British acts Coldplay and Leona Lewis have agreed to perform at the upcoming American Music Awards show in Los Angeles, producers announced Wednesday.
The rock band and the pop singer join the star-studded lineup confirmed for the Nov. 23 event, which will air live on ABC.
It was also announced Wednesday that David Archuleta, Ashley Tisdale, Demi Lovato and T-Pain will award trophies at this year's ceremony, at which comedian Jimmy Kimmel is set to serve as host.
In addition, the 36th annual AMAs will feature performances by Kanye West, the Jonas Brothers, Alicia Keys, Rihanna, Ne-Yo, New Kids on the Block, Pussycat Dolls, Taylor Swift, Pink, The Fray and Annie Lennox -- who will receive a special award of merit.
Additional performers and presenters will be announced in the coming weeks, producers said.
"We're thrilled to have Coldplay and Leona Lewis, both first-time AMA performers, on our live show this year," Dick Clark Productions President Orly Adelson said in a statement. "Coldplay's unique rock sound and Lewis' soaring pop vocals add extraordinary new elements to this year's superb group of performers."
Via upi.com
Coldplay, Leona Lewis to perform at AMAs
viernes, 31 de octubre de 2008 | Etiquetas: Coldplay, Leona Lewis
No one who read Jermaine Jackson's assertion that a Jackson 5 reunion is in the works will likely be surprised to hear that Michael Jackson has denied that the reunion will happen.
"My brothers and sisters have my full love and support, and we've certainly shared many great experiences, but at this time I have no plans to record or tour with them," said Michael Jackson in a statement. "I am now in the studio developing new and exciting projects that I look forward to sharing with my fans in concert soon."
So much for a Jackson 5 reunion. We'll have to settle for a 50-foot Michael Jackson robot prowling the desert outside of Las Vegas instead.
Via wired.com
Michael Jackson has approved an attempt to break the world record for dancing to his hit song 'Thriller'.
Fans and Jackson look-a-likes are set to flock to the Madame Tussauds wax museum in New York today to try to break the Guinness World Record of the most people doing a simultaneous 'Thriller' dance.
The attempt marks the 25th anniversary of the iconic video's debut - which featured Michael and an array of dancing zombies - which premiered on MTV in 1983.
While the pop icon himself won't take part, he has lent his support to the stunt, saying: "I always thought Halloween and 'Thriller' fit each other like a glove."
Earlier this week, it was rumoured that Michael - who was seen shopping for Halloween costumes with his three children, Prince Michael, 10, Paris, nine, and Prince Michael II, five, yesterday - is preparing to head out on the road with the Jackson 5.
The brothers - Michael, Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Randy and Marlon - are reportedly planning a world tour next year, for which they will be joined by their sister, 'Together Again' singer Janet Jackson.
Jermaine is quoted as saying: "This has been a long time coming for the Jackson family to get back together. It is just the timing, so what we've been doing is working on the music and all the logistics."
No dates have yet been announced.
Via chinadaily.com.cn
English comedian Russell Brand is said to have yelled 'Que' while he was in bed with Andrew Sachs' granddaughter Georgina Baillie. Baillie, 23, said that though he has a ladies' man reputation, he was a 'disappointment' in bed, the Sun reported.
Brand and Jonathan Ross' abusive phone call to Fawlty Towers actor Sachs, ended up with Brand quitting the BBC and Ross making a grovelling apology. Brand further said that he took 'full responsibility' for the offence caused, after the number of complaints about the pair's radio humiliation of Sachs rocketed to 27,000.
Ross, 47, who has an 18million pounds three-year deal with the BBC, said he had made 'a stupid error of judgment'. Brand, 33, resigned after he and Ross were suspended by the BBC.
Via oneindia.in
Britney Spears' father is to maintain indefinite control of the pop star's personal and financial affairs.
James Spears was granted control of his daughter's assets in February after she was admitted to a psychiatric ward.
The arrangement was due to expire on 31 December, but Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Reza Goetz has now agreed to make it permanent.
Ms Spears had the situation explained to her and chose not to oppose it, a court-appointed lawyer said.
The 26-year-old could petition later to have the conservatorship removed, but the court's order otherwise constitutes a lifetime arrangement, a court information officer said.
Lawyers for James Spears declined to comment after the hearing.
'Susceptible'
The move may come as a surprise to the pop star's fans, as she has recently seemed to be on the mend - appearing lucid and in control at an MTV awards show and showcasing a new slimline look in the video for her latest single, Womanizer.
But Ms Goetz said she had granted permanent conservatorship based on recent medical evaluations and lawyers' recommendations, which showed the singer was "susceptible to undue influence."
She added that the ruling was "necessary and appropriate" given the complexity of Ms Spears' financial situation.
One advantage of the ruling, as far as the pop star is concerned, is that it shields her from some legal action.
At her recent trial for driving without a valid licence, James Spears testified on his daughter's behalf, and refused to allow her to take the witness stand.
An outstanding trial, in which a former manager is suing the pop star for unpaid earnings, has also been delayed as Ms Spears has been deemed unfit to give sworn testimony.
Via bbc.co.uk
Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen have once again come under fire from PETA anti-fur protesters.
The twins - who have been nicknamed 'Hairy Kate' and 'Trashley Olsen' - turned up for a signing of their new book Influence at Barnes & Noble in New York to be greeted by a herd of campaigners wearing Trollsen Twins masks and carrying signs calling them 'fur hags.'
Angry protesters have targeted the diminutive duo because of their fur-packed wardrobes and clothing line.
"PETA has launched an online campaign, our Trollsen Twins Campaign, to raise awareness about how animals are treated on fur farms," says Ashley Byrne, PETA's campaign coordinator.
The ugly Trollsen Twins paper masks have proved so popular they have sold out online.
However Byrne says the masks are not intended to call Mary Kate and Ashley ugly - only their actions.
"It's that we think wearing fur is really an ugly choice inside and outside," she explains.
Via entertainmetwise.com
Former pop star Kerry Katona has parted ways with her high-powered publicist Max Clifford.
A representative for Clifford confirmed that his company no longer looked after the former Atomic Kitten singer.
Clifford told the Daily Mirror he had "almost been a surrogate dad to her", adding: "I've been there through the depression and drink and drugs.
"I just wish her health and happiness." He told the Daily Mail she had asked that he no longer represented her.
The split comes a week after Katona, 28, gave a slurred interview on ITV1's This Morning. She blamed her condition on prescription drugs.
That prompted Clifford to tell BBC Radio 1 he was "increasingly concerned" about her.
He has now told Heat magazine: "What people who are around her tell me makes me increasingly worried.
"People around her are telling me that she is drinking more and more, earlier and earlier."
Katona has previously battled drug addiction and depression, spending time in rehab for both.
Clifford gave Katona away when she married Mark Croft in Italy last year, and the couple named their son after him.
Via bbc.co.uk
Sachs' granddaughter Georgina Baillie calls for Brand and Ross to be sacked
| Etiquetas: Georgina Baillie
Georgina Baillie, the 23-year-old granddaughter of Andrews Sachs at the centre of the BBC prank calls row, has said she was "horrified and disgusted" by Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand's behaviour and that the family is considering a formal complaint to police.
