The Cricket's Daily 3: Embattled Bill O. takes a vacation

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Here's what's being talked about in pop culture:

• Fox News headliner Bill O'Reilly announced he is going on vacation — and told viewers this time off was planned long before new allegations of sexual harassment surfaced. [The Washington Post]

• MTV is rebooting the "Fear Factor" reality show, with Ludacris as the new host guiding contestants through facing their fears. [The Hollywood Reporter]

• Two notable deaths: Rock guitarist J. Geils, whose namesake band pumped out such hits as "Centerfold" and "Freeze Frame" in the early '80s, has died at 71 … and Dorotho Mengering, who as talk-show host David Letterman's mom became a recurring personality on his show, has died at 95. [WCVB, Rolling Stone]