A sexy string quartet and breakdance troupe complete the line-up of tonight's Britain's Got Talent grand final.
Escala were the favourites to win last night's semifinal and they didn't disappoint the judges.
Piers Morgan said their version of Wings' Live and Let Die as "the best performance of the week".
But breakdancers Nemisis were the judges' choice beating off impressionist and singer Craig Harper.
With Piers voting for the dancers and Amanda Holden for Craig, it was left to Simon Cowell to decide and he picked the urban dancers.
Other losers included sexy dance teams Caburlesqu and Diva Las Vegas.
Singing duo Per Diem and vocalist Madonna Decena didn't make the grade and Simon pleaded with people not to vote for dancing housewife Anya Sparks.
In the final are Escala, Nemisis, bookies' favourite Faryl Smith, Andrew Muir and Andrew Johnson, breakdancer George Sampson, plus martial artists Strike, The Cheeky Monkeys, Signature and Gin the dog with Kate.
Via mirror.co.uk
Nemisis and Escala through to Britain's Got Talent final
sábado, 31 de mayo de 2008 | Etiquetas: News
Lindsay Lohan's mom, Dina, is setting the record straight with regards to reports the 'Mean Girls' star is planning to wed her openly gay gal pal Samantha Ronson.
"If she's happy, I'm happy," Dina says. "That's all I'll say.
"Samantha's great. I've known her and her family for ten years."
And regarding the blog her ex-husband, Michael Lohan, writes about her new E! reality TV show, Dina says, "My husband writes a blog for [OK! magazine]--not you, ok!--about my show! I know he's my kids' dad. They can talk to him whenever they want, I don't stop them. I just want him to be respectful. It's all about respect. You give respect, you get respect."
And addressing reports Lohan, 21, spent 2 hours in an L.A. hospital with Ronson, Dina explains, "She has Ashthma. She's been flying around the world for five days. She was in Cannes. The temperature changes affect her breathing.
"I just talked to her. She's great," Dina tells OK! magazine. "She wanted me to fly out but I have four kids. My 11-year old son just made the New York State Soccer Team."
And explaining why she's allowing the TV cameras into her home for the reality show, Dina says, "I'm just trying to help my kids.
"I don't want to hang out with 21-year old kids. I don't even want to go out with the PTA moms once a week--even though they do ask me."
Via showbizspy.com
Amy Winehouse showed up late for her first concert since leaving rehab, giving an underwhelming performance in front of 90,000 people Friday at a Lisbon music festival.
The Grammy-winning jazz-pop diva turned up almost an hour late for the outdoor show. She apologized for having a sore throat, and her voice cracked during the 55-minute set.
Winehouse, wearing a short dress, appeared distracted during her performance. She paused to talk to members of her band, fiddled at length with her microphone, sucked throat candy and at one point dashed offstage but quickly returned.
She had cuts on her left arm, and her right hand was bandaged.
Winehouse's musical career has flourished despite her erratic behavior, missed concerts and stints in drug rehab.
"Hey Lisbon," Winehouse told the crowd, which had booed when she failed to show up on time. "I'm sorry I'm late," she said.
The sell-out crowd, gathered in a park for the Rock in Rio festival, warmed to Winehouse as the 24-year-old sang hits including her breakthrough song "Rehab," soul classics and reggae songs.
The crowd wasn't thoroughly thrilled, though, and she walked off stage without playing an encore. The crowd remained subdued.
Winehouse was the third act of the day on the festival's main stage, coming on before headliner Lenny Kravitz.
Winehouse's management told the festival organizers she would not speak to the media.
The singer is booked to play at a series of music festivals in Europe this summer. She said she is set to perform next month at a concert in London honoring Nelson Mandela.
Last week she won an Ivor Novello award, a prestigious British prize, for "Love Is a Losing Game" from her "Back to Black" album. Her father received the prize after Winehouse arrived late to the ceremony.
Earlier this month, the singer was arrested and questioned by police about video footage that appeared to show her inhaling fumes from a crack pipe. Authorities said the singer would not be charged.
Last year she canceled a series of British concerts and postponed a tour of the U.S. and Canada after British media reported that she was in and out of rehab.
Via associatedpress
Hollywood actor Charlie Sheen has married his third wife, real estate investor Brooke Mueller, in a private ceremony in Los Angeles, US media reported Saturday.
"They're well matched and incredibly happy," a friend of the couple told People magazine, which said the ceremony took place on Friday night in front of about 60 close friends and family.
Sheen stars in the hit US comedy "Two and a Half Men" but first made his name in the 1980s with roles in Oliver Stone's Oscar-winning Vietnam war film "Platoon" and the baseball spoof "Major League."
The 42-year-old divorced from his second wife, Bond girl Denise Richards, after an acrimonious split in 2006. The couple have two daughters together.
Sheen is the son of "West Wing" and "Apocalypse Now" star Martin Sheen and the brother of actor Emilio Esteves.
Via afp
Forbes Magazine Released Top 20 Hottest Young Royals List
viernes, 30 de mayo de 2008 | Etiquetas: News, Prince Harry, Prince William
Forbes Magazine released their "Top 20 Hottest Young Royals" list on Friday as Prince William of England topping the list.
Prince William, the heir to the United Kingdom throne, is followed by his younger brother Prince Harry and two cousins Zara Phillips and Princess Beatrice as representatives of the House of Windsor.
Phillips, a masterful equestrienne and daughter of Princess Anne, and Beatrice, the daughter of the Duke of York and Sarah "Fergie" Ferguson, are the only granddaughters of Queen Elizabeth II.
Charlotte Casiraghi of Monaco rounded out the top five. Casiraghi is fourth in line for the throne of Monaco. Her brother Andrea makes the Forbes list at No. 10.
The House of Windsor and the Casiraghi family are not the only family to have multiple members on the Forbes list.
Sheik Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum and sister Sheika Maitha bint Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum of Dubai are listed No. 6 and No. 17, respectively.
Princess Victoria, Prince Carl Philip and Princess Madeline, the three children of King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, are No. 7, No. 9 and No. 12.
Princess Theodora and Prince Phillippos of Greece and Denmark are No. 13 and No. 19, respectively.
Prince Azim of Brunei (No. 8), Prince Albert von Thurn und Taxis of Germany (No. 11), Prince Wenzeslaus of Liechtenstein (No. 14), Princess Tsuguko of Japan (No. 15), Princess Sirivannavari of Thailand (No. 16) and Princess Sikhanyiso of Swaziland (No. 20) round out the list.
The list of the "Top 20 Hottest Young Royals" is only composed by bachelors and bachelorettes of royalty under the age of 35. The 20 featured on the list represent almost $60 billion in wealth and 15 royal lineages from around the world.
