CELEBRITY HIP_NEWS ARCHIVE [page 3]

 

TINA TURNER MIXES SOUL IN COMEBACK SHOW [Reuters, 10/15/08]

Returning to the stage after eight years of retirement, Tina Turner delivered a mix of gritty soul and Vegas spectacle during a two-hour show at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Monday, October 13. Coming up on her 69th birthday, the Queen of Rock can't move like days of old, but her voice and her spirit were willing, as were those legendary legs. The first half kicked into high gear a few songs in with the rising rumbling of the Phil Spector classic "River Deep -- Mountain High," its Wall of Sound intact, followed by the British Invasion-styled "What You Get Is What You See" and a crunchy, commanding "Better Be Good to Me." Sneaking off for the first of several outfit changes, she re-emerged in a diaphanous red dress for "The Acid Queen." Surprisingly, hits from her mid-'80s comeback period came off as the least essential numbers of the night, such as a shaky "What's Love Got to Do With It." A cage match, Cirque du Soleil-goes-apocalyptic "We Don't Need Another Hero," with clips from "Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome," was absurd, but she pulled it off. After an intermission of ads from tour sponsor Amway, Part 2 brought the night's musical highlight: a scaled-down run of songs that included a ballad version of the Beatles "Help," the slinky "Undercover Agent for the Blues," the soul groove of Al Green's "Let's Stay Together" and earthy funk of Ann Peebles' "I Can't Stand the Rain," all Tina-fied. A fireball medley of "Jumpin' Jack Flash" and "It's Only Rock 'n Roll (but I Like It)" brought the crowd to its feet, while the James Bond theme "GoldenEye" was an obvious choice for more flashy production. But it was "Proud Mary," the Creedence song she put her stamp on 37 years ago, that still can't be beat, from slow and swampy nice to explosive and frantic rough. For the encore, the former Anna Mae Bullock let loose with the biographical hometown rave-up "Nutbush City Limits". The hoopla was contrasted by the gentle closing ballad "Be Tender With Me, Baby." Turner began the evening telling the mostly middle-aged crowd that she was offering "a show of my past." But she delivered a confirmation that in the present, she's every bit deserving of the marquee celebration at night's end that flashed T-I-N-A, an icon-- no, make that a queen -- of American music. [Tina Turner will performing in Toronto Dec. 12/08 at Air Canada Centre]

 

SPECULATION GROWS OVER MADONNA DIVORCE [Reuters, 10/15/08]

Speculation that pop singer Madonna and her husband Guy Ritchie plan to divorce grew on Wednesday October 15 after a report in a British newspaper said the couple would announce the split "imminently." When asked about the report in the Sun tabloid, Barbara Charone, Madonna's London-based publicist, replied: "No comment." Madonna and British film maker Ritchie have denied previous reports that they planned to end their eight-year marriage. The Sun quoted a "highly-placed source" as saying Madonna, 50, and Ritchie, 40, "just couldn't live together any more" and could "no longer bear to live with the pretence" of being happily married. Rumors that the London-based couple planned to split have been circulating for months, fueled by reports in the summer that the singer had lined up Fiona Shackleton, a lawyer who acted for former Beatle Paul McCartney in his divorce. Madonna and Ritchie have a son, Rocco, who was several months old on their wedding day. In 2006 Madonna applied to adopt David Banda, a boy from Malawi whose mother died shortly after his birth. The adoption was approved by a court in Malawi in May. Madonna also has a daughter, Lourdes, from an earlier relationship. She was married once before, to actor Sean Penn, in the 1980s.

 

AMY WINEHOUSE WANTS TO "OWN" IT [E! Online, 10/15/08]

Despite Amy Winehouse's troubled private life, her Grammy-winning producer Mark Ronson still has complete faith in her. Ronson confirms that he and Winehouse have plans to record a cover of Lesley Gore's "You Don't Own Me" for a Quincy Jones tribute album. "I haven't seen her in a while, but we'll get in the studio and we'll do the song, and hopefully we'll do a good job," Ronson said at last night's opening of Shin, a Korean BBQ restaurant in Hollywood. Ronson will also be spinning tonight, October 14 at a party for DJ AM. Proceeds from ticket sales are going to memorial funds for those lost in the deadly plane crash that left DJ AM and Travis Barker as the only survivors. "I know it's something very near and dear to AM, and he's a really great friend of mine," Ronson said. "So he didn't have to say anything except 'I want you to come deejay' and I'm there in a heartbeat." Also at the eatery opening were Kirsten Dunst, Will.i.am, Chris and Danny Masterson, Laura Prepon, Wilmer Valderrama, Mos Def and cozy friends Gerard Butler and Shanna Moakler.

 

MTV, CNN PARTNER FOR CONCERT TO SUPPORT VETERANS [AP, 10/15/08]

MTV's Choose or Lose campaign and CNN have partnered to broadcast a concert supporting veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. "A Night for Vets: An MTV Concert for the BRAVE" will air Oct. 24, 2008 on MTV (8 p.m. EDT) from a performance taped in New York the previous day. The show's name alludes to a petition MTV and several veterans' organizations created called the Bill of Rights for American Veterans (BRAVE). On Oct. 25, CNN will air a special of "Anderson Cooper 360" titled "Back From Battle" that focuses on stories of young veterans. The concert will feature performances by 50 Cent, Ludacris and Saving Abel, as well as taped performances by Kanye West, Kid Rock, Fall Out Boy, Angels and Airwaves, Nelly, Juanes and Taylor Swift. Making taped appearances will be Beyonce, Will Ferrell, Jennifer Hudson, John Legend and others. News packages from CNN and MTV News will air throughout the special, which will be held in front of an audience of young veterans and their families. "It doesn't matter where you stand on the war, we can all agree that young veterans serving our country must receive the benefits they've earned for their sacrifices," said Van Toffler, president of MTV Networks. "We aim to elevate these issues and ensure they're a top priority for our government officials." Collaboration on the BRAVE petition came from Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, AMVETS, Veterans for America and Wounded Warrior Project. The concert will also be broadcast online.

 

BARBARA SHRUGS OFF STAR'S "HATEFUL" RANT [E! Online, 10/15/08]

If Star Jones is looking for a fight, she better look elsewhere. Barbara Walters is opting not to engage her former tag-team partner, even though Jones sounded off on her former View mates in a recent interview with Essence magazine, saying "those girls were hateful" when Jones exited the ABC gabfest in 2006. "Barbara set me up," added Jones. But in her response today, Walters kept things civil. "Star had wonderful years with us on The View," Walters said. "And I think The View made Star a star." OK, let's make that relatively civil.

 

DJ AM JOINS JAY-Z TOUR IN FIRST POST-CRASH SHOW [AP, 10/15/08]

DJ AM, who survived a plane crash last month in South Carolina, will appear on tour with Jay-Z. DJ AM, whose real name is Adam Goldstein, will join the rap mogul Wednesday, October 15 at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles, said Jenni Weinman, the celebrity disc jockey's publicist. It will be his first performance since suffering severe burns in the Sept. 19 crash at the main airport in Columbia that killed four passengers. "He's the greatest rapper in the world," the 35-year-old disc jockey told People.com. "This is the biggest thing that's happened in my career."

 

QUEBEC TAKES STAND ON THIN MODELS AS FASHION WEEK BEGINS [CBC, 10/15/08]

The provincial minister responsible for the status of women in Quebec had the fashion industry in her sights as she announced plans to adopt a charter that would call for an end to ultra-thin models on runways and magazine pages. Christine St. Pierre's decision to form a committee to look at the idea of a charter that would take the "skinny" out of fashion shows comes at the beginning of Montreal Fashion Week, which started Monday and ends Friday, October 16,2008. St. Pierre said the industry has to take responsibility for the health of its models, and that she wants to make sure those strutting the runways are in good health.

 

PRINCE CHARLES SAYS NO THANKS TO "DOCTOR WHO"  APPEARANCE [CBC, 10/14/08]

Prince Charles has turned down an offer to star in the hit BBC series Doctor Who, triggering an angry response from the show's executive producer. Russell T. Davies, speaking at the Cheltenham Literature Festival on Sunday night, October 12, called the Prince of Wales "a miserable swine" for declining the invitation. However, the Prince's Clarence House office said the Prince never had a chance to view the invite himself. "We did receive a request from Doctor Who 's producers," said a spokeswoman. "It was not turned down by Prince Charles but by a Clarence House official. We receive hundreds of requests and he doesn't see them all." The official did provide another opening for Davies: "It's not uncommon for people to resubmit requests with different criteria and if it was resubmitted we would look at it again." The Prince is a self-confessed fan of the show and has appeared on other TV series. In 2000, he made a guest appearance in a live episode of Coronation Street to mark the program's 40th anniversary. He also read his own story, The Old Man of Lochnagar, on the children's show Jackanory. Davies, who was head writer on the show for four years, announced he was stepping down as Doctor Who's executive producer earlier this year. "There's nothing I regret," he told an audience of 2,000 fans at the festival. "The show has stayed successful and popular and good, so I'm really proud of it." Davies was at the event to promote his book about his time on the show. A fifth season of "Doctor Who" is not due until 2010 but there are three one-off specials featuring the time-travelling adventurer due out in 2009.

 

BECKHAMS' STAFF HELD OVER ALLEGED THEFT [AFP, 10/14/08]

Two housekeepers working at a mansion owned by former England football captain David Beckham and his pop star wife Victoria have been arrested on suspicion of theft, reports said Tuesday, October 14. Newspaper reports said items belonging to the LA Galaxy star and his wife, a former Spice Girl, turned up for sale on Internet auction website eBay. Police said they are looking into allegations of theft from a private address in the eastern English country of Hertfordshire, where the Beckhams have a home. They confirmed a 56-year-old woman and a 55-year-old man, both from the neighbouring county of Essex, had been arrested and released on bail.

 

ACTOR GUILLAUME DEPARDIEU DEAD AT 37 [AP, 10/14/08]

Hospital officials say 37-year-old French actor Guillaume Depardieu has died from complications linked to a sudden case of pneumonia. The son of French movie star Gerard Depardieu had been hospitalized since Sunday night October 1,2 said officials at the Raymond-Poincare de Garches hospital in the western suburbs of Paris. Guillaume Depardieu won the prize in 1996 as the most promising young actor at the Cesar awards — France's equivalent of the Academy Awards — for his role in the film "Les Apprentis" (The Apprentices). He starred with his father in a 1991 film, but they had a public falling-out in 2003. Guillaume Depardieu had his right leg amputated in 2003 to end years of pain from a bacterial infection following a motorcycle accident in 1996.

 

THE FEELING IS UNIVERSAL FOR SPIELBERG [E! Online, 10/14/08]

Steven Spielberg phoned home, and home answered. With DreamWorks and Paramount failing to keep their corporate partnership alive, the filmmaker and former DreamWorks chief executive Stacey Snider have hitched their shingle to Universal Pictures, the studio which offered up early Spielberg classics such as Jaws and E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial. The initial deal is for seven years and could include up to six movies a year. Universal has been serving as DreamWorks' international distributor since Spielberg founded it with Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen in 1994. While Paramount retains the right to distribute some of the new-look company's projects, global distribution will now fall largely on Universal's shoulders (minus in India, where financial backer Reliance Big Entertainment is based). "We're ready to get started," Snider told the Hollywood Reporter. "We'll be phasing in the employees between now and January.

 

ROBERT PATTINSON, WHERE ARE YOU? [E! Online, 10/13/08]

After watching the new Twilight trailer, we're feeling pretty giddy and want more of that  22-year-old foxy vampire/reluctant musician Robert Pattinson. So we were disheartened to realize we had to go back to MTV's VMAs just to find a picture. With his movie coming out in just over a month, he should be out brunching at Toast (the Ivy would be too desperate) and maybe popping up on a random red carpet every now and then. While he did perform a couple of songs at Whisky A Go-Go last week, all we got was a fuzzy YouTube video in which we couldn't even see his hair, which is just unacceptable. We're not asking Robert to go courting paparazzi attention, but just show up someplace where the cameramen might snap his picture. And while we're on the subject of RobPat's supreme foxiness, let's talk about that Twilight poster... How did they manage to make him look so awful? Yeah, he's a vampire, but he's the hottest one—every girl would be flattered to have him stalk them. Except no one would want to be stalked by this guy, right? 

 

ROCKSTEADY STAR ALTON ELLIS, DEAD AT 70 [BBC, 10/13/08]

Reggae star Alton Ellis, known as "the Godfather of rocksteady", has died at the age of 70. The Jamaican-born singer, who moved to Britain in the 1970s, achieved fame with a number of hits, including I'm Still in Love and I'm Just a Guy. He was a leading pioneer of the more laid-back "rocksteady" sound, which came out of Jamaica in the 1960s. Ellis was still performing until August this year, when he collapsed after a concert in central London. His manager and agent Trish De Rosa described him as "my guiding star and my inspiration". "His life was the music and the stage," she said. "He was getting a tremendous amount of work right up to the end - it was very difficult to get him to slow down." The Jamaican authorities are considering giving Ellis a state funeral, Ms De Rosa added. The prolific singer, who began his career in the 1950s and fronted vocal group The Flames, was diagnosed with cancer in 2007. Ellis underwent chemotherapy before returning to the stage, but died in London's Hammersmith hospital on Friday night, October 10. He leaves more than 20 children.

 

MORE DETAILS OF LISA MARIE PRESLEY'S NEWBORN TWINS [Aceshowbiz, 10/13/08]

Hot on the heels of Star magazine's report of Lisa Marie Presley giving birth to twin girls, a representative for her issued a confirmation Saturday, October 11, spilling more details about the infants and their celebrity mother. Not mentioning the names of the babies, representative Cindy Guagenti set the record straight on their birth date, telling People, contrary to the circulating reports which mentioned they were born on October 10, Lisa actually gave birth to them on October 7, 2008. Revealing more details about the new additions to the Presley's family, Cindy revealed the babies were delivered at 2:46 P.M. via C-section and weighed in at 5 lbs., 15 oz. and at 5 lbs., 2 oz. Their names were not made public. Though so, Cindy said Lisa and the babies "are happy and healthy and resting at home." The twins are Lisa's first children with musician husband Michael Lockwood, whom she's been married to since January 22, 2006. Besides them, Lisa also has two other children from her previous marriage to Danny Keough, they are son Benjamin Storm Keough and daughter Danielle Riley Keough. Confirming her pregnancy early March this year after several news media published unflattering photos of her accompanied with suggestion that she might have inherited her father Elvis Presley's famous appetite, Lisa remained mum on the speculation that she's carrying twins. It was her mother Priscilla Presley who confirmed it, telling Entertainment Tonight in an interview, her singer daughter was pregnant with twins and due to give birth in the fall.

 

GEORGE MICHAEL REPORTEDLY DROPPED AS BRIT AWARDS' NOMINEE [Aceshowbiz, 10/13/08]

George Michael has been axed from next year's Brit Awards, as reported by Mirror. "George was frontrunner to get the lifetime achievement award. But Brits bosses felt it would be better not to be associated with him for the time being since the Brits is a shop window for our music," a source from the music industry says. In a further statement, the source explains that the two-time Grammy Awards winning musician was scrapped as the candidate of "Outstanding Contribution to Music" category after he had been arrested in Hampstead Heath area of north London with crack cocaine in September. Bosses from the prestigious event are said to be searching for another candidate to be honored. Previously, the 45-year-old singer revealed his regret referring to the scandal. "I want to apologize to my fans for screwing up again and to promise them I'll sort myself out. And to say sorry to everybody else, just for boring them," he stated. However, Michael's camp as well as spokesperson from the awards haven't given any statement yet concerning his rumored dropping.

 

FORMER BEATLE RINGO STARR 'TOO BUSY' FOR AUTOGRAPHS [BBC, 10/13/08]

Former Beatle Ringo Starr will no longer sign memorabilia for fans and will throw away all fan mail he receives in the future, he has said. "Please do not send fan mail to any address you have," he said in a video message on his website. "Nothing will be signed after the 20th of October. If that is the date on the envelope, it's gonna be tossed. "I'm warning you with peace and love I have too much to do," the 68-year-old drummer said.  Dressed in black clothes and dark glasses, Starr said it was "a serious message to everybody watching". He added: "No more fan mail and no objects to be signed. Nothing." Starr, who released his most recent album Liverpool 8 in January, recently completed a tour of the US and Canada. The musician currently divides his time between Los Angeles, the South of France and his UK home in Surrey. In April, a foliage sculpture of Starr outside a train station in Liverpool was beheaded by vandals. The performer had reportedly angered some locals when he told the BBC's Jonathan Ross he missed nothing about the city.

 

GOLF LEGEND SEVE BALLESTEROS HAS CANCER [AFP, 10/13/08]

Spanish golf legend Seve Ballesteros, a five-times major winner, said Sunday, October 12 he has been diagnosed with a brain tumour. "I inform you that after an exhaustive check, that was realized at Hospital La Paz, a brain tumour has been detected," the 51-year-old said in a statement issued by the Madrid hospital. Ballesteros said he will undergo a biopsy on Tuesday and then doctors would decide on a course of treatment. "During my career I was one of the best at getting around obstacles on golf courses. Now I want to be the best at confronting the most difficult match of my life with all my strength, and counting on all of you who are sending encouraging messages," he said. His close friend, and Spanish compatriot, Jose Maria Olazabal said he had visited Ballesteros in hospital. "I saw Seve looking very well. We were speaking for quite a little while. I wish him a prompt recovery," said Olazabal. Ballesteros collapsed unconscious on Monday and was taken to the hospital where he remained in intensive care while doctors conducted tests. Ballesteros won the British Open in 1979, 1984 and 1988 and became the first European to win the Augusta Masters in 1980, a title he repeated in 1983. He was an influential figure in the Ryder Cup, winning 20 points from 37 matches and captaining Europe to victory at Valderrama in 1997. He collected 87 titles before knee and back problems forced him to retire last year. Known for his flamboyant and imaginative style of play, he won one of his three British Open titles by playing a shot from a temporary parking lot.

 

BOLLYWOOD LEGEND BACHCHAN HOSPITALIZED [AFP, 10/11/08]

Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan is undergoing medical tests after complaining of abdominal cramps, a hospital spokesman said on Saturday, October 11. "He has stomach pain and is undergoing tests," Mohan Rajan, from Mumbai's Lilavati Hospital, told AFP by telephone. He described the actor's condition as "stable" but could not confirm one report that he had an incisional hernia. "We are giving him the best possible treatment. We understand the importance of Mr. Bachchan and his value to the nation," he added. The 66-year-old actor -- who enjoys superstar status in India -- was taken in an ambulance from his home in the northern Mumbai suburb of Juhu. He was accompanied by his actor son Abhishek and daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai. Huge crowds that had gathered outside his house to wish him happy birthday anxiously watched him leave, television pictures showed. Bachchan, wearing a brown-coloured woollen cap and blue ensemble, was spotted lying down inside the vehicle before being supported by Abhishek and another man as he walked into Nanavati Hospital, the photographer said. Bachchan was later transferred to the Lilavati Hospital where he previously spent three weeks, including one in intensive care, after bowel surgery in November 2005. He also suffered a severe stomach injury in 1982 while shooting the film "Coolie". With a career spanning four decades in India's movie industry, doctors have warned Bachchan to slow down. Hundreds of fans flocked to Bachchan's personal website to wish him a speedy recovery. One wrote: "Sorry to hear you are unwell and in hospital. We pray it is not serious. We pray for your wellbeing. Please slow down and take it a bit slower, I wonder how much toll your aggressive routine takes on your body." Bachchan, known as "The Big B" with a distinctive white beard, flowing grey hair and baritone voice, was last seen in his first English-language movie, "The Last Lear", and has been on a world tour with his family. Indian newspapers marked Bachchan's birthday Saturday with a series of interviews. The Bombay Times commented that he had "never looked better. Or fitter" when they spoke to him two days ago on a film shoot. "I enjoy being alive, I look for a new struggle, a new experience every day. An artiste has no right to say he is satisfied, that's being defeatist," he was quoted as saying.

