Heath Ledger's Dad: Michelle & Matilda Rose 'Will Be Taken Care Of'

Originally posted Saturday March 08, 2008 06:20 PM EST

Heath Ledger's family moved quickly to speak out Saturday after details of the late actor's will were released – showing he had not updated it since his relationship with Michelle Williams and the 2005 birth of their daughter Matilda Rose.

"Matilda is our absolute priority and Michelle is an integral part of our family," Heath's father Kim Ledger says in a statement. "They will be taken care of and that's how Heath would want it to be."

Ledger's will – filed in Australia in April 2003, before Williams and before his Oscar nomination for Brokeback Mountain – left everything he owned to his parents and sister, New York's Daily News reported Saturday. A series of documents filed in Manhattan Surrogate's Court revealed that the actor had less than $145,000 in New York assets at the time, including a $25,000 Toyota Prius and $20,000 in furniture and fixtures.

Ledger's rep quickly squashed any speculation that Williams and 2-year-old Matilda would not be provided for. "The story is getting taken out of context and media is speculating that this means Matilda and Michelle will not be taken care of. I want to make it very clear nothing could be farther from the truth."

George Clooney: Fabio Could 'Probably' Beat Me Up

Originally posted Saturday March 08, 2008 09:20 AM EST

What do you do when Donald Trump pokes fun at your height and Fabio threatens to beat you up? If you're George Clooney, you take it all in stride – and make a couple jokes, of course.

The Michael Clayton star, 46, agreed to a good-natured Googling session in the April issue of Esquire magazine, and in it he's asked about a laundry list of recent rumors about him – including his reported run-in with I Can't Believe It's Not Butter pitchman Fabio.

When asked about his alleged feud with Fabio last fall (in which the model said he could beat Clooney up), the actor responds, "Yeah, that's probably true. He's a big guy. There is a moment when you are actually in the argument and you're thinking, 'If I do get beaten down by Fabio, that will be far worse than the pain. I wouldn't shake that."

Also found in the magazine's Web search:

• When Esquire discovers a Web site that calls Clooney "gay, gay, gay," the good-natured actor quips, "No, I'm gay, gay. The third gay – that was pushing it."

• Donald Trump's recent "short guy" comments about Clooney. George, who is 5- feet 11-inches tall, responds, "I saw Donald Trump on Larry King and he was saying, 'Clooney is a very short guy. I mean he's a tiny guy.' I've met Donald Trump once, and I was sitting at a table. He came over, shook my hand, and walked away. I guess I looked about three foot five sitting at that table."

• They also surface a quote from Rupert Everett criticizing Clooney's Ocean's movies as a "cancer," to which Clooney replies: "Where did that come from? You kind of go, Dude, weren't you in Dunston Checks in?"

Pregnant Lisa Marie Presley Hurt by 'Vicious' Remarks

Originally posted Friday March 07, 2008 03:40 PM EST

Lisa Marie Presley contends she was pressured into revealing her pregnancy after enduring cruel comments about "my expanding physique."

"After being the target all week of slanderous and degrading stories, horribly manipulated pictures and articles in the media, I have had to show my cards and announce under the gun and under vicious personal attack that I am in fact pregnant," writes Presley on her MySpace Celebrity blog.

Presley, 40 – who is, of course, the daughter of the new Dancing with the Stars contestant Priscilla Presley and the late "King," Elvis Presley – says she hopes this will now "stop all of the harassment, and I can stop dodging the continuous bullets.

"It is unfortunate that I couldn't have announced something that is this much of a blessing and that has made us so incredibly happy under better circumstances," she laments.

Heath Ledger's Will Revealed

Originally posted Saturday March 08, 2008 10:00 AM EST

Before his Oscar-nominated role in Brokeback Mountain, Heath Ledger wrote a will leaving everything he owned to his parents and sister, New York's Daily News reported Saturday.

The 28-year-old actor, who died of an accidental prescription drug overdose earlier this year, filed a three-page will in his native Australia in April 2003. The will preceded Ledger's relationship with Brokeback costar Michelle Williams and the 2005 birth of their daughter, Matilda Rose.

A series of documents filed in Manhattan Surrogate's Court revealed that the actor had less than $145,000 in New York assets at the time, including a $25,000 Toyota Prius and $20,000 in furniture and fixtures. His greater wealth, including trust funds, Australian properties and the Brooklyn townhouse he once shared with Williams, is uncertain.

It's unclear whether there will be any provisions for Williams or Matilda Rose, now 2. The bulk of Ledger's estate will be handled in Australia, according to the report.

The actor's lawyer has asked a judge to seal the documents for privacy. Ledger's spokeswoman, Mara Buxbaum, declined to comment.

Danny Noriega Gets His First Job Offer — From Rosie O’Donnell!

March 7, 2008

Danny Noriega was voted off American Idol Thursday night — but he may already have his first gig, courtesy of Rosie O’Donnell.

The former talk show host took to her blog to rave about Noriega’s performance and offer the 18-year-old one amazing consolation prize: a free cruise to Mexico on O’Donell’s R Family Vacations.

“I don’t know if you have to sit around the American Idol studio and look sad for the next few weeks — because I think that’s part of the contract,” joked O’Donnell. “[But] you got a free cruise. You and a friend.”

But O’Donnell expects the young singer to work for his vacation. “Come on there, and I want you to sing ‘Tainted Love,’” she says. “I think you’re fantastic. And I think you’re a bold and brave and beautiful young man. And I admire you, Danny Noriega. You have an amazing voice. And your hair looks good straight.”

Also on the cruise: O’Donnell’s pal and True Colors Tour partner Cyndi Lauper. The combination, O’Donnell says, would make a perfect duet — or trio! Says the comedienne: “You can sing with her — and me — onstage.”

Marion Jones Reports to Federal Prison

Originally posted Friday March 07, 2008 04:15 PM EST

Former Olympic gold-medal winner Marion Jones began serving her six-month federal prison sentence at a facility in Texas on Friday, a prison official confirmed to PEOPLE.

Jones, 32, arrived just before noon at the Federal Medical Center-Carswell in Fort Worth, according to Traci Billingsley, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

In January, a federal judge in White Plains, N.Y., sentenced Jones to six months in prison and two years' probation (during which she will be required to perform 800 hours of community service) for lying to federal investigators about her steroid use and a check-fraud scheme. Jones had until March 11 to begin her sentence.

"I think that I absolutely should have to accept responsibility for breaking the law," Jones said on The Oprah Winfrey Show in an episode that aired in January. "I have no regrets for doing what I did on October the 5th and pleading guilty and admitting to the world that I lied, that I've made mistakes."

