After her turbulent early years, Willie says she went "buck-wild" on turning 18, snorting cocaine on her birthday, adding: "She has tried just about everything - cocaine, crystal meth, ecstasy."

*****

On one occasion, he was invited to a Florida wrap party for Disney kids' TV show Mickey Mouse Club - which Britney fronted alongside JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE and CHRISTINA AGUILERA. He says: "The kids were definitely drinking that night. While the adults talked, they were somewhere else, up to no good. They had a bottle of gin and slipped away to the bathroom to drink it. I saw them going." But Willie is certain Britney was exposed to drink and drugs long before she hit the big time. "Her brother Bryan was the star of the high school football team. They went to all the best parties where there were drugs and alcohol -- a lot." He believes her drug-taking started at 14 with marijuana but adds: "It got worse when she got famous and she found out that people would do what she wanted them to. She's tried just about everything. She wanted to drink, party and go where she wanted to go. She is a ruthless little thing, make no mistake. Nobody controls her. She bosses everyone around her." Willie says his brother JAMIE - Britney's dad -- must take a large chunk of responsibility for her boozy lifestyle. "Just about everyone in the Spears family is a drunk and Britney's dad Jamie was one of the worst. "He would drink from daylight to night. Britney saw him drunk all the time."

*****

He says: "Britney is in an unstable state of mind now and there is nothing anyone can do about it. She is not listening to anybody. She has fired all the people around her who cared because she simply doesn’t want people to tell her to stop doing the things she is doing."

Willie believes Britney's demise was inevitable. He adds: "She was a sweet young girl but as she grew up and saw the violence, the alcohol and everything, she became what she saw -- as mean and hard-drinking as the rest of the family. That kind of childhood would make anyone unstable. It did with me. If people think she has reached the bottom, they are very wrong. Suicide is the bottom line for Britney."

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Scarlett Johansson Jokes She's Engaged to Barack Obama

Scarlett Johansson didn't do Barack Obama any favors today when she joked to the press that she is engaged to the presidential candidate and that her heart belongs to him. She made the comments on her return from visiting the troops.

Scarlett Johansson returned from the Persian Gulf with a whole lot of soldiers' trinkets and a delusion of her own engagement -- to Barack Obama.

"I am engaged ... to Barack Obama," Johansson joked in an interview with The Associated Press on Thursday. "My heart belongs to Barack, and that is who I am currently, finally, engaged to. Yes."

Johansson, who showed her support for the Democratic presidential candidate at the Iowa caucus earlier this month, was really just deflecting a question about rumors she might be engaged (to actor-beau Ryan Reynolds).

Scarlett no doubt means well, but Michelle Obama can't be happy about this. She was certainly unhappy about the "I've Got a Crush on Obama" video. Michelle and Barack's little girls were teased about the video at school and Michelle was pretty steamed about it. Perhaps the Obama speechwriters could provide Scarlett with a script full of appropriate, yet seemingly off the cuff comments for when the press comes calling.

Posted on January 26, 2008
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Mary-Kate Olsen Statement on Heath Ledger

Mary-Kate Olsen has giving the following statement to ET about Heath Ledger's death.

"Heath was a friend," she says. "His death is a tragic loss. My thoughts are with his family during this very difficult time."

ET also says rumors that the New York Police Department wants to question Mary-Kate Olsen are untrue. They also released this timeline of Heath Ledger's death.

At 3:17 p.m. Tuesday, the masseuse, DIANA WOLOZIN, made a call to Olsen that lasted 49 seconds. At 3:20 p.m., Wolozin made another call to the former "Full House" star that lasted 1 minute and 39 seconds. At 3:24 p.m., yet another call was placed to Olsen, which lasted 21 seconds.

At 3:26 p.m, Wolozin called 911.

At some point, according to the NYPD, Olsen, who was in California at the time, sent over her personal security guards to the apartment to assist with the situation.

At 3:33 p.m., paramedics arrived and actually went up in the elevator with Olsen's security guards to Ledger's apartment. However, the paramedics did not allow the security guards into the bedroom where Ledger's body lay.

The masseuse then called Olsen a fourth time at 3:34 p.m. The length of the call was unknown.

At 3:36 p.m, the paramedics declared the 28-year-old Ledger dead.

Posted on January 25, 2008
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Scarlett Johansson Visits the Troops in Kuwait

Here is some video footage of actress Scarlett Johansson visiting troops in Kuwait as part of the USO Tour. The footage was provided by 50th Public Affairs Detachment.

"This USO tour to the Gulf region truly means a lot," Johansson said in a statement. "I've wanted to go over and visit for some time, and now my moment has arrived. It's one thing to reply to a letter or extend your thanks to service members in a speech, but it's another thing to visit them and spend time with those that do so much for us back home."



Posted on January 23, 2008
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Christopher Plummer Talks About Heath Ledger

Actor Christopher Plummer was co-starring with Heath Ledger in the Terry Gilliam film The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. The film was shooting in London last week and Christopher said they were all meeting in Vancouver next week to finish the shoot. Plummer confirmed that Heath had been suffering from a "nasty bug" which they all thought was walking pneumonia. He also rejects the idea that Heath would commit suicide.

Entertainment Weekly: There was an initial, seemingly groundless wave of speculation that it could be suicide, based on some inaccurate and incomplete reports about sleeping medications he kept in his apartment.

