Uncle Frank of 'Kimmel Show' fame dies at 77

Frank Potenza, a former New York City police officer who turned to comedy as "Uncle Frank" on his nephew Jimmy Kimmel's late-night talk show, died early Tuesday. He was 77.
A statement from ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" said Potenza was "beloved by his co-workers and considered an uncle to all."
"His kindness and humor will be missed by everyone he touched," the statement said. It did not include further details.
The show is on hiatus until Sept. 6, and ABC did not have any immediate information about an on-air tribute to Potenza.
The silver-haired Potenza had served as a police officer for two decades and as a private security guard before Kimmel asked him to join his fledgling show as a guard and cast member in 2003.
On "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" the uniformed Potenza was paired in comedy bits with Guillermo Rodriguez, a real-life parking lot security guard for the show. The two men also joined with Veatrice Rice, another show security guard, in a clueless discussion about news events. Rice died in 2009.
Potenza and his former wife, Conchetta "Chippy" Potenza, were sent by Kimmel on comic "adventures" such as working on a dairy farm and learning self-defense.
"Thank you for your kind words about a very kind man -- my Uncle Frank -- who passed away this morning," Kimmel said in a Twitter posting.
A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., and a Korean War veteran, Potenza served as a police officer for 20 years before working as a guard in Las Vegas and at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan. Then Kimmel asked him to move to Los Angeles to work with him.
Potenza is survived by his three daughters and a newborn granddaughter, according to the show's statement. Funeral plans were not released.

Read More

Ryan Gosling Is A Superhero In A Muscle-Baring Striped

We ALL know Ryan Gosling is a megababe. Like, he's so far off in a league of his own that he can even wear a pajama shirt out in public and all women will still maniacally start crying at the mere mention of his name. I mean, the guy can't help it. He's got the looks, he's got the charm, and MOST IMPORTANT—he's got the style. (OK, FIIIIINEEE. His rockin' bod is PRETTY DARN important too.) But what happened the other day basically threw him off the charts. No one can EVER. COME. CLOSE. To Mr. Gosling's attractiveness after what a girl accidentally caught on camera in New York City the other day.

So, let's set up the scene. Two dudes are fighting in the middle of the street in NYC. (Typical.) They're playing tug-o-war over a painting (less typical) and while a girl is filming this ridic fight, literally OUT OF NOWHERE Ryan Gosling walks in (REALLY, REALLY not typical). He steps into the quarrel and when he spots this altercation, he immediately tries to break it up (HEART OF GOLD!). Ryan drops his shopping bag (NOT MATERIALISTIC!) and throws his GIANT, THROBBING man muscle of an arm against the perpetrator, who spots Ry Ry's huge guns and throws his hands up in defeat. By some crazy stroke of luck, Ryan decided to wear a striped and nautical-inspired tank the VERY day his bulging biceps would come in handy. THEREFORE, his tank top basically saved the day. Would the story have played out differently if he were wearing a baggy hoodie? YES. You can't see all that rock hard steel beneath layers of cotton, people. Pure brawn speaks louder than any words you could POSSIBLY say to these angry gentleman, and for THAT, we should all give a nice, HUGE round of applause to Ryan Gosling's tank top. It saved the day AND gave us a nice show of what those bad boys can do. Also, please note he's wearing cuffed sweatpants.

Read More

Kris Jenner irate over alleged wedding day text from

Not surprisingly, members of Kim Kardashian’s family, particularly mother-of-the-bride Kris Jenner, are over-the-top furious about Kim’s ex Ray J for allegedly texting Kardashian on her Saturday wedding day to remind her about the sex video they made back in 2007.

While the entertainer gave an interview to Chicago’s WGCI-FM (107.5) claiming he was “so over that” relationship, he got vague when asked exactly what kind of message he sent his former girlfriend Saturday.

The singer/songwriter and reality TV star did say, “I wish them the best. She’s doing real good right now, that what it is.”

† There were reports that Ray J’s messages to Kardashian claimed it was their sex video — which Kardashian initially sued to quash — that helped turn her into a media phenomenon. “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” launched less than a year after the video was initially leaked.

BACK TOGETHER? Their TV shows may have been canceled, but Kat Von D and Jesse James supposedly are slowly reheating their once torrid romance.

A source close to Sandra Bullock’s ex-husband tells me, “they are taking things a bit slower this time. ... It’s another case of can’t live with her, can’t live without her. … We’ll just have to wait and see.”

GETTING ‘REAL’: Fans of all those “Real Housewives” shows on Bravo will get a chance to see some of the hit reality series’ mainstays at Water Tower Place over the next few weeks. Countess LuAnn de Lesseps (“The Real Housewives of New York”) will be chatting up her Class with the Countess book from 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 31. Gretchen Rossi (“Orange County”) will be styling fans 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 1 and Teresa Guidice (“New Jersey”) will be signing her books Skinny Italian and Fabulicious!, 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 8.

STAR SHOT: Sources on the set of “What To Expect When You’re Expecting” — currently filming down in Atlanta — claim they have been surprised that Chris Rock has “out-diva’ed” well-known diva Jennifer Lopez.

“He is way more demanding, has a far bigger entourage and is just more needy in every way than Jennifer,” said a movie insider.

IN DRIVER’S SEAT: The romance between Leonardo DiCaprio and Blake Lively is steady as ever, but the actor has insisted on certain changes in Lively’s life. The eco-friendly star has insisted she dump her gas-guzzling Range Rover, which he has replaced with a black Prius.

SEEN ON THE SCENE: A bunch of Emmy Rossum’s “Shameless” cast, including Laura Wiggins, Madison Davenport, Steve Howey, Jeremy Allen White, Emma Kenney, Ethan Cutkosky and Shanola Hampton, showed Sunday night to support her at the Harry Caray’s launch party for Michigan Avenue magazine’s September issue, featuring Rossum on the cover, in a story penned by Sun-Timesman Rich Roeper. Also spied at the wall-to-wall bash were actor Walt Willey, “The Playboy Club” star Laura Benanti and producer Chad Hodge, “Desperate Housewives” mainstay James Denton, Roe Conn, ex-Packer Neal Wilkinson and ex-NHL player Reid Simpson. … LeAnn Rimes was seen enjoying a relaxing dinner with hubby and “The Playboy Club” star Eddie Cibrian at Mercadito on West Kinzie — and later at the restaurant’s downstairs Double A nightspot.

FASHION FLASH: For the first time in more than a decade, the Costume Council of the Chicago History Museum will revive its signature black-tie gala. Originally called the Donor’s Ball, the updated Costume Ball will celebrate the opening of “Charles James: Genius Deconstructed” — an homage to the groundbreaking fashion designer.

A Chicago Who’s Who are expected for the Oct. 21 fete, co-chaired by Catherine Eberle, Lawrie Weed and Roben Loewenberg Berger. The evening also will honor a top contemporary fashion luminary, designer Ralph Rucci.

Helen Harvey Mills, whose late mother was one of James’ muses, will serve as the event’s honorary chair.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Talk about customer loyalty! Chicagoan Jerry Olson is on the verge of making his 1,000th (!!!) dining visit to Coco Pazzo Cafe on St. Clair. To mark the occasion, owner Jack Weiss and his staff will prepare a special four-course dinner for Olson and three guests and give him a set of fine wine glasses only he and his dinner companions will be able to use for future dinners in the eatery.

On top of all that, Olson will receive a $1,000 Coco Pazzo restaurants gift card — to help him start working on his next 1,000 visits!

Read More