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Michael Jackson’s estate alleges former manager talked him out of millions

From TMZ: Michael Jackson’s Estate is going after Tohme Tohme, MJ’s former manager, claiming he fleeced the singer out of millions of dollars.

TMZ has obtained legal docs filed by the Estate, claiming Tohme got Michael to sign agreements that earned him a fortune for doing nothing.

According to the papers, Estate attorney Howard Weitzman claims Tohme got MJ to agree to pay him $35,000 a month plus expenses as a flat fee — regardless of what work Tohme performed. On top of that, Tohme inked a deal that gave him 15% of any money Michael made.

And there’s more …Tohme introduced Michael to a lender that refinanced Neverland. In return, Tohme got Jackson to pay him $2.4 million — just for the introduction. And Tohme got MJ to promise him 10% of any profits if the Ranch was sold.

Tohme also got MJ to agree to pay him $100,000 a month for the “This Is It” tour.

Estate lawyers are anticipating a lawsuit by Tohme against the estate for the money he claims he’s owed, and the Estate wants to shut him down before a suit is filed.

The Estate is also asking for damages.

Jackson fired Tohme 3 months before he died.

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NYC: “My Tawny Valentine” starring David Drake opens tonight!

Obie Award-winning playwright/performer David Drake (The Night Larry Kramer Kissed Me) returns to the New York stage in the premiere of My Tawny Valentine, which begins a limited run tonight – Feb. 17 – at The Laurie Beechman Theatre.

Written by and starring Drake, this drag tragicomedy with music is directed by Robert La Fosse (Tony Award nominee for Jerome Robbins’ Broadway).

My Tawny Valentine, according to press notes, “marks the unheralded return of Tawny Heatherton, a lovably eccentric showbiz survivor and ‘one hit wonder’ of the disco zeitgeist of the early 1980s. Tawny brings her singular blonde-swept brand of sunny, funny optimism while recalling stories of wandering the globe performing her disco ‘hit,’ her headline-grabbing turn as the unwitting ‘Pyro Girl of Long Island,’ her short-lived stint as a ‘Hee-Haw Honey,’ and reuniting with her long-lost aunt Joey Heatherton at the Mohegan Sun Resort & Casino.”

Drake starred in Vampire Lesbians of Sodom (succeeding Charles Busch for 856 performances), originated the role of Miss Deep South in the hit Pageant, and co-starred with Jim J. Bullock in End of the World Party at the 47th St. Theater, and with B.D. Wong in A Language of Their Own at The Public. As a stage director, Drake has twice been a Directing Fellow at the Sundance Theater Lab, and has directed new works at The Public’s Under the Radar Festival, Joe’s Pub and Rattlestick, among others. Most recently in New York, he was a director of the 2009 world premiere of Taylor Mac’s The Lily’s Revenge.

David is brilliant in creating unforgettable characters.  Make sure you see “My Tawny Valentine“!   Due to popular demand additional shows have already been added.

Show times are Feb. 17, 23 and 24 and March 1-2 at 7:30 PM.

The Laurie Beechman Theater is located inside West Bank Cafe at 407 West 42nd Street. Tickets are $20 plus a $15 food/drink minimum. To purchase tickets, call (212) 352-3101 or visit www.SpinCycleNYC.com.

Here’s just a “taste of Tawny” – who finds the light everywhere she goes…

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New procedure: “fat freezing” with no operating room time

There’s a new procedure that boasts it can kill fat cells for good, no surgery needed.

If getting rid of that problem area by changing your diet or hitting the gym five days a week isn’t working, you may be able to freeze it off, without setting foot into an operating room.

“It’s pretty amazing,” explained Dr. Samuel Sohn, a plastic surgeon.

The procedure is called coolsculpting and Dr. Sohn is one of a handful of plastic surgeons in the Las Vegas valley performing it.

Here’s how it works: a patient’s problem area is marked, a gel is put over it, and an applicator suctions the skin and fat.

Crystals form in the fat cells causing them to burst. About an hour later, patients go home with no recovery time needed.

“Typically with each treatment you would expect that an individual would have between 20% – 25% fat reduction per treatment,” said Dr. Sohn.

Dr. Sohn has been offering coolsculpting at his Henderson office for about six months. He says patients see results in about three weeks. It’s because of that time frame that he says the demand is increasing nationwide.

“It just smooths everything out and really finishes off all the hard work you’re doing,” said Ellen.

Coolsculpting costs anywhere from $500 to $2,000. The procedure was cleared by the Food and Drug Administration last year.

