Britney Spears' family tour

Britney Spears has been taking parenting advice from Madonna.

The 'Toxic' singer has revealed she consulted her idol - who raises three children - when deciding whether or not to take her young sons, Sean Preston, three, and Jayden James, two, on tour with her.

A source said: "Madonna gave Britney some great advice about her kids. Madonna told her, 'Keep them close when you're on the road. I have always taken my kids on the road with me. It's a life they learn to accept, as long as they're with their mom. You want to look back on those years and know they are with you. They'll look back on these years too and they'll be very glad to have those memories.' "

Britney - who is accompanied on her 'Britney Spears Presents the Circus' tour by her sons and ex-husband Kevin Federline, who has primary custody of the children - agreed with her mentor's view and hopes them seeing what she does first-hand will impress them.

Britney, 27, said: "I do think it's all about history. What we as mothers are doing is creating this history with our kids that we can look back on and say, 'Yeah, that was hard. But it was fun because we did it together.' When they're adults I want my kids to say, 'Wow, my mom was working hard but she was there for us.' "

However, there are some parts of her show which the 'Womanizer' star won't allow her boys to see.

An insider explained to Britain's Hello! magazine: "She wants them around all the time. Except maybe not for the parts of the show she thinks are too suggestive. A couple of times along the way Britney's mother Lynne has taken the boys out of the arena when the show gets a little outrageous."

taken from : China Daily

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Kylie Minogue sings for Africa

Kylie Minogue wowed the crowd with a stunning performance at a charity concert at the Cannes Film Festival.

The singer, who turns 41 tomorrow (28.05.09), sang a medley of hits at the Miracle Africa International Fundraiser, which helps fight malaria in African countries, held at the VIP Club.

Speaking before the event, Kylie said: "This is a very small venue compared to what I would normally do, and I'm going to absolutely love it, it just feels like a really sweaty show. I turn around and there's my band and we are all crammed in together."

Kylie started her performance wearing a black sequined leotard, fishnets and a black hat before closing her set in a corset-topped dress with diamante detail, while wearing a jewelled carnival mask.

Among those cheering on Kylie were 'Heroes' star Hayden Panettiere, Peaches Geldof and James Blunt.

Peaches said of the Chopard-sponsored event: "I think that philanthropy in any way is a good idea, and any charity that raises awareness for people who are impoverished is obviously a good thing."

Executive Director of the Miracle Africa International Foundation Nadia Murabet said: "One of the things that I really saw in Africa that many people don't realise is that malaria is the biggest issue. Yes AIDS is an issue but malaria is worse. So we really have to start moving to get it eradicated."

taken from : China Daily

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Country queen Taylor Swift charms L.A. crowd

Singer Taylor Swift arrives at the 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas April 5, 2009.[Agencies]

LOS ANGELES- Earlier this year, Taylor Swift's "Fearless" strung together 11 nonconsecutive weeks atop the Billboard 200. It was a feat that hadn't been accomplished in years and may have left those unfamiliar with the relatively new star curious about her appeal.

At the sold-out Staples Center on Friday, on her first headlining tour, Swift showed why she's become country's new queen with a two-hour-plus set that played on her strengths and pointed to her continuing pop crossover potential.

The key selling point on display Friday was Swift's relatability. She's not just another oversexed, underdressed prefab pop Barbie, but rather the girl next door who's had her heart broken and takes refuge in music she actually sings, plays and writes. While those songs for the brokenhearted were gussied up with costumes, elaborate staging and a half-dozen musicians, it was ultimately Swift's confessional tunes -- from opener "You Belong to Me," with its high school motif, to the lesson-learned regret of "Should Have Said No" -- that made the show a success.

In fact, Swift performed the two most effective numbers -- "Fifteen" and her first hit, "Tim McGraw" -- from the crowd on acoustic guitar. The former manages to split the difference both emotionally (and numerically) between Big Star's lost classic "Thirteen" and Janis Ian's "At Seventeen." The latter was received with such a thunderous ovation that Swift seemed genuinely moved and rewarded the crowd with a John Mayer guest spot.

Yet like the staging and costumes, Mayer's appearance wasn't necessary. Sure, he performed a serviceable duet with Swift on his "Your Body Is a Wonderland" and added some tasty electric guitar riffs to Swift's "White Horse," but Swift didn't really need any help handling the crowd or the stage. She has a likable stage presence that's not overly polished and even was slightly awkward at times, but her loyal following didn't seem to mind, often singing along without cues from the star.

Some well-produced humorous film clips, featuring cameos from Tim McGraw and Tyler Hilton, allowed time for set and costume changes and self-effacingly played up Swift's propensity for vengeance in song. If the message wasn't clear enough, "Teardrops on My Guitar" featured Swift's would-be Romeo slow-dancing with another blonde babe. Yet toward the set's end, when Swift rolled out "Picture to Burn," her girl-scorned theme had grown tiresome.

Thankfully, the more universally themed "Change" followed, with Swift noting that "it's been a tough year." Images of victims of economic and natural disasters were projected on the video screens, but as the song turned the corner and Swift noted that "things turn back around," scenes of triumph appeared. It was overly simplistic and a bit naive, but still hard not to be moved.

With her big-beat remix version of "Love Story," which has been receiving top-40 airplay, and her incorporation of Justin Timberlake's "What Goes Around..." into her own piano-driven "You're Not Sorry," Swift showed off her strong pop crossover potential, but we can only hope if she fully makes the jump into that arena, she doesn't sacrifice the charm that made us take notice in the first place.

taken from : China Daily

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Gisele Bundchen races away from rats

Gisele Bundchen is being plagued by rats.

The Brazilian supermodel screamed in horror after seeing one of the rodents which have infested her street, in New York's West Village area - where stars including Rupert Everett and Michael Cera also live.

A source said: "There's been a parade of big fat rats every night. You can hear shrieks from fighting rats and from girls walking by who see the rats.

"They come out from a building where the owner hasn't bothered to replace stolen garbage cans, leaving the rats to fight over all the trash on the street."

Gisele is not the first star to be plagued by pests.

Kate Moss was recently driven to despair after her home was invaded by a neighbour's doves.

A source explained: "The doves entered the place via the veranda and took up residence. They caused havoc, setting off her state-of-the-art alarm and making a real stink - literally!

"They relieved themselves over her antique furniture leaving unsightly stains and a vile smell. Kate spent hours running around the place trying to make them fly away."
taken from : China Daily

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Jessica Simpson back to reality

Jessica Simpson is to make a return to reality TV.

The 'With You' singer - who starred in MTV's 'Newlyweds' with ex-husband Nick Lachey - will travel the world with a friend to find out what is deemed beautiful for new show 'The Price of Beauty'.

Jessica's representative said: "Jessica is indeed working on a new show, but network details have not been finalised at this time."

The 28-year-old blonde - who was criticised for her seemingly fuller figure earlier this year - signed on to the show after undergoing an intense exercise regime to makeover her figure.

Jessica recently defended her decision to star in 'Newlyweds', insisting the programme didn't destroy her relationship.

She explained: "The show made me understand what marriage is, what love is, what commitment is. In all honesty, I believe it did not affect our marriage. Because we enjoyed watching those episodes, and that will always be a time I cherish."
taken from : China Daily

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Katy Perry's breast-loving boyfriend

Katy Perry's boyfriend is dating her because she has big breasts.

The 'Waking Up In Vegas' singer is convinced her impressive assets won over Gym Class Heroes frontman Travis McCoy.

The 24-year-old star said: "I'm probably going to get in trouble for saying this, but Travis said he was never a boob guy - he was always a butt guy - until he met me."

Katy admits she only recently realised the effect her womanly figure has on men.

She explained: "I didn't know how to use my curves growing up. I was a little boxier. But now I understand that I'm so attractive because I have that curvy thing.

"I'm not like Jennifer Lopez and Kim Kardashian, but it's there. That hourglass is in there somewhere."

Katy shot to fame when her hit single 'I Kissed a Girl' was released last year, but she insists she never smooches strangers in real life.

She added to Complex magazine: "For me, it's not a pastime, going out and meeting people and trying to hook up with people. That actually makes me feel disgusting. From a really early age, I was really sensitive to that.

