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SPICE GIRLS star MELANIE BROWN’s DANCING WITH THE STARS partner fears the pop star will come in second in the TV contest - because rival MARIE OSMOND has "gone public" with her personal problems.
Professional dancer Maksim Chmerkovskiy thinks his partner should win the U.S. contest because she’s "hands down the best dancer left, the most capable, most natural," but he worries more viewers will vote for Osmond because she’s having a tough time.
After passing out on the show earlier this month (Nov07) and then losing her father, Osmond has since opened up about the fact her teenage son is in rehab and Chmerkovskiy claims that gives the Paper Roses singer an unfair advantage as the show wraps up this week (beg26Nov07). He says, "I think she represents a lot of women out there with all their problems.
"I know first hand that there are a lot of other celebrities on the show who went through somewhat similar situations this season and they decided not to make it public.
"We decided not to burden people with our personal issues. I think that is why our fan base carries us through because they vote for our dancing not whatever happens in our life."

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

British actor SIR BEN KINGSLEY refuses to read newspaper articles about him, after discovering his ex-wife was cheating in the press.
The Gandhi star’s last marriage to Alexandra Christmann ended in 2005 after she was snapped kissing another man.
Now happily remarried to Daniela Barbosa de Carneiro, Kingsley chooses not to pay attention to the media.
He tells the New York Daily News, "I don’t read anything about me in print.
It’s not written for me. It’s written for people who are curious about me."

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BRITNEY SPEARS’ court-appointed monitor was expected to present her findings to Los Angeles Commissioner Scott Gordon in court on Monday (26Nov07).
Dr. Jane Schatz has already provided attorneys representing Spears and her ex, Kevin Federline, with a copy of her report, but Monday’s hearing gave her the chance to address the Commissioner, who is ruling over the couple’s custody case, for the first time.
Attorneys for Spears and Federline were back in court early on Monday morning.
At press time, there was no outcome, but among the items expected to be discussed include the custody arrangement for the Christmas holidays and the results of Spears’ drug tests.
The monitor’s evaluation will be officially discussed at a hearing on 18 December (07).
This is not the only court matter currently related to embattled Spears while the custody battle goes on inside a downtown Los Angeles court, there is a separate hearing in Van Nuys regarding the singer’s driving without a license charge.

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LATEST: Movie hunk MATTHEW McCONAUGHEY was among the stars who had to evacuate their homes as a result of the Malibu fires at the weekend (24/25Nov07).
A representative for the actor insisted, "Everything is fine," but confirmed McConaughey had left his new home as a matter of precaution.
The actor and girlfriend Camila Alves went shopping in Beverly Hills while firefighters battled to keep the home they share out of harm’s way.
McConaughey has since returned to his $10 million (GBP5 million) Malibu, California estate.
Not all starts were that lucky - Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea lost a home he has been trying to sell.

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TOM CRUISE, KATIE HOLMES and their baby daughter SURI gave the SPICE GIRLS a rehearsal surprise at the weekend (24/25Nov07) when they dropped in to say hello.
The Cruises, who are close friends with Posh Spice Victoria Beckham, appeared unannounced to watch as the girl-group put the finishing touches to their stage act - before heading up to Vancouver, Canada to kickstart their reunion tour on Sunday (02Dec07).
In a posting on the Spice Girls website, Beckham wrote, "It was lovely of them to come down to rehearsals, a really nice surprise. Katie has told me before that she used to be a big Spice fan so it was great for her to meet the other girls."

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RUSSELL CROWE is in negotiations to replace BRAD PITT in political thriller STATE OF PLAY after Hollywood strike-related issues forced the TROY star to pull out of the project last week (ends23Nov07).
According to industry reports, studio executives at Universal spent the weekend (24/25Nov07) meeting with Crowe in a bid to persuade him to take over the role immediately.
Pitt had been onboard the film for months after agreeing to play a journalist who uncovers a murder scandal that implicates a political heavyweight he used to work for.
But the movie star felt compelled to walk away from the film when executives refused to await a resolution to the ongoing writers’ strike - now in its fourth week - before commencing filming.
Pitt also insisted on a script rewrite, which was refused.
Trade paper Daily Variety reports Pitt may face legal action from the studio bosses after walking away from a film that was stalled by a strike.
As WENN went to press, Helen Mirren and Edward Norton were still attached to supporting roles in the film, which was supposed to have started filming on 17 November (07).