Since admitting her guilt, the three-time Olympic gold medalist has returned all five medals she won during the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Jones, who used steroids distributed by the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative – the same lab that supplied steroids to athletes who included New York Yankees star Jason Giambi – is the first professional sports figure to receive prison time.

Lisa Marie Presley pregnant

Originally posted Friday March 07, 2008 03:40 PM EST

Lisa Marie Presley contends she was pressured into revealing her pregnancy after enduring cruel comments about "my expanding physique."

"After being the target all week of slanderous and degrading stories, horribly manipulated pictures and articles in the media, I have had to show my cards and announce under the gun and under vicious personal attack that I am in fact pregnant," writes Presley on her MySpace Celebrity blog.

Presley, 40 – who is, of course, the daughter of the new Dancing with the Stars contestant Priscilla Presley and the late "King," Elvis Presley – says she hopes this will now "stop all of the harassment, and I can stop dodging the continuous bullets.

"It is unfortunate that I couldn't have announced something that is this much of a blessing and that has made us so incredibly happy under better circumstances," she laments.

Owen Wilson's On-the-Job Training

Originally posted Friday March 07, 2008 05:50 PM EST

Is Owen Wilson going the Method actor route?

In Miami to film Marley & Me (costarring Jennifer Aniston and Eric Dane), the actor stopped by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel Friday.

Wilson and Dane caused a stir when they showed up at the paper's Fort Lauderdale offices – just hours before deadline. Coincidentally – or not – the film is based on a memoir by the newspaper's columnist John Grogan. The pair spent about an hour talking to editor Earl Maucker and walking around, trailed by their crew.

One daring female reporter approached the two stars in the elevator and shook their hands, saying, "Welcome, I hope you have fun here."

"They were charming," she said. "I swooned a bit. Owen was very sweet. They certainly created a lot of hubbub and excitement."

Reporters at the newspaper were invited to apply to be extras in the movie and a few are said to be considering it.

The film team previously checked out The Daily Business offices in downtown Miami as a location but apparently decided against filming there.

Lindsay's New Sound: Kylie Minogue-Meets-Rihanna

Originally posted Friday March 07, 2008 02:00 PM EST

Lindsay Lohan is seeking inspiration from two major pop stars for her upcoming album, she tells PEOPLE in an exclusive interview.

"I want it to be dance," she tells PEOPLE. "I want it to be kind of Kylie Minogue-meets-Rihanna. I hope to tour with it and I hope to really promote it."

Asked if any of the tracks feature lyrics that refer her past year, including her several stints in rehab and family turmoil, Lohan said Thursday night at a photo exhibit at The Atelier in New York, "I'm not sure yet – I don't know if I really want to.

"I think the past is the past and it should be kept there," Lohan added. "It's a new slate for me, and I want to show that in my new record."

But Lohan has already finished a few tracks. "I'm recording here in New York, and in L.A.," she said at Thursday’s party, sponsored by Snapple Antioxidant Water, which included shots from photographers including Gus Freedman and a silent auction with proceeds benefiting the American Red Cross. "I've already done three songs. I'm doing my third song in New York actually."

Lohan's first few tunes have already won rave reviews from her manager-mom Dina. "I've heard a couple of tracks," she told PEOPLE last month. "They were amazing!"

The star’s 14-year-old sister Ali is also hitting the studio to record an album – but "she's younger, so it's a different vibe," says Lindsay.

Lohan also adds that she doesn't think it's odd her sister is following in her footsteps. "She's doing what I love to do, and she loves to do it too."

Originally posted Friday March 07, 2008 05:00 PM EST

John Mayer's "confessional" blog post may not have been so confessional after all. The singer has taken to his blog – again – to reluctantly clarify a post that found him cryptically telling an ex-girlfriend, "I do not wish to have you in my life anymore."

In a post titled, "Never Complain, (Almost) Never Explain," the singer writes that attention and confusion over his initial blog post forced him to explain himself.

Writes Mayer: "The blog – copied from my lyric/idea journal, is all about the P.S. – it's a writing technique called 'deceptive resolution'; you think the story is going one way, only to find that it twists around at the end, using all its momentum to swing in another direction."

Chalking the post up to creative experimentation, the singer asks his readers, "How will I write an entire record of lyrics when one small blog passage incites so much curiosity? Can I write a song because of somebody but not about them?"

He then signs off: "Doin' The Right Thing Like Mookie, John."

Swayze's Dirty Dancing Costar Wants to Hug Him

Originally posted Friday March 07, 2008 12:55 PM EST

Patrick Swayze's costar in the movie that put him on the map would like to find him.

"It is so sad," Jennifer Grey, 47, who appeared with Swayze, 55, in 1987's Dirty Dancing, said of the actor's cancer diagnosis, reports Britain's Telegraph.

"If I saw him on the streets today, I'd throw my arms around him and love him up," says the actress.

Grey's comment follows that of Swayze's 1990 Ghost costar, Whoopi Goldberg, who said on Thursday's edition of The View that she owes her Oscar for that movie to Swayze, who insisted she be cast in the role (as a fast-talking medium who channels his love to his widow, played by Demi Moore).

"We want you to feel better and we will talk soon, I hope," Goldberg, 52, said on TV.

Victoria Beckham: David 'Doesn't Have Great Rhythm'

Originally posted Friday March 07, 2008 09:35 AM EST

It's the day every true fashionista dreams of – appearing on the cover of Vogue magazine.

That fantasy just became reality for Victoria Beckham, who won the coveted spot on the April cover of the U.K. edition, styled in diamonds and '50s-style gowns. (See a clip from the shoot below.)

Interviewed at her U.K. home, just north of London – which includes a private cinema complete with a popcorn machine and double-decker-bus bunk beds for her two older boys, Brooklyn, 9 and Romeo, 5 – the 33-year-old says she revels in domestic life with "David and the boys" (the couple also has another son – 3-year-old Cruz).

"I laugh a lot, even though people say I look bloody miserable," the singer, famous for her refusal to smile, tells the mag. "There's a lot of singing and dancing going on the whole time."

Although one Spice Boy doesn't cut it on the dance floor. "Not from David – he doesn't have great rhythm," she admits. "But from me and the boys."

Now that the Spice Girls tour has wrapped, Beckham says she's focusing on her "fourth child," her fashion brand DvB.

Clearly obsessed with fashion, her dedication knows no bounds – at least when it comes to shoes. For instance, she'd gladly wear designer heels that are two sizes too big. "If they don't have my size I just stick toilet paper in," she says without shame. "If that's what it takes to get a nice shoe."

