July 9, 2008

It only cost them $1 million, but the newest Ok! magazine issue has the first pictures of Jamie Lynn Spears’ (Britney’s 17 year-old sister) new baby girl, Maddie Briann. Here's the cover of the latest issue:

A survey of over 4,000 British men yielded the Greatest Ever Male Style Icons. Here's the Top 10:
1. Cary Grant
2. David Beckham
3. Johnny Depp
4. Steve McQueen
5. Sean Connery
6. Brad Pitt
7. James Dean
8. Frank Sinatra
9. Elvis Presley
10. Justin Timberlake

A couple days ago Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban had a baby girl and named it Sunday Rose. How’d they pick Sunday? Nicole’s dad suggested it after reading about a very prominent woman involved with the arts in Australia. And what about Matthew McConaughey’s new baby Levi? Is he named after a pair of comfortable jeans? No. Matthew tells us it came from his favorite Bible passage in the book of Matthew (go figure). I thought McConaughey's favorite Bible verse was, "And on the seventh day, God took off his shirt and went surfing."

STAR Artist 3 Doors Down is swingin’ by the Marcus Amphitheater in Milwaukee on the 12th and wow!...will it be a LONG show with a set list of 22 songs. 22 songs?! At an average 4 minutes per song that’s…an hour and a half of pure music, not counting breaks and story time. Catch that show if you can – tickets are on-sale now through the Concert Calendar at star98.net.

About a month ago I told you about Grey’s Anatomy star Katherine Heigl and how she withdrew her name from Emmy contention. Would you believe this? The story was blown out of proportion. Chandra Wilson, one of her costars, came to the rescue recently saying, "Anyone will tell you this...sometimes you submit, sometimes you don’t.” Nominees for this year’s Emmys get announced next week.

The new Batman movie The Dark Knight has some serious buzz. So much so, movie theaters are creating 6 a.m. opening-day showings to meet the demand created after midnight and 3 a.m. showings sold-out already. A box-office analyst says midnight showings for movies like this are normal. But 6 a.m. shows? He says “That’s not normal.” Starting tomorrow night you can win tickets to see The Dark Knight with What’s In Matt’s Pocket at 7:30 p.m. All the daily ticket winners qualify to win a pair of RESERVED tickets for one of those sold out midnight showings.

This is scary stuff. Two Canadian cops saved the life of STAR Artist Van Halen's David Lee Roth. David was pulled over in Ontario for speeding, but when the officers approached his car, they realized he was in anaphylactic shock. He has an allergy to nuts and was suffering a severe reaction after coming into contact with a contaminated substance. The officers kept him calm until paramedics arrived.

STAR Artist David Cook has pulled a move I thought only NBA players do. He has a sneaker deal. Skechers will unveil a new pair of shoes that “reflects David’s personality, interests and appeal.” How do you convey making out with Kimberly Caldwell on a shoe?...

Speaking of David Cook...he says his dream Broadway role would be the title role in Phantom of the Opera. David says quote “I find the role so intriguing and mysterios…I’d love, love to play the Phantom.”

STAR Artist Sara Bareilles performed on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno tonight and tells us she’s ready to get back into the studio to start writing and recording new music. She says she definitely writes about real life and real ex-boyfriends – the best part about that? She tells the exes when she’s written a song about them. Sara will be in Milwaukee with STAR Artist the Counting Crows and Maroon 5 on August 23rd.

July 8, 2008

Matthew McConaughey has a new baby. His wife delivered a healthy baby boy last night. His name is Levi. Thank God Matthew didn't go with his first inclination to name it “Dude”. I guess you can tell the baby boy already looks like his dad – he came out shirtless and drooling.

STAR Artist Madonna, for some reason, wants Brintney Spears to be a part of her new tour. Will she risk the pop train wreck actually appearing in person? Thankfully no. Britney will record some sort of video message or performance as will STAR Artist Justin Timberlake. And no, Britney and Justin will not be appearing in the SAME video. That’s a whole other train wreck waiting to happen.