"Getting your flirt on is the best thing in the world, but when it comes to sharing bodily fluids with a person I don't know - no thank you."
taken from : China Daily

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Kylie Minogue set to wed?

Kylie Minogue is engaged.

The 40-year-old singer was reportedly thrilled when her Spanish boyfriend of seven months Andres Velencoso popped the question during a romantic trip to New York earlier this month.

A source told Britain's Grazia magazine: "Andres told her he wanted to wake up next to her every day for the rest of his life. She asked him if she knew what he was saying and if he was serious, and when he said yes and that he wanted to marry her, she was thrilled."

The smitten couple have yet to find the perfect engagement ring so Kylie has taken to wearing a diamond heart band on the fourth finger of her right hand until they do.

The source added: "She calls it her Spanish heart. Everyone is convinced Kylie has found her soulmate in Andres - she is quite clearly head-over-heels in love. He equally seems to adore her. His nickname for her is Minnie and he even drew her a picture of Minnie Mouse. We've never seen her so happy."

Kylie - who turns for 41 on Thursday (28.05.09) - recently confirmed she is blissfully happy with Andres.

She said: "I feel relaxed, happy, excited and just totally content with my life. I'm having a good time.

"I'm just doing things I never would give myself time to do. I'm finding my balance and I'm giving myself space just to be me.

"I feel good about everything in my life at the moment. I'm a very, very happy girl."

Kylie, 40, and Andres, 31, met at a party thrown by burlesque star Dita von Teese last October. He moved into her London home in February.
taken from : China Daily

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Jennifer Aniston told to move on

Jennifer Aniston is being urged to cut Brad Pitt out of her life.

The actress' friends are worried she will never get over her ex-husband if she doesn't distance herself from him.

A source said: "It's not that Courteney Cox and co dislike Brad - quite the opposite. They're all fond of him because he's a pleasant guy to be around. But that's the very reason why he can't be in Jennifer's life - Courteney has told her repeatedly to ditch Brad's number. But it's never going to be that simple - he was her one big love."

Friends believe that if Brad does ever split from current partner Angelina Jolie he would be unlikely to rekindle his romance with Jennifer.

The source added to Britain's Look magazine: "Even if he and Jennifer were to reunite, look how complicated their life together would be. Jennifer would always have to deal with Angelina's presence because she and Brad raise six kids together. That's a huge commitment."

Jennifer - who has dated Vince Vaughn, Paul Sculfor and John Mayer since her divorce in 2005 - has reportedly struggled to find a man to compare to the 'Burn After Reading' star.

The source explained: "It seems Jennifer can't find anyone to fill Brad's shoes. "Jennifer needs to forget about Brad and give herself the chance to move on. Otherwise she's going to spend the rest of her life pining for him."
taken from : China Daily

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Taylor Swift's flaming photo revenge

Taylor Swift burns photos of her ex-boyfriends.

The 'Love Story' singer - who has been romantically linked to stars including singer Joe Jonas and actor Lucas Till - has warned future suitors to treat her well or face the consequences.

She said: "If you break my heart, hurt my feelings or mess with friends I'll have to write a song about you. "I am not the only girl that burns ex-boyfriends' pictures."

Taylor, 19, has also revealed she was unpopular at school but insists struggling to fit in made her more determined to succeed in later life.

The blonde beauty explained to FOX News: "It doesn't matter if you don't have friends in junior high. Being an outsider gave me time to think. But there was a time when my greatest fear was not fitting in at school - I never thought I would have a sold-out concert."

Taylor recently admitted she draws inspiration from her relationships, particularly if they fail.

She said: "Let's say I date a guy who really does nothing but damage me, and you've spent time, you've spent effort, and you've put everything into trying to make that work. And it didn't. So you write a song about it. It was worth everything if you write a song about it."
taken from : China Daily

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T.I. packs Atlanta arena before heading to prison

Rapper T.I. performs in Atlanta Sunday May 24, 2009. The Grammy-winning rapper is to report by noon Tuesday to the Federal Correction Institution at Forrest City, Ark., to serve a a sentence for federal weapons conviction. [Agencies]

ATLANTA – Rapper T.I. gave his fans a rousing send-off before he heads to prison on a federal weapons conviction.

The Grammy-winning rapper told the audience at a Sunday night concert in Atlanta's Philips Arena that he would stay optimistic while serving his sentence for a year and a day.

"I'm going to stand up tall, head up high," he said. "Thank you for all of your support."

Many in the packed crowd of about 16,000 people held up encouraging signs, like one reading "T.I. We Will Miss U!"

The 28-year-old rapper, whose real name is Clifford J. Harris Jr., must report by noon Tuesday to the Federal Correction Institution at Forrest City, Ark.

He was arrested after prosecutors said he tried to buy unregistered machine guns and silencers from undercover federal agents in 2007.

During the concert, T.I. said he hoped that everyone learned from his mistakes. He brought his five children on stage to stand next to him, often holding one of them while he performed "No Matter What" — a single off the almost double-platinum album "Paper Trail."

T.I., who won a Grammy for "Swagga Like Us," also performed all his hits from "What You Know" to "Bring 'Em Out" to his recent chart-topping singles "What Ever You Like" and "Live Your Life." Teenage rapper Soulja Boy also joined him on stage.

"What I need y'all to do is pray for me while I'm gone," he said. "I'll see y'all in 366 days."

taken from : China Daily

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Bateer finds movies a whole new ball game

Former NBA star Mengke Bateer has joined the cast of Assassins and Bodyguards (Shiyue Weicheng), a star-studded blockbuster currently in production and due to screen at the end of the year.

The film, set in 1905, recounts how a group of kungfu masters protected Dr Sun Yat-sen in Hong Kong from would-be assassins.

Bateer, Donnie Yen and Leon Lai, are among Sun's six bodyguards. The 2.1-m center plays a street vendor who masters martial arts and says speaking his lines has proven more difficult than playing basketball and his action scenes have been equally challenging.

Born in 1975 in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, Bateer used to play for several NBA teams, including Denver Nuggets and San Antonio Spurs, and now plays for Xinjiang Guanghui.

The film, directed by Teddy Chen and produced by Peter Chan also features Nicolas Tse, Eric Tsang and Chris Lee, winner of China's version of American Idol.

taken from : China Daily

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Demi Moore shows off toothless grin on Twitter

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- She’s one of Hollywood’s most beautiful leading ladies, but Demi Moore took the opportunity on Twitter to show off a private moment, posting photos of herself without a front tooth.

“Keeping it real,” Demi wrote on her Twitter account late last week, as she posted four photos of herself in a dentist’s chair.

In the photos, the actress and Twitter addict, is pictured lying back in a dentists chair, complete with bib. She is smiling in several of the photos, which reveal a missing front tooth.

“I personally thought this look went out after you were 8,” she Tweeted. “Didn’t know I would be rocking it again.”

Demi told her Twitter followers that she posted the snaps to keep her rooted.

“Was happy to share and always appreciate the opportunity to find [humility]!!! Or at least be able to laugh at myself,” she Tweeted.

“Thank god for modern dentistry,” she later wrote.

taken from : China Daily

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"Angels & Demons" flies high overseas

Actor Tom Hanks (L) and Israeli actress Ayelet Zurer attend the Japan premiere of their movie "Angels & Demons" in Tokyo May 7, 2009. The Japanese words read: "Angels & Demons". [Agencies]

LOS ANGELES- "Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian" could not dislodge "Angels & Demons" as the No. 1 film at the foreign box office last weekend.

Ben Stiller's family comedy, the top film in North America with $70 million for the four-day Memorial Day holiday weekend, grossed $50.1 million from 93 markets. "Angels" led the field for a second weekend with $60.4 million from 99 markets.

"Smithsonian" will have a hard time challenging much less exceeding the $323.6 million overseas box office mark set by the 2006 original, "Night at the Museum."

The biggest market for the sequel was the U.K., where it finished No. 1 with a muscular $6.8 million. It also finished No. 1 in France ($5 million), Russia ($4.4 million) and Australia ($3.6 million).

