Producer: Britney Is 'Really Shaping Up'



Britney Spears is back in the recording studio with J.R. Rotem and Sean Garrett, the producers confirm to PEOPLE.

"She's great," Rotem told PEOPLE at the BMI Pop Awards in Beverly Hills on Tuesday. "She's like a master at what she does. She's a lot more experienced than most people. She just has the 'it' factor that not every artist has. So it's always nice to work with her."

Although Rotem, who briefly dated Spears in 2007, would not reveal any details of the project, a Spears family source tells PEOPLE that the pop star is in the early stages of a follow-up to her last album Blackout, which was released last October.

"Britney is in the experimental stages of a new album," says the source. "She's trying to find the sound and direction she wants to go in, but nothing is set in stone just yet. She has been playing the piano a lot and just singing. She says she misses 'just singing.'"

Producer Sean Garrett was mum on specifics but says that he and Spears, 26, have "a few things in the works." At the BMI Pop Awards, Garrett told PEOPLE: "I'm just happy to see her back and recovering. She's really shaping up and getting her whole situation back together. I'm really proud and happy to see her."

A rep for Spears's record label had no comment.

Source: Jessica Alba's Marriage 'Surprised Even Good Friends'



Jessica Alba's quickie courthouse wedding came out of the blue – even for her close pals.

The 27-year-old actress – who's expecting her first child – wed longtime boyfriend Cash Warren, 31, on Monday in Beverly Hills.

"Jessica and Cash's ceremony surprised even good friends," says a source close to Alba, noting that the actress tends to be "very responsible" and "strategic" when it comes to her personal life.

"She [used to feel] it would be okay to wait until after the baby was born to get married," the source continues. "But her traditional side must have really kicked in."

The low-key wedding may have been a shock – but the two had been talking marriage for more than a year, says the source.

"Cash is a wonderful guy," the insider adds. "And she really does love him."

The two will welcome their daughter this summer.

EXCLUSIVE: See Ashlee & Pete's First Wedding Photo



Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz's weekend wedding may have looked like the ultimate rocker event – complete with 10,000 black magic roses, red-and-black décor and chandeliers dripping with crystals – but for the couple and their 150 guests, it felt more like a sweet fairy tale, PEOPLE reveals in its new issue.

"She looked like a girl right out of a movie," the groom, 28, says about his new bride, 23, who wore an ivory lace Monique Lhuillier gown and a cathedral-length veil during the nondenominational ceremony officiated by her father, Joe Simpson.

Report: Steven Tyler Checks into Rehab



So-called "Demon of Screamin,'" Aerosmith lead singer Steven Tyler, has checked himself into a rehab facility, reports TMZ.com.

Tyler, 60, reportedly is seeking treatment for substance abuse at a California facility.

The musician's representative tells PEOPLE he has no knowledge of the situation.

In September 2006, the Aerosmith frontman revealed that in 2003 he had been diagnosed with hepatitis C and had undergone 11 months of treatment.

After keeping quiet about the disease for so long, Tyler said at the time that he wanted to share his experience and knowledge with others.

Indiana Jones and the Raider of the Lost Camera?



Harrison Ford may be a big movie star, but he's not immune to misplacing expensive gadgets like the rest of us. While promoting Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull at the Palais in Cannes, his digital camera suddenly disappeared.

"He had either taken it out of his pocket or left if somewhere," a source tells E! News. He was reportedly "freaking out" and "very upset." Despite the fact that he had his entire entourage search for it, the camera was never found.

Since he's obviously going to have enough money to buy all the cameras in the world after his movie opens tonight, we wonder what pictures he was so upset over losing.

Hope none of his personal snaps end up on the Internet à la Miley Cyrus...

Oh, No View Didn't: Whoopi v. Denise


Click to Watch

Ah, we missed the good old days when The View was good for a noisy Rosie-versus-Elisabeth shoutfest about...whatever it is they refused to listen to each other about.

Denise Richards getting a gentle whupping from Whoopi doesn't reach the heights of Shriekspearean drama of the past, but it's still a reminder that your morning chatfest can turn up the heat in a heartbeat.

Jen & Owen Get Matrimonial for Marley & Me



No, Jennifer Aniston is not shooting a remake of The Graduate. We're pretty sure she learned her lesson after Rumor Has It...

Rather, she and Owen Wilson were filming a wedding scene Tuesday on the Philadelphia set of Marley & Me, a movie whose production schedule seems to be one of the longest in cinematic history.

Then again, maybe it just feels that way given all the peripheral coverage of Aniston's relationship with John Mayer.

Whatever the reason, 20 dollars says the shooting schedule outlasts any real-life romance.

Billy Bob Accused of Invading Space



Billy Bob Thornton was never the poster boy for normalcy, but is he a model creep?

The Oscar-nominated actor's former sister-in-law has filed a police report alleging Thornton's been harassing her for the past two years and, to her belief, has bugged her home so he can eavesdrop on her conversations.

Elysabeth Cherniak, sister of Thornton's fourth wife, Pietra Cherniak, claims she originally thought the Bad Santa star was putting the moves on her, but then his frequent emails became "more insulting."

"First he said that he wanted to be with me and take care of him, but I wanted to stay away, because he gave me the creeps," Cherniak told E! News Wednesday.

"He definitely had designs on me. I didn’t do anything for a long time, because I didn’t know what my rights were, but it was very scary."

Cherniak, who runs a website through which she provides psychic consultations, said she did an online reading for Thornton in 2006, knowing it was him even though she didn't see his face, because he flashed certain tattooed parts of his body.