Christopher Plummer: That doesn't make any sense. He was looking forward - he was in such a good, happy mood about the picture. Looking forward to going to Vancouver. He was enjoying the film thoroughly, and I'm here to say so. He was also terribly excited about becoming a director.

EW: Right - he was going to direct a movie about a chess prodigy, called The Queen's Gambit.

CP: I think that's where most of his ambitions would have lain, for the future. That too is such a shame. He thoroughly embraced the profession, and loved it. He wasn't suffering for his art at all. He was enjoying it.

EW: Did he talk about wanting to direct?

CP: He was very friendly with Terry Gilliam. They became very good friends on The Brothers Grimm and consequently bonded. And [on Doctor Parnassus] they would consult and they'd look and he'd watch, and he was fascinated. They were having such fun on this one. He was very inventive, Heath, and very versatile, as indeed many Australian actors are. They have a marvelous ear for accents and for character. He gave some very good ideas and pointers. As we all tried to do, but I think he was very serious about directing. Such a shame. He was so talented in so many areas.

Christopher seems quite fond of Heath and quite disturbed by his untimely death. The future of Terry Gilliam's film is totally up in the air at this point, as it is only half filmed.

Posted on January 23, 2008
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Heath Ledger Dead At 28

Oscar nominated actor Heath Ledger was found dead in his New York apartment this afternoon. He was surrounded by sleeping pills, and police suspect either an accidental overdose or a suicide.

At 3:31 p.m., according to the police, a masseuse arrived the fourth-floor apartment of the building, at 421 Broome Street, between Crosby and Lafayette Streets in SoHo, for an appointment with Mr. Ledger. The masseuse was let in to the home by a housekeeper, who then knocked on the door of the bedroom Mr. Ledger was in. When no one answered, the housekeeper and the masseuse opened the bedroom and found Mr. Ledger naked and unconscious on a bed, with sleeping pills — both prescription medication and nonprescription — on a night table. They moved his body to the floor and attempted to revive him, but he did not respond. They immediately called the authorities.

The police said they did not suspect foul play. Ellen Borakove, a spokeswoman for the office of the city's chief medical examiner, Dr. Charles S. Hirsch, said that employees of the office were at the apartment and that an autopsy would be conducted on Wednesday.

Paul J. Browne, the Police Department's deputy commissioner for public information, initially said that the apartment was owned by the actress Mary-Kate Olsen, but later reversed himself and said that was not the case.

A representative of Ms. Olsen said that the apartment did not belong to the actress. "It is not her apartment," the representative, Annette Wolf, a publicist for Ms. Olsen, said in a phone interview. "She does not own the apartment. She has never owned the apartment. She and her sister have an apartment in New York City but they are not in this building."

Us Magazine reports that a friend of Heath's told them that Heath had been battling substance abuse and depression for a long time and that he had recently fallen off the wagon. He leaves behind his baby girl, Matilda, who is with his ex-fiancee Michelle Williams.

What a tragedy -- he seemed to have it all. Our thoughts are with his family.

Posted on January 22, 2008
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Dr. Phil Apologizes -- Sort Of

In the wake of the tsunami of bad news that Dr. Phil has been getting, he talked to USA Today about his actions regarding Britney Spears. Now he says he was wrong to make a statement to the press about Britney's condition. But he's hardly contrite. He says he said that before he talked to her, as well. Like that helps.

"Was it helpful to the situation? Regrettably, no. It was not, and I have to acknowledge that and I do," the talk show host told his audience Thursday during taping of a Dr. Phil episode that will run Monday. "I definitely think if I had it to do over again, I probably wouldn't make any statement at all. Period."

At the request of Spears' parents, McGraw says, he visited the pop star as "a friend and ally of the family," not as a psychologist. He stopped practicing years ago and is not licensed in California.

*****

He hoped for a "gentle and relaxed dialogue that might be of value" in helping Britney find medical professionals should she seek help. He would not discuss details of the conversation or respond to some reports that the 26-year-old singer did not take well to the visit.

McGraw says he issued the statement to ET because he knew the media would see him and he wanted to explain why he was there. He disputes those who say he inappropriately discussed her condition in the statement, which referred to Spears being "in dire need of both medical and psychological intervention." "I said that before I ever met her," he says.

When asked if he could do it again, would he still go see her, he replied "How do you not?" because her parents asked him to do it. But he wouldn't have issued a statement about it. Live and learn, Dr. Phil.

Posted on January 18, 2008
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Oprah Wants to Fire Dr. Phil

According to the National Enquirer Oprah Winfrey is furious at Dr. Phil for his mishandling of the Britney Spears situation (stalking her at the hospital, trying to do a crazy tv intervention with her family) and wants to fire him. Oprah made him a star and produces his talk show.

Dr. Phil got some more bad news as well: some psychiatrist is so incensed by Dr. Phil's unethical behavior he is trying to get the California licensing board to investigate him for disclosing medical information about a patient, thereby violating federal law. But Dr. Phil has no license to practice in California. So if he is found to have been practicing without a license, criminal charges could be filed against him. No wonder Oprah's so mad at him.

Posted on January 17, 2008
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Is Britney Converting to Islam for Adnan Ghalib?