 

LISA MARIE PRESLEY GIVES BIRTH TO TWINS [Aceshowbiz, 10/11/08]

Lisa Marie Presley gave birth to twin girls Friday, October 10 at Los Robles Hospital and Medical Center in Thousand Oaks, California. Just Jared cited Star magazine, which broke the news, as reporting her musician husband Michael Lockwood was by her side and so did her children Danielle Riley and Benjamin Storm, whom she has with then husband Danny Keough. Details of the newborn infants have not yet been released as of press time. Neither Lisa nor her camp has issued a statement about the new additions. A family friend, meanwhile, revealed, "Lisa Marie is mom to four now! She's feeling good, a little tired too. She is so happy and Michael is ecstatic. He's wanted to be a dad for so long. This is his dream come true ... The babies are healthy and beautiful. Ben was seen pushing them down the hall in their cart and cooing to them." Initially wanting to keep her pregnancy private, Lisa was forced to issue a confirmation under the gun early March this year that she and Michael were expecting their first child together after becoming the subject of cruel comments from the news media concerning her looking heavier. Back in May, her mother Priscilla Presley confirmed in an interview with Entertainment Tonight that her famous daughter was pregnant with twins and due to give birth in the fall.

 

JOLIE SAYS PITT CHANGED HER MIND ABOUT PREGNANCY [AP, 10/11/08]

Angelina Jolie, an advocate of adoption, credits partner Brad Pitt with her decision to have biological children. In an interview with W magazine, Jolie says: "One of the life-changing things that he did, one of many, is that I was absolutely never going to get pregnant. I never felt that it was the right thing to do." She says she changed her mind while watching Pitt bond with adopted children Maddox and Zahara. "He stopped talking about having other kids in the other way," she says in the magazine's November issue. "So I suppose in my heart I realized he was happy with them as his children, completely. I knew he would never see them as different, and that gave me a certain peace." After that revelation, "I suppose I just looked at him and loved him and just felt open to (getting pregnant). I suddenly wanted to. It's one of those things you can't explain," she says. The couple welcomed daughter Shiloh in May 2006 and twins Knox Leon and Vivienne Marcheline in July. "Now I wouldn't trade that experience for the world," Jolie says. "It taught me a lot about life, just the process of it, and now we have three other beautiful children that wouldn't otherwise be here." The 33-year-old actress is photographed apparently breast-feeding on the cover of W. The black-and-white photo shows a smiling Jolie in a sleeveless top, which has been opened to reveal part of her left breast and a tiny hand ostensibly belonging to one of her twins. The cover headline promises exclusive "private photos" taken of Jolie by Pitt, with whom she is also parent to 4-year-old Pax, adopted from Vietnam. "I'm with a man who's evolved enough to look at my body and see it as more beautiful, because of the journey it has taken and what it has created. He genuinely sees it that way. So I genuinely feel even sexier," says Jolie, who stars in Clint Eastwood's upcoming missing-child drama "Changeling." Jolie, who divorced Billy Bob Thornton and Jonny Lee Miller, calls Pitt the "right man" for her. "I have a lot of respect for him, and he helps me to be better and fight hard for things that I love," she says.

 

GIRLS ALOUD MAY SPLIT UP AFTER 'ONE OR TWO ALBUMS' [Aceshowbiz, 10/11/08]

Sarah Harding says that Girls Aloud may only have one or two records left before they split up. "There are still one or two more albums in us," she reveals in a statement. Previously, Sarah, who admitted that making music was "stressful", revealed that she stayed at a separate hotel from her bandmates while they were working on their upcoming LP, "Out of Control". "It takes me a while to get motivated because of my Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and I actually focused a lot more because I didn't want to stay in London," she explained. "So I booked myself into a hotel in Surrey and relaxed and got away from it all. It was nice to have that. I was the only one that decided to stay out of London." "We wanted to stay upbeat but try something a bit different and advanced," Sarah speaks further of the girls' upcoming project. "I don't think anything we've ever done has ever sounded the same. But we have that same vibe whatever we do because of our vocals." The Girls' other members give no words concerning Sarah's statement. In line with the other member's silence, their recording company, Polydor Records, as well as their management team haven't issued any confirmation yet.

 

AVRIL LAVIGNE AND DERYCK WHIBLEY ON THE VERGE OF SPLITTING [Aceshowbiz, 10/11/08]

Bad news comes from Avril Lavigne as rumor has it, her marriage to musician hubby Deryck Whibley is on the rocks. The National Enquirer broke the report that the celebrity couple, who has been married for more than two years, is on the verge of splitting. The magazine cited a source as informing Avril and Deryck have been growing apart since she started her world tour earlier this year. "Deryck isn't motivated in his own career, so he's been drinking and partying," the source revealed. Adding fuel to the rumors of possible separation, Deryck reportedly has been spotted attending an event at a Los Angeles nightclub recently, during when he was seen huddling at a private table and holding the hand of an unknown woman. A spokesperson for Avril and Deryck had not yet returned requests for comment. Neither of the singers also has comment on the extent of their relationship. Avril and Deryck, the guitarist and lead vocalist of band Sum 41, began dating in the beginning of 2004. The couple then got engaged in June the following year and tied the knot in a traditional Catholic wedding ceremony on July 15, 2006 at a private estate in the California coastal city of Montecito, located about 87 miles northwest of Los Angeles.

 

ROCK STEADY/REGGAE SINGER ALTON ELLIS BATTLES CANCER [YardFlex, 10/11/08]

Rumours were dispelled this week by family members of Alton Ellis, who is very much alive, yet very weak in his battle with lymphatic cancer. The legendary rock steady/reggae singer has been hospitalized for several weeks now in the UK and his son Clive told The Star that the family is not very optimistic at this point for Alton’s chances of surviving this cancer fight. Saying his dad is having serious trouble breathing, and remains motionless and mum, his son said the family is regretfully unable to hope for the best, but is anticipating the worse at this time. Clive said Alton is very weak but he is still here. The father of 15 children, Alton Ellis began his illustrious career in music in the 1950s. He recorded many hits such as, “Cry Tough,” “Same Song” and “Girl I’ve Got A Date.”

 

R'n'B SINGER ERYKAH BADU PREGNANT WITH THIRD CHILD [Aceshowbiz, 10/11/08]

Another baby is on the way for Erykah Badu. The singer made announcement of the baby, her third one, during the Austin City Limits festival in Texas last weekend.  Despite the revelation and an obvious baby bump, Badu didn't reveal the identity of the baby's daddy. Meanwhile, rumors are buzzing that the father is her current boyfriend, rapper Jay Electronica. Offering no denial nor verification on the issue, the songbird also didn't mention how many months along she's been carrying the baby and her exact due date. Badu is already a mother of son, named Seven Sirius Benjamin, whom she has from a previous relationship with rapper Andre Benjamin, and daughter named Puma with rapper The D.O.C. Aside from her personal life, Badu currently is signed to Motown Records. She has just released her latest LP, "New AmErykah, Pt. One: 4th World War", on February 26, 2008.

 

CHRISTIE BRINKLEY AND COOK'S DIVORCE FINALIZED [Aceshowbiz, 10/10/08]

The long divorce battle of Christie Brinkley and Peter Cook is over as a New York judge finalized the case last Friday, October 3. While report on that matter has just surfaced, the estranged couple was claimed to have resolved their divorce case back in July 2008. Brinkey, who filed for divorce from Peter in September 2006 after 10 years of marriage, was granted sole custody of their two children, Jack, 13, and Sailor, 10. She, moreover, also retained all 18 properties in the Hamptons and agreed to pay Peter $2.1 million. Brinkley and Peter, an architect, married in September 1996. They have one daughter together Sailor Lee Brinkley Cook. He adopted her son from a previous marriage, named Jack. The supermodel also has a daughter, Alexa Ray Joel, with her second husband. The finalization of their divorce came in the wake of the former couple's war of words that becomes the subject of media publication. Peter said in an interview set to air Friday, October 10 on ABC's "20/20," he cheated on the supermodel because "I was seeking a connection I could not find in my own marriage." To that, Brinkley's lawyer blamed him for sharing the dirty laundry with the press, saying "It is shocking that Mr. Cook, after having his day in court, would continue this firestorm created by his bizarre behavior by violating an agreement and court order that prohibits either party from discussing their marriage or divorce in any public way." The lawyer then added, "Ms. Brinkley plans to pursue her legal options arising from his gross disregard of the children and the court order."

 

"ALL MY CHILDREN" MOURNS ITS MYRTLE [E! Online, 10/10/08]

It's a sad day in Pine Valley. ABC has announced that Eileen Herlie, the Scottish stage star who played All My Children's Myrtle Fargate for approximately forever, has died. The actress, who rose to fame trading iambic pentameter with the likes of Laurence Olivier and Richard Burton on the West End and Broadway, joined AMC in 1976 and played surrogate mother to Susan Lucci's Erica Kane up through the current season. Herlie succumed to complications of pneumonia. She was 90.

 

KICK BY CO-STAR ON SET OF BOND FILM SENT CRAIG TO PLASTIC SURGEON [CBC, 10/10/08]

James Bond star Daniel Craig has revealed he was injured on the set of Quantum of Solace in June and required plastic surgery. Craig told Elle magazine that he was accidentally kicked by one of his "Quantum of Solace" co-stars. The actor severed his fingertip and required eight stitches on his face. "It's a stupid inconvenience because we had to stop filming. But they gave me an excellent plastic surgeon," he is quoted as saying. Craig was recently pictured with his arm in a sling, a result of surgery for an old injury unrelated to the accident on the set, he said. In an interview on Wednesday, October 8, the 40-year-old actor reflected on his own take on 007, saying he wanted to play a more modern Bond. "I wanted some fallibility. It's no good if Bond is a cocktail-swigging sexist pig with no interior struggle," Craig said. He said Bond might be attractive as a womanizer, but that's not the character he wanted to play. "I think it's true that narcissists, thrill-seekers and liars breed and survive in the gene pool because some women find them attractive," Craig said. "But I think James Bond has changed. He's not a shallow brute." The world premiere of Quantum of Solace will take place at the London Film Festival on Oct. 29 and in Canada Nov. 14, 2008.

 

RECUPERATING JANET READY TO ROCK WITCHU AGAIN [E! Online, 10/10/08]

Janet Jackson is ready for more onstage escapades. A rep for the veteran pop star said Wednesday that Jackson is ready to continue the North American leg of her Rock Witchu tour after sitting out a handful of dates to recover from an unspecified ailment. Due to all the reshuffling, she has decided against playing NYC's Madison Square Garden on Oct. 16 but will be back on the road Oct. 11 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. "Janet, who has been under her doctor's care and recuperating over the last week, is excited about getting back on the road and again being able to share with her fans what she feels is one of her best stage shows ever," a rep for tour promoter Live Nation said in a statement to Access Hollywood. The Grammy winner was forced to postpone shows in Montreal, Philadelphia, Boston, Greensboro, N.C., Atlanta and Fort Lauderdale, Fla., after falling ill Sept. 29 in Montreal. She was rushed from rehearsal to Royal Victoria Hospital, where she spent several hours before being discharged. All fans were asked to hang on to their tickets, which will be honored at future makeup dates. So far, the Atlanta and New York shows have been rescheduled for Oct. 19 and Nov. 1, respectively.

 

BEYONCE KNOWLES BREAKS SILENCE ON TOP SECRET WEDDING TO JAY-Z [Aceshowbiz, 10/9/08]

Always avoiding to discuss her love life with the press, Beyonce Knowles finally breaks her silence on the top secret wedding she had with longtime boyfriend Jay-Z back on April 4, 2008. In an interview with Essence magazine for its November issue, she does share a little about her wedding day, telling the publication she and Jay-Z "always knew it would happen" for they've "been together a long time." On having a small and intimate nuptials, Beyonce explained it was because she's not a "traditional" woman. Besides, the fact that she is a star and has been walking the red carpet, has made her unwilling of the drama for she's been on the spotlight for years. "It's been my day so many days already," she told the magazine. She, furthermore, went on revealing that it was a joint decision she made with Jay-Z to keep their private life private. "We decide everything," she said in a statement. "My word is my word. What Jay and I have is real. It's not about interviews or getting the right photo op. It's real." "I feel that, especially now, with the Internet and paparazzi and camera phones, it's so difficult to maintain mystery," she added. "And that's so important. Even in a relationship, I feel like not being that accessible is really important." In addition to star-studded wedding, Beyonce also ruled out engagement ring, telling Essence "People put too much emphasis on that. It's just material and it's just silly to me." However, she isn't untraditional at all for, like any other women, she still wants to have kids and is planning to have one soon after she completes her latest LP, "I Am...".  The November 2008 issue of Essence, to which Beyonce also shares about her upcoming album "I Am..." and new film "Cadillac Records," will hit the newsstands on October 12, 2008.

 

SINGER JIM JAMES RELEASED FROM HOSPITAL [AP, 10/9/08]

My Morning Jacket singer-guitarist Jim James has been released from the hospital after being injured in a fall during a concert at the University of Iowa. A Cedar Rapids newspaper reported that James slipped and fell about 30 minutes into the show Tuesday night, October 7. The Gazette says James apparently hit his head in the fall, which happened between songs. The rest of the concert by the Southern rock group was canceled. Spokesman Tom Moore of University Hospitals said Wednesday that James, whose real name is James Olliges Junior, was treated and released.

 

LIL' KIM SUED AND SILENCED [E! Online, 10/9/08]

Lil' Kim has a big problem on her hands. A New York judge has temporarily barred the Hardcore rapper from recording any new material in light of a breach-of-contract lawsuit filed by her latest label, Brookland Media. The upstart company accused Kim (real name: Kimberly Jones) of making diva-esque demands and then backing out of a deal, after Brookland had paid Atlantic Records $200,000 to get her out of her previous contract, spent $240,000 to produce eight songs and shelled out $12,000 per month in rent for a pad near Kim's Alpine, N.J., home. Per the lawsuit, Brookland had planned to spotlight Kim as its debut artist. Which, if you ask Kim, could still happen—although, if it doesn't, it's no fault of hers. "We think they're wonderful people and we expect to do business with them," Kim's attorney Londell McMillan told the New York Daily News. "But they did not honor the terms of the agreement."

 

RYAN O'NEAL'S BOY ORDERED TO REHAB [E! Online, 10/9/08]

What Redmond O'Neal called a "major misunderstanding" is starting to make a little more sense. The 23-year-old son of Ryan O'Neal and Farrah Fawcett, who was arrested along with his dad last month on suspicion of methamphetamine possession, was ordered into a two-week treatment program Wednesday, October 8 after admitting that he had relapsed. "You're a stand-up guy to come here and deal with your problem," Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Scott Millington told Redmond, who also checked into rehab in 2004 to treat a heroin addiction. "I want you to stay clean…You better stay clean or the hammer is going to fall." An attorney for the O'Neals didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. No criminal charges have been filed against either Redmond or his dad in connection with their Sept. 17 bust at the elder O'Neal's Malibu home during a routine probation checkup. Officers allegedly found Redmond to be in possession of what looked like meth, as well as a small vial of the stuff in his father's bedroom. At the time of their arrest, Redmond was about two months into a three-year probation sentence for DUI and possessing heroin and crystal meth. Ryan O'Neal has maintained his innocence in the affair, his lawyer telling reporters that his client would no doubt be vindicated. "Those were not Ryan's drugs, he doesn't use drugs, and has nothing to do with them," attorney Mark Werksman said. "It's a dangerous assumption for deputies to have arrested Ryan just because he was in proximity to the drugs." Redmond, meanwhile, characterized the situation as a "major misunderstanding. "Life goes on, you know," he told a pack of paparazzi who followed him home from a market the day after his arrest. "It's all I have for you, really...If I knew more, I'd tell you more."

 

MARIAH CAREY'S MAN HAS TO WORK HIS OWN PARTY [E! Online, 10/9/08]

Maybe it's not so easy being married to Mariah Carey? When Mimi threw hubby Nick Cannon a birthday bash at Pure nightclub in Vegas, he had to deejay his own party. The duo arrived just after midnight and, after Nick took the mic to thank everyone for celebrating with them, he got down to business. While Nick worked the ones and twos, Mimi held court on a VIP leather bed, sipping Pinot Grigio with Nick's mom and friends. But the birthday boy didn't seem to mind, giving his girl a shout out at around 3 a.m. when he played a medley of some of her greatest hits for the packed house. And that's not all Mimi's got him doing. Nick directed her latest video on Sunday, October 5, which was also filmed in Sin City.

 

FOO FIGHTERS TELL McCAIN TO STOP USING SONG [AP, 10/9/08]

Yet another band is complaining about John McCain's use of their song to promote his campaign. This time, it's the Foo Fighters. The rockers sent out a missive telling the Republican presidential candidate to stop using "My Hero." They said they learned it was being use through news reports. "The saddest thing about this is that 'My Hero'' was written as a celebration of the common man and his extraordinary potential," the band said in a statement. "To have it appropriated without our knowledge and used in a manner that perverts the original sentiment of the lyric just tarnishes the song." The band noted it's not the first time McCain has been told to stop using a song. John Mellencamp, Heart and Jackson Browne have also complained — Browne even filed a lawsuit. Soul legend Sam Moore also has asked the campaign of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama to stop using "Soul Man." "The McCain-Palin campaign respects copyright. Accordingly, this campaign has obtained and paid for licenses from performing rights organizations, giving us permission to play millions of different songs, including 'My Hero,'" said McCain-Palin spokesman Brian Rogers.

 

LATE FIDDLER OLIVER SCHROER LEADS CANADIAN FOLK MUSIC NOMINATIONS [CBC, 10/9/08]

Toronto fiddler Oliver Schroer, who died of leukemia July 3 at the age of 52, leads the lineup for this year's Canadian Folk Music Awards with four nominations. Schroer, who combined folk music traditions with classical arrangements, received nominations for contemporary album of the year, solo instrumentalist, producer and a category called pushing the boundaries. He'll be honoured in a tribute at the CFMA ceremony next month. Close behind him are Vancouver signer-songwriter Wyckham Porteous and Nova Scotia fiddler Troy MacGillivray with three nominations each. With more than 400 submissions from across Canada this year, it has become more difficult to decide on nominations for the awards, notes Jean Hewson, a St. John's singer who is on the organization committee. Rik Barron, nominated for children's album of the year, said he is glad to be a part of this year's awards. "Up until three or four years ago, we didn't have an award that was just for children," he said. The awards ceremony will be held Nov. 23, 2008 in St. John's.

 

LED ZEPPELIN TO TOUR WITH ALTER BRIDGE'S FRONTMAN [Aceshowbiz, 10/9/08]

Despite Robert Plant's refusal, Led Zeppelin will still continue with their plan to hit the road. Twisted Sister's frontman Dee Snider tells MuchMoreMusic that the rockers will be touring with Alter Bridge's singer Myles R. Kennedy. "They're saying [to Robert], 'We're all rehearsed, we're ready to go, here's a gazillion dollars on the table," Snider says. "If you don't do it, we're going out with this kid. And he can sing the shit out of Zeppelin.' And they're gonna, like, hope that Robert, at the last minute, will go, 'OK,' and step in, before having the lead singer of Alter Bridge out with John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page, and Jason Bonham." There hasn't been any statement from both Zeppelin and Kennedy's camps referring to the rumour. Previously, Robert revealed that he had "no intention whatsoever of touring with anyone for at least the next two years." Robert also admitted that he "will not be recording with Led Zeppelin." Robert was reportedly reluctant to be back with the band again after they faced huge amounts of paperwork from the record industry bureaucracy during their one-off gig at London's O2 arena.

