Woody Allen, David Letterman, Gwyneth Paltrow and more...

Woody Allen: If you hear or spot the filmmaker in a podcast, don't think it's a Allen clone -- created with a good nose, not the damaged one in Sleeper. He is not a high-tech dude, but Allen is using podcast interviews to hype the January release of his new film, Match Point. He told reporters, "I'm not technological. I don't have an iPod I don't have a word processor. I have an old typewriter, which I've had since I was sixteen years old, and I can't change the ribbon on it because I have such little technological proficiency. I don't have any flair for it." What he does have a flair for is writing. Allen bagged Golden Globe nominations for Best Director and Best Screenplay for Match Point.

John Schneider: When I interviewed the teen of steel's dad to promote the Smallville broadcasts on ABC Family and The WB, the family-friendly actor said with conviction, "You’re never going to read about the divorce of Jonathan and Martha Kent. No way, no how." He is as he sounds, a good man who knows the influence that his work can have on other people. On Saturday (January 7), Schneider will co-host the 2006 CAMIE awards in North Hollywood with Leanza Cornett (Miss America 1993). CAMIEs are awarded each year for entertaining and uplifting motion pictures that provide positive role models. Visit the organization's Web Site to see what theatrical and television films are in the running for a CAMIE. Visit Smallville to see a father who cares about his adopted son even though the handsome lad can flatten daddy with one little finger.

Martina McBride: It was no accident that the Native Sons and Daughters of Kansas chose the country singer to be Kansan of the Year, an honor she will receive during a banquet in Topeka on January 27. McBride is a performer who makes a difference in people's lives. Case in point: On the Sunday, January 8 episode of ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, she will be seen in concert mode to help raise funds for people who lost so much during hurricane Katrina. Earlier this month, McBride joined LeAnn Rimes and Carrie Underwood at a special concert in Michigan that raised $500,000 for Habitat for Humanity. The title of "celebrity" doesn't have to signal bad news all of the time. Most actors and singers know that plumbers are the most important people in their own communities.

David Letterman: The CBS Late Show star can now wander freely around the streets of Santa Fe, New Mexico without worrying whether or not he accidentally gets too close to local resident Colleen Nestler, who recently got a restraining order against him after she told the court that he was sending her unwanted coded messages during his show. Yesterday, Judge Daniel Sanchez threw out the restraining order he originally issued after hearing more evidence from the star's lawyer. Letterman's legal eagle, Pat Rogers, told reporters, "Celebrities deserve protection of their reputation and legal rights when the occasional fan becomes dangerous or deluded." How many days do you think it will take Nestler to file a lawsuit against the lawyer for calling her "dangerous or deluded?"

Gwyneth Paltrow: If you spot the Oscar-winning actress a few years from now sporting new headlights, it's not an illusion. Paltrow told an interviewer for Allure magazine that her breasts have changed shape because she feeds her 19-month-old daughter using the natural method. She said, "I think women who have breast-fed understand what I'm saying -- that if you get a boob job, it's more reconstructive surgery actually than cosmetic surgery." Paltrow did not announce when any surgical procedure will take place. Since she is pregnant again, it's safe to assume that the cosmetic work will take place after baby number two no longer needs mother's milk.

Oprah Winfrey: The press in Santa Barbara, California is flying high about the talk show host's Monday adventure on her personal jet. It seems a bird hit the expensive jet after takeoff and caused the pilot to return to the airport for repairs. The fire department announced that the star and her mate, Stedman Graham, were not injured in the incident. Am I the only person who worries about our future safety in the air if a little tweeter can bring down a sleek, powerful bird ... like Oprah? Wednesday Update: Late Tuesday, authorities announced that the plane's windshield damage was caused by wear and tear, not the attack tweeter. Filter the arsenic out of the bird seed immediately.

Michael Jackson, George Clooney, Britney Spears and more...

Celebrity News: Tuesday, Dec. 20

Michael Jackson: Two days ago I wrote about the singer's problems at his zoo that cause some of the animals to go without proper food for days. Now he has a more serious problem. TMZ reports that the mother of his children, Debbie Rowe, filed legal papers against him Monday that accuse the former pop king of abducting the kids. Rowe claims that Jackson and their children are in Bahrain not on a vacation, but to keep her from having an American court decide who should have custody. The Palm Springs judge has yet to act on her Monday request. Will we get to see the gloved wonder in a California court again soon? One can only dream.

George Clooney: The former ER doctor has been collecting some impressive trophies and awards this year because he directed, co-wrote and starred in the historical drama Good Night, and Good Luck. The Sally Beauty company has an award waiting for him to pick up this week. Folks surveyed by Sally chose the actor as the Male Celebrity with the Best Hairstyle in 2005. His locks beat Antonio Banderas' and Matthew McConaughey's doos for the top spot. The Female Celebrity with the Best Hairstyle in 2005 honor went to Clooney's Ocean's Twelve co-star Catherine Zeta-Jones, who beat Tyra Banks and Eva Longoria by a hair.

Britney Spears: News last week that Desperate Housewives star Teri Hatcher won a lawsuit against Britain's Daily Sport because the tabloid published a false report about her sex life must have sounded like sweet music to Spears. On Monday, she filed a $20 million libel claim against Us Weekly magazine over an article that claimed she and husband Kevin Federline made a sex tape. $10 million of the lawsuit is related to Us Weekly's efforts to use the Spears name to promote sales. Here's the bad news for the pop star. In order to win the case, she will have to turn over all the couple's tapes to prove that a sex tape does not exist. If one does, it will be leaked faster than a broken water main on a flooded street.

Julian McMahon: Ladies in the reading audience, take notes. Just because McMahon stars as an emotionally warped plastic surgeon on FX's hit drama Nip/Tuck, in real life he is a teddy bear, or at least that's the way his ex-wife, Brooke Burns, feels about him. During an interview with Access Hollywood yesterday to discuss the near-fatal swimming accident that left her with a broken neck, Burns said, "I think he (McMahon) was the first one at the hospital. He just really came through for me, and we really had a great talk. Family is family, and a piece of paper means nothing." Sounds like a caring man to this writer. Nip/Tuck fans should tune in the series tonight for the two-hour season finale episode that will reveal the identity of the Carver.