The News of the World has really outdone itself this time: it claims that Britney is thinking about converting to Islam and marrying her new (already married) boyfriend/paparazzi Adnan Ghalib. The story claims that Ghalib (who is from a strict British Muslim family in Birmingham, UK), has planned all along to get close to Britney to sell intimate photos of her and make millions. But now they're getting serious and discussing marriage -- and his family has disowned him.

Last night HE was plotting to sell TOPLESS pictures of Britney, 26, and BOASTING in detail of their drug-fuelled sex life, saying she loves him to TALK DIRTY to her in his Birmingham accent. But SHE was telling pals how much she's in LOVE with Ghalib, 35 and that she plans to MARRY him and convert to his faith, ISLAM. In her crazier moments she's even been threatening to fake her own death to start a new life with him in Pakistan.

And this week she told one of his cousins in an astonishing phone call: "I love him." Giggling, the pop singer added: "Don't worry, I'll look after Addy the Daddy." Then on Friday, in a gesture seemingly aimed at ex-hubby Kevin Federline, Britney visited an LA car dealer in the dress she wore to their wedding. Now we can reveal that Ghalib's respectable Sunni Muslim family in Birmingham are so horrified by his antics they have disowned him. One family member told us: "His parents Ghalib and Saghra are devastated. This week his dad gave him an ultimatum, 'Give up Britney, or you are dead to me,' which Adnan ignored."

Instead, in a phone call to a relative, the photographer claimed he had deep feelings for the star, insisting they had discussed marriage. Fragile It was during the same call, Britney grabbed the phone to insist: "We're taking care of each other. He's the only one who understands me. It's serious." She also invited her new lover's family to visit them in the US when her current troubles are over.

*****

Our source said: "He was just a snapper stalking her for money until very recently. Now she's giving him unfettered access to her life. He's already saying he can get exclusive topless shots of her and wants big money in return." Meanwhile, unsuspecting Britney has told friends she is prepared to embrace Islam to spend her life with Ghalib. Incredibly, one of his relatives told us: "Although his father has disowned him, there is still a way back -- if Britney became a Muslim and they got married."

If even one tenth of this wild story is true (and there are quotes from Ghalib's family members), Britney is has taken her crazy to a whole new level. Moving to Pakistan? Hello! There's a near civil war there because of the assassination of Benazir Bhutto! Not that she reads the news, of course.

There is one other obstacle to this demented dream of wedded bliss: Ghalib is already married to an American, whom he married to get a green card. What a creep -- is there no end of the people who are taking advantage of this very ill girl?

Posted on January 14, 2008
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Zac Efron Wants to be Queen For a Day

Zac Efron may have revealed a bit too much of his inner self when he answered a question by Seventeen magazine.

Zac is the subject of Seventeen magazine's 17 questions in their new issue and this is his response to question Number 8.

Seventeen: If you could trade places with anyone in the world for one day, who would it be?

Zac: Queen of England. Why? No idea.

Admittedly, the teen heart-throb also dished on his first kiss ("I was like the only boy and there were a bunch of girls up there") and his adolescent crush on Tyra Banks. Zac is currently dating his High School Musical co-star, Vanessa Hudgens.

Queen for a Day, eh? This wouldn't have anything to do with a recent Page Six blind item about a rising young actor who uses individual false eyelashes to set off his baby blue eyes, now would it?

Posted on January 12, 2008
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Britney Thinks Dr. Phil is Really Cool

Dr. Phil just got his bacon pulled out of the fire by the Spears family who now says that the person who railed against the psychologist on television was not authorized to do so. In fact, the Spears family loves Dr. Phil.

A source close to the Spears family tells ET that BRITNEY's parents urged Dr. PHIL McGRAW to visit their daughter while she was hospitalized at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center last Saturday.

The family source further contended that it was parents' JAMIE and LYNNE as well as her brother BRYAN's idea to appear on McGraw's show to discuss Britney's downward spiral. It was later mutually decided to postpone the show. Britney, the source tell us, found Dr. Phil "really cool" and even took his number and said she'd like to call him in the future.

When ET reached Britney's manager SAM LUTFI to comment on the above info, he confirmed it.

That creep Sam Lufti is now Britney's manager?? And he now says Britney thinks Dr. Phil is "really cool"? What a load of nonsense. In any event, Dr. Phil has stopped the flow of disastrous PR.

Posted on January 10, 2008
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Spears Family Blasts Dr. Phil

The Spears family has blasted Dr. Phil for his unprofessional behavior concerning Britney's latest breakdown.

Lou Taylor, the family's spokeswoman and a former business manager of Lynne and Jamie Lynn, appeared on The Today Show Wednesday to make the family's anger and disappointment over the betrayal known, as well as to clear up what part exactly they would have played in the scrapped Dr. Phil Now special—namely, none. "What's wrong with Dr. Phil's statement is that he made a statement," Taylor said, referring to the pop psychologist's public diagnosis that Spears was "in dire need of medical and psychological intervention."

"The family basically extended an invitation of trust for him to come in as a resource to support them, not to go out and make public statements. Any statements publicly that he made, because he was brought in under this cloak of trust, are just inappropriate. We feel like, to set the record straight, we need to say that." In previous statements made during his weekend media blitz, McGraw said he paid Spears a visit at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Saturday morning, appearing just as she was being discharged, only at the request of the Spears family, whom he said contacted him for guidance roughly a year ago.