Via transworldnews.com
Contrary to a flurry of recent reports that Angelina Jolie has delivered her twins, People confirms that the rumors are not true.
"Angelina has not given birth. She is fine, enjoying her home and her family in France," a rep for the actress tells People.
Jolie and Brad Pitt recently signed a long-term lease for a chateau on the French Riviera. The 32-year-old – already mom to to Maddox, 6; Pax, 4; Zahara, 3; and Shiloh, 2 – also revealed to reporters at the Cannes International Film Festival that she was considering giving birth in France – and that French is the "second language" in the family's home.
Via people.com
Ashlee Simpson confirms she is pregnant
jueves, 29 de mayo de 2008 | Etiquetas: Ashlee Simpson, Pete Wentz
Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz have confirmed they are expecting their first child. The couple – who married at Ashlee’s parents’ Los Angeles house on May 17 – wanted to wait until Ashlee had safely gone past her first trimester, three months, before announcing the happy news.
They wrote on Pete’s website friendsorenemies.com: “While many have speculated about this, we wanted to wait until after the first trimester to officially confirm we are expecting our first child. “This is truly the most joyous time in our lives and we are excited to share the happy news and start our family.” Meanwhile, Ashlee is set to officially change her surname in honor of her new husband. The 23-year-old singer will be known to family and friends as Ashlee Wentz and professionally as Ashlee Simpson-Wentz. She said: “I think it's something a woman should do when they're marrying a man. It's a tradition, and I think it’s a great tradition”.
Fall Out Boy rocker Pete, 28, insists he would never pressurise Ashlee to change her name, but was thrilled with the decision. He told People magazine: “These decisions with Ashlee and her name are all completely up to Ashlee. I want her to do these kinds of things the way she wants to do them. “But I was flattered. I was like, ‘Upgrade me!’ You know what I'm saying? The Wentz family, our Christmas card just got upgraded! It feels insane. It feels unreal.” The couple’s baby is expected this autumn.
Via welt.de
Life is not a bed of roses. In fact, it has lots of thorns. Actor George Clooney and his girlfriend Sarah Larson may look wonderful together but all is not as good as it looks from the outset. Now, the news is spreading like wildfire that they have split.
It is reported that 47-year-old Clooney has parted ways with 29-year-old model Larson after dating for a year. Sources said that Clooney could not ditch Larson as he thinks she is sweet. It added that separation was inevitable, as they had little in common.
Now, Sarah Larson is single again. Are guys listening!
Via oneindia.in
'Indiana Jones' star Harrison Ford is reported to be planning to marry long-term girlfriend Calista Flockhart in a low-key ceremony this summer.
The couple met at the Golden Globe awards in 2002 and have been dating ever since. The marriage, should it go-ahead, will be Ford's third.
Flockhart has not previously wed, though she has a son named Liam whom she adopted in 2001.
According to the National Enquirer, 65-year-old Ford was reportedly reluctant to wed again following his divorces, but has finally decided to wed the 43-year-old former 'Ally McBeal' star.
A source told the tabloid: "He said he'd marry Calista as soon as he's finished with the promotional work for the new 'Indiana Jones' movie - and Calista is holding him to his promise."
Via rte.ie
American actress and former fashion model Sharon Stone apologized for her remarks over China’s bad karma regarding the devastating 7.9 earthquake which struck the Asian country causing huge human and material loss.
The 50-year-old, Golden Globe- and Emmy-winning actress said she was "deeply sorry" for suggesting that the devastating tremor hit China as some kind of divine retribution for the way Beijing authorities treated the people living in Tibet.
In a statement released by Christian Dior, who employed Stone to promote its Capture Total skincare range, the world-wide known actress said she will "wholly devote" herself in the relief work she was offered to take part in, in the province worst hit by the quake - Sichuan. Stone has worked in international charities for the past 20 years so she doesn’t lack experience in that field.
"Due to my inappropriate words and acts during the interview, I feel deeply sorry and sad about hurting Chinese people. I am willing to take part in the relief work of China's earthquake, and wholly devote myself to helping affected Chinese people" Stone said in the statement, The Telegraph reported.
Since Stone’s red-carpet comments over China’s bad karma, Chinese authorities along with the country’s cinema big shots complained about the out-of-place assertions. Ng See-Yuen, founder of the UME Cineplex chain and the chairman of the Federation of Hong Kong Filmmakers, labeled Stone’s remarks as very „inappropriate".
Sharon Stone’s films were banned by film distributors in China and Hong Kong.
The fashion label's Chinese headquarters had to apologize to the Chinese customers and has also renounced the actress’ advertisements in the country.
Dior said in a Chinese-written statement that it doesn’t agree with Stone’s “hasty, unreflecting remarks” and it regrets them.
“We absolutely do not support any remark that hurts the Chinese people's feelings," the statement said.
Stone’s remarks were made during this year’s Cannes Film Festival. The interview was posted on YouTube and was viewed 750,000 times so far.
According to an updated death toll of the May 12 earthquake released by Beijing, the powerful tremor killed at least 68,109. Another 23,150 are missing. More than 420,000 homes collapsed. The quake also left approximately 5 million people without home.
Via efluxmedia.com
Pete Doherty buried his kitten by the side of a road on Tuesday night (27.05.08).
The Babyshambles frontman, who recently bought three new cats bringing his total to 10 felines, revealed his pet had passed away as he was travelling to his solo London show at Brixton's Mass club.
Pete, who was seen taking one of his cats to the vet last week, told the crowd: "Sorry I'm late. But considering I've had to bury one of my cats at the roadside I've done pretty well to be here."
Before the 29-year-old rocker arrived at the show, fans were told he was running late because his "kittens had gone crazy".
When Pete arrived, a member of his entourage was seen carrying one of the cats backstage.
Earlier this month, it was claimed Pete had bought several pregnant mice for his pets to feed on and was letting the rodents roam around his London home for the cats to catch.
He recently revealed he realised his drug use was spiralling out of control after he attacked one of his beloved pets.
Pete said: "I got a shovel and was going to kill one of the cats. It was a bit of a crazy time."
The musician was also caught up in a cat controversy last year when it was alleged he had been feeding one of his animals crack cocaine.
Via myparkmag.co.uk
The latest James Bond novel, penned to coincide with what would have been his creator Ian Fleming's 100th birthday, went on sale Wednesday, with fans queuing overnight to secure the first copies.
Scores of people waited in line outside Waterstone's bookstore in Piccadilly, central London, where 200 signed and numbered luxury editions of "Devil May Care" went on sale for 100 pounds each.
The suave British super-spy's 15th adventure in print was written in Fleming's sparse style by Sebastian Faulks, the historical novelist famous for his wartime trilogy "Birdsong", "The Girl at the Lion D'Or" and "Charlotte Gray".
