Thursday, August 31, 2006

lePaparazzi Celebrity News Update: Friends Again?



Thankfully, these girls seemed to have called their silly catfights to an end (at least for now). At Shag on Monday, the girls kept their behavior in check and even had a short, "friendly" chat, according to E!Online.

Of course, as we've seen with countless celeb feuds, it's usually just a question of time before something erupts. Given Lindsay's newfound maturity (ahem), I give it a month or so before this heats up again. What do you think?

Source:E!Online

Technorati Tags: Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, paparazzi, Lepaparazzi, celeb rites, celebrity gossip, celebrity news, weblogs, media, celebrity blog,


Tuesday, August 29, 2006

lePaparazzi Celebrity News Update: Velvet No-nos






A tip from the Emmy Awards, brought to us courtesy of Kirstie Alley's (left) and Barbra Streisand's velvet overloads. . . For those of us not wanting to direct all the attention on our untoned bits or for the more petite crowd, avoid masses of formal fabrics with a lot of lustre.

Treat velvet--and velveteen--like desserts: only enjoy in moderation! It's the over-the-top designs that really clinch the deal for Kirstie and Barbra. With the voluminous amounts of fabrics and whimsical colors, both gowns are reminiscent of a fairytale come true. Plus, Kirstie's little Emmy purse misses the mark with its off color and style, making the dress even more awkward. Don't forget that with any gown, you need to accessorize and accessorize well.


Source:Go Fug Yourself

Technorati Tags: Kirstie Alley, Barbra Streisand, paparazzi, Lepaparazzi, celeb rites, celebrity gossip, celebrity news, weblogs, media, celebrity blog, emmys

Friday, August 25, 2006

lePaparazzi Celebrity News Update


Lionel Richie


Lionel Richie believes that the American public doesn't really expect quality in entertainment anymore--in fact, we can barely recognize it! As Lionel told MP3.com in an exclusive interview, "[The American public doesn't] know any different. Let me say this to you: very few people have what is called 'star presence' and that's the difference."

Lionel, whose album Coming Home will be released on September 12th, identified Beyoncé as being one of the few stars who can pull off the "star look," saying "That's star power there. That's no playing around."

There's only a few true R&B singers out there, he continued, naming Mary J. Blige and Alicia Keyes besides "star" Beyoncé. After that, the singer said "I'm all three and stuttering. . . There used to be a whole industry of people." That's a pretty hefty claim, Lionel!


Source:MP3.com


Technorati Tags: Lionel Richie, paparazzi, Lepaparazzi, celeb rites, celebrity gossip, celebrity news, weblogs, media, celebrity blog

Thursday, August 24, 2006

Celebrity Tracee Ellis Ross in Vibe Vixen's FAll Issue


Tracee Ellis Ross


Well, it seems like someone's still got a bee in her bonnet--Tracee Ellis Ross gave us some insight into Jill Marie Jones' departure from "Girlfriends," which will be aired this fall by the newly-formed CW Network on Sunday nights.

Tracee mentioned Jill's reason for leaving "Girlfriends" in VIBE Vixen's Fall issue, and it was a pretty sound one at that: "In order for the show to come back, the cast was not going to get the huge raises we dreamed of. When the calls went out about the new contracts, Jill gave a quick 'no.' "

It wasn't the "no" that shocked Tracee, but the fact that her former co-star didn't tell her personally. Tracee heard from the show's producers about Jill, and said that "I think I was mostly sad that after six years the call didn't come to me that said 'Hey, I've decided to leave. . ."

We're in no place to judge, but a phone call never hurts, Jill!

Source:Young, Black, and Fabulous

Technorati Tags: Tracee Ellis Ross, paparazzi, Lepaparazzi, celeb rites, celebrity gossip, celebrity news, weblogs, media, celebrity blog

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Can I wait until September 5th? Perhaps I can. Lepaparazzi Celebrity News Blog




After Beyoncé's marathon two-week recording session, she admitted that she has made an "angry power girl record."

What's even more interesting than jumping in a studio in two weeks and emerging with an album is being absolutely confident that it's quality work. Beyoncé stated that "I'm screaming at the top of my lungs. I don't even scream, but I had a lot to scream about." We'll soon be the judge of that: Beyoncé's album in going to be released in the U.S. on September 5th.

After admitting to her self-induced scream fest, Beyoncé also (rather ironically) attested to be very grounded, commenting that "I'll never lose myself like Lauryn Hill," referring to when READY OR NOT's Hill shaved her head, left the scene, and started visiting high schools with her guitar. While Beyoncé considers herself to be "more than a singer," she seems to have blamed Lauryn Hill for being just that.

Source:Contact Music

Source:Starpulse

Technorati Tags: Beyonce Knowles, paparazzi, Lepaparazzi, celeb rites, celebrity gossip, celebrity news, weblogs, media, celebrity blog

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

K Fed Lose Control Teen Choice Awards




Technorati Tags: K Fed Kevin Federline Britney Spears

Timberlake, not a Taylor Hicks Fan


Justin Timberlake is not in awe of Taylor Hicks’ talent.

“People think he looks so normal, and he’s so sweet and he’s so earnest, but he can’t carry a tune in a bucket,” Timberlake told Fashion Rocks, a supplement of Vanity Fair. Timberlake also thinks that Hicks’ fame is fragile. “If [Hicks] has any skeletons whatsoever, if God forbid, he’s gay, and if all these people in Mississippi who voted for him are like [then he takes on a thick southern accent], ‘Oh my god, I voted for a queer!’ It’s just too much pressure.”

The “Justified” singer has mixed feelings about “American Idol,” the show made Hicks famous. “I have a strange relationship with that show,” he said. “I despise it, yet I’m completely fascinated.”
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Of his former sweetie, Britney Spears, he said: “I dated Britney half my life, but I don’t know that woman anymore.”

Love on the rocks?
Looks like the romance between Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo may be on the rocks.

Lachey went to Australia earlier this month to promote his album, and his rebound sweetie stayed behind. Friends of the MTV talk show host, however, insist she’s relieved to have a little alone time. “She couldn’t wait for Nick to go because things were getting too heavy,” a friend of Minnillo told Life & Style Weekly, claiming that Lachey has brought up marriage and kids. “Vanessa says Nick’s gone overboard expressing his emotions.”

