HOLLYWOOD'S HOTTEST: 2/24/08

Prince Harry Returns to England from War Zone

Originally posted Saturday March 01, 2008 10:00 AM EST

Prince Harry returned home from Afghanistan on Saturday, welcomed back by his brother Prince William and his father Prince Charles.

"It's a great relief to see him home in one piece," Charles told reporters.

The prince, 23, arrived with around 170 other soldiers at the Royal Air Force Base Brize Norton, in Oxfordshire, 50 miles northwest of London, just before 11:30 a.m. local time.

Fifteen minutes later – carrying his gear and dressed in his desert fatigues – he stepped off the RAF Tristar jet, which returned from the frontline in an overnight flight from Kandahar.

He didn't glance towards the large number of media crews and press photographers at the base. Inside the terminal, he was reunited with his brother William, 25, and Charles, 59.

Harry Regrets Coming Home Early

Before he took off, Harry spoke candidly of his regret at coming home early, and he said he would relish the chance to prove himself again in battle. As third in line to the British throne, it was feared Harry had become a prime target for Taliban fighters when his involvement in the war was revealed February 28.

"It's something I would love to do," he said in a pooled interview. "I don't want to sit around Windsor, because I generally don't like England that much and it's nice to be away from all the press and the papers and all the general s---- that they write."

It can now be revealed that until Friday night's flight he had been deployed with a squadron of light tanks in the desert close to the former Taliban stronghold of Musa Qaleh. The British army took control of the area in December.

He was working as a Spartan reconnaissance vehicle commander, in charge of a vehicle team supporting a joint US and Afghan operation to seize control of the village of Kariz de Baba.

After his arrival in England, Harry was seen leaving the terminal building, his his older brother helping him load his bags into the back of an Audi.

Prince Charles Expresses Pride in Son

At the base, Charles spoke briefly of his pride in his son – and expressed his disappointment that Harry had to come home early.

"I feel particular frustration on his part that he was removed unexpectedly early because, apart from anything else, he had been looking forward to coming back with all the rest of his regiment," the prince said.

And he spoke about how hard it was keeping the deployment a secret. "It's been quite difficult also having to keep quiet about the fact he was serving in that part of the world," he said. "People kept saying to me, 'You must be so frustrated about Harry not being able to serve abroad.' I would say he's on exercise somewhere."

Charles said he understood "what it's like for so many families with loved ones serving abroad."

"I've been incredibly proud of Harry and I promise you ... equally proud of all the dedicated service given by all our armed forces," he said.

Plane Also Carried Wounded

On Harry's plane there were some reminders of the horror of war, Charles said.

"With Harry's own plane coming back just now they had to stop and drop off three badly wounded people who had been blown up by mines, and it brings it home just how hazardous it is, and also people who are being wounded and injured all the time who we don't hear about," he said.

And he added, "I also feel very strongly that we don't often appreciate what the people in the armed forces are doing, putting up with the most impossible conditions, very often in hazardous circumstances in boiling heat or freezing cold, being shot at or rocketed at and goodness knows what else."

"The fact they do all this with incredible humor and dedication is extraordinary and so we owe them an enormous debt of gratitude for performing their duty in this incredible way," he said.

Jennifer Lopez & Marc Anthony Reveal Baby Names

Originally posted Friday February 29, 2008 07:45 PM EST

Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony's newborn twins are named Max and Emme, Lopez's manager Simon Fields officially confirms to PEOPLE.

The new parents welcomed their son and daughter on Feb. 22. Emme was born at 12:12 a.m. and weighed 5 lbs. 7 oz., and Max followed at 12:23 a.m., weighing 6 lbs.

Already gifts have been pouring in for the twins, including pillows and baby carriers from Baby K'tan in Fort Lauderdale with their names embroidered on them, a source tells PEOPLE.

The twins are the first children for Lopez, 38, and the fourth and fifth for Anthony, 39.

Kate Walsh Returns to Seattle Grace!

February 29, 2008

Kate Walsh is about to hospital-jump.

The former star of Grey’s Anatomy, who’s been plying her medical profession on this season’s new Private Practice (which, due to the writers’ strike, is on a break until fall), is set to return to her original series in her role as Dr. Addison Montgomery.

The one-episode guest spot will be seen this spring, ABC confirms to EW.com.

No firm date has been set for when it will air, but the network has five original episodes of Grey’s ready for broadcast starting April 24

Naomi Campbell Released from Brazilian Hospital

Originally posted Friday February 29, 2008 05:00 PM EST

Naomi Campbell was released from a Brazilian hospital on Friday after successfully undergoing surgery earlier this week to remove what was described as a small cyst.

"The patient has recovered well from her surgery," the Hospital Sirio-Libanes, in Sao Paulo, said in a statement, USAToday.com reports.

"I would like to thank everyone for their kind wishes and concern over the past week and for the fantastic service I have received at the hospital," Campbell told PEOPLE through her rep on Friday.

The model also disputed reports that she was hosting a party, saying, "I take my health very seriously, so to suggest that I would host a party following an operation is ludicrous."

On Tuesday, the supermodel's rep confirmed that the 37-year-old had been admitted to the hospital and said she was resting and "looking forward to getting back to work."

Baby Gifts Pour in for J.Lo and Marc Anthony

Originally posted Friday February 29, 2008 10:45 AM EST

New parents Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony have received multiple deliveries of gifts to their Long Island home for their newborn twins, a source tells PEOPLE.

"The twins already got a ton of embroidered pillows with their names on them," says the source – though Anthony and Lopez have not released the names of their son and daughter, who were born Feb 22.

"Jennifer also is getting baby carriers with the names etched on them by Baby K'tan," adds the source.

A spokesperson for Baby K'tan in Fort Lauderdale confirms that pink and blue embroidery were used respectively on the 100 percent cotton carriers and that they "were purchased from us as gifts for both J.Lo and Marc."

In addition, members of Lopez's family were spotted shopping at Baby Gap in Americana Manhasset mall last week, confirms a sales rep from the store.

As for how the new mom is doing, Lopez left the hospital this week and "is resting comfortably at home," according to close friend.

