Throat Infection=Poor Ticket Sales?



Agyness Deyn's boyfriend, Albert Hammond, Jr. has cancelled his solo Australian tour because of a severe throat infection.

His reps say Hammond has lost his voice and had been advised against performing by his doctor.

However, Hammond was spotted skipping around New New York City with Agy on Tuesday!

He doesn't look very sick.

P.S. What do you think of Agy's new haircut?

We think it's pretty ridiculous. That's probably what she was going for.

[Image via Pacific Coast News.]

Paparazzi To Be Pooped



Could there finally be some change made to the way the paparazzi operate?

It looks that way, at least in some parts of California.

Some officials in Los Angeles are deciding to take tougher action and make stricter regulations.

This Thursday, officials from West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Malibu, and even Calabasas are gathering for the first time to discuss how they will try to control the paparazzi.

The group's goal is for each city to create it own ordinances against all aggressive paparazzi. There will also be some uniform laws placed in locations like where celebrities live, work, and hangout.

Guess it might be safe to finally drive down Robertson Blvd during the day!

Dennis Zine, a Los Angeles City Councilman, says "This is a response to their lack of responsible behavior."

Zine is also the one who earlier this year proposed a "personal safety zone" around celebs to protect them from the paps. Especially with paparazzi trespassing onto private property, such as with Halle Berry and Brangelina.

Zine adds in comparison to the desired paparazzi regulations, "You can smoke, but you can't smoke in certain areas. You can go 55 miles-per-hour, but you can't do it in a school zone. So we're not saying you can't take the picture."

Steve Whitmore, a spokesman for Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca, says "As it stands today, the sheriff's department is confident and comfortable that the laws that exist provide enough to ensure the safety and security of residents."

This is all good, but….

We must also balance this with protecting the photogs' first amendment rights!

[Image via Mavrix Online.]

Foreclosing on the Dead



Kanye West's deceased mother, Donda, owes money from the grave!

Court documents filed by Northern Trust Bank say it's foreclosing on Donda's home.

The bank is asking for $606,983.43 from Momma West’s estate.

Donda West’s estate is worth a total of $150,000.

If the payment is not granted, the source says the bank will take the property and resell it and the proceeds will go to the claim.

Any shortfall on payment will come out of Donda's estate.

Kanye West would only need to pony up money if his name is on the mortgage documents.

[Image via WENN.]

"Ghostbusters" Remake?!?



OK, so this is total, complete speculation at this point, but hey, that's what I'm here for! The hugely exciting news trickling out of DreadCentral.com right now is that "40-Year-Old Virgin" co-stars Steve Carell, Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd and Romany Malco are getting ready to strap on the proton packs and kick it "Ghostbusters" style in a reboot of the franchise.

Not only that, but OG 'busters Dan Akroyd, Bill Murray, Harold Ramis and Ernie Hudson would return for the movie to hand over the Ecto-1 keys to the new boys.

Keep in mind that even the site reporting the story categorizes this as a rumor for the time being, but claims that "this information comes from a very reliable source who cannot, at this point, be named." So only time will tell, but I for one would be 100% down for a new generation of "Ghostbusters" movies as long as the movie was done correctly. And by correctly I mean tongue-in-cheek, filled with great CGI and littered with in-jokes for loyal fans of the series.

I think the Judd Apatow crew is definitely up for the challenge - the question is, are they just too busy to make this movie a reality?

Jennifer Aniston Has Fans on the Bus and in the Audience

Jennifer Aniston looked absolutely perfectly summery out shopping at Barneys in LA yesterday afternoon, but her hometown isn't the only place where she's a natural fit. John Mayer's friends say that his gorgeous girlfriend is the perfect addition on the tour bus and, "Everyone really loves her." She's got fans all over the place it sounds like — during John's shows, fans can text into a number and get their messages up on the big screen and apparently more than a few concertgoers have requested Aniston to come out on stage with her man. How fun would that be? Talk about getting more for your money from those tickets.

Adrian and Isabel Are All Good After a Dramatic Weekend

Adrian Grenier was all smiles taking a stroll through LA with his girlfriend Isabel Lucas by his side yesterday. Looks like Isabel is feeling fine after riding shotgun during her Transformers 2 costar Shia LaBeouf's scary car accident this weekend. Adrian assured us that all is fine with his girl Isabel, saying, "She's okay, we're good. This is not the time for an interview." Shia seems to be in enough hot water as is, but maybe this means he won't have to answer to an angry Adrian in addition to the police.

Sarah Jessica and Matthew Are Still Trying to Make It Work

Despite recent rumors that Matthew Broderick is cheating on Sarah Jessica Parker, the married couple was spotted last night looking tan and very much together after dinner in NYC. Sources say that SJP and Matthew aren't in love anymore but are trying to make it work for James Wilkie, while others claim that they simply have an unconventional relationship. There's always more than one side to every story, but it seems at least for now these two, who SJP recently said have no choice but to be together forever, are putting on their brave faces and moving forward.

Michelle and Matilda Hop on a Trip With Spike Jonze

Michelle Williams has a new man in her life. The actress and her adorable daughter Matilda were spotted with director Spike Jonze boarding a private plane in Santa Monica yesterday on their way off on a weekend getaway. We first heard rumors that Michelle and Spike were an item last week, but these are the first photos of the supposed new couple! We are all for Michelle finding love again and Spike seems like he could be a great fit. Plus maybe she'll get a sneak peek at his highly anticipated Where the Wild Things Are movie.

Jessica Simpson Gives 'Em Elle

Jessica Simpson flashes her famous big smile — and her country wardrobe — on the September cover of Elle. Jess has a new album, a doting boyfriend, and a close-knit family and seems really happy at this point in her life. Things weren't always this way though, and the singer opens up about her past troubles, including a surprising revelation about abuse, in her interview. Here's more:





* On her new song about abuse: "I had to record that. There’s nothing on my album that you’re gonna hear that I don’t relate to or that I haven’t experienced. Because the only way I know how to sing is from life experience. I don’t want to talk about it, but I have definitely experienced abuse in a way that I would tell people to take their heart and run."

