Vanessa Hudgens - “GQ” May 2008



Here is a new photo of Vanessa Hudgens from the May 2008 issue of GQ via Popstar. (Ashton Kutcher is on the cover.)

“If you have paparazzi, you know you’ve gotten somewhere,” the 19-year-old High School Musical star says.

When asked about her nude photo scandal, Vanessa shrugs it off, sayin, “Honestly, you have your ups and downs. But it’s over with and it’s done.”

As for her sophomore album, tentatively titled Identified, she says, “But not to the point where I’m singing I’m so hot! I’m so hot! Boys want me. I’m so hot!”

Vanessa and the gang (including Zac Efron) are currently at a top secret location in Utah shooting the feature film, High School Musical 3.

Blake Lively & Leighton Meester are Nylon Girls



Blake Lively and Leighton Meester are the cover girls for the latest issue of Nylon Magazine. Here are a few choice quotes from the interview:

Leighton on playing her character on Gossip Girl: “Maybe I’ve known [Blair] somehow or I know her in myself and she needs somebody to portray her in a way that isn’t completely harsh because she could be so hated.”

Blake on how she almost turned down the show: “[I thought] if there are pet monkeys wearing coordinating outfits, that’s not something I’m going to want to be a part of…. ”

Leighton on Gossip Girl style: “Serena is more thrown together and effortless and doesn’t really care, and is just like, has this sexiness to her without trying, and Blair is really uptight and conservative and put together and everything has to be perfect, you know Chuck is kind of cocky and he’s just like, I don’t know, a prick.”

Blake on the weirdness of Internet Message boards: “Yeah, it’s kind of crazy but after the first Sisterhood trailer even came out, um, I guess it’s maybe I’m the only person with long blonde hair in Hollywood. I don’t know, but everyone was like, “Oh, she should be Serena.”

For outtakes from their cover shoot, check out NylonMag.com. New episodes of Gossip Girl returns this Monday, April 21!!!

Christian Siriano on Ugly Betty — FIRST LOOK!



Project Runway winner Christian Siriano poses with Becki Newton while shooting an episode for Ugly Betty, which airs on Thursday, May 1.

“Filming Ugly Betty was amazing,” the 22-year-old designer says. “The cast was the most fun, lively and supportive ever. They’re as fierce and ferocious as they can be. Vanessa Williams is the queen of fierceness and Becki Newton is the princess … I’m inviting them all to my Spring 2008-09 collection — it’ll be a great front row!”

Project Runway judge Nina Garcia will also be playing herself on the episode.

FIERCE!!!

Simon Cowell: American Idol Contestants Lack Personality



When Simon Cowell was asked to pinpoint a collective flaw in the season 7 cast of American Idol, he told Variety:

“Personality. They are giving very safe answers to questions, making safe song selections. We are not getting a sense of who they are. We have to try to pull it out of them more.”

Cowell added, “You cannot deliver an uninspired performance at the top of the show. And you can’t be up there imitating another singer.”

Danny Noriega had personality!!

Rachel Nichols as GI Joe’s Scarlett — FIRST LOOK



Here is the very first “HOT WITH A CAPITAL H” picture of Rachel Nichols as Scarlett in the new G.I. Joe: The Movie.

Via Wiki: “The official line on Scarlett is that her full name is Shana M. O’Hara. She was born in Atlanta, Georgia. Although she is as adept with standard weapons as any of her comrades, her weapon of choice is the crossbow which fires various bolts with specialized functions. Her rank is Master Sergeant, and she serves from time to time as team leader. Her primary specialty for the team is counter intelligence and is additionally skilled in martial arts and acrobatics. Of note, her secondary military specialty remains classified in all of her file cards.”

G.I. Joe: The Movie opens in theaters Summer 2009.

J.K. Rowling and The Author’s Lawsuit



Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling was told by a judge on Wednesday to settle out of court with RDR Books according to the Hollywood Reporter.

The lawsuit involves a copyright dispute in which the publisher is seeking to release a Harry Potter encyclopedia. The encyclopedia was created based on a Web site created by librarian Steven Vander Ark.

U.S. District Judge Robert Patterson Jr. said the case was a “legal close call” and added, “I think this case, with imagination, could be settled.”

Imagination indeed!

Cameron Diaz: My Late Father Was 'Loved by Many'



Cameron Diaz has issued a statement remembering her late father, Emilio Diaz, who died suddenly of pneumonia on Tuesday.

The Shrek and Charlie's Angels star, 35, also thanks those who have extended their condolences.

"My mom, sister and I are deeply appreciative of the overwhelming outpouring of love and support during this difficult time for us and all of our family," says the message from the actress, released by her representative, Brad Cafarelli.

"My dad was loved by so many people, and his humor and spirit will always live on in our hearts," she added.

Diaz's sister, Chimene, is 37. Their mother, the former Billie Early, is an import-export businesswoman.

Emilio Diaz, who was 58, reportedly worked for UNOCAL (formerly the Union Oil Company) as a field gauger in the pipeline department for more than 20 years, until his retirement in 1998.

On Tuesday, filming of Diaz's current film, My Sister's Keeper, was halted.

Britney Pal Sam Lutfi Agrees to Stay Away – Again



Britney Spears's former confidante, Sam Lutfi, has agreed to stay away from the pop star through July 31, it was revealed at a Los Angeles court Wednesday.

A restraining order was slapped on Lutfi in February, after Spears's mother accused him of drugging Britney, 26.

Keep-away orders can be extended to up to five years, legal experts say.

Meanwhile, the singer's father and a lawyer remain in legal control over her affairs.

Their conservatorship will be reviewed by the court on July 31 – but it's expected their control will be extended.

Another hearing regarding Spears's estate is set for Thursday.

