Today's Hottest News

Weezer Say Farewell to 'Beautiful' Bassist Mikey Welsh

2011-10-11T02:03:00.001-07:00

Mikey Welsh, a bassist best known for playing with Weezer and Juliana Hatfield, was found dead in a Chicago hotel room at 1 p.m. on Saturday when he failed to check out on time. The Chicago Tribune reportsthe 40-year-old musician's cause of death won't be confirmed until toxicology tests are complete, but police found prescription drugs and a substance believed to be heroin in his room. In an eerie coincidence, Welsh tweeted ,"dreamt i died in chicago next weekend (heart attack in my sleep). need to write my will today" on September 26th.

Welsh joined Weezer following the departure of founding member Matt Sharp in 1998 and played on the band's 2001 self-titled "Green" album. He left the band the same year after suffering a drug-induced nervous breakdown, and was replaced by Scott Shriner. In a statement posted on Weezer's website, the band call its onetime member "a unique talent, a deeply loving friend and father, and a great artist." The band say they recently saw Welsh at Weezer's joint gig with the Flaming Lips at New York's Jones Beach, and had plans to meet up with him again at Sunday's RIOTfest in Chicago, which went off as scheduled ("As sad as it is to think about, we know Mikey would never want the rock stopped on his account—quite the contrary in fact").

After Weezer, Welsh became a visual artist and moved to Vermont. Images of many of his paintings are posted on his website and Facebook page, where he is remembered as "an amazing father, artist, and friend."

Steve Jobs Dies: Apple Chief Innovated Personal Computer, Created iPad, iPod, iPhone.

2011-10-05T20:59:00.000-07:00

Steve Jobs, the mastermind behind Apple's iPhone, iPad, iPod, iMac and iTunes, has died, Apple said. Jobs was 56.

Jobs died "peacefully" surrounded by family members, his family said in a statement.

Neither Jobs' family nor Apple revealed where Jobs died or from what cause, though in recent years he had fought a form of pancreatic cancer and had a liver transplant.

"We are deeply saddened to announce that Steve Jobs passed awaytoday," read a statement by Apple's board of directors. "Steve's brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives. The world is immeasurably better because of Steve. His greatest love was for his wife, Laurene, and his family. Our hearts go out to them and to all who were touched by his extraordinary gifts."

The homepage of Apple's website switched to a full-page image of Jobs with the text, "Steve Jobs 1955-2011."

Clicking on the image revealed additional text, credited in a separate memo to Apple employees to current Apple CEO Tim Cook.

"Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being," the text read. "Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple."

Reaction to Jobs' death came far and wide -- even from the White House.

"Michelle and I are saddened to learn of the passing of Steve Jobs," President Obama said in a written statement. "Steve was among the greatest of American innovators - brave enough to think differently, bold enough to believe he could change the world, and talented enough to do it."

Jobs co-founded Apple Computer in 1976 and, with his childhood friend Steve Wozniak, marketed what was considered the world's first personal computer, the Apple II.

Shortly after learning of Jobs' death, Wozniak told ABC News, "I'm shocked and disturbed."

Industry watchers called Jobs a master innovator -- perhaps on a par with Thomas Edison -- changing the worlds of computing, recorded music and communications.

Click Here for Pictures: Steve Jobs Through the Years

Jobs' rivals in the development of personal computers, Microsoft co-founders Bill Gates and Paul Allen, immediately reacted to his death and highlighted his importance to their industry.

Allen called him "a unique tech pioneer and auteur who knew how to make amazingly great products."

Gates extended his condolences and noted in a written statement that he and Jobs "have been colleagues, competitors and friends over the course of more than half our lives."

"The world rarely sees someone who has had the profound impact Steve has had, the effects of which will be felt for many generations to come," Gates added. "For those of us lucky enough to get to work with him, it's been an insanely great honor. I will miss Steve immensely."

A more recent rival, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, also weighed in with a statement on Jobs.

"Steve, thank you for being a mentor and a friend," it read. "Thanks for showing that what you build can change the world. I will miss you."

Click here for more reaction to Jobs' death.

Jobs continued to innovate in recent years even as he battled severe health problems that prompted leaves of absence from Apple.

In 2004, he beat back an unusual form of pancreatic cancer, and in 2009 he was forced to get a liver transplant. After several years of failing health, Jobs announced on Aug. 24, 2011 that he was stepping down as Apple's chief executive.

"I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple's CEO, I would be the first to let you know," Jobs wrote in his letter of resignation. "Unfortunately, that day has come."

Nevertheless, he remained as chairman of the corporation, a new position created just for him.

Blake Lively, Leonardo DiCaprio Split!

2011-10-04T22:45:00.000-07:00

It was fun while it lasted!

After five months together, Blake Lively and Leonardo DiCaprio have parted ways, reps for both stars confirm exclusively to Us Weekly. The pair "remain friends," Lively and DiCaprio's reps added.

PHOTOS: Blake and Leo's whirlwind romance

First spotted getting cozy while aboard Steven Spielberg's yacht in Monte Carlo on May 17 during the Cannes Film Festival, the couple embarked on a whirlwind, super-luxe summer romance that spanned the globe. During their time together, the Gossip Girlactress, 24, and Inception star, 36, took their PDA parade to romantic locales ranging from Venice, Italy to Anaheim, Calif. to NYC. In late August, Lively even flew thousands of miles from the U.S. to Sydney, Australia -- for a quick weekend -- where her beau was filming The Great Gatsby.

PHOTOS: Blake's best hairstyles ever

Weeks before he and Lively became an item, DiCaprio and model Bar Refaeli called it quits on their on-and-off, five-year relationship. Back in October 2010, Lively and Gossip Girl costar Penn Badgley ended their three-year romance.

VIDEO: How Leo wooed Blake's dad

The pair's recent split is sure to come as a surprise to some DiCaprio pals, one of whom told Us they'd "never seen him like this with a girl." Back in June, the couple were ensconced in DiCaprio's L.A. home, where Lively "spent the whole time baking....Leo's never dated a girl who can cook. And he's smitten!" The duo also bonded with one another's parents.

Echoed another insider this summer: "I bet they get engaged in six months."

PHOTOS: Sad celeb splits

As for Lively, she's long said she never lets public opinion affect her relationships.

"I have a strong sense of myself. That gives me a sense of security, you know? Every relationship you have, you're learning and growing and taking something from that," the actress recently told Glamourmagazine. "So for me, it's never been too dramatic of a thing when something ends."

Johnny Depp admits he’s overpaid?

2011-10-04T22:43:00.000-07:00

Johnny Depp says he's overpaid to star in Pirates of the Caribbean, for which he's reportedly earned more than $300 million.

“Basically, if they’re going to pay me the stupid money right now, I’m going to take it,” Depp tells the November issue of Vanity Fair. "I have to. I mean, it’s not for me. Do you know what I mean? At this point, it’s for my kids. It’s ridiculous, yeah, yeah. But ultimately is it for me? No. No. It’s for the kids.”Depp, 48, has two children, Lilly-Rose, 12 and Jack, 9, with partnerVanessa Paradis, 38.

But he also tells the magazine that there's "a part of me that needs to have this kind of stimulation to the brain."

He's come a long way from attending Scientology gatherings for $3 a meeting. “I went to a bunch, man. It was so great, it was so fantastic," he tells Vanity Fair.

PHOTOS: 'Pirates' Premiere

He's excited about his next project, The Rum Diary, which hits theaters on Oct. 28. He was researching his 1998 movie Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas with Hunter S. Thompson when they discovered the manuscript for The Rum Diary in Thompson's basement.

VIDEO: The Rum Diary' Trailer: Johnny Depp Drinks His Way Through Puerto Rico

"I pulled it out. I was like ‘What is this?’ Hunter was like, “Oh, s--t, The Rum Diary ... Hunter didn’t know it was there," Depp says.

PHOTOS: Penelope Cruz’s ‘Pirates’ Red Carpet Top 10

Depp still holds a grudge against Harvey Weinstein for putting 2004's The Libertine out in limited release.

"He made a choice to kill it, Harvey killed a great film," says Depp.

Depp also talks to the magazine about posing for photoshoots.

PHOTOS: Inside 'Pirates of the Caribbean'

"Well, you just feel like you’re being raped somehow. Raped ... It feels like a kind of weird -- just weird, man," says the actor, who doesn't mind posing with fans. "But whenever you have a photo shoot or something like that, it’s like -- you just feel dumb. It’s just so stupid.”

