Britney Spears is set to appear on The X Factor tonight (November 29) to perform her current single 'Womanizer'.
The singer has jetted in for a special appearance which will also the five remaining finalists cover one of her songs.
Eoghan Quigg will perform 'Sometimes', 'Ruth Lorenzo' will sing 'I Love Rock 'N' Roll', Diana Vickers will cover 'I'm Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman' and JLS will do a take on 'Baby One More Time'.
Miley Cyrus is also due to appear on the show which this year has seen Take That, Mariah Carey and Girls Aloud all perform.
Meanwhile, record companies are taking action to ensure Spears' and Take That's new albums reach stores in time after leading CD distributor Entertainment UK (EUK) collapsed when Woolworths was put into administration earlier this week.
EUK delivered up to 30% of physical music in the UK and its customers included retailers such Zavvi, Asda, Sainsbury's, Morrisons, WH Smith, as well as Woolworths, reports BBC News.
Via nme.com
Britney Spears gears up for The X Factor
sábado, 29 de noviembre de 2008 | Etiquetas: Britney Spears, X Factor
Lindsay Lohan has reportedly been captured on CCTV drinking vodka while out partying at a Washington DC nightclub.
The Mean Girls star checked into rehab three times last year following her arrest for two separate DUI incidents.
Reports that the 22-year-old has fallen off the wagon emerged seven months after a previous alleged relapse.
The footage is said to show Lohan in a dark corner of a club sneaking vodka and Red Bull into a glass before drinking its contents.
The actress is currently rumoured to be experiencing difficulties in her relationship with DJ Samantha Ronson.
Via chinadaily.com.cn
Beyonce has scored her third straight No. 1 debut on the pop album chart with the double-disc "I Am ... Sasha Fierce."
The Music World/Columbia album shifted a whopping 482,000 copies in the United States during the week ended November 23, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
The set, split between material credited to R&B star Beyonce and her new alter-ego, Sasha Fierce, has already spawned the hits "If I Were a Boy" and "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)." Beyonce's 2003 solo debut, "Dangerously in Love," started with 317,000, while 2006's "B-Day" moved 541,000.
In a week with seven top 20 debuts on the Billboard 200, Nickelback's "Dark Horse" sold 326,000 to start at No. 2. The Canadian rock outfit spent an astonishing 156 weeks on the chart with its previous album, 2005's "All the Right Reasons," whose sales total 6.97 million to date.
Reigning "American Idol" champion David Cook's self-titled debut arrived at No. 3 with 280,000. That's more than double the first-week numbers of 2007 champ Jordin Sparks' self-titled debut, which sold 119,000 copies and has gone on to shift 956,000.
Last week's No. 1, country singer Taylor Swift's "Fearless," slipped to No. 4 on a 63 percent sales decline to 217,000. New at No. 5 is multinational vocal group Il Divo's "The Promise" with 162,000. The act's previous album, 2006's "Siempre," debuted at No. 17 with 108,000.
The soundtrack to the runaway hit film "Twilight" slid from No. 5 to No. 6 despite a 17 percent sales uptick to 125,000. The "Now 29" compilation dropped from No. 3 to No. 7 after a 33 percent decline to 115,000. The "High School Musical 3" soundtrack fell one rung to No. 8 on a 9 percent sales downturn to 86,000, while Enya's "And Winter Came" moved from No. 8 to No. 9 on a nearly identical sales slide to 83,000.
AC/DC's "Black Ice" rounded out the top 10 after falling from No. 6. The album sold 73,000 copies in its fifth week of exclusive release via Wal-Mart and Sam's Club, bringing its total to 1.39 million.
Other debuts during the week included Dido's "Safe Trip Home" at No. 13 with 51,000 and the Zac Brown Band's "The Foundation" at No. 17 with 44,000.
At 9.45 million, sales were up 6 percent from the previous week but down 32 percent from the year-earlier week (13.96 million).
Via reuters.com
PETA has asked Michael Jackson to save four giraffes which used to reside at his Neverland Ranch.
The animal rights group claimed that the animals have been housed in Arizona in under-sized pens for more than a year.
PETA has now written to the pop icon asking him to rescue his former pets from their poor living conditions.
"When Jackson faced recent financial troubles, the giraffes were sold to a couple in Page, Arizona, who were reportedly planning to set up a zoo," a spokesman said.
"More than a year later, the giraffes are still confined to pens that allegedly each measure approximately 15ft by 15ft, and the animals reportedly have not been receiving adequate veterinary or husbandry care.
"If Michael could see the giraffes' plight for himself, I'm sure he'd agree that it's bad - really, really bad. The giraffes may be out of Michael's life, but he has a responsibility to see that they don't suffer."
Via digitalspy.co.uk
“Britney: For the Record” Documentary to Air Sunday
viernes, 28 de noviembre de 2008 | Etiquetas: Britney Spears
Sunday night, at 10 p.m. ET/PT, a documentary about pop-singer Britney Spears called "Britney: For the Record" is scheduled to air on MTV.
The film follows Brit over a period of about three months, beginning September 7, when production company @radical.media decided to chronicle Spears’ comeback as of the day she appeared on the MTV Video Music Awards.
So far, a 30 minutes clip from the documentary, which spreads over an hour and a half, has been shown to journalists, featuring interviews with the singer, footage from her meeting with Jive Records reps and her trip to see the „In the Heights” Broadway show.
The documentary offers viewers some personal footage, as well, such as Britney Spears’ father making cheese grits the morning before the MTV Awards.
Moreover, during the 90 minute production, she speaks about her love life and her relationships with Justin Timberlake and ex-husband Kevin Federline, revealing that after having broken up with the former, she had felt lost and incapable of figuring out where to go from there, so she had become a party girl. As for her marriage with Federline, which lasted from 2004 to 2007, Britney stated she had taken the big step for the wrong reason and had failed to follow her heart and had simply gone through with it for the mere idea of being a married woman.
Furthermore, she admitted that she had never been able to face her divorce, even though she had tried to get over it and convince herself everything would be alright.
On December 2, when Britney Spears turns 27, her new album „Circus” is slated to be released, thus officially marking her comeback.
Via efluxmedia.com
Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson are planning a family holiday together.
The couple are set to join the DJ's family on vacation and have invited Lindsay's mother and siblings along too, despite not yet choosing a destination.
A source revealed: "Lindsay and Samantha want their families to get to know each other. As long as everyone is together, it doesn't matter where they go. Lindsay has invited her mom Dina, brother Michael and sister Ali. She is really excited about the trip."
Also going on the holiday will be Samantha's brother, producer Mark Ronson, her fashion designer twin sister Charlotte and mother Ann Dexter-Jones.
News of the holiday comes days after the couple denied reports they were having counselling to repair their relationship following a series of rows.
A source said: "They are fighting like cat and dog. Drama just seems to follow Lindsay, and Sam hates it. She deals with Lindsay every day. And every day for Sam means questioning, 'Is this worth it?' "
The pair reportedly had a physical fight in London recently after Samantha became jealous of Lindsay flirting with her ex-boyfriend, model Calum Best.
