CELEBRITY HIP_NEWS ARCHIVE [page 2]

 

ANGELINA JOLIE READY FOR 'FADE AWAY' FROM HOLLYWOOD [CBC, 11/15/08]

Angelina Jolie says she is ready to "fade away" from her acting career to focus on family. Jolie, considered one of Hollywood's most beautiful actresses, has been in the media spotlight for much of her personal life and film career. In an interview posted on the BBC News website Thursday, November 13, Jolie was asked whether she was worried that aging looks would affect her having a long career. Jolie replied, "I don't think about it much, because I don't plan to keep acting very long." "I'm ready to do a few things now and fade away and get ready to be a grandma one day," she said. Jolie and husband Brad Pitt have six children. Maddox, Zahara and Pax were originally adopted from African and Asian countries by Jolie and later legally adopted by Pitt. The couple also have three biological children: Shiloh and twins Knox and Vivienne. Jolie told the BBC she is not interested in maintaining the work pace to stay "a celebrity and successful actress forever." "I think it's nice I've had a time to tell stories and be successful enough to tell the ones I want to tell and earn some money at the same time," she said. "It's great, but everything comes in seasons, and I hopefully won't be needing to do that later in my life in any way." Jolie says she doesn't have a deadline or plan for a formal retirement. "I don't think I'll ever say I'm never ever going to work, because maybe there's that interesting project where I feel creative." The interview was to promote her new film, The Changeling. Prior to that, Jolie appeared in the action thriller Wanted (2008) and 2007's A Mighty Heart, a film based on the true story of a murdered American journalist. "The Changeling" is based on the real story of a woman who is placed in a mental institution after losing her son. Jolie said her last two roles helped her cope with the death of her mother, actress Marcheline Bertrand. "I knew I was losing her during "Mighty Heart", and I lost her months before "Changeling". I hadn't even looked at pictures of her, because it was too hard," she said. "Christine [her character in "The Changeling"] reminded me of my mom. It was emotionally draining but also very healing for me." Jolie said she will work in February for the first time in a year before taking another year-long break. "Maybe it will be once a year and then maybe it'll be once every three years. I like being home a lot these days."

 

FORMER 'SOUL TRAIN' HOST CHARGED IN LOS ANGELES [Aceshowbiz, 11/14/08]

The Los Angeles city attorney has charged Don Cornelius, former host of "Soul Train," in connection with two domestic incidents involving his wife last month. Cornelius was charged with spousal battery, assault with a deadly weapon and dissuading a witness from making a police report, all misdemeanors, city attorney spokesman Frank Mateljan said Friday, November 14. The married 72-year-old producer was taken to jail last month after police were called to his Hollywood Hills home following a report of domestic dispute. Cornelius was released on $50,000 bail. He could face up to one year in prison for each of the five misdemeanor charges.

 

KANYE ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY POPPING ANOTHER PAP [E! Online, 11/15/08]

Kanye West's love may not be the only thing that needs to be put on lockdown—his fists might also want to consider it. The rapper was arrested on suspicion of assault in Newcastle, England, early this morning, after allegedly getting into a physical altercation with a paparazzo. Northumbria Police have confirmed to E! News that a 31-year-old man was arrested and released without charge and that no further action will be taken. West was not identified by name—per U.K. police policy, arrestees aren't publicly named unless formally charged. Rather uncharacteristically, West has yet to publicly comment or air any grievances on his blog. Likewise, Mercury Records, West's U.K. label, has announced it won't be issuing a statement on the matter. This makes the second time this year West managed to escape charges for an alleged shutterbug smackdown, having been involved in a similar melee at Los Angeles International Airport in September. Friday's incident purportedly went down around 2 a.m., not long after the rapper finished performing at Newcastle's Metro Radio Arena. According to British press reports, the "Love Lockdown" singer got embroiled in a skirmish with photographer Terry Blackburn after leaving Newcastle's Tup Tup nightclub. Skipping over the events leading up to the encounter, Blackburn claims West, who was leaving the club with four lady friends, ran at him, pushed his camera back into his face and shouted, "Get the f--king camera off!" Blackburn showed off the cuts and bruising he claims to have suffered in the incident, and West was arrested for his part in the incident a couple hours later, at his hotel. According to Blackburn's photo agency, West initially told police that he would issue a written apology to the paparazzo only to later rescind the promise—presumably after conferring with lawyers—citing the prospect of future litigation. West is due to perform again tonight as part of the U.K. leg of his Glow in the Dark world tour, this time in Sheffield.

 

MARIAH CAREY TALKS ABOUT STRIPPING DOWN AS HOLIDAY TRADITION [Aceshowbiz, 11/14/08]

Mariah Carey tells all to Redbook magazine about stripping down for the holidays, detailing on what she wears and does during the season. "I always get Santa lingerie, even if nobody sees it," she openly admits. Making the activity as a tradition, she moreover reveals, "[My girlfriends and I] go in the hot tub in our Christmas bikinis, then roll in the fresh snow and jump back in." She then adds that she usually dons "a red bikini with a Santa hat" for the ritual. And for this coming Christmas, she opts to still do the same thing and is feeling sure that her singer husband Nick Cannon will "appreciate it". Celebrating Christmas with Nick for the first time ever, Mariah tells the December issue of Redbook magazine, "I'm really looking forward to being in love on Christmas. The holidays are always great, but being in love ... is going to be the icing on the cake." Mariah and Nick, who never confirmed that they were dating, set tongue wagging when they eloped in late April this year. The following month, one of their wedding pictures graced the cover of People magazine with several others were featured inside the publication. "We really do feel we are soulmates. I never felt a love like this was in the cards for me," Mariah told the weekly celebrity magazine. Cannon then went on adding, "She is beautiful on the outside and 10 times as beautiful on the inside."

 

ROB CORDDRY CORRESPONDS WITH FATHERHOOD [E! Online, 11/14/08]

Nothing fake about this news. Former Daily Show correspondent Rob Corddry has welcomed his second child with wife Sandra, daughter Marlo Stevenson Corddry. "Mother and daughter are doing well," the funnyman's rep, Nicole Chabot, told People. The couple's other little girl, Sloane, is 2. "My 2-year-old is pretty set on the name 'Freeka,' " Corddry, who's in theaters now as former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer in W., said a while back about the baby-naming process. "She also likes 'Laura Berkner,' but that sounds weird in front of Corddry. We may just go with 'Baby the Entertainer' in case she grows up to be a black comedian."

 

BARACK OBAMA FAVORS CBS FOR FIRST POST-ELECTION INTERVIEW [Aceshowbiz, 11/14/08]

If John McCain went to NBC and Sarah Palin opted FOX for their first post-election interviews, Barack Obama decides to give the honor to CBS in the network's TV newsmagazine "60 Minutes". The Democrat who won the election over McCain will sit down with longtime-correspondent Steve Croft, accompanied by his wife and future First Lady, Michelle Obama. The exclusive interview is scheduled to be held today, November 14 in Chicago but it will only air on Sunday, November 16. No clue yet as in how long the segment will last but judging from previous interviews with presidents and candidates, the interview is expected to fill the entire hour. It thus becomes the second time Obama giving the privilege to CBS, for in August, he sat down for the show with his running mate Joe Bidden for a joint interview. This past Sunday, "60" also nabbed an interview with Obama's senior aides and the segment pulled in 18.5 million viewers. The defeated Republican team, McCain and Palin gave separate interviews after the election on NBC's "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" and FOX's Greta Van Susteren respectively.

 

BRITAIN'S PRINCE CHARLES TURN 60 [AFP, 11/14/08]

Prince Charles will celebrate his 60th birthday on Friday, November 14 surrounded by young people helped by his charities, as he passes a milestone year with little sign of an end to his long wait to be king. The heir to the British throne has been celebrating his birthday all week, with a star-studded comedy show one night and a black-tie gala the next, but will spend Friday meeting participants of a Prince's Trust scheme in London. By his side will be Camilla, his wife of three years who confidants say has brought Charles happiness, even if the role he was born for still eludes him. His sons by Princess Diana, princes William and Harry, paid tribute to their father at a black-tie dinner thrown by the Queen at Buckingham Palace on Thursday night, saying he was "an inspiration to us and so many others". The princes also joked that because of their father's age they were having an electric chairlift installed at his country home in Highgrove, Gloucestershire. Rock star Rod Stewart had been due to perform at the private event, attended by the Queen and her husband Prince Philip and more than 400 European royalty, friends and members of Charles' charitable organizations. It will be followed by an informal party thrown on Saturday by Camilla. The celebrations kicked-off on Wednesday with a comedy night at a southwest London theatre, with stars including Robin Williams, "Mr Bean" star Rowan Atkinson and "Monty Python" veteran John Cleese. "What better tribute to the heir to the throne of this formerly great country that we should bring him tonight to this cramped old theatre somewhere in the God-foresaken suburbs?" Cleese quipped.

 

JENNIFER HUDSON MOVES FORWARD WITH AD CAMPAIGN [E! Online, 11/14/08]

Jennifer Hudson continues to mourn her family tragedy. Still, the Gap has just launched its new holiday ad campaign, which features a cheery photo of Hudson smiling and wearing a bright red sweater. While the timing may seem inappropriate, a rep for the clothing-store giant assures us that Hudson has given her blessing to use the image. Hudson was given the option to back out, according to Gap spokesperson Olive Doyne. "She said she wanted to be a part of it and that we should move forward," Doyne says. Hudson was photographed for the ad by Michael Thompson back in July in New York City. The ad, which includes the tagline "Shine Your Own Star," can be seen in magazines and newspapers and on billboards in New York and Los Angeles. Other celebs who participated in the campaign include Mary-Louise Parker, Mila Kunis, Milla Jovovich, Ashanti, Jason Bateman with his 21-month-old daughter Francesca, Jon Heder, Rainn Wilson, Cam Gigandet and Jon Hamm and girlfriend Jennifer Westfeldt, among others..

 

PAMELA ANDERSON TO GUEST ON "KATH AND KIM" [Aceshowbiz, 11/13/08]

NBC's comedy series, "Kath & Kim", will welcome a new guest star on the series' upcoming episode. The American version of the popular Australian comedy series of the same name has picked up Playboy personality, Pamela Anderson, to appear on the same set with Molly Shannon and Selma Blair. EW's Hollywood Insider has reported that Anderson will make her debut appearance on "Kath & Kim", playing herself. Meanwhile, the "Baywatch" and "V.I.P." actress has not given any statement towards her upcoming role on the series. Plus, there is no further information about Anderson's upcoming episode and airdate. In the meantime, on October 31, NBC network has ordered "Kath & Kim" for a full season with the addition of nine more episodes. The network has implied the series' good rating has become one of the reasons behind the full season pick-up. "Kath & Kim" received 5.46 million viewers for its fourth episode on October 30, 2008.

 

CARMEN ELECTRA TO POSE FOR PLAYBOY [Aceshowbiz, 11/13/08]

No stranger to doing raunchy poses for magazine spreads, Carmen Electra is reported to be featured in an all-new eight-page spread for Playboy's forthcoming 55th anniversary January issue. People magazine is the first to break the news, which has since made its round all over the web. Neither Carmen nor Playboy has verified the circulating report. In the meantime, it is widely believed that Carmen's pictures will hit the web prior to the release of the special issue on December 12 later this year. Carmen first posed for the men's magazine in 1996. Her nude pictorial in the publication successfully catapulted her to stardom and led her to several high profile television appearances. Concerning her private life, Carmen recently told People that she's in no rush to wed her fiance, Korn guitarist Rob Patterson, insisting she and Rob are just enjoying life as an engaged couple. "That's the thing this time - we're going to avoid everyone else's pressure and go at our own pace," she was quoted as saying. "It's funny, everyone else puts so much pressure, asking when we're going to get married. But right now, we're just taking things really slow."

 

KANYE WEST FEELING LONELY, WANTS TO START FAMILY SOON [Aceshowbiz, 11/13/08]

Hip-hop artist Kanye West opened his heart and shared his feeling to the press, saying he's feeling lonely since the death of his mother Donda West last year. He, thus, wants to start a family soon, but finding it hard to find the perfect match. Attending a London listening party for his new album "808's & Heartbreak" Tuesday, November 11, Kanye told reporters, "It's lonely at the top." He then explained, "Losing my mom, having no woman in my life to support me - I feel like I'm on my own and can only express it through my music." Fortunately, Kanye has supportive friends who helped him going through difficult times. He credited several fellow music stars who lent a helping hand when he was "depressed, down," stating "I ran into Beyonce Knowles, Paul McCartney, [at the MTV Europe Music Awards and] I felt comfortable. Rejuvenated." Opening up about his family plans, Kanye revealed, "I want to have kids. But I want to have the right girl too - someone who really cares about me. When I'm in a club, girls are super-calculating, planning every step." Nevertheless, he ensured that he's fine, telling people not to "feel sorry for" him. "I just did a shoot for Louis Vuitton. Don't worry about me, I'll be okay in the end," he added. Kanye's mother, Donda, died of cosmetic surgical complications on November 10 last year. She was 58. Kanye himself broke up from his longtime fiancee, model Alexis Phifer, in April 2008.

 

JOE JONAS REPORTEDLY DATING CAMILLA BELLE [Aceshowbiz, 11/13/08]

New report has just surfaced by the hour that Joe Jonas is romancing Camilla Belle, who starred in the music video for Jonas Brothers' hit song "Lovebug." He, according to People as being informed by a source, has begun seeing the 22-year-old actress quietly despite the fact that he has just ended his romance with then girlfriend, country music singer Taylor Swift. "They met on the set of his music video," the source is quoted as saying. "All the guys always had thought she was really pretty and that's why they asked her to be in it." Still according to the source, Joe and Camilla began dating "only after doing the video". On how Joe and Camilla fall in love to each other, it is said that the movie beauty is "a really good girl and it seems they share a lot of the same characteristics and morals." Nevertheless, the source claims neither of the stars would share their love life with the public, telling People, "They are not public about it but they've just been hanging out with their friends and Joe's brothers. They are very private about it." Representatives for both Joe and Camilla decline to comment on that matter. But, more story on the twosome's alleged romance can be read on the latest issue of People, on newsstand Friday, November 14, 2008.

 

JENNIFER ANISTON ON ANGELINA JOLIE: "REALLY UNCOOL" [Reuters, 11/12/08]

In the three years since Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston ended their Hollywood marriage, Aniston has barely said a word about the break-up and the woman who stole Pitt's heart, Angelina Jolie. But in an interview for the December issue of Vogue magazine, Aniston finally talks about the split and the Oscar-winning actress who is now Pitt's companion, saying the way Jolie revealed details of her relationship with "Ocean's Eleven" star was "really uncool." Aniston, 39, told Vogue Jolie should not have given a detailed account of how her relationship with Pitt developed on the set of the 2005 movie "Mr. & Mrs. Smith," when Aniston and Pitt were still together. Those details were revealed in Jolie's 2007 interview with Vogue. "There was stuff printed there that was definitely from a time when I was unaware that it was happening," Aniston said. "That stuff about how she couldn't wait to get to work every day? That was really uncool," said Aniston. Aniston and Pitt finalized their divorce in August 2005 after announcing their separation in January that year. Pitt and Jolie now have three biological children and three adopted children, and are involved in humanitarian causes. They have emerged as one of Hollywood's most influential couples. Aniston also has a lot of clout in Hollywood. She starred in the hit former television sitcom "Friends," and in 2002 won an Emmy for her role in the show. She has also starred in movies including "Friends with Money" and the upcoming "Marley and Me." In the Vogue interview, Aniston says she still talks to Pitt and occasionally the two exchange "very kind hellos and wishing you wells." "I have nothing but admiration for him and ... I'm proud of him!," Aniston said, adding the divorce "never was that bad." "I mean, in the end, we really had an amicable split. It wasn't mean and hateful and all of this stuff they tried to create. ... It just didn't happen. The marriage didn't work out."

 

ADAM SANDLER AND WIFE WELCOME SECOND DAUGHTER [Aceshowbiz, 11/12/08]

A second baby girl has been born for Adam Sandler and his wife Jackie Titone. The infant, born Sunday, November 2, in California, is named Sunny Madeline. Adam posted a brief confirmation about the arrival of his daughter on his official website Tuesday, November 11. "Jackie and Adam had a beautiful baby girl, Sunny Madeline on November 2," so he wrote, adding "Everyone is happy and healthy." Adam and Jackie have been married since June 2003. In May this year, the actor-comedian publicly announced during an interview on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" that his wife was pregnant with their second baby. "We're having another baby. (Jackie) is pregnant," Adam said at that time. He even revealed that elder daughter Sadie Madison, born in May 2006, was "nervous" to see her mother "suffering big time with morning sickness". No other details of the newborn Sunny Madeline have been made public.

 

WITNESS: PITT 'SAVED' FROM 'AGGRESSIVE' PAPARAZZI [E! Online, 11/12/08]

Contrary to the photographic evidence, Brad Pitt and his security guard weren't hugging it out at the premiere of the star's Oscar-bait The Curious Case of Benjamin Button last night. Instead, according to a source close to the actor, the guard was just doing his duty in the face of a shutterbug stampede at an L.A. movie house. "The paparazzi stormed the theater and were incredibly aggressive, pouring in through all entrance areas," the source and eyewitness to the scene tells E! News. "They were hitting bystanders with their cameras. The security guard was merely trying to safely and quickly remove Brad from the melee." Speaking to People, Pitt himself shrugged off the drama. "Though they [the paparazzi] were exceptionally more aggressive than usual," Pitt tells the magazine, "breaking through a security barrier and into a private holding area, ultimately [it was] just another day in the life." Meanwhile, the so-called "executive protection specialist" who grabbed Pitt says he was just doing his job. "We were told by Mr. Pitt's people that he was being followed by numerous paparazzi that ran a minimum of 20 red lights to keep up with Mr. Pitt. When Mr. Pitt arrived at the theater approximately seven paparazzi bum-rushed the front door of the theater and began to rush inside," the guard, who requested anonymity, tells Entertainment Tonight. "It's security's sole priority to protect the talent and I removed Mr. Pitt immediately from what could have been a potentially dangerous situation."