Jessica Simpson: And while on the subject of caring former spouses, this little item is worth a column inch or less. Simpson's break with husband Nick Lachey is not being done with malice as the lead emotion. Extra reports that the couple met at her parent's home last Friday for a final chat and to share memories before deciding that it would be best if Simpson filed for the divorce instead of Lachey. Their lawyers are now trying to figure out how to divide the spoils of love and domestic war. I wonder if the Simpson family and future singles watched a few episodes of MTV's Newlyweds during their final hours together?

Pete Rose: The man formerly known as Charlie Hustle when he played so brilliantly for the Cincinnati Reds was once charged with using a corked bat to hit his 159th home run. That controversial piece of lumber was purchased over the weekend for $103,631 during a sports auction held on Lelands.com. The new owner of the bat, Internet casino GoldenPalace.com, has plans for their purchase. Marketing rep Drew Black told reporters that his company will saw the bat in half to find out if it was really enhanced with a foreign substance. Anybody taking bets on the outcome yet? Put twenty on the line for me in the "corked" column, but Rose still deserves to be in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Madonna: Material mom better watch out or she might be a prime candidate for membership in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) after Christmas. According to Euro press reports, the international recording star recently ordered 300 pints of her favorite beer, Folly ale, from the UK brewmasters at Wharfedale brewery in Skipton. They gladly shipped the beer to her and husband Guy Richie. If they drink all the booze before the New Year, someone will be writing their obituaries soon.

Fantasia Barrino, Tom Cruise, Jennifer Aniston and more

Fantasia Barrino: The North Carolina native with an American Idol trophy has something in common with President Bush. Both are too busy to serve on a jury. Wednesday, Fantasia was allowed to leave a Mecklenburg County Superior Court jury while deliberations were still going in a vehicle negligence case. The reason the Judge allowed her to split the scene was simple -- she had a benefit concert to perform in New York and needed to fly out of Charlotte immediately. According to one of the jurors left behind, many of the people on the jury spent time with Fantasia to get photos and autographs. I wonder if they had time to concentrate on the case too? Denny Crane would be appalled.

Tom Cruise: With all his fame and fortune the international superstar just can't seem to hit the bigs with the readers of Star Magazine. His public feud with Brooke Shields over pain meds and sofa-hop for Oprah Winfrey to celebrate Katie Holmes was not enough to land the movie star and his lady love at the top of Star's Tackiest Couple of 2005 list. Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown took the title because of their odd reality show, Being Bobby Brown. The fact that both singers are still candidates for a free lobotomy at Nestor's Medical Clinic in Juarez, Mexico had something to do with their selection too. Britney Spears and Kevin Federline took third, although it's not clear if they qualify as a couple anymore. More than 35,000 Star readers took part in the poll.

John Spencer: NBC released statements last night regarding the death of The West Wing veteran John Spencer. Executive Producer John Wells wrote, "John was a wonderful actor, a pleasure to work with and a true gentleman, but most importantly, a generous and gracious friend. He will be missed by everyone who ever had the great fortune to know him." And from the desk of Executive Producers Aaron Sorkin and Tommy Schlamme, "We're shocked and deeply saddened by the sudden death of our friend and colleague. John was an uncommonly good man, an exceptional role model and a brilliant actor. We feel privileged to have known him and worked with him. He'll be missed and remembered everyday by his many, many friends." Service and funeral arrangements have not been determined at this time.

Dave Chappelle: On Monday (December 19), BET will premiere a news special about the life and career of Richard Pryor. The 7:30pm show will include interviews with Chappelle, Chris Tucker, Wanda Sykes, Steve Harvey and many other comedians who know what it takes to make people laugh. Comedy Central's comedy king has been struggling with his own demons while he tries to honor his $50 million contract with the cable network. Chappelle said of Pryor, "The hardest thing to do is to stand up and talk in front of people. People equate that to death. It might be second only to death as far as fears of people. But he did it in a way that was so courageous and left himself so vulnerable that you couldn't not like a person like this." Don't miss the Pryor tribute ... and always remember, the water is deep too.

Jennifer Aniston: Most of those juicy rumors about the former Friends star's activities after Brad Pitt took a hike are not factual. That includes one that we reported about her wedding dress. E! News anchor Giuliana DePandi asked the actress if she really did burn her expensive gown while the two ladies spoke at the Thursday premiere of Aniston's new flick, Rumor Has It. She answered in no uncertain terms, "No, of course not." The TVNow editor who allowed the rumor to be published this month has been flogged. He will be more careful in the future.

Paris Hilton, Christina Applegate, Britney Spears and More

Paris Hilton: It's an honor most folks dread this time of the year. PETA's (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) web site now lists the animal-friendly organization's choices for the worst dressed celebrities in America. Hilton tops the list and gets the following PETA words to live down, "Now we know what happens to all of Paris Hilton's cast-off pets. And if she keeps on wearing fur and eating at Carl's Jr., she'll be back on the list next year as Star Jones." Face it, that really is a scary thought. The rest of the top five includes Kimberly Stewart, Lisa Gastineau, Victoria Gotti and Tara Reid. If MSNBC's Keith Olbermann isn't careful, he'll be on the list next year. During his funny news show last night, the host with the most to lose joked that PETA could also mean People for the Eating of Tasty Animals.

Christina Applegate: Give the former Married... with Children star credit for doing her best to make sure that Sweet Charity had a good run on Broadway. After breaking her foot during a Chicago performance in March, Applegate was able to make the May New York opening with a bandaged foot and bagged a Tony nomination for her performance. Broadway.com reports that the producers of Sweet Charity will close down the show on December 31 after only 279 regular performances.

