Drug rehab failure

Los Angeles – Actor Tom Sizemore was ordered to remain in a live-in drug rehabilitation program until he is sentenced in September for violating his probation on drug charges.

Sizemore admitted to a series of violations, including falsifying his urine tests and failing to submit to drug testing on eight occasions, Deputy Dist. Atty. Sean Carney said.

The actor was nearly a no-show in court, arriving several hours late for Friday’s hearing. His attorney, Michael Rovell, said Sizemore had been in the rehabilitation facility since July 11 and requested Thursday that the actor be excused from appearing.

Superior Court Judge Paula Adele Mabrey denied the request and delayed the hearing so Sizemore could attend.

A different judge issued a warrant for Sizemore’s arrest last week after the actor failed to appear in court, but agreed to hold the warrant until Friday.

The actor, who played baseball player Pete Rose in last year’s ESPN movie “Hustle” and had roles in films including “Natural Born Killers” and “Saving Private Ryan,” previously denied violating the terms of his probation. He originally was ordered into drug treatment after pleading guilty in October to possession of methamphetamine.

In a separate case, the actor was convicted in 2003 of domestic violence involving his ex-girlfriend, former Hollywood madam Heidi Fleiss. He has been allowed to remain free while appealing.

Drug rehab success

Los Angeles – A judge has praised Courtney Love for making progress in a court-ordered drug treatment program.

Love, 41, did not appear in Superior Court for the status report on how she is doing. But her attorney, Michael Rosenstein, said that after reviewing her case, a judge concluded the singer-actress was “progressing well.”

The hearing took place less than 48 hours after Love was reportedly taken to a hospital when she reported feeling faint at an industry party in Hollywood. The nature of her illness was not disclosed.

Love pleaded guilty in February to a misdemeanor count of being under the influence of a controlled substance in 2003 when police said she tried to break in to a former boyfriend’s home.

Her attorney said that under a deferred entry of judgment, the charge will be stricken from her record if she successfully completes the one-year drug treatment program. She began it six months ago.

‘Sopranos’ hit sour note

Boonton, N.J. – Tony Soprano may find himself an unwelcome guest here.

The hit HBO series “The Sopranos” wants to film an episode in this town, but some residents are still sore over a previous episode that depicted a character getting killed in “Boonton,” although the episode was not actually filmed here.

Show producers in 2001 asked the town for permission to shoot on location but were turned down because officials said they hadn’t been given enough time to consider the request.

This time, Boonton has more than a month to decide, but officials are worried about potential traffic problems, the effect on local businesses and the series’ past depiction of the town.

Executive producer Ilene S. Landress said a town once requested a nonviolent episode.

“They didn’t want us to kill anybody in the town,” she said. “But we did. We were up front with people about what’s going to happen. We don’t want to get thrown out of there.”

A vote will likely take place at the governing board’s next meeting on Aug. 1.

Too pooped to party for pop

Berlin – Jermaine Jackson told reporters his brother Michael’s child-molestation trial “tore him apart mentally” and left him too exhausted to attend their father’s 76th birthday bash.

Speculation had swirled on whether Jackson, recently acquitted on child-molestation charges in California, would attend Joe Jackson’s celebration at the Estrel hotel.

Michael Jackson said in a posting on his Web site Thursday that he wouldn’t make the trip to Berlin.

“That’s fine, he was very tired and he’s resting,” Jermaine Jackson said Friday. “His case tore him apart mentally. He’s very strong mentally, but he needs his rest right now.”

Jermaine and Tarino were the only Jackson siblings to attend their father’s party, after sisters Janet and LaToya also canceled plans to travel to Berlin.

Scouting locations

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic – Robert De Niro has visited the Dominican Republic in preparation for his upcoming movie about the history of the CIA.

On Thursday, De Niro toured Santo Domingo’s historic district, filed for permits from the Foreign Ministry and met with President Leonel Fernandez at the National Palace.

“I feel satisfied with what I’ve seen up to now,” said the 61-year-old actor, who plans to return in December to begin filming.

De Niro will direct “The Good Shepherd.” He’ll also star as James Wilson, one of the founders of the CIA. Matt Damon and Angelina Jolie will also star in the film.

The Dominican Republic’s landscapes will be used for scenes depicting Central America and Cuba.

Oak Ridge Boys celebrated

Nashville, Tenn. – A new exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum chronicles the 30-year history of the Oak Ridge Boys as they crossed over from their gospel music roots to the country and pop charts.

The exhibit, on display through November, includes biographical information and memorabilia from Duane Allen, Joe Bonsall, William Lee Golden and Richard Sterban.

The Oak Ridge Boys already had a dozen Dove Awards and a Grammy as gospel artists when they decided to pursue country music in 1975. In 1981, the group’s “Elvira” became a crossover hit.