gala at Florida’s Boca Raton Resort & Club.

“I needed to be alone for five or six years to find peace in my heart. I had to learn how to rely on myself and not on other people,” continues Evert, who has three sons — Alexander,...

It’s now officially official. Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer—the New York City restaurants known for their towering, over-the-top milkshakes—knows how to make a darn good burger.

At the New York City Wine & Food Festival on Friday night, Rachael Ray hosted her annual Burger Bash competition showdown and, for the second year in a row, Black Tap’s Joe Isidori was presented the coveted 2017 People’s Choice award. Isadori’s “The Greg Norman” burger—a juicy, wagyu beef patty topped with house buttermilk-dill sauce, blue cheese and arugula on a potato roll—beat out dozens of the nation...

The Great White Shark is showing off his great bare bod.

Australian golf legend Greg Norman, 62, posed totally in the buff while hitting the trail in Colorado – and shared the nude photo on Instagram.

“Not too many options here at 11,850 ft in the Colorado Flat Top Wilderness after 2 days in the saddle,” wrote Norman, adding that his time going au naturel left him feeling a little “#chilly.”

Norman – who owns the Seven Lakes Ranch in the state’s White River National Forest – showcased more of his time in the great outdoors with wife Kristen Norman on social media, writing, “I have a therapist.

[[tmz:video id="0_wpzmh0qu"]] Tiger Woods might as well hang it up .... 'cause his days of being a dominant golfer are Over ... so says PGA legend Greg Norman. We got the two-time British Open champ out in NYC and put it to him plain ... asking if Tiger Woods, who hasn't been the same since ... you know ... can ever get his mojo back and be the #1 guy again. The short answer -- nope. And Norman ain't sugarcoating it. Btw --...

Tennis star Chris Evert spoke candidly about her marriage to Olympian Andy Mill, revealing that menopause played a part in their 2006 divorce. Although Evert, 61, didn't go too far into the specifics during a Tuesday appearance on Lance Armstrong's The Forward Podcast, she did hint that the hormonal changes associated with menopause had negative affects on her 18-year marriage. "We had a rough couple of years, because I married Greg Norman who was Andy's friend," she said. "I don't know, I was going through menopausal stuff that doesn't get talked about enough - what women go through, you know, at 50ish.

Tennis star Chris Evert spoke candidly about her marriage to Olympian Andy Mill, revealing that menopause played a part in their 2006 divorce. Although Evert, 61, didn't go too far into the specifics during a Tuesday appearance on Lance Armstrong's The Forward Podcast, she did hint that the hormonal changes associated with menopause had negative affects on her 18-year marriage. "We had a rough couple of years, because I married Greg Norman who was Andy's friend," she said. "I don't know, I was going through menopausal stuff that doesn't get talked about enough - what women go through, you know, at 50ish.

[[tmz:video id="0_819dla7t"]] Tennis great Chris Evert says menopause is at least partly to blame for the demise of her marriage to Olympian Andy Mill ... insinuating the hormonal change had a major impact on the relationship. 61-year-old Evert opened up about the situation on Lance Armstrong's "The Forward Podcast" -- when the two were talking about the positive relationships they have with their exes ... including Mill. Fyi, Evert and Mill had 3 kids together before they divorced in 2006. Two years later,...

"Working with a chainsaw Always be respectful of the unexpected," is a pretty ominous caption for a photo. But don't worry, golf fans: Greg Norman is okay. The 59-year-old Australian and former pro golfer was rushed to the hospital Saturday after an accident with the power tool, which nearly cost him his left hand. But, as of Sunday, he was back on his feet and in good spirits. "All well the morning after… at the scene of the crime," he wrote in an Instagram post. After the incident, Norman posted a picture of himself lying in a hospital bed with his left arm bandaged.

"Working with a chainsaw Always be respectful of the unexpected," is a pretty ominous caption for a photo. But don't worry, golf fans: Greg Norman is okay. The 59-year-old Australian and former pro golfer was rushed to the hospital Saturday after an accident with the power tool, which nearly cost him his left hand. But, as of Sunday, he was back on his feet and in good spirits. "All well the morning after… at the scene of the crime," he wrote in an Instagram post. After the incident, Norman posted a picture of himself lying in a hospital bed with his left arm bandaged.

