Jackie Chan: Wax On, Wax Off!



Martial arts legend Jackie Chan is the latest celeb to have his likeness transmogrified into a creepy mannequin at Madame Tussauds in New York on Tuesday.

The folks at Tussauds took the liberty to shade Jackie in a gorgeous shade of "Dancing with the Stars" orange.

William Hung to "Bang" on Blackboard

William Hung is retiring his vocal chords in favor of a career trying to teach kids that geometry actually is useful in the real world.



The "singer" told his school paper he is finishing up his undergrad degree at Cal State Northridge with the hopes of teaching afterwards.

We think he'll do great in the math world ... we're just sayin'.

Ashlee Simpson Continues to Play Coy on Pregnancy



Ashlee Simpson is still remaining tight-lipped on her pregnancy.

On The Ellen DeGeneres Show (airing Thursday), the talk show host asked her flat-out if she were expecting.

"Well, that has been going on for quite a while. That is definitely something that I choose personally not to discuss except for the fact that maybe…."

She then added, "Do I look like I had 10 cheeseburgers or something … because I don’t think I do," before standing up.

Pointing to a photo of Jennifer Lopez, DeGeneres then asked, "You’re not going to keep this answer up as long as this woman did...."

Laughing, Simpson replied, "No, I’m not. I swear. I promise you that. I give you my pinky on that."

The singer told DeGeneres her fiance, Pete Wentz, was "the greatest, awesome."

How did she know she was ready to wed the rocker?

"I don’t know," Simpson said. "Maybe when his jeans fit me ... I decided we could wear the same clothes.

"There were lots of moments," she added. "But every time he would leave [on tour], I would cry, so we had this inseparable relationship."

Rumer Willis for Wal-Mart’s Op Brand



Young Hollywood stars Rumer Willis, Kristin Cavallari, Christina Milian, Josie Maran, Pete Wentz, Corbin Bleu and Wilmer Valderrama team up for Wal-Mart’s newest ad campaign for the spring/summer launch of Op.

Rumer said, “When you think of LA and the classic surfer beach vibe, you think of Op. The Op collection does a great job representing that lifestyle.”

Pete added, “Everyone can wear Op and its cool. Fashion should make you comfortable and that is what Op does.”

'Forgetting Sarah Marshall' Director Reteams With Apatow
''Forgetting Sarah Marshall'' director Nick Stoller is reteaming with Judd Apatow for ''Get Him to the Greek,'' a comedy starring Jonah Hill and Russell Brand



Forgetting Sarah Marshall director Nick Stoller is reteaming Judd Apatow and Universal Pictures for the comedy Get Him to the Greek. Jonah Hill (Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Superbad) and Russell Brand (Sarah Marshall) will star in the movie, about a fresh-out-of-college insurance adjuster (Hill) hired to accompany an out-of-control rock star (Brand) from London to a gig at L.A.'s Greek Theater. Stoller will direct from a script he co-wrote, and Apatow will produce. ''During the table read on Sarah Marshall, Jonah and Russell had such a great chemistry,'' Stoller said. ''Even though they are such different actors with different styles, I thought there could be a great buddy comedy there.'' The director describes Greek as a very dirty take on Almost Famous.

Stoller's other projects in the works include his co-writing and directing the comedy Five-Year Engagement, which stars Sarah Marshall's Jason Segal, who is co-writing as well. Stoller and Segal are also collaborating on The Muppet Movie for Disney. Hill's upcoming projects include the comedy This Side of the Truth, alongside Ricky Gervais and Jennifer Garner, and his voicing a character in DreamWorks' How to Train Your Dragon. Brand will next be seen in Adam Sandler's Bedtime Stories.

Star Jones files for divorce! What took her so long?

So the big question is not what happened, but what took her so long?

Here's her exclusive statement given to "Entertainment Tonight":

"Several years ago I made an error in judgment by inviting the media into the most intimate area of my life. A month ago I filed for divorce. The dissolution of a marriage is a difficult time in anyone's life that requires privacy with one's thoughts. I have committed myself to handling this situation with dignity and grace and look forward to emerging from this period as a stronger and wiser woman."

Star and Al Reynolds have been married for 3 1/2 years. Their extravagant wedding, with 500 guests, three matrons of honor, 12 bridesmaids and four flower girls, came under scrutiny after Star mentioned her wedding "sponsors"' — think freebies — on the talk show "The View."

Wonder if anyone will want to sponsor her divorce?


Photo: Here's Star Jones in New York on April 17, apparently still making errors in judgment and inviting the media to cover her life. ET reports that Jones is "out of the country." You just know she'll be back in the limelight after dumping Big Al. But, oh, in the meantime, this is not gonna be pretty.
WireImage

Clifton Collins Jr. Takes on Jason Statham in 'Crank 2: High Voltage'



As Scott told us last October, there's a sequel to Crank on the way. This might seem surprising, considering the ending, but movies can make just about anything happen. This one will somehow take the seemingly finite ending and continue the story without the use of "dream sequences or long-lost twin brothers." Now, months after Jason Statham signed on for more Crank action, we've got the supporting cast for Crank 2: High Voltage. Variety reports that Chev's girlfriend, Amy Smart is back, plus Dwight Yoakam and Efren Ramirez. But that's not all -- Bai Ling has also signed on, along with Clifton Collins Jr., who will play Chev's nemesis.



This time around, "Chelios faces a mobster who has stolen his nearly indestructible heart and replaced it with a battery-powered ticker that requires regular jolts of electricity to keep working." If it's not low heart-rates and poison, it's mechanical hearts and electric jolts. He should ditch Eve and hook up with Gwen from Angel -- a girl with electric hands could come in handy for this action tale. I guess Clifton is the mobster, but there's no word on who Bai Ling will play -- perhaps a butt-kicking henchwoman.

The sequel kicks into production on April 28 in Los Angeles.

“Hancock” Trailer — FIRST LOOK!


Click to Watch

Check out the new trailer for Will Smith’s Hancock, which premiered during Wednesday’s American Idol results show.

In the film, Will, 39, portrays an alcoholic superhero despised by everyone. A publicist (Jason Bateman) helps rehabilitate him, and the superhero eventually begins an affair with the publicist’s wife (Charlize Theron).

The Peter Berg-directed comedy superhero flick opens in theaters everywhere July 2.

Britney Mired in Red Inc.



Isn't the Internet around to help you get your taxes done faster?

A document obtained by E! News show that Britney Online Inc., one of Britney Spears' numerous name-brand companies, owes $23,589.17 in state taxes on the entity's 2004 earnings.

"Further interest and fees will accrue" if the sum is not paid, according to the Franchise Tax Board of the State of California.

There's no word yet on how Britney Touring, Britney Brands, Britney Films, Britney Television and FairyZone Productions are doing as far as the state—or the IRS—is concerned.

But isn't it inevitable that a court commissioner will solve the problem by simply pointing Spears' attorneys in the direction of her bottomless bill-paying pit, aka her estate, to take care of the back taxes?

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler: Almost Married?



Baby Mama costars Tina Fey and Amy Poehler tell Babble that they’ve known each other since they were ‘big-eyebrowed, poor and badly dressed.”

Naturally, it was love at first sight.