On the hot-button topic of her weight, Beckham insists her tiny frame is the result of good genes. "I'd love to look like Linda Evangelista," she said. "I could try for the rest of my life, but I'm never going to look like her." (In the course of the interview and photo shoot, she sticks to a diet of steamed vegetables, fish, edamame, fruit and champagne.)

The singer also says she's joined a gym – although she hasn't worked out yet. She explains in her usual mocking tone, "I can't bring myself to wear flat shoes."

Idol’s Top 12 Revealed!

March 7, 2008

And then there were 12.

Kady Malloy, Luke Menard, Asia’h Epperson and Danny Noriega were eliminated from American Idol Thursday, leaving 12 favorites in the competition.

Kady was the first to go and she seemed to know what was coming after squeaking by last week in one of the show’s most dramatic departures.

Next, Luke was cut, which wasn’t really a surprise either since the 29-year-old singer hadn’t really connected with the judges since Hollywood week.

Then, Asia’h faced the final female elimination of the night. Kristy Lee Cook, who gave Journey’s “Faithfully” a country spin Wednesday, stood next to her on the stage until it was announced that Kristy Lee made it and Asia’h would have to sing Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” for her final performance on the Idol stage

Finally, Danny and Chikezie stood together in the last minutes of the show with only one spot remaining. In an emotional final elimination, Noriega was cut and had to sing “Tainted Love” as his Idol swan song while his pal (he wore her glassed while she performed Wednesday) Ramiele Malubay wept.

But for Malubay and 11 others, the competition is just beginning. Idol returns Tuesday with the top 12 performing live on FOX.

Here they are:

Michael Johns, Seyesha Mercado, David Archuleta, Carly Smithson, David Cook, Ramiele Malubay, Jason Castro, Kristy Lee Cook, David Hernandez, Brooke White, Chikezie and Amanda Overmyer.

Lisa Marie Presley Is Pregnant

Originally posted Friday March 07, 2008 12:10 AM EST

Lisa Marie Presley is pregnant with her third child and due in the fall, her rep confirms to PEOPLE.

"The couple are incredibly overjoyed," the rep says.

This is the first child for Presley, 40, and her husband, guitarist and music producer Michael Lockwood, 46, who were married in Japan in January 2006.

Presley has two children, daughter Riley, 18, and son Benjamin, 15, with ex-husband Danny Keough.

Costar: Heidi Always Used to Talk About Her Stepbrother

Originally posted Friday March 07, 2008 08:30 AM EST

While Heidi Montag mourns the loss of her stepbrother, several of her Hills costars have reached out to offer their condolences.

"I actually texted her," Audrina Patridge told PEOPLE at Thursday's Sleepwalking premiere in West Hollywood. "It was really sad. She must be going through a hard time."

With Montag in Colorado to attend the funeral for stepbrother Eric O'Hara – a veteran of several combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan who died in a freak accident Feb. 28 – Patridge noted, "I haven't seen her."

Although Patridge didn't hear back from Montag, she added that costar Whitney Port "called her too. Hopefully she'll be okay."

Patridge, 22 – who spent time on MTV's The Hills hanging with Montag before the blonde's friendship with Lauren Conrad imploded last season – noted that Montag often mentioned her 24-year-old stepbrother.

"I always used to hear her talk about him," she said. "So I knew of him. But I never knew him."

For now, Patridge and her Hills crew are wrapping up episodes for the third season – and preparing for the next one.

"It's just all of us getting to know each other even more than we did," she said, adding that it results in, "the typical drama that everyone loves to watch!"

Asked if Conrad, 21, and Montag will reconcile, Patridge teased, "We haven't started fourth season yet, so you never know what could happen."

Martinis for Jennifer Aniston After Work on Marley & Me

Originally posted Friday March 07, 2008 10:10 AM EST

Jennifer Aniston polished off her Thursday shooting Marley & Me – which costars Owen Wilson and Grey's Anatomy's Eric Dane – with a lychee martini at Mandarin Oriental's Martini Bar in Miami.

Looking slightly sunburned and exhausted, according to a fellow patron, the actress shared her late cocktail hour with a small entourage – a gal and two guys and even Norman, Aniston's dog, who was brought down for his nightly stroll after drinks were done.

It seems like Aniston was really getting into her character – Aniston plays Wilson's wife in the movie, which is adapted from John Grogan's memoir about family lessons learned from a neurotic dog – she was sporting a platinum wedding band on her right hand.

When she's not catching up with friends, Aniston has been working out with regular guests, constantly smiling and being very friendly to all, says a source.

Woman Finds Marrow Donor – with Rihanna's Aid

Originally posted Thursday March 06, 2008 07:00 PM EST

After singer Rihanna put out a plea for help, a leukemia-stricken New York City woman has found a bone marrow donor.

"Today a 32-year-old guardian angel consented to be my donor, even though in all likelihood she has never met me and does not know who I am," Lisa Gershowitz-Flynn, 41, a lawyer, wrote in an email to supporters Thursday.

"While we cannot verify the source of the donor," Flynn adds, "this angel was most likely found through the efforts of my family and friends, as well as complete strangers who heard about my story and took it upon themselves to aid in the effort to find a donor."

After PEOPLE exclusively reported Rihanna's campaign to find a donor for Flynn, more than 5,000 readers contacted DKMS, the world's leading bone marrow donor center, to become potential donors.

Even better, "We actually recruited and registered roughly 2,000 new donors, just from phone calls and emails we got – and it's continuing," says Katharina Harf, executive vice president of DKMS.

After finding the match, Flynn is now awaiting the bone marrow transplant.

"My life will be saved because of you, my family and friends (old and new)," Flynn writes. "My children (Michael, 5, and Alexandra, 3) will have their mother, my husband will have his wife, and my parents will have their daughter."

Flynn is beyond thrilled that she has found a match.

"The English language does not have words that are adequate to thank someone for working to save your life," she says. "Please continue to spread the word about how important it is to fill the bone marrow registry with donors to save others."

Ashlee Simpson: I Wasn't Drunk on the Radio

Originally posted Thursday March 06, 2008 05:00 PM EST

Ashlee Simpson denies she showed up drunk for a recent radio appearance, saying she was drained by her busy schedule and thrown off by the circumstances of the interview.

In a posting on her MySpace Celebrity blog titled "Response to False Rumors," the singer writes: "It was very upsetting to hear that people are saying that I was intoxicated when I came in for my morning interview. I take my work very seriously and would never disrespect anyone and come into an interview that way." (In the blog post, Simpson also reveals more details about her new tattoo.)