As for the highly touted special, Taylor did acknowledge that McGraw approached the Spears clan with his plan of an hourlong special devoted to the troubled singer, "but it was decided it would be detrimental for anybody to ever do that." "They were not going to do a show...he was not invited to make this a public display or part of the media."

On a personal note, Taylor said she felt the request itself was a sort of betrayal and that it was "inappropriate for him to even be self-serving in bringing something like that up, because that would not be a vector in getting Britney help." She also said McGraw's loose lips and handling of the aftermath of his brief visit has likely "compromised" the relationship between Britney and her mother and sister.

Dr. Phil has created a PR disaster for himself. He looks unprofessional and totally self-serving. Apparently his newfound fame has destroyed his good judgment.

Posted on January 9, 2008
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Dr. Phil Cancels Britney Intervention Show

Dr. Phil is in huge trouble. After announcing that he spent an hour with Britney Spears at Cedar Sinai hospital and that she needed immediate medical and psychological intervention, it was revealed that he only spent 15 minutes with her and that she didn't want to meet with him. To make things worse, it turns out he was trying to get her to appear on his tv show in some kind of "gotcha!" live intervention thing with all the Spears family.

The backlash over his unethical behavior has begun and now Dr. Phil has had to cancel his proposed Britney Trainwreck Show.

In a statement posted Monday on his Web site, McGraw said the 26-year-old pop star's situation was "too intense" for him to go forward with the show. He didn't say whether he planned to reschedule. Spears was hospitalized Thursday night after a child custody dispute with ex-husband Kevin Federline resulted in an hours-long standoff with police. On Friday, a court commissioner gave sole physical and legal custody of 1-year-old Jayden James and 2-year-old Sean Preston to Federline.

McGraw said he met with Spears for an hour Saturday before she left the hospital. But according to TMZ, Dr. Phil showed up in Spears' hospital room on Saturday morning at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles without the pop star's invitation. She had been admitted on late Thursday after a custody confrontation at her home that ended in hysterics by the troubled pop star, several media outlets reported.

Sources told TMZ that Spears' parents, Lynne and James, were the ones who asked Dr. Phil to help her. When he entered Spears' room, she reportedly walked out and returned later. Sources say he tried to speak to Spears for 15 minutes and later followed the star out to her car as she left the hospital.

Dr. Phil has been lambasted in the press by psychiatrists and mental health professionals for trying to get publicity from someone who is clearly suffering from a medical disorder. For shame, Dr. Phil!

Posted on January 7, 2008
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Britney Spears in Lockdown Psychiatric Ward

Britney Spears has been hospitalized at the Cedars Sinai psychiatric unit where she is under lockdown for a mental evaluation and suicide watch. Britney was strapped down to a gurney and hauled away by paramedics after a three-hour standoff with police when she refused to turn over Jayden James to Kevin Federline's bodyguard when her visitation time had ended. Britney is seriously ill and is in danger of permanently losing custody of her children. Here's the video of her being taken away by ambulance.



Posted on January 4, 2008
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Britney a No Show For Deposition

Britney Spears' life continues to spiral downward. TMZ reports that Britney failed to show up for the fifth time for her deposition by K-fed's lawyers. To make things worse, her lawyers have filed a motion to withdraw as counsel on the grounds that she doesn't talk to them.

TMZ has learned Britney Spears' deposition was scheduled today and she didn't show -- again!

If we're counting correctly, this is the fifth time her scheduled deposition in the custody case didn't happen. Last month, Britney claimed she was too ill to sit for her depo, yet TMZ caught her out partying that same night.

Sources say the fact that she didn't show for the depo was a factor in her lawyers' decision to file papers today asking to withdraw as counsel, but it was only one of many reasons. As one connected source put it, "Her whole life has become insane and it's impossible for anyone to get through to her."

Other sources say that Britney wants her sister Jamie Lynn to move in with her during her pregnancy. That hardly seems like a good idea.

Posted on January 2, 2008
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Fergie's New Year's Resolutions

Will, Ferrell, James Franco, Fergie and other celebs share their New Year's Resolutions in this new video from Funny or Die. Happy New Year, everyone!



Posted on December 31, 2007
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Milo Ventimiglia Said to Be Dating Co-Star Hayden Panettiere

There have been rumors that 30-year-old Heroes actor Milo Ventimiglia has been dating his young 18-year-old co-star Hayden Panettiere. Now a conversation was overheard at a party where Milo apparently told his co-stars that Hayden is his girlfriend and that he loves her. Milo and Hayden were also seen "holding hands."

Heroes star Milo Ventimiglia has finally come clean about his relationship with co-star Hayden Panettiere. The pair were rumored to be dating, but always denied they were more than just good friends.

According to reports, the 30-year-old actor announced he and Panettiere were dating when he toasted the 18-year-old at a pre-Christmas Water Grill party in Los Angeles. Sources say Ventimigila told co-stars that he was dating Panettiere and even told her he loved her.

"He called her his girlfriend and said that he loved her," says an eyewitness. The insider adds that the couple spent the rest of the night holding hands.

On the Heroes show Milo plays Hayden's uncle so it doesn't seem right that the two are in a serious relationship. Ohnotheydidn't notes that no reps have confirmed the relationship so maybe there is hope that the two Heroes stars are still just friends.