Britney Spears: In a related story ... sort of, Yahoo announced today the list of most popular search terms on the Internet. Spears, who was once rumored to be in line to take over for Applegate in Sweet Charity, led the annual list for the third time in four years. It should not surprise folks, even her music critics who claim that the pop princess will never be a big-seller again. Spears got married, birthed a child, still has a public feud with her husband and had other personal tales that kept her in the news constantly. The rest of the top five search terms are 50 Cent, Cartoon Network, Mariah Carey and the most exciting rock band on the planet, Green Day.

Will Smith: Give the actor and singer credit for being a good Dr. Phil clone. During an interview with Billy Bush for Access Hollywood, Bruce Willis gave Smith credit for helping him figure out a way to handle his divorce from Demi Moore and her new charmer, Ashton Kutcher. Smith told Bruno, "Whatever you do, you've got to try and get together with your ex and show the kids that you guys can be together." The advice worked. Willis, Moore and Kutcher are close as thieves and spend the time needed to make sure that the children see them as a team.

Megan Mullally: The Emmy-winning actress better not have a phobia associated with bathrooms. NBC announced this week that the Thursday, January 12th episode of Will & Grace will be presented in live mode. It will mark the second time that the cast has been willing to put their careers on the line live for NBC. Unfortunately for Mullally, the episode is about a birthday party thrown by her character, Karen, that ends up with Karen and her friends having to stay in the john for most of the episode. As long as there is plenty of Charmin to go around, everything should work out fine. The September 29 live telecast of Will & Grace drew 9.8 million viewers overall. It will be interesting to see if potty humor scores better.

Master P: Call this one a "Family Affair" item that would make Uncle Bill (the late Brian Keith) smile. ABC announced last night that the rap star Master P will take his son's (Romeo) place on Dancing with the Stars. Romeo was forced to withdraw from the competition after suffering an injury during a basketball game. Don't be surprised if Master P wins. He played on the semi-professional basketball team the Las Vegas Rattlers in their ABA debut season and averaged 20 points per game. The man has moves that should help him master ballroom dancing with his ABC partner, professional ballroom dancer Ashly Delgrosso. "Dancing" will begin the new season with a two-hour episode on Thursday, January 5.

Nancy Grace: The CNN talk show host is finding out the hard way that the price of fame can be too steep. A mental patient who has been housed in a Manhattan hospital's psychiatric ward for two weeks is a Grace fan who admires his celebrity a little too much, so much so that the CNN star was forced to get a court order yesterday that prohibits him from contacting her at home or work, whether in person or via the telephone or internet. Court records released by Grace's publicist show that her uber-admirer sent her an email on November 18 to let her know that he was heading to New York City to make sure that he and she work things out. Now that's the type of spam we can all live without.

Bruce WIllis, Kate Moss, Mariah Carey and more

Bruce Willis: If the actor's interview on Access Hollywood today is any indication of how he raises his daughters, Rumer, Scout and Tallulah, the girls are in good hands. When asked what they know about the dating game, he answered, "They know what those 14 and 16-year-old boys are thinking ... because I told them." He later added a fact that most men know all too well. Willis said, "No matter what these boys say, I tell them that girls have all the power. Right or wrong, girls have all the power." Can I get an "Amen!" now from all the male readers who found out that powerful truth the hard way. That was loud.

Kate Moss: For a lady with a cocaine problem, the superstar model has been working hard to turn her bad press into good news as Santa Claus prepares to deliver his goodies to the tots on this planet. In a poll conducted by Britain's Grazia Magazine, Moss was voted Best Dressed Woman of 2005. She also recently signed a lucrative contract with Virgin Mobile to model for the company. Moss is supposed to start shooting the advertisements this month. She was photographed earlier this year while snorting the white powder and many writers predicted that the exposure would end her run at the top. It seems like the snow-blinders are working overtime for her.

Jon Stewart: Nobody can blame Stewart or any of his colleagues on Comedy Central's The Daily Show for suspending production of Monday night's episode of the program. The cast and crew needed the time to recover from the news that staff member Bill Clarey took his own life over the weekend. Comedy Central executives sent grief counselors to the "Daily Show" set to help its employees deal with the tragic news. Stewart expects to have the show back on the air with a new episode Tuesday, one that features shock jock Howard Stern. Considering the shock the gang is getting over this week, maybe Stern is not a good choice as a guest.

Rita Cosby: When the MSNBC news host recently asked Stanley "Tookie" Williams how he felt about his date with the executioner, he said, "I'm doing as well as could be expected. My faith sustains me, so I'm doing exceptionally well." Those words carry no weight today. Williams was put to death at San Quentin State Prison at 12:01 a.m. this morning for murdering four people in two 1979 holdups. Cosby was one of the people who witnessed the death by lethal injection. It was a tough gig. My mother had to witness an execution in the fifties. She told me that the ordeal haunted her for twenty years. Cosby might be wise to consult some of the same grief counselors who are working with Jon Stewart's show this week.

Mariah Carey: Leave it to Mimi to change the rules and set new standards in music. The award-winning singer will headline Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve 2006 December 31 on ABC and she will be live mode with a capital "L." Carey's performance will mark the first time in the 34-year history of the show that a guest has been allowed to go live in front of nearly a million fans in Times Square. This has been one heckuva year for the performer. Her five-times platinum album, ”The Emancipation of Mimi,” has sold more than seven million copies around the world. Let's hope that someone on Clark's staff warns the singer to not stand under that ball when it comes down at midnight. Her main segment has been scheduled to take place as the final minutes of the year are counted down ... in her direction.

Terrence Howard: When the Washington DC Area Film Critics Association (WAFCA) announced today that Howard won the Breakthrough Award for his turn in Hustle & Flow, WAFCA President Tim Gordon said, "We are delighted to recognize Howard's brilliant work, not just in this film but in Crash and Get Rich or Die Tryin' this year. We expect to be announcing him as the winner of a best actor award some day." This writer expects that to happen sooner rather than later. The main awards went to Philip Seymour Hoffman for Best Actor in Capote, Reese Witherspoon for Best Actress in Walk the Line, Paul Giamatti for Best Supporting Actor in Cinderella Man, Amy Adams for Best Supporting Actress in Junebug and Steven Spielberg as Best Director for Munich, which was also named the Best Film.

