A press conference is going on right now in Vancouver. “Glee” star Cory Monteith has died in Vancouver of a drug overdose at age 31. Monteith died in the Fairmont Pacific Rim hotel at noon Vancouver time. He checked into the room on July 6th and police say he was alone when he died. Friends had been with him during the prior night. The local police say they are talking to hotel staff. All indications are “no foul play” according to the official statement.

Vancouver Police only informed Monteith’s family around midnight EST. There are going to be questions about why Monteith was in the hotel for a week and what he was doing. Monteith is from British Columbia. No cause of death was found apparent. So if Monteith, who had a history of drug abuse, died of an overdose, as supposed, autopsy and toxicology reports will provide that information.  Police say Monteith has been “deceased for several hours” when he was found by hotel staff at noon (3pm New York time).

Monteith played Finn on “Glee” from the show’s start and became an overnight success. He was dating Lea Michele, the show’s lead actress.  He’d been a lifelong drug addict according to reports, cleaning up at age 19 when his mother staged an intervention.  Last winter he checked himself into a rehab facility.

But nothing really explains this tragedy– he was young, successful, bright, and had the world on a string, so to speak. Condolences to his family and friends. And fans: young people, especially, are going to be stunned in the morning when they hear this news.

The show must go on! Mariah Carey will be singing her heart out tonight in Central Park with the NY Philharmonic on behalf of the victims and survivors of Hurricane Sandy. But don’t blame her if she winces a little bit. It turns out that Mariah hurt herself more severely than initially reported when she was filming a video last week in New York. The video was a remix of “#Beautiful” directed by her husband Nick Cannon.

Not only did she dislocate her shoulder, she fractured two ribs. Sources say there’s nerve damage in her right arm, there’s severe bruising. No doubt her top flight make up artist will cover all that up! But hey, for a mom of two toddlers with a busy career, this is no joke. Her doctors and orthopedic specialists begged her not to perform tonight because of physical limitations.

Nevertheless, Mariah wants to be there for the Hurricane Sandy families, her legions of fans and for Major League Baseball’s All-Star game kick off. She should be at home resting and healing, but knowing Mariah she’ll “give her all” to make tonight meaningful!

This is a total rumor but it’s enough of a spit-take that I thought I’d mention it. Madonna is said to be hosting a “bar mitzvah” tomorrow morning for son Rocco Ritchie. Rocco is not yet 13– his birthday is August 1st. And he’s not Jewish in any way. Those are the two requirements for bar mitzvah– to be 13 years of age and to be Jewish either born or converted.

Rocco’s father is Guy Ritchie, the director of “Sherlock Holmes” and “Snatch.” He is not Jewish. Moreover, Madonna Louise Ciccone Penn Ritchie was born Roman Catholic.

Of course, the service is said to be at the Kabbalah Center in New York. The Kabbalah Center isn’t a synagogue. It’s a pay-for-pray facility, a cult run by the Berg family. The Bergs– Karen and her two sons, Yehuda and Michael, are said to be in New York for the big occasion. No word on Karen’s boyfriend, Muki, or her not-seen-anymore husband Philip.

If Rocco is being “bar mitzvah”-ed, I can only imagine the ceremony: lithe dancers with headsets sinewing around the “bimah”– the stage– wearing all white– Kabbalah Center people wear all white. First, a Vogueing service. Then: A candle lighting ceremony in which Madonna’s boytoys like Brahim and Jesus are called to the front. And then everyone throws $26 red strings at Rocco. Copies of Madonna’s “Sex” book are given to guests as parting gifts. Sounds like fun.

Since my invite was lost in the mail, I won’t be in attendance. And I had a nice fountain pen all picked out for Rocco! I hope Mercy and David Banda, the children Madonna got in Malawi, try the kugel and someone from the singer’s family pinches their cheeks. And Madonna is lifted up during “Hava Negillah” in an expensive antique chair.

Or maybe none of this is true, it’s just Tevye’s nightmare from indigestion.