Barenaked Lady admitted drug use
TORONTO - Barenaked Ladies frontman Steven Page, known for his quirky lyrics, environmental activism and clean-cut image, admitted to New York police that he was snorting cocaine prior to his arrest last week, court documents allege.
The documents, filed with the Fayetteville Village Court in New York, contain details from police as well as a statement from a woman arrested at the same time as the 38-year-old Toronto resident.
A felony complaint against the singer states he was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance early Friday morning after police stumbled upon a car parked across a driveway with its driver-side door open.
After tracking the license plate of the vehicle, police entered an apartment where they found Page and 25-year-old Stephanie Ford in the kitchen.
In a statement to police filed with the court, Ford said the two had just finished snorting what she believed to be cocaine using a rolled-up Canadian bill.
She said Page had stored several capsules containing a white powdery substance in a bottle labelled Calcium.
A separate court document states that police questioned Page about the substance he was snorting after it tested positive for cocaine.
"Yeah, it's cocaine," the documents quote Page as saying.
Police allege Page had about a third of an ounce of the drug on him at the time of his arrest. He was taken into police custody, but was later released after posting $10,000 bail. He is scheduled to appear in a New York court on August 26. If convicted, he faces a maximum of 15 years in prison.
The court documents say Ford, who was also charged with drug possession, told police the evening's events began when Page got into a fight with his girlfriend, Christine Benedicto, at a local bar.
In her statement to police, Ford said Page believed Benedicto was flirting with another man.
Ford told police the two argued, with Page leaving the bar and planning to drive back to Canada after he had been drinking. Ford told police she forcibly restrained him from getting behind the wheel by following him back to the apartment she shares with Benedicto and sitting on him.
Benedicto later arrived at the apartment, confiscated Page's car keys, and drove off, according to Ford's statement. She was later arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of marijuana.
The criminal charge is a notable blemish on what has otherwise been a squeaky-clean run for the bespectacled Page and bandmates Ed Robertson, Tyler Stewart, Jim Creeggan and Kevin Hearn.
Since forming nearly 20 years ago in Toronto's east end, they've crafted a sizable catalogue of catchy, humour-filled hits including "If I Had a $1,000,000," "Yoko Ono," "One Week" and "It's All Been Done" while garnering several Juno wins and two Grammy nominations.
The band recently released a children's album called "Snacktime." Their next public appearance is slated for a benefit concert hosted by Disney and Playskool on behalf of four children's charities.
In a brief message posted on its website, the band thanked fans for their support and said "the validity of the charges against Steven will be strongly contested."
"While this is happening, it's business as usual for Barenaked Ladies," states the message at www.bnlmusic.com.
"We will continue to perform and look forward to heading into the studio later this year to record a new album. We want to thank our loyal fans for their continued support during this difficult time."
Zach Braff leaving 'Scrubs'
If "Scrubs" has life beyond the 2008-09 season, it will probably have to live without Zach Braff.
The new-to-ABC comedy series is at this point only guaranteed to air this season, its eighth overall. But ABC Entertainment President Stephen McPherson has made no secret that he'd like to keep "Scrubs" around if it does well, and Wednesday at the TCA press tour, creator Bill Lawrence said he's open to the idea as well.
"I think it's Zach's last year on the show," Lawrence says. But that doesn't necessarily mean that would be it for the series.
"When I created this show, Steve McPherson [was] president of the studio," Lawrence explains. "... He was really supportive when I pitched it as this show possibly being like 'ER' as a comedy, with some revolving cast members and, you know, putting new blood in."
To that end, Aziz Ansari ("Human Giant"), Betsy Beutler ("The Black Donnellys") and Eliza Coupe ("I Think I Love My Wife") have joined the cast as new interns at Sacred Heart. The long-serving regular cast is all back as well -- even the retired Bob Kelso (Ken Jenkins), who is still collecting his free-muffins-for-life reward at the hospital coffee stand.