 

K-FED ATTORNEY: "NOT GOING TO JUMP TO CONCLUSIONS" [E! Online, 11/12/08]

You can call Britney Spears oh-so-many things, but "negligent" isn't necessarily one of them. Longtime Kevin Federline attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan exclusively tells E! News that, as far as he knows, 2-year-old Jayden James' emergency trip to the hospital was most likely the result of a food allergy—and Federline, who was immediately notified of the incident, has no plans "as of now" to seek an explanation from his ex in court. "I think that whatever it is, a food allergy or some other case, we don't know yet," Kaplan said Tuesday, November 11. "We're pleased that someone was aware enough to see that he was having some sort of reaction and do what was necessary to make sure there were no chances taken and got Jayden to the appropriate facility and got the appropriate evaluation to be timely." The toddler was rushed to the ER Sunday night, just two days after Britney and her dad, Jamie Spears, brought her two sons to Kentwood, La., their first trip out of California with their mom since Federline was awarded full custody. "Kids get hurt. Kids get sick. Kids fall down, and by definition it's their duty to do things that they're not supposed to do. They're kids. Especially at 2 and 3, these things will happen.  The point is for the parents to try to minimize the possibility of these things happening. "That's the important thing," Kaplan said, "that parents can control after the fact." Jayden was discharged from Southwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center at about 6 p.m. Monday after spending a little more than 24 hours under a doctor's care. Spears was spotted carrying her son into a waiting SUV, which immediately took them back to her mother's Kentwood home. "Jayden is fine," read a statement on Spears' official website. Mother and son were photographed Tuesday visiting a nearby alligator farm.

 

DESPERATE DUDE METCALFE SURVIVES HORRIFIC FALL [E! Online, 11/12/08]

Here's a cliffhanger Jesse Metcalfe could've done without. Desperate Housewives' sexy gardener is recuperating in a hospital after surviving a 40-foot fall while partying in Monaco. According to British reports, Metcalfe was attending an afterparty for the World Music Awards in Monaco Sunday night, November 9 when he lost his balance and tumbled from a hotel balcony down several flights of stairs. The 29-year-old actor was knocked unconscious, and emergency responders immediately transported him to a French hospital. A precautionary MRI scan came up negative, and Metcalfe was given the all-clear to fly to England, where he remains hospitalized for additional tests and observation. "He is a very, very lucky man. The accident could have been fatal," a rep for Metcalfe is quoted in London's Sun newspaper.  "I have just come from the hospital and he is bearing up OK. He has not broken anything but can barely walk as he hasn't got much movement in his legs." Metcalfe is expected to be released as early as tonight or tomorrow. Metcalfe, who played John Rowland, the erstwhile lover of Eva Longoria Parker's Gabrielle on the hit ABC series, was attending a bash at the Riviera hot spot Jimmy'z after hosting the World Music Awards at Monte Carlo's Sporting Club earlier that evening. "We are going to speak to the organizers of the World Music Awards as the pathway was very dangerous and we heard someone else tripped up as well," Metcalfe's rep continued. "It is an issue that needs to be addressed." This the second near-death experience to befall a Desperate Housewives cast member in less than a month. Gale Harold, who plays Jackson, the love interest of Teri Hatcher's character, was hospitalized in critical condition following a terrifying motorcycle crash in Los Angeles three weeks ago. But he, too, is expected to make a full recovery.

 

LISA LOEB TO LAUNCH GLASSES LINE [Aceshowbiz, 11/12/08]

Singer Lisa Loeb gives her love for glasses a whole new meaning with a plan to launch her own line of eye wear. The line, which has yet to be named, is set to be released on the market in March next year. "I love glasses, I needed a new pair and people always ask me where I get my glasses," Lisa revealed to OK! magazine on what prompted her to create the glasses line while she was attending the Juicy Couture 5th Ave Flagship Store Opening back on November 6. "So I decided to create a line to share the love of being able to see. We've been working on it for the last six months and it will be in boutiques around the country." Sharing some tips for choosing the right glasses, Lisa said that she personally thinks "wearing glasses that are comfortable that don't wear me" makes her look stylish and smart. "I've tried glasses that are too artsy or not enough. I like glasses that emphasize parts of my face that I like," she confessed. Lisa furthermore expressed her willingness to also create a line of sunglasses should her glasses collection is well received on the market. She hasn't detailed on that just yet.

 

SASHA AND MALIA OBAMA INVITED TO GUEST STAR ON "HANNAH MONTANA" [Aceshowbiz, 11/11/08]

Barack Obama's victory as the first African American elected president may affect other members in his family to get a television appearance. It has been reported that Obama's daughters, Sasha Obama, 10, and Malia Obama, 7, have been invited to have their starring debut on TV series "Hannah Montana". The possibility of America's future first daughters' appearances is firstly told by Billy Ray Cyrus, Miley Cyrus' father, to Access Hollywood on Monday, November 10. He said, "They probably will. The invitation is there." Billy Ray hints further that the girls' appearance may be set up for April's episode. He said, "The 'Hannah Montana' film comes out in April. Maybe something might happen around then. Maybe not. I don't know, I have got to keep a secret." However, Billy Ray does not give any detailed statement about Obama's daughters' role on the sitcom. "Hannah Montana" star, Miley, also gives her statement towards Sasha and Malia's cameo on her Disney's sitcom series. She said, "I think that would be really cool and if anything, have them visit the set. They could see what we do and we could hear about what they do." Meanwhile, the President-elect Obama, who shields the girls from the media, has not given any statement so far regarding the invitation for her daughters' appearance on "Hannah Montana". But he once said that Malia is a big fan of the sitcom.

 

TIM McGRAW TO HOST HIS FIRST 'SNL" [Aceshowbiz, 11/11/08]

It has been set that Tim McGraw will host "Saturday Night Live" on November 22, 2008. With the stint, he becomes one of the few country stars who have ever hosted the show apart from Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks and Johnny Cash. The news came straight from McGraw's spokesperson Jesse Schmidt who said that the singer will stick to the hosting duties and occasional sketch, but not performing. The musical guest on the episode will be Ludacris and T-Pain. "I'm looking forward to hosting the show," Tim said. "I'm not exactly known for my comedy, but then again, if you've been to one of my shows, you might feel differently." This would be the first time for McGraw to appear on the show.

 

MICHELLE WILLIAMS' FATHER TO BE EXTRADITED TO U.S. [AP, 11/11/08]

Michelle Williams' father, a prominent stock market trader, agreed Tuesday, November 11 to return to the United States to face tax evasion charges. Larry Williams has been fighting extradition since he was arrested by Australian police in 2006 after flying to Sydney for a speaking tour in Australia and New Zealand. He has been free on bail. The U.S. Internal Revenue Service wants to question the 65-year-old Virgin Islands resident about a possible $1.5 million in unpaid taxes from book royalties and earnings related to international seminars he conducted between 1990 and 2001. Sydney's The Daily Telegraph newspaper reported that Williams will leave for Los Angeles on Wednesday. "I will fight this and win," Williams said before sheriffs escorted him from court. "I will be back — I have a lot of friends here in Australia." Michelle Williams received an Oscar nomination as best supporting actress for her performance in the 2005 film "Brokeback Mountain," playing the wife of Heath Ledger's character. Ledger, who died from an accidental prescription drug overdose in January, is the father of her 3-year-old daughter Matilda Rose, Larry Williams' granddaughter.

 

MILEY CYRUS AND ZAC EFRON AMONG PEOPLE'S CHOICE FAVOURITE STAR UNDER 35 [AP, 11/11/08]

Nominations for the yearly People's Choice Awards have been unveiled and young stars, like Miley Cyrus and Zac Efron, are counted among many of the award's contenders. Both Disney stars will compete for a new award category, Favorite Star Under 35, which is presented to mark the award show's 35th anniversary and People magazine's 35th year in existence. Totally, there are 32 names listed in the new award category. Some other famous celebs who also make the list include Taylor Swift, Shia LaBeouf, Rihanna, Usher, Angelica Jolie, Kanye West, Beyonce, Chace Crawford, Blake Lively, Eva Mendes, and Daniel Radcliffe just to name a few. Awards winners are decided through fans voting which is underway at People's Choice Awards' official site. Balloting will continue until December 7 later this year. The event itself will be aired live on CBS from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on January 7 next year. Rapper-actress Queen Latifah has been billed to serve as host. The full list of nominees for the just announced category, Favorite Star 35 & Under, are available online.

 

FAN INTERVIEWS ROBERT PATTINSON OF "TWILIGHT" [Aceshowbiz, 11/11/08]

MTV News recruited 19-year-old Laura Culpepper, whom it claims as "Twilight" superfan, to interview its main cast Robert Pattinson and to ask him several random questions, like his favorite color and singer just to name some. The several questions given, indeed, demand spontaneous answers from the movie hunk. When Laura asks him, "If you could collaborate with any musician, dead or alive, who would it be?" Robert says, "James Brown" without mentioning the reason. After that she asked about the superhero power he would like to possess in real life, he tells Laura, "Flying, obviously. Everybody wants to fly. Flying is the best." Coming to the next topic, which is about his favorite color, Robert admits, "I don't know" before then quickly adding, "Gray, maybe?" Laura, moreover, also asks Robert to address on his co-stars Nikki Reed and Kellan Lutz's claim that he runs like a "mountain goat." To that the actor responses, "A mountain goat? I would have said that I run more like a cheese string." He jokingly continues, "What does a mountain goat run like? That is much more athletic than the way I run. I run like a person who has just had their limbs sewn together. I'm not even like a human." Laura also asks Robert other questions concerning him singing the soundtrack of "Twilight" and if he has any new movie projects in the pipeline.

 

CONFUSION AT "DALLAS" REUNION RANKLES FANS [Aceshowbiz, 11/11/08]

Who saw J.R.? A weekend event organized to celebrate the 30th anniversary of "Dallas" has created a drama worthy of the Ewing family itself after angry fans complained they didn't get the access to cast members they'd ponied up for — while others got close to the stars without paying for the privilege. It happened in part because hundreds more people than expected showed up for Saturday night's barbecue and cast reunion at the famed Southfork Ranch. The event's organizers are blaming Southfork for allowing gatecrashers; a ranch official places the blame on the organizers. "It was a huge letdown — totally not worth it. I do feel like I got really ripped off," Elizabeth Knight, who paid $400 in anticipation of getting access to the cast, told Dallas-Fort Worth television station WFAA. "It was a disaster. It was total chaos," Mickey James, who paid $500 in anticipation of getting to mingle with the cast, told The Associated Press. "We couldn't even get close to the stage." "I'm angry," the 50-year-old Irving man said. "It was like a slap in the face." Fans had paid anywhere from $100 to $1,000 for tickets, with those who paid higher prices to gain greater access to Larry Hagman, Linda Gray, Patrick Duffy and others. Jason Hardison, the event's executive producer, said instead of the 2,000 people expected, 4,000 showed up to celebrate one of the most popular prime-time soap operas in TV history. 

 

BRITNEY SPEARS SON RELEASED FROM HOSPITAL [Reuters, 11/11/08]

Pop star Britney Spears' 2-year-old son, who was hospitalized over the weekend after he had a reaction to something he ate, has been released from a Mississippi medical facility, according to a report on Monday on celebrity website TMZ.com. Earlier in the day, Spears' family posted a statement on her official website, www.britneyspears.com, saying Jayden James was admitted to the hospital on Sunday, November 9 and "doctors concluded he had a reaction to something he ingested." The statement said the boy would be discharged on Tuesday, but TMZ posted a picture of Spears departing the hospital while holding the child on Monday evening. People magazine, quoting a source close to the family, said that Jayden had suffered "a terrible allergic reaction. He had hives, was itchy and irritable." The source told the celebrity magazine that Jayden "is doing fine" and Spears, 26, and her mother, Lynne, spent Sunday night at the hospital with him. The trip by Spears to Louisiana, her childhood home, was the first time she had been allowed to leave California with sons Sean Preston, 3, and Jayden since their father Kevin Federline was given full custody in July.

 

PAPERS TO PAY DAMAGES TO MILLER [BBC, 11/11/08]

Actress Sienna Miller has been awarded £35,000 in damages from two tabloid newspapers over claims they breached her privacy. The Layer Cake star had sued the Sun and News of the World over a series of "intrusive articles and photos" published in June and July. Ms Miller's solicitor Mark Thomson said the out-of-court settlement had been approved by a High Court official. The newspapers admitted they had been at fault. Mr. Thomson said Tom Crone, the senior lawyer for News Group Newspapers, had sent a letter to Ms Miller. The letter read: "I refer to your legal claim against News Group Newspapers, the publishers of the Sun and the News of the World, that was issued in July of this year. "We have now had an opportunity to look into this matter. "We acknowledge that, on the specific facts and circumstances of this case, you had a reasonable expectation of privacy in respect of the information and the photographs that we published in the Sun and the News of the World. "We also accept that we should not have published such information or such photographs." Mr. Thomson said Ms Miller was still pursuing various claims against photo agency Big Pictures. In September, the star accepted £15,000 damages in an out-of-court settlement against the Daily Star over a paparazzi photo.

 

MILEY CYRUS HATES SHARING BATHROOM WITH MEN [Aceshowbiz, 11/11/08]

Miley Cyrus reveals another bad experience beside cleaning the toilets when she was still 11 and having her wig burned, telling Top Of The Pops magazine she can't stand sharing the bathroom with men because they are untidy. "I'm never getting married because I can't take sharing a bathroom!" the publication quotes her as saying. Miley goes on telling her story, "There were five of us on the tour bus recently and we all shared one bathroom. I shared it with three boys, included my dad. It was horrible. I'd have all my make-up out and someone would put their toothbrush on top of it - that's disgusting!" Worse, "my brother used my toothbrush to comb his eyebrows one day. I was like, 'This is getting seriously ridiculous. I'm getting my own bus because I can't handle this!'" she adds. Switching the topic into her date life, Miley admits her popularity even scares guys who want to get close to her because it makes them feeling intimidated. On that matter she complains, "I never got asked out - ever. I am just going to say it's down to the boys being intimidated, because I don't know what the problem is."

 

PEACHES GELDOF 'NOT DIVORCING' [BBC, 11/10/08]

Peaches Geldof has denied wanting to divorce singer Max Drummey just three months after they got married, but has admitted they are having problems. The News of the World reported that she told friends the marriage was over and was starting divorce proceedings. But her spokesman said: "Like most couples, Peaches and Max have their ups and downs, and things might be said in the heat of the moment. "But they are still together and they are not divorcing." Peaches, 19, the daughter of Bob Geldof and Paula Yates, is a TV presenter and DJ. Drummey is the frontman of indie band Chester French and a Harvard anthropology graduate. When they got married in Las Vegas in August, a statement said the marriage had the "full support of their family". Bob Geldof was told of the wedding shortly before it took place and gave the union his blessing despite not being able to walk his daughter down the aisle, it added. Chester French's new single She Loves Everybody is released in the U.S on Tuesday. They recently postponed U.S and U.K tour dates because Drummey was suffering unspecified "personal health issues".

 

BEYONCE WANTS TO BE "WONDER WOMAN" [BBC, 11/10/08]

Pop star Beyonce has said she wants to play Wonder Woman in a film of the comic book heroine. The singer has met DC Comics and film studio Warner Bros to express her interest in future superhero roles on the big screen. "I want to do a superhero movie and what would be better than Wonder Woman?" she told the Los Angeles Times. "And it would be a very bold choice. A black Wonder Woman would be a powerful thing. It's time for that, right?" Wonder Woman, played by Lynda Carter on TV in the 1970s, has never been made into a feature film. Beyonce was nominated for a Golden Globe for her role in Dreamgirls two years ago, and has also had film parts in Austin Powers in Goldmember and The Pink Panther. She will soon be seen playing singer Etta James on the big screen in Cadillac Records, and has a major role in the thriller Obsessed. "After doing these roles that were so emotional I was thinking to myself: 'OK, I need to be a superhero,'" Beyonce said. 

 

KERRY KATONA REVEALS HER BATTLE WITH ALCOHOLIC [BBC, 11/10/08]

Singer Kerry Katona has admitted for the first time she is an alcoholic, according to a newspaper interview. "Four years ago I was diagnosed as an alcoholic after a stay in The Priory clinic," she told The People. "This is not common knowledge as I've never admitted it before," the former Atomic Kitten singer said. "Along with my bi-polar disorder this is an ongoing battle I will face for the rest of my life." But she stressed her addiction was "under control". "Yes, I still have a drink when I want to, like any other 28-year-old woman," she told the paper. "Some people think that an alcoholic is someone who drinks all the time but in fact it can be someone who drinks twice a month and gets hammered. "During my worst drinking bouts I'd easily knock back 10 to 15 shots of vodka or peach schnapps. "I can get through days without having a drink but it's hard. I can never promise myself or my family that I can beat this addiction but I'll try bloody hard." She recently raised concerns with a slurred interview on TV show This Morning.  Her husband Mark told the paper her performance was not related to alcohol, but prescription medication she took for her bi-polar disorder. "She is down as an alcoholic on her medical documents," he said. "Her favourite drink was always vodka - vodka shots especially. It's on there." But she had not relapsed recently and only drank "about twice a month, if that", he added. Katona has also spent time in rehab to tackle drug addiction. Her former publicist and friend Max Clifford said: "I have known that Kerry had this problem for a long time and the fact that she has now come out and admitted it is a step in the right direction. "She has tried to hide it for some time now. I'm really pleased that she has done this. "Hopefully she will get the help, support and the treatment that she needs so she can pull herself back from the brink of disaster. "I hope that Mark gives her the help, care and support that she so desperately needs." Katona was in Atomic Kitten from 1999-2001 and won ITV1's I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! in 2004. She is currently the face of the Iceland supermarket's TV adverts and stars in an MTV reality show, Crazy In Love.

 

OUTSPOKEN PRIEST, NOVELIST ANDREW GREELEY INJURED [AP, 11/9/08]

The Rev. Andrew Greeley is in critical condition at a Chicago-area hospital after falling and fracturing his skull. The Chicago Sun-Times reported Saturday, November 8 that the 80-year-old Catholic priest and best-selling novelist is stable at a hospital in Park Ridge. Greeley's family says he snagged his jacket in the door of a taxicab Friday afternoon and fell. Friends say he suffered bleeding on the brain. Greeley has written more than 50 novels, many of them international mystery thrillers. He writes a column for the Sun-Times that explores the relationship between religion and politics.

 

EAGLE EYE'S MICHELLE MONAGHAN HATCHES [E! Online, 11/9/08]

Michelle Monaghan's next mission impossible: surviving an ankle biter. The star of such films as Mission: Impossible III, Eagle Eye and Made of Honor is a first-time mommy after giving birth to a baby girl Wednesday, November 5 in Los Angeles. "They're doing great," publicist Jennifer Allen tells E! News. Monaghan and husband Peter White named their daughter Willow Katherine White. No further details were disclosed. Monaghan, 32, met White, a native Australian and graphic designer, at a party eight years ago and they married in 2005. She revealed she was preggers in June.

