De Niro, Van Morrison are first up on Fallon's show
If Jimmy Fallon is nervous about the premiere of his new gig as Late Night host, he'll have show-biz heavyweights Robert De Niro and Van Morrison to lean on.
They'll be the guests for Fallon's March 2 debut hosting the NBC late-night show.
Fallon replaces Conan O'Brien, who has his final show tonight before heading out west to take over the Tonight Show in June.
Morrison will perform material from his critically praised Astral Weeks album.
NBC says Tina Fey, Jon Bon Jovi, Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, Donald Trump and Serena Williams are among other guests scheduled for Fallon's first week on Late Night.
All aboard for Combs' CD
International taste maker and hip-hop impresario Sean "Diddy" Combs wants to start a new musical trend.
"I'm ushering in a new movement called train music," says the artist formerly known as Puff Daddy.
The hybrid of electro hip-hop, soul and funk will be heard on his coming album, Last Train to Paris. Combs and his record label, Atlantic, announced yesterday that the CD will hit stores Sept. 22. It is his sixth album and the follow-up to 2007's Press Play, a guest-heavy affair that featured Nas, Mary J. Blige, Christina Aguilera and others.
"I've been a businessman for the past two years," Comb says. "It's time for me to focus on being an artist again."
New 'Heights' for theater
In the Heights, the hip-hop- and salsa-infused musical that captured the 2008 Tony Award for best musical, is coming next year to the Hippodrome Theatre.
Officials at the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center recently sent a letter to subscribers announcing the "get," along with another show in the lineup for 2009-2010, Young Frankenstein.
The remaining four or five shows in the season are expected to be announced late next month.
Fire at Morgan's home
Tracy Morgan says a faulty fish tank light apparently sparked a fire in his New York City apartment, but no one was hurt - not even the fish.
Firefighters were called to the comedian-actor's Manhattan apartment Wednesday morning. It's unclear whether the 30 Rock star or anyone else was there.
In a statement, Morgan says the fire was contained to the area around the aquarium. He says sprinklers went off, and "even the fish are OK."
The Fire Department says the blaze was brought under control in less than half an hour.
The 40-year-old former Saturday Night Live actor thanked firefighters for "their quick action."
TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS
Fashion designer Gloria Vanderbilt, 85.
Actor Sidney Poitier, 82.
Actress Sandy Duncan, 63.
Basketball's Charles Barkley, 46.
Model Cindy Crawford, 43.
Singer Rihanna, 21.