 

A-LIST WOMEN CELEBRATE THEIR OWN IN HOLLYWOOD [AP, 10/8/08]

In the year of "Sex and the City," perhaps it's no surprise that an event honoring women drew some of the biggest names in Hollywood. Nicole Kidman, Jane Fonda, Jennifer Lopez, Diane Keaton and Halle Berry joined dozens of other stars in a ballroom at the Four Seasons Hotel on Monday, October 6 for Elle magazine's 15th annual Women in Hollywood tribute, honoring seven noteworthy women in entertainment. Fonda served as an informal entertainment ambassador before the program, chatting up actress Kat Dennings and introducing Amber Tamblyn to Shirley MacLaine. Meanwhile, the evening's host, Chelsea Handler, shared laughs with Jenny McCarthy and Cheryl Hines. Other guests included Kate Beckinsale, Courteney Cox, Eva Mendes, Angie Harmon and Cheryl Tiegs. Elle's annual dinner pays tribute to women "who are telling our stories" in Hollywood, said editor Roberta Myers. This year's honorees included Berry, Fonda, Kidman, Anne Hathaway, Sigourney Weaver, Isla Fisher and director Catherine Hardwicke — all of whom are featured in the magazine's November issue. "Someday hopefully it won't be necessary to allocate a special evening to celebrate where we are and how far we've come," Weaver said. "Someday women writers, producers and crew members will be so commonplace, and roles and salaries for actresses will outstrip those for men, and pigs will fly." Though things have improved for women, "we do have a long way to go," she said. Hathaway said in today's Hollywood "women are about so much more than how they look." "I think it's pretty remarkable that, at 25, I'm able to say that my role as a woman in Hollywood is purely as an artist, not a cause," Hathaway said. "I'm free to play my characters as I imagine them, far beyond what size jeans they wear." Fisher thanked "my baby daddy SBC" (Sacha Baron Cohen) and paid homage to Kidman, "who paved the way for all us Aussies." MacLaine continued the praise. "Nicole Kidman has been a revelation to me, and it's not easy for me to be revelated," she said, calling Kidman "my star child." Kidman thanked all the directors who "molded" her, particularly Anthony Minghella and Sydney Pollack. "They were men in Hollywood who loved women," she said. Fonda thanked all the women in the house — and Hollywood itself. "Aren't we glad we're not bankers," she said. "We are in the most fantastic business."

 

MOTHER CONFISCATES MILEY CYRUS' CREDIT CARD DUE TO OVERUSE [Aceshowbiz, 10/8/08]

Attempting to keep her famous daughter Miley Cyrus grounded despite her worldwide fame, mother-manager Leticia Cyrus was forced to confiscate the Disney star's credit card for six whole months when she at one point got overindulged. Speaking about that matter during the actress-singer's lavish birthday bash at California's Disneyland Sunday, October 5, Leticia revealed, "She had a credit card, and she went a little over her limit the other day, so I said, 'No credit card for six months.'" Miley embraced her international fame starring as Miley Stewart/Hannah Montana in TV series "Hannah Montana." She has since become a phenomenon, starring in a number of TV projects and endorsing some commercials. Having numerous projects in the pipeline, she is reported to have earned a whopping $18.2 million in 2007, leading to further prediction she is on her way to become a teenaged billionaire. Despite such fact, it has been reported that her parents allow her to spend just $300 per month on clothes. No words on the things Miley has used her credit card for. She herself offers no comment about the credit card confiscation. Turning 16 years old on November 23, Miley hosted an early birthday party "Sweet 16 - Share the Celebration" for family and friends to attend. She was joined by father Billy Ray Cyrus, Leticia, sisters Noah and Brandi, also her rumored boyfriend Justin Gaston.

 

ESQUIRE NAMES HALLE BERRY 'SEXIEST WOMAN ALIVE' [AP, 10/8/08]

Alongside a photo spread that shows her in little more than a T-shirt, Halle Berry talks about being the sexiest woman alive, a title Esquire magazine gives her in its November issue. "I don't know exactly what it means, but being 42 and having just had a baby, I think I'll take it," says Berry, who gave birth to her daughter, Nahla, in March. "Sexiness is a state of mind — a comfortable state of being," she says. "It's about loving yourself in your most unlovable moments." But Berry, who won an Oscar for her role in "Monster's Ball," can't claim the sexiest-woman honor all to herself. "I share this title with every woman, because every woman is a nominee for it at any moment," she says.

 

SCARFACE TO RETIRE, PLANNING TO FORM SUPERGROUP WITH ICE CUBE [Aceshowbiz, 10/8/08]

Scarface reveals that he will quit rapping by confirming that "Emeritus" will be his last solo album. "It feels real good. The Emeritus record, the reason I'm so proud of it is because it's my last. I'm done, man. If you leave it up to me, I quit," he says. The rapper further states that he will return to the studio only if Ice Cube and Nas join him to create a supergroup. "Only thing that's gonna bring me back... if I do an album with somebody," he explains. "Me, Ice Cube and Nas do something, or me and Jigga (Jay-Z) and Beans (Beanie Sigel) do something. It's gotta be a trio or duo. Me and Bun B do a duo." "Emeritus" which is planned to be his last record is set to be dropped on December 2, 2008. Confirmed guests to appear in the album include Lil Wayne and Bun B.

 

BILLY RAY CYRUS APPROVES MILEY CYRUS' BOYFRIEND JUSTIN GASTON [Aceshowbiz, 10/8/08]

While neither Miley Cyrus nor Justin Gaston has publicly revealed they are dating, her singer father Billy Ray Cyrus has given him a seal of approval to date his famous daughter, praising him as a good guy. "He actually reminds me a lot of myself when I was 20 years old and I was living and searching for the dream," Access Hollywood cited Billy as saying. Above all, Billy considers the male model as a man who "got a great heart and soul, and a lot of determination" adding "I think that's the true measure of a man, is when you measure his heart." Recalling the day when he met Justin for the first time, the country music singer revealed, "Justin's a good friend. A good friend of the family. I met Justin as I was hosting Nashville Star and I introduced the two of them. He's a good kid. Great heart. Lives for the light and he's very talented" and continued saying Miley and Justin's love relationship is "a good thing". Justin joined Miley on Sunday, October 5 for her early 16th birthday celebration. Avoiding the purple carpet rush on the so-called "Sweet 16 - Share the Celebration" held at California's Disneyland, he joined Billy on stage on a rendition of "Achy Breaky Heart." He and Miley were spotted cuddling later that evening while watching fireworks. Miley and Justin were spotted stepping out together for the first time in September 2008, walking hand-in-hand, heading for Sunday service at a church in Pasadena, California. Despite a denial from her representative, the rumored lovers continued adding fuel to romance talk as they were photographed together on some occasions.

 

TRAVIS BARKER STILL IN RECOVERY MODE [E! Online, 10/8/08]

Travis Barker may have been released from Georgia's Joseph M. Still Burn Center last month, but his ongoing treatment is far from over. E! News has confirmed that the plane crash survivor has been receiving care, including surgery, at a Los Angeles-area hospital. A source says the former Blink-182 drummer remains in the facility and his condition has been "up and down" since he returned to Southern California. The 32-year-old rocker was released Sept. 29 from the Augusta, Ga., hospital where he and Adam "DJ AM" Goldstein were taken in the immediate aftermath of the takeoff crash of a Learjet that left the other four people on board dead. Barker suffered second- and third-degree burns in the Sept. 19 accident but, along with Goldstein, is expected to make a full recovery.

 

NICK NOLTE ESCAPES HIS BURNING HOME IN MALIBU [AP, 10/8/08]

Actor Nick Nolte jumped out a window and used a hose to fight a fire that broke out in his Malibu home Tuesday, October 7, authorities said. The 67-year-old actor scraped his arm and inhaled some smoke but was not hospitalized, said Los Angeles County fire Inspector Sam Padilla. "He is seeing his private physician" for the injuries, he said. The fire was reported at 11:34 a.m. at Nolte's secluded Bonsall Drive home. The electrical fire started in the living room, and Nolte smelled the smoke from an upstairs bedroom, said fire Inspector Frank Garrido. The Sheriff's Department said Nolte broke a window to escape. Garrido said he then grabbed a garden hose and tried to extinguish the fire. It took firefighters about 26 minutes to douse the blaze, which damaged a portion of the home, Garrido said. The fire caused about $3 million in total damage, half of it structural damage and half damage to the contents of the home, including "collectibles, artwork, the furniture," Garrido said. Nolte's publicist, Arnold Robinson, said in an e-mail that there was no one was injured. Nolte has appeared in such films as "The Prince of Tides," "Affliction," "Down and Out in Beverly Hills" and "Tropic Thunder."

 

NICOLE KIDMAN: "A MORE EVOLVED LOVE" WITH KEITH [E! Online, 10/7/08]

Nicole Kidman's days of thunder may be gone, but they're certainly not forgotten. And in a way, the subject of her marriage to Tom Cruise, per the November issue of Elle, does provide a better understanding of her relationship with hubby Keith Urban. "I didn't forsee it, that you can meet somebody who you have a deep and more profound love with," the Oscar winner says about her feelings toward the country crooner. "I don't mean to take away anything with Tom," she's quick to add, "but I would hope that he has the same thing—I know he has the same thing with Katie. You move into a stage where you're able to be a more fuller person in your relationship." However, Kidman, who has two adopted children with Cruise, Connor and Isabella, insists that her words not be misconstrued.  "I want to be really careful with that because I don't want to take away from 11 years with that man that were really important. Really, for our kids—they were amidst a lot of love. It wasn't bad. And now we're amidst a more evolved love." As for her time with the Hollywood top gunner, Kidman says, he "taught me an enormous amount—as a girl into a woman. Absolutely, I would do it again."

 

JIMMY KIMMEL TO HOST 2008 AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS AGAIN [Aceshowbiz, 10/7/08]

This year, the annual American Music Awards will see Jimmy Kimmel back as host again. The comedian and talk host has been tapped to guide the music event which will be held on November 23, 2008 in Los Angeles and aired on ABC.  President of Dick Clark Productions that produces the show, Orly Adelson, personally regarded Kimmel as "a masterful host with incredible spontaneity and wit; audiences can expect a great night." Kimmel responded to this with "I agree with Orly completely." He had taken the same hosting duties at the event for four times.  While the nominees for this year are waiting to be announced, the performances are confirmed coming from Jonas Brothers and Pink.

 

SLICK RICK AMONG HONOREES AT VH1 HIP HOP HONOURS [AP, 10/7/08]

Even though he's considered one of rap's all-time greats, when Slick Rick is asked about his most significant accomplishment, he doesn't mention having a platinum-selling record, classic hits like "Children's Story" or even his most recent accolade — getting saluted as a pioneer at the "VH1 Hip-Hop Honors." Instead, he cites: owning a home. "I guess my biggest accomplishment would be to purchase some real estate in the Bronx ... to have something to fall back on a rainy day," Slick Rick, who's now a landlord, said in a recent interview. While that may seem rather mundane compared to his glamorous past, for Slick Rick — born Ricky Walters — achieving simple things is especially sweet considering the struggles he has endured for almost two decades. The eye-patch wearing, British-born rapper became a sensation in the early 1980s with songs like "La Di Da Di" that highlighted his suave, London-inflected delivery and his opulent dress. At the "VH1 Hip-Hop Honors," which premieres 10 p.m. EDT Monday (and through the week) on the cable network but was taped Thursday, he performed one of his most popular songs, "Children's Story," while being feted by rappers like Busta Rhymes and Fabolous. Other acts honored for their groundbreaking work were Too Short, Cypress Hill, De La Soul and Naughty By Nature. There was a special tribute featuring Scarface, Chuck D and Flavor Flav, Mos Def and singer Estelle for Isaac Hayes, one of rap's more sampled musicians. He died in August.

 

"X-FILES" STAR DAVID DUCHOVNY LEAVES SEX REHAB [Reuters, 10/7/08]

Actor David Duchovny, who plays a womanizing novelist on the cable television series "Californication," has completed a rehabilitation program for sex addiction, his attorney said on Monday, October 6. Duchovny, former star of the "X-Files" films and TV series, is married to actress Tea Leoni and they have two children. The actor's admission to a rehab facility for treatment of sex addiction was publicly revealed by his attorney, Stanton "Larry" Stein, in late August. In a statement on Monday, Stanton said Duchovny "has successfully completed rehabilitation." "He is out and will very soon begin work on his new movie," Stanton said. Stein declined to say where the actor had been treated or when he left the center. In January, Duchovny won a Golden Globe Award as best actor in a comedy for his role as Hank Moody, an oversexed single dad and novelist struggling with writer's block in the Showtime series "Californication." Duchovny, 48, is set to star in a film called "The Joneses" scheduled for release next year.

 

ANNE HATHAWAY BOOKS "ALICE IN WONDERLAND" [Reuters/Hollywood Reporter, 10/7/08]

Anne Hathaway, who is generating buzz for her performance in "Rachel Getting Married," has signed for a role in "Alice in Wonderland," which Tim Burton is directing for Disney. Helena Bonham Carter, Burton's fiancee, also has joined the film. The movie, which stars Mia Wasikowska as Alice and Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter, will use a combination of live action and performance-capture technology to tell the classic Lewis Carroll story. Hathaway is playing the White Queen, a benevolent monarch who is deposed and banished by her sister, the Red Queen (Carter), who has an affinity for crying out, "Off with their heads!" The White Queen needs Alice to slay a creature known as the Bandersnatch. Hathaway starred as Agent 99 in "Get Smart," and next appears in the horror thriller "Passengers." "Rachel Getting Married," an acclaimed drama in which Hathaway's character disrupts her sister's wedding, opened promisingly in limited release last weekend. Carter, along with Depp, was seen last year in Burton's "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street."

 

EX-HEADMISTRESS SUES OPRAH FOR DEFAMATION [E! Online, 10/6/08]

Oprah Winfrey is being sued by the former headmistress of the Big O's Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa, according to People magazine. The civil lawsuit filed by Nomvuyo Mzamane claims that Oprah made defamatory comments to the media implying that Mzamane is "untrustworthy, failed the students of the academy, did not care about the students at the academy, knew of alleged physical and sexual abuse at the academy and participated in a cover-up of the alleged abuse." A scandal broke out at the school in October 2007 when another female staff member was accused of physically and sexually abusing students. That trial resumes Oct. 8, 2008. Mzamane, who says she knew nothing about the allegations, was ousted in November 2007 and says she hasn't been able to find comparable work since. She is seeking to salvage her professional reputation...and $250,000 plus damages.

 

SAMANTHA RONSON PAYS $86K TO PEREZ [E! Online, 10/6/08]

Samantha Ronson can scratch this lawsuit off her set list. On Friday, October 3 gossip blogger Perez Hilton received a big fat check from Lindsay Lohan's gal-pal for nearly $87,000 to cover his legal fees from a failed libel lawsuit. In July 2007, the celebrity DJ sued Perez (aka Mario Lavandeira) for defamation after he reported that she owned the cocaine found in Lilo's car after a May 2007 crash. A judge threw out the case in January 2008 and ruled that Ronson had to pay for Hilton's legal fees, which she hadn't done up until now. By paying the $86,832, SamRo avoids a court hearing on Monday to discuss how she was going to pay.

 

REESE WITHERSPOON AND JAKE GYLLENHAAL ON THE VERGE OF SPLITTING

[Aceshowbiz, 10/5/08]

The love relationship of Reese Witherspoon and Jake Gyllenhaal reportedly is hitting the rocks due to work commitments. Apparently, the actress finds it hard to be in long distance relationship with the actor as he has to be in Morocco and London filming the upcoming "Prince of Persia: Sands of Time". "This is his first epic, and his mind is on his work," one of Reese's friends told Star. "They talk on the phone and e-mail, but he's not 'there.' Reese is wondering if this is how it's going to be between them every time he's out of the country filming." Overcoming the rough patch of their relationship, Reese flew to London in mid September for a quick rendezvous with Jake at The Dorchester hotel. "While there, they even went house hunting for a place because Jake will be using London as his home base until December. Reese doesn't like the formality of a hotel for her and her two kids," a source stated. Now that they're on the verge of splitting, the source advised them "to reconnect and remember why they were in a relationship in the first place." The source added that celebrating the holidays together might "get them back on the same page." Reese and Jake began dating in March 2007. However, it wasn't until she had her divorce to husband Ryan Phillippe finalized in October the same year that she and Jake went public with their romance. She and Ryan are parents to daughter Ava Elizabeth Phillippe and son Deacon Phillippe. Neither Reese nor Jake has commented on the report of their relationship hitting a rough patch.

 

STARS GATHERING FOR 5th ANNUAL "VH1 HIP HOP HONOURS" [Aceshowbiz, 10/5/08]

On Thursday, October 2, Hammerstein Ballroom in NYC became the hot spot for Hip-Hop icons, when VH1 rolled down its red carpet for the fifth annual "VH1 Hip Hop Honors". Hosted by comedian Tracy Morgan, the event paid tribute to Cypress Hill, De La Soul, Naughty by Nature, Slick Rick and Too $hort this year. Hill in particular was introduced by Freddy Rodriguez and the group stormed out to the stage for performances of "DJ Scratch Intro", "How Could I Just Kill a Man" and "(Rock) Superstar". The second tribute was opened by actress Joe Bryant. A number of artists like Estelle, Mos Def and Cee-Lo brought De La Soul's hits like "A Roller Skating Jam Named 'Saturdays,'" "Stakes Is High," while the group topped it off with "Me, Myself and I" and a remix of "Buddy!". Busta Rhymes then took the stage for the third honor, singing Slick's "The Show", followed by Eve singing "Mona Lisa". Slick then raised the temperature, coming out to play his own hits "Hey Young World" and "Children's Story." Beside giving honors to the mentioned five, the event also held a remembrance segment for soul singer Isaac Hayes who died in August this year. Closing the show was Naughty by Nature who performed "Uptown Anthem" and "Hip Hop Hooray."

 

JUDGE BARS FOOTAGE OF ANNA NICOLE'S BREAST SURGERY [AP, 10/4/08]

A judge ordered a Texas doctor and his wife on Friday, October 3 not to distribute videotaped footage of Anna Nicole Smith's breast augmentation surgery in 1994. The order settles a lawsuit filed last year by Howard K. Stern, the executor of Smith's estate, who was trying to stop Dr. Gerald Johnson and his wife from distributing the tapes of the former Playboy Playmate. Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff issued preliminary injunctions against the Johnsons more than a year ago before issuing his final decision. Stern maintained that Smith never consented to the taping or to allowing the footage to be seen by Los Angeles memorabilia dealer Thomas Riccio, who got tapes from the Johnsons, according to court records. Johnson has said he routinely records surgeries with the patient's permission and promises to keep the video confidential "during the patient's lifetime." He said he gave Riccio permission to use the video after Smith died of a drug overdose in February 2007 in Florida. She was 39. Riccio's daughter edited the footage into a five-minute tape, scored with music similar to the theme from the film "Jaws." The Johnsons' Houston-based attorney, Gus Pappas, did not return a message seeking comment Friday. Larry Birkhead, who fathered Smith's daughter, called the video "truly disgusting" in a sworn declaration issued last year. "It was clear that Anna Nicole was unconscious during the videotaping, and even more disturbing, the videotape focused on areas of her nude body that were unrelated to the location of the surgery," he said in the declaration. Stern's attorney, Vivian Thoreen, said all the tapes have been accounted for under the judge's previous orders. She said the other terms of the settlement are confidential. Although the Johnsons live in Texas, the Los Angeles Superior Court still has jurisdiction because the physician allegedly tried to disseminate the tape in Los Angeles County, said attorney Bruce S. Ross, who also represents Stern.

 

ELVIS IS ALIVE MUSEUM IS APPARENTLY SET TO DIE [AP, 10/4/08]

The Elvis is Alive Museum will not live, at least not for now. Andy Key tried to sell the Missouri museum twice on eBay. He received no bids by the time the auction ended Friday, October 3. He did get one bid at his first asking price of $15,000, but it turned out to be from a child playing on a computer. Key bought the museum on eBay last year for more than $8,000. He says military duties will keep him away from home and he can't operate it. The collection includes photos, books, FBI files, DNA reports and other memorabilia that aim to support the theory that Elvis Presley never died. Bill Beeny, a Baptist minister who started the museum in 1990, says he has no plans to buy it back.