After that, she claims, she had multiple conversations with her mother in her home and, upon returning to her computer, would find emails transcribing their talks word for word.

“I know it was Billy Bob,” Cherniak said. "At first I thought he knew all this because he was psychic.”

But apparently she figured hacking was a more likely option, opting to file a report May 5 at the West Los Angeles Police Department.

“The police told me they are investigating, but obviously there is no concrete evidence,” she said. "I feel when something happens you have to take a stand.”

Meanwhile, Thornton's rep has deemed these allegations "absolutely false," especially considering he never uses email and "anyone who knows him would know that."

Cherniak has "a history of making these very same allegations in the past," the rep added.

Pre-Angelina, Thornton was married to Pietra for four years. They divorced in 1997 after having two children together.

Thornton and Jolie famously swapped vows (and vials of blood) in 2000 before crashing and burning three years later.

No Storms for This Port



Can there really be someone on The Hills who doesn’t want drama in their lives?

Whitney Port insists she’s not looking for any of the personal troubles that so often seem to plague her pals on the MTV reality show.

“I’ve seen what it does,” Port tells Social Life magazine about living in front of the cameras. “It’s ruined a lot of relationships and friendships. That’s why I don’t expose people that I am close to that. My friends and family mean too much to me to get them involved.”

She says she’s even asked producers to keep it about her fashion business. “I told producers on the show that I want them to focus on my career,” said Port, who is hosting the magazine's Saturday-night bash in the Hamptons. “I tried going on a date once on the show, and it was the most uncomfortable two hours of my life.”

Paris Gets Oddly Domestic



Who knew Paris Hilton cooked? Let alone ate big pasta dinners.

But apparently, she's doing a lot of both since hooking up with steady beau Benji Madden.

"The two stay home as much as they can, cooking dinners and just hanging out," a source close to the couple tells E! News. "She makes him her specialty dish, lasagna, and he loves it."

(Just hope he doesn't hear that she made the same meal for her ex Stavros.)

The lovebirds also keep it simple in every other respect. They watch movies (comedies mostly, we're told). And cuddle. He's even teaching her his favorite sport, skateboarding.

We haven't seen Paris this domesticated since...well, never. Could they even be talking about a double wedding with Nicole and Joel?

"No way," says the insider. "Paris and Nicole aren't going to share their wedding day!"

Besides, she's already warned him that one day, she'll want a huge wedding, with a formfitting designer gown. And an extended honeymoon, somewhere sunny and exotic.

He's hinted that when the time comes, she'll get a ring with so much bling, the glare will be blinding.

"Paris has never been more in love," says the source. "She can really see herself settling down with Benji, because she totally trusts him. She's never had that with a man before. She knows he adores her and would never, ever hurt her."

Audrina Patridge Gone Wild? Not So Fast



Is Audrina Patridge ready to get wild?

Even though her modeling past includes racy nudie pics, it appears even a big-money offer from Girls Gone Wild svengali Joe Francis to do something similar for his T&A company isn’t enough to entice the Hills star.

Francis reportedly tried to talk business with Patridge at last night’s five-year anniversary party for Dolce restaurant in Los Angeles, but he didn’t get very far.

“Tell her I’m legit,” Francis was heard repeating to mutual friends.

The buzz over Patridge matched the intensity of a Jennifer Aniston arrival. The paparazzi outside couldn’t get enough shots of her and boyfriend Justin Bobby.

Also attracting attention...

Jesse Metcalfe didn't seem to shy away from the spotlight—despite reports alleging he and some friends trashed a room at San Diego’s Ivy Hotel last week. The muscle-bound former Desperate Housewives star had dinner with girlfriend Courtney Robinson and three other female friends.

Ashton Kutcher, who hosted the celebration (he’s a co-owner of the eatery), kept things low-key, holding court in a corner banquette with Dolce partners Chris Masterson and Wilmer Valderrama.

Meanwhile, E! reality star Khloe Kardashian acted quickly when she found her table and realized her sister Kim’s ex, singer Ray J, was seated next to her and her posse.

“Thank God Kim wasn’t here,” Khloe said, before asking organizers to shuffle their seating chart.

Other boldfaced names at the Pama-sponsored fete included Matthew Perry, Sean Stewart, Evan Ross, Eric Balfour, Barron Hilton, and Stacy Keibler and boyfriend Geoff Stults.

Backstreet Guy Headed to Prison



First Lou Pearlman cooked the books. Now one is being thrown back in his face.

The boy-band mastermind was sentenced Wednesday in Orlando to 25 years in federal prison for bilking investors and banks out of nearly $300 million by selling worthless stock in a bogus company and falsifying numerous financial statements.

"I'm truly sorry, your honor, to all the people who have been hurt and victimized by my actions," Pearlman, who pieced together the Backstreet Boys and 'N Sync in the 1990s, said in a statement.

"Over the past nine months since my arrest I've come to realize the harm that has been done. I now want to do whatever I can to help resolve that harm."

To avoid more serious charges, the disgraced entrepreneur pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy and single counts of money laundering and making a false claim in a bankruptcy filing and agreed to help anyone involved—federal and state regulatory agencies, the FBI, the IRS, banks, whomever—track down his unnamed coconspirators and as much of the money as possible.

Senior U.S. District Judge G. Kendall Sharp told Pearlman he'll shave a month off his sentence for every $1 million he recovers.

"I'm going to give you the keys to your jail cell," Sharp said in court today.

Meaning, Pearlman can skip his 300 months in prison altogether if he can come up with the whole $300 million right away.