Another source, however, tells the Scoop it’s Lachey who wants a little more alone time. Either way, Minnillo reportedly hasn’t wasted any time looking to fill the man void. She turned to her ex-sweetie Derek Jeter for advice. “She makes it sound like their thing isn’t quite over,” the pal told L&S. “Derek could be her backup.” The Scoop’s source says Minnillo shouldn’t hold her breath on that one either.

Notes from all over...
Tom Cruise is making nice with his sweetie’s family. After an “emotional showdown” in which Katie Holmes demanded that Cruise make more concessions to her and her family, Cruise whisked Holmes’ family in his private plane to his hideaway in Telluride, Colorado, according to the National Enquirer. The family “bonded” with Cruise, reports the tab, which quotes a “family source” as saying, “He didn't talk Scientology once.” ... Paris Hilton and Tipper Gore don’t have much in common — but they do carry the same handbag. “It’s a fashionable, eco friendly purse made of old billboards and recycled Luna bar wrappers, available from Ecoist.com,” said a source. “Tipper carries one because of her interest in the environment and Paris carries one because of her interest in looking hot.” ... Christina Ricci says she doesn’t think she’ll ever be a major star because she’s too short. “I don’t think that’s ever going to happen for me,” the “Black Snake Moan” star tells Premiere. “I’m five-one first thing in the morning, and I tend to look really small on camera. I can probably go as far as Holly Hunter went, then I think that’s going to be it. I have a feeling I am way too small.”

Source: MSN

Monday, August 21, 2006

Paparazzi News Updates: LePaparazzi.com Celebrity News

Nick, Jessica Dodge Run-In at Teen Awards



As if perfectly timed for the release of Jessica Simpson's album A Public Affair, Sunday afternoon's Teen Choice Awards in Los Angeles had all the makings of a public spectacle.

During the ceremony, Simpson shared the stage with cohost (and rumored former love interest Dane Cook) while her ex-husband, Nick Lachey, who was nominated for several awards, sat in the front row.

In fact, both Simpson and Lachey were nominated for choice hotties – and could have had to appear onstage together – but neither won in that category. Instead, Jessica Alba and Orlando Bloom took home those awards.

Before the ceremony, Simpson and Lachey managed to steer clear of each other on the red carpet, as well. Simpson, who made her appearance around 4:15 p.m., trotted around with her mom Tina and hairstylist Ken Paves, who shouted "We love you, Jessica!" behind her on the carpet.

Lachey, with only his publicist in tow, did not appear on the carpet until 45 minutes later – just minutes before the live broadcast began.

Lachey also missed the first portion of the show, during which Simpson and Cook joked about their rumored romance. Cook then asked Jessica if there were anyone in the audience who could serve as her background reference. The camera flashed to a seat where the Family Guy baby, Stewie, sat.

Once in the audience, Lachey sat front and center, next to Jessica Alba and her boyfriend Cash Warren, where he remained until he was presented with the choice love song award for his single, "What's Left of Me." During his acceptance, a clip from his music video ran, showing girlfriend Vanessa Minillo.

Onstage Lachey joked, "I just want to start about by saying ... awkward? A little bit." (Later Simpson won for choice breakout female star in a movie for The Dukes of Hazzard.)

Perfectly at ease, however, was the final presenter of the evening, the pregnant Britney Spears. Signature gum in mouth, she introduced her husband, Kevin Federline, who closed the night with a performance of his song, "Lose Control."

"This show has been very good to me and my career over the years. And I'm hoping that it will be as good to our next performer," said Spears.

And, with that, Federline appeared, sporting a loose white shirt and white hat and a an ensemble of high-stepping young dancers.

"I ain't here to brag," Federline rapped in a tough-guy style before his number – and the awards show itself – came to an end.

Source: People.com


Technorati Tags: Jessica Simpson People Nick Lachey Kevin Fenderline Britney Spears
celebrity news paparazzi lepaparazzi media news weblogs

Saturday, August 19, 2006

Kevin Federline Aims for the 'Oh My God' Factor


Kevin Federline




Kevin Federline isn't nervous about making his nationally televised debut as a rapper at the Teen Choice Awards on Sunday: In fact, Britney Spears's husband tells PEOPLE he's going for the "Oh-my-God" factor when he closes the show with a song from his upcoming album, Playing with Fire.

You're making your debut on the Teen Choice Awards. Are you nervous?
I'm not freaked out at all, man. There ain't no way. I'm ready. It's going to be incredible. I've got a few tricks up my sleeve here and there.

Why are you going public now as a performer?
It was (the) right time, right moment. I've been getting people ready, I think, you know. Now I think they're ready. I'm ready. I've been getting ready myself. It’s taken me a year almost. I mean I’m ready to perform, my music is ready to be heard. Everything. Just ready to step out and do it.

Could you have performed in front of such a big audience a year ago?
I could have if I had to. But I think I took my time, made stuff a lot better. I think if I would have done it a year ago, it would have been more of a thing where people would have laughed at it. I just wasn't ready. The music wasn't ready.

How have you changed since then?
I've just progressed, like my writing is better. Everything has just been progressing and progressing.

What are you going for with your performance?
I think I'm going to go for the Oh-my-God factor. That's what I'm aiming for.


Does it hurt when people link you only to Britney?
Not really, no. I'm glad that people link me to Britney. That’s my wife. That’s my family.

How’s Britney?
She's good, man, better than ever right now. She's a happy mom. The Teen Choice Awards air Sunday Aug. 20 on FOX at 8 p.m. ET

Source

Celebrity Musician Travis Barker: I'm Still in Love with Shanna

LePaparazzi Celebrity News Updates


Travis Barker




Travis Barker isn't keeping quiet about the reasons he's divorcing his wife and Meet the Barkers costar Shanna Moakler.

On Aug. 14 – a week after he filed for divorce – Barker, 30, posted a scathing message on his MySpace.com page accusing Moakler, 31, of partying hard, not spending enough time with their kids (Landon, 2, and Alabama, 7 months) and sleeping too much.