 

CARLOS SANTANA SEES NEXT CAREER AS MINISTER [Reuters, 10/4/08]

Carlos Santana is on tour and has an album coming out, but in an interview with Rolling Stone posted online on Friday, October 3 the rocker said he sees himself one day heading up a church in Hawaii. Santana also told the magazine about the pain of recently going through a divorce from his wife of 34 years, Deborah. The 61-year-old rocker described in the interview how his faith has helped him get through low points in his life, and that he would like to start a church in Maui, Hawaii. "I'm going to stop playing when I'm 67 and work on what I really want to do, which is to be a minister, like Little Richard," he said to Rolling Stone. "I'm not sick of what I do, but I find that God gave me the gift of communication even without my guitar and with the ability to get people unstuck with certain sections of the Bible having to do with guilt, shame, judgment and fear." Santana started his "Live Your Light" tour on September 6 in Auburn, Washington. The 23-date tour ends on October 12 in Concord, California. His two-disc album "Multi-Dimensional Warrior," a compilation of Santana songs from his 40-year career, comes out on October 14, 2008.

 

NATALIE COLE RELEASED FROM HOSPITAL [AP, 10/4/08]

A representative for Natalie Cole says the Grammy-winning singer, who suffers from hepatitis C, is resting at her Los Angeles home after being released from the hospital earlier this week. Publicist Maureen O'Connor says Cole checked out several days ago and is "feeling a lot better." The 58-year-old singer entered a New York City hospital September 12 as a result of side effects from her medication and a heavy work schedule. O'Connor says Cole has been receiving kidney dialysis that isn't related to her struggle with hepatitis C. Cole is the daughter of jazz legend Nat King Cole.

 

WU-TANG DOCUMENTARY HEADS TO CABLE, DVD [Reuters/Billboard, 10/4/08]

Gerald K. Barclay's documentary "Wu: The Story of the Wu-Tang Clan" will premiere November 13 on BET, five days before its release on DVD. Through interviews and rare footage, the film chronicles the pioneering hip-hop group's rise from Staten Island. "Wu" will air multiple times between November 13 and 16 and again in December, 2008. During debut week, members of the Wu-Tang Clan are scheduled to appear on BET's "106 & Park" to discuss the project. An accompanying CD will be released November 18 via BET/Legacy, featuring a blend of Wu-Tang hits and tracks from the members' solo albums. In other Wu news, the group has teamed with digital distributor the Orchard to make its back catalog available digitally worldwide for the first time.

 

JOHN LEGEND TO PLAY SECRET SHOW [BBC, 10/3/08]

John Legend has announced a secret gig in London. The soul singer will be playing a one off show for 1Xtra at an undisclosed location on 13 October, 2008. John said "I've played in London many times, but rarely do I have the opportunity to do it in such an intimate venue. I know it's going to be a special night." The gig will go out on MistaJam's show on the night and fans can apply for tickets online.  The singer recently performed alongside Busta Rhymes, Ludacris and Lethal Bizzle at a show for Orange RockCorps at London's Royal Albert Hall. The gig was held for 5,000 volunteers who earned their tickets by spending four hours volunteering in community projects.

 

BEYONCE KNOWLES' NEW ALBUM IN PROBLEMATIC STAGE [Aceshowbiz, 10/3/08]

Beyonce Knowles can't keep up with the pace to finish her album in time. A source told NY Daily News the R'n'B singer would not be able to hand out the CD on Wednesday morning which is the deadline set by her label if she wants to stick to the November 18 release schedule. "It's not going to be completed," a source close to the executives told the publication. "She's got to get it out early in the fourth quarter, when there's so much competition among artists." The delay then branches out to several possible causes, one of them being her commitment to two movie projects. Her acting schedules in "Cadillac Records" and "Obsessed" are said to take up too much of her time. Furthermore, her duet with Justin Timberlake for the album has also contributed to the lateness, with the two of them not satisfied with the result for a couple of times. Another reason is suggested by the insider who said that Beyonce had a clash with Max Gousse who is an executive close to Beyonce's dad slash manager Matthew Knowles. Instead of the traditional one single at a time, Beyonce will release two singles simultaneously on Tuesday, October 7. They are titled "If I Were a Boy" and "Single Ladies", one of them which will be performed live at the MTV European Music Awards on November 6, 2008. The album itself is tentatively titled "Virtuoso Sasha".

 

SAG AWARDS JONESIN' FOR JAMES EARL [E! Online, 10/2/08]

Voicing Darth Vader, CNN and God has its benefits. He of the soothing tones, Emmy-, Golden Globe- and Tony-winning James Earl Jones has been selected by the Screen Actors Guild as the latest recipient of its Life Achievement Award for his thespian and humanitarian accomplishments. The 77-year-old star was cited for his "long and quiet devotion to advancing literacy, the arts and humanities on a national and local scale." Jones, who will pick up the prize at the 15th Annual SAG Awards in January, will need to make some room in his trophy case. The veteran thesp already has three Emmys, six Desk Drama Awards, two Obies, two Tonys, a National Medal of Arts, a Kennedy Center Honor and even a Grammy. It will, however, mark his first-ever SAG Award. Your move, Oscar.

 

B'WAY THEATRES SET TO DIM LIGHTS FOR PAUL NEWMAN [AP, 10/2/08]

Broadway theaters will dim their lights Friday at curtain time for Paul Newman, who died last week at age 83. Newman appeared in five Broadway productions, starting in 1953 in William Inge's "Picnic." He then appeared in Joseph Hayes' thriller "The Desperate Hours," in 1955, followed by Tennessee Williams' "Sweet Bird of Youth" in 1959. Newman co-starred with his wife Joanne Woodward in James Costigan's comedy "Baby Want a Kiss" in 1964. His last Broadway appearance was as the stage manager in a 2002 revival of Thornton Wilder's "Our Town," for which he received a Tony nomination. The Broadway League, the trade association for Broadway theaters and producers, says lights will be dimmed for one minute at 8 p.m.

 

NICOLE KIDMAN TO BE HONORED BY HOLLYWOOD LEGEND [E! Online, 10/2/08]

Nicole Kidman's night at Elle magazine's Women in Hollywood Tribute will be legendary—literally. None other than silver-screen legend Shirley MacLaine will be presenting Kidman with her award at the upcoming VIP gala. The 15th annual festivities taking place Oct. 6 in Beverly Hills will honor eight of the movie business' most powerful and celebrated women. Along with MacLaine, I've also learned that Courteney Cox will present to Isla Fisher, while Mía Maestro will do the same for her best friend, Salma Hayek. Jane Fonda's tribute will come from Kerry Washington, her costar from the New York City reading of Eve Ensler's play Necessary Targets. The event's host will be E!'s very own funnylady, Chelsea Handler. Also being honored are Halle Berry, Sigourney Weaver, Anne Hathaway and Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke. Their presenters have not been announced. The night will also mark the release of The Allure of Beauty: Women in Hollywood, a photography book collaboration between Elle and famed Italian jeweler Roberto Coin featuring iconic images of Hollywood's leadings ladies, including Charlize Theron, Julia Roberts, Cameron Diaz and Demi Moore, among many others.

 

SALMA HAYEK HELPING FIGHT TETANUS IN MOMS, BABIES [AP, 10/2/08]

Hollywood mom Salma Hayek is lending her star power to a UNICEF campaign to eradicate tetanus in mothers and babies around the world within four years. Hayek, a paid spokeswoman for Pampers' tetanus vaccine program, recounted her experiences during a recent trip to the West African nation of Sierra Leone, where she met with tetanus victims. "One of the things that was very moving about the trip was to see 15-year-old girls, really young, taking responsibility for their lives and their children before they're born by saying 'I am going to be healthy, I am going to take this vaccination,'" she told journalists at the United Nations on Thursday, October 2. "I had no idea how much this was going to really personally move me," added the 42-year-old star of films including "Desperado" and "Frida." The Pampers-UNICEF partnership has already provided over 50 million vaccines to mothers and babies in developing countries, where tetanus kills up to 140,000 infants and 30,000 women each year, according to the U.N. agency. Pampers, owned by Procter & Gamble Co., said it would give UNICEF the money for one tetanus vaccine for every pack of specially marked diapers it sells before the end of the year. It expects that to produce 70 million more vaccinations. Hayek's daughter Valentina Paloma Pinault was born in September 2007.

 

WINFREY'S MOM COUNTERSUES STORE FOR ITS $156K BILL [AP, 10/1/08]

Oprah Winfrey's mother says she shouldn't have to pay a nearly $156,000 debt to a high-end fashion store because store officials shouldn't have extended credit to her. Valentina Inc. alleges that Vernita Lee of Milwaukee racked up $155,547 in purchases and interest as of July 1. The company sued, saying Lee fell behind in minimum monthly payments of $2,000. Lee filed a counterclaim Friday contending that Valentina took advantage of her "lack of knowledge, ability, and-or capacity" when creating her credit account. Court papers say Lee resolved a 2002 case with the company over a $175,000 bill. The resolution prohibited Valentina from extending further credit to her. A message left for Valentina co-owner Tony Chirchirillo was not returned Tuesday, September 30.

 

HANKS: NEWMAN AN "EXTRAORDINARY ARTIST AND MAN" [E! Online, 10/1/08]

Tom Hanks is the latest to offer a tribute to the late acting legend, recalling their work together on the Chicago-based gangster film The Road to Perdition: "Paul Newman told me his hotel in Chicago was a room at the YMCA, which was not hard to imagine. He considered himself just another member of the acting company, who would call his wife during breaks and confess to feeling self-conscious on the first day of shooting. But he was Paul Newman, and could not mask the fact he was simply—yet elegantly—an extraordinary artist and man. How lucky we all have been..."

 

BEENIE MAN CLEARED OF TAX EVASION IN JAMAICA [AP, 10/1/08]

A Jamaican judge has cleared Grammy-winning musician Beenie Man of tax-evasion charges, saying the government never informed him of his legal rights. Jamaican authorities have said the singer and rapper owed nearly US$1 million in overdue taxes. But Judge Owen Parkin threw out the case Tuesday, September 30 ruling evidence showed the entertainer was not informed of his rights when auditors issued their assessment last year. The singer's real name is Anthony Moses Davis. The Kingston native has been one of the biggest names in dancehall music for a decade. In 2001, he won a Grammy for his album "Art and Life."

 

JANET JACKSON RELEASED FROM HOSPITAL [AP, 10/1/08]

Janet Jackson was released from a Montreal hospital just two hours after she arrived, a spokeswoman for the facility said Tuesday, but it was still not clear why she was admitted. The 42-year-old singer became "suddenly ill" and was taken to Royal Victoria Hospital on Monday, September 29 night shortly before her scheduled concert in Montreal, which was canceled, according to a statement released by W&W Public Relations. Jackson was at Royal Victoria but was released two hours later, said Rebecca Burns, representative for McGill University Health Centre, which runs the hospital. Representatives for Jackson would not elaborate on her condition Tuesday, simply saying that she was ill and was "recuperating." Meanwhile, Jackson's shows in Boston and Philadelphia on Wednesday and Thursday were postponed and she was due to resume her tour in Greensboro, N.C. on Saturday. There was no information on when those shows would be rescheduled. Jackson, who is on her first North American tour in seven years, dropped out of her scheduled "Saturday Night Live" performance in March because she had the flu, and her publicist said at the time that she went to the hospital for treatment but was not admitted. Jackson was one of the best-selling female recording artists of the late 1980s and 1990s with hit albums that included "Control" and "Rhythm Nation 1814." She is the youngest of nine siblings in the Jackson family of singers that produced the 1970s pop group the Jackson 5 and Michael Jackson.

 

FANS UNITE IN AUCTION TO SAVE SUPERMAN'S HOUSE [Reuters, 10/1/08]

Superman's home planet Krypton was destroyed, but his house on Earth will live on thanks to loyal fans and an online auction that raised $100,000 to restore the rotting home where the Man of Steel was created. Everything from original artwork to a role on the hit television show "Heroes" was sold in the month-long auction, which ended on Tuesday, September 30 to save the dilapidated Cleveland, Ohio, house where Superman was dreamed up by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster more than 70 years ago. "This was easily the most humbling spectacular project I've ever been part of, and showed just how much people care about this character and why today Superman still matters," said novelist Brad Meltzer, who organized the auction. Meltzer said $101,744 was raised in the month-long sale of art, memorabilia and other donated goods, more than double the $50,000 goal. The extra money will allow organizers to fix up not just the outside but also the inside of the Cleveland house where an elderly couple now live. Meltzer, who discovered the deteriorating house while researching a novel, said at first he wasn't sure people would care about restoring the red-and-blue house where the superhero who wears the red-and-blue suit was dreamed up in 1932. But the response has been overwhelming. "The house where Google was created is saved. The farm where Hewlett-Packard was founded is preserved. We protected the house where Dr. Seuss lived, where Elvis lived," noted Meltzer. "So the idea that Superman's house was just rotting away struck everyone as inherently wrong." Meltzer, who offered the naming rights to a character in his next novel as part of the auction, takes no credit for saving the home, saying loyal fans of the comic book hero came to Superman's rescue. "We're all Clark Kent. We all know what it is like to be boring and ordinary and we all want to be able to rip open our shirt and do something beyond ourselves. That's what happened here. Ordinary people made a difference."

 

BIRTHDAY LADY NAOMI WATTS GETS NEW MERCEDES-BENZ [Aceshowbiz, 10/1/08]

Turning 40 on Sunday, September 28, Naomi Watts got a special birthday present from her actor boyfriend Liev Schreiber, who bought her a new Mercedes-Benz Bluetec for present. In addition to the vehicle, he also threw her a birthday bash Saturday, September 27. The Mercedes-Benz Bluetec, which is environmentally friendly, reportedly won't hit the market until the end of next month, but Liev managed to get one as a surprise for Watts, having it delivered to their house in time for her big day. He, moreover, also had the luxury vehicle delivered with a big red bow. No record on how the actress reacted upon getting the brand new SUV. As for the party, it was kept under wrap. Details of it remained unknown. A representative for Liev declined to give any details, except that it was attended by "family and friends." Watts, in the meantime, is pregnant with her second child with Liev. It is claimed that she is due to give birth December later this year. In addition to the upcoming baby, Liev and Watts also have one son, named Alexander Pete Schreiber, who was born July last year. Waiting for the arrival of their second child together, the celebrity couple have not yet had wedding plans. They have been dating since 2005.

 

HEATH LEDGER'S DAUGHTER MATILDA TO INHERIT HIS $20 MILLION ESTATE [Aceshowbiz, 9/30/08]

After months of closed court hearings, it is finally ruled that Heath Ledger's daughter, Matilda Rose Ledger, whom he has with then fiancee Michelle Williams, will become the legal heir of his $2 million estate, Australia newspaper the Sunday Times reports. According to his father Kim Ledger, his late actor son's will originally had the asset divided up to his parents and sisters, but after further talk the whole family decided to give it up to the 2 year-old girl for her benefit. Heath, who died on January 22, 2008 as a result of an accidental prescription pill overdose, gave away his entire estate to his parents and three sisters, Kate and Olivia Ledger and Ashleigh Bell, in a will he signed on April 12, 2003, two years before Matilda was born. The will left half of the estate to Kate, Olivia and Ashleigh with the remainder was to go to his parents, Kim and Sally Bell, after debts had been paid. But Kim has been quoted by the Sunday Times as saying that he and the family have given "everything to Matilda" adding, "there is no claim." Williams who was expected to contest Heath's outdated will has yet commented about the decision the late star's family has made. Meanwhile, talks are loud on Heath's will which listed just 145,000 Australian dollars in assets and cash when it was drawn up in 2003. No mention of mansions or millions. However, it has been speculated that his estate is now worth more than 20 million dollars, the Sunday Times stated. The Sunday Times, moreover, also cited Larry Williams, one of the world's best-known stock market traders, as saying he was surprised that documents filed in a New York court listed Heath's assets at just $145,000. "It's real simple: just come clean with everything," so he said. Heath and Williams met while filming "Brokeback Mountain" in 2005. They soon thereafter began dating and once even got engaged. They welcomed daughter Matilda in October 2005. They announced their separation in early September 2007.

 

PUBLICIST SAYS JANET JACKSON IS HOSPITALIZED [AP, 9/30/08]

A representative for Janet Jackson says the singer has been hospitalized after falling ill shortly before a concert. According to statement released by W&W Public Relations, the singer canceled her concert in Montreal on Monday after she "got suddenly ill" during her sound check and had to be rushed to the hospital just before show time. The statement says Jackson is being monitored at the hospital and hopes to reschedule the show. No further information was given about Jackson's condition. A phone call placed to W&W after hours went unanswered, and a representative did not immediately return an e-mail seeking more information. Jackson, 42, is on a North American tour.

 

BUSTA RHYMES DYING TO TEAM UP WITH AMY WINEHOUSE [Aceshowbiz, 9/30/08]

Rapper Busta Rhymes reveals his desire to enter recording room with troubled singer Amy Winehouse. "I would love to work with her. I think she is a talented genius of an artist," he says. Unfortunately, the rapper, who has gained entry to U.K. after being banned from entering the country due to "unresolved convictions", feels disappointed when the "Rehab" singer hasn't given him a call yet. "She won't pick up the DAMN phone but that's OK. I ain't mad at her," he adds in a statement. The two musicians met for the first time during Orange RockCorps charity gig, which took place in the U.K. on Friday, September 25. Before performing on stage, they swapped each other's phone numbers and planned a future collaboration. Previously, Amy reportedly had difficulty in recording her new songs for her upcoming yet-untitled album. Her friends even doubted that she would be able to finish her new album regarding "all the problems surrounding her personal issues and addictions."

 

ACTOR COLIN FARRELL CONVERTS TO JUDAISM [Aceshowbiz, 9/30/08]

Dating English novelist Emma Forrest, Colin Farrell is reported to have converted to her religion, Judaism. The New York Post's Page Six reports that the actor was seen at a party in West Hollywood wearing a chain with a Star of David pendant around his neck. Farrell and Emma were seen attending a West Hollywood party for Heeb magazine at MBar earlier this month. It was during the event that he was spotted sporting the necklace, prompting rumours that he and Emma are getting serious with their love relationship. In related news, it was reported that during the same bash Emma was seen performing a stand-up routine including a semi-striptease to Jewish music. "Forrest, who could have danced to any old song, was inspired by the experience of returning to temple for the first time since she was 10," so said a source. "Forrest wasn't the only entertainer that evening, just the scene-stealer. The warm British accent, the hot little number and a coterie of fans as well as Colin Farrell, sporting a Star of David dangling from his neck. He looked pleased with her performance." No comment just yet from Farrell or his people about the report. Farrell and Emma have been dating since June this year. They previously were reported to be getting married, but have since shot down the reports. Farrell, in the meantime, has been committed to star in an upcoming drama thriller flick, titled "Triage", which is slated for a 2009 release.

 

LEDGER EX-LAWYER, INSURER SPAR OVER POLICY [AP, 9/30/08]

A former attorney for Heath Ledger is suing over a $10 million life insurance policy he claims has gone unpaid since the actor's death. Attorney John S. LaViolette sued Minnesota-based ReliaStar Life Insurance Company in July, claiming the company is trying to avoid paying the claim to Ledger's young daughter, Matilda Rose. The lawsuit doesn't mention Ledger or his daughter's name. It states that it's on behalf of a man who died of "accidental causes on January 22, 2008." That's the day Ledger was found dead of an apparent accidental prescription drug overdose. A spokesman for ReliaStar says the insurer has made no decision about whether to pay the claim.