Posted on December 28, 2007
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Aunt Says Jamie Lynn Got Pregnant On Purpose

Jamie Lynn Spears' pregnancy is having national repercussions. It has freaked out parents everywhere, Nickelodeon is considering airing a teen sex discussion show with Linda Ellerbee and several teen magazines are pulling Jamie Lynn off the cover. Meanwhile, Jamie Lynn's aunt claims that Jamie Lynn got pregnant on purpose to upstage her sister, Britney. The mind boggles.

Teen icon Jaime-Lynn Spears' aunt has suggested the TV star became pregnant on purpose in a big to steal some of big sister Britney's limelight. The "Zoey 101" star stunned the world earlier this week by confirming she was three months pregnant, and not everyone is supporting her decision to become a young mom.

Speaking out on TV news show "Extra," Spears' aunt Chanda McGovern says, "Whether she got pregnant on purpose or by accident she's wanting a little 'me' attention because everything's going on with Britney. "I hope she don't take parenting tips from Britney." And McGovern insists she's upset by the news her niece is with child: "Sixteen is entirely too young to be sexually active ..."

In other Jaime-Lynn news, the star reportedly is planning to marry the father of her unborn child Casey Aldridge, his pastor uncle reveals. Subsequent reports have suggested the pair are set to split, but Aldridge's uncle, Reverend Odus Jackson claims they are smitten and have discussed marriage. Jackson tells the New York Post, "Jamie-Lynn and Casey want to get married. I know Casey does, and he says she does, too. "I know what he has expressed. Casey wants to get married and do it as soon as possible."

Good grief. This is her aunt saying this? We think the entire Spears clan should go on Dr. Phil and let fly. That would be quite entertaining.

Posted on December 21, 2007
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Janet Jackson Gets Feedback

Janet Jackson has a new album dropping on February 26 2008 called Discipline and Miss Jackson is looking mighty fine. The first single off the album is a hot dance track called "Feedback." The official video isn't out yet, but you can hear the track at Janet's official website. Feedback will be available for purchase on January 7, 2008 at iTunes.

This album has comeback written all over it. We can't wait to hear the rest of the tracks.

Posted on December 20, 2007
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Jamie Lynn Spears is Pregnant at 16

Well, we certainly didn't see this one coming: Jamie Lynn Spears is pregnant. She is 16 and is keeping the baby. Her mother has been allowing her to live with her boyfriend, whom she met at church. Nickelodeon issued the following statement:

"We respect Jamie Lynn's decision to take responsibility in this sensitive and personal situation. We know this is a very difficult time for her and her family, and our primary concern right now is for Jamie Lynn's well being."

OK Magazine has the exclusive interview with Jamie Lynn and her mother, Lynne Spears. The father is 19 years old, which means that someone is in big trouble under the statutory rape laws. Although some states allow people under 18 to get married with a parent's approval.

What it the world is her mother thinking allowing her to live with her boyfriend?? It's outrageous! Where is her dad? We won't ask where Britney is, because, well -- you know.

Posted on December 18, 2007
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Beware of a Dieting Padma Lakshmi

Padma Lakshmi was a very rude and naughty girl the other night while dining out in New York.

"Top Chef" host and judge Padma Lakshmi dined at newly remodeled Fiamma in SoHo on Friday night with a male friend. And when the chef realized that she was in the house, he created a few special additions to her meal as a treat. Mistake!

"She was very rude to the waiter, and when he brought out the surprise dishes, she sent them all back to the kitchen saying she didn't want them," says a witness. "The chef had one more planned, and when it came out, she literally screamed at the waiter, 'Take it away! Don't you know I'm on a diet?'"

Coincidentally, Martha Stewart had been in just before Lakshmi, overtipped her waiter and complimented the staff and the food. "Everyone expected Padma to be the nice one," laughs our source.

Perhaps Padma was incredibly hungry, hence the grumpiness? Still, there's no excuse for being so rude to the nice chef. And hey, what's with the crack about Martha?? Martha is always polite!

Posted on December 17, 2007
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Britney's New Video: Piece of Me

Here's the video for Britney Spears' new song "Piece of Me." It's certainly better than the "Gimme More" video, but still....we miss the old Britney.

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Posted on December 15, 2007
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Johnny Depp Most Gracious to Fans: Will Ferrell is the Worst

For the third year in a row, Johnny Depp has been named as the most gracious star when it comes to signing autographs. The worst is Will Ferrell. Surprisingly, Russell Crowe was really nice to fans this year.

Want an autograph from Johnny Depp? Chances are, he'll sign something for you - and not be a jerk about it. The 44-year-old actor is the most gracious celebrity - for the third year in a row - on Autograph magazine's annual list of the "10 Best and 10 Worst Hollywood Signers."

*****

"Though soft-spoken and laid-back, he likes to talk to fans and get to know them while signing," New York autograph dealer Anthony Risi explains in the December issue, now on newsstands. "He'll sign more than one item when he has time, too." The magazine said editors compiled input from autograph-collecting judges based in Europe, New York and California in ranking the celebs.