Steve Norris, a 39-year-old housing manager from east London, began queuing at 4:00pm Tuesday and was first in line, saying he had to be there because he had been a Bond fan "ever since I can remember".
He received a round of applause from other queuers after buying copy number seven (007) as theme tunes from the Bond film franchise filled the store, which opened early to accommodate the queues.
Jo James, Waterstone's events and local marketing manager, said they were excited about selling the book.
"We were expecting people to arrive early but we weren't expecting people to arrive overnight," she added.
Internet bookstore amazon.co.uk said the book has already shot to the top of its chart and was its biggest fiction pre-order of the year.
The first handful of copies went from the printers under military escort down the River Thames to Waterstone's on Tuesday, under the watchful eye of the Royal Navy, helicopters and Tuuli Shipster, the model on the jacket cover.
Faulks and members of the Fleming family received the books on board the warship HMS Exeter with the final stage of the journey undertaken in a fleet of Bentley cars.
Details of the plot have been kept a closely-guarded secret but Faulks has so far revealed the action takes place at the height of the Cold War in 1967 and takes Bond to Paris, Rome and the Middle East.
Via afp
Eddie Murphy is set to reprise one of his most famous roles, Axel Foley in 'Beverly Hills Cop'.
Variety reports that film studio Paramount is to make a fourth instalment in the action-comedy series with Murphy attached to star and 'Rush Hour' director Brett Ratner in negotiations to direct.
Paramount hopes to have the film in production next year and in cinemas in the summer of 2010.
The first three 'Beverly Hills Cop' films have grossed $712.9m worldwide.
Via rte.ie
Just when you think the Leona Lewis success express is slowing, she goes and gets herself another gold star beside her name.
After conquering the US, the X Factor winner is now making her mark on video site YouTube with millions of hits.
The promo for her hit single Bleeding Love has entered the site’s top ten most viewed videos of all time.
As if that wasn’t impressive enough, she is also the only British artist to make it anywhere near the top ten.
At the last count, more than 55million people had watched the video for Leona’s No1 single.
She is currently in sixth place but is snapping at the heels of Timbaland featuring one Republic’s Apologise video, which has been eyeballed by 56million.
Also ahead of our Leona is Canadian warbler Avril Lavigne with Girlfriend, which has been viewed more than 85million times, and Rihann’s Don’t Stop The Music, which is the fourth most-watched YouTube clip of all time.
The video that has been viewed the most is Evolution Of Dance, which has clocked up more than 86million hits.
Leona is currently averaging around 150,000 views a day.
But hardcore fans are furious that she appears to have suddenly disappeared from YouTube’s official list.
I’m not one for conspiracy theories but I’ve reported the fault to YouTube bosses and I reckon that she’ll be back to her rightful place in no time.
Via thesun.co.uk
Kirsten Dunst: Rehab was for depression, not drugs
miércoles, 28 de mayo de 2008 | Etiquetas: Kirsten Dunst
Kirsten Dunst has denied reports that her recent stint in rehab was down to tackling substance abuse issues, explaining instead that she was battling depression.
In her first interview since entering Utah's Cirque Lodge treatment centre in February, the actress said she had spent the six months in the run-up to her admission fighting depression and felt she needed help.
The 'Spider-Man' star told E! News: "I didn't go to Cirque Lodge for alcohol abuse or drug abuse. I went there for depression. It was a good six months before I decided to go away.
"I was struggling, and I had the opportunity to go somewhere and take care of myself. I was fortunate to have the resources to do it.
"My friends and family thought it was a good idea, too. But I didn't know where to go. My doctor recommended Cirque Lodge."
Dunst admitted that rumours surrounding her health and personal problems have been painful for her and her family, and haven't aided her in overcoming her difficulties.
She said: "Depression is pretty serious and should not be gossiped about. There's been a lot of misrepresentation about what is going on in my life... (That's) very painful for my friends and family.
"Everyone feels like they have to defend me. They hear the rumours, and it puts them in a defensive position. Now that I'm feeling stronger, I'm prepared to say something."
Via rte.ie
Michelle Ryan's turn as the Bionic Woman has won her top place in a poll of the worst attempts at US accents.
The former EastEnder, 24, starred as Jaime Sommers in last year's remake of the 1970s cult series before it was cancelled because of the US writers' strike.
Eddie Izzard made second place for his role as Wayne Malloy in The Riches.
Anna Friel was next for her performance as Charlotte "Chuck" Charles, who comes back from the dead in Pushing Daisies.
Fourth place went to Hugh Laurie in his Golden Globe-winning role as Dr Gregory House in House.
Lancashire-born Ian McShane is next for his role as Al Swearengen in Deadwood.
The top 10 was completed by Essex-born Sean Maguire in The Class, Minnie Driver in The Riches, Joely Richardson in Nip/Tuck, Louise Lombard in CSI; Crime Scene Investigation, and Dominic West in crime drama The Wire.
Helen Hackworthy, the editor of RadioTimes.com, which carried out the poll, said: "Just as Dick Van Dyke struggled with his English accent in Mary Poppins, so too are some Brits failing to pull off convincing American accents."
Just over 3,000 fans were polled on the Radio Times website.
Via ukpress
Leona Lewis has been spotted wearing a diamond ring, sparking speculation that she is engaged.
The singer was first seen with the sparkler as she left The Late Show With David Letterman in New York last week.
She was also snapped wearing it on a night out in London with fellow X Factor contestant Ashley McKenzie on Saturday.
Lewis has been dating electrician Lou Al-Chamaa, whom she has known for 14 years, since she was 17. The couple live together in Hackney, East London.
She denied reports that they were engaged last November, but previously said they planned to tie the knot in the future.
Via digitalspy.co.uk
Lindsay Lohan, 21, and 30-year-old DJ Ronson - sister of music producer Mark Ronson - were also spotted at one of P. Diddy's infamous boat parties kissing passionately and draped over each other.
According to Britain's Daily Star newspaper, the 'Georgia Rule' star has apparently told friends she wants to have a partnership ceremony with Ronson at Dolly Parton's Dollywood theme park in July.
She is also referring to herself as Lindsay Ronson.
Rumours Lohan and Ronson are more than just friends have been circulating for months. Previously leaked emails from Lohan to Ronson said: "Babe, if I don't have you in my life then I should just go die. I want to marry you."
Reports also suggest that since returning from the world famous film festival, Lohan has moved into Ronson's Los Angeles home.
Via welt.de
Amy Winehouse has been photographed apparently wearing diapers. The British pop wreck has had her moments of late and is furious with the paparazzi but has she resorted to this as a joke or a trick or is it out of necessity? The picture is published and available at the Bild.de website and the headline screams, " Does Amy Winehouse carry diapers now?"