The burlesque performer told today's Sun that Ross and Brand should be fired, along with the BBC bosses that gave permission for the prerecorded session to be broadcast.
"My grandfather is really upset and says he wants the whole situation to end. It has been awful for him," Baillie said.
"I will be speaking to him to ask whether we should complain to police and we'll be making a decision as a family," she added.
"We're very close and I can't tell you how much it hurts to know they were so unkind to such a sweet person. They should at least pay for what they've done with their jobs."
Brand and Ross's lewd prank calls, made to Sachs' answerphone, were pre-recorded on Thursday October 16 and broadcast two days later, Saturday October 18, on the former's late-night Radio 2 show.
The BBC director of audio and music, Tim Davie, is conducting an urgent investigation of how the calls came to be broadcast and in particular who made the decision to go ahead with Brand and Ross's offensive messages.
Complaints to the BBC about the prank calls had topped 18,000 by around 9.30am today and they are being investigated by media regulator Ofcom.
Baillie, who has just returned from Vienna where she was performing with dance troupe the Satanic Sluts, said Brand and Ross were "beyond contempt" and that broadcasting the interview showed "an appalling lack of judgment".
"They must be the only people on earth sick enough to think that breaking into an old man's house and sexually abusing him might be funny," she said in the Sun interview.
"It was bad enough that they recorded these things on my grandfather's answer machine but astonishing the BBC saw fit to broadcast it when they could have stopped it."
Sachs, best know for his role as Manuel in the classic sitcom Fawlty Towers, has welcomed apologies from both Brand and Ross but said they should apologise to his granddaughter.
"She hasn't heard from either Ross or Brand and I do think they owe her an apology. I replied to Jonathan Ross and suggested that is where he should direct his attentions," he said.
Georgina's father Charles Baillie described Sachs as "a national treasure" and said Ross and Brand should have been more respectful to a 78-year-old.
"Ross and Brand seem to think it's clever to use that sort of humour but they are the only ones who find it funny," he told today's Daily Mirror.
"It's become extremely clear that very few people are laughing about it. To say 'I've f****d your granddaughter' and joke about Andrew killing himself is sick."
Via guardian.co.uk
Brad Pitt Refuses Marriage to Angelina Jolie Because of Ex-Wife
martes, 28 de octubre de 2008 | Etiquetas: Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt
Brad Pitt has allegedly refused to marry partner Angelina Jolie as he is scared the relationship will end in divorce like his marriage to Jennifer Aniston. Sources claim that Pitt’s “excuse” for not tying the knot with Jolie is he hates the thought of another divorce.
“Brad’s divorce from Jen was painful. It was hard on his parents and he considers it a major failure in his life,” says an insider. “His big excuse for not marrying Angelina is that he hates even the possibility of something like that happening again.”
Pitt and Jolie have six children together. Jolie recently said that if she and Pitt ever do marry, it will probably be at the request of their children.
"Sooner or later it will be the kids who ask us (to get married)," she told the Italian edition of Vanity Fair magazine.
Via transworldnews.com
Hollywood singer and actress Lindsay Lohan has reportedly confided in a friend that if things go wrong with her DJ girlfriend Samantha Ronson, she will go back to dating men.
The friend told the New York Daily News, Lohan “has been telling everyone over and over that she's still into guys", reports mirror.co.uk.
“She keeps saying if anything went wrong with Sam she would date a guy next. She even flirts with guys when they go out,” added the friend.
There have been rumours of cracks emerging in the couple's relationship.
However, other friends of Lohan have insisted to American OK! magazine that her bond with Ronson “is the first healthy relationship she has ever had".
Via sify.com
Pressure was mounting for the BBC to take further action over offensive calls made by Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand to veteran actor Andrew Sachs.
The corporation has already apologised to Fawlty Towers star Mr Sachs after the DJ pair left answerphone messages saying Brand had slept with his granddaughter, 23 year old Georgina Baillie, an aspiring model.
The presenters also joked that the actor might kill himself as a result. Ross, 47, has since issued a personal apology, with Brand, 33, following suit.
The BBC has so far received more than 1,500 complaints, including phone calls and emails, and there have been several calls for the pair to be taken off air or sacked.
Mediawatch-UK, the pressure group which campaigns for "decency and accountability" in the media, called for Brand and Ross to be removed from broadcasting while the BBC investigated the incident.
Director John Beyer said: "I think the BBC should look at the possibility of putting other presenters on air while it conducts this investigation to reassure the public it is taking the matter seriously."
Mr Beyer said he had received several calls from people who were angry about the incident.
"People strongly object to licence fee payers' money being used to fund these sorts of immature pranks," he said.
Former shadow home secretary David Davies also called for the pair to be sacked.
"In no other organisation paid for by the taxpayer or otherwise, would you be able to get away with behaving like this," he told the Daily Mail.
Via ukpress
Britney Spears is reportedly set to star in the film of her life.
British director Phil Griffin will helm the biopic about the 26-year-old pop queen's rise to stardom, her sensational breakdown and her impending comeback, The Daily Mirror reports.
Britney will apparently play herself in the movie.
A source said: "It's the film everyone will be queuing to see. It will be dark and gritty - charting Britney's devastating falls including her head-shaving ordeal and her traumatic custody battle for her two children.
"Let's just say, it will not be for the faint-hearted. But it will also show the highs along her incredible life journey."
Insiders are allegedly worried reliving the trauma so soon could be bad for Britney, who is hoping to regain custody of her sons Sean Preston and Jayden James.
But the source said: "If anything it will be cathartic for Britney.
"She has been through so much and is finally back to her best. This will be her ultimate chance to prove to the world she has still got it."
Britney's new album Circus is out next month and she has made an impressive comeback, scooping three gongs at the MTV VMA Awards in September.
Via metro.co.uk
Miley Cyrus and model boyfriend Justin Gaston's relationship appears to be moving at light speed with reports claiming the couple have already moved in together.
The 15-year-old Disney star and her 20-year-old hunk are said to have taken things to the next level by living together - under her parents' roof.
US reports claim that the Hannah Montana star has been looking for her own love nest but in the meantime she is sharing her bedroom with Justin.
A source tells the National Enquirer, “Billy Ray wasn’t born yesterday. He figures the safest path to take is to keep Miley and Justin on a short leash - and under the same roof.”
The source adds, “Justin is the guy Miley’s parents see her settling down with a few years down the line.
“He’s handsome, talented, clean-living, goes to church and knows his Bible - a real catch.”
Via entertainmentwise.com
Katy Perry has vowed not to follow in Britney Spears' footsteps.
The 'I Kissed a Girl' singer - who is dating Gym Class Heroes star Travis McCoy - insists she has no intention of letting fame go to her head.
When asked how she would stop herself copying Britney, who had a public breakdown earlier this year, Katy replied: "You have to be really strong-headed to survive in this industry.
"If you are going to get into it, lose your vices because they are not something you should have - especially if you are in the public eye. Eat your vegetables, take your vitamins and be discerning about the people that are around you.