Matt Damon is second on the list, followed by George Clooney, Jack Nicholson, Rosario Dawson, John Travolta, Katherine Heigl, Jay Leno, Dakota Fanning and Russell Crowe - wait, Russell Crowe? Crowe, who has a history of throwing temper tantrums, ranked among the worst signers on last year's list. But in a turnaround, the magazine said, the 43-year-old actor "started treating fans great, signing, taking pictures and chatting them up."

Will Ferrell doesn't like to sign autographs for some reason, nor does Teri Hatcher or Scarlett Johansson. Scarlett probably gets lots of creepy, stalkery guys who approach her. But what is Will Ferrell's problem with autographs?

Posted on December 14, 2007
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Mark Cuban Wants New Dancing Shoes For Christmas

Marc Cuban wants some new dancing shoes for Christmas. And that's not all.

As for the wealthy themselves, many are asking for more basic gifts. Mark Cuban, the dot-com billionaire who recently appeared on ABC's "Dancing with the Stars," says he has three wishes this holiday season: An NBA trophy for the team he owns, the Dallas Mavericks; a 32-gigabyte flash drive; and a new pair of ballroom-dancing shoes.

Billionaire Sam Wyly, the tech baron and bookworm who recently purchased the tiny Explore Booksellers in Aspen, Colo., says he wants books for Christmas. All of them are nonfiction: "Flying Tigers: Claire Chennault and His American Volunteers, 1941-1942," by Daniel Ford; "Blessed Unrest: How the Largest Movement in the World Came Into Being and Why No One Saw It Coming," by Paul Hawkin; and "Break Through: From the Death of Environmentalism to the Politics of Possibility" by Ted Nordhaus and Michael Shellenberger.

One more thing: Mr. Wyly also wants his favorite pecan pie, baked by his assistant.

If you're coveting the new 32gb usb flash drive (and we certainly are) it's available for pre-order at Amazon.com for about $300.

Posted on December 7, 2007
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Madonna Did Not Cancel Christmas

Guy Ritchie told Extra TV that his wife Madonna did not cancel Christmas at their house after all.

It turns out that Madonna is not the Grinch! Despite reports of Madonna canceling Christmas for the family, her husband Guy Ritchie tells Extra otherwise. Guys says that all their kids get 3 presents each during Christmas. Ritchie says, "So by the time they get to the third present they've had their sugar hit. As long as the kids get three presents at Christmas, everyone’s being happy."

And despite the fact that the family studies Kabbalah, they have not yet converted to Judaism so they don't celebrate Hanukkah either. "I have not converted to Judaism and neither has my wife," Ritchie said.

So, to recap: They study the ancient Jewish tradition of Kabbalah, but they're not Jewish and don't celebrate Hanukkah. But they do get three gifts at Christmas. We think Guy got in really big trouble for spouting his mouth off a couple of weeks ago about Madonna canceling Christmas; the headlines were so horrible that he had to correct himself. Or maybe he just meant that they don't do a huge Christmas anymore -- that was the "canceling" part. It's all very confusing. But at least little David Banda gets three Christmas presents -- so that's good.

Posted on December 3, 2007
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Jennifer Love Hewitt is Engaged

Jennifer Love Hewitt is engaged to her boyfriend of two years, Ross McCall.

After nearly two years of dating, the Ghost Whisperer star got engaged to boyfriend Ross McCall last week, Hewitt's publicist, Sarah Fuller, confirmed to E! News. The rep said that the 31-year-old Scottish actor presented the 28-year-old actress with an antique ring that had been in his family for years. The couple are currently vacationing in Hawaii.

No other details were forthcoming about where or when the nuptials might take place. This will be Hewitt's first trip down the aisle.

Is he good enough for our beloved JLove? Is anyone? Still, the antique ring sounds nice. And the Scottish accent can't hurt.

Posted on November 29, 2007
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Hannah Montana Visits With Oprah

Miley Cyrus who stars in the hit TV show Hannah Montana appears on The Oprah Winfrey Show. She talks to Oprah about dating, professional success and how her dad (Billy Ray Cyrus) spies on her when she talks to boys.

"It's insane how much is really going on and changing," Miley says. "But it's been so much fun, and I've just been really blessed to work with all the people I do get to work with." When she's not taping television shows or spending long nights on the tour bus, Miley enjoys doing the same things as other girls her age. "I just love being with my friends. Because I work so much, [we] mostly do sleepovers and hang out and play guitar." In fact, Miley says most of her life is just like an average teenager's-she even gets an allowance. "I get treated like a normal kid." Despite her rock star status, Miley says she thinks she has even less freedom than most kids her age. "I probably have an earlier curfew than anyone, just because I can't be out too late. My mom wants to keep me really safe," she says. "My dad's not overly protective, but he's a dad no matter what."

*****

Now that she is a teenager, Miley says she is allowed to date-but not necessarily without supervision! "I had one of my guy friends over and [my dad] was hiding in the kitchen. We were outside just hanging out, and I look around [and say], 'Why are the lights on?'" she says. "[My dad's] standing there with his German shepherd watching us, and I'm like, 'Dad, you're going to scare him! I'm not going to have any more friends!' But he watches every move." Billy Ray says it didn't quite happen like that. "I was kidding him because they knew I was there," he says. "It's not like I was spying." "Are you nervous about the whole dating thing?" Oprah asks. "Not as nervous as I am meeting you," he tells Oprah. "Meeting you-now that's nervous!"

