Getty Images, AP

Kirk Cameron, left, and Rush Limbaugh.

In one corner: Rush Limbaugh and his radio rant against Sandra Fluke. In the other corner: Kirk Cameron and his CNN-aired assertion that homosexuality is "detrimental ... and destructive."

Each has experienced serious blowback, but whose mouth has gotten its owner in the more serious career-threatening mess?

The scorecard:

1. Apologized with apologies, plural: Limbaugh took to his website and his radio show to express regret for his "inappropriate" "personal attack" on the Georgetown University law student he called a "slut" and a "prostitute." Cameron's camp, meanwhile, told ABCNews.com that the former "Growing Pains" star has received "thousands" of supportive messages "from those who value the freedom to express one's belief." The Winner (or Is It Loser?): Limbaugh.

MORE: Cameron's TV Sister Speaks Out

2. Lost sponsors: Limbaugh's keep fleeing--at last count, 20 of his national radio advertisers have pulled out. Cameron, meanwhile, doesn't have any radio sponsors to answer to, just a new movie to promote. The "Winner": Limbaugh.

3. Lost radio stations: Limbaugh's down at least two. "The Winner": Limbaugh.

4. Lost his "Sledgehammer": No, Peter Gabriel was not pleased to learn his hit was used as the backdrop for Limbaugh's Fluke speech. "The Winner": Limbaugh.

5. Attacked by the Seavers on Twitter: True, Alan Thicke got in a Limbaugh jibe, but the "Growing Pains" dad's focus was his TV son. Tracey Gold, meanwhile, was all about positioning herself as the anti-Cameron. The "Winner": Cameron.

6. Last vestiges of teen fame gone: A vintage magazine pinup of Cameron was selling for $1.49 on eBay. The "Winner": Cameron.

7. Ill-timed upcoming birthday: Cameron is set to turn 42 on Oct. 12 -- the 14th anniversary of the death of gay hate-crime victim Matthew Shepard. "Winner": Cameron.

The bottom line: Sorry, dittoheads. Limbaugh's got a lot more to lose than Cameron, who as a long-established independent minister and filmmaker has little that can be taken away by the mainstream.

PHOTOS: 20 Years of Scandals

Still, maybe the biggest losers here are the TV viewers who were hoping last fall's morning-news "Growing Pains" reunion would lead to another TV-movie reunion. That now seems less likely than Fluke accepting Limbaugh's apology.

Heard enough? Take our poll. And tell us on Facebook who you think has a bigger problem, if any, to deal with.

Related content:

• Peter Gabriel pulls music from Limbaugh show
• Stephen Colbert: Limbaugh is a prostitute
• Backlash is swift over Cameron's anti-gay speech

Harpo / AP

Oprah Winfrey interviewed Whitney Houston in 2009 and now will speak to the late singer's family, including her teen daughter.

A brief preview of Oprah Winfrey’s exclusive interview with Whitney Houston’s daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown, has been released, offering a glimpse of what’s to come during the Houston family’s first sit-down talk since the pop star’s death.

The discussion, a special episode of “Oprah’s Next Chapter,” also includes a conversation with Houston’s brother, Gary, and sister-in-law, Patricia.

 “As a big brother, how did you feel about (Houston's controversial ex-husband) Bobby Brown?” Winfrey asks Gary in the spot, which doesn't reveal his answer.

Winfrey is also seen hugging Houston's only child, Brown, who just turned 19.

The special, which airs March 11 on OWN, has some viewers questioning whether Winfrey's motivation for the interview comes too early for the grieving family.

The show will run a month after Houston was found dead in the bathtub in her room at the Beverly Hills Hilton on Feb. 11.

Brown was hospitalized the day after her mother's body was found, reportedly for treatment of anxiety.

TMZ is reporting that sources close to Houston's daughter say she trusts Winfrey to be respectful in the interview, quoting her as saying Winfrey "was loyal to my mom, and never did my mother wrong, or made her look bad. She always looked out for my mom."

Winfrey was a guest at Houston’s invitation-only funeral.

Still, some fans feel the teenager shouldn't appear on the show. 

“I do not believe that O is looking out for (Brown's) best interests at this time," a reader going by Kozy wrote on TMZ. "If you truly do trust her, I honestly believe she would respect you and not ask for an interview that she could profit on. If she truly cared, she would not be trying to score such a huge interview to save her failing network.”

 theGrio, an msnbc.com partner, posed a similar question to its Twitter audience, asking “Will Bobbi Kristina help out OWN's ratings?”

 “Our culture is shameful,” writes CajunDave in reply.  

But others think the interview could be helpful to Houston's family. “We all grieve differently,” robjh1 comments on a related piece by TheGrio. “It is easy to say, ‘Why is the interview taking place so soon after Houston's death?’ and ‘Why is it being done at all?’ Well, so soon perhaps to end the endless reporters reaching out to the family to get them to talk and to control, somehow, the information on how a loved one is being portrayed.”

Do you think Oprah Winfrey should be interviewing Whitney Houston's family, especially her daughter? Tell us on Facebook.

Related content:

• Did Houston have a fling with a Jackson?
• Oprah lands first interview with Whitney Houston's daughter
• Nancy Grace retreats on Houston murder claim
• Target pulls card mocking Whitney Houston
• More on Whitney Houston in TODAY Entertainment

Comedy Central

The Sandra Fluke vs. Rush Limbaugh discussion was just too good a topic to pass up for late-night talk show funny guys Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, but each took slightly different approaches.

Stephen Colbert went on a rant on “The Colbert Report,” completely tearing Limbaugh (or, as Colbert put it, the "poster boy for contraception") apart.

Limbaugh absolutely knows what he’s talking about when it comes to the importance of medicated sex, Colbert said, "because every time he’s slept with a woman, he’s had to slip her a pill first."

Next, Colbert showed clips of the GOP presidential candidates giving less-than-outraged reactions to their fellow conservative’s choice of words. Rick Santorum brushed the whole ordeal off saying an "entertainer" like Limbaugh can “be absurd," while Mitt Romney said merely that Limbaugh's use of "slut" and "prostitute" to describe Fluke “weren’t the words he would have used."

'Course not, said Colbert: Romney's substitute words would also have included "trollop" or "harlot."

At least a dozen advertisershave pulled their products from Limbaugh’s show in the aftermath, including ProFlowers, Sleep Train, Sleep Number, and Quicken Loans. All products, Colbert said, that were necessary for "the slut lifestyle." Mattresses to have sex on, flowers to thank her for it, etc.

