Scientology Loses a Billionaire



One of Tom Cruise's Scientology buddies, Australian billionaire James Packer, is reportedly over the 'religion'. Packer was recently listed as Scientology's richest member.

Cruise introduced Packer to Scientology in 2002.

Packer's closest friends have revealed that he's quietly distanced himself from Scientology, was no longer undertaking Scientology courses and has told them he no longer "needs it".

The religion entered Packer's life at one of the lowest points. He was overweight and depressed, his marriage to his first wife, Jodhi Meares, had ended and he was reeling from the humiliating and very public collapse of business, One.Tel, in which he lost about $350 million.

Packer spilled about his association with Scientology only once, telling The Australian Financial Review Magazine in 2006 that he spent an hour or so "every couple of days" practicing the religion. "I think it has been very good for me," he said. "It has been helpful. I have some friends in Scientology that have been very supportive. But I think it's just helped me have a better outlook on life."

However, looks like Packer's distancing from the church could be money-motivated. The report points to observers who've suggested that Packer's expanding casino empire has presented issues difficult to reconcile with Scientologist beliefs.

Scientology's founder, L. Ron Hubbard, denounced gambling. "An obsessive gambler is a psychotic just like a drug addict or an alcoholic," Hubbard wrote in 1977.

Packer's office did not respond to calls for comments.

This is a big glow for the "church." Packer - as all Scientologists do - give a big portion of their annual income to the house of Xenu.

That's a lot of money Scientology's no longer getting!

[Image via WENN.]

Alanis Opens Up About Hitting 'Rock Bottom'



Alanis Morissette says she's naturally optimistic – but battled hard times over the last few years when she hit "rock bottom."

"I took a break over the past two and half years. I was tending to my personal life," says the singer, who called off her engagement to longtime boyfriend Ryan Reynolds in 2007.

During that time, she says she hit "rock bottom" due to "a personal unraveling of significant relationships in my life." (Morissette did not comment about Reynolds's recent engagement to Scarlett Johansson.)

But the singer, 33, worked through the low period by writing songs for her upcoming album, Flavors of Entanglement, due June 10, and discovering more outlets for her emotions. She says that "everything from pounding pillows to sharing with intimate friends," helped her through the hard time. "The record chronicles the rock bottom finally being hit."

Still, she's hopeful about true love she says. "Oh yeah. My nature is always hope filled. It's more about values matching now. That's the foundation." Though she admits she is, "dating someone," she says she'd rather not reveal who it is – yet.

What the singer will reveal is that she's planning to tour North America this fall – but first she wants to catch one of the summer's most anticipated movies: Sex and the City. "I will definitely be going to see that movie," enthused Morissette, who once had a guest role on the HBO series. "I'm the girl that would torture a few of my guy friends and bring them."

Whitney Houston 'Fantastic' at London Show



Whitney Houston has taken another step in her comeback. The diva wowed the crowd when she performed Thursday at the Caudwell Children Legends Ball, at Battersea Park in London.

During her hour-long set, Houston "both looked and sounded amazing," a guest tells PEOPLE. "She was fantastic."

Houston, who is working on a new album with her old friend Clive Davis, sang hits, including, "I Wanna Dance with Somebody," "I Will Always Love You," "The Greatest Love of All," and "Saving All My Love for You."

"It was like her greatest hits, only live," adds the guest.

Houston, who has had a tumultuous custody battle with her ex-husband Bobby Brown, brought daughter Bobbi Kristina, 15, on stage and introduced her as "the love of my life." The pair performed a duet of "My Love Is Your Love."

Among the evening's guests was singer Kelly Rowland, who said before the show began, "I'm jumping through my skin to see [Whitney] again."

As for Houston's troubled past, the Destiny's Child singer said, "People should not judge her. She's done more than prove herself."

Donnie Darko 2: Blasphemous!!!



A sequel to cult film classic Donnie Darko is in the works.

Nooooooooooo!!!!!!!

The title of the sequel is S. Darko and it starts shooting on May 18th.

Daviegh Chase will reprise her role as Donnie's younger sister. The cast for S. Darko also includes Ed Westwick (Gossip Girls' Chuck Bass!), Briana Evigan (Step Up 2) and Justin Chatwin (Dragon Ball).

The story picks up seven years after the first film (and Donnie's death) when little sister Samantha Darko and her best friend Corey are now 18 and on a roadtrip to Los Angeles when they are plagued by bizarre visions.

There's no Donnie at all in the new film (sorry Jake Gyllenhaal fans), but there will be meteorites and rabbits.

We really wish they would've left Darko alone.

What are YOUR thoughts on the sequel?

The Curse of La Lohan



Lindsay Lohan's ass has been dropped from the upcoming film Manson Girls.

Insiders reveal that L.L. poisoned the film.

Because of the recovering addict's involvement, the producers couldn't score any 'name' actors and actresses for the pic cuz no one wanted to be associated with the tabloid favorite that is La Lohan, who has gone full-throttle back to her hard pAArtying ways.

Can you blame them?

[Image via WENN.]

Model: Lindsay Lohan Stole My Stuff, Too!



Lindsay Lohan's enemies are coming out of hiding in the wake of her fur-coat controversy – and now a model is rehashing her claims that Lohan stole her clothing as well.

The same week a Columbia University student insisted Lohan swiped her $11,000 blond mink coat in New York City earlier this year, model Lauren Hastings says on the buzznet.com Web site that Lindsay lifted thousands of dollars worth of items from her closet, Inside Edition reports.

"Basically, I have two closets, a lot of the stuff was missing out of one and the next closet was almost completely empty," Hastings says on a video featured on the buzznet site, claiming her things disappeared during an unauthorized late-night party tossed by her housesitter.

Citing five witnesses, Hastings, 23, also alleges, "They all said they saw Lindsay Lohan basically in my closet, handing a bag of clothes to her bodyguard."

In an email to PEOPLE, Lohan's rep responds: "This is all not true. It's not what it seems."

Police reportedly searched for the missing items, but they were not recovered. According to documents that Inside Edition obtained from the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office, Hastings did report the theft of clothing, but the DA's office pressed no charges against Lohan, due to insufficient evidence.

Said Hastings: "I contacted Lindsay and said, 'Look, I know you stole my clothes.' She then said I was completely delusional, I was pathetic."


