The must- bookmark blog for your daily dose of celeb- centric news, irreverent analysis and the best celeb-tracking community on the Web.
RSS Feed
Archive: January 2007
When Child Stars Attack Grow Up
Two of the planet's most sacred child stars have done the unthinkable: started to grow up. Daniel Radcliffe poses in a promotional shot for 'Equus.' (AP) First, celluloid darling Dakota Fanning caught major fan backlash after a film depicting Fanning as a 12-year-old rape victim premiered at Sundance last week. The movie, "Hounddog," has been decried as child abuse and even inspired an online petition seeking the arrest of Fanning's mother and agent. Then, yesterday, 17-year-old Daniel Radcliffe -- yes, geeky, awkward and universally adored Harry Potter -- showed us he's all grown up in some racy equestrian shots released to promote his performance in a London stage production of "Equus." Parents are verklempt -- some British moms and dads say no more Hogwarts yarns for their little ones. Said one: "We as parents feel Daniel should not appear nude. Our nine-year-old son looks up to him as a role...
By Liz | January 31, 2007; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (0)
Morning Mix: Brandy Sued for $50 Million in Crash
Headlines: Brandy sued for $50 million by family of car crash victim... Isaiah Washington returning to "Grey's Anatomy" set... Video: Tyra Banks puts the bathing suit back on... "SNL" alum Kevin Nealon and wife welcome baby boy... Teri Polo signs up for third "Fockers" film... Author Sidney Sheldon dead at 89... Bruce Willis settles extortion lawsuit... Rapper The Game pleads not guilty to impersonating a police officer... Sacha Baron Cohen sued by Israeli comic for catchphrase. Rumor Mill: K-Fed turns down $25 million divorce settlement offer... Britney Spears's new boyfriend buys her a week's worth of underwear... Mike Tyson joins Lindsay Lohan at Wonderland rehab center... Miss USA Tara Conner to admit she snorted cocaine... Dustin Diamond (Screech!) wreaks havoc on set of reality show (note: graphic language)... Justin Timberlake spends weekend snowboarding with Jessica Biel... Courtney Love to replace Paula Abdul on "American Idol"?... Liz Hurley leaves Hugh Grant...
By Liz | January 31, 2007; 7:53 AM ET | Comments (24)
Hilary Duff: The New Lindsay?
We'll call this the 'before' picture. (Getty Images) Is Hilary Duff gunning to be the Lindsay Lohan of 2007? The newly-single Duffster (she recently split with Good Charlotte's Joel Madden, now linked with Nicole Richie) left quite an impression on fellow party people at hot Los Angeles night club Hyde (you may remember Hyde in relation to Paris, Tara and Lindsay) when she gave every appearance of acting like a drunk underage starlet (you may remember this behavior in relation to Paris, Tara and Lindsay). One source tells Us Weekly Online: "She [Duff] was pretty drunk and staggering around the bathroom, bumping into people and shrieking [about her gay friend]..." Quite a contrast from last week's interview with the Houston Chronicle, when Duff said: "When you're young, you don't always fit in, and you have all these unanswered questions. You have to remember your family loves you. Be smart...
By Liz | January 30, 2007; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (0)
Morning Mix: Brother Says Jacko Should Convert to Islam
Headlines: Police say Brandy should be charged in fatal crash... Jermaine Jackson wants brother Michael to convert to Islam... Paris Hilton files lawsuit against Web site... Helen Mirren says David Beckham would make a great (silent) film star... Daniel Radcliffe ("Harry Potter") loses his clothes for London stage show... Gwen Stefani says she's obsessed with weight... Ben Stiller, Scarlett Johansson honored with Hasty Pudding awards... Gwyneth Paltrow sticks up for Lindsay Lohan... CBS cancels "Armed & Famous"... Obi Wan Kenobi's cloak up for auction... Supermodel Niki Taylor sues E! over profile. Rumor Mill: Diddy denies rumors of romance with Sienna Miller... Jessica Simpson and John Mayer to "come out" at Grammy Awards... Heather Mills to appear on "Desperate Housewives?"... Man has surgery to look like Bruce Willis... Larry Birkhead says Anna Nicole Smith had to lock out lawyer... Donald Trump says Britney Spears should get back to work... Lance Bass...
By Liz | January 30, 2007; 7:59 AM ET | Comments (0)
Comment Box: Brandy, Tom Cruise and Our Fantasies
RE: the Brandy accident/fatality incident... Why did it take nearly a month before this news came out? Doesn't California have local newspapers who do routine checks on the crime blotter? How could something like this pass them by. Of course, it's convenient now that Brandy's publicist is going to offer condolences. Heck, she's forced to now that the incident has gone public. -- Cynthia T. Cynthia, it is pretty shocking -- considering the 24/7 paparazzi news coverage cycle -- that we didn't hear about a very serious car crash involving Brandy until almost a month after it took place on Dec. 30, 2006. And you're not the only one wondering why we're just finding out about it. According to entertainment news wire WENN, the attorney representing the husband of the woman killed in the incident criticized Los Angeles authorities for not making the investigation of the crash a priority and...