"Angels & Demons" has earned $198.3 million internationally. A delayed Mexico debut revitalized the recently reopened market by generating a powerful $4.1 million. "Angels & Demons" premiered strongly in Norway, grossing $1.9 million for the country's 11th biggest opening weekend.

"Star Trek," which was No. 1 until "Angels & Demons" opened, was No. 3 this weekend with $11.5 million from 58 markets. Its overseas total stands at $87.5 million.

"Terminator Salvation," the new No. 2 title domestically, also opened in selected Middle East markets and in Korea. In the latter, it took the No. 1 slot with $7.2 million. A full-scale offshore splash is schedule June 3-5.

"X-Men Origins: Wolverine" was No. 4 with $7 million from 103 territories. The international total for the Hugh Jackman movie stands at $156.7 million.

Fifth was Disney's teen pop saga "Hannah Montana: The Movie," which generated $3.1 million from 17 markets for an overseas total of $31 million. The Miley Cyrus vehicle opened at No. 2 in Mexico with $785,000.
taken from : China Daily

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"American Idol" ends on low note

Host Ryan Seacrest announces Kris Allen (C) the winner as he stands with fellow finalist Adam Lambert during the finale of Season 8 of "American Idol" in Los Angeles May 20, 2009.[Agencies]

LOS ANGELES - Kris Allen's upset victory over glam rocker Adam Lambert drew the smallest "American Idol" finale audience since 2004, slowing the television ratings juggernaut and posing questions about the future of some of its key players.

Preliminary figures from News Corp's Fox network on Thursday showed an estimated 28.8 million people watched the two-hour finale of the popular TV singing contest on Wednesday, down from 32 million last year.

While still America's most watched TV show, "American Idol" audiences have slipped to an average 26.3 million per twice weekly episode over the five-month broadcast, compared to a 2006 high of about 30.8 million.

The slide came despite producers adding a fourth judge, Kara DioGuardi, to keep the show fresh. DioGuardi, a songwriter who helped pen the poorly received first single "No Boundaries" for Kris Allen, now must wait to hear whether her one-year contract will be renewed.

Panelist Paula Abdul's contract expires with the end of the current season and often-acerbic British judge Simon Cowell -- arguably the show's biggest asset -- has discussed leaving when his contract is up in May 2010.

Cowell commutes weekly across the Atlantic to run his British-based shows "The X Factor" and "Britain's Got Talent" and has said he would want to leave if "Idol" was toppled from its six-year reign at the top on U.S. television.

An AOL Television poll this week found that 49 percent of "Idol" fans questioned would no longer watch if Cowell leaves.

'LOST THE CHEMISTRY'

Contract talks are expected before nationwide summer auditions begin for the next season of "American Idol," which will be broadcast in early 2010.

Fox executives have said they hope all the judges will stay but negotiations will be primarily in the hands of joint producers 19 Entertainment and FremantleMedia.

DioGuardi looks to be most at risk, despite a bikini-strip singing stunt on Wednesday regarded as a finale highlight.

Nigel Lythgoe, a former executive producer with "Idol," said he would never have agreed to four judges.

"Yesterday showed me that they had lost the chemistry," Lythgoe told Reuters. "I miss the slapping and the punching and the 'what the hell did you mean by that?' And even when Paula doesn't make sense, I've got a talking point."

The fourth voice on the panel has squeezed performance times and caused the live show to run over time on occasions.

"The Kara experiment was a disaster," said Michael Slezak, a reporter with Entertainment Weekly, who felt the judges had lost credibility and turned fans off with playful antics that diverted the focus from the contestants.

"The judges, really, it would be nice if they did a little soul searching at the end of the season and maybe found a way to reinvigorate interest in what's going on in front of them," Slezak told Reuters.

The declining ratings for "Idol" reflect a general fall-off in American TV viewing in the past two years, blamed on increased competition from videogames and the Internet.

But the AOL poll found that 70 percent of "Idol" fans are as obsessed with the show as ever. Almost 100 million votes were cast by text and telephone this year -- a record -- by fans choosing between Allen and Lambert in the finale.

The show's viewer-driven format has produced stars such as Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood and is broadcast live or tape-delayed in more than 100 nations including Pakistan, Israel and South Africa.
taken from : China Daily

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Slimming shopper Beyonce Knowles

Actress Beyonce Knowles poses at the premiere of the film "Obsessed" in New York, April 23, 2009. [Agencies]

Beyonce Knowles buys clothes which are too small for her as a motivation to lose weight.

The singer-and-actress, who is famed for her curvy figure, admits it takes a lot of hard work for her to stay in shape so she needs to have a goal.

She said: "I buy something too small and then say, 'I have a reason.' I need to wear these jeans or this hot dress."

The 27-year-old beauty also says her dream of winning an Oscar drives her on when she is working out.

Talking about a painting in her gym which features the famous gold statue, she revealed: "I look at it, and I'm like, 'OK, I have to stay in shape.' "

Although she would like to lose a few pounds, Beyonce - who is married to hip-hop star Jay-Z - admits she wasn't happy when she shed 15lbs to play Deena Jones in 'Dreamgirls'.

She added to Self magazine: "I felt very chic, like a model. But it didn't look natural for me. I didn't feel very sexy or feminine, and I didn't have much confidence because I didn't feel like myself."
taken from : China Daily

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Rihanna bowled over by rapper

Rihanna has been seen "making out" with a rapper.

The 'Rehab' singer was seen drinking whiskey and locking lips with former child actor-turned-rapper Aubrey 'Drake' Graham at New York's Lucky Strike Lanes and Lounge on Monday (18.05.09).

A source told the New York Post newspaper: "She was drinking whiskey and apple juice and making out with him all night. They were really cute together."

Rihanna is believed to have left the trendy bowling alley with Drake around midnight.

The night before (17.05.09), the 21-year-old beauty was spotted kissing a guy at a lap dancing bar.

Rihanna - whose ex-boyfriend Chris Brown allegedly assaulted her in February - took over the VIP room of New York's Flashdancers club and was seen getting friendly with one of the hunks in her party.

A source said: "Rihanna didn't get any lap dances herself, but she was tipping the girls a lot. And she was definitely with one of the guys in her group and kissing him all night."

The group allegedly spent around $2,500 in the club before leaving at 3.30am.
taken from : China Daily

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Nicole Richie's pregnancy pickle

Nicole Richie is craving pickles.

The pregnant star, who already has a 16-month-old daughter Harlow, begged her partner Joel Madden to buy her some brine-soaked savoury snacks during a family day out recently.

A source said: "After enjoying lunch with Harlow at Beverly Hills deli Nate 'n Al, Nicole told Joel she wanted some pickles to go. Joel popped back in the eatery and came out seconds later with the goods."

However, Joel was forced to return to the cafe because Nicole was upset with him for buying the wrong type of pickle. The source added to the National Enquirer magazine: "Nicole told him, 'These aren't the right ones,' and sent him back. Joel finally got the order right the second time round."

Nicole is due to give birth in August and it was recently claimed the couple are expecting a boy after the pair were spotted buying blue baby items.

A source said: "Joel bought water-based paint for the nursery and - surprise, surprise - it's blue! Plus, Nicole recently ordered some plush animals and infant toys, and everything just happens to be blue." Nicole, 27, has also been referring to her unborn baby as "he".
taken from : China Daily

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Sarah Jessica Parker opens up about using a surrogate & getting ready for twins

SANTA FE, NM -- Sarah Jessica Parker sat down with Access Hollywood’s Billy Bush earlier this week on the New Mexico set of her new comedy, “Did You Hear About The Morgans?” for her first interview since announcing that she and husband Matthew Broderick are expecting twins through a surrogate.

“I’m excited,” she told Billy about the babies. “I’m in disbelief. I’m really grateful. I feel really fortunate. My son is so excited, my husband is so excited.”

On April 28, just as stories were about to break with the news, the couple announced they were expecting twins via a surrogate. And on Tuesday, Sarah Jessica told Billy why she chose to go the surrogate route.

“Well, you know, we’ve been trying to expand our family for a number of years and we actually have explored a variety of ways of doing so,” she said. “This was one of the things we discussed with seriousness that had real possibilities for us.”

