thank you. >> reporter: cowell has remained mum.n the jimmy kimmel a few months ago. >> britney has been a revelation on the show. she's been superb. >> reporter: spears would not comment on the rumors. but "x factor" representatives have denied the reports. saying no one has discussed next year's judging panel yet. any reports otherwise are complete speculation. but this wouldn't be the first time a show has shuffled its cast. cheryl cole was cut before the show debuted. paula abdul, nicole scherzinger cut. all after a season where ratings fell by double-digits from last year. >> i definitely think producers brought britney on for the ratings. you know, they are trying to get up on par with "american idol." and they expected her to be such a huge name to bring those viewers. but it just didn't happen. >> reporter: one thing is for sure. the show will be back next season. and there are some skeptics who say this rumored firing is all just one, big publicity stunt to drum up interest for the next season. >> shocking. >> aren't these

you will not believe who simon cowell is dating. i'm a little jealous. think simon had that kind of game. >> it is surprising. >> apparently he does. he does have that money. that's true. >>> we begin with killer blizzard slamming the midwest, turning roads into danger zones. >> a foot of snow fell on des moines, 20 inches in madison, shutting down that city. and this morning, the storm is now moving east. warnings and watches are posted in 13 states. tens of thousands of folks without power and 500 flights canceled in the windy city alone. abc's ginger zee now reports from iowa. >> reporter: an aggressive winter storm carrying thrashing winds and blowing snow has shut down major highways across the midwest and killed at least five people. there have been more than 1,000 spinouts and crashes from nebraska to wisconsin. in iowa, it was a 25-car pileup on i-35. so many people stranded on roads across that state, the iowa national guard has mobilized 80 troops in humvees to help. >> they can really get in some places with the traction. >> reporter: the bliz

that has simon cowell telling her good-bye. and later... why rocery stores might notice a spike...mber of aaericans buying asppragus next week. and it has nothing to o witt a shortage.you're watching fox 45 morning news.. all local.. all morniig. ((take pkg)) coming up... pith tte new.what to do with - those unwanteddgadgets... thht mmght earn you some money. ((joel live tease)) yyu're watchiig fox 45 morning ews.. all local.. all morning. ((break 4)) bracing for more snoo.when the next ((break 4)) 3 - live look inside maryland live 3 3p 3 shawan mmp 3 a major striie at 15 major east coast ports.. including the poottoffbaltimore could would affect billions of dollars of cargo along the coast.the contract between he inteenational longshoremen association and the u-s maritime alliince... whichh and port operators... is et to expire one minute ast midnight ec 30th.tteeissuee? reduce "contaaner royalties." if a deal isn't reachee... a strike could stoo all container traffic aa the port. (7708) the port of baltimore is ne of maryland's largess eceonice gernerators so any type of ork act

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judge simon cowell feltthe got the "booing""britney...nd panted thee"crazy" britney.no word yet from spears'' in... the past... 12 &pmonths... / pe've... seen... several overnnght success sttries... unfold.../// &pbut... unfortunately,... we've also witnessed ... pheedecline... of a feww celebritiis...//.caadace... dold... takes a look... at some of the top from... 20--12... for... today's lowdown. 3 (((pkg))))catthy dance tunes, celebrity reak-ups and the tragic ddath of a singing icon... thee are just a few of talking in the world of show business this year. herr's a look down memory lane. (nats: "ss call me aybe.") the song was almost inescapable... sensation "call me maybe." it earnee the youug singer two grammy nominntions... and counttess covvrs online.(nats: ""litzy's tearing up my ants, mama.") whether it was a pleasure.. audiences couldn't turn away from t-l-c's hit honey boo boo," .(nats: ms "gangnam style!") rapper psy (sigh) went from a relatively unknown pprformer tt a the number onn watchee video on youtube, ith ooe than 1 b