The idea is simple: Take a bucket of ice water, dump it over your head, record it and post the video on social media. It's cold, it's fun and it's contagious. But these ice bucket challenges and similar social-media-powered stunts also are raising awareness and money for causes such as Lou Gehrig's disease, breast cancer and a camp for kids who have lost their fathers to war. Martha Stewart has been doused. So has Matt Lauer. And pro golfer Greg Norman. Same with Lance Bass. The fundraising phenomenon asks those willing to douse themselves to challenge others to do the same within 24 hours.

The idea is simple: Take a bucket of ice water, dump it over your head, record it and post the video on social media. It's cold, it's fun and it's contagious. But these ice bucket challenges and similar social media-powered stunts also are raising awareness and money for causes such as Lou Gehrig's disease, breast cancer and a camp for kids who have lost their fathers to war. Martha Stewart has been doused. So has Matt Lauer. And pro golfer Greg Norman. Same with Lance Bass. The fundraising phenomenon asks those willing to douse themselves to challenge others to do the same within 24 hours.

Joe Buck and Greg Norman were named the new faces of Fox Sports golf coverage Wednesday. Buck, a seven-time Emmy Award winner, and Norman, an inductee in the World Golf Hall of Fame, will lead the Fox Sports broadcast team when they take to the green for the Usga Championships in 2015, it was announced in a conference call with network executives. Calling it a "big day for Fox Sports," Buck told reporters: "It says a lot about the Usga that they are willing to take this leap with us."  Buck went on to promise Usga president Tom O'Toole that

read more...

While Adam Scott thrilled golf fans on Sunday with his dramatic Masters playoff win over Angel Cabrera, the hunky Aussie also picked up legions of fans with his broad smile, thick locks and muscled arms. Here are five fun facts about the world's newest fairway star - who is also be the first Australian to win the tournament. 1. He's Single! At 32, Scott, a lanky 6', 180-lb. native of Adelaide, Australia, has never been married. 2. ... But He Has a Glamorous Past According to the Daily Mail, he's dated two celebrities: Kate Hudson, in 2009, and the tennis star Ana Ivanovic, from whom...

Zap2it: How would you describe your interviewing style on your Golf Channel talk show, "Feherty"?

David Feherty: I'll start, and I'll forget the question that I've asked halfway through asking it, and it will end up being another question altogether, which leaves my subject completely nonplussed, looking like a donkey that's just found a new gate. Because I'm so attention-deficit, it turns into more of a conversation than an interview. I think that's what we're looking for. I'm not sure.

Zap2it: How did you get Bill Clinton on your show?

David Feherty: I went to the Humana Challenge last year in Palm Springs to meet with him just to secure the thing. He was playing with Greg Norman, who's also been on the show. And he said, "Feherty, you know why I'm going to be on your show?" And I said, "Not really." He says, "Because...

Randy takes a swim.

Don’t be too quick to fish for a white wine to pair with the 1978 Jaws parody, Piranha. The Roger Corman production, directed by Tfh chief guru Joe Dante will probably require something with a little more bite.

While Jaws had only one fish – okay, it was a pretty big fish – Piranha has a whole school of the fanged demons chewing up the scenery, and anything else into which they can sink their teeth. A Piranha attack is something which has fascinated me all my life, and apparently Dante was similarly taken with the idea of a bunch of fish picking a carcass clean.

You have to love the script’s plan to kill the piranhas by opening up the waste tank at a smelting plant and prevent them from making it into the open water of the ocean. It may be the only time in...

Randy hits a hole-in-one.

Golfers love wine – after they are done golfing. While they are golfing, it’s beer. Those inconsiderate showoffs who can shoot in the 80s probably guzzle Gatorade, or Red Bull or something called “water.” Who cares what those inconsiderate showoffs drink, though?

Golfers love “Caddyshack,” too. Even non-golfers love “Caddyshack,” but let’s stay on the course. I was a golfer myself, once upon a time. I found that the “good walk spoilt” sentiment from Samuel Clemens was too true for me to continue. Reaching into the cooler on the golf cart was a lot more fun than reaching into my bag for a club. I tried carrying my bag, but if I’m to enjoy a walk in the grass, I don’t need a hundred pounds of clubs on my shoulder. Especially when I only use three of them.