STAR Artist Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin is a dad – a dad to some babies with some very strange names like Apple and Moses. But Chris doesn’t see anything odd or peculiar about the names, “People make a big fuss over names. Names of babies, names of albums, names of bands. There’s nothing weird about calling your baby Chewbacca if that’s what you want to call your baby. It’s no stranger than Sarah.” Sure. Chewbacca...Sarah...I see the similarities.

Why do we love Steve Carell from NBC’s The Office? Because he’s a super nice guy and proves it daily. His co-star in Get Smart Anne Hathaway recently broke up with her boyfriend who’s now in prison for a laundry list of charges. Anne has had a strict policy of not being asked about that by reporters but at a recent premiere one reporter asked if the break-up was painful. Anne politely smiled and Steve Carell swooped in saying, “In my role of agent for Miss Hathaway, I would like to say that she does not answer questions relating to this subject." What a gentleman.

According to The Today Show, 80s fashion trends are starting to come back. I can’t believe I’m saying this but shoulder pads might be in again! What?! Neons and brights, shrunken leather jackets, short full skirts – they’re all on the rise and some of the outfit combinations I’ve seen actually look good. Are you going to pull out some old closeted 80s outfits? I think my Members Only jacket needs to stay as far from daylight as possible.

Here’s a few things you’re probably familiar with – Camp Rock, Hannah Montana and…High School Musical. In terms of the latter, writers at Disney have begun working on a script that would follow the High School Musical stars into their college years.

Briefly:
STAR Artists Ashlee Simpson and Fergie are doing their part to help young women – they’ve signed on to headline Seventeen magazine’s “Body Peace Project” which helps young ladies develop positive body images. Look for those later this summer.

How's Angelina passing the time in the hospital as she waits for her twins? According to Star magazine, she's been watching reruns of Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. Angelina is due in the next few weeks.

Drew Barrymore and Justin Long have split up after nearly a year of dating.

Paula Abdul’s ex won’t be finding his next true love on ABC’s The Bachelor. A recent report said he was in talks to appear on the show but ABC denies the rumor.

STAR Artist David Cook has been named one of VH1’s “Hottest Hunks Under 25.” Check out the entire list at vh1.com.

STAR Artist Nickelback just signed with Live Nation as part of a deal worth cbetween $50 and $70 million.

July 7, 2008

Here are the Top 10 Movies from the 4th of July Weekend:
1. Hancock, $66 million
2. WALL-E, $33.4 million
3. Wanted, $20.6 million
4. Get Smart, $11.1 million
5. Kung Fu Panda, $7.5 million
6. The Incredible Hulk, $5 million
7. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, $3.9 million
8. Kit Kittredge: An American Girl, $3.6 million
9. Sex and the City, $2.3 million
10. You Don't Mess With the Zohan, $2 million

There must be something in the proverbial Hollywood water because another actor is being charged with tax evasion. First Wesley Snipes, now Crocodile Dundee Paul Hogan. The tax authorities down under are supposedly looking to the IRS for help in building their case. The Mr. Dundee held an impromptu press conference, ya know, ‘cause we all care so much, where he laughed at the charges and told the Australian government to come and get him. Which sounds all bad and tough but he wasn’t kidding. He needs someone to pay for his plane ticket home...

The latest in the Madonna rumored divorce saga (thanks to eonline.com:
Never one to shy away from controversy, Madonna issued the mother of all denials on Sunday, quashing rumors of an affair with Yankee third baseman Alex Rodriguez, refuting claims that she converted him to Kabbalah and denying plans to divorce her husband of seven years, Guy Ritchie. "My husband and I are not planning on getting a divorce. I know Alex Rodriguez through Guy Oseary, who manages both of us. I brought my kids to a Yankee game. I am not romantically involved in any way with Alex Rodriguez. I have nothing to do with the state of his marriage or what spiritual path he may choose to study,” Madonna said in a statement to People magazine. A-Rod isn't off the hook either, thanks to a whole bunch of stuff, his wife has filed for divorce. To escape the media circus, A-Rod's wife fled to the home of pal Lenny Kravitz sparking rumors they were an item which Lenny immediately and angrily denied. Isn't this fun?...

