slambuzz entertainment international

Mia: Model spoke of 'huge diamond'

2010-08-09T04:17:00.000-07:00

Naomi Campbell said she received a "huge diamond" from Charles Taylor, Mia Farrow has told the former Liberian leader's war crimes trial in The Hague.

Giving evidence to the Special Court for Sierra Leone in the Netherlands last week, supermodel Naomi, 40, said she was given some "dirty-looking pebbles" after a dinner hosted by former South African president Nelson Mandela in 1997. But she said she did not know who the gift was from.

However, actress Mia told the court today that when Naomi came down for breakfast the next morning she began speaking even before she sat down. She said: "What I remember is Naomi Campbell joined us at the table but before she even sat down she recounted an event of that evening.

"And she said that in the night she had been awakened, some men were knocking at the door. They had been sent by Charles Taylor and they were giving a huge diamond.

"And she said that she intended to give the diamond to Nelson Mandela's children's charity."

Taylor, the former president of Liberia, denies war crimes during Sierra Leone's civil war, including using diamonds to fund rebels.

Naomi told the court one of the other guests at breakfast made the suggestion the gift must have been from Taylor and the "dirty looking pebbles" must have been diamonds.

But asked about where the suggestion came from that the stones were in fact diamonds, Mia said: "Miss Campbell. Miss Campbell entered the room. She was quite excited and said in effect, 'Oh my God, in the middle of the night I was awoken by knocking at the door and it was men sent by Charles Taylor and he sent me a huge diamond'."

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5iZmkruZ-EC0O7hcv2FoSK5b1KB5Q

Megan Fox and “lost” Star Dominic Monaghan Kiss

2010-08-08T09:47:00.000-07:00

Newlywed Megan Fox and former “Lost” star Dominic Monaghan were spotted locking lips last week in Los Angeles.

The pair were helping to shoot a music video for Eminem and Rihanna. The upcoming “Love the Way You Lie” video is directed by Joseph Kahn, who confirmed Fox and Monaghan would be appearing in the video. During one scene, Fox and Monaghan were noticed to be drinking vodka and shared a long kiss. It is believed that the music video will cover domestic violence, as both Eminem and Rihanna have experienced their share of feuding relationships.

Brian Green, Fox’s new husband, has yet to comment about the music video. The couple were married earlier this month in a Hawaiian ceremony. The marriage came as a surprise to most. Fox has been in an acting slump lately and booted from the Transformers’ franchise, while Green is set to appear on Desperate Housewives.

http://www.overthelimit.info/entertainment/2010/08/08/megan-fox-and-lost-star-dominic-monaghan-kiss/

"Sad" Gabriel Aubry Confirms Halle Berry Split

2010-05-02T18:19:00.000-07:00

Halle Berry and boyfriend Gabriel Aubry are going their separate ways.

Following Friday's multiple reports of a split between the Oscar-winning actress and the French-Canadian male model, Aubry confirmed the news to Access Hollywood early Saturday.

"I am sad to say that Halle and I have decided together to separate at this time," Aubry's statement reads. "She is, and will forever be one of the most special and beautiful people that I have ever known, and I am certain that we will continue to have only love and respect for one another."

PHOTOS: Look back on Halle and Gabriel's years together

Berry, 43, and Aubry, 34, first met at a 2006 Versace photo shoot; they never wed. Their daughter Nahla was born in March 2008.

"We have been blessed with the most amazing daughter in the world," Aubry continues. "Her happiness and well-being are the most important thing for both of us. Please respect our privacy during this very difficult time."

TMZ had reported that the duo is currently working out a custody agreement for Nahla. "I will not comment on all of the wild inaccuracies being speculated about in the media," Berry's former beau explained simply.

On Thursday -- the night before the breakup news hit -- Berry made a cheerful solo appearance at the DKMS 4th Annual Gala: Linked Against Leukemia in NYC. She told UsMagazine.com that her daughter was "fantastic," and that she loved "everything" about being a mom.

In an interview last year with Essence, Berry gushed about her relationship, but wouldn't speculate how long it would last. "All I know is at this moment, it feels fantastic," she said.

http://omg.yahoo.com/news/sad-gabriel-aubry-confirms-halle-berry-split/40143?nc

How Sandra Bullock Fooled Everybody

2010-04-30T00:41:00.000-07:00

Sandra Bullock shocked the world yesterday with news that she managed to keep her baby boy, Louis, a total secret for months. Even Hollywood publicists are jarred by Bullock's coup, expressing awe that the actress was able to keep her son a secret for so long, during a period of time where the paparazzi were stalking her and she was on the cover of every American tabloid nearly every week. So how on earth did she pull it off?

In the People exclusive, which hits stands Friday, Bullock seems to take great delight in fooling everyone, saying: "I don't know how we got away with it" and describing the deception as involving "decoys and dark cars."

She even describes stylists' frustration at not being able to do awards-season fitting appointments: "I would have them meet me at random hotels down the street from the house, claiming work was being done."

And in one charming story, Sandra tells People about a "lime green baby sock" that she brought with her on the red carpet and that kept popping out of her bag, but others would just hand it back to her without asking questions.

Possibly most remarkable of all in the whole tale of secrecy is the fact that Sandra's stepchildren were in on it -- and were able to keep quiet about the baby. As for friends and family alike, Bullock had total trust: "I never thought anyone we shared the info with would tell anyone, and they didn't."

"She did it with a lot of support from a very close circle of people that she trusted," said J.D. Heyman, who contributed to the People story. "They kept the secret, and that includes her stepchildren, even the littlest one."

But it seems the actress did drop a few hints (in addition to her Oscar acceptance speech). In November, during a promotional appearance on "Ellen" for "The Blind Side," Ellen DeGeneres asked Bullock if she ever thought about adoption:

"You know, I have always felt like, just because a child didn't come from inside your body doesn't mean it's not your child, it just arrived somewhere else...There are so many children just waiting who need love and to give you love back a thousand times more and they're everywhere...You would be profoundly amazed at how many children are out there just waiting for you to love them."

While Sandra was then two months away from Louis's arrival, she and estranged husband Jesse James had been trying to adopt a baby for four years. Yesterday, details surfaced about Bullock's strategy for keeping the divorce filing, in Texas, a secret: She filed the documents under her initials, backward, to throw reporters off the scent.

One detail of the divorce -- the fact that no children, adopted or otherwise, will be involved in the divorce proceedings, might seem confusing at first, domestic adoptions often take up to six months to become finalized, meaning Bullock can adopt Louis as a single parent, something she told People she was planning to do.

Bullock tells people she plans to raise Louis, who was named after Louis Armstrong, at least partially in his birthplace of New Orleans. (She brought him to her home from New Orleans in January.) "It's his city," she says. "And he's going to know it inside and out."

http://omg.yahoo.com/blogs/goddess/how-sandra-bullock-fooled-everybody/393/?nc

Angelina Jolie reportedly proposed to Brad Pitt

2010-04-27T19:08:00.000-07:00

The actress - who earlier this month was reported to be preparing to tie the knot with her long-term partner - is said to have decided it was time to make Brad her husband during the couple's stay in Venice, where Angelina was shooting new movie 'The Tourist'.

A source said: "Angelina has fallen in love with Brad all over again - and she wants to make it official by getting married. Once she made up her mind the only thing left to do was tell Brad."

Rumors are rife the ceremony will take place at Brad's close friend George Clooney's Italian villa on Lake Como and the pair's oldest four children, Maddox, eight, Pax, six, Zahara, five, and three-year-old Shiloh, will have big roles on the special day.

Brad's parents, Bill and Jane, are also said to be delighted at the news of the nuptials and are looking forward to seeing their son wed for the second time. His first wife was Jennifer Aniston.

Another source told National Enquirer magazine: "Bill and Jane have never been entirely comfortable with the idea of he and Angie cohabiting, so they are thrilled."

