Short takes/Celeb birthdays: Thursday, October 29, 2009

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Published: October 29, 2009

BIRTHDAYS

→Country singer Lee Clayton, 67.

→Guitarist Denny Laine (Wings, Moody Blues), 65.

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→Singer-actress Melba Moore, 64.

→Actor Richard Dreyfuss, 62.

→Actress Kate Jackson, 61.

→Actor Dan Castellaneta ("The Simpsons”), 52.

→Singer Randy Jackson (The Jacksons), 48.

→Actress Joely Fisher ("Ellen”), 42.

→Rapper Paris, 42.

→Singer S.A. Martinez (311), 40.

→Actress Winona Ryder, 38.

→Actor Trevor Lissauer ("Sabrina the Teenage Witch”), 36.

→Actress Gabrielle Union, 36.

→Actor Brendan Fehr ("Roswell”), 32.

TV BRIEF

Alec Baldwin back on TCM as ‘Essentials’ co-host
Two-time Emmy winner Alec Baldwin ("30 Rock”) is returning for a second season as co-host of "The Essentials” on Turner Classic Movies (TCM).

In his first season, Baldwin displayed a deep knowledge of classic films. Baldwin and TCM host Robert Osborne will return in 2010 with a new roster of "must see” movies each week.

"The Essentials,” which airs at 7 p.m. Saturdays, will kick off Season 10 in March with Elia Kazan’s 1951 version of Tennessee Williams’ "A Streetcar Named Desire” starring Marlon Brando and Oscar winners Vivien Leigh, Kim Hunter and Karl Malden.

The new season will feature four best picture Oscar winners — "The Best Years of Our Lives” (1946), "Gigi” (1958), "Lawrence of Arabia” (1962) and "The Sting” (1973) — as well as best foreign language film Oscar winner "Black Orpheus” (1959).

Other titles that will air in 2010 include the groundbreaking "Bonnie and Clyde” (1967) and "The Graduate” (1967); the comedy "Kind Hearts and Coronets” (1949) with Alec Guinness in eight different roles; and the work of several top-name directors.

"I have enormous respect for TCM and Robert Osborne,” Baldwin said. "TCM has stayed true to its mission. ... I’m proud to be able to sit down with Robert again.”

From Staff and Wire Reports