“I was like, I finally found the woman I want to marry,” jokes Poehler.

But more than just good grooming and eyebrow maintenance has changed for the friends, as Fey reveals when she talks about the stress of finding a pre-school for her daughter.

“My daughter starts pre-school next year, so I just went through the process of taking her to her pre-school interviews. And you're just hoping, "Please don't poop yourself during this time."

Consider how many interviews Fey does, we really hope she's referring her daughter.

Close Encounters


This week on The Hills we saw that Lauren LC Conrad was forced to suffer thru an uncomfortable run-in with two of her most favorite people on earth, Justin Bobby (Audrina's on and off boyfriend) and Heidi Montag (her self-professed nemesis). Last night, LC stepped out for a night on the town for a date at GOA nightclub with a mysterious, yet super hawt, young man and managed to stay clear of running into anyone she might not be friendly with (it was close tho, Heidi and her boyfriend Spencer Pratt were out and about last night as well) ... here are a couple photos of LC out with her sexy new man:


Photo credit: Splash News

Unlike the last time that I thought that LC was creepin' with a new dude (who turned out to be her gay BFF Gary from the Laguna Beach days) I'm pretty sure that this new dude is the real deal ... er, well, in that he's a straight hottie whose pants LC might be trying to get into. Just by looking at him in these pics, I can see why. It's been far too long since we've seen LC hooked up with anyone of the male persuasion so it'd be nice if the girl could catch a break and land herself a bona fide hottie. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this coupling actually turns into something ... I wouldn't mind seeing more of him out and about.

UPDATE: Pink reader Meghann gives me the head's up that LC's hottie is Doug Reinhardt, who is brother to Casey Reinhardt (the outrageous girl who wore way too many extensions) from the final season of Laguna Beach.

On the Speidi front, Heidi and Spencer were spotted making their way out of STK restaurant here in LA last night smiling pretty for the photogs ... take a look:


Photo credit: Splash News

Things between these two seem to be coming along nicely. It's not really clear if they're actually engaged or whatever but they really do seem very much together (despite what we've been seeing this season on The Hills). I understand that Spencer was blaring Heidi's music from his swanky car for all the world to hear while he waited for Heidi to make her exit from the Kitson launch event for her new fashion line Heidiwood for Anchor Blue which went down this past Saturday in West Hollywood, CA -- if you've heard the tunes, then you know that's true love I must admit, it's a bit of a shame that Speidi and LC didn't run into one another while out on the town last night ... I wouldn't have minded a little drama scuffle betwixt the feudin' couples, myself.

'Angels & Demons': Israeli actress Ayelet Zurer cast opposite Tom Hanks



Ayelet Zurer has landed the coveted role of Vittoria Vetra in Sony Pictures' upcoming Da Vinci Code prequel Angels & Demons. While the studio won't confirm, sources close to the production tell EW.com that the Israeli actress (who played Eric Bana's wife in Munich and was last seen in Sony's Vantage Point) has been cast opposite Tom Hanks in the Ron Howard-directed film. The actress was chosen over more well-known stars, including Naomi Watts, who had been in talks for the role, according to previous reports.

Zurer's character is the daughter of CERN physicist Leonardo Vetra. Following her father's death, Vittoria pairs with Robert Langdon (Hanks) on a journey to uncover the mystery behind her father's murder and stop a terrorist plot. Sony has yet to cast the roles of Maximilian Kohler (director of CERN) and Camerlengo Carlo Ventresca (aide to the Pope). The production was delayed late last year due to the writers strike. It is now set to begin filming in Europe in June, eyeing a May 15, 2009, release date.

'Grey's Anatomy' star Patrick Dempsey tests his movie stardom



BEVERLY HILLS — During his writers'-strike-induced hiatus from Grey's Anatomy, which returns with new episodes Thursday (ABC, 9 p.m. ET/PT), Patrick Dempsey whisked wife Jill away for a romantic Italian getaway. No kids. No cameras. And no reporters.

The couple, married since 1999, took in a fashion show in Milan; then, in Lake Como, they were among many marveling at the waterfront estate of that city's most famous resident: George Clooney.

"He's larger than life," says Dempsey. "I've met him a few times now, and he has always been very funny and charming. I like him."

Though he'd perhaps prefer comparisons with his idol, Cary Grant, it is Clooney with whom Dempsey has been compared ever since he rejuvenated a stalled teeny-bopper career by hitting it big on a prime-time medical series. Clooney, of course, did the same when he segued from early Facts of Life fodder to ER superstardom.

With his comedy Made of Honor hitting theaters May 2 and potentially solidifying his movie stardom for the first time since his late '80s hits —Can't Buy Me Love (as a dorky kid who hires a cheerleader to be his girlfriend) and Loverboy (as a pizza delivery boy who delivered a little something extra to desperate housewives) — the Clooney comparisons are back.


His best friend's wedding: Patrick Dempsey tries to win over friend Michelle Monaghan, who's engaged to another man, in Made of Honor.

Dempsey, 42, got an early jump on his leading-man status last year by wooing princess Amy Adams away from the charming James Marsden in Enchanted. Its almost $128 million domestic take has producers dreaming up a sequel. But Enchanted was an ensemble.

"This is the first time I've carried a movie in a long time," Dempsey says over drinks at a corner table in the Four Seasons Hotel bar. As a result, he has been asking himself, "Can I pull this off? Will people come see it?"

"This is a very big film for him," says Made of Honor director Paul Weiland. "Patrick grew up in the (Hollywood) system, but I'm not sure he wants to stay in it forever."

Dempsey concedes that he "wasn't sure if Enchanted was going to work." So he sought another project that would be "light and different from Grey's. And with a broad-based appeal. Something that would do well commercially to allow me to cross over."

In the movie, Dempsey plays Tom, who realizes he's fallen for his best friend since college, Hannah (Michelle Monaghan). But just as he's ready to tell her, she announces her engagement to a European man she only just met. Tom decides to pursue the girl of his dreams before he loses her forever. The problem: She has asked him to be her maid of honor. Uh-oh.

His life is a circus

Seasoned to addressing those old Clooney analogies, Dempsey is now having to face his new film's similarities to 1997's My Best Friend's Wedding, which found Julia Roberts in a similar scenario — sabotaging the wedding of her own best friend, with whom she had unexpectedly fallen in love. To distance his character from Roberts' unlikable schemer, Dempsey committed himself to making Tom redeemable. Scenes were tweaked to make the character more comical.

No problem for Dempsey, who once applied to Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey clown college. He remembers filling out the questionnaire, which he says posed such quirky queries as, "How do you feel about small spaces?"

"But I was 17 and you had to be 18, and I didn't get in," he says, still seeming a bit stung.

Diploma or not, "clown" is the first word Weiland uses to describe his leading man.

"He has incredible rhythm," says Weiland, who surprised Dempsey by asking him just moments before shooting a scene in a Bloomingdale's to juggle plates. "It was hilarious … and amazing. He has this smoldering, sexy thing going, but is also a comic. He doesn't mind sending himself up, and that's great."

He also can ride a unicycle — and mime, reports Monaghan, adding, "Patrick really is like a big kid."