Limbaugh did apologize, but as Colbert pointed out, Limbaugh’s on-air apology was for calling Ms. Fluke that “s” and "p" words ... though clearly he stands by all of the other kind things he had to say about her -- like discussing all the sex she clearly was having and wanted to have.

"I don’t understand why this man has gone through four wives," Colbert added.

Colbert wrapped up by explaining that since Limbaugh hosts his nationally syndicated radio show with more than 15 million weekly listeners, it’s clear that he will say anything on air to keep the money coming in, and to keep audiences and advertisers satisfied. When you really think about it, he says, that makes Rush Limbaugh the prostitute. Touché!

Meanwhile, “The Daily Show” host Jon Stewart slammed into Limbaugh in a segment entitled “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Gross" while wearing a bright yellow "prophylactic measure."

"You have to misunderstand so many things," said Stewart, completely debunking Limbaugh’s logic and how he came to the conclusion that Fluke is looking for a government payoff. But "the fun part" is watching the GOP candidates respond, he added.

He added Newt Gingrich to the mix -- Gingrich blamed the "elite media" for supporting Fluke. And Stewart also suggested that Romney would have definitely used other words to describe Fluke -- like "trollop" (a la Colbert) or "Methodist."

The thing is, said Stewart, Fluke and the Obama administration aren't looking to have the government pay for women to have or not have sex. He noted that it's "about an insurance mandate covering contraceptive medication as part of women’s overall healthcare." And if you're a taxpayer whose taxes are going to things you don't like, Stewart said welcome to the club: He'd like to be reimbursed for the Iraq War and oil subsidies and then "diaphragms are on me."

What do you think about what Colbert and Stewart had to say? Share your thoughts on Facebook.

Related content:

• Stephen Colbert offers new slogan for Mitt Romney: 'Enough'
• 'Late Show's' David Letterman endorses Rick Santorum for president
• Brian Williams and Jimmy Fallon get super freaky about Super PACs
• Bill Maher pledges $1 million to Obama's Super PAC

"Game Change" director Jay Roach and actress Julianne Moore, who portrayed Sarah Palin, talk about the trials and tribulations the former vice presidential candidate faced in the 2008 campaign. Roach and Moore also explain the extensive research that occurred to ensure the story and characters were depicted correctly and truthfully. Check out their interview this morning on msnbc TV's "Morning Joe."

Does "Game Change" seem like something you'll want to watch? Discuss over on Facebook.

Ryan Remiorz / AP

Peter Gabriel has pulled the use of his music from Rush Limbaugh's radio show following the host's attack on Sandra Fluke.

Advertisers aren’t the only ones pulling their products from "The Rush Limbaugh Radio Show."

In the wake of host Rush Limbaugh’s attack on Georgetown student and birth control advocate Sandra Fluke, musician Peter Gabriel has moved to have his music withdrawn from the controversial program. After learning that his song “Sledgehammer” was played during Limbaugh’s rant, in which he called Fluke a “slut” and a “prostitute,” a spokesperson for Gabriel released the following statement:

"Peter was appalled to learn that his music was linked to Rush Limbaugh's extraordinary attack on Sandra Fluke. It is obvious from anyone that knows Peter's work that he would never approve such a use. He has asked his representatives to make sure his music is withdrawn and especially from these unfair aggressive and ignorant comments."

PHOTOS: Hollywood's Memorable Mea Culpas

The move comes following a mass exodus of sponsors for the program, including ProFlowers, Legal Zoom, Citrix Systems, Tax Resolutions, Sleep Train, Sleep Number, Quicken Loans and the Cleveland Cavaliers basketball teams.

The conservative firebrand sparked outrage when he said that Fluke, a college student who was denied the right to speak at a contraception hearing, was "having so much sex she can't pay for it" and that women who want insurance plans to cover their birth control should post videos of themselves having sex online.

Limbaugh issued an apology following the attack, in which he states: "For over 20 years, I have illustrated the absurd with absurdity, three hours a day, five days a week. In this instance, I chose the wrong words in my analogy of the situation. I did not mean a personal attack on Ms. Fluke."

Related content:

• Patricia Heaton back on Twitter, sorry for bashing Georgetown student
• Women react to Rush's apology: Not accepted?
• Student called 'slut' by Limbaugh dismisses apology
• Limbaugh dismisses flight of advertisers from show
• Woman called 'slut' by Limbaugh is 'stunned, outraged'

Warner Bros.

Danny Glover and Mel Gibson in 1987's

Twenty-five years ago today, the buddy cop movie was born.

Sure, other movies had police officers who were friends -- "Dragnet," anyone?  But on March 6, 1987, "Lethal Weapon" hit theaters and the genre would never be the same.

Mel Gibson (years before his many controversial remarks) and Danny Glover played the mismatched partners, with Glover as a steady family man and Gibson as the wild man who walks into a hail of gunfire and steps out on ledges because he really doesn't care if he lives or dies. 

The film, the first in what would become a hit series, earned four out of four stars from Roger Ebert, who wrote that the film "thrilled me from beginning to end."

"Lethal Weapon" naturally inspired plenty of similar movies, in which partners of many differing temperments and backgrounds teamed up to fight crime. Some also became classics ("Bad Boys"). Some did well, but turned into a punchline ("Turner & Hooch," which paired Tom Hanks with a dog). Some made such a star out of one character that they're rarely thought of as buddy-cop movies, though they fit the genre ("Beverly Hills Cop").

The concept can still work in the 2000s -- see Simon Pegg's "Hot Fuzz" for proof.

But it's hard to find a film that did it better than Gibson and Glover back in the mid-1980s, when U2's "Joshua Tree" was the hot album, gas cost less than a dollar a gallon and "Alf" was an enormously popular TV show.

At one point, a sergeant tells Glover's character, "The guys of the 80s aren't tough. They are sensitive people." Oh no no no. These '80s guys were tough, and also crazy.

What's your favorite buddy cop movie? Vote in our poll, and tell us on Facebook. 

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Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke appeared in "Mary Poppins," a film that popularized at least one of the late Robert Sherman's tunes.

Songwriter Robert Sherman, best known for penning the infectious Disney tunes “It’s a Small World After All” and "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious," died Monday, March 5 in London.

PHOTOS: Hollywood's Notable Deaths

While few details are currently known about the circumstances, news of the 86-year-old's death was posted by Sherman's son Jeff late Monday evening via Facebook. Read the full statement below.