A source said: "Calum went up to Lindsay on the dancefloor. Lindsay was lapping up the attention, having a laugh - and a flirt. But Sam saw them and went ballistic.
"She marched over and started pushing the pair, demanding to know what they were doing. Then it erupted into a catfight, with Sam and Lindsay swearing and screaming like banshees."
The 'Mean Girls' star was later seen sobbing outside their hotel in the early hours of the morning.
Via chinadaily.com.cn
Kylie Minogue is set to release a compilation of remixes of her songs, entitled 'Boombox', on January 5.
The album will feature 16 remixes of tunes that span the singer's career, kicking off with the mash-up of her 2001 UK Number One hit 'Can't Get You Out Of My Head' and New Order's 'Blue Monday', which she performed live at the Brit Awards in 2002.
Other acts whose remixes feature on the compilation are The Chemical Brothers, Mylo and LA Riots.
The track-listing of 'Boombox' will be:
'Can't Get Blue Monday Out Of My Head' (Bootleg with New Order)
'Spinning Around' (7th District Club Mental Mix)
'Wow' (Death Metal Disco Scene Mix)
'Love At First Sight' (Kid Creme Vocal Dub)
'Slow' (Chemical Brothers Mix)
'Come Into My World' (Fischerspooner Mix)
'Red Blooded Woman' (Whitey Mix)
'I Believe In You' (Mylo Mix)
'In Your Eyes' (Knuckleheadz Mix)
'2 Hearts' (Mark Brown's Pacha Ibiza Upper Terrace Mix)
'On A Night Like This' (Bini & Martini Mix)
'Giving You Up' (Riton Re-Rub Vocal Mix)
'In My Arms' (Sebastien Leger Vocal Mix)
'The One' (Britrocka Remix)
'Your Disco Needs You' (Casino Mix)
'Boombox' (LA Riots Remix)
Via nme.com
Christina Aguilera Gets Mommy Tips From Nicole Richie
| Etiquetas: Christina Aguilera, Nicole Richie
Although they barely knew each other in the past, new mother Christina Aguilera says she's been getting some great parenting tips from Nicole Richie.
"I didn’t know much about Nicole, but because our little ones are born one day apart and through mutual friends I’ve had the opportunity of getting to know her and I was blown away with how great of a mom she is," the "Dirrrty" singer told Pop Tarts at her Post-AMAs party on Sunday night at the brand new Target Terrace at L.A Live.
Not only do the twosome dish on babies Max and Harlow, but Christina even looks to the fellow celeb for childcare suggestions.
"I actually ask her for advice because she has a lot of great things that she does for her little one," she reveals. "She’s even a little more stricter with battery operated toys and what not, she’s a great woman."
Via okmagazine.com
Pop singer Britney Spears is heading to London this week to perform live on "The X Factor" TV show.
She also is giving two concerts in London in June. A Spears' representative announced those concerts Wednesday and said they will be her only European stops on a world tour.
Spears is expected to sing "Womanizer" on television this Saturday. The popular single was recorded for a soon-to-be-releasd album.
Famous singers often coach "X Factor" contestants during the show, but the representative says Spears will only be performing — not coaching.
The British singing contest is similar to "American Idol" in the U.S.
Spears is now on a comeback from a two-year downward spiral that included a divorce, a custody battle and public meltdowns.
Via associatedpress
With the ongoing financial crisis even celeb parties have had to be curtailed, so it was quite surprising that American actress Megan Fox managed to get her hands on enough booze to make her confess her crush on actor Zac Efron.
Fox was at the Condé Nast bash for the GQ Men of the Year Awards when she made the confession. “I’m obsessed with him. What you don't know is that Zac and I are the same person . . . it's like Janet and Michael (Jackson), we are the same person,” the New York Post quoted her as saying.
A source revealed that like many other media companies Condé Nast was also retrenching, and that it had cancelled this year’s Christmas luncheon and holiday parties and that the GQ party had also been cut down.
“It was at the Chateau Marmont this time and there was a good turnout, with people like Leonardo DiCaprio. But there were obvious budget constraints,” the source, who attended the party every year, said.
“Whereas they used to serve dinner, this year there were only appetizers - few and far between - and there was only one bar, making it impossible to get a drink,” the source added.
Via sify.com
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's spokesman has denied a report by a US magazine that the actress is three months pregnant.
In Touch, which broke the news of Jolie's second pregnancy, is adamant that the Changeling star is expecting another child in the new year.
Hollywood golden couple Jolie and Pitt are already parents to six kids - three adopted and three biological.
Via teletext.co.uk
Kerry Katona has been photographed flashing sagging skin on her stomach her recent liposuction operation.
The reality star exposed her belly as she left her home in Wilmslow, Cheshire, yesterday.
Kerry, 28, had a £15,000 body makeover, which also included breast surgery to reduce her from 34GG to 34DD and laser removal of her stretch marks.
‘She looks great – she’s slim and is obviously proud of her figure,’ an onlooker tells the Daily Mirror. ‘But it’s not quite as perfect as she’d have us believe.
‘Like most mums, she’s never going to have a washboard tummy. And having all that excess fat removed is bound to have left her with some wrinkles.’
Via nowmagazine.co.uk
Britney Spears blames fame for her breakdown
lunes, 24 de noviembre de 2008 | Etiquetas: Britney Spears
Britney Spears, 26, has been hospitalized twice this year and also lost custody of her sons Sean Preston, 3, and two-year-old Jayden James after a series of meltdowns.
She admits in a new MTV documentary, Britney: For The Record , that it was loneliness, the paparazzi and a horde of hangers-on that brought about her problems.
“I used to be a cool chick. But I feel like the paparazzi have taken that away from me,” the Daily Express quoted her as saying.
“I had let people into my life who were just bad people. You’re so busy you don’t see what’s going on. You don’t have time to stop and think. It’s important to have good people around you,” she added.
Via indiatimes.com
Dakota Fanning has defended her rape scene in upcoming movie 'Hounddog'.
The 14-year-old actress is unfazed by the controversy and wouldn't comment on calls for her mother to be jailed on child pornography charges because she allowed Dakota to appear in the scene without having a body double.
She said: "It's a movie and it's called acting. What drew me to the film was that my character shows people that you can overcome adversity in life and it doesn't define you. My character has so many other interests and talents that just because something terrible happened to her doesn't mean she can't have a great life.
"I wanted to do the film because I thought it might help one person that has happened to and help them overcome adversity in their lives."
Dakota - who can next be seen starring alongside Queen Latifah and Jennifer Hudson in 'The Secret Life of Bees' - also said she remains a fan of Sue Monk Kidd's book, on which the film is based.
She added: "It is still one of the best books I have ever read. It really grabbed me. The scenes with Paul Bettany, who plays my abusive father, were very challenging and he is very scary in them but he is about the nicest guy you could ever meet in person."
Via myparkmag.co.uk
Rock band Guns N’ Roses has released its first studio album in fifteen years and its provocative title – “Chinese Democracy” – has understandably irked China’s Communist Party.
A newspaper published by the Chinese Communist Party caustically criticized Guns N’ Roses’ most recent album as an attack on the Chinese nation, reports the Associated Press, quoting the Global Times. The album is said to “turn its spear point on China.”