As far as side effects, Dr. Sohn says some patients can experience redness and mild numbing in the treated areas. As with any procedure, everyone reacts differently so you just need to consult with your doctor.

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Fox News Poll: President Obama leads GOP contenders in swing states

President Obama leads each Republican contender in swing states according to a Fox News Swing State Poll that also suggests a significant shift in the battleground landscape.

The new poll, released Wednesday, shows Obama leads Mitt Romney, Ron Paul and Newt Gingrich in the all important swing-states.

The registered-voter poll was conducted across 10 states where Obama had small margins of victory in 2008 and are considered decisive in the upcoming presidential election.

These swing states fall into three regional tiers:
• the Rocky Mountain tier includes Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico
• the Rust Belt tier includes Iowa, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin
• the Dixie tier includes North Carolina, Florida and Virginia

The swing-state voters back President Obama over Romney by 8 percentage points, and over Santorum by 9 points.

President Obama tops Ron Paul by 12 points in the poll.

Gingrich lags farthest behind Obama, as voters in these key states prefer the president to the former Speaker by 20 points.

Overall, swing-state voters look much like the national electorate.

Obama currently holds a 14-point lead over Romney in the Dixie states, and an 18-point edge over Santorum.

Compare that to the more cautious mood in the Rust Belt states where Santorum ties with the president, and voters are almost evenly split between Romney and Obama (+1 point).

Rocky Mountain voters give Obama a 7-point edge over Romney.
Nationally, voters approve of President Obama (48 to 45 percent) — his highest approval rating in more than seven months.

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Kelly Bishop – of A Chorus Line fame – cast in new TV series with Sutton Foster

Sutton Foster’s new TV show, “Bunheads,” was recently picked up by ABC Family and now the always phenomenal Kelly Bishop has been signed to join the show.

The series follows Michelle (Sutton Foster), a Las Vegas showgirl who gives up the glitz when she marries and begins to work at her new mother-in-law’s dance studio.

Bishop will play the mother-in-law, Fanny. Bishop — who won a Tony for her work in “A Chorus Line” in 1976 — has worked with Foster before, as they co-starred on Broadway in “Anything Goes” for five months last year. Production on “Bunheads” will commence after Foster has taken her final “Anything Goes” bow this spring

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New Jersey marriage equality – what can YOU do?

Elected New Jersey legislators passed marriage equality, but Gov. Christie has promised a veto. What can you do to ensure equality in the Garden State?

The host of For & Against, Jim Morrison, reacts to the New Jersey legislature’s passage of marriage equality with a list of ways regular folks can help make a difference.

Call Gov. Christie and voice your support. Calls matter! 609-292-600

Call the two Democratic state senators who voted against equality and ask them to change their vote:

Sen. Rice – 973-371-5665
Sen. Van Drew – 609-465-0700

And talk to everyone you know in New Jersey. Talk, listen, and reach out.

That’s what you can do.

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New Jersey legislators pass marriage equality

New Jersey lawmakers have passed a bill that would provide same-sex couples the right to wed – a move put forth in defiance of the state’s Republican governor, who’s vowed to veto the measure and has instead called for a referendum to settle the issue.

State assembly members on Thursday voted 42-33, with two members abstaining, in favor of the “Marriage Equality and Religious Exemption Act.” The Senate approved the measure on Monday by a 24 to 16 count.

But Gov. Chris Christie has said the issue “should not be decided by 121 people in the statehouse in Trenton.”

The governor is expected to “act swiftly” to knock it down when the bill reaches his desk, said Michael Drewniak, a spokesman for Christie.

Recent polling, meanwhile, suggests that New Jersey voters are in favor of legalizing such unions.

Fifty-two percent of state voters approve the measure, according to a recent Quinnipiac University poll.

Reactions from pro-LGBT organizations:

Freedom To Marry:
“Sadly, Governor Chris Christie has planted his feet on the wrong side of history, and the wrong side of the majority for marriage in New Jersey and nationwide. If the governor sticks with his threat of a veto, Freedom to Marry will work throughout the entire remainder of the legislative session, supporting local families, leaders, and advocates as they make the case and win the extra handful of votes needed to override the veto and do right by these families.”

Human Rights Campaign:
“Today, the New Jersey State Legislature sent a powerful message that all its citizens should be treated equally under the law, and that all families deserve the same protections,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “Governor Christie may veto this legislation, but he is out of step with the majority of voters on this issue. We will not give up until marriage equality becomes a reality in New Jersey. HRC has been proud to partner with Garden State Equality (GSE) in achieving this historic legislative victory.”

More at CNN.com