Feds Focus on Heath's Vicodin, Oxycontin Supplier

Originally posted Friday February 29, 2008 03:05 PM EST

Federal agents still don't know how actor Heath Ledger obtained the powerful painkillers Oxycontin and Vicodin, a source tells PEOPLE.

No bottles for those drugs were found in Ledger's apartment, though bottles were located for the other prescriptions such as sleeping pills and anti-anxiety drugs found in his system, the source said.

Drug Enforcement Administration agents returned Thursday from interviews with two doctors – one in Houston and one in Los Angeles – who met with Ledger and prescribed drugs other than the painkillers, according to the source.

"We're still trying to find out who gave him the Oxycontin and Vicodin," the source said, adding that Ledger did not appear to have any medical condition that would have required those two drugs. "We'll search databases to see if we can find out and also credit cards records and so forth. Either someone gave it to him or he bought it himself or he got it online."

The agents will continue to try to find physicians who may have prescribed the drugs, which is always the first step in such investigations, the source said. After all the physicians have been interviewed, agents then move on to interviewing other people who could have given him the drugs, which contributed to his death.

Soon after the cause of his death was determined, the DEA launched an investigation into whether there were legitimate medical conditions attached to the all the drugs found in his apartment and in his system.

While relatively small amounts of Oxycontin and Vicodin were found, the source said, "Just the mix itself with the other drugs is enough to kill you."

What's puzzling, though, the source says, is that it appears Ledger had kicked his habit and "everyone spoke so highly of him," so it's not clear why he would have been using the powerful painkillers.

The source adds that the investigation could take another month.

Britney's 'Affectionate' Visits with Her Kids

Originally posted Thursday February 28, 2008 05:20 PM EST

Britney Spears is spending more quality time with her sons.

Preston, 2, and Jayden, 17 months, spent more time at their mother's house on Wednesday morning – the third visit Spears has had with her children since lawyers for the singer and her ex-husband Kevin Federline reached a visitation agreement on Feb. 22.

Spears's recent visits with her boys have been full of hugs and affection, PEOPLE reports in its new issue (on newsstands Friday). "Kids this age are amazingly resilient, and the very close bond that Britney has with her children is apparent," a source tells PEOPLE.

On Saturday, Spears reunited with her sons for the first time since she was hospitalized at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Jan. 3. She also had another visit with them Monday.

According to the source, Spears's father, Jamie, and psychiatrist Dr. Lee Sadja have been monitoring the visits between the boys and Spears, who has had two stints in the hospital this year. Sadja began treating the singer during her most recent hospitalization at the UCLA Medical Center psych ward.

Prince Harry: Diana Is Looking Down on Me

Originally posted Thursday February 28, 2008 07:05 PM EST

More details are emerging about Prince Harry's time fighting in Afghanistan – including his heartfelt thoughts about how his mother Diana would have felt.

"Hopefully she would be proud," the 23-year-old royal told reporters, including the U.K.'s Press Association, during his time on the front line fighting Taliban forces. "She would be looking down having a giggle about the stupid things that I've been doing, like going left when I should have gone right, finding myself in an awkward position earlier today."

His thoughts were echoed by brother William. "William sent me a letter saying how proud he reckons that she would be," Harry adds. "You know, it's one thing that I don't necessarily think about the whole time because I've got the guys to worry about. You worry about yourself, you worry about the blokes you're looking after, you worry about the blokes that you're not even looking after."

Harry's deployment in Afghanistan was publicly confirmed on Thursday after foreign media outlets leaked the news – breaking a press embargo that has held firm since Harry left for the war-torn country in December.

'Just Get On with the Job'

The prince tells Press Association: "You know, at the end of the day I'm an officer and you're supposed to be able to look after everybody and that's the way it is – you come last. So I haven't really had a chance to sit down and think about it much.

"I suppose it's just the way it is, there are other people out here who've lost one of their parents, I'm sure it's the same for them," Harry added. "If you ... think about stuff like that then you're only going to feel sorry for yourself – just get on with the job, have a laugh with the blokes, if you want to feel sorry for yourself do it when you get back."

Queen's Reaction

As for how his family feels about his deployment, he said that Queen Elizabeth, for one, has supported his desire to serve overseas. "She was very 'pro' me going ... She's a very good person to talk to about it, her knowledge of the army is amazing for a grandmother," he said, then added. "I suppose it's slightly her job."

In fact, it was the Queen who delivered the news to Harry that he was indeed being deployed. "She told me I'm off to Afghanistan so that was the way it was supposed to be."

Lindsay Lohan Opens Up About Recent Troubles

Originally posted Thursday February 28, 2008 04:00 PM EST

After baring her body – in a nude photo spread as Marilyn Monroe – Lindsay Lohan is now baring her soul.

As others speculate on the chances of her reviving her career after her troubled past year – 2007 brought everything from traffic infractions to another stint in rehab – Lohan, 21, tells Paper magazine for its March issue, "I am what I am."

And to those in Hollywood who are thinking of hiring her again: "They either want to take a chance or they don't, is how I see it," says Lohan.

'I Had a Lot Going On'

In terms of her well-chronicled, pre-rehab hard-partying ways, "I had a lot going on in my life and that was a way of hiding from it," she explains. "I hadn't seen my dad; I had a lot of work stress 'cause I was constantly working and never took time to stop."

(She now considers the reconciliation with father Michael Lohan, who had spent two years behind bars on a DUI and additional charges, "good for my whole family; it's healthy.")

Admittedly, the young actress was caught up in the fast lane. "Everything was go-go-go, and the easiest thing was to run away from it, going out and drinking at night," she says. "You know, you don't have to think when you let go sometimes."

She adds, "But I didn't realize it was getting in the way of my work – what I've worked for my whole life."

That changed: "There's not really much else to do when you're sitting in a treatment center. It's like, 'Why am I here? Let's think,' " she concedes.

Find a Great Script

"Right now I just want to find a great script, a great role," says Lohan about the future. "I was so used to working and working and working, and for a good few months there was nothing for me to do. Now I know what it's like to be an out-of-work actor, and how much it scares me."

