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Conrad Murray laying low in LA
The doctor who is at the centre of the probe into Michael Jackson's homicide, Conrad Murray, is leading a sequestered life in Los Angeles as he awaits possible prosecution.
Murray, who detectives say admitted administering a powerful sedative and anaesthetic to the singer in his personal 24-7 care for several months, awaits potential charges from authorities in Los Angeles.
He was spotted stepping out of a hotel after a secret meeting with his attorney, the outspoken Ed Chernoff. Murray, in photos that surfaced, appeared worn and stressed. His clothing indicated he was keeping a low profile, with his head covered in baseball cap and sunglasses.
Meanwhile, a former patient, Jack Hammond, told News Of The World: "We used to speak regularly, but since Jackson's death I've not heard anything. He's suffering - he has no income and no business. I can't believe he had anything to do with it. He went out of his way to help patients."
Murray is expected to argue that Jackson, who died suddenly at 50, administered his own fatal dose of the propofol that killed him on June 25.
Will Ferrell wants his own Brit pub
Hollywood funnyman Will Ferrell has revealed he wants to be a landlord of a traditional British pub.
The Bewitched actor - a big Chelsea FC fan - said he hopes to snap up a Chelsea boozer the next time he is in London.
The 42-year-old said: "All the Chelsea players would be welcome, but I wouldn't want a celebrity place - it would be an old-fashioned pub.
"I would be hands-on. I could get some great material off all the regulars. I am sure there would be a film in it."
Will said US bars try to copy UK pubs - but can't compete.
He added: "Overpriced fish and chips does not constitute a real British pub."
Al Pacino to get award for arthritis support
Al Pacino will be honoured by California's leading arthritis charity with the Jane Wyman Humanitarian Award.
Pacino will become the recipient of the award at the 22nd Commitment To A Cure Awards gala, to be held in Los Angeles this month. The benefit is put on by the southern Californian chapter of the Arthritis Foundation.
"It is presented to individuals who exemplify the leadership, commitment and dedication to humanitarian causes that Ms Wyman herself demonstrated in the fight to find a cure for arthritis," said board chairman Mitchell A. Jacobs.
"Al Pacino has a history of charitable giving. We are very grateful for his support of the 46 million adults and children with arthritis, and are honoured that he will join us at the Commitment to a Cure Awards Gala."
Actress Wyman, who died at the age of 90 in 2007 having suffered arthritis for many years, was the first wife of late actor-turned-US president Ronald Reagan
NBC backs Jay Leno despite slump in ratings
US chat-show host Jay Leno's revamped primetime show is failing to draw viewers, leaving his future up in the air, according to reports.
Leno moved to NBC's primetime slot six weeks ago, but after a strong start viewing figures for his 10pm show have fallen sharply.
The show is reportedly pulling in 25 per cent fewer audience members than its preceding shows a year ago.
But an NBC spokesman said, "We believe in the combination of a bankable star like Jay Leno hosting an exciting, topical show five nights a week and are committed to continuing to engage with our affiliates in ways to make that relationship work."
Most of NBC's affiliates are said to back a long-term strategy for the show to play out over 52 weeks.
"Some of the significant dramas right now are going to run out of steam by December and be out until February,” said DJ Wilson, general manager at KGW in Portland, Oregon.
“There is a real opportunity for Leno to pop. We really agree that this is a marathon, not a sprint."
However, one manager, who wanted to remain anonymous, said that he is giving Leno until next year to improve ratings.
He said: "I give them through February. I don't think anybody is anxious to pull any triggers. Plan B is to give the 10pm hour back to the affiliates."
Hasta la vista, stickybeaks
Terminator star and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has ushered in a new law to restrain the activities of paparazzi in his state.
The law hits the financial rewards for celebrity snaps by enabling the filing of lawsuits against the publishers of images or recordings obtained by either illegal or violent means.
Jennifer Aniston, who settled for $550,000 in 2003 after a photographer scaled a three-metre wall to capture her sunbathing at her Malibu home, is a sponsor of the law.
According to Ron Williams of Talon Companies, a celeb bodyguard service: "The real aggressive ones will do anything to get a picture that they think will make them a lot of money."
Frank Griffin, co-founder of Bauer-Griffin, said the sums commanded by paparazzi are exaggerated, as is the level of misbehaviour. He said laws were already in place to prevent abusive behaviour and driving infractions. Shooting through bedroom windows for an exclusive photo died 15 years ago, he said. "Nobody will buy it now because you'd get sued."