Hugh Jackman’s Mighty Fist Injures Wrestler.

2011-09-22T20:37:00.000-07:00

Let it never be said that Hugh Jackman won't do anything to promote a movie. The star of the upcoming "Real Steel," a futuristic boxing flick opening next month, had a guest appearance on WWE "Raw" on Monday night. And you better believe Hugh came out swinging.

Jackman assumed the role of a temporary manager for wrestler Zach Ryder, an underdog who was about to take on the hated Dolph Ziggler. Ziggler appeared to be winning the match against Ryder when Jackman noticed that the ref (Can somebody remind us why they have refs in pro wrestling?) was distracted. So Jackman punched Ziggler right in the kisser. Check out the video from the match. Gotta be the first time a host for the Tony Awards did something so macho.

Boom! Down goes Ziggler, and Ryder wins the match. The Huffington Post points out that the confrontation was certainly staged, but the results may not have been. After the event, Ziggler tweeted that he had a possible fractured jaw thanks to Jackman's vicious punch. Later, Ziggler tweeted that he had a "hairline mandibular fracture."

Whether or not that's true is anybody's guess (wrestlers have been known to exaggerate from time to time), the punch certainly looked authentic. And it should, considering the training Jackman went through for his role in "Real Steel." To play a former contender turned trainer, Jackman studied with Olympic gold medal winner and International Boxing Hall of Fame member, Sugar Ray Leonard. To see Jackman in the ring with the former champ, watch this behind-the-scenes look at "Real Steel."

The Future of Facebook: Out with profile pages, in with the Timeline.

2011-09-22T20:28:00.000-07:00

Facebook users have noticed some changes rolling out to the social site in recent days, but odds are they aren't prepared for today's biggest social shakeup. At today's F8 Developers Conference, Mark Zuckerberg took the stage (after look-alike Andy Samberg left it) to announce a wide swath of changes that will seek to keep the six year-old social network thriving — and growing.

Foremost among the announcements is the news that the humble profile page is getting a much-needed makeover — one that could steamroll Google+ and Twitter alike: the Timeline. Mashable has called the new feature the "biggest risk since launching the social network in 2004." The Next Webcalls the death of the profile page a "bit of a shock" and notes that the "massive makeover might just be a bit too much," especially for less tech-savvy users.

Sweeping changes
Facebook's new direction has a bit of a dual personality. At the dawning of the News Feed, Facebook loosed our status updates into the wild. While we once visited each other's profile pages to trade messages and check in on friends (or acquaintances of interest, for better or worse), the News Feed has since eclipsed our personal pages when it comes to connecting on the world's biggest social network. With today's announcement of the Timeline and the Ticker, Facebook will seek to weave together these two modes into a richer, more immersive social experience than ever.

Two kinds of sharing

The Ticker will handle the Twitter-like real-time updates, which Zuckerberg referred to as our "lightweight" social activity. Recognizing that these micro-updates (the contents of your sandwich or your Words With Friends score, for example) often clog up our profile pages, Facebook is opting to siphon them off into a kind of miniature Twitter which live in a righthand sidebar. The distinction may just seem like housecleaning, but putting these tweet-esque updates on the periphery could mean a return to Facebook's roots — but a far more refined one.

Historically, Facebook has faced criticism for its opaque and often convoluted privacy policies. It may have taken the looming threat of Google+ on its turf to light a fire under the social giant, but Facebook is handing users the reins in a big way. In a series of updates that began popping up last month, the company is moving toward a model of selective sharing: rather than mass broadcasts, you can choose who you share with — because your great aunt doesn't necessarily need to know what happened after the fifth drink at Happy Hour, does she?

Choose the story you tell
Now, not only can we share selectively with greater ease than ever, but we can choose what story we want to tell. Facebook's new Timeline feature looks to invigorate the lackluster, cluttered profile pages we've been slogging through for the past few years, replacing them with a dynamic, customizable portrait of our living histories — as told through Facebook of course. While remembering just howmuch information Facebook has stored over the years will prove unsettling to some, by curating our own past experiences (or their digital footprints, at least), we can better represent ourselves on the social network. In the Timeline, you can choose to star an event, which will give it more real estate on your profile page — or you can hide it entirely with the click of a button.

At today's event, Zuckerberg emphasized a return to the profile page: "We wanted to design a place that feels like your home. You invest a lot of time in it and you curate it." In reinventing the timeline, Facebook will considerably cut down on the site's signal-to-noise ratio, transforming each profile page into what is essentially a blog. In Zuckerberg's words, the Timeline will give you "a nice visceral feel for who this person really is" rather than a messy read-out of their latest Facebook activity.

Apps help tell the story
The other side of the coin is that external apps will have more power than ever. To create a "frictionless experience," Facebook apps will broadcast to Timelines and Tickers separately — and automatically. Like a new song you hear streaming on Spotify? That "Like" will be zapped directly to the Ticker, but in theory your Timeline wouldfeature a summary of your top artists that month. Once you authorize an app, it will fade into the background, collating your personal data like what films you watch on Netflix or Hulu and how many miles you just ran with the Nike+ app.

Of course, you could disallow these services entirely — but Facebook wants its 800 million users to hand over the keys to third-party apps more willingly than ever. (After all, who wants an empty Timeline?) From news to movies and music, more apps plugged into the social site means less need to venture elsewhere. You could conceivably keep your browser pointed at your Facebook homepage for an entire day, hopping off only to follow the trail of an interesting link — in fact, many of us already do.

How to find the new features
The Facebook community doesn't take kindly to changes — even minor ones, and this isn't minor by any means. Dedicated Facebookers are already in an uproar about the changes that heralded today's news: annoyed status updates have readily denounced Smart Lists, the Subscribe button, the Ticker, and even the new privacy settings. All of these tweaks are available now to most users, and when they appear, you should notice a pop-up prompt that will walk you through the changes. Can't find the Ticker? It should appear on the right side of any Facebook page, above the chat box.

While many of the new features are now live, the biggest change — the Timeline— will roll out gradually. To be first in line, you can opt in now by clicking "Sign Me Up" at the bottom of Facebook's official Timeline preview page. The first Timelines will be published on September 29, and we can expect to see them pop up for most users thereafter.

Criss Angel Is Engaged—and the Ring Is a Real Mindfreak!

2011-09-21T04:58:00.000-07:00

Believe!

Illusionist Criss Angel is engaged to girlfriend Sandra Gonzalez after proposing while they were on vacation in Cabo San Lucas this month, and the couple are "ecstatic," Angel's rep confirmed to E! News Tuesday.

But while a little sleight of hand may have been involved, that massive ring didn't appear out of thin air...

Angel offered up a 5-carat princess-cut diamond on a platinum band that he codesigned along with New York jeweler Idayne Kaye.

Per his rep, on the night of Sept. 7 he and Gonzalez were having a romantic sunset dinner on the beach when he popped the question. Angel had flown her family in as a surprise and they showed up right after she accepted, fireworks blasting overhead.

This will be Angel's second marriage, his first having ended in 2006 after four years and one instance of the husband being buried alive. He also dated Holly Madison for awhile.
No wedding date has been set, but so long as no one does a disappearing act beforehand, we bet the nuptials will be a sight to behold.

Behind the Scenes of ‘Harry Potter’ Stars’ Big Kiss

2011-09-21T00:08:00.000-07:00

It was a cinematic moment ten years and eight movies in the making. A scene fans were dying to see, and one the actors were dreading to film. It was the long-awaited kiss between Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2."

Fans all over the world got to see the epic smooch when the movie played this summer, bringing in $1.3 billion dollars (the most of any "Harry Potter" movie). But now for the first time you can take a look behind the scenes to see how stars Rupert Grint and Emma Watson handled the dramatic scene. Take a look at an exclusive clip from the bonus features of the upcoming Blu-ray release.

In the video, David Yates, the director of the last four "Harry Potter" films, explains that the two actors had different approaches to filming the kiss. He said that since Emma Watson didn't want to have to do multiple takes of the scene, she was "going to get it right the first time." He tells how he could see her psyche herself up before the camera rolled, but Rupert Grint hadn't worked up to the same level of intensity. "I think Rupert wasn't quite expecting it," Yates said, "and then she just went for it." But then the kiss was quickly broken as the two friends burst out laughing.

