January 11, 2008

On Wednesday night, January 9, the Westwood's Mann Village Theater was filled with Hollywood stars as it hosted the premiere of Overture Films' comedy movie which due to hit theaters on January 18. At the special star-studded screening, the "Mad Money" leading lady, Katie Holmes, didn't walk down the usual red carpet, instead they grazed the special-dollar green carpet.

In attending her first premiere event as Mrs. Cruise, Holmes was accompanied by her husband, Tom Cruise and joined by her co-stars Diane Keaton and Queen Latifah. The 29-year-old actress was dressed in a silver beaded Armani mini-dress. Aside from the three leading ladies, the premiere was also attended by the many of the cast members, including Adam Rothenberg, Finesse Mitchell, J.C. Mackenzie and Peyton Smith. It was also attended by its director and writer, Callie Khouri.

A copyright infringement case has hit former The Fugees star, Wyclef Jean, after a song from his latest album, 'The Carnival II: Memoirs of an Immigrant', is claimed to sample another song without permission.

A track from Jean's sixth studio album called 'Welcome to the East' allegedly samples a 1995 song by Blahzay Blahzy titled 'Danger' but did not credit it. One of the group members, Blahz, filed the lawsuit in Manhattan U.S. District Court. Beside Jean, Sony BMG is also named in the lawsuit and both parties are expected to receive litigation papers this week.

Katie Holmes is happy with her husband Tom Cruise's ex-wife Nicole Kidman's pregnancy.

Offered her congratulation to the Australian actress, Holmes told reporters at the Los Angeles premiere of her new film "Mad Money" on Wednesday night, January 9 "I'm so happy for her. It's wonderful."

Teen heartthrobs Jonas Brothers have wound down from their role as Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana supporting act, and are now channeling their time to their third studio album. The three-piece band stated that they may be darker in this one but still opt their famous pop sound.

Taking last year experience as their inspiration in writing the music, Kevin Jonas described among the things that became their subject. "We're a bit older," he said. "We've had some painful moments in the last year. A lot of friends stab you in the back. And girlfriends break up with you, or you break up with a girl - it's terrible what the road will do to you."

Jennifer Lopez takes the February 2008 cover of Harper's Bazaar, opens up to the publication about such issues, as keeping her pregnancy secret and public's fascination with her impending motherhood, her privacy, husband Marc Anthony, and on taking time off after giving birth.

On why she remained mum on her pregnancy, the expectant mother said "I kind of feel like everybody knew anyway. I was on tour with a bubble gut!" adding that "I do realize people want to know because they're interested, but this is the first time I'm going through this. This is my experience and my husband's experience, and we get to hold that for a little while. We're just getting used to the fact that we've told everybody."

Following another "High School Musical" star Ashley Tisdale to be cast in a movie, it was reported that Vanessa Hudgens has joined the cast of Walden Media's drama comedy "Will (2009)". According to Hollywood Reporter, the 19-year-old starlet has been cast as Sam, a 15-year-old former stutterer who becomes romantically entangled with the outcast leader.

The movie that is directed by an actor-turned-director Todd Graff is expected to star shooting in February in Austin, Texas. It centers on a story about a high school outcast and a popular girl who form an unlikely bond through their shared love of music leading them to form a rock group to perform at their school's battle of the bands competition.

Jessica Biel is set to star in an indie project directed by an Australian filmmaker Stephan Elliott. The co-star of Nicolas Cage in "Next" is reported to have nailed the lead cast in "Easy Virtue", a romantic comedy based on Noel Coward's 1924 three-act play.

Reportedly, the girlfriend of multi talented artist Justin Timberlake stars as as Larita Huntington, an American divorcee who travels to the South of France and marries a young wealthy Englishman. She will add to the romantic comedy's cast of Ben Barnes, Colin Firth and Kristin Scott Thomas. In the meantime, the filming will start next week in London.

Though tabloid reports suggest otherwise, Avril Lavigne has refuted she's pregnant with husband Deryck Whibley's child.

