Times Square Gossip

**** THE NEW YORK CITY TAXI AND LIMOUSINE COMMISSION MUST BE REBUILT **** New York City Taxis Taxi drivers are no longer allowed to use any type of electronic device, cell phones, iPods, cameras and even hands-free devices, while driving their charges around the city.The new crackdown covers just about every kind of portable electronic device that you can think of. For months now, even hands-free cell phones have been banned for taxi, limo and van drivers. But the new rule extends the prohibition to Bluetooth devices, as well as PDA's in your hand, and electronic games.The penalties from the TLC are getting stiffer. There used to be a five-strike rule before your license was revoked. Now it's three violations within a 15-month period and you're walking if you're caught talking.The new TLC rule makes clear that the ban includes iPods and portable game systems as well. The only exception seems to be if you're making a true emergency 911 call, perhaps in pursuit of a r...

Wynter Gordon Wynter Gordon performed at LAX nightclub in Las Vegas, Nevada the other night. The star was all smiles for the roving cameras, and put on a great show. Photo By: Scott Harrison / Retna Ltd.

Tracy Morgan With Girlfriend Taneisha Volkswagen of America, Inc. announced today a new campaign called "Punch Dub," an update on the classic Punch Buggy game, designed to increase model awareness and familiarity by reminding consumers of all the Volkswagens on the road. The "Punch Dub" campaign is based on the classic game that kids used to play back in the original Beetle's heyday called "Punch Buggy" (or "Slug Bug"), where the first person to see a Beetle would yell,"Punch Bug" and playfully slug his or her friend. Volkswagen will debut the "Punch Dub" (as in VEE-Dub) campaign in a 30-second ad during the third quarter of Super Bowl XLIV and through a new online campaign. The ad, which includes a special cameo by actor and comedian Tracy Morgan, will show a variety of people in different driving situations gently slugging others in the arm every time they spot a Routan, Tiguan, CC or any other Volkswagen model."P...

**** GIVE KATHY POSNER THE CHECK **** Volunteer At Chicago's Grant Park The City of Chicago has a vast number of volunteer opportunities for people who want to get involved. There are about 50 different “job” categories ranging from greeting visitors flying into the city as part of The Airport Ambassador Program (free parking and a uniform!) or being a docent at the Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool in Lincoln Park (you get 6 weeks of training from area experts on horticulture, the art of interpretation, the history of Lincoln Park, and landscape design.) In fact just last week, the city was awarded a two-year, $200,000 Rockefeller Foundation grant to hire a full-time "chief service officer" to develop a citywide volunteerism plan. Even though people will be performing these jobs for free, one cannot just show up and expect to be “hired.” There are certain requirements depending on the “job.” For one to become part of the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) volunteers must not only compl...

Ozzy Osbourne Rock legend Ozzy Osbourne has decided against naming his new album "Soul Sucka', after discovering his world wide web fans hated the name. The singers latest record, is set to hit shelves in June,, but Old Ozzy is admitting he’s still considering names for the record’s title. He told RollingStone.com , "When we put that on the Internet none of my fan base liked the title. They were like, ‘I can’t imagine me walking around the f**king house with the words ‘Soul Sucka on my T-shirt.’ So I was like, ‘F**k it. I’ve got to come up with something else!’"

Lady Gaga The controversial Lady GaGa and rock icon Elton John are planning a Grammy night duet on Sunday according to reports. It is not known yet what they will be performing together. Other artists scheduled to perform at the 52nd annual Grammy Awards include Pink, Beyonce, The Black Eyed Peas and Country Music star Taylor Swift. Photo By: RD/Kabik/Retna

Jennifer Lopez Sexy singing star Jennifer Lopez will play a self-help guru teaching women how to train men in relationships in an upcoming episode On 'How I Met Your Mother', due to air in March. Carrie Underwood is also going to appear in the program as well. The stars announcement comes just days after it was revealed she is joining the cast of Glee, as a cafeteria worker. Photo By: Sara De Boer/Retna

Diego Luna Y tu mama tambien star Diego Luna and his wife Camila Sodi have announced they are expecting another baby. "We want to confirm that Camila and I are expecting our second child," Luna, said in a statement given through his manager Jorge Mondragon to media outlets. "We've celebrated the news and it has brought great joy to our lives."The happy couple are parents to son Jerónimo, 17 months already. The pair are currently in Utah where Luna is promoting his latest film, Abel, at the Sundance Film Festival. Photo By: Sara De Boer/Retna