While it might seem like kissing isn't a bad way to spend a work day, Grint and Watson explained to the UK's TelegraphTV why the scene was so difficult for them. "It feels weird saying this, because I'm sure loads of guys are just really jealous," Grint said. "I mean, she's lovely. I just felt so wrong, really. Kissing this person I've known since she was nine."

Watson said she also felt quite a bit of pressure to please the fans who had been waiting so long for the kiss to happen. She said, "Can you imagine, building up to a kiss for, like, ten years? We've been building up for this kiss for a decade. How am I going to do this justice? I felt like it's the most anticipated kiss of all time. So, it was intense."

There will be many more behind-the-scenes secrets revealed in the bonus features of the upcoming Blu-ray. In the "Maximum Movie Mode," actor Matthew Lewis (who played Neville Longbottom) hosts a feature-length look at the making of the film's stand-out scenes. The Blu-ray will also have a conversation between star Daniel Radcliffe and author J.K. Rowling where they discuss how "Potter" has changed both of their lives. And it will present deleted scenes, with moments that were left out of the final film.

Brad Pitt And Baseball 'Didn't Get Along'

2011-09-20T11:21:00.000-07:00

It's one of the biggest honors in American sports: the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine. Imagine the outrage if someone made it who didn't know anything about athletics.

Well ...

Actor Brad Pitt, appearing on the Sept. 26 edition of SI that hits newsstands Wednesday, admits he's out to lunch when it comes to hardball. "It's shameful how little I know about baseball," Pitt told the Daily Mail. "I'm amazed they let me do this movie. Baseball and I didn't get along that well."

While hardball wasn't his thing, the Daily Mail reports Pitt did say he gave some other sports a try while growing up in Oklahoma.

"I wrestled one year [in high school]," he told the British paper. "I dived one year. Everything but baseball."

The star of "Moneyball," the story of the Oakland A's making the playoffs several times under a low payroll, explained he did the film because he's a "sucker for the underdog story." Of course since Pitt isn't a real baseball fan, he might not realize that the A's are now as much of an underdog as ever. The only Champagne that has flowed in the team's home stadium recently was when the Tigers clinched the AL Central division there last week.

John Travolta's car stolen!

2011-09-19T19:45:00.001-07:00

The "Pulp Fiction" star had his vintage Mercedes stolen this weekend. Travolta parked it on the street while he visited a nearby Jaguar dealership. When Travolta returned to his car, it had vanished. The car, a 1970 Mercedes-Benz 280SL, is reportedly worth around $100,000.

Mayweather missteps, avoids Pacman question.

2011-09-18T22:32:00.000-07:00

The sole mistake that Floyd Mayweather Jr. made on Saturday came about 90 minutes after he disposed of Victor Ortiz and claimed the World Boxing Council welterweight championship with a ridiculously easy fourth-round knockout before 14,687 stunned fans at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Forget the left hook and right hand that ended the fight and have raised so much anger among fans, particularly among the large contingent that despises Mayweather and worships Manny Pacquiao.

Mayweather’s punches to an unsuspecting and undefended Ortiz’s chin clearly weren’t the most sporting moments of his career, but they were completely legal.

Referee Joe Cortez had ordered the fight to resume and when he did, each man was 100 percent within his rights to wallop the other. Ortiz, though, tried to embrace Mayweather. Mayweather chose to fight, and the difference in reactions cost Ortiz his title.

t’s the only fight for either of them that really matters. Yeah, Mayweather and Pacquiao each can make mega-millions by fighting others, but nothing either of them do from this point forward means much in terms of enhancing their respective legacies unless they fight each other.

It was clear from the early moments of the fight, though, that it was only a matter of time before Mayweather would finish Ortiz. He was brilliant from start to shocking end.

Mayweather didn’t say yes – but he didn’t exactly say no, either. He whined about a lack of respect from the media and complained he’s never given his due for what he’s accomplished.

He trashed his former promoter, the man who now promotes Pacquiao, Top Rank’s Bob Arum. He also intimated that Pacquiao is using performance enhancing drugs.

Significantly, though, he never gave a direct answer, which is all anyone wanted.

He was given a check for $25 million Saturday night and will earn millions more, likely around $40 million. But Mayweather teased about his pay, never saying what he expected to earn for the blowout of Ortiz. Maybe it will wind up at $70 million, he said, his eyes dancing. Then again, it could be $90 million, he added with a wry smile.

But he wasn’t too eager to talk about Pacquiao and reacted angrily to insinuations his career would be incomplete if he didn’t face the Filipino congressman.

“Once again, if I fight a guy 10 years younger than me, he don’t have enough experience,” Mayweather said. “So if I fight somebody my age, he’s too old. If I fight a guy going up in weight class, he’s too small. I’m always in a no-win situation. All I’m going to do is go out there and keep kicking ass.”

He went on and on. He noted that he’s “not ducking and dodging no opponents,” but he was sure ducking and dodging the question. Finally, he was asked, “Tell us exactly what it will take for you and Pacquiao to get in there.”

And given the opportunity, finally, to trot out his favorite line: “If you think you’re the best, take the test.” He again began to bob and weave.

Anyone who was hoping for a simple yes or no was disappointed.

“I mean, we’ve been talking about this for the longest,” Mayweather said, shaking his head. “Like I said before, we knew Sugar Ray Leonard [and] we knew he was great from his Olympic days. We knew he was going to be a great professional. Michael Jordan, from college, we knew he was going to be a great professional. Floyd Mayweather, from the beginning of his career, from the ’90s, we knew he was going to be a great professional.

“Look at all these different athletes. Kobe Bryant in high school, you knew he was going to be a great athlete. Now, you ask yourself, a fighter just don’t get 25 and all of a sudden become great. A fighter don’t just become 25 years old and pop out of nowhere. You know what? ‘I’m knocking junior middleweights out. I’m knocking middleweights out.’ That just don’t happen. That just don’t happen.”

Mayweather is facing a defamation lawsuit from Pacquiao over allegations he made that Pacquiao was using performance enhancing drugs.

As he continued speaking, he made it abundantly clear that he’s suspicious of the one-time flyweight champion’s training methods.

“I mean, it’s like this,” Mayweather said as a group of sycophants applauded, whistled and cheered. “If you don’t have nothing to hide, I just want to be on an even playing field. That’s it. Even playing field. If you don’t got nothing to hide, take the test.”

Arum said last week that Pacquiao would indeed submit to the Olympic-style random blood and urine testing that Mayweather has demanded of his recent opponents. Arum said Pacquiao, who spends the first part of his training camp working out in the Philippines, would agree to the testing with no restriction, supervised by the World Anti-Doping Agency when he was in the Philippines and the United States Anti-Doping Agency when he moved his training to Los Angeles.

Pacquiao once asked for the testing to be stopped at some point before agreeing, but he is no longer making that demand, Arum said.

“All we ask is that the results are given to the relevant agency that is governing the fight,” Arum said. “If the fight is in Nevada, give it to the Nevada State Athletic Commission. That’s all we’re asking. But Manny will do the testing with no questions asked.”

Nothing, though, will apparently satisfy Mayweather in that regard. He’s so enamored with “being my own boss” that he’s letting it affect his decisions. He wants to make everyone, from the HBO Sports television executives who have built his career, to the promoters who have aided him, to the media that has covered his rise to superstardom, to the fighters who want the same chance he was given, to jump through hoops. When he tells them to jump, he wants them to ask “How high?”

Mayweather was always a marvelous talent. He was a bronze medalist at the 1996 Olympics, but was robbed of a gold when he lost to Bulgarian Serafim Todorov in one of the worst calls in Olympic history.

In his sixth pro fight, he met Robert Giepert on April 12, 1997, on the undercard of a fight between Pernell Whitaker and Oscar De La Hoya in Las Vegas. In his locker room at the Thomas & Mack Center after the bout, Mayweather told a reporter he wanted to fight De La Hoya, who was then on his way to replacing Mike Tyson as the biggest draw in boxing.

Mayweather said on that night that he believed he could have beaten De La Hoya and, if truth be known, he was probably correct.

He knows what it is like to be an exceptional young talent who is desperate to fight the established superstar, but he wants everyone in his chain to kowtow to him before agreeing to fight.