The Canadian songbird, as reported by radio host Zack Taylor, is pregnant. Words are mounting that she's 1.5 months along and will give birth to the not-yet born baby August later this year. Whibley reportedly has been telling all his friends that he's excited to be a father.

Has been hit with split rumors, Oprah Winfrey has fueled speculation her relationship with longtime partner Stedman Graham is in jeopardy after she's said to have cut him out of her will.

The popular talk show host and media mogul is said to have already prepared her will recently, stated in it she's leaving her reportedly $2 billion fortune to several charities and the three children she plans to adopt.

The new face of Batman in "Batman Begins" and "The Dark Knight", Christian Bale, is said to be in talk to star in Michael Mann's "Public Enemies". According to Variety, the actor in "3:10 to Yuma" will play as Melvin Purvis, the legendary FBI agent who led the manhunt for John Dillinger.

If everything goes according to plans, Bale will star opposite the "Sweeney Todd" star, Johnny Depp, who depicted the bad guy Dillinger. Though his involvement hasn't been confirmed yet, it is more likely that the 33-year-old English actor will get the part as the job is not expected to clash with Bale's commitment in "Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins".

Joe Jonas gets plastic surgery.

Rumors are mounting on the street that the singer of the pop rock group Jonas Brothers got a plastic surgery soon following a minor incident that left him with a few stitches on his forehead.

Salma Hayek will return from her maternity leave in Universal Pictures' "Cirque du Freak". Variety reported that the "Desperado" star has been cast opposite John C. Reilly in the drama thriller film playing the bearded lady, Madame Truska.

Meanwhile, in the movie based on Darren Shan's bestselling children series, Reilly is cast as a vampire who recruits a 14-year-old to serve as his assistant. Further, the movie directed by Paul Weitz tells the story about young Darren Shan who decides to become a vampire's assistant in order to save his best friend's life.

Has been signed as the new face of Marc Jacobs, being tipped to model the high-profile designer's Spring 2008 collection, Victoria Adams willingly got into a bag for the new ad campaign that has just been launched.

The new ad campaign, features Posh Spice's legs in a pair of Marc Jacobs' reverse heels in black and purple, was shot by Juergen Teller.

MySpace users have been treated with new customized home page skins and designs as Lionsgate and MySpace teamed up to provide them with a new authentic design. The new design is sponsored by the horror thriller directed by David Moreau and Xavier Palud.

The new facility allows users to change their homepages' skins to a special design from Jessica Alba's new thriller "The Eye". By changing the skins, the users are indulged with the chance to bring the horror scene to their page. They are also given the synopsis of the film planned for release on February 1. Aside from that, MySpace also provides the users with another new function that allow them to customize module placement, such as top friends.

Is a Kabbalah devotee, it appears that Madonna has become very fanatic to everything related to the religion. The superstar is said to spend $10,000 a month on specially blessed Kabbalah water, which she apparently couldn't get enough of.

Madonna, according to In Touch Weekly, only drinks specially blessed Kabbalah water and already told one of her friends that she spends an average of $10,000 on the liquid for her and her entire family to drink.

Putting the jigsaw pieces into their place, it is now assumed that Jay-Z will headline this year's Glastonbury Festival. Organizer Michael Eavis has left some hints on the 2008 line-up saying that the headliner would be "black American".

It was previously thought that Kanye West was the talked subject here. However, it was quickly changed after it was further revealed that it will be a New Yorker, which subsequently eliminated West who hails from Atlanta.

Mischa Barton breaks her silence. The movie beauty spoke out for the first time since her DUI arrest last month, having an interview with E! News' Ryan Seacrest on his radio show on Thursday morning, January 10 to give her side of the story on the incident.

Told Seacrest she "obviously 100 percent responsible" for her actions in her DUI arrest, Mischa admitted "I'm really disappointed in myself. I don't know what to say about it except I'm not perfect. I just don't ever intend to do something this stupid again."

Reports that were buzzing regarding Coldplay's plan to walk away from EMI have been denied by a representative from the label. The label's insider told NME.com that the band are actually "committed".