In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Barker explains, "I was hearing things in the press that Shanna was saying about me and it got to the point where it got so foul and so false that I wanted my fans to hear from me directly."

Moakler fired back to PEOPLE, "(His) airing of our dirty laundry in the media is not conducive to the well-being of my children, and I want no part of it."

On Tuesday, Barker talked to PEOPLE about what went wrong in his marriage, a certain egg-throwing problem and the MTV curse.

PEOPLE: How are you doing? Are you angry or sad?

BARKER:
I'm not in the angry phase at all because I'm still absolutely in love with Shan. It feels weird to not wake up to my children every day, to be honest. But I sneak over every morning to see the babies.

PEOPLE: Do they understand what's going on?

BARKER: Well, 'Bam is seven months old. She just pisses herself when she sees me because she's so excited because she was used to seeing me so much during the day. And my son just thinks I'm working like crazy right now.

PEOPLE: When did things start going downhill with you and Shanna?

BARKER:
About a year ago. I don't know if it was me touring and me constantly getting accused of things. She was unfortunately in a relationship before where someone was unfaithful to her and she told me when we first met that it scared her. I understood that going into it, but I didn't know it would be to the extreme that it was. To the point where I couldn't have friends that were girls and I couldn't hang out with my guy friends. They would get egged if they came to my house.

PEOPLE: Wait, is that a metaphor?

BARKER: There were times where I'd be accused of whatever. She'd say I was a bad father, just saying she hated me or whatever. Then I would leave the house because I couldn't take it. My manager would pick me up and he would get served with a dozen eggs. This would happen on the daily. This would happen on the weekly.

(Through her rep, Moakler responds: "I did egg his manager's car on one occasion and at the time it was well deserved and well worth it.")

Source

Celebrity Christina Aguilera's singing comes up short



Christina Aguilera's latest release, "Back to Basics" includes old-school jazz, gospel and R&B. USA Today and Gannett News Service




"Back to Basics" By Christina Aguilera:
Of all the Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey wannabes cluttering the music charts over the past decade, Aguilera has scored the most combined points for tone, agility and rhythmic intuition.

But singers can't, or shouldn't, be evaluated like gymnasts. The elegant, eclectic arrangements on "Basics" may rein in Aguilera's tendency to oversing; and if the old-school jazz, gospel and R&B nuances can seem mannered, it's hard to imagine a contemporary pop star who could croon an achy ballad such as "F.U.S.S." or "Hurt" with more dexterity.

Still, for all its textural and emotional ambition, this double CD is a triumph of production and technique over songcraft and personal expression.

— Elysa Gardner


"Waterloo to Anywhere" by Dirty Pretty Things: Many assumed the success of The Libertines mostly hinged on self-destructive celeb junkie Pete Doherty. But his recent addled outing as Babyshambles and this bright Pete-free return by former bandmate Carl Barat prove otherwise.

DPT's explosive, concise punk-rock tunes echo The Clash and The Ramones with frayed edges and a punch-drunk lurch that suits the London night-crawler ambience. Though Barat defiantly makes a fresh start here in confrontational rockers about abusive spouses and the venal sex trade, he also rehashes the Doherty drama in "Bang Bang You're Dead" and "Doctors & Dealers." A highlight is "The Enemy," dark disco-driven paranoia with a slamming chorus.

— Edna Gundersen


"Livin' it Up" by Sammy and the Wabos: While living on the beach in Cabo San Lucas might be good for Sammy Hagar's outlook, it's not so good for his music. The former Van Halen frontman and one-time "red rocker" offers up only two real rock songs on his latest, "Mexico" and "The Way We Live," neither of which impresses.

After the bluesy, promising opener, "Sam I Am," the rest of the record is a blend of pop country and wannabe Jimmy Buffett. More than a quarter of the record is devoted to covers, including Toby Keith's "I Love this Bar," the Kenny Chesney-penned "One Sip" and a rewritten version of the Staples Sisters' "I'll Take You There."

The biggest transgression, however, is his mauling of Bob Dylan's "Rainy Day Women No. 12 and 35." Fans may wonder if Sammy's getting just a little too much sun.

— Fred Phillips


"Second Round's on Me" by Obie Trice: The Eminem protege's viewpoint takes a darker turn on the follow-up to 2003's "Cheers." Trice, who was shot in the head New Year's Eve, paints a bleaker picture of his native Detroit, packing harder lyrical punches than the often-humorous jabs that laced his debut.

The city's daily violence is a recurring theme on tracks such as "Cry Now," "Kill Me a Mutha," "Lay Down" and "There They Go." Trice gets notable help from the likes of 50 Cent, Nate Dogg and Trey Songz, but "Snitch," with Akon, is the one that's most worthy of toasting.

— Steve Jones


"Christ Illusion" by Slayer: Fans know exactly what they're going to get from Slayer every time, and this record, the band's first since 2001 and first with original drummer Dave Lombardo since 1990, is no exception. Start with a base of full-blast, highly technical thrash ("Flesh Storm," "Consfearacy"), mix in some religion-themed lyrical controversy ("Cult," "Jihad"), and you've pretty much got the recipe that's made Slayer the pre-eminent extreme metal band for nearly a quarter of a century.

One particularly strong moment is the haunting "Eyes of the Insane," which offers a look through the eyes of a soldier dealing with the aftermath of his war experience. There's nothing adventurous here, no experimentation, just Slayer doing what they do best. While it doesn't rise to the lofty heights of the band's 1986 classic "Reign in Blood," "Christ Illusion" is easily their best effort since 1994's "Divine Intervention."

— Fred Phillips

Source

A New Man for Jessica Simpson?


Jessica Simpson



Lately Jessica Simpson has been working – and working it.

Last weekend, the singer, who has been promoting her new album, A Public Affair, turned up at L.A. hot spot Hyde Lounge on Saturday night for a triple date. She was with her hairdresser, Ken Paves, and his boyfriend, pal CaCee Cobb and her new squeeze, Scrubs star Donald Faison – and a new guy of her own, PEOPLE reports in its upcoming issue.

"Jessica was very touchy-feely with him," says a club source, who claims the two kissed at their table. "They were lovey-dovey. It seemed like she really liked him."