By Liz | January 29, 2007; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (0)
Morning Mix: Angelina Jolie's Mother Dies
Greg Kinnear supports 'Little Miss Sunshine' co-star Abigail Breslin at Sunday night's SAG Awards. (AP) Headlines: Angelina Jolie's mother dies of cancer... Helen Mirren, Forest Whitaker top SAG Awards; Julie Andrews receives lifetime achievement award... Katie Holmes won't be part of "Batman" sequel; opts for heist flick with Queen Latifah... Sacha Baron Cohen ("Borat") named one of Britain's most influential men... Paula Abdul named Woman of the Year (by Nevada Ballet Theatre)... Miss USA Tara Conner says she's an alcoholic... J.Lo says her father's been a Scientologist for 20 years... Kelly Ripa plans to get Botox injections live on TV... David Beckham pictured in cheesy Disney ad campaign... Michael Imperioli ("Sopranos") says Tae Kwon Do changed his life... Baby Spice Emma Bunton expecting her own bundle of joy... From Freddy Mercury to the Ramones, several musician biopics in the pipeline... B.B. King released from Texas hospital... "Monster Garage" host...
By Liz | January 29, 2007; 7:41 AM ET | Comments (15)
Friday List: Picture This
The Brady Bunch -- Alice, Carol, Bobby, Marsha, Peter, Cindy, Mike, Greg, Jan and Cousin Liz. (Photo illustration by Liz Kelly) When I was six I had a serious desire to live with the Brady Bunch. The groovy Brady homestead rocked (I so wanted Greg Brady's teen attic pad with a beaded curtain instead of a real door) and despite some slight intervention from Carol, Mike, and Alice, the Brady household was ruled by a sort of "Lord of the Flies" childhood law. I would be cousin Liz, the cool, accepted seventh Brady -- not a bad-luck magnet like that dorky Cousin Oliver. As a pre-teen, I yearned to attend Eastland Academy with Blair, Tootie, Jo, Natalie and the other girls on "Facts of Life," wear cute uniforms and escape the awkward reality of junior high in Pemberton, N.J. By high school, I was so jonesing to be a...
By Liz | January 26, 2007; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (128)
Morning Mix: Kidman in On-set Car Crash
Headlines: Nicole Kidman fine after on-set car crash (video)... Bruce Willis bruised on "Die Hard" set... Miss USA Tara Conner to tell all on "Today"... Gwyneth Paltrow apologizes to kids for not being Britney Spears... In a moment of clarity, Sienna Miller says she's only famous for her romance with Jude Law... Elizabeth Taylor contributes to Hillary Clinton's campaign... Spike Lee directing drama pilot for NBC... Special Olympics praises "American Idol" for equal-opportunity bashing; Season one runner-up Justin Guarini surfaces on "Idol" commentary show... Michael Jackson says he digs Japan enough to charge fans money to meet him... James Brown's children say singer's estate was mismanaged... Muhammad Ali buys home near Louisville... B.B. King hospitalized for undisclosed reasons in Texas. Rumor Mill: Lindsay Lohan spotted taking another break from rehab... George Clooney and Pamela Anderson? No way... Kate Hudson and Owen Wilson back together?... "Girls Gone Wild" creator tried to...
By Liz | January 26, 2007; 7:58 AM ET | Comments (3)
Tyra Banks: A Lot to Love
Tyra Banks (right) shakes it for Janet Jackson. (AP) There's so much love floating around this blog lately, I'm starting to feel like a Care Bear (this one, actually). Yesterday I gushed about Mark Wahlberg and today I can't seem to stop myself from praising Tyra Banks, who in defiance of her kooky/corny talk show persona, went and said something sensible. Here's what Banks did to deserve such a big Valentine: In the latest issue of People the 161-pound former supermodel strikes back at tabloids that ran a photo of her in a bathing suit accompanied by the headline "America's Next Top Waddle." Says Banks: "I get so much mail from young girls who say, 'I look up to you, you're not as skinny as everyone else, I think you're beautiful.' So when they say that my body is 'ugly' and 'disgusting,' what does that make those girls feel...
By Liz | January 25, 2007; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (72)
Morning Mix: Brandy Involved in Fatal Car Crash
Headlines: Singer Brandy involved in fatal car crash... "Grey's Anatomy's" Isaiah Washington enters treatment facility... Ivana Trump says Donald/Rosie feud is all hype... Restaurant group calls K-Fed Super Bowl ad insulting... Katie Holmes, Posh Spice take on Paris (France, not Hilton)... Dakota Fanning lashes out at criticism of new movie... Anne Heche splits with husband after five years of marriage (is an on-set romance to blame?)... Tom Cruise, John Travolta on list of biggest celeb eco-sinners... Child star Jackie Earl Haley ("Little Children") jubilant over Oscar nomination... Keith Urban plans 33-city American tour... Van Halen reuniting with Diamond David Lee Roth for summer tour... Wu-Tang Clan working on new album... Snoop Dogg pleads not guilty to weapons possession charges... Pop singer Pete Burns (Dead or Alive) sues over botched lip implants (Warning: graphic photo). Rumor Mill: Was Oprah Winfrey the target of a racial rant from Rachael Ray?... Jennifer Aniston...
