Ed McMahon 85,  Johnny Carson’s sidekick on “Tonight” has been hospitalized and is in an Intensive Care Unit in a Los Angeles Hospital.

A spokesman has said that McMahon has been in the hospital for several weeks already and has declined to mention any illnesses or the name of the hospital where McMahon is admitted.  He said that the comedian was suffering form pneumonia and that given McMahon’s age the condition is “serious”.

He further stated that McMahon’s wife and children are with him and that they are grateful for the public’s support during a difficult moment in their lives.

McMahon and Carson were seen together on “Tonight” from 1962 to 1992.  He introduced Carson with his hearty: “H-e-e-e-e-e-ere’s Johnny!  He had broken his neck in 2007 and was facing home foreclosure as he was unable to work due to his injury.  However, a deal was reached in order for him to stay in his home.

McMahon appeared in several movies like “Fun with Dick and Jane” and “Just Write”.  He was also seen in several commercials.

Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady and Super Model Gisele Bundchen were married earlier today at a Catholic church in Los Angeles.

According to anonymous sources, the pair walked down the aisle at an intimate ceremony at the St. Monica Catholic Church.  The event was exclusively for close family and friends and was also reportedly attended by Brady’s 1 1/2 year old son John Edward Thomas Moynahan with ex-girlfriend Bridget Moynahan.

Bundchen and Brady were almost inseparable when not working.  She and Brady hooked up soon after Brady’s three year relationship with Moynahan ended late in  2006.  She was dating actor Leonardo Di Caprio before Brady.

Representatives for both celebrities declined to confirm or deny if the nuptials took place.

“I’m not in a position to confirm or deny. I just don’t know.  I’ve also heard a bunch of times that he was engaged, so I don’t know what’s true.”  says Patriots spokesperson Stacey James.

Bundchen who comes from a large family has expressed her desire to have a family of her own.  When Brady’s son was born in August 2007, she said she was looking forward to being a “step mum” and added that: “if you love someone, you love everything that comes with him.”

The bride reportedly wore a stunning lace strapless gown with a trumpet skirt and scalloped edges with a floor length train by Dolce and Gabana.  Brady proposed to the super model aboard a private plane decked with white roses while sipping champagne.

7 people were shot at a parade route at New Orleans during festivities for Mardi Gras.  7 people including an infant were rushed to a nearby hospital.

Police found out that gun fire had broken just after the last of the Rex parade was winding down.  People immediately lay flat on the ground and the people on the floats immediately ducked.

Witnesses say that there were definitely more than 1 shot as it sounded like a string of fireworks.

“Everybody was petrified. They hit the ground, the floats stopped, everybody on the floats ducked,”  Toni Labat said who was watching the parade with her two children.

Police said that the victims, 3 men, 2 women, 1 boy and the baby were immediately given medical help upon arriving at the hospital.  As of this posting their conditions have not been released.  The police have said however, that the 20-month old baby had suffered from a grazed bullet and was out of danger.

19 year old Mark Brooks and 18 year old Louise Lazone are charged with seven counts of attempted first-degree murder. Brooks also faces a charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.  Both men are from New Orleans.

Three weapons which were used in the shooting have been recovered.  It still unclear whether the men were aiming for the crowd or each other or just random shooting.  Another shooting incident took place during the Mardi Gras celebration during an argument which broke out.  Otherwise, this year’s event was problem free.

President Barak Obama who has been painting a grim economy to Congress over the last few weeks gave an inspiring message during his address to Congress Tuesday night.

Now that the $787 billion stimulus package has passed through congress,  the president gave the message of hope.  He told his audience: “We will rebuild. We will recover, and the United States of America will emerge stronger than before”.   Obama is appealing to Americans to show their “never say die attitude”.

“The answers to our problems don’t lie beyond our reach.  What is required now is for this country is to pull together, confront boldly the challenges we face, and take responsibility for our future once more.”

Throughout his speech, Obama uttered the words: accountability, responsibility and national community as the country continues to face soaring unemployment rates, job cuts, home foreclosures, credit crisis, the rising cost of health care and declining trust in the government.

The impact of this recession is real, and it is everywhere,” he said.

Obama’s dour words had its critics.  Former President Bill Clinton commented during an interview on “Good Morning America” that Obama’s words were too much of a downer.

During Tuesday’s speech Obama was both realist and cheerleader.

“I’m constantly trying to thread the needle between sounding alarmist but also letting the American people know the circumstances that we’re in”, he said during a February 10 interview.

On Tuesday, he told Americans: “You should also know that the money you’ve deposited in banks across the country is safe; your insurance is secure; you can rely on the continued operation of our financial system.”

After that came the realist part of his speech, telling the millions of Americans watching that:  “None of this will come without cost, nor will it be easy.  But this is America. We don’t do what’s easy. We do what is necessary to move this country forward.”

The President is telling a nation facing a recession that rivals the Great Depression “not to be quitters”.

Here are some backstage snippets which were compiled by reliable sources privy to the goings on behind the stage during the 81st Academy Awards held last Sunday at Los Angeles.

Kate Winslet finally won an Oscar.  Some British press people were criticizing her for hyper-ventilating and weeping on stage.  Kate says: “I really don’t care.  Quite honestly, it makes me sad the country can’t be happy for success of their own kind”.   Kate was also ecstatic over her Best Actress Trophy, having been nominated and lose 5 times she said : “Winning is really a lot better than losing.  Really a lot better.”

Best Director Winner Danny Boyle for “Slumdog Millionaire” commented that he and the Slum Dog team debated long and hard whether to include the young Indian actors in the film during the awards season.  He said: “We were very concerned about it distorting their lives,  they’re young. They should stay in school…But then somebody said to us, look, they will put it in their own memory bank…and they will find a place for it in their own memory bank, and you should not deny it to them.”  He also goes on that he has no idea where the Slumdog Kids are today.  He was later accosted by a woman identifying herself as a reporter from the review site RottenTomatoes and eagerly greeted her.  Boyle must be a an avid fan of the site.  RottenTomatoes’ review on “Slumdog Millionaire is a 94!

The Ledger Family has nothing but high praises for Heath’s ex-partner Michelle Williams.  They are very close to her and approves of the way she is raising Matilda.  “Michelle keeps Matilda closeted in a nice way,” Kim Ledger says. “I don’t think she’ll know much of the fuss [of tonight's show], which I think is a good thing.  The Oscar Heath Ledger won for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Joker in “Batman” will be put in trust with Williams for Matilda.

A big gasp was heard in the press room as when the TV telecast cut to a reaction shot of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt during Jennifer Aniston’s presenting gig.  Oh well, one of those moments.

Penelope Cruz has fallen under the spell of Woody Allen.  She says of the director: I call Woody sometimes just to say hello, I adore him. I think he’s so funny”.

Sean Penn was still Sean Penn even after snagging a second Oscar for “Milk”.  The actor gave Best Actress Kate Winslet a kiss and a hug and then went back to his normal squinting self.  When asked about his comments during his acceptance speech, he said: “The day is going to come,” Penn says of gay marriage, “and it’s going to come quickly.”

All in all the Oscar Awards was another entertaining show.  Full of glitz, glamour and drama.