Still, Simpson's rep insists she is "not dating anybody," and a source close to the singer tells PEOPLE, "She is really enjoying the single life."

But it's not all play for the star: On Friday night she hit the stage at West Hollywood's the Factory for a 20-minute set of songs from her new album, rounded off with an a capella version of "Amazing Grace."

Meanwhile, Simpson's pal Cobb spent her Friday night with Faison at the House of Blues for a Justin Timberlake concert.

Source

Jessica Biel's Changing Image in "The Illusionist"





Jessica Biel arrives for the premiere of "The Illusionist" in New York on Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2006.(Fashion Wire Daily/Grant Lamos IV) 




Los Angeles -
What does being named the "Sexiest Woman Alive" by "Esquire" magazine do to a gal? In Jessica Biel's case, it sent her scurrying for a corset.

"I actually thought, when that whole thing went down, I was flattered and honored and a little shocked at the whole thing, but I thought, 'Oh, this is going to be great. I'm going to get so many jobs from this. This is great! Great, great, great!' But that wasn't really the case," said Biel at a Los Angeles press day promoting her new film "The Illusionist."

"I think that it wasn't negative at all, but it's kind of an unattainable sort of label. 'The Sexiest Woman Alive?' I mean, who can hang out with the sexiest woman alive?"

The stunning 24-year-old actress was shocked by the result of that 2005 anointing; instead of finding herself deluged with offers, Biel had to fight to get a job.

"I think that a lot of directors and people who are looking at projects and they were like, 'Well, I don't want to hire her.' I felt like I was sort of on this pedestal a little bit and it definitely didn't just open all of the doors for me that I thought that it would. I thought, 'Oh, wow. This is a huge honor. This is going to be huge for me.' And it really wasn't at all."

What it turned out to be, however, was a personal wake-up call, forcing Biel to focus on just where she wanted to go.

"I pursued 'The Illusionist,' I did. They basically said 'No' to me, that they didn't want to see me and that it wasn't going to happen and then it opened up for like a split second and I went in there and created an accent and did my work. They liked it, and I got a callback. So I came back dressed fully as someone from around 1900 as best as I could and went for it. I put all of my apples in the basket," she remembered.

And won the part of the alluring woman in "The Illusionist," the catalyst for the mysterious story of romance, magic, and intrigue set in the early 20th century that co-stars Edward Norton, Paul Giamatti, and Rufus Sewell. But once she got the thing she wanted so badly, the worries began.

"It was a big step for me, to do a period piece," Biel admitted. "It was extremely nerve wracking, but I knew that if it terrified me that I should do it. I felt that it was very different from previous roles that I've done, modern roles. I felt that I was pretty much me in a lot of those roles, just changing it up a little bit, but with this I felt like I was stepping into the abyss."

Happily, the film, which opens August 18, is garnering rave reviews, as is Biel's image-shifting performance.

"I feel pretty excited about it," she giggled. "It's exactly what I've been wanting to do creatively and professionally. It's just a challenge for me and it's starting to help move me in the direction of what I really want to do more of - character pieces and story driven pieces and less of the action films.

"I think that it's my favorite film that I've worked on yet. It's fulfilled a creative bug that I had not been able to fill and in terms of my career I think that it's sort of a jumping off point. I also feel like it says to the world, 'Okay, so I can do this. Check it out. Take me seriously and please respect me because I'm not going to give up doing interesting things.'"

Source

Friday, August 18, 2006

Jennifer Aniston: 'I'm Not Engaged!'


Jennifer Aniston




Jennifer Aniston, in an exclusive interview Wednesday with PEOPLE, denied published reports that she and Vince Vaughn are engaged, calling the stories "insane" and saying that "people are getting fed a lot of bull."

"I'm not engaged and I don't have a ring and I haven't been proposed to," Aniston said in a telephone conversation she initiated to debunk the engagement rumors. "Normally we don't even acknowledge these things because they're endless, at this point. The thing that got me was that I was getting phone calls from Greece! My Aunt Mary in Greece is getting accused of lying! I mean, they're getting angry.

"My dad calls and he says, 'Honey, it's on the CNN crawl,' and I'm going, 'Wait a second!' When it starts to travel over into the Today show and CNN and supposedly reliable and accurate news programs, then you just go, 'This is insane.' People are getting fed a lot of bull."

Aniston says she had to laugh at the recent report detailing Vaughn's alleged proposal aboard a private jet following a Mexico vacation in late June. "It's so funny. With Vince, it's like the joke we had. I said, 'Okay, so you're on a romantic location. You've got the beach, you've got the sunset, but no, no, you're going to wait for an airplane ride,' " she says. " 'First of all, are you going to try and curb my fear of flying? Are you trying to trap me on a plane?' "

As for her relationship with Vaughn, whom she met last year while filming The Break-Up, "We're just being," Aniston says. "We're having a good time."

So, as reported, no wedding on the beach? No white dress? "No," she says with a laugh. "I mean, it couldn't be more of a 'No.' "

Aniston says she was moved to speak once the reports were picked up widely by mainstream media. "I don't feed into that," she says of the steady stream of rumors about her personal life. "(My friends and I) don't talk about it. We don't hash it out because it's not true. The only reason I'm saying something is because if we're listening to the news, we're supposed to be believing in the news.

"Tabloids are going to lie all the time. You’re prepared for that. But it's the news. And you think, 'Well, we need to trust what our newscasters are saying when we have this horrific situation that's actually taking place in the world. I mean, we are getting reported the truth, right?'

"The American people need to believe (the news)," Aniston says. "Please. Get it together. So that's all."

Source

"Snakes on a Plane" slithers into audience embrace



Snakes on a Plane is an action/horror film[1], starring Samuel L. Jackson, released by New Line Cinema on August 18, 2006. The David R. Ellis-helmed film was created by David Dalessandro and written by himself, John Heffernan, and Sheldon Turner. The film wrapped up principal photography in September of 2005, but after popularity of the upcoming film grew to unexpected levels, the studio later ordered five days of additional re-shooting to raise the MPAA film rating system rating from a PG-13 to an R.[2]The film has been rated R by the MPAA for language, a scene of sexuality and drug use, and intense sequences of terror and violence .[3]




NEW YORK (Reuters) -
Early audiences lured to "Snakes on a Plane" by its sensational title and Internet hype said the film lived up to their expectations for an over-the-top thriller.

