– Gene Simmons of Kiss, who was born in Israel, sent a message last week to an Israeli soldier wounded in fighting in Lebanon, calling him his “hero.” The message to Ron Weinreich, a Kiss fan, was mostly in English. But switching to Hebrew, Simmons added: “My name is Chaim, I was born in Haifa.”
– Matt LeBlanc was sued by a woman in Los Angeles last week who claims the former “Friends” actor defamed her by making sexually charged comments that were published in the National Enquirer.
– Mel Gibson’s apology for making anti-Semitic remarks while drunk isn’t enough to redeem him, Rob Reiner said. Gibson also must acknowledge that “his work reflects anti-Semitism,” particularly “The Passion of the Christ,” Reiner, who is Jewish, said.
– Kevin Federline will appear in an episode of “CSI” on CBS this fall, People magazine reported. “It’s the first time I’ve actually had a speaking role,” Federline, who started filming last week in Los Angeles, told the magazine. He will play a menacing, arrogant teen.
– “I want to work [on an album] with Pharrell [Williams], Timbaland, Snoop, Kanye, Eminem and just see what happens,” Elton John tells Rolling Stone magazine in its Sept. 7 issue. “It may be a disaster, it could be fantastic, but you don’t know until you try.”
– Terrence Howard will host PBS’ “Independent Lens,” which celebrates its fifth anniversary this fall. The new season begins Oct. 24.
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The Personals page was compiled by Cheryl Bowles and Cristi Kempf from Tribune news services and staff reports.