Lauren Hastings (left), is accusing Lohan of theft after fur-coat claims by Masha Markova

Hot. Tranny. Mess.



Our favorite Jackson, La Toya, worked her magic at a party hosted by German mail order and department store corporation Arcandor, Thursday in Munich.

We wonder how much she charges for an appearance.

$500???

[Image via WENN.]

Britney’s Surprise Visit to Rock the Cradle Finale



Thursday night’s Rock the Cradle win was a shock for Kenny Loggins’s son, Crosby (“My ulitmate goal was to come in second!” he told PEOPLE), but there was an even bigger surprise backstage—Britney Spears, who showed up at CBS studios to support her off-and-on manager Larry Rudolph, a judge on the show.

Wearing a brown leather jacket and an animal-print dress, Spears, 26, peered into the audience but opted for a more private seat behind the wings. Flanked by security, the singer texted during performances and played it cool, even when Blaze Snider (Dee’s son) sang a rendition of her hit “…Baby One More Time.”

Rudolph denied requests for a photograph of Spears, who later went to Sur restaurant in L.A. for dinner.

Earlier that day, Spears enjoyed an extended visit with her two sons, Jayden and Sean Preston, the first after being granted extended visitation rights on May 6 at Los Angeles Country Superior Court. “We are so pleased with Britney’s progress,” her parents Jamie and Lynne Spears said in a statement. “We are appreciative of the court’s recognition of this progress.”

Mugshot Hall Of Fame



We finally have their pics!

These are those vile, disgusting, disrespectful idiots that desecrated a body and used a corpse head as a bong to smoke marijuana.

We hope their mothers are proud!

Ian Ziering’s Idea For 90210 Spinoff: Steve Sanders’ Evil Twin



In the pantheon of television evil, we have J.R. Ewing, Dr. Kimberly Mancini and perhaps one day soon … Steve Sanders’ evil twin brother.

This previously unheard of evil force could emerge, Ian Ziering — who played Sanders on the original Beverly Hills, 90210 — playfully suggests, when the spinoff launches on The CW.

“I’d like to see Steve’s twin brother show up on the show,” Ziering told PEOPLE at the Dancing With the Stars 100th episode celebration. “If you think Steve was bad, well Steve was tame compared to his twin.”

This premise could work, Ziering says with a sly smile, since Steve Sanders was famously adopted on the original show (90210 fun fact: he found out when he was 16).

“As it turns out he has a twin who was adopted to another family — a less solvent family. He was from the other side. His name is Ben Sanders and he didn’t drive a Corvette like Steve. He got his smarts from the street.”

While he would not comment on whether he’d don the usually mandatory big mustache for the evil twin part, the light-haired Ziering said he would dye appropriately. “I’d go all dark — the hair, the eyebrows. And I’d cap my teeth.”

Evil twins aside, Ziering says his initial take to the news of 90210 redux was slight skepticism. “My first reaction was, ‘often imitated, never duplicated,’” says Ziering. “They picked up the reins on an iconic show. It takes a lot … But I wish them the best. I want the show to succeed.”

New and Improved



We gotta give her props. Nicole Richie definitely is a changed woman!

The first-time mom has toned down her hard-pAArtying ways and embraced being domestic.

Nicole's also been "giving back."

Richie and babydaddy Joel Madden started a foundation for children, and on Thursday the pair hit up the Neighborhood Resource Center in South Central Los Angeles.

It's good that Nicole is good these days but….

We need a new bad girl (besides Amy Winehouse)!

[Image via JFX Online.]

Joaquin Phoenix Working on Music Career
The actor plays with U.K. band The Charlatans but hasn't put out any of his "brilliant" tracks – yet



Joaquin Phoenix walked away with more than an Oscar nod for his portrayal of Johnny Cash in 2005's Walk The Line – the actor, who learned to play guitar for the role, also realized he loved to make music.

Three years later, the actor is now cutting an album with U.K. band The Charlatans. "Once he learned guitar he found that he had quite a lot of demons inside himself that he wanted to expel through music," the band's frontman, Tim Burgess, told Billboard.

It's possible, however, that the demons could get the better of Phoenix's recording career. "All the tracks that me and [Charlatans manager] Alan [McGee] worked with him on were brilliant," said Burgess. "But he just kept scrapping everything or re-doing everything."

The album does not have a release date, but "I'm trying to get Alan to force him to put it out," Burgess said.

Hollywood Kryponite?



So, if you're Superman, and you heard this week that Thor—Thor!—got a release date for his movie, do you wonder what on your adopted planet you have to do to get on the calendar?

The answer might be: Be a Marvel character.

This week, hot off Iron Man's $102-million opening weekend, Marvel issued a "partial" list of eight upcoming superhero movies, everything from Iron Man 2 to Thor. All but Ant-Man had scheduled release dates.

Meanwhile, rival DC Comics' characters, from Aquaman to Wonder Woman, and with the very large exception of Batman, remain in various stages of, if you'll pardon the vulgar Hollywood expression, development.

"I really don't see a big difference between the potential of Marvel versus DC characters on the big screen," wrote Mike Voiles, editor of Mike's Amazing World of DC Comics, in an email interview.

Well, actually, there is one big difference, as comic experts like Voiles are quick point out: Marvel is its own entity, cutting its own deals, and even financing its own movies. DC Comics is a subsidiary of Warner Bros.

"Even higher profile DC properties have to fight through other Warner priorities and projects to get made," Voiles wrote.

To Jim Littler, webmaster of ComicBookMovie.com, the long-planned Wonder Woman movie is a prime example of the superhuman challenges a DC superhero can face.

"Warner Bros. was able to get Joss Whedon at the helm—AND THEN THEY REJECTED HIS SCRIPT! Joss Whedon of Firefly, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and more!" Littler wrote in an email. "I'll bet the DC people were crying when that fell apart."

More than a decade ago, it was Marvel heroes who were having all the rotten luck in Hollywood. Spider-Man wasn't much more than a 1970s TV washout. The Fantastic Four were fit for an unreleased Roger Corman B-movie. Captain America was singed in a direct-to-video bomb.

Now, it's DC's turn. While the comic giant's characters continue to be huge small-screen players, on Smallville and in various animated series, they're getting swamped by Marvel's gang at the multiplex. Superman vs. Batman was scrapped. Justice League of America fell apart. And all sorts of cape- and tight-wearers are cooling their boots—even Superman, who's doesn't yet have a definitive start date for his next movie, two years after Superman Returns grossed $200 million.