 

NO JUICE IN SIMPSON RETRIAL [E! Online, 11/9/08]

O.J.'s last squeeze came up empty. A Nevada judge denied O.J. Simpson's bid for a new trial on Friday, November 7, saying his lawyers' arguments weren't strong enough for a new hearing. The Heisman winner and his co-defendant Clarence "C.J." Stewart were convicted in October for robbing two sports memorabilia collectors at gunpoint in a Las Vegas hotel room. Clark County District Judge Jackie Glass also denied requests to release them on bail before their Dec. 5 sentencing. The two face mandatory prison time and could spend the rest of their lives in jail.

 

THE PUSSYCAT DOLLS STRIPS OFF TO "SSSH" LA SENZA LINGERIE LINE [Aceshowbiz, 11/9/08]

All the girls in The Pussycat Dolls strip off to Robin Antin's new lingerie line for famous brand La Senza. Nicole Scherzinger, Jessica Sutta, Kimberly Wyatt, Ashley Roberts, and Melody Thornton have all been photographed modeling "Shhh... By Robin Antin," a collection which is inspired by the fivesome's burlesque-style wardrobe. Serving as the lead vocalist for the all-girl group, Nicole takes center stage in the ad shot with fellow bandmates Jessica and Kimberly on her right side while Ashley and Melody on her left side. She wears black-and-pink-combination bra and knickers that exposes her toned stomach, paired with black tights and knee-high boots. Jessica, Kimberly, Ashley and Melody, meanwhile, model the other "Shhh... By Robin Antin" bras, knickers and corsets that also show off their toned physiques. The lingerie advertisement that the girls do for La Senza's "Shhh... By Robin Antin" is the latest promo after the previous one they did to boast the sales of Antin's Victoria Secrets lingerie collection in March 2008. Aside from their modeling gig, the Pussycat Dolls already had their second studio album "Doll Domination" released in the U.S. on September 23 this year. The record sold 79,000 copies in its first week and has been certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA).

 

DAVID DUCHOVNY AND TEA LEONI WORKING ON A RECONCILIATION [Aceshowbiz, 11/9/08]

Less than a month after announcing their separation, David Duchovny and Tea Leoni have sparked speculation that they are working on a reconciliation after they were seen celebrating Halloween together in New York. The New York Post which broke the report, quoted a source as informing the estranged married couple looked pretty "mellow and relaxed" during an outing around the Upper East Side on Friday night, October 31 with their kids; Kyd Miller Duchovny and Madelaine West Duchovny. "They were very cute and were holding hands," the source testified. David and Tea have been married since the year of 1997 when they, through their representatives, publicly confirmed last month that they're divorcing and hoping to keep their separation "private for the sake of their children." The announcement was made in the wake of the actor's release from rehab following a stint for sex addiction. There have yet words from either David or Tea concerning speculation that they are back on, but a source close to the pair has ensured, "there is still a lot of love there."

 

JESSICA SIMPSON SAYS NICK LACHEY WILL ALWAYS BE PART OF HER LIFE [Aceshowbiz, 11/9/08]

In an interview with Cosmopolitan magazine for its December 2008 issue, Jessica Simpson claims her former husband Nick Lachey will always be a part of her life despite their failed marriage. Though so, she does admit that he isn't the one for her that's why she's "marrying the right one" next time. Jessica and Nick married in October 2002, but divorced in June 2006. They have no children. Following their separation, he then began dating his current girlfriend, MTV VJ Vanessa Minnillo. Jessica, meanwhile, is dating football quarterback Tony Romo after being romantically involved with a number of men. Speaking about her romance with Tony, Jessica tells Cosmopolitan, "I'd always fall for guys I wanted to save. For the first time, I fell in love with someone who saved me." She, furthermore, says she wouldn't rule out marrying the Dallas Cowboys quarterback, whom she began dating last year. "I think any person who I'm gonna date for longer than six months, I definitely am investing in something long-term. If I get married again, then it will be the last time," Jessica reveals. The December issue of Cosmopolitan, which features Jessica on its cover, will hit the newsstands next Tuesday, November 11, 2008.

 

RYAN GOSLING AND RACHEL McADAMS SPLIT UP, AGAIN [Aceshowbiz, 11/9/08]

The on-off romance of Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams is off again. The celebrity couple reportedly breaks up after just a few months reconciling their broken love relationship. Ryan and Rachel were co-stars in the 2004 drama flick "The Notebook". Playing on-screen lovers in the big screen movie, they quickly embarked on an off-screen romance. Unfortunately, the two split back in 2007, giving no single clue on why they decided to go separate ways. In late July 2008, rumours were mounting that they rekindled their romance after Rachel was seen attending Ryan's DJ debut at Green Door lounge in Hollywood and having a chit chat with him while he was away from the deejay stand. Amidst speculation on that matter, the stars were photographed getting up close and personal during a breakfast near the actress' home in Toronto, Canada on August 21, 2008. Their public display of affection, thus, confirmed the mounting rumours that they have gotten back together. Concerning their latest separation, a source tells US Weekly, "Rachel is too controlling. They broke up the first time because of their busy schedules - and that's the problem again." While there have yet words from either parties, Ryan is reported to have been seen with another woman a few weeks ago at the UCB theater in N.Y.C.

 

ACTRESS JAIME PRESSLY ENDS ENGAGEMENT WITH DJ ERIC CUBICHE [Aceshowbiz, 11/9/08]

Jaime Pressly and her DJ fiance Eric Cubiche are no longer together. The actress confirms their separation to Access Hollywood's Nancy O'Dell. "We are taking a break from our relationship but we are together everyday with Dezi and still love each other very much," Jaime tells Nancy about her and Eric's broken engagement, and their son. "As you know we have been friends for over 10 years and will remain close friends as we both adore our son and want to make sure he knows we both love him more than life." Jaime, 31, and Eric, 33, were friends for more than nine years before they then began dating. They had been together for a year and a half when he proposed to her in October 2006. Jaime gave birth to Eric's son, named Dezi James Calvo, in May 2007. Professionally, Jaime currently stars as Joy Turner in NBC's sitcom "My Name Is Earl". She, additionally, has also signed on to star in DreamWorks Pictures' comedy movie "I Love You, Man". 

 

BRITNEY AND HER BOYS LOUISIANA-BOUND [E! Online, 11/8/08]

Fresh from performing with Madonna, Britney Spears plans on kickin' it in Kentwood for a while. E! News has confirmed that the Circus performer, her two little boys and her ever-present pop Jamie hopped a flight to Louisiana Friday morning, November 7 to get a jump on a little holiday-season togetherness with the rest of the Spears clan, in what Brit's camp has recently referred to as her hometown of choice. And not only will Britney be reunited with little sis Jamie Lynn and niece Maddie, but this is the first time she's been allowed to leave California with her brood in tow since Kevin Federline was awarded full custody of 3-year-old Sean Preston and 2-year-old Jayden James. A source tells E! that Britney was "tearful"—in a good way!—when she got the OK to travel with her sons. The group took off from Van Nuys Airport in a private plane, according to OK! magazine, which first reported the cross-country venture. While the number of passengers may have been up in the air until recently, this trip has been months in the making. One family insider said in June that Britney was hoping to get all the Spears spawn together as soon as the court would allow it.

 

LIONEL RICHIE RECRUITS R&B, RAP STARS FOR ALBUM [Reuters/Billboard, 11/8/08]

Soul icon Lionel Richie has recruited R&B singer Akon and rapper Ne-Yo for his upcoming studio album. "Just Go" is due out on February 17 via Island. The first single, "Good Morning," has just been sent to urban adult-contemporary radio stations. Both Akon and Ne-Yo share writing credits with Richie on the follow-up to 2006's "Coming Home," which has sold 444,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Richie will perform Wednesday on ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" and December 31 on Dick Clark's "New Year's Rockin' Eve." A world tour begins March 13, 2009 in Dublin.

 

PRINCE ORDERED TO PAY PENANCE [E! Online, 11/8/08]

"Diamonds and Pearls" won't do this time. Instead, Prince has been ordered to pay $57,600 to a video editor who sued the Purple One last year for supposedly ducking out on a bill and breaking his equipment. Plaintiff Ian Lewis had asked for $1.2 million, but a judge denied his claim for $1 million in punitive damages, ruling that there was no evidence that Prince acted maliciously or fraudulently, as well as Lewis' request for $142,000 for unreturned equipment and a computer that supposedly came back broken. Lewis did not provide any receipts to prove the cost of the allegedly damaged goods, said L.A. Superior Court Judge Gregory W. Alarcon on Wednesday, November 5. The $57,600 that Prince does have to pony up is for unpaid bills and unreturned hard drives, according to court documents. Which is actually pretty good, considering the Musicology artist's attorneys recently withdrew from the case for unspecified reasons.

 

BRITNEY, JUSTIN PERFORMED SEPARATELY AT MADONNA SHOW [AP, 11/8/08]

Britney and Justin still share one bond: Madonna. In separate appearances, Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake performed Thursday night, November 6 during Madonna's show at Dodger Stadium. The former pop power couple did not take the stage together, and it wasn't clear if they'd crossed paths. Rumours of the guest appearances swirled Thursday, making it a can't-miss event for some of Hollywood's biggest stars: Elizabeth Banks, Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Lopez and Lucy Lui were among those in the first few rows. Madonna took a moment from her turn onstage to lament the passage of a gay-marriage ban in California. "I am the luckiest girl in the world," Madonna said, "but am sad because African-Americans are equal finally, but gay marriage is not."

 

HOLLYWOOD JOINS THE FUROR OVER GAY MARRIAGE [AP, 11/8/08]

Thousands of protesters are angry about California's ban on gay marriage — and so are the stars. Many celebrities grieved the passing of Proposition 8 in California this week. Some — such as Wanda Sykes, Rose McGowen and Lance Bass — attended a Wednesday November 5 protest criticizing the state's gay marriage ban. Others — like Ellen DeGeneres, Rosie O'Donnell, Samantha Ronson and Melissa Etheridge — vented their frustrations online, on TV, and onstage. Blocks away from the Thursday rally of more than 2,000 gay-rights advocates outside the gates of a Mormon temple, several stars — including James Cromwell, Patricia Clarkson, Anjelica Huston and Sean Penn — said they supported the protesters while walking the red carpet at the BAFTA L.A. Brittania Awards at Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel. "I think it might be an idea to go out and join them shortly," Penn said. "It was a shameful decision that was made."

 

TED ROGERS HEALTH STABILIZES [CBC, 11/7/08]

The health of Rogers Communications Inc. founder and chief executive Ted Rogers has stabilized after he received hospital treatment for an existing heart condition, the company said Thursday, November 7. Rogers, 75, was admitted to hospital last Friday and temporarily handed over the reins of the cable and telecom company to chair Alan Horn. "I am grateful for the quality of care I am receiving at the Toronto General Hospital, a world-class facility," Ted Rogers said in a brief statement Thursday. The company did not say when he would return to work. Rogers's health raised questions about who would be appointed to replace him if he retires or is unable to return to work. Earlier this week, analysts had tapped his children Edward and Melinda as potential successors. Edward Rogers is currently CEO of the company's cable operations. Melinda Rogers is senior vice-president of strategy and development. As well, Nadir Mohamed, the company's highly regarded chief operating officer, was named as a potential prospect. Rogers Communications owns Canada's biggest wireless company, as well as one of the country's largest cable companies, and Major League Baseball's Toronto Blue Jays and the Rogers Centre where they play. It also owns more than 50 radio stations, several television stations, and 70 magazines and trade journals.

 

BRITNEY SPEARS AND JUSTIN TO REUNITE ON MADONNA'S SHOW [Aceshowbiz, 11/7/08]

Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake will be performing onstage on Madonna's "Sticky & Sweet" tour. Breaking the big news to public is "American Idol"'s host, Ryan Seacrest on 102.7 KIIS-FM. The two singers, used to be a couple, will make a live appearance on Thursday night, November 6 at Los Angeles' Dodger Stadium. "If Justin and Britney end up on that stage with her...I don't know if I've ever seen anything quite like that before," Ryan told DJ Boy Toy Jesse. Not sure if this reunion actually took place.

 

BILLY RAY CYRUS DOESN'T APPROVE OF MILEY CYRUS' DREAM CAR [Aceshowbiz, 11/7/08]

Celebrity father-daughter duo Billy Ray Cyrus and Miley Cyrus definitely have different tastes when it comes to car as the older Cyrus reportedly doesn't approve of his daughter's dream car. Instead of getting her a black Mercedes, which she's been dreaming of for her forthcoming 16th birthday, he would like to get her a car with "extra metal in the doors". In an interview on "The Tyra Banks Show", which airs Friday, November 7, Miley publicly stated, "I want [my Mercedes] black and then just the little Mercedes signs to be pink. And I would like the stitching and steering wheel to be pink." Asked about that matter by Ryan Seacrest during a phone-in for his morning show on KIIS FM, Billy claimed he knows nothing about Miley's dream car. "Is it true that your daughter wants this Mercedes with leather seats, pink stitching and pink steering and if so do you approve of that?" Ryan asked Billy. On that, the country music singer replied, "No I haven't heard anything about that. It is possible ... but I haven't heard about it." Ryan continued pressing Billy by asking, "Would you approve something like that? I mean, I know she has earned enough money to do it but just think about the principle. Would you approve that?". Billy quickly replied, "No probably not. I just want her to have something that she is real safe in. I want something with a little extra metal in the doors, you know, and I just want to make sure that she wears her seat belt." Though so, Billy didn't detail on what kind of car he will get Miley for her 16th birthday on November 23. Meanwhile, no record reported just yet if Miley knows about Billy's disapproval of her dream car.

 

TYRA AND ASHTON LAUNCH "TRUE BEAUTY" [Aceshowbiz, 11/7/08]

Supermodel and American television personality, Tyra Banks, will have another reality show on television sooner, entitled "True Beauty". Banks does her first collaboration with Ashton Kutcher to make a 'beauty pageant' competition show which is confirmed to air in January 2009. Banks, "America's Next Top Model" creator, has made "True Beauty" as a brand new reality show that differs with many other shows, regarding its theme of viewing the inner beauty from a group of people. ABC as the network which broadcast the show gives a statement, read "a beauty pageant unlike any you've ever seen." Every week, the show will revolve around the life of six women and four men who are being placed in the same mansion in Los Angeles and face challenges. The judges panel which consists of celebrities will then find out who has the biggest inner beauty. The show will air regularly at 10 P.M. for 60-minute timeslot every Mondays.

 

LINDA HOGAN: HULK'S AFFAIR KILLED OUR MARRIAGE [E! Online, 11/7/08]

A new headache for the Hulkster. Hulk Hogan's soon-to-be ex-wife, Linda Hogan, has dropped a bombshell in the ever-acrimonious split, announcing she pulled the plug on their 24-year union because the former wrestler had an affair with their daughter's former BFF. "When Linda discovered Hulk had the last of many affairs with Brooke's best friend, Christiane Plante, she made the decision to call it quits on the marriage," Linda's new publicist, Gary Smith, says in a statement to E! News. A rep for the 55-year-old grappler, whose real name is Terry Bollea, declined to comment. "Hulk Hogan is saying anything he can conjure up to make Linda look bad in the media. Hulk has even implied that the VH1 hit show, Hogan Knows Best, was the cause of split in his marriage," Smith continues. "Almost every statement that comes out of Hulk's mouth is a diversionary tactic to deflect attention away from the real reason Linda filed for divorce, two words: Hulk's Cheating!" The broadside reflects an increased vitriol in their estrangement and is a marked departure from legal documents Linda filed in January, which blamed Hulk's "legal shenanigans" and "suspicious behavior" for triggering her filing for divorce a year ago. The 33-year-old Plante, who worked with Brooke on her 2006 album, had been spotted on numerous occasions on the arm of Hulk Hogan. Earlier this year, she told the National Enquirer that the Hogans marriage was basically over and that she was just helping raise his, er, spirits. Linda Hogan, meanwhile, has been getting in touch with her inner cougar, spending quality time with 19-year-old Charlie Hill, who went to the same high school as she and Hulk's children. She has also just hired Hill his very own flack. "That's what a publicist is for," says Smith. "Charlie is now in the public eye and he needs a rep just like every other public person, nothing wrong with that."

 

LINDSAY LOHAN REPLACED BY DENISE RICHARDS AS HOST OF WORLD MUSIC AWARDS [Aceshowbiz, 11/7/08]

"Wild Things" star Denise Richards will reportedly take hosting job at 2008 World Music Awards, replacing Lindsay Lohan. No specific reason has been made concerning the reason of choosing Richards over Lohan. Previously, Lohan was reportedly axed as the event's host after she got furious when the event's organizers asked "Desperate Housewives" hunk Jesse Metcalfe to appear as a co-host with her. "Lindsay was furious that she wasn't the star," a source told The Daily Mirror. "The organizers had gone through a list of who was hot at the moment and returned to Lindsay again. But the feedback they got was really negative. They got worried and decided to change it," the source explained further. "In the end it was decided by both parties it was better if she pulled out." The ceremony of the annual awards itself will be held in Monaco on November 9. The show will honor the most popular artists with the longest track record of success in the music industry.

 

MOS DEF WANTED FOR SHUTTERBUG SMACKDOWN [E! Online, 11/7/08]

Mos Def probably wishes he could Be Kind and Rewind right about now. That's because Las Vegas police have issued a warrant for the actor-rapper's arrest after he allegedly mistook a staff photographer at a Sin City fashion event for a pestering paparazzo and opened up a can o' whoopass on him. A spokesman for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department tells E! News that Mos Def is specifically wanted on charges of felony robbery and malicious destruction of private property. The warrant, issued under the 34-year-old entertainer's real name, Dante Terrell Smith, accuses him of getting violent toward Volker Corell, who was credentialed to snap photos for the Men's Apparel and Garment Industry Convention (MAGIC) last August. Mos Def confronted the photog, per an incident report, when the latter tried to take a picture. The rapper allegedy snatched Corell's $300 Nikon camera and smashed it on the ground. The former Black Star MC then absconded with the broken camera, which was later retrieved by security. At the time of the incident, Corell wasn't sure he wanted to file charges but has since decided to go forward with the case. He filed a complaint with authorities and claims he suffered a cut to his left hand as a result of the encounter. "Because [Smith] is not here in Vegas, a warrant was issued for his arrest once the D.A. approved the charges," says the police spokesman. "The warrant was just issued yesterday, so now we have the opportunity to attempt to make contact with Smith and give him the opportunity to self-surrender to authorities." MAGIC is an annual fashion trade show that highlights the latest trends and usually attracts a number of high-profile stars from the hip-hop community who own their own clothing lines. A rep for Mos Def could not be reached for comment. Apart from a Las Vegas courthouse, fans can catch him on the big screen as rock 'n' roll legend Chuck Berry in the biopic Cadillac Records, unspooling Dec. 5, 2008, while his fourth solo album, The Ecstatic, is due Feb. 9, 2009.

