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JOHN TRAVOLTA looks to have another movie hit on his hands - as a fat woman.
He and co-stars of movie musical HAIRSPRAY, in which Travolta cross-dresses as EDNA TURNBLAD, received a five minute standing ovation at the ShoWest Convention in Las Vegas on Wednesday (14MAR07) after guests were shown footage from the film.
Travolta joked, "We may be onto something. I think the fat make-up worked." The film also features MICHELLE PFEIFFER, QUEEN LATIFAH and newcomer NICOLE BLONSKY, who also attended the ShoWest cinema owners event.

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LATEST: Fans of BRITNEY SPEARS have poured their hearts out on the troubled pop star’s website in a series of touching posts after the TOXIC singer’s family asked them to offer up messages of support.
Spears is said to be "deeply touched" by the response of devotees from all around the world who have taken the time to pen supportive notes to her.
The singer has been unable to access the messages of support because rules at Malibu, California rehab centre Promises forbid her from using the internet but many have been passed on to her by friends and relatives.
The messages posted on BritneySpears.com come from far-flung places like New Zealand, England and Spain.
One British fan, LAURA, writes, "I have been thinking about you and praying for you. You are the best female artist ever, all your fans are missing you and want the best for you. Relax and don’t rush yourself, we are here for as long as it takes for you to get better." Spears entered the Promises rehab facility in an effort to control a substance abuse problem on 20 February (07).

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STEVEN SPIELBERG can add TV ideas man to his impressive resume after developing an idea for a new US cable sitcom.
The movie mogul is the brains behind new 30-minute show THE UNITED STATES OF TARA.
According to trade paper Daily Variety the sitcom will revolve around a married mother of two struggling with a multiple personality disorder.

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ANNA NICOLE SMITH’s flamboyant designer pal BOBBY TRENDY is hoping the tragic model’s dead husband is the biological father of baby DANNIELYNN - because then the child will be set for life.
Trendy appeared on model-turned-talk show host TYRA BANKS’ US TV show yesterday (12MAR07) to talk about his friendship with Smith, and opened up about his theory concerning the paternity of the six-month-old.
While Smith’s ex-boyfriend LARRY BIRKHEAD and her longtime companion HOWARD K. STERN continue to battle over who the father of the baby girl is, Trendy feels the truth could add yet another bizarre twist to the paternity battle.
He told Banks, "At this point, I don’t know who the father of the baby is. It could be her late husband’s baby if she (Anna Nicole) froze his stuff (sperm) and redid it again.
"I hope so because then that baby will have financial security and then can be placed by adoption by an unknown family that could really take care of her." Smith’s ex-husband, oil tycoon J HOWARD MARSHALL, died in 1995.
A hearing into the paternity issue gets underway in the Bahamas today (16MAR07).

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VIN DIESEL’s new movie BABYLON AD has started filming again after a lack of snow and on-set issues brought the shoot in the Czech Republic to a standstill last month (FEB07).
A stunt co-ordinator and other crew members have been replaced and now producer ILAN GOLDMAN and director MATHIEU KASSOVITZ are confident the movie is "back on track".
Goldman tells trade paper Daily Variety, "When you make a costly, ambitious film (like this), it is always complicated… We took a two-week break to sort these things out." The snow problem came when the production moved to Iceland to film wintry scenes, only to discover there wasn’t enough natural snow.
Goldman and Kassovitz are still looking for a snowbound European location where they can shoot the scenes over the course of a week.
The film’s two-week delay has put added pressure on the producers, who have been told they’ll have to vacate their soundstages at Prague’s Barrandov Studios to make way for construction work on THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: PRINCE CASPIAN, which is set to start shooting there at the beginning of April (07).

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US media mogul OPRAH WINFREY has opened a second school for poor South Africans.
The TV presenter and magazine boss’ Angel Network charity funded the Seven Fountains Primary School in the remote KwaZuluNatal province and Winfrey jetted to South Africa to attend the opening ceremony this morning (16MAR07).
The new school is an environmentally friendly institution Winfrey hopes will become a model for public education in South Africa.
The school’s water supply will come from recycled rainwater and the institute’s energy will be provided by solar power. Farmland surrounding the school will also be used to grow vegetables, which will be harvested to feed the children.
During a dedication speech, Oprah said, "The Seven Fountains School is an example of what schools in South Africa can become." Winfrey first visited the site of the new school when it was little more than a farm.
She handed out clothing, books and teacher-training materials for the new institute’s 1,000 students and staff.
The $1.6 million (£820,000) features 25 classrooms, a library and a landscaped playground.
Oprah launched her first South African school, the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy, in Henley-on-Klip in January (07)with a star-studded party.