* On Joe Simpson running her life: "That’s ludicrous. He just wants me to be happy. Our whole family gets beaten, but that just brings us closer. So people are really doing themselves a disservice."

* On past problems with love: "I was going through a lot of pain. I didn’t try anything to change my life other than dating different types of guys and conforming to their worlds. I thought I had to be artsier, more intellectual."

James Franco Makes His David Letterman Debut

Cutie James Franco offered a big grin and a wave to his fans on his way to The Late Show in NYC last night. He got to work promoting Pineapple Express before the big premiere tonight, and his chat with Dave was a very special one — his first! James admitted he was nervous as he talked about his grandma, his parents, and how working at McDonald's helped him practice acting and score dates. James has come a long way since his days manning the drive-thru, and we're looking forward to seeing a lot more of that smirk in the next couple of weeks.

Christina Aguilera's Totally Natural Photo Shoot

It must have been a long day in hair and makeup for Christina Aguilera, who was sporting an extreme look for a photoshoot in LA yesterday. She's no stranger to dramatic colors, but this is shaping up to be Halloween-worthy. We can't wait to find out where these photos will be published, but we're already predicting that they won't be nearly as sweet as her Rock the Vote ad featuring baby Max.

Lindsay Lohan Visits The Vet



Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson do a little shopping before picking up their bulldog from the veterinarian in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

R ‘n’ B star Ne-Yo says he agreed to give Lindsay a helping hand with few tracks on her new album, Spirit In The Dark, due to be released in November.

“I’m just trying to bring some stuff out of her that nobody’s seen before,” the 25-year-old singer told OK! “I don’t know what the album is going to be, but the songs that we did are real quality.”

“The first song we did together, Bossy, she actually surprised me. She was a lot better than I thought she was going to be. She does a fantastic job on it, hands down,” Ne-Yo said.

Jennifer Garner is a Neutrogena Bad Girl



Jennifer Garner, aka Mrs. Ben Affleck, plays a bad girl in her new commercial for Neutrogena.

The 36-year-old former Alias actress shills for Neutrogena’s “Energy Renewal” Night Cream.

At the top of the commercial, Jen says, “Every girl has a past when she did some things that maybe she shouldn’t, but I say, ‘No one ever has to know.’”

She then ends with, “Me? A bad girl? Never!”

Watch the commercial at Jen-Garner.net.
Jen is currently pregnant with her second child, rumored to be four to five months along.

Dakota Fanning is All Grown Up



All grown up!

Actress Dakota Fanning arrives at the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s annual summer luncheon held at the Beverly Hills Hotel on Wednesday in Beverly Hills.

The Charlotte’s Web actress is now 14 and enterting 10th grade! Dakota broke through at the age of 7 with her performance in I Am Sam. She also had an impressive performance in War of the Worlds where director Steven Spielberg praised her ability to show “how she would really react in a real situation.”

Dakota recently recalled receiving the award for Best Young Actor/Actress from the Broadcast Film Critics Association and needed Orlando Bloom to lift her up to the mic! Ms. Fanning told Pop Tarts, “I met him again later on the set of War of the Worlds and we talked and had a laugh about it. It was funny, but I’m actually a bit embarrassed thinking about it now.”

‘American Teen’ Living The American Dream



American Teen, a hit at the Sundance Film Festival, is a documentary set in small-town Indiana. Following five high schoolers through their senior year, American Teen spotlights their high, lows and everything in between.

Each featured student represents a high school archetype — the heartthrob, the geek, the jock, the popular girl, and the artsy girl. Though their labels are just that, labels, you’ll easily find yourself rooting for each of these kids–especially the “misfit”, Hannah Bailey, the heart and soul of the film.

American Teen opened in NY/LA last week. This weekend, the documentary will be released in the following cities: Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas - Ft. Worth, San Francisco - Oakland - San Jose, Boston, Washington DC, Phoenix, Seattle - Tacoma and, Minneapolis - St. Paul. So if you’re in one of those cities, check it out! The cast has been traveling the country together to promote the film–they’ll be in Los Angeles this weekend! The cast will be meeting people at the Arclight in Hollywood on Saturday at the 4:20pm. Check it out!

For more information, visit AmericanTeenTheMovie.com.http://www.americanteenthemovie.com/ You can even “stalk” the movie’s stars by visiting their official Facebook pages:

– facebook.com/megankrizmanich
– facebook.com/mitchreinholt
– facebook.com/hannahbailey
– facebook.com/jaketusing
– facebook.com/colinclemens

Ali Lohan is 14, Right?



This is Ali Lohan. Lindsay Lohan's sister. She's 14. Going on 45. Now, I don't want this site to turn into some Pedo dream, but this is an issue that needs to be addressed. 14-year-old girls should not be wearing push-up bras, and showing off their cleavage. It's not right.

You know what else is not right, when that 14-year-old's mom is wearing the exact same outfit as her daughter. Of course, you know that Dina Lohan picked out that outfit for Ali. She was probably all "no, honey, you need to show more boobs, otherwise boys won't like you." And put on some more make-up, too.

The saddest part, though, is that we've all grown so tired of Lindsay Lohan's antics, that for anyone to even care about Ali Lohan, she's going to have to get into some fucked up shit. The bar has been set high, and if she wants any attention all (which she so obviously does), then she's going to have to pull out all the stops.

But not to worry, Ali Lohan has learned from the best. After all, Lindsay is like the Yoda of being a slut.

Alicia's Smoking Promotions Hit Wrong Key




Alicia Keys' Indonesian concert just slapped on the patch.

Philip Morris International, the original sponsor of the Grammy winner's gig in Jakarta tonight, pulled down all its promotional billboards and posters after the singer spoke out against the tobacco company's sponsorship of her show.