And while Lohan was in line for a role that went to Sienna Miller instead, she reportedly is in talks about a biopic about the silent-movie "It" girl Clara Bow, who was famous for her wild ways – as well as for a later mental illness that led to a reclusive old age.

"I definitely relate to a lot of the things that she went through," says Lohan. "Not with her family, but the trials and tribulations of Hollywood, to an extent."

Angelina Jolie Calls for Humanitarian Aid for Iraq

Originally posted Thursday February 28, 2008 02:15 PM EST

Angelina Jolie has penned an op-ed article urging the United States to help Iraqi refugees who have been displaced by the war. In The Washington Post piece titled, "Staying to Help in Iraq," the actress and goodwill ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees says American support is key to addressing the humanitarian crisis, which has displaced more than 4 million people. Of the 2 million refugees within the country, 58 percent are under 12 years old, according to Jolie. The 32-year-old actress, who recently visited the war-torn country, writes, "What we cannot afford, in my view, is to squander the progress that has been made. In fact, we should step up our financial and material assistance."

Inside Kate & Owen's Hookup

Originally posted Thursday February 28, 2008 02:20 PM EST

Kate Hudson and Owen Wilson may have split last summer, but the pair reunited – and appeared very cozy – at the Oscars over the weekend.

As PEOPLE reports in its new issue (on newsstands Friday), the pair flirted at Madonna's exclusive post-Oscar party Sunday night. Spotted by an onlooker near the souvenir booth, "There was lots of arm touching, giggling," says the eyewitness. "They were having lots of fun."

Adds another observer: "They were all over each other."

The day before the Oscars, Wilson, 39, and Hudson, 28, met up twice – spending time at each other's homes.

British Army Head: Prince Harry's Work 'Exemplary'

Originally posted Thursday February 28, 2008 12:55 PM EST

The head of the British army has praised Prince Harry's work with the forces in Afghanistan as "exemplary."

The chief of general staff, General Sir Richard Dannatt said he is a "credit to the nation."

The general added, "He has been fully involved in operations and has run the same risks as everyone else in his Battlegroup. In common with all of his generation in the Army today, he is a credit to the nation.

"In deciding to deploy him to Afghanistan, it was my judgment that with an understanding with the media not to broadcast his whereabouts, the risk in doing was manageable."

Army bosses are now considering whether to call the young officer home to the U.K.

"Now that the story is in the public domain, the Chief of Defense Staff and I will take advice from the operational commanders about whether his deployment can continue," the statement added. "I now appeal to the media to restrain from attempting to report Prince Harry's every move and return to our understanding."

Disappointment that Story Went Public

He expressed his disappointment that the story has broken.

In a statement released to PEOPLE, he added "I am very disappointed that foreign Web sites have decided to run this story without consulting us.

"This is in stark contrast to the highly responsible attitude that the whole of the U.K. print and broadcast media, along with a small number of overseas, who have entered into an understanding with us over the coverage of Prince Harry on operations.

"After a lengthy period of discussion between the MOD and the Editors of regional, national and international media, the Editors took the commendable attitude to restrain their coverage. I would like to thank them for that and I do appreciate that once the story was in the public domain, they had no choice but to follow suit."

Feds Probe Doctors in Heath Ledger's Death

Originally posted Thursday February 28, 2008 09:15 AM EST

A doctor in California and another in Texas are under investigation by federal drug authorities in the matter of Heath Ledger's's death, PEOPLE has confirmed.

The Australian actor, 28, was found dead in his downtown New York apartment on Jan. 22. An autopsy whose results were announced earlier this month blamed an accidental mixture of prescription drugs, said New York City's Chief Medical Examiner.

“We are investigating doctors in Los Angeles and Texas with regard to Ledger’s prescriptions,” the source tells PEOPLE.

However, the source did not say whether any wrongdoing is involved, saying, “We don’t know yet. The agents were there this week, and we are waiting to hear from them.”

The doctors in question are thought to have supplied Ledger with Oxycontin and Vicodin, law enforcement sources tell New York's Daily News.

At issue is whether or not the powerful painkiller were prescribed legally, says the newspaper.

DEA Subpoenas

The subpoenaing of Ledger's autopsy results by the Drug Enforcement Administration was reported shortly after the findings of the report were announced. On Feb. 6, it was said that the DEA would look into the source of the actor's prescriptions.

Besides Oxycodone and Vicodin (also known as Hydrocodone), autopsy results also showed that Ledger's system contained Diazepam (commonly called Valium), as well as Temazepam, which treats anxiety or sleeplessness; Alprazolam (also known as Xanax); and Doxylamine, a sedating antihistamine often used as a sleeping aid.

On Feb. 9, Ledger's former girlfriend, Michelle Williams – who is mother of his 2-year-old daughter, Matilda – joined Cate Blanchett, Ledger's family and hundreds of mourners at a memorial in Australia for the actor. On Jan. 26, a private memorial in Los Angeles was held for close friends and family.

PEOPLE PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: Nicole Richie's Baby!

Originally posted Wednesday February 27, 2008 05:00 PM EST

PEOPLE has your first look at Nicole Richie and her daughter Harlow, born Jan. 11 in L.A. Richie, 26, and her boyfriend Joel Madden, 28, open up to PEOPLE about how parenthood has changed their lives – and the happy couple pose for an exclusive family photo album with their daughter. Says Richie of life with Harlow: "She gives life a whole new meaning and a whole new purpose."

Jenna Bush's Boca Raton Bachelorette Weekend

Originally posted Wednesday February 27, 2008 04:20 PM EST

Jenna Bush and fiancé Henry Hager celebrated their final moments of unattached life with respective girls-only and guys-only getaways this month, PEOPLE has learned.

Bush, 26, and a group of female friends headed to Florida in mid-February for a girls-only getaway. "She had her weekend ... in Boca Raton, but at a private home," a source tells PEOPLE. "It was like a spa weekend. It was very low-key."

The following weekend however, Hager, 29, and a group of male friends kicked off a bachelor party in Miami. "It was a total boy's weekend," says the source. "There were about twenty guys, most of whom came down from D.C. and New York. They went fishing all day Saturday, but they didn't catch anything!"