"It was just so ridiculous it was a good movie," said Colin Cowes, 15, from Minnesota, after seeing a morning screening in New York on Friday. "I went and saw it because I saw an ad for it on the Internet. Definitely the title got me in because it just sounds so random and stupid."

The movie, whose title also convinced actor Samuel L. Jackson to star in it, opened in theaters across the United States and Britain on Friday.

There were no advance showings of the $30 million dollar movie after the name alone managed to spark an enviable run of publicity by spawning endless parodies, Web postings and videos that tried to flesh out the story.

The Internet hoopla started with a blog posting by screenwriter Josh Friedman a year ago praising Jackson for threatening to quit the movie when the studio considered changing the title, saying he'd taken the job based on the name.

At the early New York screening moviegoers laughed and cringed as they watched an FBI agent try to regain control of a plane that the Mafia had filled full of poisonous snakes to try and kill a witness under protection.

"What could have been just a well-named, warmed-over, schlocky mess is instead everything a summer action movie should be," Premiere magazine said.

On Web site rottentomatoes.com, which aggregates film reviews, opinions were currently running 72 percent "fresh" with 23 of 32 total reviews being favorable as of Friday afternoon.

Smart moviegoers usually avoid a film released without advance screenings because it can indicate a studio knows the movie is bad. But people who have not seen "Snakes on a Plane" are calling themselves "fans" and many hope it will be awful, in an entertaining way.

Natasha Sokolov, 33, said she came to see the movie because it starred Jackson.

"I'm not sure that's exactly a movie I would regularly see though. It was scary, fun, exciting. It was just a little piece of entertainment, nothing serious," she said.

Marcus Levy, 29, of New England, said it was action-packed. "I think at first it was the actual preview that got me interested and then the title obviously explains everything. I despise snakes," he said. "It was actually entertaining."

New Line Cinema, the Time Warner Inc. subsidiary that is distributing "Snakes," has fueled the hype and the producers even included a line created by an imaginative blogger in the movie and used it in previews.

But the hype didn't get to everyone.

"I didn't even know about it, but (my friend) was just, like, 'We have to go and see this movie'," said 15-year-old Imogen Kwok.

Source

Fantasia's biopic to air on Lifetime


American Idol winner Fantasia Barrino launches two new M*A*C Lipglass shades at the M*A*C Harlem store November 22, 2004 in New York City.




LOS ANGELES - It took a lifetime for music greats Ray Charles and Johnny Cash to earn screen biographies. In today's increasingly rapid celebrity cycle, one "American Idol" had a much briefer wait.

"The Fantasia Barrino Story: Life is Not a Fairy Tale," with Barrino making her acting debut playing herself, airs this weekend on the Lifetime TV channel, two years after the then-19-year-old won Fox's hit singing contest.

But Barrino and those behind the movie say the project is more than warranted despite her youth and a career that has just begun to unfold.

What's happened so far — the instant fame, Grammy nominations, a best-selling record and autobiography — has been hard-won and required Barrino to overcome adversity and crushing self-doubt, they feel.

"I think it's a story that warrants a biopic because it's got a really strong beginning, middle and end," said Susanne Daniels, Lifetime entertainment president. "Sometimes you have to wait until you've got the right ending. But you've got the right ending — she wins."

Her life holds lessons she wants to share with young viewers and adults, said Barrino, now 22. The movie, based on her book "Life is Not a Fairy Tale,' tells of a shattering rape and the despair of being a marginally educated, unwed teenage mom.

Empowering boys and girls who have been sexually abused is foremost, she said.

"You're supposed to be respected, and `no' means `no.' ... If somebody does you that way, don't be afraid to come out and tell somebody. At the end of the day, it's your mind and your spirit and your body."

Barrino's experiences, as well as her "extraordinary" gifts as a singer, drew film, TV and Broadway veteran Debbie Allen to the project as director.

"It's an amazing, uplifting story. It's an American dream. It's the kind of story that will inspire so many young people," Allen said. At her Los Angeles-area dance academy, she said, she regularly works with youngsters "who need to be inspired or who need confirmation for their dreams, or guidance."

The film, the first TV script from Pulitzer Prize-nominated playwright Keith Glover ("In Walks Ed"), co-stars Loretta Devine, Viola Davis and Kadeem Hardison. It airs 9 p.m. Saturday, repeating at 8 p.m. Sunday and 9 p.m. Monday (all times EDT).

Lifetime gained the use of clips from "American Idol," showing Barrino's 2004 victory and her powerful performance of the classic tune "Summertime," which she believes brought the audience into her camp.

There are dramatic liberties. A scene that suggests she was pressured to quit "American Idol" because she had a daughter outside marriage (Zion, now 5), is an interpretation of how she felt, Barrino said.

"It didn't go down like that," she said. The show's producers, whom she said "cared about me and believed in me," wanted her to know that the Internet was abuzz with negative postings and suggested she consider being less candid.

"I thought about that after they told me. I said, `They might be right. Do I want to lie now because I want it so bad, or is this an opportunity to say, yes, I've done that but look at what I'm trying to do now.'"

Screenwriter Glover said the challenge he faced was not inflating the drama but paring down an eventful life.

"I had an abundance of material. It wasn't having to make so much of whole cloth. The movie just jumped out at me from her book," he said.

Acting out the sexual assault by a classmate was the toughest part of filming, Barrino said. (She does not identify the youth in her book, in which she says she didn't pursue criminal charges because of harassment by his friends. A fictional name is used in the film.)

"I walked off the set several times. I said, `I can't play that,'" she recalled. It was Allen who carried her through the experience by bringing her son, Norm Nixon Jr., in to play Barrino's assailant.

The kind and easygoing Nixon "was a breath of fresh air," said Barrino.

Allen also provided the kind of supportive advice that "would calm my nerves and calm me down," Barrino said. "I took all her advice and I ran with it. ... And I would say, `I can do this because I'm doing it for a reason, to offer testimony.'"

Barrino at first rejected the idea of playing herself; she saw Kimberly Elise ("Close to Home") in the role. But Allen said the young singer from North Carolina "really has a future as an actress if she pursues it. She really can do this."
 
