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Celebrity Nation: November 2007
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Friday, November 30, 2007

Lindsay's rehab romance is over

Lindsay Lohan and Riley Giles, the 25-year-old snowboarder she met while seeking treatment at Utah's Cirque Lodge, have ended their relationship. "They're over – they've broken up," a source says. "They split after Thanksgiving weekend." Adds another source: "She is concentrating on her life and her career." Lohan, 21, checked out of the exclusive Cirque Lodge on Oct. 5. She had been there since August. (The breakup was first reported by E! News.) A week after his daughter had left Cirque Lodge, Lindsay's father, Michael Lohan, said of Giles: "He's a great, great kid. If you met him, you'd like him." On the career front, Lindsay is gearing up to head back to the studio to record an album for Universal Music Group's Motown label, to be released next year. (She had previously recorded with the parent company's Casablanca label.) A label source says Lohan "is expected to start recording within the next two weeks." In addition, she is gearing up for a scheduled cameo on ABC's Ugly Betty. Says her rep, "As we left it, she was in talks to do an arc on Ugly Betty, which she is a huge fan of. She's hoping that the [writers'] strike ends soon. She'd love to get back to work."

New couple alert: Elle and Bryan Adams?

Is there romance in the air for Canadian rocker/photographer Bryan Adams and Australian supermodel Elle Macpherson? Reports in the British papers have linked the couple in recent days, suggesting Macpherson got flirtatious with Adams at a private party at his London home on Tuesday, following the opening of his latest photography exhibit. "Elle and Bryan are great friends. That's all I know," said Adams's rep. Macpherson, 44, split with longtime partner Arpad Busson, with whom she has two sons, in 2005. Adams, 48, has never married or had children.
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Julia holds her own with paparazzi

Julia Roberts, a mother of three, has made it clear – in her actions and now in words – that she doesn't like paparazzi staking out schools in order to get photos. Roberts, 40, recently chased down a photographer in her SUV near a school and gave him an earful, in an incident that was caught on video and shown on TMZ. Asked by Access Hollwood for Friday's show what she said to the man, Roberts replied, "I just told him a school is not a place for a grown man to be crawling around trying to take pictures." She added, "If you want to take a picture of a person, then go to an adult place. Go to the coffee shop, go to the grocery store, go to the restaurant. Don't stake out someone's children's church, school or playground environment." In the recent incident, Roberts, who did not have her kids with her, pursued a car of photographers and got them to pull over. Telling one man to shut off his camera, she said, "I want to talk to you about the fact that you're at a school where children go. Turn it off!"

Reese tops female box-office earners

Reese Witherspoon, 31, who earns between $15-$20 million a movie, has topped the Hollywood Reporter's annual list of the highest-paid actresses. Angelina Jolie, 32, comes in second, with a similar paycheck, though she only took home $8 million for Beowulf. Third place: Cameron Diaz, 35, who cashes in about $15 million a flick. However, she banked $30 million for the third installment of Shrek this year. After a string of flops — including this summer's The Invasion — Nicole Kidman, 40, dropped two spots and now commands $10-$15 million a film. RenĂ©e Zellweger, 38, and Sandra Bullock, 43, also take home $10-$15 million, as does one-time box office champ Julia Roberts, 40 — who returns to the big screen in December's Charlie Wilson’s War. Rounding out the list: Drew Barrymore, 32 and Jodie Foster, 45, who make $10- $12 million per movie and the five-months-pregnant Halle Berry, 41, who nets about $10 million. The salary list appears in the Hollywood Reporter's "Women in Entertainment: Power 100" issue is out Tuesday.

Lindsay pimps herself out

Lindsay Lohan isn’t doing much to quell rumors that she’s strapped for cash. Lohan reportedly shopped around staged Thanksgiving dinner photos that included her mother Dina, sister Ali, her brothers and boyfriend Riley Giles to many of the celeb weeklies. Her asking price began in the six-figure range before dropping to $20,000. “She thinks she’s a huge star. She thinks everyone is dying to read about her, but she’s lost her fan base. Her decisions are being driven by cash, not repairing her image,” said a source who was approached about buying the pics. Although her photos didn't earn her any money (and her rep denies the entire incident), word is that her Black Friday shopping trip did. Lohan was photographed shopping at an Armani Exchange and Intermix store in Manhattan on Nov. 23, and a source close to the rehabbed starlet says the trip wasn't just pre-arranged to give the paparazzi a heads up, she was paid for the visit, too. “Seems like everything Lindsay does is to make money,” said the disillusioned source.

