VIDEO: Cars Collide During Live News Report

File photo. iStockphoto/Thinkstock(TAMPA, Fla.) -- Two drivers involved in a car crash in Florida were caught on camera when their crash occurred right in the middle of a live report by an apparently unflappable local TV news reporter.

WFLA-TV reporter Adrienne Pedersen was ending her report on rising gas prices with a live standup in front of a gas station in Tampa on Wednesday when a taxicab collided with another car and both vehicles spun out of control behind her.

The crash could be heard and seen by viewers, but Pedersen kept her cool, continuing through her live report and seeming to have no idea what had just happened behind her.

“I heard it, but I had no idea what it was,” Pedersen later told TBO.com, the station’s online partner. “I really just wanted to get off the air so we could run over and make sure they were OK.”

The driver of the small car was the only one to suffer any injuries, and they were only minor, according to authorities, but the impact was so great that the cameraman shooting Pedersen’s live shot feared the worst.

“The cab was moving so fast that it threw both vehicles through the intersection and onto the curb,” said News Channel 8 cameraman Rugene Moore. “The cab was literally spinning out toward us. Luckily, a soft patch of dirt in a planter stopped them.”

Back in the studio, WFLA anchor Gayle Guyardo had what was likely the same reaction as viewers, shocked, said to Pederson, “Spun out right behind you. Did you see that Adrienne?”

Guyardo later joked that the drivers were probably stunned “by the gas prices.”

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Whitney Houston Open Casket Photo: Has Tabloid Gone Too Far?

Kevin Mazur/WireImage(NEW YORK) -- The National Enquirer has published a photo of Whitney Houston in an open casket on the cover of this week’s issue, sparking outrage over whether the tabloid has finally gone too far.

The unauthorized picture, accompanied by the headline “Whitney: The Last Photo,” shows Houston lying in a gold coffin with cream-colored lining accentuated with her childhood nickname, “Nippy,” and music symbols. Houston is wearing a purple dress, a broach and earrings.

According to the U.K.’s Daily Mail, the Enquirer claims the picture was taken at the private viewing held at Whigham Funeral Home in Newark, N.J., last Friday, on the eve of Houston’s funeral. The Enquirer did not reveal who took the picture, and there was no credit on the photo.

The image has provoked a strong reaction on Twitter. “No privacy for Whitney, even in death,” one person tweeted. “Disgusting,” tweeted another.

More than 1,000 friends and relatives, including Oprah Winfrey, Kevin Costner, and Tyler Perry gathered for the funeral service for the pop star at her childhood church, New Hope Baptist in Newark.

Houston’s lifeless body was found in a bathtub at the Beverly Hilton Hotel the night before the Grammy Awards. She was 48 years old when she died.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Britney Spears Headed to 'The X Factor?'

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic(LOS ANGELES) -- At this point, there aren't many established female pop stars out there whose names haven't been mentioned as possible judges for The X Factor.  But now you can add another name to that list: Britney Spears.  A source close to Spears tells Us Weekly that the singer wants to join the show, and has even reached out to test the waters.

So far, Simon Cowell has yet to announce any official replacements for the departing Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger. Among the stars whose names have been mentioned as possible judges: Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson, Fergie and, before she died, Whitney Houston.  

During a conference call on Wednesday with reporters, Simon refused to confirm or comment on any of those names.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

'Amazing Race' Assistant May Not Be Allowed to Go Home

Courtesy Josh Gates(LONDON) -- The assistant to Amazing Race producer Jeff Rice, who Uganda police say died of a cocaine overdose, may not be allowed to leave the country because she also tested positive for cocaine, police told ABC News on Thursday.

Katheryne Fuller, who was in Kampala, Uganda, to help Rice film a documentary, was found unconscious on a hotel balcony next to Rice last Friday. Both were rushed to a hospital where Rice was declared dead.

"Ms. Fuller is slowly recovering, and when she is recovered enough we will be able to talk to her and find out more about what happened," Uganda Police Force spokesman Asuman Mugenyi said. "She is not able to speak. Although she is responding to the treatment, she is not yet available to explain what transpired."

Fuller's father is with her and hoping to take her home to South Africa for medical treatment, but Mugenyi indicated Fuller may not be allowed to go home soon.

Because she tested positive for cocaine, she likely broke Uganda's drug laws, Mugenyi told ABC News. He said the police were waiting for permission from Interpol to release Fuller to go back to South Africa, and also to release Rice's body to his family in South Africa.

According to Ugandan police, the two are believed to have voluntarily ingested the substance.

Ugandan police said they have now ruled out food or drink poisoning.

Rice was a veteran producer who worked on the latest season of the hit reality series The Amazing Race and the Emmy-nominated Animal Planet series "Whale Wars." In addition to raising two young kids, Rice and his wife, Sally Blackman, operated a television and film production company called SB Productions in Durban, South Africa.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Romney Channels George Costanza, Actor Jabs Back

Todd Williamson/WireImage(PHOENIX) -- Mitt Romney hadn’t yet finished introducing himself at the CNN Republican debate in Phoenix when the crowd Wednesday night began applauding him. Romney decided to stop right then. He turned to rival Rick Santorum and said: “That’s good enough. As George Costanza would say, when they’re applauding, stop. Right?”

In that episode of Seinfeld (episode 172, “The Burning”), Costanza complained that at work meetings:

“GEORGE: I can usually come up with one good comment during a meeting but by the end it’s buried under a pile of gaffes and bad puns.”

“JERRY: Showmanship, George. When you hit that high note, you say goodnight and walk off.”

