Colbert helps raise money for S.C. schools

Charleston, S.C. – All it took for a charity to raise money for South Carolina schools was a brief mention by Stephen Colbert.

When Colbert announced last month that he was running for president, the Charleston native and host of Comedy Central’s “The Colbert Report” also asked viewers to give to DonorsChoose.org, which helps fulfill teacher wish lists for books, globes or other classroom materials in schools in the United States.

“So I encourage everyone, go on, make donations to teachers in South Carolina, let’s make a difference,” Colbert said.

The brief comment by the 43-year-old talk-show host – who has since dropped his bid for the White House – raised $59,000 in 10 days and reached 13,000 public school students in South Carolina, said Peter Bloom, the group’s national chairman.

“If anyone gets the chance to thank Stephen Colbert, please do so, because he made a big difference in this state with that simple announcement,” Bloom said Thursday at a National Philanthropy Day luncheon in Charleston.

Wayne Newton sidelined by viral heart infection

Las Vegas – Wayne Newton had been sidelined with a recurring heart infection.

The Las Vegas icon and “Danke Schoen” crooner has cardiomyopathy, a viral infection of the heart muscle, said Deanna Pettit, a spokeswoman for Harrah’s Entertainment Inc., on Friday. Pettit said Newton has been previously treated for the virus.

The 65-year-old singer has canceled a two-month holiday engagement at Harrah’s Las Vegas and won’t be performing on the Nov. 27 finale of ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars,” Pettit said.

Calls to Lori Jonas, Newton’s spokeswoman in Los Angeles, weren’t immediately returned.

“I really want to apologize to the fans that were going to see me in those shows,” Newton said in a story posted on People magazine’s Web site. “I’m terribly apologetic. And for those who want to paint this situation with a black brush, they’re not going to get their wish. I’m going to be fine.”

Newton said his doctor was confident that he’ll be able to resume his performance schedule after two months of rest.

Pettit said Newton should be doing well enough to make an appearance on the “Dancing With the Stars” finale. He was eliminated from the competition last month

Flatley will perform on ‘Dancing With the Stars’

New York – Michael Flatley will take the stage on ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars” next week.

Flatley, 49, is the former star of the Irish dance spectacle “Riverdance.” He has gone on to create his own shows, “Lord of the Dance,” “Feet of Flames” and “Celtic Tiger.”

The champion Irish step dancer-choreographer will perform with members of his dance team on Tuesday’s show, Scott Gorenstein, a representative for Flatley, said Thursday.

Man pleads not guilty to stalking Uma Thurman

New York – A former psychiatric patient pleaded not guilty Friday to stalking Uma Thurman for nearly two years.

Jack Jordan, 35, has been held on $10,000 bail since his arrest in October. A felony complaint said he had tried unsuccessfully on Nov. 8, 2005, to get into Thurman’s trailer on a movie set in Manhattan’s SoHo neighborhood.

Authorities say he also sent Thurman e-mails and letters, followed her and threatened to kill himself if he saw the 37-year-old actress with another man.

He was arraigned Friday on an attempted coercion charge in Manhattan’s state Supreme Court. He could face up to four years in prison if convicted.

The day after his arrest, Jordan’s family had him involuntarily committed to a psychiatric hospital. After his release, he sent numerous e-mails addressed to Thurman and other members of her family during August and September of 2006, the criminal complaint says.

Last August, it says, he appeared three or four times a week at Thurman’s home, asking to see her and being told to leave.

Thurman has starred in “Pulp Fiction,” “The Producers” and the “Kill Bill” movies.

Garth Brooks closes KC concert series

Kansas City, Mo. – An international audience joined a Kansas City crowd as Garth Brooks played the final show of the concert series that ended his nine-year touring hiatus.

The show was simulcast to fans in movie theaters across North America and Europe on Wednesday. The 45-year-old country singer had retired from touring to be a stay-at-home dad.

As he had done for the other eight Kansas City shows, Brooks opened by rising from a hole in the stage while playing “The Fever.” But he appeared stiff during the first 90 minutes of his performance as he played a string of hits that included “Friends in Low Places” and “The Dance,” wrote Timothy Finn, a reviewer for The Kansas City Star.

Brooks then told fans the simulcast had ended and promised the rest of the night was for them.

“Instantly, his mood changed and so did theirs,” wrote Finn.

The next 45 minutes included Brooks singing “That Summer,” “Much Too Young (To Feel This Damned Old)” and “Two Pina Coladas.” He also offered a solo acoustic medley of songs from James Taylor, Bob Seger and George Strait.

The crowd joined in as Brooks closed with “American Pie.”

“Garth: One Man, One City, One Night,” a 90-minute music special on Brooks’ series of sold-out concerts in Kansas City, will premiere Nov. 23 on GAC, the Great American Country television network announced Friday.