According to Littler, DC's troubles have nothing to do with DC's characters.

"Many comic fans think DC has a much stronger lineup than Marvel does," Littler said. "I can think of at least three or four more franchises that they haven't even touched yet that could be as big as anything Marvel has put out."

Few, in fact, expect any comic-book movie to be bigger this summer than The Dark Knight, starring DC's own Batman (with an assist from Christian Bale). Filmmaker Christopher Nolan's much-anticipated Batman Begins sequel opens July 18.

Even in star-crossed times for his JLA colleagues, the Caped Crusader reigns. "I've never run into any comics fan who doesn't like Batman," Littler said.

Now, if only some of his mojo could rub off on the Green Lantern.

Here's a look at some of the upcoming Marvel-based movies, and their scheduled release dates, per the company:

* The Incredible Hulk (June 13)
* Punisher: War Zone (Dec. 5)
* X-Men Origins: Wolverine (May 1, 2009)
* Iron Man 2 (April 30, 2010)
* Thor (June 4, 2010)
* The First Avenger: Captain America (working title) (May 6, 2011)
* The Avengers (July 2011)
* Ant-Man (no announced date)

And here's a look at the statuses of some of the planned DC-based movies, per ComicBookMovie.com:

* Aquaman: "According to Comic Book Resources, the producers want to make a screwball comedy of it."
* The Flash: Wedding Crashers' David Dobkin was signed to direct last year.
* Green Lantern: Greg Berlanti (Brothers & Sisters, Eli Stone) is writing a script; Jack Black won't star—at least he promised as much back in 2006.
* Justice League of America: "Tabled."
* Superman: The Man of Steel: Director Bryan Singer's on board. Superman Returns star Brandon Routh's on board. Filming might begin "early next year," per Routh, who admittedly doesn't have the power to schedule such things.
* Wonder Woman: "Sitting uncomfortably on the backburner."

Cameron Spending Her Weekend with the World



It might not be quite as fun as helping convince Sarah Silverman that Jimmy Kimmel is f--ing Ben Affleck, but Cameron Diaz figures this cause is just as worthy of her time.

The actress will be joining fellow golden girls Meg Ryan and Goldie Hawn in Los Angeles on Saturday to take part in Pangea Day, a film festival intended to promote unity and tolerance by shedding light on different cultures and the issues endemic to particular spots around the globe.

"We all share the same planet and we only have one of 'em, and the more that we know about each other and the more that we tell each other about ourselves, the more liknesses we see that we have," Diaz says in a PSA promoting the event. "Storytelling is age-old, something we've done since the beginning of man—it's how we relate to each other...Because we are a global tribe, that storytelling must expand to be inclusive to everyone."

Other live screenings will be taking place in London; Cairo; Kigali, Rwanda; Mumbai, India and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, while the rest of us can catch webcasts streaming on the event's website or watch on TV (check your local listings).

Lisa Ling is one of the hosts and musical performers will include Live 8 visionary Bob Geldof and the Eurythmics' Dave Stewart.

Natalie Portman Avoids Heights



Natalie Portman can't make time for another torturous period romance after all.

Despite being an early champion of the project, the Other Boleyn Girl star has had to drop out of an upcoming adaption of Emily Brontë's haunting classic Wuthering Heights because of a scheduling conflict, a rep for Portman confirms to E! News.

There's no word on who might fill Cathy's headstrong shoes now, but German-born thesp Michael Fassbender is reportedly in final negotiations to play Heathcliff and cameras are still set to roll this fall, with Brit John Maybury directing.

The film keeping Portman from tromping around the moors is as yet unannounced, but we do know that the almost-27-year-old has the Jim Sheridan drama Brothers, costarring Jake Gyllenhaal and Tobey Maguire, coming up, as well as the vignette-driven New York, I Love You, an American answer to last year's Paris, je t'aime.

Lost Makes Good on Missing Episodes



Time may move wonky for those on the Island, but for those simply watching it, it'll march on as expected. And as contractually obligated.

ABC has confirmed that, before Lost moves on to that big hatch in the sky in 2010, the network will make good on the three episodes missed due to the writers' strike.

Prior to the start of this season, producers and the network hammered out an endgame, agreeing that Lost would continue for 48 episodes, or three seasons of 16 episodes each.

Even with the recently added second hour to this year's May 29 season finale, however, producers were still two eps shy. Not anymore.

"[Coproducer] Carlton [Cuse] and I did an interview yesterday, and they asked what about the two episodes that didn't get done this year, and we reiterated as we have in many interviews we will probably do 17 next year and 17 the following year," show overlord Damon Lindelof tells E! Online's Watch With Kristin TV blog.

"Poststrike we always said we would make up the ones that got dropped," Cuse added.

That settles that. If only those other numbers were as easy to decipher.

Prince William Addresses Helicopter Controversy



Prince William openly acknowledged the controversy surrounding his military helicopter flights during a public appearance Thursday.

During a visit to a community center in Penygraig, Wales, William told Mildred Francis, 82, "I'm working on my license. I'm trying to do as much flying as I can." Then he added with a smile, "But I've been accused of wasting money – joyriding."

"He said he's got into a bit of trouble for flying," Francis told reporters, "but he was very nice about it."

Last month, William was called a "show off" by one British paper when he landed a chopper in a field behind girlfriend Kate Middleton's family home. The prince has been trained to fly a Chinook as part of his stint with the Royal Air Force. At the time the Ministry of Defense rushed to William's aid saying it was part of his ongoing instruction.

Earlier on Thursday, William, dressed in gray suit and red striped tie, visited a bleak public housing project in the picturesque Rhondda valleys, where he defeated Martin James, 18, in a Nintendo Wii tennis game. "You know you're not allowed to beat me," he joked to James.

While at the apartments, William also watched a group of children from the Valley Kids project break-dance. Jessica James, 9, asked him if he was going to be the king of England when he gets older.

"Not yet. It's far away," he told her.

Later, he knelt down to chat with younger children who were waving Welsh flags and asked many of them "rugby or football?" The answer was "rugby" in an area of Britain where the sport is dominant.