"I think truly, in Mr. Pearlman's mind, he always meant to make good on his obligations," defense attorney Fletcher Peacock said today in arguing for more lenient terms. "Mr. Pearlman did live large, if you will, but judge, he was in the entertainment business."

But the judge seemed a little more concerned with the investors' plight than Pearlman's.

"It turns out they're all his family, close friends and people in their s who have lost their life savings," Sharp said.

"The sympathy factor just doesn't run very high with the court."

Who's an Indy Fan? Hey, Who Isn't?



Indiana Jones fans, the theory goes, are different.

"They're not like Trekkie fans, and they're not like Star Wars fans," says filmmaker Brandon Kleyla, choosing his words carefully. "…They're more humble."

Or maybe not.

Fans of the George Lucas-Steven Spielberg adventure franchise are expected to help Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, opening on nearly 4,000 screens at midnight tonight, to a five-day debut of a very unhumble $150 million. Or more.

"It looks to be the movie that all other blockbusters will try to beat for the summer box-office crown," Gitesh Pandya, editor of BoxOfficeGuru.com, said in an email interview.

Pandya foresees a Thursday-Monday, extended Memorial Day weekend opening "north of $150 million."

Box-office analyst Jeff Bock of Exhibitor Relations Co. is thinking $175 million, a figure that would match the record set by Lucas' Star Wars: Episode III—Revenge of the Sith, which collected nine figures over the same span in 2005.

Both see Kingdom of the Crystal Skull doing what Speed Racer and, to a lesser degree, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian couldn't do—dominate the family market.

Sketchy buzz over the weekend that gave way to solid reviews in the past few days seemingly has fueled expectations. A nearly 20-year wait between movies clearly has fueled anticipation.

And when pent-up demand meets opening day? Bock predicts that Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, the fourth film in the Indiana Jones series, will gross as much as $50 million tomorrow. That would again put it in the neighborhood of Revenge of the Sith, currently the all-time Thursday king.

And that's only the tip of the bullwhip. The real money for the new Indiana Jones lies overseas where the iconic Harrison Ford archaeologist is, well, extra iconic.

"This is Indiana Jones and the Quest for Worldwide Domination," Bock says. "Make no mistake, this is going to be a hit worldwide."

Kleyla is not surprised by the lofty expectations. The actor-director is, after all, something of an expert on the appeal of Indiana Jones. He's a fan—a child of the '80s who first discovered the good Dr. Jones at a theme park. He's a collector. And he's a documentarian.

His new film, Indyfans and the Quest for Fortune and Glory, profiles more than 50 devotees of Henry Walton Jones Jr., Ph.D.

If the documentary sounds like Trekkies for Indiana Jones followers, then it is, sort of. And it isn't, sort of. For one thing, there aren't any Indiana Jones convention scenes because, according to Kleyla, there aren't any Indiana Jones conventions.

"It's just a different breed of fan," Kleyla says. "…Some of them have really amazing careers, and huge jobs, and you wouldn't know it until you walk into their office and see the Indy mannequin."

The stealth nature of the fandom stems, in part, Kleyla thinks, from Jones' penchant for the workaday ensemble of khakis, leather jacket and fedora.

"The thing with the Indy outfit is," Kleyla says, "you can wear it around, and nobody knows."

Actually, Kleyla acknowledges, the hat usually is the tip-off. And he expects to see quite a lot of them in the coming days.

"No doubt they'll be there opening weekend," he says of the faithful. "They'll show up dressed and ready to go."

And in that respect, Indiana Jones fans are just like Star Wars and Star Trek fans.

"They plunk down their cash," says Bock. "And that's what counts."

Snipes' Surrender Date Set



Turns out, the blade of the federal justice system is just as sharp as that of the IRS.

Wesley Snipes has been given until June 3 to surrender to prison authorities to begin serving his three-year sentence stemming from his conviction on misdemeanor tax fraud charges.

The date was revealed in court papers filed this week by Snipes' defense lawyer Daniel Meachum, who is seeking to obtain an appellate bond for the star. If successful in his bid, the bond would keep the actor out of prison until a higher appeals court has the chance to review the defense's objections to the lengthy sentence.

If it's unsuccessful, D-day for the Demolition Man still stands.

In their court filing, Snipes' attorneys said they will seek an appeal on the grounds that the presiding judge, U.S. District Judge William Terrell Hodges, gave bad instructions to the convicting jury and denied them an extended pretrial hearing.

Prosecutors, meanwhile, oppose the appeal and say the 45-year-old, who produced $5 million more in liquid assets than he led the government to believe he had last month, has already proven himself to be a flight risk.

LiLo Following in Pal Samantha Ronson's Footsteps



Lindsay Lohan is a regular fixture at best bud Samantha Ronson's DJ gigs. But now it's apparently time for LiLo to step up to the turntables, as she's expected to spin at Naomi Campbell's Dolce & Gabbana-hosted 38th birthday party in Cannes Friday.

Maybe Sam will give Lindsay some pointers before her big deejaying debut!

Grammys Staple a Date



People might still be talking about "my Blake incarcerated" and Herbie Hancock's surprise Album of the Year victory, but the Recording Academy has started looking ahead to next year.

The Academy has penciled in Feb. 8, 2009, as the date of the 51st Annual Grammy Awards. CBS will once again air the ceremony live from Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles.

"The next 50 are here, and we are delighted to be in our hometown," Recording Academy President Neil Portnow said in a statement. "We will continue to offer a weeklong series of Grammy events that showcase various genres of music, educational programs and charitable activities."