It is an unusual photo that will leave many scratching there heads. A rough translation of the text has this, "When the singer wanted to visit its husband Blake (at) the prison on Monday, a strange 'something" was showing from under her flower dress. The "something" that showed up, "looked suspiciously like a diaper", the publication reports.
The pictures of the Amy Winehouse 'diaper' are online at the website and are here, decide for yourself if it is a prank or something she actually needs. A report last Friday claimed that Winehouse was off to rehab, again. The UK The Sun reported that Winehouse was all set to travel to Israel and undergo a $13,000 operation to help kick her drug habit. She's expected to check into the Barzilai Medical Centre following a request from her people.
Eliezer Cohen, the chairman of the Israel Anti-Drug Authority, said, “She has requested to come to him to do this method, since it's a method that is suitable for her." However, her spokesperson has denied the claim. He told the UK Telegraph, "She’s going back in the studio and has absolutely no plans to go abroad for treatment."
Via nationalledger.com
Sarah Jessica Parker unsure about 'Sex and the City' marriage
| Etiquetas: Sarah Jessica Parker, Sex And The City
Sarah Jessica Parker has let it slip that the new 'Sex and the City' movie might not be for real - literally.
The actress, who plays New York socialite and writer Carrie Bradshaw in the much-anticipated film adaptation of the hit TV series, admits fans of the show might be in for a shock when the truth is revealed.
Refusing to be drawn into talking about a rumoured death in the new film, which opens on Friday, Parker says: "I'm so reluctant to answer that - I am fairly certain there is no death."
But she turned cryptic when asked if her character's marriage, which is alluded to in trailers for the movie, really does take place.
Speaking to Los Angeles DJ Ryan Seacrest, Parker said: "It's very unclear if that's a dream sequence - It looks as if Carrie might be but it's not clear to me, even still, if that was a dream sequence or not.
"I'm trying to be clever and stealth about not giving too much away."
Via iol.ie
Australian diver Matthew Mitcham, 20, is going to Beijing to compete in the Summer Olympics and he is going as an openly gay man. Mitcham revealed his sexuality in an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald.
Mitcham is very talented and has a serious shot at a medal in the 10-meter platform. He won the USA Diving Grand Prix in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., on May 11. He is a former trampoline athlete with a silver piercing in his tongue and a reputation as a free spirit (to make money he would dive from 42 feet up for crowds). It all came together in Ft. Lauderdale.
Mitcham’s story reads like that of a struggling young man who has put his life together with the help of athletics. I know whom I’ll be rooting for in Beijing.
Having a gay Olympic diver is not new, but having an out one is not common. Multi-gold medalist Greg Louganis came out after his Olympic career ended in 1988. American David Pilcher competed while openly gay at Syndey in 2000. In the 2004 Athens Games, Outsports was able to document 11 openly gay and lesbian athletes.
Via outsports.com
Sydney Pollack was remembered by some of the elite actors he directed in films such as "Out of Africa," "Tootsie," and "Absence of Malice," not only for his Academy Award-winning direction, but also for his acting talents.
Pollack, diagnosed with cancer about nine months ago, died Monday afternoon, surrounded by family, at his home in Pacific Palisades in Los Angeles, said his publicist, Leslee Dart. He was 73.
Unlike many other top directors of his era, Pollack was also a film and television actor himself, and he used this unique position to forge a relationship with Hollywood's elite stars and create some of the most successful films of the 1970s and '80s.
"I sort of straddle the line ... between personal movies and mainstream Hollywood," he told The Associated Press in 1993.
In 1970, "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?," about Depression-era marathon dancers, received nine Oscar nominations, including one for Pollack's direction. He was nominated again for best director for 1982's "Tootsie," starring Dustin Hoffman as a cross-dressing actor and Pollack as the exasperated agent who tells him, "I begged you to get some therapy."
As director and producer, he won Academy Awards for the 1986 romantic epic "Out of Africa," starring Robert Redford and Meryl Streep, which captured seven Oscars in all.
Last fall, Pollack played law firm boss Marty Bach opposite George Clooney in "Michael Clayton," which he also co-produced. It received seven Oscar nominations.
"Sydney made the world a little better, movies a little better and even dinner a little better. A tip of the hat to a class act," Clooney said in a statement. "He'll be missed terribly."
Other A-listers Pollack directed include Sally Field and Paul Newman in "Absence of Malice," Nicole Kidman and Sean Penn in "The Interpreter," Robert Mitchum in "The Yakuza," Tom Cruise in "The Firm," and Redford in seven films: "This Property Is Condemned," "Jeremiah Johnson," "Three Days of the Condor," "The Way We Were" with Barbra Streisand, "The Electric Horseman," "Out of Africa" and "Havana."
In later years, Pollack, who stood over six feet tall and had a striking presence on screen, devoted more time to acting, appearing in Woody Allen's "Husbands and Wives," Robert Altman's "The Player," Robert Zemeckis' "Death Becomes Her" and Stanley Kubrick's "Eyes Wide Shut."
On television, Pollack had an occasional recurring role on the NBC sitcom "Will & Grace" playing Will's (Eric McCormack) father, and appeared in the "The Sopranos," "Frasier" and "Mad About You."
His last screen appearance was in "Made of Honor," a romantic comedy currently in theaters, where he played the oft-married father of star Patrick Dempsey's character.
"Most of the great directors that I know of were not actors, so I can't tell you it's a requirement," Pollack said at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2005. "On the other hand, it's an enormous help."
Pollack first met Redford when they acted in 1962's low-budget "War Hunt," and would go on to play a major role in making Redford a star. "It's easy working with Bob; I don't have to be diplomatic with him," Pollack once told The Associated Press. "I know what he can and cannot do; I know all the colors he has. I've always felt he was a character actor in the body of a leading man."
Pollack produced many independent films with the late Anthony Minghella and the production company Mirage Enterprises. His producing credits include "The Talented Mr. Ripley"; "Cold Mountain"; "Sketches of Frank Gehry," a documentary that was the final film directed by Pollack; and the new HBO film "Recount," about the 2000 presidential election.
Sidney Irwin Pollack was born in Lafayette, Ind., to first-generation Russian-Americans. In high school in South Bend, he fell in love with theater, a passion that prompted him to forgo college, move to New York and enroll in the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theater.
Studying under the renowned Sanford Meisner, Pollack spent several years cutting his teeth in various areas of theater, eventually becoming Meisner's assistant.
"We started together in New York and he always excelled at everything he set out to do, his friendships and his humanity as much as his talents," Martin Landau, a longtime close friend and associate in the Actors Studio, said in a statement.