'The perfect package'


McDreamy move: Dempsey's Derek romances Ellen Pompeo's Meredith on Grey's Anatomy, returning Thursday with new episodes.

At home, Dempsey's twin boys, Darby and Sullivan, almost 15 months, attempt to mimic Daddy's whimsical nature. And when the family visited him on set during the film's month-long location shoot in Europe, the actor found time to take his 6-year-old daughter, Tallula, horseback riding while rehearsing riding scenes that figure in to the film's comedic climax.

Monaghan says, "People perceive him as a ladies' man for obvious reasons. But his family is the apple of his eye. In my eyes, he's the perfect package."

She was particularly impressed when she encountered Dempsey earlier in the day and received a compliment on her new haircut. "The only man I expect to notice that is my husband," says the actress. "When another man does, that's a plus. He's very sensitive."

As for Dempsey's next film role, that's yet to be determined, but probably not another comedy right away. "I have to be very careful what I do next," he concedes. "I need to find something different to keep surprising people."

Weiland suggests a small, art-house film. Monaghan would like to see him take on an edgy, dark role. But all that will have to wait. Because of the writers' strike, production will continue on Grey's without the traditional summer hiatus that allows actors time for film roles. Dempsey says there were opportunities he could not accept.

"And that's too bad," he says with a shrug. "But I can't leave my day job."

Or can he?

Most TV stars are signed to six-year contracts when they begin a series. Next year, Dempsey will begin Season 5. Clooney checked out of ER after six years, having proved his big-screen appeal in films such as From Dusk Till Dawn, Out of Sight, Three Kings and, yes, even Batman & Robin. Might Dempsey's Derek abandon his Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) in 2010?

"We'll see how long the show runs," he says. "And we'll see what happens at the end of my contract and if the crossover to films is strong enough."

Grey's co-star Katherine Heigl, he notes, has done "phenomenally well" balancing the show with her big-screen hits (Knocked Up, 27 Dresses). "She's off doing something else right now," he says of her 2009 romantic comedy, The Ugly Truth.

Dempsey has made it clear that he hopes to get his family out of Hollywood as soon as possible, in favor of a simpler life in Maine (where he was born), with perhaps a second country home in Europe.

That would be possible as a film actor (like Clooney), but not as a doctor on rotation at Seattle Grace. "Especially with the boys, I think about it more and more to have some space for them to run around and not worry about it. I grew up like that, and I want that for them."

Could Grey's continue without its Dr. Shepherd, just as ER has continued for nearly a decade without Clooney's Dr. Doug Ross?

"That's an interesting question," Dempsey says. "I don't think Grey's is the same type of show (as ER). I don't think you can keep capturing the magic."

Couple's therapy or wedding bells?

It could be a heartbreaking departure, now that Grey's creator Shonda Rhimes has promised fans — and her frustrated actors — that she is working Derek and Meredith into a stable relationship. "God, I hope so," Dempsey says with a sigh, "because it has been tiresome to play that same beat over and over again. I think (fans) got fed up with it."

To be sure, any other couple would have decided by now to split or tie the knot. "Or jumped into some therapy together," he adds. "There is a new character coming on the show to play Meredith's therapist, and I think Derek should go with her. That would be fun."

And what of a McDreamy wedding?

"I don't think they're going to get married right away as far as I know," says Dempsey. "But I don't see any harm in it."

Dempsey's own wedding was a small, intimate affair in his family's Maine farmhouse — an approach he favors for Derek and Meredith.

Noting last season's elaborate wedding for Cristina (Sandra Oh) and Burke (Isaiah Washington), Dempsey says, "I don't think it will be a traditional wedding."

More likely, muses Dempsey, there'd be a traditional bachelor party engineered by best man Mark "McSteamy" Sloan (Eric Dane).

But, grumbles Dempsey, "He'd probably mess up the whole thing by having a bunch of strippers."

Wesley Snipes Sentenced to Three Years in Jail



Wesley Snipes is prison-bound.

The Blade star, 45, was sentenced Thursday to three years behind bars as his punishment for failing to file his tax returns, U.S. District Judge William Terrell Hodges announced in an Ocala, Fla., courtroom.

The actor sat stone-faced – and some people in the courtroom gasped – when the sentence was read. "I'm very sorry for my mistakes and errors. I apologize to my family, the court and the community," Snipes said as his wife looked on. "I've asked the court to show me mercy and the opportunity to make things right."

In February, a federal jury convicted Snipes of three counts of failing to file a tax return (from 1999 through 2001). Thursday he received 12 months for each count. Prosecutors say the actor owes a total of $41 million in taxes, of which he paid $5 at the sentencing.

Several famous names sent in letters of support for Snipes, including Denzel Washington, Woody Harrelson and TV judge Joe Brown. Washington called Snipes a "great oak." Harrelson, who starred with Snipes in Wildcats, wrote, "Wes continues to encourage and challenge me to be the best man I can be by being a constant friend."

Prosecutors Ask Maximum
In February, Snipes, an Orlando native, was acquitted on the more serious charges of conspiracy to defraud the government and filing a false claim for a $7 million refund – both felonies – as well as three similar counts of failure to file returns for the years 2002, 2003 and 2004.

The prosecution, seeking to make an example of Snipes, had requested the maximum: three years in prison and a fine of at least $5 million.

"The fact that Snipes was acquitted on two felony charges and convicted 'only' on three misdemeanor counts has been portrayed in the mainstream media as a 'victory' for Snipes," the government said in its sentencing recommendation. "The troubling implication of such coverage for the millions of average citizens who are aware of this case is that the rich and famous Wesley Snipes has 'gotten away with it.' In the end the criminal conduct of Snipes must not be seen in such a light."

Defense: Probation, Not Prison
The defense, on the other hand, sought probation rather than prison time. "Wesley Snipes is not a dangerous man who needs to be imprisoned to protect the public," Snipes' attorney said in his sentencing memo.

"He is contrite, promises that he will never again break the law, and respectfully asks the court to consider not just the jury verdict but also all the good that he has done in his life."

Snipes's side also claims the tax loss from 1999 through 2001 is only $227,959.

Whatever the sum, "The IRS will still try to collect the money. You can count on that," Victor Lessoff, who heads the Internal Revenue office in Tampa, tells PEOPLE.

Carmen Electra Engaged to Rob Patterson



Carmen Electra is engaged to her boyfriend, guitarist Rob Patterson, her rep Jill Fritzo confirms to PEOPLE.

"He told friends three days ago that he got engaged," adds a source. "The ring is a black diamond set in white diamonds."

Patterson, 37, who is the former touring guitarist for Korn, popped the question over the weekend while he and Electra were in Las Vegas to celebrate her 36th birthday, says the source. The couple have been dating less than a year.

This will be the third marriage for the actress-model, who was previously wed to rocker Dave Navarro and, briefly, to NBA star Dennis Rodman.

Carly Smithson: The Girls Struggle to Get Votes



For someone who was just eliminated from the country’s biggest reality competition, Carly Smithson is surprisingly happy. “No more theme songs!” she jokes with reporters during a conference call Thursday. “I’m not that sad to be leaving. I enjoyed every minute there really, but we’re back in two weeks to start preparing for the tour and the finale.” Smithson also clarified the comment she made Wednesday about remembering her lyrics (it wasn’t about Brooke White!), who she has tattooed on her arm (it’s not Amy Winehouse!) and why she believes the guys have an advantage.