Keys was clued in to the company's aggressive sponsorship—featuring the logo and slogans for the brand's A Mild cigarettes—by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.

The antismoking group fired off an open letter to the R&B star last week, calling on her to "put the health of Indonesia's children first" and either remove the ads or cancel the concert.

Keys quickly responded, saying she was not only unaware of the tobacco endorsement but unappreciative of it.

"I apologize for any misleading advertising initially associated with the show," she said in a statement released by her record label, Sony BMG. "I am an unyielding advocate for the well-being of children around the world and do not condone or endorse smoking.

"I look forward to bringing my music and message to my wonderful fans in Jakarta."

While Philip Morris did not concede that its tactics were a bit heavy-handed, the company agreed to pull all their ads for the show, albeit around the time they were set to be pulled anyway. The signage, promoting the concert tonight, was taken down just yesterday.

Whether Philip Morris' financial support of the gig has gone the way of the ads, however, remains unclear.

"Whether tobacco sponsorship of music events leads to youth smoking is a matter of serious debate," the company said. "Having considered the facts in this specific instance, we have decided to withdraw all branding associated with this concert."

Consider that partnership snubbed out.

Jessica Simpson Speaks of Abuse




Even cowgirls get the blues.

Jessica Simpson speaks candidly in the September issue of Elle magazine about the trials and tribulations that have worked their way into her upcoming CD.

"There's nothing on my album that you're gonna hear that I don't relate to or that I haven't experienced. Because the only way I know how to sing is from life experience."

For instance, one of her new tracks, "Remember That," contains the lyrics, "It doesn't matter how he hurts you / With his hands or with his words / You don't deserve it / It ain't worth it / Take your heart and run."

She's reluctant, however, to divulge details about what led to recording such a song.

"I don't want to talk about it," says Jessica. "But I have definitely experienced abuse in a way that I would tell people to take their heart and run."

Katie Holmes Shows Her Fiery Side




Most women love a man in uniform, and Katie Holmes is obviously no exception. (And we don't mean her husband in Nazi officer garb, either.)

Rather, the actress seems to have a thing for NYC firefighters. After all, she first showed her appreciation for them last November when she wore an FDNY baseball cap while running in the New York City marathon.

And just this Wednesday, Katie took time out to visit their firehouse and pose for pictures.

While some cynics might believe it's all just a way to get people to buy tickets to her upcoming Broadway play, All My Sons, we prefer to think Katie's gestures are nothing more than genuine.

Britney Conservatorship Staying Put Until '09




UPDATE: Looks like it's going to take a new year for Britney Spears to reach a new level of legal freedom.

Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Reva Goetz will continue Jamie Spears' conservatorship over his famous daughter through for the rest of they year.

"Regarding the conservatorship of the person, I understand that Ms. Spears is reluctantly agreeing to extend those letters," Goetz said. "We are extending them until Dec. 31, 2008."

A status hearing for the extended order has been set for Oct. 28.

"All orders remain in effect," Goetz said, before delivering some good news for the apparently reluctant songbird.

"The order is without prejudice and is subject to early termination."

____________________________

Britney Spears' days of media-deluged court appearances may be behind her, but it's not quite case closed for the pop star.

Attorneys for the singer are currently meeting in the chambers of Court Commissioner Reva Goetz at the Los Angeles Superior Courthouse to discuss either extending or terminating her father's current conservatorship over her estate.

While neither Spears nor papa Jamie are present for the session, her brother, Bryan Spears, a cotrustee of Britney's assets, is in the courtroom.

As yet, there's no word on the outcome of today's closed-door hearing, though sources told E! News just yesterday that despite rumors the 26-year-old could regain control of her estate after today, the conservatorship is unlikely to be dissolved until the end of the year, with Goetz expected to extend the order.

Attorneys for Jamie Spears, largely if not wholly credited with his daughter's personal and professional resuscitation, are expected to request the extension to last through later this fall.

Also on the docket for today's hearing is the Spears family's temporary restraining order over Sam Lutfi.

Sources told E! News this week that the Spears patriarch was unlikely to attempt to make the order against Lutfi permanent—not that he is welcome in the Spears family's life.

Should Jamie's conservatorship get extended, the restraining order would be redundant since he, as acting conservator, is already well within his power—restraining order or not—to determine who gets one-on-one time with Britney.

The Rules Don't Apply to Lindsay and Sam




Are Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson above the law?

The twosome allegedly chain-smoked last night inside Crown Bar with no reprimand from management, according to an eyewitness.

Maybe it's got something to do with Sam's VIP status—she normally deejays at Crown on Wednesdays, though she wasn't working last night.

The duo arrived at the West Hollywood hang around 11:30 p.m. After Sam fetched their drinks, they stayed in the same booth the entire night, where they were joined by Lance Bass.

Sam wasn't the only one not feeling the beats. Even when the deejay on duty spun Lindsay's new single "Bossy," L.L. hardly seemed to notice. Neither girl danced, instead choosing to play on their BlackBerrys.

"They didn't kiss or hold hands, but they sat very close together," an eyewitness tells E! News. "At one point, Lindsay laid her head on Sam's shoulder. You could tell they are very close."

The girls left the club around 2:20 a.m. through the back door, managing to avoid most of the paparazzi hoping for a snapshot. Seems like it was a low-key night for all involved.

Liz Taylor's Health, Jewels Just "Fabulous"




Good news for Elizabeth Taylor's jewels (and, of course, Elizabeth Taylor): Mama's coming home!

A rep for the aging screen icon has shot down tabloid reports that the 76-year-old two-time Oscar winner was on her deathbed suffering congestive heart failure, telling E! News that while Taylor did briefly check into a hospital, she's in no danger of meeting her maker anytime soon.

"Ms. Taylor is fine," said longtime rep Dick Guttman. "The rumors which began in England about her health are dramatic, overstated and untrue.