After appearing in a handful of Broadway productions in the 1950s, Pollack turned to directing. He began on TV series such as "Naked City" and "The Fugitive," then moved to film. His first full-length feature was "The Slender Thread," about a suicide help line.
The film was scored by Quincy Jones. "Sydney Pollack's immense talents as a director were only surpassed by the compassion that he carried in his soul for his fellow man," Jones said Monday.
Pollack said in 2005 that for "Tootsie," Hoffman pushed him into playing the agent role, repeatedly sending him roses with a note reading, "Please be my agent. Love, Dorothy." At that point, Pollack hadn't acted in a movie in 20 years — since "The War Hunt" with Redford.
The love soon frayed as Pollack and Hoffman differed over whether the film should lean toward comedy or drama, and the tension spilled into the public arena. But the result was a hit at the box office and received 10 Oscar nominations, with Jessica Lange winning for best supporting actress.
"Stars are like thoroughbreds," Pollack once told The New York Times. "Yes, it's a little more dangerous with them. They are more temperamental. You have to be careful because you can be thrown. But when they do what they do best — whatever it is that's made them a star — it's really exciting."
Pollack is survived by his wife, Claire; two daughters, Rebecca and Rachel; his brother Bernie; and six grandchildren.
Via associatedpress
Gabrielle Union was seen this weekend hosting at TAO at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas. The reason? Who cares! She looked killer on the carpet!
Union started her career in front of the cameras with several small roles on television shows like "Moesha" and "Sister, Sister" before parlaying that into teen sensation roles in the onslaught of late '90's movies including 10 Things I Hate Aout You and Bring It On.
She's gone onto a respected role in the upcoming Cadillac Records, co-starring Beyonce Knowles and will be starring alongside Eddie Murphy in this summer's Meet Dave. But for those of you who are as yet still unconvinced, watch her striptease scene from the craptacular Cradle 2 The Grave.
Via joblo.com
America's tennis player Ashley Harkleroad poses for Playboy
lunes, 26 de mayo de 2008 | Etiquetas: Ashley Harkleroad
America's Ashley Harkleroad was knocked out of the French Open by Serena Williams on Sunday but stole the headlines from her publicity-conscious compatriot by announcing she has posed for Playboy.
The blonde 22-year-old, who has endured a mediocre career on the women's tour and sits at 61 in the world, revealed she had agreed to the photoshoot while she lay in a hospital bed recovering from surgery to remove a cyst on her ovaries.
Harkleroad, who lost her first round match 6-2, 6-1, believes she is the first tennis player to pose for the magazine and follows American swimmer Amanda Beard in baring all for the cameras.
"I was just lying there in hospital for three weeks, and an offer came to me. I thought about it and it was something that I did. I'm proud of my body," said the Florida native whose pictures will appear in the August edition.
"I stay in shape and try to stay fit. I'm just trying to represent a female athlete and her body. That can be sexy too. It's no big deal."
Williams said she backed Harkleroad's decision to pose for the magazine.
"I do appreciate that magazine. I think Hugh Hefner is a great businessman, and he has a niche that he just did really amazing in," said Williams.
"I'm happy for her if that's what she wanted to do. It takes a lot of courage. And whether I'm courageous enough, I don't know, but it's great for someone to be so courageous and tough."
Via afp
Former wrestler Hulk Hogan and his daughter Brooke were involved in a car crash in Florida on Sunday afternoon.
The star - real name Terry Bollea - and his 20-year-old daughter were travelling across the Bayside Bridge in Clearwater, Florida, when their vehicle was involved in a collision with several other cars.
No one has been reported injured after the smash, which is said to have occurred when Bollea's Mercedes hit the back end of another car, according to TMZ.com
Bollea's son Nick, aged 17, is currently serving an eight month jail sentence after pleading no contest to felony reckless driving following a horrific car crash in Clearwater, Florida, last year which left his friend John Graziano critically injured.
Via iol.ie
Several entertainment news sources have reported that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have acquired a $60 million 1,000-acre estate in the south of France. The joint is apparently called Chateau Miraval, located in a tiny village called Brignol in the Var.
The property allegedly has 35 bedrooms, swimming pool, billiards room, indoor pool, gyms, sauna and jacuzzi and a huge banquet hall, E! reports. The castle is very intimate, with a driveway three miles long. The place is surrounded by forest on all sides and is close to Aix en Provence.
Other celebrities such as Bono, Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis also live in the French Riviera area. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie spotted the estate from the air while house-hunting by helicopter. They asked the previous owner to name his price and agreed with the steep $65 million price tag demanded.
The first rumors about her and Brad Pitt searching for a house in the European country emerged in the early stages of Jolie's pregnancy. The Jolie-Pitts, who have been staying at Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen's Villa Maryland in St Jean Cap Ferrat in the south of France, are said to have chosen France for the location of the birth of their twins, in tribute to Angelina's French-Canadian mother Marcheline Bertrand who died last year.
Asked whether her children would be learning French, Angelina replied that "It's a second language in our home," and her four children, Maddox, 6, Pax, 4, Zahara, 3, and Shiloh, are already catching it.
Via efluxmedia.com
It may have been a love connection for a young pilot and flight attendant, but it caused a ruckus Sunday night in the woods near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Jeffrey Bradford and Adrianna Connor, both 24, ate at a diner before they took a walk, and, as an investigating police officer says they told him, decided to "do it" in the woods.
They weren't discreet enough, though, and people in the neighborhood phoned police to report a naked man and drunken woman. A helicopter with heat-sensing gear located pilot Bradford hiding behind a shed, his only attire flip-flops and a wristwatch.
He's charged with public drunkenness and indecent exposure.
They also arrested the flight attendant. She faces an additional charge of theft because police say she swiped a flashlight. Their company, Pinnacle Airlines, has put both on suspension.
Via wltx.com
More Miley Cyrus Underwear Photos: Can Hannah Montana Survive This?
domingo, 25 de mayo de 2008 | Etiquetas: Hannah Montana, Miley Cyrus
Can Hannah Montana continue to survive the wild behavior and raunchy photos that continue to be leaked on the World Wide Web of an underwear clad Miley Cyrus? It certainly seems like the timing is very strategic for this newest racy pictures leak that show Miley Cyrus in a pair of red panties and pulling up her t-shirt. Her dad Billy Ray Cyrus finally spoke out on her last scandal that emerged from from the Vanity Fair shoot and claimed he was proud of his daughter for the way she was handling her fame.
He believes that the pressures are difficult enough for anyone, let alone a teen girl like Miley Cyrus. While that point is accurate a lot of this seems to be brought on by the Hannah Montana star and her penchant for taking candid MySpace like snaps of her in different poses.
