Man arrested in Hollywood Hills burglaries targeting celebs including Usher, Adam Lambert, Jason Derulo – Los Angeles police have arrested a man they say burglarized Hollywood Hills homes including those of celebrities, allegedly after casing them while pretending to be a potential buyer or real estate agent during open houses. LAPD Detective Jared Timmons said Wednesday that investigators have seized more than 2,000 items worth several million dollars allegedly taken in burglaries in 2017 and 2018. Timmons says singers Usher, Adam Lambert and Jason Derulo are among 13 victims identified so far. – Read more at USA Today
Britton Buchanan reflects on his wild 2018 – Sanford native Britton Buchanan discusses how his run on NBC’s “The Voice” launched a busy 2018, and he says he’s looking forward to his new album and other upcoming changes in his life in 2019. – WRAL
Carrie Underwood is Ready to Pop!
Kicking off 2019 right…Me and my boys cuddled up watching a movie. Yes, I’m wearing Mike’s shirt. ? #LettingItAllHangOut ? pic.twitter.com/7KBoZsw0HX
— Carrie Underwood (@carrieunderwood) January 1, 2019
Haley Reinhart pal settles lawsuit stemming from Palatine bar brawl – A settlement has been reached in a lawsuit a friend of singer Haley Reinhart filed against a Palatine bar, where he claims a now-former employee attacked him when a brawl erupted involving the onetime “American Idol” contestant and others. What’s labeled as a confidential settlement was agreed on by Wheeling resident Alan Chislof and Lamplighter Inn Tavern & Grill. It was the last remaining court case related to the fight that occurred at the downtown Palatine establishment about 2 a.m. July 8, 2017. – Read more at Daily Herald
‘The Masked Singer’: How the Fox Reality Show Scored Top Talent (and Kept It Secret) – The first season was filmed during a month in the fall, with insanely thorough security — and strict NDAs — that prevented the identities of each participant from leaking. Some people were easy to cast. They saw the potential of the show. They loved the idea of being behind a mask and no one knowing who they were, and showing off the talent that no one knew that they even had. It was phenomenal what we had to go through to keep everyone a secret. All the stars, before they even left their house, they had to meet at another location. They dressed in cloaks and masks. We had drivers who had no idea who they were. Everyone was under a different alias, and when they pulled up on the lots, everyone had to wear these cloaks and wear these masks. They were sequestered into a private area that was guarded by security guards. When they came on the set, they had to either wear their complete outfit, or they had to wear, again, these cloaks that had gloves. No skin appearing at all. No way to identify the person. If they were accompanied by a manager or a loved one, those individuals had to wear cloaks because, as we know very well in this town, if a big celebrity came and their manager or agent came, it’s kind of easy to figure out who it is. It’s one of seven possible people. It worked out great because on the whole production only seven people knew who these people were. Our director didn’t know. Our lighting people didn’t know. No one on the crew. And it created this magic on the set that I haven’t seen before. – Read more at Hollywood Reporter