Bob Dylan: For a man who likes his privacy, the legendary songwriter and performer is going against the norm for the folks in charge of XM Satellite Radio. The company announced today that Dylan will host a new music show exclusively for XM, marking the first time he has hosted a radio show on this planet. Dylan will offer commentary on music and other topics and conduct interviews with special guests. He will also take emails from XM subscribers. Dylan said of his new adventure, "Songs and music have always inspired me. A lot of my own songs have been played on the radio, but this is the first time I've ever been on the other side of the microphone. It'll be as exciting for me as it is for XM." The show will debut in March 2006 on XM's rock channel Deep Tracks (XM channel 40).

Leslie Bibb: The former Popular star is now a regular cast member of NBC's Crossing Jordan. Bibb's character, Boston Police Department psychologist Detective Tallulah 'Lu' Simmons, has been upgraded from recurring status to permanent. Bibb also has a large fan base from her feature film work in the 2000 thriller Skulls with Joshua Jackson and Paul Walker.

Garth Brooks

Garth Brooks: He's a man of his word. When the country music superstar said that he was going to play baseball several years ago, he made spring training appearances with the San Diego Padres and The New York Mets to provide money for his "Teammates for Kids Foundation," which raises funds for numerous children's charities. In May, he proposed to Trisha Yearwood in front of thousands of people who attended the "Legends in Bronze" event at Buck Owens' Crystal Palace in Bakersfield, California. On Saturday, he made good on that promise too. Brooks and Yearwood were married in a private ceremony at their Oklahoma home. The couple's publicist told reporters that the ceremony was the Christmas gift that the singers wanted to give to each other.

Richard Pryor, Joss Stone, SHeryl Crow and more...

Celebrity News Date: Saturday, December 10

Richard Pryor: Oh, the stories he could tell and with that distinctive voice and nervous laugh. I know what a woman takes with her when she leaves her man because of Pryor's wit ... and I'm not even going to mention her dog. The comedian died of a heart attack Saturday morning after being carried to a hospital from his San Fernando Valley home. He had been trying his best over the years to survive with multiple sclerosis. Pryor was 65 at the time of his passing. The ABC News Web Site has a wonderful writeup about his life and career. It's worth your time. In the meantime, I'm going to find a few of my Prior rips and spend the evening with a comedy genius.

Joss Stone: The extraordinary 18-year-old blues singer from England has a new award for her trophy case. She was chosen as the Best Dog Owner in the celebrity world in a poll conducted by The New York Dog Magazine and The Hollywood Dog Magazine. Stone beat out a strong field because of the work she did to promote the North Shore Animal League (nsal.org) after seeing images of pets left stranded in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Wilma. Stone also recorded a PSA to request support for the homeless pets left behind in the Gulf coast region. Paris Hilton was chosen as the World's Worst Dog Owner. She deserved the pick. Hilton dumped one of her dogs in favor of a more attractive woofer and then replaced the dog with a ferret ... no, I don't mean the guy she just dumped.

Wolfgang Puck: Talk about a great promotion, how about Puck's new deal with NBC? His newest restaurant is located on the set of the hit drama series Las Vegas and it will be featured in numerous episodes, including the January 9 effort that has Puck listed as a guest star. Series executive producer Gary Scott Thompson told reporters, "Wolfgang's restaurant is the perfect dining destination for the characters of Las Vegas and I am pleased he has chosen the Montecito for his seventh Las Vegas establishment." If you notice all those sexy stars on the series start to pork up in the future, you'll now why.

Friday Factoids:

Eric Stoltz: The actor is one of the stars who tried to solve the mystery of The Bermuda Triangle in SciFi Channel's new miniseries The Triangle, which premiered this week on the popular cable network. The exciting production from filmmakers Bryan Singer (X-Men) and Dean Devlin (Independence Day) averaged 4.2 million viewers a night, which makes it the highest-rated miniseries on SciFi since the Emmy Award-winning Steven Spielberg Presents TAKEN in 2002. If you missed the Bermuda adventure, tune in SciFi Channel at 3pm ET on Sunday to enjoy all six hours of prime entertainment in rerun mode.

Katie Couric: NBC Today show fans can quit worrying that the lady host might leave the roost to take over the CBS Evening News. During a phone call with reporters yesterday to talk about Today's ten-year reign at the top, Couric said, " there's really nothing to announce and nothing to report," when asked about the network move. Besides, she would never be able to do an on-air colonoscopy segment on an Evening News broadcast, and that's as important as money Couric.

Al Franken: When Sergeant Major of the Army Kenneth Preston heads out next week to lead USO helpers on a tour of the Persian Gulf, the liberal commentator will be one of the folks on the trip to entertain and meet our brave soldiers who are protecting our freedoms in that part of the world. Conservative folks in Minnesota will probably break out the prayer beads while he's gone to see if the main General upstairs can talk the controversial performer into staying in Iraq forever. Franken is scheduled to move his national radio show to Minnesota in January. He also admits that he is thinking about a 2008 run for the Minnesota Senate seat now held by Republican Norm Coleman. There's no truth to the rumor that all property prices in the state went down twenty percent when that news was first announced. It was only ten percent.

Sheryl Crow: The singer announced this week that she has added four more dates to her Wildflower tour for 2006. Each new December 2006 concert will feature the singer with her band and the David Campbell String Section. Once again, VIP ticket packaging to the gigs can be purchased at Crow's Web Site. Buyers will get premium seating, a view of Sheryl's sound check, pre-show parties to attend and exclusive gifts. All proceeds from VIP sales will go to the George Harrison Fund for UNICEF, a joint undertaking between the Harrison family and the U.S. Fund for UNICEF to support UNICEF programs that provide lifesaving assistance to children caught in humanitarian emergencies.

