Farrah Fawcett likely to endure as 1970s icon

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - She gained fame as a sex symbol and the star of a cheesy television show, which should have made Farrah Fawcett a footnote in Hollywood history.

But her up-and-down career and public battle with cancer could give her a lasting legacy as an icon of 1970s pop culture long after her death on Thursday.


Fawcett's dazzling smile and flowing blonde hair, her struggle to be taken seriously as an actress, her love affair with actor Ryan O'Neal and her grueling TV diary documenting her fight against cancer should help ensure she is remembered.

Despite only one full season as private detective Jill Munroe in "Charlie's Angels" in 1976, Fawcett's healthy, athletic girl-next-door -- all captured in a poster of a tanned, smiling Fawcett in a red one-piece bathing suit -- made her a sex symbol for millions of young men around the world.

She was "embedded in American hearts and consciousness" as a symbol of the era, said Robert Thompson, professor of popular culture at Syracuse University in New York.

Fawcett's body of work was small, but her roles as a serious actress in the 1980s dramas "Extremities" and "The Burning Bed" earned her award nominations, transforming her from Hollywood pin-up to an acclaimed actress.

Finally, near her death, she documented her battle with anal cancer and then liver cancer in the self-produced "Farrah's Story," broadcast on U.S. television in May.

"It was a grueling, painful thing to watch. Farrah Fawcett managed to get on the air something that looked into the heart of darkness in a way that a lot of TV and film has never managed to do," Thompson said.

Fawcett's on-again, off-again romance with O'Neal turned into a compelling real life "Love Story" when the actor, who starred in a 1970 movie of that name, returned to Fawcett's side in 2006 as her constant companion.

Michael Jackson, 'King of Pop,' dead at 50

LOS ANGELES - Pop icon Michael Jackson died Thursday after suffering a cardiac arrest, multiple US media outlets reported, sending shockwaves around the entertainment world.


The Los Angeles Times and TMZ.com celebrity news website reported Jackson, 50, died after suffering an arrest just after 12:00 pm (1900 GMT) local time and paramedics were unable to revive him.

The Times cited multiple city and law enforcement officials as confirming the pop icon's death. Jackson's manager Tohme E. Tohme was not immediately available for comment when contacted by AFP.


Officials at UCLA Medical Center where Jackson was treated also could not be reached for comment. National and local television networks showed hundreds of media gathered at UCLA Medical Center for what appeared to be a briefing. CNN was unable to confirm the death, stating that Jackson was in a coma. Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Devin Gales did not confirm Jackson's identity but said paramedics went to an address corresponding to the star's home at 12:21 pm (1921 GMT) and the person was taken to UCLA Medical Center.


An unidentified family member earlier told TMZ -- the first outlet to report that Jackson had suffered a cardiac arrest -- that the star was in "really bad shape." Michael's father Joe Jackson told E! Online he was aware of the emergency but did not know further details. "I am in Las Vegas, but yes, people in Los Angeles called me and are with Michael and tell me he was taken to the hospital," he said. "I am not sure what's wrong. I am waiting to hear back from them."


The reports came as Jackson prepared to make a keenly anticipated concert comeback in London, his first series of shows in more than a decade and the first since his 2005 acquittal on child molestation charges.

However those concerts -- billed as the "final curtain" -- had been thrown into doubt after Jackson pushed back the opening dates last month. Organizers of the concerts at the time stressed the delay was not linked to Jackson's health.


In a press conference from the United States broadcast over the Internet, AEG Live president Randy Phillips was asked about Jackson's health and said: "I would trade my body for his tomorrow. He's in fantastic shape." While Jackson reigned as the "King of Pop" in the 1980s, his once-stellar career had been overshadowed by his colorful public behavior, his startling physical transformation and multiple allegations of child abuse.


Jackson lived as a virtual recluse following his 2005 acquittal on charges including child molestation and plotting to kidnap his young accuser. Despite his acquittal, the trial was a body blow from which the pop music superstar struggled to recover. Four years later, Jackson is still worshipped by fans for revolutionizing music, dance and music videos at the peak of his success. The attention however paid to him in recent years has been less flattering, focusing on apparent cosmetic surgery -- which he denies -- his baby dangling antics and a decade of swirling child abuse allegations.


Born on August 29, 1958, Jackson made his show business debut with four of his older brothers in the Jackson Five pop group, and went on to lead the stage clan with a piping soprano and dazzling dance moves.