 

MERV GRIFFIN'S COMPANY SUES ED McMAHON OVER LOAN [AP, 9/30/08]

Court documents show a company founded by Merv Griffin is suing Ed McMahon for a $100,000 loan it claims has gone unpaid. The Griffin Group Inc. claims it loaned the money to McMahon, Johnny Carson's sidekick on the "Tonight" show, in 2005. The company filed the suit on Thursday and states that none of the loan has been repaid. McMahon's publicist didn't directly address the lawsuit, instead asking, "Anybody wanna buy a nice house in The Summit?" The quote is an allusion to McMahon's hilltop home, which is facing foreclosure. The former pitchman also faces numerous other lawsuits filed on behalf of creditors. Griffin, the longtime talk-show host who created "Jeopardy" and "Wheel of Fortune," died in 2007. The lawsuit is seeking repayment of the money, with interest and attorney fees.

 

PAIR INVOLVED IN LaBEOUF CRASH CHARGED [AP, 9/30/08]

Two people involved in an accident that injured Shia LaBeouf were charged Monday, September 29 with giving police false information about the wreck. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's office said Monday it filed one misdemeanor count apiece for Herbert Simon, 22, and Kimberly Bent, 21. A spokeswoman for Los Angeles District Attorney Steve Cooley's office said Bent told police after the crash that she was driving, but that investigators suspect Simon was behind the wheel. The charges stem from a July accident in West Hollywood that left LaBeouf's hand mangled, an injury that was written into script for the "Transformers" sequel that the actor was filming at the time. LaBeouf was initially arrested on suspicion of drunken driving, but prosecutors announced Thursday that there was insufficient evidence to file a formal charge. Sheriff's officials say the actor exhibited signs of being impaired during the early morning accident, and could lose his license for not submitting to a breathalyzer exam. Attorney Michael Norris said last week that LaBeouf, 22, was pleased to not be facing a criminal case and that he is confident the actor's license will not be suspended. Investigators had previously determined that LaBeouf was not at fault for the wreck. Simon has already been issued a traffic citation for failing to stop at a red light in connection with the crash. There is no arraignment date scheduled for Simon and Bent, and no further charges were expected. It could not be immediately determined Monday whether either of them had retained an attorney.

 

HIT MAKER PRINCE TURNS HIS BACK ON RAUNCHY ROUTINES [Aceshowbiz, 9/30/08]

Willing to get better with his growing age, Prince has a change of heart that he decided to turn his back on his raunchy past. The hit maker openly admitted he no longer wants to write songs with lusty lyrics and perform dirty dancing on-stage because he does not want to offend his fans, who as time goes by have grown up and had children. Talking about his determination, Prince told USA Today, "I did the Dirty Mind tour and pushed that envelope off the table. What I didn't do, Madonna finished. I don't want to go back. You have to get out of your own way." He went on revealing the fact that he is a Jehovah's Witness advocate has also contributed to his decision. Giving credit to the Bible, which he often reads, Prince furthermore remarked "that's another way faith has changed me." Notwithstanding with that, Prince has just launched his first book, "21 Nights." The set is a multi-media volume based on his 21 consecutive sold-out concerts at London's O2 arena back in the summer of 2007. He previously stated that the tome features poetry which he wrote himself, 124 never-before-seen photographs by Hollywood's Randee St. Nicholas who was given backstage access during the concerts, and a live sessions CD titled "Indigo Nights" from the concerts after-parties with new music by him.

 

HEATHER LOCKLEAR ARRESTED IN CALIF. ON DUI COUNT [AP, 9/29/08]

Heather Locklear was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of a controlled substance in the upscale Santa Barbara area, authorities said Sunday, September 28. Locklear, 47, was pulled over by a California Highway Patrol officer Saturday afternoon after a resident reported seeing the actress leaving a parking lot and "driving erratically," patrol spokesman Tom Marshall said. The officer noticed Locklear's car parked on a state highway and blocking a lane in Montecito, a wealthy community about 90 miles northwest of Los Angeles. She was believed to be alone in the car, Marshall said. Locklear was taken to the police station, where she was tested for alcohol and drugs. She was booked at 7 p.m. on suspicion of driving under the influence of prescription medication. She was later released from custody. Calls to Locklear's publicists were not immediately returned. Locklear's TV credits include "T.J. Hooker," "Dynasty," "Melrose Place" and "Spin City," and her film roles include "The Perfect Man" and "Uptown Girls."  Locklear checked into a medical clinic in June to seek treatment for anxiety and depression. Last year, she got a divorce from Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora after 11 years of marriage. They have a daughter, Ava Elizabeth.

 

SPRINGSTEEN TO PLAY SUPER BOWL HALFTIME SHOW [Reuters, 9/29/08]

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will play the half-time slot at the Super Bowl in Tampa, Florida, snagging the most-watched musical showcase of the year, according to the organizers. This year, more than 148 million viewers in the U.S. watched Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers play at the championship game of American football, the National Football League said on Sunday, September 28. Other recent acts have included Prince, the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney and U2. The most infamous performer was Janet Jackson, who bared her breast during the 2004 event, triggering a crackdown on televised smut. The Super Bowl, scheduled for February 1, 2009, will be televised by NBC.

 

SCARLETT JOHANSSON, RYAN REYNOLDS MARRY IN CANADA [AP, 9/29/08]

Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds married actress Scarlett Johansson did a little rushing into it after all. The couple married this weekend, according to publicist Meredith O'Sullivan. She did not provide details. Us Weekly reported on its Web site Sunday, September 28 that the small wedding took place at a resort outside Vancouver, British Columbia. Guests included Scarlett's mother, Melanie Sloan, and her brother, Adrian Johansson, the magazine said. The couple announced their engagement in May. "We're just enjoying our time," the actress said last month. "We're just recently — very recently — engaged. So, you know, we're just taking it easy. And no big plan yet. But it's a good time and we're just ... enjoying our time to be young and engaged. "I mean, I'm 23. There's no reason to rush into it. Everything feels very natural and relaxed." Johansson most recently starred in the Woody Allen film "Vicky Cristina Barcelona." Reynolds starred on the TV show "Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place" and the romantic comedy "Definitely, Maybe."

 

KATE MOSS TO HANG UP MODELING FOR SINGING [Aceshowbiz, 9/29/08]

Top model Kate Moss will reportedly resign from walking-on-the-runway business and step into the music industry. "She has told everyone she won't carry on modeling after she turns 35 ... song-writing and being a singer will slowly take over," a source reveals. Previously, Kate co-wrote four songs, including "You Talk", "French Dog Blues", "Baddie's Boogie", and "Deft Left Hand" for Pete Doherty's band, Babyshambles. The singles then appeared on the band's sophomore album "Shotter's Nation", which has been released since October 2007. Besides that, Kate also reportedly entered song-writing room with The Kills' guitarist Jamie Hince before they broke up. "Kate says, 'It's all about Lila. She knows which songs are good and which are rubbish so I go by her,'" the source explained about her previous music project with her two ex-lovers.

 

LIMITED EDITION DOLLS OF POP SENSATION KATY PERRY READY FOR RELEASE

[Aceshowbiz, 9/29/08]

Becoming the latest celebrity to have her figure immortalized in plastic, Katy Perry is about to release a limited edition doll of herself later this week. The doll is similar to the one that is featured in the music video of her hit single "Ur So Gay", from her second studio album "One of the Boys." New York-based toy manufacturer Integrity Toys, which produced the doll used in Katy's "Ur So Gay" video, has collaborated with the singer to create 500 special edition dolls in her likeness. The doll will retail for $49.99 and is expected to sell out in two days. And while Katy has said nothing about the doll, Bob Semanovich, who works in marketing for her label Capitol Music Group, has been telling Billboard that creating doll "makes good sense for Katy who is a blossoming global pop culture superstar." Bob added, "It's a perfect extension of her brand as she's music, fashion and everything pop culture." According to Integrity Toys, Katy's dolls are sold out on initial pre-orders, but the company is offering fans the chance to be added to the waiting list when the doll becomes available again. Information on how to order can be seen at the company's official site.

 

MADONNA GOT HEAVY FINE FOR OVERRUNNING LONDON'S GIG [Aceshowbiz, 9/29/08]

Madonna was fined by London's Wembley Stadium after the pop superstar finished her gig 40 minutes later than the planned show on September 11, 2008. As a result, the singer was asked to pay 50,000 pounds for every fifteen minutes she exceeded as a compensation for staying on beyond the venue's time limit. "The concert was meant to start at 8.30 PM but Madonna didn't come on stage until 9.10 PM," a source said. "The gig ended at 11.10 PM, so she was quite a bit over. Her people knew about the possible implications for going over the curfew but this is a pretty hefty fine, even for Madonna." Madonna's "Sticky and Sweet" tour wrapped up in Athens' OAKA Olympic Stadium on Saturday, September 27. Meanwhile, a tour for North America is expected to start on October 4 at East Rutherford's Izod Arena and a show for South American will begin in Buenos Aires on December 3, 2008.

 

ALI LOHAN DROPPED HELP FROM JONAS BROTHERS' MANAGEMENT [Aceshowbiz, 9/29/08]

Ali Lohan reportedly received a potential offer from music manager Johnny Wright to help in boosting her singing career. "Johnny Wright, who has managed the Jonas Brothers and Justin Timberlake, has offered to help out Ali and guide her career," a source says. However, Ali's mother named Dina Lohan was apparently unhappy with the possible arrangement and as a result, Ali refused to join Johnny's team. "We'll see if Ali's mom Dina will be into it. She wants full control and the full manager's fee for herself," the source explains in a further statement. When asked about rumour, a publicist from Lindsay Lohan's younger sister gives no answer. Instead of providing a statement referring to the issue, they only said that they indeed met with Johnny's firm. Previously, Ali debuted her first single called "All the Way Around". Produced by Emanuel "Eman" Kiriakou, and recorded at the Maloof Music recording studio which is located at The Palms Hotel, Las Vegas, the recording process of the single itself was featured on a recent episode of the Lohan's family reality TV show "Living Lohan".

 

RAPPER BUSTA RHYMES KEEPS LONDON CONCERT DATE [AP, 9/27/08]

American rapper Busta Rhymes has performed at a charity concert after overcoming his problems with British immigration. Rhymes — whose real name is Trevor George Smith Jr. — performed at London's Royal Albert Hall Friday night after winning a court order allowing him to stay in the country. High Court judge Nicholas Stadlen gave the go-ahead, saying he did not want to disappoint 4,000 young people who won their tickets by performing community work. Immigration officials stopped Rhymes on Thursday at London City Airport, with his promoters saying they cited previous legal trouble in the United States. In March a New York judge sentenced Rhymes to three years' probation for assaulting his former driver and a fan.

 

BABYFACE AND DANCER GIRLFRIEND WELCOME FIRST CHILD, A GIRL [Aceshowbiz, 9/27/08]

Confirmation has just been released by singer Babyface that he and his back-up dancer girlfriend Nicole Pantenburg have welcomed their first child together, a baby girl. The infant, named Peyton Nicole Edmonds, was born on September 9 in Los Angeles at 6:55 P.M. She weighed in 5 lbs., 7 oz. Confirming the birth of the baby to People magazine, Babyface said in a statement, "Nicole and I couldn't be happier to have a new baby girl in the family." He added, "my two sons are thrilled to have a little sister" referring to sons Brandon Edmons and Dylan Michael, whom he has with then wife Tracey Edmonds. Babyface and Tracey, a film producer, got married in September 1992. They announced their separation in October 2005 and she then filed for divorce in January the following year, citing irreconcilable differences. They had their divorce finalized in June 2007. It was after that that Babyface's romance with Nicole was exposed by the media. The lovers announced in May 2008 that they were expecting their first child together. As for Tracey, she was briefly married to famous comedian Eddie Murphy in January 2008. Since then, she has been linked to celebrity chef Rocco DiSpirito.

 

KANYE WON'T FACE THE FELONY MUSIC IN AIRPORT BRAWL [E! Online, 9/27/08]

They'll be no lockup for Mr. "Love Lockdown." Kanye West will not face felony charges from his skirmish with paparazzi at Los Angeles International Airport earlier this month, the Los Angeles County District Attorney tells E! News. But that doesn't mean the Grammy winner or his fellow fracas participant and road manager, Don Crowley, are in the clear just yet. West's smash-and-grab case is now in the hands of the Los Angeles City Attorney's office, which will decide by next week whether to pursue any misdemeanor charges stemming from the Sept. 11 incident. A spokesman for West did not immediately repsond to calls seeking comment. Meanwhile, there's no word yet from the D.A. whether Crowley was spared any felony charges from his involvement. Whereas West simply obliterated a relatively inexpensive lighting component, Crowley allegedly destroyed a paparazzo's pricey camera. The two men were busted at LAX and booked on suspicion of felony vandalism following an early-morning altercation with two cameramen while en route to the American Airlines terminal. Shortly after his release on $20,000 bail, West took to his blog promising to "rant" on the incident later, though he never delivered—presumably after a confab with attorney Blair Berk. The 31-year-old West had been scheduled to appear in court Oct. 2 to answer to the charge.

 

HAYDEN PANETTIERE'S DAD FORMALLY CHARGED [Aceshowbiz, 9/27/08]

It's official, Hayden Panettiere's father Alan Panettiere has been formally charged with misdemeanor battery stemming from an altercation with his wife Lesley Panettiere early last month. The L.A. County District Attorney's Office announced the charging Thursday, September 25. Alan is scheduled to be arraigned October 11 later this year at a Beverly Hills courthouse. He faces up to one year in a Los Angeles County jail if convicted. Back on August 11, Alan was arrested at the family's West Hollywood home on suspicion of spousal abuse. He was accused of hitting his wife, former soap opera actress Lesley, 52, following a heated argument. At that time, a sheriff's spokesman said that Alan struck Lesley one or two times on the cheek with closed fist that caused bruises. "There was a domestic argument between the mother and father," Sgt. Scott Wolf of the West Hollywood sheriffs stated. "He got upset and struck the mother in the face one or two times on the left cheek which caused some bruising. From what I'm told, he hit her with a closed fist." Lesley then called police to report on the incident and authorities took her statement and subsequently took Alan into custody upon noticing bruises on her face. Alan was arrested on felony charge instead of a misdemeanor because "there were visible signs of injury" on Lesley's face. He was said to be "cooperative" during his arrest and released from custody on $50,000 bail later that day. Soon following his release, Alan told "Extra" the incident was a "misunderstanding" and that "nothing actually happened." His celebrity daughter, Hayden, branded it a misunderstanding that was "blown way out of proportion by a sheriff who wanted his 15 minutes of fame."

 

CLAY AIKEN GOT $500,000 FOR GAY REVELATION [Aceshowbiz, 9/26/08]

Coming out of the closet and finally confirming that he is gay, Clay Aiken reportedly didn't do that for free as rumour has it, People paid him $500,000 to do the cover shoot for its October 6 issue. The amount of money, according to MSNBC, is paid for both his gay revelation and the exclusive right to publish the first picture of his newborn son, Parker Foster Aiken. $500,000 is a very small amount compared to the approximately $14 million Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt received from the weekly publication for the first photographs of their twins, Knox Leon and Vivienne Marcheline. It has been claimed that the small payout is due to the fact that Clay is less popular than Brangelina. No words from Clay himself about the report. A representative for People said, "We don't comment on the specifics of any deals." Clay's cover shoot for People, which features him cradling his baby boy Parker in his arm, was leaked prior to its official release which was on Wednesday, September 24. The cover bore a headline that read, "Yes, I'm gay." It also quoted him as saying, "I cannot raise a child to lie or hide things." 

 

TERRENCE HOWARD MOURNS MOTHER'S DEATH [Aceshowbiz, 9/26/08]

Hollywood actor Terrence Howard is mourning the death of his mother, Anita Williams, People magazine reports. Confirming the news, a representative for the star told the magazine Anita passed away after losing her battle with cancer. "Terrence Howard's mother, Anita Williams, has sadly passed away after a long battle with cancer," so read the statement that Howard's representative issued. "Terrence will take some time to privately grieve with his family. He appreciates everyone's support during this difficult time." It is not mentioned further on when Anita passed away, how old she is, and when she's going to be buried. As of late, Howard has been busy with his music career. His debut album, entitled "Shine Through It", has been released to the market on September 2. Singing aside, he's having at least one movie project in the pipeline, namely "Fighting." The action-drama flick is planned for this year release.

 

RAPPER BUSTA RHYMES REFUSED ENTRY INTO BRITAIN [AP, 9/25/08]

Rapper Busta Rhymes was refused entry into Britain on Thursday, September 25 according to the promoter of a Busta Rhymes charity concert. Rhymes, 36, was detained at London City Airport by immigration officers, who said their refusal was based on "unresolved convictions" in the United States, said Stephen Greene of Orange RockCorps. The performer remained in custody in London while RockCorps took legal steps to try to reverse the decision. The promoter said Rhymes, whose real name is Trevor George Smith Jr., had been allowed into Britain twice before this year. He was to appear at a concert Friday at London's mammoth Albert Hall. U.S. rap star Ludacris has agreed to perform in Rhymes' place. On its Web site, RockCorps said even though lawyer Philip Trott presented papers to support the rapper's case for entry, immigration authorities arranged to fly him back to Amsterdam. The rapper's lawyers then got an injunction from a High Court judge to prevent him from being sent back. "He is currently detained, pending a decision on temporary admission by the immigration officer," the promoter said in a statement.

 

MILEY BRINGS BOYFRIEND TO PUSSYCAT DOLLS SHOW [E! Online, 9/25/08]

Miley Cyrus and her underwear dude (aka Justin Gaston, not pictured) have enjoyed a series of wholesome outings, including the mall, Universal CityWalk—with mom Tish in tow—and even church. But last night, the two shared a slightly more risqué evening together when they saw the Pussycat Dolls perform at Hollywood and Highland. It's not too surprising that Miles is a fan of the scantily clad, gyrating girl group. The 15-year-old Disney darling has confessed to more mature tastes, including an appreciation for Sex and the City. Either way, we bet her 20-year-old boyfriend wasn't complaining about having to watch five nearly naked girls shake it onstage. Ahhh, young love...

 

BERLIN TO BRAGELINA: WILLKOMMEN! [E! Online, 9/25/08]

Ich bin ein media frenzy. Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie and the world's six most famous offspring touched down at Berlin's Tempelhof airport Tuesday afternoon to begin the next leg of their seemingly never-ending tour of European domiciles. The A-list brood, who are moving into the swanky Palais Parkschloss villa on Berlin's Wannsee Lake, are setting up temporary shop in Germany while papa Pitt brings home the bacon and begins work on Quentin Tarantino's already controversial war epic, Inglorious Bastards. According to German newspaper Bild, the home is 30,000 square feet and comes complete with private helicopter landing pad, boat dock, 14-strong staff of security and more than one personal chef. The home also has an appropriately Hollywood lineage. Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes were rumored, though never confirmed, to have bought the spread last summer, around the time production on Cruise's own WWII-era drama, Valkyrie, wrapped in Berlin. As if that weren't enough star power, according to Bild, Steven Seagal even rented out the villa for two months back in 2001. Up until now, the Jolie-Pitts were based out of the Chateau Miraval in the south of France, where they have been staying since last spring in anticipation of the birth of their twins in July. The clan is expected to remain in Berlin through the end of the year. Production on Inglorious Bastards kicks off Oct. 13, 2008.

 

FIRE DESTROYS POOL HOUSE AT LUDACRIS' HOME [AP, 9/25/08]

Authorities say a fire destroyed a pool house at rapper Ludacris' home outside Atlanta. Ludacris, whose real name is Christopher Bridges, was out of town at the time of the Wednesday night, September 24 fire. Fulton County Fire Department spokesman Gregory Chambers says a relative was in the basement of the main residence when the fire started and was not injured. Chambers says the fire was put out within 30 minutes but destroyed the pool house, which he says is larger than most homes. The fire was being investigated but the cause was not immediately identified. Ludacris won a Grammy for best rap album for "Release Therapy" and best rap song for "Money Maker."

