Lindsay Lohan Formally Booked On DUI-Related Charges

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (July 20, 2007) -- Less than a week after leaving rehab, Lindsay Lohan has surrendered to police and was formally booked for charges brought against her following her Memorial Day weekend car crash in Beverly Hills.

Additionally, Access Hollywood has learned reports of Lindsay's next project being cancelled are completely untrue.

Lohan quietly turned herself in to the Beverly Hills police department yesterday to face a DUI charge, which stemmed from the May accident that led to her checking herself into the Promises rehabilitation facility.

Lindsay, accompanied by her attorney, arrived at the station at 4:00 PM yesterday, where she was fingerprinted and photographed upon being booked for the charges.

According to the booking sheet, Lindsay Dee Lohan, 21, was arrested at 4:00 PM with a charge level listed as (M) misdemeanor, and the time of her booking is noted as 4:15 PM. Bail was posted at $30,000 and her time of release was at 5:00 PM. She is listed on the sheet as having red hair and hazel eyes, standing 5' 02" and weighing 120 lbs.

Officer Brian Ballieweg told the Associated Press that Lohan also faces a charge of hit-and-run from the May 26 incident, in which she reportedly fled the scene after driving over a curb and crashing into some bushes.

Ballieweg stated that Lindsay was released on her own recognizance yesterday, pending a court date scheduled for August 24.

The reason Lindsay was booked yesterday instead of at the scene of the crash is due to her being admitted to a hospital for injuries following the crash. Officers received a 911 call about the accident, and arrested Lohan at the hospital for investigation of misdemeanor DUI, but did not take her into custody.

Lohan's blood-alcohol level at the time of the crash was above California's 0.08 percent legal limit, Ballieweg said yesterday. He wouldn't disclose how high it was.

Officers investigating the crash in May found a "usable amount" of a drug tentatively identified as cocaine, but a police spokesperson stated that "it was not on her person." While reports have since surfaced that she allegedly had cocaine in her system, it is not known if that factors in under the established charges.

Lindsay's surrender to police comes on the heels of a week full of reportedly sober partying at various clubs in Las Vegas and LA.

Upon completing her 45-day stay in rehab, Lindsay chose to wear an alcohol monitoring bracelet, and is also continuing her rehabilitation in an intensive outpatient program. Her rep told Access Hollywood that the program includes attendance at daily AA meetings, outpatient therapy and daily testing.

As for Lindsay's movie career, a report from THE NY POST's PAGE SIX claimed today that production has shut down on "Poor Things," the movie she is supposed to star in with Shirley MacLaine and Olympia Dukakis.

According to the Page Six report, "Poor Things" set designer Fontaine Beauchamp Hebb sent an email to vendors who were seeking product placement in the film, notifying them that the film was no more.

"Sorry to be the harbinger of bad news, but I just received a call from Jacky Gilardi, the producer, pulling the plug on the ill-fated film," he allegedly wrote. "Apparently, Ms. Lohan's antics in Las Vegas over the weekend have scared the bond companies and all of the funding has been pulled . . . I look forward to working together in the future and trust our next project will not be as fraught with difficulty."

Today, "Poor Things" producer Robert Hickman exclusively stated to Access Hollywood that reports of the film's cancellation are untrue.

"As producer and financier of the film "Poor Things," I can honestly say that the film has not been cancelled," said Hickman. "Any rumours saying differently are just that: rumours."

Lindsay was cast in "Poor Things" before her admittance into rehab, but producers Shirley Maclaine and Rob Hickman stated at the time that they would work around her rehabilitation and that she would stay in the film.

“In the spirit of helping Lindsay Lohan and her rehabilitation, we have been asked by Lindsay to comply with her wishes to continue working on 'Poor Things,'" the statement read. "We are trying to rearrange the shooting schedule to facilitate her working at the end of the shoot to coincide with the completion of her rehabilitation. We wish her love and the blending of mind, body and spirit.”

As for the alleged concerns that Lindsay is going out too much following rehab, a source identified as a friend of Lohan's remarked to Page Six :

"Lindsay is proving to everyone that she is - and will remain - sober by voluntarily wearing the ankle bracelet and taking drug tests. This is not about her work. It's about her being able to live her life and go out with her friends without people writing nasty items about her."

Regardless of her future with "Poor Things," Lindsay has two movies already in the can: "I Know Who Killed Me" (opening July 27) and "Chapter 27" (release date TBD).

John Travolta Sues Airport Owners Over Landing Strip 'Lies'

OCALA, Fla. (July 21, 2007) -- John Travolta sued the owners of the airport outside his exclusive "fly-in" community, claiming they lied to the Federal Aviation Administration to keep him from landing his Boeing 707 there.

In the federal lawsuit filed Wednesday, the actor claims Greystone Airport owners James and Christine Garemore falsely changed the airport master record in 2006 to indicate that it could not support large airplanes.

Travolta has a home at the Jumbolair Aviation Estates in Ocala and wanted to fly his Boeing 707 there. It is an affluent, 550-acre community with a $6 million runway -- the largest paved, private airfield in the United States.

The lawsuit is seeking an injunction requiring the Garemores to immediately withdraw the 2006 report and authorize flights with the airport master record as it existed before. It also seeks to nullify the report because of false or misleading information to the FAA and to prohibit "future baseless filings."

"The runway is not suitable for heavy aircraft. It is cracking and breaking," James Garemore told The Associated Press on Friday. "They are bringing this lawsuit against me, and all I was doing was trying to maintain safety here."

Todd Hopson, Garemore's attorney, said his client never stopped Travolta from landing on the 7,550-foot runway.

Michael J. McDermott, Travolta's attorney, said Garemore's comments about the runway not being safe for large airplanes is incorrect.

"It's spin in order to cover his butt because he knows that he is in big trouble for doing what he did, and we intend to establish that," McDermott said.

The lawsuit was filed under the corporations Jett Clipper Johnny and Constellation and as Ellen Bannon and Margaret Rau, who are trustees of Hawker Investment Trust, the titled property owner for Travolta's nine-acre spread near Jumbolair.

The Garemores established Greystone Airport in the 1980s, and Jumbolair was founded by exercise equipment guru Arthur Jones. The Garemores built the main runway to accommodate Jones' 707s, but his flights were not as frequent as Travolta's and did not deteriorate the runway as much, Garemore said.

Travolta built an $8 million home there and has continually used the runway without incident, the lawsuit said. It also claims Travolta was assured he would be able to use the airport.

FAA spokeswoman Laura Brown said the administration is not involved in the dispute

Emma Watson: Proud Of Her 'Potter' Persona

LONDON, England, U.K. (July 6, 2007) -- Emma Watson had "Harry Potter" fans scared last October, when rumors surfaced that she may not reprise her role as Hermione Granger in the final two "Potter" films.

But then came the good news that Watson would indeed stick it out to the end of the smash hit franchise (along with co-stars Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint). After all, who could accept another actress in the fan-favorite role at this late stage? Certainly not Emma!

“I have too many friends on the set, and I love Hermione too much,” Watson reportedly told PARADE magazine for this weekend's edition. “I couldn’t see anyone else playing her. It would have killed me. There’s so much of me in her.”

But that's not to say that her decision to stay was an easy one.

“People underestimate what a big decision this was for me,” said Watson. “This is the next three or four years of my life. Being in the spotlight and the lack of freedom are the sort of things that held me back. People will see that as ungrateful, but you never know until you’ve walked in someone else’s shoes. I love it, and that’s why I’m back, but I had to make it work for me.”

Part of "making it work" is for Emma is the ability to maintain a sense of normalcy in her life. The oldest of seven siblings, Watson lives with her mother in Oxford, U.K., where she attends an all-girls school.

“People can’t understand why I don’t want to be a full-time actress,” she said, “but school life keeps me in touch with my friends. It keeps me in touch with reality. It makes me feel normal. Let’s be honest: I have enough money never to have to work again, but I would never want that. Learning keeps me motivated.”

Emma shares that passion for learning with Hermione, and she's proud that her booksmart character stands out as a role model for young women in this age of celebutantes and party girls.

“There are too many stupid girls in the media,” Watson remarked. “Hermione’s not scared to be clever. I think sometimes really smart girls dumb themselves down a bit, and that’s bad.”

It's not only Hermione's knowledge-seeking personality that Watson embraces -- the self-proclaimed "feminist" also feels that the character is a positive influence on girls who worry about their physical appearance.

“When I was 9 or 10, I would get really upset when they tried to make me look geeky, but now I absolutely love it," she explained. "I find it’s so much pressure to be beautiful. Hermione doesn’t care what she looks like. She’s a complete tomboy.”

With half of her life spent in the world of the "Harry Potter" films (she'll be twenty when the final movie hits theaters), Emma admitted that she doesn't know what she will do when it's all over. Will she seek out other roles as Radcliffe has? For now, it's not a priority for her.

“I really haven’t been looking,” she said, but added that she'd like to star in a period drama or sing in a musical -- if it fits around her school schedule.