Sherman had accumulated a slew of prestigious awards throughout his career, including two Academy Awards, one Grammy Award and many more nominations. With his brother Richard Sherman -- together known as The Sherman Brothers -- he was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1976. The duo was featured in a retrospective album, released by Disney Records in 1992, titled "The Sherman Brothers: Disney’s 'Supercalifragilistic' Songwriting Team."

Sherman was born on Dec. 19, 1925 in New York City.

Read son Jeff's post below:

Hello to family and friends,

I have very sad news to convey. 

My Dad, Robert B. Sherman, passed away tonight in London. He went peacefully after months of truly valiantly fending off death. He loved life and his dear heart finally slowed to a stop when he could fight no more. 

I will write more about this incredible man I love and admire so much when I am better rested and composed. He deserves that. 

In the meantime, please say a prayer for him. As he said, he wanted to bring happiness to the world and, unquestionably, he succeeded. His love and his prayers, his philosophy and his poetry will live on forever. Forever his songs and his genius will bring hope, joy and love to this small, small world. 

I love you, Dad.

Safe travels.

Love,

Jeff

Also in Entertainment:

• Remembering John Belushi 30 years after his death
• 'Star Wars' designer of Darth Vader, C-3PO and R2-D2 dies
• Swordsman who wielded Darth Vader's lightsaber has died

Robert Byron / FeaturePics

Who hasn't stood in front of a movie theater concession stand and been stunned by the prices of snacks and drinks? $5 for a bottled water? $8 for a bag of popcorn? $4 for a box of M&Ms? If regular moviegoers haven't smuggled in their own snacks, they've almost certainly thought about it.

Joshua Thompson of Livonia, Mich., actually did something about it. He filled a class action suit against his local AMC Theater protesting the snack overpricing, the Detroit Free Press reported.

Thompson wouldn't talk to the paper, but the Free Press reports that the man used to bring his own snacks and drinks to the theater until a sign was posted banning doing so.

The lawsuit also provides some blunt price comparison, saying Thompson paid $8 for a Coke and box of Goobers chocolate-covered peanuts at the theater in December, three times what the items were being sold for at nearby stores.

The Free Press notes that the lawsuit will likely be thrown out, quoting legal experts who say that because movie theaters are regulated, they are exempt from Michigan's Consumer Protection Act.

The best line in the Free Press story? "A staffer at the National Association of Theatre Owners in Washington, D.C., angrily hung up the phone when asked about industry snack pricing practices."

And another great quote comes from this 2007 article from Boston, in which Ian M. Judge, director of operations for a theater chain,  is quoted as saying, "I worked for Loews for five years and I can tell you that I was told many times that we were not a theater but a restaurant that happens to show movies."

Of course, this is America, where a business is free to set its own prices, and consumers are free to pay them or to choose not to patronize the business. A 2009 Stanford research study says that high snack prices at theaters can actually be a good thing, because they keep ticket prices lower, as theater owners know they'll make it back from us at the concession counter. Although that 2009 study took place before the ubiquitous addition of 3-D to almost every film out there boosted those prices as well. No business like show business indeed.

Tell us what you think. Vote in our poll, and leave us your comments on Facebook.

Related content:

• Remembering John Belushi 30 years after death
• Did Lohan's 'SNL' performance doom her movie comeback?
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Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images

Before Olivia Wilde began dating "Saturday Night Live's" Jason Sudeikis, the 27-year-old beauty was linked to a bevy of Hollywood hunks, including Justin Timberlake, Bradley Cooper and Ryan Gosling.

In the April issue of British GQ, the "Butter" star explains how being such a man magnet has affected her acting career.

PHOTOS: Hollywood's biggest flirts

"I was very sexually mature at a very young age," Wilde says. "I was very comfortable with it and talking about it, and once someone hears a young woman speak candidly about sexuality, it's like, 'Whoa!' You get labelled."

PHOTOS: Olivia Wilde's best red carpet looks

Wilde even "pulled out" of the Linda Lovelace biopic because she wanted to be viewed in a different light. "I decided that it should go to someone who is not already sexualized by the public -- Linda Lovelace was an innocent. Amanda [Seyfried] will do an amazing job."

The actress also opens up about her 2011 divorce from Italian prince Tao Ruspoli, calling it a "peaceful parting" because "there were no kids involved."

PHOTOS: Sad celebrity breakups

"We could see it as this wonderful chapter," Wilde tells British GQ. "And anyway, you fall in love again. Oh God, to think that you only fall in love once in your entire life is such a depressing thought."

Related content:

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• Patricia Heaton rips Georgetown student

Actor Kirk Cameron speaks during the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington on Feb. 9.

Forget growing pains, Kirk Cameron's feeling pains of a different sort: namely, those of the ever-accelerating backlash variety.

Over the weekend, stars like George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Jane Lynch reacted as one to the former teen idol's homophobic remarks, condemning his comments that homosexuality was "unnatural" and gay marriage "detrimental" to society.

Then this morning, his former small-screen sister Tracey Gold reasserted her belief in equal rights, making sure to put a considerable distance between herself and Cameron.

And now? Well, the floodgates have opened, and stars are aligning to condemn the hateful remarks in the wake of the firestorm. Among them, Kirk's TV dad Alan Thicke.

MORE: Growing Pains showdown: Tracey vs. Kirk

But first among those commenting online was Piers Morgan, on whose CNN show Cameron let loose with the instantly reviled comments. It's safe to say, even for a Brit, he came up with quite an understatement:

"I don't think this Kirk Cameron interview went entirely how he thought it would..."

Highly unlikely, indeed. Here's a look at what some other gay rights-supporting stars had to say:

Alan Thicke: "I'll address kirk's comments as soon as I recover from rush limbaugh's... I'm getting him some new books. The Old Testament simply can't be expected to explain everything."

Craig Ferguson: "Rush makes me ashamed to be a middleaged white man and Kirk Cameron makes me ashamed to be a failed actor. We don't all think like that NoH8."

Jesse Tyler Ferguson: "The only unnatural thing about me being gay is that I had a crush on Kirk Cameron until about 24 hours ago."

MORE: Find out what George, Brad and more had to say about Kirk's comments

Debra Messing: "I want to thank Piers Morgan for his response to what he wud say to HIS child if (s)he came out: 'Great, as long as you're happy.'"

Roseanne: "Kirk or kurt or whatever Cameron is an accomplice to murder with his hate speech. So is rick warren. Their peers r killing gays in Uganda."

PHOTOS: A Brief History of Gays on TV

Dave Holmes: "Remember yesterday afternoon, when Kirk Cameron's views were none of our concern? Let's restore America to that golden age."

