CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS

NBC developing Carson miniseries

The late Johnny Carson is coming back to NBC.

The network said Thursday that it is developing a miniseries based on the life of the talk show host, who ruled late-night television as host of the “Tonight” show from 1962 to 1992.

The series will be based on an upcoming biography of Carson by Bill Zehme. It will cover his childhood in Nebraska and his off-screen life as well as the 30 years he spent at the “Tonight” show. The network hasn’t cast an actor to play Carson yet.

NBC gave no estimate on when the miniseries might air.

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U.S. pop singer Selena Gomez has scrapped two concerts in Russia after falling foul of new visa rules which critics say can be used to keep out Western artists who promote gay rights.

The concert organizers said Gomez, who sang “Come And Get It” and supports gay rights, pulled out of the planned performances in St. Petersburg and Moscow next week when it became clear she would not be able to secure a visa in time.

They blamed the delay on the new rules, which they said were prompted by official concern over two concerts in Russia at which Madonna and Lady Gaga defended gay rights, and a gig in neighboring Ukraine where the lead singer of U.S. group Bloodhound Gang stuffed a Russian flag down his trousers.

“The situation is a result of the scandals over the Madonna, Lady Gaga and Bloodhound Gang concerts, after which the Russian authorities changed procedures for issuing visas to foreign musical and artistic groups,” said the promoters, the Russian Entertainment Academy.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS

Actor Mickey Rooney is 93. Singer Julio Iglesias is 70. Actor Paul Petersen (“The Donna Reed Show”) is 68. Actress-singer Mary Kay Place is 66. Singer Bruce Springsteen is 64. Drummer Leon Taylor of The Ventures is 58. Actor Jason Alexander is 54. Actress Elizabeth Pena is 54. Actor Chi McBride (“Pushing Daisies,” “Boston Public”) is 52. Steel guitarist Don Herron of BR549 is 51. Singer Ani DiFranco is 43. Singer Sarah Bettens of K’s Choice is 41. Rapper-producer-record head Jermaine Dupri is 41. Actor Anthony Mackie (“Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter”) is 35. Singer Erik-Michael Estrada of O-Town is 34. ASSOCIATED PRESS