"I won’t know what to do with myself when it ends," said Emma. "It will be the weirdest thing ever!”

Paris Hilton's Dog Food Fetches $305 On eBay

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (July 3, 2007) -- An empty can of gourmet dog food taken from Paris Hilton's trash fetched $305 in an eBay auction.

The sellers were from the Web site HollywoodStarTrash.com, which also listed several other Hilton items for sale on eBay.

A used toothbrush sold for $305; two envelopes sent to her while she was in jail sold for $510; and a Coke can pulled from her trash went for $51.

The organic gourmet dog food was produced by Party Animal Inc., and can be found in about 150 stores in Southern California and about 40 in New York. It can also be bought through the company's Web site.

Lindsay Celebrates 21st Birthday In Malibu

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (July 3, 2007) -- It may not have been the bright lights of Las Vegas, but Lindsay Lohan celebrated her 21st birthday on Monday in Malibu, soaking up the sun during a brief leave from rehab.

Mom Dina, sister Ali, brother Dakota, and on-again/off-again beau Calum Best joined Lindsay and her other guests at a house in Malibu for a day of sun and fun.

While many of the partygoers soaked up the sun, a bikini-clad Lindsay stayed indoors for most of the day, occasionally making an appearance at the house's open back door, much to the delight of the dozens of photographers who were camped out on the neighboring beach.

And while many of the guests came bearing gifts for the birthday girl, Lindsay was apparently in a giving mood as well. As the day came to an end, Lindsay's bodyguard delivered five pizzas to the photographers, saying they were from the birthday girl "with love," according to People magazine.

As they enjoyed the snack, the photographers yelled "Thank you Lindsay" in unison.

On June 18, Las Vegas nightclub Pure confirmed Lindsay had pulled out of her planned Sin City birthday bash.

"We support Lindsay and wish her the best as she is taking care of personal matters at this time. Due to the unique circumstances, as of this afternoon Lindsay's birthday party at PURE Nightclub has been canceled. We think the world of her and look forward to working with her in the future," read a statement released by a nightclub.

Sources tell Access, the in-rehab Lohan is still contractually obligated to attend another party for the nightclub at a date to be determined.

When contacted by Access Hollywood, Lohan’s rep Leslie Sloane, would not comment.

Lindsay checked into the Promises treatment facility in Malibu on May 28 following an arrest on suspicion of DUI after she crashed her Mercedes convertible over a curb and into a tree.

Britney's Mom: 'Everything Is Going To Be Fine'

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (July 2, 2007) – On the heels of reportedly receiving an upsetting letter from her daughter, Lynne Spears believes the reported rift between she and Britney will soon come to and end.

"Everything is going to be fine," Lynne told People magazine while shopping in Kentwood, La. "I've got a strong family, and everything is going to be fine."

Lynne also told People that "hopefully" daughter Britney will make it to a family cookout in their hometown for the Fourth of July holiday.

On Thursday, Access Hollywood obtained video of Britney handing her mother two sheets of folded white paper, which some outlets reported was a letter of legal nature.

According to X-17 Online, the letter, which was written by Britney herself, was a warning the pop star would file a restraining order against her mother if she didn't stay away from her children.

Lynne looked stunned as she read through the papers. The two also had a brief exchange which saw Britney gesturing with her hands in the air.

At one point, Britney appeared to hold the door back as her mother read through the papers, giving photographers a better view of the incident. The pop star then left the scene, smiling and waving at the photographers as she walked to her car.

Eva Longoria & Tony Parker Officially Wed In Paris

Paris, France (July 6, 2007) -- The wait is finally over -- Eva Longoria and Tony Parker have officially tied the knot today!

The lovely "Desperate Housewives" star and NBA MVP are set to say "I do" on Saturday with their own private ceremony, but they have already made their union official today with a civil ceremony conducted by the mayor of Paris.

The beautiful bride-to-be arrived at the ceremony today in a white stretch limo, wearing a short pink Chanel dress with striped black and white straps. Parker took a more casual approach, stepping out of a gray mini van clad in a dark suit.

Eva, who was joined by about eight women wearing cream, pink and purple dresses, stopped to smile and wave for photographers as she stepped inside the city hall.

Longoria then used an office to change into a short white dress for the 45-minute ceremony, which was officiated by Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoe.

The mayor gave a speech to about 40 guests, saying how happy he was that Parker & Longoria were married in the City of Light. Parker translated Delanoe's speech into English for those gathered at the ceremony.

"It was very joyous, very nice," said the mayor of Paris' 4th District, Dominique Bertinotti. "The atmosphere was very warm and very authentic."

But this ceremony was just the kick-off to a weekend of nuptial events. French law requires marrying couples to take their vows at a city hall, even if they are having a church wedding as well.

And that is exactly what Eva and Tony have planned. While the couple has been quiet about many of the details, they are expected to have their private ceremony tomorrow at a church used to serve French royals, before retiring to a spectacular castle in the French countryside for a lavish reception.

Access Hollywood caught up with Parker on June 26, right before his flight to France!

"Definitely I'm excited," the eager groom said. "I can't wait -- I'm leaving tonight."

When asked if he had any jitters, Tony said, "No, nothing."

And why should he be nervous? He's marrying Eva Longoria, after all!

Eva, 32, and Tony, 25, a point guard for the NBA's San Antonio Spurs, met in November 2004 in the team's locker room following a game, after Eva told a local news reporter that Tony was her favorite player on the team.

Fast-forward two years later, when the two will be introduced as husband and wife at Vaux-Le-Vicomte -- a stunning celeb-sized 17th century castle 34 miles outside of Paris.

The enormous property is adorned with romantic sprawling gardens and a queen-sized gold crown fountain. Inside, the walls covered with priceless works of art!

"Housewives" co-star Felicity Huffman told Access that she's heading to France for the nuptials, and other "Desperate" divas will reportedly be there too.

As for Eva's dress, it's rumored to be designed by Monique Lhuillier.

And what about the honeymoon -- will the newlyweds stay in Paris?

"Ah, that's a great question," a coy Tony told Access. "I dont know..."

'Transformers' Conquers Box Office With $27.4M Debut

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (July 4, 2007) -- Hollywood's box office record books have been transformed.

The sci-fi adventure "Transformers" had an unprecedented Tuesday haul of $27.4 million in its official debut, beating a record of $15.7 million set last year by "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest."

"It's the biggest Tuesday ever," said Mike Vollman, spokesman for Paramount, which released "Transformers" along with fellow Viacom Inc. unit DreamWorks. "It's playing very broadly. It's the kind of summer movie that's drawing families and we're very excited for its progress going into the rest of the weekend."

Directed by Michael Bay and based on the Hasbro toys that debuted in the 1980s, "Transformers" chronicles a war between two factions of giant shape-shifting robots that bring their battle to Earth. The human cast costarring alongside the computer-generated robots includes Shia LaBeouf, Tyrese Gibson, Jon Voight, Josh Duhamel and John Turturro.

"Transformers" opened Tuesday in 4,011 theaters nationwide. It also played in preview screenings at 3,050 theaters starting at 8 p.m. Monday, bringing in $8.8 million.

"They had great preview numbers and it's an incredible total for a Tuesday, which is just not known as a big box office day," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Media By Numbers. "The timing on this movie was perfect, with the holiday in the middle of the week. This film has six days plus a preview to stretch its legs."

"Transformers" is positioned to join the ranks of this summer's blockbusters, "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End," "Spider-Man 3" and "Shrek the Third," all of which have surpassed or are about to cross the $300 million mark domestically.

A brisk Fourth of July week would help Hollywood recover from a monthlong downturn that followed a huge start to summer in May.

"This could be the movie that transforms the summer back into the blockbuster we were hoping it would be," said Dergarabedian.

Britney Apologizes For Umbrella Incident, Walks Out On 'Wicked'

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (July 6, 2007) -- Britney Spears has publicly apologized for an incident she was involved in months ago, while new rumors surface of her reported walk-out from a popular stage show this week.

Britney has posted an apology on her Web site for lashing out at a photographer's car with an umbrella in February, writing that she was preparing to try out for a movie part at the time, and got carried away.

The incident took place shortly before she checked into rehab, during the same period in which she shaved her head, got new tattoos and was frequently seen on the club circuit in Los Angeles.

On Wednesday, she posted the following statement on BritneySpears.com:

"I apologize to the pap for a stunt that was done 4 months ago regarding an umbrella. I was preparing my character for a role in a movie where the husband never plays his part so they switch places accidentally. I take all my roles very seriously and got a little carried away. Unfortunately I didn't get the part."

On Thursday, Britney reportedly walked out in the middle of a performance of the stage musical "Wicked" at the Pantages Theater in Hollywood.

Britney was in the audience watching the critically acclaimed hit show, which chronicles the backstory of the witches of Oz -- originally made famous in L. Frank Baum's books and the classic film, "The Wizard of Oz."

Spears reportedly got up and exited the theater during the first act, but the reason for her departure is not known.