"Know who is a creep and who is not, who is there for the right reasons and who is not there for the right reasons."
Katy, famous for her unique outfit choices, also explained where she gets her fashion inspiration from.
She added: "I have a fascination with all things 40s and the way women had a poise and a unique look. They were more put together and cared how they presented themselves.
"Everybody had their own kind of deal, it wasn't like walking robots wearing one label or having to wear one thing because it was the coolest, trendiest thing. I think that's why I make so many daring choices with my style, bec
Via chinadaily.com.cn
Amy Winehouse was rushed to hospital last night (October 26) after suffering from a suspected chest infection.
According to the Daily Mirror, the singer was taken to the London Clinic when her condition deteriorated after a doctor visited her at her home on Thursday (October 23).
Winehouse's spokesperson told the newspaper that she is expected to return home soon and should recover fully.
In June the star's father Mitch Winehouse said Amy was suffering from lung disease emphysema.
Via nme.com
Police on Monday found the body of a young boy following a search for Academy Award-winning actress Jennifer Hudson's 7-year-old nephew, who has been missing since Hudson's mother and brother were slain last week.
Police did not immediately release the boy's identity but local media reports said a vehicle in which the body was found belonged to Hudson's slain brother, Jason, 29. Police had issued an alert on Friday saying the boy may have been abducted in that vehicle.
The boy, Julian King, has been missing since Hudson's mother, Darnell Donerson, 57, and Jason Hudson were found shot dead in Donerson's South Side Chicago home.
Police said the slayings appeared to be part of a domestic disturbance. Various media reports said police had taken William Balfour into custody as a suspect in the double homicide investigation.
Balfour, 27, had a relationship with Hudson's sister Julia but is not the father of the missing boy. Balfour's mother said earlier her son and Julia were estranged and that he had nothing to do with the slayings.
The Illinois Department of Corrections Web site lists Balfour as having been convicted of attempted murder, car theft and vehicular hijacking. He was released from prison in 2006.
Hudson gained fame in 2005 as a contestant on the top-rated U.S. television show "American Idol." She was one of 12 finalists in the third season but was voted off.
Her booming voice and popularity kept her touring in live shows and she earned the role of Effie White in the 2006 film version of the stage musical "Dreamgirls."
The role of soulful singer White, who is kicked out of an all-girl 1960s singing group, earned Hudson the Oscar for best supporting actress and made her an instant star in Hollywood.
Hudson has since appeared in the movie version of "Sex and the City" and is currently in "The Secret Life of Bees."
Via reuters.com
Jennifer Hudson asks public to help find nephew, 7
domingo, 26 de octubre de 2008 | Etiquetas: Jennifer Hudson
Jennifer Hudson appealed Sunday for the public's help in finding her 7-year-old nephew, missing since the shooting deaths of her mother and brother.
City police, who intensified search efforts in the neighborhood where the Oscar-winning actress and singer grew up, also transferred custody of a "person of interest" in the killings to state authorities.
An Amber Alert remained in effect Sunday for young Julian King, who disappeared on Friday, the day the bodies of his grandmother, Darnell Donerson, 57, and 29-year-old uncle Jason Hudson were found in the home they all shared on the city's South Side. The deaths were ruled homicides.
The Amber Alert listed William Balfour, the estranged husband of Jennifer Hudson's sister, Julia Hudson, as a suspect in a "double homicide investigation." Julia Hudson is the missing boy's mother.
Chicago police spokeswoman Monique Bond said that authorities considered Balfour a "person of interest" in the case but that he had not been charged.
Authorities said the search for Julian would be citywide, but on Sunday residents and officers focused their efforts "in the immediate vicinity" of the family's home in the Englewood neighborhood, said police spokesman Dan O'Brien.
Police said they did not have a motive for the killings but called the case "domestic-related."
"There's a lot of forensic evidence. We have to work the evidence and try and solve this case," Bond said Sunday. "Most importantly, we want to find the child."
Bond said no weapon had been found at the Hudson home, a three-story house sandwiched between vacant lots littered with trash. On Sunday, investigators moved in and out of the home and examined the trash.
Police officers were instructed to place fliers with Julian King's picture and description in every business in the area.
Jennifer Hudson, a former "American Idol" contestant who won an Academy Award for best supporting actress in 2007 for her role in "Dreamgirls," was in Chicago with her family during the weekend, her sister said. A publicist did not disclose her whereabouts.
In a MySpace blog entry on Sunday, Hudson said she was grateful for community support and posted a picture of her sister's son.
"Thank you all for your prayers and your calls. Please keep praying for our family and that we get Julian King back home safely," the blog entry said. "If anyone has any information about his whereabouts please contact the authorities immediately ... Once again thank you all for being there for us through this tough time."
Bond said Balfour, who had been in police custody since Friday, was transferred Sunday to the Illinois Department of Corrections "based on his active parole violation unrelated to this investigation."
Records from the Corrections Department show Balfour, 27, is on parole and spent nearly seven years in prison for attempted murder, vehicular hijacking and possessing a stolen vehicle.
Corrections spokeswoman Januari Smith said Balfour would probably remain in state custody until the Illinois Prisoner Review Board looked at his case. She would not say exactly where Balfour was being held.
It was unclear whether Balfour had an attorney Sunday, but his mother, Michele Balfour, has denied that he was involved the killings or in Julian's disappearance.
During a public plea Saturday for the boy's return, Julia Hudson described her son as a smart, sensitive and easygoing child.
"He's not your typical 7-year-old," she told a crowd at the family's Pleasant Gift Missionary Baptist Church on Chicago's South Side. She was joined by the boy's father, Greg King.
Julia Hudson said she last saw her son Thursday night when they went out to dinner to celebrate her 31st birthday. Afterward, she said, she took Julian to the home she shared with her mother and brother and handed him to his grandmother, and everyone went to sleep.
She said Saturday that she was confident her son was still alive and that she was praying for his return.
"Momma's looking for you. I'm not going to stop until you come home," she said.
Via associatedpress
Beyonce gained 15 pounds to play Etta James in the upcoming movie "Cadillac Records."
She tells In Style magazine that it was "way easier and tastier" gaining weight than having to drop pounds to star in Dreamgirls.
As for her marriage to Jay-Z, Beyonce says she's "terrified, but excited" to take this big step. She says it's like she's a "new woman." -
Via associatedpress
Paris Hilton has made a sexy music video to accompany her presidential campaign. The video shows the hotel heiress cavorting in a skimpy white and silver swimsuit, surrounded by hunky secret service men dressed in suits in 'Paris for President'.
‘Paris For President’ will be available in full on Swaghousemedia.com from Sunday (26.10.08). Paris said: “It’s a really cute idea. Tinkerbell’s in it and my secret service dudes. And I have my old white-haired dude. It’s fun, it’s going to be a hot video.”
During the song, several muscle-bound men boom “Paris for President” over an electro-beat while Paris sings lyrics such as: “Your commander in bikini”. This is the latest in a series of videos Paris has made to back her spoof campaign. The first – which was made in response to 71-year-old Republican presidential candidate John McCain using her image without permission in a TV campaign blasting his Democratic rival Barack Obama – saw Paris promising to paint the White House pink and appoint ‘Umbrella’ singer Rihanna as Vice President.