and wasn't wortt herr15-million- dollar cootract.that same cowell felt he got the "boring" britney...ddwanted the "craay" britney.no word yet from spears' peopll. are ou our arr you our biggest fan?then everrday we'lllpick ne of our viewerssfrom our facebook page... nd feature them on fan just go to our facebook foxbaltimoree coming up... up... a random act of hhppennd... outside thhs l and who says new year's eve is just for adults?the ánoon--imeá activities being offered... just for kids. hometown hotspot.you're watching fox 45 good day baltimore. ((bbmp out)) ((break 1)) "i woke up thinking about drugs, i went to sleep thinking about drugs." "i had had uncles, parents tell 'me, 'you're going to die from drugs.' i believed them. i said, 'i know. 'but i didn't care." "and laying on my hospital bed, i said, 'please, help me. have mercy on me. help me.' and he helped me. he helped me." 3 they may not stay up to see the ball drop in time squaae but they can still enjoy the celebration.port ddscovery iss hostinggnoontimeenew year- superhero spectaaular!eric energy ffom port disccvery hom

. >> coming up, simon cowel spills beans onmsmkz the new relationship.r play boy model. >> jimmy kimmel talks late night what. he has to say about a newñ time slot. >> at 4:18 a live look at golden gate bridge. traffic head nootd city, smooth sailing there. going nicely. stay with us, more still to come on abc 7 news at 4:00. >>> well, after months of rumors, speculation, simon cowel says he is dating former bay watch star carmen electra. he was interviewed during a radio program. pair have been spotted together dining in past few months. that fueled gossip about the two being an item, now, it's confirm i'd suspected it. >> yes. you're so tight with both of them. >> yes. >> jimmy kimmel gearing up for his new late night spot and a new miss universe is crowned. >> world has a new celebrity today. she's not an actress or singer, z >> for thewbv÷ first time in 15 years, an american has been crowned miss universe. 20-year-old olivia colpo representing miseriry in the miss usa pageant. she's a sophomore at boston university there. is a new baby in the celebri

for mel rush because cowell. you know didn't get it just the way of what you like and not about god given the earth it's no more dangerous to drive down a figure a freeway to get killed going everywhere you chop your leg all. you got he had her do what you got upgraded to. take world one of his. own but. jr keys on fresh vehicle tracks they might signal the republic bring us outside out of mind as well but again after a little you become a target. to feel like you don't come from keeping alive. he can lead coburn to fold up the money. and he killed a man in northern uganda not. as in they may be taken down by. it well if they're very grateful for it. and are treated like a common. regular type. oh yeah. that's coming from the top of that hill rock. hill. of my. car. i'm the only one love i'm not. so old. that these be safe and prosperous. time each. time. i did eventually. and as a good job. rosemary stick. to . your fawning friends. today. money flowing from the sky today is not going to do go. down like the off

among the other high profile victims this year, miley sicyru and simon cowell. clearly, the australians never expected their prank to have deadly consequences. >> this nurse got caught in the crossfire. very clearly, it's the case that the royals were the target. >> reporter: mel got the radio show earlier this year, after gaining prominence as a fun-loving contestant on "the amazing race." >> it still smells. >> reporter: now, she'll have to deal with the fallout from this. if you think about it, there's another obvious person bound to be hurt by this particular practical joke. the anxious royal father to be. his mother will never know his children because she was hounded by the press. now, more frivolous attention. >> i am the queen, bow for me. bow for me. >> reporter: and tragically, another life lost. i'm david wright for "nightline" in los angeles. >> a tough story. thanks to david for that. tonight, the chief executive of the australian radio station behind the royal hoax defended the prank, but announced the show will be taken off the air indefinitely. >

