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REESE WITHERSPOON and VINCE VAUGHN’s height disparity was so great on the set of new festive film FOUR CHRISTMASES, the actor had to pick his co-star up for dancing scenes.
Oscar winner Witherspoon admits her new onscreen love interest towered over her for much of the movie, and they had to get creative to solve height problems.
She tells WENN, "He’s 6′5" and I’m 5′2". We had a really funny scene, I don’t know if it’s in the film any more, where he rolls over onto me. We were in bed and then at the very end he rolls over and goes to sleep, but he rolls over and lays on top of me. It was like a tree trunk had just landed on me. I kept going, ‘Tim-berrrrr!’ It was really funny.
"I stood on a lot of boxes and they had to build ramps that were about the same size as where I should be. It was a challenge, especially the kissing scenes. It was hard to get up there to kiss him but we worked it out.
"And he had to pick me up for half the dancing. He’s actually holding me in the air so we can stay in the same frame. He’s a fantastic dancer. A very, very good dancer, which you’d probably figure from Swingers. They were teaching us dance moves. I just couldn’t keep up and he was like, ‘Oh, it’s a one-two cha cha cha’."

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GEORGE CLOONEY is all set for a return to E.R., according to former castmate NOAH WYLE.
Clooney has made it clear in recent months he will not reprise his Dr. Doug Ross character for the medical drama’s finale, but pal Wyle insists there are secret plans to bring the movie star back to the show where he got his big break.
Wyle says, "From what I heard, George said, ‘Absolutely, schedule permitting’." And the actor reveals Clooney won’t be the only former castmate coming back for episodes next year (09) - he’ll be starring in a storyline opposite Eriq La Salle.
But not everyone is keen to return to the show - Juliana Margulies turned down an invitation to reprise her role for the final series of the medical drama, because she doesn’t think her character’s storyline can be improved.
Margulies portrayed nurse Carol Hathaway on the show.

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Actress HEATHER LOCKLEAR has been charged with driving under the influence of prescription drugs, following her September (08) arrest in California.
The 47-year-old star was detained by police in Santa Barbara, California, after she was spotted "driving erratically" in a parking lot.
She was later booked on charges of driving under the influence (DUI) and being under the influence of a controlled substance, and kept in police custody overnight.
Tests found she had no alcohol or illegal drugs in her system, but she has been charged because the medication she had taken, "could have impaired her ability to safely drive a motor vehicle," Santa Barbara County Deputy District Attorney Lee Carter tells TMZ.com.
Her arrest came just two months after Locklear checked out of an Arizona rehab clinic, where she received treatment for anxiety and depression.
The star is due to be arraigned in Santa Barbara on 26 January (08), and faces up to six months in jail if convicted.

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MICHAEL JACKSON’s attorneys are desperately trying to keep the King of Pop out of a London court in a new dispute over an alleged business deal gone bad.
Sheikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa of Bahrain claims he’s owed a $7 million (GBP4.6 million) advance on an album and autobiography deal that Jackson never produced.
And, as the case got underway in London on Monday (17Nov08), the pop star’s legal team is fighting to keep their client from having to face another court saga, four years after his child molestation trial in California.
Lawyers for the singer, who insist the money was given to Jackson was a gift, are seeking permission for their client to testify by a videolink from the United States.
Al Khalifa’s attorney Bankim Thanki told the court that his client had hoped to help Jackson rebuild his career, and spent millions moving the pop superstar, his children and entourage to Bahrain.
Thanki explained, "The cost even included the expenses of bringing out Mr.
Jackson’s hairdresser." He revealed Jackson stayed in Bahrain as a guest of his client for almost a year after the end of his child molestation trial.
The new trial continues.

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Humble COLDPLAY star CHRIS MARTIN insists his band is the best on the world because U2 and GREEN DAY are on vacation.
The British singer/songwriter admits his group will slip down the list of great bands once U2 and Green Day return with new albums in 2009.
Martin says, "The reason we’re the biggest band in the world at the moment is because the others are on holiday. That’s how you get your breaks. That’s how the understudy gets his opportunity.
"While U2 and Green Day are away, we’ve gotten to make the most of it."

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KIEFER SUTHERLAND was so desperate to land pal ROBERT CARLYLE as his co-star in the upcoming 24 TV movie REDEMPTION, he offered to babysit THE FULL MONTY star’s kids.
The actor thought it would be great fun to work with his Scottish pal on location in Africa, and called to personally offer him the part of missionary Carl Benton.
He says, "I called him and said, ‘I’ll give you whatever you want. I’ll wash your car for a year. I’ll babysit the kids.’ "He said, ‘Actually, I’ll do it if you don’t babysit the kids.’"