By 1969, the group had signed a contract with Motown Records, becoming one of the last great acts to emerge from the legendary label. The Jacksons produced seven platinum singles for Motown, selling over a million, and three multi-platinum albums, selling more than two million. They moved to CBS's Epic Records in 1976.

Despite the early success, Jackson was to recall those years as unhappy and lonely ones.

Eventually the family act broke up, as Jackson went solo. In 1979, Quincy Jones produced Jackson's first solo album for Epic, "Off the Wall," a huge disco-oriented success that sold 10 million copies.

They teamed up again in 1982 for what would be Jackson's breakthrough album as a composer and co-producer, "Thriller," which became the top-selling album of all time, with sales exceeding 41 million. - AFP /ls

The Year's Most Infamous Celebrities

Last year, New York Yankees third-baseman Alex Rodriguez was seemingly on top of the world. He'd just signed a new 10-year, $275 million deal with the Bronx Bombers, making him the eighth-highest-earning athlete on Forbes' list of the 100 most powerful celebrities in the world.

But after admitting to injecting a banned substance when playing for the Texas Rangers, cavorting with Madonna as his six-year marriage was crumbling and doing little to keep the Yankees from missing the playoffs for the first time in 14 seasons, A-Rod finds himself atop a very different kind of ranking: Forbes' Infamy Index.

Our second annual peek at the dark side of fame, the index ranks celebrities based on negative press coverage garnered over the past 12 months. This year's batch of "winners" consists of six men and four women who hail from sports, acting, music and even beauty pageants. Among them: Lindsay Lohan, Plaxico Burress, Christian Bale, Nadya "Octo-mom" Suleman and Jon and Kate Gosselin.

Rodriguez moved up fast after facing allegations in February that he'd tested positive for the steroids Primobolan and testosterone in 2003, and later admitted to having used a banned substance during that time. In April, the unauthorized biography A-Rod: The Many Lives of Alex Rodriguez levied further steroid accusations and claims Rodriguez cheated by tipping pitches to opposing players. Former Yankees manager Joe Torre also painted a less-than-flattering portrait of the third-baseman in his book The Yankee Years, referring to Rodriguez as "A-Fraud."


Now back in the Yankees' dugout after missing the first month of the 2009 baseball season with a torn labrum, A-Rod has been hot at the plate and back in the headlines for reportedly squiring actress Kate Hudson around town.

Hollywood's War of the Wages

The tabloids have long pitted Brad Pitt's ex-wife Jennifer Aniston against his current lover Angelina Jolie, with everything from their fashion sense to their eating habits up for comparison and debate. But when it comes to a tangible measure of Hollywood success -- money -- the glossies steer clear. And on that score, Jolie's the winner--by $2 million.

Thanks to successful box office runs for "Wanted" and "Kung Fu Panda" as well as her upcoming CIA thriller "Salt," Jolie raked in an estimated $27 million over the last year. (The impressive haul coupled with her media ubiquity catapulted her to the top of Forbes' Celebrity 100 list.)

As for Aniston, this year's hits "Marley & Me" and "He's Just Not That Into You" helped her earn an estimated $25 million during the last 12 months. She also continues to see income from her VitaminWater endorsement and the frequently rerun episodes of "Friends."

To determine who's on top among Hollywood rivals such as Carrie Underwood and Taylor Swift; Ryan Seacrest and Simon Cowell; and Jay Leno, David Letterman, and Conan O'Brien, Forbes tallied all entertainment-related earnings -- from movies, TV programs, albums, athletic contracts, fashion lines, and endorsement deals -- between June 2008 and June 2009.

It's perhaps the fairest way to pick a winner in showdowns like the bigmouth battle between shock-jocks Rush Limbaugh and Howard Stern. The former may have garnered more ink over the last 12 months -- some have even dubbed him the unofficial leader of the Republican party -- but Stern owns him when it comes to making money. Limbaugh made $54 million to Stern's $70 million over the past year. Even with Limbaugh's new eight-year contract worth an estimated $400 million, on top of his heavily trafficked website, books, and speaking engagements, the political lightning rod can't compete with Stern's financial prowess. Stern's XM Satellite deal will continue to pay him an estimated $100 million annually, less the production costs for the show, through 2010.