Hilary Duff Dishes on Avril, Lindsay and Miley



Hilary Duff may have been in show business for a decade, but she's never gotten used to tangling with her fellow celebutantes.

"It's hard to find people who don't feel like they're in competition with you," she tells Allure in its May issue.

But while Duff, 20, may try to stay out of the fray, she can't help but chat – a little, anyway – about some of her peers.

She dishes to Allure about Lindsay Lohan, Miley Cyrus and Avril Lavigne:

• On Lindsay Lohan: "Supposedly, I stole Lindsay Lohan's boyfriend [Aaron Carter.] We were, like, 13! And I've never stolen anyone's boyfriend! I don't know how you do that! . . . She was talking about it and I wasn't. It made us both look bad and put up a big weirdness. Really she was just a girl my age. We are fine now, by the way."

• On Miley Cyrus: "We don't have each other's phone numbers. But when she meets me, she's excited. It's cute – I see a lot of myself in her."

• On Avril Lavigne: "I said something about how she didn't like her fans dressing like her, and how she should appreciate that because it's a compliment. She called me a goody-goody [Lavigne called Duff a 'mommy's girl' in Newsweek] Everyone is trying to prove who they are, and their position. So, I'm 'the good girl.' She's 'the bad girl' or 'the party girl.' Sarah Jessica Parker doesn't take her clothes off, but she's not a 'good girl.' [Adult actors] don't get tagged like we do."

FIRST LOOK: Rob Lowe Nanny's PEOPLE Photo Shoot



From the start, the sexual harassment case filed by Rob Lowe's former nanny Jessica Gibson, seen here in an exclusive PEOPLE photo shoot this week, became a high-stakes game of he said/she said.

"Jessica has nothing to hide, and we wonder if Mr. Lowe will take that position as well," attorney Gloria Allred, who has a May 19 date to depose the former Brat Packer, said of her client – who on April 14 filed suit accusing both Rob, 41, and Sheryl Lowe, 46, of sexual harassment and behavior that was "offensive, insulting, unwelcome, mean, perverted, crude and lascivious."

The Lowes' attorney, Stanton "Larry" Stein has countered, by effectively calling Gibson a liar in a statement he issued to the Today show. "An investigation of dozens of present and former employees has failed to find one single person to verify her allegations," the statement said.

In Denial ... One Day You're In And The Next Day You're Out

People magazine has become the latest media outlet to "confirm" that Ashlee Simpson is, indeed, pregnant (presumably by her new fiancée Pete Wentz) citing their own "source close to her family" (much like US Weekly did over the weekend) but have added to the speculation by reporting that Ashlee and Pete are planning to get married in May (which would essentially be a shotgun wedding if these pregs reports turn out to be true). We know that Pete denied the pregnancy rumor to MTV News already and Tuesday it was Ashlee's turn to deny the rumor to MTV ... sorta. After Ashlee's appearance on MTV's TRL yesterday, she kinda denied the rumor by not really answering the question ... the plot thickens:


Photo credit: Splash News

Ashlee Simpson is pregnant and plans to get married next month at a private residence in Southern California, a source close to her family tells PEOPLE. Simpson, 23, is engaged to Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz, 28, who initially blasted pregnancy rumors as a "witch hunt" ... And now the source tells PEOPLE that not only is Simpson pregnant, but that she's planning to have her wedding in May at a friend's house in La Jolla, Calif., north of San Diego.

This is interesting ... People isn't usually the kind of mag that reports something like this unless they are absolutely sure it's true ... tho they do tend to wait until they get official confirmation before going to press. It's rare that the mag would cite a source without revealing who the source is. Meanwhile, even tho Pete has flat-out denied that Ashlee is pregs, she added fire to speculation by not offering the same definite denial:

Ashlee Simpson sidestepped any pregnancy rumors Tuesday during an interview with MTV after taping TRL in New York, saying simply, "Some things you want to keep personal." A source at the taping says Simpson dodged the pregnancy question on the show as well, saying that if all the rumors about her were true, she "would have had a baby by now." The newly-engaged singer also told MTV News, " I just think it's an inappropriate question to ask any woman. For me, that's something that I didn't ever want to respond to, because I think it's an inappropriate question." Simpson, however, did not put the rumors to rest. "Some things, you want to keep personal, and I think that when people deny [pregnancy reports], it's probably because it's something they want to keep personal."

Ashlee's TRL appearance will air on MTV on Thursday and will feature a performance of her new single Little Miss Obsessive. She also obliges an audience request to show of her engagement ring. HMMM ... but I'm more interested that all these intimate family sources seem to be to blame for the speculation. Could it be that Jessica Simpson is the one blabbing to the mags in order to gain favor with the various publications? To be honest, I think that all the back and forth about "is she or isn't she" is a bit intentional ... what better way to keep media hype going as we get nearer and nearer to the release of Ashlee's new album Bittersweet World? If Ashl33n really did want to set the record straight they'd either totes confirm or totes deny the rumor. Period. I can't say I blame them for milking the attention tho, it's the sort of publicity you can't really buy ... but it is the kind you can sell. Again, I have to wonder ... is big sis Jessica benefiting from any of this on the sly? We'll know sooner or later what the real deal is ... I suspect right around April 22, in time for an album release party.