Matt Damon: The Oscar-winning writer of Good Will Hunting will be hunting for the diaper section in his favorite grocery store soon. Access Hollywood reported on Thursday that the actor and his fiancee, Luciana Barroso, are expecting a child in six months. The baby will be Damon's first heir on this planet. Barroso a has a daughter from a previous marriage. The happy couple has not announced a date for their wedding. They got engaged in September. Friday afternoon UPDATE: US weekly reports that Damon and Barroso were married today by a justice of the peace at New York's City Hall with Barrosso's six-year-old daughter in attendance.

Justine Bateman: When I interviewed (Web Site) the former Family Ties star, she told me that she loves to watch her brother Jason's comedy series Arrested Development. He often watches the show with her so the two can compare notes. The Bateman clan will need to get all of their TiVos in working order before the January 9 episode debuts next year because brother and sister are both featured. Justine is on the Fox set this week working on that episode. It centers around Michael Bluth's (Jason) efforts to determine if he has a long-lost sister named Nellie (Justine). You might say that big sis was born to play that part.

Tatum O'Neal: The Oscar-winning actress is getting her dancing shows cleaned so that her fans won't be disappointed when she appears on ABC's Dancing with the Stars when the popular series premieres on Thursday, January 5. She is one of the ten celebrities announced this week as contestants with an itch to dance. Other folks with an acting background in the mix include Tia Carrere, tan man George Hamilton and Lisa Rinna. Our pick for the winner's circle is former NFL great Jerry Rice. He is the greatest receiver in the history of pro football and already has feet that know how to move properly on command.

Will Smith, Snoop Dogg and more

Will Smith: The recording star with a talent for the movies owns his own name now, or at least as it was being used on the internet by someone who registered the willsmith.tv web site under the name of Barney Rubble. The owner of the site was using it to sell merchandise not associated with Smith or his career. The National Arbitration Forum announced today that a ruling has been issued in favor of the star. It probably didn't help Mr. Rubble that he tried to sell the site to Smith in order to earn extra cash. That rascally Flintstone got what was coming to him, as did the man with the name that thousands of other people on this planet share. Now which one of them will sue the actor/singer to get the name?

Snoop Dog: The popular rap star is now an executive producer in charge of the music and all other shows on XM Satellite Radio's classic hip-hop channel The Rhyme (XM Channel 65). After the news was announced by XM executives, their powerful star said, "I will play music that people have never heard and music that they haven't heard in a long time." We all know that doesn't mean that jazz or classic rock will be on 65 anytime soon. Snoop Dogg added, "We need more Snoop Dogg music all the time because the music I play makes people feel good. Consider yourself a part of this new Snoop Dogg eargasm." Consider yourself warned too.

Lindsay Lohan: The young star missed her appearance on Live with Regis and Kelly Tuesday and is already having to explain her actions to reporters. During her interview on Access Hollywood yesterday, Lohan said, "I'm not going to name any places I went to eat or anything, but I had some food poisoning, which wasn't really fun." Wouldn't all of us like to know where she got the contaminated chow? The knowledge could help some readers and Lohan fans avoid the same fate. She needs to come clean about the matter.

David Schwimmer: Broadway.com reports this week that the former Friends star will perform in the Broadway revival of The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial when it opens at a Shubert theater on April 14. He will play the lawyer who tries to prove that the commander of the U.S.S. Caine was not capable of leading his men when the Caine encountered a typhoon in World War II. Schwimmer is no stranger to the stage. He has appeared in numerous plays in Los Angeles and Chicago. During the summer he starred in Neil LaBute's Some Girls at the Gielgud Theatre in London. He also co- founded Chicago's Looking Glass Theater Company after studying speech and theater at Northwestern University.

Tiger Woods: The golfing great announced yesterday that Sting will headline his next Tiger Jam charity concert when it takes place on Saturday, April 29 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. Funds raised will be used to help the Tiger Woods Learning Center, a youth-education facility in Anaheim, California, and local charities. Sting told reporters, "I am looking forward to the Tiger Jam. What Tiger Woods is doing for the students of Southern California through his Learning Center is commendable. I am proud to help this wonderful cause." Opened in 1996 by the golfer and his father, the Tiger Woods Foundation has raised more than $1 million each year with the popular Jams. Visit the Foundation Web Site for more information and to see how you can help.

Nicole Richie: The simple lives of Richie and her reality tube mate Paris Hilton are not simple at all in matters related to love. Last month, Hilton announced that she and Greek shipping heir Paris Latsis decided to part company instead of taking part in a marriage ceremony. Yesterday, Richie told reporters that she and disc jockey Adam Goldstein have called off their wedding. Now that the Simple Life stars are no longer booked for the alter they can spend time on a season of episodes for their new bosses at E! Entertainment Television. Maybe they can even make nice with each other for a change.

Will Ferrell: The former Saturday Night Live star has become a high-priced feature films actor because he chooses his parts with care. That's why Ferrell took the role of Franz Liebkind in the movie version of The Producers, which will open nationwide on Sunday, December 25. Liebkind is the fictional Nazi in hiding who wrote "Springtime for Hitler." The movie opening will be quite a Christmas gift for his fans, but if you are one of the star's admirers in the Los Angeles area who can't wait for Santa to spring for a movie ticket, drop by the cinema at Westfield Century City (10520 Santa Monica Boulevard) next Monday (December 12) around 6:30pm. Ferrell, Matthew Broderick, Uma Thurman and other stars of the film will be in display mode at the world premiere screening.

Wilmer Valderrama: The young actor must like life in the seventies. Why else would he choose to be known as Erik Estrada lite in the future. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the Fox sitcom star has agreed to star as Estrada's Ponch in the big screen version of the seventies tube hit CHiPs, which does not have a production date or director attached yet. Folks in charge of the Warner Bros. project should just rely on Fox stars for all the cast, especially Ashton Kutcher for the part of Poncho's partner, Officer Baker (played by Larry Wilcox on television) and Kurtwood Smith as their boss, Sgt. Getraer (played by Robert Pine on television).

