Celebritology

The Jackson Kids: What Now?

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 10:40:42 -0500

Prince Michael II (aka Blanket) clutches a Michael Jackson action figure at Tuesday's Staples Center tribute to his father. (Reuters) I have one nagging Michael Jackson-related issue that just won't let me rest until we talk about it. Michael Jackson's children, had the singer been alive and able to attend his own memorial service, would have been covered in veils or masks and daughter Paris would never have been allowed near the mic to share her heart-wrenching grief with 31 million viewers (in the U.S. alone). If the rest of Jackson's life -- his finances, health, career -- were a bit scattered, he was meticulous in one thing -- guarding the privacy of his three children. Until his death on June 25, the peeks we had of Prince Michael (12), Paris (11) and Blanket (7) were rare and, as mentioned above, their faces were often obscured by masks or

Doctor Says He's Not Father of Jacko's Kids; Lindsay Lohan Denies Tanner Formula Theft

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 09:02:09 -0500

Headlines: Doctor says "to the best of [his] knowledge," he's not the father of Michael Jackson's children ... Mariah Carey apologizes for tribute performance... Jason Bateman talks about past addiction... Kelly Preston to open up about losing son Jett... Lindsay Lohan denies stealing self-tanner formula; jewels missing from Lohan's Elle photoshoot valued at $38,500 -- considerably less than the original estimate of $400,000... Jerry Seinfeld to spruik in Australian building society ads... Ozzy Osbourne's dog eaten by coyote, says daughter Kelly... Ed McMahon's Walk of Fame star vandalized... Judge says Kate Walsh's ex can make ABC president sit for divorce deposition... Edward Furlong divorcing wife of three years. Pix: Madonna and new daughter Mercy James visit Paris... Lady GaGa dons mask for press conference (some NSFW pix at link). Video: Beyonce debuts video for new single "Sweet Dreams": More: "Outtakes" from James Franco's never-delivered UCLA commencement speech (some NSFW

Celebs Doing Things

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 11:10:00 -0500

Michael Keaton checks out the bat cave. (Photo courtesy Popular-Pics.com) A highly specific subset of Web sites focuses on pictures of celebrities doing things. I mean really specific things. For instance, the sadly not-updated-in-a-while Celebrities Playing Table Tennis or the also lapsed visual orgy that is Celebrities-Eating.com. Or, on the less flattering end of the spectrum, one can browse pix of stars not wearing makeup or this gallery of boldfaced nose pickers. Occupying a shadow land somewhere between tabloid gawking and LOL Cats, one can easily waste a (Wednesday) morning browsing through endless galleries of celeb-glorification and/or derision. Like the Twinkie, the sites are devoid of calories, existing only to please and leave us feeling sated, yet guilty. In that spirit, today I thought we'd compile a crowd-sourced listing of celebs riding roller coasters. Why? Just 'cuz. Be happy I didn't write about MJ again. And I wanted to.

Jackson Death Certificate Released; Lilo Accused of Stealing Spray Tan Formula

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 08:10:20 -0500

Headlines: No cause of death listed on Michael Jackson's death certificate; Los Angeles mayor asks for donations to cover costs of hosting memorial... Lindsay Lohan sued for allegedly stealing spray tan formula... Justin Timberlake shopping golf book proposal... Katie Holmes launches dance scholarship foundation... Grad student invents "anti-paparazzi device" for celebs... "Real Housewives of New York City" picked up for third season; co-star Bethenny Frankel engaged... Willow Smith (daughter of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith) to make TV acting debut... Keanu Reeves wants paternity claim dismissed. Crime Watch: "Harry Potter" star Jamie Waylett charged with growing marijuana plants. Pix: Michael Jackson memorial program... Jimmy Fallon overdresses for White House Independence Day gig... Britney Spears's new airbrushed Candies campaign. Video: Paris Jackson's farewell to dad Michael. Rumor Mill: Lindsay Lohan turned down "Hangover" role... Rep denies Sharon Stone air rage reports. Well Said "Michael Jackson, like Elvis, like Sinatra,

Twittering the Michael Jackson Memorial

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 10:33:01 -0500

Queen Latifah read a poem written for the event by poet Maya Angelou. (Getty Images) Update: Thanks to everyone who joined us for today's Tweet-a-thon and, of course to David Malitz and Ashley Surdin for helping to provide the running commentary. A transcript is below. -- 4:32 p.m. ET. Join Post Rock blogger David Malitz, The Post's Ashley Surdin and me, Liz, as we Tweet live during Tuesday's Michael Jackson public memorial event. David and I will be watching along with you, while Ashley plans to send her dispatches live from L.A.'s Staples Center. The Associated Press's streaming video coverage of the event is posted above, but you can also watch on a new page. The Tweeting is underway below, but will ramp up as we approach the 1 p.m. ET Staples Center start time, and we plan to stick with it until the end, which we're told will