 

KATY PERRY BOOKED FOR NBC's NEW YEAR'S EVE EVENT [Aceshowbiz, 11/7/08]

"I Kissed a Girl" singer Katy Perry has been announced as one of the performers at NBC's special event with Carson Daly in celebration of new year's eve. Other musicians expected to perform are 50 Cent and Ludacris. The show will be kicked off in Time Square on new year's eve beginning at 10 P.M. Speaking of the upcoming show, Daly said, "The network gave us a huge vote of confidence by asking us to expand into primetime. We've got great music with 50 Cent, Katy Perry, Ludacris. It's gonna be a huge show, bigger than the Beijing Olympics and if it's not, I apologize." 

 

"GIRLS NEXT DOOR" CO-STAR ENGAGED TO AN EAGLE [E! Online, 11/7/08]

One of Hugh Hefner's live-in girlfriends is trading the grotto for the gridiron. The Playboy mogul said in a statement Thursday, November 7 that "The Girls Next Door" co-star Kendra Wilkinson is engaged to Philadelphia Eagles receiver Hank Baskett. The 23-year-old model-actress has lived with Hefer since 2004 and currently co-stars as one of his three girlfriends in the E! reality series. "I have given her my blessing and will be giving her away at a very special wedding ceremony at the Playboy Mansion this coming June," Hefner said. The 82-year-old publisher's love life has been in flux. Last month, he and "number one" girlfriend Holly Madison called it quits. Twin 19-year-olds Karissa and Kristina Shannon are currently living with Hefner.

 

AUSTRALIAN FILM MAKERS SPARK POLICE EMERGENCY [Reuters, 11/6/08]

Actors filming a late-night hostage scene sparked a full scale police emergency in Australia's southern city of Melbourne, police said on Thursday, November 6. The emergency started late Wednesday when a distressed witness went to a local police station to report seeing a person pointing a gun at another person at a nearby apartment block. "Police went to the area and saw a man pointing a firearm at the head of another man," the Victoria state police said in a statement Thursday. Police put up road blocks and kept local residents away from the area, while armed police wearing body armor were sent in. It turned out the armed assailant and his victim were making a film, but hadn't notified the police or anyone of their plans. Police found a fake gun, a script and film equipment. Police arrested four men, who face charges of causing a public nuisance.

 

WINEHOUSE HUSBAND FREED FROM JAIL [BBC, 11/6/08]

Singer Amy Winehouse's husband, jailed for an assault on a pub landlord in 2006 and perverting the course of justice, has been released from prison. Blake Fielder-Civil, 26, of Camden, north London, was jailed for 27 months for assaulting James King at the Macbeths pub in Hoxton, east London. He also admitted trying to bribe Mr. King to withdraw his complaint. He is believed to have checked into rehab soon after he was freed from Edmunds Hill Prison in Suffolk. In July Fielder-Civil was jailed by Snaresbrook Crown Court after admitting both charges against him. The nine months he spent in jail on remand was deducted from his sentence. It is believed his time in rehab is a part of the terms of his release. Winehouse was not present when her husband was released from prison.

 

BETTY SPRAYS ON NIKKI BLONSKY [E! Online, 11/5/08]

As you know, Ugly Betty hasn't shied away from guest stars who have hit a few bumps in the road. Nikki Blonsky, in need of a little image rehab since she and her dad tangled with an America's Next Top Model contestant at a Turks and Caicos airport, was busy filming an upcoming guest spot on the ABC comedy Tuesday in New York, E! News has confirmed. This will be the first prime-time TV appearance for the Hairspray star, who turns 20 on Sunday. Blonsky reportedly plays an assistant over at Mode rival Elle magazine who befriends Betty but seems to have ulterior motives. The Long Island native will have to come clean, however, on Dec. 1, when she's due in court to answer to charges of common assault and actual bodily harm for allegedly roughing up ANTM also-ran Bianca Golden July 29 at Turks and Caicos' Providenciales International Airport.

 

will.i.am TO DEBUT NEW VIDEO POST-ELECTION [AP, 11/5/08]

Will.i.am felt so confident about Barack Obama winning the presidency, he's created a new song and video — much like his viral hit "Yes We Can" — to celebrate. "It's A New Day" was to debut Wednesday, November 5 on the Web site dipdive.com. Once again, will.i.am enlisted fellow celebrities, asking them to send him their video testimonials: He spent part of Election Night editing them so he could debut the final product the next morning. "This was inspired by America. It's about Obama winning, and really paying tribute to those people who are responsible for that happening, and that's the American people," the Black Eyed Peas leader said Tuesday, November 4 night. "The whole thing is really for people to leave testimonials ... to create a page and leave testimonials on how they feel about this American accomplishment." Will.i.am was an early backer of Obama's candidacy, and his video "Yes We Can" — which featured celebrities such as Ryan Phillippe, John Legend, Scarlet Johansson and others giving vocalizations to an Obama speech over will.i.am's music — was a viral hit when it debuted in February, getting millions of views online. Will.i.am arrived Tuesday in Chicago, where he expected to spend the evening in Grant Park, the site of Obama's Election Night event. 

 

LOSER TRAINER ACCUSED OF BEATING GIRLFRIEND'S SON [E! Online, 11/4/08]

The Biggest Loser could be taking on a whole new meaning. Personal trainer Anthony Badalamenti, who has helped hefty reality-show contestants shed pounds on the hit NBC series, was arrested Friday, October 31 in New York on suspicion of beating his girlfriend's 6-year-old son with a weight-lifting belt. Nassau County Police Department spokesman Kevin Smith told E! News today that neighbors called 911 at about 9:20 p.m. after hearing what sounded like a young boy crying, "Help, help," coming from the apartment Badalamenti shares with girlfriend Jessica Muniz. When police arrived, the crying had stopped and the lights flickered off, Smith said. No one was answering the door or the phone, so officers eventually had to knock the front door down. "When they entered the apartment, they found the child in his bedroom, crying, with multiple lacerations, contusions and bruises," Smith said. "He was immediately taken to the hospital. Badalamenti, 31, and Muniz, 29, were arrested on suspicion of second-degree assault, possession of a dangerous weapon and endangering the welfare of a child. Police said that two belts were found inside—one measuring 3 inches-wide, with no buckle, while the other had a buckle and was seemingly held together by duct tape. "It looked like it was purely used as a striking instrument," Smith said. Badalamenti and Muniz were both arraigned in First District court in Hempstead, N.Y., and remanded in lieu of $100,000 and $50,000 bail, respectively. Muniz's son was treated for his injuries at a local hospital and released into the care of a relative. Attorneys for Badalamenti and Muniz have not yet responded to requests for comment.

 

WORLD'S TALLEST MAN RIDING HIGH AFTER BECOMING A DAD [AFP, 11/4/08]

A meeting with the world's tallest man -- China's Bao Xishun -- can leave the visitor feeling he has reached the top of the beanstalk and stepped into the giant's castle. The 2.36-metre (7-feet 9-inch) Bao receives guests seated in an enormous tailor-made upholstered chair and will soon move into a new home in this small city near Beijing with giant doorways and even a giant-sized toilet. The black jacket draped over his shoulders is as big as a curtain and the massive hands of the man recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the planet's tallest engulf a proffered handshake. It's all been a recipe for success for the former goatherd, who is riding high after losing, then regaining, his Guinness ranking, recently marrying and becoming a father last month. "I am definitely better off. And I've got a son now so I'm certainly more happy," Bao told AFP in a baritone that seems to rumble from some deep fissure. Bao, 57, was first recognised by the Guinness Book in 2005 as the world's tallest man and his resulting celebrity has brought appearance fees and Guinness-sponsored trips to Europe, Asia and South America. Yet he remains a simple man, preferring to pass his time watching basketball on television and dreaming big dreams for his long-awaited infant son, Tianyou. "I want him to grow up to be a basketball player," said Bao, who played in the People's Liberation Army before his poor mobility put an end to that. Bao spent nearly a lifetime unable to find a willing wife, and captured hearts worldwide with a much-publicized search. That ended in March of last year when he married Xia Shujuan, now 29, who also hails from his home town of Chifeng, Inner Mongolia. Xia, whose own 1.68-metre height reaches just above Bao's waist, has more down-to-earth hopes for Tianyou, who was 56 centimetres at birth, just above normal. "I was happy (Tianyou) was normal-sized. If he grows to just 1.8 or 1.9 metres, that's fine with me," she said. Born of normal-sized parents, Bao was the tallest person in Chifeng by the age of 16, he said. He did not stop growing until he was 22. Despite his recent success, the mellow and polite Bao is melancholy about life as a giant in a conformist society such as China. He would trade it all to walk through a door without ducking. "Of course, I sometimes wish I was normal-sized. Going through doors, getting around in cars, staying in hotels where the beds are always too short, it's all very inconvenient," he said, adding that finding his size 56 shoes has also been a problem. In 2006, Bao lost his Guinness title to Leonid Stadnyk of the Ukraine, who reportedly stands a startling 2.57 metres. However, the Guinness Book does not recognise people whose height stems from a medical condition, and restored Bao this year after Stadnyk refused to be examined. "Before all this, I thought there must be something wrong with me, being so tall. I was worried. But after being certified as the tallest natural-growth person, it definitely eased my mind," Bao said. "And it has its advantages. If I need to change a light bulb, I just reach up and do it," he joked. Bao also made headlines in 2006 when called on to use his long arms to pull trash from the stomachs of two dolphins at a Chinese aquarium. Bao and Xia live temporarily in a tiny apartment in Zunhua, about three hours' drive from Beijing, but his days of ducking beneath doorways will end soon, at least at home. A nearby scenic park is building him a tailor-made home in its grounds in the hope that he will lure more tourists. Nearly completed, the modern house has 2.40-metre-high doorways and soaring windows. The bed platform in the master bedroom is 2.4 metres long and a toilet of Guinness proportions is on the way. "The seat will be about this high," Bao said, holding his hand more than a metre above the floor, during a tour of the house. As an ethnic Mongolian, Bao is exempt from China's one-child policy, and could have one more if he wanted. "One is enough," he insists brusquely, when asked. But Xia is not so sure. "It's still early," Xia said, while fussing over her swaddled baby. "We will decide on that later."

 

SURFERS PLEAD INNOCENT IN McCONAUGHEY PAP FRACAS [E! Online, 11/4/08]

Matthew McConaughey's surfing brethren may have the actor's back, but that doesn't mean they have forgotten how to stand up for themselves. Two wave enthusiasts accused of roughing up a paparazzo whom they felt was crowding McConaughey on a Malibu beach pleaded not guilty Monday, November 3 to misdemeanor battery charges, Malibu Deputy District Attorney Bill Clark tells E! News. Skylar Peak and Philip Hildebrand are accused of shoving shutterbug Richid Altmbareckouhammou and throwing the photog's camera into the ocean on June 21 when he showed up on their patch of sand to snap pics of a board-toting McConaughey. Video of the incident showed more than just Peak and Hildebrand closing in on Altmbareckouhammou, but they were the only ones charged. A pretrial hearing has been set for Jan. 14, 2009.

 

JESSICA SIMPSON'S BFF INJURED BY PAPARAZZI [E! Online, 11/3/08]

He's the hairstylist to the stars, but Ken Paves just took one for the team. E! News has learned that Paves was rushed to the hospital early this morning after being injured by paparazzi while leaving a popular restaurant with Jessica Simpson and her entourage. "There were so many paparazzi waiting for Jessica and trying to get a picture of her that they all started pushing," says an onlooker. "Jessica was ducking down and Ken Paves and her other male friend were trying to cover her and that's when Ken was hit in the face with a camera." The perfectly coiffed group was leaving Madeo restaurant at 12:15 a.m. Sunday morning (November 2) when they were mobbed by waiting paparazzi. Paves' face was cut during the melee. A source tells E! that it seemed like Ken didn't really think much of the blow to the eye at first.  "He seemed shocked at first," says a source. "He said something to the photographer like 'dude, you just hit me' but that's all he really said before getting into the car." Once Jessica was safely in the back seat and Ken was in the front passenger seat, the other male in Jess' entourage went around to the driver seat. Before he got inside, he got into a fight with another paparazzi. "It seemed like Jessica's friend was just really frustrated because the photographers were overstepping their bounds and had just hit Ken in the head," says an onlooker. Once Paves got into the car he probably noticed that the hit to his eye was worse than he originally thought since he was bleeding. "Blood was running down his nose when he was in the car," says a source. "I guess that's when Jess and the driver realized Ken might need to get stitches because they went straight to Cedar Sinai [Medical Center] from the restaurant."

 

ENRIQUE IGLESIAS SKEPTIC ON FUTURE WITH ANNA KOURNIKOVA [Aceshowbiz, 11/3/08]

People have been itching on Enrique Iglesias and Anna Kournikova's love ride, but the former has released a statement that he sees no future in their love relationship. The 33-year old singer revealed that despite their 6 years of togetherness, he is convinced that she will leave him at one point. Marriage and family life for instance, are not imminent agenda for the couple. Enrique said, "Life goes by so fast. My 20s were a blur. I want to enjoy the good moments. They could involve marriage and kids, but not yet. My grandfather had a baby when he was 92. Now there was a man who knew how to live!" "Anna's clock may be ticking but I don't think she's ready for kids either. We talked about it all one day and she said that she wouldn't marry me. And she meant it. She said I'm probably just a guy she wants to date for a few years, then she'll leave me. I'm cool with that. Obviously I'm with her because she's my dream woman. But if she left me tomorrow, what am I going to do? She would have no trouble finding the guy she wants to marry." Enrique is particularly skeptic in any kind of marriage because "people break up all the time. The reality is people get married, think it's going to be forever, then they get divorced." He also said that should he and the tennis player decide to get married one day, it wouldn't be one big celebration. "Even if Anna and I were to have children, I wouldn't think marriage was that important. And even if we did get married, I'd do it in a drive-through in Vegas. But Anna wouldn't marry someone like me, even if I try," he said.

 

SINGER GEORGE WASSOUF HELD ON DRUGS CHARGES [BBC, 11/3/08]

The Syrian-Lebanese singer, George Wassouf, has been arrested in Sweden on suspicion of drug offences, police say. Reports say the singer was found in possession of cocaine when police raided a hotel in Stockholm on Saturday, November 1, shortly before a concert. Police say they are continuing their investigation into the incident, and formal charges have not been pressed. Mr. Wassouf, 46 is a major music star in the Arab World. He has released more than 30 albums since the age of 16.  Thousands of people had bought tickets to see him perform on Saturday evening at a newly opened venue in the Stockholm suburb of Solna. The concert had to be cancelled following his arrest. The Swedish newspaper, Aftonbladet, said Wassouf had been in possession of 30g of cocaine when he was arrested. Police would not comment on the report.

 

RYAN REYNOLDS RACES ACROSS FINISH LINE [E! Online, 11/3/08]

Ryan Reynolds: runaway groom? With new bride Scarlett Johansson cheering him along the way, the Canadian actor completed the New York City Marathon on Sunday November 2 in just under four hours. "I'm still standing. I'm very excited about that," he told reporters at the end. Reynolds, 31, finished 9,646th overall by running the 26.2 miles in three hours, 50 minutes and 22 seconds. The first-time marathoner, who called himself "a running joke," raised money for the Michael J. Fox Foundation. He was inspired by his father's struggle with Parkinson's Disease. "When I saw Michael J. Fox on Fifth Avenue, I gained about 15 pounds in goose bumps. It kind of pushed me through the last six miles or so," said Reynolds. Ryan wasn't the only newlywed to take off running this morning. Beth Ostrosky, who married shockjock Howard Stern on Oct. 3, ran the marathon to raise money for the North Shore Animal League. The new Mrs. Stern completed the race in just over four hours and 15 minutes, finishing 17,740th overall.

 

SIMON COWELL'S GIRLFRIEND GIVES HIM THE BOOT [E! Online, 11/2/08]

American Idol contestants beware: Simon Cowell might be a bit crankier this season. The A.I. judge was recently dumped via phone by his longtime girlfriend, Terri Seymour, his rep confirms to People magazine. "Terri phoned Simon and finished it in September, about six weeks ago," says Max Clifford. "They are going to remain close friends. Simon thinks the world of Terri and that isn't going to change. He also understands her reason for ending it." Seymour, 34, and Cowell, 48, began dating in 2002 after she interviewed him for a television show. According to the U.K.'s Daily Mirror, the former model told friends, "We've split up. It's very sad but we decided to go our separate ways. It just wasn't working out between us." Seymour's desire for marriage and children may have been a factor. "In the past Terri has said that she wants kids but that just isn't Simon," said Clifford. "Nobody else is involved, certainly not on Simon's side."

 

MODEL NIKI'S TAYLOR-MADE PREGNANCY [E! Online, 11/1/08]

From supermodel to supermom in nine months flat. Erstwhile cover girl and current Make Me a Supermodel co-host Niki Taylor is expecting her first child with race-car driver hubby Burney Lamar, the catwalker's rep confirmed to E! News. The 33-year-old is due in March. "Burney and I are very excited with this stage of our lives," she told People. "We're thrilled." While the model turned basic-cable personality already has 13-year-old twin boys from her previous marriage to football player Matt Martinez, her impending stork delivery marks the first offspring for Taylor and her NASCAR-driving husband of nearly two years. Someone get that man a victory lap.

 

MacKENZIE PHILLIPS PLEADS GUILTY TO DRUG CHARGE [Reuters, 11/1/08]

Former "One Day at Time" television star Mackenzie Phillips pleaded guilty to cocaine possession on Friday, October 31 and was ordered into another drug rehab program. Phillips, 48, thanked police for arresting her at Los Angeles International Airport in August, saying "they saved my life" in an address to Friday's court hearing.  The actress, the eldest daughter of late Mamas & the Papas leader John Phillips, was charged with possessing cocaine, heroin and a hypodermic needle or syringe after airport security found drugs packaged in balloons and plastic bags on her. Phillips starred as Julie Romano in the CBS television comedy "One Day at a Time," which ran from 1975 to 1984. She battled drug addiction during her time on the sitcom and was later fired from the show after undergoing drug rehabilitation but then relapsing. More recently, Phillips starred as a rock star mom in the Disney Channel series "So Weird."

