Ludacris Declares That 'All Respect Is Lost' For Chingy
MTV
The peace in Disturbing Tha Peace has been disrupted, and now Ludacris is telling Chingy to blow it out where the sun don't shine.
Over the summer, Chingy abruptly bolted the crew that helped him break into the game. The fire was fanned to the point of no return earlier this month, when the December issue of XXL magazine hit the stands. Chingy, who made the cover, revealed to the publication that he had monetary disputes with Chaka Zulu, a co-owner of DTP who was acting as Chingy's manager (without a contract).
"This is the first time we hear about his accusations, in a tabloid or through different media outlets, so all respect is lost," Ludacris revealed Thursday, sitting with Chaka Zulu in New York. "He keeps saying it's cool. It's not cool. ... It's completely over. Financially he still is signed to Disturbing Tha Peace, and we'll do what we have to do, but we don't want anybody representing the crew who's gonna make false accusations like that. We have no respect for this individual, basically."
Last week in New York, if you asked Ching-a-Ling about the conflict, he played the whole situation down as a strike toward independence.
"It wouldn't be no beef," Chingy answered when asked what would happen if Luda walked through the door. "I just seen him. It ain't like that. People think it's like that. If we was beefing, you would be hearing about it."
"It's a contract thing," Chingy further elaborated on his departure from the crew. "I don't want to get into that. Me and the management had our differences. Plus I'm trying to develop my business mind. Ain't nobody going to do for me like I'mma do for me. Ain't nobody gonna look out for me like I'mma look out for me. I had to step aside, start my own thing. Now I'm watching what's going on, giving my opinion and word. If something gets messed up, then blame it on me."
Chaka said he and his company EbonySon opened up the books twice for Chingy to dissect.
"Everybody from his lawyers to his accountants said there was no money missing," Zulu said. "There was no problem. From there we was like, 'Now can we sit down and talk?' We repeatedly said, 'Anytime you like to talk, let's discuss it. What's going on?' My thing is, [Chingy is] fabricating things to make everything make sense to the public. Don't put out false information."
"He has repeatedly come to us and said, 'I want to talk to you about this situation' and that's all he says; 'I want to talk to you.' He has never talked about it, and now he forces us to talk and speak out against him."
Besides the way his career was being handled, Chingy also said he felt he couldn't grow beyond being number two as long as he was with Disturbing Tha Peace.
"I started my own label, Slot-A-Lot records," he said. "And I had a crew who I wanted to push too. I wasn't really doing that. I don't want to stay down here. I'm trying to grow. I'm trying to elevate, so I'm trying to kick things off."
"That's ludicrous," Ludacris laughed when asked whether there was any jealousy toward Chingy.
"You can tell when somebody's a leader or not," Luda continued. "What was given to him, you can make your own situation out of it. That was perfectly fine. We're gonna encourage you to do that. Nobody wants to be an artist for the rest of their lives. We want you to make entrepreneurial moves — that's what business is all about.
"I'm the CEO of the company. I'm also an artist, but I sign artists with the expectation of every single artist being as big as they can possibly be. That's what makes me happy, because we are a family. You can still internally do your own thing, but still be a part of the family. No one's going to pigeonhole you. We're here to make you as successful as possible because it in turn makes us successful."
Chingy says he's been in talks with 50 Cent to make his Git It Boyz the lead act from a G-Unit South label. Chingy has also signed his little sister to Slot-A-Lot.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Illness Delays Aiken Tour Kick Off
Billboard
Clay Aiken has canceled the first three dates of his Joyful Noise holiday tour due to illness. The singer, who suffered vocal chord damage from ear and sinus infections, was to kick off the run Sunday (Nov. 21) in Pasadena, Calif. Also out are shows Monday in Phoenix and Tuesday in El Cajon, Calif. Aiken's management is working to reschedule the canceled shows.
The tour will now open Nov. 26 in Costa Mesa, Calif. Aiken is still expected to attend tonight's (Nov. 19) Los Angeles benefit dinner for his Bubel/Aiken Foundation but will not perform, as had been expected.
Aiken will be touring in support of his RCA holiday album, "Merry Christmas With Love," released earlier this week. The former "American Idol" contestant will be backed by a 30-piece orchestra, which in some cities will be augmented by a local symphony and/or choir.