"Her hospital visit was precautionary. She will be returning home shortly. At present, she is surrounded by family, friends and fabulous jewels."

Rumors began circulating earlier today that the Cleopatra star was in a grim state when the National Enquirer reported that Taylor's children were called to her bedside after she was placed on life support. (Britain's Daily Mail published a similar account).

Taylor has suffered a slew of both real and tabloid-imagined health problems in recent years. Per the Enquirer, her latest alleged ailment followed a particularly harsh bout of pneumonia.

Though Guttman did not say where Taylor was admitted, reports have placed her at St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica.

Guttman knows the routine when it comes to shooting down death rumors. Similar strories circulated back in 2006, leading Taylor to appear on Larry King Live to prove her vitality.

LAPD Chief: "Gay" LiLo, Clothed Brit, Behaving Paris Keep Paparazzi at Bay



Los Angeles' top cop believes problems concerning overly aggressive paparazzi have taken care of themselves, what with Hollywood's It girls generally curbing their bizarre, headline-grabbing antics.

Now if only police chiefs could exhibit similar restraint...

LAPD Chief William Bratton has spoken out—and how—against a proposal by a city councilman seeking to put in place new measures that restrict paparazzi. Bratton says the (alleged) behavior modifications of Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears and Paris Hilton have made the proposal all but moot.

"If you notice, since Britney started wearing clothes and behaving; Paris is out of town not bothering anybody anymore, thank god; and evidently, Lindsay Lohan has gone gay, we don't seem to have much of an issue," Bratton told KNBC, L.A.'s local NBC affiliate.

Spears Allows Lutfi Restraining Order Lifted




The Spears family's temporary restraining order against Sam Lutfi is set to expire later today. Which means Britney's onetime constant companion is now free...to continue maintaining his distance from the star.

"It's done," a source close to Lutfi told E! News of the already twice-renewed order. "They are dropping it."

The order, which has been in place since February, when Spears' parents claimed he "drugged" Britney and otherwise "purported to take control of her life, home and finances," officially expired at 1:30 p.m.

Jamie Spears, Britney's father and continuing conservator, opted not to renew the order, deeming it no longer necessary thanks to his daughter's renewed mental clarity.

"I just told the judge that Mr. Spears and Mr. Lutfi have reached a private agreement and no hearing or order is necessary at this time," Jamie's attorney, Jeffrey Wexler, told E! News.

"Britney has made clear to everyone that she does not want to be further harassed or contacted in any way by Osama 'Sam' Lutfi, now or anytime in the future," added Samuel D. Ingham III, the singer's court-appointed attorney.

However, should she not have made herself clear enough, the Spears clan, restraining order or not, still have the upper legal hand in the situation.

Despite insistence by a Lutfi insider earlier this month that the singer's ex-manager would refuse to sign another restraining order extension, Jamie Spears remains in charge of who is allowed to see Britney in his role as conservator of his daughter's estate.

At least one person has come to Lutfi's public defense.

Michael Sands, the former spokesman for Kevin Federline's divorce attorney turned former spokesman for Lutfi, told E! News that Lutfi is "a good guy but was made to be the tabloid villain."

"He's glad that she is doing well and getting along with her family. Everything will work out; it will be fine and what will be, will be!"

A source close to Lutfi seconded that notion, telling E! News that Spears' former pal "only wishes the best for her, her parents and her sons.

"He has always been supportive of Britney and has never tried to capitalize on their personal relationship. He was never in a position to control."

Heather Matarazzo Engaged




Heather Matarazzo, best known for playing an awkward seventh grader in Welcome to the Dollhouse and then an awkward high school student opposite Anne Hathaway in The Princess Diaries, is engaged.

Matarazzo’s publicist, Lisa Jammal, tells E! News exclusively the 25-year-old actress “is engaged to Carolyn Murphy. They’ve been together for over a year.” And because the couple does not have a specific “male or female role,” they both proposed!

“It was really cute. First Heather proposed to Carolyn, then Carolyn proposed to her,” says Jammal.

She goes on to say the two are very supportive of each other and are totally in love—“it was love at first sight.”

Miley Cyrus Dance-off With Will Smith?




Miley Cyrus may find herself going head-to-head—and foot-to-foot—with Will Smith at Sunday's Teen Choice Awards.

Here's the deal:

Cyrus and her best buddy Mandy Jiroux (aka M&M Cru) have been engaged in a months-long YouTube dance-off with actor-dancer Adam Sevani (above) and his Step Up 2 director, Jon M. Chu (or ACDC). Sunday marks the final round of the fancy footwork battle.

"Will Smith is so cool," 15-year-old Sevani tells me today during a break from rehearsals. "I did the Kids Choice Awards with him, and he was just so cool. I wanted to use him for our [Teen Choice] performance, but I don't know if he's gonna be here."

Even without Mr. Jiggy, Sevani promises that the five-minute dance-off (each team has two and a half minutes to show their stuff) will be "history" in the making.

Why? Well, they've got a pretty good track record...

Angie's Dad Still Blabbing: What Do You Think?




Angeline Jolie's pop is at it again, blabbing to Fox & Friends about his daughter and her growing brood.

"You know, she wasn't the kind that played with dolls, and then all of the sudden she has all of these children," Jon Voight said Thursday on the Fox News Channel.

"She loves kids though," he added. "She's very playful. It's wonderful."

It's not like Voight's giving away any big secrets. He confirms the twins, Knox and Vivienne, are "healthy" and "doing well" and says Brad and Angie "are really happy and over the moon."

But given that he and his daughter have feuded over his loose-lipped ways before, do you think this is one grandfather who should just stop bragging?

Snoop's Dawgs Facing Marijuana Rap




Maybe Snoop Dogg should've popped for the pine-tree air freshener.

Two members of rapper's entourage were busted for marijuana possession Thursday in Texas after state troopers smelled pot during a routine traffic stop, E! News confirms.