Supermodels-turned-super-personalities Tyra Banks and Heidi Klum both built their fame and fortunes in the modeling world, before becoming multi-platform brands. In the final tally, though, Banks does better business. Between June 2008 and June 2009, she raked in an estimated $30 million with several TV shows, including "America's Next Top Model,"

"The Tyra Banks Show," "True Beauty," and "Stylista," as well as her own production company, appropriately titled Bankable Productions. During the same period, Klum pulled down $14 million. In addition to walking the runway (the pregnant mother of three remains a Victoria's Secret angel), the German-born beauty hosts Lifetime's "Project Runway" and "Germany's Next Top Model." She also lends her face to brands like McDonald's, Volkswagen, and LG.

Of course, not every competition has a clear winner -- at least as it pertains to paychecks. Such is the case with tween sensations Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers, all of whom earned an estimated -- and jaw-dropping -- $25 million during the course of the year, thanks to ever-expanding and multi-platform portfolios that include television, films, music, and merchandise.

The most lopsided battle of them all? That's the one between daytime divas Ellen DeGeneres and Oprah Winfrey. Yes, DeGeneres scored big on TV and endorsements (she's a face of American Express and Cover Girl) this year, earning $35 million, but no one in entertainment rivals Winfrey when it comes to paychecks.

Between TV, radio, a magazine, and the Web, the queen of all media banked another $275 million between June 2008 and June 2009. Come 2010, she'll add a new program ("The Dr. Oz Show") and a new network (OWN) to her ever-expanding portfolio. DeGeneres won't be catching up anytime soon.

"Twilight" star Pattinson hit by taxi as flees fans

NEW YORK (Reuters) - "Twilight" star Robert Pattinson was hit by a taxi in New York as he tried to run away from a crowd of hysterical teenage fans, but he was not seriously injured, U.S. media reported.

Pattinson, 23, who stars in the hit teenage vampire movies, was clipped on the hip in front a bookstore in Manhattan where he was shooting scenes on Thursday for his new film, "Remember Me," a drama about two young lovers dealing with family tragedies.

Flanked by five security guards, the British actor tried to run past a group of teenage girls who had gathered outside the bookstore and cross the street to his trailer when the accident happened.
He was not seriously injured, but his bodyguards reportedly were furious, according to RadarOnline.com which claimed to have witnessed the accident. One of the bodyguards yelled at the girls: "You see what you did, you almost killed him!"
Pattinson's manager did not comment on the accident.

Pattinson has become one of the hottest properties in Hollywood since appearing in "Twilight" as brooding vampire Edward Cullen.

This week he was voted the world's most handsome man by online readers of Vanity Fair.

CYRUS: HANNAH MONTANA TO END AFTER NEXT SEASON

Disney star MILEY CYRUS will quit her role as HANNAH MONTANA when the show's fourth season ends next year (10).

The 16 year old skyrocketed to stardom as a normal schoolgirl who leads a double life as a pop star at night.
Rumours Cyrus was itching to move on from the TV series were silenced when she signed up for another season of the hit show earlier this month (Jun09).

But the star's dad Billy Ray Cyrus - who also plays her father in the programme - has confirmed the fourth season will be her last.

He tells U.S. news show Access Hollywood, "Quite frankly, I give a lot of credit to Miley for taking it to another year. She didn't want it to just end with whatever was the last episode we did... She wanted there to be an official ending to Hannah Montana."

Cyrus is scheduled to tape 11 episodes and a special one-hour series finale starting in January (10).

AMANDA: I CAN’T STAND LINDSAY

OK! NEWS: AMANDA Seyfried has hit out at Lindsay Lohan and says she “can’t stand her”.The actress, who starred with Lindsay in Mean Girls, says the pair never stayed in touch following filming of the 2004 film.And Amanda said she had no regrets about losing contact with the star.But she’s not the only former co-star of Lindsay’s who wasn’t a fan of the actress’s antics.Megan Fox recently said the pair “didn’t get along” during filming of Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen.

And Ugly Betty actress America Ferrera is rumoured to have fought with Lindsay during her short stint on the show.

MADONNA MOVES MERCY OUT

MADONNA’s people have moved her newly adopted daughter into a luxury lodge in Malawi.

The singer has sent a nanny and a nurse to look after toddler Mercy James while immigration paperwork is completed in the African country, allowing her to be flown to the US where she will join the rest of Madonna’s family.Mercy was taken to the lodge in the country’s capital, Lilongwe, after the singer won an appeal hearing to adopt her on Friday.