Michael Showalter: "Idea for movie: Human Centipede 3 starring Kirk Cameron and Rush Limbaugh."

Martha Plimpton: "The word 'equality' shows up too much in our founding documents for anyone to pretend it's not the American way. #usethe19th #equalitynow."

More celebrity news:

• 'Growing Pains' star calls homosexuality 'destructive'
• Get this straight: Gay ex inspired Fran Drescher show
• Patricia Heaton bashes Georgetown student on Twitter

Rick Rowell / ABC

"Dancing" pro Maksim Chmerkovskiy had never heard of Melissa Gilbert prior to their pairing.

When the cast for the upcoming season of "Dancing With the Stars" was announced last week, we polled our readers to get their reactions to the big and not-so-big names. The majority responded: "I don't even know who most of these people are."

Well, take heart, readers. It looks like you're in good company.

Professional hoofer Maksim Chmerkovskiy didn't recognize his own celebrity partner, actress Melissa Gilbert.

"The first time we met -- it's a funny story now. I just don't want to offend anybody," ballroom's bad boy said during an interview on "Good Day LA." "When she walked in and we said, 'Hi' … she goes, 'Oh my god, it's you!' and I go, 'Oh my god, it's … uh, you ...' And for the next two and a half minutes I really tried to play this whole out-of-respect thing, and I had no clue who she was -- zero."

Of course, most of us who are familiar with Gilbert came to know her for her role as Laura Ingalls Wilder on "Little House on the Prairie." While the show aired in the '70s and '80s, its continued syndication internationally means that Chmerkovskiy can't use the fact that he only came to America from the Ukraine in 1994 as an excuse.

Well, one thing is for sure: He knows who Gilbert is now. And between his daily rehearsals with her and a special gift she gave him, he'll never forget.

"Since we met, she actually gifted me with an entire collection of the show ('Little House on the Prairie')," he revealed.

Are you surprised that Maks had never heard of his partner before? Tell us on our Facebook page.

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CBS

Chuck Norris in "Walker, Texas Ranger."

At last, someone might be able to successfully cross Chuck Norris.

The “Walker, Texas Ranger” star and martial arts specialist may be immortalized abroad this year, as Slovakians are uniting to have a bridge named in his honor.

The actor leads two other contenders in a landslide public vote to choose the name of a new pedestrian and cycling walkway over the Morava River, Reuters reports. Norris currently holds an enormous lead over historical Austro-Hungarian empress, Maria Theresa, and the nearby village of Devinska in the name race.

While the polls run till April, the actor carries 74 percent of the tally at present. A final decision will be made by the country’s general assembly after voting has ceased.

The bridge connects the Eastern European nation to neighboring Austria.

It's unclear who nominated the action film star for the honor in the first place. Reuters does point out that Norris’ work has become a common source of humor among the Slovaks relating to his “macho strength and invincibility.”

Kidding aside, regional governor, Pavol Fres, has promised to honor his people’s ultimate wishes, questionable though they may be. "The same way as we have so far been building it in full sight of the public, we will seek that the name is accepted by the public as well," Fres reportedly said.

Norris, who’s primarily known for his role on the television series, has a strong international following, and factoids about his exaggerated abilities dubbed "Chuck Norris Facts" have become a well-known Internet meme. One of those facts even seems relevant to the possible bridge name, claiming “Jesus walks on water. Chuck Norris steps over oceans.”

Should Slovakia name their bridge for Chuck Norris? Tell us on Facebook.

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NBC

Lindsay Lohan on "Saturday Night Live" March 3.

From her bleached blonde locks to trouble with her lines, Lindsay Lohan's "Saturday Night Live" performance has been critically slammed. Some say the performance could have helped her along the road to a presumed movie comeback, but the negative reviews now have many wondering if that will ever happen for the troubled young star. 

The 25 year-old actress, who has spent recent years in and out of court and rehab as a result of drug-related issues, began the NBC sketch show Saturday night with an opening monologue mocking her arrests.  She also played herself in a spoof of prison-warning show "Scared Straight." But not everyone thought the self-deprecating humor worked.

After Jimmy Fallon joked that “Mad Men” star Jon Hamm, who also appeared on the show, was in the audience as a backup plan, some wanted that plan to be implemented.

Journalist Touré, an msnbc contributor, ‏wrote on Twitter, “Lindsay hasn't made me laugh yet. For an actress, she's not doing well. Can we still replace her with Jon Hamm? #SNL.”

Hamm may not have jumped in as host, but his multiple appearances throughout the show drew comparatively positive reviews. The film and television actor was a guest on TODAY Monday and defended Lohan's performance. 

“I thought she did a great job,” replied Hamm. “There was so much scrutiny and so much pressure on her, but she handled it with grace and aplomb.”

Host Al Roker also questioned Hamm on the criticism Lohan attracted. "I was sitting right there and I thought she did a good job," the "Mad Men" star told the host.

The actress earned praise in the past for roles in 1998's "The Parent Trap" and 2004's "Mean Girls." She's reportedly set to play Elizabeth Taylor in an upcoming Lifetime movie, "Liz & Dick." In TODAY's exclusive interview with Lohan last week, the actress said she was ignoring those who doubted her, and wanted to focus on work and "move forward with my life."

Slideshow: Lindsay Lohan

Michael Nelson / EPA

Launch slideshow

But it's hard to find a critic who wholeheartedly felt Lohan's performance showed that she's ready to headline a major film. 

“Letting Lindsay Lohan host "Saturday Night Live" was a mistake,” wrote Mike Ryan on The Huffington Post. “And that isn't anything against Lohan, her well documented escapades or her hopeful recovery. The fact is she just wasn't ready. It was apparent that the cast and the writers didn't particularly trust her (and why should they?) since they relegated her to backup duty in pretty much every sketch.”

 Tweeted David Poland, “Lindsay Lohan may have removed whatever questions there were about her future acting career with painful “SNL” performance.” 

What did you think of Lohan on "SNL"? Is she ready for a movie? Tell us on Facebook.

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Universal Studios

Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi in 1980's "The Blues Brothers."

Thirty years ago, on March 5, 1982, comic John Belushi was found dead in the Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles. His death would spark months of tabloid headlines and introduce many to the word "speedball," meaning a combination of cocaine and heroin. Catherine Evelyn Smith, the woman who was with him that night and injected the drugs that led to his death, would serve prison time for involuntary manslaughter.