What was going through your head when you heard you were in the bottom two?
Not one person feels safe anymore. We’re all just grateful for the experience. I know I feel American Idol has given me such a gift, such a platform to be able to launch myself off of.

What do you make of Randy [Jackson] saying it was a popularity factor and Paula [Abdul] mentioning the fan basis last night?
I agree a little bit. … But I think the boys this year [have an advantage]. Women vote for the show. It’s obvious. I definitely feel the girls had a bit of a struggle this year with trying to get the popularity vote. The boys are definitely charming the females a lot and they’re very talented too.

There’s a feeling that it’s going to come down to the two David’s. Do you see it that way?
I have no idea. It’s anyone’s game. People have they’re favorites already if you know what I mean. It could be anything. [Jason] Castro could look into the camera and bat his eyelids, go into his amazing falsetto voice. Brooke could melt someone’s heart. Everyone’s so different. Nobody saw Michael Johns going home. No body saw Alaina Whitaker going home. There’s all these shocking eliminations. There could be another shocker.

Do you have a favorite?
My favorite went a long time ago. My favorite was Amanda Overmyer. She was fantastic. Obviously, I love all of the rest of the people. I could never pick a favorite.

After you sang last night, you made comment about remembering the lyrics. Some people thought you were referring to Brooke, who forgot her lyrics but made it through to next week. Were actually talking about yourself?
Oh yeah. That song was last minute. When I sang for Andrew Lloyd Webber I had learned the other song, “All I Ask for You,” and there’s a lot of words in “Jesus Christ Superstar.” I fumbled on a few lyrics and I was coming up on the performance and I was talking to Andrew in the back. I knew all the words in the moment but I knew as soon as I got on the stage I was going to fumble on a few … Last night I got them all right, but I did change one and Andrew knew about it. I called Simon [Cowell] the king of the crop instead of the pick of the crop but that was on purpose. I thought that would be funny.

What Neil Diamond song would you have sung if you had stuck around for next week?
I was planning to sing “Sweet Caroline” and … I was actually going to do it with a cello and a piano and make it like a slower.

What is the significance of your Amy Winehouse tattoo?
It’s actually a geisha. It’s so funny. Even Andrew Lloyd Webber said, “Oh look, you have Amy Winehouse on your arm.” I was like, “No.” It was funny. But I love my tattoo. That was one thing on the show that really bothered me — that it wasn’t finished and we never get any time. I really wanted to go and get it finished. Her face will be white. Her lips will be red and she’ll look nothing like Amy Winehouse once it’s finished.

Disney Pal Defends Miley Cyrus



Miley Cyrus already has the support of the Jonas Brothers after several personal photos of the star leaked online, but she's also getting encouragement from someone else who knows what it's like to be in the spotlight.

"Miley is probably the most charismatic and strong 15-year-old I know," Brenda Song, 20, of Disney Channel's The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, told PEOPLE at the 2008 JCPenney Asian Excellence Awards in Los Angeles. "She brushes everything off with a smile. She is truly a diva – in a very good way!"

Song was also quick to defend the Hannah Montana star's photos. "I love Miley. I think she's a very talented actress and singer," she said. "Whatever she does in her personal life is her personal life."

Pete: Ashlee's Engagement Ring Doesn't Have 'Conflict' Diamonds



Socially conscious rocker Pete Wentz has revealed that the engagement ring he gave to fiancée Ashlee Simpson not only reflects his love for the singer – but his political views.

"It is not a conflict diamond," Wentz, 28, told PEOPLE Wednesday night at the NME Awards USA at Goldenvoice's El Rey Theater in L.A.

Conflict diamonds typically refer to diamonds that are sold to fund unlawful or illegal operations of rogue military, rebel and terrorist groups.

"It's something I care about," Wentz added. "I can't actually go [to Africa to pick it out] myself, but I trust [the jeweler]. He's a reputable person."

At the NME Awards, the Fall Out Boy bassist donned a T-shirt emblazoned with the message "Coltan is a Conflict Diamond," referring to the ######llic ore largely found in the African nation of Congo.

But with his marriage to Simpson, 23, slated for May in California, say sources, is Wentz too busy trumpeting social causes to be involved with wedding plans?

"I'm involved, but in a peripheral kind of way," he said, laughing. "I know who's in charge!"

Amy Poehler's Movie Perk: Necking with Dax Shepard



Starring in the movie Baby Mama had its perks for Amy Poehler – like, making out with Dax Shepard.

"Dax is a gem – one of my closest friends," Poehler told PEOPLE at the comedy's premiere Wednesday night, as it kicked off the 7th annual Tribeca Film Festival in New York.

"A couple make-out scenes didn't make the [final cut], which I was upset about," noted the Saturday Night Live regular, 36.

But did Poehler's real-life husband, Will Arnett, grumble about her smooching with the sweet-faced Shepard – who plays her onscreen hubby? "Oh, they're good friends," she says. "He didn't mind."

The movie (which opens to the public Friday) costars Tina Fey as Kate, a single, white-collar careerist who hires the hard-partying, blue-collar Amy (Poehler) to serve as a surrogate mom once Kate learns she's not likely to conceive a child herself. Among the pregnant Amy's worst pre-natal habits: her unsatiable appetite for junk food.

Fey, herself the mother of a 2-year-old, could identify. "I had this thing for Entenmann's chocolate donuts," she recalls of when she was carrying her daughter, Alice.

"Somewhere during my pregnancy I gained something like nine pounds in two weeks and my doctor was like, 'You know what it might be? Are you drinking a lot of juice?' I was like, 'Yeah. That must be it.' " said the 30 Rock Emmy winner, 37. "I was eating like a box a day of Entenmann's donuts."

Trailer Envy
Also attending the premiere were the film's Holland Taylor and Sigourney Weaver, as well as festival honchos Robert De Niro and his producing partner, Jane Rosenthal. And while Poehler and Shepard didn't make out on the red carpet, he did attend the big night for his movie with his girlfriend, Heroes star Kristen Bell.

He also joked that his dressing-room trailer on the Baby Mama set wasn't as large or well stocked as his costars'. "Mine was in the back of a truck where they keep all the lighting, lighting equipment and generators," he said.

Fey's trailer, meanwhile, was "Shangri-La on wheels," said Shepard. "They were pampered like no one's business. They had a lot of deep penetrating moisturizers, hair volumizers, cool drinks, air conditioning, assistants …"

Shia LaBeouf Fined $500 for Illegal Smoking



Shia LaBeouf transformed a misdemeanor unlawful smoking charge into a $500 fine Thursday.

The 21-year-old actor was arrested Feb. 18 in Burbank for allegedly puffing away on a downtown sidewalk in front of a store – a crime in that city. The District Attorney agreed to drop the charge in exchange for the penalty.

LaBeouf, star of Transformers and the upcoming Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, had briefly faced a $1,000 bench warrant when neither he nor his lawyer showed up for a hearing.

The warrant was rescinded the next day when his attorney appeared in court to plead not guilty.

Mourning Cameron Sitting Out Movie Junket



Cameron Diaz isn't ready for her next close-up.