 

PAIR SUPPLIED DRUGS TO WINEHOUSE [BBC, 11/1/08]

A couple have admitted supplying drugs including cocaine and ecstasy to singer Amy Winehouse. John Blagrove, 34, and Cara Burton, 22, both from Dalston, east London, were warned they face a jail term as they appeared in Snaresbrook Crown Court. Blagrove admitted two counts of offering to supply Class A drugs cocaine and ecstasy (MDMA) and one of offering to supply Class B drugs. Burton admitted two counts of offering to supply Class B drugs. The charges relate to video footage which appeared to show Winehouse smoking a crack pipe. The singer was arrested and questioned over the images but she was not charged. The pair denied one charge each of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, which was dropped when their plea was accepted by the prosecution. The two will return to court on 28 November for pre-sentence reports.

 

BEN MULRONEY BECOMES A MARRIED MAN [CBC, 10/31/08]

Ben Mulroney, the eldest son of former prime minister Brian Mulroney, was married during a private ceremony in Montreal Thursday night, October 30. Mulroney, 32, was wed to Jessica Brownstein, 29, in an evening ceremony at St. Patrick's Basilica. "Fantastic," Mulroney said as he ushered his bride to a waiting limousine. Brownstein was draped in a white fur cape when she arrived for the ceremony, but was not wearing it after the service. "We've got to get her in the car," Mulroney said as he led his new wife through a crowd of journalists. The former prime minister, who attended the service with his wife Mila, said about 75 people attended the wedding. A rabbi blessed the ceremony, while a priest conducted the service, he said. "It was very moving, very impressive," Brian Mulroney said. He also said the couple wrote their own vows, which he described as "poignant" and "lovely." "He's the oldest of three boys and he's been a very good son and we love him dearly," Brian Mulroney said. "We think that the best decision he's made in his whole life is today, so we're very pleased." The bride and groom have known each other since childhood, having both grown up in Montreal's tony Westmount neighbourhood. Mulroney proposed to Brownstein, a Montreal fashion designer, over lunch last year at a Greene Avenue deli, after they had been dating for about six months. "I feel great. It was my idea," Mulroney said as he walked into the church around 7 p.m. Earlier Thursday, Montreal Gazette columnist Jennifer Campbell said "reliable insiders" had told her the ceremony would be an intimate and traditional affair for family members, followed by a blowout celebration on the weekend. Brian Mulroney said he expects about 350 guests to attend a reception Saturday night. Montreal businessman Paul Desmarais was one of the few society notables who attended Thursday's service. "I wish for them to be as happy as I have been with my wife for 55 years," Desmarais of Power Corp. said before the ceremony. The younger Mulroney is host of the reality singing show Canadian Idol, as well as the entertainment program e-Talk Daily. Mulroney's older sister, Caroline, married stockbroker Andrew Lapham in 2000 in Montreal in a large star-studded wedding that included former U.S. president George Bush, former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher and talk show host Kathy Lee Gifford.

 

LIL WAYNE ADMITTED HE ASSISTED IN THE DELIVERY OF NEWBORN SON [Aceshowbiz, 10/31/08]

IBackstage at Power 105.1's Powerhouse concert Tuesday night, October 28, Lil Wayne had a brief interview with U.S. radio station, Power 105.1, to which he revealed he helped delivering his newborn son Dwayne Carter III. "I delivered him. I held the left leg the whole time," the hip-hop artist stated with delight. Recalling his presence on the delivery room the day his baby boy was born on October 22, Wayne said, "It was nasty, very nasty," but he quickly added, "it was wonderful." He went on gushing about little Dwayne, "Oct. 22, 9:25 A.M., 7 lbs., 12 oz. He's the best thing to ever happen to me, next to my daughter." The full interview can be heard on the official site of Power 105.1 radio station. The identity of his son's mother is not known. He joins Wayne's daughter, Reginae Carter, whom he has with his high school sweetheart Antonia "Toya" Johnson. He and Antonia married in 2004 and divorced two years later.

 

MICHAEL KILLS JACKSON 5 REUNION RUMOUR [E! Online, 10/31/08]

Hmph, it seemed too kitschtastic to be true. Michael Jackson continued to dash dreams of pop-royalty rejuvenation by confirming Thursday, October 30 that he will not be joining Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon and Tito on a Jackson 5 reunion tour. "My brothers and sisters have my full love and support, and we've certainly shared many great experiences, but at this time I have no plans to record or tour with them," Jackson said in a statement released by rep Dr. Tohme. "I am now in the studio developing new and exciting projects that I look forward to sharing with my fans in concert soon." Somebody tell Jermaine. Jacko's older bro told an Australian reporter a couple days ago that all five brothers were on board, and that sister Janet would open for them. "This has been a long time coming for the Jackson family to get back together,'' Jermaine said. "It is just the timing, so what we've been doing is working on the music and all the logistics." But now it's time to get Randy on the phone, because Michael's off doing his own thing, whatever that is these days. The last time the Jackson 5 shared the stage was November 2001 for the self-proclaimed King of Pop's 30th-anniversary special at Madison Square Garden.

 

JUDGE: EX-HUBBY STILL OWES J.LO [E! Online, 10/31/08]

It's not like she needs the money. But Jennifer Lopez just scored some sweet revenge on her blabbing ex. A Los Angeles judge has upheld a $545,000 award that the multi-hyphenate diva won against first husband Ojani Noa after she sued him for writing a tell-all tome about their doomed relationship. The Cuban-born former waiter hoped to have the sum tossed on a technicality—seems his original lawyer wasn't authorized to practice law, oops! Lopez sued after Noa wrote a salacious book outlining her "multiple duplicitous sexual affairs" behind Noa's back (including a tryst with Marc Anthony while he was married to ex-Miss Universe Dayanara Torres) in violation of a 2002 confidentiality agreement. Noa wound up losing during arbitration, which he failed to appear for. The book was blocked from being published. And now mom has some extra cash for Max and Emme's Halloween treats.

 

SIENNA MILLER GETTYS HER DAY IN COURT [E! Online, 10/31/08]

Once again, it's Miller time at London's High Court. A preliminary hearing was held this morning in Sienna Miller's harassment and invasion-of-privacy suit against the U.K.-based paparazzi agency she claims engaged in a "campaign of harassment" against her, following the July revelation of her relationship with the still-married Balthazar Getty. The 26-year-old increasingly litigious star was not present in court, but attorney David Sherborne wasted no time lashing out at Big Pictures Limited and its founder, Darryn Lyons, for causing "substantial alarm, fear and enormous distress" in the actress' life. Sherborne said the paparazzi had engaged in a "relentless pursuit" of Miller "despite requests to desist" their intensive coverage. In one instance, he said, the Factory Girl star was even chased by paparazzi while driving. Cameramen also allegedly subjected her to "other forms of physical and verbal intimidation or abuse in their attempts to obtain photographs of her for commercial exploitation." Specifically, Sherborne told the judge that she was confronted outside her London home (which, over the summer, fell victim to vandals who graffitied the word slut across its exterior), was chased en route to Heathrow airport and was harassed while walking her dogs in a park with her mother. Miller alleges in her suit that the harassment did not stop when she left the U.K., and in fact last month won $27,000 in damages in a separate suit over harassment by paparazzi in Los Angeles. Sherborne said that, as a result, Miller's "life has been made intolerable by the conduct of which we complain" and that the paparazzi's actions represent "a gross and intolerable violation of her rights." The lawyer asked for a speedy resolution "one way or another." The judge in the case said the trial will begin on the first available date after Jan. 12, 2009. Lyons and his Big Picture compatriots plan on contesting the claims when the trial begins.

 

JANET LACKS "DISCIPLINE" IN DETROIT [E! Online, 10/31/08]

Apparently Detroit didn't want a repeat of Boobgate. Facing pressure from officials at the Palace of Auburn Hills arena—and not wanting to be a scofflaw—Janet Jackson nixed a racy segment of her oh-so-troubled Rock Witchu tour Tuesday, October 28. Because of a Michigan law that forbids simulated sex acts in a public performing space, the Control diva nixed her usual concert routine of inviting onstage a male audience member, tying him down and pretending to grope him while dancers mime various sex acts around them, including masturbation. "Janet did not want to disappoint her Detroit-area fans again, so we adhered to Michigan's state ordinance and trimmed the 'Discipline' segment of the show so it would not be canceled," Jackson's manager, Kenneth Crear, says in a statement. During the encore, Jackson apologized to fans for leaving out the raunchy number, which she's performed on past concert stops, including the Palace, without controversy. Aside from the trimmed set, Jackson's Rock Witchu road show has been tripped up by her health problems and opening act LL Cool J's unexpected bailing earlier this week due to "scheduling conflicts."

 

COPS FIND POSSIBLE HUDSON MURDER WEAPON [E! Online, 10/30/08]

A piece of Jennifer Hudson's tragic puzzle may be in place. Chicago police have recovered a gun that they believe was the one used in the shooting deaths of the Oscar winner's mother, brother and nephew. Darnell Donerson, 57, Jason Hudson, 29, and Julian King, 7, are believed to have been killed with a .45-caliber weapon. Technicians from the Illinois State Police crime lab will test the gun they found today against shell casings recovered at the crime scenes. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the gun and other as-yet-undisclosed evidence was discovered by a police recruit, who was conducting a routine search in connection with the investigation, at 1:30 p.m. in an empty trash-strewn lot on 14th Street between Kildare and Kolin Avenues on the city's West Side. Julian's body was found Monday morning in an abandoned SUV parked on the 1300 block of South Kolin Avenue, barely a block away. Police have arrested William Balfour, the estranged husband of Hudson's sister (and Julian's mom) Julia, and he is currently being held on a parole violation. No charges have been filed, but he has been designated a "person of interest" in the case. Due to the ongoing criminal investigation, funeral arrangements for the victims are still in flux. A rep for Chicago's Hudson Funeral Home, which is owned by Jennifer's aunt, tells E! News that, despite any reports to the contrary, no arrangements for funerals, memorials or any other type of gathering have been made yet. An announcement will be made when things are finalized.

 

ELLEN DeGENERES OFFERS TO CUT ZAC EFRON'S HAIR [Aceshowbiz, 10/30/08]

During a scheduled appearance on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show", which aired Thursday, October 30, Zac Efron was offered by Ellen DeGeneres to get his hair cut. The talk show host even pulled out a clippers and asked the young actor if he would like to get a brand-new, short haircut. Zac, at the beginning of the chat show, jokingly told Ellen that he modeled his hair after hers, saying "I actually modeled it [after] Ellen season 2." "Smart," Ellen responded. "So you're copying me?" To that he admitted, "I am in fact."  Having his hair style as the object of their conversation, Ellen also told Zac that she also talked about his hair with his actress girlfriend Vanessa Hudgens during a recent taping. "Vanessa was here a few days ago and she said she actually prefers it slicked back more with stuff in it," she told him. "But then it's hard for her to put her hands in your hair because it's to full of stuff. She prefers it slicked back just to let you know."  Zac, furthermore, confessed that his windswept style was partially "derived from laziness." Then Ellen surprisingly pulled out a clippers and asked the "High School Musical 3: Senior Year" star, "Would you cut it? That would be a big deal if you had a brand-new, short haircut, because people then would want to do that." Feeling a little surprised, Zac hesitantly asked Ellen, "Do you want to take a little off the back? It's a little long actually." However, Ellen quickly retorted, "No, there's no blade in it. It was just to scare you. It's Halloween and I like to scare people."

 

ROB PATTINSON: HAIR TODAY, BUT GONE TOMORROW? 

[E! Online, 10/30/08]

Say it ain't so! Twilight heartthrob Robert Pattinson says he wants to get rid of his signature hairstyle. "I cannot wait to cut it off," Pattinson said last night at the Starz afterparty for the Hollywood Film Festival Awards Gala at the Beverly Hilton, where he received the New Hollywood Award. Pattinson insists he doesn't understand the big fuss over his 'do. "Nothing's ever baffled me as much as this," he said, adding, "I wanted to get a haircut today, but they wouldn't let me. They were like, 'You can't ruin our marketing!'" Meanwhile, Josh Brolin, who was named Actor of the Year, had no problem poking fun at a recent run-in with the law over an alleged bar brawl. "I am not drunk, and I will not kick anyone's ass tonight," he cracked. He also took a moment to take a swipe at—who else?—President Bush, who he portrays in Oliver Stone's W.: "From this experience [of playing George W.], I've acquired some sort of mental deficiency."

 

COURT EXTENDS SPEARS' CONSERVATORSHIP INDEFINITELY [AP, 10/30/08]

Britney Spears' father will maintain indefinite control of her personal and financial affairs after a court commissioner extended the arrangement beyond 2008. The conservatorship, which had been set to expire Dec. 31, also allows the people controlling Spears' affairs — a group that includes father Jamie Spears and several attorneys — some say in her professional career. It's a move the singer apparently approves: A court-appointed attorney said the details had been explained to the 26-year-old and she agreed not to oppose it. Spears could petition later to have the conservatorship removed, but the court's order otherwise constitutes a lifetime arrangement, a court information officer said. Attorneys for Jamie Spears declined to comment after the hearing. Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Reva Goetz said Tuesday, October 28 she was granting the permanent conservatorship in part because Britney Spears has shown she is "susceptible to undue influence." Based on the attorneys' recommendations and other evaluations of the singer, Goetz said making conservatorship permanent was "necessary and appropriate."

 

BARENAKED LADIES' PAGE GETS REDUCED DRUG CHARGES [AP, 10/29/08]

A drug charge against Barenaked Ladies singer-guitarist Steven Page was significantly reduced Tuesday, October 28 by an upstate New York court. The felony charge was reduced to a misdemeanor and the 38-year-old musician was given what's called an adjournment in contemplation of dismissal, which means the charges will be dismissed if he stays out of trouble for six months. Page was arrested in July while visiting girlfriend Christine Benedicto and another woman at their suburban Syracuse apartment. Benedicto and another woman, Stephanie Ford, were charged with misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance. They also had the charge adjourned in contemplation of dismissal; marijuana possession charges against them also were dropped. Page apologized to his family and fans after his brief appearance in Fayetteville Village Court. Page had faced up to 5 1/2 years in state prison if he had been convicted of the original charge against him, a felony fourth-degree criminal possession count. Defense attorney Mark Mahoney said prosecutors agreed to reduce the charges against Page because of his lack of a prior criminal record and because lab analyses showed that the drugs were "lower in quantity and lower in quality" than first suspected. Page's arrest came after the band, known for its clean-cut image and cross-generational appeal, released a new album for children titled "Snacktime," a collection of two dozen original children's songs. The band was formed nearly 20 years ago in Toronto. It has released 12 albums, producing hits such as "If I Had $1,000,000," "Brian Wilson" and "Too Little, Too Late." The group is known for its whimsical lyrics and comedic banter on stage.

 

"CROCODILE DUNDEE" WANTS APOLOGY OVER AUSTRALIAN TAX INQUIRY [AFP, 10/29/08]

Australian actor Paul Hogan, the outback hero of the iconic "Crocodile Dundee" movies, Tuesday, October 28 demanded an apology from officials over a five-year investigation into his tax affairs. "I've been shocked by the bullying tactics and the strange laws in Australia," Hogan said of the inquiry into allegations he used offshore accounts to avoid paying tax. "They come after you and you have no right to speak to the press, but they -- the enemy -- they just leak to the press." The 69-year-old actor, who was asked about the long-running investigation during a press conference to promote an upcoming film, said he wanted an apology. "These people have bullied me and my friends," he said. "I'm just waiting for the big apology... that's not going to happen but it should." The Australian Crime Commission refused to confirm or deny whether it had dropped its investigation into claims Hogan channelled millions of dollars into foreign tax havens.

 

ELLE MacPHERSON 'EMPHATICALLY DENIES' SHE'S DATING BRIAN BURGESS [Aceshowbiz, 10/29/08]

Putting to rest the false Internet reports claiming she is dating convicted drugs trafficker Brian Burgess, Elle MacPherson has on Monday, October 27, issued a statement through her legal attorney, denying "there is any romantic association" between her and the British-born businessman. She even threatened to take legal action against any media outlet that reported the false story. "Miss Macpherson emphatically denies that there is any romantic association between her and Mr. Brian Burgess," an attorney for the Australian supermodel said in a statement. "Miss Macpherson is disappointed her friendship with Mr. Burgess has been so casually misrepresented for commercial sensationalism. Furthermore Miss Macpherson has a reasonable expectation of privacy in relation to her personal life; in the absence of a romantic element, the publication of the photograph and the innuendo created by it is a gross interference of Miss Macpherson's rights." On Monday, October 27, Internet reports were abuzz that MacPherson and Burgess were dating after a picture of her driving him in her classic convertible Aston Martin in London emerged. News of The World even quoted a source as saying Burgess was overheard telling a salesman in a showroom in Chelsea "he had been seeing a new girlfriend for a few weeks" adding that she would pick him up. After that MacPherson turned up in her car, leading to assumption that she was his new girlfriend. On that matter, MacPherson's lawyer stated the catwalk queen "is aware of Mr Burgess's past conduct and also that Mr Burgess has and continues to take significant steps towards restoring his life," adding "Any continued misrepresentation or invasion of privacy is likely to be the subject of legal proceedings."

 

SUPERMODEL ELLE MacPHERSON DATING BRIAN BURGESS [Aceshowbiz, 10/28/08]

It appears that Elle MacPherson has moved on from her failed relationship with former fiance, billionaire philanthropist Arpad Busson, as she reportedly has found a new man to date, British-born businessman Brian John Burgess. Her alleged romance with the 56-year-old man has been put under the media microscope since he reportedly is a convicted drugs trafficker. MacPherson and Burgess' first meeting happened when she hired his removal company, Aussie Man & Van, to move from London's Notting Hill to nearby Ladbroke Grove this summer. The supermodel was seen driving him in her classic convertible Aston Martin in London recently. It was since that time that dating reports began to spark. Herald Sun quoted News of The World as reporting that before MacPherson picked him up, Burgess had been looking at new Jaguars in a showroom in Chelsea. "The salesman was an Aussie and they were getting on great," a source testified. "Brian was saying how he had been seeing a new girlfriend for a few weeks. He added, I've got to go, she's picking me up. Then Elle turns up in her car. I couldn't believe it." Burgess had lived in Australia from the age of 17 after emigrating from the U.K. He was found guilty of drug trafficking in the New South Wales District Court in 1996 after he tried to smuggle 2kg of cocaine inside hollowed-out books from the U.S. to Australia. He, as a consequence, was sentenced to four years in prison. After serving his sentence, he was deported to England. At that time he was leaving behind a wife, named Jennifer, and three young children. Though so, Aussie Man & Van manager, John Hess, stated Burgess' drugs conviction was "all in the past" adding, "This guy spends most of his time counseling people with drug and alcohol addiction." MacPherson and Arpad, who is a financier, got engaged in 2002, but split in 2005. They have two children together; sons Arpad Flynn Busson and Aurelius Cy Andre Busson. Arpad is currently engaged to 38-year-old actress Uma Thurman.

