People: Oprah celebrates her academy's first grads

Denis Farrell/Associated Press

“We’re taking a victory lap here, for transformation,” said Oprah Winfrey as she talked Friday with the first graduates of her girls academy in South Africa.

Oprah Winfrey makes no apologies for spending $40 million on an elite school for underprivileged South African girls. But she's also looking for ways to make her money stretch further to help more struggling Africans.

Winfrey spoke Friday on the eve of the first graduation at her school. Of the 75 students who started at the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in 2007, 72 who will graduate today.

All are headed to universities in South Africa and the United States to pursue such studies as medicine, law, engineering and economics.

"We're taking a victory lap here, for transformation," Winfrey said. "Every single girl is going to leave here with something greater to offer the world than her body."

Another new class starts at Winfrey's school next week. But to help more young Africans, Winfrey said she would be working with established philanthropies to identify schools around the developing world that can be strengthened with money.

She hopes to adapt some of the practices of her school, including creating strong support networks for students.

Gervais back to 'annoy'

Getting ready to host the Golden Globes again Sunday night, Ricky Gervais says he'd rather get laughs than gasps -- but he cherishes the gasps, too.

Gervais drew a sharp reaction to his jokes as host last year, with actor Robert Downey Jr. calling the evening mean-spirited. He joked Friday that he came back partly to "annoy" the people who said he'd never be invited back.

He told a news conference that he isn't out to hurt anyone, but ultimately doesn't care what people think: "I stand by my jokes." Asked who his targets would be this year, he said: "Targets isn't a word I'd use. Subjects."

'Bridesmaids' sequel lacks idea

Judd Apatow, producer of "Bridesmaids," says he needs a good idea first before considering a sequel.

The film with Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph and Melissa McCarthy was a comedy hit last summer is up for a Golden Globe award on Sunday. Apatow said Friday that the danger of agreeing to a sequel without being committed to a good idea "usually leads to 'Jaws 3-D.'"

Lee to host Obama fundraiser

Director Spike Lee will hold a high-dollar re-election fundraiser for President Barack Obama Thursday at his New York home. A Democratic official says the president will attend, along with about 40 other people. Tickets are $35,800 per person.

-- From Our Press Services

Today's birthdays

Singer- songwriter Allen Toussaint, 74; singer Jack Jones, 74; actress Faye Dunaway, 71; singer-producer T Bone Burnett, 64; actor Carl Weathers, 64; rapper Slick Rick, 47; actor-producer (and Memphis native) Dan Schneider ("Head of the Class"), 46; actress Emily Watson, 45; rapper LL Cool J, 44; actor Jason Bateman, 43.

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