July 31, 2008

Britney Gives Sam The Boot

Britney Spears returned to LA from Cabo San Lucas on Wednesday, and, as of early Thursday morning, a lot has happened. Jamie Spears will remain Britney's conservator through the end of the year, while the restraining order on Sam Lutfi has been lifted, though Brit no longer wants to see him.


Britney Spears's restraining order against one-time pal Sam Lutfi may have been temporary, but their friendship is permanently over.

The pop star's court-appointed attorney, Samuel D. Ingham III, told the Associated Press that he will not seek to extend the restraining order in court on Thursday – because Spears has cut all ties with Lutfi anyway.

"Britney has made clear to everyone," Ingham said, "that she does not want to be further harassed or contacted in any way by Osama 'Sam' Lutfi, now or at anytime in the future."

Lutfi has been out of Spears's life since February, when her father, Jamie, was granted legal control of her affairs as temporary conservator. (At the time, Britney's mother, Lynne, accused Lutfi of drugging the singer.)

According to Ingham, the restraining order is no longer necessary because Jamie can legally control whom Britney, 26, sees: "During the temporary conservatorship, the conservators have the power to insure that Lutfi will not harm Britney anymore."

Lutfi, it seems, will abide by the Spears family's wishes. He said in his own statement to the AP, "Mr. Lutfi and Mr. Spears have mutually agreed in private that no hearing or order is necessary at this time."

Ingham added that once Britney regains control of her life, she will continue to keep Lutfi out of it. "If Mr. Lutfi makes any future attempt to contact Britney after the temporary conservatorship has concluded," he said, "Britney has made clear she will take all appropriate legal action."

Lawyers for Jamie Spears are expected in court Thursday for a review of the conservatorship.

Source: PEOPLE

McCain Takes Aim At Obama's Star Power


Barack Obama just another Britney Spears or Paris Hilton?

Not John McCain's best shot, says the Democrat's camp after the Republican likened him to the two celebrities in a new commercial.

"On a day when major news organizations across the country are taking Sen. McCain to task for a steady stream of false, negative attacks, his campaign has launched yet another," says Obama spokesman Tommy Vietor. "Or, as some might say, 'Oops! He did it again.'"

Counter's McCain campaign strategist Steve Schmidt: "It's beyond dispute that [Obama] has become the biggest celebrity in the world. But do the American people really want to elect the biggest celebrity in the world?"

In the ad, images of Spears, Hilton and Obama appear on the screen as a voiceover says, "He's the biggest celebrity in the world. But is he ready to lead?"

McCain's campaign manager says they chose to include Spears and Hilton in the ad because the women's names came up second and third in a search for the top three international celebrities in the world.

Spears' spokesman had no comment, while Hilton's rep could not be reached.

Source: PEOPLE

Obama's camp also had this to say: "Our dependence on foreign oil is one of the greatest challenges we face. In this election the American people have a real choice -- between Obama’s plan to provide tax rebates to American families while creating a renewable energy economy in America that frees us from our dependence on foreign oil, and Senator McCain’s plan to continue the same failed energy policies by handing out nearly $4 billion in tax breaks to oil companies while investing almost nothing in the new energy sources that represent our future."

My opinion: You only reach A-list celebrity status by being loved by millions of people around the world. When people care about you and what you think, want to hear about you and talk about you, and when people want to show their support for you and stand by you, you're a celebrity. And, if John McCain thinks that's a bad thing, maybe that's why he isn't one. I mean, you certainly don't see people shouting from the rooftops, "Country First," which is McCain's new slogan. But the world is rejoicing with "Yes We Can," and whether it can be heard from a packed arena, or from a street corner, it comes from the mouths of the people (or the "fans"). And, the people don't just decide who's a celebrity, they decide who's President too. OBAMA 08!

A Very Harry Birthday

Both Harry Potter and JK Rowling celebrate their Birthday today. However, the fans are the one's receiving a very special present: In a press release this morning, Scholastic announced that JK's children's charity, the Children’s High Level Group (CHLG), will be publishing The Tales of Beetle the Bard!

JK said, "There was understandable disappointment among Harry Potter fans when only one copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard was offered to the public last December. I am therefore delighted to announce that, thanks to the generous support of Bloomsbury, Scholastic and Amazon (who bought the handwritten copy at auction) – and with the blessing of the wonderful people who own the other six original books - The Tales of Beedle the Bard will now be widely available to all Harry Potter fans. Royalties will be donated to the Children’s High Level Group, to benefit institutionalised children in desperate need of a voice. The new edition will include the Tales themselves, translated from the original runes by Hermione Granger, and with illustrations by me, but also notes by Professor Albus Dumbledore, which appear by generous permission of the Hogwarts Headmasters’ Archive."