Later in the episode Costanza did just that after making a joke that amused his boss:

“GEORGE: (getting up and leaving) Alright! That’s it for me. Goodnight everybody.”

On Twitter late Wednesday night, actor Jason Alexander -- who played George Costanza -- tweeted: “Thrilled Gov. Romney enjoys my old character. I enjoyed the character he used 2 b 2. If he’d embrace that again, he’d b a great candidate.”

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Leonardo DiCaprio Buys ‘Wizard of Oz’ Slippers for Oscar Academy

Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images(LOS ANGELES) -- Leonardio DiCaprio on Wednesday opened up his wallet to help the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences acquire the ruby shoes from The Wizard of Oz.

According to a press release put out by the Academy, he led a group of “angel donors,” including Steven Spielberg, whose gifts to the Academy Foundation enabled them to purchase the iconic slippers. The amount of their donation was not disclosed.

The slippers will eventually be displayed at the forthcoming Academy Museum in Los Angeles.

While four pairs of ruby slippers were used in The Wizard of Oz, the pair that DiCaprio helped the Academy acquire is thought to be the one that Judy Garland wore when Dorothy clicks her heels three times to return to Kansas.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Meryl Streep Named Oscars Presenter

Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for AFI(LOS ANGELES) -- Meryl Streep will appear on the Oscars stage this Sunday, whether she wins or not.

Streep, who's nominated for best actress for her performance in The Iron Lady, will serve as a presenter at the ceremony.  Previously-announced presenters include Angelina Jolie, Tom Hanks, Tom Cruise, Bradley Cooper, Halle Berry, Will Ferrell, Zach Galifianakis and many more.

Billy Crystal will host the 84th Academy Awards.  Carol Leifer, who is helping to write his material and who has worked on hit shows like Seinfeld and Modern Family, compares Crystal to "comfort food" because he's emceed the ceremony so many times before.

She tells ABC News Radio, "People are so excited that he's back hosting because I think they know that he's going to deliver a great show as he always has."

And Crystal probably won't test out his material in front of others before the big day.

Leifer recalls, "Two years ago when I worked with Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin, they tried their jokes in front of a closed set of just crew guys, it still leaked out into the Internet.  So it's just amazing how super secretive you have to keep things."

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Jennifer Aniston Receives Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

James Devaney/WireImage(LOS ANGELES) -- Jennifer Aniston's most memorable role was that of Rachel Green on the sitcom Friends, but on Wednesday she received a star on the Walk of Fame in recognition of her movie career.

The actress, whose new comedy Wanderlust opens Friday, was given the 2,462nd star on the famed sidewalk.

The 43-year-old Aniston said it was a "surreal" moment for her to be honored on the Walk of Fame.

She said, "I am a California girl through and through...I don't think I ever thought this would be here, this day."

In attendance at the ceremony were her Wanderlust co-star and boyfriend, Justin Theroux, her father, Days of Our Lives actor John Aniston, and her Just Go with It co-star, Adam Sandler.

Sandler joked to the crowd that in her younger days Aniston, "prayed for three things: to have everyone in the entire world be fascinated with her haircuts, to one day star in a movie about an evil leprechaun who kills people, and most importantly, receive a star on the prestigious Hollywood Walk of Fame."

Sandler was referring to Aniston's 1993 film Leprechaun. Her other film credits include Rock Star, Along Came Polly, The Break-Up, Marley & Me, Office Space, He's Just Not That Into You and Horrible Bosses.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Star Jones Returns to 'The View'

Alexandra Wyman/WireImage(NEW YORK) -- Six years after departing The View on uneasy terms, Star Jones on Wednesday made a guest appearance on the ABC daytime talk show.

The ladies revisited Jones' final days as co-host of the show, with Barbara Walters explaining that in 2006 Jones' contract was not renewed and that Jones subsequently stunned her colleagues by announcing she was leaving the program.

Jones seemed reluctant at first to take the trip down memory lane, saying, "Are we really going to go here, Barbara?  Do we care at this point?  I honestly don't."  She eventually said, "It was ugly...It was a bad emotional time...I made the decision that I wanted to go out on my own terms."

Jones said she had eight fantastic years on the show and one year that was "eh."

Walters and co-host Joy Behar also noted that they had been forced to keep secret Jones' 2003 gastric bypass surgery.  Walters said the co-hosts tried to "protect" Jones -- who initially responded to rumors about her surgery with denials -- and said during the reunion that was a private matter she didn't want to be made public at the time.

Jones, who underwent open heart surgery in 2010, appeared on the show to raise awareness of heart disease.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Report: Sacha Baron Cohen Uninvited from Oscars

Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images(LOS ANGELES) -- Sacha Baron Cohen will not be attending the Oscars as his character from The Dictator -- or as himself -- according to Deadline.com.

The website claims the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has pulled Cohen's tickets for Sunday's ceremony following a report that he intended to show up as the title character in his new comedy.

A source says, "Unless they’re assured that nothing entertaining is going to happen on the red carpet, the Academy is not admitting Sacha Baron Cohen to the show.”

An Academy spokesperson denies to The Hollywood Reporter that Cohen has been banned from the Oscars, but adds, "We're just waiting to hear what he's going to do." The trade magazine says the Academy does not want Cohen to walk the red carpet as his Dictator character.

The Hollywood Reporter said Tuesday that Cohen, who appears in the Oscar-nominated movie Hugo, informed the film's studio of his plan, but not the producers of the Oscars telecast.

The Dictator, starring Cohen as a Saddam Hussein-esque ruler, opens in May.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio