Baldwin defends Jenner

    ALEC BALDWIN on Thursday defended Kendall Jenner’s appearance in a reviled Pepsi commercial that was pulled after severe backlash. He said on Twitter that the 21-year-old model is inexperienced, and her management should bear the blame for the fiasco.

    The ad, which features Jenner breaking the tension of a demonstration by handing a policeman a can of Pepsi, invited heaps of scorn for trivializing real protest movements and was removed by Pepsi on April 5.

    ‘Groundhog Day’

    THE Broadway musical “Groundhog Day” will open as planned, but injured star Andy Karl’s status was unclear.

    Karl hurt himself during a preview performance Friday, forcing the cancellation of Saturday’s matinee. Understudy Andrew Call was to fill in for him at the Friday night performance. In a statement Saturday, producers said the musical is scheduled to open Monday at the August Wilson Theater, with further performance information to follow.

    Charlie Murphy dies

    CHARLIE MURPHY, Eddie’s older brother and a standup comedian, has died from leukemia in a New York City hospital. He had been going through chemo. He was 57.

    He co-wrote some of Eddie Murphy’s movies. He co-starred in “Are We There Yet,” “The Boondocks,” and “Black Jesus.” (SD-Agencies)