And, to me, a walk...

George Clooney wants to get his hands on an Olympic ticket, London cabbies are unhappy and Britain's spies will be chained to their desks

Canada's women celebrate in defeat

Canada's women footballers were left to celebrate their qualification for 2012, despite being thrashed 4-0 by the USA in the Concacaf Olympic qualifying final. A 3-1 win over Mexico in the semis had already guaranteed the Canadians a spot at this summer's Games for only the second time. Probably just as well.

Madrid look to the distant future

There are already concerns over the logo for Madrid's 2020 Games bid, which was released this week. The logo, designed by a 22-year-old graphic arts student, appears to read 'Madrid 20020'. A whopping 81% of the Spanish public have declared their opposition to the logo, while commentators have labelled the design as "confusing and naff".

Not a happy cabby

London cab drivers could go on strike during the Olympics,...

Afp/Getty Images President Barack Obama shakes hands with local residents after speaking on economy and housing at a residential neighborhood in Las Vegas, Nevada, on October 24, 2011.

What does Obama’s doctor say about the president’s health? Is that just-released Beach Boys album really the legendary “Smile” album? And what do you need to know before you hire an architect? A look at the most interesting posts from the Wall Street Journal blogs.

Obama’s Doctor Says He’s...

It was definitely Saturday Night, but not entirely Live, during the third episode of SNL‘s 37th season. But while there seemed to be an unusually high number of pre-taped bits during Ben Stiller’s latest hosting stint, you won’t hear me complaining. Nearly every skit this week managed to score a couple of genuine laughs, even if it most of them were attributable to SNL regulars like Jason Sudeikis, Bill Hader, and Nasim Pedrad moreso than Stiller himself. Here are my picks for the episode’s best and worst (with apologies to the always delightful Stefon, who’s...

Golfer Greg Norman at the 2009 U.S. Senior Open. By Jamie Squire/Getty Images.I’ll always have a soft spot in my heart for Greg Norman. Because of him, I realized that golf could actually be fascinating melodrama. For most of my youth, the only golf match I had any interest in was the showdown between Ted Knight and Rodney Dangerfield in Caddyshack. But on one fateful weekend in April, as I sipped beer with my father and watched the ‘96 Masters—a little drunk is the only way I can watch golf—I saw one of the most remarkable meltdowns in the history of professional sports. It was a foregone conclusion that Greg “The Shark” Norman would win the Masters in 1996, much the same way that Michael Jordan would lead the ’96 Bulls to an N.B.A. Championship. The only way he could lose was by dropping dead at Augusta,...

It's been an incredible year in the world of showbiz, with the usual headline-grabbing antics, scandal, sleaze, celebrity births, star weddings, and bitter break-ups. Here, WENN takes a look back at the first six months of 2010...

January

Matthew McConaughey became the first new celebrity dad of 2010 when he and Camila Alves welcomed baby Vida into the world, but they weren't the only couple celebrating births. Mark Wahlberg and Will Ferrell experienced the joys of fatherhood all over again, while supermodel Claudia Schiffer and actress Monica Bellucci were bursting with excitement after announcing their pregnancies.

Love was certainly in the air - actor Josh Duhamel renewed his vows with Fergie, and British model Sophie Dahl became Mrs. Jamie Cullum. Russell Brand confirmed plans to wed Katy Perry, and Michael Buble got down on bended knee to propose to model Luisana Lopilato.

The same couldn't be said for Charlize Theron and Stuart Townsend - they called it quits after nine years together. A cancer-stricken Dennis Hopper filed for divorce from his wife, and sporting pair Chris Evert and Greg Norman finalised the dissolution of their 18-month marriage.

There were new troubles for embattled celebrity offspring - Farrah Fawcett and Ryan O'Neal's boy Redmond was jailed after another drugs bust, and the future was bleak for Michael Douglas' actor son Cameron, who prepared for a lengthy prison sentence after pleading guilty to drug trafficking charges.

Meanwhile, illusionist David Copperfield was cleared of rape allegations, and actor Rip Torn was arrested after he was found passed out on the floor of a Connecticut bank, clutching a gun. Diff'rent Strokes star Gary Coleman was arrested on allegations of domestic assault and then hospitalised following a number of seizures.

