George Clooney and Stacy Keibler End Relationship

George Clooney and Stacy Keibler are calling it quits after dating for two years.

According to People.com, a source says: "Stacy called it quits. She wants to have children and a family someday. She knows where George stands on that. They talked, and they quietly stopped being a couple several weeks ago."

The source adds, "They talk every day. They were friends before they started dating, and they'll be friends after. It was a friendly [breakup]."

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Clooney, 52, and Keibler, 33, were last seen photographed together in March in Berlin, where the actor was filming his upcoming movie Monuments Men.

In a recent interview with People, Keibler talked about her hectic schedule and desire to travel this summer. "My schedule is keeping me pretty busy until the show [Supermarket Superstar] airs, and then hopefully I'll get the chance to go to Europe," she says.

Another source also makes notes: "They haven't seen each other in a while, and they've both been working so much, so in recent months, they've started growing apart."

George Lucas, Joan Didion to Receive White House Honors

The White House announced Wednesday that President Barack Obama will present this year’s National Medals of Arts and Humanities to a glittering constellation of cultural and entertainment industry figures, including Joan Didion, George Lucas, Elaine May and Herb Alpert.

The list of those to be honored at the July 10 East Room ceremonies includes an unusually diverse roster of honorees with Arts Medals going to Lucas, May, Alpert, beloved African American writer Ernest Gaines, playwright Tony Kushner, philanthropist Lin Arison, dancer/choreographer Joan Myers Brown, opera diva Renée Fleming, painter Ellsworth Kelly, landscape architect Laurie Olin, composer Allen Toussaint and the Washington Performing Arts Society.

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Recipients of the Humanities Medal include, Didion, Robert Silvers -- founder and editor of the New York Review of Books -- historian Edward L. Ayers, economist William G. Bowen, historians Jill Ker Conway and Natalie Zemon Davis, sports writer Frank Deford, sociologist Robert Putnam¸ novelist Marilynne Robinson¸ poet Kay Ryan, performance artist Anna Deavere Smith and visual artist Camilo José Vergara.

Didion was singled out “for her mastery of style in writing. Exploring the culture around us and exposing the depths of sorrow, Ms. Didion has produced works of startling honesty and fierce intellect, rendered personal stories universal, and illuminated the seemingly peripheral details that are central to our lives.”

Lucas was cited “for is contributions to American cinema. By combining the art of storytelling with boundless imagination and cutting-edge techniques, Lucas has transported us to new worlds and created some of the most beloved and iconic films of all time.”

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May’s honor comes for her “contributions to American comedy. With groundbreaking wit and a keen understanding of how humor can illuminate our lives, Ms. May has evoked untold joy, challenged expectations, and elevated spirits across our nation.”

Alpert, meanwhile, is being honored for his contributions to music and the fine arts. "The musician behind the Tijuana Brass phenomenon and co-founder of A&M Records, which launched several storied careers, Mr. Alpert is also a philanthropist who shares the power of arts education with young people across our country."

President Obama will amplify on the citations in his personal remarks during the ceremony Wednesday.

Men's Wearhouse Guy George Zimmer -- FIRED!!!!!!

Men's Wearhouse Guy
George Zimmer
FIRED!!!!!!

9:49 AM PT -- Yep, it's nasty.

Zimmer just fired back at MW through a statement released to CNBC ... saying, "Over the past several months I have expressed my concerns to the Board about the direction the company is currently heading."

"Instead of fostering the kind of dialogue in the Boardroom that has in part contributed to our success, the Board has inappropriately chosen to silence my concerns through termination as an executive officer."

Men's Wearhouse did not like the way George Zimmer looked as executive chairman ... 'cause the suit chain just FIRED his ass!!!!

FYI -- the famously-bearded Zimmer didn't just FOUND the company in 1973, he also served as the spokesperson and is known for his slogan -- "You're going to like the way you look, I guarantee it."