During Simpson's appearance Tuesday on Washington D.C.'s Hot 99.5 Kane in the Morning show, the pop star, 23, sounded like she was slurring her words – and could not recall the lyrics to her new song "Little Miss Obsessive."

But Simpson blames the fact that she's had "a crazy hectic schedule" and felt uncomfortable with the station's atmosphere and hosts.

"When I walked into the radio station I was thrown into the interview. They didn't even introduce themselves to me before starting it, and just put me on the air," writes Simpson. "I felt bad energy and like I was about to be attacked as soon as I sat down."

Avoided Personal Questions

Explaining why she was heard laughing through much of the interview, Simpson says she was trying to avoid a range of questions about her personal life.

"I giggle when people ask me uncomfortable questions not knowing what to say or what else to do. Questions & false rumors about my dad being a jerk, being pregnant, being engaged, etc are not fun to answer every single day. Eventually I try to just laugh them off and hope they start asking me important questions about my album and music which is why I am there," she writes.

Adds Simpson: "Throughout my career, I have learned that you must speak up for yourself when people try to put you down. That is why I am writing this today. I'm tired of people making things up about others. Again, this is for my fans. You are what is important to me."

She signs off with, "All my love, Ashlee xx."

Rep: Swayze's Daily Routine Unchanged

Originally posted Thursday March 06, 2008 02:25 PM EST

While Wednesday's statement on the condition of Patrick Swayze from his physician, Dr. George Fisher, did not go into the specific treatment that the actor is receiving, Swayze's rep did offer some additional information.

Swayze is currently undergoing chemotherapy – not radiation – and he has not lost his hair (which can sometimes happen as a result of chemo), the star's publicist, Annett Wolf, tells PEOPLE.

She added that, for the time being, there is no way to gauge how long the treatment is expected to last.

Furthermore, contrary to some reports, Swayze was not diagnosed in January (following a gastrointestinal ultrasound procedure), but far more recently.

In addition, she said, Swayze's daily routine has remained unchanged, and his doctors are extremely optimistic regarding his prognosis.

The good news, Wolf emphasized, is that the cancer has not spread.

It's a Boy for Brooke Burke & David Charvet

Originally posted Thursday March 06, 2008 04:05 PM EST

It's a boy – finally – for Rock Star: Supernova host Brooke Burke and fiancé David Charvet, her rep confirms to PEOPLE.

"Burke delivered the baby boy at 11:31 a.m. on Wednesday, March 5, 2008, in Los Angeles," says the spokesperson. "He weighs 6.5 pounds and is 20 1/4 inches long. Both mom and baby are doing well."

This is Burke's fourth child, her second with Charvet – and her first son.

The couple's other child together, daughter Rain, turned 1 on Jan. 8. Neriah, 7, and Sierra, 5, are Burke's children with ex-husband Garth Fisher.

Burke, 36, and Charvet, 35, a former Baywatch star, announced their engagement and pregnancy in August.

Regarding her children's "crazy, hippy names," Burke told MomLogic.com, "People are wondering what we are going to come up with next."

"The couple has not announced a name yet," says the rep, who adds that the new parents "are thrilled."

Burke recently launched her own online baby store, BabooshBaby.com, the home of "Tauts," the post-pregnancy Belly Wrap, the rep also noted.

Patrick Swayze Diagnosed with Cancer

Originally posted Wednesday March 05, 2008 06:15 PM EST

Patrick Swayze, who starred in Dirty Dancing and Ghost, has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, his doctor says.

"Patrick has a very limited amount of disease and he appears to be responding well to treatment thus far," Dr. George Fisher says in a statement. "All of the reports stating the time frame of his prognosis and his physical side effects are absolutely untrue. We are considerably more optimistic."

The actor's rep adds: "Patrick is continuing his normal schedule during this time, which includes working on upcoming projects. The outpouring of support and concern he has already received from the public is deeply appreciated by Patrick and his family."

Swayze, 55, started his career as a dancer before turning to acting. His breakout role was as a Catskills dance instructor opposite Jennifer Grey in 1987's sleeper hit Dirty Dancing. He also starred opposite Demi Moore in the 1990 blockbuster Ghost.

On Broadway in the '70s he played the lead role of Danny Zucco in Grease – he returned to the New York stage in December 2003, for a brief stint in the revival of Chicago – before making his movie debut in 1979's Skatetown, U.S.A. Among his other screen roles were 2001's Donnie Darko and 1995's To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar, which he played in fabulous drag.

And while Swayze has been happily married to the same woman, Lisa Niemi, since 1975, only last month Scarlett Johansson said quite seriously during her Hasty Pudding roast at Harvard that the man to whom she'd most like to be linked with romantically is, "Probably Patrick Swayze. My dream come true."

Swayze's diagnosis was initially reported by the National Enquirer and New York Post, which both characterized the cancer as more severe than Swayze's doctor has.

Each year about 33,000 individuals in the United States are diagnosed with cancer of the pancreas (a large organ that lies horizontally behind the lower part of one's stomach), according to the Mayo Clinic.

Calling the condition "one of the most serious of cancers," the facility's Web site also states, "Pancreatic cancer spreads rapidly and is seldom detected in its early stages, which is a major reason why it's a leading cause of cancer death."

Judge: Britney's Dad in Control for Four More Months

Originally posted Wednesday March 05, 2008 11:00 PM EST

Jamie Spears will remain in control of his daughter Britney Spears's finances and other aspects of the pop star's life until July 31, a judge ruled Wednesday in an unscheduled hearing.

No reporters were present for the proceeedings, although two sources confirm to PEOPLE that Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Reva Goetz extended the temporary conservatorship that had been ordered on Feb. 4, during Spears's second stint in a psychiatric facility.

"I can confirm that the order was issued this afternoon, but I don't know the attorneys' motives," Superior Court spokesman Allan Parachini tells PEOPLE.

The temporary conservatorship had been scheduled to expire March 10. Hearings are still scheduled before Goetz on that date and on March 17, sources say.

Jamie Spears has been overseeing his 26-year-old daughter's well-being and her estimated $100 million fortune since Feb. 1, when Goetz named him and Andrew Wallet temporary co-conservators, giving them the right to employ bodyguards and restrict her visitors.

A source close to Britney says she's okay with her dad being in control. On Feb. 23, she was allowed to spend time with her sons Preston, 2, and Jayden, 17 months, for the first time since her Jan. 3 standoff with the police, and she has had regular visits since. "She is getting along well with her father and enjoying the closeness and support of her family," says a source.