The kids gave him good reviews. Carly Davies, 10, declared of the royal: "Kind, nice, gentle face, pleasant, fancy suit."

Update
Lindsay Lohan's Rep: Leave Her Alone!



The fur is flyin’ in Lindsay Lohan’s camp.

I just got off the phone with her rep, who insists Lohan did not steal that fur coat or any clothing belonging to the New York City model accusing her of theft.

“This is crazy!” says Lohan’s rep. “They are being paid for their interviews. I want that on the record. The bombing of Lindsay has to stop. She is in a good place right now. Why can’t everyone leave her alone?”

Model Lauren Hastings claims that she has witnesses who saw Lohan earlier this year going through her closet and handing a bag of her belongings to a bodyguard during a party thrown by a housesitter at Hasting’s New York pad.

And as you’ve probably heard by now, fellow New Yorker Masha Markova claimed that Lohan lifted her fur during a night out in NYC.

But that’s not all. The rep is already shooting down an upcoming tabloid report that says Lohan had a fling two years ago with Bobby Brown’s son, Landon Brown. “They might as well print I had an affair with him, too,” the rep said. “They’ll print anything.”

Ellen: Jessica Alba's Having a Girl!



Who knew Ellen DeGeneres was a soothsayer? The multitalented yakker predicted the sex of Jessica Alba's baby during the mom-to-be's appearance on her chatfest Friday.

Holding a ring over the Fantastic Four star's belly, the talk-show hostess said she thinks the baby will be a girl!

Be sure to check back here in a few weeks when news of Jessica giving birth will no doubt be overshadowed by all the reports about whether or not Ellen was right—heck, she's got a 50-50 shot.

Justin Phones Home for MTV



Justin Timberlake is looking to be Bourne again as Ashton Kutcher.

The singer-actor-dancer is upgrading himself from triple to quadruple threat as producer of an MTV reality show.

The star turned up to the cable net's upfront presentation in New York today to announce production on The Phone, a series set to debut this fall that is being touted (by those involved, natch) as a "real-life Bourne Identity," albeit a completely Matt-Damon-less one.

And, from the sound of things, a completely Justin-Timberlake-less version as well, at least as far as onscreen eye candy is concerned.

Based on a Dutch reality series, the MTV version will hide two cell phones at opposite ends of a major U.S. metropolis. The phones will ring at exactly the same time, and whoever picks up will be given five seconds to agree to the terms of the game and then be sent on a series of city-traversing missions guided by a mysterious voice and followed by a helicopter.

Should they succeed, per the network, a "huge cash prize" awaits them.

But really, the announcement of an MTV show that Speidi can't infiltrate may be prize enough.

Britney Has Met Her Match



Is Neil Patrick Harris the new Jamie Spears?

Well, no, but it’s clear he and the rest of the How I Met Your Mother clan have done Britney a world of good. Her second cameo on the show is slated to run May 12, and she looks positively radiant about it all.

Is it too late to petition the court for a new conservator?

Jessica Simpson: I'll Be Ashlee's Maid of Honor



While her little sister's wedding plans remain shrouded in secrecy, Jessica Simpson revealed one detail: She's the maid of honor!

"Of course," the 27-year-old told PEOPLE when asked if she'll be standing next to Ashlee on her big day.

Performing in front of nearly 35,000 people at Camp Pendleton Thursday night, Jessica was in fine form for the troops, belting out "These Boots Are Made For Walkin' " at a three-hour concert that also featured Snoop Dogg, Janet Jackson, Ne-Yo, and Pamela Anderson. Taking the stage in a skin-tight red top, jeans and black stiletto heels, Jessica was greeted by howls and hoorahs.

Little sister Ashlee, 23, and fiancé Pete Wentz (of Fall Out Boy fame) have kept mum on their wedding plans – and her pregnancy.

But she can't help gushing about her engagement.

While promoting her new album, Bittersweet World, in London, Ashlee proudly showed off her ring on a British chat show saying, "He did a great job." As for her husband-to-be? "I got a good one."

Penelope Cruz Endures Broken Embraces



Penelope Cruz and director Pedro Almodovar attend the photocall for Broken Embraces in Madrid, Spain on Friday.

The movie will feature Penelope, 34, as a blond playing a would-be actress from Spain’s provinces who is pursued by an unscrupulous financier.

Cruz was the first Spanish woman to be nominated for a non-English speaking role for Best Actress at the Oscars in 2007. She starred in Almodovar’s last film, Volver (The Return), in which she played a woman who killed her abusive husband.

“I’m not sure that the film is going to be good, but for me the important thing is to be excited by it.”, said Almodovar.

Where’s the confidence Pedro?

Prince Caspian Charges Paris



The cast of The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian chat up their new movie at a press conference held at the Mandarin Oriental hotel in Paris, France on Thursday.

Pictured: Ben Barnes is Prince Caspian, William Moseley is Peter Pevensie, Anna Popplewell is Susan Pevensie and Georgie Henley as Lucy Pevensie.

The New York Times just did a piece on Barnes, labeling him Disney’s Newly Crowned Prince. Check it out at NYTimes.com. The San Francisco Chronicle also has an interview with Barnes available at SFGate.com. And be sure to check out YouTube clip of Barnes in the boy band Hyrise here. Undoubtedly, this film will catapult Barnes to stardom!

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian opens in theaters in just one week — May 16!

Prince Caspian Charges Paris



The cast of The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian chat up their new movie at a press conference held at the Mandarin Oriental hotel in Paris, France on Thursday.

Pictured: Ben Barnes is Prince Caspian, William Moseley is Peter Pevensie, Anna Popplewell is Susan Pevensie and Georgie Henley as Lucy Pevensie.

The New York Times just did a piece on Barnes, labeling him Disney’s Newly Crowned Prince. Check it out at NYTimes.com. The San Francisco Chronicle also has an interview with Barnes available at SFGate.com. And be sure to check out YouTube clip of Barnes in the boy band Hyrise here. Undoubtedly, this film will catapult Barnes to stardom!

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian opens in theaters in just one week — May 16!

Hilary Duff is L.A. Confidential



Hilary Duff promotes her new politically charged movie, War, Inc., in the latest of Los Angeles Confidential.