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JENNIFER LOVE HEWITT, PATRICIA ARQUETTE and NATHAN LANE are among the movie stars who have signed up to help America’s Humane Society in its crackdown on puppies bought from pet stores this Christmas (07).
The celebrities are urging wannabe dog owners to seek pets from renowned shelters and homes, rather than buy into the puppy mill controversy, where some dogs are bred in terrible conditions.
The stars will appear in print ads on behalf of the Humane Society’s Puppy Mill Action Week, which began on Sunday (25Nov07). (KL/U/IG) CORRECTION: In a story WENN released last week (ends23Nov07), we reported the cast of HAIRSPRAY, including JOHN TRAVOLTA, QUEEN LATIFAH and ZAC EFRON, are to be honoured with the Ensemble Performance Award at the Santa Barbara Film Festival in January (08). This information is incorrect; the cast of Hairspray will be honoured at the Palm Springs Film Festival in January (08). The Santa Barbara festival organisers have chosen to honour ANGELINA JOLIE, CATE BLANCHETT and NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN co-stars TOMMY LEE JONES and JAVIER BARDEM. Sorry for any inconvenience. WENN EDITOR

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Teen star HAYDEN PANETTIERE has warned gossips not to expect a showbiz meltdown from her, because she is too boring.
While Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears and Paris Hilton have turned their fame into infamy with legal troubles and rehab and prison spells this past year, Heroes star Panettiere is planning to be a good girl.
She says, "You can’t schedule a rehab for me. And I don’t think you can schedule any DUIs (driving under the influence charges). I think I’m going to be one of those boring girls." Not that boring - Panettiere is waiting to hear if she faces arrest in Japan after taking part in a surfing protest to try and stop fishermen from bludgeoning dolphins.

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A federal judge has dismissed a $100 million (GBP50 million) lawsuit brought against ANNA NICOLE SMITH’s longtime companion by her jailed ex-boyfriend.
Mark Hatten, who is currently serving time for making threats against the actress/model alleged that her lawyer/lover Howard K. Stern and others violated his civil rights during his trial.
According to ArtHarris.com, the judge ruled Hatten had no standing to sue Stern.

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THE PUNISHER star THOMAS JANE has discovered making movies is a tough business - he has to keep his cast warm.
The actor is making his directorial debut with a 3-D thriller called Dark Country, which is currently shooting on location in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Jane is also starring in the project alongside Texas Chainsaw Massacre actress Lauren German and Hellboy’s Ron Perlman.
And he admits it’s a challenge just keeping his castmates comfortable.
He explains, "It’s a lot of work. We’re shooting nights and it’s a challenge.
It’s getting a little nippy out here and it’s supposed to be a summer night scene, so my poor co-star, Lauren German, is out there wearing next to nothing.
She’s freezing for her art.
"But I’m secretly having a great time; I have a great cast and a fantastic crew."

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AMY ADAMS blames herself for her foot injuries on the set of hit new Disney film ENCHANTED - she should have done a better job of teaching co-star PATRICK DEMPSEY how to dance.
The actress, a trained dancer, took over ballroom scenes with her onscreen Prince Charming and was left bruised and bloody by the Grey’s Anatomy star.
She explains, "Patrick did take off two of my toe-nails but it was my fault because I was a trained dancer and so I thought Iknew what I was doing.
"I was not a good partner and I had a hard time surrendering to Patrick’s lead. He moved and I didn’t and I refused to let him lead, so I just stood my ground and he just tore them off.
"So I ended up with the loss of some toe-nails and sore feet but that was the extent of my injuries." The pain and effort was worth it - the family film shot to the top of the box office at the weekend (25Nov07) with a staggering $50 million (GBP25 million) five-day take.

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Newly-crowned Miss Puerto Rico INGRID MARIE RIVERA is recovering after a saboteur attempted to ruin her big night by lacing her gown and make-up with pepper spray.
The pretty brunette swelled up with hives after learning she’d claimed the crown on Friday night (23Nov07) in San Juan.
Her big win means that Rivera will represent Puerto Rico in next year’s (08) Miss World contest.
The beauty queen’s credit cards and items of clothing were also stolen from the backstage area at the event, where Rivera was forced to strip and ice down her body to combat hives.