The new law will apply only to images and recordings captured on California soil, although it could target out-of-state publishers.
Kelly Osbourne’s family values
It seems Ozzy Osbourne’s daughter keeps her family values in high respect as she has recently turned down an offer to pose in Playboy because he or her brother might have seen the pictures. Kelly Osbourne said the following on the matter: "It was the second time they have asked and respectfully I declined, as I don't feel it's the right thing for me. I know if I ever decided to do something like that I'd want it to be tasteful and done very beautifully. But still I turned it down - I wouldn't want my father or brother Jack to open up a magazine and see me naked!" This is all well and fine, but what about the painkiller incident... that wouldn’t reflect to well on the family values. But then again, given Ozzy Osbournes tumultuos history, it might very well be in the family.
Kate Beckinsale named Esquires Sexiest Woman Alive
British actress Kate Beckinsale has been named the “sexiest woman alive” by Esquire magazine.
The Underworld actress is described by the magazine as “beautiful, crisp, smart, tough”.
Beckinsale, 36, takes over the title from last year's winner, Hollywood beauty Halle Berry.
Beckinsale recently admitted that she will get a lot of stick from her family about winning the title.
"This whole notion of being named Sexiest Woman Alive is going to earn me quite a beating," she said.
"You can't have that title with four brothers. I'll get wedgies. Headlocks..."
Source: Splash News
Exclusive Premiere of Tokio Hotel's Humanoid on Myspace
Head over to Tokio Hotel's Myspace for an exclusive listen of their album Humanoid. The first single, "Automatic" is a metallic anthem with layered, buzzing guitars, stomping percussion, and a falsetto chorus made to be belted out by a stadium full of people while "World Behind My Wall" redefines the power ballad with depth, introspection, musical confidence and an irresistible sing-along chorus. The band tracked songs in Hamburg, Miami, and L.A. "Bill drove us all crazy, constantly coming in with things, even though the old songs weren’t finished yet," says Tom, who's fond of frequently ribbing his brother. "Apart from that, we just didn’t limit ourselves, and we used new instruments."
The album does not hit stores until tomorrow, but the band is streaming all 12 tracks from the standard version until midnight. Like what you hear? Preorder the sci-fi themed release on iTunes now.
Roman Polanski gets diplomat visits in prison
Director Roman Polanski was visited in prison by the French consul general in Zurich, who said he is doing well.
"Mr Roman Polanski is being well treated. He thanks the many people who have shown support through the press and public opinion," Jean-Luc Faure-Tournaire said in a statement.
Polanski's arrest in Zurich is whipping up a storm of international diplomacy, with French politicians and artists calling for his release. He is wanted for a 1978 US arrest warrant over the rape of a 13-year-old girl. He pled guilty to unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor but left the US before sentencing.
He was also visited by Poland's ambassador to Switzerland Jaroslaw Starzyk and found to be in "good condition", according to Jolanta Chojecka of the Polish embassy in Bern.
A French citizen by birth, Polanski has met with his wife of 20 years, Emmanuelle Seigner. His former wife, Sharon Tate, was tragically murdered while pregnant by the Charles Manson cult.
AFI Premiered New Album Crash Love on MySpace
CRASH LOVE will be released September 29 on DGC/Interscope. First single "Medicate," for which the band is currently shooting a video, is already available on iTunes both as a single download and as part of an 18-song CRASH LOVE deluxe edition featuring multiple bonus tracks both from the CRASH LOVE sessions and the AFI vaults.
AFI recently added another leg of dates to its first series of live shows in the U.S. since its July 7, 2007 Live Earth appearance. The tour commences October 2 in Minneapolis with additional dates running up through a November 22 appearance at Stubbs Amphitheater in Austin, TX.
Produced by Joe McGrath and Jacknife Lee, CRASH LOVE is AFI’s eighth album and arguably the band’s most focused, direct and ambitious effort to date. CRASH LOVE follows up two consecutive platinum AFI albums, 2006’s DECEMBERUNDERGROUND which entered the U.S. chart at #1 and 2003’s SING THE SORROW. AFI’s discography also includes the full lengths THE ART OF DROWNING (2000), BLACK SAILS IN THE SUNSET (1999), SHUT YOUR MOUTH & OPEN YOUR EYES (1997), VERY PROUD OF YA (1996) and ANSWER THAT AND STAY FASHIONABLE (1995).
