h2. Lara Logan talks about assault to ‘60 Minutes’
The Associated Press
NEW YORK — CBS correspondent Lara Logan says she believed she was going to die when she was being sexually assaulted and beaten in Egypt’s Tahrir Square.
Logan speaks out Sunday on CBS’ “60 Minutes” about the assault, which happened while she was reporting on Egypt’s political uprising. She was set upon by a mob of several hundred men.
She said in an interview with Scott Pelley that “there was no doubt in my mind that I was in the process of dying. I thought not only am I going to die, but it’s going to be just a torturous death that’s going to go on forever.”
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After being rescued, she returned to the United States and was treated in a hospital for four days.
h2. Obama assembles all-star cast to talk immigration
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is turning to a Hollywood cast of Latino celebrities and activists for help jump-starting his stalled immigration policy.
The White House said the president was meeting Thursday with a group including actresses Eva Longoria, America Ferrera and Rosario Dawson “to discuss the importance of fixing the broken immigration system.”
Obama wants to overhaul the nation’s immigration system to provide a path to citizenship for millions of illegal immigrants. That’s not likely to go anywhere anytime soon on Capitol Hill with Republicans controlling the House.
But with Latino voters an increasingly important force going into the 2012 election, Obama is determined to show engagement on the issue. Another participant Thursday is influential Los Angeles radio show host Eddie “Piolin” Sotelo, who’s pushed Obama to work harder on immigration.
h2. Golden Globes pick mid-January date for award show
The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES — The 2012 Golden Globe Awards will be presented on Jan. 15, but which network will air the star-studded presentation is still an open question for a federal judge to decide.
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association announced the date on Thursday without mentioning a specific broadcaster.
The group is locked in a battle with longtime producer Dick Clark Productions over whether the show will air on NBC as it has for nearly two decades. Last year the press association sued the production company, which is now under new ownership, claiming that it negotiated a new broadcast deal without permission.
The producer claims the NBC contract is valid.
A trial to resolve the broadcast rights is scheduled for September.
More than 17 million people tuned in to this year’s awards show.
h2. Star-studded ‘Oprah’ taping planned in Chicago
By Caryn Rousseau
The Associated Press
CHICAGO — Oprah Winfrey fans on Thursday learned some details about what the talk show queen has planned for the two episodes leading up to her finale: a star-studded, double taping at one of Chicago’s largest sports and concert venues.
Harpo Productions announced the episodes to air May 23 and 24 would tape May 17 at the United Center, just blocks from Winfrey’s long-time studios. The show is dubbed “Surprise Oprah! A Farewell Spectacular.”
But the content of the final episode of “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” to air May 25, is still under wraps. Winfrey announced in November 2009 that she would end her popular talk show after 25 years.
Winfrey’s producers said the guest lineup for the episodes would be a secret, but they promise “the biggest names in movies, music and television.”
“As most of our viewers know, being surprised is not one of Oprah’s favorite things,” said Sheri Salata, the show’s executive producer.
“In the spirit of our farewell season, she is making a rare exception, and we intend to make the most of that opportunity. It will be something to see!”
Winfrey has other big shows planned, too. She taped an interview with President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama on Wednesday in Chicago. That show is to air Monday.
The United Center is home to the Chicago Bulls and the Chicago Blackhawks, with a seating capacity of more than 20,000.
The crowd was estimated at 21,000 when Winfrey closed down Chicago’s Michigan Avenue in September 2009 to film her 24th season premiere. Guests at that show included the Black Eyed Peas, Jennifer Hudson, Rascal Flatts and James Taylor.
Tickets to the May event are free. Fans must request tickets on Winfrey’s website, Oprah.com, starting at 10 a.m. CT on Friday. Ticket recipients will be randomly selected.