In later years, Chris Farley would be compared to the comic, and Farley's 1997 death also came far too early. And there will always be actors, especially comedians, who push things so far both onstage and in their lives that they become famous verging on infamous for life on the edge. But few can outshine Belushi's legacy as the hard-partying comedian whose light burned bright and fast and then was snuffed out.

First-ever 'SNL' skit
Fittingly, Belushi starred in the very first sketch ever shown on "Saturday Night Live" when the show debuted in 1975, playing a student learning English who copies not just his language teacher's words, but mimics his heart attack as well. He'd go on to play the famed Samurai, the "cheeseburger, cheeseburger!" cook, a Conehead, Widette, Joe Cocker and more, but here's where it all began.

'Animal House' zit scene
One of Belushi's best-known roles was that of Bluto in 1978's "Animal House." Bluto held nothing back, had a GPA of 0.0, and would eventually become a U.S. Senator. He stole the film whenever he was on screen, but the pure gross-out value of the "I'm a zit!" scene is unforgettable.

'Blues Brothers' performing 'Soul Man'
Sure, there's Bluto in a mustard-smeared toga, or the Samurai raising his katana, but the most iconic image of Belushi may be of him wearing sunglasses and a dark suit, arm slung over the shoulder of co-star Dan Aykroyd, in "The Blues Brothers." Whether you prefer the film or the many songs the duo performed as Jake and Elwood, the whole concept is a classic. Here they are performing "Soul Man" on "SNL."

How do you best remember Belushi? What was his best role? Tell us on Facebook. 

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Alleged mom-to-be Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi is reportedly engaged to boyfriend Jionni LaValle.

Last week the reality-TV rumor mill went into to overdrive with reports that hard-partying "Jersey Shore" star Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi will have to leave her boozing behavior behind because she has a baby on the way. But now we learn that there may be more than just a tiny fist-pumper in her future.

According People, a source close to Snooki has revealed that she's also engaged to longtime boyfriend Jionni LaValle.

The news isn't exactly a shock for the reality star's fans. Snooki has often talked of her hopes of marrying Jionni one day, and in January, she got specific about it.

"I know he's the one, so I know the ring's gonna come soon," she told People at the time. "Well, not soon-soon. He knows it should be big, cuz if it's small, I'm saying no. Like, 'Get another ring!'" 

It must have been big.

While the alleged mom-to-be still hasn't responded to all the latest baby talk, much less the nuptial news, another familiar face from "Jersey Shore" has. Jonny Manfre, otherwise known as "The Unit," wants to make one thing clear about the impending bundle of joy -- his pal, Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino, is not the father.

"It's not Situation's baby.... I'll tell you that much," he informed KISS-FM. "I would assume it's Jionni's baby."

Which is seemingly what everyone else assumes, too. So why mention Mike at all? Because as anyone who's been watching "Jersey Shore" this season knows, Sitch and The Unit can't pass up an opportunity to hint that Mike and Snooki "smushed."

And here's hoping Snooki wasn't expecting any well wishes from her always outspoken ex-boyfriend, Emilio Masella. If so, she's bound to be disappointed with his comments to TMZ.

"I hope for her sake ... not to be rude or anything ... but I hope she has a miscarriage," he said.

(Note to Emilio: That was, in fact, rude.)

Expect to learn more about Snooki's oh-so-public personal life when she and "Shore" co-star Jenni "JWoww" Farley launch their own spinoff show later this year.

Do you think the party-loving Princess of Poughkeepsie is ready to be a wife and mom? Share your thoughts about it on our Facebook page.

Related content:

• Mike plots to tell Jionni about Snooki's alleged hookup on 'Jersey Shore'
• A 'Shore' baby on the way? Snooki's rep responds to pregnancy rumors 
• Defending Snooki ... no, really

Ralph McQuarrie created "Star Wars'" most iconic character designs, including Darth Vader.

Ralph McQuarrie, whose conceptual designs were behind the "Star Wars" characters Darth Vader, Chewbacca, R2-D2 and C-3PO, has died at the age of 82.

Director George Lucas credited McQuarrie for bringing his vision for "Star Wars" to the big screen.

Lucas called him a visionary artist and a humble man.

"Ralph McQuarrie was the first person I hired to help me envision 'Star Wars,'" Lucas said in a statement.

"His genial contribution, in the form of unequaled production paintings, propelled and inspired all of the cast and crew of the original Star Wars trilogy.

"When words could not convey my ideas, I could always point to one of Ralph's fabulous illustrations and say, 'Do it like this.'"

McQuarrie also helped to create concept designs for the original "Battlestar Galactica" TV show, along with the movies "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" and "Close Encounters of the Third Kind."

McQuarrie's conceptual work on the 1985 film "Cocoon" won him the Academy Award for visual effects.

A statement on McQuarrie's official website, posted after his death Saturday, said his influence on design will be felt forever.

"There's no doubt in our hearts that centuries from now amazing spaceships will soar, future cities will rise and someone, somewhere will say ... that looks like something Ralph McQuarrie painted," it read.

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• You're a mean one, Mister Vader
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Things may be looking up for Oprah Winfrey's ratings-challenged OWN cable channel. The media mogul is set to interview the late Whitney Houston's only daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown, in her first interview since the death of her iconic mom.

So what exactly will Oprah's latest big get entail?

RELATED: Whitney Houston Death: Mom Cissy Houston Calls It "Unimaginable Tragedy"

According a statement from OWN, Oprah will sit down with Bobbi Kristina as well Whitney's sister-in-law/manager Patricia Houston and brother Gary Houston "in an intimate interview" set to air as a special episode of OWN's Oprah's Next Chapter on Sunday, March 11 at 9 p.m. ET.

RELATED: Source: Whitney Houston's Death Will Be Ruled an Accident

The special will reportedly center on Bobbi Kristina's personal memories of her mom and how she would like Whitney to be remembered. The family will be on hand to share remembrances and address "the rumors and speculation surrounding Houston's death."

Preceding the special, OWN will re-air "Remembering Whitney: The Oprah Interview," which features the talk show diva reflecting on her personal memories of the songstress as well as Houston's last in-depth television interview from The Oprah Winfrey Show.

GALLERY: Whitney Houston Funeral: Farewell to a Diva

Will you tune in to watch the interview? Share your thoughts on Facebook.

Related content:

• Nancy Grace retreats on Houston murder claim
• Target pulls card mocking Whitney Houston 

"The Lorax" nabbed the top opening of 2012 in beating the $41.2 million debut of "The Vow."

Lighting up the family marketplace, Universal and Illumination Entertainment's "Dr. Seuss' The Lorax" debuted to a staggering $70.7 million, marking the best opening ever for a non-sequel animated title if the number holds.