The Drunk Tank

The long arm of the British law has finally reached out and embraced our buddy ol' pal Pete Doherty after repeated violations on his part of all the probation sentences that have been handed down to him for all of the various arrests he's been subjected to over the past year. The Sun managed to secure photos of Pete from inside his prison walls to give us a taste of what life is like for Pete behind bars ... take a look:



JAILED rocker PETE DOHERTY stares vacantly in his cell — amid revelations he is shooting up heroin in the prison's DETOX unit. The junkie singer, 29, has been injecting smack smuggled into London’s tough Wormwood Scrubs slammer. Doherty, jailed for snubbing rehab orders, is paying for the drugs by begging credit from fellow lags and writing IOUs. A fellow inmate said: "We can't believe how much he's still clucking for it. They put him inside to force him to give up but Pete always has a need to feed his habit." The heroin revelations came as The Sun obtained photos of Doherty behind bars, wearing prison-issue blue T-shirt and grey tracksuit bottoms. The pictures, taken with a phone camera, show him gawping listlessly in his cell, brushing his teeth and talking to other lags on a landing. Doherty was banged up for 3½ months last week for failing to take drug tests ordered by a court after he admitted possessing heroin, crack, cannabis and the horse tranquilizer ketamine. He is sharing a cell in the Scrubs' Connibere detox wing with a 28-year-old drug dealer. Doctors are giving him heroin substitute methadone in a bid to wean him off. But the rocker is topping up with the real thing. The fellow inmate said: "He hasn't received his prison wage yet so he's getting the drugs on credit and writing IOUs" ... He added that Doherty sleeps on a urine-stained mattress and has been told he will be transferred to an open prison when a place is available. A Prison Service spokesman said last night: "We will act on any intelligence which indicates drugs are being smuggled or abused."

It's a shame that we cannot be reasonably sure that Pete is staying off the junk now that he's in police custody ... I'm not wholly sure I believe that it's this easy to shoot heroin inside prison walls but I guess I wouldn't be surprised if it turned out to be true. I've contended for months that the man might meet an early end if he continued to be left to his own devices. I really believe that incarceration is the only way to ensure the man stays clean ... and may possibly save his life. There are only so many times a person can be arrested for drug offenses before they're found the fatal victim of their vices. Despite this troubling report (which, again, I don't entirely believe), I still think that jail is the best place for Pete Doherty ... for a long while. I just hope at some point it turns out to be a fruitful experience for the man's health.

The Biggest Comeback In History?

It's been a couple of weeks since speculation started to stir that Britney Spears had reunited professionally with Larry Rudolph, the manager who guided her career to superstardom, and now we see new pics of our dear Britney engaged in serious work to ensure that her career can get back on track. Brit Brit, after spending her weekend with her sons at her Beverly Hills home, was spotted this week at a gym AND at a recording studio ... which means that her on-again manager has been hard at work on Britney's game plan. Just a few days ago, Larry professed that Britney is on course to make "the biggest comeback in [music] history" which may sound like a bit of an overstatement but if you consider the heights that Britney reached when she was working with Larry the first time, the statement might not be farfetched at all:


Photo credit: X17

UBER manager Larry Rudolph and Britney Spears have reunited once again, and he has put his most famous meal ticket back on track. Rudolph told MySpace Celebrity, "Britney's doing great." He has met up with the pop tart four times over the past few weeks and says he's seen "huge improvements in her ... she's still got a comeback in her. She's in great shape, I mean really great shape. She's in an amazing position for a comeback right now. She could end up being the biggest comeback in history. The public for a while was throwing darts at her ... was just getting hit. I think the tide turned and people started to understand what was going on with her." Rudolph said that people are on her side now and that "Everyone is rooting for her. Everybody wants to see her get through it ... to see Britney back on stage. She is the world's greatest entertainer." As for her baby steps to returning to the spotlight, Rudolph says that Spears loved her spot on "How I Met Your Mother." "It was a really positive experience for her. She talked about it quite a bit the last time I saw her ... she wants to do it again." He finished up by talking about Spears' health, saying, "She's exercising, eating great, she's doing great things."

I have no doubt that Larry has a plan in place ... mentioning her guest spot on How I Met Your Mother might signal to other TV sitcoms that she's taking meetings for possible guest stint on their shows. Getting her back on a workout regiment might be hinting at the possibility of a tour or at the very least the start of stage performances again (this rumor has been going around for a while now). New visits to the recording studio seem to imply that she's already working the follow-up to her last album Blackout ... back when Larry was managing Britney the first time around, she put out a new album of material every year -- could her next album be ready for release by the Fall ... to coincide with a tour and possibly a few TV guest spots? Sounds like the makings of a pretty significant comeback to me. Rudolph is right that folks are cheering for Britney ... even in her darkest days, when it was de rigueur to lambast the girl as a trainwreck there was a significant core of folks who were rooting for her to get out of the mess she got herself into. I've contended all along that she was capable of making a comeback ... the fact that there has been nothing but positive news to report for MONTHS now is proof that she's got it in her. I think we'll be seeing Britney Spears back on top again sooner than most people think, especially if music svengali Larry Rudolph has anything to say about it.

You Can Look But You Can't Touch

You know, I kinda thought it was a bit strange that David Beckham was suddenly showing up courtside at a bunch of home LA Lakers games at the Staples Center lately. He was dragging his entire family along to the games with him (it was Vicki B. one night and then his eldest sons another night) on the assumption that he was only interested in cheering on the Lakers to victory. But now, I think we may know the real reason for Becks' sudden interest in basketball:



LOLOLOLOLOL! You can't really blame the guy for gawkin' at hot chicks every chance he gets ... after all, it's been ages since he's been able to see a real woman ... with curves and, you know, a heartbeat. [Source]

In other Beckham news, there is a new report that the littlest Beckham has been enrolled in a posh private nursery at an exclusive Jewish temple here in SoCal ... which is just the sort of news that I love to hear in the week leading up to Passover:



DAVID and Victoria Beckham are sending son to an exclusive JEWISH school in the US, The Sun can reveal. Becks, 32, and Posh Spice, 33, met staff at a top private nursery attached to a Jewish temple in Los Angeles last week. The couple think it is the perfect place for their three-year-old youngest son to start school. Posh spent 3½ hours there, while Becks stayed the whole day. A source said: "There's no plan for Cruz to be educated in the Jewish faith. It's just one of the best schools for young children in LA." The school is one of the largest Jewish day schools in the USA. It has exacting academic standards and has twice as many applicants as places. Becks' mum Sandra's family is Jewish but she doesn't practice and he has no other association with the religion apart from his famous Hebrew tattoo. But David referred to himself recently as "half Jewish".