 

MELROSE PLACE: NOW UNDER RENOVATION [E! Online, 9/25/08]

If 90210 can do it, why not Melrose Place? Former Melrose Place star Lisa Rinna says she's been hearing some buzz that the 1990s Aaron Spelling nighttime soap could be getting an update. "I've heard a rumor of them bringing back the show like they did 90210," Rinna said at  TV Guide's post-Emmy party. "I heard that it's somewhere at the CW." No surprise, but Ms. Rinna would jump at the chance to reprise her role as Taylor McBride. "I would do it in a heartbeat," she said. Melrose Place ran from 1992 to 1999. "Let's bring it on," Rinna squealed. "Melrose, 10 years later!" Sadly, a rep for the CW insists there are no plans to bring back Melrose Place. That isn't the only bit of scoop I heard over the celebrity-packed Emmy weekend.

 

McGANGSTA: ED McMAHON TO RAP IN VIRAL VIDEOS [AP, 9/25/08]

Ed McMahon has an unexpected new job title: rapper. The 85-year-old former "Tonight Show" sidekick will star in two viral rap videos for FreeCreditReport.com, a financial Web site owned by credit bureau Experian. The videos feature McMahon wearing a tracksuit, being chauffeured around Los Angeles in a golf cart and waxing lyrical about his very public financial troubles. The videos will appear online in October, 2008. FreeCreditReport.com says the company sought out McMahon to star in the humorous spots after seeing him openly discuss his finances on "Larry King Live."

 

NICK HOGAN SET FOR EARLY RELEASE [E! Online, 9/25/08]

Springtime for Nick Hogan is coming this fall. The former reality star and son of Hulk Hogan will be released three months earlier than expected from Pinellas County Jail, thanks to credits for behind-bars working and good behavior, E! News has confirmed. All told, the 18-year-old Hogan, born Nick Bollea, will serve just five months of the eight-month sentence he received last May. The punishment was handed down after he pleaded no contest to one count of reckless driving involving serious bodily injury for a 2007 high-speed DUI crash that left his passenger, John Graziano, severely injured. County officials said the early release schedule was not an example of special treatment for the celeb offspring but standard procedure for non-misbehaving inmates. Over the summer, Hogan was moved from solitary confinement to the general inmate population, the jail's 18th birthday gift to the teen. As for what Hogan may do when he's released, leaked phone conversations between him and his father earlier this year intimated that he may be looking to tell his story via a new reality show. But his sister, Brooke Hogan, told People she's just looking forward to her brother being a free man. "I'm not sure where he'll live," she said. "I think he's going to do his own thing." But while Hogan will be free from lockup earlier than expected, his sentence is far from complete. He still must complete five years' probation, 500 hours of community service and steer clear of alcohol.

 

MICHAEL DOUGLAS ASKED ABOUT WALL STREET CRISIS [AP, 9/25/08]

Michael Douglas had to field questions Wednesday, September 24 about the financial turmoil shaking world markets from reporters recalling his role in the 1987 film "Wall Street." The actor sought to focus on the subject of Wednesday's news conference — urging the United States and eight other holdout nations to ratify a nuclear test ban treaty. Douglas won an Academy Award for portraying the rapacious banker Gordon Gekko, who popularized the phrase "greed is good" in the movie. After world leaders here condemned the "boundless greed" of world markets, Douglas was asked to compare nuclear Armageddon with the "financial Armageddon on Wall Street." But the likening to Gekko did not end there, with a reporter asking: "Are you saying Gordon that greed is not good?" "I'm not saying that," Douglas replied. "And my name is not Gordon. He's a character I played 20 years ago." Douglas, who married actress Catherine Zeta-Jones in 2000, has won two Oscars — as a producer for 1975's "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and as best actor for his role in "Wall Street."

 

DREW BARRYMORE IS NOW IN GOSSIP GIRL MAKING OUT WITH THE REAL CHUCK BASS

[E! Online, 9/25/08]

In one of the strangest pairings of Drew Barrymore’s serial monogamist career, the actress was spotted, photographed and subsequently blogged about clinched in a conspicuous concert makeout session with Gossip guy Ed Westwick. (However, we are talking about a woman once married to Tom Green, so maybe it’s not that strange?) Her rep had no comment on the reported smooch. The weirdest part is probably the 12-year age difference between the 33-year-old rom-com sweetheart and the 21-year-old actor who plays sleazy but totally awesome Chuck Bass. Maybe we're blowing this a bit out of proportion (after all, we do have a supercrush on Mr. Bass, so we're protective), but should we be concerned? Drew's not old by any means, but something about it comes off a little cougarish, and for Ed it's probably not the best idea to make it big by hooking up with Drew. Look how that worked out for Justin Long—he's still just the Mac dude who now sometimes gets to hang out with Kirsten Dunst. What do you think? Does this pairing get the E! Online commenter seal of approval, or should they go looking elsewhere for that special concert makeout partner next time?

 

AUDRINA PATRIDGE LANDS DENIM DEAL [E! Online, 9/25/08]

First, she moved out. Now, Audrina Patridge is moving up—by way of her first endorsement deal. The Hills star and sometimes actress (is there a difference?) will become the new face of Divine Rights Denim, a source tells E! News. She will collaborate on jean designs as well. According to Divine's director of sales, Angel Shoshan, Audrina apparently possesses what is known in the jeans world as a "real denim edgy friendliness" that the company wanted. "She has that flavor to her," says Shoshan. "She can wear a wife beater and jeans, and she just looks comfortable and hot." Perhaps. But personally, we happen to think she looks waaay hotter dressed like this.

 

MARIAH SAVES THE WORLD, ONE CHALUPA AT A TIME [E! Online, 9/25/08]

Mariah Carey is making a run for the border...for a good cause. The Grammy winner has signed on as the latest Hunger Ambassador for the Yum! Foundation's World Hunger Relief, an annual effort that aims to raise money for the United Nations World Food Program and bring an end to starvation around the world. Her duties include becoming the actual poster child for the cause, appearing on print ads that will be featured in more than 100 countries and 36,000 franchises. "The change from hunger to hope starts with you," Carey's poster reads. Wannabe donors can contribute to the cause at any of the Yum! Brands restaurants, including Taco Bell, KFC, Pizza Hut, Long John Silver's and A&W Restaurants. In exchange for a donation, charitable customers will receive a special free download of the song "Love Story" from Carey's latest album, E=MC2. Last year marked the first annual World Hunger Relief Week and raised roughly $16 million for the cause. Talk about feeding the need.

 

AIKEN "SPEECHLESS" OVER CLAYNATION SUPPORT [E! Online, 9/25/08]

Believe it or not, Clay Aiken's closet-busting revelation took some members of the Claynation by surprise. And, for the most part, the surprise has been deemed a good one. "We'll 'talk' more later, but, suffice it to say, for the first time in recent memory, I am speechless," the 29-year-old wrote on his site's members-only message board in response to the support received from fans following his coming-out proclamation in People. "I'm so proud to know and love all of you...My family is so much larger than Parker, Jaymes, mom, Brett, etc.," the new father continued. "It extends to each of you. And I couldn't be more blessed." Even Simon Cowell got in on the act. "Wow, that's a shock. It's like being told Santa Claus isn't real—unbelievable," the American Idol judge told Extra, before turning serious. "Good for him...it's the right thing for him," he said. "I don't think anyone cares. Let's face it. It's 2008." Also lending their support were the leaders of two prominent gay-rights groups, GLAAD the Family Equality Council. "We congratulate Clay for making this decision and for setting an example for others and his family," said GLAAD president Neil G. Giuliano. "As we're seeing, more and more gay people, including celebrities, are living openly and honestly, and this has tremendous impact in terms of creating awareness, understanding and acceptance." Jennifer Chrisler, executive director of the Family Equality, hailed Aiken's announcement and said it will help eliminate bias. "Much like Rosie O'Donnell, the announcement that Clay Aiken is gay reinforces a simple reality: The American public can no longer say it does not know a gay or lesbian parent," she said. "Clay Aiken's desire to raise a child in an open and honest manner will make his life, and his son's, all the better. We hope he and his son find all the happiness they deserve, and the Family Equality Council will work toward the day that Clay and Parker Foster Aiken can enjoy the same rights as other American families."

 

STOLEN BREAST FEEDING PICS OF JAMIE LYNN SPEARS LINKED TO CHILD PORNO

[Aceshowbiz, 9/23/08]

Authorities currently are conducting child pornography investigation to find the culprit who stole several pictures of Spears family, one of which shows Jamie Lynn Spears breastfeeding her baby daughter Maddie. There are reportedly 12 pictures that have been illegally copied from Jamie's boyfriend Casey Aldridge's digital camera. The pictures featured Jamie posing alongside Casey, little Maddie and sister Britney Spears. The one, which has become the subject of intensive investigation, shows Jamie breast feeding Maddie, leaving her left breast exposed. A representative for her has confirmed, "We have been informed that someone was trying to solicit personal photos that belong to Jamie Lynn, and currently the proper authorities are looking into the matter." TMZ broke the news and claimed Casey took his digital camera to local Wal-Mart in Louisiana to have pictures made from the memory card, and officials believe someone made extra copies of the shots and is now trying to sell them to the highest bidder. Considering Jamie's 17-year age which is still categorized as minor, any action of selling or buying the related picture is considered as illegal. "Peddling pictures of a minor's breast - even if not taken for sexual purposes - could land the seller and the buyer in federal prison if they are marketed across state lines for the purpose of being lurid," according to TMZ. "Also anyone purchasing the pics could be prosecuted for the crime of receiving stolen property." No comment just yet from Jamie and Britney, but word on the block is that Britney's legal team has been considering to bring the matter to the court, suing Wal-Mart for alleged security breach. The public corporation itself admitted to have just heard the report and is investigating "what, if anything, has happened here."

 

TYLER PERRY DONATES FOOD FOR THE HUNGRY IN ATLANTA [AP, 9/24/08]

Tyler Perry may be a successful director, playwright and actor, but he knows what it's like to be hungry. Perry, who grew up the poor son of a carpenter in New Orleans and was homeless for a time, has donated enough food to feed 1,000 families for two weeks in Atlanta, where he lives now. He spent part of Tuesday morning, September 23 unloading and packaging food at Hosea Feed the Hungry and the Homeless care center, where organizers say a tanking economy has brought more people seeking help. "I've been out on the street, I know what it's about," said Perry, whose projects include "Tyler Perry's the Family That Preys." "I couldn't imagine doing that with children looking at me for food," he said. Perry, 39, stood side by side with volunteers and said he felt pulled to visit the center after hearing about it on the news. "I had to do something," he said.

 

JENNIFER GARNER REPORTEDLY PREGNANT WITH BOY [Aceshowbiz, 9/23/08]

Expectant actress Jennifer Garner has sparked speculation that she and husband Ben Affleck are expecting a baby boy after they were seen buying baby items which are emblazoned with the word "hunk." Their silence, in fact, just couldn't stop the rumours from being widely talked. CelebTV broke the report that Garner and Ben were seen going to the baby boutique Petit Tresor Friday, September 19. Among the items they bought were "a Kensington chocolate playmat from Plain Mary with a blue monogrammed 'A,' as well as matching Plain Mary items emblazoned with the word 'hunk' on them (bibs, burpcloths and t-shirts)," an insider told CelebTV. In addition to those items, the celebrity couple also bought more than six light blue blankets from My Blankee. The National Enquirer reported in July 2008 that Garner is pregnant with her second child with Ben. Playing it coy at first, she confirmed in an interview with Access Hollywood's Tony Potts in August that she and Ben are about to become parents for one more time. It has been widely reported that Garner is due to give birth sometime this winter. Garner and Ben have been married for three years. They have one daughter together, named Violet, who was born in December 2005. Personal life aside, Garner recently was involved in star-studded charity event "Stand Up to Cancer". She joined a number of fellow celebrities and politicians, showing some support for the fund raising event.

 

SELENA AND NICK'S POSH DINNER DATE [E! Online, 9/23/08]

The wannabe Brangelina of the teen set, Selena Gomez and Nick Jonas, were spotted on a Sunday night dining at Osteria La Buca, a fancy Italian eatery right near Paramount Studios. Guess when you're a zillionaire by your sweet 16, you can forego T.G.I. Friday's or the mall's food court in favor of ritz-o H'wood restaurants to woo your date. The dimpled duo—sans chaperone—sat in the secluded upstairs section that only holds about four tables, and here's what went down: Nicky and his Selena sweetie musta been celebrating the release of Sel's straight-to-DVD flick Another Cinderella Story, which had a screening that day in Hell-Ay. Don't worry, concerned parents and Jonas-obsessed tots out there, neither pop tart indulged in any wine tasting, and there weren't any underage PDAs going on (at least not during dinner), damn, damn, damn. Why aren't these hons getting their debauch on, already? Why leave all that teen tartiness to Miley? So boring! Nope, guess S 'n' Ns purity rings are still intact. Are these two teens gonna admit that they're together already, or are they shadowing Lindsay and Sam in the coy couples game? Not a great idea to use LiLo as a role model in any sense.

 

MEG RYAN ON QUAID, CROWE AND NO LONGER BEING "AMERICA'S SWEETHEART"

[E! Online, 9/23/08]

Meg Ryan is finally opening up about some of the hurly-burly that has surrounded her personal life—most notably, the brief romance with her Proof of Life costar Russell Crowe and the subsequent dissolution of her marriage to Dennis Quaid. "Dennis was not faithful to me for a long time, and that was very painful," the actress reveals to In Style magazine. "I found out more about that after I was divorced." She's quick to point out that while Crowe "didn't break up the marriage," the end of her 10-year union with Quaid in 2001 "was also very liberating."  So liberating, in fact, that Ryan decided to temporarily remove herself from the media microscope by taking some time away from moviemaking to both travel and focus on Jack, her 16-year-old son with Quaid, and daughter Daisy, whom she adopted nearly three years ago from China. But Ryan has slowly been making her way back into the spotlight, currently starring in the ensemble flick The Women. And while she may no longer hold the Tinseltown title "America's Sweetheart," she's also perfectly content to be done with that label. "It's an old-fashioned idea, so anachronistic. I understood it was a compliment about being lovable, and it felt nice," says Ryan. "But it also felt, after a time, like ideas were being projected onto me that had nothing to do with me. The girl next door to what? I never felt like a very conventional person."

 

BLAINE'S LATEST STUNT IN NYC - HANGING UPSIDE-DOWN [AP, 9/23/08]

What's David Blaine up to? Oh, just hanging around. The magician-daredevil proclaimed, "I'm doin' all right," after starting his latest endurance challenge Monday, September 22 — 60 hours hanging upside-down, without a net, above Wollman Rink in Manhattan's Central Park. Blaine — sounding nasal from sinus pressure — kept smiling while describing the "enormous push of blood" that made it feel like his head was "about to explode." As a child, he was intrigued when Harry Houdini dangled from a crane by his ankles while escaping a straitjacket. Said Blaine: "The legs go pin and needle very fast." Stretches — kind of an upside-down sit-up — seem to help. Blaine, 35, is scheduled to exit from his perch at the climax of a live, two-hour ABC special, "David Blaine: Dive of Death," on Wednesday.

 

MILEY CYRUS SAYS SHE'S COMMITTED TO "HANNAH MONTANA" [Reuters, 9/23/08]

Miley Cyrus and Disney Channel sought to shoot down rumors on Monday, September 22 that the teen sensation of the TV hit "Hannah Montana" was seeking to part ways with the show that made her a star. Patti McTeague, a Disney spokeswoman for the "Hannah Montana" show, told Reuters that reports of on-set turmoil were "absolutely not true, pure gossip." Cyrus, 15, one of the world's most popular teen celebrities, said she had no plans to leave the show -- Disney's most watched series for 6-11 year-olds and the basis of a huge merchandising empire. "I am fully committed to 'Hannah Montana,"' Cyrus told People in a report on the magazine's website on Monday. Cyrus' comments followed reports on celebrity website TMZ.com that Cyrus was trying to get fired by showing up late on set, stalling production and infuriating the cast and crew. TMZ suggested that Cyrus, who is building a successful pop music career in her own right, wanted to focus on singing rather than the TV show. In the show, Cyrus plays a schoolgirl who leads a secret life as a pop star named Hannah Montana. One-time country sensation Billy Ray Cyrus, her real life father, plays Miley's dad on the show. "It's what gave me this amazing opportunity to reach out to so many people," Cyrus told People. "I couldn't do it alone. We have an amazing cast that is so supportive, including my dad who has been there for me every step of the way." Disney Channel's McTeague said Cyrus and the "Hannah Montana" team have been in production for a third season of the show, and that Disney has an option for a fourth season. "We're thrilled with it, and we know everyone's working hard, and Miley herself has said she's committed to the long-term success, as are we," McTeague said. A movie version of the show has already been shot and is scheduled for release in April 2009. It is not the first time there has been speculation about Cyrus' satisfaction with the show. She released a new album "Breakout" in July that was the first that did not play on her squeaky-clean "Hannah Montana" alter ego. In July, the young actress told E! News that this could be the last season of "Hannah Montana," saying she has acted in the show since she was 11 and the heavy workload included shooting "two seasons in one last year."

 

SHEEN'S PREGNANT WIFE OK AFTER EMERGENCY SURGERY [E! Online, 9/23/08]

Charlie Sheen's pregnant wife, Brooke Mueller, is apparently a quick healer following a trip to the hospital for emergency surgery. Mueller, who is in her first trimester, had been dealing with mystery pangs for a month and, sources close to the couple tell E! News, had been fearful the pain was related to the baby. Things got so excruciating that she needed to be admitted to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center a little more than a week ago. Doctors ultimately determined that Mueller required emergency gall-bladder surgery, an operation that can be risky during the early stages of pregnancy. Mueller and Sheen's publicist, Stan Rosenfield, confirms that Mueller was successfully treated at Cedars and discharged late last week, stressing that it had nothing to do with her pregnancy. Dr. Cherlin Johnson, who did not treat Mueller, explains that an infected gall bladder can be life threatening not just for the baby but also to the mother. "Any kind of surgery in the first trimester carries a lot of risks given that this is an intensive time of development for the embryo," says Johnson, an emergency medicine physician in Beverly Hills. "You try to minimize medication to the mother during that time. However, if there is an escalating infection, that could be life threatening to the mother and therefore for the fetus as well." Mueller spent five days at the hospital and has been recuperating at home for the past four days. She was well enough to attend last night's Emmy Awards ceremony, where Sheen was in contention for Best Actor in a Comedy Series for his work on Two and a Half Men.

 

MILEY CYRUS AND JUSTIN GASTON'S MODEST NIGHT OUT [Aceshowbiz, 9/22/08]

Despite their denial that they are a couple, Miley Cyrus and Justin Gaston just wouldn't stop making another public outing together and they were seen enjoying a night out at Universal Studios on Sunday, September 21. They were joined by her mother Leticia Cyrus and a few friends. Miley and Justin apparently kept their night out modest. She was seen wearing a mini silver grey dress layered with a black leather jacket. She was also spotted wearing a pair of black boots and toting around a hand bag with matching color. She beautified her look, wearing long silver necklace with a guitar pendant and oversized silver hoop earrings. As for her hair, she simply let it loosened. As for Justin, the underwear model wore a white-colored v-neck t-shirt and paired it up with blue jeans. Wearing a pair of sneakers, he was also spotted sporting a cross necklace and bracelets on each of his arms.