Bad health also struck Dexter's Michael C. Hall, who was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma, just as Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber revealed he had overcome prostate cancer.

The music industry mourned the death of R&B legend Teddy Pendergrass when he lost his battle with colon cancer, while the literary world was hit hard with the passing of beloved author J.D. Salinger.

Awards season was in full swing and Beyonce, Kings of Leon and Taylor Swift ruled the 2010 Grammy Awards, while director James Cameron's Avatar collected top honours at the Golden Globes and the Critics' Choice Movie Awards.

In the TV world, Simon Cowell confirmed he was stepping down as an American Idol judge, Miley Cyrus announced she was turning her back on Hannah Montana, and Ugly Betty got the axe from network executives.

Elsewhere, George Clooney led the Hope For Haiti Now telethon to raise funds for the Haitian victims of the 12 January earthquake, enlisting pals Jack Nicholson, Ben Affleck and Mel Gibson to man the phones as Madonna, Bono and Beyonce performed for charity. Clooney, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Sandra Bullock and Gisele Bundchen all led by example and donated huge sums to the relief efforts, and the telethon raised more than $57 million (£35.6 million).

Jessica Biel and Emile Hirsch fronted another big charity drive when they joined a team of stars to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, drawing attention to Africa's chronic water shortage. They reached the Tanzanian peak for the Summit on the Summit: Kilimanjaro campaign on 12 January, six days after embarking on the challenge.

February

February was marked by tragedy when celebrated fashion designer Alexander Mcqueen was found dead after hanging himself at his London home. Meanwhile, investigations into Michael Jackson’s death in June, 2009 loomed as coroner’s officials determined acute intoxication of powerful anaesthetic Propofol was the cause. The ruling prompted prosecutors to file involuntary manslaughter charges against his former doctor Conrad Murray. Officials also ruled Brittany Murphy’s death in December, 2009 was accidental and caused by pneumonia, aided by anaemia and drug intoxication. Andrew Koenig’s family continued to mourn after his body was found in Vancouver following an apparent suicide. Marie Osmond also grieved the apparent suicide death of her 18-year-old son.

Nancy Kerrigan’s family was rocked by controversy after her brother, Mark, became the target of an investigation of their father’s homicide. Meanwhile, Etta James’ son revealed the singer had been secretly battling Alzheimer's disease for more than a year.

But there were still celebrations in Hollywood. James Cameron’s sci-fi film Avatar became the highest grossing movie in the U.S. and the U.K. His ex-wife, Kathryn Bigelow, had something to boast about too when her war drama, The Hurt Locker, scored nine Oscar nods, the same amount as Cameron’s cinematic sensation. She also won top awards at the BAFTAs.

The world watched as Canada's brightest stars including Bryan Adams, Nelly Furtado, K.D. lang and Joni Mitchell teamed up to help launch the Winter Olympics in the country. And in London, Lady Gaga walked away with the Brit Awards’ top honours. Beatles drummer Ringo Starr unveiled his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and The Beatles' favourite recording studio Abbey Road was awarded historic status by the British government. Celine Dion, Kanye West, and Jennifer Hudson were among singers who recorded vocals for Quincy Jones and Lionel Richie's revamped We Are The World track to raise money for earthquake-ravaged Haiti. The country's biggest celebrity activist Sean Penn was caught in controversy and charged with criminal battery and vandalism following a violent run-in with a paparazzo, while Lil Wayne celebrated winning a postponement on his prison sentence for weapons possession.

It was a romantic month for several stars who announced plans to wed, including Nicole Richie and Joel Madden, Hilary Duff and ice hockey ace Mike Comrie, and Dave Annabelle and Odette Yustman. Kristen Bell revealed boyfriend Dax Shepard had proposed back in December, 2009. Meanwhile, Sienna Miller, who called off her engagement to Jude Law in 2006, rekindled her romance with the actor. Several stars welcomed bundles of joy, including Padma Lakshmi, Boris Becker, Sarah Jane Morris and Gary Busey. February wasn’t such a loved-up month for Ryan Phillippe and Abbie Cornish, or Cheryl Cole and her soccer star husband Ashley - both couples split. John Mayer risked the wrath of ex Jessica Simpson after referring to her as “sexual napalm”.