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An Oakland, California man who was charged with stalking action man-turned-politician ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER has been put on probation for three years.
JEFFREY MILLER was also told to undergo a psychiatric evaluation for substance abusers in sentencing yesterday (15MAR07).
Miller has been serving time in Alameda, California after repeatedly threatening to kill California Governor Schwarzenegger and his wife MARIA SHRIVER.
The 45-year-old crashed his car through the gates at California military base Coast Guard Island in February 2006 and told police he intended to kill Schwarzenegger.
He was also arrested at the end of 2005 in Jackson, California after telling police he was on his way to Sacramento to kill the governor.

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LATEST: Photographer LARRY BIRKHEAD and his attorney have parted company as the latest battle in the snapper’s paternity battle over ANNA NICOLE SMITH’ child gets underway in the Bahamas.
Lawyer DEBRA OPRI has issued a statement this morning (16MAR07), confirming the split, saying, "Larry Birkhead and I have terminated our attorney-client relationship effective immediately." Opri has since spoken to US news show EXTRA as part of an interview that will air later today (16MAR07).
She reveals she felt she had to part company with her former client because she didn’t agree with Birkhead’s apparent friendship with his paternity battle rival HOWARD K. STERN.
Opri tells the TV show, "I just had enough. I can’t represent a client who has a middle man by the name of Howard K. Stern. I feel very comfortable in my decision, and I wish Larry the best. But I am worried about him… I couldn’t continue with the way things were going." Reports have suggested Birkhead and Stern are close to coming to a financial settlement about the future of the baby both claim is theirs.
A Bahamian attorney will represent Birkhead as he fights for custody of baby DANNIELYNN today (16MAR07) in the Bahamas.
As WENN went to press Birkhead had not retained new counsel in America.
The photographer has been demanding a DNA test on the baby since late last year (06) after insisting he’s the Dannielynn’s biological father. Stern, Anna Nicole’s longtime companion and lawyer, maintains he’s the father, as stated on the baby’s birth certificate.

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Reformed rockers THE SMASHING PUMPKINS have confirmed they’ll perform their first North American show of 2007 at the Virgin Festival in Toronto, Canada in September (07).
The group, fronted by BILLY CORGAN, will co-headline the two day Toronto Island event with BJORK.
Other artists confirmed for the festival include AMY WINEHOUSE, THE KILLERS, INTERPOL.
Meanwhile, MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE and The Killers will headline a Vancouver, Canada version of the Virgin Festival in May (07).
The Smashing Pumpkins have already announced plans to release a new album in July (07) and they’ll perform at a string of European festivals this summer (07). (KL/BB/ES) WENN - SIXTH - HOLLYWOOD, SHOWBIZ & PEOPLE NEWS - 16 MARCH 2007

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GLORIA ESTEFAN is paying tribute to the sounds and spirit of her native Cuba on her next album and she has invited countrymen like actor ANDY GARCIA and trumpet great ARTURO SANDOVAL to join her.
The Florida-based singer, who left Cuba as a child and has become a fierce and vocal opponent of her homeland’s dictator FIDEL CASTRO, has recorded her new album, 90 MILAS, in her native tongue.
Also joining her on the all-star album, which is slated for a September (07) release, are fellow Latinos CARLOS SANTANA, drummer SHEILA E, JOSE FELICIANO and LUIS ENRIQUE.

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RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE and AUDIOSLAVE guitarist TOM MORELLO thrilled fans at his South By Southwest festival appearance last night (15MAR07) when he turned his show into an all-star jam.
What was supposed to be a solo acoustic set at the Parish club in Austin, Texas turned into a star-studded festival highlight as pals like SLASH, PERRY FARRELL, MC5 guitarist WAYNE KRAMER and PRIMUS frontman LES CLAYPOOL joined the rocker onstage.
The unannounced jam session continued well into this morning (16MAR07) and ended when a jubilant Morello told fans, "I hope you enjoy the rest of the weekend, ‘cos you ain’t gonna top that s**t." Morello is in the midst of reforming Rage Against The Machine for festival shows this summer (07). The future of Audioslave is in question after frontman CHRIS CORNELL announced his decision to quit the group last month (FEB07).
Meanwhile, the jam wasn’t the only all-star concert at the South By Southwest festival last night (15MAR07) - THE WHO’s PETE TOWNSHEND performed a low-key show at La Zona Rosa show with girlfriend RACHEL FULLER, MARTHA WAINWRIGHT and British pop sensation MIKA.

