Entertainment Briefs Feb. 27, 2010
Police investigate Seinfeld placard
NEW YORK - The New York Police Department is investigating why a Bronx police placard was displayed in comedian Jerry Seinfeld's car.
Seinfeld spokeswoman Elizabeth Clark Zoia on Wednesday said the performer wasn't aware of the parking placard, which belonged to Seinfeld's longtime driver, a retired police officer.
She says the driver became concerned for Seinfeld's safety when he arrived with the comedian to the studio where his new show is being filmed and found a crowd outside. She says the driver apparently posted the placard briefly so he could escort Seinfeld inside.
The spokeswoman says Seinfeld is sorry and takes responsibility for the incident, which won't be repeated. She says the driver won't be fired.
Police say their records indicate the paper placard had been turned in at the end of 2007, and they're investigating.
Douglas' son denied bail
NEW YORK - A New York federal judge has denied bail to the son of actor Michael Douglas in a drug dealing case.
Cameron Douglas pleaded guilty in January to dealing large quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine while holed up in a trendy Manhattan hotel.
The 31-year-old Douglas was arrested last July at the Hotel Gansevoort in downtown Manhattan.
Prosecutors said at the time Douglas had signed a plea agreement. He faces a minimum 10-year prison term at his sentencing in April.
Whitney Houston: Tour is going great
NEW YORK - Though video postings of her recent performances in Australia have been less than flattering, Whitney Houston says her tour is going great - and she's in great health.
Houston's publicist, Kristen Foster, released a statement Thursday, saying: "Whitney is in great health and having a terrific time on her tour and with her fans. She said more than 9,000 people attended Houston's show in Brisbane and more than 12,000 were at Acer Arena in Sydney.
"Her fans were dancing and singing along with her and Whitney appreciates their support," Foster said.
That view contrasts with news reports quoting disgruntled fans who are complaining about the star's voice and performance. Video snippets of Houston struggling to hit notes in concerts in Sydney and Brisbane have circulated widely on YouTube and other outlets.
The 46-year-old, who is one of pop's all-time best-selling artists, staged a comeback last year with her first album in seven years, "I Look to You." It debuted at the top of the album charts.
Batman comic sells for more than $1M
DALLAS - A 1939 comic book in which Batman makes his debut sold at auction Thursday for more than $1 million, breaking a record set just three days earlier by a Superman comic, Heritage Auction Galleries said.
The Dallas-based auction house said the rare copy of Detective Comics No. 27 sold for a total of $1,075,500, which includes the buyer's premium, to a buyer who wished to remain anonymous. The consigner wanted to remain anonymous as well.
"It pretty much blew away all of our expectations and now it's the highest price ever raised for a comic book," said Barry Sandoval, director of operations of Heritage's comics division.
A copy of the first comic book featuring Superman, a 1938 edition of Action Comics No. 1, sold Monday for $1 million in a sale between a private seller and a private buyer, with the transaction conducted by the New York City auction site ComicConnect.com.
"We can really say that Batman has nosed out Superman, at least for now," Sandoval said.
He said the consigner had bought the Batman comic in the late 1960s for $100. With a bright yellow background, the comic features Batman swinging on a rope above city rooftops.
"That cover is just one of the most famous of all comic book covers," Sandoval said.
J.C. Vaughn, associate publisher of The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide, said most people had predicted it would be the comics with the first appearance of Superman and Batman that broke the $1 million barrier. Both comics that sold this week were in great condition - scoring an 8.0 on a scale that goes up to 10, he said.
"I think that you can greenly ascribe this to a real comfort with the liquidity of rare, high grade vintage collectibles," Vaughn said.
George Pantela, owner of Melbourne, Australia-based GP Analysis, which tracks sales of certified comics from more than 20 auction houses and dealers, said the previous record was about $317,000 paid a year ago for a lesser grade Action Comics No. 1 than the one sold this week.
Vincent Zurzolo, chief operating officer of Comicconnect.com, took the breaking of their record in stride.
"It's an exciting week in comic books when you have two comics selling for $1 million," he said.