Despite a report that she set the theater "abuzz," a rep for "Wicked" told AccessHollywood.com that Britney left quietly (and without incident) last night around 9:00 PM. She did not disrupt the show, and there were no known complaints from anyone in the audience.

"We do know that she likes the show," said the rep. "She's seen it a number of times."

The World Prepares For Al Gore's 'Live Earth' Event

SYDNEY, Australia (July 6, 2007) -- Like the planet, Live Earth keeps changing.

A ninth concert was added Friday to the global series of shows to raise awareness about climate change, whose worldwide lineup includes Madonna, Metallica, the Police and Kanye West.

Country music stars Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood will headline a show in Washington on the National Mall, about two blocks from the U.S. Capitol. The biggest names will appear at Live Earth concerts in London and the United States, with more modest lineups of mostly local and regional acts in Australia, Japan, China, South Africa, Brazil and Germany.

Live Earth was inspired and is backed by former Vice President Al Gore's campaign to force global warming onto the international political agenda by generating a groundswell of public concern.

But critics say that it lacks achievable goals, and that bringing in jet-setting rock stars in fuel-guzzling airliners to plug in to amplifier stacks and cranking up the sound may send mixed messages about energy conservation.

"The last thing the planet needs is a rock concert," The Who's singer Roger Daltrey recently told a British newspaper.

Organizers say the concerts will be as green as possible, with a tally of energy use being kept. Proceeds from ticket sales will go toward distributing power-efficient light bulbs and other measures that will offset the shows' greenhouse gas emissions, they say.

"This is going to be the greenest event of its kind, ever," Gore told The Associated Press recently. "The carbon offsets and the innovative practices that are being used to make this a green event, I think, will set the standard for years to come."

More than 150 artists will perform at the eight concerts. Other venues are in Tokyo, Shanghai, Johannesburg and Hamburg. The New York venue is actually being held in East Rutherford, N.J.

Besides some criticism, Live Earth has run into some organizational hiccups. A judge canceled the Brazil concert because of security concerns before reversing the decision just two days before the event, and lukewarm public interest caused a planned show in Istanbul, Turkey to be called off.

Promoter Michael Chugg said on Friday there were still plenty of tickets available for the Sydney show.

But organizers were predicting live broadcasts on cable television and the Internet could reach up to 2 billion people. Scores of short films and public service announcements will be aired giving the audience tips about how to conserve energy and reduce their environmental impact.

Laid-back rocker Jack Johnson is the only international act in Sydney, which features the reformed 1980s pop group Crowded House as top billers.

The Tokyo concert, featuring artists including Ai Otsuka, Kumi Koda and Linkin Park, comes next, followed by the other cities. Madonna and the Black Eyed Peas topline London, while the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Alicia Keys are among the acts in the United States.

Star Summer Jobs: The Good, The Bad & The Stinky

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (July 6, 2007) - If it doesn't work out with "America's Got Talent," Piers Morgan always has something to fall back on.

"I had a summer job where I had to spend the entire summer bagging mushroom compost," Piers told Access Hollywood.

Of course, Piers isn't the only one with one of those memorable summer gigs. Then again, it appears some were better than others.

Just a word of warning to all restaurant goers, if you ever go to check your coat and see Debra Messing waiting to take it from you, you might want to just hold on to it for awhile. The former "Will & Grace" star spent a summer as a coat check girl, but all did not go as smoothly as planned.

"I got all the tags mixed up and had the people come in and find their coats. I trusted they were taking the right coat," she laughed.

…

Forget being in a stuffy coat check room, when Kevin Costner looked for summer employment, he hit the great outdoors.

"I guess my best summer job was when I was in college. I worked on fishing boats up north," the "Mr. Brooks" star revealed. "I would start in Eureka and work all the way up to Canada. That's how I made my dough."

…

...

And while working with fish most likely didn't leave Costner smelling like roses, the award for stinkiest summer job definitely goes to Diddy.

"My worst summer job was pumping gas. Wait no, I cleaned bathrooms at El Torito. It was a Mexican restaurant. I was a bus boy there too," the music mogul told Access.

…

While Patrick Dempsey made his McDreamy mark on "Grey's Anatomy" juggling women, back in the day, the good doctor had his hands full in a different way.

"I was always performing and working. I was doing juggling and comedy during my summer breaks," Patrick said.

He also had a short stint working for his dad in a recycling center at the age of 13.

"My dad did have a redemption center where you had to bring the bottles in and you know organize them. So that is what I was doing sometimes during the summer," he added.

…

Johnny Drama is forever on the lookout for his next gig on "Entourage," but for Kevin Dillon, his old summer gigs were always coming up roses.

"I worked in a nursery. No, not that kind of nursery. Like plants and watering plants," Kevin said.

In fact, he was the prized employee of New York's Larchmont Nursery owner Joanne Grossman.

"Kevin started when he was maybe nine," Joanne told Access. "First he started playing and climbing trees, then he started working and helping customers. He loves people, he loves plants, he loves flowers."

"It was good memories," Kevin recalled. "I'd sell Christmas trees and freeze out there with a little barrel with a fire. It was great."

…

And if you thought working for Daniel Meade involved a lot of hot air on "Ugly Betty," that's nothing compared to America Ferrera's old summer gig.

"The worst job I ever had was blowing up balloons," American said. "Not myself, but with the helium thing and they would pop in your face. Back then, me and my best friend always tried to wear really long acrylic nails and we would pop the balloons ourselves."

Report: 'Sex & The City' Movie Finally A Go!

NEW YORK, New York (July 5, 2007) – Ladies, dust off your lucky Manolos – Carrie and the girls are back and "Big"ger than ever!

The long-awaited, highly anticipated "Sex & The City" movie is finally a go, according to TVGuide.com.

Filming is slated to begin in mid-September with Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon, Kristin Davis and Kim Cattrall all on board to reprise their signature roles, TVGuide.com reports.

According to the report, New Line Cinema is on the verge of closing a deal to distribute the film in association with HBO, with an official announcement expected as early as next week.

In May, Access Hollywood spoke with "Sex" star Sarah Jessica Parker about the buzz surrounding the much-talked about big screen project.

"I don’t know,” she said candidly when asked about the possibility of the film. “I don’t know if we have it or not. I’m not being cagey. I was hopeful the first time; I will remain hopeful this time around as we all ponder it.”

Yet, she remained enthusiastic about the potential project.

“I would love nothing more than to be out on those streets, right [at] this time of day, with that group of people and someone shouting out ‘action,’ but we’ll see,” she said. “You know it is part of the decision that everyone else wants to make.”

Hugh Hefner Gives Access Dating Advice

MONTE CARLO, Monaca (June 27, 2007) – When Playboy icon Hugh Hefner takes his ladies out in Hollywood, it still turns heads. So when Access Hollywood’s Tim Vincent heard the Hef and his trio of girlfriends were hopping from one club to the next, he had to get in on the action.

How in the world does Hugh Hefner do it at 81-years-old, Tim wondered, balancing not one, but three gorgeous girlfriends.

“Come with me, we have a nice table upstairs,” Tim said to Hef as he attempted to get to the bottom of it.

Once they arrived at their tented table at Zebra Square, it was time to ask the icon for advice.

“So how do I go about being a Playboy, what should I wear,” Tim asked Hugh.

“There is no special fashion or style,” Hugh replied. “I think it's a matter of being true to yourself. But you have to define your own style.”

Talk then turned to dating advice.

“When you take a lady out on a first date should you go dutch, should you always pay,” Tim asked.

“Well, it depends on the relationship,” he answered. “In the old days when I was younger you always paid. But I think that these days things are a little loser and it depends on the nature of the understanding with the girl.”

Avril Lavigne Faces The Music With 'Girlfriend' Lawsuit

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (July 6, 2007) -- Avril Lavigne faces a lawsuit by the members of a 1970s rock band who claim her hit song "Girlfriend" rips off one of their tunes.

Songwriters Tommy Dunbar and James Gangwer alleged in a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court that Lavigne and her co-writers lifted their 1979 song "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend," which was originally performed by new wave band The Rubinoos.

"We are not so naive as to chalk it up to some sort of cosmic coincidence," Dunbar said in a statement Thursday. "The lyric, the meter, the rhythm -- they're identical."

The first court date has been set for Aug. 28 in Oakland.

A spokeswoman for Lavigne declined comment.

The lawsuit is not the first mention of the similarities between the songs. Music critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine, in a review published on Billboard magazine's Web site, noted that the chorus of "Girlfriend" was a "total lift from the Rubinoos' `I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend."'

The Rubinoos toured and recorded from 1975 to 1983 and had a hit with a cover version of Tommy James and the Shondells' "I Think We're Alone Now." They also wrote the theme song for the movie "Revenge of the Nerds."

Paris Hilton's Fourth Of July Message: Don't Drink & Drive

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (July 4, 2007) -- Paris Hilton is back from vacation and has a message for her fans: don't drink and drive.

"Happy 4th of July everyone, and remember to be responsible and have a designated driver!" the heiress writes in a blog entry on her MySpace Web page Tuesday.

