The longest-running animated series, The Simpsons, will celebrate its 500-episode landmark on February 19.
   Creator Matt Groening recalls how viewers of the Fox network’s The Tracey Ullman Show liked the brief cartoons that filled the gaps in each episode—and The Simpsons was spun off into its own half-hour show in 1989.
   For some, the heyday to the American cartoon had long passed, with some episodes going into self-parody. It’s hardly a surprise, since The Simpsons has been around for a generation and spawned its own cultural references.
   Producer Ryan Tedder has revealed that Beyoncé has begun work on her fifth solo studio album, her first since the birth of her daughter, Blue Ivy Carter.
   Some of the new songs will be dedicated to her child, he said. He also revealed that Beyoncé has two albums in the works for 2012.
   Tedder had worked with the singer on ‘Halo’ and ‘I Was Here’ from her fourth album, 4.
   Katy Perry performed her new single, ‘Part of Me’, at the 54th Grammy Awards, and there’s a belief that the changed lyrics refer to ex-husband Russell Brand. She sang, ‘Keep your diamond ring / In fact, you can keep everything … Except for me.’ Things might not be as well natured as reported earlier.

The Simpsons’ 500th

Beyoncé’s new album

Katy Perry targets Russell Brand?

Los Angeles County Coroner Assistant Chief Ed Winter (left) told reporters awaiting news on Whitney Houston the following at a press conference yesterday.
   ‘We have concluded the autopsy on Miss Whitney Houston. It was concluded today.
   ‘There will be no cause of death at this time, as it is pending toxicology. That could take up to six to eight weeks. At this time the cause of death is deferred and we are finishing with all of our testing. There will be an ongoing investigation.
   ‘Beverly Hills requested a security hold on the case, so there will be no additional information put out as far as what was discovered in the room, any details of that nature,’ he said.
   ‘There’s reports that she maybe was drowned or, did she overdose? No, we won’t make a final determination until all the tests are in.’
   Winter confirmed rumours that Houston ‘was found in the bathtub. That was put out by Beverly Hills PD.
   ‘I believe somebody removed her from the bathtub and the paramedics did CPR on her. There was no visible signs of trauma, and foul play is not suspected at this time.
   ‘What and if any prescription drugs or illegal drugs would be found in her system, so that’s what we will be looking for also.
   ‘I’m not going to comment on any of the meds or prescriptions that were obtained. As I said [there’s] a security hold.
   ‘We’re looking at all aspects of the case. Hopefully maybe by Wednesday or Thursday of this week I may be able to give you an update,’ said Winter.
   He explained that security holds were not uncommon, and were used on the cases of Michael Jackson, Brittany Murphy and Corey Haim, ‘all high-profile cases and a lot of times on in-custody or officer-involved shooting cases or high-profile murder cases. We’ll put on a security hold to give law enforcement agencies to do further investigations.’

Above Jennifer Hudson sings a rendition of ‘I Will Always Love You’ at the 54th Grammy Awards last night.

Master of ceremonies LL Cool J opened the 54th Grammy Awards at the Staples Center in Los Angeles last night with a tribute and prayer to Whitney Houston.
   The late singer received a standing ovation after a clip of her performing ‘I Will Always Love You’ was played at the ceremony.
   Singer Jennifer Hudson paid her tribute by soulfully singing a version of same song that had made Houston a worldwide star for the second time, in the 1990s.
   British singer–songwriter Adele, who had been nominated for six Grammys, won them all. She won awards for song and record of the year, for ‘Rolling in the Deep’, and best album, for 21.
   She is now tied with Beyoncé Knowles as the woman who has won the most Grammys in a single evening.
   Adele also triumphantly performed at the Grammys. It was her first public performance since undergoing throat surgery.
   Foo Fighters won five Grammy Awards, including best rock album for Wasting Light. Kanye West, who had led the nominations with seven, took home four Grammys.

LL Cool J pays tribute to Whitney Houston

Jennifer Hudson pays tribute to Whitney Houston

Adele wins Grammy for pop solo performance

Adele wins six Grammys

Foo Fighters win five Grammys, and perform at the event

Adele performs at the Grammys, for the first time since her operation

Other stars perform

54th Grammy Awards’ summary

Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images

The Tata group has been particularly active in Italy of late, perhaps recognizing the country’s style. First Jaguar became involved with Italian rowing, and now, jazz singer and pianist Chiara Civello has been announced as the new ambassador for the Range Rover Evoque.
   Civello will use the Evoque during the Festival della canzone italiana (Festival of San Remo) this year, from February 14 to 18. She is competing at the festival.
   Land Rover sees a fit with Civello: she is young and becoming more famous and recognized, qualities that it associates with the Range Rover Evoque.
   ‘Chiara Civello conveys the free personality and dynamicity of the latest Range Rover model. But also its elegant and refined character, qualities Chiara’s music possesses,’ the company said in a release.

Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images

As reported elsewhere, Steve Jones has already confirmed on Twitter that he will not return for the second season of the US version of The X Factor as creator Simon Cowell tinkers with the show.
   The UK media, meanwhile, are speculating that Nicole Scherzinger will also get the boot, and there’s even a hint that Paula Abdul will be on her way out.
   One possibility is that Kelly Rowland will head to the US version after performing well on the original. Naturally, Cheryl Cole has been mentioned as another possibility, but that may well be down to wishful thinking and her undeniable support among Britons.
   Mariah Carey’s and Fergie’s names have also been mentioned.

Sponsored video

Some of our readers will have noticed Australian Wool Innovation’s merino promotions on our pages in Australia, the UK and the US. For a campaign, it’s newsworthy, since, as with the fragrances and fashion labels we cover, a great deal of effort went in to making it stylish, while conveying the feel of merino wool.
   Based around the tagline, ‘Merino. No Finer Feeling,’ the intent of the campaign is to educate consumers about the benefits of merino. It’s an ambitious task to convey the feel of the wool, but the team has accomplished this through visuals (shown here) and the video ads running around the Lucire website (below).
   Merino.com has also been revamped to coincide with the campaign, making sure online media are covered as well.
   There had been a concern among wool marketers that with disposable fashion, younger consumers were missing out on understanding merino. It may have hit the market at precisely the right time, as people begin to appreciate more lasting garments, rather than the consumerism-spurred fleeting nature of fashion.
   David Slijper photographed the campaign, with Simon Collins creative-directing. American model Darla Baker, represented by Élite, already the face of Nolita Hair Products and Royal Elastics, modelled. Shona Heath was the stylist on the campaign, while Adam Crystal composed the music. Dtouch provided the image capture and post-production facilities—as it has done for many luxury brands such as Chanel, Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent, and top photographers including Steven Meisel, Mario Testino and Patrick Demarchelier—while Christel Chaudet of Spring Studios filmed the behind-the-scenes material.

Luxury watch brand Raymond Weil hosted a pre-Brit Awards dinner at Mosaica on January 26, hosted by singer–songwriter and producer Labrinth.
   The Mosaica restaurant in Wood Green, north London, is co-owned by Labrinth, who has fast risen into prominence in the UK.
   Eighty VIPs attended the dinner, including some of the UK’s best musical talents and previous Brit Award winners.
   Head chef Steve Goode created a traditional British menu with bespoke cocktails, while Labrinth, Kyra, Bluey Robinson and Etta Bond performed live.
   Other celebrities in attendance included Tinie Tempah, Ed Sheeran, Plan B, Emeli Sande, Rizzle Kicks, Wretch 32, Tinchy Stryder, Little Mix, Misha B, Alexandra Burke, Mz Bratt, Dudley O’Shaughnessy, Parade, Yasmin, Suki Waterhouse, Clara Paget, Maverick Sabre, Ozwald Boateng, Parade, Tali Lennox, Mr Hudson, Yogi, Jourdan Dunn, Sophie Sumner, Bip Ling, Miles Kane, Gary Numan, Delilah, Chipmunk, Devlin, Cover Drive and Sunday Girl.
   Although Raymond Weil now marks its fifth year of supporting the Brit Awards, and has created five special-edition watches to mark the occasions, the Thursday night event was the first pre-award dinner, according to Raymond Weil director Pierre Bernheim.

Burberry Prorsum has put the outerwear and bags from its autumn–winter 2012–13 menswear range on sale at its website, right after showing it at Milano on January 14.
   The offer is limited: it will only be on sale for one week—till the 21st—for delivery in eight weeks.
   It is part of an internet-based push by the label, which live-streamed its collection at burberry.com and its Facebook page, and viewable on mobile devices including the Ipad.
   The show soundtrack by the Waterboys, the Jam and Jeff Beck is available for download through Itunes, while images were shared through Burberry’s Instagram account.
   YouTube and Google Plus content followed.
   Guests included British boxer Amir Khan, actors Harry Treadaway, Luke Treadaway, Giorgia Surina, and Eros Galbiati, British musician Dan Gillespie Sells (The Feeling), filmmaker Ali Mustafa, musician Murat Boz, Eliz Sakucoglu and Turkish broadcaster Burcu Esmersoy. Models Seb Brice, Johnny George and Thomas Penfound walked the runway.