Winfrey expanding Lifeclass'

In an effort to build a bigger audience, the Oprah Winfrey Network announced Tuesday that it would expand its 8 p.m. Oprahs Lifeclass to two hours on Fridays.

Oprahs Lifeclass will continue to be what OWN describes as Oprah Winfreys most personal revelations, new insights and life lessons gleaned from the 25-year history of The Oprah Winfrey Show.

Starting this Friday, from 9 to 10 p.m., Winfrey will take live questions from a small audience. The expansion springs from a lesson learned last week when Oprah took questions each night in an online chat. The OWN show averaged 310,000 viewers; the online chat drew 1.6 million streams.

Tour heads to UK

The NKOTBSB super-group is going overseas.

After their U.S. tour this summer, New Kids On The Block and Backstreet Boys are now booking flights to the UK to play concerts in April.

These two boy bands have combined their hit-infested back-catalogues for a show that mixes old tracks with mash-ups and a new song sung by both groups.

Jordan Knight from NKOTB said of the announcement: Were so proud of the show, how it looks, sounds and feels for us and most importantly our fans. To head back to the U.K. in the spring is an honor and Im truly excited.

Rapper cancels

Georgia State University has announced that rapper Rick Ross, who was hospitalized last week, has canceled a planned concert there.

Georgia State officials said in a statement that the rap artist notified them that hell be unable to perform at Fridays GSU homecoming concert in downtown Atlanta.

GSUs statement said Ross suffered two seizures last week while attempting to travel to various performances in the Southeast.

Charity wish lists

The Journal Gazette will publish wish lists from established, 501(c)3 non-profit agencies in northeast Indiana and northwest Ohio that seek donations to directly assist people in need. Email lists to! jmccart ney@jg.net or fax 461-8893 with subject line Journal Gazette Giving, or mail to Journal Gazette Giving, Attn: Joyce McCartney, 600 W. Main St., Fort Wayne, IN 46802. Include a group name, mission, address, phone number and needs, including drop-off times and locations. Deadline is 5 p.m. Nov. 14.

Happy birthday

Among celebrity birthdays today: Actor William Christopher is 79. Singer Wanda Jackson is 74. Musician Tom Petty is 61. Actress Melanie Mayron is 59. Actor Viggo Mortensen is 53. Rapper Snoop Dogg is 40. Musician Jeff Loberg is 35. Actor John Krasinski is 32. Actress Katie Featherston is 29.