Lawrence says the regulars would all be welcomed back should "Scrubs" get picked up beyond the coming season (it's scheduled to debut on ABC in early 2009). Both he and Braff acknowledge, though, that the end of the road is near for Braff's character, J.D.
"The sense is that we thought we were ending, and then thanks to [McPherson], this has been a bonus, amazing year. We're having a blast doing this," Braff says. "My sense is this is my last year. If the show does continue like he's saying, like an 'ER' kind of thing, I would love to come back and visit and definitely direct some -- and do craft service if they need some help."
Lawrence also says that J.D. will get a proper sendoff: "If this show pulls a legitimate number and people like yourselves still find it creatively viable, I think there's a chance it will go forward. We're making the shows now, so we're certainly going to film the last one like it's young Zach Braff's exit and make a big deal out of it."
Amy Poehler says she's bound for 'Office' spinoff
NEW YORK (AP) — Amy Poehler confirmed to The Associated Press that she'll be joining the planned "Office" spinoff, paving the way for her eventual exit from "Saturday Night Live" and promoting the comedian to primetime.
Speaking by phone Thursday shortly after her Emmy nomination for outstanding actress in a comedy series on "SNL," Poehler said she will join NBC's spinoff of "The Office." She's expected to star.
"I can kind of confirm that I will be working in some capacity on that show," said Poehler. "I don't really have any other details yet."
The 36-year-old Poehler has been a cast member on "Saturday Night Live" since 2001 and in recent seasons has served as a co-anchor on "Weekend Update."
Poehler, whose husband Will Arnett also received an Emmy nomination Thursday (for his guest performance on "30 Rock"), is pregnant and due this October. She plans to be part of the expanded fall schedule for "Saturday Night Live" during the election, but that what happens in the spring isn't clear.
"It's been quite a week," said Poehler of the negotiations. "I'm very excited about all the good stuff that's coming down the pike."
A spokesman for NBC said the network had no comment.
'Mad Men,' 'Damages' make Emmy noms history
LOS ANGELES - Basic cable TV looked more like a pop-culture bargain Thursday as AMC's "Mad Men" and FX's "Damages" snared historic best-series Emmy nominations, while stars from cable's less glamorous channels also made a splash in major acting categories.
Meanwhile, premium channel HBO and broadcast networks saw their share of awards glory erode.
In the lead drama actor category, four of the six nominees were stars of cable shows, including Jon Hamm of "Mad Men." The sleek drama about 1960s America set in New York's advertising world was also the leading drama series contender with 16 nominations.
Three best-actress nods also went to cable series stars, including Glenn Close of "Damages." The hard-nosed legal drama joins "Mad Men" as the first basic cable shows put up for best series.
"I think it's changed the landscape of television," Close said of basic cable's growing creative strength.
HBO failed to field a best-drama series contender for the first time since 1998, after its now-departed "The Sopranos" claimed the honor last year. The premium cable channel still scored a leading 85 bids overall, followed by ABC with 76.
Boosting HBO's total was the historical drama "John Adams," the overall front-runner with a record 23 bids. That included a lead-actor nomination for Paul Giamatti's turn as one of America's founding fathers.
"30 Rock," last's year's best comedy series winner, was the top nominee among sitcoms with 17 bids. Other best comedy series nominees were "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "Entourage," "The Office" and "Two And a Half Men."
"The Wire," the just-ended, critically acclaimed HBO drama about police and drug dealers in Baltimore, lost its last shot at a best-drama nod after years of Emmy snubs. It received one nomination Thursday, for writing.
But other cable series made a serious dent in several top categories, gaining further ground on the networks. Broadcast favorites that failed to make a serious showing included "Grey's Anatomy" and "Desperate Housewives," both left out of the best-series categories. "Grey's" stars Sandra Oh and Chandra Wilson received nominations — but the "Desperate" cast was shut out.