Hilton, 26, was released from jail last week after spending about 23 days behind bars for violating probation in an alcohol-related reckless driving case. The notorious party girl has since touted a new beginning -- one that she says won't include going out as much.

"The past month has inspired me to move forward with some exciting new projects, so I will keep you all posted," she writes.

After getting out of jail, Hilton did a series of interviews, including one on CNN's "Larry King Live," then skipped town for some rest and relaxation in Maui.

Tony Parker Reveals More Wedding Details!

PARIS, France (June 29, 2007) -- For Tony Parker, only French-made wedding cakes will do.

The NBA champion, set to marry "Desperate Housewives" star Eva Longoria next week, is staying coy about plans for the event.

Speaking to reporters Thursday in Paris, the San Antonio Spurs point guard shrugged off questions about the wedding date and venue, believed to be July 7 at a French chateau.

"I don't care where I'm going to get married," he said. "It's a girls' thing." To other queries, he replied: "That's a question you should ask Eva."

He dismissed one rumor: that the wedding cake would be flown in from the United States.

"Why take a cake from the United States ... if it is France that makes the best cakes?" he asked.

While Longoria picked the wedding site -- believed to be the luxurious chateau de Vaux-le-Vicomte -- Parker said he was taking charge of the food and music. And that's all he would say.

Parker, who was voted the most valuable player of the NBA finals earlier this month after the Spurs won their fourth title in nine seasons, wanted to talk about basketball.

"I think that this is just the beginning," he said. "I still have a long way to go because my idol is Michael Jordan and he won six titles so I'm only halfway there."

Looking long-term, Parker said he would base his decisions on fellow players Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili and coach Gregg Popovich. Parker is signed with the Spurs through 2009.

"My decisions about the future and where I am going to play and if I'm going to stay in San Antonio will depend on how long Duncan wants to play, Ginobili and Popovich."

'Transformers' Premieres In South Korea

SEOUL, South Korea (June 28, 2007) -- Steven Spielberg's "Transformers" premiered Thursday in theaters in South Korea, after notching up the country's highest online ticket bookings of any movie this year.

The action film -- featuring vehicles that transform into warring robots -- will initially be shown on some 530 screens nationwide, rising to around 700 by the weekend, distributor CJ Entertainment said.

Directed by Michael Bay and produced by Spielberg, "Transformers" will be released in U.S. theaters Tuesday. Josh Duhamel, Jon Voight and Shia LaBeouf star in the film.

"The graphics were just awesome, truly the best science-fiction movie I've ever seen," said Oh Kyung-chul, a 21-year-old student, after watching a morning show in Seoul. "I hope they come out with sequels. I will definitely go to watch them."

Based on the 1980s toys and cartoon series of the same name, "Transformers" centers on two robot clans: Decepticons, which strive to dominate the universe, and Autobots, which believe in peaceful co-existence with humans.

In the movie, a high-school boy teams up with the Autobots to save the world from the Decepticons.

Before its Thursday debut, advance online bookings for the DreamWorks and Paramount production outweighed all bookings for other movies in South Korea, with the reservation rate hovering at over 80 percent of all online movie ticket reservations, said CJ Entertainment Publicity Manager Jessica Kim.

She said no other film has had such strong pre-screening bookings in South Korea this year. Figures for the total number of reserved tickets weren't immediately available.

"Movies that do well in South Korea tend to do well in other parts of Asia," Kim said, attributing the trend in part to the growing popularity of South Korean movies, TV dramas and music across the region.

"A movie's popularity in Asia seems to be affected by its popularity in South Korea," she said. "In that sense, South Korea has emerged as an important movie market in Asia in recent years."

"Transformers" will be released elsewhere in Asia later this week, Kim said.

New York Film Festival To Honor Coen Brothers

NEW YORK, NY (June 28, 2007) -- The New York Film Festival will open with Wes Anderson's "The Darjeeling Limited" and honor the Coen brothers' "No Country for Old Men" as its centerpiece in a particularly American slate for the internationally minded festival.

The Film Society of Lincoln Center, which produces the festival, announced the opening and centerpiece films Thursday, but not the closing movie. The 45th annual festival runs from Sept. 28 to Oct. 14.

"The Darjeeling Limited" is the third film by Anderson to be screened at the festival. His "Rushmore" (1998) and "The Royal Tenenbaums" (2001) were also shown. Starring Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody and Jason Schwartzman, "The Darjeeling Limited" is a comedy about three brothers traveling through India.

"No Country for Old Men," directed by Joel and Ethan Coen, drew critical acclaim when screened earlier this year at the Cannes Film Festival. Based on Cormac McCarthy's novel, the thriller stars Tommy Lee Jones and Javier Bardem. The Coen brothers' "Miller's Crossing" (1990) and "Blood Simple" (1984) were shown at earlier New York Film Festivals.

It's the third time two American films have been the opening-night and centerpiece films at the festival since 1995, when the centerpiece showcases began.

Unlike most film festivals, the New York Film Festival doesn't give awards, but showcases a very select group of movies.

Also announced for this year's slate were the Cannes Palme d'Or winner "4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days," directed by Cristian Mungiu of Romania, and "Secret Sunshine," by Korean director Lee Chang-dong.

This year's festival will be held at the Frederick P. Rose Hall in the Time Warner Center due to ongoing renovations at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall.

Harry Potter Puckers Up For His First Kiss

TOKYO, Japan (June 29, 2007) -- First kisses can be tricky. Even for Harry Potter.

Daniel Radcliffe -- the star of the Harry Potter series -- said Friday while in Tokyo for the premiere of the latest installment that it took a few takes to get over the nerves of getting the young wizard through his first on-screen kiss.

And even then, he didn't really feel the magic.

"When we started it, we were both a bit nervous," Radcliffe said at a news conference. "But after the first few takes, it was sort of like any other scene, which is never really what people want to hear. It doesn't really feel any different, because you are still acting."

In "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," the latest in the megahit series based on J.K. Rowling's books, Harry comes of age and has his first on-screen kiss, with longtime crush Cho Chang, played by Katie Leung.

It was a big moment for Harry -- if not for Radcliffe.

Producer David Heyman said director David Yates cleared the set to create more intimacy for the scene and the crew crowded around a monitor to watch.

"The makeup artist, who's known Daniel really well from the age of 10, she shed a tear," Heyman said. "For me, it was quite moving."

"Order of the Phoenix," a Warner Bros. Pictures release, opens in the United States on July 11 and in Britain the next day.

Star Spottings: The Jolie-Pitts Hit Prague, Sharon Stone Goes Red

AROUND THE WORLD (June 28, 2007) – The stars got back to work yesterday turning up on film sets across the globe.

PRAGUE – Angelina Jolie popped up again in Prague, on the set of her new movie “Wanted.” Angelina looked sexy, chic and serious as she stepped out of a trailer. Jolie stars in the 2008 project alongside James McAvoy from “The Last King Of Scotland” in the crime drama.

(Photo: INF)

While mom went to work, Brad Pitt took little Pax and Zahara to school. Perhaps he’s sick of the glare of flashbulbs, because Pax appeared to borrow a pair of papa Pitt’s sunglasses for the trip. As for little Zahara, she kept on her usual scowl, a clear sign she still hasn’t gotten used to the idea of living her life under a lens.

(Photo: INF)

LOS ANGELES – It’s hard to believe it, but the redhead sucking on an iced drink is none other than Sharon Stone. The blonde actress donned a wig for her part in “Rockett” where she plays the mother of a dysfunctional son played by Jimmy Fallon.

For more fabulous photographs of the stars out and about, check our Day's Best gallery on the right!

(Photo: Splash News)

TaleSpin: From The Access News Desk (6/29/07)

by George Larrimore & Shelly Aguilar

COLD FEAR IN LONDON: American News Networks went all out this morning with coverage of the threat from a gasoline and metal junk bomb planted in the back of a parked car in Central London.It didn't go off but the fearful reaction is palpable, with a major concert scheduled at Wembley Stadium on Sunday in tribute to the late Princess Di. It would have been her 46th birthday.We bet the stars are more than a little nervous and the security will be more than a little bit tighter. Elton John, Duran Duran, Fergie, Joss Stone, Nelly and Rod Stewart are set to perform.

ALLEGED WOES: "Is Lindsay facing jail time?" That's one of the questions flying around among Promo Writers the last couple of days. Everybody's all a-twitter over Lindsay's legal troubles because it's being breathlessly reported that she allegedly had cocaine in her system when her car crushed a shrub on Sunset. It was allegedly in her car so are you surprised it was allegedly in her system? And they've been saying she's about to be hauled into court. The DA'S office told us it ain't happening today, probably not next week. And maybe not at all unless the Beverly Hills PD's case is strong. And before you get all crazy, remember the charge (if there turns out to be one) will be a misdemeanor. Meanwhile, LL is staying overtime in rehab and not giving anybody any more ammo to work with. Smart handling.