In the John Cusack-directed film, The Duffster plays potty-mouthed Eastern European pop star Yonica Babiak. Here’s what Hil had to say to the mag:

Your character speaks in a ridiculous dialect. Where did that come from? The first time I talked to John, he said, “You know, you have to have an accent.” The character is an Eastern European pop star. I didn’t even know where to begin. But the fun thing is, this place doesn’t even exist. Turaqistan is not a real country. So I played around and mixed a lot of things together! I talked in that accent as much as I could, even to my family and friends!

Did you really drop a live scorpion down your pants in the movie? I really did. It was so scary. I grew up in Texas, and we had plenty of scorpions, but I never had to put one down my pants before. And my pants weren’t that baggy, so I couldn’t get any space. I did it a couple times with it going down my leg and it was terrifying. The little thing kept doing backbends because it obviously didn’t want to go in my pants, you know? Everyone on the set was cheering!

Hugh Hefner to Miley Cyrus: Pose in Playboy!



Playboy boss Hugh Hefner has invited Disney sensation Miley Cyrus to pose in the pages of his men’s magazine.

In light of Miley’s Vanity Fair photo scandal, Hugh told Extra at the Playboy Mansion last night that he love the 15-year-old tween queen to star in Playboy when she’s of legal age.

Hugh said, “Sure, she’d be welcomed in the magazine. Very pretty lady. And I think to make such a big to do over something as innocent as those photos, I think is a reflection on how schizophrenic America is about sexuality.”

With a Hannah Montana empire worth $1 billion, Miley surely wouldn’t do this because she’s strapped for cash!

Ashton and Demi’s Adoption Plans



Ashton Kutcher recently revealed that he has long been contemplating adoption and that someday he will expand his family.

The 30-year-old is stepfather to Rumer, 19, Scout, 16, and Tallulah, 14 - Demi’s daughters with Bruce Willis - and the actor insists he dreams of “someday” expanding their brood with children of his own. But the Hollywood heartthrob admits he hasn’t ruled out adoption, since he has always been drawn to the idea of taking in an orphaned child.

He says, “I have thought about adopting a kid my whole life. When I was eight I had a friend called Terry and one day he told me he was adopted.

“He said his parents told him there was a more special bond between them because they picked him. I thought that was pretty profound and I would be open to the idea.”

Paris Hilton & Benji Madden Wedding in the Works — It’s Only a Matter of Time!



Paris Hilton returns to the Ed Sullivan theater in New York City on Thursday to tape her appearance for Late Night with David Letterman.

The 27-year-old hotel heiress talked about her new MTV reality show, Paris Hilton’s My New Best Friend. And as an entrepreneur, Paris also talked up her dog clothing line, $79 hair extensions and champagne-in-a-can business.

During the interview, Letterman brought up the fact that Paris is dating Benji Madden, her BFF Nicole Richie’s twin brother.

Paris said, “Yeah, they’re twins. It’s actually perfect. We’re like sisters and they’re twins, so it works out well. Nicole and I would be sisters-in-law. We talk about it. I’m so happy. I’m so in love. I know I want to spend the rest of my life with Benji, my boyfriend. I know I want to be with him forever. If you saw us together, you’d understand. He’s my best friend.”

The screen then flashes to Benji smiling and giving the cameras a thumbs up!

Selena Gomez Joins Hollywood Records?



Wizards of Waverly Place star Selena Gomez may be following in the musical footsteps of fellow tween Disney star Miley Cyrus.

Hollywood Records, Miley’s music label, is reportedly out to sign Selena to a record deal.

“Hollywood Records really wants Selena,” a source reveals. “Nothing’s signed yet, but they’re going after her in a strong way.”

As reported earlier this week, the ratings for this past Sunday’s new Hannah Montana episode were down 24% from the previous fresh episode, which aired less than two months earlier, and down 33% from the first original show of the year in January, suggesting the show was on the decline before Miley’s Vanity Fair photo scandal.

Miley currently has a four-album deal with Hollywood Records. Her sophomore CD, Breakout, is set for a summer release.

Heidi Montag: Not Being Friends With Lauren Is "Weight Off My Shoulders"



Heidi Montag doesn't miss her once-close friendship with Lauren Conrad

"It's kind of like a weight off my shoulders," the Hills star said of the demise in a taped interview with Ellen DeGeneres airing Monday.

"Towards the end of our relationship she was just always yelling at me and nagging at me because she didn't like my boyfriend [Spencer Pratt]," Montag said.

"She had a boyfriend I didn't like for several years but I didn't really think that was my job [to say anything]," she added. "I was kind of like let's just go our own ways."

Montag and Conrad's friendship – they were once roommates, too – fizzled over their different opinions about Pratt as well as Conrad's claim that Montag and Pratt spread rumors that a sex tape of Conrad existed.

The once BFFs had not been together for about two years until they were photographed for the current cover of Rolling Stone.

"They're all having fun and I'm like let's just get it done," Montag said of the shoot, which also included Hills co-stars Whitney Port and Audrina Patridge. "I mean... awkward!"

Pal: Mariah's "Baby Would Be in Gucci, Chanel and Diamonds From Birth"



Now that Mariah Carey is married to Nick Cannon, could kids be next?

Her pals wouldn’t object!

When asked if the singer would be a great mother, friend Tyler Perry told Us: "Absolutely!"

"Her baby would be in Gucci, Chanel and diamonds from birth," the director said at Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People in the World party in New York City Thursday.

Perry also joked he was "upset about this marriage" to Cannon.

"She didn't tell me she was married!" he said. "We've been talking and you don't tell me you're getting married? What's that about?"

But Perry won’t hold it against her.

"She is a wonderful, wonderful woman," he says. "So I'm just joking around."

Archuleta's Dad Banished from "Idol"



TMZ has learned David Archuleta's dad, Jeff, has been officially banned from "American Idol."

Here's how it went down. "Idol" sources tell TMZ Jeff has been a complete pain in the ass, interfering with the entire production. He has badgered producers, the band, vocal coaches and even other contestants. The final straw came this week, when Jeff wanted to change the lyrics to David's first song, "Stand By Me." Jeff insisted on adding a verse from Sean Kingston's hit, "Beautiful Girls." Producers sent him an e-mail telling him the lyrics could not be changed. They were beyond pissed when David sang the song with Kingston's lyrics during the live show.

We're told by changing the lyrics, it created problems with the song's publisher and cost "A.I." a lot of money.