Brad, 46, and Angelina, 34, also have 21-month-old twins Knox and Vivienne together.

http://www.azcentral.com/ent/celeb/articles/2010/04/27/20100427angelina-jolie-proposed-to-brad-pitt.html

Johnny Depp Quells Angelina Jolie Love Triangle Rumors

2010-04-25T18:49:00.000-07:00

Actors Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are -according to rumors spread by irresponsible bloggers and tabloids - locked in a love triangle with Angelina Jolie being the focal point. Previous reports claimed:

"Angelina Jolie is planning to steal Johnny Depp away from his partner Vanessa Paradis, insiders say.
While going over ascript, Angie insisted that she needed to meet alone with Johnny Depp at his LA compound to discuss his acting method.
“She’s already spent hours there drinking red wine with Johnny Depp. She has en been bombarding him with flirty e-mails and burning up the phone lines.
“She goes on and on about how fabulous Johnny Depp is. She’s intense and goes for anything and anyone she wants. She has no limits!”

However, Johnny Depp's people have responded with:

Trust me,” blabbed one loose-lipped pal, “kissing Angelina Jolie on camera is the least exciting thing he’ll do all year.
“He likes to do movies that are a lot weirder. Johnny’s dream co-star is someone more along the lines of Helen Mirren.”

While Johnny Depp may be a man with different sensibilities than others, he's a man no less. How long can he avoid all this.

http://dimewars.com/Blog/ViewBlogArticle.aspx?vn=Johnny+Depp+Quells+Angelina+Jolie+Love+Triangle+Rumors&BlogID=6005f74d-061f-4d8c-8412-e4e62183cc7c

Kim Kardashian, Joy Bryant pose nude for Harper's

2010-04-20T20:13:00.000-07:00

Celebrities Kim Kardashian and Joy Bryant have stripped down for a nude photo shoot in the May issue of Harper's Bazaar magazine.

Both celebrities apply a message of empowerment to the photo spread. "I think the message is embrace your curves and who you are," Kardashian said in a statement. "I feel proud if young girls look up to me and say, 'I’m curvy, and I’m proud of it now.'"

One part of her body is already famous. "I don't get why everyone is always going on about my butt. I'm Armenian. It's normal. My butt is probably not as big as you might think, because I have small legs and a small waist, which makes it appear bigger."

Bryant added: "Women are the harshest critics of other women. There needs to be a greater acceptance individually and collectively or nothing’s ever going to change. You’ll never be thin enough, blonde enough, black enough. So enough is enough."

http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/2177946,kim-kardashian-joy-bryant-nude-harpers-042010.article

Jennifer Aniston Nude Poses Again

2010-04-20T20:09:00.000-07:00

Jennifer Aniston let it all show back in 2008 in GQ. Now she is showing the skin again for the launch of her new perfume, Lolavie. From the pictures shown below you can see she has the body for it even if she is 41. On a beach in Cabo she sits atop a rock in just a towel.

(from NYDaileynews.com): “It’s a nonperfume perfume. Sexy and clean. Floral, but not too flowery," Aniston told Women's Wear Daily Friday. "I want people to go, ‘What is that? You smell great!’ But most of all I wanted it to smell natural.”

http://news.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474978186033&nav=Groupspace

Surgeons weigh in on Demi Moore's 'youthful' looks

2010-04-17T19:57:00.000-07:00

Demi Moore's youthful looks at 47 have been a matter of speculation and debate among many actresses, fans and cosmetic surgeons with quite a few experts believing the actress must have gone under the knife.

While Moore recently told British ELLE mag that she''s "had work done but not on my face", many find her statement quite unconvincing.

"I personally think she must have, but I can''t prove it," Fox News
quoted leading Beverly Hills surgeon Dr. Larry Koplin, who does not treat Moore, as saying.

Koplin added: "As a 47-year-old, she would be defying all laws of nature by looking so good without true surgery, but she certainly could have had a perfect combination of good genes, good fillers (such as Restylane or Juviderm), good skin care and Botox."

Dr. Ashkan Ghavami, who has also not treated Moore, said: "She may have at least had Botox for her forehead lines, crows feet and to shape her brows, fillers of some sort for her laugh lines and to plump her cheeks.

"It is also possible, that she had a brow lift or at least had some of the brow muscles removed. Upper and lower eyelid surgery may explain some of the changes of her eyelids, although Botox can do that as well."

He added: "Like most celebrities, she has likely had a lot of skin treatments for improving skin texture, smoothing, and erasing fine lines, as well as stimulating collagen rebuilding. This can be lasers as well as chemical peels. With repetitive skin resurfacing treatments, the skin can get that beautiful glow that Demi Moore has at her age."

Koplin said: "The remarkable thing about Demi Moore''s face is that if she has indeed had plastic surgery, it is undetectable.

"The hallmark areas are around the ears, and she keeps this area well-hidden by earrings, hair and photo angles. Whether this is intentional (brilliant) or accidental is beside the point."

While Moore has repeatedly denied reports of shelling out millions on plastic surgery, the speculations haven''t ended.

Ghavami said: "It is hard to say depending on what she was charged and how many times they (the treatments) were done, but it can be up to at least 100 dollars
to 250,000 dollars.

"The reports of spending up to three million dollars on plastic surgery are most likely exaggerations."

http://www.newkerala.com/news/fullnews-91565.html

Vanessa Hudgens Cast As Mimi In LA Run Of 'Rent'

2010-04-12T05:17:00.000-07:00

Now that she's graduated from "High School," it's time for Vanessa Hudgens to start paying "Rent."

The tween star has landed the role of Mimi in the upcoming three-night only Hollywood Bowl run of "Rent" in Los Angeles, according to several online reports, including The Los Angeles Times and BroadwayWorld.com.

Although no other castings have been announced for the shows, which will run August 6 - 8, Neil Patrick Harris was previously announced as the show's director.

NPH starred in the 1997 LA run and national tour of the play as Mark.

"She came in for a work session, and I must say, Vanessa really impressed," Neil said, according to BroadwayWorld.com. "She looks amazing, has great vocal chops, and seems really committed to honoring the somewhat iconic role of Mimi. I look forward to audiences seeing a dark, edgy, and very different side of Vanessa Hudgens this August."

Mimi - the HIV-positive exotic dancer and drug addict who inspires the raucous "La Vie Boheme" and solos in the racy "Out Tonight" - has been played by numerous actresses over the years, including Daphne Rubin-Vega (who originated the role), Rosario Dawson (who played her in the 2005 film), and even Spice Girl Mel B.

Hudgens, who starred as Gabriella Montez in Disney's "High School Musical" franchise, will also be seen in the upcoming films "Sucker Punch" and "Beastly," the latter of which also co-stars NPH.

http://omg.yahoo.com/news/vanessa-hudgens-cast-as-mimi-in-la-run-of-rent/38956?nc

Demi Moore Opens up About Plastic Surgery

2010-04-09T17:49:00.000-07:00

Demi Moore, who famously appeared unclothed on the cover of Vanity Fair not once but twice, has never been shy about showing her body. Talking about it, however, hasn't come as easily.

If a revealing new interview is any indication, the 47-year-old actress is finally as comfortable discussing her chiseled physique as she is showing it.

In the Elle UK cover story for May, which was first reported on by The Daily Mail and the Huffington Post, the mother of three addresses years of rumors that she's spent a fortune on plastic surgery, and she opens up about how she overcame an "extreme" body-image obsession. (She also hints that she and Ashton might be expanding their family. More on that later.)

"I have had something done but it's not on my face," Moore says in the interview, addressing head-on years of rumors that her remarkably youthful look was the result of surgery.

Instead of going into detail about what that "something" might be, Moore uses the opportunity to share the lessons she's learned from her own struggle for the "perfect" body.

"I had an extreme obsession with my body," Moore says. "I made it a measure of my own value. I tried to dominate it, which I did, and I changed it multiple times over. But it never lasted and ultimately it didn't bring me anything but temporary happiness. Does being thin resolve anything? No."

