People talk 8/13/03

Louisiana women sue Snoop Dogg over video

NEW ORLEANS -- Two Louisiana women are suing rapper-actor Snoop Dogg, saying they were offered drugs during Mardi Gras 2002 to flash their breasts for pictures that later appeared on the cover of a "Girls Gone Wild" video.

The lawsuit by Jaime Capdeboscq, who was 17 at the time, and Whitni Candiotto, who was 18, also names Joe Francis, owner of Mantra Films Inc.

The women claim Francis broke a promise that their picture wouldn't be used in connection with a video. However, when the video -- known as "Girls Gone Wild Doggy Style" -- came out, they found themselves on the cover, the lawsuit alleges.

Attorneys for Francis and Snoop Dogg, whose real name is Calvin Broadus, have denied the allegations in court filings, saying any pictures taken were with voluntary consent. They also say a sign was posted in the video shooting area that said: "By entering, you consent to the use of such film and your image in a commercial film product."

Tom Wolfe awarded 2003 Literary Prize

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Tribune has awarded its 2003 Literary Prize to Tom Wolfe for a lifetime of achievement.

The prize, announced Monday, goes to an author whose body of work has had a great impact on American society, according to the newspaper. Last year's winner was playwright Arthur Miller.

Wolfe, 72, is the author of numerous books, including "The Right Stuff," a nonfiction work about the U.S. manned space program, and the novels "The Bonfire of the Vanities" and "A Man in Full."

His work is widely credited with helping to revolutionize nonfiction writing by drawing on elements from pop psychology and literature.

Judge tells Chesney: No ban on bootleggers

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- A U.S. judge has rejected country singer Kenny Chesney's request for a nationwide ban on merchandise bootleggers outside his concerts.

Judge Leon Jordan said Chesney's failure to show the court an "official" T-shirt as evidence was key in his refusal to grant the merchandise ban.

"This omission makes it impossible for the court to perform a complete comparison of the goods to determine the likelihood of confusion caused by the bootleg merchandise," Jordan wrote in his opinion. released Monday.-- From wire reports

At a June hearing, the judge told Chesney's attorney, John G. Jackson, to "bring me a T-shirt" when Jackson returned to court in July to argue for the ban. Jackson laughed at the comment, then brought T-shirts he said were bootleg merchandise but not an official shirt.

Chesney, 35, sought an injunction before his June 7 concert at the University of Tennessee, saying bootleggers were following his tour and selling merchandise outside the venues.

His lawyer argued the items were inferior and not sanctioned by his merchandising company, tricking fans and depriving the singer of thousands of dollars in revenue.

Jordan noted in his ruling there's no proof that the bootleggers have ever been identified.

P. Diddy in trouble for security guards' attackNEW YORK -- Two men have sued Sean "P. Diddy" Combs for $25 million each, claiming that a security team at the rap mogul's recording studio attacked them for no reason.

Lawsuits filed Monday in Manhattan on behalf of Thomas Guest and Damon Jackson allege that they were assaulted in August 2002 at Daddy's House studio on West 44th Street.

Combs' spokeswoman, Susan Makarichev, said the lawsuits were "totally baseless" and "the allegations are ridiculous."

Guest and Jackson were trying to visit Combs, a friend of Guest, when one of the security guards "confronted plaintiff, threatened him and thereafter physically assaulted him, causing serious physical injuries and rendering him unconscious," the lawsuit said.

When Jackson went to Guest's aid, he also was assaulted, a separate lawsuit said.

'Tough Crowd' gets chance at second season

NEW YORK -- It's a tough crowd, but Colin Quinn will be navigating it for at least another year.

Comedy Central announced Monday that it had renewed the comic's late-night show, "Tough Crowd With Colin Quinn," through the end of 2004.

The show airs Monday through Thursday at 11:30 p.m. ET following Jon Stewart's "The Daily Show," and is a forum for comics taking on topical issues.

"The television landscape is littered with falsely compassionate, hypocritical and pandering double standards that masquerade as intelligent and edgy," said Quinn, 44. "Comedy Central is giving us the opportunity to continue in that great tradition."

Presley dishes on marriage to Michael JacksonNEW YORK -- Lisa Marie Presley says she fell apart after her 20-month marriage to Michael Jackson ended in 1996.

"I was insane, and no one could tell me what was wrong," Elvis Presley's daughter tells Jane magazine for its September issue. "I was trying to pull myself out of somebody else's world, somebody else's way of thinking."

Jackson was Presley's second husband. Last year, her marriage to her third husband, Nicolas Cage, ended after three months. From her first marriage to musician Danny Keough, she has two children -- Danielle, 14, and Ben, 10.

As for her love life now?

"I'm nowhere," the 35-year-old says. "It hasn't happened very often that I've actually given my heart. Sometimes I can be completely smitten, but I'll still keep it back at arm's length. Because if I do give it to someone and get hurt, it's tragic."

Presley released her first album, "To Whom It May Concern," in April.