International Show, Film & Celebrities News
MADONNA’s stylish brother has landed a job as supermodel-turned-reality TV queen JANICE DICKINSON’s interior designer.
Dickinson has commissioned Christopher Ciccone to design her new sleeping quarters for her U.S. TV series The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency.
A source tells Eonline.com, "Janice lives in the house with the models, and she had Chris design her bedroom."
Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)
Acclaimed ballerina IRINA BARONOVA has died at her home in Australia. She was 89.
The dancer became one of revered choreographer George Balanchine’s ‘baby ballerinas’ after making her debut in Paris, France at the age of 12.
She quickly became an internationally renowned ballet figure, starring in Ballets Russes productions including Bluebeard, The Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake all over the world.
She also appeared in films like Florian and Yolanda in the early 1940s before she was forced to give up her ballet career when she wed British theatrical agent Cecil Tennant in 1946.
Baronova penned her autobiography, Irina: Ballet, Life & Love in 2005.
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The producers of the new BEVERLY HILLS, 90210 TV series have recreated the show’s fabled Peach Pit diner in the heart of Hollywood.
The cast and crew have taken over the popular Kokomo Cafe and turned it into the cult TV series’ favourite hang-out.
One fan, who spotted the shooting while driving past, tells WENN, "It was amazing - they had the old Peach Pit sign hanging over the Kokomo sign.
"And they even had the original Nat (actor Joe E. Tata) on set on Wednesday (02Jul08)." No other original stars were on view, although Jennie Garth and Tori Spelling have both signed up for the new show - and Shannen Doherty is in negotiations to play a grown up Brenda Walsh.
The Kokomo Cafe takeover will be shortlived - a permanent Peach Pit diner and nightclub is currently being built on a nearby soundstage.
Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)
The transgendered Oregon man who went public with his pregnancy on OPRAH WINFREY’s talk show has given birth to a baby girl.
Thomas Beatie, 34, was born a woman but opted for a sex change.
The baby was born on Sunday (29Jun08) at a hospital in Bend, Oregon.
Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)
Bosses at animal rights group People For The Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) are offering SHARON STONE a free brain scan - in an effort to improve her compassion.
PETA President Ingrid Newkirk has written to the movie star, suggesting her refusal to stop wearing fur and recent ill-advised comments she made about the Chinese earthquake could be symptoms of an underdeveloped brain.
Acknowledging Stone is an intelligent woman, PETA bosses fear the actress may need to work on her compassionate nature. And, after she was forced to apologise to China for suggesting the country’s recent earthquake tragedy was "karma" for the way the nation treat Tibetans, PETA chiefs feel Stone might be ready to undergo medical tests.
In her letter, Newkirk writes, "Given that millions of people… were killed, injured, and left homeless by the recent earthquake in China, everyone was shocked to hear you dismiss the devastating effects of this disaster.
"However, your cavalier attitude did not come as a surprise to us. We are used to the indifference that you flaunt and the callous remarks that you make about the suffering and death of the animals whose fur you wear so often.
"Scientific studies suggest that the prefrontal regions of the brains of people who lack empathy might be underdeveloped. Here’s our offer: Would you allow PETA to pay for a scan of the prefrontal region of your brain to determine if comments and actions that seem to demonstrate a lack of empathy are the result of a physical defect?" The star suffered a brain haemorrhage in 2001 but has since fought her way back to health.
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LATEST: The second day of CHRISTIE BRINKLEY and architect PETER COOK’s divorce trial has been another emotional one with high drama as the model took the witness stand on Thursday (03Jul08).
After Cook broke down during a cross-examination by his lawyer in Long Island, New York on Wednesday (02Jul08), it was Brinkley’s turn to fight tears on the stand.
The 54 year old told the court about the day she discovered her husband was cheating on her with a teenage assistant.
Brinkley recalled then-18 year old Diana Bianchi’s stepfather telling her the shocking news after she had delivered a high school commencement speech in June, 2006.
The model, who was once wed to rocker Billy Joel, admitted she knew immediately her husband was guilty.