Aiken delayed the start of the trek under doctors orders, after travel to promote inspirational memoir, "Learning To sing: Hearing the Music in Your Life," aggravated his condition. The book was published earlier this week by Random House.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Justin Guarini Out Of 'Beach Boys' Musical
www.WildWritings.com
The Associated Press reports 'American Idol' season one runner-up Justin Guarini has left the cast of 'Good Vibrations', the upcoming Broadway musical that uses songs by the Beach Boys. In a terse statement issued Wednesday, the producers announced that they and Guarini "have parted company." His replacement will be announced soon, Susanne Tighe, a spokeswoman for the show, said
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dr. Dre Attacked, Man Stabbed During Melee At Vibe Awards
MTV
The second annual Vibe Awards turned ugly Monday night after Dr. Dre was attacked, the G-Unit got involved in a brawl, and a man was stabbed.
The evening started off on a high note, with several performers from the hip-hop community taking the stage, yet there was still some tension in the air.
"Suge [Knight] was there, you had a few other characters that were there from Los Angeles, Snoop was there, Dre was there, Game was there," said Jimmy Henchman, the show's co-executive producer and manager of such artists as Guerilla Black and Mario Winans. "Some people felt a little uncomfortable, people who knew the history."
According to several eyewitness accounts, about three-quarters of the way into the program Snoop Dogg and Quincy Jones were onstage getting ready to present Dr. Dre with the Vibe Legend Award when the legendary production impresario was attacked near the stage. Witnesses said Dre was standing next to his wife when a man approached him, asking him for an autograph.
"Dre, being the gentleman he is, was about to sign the autograph when the guy punched him," Henchman said. "It was nothing, though. Dre handled him. Dre grabbed the dude and handled him. You could tell somebody put a battery in the kid's back to do what he did. He jumped out there."
On "TRL" Tuesday, Eminem talked about the incident, saying that "Dre is OK. He's fine. It was stupid."
As Dre started to defend himself by swinging back, bodyguards and people with the G-Unit jumped in to protect him and things quickly got out of control.
MTV has obtained footage of some of the brawl, and it shows Jones and Snoop onstage while the fighting ensues. Jones is on the mic telling people that they "messed up my rap" and later vents in disgust, "I can't believe this." On the floor — although they are not seen throwing punches — 50 Cent and Lloyd Banks are in the middle of the fray. Several men who appear to be with them have their attention directed toward two other men. One of the men is extremely husky and is holding the considerably smaller man in his arms to protect him. The smaller man is visibly frightened and holding onto the leg of a police officer who is standing onstage. Meanwhile, the men who appeared to be with the G-Unit were throwing chairs and punches, and police sprayed mace into the whirlwind of people. The fight spilled behind a black curtain to the backstage area of the awards show, which was held in the Barker Hangar at Santa Monica Municipal Airport.
Santa Monica police said one man — whom they identified only as being a 26-year-old from Los Angeles — was stabbed during the incident. He was taken to a hospital and is listed in stable condition. The only description they give of the suspect was that he was a black male wearing a white T-shirt. Police are scheduled to hold a press conference regarding the incident Tuesday evening.
"Thank God nothing more serious happened to Dre," Henchman said. "It hurts us, hurts hip-hop, hurts the whole experience. It's just a shame that there is no real forum for us to enjoy ourselves. You had the [American Music Awards] one night prior that went eventless, then you had the Vibe Awards. When they punched Dre, they punched the whole industry in the face. Then all of us got in the back of our minds the memories of what happened in L.A. with Biggie. That doesn't leave us. We're reminded of this sh--, especially when we're at an event. It kind put a black eye on the hip-hop community. It makes us not even want to come out."
A spokesperson for the G-Unit and Dr. Dre had no comment on the matter, but Vibe President Kenard Gibbs released a statement Tuesday afternoon, saying, "We are deeply saddened by the incident that occurred last night. It is unfortunate that an event so many people worked very hard to create has been tainted by the actions of a few individuals. The Vibe Awards and Vibe magazine represent the best of urban culture and they will continue to do so. It is a testament to the true vision of the Vibe Awards that the magnificent talent and staff continued on to create a fantastic show."
After the situation calmed down — between 10 and 25 minutes later — the ceremony continued. Dr. Dre picked up his award and told the crowd he wouldn't let incidents like that one slow him down. Later, the audience was treated to a performance of "Drop It Like It's Hot" by Snoop with Pharrell Williams. Jadakiss also performed and was joined by Anthony Hamilton and Common.