You could direct Britney's next video

Britney Spears may have shot a video herself earlier this week, but now it's your turn. For her next Blackout single, "Piece of Me," the singer wants fans to give her a piece of them right back — by directing a separate video for her, with the winning clip to be played on TRL. The "Britney Spears Wants a Piece of You" contest launches on Monday, at which point MTV will open its vaults of the footage shot of the pop singer over the years, including interviews, red-carpet appearances and performances. Fans who want to get their Spielberg on can access the goods via the MTV Video Remixer. Pick the shots you like, mash them up and hit "send" — clips can be up to 3:34 in length or shorter. The grand prize winner also will receive a brand new Haier Ibiza Rhapsody device along with a one year subscription to Rhapsody, as well as the entire catalog of Spears' CDs and DVDs released in the U.S. Looking for inspiration or guidance to see how video mashes like these have been done in the past? Kelly Clarkson, Nelly Furtado, Common and Paramore have all given their fans chances to do Web-based video remixes on the site using Adobe Premiere Express, so watch their remixes first if you want to learn the technique, and then give Britney your best shot. MTV, Jive Records and Britney herself will decide the winner, whose video will be premiered exclusively on "TRL" on December 20. That's well before the airing of the video Spears shot this week — that won't surface until January at earliest. The winning "Piece of Me" video will also get an all-day premiere on MTV Hits and an online premiere on MTV.com.

Katie's new look


Katie Holmes showed off a new bob while accompanying her husband Tom Cruise at the 59th annual Bambi Awards in Dusseldorf, Germany, Thursday. Cruise won an award for his willingness to take risks in his films, including his latest flick, Valkyrie, which centers on the failed Operation Valkyrie to assassinate Adolf Hitler.

Spice kids hit with chickenpox

Geri Halliwell is being forced to leave her 18-month-old daughter Bluebell at home while she and the other Spice Girls prepare to kick off their world tour in Vancouver on Sunday. "Bluebell caught chickenpox from Cruz," Halliwell revealed Friday morning on the British TV show GMTV. "She's now completely pelted now so I left her at home. Normally they're running around the set." As Halliwell suggests on the official Spice Girls' blog, the outbreak was inevitable. Daughter Bluebell, she says, "loves hanging with the Beckham boys. Cruz and Bluebell have play dates, and Romeo – well, he is just gorgeous with her. Actually, it was a beautiful moment when we were rehearsing the other day and all of our kids were playing on the stage at the same time. It made me smile." Between them, the girls have seven children: Victoria Beckham, 33, has three sons, Brooklyn, 8, Romeo, 5, and Cruz; Emma Bunton, 31, has one son Beau, born in August; Mel Brown, 32, has two children, Phoenix Chi, 8, and Angel, born in April, while Halliwell has little Bluebell. Melanie Chisholm, 33, so far is kid-less.

Thursday, November 29, 2007

Nicole opens up about her kids

Nicole Kidman's children refuse to call her mom. The Oscar-winning actress says Isabella, 14, and 12-year-old Connor - her two adopted children with ex-husband Tom Cruise - are reluctant to use the traditional parental moniker and instead call her Nicole, much to her annoyance. She told the UK TV show GMTV, "My kids don't call me mommy, they don't even call me mom. They call me Nicole, which I hate and tell them off for it." The Golden Compass star recently revealed that she is unhappy Isabella and Connor are being raised as Scientologists in LA. Catholic Nicole lives in Nashville with her second husband, Keith Urban, while her children live with ex Tom Cruise and his wife Katie Holmes. "Yes, they're being raised as Scientologists. I don't want to go there," Kidman says. "My daughter and son, their life is molded by the way I live. If I wasn't willing to take on that responsibility, I shouldn't have adopted them. Then it can be argued that I should never have divorced, and that's true, too, but sometimes you don't have a decision in that. People fall out of love, they do... When children are teenagers, they have a say in where they want to be. Los Angeles is a big draw, and I'm looking to get a place there so we can share more."

MK and Ashley relist NY pad

Nearly three years after their 12-room Greenwich Village condo in New York first hit the market - without ever having lived in it - Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen have relisted it for sale. Only this time, the price tag of the nearly 6,000 square feet of luxurious living and Hudson River views has jumped some $4.7 million, to just under $12 million, after the sisters paid $7.3 million in December 2004. Not that the Olsens have been losing money all these years. "The apartment has been rented, and has been continually rented since" the Olsens first took possession, a property management associate told the New York Observer. Monthly rent has been $35,000. Included is a 53-foot-long entertainment space interrupted only by a glass-enclosed fireplace. "It's very dramatic, very dramatic," said the agent. "You walk in and it's right there, bang." River views are available from the living/dining room, the master bedroom, the master dressing room - which the realtor calls "as large as a large maid's room, basically - and the other two bedrooms.