The identifies of the men were not provided, but we know that their ringmaster was not involved.

"Snoop was not arrested," his manager, Constance Schwartz, told E! News. "Snoop continues to enjoy touring with 311 on the Unity Tour."

Paris Hasn't Seen McCain Attack Ad, Probably Won't




John McCain may have given Paris Hilton a costarring role in his latest political ad slamming opponent Barack Obama, but he shouldn't expect a thank you note any time soon.

"She hasn't even seen the ad," said a friend close to Paris. "She knows about it, people have told her, but she hasn't seen it, and she doesn't plan to."

How could she have missed such press? Some in Hollywood would pay good money to be featured in an ad playing over and over on the television airwaves...

The Dark Knight's Road to $600 Million…or Not




It posted the biggest opening weekend in Hollywood history. It scored the biggest opening week in Hollywood history.

It didn't come close to toppling Titanic.

The box-office tale of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest might help explain why reaching $600 million, even in the age of the $15 IMAX ticket, is the tallest of orders.

No one ever said making history was easy, Dark Knight.

Among the other five fastest starters in movie history, of which, by the way, Titanic isn't one, The Dark Knight is most closely following the path taken by Dead Man's Chest, the second Pirates movie released in 2006.

After its record-setting opening weekend, The Dark Knight neither plunged, à la Spider-Man 3, which saw ticket sales nosedive 62 percent in its second weekend, nor held up like Cher, à la the original Spider-Man, which dipped only 38 percent.

Instead, its rather standard 53-percent drop put the movie in line with Shrek the Third (56 percent) but even closer to Dead Man's Chest (54 percent).

Like Dark Knight, Dead Man's Chest was a July opener, with no Memorial Day holiday weekend handy to boost admissions. Like Dark Knight, the movie did just fine on its own, grossing at least $10 million a day (and often much more) for its first 10 days. (The Dark Knight went 11 straight days, before "falling" to $9.6 million on Tuesday.)

And like Dark Knight, Dead Man's Chest sped to $200 million and then $300 million in record time.

Then, as it neared $400 million, Dead Man's Chest reached its tipping point.

On day 39, per the stats at The-Numbers.com, the movie failed for the first time to gross at least $1 million in a single day.

From there on, Dead Man's Chest, which had made $393 million-ish through its first six weekends, made just $30 million more through its next 16.

By the end of its run, Dead Man's Chest had accumulated $423 million, a spectacular amount, currently good for sixth place on the all-time list.

But Titanic's even more spectacular haul hadn't been seriously challenged.

As it turned out, Dead Man's Chest went about things all wrong. The way to gross $601 million is:

* Opener smaller than The Flintstones. (Titanic's $28.6 million debut is the 238th "biggest" of all time, per Box Office Mojo.)
* Play at fewer theaters, at your peak, than Lost in Space.
* Never, ever make more than $13.6 million in a single day.

But mostly:

* Post your second-biggest day ($13.1 million) on your 58th day in release. (Note: It's easier to do this if, a few days prior, you nab a record-tying 14 Oscar nominations.)
* Instead of falling by 50 percent in your second weekend, go up by 24 percent.
* Go up by 25 percent in your fifth weekend.
* Don't sell fewer than $1 million worth of tickets until…day 102.

In short, make money consistently, constantly and, above all, crazily. And do it all with movie ticket prices going for about $4.69, instead of today's $7.08 average.

Like Dead Man's Chest, The Dark Knight is going about things all wrong. But getting off to the biggest and fastest start ever can make things right.

If Dark Knight stays on the Dead Man's Chest course of gradual midweek declines and modest weekend falloffs—no small task, despite the Batman movie's much stronger reviews—it would pass $400 million sometime next week, and set yet another record. By its ninth weekend, it would cross $500 million, a benchmark that so far only Titanic has passed.

But before that, sometime around Labor Day, near the 45-day mark, The Dark Knight would reach its own tipping point, and fall to under $1 million for midweek daily grosses.

The resilient Titanic managed to gross another $85 million after it posted its first sub-$1 million day. If The Dark Knight did that—and, again, Dead Man's Chest couldn't make even half that much from that point forward—it would get closer to $600 million than any movie this decade. And still fall short.

No, no one ever said making history was easy.

Alex Rodriguez Responds to Wife's Divorce Filing



After nearly four weeks of silence, New York Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez stepped up to the plate Thursday and responded to his wife's demand for divorce.

In the documents – filed Thursday morning – A-Rod admits the marriage is "irretrievably broken." But he points out that Florida is a "no fault state" and chastises his estranged wife, Cynthia Rodriguez, for mentioning "immaterial and impertinent" issues like his alleged "extra marital affairs and other marital misconduct."

Although Madonna was not mentioned in Cynthia's court documents – filed July 7 – her attorney called the Yankee's association with the singer an "affair of the heart" and "the last straw."

In Cynthia's filing – which claimed "emotional abandonment" – she asked to keep their $12 million Coral Gables mansion. The mother of his two children, Natasha, 3, and Ella, three months, also wants a cut of his earnings during their marriage.

But, in A-Rod's response, he argues that the divorce settlement should be determined by their prenup, which Cynthia signed a month before their 2002 wedding.

According to the documents, she did so "with the assistance of counsel of her own choosing, freely and voluntarily ... and with full and complete financial disclosure of husband's income, assets and liabilities."

Regarding the children, A-Rod seeks shared parental responsibility for their "wealth, health, education and religious upbringing." (There's no mention of Kabbalah, the mystical Jewish teachings that, sources say, helped foster a bond between A-Rod and Madonna. The pop icon has denied the alleged affair.)

A-Rod admits Cynthia is a "loving and nurturing mother." In the filing, he suggests the two work out a time-sharing custody schedule without the court's intervention.