Celebrity News: Wednesday, December 7

Dana Delany: When I interviewed (Web Site) the actress two years ago, we talked about her Fox drama Pasadena that was yanked by the network too soon to please fans. She told me, "I was very disappointed because we shot thirteen episodes and I think they only aired four of them. It was a combination of things. 911 happened and I think Fox was weary of putting on a show that was so dark about family." Maybe she will have better luck with NBC. The network announced this week that Delany has joined the cast of the drama pilot Kidnapped, a new series that centers around the kidnapping of the teen son of a wealthy family. Delany will play the missing boy's mother. It's another dark series about a wealthy family and yes, terrorists still dominate the news daily. Maybe this time that won't be a factor in any network decisions.

Tom Cruise: When the actor wrapped up production in Shanghai on Mission: Impossible III last week, he tried to tell local officials that he and the crew loved their visit to the city. I use the word "tried" because sofa-hopper is still having trouble scoring points with the media. Cruise ended his statement to the Chinese press with the following sentence, "We worked at terrific speed." He can't blame the writers who still wonder why he rushed to complete the work and leave town. Mission: Impossible III is scheduled for release May 5, 2006. Maybe Cruise and Katie Holmes will rush into marriage before then.

Ashton Kutcher: Why act when you can make money creating reality television shows? That should be the question Kutcher ponders this week. The WB announced yesterday that his popular series Beauty and the Geek will begin its eight-episode run on Thursday, January 12. Kutcher and co-producer Jason Goldberg assembled another group of eight academically impaired women to match up with brainy guys who possess few social skills. One of the episodes will show the men's attempt to decorate a room while the ladies try to assemble a computer. The final episode will follow the folks as they venture to Las Vegas for a highly unusual game of strip poker. Color us there too.

Jessica Simpson: You know the honeymoon is over when the bride and groom spend more time with their attorneys than they do with each other. MTV's Newlyweds are newly empowered with legal help this week to help them navigate the complex world of divorce. Nick Lachey hired Laura Wasser, the lady who helped Angelina Jolie in her case with Billy Bob Thornton. Simpson hired Robert Kaufman and Lance Spiegel to represent her. They're the folks who made sure Jennifer Aniston could afford to live without Brad Pitt. Once the legal guns start doing the talking instead of the man and wife, a marriage is doomed. Don't expect Simpson and Lachey to repair their broken hearts with each other.

John O'Hurley: The real star of Dancing with the Stars will put some of his Seinfeld wit on the table when he helps decide what dogs in the world are the "Best in Show." O'Hurley is one of the judges who will decide the winners of an open pooch competition being held at the Dog Show USA Web Site. Competition categories include Cutest Dog, Owner Look-Alike and Best Dog Trick. Launched in conjunction with "The National Dog Show Presented by Purina," the new contest allows any dog owner to submit photos or video of his or her favorite four-legged friend online. Winners will be announced at the site on Tuesday, January 31 and will be featured on-air during an NBC Sports broadcast on Saturday, February 4.

Martha Stewart: Our favorite felon is helping City Harvest end hunger in communities throughout New York City this winter. The unique organization collects food that would normally be thrown away by food businesses and distributes it to the people who need it the most. Stewart announced yesterday that she will auction off the "Ultimate Martha Experience" on eBay (Web Site) to raise funds for City Harvest. The winning bidder will be flown with a guest to New York City and be invited to meet Stewart, tour the Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia studios and take part in other fun activities. The auction will end on Friday, December 16. This year, City Harvest representatives will rescue over 19 million pounds of excess food from all segments of the food industry. You can help them help others. Visit the City Harvest Web Site for more information.

Stephanie March: NBC announced yesterday that March will carry her Law & Order: Special Victims Unit character, Alexandra Cabot, to the set of the new drama series from producer Dick Wolf. March will star as bureau chief Cabot in Conviction when the series begins production this week in New York City. Other cast members include Anson Mount, Eric Balfour, Jordan Bridges, Julianne Nicholson, Milena Govich and J. August Richards. The series about young Assistant District Attorneys on the job in New York City will debut in early 2006.

Celebrity News: Tuesday, December 6

Gregg Hoffman: The 42-year-old producer of the horror flick Saw and its sequel, Saw II, is with us no longer. Hoffman died on Sunday at Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital after being admitted to the hospital with neck pain. His death has been listed in the "natural causes" category until an autopsy can be performed to find out what took his life. Lions Gate Entertainment announced the death to the press on Monday. The two Saw flicks cost a total of five million to make and have already grossed more than $200 million in ticket sales. Hoffman is survived by his wife, two children, mother, and a sister. Burial services have been set for Thursday at Mount Sinai Memorial Park.

Christina Applegate: The lovely former star of Married with Children has a few things in common with Britney Spears this week. First, the pop star turned down a chance to replace Applegate in the Broadway musical Sweet Charity. Second, Spears reportedly tossed husband Kevin Federline out the door after he allowed some buds to visit their Malibu mansion with pot. Applegate has her own domestic crisis. TMZ.com reports that her husband, actor Johnathon Schaech, filed for a divorce today in Los Angeles Superior Court. He cites irreconcilable differences as the main reason for his decision. Maybe Schaech should look up Federline to see if the two men can start a friendship.

Gwyneth Paltrow: The Oscar-winning actress should feel pretty good about her first job as a director. Paltrow and Mary Wigmore shared the helm on a short drama film titled Dealbreaker that centers around dating adventures in New York. The Sundance Institute announced this week that their movie will be shown at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival in the Dramatic Shorts category. It's a nice reward for a first-timer. Paltrow told an interviewer that a dealbreaker is any event that occurs during a date that sours the experience. For instance, a woman on a low-calorie diet might be turned off by dating someone who orders two large slices of cheese cake. It might kill the date, but it sure sounds tasty.

Stevie Wonder: The press reports today that the legendary singer will be in performance mode with the Rolling Stones at the Super Bowl in Detroit on February 5 at Ford Field. The news doesn't have a lot of folks in Motor City cheering this week. They have been complaining to local media outlets that the halftime show should feature Motown stars who grew up in the area -- think Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross or Aretha Franklin for starters. It makes sense to this writer. Of course, if Wonder's top comes off, the FCC won't go into nuclear mode over the incident, so maybe I'm wrong.

