FROM THE NEWS DESK: The Thicke Of It (April 24th, 2007)

By McKay Heim and George Larrimore

THE THICKE OF IT: Alan Thicke’s son Robin may be a music superstar in the making. And he’s honest, too. He told us, “My last name definitely hurt me…..I want people to hear my music and think of their own lives and instead they are seeing the dad from “Growing Pains” when they are hearing my song.”

I always thought his dad Alan was a Game Show Host posing as an actor. In fact he was a Game Show Host on “Pictionary” and The All New “3’s A Crowd.”

Robin has hit it big with the single ‘Lost Without You’ which has topped four R&B/Hip-Hop charts simultaneously. A white artist hasn’t done that since George Michael, over a decade ago.

And on top of everything else he’s married to his high school sweetheart.

Way to make your dad proud.

BROWN LIVES ON: Even after his death James Brown?s music lives on, but only from his band, The Soul Generals. The Godfather of Soul?s band, which backed him for 20 years, are scheduled for a number of appearances this year. The first one will be held at the Apollo Theater on May 3rd to celebrate James’ birthday. His daughter, Venisha, will also perform with the band.

ANNA?S LAST ROLE: Anna Nicole Smith?s final film will be screened at the Cannes Film Festival on May 18 even though the movie will be released on DVD on May 1st. Anna filmed “Illegal Aliens” in Vermont in 2005 and financially backed the movie. She plays one of three extraterrestrial superheroes who fight an intergalactic terrorist to protect earth. Her other credits include “The Hudsucker Proxy” and “Naked Gun 33-1/3.”

COACHELLA RETURNS: The three day music festival held annually in Indio, California returns this weekend . The event features all types of music including hip-hop, electronica and alternative rock. The festival will feature artists, Bjork and Willie Nelson and bands such as Rage Against the Machine, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Kings of Leon, Interpol, Jesus and Mary Chain and Arcade Fire.

HILLARY BIO: It’ll be interesting to see what Carl Berstein reveals in his upcoming biography of Hillary Clinton (it’s called “A Woman In Charge: The Life Of Hillary Rodham Clinton,” and it arrives on June 19th.) They’re expecting a hit, the first printing will be 350,000 copies.

REMEMBERING HALBERSTAM: A lot of ink today about the untimely passing of reporter and author David Halberstam. He was one of those rare writers who could move easily between writing about race, war and sports. Being 73 meant that the Harvard-educated Halberstam covered Civil Rights for Deep South papers including the Nashville Tennesseean. He also reported and later wrote about America’s involvement in Vietnam. A favorite of ours is The Fifties, which showed why that supposedly sleepy period really was a watershed time.

We’re on the hunt for news… e-mail [email protected].

Copyright © 2024 by NBC Universal, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

This material may not be republished, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Read More

Taylor Swift Pokes Fun At Humidity Causing Hair To Return To ‘Factory Settings’ During S