Jennifer Love Hewitt engaged


Jennifer Love Hewitt is engaged to Scottish actor Ross McCall. "They got engaged last week," her rep confirmed. The couple is currently vacationing in Hawaii. Hewitt's antique engagement ring has been in Ross's family for over 100 years. Her rep had not details about the wedding date.

No more nude scenes for Brad

Brad Pitt has vowed not to film any more nude scenes - because he doesn't want his kids to see them. "I don't want to be embarrassed when my kids get old enough to see my films," Pitt told the BBC in an interview that aired Tuesday. "I can't see any more nude scenes [in my career]." Pitt previously burned up the screen in the buff for Thelma and Louise and Troy. As for his future in film, the 43-year-old said, "I figure I've got very few films left. Who knows how many I'll get to do now, so I want to do something I'm interested in. Otherwise, I don't want to bother. I think it's a younger person's game." Pitt, who recently dropped out of the film State of Play, said he wasn't interested in making anymore Ocean's movies. "There's no more," he said of the series of caper flicks he made with George Clooney and Matt Damon. "I think we need to put away childish things." Of working with his buddies again, Pitt added, "We'll find something else. I just don't think there's anywhere to go with that particular story."

Pam mulls retirement

Is Pamela Anderson thinking about retirement already? According to USA Today, it appears the ex-Baywatch babe is counting down her time before heading back to Canada for good. "Five more years of (T&A), and I'll go back to Canada," the BC native told the paper. "I've got some land. It'll be time." Anderson, 40, is ready to wrap up her show The Beauty of Magic in Las Vegas on December 8 and resume her full-time gig as a mom in Malibu. "I'm lazy. I don't want to work. I want to be with my kids (Brandon, 11, and Dylan, 9). So I just fly in from LA, do a few days of shows and go back home." She also told the paper that her quickie marriage to Rick Solomon in October is going extremely well. "I'm the happiest I've ever been. We're good for each other," she said. "We're in every night. Having sex."

Lindsay's hearing to be videotaped

Lindsay Lohan's next performance may be direct-to-video - despite her lawyer's efforts to stop the production. On Wednesday, and LA Superior Court judge denied Lohan's bid to bar a video camera from her upcoming deposition in a civil lawsuit involving a car crash to years ago. The ruling came after the strong objections of Lohan's attorney, who says he fears the video would be sold by one of many people who'd have access to it. "If a single picture of Ms. Lohan can sell for thousands of dollars, a videotape of the deposition will undoubtedly sell for tens of thousands of dollars, or more," her attorney wrote in court papers. He added that he believes the real purpose of videotaping is to "annoy Ms. Lohan and to attempt to gain a litigation advantage by causing her concern about the embarrassment of such a videotape." Lohan is to be deposed in a lawsuit brought by Raymundo Ortega, an LA busboy alleging the actress had been drinking when she crashed a black Mercedes-Benz convertible into his van in West Hollywood in 2005. Lohan's camp denies the allegations and is countersuing for $75,000.

Kirsten fronts Miu Miu campaign


Kirsten Dunst has signed on to front Miu Miu next season. The actress recently shot the spring/summer 2008 campaign. Miuccia Prada has always been fond of using celebrities for Miu Miu campaigns - previously casting Kim Basinger and Lindsay Lohan - although last season model Laeticia Casta starred in the ads. Miu Miu is set to expand further in the U.S. next year with new stores planned for New York and LA.

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Jake to play Joe Namath

Universal Pictures will turn the life of Joe Namath into a feature film, with Jake Gyllenhaal playing the Hall of Fame quarterback. The movie will tell the story of how the golden-armed kid became Broadway Joe, the New York Jets quarterback who became a 60s cultural figure. The handsome non-conformist became a sensation on the fields, in nightclubs and on Madison Avenue as the first star to become a magnet for commercials. "Most of the stuff you saw in Forest Gump, Joe lived through all of it," said the executive producer. He witnessed the struggle for civil rights in Alabama, the sexual revolution and Vietnam.
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Justin takes Drew home for Thanksgiving

Looks like Drew Barrymore and Justin Long are getting serious. The He's Just Not That Into You co-stars spent Thanksgiving with Long's family in his hometown of Fairfield, Conn. Then, on Friday, the couple kicked back at the nearby Southport Brewing Company. "They started out in the bar area and then moved to a booth, where they sat next to each other and kissed and hugged," said a witness. Long recently posted a new entry on his official website, saying he was headed to the East coast to see his "girlfriend" and spend Thanksgiving with his family. He also raved about Flower Films, Barrymore's production company.