Many have argued that the scandal is noting. They believe this is just a fifteen-year old acting up and acting out and exploring the boundaries of how far she can push it. Some believe she is only doing this to see what she can get away with. Like other fifteen year old gals, she wants to explore and have fun.
And while that assessment is good, Miley and Hannah are a billion dollar industry and with each leaked photo parents are beginning to examine if they should allow their daughters (some as young as five and six years old) should still tune in and watch her show.
Via nationalledger.com
An 18-year-old actor in the forthcoming Harry Potter film was stabbed to death during a fight outside a London bar on Saturday.
Rob Knox, who plays student Marcus Belby in "Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince", due out in November, was killed in a scuffle in the south-eastern suburb of Sidcup.
Police said a 21-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of murder.
The fatal stabbing takes to 14 the number of teenagers violently killed in the British capital this year.
Campaigners and politicians are worried about the spate of teenage killings.
In a statement, Knox's parents Colin and Sally said: "Rob was kind and thoughtful and would always help out others.
"The life and soul of the party, he was very outgoing, loved sports, and would always strike up a conversation with people.
"He was respectful to others and adored by all his family and friends."
Film producers Warner Bros said: "We are all shocked and saddened by this news and at this time our sympathies are with his family."
A man came to the bar in Sidcup armed with two knives and was seen waving one of them around through the window.
A scuffle broke out and Knox and his brother Jamie were reportedly trying to protect each other.
Several others sustained knife wounds.
The brothers' friends Tom Hopkins, 18, and Tarik Ozress, 17, managed to pin the armed man down, wrestling with him for several minutes before police arrived.
Hopkins, who was stabbed in the head, said: "Rob was just trying to help out. He was like that. I grabbed the knife, I didn't know at the time that he had another knife. It was just chaos."
Knox was taken to hospital and pronounced dead.
Friends said there had been a row over a phone last week and believe it could have been a revenge attack.
Via afp
Controversial actress Lindsay Lohan was seen with a new ring on her engagement finger just days after she was spotted getting intimate in public with her DJ friend Samantha Ronson. Lohan was wearing a ring to the Dolce and Gabanna party in Cannes, perezhilton.com reports. Though there are speculations that the relationship might be lesbian, Lohan has vehemently claimed that the two are just good friends.
Ronson has been friends with Lohan for quite some time now and was near her even as Lohan went to rehabilitation thrice last year.
Lohan’s mom Dina believes Ronson is a good influence on Lohan and says that they are just friends.
Via thaindian.com
Russian singer Dima Bilan has won this year’s Eurovision Song Contest in the Serbian capital Belgrade.
Bilan’s ballad Believe, produced by US R&B star Timbaland, gave Russia its first Eurovision win.
Ani Lorak of Ukraine came second, followed by Greece with the pop song Secret Combination by Kalomira.
Britain’s Andy Abraham came joint last with his song Even If, gaining just 14 points, the same as Germany and Poland. The former X Factor contestant only received points from San Marino and Ireland.
The other entries included Latvian pirates, a Finnish heavy rock group, a 75-year-old Croatian rapper and French dance musician Sebastian Tellier, who has worked with Daft Punk and Air.
Bilan is a well-known performer throughout Russia and beyond, being a winner at the country's MTV Awards. He took part in Eurovision in 2006, finishing second.
Via icnetwork.co.uk
Which star of the Disney "High School Musical" franchise is planning a late 2008 wedding?
That would be KayCee Stroh, who accepted a proposal from boyfriend Ben Higginson over the weekend, according to People.
"We shot from 6 p.m. until 6 a.m., and Ben was waiting for me in my trailer," Stroh tells the magazine. "He was waiting for me with a single red rose. Then he took me up to the H Rock, a place at the top of a little mountain that overlooks Salt Lake City, and we watched the sunrise. Then he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him."
The "shooting" Stroh is referring to, of course, is production on "High School Musical 3," a theatrical release now lensing in Utah with original stars Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Monique Coleman, Corbin Bleu and Lucas Grabeel all on board.
Stroh plays Martha Cox, a smart girl with a secret love for hip hop dancing.
The magazine says that the 23-year-old actress met Higginson, a Salt Lake City production company owner, at a concert in 2007. They're planning to officially tie the knot in late 2008.
Via zap2it.com
Girls Aloud’s Nicola Roberts splits from boyfriend after “explosive rows”
| Etiquetas: Nicolas Roberts
Girls Aloud’s Nicola Roberts has reportedly broken up with boyfriend of a year Carl Davies.
A source told the News of the World: “It’s all very upsetting for poor Nicola but she’d be the first to admit things haven’t been great between her and Carl for a while.
“Their relationship has always beenfeisty
"There have been lots of tearful late-night phone calls and now she's decided to call time on it all. The strain of touring has taken its toll and Nicola's made up her mind it's over."
Carl is said to have repeatedly got annoyed over fans asking Nicola for photos or autographs while they were out and urged her to quit the band so she would be out of the public eye.
However, in an interview last year, she make her thoughts on the matter very clear, saying: "Girls Aloud is my life. It’s all I’ve known so I could never leave the band for a man.”
Via fametastik.co.uk
Dick Martin, the comedian who along with Dan Rowan created the zany late-'60s variety show Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In, died Saturday of respiratory complications. He was 86.
Laugh-In, the show that made stars out of Goldie Hawn and Lily Tomlin, was famous for its madcap sensibility, stream-of-consciousness pacing, and catchphrases (most famously, ''Sock it to me!''). Between the dancing girls, absurdist poetry, and satirical skits, Martin and Rowan would banter, with Rowan playing straight man to Martin's eccentric. After the show folded in 1973, and his standup partnership with Rowan amicably ended in '77, Martin turned his eye toward TV directing, eventually earning credits on Newhart, In the Heat of the Night, Archie Bunker's Place, and Family Ties.
Via ew.com
Award-winning actress Judi Dench will be honoured by the University of St Andrews next month, it was announced Wednesday.
The Scottish university said Dench, 73, will be made a Doctor of Letters during summer graduations on June 24.
Known for her roles both on stage and on screen, Dench is probably most famous for her portrayal of 'M' in the James Bond films.
She also appeared in the long-running television series 'As Time Goes By' and more recently in the popular BBC drama 'Cranford' .
In 1999, Dench won a Best Supporting Oscar for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth in 'Shakespeare in Love'.
She was made a Dame Commander of the British Empire in 1988 and a Companion of Honour in 2005.
Commenting on her forthcoming degree, Dench said: "I am thrilled to be coming to St Andrews and I am looking forward to it enormously."
Via afp
Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee is set to star in an animated project, providing the voice for the main character.
‘The Life and Times of Jimmy Jaxx’ is an animated half hour which is loosely based on Lee’s own life- a rocker trying to balance life on the rod with his home life. In the short, the character’s tattoos come to life and lead him astray.
