All That Glamour And Gossip

It was a busy, busy weekend for Hollywood’s A-listers, so here is recap of all the juicy gossip.

Paul Rudd hosted Saturday Night Live this week with an amazing performance from Beyonce. She also did a skit with a surprise appearance from her friend Justin Timberlake, who, let’s just say, kinda needs a tan (and stole the show).

How hilarious! Jennifer Aniston and Natalie Portman were on hand at the after party to celebrate with Paul and Justin.

TRL bid a bittersweet farewell to its 10-year run with a star-studded finale last night. Carson Daly played host to a bevy of performances from Beyonce, Kid Rock, Nelly, Snoop Dog, Backstreet Boys, 50 Cent, Fall Out Boy, among others. Plenty of big music names also stopped by reminisce of the show that, for many, launched their careers - Justin Timberlake, JC Chasez, Taylor Swift, Christina Aguilera, Good Charlotte, Eminem, Hilary Duff… wonder if she ran into Joel Madden? And it wouldn’t be TRL if there wasn’t a countdown involved. “…Baby One More Time” topped the Most Influential Videos, though Britney did not join the festivities. 

Meanwhile, Miami was hot, hot, hot this weekend as the Angels descended upon the city. Fontainbleau celebrated its reopening with Kate Hudson, Paris Hilton, Mariah Carey, Heidi Klum and Diddy. Gwyneth Paltrow mingled with Alex Rodriguez, who is reportedly dating Gwyn’s good pal Madonna. 

Saturday night the Angels hit the runway for the annual Victoria’s Secret fashion show as Usher performed. Amanda Bynes, Michelle Trachtenberg, Kim Kardashian, Robert Buckley, John Stamos, and Terrence Howard were among the many celebs in the audience. The show will broadcast Dec. 3 on CBS.

Photos: Popsugar

Back in April, I played a tiny joke on you by saying that Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake reunited years after their picture perfect popstar romance shattered. But now, I am pleased to tell you that I have a gift for looking into the future.

Ryan Seacreast exclusively revealed on his radio show today that the two singers and former flames have been brought together by - who else - Madonna. Yes, you read correctly!

Brit and JT will be performing onstage with the Material Girl herself this Thursday when she is in L.A. for her Sticky & Sweet tour. We don’t know much else yet or if they will even appear together, but Ryan says, “Expect some real serious surprises.” Madonna has been trying to orchestrate a reunion between her two friends for a while now, and this is just another stop on the Spears comeback train, choo-choo.

Will it top the Britney-Madonna-Christina Aguilera collaboration from the 2003 VMAs? 

Photo: E! Online

Britney Spears just revealed the cover art for her upcoming sixth album Circus. Don’t forget, it drops on Dec. 2, which is also her 27th birthday, following a performance on Good Morning America. Rumors are rampant that the pop star is also in talks to appear on SNL. 

The next single to be released is the title track Circus. Other song titles on the album are just as sexy sounding as “Womanizer” - “Lace and Leather” and “Mmm Papi.” Can’t wait!

Happy Halloween!

The comeback force is with Britney. 

Britney Spears’s traffic case has been declared a mistrial and dismissed today due to a jury deadlock. She was on trial for driving without a valid license in August 2007, and if convicted, the pop star could have faced up to six months behind bars.

The jury deliberated for a total of three days and voted 10-2 in favor of Brit (see, almost everyone is a Britney fan deep down). Prosecutors decided they did not want to retry her on the misdemeanor, which means she is officially a free woman! Whatever, she probably would’ve only served like 45 minutes anyways.

According to one juror (who voted guilty), he and some fellow jurors found the trial to be a waste of time, and that many members were influenced by the celebrity of it all from the beginning. You don’t say…

Photo: E! Online

Here’s some interesting news for you. 

The king of lists, Forbes, has just released another list - Most Valuable Faces. And forget what Mom said; Forbes ain’t talkin’ about you or me. 

The magazine took the liberty of analyzing which celebrity pushed and sold the most magazine covers from June 2007 to June 2008. Likability and appeal also played a factor in the ranking. Read more about the process here. 

Angelina Jolie once again trumps Jennifer Aniston but I suppose that’s no surprise considering her year (Jen was actually No. 1 last year). Following the two superstars are the late Heath Ledger, Jamie Lynn Spears, Nicole Richie, Jessica Simpson, Suri Cruise, Shiloh Jolie-Pitt, Heidi Montag, and Owen Wilson. Not completely shocking considering a tragic death, teen pregnancy, well-dressed babies, and staged pr moments (ahem, Speidi).

Though Britney Spears landed more covers than anyone (30!), she didn’t even crack the top 10 list. Noticeably absent were also Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan. Is America finally losing interest in the one time Three Musketeers? Why, it’s the end of an era!

Photo: Popsugar.com

Wondering what was going on in Britney Spears‘ head these past few years? What was really happening while she shaved her head, hit cars with umbrellas, and slurped frappuccino after frappuccino?

“I’m a smart person, what the hell was I thinking?” she quips. 