Fans Gather for Jackson Memorial Event; 'Three's Company' Star Arrested for DUI

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 07:56:41 -0500

Former 'Three's Company' star Joyce DeWitt is shown in a photo released by the El Segundo, Calif. Police Department. (AP) Headlines: Fans begin to gather for today's Michael Jackson memorial event: movie theaters, 16 networks to air memorial... Debbie Rowe, Elizabeth Taylor not expected to attend... Tickets listed for up to $15,000 on eBay... Event may cost up to $2.5 million for taxpayers... Katherine Jackson loses control of son's estate... Kal Penn finally starts White House gig... "The Office's" Jenna Fischer engaged... Accident-prone Bret Michaels uninjured in tour bus pile-up... Miley Cyrus says her new jeans line will be good for "Middle America"... Rumer Willis set for "90210" cameo... Benicio del Toro encourages Puerto Rico inmates to seek a second chance... Casey Kasem gives up weekly countdown. Crime Watch: "Three's Company's" Joyce DeWitt arrested on suspicion of DUI [insert Regal Beagle jokes here]... Brother accused of stealing $11 million

No Jeremy Piven Decision Yet; Why No Malden Congressional Moment?

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 11:02:10 -0500

Jeremy Piven, looking healthy on the red carpet at this year's Golden Globes. (AP) Liz, what ever happened to Jeremy Piven as a result of sushi-gate/his mercury poisoning/actor court trial? -- Submitted to last week's Celebritology Live chat Ah yes, Jeremy Piven and the mysterious case of the sushi overdose. We are about due for an update, eh? To fill in anyone not familiar with the case, the "Entourage" star cited high levels of mercury in his system after he abruptly quit the Broadway production of "Speed the Plow" last December -- throwing the production into disarray, incurring the wrath of (and a slight bit of relief from) his co-stars and prompting "Plow" playwright David Mamet to comment that Piven was "leaving show business to pursue a career as a thermometer." A suspicious Actors Equity union filed charges against Piven, claiming the supposedly sick Piven had been spotted out

Los Angeles Braces for Jackson Tribute; Jon & Kate Spend the 4th Together

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 09:28:49 -0500

Headlines: 1.6 million fans vie for tickets to Tuesday public Michael Jackson memorial | Where to watch... Jon and Kate Gosselin celebrate July 4 together with kids... Tom Cruise celebrates 47th birthday in Australia... "Harry Potter's" Rupert Grint recovering from Swine Flu... "Transformers" director Michael Bay says Megan Fox needs to grow up... Tori Spelling writes children's book... "T.J. Hooker" set for big screen adaptation. Pix: Miley Cyrus in August's Elle... David and Victoria Beckham's new Armani ad... Rihanna's intentional wardrobe malfunction (NSFW). Video: Madonna pays tribute to Michael Jackson at London concert... More: 1996 footage of Michael Jackson deposed by lawyers. Rumor Mill: Michael Jackson had surgery days before death... Department of Children and Family Services investigate Jackson's kids... Former bodyguard says Jackson had secret girlfriend... Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel headed for break up?... Chris Brown hooks up with sometime Kanye West girlfriend Amber Rose?... Courtney Love

Kevin Jonas, You May Want to Read This

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:15:22 -0500

Headed to the chapel: Kevin Jonas. (Reuters) Kevin Jonas, the 22-year-old tweener heart throb who, along with his two brothers, fronts a successful Disney brand band -- recently announced plans to marry 21-year-old girlfriend Danielle Deleasa. Though this news may help rumor mongers hoping to ID a gay Jonas brother and we're all for letting love rule, Kevin may want to put the brakes on party planning and consider how some other young matrimonially-inclined celebs fared. And it isn't a good story. Britney Spears Married at 23 A two-year marriage to skeevy back-up dancer Kevin Federline left Spears with two kids, unhinged and bald. Spears, now 27, has since recovered, and is in the midst of a comeback. She was recently rumored to be contemplating another marriage. (Spears also had a previous one-day marriage to high school pal Jason Alexander annulled.) Angelina Jolie Married at 21 Jolie's first marriage

No Public Jackson Memorial This Week; Gwyneth Prefers Spain to U.S.

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 07:58:50 -0500

Headlines: No public or private viewings for Michael Jackson this weekend, says family; memorial may happen Tuesday at L.A.'s Staples Center... Request for Neverland burial denied... DEA joins investigation into Jackson's medications... 2.6 million Jackson downloads sold in one week... Pathologist says David Carradine died of asphyxiation... Gwyneth Paltrow says Spanish know how to enjoy life more than Blackberry-addled Americans... 22-year-old Kevin Jonas engaged... Kate Gosselin's clothing line for kids on hold as "Jon and Kate" ratings plummet... Nicole Richie designs maternity clothes; Beyonce launching "Sasha Fierce" line of junior clothing... Hilary Duff joining cast of "Gossip Girl" for multi-episode arc... C. Thomas Howell to host new reality show. Pix: Bearded Keanu Reeves in Paris... Brad Pitt's new "Never-EverLand" art installation. Video: Ricky Gervais's "Invention of Lying" trailer... Rumor Mill: Bradley Cooper and Renee Zellweger spotted dining out... Tameka Foster says she and Usher had sex a week before