Speaking about McCain in the spoof, she joked: "He is the oldest celebrity in the world... like super-old, old enough to remember when dancing was a sin and beer was served in a bucket.... but is he ready to lead?"
Earlier this month, she enlisted the help of Hollywood actor Martin Sheen – who played President Josiah ‘Jed’ Bartlet in US TV show ‘The West Wing’ – where she claimed she wanted to be America’s best “fake” president. Paris called Martin “one of our greatest fake presidents” and went on to discuss her proposals to make America a better country. She said: “If you’re looking for victory in Iraq haven’t we already found it? Iraq has a democratic government that is asking for us to leave, It seems that we’ve done out job and we should bring our troops home safely.”
Via welt.de
Miley Cyrus, beau living together already?
sábado, 25 de octubre de 2008 | Etiquetas: Justin Gaston, Miley Cyrus
Hannah Montana actress Miley Cyrus is reportedly living with her beau Justin Gatson Miley Cyrus in her family home.
Gatson, who met Miley’s father while he was a finalist in Nashville Star , has impressed Billy Ray Cyrus and wife Tish so much that they have allowed him to live with them at their California estate, according to the National enquirer .
"Justin is the guy Miley's parents see her settling down with a few years down the line," the New York Daily News quoted a source, as telling the tabloid.
“He's handsome, talented, clean-living, goes to church and knows his Bible - a real catch,” the snitch added.
Recently, Miley told Radio host Ryan Seacrest how happy she is with Gatson.
Via indiatimes.com
Coleen Rooney has been mobbed by anti-fur protestors after leaving a fashion show in Liverpool.
The WAG attended the Cricket Fashion Show, but had to face a group of animal activists brandishing placards calling for a boycott on fur clothing items.
According to Metro, the protesters were upset with the venue for selling fur at the annual fashion event, however they have not had it in its collection since 2006.
The protestors also allegedly took issue with comments Rooney made in a 2005 interview with Closer.
"Rabbits get killed for food, so why waste the skins?" she reportedly said.
Via digitalspy.co.uk
The mother and brother of Jennifer Hudson were found shot dead Friday at a South Side home, and police were looking for a missing child who is the nephew of the singer and Oscar-winning actress.
A man suspected in the deaths was in custody Friday night, but the 7-year-old boy had not been located, according to published reports.
William Balfour was being questioned, but Julian King's whereabouts were not known, law enforcement sources told the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times. Balfour has not been charged.
Police spokeswoman Monique Bond said investigators were talking to "a number of people in custody" but she declined to elaborate.
An Amber Alert issued Friday said Balfour was a suspect in the double homicide of Darnell Donerson, 57, and Jason Hudson, 29, whose bodies were found Friday afternoon in a South Side home.
Jennifer Hudson's personal publicist, Lisa Kasteler, confirmed the deaths.
"We can confirm that there is an ongoing investigation concerning the deaths of Jennifer Hudson's mother, Darnell Donerson, and her brother, Jason Hudson," Kasteler said in a statement. "No further comment will be made and the family has asked that their privacy be respected at this difficult time."
The deaths appeared to be the result of domestic abuse, Bond said. The Cook County medical examiner's office said autopsies for Donerson and Jason Hudson were pending.
Deputy Chief Joseph Patterson said a family member entered the home around 3 p.m. Friday, found a woman shot on the living room floor and left to notify authorities. Responding officers found a man shot in the bedroom, Patterson said. There was no sign of forced entry.
Police tape blocked access to the large, white house, where a crowd gathered outside. Investigators with dogs and flashlights searched foliage surrounding a church that faces the home.
Authorities issued the Amber Alert for King and sought a 1994 white Chevrolet Suburban. The child was the grandson of the female victim, officials said.
The alert said the child was possibly abducted and could be accompanied by Balfour, who was considered armed and dangerous and called a suspect in the double homicide investigation.
Records from the Illinois Department of Corrections show Balfour, 27, is on parole and spent nearly seven years in prison for attempted murder, vehicular hijacking and possessing a stolen vehicle. Public records show one of Balfour's addresses as the home where Donerson and Jason Hudson were shot.
The alert said the boy could also be in a teal or green Chrysler Concorde with a temporary license plate, a left front headlight hanging out and scratches on the left side of the vehicle.
The tragedy comes as Hudson, who grew up in Chicago, continues to reach new heights in her career. Her song "Spotlight" is No. 1 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop charts and her recently released, self-tiled debut album has been a top seller. She was featured in this year's blockbuster "Sex and the City" movie and is also starring in the hit film "The Secret Life of Bees."
She won an Academy Award for best supporting actress in 2007 for her role in "Dreamgirls." In an interview last year with Vogue, Hudson credited her mother with encouraging her to audition for "American Idol," which launched her career.
The singer, whose father died when she was a teenager, described herself as very close to her family. In a recent AP interview she said her family, which includes older siblings Julia and Jason, helped keep her grounded.
"My faith in God and my family, they're very realistic and very normal, they're not into the whole limelight kind of thing, so when I go home to Chicago that's just another place that's home," she said. "I stand in line with everybody else, or, when I go home to my mom I'm just Jennifer, (so she says), 'You get up and you take care of your own stuff.' And I love that; I don't like when people tell you everything you want to hear, I want to hear the truth, you know what I mean."
Hudson recently announced her engagement to David Otunga, best known for his stint on VH1's reality show "I Love New York."
Hudson's representatives would not disclose her whereabouts Friday. She had been scheduled to appear Monday in Los Angeles to collect an ensemble cast honor at the Hollywood Awards for "The Secret Life of Bees" with co-stars including Alicia Keys, Queen Latifah and Dakota Fanning.
Via associatedpress
Anne Hathaway’s ex-boyfriend Raffaello Follieri has been sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison.
The Italian businessman – who dated “The Devil Wears Prada” actress for four years before they split in June – was sentenced at Manhattan federal court in New York yesterday (Oct 23, 2008) after pleading guilty to charges of wire fraud, money laundering and conspiracy.
Follieri – who spoke in court through an interpreter – admitted he had “no excuses” for his illegal actions.
The 30-year-old said: “The most important thing I want the court to know is I was not raised with bad values. I started off with good intentions, determined to run an honorable business and make everyone proud of me.”
“What I did was wrong and there is no point in making excuses. I will never be able to wash away the shame. I just hope that someday those who have been hurt by my actions will forgive me.”
Follieri was arrested in June after he was found to be lying to potential investors, saying he was a member of the Vatican, and then using the money to travel to the Dominican Republic on holiday with Hathaway.
He was also found guilty of using the money to pay his $37,000-a-month rent, medical bills for both him and Hathaway, and his father’s orthodontist bills.
Follieri – whose next hearing is scheduled for December 12 - will be imprisoned in either New Jersey’s Fort Dix facility or the jail in Otisville, New York, after officials have decided the level of security he needs.
Prior to yesterday’s hearing, Follieri had agreed not to appeal any sentence that was shorter than 63 months in prison.