Jeff was ordered to sit with "A.I." lawyers on Wednesday, who told him he was "banned from being in the rooms where David was learning or rehearsing his songs." It's "Idol's" position, since David is 17, he does not need a guardian -- just a teacher. Jeff will be allowed to sit in the audience during the live show but he's 86'd from anything backstage.

Sources say the other contestants were fed up with Jeff and didn't want him near them. Now they have their wish.

All in all, sources say Jeff is the stage dad from hell. BTW, he was banned on the set when David did "Star Search" a few years back.

Jenna Bush Wedding Weekend Kicks Off with a 'Texas-Size' Party



The fight song for the University of Texas – Jenna Bush's alma mater – rang out accompanied by cheers through the quaint streets of Salado, Texas, Friday night, as the president's daughter and fiancé Henry Hager celebrated at a rehearsal dinner and "Texas-sized" afterparty with their families and wedding guests.

The Secret Service closed down streets in Salado, about 50 miles south of President Bush's ranch, where Jenna and Henry were to be wed at a lakeside evening ceremony Saturday night.

A source at the ranch tells PEOPLE that Friday was "low-key," with no real frenzy of last-minute party planning. To wit, the bride spent all of Friday in Salado with her mother, First Lady Laura Bush, twin sister (and maid of honor) Barbara, and some two dozen girlfriends.

The group, most of them toting garment bags, lingered over a bridal luncheon at the Inn on the Creek before getting ready for the evening festivities, the rehearsal dinner – which doubled as a big 30th birthday party for Henry – hosted by the Hager family at the Old Salado Springs Celebration Center.

After that came the "Texas-Size Celebration" at the Salado Silver Spur Theater. All of the 200 or so wedding guests were invited to the party with a "Texas chic" dress code.

About 150 locals and tourists – some holding "W '08" signs, others with American flags – lined the Salado streets, hoping for a glimpse of President Bush and the wedding party. One woman who said she spotted Jenna earlier in the day was nervous about giving her name to a reporter, given all the Bush family's insistence upon keeping the nuptial celebrations private.

"Jenna looked at us ... she was SO close, and smiled that beautiful smile," the woman told PEOPLE. "We wanted to tell her congratulations, but we were afraid the Secret Service would come after us or something."

Around 9 p.m., the UT fight song could be heard, along with raucous cheering. By 9:38, the president, an early-to-bed guy, was ready to call it a night and directed his motorcade home to Prairie Chapel Ranch.

It’s Official: Jennie Garth Joins the New 90210



Kelly Taylor is returning to that exclusive zip code, 90210.

As was rumored, Jennie Garth will make special guest appearances on the CW’s new spinoff of Beverly Hills, 90210, playing a guidance counselor at her alma mater, West Beverly High, the network announced Saturday.

Garth is the first original cast member to sign on to the spinoff — though many former stars (including Tori Spelling and Ian Ziering) are lobbying for parts. Since the announcement was made last month, the cast has been rapidly filling up: Lori Loughlin has signed on to play Debbie Mills, wife of the high school principal who returns to take care of his alcoholic mother.

The high school principal has not yet been cast.

Nick & Mariah's Wedding Bling: A Closer Look



When Nick Cannon and Mariah Carey made their first public appearance as newlyweds on Thursday, the pair simply dazzled – almost as much as their wedding jewelry.

Carey, who attended TIME magazine's "100 Most Influential People in the World" gala with her new husband, showed off her impressive pink diamond sparkler from of Jacob & Co. jewelers. The ring, valued at a whopping $2.5 million, is 17 carats. The center stone alone is 10-carats – a little smaller than a dime.

"I wanted to do something extremely special, something that Mariah would really appreciate," Cannon told PEOPLE. "We got the pinkest stone we could find, surrounded by other diamonds."

Carey definitely approved. "It's so clear, you can see my finger through it," she said.

According to Jacob Arabo of Jacob & Co., Cannon "was very involved," in picking the ring, which has an emerald-cut fancy light pink center stone surrounded by 58 intense pink diamonds, flanked by two half-moon diamonds.

"The way he came into the store, I knew this was very serious," Arabo told PEOPLE. "He said, 'Jacob, I’m in love. This is what I want to do.'"

Meanwhile, Cannon's ring would make Liberace proud. The elaborate, chunky diamond band made its debut Thursday as he was leaving his New York City hotel.

But while a diamond may be forever, the couple's new tattoos – his says "Mariah" across his shoulders, and hers reads "Mrs. Cannon" on the small of her back – will last a lifetime. "Rings and all that is special and exciting," said Cannon. "But to us, tattoos mean more than anything because it's something we never thought we'd do."

Plus, they're a lot harder to lose.

Hit List: 'Sex' and Comedy



Kim Cattrall has played everything from a Vulcan in "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country" to an Egyptian princess in 1987's "Mannequin," but her big break didn't come until 1997, when she was cast in HBO's "Sex and the City." Ms. Cattrall's portrayal of Samantha Jones in the series earned her five Emmy nominations and a Golden Globe award. This month, Ms. Cattrall, 51 years old, reprises the role in the new movie, "Sex and the City." She says her comic timing can be traced to her love of black-and-white screwball comedies. "I'm inspired by actresses like Lucille Ball and Marilyn Monroe," she says. "You can't teach what they do." She spoke with us about her favorite romantic comedies.

'My Man Godfrey,' 1936


Everett Collection

In this comedy, Carole Lombard plays a daffy socialite who discovers a vagrant (William Powell) in the city dump and hires him as her butler. Before long, she is in love with him. "Carole Lombard is so glamorous," says Ms. Cattrall. "Every day she wakes up looking fabulous and somebody brings her breakfast. I haven't had breakfast in bed recently enough."

'His Girl Friday,' 1940


Everett Collection

Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell star in Howard Hawks's remake of the 1931 newsroom comedy "The Front Page." Ms. Russell's character, Hildy Johnson, originally was written for a man. "She looked like a little guy, the way she would sit on the desk," Ms. Cattrall says of the performance.

'Sullivan's Travels,' 1941


Everett Collection

Preston Sturges wrote and directed this film about a privileged Hollywood director, played by Joel McCrea, who decides the only way he can understand the poor is to pretend to be one of them. "Joel McCrea was such an underrated actor," says Ms. Cattrall. "I could watch that movie over and over just for his delivery."