After years of apparent preoccupation with her weight, she seems to have attained a healthy body image.

"The irony is that when I abandoned that desire to dominate my body, it actually became the body that I always wanted," she says. "But it only happened when I stopped trying to control it. At the end of the day, this kind of obsession is pointless and meaningless."

Moore, who appears on the cover of the magazine looking as stunning as ever, doesn't rule out the idea of cosmetic enhancement in the future.

"You know what? Maybe one day I'll go under the knife. It just irritates me that people are constantly saying how much I've spent on plastic surgery," she tells the magazine, saying the public's fascination with her looks "feels like school-yard name-calling a lot of the time." Moore nevertheless understands why people might be curious: "I know it's not something I can control. I only hope it's serving some sort of purpose."

Moore admitting to past insecurity about her body might come as a surprise to some fans. After all, in 1991, the actress famously posed unclothed for the cover of Vanity Fair while seven months' pregnant with her daughter Scout, and then appeared sans garments on the cover again a year later, wearing only an artist's body paint.

In the Elle UK interview, Moore reflects on the strength she needed to engage in such public displays of nudity.

"I was so brave! I had no sense of the impact that it would have. I just wanted to push the boundaries," Moore says. "When I said things like 'I want it all,' that wasn't coming from a place of greed. It was coming from a desire for balance. I wanted to remove the limitations that I felt were being imposed on me. Why couldn't I be a mother and have a career?"

Speaking of motherhood, Moore, whose daughters Rumer, Scout and Tallulah with former husband Bruce Willis are now 21, 18, and 16, respectively, hasn't ruled out having another baby with her husband Ashton Kutcher, 32: "We talk about it and it's something that we would like. He's an amazing father to my daughters already, so I have no doubt that if it's in our future, it would be another incredible part of our journey together."

Either way, Moore will soon be taking on a new bit of motherhood: Her next step, professionally, is to portray the mother of a teenager played by Miley Cyrus. It's a remake of the 2009 French film "LOL," in which Moore will star as the mother of a heartbroken teen played by the star of "Hannah Montana" and "The Last Song."

http://omg.yahoo.com/blogs/a-line/demi-moore-opens-up-about-plastic-surgery/432?nc

Sandra Bullock prepares divorce papers, James leaves rehab

2010-04-05T21:28:00.000-07:00

It looks like it's official: Sandra Bullock has had her fill of her shamed husband Jesse James and is edging closer to pulling the plug on their marriage.

The Oscar-winning actress, still reeling from allegations that her husband of five years had a string of affairs during their marriage, is believed to have prepared divorce papers.

Devastated Bullock is all set to dump her man and has reportedly had her lawyer draw up the necessaries, on the same day it emerged that the alleged love rat won't get a penny from her.

That's right, girl got herself a prenup, so says website Radar Online.

According to the website's report, the prenup specifies that James gets nothing if the couple split because of infidelity.

A source tells the website, "If she divorces Jesse and proves he was cheating, which won't be hard, Sandra won't have to pay Jesse anything."

But Bullock's said to have other things than her fortune on her mind.

"Right now Sandra is not thinking about the money," a source said.

"She's protected financially. She's just trying to deal with this mess."

There's no indication if and when she'll actually file for a legal split, but those in her inner circle say it's imminent.

"Her attitude toward Jesse hasn't softened since she found out he was cheating on her," a source adds.

"She's been betrayed and cheated on and she's not getting over that."

We concur. A removal van was spotted outside the former couple's Los Angeles home on Friday, carting away furniture and boxes. Although we don't know whose possessions they were...

Meanwhile, James hoofed it to an Arizona rehab clinic last week to wash away his sins and undergo treatment for sex addiction.

"Jesse checked himself into a treatment facility to deal with personal issues," his rep said in a statement.

"He realised that this time was crucial to help himself, help his family and help save his marriage."

His road to redemption was a remarkably short one. The bad boy bolted from the facility on Friday after only a week of treatment - because Bullock refused to take his calls. Cor blimey, cry us a river, build a bridge and get over it, James.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=10636614

Sandra Bullock Didn't Pose for Those Magazine Covers

2010-04-01T06:45:00.000-07:00

You might have noticed Sandra Bullock on the cover of nearly every celebrity weekly since news broke of her recent marital strife. Though she hasn't escaped the media spotlight, Bullock has secluded herself and has not been photographed since In Touch Weekly broke the story two weeks ago. So where are all these photos of a sad-looking Bullock coming from, anyway?

The New York Times' Media Decoder blog has a fascinating story today about how People and Us Weekly came to have almost identical photos of Bullock on their covers this week. Both photos are close-ups of Sandra in the same mauve gown looking less than enthusiastic (though on the People cover photo she has a slight smile).

Glancing at the covers while waiting in line for groceries, the reading public might think that Sandra posed for one or both covers and participated in their stories, but The New York Times makes it clear that's not the case.

Typically, celebrity portrait photographers agree to give A-listers a window of time where their approval is required for any use of an image (this can be anywhere from three to six months), but when a celeb doesn't approve of a story's angle they're not likely to approve the use of a photo. As such, magazines have to resort to plan B when running pieces such as these on Bullock. They turn to photo agencies, who dig through their archives to find a suitable image and, more to the point, one where the agreement with the star has expired. In this case, it just so happens that People and Us Weekly ended up going for photos from the same junket because they fell outside the six month restriction.

Both images were photographed on the same day last summer, when Sandra was doing interviews with multiple media outlets at the official press junket to promote her movie "The Proposal." Rather than use a paparazzi shot, which are usually out of focus and look remote, both magazines went with photos from a sit-down interview, making the recent covers look more like intimate portraits of the actress' recent heartbreak. Both outlets purchased their pics from a photo agency.

While People declined to comment to the newspaper, Us Weekly's photography director, Brittain Stone, explained how the magazine went about choosing the shot for the cover.

"The first thing you want to do when you have a tragic story like this one, which is actually a very sad story, is you want to convey that mood of cooperation or approach or access," Stone told The Times. "The best way to do that is with some kind of portrait."

There's also a subtle psychological component to photo selection with stories such as Sandra's.

"The requests for covers we get are, 'Let's get her sad, but pretty.' Or, 'We need her looking strong and confident, but a little damaged,'" Mr. Stone told The New York Times blog. "You have these incredibly subjective things you have to look for -- you're trying to convey these moods you're planting on top of these celebrities."

Stone also mentioned that he suspected rival magazine People was considering using similar photos of Bullock for its cover, but went ahead anyway.

While Bullock graces the cover of every major celebrity mag this week, other magazines like Star and OK! chose to go with paparazzi shots taken before the scandal but presumably meant to look recent. Which is enough to make one wonder: If Bullock's troubles persist, will the tabloids run out of past photos of the actress looking sad?

http://omg.yahoo.com/blogs/a-line/sandra-bullock-didn-t-pose-for-those-magazine-covers/421

Young Angelina Jolie Unhindered by Fashion Disasters

2010-03-24T19:35:00.000-07:00

Before anyone knew what Brangelina meant, before Angelina Jolie's celebrated humanitarian work, and even before she nabbed an Oscar for "Girl, Interrupted," there was just a 15-year-old girl posing for her first modeling shoot.

Sure, she was the daughter of actor Jon Voight, but back then she was just plain Angelina Jolie.

Well, plain is never a word that really applies to Angie, and as these soon-to-be-auctioned pictures reveal, the 34-year-old actress was exceptionally gorgeous even as a teenager.

The black-and-white images are part of Original Vintage Glamour Photography, a collection of photographs that dealer Profiles in History will be auctioning off March 26 and 27.

Angelina's fashion snaps are expected to go for anywhere between $400-600. (In addition to photos of George Clooney and Greta Garbo, the collection also includes some shots of Marilyn Monroe as a teenybopper!)

The arresting collection of images show Angelina in a variety of early-'90s outfits, including cutoff denim shorts with uber-frayed edges, a leopard-print dress, and one get-up that pairs combat boots with an oversized bowler hat.

