Taking Names

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Bonaduce, wife split

Danny Bonaduce, the radio and TV host whose marriage troubles were aired in a VH1 reality series, says Gretchen, his long-suffering wife of more than 16 years, is seeking a divorce, Associated Press reports.

The star, 47, said he received an e-mail Tuesday from his wife's attorney offering phone numbers for lawyers.

Mr. Bonaduce -- who initially gained fame as a child star on the hit ABC sitcom "The Partridge Family" in the late 1960s -- said his wife had been talking about breaking up for several months. It is Mr. Bonaduce's second marriage. The couple have two children.

The duo recently starred in VH1's "Breaking Bonaduce," a reality show that chronicled their ups and downs along with Mr. Bonaduce's efforts to recover from alcohol and other problems.

Ready for her close-up

Actress Drew Barrymore is CoverGirl's newest model and spokeswoman, joining a stable of famous faces that has included Cheryl Tiegs, Christie Brinkley and, more recently, Queen Latifah, Molly Sims and Rihanna.

Miss Barrymore, 32, is also a co-creator of the ads.

"What I want to do is honor the tradition of CoverGirl but hopefully bring myself and my personality into it as well as some edgy fashion-forward thinking and positivity to it," she told AP.

Slava falls ill

Cellist Mstislav Rostropovich, who served as music director of the National Symphony Orchestra from 1977 to 1994, has been hospitalized near Moscow, a Russian newspaper reported yesterday.

Mr. Rostropovich, who turned 80 last month, was also treated in February for an undisclosed illness.

'Lives' buzz builds

We know a good thing when we see it.

Weeks after a critic for The Washington Times named "The Lives of Others" the best film of 2006, others seem to be taking notice.

President Bush and first lady Laura Bush have seen the acclaimed film, according to the White House press office. The story of a Stasi agent who slowly gains his humanity as he spies on an artistic couple, "Lives" is a powerful indictment of communism.

The rest of the city is also catching on. A recent Saturday night screening at the Landmark E Street Cinema downtown was sold out.

Compiled by Robyn-Denise Yourse, Kelly Jane Torrance and Kevin Chaffee from staff, Web and wire reports.