Fighting back tears in court she said, "I thought, ‘Oh my God, it’s true. He did it…’ It explained the feelings I was trying not to feel." Brinkley recalled leaving Cook later that same day, admitting, "I drove away from my perfect life… I thought we were happy." The model also revealed more about Cook’s Internet porn passion, which had been discussed in court the previous day.
She revealed, "I found conversations of him trying to lure girls saying he would take them shopping, saying he would pay them if he could see their face.
"I felt really stupid… I felt humiliated. I felt shattered. I just felt grief-stricken." But Cook was far from impressed with his estranged wife’s emotional testimony, telling reporters during a break in proceedings, "Shrek was more believable than that."
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KATY PERRY’s cheeky summer anthem I KISSED A GIRL has scored a second week at the top of the U.S. pop charts.
The record keeps Leona Lewis, Lil Wayne and Rihanna off the top, while the Jonas Brothers pose a big threat - their new track Burnin’ Up debuted at number five.
Meanwhile, Joe Jonas’ duet with Demi Lovato on This Is Me creeps into the new Billboard top 10 at nine.
Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)
AMERICAN PIE star JASON BIGGS and his new bride are planning a proper ceremony in Napa Valley, California next month (Aug08) - after exchanging vows in a courthouse this spring (08).
The actor surprised family and friends when he wed actress Jenny Mollen in April (08), and now he’s planning a proper celebration.
He tells America’s In Touch magazine, "We’re doing everything all screwy. We got married, just the two of us, and then decided to do a second ceremony.
"We actually just bought some of the centrepieces from a flea market and there will be feathers and black chandeliers." Meanwhile, Mollen, 29, insists the newlyweds won’t be rushing to become parents, even though her husband would like to start a family immediately.
She tells the publication, "He wants kids now, but I need at least a year."
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The man who discovered OASIS and signed them to his Creation Records label is urging new acts to steer clear of signing deals with record companies.
Alan McGee is convinced major labels won’t be the future of music and young bands are better off releasing their own records and using the Internet to build up fan support.
McGee says, "I’d recommend a band not to go to any record label, I think they’re all f**king rubbish. You’re better off doing it yourself. They’re living in the past."
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Country star KENNY CHESNEY was left in such a "funk" after his brief 2005 marriage to RENEE ZELLWEGER ended he couldn’t write songs or perform for fans.
The singer-songwriter admits he sank into a deep depression and struggled to get back to normal.
He says, "There was a period at the end of 2005 and really all of 2006 where I never took the guitar case out of the closet when I was at home.
"I was in such a personal funk after the Renee thing that I could have played every day of the week and wouldn’t have felt much joy from it." But fans needn’t worry - Chesney insists he’s back at his best: "I feel like I’ve got my edge back.
"I’m more in the moment… than I have been the last couple of years, and I notice more of the good things."
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Rockers ZZ TOP are to follow JOHNNY CASH and NEIL DIAMOND as they hope for a career revival at the hands of super-producer RICK RUBIN.
The Smart Dressed Man trio has signed a new deal with Rubin’s American Recordings imprint.
The group will record a new album with Rubin, hoping the Def Jam co-founder can get the trio back to the top of the charts.
According to figures, ZZ Top’s last album, 2003’s Mescalero, sold just 103,000 copies in their native America.
Rubin helped revive the careers of fellow American icons Cash and Diamond the Sweet Caroline singer’s recent release, Home Before Dark, was his first-ever U.S. number one.
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Music mogul SEAN ‘DIDDY’ COMBS has slammed allegations he had an affair with the mistress of CHRISTIE BRINKLEY’s estranged husband PETER COOK.
Former model Brinkley has been struggling to come to terms with details of Cook’s extramarital affair with teenager Diana Bianchi as they proceed in their ongoing divorce trial, which began on Wednesday (02Jul08).
And, according to the National Enquirer, Cook was not the only high-profile man to romance Bianchi.
A source tells the publication, "Diana met Sean (Diddy) at his recording studio when she went there with a friend who knew him.
"She told me that he just came up to her and started talking. She said their affair started a few weeks later and it went on while he was involved with the woman he was going to marry, Kim Porter. Diana said she thinks that she’s the reason they split up." Bianchi allegedly ended her relationship with Combs because "she was freaked out" when the rap mogul "sent people to her voice rehearsals and lessons to watch her" according to the Enquirer’s reports.