“A lot of people face disappointment in that area – [did you have your] fair share of disappointment?” Billy asked.

“Yeah, I mean I couldn’t pretend otherwise,” she said. “It would be a complicated – it would be odd to have made this choice if I was able to, you know, have successful pregnancies since my son’s birth.”

Thrilled over the fact that she was indeed having a child via surrogate, when Sarah Jessica learned she was having twins, her glee doubled.

“I mean, giggles!” she said of her reaction when first learning the news. “We didn’t expect it. I think after a certain amount of time, you tend to hold your hopes at bay a bit so as not to be disappointed. One really would have been thrilling and we would’ve felt incredibly lucky. And two was a comedy!”

Sarah Jessica said she has shared with her son, 6-year-old James Wilkie, some details about the surrogacy, but at first refrained from telling him too much.

“I’ve been pretty candid with him,” she said. “I kind of chartered my own course with him because we wanted to keep this quiet and so I wanted to be very careful about telling him so he wasn’t burdened with a secret. On the other hand, I wanted him to have time to adjust to the idea of sharing his mama and his papa.”

And now that he has, Sarah Jessica said James is ready to be a big brother.

“I feel very excited about the fact that my son is of an age now where he really will be helpful,” she said. “He’s really excited. He’s very much ready to be an older brother. I think it gives him a great sense of pride. It’s wonderful and I just hope for their safe arrival.”

Safety is, in fact, Sarah Jessica’s main concern. Since the baby news broke, she’s been shocked that a tabloid has targeted her surrogate.
taken from : China Daily

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Natural beauty Halle Berry

Halle Berry doesn't care if she's seen without make-up.

The Oscar-winning beauty refuses to conform to the pressure of looking perfect and is happy to show off her natural beauty.

She is quoted as saying: "All these paparazzi are just out of control, it has added a new pressure. When you just want to go out and be a normal person you get put on that bad clothes list. Or it's like, 'Look, she's got a zit,' and they zero in on it. Or it's, 'Look, she's got cellulite,' and they zero in on that. They make you feel like you can't go out and be a normal girl. I try to resist it and go out without my make-up even though I know I am going to be on that list."

This is not the first time Halle, 42, has spoken about how stressful it is to be a Hollywood star.

When she discovered she was pregnant with her daughter Nahla, who is now 15 months old, Halle found it "liberating" not worrying about her figure at red carpet events.

She said: "It was the first red carpet that I've really walked down where I didn't have to think about holding in my stomach.

"It's the first time I've been to an awards show where they served a meal and I actually ate it. I was eating off everybody else's plate and that felt very liberating and good."
taken from : China Daily

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Farrah Fawcett cried, joked about her documentary

Farrah Fawcett releases a live Monarch butterfly in West Hollywood, California on October 5, 2005. [Agencies]

NEW YORK- Farrah Fawcett became emotional while watching a television documentary about her losing cancer battle but still had the wit to make an old showbiz joke, according to her closest friends.

"She cried a few times. It was very emotional for her," her friend Alana Stewart, the former wife of rocker Rod Stewart, told NBC's "Today" program in an interview on Monday. "It's been a very, very long journey, you know, and going back through it was probably a bit painful."

Nearly 9 million viewers tuned in to watch the video diary, "Farrah's Story" that aired on Friday, NBC said.

The 90-minute film, much of it narrated by Fawcett, makes clear the actress is nearing the end of her life. It shows the actress' numerous medical treatments over the past two years and recent weeks when she has been bedridden, heavily medicated and barely able to recognize her son.

Ryan O'Neal, Fawcett's long term boyfriend, told "Today" that Fawcett had a "very low pulse" when she began watching the film that "kept going up and up" throughout the viewing.

She also had the clarity to make a showbiz joke about whether the ratings were any good.

"I said, 'We did very well last night,' And she said, "What were the numbers?' ... and it made me laugh that she would still have those terms in her head," O'Neal said.

Fawcett, 62, the former star of the TV show "Charlie's Angels," was diagnosed with anal cancer in 2006, and it spread to her liver two years ago. The film includes footage of Fawcett shaving her own hair late last year when it began to fall out after chemotherapy.

The actress was too ill to attend a screening of the documentary in Beverly Hills for close friends last week.

The show drew mixed critical reactions. The New York Times described it as "awful" and "exploitative." Entertainment Weekly said it was "sometimes almost unbearable, sometimes fascinating."

O'Neal has spoken tearfully in recent days of a life without Fawcett.

But Stewart, who helped film the documentary, said in a separate interview that she still hoped for a miracle.

"Ryan has loved her for 30 years. She's the love of his life. He does go to worst possible case scenario. He's very emotional about it. I'm different. I'm stubbornly insistent there can be a miracle. talked about once. We didn't allow any outcome into our minds except getting well," she told Entertainment Tonight in an interview to be broadcast on Monday evening.

taken from : China Daily

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`24' ends season on high note, with Jack Bauer low

FILE - In this May 12, 2009 file photo, actor Kiefer Sutherland arrives at the '24' Season 7 finale screening and panel discussion in Los Angeles. [Agencies]

NEW YORK – Even if the world had been applauding Jack Bauer at the season's end of "24," he couldn't hear them.

He was last seen hospitalized in a coma. Infected by a bioweapon targeting America, counter-terrorist hero Jack had taken the hit while trying to save his fellow citizens. Then, woozier and sweatier by the hour, he managed to foil the terrorists.

By Monday's finale of the Fox thriller "24," all Jack wants is — no, not a Medal of Freedom or an attaboy from a grateful nation — but to die in peace.

That's not going to happen. He's Jack Bauer, he's played by series star Kiefer Sutherland, and the series has plenty of life left in it. No wonder Jack's daughter, Kim, arrives at his bedside and demands experimental surgery for him that involves taking stem cells from her body — surgery that Jack had nixed hours earlier.

"I'm sorry, Dad," says Kim (Elisha Cuthbert) to her unconscious father, "but I'm not ready to let you go."

The series' high-rev, pretzel-twisty 24-hour-real-time season ended with a double episode that spanned from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m.

It brought some welcome closure to the raging question of, "What's the deal with Tony Almeida?"

Tony had been a loyal, key associate of Jack's at the L.A.-based Counter Terrorism Unit. But he was believed dead two seasons ago. Now here he was at the start of the seventh season in Washington, D.C., with Carlos Bernard reprising the role, shockingly risen from the grave and hooked up with the bad guys.

Or so it seemed. But soon viewers learned Tony was only pretending to support this dastardly force, aiming to bring it down from within.

Or so it seemed. Then viewers got the strong impression he really did support the evildoers, which made him the mortal enemy of Jack and all good Americans.

But that still wasn't quite it. In the finale, Tony disclosed to Jack he had had one simple, nonpolitical obsession: to rise through the ranks of the multilayered crime organization to reach the isolated man at the top, Alan Wilson. Tony wanted to earn himself a face-to-face meeting with the boss — then kill him for murdering Tony's wife years ago.

"Everything you've done today is for personal revenge?!" Jack gasped in his final confrontation with Tony, whereupon a spirited debate in situational ethics inconveniently unfolded.

"It's about justice!" Tony argued.

"Justice! You killed innocent people!"

"I did what I had to do to get Alan Wilson here," seethed Tony. "And now, he's gonna die."

"You kill Alan Wilson, and no one's ever gonna know the full extent of his conspiracy."

Jack had a point. Wilson had turned out to be an even bigger demon than Jonas Hodges, the villainous military contractor played deliciously by Jon Voight as the season's showcase baddie. But Hodges was blown to pieces in a car a few episodes ago, an attack set in motion by the president's chief of staff as payback for Hodges killing her brother. Making matters worse, the chief of staff was the president's daughter.

This was a sticky situation for President Allison Taylor (Cherry Jones) when her daughter confessed. But, being highly principled, the grief-stricken Mom saw no choice. Olivia (Sprague Grayden) was handed over to the authorities.

Next season, maybe President Taylor will still be in power and continue to be haunted by this scandal.

Maybe Alan Wilson (played by Will Patton) will also still be on the scene. He wasn't killed in the finale. Nor was Tony, whose act of vigilante justice Jack was able to stop. Spiteful and raging, Tony was taken into custody.