In addition to jail time, he will have to pay a $1,400 special assessment fee to the United States and was also given three years of supervised release.
Via fashion.ie
Kerry Katona's mother-in-law has branded the reality TV star and her husband 'disgusting' for taking her to court over a money dispute.
Marilyn Croft, 59, attended a hearing yesterday after her son Mark tried to reclaim £3,500 he had offered her to cover medical care and lost wages while she battled cancer. While taxi driver Mark has claimed that he gave the cash as a loan, Ms. Croft has insisted that the money was a gift.
A judge at Wigan County Court adjourned the case yesterday. Ms. Croft and her legal team have vowed to "[put] a case together that this was a gift".
Speaking outside court, Marilyn explained: "I feel terrible. It is disgusting that they have put me in an embarrassing situation like this. They are both involved and I feel more stressed now than I did at the height of my cancer."
Katona has been facing a backlash this week after slurring her words in an interview with This Morning.
Via digitalspy.co.uk
Angelina Jolie's children continually ask why she and Brad Pitt aren't married like the characters in animated movie 'Shrek'.
'The Changeling' actress - who has three-month-old twins, a biological two-year-old daughter and three adopted children with partner Brad - admits the couple have "done everything backwards" by having children before they got married, but insists she is in no rush to tie the knot despite pressure from her kids.
She said: "Usually people fall in love and everything revolves around the ritual of marriage, children are an afterthought. We did everything backwards.
"But sooner or later it will be the kids who ask us to get married. You know, they see films and start asking questions. Such as, 'Why are Shrek and his love Fiona married and you're not?' "
The 33-year-old actress also revealed her children have inherited her love of travel, and become restless if they stay in one place for too long.
She added to Italy's Vanity Fair magazine: "We were in France these last few months and after a while they started asking when we could get back on a plane.
"I want them to be able to walk through a marketplace in Addis Ababa and not bat an eye, not think it is dirty and ugly, but that it just represents another part of the world and humanity."
Via chinadaily.com.cn
Katy Perry has denied that a picture of her holding a knife is related to the UK's current violent crime problems.
The 23 year old American singer was widely condemned earlier this week when the picture, taken by fashion photographer Terry Richardson, emerged on the internet.
In a statement, the singer's US publicist told MTV: “Katy Perry is against all violence. The photo in question was taken in 2005 and is in no way related to the current events in the UK.”
The publication of the photo came just days after a 16-year-old army cadet was stabbed outside a Liverpool Youth Club.
The attack was the latest in a string of violent offences which have raised fears about the safety of Britain's streets.
Richard Taylor, the father of murdered school boy Damilola Taylor, was among those to critise the picture, which was intended for Perry's album 'One of the Boys', but eventually overlooked.
Perry is no stranger to controversy. Her debut single, 'I Kissed A Girl', drew a mixed response when it was released during the summer.
The singer is due to host the MTV Europe Music Awards in Liverpool next month.
Via gigwise.com
The Smiths are not set to reunite despite reports.
Sources close to both members of the band and Coachella have denied that there has been any new move to reunite the group for next year's festival.
A British newspaper had claimed The Smiths were considering burying the hatchet for next year's event.
Meanwhile, the group's guitarist Johnny Marr's manager dismissed the story, telling our sister title Uncut that the Smiths reunion rumours were \"rubbish\".
Morrissey has previously claimed he was offered a near £40 million for just him and Smiths guitarist Marr to reunite for the Californian event in 2006.
A new double-CD compilation spanning the band's career, 'The Sound Of The Smiths', is released on November 10.
Via nme.com
Just like the "Seinfeld" episode where George wanted everyone to call him "T-Bone," Beyonce Knowles would like to be known by a bold new name.
The R&B singer has christened herself "Sasha Fierce" for her new double album, "I Am ... Sasha Fierce," due in U.S. stores on November 18, and has released a lengthy justification for the comical moniker.
"I have someone else that takes over when it's time for me to work and when I'm on stage, this alter ego that I've created that kind of protects me and who I really am," the former Destiny's Child frontwoman said in a statement.
"Sasha Fierce is the fun, more sensual, more aggressive, more outspoken side and more glamorous side that comes out when I'm working and when I'm on the stage."
Additionally, she has set up a cryptic MySpace page (http://www.myspace.com/sashafierce) that gives a "lucky person" the opportunity to receive a personal message and a gift bag valued at $500.
As George found out, nicknames usually do not work when they are self-bestowed. His colleagues thought he should be called Koko the monkey. In real life, rapper Eminem had better luck with his alter ego "Slim Shady," which he said came to him while he was on the toilet.
Beyonce released her previous solo album, "B'Day," to coincide with her 25th birthday in September 2006. It debuted at No. 1 on the U.S. pop chart and yielded the No. 1 single "Irreplaceable."
"I Am ... Sasha Fierce" will be distributed by Columbia Records, a unit of Sony Corp's Sony Music Entertainment.
Via reuters.com
George Clooney Maybe Possibly Back in Love with Krista Allen
| Etiquetas: George Clooney, Krista Allen
George Clooney may be a stubbornly perpetual bachelor but he is certainly not lonely and may in fact have reunited with former girlfriend Krista Allen, according to media reports.
The New York Daily News’ Rush & Molloy report that George Clooney and former girlfriend of almost two years Krista Allen have rekindled their romance.
The romance between the two actors began in 2002, when Clooney cast Krista Allen in his directorial debut, “Confessions of a Dangerous Mind,” his critically acclaimed adaptation of the autobiography of television producer Chuck Barris.
The relationship fell apart in spring of 2004, reportedly at Allen’s hand. Clooney consoled himself with Lisa Snowden for a while, then he and Allen reunited in 2006, only to break up once more and Clooney to have his one-year romance with Sarah Lawson.
Friends of the actor’s tell the Daily News that Clooney and Allen have kept in touch throughout all these years and the actress apparently “just can’t get over” Clooney. The feeling is mutual it seems, as Clooney “really loves her.”
George Clooney, 47, is one of Hollywood’s most notorious bachelors, having sworn to neither tie the knot (again) nor have children before 50. Should he and Allen, 37, reunite, he may well play daddy to the actress’s 11-year-old son, Jake, with production manager Justin Moritt. The same friendly source told the Daily News that Clooney and Jake get along very well.
Clooney was married only once in his life, in the 1980s, to actress Talia Balsam. He has loved a string of beauties though over the decades, including Kelly Preston, Charlize Theron and Renee Zellweger.
Krista Allen is best known for her roles in television series “Days of our Lives,” “Baywatch Hawaii” and “What About Brian.”
Via efluxmedia.com
Lindsey Evans, the reigning Miss Louisiana Teen USA, has been uncrowned, according to TMZ.com.
“Lindsey Evans has been part of an organization that believes in opportunities when earned and consequences when warranted,” Paula Miles, president of pageant sponsor RPM, said in a statement last night. “Due to recent circumstances, Lindsey has been relieved of her duties as Miss Louisiana Teen USA 2008 effective immediately.”