Public scandal took over headlines when Tiger Woods finally addressed reports he cheated on ex-wife Elin Nordegren with several mistresses and announced plans to return to rehab for sex therapy. Exes waged war in court, including Dennis Hopper, who won a restraining order against his estranged wife. Charlie Sheen was charged with felony menacing, third degree assault and misdemeanour criminal mischief stemming from an alleged altercation with his now-estranged wife, Brooke Mueller. Both parties checked in to rehab.

March

It was a shocking way to start the spring as March saw two of Hollywood's biggest star couples announce break-ups - Kate Winslet parted ways with her second husband Sam Mendes after seven years and Sandra Bullock's Oscar win was overshadowed after she found out partner Jesse James had cheated on her.

March wasn't any better for Take That's Mark Owen, who was also accused of cheating on his longtime girlfriend Emma Ferguson with 10 women - and he later revealed he's a struggling alcoholic and checked himself into rehab.

More scandals came as the month progressed, with fiery supermodel Naomi Campbell accused of attacking her driver by striking him on the head, and Michael Jackson's mum Katherine visited by welfare officials in Los Angeles over allegations one of her grandkids had purchased a stun gun.

Rapper J-Kwon was reported as a missing person after he failed to get in contact with his loved ones for more than a month, and reclusive R&B star D'Angelo was arrested in New York for offering an undercover cop cash for oral sex.

Other stars facing a tough time included Lil Wayne, who began an eight-month stretch behind bars stemming from a 2007 weapon possession arrest, and Lindsay Lohan, who had a fashion flop on her hands after being axed as the artistic advisor of style house Emanuel Ungaro following a slated catwalk collection.

But it wasn't all doom and gloom - Kathryn Bigelow made Oscars history when she became the first female to land the top director Academy Award for her war movie The Hurt Locker, beating ex-husband James Cameron in the process. Music mogul Simon Cowell confirmed his engagement to make-up artist Mezhgan Hussainy while others to put a ring on it included Friends star David Schwimmer, who proposed to his photographer girlfriend Zoe Buckman, and Sacha Baron Cohen and Isla Fisher, who enjoyed a small private wedding ceremony in Paris, France.

There was also a string of spring babies - Shakespeare In Love star Joseph Fiennes became a first-time father after welcoming a daughter, while Kevin Costner announced he was set to become a dad for a seventh time. Hollywood stars Eric Dane and Rebecca Gayheart also became parents for the first time after the actress gave birth to a baby girl.

While March saw ups and downs for some of Tinseltown's finest, others were looking on the bright side - Ricky Martin confirmed the worst kept secret in pop by announcing he's homosexual, while Will & Grace star Sean Hayes also decided to come out of the closet and spoke for the first time about his sexuality.

Every fan of 1980s movies was left devastated after hearing Corey Haim had died from a drug overdose - the Lost Boys star was aged 38. The month also saw the passings of Little Women star Richard Stapley, veteran British actor Martin Benson and beloved U.S. TV star Fess Parker.

April

The eruption of a volcano in Iceland at the end of March meant the following month was dogged by stories of stranded stars as a giant ash cloud swept over northern Europe and closed airports across the continent.

California's Coachella festival was under threat as a number of acts cancelled their slots when they were unable to fly out to the U.S.

Several movie premieres were also affected in the chaos - the Iron Man 2 red carpet event in London was moved to Los Angeles when stars including Robert Downey, Jr. were unable to jet to Britain. Miley Cyrus also scrapped plans to unveil her film The Last Song in the British capital due to the cancelled flights.

TV stars Chace Crawford and Kiefer Sutherland were both stranded in London after the ash cloud hit, and the 24 actor made the most of his extended stay by taking trips to some of Britain's best-known landmarks, including a day out to visit Stonehenge.

But many celebrities refused to let a little bit of volcano ash get in the way of their work - Metallica continued their tour by swapping planes for roads and railways, while Status Quo drove back to Britain after finding themselves stuck in Russia. John Cleese was stranded in Norway, so he paid $4,950 (£3,300) for a taxi to take him to Belgium, where he caught a train back to London.