Both could be giving Jack new headaches when he comes out of that coma for another challenging day. Until then, with another viewer-pleasing "24" season concluded, he could use some down time.

taken from : China Daily

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Sienna Miller dyeing to be brunette

Sienna Miller loved being a brunette.

The stunning actress, famed for her long blonde tresses, dyed her locks for new movie 'G.I Joe: Rise of the Cobra' and was thrilled with the results.

Sienna, who is sporting honey-coloured hair again, is quoted as saying: "I actually loved the dark look.

The worst part was going back to blonde afterwards from such a dark colour but it's back to normal now. I keep thinking though that I might dye it again. It's fun to have that change."

Sienna, 27, recently revealed her delight at the news she is being turned into a doll. The beauty - who played poet Dylan Thomas' wife in 'The Edge Of Love' - is thrilled to be immortalised as a plastic action figure in the guise of her character Baroness.

She said: "I don't think anyone, anywhere would be playing with them if they were for 'The Edge of Love' but 'G.I. Joe' is a whole new experience. "I'm not sure if I'm going to be playing with my own doll - but I'm going to have happy nieces and nephews, I'm sure."


taken from : China Daily

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"Angels & Demons" fails to crack "Code"

Actor Tom Hanks waves to photographers during the world premiere of the movie "Angels & Demons" at the Auditorium in Rome, May 4, 2009.[Agencies]
Tom Hanks and Ayelet Zurer at premiere of "Angels & Demons" in Rome

LOS ANGELES - "Angels & Demons," the new movie based on Dan Brown's popular novel about conspiracy in the Catholic church, racked up $152 million in global ticket sales over the weekend, but failed to match the start of its predecessor "The Da Vinci Code."

Distributor Columbia Pictures said on Sunday the $150 million sequel earned about $48 million during its first three days of release in the United States and Canada, reaching No. 1 on box office charts and eclipsing last week's champ, "Star Trek," which slipped to No. 2 with $43 million.

Guided by the studio, box office pundits had expected "Angels" to open in the $40 million to $50 million range, and Columbia said it was thrilled with the result.

The sequel should pass $150 million in domestic ticket sales, said Rory Bruer, president of worldwide distribution at the Sony Corp unit.

Still, the popular "Da Vinci Code" opened to $77 million in 2006 on its way to a domestic haul of $217.5 million.

"Angels" also earned $104.3 million from No. 1 starts in 96 countries, down from the $147 million start for "Da Vinci."

Inevitably, the new film failed to replicate the buzz of the first movie. "The Da Vinci Code," based on another best-selling book by Brown, generated a firestorm of criticism with its premise that Jesus impregnated Mary Magdalene and that church officials tried to keep their bloodline secret.

The Vatican -- along with most critics -- ripped the film, but took a more measured tone against its sequel. Columbia said the first book sold twice as many copies as the second one, a clear indication that the second movie would come up short.

"On the other hand, 'Angels' absolutely was a far more cinematic book than 'Da Vinci Code' was," said Bruer.

POOR REVIEWS AGAIN

In "Angels & Demons," Tom Hanks returned to the series as a Harvard professor on a mission to save the papacy, and Ron Howard is also back directing the film. And much as they were with "Da Vinci Code," critics were scathing.

On website rottentomatoes.com that collects criticism and scores movies said the film earned only 38 percent positive reviews.

The Washington Post's John Anderson said: "What the movie is supposed to accomplish -- laying out a fairly complex mystery in a way that creates suspense -- is precisely what it doesn't do."

Still, Bruer expected the film to hold up well in coming weeks, as a rare adult thriller in a summer marketplace dominated by youth-skewing pictures like "Star Trek" and Thursday's upcoming release of "Terminator Salvation."

Columbia was also bullish about overseas prospects, noting it was the biggest international opening for a film since "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" in 2008.

Germany was the top market, contributing $12.7 million -- about the same as the opening for "The Da Vinci Code." Italy was also steady with $11.4 million. But Britain accounted for $9.7 million, down from $15.7 million for "Da Vinci." Spain ($7.1 million) and Japan ($6.9 million) also saw sizable drops.

"Da Vinci" finished with $540.7 million internationally.

Meanwhile, "Star Trek" lost just 43 percent of the audience from its opening round at box offices last week. Total sales rose to $147.6 million. The sci-fi reboot was distributed by Paramount Pictures, a unit of Viacom Inc.

"X Men Origins: Wolverine," which kicked off the lucrative summer movie season two weekends ago, was down one to No. 3 with $14.8 million. The total for the superhero picture rose to $151.1 million, with foreign fans kicking in an additional $144.5 million. The film was released by 20th Century Fox, a unit of News Corp.

taken from : China Daily

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Cast promotes "Mulan" at Cannes

From L to R, director Jingle Ma, cast members Chen Kun, Zhao Wei and Liu Yuxin attend a press conference for "Mulan" at Cannes, France, on May 16, 2009. [Photo: sina.com]

Director Jingle Ma and cast members Zhao Wei and Chen Kun attended a press conference on Saturday during the Cannes film festival, promoting the upcoming live action film "Mulan".

Zhao Wei, who played the title role of Hua Mulan, said "Mulan" was her most toilful film ever.

"I got up at 6:30 every morning, and had either fighting scenes or crying scenes for all day. It was a big challange," the actress said.

However, Zhao Wei thought she's lucky to get such a role. She said she admires the courage of Mulan.

"The role requires a great confidence. I feel myself getting more optimistic and confident."

Actor Chen Kun portrays a general who fell in love with Mulan and assisted her with her fighting career.

"I found that behind a great woman there is also a great man," he said.

A trailer was projected at the press conference, in which Zhao Wei shows "explosive acting," according to a report of sina.com.

Yu Dong, president of the publisher Poly-Bona Film, told the web portal that they have made deals with buyers from German, Turkey and Middle East, while publishing in France and English-speaking countries are still undergoing negotiation.

Director Jingle Ma and cast members Zhao Wei and Chen Kun attended a press conference on Saturday during the Cannes film festival, promoting the upcoming live action film "Mulan".

Zhao Wei, who played the title role of Hua Mulan, said "Mulan" was her most toilful film ever.

"I got up at 6:30 every morning, and had either fighting scenes or crying scenes for all day. It was a big challange," the actress said.

However, Zhao Wei thought she's lucky to get such a role. She said she admires the courage of Mulan.

"The role requires a great confidence. I feel myself getting more optimistic and confident."

Actor Chen Kun portrays a general who fell in love with Mulan and assisted her with her fighting career.

"I found that behind a great woman there is also a great man," he said.

A trailer was projected at the press conference, in which Zhao Wei shows "explosive acting," according to a report of sina.com.

Yu Dong, president of the publisher Poly-Bona Film, told the web portal that they have made deals with buyers from German, Turkey and Middle East, while publishing in France and English-speaking countries are still undergoing negotiation.

taken from : China Daily

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Johnny Depp's split personality

Johnny Depp is like "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde".

The actor undergoes a complete personality transformation the moment he is on camera, says his 'Pirates of the Caribbean: the Curse of the Black Pearl' co-star Zoe Saldana.

She revealed: "He is the shyest person I ever met. The moment the camera is turned on, these characters that are within him come out and take control. Then when the director yells, 'Cut!' he goes back to being quiet. Very Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde."

Dr. Jekyll was a fictional character - created by author Robert Louis Stevenson - who was a mild mannered physician until he took a potion which transforms him into the violent Mr. Hyde.

Despite finding Johnny uneasy in social situations, Zoe claims she usually finds it easy to get on with men.

She added to Women's Health magazine: "I'm more of a guy's girl. I like having a beer in a bar, and I don't bicker or sit down and do my nails.

"Growing up, my dolls were doctors and on secret missions. I had Barbie Goes Rambo."

taken from : China Daily

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Madonna to marry Jesus

Singer Madonna, wearing a design by Louis Vuitton, poses at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala "The Model As Muse: Embodying Fashion" in New York May 4, 2009. [Agencies]

Madonna and Jesus Luz are getting married.