Scheduled to open later this year in the L.A. Live entertainment complex that also includes Staples is the 30,000 square-foot Grammy Museum celebrating the history of the music industry's highest honor.

Nominations will be announced Dec. 4, with consideration going to albums released between Oct. 1, 2007, and Sept. 30, 2008.

Sharon Osbourne: Charmed, She's Sure



Welcome to Bizarro World. Emily Post must be rolling over in her grave.

Sharon Osbourne, that pinnacle of manners and ladylike etiquette, is set to teach her ever charming ways to the class-challenged rejects of Bret Michaels' affection in a new reality show for VH1.

Rock of Love Girls: Charm School will see Osbourne doing her best to de-skankify 14 also-rans from seasons one and two of Rock of Love while serving as Headmistress of the titular institution.

It's the second incarnation for the series, which previously sought to inject a little dignity into the girls from Flavor of Love, courtesy of host Mo'Nique.

As for the girls, whichever contestant makes the most progress toward prim and proper—and yes, they will be graded on a very generous curve—will pocket $100,000 at the end of the show.

All Aboard the Britney Comeback Train



Britney Spears just got back from a Costa Rican getaway with Mel Gibson, but already she's putting in face time with another power player.

Last night, a sun-kissed Brit went to Il Sole on Sunset with George Maloof, the Palms Casino Hotel owner whom she had dinner with last week.

But it gets better. Brit-Brit didn't speak to the paps at all Tuesday night, even as they lobbed questions at her while snapping pics.

Instead, she gave her best modelesque pout as she pushed through the crowd and stayed mum. She's come a long way from the bizarre British accent and accepting rides from photogs, right?

Hey, Brit, keep up the good work!

Natascha McElhone's Hubby Found Dead



The husband of Californication actress Natascha McElhone, who just so happened to be one of Britain's top plastic surgeons, unexpectedly passed away in London Tuesday at the age of 42.

It was just one day after Martin Kelly and McElhone celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary.

A publicist for the widowed 36-year-old star, who is currently expecting the duo's third child together, said there would be "no comment at this time."

The British media, however, is reporting that Kelly was found slumped on the doorstep of the couple's London home by a doctor friend just after 10 p.m.

McElhone, who has also appeared in Solaris and The Truman Show, was filming in the U.S. at the time and is currently en route back to the U.K. Kelly had joined her in the States just last week.

While no cause of death has been announced, Kelly is believed to have suffered a heart attack. Scotland Yard, meanwhile, is treating the death as unexplained and said a postmortem examination would be carried out.

"It's still a mystery about the death," McElhone's stepfather, Roy Greenslade, told the Daily Mail. "It's so unexpected. Such a fit, handsome, fighting young man...We are in a bit of a terrible state to be honest."

McElhone and Kelly already have two young children, Theodore, 8, and Otis, 5.

Christina Aguilera's Sweet Tooth



“Oh my god, candy! I had a huge craving for candy toward the end of the pregnancy, from Starbursts to Skittles. I actually took a picture of myself with my big belly in a little lingerie top, surrounded by bowls of the candy I like.”

—Christina Aguilera, telling Us Weekly about her prenatal appetite while pregnant with her son, Max

Eric Dane Loses His Mane



McSteamy must be anticipating a steamy summer. At least that's the buzz.

Just back from New York, Eric Dane was seen making his way out of an L.A. gym Tuesday sporting a new, much shorter, haircut.

The scrubs stud probably thought it would be safe to shear off his lovely locks, given that the season finale of Grey's Anatomy airs Thursday night.

Either that or he finally realized that when it comes to trying to outdo Patrick Dempsey's 'do, you just can't win.

Charts Get the Kiss of Death (Cab)



Just like NYC on a rainy day, there was no stopping this cab ride.

For the first time in their decade-plus career, Death Cab for Cutie found itself a spot atop the Billboard 200. For the week ended Sunday, their new album Narrow Stairs ascended to No. 1 on 144,000 copies sold, per Nielsen SoundScan.

The Evergreen State rockers benefited from massive touring, critical praise and the album's top 10 modern rock single "I Will Possess Your Heart."

Formed in the late '90s, the indie act broke into the mainstream with 2003's Transatlanticism, which landed key TV song placements, most notably on The O.C. The group soon signed to Atlantic and established their previous chart high with 2005's Plans opening at No. 4 on its way to platinum sales.

Frank Sinatra's Nothing but the Best, released in connection with the decennial anniversary of his passing, sold 99,000 copies in the No. 2 spot. The hits package marks Old Blue Eyes' best chart position since Duets opened in the same spot nearly 15 years ago.

Jason Mraz's We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things. sold 73,000 copies at No. 3, besting the singer's previous No. 5 chart high for 2005's Mr. A-Z. The Grammy-nominated singer, who leads at radio with "I'm Yours," found inspiration for the new album from several spiritual books anonymously left outside his hotel room while on an Australian tour.

Retro-pop singer Duffy made new releases four-for-four at the top with her rookie bow, Rockferry, selling 71,000 copies at No. 4. The Welsh singer, dubbed one of the "new Amys" (as in Winehouse) by the British press, already spent several weeks atop the U.K. album chart. Her hit single "Mercy" also made her the first Welsh female to top the U.K. pop charts in a quarter-century.

With four big bows up top, Neil Diamond's first career chart-topper, Home Before Dark, skidded six spots to No. 7 on 53,000 units.

Keith Sweat capped the top 10 bows in the No. 10 spot, selling nearly 37,000 copies of Just Me, his first new album in six years.