 

SAMUEL L. JACKSON: NO ON PROP. 8 [E! Online, 10/28/08]

Samuel L. Jackson has joined the fight to keep gay marriage legal in California. I just got word that the Soul Men actor recorded a radio spot earlier today to urge voters to oppose Prop. 8, the ballot initiative seeking to overturn California's legalization of same-sex unions. Jackson joins other stars who have taken a stand against Prop. 8, including Brad Pitt, Steven Spielberg, Ellen DeGeneres, Barbra Streisand, Molly Ringwald and Fran Drescher, as well as Pete Wentz and his Fall Out Boy bandmates.

 

CIVIL TRIAL OF KEANU REEVES BEGINS IN LA [AP, 10/28/08]

Just like in "The Matrix," jurors in a civil trial featuring Keanu Reeves may have to wade through several versions of reality. A jury was selected Monday, October 27 to hear the case, which stems from a March 2007 incident in which a paparazzo claims he was seriously injured while shooting photos of Reeves behind the wheel of his Porsche. A lawyer for Alison Silva contends Reeves struck the photographer with his car, causing him to fall to the ground. But Reeves' attorney, Alfred Gerisch, told the panel that the photographer repeatedly changed his story depending on whether he was talking to paramedics, a deputy or doctors. "Mr. Silva, during the course of that night, has told at least five different versions of what happened," Gerisch said during opening statements. Reeves, the star of action flicks such as "Speed" and the upcoming remake of "The Day the Earth Stood Still," sat quietly in the courtroom. He spoke to jurors only once Monday to wish them "good morning." The actor could spend up to three hours on the witness stand Tuesday, when he is expected to testify about his recollection of the incident. In opening statements, Gerisch said Reeves saw Silva trip over his own feet, and that the actor stopped to help him after the fall. 

 

FOO FIGHTER'S DAVE GROHL AND WIFE EXPECTING SECOND CHILD [Aceshowbiz, 10/28/08]

A representative for Dave Grohl has confirmed that the Foo Fighters' frontman-songwriter and his wife Jordyn Blum are expecting their second child. No other details are given and no due date has been disclosed at time of writing. Grohl, 39, and Jordyn, 32, have been married since August 2003. They already have one daughter, named Violet Maye, who was born in April 2006. Playing his fatherhood for daughter Violet, Grohl was known for playing tunes for the little girl even before she was born. He has said she "likes The Beatles. Doesn't really get down to The Beach Boys. Digs Mozart." Revealing more about Violet, Grohl also was quoted as saying she "looks like my wife and acts like me. It's a nuclear combination. She's going to be a 6-foot tall supermodel with a really wicked sense of humor and a Mensa I.Q." He went on gushing, "Violet can work a room like Billy Crystal, I swear. It's 'The Violet Maye Grohl Show' every night, and no two shows are ever the same. She's out of her mind."

 

AMY POEHLER OF "SNL" NOW A REAL BABY MAMA [AP, 10/26/08]

"Saturday Night Live" just won't be the same without Amy Poehler — who delivered a baby boy hours before the "Baby Mama" star was to appear on the NBC show. The live show's parody news anchor was missing from her spot alongside Seth Myers on "Weekend Update" because she gave birth earlier Saturday, October 25. On behalf of Poehler and her husband, Will Arnett, "I can confirm that Amy gave birth to Archie Arnett on Saturday," read a statement from Poehler's spokesman, Lewis Kay. The baby was born early Saturday evening in New York, weighing 8 pounds, 1 ounce. Mother and child were "healthy and resting comfortably," according to the statement. Poehler, who performed on Thursday night's special edition of "SNL" and is known for playing Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, was rehearsing the show until Friday. She also starred opposite Tina Fey in this year's "Baby Mama" as a working class girl who agrees to be a surrogate mother for a single businesswoman.

 

WRITER OF TRUMP BOOK WON'T HAVE TO REVEAL SOURCES [AP, 10/26/08]

An author doesn't have to reveal his sources for a book in which he claimed Donald Trump's wealth was in the millions, not billions. The ruling by a New Jersey appellate panel Friday, October 24 reverses a 2006 decision to compel the disclosure. Trump sued author Timothy O'Brien and Time Warner Book Group over the book "TrumpNation: The Art of Being the Donald." It claimed Trump was worth between $150 million and $250 million. Trump says the book damaged his reputation and argues that his fortune was closer to $2.7 billion. The judges wrote that details of Trump's life are matters of public interest and therefore are protected. Numerous publishers of books, magazines and newspapers had joined the appeal, as well as broadcasters and other media organizations, including The Associated Press.

 

BEN MULRONEY WILL WED MONTREAL FASHION DESIGNER [CBC, 10/25/08]

Ben Mulroney, the popular Canadian Idol host and son of former prime minister Brian Mulroney is tying the knot at the end of the month. Mulroney, 32, is going to marry fashion designer Jessica Brownstein in a small, private family wedding Oct. 30, a spokesperson for the TV host said in a statement. The couple is going to be wed at St. Patrick's Basilica in Montreal. Mulroney proposed to Brownstein, a Montrealer, over lunch last year at a Greene Avenue deli, after they had been dating for about six months. The two knew each other while growing up in Montreal's affluent Westmount neighbourhood. Mulroney's older sister, Caroline, married stockbroker Andrew Lapham in 2000 in Montreal in a large star-studded wedding that included former U.S. president George Bush, former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher and talk show host Kathy Lee Gifford. Lapham is the son of Lewis H. Lapham, former editor of Harper's Magazine.

 

JESSICA BIEL FOLLOWS IN J.T.'s FOOTSTEPS [E! Online, 10/25/08]

Justin Timberlake bounces between singing and acting, so why can't girlfriend Jessica Biel? Hollywood's newest multi-hyphenate visited the NightBird recording studios recently at the Sunset Marquis Hotel, where she recorded tracks for music producer Marius De Vries. A source tells E! News, "She was recording vocals for the Easy Virtue soundtrack." In the film Biel plays Larita, a devilish American divorcée who marries a naive Englishman. And apparently Biel is not just another wannabe actress turned pop star…"She can hold her own as far as singing goes. She absolutely killed it," says our source. The insider also tells us one studio onlooker even commented, "Some girls have everything. She's a successful actress, dating Justin Timberlake, and she can sing!" But don't hate the girl too much, at least not for her songbird skills. Growing up, Biel paid her dues with vocal training and sang in musicals like Annie and Beauty and the Beast.

 

TOM BRADY SAID TO HAVE BOUGHT ENGAGEMENT RING FOR GISELE BUNDCHEN [Aceshowbiz, 10/25/08]

Tom Brady adds fuel to the mounting wedding talks as he reportedly has already bought an engagement ring for his supermodel girlfriend Gisele Bundchen. With the ring in hand, he furthermore is claimed to have been ready to propose to her. In Touch Weekly reports on its newest issue, already on newsstands, Brady bought the alleged engagement ring prior to the surgery he underwent in L.A. on October 6 on his left knee to battle a rare infection stemming from the repair of two torn ligaments. According to the publication, the NFL quarterback "snuck into" Cartier in Beverly Hills and checked out a five-carat yellow diamond engagement ring. The gem is claimed to be flanked by two triangular diamonds with a $145,000 price tag. "He's seriously considering proposing," an insider told In Touch Weekly. "Tom has a lot of free time now that he may miss the entire football season. It's made him realize he's finally ready to get married." The ring tale comes hot on the heels of the circulating Internet reports claiming Brady and Gisele are planning to host a wedding celebration at the legendary Tavern on the Green in Central Park. She even is said to have been in talks with party planners at the venue for a possible nuptials. Spokespersons for Gisele and Tavern on the Green wouldn't comment on the report though.

 

TRAVIS BARKER'S FIRST PUBLIC APPEARANCE AFTER JET CRASH [Aceshowbiz, 10/25/08]

Celebrity drummer Travis Barker has been spotted out for the first time since his tragic plane crash last month, heading out for a bite in Los Angeles on Thursday, October 23, with his daughter Alabama. The father-daughter duo was seen dining out at the Marmalade Cafe. Spotted sporting all-black outfits with a matching cap, Travis was photographed carrying Alabama with both of his hands. His left leg was still in bandages, whereas his right leg had visible signs of wound. Asked by one reporter how he was doing, Travis said he's good while keep walking into his car. He furthermore admitted to be still in pain as a result of the second- and third-degree burns he suffered from the tragedy. Answering more questions from the reporter, Travis mentioned his family, friends, and ex-wife Shanna Moakler among the people who have supported him during the difficult time. Meanwhile, an announcement has just been made public by Federal Aviation officials that "bare tires and debris on the runway" were the causes that prompted Travis' jet crash. "Oftentimes, we find that as we collect more information, the picture changes," Peter Knudson, the Public Affairs Officer of the National Transportation Safety Board said in a statement, adding that authorities are still analyzing the skid marks and the condition of the brakes before officially closing the investigation.

 

JANET JACKSON TO MAKE A COMEBACK IN HOUSTON [Aceshowbiz, 10/25/08]

After suffering from a "rare form of migraine called vestibular migraine or migraine-associated vertigo" that required her to postpone several planned shows, Janet Jackson comes out to thank her fans for their support during her ailment. "I'm backstage in Houston. I'm getting ready to start the show and I just want to say hey to all Jermaine's 'Living the Life' YouTubers. I want to thank you for all your messages and all your love and support when I wasn't feeling very well," she says. On the video blog, Jackson and her boyfriend Jermaine Dupri also deny rumors that the two had split. "Baby, they say you broke up with me because I threw up on you," Dupri laughs while saying. "How lame is that?" Jackson answers. "Because you threw up on me ... Well, there's no real love there, is it?" Previously, Jackson revealed that her comeback show will be at Verizon Center in Washington, DC. "I'm actually rolling into D.C. right now to do my first show coming back. I feel a lot better and I want to thank all of you," she stated at that time.

 

TOM CRUISE RETURNS THE FAVOR TO LAUER [AP, 10/25/08]

Tom Cruise took some shots at Matt Lauer on Friday, October 24 — this time for fun. But Lauer got in the last word. The actor was a surprise guest at a Friar's Club roast of the "Today" show host. He joined Martha Stewart, Brian Williams, Katie Couric and Meredith Vieira to sling insults, proving some of TV's sunniest personalities could work blue. Cruise said Lauer was the man "we wake up to every morning — only because we had the channel on NBC before we fell asleep." Three years ago, Cruise had berated Lauer on a "Today" show interview for suggesting that psychiatric treatment might help some patients. It was the same year he jumped up and down on Oprah Winfrey's talk show couch, excited about falling in love with Katie Holmes. Cruise joked that Lauer had given him some advice before his interview with Winfrey: "Go crazy. Trust me. Trust me. People will love you for it." Couric, Lauer's former "Today" co-host, suggested Cruise was threatened by Lauer. "He wants to be the only heterosexual man in the room who everyone thinks is gay," she said. NBC Universal chief Jeff Zucker, former executive producer at "Today," revealed the origin of Lauer's popular travelogue feature, "Where in the World is Matt Lauer?" "We got that idea when I got a call from his wife one morning at 3 a.m.," he said. His colleagues and comedians like Richard Belzer roasted Lauer for being a germophobe and having a clothes budget rivaling GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin. "I always say, a lot of the outfits you see him wear on the 'Today' show, they also make for men," Williams said. The celebrity-filled dais at New York's Hilton Hotel included Aretha Franklin and Donald Trump. Apparently Cruise didn't have time to spare, since he made for the exit shortly after his speech. That led Lauer to call after him. "Tom, can you stay?" Lauer said. "I'll get a booster seat."

 

HOUSEWIVES STAR GALE HAROLD LEAVES INTENSIVE CARE [E! Online, 10/24/08]

Good news! A rep for Desperate Housewives star Gale Harold reports, "[He] is out of intensive care and improving daily. A full recovery is expected. He thanks everyone for their good wishes." The actor was injured in a motorcycle accident last week. He broke his shoulder in the accident, and was placed in the hospital's neurosurgical ICU for observation. Harold plays Jackson, the sexy new love interest of Susan Mayer (Teri Hatcher), on Desperate Housewives.

 

GARY COLE JOINS "ENTOURAGE" [Reuters/Hollywood Reporter, 10/24/08]

Ari Gold has a friend. Who knew? Gary Cole is set to join HBO's comedy "Entourage" as a regular next season, playing Hollywood agent Andrew Klein, Ari's (Jeremy Piven) oldest Hollywood friend from their early days in the business. Cole is introducing the character this season in a three-episode arc slated to air in November. "Entourage," which is halfway though its fifth season, recently was picked up for a sixth season to begin production in early 2009 for a summer launch. Cole recently co-starred in the Judd Apatow-produced "Pineapple Express" and on ABC's "Desperate Housewives." In November will join the cast of the Steppenwolf Theater Company production of "August: Osage County" at London's National Theater.

 

LIL WAYNE A BIG DADDY [E! Online, 10/23/08]

An even littler Wayne has arrived. Lil Wayne welcomed a son, Dwayne Carter III, Wednesday in Ohio, his rep tells MTV News. The baby was born at Christ Hospital in Cincinnati. Wayne, himself born Dwayne Carter Jr., also has a daughter, Reginae Carter, with ex-wife Antonia Johnson. The platinum-selling rapper has not released the identity of Dwayne III's mom. But 2008 continues to be a crazy momentous year for Wayne, the self-proclaimed Best Rapper Alive, whose highly anticipated Tha Carter III (how prescient!) went platinum in a month en route to becoming the best-selling album of the year. On Saturday, Wayne was named MVP of the Year at the 2008 BET Hip-Hop Awards in Atlanta, where he also took home trophies for Lyricist of the Year and for being the Alltel Wireless People's Champ. The ceremony airs Thursday on BET.

 

SUMNER REDSTONE FILES FOR DIVORCE [AP, 10/23/08]

Court documents show that entertainment mogul Sumner Redstone has filed for divorce from his wife of five years. The 85-year-old executive chairman of CBS and Viacom petitioned for divorce Friday, October 17. The documents say Redstone and his wife, 46-year-old Paula Fortunato Redstone, already have a settlement agreement. According to the papers, the couple married in April 2003 and have no children. Redstone's declaration cited "irreconcilable differences" but provided no further details. Redstone's theater chain, National Amusements, moved last week to sell some of its nonvoting shares in both CBS and Viacom, saying the stock market put some of its debts at risk. Forbes magazine calculated Redstone's wealth at $7.6 billion in 2007.

 

AIR ENRIQUE MAKES EMERGENCY LANDING [E! Online, 10/23/08]

Enrique Iglesias had a hero at 30,000 feet. The Spanish heartthrob was involved in a midair flight scare Monday, October 20 when his private plane was forced to make an emergency landing at a London airport. It's unclear exactly what went wrong with the aircraft, which was en route to Europe from the U.S. to deliver Iglesias to a string of promotional appearances, but the pilot was forced to shut down one of the plane's engines and divert the jet to London's Luton Airport. A spokesman for Polydor, Iglesias' record label, told Britain's Press Association that no injuries resulted from the airborne troubles and heaped praise on the pilots for bringing everyone to safety. "The highly skilled pilots managed to make a safe landing and nobody was hurt," the 33-year-old's London-based agent said. Iglesias is expected to make the European rounds this month to promote the release of his still untitled English-language greatest hits album, due out Nov. 11, 2008.

 

MISS TEEN LOUISIANA LOSES HER CROWN AFTER ARREST [AP, 10/23/08]

Miss Teen Louisiana lost her crown 11 days early after being arrested on charges of leaving a restaurant without paying and carrying marijuana. RPM Productions Inc., the sponsor, took back the title on Tuesday, October 21 after learning that Lindsey Evans, 18, of Blanchard, had been arrested, president Paula M. Miles said Wednesday. Evans will have to return her sash and crown, but won't have to return any other prizes or cash equivalents, Miles said. "She's done a good job this year," Miles said. A call to Evans' parents' house was not answered Wednesday. Miles said she had been told that the three women with Evans told police that Evans, alone in the group, had paid her bill. But Bossier City spokesman Mark Natale said Evans admitted not paying. Bossier City police booked all four on theft charges, three on drug charges and two on drug paraphernalia charges, he said. Natale said Bossier City police were called to a Posados Cafe restaurant Saturday evening because a group had left without paying $46.07. The manager had found a pocketbook at the table, and police found Evans' driver's license and about 2 grams of suspected marijuana in it, Natale said. He said officers recognized Evans from the photo when the group returned for the pocketbook. Miles said she talked with Evans on Monday. The next Miss Teen Louisiana will be chosen Nov. 1 at a pageant in Lafayette. Michelle Berthelot, Miss Louisiana USA 2008, will crown the winner.

 

MADONNA & GUY RITCHIE: THE SPLIT STORIES CONTINUES [E! Online, 10/23/08]

The actual announcement about Madonna and Guy Ritchie's split may be yesterday's news, but the obsession over the marriage's demise is anything but—with no less than three mags making it their cover stories this week. And given some of the nastier details being reported, we can certainly understand why. "She would taunt Guy, saying, 'I should have married someone like me: strong, hot-blooded, intelligent, ambitious, spiritual,' " a source for Guy tells Us Weekly. "Their fights would often get heated. A few times Madonna slapped him or poked him." Well, Guy apparently didn't take very kindly to such comments and is said to have had a few choice words of his own... "Guy called her old, fat, ugly and wrinkled and said that she was stupid and couldn't sing," a friend from the Madonna camp reveals to Us. Over at OK!, a source close to Guy thinks Madonna has "instructed her team to start a hate campaign" against her soon-to-be ex. (Although it's probably safe to assume the pop icon had nothing to do with the report in the U.K.'s News of the World about Guy supposedly admitting that sex with her was like "cuddling up to a piece of gristle.") Meanwhile, People reports that for Guy, being with someone like Madonna was, quite simply, draining. "She was more about being a celebrity and he was more low-key. He wanted to live in London and live a normal life, but that's impossible when you're married to Madonna," says a source for both sides. A Madonna pal adds, "She was always first when it came to her husband or herself, and that really took a toll on Guy. There was only so much he could put up with." Something tells us we ain't seen nothing yet.

