Dog Chapman’s wife Beth was glad to blab about the new season of their show — but quickly turned less vocal when asked about their son’s recent arrest.
Tucker — the same son who leaked those infamous phone calls to the National Enquirer — was busted last week on a parole violation. Beth gave TMZ a little insight though, telling us she was “sorry” about him being jailed.
http://www.tmz.com/2008/02/24/dog-unleashed-in-beverly-hills/
Dog can rest easy now that he knows his show is going back on the air. Yesterday, Chapman and his petite wife, Beth, were out shopping in Beverly Hills — where fans congratulated him on returning to television.
http://www.tmz.com/2008/02/24/dogs-son-tucker-jailed-for-parole-violations/
Tim will be taking a break from the show but will return later when things are resolved in his Personal Life
http://www.tmz.com/2008/02/24/dogs-son-tucker-jailed-for-parole-violations/
Dog’s Son Tucker Jailed for Parole Violations
Dog the Bounty Hunter’s son, Tucker — who sold the infamous tape to the National Enquirer — was taken to the Oahu Correction Facility on Friday for violating multiple terms of his parole. Karma’s a bitch!
Here’s what went down: Our sources say two weeks after the tape surfaced, Dog learned Tucker was using drugs and threatened to expose him to his parole officer. Then the tape dropped — interesting timing.
After that, we’re told, a parole officer made Tucker check in to a rehab facility, which, we hear, Tucker walked away from.
Sources tell us Tucker’s parole officer executed a surprise home inspection this week, and didn’t like what he found. The PO then brought Tucker in on Friday, revoked his parole and sent him to the slammer. Among his alleged violations — associating with known felons, failing a drug test and walking away from a rehab facility.
Meanwhile, as TMZ first reported, “Dog the Bounty Hunter” is back on the air and will begin production this week.
A rep for Dog Chapman could not be reached for comment.
SIGHTINGS
“Dancing With the Stars” professional Kym Johnson, brought on stage to dance with Bryan Cheatham during the Chippendales show (Rio) on Tuesday. The Cincinnati Reds’ Hall of Fame catcher Johnny Bench, dining at N9NE Steakhouse on Tuesday. … Reality TV star Dog the Bounty Hunter (aka Duane Chapman) and linebacker Patrick Willis of the San Francisco 49ers, stopping by the Playboy Club (Palms) on Tuesday with separate parties. … Singer LeAnn Rimes, celebrating her sixth wedding anniversary with Dean Sheremet on Monday at “Love” (Treasure Island). … Host John Stossel and his crew from the ABC show “20/20″ filming an interview Tuesday with the Chippendales for an upcoming episode scheduled to air in March.
On Wednesday night, the Divine Miss M launched her latest extravaganza, “The Showgirl Must Go On,” and she was brassy and raunchy as ever.
The 90-minute show takes off with a “Wizard of Oz”-like film clip in which a swirling tornado tears through the desert and down the Vegas strip, sweeping up everything in its path, including Bette on a billboard and a bug-eyed burro. The twister crashes into the Colosseum in Caesars Palace, where Midler emerges on the donkey and opens the show with a cheeky quip: “Boy, is my ass tired.”
A trim and sexy 62-year-old Midler told the crowd of nearly 4,300 to “Get a load of me” and to expect a show of “hits, glitz and (another word I can’t use here)” and the audience roared their approval. First-nighters included die-hard fans from across the country, friends and Broadway stars Lance Bass, Joey Fatone, “Hairspray” songwriters Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman and Taye Diggs and Idina Menzel, as well as Angela Bassett and Dog the Bounty Hunter.
Along for the ride on stage is a crack 13-piece band led by music director Bette Sussman, Midler’s Harlettes and 20 scantily clad ladies she calls the Caesar Salad Girls. “Each one of them is a hot tomato,” cracked the Divine One, “and served with as little dressing as possible.”
Midler says she’s always dreamed of being a showgirl and Toni Basil’s choreography pays homage to these glamorous performers and includes a Busby Berkeley-style number in which Midler wears a gigantic Carmen Miranda-like pink feather headpiece.
Midler has called this production at the Colosseum, the massive theater built for Celine Dion, her biggest ever. The show, which reportedly cost $10 million, combines concert and Broadway-style costumes and scenic effects, including a gigantic video screen that could eat an IMAX, a seedy motel and an Art Deco chrome staircase that morph into a boat. The show written by Eric Kornfeld and Bruce Vilanch is classic Midler material tweaked and brought up to date. There’s naughty jokes, big dance numbers, and signature songs and characters.