Clearly the Beckhams want the best for their children so they are going to get the absolute best of everything. It makes sense that they'd want their baby to be educated by the Chosen People. It still pains me that I'm going to miss out on enjoying Passover with David's family this weekend (since I'll be going to Detroit instead) ... not that I consider myself "half Jewish" by any means but being so happily accepted by his family feels pretty close Yay for Judaism!

Milo Ventimiglia Does TRL

Things have been pretty bizzy at the Times Square studio of MTV this week with a flurry of celebs making their way there to make appearances on TRL. Here are a couple pictures of the hotness known as Milo Ventimiglia, with a ######l Heroes lunchbox in hand, making his way from the studio after filming his appearance on the show:


Photo credit: Splash News

I'm assuming that Milo was on the show to promote his new movie Pathology (his ep airs tomorrow) but I have no idea where the lunchbox came from. Surely he didn't pack his own lunch and wouldn't have the gall to carry said lunch in a lunchbox with his face on it ... would he? Nah, he strikes me as more the type of guy who'd carry a Lost lunchbox instead. At any rate, Milo is lookin' F-I-N-E in that snazzy suit ... I just wish he would've matched his box better with his shoes.

Missionary Position

Could Lindsay Lohan be interested in giving Angelina Jolie, patron Saint of the World, a run for her philanthropic money? Well, according to Papa Michael Lohan she is ... Daddums tells In Touch Weekly that L. Lo "definitely" wants to help him with his missionary charity work:


Photo credit: Splash News

Lindsay Lohan may soon be volunteering her time -- and it's not part of her parole. According to Lindsay's dad, the recovering party girl has signed up to do missionary work with Times Square Church Missions. "She has made it clear she definitely wants to come along," Michael Lohan tells In Touch of their plans. "Our trip next February encompasses the issue of child sexual slavery in India. We also deal with helping AIDS victims." Michael, an ex-con-turned-youth minister, says that Lindsay, 21, is also considering other international missions. "Lindsay's very spiritual. She has a wonderful heart, loves people and is very charitable," Michael tells In Touch.

Well, Linds has got a long way to go if she really wants to become the next Angelina Jolie (she'll have to get on that adopting children from around the world thing very soon in order to catch up) but winging her way to places around the world in need of help is a great place to start. Of course, one must take everything that Michael Lohan says about his daughter with a huge grain of salt (he tends to use his famous daughter's name in order to win attention from media outlets) but, if true, I think it's awesome of Lindsay to give of her time and energy like this. Like Britney, Lindsay has made huge strides in turning her life around and staying out of trouble. It's been so long since the last Lindsay Lohan scandal that I can hardly remember what her underwearless crotch looks like anymore

There And Back Again

Joel Madden has finally made his way back to the loving arms of his new family after spending a bit of time traveling abroad with his band Good Charlotte. But it looks like there is no rest for the weary ... here is a new pic of Joel with his ladylove Nicole Richie and her baby daughter Harlow Winter as they made their way thru LAX Airport ready to jet off again:



I'm sure it wasn't easy for Joel to spend so much time away from his lady and his baby so soon after her birth so it makes sense that Joel would want to fly home to meet up with them before flying off again. I tells ya, all that traveling would drive me insane but he seems to be handling it like a champ. This might be little Harlow's first plane ride which I'm sure will be infinitely more fun after she gets unwrapped from that blanket. At any rate, I'm sure she's very glad that her daddy is back with her again.

VIDEO: TV Actor Slams Scientology, Warns Tom Cruise


Click to watch

Actor Jason Beghe – best known for roles on CSI and Cane – is speaking out against Scientology, the religion he followed for 13 years.

"Scientology is destructive and a rip-off," he says in video posted to YouTube (watch above). "I think it stunts your evolution. If Scientology is real, then something's f---ed up . . . It ain't delivering what it's promised. It sure has not."

Beghe, who was featured in a promotional video for Scientology in 2005, attained a high level in the faith.

He also had a message for the religion's A-list followers, which include Tom Cruise, John Travolta and Kirstie Alley.

"The further up the bridge, the worse you get," Beghe reveals. "I don't have an agenda. I'm just trying to help. I have the luxury of having gotten into Scientology and after having been in it, been out. And that's a perspective that people who are still in and not out do not have."

Exclusive! Anna Faris' Playboy Cover



Anna Faris is doing Playboy!

Sources tell me Faris’ issue will coincide with the summer release of The House Bunny, her new comedy in which she stars as a Playmate who has to fend for herself when she’s thrown out of the legendary Playboy Mansion.

However, the funnylady isn’t strippin’ down to her birthday suit for the men’s magazine. The movie is rated PG-13, so Faris & Co. are keepin’ things pretty clean, according to a source.

Also in the flick are Rumer Willis, Katharine McPhee, Colin Hanks and Beverly D'Angelo, as well as the mansion's real-life occupants Hugh Hefner and his Girls Next Door beauties.

Paltrow's Battle with Postpartum Depression



Gwyneth Paltrow may seem to have the perfect life, but things aren’t always as rosy as they appear.