The Brazilian model's father Luis Heitor Pinto da Luz has revealed the couple are planning a Kabbalah ceremony to have their union recognised by the mystical Jewish faith followed by the 50-year-old singer.

However, their union will not be legally binding.

Luis said: "The Kabbalah ceremony in New York that will link up my son Jesus Luz and Madonna only confirms that he is extremely happy.

"I don't know if there will, in fact, be a real marriage between Madonna and my son. It will be a type of ritual, but I do not know Kabbalah or if the ceremony will have legal validity."

Luis - who confirmed the couple are living together in New York - revealed his 22-year-old son has bonded well with the 'Hung Up' star's three children, Lourdes, 12, Rocco, eight and David, three.

He added to Brazil's Quem magazine: "She has small children, and Jesus helps her out with various tasks involving all of them. He plays ball with the kids. Jesus has charisma and loves children."

Despite the 28-year age gap between Madonna and Jesus, Luis insists he approves of their relationship.

He said: "I've spoken by phone with Madonna - in French, because my English is not fluent - and she appears to me to be a normal and polite person. She is feminine. I don't feel she is a harsh person."

Madonna announced last October she was divorcing British film director Guy Ritchie after almost eight years of marriage.
taken from : China Daily

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Super Girl sings her way to Oprah show

Oprah picked a select group of singers who made it big in television contests ranging from the UK to Afghanistan. Jane Zhang represented China and appeared in person, unlike Briton Susan Boyle who was beamed via satellite from her Scotland home.

The Chinese singer was unaware of the power and stature of Oprah, thinking it was just another television appearance. "So, I did not feel much pressure," Zhang told China Daily. The taping was in Chicago on May 8, and Oprah's producers selected two Chinese songs, merging them into a three-minute medley.

"I loved singing Chinese songs to the American audience," said Zhang, "and for English songs, I covered those they're familiar with."

Zhang sang Loving You, which was not included in the American broadcast, and snippets from Hero, the Mariah Carey signature hit. Simon Cowell, the British judge on both American Idol and Britain's Got Talent, looked on with studied nonchalance, winking at one time.

During the brief verbal exchange with Oprah, Zhang showed off her accentless English. "I did not major in the language, but rather picked it up by imitating English songs," she told China Daily.
Now that she has been hugged and blessed by Oprah, Zhang is receiving an overwhelming amount of attention, including offers from America-based agents. Her contract with entertainment giant Huayi expires soon, but she said she would not give up her career in China to sail for the US.

"Maybe just a gig or two," she said.

She understands the difficulty of launching a career in that competitive market, citing the case of Coco Lee, the Chinese-American who performed the theme song for the Oscar-winning film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, but still did not have much going stateside.

Oprah may be highlighting the success of breakout talents worldwide, but what she called "Super Voice Girl" may be dying out.

The new Super Girls season, as approved by regulators, comes with so many strings attached it is doomed to low ratings. The show has been pushed out of primetime, and emotional outbursts are banned.

You might as well sing in shower, or karaoke, for that matter. Nowadays there are so many karaoke shows on Chinese TV you may sooner catch one chirping off-key rather than the next Jane Zhang.

taken from : China Daily

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Britney Spears' classroom ambition

Britney Spears wants to become a teacher.

The 'Womanizer' singer is growing increasingly frustrated living life in the constant media glare and would love a 'normal' career.

Her cousin Alli Sims said: "Britney would always say, 'Maybe I just want to be a teacher. I just want to do something on a normal level. I've been something for so long.' "

Alli also defended her cousin's behaviour in 2007, which resulted in the mother-of-two shaving her head.

She added to entertainment website Splash: "It seemed a lot crazier than it really was because it made simple things just like going to Starbucks seem so out of hand.

"It was insane because of the paparazzi, but it really wasn't that bad when you were sitting there going through it personally.

"I just thought it was interesting how people expected us to stay home and not go anywhere. It's not her fault she has that many people following her around."

Britney has worked hard to put her career back on track and is currently in the middle of a sold out world tour.
taken from : China Daily

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Bette Midler advises Aniston

Bette Midler has advised Jennifer Aniston to date a racing driver.

The 'Wind Beneath My Wings' singer is keen for the former 'Friends' star to find love and has drawn up a list of characteristics her new man must have.

She said: "She needs an exciting guy, like a race-car driver. I think she needs somebody who cherishes her, but also somebody who's going to give her a run for her money. "She should find somebody who is really hot, who's not in show business. Somebody with a lot of money, and she should live the large life and forget about these a**holes.

She's a great girl. She's got everything going for her." Bette thinks Jennifer has already met her perfect man - Vince Vaughn, who she dated following her split from ex-husband Brad Pitt in 2005.

She said: "I actually thought Vince Vaughn was great. He's hilarious, he's good-looking. I mean, I thought he had it all. I don't really know them, but I like them, I like to watch them, I enjoy them."

However, Bette wasn't as keen on Jennifer's on-off boyfriend John Mayer, who she finally split with in March. She revealed to People magazine: "Well, he's a good-looking guy. I've got to say, I watched it for awhile, but I have no opinion. I just read a few of the blogs."
taken from : China Daily

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Jay-Z's designer rider

Jay-Z and his wife Beyonce Knowles watch the New York Knicks play the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first quarter of their NBA basketball game at Madison Square Garden in New York, November 25, 2008. [Agencies]

Jay-Z demands $400,000 luxury cars and rooms heated to a specific temperature on his rider.

It has been claimed the rapper requests a chauffeured late-model black Maybach car, while his dressing room must be heated to 72 degrees Fahrenheit and have "adequate" relaxed lighting. In addition, Jay-Z requires supplies of Sapporo beer, vodka, tequila, two bottles of $300 champagne, two bottles of expensive 2004 Sassicaia red wine and a pack of Marlboro Lights cigarettes, according to expose website The Smoking Gun.

He also requests "good quality" peanut butter and grape jam, two fruit platters, chicken, cheese, one martini shaker and 12 shot glasses.

At a recent concert at the University of Arizona - for which he was paid $750,000 - organisers refused to comply with his requests, declining to supply him with alcohol, cigarettes or the luxury car.

Jay-Z is not the only star to make a long list of demands before agreeing to play a show. Rihanna recently issued a 38-page list of requests for a now-scrapped show in the United Arab Emirates, which included anti-bacterial soap, three lemons and several teaspoons.

taken from : China Daily

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Pageant official quits over Miss. Calif. decision

In this May 11, 2009 file photo, Miss California USA Pageant state executive director Shanna Moakler participates in a news conference in Beverly Hills, Calif. [Agencies]

LOS ANGELES – Former Miss USA Shanna Moakler resigned as co-executive director of the Miss California USA pageant on Wednesday, saying she no longer believes in the organization because of pageant owner Donald Trump's decision to let the state's controversial title holder keep her crown.

After Miss California USA Carrie Prejean created a stir with her response to a question about gay marriage at last month's Miss USA pageant, questions about her work with gay marriage opponents and nearly nude photos taken of her when she was a teenager put her title in jeopardy.

At a news conference Monday, Moakler angrily accused Prejean of violating the contract she signed with pageant organizers, but Trump announced Tuesday that Prejean would keep her title.

Moakler, the Miss USA of 1995, said she decided after Trump's news conference to quit.

"I cannot with a clear conscience move forward supporting and promoting the Miss Universe Organization when I no longer believe in it or the contracts I signed committing myself as a youth," she said in a statement issued by her publicist. "I want to be a role model for young women with high hopes of pageantry, but now feel it more important to be a role model for my children."

Trump's senior executive assistant, Rhona Graff-Ricci, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Prejean, the first runner-up in the Miss USA pageant, created a brouhaha when she responded to a question by celebrity judge Perez Hilton by saying, "I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anybody out there, but that's how I was raised."

After gay rights advocates took her to task, California pageant officials said Prejean asked for permission to elaborate on her answer and they agreed. But then, they said, she began speaking without their permission in front of crowds opposed to gay marriage, including her San Diego church and the National Organization for Marriage.

Keith Lewis, the state pageant's co-executive director, said Prejean also began missing Miss California events she was contractually obligated to attend.