reports say simon cowell didn't believe she was earning her paycheck. >> could wanted crazy britney.t boring britney. and critics seem to agree that she didn't add much to the show. >>> the clock is ticking and the world is waiting for the big ball drop here in new york in times square. >> preparations have shifted into full swing. and workers are putting on the touches of the giant waterford crystal ball. >>> a chicago woman has found her own unique way to celebrate the holidays. >> she creates amazing gingerbread villages with trains and christmas trees. the village is illuminated. and music plays around it. and she started it as a way to beat homesickness. beautiful, too. >>> and listen to this. an oregon man is going retro in hopes of finding a wife. >> he's cast aside the modern conveniences of match.com or craigslist in favor of a more direct approach. 82-year-old sandy mccullough wears a sign around his neck, looking for his perfect exxon on. he wants her to be over 60. but wouldn't turn down a woman who is younger. >> if a 40-year-old or 50-year-old came along and said, i'm t

simon cowell didn't see the humor.f competitive cheerleading. we've all cheered in our lives, here at this table. "cheer perfection" is taking a look inside the mothers who will do nothing to get their daughters to be champions. >> if you fall again, i'm going to replace you. >> reporter: tlc's show "cheer perfection" takes us inside the rough-and-tumble world of competitive cheerleading. proving, the only thing to fear is cheer moms herself. >> that is the worst basket toss i've seen in my life. that was terrible. absolutely terrible. >> reporter: alecia dunlap is head coach and co-owner of head coach revolution. it's her job to make little girls into little champions, no matter what it takes. >> come down. everybody run because of camber and cassidy. >> reporter: even her own daughters can't escape her form of tough love. >> i try to be strong and a leader. hard work and effort pays off. >> reporter: but alisha is not the only mom pushing her daughter to perfection. bonnie is trying to make her daughter on the squad.

>> can i be the simon cowell of this panel? i i i'm tempted to say the woel obama campaign. but i don't want to be, like, time person of the year, it's you. if it had to be one person, chris christie. for having the guts to not just look after new jersey, but, literally, hug a democratic president in the face of everything that he knew his party would reign down on his head. help the president. help new jersey. >> so despite the fact you were techt tempted to give it to the ground game, you crossed parties? >> seeing goodwill to all people. >> all right, victoria, are you going to be as bipartisan as richard? >> i'm not. and i'm going to roll it back. i'm going to go back to february because i think when president obama rolled out his contraception mandate, tlafs absolute genius. he foresaw that republicans and the catholic chunrch was going o come out gensz it. he came out having his cake and eating it too. >> so the contraception move by the president way back in march. >> and then you have the susan g. koman competition coming around. >> jonathan? >> well, speaking of pla

that's because you work for a foreigner, simon cowell. >> do you work on thanksgiving? >> jimmy: absolutely not! i'm an american! >> i know. are you hiring? >> jimmy: it's unbelievable. it's great to see you. >> really great to be here. >> jimmy: l.a. reid, everybody. up next, aimee mann. >> dicky: the "jimmy kimmel live" concert series sponsored by bud light. >> jimmy: her new album is called "charmer." here with the song "living a lie," with some help from james mercer of the shins, aimee mann! ♪ you can see yourself in the side mirror tossing your hair ♪ ♪ if no one is there why do you care ♪ ♪ though i let you think there was no witness to all of your crimes ♪ ♪ i knew what you were a climber who climbs i'm living a lie you're living it too ♪ ♪ 'cause i live it with you i'm living a lie a lie i can't tell ♪ ♪ so we wait for a crack in the shell no one bears a grudge like a boy genius ♪ ♪ just past his prime gilding his cage one bar at a time ♪ ♪ for every open arm there's a cold shoulder waiting to turn people to blame ♪ ♪ bridges to

executive producer simon cowel will called spears boring and not worth her $15 million contract.the x factor wrapped up their season last week as a spokeswoman for the show called the report complete speculation. >>> more on san jose state's victory today and what they haven't done since 1940. >>> when an antioch park damaged by arson will be reopened thanks to some last minute donations. have a good night. here you go. you, too. i'm going to dream about that steak. i'm going to dream about that tiramisu. what a night, huh? but, um, can the test drive be over now? head back to the dealership? [ male announcer ] it's practically yours. but we still need your signature. volkswagen sign then drive is back. and it's never been easier to get a passat. that's the power of german engineering. get $0 down, $0 due at signing, $0 deposit, and $0 first month's payment on any new volkswagen. visit vwdealer.com today. >>> last minute surprise donations today helped meet the project to rebuild a playground that was burned by an arsonist. the september fire in antioch city park caused $250,000