The group then headed to South Beach's Delano Hotel to continue the festivities. "They hung out behind the pool area at the hotel, behind the bar. He was having a great time," says the source, adding that Hager called it a night around 1:30 a.m., while some of his friends stayed behind.

As PEOPLE exclusively reported in January, the couple are slated to marry May 10 at the President's ranch in Crawford, Tex. A source says Bush and Hager – a former Commerce Department staff member who's in his final year of the MBA program at Virginia's Darden School – are considering "spending four weeks in Europe, going from country to country," for their honeymoon. But of course, wherever they go, they won't be alone: The Secret Service will tag along.

Jessica Simpson to Entertain Troops in Kuwait

Originally posted Wednesday February 27, 2008 05:00 PM EST

Jessica Simpson is going overseas to entertain Americans in uniform, she announces in a Web posting.

"Hey ya'll," begins her personal message on the Jessica Simpson site Sweetkisses.net. "I just wanted to say hi, and let you know that I am hard at work on my country record, and I can't wait to share it will all of you."

At the heart of her posting, she says, "I am heading to Kuwait to do a show for the troops, then back in the studio."

She concludes, "I love you all and am so blessed by the support and love you show me everyday!! xoxo jess."

Simpson, 27, whose trip is being sponsored by Operation MySpace, has extended herself before. Last year, PEOPLE reported, she gave generously to an orphanage in Mexico.

Kevin Federline to Turn 30 in Las Vegas

Originally posted Wednesday February 27, 2008 05:20 PM EST

It won't all be child's play for Kevin Federline next month.

The father of Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1 – his children with ex-wife Britney Spears – will take a break from parenting on March 21 to celebrate his 30th birthday in Las Vegas, PEOPLE has learned.

Just like at his 29th birthday, Federline will celebrate at Caesars Palace's Pure nightclub. Last year, his parents and even ex-girlfriend Shar Jackson attended the bash at the club.

Pure's Web site indicates that the DJ for March 21 will be DJ AM.

Ben Affleck's Turn to Speak Out on Jimmy Kimmel Video

Originally posted Wednesday February 27, 2008 07:00 PM EST

They're the hottest new couple in Hollywood, and now Ben Affleck is speaking out about how he hooked up with late-night host Jimmy Kimmel for their parody video response to Matt Damon and Sarah Silverman – as well as the secret bathtub scene that got cut.

Affleck tells EW.com: "I remember seeing Matt's [video] and thinking to myself, 'Oh, it would be funny to do one with me and Jimmy.' They called and immediately I was like, 'Yes, it should be this idea ...,' and they had the same idea more or less already. I have a lot of respect for the group over there – they're really good comedians – so I just committed to it."

The actor says the singing was more difficult than wearing a pair of short shorts, but he acknowledges, "You couldn't really do it half-speed. You had to be painting toes and blow-drying hair. At one point we were going to take a bath together, but the bubbles couldn't get high enough, so that ended up getting scrapped."

Lynne Spears 'Sings Praises' of Britney's Dad, Jamie

Originally posted Wednesday February 27, 2008 01:10 PM EST

Britney Spears's mom, Lynne, has been praising her ex-husband, Jamie, who has taken control of their troubled daughter's affairs.

"Jamie had to change his whole routine. Lynne sings his praises. He has been such a rock. He has stepped up to the plate," a family friend tells PEOPLE.

"He's gathered a team of reputable people who are around [Britney] now. She's not well, but for the first time in a long time she has people around her who really care about her."

As for how Lynne is coping with having her daughter in and out of the hospital, the friend says, "She's up and down. It's a roller coaster ride as a mother."

Plus, Lynne also wants to spend time with her pregnant 16-year-old daughter, Jamie Lynn, who lives in Kentwood, La., the source says. In fact, Lynne, who has been shuttling between Louisiana and California, is currently back in Los Angeles. "She has to spend time between L.A. and Kentwood. As a mother she feels needed in both places. She's doing whatever she can to help both girls. She's got that maternal instinct, and it's in high gear."

One positive step for the family has been Britney's recent visits with her sons, Preston, 2, and Jayden, 1.

"Lynne talked to Jamie, and he said it was a good visit," says the source. "[Britney] slipped into that motherly mode. They picked up right where they left off. She still has a long way to go [to get better], but that's what we hope and pray for ... Lynne and Jamie want their child to be whole again."

Gwyneth Paltrow Records PSA to Prevent the Spread of HIV

Originally posted Wednesday February 27, 2008 02:35 PM EST

Gwyneth Paltrow has filmed a public service announcement for UNICEF to help raise money to prevent children being born with the HIV virus.

Paltrow's video clip was launched online Wednesday.

The actress agreed to take part in the PSA after being approached by pal Jemima Khan – ex-girlfriend of Hugh Grant – who is urging world leaders to honor their 2007 pledge for AIDS funding that would allow all pregnant women with HIV to receive treatment and care to ensure that their babies are born free from the virus.

"I asked Gwyneth if she would agree to do the voiceover for the film as she is a mother with a global profile who I know is a supporter of UNICEF," Khan tells PEOPLE exclusively.

Paltrow, 35, narrates the four-minute dramatization of a poem by Simon Armitage that deals with the unwanted "gift" of mothers passing on the virus to their unborn children.

"According to UNICEF, a baby is born with HIV almost every minute of every day somewhere in the world. The virus is passed from mother to child during the birth or pregnancy," said Paltrow in a statement released during the film launch. "I have just found out that this can be prevented for less than $2 yet very few women in the poorer countries of the world can get the medicine they need to ensure their baby is born free from HIV. I hope that this new short film will raise awareness and funds about this issue and UNICEF will be able to reach every woman with the vital care and medicines they need."

Jimmy Kimmel: Ben Affleck 'Could Not Have Been More Sporting'

Originally posted Wednesday February 27, 2008 08:40 AM EST

Jimmy Kimmel really does love Ben Affleck.

The talk show host – who memorably declared "I'm F---king Ben Affleck" in a music video Sunday night – cannot stop singing the actor's praises.