Trump on Tuesday said there had been miscommunication among Prejean, pageant organizers and the outside groups, but added that "the communication problem, I believe, is totally solved."

taken from : China Daily

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Robin Williams jokes about his heart surgery

Actorand comedian Robin Williams arrives at the premiere of the film "World's Greatest Dad" during the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, in this January 18, 2009 file photo. [Agencies]

NEW YORK – Robin Williams, who had heart surgery eight weeks ago, says he and David Letterman "are now brotherhood of the zipper chests."

Williams, appearing on CBS' "Late Show with David Letterman" scheduled to air Wednesday, was referring to Letterman's quintuple bypass heart surgery in 2000.

It was the 57-year-old actor's first interview since surgery that replaced an aortic valve.

He joked that "I have one new valve and a repaired valve. I have a cow valve, which is great, and the grazing's been fun."

Williams said he noticed something was wrong with his heart when he was getting short of breath, "code for heart problem."

Williams stars in the film "Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian," which opens May 22.

taken from : China Daily

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Alicia Keys asks `Idol' fans to text for charity

FILE - In this Feb. 22, 2009 file photo, Alicia Keys arrives for the 81st Academy Awards in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles.[Agencies]

LOS ANGELES – Alicia Keys wants $5 from every "American Idol" fan.

The Grammy-winning singer appeared on the hit Fox show Wednesday to urge viewers to support the Text ALIVE Challenge, which aims to bring medicine and medical care to children and families with HIV/AIDS in Africa and India.

Keys asked fans to text the word "alive" to 90999 to donate $5 to Keep a Child Alive, the charity she co-founded and for which she serves as global ambassador. She also introduced a beneficiary of the charity, 15-year-old Rwandan rapper Noah, who performed on the show.

Keys began the Text ALIVE Challenge while touring with her latest album, "As I Am."

"It was really the first time anything like that had been done," Keys said in an interview Wednesday. "It was successful enough to encourage us to keep spreading the word in a forum like this."

The seeds of her "Idol" appearance were planted last year at Keys' annual charity gala, the Black Ball, where "Idol" creator Simon Fuller was honored. Noah performed at the event, and Fuller "was so taken by his story" that he invited Noah to appear on the hit show, Keys said.

His appearance with Keys also re-introduces a charitable element to the show. Its annual fundraising program, "Idol Gives Back," was canceled in December. Last year's broadcast raised more than $64 million and featured an all-star lineup including Bono, Brad Pitt and Miley Cyrus.

"This was kind of a way to keep a give-back element in effect and for Noah to be seen and heard," Keys said, adding that the teen entertainer sings about the AIDS pandemic and life in Rwanda.

"He's dealt with probably more than any of us will ever have to in our entire lifetime," she said. "For us to help people like him in his situation with Keep a Child Alive, and with everyone watching being able to know that even with all the hardships they might be going through, there's always someone going through something far worse, so to help someone other than yourself is really a noble thing to do."

Giving just $5 makes it easy for people from almost all economic strata to help, she said.

"You buy four of your favorite ring tones and that's what you spend, if not more," she said. "It puts everything into perspective ... For the cost of probably less than you would spend at Starbucks, you can help someone like Noah."

Donation texts will be accepted until June 1. The $5 charge will appear on donors' phone bill.

taken from : China Daily

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Robert Pattinson gets a new gig for his birthday

Contrary to popular belief, there are better things Robert Pattinson could get for his 23rd birthday than a metric assload of fan-made videos, the top trending spot on Twitter or your undying love and rabid adoration. And now that he's one year further away from the teen demo, a new non-Twilight movie role wouldn't be too shabby -- especially given Little Ashes' failure to "dazzle" the critics. (28 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes: ouch. At least he can hope for cult status...) But sure as the Cullens dig plasma, Pattinson has a new gig all lined up.

Pattinson is set to appear alongside Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz in drama Unbound Captives. The period piece is set on the American frontier in the 1850s -- a time when men wrassled mountain lions with their bare hands for kicks (just like Edward Cullen!) and the mere mention of glitter-faced dudes and vampire baseball was cause for lynching.

The story -- written and directed by actress Madeline Stowe -- will follow a woman (Weisz) who goes on the hunt for her two children, who have been kidnapped by warriors of the Comanche tribe. Pattinson will reportedly play one of her kids (although at 23, he's practically middle-aged by old-timey standards). Jackman will star as the frontiersman who helps Weisz on her journey.

According to Variety, Pattinson has been attached to the project since before people were selling his laundry on eBay, Tyra Banks was demanding he bite her on live TV and the general Twilight craziness erupted.

taken from : China Daily

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Final 2 'American Idol' singers selected

In this May 8, 2009 file photo, 'American Idol' contestant and Milwaukee local Danny Gokey sings the national anthem before the Chicago Cubs and the Milwaukee Brewers baseball game in Milwaukee.[Agencies]

LOS ANGELES – Danny Gokey is dancing off "American Idol," leaving showy Adam Lambert and twangy Kris Allen to duke it out in the finale of the popular Fox singing competition next week.

Gokey, the bespectacled 29-year-old church music director and recent widower from Milwaukee, was revealed to have received the fewest viewer votes on Wednesday.

Gokey had continually impressed the judges with his husky voice — but not his hip shaking — throughout the contest. "Idol" judge Simon Cowell called his cover of Joe Cocker's version of "You Are So Beautiful" on Tuesday a "vocal master class" but said his dancing during Terence Trent D'Arby's "Dance Little Sister" was "desperate."

Along with Lambert, Gokey had long been considered to be a front-runner of the eighth season, never appearing as one of the show's bottom vote-getters. "Idol" host Ryan Seacrest said more than 88 million votes were received with 1 million votes separating the top two singers, meaning next week's Lambert-Allen showdown may be closer than anticipated.

"Look, none of us would have predicted this, guys," Cowell said at the end of the show.

In this May 8, 2009 file photo, Adam Lambert, a finalist on the singing competition series, 'American Idol,' performs for fans during a visit to his alma mater, Mt. Carmel High School in San Diego. [Agencies]

The episode kicked off with "Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian" stars Ben Stiller, Hank Azaria, Bill Hader and Jonah Hill starring in a plug masquerading as a skit about the "Idol" judges' desk being inducted into the Smithsonian. It wasn't a joke. The perch will be on display at the Smithsonian Institution Building in the coming weeks.

Before the results viewers saw Alicia Keys urging fans to support her charity, a 15-year-old Rwandan rapper named Noah, sixth-season champ Jordin Sparks, videos of the final three singers' trips to their hometowns and an over-the-top performance by Katy Perry.

Gokey just wanted to cut to the chase.

"I think we've had enough suspense, enough commercials, just enough playing around," he said. "Let's just get to it."

"I want to see Katy Perry!" Lambert exclaimed in response.

The feeling was apparently mutual. Perry made her love for Lambert no secret. The "I Kissed a Girl" singer crooned her latest single, "Waking Up in Vegas," with a troupe of glittery showgirls while wearing a scantily clad Elvis-inspired ensemble that was initially covered in a cape emblazoned with Lambert's name.

Either Lambert, a 27-year-old theater actor from San Diego, or Allen, a 23-year-old college student from Conway, Ark., will be crowned "Idol" next Wednesday. Cowell said Allen's totally stripped-down version of Kanye West's "Heartless" on Tuesday made him a contender for the finale.

taken from : China Daily

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Hugh Jackman planning another adoption?

Hugh Jackman is planning to adopt another child.

The Australian actor, who already has two adopted kids with wife Deborra-Lee Furness, is believed to be keen to expand his brood further.

A source told the National Enquirer magazine: "Hugh is a big believer in adoption - not just personally, but from a world view of extending help to parentless children.

"They are adopting another child now, and plan to welcome a fourth into their family down the road. It has become their mission."

Hugh, who has been married to Deborra-Lee for 13 years, recently revealed he felt strongly about opening his home to multi-racial children Oscar, eight, and Ava, three.

He said: "Mixed-race babies have such a hard time being adopted that Deb and I checked off that box specifically when we were filling out our forms.