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ANGELINA JOLIE has backtracked on her decision to "fade away" from acting, insisting she’s not ready to retire yet.
The Oscar winner recently suggested she was finished with films, and wanted to quit so she could spend more time with her six children and partner Brad Pitt.
Hinting her retirement was imminent, she said, "I don’t plan to keep acting very long, I’m ready to do a few things now and fade away and get ready to be a grandma one day." But, speaking at a press conference on Monday (17Nov08) to promote her new movie Changeling, she insists she still has acting ambitions.
Jolie says, "I’m not making some retirement announcement. I have a big family and a lot of responsibility at home, and I have the good fortune to financially not have to work all the time.
"I just feel privileged that I get to be home a lot. Maybe eventually I’ll stop (acting)."

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Former DANCING WITH THE STARS contestant MARK CUBAN has been charged with insider trading; accused of avoiding over $750,000 (GBP502,513) in stock losses.
Securities and Exchange Commission officials in America allege Cuban sold his entire six per cent ownership of website Mamma.com on 28 June 2004 - one day before shares of the company dropped by more than 10 per cent.
The American Internet billionaire, who also runs basketball team the Dallas Mavericks, allegedly avoided the losses after learning the site was raising money through a private investment in a public entity - a transaction often followed by a drop in the stock price as shareholders anticipate their stake will be diluted.
According to website TMZ.com, the CEO of Mamma.com gave Cuban the tip.
In a new report, Scott W. Friestad, Deputy Director of the SEC’s Division of Enforcement, states, "As we allege in the complaint, Mamma.com entrusted Mr.
Cuban with non-public information after he promised to keep the information confidential".
Cuban’s attorney’s and spokesperson have yet to issue comments on the case.

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BAIRD BRYANT, the revered documentary filmmaker/cinematographer who captured the stabbing at the ROLLING STONES’ Altamont Speedway show in California in 1969 has died.
Quick-thinking Bryant turned his camera on a scuffle at the front of the stage while shooting the Stones’ show - and inadvertently shot footage of an infamous crime, which heightened the controversy of the subsequent 1970 concert film Gimme Shelter.
Bryant, who was 80 when he passed away last week (13Nov08), also shot pivotal footage for the film Easy Rider. He also filmed Oscar-winning documentary Broken Rainbow - about the Navajo (Native Americans) - and acclaimed 1991 film Heart of Tibet, which featured the Dalai Lama as its star.

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QUANTUM OF SOLACE villain MATHIEU AMALRIC has no interest in winning movie awards as an actor - because he always wanted to be a film director, and still does.
The enigmatic French star admits he stumbled into acting a decade ago and still considers it a joke that he has won three Cesar Awards - his homeland’s equivalent of the Oscars.
He tells Entertainment Weekly magazine, "Me, a guy who never thought of being an actor, I have three. It’s stupid.
"The real me is a director. In April (09), I’m going to stop acting and direct another film." Amalric, who plays Bond baddie Dominic Greene in the hit new movie, reveals he was on his way to becoming a top filmmaker when pal Arnaud Desplechin cast him in his 1997 film My Sex Life.
Desplechin has since cast the reluctant star in his latest movie A Christmas Tale.
Amalric adds, "He invented me."

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Actor ISAIAH WASHINGTON is still bitter about the way he was ousted from hit medical drama GREY’S ANATOMY - because reports suggested he attended rehab sessions to conquer his alleged homophobia.
The star was fired from the show after an on-set altercation with Patrick Dempsey, in which he referred to gay castmate T.R. Knight as a f**got.
But Washington insists the whole incident was blown out of proportion, and suggestions he needed counselling for his comments are all wrong.
He says, "The rehab thing was incorrect. There’s no such thing as rehabilitation. I was given an opportunity to go to executive counselling so I would get away from the media.
"The world still thinks I taunted T.R. Knight and called him the F-word, which I didn’t." Washington left the show at the beginning of last year (07).

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Comedienne WANDA SYKES has confirmed she secretly wed her gay partner just before same-sex marriages were banned in California.
The Curb Your Enthusiasm regular made the announcement at a rally against the passage of Proposition 8, which ended a summer of gay weddings, on Saturday (15Nov08).
She told the crowd at the Las Vegas protest, "Everybody who knows me personally, they know I’m gay. And that’s the way people should be able to live our lives, really. We shouldn’t have to be standing out here demanding something we automatically should have as citizens of this country.
"I’m proud to be a woman, I’m proud to be a black woman and I’m proud to be gay." Her decision to come out at the rally has been applauded by gay rights leaders.
Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Discrimination (GLAAD) President Neil G.
Giuliano says, "People living openly and honestly increases visibility of our community and has a tremendous impact in terms of creating awareness, understanding and acceptance as we continue our march to equality." Sykes became the second high-profile comedienne to wed her gay partner this year (08) - Ellen DeGeneres exchanged vows with actress Portia De Rossi in August (08).
Ironically, Sykes’ character in U.S. TV sitcom The New Adventures of Old Christine recently wed co-star Julia Louis-Dreyfuss on the show for immigration purposes.