The singer was initially refused the right to adopt in April, on the grounds she hadn’t lived in the country for 18 months prior to the adoption - usually a pre-requisite for adoptive parents.But Madonna said she was “ecstatic” after learning last week that her appeal had been successful.

She said: “[I’m] extremely grateful…My family and I look forward to sharing our lives with her."Once paperwork is complete Mercy will be flown to New York where she will join Madonna, 50, and her new sister Lourdes, 12, and brothers Rocco, eight and David Banda, three - who was also adopted from Malawi.

"House" is world's most popular TV show: ratings

PARIS - US drama "House", starring Britain's Hugh Laurie as unconventional medical genius Doctor Gregory House, outgunned rivals in 2008 to become the world's most watched fiction show on television.

According to ratings agency Eurodata TV Worldwide, House and his team of canny diagnosticians last year gathered more than 81.8 million viewers.

That was far more than the 2007 and 2006 winners in the same TV drama category, "CSI: Las Vegas", about a team of forensic experts, and its spin-off "CSI: Miami".

The agency bases its figures on data collected in 66 countries from Austria to Georgia to Norway to the United States that represent a potential audience of 1.6 billion couch potatoes.

In the TV comedy category, the US female-star cast of "Desperate Housewives" for the second year running beat "Monk" (US) and "Ugly Betty" (US), attracting 65.3 million viewers worldwide in 2008.

"The Bold and the Beautiful", also a US show, with 24.5 million viewers was the most popular soap for the second consecutive year, thrashing Mexican telenovela "Marina" and US competitor "The Young And The Restless." - AFP/vm

Heidi Montag Poses for Playboy

Heidi Montag has gotten a lot of exposure lately – but the newlywed is about to get even more: She has posed for the September issue of Playboy, PEOPLE has confirmed. The reality star was most recently stirring up drama on I'm a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here, shot in Costa Rica, where she was briefly hospitalized.

In April, she married her Hills costar Spencer Pratt. Details of her Playboy photos are, um, scant: "There is nudity. It's tasteful – she had a lot of fun with it," says a second source. A rep for the magazine had no comment, and Montag's rep was not immediately available to respond to questions.

Actor Carradine's death not suicide: expert

LOS ANGELES : A forensics expert hired by actor David Carradine's family has said the "Kill Bill" star did not commit suicide, but stressed that a final cause of death was still to be determined.

Forensic pathologist Michael Baden said initial investigations into the death of the 72-year-old actor, found hanging in a Bangkok hotel room last week, indicated he had not killed himself. "The autopsy findings and the evidence thus far available demonstrate that Mr Carradine's death was not the result of suicide," Baden said in a statement released by a spokesman for the Carradine family.

"However, to reach a final determination as to the cause and the manner of death we must wait for further information from Thailand as to the scene findings and the completion of the crime laboratory and toxicology studies that are still being performed."

Baden, who has appeared as an expert defence witness in several high-profile US murder trials, most notably those of American football star OJ Simpson and music producer Phil Spector, had carried out a second autopsy on Carradine. Thai police have said they suspect Carradine died from a sex act that went wrong after his body was discovered on June 4 hanging from a wardrobe rail in a Bangkok hotel room, naked and with ropes attached to his neck and penis. Carradine, star of 1970s TV series "Kung Fu" and the hit "Kill Bill" movies, was in the Thai capital to shoot a film called "Stretch." An initial autopsy report revealed that the actor died from a sudden lack of oxygen and his body showed no signs of struggle.

A Thai forensic expert told AFP the death appeared to have been caused by auto-erotic asphyxiation, the practice of intentionally cutting off oxygen to the brain for sexual arousal. Family and friends of Carradine have all rejected suggestions the actor was suicidal. The actor's brother Keith Carradine thanked fans for messages of support received since news of the death broke. "First of all, we would like to thank everyone for their heartfelt expressions of love and sympathy for what we are going through," Carradine said in a statement Thursday. "This is a devastating loss for our family and we greatly appreciate the compassion pouring in from all over the world.

"We wish to express our gratitude to the government of Thailand and the Lumpini Police Station in Bangkok for their support and cooperation and to the US Department of State for their assistance." - AFP/sh

Rihanna and Chris Brown Go to NBA Game – But Not Together

At Game 4 of the NBA Finals in Orlando on Thursday night, the real action took place in the stands: Rihanna and Chris Brown were both there.

