ARIANA GRANDE TO LEAVE NICKELODEON SHOW
NEW YORK (AP) — With her music career taking off, one of Ariana Grande’s launching pads is going away. Nickelodeon says her series “Sam & Cat” will be airing its last original episode this week. The final installmentent of the first-run series is set for Thursday. Grande’s single “Problems” has gone double platinum. And amid reports that Grande and her co-star Jennette McCurdy were beefing, production was shut down this spring. Nickelodeon won’t comment on why production was stopped — other than executives saying both stars had reached 21 and wanted to move on in their careers.
ROBIN THICKE GETS SUPPORT FOR WOOING ESTRANGED WIFE
LONDON (AP) — A musician who toured with Robin Thicke when he was first coping with his split with wife Paula Patton is supporting the singer’s efforts to woo the actress back with his music. DJ Cassidy says he feels “music can seduce a woman” — and if music can be used to get a woman the first time, it can also be used to lure her back. Cassidy says being creative is sexy — and if he was a singer in Thicke’s situation, he’d do the same thing. Thicke has named his latest album “Paula.” Sales have been slow and so far there’s no public indication that he’s won Patton’s heart back, despite his public pleas for reconciliation.
FOSTER THE PEOPLE MURAL GETS TO STAY
LOS ANGELES (AP) — As the old saying goes, you can’t fight City Hall. On the flip side, it can help your cause if you have City Hall on your side. Just ask Foster the People. The group commissioned a mural to promote the release of the album “Supermodel” — but later Los Angeles city officials ordered the band to remove the artwork. KABC-TV reports fans began signing a petition to keep the wall — and L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti has decided the mural could stay.
FILTER GO TO LEGOLAND
LOMBARD, Ill. (AP) — What would you consider a rock and roll vacation? How about Legoland? That’s what Filter singer Richard Patrick did recently. He took his wife and kids, ages 4 and 6, and they stayed at the Legoland Hotel. Patrick says he’s never seen anyone be so excited about anything, and because it was “Star Wars” weekend, he was happy too. He’s back at his day job, though. Filter are on tour with Helmet and Local H as the “Anti-Folk Revival Tour in Drop-D.” Patrick says it’s a response to all the bands with banjos, mandolins and accordions. He says, “As a band, someone has to stop this madness.”
LITA FORD PREPARES MEMOIR
NEW YORK (AP) — Lita Ford is telling her life story, even the parts she kept hidden for so long. Ford has written an autobiography called “Living Like A Runaway: A Memoir.” Ford will tell her story about joining The Runaways at the age of 16, working with Ozzy Osbourne and being a female in a male-dominated industry. Ford will also open up about what publisher HarperCollins describes as “an increasingly terrifying marriage” and how she gave up her sons to gain her freedom. “Living Like A Runaway” comes out November 11.
METALLICA SHOOT “THIS IS SPORTS CENTER” COMMERCIAL
UNDATED (AP) — Metallica have filmed a commercial for ESPN. Their version of the “This Is Sports Center” ad speculates on what the band is doing ever since Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera retired and stopped using their song “Enter Sandman.”
MUSIC FESTIVAL-GOERS STUCK
SAUGERTIES, N.Y. (AP) — The music stopped early. But heavy rain means some of those who attended a music festival in New York State had to hang around a bit longer. The Hudson Project featured more than 80 acts, including Modest Mouse and Flaming Lips. But heavy rain forced the festival to end Sunday afternoon, instead of continuing until midnight, as planned. The mud caused hundreds of vehicles to end up stuck in the mud — and news reports say tow trucks and farmers’ tractors are being used to yank the stranded vehicles out of the muck.