Guns N’ Roses released their last studio album in 1993; “The Spaghetti Incident?” consisted of cover versions of 1970s and 1980s punk and glam rock songs. Their previous “Appetite for Destruction,” “Use Your Illusion I” and “Use Your Illusion II” albums had already turned them into a superband.
The band has been working on “Chinese Democracy” since 1994 – in the end, Axl Rose, the 46-year-old frontman, is the only original member left. The album became available in North America this Sunday, November 23.
Then again, many fans had already listened to the music when it was mysteriously leaked on the Internet by a man that pleaded not guilty to breaking copyright laws in a Los Angeles court last month. Kevin Cogill, a 27-year-old man from Culver City, California, is alleged to have leaked nine new songs from the album on his website, Antiquiet.com, in June. He afterwards took them down but the harm had been done.
In August, he was arrested and then released on $10,000 bail. Authorities said at the time he faced up to three years in jail if convicted. If he is found to have had a profit from uploading the songs, he can face an even longer sentence. Cogill has no known direct connection to the band.
While fans of the rock band from around the world have been eagerly awaiting the long-delayed release of the album, it is unlikely that “Chinese Democracy” will be released in China. The Associated Press reports spokespersons for the Culture Ministry and State Administration of Radio, Film and Television could not be reached for comment as of Monday. These are the government bodies which regulate album releases and performances in China.
The album has not been officially banned yet. It is not only the title that may worry Chinese authorities. The record’s title track makes reference to the Falun Gong movement that was banned in China as an “illegal cult.”
One song from “Chinese Democracy,” titled “Shackler’s Revenge,” was made available in September, when Harmonix and MTV Games released Rock Band 2. All of the tracks are available for listening, but not downloading, on Guns N’ Roses’ MySpace page.
Via efluxmedia.com
British singer Lily Allen and supermodel Agyness Deyn recalled their experience at the Dubai airport as "terrifying" and "traumatic" after they were strip-searched when they landed in the United Arab Emirates.
Allen and Deyn were some of the celebrities who had to undergo severe scrutiny at the airport when they got there to attend the opening of the Atlantis Palms Hotel on the island of Palm Jumeirah.
Allen says: "I was strip searched, which wasn't so nice as soon as you arrive. I knew I didn't have anything on me so I wasn't worried. I wasn't paranoid, just terrified. It was at the airport and took more than an hour. It was really scary as they didn't tell you what they were doing, they just said, 'Take off trousers' and I was like, 'Ahhh, help!'"
Deyn added: "Both Albert and I were strip-searched. It was really traumatic. It wasn't the best experience in the world but it is their culture and you just have to respect it." Deyn is dating Albert Hammond Jr. of the rock band The Strokes.
Via sify.com
The husband of troubled soul singer Amy Winehouse lost his appeal Monday against a jail sentence for a vicious attack on a pub landlord and a subsequent attempt to cover it up.
Blake Fielder-Civil's challenge against his 27-month term was rejected by two judges at the Court of Appeal in central London.
The 26-year-old, jailed in July, was released from prison on November 5 on condition that he resides at a drug rehabilitation centre.
Judge Christopher Pitchford, dismissing the appeal, expressed the court's encouragement to Fielder-Civil to continue the progress he has made since then.
It was only if "these attempts are successful that he has a worthwhile future", Pitchford added.
Fielder-Civil was present in court and said afterwards: "I am disappointed but not really surprised."
His counsel Jeremy Dein argued before Pitchford and fellow judge Richard Brown that the 27-month sentence was "manifestly excessive".
Dein said Fielder-Civil had a "long and wretched history of involvement with drugs and alcohol" but was a man of good character who had suffered a "great ordeal while incarcerated".
Fielder-Civil admitted attacking the 36-year-old landlord of a pub in east London in June 2006, and of then trying to persuade the man not to give evidence against him.
The judge in the original court case, David Radford, branded him a coward and a disgrace.
Grammy Award-winning star Winehouse, who did not attend Monday's hearing, is fighting her own drug and alcohol problems.
Via afp
A man filed a lawsuit against McDonalds at the end of November because of a situation with a paying customer’s cell phone. Philip Sherman accidentally forgot his cell phone at the McDonalds in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The phone in question apparently contained nude pictures of Philip Sherman’s wife, Tina Sherman.
According to statements, Mr. Sherman supposedly was in contact with McDonalds as he attempted to locate the lost cell phone before someone accessed the pictures.
An employee from the McDonalds said that Mr. Sherman should not worry about it and also said that the phone would be placed in a secure location until he could come back to pick it up. However, some time between the time that Mr. Sherman spoke to the employee and when he arrived to pick up the phone, someone, supposedly from the McDonalds, had already leaked the photographs of Tina Sherman, as well as the couple’s address and phone number.
The photos were posted on the internet which is an invasion of customers’ privacy and has utterly humiliated them.
The Shermans claim that the photos were altered to include the McDonalds’ advertising slogan and logo and then posted on the internet.
The racy pictures of Tina Sherman were posted in several different locations on the internet and reportedly all included the slogan, “I’m lovin’ it,” a well known McDonalds catch phrase.
The pictures also appear elsewhere stating that Tina Sherman was “as hot as McDonalds’ coffee,” which caused the couple even more embarrassment.
The Shermans are now seeking no less than 3 million dollars in damages against McDonalds Corp., the store’s manager and the owner of the franchise.
Their report claims that due to the actions made by the restaurant, they were caused great hardship and embarrassment as well as emotional damages.
Philip Sherman has also claimed that the photos, which were posted with their address and phone numbers has threatened the safety of his family. His wife has allegedly received threatening letters and phone calls and text messages. Because of the situation, they had to sell their house and move somewhere else.
The damages they are seeking include the cost of relocation and missed work because of the nude photos. No one from McDonalds has released a statement on the subject. Most believe that the photos were leaked and posted by a specific teenager who is an employee for Fayetteville McDonalds.
People are reminded to keep their cell phone with them at all times and to avoid keeping pictures that would harm their reputation or the reputation of a loved one on the phone.
The fact is that if a cell phone is left somewhere, anyone can hack into it and take any pictures or text messages off of the phone and post them on the internet.
Via ireallyshouldstudy.com
British actor Rob Pattinson has confirmed there will be a sequel to vampire love story Twilight - and he will star in the epic.
The movie adaptation of Stephenie Meyer's cult book became an overnight sensation and took £4.6 million from midnight screenings in the U.S. on Thursday (20Nov08) alone.
And producers want to capitalise on the success, by turning Meyer's second book, New Moon, into a follow-up film.
In an email to fans, Pattinson and co-star Kristen Stewart thank fans for backing the movie. They write: "To all of our wonderful, loyal and fantastic fans - Thank you from the entire cast & crew for your amazing support of Twilight.
"You've blown away all of our expectations, and we feel so honored to have made a film that means as much to you as it does to us. Without your passion, interaction and support, this film would not be where it is today - the #1 movie in America!
"From every city, every stop, every interview we have done, you've made this an unbelievable, nearly surreal experience…and so cool that we were all in this together.
"We just heard from Summit that we'll be moving forward on New Moon. We look forward to sharing this next chapter with you! Kristen & Rob."
