PR-Inside.com Entertainment News

BARBRA STREISAND refused to allow MEET THE FOCKERS producers to cast away the set’s doors - she used the pieces to construct a street in her basement.
The veteran entertainer has spent the last five and a half years refurbishing and building her home, a colonial farmhouse, and documenting the renovation process for a new book.
One of the most interesting features within the property is her basement, which she designed as a row of shops using doors she took home from the set of the 2004 comedy.
She tells U.K. talk show host Jonathan Ross, "I just didn’t want a basement. I thought it would be nice to have a street, a street of shops! What happened on Meet The Fockers was they had fabulous doors on the set, so I said, ‘What are you going to do with the doors after the picture’s over?’ They said, ‘We dump them, we break them up.’ I said, ‘No, no, no! I’ll take them!’ "So I designed the shops around the doors from the set. I also went and spent two days at the Winterthur Museum, which is the greatest collection of American furniture in Delaware. They have a wide street inside, so i was inspired by that."

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

GWEN STEFANI turned 40 in style on Saturday (03Oct09) with a star-studded lunchtime birthday bash at a West Hollywood Italian restaurant.
The rocker/designer took over Cecconi’s famous Butterfly Room for the intimate bash, which included her husband Gavin Rossdale and best pal Kate Beckinsale and her director husband Len Wiseman.
The long afternoon party concluded when the birthday girl was surprised with a big cake decorated with candles and sparklers.

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

DREW BARRYMORE showed off her rollerskating skills on late-night TV on Friday (02Oct09) when she attempted to break a record for hitting strangers with cream pies while wheeling around pal JIMMY FALLON’s Late Night studio.
Barrymore was promoting her directorial debut, roller derby film Whip It - in which she stars opposite Fallon - when she agreed to the challenge before representatives of the Universal Record Database.
She had 30 seconds to smash pies in faces and managed 14 before tripping and falling on her face. As Fallon came to her rescue, the actress smashed the final pie in his face.
Her efforts were enough to land her a new record, according the the URD officials.

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

THE SCORPIONS’ show in Essen, Germany on Friday night (02Oct09) was extra special for fans - it featured guest spots from former band members ULI JON ROTH and MICHAEL SCHENKER.
The two stars joined the rock veterans for their A Night To Remember show and performed Long Tall Sally with the Wind of Change hitmakers.
Roth also performed Pictured Life, Backstage Queen and Robot Man with his former band, while Schenker made a four-song appearance for Coast To Coast, Lovedrive, Another Piece Of Meat and Doctor Doctor.
Roth replaced Schenker, founder Rudolf Schenker’s brother, when the guitarist left the original line-up in 1973. Schenker then replaced Roth briefly in 1979.

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

Argentine folk star MERCEDES SOSA has lost her battle with ill heath and died in Buenos Aires.
The 74 year old was admitted to the Trinidad Clinic in Palermo on 20 September (09) after suffering heart and breathing problems. She never recovered and passed away on Sunday (04Oct09).
Known as "the voice of Latin America", Sosa was born in 1935 and recorded 40 albums during her impressive career. Her concerts included shows at the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican in Rome, Italy.
She also served as a UNICEF goodwill ambassador for Latin America.
Sosa was forced out of her homeland in the mid-1970s when the Argentine government banned many of her albums. She briefly made France and Spain her home but returned to Argentina in the early 1980s.

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

The stars came out to salute punk icons THE RAMONES in Hollywood on Saturday night (03Oct09).
Actresses Rosanna Arquette, Virginia Madsen and Rose McGowan and actor/director Vincent Gallo joined Ramones bandmates C.J. and Tommy Ramone and Johnny Ramone’s wife Linda at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, where the guitarist is buried and a statue likeness overlooks the park.
The celebrities joined fans for a tribute to the band, which featured an outdoor screening of Ramones concert movie It’s Alive and horror classic Night of The Living Dead.
Johnny Ramone’s widow, Linda, has been staging the annual tribute at the cemetery since her husband lost his battle with cancer in 2004.