. >> can i be the simon cowell of this panel? okay, here we go. best political move. i am tempts to say the whole obama campaign ground came. the whole people who turned out all of these people to vote. but i don't want to be like "time" person of the year. if it's got to be one person, chris christie for having the guts to not just look after new jersey, but, literally, hug a democratic president in the face of everything that he knew his party would reign down on his head. helped him, helped the president, helped new jersey. >> so despite the fact that you were going to give it to the ground candidate of the obl campaign, you cross parties and go to chris christie. >> it seemed like goodwill to all people. >> victoria, are you going to be as bipartisan as richard is? >> i'm not. and i'm going to roll it back. i think when president obl rolled out his contraception mandate, that was absolute genius. because what he did, he forsaw that republicans and the catholic church was going to come out against it. that, in turn, helped mobilize women and kick off that women's m

. >> you and simon cowell have had a love/hate relationship over the years but there are some rumorsyou may go back perhaps to one of his shows, x factor. >> you know what he's like? he's such a tart. he's like a big brother. you love your brother, but sometimes you don't like him very much, do you. so we're like this at each other. we take jabs at each other all the time. but i tell you something, like you, whenever you're in trouble, simon is right there, as you >>> robert zemeckis is an oscar winner and a man behind some of hollywood's biggest hits. he may be in line for another award for his movie "flight" starring denzel washington. we will come to why you're my favorite director in a moment. first let's come to "flight." it's a thrilling movie starring one of the great actors of this generation, denzel washington. the reason it's so thrilling, it contains just this incredible plane crash scene, the likes of which no one has ever seen on the big screen before. let's take a little look and discuss this afterwards. >> speed brake. >> speed brake. >> margaret, now! >> it goes on an

recent satellite photos indicate north korea repaired flood damage at the nuclear test facility a cowellduct quick atomic explosion if it chose. washington and others look to avert this by hitting yeonpyeong with sanction but worry the kingdom will respond by conducting a third nuclear test. >>> china government is cracking down on the internet with a new law requiring users to register their names. until recently, web posters could post anonymous comments online. it comes after the leaders were upset by a flood by online complaints about the official abuses. >>> russia proposed talks with the main syrian opposition coalition even though it had previously bashed western countries for recognizing the group. that as syrian rebels step up the seize on military base and elsewhere. leland vittert has the latest. >> momentum in syria on the rebel's side they gladly rejected off by slaw to meet and discuss a peace plan saying they will discuss putting down the weapons when bashar assad leaves power. are you are russia long supported assad with weapons and host to russia only foreign naval base

antiaircraft system which cowell change the game when it comes to preventing attack against iran's nucleargram. still ahead, a new matt damon movie some call a hit piece on fracking. we'll explain. first, the white house tries to get in front of a possible chuck hagle cabinet nomination. this holiday, share everything. share "not even close." share "you owe me..." share "just right." the share everything plan. shareable data across 10 devices with unlimited talk and text. hurry in for a droid incredible 4g lte by htc for $49.99. [ "the odd couple" theme playing ] humans. even when we cross our "t"s and dot our "i"s, we still run into problems -- mainly other humans. at liberty mutual insurance, we understand. that's why our auto policies come with accident forgiveness if you qualify, where your rates won't go up due to your first accident, and new car replacement, where if you total your new car, we give you the money for a new one. call... to talk to an insurance expert about everything else that comes standard with our base auto policy. [ tires squeal ] and if you get into an accident an

