Latest fromNew York City

A quick word with: Kelly Clarkson
Kelly Clarkson, the first winner of American Idol back in 2002, who plays Vector Arena next month.

Pixies live and on disc
If you're going to the Pixies next week, then afterwards you can walk away with a recording of the show.

<i>Beauty:</i> From NY with love
First they took Manhattan ... now this quirkiest of companies is coming to Auckland.

Toy makers go high-tech on the cheap
From a digital Scrabble game that checks the words to a hovering UFO to miniature radio-control cars, toy makers are amping up the tech quotient but not prices.

<i>24</i> halts for Sutherland surgery
Kiefer Sutherland is set to undergo surgery — forcing production of '24' to be temporarily shut down.

Barbara Walters to host last Oscars special
Barbara Walters says next month's Oscar interview special will be her last, ending a 29-year tradition.

Fur makes a comeback at New York Fashion Week
Alexander Wang showed a cool leather trenchcoat with a strip of mink running entirely down the back during the weekend's shows at New York Fashion week.

Nightmares for Gmail users as Buzz kills privacy
Google's new Buzz social hub features is set automatically to 'on' - and shares Gmail users' information without asking.

Madonna turns marriage ref for TV
Madonna, who's been divorced twice, is to appear as a judge on a US reality TV show about warring couples.

Alert: puppet sex
There's a new musical coming to town and it sounds like it's Sesame Street crossed with Peter Jackson's sordid black comedy Meet the Feebles.

John Mayer apologises for <i>Playboy</i> interview
John Mayer is once again making news with his mouth, not his music, calling his ex Jessica Simpson 'sexual napalm' in a new interview.

<i>Jay Leno Show</i> officially over
Jay Leno has ushered out one of television's biggest flops without sentiment during the final night of his prime-time experiment.