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New Orleans jazz great ERNEST ‘DOC’ PAULIN died last week (20Nov07) at his daughter’s home in Louisiana. He was 100.
The trumpeter is believed to be New Orleans’ oldest traditional jazz musician and performer.
He first started playing in public in the 1920s and went on to form Doc Paulin’s Brass Band.
Paulin fathered 10 sons and three daughters; all are musicians steeped in the New Orleans jazz and big band culture.

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EAGLES rocker DON HENLEY has confessed money tempted the legendary rock band to reunite.
The Hotel California hitmakers reformed to record a new album, Long Road Out Of Eden, which they are promoting on a lucrative tour.
And Henley admits the bandmembers were driven by money and the desire to be heard again.
He says, "Well, I won’t say that that’s (money) not part of it. There’s something greater than money about this and that’s the sense of satisfaction.
"There’s no greater, more satisfying thing for me than hearing a song that I’ve written or co-written come to fruition in a recording studio.
"It’s addictive. And you wanna keep doing it." And Henley chose to address criticism from fans about how long they had to wait for a new album from the rock icons on a 60 Minutes news special, which aired in America on Sunday (25Nov07).
He adds, "So it took 28 years… So what. I’d much rather make what I consider to be a really good album every 28 years than to make a mediocre album every year. I’m proud of the album and I’m glad we did it. And if we never make another one, that’ll be fine too."

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R. KELLY paid his respects to KANYE WEST’s late mother onstage at the Nassau Coliseum on Long Island, New York when he led a moment of silence.
The respectful R&B superstar instructed fans at the sold-out concert to remember West and his mother, Donda, who was laid to rest in her native Oklahoma earlier in the week (20Nov07).
Kelly stopped his show and stated, "Let’s have a moment of silence for Kanye West’s mom," and, after a brief moment, he dedicated I Wish, his anthem about lost loved ones, to West’s family.
But the respect for Kanye didn’t exactly spill over for Kelly, who spent much of his concert trying to ignore audience requests for information as to why Ne-Yo was kicked off the tour.
As he completed I Wish, a stagehand gave him a cell phone, prompting Kelly to tell fans, "I got a real important phone call." This prompted one cheeky fan to scream out, "Maybe it’s Ne-Yo!" Earlier in the evening, a group of fans chanted "Ne-Yo, Ne-Yo, Ne-Yo" at the singer.
Ne-Yo was mysteriously dropped from the tour last week (ends23Nov07) after just two shows. Representatives for Kelly claim it’s because he never signed a contract.

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MORE THAN WORDS rockers EXTREME have reunited to record a new album - 12 years after they split.
The Boston, Massachusetts, band reformed briefly in 2001 and 2006 but their planned 2008 reunion will be a more lengthy get together.
The group, fronted by one-time Van Halen singer Gary Cherone and guitarist Nuno Bettencourt, is also planning on hitting the road for a world tour.
Original members Bettencourt, Cherone and bassist Pat Badger will be joined by new drummer Kevin Figueiredo for recording sessions and dates.
Bettencourt says, "We realised, not only are the people starved for rock ‘n’ roll, so are we. Let’s eat!"

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Rap rocker KID ROCK measures his success by the quality of his groupies.
Pamela Anderson’s ex-husband claims as he became a bigger star, his lovers became more and more attractive.
He says,"When your record sells 50,000 or 60,000 copies, you’re hooking up with bigger women in, like, southern Ohio. Then, 10 million, 15 million, when the sales went up, the girls got prettier."

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LATEST: OPRAH WINFREY has had her first meeting with the young victim at the centre of sexual assault allegations at her all-girls school in South Africa.
The U.S. chatshow queen made an "emotional" visit to the Henley-on-Klip Leadership Academy, which she co-founded in 2006, on Sunday (24Nov07) to meet with the tragic 12-year-old and her parents.
Former employee Virginia Mokgobo, 27, was arrested in October (07) on numerous charges including assault, indecent assault and soliciting underage girls to perform indecent acts, after a local newspaper article brought attention to the matter earlier that month.
The girl’s dad tells People.com, "The meeting went well. It took about two hours, and I appreciate that Oprah took time to listen. Oprah looked beautiful and was so easy to talk to. It went very smoothly. I am very happy and pleased that Oprah heard our side of the story. We have closure." The girl had left the school complaining about incidents involving the school’s staff, but her claims did not result in charges against the dorm matron.
Until now, no contact had been made, and the family had not been not invited to an emergency meeting in October, at which Winfrey apologised for the controversy.
Mokgobo is currently free on bail and the case has been postponed until 13 December (07) to facilitate further investigation.

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