Fan Fare

Bought at auction: meet Oprah, lunch with Tim Gunn, tennis with Agassi

                                 Lunch with “Project Runway” fashion guru Tim Gunn? About $250

                                         Tennis lesson with Andre Agassi?  About $2,750

                                       Meeting Oprah Winfrey backstage? Priceless — or close to it.

No tears, no jeers; Cody Linley exits “Dancing with the Stars”

(Writing and reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis)

It could hardly come as a surprise to many viewers when Cody Linley was voted off “Dancing with the Stars” on Tuesday, after he finished at the bottom of the judges’ scoring tally for three straight weeks.

“DWTS” co-host Samantha Harris told Cody, 18, that he had grown up in his time on the show. Last week a small contingent of his young fans squealed in delight when Maurice Greene was eliminated instead of him. On Tuesday, the crowd gave Cody a warm send-off.   “Words can’t even explain the true amazing, growing, learning journey that I’ve had on this show,” Cody said. “I can’t show my appreciation any more to Julianne. I can’t say thank you. I love her so much. This opportunity has been so amazing.”

Then, Cody hugged his partner Julianne Hough for a long goodbye. But this time, he held back the tears that only last week streamed down his cheeks when talking about Julianne’s return to the show following her surgery. She obviously meant a lot to the young star.      Linley’s elimination means fans will no longer see the popular Julianne Hough bop around the dance floor. And, after her singing performance on Tuesday’s show, it’s clear she has more to offer in the future than just dancing. She can carry a tune.    With her brother, Derek, as one of the three dancers performing on stage, Hough sang “My Hallelujah Song” from her self-titled album released in May. The crowd cheered as Hough proved she is a star in her own right and not just a sidekick to Cody, a “Hannah Montana” actor who comes out of the Disney talent factory.   Also on Tuesday’s show, Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin sang as last season’s champion Kristi Yamaguchi, the Olympic skater, danced with her partner Mark Ballas and showed she would be a strong contender if she was in this season’s competition. Remaining contestants Brooke Burke, Warren Sapp and Lance Bass will face each other in next week’s final.

(Photos: copyright ABC Inc.; Kelsey McNeal)

Anti-fur group offers to pay Aretha’s arrears

Animal rights group PETA has come up with a novel way of encouraging a major music star to give up fur. In a letter written last week, PETA president Ingrid Newkirk offered to pay Aretha Franklin’s back taxes and fees on her Detroit mansion in return for going fur-free. The soul legend owes $19,192 on the property and could face foreclosure proceedings, a county official said earlier this month.

Newkirk’s letter says animals trapped in the wild can suffer for days, and die in a number of grisly ways on their way to becoming coats and other fashion acccesories.

“Our offer is a win-win situation: You get to keep your home and animals get to keep their lives,” it says. “We are rooting for you to please give animals the R-E-S-P-E-C-T that they deserve by giving up fur.”

Newkirk said she had yet to hear back from Franklin. “But I think it’s food for thought for her,” she told Reuters.