Chris Jericho World champion wrestlers Chris Jericho and Gregory "Hurricane" Helms were arrested in Kentucky on Wednesday morning on charges of public intoxication after the two were reportedly brawling in a taxi, according to alleged reports. The Cincinnati Enquirer reports, Jericho, and Helms, were picked up by the police at a Shell gas station in the town of Erlanger, Kentucky, at about 5 a.m. Wednesday and were taken to the nearby Kenton County jail, where they were booked. Both men were released less than an hour later after paying fines of $120. TMZ reported that police were called to the Shell station because Jericho and Helms had been fighting in a cab, and quoted police as saying both were "extremely intoxicated." Both Jericho and Helms wrestle for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). Jericho is one of the top WWE's wrestlers, a five-time world champion — and has won the Intercontinental Championship a record nine times. Photo By: Rd/Dziekan/Retna

Cameron Diaz Cameron Diaz And Tom Cruise Tom Cruise was snapped filming "Knight and Day" with Cameron Diaz in California the other day. We can only hope, it turns out to be another blockbuster pic... Photos By: RD / Blair / Retna Digital

**** THE WEB GOSSIP **** The guy or girl that writes this column is a very big industry insider who wishes to remain anonymous, but wants to write about all the headlines happening in Hollywood and the Music Industry. **** Mel Gibson MAD MEL: Mel‘s back in a supremely entertaining thriller-revenge movie called Edge of Darkness. Let’s get it out of the way and say that despite the tabloid headlines Gibson’s made over the past five years (and, no, I won't go into them!) let’s put all that behind us and focus on what a truly entertaining movie presence he’s been … and, still is. This riveting new movie is based on a BBC miniseries that has been developed by director Martin Campbell and producer Graham King (The Departed). In short, Gibson’s daughter is killed at the beginning of the movie and although everyone immediately assumes that Gibson’s Tom Craven was the intended target, as Gibson peels back the layers, he discovers that it was indeed his daughter who was the target. The bril...

Ashlee Simpson Ashlee Simpson is planning a break when she finishes her run in the hit Broadway musical Chicago, so she can concentrate on looking after her son. The star is currently playing Roxie Hart in the Broadway production in New York City, but she will leave the show next month. Michelle Williams is taking on the famed role. Ashlee is looking forward to her time off, so she can spend more time with Bronx Mowgli, her one-year-old son with Fall Out Boy rock star Pete Wentz. She told Access Hollywood , "We’ll see what’s next, but I’m gonna have some mommy time and take a little break. I’ve had a blast here doing Chicago. It’s been wonderful and to be on stage in Broadway, that was always a dream of mine, so it’s been great. I’ve got two weeks left and I’ve really enjoyed it and I’m ready to get back home." Photos By: Sara De Boer/Retna

**** MICHAEL COLAVITO THE ART OF THE 21ST CENTURY **** Mayor Mike Bloomberg Robert DeNiro Chuck Close After hearing about the buzz surrounding artist/photographer Michael Colavito and his original new art with numerous comparisons to great names in art history like Picasso and Warhol, I met with him for an interview. You hear this being casually said of upcoming artists from time to time but with Colavito it is all true. The work is impactful, inspiring, and truly original to say the very least. I have never seen art like this. He films numerous subjects and creates modern art and bronze sculptures that he incorporates into his cinematic film work and diversified large format 8x10 photography, all without computers, special effects or blue screen. He is a film purest in every sense of the term, his work is natural and organic. Upon completion of my first interview, I was overloaded and mesmerized as if having visited a museum with art everywhere. Colavito art style has redefined ...

Rush Limbaugh The Miss America 2010 pageant had a judges press conference at Planet Hollywood Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada, and famed talk show host Rush Limbaugh was there. Photo By: Scott Harrison / Retna Ltd.

Zelda Rubinstein Iconic Hollywood star Zelda Rubinstein, who played spirit talker Tangina in Steven Spielberg's hit 1982 film 'Poltergeist,' has died. Her agent, Eric Stevens told media outlets, she passed away of natural causes at Barlow Respiratory Hospital in Los Angeles California yesterday. She was 76-years-old. Stevens told RadarOnline.com , "She had ongoing health issues and unfortunately they finally overtook her." "At 1:59 this morning Zelda left us. She was very much at peace when she finally rested. I'm so sad right now, but I'm glad I was here to be with her and hold her hand," a friend of the actress said. A friends adds, "She was very much at peace when she finally rested... The world has definitely lost someone very special." Photo By: Sara De Boer/Retna