By Liz | January 25, 2007; 7:58 AM ET | Comments (22)
In Praise of Marky Mark
Mark Wahlberg at last week's Golden Globe Awards. (Getty Images) From time to time I like to take a step back from my daily diet of Tara Reid pictures (a friend dubbed this one "Skank Sandwich") and press releases for events like the "Twelve Hours of Diddy" party ("There is no doubt that Miami is one of the hottest cities in America for the grown and sexy looking to party." Puh-leeze.) to muse about someone who needs no press release, no crude photo ops to generate buzz. So today I'd like to take a moment to give thanks for Mark Wahlberg -- guy's guy, eye candy, solid actor, producer and, now, Academy Award nominee for his supporting role in "The Departed." From his early days rapping with the Funky Bunch and baring his abs and his undies for Calvin Klein, it was obvious that Marky Mark was not destined...
By Liz | January 24, 2007; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (50)
Morning Mix: Is Cruise the 'Christ' of Scientology?
Headlines: Paternity test for Anna Nicole Smith's baby put on hold; Smith sends ex Larry Birkhead an f-word laced instant message... Madame Tussauds unveils wax Beckhams, reality show may be in the works... New Web site offers visitors a look at Paris Hilton's personal items... Isaac Hayes says he won't return to "South Park." Rumor Mill: Tom Cruise is the "Christ" of Scientology... K-Fed wants Britney Spears to go into rehab... Jessica Simpson accompanying boyfriend John Mayer on tour... Christina Aguilera paid $1.5 million for private gig... Mandy Moore and DJ AM take their romance public... Jessica Biel and Derek Jeter split?... Hugh Hefner says Kelly Osbourne too imperfect for Playboy... Bill Clinton dodges overzealous fan at book party. Quote of the Day: "If you fail the first time, try try try try try try try again." - Academy Award nominee Peter O'Toole on his nomination (More Nominee Reactions)...
By Liz | January 24, 2007; 7:59 AM ET | Comments (23)
Courtney's Love Connection
Courtney Love. (Getty Images) Strange portents come in many forms. For instance, surely some major shift to the fabric of the universe is responsible for Courtney Love's foray into online dating. The widow of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain says she was basically rejected by online dating powerhouse eHarmony.com. Writes Love on her Web site: "Gurss what? After an hour plus of this thing they tell me that two percent of thier 'Cliermnts ar elike me and there was noone for me." Spelling issues aside, suspension of disbelief is needed to seamlessly merge the formerly fierce Hole front woman and the most vanilla of matchmaking services into a comprehensible thought. One recoils. The reaction is not dissimilar to, say, seeing John Travolta in drag. Does not compute. Once the concept is digested, though, Love's online search for romance isn't all that shocking. She's a middle-aged single mom who has spent...
By Liz | January 23, 2007; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (23)
Morning Mix: Paris Hilton Gets Probation for DUI Arrest
Headlines: Paris Hilton gets three years probation for DUI arrest... Isaiah Washington meets with gay rights activists, fires publicist; ABC execs considering next steps... Miss USA Tara Conner checks out of rehab... Mandy Moore says she struggles with depression... Keith Urban talks about rehab, praises wife Nicole Kidman (video)... Keira Knightley sues British tabloid for anorexia claims... Sharon Stone's "Basic Instinct 2" nominated for seven Razzies... Billy Joel to sing the national anthem at next month's Super Bowl. Rumor Mill: Did Suri Cruise already celebrate her first birthday?... Billy Ray Cyrus, Ian Ziering set for "Dancing With the Stars"... Heidi Klum and Seal decorate house with revealing portraits... Make way Bogey, Clive Owen to take on Philip Marlowe... Guy Ritchie to direct ABC series pilot... Jennifer Connelly and Paul Bettany consider African adoption... Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox to lock lips on "Dirt"... Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher drop plans for "Graduate"...
By Liz | January 23, 2007; 7:46 AM ET | Comments (12)
The Great American Pastime: Fallen Idols
Late last week, news broke that "American Idol" hopeful Thomas Daniels has a -- gasp! -- past. Who? For those who watched, you'll remember Daniels as contestant no. 81045 -- the 22-year-old guy with an with an afro, easy smile and tweed jacket who, before wowing judges with his rendition of Amos Lee's "Arms of a Woman," says he slept behind a dumpster. If you didn't watch, think of him as the one who was not a complete freak. Take a second and watch his initial "Idol" appearance: His audition falling roughly somewhere between an albino Bettie Page badly in need of new bra and several sociopathic Napoleon Dynamites with disconcerting voices and stalker potential, Daniels stood out not only as the kind of guy who might just go the distance, but the perfect antidote to last season's winner, Taylor Hicks. Then, on Friday, TMZ.com -- the AOL-backed site specializing...
By Liz | January 22, 2007; 10:41 AM ET | Comments (20)
Morning Mix: Report -- Britney Breaks Up With That Guy
Tara Reid, showing off her new overly-tanned platinum-tressed raccoon-eyed wookie-jacket look at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. (AP) Headlines: James Brown's body moved to undisclosed location... Pam Anderson protests proposed Col. Sanders postage stamp... "Idol" judges say they're no crueler than before... Teen sentenced to jail for stalking Hilary Duff... Supermodel Gisele Bundchen says families are to blame for anorexia... Leonardo DiCaprio wanted to quit acting after "Titanic"... Talking Steve Irwin action figure headed to store shelves... Actress Keri Russell ("Felicity") and Jenna Elfman ("Dharma and Greg") expecting first children... What is Diddy looking at?... Dustin Diamond ("Screech") crashes Sundance... Anna Nicole Smith sued by former lawyers. Rumor Mill: Britney Spears ends three-week-old relationship with guy whose name we no longer need remember... Heather Mills denies divorce settlement report... Did rejection drive Lindsay Lohan into rehab?... Justin Timberlake parties with Alyssa Milano... Alec Baldwin says he's...
