Pamela Anderson and new husband split after just 12 days

LOS ANGELES - Former "Baywatch" star Pamela Anderson and movie mogul Jon Peters have called it quits just 12 days after tying the knot.

The actress and animal rights activist wed "Batman" producer Peters on January 20 at a ceremony in Malibu reportedly attended by her 2 sons and his 3 daughters and ex-wife.

But there was apparently trouble in paradise as Anderson abruptly flew to her native Canada on Saturday morning, The Hollywood Reporter said, just days after posting a photo of herself and Peters on her Instagram account.

"I have been moved by the warm reception to Jon's and my union," Anderson, 52, said in a statement to US media. 

"We would be very grateful for your support as we take some time apart to re-evaluate what we want from life and from one another."

The pair had each been married 4 times prior.

Anderson said in her statement that the wedding had never been formalized and the pair had decided to step back while mulling their next move.

She was previously married to rockers Tommy Lee and Kid Rock. She twice wed professional poker player Rick Salomon. 

More recently she dated French soccer star Adil Rami, with whom she lived in France.

Peters, 74, a former hair stylist, rose to Hollywood prominence after a high-profile romance with Barbra Streisand, going on to produce her 1976 version of "A Star Is Born." 

He subsequently oversaw the Tim Burton "Batman" films in the 1980s and 1990s, and brought another DC comic books icon back to the screen in 2006's "Superman Returns."

He was co-chairman of Columbia Pictures for a stint in the 1990s.

Peters reportedly first met Anderson at the Playboy Mansion in the 1980s, and proposed to her shortly after.

"There are beautiful girls everywhere. I could have my pick, but -- for 35 years -- I've only wanted Pamela," he told THR when the pair tied the knot in January.

Agence France-Presse 

Movie review: Big-screen 'Baywatch' a beach bummer

"Baywatch" was one of the most popular TV series back in the 1990s. Lead star David Hasselhoff, despite receiving a lot of beef about his acting style, is an international superstar. Several sexy female starlets donned those signature red bathing suits and became pinups in many bedrooms -- such as Erika Eleniak, Nicole Eggert, Alexandra Paul, Yasmine Bleeth, Carmen Electra and of course, Pamela Anderson.

I don't know why Hollywood can't leave these hit TV series well enough alone. I cannot honestly name a popular TV series that was actually done better when adapted for the big screen. A lot, if not all, of these feature film adaptation fell way short of expectations and in so doing, marred the fond memories audiences have of their favorite shows. "Baywatch" was by no means an award-winning series with awe-inspiring acting. However, it had its own distinct hook that I felt was not going to be easy to replicate.

Mitch Buchanon is a popular lifeguard team leader on the beach of Emerald Bay in Florida. One summer, during the tryouts for new lifeguards, Mitch was forced by his boss to take on Matt Brodie, a two-time Olympic gold medal-winner swimmer with a big ego and bad attitude. The two never see things eye to eye, constantly bickering about Mitch's unconventional training style. Mitch wants his team to get involved and actively aid in the investigation of crimes (from drugs to murder) on the beach, and Matt aggressively resists.

I thought the whole main cast, while all in great physical shape, was miscast. Dwayne Johnson does the leadership role well, but he seemed too heavily muscle-bound to swim as a lifeguard. Zac Efron does the cocky jerk role well, but he already looked too old to play an immature brat. Alexandra Daddario and Kelly Rohrbach both looked great in their red Speedos as Summer Quinn and C.J. Parker respectively, but it felt like they should switch roles when it came to job seniority.

I am thinking that this film by Seth Gordon (of "Horrible Bosses" infamy) was probably made to be more of a mindless spoof than a tribute to an already campy original show. However, most of the humor, especially those by Efron (in a dress, in the morgue), were of the cringe and groan type that did not really fly for me. Even the not-so-surprise cameos of David Hasselhoff and Pamela Anderson were disappointing. The writers could have thought of better scenarios for them to appear.

Most of the laughs came in the beginning care of Jon Bass (as newbie lifeguard Ronnie) who had no shame getting himself in the most embarrassing comic situations in his adulation for CJ Parker. As can be expected, these gags were mostly in the raunchy "American Pie" variety. I did like some of those lower-key visual gags of the Rock using toys to fight or temping as cellphone salesman.

I have only seen a few episodes of the "Baywatch" TV series before, so I would not really know how they were able to expand the rather flimsy concept of sexy lifeguards to a decade worth of episodes. For this film, the whole script is not only a contrived stretch, but it is also a messy mishmash. Does a lifeguard really have jurisdiction to involve himself into criminal investigations independent of the police? This movie felt like cops from another TV show, like maybe the "21 Jump Street" guys, crossed over and went undercover on the beach as lifeguards.

Daddario and Rohrbach are definitely 10s, but the film as a whole can only muster a 2/10.

This review was originally published in the author's blog, "Fred Said."

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Pamela Anderson causes stir in French parliament over foie gras

Former Baywatch actress Pamela Anderson triggered scenes of chaos in France's parliament on Tuesday as journalists fought and shoved to hear her campaign for a ban on the force-feeding of ducks and geese for foie gras.

A photographer and a cameraman came to blows as those in the media scrum struggled to get shots of Anderson at a news conference. Some 25 other journalists were left stuck outside for want of sufficient space for them in the room.