MAUI WOWIE: Paris didn't stay long in LA after the Larry King interview on Wednesday night, departing pretty quick for R&R in Hawaii. And too fast for anybody to ask any follow-up questions. For example; she denied emphatically to Larry that she'd ever taken drugs. But on Access Hollywood yesterday we showed some of the numerous photos/videos on the internet in which The Heiress seems to be partaking. Paris now has two publicists and we called both more than once but got no response. One was said to be "out of town." Maybe he's having a strategy planning session with The Heiress in Maui.

BAD BLOOD: You see the video and/or still pics of Britney after yesterday's alleged showdown with her mom? An angry Britney may have presented Lynne with a stay-away-from-my-kids letter while Lynne was on a set with Britney's kid sister. Supposedly (and that's a lot like "allegedly") Brit heard from the paparazzi where Lynne was, and drove there. But what if it was Brit who let the paparazzi know where and when she was going? However it got worked out, there appears to be a couple of "takes" of the scene so the guerilla shooters got more than one angle.

OUR KIND OF JUSTICE: Usually we have to keep track of our own court cases but yesterday we got a news release (basically an invitation) to cover a courtroom showdown between Zsa Zsa Gabor's daughter (who married into the Hilton family) and Zsa's husband, Prince Frederic Von Anhalt. Constance Francesca Hilton is accused of fraud (a charge she denies) but the high point of the day was her walking to her car shouting that The Prince is a gigolo. That's a word you don't hear much any more.

Casting Call: Cameron Puts Herself In A 'Box'

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (June 29, 2007) – Cameron puts herself in a "Box." Jim Carrey wants to get "Sober." Plus, Kevin Costner joins a cartoon "Club." It's all in today's Access Hollywood Casting Call…

Justin Timberlake might have put his junk in a box, but now former flame Cameron Diaz is putting all of herself in one.

Diaz is set to star in the horror film "The Box," according The Hollywood Reporter.

The thriller follows an unhappy married couple who receive a small wooden box on their doorstep. At the push of a button, the box brings its bearer instant riches, but also instantly kills someone the person doesn't even know.

"Box" will be directed by "Donnie Darko" helmer Richard Kelly. The film is based on the short story "Button, Button" by Richard Matheson, which inspired a popular "Twilight Zone" episode in the 1980s.

…

Jim Carrey has signed on to star in the comedy "Sober Buddies," reports Variety.

The laugher follows a hard-partying software executive who gets a court-appointed sober buddy to keep him under control during a critical business trip to Las Vegas.

All is well until the sober buddy (Carrey) falls off the wagon.

Script was written by Andrew Kurtzman ("Down Periscope," "See No Evil, Hear No Evil").

Carrey is reportedly also looking at other projects to take on as well.

Among the roles he's considering are the title character in Tim Burton's "Ripley's Believe It or Not!," a gay prison escapee in the dark comedy "I Love You Phillip Morris" and a reluctant nursemaid to his ailing wife in the comedy "Me Time."

…

Kevin Costner will produce, finance and lend his voice to "The Explorers Club," an animated series that will originate on the Internet during the holiday season in 12 four-minute segments, reports Variety.

Costner intends to build up a following online and then turn "The Explorers Club" into a live-action feature that he would star in.

The animated series is a collection of gothic stories that follow a group of Victorian-era adventurers as they travel to the darkest corners of the map. The first episode will be called "A Passage to Shambhala."

Costner currently stars in the thriller "Mr. Brooks."

Jessica Biel's 'Close Encounter' With Adam Sandler

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (June 29, 2007) -- When you play someone who's pretending to be gay, like Adam Sandler does in "I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry," you can stare at Jessica Biel all you want.

In fact, you can do more than that!

Access Hollywood's Shaun Robinson spoke to Jessica about a comical scene in "Chuck & Larry," in which Sandler gets a "handful" of Jessica's anatomy.

"You know, I didn't really have to do any sort of mental preparation for that scene because we became such nice friends," said Jessica. "It was funny and it was silly and we knew what was gonna happen."

Laughter proved to be the perfect distraction for Sandler and Biel when they shot the scene.

"We just laughed our way through the day, basically," Jessica said. "He was feeling weird, and I was feeling weird, and, I mean literally we just giggled."

The laughing didn't stop there, as Sandler joked to Shaun, "I'm kind of a germ freak, so I had gloves on the whole time. On camera it looks fine, but mentally I never got a hold of 'em."

"He's wonderful, he's like the most lovely guy," Biel said of her co-star. "If anyone's gonna have to do that to you, it might as well be him."

And since she had to show some skin in the movie, Biel said she kept in shape by doing lots of yoga and cardio, and worked out with a trainer a couple times a week.

But did Sandler and co-star Kevin James join her in her routines?

"No, I was working out on my own," she laughed. "I think those guys were playing a lot of basketball. They play a lot of ball."

Kevin admitted to Access that although he wasn't in the scene himself, he was "feeling the heat" watching Biel's scene with Sandler.

"That's not to say I wasn't somewhere in the rafters with a pair of binoculars," he joked.

"I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry" opens in theaters on July 20.

Denis Leary Pitches In For Families Affected By Blaze

NEW YORK, New York (June 22, 2007) -- Week in and week out, Denis Leary faces life or death challenges as a troubled firefighter on the F/X hit "Rescue Me."

And for years, Denis has had a close kinship with real-life firefighters. But now, as Charleston, South Carolina mourns its lost heroes, Denis is stepping up for the families left behind.

"This is where firefighters differ from you and I – I know I could run in to save my kids or my wife. When it comes to absolute strangers, they turned their lives over for those people, that's what they do," Denis told Access Hollywood. "And in this case, they paid the ultimate price."

In their final act of bravery, nine firefighters gave their lives for others in Monday's devastating blaze in a Charleston, South Carolina furniture store.

It marked the single greatest loss of life in the line of duty since 9/11.

"You see firefighters in their jeans. Guys who just arrived on the scene probably hearing about it who weren't on duty. You know, guys who were in regular summer clothes and throwing a helmet on," Denis said of the men who gave their lives.

The tragic imagery hits close to home for Denis, who lost his own cousin in the line of duty during a 1999 Massachusetts warehouse fire.

"I see it and I know exactly how people are going to feel," he added. "For the families, it's really something that they'll never get over. It's hard to describe how much that sacrifice means."

In learning to cope with his family loss, Denis established The Leary Firefighters Foundation, a charity which provides much needed training for fire departments and financial compensation for the families of the fallen heroes.

"In many cases, the bread winner of the family is gone. That's secondary to the emotional loss of a father or a brother or a cousin or a friend," Denis said.

Much like he did for the families of 9/11, Denis is reaching out to those left behind by the South Carolina blaze. Through the organization, he'll raise funds which will be donated to their families beginning with $100,000 of his own money.

"Everything that comes in, will go back into the hands of these nine families to help them deal in whichever way they choose to get through it," he told Access. "There's a great honor and a great dignity in helping these families so that financially, they can turn around and not have to worry about certain things."

For more information on how you can help those affected by the Charleston fire, CLICK HERE!

As They Reunite, Access Looks Back At The Spice Girls' History

LONDON, England (June 29, 2007) -- Ginger Spice and the rest of her Girl Power crew had a lot of fun leaving their mark on Prince Charles and the rest of the world back in the nineties. Now, after six years away, the Spice Girls are back for eleven shows in six continents with a $20 million paycheck for each of them.

Access investigates the Spice Girls then and now:

In 1998, The Spice Girls ruled the world. From shrill screams to smash singles, the late nineties were total Spicemania.

The fastest selling British act since the Beatles, selling over 55 million records worldwide broke up after seven years to pursue solo careers, so where are they now?

We all know Posh! A fashionista married to soccer stud David Beckham, mother of three beautiful boys and darling of the Cruise family, Victoria Beckham lives in a constant paparazzi presence!

The other four girls are settled down now, most are mothers, but back then it was pure madness,

America wanted the Spice Girls! After the smash single “wannabe” went to number one in 1997, their popularity soared.

The fever pitch kept rising, as their first movie, the mockumentary “SpiceWorld” took in nearly 80 million dollars. This girl power gang seemed to exude endless enthusiasm.

In 1998, Geri “Ginger” Spice left the band citing differences with the group. The parting, was not amicable.

“We'd be lying if we said we still spoke to her,” Posh told Access following the split. “I’d be gutted if it was me.”

Two years after Geri’s exit, the group released their next record, “Forever” in 2000 but just one year later, the Spice Girls were through. Until now – looking better than ever and still inciting screams, all five girls are back together for a reunion tour. Let the mania begin, again!

Britney Accosts Mom With Mystery Papers

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (June 28, 2007) – Britney Spears made a delivery of some paperwork believed to be of a legal nature, to her shocked mother Lynne, earlier today.

Spears turned up in her Mercedes convertible to what is believed to be the set of Jamie Lynn Spears’ TV show, in Valencia, California where she walked up to her mother and handed her two pieces of white, folded paper. Lynne took the papers from her daughter and began to examine them.

