Rachael Ray to dish up early Thanksgiving dinner to Ohio city battered by thousands of layoffs

Rachael Ray offers dinner to jobless Ohioans

Oscars tap ex-studio boss Mechanic, director Shankman to produce next awards show

LOS ANGELES — “Hairspray” director Adam Shankman and former 20th Century Fox studio boss Bill Mechanic have been named producers of the Academy Awards, saying they hope to inject more fun and restore TV ratings glory to Hollywood’s biggest party.

Lucky magazine hosts Lucky Shops pre-holiday shopping event, Nov. 6-7

NEW YORK — Lucky Magazine is hosting its sixth annual pre-holiday “Lucky Shops” event Nov. 6-7.

Dour Syria looks to lighten image with daring fashion competition

DAMASCUS, Syria — The svelte models strutted down the catwalk in sexy dresses with bare backs and short hemlines — all under the watchful portraits of Syrian President Bashar Assad and his late father, Hafez.

Stores embrace old-fashioned holiday with the classics _ gingerbread and red, green and gold

NEW YORK — Stores are turning back the clock, conjuring images of hearth and home as they stock their holiday merchandise.

Emmy Countdown: Stars grab swag, jewelry; toast each other at high tea

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — The 61st Primetime Emmy Awards are Sunday and Hollywood is awash in swag and early celebrations. Here’s a look at what’s going on around Tinseltown:

West apologizes for outburst during Swift’s VMA speech; country star calls night ‘interesting’

NEW YORK — Kanye West apologized for yet another outburst at the MTV Video Music Awards, this time directed at country-pop sweetheart Taylor Swift. The disruption upstaged not just Swift’s awards speech, but the entire evening, including an emotional tribute to Michael Jackson.

West booed for outburst after Swift’s MTV win, but Beyonce saves the day with Taylor tribute

NEW YORK — The MTV Video Music Awards kicked off Sunday with a poignant, tender tribute to fallen icon Michael Jackson, but soon got back into raucous character thanks to Kanye West, who delivered yet another awards show outburst at the expense of country and pop sweetheart Taylor Swift.

West booed for outburst after Swift’s MTV win; Madonna, Janet Jackson pay tribute to Michael

NEW YORK — The MTV Video Music Awards kicked off Sunday with a poignant, tender tribute to fallen icon Michael Jackson, but soon got back into raucous character thanks to Kanye West, who delivered yet another awards show outburst at the expense of country and pop sweetheart Taylor Swift.

Madonna, Janet Jackson pay tribute to Michael Jackson at Video Music Awards

NEW YORK — Michael Jackson, who was not only one of the most influential forces in MTV’s history but also provided its Video Music Awards with some of its most irreverent moments, got reverential treatment Sunday as Madonna and his sister Janet provided emotional tributes — one through words, one through song.

Vegas chapels, hotels bustle with weddings as numbers align for quirky date 9-9-09

LAS VEGAS — Two years after Las Vegas chapels hit the wedding date jackpot with lucky sevens, it’s all eyes on the nines for 9-9-09.

Annual Thanksgiving Parade, star actor Gary Cooper, featured on new postage stamps

WASHINGTON — A Thanksgiving Parade of stamps began their march on Wednesday, and another honoring actor Gary Cooper will mosey into post offices Thursday.

Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando

ORLANDO, Fla. — Horror movie fans — and anyone else who likes the idea of being scared silly — will want to check out Universal theme park’s Halloween Horror Nights this fall, as a “Ripped from the Silver Screen” theme brings The Wolfman, Jigsaw and Chucky to life.

Highlights of Hollywood’s fall, holiday schedule

LOS ANGELES — Highlights of the fall film slate (release dates are subject to change, and some films will play in limited release):

Spike Lee throws Michael Jackson a birthday bash in Brooklyn

NEW YORK — Thousands of Michael Jackson fans are dancing the rain away in a Brooklyn park at a celebration hosted by filmmaker Spike Lee.

Irving Berlin’s ‘White Christmas’ is returning to Broadway for the holiday season

NEW YORK — The stage version of Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas” is serving up another round of holiday cheer.

Man charged in 1980 killings of Wis. couple claimed he was reformed after life of crime

MADISON, Wis. — Edward Wayne Edwards’ days of hitchhiking across the country, stealing cars, robbing gas stations and forging checks were behind him when he was released early from the federal prison in Lewisburg, Pa., in 1967.

Kate Gosselin says she still wears her wedding ring for her kids, though the marriage is over

NEW YORK —Kate Gosselin said her marriage to Jon would have failed whether it played out in the glare of a TV reality show or not.

Travel briefs

Leaf-peeping in Iowa: Mississippi River, bridges of Madison County

Teens party on as families cut thousands off budgets to host coming-of-age celebrations

MIAMI — For a generation of girls, coming of age during the recession calls for a celebration that can be as much DIY as it is mini-wedding.

‘9 to 5: The Musical’ scheduled to close on Broadway during Labor Day weekend

NEW YORK — Goodbye, Dolly.

Historic New Orleans hotel reclaims past, boosts city’s future 4 years post-Katrina

NEW ORLEANS — The massive lobby, with its ornate trim, glittering Italian crystal chandeliers and mosaic floors, looks much as it did when Louisiana’s Kingfish, Gov. Huey P. Long last strolled through. Some say a box full of kickbacks and shakedown money was tucked under his arm as he made his way to his regular suite in the 1930s.

Video of Minn. couple boogying down a church aisle at their wedding is a hit on YouTube

ST. PAUL, Minn. — The video of a Minnesota couple who boogied down a church aisle with their wedding party to the surprise of their guests is a hit on YouTube.

Statue of jazz legend Billie Holiday rededicated in Baltimore on anniversary of singer’s death

BALTIMORE — A statue of Billie Holiday has returned to the former black entertainment district in Baltimore where the lady once sang the blues.

‘Project Runway’ reveals new batch of aspiring fashion designers

NEW YORK — Let the sew-off begin: After a massive delay, “Project Runway” is revealing its new batch of aspiring fashion designers.

‘Biggest and best’ fireworks show promised in NYC as Independence Day celebrated around US

NEW YORK — The Fourth of July weekend is shaping up as a celebration for Americans watching fireworks around the country — and for three elephants and a turtle.