Mayweather was masterful in the ring Saturday and is one of the two or three highest-earning athletes in the sport.

Acting this way demeans him. If he doesn’t want to fight Pacquiao because he truly believes in his heart that Pacquiao is using performance enhancing drugs, then say so. It will disappoint millions of fans worldwide, many of whom are his fans, but it’s his choice to fight whomever he wants.

And in what can truly be a life-or-death situation like boxing, no one could blame him if he said no to a fight if he is convinced Pacquiao is doping. This crazy tap dance he’s playing, though, has to end.

For all the great things that Floyd Mayweather Jr. has done in his career, his response to that one question continues to be his only losing move.

Mayweather’s only error Saturday came not in the ring but in a ballroom at the post-fight news conference. He was asked, as is he every time he appears in public, whether he’d fight Pacquiao.

Prince Harry turns 27; how will he celebrate?

2011-09-18T22:27:00.000-07:00

Prince Harry was born Prince Henry Charles Albert David 27 years ago today, and how will he celebrate? Will he be the wild-child royal caught on video doing the Croatian boogie?

Or, as he nears 30, will he conform more to the persona conveyed on the official Prince of Waleswebsite? Eton student, young documentarian focusing on the plight of orphans in Lesotho, proud soldier, charity founder, helicopter pilot in training.

He's likely a bit of both. The prince has progressed steadily in hits military career but took a breather in August in Croatia. Harry, whose adventures are thoroughly documented on the Web, was on leave when he visited a nightclub with friends and security. Dancing on a ledge above a swimming pool, he took a dive into the water, climbed out of the pool and kept on dancing.

His romantic exploits also receive plenty of attention. His relationship with Chelsy Davy has been on and off more than a light bulb since 2004. He took the daughter of wealthy Zimbabwean businessman Charles Davy to Prince William's wedding to Catherine Middleton, where, wags said, he was flirting with Kate's sister, Pippa. There was talk of wedding bells between Davy and Prince Harry, but he has insisted he's 100% single.

Prince Harry will be visiting California in early October, according to an Associated Press report quoting a spokeswoman with the Naval Air Facility in El Centro, Calif. Harry will be visiting as part of an Apache attack helicopter training course. The prince will train at the California base as well as an Arizona location.

With the prince 100% single, that would seem like good news for Southwestern women with princess dreams.

'Happy Gilmore' actress Frances Bay dies at 95.

2011-09-18T22:24:00.000-07:00

Frances Bay, who tussled with Jerry Seinfeld over a loaf of marble rye and played Adam Sandler's grandmother in "Happy Gilmore" during a career that began in the 1930s, has died. She was 92.

Her cousin Les Berman says Bay died Thursday at a Los Angeles area hospital after being diagnosed with pneumonia.

After working as a radio actress before World War II, Bay married and became a housewife. She returned to acting in the 1970s and her career took off. Bay played Fonzie's Grandma Nussbaum on "Happy Days" and kindly older ladies in shows like "The Jeffersons," ''The Dukes of Hazzard" and "Who's the Boss?"

The Canadian-born actress also was cast by director David Lynch in several films, including "Blue Velvet" and "Wild at Heart."

Fans of "Seinfeld" know her as the tough lady who fought with the show's star over the last loaf of bread.

She has no immediate survivors.

Demi Lovato, who entered rehab last year, encourages young girls with problems to seek help.

2011-09-18T09:19:00.000-07:00

Singer Demi Lovato thanked her fans at a concert for supporting her after she entered rehab last year and encouraged young girls to seek help if they are dealing with similar problems.

"A year ago today ... I was not in a good place," the 19-year-old said at her concert Saturday night. "I needed help and I want anybody in this audience to know that if you're struggling with one of the issues that I dealt with or a different issue, that you can get help, that you can recover and it's possible if you just tell someone."
Lovato entered a treatment facility for three months last year to deal with "emotional and physical issues." The singer-actress said as an 8-year-old who faced bullying she had an eating disorder and later started cutting her wrists to vent her despair.

She performed a show at New York's Hammerstein ballroom, just days ahead of the release of third album, "Unbroken."

Lovato was beginning to play her latest song, "Skyscraper," when she stopped to address the crowd.

"They're so many beautiful girls in this audience that don't know that they're beautiful, but they just are," she said. "So I want to thank you guys for being there for me every single day I was away. I wouldn't be here without you guys today."

Concertgoers screamed "I love you" while Lovato spoke and one girl held a sign that read: "Demi makes me strong!"

After performing "Skyscraper," she sang a cover of Lil Wayne's recent hit "How to Love," a song about women's insecurities and their struggles to find love.

Lovato was the star of the Disney Channel series "Sonny With a Chance" before she announced she was leaving the show in April.

Mayweather drops Ortiz, takes WBC welter belt!

2011-09-18T09:07:00.000-07:00

In just one round, Floyd Mayweather Jr. got a head butt, a kiss and a hug from Victor Ortiz.

He responded with a right hand that ended a bizarre fight early.

Mayweather remained unbeaten and did it in emphatic fashion Saturday night, stopping Ortiz at 2:59 of the fourth round to take the piece of the welterweight title Ortiz brought into the ring.

The end came just as the two fighters emerged from a break, in which Ortiz had embraced Mayweather in the center of the ring. As they broke, Mayweather shot out a left hand and followed it with a right that put Ortiz down in his corner.

Ortiz struggled to get up as referee Joe Cortez called an end to the fight.

“We touched gloves and we were back to fighting and then I threw the left and right hand after the break,” Mayweather said. “In the ring you have to protect yourself at all times.”

The round was already controversial, as Ortiz appeared to head butt Mayweather intentionally, leading Cortez to take a point away from him. After the head butt, Ortiz went to Mayweather and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

Seconds later they were in the center of the ring ready to resume action when two punches ended it quickly.

“I took the break by the referee and I obeyed exactly as I was told,” Ortiz said. “And then, boom, he blindsided me.”

Mayweather was winning the fight through three rounds, dominating with speed and landing good right hands to the head of Ortiz. He won all three rounds on two ringside scorecards, and two of three on the third.

Ortiz picked up the pace in the fourth round, trying desperately to get inside Mayweather’s vaunted defense. He did on occasion and was having a better round when, late in the round, he appeared to intentionally head butt Mayweather in frustration as the two fought in Mayweather’s corner.

“He did something dirty when it was his corner who said I was dirty,” Mayweather said. “But I won the fight.”

Mayweather later engaged in a verbal confrontation with HBO announcer Larry Merchant, calling him a name at one point and drawing a pointed response from the veteran broadcaster, who said he would thrash the boxer if he “was 50 years younger.”

While Ortiz claimed he was caught by a punch that came before Cortez ruled the fighters to continue, the referee said Mayweather did nothing wrong.

“Time was in, the fighter needed to keep his guard up. Mayweather did nothing illegal,” Cortez said.

Mayweather, a 5-1 favorite in the fight against a champion 10 years younger, had vowed to go right after Ortiz and give the fans who bought the pay-per-view card at home an exciting fight. He mostly delivered on that promise, landing some good right hands in the early rounds and winning exchanges with his quickness.

But he hadn’t really hurt Ortiz and took some punches himself in the fourth round as Ortiz seemed to rally before the head butt touched off the series of events that brought the fight to an end. Ortiz quickly apologized to Mayweather after the head butt, giving him a hug and a kiss on the cheek while Cortez was busy taking a point away from him.

here was another quick hug in the center of the ring as action was about to resume, followed by the 1-2 combination by Mayweather that put Ortiz on his rear. Ortiz tried to get up, but was still on his knees when the fight was waved to a close.

“There’s two ways to look at it but as far as I was concerned I came here to entertain the fans and I think they were entertained,” Ortiz said. “There was a miscommunication with the referee but nobody is perfect and this was a learning experience.”

Mayweather made a minimum of $25 million for his first fight in 16 months, a sum that will likely go up as the pay-per-view receipts are totaled. He could make even more against Manny Pacquiao next May should Pacquiao win his November fight with Juan Manuel Marquez and the two finally agree to fight.

Mayweather remained unbeaten in 42 fights, scoring the knockout he had predicted. Ortiz, who lost his 147-pound title, fell to 29-3-2.