'I Married a Witch,' 1942


Everett Collection

René Clair directed this film about a witch who is burned in 17th-century Salem and returns in the guise of a 20th-century woman (Veronica Lake), only to fall in love with a descendant of the man who killed her. "It's supposed to be a comedy about love between a witch and a mortal, but really it's about accepting people as they are," says Ms. Cattrall.

'Woman of the Year,' 1942


Everett Collection

Katharine Hepburn was nominated for an Oscar for her portrayal of a self-absorbed newspaper columnist who falls in love with Spencer Tracy's rumpled sportswriter. "My favorite scene is when Spencer Tracy comes to the office to ask her to marry him," Ms. Cattrall says. "The timing on that is impeccable."

Uma vs. Lancome: Round Two



Anyone who has seen Kill Bill knows you don't mess with Uma Thurman.

The Oscar-nominated actress is firing back against the makers of Lancôme cosmetics, whom she claims knowingly used her image to sell their products after her contract expired.

Thurman's $15 million countersuit was filed Friday in Manhattan federal court, just two days after the French makeup giant filed a preemptive suit about the matter.

The 38-year-old beauty signed on as a spokeswoman for Lancôme in 2000 but says her name and image continued to pop up on the company's websites and billboards in Canada and Asia after her contract ended in 2005.

In her lawsuit, Thurman's lawyer, Bertram Fields, claims that "The worldwide and unauthorized use of Thurman's name and likeness for years after the expiration dates significantly diluted the value of Thurman's name and likeness for advertising or promotional purposes."

Lancôme maintains that use of her image was completely unintentional and all advertisements were pulled as soon as the company became aware of them.

Happy Birthday, Ellen!



Yep, she’s 50!

Ellen DeGeneres is celebrating the big 5-0 with a star-studded blowout carnival and casino-themed bash tonight on the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank.

I'm told that the 600 or so on the guest list include newlyweds Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon, Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes, Tom Hanks, Lindsay Lohan, Jamie Foxx, Paris Hilton and Clive Davis.

Pink will perform and Samantha Ronson will deejay.

DeGeneres turned 50 on Jan. 26, but postponed her party plans because of the writers' strike.

Miley Cyrus' New Singing Partner



Miley Cyrus is teaming up with—ready for this?—John Travolta.

Not only are they both voicing characters in the upcoming animated flick Bolt, but Travolta’s wife, Kelly Preston, tells me they could be making music together.

“Johnny may sing with Miley,” Preston said at yesterday’s Step Up Women’s Network’s Inspiration Awards luncheon at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel.

Preston and Travolta’s 8-year-old daughter, Ella, is a longtime Cyrus fan. They first met Cyrus when the Hannah Montana star was opening for Cheetah Girls during their concert tour about two years ago. “We [now] know Miley very well,” Preston said, “and she’s a sweetheart.”

Preston hasn’t seen the controversial Vanity Fair photo. “All I know is that I know her personally and she’s a really good girl with a great head on her shoulders,” she said.

Jamie Lee Curtis, who blogged on The Huffington Post last month that Cyrus’ adult handlers are to blame for the Vanity Fair debacle, said the pressure on young celebs like the 15-year-old Disney Channel star has gotten out of hand. “There is absolutely no way I would have been able to survive show business if I came of age now,” Curtis explained at the luncheon. “I’m 50 and I started acting when I was 19. If there was this kind of attention when I was 19 years old, I would never have survived.”

Madonna Wants Your Money - ALL Your Money, B######!!!



We're not sure how we feel about this!

Not only does Madonna charge upwards of $300 for the best seats on her tour, but now she wants a piece of the ticket scalpers' pie.

Yup!

Ticket scalpers (or "brokers" as they like to be called) buy up the majority of concert tickets, leaving many die hard fans to turn to other venues to buy their tix.

Now, Madonna is going into bed with the enemy!

Her Madgesty is the first artist to make a deal with StubHub, which is owned by eBay and lets people legally scalp (or "resell") their concert tickets.

M will get a base fee PLUS a cut of all the ticket sales.

So, in theory, the higher U pay for your ticket on StubHub, the more money she makes.

Why would Madonna (or anyone) wanna encourage ticket scalping/reselling????

Money isn't everything in life!

ON SET DRAMA UPDATE: SAG Orders Actors On David O. Russell Film To Leave; Jessica Biel & Jake Gyllenhall Sidelined



EXCLUSIVE! 2ND UPDATE: I'm told by knowledgeable sources that David O. Russell's indie political comedy Nailed which began filming in April was shut down by the Screen Actors Guild on Friday because of insufficient funds on deposit with the guild. I've also learned the Columbia, S.C. shoot is in trouble with both IATSE and Teamsters, and some of those union members have left the beleaguered $25 million budgeted production. Rumors also are circulating that the state of South Carolina could withdraw its incentive monies because of the financing problems. Filmmakers hope to resolve the cash crunch and re-start shooting next week since principal photography is only at the halfway point. "I am confident we will finish," an insider on the pic just told me. "The financing on this like most indies is based on bank loans and bridge loans. This is a matter of waiting on the bridge loan. Hopefully, it will all be resolved." David Bergstein's Capitol Films is behind the pic. In 2006, he acquired the UK-based international sales company which over the years has built a good reputation and made a wide range of commercial and critical successes, including Robert Altman's Gosford Park.

The filmmakers were able to get in a full day of shooting Thursday until SAG put its figurative foot down to protect its members during traditionally more dicey independent productions. I'm told co-stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Jessica Biel and the other name actors are all standing by to see if the movie can continue to completion. Some left the location for the weekend to spend Mothers Day with their families. My sources say James Brolin, who replaced Jimmy Caan after the veteran thesp got into a creative battle with Russell and quit, flew in early in the week and completed all his scenes before the movie was shut down. An insider confirms for me: "It's been touch and go the entire time. The financiers are doing the best they can. There's been a cash crunch, that's for sure. It's a drag, but they'll muddle through. Everyone seems happy and committed to the movie and hopeful all this stuff will get worked out."