10 Years' Division missed the top 10 by just two spots, selling 28,000 copies at No. 12. The week's other noteworthy bows included the Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian soundtrack at No. 40, Filter's Anthems for the Damned at No. 42 and Iron Maiden's '80s retrospective Somewhere Back in Time at No. 59.

Overall, album sales were down nearly 9 percent from last week and down over 13 percent compared to the same sales week in '07, when Linkin Park's Minutes to Midnight made its monster debut.

To recap, the week's top 10 albums were as follows:

1. Narrow Stairs, Death Cab for Cutie
2. Nothing but the Best, Frank Sinatra
3. We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things, Jason Mraz
4. Rockferry, Duffy
5. Spirit, Leona Lewis
6. E=MC2, Mariah Carey
7. Home Before Dark, Neil Diamond
8. Hard Candy, Madonna
9. 35 Biggest Hits, Toby Keith
10. Just Me, Keith Sweat

Gordon Flashes Into View



Hollywood is striking while the Iron Man is hot.

Sony Pictures has won a bidding war for the rights to produce a big-screen, bigger-budget adaptation of the futuristic comic book Flash Gordon.

The studio shelled out in the "high six figures" for the rights to make a live-action film based on the classic strip, a franchise-ready tale of an American sports star who is kidnapped by a mad professor and transported, via rocketship, to the planet of Mongo, where he is forced to fight to save Earth.

The comic, created in 1934 by Alex Raymond, has already had several live-action incarnations, most recently in a short-lived series on the Sci Fi Channel. It also took an ill-fated stab at big-screen glory back in 1980, with an adaptation that was notable only for its Queen soundtrack.

This time around, Sahara director Breck Eisner will take over, doing his best to ensure Flash is on the big screen—not in the pan.

Iron Mania: The Greatest Hits!


Click to watch

The Lyons Den has been tracking Iron Man for two years, and now we're ready to relive the greatest hits from our interviews with Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow and director and all-round good guy Jon Favreau, who is always welcome to hang in the Lyons Den.

Take it away!

Richards Calls Foul on Sheen Sperm Seeking


Click To Watch

There's spam mail and then there's sperm mail. To Denise Richards, they're one and the same.

Though dropping by the Today show this morning to ostensibly promote her new E! reality series, Denise Richards: It's Complicated, it didn't take much time for the glibness that is Matt Lauer to direct the conversation to other, more tabloid-friendly topics. Like Richards' alleged bid for some of Charlie Sheen's best swimmers.

Shortly after their ever-acrimonious split, Sheen made the media rounds, announcing that his ex, and the mother of his two children, sent an email to his then-girlfriend, now-fiancée Brooke Mueller on April 3, 2007, requesting some of Sheen's finest for a possible third insemination.

"That email is not legitimate," Richards said of the alleged request, adding that their public war of words was "embarrassing" and "humiliating."

"It's a doctored email. I would never send an email to his...girlfriend, and, at the time of that email, I was with Richie [Sambora]. If I wanted anybody's sperm, I'd have asked for Richie's. Nothing against Charlie's sperm, I have two beautiful children."

She also addressed Sheen's exceedingly vocal protests to their two daughters appearing on her reality show, revealing that he initially had no qualms about signing the waiver allowing the girls to hit the small screen, in exchange for Richards acquiescing to a change in their custody order.

For his part, Sheen wasted no time in responding to the claims, fighting fire with even more fire.

"Her claims that her email has been fabricated or altered in any way to create this story are absurd," he said. "The mere fact that she continues to publicly discuss and harass both Brooke and me three years after our separation, which for the record is longer than the actual length of the marriage, is desperate and speaks volumes.

"I will no longer sit back and be egregiously painted as a liar."

At least, as far as Sheen's concerned, not until Richards gets her next TV booking.

Scarlett Scorned by Critics



It was a tough week for ScarJo.

First, there was the minor brouhaha about her missing the premiere of her new film with Woody Allen at the Cannes Film Festival. Now she's facing the music from critics about her album of Tom Waits covers, Anywhere I Lay My Head.

And they don't like what they're hearing: "Unremarkable," "fussy and forgettable" and "deeply in a druggy ambiance" are just a few of the descriptions of the disc and her voice.

Plus, there's this deep-thought gem from the Washington Post: "Every song is like every other song, even the ones that sound different."

Whoa.

Miley Busts a Breakout Move



Her first attempt at asserting a little independence may not have ended so well, but her second is shaping up to be much more well-received among the tween—and, more important, tween-parent—set.

Miley Cyrus has set a July 22 release date for the first full-length album to be released on Hollywood Records under her own name, with no outward affiliation to her Hannah Montana alter ego or the same named Disney show.

Not that Cyrus is straying too far (or, really, any distance at all) from the bubblegum tree.

Her debut single off the album, "7 Things," was released to radio last week. It was penned by Cyrus and two writers who previously lent their musical pedigree not only to her Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: The Best of Both Worlds tunes but to the family-friendly juggernaut that is High School Musical.

That should appease the parents faster than you can say "Annie Leibovitz."

Another Alba-Warren Wedding in the Works?



Jessica Alba is a girl who knows how to keep a secret.

The actress' brother, Josh Alba, told E! News Tuesday he was as surprised as anyone to learn his sister had swapped vows with boyfriend Cash Warren yesterday.

Especially considering he knows "they are going to do a big ceremony later."

"I just don't know any of the details yet," he said.