Xtina's baby surprise

Mom-to-be Christina Aguilera is making like Demi and Britney - displayed her bare belly on the cover of the January issue of Marie Claire. Aguilera reveals in the interview that pregnancy wasn't really on her mind when she found out she and husband Jordan Bratman were expecting their first child. "We were planning on starting to try after the tour. And so, I had gone off the pill to prepare my body, because I didn't know how much time it would take," Aguilera says. "You've heard it takes some time - except with Power Egg and Super Sperm here. I'm like, oh, my God, can you believe it just happened?" Of continuing her grueling tour despite the pregnancy, Aguilera tells the mag, "I was paranoid. There are so many things that could go wrong - somebody could slip, somebody could fall, I could fall. There was no way in hell I was going to jeopardize my baby for my show." Her solution was to wear a carefully hidden heart monitor. When asked if she was upset when Paris Hilton publicly introduced her as "the most beautiful pregnant woman in the world" before she'd announced the news herself, the popstar says, "Because I hadn't said anything, people thought I was trying to keep this big, bad secret, and that's not the case at all. I just wasn't commenting. I'm not being like, 'Hey, everybody, I'm pregnant!' I'm not that girl."

Pierce Brosnan cleared of battery charges

Former James Bond star Pierce Brosnan won't face criminal charges over accusations that he struck a celebrity photographer in October, LA prosecutors said yesterday. "After a complete review of the investigation done by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, there is insufficient evidence to prove this case to a jury beyond a reasonable doubt," the LA County deputy district attorney said in court papers. Sheriff's officials said they had been investigating Brosnan over allegations he had committed battery. Authorities declined to give more details, but he had reportedly been accused of scuffling with a photog outside a Mexican restaurant in Malibu.

Spears 12 hours late to shoot video

Britney Spears upset dancers and the crew on the set of her "Pieces of Me" video by showing up 12 hours late to the shoot Tuesday at LA restaurant and nightclub Social Hollywood. Despite an 8 a.m. call time, Spears didn't leave her Beverly Hills home until after 7 p.m. after Kevin Federline's bodyguards picked up sons Sean Preston and Jayden James. She arrived on set around 8:35 p.m. "I've been there since 3 p.m. and have not shot a thing!" one dancer told Us mag. "I finally finagled my way out. It's all very unorganized. They are calling in more people for late night." In the video, Spears and four lookalikes - dress in black newsboy caps, sunglasses, black trench coats and short blonde wigs - try to trick the paparazzi. Spears used a "body double to shoot all the scenes that don't require her face," according to an on-set source. The shoot wrapped just after 5 a.m.

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Nicole opens up about pregnancy

With the birth of her first child just two months away, Nicole Richie says her pregnancy has helped her bond with her biological mother - and brought her closer to dad Lionel Richie. "When I found out that I was pregnant," she tells Access Hollywood, "there was just something inside of me that felt a responsibility to mend any issues that I've had with my parents in the past, because, listen, I've put them through a lot." Richie, 25, adds that she has spent time bonding with boyfriend Joel Madden's mother, and her dad, too. "[The baby] is all he talks about, actually," Richie jokes, adding that he doesn't want the baby to call him"grandpa." Though many of the gifts at Richie's baby shower indicated that Richie and Madden are expecting a boy, she says she and Joel are waiting to find out the sex of the baby. "I like to know everything," she says. "If he wasn't at every doctor's appointment, I probably would have found out by now just behind his back and not told him." In her interview, which airs in two parts on Tuesday and Wednesday, Richie says she and Madden are holding off on planning their wedding. "I got to hold something for when I get older," she says. "I can't have everything happen in one year."

Jessica hooks up with football player

On the two-year anniversary of her split from Nick Lachey, Jessica Simpson has a new man in her life: Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo. Romo has been linked in recent months to Sophia Bush, Britney Spears and Alli Sims. He has also dated Carrie Underwood. The singer, 27, spent Thanksgiving with Romo. She also showed up to watch him at a Texas home game Thanksgiving Day and referred to him as "my man" to friends. The new couple dined at the Dragonfly restaurant in the Hotel ZaZa in Dallas with Simpson's parents, Joe and Tina, and her friend and former assistant CaCee Cobb and her beau Donald Faison.
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Usher welcomes son


Usher and his wife Tameka Foster welcomed a baby boy on Monday night. While reps for the pair have not commented. once source says Usher was with his wife and new child Tuesday at an Atlanta hospital, and the family is expected to head home on Wednesday. No other details are available. The couple were married in a quiet civil ceremony in Atlanta on September 1.

