All posts containing the tag: "chicago"
Posted Oct 5th 2009 3:05PM by TMZ Staff
The man accused of secretly videotaping ESPN reporter Erin Andrews is about to be released from his Chicago jail cell after forking over $4,500 in bail money -- but he ain't exactly a free man.
The suspect -- Michael David Barrett -- appeared before a federal judge in Chicago this morning where he was granted his release with the following list of stipulations:
- He will have to wear an electronic monitoring device.
- Curfew enforced from 9pm to 6am.
- He can go to work and doctor's appointments.
- No Internet access for two weeks.
Barrett was ordered to turn in his passport by tomorrow morning, and he's not allowed to leave Northern Illinois.
The judge said he was releasing Barrett because he doesn't have a criminal record and because his family lives in the area.
Barrett will face interstate stalking charges in Los Angeles on October 23rd.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Talk Sports, Erin Andrews
Tags: chicago, erin andrews, ErinAndrews, espn, hotel, michael david barrett, MichaelDavidBarrett, naked, nude video, NudeVideo, peeping tom, PeepingTom
Posted Aug 12th 2009 12:55PM by TMZ Staff
UPDATE: Jim Christman, the media services manager for the Bears, tells us Vick is not in town to meet with the Bears and he is definitely not joining the team.
Attention Fantasy Football Nerds: TMZ shot footage of Michael Vick in Chicago last night -- which begs the million dollar question ... is Vick destined for Da Bears!?
Dude wasn't in the mood to talk when we spotted him at O'Hare Airport in Chi-Town -- but with rumors swirling that he's close to a deal with a mystery NFL team, this footage could be a HUGE clue.
The message here: If your commissioner is stupid enough to hold an early draft, don't select Jay Cutler just yet...
Filed under: Talk Sports, Exclusives
Tags: bears, chicago, dogfight, dogfighting, football, michael vick, MichaelVick, nfl, ohare, quarterback
Posted Jun 18th 2009 2:25PM by TMZ Staff
Kanye West rolled into the Original Pancake House in Chicago this morning for a little flap-jack action with the regular folk ... but it was the lady he brought to breakfast that got everyone talkin!
The lady scarfin' down breakfast with K was Amber Rose -- the girlfriend he reportedly just broke up with.
We're told the two were extremely nice to staff and patrons during the meal -- but they weren't seen doing "anything couply" during the meal.
In case you're wondering what Kanye's breakfast of champions contains -- one omelet, an order of strawberry pancakes -- and extra whipped cream.
Who's hungry?!
Filed under: Food Glorious Food, Photo Galleries, Kanye West, Amber Rose
Tags: chicago, IHOP, kanye west, KanyeWest, original pancake house, OriginalPancakeHouse, pancakes
Posted Mar 1st 2009 3:04AM by TMZ Staff
How's this for action. Northern Trust -- the bank TMZ exposed this week for throwing a series of lavish parties and concerts in L.A. -- is giving back the $1.6 billion in federal bailout money!
We had our cameras out as the bank hosted fancy dinners for hundreds of clients and employees. We had video of the Sheryl Crow concert it threw after closing down the House of Blues. And then there were concerts by Chicago, as well as Earth, Wind & Fire ... and the Tiffany gift bags for the ladies.
The story triggered a furor in D.C. ... Congressman Barney Frank demanded that Northern Trust repay the money it blew.
Outrageously, the bank didn't even ask for the bailout money in the first place. But now, under pressure, Northern Trust CEO Frederick Waddell sent a letter to members of the House Financial Services Committee, saying his bank will repay the government funds "as quickly as prudently possible."
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Politix
Tags: 1.6 billion, 1.6Billion, bail out, bailout, bailout money, BailoutMoney, banks, barney frank, BarneyFrank, billion, CEO, chicago, earth wind and fire, EarthWindAndFire, federal, finance, financial crisis, FinancialCrisis, frederick waddell, FrederickWaddell, government, government funds, GovernmentFunds, governmentloans, house financial services committee, house of blues, HouseFinancialServicesCommittee, HouseOfBlues, lavish parties, LavishParties, northern trust, northern trust bank, NorthernTrust, NorthernTrustBank, repay money, RepayMoney, sheryl crow, SherylCrow, tax payers, taxes, TaxPayers, tiffany bags, TiffanyBags, washington dc, WashingtonDc
Posted Feb 24th 2009 1:30PM by TMZ Staff
A bank that received $1.6 billion in bailout money just spent a fortune last week in L.A. hosting a series of lavish parties and concerts with famous singers ... and TMZ cameras caught it all.