Boxer Pacquiao’s LA home burglarized; 4 arrested

2011-09-18T08:59:00.000-07:00

Four people were arrested after detectives discovered a burglary in progress at the home of champion boxer Manny Pacquiao while he was in his native Philippines preparing for a fight, authorities said Saturday.

Nothing was taken and no one was home Friday during the midday break-in that detectives witnessed by chance in the Hancock Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, sheriff’s Capt. Mike Parker said.

The fighter was informed of the burglary and will proceed to his training base in the northern resort city of Baguio to prepare for his third fight against Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico on Nov. 12 in Las Vegas, his attorney and chief of staff Franklin Gacal said.

Gacal said the break-in occurred when a security guard who oversees the house had gone out to eat.

`’Manny is happy that nothing was stolen,” Gacal said.

The area is patrolled by the Los Angeles Police Department, but detectives from the Sheriff’s Department were in the area on an unrelated criminal investigation when they saw the home being burglarized and made the arrests, Parker said.

The four people were being questioned. Their names have not been released and they have yet to be charged.

Pacquiao, 32, has won 14 straight fights and is considered by many the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world and among the greatest of all time. He is a megastar in the Philippines, where he is also a singer, actor and congressman.

Mayweather shows soft side before weigh-ins!

2011-09-17T20:47:00.000-07:00

Floyd Mayweather Jr. has put his reputation as the self-styled baddest man in boxing on the line with a gushing monologue that revealed a surprising romantic side.

Mayweather was his typically controversial self as he geared up for his World Boxing Council welterweight title bout with champion Victor Ortiz, sparking an altercation with his opponent at Friday’s weigh-in at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

However, that followed an extraordinary exchange with reporters in which he admitted that the 2004 romantic epic “The Notebook,” based on Nicholas Sparks’ best-selling book of the same name, is his favorite movie.

“I really like ‘The Notebook,’ ” Mayweather said. “I mean, who don’t want to die next to your better half, holding hands. Die in your sleep next to the woman that you love, holding hands. That way, neither of you will ever be lonely. This is an amazing story. When you get old, what could be more beautiful than that? I feel like if I leave this earth and leave my better half, she is going to be lonely.

“If she leaves me then I am going to be lonely. I mean, what is the point of making all this money and [having] all this if you can’t enjoy it with your wife?”

Despite his success in the ring, where he has racked up a professional record of 41-0 and is firmly established as one of the two biggest attractions in the sport, Mayweather has a reputation for wild and unpredictable behavior. This summer he burned a $100 bill in an Atlanta nightclub and he is the defendant in six lawsuits. He also is facing several felony charges in a domestic violence case.

It seems, though, that his relationship with aspiring actress and model Chantal Jackson has served as a calming influence, and the 34-year-old Mayweather did nothing to dispel rumors that the pair had already wed in secret.

“Maybe,” said Mayweather, when asked if Jackson was already his wife. “Maybe. Certain things we keep in house, certain things we let you all know.

“Just because you have a lot of money doesn’t always make you happy. People can find success in different ways.”

Despite his newfound inner peace there is little chance of Mayweather going soft when it comes to boxing matters. As usual, he wasted no opportunity to try to get into his opponent’s head during the weigh-in, held in front of about 4,000 fans.

Mayweather pushed his face into Ortiz’s as they posed for photographers after the weigh-in, spouting a series of taunts at the 24-year-old titleholder, then grabbing Ortiz by the throat before they were separated.

A few moments earlier, Mayweather had weighed in at 146.5 lbs, a half-pound under the welterweight limit, with Ortiz coming in right on the money at 147.

Mayweather is an overwhelming favorite to rack up another victory, while the best chance of success for the big-punching Ortiz might be if he can land one huge, fight-changing shot.

Ortiz will receive $2 million in guaranteed money, plus a share of pay-per-view revenues, while Mayweather is guaranteed $25 million, and could make as much as $40 million.

Neil Patrick Harris gets Walk of Fame star!

2011-09-16T13:49:00.000-07:00

Neil Patrick Harris doesn't have to go far to tip one back to celebrate his latest honor.

"As much of an honor as this is, unfortunately, it won't be the first time I've been plastered on the sidewalk in front of the Frolic Room," the Emmy winner joked today at his induction into the Hollywood Walk of Fame, noting his star's placement near a dive bar and the Pantages Theater. "And yes, that includes right now."

"I love it," he told E! News after his acceptance speech. "It's the perfect blend. I'm partly theater and I'm partly getting wasted, so it's a nice combination."

Also a nice combination? "How I Met Your Mother" costar Jason Segel and "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog" creator Joss Whedon showing up to partly roast, partly celebrate their colleague.

"Neil has been entertaining audiences in television, stage, the Internet and film for over 60 years, and he just honestly couldn't look better," Segel quipped of the former child star turned screen-stage-and-tube triple threat.

"Quite simply, he's the mostly wildly talented person I've ever been around," the actor continued. "There's no jokes coming up in this part, this part's sincere: He can act and he can sing and he can dance, and he's a magician, and he can host and he can direct. Like Joss said, he has the kind of talent that people had in the old days when you had to actually be talented to be famous."

His friend can "host anything," Segel added. "Neil was lobbying to host this event for the past three weeks, and they were like, 'That makes no sense,' and he was like, 'Fine.'"

Harris took a far more self-deprecating approach to the festivities.

"Right now, my twins, Gideon and Harper, are too young to understand this honor," he said. "They spend most of their time peeing and vomiting on me. But let's be honest, that's probably what's going to happen nightly to my star here outside the Frolic Room.

"But someday, when they're older, I'll take them here, my heart bursting with pride, and say, 'Kids, your old man was the 587th Hollywood star in the Television category. And God that sounds good!"

Overall, Harris received the 2,448th star on the Walk of Fame. Also at the ceremony was longtime love and partner in fatherhood David Burtka, whom Harris said he loved more than anything in the world.

"Except this star," he concluded.

Cruise ship tilting dangerously in Norway after Thursday fire.

2011-09-16T11:05:00.000-07:00

Rescue teams pumped water from the hull of a Norwegian cruise ship that listed dangerously Friday, a day after a fire on board killed two crew and forced the evacuation of 260 other people, officials said. Police Chief Jon Steven Hasseldal said the ship had been tilting at an angle of 21.7 degrees, which is over what is considered a critical line of 20 degrees.

Despite the list, a Dutch salvage team managed to place three pumps inside the vessel on Friday morning.

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"At the moment it looks promising," Hasseldal told reports at the dockside. "It's still a serious situation ... but now there is a bit more stability in the ship."

A fire in the engine room of the MS Nordlys on Thursday morning caused the evacuation of the ship before it was due to arrive at Aalesund, 230 miles (375 kilometers) northwest of the capital ofOslo. All 207 passengers were evacuated safely into lifeboats or after it docked.

Two crew were found dead in the engine room while nine others were admitted to hospital, two of whom had serious injuries, including burns and smoke inhalation. Three rescue workers were treated for mild injuries from inhaling smoke.

Police said they suspected an explosion in the engine room but did not know what caused it.

"Nothing indicates sabotage or points to terror," said Trygve Oedegaard, head of operations at the Aalesund police.

Thick black smoke billowed from the stern of the ship, operated by the Hurtigruten line, when it sailed into Aalesund. Police sealed off parts of the town as smoke engulfed nearby buildings.

Passengers said the evacuation was orderly and calm.

"It was a well-organized evacuation," Danielle Passebois-Paya, a French tourist, said. "The crew did a really good job. Everything was calm and went smoothly. There was no panic."

Hurtigruten said it was organizing emergency passports and providing money for the passengers who had to leave their belongings on board during the evacuation.

The shipping line's CEO Olav Fjell said that finding alternative transport for those who wanted to continue their journey would be difficult.

"Our other ships are fully booked so it has been difficult for us to find alternatives for those who would like to continue their journey," Fjell said.

Salvage teams worked through the night but were forced to leave the ship as it continued to tilt. They resumed pumping operations from outside after holes were drilled into the hull to enable insertion of hoses.

Hasseldal said that a floating crane was also being used to stabilize the tilting vessel.

The MS Nordlys is one of 12 Hurtigruten vessels that ply Norway's craggy coast on the popular 1,500-mile (2,500-kilometer) route to the northern town of Kirkenes, high above the Arctic Circleand near the Russian border.

Henry Winkler officially Most Excellent, receives honorary OBE.