Bai Ling Pleads Guilty to Disturbing the Peace

Originally posted Thursday March 06, 2008 12:00 AM EST

Bai Ling pleaded guilty Wednesday to disturbing the peace in a case stemming from her arrest at LAX for stealing two Star magazines and a package of batteries, totaling $16.22.

Although she was formally charged with petty theft Monday, prosecutors agreed to let Bai plead to the alternative charge, said L.A. City Attorney rep Frank Mateljan.

The actress was ordered to pay a fine and penalties totaling $700.

"What happened was an innocent mistake on my part and I am confident that the truth will be told since I never had any intention of taking items without paying for them," she wrote on her Web site Monday.

Bai, 37, has appeared in The Crow and Anna and the King among other film and TV roles

Heidi Montag's Tearful Goodbye to Stepbrother

Originally posted Wednesday March 05, 2008 03:50 PM EST

In front of 400 friends and family, and with boyfriend Spencer Pratt at her side, The Hills star Heidi Montag bid a tearful goodbye to her stepbrother Eric O'Hara at a memorial service Wednesday in their hometown of Steamboat Springs, Colo.

"I didn't write anything down today, just couldn't. Eric was the best brother I could ask for," Montag said as she stood at the podium with their other siblings. "He was happy, strong and an amazingly patriotic person. I'll never forget how he could make me smile. I will remember all the times we had together and cherish all the memories, the goods ones and the bad ones. Eric was a true hero. I love him and I will miss him."

Montag, who flew back to Colorado after O'Hara, 24, died in a freak accident last Thursday, took solace in her family during the service.

After serviceman from O'Hara's 82nd Airborne Division gathered around his flag-draped casket to share stories about his military service (O'Hara was a veteran of several combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan), the family headed across the snow-covered street to the Tugboat Grill and Bar.

In a statement to PEOPLE, Montag said she was just "glad I can be with my family at this time."

Scott Weiland Pleads Not Guilty to DUI

Originally posted Wednesday March 05, 2008 11:00 PM EST

Singer Scott Weiland of the rock band Velvet Revolver pleaded not guilty Wednesday in a Los Angeles court to driving under the influence of drugs with a prior conviction.

Weiland's attorney entered the plea on the singer's behalf. His next court date is April 4.

The singer, 40, was arrested for DUI in L.A. on Nov. 21, and was freed on $40,000 bail the following day.

Weiland has had several brushes with the law in recent years.

In July 2004, he was ordered to complete a six-month drug program and serve three years probation after pleading no contest to DUI.

If convicted of this latest charge, Weiland faces up to one year in jail, a $1,000 fine, and his car could be impounded for 30 days.

Jamie Lynn Spears Guest Stars on ABC Comedy

March 5, 2008

Jamie Lynn Spears is coming to primetime.

The pregnant Zoey 101 star will appear in an episode of the ABC comedy, Miss Guided, premiering March 20 (8 p.m. ET). Judy Greer stars in the sitcom, playing a formerly awkward high school student who returns to her alma mater all grown up — and as a guidance counselor. Spears will appear in the premiere episode, called “Hot Sub,” as Mandy Ferner, a troubled student who gets some exciting news from college, according to ABC.

The show will also feature another big guest star: Ashton Kutcher, who executive-produced the sitcom, will play the titular hot sub — a Spanish teacher and a possible romantic interest for Greer’s character.

As a midseason addition to the schedule, Miss Guided was filmed in October after Spears wrapped Zoey 101 — but before the young actress announced her pregnancy.

Matthew McConaughey Launches Beachwear Line

March 5, 2008 | 3:26 pm

If anyone is qualified to design a beachwear line, it’s Matthew McConaughey. The perpetually shirtless actor has honed his knowledge of swim trunks, flip flops and bandanas over the years — and now he’s adding a surf-inspired line to his j.k livin T-shirt line. The line of swimwear and beach accoutrements will be available on his website Matthewmcconaughey.com starting this summer, according to his rep

Julianne Hough: No Sex Before Marriage

Originally posted Wednesday March 05, 2008 05:15 PM EST

Dancing with the Stars's Julianne Hough says that she has been tempted by the excess of Hollywood, but is sticking to her vow to remain a virgin until marriage.

"I want to be with that special person," she tells CosmoGIRL! in excerpts posted on ET.online. "I think [the choice] to have sex before marriage is an individual one, but if you're just with one person, it's only for one good reason, and [waiting to have sex] will strengthen that relationship. I'm not trying to preach consequences here, but I think when you say no, down the line it will be a better decision."

The 19-year-old dancer, paired in competition with DWTS champs Apolo Ono and Helio Castroneves, says the pressures surrounding dating within the entertainment industry has been hard on her – so she's turned to her family for support.

"My dad, whom I'm very close with, will text me, 'Are you doing the right things, in the right place, at the right time?'" she says. "And it's usually when I'm someplace I shouldn't be. So I'll call him and say, 'Thanks, I needed to hear that.'"

As for meeting new people, Hough, who broke off her engagement last year, says she's had some trouble fitting in with Hollywood.

"I tried to go out and mingle with people in the industry and date people, but I felt I was different than most of them," she says. "I don't drink, smoke or do drugs, so those things immediately separate me. It's all very enticing, though."

Demi Moore Poses with Daughters for Family Portrait

Originally posted Wednesday March 05, 2008 01:00 PM EST

Demi Moore's looks may be the source of constant comment, but in her own mind, they're sometimes a source of anxiety.

"Look, I would be lying if I said I don't have moments of panic when I look in the mirror and see things creeping in that weren't there before," Moore, 45, tells Harper's Bazaar for its April issue, about getting older. "But now I stop, and instead of focusing on my flaws, I think about all that I have in my life."

Those rewards are not only tangible, she says, but human: "I have a wonderful marriage, I have three wonderful daughters, I have an incredible extended family, and I have loving, wonderful friends."

As a result, she says, "when I look back in the mirror, the reflection I see isn't so bad, because I'm seeing the beauty of my whole being and my whole life."

Kutcher's Introduction

In their first family portrait for a magazine, Moore's daughters by former husband Bruce Willis – Rumer, 19, Scout 16, and Tallulah, 14 – also ring in with their observations on mom and her life with stepdad Ashton Kutcher, 30, who has been with Moore for the past five years.

In terms of initially bringing Kutcher home (in addition to her girls, Moore's house in Los Angeles includes three Chihuahuas and an elderly mutt named Wonka), Moore admits, "I didn't bring somebody into their lives lightly. … Being with me isn't about just being in a relationship with me; it's about someone stepping into a situation where there is already a huge level of responsibility."

And the age difference between them? "People made such a fuss about it, you would have thought the world had never seen it before," says Moore. "Age wasn't what I was thinking about, but to the rest of the world it was a very big deal."