The 3D pic -- receiving a glowing A CinemaScore -- narrowly bested the $70.5 million earned by Pixar's "The Incredibles" in 2004, according to Universal estimates. Final numbers will come in Monday morning.

STORY: The Lorax Film Review

Either way, "Lorax" is an enormous victory for Universal and Illumination, as well as the film business in general. After last year's moviegoing slump, which dampened the family marketplace, the domestic box office is surging. Revenues were up nearly 30 percent this weekend, marking the 9th weekend in a row of growth.

"Lorax" broke a number of other records, including nabbing the top opening of 2012 in beating the $41.2 million debut of "The Vow." It's also the best showing for any animated film since summer 2010 when "Toy Story 3" debuted to $110.3 million and "Shrek Forever After" opened to $70.8 million. And Lorax scored the fourth best opening ever for any Universal title.

PHOTOS: 10 Inappropriately Sexy Cartoon Characters

Playing in a total of 3,729 theaters, "Lorax" drew more than 50 percent of its grosses from 3D or digital IMAX theaters.

Dr. Seuss, who would have turned 108 this year, published "The Lorax" in 1971. The big screen adaptation is voiced by Danny DeVito, Zac Efron, Taylor Swift, Ed Helms and Betty White.

Lorax cost under $70 million to produce and is the third movie from Universal and Illumination after box office hits "Despicable Me" and "Hop."

PHOTOS: The Big Screen's Evolution of Talking Animals

Illumination's Chris Meledandri produced the film, which marks his second Dr. Seuss production after "Horton Hears a Who!," which he made at Fox when running Fox Animation.

Heading into the weekend, tracking was strong for "Lorax" following an aggressive marketing campaign by Universal that included more than 70 global promotional partners.

Warner Bros.' found-footage comedy "Project X" -- costing a modest $12 million to make -- also did better than expected in  opening to $20.8 million. The R-rated film was produced by Todd Phililps and Joel Silver.

"Project X," receiving a B CinemaScore overall, appealed heavily to younger males, who gave it an A CinemaScore. Of those buying tickets, 67 percent were under the age of 25, while 58 percent of that demo were males.

PHOTOS: 'The Hangover' Stars: Before They Were Famous

"Todd Phillips is just incredibly talented," said Warner Bros. executive vice president of distribution Jeff Goldstein.

"Project X" was directed by Nima Nourizadeh from a script Michael Bacall and Matt Drake.

Warners waged a nationwide casting call for the R-rated pic, which stars Thomas Mann, Oliver Cooper and Jonathan Daniel Brown.

Also making a major push this weekend was Oscar winner "The Artist," which expanded from roughly 1,000 theaters to more than 1,756 following its Academy Award victories, including best picture. Distributed by The Weinstein Co., the silent black-and-white film came in No. 10, grossing $3.9 million for a cume of $37.1 million. The film was up 34 percent, reflecting an Oscar bump.

Domestic Box Office, March 2-March 4

Title/Weeks in Release/Theater Count, Studio/Three Day Weekend Total/Cume

1. Dr. Seuss' The Lorax, 1/3729, Universal/Illumination, $70.7 million

2. Project X, 1/3,055, Warner Bros., $20.8 million

3. Act of Valor, 2/3,053, Relativity/Bandito Brothers, $13.7 million, $45.2 million

4. Safe House, 4/2,553, Universal, $7.2 million, $1 $7 million,08.2 million

5. Tyler Perry's Good Deeds, 2/2,132, Lionsgate, $25.7 million

6. Journey 2, 4/3,060, New Line/Warner Bros.,  $6.9 million, $85.6 million

7. The Vow, 4/2,826, Screen Gems/Spyglass, $6.1 million, $111.7 million

8. This Means War, 3/2,324, Fox, $5.6 million, $41.5 million

9. Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, 3/2,487, Sony/Hyde Park, $4.7 million, $44.9 million

10. The Artist,  15/1,756, The Weinstein Co., $3.9 million, $37.1 million

Did you see "The Lorax" or any other movie this weekend? What did you think? Share your thoughts on Facebook.

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Ronnie Montrose, who is best known for his fiery guitar work as a member of the band Montrose, died Saturday. It is believed that the cause of death was prostate cancer, which he had been battling for the past few years.

"A few months ago, we held a surprise party for Ronnie Montrose's 64th birthday," a statement said on Montrose's official website. "He gave an impromptu speech, and told us that after a long life, filled with joy and hardship, he didn't take any of our love for granted. He passed today. He'd battled cancer, and staved off old age for long enough. And true to form, he chose his own exit the way he chose his own life. We miss him already, but we're glad to have shared with him while we could."

Born in Denver, Colorado, Montrose got his first break when he was invited to play on Van Morrison's 1971 album, "Tupelo Honey." Additional appearances on recordings by Herbie Hancock, Boz Scaggs, and the Edgar Winter Group soon followed before he formed his own band, Montrose, in 1973. In addition to the guitarist, the band consisted of a then-unknown Sammy Hagar on vocals, as well as bassist Bill Church and drummer Denny Carmassi.

The quartet issued one of rock's all-time great debuts that year, their Zeppelin-esque album, "Montrose," which spawned such soon-to-be hard rock standards as "Rock the Nation," "Bad Motor Scooter," "Space Station #5," "Rock Candy" and "Make It Last," all of which featured Montrose's tasty guitar playing. Hagar, however, would only remain with the band for one more release (1974's Paper Money) before exiting the group.

Still, the two Hagar/Montrose albums proved influential to subsequent bands, as evidenced by all the rock acts covering Montrose tunes, including Iron Maiden, who covered "I've Got the Fire" and "Space Station #5." Interestingly, Van Halen (the group Hagar would eventually front for two separate stints) would cover the songs "Rock Candy" and "Make It Last" during their early club days.

Montrose the group (with singer Bob James filling Hagar's spot) would soldier on for a few more releases in the Seventies before the guitarist issued an all-instrumental solo album, 1978's "Open Fire." He went on to form Gamma, which issued three albums between 1980 and 1983. From the Eighties onward, Montrose would alternate between issuing additional recordings from Montrose, Gamma, and as a solo artist.

Ronnie Montrose and  Sammy Hagar appeared to eventually bury the hatchet, as the original Montrose line-up appeared on the singer's 1997 solo effort, "Marching to Mars," for the song "Leaving the Warmth of the Womb," and even played together again on stage several times afterwards. For the past few years, Montrose had played solo shows throughout the U.S.