"Ben could not have been more sporting," he told PEOPLE of his video costar. (The song was designed as a retaliation against Kimmel's girlfriend Sarah Silverman for her clip, "I'm F---king Matt Damon.) "He told us, 'Listen, if we’re going to do this, we’ve got to do it right. I don’t want you guys to worry about my image.' "

In the video (available online), Affleck and Kimmel declare their love while backed by an A-list gospel choir including Cameron Diaz, Robin Williams, Ashlee Simpson and Don Cheadle.

There are also non-singing cameos by Brad Pitt and Harrison Ford, who blows the new couple a kiss before driving off in his convertible – revealing a "Honk if you're f---ing Ben Affleck" bumper sticker.

"That was his real car," Kimmel says of the legendary Indiana Jones star. "He's still got that [sticker] on there!"

So what did Silverman think of the new song? "I suspected Jimmy was on the down low for a long time now," she deadpanned to the New York Daily News. "I wish I could say I was surprised by this."

If she's plotting another salvo, Kimmel isn't quaking in his cut-off denim shorts. "I suppose it's possible that Sarah and Matt Damon are huddled in a cave somewhere planning their revenge," he said. "But one thing I know is, if they are, they won't tell me about it!"

The American Idol Power Poll: Volume V

Posted on February 26th, 2008 8:07 am

With just 20 contestants remaining on the seventh season of American Idol, it’s time to chop down the list on our Power Poll.

With that in mind, here are the top five performers so far, according to our crack celebrity gossip staff:

1. Asiah Epperson: We may be in the minority in anointing this singer as the leading contender, but no one else this season combines her poise, looks and vocal range. What a great name, too!

2. David Archuleta: The 17-year old has captured the hearts of America in a way Sanjaya Malakar could only dream about last season: an adorable sensation… who can actually carry a tune! Sign him up now for the finals.

3. Michael Johns: The only knock on this performer is that he’s too established to be considered an American Idol. He’s 29 old and has already fronted a band called The Rising. No matter to us. The handsome Aussie can wail.

4. Syesha Mercado: Another contestant with a winning name. Syesha has a much bigger voice than that of Epperson, but she’s able to control it. Would love to see her tackle a ballad in order to determine full range.

5. Jason Castro: Apologies to Amanda Overmyer and Carly Smithson, either of whom could be in the spot. But Casto deserved props after taking the stage last week with his guitar and delivering a sweet, understated version of the Lovin’ Spoonful hit ”Daydream.”

Judge Rejects Civil Rights Challenge in Britney Case

Posted Tuesday February 26, 2008 08:15 PM EST

A federal judge on Tuesday rejected a civil rights challenge in Britney Spears's conservatorship case, allowing the pop star's father to maintain his temporary control of her $100 million estate.

U.S. District Judge Philip Gutierrez returned the case to state probate court and sent a rebuke to the lawyer who launched the challenge, Jon Eardley, who had claimed to represent Spears.

"Mr. Eardley fails to explain why he can bring this claim for her in the first instance. He cannot," Gutierrez said in his three-page ruling. "Mr. Eardley had no authority to remove the case from state court. He is neither a party nor a defendant. While he claims to be Ms. Spears's attorney, the probate court ... found that she was incapable of retaining her own counsel."

Ruling a Victory for Britney's Father

The ruling was a victory for Spears's father, Jamie, who was named as a temporary co-conservator of her estate by the California probate court after Spears was placed under an involuntary, emergency hold at the UCLA Medical Center's psychiatric ward late last month.

As temporary co-conservator, Jamie has great influence over the pop star's fortune as well as her day-to-day activities.

In a highly publicized move, Eardley, a lawyer with practices in Washington, D.C., New York and Whittier, Calif., filed a complaint in U.S. District Court on behalf of Spears. He lashed out against the conservatorship as a "violation of [Spears's] civil rights," and requested the case be moved from California state court to a federal court.

Jamie Spears and the other temporary co-conservator, attorney Andrew Wallet, had called Eardley's move "a brazen – but vain – attempt to strip a probate court of jurisdiction ... by an attorney without a client."

Britney Goes Jeans Shopping

While the federal judge ruled in Jamie Spears's favor, Britney ventured out for an afternoon shopping trip. Spears, accompanied by her assistant and a family friend, arrived at the Levi's Store in Beverly Hills in a chauffeur-driven black Escalade ESV.

"Britney walked in to the store in jeans with a green top and a huge smile,"

Pamela Anderson Now Seeking Annulment

Originally posted Tuesday February 26, 2008 05:30 PM EST

Pamela Anderson is now seeking to annul her brief marriage to Rick Salomon rather than getting a standard divorce, according to court papers.

Anderson cited "fraud" as the reason for the annulment. No details were given in the court papers, which were filed last Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court.

After just two months of marriage, Anderson, 40, filed for divorce from Salomon, 39, in December, citing irreconcilable differences.

They were married last October in Las Vegas during a 90-minute break between the magic shows in which Anderson was appearing.

Oscars to Whoopi Goldberg: We're Sorry

Feb. 26, 2008 | 02:45 PM EST

Whoopi Goldberg's omission from an Oscar montage – perceived by her and others to be a slight that left the View host in tears – was "an absolute oversight," the award show's producer tells PEOPLE.

"No harm was intended, and I feel very, very badly that she was left out," Gil Cates said Tuesday. "I'm going to call her and tell her that."

Although described as a montage of hosts, the piece shown at Sunday night's telecast on ABC was actually "supposed to be a montage of 80 exciting moments of the Academy Awards" culled from hundreds of hours of footage, says Cates. "Basically, that was not a montage about hosts."

He noted that former host Steve Martin also wasn't in the montage.

Still, Cates said, "It was an absolute oversight" to leave out Goldberg, an Oscar winner and nominee who had hosted telecasts that Cates himself produced.

"I asked her to be on the show. She did it twice," he said. "She is a formidable talent."

Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch for Sale?

Originally posted Tuesday February 26, 2008 09:30 PM EST

Michael Jackson's famously extravagant home, the Neverland Ranch, will be put up for public auction if the singer doesn't pay more than $24 million, according to a court filing.

Financial Title Co. filed the notice of trustee's sale on Tuesday. If the financially troubled singer cannot pay off the loan, the auction will take place on March 19 at the Santa Barbara County courthouse.