Insofar as her initial reaction to Kutcher's being beside her mom, Tallulah says: "I was in fourth grade, so it didn't hit me as much as it did Scout and Rumer. But it still hit me a little, and it still does now. I find it weird that people think my stepdad is hot.”

Scout also notices another change that overtook her mother – ever since Moore took up studying Kabbalah. "She has always moved from religion to religion according to the stages in her life," says the teen. "Kabbalah is the one she has stuck with the most. I respect that she and Ashton are doing it."

Another Kabbalah proponent, Madonna, is cited by Moore as one of her personal role models, as is Maya Angelou, Katharine Hepburn, Susan Sarandon, Coco Chanel, Oprah Winfrey, Mother Teresa – and her own grandmother.

Ashton Speaks Up

Kutcher is heard from, too. "At first, I didn't know how it was all going to play out, but everything fell into place," he says of having an instant family. "We all support each other. I'm occasionally overwhelmed by everyone’s generosity."

Overwhelmed, indeed, seems the operative word. Adds Ashton: "I am eternally grateful for having them in my life. That makes me want to cry and hug them and cry a little bit more."

Britney Spears Earns Raves as a Dance Teacher

Originally posted Wednesday March 05, 2008 06:20 AM EST

Britney Spears headed back into the dance studio Tuesday night to teach a class of 15 children.

And her pint-sized pupils are singing her praises. "I like Britney,” 5-year-old Elissa Bouganim, who has taken three classes with the pop star, tells PEOPLE. “Today, first we were dancing slow, and then faster and faster ... Then we did the fish-move and lots of other fun things."

The troubled 26-year-old has become a semi-regular instructor at the Millennium Dance Complex in the past month – as she has settled into an uncharacteristically quiet routine overseen by her dad Jamie.

"It's just amazing to watch Britney with the kids," says Elissa's mom, Pam. "Elissa won't stop dancing now, that's all she wants to do. Britney has really inspired her."

In fact, Elissa has grown so fond of her new teacher, she even gave Spears a gift during Tuesday's class. "It was a picture of [Peter Pan's] Tinkerbell," she says. "And she gave me a hug."

These days, Elissa would be happy if Spears taught all her classes. "Britney is nice," she says. "I want to dance with Britney all the time because it's so much fun."

Lindsay Lohan: 'I'm Back on Track'

Originally posted Tuesday March 04, 2008 06:35 PM EST

Multiple car accidents, three stints in rehab and a court ordered spell at the morgue can put anyone's life into perspective. Lindsay Lohan tells PEOPLE that the last few years of turmoil have made her more focused on acting and singing than ever.

"My life was distracted by certain things and that got in the way of work," Lohan, 21, said Tuesday at the Paper Magazine and Diesel luncheon celebrating this month's cover story. "But now I'm back on track and figuring out what's next."

Alongside designer Jeremy Scott, who shot the cover, and DJ friends Samantha Ronson and Steve Aoki, the actress laughed and took personal pictures at the event in her honor held at the Sunset Marquis Hotel and Villas.

"Lindsay and I have been talking about doing a shoot together for some time and we hadn't had the chance," said Scott, who is also a friend. Though Scott is not the only one to have photographed the actress recently, he says, "Everyone always shoots her in a very generic [way]. So we took her and put her on a set and let her act." He adds: "She's an actress for God sakes, and sometimes people forget that."

So what is next for the starlet? She is getting ready to start shooting the comedy Ye Olde Times with Jack Black and David Arquette. Plus, there's another album in the works.

"I'm recording right now [with] Motown and being in the studio again has been really great," she said of her "dance, hip-hop and R&B album," adding, "It's all coming together."

Jessica & Tony: Hot-Spot Hopping in New York

Originally posted Tuesday March 04, 2008 04:15 PM EST

The same day Tony Romo told PEOPLE that he and Jessica Simpson are not engaged but that marriage is something on his mind, the couple had dinner at Greenwich Village hot spot Waverly Inn.

The two, both 27, are going strong and can't bear to be apart, a source close to Simpson tells PEOPLE, adding: "They are doing great. They are really, really happy together."

In New York to be with Romo when he accepted his award at Cosmopolitan's Fun, Fearless Male luncheon, Simpson was due to fly to Nashville Tuesday before Romo joins her in Los Angeles, says the source.

"She's having a great time and is loving life right now," says the source. "She is happier than ever. Things with Tony are going really well."

And should she ever settle down, there's her 1,200-sq.-ft. Las Vegas condo in the Palms Place. Simpson has closed on a one-bedroom at the new 47-story hotel/residence set to open this weekend. (The condo was initially to be a newlywed pad for Simpson and then-husband Nick Lachey, but was awarded to Simpson as part of her divorce.)

Former Nude Dancer David Hernandez to Stay on Idol

March 4, 2008

American Idol finalist David Hernandez is free to remain on the reality show, despite his past as a nude dancer, according to the show’s executive producer.

“The truth is we’re never judgmental about what people do to earn a living. They’ve gotta put food in people’s mouths,” Idol’s executive producer, Ken Warwick, tells TVGuide.com. “If it were some sort of heavy porn, then maybe we’d have to take action. But certainly not on this.”

The 24-year-old singer performed in the buff a male strip club in Phoenix for three years, the manager of the club has said.

“He had the look and the type that people like, so he made pretty good money here,” Gordy Bryan, manager of Dick’s Cabaret, tells the Associated Press.

As for how his past could influence his future, Warick says, “If there’s a stretch of the public that thinks, ‘Oh, dear, he was a male stripper, I’m not gonna vote for him,’ then that’s the luck of the draw.”

Jennifer Esposito Shows Off Her Physique in Shape

Originally posted Wednesday March 05, 2008 08:30 AM EST

When Jennifer Esposito was a struggling actress, she made ends meet by working as an exercise instructor in Manhattan. The Samantha Who? actress continues to keep fitness a priority – the evidence is her bikini photo shoot in April's Shape magazine.

The actress, who shares her no-fail workout plan in the magazine, says her mom has always been her biggest supporter.

"When I was 6, I told my mom I wanted to be an actress, live in New York City, and have two dogs," she says.

What advice did her mother, who was married and pregnant at 18, give? "She told me, 'You go girl! You can do whatever you set your mind to. Don't settle, and don't depend on anyone but yourself,' " Esposito tells Shape.

These days, mom is still her daughter's biggest fan – even if she doesn't understand every little nuance of showbiz.
"She called me recently and said, 'You're going to win an Oscar for Samantha Who?" laughs Esposito. "I had to tell her you don't win Oscars for TV roles."