AFI FALL 2009 U.S. DATES:
10/02/09 - Minneapolis, MN - Epic
10/04/09 - Columbus, OH - Newport Music Hall
10/05/09 - Cincinnati, OH - Bogart’s
10/07/09 - Buffalo, NY - Town Ballroom
10/08/09 - Clifton Park, NY - Northern Lights
10/10/09 - Sayreville, NJ - Starland Ballroom
10/11/09 - Pittsburgh, PA - Club Zoo
10/13/09 - Hartford, CT - The Webster
10/14/09 - Providence, RI - Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel
10/16/09 - Rochester, NY - Water Street Music Hall
10/17/09 - Hampton Beach, NH - Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
10/19/09 - Richmond, VA - The National
10/21/09 - Scranton, PA - Scranton Cultural Center
10/23/09 - Columbia, MD - Merriweather Post Pavilion
10/25/09 - Boston, MA - House of Blues
11/03/09 - Tulsa, OK - Cain’s Ballroom
11/04/09 - St. Louis, MO - The Pageant
Charlize Theron shoots secret nude scene at dawn
Monster actress Charlize Theron is apparently a little shy.
The Hollywood star filmed a nude scene in her latest movie at dawn to avoid prying eyes - and camera lenses.
The scene for new movie, The Burning Plain, was shot in Portland, Oregon, and saw Theron standing naked while smoking a cigarette through an open window.
"We had to shoot at 6am before any of the photographers were up," revealed director Guillermo Arriaga.
"It was done in such secrecy that it wasn't even in the script.
"Only three people, including myself, knew it was going to happen."
Eva Mendes once wanted to be a nun
Hollywood star Eva Mendes once wanted to be a nun, she has revealed.
She said: "I was a really prude little girl actually. When I was five years old, I told my mother that I wanted to be a nun.
"We weren't really religious or anything but I just thought I want to be a nun and serve God.
"And then we grew up and we didn't grow up poor certainly but lower middle-class - there were a lot of bills piling up and I saw my mother worrying often about money so I would always promise that I was going to pay her bills and buy her a big house when I was older."
But Eva decided being a nun wasn't for her when her elder sister told her they don't get paid.
She said: "I was like, 'what? nuns don't get paid?!' And that was it... I have a feeling it wouldn't have worked out anyway."
The Hitch star also admitted that she thinks she can sometimes look ugly.
She said: "I think I'm pretty unconventional.
"I think I can be, as pretty as I am, ugly. I'm not ugly but you know what I mean.
"I think I'm unconventional and I kind of work that sometimes. I have big teeth and I've got a strong nose, I don't know.
"I can kind of make myself not as cute - I can play it up or play it down."
Source: Splash News
Actress Rachel Bilson's supposed secret wedding to fiancee Hayden Christensen didn't happen
Actress Rachel Bilson's supposed secret wedding to fiancee Hayden Christensen didn't happen.
Despite recent rumours about Bilson and the actor eloping, her rep has said that the couple, both 28, have definitely not.
Bilson's spokesperson told JustJared.com: "They were not married over the weekend."
Source: Splash News
Tori Spelling explains rivalry between her two kids
Tori Spelling has claimed that there is rivalry between her two kids.
Spelling, 36, and husband Dean's youngest child, Stella, is at the tender age of one and she said she has already started standing up to her older brother Liam, two.
At the Much Love Animal Rescue's third annual fundraiser Bow Wow WOW Howlywood! in Los Angeles, Spelling said: "Everything's 'mine' now. It's 'mine, mine, mine'. That's the new thing. Before, she was too young, so she gave [Liam] whatever. Now she pulls back and says 'mine' when he's pulling away a toy."
Spelling also commented on how Stella's big brother Liam is growing up as well.
She said: "Liam's at the point where he doesn't just cry. He puts on the big boy face where he's holding back the tears."
Cameron Diaz, Keanu Reeves step out in LA
Cameron Diaz has been seen out in Los Angeles with dashing actor Keanu Reeves.
Diaz, 36, and Reeves, 44, made their way to the cinema after dining in a secluded restaurant.
Diaz appeared to be hamming it up with a burger she was stuffing into her mouth, sending Reeves into riotous laughter.