By Liz | January 22, 2007; 7:11 AM ET | Comments (21)
Friday List: Worst-Rhyming Lyrics Ever?
Bob Dylan: King of rock or ruiner of rhymes? (AP) Today's Friday list may have a detrimental side effect: There is a slight risk of getting sub-par song lyrics stuck in your head. This is a risk we must take, however, if we are to consider and expand on Cracked.com's list of the 20 worst rhymes in pop music history. The list contains a few real stinkers -- "I'm like a bowl of gumbo/You ain't hotter than this/I'm what they play in the clubo" (Mariah Carey, "Don't Stop" ) -- and gives top honors to Bob Dylan for his "contacts"/"lumberjacks"-rhyming "Ballad of a Thin Man." But I'm not convinced that the bulk of the songs on the list have committed any grave transgression. This is pop music we're talking about, so Jimmy Buffett's "flip flop"/"pop top" rhyme in "Margaritaville" doesn't detract from the experience (which, for the record, is...
By Liz | January 19, 2007; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (167)
Morning Mix: Oprah Talks About Teenage Pregnancy
Headlines: Oprah Winfrey, J.K. Rowling top list of richest women in entertainment... Oprah talks about teenage pregnancy... Isaiah Washington apologizes for inserting his foot in his homophobic mouth... Robert Redford demands an apology for Iraq war... Lindsay Lohan's mom says "everything is under control"... Mischa Barton says the "The O.C." was doomed without her... Naomi Campbell to guest star on "Ugly Betty"; former maid launches civil case against supermodel... Liza Minnelli, David Gest agree to no fault divorce... Madame Tussauds unveils "American Idol" wax figures... "Idol" hopeful Tommy Daniels has DUI, hit-and-run charges on record... Kelly Clarkson partners with NASCAR... Ted Nugent offends Texas inaugural ball attendees... Judge orders Jerry Seinfeld to pay $100,000 to real estate agent. Rumor Mill: Britney Spears uninvited to Austrian ball... Diddy denied entry to post-Globes party... Ryan Seacrest says Angelina Jolie was mean to him... Brad Pitt mistakes reporter for Globe winner Jennifer Hudson......
By Liz | January 19, 2007; 8:52 AM ET | Comments (17)
Britney vs. K-Fed: You Be the Judge
Remember last summer when we buzzed about Matt Lauer's interview of a seemingly unhinged Britney Spears? We were shocked at her dismissal of driving with an infant on her lap and even Robin Givhan was moved enough to write about Britney's move to the trashier end of the fashion spectrum. Britney vs. K-Fed. (AP) Well, here we are a mere 17 days into the new year and Spears has gone way past unhinged and trashy to somewhere around out of control and Anna Nicole territory. Did she pass out on New Year's Eve? Did she spend $40,000 on a one-night hotel stay? Did she puke in her new boyfriend's hands? And -- the latest -- is she pregnant again? The pregnancy rumor has been denied by Brit's people, but the rest is more or less true. Spears spends more time at nightclubs than with her newborn; she's managed to find...
By Liz | January 18, 2007; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (0)
Morning Mix: Lindsay Lohan Checks Into Rehab
Headlines: Lindsay Lohan checks herself into rehab following all-night post-Globes partying... T.R. Knight discusses Isaiah Washington incident; gay advocacy group demands apology from Washington... Fake Britney Spears song pops up on YouTube... Donald Trump blames "the media" for protracted Rosie O'Donnell spat... Liev Schreiber takes on four-episode "CSI" role... Salma Hayek says her dog saved her life... Photo: Mary-Kate Olsen rocks a table cloth... Teri Hatcher says she's "totally in love" with new boyfriend, director Stephen Kay... ReganBooks (almost publisher of O.J.'s "If I Did It") disbanded... David Alan Grier to host new comedy series... Rachael Ray's talk show renewed for two more years... British singer James Blunt moving to Switzerland... David Caruso ("CSI Miami") finalizes divorce from wife of eight years... James Brown still unburied as estate battle continues. Rumor Mill: Courteney Cox and Brad Pitt make peace at Globes after party... Paris Hilton to be paid $1 million...
By Liz | January 18, 2007; 7:56 AM ET | Comments (0)
Reality Check: B-List Stars Joining the Fray
The Diceman cometh... again. (Photo courtesy VH1) With "Flavor of Love" drawing monster ratings, it's no surprise that production companies are saturating the airwaves with even more burnt-out stars living their lives or thrown into unlikely situations. Below, a handful of new offerings: Armed & Famous Post TV critic Tom Shales describes CBS's attempt to horn in on the celeb-reality game thusly: "The show, which exists mainly to be ridiculed, features five feeble excuses for stars pretending to learn how to pretend to be policemen on the Muncie force." Those five feeble excuses, by the way, are Jack Osbourne (Ozzy's son), Jason "Wee-Man" Acuna ("Jackass"), Trish Stratus (pro wrestler), LaToya Jackson (questionable) and Erik Estrada ("CHiPs"). (Airing now on CBS) Shooting Sizemore Well, it's about time someone turned a junkie's home movies into a series. The premise: Character actor Tom Sizemore ("Saving Private Ryan," "Black Hawk Down") tries to...