Via express.co.uk
Janet Jackson’s ‘wardrobe malfunction’ during the 2004 Super Bowl has reared its head again, with the US government asking that the original fine be paid.
After Jackson’s nipple was exposed as she performed with Justin Timberlake during their half-time performance, a fine of $550,000 was slapped on TV network CBS by the Federal Communications Commission, who said that they broke indecency rules in front of the 90 million viewers.
A court in Philadelphia subsequently ruled that CBS would not have to pay the fine, as they were not responsible for Jackson’s actions.
Now government prosecutors are requesting that the fine be reinstated, and have gone to the Supreme Court with the case.
According to the AFP, prosecutors have asked the high court to consider "whether the court of appeals erred in holding that the federal communications commission acted arbitrarily and capriciously (...) in determining that the most widely viewed broadcast public nudity in television history fell within the federal prohibitions on broadcast indecency."
Via nme.com
42 years after John Lennon said during an interview for London Evening Standard that the Beatles are more popular than Jesus, the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano published an official forgiveness of the famous singer.
During the interview, John Lennong, who was back then 26-years-old, talked about Christianity and made the famous remark: "Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. I do not know what will go first, rock 'n' roll or Christianity...We're more popular than Jesus now."
“Jesus was all right but his disciples were thick and ordinary. It's them twisting it that ruins it for me, " Lennon added.
When the interview was published five months late in the United State, Lennon’s claim has triggered numerous protests, and some radio station banned the group’s music and Beatles were forced to cancel several shows.
John Lennon apologized for his remark during a press conference held in Chicago in August 1966, explaining that his words were "never meant to be a lousy anti-religion thing." Vatican accepted the apology. The Beatles performed their last concert before paying fans at Candlestick Park in San Francisco on 29 August 1966.
Now, Saturday's edition L'Osservatore Romano noted in an article dedicated to the 40th anniversary of the Beatles' "White Album", the Lennon’s remark was a "boast by a young working-class Englishman faced with unexpected success, after growing up in the legend of Elvis and rock and roll."
Mark David Chapman killed John Lennon in 1980 in New York. Earlier this year, the New York State Division of Parole denied Chapman’s prison release for a fifth time.
Chapman has been kept in imprisonment for almost 28 years. He was sentenced to 20 years to life after pleading guilty to the killing. The parole board decision indicates that he will continue to stay in custody in New York’s Attica Correctional Facility for at least two more years, “due to concern for the public safety and welfare.”
Last week, Sir Paul McCartney announced that a "lost" Beatles track recorded in 1967 and performed just once in public will finally be released.
The 14-minute hidden Beatles track called "Carnival of Light" will bring the fabulous band back into the music charts once again.
According to McCartney this is by far the most experimental track the Beatles ever put to tape. It appears the band played the recording for an audience just once, at an electronic music festival in London. It reportedly includes distorted guitar, organ sounds, gargling and shouts of "Barcelona!" and "Are you all right?" from McCartney and John Lennon.
He also told BBC Radio 4 regarding "Carnival of Light" that "the time has come for it to get its moment" and that it shows the Beatles "going off piste." But in order to enable it to be made public, McCartney needs the approval of Ringo, as well as the widows of Lennon and Harrison, Yoko Ono and Olivia.
Via efluxmedia.com
Rachel Hylton has become the latest act to be voted off ITV's The X Factor after a sing-off with boy band JLS.
Judge Simon Cowell, who had the deciding vote, told the mother-of-five he was a fan of hers but she had been in the sing-off three times.
Putting on a brave face at the end of the Take That-themed show, Rachel said: "I'm fine, someone has to go home."
Earlier, Rachel's mentor Dannii Minogue was in tears after a row with rival Louis Walsh over their song choice.
It emerged JLS had wanted to sing Take That's 2007 hit Rule the World, which Rachel sang on the night.
Instead, the boy band performed A Million Love Songs during the main part of the show. Then when the public vote consigned them to the bottom two, they won over the judges with their rendition of Sean Kingston's reggae hit Beautiful Girl.
The judging panel praised Rachel for her version of Jennifer Holliday's And I'm Telling You (I'm Not Going) but, of the four judges, only Minogue voted to save her.
Rachel's departure means there are five acts left in the show: JLS, Diana Vickers, Ruth Lorenzo, Eoghan Quigg and Alexandra Burke.
Via bbc.co.uk
Britney Spears makes unexpected appearance in court
sábado, 22 de noviembre de 2008 | Etiquetas: Britney Spears
Britney Spears made another cameo in the midst of her comeback — this time at a Los Angeles courtroom.
Spears appeared unexpectedly Friday for a hearing in her ongoing conservatorship. A court spokesman said after the hearing that Spears appeared to give an update on her upcoming album, "Circus," and details of her tour and other promotions.
Her father, Jamie Spears, has had control over his 26-year-old daughter's personal and financial affairs since February. The court made the arrangement permanent last month, but Spears can petition to end the arrangement.
The court spokesman says she did not make that request Friday.
As part of that deal, her father and attorney gained greater control over her professional career. Jamie Spears appeared in court with his daughter and emerged from a courtroom with her after a two-hour closed session.
Spears has not appeared in court during months of conservatorship proceedings, but has been represented by a court-appointed attorney.
Spears' new album is scheduled to be released on Dec. 2, which is also the singer's 27th birthday.
Via associatedpress
Even among such A-list show stoppers as Christina Aguilera, Mariah Carey and the Jonas Brothers, Disney star Miley Cyrus has one distinct advantage when she takes the stage at the American Music Awards on Sunday night – she'll be celebrating her birthday, too.
In fact, a source working on the production tells PEOPLE that Julianne Hough and Taylor Swift are actually planning a Sweet 16 birthday surprise for Cyrus on the show.
Jimmy Kimmel, who will host the AMAs, may also have something up his sleeve for Cyrus. Asked if anyone should worry about being heckled at the show, he mused: "It's Miley Cyrus's birthday that night. I think the New Kids on the Block will be there. [But] it's not like I'm gunning for anyone in particular."
Kimmel also joked about Cyrus seeming mature for her age. "She seems like an adult to me," he told PEOPLE. "She seems like she's 33."
The AMAs air Sunday, Nov. 23. For a peek at all the presenters and performers, go to ABC.com.
Via people.com
All “24” fans out there must be thrilled. They don’t have to wait until January 11 in order to welcome Jack Bauer after 18 months of suspension, as just a couple of months before the seventh season of the series debuts on Fox, the network will air “24: Redemption,” a television production that should throw Kiefer Sutherland back in the midst of action.
Although the two-hour long film can be seen as a bridge between Jack’s treacherous past and his even more treacherous future and thus between the show’s Season 6 and Season 7, “Redemption” can also be considered an independent movie that should need no previous knowledge on our hero’s adventures.
All we need to know is that Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) is now in Africa, after more than three years of voyaging around the world so as to escape his own past. He works at a school in the fictional country of Sangala, where he helps an old pal, Carl Benton (Robert Carlyle) to manage an institute for young boys that provides rescued child soldiers with food and education. Nevertheless, Jack Bauer faces two main problems: in the first place, he finds out that the African country where he is living is menaced by rebels and, secondly, that the United States government has issued a subpoena in order to make him testify about the torture techniques he once used.