Brit and KFed set holiday visitation schedule

Lawyers for Britney Spears and Kevin Federline faced off in a closed-door hearing Monday to hammer out a holiday visitation schedule for their children. Currently, Spears only has twice-weekly access to her sons, including an overnight. "There was a proposal by Kevin that the holidays be shared in a certain fashion. That was agreed to. That's the best for everyone involved," Federline's lawyer said. "[Federline] was pleased it was accomplished without really submitting it to the court." During Thanksgiving, Spears took Sean Preston and Jayden James to the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills for a brunch of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. The singer dropped them at Federline's home later that afternoon. Also at issue in court on Monday was the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services' request for access to the former couple's case file. A lawyer for the county was present in the courtroom, and requested that media be removed before he addressed the court. The couple's next scheduled hearing is for January 23. Meanwhile, production on Spears's new video for her single "Piece of Me" was set to begin this morning at 8 a.m. at Social Hollywood.

Nicole Kidman backs U.N. campaign

The United Nations women's agency launched a campaign Monday backed by actress Nicole Kidman to gather signatures on an internet petition rejecting violence against women and urging action to stop it. The launch of the petition titled "Say NO to violence against women" is part of a 16-day U.N.-backed campaign to raise awareness about the issue and urge governments to make it a priority. Kidman, a goodwill ambassador for UNIFEM, did not attend the launch at U.N. headquarters but said in a statement she was among the first to sign, calling violence against women "an appalling human rights violation."

Matt escapes fire; others not so lucky

Matthew McConaughey is "fine and back at home," his rep says, after he and his girlfriend were forced to flee his $10 million pad after the latest Malibu blaze Saturday. The actor was spotted grocery shopping in Beverly Hills with model galpal Camilla Alves on Saturday. When asked what brought them to the area, he told photographers, "The fires, man, the fires." Meanwhile, one of the Malibu homes owned by Chili Peppers bassist Flea was destroyed by the blaze. "There was confusion because Flea owns two homes in Malibu. The home he lives in did not burn down. The other home is for sale and did burn down," his rep confirmed. Flea had initially texted a Times reporter that his $10.5 million home "had burnt to a crisp," but his manager told KNX Newsradio that was not accurate.

KFed? Influential?

Kevin Federline, father of the year? Well, not quite, but Details mag has deemed Britney Spears's ex one of its "50 Most Influential Men Under 45." To be specific, Federline, 29, is listed in the No. 7 slot as a "good father" alongside Larry Birkhead. Federline, a father of four, tells the mag that "to be a father is...everything. It shows me how little I am." Little as he might be, his acting career is getting bigger, at least by Federline's standards. One lament: "I'd actually like to play somebody other than a bad guy or an ass," he says. On life with his kids, Federline admits, "My TVs are pretty much G-rated right now. Anything from SpongeBob to Finding Nemo, and you know, I'm still trying to decide which one I like more."

Monday, November 26, 2007

Youngest Hanson to be a dad

Zac Hanson, the youngest of the Hanson trio, and his wife Katie are expecting their first child in May. "I am utterly thrilled at the thought of becoming a father," says Zac, 22. "I can't wait to meet this person." Adds Katie, 23, "This is the most amazing time for us. It's the most romantic thing we've ever done." The newest addition to the Hanson family romper room will join Ezra, 5, Penelope, 2, River 1 (middle brother Taylor's children) and Everett, 7 months (eldest brother Isaac's son).

Britney caught running three stop signs


The driving drama continues for Britney Spears. Spears - who is already banned from driving with her sons Sean Preston and Jayden James - ran three stop signs Friday night, a new video obtained by Us mag shows (check it out here). In her white Mercedes SL65 with producer pal Sam Lufti, Spears was on her way home from the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills when she zoomed through two signs. As she approached a third stop sign, she slowed but didn't stop.

Did Paris profit from pirated pics?

A picture is worth a thousand words - and possibly several thousand dollars. Nicole Richie and Joel Madden held their baby shower at the Beverly Hills Hotel last Sunday, with exclusive coverage granted to InStyle mag. But early last week, pirated pics of the Wizard-of-Oz-themed party were being offered by a source to competing magazines. And one pal suspects Paris Hilton might have had something to do with it. "All the photos that were offered had Paris right in the center of them, as the star," says the insider. "They look set up." The pics, priced at around $3,000 to $4,000, did not sell since the celebrity tabloids closed early last week due to Thanksgiving. "None of the money would have been for Paris - for her it's about the attention," said the spy. Hilton's rep said, "Paris was a hostess of the shower, which a large number of people attended. Many of these guests were taking photos with camera phones...there is no way she had anything to do with this."