 

JERRY LEWIS GUN CASE DISMISSED [E! Online, 9/22/08]

The next time he travels, Jerry Lewis will know which carry-on items he needs a permit for. A Las Vegas judge has dismissed a gun charge against the original Nutty Professor  stemming from his July run-in with the police at McCarran International Airport when he tried to board a flight with an unloaded .22-caliber Beretta in his bag. Justice Karen Bennett-Haron agreed to toss a charge of carrying a concealed weapon without a permit after all agreed not to fine the octogenarian entertainer for his infraction. Lewis was cited July 25 on his way to Detroit. He was eventually allowed to get on the plane, but authorities confiscated the gun. Afterward, the Jerry's Kids founder explained that the Beretta was actually a hand-engraved keepsake that a patron of the Muscular Distrophy Association presented to him last year during his annual telethon for the cause.  Lewis' attorney, Ross Goodman, called today's outcome "a good result for great guy."

 

JONAS BROTHERS TALK MUFFIN, MUSIC, TOUR AND DATING [Aceshowbiz, 9/22/08]

Taking to their MySpace blog yet again Sunday, September 21 to answer more questions coming from their fans, Jonas Brothers discussed everything from their favorite muffin to being compared to The Beatles to dating celebrities. In a post on their MySpace blog, the latest of their "Ask Us Anything" project, the brothers answered questions come Nikki and Taylor. On the possibility of them having another video chat, they admitted to have been "trying to work out details for a live chat right now." They wrote, "We know that there have been a lot of rumors about a live chat. We will let everyone know through MySpace, Facebook, Bebo, YouTube, etc." Furthermore admitting that they haven't changed at all now that they are famous, the brothers explained "We are a whole lot more busy. We feel like we are the same people. For us it doesn't matter how many opportunities come our way ... family is still most important. Staying grounded is also very important." Finding it as an "honor" that they're compared to music legend, The Beatles, they insisted "we definitely do not compare ourselves to the Beatles. They are our idols. We look to them as a source of inspiration but we don't think anyone will have the impact that the Beatles have had on music." And when it comes to dating question, Jonas Brothers openly wrote that they thought dating celebrities wouldn't always create drama. "A lot of the celebrities we have met are normal people too. It really depends on the person. You can have drama with anyone if they are prone to drama," they stated. Being asked if they like muffin, they blogged "Yes. Love muffins. Favorites are Blueberry." In addition to those matters, Kevin Jonas, Joe Jonas, and Nick Jonas also blogged about their favorite memory during the "Burning Up" tour, the camp rock contest, and some others, all of which can be read on their MySpace blog.

 

JENNA JAMESON PREGNANT WITH TWINS [Aceshowbiz, 9/22/08]

Report on Jenna Jameson's pregnancy has been outed since a while ago and new claim has just emerged that she's pregnant with twins. Gossip blogger Perez Hilton confirmed in a post on its site that the retired porn star and her mixed martial artist boyfriend Tito Ortiz are expecting twins. Perez Hilton cited a friend of Jenna as saying, she and Tito are "having twins." "Jenna and Tito just found out. They are beyond thrilled!" the friend revealed further. Adding fuel to the twins report, Jenna and Tito reportedly have just purchased a new, much bigger home in the beach near Los Angeles. The New York Post's Page Six gossip column was the first to break the report of Jenna's pregnancy in early June this year. It was claimed at that time that Jenna actually "had a bunch of meetings and things planned for Fashion Week, including meetings for her own line, but she's postponed everything" due to her pregnancy. A source said, "she's completely thrilled, this is something she's wanted for a very long time." Remaining mum about her much reported pregnancy, Jenna finally confirmed in late August that she is carrying Tito's baby. "It's still early, so I'm being cautious. I'm resting as much as possible," she confirmed. "I'm so happy! I'm just saying super healthy, I've moved down to the beach with Tito - I love being by the beach." Making no secret of her willingness to have baby, Jenna has previously expressed her desperation to become a mother. She was quoted as saying in May that she hoped to get pregnant "in the next couple of months." She miscarried during her marriage to former husband Jay Grdina, whom she divorced in 2006 and once failed with in-vitro as well. There have yet official words from either Jenna or Tito about report on her pregnant with twins.

 

PROBST SURVIVES CRITICS AT THE EMMYS [E! Online, 9/22/08]

The backstage reviews for the Emmy telecast were not kind. To the Emmy hosts. Entourage star Jeremy Piven ripped their opening. The writer for John Adams ripped their general presence. Jeff Probst, one of the five reality-bound Emmy cohosts, took the harsh Tribal Council vote well. "We knew all along it's going to be tough having five people," Probst told the Emmy backstage press. The problem, Probst says, was getting those five people—Probst, Project Runway's Heidi Klum, American Idol's Ryan Seacrest, Dancing With the Stars' Tom Bergeron and Deal or No Deal's Howie Mandel—to agree on what they were going to do on the Nokia Theatre stage. "That's why we ended up with nothing [for the opening]. Did it work? I don't know. I'll have to watch it. Piven didn't like it," Probst said. "Maybe he was right." In any case, all ended well for Probst. The Survivor host took the first-ever Emmy awarded to a reality-show host. "It feels great to be in the family," Probst said. Even a family that squabbles.

 

TATUM O'NEAL SPEAKS OUT ON FATHER-BROTHER BUST [E! Online, 9/22/08]

When it comes to Ryan and Redmond O'Neal's Wednesday drug bust, Tatum O'Neal has not only been there and done that, she apparently has some life lessons to hand down. "Addiction, if untreated, can lead to jail, institutions and death," the 44-year-old Oscar winner said of her father and half-brother's arrests at their Malibu home on felony possession of what officials believe to be methamphetamine. "I love them both and I am sorry to hear about this." Tatum knows from public downfalls. It was Tatum who providing the family's drama in June, after she was arrested and briefly jailed for attempting to buy cocaine on a New York City street. Last week, the actress appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show  to say she planned on making herself of service to other addicts—something she may now be able to do sooner, and closer to home, than she thought. Despite the fact that drugs have demonized her family, she wasn't ready to point fingers. "It's not about my father or career or ex-husband or anything like that," she said of her addiction. "It's me." Ryan and Redmond O'Neal were taken into custody Wednesday morning after a standard probation search of their Malibu pad uncovered the suspected drugs. The 67-year-old Love Story star and his 23-year-old son have yet to comment on their arrest. They were released on $10,000 bond apiece and are due in court Nov. 13, 2008.

 

TRVSDJAM: LOUD, PROUD COLLABORATION OF COOL [E! Online, 9/21/08]

It's obviously a grim day for Travis Barker, DJ AM and their friends and families, but we'd like to take a moment to celebrate them and their musical collaborations in pictures. Though constantly busy with their own projects, the former Blink-182 drummer and the club DJ to the stars began working together three years ago under the moniker TRVSDJAM, concocting a "crazy creature" that's a mix of live drums and turntablism. And you can check out one of their jams here on YouTube. It's a joyous ruckus that makes us want to hear much more and our hearts go out to both of them and their loved ones in these trying times. See them in action in our Travis Barker & DJ AM Gallery here.

 

LEIGHTON MEESTER NAMED NO. 1 HOTTEST STAR ON TV [Aceshowbiz, 9/21/08]

Portraying the role of Blair Cornelia Waldorf, the main character of the "Gossip Girl" series, earns Leighton Meester not only fame, but also the predicate of Fall TV's Hottest Star. The small screen hottie has been chosen the first in a poll of Fall TV's Hottest Stars compiled by FHM Online. "As bad girl Blair Waldorf in this year's breakout hit, Gossip Girl, Leighton Meester has stolen the spotlight with her mind-blowing good looks and amazing performance," FHM Online U.S. Editor JR Futrell said of her. "While you may not be hooked yet, Gossip Girl is one of the sexiest shows on TV, and Leighton is quickly becoming one Hollywood's fastest rising stars." Meester, who has starred in several other TV series other than "Gossip Girl," was named by Vanity Fair as one of Today's Hot Young Things in its August 2008 issue. She also made it to the cover of Lucky magazine as TV's Best Dressed New Star. The second Fall TV's Hottest Star according to FHM Online is Hayden Panettiere. The "Heroes" star is followed close behind by actress Madeline Zima of "Californication".

 

McCARTNEY EX DONATING $1 MILLION IN VEGAN FOOD TO BRONX [AP, 9/21/08]

Paul McCartney's ex-wife is donating $1 million worth of soy hamburgers, soy hot dogs and soy chicken cutlets to one of the poorest neighborhoods in the Bronx. Heather Mills is set to announce the donation just before the Hunts Point Back to School Fair kicks off Saturday afternoon. The vegan animal rights campaigner is an honorary chairwoman of the non-profit that organizes the event. She tells the New York Post that she wants to make sure children in the neighborhood "have as many nutritional advantages as anyone else." Children in Hunts Point have some of the highest obesity and asthma rates in the city. Mills and McCartney were granted a divorce earlier this year.

 

J.K. ROWLING DONATES $1.8 MILLION [AP, 9/21/08]

It sounds like Harry Potter will vote for the Labour Party when the boy wizard is old enough to cast a ballot. Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling made a rare foray into Britain's bruising political battles Saturday, donating $1.8 million to the struggling Labour Party and accusing the rival Conservatives of discriminating against poor parents trying to work their way out of poverty. In a statement that referred back to the days when she was struggling to feed and cloth her family, Rowling said Prime Minister Gordon Brown has worked hard to reduce child poverty while Conservative chief David Cameron has proposed tax changes that would hurt working single parents.

 

ACTRESS MIA FARROW VISITS HAITI STORM VICTIMS [AP, 9/21/08]

Actress Mia Farrow is in Haiti to draw attention to thousands of children left homeless and hungry after four storms struck the impoverished country in a month. Farrow visited a mud-filled cathedral on Saturday, September 20 in Gonaives, where hundreds of storm victims have been living since early September. The storms killed at least 425 people, destroyed thousands of homes and razed 60 percent of the island's agriculture. Farrow, a UNICEF goodwill ambassador, will also visit sites in Port-au-Prince and the hard-hit town of Cabaret during a five-day tour. The United Nations has distributed food and water to some 240,000 people, but raised only 2 percent of its US$108 million aid goal.

 

'SOPRANOS' ACTOR'S MURDER TRIAL SET FOR OCTOBER [AP, 9/21/08]

"Sopranos" actor Lillo Brancato Jr. is set to go to trial next month in the death of an off-duty New York police officer. A judge ruled Friday, September 19 that Brancato and co-defendant Steven Armento would be tried separately. Prosecutors wanted them tried together. Authorities say they broke into an apartment to look for prescription drugs in 2005. Officer Daniel Enchautegui (en-chow-TAY'-gee) confronted them and was killed in a shootout. Armento is accused of firing the fatal shot. Brancato, who played an aspiring mobster on HBO's "The Sopranos," says he didn't know Armento had a gun. Brancato's murder trial is set for Oct. 28. Armento goes on trial Sept. 29, 2008.

 

GISELE BUNDCHEN AUCTIONS OFF SPARKLING JEWELS FROM FAMOUS EX-LOVER

[Aceshowbiz, 9/20/08]

Brazilian beauty Gisele Bundchen is planning to make a donation by selling her personal collection of sparkling jewels, which she got from her ex-boyfriend, at an auction. She will be selling a 3.35 carat colored Sabbadini diamond ring as well as a 6 carat diamond pendant necklace, rumoured to be gifts from a famous ex-lover, as part of "Jewels: The New York Sale" auction at Christie's. It has been claimed that the ring is expected to fetch between $15,000 to $20,000, while the necklace worth between $120,000 to $150,000. The jewelries are scheduled to hit the auction block on October 15, 2008 later this year. And while Gisele has yet commented on the report, talk has been mounting that she will donate a portion of proceeds from the auction to the Russell Simmons-co-founded charity Diamond Empowerment Fund, which provides educational funding to diamond-producing countries in Africa. Gisele currently is dating football player Tom Brady. The couple have been together since last year. Prior to that she's been highly publicized for her relationship with movie hunk Leonardo DiCaprio. It remains unknown from who she got the jewels that are put on auction block.

 

MADONNA FALLS ON-STAGE DURING "STICKY AND SWEET" TOUR [Aceshowbiz, 9/20/08]

Pop superstar Madonna took a stumble on-stage during a performance in Lisbon on her "Sticky and Sweet" tour. Her fall was captured on mobile phone footage which is posted on YouTube. Madonna was performing her routine on stage when the apparently tripped and fell backward on her bottom. Maintaining to keep her performance under control, she then quickly stepped back on her feet and continued performing for the concertgoers. And while details on when the incident took place remain sketchy, the video of Madonna's on-stage fall can be watched online.

 

SARAH SILVERMAN WANTS TO BE EFFING OBAMA [E! Online, 9/20/08]

The Emmy's are right around the weekend, but it seems like Sarah Silverman's had enough of awards shows after winning a Creative Arts Emmy Saturday, September 20. Attending a soiree for Emmy-nom'd writers at the Skirball Center, the über-cute comedian told us she doesn't have plans to be at the Nokia Theatre on Sunday. "I'll probably watch it at home," she said. "What I like to do is put it on pause for a long time and then I can F.F. through all the riffraff." So, ya mean the whole show, right? And now that Jimmy Kimmel's gone and effing partner Matt Damon looks happily, boringly married and such, who's the next man she'd want notched on her bedpost? "Barack Obama, hands down," she said. "He's so ridiculously sexy. He's got that swimmer's body and he stands like Fred Astaire, ya know, slouchy but with incredibly great posture." And she was just getting started: Sounds a helluva lot better than bedding Michael Phelps, espesh with the backroom stories we've heard. So if your boy Barack and all the other election '08 politicians had their own TV show, what would it be like? "It's probably closest to that...What's that one called...Couple's Island? Temptation Island!" Well, congrats on your Creative Emmy win, by the way, babe, for best Music and Lyrics. Gonna split it with Matt Damon? "If he wants. I can't imagine he'll give a s--t about it. I'll slice it in half." And looks like bygones are bygones, since you thanked your ex Jimmy Kimmel for the win. Guess there are no hard feelings? "I don't think it would be appropriate not to thank him." Wow, 'member when Hilary Swank didn't even mention her husband Chad Lowe when she won her first Oscar? Seems even more awful a slight now compared with a gal who remembers to thank an ex-boyfriend. One more Q for the sassy Sare-bear: We adored your Brit bitchiness at the '07 VMAs, thought you were sadly missed from this year's shenanigans. Got any thoughts on Brit's comeback appearance now that she's cleaned up her act and her hair? Silver-hon just rolled her eyes: "I wish her the best." Crap, if we can't depend on you for a sarcastic quip, Sar, what is the world coming to?

 

NATALIE COLE HOSPITALIZED IN HEPATITIS C SETBACK [Reuters, 9/20/08]

Grammy Award-winning singer Natalie Cole has been hospitalized in New York after suffering a setback in her battle against Hepatitis C, her spokeswoman said on Friday. Cole, the 58-year-old daughter of legendary singer Nat King Cole, has canceled her tour dates for October but is expected to make a full recovery, the spokeswoman told Reuters. Cole's unexpected hospitalization was first reported by Entertainment Tonight. "She has had a setback and is in the hospital in New York. We expect her to make a full recovery. She will be in the hospital a few more days and then will be sent home for bed rest," the spokeswoman, who declined to be named, told Reuters. She said Cole had postponed all her concert dates and other appearances scheduled for October. Cole's manager declined to discuss her condition. Cole announced in July she had been diagnosed with Hepatitis C and that she probably contracted the liver disease from drug use more than 30 years ago. Her doctors said at the time she was responding well to treatment, including chemotherapy, but was suffering "significant side effects," including fatigue, muscle aches and dehydration. The singer, whose father died of lung cancer when she was 15, documented her addiction to cocaine, heroin and alcohol in her 2000 autobiography "Angel On My Shoulder." She overcame her addictions after a lengthy stay in rehab in the early 1980s. Hepatitis C is a blood-borne infectious disease that is often without symptoms and can cause inflammation of the liver, and in extreme cases, liver cancer. It is usually contracted through transfusions of unscreened blood, or by injecting or inhaling drugs. Natalie Cole has won eight Grammys in a 30-year career singing jazz, pop and R&B and releasing hit albums such as "Everlasting" and "Unforgettable ... With Love," which featured her singing a duet with her late father via electronic technology.

 

NEAL ATTORNEY DENIES DRUG ALLEGATIONS [AP, 9/19/08]

A day after  Ryan O'Neal and his son were arrested on suspicion of drug possession, his lawyer denied any wrongdoing by the actor. "The drugs found were not his," attorney Mark Werksman told The Associated Press on Thursday, September 18. "He would never use them." O'Neal was arrested along with his son, Redmond, after authorities searched their home early Wednesday. The search was part of a routine sweep by deputies checking on Redmond O'Neal, who remains on probation after pleading guilty earlier this year to a pair of drug possession felonies. The pair were released after posting $10,000 bail. Los Angeles County prosecutors will evaluate whether to press charges against the men. Werksman said the elder O'Neal was "shaken up" by the arrests. "We know that when all the facts come out, he should not be charged with any crime here." The lawyer did not address any role O'Neal's son may have played, and said he did not know who was representing Redmond O'Neal. A sheriff's spokesman said Wednesday that Ryan O'Neal was arrested after drugs were found in his living area. The drugs were suspected to be methamphetamine. "He's tried to lead a peaceful life," Werksman said of Ryan O'Neal. "He's acting and he's caring for his family and this is the last thing he ever wanted or expected." O'Neal, 67, was nominated for a best actor Academy Award for 1970's "Love Story." Redmond, 23, is his son from a relationship with Farrah Fawcett. O'Neal had two children with his first wife, Joanna Moore: actor Griffin O'Neal and actress Tatum O'Neal, his co-star in the 1973 movie "Paper Moon," for which she won an Oscar for best supporting actress. In July, Tatum O'Neal pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct in connection with an arrest on suspicion of cocaine possession in New York. On Thursday, she issued a statement of support for her father and half brother. "Addiction, if untreated, can lead to jail, institutions and death. I love them both and I am sorry to hear about this," she said.

 

HOSTS OF 60th PRIMETIME EMMY AWARDS GOT INTO A SCUFFLE IN 'JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE'

[Aceshowbiz, 9/19/08]

In anticipation of the imminent Primetime Emmy Awards, "Jimmy Kimmel Live" has brought in all the five hosts of the 60th annual event to the show, which results in a tiny scuffle. Ryan Seacrest ("American Idol"), Tom Bergeron ("Dancing with the Stars"), Heidi Klum ("Project Runway"), Howie Mandel ("Deal or No Deal") and Jeff Probst ("Survivor") all had a little discussion about paycheck. The five-piece who will all share hosting duties this weekend, sat in front of Kimmel as part of his show's episode called "Big Night of Stars" which is aimed to promote the Emmy Awards. Kimmel dropped the bomb when asking about how much each of them is paid for their MC duties. After a heated argument between the men, Seacrest lunged into Probst and got into a fight. Klum, meanwhile, steered off the scene. "Big Night of Stars" will air on ABC, Sunday, September 21 at 7:00 P.M. as a pre-show before the actual event goes on air minutes later. Beside the five hosts, Kimmel also got up close and personal with other stars such as Salma Hayek, Tracy Morgan, Kobe Bryant, Michael Phelps, and Rachel Ray.

 

NOEL GALLAGHER SLAMS JACK WHITE AND ALICIA KEYS' 007 THEME SONG [Aceshowbiz, 9/19/08]

Noel Gallagher is upset when producers of "Quantum of Solace" hire American artists Jack White and Alicia Keys to record the soundtrack for the movie, which will hit the theater on November 14. The Oasis member reveals his outrage when saying, "It's a pisstake that the greatest British agent of all time has to be soundtracked by a bunch of f***** Americans." Furthermore, the guitarist says that he is even more disappointed because he has actually crafted some great tunes for the song. "I've written a couple of theme tunes ... The latest one that I wrote, I listened back to it thinking, ... That'd make a f***** great Bond theme," he adds. Beside eying for James Bond theme song, Noel also admits that he wants to take timeout from his band in order to embark on a solo career by releasing a debut album. "I'd like for us to do separate projects after this record ("Dig Out Your Soul"). We'd all have to agree on it, so it will probably never happen." In a further statement, Noel says that he has already had some new materials for his project. "I've got loads of new songs. Somewhat predictably, they're all brilliant," he reveals. However, there is no words whether the songs that he wants to place in his debut album are the same songs that he planned for "Quantum of Solace".