While the Presiden-elect of the U.S., Allison Taylor (Cherry Jones), is preparing to take the lead, her predecessor, Noah Daniels (Powers Booth), tells her about General Juma’s (Tony Todd) plan of organizing another coup, advising her to keep the U.S. away from the affair.
A year and a half has definitely brought Jack Bauer back on his feet and I think he’s more powerful than ever. Therefore, we should expect him to save the day once again and give Ms. Taylor a hand.
Via efluxmedia.com
"Live Free or Die Hard" actor Bruce Willis has sued a Malaysian prince and his company over a $2 million investment in "green rubber" the actor wants returned.
Prince Imran Ibni Tuanku Ja'afar and Datuk Vinod B. Sekhar, principals of environmental technology company The Petra Group, have repaid Willis $1.1 million of the original amount.
But Willis said the pair have falsely claimed to have wired $900,000 they still owe him and made "specious excuses" about when it would be returned, according to the lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles and made public on Friday.
The actor said he was induced to invest in the recycled rubber compound because he believed former Vice President Al Gore, actor Mel Gibson and "Braveheart" director Bruce Davey had invested "substantial sums" in the company.
Sekhar said Willis stood to make "a huge profit" in an initial public offering of Petra subsidiary Elastomer Technologies, which had been set for the third quarter of 2008, the suit said.
Sekhar, Ja'afar and The Petra Group would guarantee Willis' investment and give him a put option that allowed him to withdraw his money, the lawsuit said.
But when Willis tried to take his money out of the company nearly a year later -- with no IPO in sight -- Sekhar and Ja'afar refused to return it, the suit said.
A Petra Group spokesman could not be reached for comment.
Willis claims damages of $900,000 plus 10 percent annual interest.
Via reuters.com
Madonna, Ritchie granted preliminary divorce
viernes, 21 de noviembre de 2008 | Etiquetas: Guy Ritchie, Madonna
The show-business marriage that began in a Scottish castle came to an end in a drab London courtroom Friday as Madonna and Guy Ritchie were granted a preliminary decree of divorce.
Papers released by the court said Madonna petitioned for divorce on the basis of Ritchie's "unreasonable behavior," but did not elaborate.
Judge Phillip Waller ruled that he did not need to apply family law in the case — meaning that he accepted an agreement reached by the couple over their assets and children.
Neither appeared at the brief court session, in which "Ciccone M L v Ritchie G S" was one of 17 cases given a preliminary decree. The divorce can become final after six weeks and a day,.
British news media reported, without identifying the sources of their information, that the couple had reached a settlement that would see the pop superstar keep the majority of her estimated 300 million pound ($445 million) fortune and share custody with Ritchie of their two children: Rocco, 8, and David Banda, 3, who was adopted from Malawi in 2006.
Madonna has a 12-year-old daughter, Lourdes, from a previous relationship with personal trainer Carlos Leon.
Requests for comment from representatives for the couple were not returned.
An agreement on terms would avert an expensive courtroom battle like the one between former Beatle Paul McCartney and model Heather Mills. Mills has said the media coverage of the rancorous divorce had pushed her to the brink of suicide; McCartney compared the process to going through hell.
Madonna and Ritchie, director of "Snatch" and "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels," married in December 2000 at Skibo Castle in the Scottish Highlands.
Madonna and Ritchie announced last month they were divorcing. They own homes in London, Los Angeles and New York, and a 1,200-acre (480 hectare) retreat in England.
Via associatedpress
Lingerie model Karolina Kurkova has been voted the world's sexiest woman by E! entertainment television, beating sultry actresses Angelina Jolie and Scarlett Johansson for the honor.
Czech Kurkova, ranked by Forbes magazine as one of the world's highest paid models, was dubbed by E! as "she of the mysterious belly button" due to media speculation about what appears to be an unusually smooth navel.
Second place also went to a supermodel, Israeli Bar Rafaeli, who has been linked to actor Leonardo DiCaprio, while Jolie, who recently gave birth to twins, was in third place.
"Far from being a US-centric list, you'll find a face, and body, from six continents," E! said in a statement.
Following are the top 10 sexiest women, as ranked by E!:
1. Karolina Kurkova
2. Bar Rafaeli
3. Angelina Jolie
4. Gisele Bundchen
5. Scarlett Johansson
6. Adriana Lima
7. Heidi Klum
8. Penelope Cruz
9. Manuela Arcuri
10. Shakira
Via reuters.com
After carving a niche for herself in Hollywood with 'Hannah Montana', Miley Cyrus says she would like to try reality TV. The teen idol stated that she would love to chill out while the cameras follow her around.
"I would want to be on a reality show like 'The Real World' because I think that's crazy, anyone who would do that has some serious guts," E! Online quoted Miley, as saying. "I just want to be in a really nice house with cameras following me around, I can just sit there, eat Cheetos, read my book, hang out all day," she added.
Miley revealed that reality television wouldn't be that difficult for as she already leads a life delimited by the paparazzi. "It's like a free reality show, I just don't get paid for it," Miley said.
Via oneindia.in
Ashlee Simpson-Wentz and her rock-star husband Pete Wentz have become parents for the first time, People magazine reported on Friday.
Simpson-Wentz, 24, delivered a boy, named Bronx Mowgli Wentz, on Thursday, and all are doing well, People quoted a spokesperson as saying.
The report did not specify a location, but rival tabloid In Touch Weekly reported earlier on Thursday that Simpson-Wentz was at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
The singer, the younger sister of tabloid magnet Jessica Simpson, has released three albums, and is famous for singing to a prerecorded track that malfunctioned on "Saturday Night Live" in 2004. She married Wentz this past May.
Wentz is the bass player and main lyricist for the pop-punk band Fall Out Boy, which topped the U.S. album chart in February 2007 with its most recent album, "Infinity on High."
Via reuters.com
Britney Spears Regrets Marrying Kevin Federline
jueves, 20 de noviembre de 2008 | Etiquetas: Britney Spears, Kevin Federline
Britney Spears thinks maybe marrying Kevin Federline was not such a good idea. In her upcoming MTV documentary, “Britney: For The Record,” she says she “married for all the wrong reasons.”
Britney Spears thinks maybe marrying Kevin Federline was not such a good idea.
In her upcoming MTV documentary, “Britney: For The Record,” she says she “married for all the wrong reasons.”
She says instead of following her heart, she did it “for just, like, the idea of everything.”
“Britney: For the Record” will air Nov. 30.
Via wjbf.com
Paris Hilton and her boyfriend of nine months, Benji Madden, have broken up. Hilton publicist Alanna McCarthy said Wednesday that the two "remain very good friends." She wouldn't say more.
Hilton and Madden have been photographed wearing rings with each other's initials. The 27-year-old socialite also joined her boyfriend when he toured with his rock band, Good Charlotte.
The 29-year-old Madden plays guitar, and his identical twin brother, Joel, is the lead singer.
Joel Madden has a daughter with Nicole Richie, Hilton's longtime friend and reality-TV co-star.