But a spokesperson for Combs has denied the affair.
Bianchi appeared in court on Wednesday (02Jul08), revealing she and Cook had sex less than 10 times, and she had been asked to lie to cover up the affair.
Brinkley and Cook are fighting over custody of their children Jack, 13, and Sailor, 10.
Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)
Supermodel KATE MOSS needs an image overhaul, according to her long-time friend and favourite photographer MARIO TESTINO.
The acclaimed snapper, who has photographed the British beauty throughout her modelling career, isn’t a fan of the star’s current look - insisting she needs a new hairstyle.
He says, "Kate is quite simply the icon of this generation, and probably the next.
"My favourite picture… is one of her with short hair. We all tell her to get her hair cut short again, but she just doesn’t listen."
Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)
AMERICAN IDOL judge PAULA ABDUL’s ex-boyfriend is already looking for love again - he is lined up to appear on hit U.S. TV dating show THE BACHELOR.
Restaurateur J.T. Torregiani began dating Abdul last July (07) but the couple split last month (Jun08).
A source reveals Torregiani was asked to take part in The Bachelor a couple of years ago, but he fell for Abdul and had to decline the offer.
The insider insists the restaurateur is keen to find love because "he wants to settle down, have kids and a family".
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Rapper LL COOL J has hinted his forthcoming album will not be his last release on Def Jam - despite previously voicing his unhappiness about the record label.
Last year (07), the hip-hop star - real name James Todd Smith III - hit out at then-label president Shawn ‘Jay-Z’ Carter, accusing the rap mogul of focusing more attention on the marketing and promotion of his own albums - also released on Def Jam - than other artists on the label’s roster.
LL Cool J then aligned himself with 50 Cent, appearing to be on the verge of signing with the In Da Club hitmaker’s G-Unit Records.
But now the star, who is due to release his 13th and final Def Jam album, Exit 13, later this summer (08), admits he is reconsidering his future at the label.
He says, "It’s my last record on the contract, but that doesn’t mean that our relationship is over." Jay-Z stepped down from his post as head of Def Jam at the start of the year (08) after deciding not to renew his contract. He was recently replaced by music executive Shakir Stewart.
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Actor FOREST WHITAKER is so popular in Paris, France that workers at the city’s famous Eiffel Tower had to shut down the monument so he could tour it in peace.
The Oscar winner was visiting the famous French monument on Tuesday (01Jul08) when he was mobbed by a mass of fans who caused such uproar that security was forced to give the actor a private tour.
A source tells the New York Post, "He was mauled. It was a crazy ordeal. They ended up closing the top level and giving him a private tour. Forest was so gracious when he came down, he took pictures with everyone."
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WILL SMITH was disappointed he missed out on an Oscar for his role in THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS - because he was convinced it was "my time".
The star has received two Best Actor Academy Award nominations to date - for Ali in 2001, and again for the 2006 drama.
He was beaten to the podium in 2002 by Denzel Washington - for his role in the critically-acclaimed Training Day - and he and lost out to Forest Whitaker’s Last King of Scotland portrayal at the 2007 Academy Awards.
But Smith admits it was Whitaker’s win that upset him the most.
He says, "Denzel took it for Training Day; fantastic film. When you can get nominated and invited to the (Oscars) party, it’s huge. (But) I can always tell when things aren’t right for me at the time; I didn’t feel like that was the time.
"But, for Pursuit of Happyness, I actually felt like it was my time and I still didn’t win it! I was like, ‘Hey, it’s my time! Wait, hold on, that other boy’s taken my thing!’"
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Supermodel HEIDI KLUM has vowed never to go under the knife - because she wants to convince age-obsessed women that growing older is a natural part of life.
The German beauty and mother-of-three refuses to succumb to the mounting pressures of appearing ever-youthful now that she’s in her mid-30s.
And she insists she is proud of her developing age lines because they reflect life experiences.
She says, "There’s something odd when you’re 35 or 40 and ironed to the max.
You change with time, and it’s fine. Everywhere there are these stand-up cards saying, `Have a little silicone while you get your roots done.’ I want to be the opposite of that."
Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)