Jennifer Aniston: The former Friends star needs to stop wandering around her property without clothes on. Photographer Peter Brandt took a few shots of the actress in topless mode while she sunbathed at her house. Aniston's lawyers have a letter on the Smoking Gun web site that says Brandt is being sued for his camera work. Now the lawyers have threatened to sue any magazine that prints the photos in the future. Brandt told reporters that he was only trying to get a few candid shots of Aniston and Vince Vaughn. According to him, the star could be seen by anybody in his location, 300 yards away on a hill. This is the second time a photographer has snapped topless shots of Aniston in her yard. It's time for her to put up a tall privacy fence or hide the mellons at home.

Kerr Smith: NBC announced on Monday that the former Dawson's Creek star has become a regular cast member on E-Ring. His character, Bobby Wilkerson, has been featured already in three episodes and the idea of having the gung-ho member of the Pentagon's Special Ops team join the fun was too good for the show's producers to ignore. Smith also has been featured in The WB's Charmed on a recurring basis in the role of Kyle Brody.

Sara Evans: Chow hounds who visit Cracker Barrel Old Country Store restaurants in December can pound down some hefty calories and get a special Evans dessert to carry home. The multi-platinum recording artist's new CD, "Feels Like Home," can only be purchased at Cracker Barrel locations. It features twelve songs, including an exclusive acoustic version of "No Place That Far" and a live version of "Born to Fly." Evans told reporters, "There is nothing like stripping down a song and performing it acoustically. You get a different feel for the song ... a different insight into the lyrics." She later added, "Acoustic versions make me feel like I am showcasing my songs more as a songwriter than as a performer." If you don't dine or shop at any of the 540 Cracker Barrel locations in America, visit the company Web Site to order the CD online. It costs less than twelve bucks and is low in calories.

Rob Morrow: When the actor's character on Numb3rs tries to find out who has been setting deadly fires in Los Angeles during the Friday, December 16 episode, he won't have to rely only on his brother Charlie (David Krumholtz) and Dr. Larry Fleinhart (Peter MacNicol) to help solve the complex case. Bill Nye the Science Guy will guest star on the show to help explain how math and science work together to help in many areas of life, including solving crimes. Series co-creator Cheryl Heuton said, "For many of our viewers, the idea that math can be fun and cool isn't a new idea. They learned it first from Bill." She's as right as pie are square.

New web banner for star-talk

Well, we have been checking the highest ranking search keywords and came op with this:





This is our new banner. If you want to you can put it on your blog or on your own website.

Dateline: Monday, December 5

Dave Chappelle: The comedian still hasn't made up for that $50 million deal he got with Comedy Central, but at least the cable network will get a chance to make a few advertising bucks off him. During Comedy Central's Last Laugh 2005 special that will debut on Sunday, December 11 at 9:00 P.M., "never before seen" sketches from the third season of Chappelle's Show's will be broadcast. Comedy Central also announced today that viewers will have a chance to see for themselves exactly what Chappelle was working on just before his departure from production of the third season. Full episodes of the new season will premiere during the second quarter of 2006. Now that's funny news, folks.

Denzel Washington: Folks in Rocky Mount, North Carolina who can't afford to pay their heating bills this winter will be getting some help from the Oscar-winning actor. Washington, who is a good friend of Rocky Mount native and high school coach Herman Boone, the man he played in the movie Remember the Titans, donated $25,000 to the Winter Assistance for Rocky Mount (WARM) program that helps the needy in that city pay their heating bills. Mae Parker, whose husband is Boone's second cousin, told Rocky Mount Telegram reporter Michael Barrett, "When I got this check, I could have flown right across the country and hugged him." She will have to stand in line for that honor. There are a lot of women in America who would like a chance to hug the handsome actor.

Howard Stern: If we're not careful, the shock jock will be calling himself Dr. Phil soon. In his Newsweek interview in the December 12 issue (on newsstands today), Stern defends his controversial show with the following statement: "It's not about someone getting naked in a studio for me. It's about what drives a person to get naked in a studio, who the hell they are and what makes them tick." His new bosses at Sirius Satellite Radio didn't know they were getting a shrink with their new radio star.

Teri Hatcher: Fans of the actress who want to personally congratulate her on the Women's World Award she got from former Russian president Mikhail Gorbachev should visit the People For the American Way's (PFAW) annual eBay auction that started yesterday. One of the items up for bids is a private tour of Wisteria Lane with Desperate Housewives creator Marc Cherry. Get tight with that dude and Hatcher and the other lovely ladies on Wisteria Lane will listen to your every word. Visit the PFAW Web Site today. Follow the auction link found in the center column on the front page. Money raised during the one-week sale will be used to help People For the American Way protect free speech, civil rights, equal rights, and religious freedom.

Betty White: The actress has turned out to be a fairly physical lady in her golden years. In the campy horror flick Lake Placid, she used language normally heard in tugboat bathrooms and fed young crocodiles so that they would grow up to eat her neighbors. On Boston Legal, she clocked her new friend with a frying pan because she was worried that he might kill again. At 83, White is not someone folks at the Los Angeles Zoo should ignore if they want to survive to see another day. White was one of the protesters on hand at the zoo Saturday to demand that the elephant exhibit be kept open so that school children and visitors can learn more about the pachyderm crowd. The San Francisco zoo already closed its elephant exhibit and many in L.A. fear that their city will be next

Celebrity News Date: Sunday, December 4

Branford Marsalis: The Award-winning saxophonist won't allow his hometown of New Orleans to go much longer without a place for displaced musicians to get together in safety and make some traditional Cajun music. Last week, he and Harry Connick Jr. announced that the New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity program they chair, Operation Home Delivery, will help create a "Musicians' Village" in the Crescent City that will consist of Habitat-constructed homes for displaced New Orleans musicians. The centerpiece of the project will be the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music, which is named for the patriarch of the Marsalis clan. Branford Marsalis told reporters, "Katrina and Rita scattered musicians across the country, and shuttered many clubs and concert venues across the city. This plan, this village, will help restore New Orleans' musical heritage, and protect it for the next generation that will follow." Visit the New Orleans Habitat for Humanity Web Site to learn more about all the projects that are helping to restore the once grand city.