By Liz | January 17, 2007; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (17)
Morning Mix: Brangelina Moving to New Orleans
Headlines: Brangelina moving to New Orleans... Paula Abdul blames bizarre interview (see yesterday's Morning Mix) on audio snafu... Naomi Campbell pleads guilty to assault in cell phone throwing case... Keith Urban out of rehab, planning tour... Katherine Heigl upset with "Grey's Anatomy" co-star Isaiah Washington... Michael J. Fox to attend State of the Union next week... Courtney Love developing movie about dead husband Kurt Cobain... Jay-Z's Rocawear faux fur is actually raccoon-dog... Kevin Federline to "star" in Super Bowl ad... Denzel Washington tops list of America's favorite movie stars... Nick Lachey, Eva Mendes named "Fun Fearless Male and Female of the Year" (huh?)... Donald Trump gets star on Hollywood Walk of Fame... Bahamian officials plan formal inquiry into death of Daniel Smith... Daughter says Paul Sorvino pulled gun on ex-boyfriend... R. Kelly drops suit over security shack... Tara Reid set to produce movie. Rumor Mill: Is Britney Spears pregnant again?...
By Liz | January 17, 2007; 7:59 AM ET | Comments (22)
Hollywood's Best Night
Harbingers of spring take many forms -- bulbs peeking through barren flower beds, groundhogs ripped from underground hideaways and, for folks like me, the Hollywood awards season. This last phenomenon officially kicked off last night as the beautiful, the buzzed about and even the Borats gathered as the Hollywood Foreign Press Association handed out the Golden Globes. For many awards devotees, me included, the Globes are a favored treat. There is a casual, nurturing aura organic to the event, as if no one is unwelcome -- not even TV stars or Sharon Stone -- and no fashion flub is really that dire -- even Cameron Diaz's stark new look or Jeremy Irons's pajama tux ensemble. The round tables, the free-flowing alcohol and the constant background conversation give the night a familial feeling. We know this scene. This is a cousin's wedding, a favorite uncle's wake. We are bemused by Abigail...
By Liz | January 16, 2007; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (0)
Morning Mix: Britney's $40K Vegas Night
Headlines: Britney Spears spends $40,000 night in Las Vegas (and what's this all about?)... O.J. Simpson says scrapped book was not a confession... Jennifer Aniston to guest star on "Dirt" season finale... Johnny Depp wants to make film about poisoned Russian ex-spy, but not if Michael Mann does it first... Prince Harry to enter combat zone training... Jenna Jameson thinks Scarlett Johansson would make a fabulous Jenna Jameson... Fans worry after Kylie Minogue cancels concerts... Sylvester Stallone hits Liverpool soccer field... Bon Jovi to play at Pennsylvania governor's inauguration... Andy Warhol's Long Island estate sells after almost six years on the market... Pregnant Miss New Jersey gives up crown. All About the Globes: "Babel," "Dreamgirls" win top honors... Scan the full list of winners... Photo Gallery, backstage video... The Post's William Booth sets the scene from Los Angeles... Review the play-by-play with post.com's Jen Chaney... White gowns rule the red...
By Liz | January 16, 2007; 7:46 AM ET | Comments (0)
Celebritology Clip n' Save: How to Live In America (If You're a British Soccer Star or His Wife)
The Beckhams are coming to America. Becks -- international soccer star, Mr. Posh and all around pretty boy -- is reportedly set to sign a five-year $250 million dollar contract with the MLS's L.A. Galaxy soccer team. This is apparently some kind of big deal for American soccer, as ably explained by The Post's Steven Goff and Dan Steinberg, but I'm more interested in seeing if Becks and Posh will be able to bend it like Brangelina -- meaning, how will these two English roses react to the hot Hollywood climate? Victoria and David Beckham, California bound. (AP) Hoping to ease their trip across the pond, I've called on celebrity advice SWAT team member Lisa Todorovich to help me come up with a few tips for the transplants. 1. No matter what, stay away from Paris Hilton. Her tastes tend to run more to fallen pop stars and Greek shipping...
By Liz | January 12, 2007; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (0)
Morning Mix: Beckhams Lead New British Invasion
Headlines: David Beckham (and Posh) coming to America; will he be good for American soccer?... Cameron Diaz and Justin Timberlake confirm breakup rumors... James Brown's five-year-old son not included in will... "Grey's Anatomy" star Patrick Dempsey credits counseling for keeping his marriage together... Madonna says she saved Malawian boy's life, slams British paparazzi... Britney Spears adopts new puppy... Steve Martin penning memoir... Christina Aguilera developing perfume... Bindi Irwin makes TV debut; Terri Irwin says Croc Hunter's death tape destroyed... Tara Reid does a little work down under... "Basic Instinct 2" wins Moldy Tomato Award for worst-reviewed film of 2006... Brat Packer Anthony Michael Hall taped dropping the N-word. Rumor Mill: Is Jon Stewart teaming up with washingtonpost.com?... Supposedly strapped for cash, K-Fed tries to return clothes Britney gave him... TomKat fear for Suri's safety; Scientology kept Andrea Bocelli away from wedding ceremony... What's the deal with Angelina Jolie's bulging veins?......
By Liz | January 12, 2007; 7:39 AM ET | Comments (0)
Rosie and Donald -- Enough Already!