The story was first reported by Foxnews.com.

Where Were Brad & Angelina on Oscar Night?

Feb. 26, 2008 | 02:30 PM EST

The day after unveiling her baby bump at the Film Independent's Spirit Awards, Angelina Jolie spent Oscar night at home, relaxing.

Jolie, 32, and Brad Pitt, 44, were at home in Los Angeles with the kids and enjoyed the relative peace and quiet, a source tells PEOPLE.

Though neither was at the Oscar ceremony, their absence didn't stop the show's host, Jon Stewart, from including Jolie in a joke about pregnant actresses, saying, "Obviously, Angelina Jolie couldn't be here – it's hard to find 17 babysitters on Oscar night."

The growing Jolie-Pitt family currently includes Maddox, 6, Pax, 4, and Zahara, 3, and Shiloh, 1. A source close to the couple says they are "thrilled to be adding to their brood."

Ali Lohan Inspired by Lindsay’s Career

Originally posted Tuesday February 26, 2008 05:45 PM EST

For most of her life, Ali Lohan has looked up to her older sister Lindsay Lohan because of her career, the fans, the fame. Now Ali wants all of those things for her herself.

“I grew up watching Lindsay," Ali tells Teen Vogue in its April issue. "It made me want to do what she does. Just the whole vibe. Being there, being on camera, or onstage, with everybody listening to you ... it's so cool when people look up to you. I've already been asked for my autograph and it's just a really good feeling to have."

The 14-year-old has her sights set on Hollywood, paving her way toward a singing and acting career and may even try her hand at fashion designing, saying she wants to accomplish these things "really bad, so bad. So bad you don't even know."

Ali will soon get some face time on the small screen. The younger Lohan has been filming a new reality series for E!, which documents her fledgling acting career (the magazine reports she may audition for High School Musical 3) and upcoming album. The show will also feature her mother, Dina, and 11-year-old brother, Dakota.

"It's not all that fake stuff," says Ali. "It's just what we do in our everyday life."

Mischa Barton Charged with DUI, Pot Possession

Originally posted Tuesday February 26, 2008 07:00 PM EST

Mischa Barton has been charged with driving under the influence and possession of marijuana, stemming from her arrest in December, police announced Tuesday.

The former star of The O.C. was also charged with driving without a valid license. Her arraignment on the misdemeanor charges is set for Thursday in Beverly Hills Superior Court.

Barton, 22, was arrested for investigation of DUI in West Hollywood on Dec. 27 after her vehicle was seen straddling two lanes of traffic and she failed to signal when making a turn, police have said.

Britney Spears Gets a Visit From Her Sons Again

Originally posted Monday February 25, 2008 04:55 PM EST

Britney Spears saw her sons again Monday, while her father sought to quickly end a civil rights challenge to his control of her affairs.

The singer's children Preston, 2, and Jayden, 1, were driven to her Studio House by Kevin Federline's bodyguard for a three-hour visit.

It was the second visitation in three days; on Saturday, Spears saw her children for the first time since Jan. 3 after working out a structured visitation arrangement with Federline.

Meanwhile, attorneys for Spears's father Jamie filed another round of papers in federal court on Monday, urging a judge to quickly end a civil rights challenge to Jamie's control of his daughter's $100 million estate and keep the co-conservatorship case in state court.

Lawyer Needs More Time

Jon Eardley, an attorney who claims to represent the pop star, had been asked by U.S. District Court Judge Philip Gutierrez to file papers by Feb. 22 explaining the civil rights challenge. Instead, Eardley on Friday told the judge he needed more time to formally file.

In legal documents, Eardley claims that Britney retained him Feb. 12 before her phone was taken away and the line disconnected. Eardley also continued to maintain that the conservatorship case in state court violates her constitutional rights.

But in motion filed Monday, the conservatorship attorneys say Eardley, in addition to failing to meet the court's filing deadline, has not proven that he even qualifies as Britney's attorney or addressed the most fundamental legal issues in the case.

The conservatorship motion asks that the case be immediately returned to Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Reva Goetz, and that Eardley be forced to reimburse $43,000 in attorney fees.

While the civil rights issue remained unresolved in federal court, the conservatorship case in state court is stalled.

"There's nothing for this court to do today. We're in a holding pattern," said Goetz at a hearing Friday.

Jennifer Love Hewitt Opens Up About Bikini Pictures

Originally posted Monday February 25, 2008 07:45 PM EST

Jennifer Love Hewitt is speaking out about those infamous bathing suit pictures – and she couldn't be happier.

"The thing I think is great is when those pictures were taken, no matter what, I had just been asked to marry," says Hewitt, engaged to Scottish actor Ross McCall, "so he loves me just the way I am."

And if she does decide to something about her body, "I will for my health, not for typical reasons," she told PEOPLE on Sunday at an Oscar viewing party at SBE's The Abbey in West Hollywood.

"If I do work out more it will be for my health, so I can live a long time and we can have kids and be happy together until we are in our 80s," Hewitt, 29, said at the event, benefiting AIDS Project Los Angeles. "It won't be because I am worried about how I look."

Diddy: I'm Sending Sean John Baby Clothes to Jennifer Lopez

Originally posted Monday February 25, 2008 01:55 PM EST

Sean "Diddy" Combs partied the night away on Oscar Sunday – but he still had some time to think about baby gifts for former girlfriend Jennifer Lopez.

On the red carpet at the Academy Award ceremony at the Kodak Theater, the mogul, 38, told PEOPLE that Lopez (now the proud mother of twins) "is going to make a great mother.

"I'm going to send her some Sean John baby clothes," added the dapper Diddy, wearing a tux by Dolce and Gabbana. "I'm so happy for her. It's such a blessing."

Asked if he had any advice for Lopez, 38, Diddy, who is also the father of twins, replied, "It's double the love, and it's also double the crying and the screaming, so it's a unique blessed situation. It's a rarity to have twins. She'll be all right."

George Clooney's Oscar Date Night with Sarah Larson

Feb. 25, 2008 | 11:45 AM EST

"She looks good, huh?" he says, as the couple make their way through the Oscar parties

It must be serious!