The Oscar-winning mother of two is opening up about her battle with depression after giving birth to her and rocker hubby Chris Martin’s second child. “You know, I had postnatal depression after Moses," Paltrow says in the new issue of Vogue. “I didn’t know I had it until after it was over. I just didn’t know what was wrong with me...I felt really out of my body. I felt really disconnected. I felt really down; I felt pessimistic.”

Paltrow believes part of the cause was that she dropped some of her regular prebaby treatments, like acupuncture and massage. Now with the depression behind her, Paltrow has returned to work. She’ll next be seen in Iron Man, opposite Robert Downey Jr.

Being a working mommy doesn’t allow Paltrow to be as fashionable as she once was. She says she’s dwindled her daily wardrobe down to a few basic items like minidresses and tights, a pair of jeans, two coats and a couple of different-style boots in the winter. “It’s like I want to eliminate all of the fuss,” Paltrow tells writer Plum Sykes. “I don’t have time anymore to sit there and be like, What should I wear? What goes with this?”

But that doesn’t mean she’s given up on taking care of her body. She currently works with trainer Tracy Anderson, with whom Madonna also now trains—Paltrow introduced them. Paltrow says with a laugh, “I still haven’t learned my lesson about not sharing my people with Madonna, because she steals them away forever.”

Tom and Gisele's Sunny Afternoon with His Adorable Baby Boy

Awww! Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen spent their tax day in the most adorable way possible — with Tom's infant son John Moynahan! Last week Us reported that Bridget finally let Tom have the baby spend the night at the place he's renting with Gisele in LA and it looks like the first visit must have gone smoothly. I know, I know Tom has been a jerk in the past, but that little one is incredibly cute and there's just something heartwarming about seeing a daddy with his baby son. Bridget may not be outfitting John in Pats gear just yet, but hopefully this is a good sign that both parents will be able to be a big part of this little boy's life. Yay.

America Is Back Ugly Betty's Best

Ugly Betty is almost back! America Ferrera and Ashley Jenson took a break on the set in LA yesterday and — lucky us! — we only have to wait one more week before Betty is back on the air with new episodes. I don't want to say anything, but Christina doesn't look very pregnant here, hmmm. I wasn't shy about how annoying I started to find Betty during the first half of the season, but you know what they say — absence makes the heart grow fonder, and I can't wait to have Betty back on Thursday nights.

Will Smith Makes Seven Pounds and Many Music Videos

Will Smith was hard at work on his movie career, filming Seven Pounds in LA yesterday and meanwhile he was upping his investment in the music industry. Will Smith the rapper definitely has a special place in my heart, but his newest venture has more to do with the business side of things and taking on the internet. Will's production company, Overbrook Entertainment, invested $2 million in PluggedIn.com, a new music video website launching today. I'll tell you one thing, I know what I'm starting with: "Miami" and "Just the Two of Us."

X-Files Believes in New Title





The title is out there.

Sci-fi mastermind Chris Carter has revealed that his franchise's much-anticipated big-screen sequel has been dubbed The X-Files: I Want to Believe.

"It's a natural title," Carter told the Associated Press. "It's a story that involves the difficulties in mediating faith and science. 'I want to believe.' It really does suggest Mulder's struggle with his faith."

Awkward though the title may seem to the casual viewer, the newly announced name should be instantly recognizable to fans of the long-running TV series.

"I Want to Believe" was the slogan that graced the UFO poster that hung in the basement office of FBI special agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson).

According to Carter, he and cowriter Frank Spotnitz had settled on the name from the moment they began penning the screenplay, but had to hold off on going public with it until 20th Century Fox decided whether or not it was a marketable title.

Studio execs only signed off on the title Wednesday morning.

I Want to Believe may also prove to be a familiar sentiment for fans who have waited 10 years for sequel to hit the big screen. The original X-Files movie opened in theaters back in 1998 and the series itself ended its nine-season run on Fox in 2002.

According to Carter, the follow-up, a stand-alone story revolving around a supernatural mystery rather than an extension of the show's sometimes obtuse mythology, aims to reward die-hard fans and attempts to appeal to general moviegoers not necessarily familiar with the TV show.

"The reason we're even making the movie is for the rabid fans, so we don't want to insult them by having to take them back through the concept again," Carter told the wire service, adding that he realized not everyone was equally engrossed in the original series.

"It has struck me over the last several years talking to college-age kids that a lot of them really don't know the show or haven't seen it. If you're 20 years old now, the show started when you were four...So there's a whole new audience that might have liked the show. This was made to, I would call it, satisfy everyone."

In addition to Duchovny and Anderson, the film features the motley crue of Xzibit, Amanda Peet and Billy Connolly, though little is known about their roles. The filmmakers have also kept a lid on whether X-Files mainstays like Skinner (Mitch Pileggi) or the Lone Gunmen will be appearing.

"We went to almost comical lengths to keep the story a secret," Carter said. "That included allowing only the key crew members to read the script, and they had to read it in a room that had video cameras trained on them. It was a new experience."

The X-Files: I Want to Believe is due out July 25.

Jennie Garth Zipping Back to 90210?





Jennie Garth may be heading for the hills—the Beverly Hills.

Buzz is mounting that the erstwhile Kelly Taylor may be the first West Beverly High alum to return to the old ZIP code after Garth abruptly pulled out of a CBS comedy pilot that went into production this week.

Last month it was announced that the former Beverly Hills, 90210 fixture had joined the cast of My Best Friend's Girl as a woman who begins to date her ex-husband's best friend.

The gig didn't last long as, per the Hollywood Reporter, Garth and the producers mutually agreed to part ways shortly after completing Monday's table read. No official reason was given for the amicable split, but Garth has recently been dealing with the death of her father, who passed away after she had been cast in the project.

Canadian actress Kristin Booth has since replaced Garth, and with her schedule now free and clear, she is definitely available for the 90210 spinoff.

