Quick Takes: Teddy Pendergrass’ son, widow clash over singer’s estate

The son and second wife of Teddy Pendergrass are locked in a battle over the late R&B singer’s estate.

Teddy Pendergrass II and Joan Pendergrass have produced conflicting wills since the singer died in January. The son claims a will from May 2009 names him executor and sole beneficiary. The widow claims a later document on which she signed her name as the singer’s attorney gives her control.

Attorneys for both sides met with a judge about the case last week.

The divide is less about money than the singer’s legacy, a lawyer for Joan Pendergrass said. Pendergrass did not write most of his songs, so his estate has little royalty income.

—Associated Press

Detroit concerts are canceled

The Detroit Symphony Orchestra canceled two concerts Wednesday amid an ongoing musicians’ strike.

The DSO was to perform Thursday at Michigan State University’s Wharton Center, then open the season Friday in Detroit.

The musicians hit the picket line after refusing to accept pay cuts demanded by the financially struggling symphony.

Management last month began implementing a 33% base pay cut for orchestra veterans, from $104,650 to $70,200 in the first year. Musicians had offered a 22% reduction in the first year to $82,000, which would increase in subsequent years.

—Associated Press

Jonesy returns to KROQ Sunday

Former Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones, best known to Angelenos as the longtime host of “Jonesy’s Jukebox” on Indie 103.1 FM, will be returning to the terrestrial airwaves via L.A. rock powerhouse KROQ-FM (106.7).

Jones, known to his listeners as “Jonesy,” lost his daily daytime show when the beloved Indie 103 went off the air in 2009. His gig on KROQ will launch Sunday and will air weekly from 7 to 9 p.m.

Since Indie moved to online only, Jones has been the host of a version of “Jonesy’s Jukebox” on the website iamrogue.com, a project funded by independent film financier and upstart studio chief Ryan Kavanaugh of Relativity Media. That stint recently ended.

—Randall Roberts

Rick Sanchez issues apology

Fired CNN host Rick Sanchez apologized Wednesday to Jon Stewart and anyone else he offended with what he called “inartful comments” he made during a radio interview.

Sanchez issued a blanket statement five days after he was fired from CNN for his remarks, including branding Stewart a bigot and questioning whether Jews should be considered a minority.

He said he had had a “very good conversation” on Monday with Stewart, who anchors the satirical “Daily Show” on Comedy Central.

—Associated Press

Diamonds are a doll’s best friend

A special Barbie doll is about to go on sale.

The custom-designed doll is donning a necklace featuring a 1-carat pink diamond. She’s being offered Oct. 20 at Christie’s auction house in New York for an estimated $300,000 to $500,000. At that selling price, Christie’s says she would be the world’s most expensive Barbie.

All proceeds will benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The world auction record for a Barbie is $17,091, set in 2006 at Christie’s London.

—Associated Press

Ground zero theater is funded

A performing arts center envisioned as one of the jewels of a rebuilt World Trade Center in New York City is at last getting a major funding boost.

State and city officials announced Wednesday that they will use $100 million in surplus federal disaster funding for the long-stalled theater project.

Plans call for a 1,000-seat venue that would be the primary home of the Joyce Theater, which hosts modern dance.

The money would come from a fund initially created to rebuild Lower Manhattan’s smashed utility grid. About $200 million of that money is still unspent.

—Associated Press

Tim Gunn tells of suicide try

“Project Runway” star Tim Gunn released a video on Wednesday describing how he tried to kill himself as a teenager after being bullied because he was gay.

Gunn, 57, the urbane mentor of the popular fashion design TV contest, said he had taken more than 100 pills when he was 17 in a botched suicide bid.

“I’m very happy today that that attempt was unsuccessful, but at the time it’s all I could contemplate,” he said in the two-minute video spot for the “It Gets Better” project aimed at isolated young gays and lesbians.

Gunn is the latest celebrity to speak out in support of gay teens following the suicide last week of 19-year-old student Tyler Clementi. Others include Neil Patrick Harris and Chris Colfer.

—Reuters