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Actor Osment faces pot, drunken driving charges


Actor Haley Joel Osment is seen in the Westwood section of Los Angeles, September 18, 2003. Prosecutors on Thursday charged Osment, who famously saw dead people in 1999 hit movie 'The Sixth Sense,' with drunken driving and marijuana possession. REUTERS/Jim Ruymen




LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -
Prosecutors on Thursday charged Oscar-nominated actor Haley Joel Osment, who famously saw dead people in 1999 hit movie "The Sixth Sense," with drunken driving and marijuana possession.

Osment, 18, faces up to six months in jail if convicted on the charges that arose after a car crash in suburban Los Angeles on July 20.

The actor suffered a broken rib and shoulder injury and was briefly hospitalized.

Prosecutors charged Osment with misdemeanor possession of marijuana while driving and with having a blood alcohol level higher than 0.08 percent, including a special allegation of having a level higher than 0.15 percent, said Deputy District Attorney Ed Green.

A spokeswoman for the actor was not immediately available.

Osment is set to be arraigned on September 19.

The actor shot to fame with his role as a young boy who could see dead people haunting the real world in "Sixth Sense," which raked in $673 million at global box offices.

The role earned Osment an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actor and made him a star. But since then, few of his movies have scored well with critics or at box offices.

Source 

The Beckhams get 'intimately' scented


British soccer star David Beckham and his wife Victoria walk together upon their arrival at New Tokyo International Airport in Narita, northeast of Tokyo, in this June 18, 2003 file photo. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)





LONDON (AP) — Soccer star David Beckham and his pop-star wife Victoria are set to get intimate with the unveiling of a new fragrance for men and women next month.

Dubbed "intimately Beckham for Him" and "for Her," the fragrances will be sold starting next month across Britain.

For men, the line promises to bring the confidence of masculinity with a "magnetic, provocative, cool — yet never aloof" blend of grapefruit zest, bergamot and cardamom.

Also in the mix are elements of nutmeg, star anise, sandalwood, patchouli and amber.

The line includes cologne, hair and body wash and deodorant spray and stick.

For women, the fragrance line aims to convey "the essence of Victoria known only to the people closest to her," according to a statement announcing the new fragrance.

"An opulent bouquet of white flowers opens with the pure fresh notes of bergamot and rose petals that linger on the skin," is how the scent is described.

The couple, who married in 1999, have spent almost a decade in the perpetual glare of celebrity photographers' flashbulbs, but their appeal is waning.

Beckham, the world's most recognized soccer player, quit as England soccer captain after the team's lackluster performance in the summer's World Cup tournament.

He has since been ditched from the England squad, signaling the winding down of his playing career.

Victoria, once a singer with the multimillion-selling Spice Girls, made a poorly received solo album in 2001, but recently switched her attention to developing a line of designer jeans.

Besides perfume, the line of new products also includes body lotion, shower cream and deodorant spray.

Both versions are set to go on sale in Britain starting Sept. 1. There was no immediate word on whether the fragrance would be marketed in Europe or elsewhere.

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Klum says she wants 'a lot of children'


Supermodel Heidi Klum, who is pregnant with her third child, poses at a product launch at a Victoria's Secret store in Los Angeles July 31, 2006. REUTERS/Fred Prouser (UNITED STATES)



NEW YORK -
Heidi Klum
and her husband Seal, currently expecting their second child together, might not be done.

"We want to have a lot of children," the supermodel tells Life magazine in its latest issue. "(Seal) always says that he finds me the most beautiful when I'm pregnant."

Klum and Seal, who were married last year, already have a 10-month-old son, Henry Guenther Ademola Dashtu Samuel. Klum, 33, also has a 2-year-old daughter, Leni, from a previous relationship with Formula One manager Flavio Briatore.

Klum, the host of Bravo's "Project Runway," also said her family has been given a nickname in her native Germany that she didn't know what to make of at first.

"In Germany — and this started with a newspaper headline — they call us `the Patchwork Family,'" says Klum. "I was like, `Hmm, is this an insult or is this positive?' I talked to Seal about it, and we're, like, it's actually kind of great — we're all different shades and we came together and we all love each other."




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After Party Material Girls



Haley, mom and Hilary




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MTV TRL Appearances



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Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Gere says media crucial in AIDS fight

LePaparazzi Celebrity News Updates


Actor Richard Gere watches a video presentation at the 16th World Aids Conference in Toronto, Monday August 14, 2006. (AP Photo/Frank Gunn, CP)





TORONTO - Richard Gere has told an AIDS conference that the media — from the chief executives of TV networks to the cultural icons of Hollywood and Bollywood — must fight the disease by using their enormous reach into people's hearts and homes.

Gere, a longtime AIDS activist and founder and director of Healing the Divide and the Heroes Project in India, joined media giants from India, the Caribbean, South Africa and Russia on Monday to promote the use of AIDS awareness campaigns in TV programming.

The 56-year-old actor said he was inspired by Rock Hudson, who died of AIDS in 1985, and Hudson's good friend Elizabeth Taylor, one of the first Hollywood stars to become actively involved in anti-AIDS campaigns.

Gere said of Taylor's work: "There was another cultural icon, who just cut to the center of the culture very quickly, very directly. And I think it was in many ways an inspiration to me.
"What I would do later on is work with people who had that ability to cut through very quickly and very deeply into the heart of a culture."

Gere, a follower and friend of the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, has made many trips to India. Two years ago, he helped launch the Heroes Project with grants from his own foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.

The group worked with TV executives in India to produce public service announcements using cultural icons such as Bollywood's Amitabh Bachchan, as well as soap operas with HIV-positive characters, documentaries and talk shows.

Gere worked closely with Peter Mukerjea, CEO of the STAR Group in India, whose variety of TV stations has reached an estimated 70 million viewers with its AIDS public service announcements.

Mukerjea announced Monday that STAR was making another five-year commitment of $23.16 million to extend the Heroes Project AIDS campaign.

Source

Ricci doesn't see commercial stardom


Christina Ricci




NEW YORK - She co-starred with Charlize Theron in "Monster" and Johnny Depp in "Sleepy Hollow." But Christina Ricci says she still auditions for movies.

