Pop Culture News and Views by Journalist Ian Halperin

Each time a celebs son dies in the Bahamas it shows off to the world how inept and corrupt the police force is on that tiny, hide your cash resort island.  First, when Anna Nicole Smith’s son Daniel passed away more than two years ago, there were more conflicting reports how he died than there were in the O.J. murder trial.  Now, John Travolta’s son tragically dies and the police’s version of what happened differs from the male nanny who found Jett’s body in the bathroom. 

Scene outside hospital where autopsy on Jett was performed

Police claim Jett was in the bathroom unattended, unconscious on the floor for more than 10 hours and was found only around 4 a.m.  The male nanny claims he found Jett’s body around 11:30 pm the night before.  Who should we believe here?  The notorious shifty Bahamian cops or the nanny, who somehow got the job to look after Jett without any proper qualifications.  (READ MORE)

Bored of his $500 million, the King of radio is planning a major comeback.  Howard Stern wants out of Sirius Radio as soon as his contract expires in 2010, IUC has learned. He misses the limelight, and is willing to take a huge paycut.  One thing he’s considering, IUC was told by a longtime Stern pal, is that he’s planning on ditching his longtime sidekick Robin Quivers for a young, hot babe who will draw a younger demographic.  “Howard’s sort of been in exile for the past few years,” the pal told IUC.  “He can’t wait to come back sexier, dirtier and more provocative than ever before.”   DEVELOPING…

I’ve had my run ins with John Travolta after I wrote my expose about Scientology, which inlcluded a lot of his strange forays in the Church.  But today I must send him peace, love and light.  Jett Travolta, 16,  battled autism his whole life and died of a seizure, possibly hitting his head on a bathtub.  Nothing is worse for a parent than losing a child.  RIP Jett!!!  (ABC News)

Enjoy the discomfiture of Celeb culture in ‘09.  IUC predicts a wild, wacky year in Hollywood, massive disruptions all to the tuneless flute of a lingering virus and slight mayhem.  Once again, weakness and void is highly employable in Tinseltown.  Here’s the forecast:

- J-Lo and Marc Anthony will split by June 1. 

- Angelina Jolie will turn in an electrifying piece of work - but once again be shunned for a best actress nominee.

Regis refuses to help pay for son Danny

- Regis Philbin will finally keel over after being  run over by his wheelchair ridden son who’s pissed the old man ain’t giving him a dime. (National Enquirer)

- So will Larry King!

- Boy George will announce he’s opening up a Karaoke bar cause it’s about the only place where he can get a gig these days.

- Elliot Spitzer will reemerge, being hired by Radio City to promote the Rockets Christmas run.

- The loveless comedies of Jen Aniston’s life will be back in the news, when she finally comes out and admits she’s sleeping with Nicolette Sheridan.

- The displeasure of stockholders around the globe will heighten when it’s discovered that the whole Bernie Maddoff affair was a phony conspiracy launched by Donald Trump, who will once again go bust this year.

- Madonna will urinate upon herself her first album of covers - jazz standards.  When she is done singing Stormy Monday, the seat of her dress will be wet.

- A-Rod will be traded to the Washington Nationals for the entire roster and a first round draft pick after the Yankees, with a new stadium and new superstar roster, fail to make the playoffs.

- Michelle Obama will announce she has a psychic communication and communion with Martha Washington a few months after she moves into the White House.  She churns out a book about it and ends up being the first First Lady committed to the looney bin while in office.   A few weeks later, news is leaked that Barbara Bush (George Sr.’s lady) was actually committed several times while Bush Sr. misran the U.S.  When asked if it’s true, Barbara replies, “I’m too old to remember”.

- Finally, Rupert Murdoch offers to buy ianundercover.com for $250 million.  He appoints jailbird Conrad Black editor in chief, who quickly changes the name of the operation to ianunderthetable.com

It's possible that I may discover a better one in the next 12 hours
but as of now, my favorite eatery of 2008 is definitely Sweetiepie,
the eclectic little Greenwich Village restaurant where I took my
daughter recently. It's only been open a couple of months, and the
New York restaurant scene is littered with the ashes of ambitious
ventures that couldn't survive Manhattan's fiercely competitive
culinary Darwinism. But I predict this place is a keeper. Where else
can you find silver dollar pancakes and absinthe under the same roof?
Unpretentious but stylish and kid-friendly to boot. And, as the name
suggests, the desserts are spectacular!