Last month it was announced that the CW was developing a contemporary spinoff of the seminal teen soap, with Veronica Mars creator Rob Thomas heading up the project.

Though Thomas has since put his contribution to the show on the back burner to work on two other series, he remains an executive producer on the pilot and has been attending casting sessions for the series as well as actively recruiting Garth to join the cast, as first reported by E! Online's TV blog.

No other series alums have yet been cast, though former Runaway thesp Dustin Milligan was the first actor to sign on to the series last month, starring as Ethan, a popular star athlete.

Should Garth reprise her Kelly Taylor persona for the pilot and beyond, the likeable character would likely return as a fashion design teacher at her old alma mater.

Some GOOD Mariah News!



Reason to celebrate, lambs!

Based on first day sales…

Mimi's new CD, E=MC2, released this Tuesday, is on track to sell 500,000+ copies in its first week.

Congrats!

Botox in the BRAIN!



Half of Beverly Hills is about to go into a panic attack!

A new report claims that an Italian study on lab rats proved that the active agent in wrinkle fix-it Botox, botulinum toxin, can travel along neurons from the injection site and into the brain!

Yes, people, you can get that shit up in your brain! No wonder half them hos in Hollywood are brain dead.

Botox's manufacturer, Allergan, tried to spin the Italian scientist's findings and in a statement said that the Italian scientists "injected the material directly into the brain."

Wrong…the Italians injected the neurotoxin into facial muscles—and from there it found its way to the brainstem!

Why discredit the Italians? Cause it contradicts the findings of earlier studies, which suggested that the neurotoxin is completely broken down at the injection site into innocuous compounds and does not migrate beyond it—or if it does, only into the bloodstream or lymph system. Allergan thinks those older studies are more credible.

Some of you may be thinking Botox may not have the 'rat brain effect' on a human. Doesn't matter to us! A rat is a living thing… if it could do some crazy shit to them, there's no way in hell we would it anywhere near us!

Another thing the report points out is the amount of hospitalizations and deaths that have been reported following Botox injections.

In 2005 scientists at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration analyzed 1,437 such "adverse events" between 1989, when Botox was approved for eye spasms, and 2003. Most came from people who got Botox to erase their wrinkles, but there were 28 deaths of people who had received it for medical purposes.

Botox at your own risk, Perezcious ones.

You have been warned!

[Image via Mavrix Online.]

Babydaddy ID'd!



The guy who sperminted actress/musician Minnie Driver has been revealed!

Life & Style has learned that the dude is Craig Zolezzi, a musician from the San Francisco area.

Minnie and the music man have apparently been "dating" for about a year. Those long distance relationships are tough, though. That's why they rarely work out!

Driver's baby, her first, is due in August.

Minnie doesn't want to officially find out what the baby's sex is, but she reportedly has a 'feeling' that the babe's a girl.

It's truly babymania in Hollywoodland!

[Image via WENN.]

Suicide Notes Discovered



The inquest into the death of British television personality Mark Speight has discovered that he had left two suicide notes.

Speight was apparently carrying one in a pocket and left another at an apartment.

The contents of the notes have not been made public (yet).

The police are not treating his death as suspicious. Speight was found hung in Paddington station in London this past Sunday, after having disappeared for almost a week.

Very sad.

Our thoughts are with his family and friends.

[Image via WENN.]

Lindsay Sucks



British actor Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter movies) won't be moving to LA anytime soon because he 'can’t be bothered with airhead actresses'.

According to Rupe, he met Lindsay Lohan last summer and wasn't impressed as, "she talked about herself a lot." Grint went on to recall that, "She (La Lohan) said she was going to win an Oscar before she turns 25. I just kept thinking, ‘But you can’t act’.”

It's getting heated up in here!!!

Tell it like it is, Rupert!

Many people feel the same way as you.

Lindsay was 'honored' with TWO Razzies this year for her shiteous acting skills! She can just blink and pretend they're Oscars!

Project Runway Spinoff



Lifetime is getting a facelift, and it's about time!

Aside from stealing away acquiring Project Runway, the network will now premiere a new spinoff from P.R.

The show will be called Models of the Runway and will consist of 30 minute episodes and begin airing once (if) Project Runway switches over.

Bravo is currently set to air its fifth season of the show starting in July and is currently trying to legally contest the move.

And, continuing with the "reality" specials, Lifetime will also be airing Project Pygmalion, to find the next My Fair Lady. The show will consist of 10 contestants who will be trained and coached "by a team of people who will help them attain their potential."

So it's sort of like Extreme Makeover, just minus the surgeries?

CEO Andrea Wong says, "We haven't in the past been known for reality TV, and this makes us a destination. The goal is to have strength in every genre."

The network is trying to appeal to a much younger crowd than it usually targets, which should help with the ratings and advertising dollars. Up until now, people usually associate Lifetime with stories of abused women. And the Golden Girls! But they are now leaving the network.

Lifetime is also working on two sitcom pilots, and hopes to keep one, along with developing seven new dramas. One, titled Trump Tower, will feature Donald Trump as the narrator and is being described as a Desperate Housewives style of soap.

Think his voice will put us to sleep in the first 5 minutes.

The network will also produce 40 movies next year. Let's hope all these new changes help out.

On the potential network change, Tim Gunn has said, "If anything, our viewership will increase because we're on Lifetime," he says. "If you love the show, it's only a matter of pushing another button."

Let's see if it's true.

Push push in the bush!

Poor Thing



This breaks our cold, jaded, empty heart!

A pregnant and 17 Jamie Lynn Spears stocks up on her high fructose corn syrup drinks Monday, back home in Louisiana.

The sperminated teen is all alone! Both parents are (and have been for a while now) in California.

Hugs to ya, Jamie Lynn!