According to his attorneys, Alan Kluger and Jason Marks, "husband requests that both parties are designated as 'co-residential' parents, realizing that the children are likely to spend more time with wife given the realities of husband's professional life."

A-Rod acknowledges he should pay child support – and asks the court to determine a fair amount.

Is This The End for Mulder and Scully?



Screaming fans begged for autographs and waved homemade signs Wednesday night at the U.K. premiere of The X-Files: I Want to Believe.

"It's gratifying that people love the show so much," David Duchovny, 47 – star of the movie and the cult hit television series – told reporters.

But is this the end for the X-Files and its heroes, F.B.I. agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully?

The movie – the second feature film based on the sci-fi series that ended in 2002 – generated a moderate $10.2 million at the U.S. box office. Now international moviegoers may shed some light on whether there's another sequel.

"We did this [movie] so that it's a possibility that it's the last time you'll see Mulder and Scully," director Chris Carter, 51, said on the red carpet. "We didn't do this as the last one. We did it as if it could be the last one."

Valkyrie Is No Dud, Says Tom Cruise Costar



Nothing says "I Love You" like blowing up an evil dictator ...

Tom Cruise's World War II movie Valkyrie – about a plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler – just bagged a new release date: Feb. 13, 2009.

The pre-Valentine's Day slot follows a series of postponements for the controversial film. But Cruise's costar, Bill Nighy, insists that doesn't mean the movie is a dud.

"One of the reasons that the date was changed was in order to do ... extra scenes," the British actor told MTV News. "Valkyrie is a great story, a true story, and it's a faithful account."

The film chronicles the story of Claus von Stauffenberg (Cruise), a Nazi general who leads a plot to assassinate Hitler during the waning years of the war.

Love Actually's Nighy said he's optimistic the movie will do well with it's new calendar slot. "It's Valentine's Day," he joked. "So take your date to see a movie about killing Hitler!"

Mischa Barton: I Hate Drunk Drivers



At the tender age of 22, Mischa Barton has already been in love – twice. But she still hasn't found Mr. Right.

"I'm lucky to know you can have more than one soulmate in life," Barton says in the Sept., 20 anniversary issue of Marie Claire U.K.

"But, like a true actress, I'm always changing the way I feel about who I want to be. Nowadays, I feel I'm settling more into a woman and I'm understanding who I am."

In April, the former O.C. actress pleaded no contest to driving under the influence. She describes her December arrest as an "awful low."

"The thing is, I hate drunk drivers. Living in L.A., I can't stand them, and that's why I was so disappointed in myself," she says. "I wanted to prove to the court that I would take it completely seriously, so I went to rehab to prove I was sober.

"It really helped in getting the more serious aspects of my case dropped because, you know, that's what they want to hear: you're not an alcoholic, and you don't have a problem."

Despite the distractions, the actress hasn't lost her focus.

"I don't look at the gossip Web sites – it's unhealthy, and I think it's a large part of what drives people in L.A. crazy," Barton says.

"I'm an actress, I'm in this to find the next great project and think about all the positive things I'm doing. The fact is, I'm having a real life with friends, and being a normal human being."

SNEAK PEEK: Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen's New Book



Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen are gearing up to take the literary world by storm – or at least glam it up a little – with their upcoming coffee-table book Influence, and PEOPLE has a preview of its two covers.

One version of the 272-page hardcover book – due out Oct. 28 – will feature Mary-Kate on the cover, with Ashley on the back, while the other version swaps their positions.

"Ashley and Mary-Kate take readers on a journey through their celebrated young lives, pausing to reflect on what has helped shape them into who they are today," the book's publisher said in a statement. "They interviewed 20 people and wrote brief essays about each other. In each interview, the girls explore what inspired the interviewee."

Those interviewed include fashion designers Karl Lagerfeld, Diane Von Furstenburg, John Galliano and Christian Louboutin, as well as model-actress Lauren Hutton.

"We interviewed the people who have inspired us, with the hope that they will inspire and teach others," Mary-Kate said. "We want to explain culturally how ideas evolve."

Chimed in Ashley: "We have filled Influence with the most interesting, challenging, creative people we know – the ones who helped pave the way for us and our generation."

The book's artwork includes photos and drawings provided by the interviewees, as well as never-before-seen photos from the 22-year-old twins' private collections.

Both Sides Claim Victory in Rob Lowe Nanny Hearing



Rob Lowe and his ex-nanny both claimed victory Thursday after a California judge threw out four of the actor's claims against Jessica Gibson but also one of Gibson's allegations.

Superior Court Judge Denise de Bellefeuille issued the technical legal rulings in the emotionally charged litigation, in which both sides are suing each other, in a courtroom in Santa Barbara.

For Gibson, the judge ruled that Lowe could not pursue his defamation claims against her because the 24-year-old former nanny is protected under laws allowing people to protest alleged workplace conditions. Three other claims also were tossed.

"This is a huge victory for us today," said Gibson's lawyer, Gloria Allred. "We look forward to continuing with our sexual harassment suit against the Lowes."

But for Lowe's side the judge threw out Gibson's claim that the actor retaliated against her. Previously, the judge dismissed two of Gibson's other claims against Lowe.

"We didn't lose anything today," Lowe attorney Larry Stein told PEOPLE. "I'm delighted with the dismissal we won, and in essence, our lawsuit against Gibson remains totally intact."

Stein noted that Gibson had sought to have Lowe's entire lawsuit dismissed but a number of key claims remain.

Gibson attended the hearing with her father at her side, while the Lowes did not attend. Neither party was required to show.

The litigation began when Lowe, 44, filed a preemptive lawsuit in April accusing Gibson of demanding $1.5 million in exchange for her silence. The action also alleged several now-dismissed claims, including defamation. The suit seeks $1 million-plus.

Gibson answered with a lawsuit alleging sexual harassment, claiming the actor groped her and exposed himself during her seven-year employment with the Lowe family. The suit also alleged the now-dismissed claim of retaliation.