Another picture shows a demure Angie in a white crop-top with a small braid peeking out from her slightly windblown hairstyle.

A young Angelina mugs for the camera. Courtesy Profiles in History Perhaps the most interesting image, however, is the close-up shot of the 15-year-old Angie in a trim black dress. Even now, that pic could practically pass for Angelina in 2010 -- it's astounding to think how much her photogenic face has stayed the same over nearly 20 years.

Of course, Angie did look like a kid at one point in her life. Pics of the 10-year-old accompanying daddy Jon Voight to the Oscars in 1986 show her in a lacy white dress that boasted zealous amounts of '80s pouf around the shoulders.

Brangelina recently brought 8-year-old Maddox to the red carpet for the premiere of "Invictus." Maddox sported a fetching fedora and a dapper scarf while the family spoke with friend and iconic director Clint Eastwood.

It's nice to see Angelina is protecting Maddox from the fashion faux pas her father allowed her to make. Voight lost that night in 1986 to William Hurt for best supporting actor, but 14 years later, his daughter would carry off the Oscar for best supporting actress. And who knows, maybe in another decade, Maddox will take to the red carpet and collect some Academy Awards love?

http://omg.yahoo.com/blogs/a-line/young-angelina-jolie-unhindered-by-fashion-disasters/415?nc

Katy Perry To Go Blue For Smurfette Role

2010-03-21T17:07:00.001-07:00

There are only a few women in music who could take on George Lopez as Grouchy Smurf and Hank Azaria as Garamel for the 2011 theatrical adaptation of the '80s classic cartoon The Smurfs. And it's Miss "Hot N Cold" singer Katy Perry who is the lucky vixen to reprise the voice of Smurfette, Entertainment Weekly reports.

Earlier this month, Variety reported that Perry was among the personalities cast for the film, but they did not attach her name to a particular character. Considering Perry's sassy attitude in her songs "I Kissed A Girl," "Ur So Gay," and "Hot N Cold," not to mention her recent appearance as a guest judge during the audition rounds of American Idol, we can expect her to deliver a fun, likeable, and no-nonsense persona for the role.

In addition to starring alongside Lopez and Azaria, the Internet Movie Database has listed other big name cast members. Quentin Tarantino (Brainy Smurf), Neil Patrick Harris (Johan), Jayma Mays, Alan Cumming, Jonathan Winters (Papa Smurf), and Kevin James (Hefty Smurf) have also been tapped for the project.

http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/thatsreallyweek/74581/mar15-21-katy-perry-to-go-blue-for-smurfette-role/

Bullock leaves hubby Jesse James

2010-03-18T23:02:00.000-07:00

By all accounts, it was a regular Monday morning at Sandra Bullock and Jesse James' Hollywood mansion. That was, until Sandra Bullock's publicist called with the devastating news that could potentially change the Oscar-winner's life forever.

"In Touch magazine had called Sandra's publicist Monday morning to let her know the magazine was going to print an explosive cover story ... saying her husband was cheating," a source at the magazine told Popeater.com. "At first, camp Sandra dismissed the story until they understood that the magazine had the alleged mistress, tattoo model Michelle 'Bombshell' McGee, on the record telling all."

By the end of the day Monday, Bullock had moved out of the mansion in California and pulled out of her London event to promote "The Blind Side," feeling blind sided herself.

"Sandra had no idea that all of this was going on. Not a clue," a friend of the actress told Popeater.com. "Now she is with family hoping for privacy. It's bad enough for any woman to find out that her husband has been cheating on her, but to find out from your publicist and then have it on the cover of a national magazine is heartbreaking."

Jesse James broke his silence Thursday afternoon.

Facing allegations of infidelity, James issued an apology to his wife Sandra Bullock and his three children, taking full responsibility for their heartbreak.

Although he called "the vast majority" of allegations against him "untrue and unfounded," he says in a statement provided to People.com, "There is only one person to blame for this whole situation, and that is me."

"It's because of my poor judgment that I deserve everything bad that is coming my way," he says in the statement. "This has caused my wife and kids pain and embarrassment beyond comprehension and I am extremely saddened to have brought this on them. I am truly very sorry for the grief I have caused them. I hope one day they can find it in their hearts to forgive me."

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10078/1043941-348.stm?cmpid=entertainment.xml#ixzz0ibEi9eFg

Oprah Winfrey Lambasted By Defamation Suit In South Africa

2010-03-17T02:51:00.000-07:00

Talk show host and all-around media mogul, Oprah Winfrey is currently under fire in South Africa from a head mistress who wants Oprah to pay up for defaming her character during the investigation of an abuse scandal at Oprah Winfrey's school in South Africa. A trial is set to begin on March 29 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on the defamation lawsuit filed by Lerato Nomvuyo Mzamane Oprah Winfrey and her production company, Harpo.The lawsuit states that Oprah's statements at a private meeting with parents - which, of course, became public - and at a news conference defamed the headmistress by implying she knew of the abuse and covered it up. Oprah Winfrey was quoted in an American paper saying:

"It was my intention by putting somebody in charge who was African, and was female, I believe that she would care as much for these girls as I do myself. I'm sorry I was let down."

As a result, Mzamane's suit says:

"Instead Winfrey elected to forego the option of questioning Plaintiff directly as to her knowledge of the abusive conduct and published statements which arguably created the impression that Plaintiff did in fact have some level of involvement in the Dorm Parents misconduct"

SMH! Sorry Oprah Winfrey, but you know what they say, more money, more problems....

http://dimewars.com/Blog/ViewBlogArticle.aspx?vn=Oprah+Winfrey+Lambasted+By+Defamation+Suit+In+South+Africa&BlogID=1c28248b-5f1b-4c5f-a183-dcb5d921ddcb

Charlie Sheen pleads not guilty to assaulting wife, faces up to 3 years if convicted

2010-03-16T20:06:00.000-07:00

Actor Charlie Sheen pleaded not guilty on Monday to charges of assaulting his wife, who had previously asked for the case to be dropped.

Sheen, the star of America's most-watched TV comedy "Two and a Half Men", entered his plea though his lawyer at a brief court hearing in the ski resort of Aspen.

The court set a July 21 trial date, although Sheen's wife, Brooke Mueller, has told journalists repeatedly that she would like the case dropped.

Sheen was charged in February with assaulting and threatening Mueller, his third wife, on December 25 during a family vacation in Aspen. Mueller told police Sheen pulled a knife on her and threatened to have her killed when she said she would divorce him.

Both had been drinking, according to alcohol tests.He could face up to three years behind bars if convicted on the charges of felony menacing, misdemeanor assault and criminal mischief. The menacing charge entails the alleged use of a deadly weapon in a threatening manner.

Mueller was not in court with Sheen on Monday but the couple is back together in Los Angeles with their infant twins and attempting to rebuild their two-year-old marriage.

"Charlie looks forward to the trial to clear his name," Sheen's publicist Stan Rosenfield told reporters after Monday's hearing in Aspen.

Production of the CBS show "Two and a Half Men" was halted after Sheen checked into rehab last month for undisclosed reasons. Mueller also spent time in rehab, reportedly for substance abuse.

Executive producer Mark Burg told reporters on Monday that shooting for the four remaining episodes of "Two and a Half Men" this season would resume on Tuesday.

http://www.csmonitor.com/From-the-news-wires/2010/0316/Charlie-Sheen-pleads-not-guilty-to-assaulting-wife-faces-up-to-3-years-if-convicted

Evan Rachel Wood Exits Spider-Man Musical

2010-03-11T04:31:00.000-08:00

Evan Rachel Wood, who was originally cast to play Mary Jane Watson in Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark, has dropped out of the Broadway musical because of scheduling conflicts, Entertainment Weekly reports.

"Casting is under way to find a new Mary Jane to join the rest of the cast in the production. Spider-Man will announce a new timeline shortly," a rep for the show tells EW.

Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark, would have reteamed the 22-year-old actress with her Across the Universe director, Julie Taymor. Taymor, best known for bringing The Lion King to the Great White Way in 1997, is directing the production, which features music and lyrics by U2's Bono and The Edge.

Wood, along with Alan Cumming, signed on to the musical in June 2009.

Despite the musical's star power both onstage and behind-the-scenes, Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark has been plagued with financial and other difficulties for months. In January, producers indefinitely pushed back previews of the show, which were scheduled to begin Feb. 25. A new opening date has not been announced.

Wood was most recently seen in the film Whatever Works and on the small screen in Season 2 of True Blood.

Calls to Wood's rep were not immediately returned.

http://www.tvguide.com/News/Evan-Spider-Musical-1016112.aspx?rss=breakingnews

Lindsay Lohan Suing E-Trade for Milkaholic "Parody"

2010-03-09T18:05:00.000-08:00

Lindsay Lohan is no milkaholic.

And that's likely why the 23-year-old star is suing financial company E-Trade for $100 million for using her name in its latest commercial about a boyfriend-stealing "milkaholic" baby.

Look back at Lindsay's style through the years

In the ad, which debuted during this year's Super Bowl in February, a baby boy apologizes to his girlfriend for not calling her the night before.

"And that milkaholic Lindsay wasn't over?" the baby girl asks before another baby girl pops into the screen saying, "Milk-a-whaaat?"

Lohan filed the lawsuit Monday, which claims the ad violated the star's rights under New York state civil-rights law.

"Many celebrities are known by one name only, and E-Trade is using that knowledge to profit," Lohan's lawyer, Stephanie Ovadia, said in a statement to the New York Post. "They're using her name as a parody of her life. Why didn't they use the name Susan? This is a subliminal message. Everybody's talking about it and saying it's Lindsay Lohan."

The spokesperson for Grey Group, which produced the "milkaholic" commercial, said that they "just used a popular baby name that happened to be the name of someone on the account team."

In the lawsuit, Lohan is seeking an injunction to force the spot off the air.

http://omg.yahoo.com/news/lindsay-lohan-suing-e-trade-for-milkaholic-parody/37130?nc

'Alice' opens with $116.3 million, a 3-D record

2010-03-08T05:27:00.000-08:00

Tim Burton and Johnny Depp's trip down the rabbit hole drew huge crowds, as "Alice in Wonderland" earned a whopping $116.3 million in its opening weekend — a record for a 3-D film.

The surprisingly huge total easily surpassed all other films in release and gave Walt Disney Studios an even bigger opening than that of the hugely popular 3-D film "Avatar." It also marked the biggest opening weekend for a non-sequel.

"This is just one of those cultural phenomenons that has caught everybody's interest," said Chuck Viane, Disney's president of distribution. "They don't come like this very often."

The film beat forecasts that ranged between $65 million-$75 million, and the surprising results added some intrigue to Oscar Sunday. Before the weekend, Disney and 20th Century Fox competed over the available 3-D ready screens; screens outfitted for 3-D are rapidly rising, but still amount to fewer than 4,000 in the U.S. and Canada.

Before "Alice," many of those screens were still dedicated to Fox's box-office behemoth, "Avatar," which is up for nine Academy Awards on Sunday, including best picture.

In its 12th week of release, "Avatar" earned $7.7 million over the weekend, bringing its cumulative domestic total to $720.2 million.

Asked whether fewer 3-D and IMAX screens hurt "Avatar," Chris Aronson, head of distribution for Fox, said, "No question."

"Are we disappointed? Sure," said Aronson. "But there are certain market forces that are beyond anything we can do. To have an 11-week window is pretty much unheard of. It certainly allowed this movie to be discovered and witnessed by so many people."

"Avatar" isn't disappearing, though, and it can be expected to regain 3-D and IMAX screens, especially if it wins best picture.

"We'll have that negotiation tomorrow morning with exhibition, without a doubt," said Aronson.

It also seemed likely that "Alice" benefited from the "Avatar"-effect in galvanizing audiences for 3-D movies. "Alice in Wonderland" is the first film released in 3-D since James Cameron's epic. "Alice" was shot in 2-D, but transferred to 3-D in post-production.

"In the wake of the impact of `Avatar,' there's a whole new audience that's been indoctrinated to 3-D," said Paul Dergarabedian, box-office analyst for Hollywood.com. "That paid off big for `Alice in Wonderland.'"

The weekend's second best performer at the box-office was Overture's "Brooklyn's Finest," Antoine Fuqua's gritty police thriller, which earned $13.5 million in its first weekend, according to studio estimates.

Martin Scorsese's "Shutter Island" for Paramount followed closely with $13.3 million in its third week of release, bringing its cumulative total to $95.8 million. Warner Bros.'s comedy "Cop Out" came in fourth, adding $9.1 million for a two-week total of $32.4 million.

But "Alice" thoroughly dominated the weekend, surprising even Disney. Worldwide, it took in $210.3 million.

It was a record release for the first quarter of the year, typically a time of lower box-office expectations and critically acclaimed Oscar contenders. The previous first quarter record was Mel Gibson's "Passion of the Christ," which opened with $83.8 million in Feb. 2004.

"We went into Friday thinking that we really had a big hit with us, and then all of a sudden the numbers started to roll in," said Viane. "Alice" went on to make $41 million on Friday alone.

"We said, `Oh my gosh. This is bigger than any of us could have anticipated," said Viane.

Though reviews were mostly respectfully negative, much of the film's draw was surely in teaming director Burton and his frequent collaborator, Depp, who plays the Mad Hatter. It also presented moviegoers with a 3-D updating of Lewis Carroll's beloved classic. Though at times dark, it gained a PG rating from the MPAA (for, among other things, "a smoking caterpillar"), which meant a large number of kids could attend.

But it proved once again how significant the draw of 3-D is to moviegoers. The technology repeatedly has inflated box-office grosses for everything from "Avatar" to "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs."

"Alice" also played across 188 IMAX screens in North America and gave IMAX its best opening ever, with $11.9 million domestically. That beat the previous record of $9.5 million set by "Avatar."

IMAX chairman and president Greg Foster said the huge success of "Alice" was unexpected, but that "Avatar" would regain some of those IMAX screens, whether or not it wins best picture.

"The momentum on 3-D is so massive right now," said Foster. "They were ready for a new movie. They were ready for a new, cool 3-D experience."

Though most of the Oscar contenders weren't a big factor at the box-office Sunday, the boffo performance of "Alice" proved the good health of Hollywood, said Dergarabedian.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Final figures will be released Monday.

1. "Alice in Wonderland," $116.3 million.

2. "Brookyn's Finest," $13.5 million.

3. "Shutter Island," $13.3 million.

4. "Cop Out," $9.1 million.

5. "Avatar," $7.7 million.

6. "The Crazies," $7 million.

7. "Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief," $5.1 million.

8. "Valentine's Day," $4.3 million.

9. "Crazy Heart," $3.4 million.

10. "Dear John," $2.9 million.

http://movies.yahoo.com/news/movies.ap.org/alice-opens-with-1163-million-3d-record-ap

Sandra Bullock's Wild Ride, and (Once) Improbable Oscar Coronation Read more: http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1970462,00.html?xid=rss-ar

2010-03-08T05:20:00.000-08:00

Standing in front of an international audience clutching her Best Actress Oscar, Sandra Bullock was perhaps the only person in the Kodak Theatre willing to admit some level of surprise about her giddy ascension to the ranks of Meryl Streep and Dame Helen Mirren — two of the acting titans she sweetly steamrolled over for the acting honor.

"Did I really earn this?" she asked the assembled members of the academy who had feted her with a rousing standing ovation, "Or did I just wear you all down?"

The answer would be a yes to both, but perhaps she might have added "charmed" to the equation. With her often-outrageous sense of humor, self-deprecation and class throughout the long awards season, it has been very easy to root for Bullock in her role as the outspoken matriarch Leigh Anne Touhy in The Blind Side. "It just was such odd circumstances and things came together in a way that I just didn't see coming," Bullock said backstage at the Oscars. "That no one saw coming. And I think that's what makes it so overwhelming and unexpected."