Perhaps taking advantage of all the hubbub surrounding Ashlee Simpson's weekend wedding bash, Alba and Warren, who are expecting their first child together this summer, quietly tied the knot Monday afternoon.

Dylan McDermott Files for Divorce



Dylan McDermott is looking to make a permanent break.

Nearly eight months after the duo announced they had separated, the actor filed for divorce from wife Shiva Rose Friday, citing irreconcilable differences as the reason for the split.

According to the petition obtained by E! News, the actual date of separation is listed as March 5, 2007.

Interestingly, McDermott, who spent seven years playing lawyer Bobby Donnell on The Practice, is tackling this case "in propria persona." In other words, he's acting as his own attorney.

He and Rose tied the knot on Nov. 19, 1995. They have two daughters, 12-year-old Collette Blu and 2-year-old Charlotte Rose. McDermott is seeking joint custody.

Cameron Diaz Goes Bald



Cameron Diaz looks strikingly happy in her bald cap on the set of My Sister’s Keeper on the Santa Monica Pier in Calif. on Wednesday.

Cam, 35, films with her co-stars Abigail Breslin and Sofia Vassilieva.

My Sister’s Keeper plot: The film tells the sad story of a girl (Vassilieva) battling leukemia and the strife it causes within the family. Breslin plays the sister and Diaz is the mother, who shaves her head in support of her ill daughter.

Continued thoughts and prayers for Cameron and her family as they continue to work through the tragic loss of her father.

American Idol 7 — Who’s the Winner?



Stroll down to find out who won the David vs. David throwndown on American Idol 7…

Video links to come…














































DAVID COOK! DAVID COOK!

VIDEO LINKS –

Top 12 group song (Watch here)

Cook & Archuleta duet - “Hero” (Watch here)

Mike Myers skit (Watch here)

Syesha & Seal - “Waiting for You” (Watch here)

Jason Castro - “Hallelujah” ([email="http://www.redlasso.com/ClipPlayer.aspx?id=cd0c00cd-9038-4d09-b797-2f95f5f21112"]Watch here[/email])

Girls sing with Donna Summer (Watch here)

Carly Smithson & Michael Johns - “The Letter” (Watch here)

Jimmy Kimmel roasts Idol (Watch here)

Boys sing with Bryan Adams (Watch here)

David Cook & ZZ Top - “Sharp Dressed Man” (Watch here)

The Jonas Brothers - “S.O.S” (Watch here)

Archuleta & OneRepublic - “Apologize” (Watch here)

Jordin Sparks - (Watch here)

Ben Stiller, Robert Downey Jr. and Jack Black with Gladys Knight (Watch here)

Carrie Underwood - “Last Name” (Watch here)

Top 12 sing with George Michael (Watch here)

David Cook wins (Watch here)

David Archuleta does a Risky Business parody commercial for Guitar Hero (Watch here)

Bar Refaeli is a Beautiful Bride



Bar Refaeli walks the runway as a blushing bride during Puerta De Europa Bridal Fashion Shows on Wednesday at IFEMA in Madrid, Spain.

The 22-year-old Israeli supermodel recently stopped by the 2008 Cannes Film Festival where she was rumored to be shooting an ad campaign for True Religion, Accessorize or Chanel Make Up.

Ready to pop the question Mr. DiCaprio? Nudge, nudge

Lauren Conrad Jams With Brody Jenner



Lauren Conrad shoots a new scene for the fourth season of The Hills in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

L.C. was seen dining with good pal Brody Jenner and his BFF Frankie Delgado.

Earlier this month, Lauren’s former BFF, Audrina Patridge, celebrated her leading role in Into the Blue 2 and her 23rd birthday in Las Vegas. Both Lauren and Audrina’s on-and-of-again boyfriend Justin Bobby were not in attendance.

Ashanti’s Maxim Declaration



Soul siren Ashanti plays it sexy in the June 2008 issue of Maxim. She’s promoting her new album, The Declaration, out June 3. Here’s a snippet of her interview:

Your new album is called The Declaration. Would you like to take this moment to declare anything?
Absolutely. I’m declaring that I’m here. The album is a new sound for me. I found out so much about myself working with new people. Everything had kind of been in-house for me, so I was used to having a security blanket—like Linus from Peanuts with his blue blanket. I’m declaring that it’s been four years and a lot of people had questions, but I’m here, baby.

The video of your debut single, “Foolish,” costarred a then-unknown Terrence Howard. How was that?
Terrence Howard is a lot older than me. I was young when I made that video, only 21. He was so funny on set. He’s going to get mad at me for saying this, but at the end of the video they put the camera close up on my face as he gives me a hug. And he squeezed my ass! I was like, “Oh, my God, I know this dude did not just squeeze my ass! I’m going to get him.” It was hilarious.

Prison Break is Back in Production



Dominic Purcell, aka Lincoln Burrows, returns to the set of Prison Break to shoot season four in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday. As you can tell, Dominic is not a fan of the paparazzi.

Also in the market scene Dom was shooting: Marshall Allman as LJ Burrows (Lincoln’s son) and Danay Garcia as Sofia Lugo (Lincoln’s love interest).

And according to E!, “They’re introducing a new nerdy hacker character named Roland Glenn to join the boys for at least six episodes to help them fight the Company. He’s a talker, this one, and his big fat mouth is going to get him into trouble.”

Nicole Kidman To Pose Pregnant and Nude?



Nicole Kidman arrives for a top secret photo shoot at Smashbox Studios in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

It’s rumored that Nicole was doing a pregnant nude cover shoot with legendary photographer Patrick Demarchelier.