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Music mogul SIMON COWELL’s operatic group IL DIVO have stormed to the top of the British charts with THE PROMISE.
The classical crossover group debuted at number one, ahead of rockers Stereophonics’ new hits album. Girls Aloud’s Out of Control slipped from the top spot to three on the new album chart.
The Promise is Il Divo’s third number one album in the U.K.
Other high entries on the new chart included Enya’s And Winter Came at six and Christina Aguilera’s Keeps Gettin’ Better - A Decade of Hits at 10.
On the new singles chart, rapper T.I. stormed up the countdown from 39 to two with Rihanna duet Live Your Life, but was no match for the X-Factor version of Mariah Carey’s Hero, which stays on top.
The Killers’ Human debuted at four.
And, in Europe, AC/DC’s Black Ice remains the continent’s top album for a third week, while the Guru Josh Project’s Infinity 2008 stays atop the Eurochart Hot 100 Singles countdown for a second week.

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RATATOUILLE score composer MICHAEL GIACCHINO is to serve as the musical director at the 81st Oscars next year (09).
It marks the first time he has conducted the Oscars Orchestra.
Last year (07), Giacchino received an Academy Award nomination for his Ratatouille original score
. His film credits also include Speed Racer, Mission: Impossible III and The Incredibles.
He has also composed and conducted the score for the upcoming Star Trek movie.
Giacchino won an Emmy Award in 2005 for Outstanding Music Composition for a Series for Lost.
His credits also include work on the hit series Alias and several interactive games, including titles in the Medal of Honor series
.

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A judge has demanded American TV presenter/producer DON CORNELIUS turn over his firearms after slapping him with a protective order days after he was charged with spousal abuse.
Cornelius was additionally charged with dissuading a witness from filing a police report and assault with a deadly weapon on Friday (14Nov08), following a dispute with his wife.
The 72-year-old former host and creator of muisc TV hit Soul Train was arrested in October (08) after cops were called to the Hollywood Hills home he shares with his wife Victoria.
The Los Angeles City Attorney charged him with five misdemeanour offences, including three counts of abusing Victoria.
The couple’s correspondence has been limited to "peaceful contact" in the new court order.
Cornelius faces five years in prison if convicted.
He is scheduled to return to court on 4 December (08).

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KID ROCK broke New York’s strict smoking ban while bidding farewell to MTV music show TRL on Sunday night (16Nov08) - by striding into the Times Square studio smoking a cigar.
Rock was one of a host of music’s biggest stars who turned out for the final show - hosted by Carson Daly and Damien Fahey.
And he was determined to steal the show, by drinking beer and puffing on a cigar.
Rock said, "I used to come here and they would say, ‘Hey, man, you’ve got to put the cigar out’. Well, guess what? It’s over; I ain’t putting the cigar out."

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SCARLETT JOHANSSON rejects comparisons to DIANE KEATON and MIA FARROW as director WOODY ALLEN’s moviemaking inspiration - because she’s convinced her roles came as a stroke of luck.
The 23-year-old counts 2005’s Match Point, Scoop in 2006 and this year’s (08) Vicky Cristina Barcelona among her Allen credits.
But she insists her performances are no match for the legendary actresses touted among the director’s muses because she could easily be replaced.
She tells Allure magazine, "I don’t inspire the work that Woody does. I’m just lucky to fit into the ‘young woman’ category in his movies. But make no mistake, I know that if it wasn’t me, it would be somebody else."

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BEYONCE KNOWLES credits jazz legend ETTA JAMES with giving her the guts to record her new album - because playing the troubled icon for a film made her "fearless".
Knowles stars as the iconic singer - who battled numerous drug addictions throughout her life - in new movie Cadillac Records.
And she admits the icon’s imprint unhinged a new side of her for her new double disc I Am…Sasha Fierce.
She says, "The music I made before and after the movie were very different. I was a lot more bold and fearless after I played Etta James, because of course some of the character stays with you. Some of the music I would have been afraid to make, I wasn’t. I got more guts, more confidence as a human being.
"I think that’s why I love doing movies so much, because it’s not just an art form. It changes my life and my music and the way I look at things… after playing her and singing her songs, I thought, it’s time for me to challenge myself and do whatever I’m inspired to do."

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