The Canadian-born star was campaigning for a bill tabled by an environmentalist lawmaker, undeterred that it has little hope of passing in the absence of support from virtually all other members of parliament.

"As a Canadian, I am ashamed by the brutal clubbing of baby seals and thus I have empathy for many of the French citizens who also experience both shame and sadness at the misery suffered by these very sociable birds," Anderson said.

Foie gras is made from geese and duck livers which have been fattened, usually by force feeding. Sold whole or as a pate, it is considered a gourmet food in both Western and Asian cuisine, but the practice of force-feeding has often been criticized as cruel by animal activists.

California banned its manufacture and sale in 2012. A federal judge has blocked the ban on sales but the state appealed the ruling.

Anderson's appearance at the French parliament comes as the sector struggles with a production freeze due to the spread of bird flu in southwestern France, by far the biggest producing region. The industry says the measure will cost them as much as 350 million euros.

"We understand that some people don't want to eat foie gras but they should not keep foie gras lovers from eating it," Marie-Pierre Pe, an official with the Cifog foie gras producers association said.

France produces nearly 20,000 tonnes (22,000 tons) of foie gras per year. Its main export markets include Japan, Spain and Belgium. About 30,000 families in France depend on the sector for a living, according to the Cifog.

(Reporting by Emile Picy, Pauline Ades-Mevel and Sybille de la Hamaide, writing by Leigh Thomas; editing by Ralph Boulton)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Microsoft's Bill Gates in Manila - sources

MANILA – American business magnate and philanthropist Bill Gates visited the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in Los Baños, Laguna on Wednesday, sources said.

Gates is the co-chairperson of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation with his wife. They are the single biggest private donor to IRRI, giving an estimated $18 million annually.

IRRI's annual budget for its global operation is around $100 million.

Security was tight at the IRRI's global headquarters inside the UP Los Baños campus, and officials would not confirm whether Gates was their guest.

However, they said the Foundation's head for Agriculture Development, Pamela Anderson, was in IRRI.

IRRI describes itself as "the world's premier research organization dedicated to reducing poverty and hunger through rice science." It was established in 1960 and has offices in 17 countries.

Deputy Director General Bruce Tolentino said IRRI is focused on food security and developing high quality rice. Their research aims to produce "climate smart" varieties that can thrive under various conditions, including flood, drought, and salination.

"Half of the world eats rice, at tayong mga Pinoy mahilig din sa kanin. We should be proud that the global center of IRRI is in the Philippines," said Tolentino.

Gates is known to support various development projects and charities, focusing on food and health.

Gates visits Amanpulo

Meanwhile, airport sources said the 59-year-old billionaire arrived in Puerto Princesa, Palawan on April 4 onboard a US-registered chartered flight with registry number N887WM.

Gates and his group disembarked in Puerto Princesa and immediately boarded an islander aircraft of Inland Transvoyager Inc. (ITI), a fixed base operator that has exclusive access to Amanpulo, a high-end private resort in Palawan.

The US-registered aircraft then filed another flight plan with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) for a flight from Puerto Princesa to Manila with flight crew only. Gates’ chartered flight is now parked at the Asian Aerospace hangar.

Gates and his group took the ITI islander plane from Amanpulo to Manila, and landed at the Soriano hangar near the domestic airport.

Immigration sources confirmed the billionaire’s arrival, but Gates’ group requested for full confidentiality due to security reasons.

The flight plan filed before CAAP indicates that the chartered flight is tentative to depart Manila on April 16.

Immigration officials at Palawan, where Gates’ point of entry to the Philippines is, said they were not given advance information until the plane landed in Puerto Princesa on April 4.

Immigration sources confirmed that Gates is still in Manila, but they refused to give further details due to security reasons.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Not his type? PNoy turns down date with Pamela Anderson

MANILA - There won’t be a date between President Aquino and former Playboy playmate Pamela Anderson.

Lacierda said the issue concerning the elephant Mali has already been previously referred by the Office of the Executive Secretary to Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala. 

“Pamela Anderson is in LA and the President is not going to LA anytime soon,” Lacierda said in reaction to Anderson's reported invitation for Aquino to have dinner to discuss the plight of Mali.  

“The Executive Secretary has already delegated that study to Secretary Alcala of the Department of Agriculture,” he added.

“Secretary Alcala will be all too willing to meet with Pamela Anderson,” Lacierda said in jest.

Anderson, a former star of TV series Baywatch, had sent a letter to the bachelor Philippine president suggesting a dinner date so they can discuss the transfer of the 39-year-old ailing elephant Mali from the Manila Zoo to a reputable sanctuary.

"[S]hould you find yourself in Los Angeles, I'd love to take you to dinner and talk more about how we can help Mali," she said.

"Thank you for taking a strong, serious stance on her behalf by issuing a directive to consider moving her to a sanctuary. In a world filled with political self-interest, your character and integrity are inspiring," Anderson, a supporter of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), said.

Experts and animal rights activists have been campaigning for Mali's transfer, saying the Manila zoo has failed to give the animal a comfortable home and proper care.

"In her current environment, Mali is cruelly denied socialization, stimulation, room to explore, and everything else that is natural and important to her," PETA said.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com