Lowe, the star of TV's Brothers & Sisters, vehemently denies he did anything improper – pointing out that Gibson voluntarily quit the job three times. He also filed evidence alleging her promiscuity.

Since then, a second former nanny, Laura Boyce, 37, filed suit against the Lowes, but only accused the actor's wife of direct sexual harassment.

It's All Dance and No Play for Missy Elliott



Missy Elliott's a busy woman – her seventh album's coming out soon, and she's on MTV's America's Best Dance Crew Thursday night – but she still thinks about settling down and having kids ... some day.

"I most definitely want kids, but I'll probably adopt kids," the 37-year-old tells PEOPLE. "I don't know if I can take that kind of pain [of labor]. Maybe in the year 2020 you could just pop a baby out and it'd be fine. But right now I'd rather just adopt."

On the MTV dance show, Elliott is set to perform her song "Shake Your Pom Pom," which she says will appear on the forthcoming Block Party, but confesses to having her own favorite team in the competition.

Jennifer Garner Keeps Bumping Out

Jennifer Garner was spotted on the construction site of the new home she is renovating with her hubby Ben Affleck this week and I couldn’t help but notice that her tummy continues to get bigger and bigger … clearly there is a baby in there, check it out:



So, now that we’re practically certain that she is incubating a new person inside her womb, we can now move on to the speculation about when that little person might be making their debut outside her womb. E! seems to think that she may be due in March of next year (they are basing their assumption on a piece of paper that she was seen holding with the date March 2 circled on it) and I suppose that’s as good as guess as any — but will she be having twins … that is the question.

[Photo credit: X17]

A Message To Courtney Love



Fighting fire with fire!

Ryan Adams is finally fighting back. The just posted the following on his website, addressing Courtney Love's allegations that he stole from her, amongst other things.

He says:

"to whom it may concern,

these days i find myself working harder than ever at being at my best, overcoming my fears and pushing myself creatively in my every endeavor. my only wish after the work is completed is that it may prove further evidence that no matter how isolated we all may all feel at times, as sad or misrepresented, we are not alone. there's hope for and within each of us.

I've been dealing with the truth that i have at times been a bad example and/or glorified self destructive behavior. this was never intentional, but rather a consequence of leading a public life in plain sight and never expecting any sort of preferential treatment, isolation or protection.

Regardless of varied judgments as to my cultural relevance, i am thankfully alive and exercising my joy in creating. i only hope anyone who hears, reads or sees any of my contributions will permit the work to speak where i cannot.

i've realized and accepted that if people decide to dislike me, they're going to find reasons to justify disliking me. there's nothing i can do about that. that said, it still does pain me to be accused of fictional crimes against innocents or to be implicated in romantic gossip involving the possibly reality-challenged–however unreliable the source or outlandish the accusations. in the end, however, i know that i have never done or even meant anyone any harm.

anyway, the lives of public figures are so much more boring than anyone can imagine. honestly.

and also i like ######l. A LOT. (even more than last time)."

[Image via WENN.]

We're Not Making This Up



Aubrey O'Day doesn't just play dumb - she is dumb. A moron to be exact!

The Danity Kane skank was interviewed on the Jojo, Reagan and the Mix Morning Show today on Mix 106 in Baltimore and….

1) She thinks the week has 8 days in it.

and

2) She doesn't know that "exhausting" is a word.

Seriously!

Quote Of The Day



"I haven't even thought about drinking since my mother passed away. Drinking is not the way forward for me at all. Since I was 27 I must have been drunk maybe a dozen-and-a-half times - but when I do, I'm like Bambi. I'm all over the place, hopeless, like a 16-year-old kid. People notice. Now drink doesn't fit into where I want to go. I want to do something useful with my life. Drinking is not synonymous with that. To be honest, I just leave it alone and hope people will, too, but I don't really care. The whole drinking thing with me has been blown out of all proportion anyway."

- The Tudors star Jonathan Rhys Meyers, on sobriety not drinking

Making It Work for the Kid



Could Sarah Jessica Parker have known that Matthew Broderick was effing around with a twenty something whore and turned a blind eye to it???

An insider tells the British media, "They have never had a conventional marriage, but it works for the two of them. Sure they fight like other couples but they love each other and their little boy. They are so private and hate all this silly gossip."

Another source reveals that son James Wilke is the glue that holds the two actors together, "(SJP and Broderick) had been out of love for a long time but remain married for their son. Sarah and Matthew have been struggling for years. Now they have decided to make things work - especially for the sake of their son, James."

Is that a good enough reason to stay together?

Sometimes 'staying together for the kid' makes the kid miserable cuz mommy and daddy are miserable.

Can't he find a new beard???

[Image via WENN.]

Natural Beauty Runs In The Family



Victoria Beckham's sister, Louise Adams, joined the Beckham clan for din din at Madeo restaurant in Los Angeles on Wednesday night.

See the resemblance????

[Image via Buzz Foto.]

Liar, Liar



Is there any good in Heather Mills????

Her former publicist, has Michele Elyzabeth just revealed that Mucca, no surprise, is a big fat liar.

We mentioned earlier in the week that Michele resigned as Mills' rep cuz the gold digger supremo is an insane bitch.

So, Michele said the videotaped footage Mucca threatened to show in divorce court of an abusive Paul McCartney never existed:

"I really don't believe she did (have the video). I was close enough and I heard a couple of conversations. Now that I know what I know, I don't really think that Paul really went after her for anything. She had basically nothing — she had tapes of her being in the studio with him, her being on the road with him, private moments. She told me a bunch of stuff … (but) I don't see him being a violent person."

We feel bad for Mucca's kid.

Can you imagine having a gold digging, liar mommy?

Work For Mini Me!



Uncreative Hollywood has ANOTHER sequel is in the works.

Mike Meyers has started writing Austin Powers 4.