Related content:

• Sammy Hagar: 'I Would Love to Make Another Record With Van Halen'

Lindsay Lohan made her return to "Saturday Night Live" last night, and right from the start, she was greeted with nothing but support from the cast. Well, kind of. As she began her opening monologue, she addressed her legal troubles head on.

“I want to thank all the people at SNL who trusted me to have me back,” Lohan said, and then, as she stepped off the stage to continue her remarks, a siren and red light flashed, signaling that her ankle monitor had been triggered,

“Wait! So the alarm goes off if I leave the stage?" she said. "I thought it was only if I left the studio. I thought you guys trusted me!”

Enter Keenan Thompson, who offers words of support and reassurance, and to check her pupils. Then Kristen Wiig came out to encourage her as well and tell her that “everyone here believes in you, everyone! We wouldn’t have you back otherwise.” She then gives Lohan a big hug  … and proceeds to pat her down.

"Kristen, are you searching me?” Lohan asked, to which Wiig responds “no, no, I’m, ah, I’m a lesbian now.” Lohan’s retort? “Been there, done that.”

After Wiig declared her clean, Lohan said: “Maybe it was too soon for me to come back,” which prompted Jimmy Fallon to come out and remind her that everyone deserves a second chance and the staff has full faith in her, but …  Jon Hamm (making a guest appearance) was on hand to take over as guest host, just in case.

After the opening, the show cut to a video spoof of the "Real Housewives" franchise with "The Real Housewives of Disney," featuring Belle (Abby Elliott) from "Beauty and the Beast," Snow White (Vanessa Bayer), Jasmin (Nasim Pedrad) from "Aladdin," Rapunzel (Lohan) and the hot-mess Cinderella (Kristen Wiig).

"You guys are like stepsisters to me -- except not the evil kind," Rapunzel (Lohan), tells her fellow princesses, before shooting Wiig's Cinderella an evil glance.

The best line of the skit, however, was saved for Elliott's Belle. “At least I didn’t marry a beast!” said Snow White, to which Belle replied “His name is Kelsey Grammer!”

Lohan also found some laughs in her brief period of incarceration, playing herself in a spoof of "Scared Straight."

Did you watch Lohan on "SNL"? What did you think of her performance? Share your thoughts on Facebook.

Related content:

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Taylor Kitsch and Lynn Collins star in "John Carter."

Outer space and aliens pop up a bit in entertainment this week, as Disney's "John Carter" takes a Civil War veteran to Mars, and the Science Channel unfolds a month of wondering whether Earthlings are alone in the universe.

Movies
Apparently a quarter of a BILLION dollars was spent on Disney's "John Carter," based on the Edgar Rice Burroughs character, a Confederate veteran who finds himself fighting a new war on Mars. Even with extra money from 3-D ticket prices, can the studio possibly make that much money back? It remains to be seen. Taylor Kitsch plays Carter, with Lynn Collins as the beautiful blue-eyed princess he falls for. (Opens March 9.)

Elizabeth Olsen is quickly making a name for herself aside from simply being known as the little sister of those famous twins. This week, she stars in horror film "Silent House." The movie's already getting talked about because it plays out in real time, and in one, long, continuous camera shot. (Opens March 9.)

TV
All month, the Science Channel is tackling the big question: Are we alone in the universe? The discussion begins this week with Morgan Freeman hosting "Through the Wormhole: Will We Survive First Contact?" (March 6, 10 p.m., Science), which imagines what would happen if we met aliens. Well, if Freeman's our spokesman, we'll probably do OK. Other related shows this month include "Alien Encounters" (March 13 and 20, 10 p.m. ET) and "NASA's Unexplained Files." (March 27, 10 p.m.) Spacey!

We're more than a little creeped out by TLC's new "My Crazy Obsession," and the premiere this week doesn't do anything to calm us down. This week, it's a couple who've spent more than $1 million on their brood of more than 5,000 Cabbage Patch Kids, plus a woman so obsessed with pink that she dyes her food that color. (March 7, 10 p.m., TLC.)

DVD and Blu-ray
Now ya gotta cut loose, footloose, kick off your Sunday shoes... It's true, kids of the 1980s, the remake of our beloved "Footloose" wasn't bad at all. No Kevin Bacon, but what are you gonna do? That remake is now on DVD and Blu-ray if you want to catch up with how the new generation fights back against a small-town dancing ban. Everybody cut, everybody cut! (On DVD and Blu-Ray March 6.)

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Jon Bon Jovi in 1982.

Happy 50th birthday, Jon Bon Jovi!

He's done a lot for just five decades.

Numerous enormous hit songs, movies, political activism, and he created JBJ Soul Kitchen, a New Jersey restaurant where customers pay what they can, in money or volunteer work.

He's won a Golden Globe and an American Music Award and was nominated for an Oscar, Grammys, and MTV Video Music Awards.

He's been a heartthrob for decades now, traveling through the big feathered hair days to a more modern, sleeker look.

But when you get down to it, it's about the music.

We can't possibly fit all his songs into this post, but here are a bunch.

'Blaze of Glory' 

 'Livin' on a Prayer'

 'You Give Love a Bad Name'

 'Wanted Dead or Alive'

'It's My Life'

'Dry County'

'Bad Medicine'

Did we forget your favorite? Tell us on Facebook.

Davy Jones of The Monkees in 1967.

We're really trying not to let death and despair be the jumping off point every week, but it's hard to get around the fact that when Davy Jones died this week it was a big story.

For that and more of the material that will help you sound like the entertainment smartypants at the end of the bar, get caught up now with 10 clicks.

1. The worst part of having a leap day in February this year is that it happened to be the day Davy Jones died. The former teen heartthrob and Monkees star was just 66 when he suffered a fatal heart attack. The best part of this click is it'll get you to a bunch of videos and a slideshow and let you vote on your favorite song. Hey, hey! ... goodbye.

2. Yes, "The Artist" won best picture at the Oscars last weekend and yes the ceremony was as boring as you'd feared it was going to be. But raise your hand if a certain leg didn't have you chuckling on Monday morning. Thanks, Angelina Jolie, for striking a pose the Internet could run with.

3. Fisker Karma may sound like something you'd suffer from if you were a jerk to your cat, but it's actually the name of a very expensive hybrid sports car. And Justin Bieber got one for his 18th birthday. The pop star's manager presented him with the $100,000 gift on "Ellen" this week, where he told Bieber, "We decided to get you a car that would make you stand out." Glad they fixed that problem for the reclusive teen.