"Lost," rebounding with a well-received season, joined "Mad Men" and "Damages" in the best-drama series category with six nominees, including "Boston Legal, "Dexter" and "House." Only one acting nomination went to "Lost," a best-supporting actor nod for Michael Emerson's role as the manipulative Ben.
Oh and Wilson are competing in the best supporting drama actress category that last year was won by castmate Katherine Heigl — who took herself out of the running this time, blaming her decision on lackluster scripts.
Joining Hamm with lead drama acting nods were last year's winner James Spader, "Boston Legal," Bryan Cranston of "Breaking Bad," Michael C. Hall, "Dexter," Hugh Laurie, "House" and Gabriel Byrne, "In Treatment."
"I'm surprised," Hamm said. "For someone like me to be included is amazing. Look at this list: These are people I've been watching, and been a fan of, for years and years. It's a genuinely wonderful feeling."
Close's competition for lead drama actress honors includes 2007 winner Sally Field for "Brothers & Sisters," Kyra Sedgwick, "The Closer," Mariska Hargitay, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" and Holly Hunter, "Saving Grace."
"I'm very honored," Field said in an email. "It never gets old. I do, but it doesn't."
"Damages," in which Close plays a tough-as-nails litigator, won critical acclaim last year but not great ratings. Close is hoping the Emmy attention will boost the show's audience for season two.
"We need all the help we can get," said Close, who was being driven to a shooting location on Long Island when her sister, Nancy, called her cell phone with the nomination news.
As for her nomination, she was more sanguine.
"I don't believe in comparison among artists," she said, "but, given the amazing number of talented people in this profession, to be included with a distinguished group of people is a huge honor."
Actresses nominated for best comedy series were Tina Fey of "30 Rock," the series she created; last year's honoree America Ferrera of "Ugly Betty," Christina Applegate, "Samantha Who?" and Mary-Louise Parker, "Weeds."
Nods for comedy series lead actors went to Tony Shalhoub for "Monk," Steve Carrell, "The Office," Lee Pace, "Pushing Daisies," Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock" and Charlie Sheen, "Two And A Half Men."
Ryan Seacrest, host of top-rated series "American Idol" made the cut in the new category of best host for a reality or reality-competition show. Other nominees were Howie Mandel of "Deal or No Deal," Heidi Klum of "Project Runway," Jeff Probst of "Survivor" and Tom Bergeron of "Dancing with the Stars."
"I'm thrilled that they've added this category, and thrilled to be part of this virgin group, if you will," Bergeron said.
The "Dancing" host said he debated whether to watch the announcement: "You know, there's that sort of weird sort of superstitious-think, like, 'Well, if I don't watch, maybe I'll get nominated, but if I do watch, I won't.' Like that's gonna change anything."
Nominees in the top categories for the 60th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards were announced at the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences by Kristin Chenoweth, Neil Patrick Harris and TV academy Chairman John Shaffner.
Shaffner surprised Harris and Chenoweth at the end of the telecast by announcing supporting-actor nominations for each. Chenoweth, of "Pushing Daisies," stood open-jawed, while Harris, the regular scene-stealer of "How I Met Your Mother," pumped his fist and exclaimed, "Nice!"
The trio then blew out candles on a birthday cake to celebrate the Emmys' 60th anniversary.
Harris kidded about his easy rapport onstage with Chenoweth, whose seemingly off-the-cuff quips injected some life into the normally mundane reading of a list.
"We dated for years and years," joked the actor, who came out as gay to People magazine in 2006.
Besides ABC's 76 nods, the broadcast networks tallies were CBS, 51 nominations; NBC, 50 and Fox, 28. PBS had 33 bids, while AMC garnered 20 bids.
The Emmy Awards ceremony will be held Sept. 21 and broadcast on ABC. Other Emmy honors, including those for technical achievement and guest actors and actresses in series, will be given at the creative arts ceremony on Sept. 13.