The company announced the termination in a blunt statement ... and explained, "The board expects to discuss with Mr. Zimmer the extent, if any, and terms of his ongoing relationship with the company."

Sounds like a pretty nasty breakup.

In the meantime, here's a commercial to remember him by ...

 

George Lucas' Wedding Party: Hollywood Heads to Chicago

George Lucas and new bride Mellody Hobson, who officially tied the knot on June 22 at Skywalker Ranch in Marin County, Calif., brought Hollywood to the Windy City on Friday to celebrate their nuptials.

Hollywood guests are expected to descend upon Hobson’s hometown of Chicago for the festivities, which will find the city’s lakeside Promontory Point closed to the public on Saturday. Asked if he's going to the wedding, producer Sid Ganis, former senior VP of Lucasfilm, tells THR, "'THE wedding?' Think of what you just said -- there are about four billion weddings in June, and you're asking if I'm going to 'THE wedding.' Yes! We worked together for seven years, and we're kind of still working together."

"He's a good old guy," Ganis says. "I'm happy that he's getting married, this kind of wandering guy, who, you know, has been in and out of relationships ever since he split with his wife Marcia." Mr. Lucas divorced Marcia Lucas, an Oscar-winning editor of Star Wars, in 1983. "And here he is, happy. I'm amazed at how great they are together and how cool she is. I have never seen him so happy. I know he's got a lot of money now, but even beyond that, he's a happy person." Ganis says he hasn't prepared his toast yet. "No. Please! No pressure."

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According to a report by the Chicago Tribune, the reception is being overseen by New York party planner Van Wyck & Van Wyck, who has previously organized soirees for the likes of Sean Combs, Alicia Keys, Hillary Clinton and Barack and Michelle Obama. Guests staying at the Chicago Peninsula Hotel found a gift bag awaiting them filled with some of the couple's "favorite local flavors" -- chocolate cookies from Carol's Cookies, popcorn from Garrett Popcorn, Marshall Field's Original Frango Mints — and Skywalker Ranch hats, T-shirts and a tote.

The Tribune report also criticizes the “circus” surrounding the event, pointing to the Promontory Point tunnel’s fresh paint job (a favor for Hobson?) and the park's field-house bathrooms being closed to the public, which runs afoul of established park district policy.

At the center of Promontory Point, a huge tent has already been erected along with a stage, which is set for a two-hour performance by Prince (who was recently invited to join the film Academy) and his 22-piece band on Saturday evening.

Last weekend, Bill Moyers officiated a ceremony for the new Mr. and Mrs. Lucas, while Ron Howard, Oprah Winfrey, Jeffrey Katzenberg and Steven Spielberg looked on. The couple announced their engagement in January.

Follow me on Twitter @sajilpl

Roger Corman to Receive the George Eastman Award

Producer-director Roger Corman will receive the George Eastman House’s highest honor, the George Eastman Award, at a ceremony to be held Nov. 2 at the Dryden Theatre in Rochester, N.Y.

Established in 1955, the retrospective film award will recognize Corman’s contribution to the art of film. Previous honorees have included Charles Chaplin, Cecil B. DeMille, Gary Cooper, Gregory Peck, Jimmy Stewart, Audrey Hepburn, Kim Novak, Martin Scorsese, Meryl Streep and Richard Gere.

“We are proud and honored to recognize Roger Corman’s outstanding contribution to the art of film,” Paolo Cherchi Usai, senior curator of motion pictures, George Eastman House, said. “We are doing so as a long overdue tribute to a true master of cinema—a master in the literal sense of the term. As a producer and director, Corman has forever changed the landscape of American independent cinema, which is why he amply deserves the George Eastman Award.”

Twitter: @sajilpl

George Lucas Weds Mellody Hobson

George Lucas and Mellody Hobson

George Lucas is a newlywed.