It was Rosie O'Donnell, I believe, who first took Donald Trump to task for presuming to act as the "moral compass" for young American women. To paraphrase, she asked how this man -- who had two divorces and some possible extra-marital affairs under his belt -- could presume to decide what constitutes acceptable behavior for Miss USA, to whom he granted a second chance after she was caught doing a little underage drinking. I agreed with Rosie at the time, but like most Americans, assumed Trump was exploiting the Tara Conner incident to buy the pageant (which he owns) and himself a little time in the sun. But three weeks later, this thing has had enough sun to cause first-degree burns and instead of consolidating support for her initial good read of the situation, Rosie has lost all credibility, and proved herself to be as petty and headline-hungry as Trump....
By Liz | January 11, 2007; 10:42 AM ET | Comments (0)
Morning Mix: Is Lindsay's Liver OK?
Headlines: Barbara Walters calls Donald Trump a "poor, pathetic man"; Trump responds, calling Walters "sad figurehead dominated by a third-rate comedian"... Geraldo Rivera calls Keith Olbermann "midget... punk... slimeball"... Adoption advocates annoyed with Angelina Jolie's comments... Anthony Pellicano wiretaps reveal Kerokorian's ex-wife wanted to have him killed... Oprah to host Oscar special... The K-Fed Army of One: Director John Waters says he loves Federline's music... "Lost's" Matthew Fox calls himself "phenomenally manipulative"... Pregnant "Housewife" Marcia Cross placed on bed rest... Katey Sagal a mom at 52 (with the help of a surrogate)... Meryl Streep to star in big-screen version of Abba musical "Mamma Mia"... Film exec says Peter Jackson won't direct "The Hobbit"... With Whitney Houston gone, Bravo cancels "Being Bobby Brown"... David Gest to get own reality show (in the U.K.)... George Michael pleads innocent to driving charges... Gary Glitter may get early prison release... "Munsters" star Yvonne De...
By Liz | January 11, 2007; 7:49 AM ET | Comments (0)
Wanted: A Little Reality for Britney
Help me help her. (AP) Oh my god, y'all: As mentioned briefly in yesterday's morning mix, a Miami production company may be hiring supporting cast for a new Britney Spears reality show. This want ad (scroll down) was purportedly posted to Miami's Craigslist sometime on Sunday, though I can't seem to find it online now. Still, Britney Spears doing another reality show (the first was "Chaotic") falls into the realm of the believable, almost more believable than any chance of a 2007 musical comeback for the self-destructing singer. The show concept apparently places a succession of average fans as Spears's personal assistant -- 24 hours a day for five straight days: Your job will be to give her guidance, perception and help her with comeback. For this 16 week audition/interview, we are looking for 8 males and 8 females to compete for a position on Britney's new team. The...
By Liz | January 10, 2007; 10:42 AM ET | Comments (41)
Morning Mix: Paris and Britney Top Worst-Dressed List
Headlines: Britney Spears, Paris Hilton share Mr. Blackwell's "worst dressed" title... Hilton pleads innocent to drunk driving charge... Spears spends weekend boating with mystery man... Donald Trump sends letter to Rosie O'Donnell, calls Barbara Walters dishonest... Prince William's girlfriend Kate Middleton turns 25; finds herself at center of media storm... Howard Stern earns $83 million bonus for bringing fans to satellite radio... James Brown unburied as family argues over burial site... Clive Owen is the new face of Lancome men's products... 50 Cent planning to launch line of condoms... Fans snap up items at Whitney Houston wardrobe auction (but were the items really Houston's?)... Simon Cowell says Bob Dylan's music "bores me to tears"... Elizabeth Hurley insists wedding guests wear pink... Sammy Hagar hopes for peaceful Van Halen Rock Hall induction... Suzanne Somers's Malibu home destroyed by brushfire... Italian movie producer Carlo Ponti, husband of Sophia Loren, dies... Brooke Burke...
By Liz | January 10, 2007; 8:02 AM ET | Comments (15)
Rosie vs. The 'Comb-over Bunny'
Donald Trump and Rosie O'Donnell. (AP Photos) Rosie O'Donnell and Donald Trump are still at it. Not only did Rosie up the ante yesterday by referring to Trump as a "comb-over bunny," the New York Post is also reporting that the "View" co-host took boss Barbara Walters to task yesterday for not defending her... enough. If you're late to this particular funfest, here's a quick recap: Miss USA Tara Conner is busted partying underage and comes thisclose to losing her crown. Trump, who owns the pageant, forgives her, saying she deserves a second chance. Rosie asks where Trump gets off posing as the moral compass for teenage girls and adds that he's been bankrupt several times. This is accompanied by some jabs at his swoosh of hair. Donald, incensed at Rosie's criticism, bites back. He calls Rosie fat. He calls Rosie a slob. American families are divided: reasonable, intelligent...