Evans was arrested over the weekend with three of her friends for allegedly skipping out on a dinner bill of $46.07, TMZ.com reported. She later returned to pick up her purse, which she forgot in the restaurant. She was promptly arrested on theft charges and marijuana possession after cops searched her bag and found a stash of pot. Although she only had 10 days left on her reign, pageant officials didn’t want to wait.
Via bostonherald.com
Britney Spears in clear as driving case ends in mistrial
miércoles, 22 de octubre de 2008 | Etiquetas: Britney Spears
Britney Spears scored a symbolic victory in her court case for driving without a license on Tuesday after jurors failed to reach a verdict, prompting a judge to dismiss charges against the singer.
On their third day of deliberations, jurors were deadlocked at 10-2 in favor of acquitting the pop star, who did not attend court during the trial.
Shortly after the stalemate, prosecutors said they would not seek a fresh trial, leaving Judge James Steele to dismiss the charges.
The outcome will be viewed as a victory by Spears, who had pressed for a trial on the grounds she had done nothing wrong, rejecting a plea deal that would have seen her fined 150 dollars and given one year's probation.
After the mistrial was declared, Spears's attorney J. Michael Flanagan said the 26-year-old should never have been prosecuted. "This is a misdemeanor. It should have been a fix-it ticket anyway," Flanagan said.
The case stemmed from an August 2007 incident when paparazzi trailing the singer caught her bumping a car in a parking lot and driving away.
Prosecutors said Spears was later discovered not to have a valid California license. She was charged with a misdemeanor -- punishable by jail or a fine.
But Spears's defense argued the star held a valid Louisiana license at the time of the incident and so was not legally required to hold a California permit because she was not living permanently in the state.
Spears -- who hit rock bottom in January when she was twice rushed to hospital for psychiatric treatment after losing custody of her two young sons -- appears to have got her career back on track.
Her new single "Womanizer" topped Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart last week, her first No.1 on the ranking since 1999's "Baby One More Time."
Via afp
Despite her attempts to keep her image shiny and clean, Miley Cyrus has already been hit by a few racy scandals, including sexy pics of the Hannah Montana star leaked on the Internet earlier this year.
Click here to for OK!'s Mega Miley Cyrus gallery!
Fans were shocked by the photos, which included Miley blowing kisses at the camera while baring her midriff. For now though, the teen sensation can rest easy – the hacker who stole the photos from her email account has been caught.
Josh Holly, 19, told Wired.com that the FBI raided his home in Murfreesboro, Tenn. and took three computers and a cell phone.
"I was just kind of shaking. I was thrown way off guard," he tells Wired.com. "I guess somebody ended up ratting me out."
At the time, Miley apologized to her fans, saying the pictures were "silly, inappropriate shots." She was also photographed shirtless for the cover of Vanity Fair by Annie Leibowitz, causing a fresh storm of controversy.
Maybe it's time to take a break from photography, Miley?
Via okmagazine.com
Jennifer Aniston is reportedly pregnant with John Mayer's baby.
The former 'Friends' actress, who recently rekindled her relationship with the 'Gravity' singer, is believed to have decided to give their romance another try after discovering she was expecting her first child, according to Australia's New Weekly magazine.
A source said: "Jennifer is over the moon. She doesn't want to be a single mom, so she is willing to give John the chance to prove his parent potential."
The couple have been seen out on several dates recently, while Jennifer's figure is said to be looking a little more rounded than usual.
It was recently revealed John penned Jennifer a love song and promised to cut out his unhealthy vices to cement their romance.
A source said: "John has written a song about their time together and played it to Jennifer who was incredibly touched.
"He has cut right back on his drinking and has pledged to quit smoking roll-up cigarettes - two things that really annoyed Jennifer."
The couple sparked speculation they had reunited after they were seen passionately kissing at a Ray LaMontagne concert before sharing a private plane to Los Angeles.
John was also seen "sneaking out" of Jennifer's home last week, while the 39-year-old actress helped her 31-year-old lover celebrate his birthday later in the week.
Via chinadaily.com.cn
Guy Ritchie is putting the past behind him and trading Madonna in for a younger woman, according to US reports.
Only days after announcing their split, it seems that both parties are already ready to move on, with reports rolling in that both Guy and Madonna have new partners.
Guy – who is currently directing an adaptation of Sherlock Holmes in the UK – has reportedly picked British actress Kelly Reilly as a shoulder to cry on.
And Madonna is said to be planning a family with US baseball player Alex Rodriguez.
The queen of pop and the director are currently battling over their children's country of residence and Madonna's billion dollar fortune.
We think it's safe to say their eight year marriage is definitely dead and buried.
Via entertainmentwise.com
Lindsay Lohan And Samantha Ronson's Public Cat Fight?
martes, 21 de octubre de 2008 | Etiquetas: Lindsay Lohan, Samantha Ronson
Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson were reportedly overheard having an impressive bickering match during a train journey to Washington recently.
According to a US publication, the Mean Girls star was continuously whining at her girlfriend, while the DJ tried to deflect her comments by hiding beneath her hoody.
A spy tells Page Six that Lindsay was, "whining incessantly and Samantha was trying to deflect it.
"When Lindsay would get up, Samantha would sigh and put her sweatshirt hood back up."
The actress was also said to have shouted, "I do what's good for you, not what's best for both of us."
Sam may be the more boyish half of the duo, but it seems Lindsay wears the trousers.
Via entertainmentwise.com
The X Factor was put on terror alert after Islamist militant leader Omar Bakri claimed that it was an anti-Muslim show, because it had released a charity single for injured British troops. Bakri, 50, also hit out at Muslims who gave out or wore the Help For Heroes wristbands, or who were selling the show's charity single Hero, scheduled for release on October 27.
After the ranting, anti-terror cops were in talks with the show's producers to boost security at Fountain Studios in Wembley, North London, where the X Factor is filmed. "Producers have spoken to CID and anti-terrorism officers about the potential threat level, it's being taken very seriously," the Sun quoted a source as saying.
The preventive measures were decided upon after Bakri made claims that even watching the X Factor on TV was a 'form of hatred'. "Some Muslims in Birmingham are wearing the armbands in support of British troops in Afghanistan. This is a form of muadaat (hatred) of the kuffar (non-believers) against the Muslims . . . and it has dangerous implications," he said.
"Some people may find excuses for those people, ignorance and so on. If after three days, if they continue, you are barred from these people and their deeds. Even watching the show, those people are committing a form, a type, of muadaat (hatred). And that action is a form of kufr (non-belief)," he added.
The security checks at the X Factor studios has changed dramatically, with plans for X-ray scans and a police presence on October 25, when finalists will perform the single. "We called in officers from Scotland Yard because of genuine safety fears. We are in the process of discussing extra security measures for Saturday night's live show," a source said.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "We are aware of the recording and it will be assessed to see if any offences have been committed." And Tory MP and security expert Patrick Mercer stated that it was the Lebanese Government that needed to handle Bakri.
"The Lebanese authorities know Omar Bakri's poison is directly helping international terrorism," he said. "I have no doubts that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office should apply pressure on the Lebanese to shut him up, because that's what he needs," he added.