Demi Moore caused quite the controversy in 1991 when Annie Liebowitz shot her for the cover of Vanity Fair. Last November, then-pregnant Christina Aguilera bared all for Marie Claire.

Natalie Portman is a Che Chick



Natalie Portman (in Lanvin) arrives at the premiere of Che at the Palais des Festivals during the 2008 Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday in Cannes, France.

Che is one motion picture showing at Cannes, which runs over four hours long. It’s a combination of both Guerrilla and The Argentine, both directed by Steven Soderbergh (Ocean’s franchise, Traffic and Erin Brokovich). Here are the plotlines:

Guerrilla: After the fall of Fulgencio Batista in Cuba, Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara (Benicio Del Toro) moved on to foment revolutions in Africa and South America, eventually being captured and killed by counter-insurgency rangers in the mountains of Bolivia, backed by the CIA.

The Argentine: In 1956, Che (Del Toro) and a band of Castro-led Cuban exiles mobilize an army to topple the regime of dictator Fulgencio Batista.

Gwyneth Paltrow is Tod’s Leading Lady



Check out Gwyneth Paltrow’s new ad campaign for Italian label Tod’s for their autumn/winter 2008-9 collection.

According to UK’s Vogue, Mario Testino photographed the campaign in Capri last month. The 36-year-old actress is said to evoke a “uber luxurious, outdoors-y life of a beautiful Italian aristocrat from the heady days of the jet-set era.”

“Gwyneth effortlessly embodies the spirit of the all American woman with timeless elegance and modern flair - the perfect representation of the Tod’s woman,” says creative director Derek Lam. “And, of course, beyond her impeccable style, she is an artist whose body of work I greatly admire.”

And apparently, Gwyn has a film short for Tod’s premiering in Cannes!

New Couple Alert???



Star magazine (take it for what it's worth) is reporting that 's icons Winona Ryder and Keanu Reeves are lovin' it up on the set of their new movie, The Private Lives of Pippa Lee.

Wasn't she dating that dude from Rilo Kiley???

The original Wino and Keanu are apparently spending a lot of time in one another's trailers AND a set source says they hug a lot on the set.

Doesn't sound too out of place? Maybe she's his fag hag????

Oh, well, Keanu is hotter than the old fella. Don't ya think???

The New Miley Cyrus



There's a new Disney teen star in the making, and her name is Demi Lovato.

Demi, 15, is appearing in the upcoming Disney movie Camp Rock, starring alongside the Jonas Brothers.

Lucky Girl!

Plus, it's just been announced that….

She's getting her own show on the Disney channel!

The program will be called Welcome to Mollywood.

So could she be the next Hilary Duff, Raven Simone, or Miley Cyrus?

Perhaps. Lovato is also an actor, a singer and she can dance as well.

The series will center on Molly, a 15 year-old from a small town who wins a role on a teen comedy TV show after competing on a nationwide search.

So it'll be like a show within a show. How reflexive!

Lovato also has a recording contract with Disney's Hollywood Records. Oh yea, and she's also set to go on tour with the Jonas Bros this summer.

Gary Marsh, president of entertainment at Disney Channels Worldwide, says, "This series is rooted in one of the core thematic attributes that we stand for, which is following your dream. There also was the opportunity to do a hybrid show."

How long until we see her naughty pictures on the internet??????

It's Called Prison - NOT "Vacation Time"!



Prison's a b--ch, and the latest prison b--ch is not feeling it!

According to friends, Nick Hogan is having a hard time in the slammer. It's apparently so bad that he's having troubling forming sentences to convey how he's feeling. The young Hogan didn't realize, til now, how horrible prison life can be.

Boo hoo!

Now he knows how that poor John Graziano, the victim in his car crash, feels!

Because of threats, Nick has been isolated from the general population.

Solitary confinement can #### you up!

Nick has an 8 month sentence to serve. He started time on May 9th .

Only 7+ more months to go!

We Were Right!



We guessed on Tuesday that Jessica "Don't Call Me Latina" Alba and Cashole Warren did the quickie wedding thing cause they didn't want a b-----d child.

Yup, that's the reason!

A friend of Alba's also tells People magazine that's probably why they married so suddenly!

The Don't Call Me Latina pal said, "She [used to feel] it would be okay to wait until after the baby was born to get married. But her traditional side must have really kicked in."

The source went on to say that the low-key wedding may have been a shock – but the two had been talking marriage for more than a year.

We're sure Mr. and Mrs. Casshole will have a big wedding shin dig a few months after she pops the baby out, just for those friends and fam who feel all sorts of left out.

Plus, they don't wanna miss out on their opportunity to Cash in on the wedding pics, especially Warren. He wants the $$$$$$$!

Poised Perfection



Look at them jewels!!!

And we're not talking about her bling!

International style icon, Miz Dita Von Teese, kicks it Cannes style at the Chopard lounge on Tuesday.

We might have to go next year. It's been since 2006 since we've been to Cannes.

Shit, we should go to Paris too! Haven't been there since 1998, far too long!

Bisous. Bisous.

[Image via JPI Studios.]

Air Jordan is Cannes Bound



Straight dudes all over the place will be happy about this!

Spike Lee announced in Cannes on Monday that he is directing a feature-length documentary about Michael 'Air' Jordan, who some argue is the best pro-basketball player in history.

Lee revealed that he hopes to bring the doc to next year's Cannes Festival.

MJ on the Cannes red carpet!

The project will feature previously-unseen footage shot by NBA cameras during the final two years in Jordan's career, the 2001-02 and 2002-03 seasons.