This is brilliant news! Even though I've read summaries of the tales on Amazon.com, and bought the Sotheby's Catalogue, I am so excited to get my hands on a copy of this book! And, I think this calls for another book release party!

Happy Birthday Harry and Jo! Thank you!

Update: You can already pre-order The Tales of Beedle the Bard on Amazon.com, which will be released on December 4, 2008! They are offering a Hardcover Standard Edition for $7.59, and a Collector's Edition (Outer case disguised as a wizarding textbook from the Hogwarts library, and complete with metal skull, corners, and clasp; replica gemstones; and emerald ribbon) for $100.00. Net proceeds from both editions support the Children's High Level Group charity.


July 30, 2008

Half-Blood Prince Teaser Trailer

Warner Bros. Pictures has released a 1 minute and 40 second teaser trailer for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and it's absolutely thrilling!!! It's very dark, and focuses on a young Tom Riddle (pictured below). Click HERE to watch, and enjoy!


HBP hits theaters and IMAX on November 21, and has been chosen to premiere at the 61st Royal Film Performance (a screening attended by members of Britain's Royal Family) on November 17.

I CAN NOT WAIT TO SEE THIS FILM!

Hollywood's Newest Bad Boy

Soon before Shia LaBeouf's latest brush with the law, writer Peter Rubin sat down with the young star to discuss his rise to fame, his partying habits—and his past problems. The full story appears in the September 2008 issue of Details (on newsstands Monday, August 5th), and an extended version of the interview is posted HERE.


Source: Men.Style.com

Update: Click HERE to watch Details' interview with Shia.

July 29, 2008

2008 American Idols Live Tour

On Tuesday, my mom, my sister and I went to see the season 7 American Idol top 10 in concert! And we had, as always, really great seats (7th row from the stage, and 1st row from the catwalk)! Before the show, we met American Idol winner David Cook, Runner-up (and my favorite) David Archuleta, Jason Castro, Brooke White, and Kristy Lee Cook.

David Cook was really sweet. He signed autographs, posed for pictures, and even asked a couple of little girls to sign an autograph for him. David Archuleta was equally as sweet, and so adorable! He laughed and blushed the entire time he signed autographs and talked to fans. You could tell he's genuinely overwhelmed with excitement about the whole 'Idol' experience. I only wish I could have got my picture with him, as that was my goal for the day, but he only had time to sign. Jason Castro was his usual goofy self, and very nice. Brooke and Kristy were nice as well.

The show itself was a lot of fun! The set-list wasn't nearly as good as last years (season 6) show, but my family and I really enjoyed it. Everyone sounded good live, but the showstopping performances belonged to the top 3. Syesha sang an excellent version of Beyonce's "Listen," David Archuleta wowed the crowd with "Angels," "Apologize" and "When You Say You Love Me," and David Cook rocked each-and-every song he sang!

After the show, we talked to David Archuleta, Jason, Brooke, and Kristy again. And, we met Syesha, Carly, and Michael Johns (who became BFF with my sister). David was exceptionally cute the 2nd time around. I told him he had a perfect voice, and he laughed and said "Aw no, it's not perfect. Thanks though, thank you very much." And then my sister told him we loved his laugh, and he said, "Aw, thanks. I hate my laugh, but thanks!"

It was a great day. Here are some of my pictures:

























I'd like to make it to another stop on the tour, but I don't think that's going to happen. Season 7 was a great season of American Idol, and I'm going to miss it.

PS: I love David Archuleta!

July 28, 2008

It's Time To Get Dirty

Yay! My favorite celebrity hairstylist, Jonathan Antin, will be on QVC's "Beauty Newsmakers Face-to-Face" on Tuesday, July 29th at 7pm!


I haven't seen him for so long, and I've been waiting for his return to QVC! Also, I'm so excited to learn more about the ever-growing JONATHAN Product Dirt Collection! ... I have the Texturizing Paste, and it's very rock 'n' roll.

LiLo Is OK


Lindsay Lohan's rep is making roadkill of reports that the trouble-magnet starlet spent some quality time in a New York hospital after getting sideswiped by a motorcycle.