"They requested to sit together" at the matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Orlando Magic, says a source. But when game time arrived, the one-time lovers opted for seats in separate sections. During half time, each retreated to separate private lounges, according to eyewitnesses. The outing comes just two days after Rihanna, 21, was subpoenaed to appear in court to testify in the assault case against Brown, 20, and a day after she was out with Aubrey "Drake" Griffin, the Canadian rapper to whom she's been linked.

The couple, whose relationship has been on-again-off-again since Brown allegedly attacked Rihanna in February, were last known to be together in April in Los Angeles. Reps for the NBA and the singers had no comment.

Megan Fox: Stop Comparing Me to Angelina Jolie!

Most stars would be happy to be compared to Angelina Jolie. Megan Fox isn't one of them."It's a lack of creativity on the media's part," the "Transformers" star says in the latest issue of Entertainment Weekly (on newsstands June 12). "Because I have tattoos and dark hair and I was in an action movie? That's as far as the similarities extend."

Adds Fox, "I'm not the next anyone."

The 23-year-old actress -- who says she was joking when she once said she was afraid of the "Changeling" star -- admits that she has no plans to get to know Jolie.

"She always seems otherworldly in her power and her confidence," Fox says. "I'm sure she has no idea who I am. But if I were her, I'd be like, 'Who [...] is this little bulls--- brat who was in 'Transformers' that's going to be the next me?' I don't want to meet her. I'd be embarrassed."
Fox even interjects when asked if she wanted to follow in Jolie's footsteps of starting out as a sex symbol before taking on serious roles.

"Angelina Jolie was always a Method actress," she says. "She'd been nominated for Golden Globes before she ever did 'Tomb Raider'."

Still, the star -- who admits "I'm clearly not ugly" -- isn't bothered by the fact that she's seen as a sex symbol.

"I don't know why someone would complain about that," she says. "That just means that the bar has been set pretty low. People don't expect me to do anything that's worth watching. So I can only be an overachiever. I think all women in Hollywood are known as sex symbols. That's what our purpose is in this business. You're merchandised, you're a product. You're sold and it's based on sex. But that's okay. I think women should be empowered by that, not degraded." In fact, she doesn't regret how "Transformers" made her "this new girl" in the industry.

"I happened to be such an outrageous personality that people wanted to start writing about me because it was deemed controversial," she says. "I think if I had been a typical Hollywood actress and I said all the right things and I had been a publicity android, it wouldn't have escalated to this level."

Fox, who appears in this summer's blockbuster "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen," doesn't want to still be making robot movies five years from now, but when asked what the worst-case scenario would be, she says, "That I'd be on 'The Hills'."

Britney Spears to tour Australia for first time!!!

LOS ANGELES – Pop icon Britney Spears is to perform in Australia for the first time in her career later this year when she takes her "Circus" tour Down Under, it was announced Tuesday.

Spears, 27, will play six concerts in four cities beginning with a gig in Perth on November 6 before wrapping up in Brisbane on November 24, said a statement on the singer's website. "I've wanted to tour Australia for quite some time and now it's finally happening," Spears said in the statement.

"Circus" got underway in New Orleans in March, the singer's first major tour in five years. Spears had been due to stage five concerts in Australia during her 2004 "Onyx Hotel" tour but cancelled after suffering a knee injury while shooting a video. Spears, who suffered myriad personal problems following her 2006 divorce from ex-husband Kevin Federline, has rebuilt her career in recent months, enjoying chart-topping album success and largely positive concert reviews.

Australia Tour Dates:

November 6: Perth

November 11: Melbourne

November 12: Melbourne

November 19: Sydney

November 20: Sydney

November 24: Brisbane

- AFP/ra

Miss California USA stripped of crown

LOS ANGELES : Miss California USA Carrie Prejean has been stripped of her title, officials said Wednesday, ending a turbulent reign marked by racy photos and controversy over her stance on gay marriage. Officials for the pageant - owned by tycoon Donald Trump - said Prejean was being dethroned for contract violations over "unwillingness to make appearances on behalf of the Miss California USA organisation."

It marked an ignominious end for the blonde beauty queen, who triggered a national debate earlier this year when she voiced her opposition to same-sex marriage when answering a question posed by judge at the Miss USA pageant. Prejean, who finished runner-up in the pageant, attracted criticism from same-sex marriage supporters following her comments, which came in response to a question from judge and celebrity blogger Perez Hilton.