The interview with Miley and Billy Ray airs today. You can read more about the episode, "Teen Phenom Hannah Montana: Miley Cyrus Shocks Her Biggest Fans" here.

Posted on November 21, 2007
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No Christmas Presents For Rocco, Lourdes and David

Guy Ritchie revealed that he and Madonna banned Christmas presents a few years ago and as a result they actually enjoy the holiday more now. But what about Lourdes, Rocco and little David? Do they enjoy getting no Christmas presents?

"We canceled Christmas a few years ago," Ritchie, the 39-year-old director of Snatch, told PEOPLE. "Stopped all the presents. And ever since [we] stopped the presents, we're are actually enjoying it."

So this year's celebration will be a quiet affair. "We are not sure what we are doing," he added. "Probably staying in London."

As for who's doing the cooking, Ritchie replied, "Well, it's not me!"

Does this have something to do with Kabbalah? Do they at least get Hannukah presents? Or a special dinner? And if Guy isn't cooking, who is? All burning questions that we need answered.

Posted on November 20, 2007
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Britney Loses Louis Vuitton Lawsuit

Britney's legal woes continue. LVMH the giant corporation that owns Louis Vuitton won its lawsuit to ban the viewing of Britney's video for the song "Do Somethin'" which is notable mostly for how shockingly in shape Britney was (this is in 1995). During one scene Brit and friends are riding in a pink Hummer that has a faux Murakami cherry print dashboard, which infuriated Louis Vuitton. We watched the video and you can barely see it. Anyway, they won big damages and the right to pull the video from the Interwebs.

LVMH's Louis Vuitton unit has won 80,000 eur in damages and the banning of a Britney Spears video which uses an unauthorised close-up shot of Louis Vuitton fabric, Le Figaro reported.

In the video, Spears appears in a car upholstered with Louis Vuitton fabric. The tribunal found the director of the video had clearly emphasised the Louis Vuitton brand, the report said. The tribunal ruled that responsibility for the unauthorised use of the Louis Vuitton brand lay with Sony BMG and its subsidiary Zomba as well as MTV Online, and not the singer herself.

That's about $120,000. You can see the video on YouTube here -- at least until Louis Vuitton pulls it down.

Posted on November 19, 2007
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Britney Loses Right To Drive With Her Kids in the Car

After K-Fed's attorney got a hold of the tape of Britney Spears running a red light with her court-appointed monitor and her two boys in the car, the commissioner in the custody fight signed an order saying that Britney can't drive with her two children in the car. The orders are sealed, reports TMZ.

We keep thinking her life can't get any worse and then it gets worse. What a nightmare. She also reportedly failed a drug test this week, testing positive for amphetamines. Her camp told the press that she was on an asthma inhaler, Albuterol, which could have caused the false positive (it couldn't, Albuterol is not an amphetamine). But other reports say that her lawyers argued today that she takes Adderall for Attention Deficit Disorder. That is an amphetamine and would cause a positive drug result. But if she's taking Adderall, why wouldn't she tell the drug testing people that first and show them the prescription?

Posted on November 16, 2007
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Lindsay Serves Her 84 Minutes

Well, that was fast. Lindsay served 84 minutes in the Lynwood Jail. Lindsay was arrested at 10:30 AM and checked out at 11:54 AM.

The charges stemmed from a July car chase and an arrest in May after she wrecked her car in Beverly Hills. After her July arrest, the star of the hit movie "Freaky Friday" checked into a rehabilitation center in Utah and spent more than two months there. It was Lohan's second stint in rehab this year after admitting she had been attending meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Lohan was also sentenced to 10 days of community service, three years probation and 18 months of an alcohol-education program. Jail sentences for minor crimes are often cut short by Los Angeles sheriffs, who manage the county jails, because of overcrowding. In August actress Nicole Richie of "The Simple Life" spent one hour, 20 minutes in jail for what was a four-day sentence for driving under the influence of drugs.

So her jail time is done, but she still has lots of community service to perform. If she gets popped again for DUI or drug possession, the judge is going to throw the book at her, no doubt. Stay sober, Lindsay!

Posted on November 15, 2007
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Hannah Montana Fans Are Furious

Miley Cyrus' fans are furious at her and are actually suing her fan club in a potential class action lawsuit. The disgruntled fans say that they were promised that they would get priority in purchasing tickets to Miley's big concert tour if they joined the fan club. Thousands were unable to get tickets for the sold out tour. (In case you don't know any obsessed tweens, Miley is the daughter of Billy Ray Cyrus and stars in the hit TV show Hannah Montana.) In the concert, Miley spends half the show as herself and the other half in a blond wig portraying her pop star alter ego, Hannah Montana. Got all that?

Tickets for Cyrus' 54-date Best of Both Worlds tour sold out within minutes starting in August, sending desperate wannabe concertgoers-and scalpers-to the Internet, where sellers were asking for as much as $2,000 a pop for $63 seats. According to court documents filed on behalf of New Jersey resident Kerry Inman in U.S. District Court in Nashville, Interactive Media Marketing Inc. and Smiley Miley Inc. couldn't back up the promise of easier concert access in exchange for an annual $29.95 membership fee. The suit claims that tens of thousands of people like Inman could possibly join the suit, based on the popularity of the club's official Website, mileyworld.com. Inman states that she tried to get tickets to an Atlantic City show right when tickets went on sale, but came up empty-handed.