Spears’ mother looked stunned as she read through the paperwork as seen above in the video shot by Splash News. The two also had a brief exchange which saw Britney gesturing with her hands in the air.

At one point, as you can see in the clip, Britney appeared to hold the door back as her mother read through the papers, giving photographers a better view of the incident.

Spears then left the scene, smiling and waving at the photographers as she walked to her car.

Earlier this week X-17 reported Spears was planning to seek a restraining order to keep her mother from visiting her two boys. The paparazzi agency reported Spears believes her mother is abusing pain medication.

Calls to reps for Spears were not returned at press time.

A Los Angeles Superior Court representative had no knowledge of papers being filed.

In related news, Spears' website saw some movement this weekend. A new line was added saying, “You’ll never see it my way, because you’re not me.” Also, at the bottom of the website, this line was added, possibly sarcastically if the rumor proves true: “MothertoGrandmother, and my my, you’re grand.”

Wrestler Chris Benoit's Father Speaks Out

ATLANTA, Georgia (June 29, 2007) -- The father of pro wrestler Chris Benoit said Friday that he was eager to see whether chemical tests can help explain why Benoit killed his wife and son and committed suicide, acts the wrestler's father said he had no clue were coming.

Michael Benoit said by phone from his home in Canada that his family is shocked and in disbelief over the slayings.

"We have no understanding of why it happened," he said. "We need some time to gather our thoughts and wait and see. There's still more information that's going to come out from toxicology tests that will give us some understanding of why this happened."

Anabolic steroids were found in Chris Benoit's home in an Atlanta suburb, leading officials to wonder whether the drugs played a role in the killings, which took place last weekend. Some experts believe steroids can cause paranoia, depression and violent outbursts known as "roid rage."

The wrestler strangled his wife and 7-year-old son, placing Bibles next to their bodies, before hanging himself on the cable of a weight-machine in his home, authorities said. No motive was offered for the killings.

Investigators had not yet discovered the bodies Monday when someone altered Benoit's Wikipedia entry to mention his wife's death, authorities said.

An anonymous user with the same IP address as the person who made the edits confessed early Friday on an online discussion page attached to the Web site, saying the changes were based on rumors and speculation, not hard evidence.

The authenticity of the posting could not immediately be confirmed.

"I just can't believe what I wrote was actually the case, I've remained stunned and saddened over it," the user wrote.

According to Wikinews, an online news source connected to Wikipedia, the Internet protocol address of the individual is identical to that of the user who edited Benoit's profile early Monday morning. An IP address is a unique series of numbers carried by every machine connected to the Internet.

Benoit's page on Wikipedia, a reference site that allows users to add and edit information, was updated at 12:01 a.m. Monday, about 14 hours before authorities say the bodies were found. The reason he missed a match Saturday night was "stemming from the death of his wife Nancy," it said.

Wikipedia confirmed the authenticity of the time stamp and said the entry was made by someone using an IP address registered in Stamford, Conn., where World Wrestling Entertainment is based. The anonymous user acknowledged being from Stamford, but claimed no connection to WWE.

Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales told The Associated Press on Friday that officials of the site became aware of the posting Tuesday.

"The guy who's admitted to doing it said it was just a coincidence," Wales said. "He said he was hearing rumors. I wonder where those rumors came from. I guess the police will figure that out eventually."

Investigators in the Benoit case did not return phone calls Friday seeking further information.

On Thursday, federal agents said they had raided the west Georgia office of a doctor who prescribed testosterone to Benoit, said agent Chuvalo Truesdell, a spokesman for the Drug Enforcement Administration. No arrests were made during the raid at Dr. Phil Astin's office late Wednesday into Thursday.

Hours before the raid, Astin told the AP he had treated Benoit for low testosterone levels, which he said likely originated from steroid use.

Among other things, investigators were looking for Benoit's medical records to see whether he had been prescribed steroids and, if so, whether that prescription was appropriate, according to a law enforcement official speaking on condition of anonymity because records in the case remain sealed.

Astin prescribed testosterone for Benoit, a longtime friend, in the past but would not say what, if any, medications he prescribed when Benoit visited his office June 22.

Michael Benoit, who lives near Edmonton in Ardrossan, Alberta, said the test results, which could take several weeks to be completed, "could give us closure." He said his son had seemed fine when they spoke on Father's Day, and had even said he regretted having to work instead of spending the day with his family.

"That really wouldn't give you an indication of someone who would do what he did a week later," the father said.

Katharine McPhee Lands First Feature Film Role

Look out - the McPheever is coming to a theater near you!

"American Idol" runner-up Katharine McPhee will make her feature film debut as the star of the indie dark romantic comedy "The Last Caller," according to the Hollywood Reporter.

"Caller" is described as a coming-of-age story about a self-obsessed woman (played by McPhee) who searches for love, hope and meaning during a few random events with other urban seekers.

"This is the first thing that I read that I really wanted to do," McPhee said. "I'm up for a couple of big studio projects, but they weren't starring roles. I wanted to start off doing something a little different. It's something that a lot of people wouldn't expect me doing."

She added the role (which doesn't involve any singing) was "definitely a little darker than me."

However, it won't be the first acting gig for McPhee, had a part alongside Ali Larter and Lane Garrison in the 2005 film "Crazy," the story of guitar player Hank Garland who emerged from Nashville in the 1950's.

She also had a guest-starring role in ABC's hit comedy "Ugly Betty."

Is Cameron Diaz's Relationship With Criss Angel An Illusion?

Criss Angel, who can beIs Cameron Diaz's Relationship With Criss Angel An Illusion? seen performing stunts on A&E's "Criss Angel: Mindfreak," is being mysterious about whether his relationship with Cameron Diaz is real -- or an illusion.

"Cameron Diaz is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful actresses -- A-list actresses -- in Hollywood," he told AP Radio News. "She's "talented, smart. Look at me -- do you really think she would have any interest in a guy like me?"

Angel dedicated his latest stunt to Diaz this week.

The illusionist appeared to escape Tuesday from a box encased in concrete and suspended 40 feet above the ground near Manhattan's Time Square before it came crashing to the ground.

The stunt was to promote the third season of "Mindfreak," which debuted Tuesday night.

"I love you baby. Have a safe trip to Europe for your ‘Shrek' tour," he said in his shout-out to the 34-year-old actress, who reprises her voice role as Fiona in the DreamWorks animated blockbuster "Shrek the Third."

So, are they or aren't they dating?

"We're good friends, and I'm honored to call her a friend because genuinely she's a wonderful human being, and she's just a great person, we have a good time," he told AP Radio News.

The AP was attempting Thursday to reach the actress' publicist, Brad Cafarelli, for comment.

Man Jailed For Plotting To Kidnap Letterman's Son Escapes

Two inmates, including one who was once accused of plotting to kidnap David Letterman's son, escaped Friday in a truck while working at a state prison ranch.

Kelly A. Frank, 45, and convicted burglar William J. Willcutt, 22, were assigned to a crew that moves irrigation pipe at the prison ranch, jail officials said.

A supervisor noticed Willcutt and the 1965 truck were missing around 4:20 p.m., and the prison was locked down, a jail statement said. An inmate count showed Frank was also gone.

The missing truck had been assigned to Frank, the statement said.

Officers began immediately began searching the area, and law enforcers and the Montana Highway Patrol were notified, the statement said. The half-ton spray truck was found off prison property around 5:30 p.m.

Frank was arrested in March 2005 on allegations that he had devised a plan to kidnap Letterman's son, lied to investigators and overcharged Letterman for painting work at his ranch.

Prosecutors later dropped a charge of solicitation to kidnap, in exchange for guilty pleas on three other charges, including felony theft and misdemeanor obstruction.

Frank was sentenced to 10 years in prison for overcharging the talk show host.

Telephone and e-mail messages Friday to Kim Krizzo-Emmet, Letterman's publicist at CBS, were not immediately returned.

Nancy O'Dell & Husband Prepare For Baby Ashby

According to our calculations here at Access Hollywood, our host Nancy O’Dell’s baby is due in a few days.

We caught up with the very pregnant Nancy who was nesting in her Southern California home.

“Nesting and renesting would be the way to put it,” she said. “I’ve been anxiously awaiting my little girl's arrival. I expect her to come any day because I don't think my stomach can get any bigger.”

Pregnant and beautiful, Nancy has been preparing for her daughter’s arrival, but with one minor snafu: a stress fracture on her foot due to walking too much while moving into a new home. That fracture is keeping her confined to her house. So, how soon until Nancy and her husband Keith welcome baby Ashby home?

“My husband was predicting last Thursday, so he's lost quite a bit of money on the bets that he's placed with all his friends,” she laughed. “My father's birthday is Monday, so he's pulling for Monday. I think she's ready to come out though.”

Brad & Angelina Cook In Cannes

Brad and Angelina whipped into the center of Cannes for their press conference for "A Mighty Heart". They looked as young and sexy as ever. Brad with a reddish brown hair job and Angelina punishingly exotic and lip centric as ever.