"Our lawyer brought the form back to us and said, 'This is not the time to be politically correct. Are you sure this is what you want?' We were definite about it. Adoption is about taking a baby into your home and your heart. It's the best thing we've ever done."

taken from : China Daily

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Madonna seeks psychic Love

Madonna is being advised by a psychic called Mama Love.

The 50-year-old singer - who was left devastated when her efforts to give four-year-old Malawian Mercy James a home were rejected earlier this year - turned to the medium in an effort to discover why her adoption bid failed.

A source said: "Madonna has turned to Mama Love before and knows she gets answers and advice she needs from her. Mama told her to take time out and cool down. It's unlikely the adoption of Mercy will go ahead now.

She advised Madonna to slow down and let her spiritual side rise up." The psychic is believed to have told Madonna - who raises three children, daughter Lourdes, 12, eight-year-old Rocco and three-year-old David Banda - not to try adopting another child for the next two years.

The source added to Britain's Heat magazine: "Mama told her, 'You won't get the adoption you are looking for because the spirit is trying to guide you to a higher maternal status. Follow my advice and you will become Mama of the world.' " Mama Love has also told the singer to set up "compassion centres" to help those less fortunate than herself.

taken from : China Daily

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Robert Pattinson trust on his close friends

"Twilight" heartthrob Robert Pattinson says he has a group of close friends, whom he believes won't leak his private life on various publications. "I've had a very close-knit group of friends for a really long time and I know that none of them would ever do anything like that," he confesses.

Asked about what he will do if his estranged girlfriends tell his secrets to media, Pattinson jokingly answers, "I'd kill them! Actually I don't think I've had anything interesting enough to warrant a kiss and tell." Then, he explains further, "Although I've been surprised with some acquaintances - they've been saying little things that you hear through the grapevine and you suddenly realize what someone's really like. I don't think they'd [girlfriends] even remember who I am."

In related news, Robert Pattinson reveals that he dreamed of writing political speeches when he was at school. "I just liked the whole idea of it. I wanted to be involved with politics," he states. "That's what my whole plan was. I was going to go to university and then I just thought, 'Ah, I can't be bothered to do anything. I don't want to do any more homework!'"

taken from : China Daily

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Alarm triggered at Lindsay Lohan's home

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Lindsay Lohan’s home showed “evidence” of a break-in on Tuesday, authorities confirmed to Access Hollywood.

According to the Los Angeles Police Department, an alarm company called them around 3 PM on Tuesday after an alarm was triggered at the actress’ home.

After arriving on the scene, police determined there was “evidence of a burglary,” a spokesperson for the LAPD told Access.

Signs of tampering appeared at a rear window and a rear door.

Initial reports from authorities suggested that the home appeared ransacked, but later a police officer told the Associated Press that no one entered the home.

The state of the home prompted them to ask, “Is it normally like this, or did the intruder do it,” Officer Karen Rayner told the AP.

Nothing was missing from the home.

Authorities told Access no one was home at the time of the incident.

taken from : China Daily

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Jordan and Peter Andre to split

British model and television personality Katie Price, also known as Jordan, and her singer husband, Peter Andre, are to separate, according to a statement released Monday.

Peter Andre and Katie Price, who ran the London Marathon last month, are separating.

The couple found romance on the reality show "I'm A Celebrity... Get me Out of Here!," which was filmed in the Australian jungle.

The statement said: "Peter Andre and Katie Price are separating after four-and-a-half years of marriage," the British Press Association reported.

"They have both requested that the media respect their families' privacy at this difficult time."

Only last month the couple, whose reality TV show of their life features on British television, said they were trying for another child.

They have two children together, son Junior, 3, and 1-year-old daughter Princess Tiáamii.

Price has a 6-year-old son Harvey, by footballer Dwight Yorke, who is disabled.

Price first made her name as a tabloid newspaper topless model, but has since gone on to become a television star, author and clothes designer. She also competes in show jumping events and has her own stable of horses.

Andre, who was born in London but raised in Australia, came to prominence in 1996 with his international hit "Mysterious Girl."

taken from : China Daily

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Is Lohan pregnant?

According to sources close to the young starlet and gossip blogs everywhere, Lindsay Lohan is purportedly 7 weeks pregnant. The 22 year-old Lohan has yet to respond to any of these claims nor issued an official statement. MTV UK also reported that Lohan is unsure of who the father is.

The Mean Girls star has alledgly slept with a number of men following her split from girlfriend Samantha Ronson, and apparently doesn’t know who the child’s father is. “I swear she’s carrying,” a source said.

“She’s going through big emotional turmoil. She’s not sure if she’ll have it or go through with an abortion that she booked to have in the next few days. “Saddest part is she has no idea who the father is. She must have slept with more than two dozen men in the past couple of months.”

In a recent interview with Closer Magazine, Lohan has said she wants to focus more on her movie career and shed her paparazzi party life image. “When I was a kid, I thought movie stars were people who wanted to act in great movies- It’s all I ever wanted to do. I didn’t get into this business to be a celebrity - I’ve been a target for a long time.”

taken from : China Daily

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"Star Trek" beams up $72.5 million in first weekend

Actors Chris Pine (L) and Zachary Quinto are shown in a scene from Paramount Pictures' film "Star Trek" in this undated publicity photo released to Reuters April 28, 2009.[Agencies]

LOS ANGELES - The new "Star Trek" movie beamed up an estimated $72.5 million in North American ticket sales its first weekend in theaters, dominating the box office and re-energizing a 40-year-old science-fiction franchise.

That figure far surpassed the opening grosses posted by any of the previous 10 "Star Trek" films, even when adjusted for inflation, and kept up a robust pace for the second week of Hollywood's summer moviegoing season.

Combined with $4 million grossed from Thursday evening's preview screenings, "Star Trek" tallied $76.5 million in U.S. and Canadian receipts through Sunday, according to its distributor, Viacom Inc's Paramount Pictures studio.

Last weekend's top box office entry, "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," still ranks as the biggest film opening so far this year, with $85 million in its first Friday-through-Sunday tally.

But the launch of "Star Trek" slashed deeply into "Wolverine's" second weekend of business, sending the superhero adventure from News Corp's NWSA.0 20th Century Fox to a second-ranked $27 million.

By comparison, "Star Trek" seems poised to hold fairly steady next weekend given that its ticket sales rose from Friday to Saturday, a sign of strong word-of-mouth buzz, said Paul Dergarabedian, box office analyst for Hollywood.com.

The $130 million film ranks among the best reviewed movies of the year, and one of the most well-received by critics of all the "Star Trek" pictures.

"PLAY LONG AND PROSPER"

Directed by J.J. Abrams, the latest film is intended as a "reboot" of the original 1960s television series, with updated special effects and a story line that explains how the crew of the galaxy-hopping Starship Enterprise, including Captain James T. Kirk and his half-Vulcan first officer, Spock, first met.

Leonard Nimoy, who originated the Spock character on TV, dons pointy ears again and even recites the Vulcan salutation, "Live long and prosper," for a featured appearance in the new movie as an elder Spock.

Despite early pre-release tracking data showing weak anticipation levels, the film seems to have won over both older "Trekkie" fans of the franchise and younger moviegoers on whom financial success depends, Paramount executive Don Harris said.

"The way this film is being received ... it looks like the movie will play long and prosper," he said.

"Wolverine," which stars Hugh Jackman reprising his role as the ferocious but conflicted superhero with steel claws, has received far-less glowing reviews than "Star Trek." Marking the fourth title in the "X-Men" series, its 10-day tally stands at $130 million.

Although ticket sales for its second weekend dropped 68 percent from its opening three-day stretch, Fox executive Chris Aronson said the studio was pleased. "It's what franchise movies do, and given the competition in the marketplace, it's right in line with expectations," he said.

The 12 highest-grossing movies this weekend collectively amassed nearly $141 million in North America, up almost 20 percent from the same weekend a year ago, while year-to-date revenues and attendance are also up by double-digits.

Rounding out this weekend's top five films were the romantic comedy "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past," with $10.5 million, the thriller "Obsessed," at $6.6 million, and the comedy "17 Again," with $4.4 million. The only other new wide release, the comic crime yarn "Next Day Air," opened at No. 6 with $4 million.

taken from : China Daily

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