Shortly after the furore, the emergence of several risque photos of Prejean taken earlier in her career prompted an investigation into whether she had violated the terms of her contract. Despite calls for her to be sacked, Trump and Miss USA officials said she could keep her title at a press conference in New York where Prejean fought back tears. Miss California pageant director Keith Lewis said Wednesday's Prejean's dismissal was solely for "contract violations."

"After our press conference in New York we had hoped we would be able to forge a better working relationship," Lewis said.

"However, since that time it has become abundantly clear that Carrie is unwilling to fulfill her obligations under our contract and work together."

Trump said he supported the decision to fire Prejean. "I told Carrie she needed to get back to work and honour her contract with the Miss California USA Organization and I gave her the opportunity to do so," Trump said.

"Unfortunately, it just doesn't look like it is going to happen and I offered Keith my full support in making this decision. Carrie is a beautiful young woman and I wish her well as she pursues her other interests." - AFP/il

Paris Hilton & Doug Reinhardt BREAK UP

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Paris Hilton is single again, according to People.
The celebutante and former "The Hills" star Doug Reinhardt have reportedly broken up.

"In response to the inquiry on whether Paris Hilton has split up with Doug Reinhardt, yes, this is true they are no longer together," a Paris rep told the mag. "They remain friends and ask that you please respect their privacy."

News of the split comes as Paris jets off to Dubai to find a new bestie on the latest season of "Paris Hilton's My New BFF," previously based in London and Los Angeles.

According to an Associated Press report from last week, Doug was set to join her on the trip. He and the heiress had been inseparable over their six months of dating, with the pair spotted recently at the Cannes Film Festival for the premiere of Paris' new documentary, "Paris, Not France."

Is Lindsay Lohan engaged to Samantha Ronson?

The actress -- who told Us Weekly she was "so alone" after her April split from her DJ girlfriend -- was spotted in London with a diamond ring on her left hand (where engagement rings are usually worn, although she had it on her third finger instead of ring finger).

The pair, who dated for about two years, caught a flight to L.A. together at London's Heathrow Airport Monday.Lohan was cryptic on her Twitter page."Leaving London but but with my favorite favorite!!!-travel buddy & great news to share!! Maybe." she wrote.

Getting married would be a 180 for the couple: According to Britain's Daily Mail, they stayed at separate hotels, and Ronson avoided Lohan on the club scene.

Meanwhile, an air date was announced for Lohan's flick Labor Pains, in which she fakes her pregnancy to save her job at a publishing company. The direct-to-TV movie will be broadcast Sunday, July 19 on ABC Family.

Kirsten Dunst Returning For 'Spider-Man 4,' Villain To Be Chosen Soon

NEW YORK, New York -- Kirsten Dunst will return as Mary Jane Watson, "Spider-Man 4" producer Todd Black told the New York Post.The star will rejoin director Sam Raimi and star Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker's love interest in the latest installment in the popular superhero franchise, which is slated for May 6, 2011.

However, don't expect wedding bells for Mary Jane and Peter - Black told the newspaper that he was unaware of such a subplot. At the close of "Spider-Man 3," the two had an emotional - but ambiguous - reunion after the film's events drove the lovers apart.
Additionally, Black hinted at the film's villain, shooting down online rumors that pegged comic book character Morbius the Living Vampire as the latest member of Spidey's rogue gallery.

Instead, the producer told the Post that the villain had a significant connection to the Big Apple.
"We're just coming up with who the villain is now," he said. "We'll be shooting in New York again. Trust me, people will appreciate who we pick, because it'll be a big part of New York."
In past films, Spider-Man has faced off with the Green Goblin, Dr. Octopus, Venom and Sandman, leaving a number of famous villains who could make their silver screen debut in "Spider-Man 4."

Among the popular options are Kraven the Hunter, Chameleon, the Hobgoblin, Mysterio, Venom offspring Carnage and the Lizard, whose human alter-ego, Dr. Curt Connors, had a role in the previous two movies.

Another potential foe could be New York crime boss the Kingpin - however, the character appeared in 20th Century Fox's "Daredevil" and would likely require a rights acquisition by Sony Pictures.

But the crime lord would give the film a New York connection - and would also be Access Hollywood film critic Scott Mantz's top choice.