"It's kind of like if you give in to terrorism," Henchman said about talk of not continuing with the program. "Don't get deterred. You kind of have to keep up your spirits even though [the man] tried to f--- it up. We just continued."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ol' Dirty Bastard's Death Stuns And Saddens His Peers
MTV
It's fitting that Russell Jones, best known as Ol' Dirty Bastard, had so many monikers over the years, as he meant many things to many people.
"He was a genius," said Pharrell Williams, who produced ODB's biggest hit ("Got Your Money") and was working on his upcoming Dirt McGirt album. "And he was a great guy."
"He was one of my favorite rappers of all time," added Kanye West, Dirty's labelmate at Roc-A-Fella Records. "His voice was unmatched. There was a time, when I was trying to get into hip-hop, when I would have cut off a piece of my finger to have his voice."
"He was a brother," said Snoop Dogg, who recently collaborated on a track for ODB's upcoming album.
By Sunday, word of Ol' Dirty Bastard's death the day before had spread across a shaken hip-hop community, which has lost so many of its icons at young ages (see "Rapper Ol' Dirty Bastard Dies").
"We sad about it," Snoop said. "We troubled because that was one of our brothers. It touches right at home. But at the same time, God has a plan. And we know he's in a better place and we pray for his family."
"It's a tragedy," Outkast's Big Boi added. "Prayers go out to all his kids and his family. It just goes to show you have to live life to the fullest."
As ODB's peers mourned the loss of one of the most eccentric personalities in rap, they remembered him for both his talent and his antics. (Click for photos of Ol' Dirty Bastard's life and career.)
"That was my man 'cause he crazy with it," Twista said. "He [didn't] even care. He [was] going to say what he want to say, and it's going to sound real good. It's a tragic loss, him being so young and all. I just want to give my blessings and condolences to his family. We gonna keep bumping ODB and Wu-Tang Clan forever."
"ODB was very influential on me," added Chingy. "The whole Wu-Tang Clan inspired me. I used to watch them in the beginning."
ODB's death has also stunned the pop music community, where the rapper made a mark through collaborations with Mariah Carey and, most recently, JC Chasez.
"He was a great guy," said Chasez, who worked with ODB on a remix of his single "Some Girls (Dance With Women)." "I had a lot of fun working with him. When we were working together, he was in great spirits, and he was focused. He was pulling his life together. He was nothing but wonderful to me."
"I didn't know ODB personally, but he was definitely a different individual," said Usher.
"My mouth just dropped, " JoJo said. "Nobody deserves to die that young. It's terrible. He was so talented"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------John Mayer Duets with Kanye West
MTV
LOS ANGELES — When John Mayer turned up at a listening party for The College Dropout in January, Kanye West said he found the singer/songwriter's lyrics "inspirational."
"He words stuff with a real, I guess it's a witty, intelligent, very human [sensibility]. I would like to grab some of those qualities," West said at the time (see "Forget Cristal — John Mayer CDs Are The Latest Hip-Hop Must-Have"). "I wish he was my friend."
Well, it seems West got his wish.
"I just did some stuff with Kanye in the studio that's ridiculous," Mayer said at Sunday's American Music Awards. "We have a thing on tape that's pretty cool."
"I don't wanna give too much away," West said later. "I don't do music for the hype behind it. It's because I really love John as an artist, I like his voice. He's like the modern day [Doobie Brothers singer] Michael McDonald. ... And me and John, we just cool, period. Like me and Common, we get in the studio and we vibe and then we make music from that point. If I can't vibe with a person then I can't do the song."
Neither would reveal more about the collaboration except that it will likely appear on West's follow-up to The College Dropout, titled Late Registration.
West is about 75 percent done with the record, due in the spring. When asked who else he's collaborating with, West paused for a moment and then answered, "Nobody!"
West has been working on the album since his tour with Usher wrapped in October. Although he also spent some time in the studio with Mariah Carey (see "With Help From Kanye, R. Kelly, Snoop, Mariah Readies New LP"), the producer is focused on his own material.
"Whatever happened to artists working on their own sh--?" West said. "Like Kurt Cobain, what if he would've given ['Smells Like Teen Spirit'] to ... what was that group that made 'Mr. Jones'? [Counting Crows] No. They should have kept it for Nirvana."
West is, however, lending his talents to artists on the roster of his new GOOD Music imprint, which includes Common, Keisha Cole, Farnsworth Bentley, GLC and Consequence.