executive producer simon cowel will called spears boring and not worth her $15 million contract. the show back in may. the x factor wrapped up their season last week as a spokeswoman for the show called the report complete speculation. >>> more on san jose state's victory today and what they haven't done hey, look! a shooting star! make a wish! i wish we could lie here forever. i wish this test drive was over, so we could head back to the dealership. [ male announcer ] it's practically yours. test drive! but we still need your signature. volkswagen sign then drive is back. and it's never been easier to get a jetta. that's the power of german engineering. get $0 down, $0 due at signing, $0 deposit, and $0 first month's payment on any new volkswagen. visit vwdealer.com today. >>> last minute surprise donations today helped meet the project to rebuild a playground that was burned by an arsonist. the september fire in antioch city park caused $250,000 damage. insurance didn't fully cover the costs but today donations by pg & e and jim fraizer put the building fund over the top. it's

here to show us the right way, colin cowell. you have so many beautiful tables. up with a big picture. each one of these is a different theme. in this one, we went very organic and natural. >> i love it. >> this one is $7 a yard. these are also very beautiful, these wooden chargers. >> and these are beautiful. you can use over and over. i love that. >> use this year round. not just for the holidays. i love the plate. the plates come from a great organization called gifts that give. every time you purchase from gifts that give, 20% of that purchase goes to charity of your choice. >> fantastic. >> it's about giving back. >> what about the pears? are these edible? >> the only perishable thing that's on the table. i like the idea of balancing the energy of the table. a good way to meet people so there's not that guessing moment when you sit at the table. >> perfect. this is lovely. >> the candles -- there's no such thing as too many candles. >> candles strike a nice blend. >> makes you look like you've just come back from somewhere fabulous. >> an emerald table. gree

according to one source, simon cowell, who is pretty authoritative when it comes to these sort of thingste, he wanted crazy britney but got boring britney instead. >> she's healthy now. he wants her to shave her head on the set? >> i think a little bit of crazy britney might raise the ratings a bit. entertaining, no question about that. and that leads to our second thing, which also has to do with britney spears. >> why not? >> we're just going down that hill and we ain't stopping. so yesterday we brought you that report some suggestions saying that kevin federline's brother was allegedly coming out saying that he was the father of their child. well, now, those reports seem to be inaccurate. it was "us weekly" that obtained the papers by the singer's brother who filed a lawsuit saying he was the real father. sources are now telling "us weekly" that the documents appear to have been doctored. >> so christopher federline is not the father. >> as far as we know. yesterday we were talking about going on maury povich or some show. that's just another twist. get that woman a reality tv show, p

reid, simon cowell, demi lovato and music from amy mann and james mercer and flo rida will be here, tooit. if it weren't for our first guest tonight, the world might never have discovered how a very funny nazis hunchbacks can be. he holds the brain behind classics like "the producers," a monday more great films. a new box set celebrating his 65 years in entertainment, "the incredible mel brooks: an irresistible collection of unhinged comedy," is out now. please welcome mel brooks. [ cheers and applause ] >> jimmy: how are you? >> it's almost a pleasure to be here. [ laughter ] it's very nice. very -- very, very nice. washed, clean people. >> jimmy: they hose them down before they come in. >> lovely. and the unfriend thing almost worked. >> jimmy: almost worked. this close. you're saying longer, should be longer? well, thank you. i have to say -- it is -- it's okay. it's a good premise, you know. when you said -- we didn't say fred, we said friend. now -- i don't -- i wrote the show of shows for ten years. [ applause ] and -- and i happen to be free now, so -- [ laughter ] so -- >> jimmy