The flick will be an homage to Meyers' father, says an insider, "It's very personal with a father and son theme loosely based on his own life."

Meyers has previously said that the fourth installment of Austin Powers will focus on villain Dr. Evil.

So, based on the insider's revelation, it looks like Dr. Evil's son, Scott, will play a huge role in the sequel.

That doesn’t sound too bad. We thought Seth Green was funny as Scott Evil.

What do y’all think about the 4th coming of Austin Powers?

Excited or not????

[Image via WENN.]

Stoned!



We're all up for a good laugh, but this one is just a bit too ridiculous.

Sharon Stone was just recently served with legal papers demanding $1 billion!

The suit comes from more than 1,000 Chinese earthquake victims and a New York attorney.

The documents announce attorney Ming Hai's intention to sue Stone for "harming Chinese people when she suggested the catastrophic quake last May was "karma" for the regime's occupation of Tibet."

WTF?!?

Ok, Hai is just a bit out of it. We understand no-named attorneys trying to get publicity by suing a celebrity, but this is just stoopid.

Hai wrote, "For the families who have lost their loved ones or lost limbs or suffered severe injuries, your … statement and act has caused extreme emotional distress."

Yea, and what's going to happen with the money? Is Hai going to go to China and distribute it all?

Puh-lease.

Stone's apologized several times already. Who can blame her? She's just an idiot.

Her original remarks were "I'm not happy about the way the Chinese are treating the Tibetans because I don't think anyone should be unkind to anyone else. And then all this earthquake and all this stuff happened, and I thought, is that karma — when you're not nice that the bad things happen to you?"

Time to get over it. She mispoke. She's apologized several times. She's been banned from China's International Film Festival in Shanghai, she was dropped from Dior's ads.

And now you want her to pay up?

What do U think?

Publicity stunt from the attorney, or should Sharon really be forced to pay?

[Image via WENN.]

Speidi Spinoff



Spencer and Heidi are gonna have to wait - this is a different Speidi spinoff!

Sony is been said to be moving forward with Venom, a Spider-Man spinoff.

The character is based on the nemesis that appeared in Spider-Man 3, played by Topher Grace.

The Venom is a parasite that attaches itself to its host via a gooey and sticky substance and then gives that host some special powers.

Sony can either rehire Topher or have the option of casting a new actor. Insiders speculate that the studio does not feel confident in Grace's ability to carry a big tentpole film on his own.

Sony already commissioned a draft of the script to be made by Jacob Estes, a writer from the film Mean Creek.

However, they are considering going in a different direction from Estes's script and are already seeking writers to create a new draft.

Let's hope the new spinoff doesn't suck.

Kate Hudson's Already Moved On!



She's a maneater!

Kate Hudson's wasted no time in finding new companionship.

As Perez was the first to exclusively report, the actress and Lance Armstrong just ended their relationship.

Well, she's allegedly got herself a new man. And, it's actually an old man!

A source reveals exclusively to PerezHilton.com that Hudson may once again be seeing an ex-boyfriend of hers, a fella by the name of Eric Lindros.

"Kate and Eric have been holed up at her parent's [Goldie & Kurt's] house Muskoka, Canada," a well-placed insider tells us. "She went there immediately after she and Lance ended things."

Dating your own sloppy seconds? Tasty!

Update: Hudson's camp is denying the claim that anything romantical is going on with Eric Lindros (or his brother Brett, for that matter).

Kate's pals insist she and the Lindros' are just long-time friends.

[Image via Mavrix Online.]

LAPD Chief Says Lindsay Lohan Is GAY



As we mentioned yesterday, LA Councilman Dennis Zine is behind a proposal to put stricter laws on the ways the paparazzi operate.

And, today when the meeting took place as to what should be done, it turned more into a showdown between Zine and LAPD Chief William Bratton, who openly opposes the new legislation.

According to Chief Bratton, he decided to leave his morning workout and show up at 6am to be near reporters since apparently Zine's last live interview about the paparazzi aggravated him so much.

He decided to go and "set the record straight."

Bratton said, "I figured I'd come over and straighten out — we have no intention of participating in today's hearing. It's a total waste of time. We have sufficient laws on the books that we enforce to deal with this issue."

Well obviously the laws aren't working or your cops aren't enforcing them properly.

Is Batton getting paid off by the paps????

Bratton continued on by saying that he puts the blame on celebrities, such as Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan, for the constant issues with the paparazzi.

He adds, "If you notice, since Britney started wearing clothes and behaving; Paris is out of town not bothering anybody, thank God; and, evidently, Lindsay Lohan has gone gay, we don't seem to have much of an issue."

Ouch. Outted by the Chief!

Bratton adds, "If the ones that attract the paparazzi behave in the first place, like we expect of anybody, that solves about 90 percent of the problem. The rest of it we can deal with. So as far as all this grandstanding and foolishness, waste of city time on this issue — and the fact that I felt aggravated enough about it to interrupt my workout to come over and set the record straight, LAPD has no intention of participating in this farce."

Ok, and what about the celebs that are avoiding the paparazzi and staying at home and have the paps trespass onto their private property? Such as what happened with Halle Berry?

What do you say to that?

[Image via WENN.]

Harry Potter's Birthday Gift to Charity



Today is Harry Potter's birthday and J.K. Rowling has announced something special for you fans to celebrate the special day.

After months of anticipation and secrecy, The Tale of Beedle the Bard, a collection of wizardly fairy tales penned by Rowling and referenced in the final installment of the Harry Potter series, will be made available for sale to the public and can be pre-ordered today on Amazon.

The book is being published by The Children's High Level Group , a charity that works to improve the lives of vulnerable children across Europe, and all net proceeds will be donated to the charity.

J.K. Rowling has enough money. It's great to see such generosity!

Moms and dads, the book will arrive just in time for the holidays.

It's scheduled to hit the stores or your doorstep on December 4th.

[Image via Mavrix Online.]