The script is based on the novel Sammy's Hill authored by Al Gore's daughter Kristin (once a staff writer on the TV series Futurama) who co-wrote the script with Russell. The pic's predicament is unrelated to its helmer. True, the temperamental director is known for turbulent shoots especially when it comes to actors. Already on Nailed, Jimmy Caan stalked off the South Carolina set two weeks ago after he and the helmer couldn't agree on the best way for the actor to choke to death on a cookie during a scene. The film focuses on a naive small town waitress (Biel) who gets a nail lodged in her head and discovers a new-found sexual drive. When she travels to Washington to fight for better health care for the "bizarrely injured", she meets an unscrupulous U.S. congressman (Gyllenhaal) who attempts to take advantage of her. Brolin plays the U.S. Speaker Of The House. The movie also stars James Marsden, Catherine Keener, and Tracy Morgan. Those are a lot of name actors to be sidelined. One source with insider knowledge about the production told me Friday, "The actors are waiting to see if the movie will continue. It's kind of amazing, really."

Jamie Lynn Spears Celebrates Baby Shower #2



Gas guzzler Jamie Lynn Spears fills up her Range Rover yet again as she heads to her second baby shower at a family friend’s house in Liberty, Mississippi on Saturday.

Last Friday, big sister Britney and mom Lynne threw the 17-year-old Zoey 101 star a baby shower. But this weekend, baby shower #2 is being thrown by the members of fiance Casey Aldridge’s family.

Jamie Lynn and Casey are expecting their first child together in late June/early July.

Lindsay Lohan Loves the Lens



Lindsay Lohan strikes a pose during a photoshoot in Los Angeles on Friday.

Although Lindsay, 21, may be loving the camera, some people apparently aren’t loving her. She’s been accused of stealing an $11,000 blond mink cost in New York City! Additionally, model Lauren Hastings claims that the actress stole thousands of dollars worth of items from her closet. No charges have been filed, however, due to insufficient evidence.

Because You Don't Smell J. Lo Enough

Jennifer Lopez has decided that there aren't enough men out there who smell like her ... so, she has decided to come up with a solution. Here is the new ad poster and bottle for Deseo Men, J. Lo's new fragrance for men:



I, uh, don't know who the target audience is for this new J. Lo fragrance for men but I suspect that the queens in Miami will be smelling an awful lot like her hubby Marc Anthony (who is, most likely, contractually required to wear Deseo Men) once this stuff hits the shelves at CVS.

Michelle Trachtenberg Does Entertainment Weekly

Gossip Girl's new bad girl Michelle Trachtenberg (who plays Georgina Sparks) was featured in last week's issue of Entertainment Weekly but since I've been in NYC for the past week and my mail was collecting here in LA, I failed to see the issue until I arrived home ... even still, I think posting the pics of MT in EW is still very much worth checking out:



Hee hee ... even tho I loved checking out the pics, the accompanying article warns of heavy spoilers for the show so I've held off on reading it (but you can read it HERE if you so desire to be spoiled). I just love everything about Georgina Sparks on GG and I am very much looking forward to watching her bring even more havoc on the show. Clearly she has ownership of a scandalous video that Serena doesn't want anyone to see (especially Dan) but there's more ... Serena said something about "killing" someone in last week's ep ... could her secret be that sinister? Is there a twist still yet to be played? What exactly is evil beyotch Georgina's role in the secret? This Monday night, we'll find out -- something tells me it's gonna be a dozy. The GG producers totally got it right in casting MT in this role ... she can do bitchy very well ... I just can't wait to see how far she's gonna take it.

The Leggings Just Won't Die

Lindsay Lohan spent part of her afternoon yesterday wooing the paparazzi to help add a bit more hype to promoting the new line of leggings that she is planning to sell. Linds embarked on a bit of a promo tour as she shot images around town that will be used to advertise her new line of leggings. Here are a few pics of Lindsay and a couple of models on Robertson Blvd. in West Hollywood, CA yesterday causing a stir with the paps while promoting her line:


Photo credit: Splash News

To be fair, I hate capris way more than I hate leggings ... and to be honest, I kinda like the shiny leggings that have that rubberized look to them ... but really, I'm not Lindsay's target audience for this new line of leggings. Additionally, Lindsay's people are playing down reports that she has been axed from the new movie Manson Girls (reportedly because they couldn't find any other actresses that wanted to appear in the film with her) saying that she turned down the role to appear in upcoming episodes of Ugly Betty. Now that's a spin job you can be proud of. Besides, with her new role as leggings entrepreneur, does she really have time to be acting in major movies?

The Reunification Of Spederline?

While mama Britney Spears has been bizzy taking meetings with billionaires and putting the finishing touches on her guest appearance on How I Met Your Mother, her sons Sean Preston and Jayden James have been having a grand ol' time with their daddy Kevin Federline in the meantime. I have to admit, The Federline has really been stepping up in the "OK guy" category regarding his kids and his ex-wife Britney. Here is a pic of K-Fed and his sons enjoying a lovely day with their nanny and bodyguard at the Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific earlier this week:



I am so happy that K-Fed has stopped being a douche bag and has started acting like a grown ass man. I've been so impressed with his commitment to his children and his commitment to working with Britney so that she can spend much needed time with her children. It's amazing how many strides both Brit and K-Fed have made in recent months (in Brit's case) and years (in K-Fed's case). It looks like they've finally both started to grow up. [Source]

Additionally, here are a couple of supercute pics of Jayden James making his way out of My Gym in the arms of his nanny yesterday:


Photo credit: X17

I cannot believe how big he's gotten already. I understand that Britney may be enjoying an overnight visit with her sons for Mother's Day this weekend, something that K-Fed would have to allow. Truth be told, I've been so impressed with K-Fed lately that I wouldn't necessarily mind if he and Britney started hanging out together again with their kids. They may have been a bit of a mess the first time they got together but maybe they can get it right this time around. Yeah, I can't even believe I'm saying this either.

The Promo Preshow

In addition to various vid clips from the upcoming episode, CBS has also released one final promo pic from Britney Spears's guest stint on the season finale of How I Met Your Mother which airs on Monday night. Here is a very cute pic of Britney Spears (Abbie) and Neil Patrick Harris (Barney) on the set of the show:



It's unclear if Britney's second guest stint in 2 months will be able to generate the boffo ratings that her first guest stint did but I'm sure her appearance will bring more viewers to the season finale. In the preview clips that have been able to see, Barney proposes marriage to Abbie ... who appears to still be in love with Ted. However will this drama resolve itself? I guess we'll have to tune in Monday night to find out.