The New York Post and TMZ both claimed that Lohan and constant companion Samantha Ronson were leaving a Gotham club late last night in New York City when she was supposedly flattened. Lohan was reportedly treated at Beth Israel Medical Center and released early this morning.

The Post even quoted Lohan's dad, Michael, as saying, "She's not hurt. That's all I really care about."

But according to publicist Leslie Sloane, there might be another reason the actress isn't hurt, and that's because the reports are bunk. "I spoke to Lindsay," Sloane tells E! News, "and she said nothing happened."

There you go, La Lohan going to a club and nothing happening. Now that's breaking news.

Source: E! Online

I was so surprised, last night, when I read about Shia and Lindsay both being in accidents. It's good news that at least one of the stories was false.

B Spears Viva Mexico


According to (the best website ever) Breatheheavy.com, Britney Spears is currently vacationing in Cabo San Lucas with her security and assistant. How she slipped away from the paps like this, I have no clue. But, at any rate, I hope she's enjoying herself!

And, how's this for a producing lineup: Pharrell Williams, Kanye West and Timbaland are all working with Britney on tracks for her new album! WOW.

Update: Britney looks great!!!

July 27, 2008

Where's Bumblebee When You Need Him?

I was very sad to read that Shia LaBeouf was arrested this morning, booked for a misdemeanor DUI, and released to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Apparently, Shia was trying to make a left turn on a Los Angeles street, around 3 a.m., when an accident happened and his car rolled over. The passenger riding with Shia and the driver of the other car involved in the crash were not seriously hurt, and, according to his rep, "Shia is currently recovering from extensive hand surgery with plans to return to work on the set of Transformers 2 within one month."


I happen to be a big fan of Shia, and I find this situation very disappointing. He's so talented, and he seems like a sweet guy with a good head on his shoulders. So, it sucks to see him involved in something like this. But, he's still young. He'll makes mistakes (in this case, a very stupid one) and he'll learn from them, hopefully. I wish him a very speedy recovery... Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen needs to go into post-production asap! I can't wait to see it!

Update: Sheriff Steve Whitemore has confirmed that Shia was found not at fault for his Sunday car crash, despite being cited for a DUI. “The other car ran a red light and, if not already, they will be cited,” said the Sheriff. “They will now be listed as Party One on the report, indicating they were at fault.”

That boy doesn't always have the best of luck.

Extra, Extra, This Just In

I can't believe I didn't blog about this on Thursday...

Thanks to the best fans in the world (me included), Britney Spears took another step on the comeback trail as her music video for “Piece of Me” grabbed a VMA nomination for Best Female Video! Congrats B!


Update: "Piece of Me" has also been nominated for Best Pop Video!

It's hard to believe, but Britney has never won a moonman. It looks like this may be her year.

July 26, 2008

Cameron's Extra-Sensory Perception


Cameron Diaz was all smiles as she visited Mrs. Grace at West Hollywood’s Psychic Tea Leaf Readings, according to US Weekly. But, psychic or no psychic, it's not hard to see that CD has great things in her future!

¡Felíz cumpleaños!

Jennifer Lopez celebrated her 39th Birthday on Thursday at the Richard Rogers theatre in NYC with husband Marc Anthony. And, I can't think of a better present than a night spent watching In The Heights!

Below is a picture of Jen and Marc backstage with In The Heights creator and star Lin-Manuel Miranda:

July 25, 2008

Stalkarazzi Invaid Miraval


This new article by the Associated Press makes me sick! Seriously, it makes my blood boil.

Here's (most of) the article:

French police say camouflaged paparazzi who managed to get onto the grounds of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's chateau in southern France on Thursday fought with the Hollywood couple's guards. Both the paparazzi and the Jolie-Pitt's head of security confirmed the confrontation but gave widely different versions of events.

Freelance photographer Luc Goursolas said he broke a guard's finger and bit another until he bled, and that they hit him with a walkie-talkie, punched and kicked him, leaving a head wound that required three stitches.

"I was pouring blood. I threw myself at them, put blood all over them, and told them that I had HIV so they would stop hitting me," Goursolas told The Associated Press on Friday.

Tony Webb, head of security at the Miraval estate, said Goursolas went "berserk" without provocation and denied that his guards punched the photographer.

He said Jolie and Pitt may be forced to move if their privacy is not respected, and that the couple feels besieged. He said local police are not taking the problem seriously enough.

"If they get invasion of their privacy like this then they would have no option, and they would have to go somewhere where the laws are upheld a bit better," Webb told the AP.