Still mourning the death of her father, the actress has dropped out of this weekend's press junket for her upcoming comedy What Happens in Vegas.

Diaz, 35, had been scheduled to join costars Ashton Kutcher and Rob Corddry in a series of media interviews for the comedy, about a pair of combative strangers who wind up married, and in possession of a huge jackpot, after a wild night on the Strip.

No word yet on whether Diaz will attend the May 1 premiere in Los Angeles. Right now, 20th Century Fox is going ahead with plans to have two groups of fans, a Team Ashton and Team Cameron, competing at the red-carpet event, with the group that shouts the loudest gaining admission to the screening. Diaz was a no-show at the film's London premiere earlier this week.

Aside from greeting family and friends, including former boyfriends Justin Timberlake and John Mayer, at a memorial last Sunday, Diaz has largely been holed up at the family home in Seal Beach, Calif., since the April 15 death of father Emilio.

Oprah Cruisin' for a Jump...in Ratings



Well, this should put some spring in Oprah's step. Or in her couch, at least.

Just in time for May sweeps, Tom Cruise will be returning as a guest on The Oprah Winfrey Show next month to mark the 25th anniversary of his breakthrough turn in Risky Business—his first sit-down with the queen of daytime since his declaration of love heard round the world.

And this time, it won't only be Winfrey's cushions being offered up as a sacrifice to the talk-show gods for this special two-day Oprah event.

Winfrey will first interview Cruise from the comfort of his Telluride, Colo., home on Friday, May 2. Cruise will then appear at her Chicago studio the following Monday to further celebrate his 25 years as a big name in the Biz. The episode will also feature taped messages of congrats from some of the actor's superstar friends, as well.

Cruise and Winfrey memorably last sat down together on June 23, 2005, when the War of the Worlds star confirmed he was cuckoo for Katie Holmes, thereby tempering his screen-idol status with rumors of...well, some downright freaky behavior.

He even went so far as to marry and mate with the former Dawson's Creek ingenue a year later!

Why Do Bad Actors Keep Getting Movie Roles?



I just saw a clip for the movie Tennessee with Mariah Carey. SHE WAS BAD. How many chances do these people get? Her, Dane Cook, Jessica Simpson—anyone famous for things other than acting.
—Cristina, Fort Collins, Colo.

Hate to break this to you, but the movie business has never been about talent or quality. Seriously. Not even The Lord of the Rings. It's about money.

Casting big-name twits like Jessica Simpson or Dane Cook is about capturing a certain young demographic, turning it upside down en masse, and shaking out any cash it has in its collective Dickies.

So it doesn't matter, at all—ever—whether Mariah Carey has mastered the Method, or whether Justin Timberlake can cry on cue, as long as their fans pay enough money for a studio to turn a profit. In the case of Tennessee, which premieres this week at the Tribeca Film Festival, at least one group of producers is expecting just that and nothing more.

"It's an answer based on economics and popularity," says casting director Jane Jenkins, who is currently working on Angels and Demons, you know, The Da Vinci Code prequel starring Tom Hanks. "If a film can be made at a reasonable cost, and the fan base is reasonably expected to cover that, then the celebrity gets a chance."

And another chance, and another, into eternity, even, as long as there is money to be made. Simpson can't read a line without wagging her neck like a chicken. Yet she continues to get movie roles, because some of her projects, including—yes—Dukes of Hazzard, were profitable, and because she still has fans that will watch her in anything. The same can't be said for an unknown.

And, per IMDb, Simpson only charges about $1 million, give or take, which, seriously, in this business, isn't that much for a brand-name celebrity. And like it or not, that's just what Simpson is: An established brand name. Like Chicken of the Sea.

Leo's Court Shot Hits the Rim



Leonardo DiCaprio won't be able to split this bill—if, in fact, he ends up being billed.

A judge dismissed part of the actor's pending lawsuit against a contractor who built a retaining wall for his Hollywood Hills neighbor, whom DiCaprio is trying to hold at least partly liable for damage to their respective properties.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Tricia Ann Bigelow officially ruled yesterday that Exterior and Garden Designs by David Jones could not be sued for contribution, meaning the company will not have to share in the cost of any judgment if DiCaprio is found to be at fault.

His neighbors, the Linclaus, sued the Titanic star last year for at least $250,000 in damages, claiming a basketball court he had installed on the property (which he leases from a cousin who's the legal owner of the property) in 2004 undermined their slope and the foundation underneath their pool.

DiCaprio countersued in January, maintaining it was their contractor who fouled up the land. That portion of his lawsuit is still intact, and the entire case—including all countercomplaints—is scheduled to go to trial July 21.

Ashton Kutcher: Take Off Your Pants, Ladies



Note to Demi Moore: Don’t wear too much perfume, ditch your oversize diamonds and don’t even think about putting on a pantsuit!

Unless, of course, you’re trying to get rid of your hubby.

In his most recent column in Harper’s Bazaar, Ashton Kutcher reveals some of his biggest turn-offs with some members of the opposite sex, including a certain presidential candidate.

“If I can smell your perfume and we’re not making out, you’re wearing too much,” Kutcher writes. “More of a lot of things in life is better. Perfume does not apply.”

The same goes for jewelry. “Women who wear big blingin’ stones don’t look like they have a lot of money; they look like they have a lot of someone else’s money,” the star of the upcoming What Happens in Vegas opines. “I don’t want my woman looking like she got bedazzled.”

Nor does he want to see too much skin in public. “I like seeing a female body as much as the next guy, but a midriff on display does not do it for me,” Kutcher explains. “By the same token, sexlessness is just that. I call it the Hillary Clinton Look. She would be so much more appealing if she just took off the pantsuit, took a lesson from Jackie Kennedy, and found her own Oleg Cassini.”

Meow.

Avril Lavigne Grants a Wish



Canuck Avril Lavigne seems to know a thing or two about Southern hospitality.

During a concert stop in Biloxi, Miss., Monday, Lavigne teamed up with the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino and the Make-A-Wish Foundation to give a young fan a taste of the rock-star life.

Not only did Kaylin Giroir, a 14-year-old from Louisiana who has muscular dystrophy, get to make an appearance on the red carpet before Lavigne’s concert, but she also got a Fender guitar signed by the musician.

Kaylin spent private one-on-one time with Lavigne in her dressing room before she and some family members were escorted to their VIP seats.

Back in the (Former) USSR



Maybe now that he's single again, Paul McCartney is hoping those Ukraine girls will really knock him out.

Whatever the reason, the former Fab has signed on to headline a free outdoor concert in Independence Square in Kiev. The so-called Independence Concert will take place June 14 and is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of fans.

Now here's a little nugget we didn't learn in history class. According to the press release from the event's organizer, billionaire Victor Pinchuk: "The ideology and spirit of the Beatles helped build the democratic aspirations for much of the Soviet society and eventually led to the peaceful collapse of the U.S.S.R. and independence of the former Soviet republics."

Who knew? All they needed was love to thaw the Cold War.

"Me and the band are going to be there and we're going to have a great evening and we hope to see you there," McCartney said in a statement. "So come along, it's going to be a great evening hopefully for the Ukraine. Pull together, groove, rock and roll all together."

