The daily gossip: Justin Bieber owes the German government $1500 in monkey payments, and more
5 top pieces of celebrity gossip — from the forthcoming wave of Sharknado merchandise to the possibility of a Dexter spin-off
1. Justin Bieber owes the German government $1,500 in monkey payments
It's been months since impish pop icon Justin Bieber abandoned his pet monkey Mally in Germany. The expenses for Mally's continued care are still adding up, and the German government is going bananas about it. A spokesman for Germany's Federal Agency for Nature Conservation reported that the Biebs currently owes about $1500 in back payments, and that the agency is giving him one week to pay up. And if he doesn't meet the deadline, the spokesman says the Germans "have ways of making him pay" — which, if James Bond villains are any indication, is a pretty clear sign that Bieber should pony up as soon as possible. [The Huffington Post]
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2. Sharknado T-shirts, posters, and costumes are on the way
Because the life cycle of a meme is never complete until it's been run right into the ground, SyFy has announced a partnership with retail and brand licensing agency Earthbound to unleash a wave of Sharknado merchandise. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the "wide range of fun merchandise" will include T-shirts, bags, posters, and costumes — so anyone who wants to dress up as "joke everyone is really sick of" for Halloween this year is really in luck. [The Hollywood Reporter]
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3. There's probably a Dexter spin-off on the way
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A show about a serial killer would seem, by definition, to have a fairly limited shelf life, though Dexter has managed to avoid its own death for a full eight seasons. But anyone who has been mourning the end of America's favorite serial killer can breathe a little easier knowing that there's probably a Dexter spin-off on the way. When asked whether the network was considering such a move, Showtime president David Nevins said, "Of course." As in, "Of course we want to milk this series until it ceases to be profitable." [Fox News]
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4. Porn studio agrees to stop naming its movies after Ben & Jerry's ice cream flavors
Los Angeles-based pornography studio Caballero Video, which was producing a series of titles under the banner "Ben & Cherry's," has agreed to retool its marketing after being slapped with a lawsuit from the real Ben & Jerry's. According to the Daily News, the lawsuit will affect such titles as "Peanut Butter D-Cup" and "Boston Cream Thigh," which means Caballero will have to find a way to make equally filthy puns without the easy crutch afforded by ice cream flavors. [Daily News]
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5. Now Simon Cowell will have a baby to criticize
Former American Idol and current X Factor judge Simon Cowell is notoriously hard on any performers who don't stand up to his sky-high expectations — so let's hope his parenting style proves to be a little more laid back. People reports that Cowell is having a baby with Lauren Silverman, the estranged wife of his friend Andrew Silverman. Dedicated reality TV fans might be worried about Cowell being hard on the kid, but don't be too worried. After all, he did find room in his heart for One Direction. [People]
Scott Meslow is the entertainment editor for TheWeek.com. He has written about film and television at publications including The Atlantic, POLITICO Magazine, and Vulture.
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