"It's just not fair, they are in their own property and you've got him (Goursolas) and there could be another dozen out there that we can't find" on the 1,235-acre property, he said. "They are just a couple trying to bring up their young family."

Goursolas said he wasn't on the property but in woods nearby where the guards, on quad bikes, found him. "The forest belongs to everyone," he said, adding that he walked five hours to get there. "I wasn't in their garden."

He said he didn't take any photos. The colleague who was with him, camerawoman Marianne Saint-Arroman, said she didn't take any video. She confirmed they were wearing khaki and camouflage to avoid being seen in the woods. "We weren't going to wear a red sweater," she said.

Webb, however, said the paparazzi were on the property, about 600 yards from the house, on a wooded hill from where Webb suspects that previous shots were taken of Jolie and Pitt in their garden with their children. He said Goursolas had also camouflaged his equipment and that he was "there for a good stay."

Goursolas claimed that Pitt came out to speak to them after the fight. "He told me, 'What you are doing is bad, I am fed up with my private property being violated' ... and then he said, 'If you want war you will get it.'"

Webb said he wasn't on hand at that point but added that he didn't think Pitt said that.

Police spokeswoman Capt. Olivia Poupot said both sides filed legal complaints accusing the other of battery and causing injury. Goursolas said he also filed complaints for illegal detention and arrest.

The police spokeswoman said the injured personnel from the estate got doctors' notes giving them four days off from work, but that the photographers did not. Police took everyone downtown to the nearby village of Carces and took statements. A judge will rule on whether the legal complaints should be pursued further, she said.

"One can imagine that if you discover someone in your garden who is taking your photo then you're not necessarily going to politely show them the way out," she said.

"This kind of thing is really not the type of problem that interests us," she said. "There are, in my opinion, far more important things than paparazzi taking photos of a glamour couple."


Can't people have a little privacy and respect!? Seriously! Leave the Brangelina bunch alone!

And, what also makes me mad is this snotty little comment made by the police spokeswoman: "There are, in my opinion, far more important things than paparazzi taking photos of a glamour couple." Erm, could the "far more important things" include the stalking of underage children on private property? I think that's a problem that should interest you!

LCV Endorses Obama

The League of Conservation Voters, who work to achieve environmental protection, are calling Sen. Barack Obama "a real environmental leader." In an email I received today, the LCV said, "Sen. Barack Obama's proven record and his commitment to a clean, renewable energy future make him the best choice for president. Under Barack Obama's leadership, America will finally achieve the economic growth, environmental protection, and national security that are possible with a new, clean energy economy."

Fringe Benefits

I'm not sure how I feel about the current Minnetonka Moccasin craze started by young hollywood. But, just so you know, ShopIntuition is offering FREE shipping for the Minnetonka Fringed Mid-Calf Boots (as seen on Lauren Conrad and Rachel Bilson) and the Minnetonka Knee-High Lace Up Boots (as seen on Lindsay Lohan).



July 24, 2008

A Country Cover

I read about Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban's concert cover of "Umbrella" in ELLE magazine a few months ago, and I finally got around to looking it up on YouTube. For those of you who haven't seen it, and are interested, here it is:

Lindsay's Getting Ugly, Again

Lindsay Lohan is back on the set of Ugly Betty, which is currently filming in New York City. LiLo will reprise her role as Betty's high school nemesis, Kimberly, and this time she has a new gig: a job at a fast-food restaurant in Queens, "Flushing Burgers."


And, it looks like Linds is having a good time in the Big Apple! Below is a cute picture of Lindsay and Samantha outside the Beatrice Inn where they spent time with Lindsay's brother Michael and his girlfriend Nina:


If they are dating, they sure do make a cute couple.

You Can't Stop The Beat


A sequel to the movie version of Hairspray is in the works, with a projected release date of summer 2010, according to Variety. New Line Cinema has made a deal with Hairspray creator John Waters to write a treatment, and the Tony-winning team of Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman are reportedly on board to write new songs for the sequel.

On a separate note, but still musical related, three of my favorite Broadway stars, Cheyenne Jackson, Anthony Rapp, and Johnny Gallagher, attended "Broadway Stands Up for Freedom" on Monday night, a concert that benefits the Youth Programs of the NYCLU. Check them out below, posing with Seth Rudetsky (Legally Blonde The Musical: The Search For Elle Woods vocal coach):


And, speaking of "little miss Woods, L," here are some photos of Bailey Hanks meeting the press outside of the Palace Theatre.




I hope her opening night was a hit!