The Star Wars mastermind wed his longtime girlfriend, Mellody Hobson, at Skywalker Ranch in Marin County on Saturday afternoon. Former New Jersey Sen. Bill Bradley, a longtime friend of Hobson's, gave away the bride. Lucas' son Jett served as best man, while Lucas' daughters Amanda and Katie served as bridesmaids, according to a spokesperson for the director.

Ron Howard, who was among the close family and friends who attended, tweeted Sunday night: "George Lucas Melody [sic] Hobson wedding was joy to behold Bill Moyers service was beautiful, nothing short of profound. Congrats Mr&Mrs Lucas."

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Moyers, the longtime PBS journalist, officiated; Van Morrison and Janelle Monae both performed at the reception; director Steven Spielberg invoked the Force in the groom's toast; and director Francis Ford Coppola read a poem by Maya Angelou. DreamWorks Animation's Jeffrey Katzenberg also attended.

Lucas became engaged to Hobson, the chair of DreamWorks Animation and head of the Chicago-based investment management firm Ariel Investments and chairman of Ariel Mutual Funds, in January. Hobson is also a director of The Estee Lauder Companies, Groupon and Starbucks Corp. She serves as a regular contributor to CBS, offering commentary on finance.

In late 2012, Lucas made headlines for selling Lucasfilm to Disney for $4.05 billion.

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This is the first marriage for Hobson, 43, and the second for Lucas, 68.

 

George Zimmerman Trial: 3 Highlights From The First Day

Defense attorneys and prosecutors took turns to present their opening statements in the murder trial of George Zimmerman today in Sanford, Fla.
Zimmerman, 29, a former neighborhood watch volunteer, is charged with second-degree murder for the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.

As was previewed in the months leading up to trial, prosecutors said Zimmerman was a vigilante who profiled Martin and took the law into his own hands, while the defense said it was Martin who "viciously" attacked Zimmerman and Zimmerman acted in self-defense.

With that here are three highlights that tell the story of the opening day:

— The Knock, Knock Joke: Defense attorney Don West included a joke in his opening. As The Orlando Sentinel
reports, first he told jurors there were "no monsters" in this case and then the Sentinel reports:

"... he told an ill-received knock-knock joke: George Zimmerman who? 'Alright, good. You're on the jury.'

"He apologized for the joke after lunch, blaming his delivery."

Mediaite has video:

— Open With Expletives: The prosecutor in the case opened with Zimmerman's own words. According to the Daily Beast
:

"'[Expletive] punks. Those [expletives], they always get away,'" said assistant state attorney John Guy as he stood in front of the packed court, using the same words that he says Zimmerman told a police dispatcher as he pursued Martin on the night of February 26, 2012. "Those were the words in that grown man's mouth as he followed in the dark a 17-year-old boy who he didn't know ... Those were the words in that man's chest when he got out of his car armed with a loaded semi-automatic pistol and two flashlights to follow on foot Trayvon Benjamin Martin, who was walking home from a 7-Eleven ... Those were the words in that defendant's head moments before he pressed that pistol into Trayvon Martin's chest and pulled that trigger."

— The Scream For Help: One of the keys in this case will likely be who the jury believes was heard screaming for help during a 9-11 phone call.

According to the Huffington Post, the defense said:

"Zimmerman's family members and friends have listened to the 911 recording and are convinced 'that's George Zimmerman screaming for help,' West said.

"'You cannot tell someones age by [listening to them scream],' West said. 'There's nothing predictable. A 50-year-old man can sound like a 15-year-old girl, so there's nothing scientifically there to tell who's voice it is.'"

The AP reports the prosecutor argued just the opposite:

"... prosecutor John Guy implied that it may have been Trayvon Martin screaming in the background of the call.

"'Listen carefully please, to that call. Listen carefully ... when the gunshot goes off, Trayvon Martin was silenced immediately,' Guy said. "When the bullet the defendant fired passed through his heart, when that gunshot rings out on the 911 call, the screaming stops.'"