"The Kingpin is grounded in reality, and that's the appeal of Spider-Man," Mantz said, adding another suggestion to the mix - femme fatale the Black Cat. "I'd like to see the Kingpin and the Black Cat, to stir the pot with Peter's relationship with Mary Jane."

Will Adam Lambert's Rolling Stone Interview Hurt Or Help His Career?

So this week, Adam Lambert's salivatingly-awaited, serpentine-accessorized Rolling Stone cover issue comes out. And I mean that literally. Yes, it's in this RS interview that Adam comes out of his fabulously appointed, leather-pants-filled closet to announce what all the world already knew: That he is (gasp!) gay.

"I don't think it should be a surprise for anyone to hear that I'm gay," Adam correctly states, adding: "I'm proud of my sexuality. I embrace it." (As if there was ever ANYTHING about Adam Lambert's public persona that seemed shy or self-effacing!)

Yeah, yeah, I know--not so shocking. Not nearly as shocking as Lambert losing on Idol, really. It's not like Adam ever even slightly denied that he is homosexual. This is a guy who, on the most exciting Idol finale ever, not only performed in drag-queen-supplied Bob Mackie angel wings and platform Kiss boots from his "private collection," but also took on the Freddie Mercury role for the gay-rights Queen anthem "We Are The Champions," after all.

But Adam's sexuality was likely something he wasn't allowed to officially discuss before now (past gay Idol contestants like R.J. Helton, Jim Verrarros, and Danny Noriega have all publicly claimed that the show ordered them to keep mum regarding their sexual orientation--how very "don't ask, don't tell," huh?). Or frankly, his sexuality just wasn't something he felt was necessary to discuss within the context of the Idol competition.

In the end, we'll just have to wait to tally Adam's album sales figures to see if this tell-all article was a turn-off to more conservative record-buyers, or if it indeed refocused the attention on Adam's music. Most successful openly gay celebrities--Elton John, Rosie O'Donnell, Ellen DeGeneres, George Michael, even Clay Aiken--have only come out well into their careers, after developing such strong fanbases that they could afford to lose a few fairweather fans put off by the news of their homosexuality. But Adam, possibly the bravest and boldest Idol contestant ever, faces a unique challenge by (as Kara DioGuardi recently worded it on The View) pretty much being out from the beginning.

Paris Hilton bringing her reality series to Dubai

NEW YORK - Dubai is synonymous with glitz and excess — but can the Middle Eastern hotspot handle the likes of Paris Hilton?

The fame-loving heiress is about to make her first trip to Dubai. The city, located in the United Arab Emirates, will be the location for an upcoming edition of her reality series "Paris Hilton's My New BFF."

Producer Michael Hirschorn said Wednesday that filming will begin later this month and last some three weeks. The finale will be filmed in Los Angeles.

Hirschorn said the show — and Hilton — will respect the culture of the region, and will be "walked through in great detail what is expected" and allowed.

Casting is under way to find contestants to compete for the chance to be Hilton's new best friend forever — or BFF.
Hilton, 28, wants to expand her brand in the Arab world, said Hirschorn.

He said the plan is to build "My New BFF" into a global franchise, with Hilton searching for BFFs around the world.

Hilton previously filmed two seasons in Los Angeles for MTV and one in London for British television. The second season of the American edition premiered Tuesday.

The Dubai version is "intended for broadcast throughout the Arab region, so it will be sold to networks throughout that area," said Hirschorn. "The hope is to sell it internationally, (in) Europe and Asia and the United States if possible."

No air date has been set, he said.

2009 MTV Movie Awards Nominees and Winners

This years 2009 MTV Movie Awards nominees are composed of several heroes, villains and vampires plus a millionaire from Asia. Fans and MTV Awards supporters can now vote for the best picure until the said date specifieid. Below are the movies and the categories that they are currently nominated:

The Dark Knight. Starred by Christian Bale as Batman and the late Heath Ledger as the Joker. Nominated for Best Movie, Best Male Performance, Best Villain and Best Fight.

Twilight. Starred by Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner. The movie and cast can win Best Movie, Best Female Performance, Breakthrough Male Performance, Best Fight, Best Kiss and Best Song.

Slumdog Millionaire. This Grammy Award best picture is starred by Dev Patel and Freida Pinto who are both nominated on MTV for Breakthrough Male and Female Performance. The movie is also nominated for Best Movie, Best Kiss, Best WTF moment and Best Song.

