Hot Celebrity Gossip

Hilary Duff's new single 'Reach Out' borrows liberally from the '80s pop song 'Personal Jesus' by Depeche Mode - yet none of its three songwriters has any connection to the British band. How much can a new song lift from an old classic before it becomes less homage... and more theft?

LONDON (Oct. 29) - The BBC indefinitely suspended two of its most popular broadcasters, Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross, on Wednesday for leaving a series of lewd phone messages on an actor's answering machine.
The prank calls to 78-year-old Andrew Sachs, played on state-funded BBC radio, have sparked condemnation in Parliament and an investigation by Britain's media regulator.
The calls were broadcast Oct. 18 on Brand's national radio show and have drawn more than 18,000 complaints. In the messages Ross jokingly claimed Brand had slept with the granddaughter of Sachs, best known for playing Spanish waiter Manuel in 1970s sitcom "Fawlty Towers."
Brand and Ross have apologized, but even Prime Minister Gordon Brown was among those who said the calls were unacceptable.
On Wednesday, the BBC's director general said the pair would be suspended until an investigation was complete.
BBC chief Mark Thompson said he was making a "personal and unreserved apology" for the "completely unacceptable broadcast."
"BBC audiences accept that, in comedy, performers attempt to push the line of taste. However, this is not a marginal case," he said.
"I have decided that it is not appropriate for either Russell Brand or Jonathan Ross to continue broadcasting on the BBC until I have seen the full report of the actions of all concerned."
Ross, 47, and Brand, 33, also have apologized for the calls. But several politicians have called on the BBC to fire the pair, who are among the network's most popular broadcasters.
Brand has a burgeoning U.S. profile thanks to film appearances and a job hosting last month's MTV Video Music Awards. He offended some viewers of the awards show by mocking clean-cut pop act the Jonas Brothers and referring to President George W. Bush as "that retarded cowboy fellow."
Ross hosts a TV talk show, a movie-review program and a weekend radio program. He is one of the BBC's highest-paid personalities. Last year he signed multi-year-multimillion-pound (-dollar) deal with the broadcaster.
Brown said the BBC and regulators had to decide what action to take. "This is clearly inappropriate and unacceptable behavior," the prime minister said Tuesday.
Telecommunications regulator Ofcom said it would investigate whether the calls breached the broadcasting code, which sets standards for fairness and privacy.

Wow, genie pants. Genie pants as designed by Katie Holmes. Oh, that’s no lie:

KATIE DESIGNED THIS AMBIGUOUS GARBAGE.

Is it a one piece? Whatever. Kind of amazing that we can see the bulging of her underwear — those pants just ask that you stare at her expansive pelvic region, which somehow, it seems baboon-sized. Meanwhile, everything on top is sad. So sad. So sag-a-rific. All that Death Becomes Her black lace, boo-hoo.

But it’s sweet of her to design clothes with a man in mind. Those pants are totes the perfect length for Tom, too.

Russell Crowe wasn’t the only one getting jiggy with Leonardo DiCaprio during the “Body of Lies” shoot – his other co-star, Oscar Isaac tried to get cozy with him in the field.

“I guess you could say my character’s maybe secretly in love with Leo’s character, yeah,” Isaac told us. “I think that’s exactly how I played it when I think about it.”

Based on David Ignatius’ 2007 novel, “Body of Lies” features DiCaprio as Roger Ferris, a CIA man in the field in the Middle East trying to lure a car-bombing terrorist out of hiding, and Isaac as Bassam, his translator and ally in Iraq (which was substituted for by shooting in Morocco).

Bassam wins Ferris over by giving him intel, but how did Isaac win over DiCaprio? “That’s easy, he’s a pushover,” Isaac said. “Just play Xbox. Just beat him at some Xbox games.”

Sounds simple, except DiCaprio is pretty much a master gamer – so what are his weaknesses? “I think it depends on the game,” Isaac said. “I’m a good Halo player, and he’s good at all the other ones, so I would say we’re evenly matched.”

“So for the girls,” he advised, “just bone up on your Xbox. It’s a matter of skill. Just mad skill. And then he’s yours.”

Think it’s that easy to score with Leo? Planning to see “Body of Lies”? Or does it look like Ridley Scott’s lost his touch?

Janet Jackson has canceled her fourth show in less than a week because of an undisclosed illness.

A statement from Jackson said she arrived in Greensboro, N.C., hoping to perform there Saturday, but a local doctor advised that she not perform after it became “evident” she was not fully recovered. 

Representatives for the 42-year-old singer say she became “suddenly ill” and was hospitalized Monday night in Montreal shortly after she arrived for a show. She also canceled concerts in Boston and Philadelphia on Wednesday and Thursday.

Jackson’s publicist did not elaborate Saturday, only saying she was “recuperating.”

Jackson is on her first North American tour in seven years.

Copyright 2008 by Associated Press. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

A host of stars including John Stamos, Donald Trump and Barbara Walters turned up at the Le Cirque restaraunt in New York City on Friday night for the wedding of Howard Stern and model Beth Ostrosky.

Dressed in a grey suit and on the arm of a pretty brunette, Stamos turned up grinning as he headed into the ceremony. Though they split earlier this summer, former couple Jimmy Kimmel and Sarah Silverman walked in together, Access can report.

But it was Howard and his bride Beth who made the biggest entrance. The couple made a very untraditional arrival – turning up together.

“I can’t wait to marry Howard,” Beth told Newsday before the wedding, according to the Associated Press. “I know, everyone laughs!”

Chauffeured in a black limo, Howard exited the vehicle first, while Beth went in a short while later.

The bride wore a white gown designed by Georgina Chapman with a white shawl-like wrap to stave off the New York City cold.

Other stars attending the ceremony included “Live’s” Kelly Ripa, whose husband Mark Consuelos was ordained as a minister specifically to marry Howard and Beth.

Barbara Walters, Billy Joel and his wife Katie Lee Joel, Joan and Melissa Rivers, Artie Lang, Steve Schirippa, and Denise Rich also were spotted attending the event, with Joel reportedly performing his hit “The Stranger.” According to the Associated Press, a total of 180 guests attended the ceremony, dining on tuna tataki, scrambled eggs with white truffles and striped bass with caviar.

Copyright 2008 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.