"It stands for Getting Out Our Dreams, and this year I was able to accomplish all my dreams and I wanted to provide the opportunity for other people to get their dreams out," West explained. "I'm really trying to make good albums and make good music, 'cause that's what it's about."
West is also pursuing his interest in fashion, but he draws the line at following his hip-hop peers to Hollywood.
"I think you would rather see Denzel on the screen and rather have Kanye West in your CD player," he said. "I feel like there is a void in music that I still have a responsibility to fill. College Dropout was just the first chapter, and if I was to let my music slip and start acting now, I would let my fans down."
West revealed little about Late Registration but hinted that his quest to make more spiritual hip-hop is still on.
"I definitely think that God is watching over everything that I do," West said. "He gives you options, He lets you makes mistakes, He walks with you, and He has definitely been in my life since before the accident. I definitely believe He let me stay on this earth for a reason. And I hope that I'm making Him proud."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eminem Album Preview: Has Success Spoiled Shady?
MTV
Eminem has built his career rapping about his hard-knock life, displaying such hellacious humor and skills that even the leeriest of skeptics and top-flank MCs — from Nas to Jay-Z to 50 Cent — have had to pay homage. No MC has sold more records and a small few have reached his level of lyrical ingenuity and acuteness.
So now that he's caked up, saluted for his efforts on the mic, behind the boards (he just finished producing an album's worth of Tupac songs) and in the boardroom (Shady Records is moving units, G), Eminem is taking an Encore. But the question now is, will all the praise catch up with him? Will he slip into the spot where so many have fallen before: the comfort zone?
On Encore, he weaves in and out of it, sometimes laughing aloud at jokes only he might get; at other points, he's impassioned, opening up about recent events that struck chords in his heart and conscience.
By now, the whole world has caught wind of Em's formula when dropping an album. He'll put out the gleefully ig-nant first single, referencing several pop icons to get everyone's attention — stir the pot, if you will — then drop the hard-hitting second offering just to show you how dope he is.
That's why no one flinched — give or take a King of Pop here or a Source magazine owner there — when "Just Lose It" came out and Em rapped with an extra I-can-do-whatever-I-want-and-you'll-love-it air. Nobody in their right mind thought that the song would be the best track on Encore, and they were right: "Mosh," the second single (with its controversial animated video), was nothing short of a spectacle.
But how does the rest of Encore — which drops this Friday — stack up?
Like his other albums, Encore shows different sides of Marshall Mathers, with the Motor City madman revisiting his issues with his family — society and even the Man of Steel.
Even a person with the kookiest sense of humor may find it difficult to crack a smile at the references to the late Christopher Reeve in "Rain Man." "I killed Superman, I killed Super ... man," he raps with an almost robotic flow after lamenting about people who find his lyrics offensive. "I say you're all just all too goddamn sensitive," he continues. "It's censorship and it's downright blasphemous ... I won't stand for this, and Christopher Reeve won't stand for this, neither."
The second verse finds Em switching up his flow and cadence, acting as a Southerner questioning hetero- and homosexuality and morals. Em then gives a big wink at the end of the track, saying, "I just did a whole song and I didn't say sh--."
On "Ass Like That," Em switches up his cadences again, this time managing to sound like Triumph the Insult Comic Dog in his verses. On the chorus, he practically chants the words, "The way you shake it, I can't believe it/ I ain't never seen an ass like that," before launching into a juvenile description of his body's reaction.
He goes on to praise certain celebrities' booties, with comments about Jessica Simpson and Gwen Stefani as well as a certain pair of famous sisters. "Mary-Kate and Ashley used to be so wholesome," he says. "Now they're getting older, they're starting to grow bum-bums."
Encore does have some sobering moments, where Em raps with resounding clarity and insight. "Like Toy Soldiers" uses a sample of Martika's "Toy Soldiers" and breaks down, in detail, his recent beefs with the Inc. and The Source magazine.
As the drumline beats, Em begins rhyming — but not with the take-no-prisoners approach that we heard on mixtape freestyles like "Hail Mary," where he (with 50 Cent and Busta Rhymes in tow) attacked Ja Rule: "You ain't no killa, you a pu---," he rapped. "That ecstasy done got you all emotional and mushy/ Bitches wearing rags in photos, Ja's words being quoted/ In The Source, stealin' 'Pac's sh-- like he just wrote it."