In non-volcano-related news, Sandra Bullock sent shockwaves through the showbiz world when she came out fighting after her husband Jesse James' cheating scandal in March. The Oscar winner announced she had filed for divorce and stunned the world by revealing she had also adopted a baby son, Louis. Bullock admitted the couple had taken charge of their new son back in January, but kept the news quiet and after splitting from James she resolved to raise the baby on her own.

Another high profile celebrity split hit headlines when Mel Gibson ended his year-long romance with Russian musician Oksana Grigorieva, the mother of his baby daughter, Lucia. The couple didn't give a reason for the break-up, but Grigorieva subsequently hinted "you will find out everything quite soon". Jim Carrey and Jenny Mccarthy also ended their five-year romance.

The music world was rocked when Brett Michaels suffered two serious health scares in April. The Poison rocker was admitted to hospital for an emergency appendectomy at the beginning of the month and just weeks later he collapsed after suffering a brain haemorrhage. The rocker was in a critical condition, but slowly began his recovery. Another shock for music fans came with the death of former Sex Pistols manager and punk icon Malcolm Mclaren, who lost his battle with cancer.

April was a sad month for Dynasty fans after two of the show's former stars died within days of each other. John Forsythe passed away from complications relating to pneumonia and his death was followed by the passing of his onscreen brother Christopher Cazenove, who lost a battle with blood poisoning just six days later.

The scandal of the month came when Desperate Housewives actress Nicollette Sheridan filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit against the show's creator, Marc Cherry. The actress claimed he slapped her during an argument over the script and then fired her when she complained to producers.

Sheridan's co-stars, Teri Hatcher, Eva Longoria Parker, Felicity Huffman and Marcia CrosS, all took Cherry's side.

May

There were wedding bells this month for Scissor Sisters singer Ana Matronic and her boyfriend Seth Kirby, and actors Seth Green and Clare Grant. Meanwhile, Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon sealed their love by renewing their wedding vows for the third time.

May was not such a happy month for Boyzone singer Ronan Keating, who split from his wife Yvonne, and he wasn't the only one facing heartache - former Bond girl Halle Berry split from Gabriel Aubry after more than four years together, and Buffy The Vampire Slayer star David Boreanaz's marriage was plunged into crisis when he admitted cheating on his wife.

Several stars heard the pitter-patter of tiny feet this month - Monica Bellucci gave birth to her second daughter, Leonie, supermodel Claudia Schiffer delivered her third child, daughter Cosima, and Amy Adams became a first-time mum after giving birth to daughter Aviana.

John Travolta and his wife Kelly Preston had something to smile about after the death of son Jett in 2009, when they confirmed the actress was expecting another child, and it was double joy for singer Alicia Keys - she became engaged to producer Swizz Beatz and announced her pregnancy.

Meanwhile, Hollywood paid tribute to legendary actor Dennis Hopper when he died at the age of 74 after a battle against prostate cancer, and Diff'rent Strokes star Gary Coleman passed away at the age of 42 after suffering a brain haemorrhage in a fall at his home.

There was further tragedy for the Redgrave dynasty when Lynn Redgrave died aged 67 after a long battle with breast cancer, and Brittany Murphy's grieving widower Simon Monjack was found dead at his home.

The rock world was plunged into mourning when Ronnie James Dio lost his battle with stomach cancer at the age of 67, swiftly followed by the sudden death of Slipknot bassist Paul Gray, 38, who was found dead in a hotel room in Iowa after an accidental drug overdose.

Former The Temptations star Ali-Ollie Woodson died from leukaemia, aged 58, and veteran actress/singer Lena Horne succumbed to heart failure at 92.

On the scandal front, Charlie Sheen's troubles mounted when he surrendered legal custody of his two children with ex-wife Denise Richards, and Miley Cyrus showed she's growing up fast when she was caught on camera dirty dancing with a 44-year-old movie producer in a nightclub. Lindsay Lohan was ordered by a court to wear an alcohol-monitoring ankle tag in a bid to help beat her drink and drug demons, and troubled actor Michael Madsen was hospitalised following a nine-day booze binge in Britain.