![Bail out Bank]](http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tmz.com/media/2009/02/0223_northerntrust_collage.jpg)
Northern Trust, a Chicago-based bank, sponsored the Northern Trust Open at the Riviera Country Club in L.A. We're told Northern Trust paid millions to sponsor the PGA event which ended Sunday, but what happened off the golf course is even more shocking.
Northern Trust flew hundreds of clients and employees to L.A. and put many of them up at some of the fanciest and priciest hotels in the city. We're told more than a hundred people were put up at the Beverly Wilshire in Bev Hills, and another hundred stayed at the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel. Still more stayed at the Ritz Carlton in Marina Del Rey and others at Casa Del Mar in Santa Monica.
Here are the highlights:
- Wednesday, Northern Trust hosted a fancy dinner at the Ritz followed by a performance by the group Chicago.
- Thursday, Northern Trust rented a private hangar at the Santa Monica Airport for dinner, followed by a performance by Earth, Wind & Fire.
- Saturday, Northern Trust had the entire House of Blues in West Hollywood shut down for its private party. We got the menu -- guests dined on seared salmon and petite Angus filet. Dinner was followed by a performance by none other than Sheryl Crow.
There was also a fabulous cocktail party at the Loews. And how's this for a nice touch: Female guests at the Chicago concert all got trinkets from ... TIFFANY AND CO.
As for what all that costs: Well, the company isn't talking. We spoke with a rep from the band Chicago who said Northern Trust paid them around $100,000. A House of Blues source told us it cost more than $50,000 to close the joint down last Saturday night. As for Sheryl Crow's fee, her rep didn't get back to us. Earth, Wind & Fire acknowledges payment but won't say how much.
As for the golf tournament, a rep from the PGA told us Northern Trust wrote one big fat check in order to sponsor the event. That check covers part of the $6.3 million purse, the advertising costs for the spots on CBS (which broadcast the final two rounds of the tournament) and operating costs. The rep says the fee was negotiated and is confidential.
Lots of people from Northern Trust went to the golf tourney ... in special Mercedes that shuttled them to and from the hotels. But for those who weren't into golfing, they could spend a few hours at the Northern Trust seminar on the credit crunch.
Now how's this for outrage? Northern Trust laid off 450 workers in December, 4% of its workforce.
And here's what's absolutely amazing: The United States Government flat out gave Northern Trust the $1.6 billion in bailout money, and the bank didn't even request it!
Northern Trust gave us a statement yesterday before going total radio silence. A rep for the bank acknowledges they paid for the events, but that the bailout money did not pay for the events. He claims it was paid out of the bank's operating expenses. Here's Northern Trust's full statement to us.
Perhaps we're missing something, but money is money. How can they spend like this when they're using taxpayer's money, whether they asked for it or not? And where the hell is Congress in all of this? Is there any oversight or accountability?
Your tax dollars, hard at work. Thomas Jefferson was right -- "A little rebellion, now and then, is a good thing."
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Politix
Tags: bailout, chicago, congress, earth wind and fire, EarthWindAndFire, northern trust, northern trust bank, northern trust open, NorthernTrust, NorthernTrustBank, NorthernTrustOpen, Riviera Country Club, RivieraCountryClub, sheryl crow, SherylCrow, tarp, Troubled Asset Relief Program, TroubledAssetReliefProgram
Posted Dec 19th 2007 1:10PM by TMZ Staff
TMZ has confirmed that a judge entered a bench warrant for singer R. Kelly -- because he did not show for a court hearing today in Chicago.
We're told Kelly's tour bus was delayed in Utah, so he was a no show. The judge in his child pornography case entered the warrant but won't enforce it just yet. But if R. Kelly doesn't show up tomorrow morning at 9:00 AM, the judge will tell the fuzz to arrest his butt.
According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Cook County prosecutors pressed the judge, noting he had already shown considerable leeway in letting Kelly travel outside Illinois. "This is just an abuse of the process. It's disrespectful of your honor," said Assistant State's Attorney Shauna Bolicker.
Kelly has been charged with child pornography, in a widely reported case in which he allegedly videotaped a sexual encounter with a teenage girl. R. pleaded not guilty in the mess -- which has been going on since 2002.