Karl Malden Dead at 97

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:18:09 -0500

Karl Malden in 1950. (AP) The Associated Press is reporting that Karl Malden -- actor, Oscar winner, Amex pitchman -- has died at the age of 97. We'll have a gallery up shortly chronicling his life and career. In the meantime, anyone looking to compile a list of flicks for a commemorative Karl Malden movie night may want to add these classics to the viewing list: "A Streetcar Named Desire": Malden won an Oscar for his role as Harold 'Mitch' Mitchell. "On the Waterfront": Come for Marlon Brando's brooding performance, but stay for Malden's winning turn as a Catholic priest. "Baby Doll": Elia Kazan's tale about a man married to a child bride is set against a crumbling Southern backdrop. Not for the kids. Share your memories -- and favorite Malden portrayals -- below.

Poetic Justice: Lindsay Lohan, Birthday Girl

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 10:42:27 -0500

Lindsay Lohan at her Vegas birthday fest/tanning lotion promotion. (Getty Images) Lest we forget, this week we celebrate an important American milestone: Lindsay Lohan's birthday. The one-time tween star turned tabloid darling will be 23 (which is like 87 in Lohan years). Lilo has already kicked off the festivities -- she was reportedly paid $70,000 to host a pool party at Las Vegas's MGM Grand. Today we'll join in the fun by making Lohan our muse. Compose your poetic birthday wishes to Lindsay below. Haiku, double dactyl, Seuss-ian, free verse -- your choice. Just keep your submission to 12 lines or shorter. The best submission (which will be determined by the highly scientific formula of me guffawing and taking your faves into consideration) will win a coveted May 1984 (Note: Lilo wasn't even born yet) issue of Tiger Beat/Star featuring Duran Duran's Nick Rhodes on the cover, a hard-hitting

Michael Jackson Will Surfaces; Farrah Fawcett Laid to Rest

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 07:14:31 -0500

'Charlie's Angels' co-star Kate Jackson attends Farrah Fawcett's funeral yesterday in Los Angeles. (Reuters) Headlines: Michael Jackson will surfaces; pop star had net worth of $236 million in 2007; public and private funeral plans set... Farrah Fawcett mourned at private funeral... Fawcett made peace with Lee Majors before death... Al Franken named winner of Minnesota Senate race... Jude Law to play Hamlet on Broadway... Sigourney Weaver pulls out of "Ghostbusters" sequel... Tameka Foster says she was surprised by Usher divorce filing... Final "Lost" season extended by one hour. Pix: Madonna's new Louis Vuitton ad... Madonna nudes go on display in London... Michael Jackson's changing face (video)... "Real Housewife" Danielle Staub's "All My Children" scene (video). Rumor Mill: Jackson never adopted kids; Dermatologist may be biological father... Jackson fans committing suicide?... Rumors of George Clooney's death greatly exaggerated... Simon Cowell offered $144 million to stay for one more year of

Jacko Overload?

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 10:42:27 -0500

I'm Liz and I'm a Jacko-holic. I'm as wary as the next celebrity news blogger about over-covering the Michael Jackson story, but the crowning of Jacko as the King of Celebrity Deaths (his funeral is expected to dwarf Princess Diana's) and wall-to-wall coverage has slowed our usual diet of celeb news to a trickle. The week after a triumvirate of celeb deaths (let's not forget we lost Farrah and Ed last week, too) even pix of Sarah Jessica Parker's new twins and the latest Jon and Kate update seem ho-hum. So I'll admit it. The crush of Jackson details (I'm somewhat of a bizarro news aficionado, which will come as no surprise to long-time Celebritology readers who shudder at the memory of the now-retired "Britney Watch" and my abiding taste for stuff like this and this) has distracted me to the point of uselessness for all non-Jacko-related stories. I've had

Tabloid Paid $500K for Jackson Pic; SJP Reveals New Twins

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:10:34 -0500

Sarah Jessica Parker, Matthew Broderick and son James Wilkie pose with new twins Marion Loretta Elwell, left, and Tabitha Hodge. (AP) Headlines: Lawyer says he has a copy of Michael Jackson's will... OK! Magazine paid $500,000 for cover photo of dying Jackson (Warning: thumbnail of pic at link)... Promoter to issue refund to Jackson concert ticket-holders... Medical examiner says heart disease may have killed Billy Mays... Jon and Kate Gosselin say they're done talking to the media; Kate Gosselin's book delayed... Emma Watson says she didn't know of "Harry Potter" fortune until she turned 18... Britney Spears's and Ellen DeGeneres's TwitPic accounts hacked... Christopher Meloni and Mariska Hargitay sign on for two more years of "SVU"... Patrick Dempsey launching second fragrance... Diane Keaton fine after on-set accident while wearing Sumo wrestler costume that is actually an improvement on her normal garb... "Bachelor" dumpee Melissa Rycroft engaged. Pix: Michael Jackson

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Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:10:34 -0500