McCartney's no stranger to big crowds, having played several massive outdoor gigs in recent years, including playing for 90,000 in Moscow's Red Square in 2003. In conjunction with the show, McCartney will also be on hand for the unveiling of 40 of his paintings on display at the Pinchuk Art Centre, the musician's first art exhibition in Eastern Europe.

Matthew Fox's Life Lessons



In the new action flick Speed Racer, zooming into theaters May 9, Matthew Fox certainly holds his own on the track as the titular character's rival Racer X.

But does the actor have what it takes to really put the pedal to the ######l?

Sure enough, in the latest Men's Health, Matthew is taken to task to see if the real-life novice can master the race-car prowess he so eloquently displays on screen.

In doing so, the Lost star also digs pretty deep on a number of issues and, subsequently, reveals a lot about himself along the way: "My wife and I have very intense fights, but they're over in 10 minutes," says Matthew. "We don't hold on to stuff. Life's too short for that."

The enlightened actor continues, "The more you're conscious of this, the easier it is to reach across the aisle and say, 'I'm sorry we got here. What are you seeing? How can we fix this?'"

A discussion about the importance of family leads Matthew to reveal that his "father was hard on me in a positive way. There's a fine line between demanding and abusive. If he was demanding of me, he demanded that much more from himself."

And when conversing about the importance of having a sense of perspective, he states, "It's amazing how many people walk around in this world thinking their way is the right way and the only way. That's pretty dangerous and pretty unforgivable."

Indeed.

Becki Newton Wants John Legend!



Becki Newton belted out “Gene Simmons Is My Daddy” on Ugly Betty when her character Amanda finds out the Kiss rocker is her father.

And now she wants more.

No, not another ode to Mr. Simmons, but Newton says she’d like to release an album “someday.”

And she wouldn’t mind some help from an old college buddy from the University of Pennsylvania...

“You know who I love the most—John Legend,” Newton said last night at the Sunglass Hut and Gen Art opening of photographer Jeremy Kost’s Blinded by the Light exhibit at the Century City mall in L.A. “I used to see him playing the piano and singing on campus.”

When a friend suggested she duet with Legend, Newton beamed. “That’s a great idea! I should just call him up.”

Sounds like it’s time for Ugly Betty producers to snag Legend for a guest spot. If Naomi Campbell could do it, Legend certainly can. At least the cast and crew wouldn’t have to worry about getting smacked around.

Snoop Unbanned in the U.K.



Looks like Snoop Dogg is really more of a pussycat.

A British senior immigration appeals judge has overturned the order preventing the rapper from entering the U.K.

The ban followed a headline-grabbing 2006 incident at Heathrow Airport in which Snoop and his entourage were accused of being a booze-fueled band of troublemakers who sparked a brawl with airport security.

Turns out, that wasn't quite the case.

Judge George Warr made the decision to allow Snoop back into the country after viewing security footage of the rapper at British Airways' first-class terminal and deciding that whatever disorder took place was "precipitated by decisions made by BA staff and the police."

The video, the judge said, showed Snoop in the gentlest of lights, playing with children and, later, refraining from any form of retaliation after twice being pushed by a police officer. The rapper was also seen being cuffed on the ground without resisting.

Britain's Home Office, which placed the ban on the rapper's visa to begin with, has until next Wednesday to appeal the decision.

Kim Kardashian's Career Coyness



Maybe because we're so good at keeping up with them, Kourtney Kardashian feels comfortable enough to drop little tidbits of info regarding her sister Kim Kardashian.

The reality series sibs were casually chatting with E! News at the Girls Gone Wild magazine launch party about a recent getaway to Mexico, when Kourtney made a remark that definitely piqued our interest.

"We ran on the beach," recalled Kourtney. "I made Kim run, and I would scream 'Come on! You have a movie coming up!' "

Um, what was that? Is there a project in your future you'd like to tell us about, Kim?

"I am not allowed to talk about that yet," she replied.

OK, fair enough. But a source close to E! News did confirm that Kim does have a role in a "big" comedy that is slated to shoot later this year.

Yoko: Expel "Imagine" from Movie



Nobody told her they'd rip off John Lennon's music like this.

Yoko Ono is suing the makers of the controversial anti-evolution documentary Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed for allegedly using the late Fab's classic "Imagine" without permission.

The suit, filed in federal court in Manhattan on behalf of Ono, and Lennon's sons Sean and Julian, claim the inclusion of the classic cut suggests the family endorses the film's Darwin dissing. They are seeking unspecified damages and a court order barring the continued use of the song in the movie.

For its part, Premise Media claims the "Imagine" segment is covered under fair-use copyright rules: "Unbiased viewers of the film will see that the 'Imagine' clip was used as part of a social commentary in the exercise of free speech and freedom of inquiry."

So much for the world living as one.

Britney's Getting Her Groove Back


Click to watch

Britney Spears’ road to recovery really has her spinning.

The pop princess left an 8 p.m. spinning class at the Bally Total Fitness Center in Culver City last night wearing a huge endorphin-inspired grin. It’s the second night in a row Brit’s been seen leaving the gym in all her glistening glory, and it looks as though it’s doing wonders for her.

Tuesday night, she headed to McDonald’s for a what-are-you-thinking-you-just-worked-out-dummy snack. But last night, she fared better, hitting the Ritz -Carlton hotel in Marina del Rey for a postworkout sauna stop.

Brit used to dip in the Ritz pool and spa a lot during her K-Fed days, so maybe she got lost in the reverie—she missed her 10 p.m. curfew for the second night in a row.

We hope she doesn’t get grounded!

Bum Pipes Punk Alicia



Something's definitely going around the tour bus.

Thanks to a case of "swollen vocal cords," Alicia Keys has been forced to scrap a couple of dates on her As I Am tour—just a week after running mate Jordin Sparks was also sidelined for bum pipes.

Keys, 27, canceled last night's concert in Pittsburgh, as well as Thursday's show in Cleveland.

Reps for the 11-time Grammy winner say Keys "is currently being treated by a physician" and should be ready to go for Saturday's show in Columbus, Ohio.

Tickets for the scuttled concerts will be refundable at the respective venues; promoters also promise Cleveland fans will have their tickets honored at the Columbus gig.

Opening act Sparks bailed on the road show last week, due to a more severe condition, vocal cord hemorrhage. The 18-year-old Idol champ hopes to rejoin the tour next month.

Paris Cooks Up Another Meal of "Yeah, Right"



Paris—party girl-turned-happy homemaker? That's what Hilton claims.

Downplaying her Hollywood habits in favor of domestic bliss, Paris insists to Ryan Seacrest that she's never been happier, and that her romance with "best friend" Benji Madden has "tamed" her.

And while she confirms on the KIIS-FM morning show that there are no official wedding plans in the near future, she does say that instead of going out all the time, she enjoys chillaxin' with her musician boyfriend at her pad:

"We like to stay home a lot. We cook and do fun things like that...I always cook," Paris tells Ryan, explaining that she likes to cook her man "lasagna and really good sandwiches and things like that."

This coming from the girl who thought Wal-Mart was a place where they sold walls? We're not buying it. Besides, how difficult is it to make sandwiches anyway?!

