'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.

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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.

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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."

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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.