Dannielynn Officially Named Anna Nicole Smith's Sole Heir

Posted Tuesday March 04, 2008 04:05 PM EST

A petition to have Anna Nicole Smith's 18-month-old daughter Dannielynnn declared the sole heir to her estate was approved Tuesday by a Los Angeles judge.

In court papers filed in Superior Court Oct. 18, 2007, Howard K. Stern, the executor of Smith's estate, sought to clarify Smith's intentions in her July 2001 will, drafted five years before Dannielynn Hope's September 2006 birth. (Smith died in February 2007.)

"We and Mr. Stern always believed that Anna Nicole never intended to disinherit her daughter,"' Stern's lawyer, Bruce S. Ross, said after Tuesday's hearing. "I'm pleased to say this chapter in the saga is closed."

The toddler could conceivably inherit millions from the fortune of Smith's late husband, oil man J. Howard Marshall, whose estate is still tied up in litigation in the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

In addition to confirming Dannielynn as Anna Nicole's sole heir, Judge Mitchell L. Beckloff's ruling also establishes a trust on her behalf with Stern and Birkhead as its co-trustees, Ross said.

Tuesday's ruling was first reported by TMZ.com

Heidi & Spencer in Colorado for Stepbrother's Memorial

Originally posted Tuesday March 04, 2008 02:10 PM EST

Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt are in Steamboat, Colo., to be with family following the accidental death of Montag's 24-year-old stepbrother, Eric O'Hara. A private memorial was held Monday night for his family, to be followed by a larger memorial service in Steamboat on Wednesday.

O'Hara, a veteran of combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, died Thursday at the Steamboat Grand Resort Hotel after slipping off a sloped roof while attempting to remove snow.

"Losing my brother, at an early age, is such a tragedy," The Hills star, 21, said in a statement. "I just loved him more than anything," Montag's statement continued. "He was just so patriotic. He really wanted to go to Iraq and help and do all that he could for his country. He felt like it was his duty. I'll really miss him."

Valerie Bertinelli Addresses Eddie's Past Health Battles

Originally posted Tuesday March 04, 2008 03:30 PM EST

With the announced postponement on Monday of four Van Halen concerts while Eddie Van Halen undergoes medical treatment for an undisclosed malady, the guitarist's former wife, Valerie Bertinelli, has offered some choice observations about his physical condition – past and present.

Of her ex's battle with cancer, which he beat in 2002, Bertinelli tells Ladies' Home Journal: "The guy has mouth cancer, gets part of his tongue cut out, and he still insists cigarettes have nothing to do with it."

Van Halen, 53, abused alcohol and cocaine, Bertinelli also reveals (among other disclosures) in her new tell-all book, Losing It: And Gaining My Life Back One Pound at a Time. That abuse and its denial helped break apart the marriage, she says.

"There was so much denial, so much not talking," Bertinelli tells the Journal. Van Halen has cited a metal guitar pick he held in his mouth as contributing to his cancer.

As for the practitioner of alternative medicine who helped treat her ex, Bertinelli says: "You should have seen the guy he attributes his 'cure' to. They sat around drinking and smoking in our hotel room. But, well, cancer hasn't come back yet, so who am I to say."

Reese & Jake Share a Steak

Originally posted Tuesday March 04, 2008 12:10 PM EST

Reese Witherspoon and Jake Gyllenhaal enjoyed a romantic evening out with friends at New York City restaurant Prune Sunday night, onlookers tell PEOPLE.

Witherspoon, 31, and Gyllenhaal, 27, who was introducing his girlfriend to the restaurant where he's a regular, "looked really happy," says a source.

Dining with a group of six, the couple, who shared the restaurant's dry-aged ribeye steak for two, "were really cute,” adds the source. "They were really sweet together and they looked really in love."

Spotted in SoHo earlier in the day, Gyllenhaal toted a bag out of A.P.C. with the Penelope star following closely behind.

As for their whole dinner party, an onlooker says, "They were all laughing and sharing items from the menu ... They were a lively group."

Carey Hart: Pink Is the 'Love of My Life'

Originally posted Tuesday March 04, 2008 06:00 AM EST

He may be in the middle of a divorce, but Carey Hart has nothing but good things to say about estranged wife Pink.

"Above and beyond everything, we are the best of friends and she is the love of my life," he told PEOPLE in Las Vegas Monday night, breaking his silence about their separation (announced last month). "We talk all the time."

The freestyle motocross star, speaking at the grand opening of Ago restaurant inside the Hard Rock Hotel, declined to comment further. Instead, the 32-year-old spent the remainder of the evening chatting with a small group of male friends inside he eatery, sipping red wine and taking a few pictures.

The hotel has become something of a safe haven for Hart, a Las Vegas native. This summer, he's slated to open a new bar, Wasted Space, inside the complex.

"It's about rock and roll decadence," he said. "It's everything a rock and roll bar should be – dark, gritty, comfortable with plenty of booze and a lot of loud, rocking-out music."

Hart met Pink at the 2001 X Games. They split for a time in 2003, but tied the knot with a non-denominational ceremony in Costa Rica in January 2006.

The singer, 28, has also been quick to defend her ex, calling him a "good man." She also insisted that their breakup is "not about cheating, anger or fighting."

Drew Barrymore Makes $1 Million Charitable Donation

Originally posted Monday March 03, 2008 01:00 PM EST

Talk about a "big give": Drew Barrymore announced on Monday's Oprah Winfrey Show that she is donating $1 million to the World Food Programme to help feed children in Africa.

"I have seen with my own eyes what a difference a simple cup of nutritious porridge can make in a child's life," the actress said. "It helps them learn, stay healthy and sets them on track for a bright future."

Barrymore, 33, has worked with the charity since 2005 and became an Ambassador Against Hunger last year. She's taken two trips to Kenya to see the organization's work first hand.

"We have a dream ... to feed another 10 million hungry school children in Africa by Thanksgiving Day," said WFP Executive Director Josette Sheeran, who also appeared on Oprah.

Van Halen Postpones Shows, Eddie Undergoes Medical Tests

Originally posted Monday March 03, 2008 05:20 PM EST

Van Halen have postponed four concerts while guitarist Eddie Van Halen undergoes medical treatment, the band announced Monday.

"The Van Halen concerts in Dallas, Cincinnati, Raleigh, and Baltimore have been postponed," says a new message on the band's Web site. "According to Eddie Van Halen's physician, he is undergoing a battery of comprehensive medical tests to determine a defined diagnosis and recommended medical procedures."