"They deceptively lured thousands of individuals into purchasing memberships, based on the understanding that by joining, they would be able to purchase tickets before they were offered for sale to the general public, and that's why we're suing," Inman's attorney, Rob Peirce, said in a statement. Peirce is based in Pittsburgh but filed the suit in Tennessee, where the defendants operate. "While the club and the Web site do not guarantee ticket availability, they explicitly state that members who log on shortly after tickets become available will have a good opportunity to get tickets," Peirce said. "In reality, the vast majority of club members, including those who logged on at the appointed time or shortly thereafter, were unable to obtain concert tickets."

Clearly, Miley has taken over for Hilary Duff and her fans are fierce.

Posted on November 14, 2007
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Britney Crashed Heidi Klum's Hallween Bash

Heidi Klum revealed to Ellen DeGeneres that Britney Spears actually crashed her Halloween party -- she wasn't invited at all. Once Britney she got there, she traded diapering tips with Heidi.

Ellen: Britney Spears went. She was invited.

Heidi: She wasn't.

Ellen: She wasn't invited?

Heidi: No. So, you could've come uninvited.

Ellen: Wow. And I had a better outfit than that.

Heidi: I'm sure.

Ellen: And she just showed up? She just invited herself?

Heidi: Yep.

Ellen: And did you talk to her?

Heidi: I did.

Ellen: Ah-ha. What did you talk about?

Heidi: You know, we were talking about babies and diapers, and she explained to me a lot of things about diapers I that didn't know.

Ellen: Really?

Heidi: You know these sticky things on the side? I never knew they were there. To close them in the front, I was always putting string around...I had no idea.

Ellen: Wow. So, it's great.

Heidi: It's very clever. I learned a lot of things.

Oh Heidi, making fun of Britney...meow! Come to think of it, she did go as a cat on Halloween, didn't she?

Posted on November 13, 2007
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What Britney's VMA Performance Should Have Looked Like

Here's a video of one of the rehearsals for Britney Spears' VMA performance. The rehearsal has a stand-in doing Britney's part and guess what? The choreography is excellent; it would have been a fantastic performance if Britney had only practiced and worked hard like her backup dancers. Even without any costumes or stage decorations, it's clear it was a great number. There was a big overhead lift that they didn't do in the actual performance, as well as some other moves that Britney didn't even try to do. How sad!



Posted on November 12, 2007
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George and Renee, Together Again

George Clooney and Renee Zellweger pose together on the cover of the new W Magazine to promote their new film, Leatherheads. The interview is pretty funny, here are some snippets:

George talking about Barack Obama: "I spoke to him two days ago for a half hour. I think that he's in that sort of doldrums, that midelection run, where you’re still trying to define what it is that you want to be."

George on copying shots from famous directors: "I sent apology letters to Mike Nichols and Sidney Lumet after Confessions because I just directly stole shots. But then I told Joel and Ethan that I've stolen shots from them, and they’re like, 'Yeah, we stole that shot from Capra.'"

George on his age affecting the script: "You can't try to hide your age and you can't try to pretend it isn't there. You have to use it as a tool."

George on Renee's role in the film: "In movies, so often the guy gets to be the one with all the answers. In this one, she’s the smart one. Which was incredible acting on her part."

George on directing Renee: "She's my friend, so I can be really direct. I can say, 'That's not a good angle,' and not try to manipulate her, saying, 'Well, maybe you’d be looking off over there because the moon is shining.'"

Renee on being directed by George: "I just get so proud that my head pops off. George is such a confident director, and he has no idea. And he's a nice person. It gets boring hearing that, but it's true. Every once in a while you get the real good guy. You've got your Jimmy Stewart. You've got your Paul Newman. Now you've got your George Clooney."

George on encouraging his fans to post fake sightings of him on Gawker.com's Celebrity Stalker page: "They had 6,000 locations for me in the first day."

Renee on Gawker Stalker:"Oh, I log on every day to see where George is. Oh my God, get your things! He's at Barneys!…The problem with that is with his schedule these days, the sightings were all true. He was in all 6,000 places that morning—before lunch."

Posted on November 9, 2007
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Tom Cruise Doesn't Own a Wallet

In a recent interview, Tom Cruise revealed that he doesn't have a cellphone, a watch or an email address. What is he, some kind of Luddite?

Hollywood star Tom Cruise has said he longs for the simple life - despite his £125 million fortune. The Mission: Impossible icon revealed he doesn't have a watch, a mobile phone, a wallet or an email address. The actor said: "I wear jeans, socks, shirt and a belt - all totally normal.

"I get my hair cut on the set. I have no iPhone, no mobile, no email address, no watch, no jewellery, no wallet. "I simply want to be with my children and make movies. I dreamed of the cinema as a child. I have had good luck. "My values for my children never change - love, responsibility, curiosity at the wonder of life.

"Every day is a gift. You must take your life in your hands, then you can reach any goal. "The message of life is you can make your dreams come true, only if you really believe in yourself." Cruise, 45, denied wife Katie Holmes, mother of his daughter Suri, was pregnant again. He said: "We are enjoying what we have. But we want lots more children."

Why doesn't he have a wallet? That's not living the simple life, it's just plain weird. What parent t