Bono was rushed to hospital for emergency surgery on his back, leading to the cancellation of U2's hotly-anticipated Glastonbury headline slot the following month.

June

June was a bumper wedding month with Megan Fox and Brian Austin Green marrying on a beach in Hawaii, while Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart wed after seven years together. Gemma Arterton married Stefano Catelli, and Alanis Morissette married Mc Souleye. British newsman Piers Morgan wed Celia Walden and Mena Suvari married music producer Simone Sestitos. Glee star Jane Lynch married Lara Embry in a civil partnership ceremony – and love was also in the air for Orlando Bloom, who announced his engagement to longterm girlfriend Miranda Kerr.

Ugly Betty star America Ferrera became engaged to Ryan Piers Williams, while Kate Hudson hit headlines when she started dating Muse frontman Matt Bellamy.

It was a baby boom month - Kevin Costner became a dad for the seventh time, Sheryl Crow adopted her second son, director Sofia Coppola welcomed another daughter, and R&B star Ne-Yo announced he is to be a father for the first time.

June was not such a good month love wise for actor Mark-Paul Gosselaar, who filed for divorce from his wife of 13 years. Meanwhile British singer Leona Lewis split from her childhood sweetheart and Twilight's Nikki Reed broke up with Paris Latsis. Brandy's romance with rapper Flo Rida came to an end, Welsh singer Charlotte Church split from fiance Gavin Henson, and former U.S. vice president Al Gore split from his wife of 40 years.

Rock stars were in mourning when former Stereophonics star Stuart Cable passed away, former The Kinks bassist Pete Quaife also died, and country music legend Jimmy Dean passed away at the age of 81. Hollywood was saddened when Golden Girls star Rue McClanahan died aged 76 after suffering a major stroke and actor/director Corey Allen passed away. Zorro star Eugenia Paul also died at the age of 75.

June also caused havoc for the music industry with numerous gigs being axed - Drake, Jay-z, Ke$ha and Grace Jones all had to cancel shows, while illness caused cancellations for John Mayer, Cher and Wolfmother, and Sum 41 brought the curtain down on their European tour after Steve Jocz was involved in a car crash.

Gossip Girl star Chace Crawford was in the news following his arrest for pot possession, while Motley Crue frontman Vince Neil and The Sopranos star Joseph Gannascoli were arrested separately on suspicion of driving under the influence (DUI). Meanwhile it was also another DUI arrest for actor Chris Klein - he then checked himself into a rehabilitation facility to deal with alcohol addiction later in the month.

Incarcerated rapper Lil Wayne's troubles worsened - he was sentenced to three years probation after striking a plea deal with U.S. prosecutors in relation to a 2008 drugs charge.

Other notable events in June included the launch of the soccer World Cup tournament, which saw stars including the Black Eyed Peas, Shakira, Alicia Keys and John Legend perform at the opening ceremony in South Africa. There was also a flurry of tributes on the one-year anniversary of Michael Jackson's death, and Larry King announced plans to retire from his 25-year run as the host of CNN talk show Larry King Live.

A number of awards were also handed out - The Twilight Saga: New Moon was the big winner at the MTV Movie Awards in Los Angeles, picking up four honours, while Sandra Bullock and Scarlett Johansson caused a stir by locking lips onstage at the ceremony. Chris Brown stole the show at the 2010 Bet Awards when he performed a dance tribute to Michael Jackson, while Alicia Keys and Drake were crowned the big winners.

Greg Norman is going to be a father again, according to reports. The Australian golfer, who married 41-year-old interior designer Kirsten Kutner in a secret ceremony last month, has allegedly wanted another child ever since they got together earlier this year. Kutner has now been photographed at Sydney's Star City Casino with what looks like a baby bump. A friend of the couple told Woman's Day (more)...

Golfer Greg Norman has married again less than a year after finalizing his divorce from tennis player Chris Evert. Norman, 55, exchanged vows with Australian interior designer Kirsten Kutner in front of their friends and family on private Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands earlier this month.

The golfer's son Gregory, Jr. was best man and Kutner's children, Kaya and Kelly, served as flower girls. The sportsman tells Australia's New Idea magazine, "Kirsten walked down the aisle on her own - we were all waiting for her. To me, she is the most beautiful woman in the world. She looked stunning. We wanted something very intimate with just us and the family. It was very relaxed - a beautiful family reunion."