"I've always loved the animated world," Lee told Variety. "How fun and kooky is this gonna be, to combine some real-life experiences with some seriously over-the-top humor."
Lee is also listed as a producer on ‘Jaxx’ and gave the writers much material to use in the piece, including a story about when he filled the bathtub up with Cherry Icees and accidentally dyed his children red.
Lee has two sons with ex-wife Pamela Anderson.
Via nme.com
British explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes has abandoned his bid to climb Mount Everest at the age of 64 due to exhaustion.
Fiennes attempted the ascent to the summit despite suffering from heart problems and prostate cancer but he was forced to turn back and began his descent Friday night.
He is best known for his polar expeditions.
Fiennes had last tried the climb in 2005 but suffered a heart attack as he neared the summit and had to be rushed to hospital.
The climb was designed to raise money for the Marie Curie Cancer Care foundation to honour his wife and sister who both died of cancer.
But officials said today that Fiennes had not been able to complete his climb of the South Col route from Nepal used by Sir Edmund Hillary in 1953.
Via canadianpress
The final line-up for Saturday`s grand final of the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest in Belgrade has been decided in a popular vote, with the final 10 contestants advancing from the second semi-final, according to DPA.
Late Thursday, Ukraine, Croatia, Albania, Iceland, Georgia, Denmark, Sweden, Latvia, Turkey and Portugal joined Greece, Romania, Bosnia, Finland, Russia, Israel, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Poland and Norway, who qualified Tuesday in the first semi-final of the mammoth show.
With a record 43 nations taking part, there were two semi-finals for the first time to choose 20 of the final 25 acts in the grand final.
People from the participating countries were able to vote by text message, telephone call or on the internet for their favourite song. They could not vote for their own country.
In line with new rules introduced this year, the "big four" of Great Britain, France, Germany and Spain qualified directly, as did the last year`s winner, now host, Serbia.
The 53rd and biggest-ever Eurovision Song Contest starts at 1900 GMT Saturday evening, with the winner expected to be announced after 2300 GMT.
Via unian.net
Jennifer Aniston and Denise Richards: Star's Best & Worst Beach Bodies
| Etiquetas: Jennifer Aniston, MIchelle Richards
Jennifer Aniston has rally put herself out there of late. The intensely private Hollywood star has been snapped from all angles and more than not she has been in a bikini, either with her new beau John Mayer or hanging with other friends by the pool. Denise Richards is not so private as she is desperately trying to promote her reality TV show and she was snapped in a bikini and critics slammed the results and Star magazine was no exception.
In their bikini beach body issue they ask, "Is Denise waving bye-bye to her hottie status? The ex-Bond Girl, 37, exposed her paunch while shooting her upcoming reality show, Denise Richards: It's Complicated, in Hawaii. What's so complicated? Lay off the Ho Hos and do some sit-ups, or stick with a one-piece." Ouch!
For Jennifer they have nothing but praise and they write, "There's no question that Jen is one of the sexiest celebs to slip into a teeny bikini in ages! Sure, the 39-year-old puts lots of work - and loads of quality sunbathing time - into looking so good. But it's tough to argue with the pulse-racing results!"
Richards has been slammed from all sides for not only those bikini shots, but for her decision to place her kids in that reality TV show. It will be interesting to see how the show pans out.
Via nationalledger.com
Michelle Williams makes 1st public appearence since Ledger's death
| Etiquetas: Heath Ledger, Michelle Williams
Michelle Williams made her first major public appearance since the death of Heath Ledger at the Cannes Film Festival on Thursday.
The former Dawson's Creek actress - who was left devastated by the news her ex-fiance had died after an accidental drug overdose in January - sparkled on the red carpet at the prestigious French event for the premiere of her new film Wendy and Lucy.
A representative for the film said: "It was decided on Monday night she could come to Cannes, and she got on the next plane to arrive just in time to get dressed and come to our premiere. She came in and had a long nap and then came to the screening."
Michelle - who was dressed in a vintage Chanel Haute Couture dress - will fly back to the US at the weekend where she will continue work on her latest movie Shutter Island in Boston.
In her first public statement in February about Heath's tragic death, Michelle - who has a two-year-old daughter Matilda with the actor - expressed her heartache but said her little girl was helping her get through it.
She said: "I am the mother of the most tender-hearted, high-spirited, beautiful little girl who is the spitting image of her father. All that I can cling to is his presence inside her that reveals itself every day."
Heath and Michelle met on the set of Brokeback Mountain in 2004 and Matilda was born in October 2005.
The couple split in September 2007.
Via stuff.co.nz
"Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" star Zhang Ziyi says she's outraged by what she says is ignorance about the recent earthquake in China.
Zhang said in several Chinese-language blog entries over the past week that she has been busy raising money for relief efforts after the deadly quake struck in China's central Sichuan province, which has killed more than 60,000.
But she said she was surprised to find one group she solicited on the sidelines of the Cannes Film Festival in France knew little about the disaster.
"I was as angry as a madwoman. I said, 'Are you idiots? You are well-dressed people who look like you identify with society, but you don't know what's going on on planet Earth.' It's incredible!" Zhang said.
Zhang said she has made a pamphlet about the quake to show foreigners. She said she donated $144,000 and received a pledge of $100,000 from Wendi Deng, the Chinese-born wife of media mogul Rupert Murdoch.
Zhang's other credits include "Memoirs of a Geisha," "Rush Hour 2" and "House of Flying Daggers."
Via associatedpress
Ellen DeGeneres is hosting another set of Republicans on her show next week, and unlike presidential hopeful John McCain... these guests seem more "into" Ellen's wedding plans.
DeGeneres pre-recorded an interview with first lady Barbara Bush and first daughter Jenna Bush-Hager on Thursday and asked the first family if she and Portia DeRossi can use the Bush family ranch in Crawford for their nuptials.
Here's how it went down:
Ellen: So, the ranch was a great place to get married – it looked like nobody could fly over and get pictures or bother you, really.
Jenna: Yeah, that was really nice.
Ellen: So, can we borrow it for our wedding, can we get the ranch?
Jenna: Sure!
Ellen: Okay, great!
I wonder what President Bush would think about that? A big gay wedding at their Crawford ranch?!
That's a sight I'd love to see!
Via gaysocialites.com
Miley Cyrus' Father Speaks Out Over Nude Scandal
viernes, 23 de mayo de 2008 | Etiquetas: Miley Cyrus
Billy Ray Cyrus has praised daughter Miley Cyrus for the way she handled herself during the so-called ‘Vanity Fair nude scandal.’