Find out in the upcoming 90-minute documentary special titled For The Record as cameras follow her on her comeback trail at the victorious VMAs, to her “Womanizer” video shoot, and back home to Louisiana. Expect personal reflections and interviews as well. Already sounds better than her infamous interview with Matt Lauer a few years back that kick-started her demise.

Tune into MTV on Nov. 30 at 10 pm. Finally something worth watching on MTV. I hope.

It’s been awhile, friends!

As soon as I landed back Stateside, I heard Britney Spears‘ new song “Womanizer” everywhere. Of course, the catchy anthem inspired me to check in her comeback status. 

And it’s lookin’ pretty good. The song is the first off her upcoming album, Circus, which will be released on her Dec. 2 birthday. The video - which is directed by the same guy who did Toxic - will premiere this Friday night at 10 p.m. on ABC. Big network, big comeback.

Speaking of looking good, the girl looks aaa-mazing! And dare I say…hot. The makeover must be doing some good as Brit’s got some big plans for the future.

Her manager, Larry, seems to be kicking an image rehab program into full gear since her triple MTV VMA win last month. Britney paid a visit to a middle school in the Bronx to present a $10,000 check for the school’s music program. Smart move; charm your way back into people’s hearts through children.

While she was in the Big Apple, the songstress also caught the Broadway play In The Heights, leading The Daily News to report that she is pondering a stage debut. 

In even more exciting news for fans, Brit’s planning a world tour for next year! Let the countdown begin…

Photos: E! Online

While the decline of Wall Street and the stock market capture headlines across the country today and this past weekend, get your fix of more frivolous-camera-smashing news right here.

Rewind back to Saturday for the season premiere of SNL with host Michael Phelps. And it’s official: the Olympian shouldn’t quit his day job. Tina Fey stole the show with her perfect Palin skit. And shout-out to Amy Poehler for portraying Hillary Clinton spot on!

MTV staple TRL is ending its 10 year run in November. I’m sorry it’s over, but it makes sense. Who watched after like 2002 anyways? The network says they are trying to recruit countdown favorites like Britney, The Backstreet Boys, Justin and N’SYNC, Eminem, and others for the finale celebration.  

Speaking of the Britster (sorry, I can’t help it), the mom threw her boys a joint birthday party this weekend with an A-list guest list. According to E! News, Sean Preston and Jayden’s newborn cousin Maddie made an appearance along with Gwen Stefani and Kingston, and Jenny McCarthy with son Evan. 

It must have been a weekend of celeb baby birthdays. After Gwen and Kingston partied with Brit’s offspring, they headed over to Heidi Klum’s bash for son Henry. Victoria Beckham and Debra Messing also brought their little ones to the costumed affair.

Brad and Angelina donated $2 million from their Jolie-Pitt Foundation to the Global Health Committee for the establishment of a center to aid diseased children in Ethiopia. The center will be named after Zahara, who was adopted from the African country over two years ago.  It’s probably acts like this that inspired Guinness World Records to name them Most Powerful Actor and Actress this year. No surprise there.

Happy Monday!

Photo: People.com

The VMAs were almost laughable. And I’m not talking about the host Russell Brand (Russell who?). 

Now is it me or are the VMAs on a steady decline downhill? This year’s MTV Awards were held last night at the Paramount Studios lot in Los Angeles. Sounds kinda cool huh? But the stage where the actual awards were given out was small and unremarkable. Most of the hyped performances were out on the lot and some of them were cut short by commercials, including Katy Perry’s rendition of Madonna’s “Like a Virgin.” 

British comedian host Russell Brand made many cracks at celebs, but he seemed to be stuck on the Jonas Brothers and their purity rings. American Idol Jordin Sparks finally defended their - and her - position on abstinence until marriage when she presented on stage: “I just wanna say, it’s not bad to wear a promise ring, because not every guy and girl wants to be a slut, okay?” You go, girl. 

So what was the best part of the evening? Britney Spears finally won a moonman! Actually, three to be exact. After 16 previous nominations and no wins, Brit finally swept all the categories she was nominated for, including Best Female Video, Best Pop Video, and the biggest honor, Video of the Year, all for “Piece of Me.” And the girl looked amaaazing!!

Good thing she won too or everyone would be all over the fact that her “opening” was not what it was built up to be. She spoke a total of four sentences with the mic blocking her lower face before Rihanna opened with a futuristic/goth performance (and probably the best one of the night).

The rest of the night was a snoozer.

Photo: E! Online

It’s been a slow gossip week, with seemingly most of Hollywood at the Democratic National Convention, which is turning out to be more star studded than the Cannes Film Festival. 

Bloggers have added another celeb to its baby bump watch - Jessica Biel. I somehow doubt it, but who knows anymore?

Olympic gold medalist and golden boy Michael Phelps to host the season premiere of SNL on Sept. 13th. Only time will tell how well-tuned his comedic chops are.

Unfortunately, Britney Spears will not be performing at the upcoming VMAs, according to her manager.

American Idol has added a fourth, female judge to its panel. Great, expect more theatrics from Paula Abdul in an attempt to get attention. 

Rihanna supposedly hung out with Leonardo DiCaprio this weekend at L.A. hotspot Villa and then visited his house. Uh, I don’t wanna know, I just don’t.

Photo: Just Jared