P.S. Don't do heavy lifting!!!!!!!

[Image via SNAP-PiX, Inc.]

Brigitte Bardot: Nutjob Going To Jail???



French law officials want to throw the book at 73-year old screen legend Brigitte Bardot for inciting racial hatred toward the Muslim community.

Brigitte (a vocal animal activist) stated in a letter that she wrote to then interior minister Nicolas Sarkozy (now President of the country) protesting the method of slaying sheep during the Muslim festival of Aid El-Kebir.

"We're fed up with being led around by this whole population which is destroying us, destroying our country by imposing its acts," she said.

A bit harsh, baby?????

Bardot was upset because the sheep weren't being stunned before they are bled to death, which is the 'traditional' method.

The letter was published in a magazine and distributed to supporters of the Brigitte Bardot Foundation.

Several anti-racism groups in France filed complaints about the letter, accusing Bardot of provoking discrimination and racial hatred toward Muslims.

Bardot has been convicted of similar offenses on four previous occasions since 1997 and fined $2,250-$7,500.

The court will deliver its verdict June 3.

You'd think that after all those years of being alive the old gal would have gained some wisdom and learned some diplomacy!

[Image via WENN.]

No Album Release for a Druggie!



Amy Winehouse's record label, Universal, has given her an ultimatum — quit the drugs or else NO NEW RECORD RELEASE! No new record release = no more money for drugs.

Kudos to them, we say!

The label's European head honcho, Lucian Grainge, made a similar threat earlier this year to get her into rehab after the pics and video surfaced of Wino smoking crack.

Unfortuantely, we've all been watching Amy go back to her old ways recently.

An insider reports that Universal stepped up again to remind her of their deal. They say, "Amy has been reminded of her responsibilities. Unless she is clean she will not be allowed to release another album. She took notice when Lucian talked to her earlier in the year and agreed to go to rehab. But she didn’t take it seriously enough."

We're wondering if Universal's ultimatum will shake Amy straight. We're hopeful, but we wouldn't bet the house on it……especially if Blake gets out of prison soon.

This weekend it was reported that we'd have to wait til 2009 for Winehouse's 3rd album because she scrapped the recent plans to record it in the Bahamas.

We really hope we see that 3rd album! We really hope she's alive to make it and promote it!

[Image via WENN.]

American Idol 7 — Who Got Kicked Off?













KRISTY LEE COOK! KRISTY LEE COOK!

The other bottom three: Syesha Mercado and Brooke White

Jake Gyllenhaal: You Can Stand Under My Umbrella



Jake Gyllenhaal and his personal umbrella holder head to the set of his new movie, Nailed, in Columbia, South Carolina on Wednesday.

According to IMDB, Nailed is an original romantic comedy about a naïve small town waitress (Jessica Biel) who accidentally gets a nail buried in her head, causing erratic and outrageous behavior that leads her to Washington DC. There she falls for a dashing, but clueless, Congressman who searches for the courage to save her. James Marsden also stars.

Wayne Brady Divorce Details

Comedian WAYNE BRADY is now officially divorced from his former wife, MANDIE, according to new court papers obtained by ET.

Mandie filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences, on July 2, 2007, and the divorce was made final on April 14, 2008. According to the papers, there was a dispute between the couple as to what the date of separation was. The couple ended up making a compromise and agreeing that their date of separation was April 5, 2006. The pair have one five-year-old daughter together.

A divorce settlement concerning division of property and custody of their daughter, which was not made public, was made on April 7, 2008.

Barbra Streisand Donates $5 Million for Women's Heart Health



BARBRA STREISAND has donated $5 million to start a new heart health program for women at a prominent Los Angeles hospital.

The Barbra Streisand Women's Cardiovascular Research and Education Program at Cedars-Sinai will fund research and education, and will also enable more research and "create breakthrough diagnostics, treatments and technologies."

Barbra, whose philanthropic efforts from her most recent tours alone have totaled $16 million, said regarding the new program, "Women need to be educated about female cardiovascular disease, and the medical community must be propelled toward change.

"Just like with breast cancer," the music legend continues, "the impetus must come from women themselves striving to become empowered to reduce their risks for heart disease."

Photo Post: 'The Biggest Loser' Winner Gets Milk



Some winners head to Disneyland, but "The Biggest Loser" winner ALISON VINCENT -- the first woman ever to hold the title -- put on a milk moustache, joining a long list of celebrities including JESSICA ALBA, CHRISTINA AGUlLERA, TYRA BANKS, KELLY CLARKSON, BEYONCÉ and LINDSAY LOHAN in the Got Milk? Campaign.

Ali says in the ad: "It feels good to lose… It feels good to win. So along with eating right and keeping fit, I drink milk. Drinking three glasses of lowfat or fat free milk a day helps you get the calcium and nutrients your body needs. Plus, the protein helps build muscle. Now that's a strong finish. Milk your diet."

Look for Ali's ad in the April 16 edition of USA Today and in the April 18 issue of People magazine.

Marilyn Monroe 'Sex Tape' a Hoax?



Is the 15-minute MARILYN MONROE "sex tape" that reportedly just sold to a collector for $1.5 million a hoax?

Word of the possible tape made headlines around the world this week, and there was even speculation that the anonymous man sharing the footage with the legendary movie star may have been either JOHN F. KENNEDY or BOBBY KENNEDY.

But now Defamer.com is questioning the very existence of the tape, citing a lack of physical evidence of the sale allegedly brokered by memorabilia collector KEYA MORGAN.

Defamer says Morgan has also refused to disclose the names of either the buyer or the seller of the lascivious reel, and describes Morgan as a "press hungry namedropper whose main objective is to promote himself and the Monroe documentary that he is working on."