Via associatedpress
Hugh Jackman crowned People's `Sexiest Man Alive'
miércoles, 19 de noviembre de 2008 | Etiquetas: Hugh Jackman
Hugh Jackman says wife Deborra Lee Furness teased him after finding out he'd been named People magazine's "Sexiest Man Alive."
Recalling Furness' reaction, Jackman says: "God bless her, she said, `I could've told them that years ago! And then she said, `Obviously Brad (Pitt) wasn't available this year.' And I said, `That was a joke, right?'"
The magazine's executive editor, Jess Cagle, said Wednesday on NBC's "Today" show that Jackman is a "surprising choice," but he'd been on the editors' minds "for a long time and it seemed like this was the year to do him."
Cagle pointed out that not only is Jackman's career at its peak, with the "X-Men" movies and his upcoming epic with Nicole Kidman "Australia," but he's "built like a tank."
Via associatedpress
Christopher Ciccone has little in common with his sister, ultra fit and apparently ageless pop star Madonna.
The 47-year-old Ciccone is so reserved he comes across almost as shy. He’s wrapped in an oversized hooded sweatshirt, and the wrinkles show around his eyes, making him look personable.
Despite the cool autumn weather, he prefers to sit on the terrace of a New York hotel for an interview about the book he has written about his famous sister. Perhaps it’s so that he can tamp down a touch of nerves with a cigarette.
He likes to refer to himself and Madonna as “we”, although he has fallen out badly with her since Life With My Sister Madonna was published in English this summer. The book has recently been published in German.
In a family of eight in Rochester, Michigan, Christopher Ciccone was 27 months younger and closest in age to Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone.
Together, they managed to break out of the tightly knit family, and in the early 1980s they lived together in a derelict apartment in New York City. Their lives revolved around the Manhattan dance club scene, and they mingled with film stars such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Demi Moore and Sean Penn.
Ciccone witnessed his sister’s rise from their modest home to her current status as a legend of the music industry – the queen of pop.
He was her personal assistant, a backup dancer in her act, her decorator, her art and concert tour director. He helped her change clothes between numbers and wiped the sweat from her body. Madonna is known for her lack of inhibition, but Ciccone has written that in private she is too shy and prudish to appear naked in front of a stranger.
But his tales get far more scandalous, and the book has even been cited in recent reports about Madonna’s split from Guy Ritchie, which had been rumoured for months, and was recently announced by the couple.
However, genuine secrets aren’t to be found within the pages of the book. Her reputation as a control freak, leaving nothing in her career to chance, is already well documented.
Madonna acknowledged Ciccone’s loyal services poorly, her brother wro te . For example, she outed him as gay in an interview with a British newspaper in 1991 without consulting him about it first, and she failed to compensate him financially for his work in helping her sell millions of albums.
Ciccone writes that she committed a sacrilege in the 1991 documentary film In Bed With Madonna, when she frolicked on their mother’s grave.
He said there’s nothing sacred to Madonna, not even the memory of their mother, who died when Madonna was five years old .
Ciccone has described Madonna as self-centred.
“The focus of her world is her. You don’t get to where she is and stay there for 20 years by focusing on other people,” he said.
His comments don’t sound bitter. Ciccone said he didn’t want to hurt anyone by writing the book, just rediscover himself.
Somewhere between all the partying with famous people, the screaming fans and his dedication to his sister’s career, he lost his own identity.
“I have no regrets about our life together. It’s been a bumpy road, and it has been very high and very low, but it is a life I have gotten used to. It makes me what I am,” Ciccone said.
He recognises that for the rest of his life he will be the brother of Madonna. After years of therapy and the publication of the book, he’s come to terms with it.
He’s also convinced that one day he’ll reconcile with his sister, but this time he has a condition.
“The first requirement I have is: She has to read the book. She needs to know my perspective.”
Via dispatch.co.za
Fergie's diet plans have been put on hold because she has to return to the set of new movie Nine to shoot extra scenes in December (08).
The pop star was hoping to lose the 13 pounds (5.8 kilograms) she piled on for her role of Saraghina in the movie musical over Thanksgiving at the end of November (080, but she has been told to keep her shapely figure for another few weeks.
She says, "I have three more days left of shooting in December, but it's for the finale and I'm a little more covered up... so I've started to try get back my muscle tone... I'm not trying to do as much cardio because I still want to keep on a little bit of the weight for my shooting in December."
And Fergie admits she had no reservation packing on the pounds - and had fun preparing for her new film role.
She adds, "They just asked me, 'Can you gain weight?' because the role really calls for it and when I'm amongst actors of this calibre, I'm not gonna be so vain as to not completely dive into the role. I had a great time doing it.
"To gain weight, I just completely stopped working out... and ate anything and everything I wanted."
Via contactmusic.com
Actress Winona Ryder was admitted to a west London hospital after being taken ill on a flight to Heathrow.
The 37-year-old was met by medics at Heathrow after being taken off the flight from Los Angeles.
A British Airways spokesman said the captain of the flight had requested a priority landing after she became ill.
Ryder, the star of movies such as Girl, Interrupted and Edward Scissorhands, was admitted to hospital in the morning and discharged a few hours later.
A spokesman for British Airways said: "The captain of BA282, which was travelling from LA to Heathrow, requested a priority landing as a female passenger required medical attention.
"The passenger was taken to a local hospital for treatment. The plane touched down shortly before noon UK time."
BA also said crew had looked after her as much as they could before the plane landed, and passenger service staff had gone with her to hospital.
Ryder will appear alongside Simon Pegg and Eric Bana in the forthcoming Star Trek film.
Via bbc.co.uk
Carla Bruni's new album shot to the top of the charts in France but anyone looking for clues about her love life with her husband, French President Nicholas Sarkozy, won't have any luck.
"They are only songs. It's not so precise about life ... It's not exactly your own real life," Bruni said during an appearance on NBC's Today Show on Wednesday.
Italian-born Bruni, a former supermodel-turned-pop singer who wed Sarkozy in February after a whirlwind romance, released her third album, "Comme si de rien n'etait" (As if nothing had happened), in July.
She performed live on the morning news show as part of a tour to promote the album. Some of its lyrics have caused a stir and prompted a search for hints about past love affairs with intellectuals and rock stars, including Mick Jagger and Eric Clapton, and her marriage to Sarkozy.
One song with the lyrics "You are my drug, more lethal than heroin from Afghanistan, more dangerous than Colombian cocaine," prompted Colombia's government to criticize the song as "hurtful."
Bruni discouraged close analysis of the songs, describing them as simple folk songs that "you play just sitting in your living room ... by the fireplace."
Bruni, who has two earlier albums, admitted to some apprehension about releasing the album after becoming France's first lady.
"At the beginning, I got worried that people might take it wrong, because they are not used to it. Usually first ladies have been supporting their husbands," Bruni explained.
"I thought that maybe for a woman nowadays, you know, it's important to have a job and to keep it," she added.
Bruni said France was enthusiastic about the election of Barack Obama and she is looking forward to meeting his wife Michelle
"She looks like she's a great, strong intelligent woman," she said.