Ricci, 26, fought hard for the role of anxiety-ridden Rae, a victim of childhood sexual abuse, in "Black Snake Moan," written and directed by Craig Brewer (writer/director of "Hustle & Flow").
Samuel L. Jackson co-stars as Lazarus, a farmer and blues musician who tries to help her.

She is chained half-naked to a radiator throughout much of the film, due for release in February.
"... my agent started inundating Craig Brewer with photo shoots I had done that are pure sex shots," Ricci says with a laugh in an interview in the September issue of Premiere magazine.
"I have to say that I still audition for movies," she says. "I don't really have as much control over my career as others would like to pretend that I do."

As for huge commercial stardom, Ricci, whose screen credits also include roles in "The Addams Family," "Buffalo '66" and "The Opposite of Sex," says: "I don't think that's ever going to happen for me."

She tells the magazine: "My agent will pull up a picture of me blond, fat, thin, whatever. I know that had I been thinner at the time when my indie movies were hitting, I could've been in a much better position in my career, but I kind of like where I am."

Her upcoming films include the ensemble war drama "Home of the Brave" and the fairy tale "Penelope," about a girl cursed with a pig's nose who must learn to love herself to overcome her affliction.

Source

Hilary and Haylie Duff: "We're Not Really 'Material Girls'!"


Haylie Duff, left, and Hilary Duff arrive for the premiere of "Material Girls" in New York on Monday, Aug. 14, 2006. (Fashion Wire Daily/Grant Lamos IV)(Fashion Wire Daily/Grant Lamos IV)




Los Angeles - As Hilary and Haylie Duff promote their new teen comedy called "Material Girls," doing press interviews in New York, a concert on the "Today" show's plaza, and the movie's glittering premiere, the sisters want to make sure that the world knows that while they may play two gals obsessed with getting the latest new thing, that's not really what they are like in real life.

"We are similar in some ways because in the movie the girls are best friends," older sister Haylie explained. "And they live together and we live together," chimed in Hilary, the more famous of the two.

"They look out for each other too, just like we do, but in the movie the girls are very materialistic and Haylie and I, you can't say that we don't like to shop every once in a while, but we are not like these girls," Hilary continued.

"These girls don't have a care in the world and they don't have any responsibility and everything has just been handed to them and they don't appreciate it, so when they lose it its like someone hit them over the head with a bat. They have no idea how to handle real life situations that happen to people, things that people deal with on a daily basis, struggles, and these girls don't know how to handle that."

At 18 years old, Hilary Duff has been dealing with the realities of life for a long time; she's been in the spotlight since she was just a real kid, starting her acting career at 10 and becoming a huge teen star at just 14, as the lead in "Lizzie McGuire" on the Disney Channel. These days, both Duffs are constantly in the public eye, but despite that, they say they are just regular people - and very different than the shallow, clothing-obsessed girls they play in the movie.
"These girls are always dressed up no matter what they are doing," Haylie grimaced. "We aren't like that in our everyday life, we wear sweatpants to the grocery store!"

Not to mention that both are serious career women already. Haylie has a clothing line designed for 7- to 14-year-old girls; she's also about to plunge into the cosmetics market as well.
"I have a fragrance coming out in September, so that comes out with Elizabeth Arden," she announced happily.

And both are rolling along with their burgeoning acting careers as well.

"Right now I am living in New York for the next couple of months and doing "Hairspray" [on Broadway]. It's very fun," Hilary said. "Haylie is focusing on her music a lot and has a new album coming out and a single that she releases a video for in a couple of days. And then I started "7th Heaven," the new season for the "CW" last week."

Sadly for the almost inseparable pair, that means that the sisters won't be working together again for a while, which was the thing that made "Material Girls" such a treat for them.
"We had the best time and it was like having your best friend at work with you every day - and a safety net," Haylie remembered. "You felt like you could try new things and somebody was there to be like, "Maybe that wasn't the best." Or "Maybe try it this way.""
"Material Girls" hits theaters on August 18.

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Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Who's Got The Best Jeans Butt? Photo Poll

Who's got the best bottom for denim? Choose from photos of Beyoncé, Jessica and others – and then vote! PLUS: Take PEOPLE's Ultimate Jeans Poll click on the link below. Also, Leave your comments below.



BEYONCÉ
The onetime Bootylicious diva (on TRL) recently slimmed down but still lays claim to the title in her snug Siwy jeans.




JESSICA SIMPSON
Simpson transformed her body to look bodacious in her Daisy Dukes, and a year after her turn in The Dukes of Hazzard, she's still in fighting shape.




HALLE BERRY
Even though boyfriend Gabriel Aubry was recently the face of Gap denim, Berry sticks to tried and true Levi's on the set of her new movie, Perfect Stranger.




JENNIFER LOPEZ
The triple threat calls attention to her most buzzed about asset in these decorative-pocket jeans, worn on




JESSICA BIEL
Esquire's "Sexiest Woman Alive" lives up to her billing in these slim-fit jeans on the set of her new movie, Next.




EVA LONGORIA
In 2005, this Desperate Housewife identified her posterior as her favorite body part. In these slim-cut jeans, we can certainly see why!




JENNIFER ANISTON
Aniston is so attached to her Generra jeans that she not only put them on to greet fans outside The Late Show, but wore them onscreen in The Break-Up, as well.




JESSICA ALBA
The actress credits her daily workouts and sensible diet for keeping her looking so Fantastic in her Rock & Republic jeans.




Which star's behind comes out ahead in denim? (clockwise from top left)
Beyoncé
Jessica Simpson
Halle Berry
Jennifer Lopez
Jessica Biel
Eva Longoria
Jennifer Aniston
Jessica Alba


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Celebrity Nick Lachey: Interest in Him, Jessica 'Bizarre'


Nick Lachey




Nine months after his split from Jessica Simpson was announced, and halfway around the world, Nick Lachey still can't escape the public's curiosity about him and his ex.

"It is bizarre," Lachey, 32, tells Australia's Sydney Morning Herald while Down Under promoting his album What's Left Of Me. "We get so used to it in the States, but, yeah, to think that it's become like that in a lot of other places in the world, yeah, it is strange.