But here, Eminem is reflective and remorseful as he tells why the battles started and why he wishes they hadn't occurred. "Even though the battle was won, I feel like we lost it/ I spent so much energy on it, honestly, I'm exhausted ... This ain't what I'm in hip-hop for, it's not why I got in it."
Shady goes on to admit he's cognizant of the fact that when a war on wax gets ugly — with barbs even thrown at a particular party's kids — things could get physical. "It was never my object for someone to get killed/ Why would I want to destroy something I helped build?"
However, the relationship he built with the mother of his daughter, Kim Mathers, seems to be totally in shambles on "Puke." The record actually starts with the sound of Em vomiting in the toilet bowl.
"You make me f---ing sick to my stomach/ Every time that I think of you, I puke," he sings in a whiney voice over some slow G-funk mixed with his own thunderous Detroit claps and drum-thumps. He comes off like a rock and roll singer, putting his acclaimed flow in park for four minutes to rant and rave about the woman he calls a "slut" and wishes could stick a needle in her eye.
Love, however cannot be mistaken on "Mockingbird." That song plays out almost like Em reading a letter to his daughter and niece as he tries to explain his strife with his wife and missing time with them while he handles his celebrity duties. The piano plays as he conversates in a fleet, bouncing flow. "Two little beautiful girls looking puzzled, in a daze/ Daddy's always on the move, momma's always on the news/ I tried to keep you sheltered from it, but somehow it seems/ Like the more I try to do it, the more it backfires on me."
Once again, Em tried to give his album a standard Tuesday release date (November 16), but was thwarted due to bootlegging. Encore has already made its way onto the 'Net and into bootleggers' hands, and thus has been moved up to November 12.
Although the album's title track, which features Dr. Dre and 50 Cent, has been released on vinyl to DJs, there hasn't been an official choice for a single and video to follow up "Mosh."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lindsay Lohan Talks '70s, Wilmer; Admits Part Of Her Body Isn't Real
MTV
Once Lindsay Lohan was feeling good enough to go back to work, back to work she went — right into boyfriend Wilmer Valderrama's arms. Luckily for Lohan, her next job required her to fall for Fez, Valderrama's character on "That '70s Show."
"It's very apropos," Lohan said, "because I am with Wilmer, and ultimately, [no matter] who I was with [in the show], I'd end up with him."
Right before the actress/singer was scheduled to do her guest spot on the sitcom, she fell ill and spent six days in the hospital (see "Lindsay Lohan Hospitalized, Undergoing Tests"), causing the shoot to be rescheduled and her character to be revised. "I'm feeling better now," Lohan said. "I was working a lot, tired, and run down. I had been sick and ignoring it and avoiding it. I wasn't going to the dentist, I wasn't going to the doctor, I was just trying to work through it. And you know, when you're sick and you don't take that break, it's hard to heal and get better."
Lohan's much more vibrant in her guest spot, in an episode called "Mother's Little Helper" that airs Wednesday (November 10) at 8 p.m. ET — and she's more natural, as befits a show that ostensibly still takes place in the 1970s.
"I took my extensions out," she said. "I had to when I was in the hospital. It was hurting my head, and whenever I can, it's nice to get them out. I can actually feel my scalp."
As could Valderrama, since his main technique in wooing Lohan's character Danielle is by giving her a tingly feeling when he does her hair. Danielle goes to Fez's beauty salon to get ready for a date with Aston Kutcher's character, Kelso, but like many of Fez's salon clients, she also talks a lot about how she's feeling. Though she thinks Kelso is "really cute," she also considers him a "knucklehead" and complains that he doesn't pay enough attention to her. Upon hearing this, Fez tells her that she's a treasure who should be worshipped, "so she kind of switches it up and decides to dis Kelso and not go out on the date with him and go out with Fez" instead, Lohan said. During that haircutting scene, she also gives Fez a big tip — by pulling him down to her for an on-screen kiss.
Though Fez wins Danielle over, he still has to contend with Kelso, who doesn't like being in the middle of a love triangle with his friend once again.
"Fez has had quite a few love triangles," Valderrama said. "I'm still hoping for one between Donna and Eric, but my biggest one — and this is pushing it — is Kelso/ Hyde. But you know what? Anything can happen."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Duff Sisters To Channel The Hiltons, And Possibly Madonna, For 'Material Girls'
MTV
Hilary and Haylie Duff are living in a material world, and they are going to be material girls — in their first movie together, that is.