Via reuters.com
John Sergeant dramatically quit Strictly Come Dancing saying the joke was wearing thin.
The 64-year-old former BBC political correspondent brushed off suggestions he had been bullied and said he left to avoid a "bloody battle". He said there was a real danger he might win and told a press conference at BBC Television Centre in London: "That is a frightening thought, it is a terrifying thought.
"I didn't want that to happen because it would have been a very bittersweet victory." Falling back on his years of political election reporting, he added: "The problem was there was no viable Stop Sergeant candidate."
Sergeant, who has come under fire from judges for his clumsy footwork, said: "I decide to choose my own battles. What I did not want was a bloody battle." But he added he was very grateful to everyone who had voted for him over the last few weeks.
Viewers' love for Sergeant has kept him in the popular BBC1 show - despite him coming bottom of the score table three weeks in a row with dance partner Kristina Rihanoff.
BBC1 controller Jay Hunt announced that anyone who had voted for Sergeant and wanted to be reimbursed would be. The BBC's website has been flooded with comments from "strictly incensed" viewers angry at his departure.
Business Secretary Lord Mandelson added his voice of support. He said: "John Sergeant should not bow out. He has become the people's John Travolta and he should be a fighter, not a quitter."
Sergeant will end his dancing career with a last waltz on Saturday, saying after that: "I shall return to my rather quiet life."
He was grilled by Newsnight heavyweight Jeremy Paxman among others over the reasons for his departure. In front of a glitzy backdrop, Sergeant defended his move to quit the show.
He said: "The reasons for leaving; well it is like when do you leave a party? You leave before the fighting starts and I think that is what has happened on this occasion."
Via pressassociation
The former escort who helped bring down New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer tells People magazine that she is sorriest about the pain felt by his wife.
Ashley Dupre, in an interview in the issue to be published Friday, said that her encounter with the man she knew as "Client No. 9" and "George Fox" was "strictly business." She said she only learned who her client was when she watched him on television announcing his resignation -- and she was only watching because her mother had called about it.
What hit her when she saw Spitzer on television was his wife, Silda.
"I try not to revisit that place too often, but when I think about his speech, I think of her face, her eyes, the hurt," she said.
Dupre was working for the Emperors Club VIP, servicing clients who paid thousands of dollars for her company. She said that she told her mother how she was making a living after the FBI informed her that one of her clients was under investigation.
She said her mother found the news "extremely painful" but did not get mad at her.
Via upi.com
Miley Cyrus Dead? Nope, Just Another Internet Death Hoax
martes, 18 de noviembre de 2008 | Etiquetas: Hannah Montana, Miley Cyrus
The 'Hannah Montana' star was falsely reported to have been killed by a drunk driver.
Like the rumors about Mark Twain, reports of Miley Cyrus' death have been greatly exaggerated.
The "Hannah Montana" star is alive and kicking despite an Internet hoax over the weekend that claimed she had been killed by a drunk driver, report news sources.
Someone had apparently hacked into the YouTube account Cyrus, 15, shares with her friend Mandy Jiroux and posted a video alleging the tragic and grisly death. The fake message attributed to Jiroux claimed: "Miley died this morning after being hit by a drunk driver. She always told us if anything ever happened to her then tell her loyal fans first before the public. R.I.P Miley, we'll never forget you!"
This caused a frenzy on Google with "Miley Cyrus Dead" becoming the most searched phrase on Sunday (Nov. 16).
The real Jiroux caught wind of the false rumor and smacked it down with a message on her MySpace page, saying, "MILEY IS OK!! Some1 hacked our youtube account."
And although the vampires in "Twilight" have made dead folk all the rage among the teen and tween set, Cyrus' fans will be happy to hear she was looking in the pink while conducting interviews on Sunday for "Bolt," a Disney animated film for which she lends her voice.
Young, impressionable minds that need even more proof that she's alive can check out her special performance on the season finale of "Dancing With the Stars" on Tuesday, Nov. 25.
Via zap2it.com
Britney Spears, who suffered a very public breakdown earlier this year after which she lost custody of her two sons, has re-emerged recently with a new, clean image after getting her personal life back on track. While the move is great for her career, she is terribly unhappy, she says.
The ‘Womanizer’ singer suffered a public breakdown earlier this year resulting in her father Jamie becoming co-conservator of her estate, but has recently impressed fans with her new image after getting her personal life back on track.
The 26-year-old singer, however, has revealed she is still very unhappy and says having her life controlled by other people means every day is “like Groundhog day”.
Britney said: “There’s no excitement, there’s no passion. I have really good days, and then I have bad days. Even when you go to jail you know there’s the time when you’re going to get out. But in this situation, it’s never ending. It’s just like ‘Groundhog Day’ every day.”
The star – whose new album ‘Circus’ is set to be released on December 2, her 27th birthday – believes she is still being made to “pay” for her meltdown, and thinks no-one is interested in how she wants to live her life. She revealed on the upcoming TV show ‘Britney: For The Record’: “I don’t think it’s out of control, I think it’s too in control. If I wasn’t under the restraints I’m under, I’d feel so liberated. When I tell them the way I feel, it’s like they hear but they’re really not listening. If you do something wrong in your work, you can move on, but I’m having to pay for a long time. I never wanted to become one of those prisoner people. I always wanted to feel free.”
It has been suggested part of Britney’s angst is being caused by Jamie, who is desperate to prove to the world his daughter is back on form and that he has masterminded her comeback.
Via welt.de
Nicola McLean gets her boobs out on I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here!
| Etiquetas: I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here
Nicola McLean isn't at all shy and stripped off in the I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! jungle yesterday.
The page 3 model seems to be willing to do anything to raise her profile and put on a tiny polka dot bikini as she went for a cool down in the stream.
Simon Webbe might have vowed to remain faithful to his X Factor singer girlfriend Layla but even he will have to look at Nicola's breasts sometime.
She will no doubt be using every opportunity to gain more male fans - at home and in the camp.
A source told The Sun: "Our eyebrows were raised when Nicola stripped off. She's extremely canny and has made it no secret that she's desperate to win.
"You can't blame a girl for trying!"
The public have voted for Nicola to face the first bushtucker trial against Joe Swash so she'll have to perform well if she wants her team to eat tonight.
Joe is the favourite to win the Ice Scream Van challenge as Nicola is scared of creepy crawlies so will struggle to eat the icecream with insect toppings.
Via myparkmag.co.uk
Actress Freida Pinto is starring in a new film - and everybody is asking about it.
Sexy British actress Freida Pinto stars in a new movie called 'Slumdog Millionaire', a flick that is expected to be released before the year 2009.
Freida, a gorgeous brunette who stars the lead female role in the new film, is hot actor Danny Boyle's ''Slumdog' love interest.
Go here for photos of Freida Pinto.
Via postchronicle.com
Strictly Come Dancing judge Arlene Phillips unleashed a fresh attack on contestant John Sergeant, claiming that instead of rehearsing he "sits and reads the Guardian".
Veteran broadcaster Sergeant, 64, came bottom of the score table for the third week in a row with dance partner Kristina Rihanoff but the pair were again saved by the public vote.
Phillips, who has been a fierce critic of Sergeant's performances, told the BBC: "There is nothing that is correct about his performance.