They arrived by boat from the Hotel du Cap where their children are playing with Mariane Pearl's kid. Angelina painted a very Gatsby-esque picture of children playing by the oceanside. I do hope they are left alone on the beach and the paps aren't in boats off the coast. Of course they are, but how sad that others' privacy is your livelihood. I draw the line at circling the bandwagon.

Tim Vincent interviewed Angelina as she walked in...great 5 questions about life in Cannes, the family's plan here...just a fun quick exchange.

But the chaos surrounding their arrival by boat, the walk up the steps to the Palais, the crowds in the hallway as they entered...simply frenetic and wild...as always I guess.

Last night a group of us went to Monte Carlo and gambled in the Hotel de Paris. I wore my tuxedo and bet fairly large. I wanted to go Bond style, had to. I won money and then blew it on dinner and dancing. All together it was fun and sexy. I very much miss my wife and can't wait 'til she gets here on Thursday for fun, sun and romance.

Big show tonight.

Front & Center For The 'Ocean's' Invasion

Last night, the big time, A-list, Hollywood premiere was back on center stage. The Hollywood premiere of 'Ocean’s Thirteen', with stars that can still draw thousands of fans, force helicopters into the sky and shut down the blvd.

It was a night reminiscent of Howard Hughes' glamorous 'Hells Angels' premiere in the same spot over 70 years ago.

It's almost as if George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle and Angelina, big stars who are far better known for their talent and charity from Darfur to New Orleans than anything else, brought the cameras back in focus on purpose... you know, away from the young destructive celebs that have dominated the news cycle as of late... its all been so depressing.

Of course, in reality, it was just good timing; this premiere was planned months ago. Simply put, the ‘Ocean’s’ crew gave us a reason to celebrate GUILT FREE.

I say let's do this again.

On The Set: 'High School Musical 2'

The countdown has begun to probably the most anticipated TV movie ever, "High School Musical Two."

I'd say most anticipated TV movie sequel ever but I don't think there has ever been a sequel filmed to a TV movie. In March, I spent three days on the set with the entire cast and got a glimpse into life on the set. Over the next week, I’ll share my HSM2 diary:

It's day one of my visit to the set of one of the most anticipated sequels of the summer, "High School Musical 2." Sure this is a movie that's become a phenomenon among the tweeny bopper set but I'm not ashamed to say I fell for its corny song and dance routine when I watched it too.

The sequel picks up as the high schoolers head off for summer vacation and get jobs at the local country club where Sharpay is a member. The serene setting of Southwest Utah stands in for Albuquerque, NM where East Valley High is said to be located.

I traveled to St. George, Utah where the cast has been since early February. Nestled amongst soaring red rocks sits the Entrada Country Club at Snow Canyon where filming is taking place. Today they are filming a big baseball number on the grounds but my day is all about hanging with Ashley Tisdale who plays the rich kid, Sharpay Evans and Zac Efron, the school's resident heartthrob.

I arrive to the set around Noon and just as we pull up to the Clubhouse, where I'm scheduled to interview Tisdale, who should come cruising up in a golf cart but Ashley and Efron. It's a rare day off from filming and both are enjoying a little fun time. Ashley's sporting a green and white bikini and Zac's got his board shorts on. They hit the lounge chairs while we scouted a nice poolside location for an interview.

Thirty minutes later we are all set up for Ashley and I to chat and she throws a turquoise tank over her bikini top and strolls over. No hair person. No makeup person. No star attitude. I'm shooting a mini DV camera for our website. She turns the screen to see what she looks like and we are off and running. I've made a solemn promise to keep the details of the movie a secret so I can't be leaking out too many plot points other than to say that Sharpay will be stirring up trouble for her classmates again. With so much hype and anticipation it's understandable why the cast and crew are guarding the info so tightly. What I can tell you is this is a tight knit group who have remained friends throughout. When not filming they spend their time hanging out in each other’s rooms. Ashley gets coy when I ask if any real life summer romances have emerged. I'm hit with a sing songy "maybe". Later I find out there is definitely a whole lot of love around this set. More on that in a second.

After I pull a big sister and warn Ashley about making sure she wears lots of SPF in the sun, Ashley and I travel over to check out the pink golf cart Sharpay will be cruising around in for the film. She takes me for a spin and fortunately I get to keep all my limbs! Then it's off to the wardrobe trailer for a sneak peek at Sharpay's sequel wardrobe. Think lots and lots of rhinestones. Sharpay is a bikini top fanatic so expect lots of bikini tops under dresses and shirts. I see a trend for the summer starting already. A quick hug goodbye and another warning about sunscreen and my time with Ashley is up. We head off to scarf down some food before it's time to hang out with Zac. Just as we pile back into the van, I catch a glimpse of why I got that coy "maybe" on romance. Ashley calls over one of the dancers, dressed in a baseball uniform for the big dance scene, the two interlock hands and head to the craft services truck. My crew guy reveals this is a dancer from the tour and he has spotted them kissing, so he believes its her boyfriend. Ashley has done such a great job staying out of the tabloids. So, I'm clueless.

We set up for our Zac interview. He is patiently waiting for us, enjoying a little time on the driving range. From a distance, I see him giving some golfing tips to his co-star Vanessa Hudgens. It looks like a scene out of a movie. His arms around her showing her how to swing. As he leaves, he gives her a peck on the lips. Another romance on the set? (About two months later paparazzi photos of them kissing on a Hawaii vacation reveal they are in fact a couple).

Zac sits down and just like Ashley comes with no entourage of "people", though his grandparents are in town and his aunt. Those are the good kind of "people". We chat for a while about the new film where I'm happy to learn he will be singing all his own songs in this film and on the soundtrack. Yes, he can sing but for some reason they decided to dub in someone else's singing voice in the original film. He admits that his singing voice is very different from the dubbed one but hopes his fans will like it. He's singing his own tunes in the soon to be released feature film, "Hairspray" so audiences will get a listen to his vocals before HSM2 premieres. I'm sure they will be thrilled. Just as we were finishing up, a bird decides to relieve himself on my jeans. Isn't this supposed to bring good luck?

Next up, we all pile into golf carts and head out to the course where Zac is going to show me his skills he picked up for this movie. We travel on a path that leads to greens surrounded by incredible black rock, I'm told came from volcanic eruptions eons and eons ago. It's incredibly beautiful and indescribable. Zac hits a few balls as we all watch. He's surprisingly good for only just learning. The publicist bets him twenty bucks he can't make it onto the greens (about 250 yards and over the black rocks). He gets three tries and misses. The publicist offers double or nothing and he goes at it again. This time he hits two on the greens and earns a cool forty bucks. I jokingly offer to let him pay me the money not to run the footage of him missing. He doesn't accept. We head up to the putting green and after two failed tries at making the hole, I tell Zac "Well at least you can sing and act!"

Before he heads off, I ask his grandparents how proud they are that Zac has become such a big star. They reply with a grandparent's PC polite answer, "We're proud of all five of our grandchildren." That my friends is how someone like Zac is able to keep it real. Bravo grandparents.

Check back for more on Monday of day two from my three-day visit to the set!

Isaiah vs. Paris

It has struck me that due to conduct, some big media companies have let go of some high profile people. Don Imus was released. Isaiah Washington was dropped. Mel Gibson had a deal for a TV series event pulled.

This all happened because the actions of these people did not match the principles and mission of the parent companies.

Baca Vs. Sauer -- & Paris The Political Football

Just after 3:30 PM, PDT and the highly scrutinized LA County Sheriff Lee Baca is at the podium and taking questions. His reputation on the line, he is defending his decision to release Paris to home confinement. He is doing a good job.

Baca spoke at fair length about overcrowding and the need for cell space. I think everyone accepts that as a legitimate reason to send Paris home. She has got to be one of the least threatening people to ever be behind bars. The problem he faces is that several hours after Paris left jail, the spokesman for the Sheriff spoke only about 'medical' purposes. He specifically stated it was not an overcrowding issue. Is the Sheriff's department changing their tune to one that everybody can sing or is he adding important information to this case?

I think I speak for a lot of people when I ask, 'What on earth is this psychological problem, termed 'severe' by the Sheriff, that she can't be in jail but she can quite easily be on every red carpet, club scene and late night gig she chooses?'

Paris is a partier. Whatever medication the Sheriff claims she takes for her mental health problems certainly mix well enough with other substances. She is constantly out and partying... this all adds up to a strong feeling of disingenuous dealings by her lawyers.

Buzzing Around Cannes With Seinfeld

Well the Europeans definitely know who Jerry Seinfeld is.

I wasn't sure how many people would show up, press wise, for his “BEE MOVIE” stunt, but it’s packed.

Jerry is doing a zip line jump off the legendary Carlton hotel, across from the beach...he will end up on a platform that jets into the water about 100 yds.

Jerry told me yesterday that he had practiced twice, was not nervous and was ready to go. Even DreamWorks Animation boss Jeffrey Katzenberg made the jump.

I hate to say it, but the slim chance of error, is what gathers the masses. Terrible to say.