Via oneindia.in
A popular local TV anchorwoman who had a small part in the Bush biopic "W" was in critical condition Monday after being beaten in her home. Police questioned whether she could have been targeted.
KATV anchor Anne Pressly, 26, was found about 4:30 a.m. Monday — a half-hour before she was due to appear on the station's "Daybreak" program. Pressly's mother went to the anchorwoman's house when she didn't answer a wake-up call, Little Rock police spokeswoman Cassandra Davis said.
Asked whether Pressly may have been targeted because of her job, Davis said officers were talking to station employees to determine whether she "has had any problems." Davis would not discuss specifics.
"(It) is possible that it is something other than robbery," Davis said. "Our detectives are talking with co-workers because she was a public figure, because she was on the news, in the media."
In a statement, KATV president and general manager Dale Nicholson said the anchor "is a person who simply lights up the room, by just walking in.
"The KATV family is having to deal with a personal crisis in our lives with the senseless brutality last night to one of our Daybreak anchors, Anne Pressly," Nicholson said. "I know her viewers will join her family as well as the KATV family in praying for a speedy recovery for Anne, who means so much to all of our staff."
Pressly was found unresponsive in her bed and a police report said she was bleeding from her head. Davis said Pressly was in critical condition at a hospital.
Davis said Pressly was stabbed, but KATV cited investigators later in reporting that all of her injuries were from being beaten in the head and upper body.
Pressly appeared briefly in Oliver Stone's new movie about President Bush that opened over the weekend.
She portrays a conservative commentator who speaks favorably of President Bush's "Mission Accomplished" event on an aircraft carrier shortly after the start of the Iraq war. She won the role after being noticed by the casting director when she went to Shreveport, La., where the movie was filmed, to work on a story about it and the city's film industry.
Spokeswoman Kate Hubin for the film company Lionsgate confirmed Pressly's role but declined to comment further.
KATV's Web site notes that Pressly's most notable interview was with Vice President Dick Cheney. Traveling through an Arkansas town, she found the highway blocked in front of a hunting goods store because Cheney was inside. Pressly asked for an interview, which she conducted on the ammunition aisle.
Early Monday afternoon, a man answering a phone number for Pressly's mother, Patricia Cannady, said the family had no comment.
Via associatedpress
When David Gest read the last survivor of the Titanic was to sell mementos of the disaster to help pay her nursing home fees, the reality TV star felt compelled to help. So David, accompanied by his I'm A Celebrity… pal Matt Willis, dropped in on the pensioner bearing a cheque for £3,000.
"She's a sweetheart," said David, after meeting 96-year-old Millvina Dean. "Why should she have to worry about… paying her rent?"
Despite David's donation, Millvina – who was two months old when the Titanic sank on her maiden voyage in April 1912 – went ahead with the auction. The sale of items including rare prints of the tragic ship, compensation letters and a suitcase of clothes given to Millvina's destitute family when they arrived in New York, fetched over £30,000 – more than ten times the expected amount.
Via hellomagazine.com
Gillian Anderson's publicist said the U.S. actress has given birth to a baby boy in London.
Anderson is best known for her roles on TV's "The X-Files" and "Bleak House." She can also be seen in the current big-screen release "How to Lose Friends and Alienate People."
Her representative Kelly Bush told People magazine exclusively that Anderson's third child, Felix Griffiths, was born Oct. 15.
Felix is the actress' second child with her television director boyfriend Mark Griffiths. The couple also have a 1-year-old son named Oscar and Anderson has a 13-year-old daughter, Piper, from a previous relationship.
Via upi.com
Pop punk Pink was forced to move out of her marital home when she split from husband Carey Hart, because the house contained too many memories for the star.
The So What singer parted ways with motocross racer Hart earlier this year (08) and she struggled to come to terms with the end of their relationship.
So she moved to the beach and decided to overcome her heartbreak by confronting one of her life-long fears - sharks.
But she soon found herself running back to her old house to relive the happy days of their marriage.
She says, "When my husband left I walked out of our house, shut the door and moved away. I couldn't live there any more.
"I bought a house on the beach and forced myself to go in the water every day - I've always had this total terror of sharks. I had to give myself a big challenge to focus on.
"Then a few months later I was in a recording studio across town. It was late, I had to be back in the studio early and it was a long drive to the beach. I thought I'd go to my old home, just to sleep. I turned up but I didn't actually have a key, so I crawled into the house through a dog flap. It felt so weird...
"Of course I didn't go to sleep. I went straight to the wedding-album photos and looked through them crying and sobbing. I was there for an hour, then I just jumped up and ran out. Haven't been back since."
Via contactmusic.com
The 19 year old, who tied the knot with guitarist Max Drummery in August, also says her father Sir Bob Geldof thought she was "a bit silly".
She wed the 24 year old musician, who performs with indie band Chester French, in a shock wedding in Las Vegas.
The television presenter has now told Heat magazine that although she loves her husband, she is aware of the high number of marriages which fail.
She said: "You can't ignore divorce rates. Every friend of mine has parents who are now divorced.
"I didn't go into it with Max thinking: 'This is going to last forever,' but I did go into it thinking: 'I love him right now and I know that I will continue to love him for a long while."'
The teenager said she was impressed by the intelligence of her Harvard graduate husband.
She said: "I've never been swayed by looks. I mean, you've seen some of the people I've dated in the past! I'm not the type of girl who will chase after a Brad Pitt lookalike."
She said when she rang her father with the news he asked: "Do you feel that it's right?' And she said: 'Yeah, I do'.
"He said: 'Well, I think it's a really intense thing to do and, in my opinion, as your father, I think it's a bit silly because you're very young.
"'But, at the same time, I'm happy for you, and if you love him, that's a really good thing."'
Peaches Geldof's own parents married in Las Vegas in 1986, but later separated.
The 19-year-old described Durmmery as having a magnetism which drew her under his spell.
And she said it was him who suggested the couple get married while she had thought it was a "little bit nuts".
Via sky.com
Verdict Expected Soon in Britney Spears Trial
lunes, 20 de octubre de 2008 | Etiquetas: Britney Spears
In Britney Spears' ongoing misdemeanor trial for driving without a license, jurors will return to considering her case today.
The mostly female jury deliberated on Friday for two hours at a Van Nuys, Calif., courthouse before taking a break for the weekend. Sources tell OK! that the judge in the case has given the jurors until around 1:30pm, L.A. time, today to come to a decision.
What's taking the jury so long to decide?
"There are extraneous issues," explains Britney's attorney, J. Michael Flannagan, to OK!. "She says she's a Louisiana resident. She wouldn't be here right now if not for the fact that she has to be here with her kids right now."
Continues Flannagan, "She considers herself a Louisiana girl. She's building a new house in Louisiana. She's maintaining her old house in Louisiana. She wants to go back to Louisiana."
Click here for OK!'s Ultimate Britney gallery!
Although the Britster herself has not appeared in court, a day's worth of testimony and arguments were presented to the jury last week. The case revolves around charges filed after the pop star hit a parked car and fled the scene. She was later found to be driving with a Louisiana, not California, driver's license, a misdemeanor in the state that carries a maximum fine of $1,500 and up to six months in prison.