 

MADONNA AND AMY WINEHOUSE AMONG CELEBS [Aceshowbiz, 9/19/08]

Grammy-winning singers Madonna and Amy Winehouse are among a number of celebrities who have been immortalized as miniature Lego characters. The special edition figures of celebrities have been created to mark the 30th anniversary of Lego, which was first created in 1978. Madonna's Lego character features her wearing what looked like a stage outfit with the symbol "M" on its center. It , moreover, also has her trademark blonde hair. The Lego holds a microphone on its left hand. That of Amy, on the other hand, features her trademark hair style and tattoos. In addition to them both, Lego also immortalizes the figures of such celebrities, as Cliff Richard, David Beckham, Victoria Adams, Cheryl Cole, and Dannii Minogue. The Lego figures won't be released to the public, but pics of those characters can be seen on Gigwise.  Madonna, in the meantime, is headlining her "Sticky & Sweet" world tour. She was photographed taking a break from performing to dine with her longtime manager and friend, Guy Oseary, in Sevilla, Spain Wednesday night, September 17. Amy currently is dealing with her messy life. She was last reported to have embraced Buddhism to help her relax and battle stress which will then enable her to kick off her drugs and alcohol addiction.

 

NO CHANCE FOR KATY PERRY TO TEAM UP WITH BOYFRIEND TRAVIS McCOY [Aceshowbiz, 9/19/08]

Katy Perry has apparently lost the opportunity to join force with boyfriend Travis McCoy as the Gym Class Heroes' frontman refuses to mix business and pleasure. "We are Travis and Katy not Sonny and Cher. We give each other's music constructive criticism, but that's it," Travis explains in a statement. Meanwhile, speaking of Katy's controversial hit single "I Kissed a Girl", Travis admits that she once considered to drop the tune. "As soon as Katy played I Kissed A Girl I said, 'Baby, this is a smash'. I totally knew from the word go but she wasn't sure," he says. Travis then proved it to her by sneaking the track onto a playlist of songs played before his band's live gigs. "As soon as it blasted out, the kids went absolutely mad," he adds. "They didn't even know who Katy Perry was then." "I Kissed a Girl" is indeed a smash hit. The song peaked at number one in Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart for seven weeks in a row, tying The Beatles to become the artist with the longest-running number one in the chart.

 

MISHA BARTON SUFFERS WARDROBE MALFUNCTION DURING FASHION SHOW IN LONDON

[Aceshowbiz, 9/19/08]

Mischa Barton has suffered a wardrobe malfunction Wednesday night, September 17, flashing a breast while leaving a fashion show in London. The actress' breast apparently slipped off her dress while she was hopping into a taxi. Always one to take chances with her wardrobe, Mischa attended the Fashion For Relief fundraiser, held at the BFC tent at the Natural History Museum in downtown London. During the event she was seen wearing a red-and-gold satin evening gown. She even beautified her look by wearing silver bangle bracelets and leather heels. She was about to leave the hot spot when she was seen jumping into a taxi. Unfortunately for her that her dress suddenly lowered down her shoulder, exposing her left breast. Quickly straightening her dress, she was then photographed covering her face with both of her hands. In between her public appearances, Mischa has been the target of media speculation lately. She was rumoured to be dating actor Josh Hartnett after being spotted with him at trendy club Bungalow 8 earlier this week. Denying report of a romance, she was accused of having an affair with her close friend Nicole Richie's partner and baby's daddy Joel Madden. Star magazine which broke the affair rumour claimed its spies witnessed the actress dancing wildly in front of Joel as he jammed with his rock band Good Charlotte at Hollywood's posh Chateau Marmont on September 7. Nicole, who was enjoying runway shows during New York Fashion Week, was furious after being informed by her best friend Paris Hilton that Joel and Mischa enjoyed dirty dancing. Feeling betrayed, the celebrity socialite reportedly has moved out of the house they've been sharing. Mischa, however, has not yet commented on the affair report.

 

BRITNEY SPEARS DRIVEN TO TRIAL...ALMOST [E! Online, 9/19/08]

We're guessing this wasn't the kind of Circus Britney Spears was thinking of while plotting her vaunted comeback. A Los Angeles judge today set an Oct. 15 trial date for Spears for driving with an invalid license, E! News confirms. But there's a chance that trial may yet be averted, with one last preliminary hearing scheduled for Oct. 8 for prosecutors and the pop tart's lawyers to reach a compromise in the case. In the latest development in Spears' never-ending legal saga stemming from last year's minor fender-bender, the 26-year-old singer's lawyers met in chambers this morning with Superior Court Judge James A. Steele and Los Angeles city prosecutors. Afterward, L.A. city prosecutor Michael Amerian told E! News that both sides hope to reach a plea deal to avoid the spectacle of a full-blown trial. "We're just look for a fair resolution to this. If that means going to trial, it means going to trial," he said. The "Oops" songbird was rung up in August 2007 after a hit-and-split incident in which she dinged another vehicle while fleeing from paparazzi. A follow-up investigation revealed that she was carrying a Louisiana license but not a California one, a no-no under state law. Authorities subsequently charged her with a misdemeanor count of driving without a vaild license. Team Spears had hoped to persuade Steele to dismiss the charge, claiming prosecutors were unfairly targeting Spears because of her celebrity, but he rejected the motion earlier this month, paving the way for the hitmaker to stand trial. No immediate comment from Spears' legal eagle, J. Michael Flanagan. In happier news, Spears is expected to drop her sixth studio album, Circus, on Dec. 2, which also happens to be her 27th birthday. The first single, "Womanizer," goes out to radio stations next Tuesday.

 

HILARY SWANK RECOVERING AFTER HOSPITAL PROCEDURE [AP, 9/19/08]

Hilary Swank is recovering after a hospital procedure to remove a small, benign growth, a representative for the Oscar-winning actress said Thursday, September 18. "She was experiencing some discomfort and went to see her doctor, who prescribed an immediate course of action that included a brief hospitalization" to eliminate the growth, Swank's manager, Jason Weinberg, said in a statement. "Her condition has been resolved and there are no continuing health issues, with the exception of some short-term rest and recuperation," Weinberg said. He would not provide further details. Swank, 34, won Oscars for her roles in "Boys Don't Cry" and "Million Dollar Baby." Her screen credits also include "Freedom Writers," "P.S. I Love You" and the upcoming "Amelia."

 

U.S. STAMP REMEMBERS ACTRESS BETTE DAVIS [BBC, 9/19/08]

Hollywood star Bette Davis is featured on a new U.S postage stamp commemorating the 100th anniversary of her birth. The 42-cent stamp features a portrait of the actress as she appeared in the 1950 film All About Eve. According to her son Michael Merrill, the Oscar-winning icon - who died in 1989 at the age of 81 - would have been "tremendously thrilled" by the honour. Born Ruth Elizabeth Davis, her many films include The Letter, Dark Victory, The Little Foxes and Now, Voyager. Davis was Oscar-nominated for all those films, with further best actress citations coming for All About Eve, What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?, The Star and Mr Skeffington. Her name was also added to the ballot in 1935 for her breakthrough performance in On Human Bondage. The actress won two best actress Oscars from her 11 nominations - for Dangerous in 1936 and Jezebel in 1939. Davis, who was married four times and had three children, chose "She did it the hard way" for an epitaph. "It isn't that she was complaining but that she had persevered," Merrill told the Associated Press.

 

COUSIN: NATE DOGG WAS ON LIFE SUPPORT [E! Online, 9/19/08]

The Prodigal Son is ailing again. And we're now learning that his condition was much graver than previously reported. West Coast rapper Nate Dogg was hospitalized nearly two weeks ago after suffering a stroke, his second in less than a year. But contrary to Internet news stories that offered an upbeat prognosis, a family member tells E! News that as of Wednesday the 39-year-old hip-hopster was on life support in a Los Angeles-area hospital with a feeding tube in his mouth. "He has suffered another stroke from his bad eating habits and unhealthy lifestyle," says Donald Smith, Dogg's cousin and a fellow emcee who goes by the moniker Lil' Half Dead. "All we can do now is pray for him." Dogg has since been taken off life support but as of today still requires a feeding tube, according to Smith. The rapper, whose real name is Nathaniel Hale, was stricken on Sept. 5. Earlier this week, manager Rod McGrew told the hip-hop news site SOHH "the prognosis at this time is favorable. We're positive, prayerful, hopeful and patient." Citing unnamed sources, TMZ offered a starker assessment, saying that while Dogg did not suffer any brain damage, he has exhibited little movement below the neck. The MC, a cousin of Snoop Dogg who made his debut on Dr. Dre's 1992 album The Chronic before signing with Death Row Records, was first felled by a stroke on Dec. 19, leaving him partially paralyzed. Dogg had continued his recovery in physical therapy, but still relied on the use of a wheelchair. "He was making excellent progress with his recovery from the first stroke," said McGrew. "This is an unfortunate setback. We welcome all prayers in support of Nate's recovery but we would appreciate privacy." The rapper's condition will undoubtedly force a Compton judge to postpone a Sept. 24 hearing in which Dogg faces felony charges for threatening and stalking his estranged wife.

 

GARY COLEMAN SUED OVER UTAH BOWLING ALLEY RUCKUS [AP, 9/19/08]

Gary Coleman has been sued by a man who claims the actor punched him and ran into him with his truck in a Payson bowling alley parking lot, causing knee, back and neck injuries. Colt Rushton, 24, of Spanish Fork, says he and Coleman got into an argument Sept. 6 after he began taking pictures of the "Diff'rent Strokes" actor with a cell phone. Coleman, 40, was charged with misdemeanor reckless driving and disorderly conduct in Payson City Justice Court. A court clerk said Thursday there had been no notification that Coleman is represented by a lawyer. In the civil lawsuit, filed Wednesday in 4th District Court, Rushton's account of the confrontation said Coleman's bodyguard, Paul Rohbock, told Rushton he would have to pay $20 per picture if he continued taking photos. Rushton's attorney, Dustin Lance, said Rushton stopped taking pictures, but when he later saw Coleman sitting in his truck close to the steering wheel, he thought it was funny and took another picture. The lawsuit contends Rushton was attacked from behind by Rohbock or Coleman's wife, Shannon Price, and that his cell phone was taken away. The lawsuit also contends Coleman punched Rushton in the chest several times. "He's saying, 'Gary, you can leave, I'm sorry, I'll delete the pictures, just please give me my phone back,'" Lance said. Coleman could not immediately be reached for comment Thursday. There is no telephone listing for him in the Santaquin area where he lives. The lawsuit said Coleman wouldn't return the phone, and that Coleman hit Rushton and a car as he was trying to leave the parking lot. The former "Diff'rent Strokes" TV star moved to Santaquin in 2005, about the time he starred in "Church Ball," a film based on basketball leagues formed by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. "Diff'rent Strokes" aired from 1978 to 1986. Payson is about 52 miles southeast of Salt Lake City.

 

DANITY KANE'S AUBREY O'DAY BARES HER BREASTS IN MEN'S MAGAZINE [Aceshowbiz, 9/18/08]

Danity Kane's singer Aubrey O'Day is taking her "bad girl" predicate a notch higher, baring her breasts for raunchy poses for the October issue of Complex magazine. Her cover shoot for the men's magazine sees her being photographed in a sexy black dress that almost exposes her left boob. Also posing for several other pictures, Aubrey is seen inside the publication posing seductively in a stripper pole, sticking her tongue out to lick the iron while having one of her naked breasts pressed into it. Greater than both pics, the other pic even features her posing only in her knickers, covering her naked breasts with both of her hands. In her very insightful interview with Complex, Aubrey talks about everything from her favorite star to having sex on her period and the type of porn she likes. Finding it okay to be called "a whore and the party animal and the dumb girl" for the rest of her career, she insists "I love who I am. You're going to have to interpret me however you're going to interpret me." Furthermore telling the magazine that she loves porn very much and even idolizes her best pal, retired porn star Jenna Jameson, Aubrey refuses to star in porn movies though, reasoning "I'd like to keep my sex life personal." Aubrey's raunchy pics and interview with the October issue of Complex magazine, on newsstands everywhere October 7, 2008, can be seen on its official site.

 

JONAS BROTHERS STAND FOR MYSPACE MUSIC ADVERTISEMENT [Aceshowbiz, 9/18/08]

Teen band sensation Jonas Brothers are featured in an outdoor billboard advertisement placed in New York's Time Square. Holding big yellow speaker in his hand, Joe Jonas together with his other brothers show their supports for the launch of MySpace joint venture with some major labels, including Sony BMG, Universal, and Warner Music Group. Other big names to appear in the outdoor commercial ads are rapper Lil Wayne and M.I.A. The British singer is shown drinking her soft drink from a plastic glass on the billboard campaign with a bold white statement saying, "Music that makes me move." Beside teaming up with some major recording companies, MySpace will also sign a deal with a number of advertising partners, including McDonalds, Sony Pictures, State Farm and Toyota. When the agreement is settled, users of the website will be able to stream music on demand, create playlists, and add widget music players to their profiles.

 

NICK JONAS NAMES BIRTHDAY PRESENT GOLDEN RETRIEVER POOCH "ELVIS" [Aceshowbiz, 9/18/08]

Keeping his 16th birthday low key, Nick Jonas gets a pooch as a birthday present from his family and he names it Elvis. It is reported that he takes the name from his favorite musicians, Elvis Costello and Elvis Presley. Nick, the youngest of the Jonas Brothers, turned 16 years old Tuesday, September 16. And instead of having a star-studded bash, he preferred to spend his big day happily walking around his neighborhood in Toluca Lake, California. He took Elvis along with him. He and the golden retriever were seen together again on Wednesday, September 17. In the meantime, rumours are mounting that Nick has taken Elvis to veterinarian as it is riddled with parasites. He reportedly took Elvis to top Hollywood animal doctor Jeff Werber after discovering the puppy has ticks. One of the veterinarian's regulars, who was awaiting a session with Werber, testified "We were told we'd all have to wait a little longer because a celebrity was bringing his dog in. It turned out to be Nick Jonas, who came in through a private back entrance. I gather his Golden Retriever has a tick problem and Nick was coming in for medication." No comment from Nick about the report. Nick and his brothers, Joe Jonas and Kevin Jonas, in the meantime have been busy working on their upcoming big screen movie, "The Jonas Brothers: Burning Up". The threesome were seen on the set of the film, joined by younger brother, the Bonus Jonas Frankie. "The Jonas Brothers: Burning Up" will hit the theaters on February 27, 2009.

 

MILEY CYRUS AND JUSTIN GASTON'S THIRD DATE [Aceshowbiz, 9/18/08]

Despite her representative and friend's denial, Miley Cyrus keeps adding fuel to the rumors that she's dating underwear model Justin Gaston. After two previous dates, the twosome were spotted together again, going on their alleged third date on Wednesday, September 17, visiting Universal CityWalk in Hollywood, L.A. Miley and Justin weren't all alone. They were joined by her mother Leticia Cyrus, sister Brandi and her boyfriend. Happily posing for the cameras with some of her fans, Miley looked relax and seemed to be enjoying her time very much. Miley even introduced her companion to a photographer who asked her whom she was with during the outing. She jokingly said, "That is my sister and my sister's husband!" prompting Brandi to quickly clarify that she was with her boyfriend. "Everybody wants to know who is the white shirt guy?" the photographer went on asking her about Justin who wore a white tee. "[He's actually] my mom's boyfriend. Hey dad, I really hate to break it to you..." Miley stated.

 

ANGELINA JOLIE AND SCARLETT JOHANSSON DUBBED PERFECT FOR PLAYBOY COVER [Aceshowbiz, 9/18/08]

Getting better with age, Angelina Jolie and Scarlett Johansson are two perfect choices to be featured on the cover of Playboy magazine, the men's magazine's boss Hugh Hefner reportedly said. He is setting his sights on both movie beauties, considering them to be fitting the bill perfectly to become its cover girls. "We don't go for glamor - what we are looking for is a very natural girl-next-door look," Hugh told Pop Tarts on the criteria he's looking for in a lady in order to be featured on his magazine's cover. "I think that's what set things at the very beginning - what set the Playmate centrefolds apart." This isn't the first time that Hugh utters his willingness to have Jolie appearing on Playboy's cover. He named the actress as his dream model back in 2006. "I'm hoping to bump into Angelina Jolie to get her to do Playboy after she has had the baby," he said at the time. Jolie has no comment on Hugh's statement. She currently has been keeping herself away from the spotlight, presumably to take care for her newborn twins, Knox Leon and Vivienne Marcheline, whom she has with actor partner Brad Pitt. The power couple recently made a $2 million donation to help building a center, named after their adopted daughter Zahara, in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa to treat AIDS orphans and develop a program to treat drug-resistant tuberculosis. Scarlett, as well, also offers no words on Hugh's praise for her. She's keeping herself busy these days with social causes, starring in a public service announcement to promote cell phone recycling and visiting AIDS clinics in African nation of Rwanda.

 

DENZIL, SHAQ AS KIDS ARE NEW FACES OF "BOYS CLUB" [AP, 9/18/08]

Who's that kid? Denzel Washington, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Martin Sheen, Wesley Clark and Shaquille O'Neal, who attended the Boys & Girls Clubs of America as children, have lent their childhood photos to the organization for a national advertising campaign. Washington unveiled the "BE GREAT" campaign Wednesday, September 17, asking people to volunteer to help at their local clubs. "What's going on with children doesn't worry me. What's going on with adults worries me. If we are not more committed to these young people ... they will go as far as we take them, so the onus is on us, not on the children," Washington told reporters. "We've created this world for them, we are the ones that fall and we are the ones that can rectify it." Washington displayed a campaign ad featuring a photo of himself from the second grade. In the headshot, he's clad in a collared shirt, tie and blazer — much like he was dressed at the event. "A handsome young man that is," he said. "I have to give credit where credit is due, that begins with my mother not only for giving me life and faith and so much support, but also digging up this photo." The Academy Award winner, who is national spokesman for the organization, attended a Boys & Girls Club as a child in New York.

 

THOMAS JANE CUTS A DUI DEAL [E! Online, 9/18/08]

Patricia Arquette's hubby didn't need a medium to predict the outcome of this one. Thomas Jane was sentenced to a year's probation Wednesday, September 17 after pleading no contest in Shafter, Calif., to a solo count of driving under the influence stemming from his March 11 arrest during a traffic stop. The Punisher star must also pay about $1,700 in fines and attend two alcohol-education classes. In exchange for copping to misdemeanor DUI, Kern County authorities agreed to drop charges of possession of a controlled substance without a prescription and driving with a blood-alcohol level higher than 0.08 percent. Jane, 39, is now also off the hook for two speeding tickets issued at separate times in March prior to his arrest.

 

BRAD PITT DONATES MONEY TO SUPPORT GAY MARRIAGE [AP, 9/18/08]

Brad Pitt has donated $100,000 to fight California's November ballot initiative that would overturn the state Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage. It's the first time voters will be asked to ban same-sex marriage in a state where gay couples already have won the right to wed. Same-sex marriage is legal in Massachusetts and California. It's the first time voters will be asked to decide the issue in either California or Massachusetts — the states where gays have won the right to wed. "Because no one has the right to deny another their life, even though they disagree with it, because everyone has the right to live the life they so desire if it doesn't harm another and because discrimination has no place in America, my vote will be for equality and against Proposition 8," Pitt said Wednesday, September 17. Trevor Neilson, Pitt's political and philanthropic adviser, told The Associated Press that Pitt was surprised that his colleagues in the entertainment industry had not donated more money to support the battle against Proposition 8. Earlier in the week,Pitt and Angelina Jolie announced they donated $2 million to help fight HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis in Ethiopia.

 

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