"In reality Coldplay are signed to a long-term record deal with EMI and are committed to produce a number of studio albums," the source explained. "The band's relationship with EMI is both long-term and very healthy and positive. Any suggestion to the contrary is incorrect and unfair on both parties."

The pregnant teen tale "Juno" and the crime drama "No Country for Old Men" gathered nods from the on-strike Writers Guild of America as the Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) and East (WGAE) announced their nominations lineup for outstanding achievement in writing for the 2007 screen on Thursday, January 10.

"Juno" screenwriter Diablo Cody was nominated under the category of Original Screenplay. The nominee of 65th Golden Globe for the same category will be facing other original writers, Judd Apatow for "Knocked Up", Tamara Jenkins for "The Savages", Tony Gilroy for "Michael Clayton" and Nancy Oliver for "Lars and the Real Girl".

It's over between John Mayer and Minka Kelly. The pair, who began dating earlier this fall, reportedly have quietly ended their brief romance over a month ago, yet still remain friends.

Talks are heating up that it was Mayer who initiated the split and Minka was really upset about it. No official confirmation from either parties about the break up report, but a friend of Minka's was quoted as saying, "Minka told a couple friends that she and John had broken up but she really didn't want to tell anyone."

Taking a three-years absence from releasing studio albums, Grammy-nominated singer Tift Merritt is set to release the follow up to the highly acclaimed 'Tambourine'. The alt-country singer signed a new deal with Fantasy Records to release 'Another Country' on February 26.

Post releasing 'Tambourine' in 2004, Merritt took a break in Paris to get more intimate with her piano. She had completed a set of songs including the title track and a song called 'Broken' which will go to the new album. Merritt who was assisted by producer Geroge Drakoulias, received collaborations from guitarists Charlie Sexton and Doug Pettibone and Tift's longtime band; Zeke Hutchins (drums), Jay Brown (bass) and Danny Eisenberg (keyboards).

Although denials have been repeatedly spurted out, Led Zeppelin never came closer to another reunion concert than this. The band is holding a band meeting on an unspecified date later this month, John Paul Jones can reveal.

The bassist told Rolling Stone magazine of what may be one of the their fans' greatest hopes. He said, "There is a band meeting in January. It could be fun to do more stuff."

Amidst all the insanity Britney Spears has been doing during her on-going custody battle, the mother of two, in another dose of bad news, got herself slapped with a restraining order.

The LAPD officers issued a temporary restraining order for Britney last Thursday night, January 3 following her brief custody standoff, ordered her to stay at least 100 feet from ex-husband Kevin Federline.

Thought to be possibly delayed due to the on-going writers' strike, the director of "The Wolfman" dismissed delay rumor. According to Bloody-disgusting, Mark Romanek has announced that the filming will still be on schedule which will be started on February 8 in London.

The Universal Pictures' horror thriller will be starred by Benicio Del Toro as Lawrence Talbot and Anthony Hopkins as Sir John Talbot. It is set in Victorian England like the original 1941 film starring Lon Chaney Jr. Additionaly, Del Toro will also have another role in the film as he is becoming its producer along with Scott Stuber, Rick Yorn, Mary Parent and Andrew Z. Davis.

In further repercussion on the accidental overdose involving among others the newborn twins of actor Dennis Quaid, the California Department of Public Health has issued a citation against Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, claimed the prestigious Los Angeles hospital's handling of high-risk drugs placed its pediatric patients in immediate jeopardy of harm.

In a 20-pages report, the California Department of Public Health said Wednesday, January 9 that Cedars-Sinai failed to "adhere to established policies and procedures for safe medication use ... These violations caused, or were likely to cause, serious injury or death to the patients who received the wrong medication." Cedars-Sinai, additionally, was also blamed for its "deficient practices" around administrating the drug.

The first outcome from Jewel Kilcher's decision to go country has arrived. A song called 'Stronger Woman' has been leaked on-line, and reportedly will be made the lead single from her upcoming album.