TomKat check out Spice Girls

The Spice Girls had some surprise visitors at rehearsals in LA recently when Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes along with baby Suri stopped by to wish them luck for the forthcoming tour. Cruise and Holmes enjoyed an impromptu audience with the girls and were treated to an exclusive performance, while Suri danced along to the music. "David and I are great friends with Tom and Katie," Victoria Beckham said afterwards. "It was lovely of them to come down to rehearsals, a really nice surprise. Katie has told me before that she used to be a big Spice fan so it was great for her to meet the girls." The Spice Girls reunion tour kicks of in Vancouver on December 2.

Oprah finally comments on plastic surgery death

After nearly two weeks of silence, Oprah Winfrey has finally responded to requests for comment on Dr. Jan Adams and why she promoted him on her show when he is not board-certified in plastic surgery. Adams was featured on Oprah in 2003 with other cosmetic surgeons. Investigations has revealed that Adams has a history of DUIs and malpractice suits, among other things. A rep for Oprah says, "Dr. Jan Adams appeared as a guest on the Oprah show just once, in 2003, as the host of the Discovery Health Channel series, Plastic Surgery Before and After. The show he appeared on focused on various television series that highlighted trends in cosmetic surgery. Since he was booked as a guest commentator on the subject of medical television, not in his capacity as a surgeon, and since we did not promote him as a cosmetic surgeon, there was no reason to do a background check on him. We have removed all references to him from our website." Adams performed several cosmetic procedures on Kanye West's mother the day before she died. He told TMZ that he "did nothing wrong."

Saturday, November 24, 2007

Jaime King weds

Actress and former model Jaime King and director Kyle Newman exchanged vows on Friday at Greystone Park and Manor in LA, King's rep confirms. The couple, who first met on the set of Fanboys, which Newman directed, selected the park for the nuptials because it was also the site of their first date more than a year ago. "I don't know why, but some part of me was instantly connected to him, and I loved him so much," 28-year-old King told InStyle Weddings. "It was intense. I never thought that would happen to me."

Hulk's wife surprises him with divorce

Linda Hogan has filed for divorce from her husband Hulk Hogan, the wrestler and reality star, a newspaper reported Friday. Hulk Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, told the St. Petersburg Times that he had no idea his wife had filed for divorce. He was informed by a reporter that Pinellas County court records showed that the paperwork was submitted Tuesday. "Thank you for the great information," he told the reporter. A family spokesperson referred calls to another spokesman Friday. "My wife has been inCalifornia for about three weeks... Holy smokes," Bollea later told the newspaper. "Wow, you just knocked the bottom out of me." The couple star in the VH1 reality series "Hogan Knows Best" with their two children. Recent episodes show the normally close couple attending marital counseling, but they eventually reconcile. On November 7, Hogan's son, 17-year-old Nick Bollea, was arrested on reckless driving charges after a car crash. Clearwater police say Bollea crashed his 1998 Toyota Supra on August 26 while street racing against a Dodge Viper driven by a friend. Bollea's passenger, John Graziano, was not wearing a seat belt and was critically injured. The Hogans moved to a $12 million bayfront estate on Miami Beach in 2006 so their children, Brooke and Nick, could pursue singing and acting careers.

Former Bachelor winner arrested

A former cheerleader for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who was proposed to on the reality show The Bachelor was accused of punching Byron Velvick, according to authorities. Mary Delgado was taken into custody just after midnight on Wednesday on a battery charge and was under the influence of alcohol when she was arrested. Delgado received a proposal on the show in 2004 from professional fisherman Velvick, and the two appeared together last Tuesday on a special episode of the current season of The Bachelor. The police affidavit does not name Delgado's fiance, but says the pair have lived together 'as a family' for the last three years. According to sheriff officials, Delgado was released Wednesday afternoon.

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Stars get into the holiday spirit

Kirk Douglas, Harrison Ford and other celebs shared the Thanksgiving spirit Wednesday by serving hot meals to homeless people on Skid Row. Wearing red aprons and plastic gloves, they stood alongside volunteers at the annual feast at the Los Angeles Mission, doling out turkey drumsticks, mashed potatoes and gravy, rolls, vegetables and pumpkin pie. Actresses Nia Long and Calista Flockheart and the Hills star Spencer Pratt were among others passing out almost 3,000 plates of food to lines of men, women and children. "It's very grounding," said Long, who dished out vegetables and rolls with her 7-year-old son. "I feel grateful for all the things I have." The air of festivity sparkled in contrast to the harshness of Skid Row, where hunger is the norm and sleeping bags dot the sidewalks. "[The celebrities'] involvement will help their souls as much as it helps the guest being served," said Douglas in a mission press release.