Naomi Watts: New Yorkers are used to odd sites and sounds in their wonderful city, so this message isn't for them. It's for any of my readers who will be in town on Monday (December 5). Don't get too excited if you see a large, hairy beast wandering around the city unless you are carrying a supply of bananas. Watts, Jack Black, Adrien Brody, director Peter Jackson and other folks associated with the new King Kong flick will appear with a life-size sculpture of Kong on Military Island in Times Square at 4pm so that members of the press can get some photographs and interviews. It's part of a week-long hype campaign to let moviegoers know that King Kong will open on Wednesday, December 14. Now we've warned you. Have fun!

Brad Pitt: Don't look now, but those rumors about the actor and his lady friend, UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie, are heating up. They are moving one step closer to marriage. On Friday, Pitt's publicist told reporters that the handsome thespian filed an adoption petition in a Los Angeles court to change the names of Jolie's children to Zahara Jolie-Pitt and Maddox Jolie-Pitt. The legal move proves that Pitt's intentions are honorable, but that should have been a given considering his recent trip with Jolie to Pakistan to survey the destruction caused by the October 8 earthquake that killed at least 73,000 people in the region. Visit the USA for UNHCR Web Site to read a full account of that trip and to find out what you can do to help the Hollywood power couple make a difference.

Reba McEntire: The country music star with a television series on The WB and a love of Broadway won't be gambling with her career when she takes the stage at the Las Vegas Hilton to entertain guests and sad gamblers who need a mental boost after losing their life savings. Hilton Vice President Ken Ciancimino told reporters yesterday that the multi-talented performer will begin a 2006 multi-week engagement on Wednesday, May 3. Reba will be in concert mode Wednesdays through Sundays (over nonconsecutive weeks). Tickets are already on sale at the Hilton Web Site

Friday Factoids:

Paris Hilton: This is a story of two extremes. Yesterday, which was World AIDS Day, Hilton, Paula Abdul and Broadway sensation Judy Kaye were in Times Square on behalf of Virgin Megastore to meet with store customers and stamp them with a commemorative red ribbon as a sign of their support to do more to end the AIDS pandemic. Today, the Vatican defended its decision to ban Brazilian singer Daniela Mercury from its Christmas concert because the performer said that she planned to promote the use of condoms to fight AIDS during the show. I never thought that I would side with Hilton over the Pope on any issue, but we are talking about a pandemic, folks. Score one for the Simple Life life gal.

Clint Eastwood: The Directors Guild of America (DGA) announced yesterday that Eastwood will receive the Guild's highest honor, the Lifetime Achievement Award, during the 58th Annual DGA Awards on January 28. The former Rawhide star has become one of the most sought after helmsmen in the business. He won the Best Director and Best Picture Oscars twice in his career -- for Unforgiven in 1993 and Million Dollar Baby in 2005. Most movie critics think that he should have won both awards in 2004 for Mystic River. Maybe the 75-year-old actor can pull that off with his Dirty Harry remake next year.

George Clooney: And while on the subject of awards, this item about the former ER doctor deserves attention. The Broadcasting Film Critics Association (BFCA) announced yesterday that Clooney will be honored with the Freedom Award during the live telecast of the Critics’ Choice Awards, which will air on The WB Monday, January 9 at 8pm. The award is given to individuals who focus on issues surrounding freedom, tolerance and democracy. Clooney's new movie, Good Night, and Good Luck, which he directed and co-wrote, centers around broadcast journalist Edward R. Murrow's heroic efforts to put an end to Senator Joseph McCarthy's campaign to destroy anyone rumored to be a Communist.

Paula Abdul: If you are one of those American Idol viewers who thinks that Abdul and Simon Cowell have the hots for each other, she made it clear that you are wrong while on The Tony Danza Show yesterday. When Danza asked the lady if she is attracted to the brutally honest judge, she answered, "He always says I want him ... and I don't want him. I don't want fungus. I don't want root canals. I don't want that." If you've ever sat in a dentist chair while he drilled a new route to China through your gum, Abdul's words will make perfect sense.

Jennifer Aniston: The former Friends star should think twice before getting into a car with Vince Vaughn in the future if her new love god has been drinking. TMZ.com reported that the couple was stopped by Scottsdale, Arizona police on Tuesday for a minor traffic violation. Officers on the scene administered a field sobriety test on the actor after they noticed the smell of alcohol in the car. He flunked. After being warned not to drive, Vaughn and Aniston left the car on the side of the road and rode way with unnamed friends. Driving and drinking don't mix. It's a fatal combination. The stars were lucky. This could be an article about their deaths.

Jennifer Garner: Another Jennifer is in the news today, but this little item is worth a round of applause. The Alias star and husband Ben Affleck are the proud parents of baby girl Violet Affleck. The actress entered a Los Angeles hospital Wednesday night and labor was induced. Young Violet entered the world at 6:26pm EST Thursday. Garner fans who have been worrying about what she might do after Alias ends its five-year run next May should be advised that she will be in diaper duty mode for all of 2006. It's a tough, hands-on job that will keep her and daddy busy.

Howard Stern: And while on the subject of babies, this report is worth a mention although Stern is too old to be spanked anymore. In 1992, the shock jock prayed on his show that FCC Commissioner Alfred Sikes' cancer would spread because Stern's show was a frequent target of FCC complaints. Sikes recovered from his prostate cancer. Stern is still a rebel, but he's getting softer in his old age. During his interview with Ed Bradley that will be broadcast on the CBS news hit 60 Minutes Sunday night, the controversial guest says, "You know what ... I don't know that I would do that now. I'm older." One can only hope that Stern is serious about acting like a 51-year-old man with half a brain.