The famous sibs have already teamed up for one '80s cover for a film this year (the Go-Go's' 1981 Material Girl classic "Our Lips Are Sealed" for the soundtrack to "A Cinderella Story"), and now they have their sights set on another: Madonna's 1984 hit "Material Girl" for the soundtrack to the like-named comedy "Material Girls," in which they'll co-star.
The Duffs will play sibling heiresses who lose their father's fortune in the wake of a scandal and are forced to fend for themselves in the real world. There are shades of the Hilton sisters not just in the setup, but also in their characters' improbable but distinctive names, Persia and Tanzie. This "riches-to-rags" tale originally attracted interest from Anne Hathaway and Lindsay Lohan.
Producers are currently deciding on a director, and the script is going through one more rewrite. The film is scheduled to begin shooting in January. As for that song the Duffs have in mind, thanks to the fact that the film is being produced by Madonna's Maverick Films, permission probably won't be much of a problem. However, reps for both sisters caution that as far as the cover of "Material Girl" is concerned, everything is still being negotiated, and nothing has been signed just yet.
In addition to their cover of "Our Lips Are Sealed," the Duff sisters have collaborated before, working on Hilary's albums together and touring as a package deal this past summer (see "Hilary Duff Shows A 'Girl Can Rock' — Safely — At New York Show"). While Hilary has the higher profile in the film world, Haylie received rave reviews as a popular high school brat in "Napoleon Dynamite" this summer.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jessica Simpson To Dress Her Tween Fans
MTV
Unless they enjoy sucking Jessica Simpson's lickable fragrances off their own wrists, chances are the singer's tween girl fans may feel she has yet to really create a product meant just for them. But that's all going to change: The pop star is launching a line of sportswear, shoes, sneakers, jewelry, hair care, perfume and even accessories for the home aimed at her younger fans.
Simpson's JS Brand Management has signed a licensing deal with New York manufacturing firm Andrew Sports Club to launch the as-yet-unnamed label, which they hope to have in stores by fall 2005.
Andrew Sports Club CEO Andrew Kirpilani, along with daughter Karizma and son Kirshin, recently paid a visit to Simpson's house to show her several design templates which, Kirshin said, she enthusiastically approved.
Jessica and mom Tina will "play key roles" in helping to design the new line, Kirpilani said, and will have "every first right of refusal" if they disapprove of any items.
Simpson was the co-creator of the body-care and cosmetic lines Dessert and Taste, which debuted in stores this year (see "Jessica Simpson's Lickable Fragrances Won't Get In The Way Of A Perky Butt").
Though JS and Andrew Sports Clubs have not signed any official deals with retailers to carry the new line, Kirpilani said they are speaking with department stores such as Macy's as well as other retail outlets like Target.
"We're trying to go after that suburban, middle-America customer," Kirpilani said, "because Jessica is so clean and has such a good reputation."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Haloween for the Celebs!
www.WildWritings.com
Party police at Heidi Klum's Halloween party at Marquee cleared out the men's bathroom to make for Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie. The "Simple Life" stars didn't want to wait in line at the ladies' room.
Curiously, though, the pair felt compelled to share one stall, claims a spy who was slow to vacate the loo. (While they were in there, a spy reports, another party girl wandered into the bathroom and snatched the
makeup bag Hilton had left on the counter.)
Over at NA, 25 guys wearing cop uniforms showed up at model Maggie Rizer's Halloween party. As it turned out, they really were cops. Too bad they were at the wrong address. The officers, who had come to raid the nearby Hunk-Mania all-male revue, apologized as they left, even stopping to shake hands with with Kiss front man Gene Simmons.
Sean (P. Diddy) Combs, dressed as a Roman gladiator, jumped on top of his car to herald his triumphal arrival at Mariah Carey's party at Cain. The Emperor Combs immediately got into a sword fight with a publicist, who used his Prada bag as a shield.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Britney Spears Seeks Hypnotist To Quit Smoking
www.WildWritings.com
The Sunday Mirror reports Britney Spears is desperate to kick her 20-a-day smoking habit before becoming a mother and has been recommended to use British stop-smoking expert Allen Carr, who has weaned dozens of celebrities off tobacco using hypnosis.