Actually a lot of people saw this sure-thing vote coming. At some point it simply became her time. Bullock has been the favorite for the best actress award in the weeks — even months — leading to the Oscars that it's almost hard to remember a time when it was unthinkable to see the 45-year-old actress at the podium.

Before 2009, actually that would have been pretty easy. Though Bullock was part of the ensemble cast that of "Crash" which pulled in a best picture Oscar in 2006, even she seemed content to have a career marked as a box office champion, screen comedienne and shrewd producer of such hits as "Miss Congeniality" and "Two Weeks Notice."

"I was very happy working and this came out of left field," she said backstage. "I didn't aspire to this." Bullock had even said no to The Blind Side part, along with Julia Roberts, before Bullock eventually changed her mind. But even after coming on board she still struggled with the role, calling her first week on set "the worst I have ever had." But somehow the role crystallized and the family-friendly movie proved a major force in 2009's box office — and the first female-led film to hit the $200 million mark.

While the movie was not overly appreciated by the critics at the time, Bullock's road to Oscar might have truly been cemented when she tied — literally tied — for the Critic's Choice award for best actress with Meryl Streep. Onstage that night, Bullock showed the zany streak that endeared her to Oscar voters by mock-charging Streep onstage when accepting her half of the award and then planting an open-mouth kiss onto a surprised but game Streep. "To the critics, I bet you never saw this coming," Bullock said of her victory in her speech. She ended it with: "I don't know what to say, but Meryl is a great kisser."

There was never a need for an onstage kiss again, because the ties were over as Bullock ran away with it from there, always keeping her sense of humor and humility. The Screen Actors Guild victory showed her typical acceptance speech excellence, hitting every mark — including sincerity — and wrapping up with thanks to her seated husband Jesse James. The famous tattooed tough guy and chopper enthusiast visibly choked up in front of the cameras as she spoke. Bullock's personal acceptance of her two Razzie awards for the deplorable All About Steve the evening before the Oscars was just icing on the self-deprecation cake. Rather than view the Razzies, saluting the worst that Hollywood has to offer, as an embarrassment and praying people would ignore it, she embraced it. Instead of an obvious Oscar hindrance, her willingness to laugh about it pretty much sealed her deal.

Bullock pulled a wagon full of All About Steve dvds onto the Razzies stage for a money shot guaranteed to run around the world. "You know, nothing ever let's me get too full of myself," Bullock said last night clutching her Oscar. She promised to keep both her Razzie and Oscar trophies prominently displayed in her home. "They'll sit side by side in a nice little shelf somewhere," she said, "The Razzie maybe on a different shelf�lower."

Backstage Bullock happily went through her award season's greatest moments including kissing Meryl ("no one has ever taken the bull by the horns before, but I did") and hit another everywoman bulls-eye with her post-Oscar plans. There was no need for champagne or parties after her wild ride. "I just want a burger," she said. "I want to eat and not sweat it and not worry that the dress will bust open. That's all I can give you. And I'd like a nap."

http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1970462,00.html?xid=rss-arts#ixzz0hahcKiUu

OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO: Charice Pempengco’s ‘Pyramid’

2010-03-06T00:15:00.000-08:00

International singing sensation Charice Pempengco has gone a long way from being a Youtube hit.

Recently, the young popstar released her first international single titled Pyramid, featuring rapper Iyaz, at Amazon and iTunes.

The song, which Pempengco said, landed on the billboard pop charts overnight, was part of her first international album named Charice: Pyramid.

In an interview with INQUIRER.net, Pempengco expressed her excitement over her first international album which she said took over a year and a half to finish.

“Nung sinabi nila sa akin na 'okay, it's done!' Sobrang tuwa ko po [When they told me, ‘okay, it’s done!’ I was so happy]” Pempengco said.

Also scheduled for release in May is the official music video for the single, she said.

Unlike her first self-titled album released under Star Records which featured mostly love songs, Pempengco promised that her international album would be "very youthful."

She also co-wrote one of the tracks, a rap with a mix of Tagalog and English lyrics.

"Kahit po sa States ang release nung album, marami rin pong Filipino dun and gusto rin nilang makarinig nang Tagalog kaya yun po sinulat ko [Even if the album is released in the US, there are a lot of Filipinos there and they would also want to listen to Tagalog that’s why this is what I wrote]," Pempengco explained.

But despite her new found fame, Pempengco said her ultimate goal would be to finish her studies.

In fact, Pempengco is a scholar at a Massachusettes-based online international university where she is currently enrolled as a freshman college student taking BA Communications.

"'Yun ang hindi alam ng maraming tao kasi akala nila palipat-lipat ako, akala nila hindi ako nag-aaral, pero ang totoo talaga, nag-aaral ako at college na ako [That’s what a lot of people think because they think that just because I’m mobile, they think I’m not studying. But the truth is, I am studying and I am in college]," said the talented petite singer, an endorser of Sterling notebooks and pens.

"Kahit na busy yung schedule, kahit papaano, two hours a day nakakapasok ako sa school, and nakakapag-aral ako and kahit na busy hindi ako makapaniwalang nakaabot ako ng college [Even if I have a busy schedule, I manage to spend two hours a day in school and I am able to study and despite my being busy, I couldn’t believe that I was able to reach college]," she added.

Think About That George

2010-03-04T18:58:00.000-08:00

"Regis and Kelly": When Tom Hanks started to go off the rails on "Live!" this morning he did the smart thing, and blamed the producer. Ever the old pro, after every gaffe, Tom would get the crowd back on his side by bellowing "Gellll-mannnnn!!!" It worked like a charm. Blaming the producer always works! Trust me, I know! Hey, that reminds me, Kevin, why isn't this blog finished? Where's my lunch? And where's Gertrude's lunch? Do you think a Great Dane is just going to walk herself? And while we're at it, why are there brown M&M's in this bowl? Kevvvv-innnnn!!!! Ah, that's better.

"Ellen": The contestants on today's "hidden audience talents" segment all get an A for effort. First, they had a guy who balanced an eight-foot ladder... on his CHIN! Then, they went up the ladder and topped that with a woman who can fold herself up and fit INSIDE a suitcase! (and not a big suitcase, we're talking a little roller bag... carry-on approved!) But we weren't done, people! They turned the tables on suitcase girl, literally, when they trotted out a foot juggler, who tumbled a wooden table with some bicycle kicks while lying flat on her back! Y'know, I'm starting to think they don't just randomly find these people in the studio audience...

"Bonnie": B-Money welcomed Mark Harmon who I remember most from his role as Mr. Freddy Shoop in the best movie of all time, 1987's "Summer School". Remember? Remember? Recently, he's been playing Special Agent Gibbs on the long-running show "NCIS." Then Bonnie gave a little TMI and admitted she was confused when she thought "CSI: NY" was "NCIS" and then Mark LOL'd and Bonnie ROTFL'd. It was TOC (totally outta control).

"The Early Show": Now you all know how much I love, love, love, the graphics department on "The Early Show." They always bring their A-game into making the lower third of your screen pop with funny plays on words and exclamation points. But I now need to give the credit to the music department, which is really starting to get me to sit up on the sofa and take notice. Back from breaks with music from Arcade Fire, White Lies, Stars... and the great bands just keep coming. So I raise my morning green tea to you, "Early Show" music department, for reminding me that you care about me and my enjoyment, even if just for the five quick seconds before the ads.

"The View": Abigail Breslin made an announcement that left my head spinning: she only gets $13 a week for allowance! I think that is great! She seems to be content with it and she also seems like a normal kid. More celebrity parents need to use this as an example. Maybe if George Papadopolis hadn't spoiled Webster with all those balloons he wouldn't have floated away! Think about that George... think about that.