2011-09-16T11:01:00.000-07:00

Henry Winkler is often called the Nicest Man in Hollywood, but now he's also known as an Honorary Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE).

He was awarded the honor from the Queen this week in recognition of his services to children with dyslexia and special educational needs.

According to the British Embassy in Washington, he's spent much of the last two years touring the U.K. to educate about dyslexia and other learning difficulties. Winkler, who was diagnosed with dyslexia as an adult, is also the author of 17 children's books centered on Hank Zipzer, a boy with dyslexia who overcomes his struggles at school and with bullies.

There are two things I love about the press release: One, that "Happy Days" the show is never actually mentioned, although Sheinwald sneaks in a reference ("Henry Winkler is living proof that difficulties can be overcome and that for those suffering disability and self-doubt, happy days can nevertheless lie ahead").

And two, the sense of formality that insures you will also not see the words "the Fonz" or "Fonzie" ("Mr. Winkler's portrayal of Arthur Fonzarelli garnered him two Golden Globes and three Primetime Emmy nominations"). What I love about this in general is that it's just another wonderful, unexpected line on Winkler's résumé.

It's kinda like the first time you read that he was an executive producer on "MacGyver" or heard that he saw the short film that "Better Off Dead"... writer/director Savage Steve Holland had made about having suicidal thoughts after his high school girlfriend dumped him for the captain of the ski team and gave him an office so he could write it as a feature.

It's easy to just think of Winkler as "The Fonz" instead of as a man who's also done multiple Adam Sandler movies, "Arrested Development," and "Childrens Hospital" among other things (like wear orange shirts on "Royal Pains"). Every now and then we like to stop and remember.

Brad Pitt Does Damage Control After Dissing Jennifer Aniston!

2011-09-16T10:57:00.000-07:00

Brad Pitt should just stop doing interviews -- or answering questions about Jennifer Aniston, at the very least. Pitt's comments to Parademagazine about his failed first marriage are shockingly honest yet extremely hurtful to a woman (Jen, duh) who'll spend her entire life being compared to Angelina Jolie (which really sucks for Jen, because Angie will always win).

"I spent the '90s trying to hide out, trying to duck the full celebrity cacophony," Pitt tells Parade. "I started to get sick of myself sitting on a couch, holding a joint, hiding out. It started feeling pathetic. It became clear to me that I was intent on trying to find a movie about an interesting life, but I wasn't living an interesting life myself. I think my marriage (to Jennifer) had something to do with it. Trying to pretend the marriage was something that it wasn't."

In damage-control mode, Pitt attempts to clarify his comments in a statement, telling Us Weekly: "It grieves me that this was interpreted this way. Jen is an incredibly giving, loving, and hilarious woman who remains my friend. It is an important relationship I value greatly. The point I was trying to make is not that Jen was dull, but that I was becoming dull to myself -- and that, I am responsible for."

Nearly seven years after leaving Aniston for Jolie, whom he gushes is "such a great mom," Pitt should know well enough to quit pouring salt on the wound. Or doing interviews.

Scarlett Johansson's leaked photos!

2011-09-16T07:10:00.000-07:00

They sure are real! :)

The Misery of Brad Pitt

2011-09-15T22:08:00.000-07:00

The first role that Brad Pitt won an award for, he hated.

Maybe hate is a strong word, but Pitt describes his experience as the brooding, self-loathing Louis de Pointe du Lac in the 1994 film "Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles," as "miserable." In a nicely self-deprecating cover story for the September 23 Entertainment Weekly issue, the actor recalls his "six months in the (expletive) dark" wearing contact lenses, makeup, and playing second fiddle to star Tom Cruise both onscreen and off. (Cruise played the vampire Lestat.) "I'm telling you, one day it broke me," Pitt tells EW, and confesses he called friend and producer David Geffen to see how much it would cost to get out. The sobering answer: $40 million. "I was like, 'I've got to man up and ride through this....'"

Vampire model
One upside: Pitt got introduced to New Orleans, which would later become his adopted hometown that he would help to rebuild. And, miserable or not, a depressed vampire is still bragging rights for the twice-nominated Oscar actor: The role won him a double whammy at the MTV Movie Awards for best male performance and most desirable male.

Plus, all that silent suffering has been homework for other would-be vampires. Ethan Hawke studied Pitt to get the "self-loathing undead" vibe down for "Daybreakers" (2009). Colin Farrell, a newbie to the list of sexy cinematic bloodsuckers, came clean about his "soft spot for Brad Pitt in 'Interview with the Vampire.'" (That's right, soft spot.) And while Robert Pattinson has never mentioned Pitt as a brooding inspiration, the whippersnapper got beat out by his elder in at least one Hottest Vampire poll.

Earning his juice, stepping in for Heath
In the EW interview, the 47-year-old leading man also looks back on his career, reminiscing about people trying to shove him into the TV sitcom path ("I had that kind of Wonder Bread look and my hair was always went into place"), his "exhilaration" playing a hillbilly serial killer in "Kalifornia," how he finally got to use his star "juice" in "Se7en" ("I will do it on one condition — the head stays in the box"), and the Oklahoma/Missouri creed ("Don't believe your own hype").

Pitt also talks about the "Tree of Life" role that Heath Ledger had accepted — and rejected — before he died. (Creepily, Ledger said in an interview, "I do the Terrence Malick movie right after that, 'Tree of Life,' and then I'll drop to the ground, dead, for a year and hibernate." ) While Pitt doesn't explain why Ledger passed on the role, he does say, "I think he had other other things he was dealing with at that time and didn't feel it was right for him, which I understand." Ledger's death reminded Pitt of a "dark moment on 'Vampire,'" when River Phoenix died the week before he was to film his role as the journalist Daniel Malloy. Christian Slater replaced the talented actor, who had died of a drug overdose.

"Moneyball" in Pitt's court
Pitt's chatty, of course, because of his new film, "Moneyball," based on the Michael Lewis book about Oakland A's manager Billy Beane using stats instead of cash to assemble a winning team. Some have wondered if the sports team's current losing records might hurt box-office dollars. So far, the Pitt appeal seems to be strong, with steady online buzz and good reviews. And, after all, misery loves company.

The Lion King to return.. in 3D!

2011-09-15T08:06:00.000-07:00

The Disney classic Lion King is back and now in 3D! Walt Disney Pictures has confirmed that a 3D version of the studio's 1994 animated classic "The Lion King" will hit theatres on September 16th in a limited re-release for two weeks before the Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D hit stores on October 4th.

Here's an excerpt from the press release, along with the announcement trailer:

"Simba, Mufasa, Nala, Timon and Pumbaa are back and better than ever this fall when Disney’s “The Lion King” roars into theaters and homes in breathtaking 3D. A special two-week theatrical extravaganza kicks off Sept. 16, 2011, showcasing the Oscar®- and Golden Globe®-winning film on the big screen in Disney Digital 3D™ for the first time ever, and its highly anticipated home entertainment debut kicks off October 4, celebrating the Diamond Edition release of the epic movie “The Lion King” in high-definition Blu-ray™ and Blu-ray 3D™.

“‘The Lion King’ is the best-selling home entertainment release of all time—and this is ‘The Lion King’ like never before,” said Bob Chapek, president of distribution, The Walt Disney Studios. “The all-new 3D format immerses viewers in the epic settings and puts them face-to-face with these beloved characters. We’re showcasing one of the all-time favorite Disney movies in theaters and making it available in Blu-ray hi-def and in Blu-ray 3D—it’s the must-see, must-own title for everyone.”

Nearly a decade since “The Lion King” last appeared on the big screen, the upcoming theatrical release invites new generations into the “Circle of Life.” The two-week, 3D-only presentation is a planned wide domestic release—the biggest since the film’s 1994 debut—and the film’s first-ever 3D release.

The Blu-ray debut marks the first time “The Lion King” has been available in any form since 2004. Featuring pristine high definition picture and sound, the Blu-ray creates an incredible at-home experience with a host of picture and sound enhancements, interactive features and bonus content, including a new set of hilarious animated bloopers. "

FBI Investigating Alleged Scarlett Johansson Photo Hack!

2011-09-15T07:35:00.000-07:00

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is looking into who may be responsible for leaking private photos hacked from the cell phoneof actress Scarlett Johansson.

The two photos allegedly depict Johansson in various stages of undress. An FBI official told Fox News, "The FBI is aware of the alleged hacking incident and is looking into it."