People kind of think they know you before they have a chance to talk to you. It is a surreal thing, but I guess it's kind of what we signed up for."

He admits that MTV's Newlyweds helped spark the fascination with him and Simpson, but says, "No one really understands this side of it, but she and I decided to use the show as a promotional vehicle for our albums, you know with MTV, who we'd worked with for years.

It was supposed to be six episodes to promote our records, then it turned into this whole other thing." Ignoring the scrutiny of his personal life is "easier said than done," he says. "My sister-in-law and I were photographed together and she was my new 'mystery blonde.' It's a joke.

It gets to be laughable at some point, that's why it becomes so frustrating because it's just ridiculous." Still, there is hope. "I can already hopefully feel it starting to go away," he says of the attention. "I think there's some closure there for (Jessica) and I; hopefully the rest of the world will find some closure along with us."

Source

Drew Barrymore Says She's Ready for Kids


Drew Barrymore





Drew Barrymore is ready to start a family, she says. "I definitely feel the beginnings of a tick tock," Barrymore, 31, tells InStyle in its September issue.

"Whether I have children or adopt – whatever form a family comes in, I would absolutely love to have it." And she's getting more domestic, she says: She won a Project Runway-style dressmaking contest on the set of her new movie, Lucky You, and says she plans to start saving sewing kits from the hotels she stays in with her boyfriend, Strokes drummer Fabrizio Moretti. Still, she admits, "I can't cook. Fab makes a few good things, but we mostly order in."

Another thing has changed as she's gotten older (she stresses that she's "31 and a half"): She's become more comfortable in her skin.

"You learn to love your body," she says. "You can't look at models and feel bad about yourself. I'm not the kind of girl who can stuff her face with pasta all the time and not gain weight."

To stay healthy, "I've been running and doing yoga and Pilates, and I love the way it makes my mind and body feel," she says. "I really don't obsess about it."

But even though she's ready to be a mom, she hasn't quite processed that fact that she's a grown up.

"Am I going to walk home from work one day … and realize I'm a homeowner? That I run a production company and have responsibilities and a long-term relationship?" she says.

"All of those things are so adult. I keep wondering when it's going to hit me. Maybe it never will. And that's okay." The new issue of InStyle hits newsstands Aug. 18.

Source

Courteney Cox: I Lean on Jen Aniston


Courteney Cox and Jennifer Aniston




Last week Courteney Cox told Life magazine, "I'm a great caretaker." But who takes care of her during tough times? "There are a few people that I would go to," Cox, 42, told PEOPLE Monday night at an event she hosted at the Comedy Store in Los Angeles to benefit the EB Medical Research Foundation. "But I would say my mom and Jennifer (Aniston)."

Cox and husband David Arquette were on hand to support a family friend whose child suffers from Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), an incurable genetic disorder that affects about 25,000 people in the U.S. and causes skin to become as fragile and easily torn as tissue paper.

Its sufferers are known as "butterfly children" because their skin can be damaged by even the lightest contact. Why did Cox get involved with the charity? "This horrible genetic problem that no one knows about – there's not enough awareness out there," she said. "I feel so fortunate because David and I – having Coco, we were so blessed.

I would say that that's where my heart is most." Cox is also the spokesperson for Kinerase Clear Skin Collection and Vitamins, which, through the end of October, is donating 5 percent of proceeds to the EB Medical Research Foundation.

Source

Shanna Moakler joins Dancing with the Stars


Shanna Moakler




Shanna Moakler has a new partner – dance partner, that is. The Meet the Barkers star, whose split from husband Travis Barker was announced recently, will compete with pro dancer Jesse DeSoto against other celeb/dancer pairs on the third season of Dancing with the Stars, ABC said Monday.

The show, which kicks off with a two-hour season premiere on Sept. 12, will also feature actor Harry Hamlin (husband of Dancing season-two alum Lisa Rinna), Kill Bill star Vivica A. Fox and Saved by the Bell actor Mario Lopez.

Other celebs who will compete for a mirror-ball trophy include MSNBC news anchor Tucker Carlson, talk-show host Jerry Springer, Monique Coleman from the Disney Channel's High School Musical, country singer Sara Evans, pop star Willa Ford, onetime teen idol Joe (formerly Joey) Lawrence and NFL champ Emmitt Smith.

Also returning as judges are former ballroom dancer Len Goodman and dancer-choreographers Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba. Previous Dancing with the Stars winners include Drew Lachey, who earned first place with partner Cheryl Burke in February, and season-one champ Kelly Monaco, who later danced against runner-up John O'Hurley in a viewer-decided rematch (which O'Hurley won).

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Prosecutors to Monitor Madonna Act


U.S. pop star Madonna performs on stage during her 'Confessions Tour' concert at Rome's Olympic stadium in this Sunday, Aug. 6, 2006 file photo. German prosecutors plan to keep an eye on Madonna's weekend concert in Duesseldorf to see if the pop diva repeats the mock crucifixion scene that has drawn fire from religious leaders. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)




Prosecutors plan to keep an eye on Madonna's weekend concert in Duesseldorf to see if the pop diva repeats the mock crucifixion scene that has drawn fire from religious leaders.

Johannes Mocken, a spokesman for prosecutors in Duesseldorf, said Tuesday that a repeat of that scene during Sunday's concert could be construed as insulting religious beliefs.

Madonna, who is known for her theatrical, action-packed shows, wears a crown of fake thorns while performing on a mirrored cross.

The stunt, which has been included from the outset of her worldwide "Confessions" tour, has been criticized as an act of hostility toward the Roman Catholic Church.

Representatives for the singer, who will be 48 on Wednesday, have said the scene is not disrespectful toward the church.

Mocken said authorities would rely on media reports rather than sending observers to the concert and that the show might be covered by laws protecting artistic freedoms.

Earlier this month, religious leaders in Rome condemned the concert stunt. Some 70,000 fans attended Madonna's performance at Olympic Stadium, some two miles from the Vatican.

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Monday, August 14, 2006

Celebrity Photo's of Nicole Ritchie























Nicole Richie and Tyra Banks shopping on Robertson Blvd. in Hollywood