"TPIR": The disparity in the showcases today was enormous. The first showcase was a vacation and some SCUBA stuff and a small powerboat. The next showcase, however, had a vacation, thousands of dollars in film making equipment, and a LAND ROVER. Guess which one they gave away? Let's just say, the producers are breathing easier for not being on the hook for a $45,000 SUV!

http://tv.yahoo.com/daytime/blog/think-about-that-george--203.html

Oscars Worst Fashion Ever

2010-03-02T05:54:00.000-08:00

The Academy Awards are not only considered the highlight of the year in film, but also the year in Hollywood fashion.

The biggest names hire teams of stylists to find them the perfect gown. But as these stars prove, it's not necessarily always the RIGHT team.

http://www.foxnews.com/slideshow/entertainment/2010/03/01/worst-oscar-fashion

C.R. Johnson, X-Games skier, dies after fall at Squaw Valley

2010-02-26T02:05:00.000-08:00

C.R. Johnson, a professional free skier who competed in the Winter X Games, died Wednesday after he fell and hit his head on a rock outcropping while taking a run down a steep chute at California's Squaw Valley.

Johnson, 26, was skiing with a group of friends when he tried to negotiate a “very, very tight, rocky area,” said Jim Rogers, a member of the Lake Tahoe-area resort's ski patrol.

He fell face-first, then spun around and struck the back of his head on rocks. Johnson was wearing a helmet, but Rogers said the helmet took a serious blow. According to the Placer County coroner, autopsy results show Johnson died as a result of blunt force cranial cerebral trauma.

Ski patrol members were called shortly before 2 p.m. but were unable to revive him. Placer County Sheriff's Lt. Jeff Ausnow said Johnson died on the slopes.

Rogers said Johnson was skiing recreationally and not as part of a competition when he lost his balance on the steep slope in a part of the resort known as the Light Towers area.

“This is a man of very, very stro ng skiing talent,” Rogers said. “This young man had been a fixture here at Squaw Valley for years. … He grew up at Squaw Valley.”

Johnson's father was an avalanche forecaster at the resort for about a decade, Rogers said. The younger skier also had rebounded from a serious injury suffered during a competition in 2005 that put him in a coma for several months.

Johnson was well-known at Squaw Valley, a challenging resort near Lake Tahoe's north shore that hosted the 1960 Winter Olympics. It also is the home base for several members of the U.S. ski team, including Olympic alpine medalist Julia Mancuso.

She tweeted about Johnson's death late Wednesday: “crazy day just got a little bit more unexpected… just learned that my friend and insane skier CR Johnson just died at Squaw.. my heart and prayers go out to everyone at home and CR's family.”

Olympic snowboarder Louie Vito also tweeted his reaction: “RIP to my homie CR Johnson. He will be missed by EVER YONE. At least he was doin what he loved but CR YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN!!!”

A statement from Squaw Valley USA described Johnson as a professional skier and member of its Freeride team.

He also competed in superpipe and halfpipe skiing at events such as the X Games. A photograph on his MySpace page said he was “X-qualified” for a skiing competition in France in 2002, while the Web site for the Ski Channel Television Network said he had been nominated for male skier of the year in 2002.

The freeskier.com Web site posted clips of Johnson in several extreme skier movies, jumping off cliffs and sailing through fresh, untracked powder. One clip includes Johnson talking about relearning to use his arms and legs after a severe injury caused by a collision with another skier while filming at Utah's Brighton ski resort in 2005.

He recalls “being one of the best skiers in the world, overly confident in your skiing, overly confident in yourself. … Right now I'm working as hard as I possibly can to return to the sport that nearly killed me.”

Squaw Valley attracts expert skiers and is known for its difficult terrain. Johnson is the fifth skier to die on the slopes over the past three years. Two of the five died in avalanches, including one member of the ski patrol.

Attempts to reach Johnson's family late Wednesday were unsuccessful, and a telephone message left with a spokesman for the X Games was not immediately returned.

Johnson, whose first name was Charles, had posted the following statement his MySpace page: “I feel it's most important to keep it real and enjoy each moment, you know, take advantage of every opportunity life provides, because who knows what tomorrow may bring.”

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20100225/SPORTS/100229866/-1/rss

KRISTEN BELL PRAISES “DOWN TO EARTH” CHER

2010-01-28T19:54:00.000-08:00

KRISTEN Bell admits she was starstruck when she first met Cher on the set of new their movie Burlesque — but insists the music legend was “very easy to be around”.

“She’s so cool and such a great actress,” Kristen said. “I could talk but I was definitely having to take a breath and going ‘I’m in a room with Cher right now’, but she’s so personable and down to earth, it’s not really what you expect, she’s very easy to be around.”

Bell says Burlesque — which hits theaters in November this year — is”about a burlesque club and Christina Aguilera plays a girl who moves from a small town and wants to perform there.

“Cher owns the club and we play best friends, I’m her lead dancer and Christina sort of comes in between the two of us and I’m not very happy about that!”

Bell — who’s currently dating comedian Dax Shepard — recently revealed that she puts her love life ahead of her Hollywood career.

“I think your significant other should be way more important than your work, personally,” she said. “I love working. I don’t know that I’d say I’m a workaholic because I also love maxin’ and relaxin’.

“I don’t think I’m a workaholic but currently, I feel like I’m at a really lovely place and I’m grateful to be where I am so I like working too, but I know what my priorities are.”

http://www.showbizspy.com/article/198684/kristen-bell-praises-down-to-earth-cher.html

KATY PERRY EXPECTING RUSSELL BRAND’S BABY?

2010-01-12T17:45:00.000-08:00

KATY Perry has sparked rumors she is pregnant after being seen looking at baby clothes.

The I Kissed A Girl singer — who recently announced her engagement to British comic star Russell Brand — took a stroll around some children’s shops in Hampstead, London, on Sunday.

“Russell and Katy had a wander around Hampstead,” a source said. “They visited children’s shoe shop Cubs and had a lot of fun checking out all the little bootees.

“They then went to Cafe Rouge for a bit of lunch. Katy ordered scrambled eggs and asked for the eggs to be ‘well done’. And when Russell asked for a portion of chips she loudly announced to the waiter, ‘Hold the mayo’.”

Pregnant women are not allowed to eat freshly made mayonnaise because the recipe contains uncooked eggs, which are considered a health risk to unborn babies.

Katy, 25, has further fueled the rumors by posting several cryptic messages on her Twitter page.

In a posting on New Year’s Day ), she said: “It’s noon on Jan 1st here in the future, let me tell you 2010 is BUMPIN! (sic)”

She then wrote to Russell, “I heard ur prego-ed.”

She then messaged gossip blogger Perez Hilton, saying, “Boy do I have storrrrries!(sic)”
y
http://www.showbizspy.com/article/197611/katy-perry-expecting-russell-brands-baby.html

UMA THURMAN BACK WITH MILLIONAIRE FIANCE

2010-01-11T23:04:00.000-08:00

UMA Thurman is back off the market!

The Kill Bill actress has reportedly rekindled her romance with her Swiss financier fiance Arpad Busson.

The pair — who began dating in late 2007 — called off their engagement in December, reportedly following a row over money.

But the couple sparked speculation their relationship was back on track after they were snapped leaving a private members club in London together last week.

Prior to becoming engaged to Busson, Thurman dated Andre Balazs from 2004 to 2006.

Uma, 39, has two children with Ethan Hawke, her husband from 1998-2004.

Busson, 38, shares two sons with his former girlfriend, supermodel Elle Macpherson.

Things are quite clearly looking up for Uma — recent reports claimed she’ll be sharing a bed with hunky Brit Robert Pattinson – in a movie!

http://www.showbizspy.com/article/197595/uma-thurman-back-with-millionaire-fiance-report.html

Emma Watson's Leg Goes Missing

2010-01-07T23:05:00.000-08:00

Photoshop focus on Demi Moore's November cover for W Magazine will finally die down, thanks to new ads that leave Emma Watson without a leg to stand on. This photo, from the Burberry SS2010 shoot by famed photographer Mario Testino, shows the "Harry Potter" starlet posing with her brother Alex in Burberry's new clothes...but missing a body part we're pretty sure she still has!