"She has made no secret about wanting a baby but doesn't want to be puffing away if she's pregnant," said a close pal. "When she quits smoking she wants it to be forever. She's tried other forms of quitting and they have simply not worked. Britney's going to contact Allen's people as soon as she can to get an appointment."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Janet Jackson's Beef With Beyonce
MTV
Groovevolt.com reports that Janet Jackson is upset with Destiny's Child star Beyonce Knowles. "Beyonce pulled her duet with Jackson after the Superbowl fiasco," a source revealed. "Janet was very hurt by the attack but Beyonce contacted her in September and asked if Destiny's Child could use the vocals for their upcoming album." The phone call didn't go well, as Janet hung up on Beyonce.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Britney's Prerogative Not to Promote
MTV
Anonymous writes "Britney Spears seems to have decided once and for all to step out of any sort of promotion for her new record. Originally, Britney had plans for a hosting gig on Saturday Night Live in December, according to Us Weekly, as well as a surprise appearance at the American Music Awards. But all of those plans have been cancelled according to a rep close to Spears. Britney also had tentative plans to go to the UK sometime in December to promote, 'Greatest Hits: My Prerogative,' as well as her smash hit perfume, 'Curious.' Those plans have also been cancelled for now. Not only that, but Britney has cancelled a new single. The brand new track on her hits album, 'Do Somethin,' was scheduled for radio release in December along with a video in January. But Brit cancelled the release so she could focus on family life. For now, a promo video of a brand new, 'Megamix,' has been sent out."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Are you Voting?
www.WildWritings.com
With news reports stating Bush and Kerry are in a dead heat, we sure hope you're going to vote on Nov. 2 if you're above 18!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
New Superman Movie Finally Has Its Man Of Steel
MTV
A member of the MTV family will soon be leaping over tall buildings in a single bound — 25-year-old Brandon Routh, who played "Wade" on the MTV soap opera "Undressed," will star as the Man of Steel in the upcoming Superman movie.
Warner Bros. announced on Friday (October 22) that the largely unknown actor has been confirmed to star in the film, slated for a summer 2006 release.
"It was always my absolute intention to hire an unknown for this role," the film's director, Bryan Singer, said in a statement. "Brandon is an extremely fine actor who possesses the physical qualifications of Clark Kent/ Superman. But he also embodies the legacy and history of this character in a way that makes me certain he's the right choice."
So who is Brandon Routh? His short résumé includes a few guest spots on shows like "Will & Grace" and "Gilmore Girls," but he's most known for his stint as Seth on ABC's "One Life to Live." Known to his friends and family as "B.J.," he grew up in Norwalk, Iowa, where he graduated from high school in 1998. He was active in both sports and music during high school, and had planned a career in writing after attending the University of Iowa, but then went into modeling instead in 1999. Modeling soon turned into acting; Christina Aguilera's video "What a Girl Wants" is one of his first credits.
The Superman project has had a long list of potential candidates, not only to play the Man of Steel, but also to write and direct his latest adventure, referred to as both "Superman V" and "Superman Returns." Nicolas Cage, Brendan Fraser, Josh Hartnett, Jim Caviezel and even Tom Welling of "Smallville" have vied for the role, which has subtly shifted in the hands of screenwriters from Kevin Smith to J.J. Abrams to current scribes Michael Dougherty and Dan Harris ("X2"), who recently turned in their final script. Though Tim Burton was originally set to direct, that job, too, has changed many hands — Brett Ratner and McG were once attached to the project — until Bryan Singer ultimately landed the job.
One of the main changes Singer made once he signed on was to make the commitment to cast an unknown. He came across a screen test Routh did with McG in June, which is when rumors first linked the actor to the project. Singer viewed those tapes and met with Routh in August.
"We respect and appreciate the intense interest that our fans around the world have in Superman," Jeff Robinov, President of Production for Warner Bros. Pictures, said of the casting decision, "and we went everywhere in search of a talented actor who would represent his look, character and presence. We think Brandon is a gifted young performer who can re-energize this iconic character and excite new audiences about the legend of Superman."
The as-yet-untitled Superman film is expected to begin principal photography in Australia early next year. No other casting decisions have been announced.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paris Hilton's Mom Lands Her Movie Role With Lindsay
PopDirt
The New York Daily News hears that Paris Hilton's mother Kathy has made a heartfelt appeal to Paramount producer Christine Peters to snag Paris a big-screen role opposite Lindsay Lohan in the romantic comedy 'Fashionistas', based on the Lynn Messina novel. "It hasn't been announced yet, but it looks like Paris got the role of Lindsay's nemesis," a source close to the production revealed.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