Susan Olsen, A.K.A. Cindy Brady nearly vomited on-camera at a recent television interview blaming some friend for getting her “so wasted last night.” She bolted out of the taping before she could show the interviewer just how much she liked him. She’ll be known for playing Cindy Brady but evidently she wants to be remembered for acting like Lindsay Lohan.

STAR Artist John Mayer may have the most amazing sense of humor of any singer I know. At a concert last week he told those there he was so fed up with internet rumors. He said they just tempt him to say things, so throughout the concert he delivered some shocking confessions like he’s afraid of the color green, that he wrote the lyrics to Kenny Loggins’ “Danger Zone” when he was 9 and when he was 12 he weighed 400 pounds. And my two favorite John Mayer confessions: that he’s always felt he was born a woman and he’s 33% done building a time machine.

STAR Artist Bon Jovi’s "Lost Highway" tour will wrap up in about a week and Jon has no idea what to do next, "I'm not quite sure where to go, is it Greatest Hits Vol. 2, or is it time for a solo record, or is it time to walk away? I don't know what it'll be yet." If they do “walk away”, they’ll have gone out on top. The tour they’re wrapping will have reportedly brought 966,000 people to their concerts.

Supposed insiders are claiming the cast of the hit show Friends wants to get back together…in the movies. Since Sex & the City had such a hugely successful leap to the big screen, Jennifer Anniston, Courtney Cox, and all are ready to bring the laughs and try that leap themselves. If you believe rumors, and who doesn’t, look for the Friends movie in the next year and a half. Thank God, David Schwimmer will work again.

Briefly:
Congratulations to Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban – they had their first child together this morning, a healthy 6 pound 7½ ounce baby girl named Sunday Rose.

Everyone loves Brad and Angelina, especially the French. The mayor of the town they’re living in as declared them honorary French citizens.

This hasn’t been confirmed but don’t be surprised if Olympics host and sportscaster, Bob Costas, ends up replacing Tim Russert as host of “Meet the Press."

STAR Artist Coldplay’s new album will spend its second week in the number one spot on the Billboard charts but it’s also set a pretty cool record. In just the two weeks its been out it’s sold more downloads than any album in digital history – over 354,000.

July 2, 2008

Who saw this one coming? The French doctor who will deliver Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s twins has told us we won’t be seeing the newborns pop out for another couple weeks. Check out the video from the press conference - the only catch is it’s completely in French, with no subtitles. So unless you wanna translate for the next hour, just take my word for it.

America turns 232 on Friday (though I don’t think she looks a day over 80) and to celebrate, E! Online has released its Top 9 Most Totally American Movies Ever list. Here it is:
1. Die Hard
2. The Godfather: Part II
3. South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut
4. Do the Right Thing
5. E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial
6. Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle
7. Titanic
8. Friday Night Lights
9. Forrest Gump

It seems like only yesterday Lindsay Lohan turned 21 and Bacardi’s stock prices soared. Today Lindsay turned 22. Don’t try crashing her exclusive Hollywood party. Not ‘cause you won’t get in but because I don’t think you want to see what she’ll look like after 9 Captain & Cokes.

Even though the Screen Actors Guild contract expired yesterday, the president of the group says a strike is not imminent, “Whatever stops, slow-down in the work won’t be our fault it’ll be the fault of the AMPTP.” SAG and the AMPTP met again today to negotiate. I don’t know about you but after last season’s Lost finale, I don’t think I could handle another break in new episodes.

You and the family get to enjoy a holiday weekend this weekend to celebrate our Independence and with that comes several new movies including Will Smith’s drunken super-hero Hancock. Also expanding into additional theaters is the American Girl movie Kit Kittredge. That means get ready to take your daughter, her friends and their dolls to the movies.

STAR Artist Taylor Swift will unleash her inner rockstar when she teams up with fellow STAR Artist Def Leppard in the new installment of CMT’s Crossroads show. Taylor says the new generation is no much obsessed with genres of music as it is good music and, “I have been screaming the words to Def Leppard songs for years.” Look for that on CMT November 8th.