Jewel stated on her MySpace page that she will release a new song to radio outlets on January 23 this year. The singer who went mainstream in her fourth album, signed a deal with Nashville-based label, Valory Music Company back in November 2007 to release the new album this spring. The CD which is tentatively titled 'Perfectly Clear' after one of the songs, is rumored to be released on March 11.

Much contrary to the wide-spread tabloid reports, Pamela Anderson is not pregnant.

The former "Baywatch" star has shot down reports she's pregnant with husband Rick Solomon's baby, wrote on her blog Thursday morning, January 10 "No".

Additional cast members of "Imperial Life in the Emerald City" have been announced. Variety reported that Amy Ryan and Greg Kinnear have been set by the war drama film's helmer to play alongside its leading actor, Matt Damon.

In the Universal Pictures' project, Ryan will portray a New York Times foreign correspondent that is sent to Iraq to investigate the U.S. government's WMD claims, while Kinnear is set to play a CIA officer. Simultaneously, Damon is cast as an officer who joins forces with a senior CIA officer to search for evidence of weapons of mass destruction. And, another newly cast member, Antoni Corone, will star as a colonel.

Kevin Federline is in attempt to build a stronger existence in music industry. The rapper who, in this time frame, is more famous as the ex-husband of Britney Spears, is back in the studio not as the one behind the mic but as the one behind the panel.

Federline who did not do quite well with his 2006 album 'Playing With Fire', reportedly is taking the role of producer from his home studio. Sources told E! Online, "Kevin has been actively producing, nurturing new artists and doing it all from his home studio, so he can be there for his kids whenever they need him."

Disney's starlet, Ashley Tisdale, is said to make her movie film debut in "They Came From Upstairs". According to Hollywood Reporter, the star of "High School Musical" is going to play in the 20th Century Fox's adventure comedy film.

If she is indeed cast, she will join Robert Hoffman, Carter Jenkins, Austin Butler, Ashley Boettcher and Regan Young in the movie about a group of teens who defend their Maine vacation home from the invading aliens that came from the upstairs. The 22-year-old starlet is going to join the film production before going back to shoot "High School Musical 3". In the meantime, "They Came" directed by John Schultz is expected to start production at the end of January in Auckland, New Zealand.

Michelle Rodriguez tasted her freedom early. The former "Lost" star was set free from the slammer Wednesday night, January 9 after serving just 18 days of her 180-days sentence for violating her probation in a DUI case.

Rodriguez was released early from Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynwood, California reportedly due to overcrowding in the jail, which is standard practice in LA, notwithstanding with the initial order issued by a judge involved in her case that demanded her to serve the entire sentence with no option of work furlough, early release or home confinement.

EntertainmentWeekly.com reported that American Idol alumna Katharine McPhee has left her record label due to, allegedly, poor final sale of her self-titled debut album. Words are circulating that she will follow her fellow Idol, Taylor Hicks', footsteps to release her sophomore effort on her own.

McPhee was signed to RCA Records when she was announced as the runner-up of fifth season. A rep from the label confirmed her departure saying, "Katharine is going to record her next album on her own." EW.com then stated that they heard "she's already in talks with another label".

The toxicology reports on the death of Kanye West's mother, Donda West, had been completed. It was ruled that she died of "coronary artery disease and multiple post-operative factors due to or as a consequence of liposuction and mammoplasty."

In the report they issued Thursday, January 10, the Los Angeles County Coroner however said that an autopsy failed to determine the exact role those factors; coronary artery disease and multiple post-operative factors, played in Donda's sudden death last November following liposuction and breast-reduction surgery.

Paul Bettany is the latest additional cast member of Fox Searchlight's drama "The Secret Life of Bees". According to reports, the English actor has joined the drama film directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood as T. Ray Owens, a widower who is the father of the film's 14-year-old central character, Lily Owens.

"The Secret Life of Bees" is based on a novel wrote by Sue Monk Kidd. It tells the story about Lily and her friend Rosaleen, who left their family and harsh upbringing behind to uncover the mysteries of Lily's late mother. The film that begins filming this week in North Carolina is also starred by Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson, Queen Latifah, Alicia Keys, Sophie Okonedo and Tristan Wilds.