Brad pulls out of political flick

Brad Pitt has pulled out of Universal's political thriller State of Play because of script concerns. The move comes after a couple of weeks of meetings between Pitt and director Kevin MacDonald in an attempt to iron out the concerns. The script cannot be worked on because of the Hollywood screenwriters' strike. Universal is on the fast track to replace the star. Sources say the studio is looking at Johnny Depp, whose movie Shantaram was just postponed by Warner Bros., as well as Russell Crowe. Pitt was set to star with Edward Norton, Helen Mirren, Rachel McAdams, Jason Bateman and Robin Wright Penn in the adaptation of the British miniseries. He was to play a political consultant-turned-journalist who heads a newspaper's murder investigation involving a fast-rising politician (Norton). According to sources, the studio is mulling its legal options and might sue Pitt. Universal confirmed his departure in a statement: "Brad Pitt has left the Universal Pictures production of State of Play. We remain committed to this project and to the filmmakers, cast members, crew and others who are also involved in making the movie. We reserve all rights in this matter."

Happy fur-free holidays

Vegetarian and animal lover Christina Applegate is encouraging holiday shoppers not to buy fur for the holidays in a revealing PETA e-card. The Samantha Who star tells PETA that her house "has been basically a zoo" since childhood. "Everything I have has dog hair on it, and that's just the way it is," says the actress, who poses on the card wearing red gloves with green trim - and little else. Applegate says she turned vegetarian during lunch one day on the set of her former sitcom Married with Children when she was a teenager. "[I realized] I can't eat something that has been alive," she said. "So I stopped, and that was it. That was the last time."
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Wednesday, November 21, 2007

George takes Britney's side against paparazzi

George Clooney sympathizes with Britney Spears in her troubles with paparazzi. "You look at footage of Britney running the red light - there's eight guys with cameras at night in the middle of the street. There are no rules now," he told Entertainment Tonight. "It's getting to a point where people that are not involved are getting hurt." Clooney, who was involved in a near-collision with paparazzi November 16 while riding on his motorcycle in the Hollywood Hills, fears for his neighbors. "What they're doing is illegal, it's high speed chases and they're competing with each other," he says. "They're not trying to catch me doing something stupid, they're trying to create me doing something stupid. You don't get to break all these laws and then say, 'I'm just doing my job.' The guys that commit all these crimes are rewarded for it. It creates bounty hunters in a way." Clooney's advice for the paparazzi? "Take your pictures but don't go 60 mph down a one-way street. Don't cause injury to people who aren't involved."

Dennis Quaid's newborn twins in medical emergency

Dennis Quaid's newborn twins are in stable condition after being given an accidental drug overdose at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in LA. "This was a preventable error, involving a failure to follow our standard policies and procedures," said Dr. Michael L. Langberg, the chief medical officer of Cedars Sinai in a statement. "I want to extend my deepest apologies to the families who were affected by this situation." Quaid's rep also issued a statement, saying, "Dennis and [his wife] Kimberly appreciate everyone's thoughts and prayers and hope they can maintain their privacy at this difficult time." Thomas Boone and Zoe Grace - whom Quaid and his wife welcomed via a surrogate on November 8 - were given 10,000 units of Heparin, an anti-coagulant used to flush out IV lines and prevent blood clots this past Sunday and began to "bleed out." Babies typically get 10 units. "They are doing well, much better," the twins' grandmother told the New York Daily News. "I certainly am thankful for that." The newborns, who are in the hospital's neo-natal intensive care unit, are being given protamine sulfate, which reverses the effects of Heparin. Doctors are continuing to closely monitor the seven patients who were affected by the drug mix up. "We are conducting a comprehensive investigation, cooperating fully with the LA County Department of Health Services and will take all necessary steps to ensure that this never happens again," Langberg said.

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Superman to wed this weekend


Superman is getting ready to marry his Lois Lane. Brandon Routh will wed longtime sweetheart Courtney Ford on Saturday at the Santa Barbara ranch of his Superman Returns producer Jon Peters. The wedding will take place on one of the spread's mountaintops. Expected guests include Kate Bosworth, Kevin Spacey, Winona Ryder, Mickey Rourke and Ashley Olsen. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has reportedly closed the airspace around the ranch.

Johnny Depp flick delayed

Johnny Depp is the latest A-list actor to fall victim to the WGA strike. Depp was scheduled to film Shantaram - an adaptation of Gregory David Roberts's novel - in the winter, but the project has now been postponed. Among the reasons the film has been delayed is that the script was not in the shape the filmmakers wanted and the current strike prohibits any revisions. Budgetary concerns were also a factor. Shantaram's budget was heading north of $75 million, outside the studio's comfort zone for the drama set in India and Afghanistan. The story revolves around an Australian heroin addict convicted of robbery who escapes from a maximum-security prison, flees to India and reinvents himself as a doctor in the slums of Bombay. He gets involved in counterfeiting, smuggling and gunrunning, which leads him to Afghanistan, where he and a mob boss battle the Russians. Also on hold for Depp is The Rum Diary, an adaptation of the Hunter S. Thompson novel.