According to TMZ, Johansson directly requested the Bureau track down the culprits.

Fox News also reports that the FBI is already investigating whether other celebrities, including Vanessa Hudgens and Jessica Alba, had their email accounts hacked. According to TMZ, Hudgens met with law enforcement earlier this year about the hacking.

This is far from the first time a celebrity has had his or her privacy violated. Several years ago, ESPN reporter Erin Andrews was the target of a stalker who secretly videotaped her in her hotel room. That man, Michael Barrett, was later found guilty and sentenced to 30 months in prison.

Though it was never confirmed, hackers also claimed to have photos of actress Blake Lively several months ago. A rep for Lively quickly threatened legal action against anyone who posted or distributed the photos.

The cell phone hacking of Hugh Grant also caused a major uproar. Reporters for the now defunct British tabloid News of the World hacked into the film star's cell phone to listen to private messages. Grant had the last laugh when he secretly tape recorded one of the reporters admitting to the crime.

Not surprisingly, this latest scandal is causing an uproar on the Web. Over the past several hours, online searches for "scarlett johansson" and "scarlett johansson fbi" have both soared into breakout status.

Vampire Johnny Depp in “Dark Shadows?”

2011-09-15T07:28:00.000-07:00

Say what you will about Johnny Depp, but we don't think anyone can deny that the guy isn't willing to go the extra mile. Colin Farrell plays a vampire by putting on some powder and wearing a T-shirt. Robert Pattinson plays a vampire by throwing on some fake fangs and growing his hair. Johnny Depp? He plays a vampire by turning himself into Michael Jackson.

That's the only thing we can come up with after seeing early images of Depp on the set of "Dark Shadows," his upcoming film with director Tim Burton. The film, which is an "updating" of the '70s ABC soap opera (Depp's character, Barnabas Collins, was originally played by Jonathan Frid), is the seventh collaboration between Depp and Burton. By our count, it's the second time in a row in a Burton film that Depp has played Michael Jackson.

In case you don't know, Barnabas Collins is a vampire, which would explain the paleness. Though the original version wasn't that pale. Even though he's a vampire, Collins is a good guy. (Here's a complete synopsis of the series.) The film is coming out next May and co-stars Chloe Moretz, Helena Bonham Carter and Michelle Pfeiffer.

It's worth noting that it's possible Depp is painted up like that to help digital animators put in special effects in postproduction. Entertainment Weekly's Anthony Breznican, who has seen footage of the film, says he looks a lot different onscreen. We do hope so.

Shamcey Supsup still a winner for Pinoys!

2011-09-14T20:22:00.000-07:00

Shamcey Supsup may not have bagged the elusive international beauty title but to a lot of Filipinos, she still is a true winner.

Out of 89 candidates, Supsup, 25, placed third runner-up in the Miss Universe 2011 pageant held in Sao Paolo, Brazil.

Malacanang praised Supsup for her "humility, intellect, and grace" during the pageant, noting that she "embodied the spirit of the true Filipina."

"In our eyes, that is the true victory today—that the world stood witness to and found an appreciation for the ideals, values, and beauty that has long characterized our nation," presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a statement.

"May this triumph serve as a way for other nations to come to appreciate not just the beauty of our people, but that of our country. On behalf of the Filipino people, we are proud of you [Shamcey]; and we see even greater things ahead for you," Lacierda added.

Shamcey is the lone candidate who did not seek the help of an interpreter during the final Q& A.

Supsup's win is a huge achievement on top of her previous wins, including topping the 2010 Architect Licensure Examination and graduating magna cum laude from the University of the Philippines.

In Twitter’s world-wide Trending Topic, "Ms. Philippines" was in 9th place, while in the Philippines' trending list, "Go Philippines" was top two.

Supsup, who was described as having a "mega-watt smile" during the pageant also placed second in the competition's online ranking for the evening gown.

In a Yahoo! Philippines OMG! poll, majority of the respondents believed Supsup would make it.

At least 58 percent of the respondents believed Supsup had a huge chance at getting the crown, 27 percent voted that she would be among the Top 5, while five percent said she would be in the Top 10. A mere five percent said she wouldn’t get into the final stages.

On the Yahoo! Philippines Facebook fanpage, Ed Hagamann said: "I thought Shamcey did her country good. she represented Filipinos very well and I, for one, am proud of her."

Meyett Dollosa added: "At least she did her best for the country and for family! Congrats, Shamcey :)"

MABUHAY ANG PINOY!

COMMENTARY: Incompetence surrounds Pacquiao

2011-09-14T20:13:00.000-07:00

Manila (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN) - It is becoming increasingly evident that pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao is either surrounded by incompetent advisers, including lawyers who don't know the law, or that he is stubborn enough to ignore them.

Pacquiao's announcement that he plans to run for vice president in 2016 was met by disbelief by most people, not because of the audacity of his announcement but the fact that under the Constitution of the Republic he is ineligible to run because he would be underage at the time of the elections.

Of course we wonder why Manny chose to make such a significant announcement on Mexican television and not before his own people. We could perhaps forgive his youthful exuberance after receiving a fantastic welcome last week from Mexican fight fans and members of parliament, who pushed and shoved each other to get close to the international boxing icon.

Even as Pacquiao clearly signifies the political path he wishes to tread, one must wonder-and question-some of the choices he has made thus far in terms of the people who surround him and form part of his team.

If he decides to have foreigners in different capacities, as long as they stay clear of politics, it is his choice. But it is the Filipinos' right to question such choices especially if in the forseeable future Pacquiao is elected to an office higher than the one he currently holds.

The one relationship that upsets many is his partnership with a certain Timothy James Sladeck, who handles Pacquiao's website with Manny's obvious imprimatur, apprently with Franklin "Jeng" Gacal, Pacquiao's lawyer, as a partner.

Sladeck was recently in the news when he reportedly threatened and harassed the owner of the widely read philboxing.com website, Dong Secuya, one of the humblest, soft-spoken media people you could ever get to know. Sladeck demanded that Secuya shut down his Pacland website that did more to promote Pacquiao when he was a comparative nobody than even the astute Top Rank promoter Bob Arum.

When we asked him at the Manila Hotel launch of the World Press Tour for the upcoming trilogy with Juan Manuel Marquez about the incident, Pacquiao said he would resolve the problem.

Clearly, we expect Pacquiao, who has said he will later aspire for the presidency, to be far more prudent and circumspect in his choice of individuals who work with or for him. This is particularly relevant in Sladek's case since he serves as a spokesperson who often quotes Manny on his website.

While we accept the fact that Sladeck has paid his dues and served his time, he did so in the US and paid his dues to American society, not here. There is nothing edifying in Pacquiao giving this individual a second chance. For the record it may be worthwhile to reprint the Los Angeles Times story on Sladeck so it may put into better perspective the point that Pacquiao needs to take a close, hard look at the people around him.

LA Times staff writer Scott Martelle reported on Aug. 1, 1997 that "A former Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy obsessed with bodybuilding was sentenced to more than five years in state prison after pleading guilty to robbing a Lake Forest jewelry store early this year. Timothy James Sladeck, 29, of Foothill Ranch, was sentenced Wednesday after pleading guilty to two counts of armed robbery, one count of felony possession of steroids and a misdemeanor charge of possessing a hypodermic syringe."

It is often said that an individual is judged by the company he keeps and, in this regard, Manny is surely found wanting.

We all admire Pacquiao for his incredible achievements and share a great deal of affection for this charismatic young man whom we have known since he was 16. It is that admiration and affection that compels us to raise these fundamental issues at this time because only true friends will tell him what they perceive is wrong. Leeches and miscellaneous hangers-on will continue to surround him and suck his blood money and tell him everything is okay.

Source

Oprah didn't say that!

2011-09-14T20:06:00.000-07:00

Hours after Philippine bet Shamcey Supsup was named as the 3rd runner-up at the Miss Universe 2011 pageant, a purported statement from U.S. “Queen of Talk” Oprah Winfrey spread like wildfire online.

This alleged statement was aired via NBC News: “I have reservations with the results. If the only basis is the Q and A portion, after having been trimmed down to 5, Ms. Philippines deserved to win. What made her different from the rest is that she had no seconds to rethink of her answer as she had no interpreter to break the ice. The rest had their interpreters and having breaks on seconds to think about their answers. Hands down, Ms. Philippines answered straight to the point.”