 

CHARLIE SHEEN AND BROOKE MUELLER EXPECTING TWIN BOYS [E! Online, 10/23/08]

Charlie Sheen doubles his joy as he has confirmed that he and his actress wife Brooke Mueller are expecting twin boys. Verifying the circulating media rumors on him expecting twins, he tells OK! magazine, "I'm already the proud father of three beautiful daughters, and I'm delighted that they'll now have two little brothers" when referring to his daughters from his previous relationships. The actor continues telling the publication, "I'm truly blessed," adding, "Life doesn't get any better than this." Brooke is expected to give birth to the twins April next year. Sheen and Brooke exchanged wedding vows on May 30 this year. The pair publicly announced in late August that they are expecting their first child together. Revealing his willingness to have son, Sheen was quoted as saying he is "batting 100 percent" that he will be decorating the nursery of his upcoming baby with baseballs instead of Barbie dolls. Last month, Brooke was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center after complaining of mystery pangs for a month. Fearing the pain might affect her pregnancy, she was then required to have what was cited as "emergency gall-bladder surgery". Fortunately, her surgery was a success. On Wednesday, October 22, Brooke's mother Moira Fiore, told People magazine, her daughter and Sheen "are expecting twins, and they are so excited." Notwithstanding Sheen's confirmation to OK!, Fiore said the couple "think the twins are boys" but aren't sure. Fiore herself admitted she's "floating on air" upon hearing news of the twins. The twins will be Brooke's first children, and the fourth for Sheen. He has two daughters; Sam and Lola with ex-wife Denise Richards and another daughter, Cassandra, from a previous relationship with Paula Profitt.

 

BRITNEY SPEARS TO GRACE THE COVER ROLLING STONE MAG [Aceshowbiz, 10/23/08]

The team who works behind Britney Spears' official website has confirmed the circulating reports claiming the pop singer is about to be featured on the upcoming issue of Rolling Stone magazine. The so-called Team Britney confirmed in a blog post Monday evening, October 20 that the star has done photo shoot for the magazine. "It's been a while since Britney's graced the covers of the glossies," Access Hollywood cited the team as writing. "But soon that will all change ... Britney shot her Rolling Stone cover yesterday." The team didn't give evidence of the shoot, but did reveal Britney "looked absolutely stunning." Rolling Stone magazine has not yet given comment on the report. Britney herself had made several appearances on Rolling Stone. Back in 1998, she appeared in bra and panties for the magazine. The headline that accompanied her picture read, "Britney Spears: Inside the Heart, Mind & Bedroom Of a Teen Dream." Then again in 2003 she was featured on the magazine rocking an underwear. Her picture was put under the headline "Britney On Justin, That Kiss And Being Alone." In recent news, Britney has confirmed on a half-minute commercial promo that she will mark her upcoming 27th birthday on December 2 in style by performing tracks from her upcoming album "Circus" at the Big Apple's Bryant Park, which then will be aired on ABC's "Good Morning America". She, in the meantime, is prepping for her upcoming world tour which is conducted to boost the sales of "Circus", which will be dropped right on her 27th birthday.

 

SOUL TRAIN'S DON CORNELIUS RELEASED FROM PRISON [Vibe, 10/22/08]

Television icon was arrested Friday, October 17 on suspicion of felony domestic violence. 72-year-old Donald "Don" Cornelius, was arrested Friday night, October 19 after suspicion of domestic violence, but has been released on a $50,000 bond. Cornelius, the creator of the popular black dance show Soul Train, was arrested at his California home and taken to Van Nuys jail around 8 p.m. According to the Los Angeles Times, no victim has been identified, or taken to the hospital. Cornelius posted bail of $50,000 early Sunday morning and is scheduled to appear in Los Angeles Superior Court November 14, 2008.

 

ERYKAH BA-WHO?! [Vibe, 10/22/08]

Last year, VIBE.com reported spotting Serena Williams happily bouncing along to Common’s riveting performance at the SanDisk Sunset Strip Block Party in Los Angeles. Upon noticing this, there were a few question marks and light bulbs: Serena? Common? Hmm… Now, according to Common’s dj, there’s no need for the question mark: Common and Serena are a completely happy couple. The BETJ show, Leading Men, recently interviewed DJ Dummy for a special about Common and Dummy wasted no time letting loose on the hottest relationship since Chris Brown and Rihanna. According to YBF, Dummy says that he’s never seen Common so happy, even when he was in love with “another artist.” He also said that Common’s new album, Universal Mind Control, was dedicated to the tennis star. Dummy added that sometimes Common would try to spend most of his time with Serena and he would have to tell the rapper, “No, you can’t because you have a show and you won’t make it back in time. ” Common is currently in Hawaii on vacation with (you’ve guessed it)… Serena.

 

NICK HOGAN OUT OF SLAMMER [E! Online, 10/22/08]

Nick Hogan is a free man. After serving 166 days of an eight-month sentence, Hulk Hogan's son was released from a Pinellas County jail around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday morning and taken immediately to his family's Clearwater, Fla., home. Hogan, 18, got out early after receiving three months' credit for good behavior. The Hogan Knows Best star pleaded no contest to felony reckless driving back in May stemming from a September 2007 car crash that left his best friend, John Graziano, in critical condition and needing lifelong medical care. He was subsequently sentenced to eight months behind bars as well as five years' probation and 500 hours of community service. The Grazianos are expected to file a civil suit against the Hogans seeking damages.

 

"THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW" COMES IN SPANISH [Aceshowbiz, 10/22/08]

The popularity of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" has transcended to another language. The Harpo production has been made available in Spanish, through Secondary Audio Programming (SAP) and close caption, which was launched on Monday, October 20. "We are delighted to be providing the Spanish-language community with an opportunity to become part of the 'Oprah' show viewing family," Harpo Productions, Inc. President Tim Bennett said in a statement. "We'll be able to reach this audience more directly with programming that is relevant, informative and entertaining." The show hit major U.S. Hispanic TV markets in cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Miami, Houston and Dallas as a start. More cities will follow later in the 2008-09 season. The Oprah Winfrey-hosted talk show which enters its 22nd season, is syndicated to 214 domestic stations and 139 countries. This Thursday, October 23, the show will present twins Mary-Kate Olsen and Ashley Olsen, as well as Zappos.com Internet moguls who turn their passion to a business worth million of dollars.

 

BRITNEY SPEARS' DRIVER'S LICENSE CASE DISMISSED [AP, 10/22/08]

Britney Spears has a license to go free. Jurors remained deadlocked 10-2 on whether she was guilty of driving without a valid California license Tuesday, October 21. A mistrial was declared, prosecutors said they wouldn't pursue the matter further — and Spears was spared a criminal record when the judge ultimately dismissed the case. Ten of the 12 jurors favored outright acquittal for Spears, who never appeared in court. Her attorney, J. Michael Flanagan, declared victory and criticized prosecutors for bringing a "fix-it ticket" to trial because his client is famous. But Los Angeles Deputy City Attorney Michael Amerian said blame for the case getting this far belonged to Spears, who rejected two plea deals — one that included probation and another that would require her to pay a $1,000 fine. Flanagan has said Spears fought the charge to keep her record clean. The jury's deadlock could not be broken Tuesday, even after Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James Steele permitted attorneys to make additional closing arguments in the morning. The jury struggled with the case since resuming deliberations Monday, telling a judge they couldn't reach an unanimous decision after five votes going back to Friday. Steele thanked jurors for their time and dismissed them, and prosecutors told him a couple of hours later that they were dropping the matter, prompting him to dismiss the case.

 

GUNS N' ROSES LEAKER PLEAS INNOCENT [E! Online, 10/21/08]

Welcome to the legal jungle. The California man charged with illegally leaking tracks of Guns N' Roses' near-mythical Chinese Democracy pleaded not guilty today in federal court. Kevin Cogill, a 27-year-old blogger known as "Skwerl" who uploaded nine tracks from the forever-in-the-works LP on his Antiquiet in June, was busted Aug. 27. Per an affidavit submitted by federal agents, Cogill copped to putting the offending tunes on his site, though he was mum on how he managed to score a copy of what is arguably the most anticipated, if not overhyped, rock record of the decade. After his arrest, Axl Rose and crew issued a statement saying that while the rockers "don't support this guy's actions at that level, our interest is in the original source [of the leak]." Cogill faces up to five years in a federal pen if convicted of the misdemeanor count. However, for a jury to find him guilty, prosecutors must prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that Cogill unlawfully disseminated the previously unreleased songs for profit. Attempts to reach him for comment were unsuccessful. No word yet on a trial date. However, a tentative release date has finally been issued for Democracy. Bestbuy.com has announced it will issue the disc exclusively via its website and stores nationwide on Nov. 25, 2008. Chinese Democracy's first single, "Shackler's Revenge," debuted last month on Rock Band 2 for the Xbox 360.

 

ANOTHER SON SHINES FOR GILLIAN ANDERSON [E! Online, 10/21/08]

Time for Gillian Anderson to file another birth certificate. The actress and boyfriend Mark Griffiths have welcomed their second child together, according to Anderson's rep, Kelly Bush. Son Felix Griffiths was born Oct. 15, 2008 in London, Bush told People. The infant joins 1-year-old brother Oscar and 13-year-old Piper, Anderson's daughter with ex-husband Clyde Klotz. The X-Files star confirmed to E! News in June that she was expecting. "I'm so close to popping out, but the cravings have ended," she told the Press Association last month at the red carpet premiere of her latest film, How to Lose Friends and Alienate People. "This time around, nectarines were the only thing that I had a craving for."

 

GWYNETH PALTROW: I'M HELPING MADONNA OVER SPLIT [AP, 10/21/08]

Gwyneth Paltrow is helping her friend Madonna through breakup of her marriage. The actress told reporters that she's supporting the pop star following Wednesday's announcement that she's separated from filmmaker-husband Guy Ritchie. "She's a very good friend. I'm supporting her in all the ways that I can. I'm just there for her. I speak to her a lot," Paltrow said as she attended the premiere of her film "Two Lovers" at London's Film Festival. Like Madonna, Paltrow — who's married to Coldplay singer Chris Martin — lives partly in London. Madonna and Ritchie, who were married at a Scottish castle in December 2000, have two children: Rocco, 8, and David Banda, 3, who was adopted in Malawi in 2006. Madonna also has a 12-year-old daughter, Lourdes, from a previous relationship. Madonna's publicist said Sunday that details of a divorce settlement are yet to be finalized, dismissing reports that the couple had agreed to a custody arrangement for the couple's children. The couple own homes in London, Los Angeles and New York, and a 1,200-acre retreat in Wiltshire, England.

 

LIL WAYNE ANNOUNCES HE'S EXPECTING A SON [Aceshowbiz, 10/20/08]

Lil Wayne doubled his joy when he announced on-stage at the BET Hip-Hop Awards on Saturday, October 18, during which he received multiple honors, that he is expecting his first son in just a "couple of days." He made the announcement when he was accepting the Lyricist of the Year Award. Coming on-stage to accept his award, the rapper closed his acceptance speech, telling the crowd who were attending the prestigious awards show, held at the Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center, in Atlanta, "I got a son about to be born any day now, so shout-out to him. Pray for me." He soon thereafter left the stage, offering no further details about his forthcoming son. Wayne earned a total of 12 BET nominations. In addition to his Lyricist of the Year Award winning, he was also named MVP of the Year and the Alltel Wireless People's Champ at the awards ceremony. Continuing to ride high in the year following his multiple winning at the weekend BET Awards, he's prepping for the release of his new album, the new version of his platinum LP, "Tha Carter III". Awaiting in anticipation for his upcoming son, Wayne didn't mention the baby's mother though. The infant will join the hip-hop star's eldest daughter, Reginae Carter, whom he has with his high school sweetheart Antonia "Toya" Johnson, whom he married on Valentines Day of 2004 but divorced in 2006.

 

SARAH PALIN'S SNL RATING SOARS [E! Online, 10/20/08]

Was it big? You betcha. Sarah Palin's much-anticipated Saturday Night Live appearance scored the late-night show's biggest overnight ratings since the Clinton Adminstration. Total audience numbers weren't yet available, although it sounds as if there might have been as many viewers as there were cameos—by Alec Baldwin, Mark Wahlberg, Tina Fey (as Palin), and, of course, Palin (as Palin). NBC said SNL enjoyed its best numbers in the nation's top TV markets since a post-Olympic, post-knee-clubbed Nancy Kerrigan hosted in 1994. Palin's appearance came after Fey spoofed the Alaskan governor and Republican veep contender on three earlier SNL shows.

 

FASHION CRITIC MR. BLACKWELL DIES IN LOS ANGELES [AP, 10/20/08]

Mr. Blackwell, the acerbic designer whose annual worst-dressed list skewered the fashion felonies of celebrities from Zsa Zsa Gabor to Britney Spears, has died. He was 86. Blackwell died Sunday, October 19 of complications from an intestinal infection, publicist Harlan Boll said. Blackwell, whose first name was Richard, was a little-known dress designer when he issued his first tongue-in-cheek criticism of Hollywood fashion disasters for 1960 — long before Joan Rivers and others turned such ridicule into a daily affair. Year after year, he would take Hollywood's reigning stars and other celebrities to task for failing to dress in what he thought was the way they should. Being dowdy was bad enough, but the more outrageous clothing a woman wore, the more biting his criticism. He once said a reigning Miss America looked "like an armadillo with cornpads."

 

ROSE McGOWAN CONFIRMS ENGAGEMENT TO ROBERT RODRIGUEZ [Aceshowbiz, 10/20/08]

Quashing the false circulating rumors claiming her relationship with boyfriend Robert Rodriguez has come to an end, Rose McGowan publicly announced her engagement to the filmmaker last weekend during an appearance at the Hollywood Style Awards. To the press she revealed, "I am engaged." Going into more details about her and Rodriguez's engagement, McGowan stated he proposed to her in September after divorcing his first wife, film producer Elizabeth Avellan after 16 years of marriage. On the future of her relationship with Rodriguez, McGowan admitted to have been planning to wed him next year. No words just yet on the wedding date and venue, but McGowan sure has her dream wedding. Insisting she has her perfect wedding in her sights, the actress told In Touch Weekly, "I just want to go to an island and pay someone else to deal with it (ceremony)." McGowan and Rodriguez began dating after working together in 2007 movie "Grindhouse". Despite rumors to the contrary, the lovers prove that they are still very much together. Back in October last year, People ran a story, alleging they were engaged after she was spotted wearing a diamond ring on her engagement finger while was out and about in L.A. McGowan has never been married before, whereas Rodriguez has already had five children together with Elizabeth; Rocket, Racer, Rebel, Rogue, and Rhiannon.

 

ACTRESS' FRIEND SHOT OUTSIDE HOLLYWOOD PARTY [E! Online, 10/19/08]

A man who was walking with actress Bonnie Somerville early Saturday morning, October 18 was shot in an attempted robbery after leaving the T-Mobile G1 launch party in Hollywood. Somerville, who played Ross' girlfriend Mona on Friends, was walking on Sunset Boulevard around 2 a.m. with the victim and a female friend. A Los Angeles Police Department spokesperson tells E! "It appears the shooting occurred during an attempted robbery. According to an officer, a struggle broke out after a robber demanded Somerville's purse, and one of the suspects shot the man with a .22-caliber pistol. The robbers fled in a tan-colored sport utility vehicle without taking anything. The unidentified victim was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center where he is listed in good condition and expected to survive. No one else was hurt. Somerville's rep tells E! that "Bonnie is fine" and will issue a statement by the end of the weekend. Other celebs at the T-Mobile party included Molly Sims, Britney Snow, Misha Barton and 90210 stars Jessica Stroop, Adam Gregory and Ryan Eggold.

 

DON CORNELIUS OF 'SOUL TRAIN' ARRESTED IN LA [AP, 10/19/08]

Don Cornelius, the former host of the television show "Soul Train," was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence, police said Saturday, October 18. Police were called to his Hollywood Hills home late Friday after someone reported a domestic dispute, Officer Sam Park said. The 72-year-old producer was taken to jail, where he was booked for investigation of felony domestic violence, Park said. He was released on $50,000 bail and ordered to appear in court next month. Park said he did not know whom Cornelius was suspected of assaulting. A call to Cornelius' production office was not immediately returned. Cornelius started "Soul Train" in 1970 to showcase black music and culture, introducing television audiences to such legendary artists as Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye and Barry White. The series spawned a franchise that includes the Soul Train Music Awards, the Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards and the Soul Train Christmas Starfest. Cornelius stepped down as "Soul Train" host in 1993.

 

ROBIN WILLIAMS: DICKS LEFT ME HANGING [E! Online, 10/19/08]

Robin Williams has a beef with Frank and Beans. The veteran funnyman is suing a production company by that name for $6 million which he says he's owed for signing on to star in a comedy called A Couple of Dicks. Per the terms of a contract Williams inked with Frank and Beans Productions, principal photography on the film, which was supposed to costar James Gandolfini, was expected to kick off no later than April 15. The Oscar winner agreed to provide his thespian services, provided he receive $6 million in "fixed compensation," in addition to a percentage of the box office grosses and various bonuses if the receipts ever totaled $90 million, $110 million, etc. Judging by the title alone, how could they not?! Anyway, according to the breach-of-contract lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, Williams was supposed to collect his paycheck even if A Couple of Dicks never got made; but Frank and Beans' parent, Gold Circle Films, never paid up after informing him in March that the picture had been shelved. And now Williams is looking for his money shot.

 

NELLY FURTADO COMES CLEAN ON SECRET MARRIAGE [E! Online, 10/18/08]

Whoa, Nelly. Now that's some good secret-keeping. Canuck songbird Nelly Furtado has revealed in an interview that aired on Entertainment Tonight Canada Friday, October 19 that she quietly—very quietly—tied the knot with fiancé Demacio "Demo" Castellon over the summer. "We got married July 19," she says. "I love it. "It's a nice phase of my life…I just feel kind of free and relaxed and more in tune with trying not to be so stressed out. I'm trying to enjoy things a little more." The 29-year-old announced her engagement to Castellon last summer. The duo met when he engineered her 2006 hit album Loose. Speculation on the state of Furtado's marital status kicked off in recent weeks, when the apparently no longer "Promiscuous" warbler was spotted wearing some serious bling while making the scene in Miami. The singer has one child, 4-year-old daughter Nevis, from a previous relationship.