Highschool Musical 3: Senior Year. This teen movie starred by Zac Efron, Ashley Tisdale, and Vanessa Hudgens were nominated for Best Male and Female Breakthrough Performance.

There are other movies included on the list of nominees like Wanted by Angelina Jolie and the Marvel character “Iron Man” by Robert Downey Jr. and many more.

Now here’s the winners of the 2009 MTV Awards Night:

Best Movie - TwilightBest

Male Performance - Zac Efron (High School Musical 3)
Best Female Performance - Kristen Stewart (Twilight)

Best Villain - Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight)

Best Comedic Performance - Jim Carrey (Yes Man)

Best Fight - Robert Pattinson vs. Cam Gigandet (Twilight)

Best Kiss - Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart (Twilight)

Best Female Breakthrough Performance - Ashley Tisdale (High School Musical 3)

Best Male Breakthrough Performance - Robert Pattinson (Twilight)

Best “WTF” Moment - Amy Poehler (Baby Mama)

Best Song from a Movie - Miley Cyrus (Hannah Montana: The Movie)

Generation Award - Ben Stiller

Lunch Date for Camilla and Joe

Camilla Belle ("When a Stranger Calls") and her pop star boy toy, Joe Jonas, emerge from a lunch date in Los Angeles.

Avril Lavigne Beach Escapade

Avril Lavigne and a friend frolic in the waves at Malibu Beach.

Armstrong announces birth of son on Twitter

Armstrong, who won the Tour de France seven straight years after overcoming testicular cancer, announced the birth of his son on the social-networking site Twitter late Thursday night. The proud papa even posted a picture of the newborn, playfully sticking his tongue out at the camera.

"Wassup, world? My name is Max Armstrong and I just arrived. My Mommy is healthy and so am I!" Armstrong posted to his account at about 11:15 p.m. EDT.

Armstrong and his girlfriend, Anna Hansen, announced in December they were expecting a baby in June. Armstrong also has three children with his ex-wife, Kristin.

About 15 minutes after the initial post, Armstrong sent another message praising the doctor and nurse who helped deliver the newborn, saying they were amazing. He then posted that Max weight 7 pounds, 5 ounces and was 20 inches long.

Three years after retiring following his last Tour de France win, Armstrong announced in September his return to competition and cycling's marquee race in 2009. He called his comeback an attempt to raise global awareness in his fight against cancer.

Armstrong competed in the Giro d'Italia in May, finishing 12th overall. He did not speak to the media for the final two weeks, but announced on his Twitter page after the race that he was headed home to await the baby's arrival.

Jolie tops celebrity power list

Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie has been named the most powerful celebrity in the world by Forbes magazine.

The 33-year-old knocked talk show host Oprah Winfrey off the top spot on the annual Celebrity 100 list, which is based on earnings and media exposure.

FORBES CELEBRITY TOP 10
Angelina Jolie
Oprah Winfrey
Madonna
Beyonce
Tiger Woods
Bruce Springsteen
Steven Spielberg
Jennifer Aniston
Brad Pitt
Kobe Bryant

Madonna came third, followed by singer Beyonce and golfer Tiger Woods - the only man in the top five. Coldplay lead the British charge at 15, but chef Gordon Ramsay and Harry Potter author JK Rowling dropped off the list.

Jolie, who earned $27m (£16.5m) last year, moved from third place in 2008 due to high-profile turns in films such as Wanted and Kung Fu Panda, according to Forbes business magazine.
But Winfrey remained the top earner, taking home $275m (£186m).

Jolie's partner Brad Pitt came in ninth place, just behind his ex-wife, former Friends star Jennifer Aniston, who took eighth position.

Singer Bruce Springsteen, who is currently on a world tour, director Steven Spielberg and basketball star Kobe Bryant completed the top 10.

Other Britons to feature on the list included X Factor and Britain's Got Talent judge Simon Cowell, who took 25th place with earnings of $75m (£46m), and House star Hugh Laurie, who made his debut on the list at 94.

However there was no room for Kate Winslet, despite winning the best actress Oscar earlier this year.

Author Rowling disappeared from the list, having no new Harry Potter books to promote and with the latest film postponed from November last year.

Similiarly Justin Timberlake did not feature in the list following the end of his lucrative FutureSex/LoveShow tour, despite taking 12th place last year.

Singer Jennifer Lopez, actor Johnny Depp and model Tyra Banks also dropped off the list.