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Sideshow: Rooney not resting in peace yet

Celeb deaths these days seem to engender two things: Earnest, tearful, awe-inspiring memorials and nasty legal battles.

Actor Mickey Rooney (L) and his wife Janice arrive at the American Museum of Natural History for the premiere of the movie "Night at the Museum" in New York in this file photo taken December 17, 2006. The estranged wife of actor Mickey Rooney and his estate are locked in a legal tussle over the remains of the late Hollywood movie star, who left an estate of only $18,000, according to court documents. (REUTERS/Eric Thayer/Files)
Actor Mickey Rooney (L) and his wife Janice arrive at the American Museum of Natural History for the premiere of the movie "Night at the Museum" in New York in this file photo taken December 17, 2006. The estranged wife of actor Mickey Rooney and his estate are locked in a legal tussle over the remains of the late Hollywood movie star, who left an estate of only $18,000, according to court documents. (REUTERS/Eric Thayer/Files)Read moreREUTERS
    by By Tirdad Derakhshani, Inquirer Staff Writer | Columnist
    Published 

A battle over Rooney

Celeb deaths these days seem to engender two things: Earnest, tearful, awe-inspiring memorials and nasty legal battles.

So it's not surprising to hear that members of Mickey Rooney's family already are in a pitched battle.

However, the fight's not over the late great actor's fortune - but over his body.

The New York Daily News says a lawyer from Rooney's estate has asked for an emergency court order barring Janice Rooney, the last of the star's eight wives, from removing his remains from Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles. The lawyer's papers claim Janice is acting "against the decedent's express wishes." What does Janice want to do with the body? No one seems to know.

Rooney, who separated from Janice in 2012 (but did not divorce her -- they were still married at his death), sued her older son by another marriage - his stepson - Chris Aber in 2011 for allegedly mistreating him.

The lawyer's request will be heard in court on Friday.

So what about the estate?

The New York Daily News says Rooney left an estate of only $18,000, the entirety of which he bequeathed to his stepson Mark (Janice's younger son), and Mark's wife, Charlene. It seems Rooney has disinherited his eight biological kids. Mark and Charlene cared for Rooney at their home for the last two years of his life.

Kim enriches our culture

Journos, cultural critics, and political advisers are busy dissecting the meaning and significance of Kim Kardashian's latest contribution to Western culture: Photos of a shoot in Thailand depicting Kim in a flesh-hued thong so small it would make dental floss feel obese.

"To those who insist @KimKardashian has no talent, I present Exhibit 1," tweets former CNN guru Piers Morgan.

The Big O on lil' LL

Lindsay Lohan, who stars in a new OWN reality show, Lindsay, about her triumphant return to, um, not being in prison or rehab, talks to David Letterman about her return to showbiz in a chat set to air Wednesday night.

Excited about her OWN work, LiLo egged David on to phone OWN's own Oprah right from the stage. The Big O loved it.

She said LiLo's show was all about healing. "To have cameras following you around for every phase of your life, and you are trying to pull your life together, I think that's a really difficult thing, so, yeah, we're really pleased she's making some progress," said O.

LiLo choked up. David said, "Oprah, I've spent 30 years trying to pull my life together. Where the hell have you been?"

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