But sorry to burst your bubble, the highly influential celebrity did not actually say that.

Answering a query on the alleged statement, a moderator on Oprah's official website Oprah.com said Oprah has not issued "any comments of this nature."

OWNModerator13 responded: "There is no truth to the statement. Ms. Winfrey has not made any comments of this nature. Thank you for asking."

Kirstie Alley, 60, Stuns on Runway

2011-09-14T02:48:00.000-07:00

At Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, celebs usually sit perched in the front row. Kirstie Alley, on the other hand, strutted her stuff on the Zang Toi catwalk in New York City Tuesday.

"Waaaa Hooooo!!! Kitty is ready to walk the Cat!!! False Bravado will guide me...Let's have some fun @ZANGTOI!!!" the actress tweeted on Tuesday.

Stars Hit New York Fashion Week

Clad in an elegant-yet-dramatic royal blue, rhinestone-adorned gown, the 60-year-old wowed the audience as she closed the Malaysian designer's Spring 2012 show.

"I've known Zang since 1993," Alley told "Entertainment Tonight." "I did the cover ofRedbook and I wanted something really beautiful ... he just has the most beautiful clothes, period."

Celebrities With Designer BFFs

Despite having walked the red carpet numerous times, Alley revealed that she still had some runway jitters.

"Will be winkin and blinking at y'all. DONT make me laugh! Gotta keep "model face." Oh, who am I kidding?? Haha," she tweeted, along with, "DO NOT make eye contact! I will start giggling and fall on my well-dressed a--. Look away!"

Exclusive Theatrical Trailer: Breakin Dawn

2011-09-14T02:15:00.000-07:00

Bella (Kristen Stewart) and Edward (Robert Pattinson) exchange vows, but the happy event has a dangerous aftermath.

Meet the New Miss Universe Leila Lopes

2011-09-14T02:10:00.000-07:00

Greetings, your Majesty!

Leila Lopes -- Miss Angola -- was crowned Miss Universe in Sao Paulo, Brazil on Monday night, beating out 88 other beauties in the 60th anniversary of the world's biggest beauty pageant.

Lopes, 25, is the first Angola native to capture the crown -- and strives to help her native land leave behind its history of war and poverty; she's also dedicated to fighting HIV worldwide.

NEWS: Which beauty queens have been dethroned?

"I've worked with various social causes. I work with poor kids, I work in the fight against HIV. I work to protect the elderly and I have to do everything that my country needs," Lopes told reporters. "I think now as Miss Universe I will be able to do much more."

Watch the crowning moment here:

The stunner was poised during the Q&A period of the show (broadcast live on NBC and hosted by Bravo's Andy Cohen and Natalie Morales, with veteran TV anchor Connie Chung and Real Housewives' Adrienne Maloof among the celebrity judges) -- and said there's not a thing she'd change about her physical appearance.

PHOTOS: Hollywood's best bikini bodies

"Thank God I'm very satisfied with the way God created me and I wouldn't change a thing," she said. "I consider myself a woman endowed with inner beauty. I have acquired many wonderful principles from my family and I intend to follow these for the rest of my life."

Lopes' near-rivals included first runner up Olesia Stefanko (Miss Ukraine), and second runner-up Priscilla Machado.

PHOTOS: Do-gooder celebs

California's Miss USA Alyssa Campanella did not rank in the top five; an American has not been named Miss Universe since Brook Lee in 1997.

Justin Bieber Wears Women’s Jeans

2011-09-14T02:04:00.000-07:00

Justin Bieber wears what's comfortable -- it's as simple as that. The pop sensation rocked the red carpet at Dolce & Gabbana's Fashion's Night Out event in New York City, where he spoke about his own fashion choices, including women's jeans.

Bieber spoke to Life & Style magazine about his affinity for ladies' jeans. "I've worn women's jeans before because they fit me. It's not a trend; it's just, whatever works, works." Again, Justin says this isn't a trend, so if everybody starts wearing Not Your Daughter's Jeans, don't blame him.

Bieber was responding to a question about Kanye West's decision to wear a women's sweater. "It wasn't (so he'd) look like a woman in a sweater; it was just a regular sweater that happened to be a woman's."

The Biebs is no stranger to nontraditional styles, though he's not going to cross into Lady Gaga "meat dress" territory. At the 2011 Billboard Music Awards, Justin rocked an Elvis-like glittery gold dinner jacket. He's worn leopard-print shoes, oddly oversized glasses, and white leather with rhinestones (always a bold choice). And don't forget the women's jeans. You got a problem with that?

NY fashion experts say Middleton no trendsetter

2011-09-12T20:59:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK (Reuters) - She has graced countless magazine covers and dresses sell out hours after she has worn them, but experts at New York Fashion Week say Britain's Kate Middleton is a style follower, not a trendsetter like her royal spouse's late mother Princess Diana.

Middleton has been compared and contrasted with Diana, whose style, charity and scandalous divorce from Prince Charles made her arguably the world's most famous woman.

When Middleton married Prince William in April, hundreds of millions of people around the world watched on television, eager to see the wedding dress designed by Sarah Burton for the British label Alexander McQueen.

Then during the a visit by the couple to Canada and the United States in July, all eyes were on Middleton's wardrobe.

"She is stylish, but she's not setting trends, she's following trends," said Gregg Andrews, a fashion director at U.S. department store chain Nordstrom.

"If you take Kate out of the royal family, put her on a street in New York, you wouldn't look at her twice. She's a beautiful woman, but she blends into a crowd," he said.

While experts debate her fashion status, they say there is no question that the new Duchess of Cambridge and wife of the person second in line to the British throne is influential.

"Is she a style icon of the likes of a Kate Moss? Absolutely not. Is she in the public eye? Are people going to become obsessed with everything she wears regardless of what it is? Yes," said Elle Fashion News Director Anne Slowey.

Much like U.S. first lady Michelle Obama, Middleton has been praised for wearing affordable Main Street labels.

A blue Issa crossover knee-length dress that she wore when her engagement to William was announced sold out within 24 hours and cheap knock-offs vanished almost instantly.

GREAT ROLE MODEL

And the cream "Nannette" gown by British fashion retailer Reiss, which Middleton wore in the official engagement portraits, sold out several times over.

"Is she iconic at the moment? Time will tell. She's certainly influential. In the position that she's in you can't be simply stunning as she is and not have influence," said Neiman Marcus Fashion Director Ken Downing.

While more polished lady-like looks have been shown at New York Fashion Week -- such as evening wear with sleeves -- some experts were not expecting to see many styles on the runway inspired by Middleton.

Almost 100 designers are showing collections for spring/summer 2012 to retail buyers, media and celebrities, with dozens more showing at other venues around the city to coincide with the semi-annual event, which ends on Thursday.

Saks Fifth Avenue Senior Fashion Director Colleen Sherin said Middleton's style could be aspirational for many women.

"She seems to be starting to experiment a bit, to try some different looks and some different designers which I like to see but also still remaining thoughtful and appropriate in her choices and that's the key to her success," she said.

Jill Martin, author of "I Have Nothing to Wear!", described Middleton's style as classic. "I think this spring you will see many brides walking down the aisle in dresses with sleeves and that will pay tribute to Kate," she said.

source:here

Angelina Jolie Handcuffs Purse to Wrist in Toronto

2011-09-12T20:29:00.000-07:00

Really a wild child.

Angelina Jolie carried a unique fashion accessory to Brad Pitt's Moneyball premiere Friday night in Toronto: a gold clutch that was actually handcuffed to her wrist!

The actress, 36, carried the Louis Vuitton Lockit PM Devotion clutch. She paired the shiny gold bag with a sleek black dress.

Earlier this year, Jolie modeled for Louis Vuitton's Core Values campaign, which was shot on location in Cambodia. The Salt star was reportedly paid millions for the ad, which she donated to charity.

Selena Gomez Inks Justin Bieber's Name.

2011-09-12T20:22:00.000-07:00

Selena Gomez debuted a new tattoo over the weekend -- her beau Justin Bieber's name with a heart on her wrist.

Selena performed at Mandalay Bay at Las Vegas, and photos spotted a "Justin" with a heart tattooed on her wrist, but the question real question is if it is a real permanent tattoo. Young love is sweet!