For the first time ever, George Clooney brought a girlfriend to the Oscars. As the two moved slowly down the red carpet Sunday night, the 46-year-old actor kept his hand on the small of Sarah Larson's back, rubbing her reassuringly as he talked to the press.

And the Michael Clayton star – who was up for Best Actor – was full of praise for his 28-year-old date, who looked radiant in a clingy floral Valentino gown.

"She looks good, huh?" he told PEOPLE on the red carpet. He jokingly added, "I tried it on first and it looked terrible on me."

When she noted that the dress was "really heavy," he gallantly volunteered, "I will carry her."

The two have been dating for less than a year, but this is not Larson's first red carpet experience. The onetime Fear Factor winner had her "coming out" as Clooney's girlfriend at the Venice and Deauville film festivals last fall.

The love-fest continued throughout the night, as Clooney proudly introduced her to his friends – including double-nominee Cate Blanchett – saying simply, "This is Sarah."

Later, when Renée Zellweger passed behind the couple on the way to her seat, she tapped Larson on the shoulder. Gesturing to Clooney, the actress playfully gave the okay sign.

After the show, the couple – who met while Larson was waitressing at a Las Vegas club and were both injured in Clooney's September motorcycle crash – partied up a storm at the Governor's Ball.

Clooney – who lost the Oscar to Daniel Day-Lewis – seemed especially ready to unwind, taking off his tie and undoing the top few buttons of his shirt. Even when he was talking shop with a few business associates, he kept one hand on Larson.

J.Lo’s Nursery: Cashmere, Snakeskin and More!

February 25, 2008 | 4:10 pm

Following in the footsteps of Nicole Richie and Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Lopez called upon the experts at Hollywood favorite baby boutique Petit Tresor. The new mom opened a lengthy registry and had owners Nina and Sam help her design fabulous nurseries for the arrival of her twins! So what’s in store for the twins? J.Lo will keep her new baby boy wrapped in a cashmere cardigan, hat and bootie pants from Baby Cz, $279 and, of course, a matching pink set, $279, for the new fashionista of the family. The two newest members of the Anthony-Lopez clan will also have a set of Plain Mary’s Hunk and Babe onesies, $169. For the nursery, the twins will dream away in Chelsea Sleigh cribs, $1390 each while Mom and Dad relax in Glam Gliders $1,420 each. And when they need changing, the twins will have a Clara changing table, $1780. And why give up gorgeous handbags just because diapers are involved? Check out Jennifer’s Italian leather and snake skin trim Mia Bossi diaper bag, $1250.

Jamie Lynn Spears Passes Her GED Exam

Originally posted Monday February 25, 2008 03:15 PM EST

Out of the spotlight after revealing her pregnancy, 16-year-old Jamie Lynn Spears is moving ahead with her life, passing her GED and thinking about college, a family friend tells PEOPLE.

The Zoey 101 star passed her high school equivalency exam about a month ago – scoring particularly well on reading comprehension – and is looking to take the ACT college entrance test, the friend says.

"She's already got her diploma," according to the friend. "She wants to take her ACT. She's not wasting any time. People don't know her. When she gets something in her head, she'll make it happen. Everybody is so supportive of her."

Last month, Britney's younger sister was photographed in Hammond, La., carrying a GED book. She was accompanied by her mom Lynne outside a building that houses both the Tangipahoa Parish School System Adult Education Center, which is a GED preparation site, and the Title I Parent Center, which teaches parents how to help their children develop learning skills.

Pregnant Giada De Laurentiis Discovers New Cravings

Originally posted Monday February 25, 2008 05:25 PM EST

Celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis has a new menu to plan: her own.

The mother-to-be, who is due to deliver a baby girl on April 3, has felt new cravings since becoming pregnant. "I always want steak – lots of steak," she told PEOPLE at DeVito's South Beach restaurant in Miami on Saturday night during the South Beach Wine and Food Festival.

"I used to crave sweets before I got pregnant. You know, chocolate, cookies, cake. I've normally got a really big sweet tooth, but not now this baby just wants meat," she said.

With her feet propped up on the lap of husband Todd Thompson, De Laurentiis, 37, also chatted with restaurant owner Danny DeVito and sister celebrity chef Rachael Ray.

"You know, I think this is the time to indulge myself," De Laurentiis said. "It's such a wonderful time, so I'm eating what I want."

Although she has stopped exercising until the baby is born, De Laurentiis says she is determined not to gain too much weight. "I eat a lot of little meals, which is what you're supposed to do when you're pregnant," she says. "It's healthier, anyway."

She also says that her changing body is a small price to pay for the new baby. "I couldn't be more excited about being pregnant," she says. "She can't get here soon enough. I can't wait to meet her."

So Long, Sarah! Jimmy Kimmel Is, Well, 'Dating' Ben Affleck

Originally posted Monday February 25, 2008 06:40 AM EST

As threatened, Jimmy Kimmel has blasted back at girlfriend Sarah Silverman in the wake of her recent revelation – in an hysterical music video – that she and PEOPLE's Sexiest Man Alive Matt Damon are intimate.

Her song: "I'm F---ing Matt Damon." Kimmel's song of revenge, unveiled on his ABC show Jimmy Kimmel Live Sunday night immediately after the Oscars: "I'm F---ing Ben Affleck." (Watch the video here.)

"Matt, Sarah, this is for you," said Kimmel, noting that Silverman and Damon's music video has been seen by about 8 million people on ABC.com and YouTube.

And the hilarious new clip – in which the two are seen giving each other pedicures before Affleck tweaks Kimmel's bare chest – isn't just a duet: It's an all-star performance on par with "We Are the World."

When it comes to backup singers, Kimmel somehow managed to round up a who's-who of the entertainment industry, including Don Cheadle, Ashlee Simpson, Robin Williams, Cameron Diaz, Huey Lewis, Christina Applegate, Joan Jett, Macy Gray, Benji and Joel Madden, Lance Bass, Josh Groban and Harrison Ford – who blows the new couple a kiss.

Costarring Brad Pitt

Even Brad Pitt makes a cameo, albeit in a non-singing role. He plays a FedEx deliveryman who brings a cake of congratulations to Kimmel and Affleck.