Casting Call: Jessica Simpson Becomes A 'Star' & Sean Connery's 'Indiana' Future

Jessica Simpson becomes a "Star." Tea Leoni's new "Ghost" story. And Sean Connery's "Indiana Jones" future revealed! It's all in today's Access Hollywood Casting Call…

Forget "Dukes of Hazzard" and "Employee of the Month." Jessica Simpson is ready to become a real "Movie Star."

Jessica is set to start filming her new movie "Major Movie Star," reports Variety.

The film, directed by Steve Miner ("Lake Placid," "Halloween H2O"), follows a pampered star who decides to enlist in the military to win the approval of a producer who considers her unsuitable for his new military-themed pic.

Once she arrives at the military base, she realizes she's made a mistake but decides to stick to it so she won't let her country down.

The songstress will next be seen on the big screen alongside Rachael Leigh Cook and Luke Wilson in "Blonde Ambition," a romantic comedy about a young woman's (Simpson) unconventional, comedic journey up the corporate ladder while ultimately finding love along the way.

…

Ricky Gervais and Greg Kinnear have already wandered into "Town," and now Tea Leoni is coming with them.

Leoni has joined the cast of the romantic comedy "Ghost Town," per Variety.

Film revolves around a dentist (Gervais) who dies for seven minutes during a colonoscopy. Recovering, he can see the dead and is bothered by the ghost of a businessman (Kinnear) who wants the dentist to break up the impending marriage of the ghost's wife, played by Leoni. 91697

…

It looks like the next "Indiana Jones" won't be a father-son affair.

Sean Connery has revealed he will not return as Harrison Ford's father in the latest "Indy" pic, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Connery played Indy's father in 1989's "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade," the third installment of the franchise directed by Steven Spielberg and produced by George Lucas.

"I get asked the question so often, I thought it best to make an announcement," Connery said in a statement posted Thursday on Lucasfilm's "Indiana Jones" Web site. "I thought long and hard about it, and if anything could have pulled me out of retirement it would have been an 'Indiana Jones' film. I love working with Steven and George, and it goes without saying that it is an honor to have Harrison as my son. But in the end, retirement is just too damned much fun."

The fourth "Indiana Jones" film, not yet titled, is again directed by Spielberg and produced by Lucas. Shooting begins this month, and the movie is set for release May 22.

Lucasfilm also said Thursday that John Hurt and Ray Winstone will be joining the cast, which, along with Ford, includes Shia LaBeouf and Cate Blanchett.

Jumping In The Cannes' 'Ocean'

Tomorrow we crescendo with the "Ocean's Thirteen" guys. Matt, George and Brad are now all here in Cannes...a sexy place to promote a sexy movie.

I saw the film today and it was fun. Better than "Ocean's Twelve" in my opinion.

Bumped into the film's producer Jerry Weintraub on the dock just before he boarded some huge yacht. He rolls like Caesar! Larger than life and with control over all the guys in the movie. "Billy, I'm gonna take care of you baby."

I'm holding my breath.

Last night after the premier of Angelina's "A Mighty Heart," the paparazzi went bonkers on the carpet. The cast posed for a group shot, then Brad and Angie made their way to the car...then pushing, yelling and shoving began. It was scary from my vantage point high above and across the street.

Cannes is great but will be better when my sweetheart arrives on Thursday.

Stars Stumping For Foreign Goods

This morning I left Cannes very early to catch a flight home. As we drove I noticed more examples of what is a most common trend:

Celebrities doing foreign print campaigns.

Do you recall the character played by Bill Murray in 'Lost in Translation', who pimps himself for some kind of after dinner drink brand all over Japan? Well, there's a little bit of that guy in so many of our celebs.

George Clooney on countless billboards, posing almost identically to the Bill Murray character, for Nespresso (caffeinated hot cocoa maybe?).

Clive Owen giving his best debonair for 'Hypnose' cologne.

Demi Moore for Helena Rubinstein face sculptor....

Tim Burton for Samsung.

I remember seeing Ben Affleck and Brad Pitt both striking it sexy on a Paris subway years ago...

From sunglasses to watches, cologne and skin creams, they're everywhere but in America it seems. This strategy must mean we (Americans) are too judgmental or the fear of over exposure at one's base (home country) looms too large.

Whatever the reason, I am all but certain that Nespresso is forbidden to run the smoldering coffee ads here in the states...would George laugh about them? He's very good at self-deprecation, but in this case, I am not so sure.

Now if I see him modeling Kimonos in Japan, the gloves come off.

Paris The Role Model?

Last night as I went to bed in my soft big bed, I couldn't help but think of Paris Hilton and her family...honestly.

Soon she'll be adjusted and comfortable... The fears of prison life behind her, a whole band of prisoners having pledged their devotion to the ways of 'Hilty'. But for this moment, she was a 26 year old, child of tremendous privilege in a 12' x 8' cell trying to sleep. She is not a model citizen. In my opinion, the constant attention her antics attract, are worth shielding your children from. (Yes, my children do not watch my own show).

But these first few nights have got to be gutting, lonely, scary and accompanied by all sorts of "commitments" to become a different person.

I bet Paris is a truly sweet young woman right now. She is stripped of all her securities and relying solely on herself. I imagine she is at her most humble

Paris Hilton Ordered Back To Jail

Paris Hilton is in custody at the Twin Towers jail in downtown Los Angeles.

The heiress is expected to spend the weekend at the facility in the medical wing.

Hilton was sent screaming and crying back to jail after a judge ruled that she must serve out her sentence behind bars rather than in the comfort of her Hollywood Hills home.

"It's not right!" shouted Hilton, who violated her probation in a reckless driving case. "Mom!" she cried out to her mother.

Her lawyers have since filed an appeal. Click here to view Paris' appeal

Hours earlier, the 26-year-old hotel heiress was taken handcuffed from her home in a black-and-white police car, paparazzi sprinting in pursuit and helicopters broadcasting live from above.

She entered the courtroom disheveled and weeping, hair askew, without makeup, wearing a fuzzy gray sweat shirt over slacks.

She cried throughout the hearing, dabbing her eyes, and her body shook constantly. Several times she turned to her parents, seated behind her in the courtroom, and mouthed, "I love you."

Despite being ordered to serve the remainder of her original 45-day sentence, Hilton could still be released early. Inmates are given a day off their terms for every four days of good behavior, and her days in home detention counted as time served.

Superior Court Judge Michael T. Sauer was calm but apparently irked by Sheriff Lee Baca's decision to release Hilton three days into her sentence due to an unspecified "medical condition."

"I at no time condoned the actions of the sheriff and at no time told him I approved the actions," Sauer said. "At no time did I approve the defendant being released from custody to her home."

The hearing was requested by the city attorney's office, which had prosecuted Hilton and wanted Baca held in contempt for releasing Hilton despite Sauer's express order that she must serve her time in jail. The judge took no action on the contempt request.

A member of the county counsel's staff said Baca was willing to come to court with medical personnel. The judge did not take him up on the offer.

Assistant City Attorney Dan F. Jeffries argued that Hilton's incarceration was purely up to the judge. "Her release after only three days erodes confidence in the judicial system," he said.
Hilton's attorney, Richard Hutton, implored the judge to order a hearing in his chambers to hear testimony about Hilton's medical condition before making a decision. The judge did not respond to that suggestion.

Another of her attorneys, Steve Levine, said, "The sheriff has determined that because of her medical situation, (jail) is a dangerous place for her."

"The court's role here is to let the Sheriff's Department run the jail," he said.

The judge interrupted several times to say that he had received a call last Wednesday from an undersheriff informing him that Hilton had a medical condition and that he would submit papers to
the judge to consider. He said the papers never arrived.

Every few minutes, the judge would interrupt proceedings, state the time on the clock, and note that the papers still had not arrived.

He also noted that he had heard that a private psychiatrist visited Hilton in jail, and he wondered if that person played a role in deciding her medical needs.

The last attorney to speak was another deputy city attorney, David Bozanich, who declared, "This is a simple case. There was a court. The Sheriff's Department chose to violate that order. There
is no ambiguity."

Hilton's twisted jailhouse saga began Sept. 7, when she failed a sobriety test after police saw her weaving down a street in her Mercedes-Benz on what she said was a late-night hamburger run.

She pleaded no contest to reckless driving and was sentenced to 36 months' probation, alcohol education and $1,500 in fines. In the months that followed she was stopped twice while driving on a suspended license. The second stop landed her in Sauer's courtroom.

Back before Sauer on Friday, Hilton's entire body trembled as the final pitch was made for her further incarceration. She clutched a ball of tissue and tears ran down her face.

Seconds later, the judge announced his decision: "The defendant is remanded to county jail to serve the remainder of her 45-day sentence. This order is forthwith."

Hilton screamed.

Eight deputies immediately ordered all spectators out of the courtroom. Hilton's mother, Kathy, threw her arms around her husband, Rick, and sobbed uncontrollably.

Deputies escorted Hilton out of the room, holding each of her arms as she looked back.