Kelly's lawyer said singer was "detained because of some snow." The judge said a trial date will be set on Thursday. Yeah, right.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Music
Tags: Chicago, court hearing, CourtHearing, R Kelly, RKelly, warrant
Posted Nov 10th 2007 8:00AM by TMZ Staff
Various Osmonds assembled at a Chicago airport, where the nearly 100 of them took up most of a terminal. Security!
The grieving group is gathering for the funeral of Osmond family patriarch, George, who passed away Tuesday at the age of 90. Services were held Friday in Utah.
Tags: chicago, donny osmond, DonnyOsmond, marie osmond, MarieOsmond
Posted Aug 16th 2007 2:23PM by TMZ Staff
Get out your buggy whips and strap on a bonnet ... but get your hands off the passing bell -- cuz the corset ain't dead yet!
Ozzy's spawn was caught hanging out near the Cambridge Theatre in London yesterday looking, well, like herself. Kelly, who's set to star as Mama Morton in the West End stint of "Chicago," doesn't look nearly as thin as she does in her jail cell press pics. She got pinched!
The freshman thespian starts her constricted incarceration on September 10th.
Filed under: Wacky & Weird
Tags: Cambridge Theatre, CambridgeTheatre, Chicago, Kelly Osbourne, KellyOsbourne, Mama Morton, MamaMorton
Posted Mar 7th 2007 1:41PM by TMZ Staff
Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson learned the hard way that Beyoncé and Anika Noni Rose make for better singing partners than random fans in Chicago.
Hudson was in her hometown yesterday as Mayor Richard Daley proclaimed it Jennifer Hudson Day. When Hudson broke into song, she looked to the crowd to sing along with her. "Y'all want to help me out?" she asked. Apparently the answer was "No."
She held out the mic and when no one piped up, Hudson asked, "Where y'all at, Chicago?" Again met with silence, Hudson ended her number with a simple, "Well, that's enough."
Filed under: Paparazzi Video, American Idol
Tags: Chi-town, Chicago, Dreamgirl, J-hud, Jennifer Hudson, Jennifer hudson day, JenniferHudson, JenniferHudsonDay, oscar, oscar winner, OscarWinner, Simon Cowell, SimonCowell, sing
Posted Oct 10th 2006 12:29PM by TMZ Staff
TMZ has learned that R&B star Usher is sick with the flu and has been unable to perform in the Broadway musical "Chicago." Usher, who has been playing Billy Flynn in the production since August 22, missed several shows Friday through Monday. Fans have lined the streets near the Ambassador Theater each night demanding refunds after discovering his understudy would be performing. Word has it that his doctor has ordered him to be on bed rest the remainder of the week (Wednesdays are his night off anyway) and that he may not return to the stage at all.
The singer was originally scheduled to perform through October 1, but extended his run until October 14, which is also his birthday. The shows have been sold-out for weeks and Usher is reportedly the highest paid to play the role of "Billy" in "Chicago" of all time. No word on whether he'll make up the sick days and extend his run again.
Update: Reps for Usher issued the following statement to TMZ:
Due to an illness, Grammy-Award winning superstar Usher will not be returning to the Broadway stage to complete his final week in the hit musical Chicago. Usher's manager Jonnetta Patton issued the following statement, "Usher is currently being treated for an extreme case of strep throat. He fell ill last Friday and his condition became progressively worse, so under strict orders from his doctors, Usher has been instructed not to perform. He is really saddened that he cannot close out his last week in Chicago"with a bang. Usher has had an amazing time on Broadway and loved every minute of performing on stage with the entire cast of Chicago.He expresses his sincere apologies to all of his fans who purchased tickets to see him in Chicago this final week and appreciate all of their love and support. He is thankful to the producers, the entire cast and production crew of Chicago."
Filed under: Gossip/Rumors, Music, Usher
Tags: Broadway, Chicago, Usher, Usher sick, UsherSick
Posted Sep 26th 2006 1:39PM by TMZ Staff
As Ashlee Simpson celebrated her debut in last night's London production of Chicago, her big sis and her father were right there to share the spotlight ... and offer their support, of course.
After Ash's performance, Jessica and Joe met up with the youngest Simpson sister, only to be greeted by a swarm of photogs and fans. Jess and Ashlee ducked into their car while Joe thanked the crowd for showing up. The trio tried to make a clean getaway but once they reached their destination, the flashbulbs began sparking right on cue. There was so much commotion that it was almost impossible for them to walk and see where they were going. It doesn't matter where these girls go, they always seem to make waves.