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

R&B singer TIONNE ‘T-BOZ’ WATKINS is determined to record a new album and go on tour, despite still suffering health problems as a result of her brain tumour.
The TLC star, who also has sickle-cell disease, was diagnosed with the non-cancerous growth in 2006 after experiencing painful headaches. The tumour was removed in a seven-hour long operation but she has struggled to regain her speech, sight and balance after experiencing complications from the surgery related to the blood disorder.
Her speech has since improved, with the help of rehab, but she’s still not completely confident on her feet.
Despite this, Watkins is planning to return to the stage for the first time in over a year to perform at a charity concert held by Justin Timberlake in Las Vegas later this month (17Oct09).
She tells People magazine, "If you say ’sick kids’, you always get me. People like Justin have shown me love. He’s excited. So am I." Watkins last hit the stage for the 2008 BET Awards, but she admits she was unprepared for the big comeback with her TLC bandmate Rozonda ‘Chilli’ Thomas and regrets the performance.
She says, "I knew I wasn’t ready. I couldn’t talk straight or keep my balance, and my lungs were weak. Fans asked if I had a stroke. It was not a good night." But Watkins, a mother of one, insists her health is improving on a daily basis and she wants to follow up the fundraising show by releasing a new solo project and taking it on the road soon.
She adds, "To this day, the headaches are unbelievable… But if that’s all? No problemo… I’m doing a solo album, and I want to tour. I have to see if I can do it. I’m still here. It will take way more to stop me."

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

WOODY HARRELSON’s new horror comedy ZOMBIELAND is killing off the competition at the U.S. box office thanks to a $25 million (£16.6 million) opening weekend take.
Family film Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs drops to two and the Toy Story 3-D double feature debuts at three - ahead of Ricky Gervais comedy The Invention of Lying, which opens with a disappointing $7.3 million (£4.8 million).
Drew Barrymore’s directorial debut, roller derby movie Whip It, failed to connect with moviegoers - it debuts at six with a poor $4.8 million (£3.2 million).

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

Actress BONNIE HUNT has helped to raise $120,000 (£80,000) for a Chicago, Illinois medical centre by offering one fan the chance to dine with her.
The Jerry Maguire star agreed to whisk the highest bidder in a hospital charity auction off to Los Angeles to attend a TV taping of The Bonnie Hunt Show before joining Hunt on a dinner date.
The experience sold for thousands when the sale went live earlier this week (begs28Sep09) and Hunt is delighted.
She says, "I went to Chicago and spent some time at the Northwestern Brain Tumor Institute.
"We did an auction to fly the winner out to see the Bonnie Hunt Show and I’d have dinner with them. It went for $120,000!"

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

Actor pals MATTHEW RHYS and IOAN GRUFFUDD were mugged by a pregnant woman after a drunken night out in their native Wales.
Rhys passed out while celebrating Fantastic Four star Gruffudd’s birthday at their favourite pub and a desperate mum-to-be took advantage of the drunk duo as they made their way home.
The Brothers & Sisters star has no recollection of the incident, but was told all about the odd encounter the following morning when he woke to find his wallet and keys missing.
Rhys says, "I was unable to stand at the time and he’s trying to hold me upright… He’s got my arm around his shoulders and he’s walking me to the house… at which point a lady approached him, who is with child, and said, ‘Hand over your money.’ "She reached in, grabbed my wallet and my money and pulled it out and there was this split second, a stand off… and then she took off. And he’s standing there going, ‘Do I drop him and chase her or do I let the matter go?’" Gruffudd had some explaining to do the following morning when his pal woke to find his belongings missing.
Rhys adds, "He came in and said, ‘We were mugged last night by a pregnant woman…’ He told the story and I said, ‘And you chased after her?’ and he went, ‘Well, no, I didn’t wanna drop you…’ Some friend… I said, ‘I’d have dropped you in a heartbeat’."

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

Life imitated art in a White Plains, New York courtroom on Friday (02Oct09) when actor SCOTT SIEGEL confessed to moonlighting as an illegal steroids dealer.
Ironically, Siegel played Mickey Rourke’s ‘pusher’ in The Wrestler.
He pleaded guilty to distributing anabolic steroids and trying to run down arresting agents, who discovered over 1,500 bottles of steroids and thousands of dollars in cash at his homes in New Rochelle.
He faces five years behind bars.

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

MADONNA and LADY GAGA stunned America on Saturday night (03Oct09) by staging a catfight on live TV.
The two pop divas performed a synchronised dance-off, dressed in matching black lingerie and knee-high boots, as part of a comedy skit on Saturday Night Live, which was called to a halt when Madonna started pulling Gaga’s wig and throttling her, yelling, "What the hell is a disco stick?" - referring to the younger star’s hit.
The feuding pair was separated by the host of fictitious MTV show Deep House Dish, but a comedy war of words ensued as Gaga, the show’s musical guest, cooed, "Guess what Madonna, I’m totally hotter than you," to which the Material Girl replied, "Hey guess what, I’m taller than you. What sort of a name is Lady Gaga; it sounds like baby food!" The pop pair ended the skit by moving in to kiss each other and then attacking SNL regular Kenan Thompson instead.
It was a star-studded Saturday Night Live with Ryan Reynolds guest hosting and his wife Scarlett Johansson playing his comedy spouse in a skit about a family porcelain fountain firm. Reynolds also raised laughs as a prison dance instructor in fictitious show So You Committed A Crime & You Think You Can Dance, a segment hosted by comedian Andy Samberg as Britney Spears’ overweight ex Kevin Federline.