One highlight is a splashy production number in which Dolores Delago and 23 other mermaids flip, kick and motor around in wheelchairs. Imagine the Rockettes on wheels. In another sequence, Midler rides a lips-shaped couch from side to side of the huge stage, railing about scandal-ridden starlets, before ultimately confessing that at one time she could have been the leader of the bad-girl pack. “American Idol” judges Randy, Paula and Simon appear in a video sequence in which their faces and voices become bloated and distorted. Fans of the reality TV show will love it.
Midler closed with “Wind Beneath My Wings.” She and the song sounded better than ever. There was no encore on Wednesday, but like the tornado that blew into Caesars at the start of the show, she was gone with the wind. But don’t worry, “The Showgirl Must Go On” goes on for two years.
SIGHTINGS
TV’s Dog the Bounty Hunter, turning down a photo request with a polite “No, not in a casino,” while playing a Wheel of Fortune slot machine at Caesars Palace on Wednesday
Criminals and low-rent low-lifes beware: The A&E Network plans to unleash the Dog once more on the streets of Honolulu.The network plans to resume filming episodes of “Dog the Bounty Hunter,” featuring Duane “Dog” Chapman, sometime in the next 10 days, Chapman’s family confirmed yesterday. A full 30 episodes are planned, but no air date has been set.
“The rumors are true,” said son Duane Lee Chapman. “He is very excited. Thank goodness for A&E. Thank goodness for a second chance. And thank goodness for the fans who have written to A&E over the last few months.”The network suspended the show Nov. 2 after learning that Chapman had used the N-word when referring to his son Tucker’s black girlfriend. Chapman apologized afterward, but his future as a reality show hero was uncertain.
A&E, however, said that since Chapman’s show is often about second chances, it would honor his apologies and resume filming.“He made a tragic mistake and I think he has really, really repented,” said his wife, Beth Chapman. “He feels really bad about it. I don’t think he will personally stop making amends until he feels OK
Fugitives You Better Run — The Dog is BACK!
TMZ has learned that Duane “Dog” Chapman will be back in business and back on the air on A&E. Woof!
A network official confirms to TMZ that the show is going back into production, but they’ve not yet set a premiere date. As of now, they’re gearing up — big time — in Hawaii and production will begin ASAP. Makeup artists and camera crews have been hired, and houses and cars have been rented, all for the return of the show.
A&E had suspended production on “Dog the Bounty Hunter” indefinitely after a recording surfaced featuring Chapman making racial slurs. Chapman immediately began a tour of forgiveness, working with CORE and other groups to promote racial equality. We’re told network execs were “very pleased” with Dog’s attempt to make amends and his reaching out to members of the African American community.
A&E isn’t just making this decision out of the goodness of their hearts either. The show was insanely popular for the network, here and internationally — airing in over 20 countries.
Duane “Dog” Chapman, star of the reality series “Dog the Bounty Hunter,” will be at Mooseheart this spring.
Dog Chapman to bring his message to teens
TV star to talk before Mooseheart concerts
By Leslie Hague | Daily Herald Staff
The star of the television show “Dog the Bounty Hunter” plans to visit Mooseheart this spring to talk about his life and his faith.
Duane “Dog” Chapman will host a pair of Christian music concerts at the school’s field house April 11 and 12.
“He’s got some affinity for what this place is and what it does,” said Mooseheart spokesman Darryl Mellema.
Chapman is scheduled to speak for 45 minutes before The Rush Tour concerts each night.
Bands include Echoing Angels, Emery, Inhabited, Flatfoot 56 and Will Duvall.
Students from Mooseheart will attend the April 11 concert.
Although Chapman, a born-again Christian who spent time in prison for armed robberies and as an accessory to murder, might seem like an unusual choice to talk to kids, Mellema said it’s what some students from troubled backgrounds might need.
“He may be able to engage the kids in some way that someone from a squeaky-clean background can’t,” he said. “Most of them have had some ups and downs, and it can help to see someone who has had ups and downs and still has their faith.”
Tickets are $22 for general admission seats for adults both nights, with more expensive options available. April 11 will be Family Night and admission for children 12 and younger will be $12. April 12 is Rock Night with tickets for students at $12.
Tickets are available through the concert’s Web site, www.therushtour.com.