The star of There's Something About Mary was recently linked to Jude Law and Leonardo DiCaprio during her stay in London. Earlier this month, observers claimed she was seeing Jason Lewis of Sex and the City.
Reeves and Diaz made quite a pair at the Whisper Lounge in LA, according to an onlooker. "They looked very cosy. Cameron was stuffing her burger in her mouth and playing up the fact that she has that wide mouth. Keanu was laughing - it was strange to see him giggling like that as he's regarded as a bit serious."
After dinner walked arm in arm to the cinema, where they stayed until the early hour of 1am.
The two played a pair of lovers more than a decade ago in the movie Feeling Minnesota.
Heather Locklear 'in talks' to star in CW's Melrose Place
Heather Locklear is reportedly in talks to make an appearance in the remake of CW's Melrose Place.
Locklear, 47, was a star of the original 90s series and played the role of ad executive Amanda Woodward.
Other stars of the original series that appear in the remake include Laura Leighton, Thomas Calabro, Josie Bissett and Daphne Zuniga, with Ashlee Simpson-Wentz as a new addition.
Talking about Locklear, executive producer Todd Slavkin said: "We're huge fans of hers."
He added that the most important criteria for inviting alumni back on the show is: "Does it feel organic? Does it not feel contrived? That's really what's important to us."
CW and Locklear's rep declined to comment.
Source: Splash News
Hollywood actor Jim Carrey and girlfriend Jenny McCarthy have no plans to get married or have any more children, she has reveale
Hollywood actor Jim Carrey and girlfriend Jenny McCarthy have no plans to get married or have any more children, she has revealed.
Jenny, 36, has been dating funnyman Jim, 47, for three and a half years and she already has a seven-year-old son called Evan.
She said: "It's wacky-weird that not only does [Carrey] not want to get married, which I love, but he also doesn't want to have more kids, which I love."
Jenny's son Evan has autism and she spoke about the first time he had a seizure. He was just two years old it lasted for seven hours before he went into cardiac arrest.
Jenny said that after Evan was given anti-seizure medication by doctors he was awake for four days and started hallucinating. He also banged his head against the wall so hard that it bled.
She said: "I wanted God to take him away, because I loved him so much and he was in so much pain."
Source: Splash News
Johnny Depp given singer Carol Channing's permission to play her in a film
Johnny Depp has received singer Carol Channing's permission to play her in a film.
Depp, 46, revealed playing her would be his "dream role", and the 88-year-old musical legend said she is used to being imitated by men.
She said: "It is not a new concept to me. Men have been imitating me for as long as I can remember. In fact, most of the impersonations I have seen have a five o'clock shadow.
"I imagine, when or if Johnny should portray me, he will succeed. Because a true artist, such as himself, is one who loves his or her creation and therefore represents their honest view of that which they are creating.
"I think he is a gifted performer and I would be very proud, as well as interested in seeing what his vision of me would be."
Source: Splash News
Shaquille O'Neal head to head with Michael Phelps and Serena Williams
Basketball star Shaquille O'Neal is going head-to-head with Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps and Wimbledon champ Serena Williams, trying to beat them at their own sport.
The 7ft 1in player is filming a new reality TV series, in which he faces off with other sports stars, doing a crash-course in their chosen fields before they compete.
Called Shaq Vs, the show will feature boxer Oscar de la Hoya, baseball star Albert Pujols and Olympic volleyball gold medallists Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor, in addition to Phelps and Williams.
US TV network ABC has already picked up five hour-long episodes, but O'Neal is pushing for a sixth as he tries to woo seven-time Tour De France winner Lance Armstrong to come on board.
It's an ambitious concept for the 38-year-old basketball player, who will be filmed training for just one week before each challenge.
He'll also negotiate a handicap with each opponent to level the playing field.
O'Neal will executive produce the project, which launches in the US on August 18.
Source: Splash News
Michael Jackson’s Personal Doctor Not Authorized
It looks like Michael Jackson’s suspicious live in doctor, Dr. Conrad Murray, wasn’t actually authorized to prescribe powerful drugs nor administer them. The doctor’s lawyers insist that the he did not give the late King of Pop Demerol or OxyContin as tabloid speculation claims. Doctors are required to register with the Drug Enforcement Agency in their jurisdictions. Murray was registered in Nevada and Texas but he was not registered in California. He definitely is starting to sound and look sketchy. We really need to find out the results of the autopsy so we can arrive at the truth regarding the singer’s death.