Norman and Evert split in 2009 after just 15 months of marriage and their union was officially dissolved last December.

Greg Norman has married for the third time in a secret Caribbean beach ceremony. The 55-year-old golf champion, who divorced Laura Andrassy in 2006 after 25 years together and tennis star Chris Evert earlier this year after 18 months of marriage, exchanged vows with Kirsten Kutner surrounded by immediate family. Norman told New Idea magazine: "Kirsten walked down the aisle on her own (more)...

Golfer Greg Norman has married again less than a year after finalising his divorce from tennis player Chris Evert.

Norman, 55, exchanged vows with Australian interior designer Kirsten Kutner in front of their friends and family on private Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands earlier this month (06-07Nov10).

The golfer's son Gregory, Jr. was best man and Kutner's children, Kaya and Kelly, served as flower girls.

The sportsman tells Australia's New Idea magazine, "Kirsten walked down the aisle on her own - we were all waiting for her. To me, she is the most beautiful woman in the world. She looked stunning.

"We wanted something very intimate with just us and the family. It was very relaxed – a beautiful family reunion."

Norman and Evert split in 2009 after just 15 months of marriage and their union was officially dissolved last December.

Less than a year after finalizing his divorce from tennis champ Chris Evert, Greg Norman was quietly married on private Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands last weekend. It is the golfer's third marriage. Norman, 55, wed Australian interior decorator Kirsten Kutner, 41, before a small group of family and friends. His son Gregory, Jr. was best man. Speaking to Australia's New Idea magazine, Norman said that everyone was barefoot and dressed in white for the private nuptials. "Kirsten walked down the aisle on her own - we were all waiting for her," Norman said. "To me, she is the most beautiful woman in the world.

Nearly a year after her painful split from golfer husband Greg Norman, Chris Evert's life is back on the upswing. "I spent the summer in Aspen healing," the tennis star, 55, told People at Saturday night s gala for her Pro-Celebrity Tennis Classic in Delray Beach, Fla., where $700,00 was raised for neglected and abused children. "My kids are great, and they have their mom back," she says, referring to sons Alexander, 19, Nicholas, 16, and Colton, 14. Related: Why Did Chris Evert and Greg Norman Divorce?After a romantic June 2008 wedding in the Bahamas, Evert and Norman, also 55, spent a great deal of...

Kirsten Kutner has confirmed that she is getting married to Greg Norman. The golfing champion, who divorced tennis player Chris Evert less than a year ago after only 18 months of marriage, reportedly proposed to Kutner recently with a six-carat diamond ring. Kutner told New Idea magazine: "I am definitely the luckiest woman on this earth. I am so blessed to have (more)...

Greg Norman's ex-wives have responded to the news that he could be engaged to Kirsten Kutner. Tennis champion Chris Evert, who divorced the golfer less than a year ago after 18 months of marriage, wished him well in his new relationship. Evert told The Daily Telegraph: "I wish Greg happiness in his future. I know he is aggressive and works fast, but I'm not disappointed." Norman's (more)...

Greg Norman is believed to be planning another marriage. The golf star, who divorced tennis player Chris Evert a year ago after 18 months of marriage, has reportedly told friends that he wants to ask mother-of-two Kirsten Kutner to be his wife. A family friend told Woman's Day: "Greg plans to marry Kirsten. He began talking about marriage within six months of splitting with Chrissie (more)...

Golfer Greg Norman is preparing to marry again less than a year after finalising his divorce from tennis player Chris Evert.

The sporting couple split in 2009 after just 15 months of marriage and their union was officially dissolved last December.

Norman, 55, has since moved on by striking up a romance with Australian interior designer Kirsten Kutner and the golfing legend is now preparing to walk down the aisle once again.

He tells Australia's New Idea magazine, "One minute we were having a day-to-day conversation and the next moment, all of a sudden, everything changed (and I proposed) - our lives changed. It was perfect."

Kutner adds, "I am definitely the luckiest woman on this earth. I am so blessed to have such an amazing man to share my life with."

It will be Norman's third marriage - he divorced his first wife, Laura Andrassy, in 2006 after a 25-year union.