4. In case you missed it while working on that monogrammed onesie for Blue Ivy, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner added a baby boy to the family mix that already included daughters Violet and Seraphina. The newborn lad got himself a proper name, too.

5. Duggars! We just like saying that. The family of 19 (and counting!) stirred up some news recently when a woman apparently attempted to extort Amy, niece of Jim Bob, with what she contended were "racy" photos. "It's completely laughable," Amy said on TODAY, and clicking over here will prove just that.

6. Urkel, Laura Ingalls Wilder and Martina Navratilova walk into a ballroom ... Sorry, we don't have a punchline. You'll have to tune into season 14 of "Dancing With the Stars" to make up your own as the new cast was announced this week. Derek Hough and Maria Menounos -- we're calling it here.

7. Change your plans if you were headed to Target for a greeting card for that special someone and you wanted to get in a shot at Whitney Houston in the process. The retailer pulled a card off its shelves that mocked the singer's marriage to Bobby Brown. It apparently originated well before the singer's death -- you know, during that time when making fun of her troubled life was hilarious.

8. Zac Efron was a big talker last week when he dropped a condom on the red carpet at the premiere of his new kid flick "The Lorax." A week and a half appears to have not been enough time to diminish the sting of embarrassment as the actor and TODAY host Matt Lauer blushed and chuckled through a safe sex discussion on Thursday.

9. "American Idol"managed to find 13 guys and girls worthy of your TV and texting time again. The field of wannabes was finally narrowed this week and you can pick your champion based on his or her looks (isn't that how it works?) thanks to this slideshow.

10. Lindsay Lohan's comeback may very well be over by the time you're ready to cut her some slack, but we'll keep trying to get you to care about her career again (actress, btw).  LiLo sat down for a chat with Matt Lauer this week ahead of a hyped return to "Saturday Night Live." Here's to hoping she knocks it out the park and the "Mean Girl" remains a clean girl.

More from the week that was:

• Comment of the week: Bieber doesn't need $100K car
• Slideshow: The week in Celebrity Sightings

Plenty of room at the Hotel California ... for a lawsuit?

Rising R&B singer Frank Ocean finds himself in the middle of a sticky situation with the Eagles over use of their 1977 mega-hit "Hotel California.”

The New Orleans musician utilized the song without permission on his own song, “American Wedding.” It was originally released by Ocean without a label, but now Def Jam is preparing the album for commercial release. The dispute quickly escalated into a war of words between the new artist and the legendary rockers.

"Don Henley is apparently intimidated by my rendition of “Hotel California,”” Ocean comments on his Tumblr page. “He threatened to sue if I perform it again. I think that’s f***** awesome. I guess if I play it at Coachella, it’ll cost me a couple hundred racks. If I don’t show up to court, it’ll be a judgment against me and will probably show up on my credit report. Oh well….They also asked that I release a statement expressing my admiration for Mr. Henley, along with my assistance pulling it off the web as much as possible….I didn’t make a dime off that song. I released it for free. If anything, I’m paying homage.”

Henley and the band have since come forward with their own thoughts on the matter. The Eagles’ rep shared the group’s response via email this week with the L.A. Times. Evidently, there was never a lawsuit in the works, however, now, considering Ocean’s blasé stance, there might be.

“Frank Ocean did not merely “sample” a portion of the Eagles’ “Hotel California,” he took the whole master track, plus the song’s existing melody, and replaced the lyrics with his own,” said the band in its statement to the Times. “This is not creative, let alone 'intimidating.' It’s illegal. For the record, Don Henley has not threatened or instituted any legal action against Frank Ocean, although the Eagles are now considering whether they should.”

Two songs from Ocean's upcoming album are available on iTunes, but "American Wedding" isn't one of them.

Ocean often performs the track live, and judging by his remarks, will continue to do so. He is scheduled to perform at the Coachella festival in California in April.

The artist recently came into the spotlight as part of ensemble group, Odd Future, as well as for his work on the Jay-Z/Kanye West collaboration, “Watch the Throne.”

Listen to Frank Ocean's "American Wedding" here.

Then listen to The Eagles' "Hotel California."

What do you think? Ripoff, or homage? Vote in our poll, and tell us on Facebook.

More from music:

• Listen to one of Davy Jones' last songs
• Britain's Eurovision contestant: Englebert Humperdinck!
• Meeting Davy Jones made her a daydream believer

Steve Thorne / Getty Images Contributor

Engelbert Humperdinck

Septuagenarian crooner Engelbert Humperdinck will represent the United Kingdom at this year's Eurovision Song Contest, according to the BBC, which chooses the country's contestants.

The 75-year-old singer, best known for his 1967 hit "Release Me," will be hoping to reverse a slump in fortunes for British acts at the annual sing-off.

"It's an absolute honor to be representing my country for this year's Eurovision Song Contest," the singer told the BBC.

"When the BBC approached me, it just felt right for me to be a part of an institution like Eurovision. I'm excited and raring to go and want the nation to get behind me!"

Humperdinck is the oldest Eurovision contestant and if he wins, will be the UK's first triumph since Katrina and the Waves 15 years ago.

The competition takes place on May 26 in Baku, Azerbaijan, where it has generated considerable excitement but also seen the country's human rights record come under closer international scrutiny.

In the latest example, Amnesty International said on Friday it hoped Humperdinck would draw attention to the issue of what it called "prisoners of conscience" being held in Azeri jails.

"There is a deep irony in the announcement," said Tim Hancock, campaigns director of Amnesty International UK, ahead of planned demonstrations in Azerbaijan over the weekend.

"Engelbert Humperdinck is famed for his song 'Please Release Me', yet, on the streets of Azerbaijan this Sunday protesters risk arrest by simply taking to the streets to display their discontent with the authorities."

Western governments and rights groups accuse President Ilham Aliyev, who succeeded his father in 2003, of rigging elections and clamping down on dissent, notably last year during a series of protests in the capital inspired by the Arab Spring.

The government says Azerbaijan, located on the Caspian Sea, enjoys full freedom of speech and has a thriving opposition press.

Humperdinck's song for the contest will be recorded in London, Los Angeles and Nashville and written by Martin Terefe and Sacha Skarbek.

Humperdinck, whose real name is Arnold Dorsey, has sold an estimated 150 million records worldwide during a 45 year career.

His participation could boost interest in this year's Eurovision Song Contest, widely derided in Britain as a celebration of kitsch but taken more seriously in many other European countries and watched by a television audience of more than 100 million people.

Do you follow the Eurovision contest? What do you think of Engelbert's chances? Share your thoughts on Facebook.

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