Monday, November 19, 2007

Mary-Kate hospitalized


Mary-Kate Olsen has been hospitalized with a kidney infection. The actress entered the emergency room of a New York hospital on Monday. "Mary-Kate got a kidney infection," her rep said. "She's resting comfortably and will be released in the next day or so."

Britney involved in counterfeit lawsuit; takes "security" precautions

Luxury goods maker Louis Vuitton has won a lawsuit accusing Britney Spears of violating counterfeiting laws by showcasing a pink Vuitton-upholstered dashboard in a music video. A Paris civil court ordered Sony BMG and MTV Online to stop broadcasting or marketing the video for "Do Something" in any form and fined them each $117,000, a spokesperson for Louis Vuitton said Monday. The ruling was handed down last week. In the opening scenes of the clip, Spears appears in the driver's seat of a hot pink Hummer floating on make-believe clouds. One shot shows fingers drumming on a dashboard covered with what looks like Vuitton's Cherry Blossoms design: dark pink blossoms on a pale pink, weblike background, embossed with the LV logo. The court did not find Spears guilty but ruled Sony BMG and MTV Online were guilty of violating counterfeiting laws. The ruling said the video constituted an "attack" on Louis Vuitton's brands and its luxury image, according to the spokesperson. It was not immediately clear how the ban would be enforced or whether the companies would appeal.

In other Spears news... After Friday's hearing in which a judge ordered that Britney Spears is not allowed to drive with her children in the car, the popstar's lawyer has released a statement saying the decision to use a driver was one that Spears made to protect her kids. "Ms. Spears hopes that she and Mr. Federline will be able to reach an agreement as to all matters concerning their children," said Spears's attorney. "She hopes that by not commenting on court proceedings the media attention in those proceedings will subside, which she requests for the safety and well-being of the children." And, in a thinly veiled reference to recent incidents in which Spears ran over the feet of paparazzi, her lawyer added, "Recent aggressive actions by individuals who have followed her and blocked her access, with and without the children, have resulted in her decision to take certain security measures which she hopes will only be necessary temporarily, for the protection of the children. Ms. Spears is grateful for and appreciates the support and well wishes of the many, many people who have extended same."

Nicole and Joel's good deed

Nicole Richie is using her Wizard of Oz-themed baby shower to benefit charity. Richie and boyfriend Joel Madden will donate baby gifts to 100 expectant families in need through the newly-formed Richie Madden Foundation via the LA Free Clinic. "It's really sweet," says shower guest Rashida Jones of The Office. "With all the swag these days, we're given so much stuff it's almost wasteful, and it's kind of nice when we're giving to each other to give to someone else." While many friends at Sunday's shower in Beverly Hills donated gifts to the charity, they also brought gifts for Nicole and Joel to keep - including one children's book from every guest to help build the baby's library.

Jonathan Rhys Meyers arrested

Actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers was arrested Sunday afternoon at the Dublin airport in Ireland, facing charges of public drunkenness and breach of the peace as he tried to board a plane to England. Rhys Meyers, 30, was refused permission to board a London-bound flight when police confronted him twice after erratic, abusive behavior at an airport gate and at a desk of the British airline BMI. Dublin Airport Police said they called Ireland's national police force after Rhys repeatedly refused requests to calm down. The actor and star of Showtime's The Tudors was held for a short time, charged under Ireland's Public Order Act and released on his own bail. He is due in court for his arraignment December 5.
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Clooney donates cash to striking writers

George Clooney has opened his wallet for his fellow artists, donating $25,000 to writers hurting from the recent strike. The actor gave the money to the New York-based Actors Fund, which provides emergency relief for workers in the entertainment industry. He said he plans to make periodic donations to the fund and asked other stars to do the same. "My hope is that people who can afford it will take responsibility for this and help out," Clooney said of the deed.

Jennifer in talks to do comedy

Jennifer Garner is in final negotiations to star opposite Ricky Gervais in the indie comedy This Side of the Truth, a film is set in a world where lying doesn't exist. The story centers on Everyman (Gervais), who figures out how to lie and uses his newfound ability to woo a beautiful woman way out of his league (Garner) and become a success at work. The script was co-penned by Gervais. Garner is currently starring in Cyrano de Bergerac opposite Kevin Kline and will next be seen in Fox Searchlight's Juno, which unspools December 5. In February, she is scheduled to begin filming Ghosts of Girlfriends Past with Matthew McConaughey.

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Happy anniversary, TomKat!

Congratulations to Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes for making it through their first year of marriage. The pair wed on November 18, 2006 in Italy.

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