By Liz | January 9, 2007; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (69)
Morning Mix: Jolie Says She Didn't Criticize Madonna
Headlines: Angelina Jolie says Madonna criticism was misquoted; says she feels differently about her adopted kids... Anna Nicole Smith sports new tattoos of kids... "Apprentice" wannabe suing Donald Trump for age discrimination... Mariah Carey says she sleeps in steam room (second item)... Paris Hilton runs out of gas; also she's, uh, "serious" about acting... Oprah Winfrey named "most bankable" TV star... Kylie Minogue tops list of best-dressed stars... Laurence Fishburne and wife expecting baby... Actor Alan Cumming marries boyfriend... Courtney Thorne-Smith marries... Hilary Swank gets star on Hollywood Walk of Fame... Van Halen, R.E.M., Patti Smith, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, Ronettes to be inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame... Photo: Carrot Top and Dwayne "The Dog" Chapman hang out in Vegas. Rumor Mill: Britney Spears's New Year's Eve nap could cost her $400,000; new reality show in the works?... Did Lindsay Lohan cause rift between Dita...
By Liz | January 9, 2007; 8:02 AM ET | Comments (18)
Comment Box: Justin's Regifted 'Box'; Tom and Nicole's Tag-Team Parenting
'SNL's' Amy Poehler wraps herself around the 'It' gift of 2006. (Photo courtesy ABC) Comment of the Week: "Justin Timberlake's "Christmas Box" has been re-gifted." -- Lisa comments on Morning Mix: Cameron Diaz and Justin Timberlake Over? Does Nicole Kidman have her kids half the time or are they always with weirdo Tom and Stepford Katie? How can she jet around all the time? -- PJ PJ, upon their divorce in 2001, "weirdo Tom" and Nicole agreed to share custody of their two children, Connor, 11, and Isabella, 13. The kids took part in the recent weddings of both parents -- Kidman married country singer Keith Urban in Australia in June and Cruise married Katie Holmes in Italy in November. Despite the level of jet-setting, both parents seem to be very active participants in their kids' lives, often spotted attending soccer games. Both Connor and Isabella were also present...
By Liz | January 8, 2007; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (30)
Morning Mix: Angelina Jolie Calls Madonna Adoption 'Illegal'
Headlines: Britney Spears and Kevin Federline will share custody of kids in January; record company calls in Spears for crisis talk; Dr. 90210 concerned about her health... Brad Pitt says he and Angelina want more kids... Man charged with blackmailing Oprah... Bindi Irwin poised to make showbiz debut... Marilyn Manson and Dita Von Teese splitting after a year of marriage... Search for Beyonce back-up dancers spans country... Chevy Chase discusses addiction... Burt Bacharach's daughter commits suicide... "SNL's" Chris Kattan (Mango) engaged... Elvis Presley paper cup sells on eBay for $200. Rumor Mill: Angelina Jolie calls Madonna adoption "illegal"; is Madge bankrolling adoption official?... Lindsay Lohan parties after release from hospital... Despite resolutions (second item), Courtney Love gets plastic surgery... Heather Mills plans to re-brand image... Nicole Richie hires shaman to combat unlucky curse... Kirsten Dunst to play Blondie?...
By Liz | January 8, 2007; 7:32 AM ET | Comments (11)
Friday List: Dumbest Movie Moments
I've been saving this Friday list topic for a rainy day and, at least in D.C., that day is today. I can think of nothing I'd rather do than curl up with my laptop and a hot cup of tea and spend the day getting listy with you. To that end, please turn your attention to exhibit A: Amazing Planet's list of the 49 Dumbest Movie Moments. Though a dumb enough skydiving sequence from "Point Break" tops this list, some entries are a stretch. For instance, I don't think I'd have included Jodie Foster's space travel scene from "Contact" or "Cape Fear's" climax. Where are the moments that completely ruin the mood and shatter movie magic? Where is Patrick Swayze saying "Nobody puts Baby in the corner" in "Dirty Dancing" or "Top Gun's" Tom Cruise singing "You've Lost That Loving Feeling" or pretty much any scene from "Waterworld?" I think...
By Liz | January 5, 2007; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (203)
Morning Mix: Lindsay Lohan's Appendix Wants Out
UPDATE: Britney Spears posts new message on Web site saying she finally feels "free." -- 3:23 p.m. ET Headlines: Lindsay Lohan to have appendix removed... Manager says Britney Spears having a "rocky moment"... Courtney Love lists New Year's resolutions (Sell the pony get a new horse?)... J.Lo tops list of influential Hispanics... Pam Anderson says she wants a man "with interests outside himself"... Justin Timberlake takes mom to movie premiere... Mario Lopez to host Miss America pageant... Survey says Eva Longoria had best hair of 2006... Celine Dion's Las Vegas show to close... Geraldo Rivera's show canceled... Ivanka Trump defends her father... Tyrese Gibson accused of punching pregnant girlfriend... Woman sues Oprah studio over show injury... Neighbors sue Charlton Heston over mudslide... SAG nominations announced... Creed's Scott Stapp and wife welcome baby girl. Rumor Mill: Is Sherri Shepherd new "View" co-host?... O.J. Simpson's assets frozen by Goldman family... Jay-Z facing...
By Liz | January 5, 2007; 7:57 AM ET | Comments (12)
Angelina Jolie: Purty as a Picture
"Blessed Art Thou" by Kate Kretz. (Source: Kate's Studio) When I saw this painting of Angelina Jolie by North Carolina artist Kate Kretz (on display starting tomorrow at Art Miami 2007), I immediately regretted my lunch of three-alarm Tofurkey chili. There ought to be some kind of warning, you know, because a nice bland broth would've been a lot easier on my churning stomach. See, I pride myself on being a highly creative person who, if I so chose, would produce incredibly relevant, stunning art that would probably change the world in some significant way. I, however, am way too lazy to apply paint to canvas, but feel my hidden talents qualify me to compare this painting unfavorably to a velvet Elvis. To be fair, though, I sought the opinion of a real critic, someone attuned to the peculiarities of the art world, and someone who might interpret an...