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

A U.S. judge overseeing MICHAEL JACKSON’s estate has handed power of attorney to the executors of the star’s will.
At a hearing on Friday (02Oct09), Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff gave Jackson’s administrators - lawyer John Branca and music executive John McClain - the authority to consider challenges to the singer’s will.
The pair can also enter into business deals that Katherine Jackson, the King of Pop’s beloved mother, does not oppose. They also have the right to represent Jackson’s estate in a number of cases that were pending at the time of his death in June (09).
Beckloff declared Branca and McClain will retain their control until the end of the year (09), despite objections from an attorney representing Katherine.
The pair is said to have raised $90 million (£60 million) in posthumous profits by negotiating merchandising and film deals, and predict they will earn another $90 million before the end of the year (09).
The Thriller legend died with debts amounting to approximately $398 million (£265 million).

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

SEAN PENN is facing the threat of legal action from a paparazzo he allegedly attacked on Friday afternoon (02Oct09).
Jordan Dawes filed a police report against the Milk star, who reportedly kicked the cameraman after heading out for a meal in Brentwood, California.
Now the Hollywood snapper is seeking to launch a legal battle, pressing charges against the actor for battery over claims he suffered multiple bruises and cuts in the altercation.
Bosses at Flynet Pictures, who employ Dawes, allege he did nothing to offend the star, insisting Penn "emerged from his truck and walked over 50 feet towards the photog and kicked and punched him without provocation".
They add, "Penn also berated the photog with obscenities and shouted that he would ‘put you in a box’ to the photog before going back to his house."

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

SIR ELTON JOHN is continuing his search for an orphan to adopt with his partner DAVID FURNISH.
The Rocket Man singer, who wed Furnish in a civil partnership in 2005, was devastated after his dreams of playing parent to Lev, a toddler he met in a Ukrainian orphanage, were dashed by a local law forbidding gay couples from adopting.
Film producer Furnish reveals the pair has since considered taking in a boy from Africa.
He tells Britain’s Sunday Telegraph, "We were in Africa for the (Sir Elton John) Aids Foundation and met a boy, and immediately thought about adopting him." But the pair decided they would have to look elsewhere after learning the tot was still connected to members of his family.
Furnish adds, "When we found out he had a maternal grandmother, and brother and sister, we realised it wouldn’t be the right thing to take him away from the family he had there. We would love to adopt Lev, but that does not seem possible under Ukrainian rules."

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

A DNA test has proved JUDE LAW is the father of model SAMANTHA BURKE’s newborn baby, according to reports.
American model Burke gave birth to daughter Sophia last month (22Sep09) after a brief love affair with the actor earlier this year (09) while he was filming Sherlock Holmes in New York.
Britain’s News of the World newspaper alleges lawyers are now planning a meeting between Law and his new baby after a paternity test confirmed his parenthood.
A source tells the publication, "She (Burke) never had any doubt about the results, but is obviously relieved. She knows some people were questioning her." The 36 year old has previously vowed to financially support Burke in raising their child.

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

Rocker DERYCK WHIBLEY is moving on from his split with wife AVRIL LAVIGNE, cuddling up to a model during a boozy night out in Las Vegas on Friday (02Oct09).
The Sum 41 frontman was spotted holding hands with Hanna Beth Merjos while partying at the 20th anniversary of The Mirage hotel and casino in Sin City.
The pair dined with pals before catching the Slash and Friends show, where the Guns N’ Roses guitarist, Tommy Lee and rock band Daughtry performed. They then heading to Jet Nightclub, where they danced until 3am.
Lavigne confirmed her marriage was over last month (Sep09), with both stars insisting the split was amicable.

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

Singer JAMES BLUNT is single again after his girlfriend reportedly dumped him.
The You’re Beautiful star had been dating model Natasha Archdale since January (09) but the brunette is said to have called off the relationship because Blunt has been spending too much time in the recording studio.
A source tells Britain’s News of the World, "James and Natasha were such a good couple it just fizzled out. It became very clear that they wanted different things. She wanted long mornings in bed in each other’s arms. But he preferred to sit at his piano and write songs." The star was previously linked to Czech model Petra Nemcova. They split up last year (08).

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