Jennifer Aniston's Former Flame Confirms Split



While rumors have been circulating for weeks that Jennifer Aniston had broken things off with Brian Bouma, E! News got an exclusive interview with the film-crew grip about his alleged split with the actress.

From his home in Vancouver, Brian tells E! News that "yes," he and Jen began dating earlier this year while she was filming the drama Traveling in Canada.

But he would not divulge further, except to say, "We are not seeing each other anymore."

However, sources reveal to E! News that Brian had been quietly flying down to Miami to see the 39-year-old actress on the set of her new movie Marley & Me.

"Jen's managed to keep this romance very under wraps," says one insider.

"She doesn't want to have another high-profile relationship, and she's very good at avoiding attention when she wants to, even in L.A."

When E! News asked Brian about the supposed treks to the Sunshine State, he simply said, "I don't want to talk about it at all."

Meanwhile, Jen's rep declined to comment on her romantic life.

Asian Excellence Down with Dancing Stars



Being a pioneering Asian-American seemed almost secondary to being a televised toe-tapper at Wednesday night's 2008 Asian Excellence Awards.

Dancing with the Stars judge Carrie Ann Inaba hosted the awards do with MADtv's Bobby Lee doling out honors—albeit not mirrored disco-ball-based ones—to pro Cheryl Burke and this season's frontrunner star, Kristi Yamaguchi.

Burke was honored at the ceremony as Favorite TV Personality, while gold medalist Yamaguchi received the special Inspiration Award. Dancing alum Tia Carrere was also on hand to croon two songs from her album Hawaiiana during the show.

Award magnet Ang Lee took home the top honor of the night, Outstanding Film, for his drama Lust, Caution.

Meanwhile, Quentin Tarantino was also on hand to make the Asian Excellence Awards an equal-opportunity kudosfest, presenting the special Half Asian Award to Rob Schneider.

The show will air on E! May 1. Here's a complete list of winners:

* Outstanding Film: Lust, Caution; director, Ang Lee
* Outstanding Film Actor: Tony Leung, Lust, Caution
* Outstanding Film Actress: Sharon Leal, This Christmas
* Outstanding Television Actor: B.D. Wong, Law & Order: SVU
* Outstanding Television Actress: Lindsay Price, Lipstick Jungle
* Supporting Television Actress: Sonja Sohn, The Wire
* Supporting Television Actor: Rex Lee, Entourage
* Favorite TV Personality: Cheryl Burke, Dancing with the Stars
* Favorite Reality Star: JabbaWockeeZ, America's Best Dance Crew
* Pioneer Award: Steve Chen
* Inspiration Award: Kristi Yamaguchi
* Half Asian Award: Rob Schneider

Is 007 Solace Set Cursed?



Being 007's fall guy these days is not all it's cracked up to be.

A veteran stuntman was rushed to the hospital with serious injuries Wednesday in Verona, Italy, after a near-fatal car crash on the set of the latest James Bond flick, Quantum of Solace—the latest mishap to bedevil the 007 flick.

The accident, the second in a week, shut down production while local officials investigate.

The crash occurred on a winding, tunnel-filled road along Lake Garda in northern Italy on the final day of second-unit filming on an action-packed chase sequence.

Per a statement released by the movie's producer, EON Productions, the unidentified stuntman was behind the wheel of an Alfa Romeo when he collided with a wall and sustained severe blows to his head.
The man underwent surgery in nearby Verona and is listed in serious condition. A second driver escaped with only minor injuries.

Director Marc Forster and star Daniel Craig were not at the location at the time of the crash.

Last Saturday, another stunt driver was manning Bond's famed Aston Martin when he lost control and pitched the vehicle into the lake. Firefighters managed to pull him out, and he suffered only a few bruises.

Solace is the last thing the martini-swilling superspy's been getting lately.

Late last month, the mayor of a small Chilean town where Quantum of Solace was lensing interrupted the globe-hopping production to protest the fact that producers were using his jurisdiction for scenes supposedly set in neighboring Bolivia, with whom Chile has fought several bitter wars over the years.

Quantum of Solace, the 22nd James Bond adventure, arrives in theaters in the U.K. on Halloween before unspooling in the U.S. Nov. 7. That is, barring any more trouble.

Winehouse Finally Uses Her Head



Amy Winehouse may soon be an actual head case for the London Metropolitan Police—a head-butting case, that is.

British police have confirmed they are currently investigating an alleged incident that took place in the early morning hours Wednesday, when Winehouse reportedly knocked noggins with an unsuspecting Good Samaritan.

The police are acting on a complaint from a 38-year-old man who told local police he was assaulted by a 24-year-old woman. Police said no arrests have yet been made, but that inquiries into the matter are ongoing.

Should the singer ultimately be arrested and convicted of assault, she could face up to six months behind bars.

The as-yet unnamed man's unforgivable offense, it seems, was hailing a cab for the singer at 3:20 a.m. outside the Good Mixer pub in the Camden area of London.

According to the Sun tabloid, Winehouse's allegedly violent outburst, which occurred, per a bystander, when the singer mistook his cab-hailing hand for a groping one, wasn't a one-off—and wasn't just restricted to others—as she allegedly punched a second person in the face before walking herself into a lamppost.

In what may have been the first signal that the night wouldn't come to a squeaky-clean end, the singer set out Tuesday night with Babyshambles guitarist Mik Whitnall, aka Pete Doherty's No. 2.

Prior to the head-butting incident, per the Sun, Winehouse visited another nearby pub, Bar Tok, where she's accused of hitting a fellow patron who refused to give up his hold on the bar's pool table.

"I feel so angry," musician Mustapha el Mounmi, who posed for the paper in his swollen-lipped glory, told the tabloid. "She smashed my face hard. I could not hit back—she's a woman."

A fellow patron told the paper that Winehouse, who was photographed earlier that night on the street holding an unlit hand-rolled cigarette, was screaming out, "I am a legend, get these people out. I want to take drugs."

While Winehouse eventually made it home early Wednesday morning, she reportedly added one last insult to injury by stiffing her cab driver, refusing to pay any more than half her fare.

Rise 'n' Shine: Mariah Sticks It to Elvis



Mariah Carey recently surpassed Elvis’ record of 17 No. 1 chart singles, and to celebrate they’re bathing the Empire State building in lavender, pink and white light all weekend. A giant pink phallus shimmering in the New York skyline? That’s not a big “Congratulations, Mariah.” It’s a massive “Suck on this, Elvis.”

Spencer Pratt reportedly canceled Heidi Montag’s appearance at the White House Correspondents Dinner after he, um, wasn’t invited. Yeah, stick with that one, Heidi. He’ll take you places—like quite possibly McDonald’s that very evening.

Jamie-Lynn Sigler has split with her boyfriend of two years, Scott Sartiano. Well, maybe split is too harsh a word. Sartiano woke up with a horse’s head in his bed and figured he should probably stop calling.

Jennifer Garner - May 2008 Self Magazine



Jennifer Garner gives us her patented smile and lets her guard down in the May 2008 issue of Self.

Jen, 36, talks about the love of daughter Violet, 2, husband Ben Affleck, 35, sunscreen and the summer!