Click here for OK!'s gallery of how the incident went down.
The prosecution claims Brit was obligated to obtain a California driver's license, but her attorney said the "Womanizer" singer really lives in Louisiana, a state she's properly licensed in.
Britney's lawyer previously rejected a plea deal, citing her celebrity status as a reason to target her.
Echoing that sentiment, a court insider remarked, "If she was any other person, she wouldn't even get a jury," in the court room today.
Via okmagazine.com
Paris Hilton has reportedly invited Prince William to party with her in Las Vegas after meeting at a London nightclub last week.
The unlikely pair were spotted chatting and swapping phone numbers at Whisky Mist in Mayfair and a source told the Mirror: “Paris and Wills really hit it off in the club.
“William gave her his Blackberry number and email address after Paris thrust him hers.
“She then sent him a cheeky text the following day, basically saying ‘thanks for a super-fun evening’. Some of William’s mates saw it and have been taking the mick ever since.”
The socialite is said to have invited the prince, who is second in line to the throne, to the US to join her at the opening of her new nightclub in the infamous party city after he completes his endurance motorcycle ride across South Africa.
The source added: “Although flattered by her attentions, William doesn’t think he can justify the jaunt - and has politely turned her down.
“But he’s definitely up for a few drinks the next time Paris is in town.”
Paris was in London filming the British version of her reality TV show Paris Hilton: My New BFF.
Via fametastic.co.uk
Mr. Blackwell, the acerbic designer whose annual worst-dressed list skewered the fashion felonies of celebrities from Zsa Zsa Gabor to Britney Spears, has died. He was 86.
Blackwell died Sunday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center of complications from an intestinal infection, publicist Harlan Boll said.
Blackwell, whose first name was Richard, was a little-known dress designer when he issued his first tongue-in-cheek criticism of Hollywood fashion disasters for 1960 — long before Joan Rivers and others turned such ridicule into a daily affair.
Year after year, he would take Hollywood's reigning stars and other celebrities to task for failing to dress in what he thought was the way they should.
Being dowdy was bad enough, but the more outrageous clothing a woman wore, the more biting his criticism. He once said a reigning Miss America looked "like an armadillo with cornpads."
A few other examples:
Madonna: "The Bare-Bottomed Bore of Babylon."
Barbra Streisand: "She looks like a masculine Bride of Frankenstein."
Christina Aguilera: "A dazzling singer who puts good taste through the wardrobe wringer."
Meryl Streep: "She looks like a gypsy abandoned by a caravan."
Sharon Stone: "An over-the-hill Cruella DeVille."
Lindsay Lohan: "From adorable to deplorable."
Patti Davis: "Packs all the glamour of an old, worn-out sneaker."
Ann-Margret: "A Hells Angel escapee who invaded the Ziegfeld Follies on a rainy night."
Camilla Parker-Bowles: "The Duchess of Dowdy."
Bjork: "She dances in the dark — and dresses there, too."
Spears: "Her bra-topped collection of Madonna rejects are pure fashion overkill."
The critic acknowledged he had mixed feelings about appearing so publicly mean. Most of the women he put through the wringer, he said, were people he genuinely admired for their talent if not their fashion sense.
"The list is and was a satirical look at the fashion flops of the year," he said in 1998. "I merely said out loud what others were whispering. ... It's not my intention to hurt the feelings of these people. It's to put down the clothing they're wearing."
He told the Los Angeles Times in 1968 that designers were forgetting that their job "is to dress and enhance women. ... Maybe I should have named the 10 worst designers instead of blaming the women who wear their clothes."
Surprisingly, the woman who topped his worst-dressed list for 1982 (announced in early 1983) was the newly married Diana, Princess of Wales. He said she had gone from "a very young, independent, fresh look" to a "tacky, dowdy" style. She quickly regained her footing and wound up as a regular on Blackwell's favorites list, the "fabulous fashion independents."
Blackwell had started out as an actor himself, having been spotted by a talent agent while still in his teens. He landed a job as an understudy in the Broadway production of Sidney Kingsley's heralded drama "Dead End."
Although he got to play the role of the Dead End Kids' leader on stage only one time, it led him to Hollywood where he landed bit parts in such films as "Little Tough Guy" (uncredited) and "Juvenile Hall" (as Dick Selzer).
He abandoned his acting career in 1958 after failing to make it in movies and switched to fashion design. He claimed to be the first to make designer jeans for women, and his salon had begun to attract a few Hollywood names when he issued his first list covering the fashion faux pas of 1960. (Italian star Anna Magnani and Gabor were among his early victims.)
It quickly brought him the celebrity he had long coveted, and he quickly became a favorite on the TV talk show circuit. He hosted his own show, "Mr. Blackwell Presents," in 1968 and appeared as himself in such TV shows as "Matlock" and "Matt Houston."
In 1992, he sued Johnny Carson for claiming that he had added Mother Teresa to his list, saying the comment exposed him to hatred and ridicule. NBC's response was that the "Tonight Show" host was obviously joking.
"Did you see what he said about Mother Teresa? 'Miss Nerdy Nun is a fashion no-no,'" Carson had said. "Come on now, that's just too much."
During his heyday the issuing of Blackwell's annual list was an eagerly anticipated media event.
On the second Tuesday in January he would assemble reporters at his mansion for a lavish breakfast before making a dramatic entrance for the television cameras.
By the turning of the millennium, however, the list had lost its juice and Blackwell took to issuing it by e-mail.
Born Richard Sylvan Selzer in 1922, Blackwell recounted in his autobiography, "From Rags to Bitches," a troubled, poverty-ridden childhood in which he was variously a truant, thief and prostitute.
He is survived by Robert Spencer, his partner of nearly 60 years.
Via associatedpress
Upcoming British singer Leona Lewis is eager to return to her native land and catch up with her favourite TV show EastEnders.
Lewis attended the recent charity gig in Las Vegas hosted by pop star Justin Timberlake and she received the biggest cheer.
After the show while talking to reporters she said, "It was a great night for a great cause. But I can't wait to get home, for some home-cooked food and to watch EastEnders."
Lewis was the winner of the reality show X-Factor and is one of the very few British female artistes to make it big in the United States.
Via ndtv.com
Zac Efron roped in for Pirates of the Caribbean 4
domingo, 19 de octubre de 2008 | Etiquetas: Zac Efron
High School Musical actor Zac Effron has been roped in to star in the forthcoming sequel of the Pirates of the Caribbean 4 series, according to reports. >[?The 20-year-old is said to have been approached to star along with Captain Jack Sparrow in what will be the fourth sequel in the series – to eventually replace Johnny Depp as the protagonist.
The young heartthrob has allegedly been offered 10 million dollars by Disney to share the screen in the upcoming blockbuster film series.
"Disney knew that Zac was reluctant to do any more High School Musical“He had already said there was "no way" he'd return as Troy. So the Disney brass came up with an offer he couldn't refuse," the source added.
Efron has recently rubbished rumours alleging that he had been asked to take over Daniel Radcliffe’s role in Equus.
Via sify.com