No word yet on a response from Morgan. Stay tuned for any further developments.

Richard Gere Takes Flight with 'Amelia'



RICHARD GERE will join HILARY SWANK in 'Amelia,' the upcoming biopic about the famed lost female aviator AMELIA EARHART, according to Daily Variety.

Gere will play her husband, publisher GEORGE PUTNAM, who led a rocky relationship with the pioneering pilot. Filming on the project begins this month in Toronto, Nova Scotia and South Africa, with MIRA NAIR ('Vanity Fair,' 'Monsoon Wedding') at the helm.

Also on the docket for Gere is the cop drama 'Brooklyn's Finest,' in which he stars opposite ETHAN HAWKE and DON CHEADLE as one of a trio of police officers caught in a deadly situation. ANTOINE FUQUA ('Training Day') directs.

Milla Jovovich Joins 'The 4th Kind'



Now that Milla Jovovich might not be returning for another shot at the Resident Evil franchise, it's nice to see that she isn't still pining away for another chance at playing Alice. The Hollywood Reporter announced that Jovovich has signed to star in the real- life mystery, The 4th Kind. The film was written and directed by Olatunde Osunsanmi, a first time writer/director, who started his career as an assistant to Joe Carnahan (once again proving that in this business it's who you know).

There aren't many details about the story so far, but what we do know is that the film is based on a series of mysterious disappearances that took place in Alaska. The unsolved mystery of what happened to these people over the last 40 years has often been blamed on a government cover-up, or worse. Judging from the title, I'm going to go with aliens on this one. Kind will most likely use some of the juicier conspiracy theories as a starting point for the story. Jovovich will play an investigator sent to the remote town to uncover the story behind these unexplained abductions.

No other cast has been named, but the production is eying a June start date. Jovovich already has two films in production (Azazel and A Perfect Getaway), but for most Jovovich fans it's still all about Resident Evil. Constantin Films has promised a fourth installment, so we are going to have to wait it out and see if the gal is willing to take on the Umbrella corporation just one more time.

Orlando Bloom Joins The Red Circle?



Orlando Bloom and his perfectly tousled hair shoot more scenes for the starry anthology New York, I Love You on Wednesday in New York City.

Fiji water ad, anyone?

The Hollywood Reporter confirmed yesterday that Orly might be joining the cast of The Red Circle as directed by Johnnie To.

Mary-Kate Olsen Celebrates New Year’s in April



Mary-Kate Olsen drowns herself in a glittery pastel floor-grazing gown at the “New Year’s In April: A Fool’s Fête” at the Mandarin Oriental hotel in New York City on Wednesday.

The 21-year-old mini-mogul accessorized with a yellow clutch and a monstrous-sized headband.

The celebrated event was run by the non-profit organization, New Yorkers For Children. Their mission is to improve the lives of children and families by increasing the private sector’s awareness of child welfare issues.

Dita Von Teese Takes Home a Nude



Dita Von Teese strikes a pose at the “Take Home A Nude” art and auction party at NYC’s Phillips de Pury & Company auction house on Wednesday.

The 35-year-old burlesque queen helped The New York Academy of Art celebrate its 25th anniversary of running their art and auction party, which helps to raise scholarship funds.

You can view a selection of works from Take Home a Nude 2008. Check out the live auctions works and the silent auction works.

Biggest Loser Winners

MARK KRUGER
Start Weight: 285 Pounds
"My wife and daughter supported me through this whole thing," Kruger told Us. "Getting on that scale every
single week drives me, but is also the thing that haunts me."



MARK KRUGER: runner up
End Weight: 156 Pounds
Total lost: 129 Pounds
A year from now? "I will probably be a little more ripped than I am right now," Kruger tells Us. "I will be about
185 pounds and in great shape, loving life."

Biggest Loser Winners

KELLY FIELDS
Start Weight: 271 Pounds
The hardest part about dropping pounds: "Making time," Fields admits to Us. "I need to stay
strong and put me first."



KELLY FIELDS: Third place
End Weight: 162 Pounds
Total Lost: 109 Pounds
"I need to be under 150 pounds!" Fields tell Us. "I am shooting to work out five days a week, a
couple of hours a day. I am running the stairs!"

Biggest Loser Winners

ROGER SHULTZ
Starting Weight: 363 Pounds
Staying healthy, "is a daily challenge," Shultz admits. "I have a young son who likes to eat crap.
Little kids watch you. I am not going to deny him things, but he will pick [my healthy eating habits] up."



ROGER SHULTZ: Second place
Ending Weight: 199 Pounds
Total Lost: 164 Pounds
Does he want to lose more? "Hell, no man!" Shultz told Us. "I am just going to maintain. I work out
two hours every day. I do cardio and lift weights, and I'm going to continue doing that and play with my son."

Biggest Loser Winners

ALI VINCENT
Start Weight: 324 Pounds
"The biggest challenge was believing in myself," Vincent told Us. "I remember during week four, it just
switched and I have been unstoppable."



WINNER! ALI VINCENT
End Weight: 122 Pounds
Total Lost: 112 Pounds
How will she spend her $250,000 prize? "I am going to pay off my bills and go shopping!" Vincent, the show's
first female winner, told Us. "I am so excited to wear anything sleeveless!"

Look-alike Lovers

The Kaballists
In Dec. 2005, Demi Moore and husband Ashton Kutcher sported matching white headgear and zip-up
hoodies (men must wear white to Saturday Kaballah sessions!)


The Jetsetters
Power pair Katie Holmes and hubby Tom Cruise donned sunglasses at night, cropped dos and black
coats in NYC Jan. 16.


The Minimalists
Angelina Jolie and beau Brad Pitt kept it simple in aviator shades and lightweight grey T's in
NYC Oct. 2007.