"His posture's wrong, his feet are turned in, he hasn't got the rise and fall, his head's on one side.
"In terms of dance everything is wrong with it.
"When the performers and celebrities put hours in the studio they are constantly working. They do not sit down, and I know with John he sits and reads the Guardian.
"I think a lot of the time he and his partner spend fooling around.
"We've never had anyone this bad who has gone this far. It is a little bit disheartening when the public are voting for a non-dancing Mickey Rooney."
A string of groups have been set up on social networking website Facebook in support of Sergeant, who is as low as 16-1 with some bookmakers to win the competition, but Phillips, 64, told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: "I personally would like to see him off the show. I would be desolate if he won."
Actress Cherie Lunghi became the ninth celebrity to leave the show, even as the judges praised her "breakthrough" performance.
Via pressassociation
Madonna Warns Britney Spears Off Marriage
lunes, 17 de noviembre de 2008 | Etiquetas: Britney Spears, Madonna
Madonna has reportedly been dishing out advice on men and marriage to her biggest fan Britney Spears.
The pop princess - whose relationship history makes Jennifer Aniston's love life look successful - was apparently eager to hear Madonna's thoughts on the subject.
A source tells AbsoluteNow.com, "Britney asked Madonna if she will ever marry again after her split from Guy.
"Madonna not only said she wouldn't but told Britney to forget about marriage. She said it just doesn't work for girls like them.
"Madonna clearly sees a lot of herself in Britney because she seems very eager to help her."
Mmm, we're not sure whether soon-to-be divorced Madge is best person to be taking relationship advice from right now.
Via entertainmentwise.com
Plans for Britney Spears to play the Virgin Mary in upcoming comedy Sweet Baby Jesus have apparently been put on hold due to a family row.
The singer pulled out after being put under pressure by her family over the part, reports WENN.
Producer Philippe Rebboah said: "Britney read the script and liked it. She really wanted to play the role of Mary. But people were against it and she was pressured.
"Then she ran into trouble with her family so we decided the timing wasn't right," he said. The decision comes after the 26-year-old cancelled plans to duet with Madonna on November 26.
Via digitalspy.co.uk
A busboy is suing Justin Timberlake, saying the pop star's Manhattan barbecue joint didn't pay him a legal wage.
Felipe Ramales, 26, said in a federal lawsuit filed Friday that he worked for Timberlake's Southern Comfort restaurant for about a year before he left in June.
The suit said Ramales and other staffers didn't get their proper share of a gratuity charge that the Upper East Side restaurant automatically collected from parties with six or more diners. Ramales, of the Bronx, also said he worked more than 40 hours per week without getting overtime.
A manager at the restaurant, Chris Russell, called the lawsuit baseless. He said staff members received every dime of their tips, and busboys were paid well over the legal minimum wage.
Publicists for Timberlake did not immediately respond to e-mail messages Friday night. The lawsuit also names two other partners in the restaurant; Russell said he couldn't immediately provide phone numbers for them.
Lawsuits alleging similar labor law violations have been filed against several other New York City restaurants in recent years.
Timberlake, 27, became a star as part of the boy band 'N Sync and has since become a best-selling solo artist. He also has appeared in the films "Alpha Dog" and "Black Snake Moan" and voiced a character in "Shrek the Third."
Via associatedpress
Kanye West denies assaulting a photographer in a "bogus" incident outside a Newcastle, England, bar that led to the rapper's second paparazzi-related arrest.
"When I left the club," he writes in his blog, "I was encountered by a thirsty paparazzi as usual. He felt he had more rights to my space than me, so I put my hand up to prevent him from taking my image. I didn't assault him."
The hip-hop star, 31, who is currently performing in the U.K. as part of his Glow in the Dark tour, goes on to say, "I guess in all the commotion the camera scraped his nose."
Three hours later, West states, five "very cordial" police officers arrived a his hotel room and explained that they had to arrest him because a complaint had been filed.
"That was the bogus part," he says. "They placed me in handcuffs and drove me to the station. They spoke about how this was obviously a publicity stunt by the photographer but they still had to go through the motions."
Although arrested on suspicion of assault and detained, West was released without charge. He says, however, that his reputation has taken a hit.
"Sure enough the next morning, plastered across every media outlet... Kanye Gets Arrested. It didn't matter that I wasn't charged or that I hadn't assaulted anyone," he laments. "All that mattered was that I was arrested."
In the blog post, he also calls for strict laws to crack down on shutterbugs whose practices he deems intrusive.
"When will there be a law passed that simply enforces that someone has to ask to have a photograph of you?" he wonders. "That would seem like common courtesy. Right now the paps are above the law and the people they shoot are below it."
This run-in with the authorities marked West's second arrest this year, following a similar incident in September at Los Angeles International Airport, for which he was accused of damaging a photographer's camera. He has not been charged in that alleged altercation.
Via people.com
Paul McCartney And The New 40-Year-Old Beatles Song: Carnival of Light
| Etiquetas: Beatles, Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney has revealed that he wishes to treat fans to a never-before released Beatles track called “Carnival of Light” which the Fab Four deemed too adventurous at the time of its inception, in 1967.
The 14-minute track was recorded in 1967 with the four Beatles, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr experimenting what they could do with their instruments and voices. McCartney’s indication at the time had been for them to “just wander round all of the stuff and bang it, shout, play it.”
Titled “Carnival of Light,” it was recorded for an electronic music festival, McCartney told BBC Radio 4’s Front Row in an interview that is to be broadcast later this week. The musician had asked his bandmates to be “indulgent” for ten minutes during a recording session at Abbey Road Studios.
The final product was deemed too adventurous by the other three members and thus it was never released. It was played only once at an electronic music festival in London.
McCartney, 66, said he was fond of the song and that he felt the time had come for it to fulfill its fate – that is be available for listening.
It was inspired by experimental composers John Cage and Karlheinz Stockhausen, the veteran artists said and it shows The Beatles “free” and “going off piste.”
One detail that McCartney must settle first though is obtaining permission from surviving member Ringo Starr and the widows of John Lennon and George Harrison, who all manage the band’s estate.
“Carnival of Light” is said to include distorted guitar and organ sounds as well as random shouts from the members such as “Barcelona!” and “Are you alright?”
Paul McCartney also helped complete The Beatles’ legacy earlier this year when he performed in Tel Aviv, Israel. The concert, titled “Friendship First,” gathered some 50,000 fans and was a rewriting of history, as The Beatles were once scheduled to perform in the country in 1965 but were ultimately denied this possibility by the government. He refused to cancel his September concert in Israel, despite threats from Islamic militants.
Another historical event was last month’s announcement that a video game in the vein of “Rock Band” would be released in 2009 featuring songs from The Beatles’ catalog. The game is to be conceived by Apple Corps, the company handling The Beatles’ music catalog, game developer Harmonix and publisher MTV Games.
Surviving Beatles McCartney and Starr, as well as Yoko Ono and Olivia Harrison, have all given their blessing to the project and will be active in its creation. Giles Martin, son of the Beatles’ producer George Martin will serve as the project’s music producer.
Via efluxmedia.com