On Sunday TMZ.com posted a YouTube video of him playing onstage during a Feb. 20 concert and speculated about his performance during their song "Jump." But fans commenting on the clip were divided about whether there was actually anything wrong with the performance at all.

In 2002, Eddie Van Halen announced he was cancer-free after a year of battling the disease.

The band's postponed shows have been rescheduled for April.

Tom Hanks's Secret to a Happy Marriage? 'The Right Woman'

Originally posted Tuesday March 04, 2008 06:35 AM EST

Here's a history lesson for you: Tom Hanks traces his charming, guy-next-door persona all the way back to high school.

"I was a pretty good history student," the actor told PEOPLE Monday night at the premiere of HBO's John Adams, which he executive produced. "But mostly in high school I majored in hanging out and flirting with girls."

And, the 51-year-old boasted, he still got straight A's. "Not too bad, right?"

Those flirting skills must have paid of with Rita Wilson, his wife of 20 years. So what's the key to a lasting union?

"My secret to a happy marriage is just being married to the right woman," the two-time Oscar winner said at the bash, held at N.Y.C.'s Metropolitan Museum of Art. "I got lucky with the wonderful Rita Wilson. I'm the luckiest man alive."

Bai Ling Formally Charged with Petty Theft

Originally posted Monday March 03, 2008 06:00 PM EST

Actress Bai Ling was formally charged with petty theft, the Los Angeles City Attorney's office announced Monday.

"(She) was charged based on an arrest that occurred Feb. 13 at LAX where she stole two Star magazines and a package of batteries," spokesman Frank Mateljan said.

The total value of the theft was $16.22, Mateljan added.

The actress, 37, whose film roles include The Crow and Anna and the King, will be arraigned on March 5.

She faces a maximum penalty of a $250 fine and no jail time.

Bai later blamed her theft bust on problems in her love life, saying it was an "emotionally crazy" day in which she was dealing with the "huge problem of breaking up [before] Valentine's Day."

Jeri Ryan Welcomes a Girl

Originally posted Monday March 03, 2008 02:25 PM EST

Actress Jeri Ryan and her husband, chef Christophe Eme, are the parents of a baby girl, the actress's rep tells PEOPLE.

Gisele Eme was born Sunday in Los Angeles, weighing 7 lbs., 13 oz.

"Both parents are thrilled," Ryan's rep David Lust tells PEOPLE. "Jeri is resting comfortably and Christophe is playing the part of proud new papa quite well."

Ryan, 40, who currently stars on the CBS drama Shark, wed French chef Eme in the Loire Valley last June. The two own hip L.A. restaurant Ortolan.

This is the couple's first child together. Ryan also has a 13-year-old son, Alex, from a previous relationship.

Lauren Moves, Gets New Roomies & a Puppy

March 3, 2008

Looks like it could be a brand new start for Lauren Conrad when The Hills returns March 24. Like the recently posted trailer, which contained some juicy details of the girls’ lives before and after their trip to Paris, the reality TV star-turned-designer revealed that’s she’s got some new things in her life to enjoy — a puppy and a house!

“Last weekend Lo, Audrina and I moved into our new house. We love it!” Conrad wrote on her MySpace page Saturday, referring to her new roommate Lauren “Lo” Bosworth and her old roommate Audrina Patridge.

“On Monday, I got a puppy from the pound. She is the cutest puppy ever! Her name is Chloe. She is a lab/shepherd mix. I’m not getting much sleep because she thinks night time is play time,” she added. “Ashes (my cat) is not thrilled with her, but I think they will become friends. I will post some pictures of her so you all can meet her.”

There were no shots posted yet, but photographers snapped this tender moment between the two while out and about in L.A.

Tony Romo: Jessica & I Are Not Engaged

Originally posted Monday March 03, 2008 03:30 PM EST

Like most everyone else, Tony Romo hears those rumors about how he and Jessica Simpson are getting engaged.

And what does he think about what he hears? "I mean, it's just rumors. That's what people say," the Dallas Cowboys quarterback, 27, told PEOPLE at Monday's Cosmopolitan Fun Fearless Male of the Year Awards – where he was honored alongside Simpson's ex John Mayer and rumored former boyfriend Dane Cook. ("I guess you date Jessica Simpson, that makes you fearless!" Romo joked.)

But will there be marriage in Romo's future?

"I'm sure I'll get married one day. I don’t know when," he says.

As for being with Simpson, also 27, Romo tells PEOPLE:

Would Jessica call you fun and fearless?
Yeah, sure. Though we don't usually have conversations about how fun and fearless I am, but I'm a pretty fun guy. I joke a lot.

What's the last fun thing you two did?
We've done a lot of fun stuff. Any time you get away and do some interesting things. We just went to Hawaii for the Pro Bowl. That was pretty fun.

Is it true her father played matchmaker for the two of you?
No. I had met her dad a long time ago. He was there at the same time I met her, but it was indirect. You know, you just start talking. Some people take a liking to each other. Some don't.

During the off-season, will you visit Jessica in Nashville, where she's recording a country album?
Yeah. She's working hard. She's doing a great job, and I'm really excited about the way it sounds. It sounds real good. I'm excited.

Justin Long Opens Up About Drew Barrymore

Originally posted Monday March 03, 2008 05:10 PM EST

Drew Barrymore has a way of making the expression "best friends" sound like something a lot more than that – especially when she and boyfriend Justin Long showed up on Oprah Winfrey's show Monday fresh out of the shower.

"We used the hotel shampoo," a giggling Barrymore, 33, told Winfrey, explaining why she smelled so good.

The talk host already deciphered why the actress-producer emanated a special glow: it was because of Long, who sat in the audience.

His hair was wet, too.

"She smells good," Long, 29, told Winfrey when she asked what he liked about Barrymore. "She's beautiful," he said, "and funny. The most compassionate person I've ever met."

In reciprocation, Barrymore, explaining that "when you grow up … you decide what you want to be," said her relationship with Long was "healthy, productive, supportive and full of humor."

In all, she said, they're having an "excellent time."

Maturity Leads to Giving

Barrymore's epiphany of growing up and deciding what she wanted to be led her toward philanthropy, the current Vogue cover girl said, as she also announced her $1 million charitable donation to the World Food Programme, to help feed children in Africa.

"We have a dream," said WFP Executive Director Josette Sheeran, who accepted the check from Barrymore on the show, "to feed another 10 million hungry school children in Africa by Thanksgiving Day."

Also making an appearance – over the phone – was Barrymore's best friend, whom she calls "Poo": Cameron Diaz.

"I'm choked up," said the actress, "and so proud of this information [Drew]'s giving the world."