Michael is just the latest sports star to get the documentary treatment.

Retired boxer Mike Tyson is currently in Cannes, where a film about him is screening.

Who's next????

[Image via WENN.]

Slowly Losing Their 15 Minutes



It looks like the ratings are dropping hard for MTV's biggest scripted show, The Hills.

Viewership for last week's season finale were at a disappointing 3.8 million! That's a good one million below the show's December finale and its return in March.

Are people getting bored of the usual script or are they finally starting to realize that there's no reality in it????

Oh well, it seems like the ladies from The Hills might have to get a real job soon!

But what will they do for a living?

Did any of them finish college????

Do any of them have "real" work experience and not just The Hills staged work experience?

Where will the cast from The Hills end up?

Probably in another spin-off show with a new title.

Anyone ready for The Valley, Malibu Beach, or The West Hollywood?

Rock With U, Baby!



The details are pouring in!

Janet announced Wednesday the first cities and dates for her upcoming "Rock Witchu" tour.

The Other Woman



No, it's not saMANtha Ronson!

As we mentioned last week, Jodie Foster and her long time partner, Cydney Bernard, have ended their relationship.

But, what was the reason for the split????

We mentioned it could have been another woman. And, guess what?

It turns out we were right!!!

The National Enquirer, who first broke the news of the split, is now reporting that the reason for the separation is due to an affair - on Jodie's part!

Apparently, Foster's been messing around and has got herself a new girlfriend.

Who's the new homewrecker lady in her life?

It's Cindy Mort, a producer and screenwriter.

The two are said to have met on the set of The Brave One back in 2006. The affair got even more serious last year, and it's said the two have been seeing each other ever since.

As for Cydney, she's apparently still living with Jodie, but it' clear that the relationship is over.

A source says, "Although she and Cydney remain under the same roof at the moment, the relationship has been shattered. They’ll continue to raise the boys together and try to keep a loving family unit despite their breakup. The love is gone."

Adulterers never win, Jodie.

And as for Cindy (the new woman), just be careful. If Jodie was willing to cheat on her partner of 14 years with you, she'll likely cheat on you as well!

Just a thought.

[Image via WENN.]

Quote of the Day



"I've never hid it, but I've been sober the whole time I've been famous, so it wasn't like I had to go to rehab publicly. It's caused a lot of confusion out in the world. I get sent many a Cosmo! I never drink them. Why risk it?"

- Sex & The City star Kristin Davis tells the new issue of Health magazine, on being a recovering alcoholic

[Image via Mavrix Online.]

One Year Down ...

Has it been a year of happily wedded bliss already? This weekend was the 1st wedding anniversary of Amy Winehouse and Blake Civil-Fielder and altho the happy couple couldn't be together to celebrate their first anniversary (because hubby Blake is currently in jail serving time for allegedly attempting to pervert justice), Amy did her best to mark the occasion in style:


Photo credit: Splash News

Troubled singer Amy Winehouse marked her first wedding anniversary to Blake Fielder-Civil with a lonely fish and chip supper after visiting her husband in prison. The couple spent their anniversary apart on Sunday after Amy chose to join troubled rocker Pete Doherty at a charity football tournament in south east London. After missing a prison visit on Friday due to the traffic, Amy abandoned her usual scruffy clothes and dressed up in a pencil skirt and v-neck black top as she dropped by Pentonville Prison for a belated anniversary meeting. Amy usually visits Blake in a pair of high-heels, but opted for her signature ballet bumps for the afternoon trip. Amy and Blake have spent seven months of their brief marriage apart due to the former music video assistant's incarceration as he awaits trial for GBH and attempting to pervert the course of justice. The troubled singer, 24, paid tribute to her husband by placing a cushioned heart with the name Blake splashed across it in her famous beehive. After marking their first year as husband and wife in the visiting room of Pentonville in north London, Amy left the prison beaming to photographers. She stopped off at a local fish and chip for a greasy supper-for-one, which she sadly wasn't able to share with her husband. A change from her usual moody demeanor of recent weeks, an ecstatic Amy looked thrilled to be married for a year, despite the couple's tumultuous 12 months.

I gotta say, kudos to Amy Winehouse for deciding to stay married to her jailbird husband who was forced to leave her after only a few months of wedded bliss. The couple have spent the majority of their marriage apart and yet, here they are celebrating their first wedding anniversary. Perhaps Amy Winehouse is smarter than us all ... perhaps she has figured out the secret to a long and happy marriage? (Perhaps Pete Doherty has found his true calling as a marriage counselor?) In any event, Happy Anniversary Amy & Blake ... you've lasted longer than, I'm sure, most everyone on planet Earth anticipated.

Picture Perfect ... Natch

The perfect little family made up of Gwen Stefani, Gavin Rossdale and Kingston James McGregor spent part of their weekend down in Laguna Beach (the real OC) to frolick and play together in the sand and surf. Here are pics of the happily pregs Gwen with the men in her life (who were wearing matching bathing suits) at a beach down in Laguna this past Saturday afternoon:


Photo credit: X17

Awww ... seriously, these folks are too damn cute for words. If they aren't spending a perfect afternoon at a park, then they are spending a perfect afternoon on a playground or a perfect afternoon at the zoo ... or a perfect afternoon at the beach. Gwen should be birthin' her new baby sometime this year -- my guess, she'll be havin' a girl to add to the perfection -- and I just can't *wait* to see her little family grow. Even tho it's a bit nauseating, I do love seeing happy pics of this perfect little family enjoying life together.