The country singer says he was impressed with the 15-year-old Hannah Montana star’s "maturity" after her suggestive magazine spread – in which she appeared naked save a strategically placed sheet - sparked a storm of criticism in the U.S. and beyond.
“I can't imagine being her age and going through what she went through,” Billy Ray tells OK!.
“I’m amazed she kept on.”
The protective father reveals that he feared his young daughter waould be unable to cope with all the negative attention.
“I know the business can eat you alive, but I’m a calloused old veteran, and she’s a young, teenage girl,” he says.
“It’s a heck of a storm to survive even with maturity.”
Father and daughter are currently wroking on the upcoming Hannah Montana movie.
Via entertainmentwise.com
Naomi Campbell broke down in tears at her 38th birthday party. The supermodel celebrated the occasion with a VIP party on rapper P. Diddy's yacht in Cannes, France, on Wednesday night (21.05.08).
However, although Naomi appeared to be happy when she arrived, she left the party at 3am looking distraught and tearful. While the reason for her upset is not clear, Naomi and Diddy have a chequered past.
At last year's Grammy Awards after-show party hosted by Jermaine Dupri, the pair had a vicious confrontation. Onlookers claimed the hip-hop mogul started screaming obscenities at her and even shouted at her male companion, 'Iron Man' actor Terrence Howard.
Meanwhile, Campbell caused controversy earlier this week when she took a convicted criminal to a red carpet event at the world famous Film Festival. She was accompanied by Christophe Rocancourt - who conned rich investors out of millions of dollars in a string of scams - to the premiere of Steven Soderbergh's new movie 'Che'.
After admitting three counts of fraud, 41-year-old Rocancourt was sentenced to five years in prison and fined $9 million.
Via chinadaily.com.cn
Coronation Street's Michelle Keegan was stunned to win the Best Newcomer award at the British Soap Awards 2008.
The young actress was shaking as she accepted her gong from Dragon's Den star Duncan Bannatyne.
Michelle said: "I don't even know how it feels at the minute, I'm so taken aback I'm just shaking. It's amazing!
"I had nothing to say. I really didn't think I was going to win. I just thought I'm up for a nomination, which is fantastic in itself, and so I had nothing planned. And so on the walk up I just thought what do I say? And I know I missed lots of people out. But hopefully they'll understand."
The 20-year-old actress looked stunning in a strapless turquoise gown and was delighted to be attending her first soap awards.
She said: "I'm very scared, very nervous but very excited at the same time. I got a friend to help me out with my dress. I needed that or I'd have had nothing to wear.
"To be honest it's been rollercoaster ride for me. I still have to pinch myself every morning because I'm on Coronation Street. But I love it."
Via metro.co.uk
Actor Wesley Snipes was granted bail on Thursday in Ocala, Florida, while he appeals his federal tax convictions and the three-year jail sentence for failing to file tax returns.
U.S. District Judge William Terrell Hodges ruled Thursday that Wesley Snipes could remain free on bail until his pending appeal is settled. Snipes had been ordered the day before to surrender by June 3 in order to begin serving a three-year prison sentence for failing to file income tax returns for 1999, 200 and 2001.
Hodges wrote that he was “dubious” of Snipes’ appeal arguments, reports Reuters, but agreed to grant the 45-year-old a few more days of freedom, noting that there were small chances of him fleeing or posing danger to the community.
Hodges also said Snipes could easily serve his entire sentence before a decision could be reached on his appeal.
In arguments for bail, Snipes’ lawyers wrote their client was “actively engaged in resolving his liabilities with the IRS civilly” and a meeting with the agency had been scheduled for next week.
Snipes had been indicted on federal tax evasion charges. The jury acquitted him on three of the six misdemeanors. He was convicted of three misdemeanor counts of failure to file income taxes and received a maximum three-year prison sentence on April 24.
That same day, Snipes wrote the government $5 million in checks, trying to convince the judge he only deserved home detention and public service announcements.
Prosecutors said the “Blade” trilogy actor had earned more than $38 million since 1999, but had filed no tax returns or paid any taxes. They called Snipes a “notorious” and “inveterate” offender who would set a bad example should he walk away unpunished.
Snipes co-defendants Douglas P. Rosile and Eddie Ray Kahn were convicted of the felony fraud and conspiracy counts that the actor escaped. Each carries up to five years in prison.
Via efluxmedia.com
Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson are hugging and holding hands and putting their faces close together and everything! It's nearly almost practically lesbian kissing, and thus proof that they are girlfriends in that way.
Via gawker.com
The Clothes Show' presenter Louise Redknapp has announced that she is expecting her second child.
The 33-year-old television star said the news came as a shock because she had difficulty conceiving her first child due to a condition called endometriosis.
According to The Mirror, Redknapp said: "It was just absolute shock when I found out. It took me four years to have Charley and so this time, after just a month, it was very unexpected."
"We had talked about having another baby and we kind of expected the same problems as last time."
"When I did the pregnancy test, I nearly fell off the chair. The doctors don't know why it has been so much easier this time - it's just the luck of the draw I guess."
The television presenter is married to former football player and pundit Jamie Redknapp. The couple's son is three-years-of-age.
Via rte.ie
An ulster beauty queen is going to the polls aiming to inflict more election misery on Gordon Brown.
The current Miss Great Britain, Gemma Garrett, is standing in the pivotal Crewe by-election in a bid to become Westminster's most glamourous MP.
She has gone head-to-head with Labour's Tamsin Dunwoody, whose mother, Gwyneth Dunwoody, triggered the by-election with her death at the age of 77.
It's been a bruising and dirty campaign for the two main parties, with Gemma, 26, pledging to "put beauty back into politics" if she wins the vacant seat.
And the buxom Belfast blonde admitted she's also had her feelings hurt in the rough-and-tumble of the political arena.
"I'm exhausted, and everyone from the other parties has been so rude to me," she said from her campaign office in the working-class Cheshire constituency.
"One campaigner for Dunwoody said I was a disgrace to Britain, and asked if I could even spell Britain. If I heard any of my campaign team had been as rude, I'd die.
"The only people who seem to have changed their mind about me and seen that I'm not a joke are the people of Crewe. A lot of them have approached me and said I stand for something really positive."
Her policies focus on improving conditions for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan – but she has been slammed for failing to know major political figures when quizzed by the Press.
Via newsletter.co.uk
Cameron Diaz will appear minus her trademark blonde locks in upcoming movie, My Sister’s Keeper.
But the actress isn’t following in the steps of previous big-screen baldies Natalie Portman and Demi Moore by shaving her head for her ‘art.’
Instead, the 35-year-old was fitted with a bald cap before shooting scenes for the film at Los Angeles' Santa Monica Pier.
The movie - also starring Alec Baldwin - is slated for release next year.
Via entertainmentwise.com