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Oscar winner JENNIFER HUDSON has repaid singer/songwriter NE-YO for helping pen songs on her debut album, by recording a duet with the R&B hunk for his next release.
The hot couple recently teamed up in the studio to work on the DREAMGIRLS star’s debut, and she’s so impressed with his efforts so far, Hudson has agreed to record a duet with her new pal.
Ne-Yo tells MTV News, "We did a duet together and it came out very hot. The name of the song is called LEAVIN’ TONIGHT and… it’s one of those songs where I am clearly being out-sang and I know it.
"But, because it is Jennifer Hudson and she has such an amazing voice, it’s just an honour to be on the track with her.
"The bigness of her voice and the regularity of my voice, the contrast between the two is like night and day and it makes perfect sense."

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Rapper LIL’ MO is giving her marriage a second chance after filing divorce papers last year (06).
The SUPERWOMAN PT II hitmaker, real name CYNTHIA LOVING, and AL STONE have reconciled after a series of infidelities and cheating dramas led to a desperate Lil’ Mo holding a gun to her husband’s head and demanding he stop his mistresses from "disrespecting" her publicly.
The couple then separated and the rap star "dogged out" her man with a rant in urban magazine Sister 2 Sister.
The Stones have now turned to the publication again - to announce they’re back together and working things out.
Lil’ Mo admits it took her filing divorce papers for her husband to fight for his marriage.
She says, "He ain’t shut it down ’til he got them papers in the mail… I kept on telling him when I was pregnant with (daughter) HEAVEN (sic)… I ain’t playing.
"I pulled out a gun on him ‘cos I was, like, I had just had my daughter; she was four months old." Stone admits even the gun-wielding incident didn’t make him think his marriage was over: "She was just going through postpartum (depression)… I wasn’t taking it that serious as she was making it." The couple, who wed in 2001 after a whirlwind romance, spent much of last year apart but reconciled during a family trip to DisneyWorld in Florida and have since decided to give their marriage a second chance.

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BRITNEY SPEARS is inviting fans to send messages of encouragement to help her through her current troubles on her official website.
The TOXIC star, 25, checked into Promises Rehab Center in Malibu, California on 21 February (07) following four months of incessant partying.
Spears’ website is being rebuilt, so the homepage currently includes an old image of the singer, with a link asking fans to "click here to send your thoughts and inspirations to Britney".

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Pop superstar KYLIE MINOGUE was "charmed" by British Chancellor GORDON BROWN last month (FEB07) at a dinner party hosted by Australian author KATHY LETTE.
The SPINNING AROUND singer was a guest at the meal in London, which was also attended by British film stars STEPHEN FRY, ALAN RICKMAN and RONNIE ANCONA.
And Lette revealed Minogue enjoyed chatting with the politician, because he was such a smooth talker.
She says, "Gordon and Kylie got on really well. They spent quite a bit of time talking to each other over drinks.
"He was very sociable and charming. He absolutely charmed everybody."

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ANGELINA JOLIE is taking a long break from her film career to focus on caring for her four children.
The actress has just adopted Vietnamese orphan PAX THIEN, three; adding to her large brood with partner BRAD PITT.
Jolie and Pitt are now full-time parents to four children under the age of five: Cambodian MADDOX, five; Ethiopian ZAHARA MARLEY, two; and their sole biological child SHILOH NOUVEL, 10 months.
Currently in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, where she formally adopted Pax yesterday (15MAR07), Jolie told local newspaper Ho Chi Minh City Law she was happy to be a full-time mother.
She says, "Now, I will stop making movies and will stay home to help Pax to get used to his new life.
"I have four children and taking care of the children is the most important thing for me at the moment. I am very proud and happy to be their mother." Despite her plans for time out, Jolie recently signed on to play railroad executive DAGNY TAGGART in the big-screen version of AYN RAND’s novel ATLAS SHRUGGED.

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SANDRA BULLOCK was "miserable" making her latest film PREMONITION after intensely dramatic scenes left her emotionally exhausted.
The 42-year-old plays LINDA HANSON, a housewife whose life falls apart when her husband is killed in a shocking car accident.
Bullock tells the New York Daily News: "It was miserable, and I was in a bad place, and it was really hard, and every day I just wanted it to stop.
"You shoot these scenes out of order, and every day I had to estimate what level of grief this woman was experiencing. It was a little sadistic."

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LATEST: MADONNA’s former nanny MELISSA DUMAS has lost her deal with Crown Publishing to write a book detailing her time with the pop superstar.
The child carer worked for the MATERIAL GIRL and her husband GUY RITCHIE from 2005-2006, which included their controversial adoption of Malawian baby DAVID BANDA in October (06).
Recent press reports suggested Crown Publishing were paying Dumas up to $5 million (£2.6 million) for her 80-page story on Madonna’s family life with children LOURDES, 10; ROCCO, six; and David, 18 months.
Dumas’ agent SHARLENE MARTIN tells the New York Daily News, "I deeply regret that Crown decided not to move forward in publishing (the nanny’s) book."

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