In the photo, Watson's right leg appears to take a mysterious turn before disappearing altogether, perhaps the result of a post-photo shoot editing session gone terribly awry. There's the possibility that Watson's leg is fully obscured by her brother's, but that would likely mean she's standing on a box or posing with one leg up (which might explain why she's got her arm wrapped around him for support).

Without seeing the entire/original shot, we'll never know, but at least the missing limb reappears in this additional photo for the campaign.

Nobody involved in the photo shoot has yet to comment. But unlike the Demi Moore incident, in which all parties vigorously denied any touch-ups, Emma's missing limb seems like it will be considerably harder to explain away.

Maybe this time, everyone can just laugh it off -- after all, even skilled photo re-touchers make mistakes now and then. We're just glad Emma's okay.

http://omg.yahoo.com/blogs/a-line/emma-watsons-leg-goes-missing/334?nc

Russell Brand confirms engagement with Katy

2010-01-06T06:37:00.000-08:00

"It''s true. Much love,” the Sun quoted Russell as saying in a text message. He and the ‘I Kissed A Girl’ hit-maker are now celebrating their news in Thailand. Brand revealed that both of them wore traditional Indian outfits, and were granted luck and divine happiness in a tent at the foot of a Jaipur mountain just before midnight on New Year's Eve.

Russell, star of movie Forgetting Sarah Marshall, surprised his lover with a ring as 2010 rolled in. He had earlier been spotted shopping for one at a London jeweller. "Katy''s managed to tame me. This is it - I''m completely in love,” the star told a friend. The pair first met just 3 and half months ago and the Asia trip was Katy’s Christmas gift from Russell.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-interviews/Russell-Brand-confirms-engagement-with-Katy/articleshow/5417094.cms

Sex and the City 2

2010-01-04T03:17:00.000-08:00

Series runner Michael Patrick King returns to pen the sequel to the 2008 blockbuster movie adaptation of HBO's Sex and the City with this Warner Bros. production, re-teaming the vivacious stars Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Cynthia Nixon, and Kristin Davis once again for another glitzy romp through... New York City high-life living.

Salt

2010-01-04T02:59:00.000-08:00

Director Phillip Noyce teams with screenwriters Kurt Wimmer (Equilibrium) and Brian Helgeland (Mystic River) to craft this thriller starring Angelina Jolie as dedicated CIA officer Evelyn Salt, who is accused by a defector of being a Russian spy. With each attempt Salt makes to prove her innocence, her... mentor, Winter (Liev Schreiber), only grows more suspicious of her true motivations. The longer she eludes capture by ambitious CIA agent Peabody (Chiwetel Ejiofor), the higher the stakes get.

Adam Lambert: New Year’s Eve, Then & Now

2010-01-02T00:46:00.000-08:00

One year ago, Adam Lambert was a total unknown, spending his New Year's Eve singing for his supper, almost literally, at an L.A. supper club. This is how Adam celebrated on NYE 2008:

But about two weeks after this, American Idol season 8 started its memorable run...and the rest was history. What a difference a year makes. (To put things into perspective: In the clip above, Adam is performing a Linda Perry-penned song. On his debut album, Linda Perry wrote a ballad, "Loaded Smile," just for him.)

It's hard to imagine any Idol going through a crazier 2009 than Adam Lambert, whose year was filled with enough highs and lows to fill an entire season of Fantasia's reality show. But the man always kept his cool. And he certainly looked cool last night on the red carpet of Gridlock NYE, the 5,000-capacity Hollywood megaparty at Paramount Studios where he headlined 2009's New Year's Eve. (That was definitely a step up from Mark's Restaurant, the aforementioned intimate eatery where he sang on December 31, 2008.) With both his glittery tuxedo coat and painted face looking like they were lovingly attacked by a Bedazzler--in the best possible way, of course--Adam sparkled like a star.

Here's a little Lambert Gridlock interview to cap off the Glamerican Idol's incredible year. Reality Rocks had to share him with a few other journo types, but I slipped in the really important questions: the first two about his crazy 2009 experience, contrasted with his much low-key 2008 NYE; the one about his outfit (because what fashionable Glambert interview would be complete without a mention of wardrobe?); and, most importantly, the leftfield one about a hoped-for collaboration with Justin Hawkins of the Darkness, my personal suggested New Year's resolution for Adam in 2010. (I don't think he or the other reporters were expecting that particular query...)

http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/realityrocks/299516/adam-lambert-new-years-eve-thennow/

Sandra Bullock is top star of '09 boxoffice

2010-01-01T20:45:00.000-08:00

In the eyes of U.S. movie theater owners, Sandra Bullock shined as 2009's top Hollywood star at the boxoffice, as the actress scored with audiences after a two-year absence from screens.

Quigley Publishing Co.'s annual list released on Thursday of top money making stars, based on a poll of hundreds of theater executives, had Bullock beat out such stars as George Clooney and Denzel Washington, on the strength of her roles in "The Proposal" and "The Blind Side."

Romantic comedy "The Proposal" made $315 million at worldwide boxoffices after its June release, and football drama "The Blind Side" has made $193 million only in the U.S. and Canada since its Nov. 20 release, with its rollout in other countries still to come.

Bullock, who also starred in the 2009 comedy "All About Steve" with its $34 million take in the U.S. and Canada, is the eighth woman to top Quigley's list of top money-making stars, which the company has put out each year since 1932.

Quigley Publishing said the list does not rank stars only on how much cash their films made, but on what theater owners say about who attracts audiences on their star power alone.

For instance, "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" was the top movie at U.S. and Canada boxoffices in 2009 with more than $400 million, but many in Hollywood attribute that to the appeal of the franchise itself and the toys it's based on.

The last woman to top Quigley's list was Julia Roberts in 1999. She failed to make Quigley's 2009 top 10 this year, after her turn in romantic comedy "Duplicity" bombed at the boxoffice.

Bullock scored her first smash hit with 1994 action movie "Speed" and became one of Hollywood's biggest stars, but before "The Proposal" she had not starred in a film since 2007.

"Public Enemies" star Johnny Depp came in at No. 2 on Quigley's top 10 list, followed by Matt Damon, George Clooney, Robert Downey Jr., Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep, Brad Pitt, Shia LaBeouf and Denzel Washington.

http://movies.yahoo.com/news/usmovies.thehollywoodreporter.com/sandra-bullock-top-star-09-boxoffice

Kim Kardashian Paid $10,000 Per Tweet

2009-12-25T05:49:00.000-08:00

Good luck keeping up with Kim Kardashian. The model and reality star is pulling down an absolutely stunning (or sickening depending on how you look at it) $10,000 every time she mentions a specific product in her Twitter account.

Kim is the highest-paid Twitter user listed on ad.ly, an advertising agency that sells in-stream ads on the Twitter accounts of celebrities such as Stephen Colbert, Dr. Drew and Lauren Conrad. With 2.7 million followers, Kim demands $10,000 every time she Tweets about a product, a name drop made more valuable by the fact that ad.ly limits paid Tweets to one per day.

No matter how you spin it, that's $10,000 per day for very very little work. Sometimes life just isn't fair. After reviewing Kim's Twitter, I can't tell right off which Tweets are straight up advertising, but she talks about a lot of products. The mentions of board games Scattegories and Taboo seem innocent enough. But then there's this. I'm guessing this is an ad.

http://www.zimbio.com/Kim+Kardashian/articles/NLreM9nd5LO/Kim+Kardashian+Paid+10+000+Per+Tweet

The Young Victoria

2009-12-22T09:38:00.000-08:00

New AVATAR Trailer Online

2009-12-21T15:40:00.000-08:00

A Christmas Carol

2009-12-21T13:00:00.000-08:00

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