Filed under: Paparazzi Video
Tags: Ashlee Simpson, AshleeSimpson, Chicago, Jessica Simpson, JessicaSimpson, Joe Simpson, JoeSimpson
Posted Aug 15th 2006 7:34PM by TMZ Staff
Missy, if this were merely a fling, we think it would have flung by now. Nick and Vanessa truly seem to have fallen for each other. In fact, this past Sunday both traveled from different parts of the globe to spend some quality time together -- Nick from Sydney, Australia and Vanessa from the Big Apple.
Included in their Sunday stroll was a trip to the market after enjoying lunch at Casa Vega in Sherman Oaks, Calif.
For a peek at some of Vanessa's dance moves, take a look at this.
Where the hell has Usher been?
Tia, Usher has his dancin' shoes on and will be making his way across the Broadway stage in a matter of weeks. He is taking on one of the leading roles in the New York Broadway production of Chicago, which debuts August 22 at the Ambassador Theater in NY. He made an appearance on Tuesday's "TRL" to talk about the big event and made sure to take time for cameras and fans afterward.
Usher is also planning a tour for 2007, so stay tuned to TMZ for updates.
For more on the hottest in the music biz, read on.
Click here... it's not over yet
Filed under: Nick Lachey, I Just Gotta Know!, Usher
Tags: Broadway, Brody Jenner, BrodyJenner, Carson Daly, CarsonDaly, Chicago, Friends, Jessica Smith, JessicaSmith, Kristin Cavallari, KristinCavallari, Laguna Beach, LagunaBeach, NBC, Nick Lachey, NickLachey, Thanksgiving reunion, ThanksgivingReunion, Usher Raymond, UsherRaymond, Vanessa Minnillo, VanessaMinnillo
Posted Apr 11th 2006 6:23PM by TMZ Staff
THE RUMOR: Jennifer Aniston is quitting L.A. and moving to Chicago.
HOW IT STARTED: Aniston and boyfriend Vince Vaughn were spotted in Chicago apartment (condo) hunting.
HOW IT SPREAD: Aniston has had a rough ride in Hollywood with the breakup of her marriage to Brad Pitt. She has become a prime target for paparazzi, some of whom have crossed the line and arguably violated her right of privacy by shooting pictures of her in the sanctity of her Hollywood Hills home.
THE TMZ LOWDOWN: Aniston is fed up with Hollywood for several reasons. First, the specter of Brad and Angelina looms ever large in her life, as long as she's in Hollywood. Sources say
Aniston is uncomfortable in Malibu because Brad and Angelina have a significant presence there. We're told her breakup with Brad has caused her great pain and even humiliation. Hollywood is the symbolic reminder.
But there's an even more telling sign that Aniston is bailing from Tinseltown. For a number of months, she's been actively looking for homes all over L.A. Unimpeachable sources tell TMZ that her search has abruptly come to a grinding halt. In addition, she was in the process of remodeling her Hollywood Hills home, but the work recently stopped.
Aniston and Pitt recently sold their Beverly Hills mansion. So aside from her Hollywood Hills home, her only real estate connection to So. Cal. is a Malibu home, which she rents.
Sources connected to Aniston say she is aggressively looking for a place in Chicago and is "fed up" with the Hollywood scene. It makes sense that she'll keep her Hollywood Hills home so she has a place to stay when she's in town, but that's it.
TMZ-TRUTH-O-METER: So, is Aniston quitting L.A. for Chicago?
Filed under: Gossip/Rumors, Jennifer Aniston, Vince Vaughn
Tags: Chicago, Jennifer Aniston, JenniferAniston, Rumors, Vince Vaughn, VinceVaughn
Posted Feb 25th 2006 5:48PM by TMZ Staff
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Richard Gere donned a pair of glittering gold dancing pumps to earn his pudding pot and crown Friday as Harvard's Hasty Pudding man of the year.
In a nod to his role as a flashy lawyer in "Chicago" and to the resignation this week of Harvard President Lawrence Summers Gere sang to the tune of "Razzle Dazzle":
"I could become a permanent resident, I could become your next president."
He also had to win the heart of a student costumed as a dragon, and put a blond wig and a white bra decorated with gold buttons and an accent of red.
Click here... it's not over yet
Tags: Chicago, Harvard, Richard Gere, RichardGere, Tim Robbins, TimRobbins