On summer being her favorite season: “What’s not to love about summer? I love all the fruit that’s available. I love the farmers’ market. I love that everybody relaxes a bit more. You can feel it in their face and demeanor. People leave work a little earlier.”

On being the sunscreen carrier in the Garner-Affleck family: “Yes, I am, like it or not. As the woman in the family, whether you’re the daughter, sister, wife or mother, you’re kind of in charge of having sunscreen in your bag and making sure your family is protected. And I buy everybody big, floppy sun hats.”

On growing their own food: “Yes! We planted a garden last spring. Half the stuff dies, half the stuff lives, but I’m happy with it. We had huge eggplants! And there’s nothing like fresh tomatoes. And the herbs? Heaven! I grow all different kinds of basil and thyme. I always have rosemary and Italian parsley.”

On everyone thinking she is always pregnant:
“Yes, everyone continues to think that I’m two months pregnant. But at this point, it’s just laziness! I think your body shifts. If I gained weight before, it didn’t go to my stomach. Now it’ll go to my stomach and lower half. Where I used to be flat, now — when I wear a T-shirt — you see a little bit of normal person.”

Miranda Kerr: Hot Dog!



Aussie native Miranda Kerr cuddles with a dog during a photo shoot Sydney, Australia on Thursday.

Modeling for David Jones, perhaps?

No sighting of actor boyfriend Orlando Bloom have been made down under yet but Australia’s Herald Sun has a quote about Miranda talking about Orly.

“I’m really happy he is here with me,” Kerr said. “Because we have such a busy schedule, we really try and spend as much time as possible together.”

Fake quote, maybe? Miranda has also expressed interesting in acting:

“At this stage, I’m really enjoying where I’m at doing the modelling but if an opportunity came up, I would definitely look into it,” Kerr said.

Kelly Osbourne is in the Hoodie



Kelly Osbourne is a death ######l hooded creature at the inaugural 2008 NME Music Awards at the El Rey Theater on Wednesday in Los Angeles.

The 23-year-old rock princess presented Brooklyn duo MGMT’s recent single “Time To Pretend” with Best Breakthrough Track as voted for by NME’s editors.

Hayden Panettiere Says Hello!



Hayden Panettiere is back with another blog for all her fans:

“Hey everyone! I’m in Vancouver right now filming a movie for Fox called, I Love You Beth Cooper. I’m having a blast filming and everyone is so nice. Chris Columbus is a wonderful director and one of my favorites so far. It’s very cool because I get to work with a lot of young people in this film and because it’s a comedy we get to be goofy all the time! I’m very excited to get back to Heroes in May and see all my cast mates. I also just received the script for episode one and let me tell you, it’s great! Heroes is back to the action and adventure that went on in the first season and even the first episode is packed with cliff hangers and lots of cool stuff! Hope all is well, thanks for checking out the site! Hayden”

Let me clarify for Hayden. She wants to see all of her castmates, including boyfriend Milo Ventmiglia!

The Jonas Brothers Do Oprah



The Jonas Brothers will appear on The Oprah Show today thanks to nearly 5,000 e-mails the show’s staff received from fans.

Their father, Kevin Sr., says his sons’ faith helps them keep their priorities straight.

“We’re not raising boys. We’re raising men and fathers and husbands,” he says. “It’s very important to us that they can live their dreams, but the first priority is that they’re good people.”

Matthew Fox Has Intense Fights With Wife



Speed Racer star Matthew Fox is featured in the latest issue of Men’s Health. The 41-year-old actor talks about his new live action film, being a father and his six-step plan to mastering any new skill. Here are some interview highlights:

On fatherhood: “Speed Racer is about the importance of family and the adversarial relationships within them. My father was hard on me in a positive way. There’s a fine line between demanding and abusive. If he was demanding of me, he demanded that much more from himself.”

On curiosity: “Curiosity is an incredible part of having a fulfilling and satisfying life. I feel sad for people who have lost their curiosity. I recently met Susan Sarandon and William Hurt, both of whom I admire. I was stunned about how curious they are about people and life in general.”

On heroism:”We didn’t want Jack Shephard [Fox’s character on Lost] to be a classic archetype of a hero, riding in to save the day. People aren’t that way. That’s just an antiquated idea of heroism. People have flaws, and heroism comes from rising above those flaws.”

On perspective: “Opposing viewpoints all boil down to perspective. Understanding this has made me better at dealing with them. It’s amazing how many people walk around in this world thinking their way is the right way and the only way. That’s pretty dangerous and pretty unforgivable.”

On conflict : “My wife and I have very intense fights, but they’re over in 10 minutes. We don’t hold on to stuff. Life’s too short for that. The more you’re conscious of this, the easier it is to reach across the aisle and say, ‘I’m sorry we got here. What are you seeing? How can we fix this?’”

Michelle Williams Shoots “We Break the Dawn” Music Video



Former Destiny’s Child singer Michelle Williams films her new “We Break the Dawn” music video in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday.

Surrounded by a pack of muscular men, Michelle, 27, strutted her stuff through the streets of L.A.

Listen to Michelle’s “We Break the Dawn” here.

The night is done when we break the dawn…

Goody Goody Two-Shoes

Earlier this week we saw photos of Madonna's first born child Lourdes Maria Ciccone Leon lookin' like a bad ass with her father Carlos Leon after the pair were reunited in NYC upon Maddy and Lola's arrival from London and today we see that the twosome aren't lookin' so tough any more:


Photo credit: X17

The lavender is a nice color but it doesn't really instill the same sort of fear that black leather does. Still, Carlos's facial hair is a bit frightening ... and I bet he's packing a knife somewhere in that sassy outfit. Ah well, father and daughter do make a great pair ... I wonder if they plan to continue wearing color-coordinated outfits for the rest of their time together.

Cute Overload

X17 scored the cutest photos of 3 month old Harlow Winter Madden yet ... here are a couple pics of daddy Joel Madden carrying Harlow (in a cute little pink outfit) in LA this week -- look at that scrunchy little face!!!


Photo credit: X17

I'm seriously dying ... this baby is just so stunningly beautiful. She is the perfect mix of both mama Nicole Richie and daddy Joel. I can't wait to see more!!!

Vicki B. Hits The Bargain Basement

Victoria Beckham's designer jeans line, dVb, is having a hard time selling here in the US ... at the suggested retail price, that is. The next step in order to try and unload the warehouses full of dVb jeans is to ship them off to discount retailers like Loehmann's and sell them at drastically reduced prices. Here are a few pics of a batch of Vicki B.'s designer jeans with the prices already marked down and ready to be snapped up by thrifty shoppers:


Photo credit: Splash News

Alas, how the mighty have fallen. This really doesn't bode well for VB's future as a fashion designer mogul. Sure, other big name designers have their excess wares shipped off for sale at TJ Maxxs, Rosses and Loehmann'ss but they do so at an extra profit, not in a last ditch effort to try and break even. Poor Vicki B. I'm sure she didn't really have in mind that her line of designer jeans would be sold at outlet malls and discount retailers all across mid-America. Good news for the folks in the rest of the country ... now they can get their hands on these fancy dVb jeans to wear to the honky tonk, the bowling alley or the karaoke bar -- that is if they can fit into her size Zero jeans. Dang, these things are *never* gonna sell!