STAR Artist John Mayer kicked off his summer tour in Milwaukee tonight at Summerfest with fellow STAR Artist Colbie Caillat who says their show is going to be especially good for a couple big reasons, “We write summer music and John is so good live. He’s such a great performer and it’s just going to be a really fun, laid-back summer concert.”

STAR Artist David Cook will perform the most songs on the American Idols Live Tour this summer, with good reason. Of course he’ll sing “Time of My Life” but he’ll also do Aerosmith’s “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” and a couple others. You can see the tour for yourself when it’s at the Resch Center. Win tickets this week on STAR 98!

STAR Artist The All-American Rejects say they’re working to finishing a new CD by this fall. According to band members they’ve written a musical ton of material, over 30 songs. Guitarist Nick says, “The songs that are coming together are sounding really good and we’re really excited about it. It’s different but we’re not trying to make it different – we’re just having fun with the songs.” Look for the new Rejects CD by September.

July 1, 2008

BREAKING: Our looming Independence Day may have double meaning for Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt as the twins are ready to be liberated from her tummy! We’ve confirmed Angelina Jolie is officially in a French hospital as we speak. We know the name of the doctor who will deliver the twins and we know he’ll make a statement when they pop out. For now, we wait… Check out this picture of a waiting room from the hospital. Can't ya just picture the whole clan hangin' out there?

STAR Artist Maroon 5 lead singer Adam Levine was caught out and about at some Hollywood clubs last night. On the way out, amid the flashbulbs goin’ off he said “I feel like Paris Hilton.” Though in fairness he didn’t act like her – there was no underwear-less crotch-shot. Check out the video:

American Idol winner & STAR Artist David Cook and the rest of the American Idols kick off their nationwide tour today and David Cook says he’s thrilled, “I’ve always been enamored with the idea of waking up in a different city every day. You wake up to sensory overload every morning so that’s what I’m looking forward to most.” And runner-up David Archuleta he’ll just enjoy performing and not worrying about the judges, “It’s just all about really enjoying the time and spending that time with all your friends…touring with them.” The American Idols LIVE Tour is coming to the Resch Center September 2nd. You can win tickets all this week on STAR 98!

Speaking of the two Davids...The last song David Archuleta listened to on his iPod was by STAR Artist Sara Bareilles and he seems to have developed a musical crush on her, “She’s just so clever. She’s so awesome. I wish I WERE her.” By contrast, David Cook said the last song he listened to was STAR Artist Anna Nalick’s “Breathe” He doesn’t want to BE her though.

STAR Artist Bon Jovi has officially confirmed it will play a FREE huge concert on Central Park’s famed Great Lawn. That’s happening July 12th and Jon and the boys are super excited, “This is the center of the universe and I’ve just traveled the globe again, got home from the UK yesterday, and I’ll tell ya, once again, loudly and proudly, New York is the greatest city in the world.” Up to 60,000 fans will be at the show but tickets will be claimed fast so get ‘em now at mlb.com.

Remember when Hollywood writers went on strike? You couldn’t watch new episodes of Lost or Grey’s Anatomy for what seemed like forever? It was horrible! Well the stage is set for another Hollywood strike, this time the actors are looking for compensation for online distribution and DVD residuals. The Screen Actors Guild’s contract expired last night. As of now, there’s still no agreement. Get ready for another 6 months of America’s Got Talented Celebrity Circus Baby Borrowers.

George Clooney has denied rumors that he’s started dating anyone after recently breaking up with cocktail waitress turned Hollywood arm candy Sarah Larson. Well when George is ready to date, I’m sure we’ll see a profile on match.com...

Briefly:
Variety reports a follow-up to 300 is being developed. Prequel, sequel, spinoff? We don’t know for sure yet.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull has joined an elite group: the handful of films that have earned $300 million.

Multiple actors from the TV series Arrested Development have confirmed a movie is being developed. YAY!

Eddie Murphy is hinting that Beverly Hills Cop 4 will be his last movie, because he wants to get back to stage work in comedy clubs and theaters.

Molly Ringwald told us she's up for doing a sequel to 16 Candles. Don’t we all want to know what foreign exchange student Long Duk Dong is up to nowadays?