By Liz | January 4, 2007; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (80)
Morning Mix: Cameron Diaz and Justin Timberlake Over?
Headlines: Woman claims Heather Mills hit her with false leg... Florida nightclubs fire Paris Hilton... Barbara Walters tries to calm Rosie vs. The Donald feud... "Lost's" Emilie de Ravin separates from husband after six months of marriage... Lisa Ling engaged to Chicago oncologist... Authorities give Steve Irwin's wife sole copy of video of his death... Wyclef Jean appointed as roving Haitian ambassador... Fox cancels "The O.C."... Megan Mullally's talk show also axed... Busta Rhymes booked on assault charges in New York... NBC planning new "Bionic Woman" show... "Desperate Housewives" being turned into collectible dolls. Rumor Mill: Are Justin Timberlake and Cameron Diaz officially over?... Is Halle Berry pregnant?... K-Fed hits on Lindsay Lohan... Police planning reunion tour... Hey, Eddie Murphy, set your DVR: Scary Spice to reveal paternity test results on TV... Mike Myers to play Keith Moon in new biopic... Wilmer Valderrama planning to launch line of men's clothing......
By Liz | January 4, 2007; 8:20 AM ET | Comments (9)
Celebrity Baby Boom
Kutcher and Moore. (AP) Demi Moore, 44, already has three children -- Rumer, 18, Scout, 15, and Tallulah, 12 -- with ex-husband Bruce Willis, but in the latest issue of Vanity Fair she said she definitely plans to have more kids with Ashton Kutcher, 28. Says Moore in the article, "Once you hit three, where you're outnumbered, it's really, like, 'What's the difference between (three or) four or five?" You gotta be punking me, right? Wrong. Forget contentious foreign adoptions and Scientology births, Moore and Kutcher could be part of a quietly growing celebrity trend: families big enough to run a small farm or recreate "The Sound of Music's" Von Trapp family singers. Julia Roberts recently announced she's pregnant with baby number three, too, but she's got a ways to go before catching up with Mia Farrow -- who has presided over a family of 14 for some time...
By Liz | January 3, 2007; 11:17 AM ET | Comments (22)
Morning Mix: Judge Sets Anna Nicole Smith Paternity Test Deadline
Headlines: Judge sets deadlines for Anna Nicole Smith paternity test... Kate Moss denies marrying Pete Doherty in Thailand... Father of Madonna's Malawian adoptee wants an update... Russian billionaire hires George Michael for private concert... Demi Moore says she may have kids with Ashton Kutcher... Will Ferrell and wife welcome baby boy... Teri Garr recovering from brain aneurysm... Rod Stewart and Rachel Hunter's divorce finalized... Faye Dunaway mistakes Cate Blanchett for Kate Winslet... David Hasselhoff joins cast of U.K's "Celebrity Big Brother"... 50 Cent launching own book label... Prince may launch new music magazine. Rumor Mill: Lindsay Lohan's new flame gives her $1 million in diamond jewelry... Nicole Kidman flees Australian paparazzi... Cameron Diaz and Justin Timberlake spend holidays apart... Whitney Houston to auction undies... Renee Zellweger calls marriage to Kenny Chesney "biggest mistake of my life"... Kid Rock tries to confront Tommy Lee, but beats on wrong door... Evangeline Lilly...
By Liz | January 3, 2007; 7:44 AM ET | Comments (13)
A Desperate K-Fed Kicks Off 2007
I was a little worried about my first day back on the blog. I've been out of touch for a week -- that's like a decade in celebrity time -- and it's a brand new year. Would 2007 feel the same as 2006? Would I be thrown into some strange, altered entertainment landscape and have to get my bearings all over again? Would the subjects of so many outrageously good headlines in 2006 suddenly get their acts together, forcing me to write about something else? Kevin Federline, restoring my faith in celebrity news. (AP) Then last night, while contemplating how to hijack White House Briefing, the answer hit me. Or, rather, it hit Kevin Federline. Don't worry, the hit was a fake, courtesy of professional wrestler John Cena. See, Federline (who now says he doesn't want to be called "K-Fed") somehow found the time in his busy schedule to fit...
By Liz | January 2, 2007; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (13)
Morning Mix: Britney Falls Asleep in Nightclub
Headlines: Britney Spears falls asleep in Vegas nightclub... Oprah Winfrey opens school in South Africa... Lindsay Lohan encouraged to run for office... Nicole Richie takes sibs to see "Charlotte's Web"... William Shatner goes to Space Camp. Rumor Mill: Paris Hilton stiffs Australian restaurant... Kate Moss and Pete Doherty marry in Thailand... Jessica Simpson spotted smooching John Mayer; Simpson's dad lied about Tony Romo fling for game tickets... Busta Rhymes may be charged with assault. Attention Gossip-loving Courteney Cox Devotees: Tom Shales calls "Dirt," Cox's new series debuting tonight at 10 p.m. ET on FX, a "wickedly good wallow." Bonus Vacation Mix after the jump......
By Liz | January 2, 2007; 7:35 AM ET | Comments (5)