 

FORMER BLINK-182 DRUMMER RELEASED FROM BURN CENTER [AP, 10/18/08]

Travis Barker is out of a Los Angeles burn center where he was being treated after surviving a plane crash. The former Blink-182 drummer was released Friday, October 19 from the Grossman Burn Center. He had been there since Sept. 29 with second- and third-degree burns. The burn center says the 32-year-old rocker will continue being treated at home and is expected to fully recover over the next few months. Barker was initially treated in Georgia after the Sept. 19 crash in South Carolina. Disc jockey Adam Goldstein, better known as DJ AM, also survived. Two pilots and two other passengers died.

 

STEVIE WONDER DISMISSES HOUSE FIRE CLAIMS [CBC, 10/18/08]

Motown legend Stevie Wonder has dismissed reports that his home burnt down in a wildfire in the foothills around Los Angeles earlier this week. The New York Post reported on Thursday, October 18 that Wonder's home had caught on fire and all his musical memorabilia had gone up in flames. "I'm grateful to say that my house was not burnt down in the fire," said the musician in a statement. The blaze in the San Fernando Valley destroyed 19 homes. "I extend my sympathies to anyone who may have been touched by this horrendous event," added Wonder. Wonder's spokeswoman Shelley Selover said the singer does not even have a house in the immediate area hit by the fire. Wonder, 57, whose hits include Superstition and Happy Birthday, recently performed in the UK as part of a European tour. He has won 25 Grammy Awards for his work.

 

BACHCHAN RELEASED FROM HOSPITAL BBC, 10/18/08]

Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan has been released from a Mumbai (Bombay) hospital where he was admitted last week with acute abdominal pains. Reports said the star had suffered from incisional hernia. Bachchan, who was on a liquid diet, left the hospital with his family members under police protection. Known as the "Big B", Bachchan has starred in over 150 films in 30 years. He had been working on a film until a day before his illness last week. Doctors said that Bachchan had responded to the medication and they were pleased with his recovery. The star's fans across the country held prayers for his recovery at temples. Bachchan underwent surgery for an intestinal condition at the same hospital in 2005. Earlier this year, Bachchan, who starred in the legendary Hindi movie Sholay and hosted India's version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire?, appeared on stage with his family in a London showcase for Bollywood stars.

 

MARADONA STILL OWES 36 MILLION EUROS UNPAID TAX [AFP, 10/18/08]

Argentina legend Diego Maradona still owes the Italian tax-man 36 million euros, outstanding from his seven-year spell at Napoli from 1984-1991. President of the Italian Tax Association Vittorio Carlomango, quoted by the Ansa news agency, said that Maradona had paid back about a 10th of one percent of what he owed. "The Italian tax office has not managed to obtain from Maradona more than 0.11 percent of what he owes the public treasury: 36 million euros. It's deflating," he said. "Of the 36 million euros, there's 22.4 million euros of interest." He added that Maradona had only paid back 42,051.05 euros and two luxury watches. Maradona joined Napoli from Barcelona in 1984 and helped the southerners to win their only two Serie A titles before his time in Italy came to an end following a positive test for cocaine that saw him cop a 15-month ban. In recent years he has suffered severe health problems due to drink, drugs and over-eating. Over the last four years he has suffered a heart-attack, undergone gastric bypass surgery, contracted hepatitis and been admitted to a psychiatric clinic.

 

KEVIN COSTNER'S WIFE CHRISTINE BAUMGARTNER PREGNANT WITH SECOND CHILD

[Aceshowbiz, 10/17/08]

Actor Kevin Costner is set to become a father once again as his wife Christine Baumgartner is pregnant with their second child. His representative confirmed to Star magazine, "Yes, Kevin and Christine Costner are expecting their second child." Christine's exact due date and the baby's sex haven't been disclosed, but a friend of the family is said to have revealed that Kevin and Christine are expecting a baby boy. She reportedly is due to deliver the infant this spring. Kevin and Christine "are ecstatic" over the pregnancy news. They are said to be feeling "so incredibly blessed right now as everything in their life is perfect." The baby Christine is carrying will join her and Kevin's eldest child, son Cayden Wyatt Costner, born May last year. Kevin also fathers other children; Annie, Lily, Joe, and Liam, from previous relationships.

 

LISA BONET PREGNANT WITH THIRD CHILD [Aceshowbiz, 10/17/08]

Lisa Bonet is pregnant with her third child, People reports Wednesday, October 15 as being informed by the actress herself. The not-yet born infant is her second child with actor boyfriend Jason Momoa. "I'm seven months and I feel great," Lisa said in a statement. "I've had a tremendous amount of energy, which is lucky, because I have a 14-month-old," she added when referring to her and Jason's first child, daughter Lola Iolani Momoa, who was born in July last year. Detailing on her third pregnancy, Lisa told People she has not yet known the sex of the baby she's carrying, saying "When my friends ask me, I say, 'I really don't know'". She, in fact, doesn't want to find it out, reasoning "I love the mystery and I trust the mystery about it. It adds a whole other component at the end." Lisa and Jason have been dating for a couple of years. Waiting for the arrival of their second child together, the lovebirds have not yet had marriage plans though. Lisa, who's best known for playing the character of Denise Huxtable Kendall in TV series "The Cosby Show" (1984), also has another daughter, Zoe Isabella Kravitz, with her then husband, singer Lenny Kravitz.

 

AVRIL LAVIGNE AND DERYCK WHIBLEY PUT ON UNITED FRONT DESPITE SPLIT RUMOURS

[Aceshowbiz, 10/17/08]

Avril Lavigne and her rocker husband Deryck Whibley were seen stepping out for dinner in Los Angeles on Monday, October 13 amid rumors claiming their marriage is on the rocks. Their public union has thus put to rest the false speculation that they are on the verge of splitting, a report which was first brought to public's notice by The National Enquirer. Avril herself has issued a denial on split rumors, telling In Touch Weekly her marriage to Sum 41 lead vocalist Deryck is just fine. "We're best friends. We have so much in common and get along all of the time. He makes me happy," the publication quoted her as saying. Strengthening her denial, Deryck's friends insisted he even joined his singer wife on tour for two months long, adding, "He performed on stage with her every night and they sang her hit song 'In Too Deep' for an encore together." Getting back into the U.S. following a tour to Asia, Avril and Deryck have been spotted "hanging out together" and "recording songs in their home studio." Avril furthermore testified she and Deryck "have fun together" despite the flying rumors. As for Deryck, instead of slamming The National Enquirer's report he tends to question the credibility of it, saying "I'm actually very surprised that so many media outlets picked this story up. Since when did the National Enquirer become a trust worthy news source?" In a post on Sum 41's MySpace blog, dated Tuesday, October 14, Deryck's management firm, Nettwerk Music Group, wrote, "On October 20th the National Enquirer issued a gossip story surrounding Deryck Whibley of Sum 41 and his wife Avril Lavigne. For the record we strongly deny the inference of martial problems between Avril and Deryck. We also strongly deny the National Enquirer claims of any other liaisons. Deryck has in fact been traveling through Asia performing with Avril as evidenced by the numerous Youtube videos."

 

"HOUSEWIVES" ACTOR IMPROVING AFTER BIKE ACCIDENT [AP, 10/17/08]

Officials at a Los Angeles hospital say "Desperate Housewives" actor Gale Harold is improving after suffering serious injuries in a motorcycle accident. Officials at Los Angeles County USC Medical Center said Thursday evening, October 16 that Harold is under observation in the intensive care unit. The actor had swelling on the brain and a fractured shoulder but is expected to recover. Officials say he will be transferred to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center when a bed becomes available. Harold plays the boyfriend of Teri Hatcher's character on the ABC show. He was injured Tuesday.

 

JOLIE SAYS SIX OR SEVEN KIDS WON'T SLOW HER DOWN [Reuters, 10/17/08]

Oscar-winning actress Angelina Jolie intends to keep up her nomadic, Earth-wandering lifestyle alongside partner Brad Pitt, with all six of her children in tow, and hinted in a TV interview on Thursday, October 16 that they may adopt a seventh. Jolie, who in July gave birth in France to twins, a girl named Vivienne Marcheline and a boy named Knox Leon, said during an appearance on NBC's morning news show "Today" that she sees no reason to slow down despite her growing brood. "One day (the children) are probably going to want to stay in one place for a very long time as they get certain friends," she told "Today" co-host Matt Lauer in an interview to promote her new film, the period drama "Changeling." "But, you know, so far we've just moved them a lot, and they like moving. They like packing their bag before the next adventure, and they like making new friends wherever we go," Jolie said. "And I think part of it, we'd like to maintain that," the 33-year-old actress said. "We'd like them to be those kind of adults where they can find home wherever they are in the world and they can find friends wherever they are in the world." In addition to the twins, Jolie and Pitt are parents to four other young children -- adoptees Maddox, Pax and Zahara, and their first biological daughter, Shiloh. Responding to questions from Lauer, Jolie said she and Pitt were considering adopting still more. "It depends," she said. "I mean it's important ... you can't adopt, you can't even start the process until any new children are 6 months old to understand how the new family has settled." But Jolie said that her children were now getting used to new arrivals and "are not really stunned anymore when kids come home". "You know, somebody asked how (7-year-old) Mad was doing and you know he's just, he's a professional big brother, he's done it so many times," she said. "And we prepared them, we talked to them about it, they knew it was coming, and they are all just at that great age that they aren't threatened, that they are independent enough not to need mommy and daddy all the time," she said. Jolie, who won an Academy Award as best supporting actress for her 1999 role as a young psychiatric patient in "Girl, Interrupted," stars in "Changeling" as a single mother whose 9-year-old son is kidnapped in 1928 Los Angeles.

 

TOM CRUISE LIVES! [E! Online, 10/17/08]

Jumping over couches? Yes. Falling off cliffs? No way. Just in case there were any fans out there who heard, let alone believed, the rampant online reports one poorly executed, recycled report claiming that Tom Cruise fell to his death in New Zealand Wednesday morning, October 15, the actor's reps are here to set the record straight. "This is completely not true," Cruise's publicist Jeff Raymond told E! News. "Tom is not in New Zealand nor has he been there recently. This is erroneous and unreliable Internet garbage." It's also unoriginal. The short-on-details report claimed that Cruise plunged more than 60 feet to his death from the Kauri Cliffs while shooting a film yesterday morning—nearly the exact same non-fate that befell Tom Hanks back in 2006. While it so far has avoided culpability this time around, Hanks' phony-plunge story was later attributed to fakeawish.com, a site that serves as a fake news generator and allows users to plug a celebrity's name into made-up stories. As it stands, the top option on the site today is to plug a male celebrity's name into a "dies in New Zealand" article. Suffice it to say, the reports of Cruise's death have been greatly exaggerated. Meanwhile, Cruise, in all his living and breathing glory, is expected to lead the slew of A-list attendees set to descend on Broadway this evening, when Katie Holmes makes her opening night debut in All My Sons.

 

MADONNA AND GUY RITCHIE ARE DIVORCING [AP, 10/16/08]

After countless denials of domestic trouble, Madonna and Guy Ritchie announced Wednesday, October 15 they are divorcing after nearly eight years of marriage. The couple's announcement brings to an end a showbiz union that spanned the Atlantic and dominated the gossip columns. Madonna — "Madge" to the British press — and her filmmaker husband were always greater tabloid fodder in England, where they lived. The pop star seemed to take to English life, spending much of her time at the couple's 1,200-acre country estate in Wiltshire, and to some ears, adopting a slight British accent. But in recent years, reports began to accumulate that they were on the rocks. Over the summer, Madonna was linked — unfairly, she said — to the breakup of New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez and his ex-wife Cynthia. The couple issued a brief statement by their representatives Wednesday, asking for respect from the press for their family's sake. A financial settlement has not been agreed by the wealthy couple, who also must decide child custody issues. Madonna and Ritchie, director of "Snatch" and "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels," married in December 2000 at Skibo Castle, in the Scottish Highlands. The couple have two children: Rocco, 8, and David Banda, 3, who was adopted from Malawi in 2006. Madonna also has a 12-year-old daughter, Lourdes, from her relationship with personal trainer Carlos Leon. The couple are reportedly worth some $525 million, the bulk of that belonging to Madonna. Ritchie has an estimated $35 million fortune. They own homes in London, Los Angeles and New York, and the retreat in Wiltshire. Madonna was to perform concerts Wednesday and Thursday in Boston as her "Sticky and Sweet" tour continued. Ritchie's latest movie, "RocknRolla," recently opened to mixed reviews. In London, Ritchie's mother, Lady Amber Leighton, told reporters that the family wouldn't be making any statement to the media. Madonna, who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last year, has found lesser success as a screen star, starring in the musical "Evita" and the comedy "Desperately Seeking Susan." Her most notable collaboration with Ritchie was the panned 2002 film "Swept Away." She married Sean Penn in 1985, but they divorced four years later.

 

DAVID DUCHOVNY AND TEA LEONI: SEPARATE LIVES [E! Online, 10/16/08]

Where there's smoke, there's usually fire. Hot on the heels of David Duchovny's revelation that he required treatment for a sex addiction, he and his wife of more than 11 years, Téa Leoni, have confirmed that they have split. "In light of continuous speculation over the lives and marriage of Téa Leoni and David Duchovny, the couple has confirmed that they have in fact been separated for several months," the actors' reps said in a joint statement to People. "The couple had hoped to keep this separation private for the sake of their children." Duchovny and Leoni have two kids together, daughter Madelaine, 9, and son Kyd, 6. They tied the knot in May 1997. Unfortunately, the pair's happiness meter came under intense scrutiny after Duchovny disclosed Aug. 28 that he had checked into rehab for sex addiction. Per his attorney, the Californication star was through with rehab and "about to start a new movie" by Oct. 6, 2008. "He successfully completed his treatment," the lawyer said.

 

A-ROD ATTENDS KABBALAH AS MADONNA'S MARRIAGE CRUMBLES [E! Online, 10/16/08]

E! News has learned that Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez knew Madonna was planning to drop the divorce bomb and was miles away "lying low" to avoid being connected to the split. But while not physically together, the all-world ballplayer is apparently doing his best to keep up a spiritual bond. He attended Monday night's annual Succhot services at the Kabbalah Centre in Los Angeles—the same spiritual center where the Material One frequents when in town. "Alex is really taking it seriously," says a source close to Rodriguez, who is reportedly holed up at the Beverly Hills Wilshire Hotel. A rep for the Kabbalah Centre could not be reached for comment. Rodriguez initially retreated to Miami during the weekend of Oct. 4, while Madonna descended on the New York City area for her Sticky and Sweet World Tour. He made an effort to be photographed by paparazzi partying it up at Prime 112 steakhouse, a hot spot eatery in South Beach. "He was in Miami because he didn't want any gossip to come up when she was in New York," another insider tells E! News. "He wanted to make sure he was seen in Miami. He wanted to be seen out." The revelations come amid renewed reports that Madonna and Rodriguez are more than "just friends"—and that status had a big role in their respective divorces. Madonna and Guy Ritchie have barely been seen together in months, even as the "Causing a Commotion" crooner reportedly dined with Rodriguez and was spotted at a Yankees game in recent weeks. Rodriguez's estranged wife, Cynthia, filed for divorce in July. Madonna meanwhile is currently en route to Boston where she's scheduled to perform two concerts tonight and tomorrow.

 

"HOUSEWIVES, "QUEER AS FOLK" STAR INJURED IN MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT

[CBC, 10/16/08]

Actor Gale Harold, a recent addition to the cast of TV's Desperate Housewives, has been hospitalized in Los Angeles and is in critical condition following a motorcycle accident. Harold fractured his shoulder and is awaiting further tests at USC Medical Center, a spokeswoman said Wednesday, October 15. The 39-year-old actor was involved in the accident on Tuesday. No one else was injured. According to "Housewives" creator and executive producer Marc Cherry, Harold apparently has swelling on the brain, but is expected to recover. Harold currently appears on "Housewives" as a love interest for Teri Hatcher's character, Susan. He was scheduled to be on set Tuesday, after filming scenes all week for a key "Housewives" episode set to air during the November sweeps period. Producers will wait for the actor's prognosis before deciding how to proceed, Cherry said. He added, however, that some changes would be necessary, including the rewriting of at least one scene. Harold is best known for his starring role as bad-boy character Brian Kinney on the cult hit U.S. cable series Queer as Folk, which was filmed in Toronto. His other TV credits include the defunct series Vanished and appearances in Grey's Anatomy, Deadwood and The Unit.

 

RYAN O'NEAL, SON CHARGED IN DRUGS CASE [AFP, 10/16/08]

Actor Ryan O'Neal and his son have been charged with drug possession following a search at the star's home in Malibu last month, Los Angeles prosecutors said Wednesday, October 15. The 67-year-old star of classic 1970s films "Love Story" and "Paper Moon" was hit with one count of felony possession of methamphetamine and is to be arraigned on November 13, the District Attorney's office said. O'Neal's 23-year-old son with actress Farrah Fawcett, Redmond, has been charged with felony drug possession and three lesser misdemeanor counts. The duo were arrested on September 17 after sheriff's deputies discovered narcotics while conducting a probation search of O'Neal's home in connection with an earlier drugs case involving his son. The search was carried out after Redmond O'Neal pleaded guilty to felony drug possession and driving under the influence.

 

BRITNEY SPEARS  RETURN TO THE GLAMOUROUS LIFE [E! Online, 10/16/08]

Another day, another step on the ladder for Britney Spears' return to the top. The pop princess will appear on the cover of Glamour magazine's January issue, several sources exclusively tell me. Back in early September, there were reports that Spears was shot by photographer Patrick Demarchelier for Vogue magazine. But as I told you, speculation eventually focused in on Glamour after a rep for Anna Wintour's fashion bible shot down the Vogue rumors. A January issue of a major women's magazine like Glamour makes perfect sense. It will hit newsstands just about the same time Spears' new album, Circus, is released Dec. 2. Spears has also just signed a deal with live entertainment company AEG to produce her upcoming world tour. She has appeared once before on the cover of Glamour, back in 2003 for its annual Women of the Year issue. A music label rep for Spears did not comment. A rep for Glamour would not confirm or deny a Spears cover, because the magazine has a policy of not commenting on upcoming issues.

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