. >> you and simon cowell have had a love/hate relationship over the years but there are some rumors you may go back perhaps to one of his shows, x factor. >> you know what he's like? he's such a tart. he's like a big brother. you love your brother, but sometimes you don't like him very much, do you. so we're like this at each other. we take jabs at each other all the time. but i tell you something, like you, whenever you're in trouble, simon is right there, as you are. so i can't say a bad thing about him. >> which of the other talent shows do you watch? do you like any of them? >> i watch them all. i love to see what's going on because i'm addicted to tv. >> who is the worst judge on television at the moment? >> oh, dear. oh, that's awful. >> i prefer that to the best one. the best one's an american question. the british question is who's the worst. >> oh, dear. probably, i know he's going to kill me and he's the head of ozzie's record company, and i shouldn't say this, but probably l.a. reed. i think he's boring. >> you just ruined ozzie's record deal. >> i know, but he's doing --

you see in last year's list there was steve jobs, trump, the car dashians, simon cowell.u so much. reporter: and then there's kanye west who famously interrupted taylor swift's acceptance speech at the 2009m.t.v. music video awards. barbara walters called him fascinating a few years earlier. but aaron james calls him something else. a delusional a-word. >> although he's a very talented artist, he thinks he's much more significant as an artist, much more talented than he is. he says my greatest pain in life is that i'll never be able to see myself perform live on stage. >> reporter: yet somehow my heart doesn't break for him. but before we start pointing fingers, jeffrey numbering says there's a little bit of a-wordishness in all of us. the internet? it's like the promised land for a-words. >> anonimity makes this easier. time was when you wanted to post anonymous nasty remarks about people's political or sexual or person habits, the only place you had was the wall of the public bathrooms. now the whole world is a big public laboratory where you can scrawl whatever you wan

and from raleigh, north carolina janet cowell, the treasurer of the state of north carolina.n $70 billion. and we're pleased to have both of them here. i'm going to start with you, what do you do with this awful environment in that respect? is it an awful environment? maybe it isn't. >> actually it starts with endowment funds thinking about the long term. and when we look at the long term, i would say we're more optimistic, particularly about the u.s., than the current kind of thatter. a lot of secular things going on that make the u.s. look like a better place to invest for employer issues such as the shale oil, shale gas. >> right. >> issues such as better competitiveness with china. and so we're optimistic about the long-term. we have to get over this short-term problem, and i think -- >> do you advise clients -- you've put money with cliff for example. he used to be a private equity guy. what is your split between how you see private equity and how you see the world hedge fund? >> we continue to be a big proponent of private equity. if you look among our clients we typica

>> from the beginning it never up with simon cowell's expectations and what he put out for the hopeshe ratings that the show would see and i think l.a. reid, you watch him on the show and sometimes you wonder, does he really want to be doing this? he's a great judge, i think he calls it like he sees it but he has a big day job, running a record label. >> it was interesting when they brought him on, seemed like an odd fit. >>> harry potter the highest grossing franchise of all time? >> foshds released its list of the highest global box office franchises, harry potter on top, ranked number one, earnings of $7.7 billion, as you see it's followed by "star wars" $4.5 billion, the third is the james bond films also the longest lasting and in the span of 50 years they've done 24 films staring seven dashing action heroes followed by "pirates of the caribbean" and "batman" in fifth place. even though "harry potter" is the highest grossing franchise, "lord of the rings" is a serious contender. new films on the way. the franchise ranks ninth, earnings of almost $3 billion but "the hobbit" three

it will be the cowell's first grandchild. she and her husband were married the at texas ranch. remember photos from the beautiful wedding. congratulations to all of them. jon? jon: let's hope that goes well. that will be great. construction projects, jenna are usually a hopeful sign of a rebounding economy. but if far too many areas these projects are grinding to a halt. in hard hit new york city half finished residential or commercial buildings are all too common sight. senior correspondent eric shawn is live in brooklyn with a look why. >> reporter: hi, jon. they are empty monuments to a bad economy. unfished buildings like this one you can see just stopped in mid-construction. officials say this is problem throughout new york city. likely from the economic crisis from 2008. they say it is issue of bank financing that institutional lending is just not back where it should be as it was a number of years ago and these cinder block and seat empty structures that are silent or alone are in several neighborhoods. take a look at the numbers. there are a lot. 691 inactive sites say