Kimmel and Affleck also stand nose to nose in the video, and all but kiss. As Robin Williams rhapsodizes, "This is not a man crush."

"The reason I did it like this, I didn't want my parents finding out from the tabloids," Kimmel said after showing the video.

Affleck said his wife, Jennifer Garner, didn't take the news very well. "Thank God my daughter is too young [to understand]," added the actor, referring to 2-year-old Violet.

Retorted a straight-faced Kimmel, "Well, she's our daughter now."

Daniel Day-Lewis, No Country for Old Men Win Top Oscars

Feb. 24, 2008 | 09:20 PM EST

The 80th annual Academy Awards proved to be nothing if not international – honoring performers from Spain, England and France on Hollywood's big night Sunday.

Still, when the dust settled, it was the American neo-Western No Country for Old Men that took top honors at the Kodak Theatre ceremony. Besides being named Best Picture, the drama won Oscars for its Directors Joel and Ethan Coen, who were also honored for their Adapted Screenplay.

England was well represented – by Best Actor Daniel Day-Lewis, for There Will Be Blood, and Best Supporting Actress Tilda Swinton, for Michael Clayton. France's Marion Cotillard was named Best Actress for La Vie en Rose and Spain's Javier Bardem won Best Supporting Actor for No Country.

In all, the Coens' violent tale of a psychotic killer on the trail of drug money won four Oscars. The offbeat comedy Juno was cited for Best Original Screenplay.

For Day-Lewis, the night brought his second Oscar, this time for his role as a ruthless oilman. His first Oscar was for 1989's My Left Foot.

Accepting his Oscar from last's year's The Queen Best Actress winner Helen Mirren, Day-Lewis said, "That's the closest I'll ever come to getting a knighthood."

Finding the Humanity

Before the ceremony, the London-born actor, 50, was asked about finding the humanity in his role as Daniel Plainview, who cheats, steals, disinherits his son and even murders.

The actor replied, "I think that part of his life took care of itself. It is the other stuff he had to go mining for."

When Bardem won early in the ceremony he said, "Whoa! This is pretty amazing. I have to speak fast here, man."

He not only spoke fast, he spoke in Spanish, to deliver a speech to his mother, to whom he dedicated his award. She sat in the audience, choked up at the sight of her son on the Kodak Theatre stage.

"Mom, this is for you ... for Spain, and for all of us," he said in Spanish. "Thank you very much."

A Surprised Swinton

A totally surprised Swinton captivated the crowd when she accepted for her supporting role.

"Happy Birthday, man," she said as she clutched her little golden boy – which sh

e explained she will be giving to her agent, Brian Swardstrom, because he looks just like Oscar, from the top of his head "to his buttocks, it must be said."

The English actress, 37, concluded her speech by making a joke about the star of the movie, George Clooney. "Seeing you climb into that rubber bat suit from Batman & Robin, the one with the nipples, every morning under your costume, on the set, off the set, hanging upside-down at lunch, you rock, man," she said.

Marion Cotillard, 32, who won for the biopic of singer Edith Piaf La Vie en Rose, was giddy onstage. "We'll, I'm speechless now," she said. "Thank you, life. Thank you, love. It is true, there are some angels in this city [Los Angeles]."

Bourne Winners

The technical categories were practically a clean sweep for The Bourne Ultimatum, which won three Oscars – for Sound Editing, Sound Mixing and Film Editing. There Will Be Blood won for its Cinematography. "Falling Slowly," from Once, was chosen Best Song.

Presenters of note included Nicole Kidman, who gave an honorary Oscar to venerable 98-year-old production designer Robert Boyle, whose filmography includes Alfred Hitchcock's North By Northwest, and Owen Wilson, who handed out the Oscars for film shorts.

Oscars' Red Carpet: What You Didn't See

Feb. 24, 2008 | 08:35 PM EST

• John Travolta and Kelly Preston, hitting the red carpet at the same time as Miley Cyrus – creating a logjam. Cyrus gets help from Mom fixing her hair before posing for the cameras, and before her last photo call she reapplies her lipstick and blows a kiss to the crowd.

• Enchanted star Amy Adams, walking across the limo dropoff area as a valet attendant and her date hold up the train of her green Proenza Schouler gown. "It's so wet!" she says, brushing off the rain. "But it's okay. Let's go in!"

• Adams's costar Patrick Dempsey, getting a last-minute touchup to his hair from wife Jillian Fink before chatting with Juno director Jason Reitman. Meanwhile, a patient Travoltacontinues his way down the press line as Dennis Hopper runs by.

• Oscar presenter Keri Russell, making apologies to onlookers as she passes by and dragging along her train – which got stepped on more than a few times.

• Nominee Daniel Day-Lewis, playfully kicking away wife Rebecca Miller's dress and wearing a wide smile after she pulls it from under his shoe. The couple share kisses on the cheek with nominee Laura Linney, who then chats up Miller while her husband does an interview.

• Shocking some Oscar guests, Jessica Alba steps off the press line and does a reverse red carpet walk – going against traffic on the general audience line as an Academy escort shouted, "Excuse us, please, make room!"

• Atonement heartthrob James McAvoy, holding tight to wife Anne Marie-Duff's hand as they navigate their way down the red carpet.

• Never taking his hand from the small of girlfriend Sarah Larson's back, George Clooney is a steady presence as he works his way into the Kodak Theatre.

• Before entering the theater, Steve Carell and wife Nancy Walls look into each other's eyes and give each other a pat on the butt. A little good luck love?

Cate Blanchett's Baby Slept Through Carpet Chaos

Feb. 24, 2008 | 09:45 PM EST

"He's asleep believe it or not," the pregnant star says during the pre-show

Cate Blanchett, in flowing Dries Van Noten, was feeling "pregnant" Sunday on the Oscar red carpet, but says her baby wasn't feeling a thing.

Presenter and nominee for Best Actress, the expectant mom seemed to reveal her unborn baby's gender when she told PEOPLE, "He's actually asleep – believe it or not, which bodes well."

She took home a Film Independent's Spirit Awards Saturday, which she dedicated to her I'm Not There costar Heath Ledger.