Katie Holmes' New Do

Katie Holmes was going for the Cleopatra look when she decided to get this haircut. She looks much older and in this picture much taller than hubby Tom Cruise. This was taken in Germany where Tom Cruise was set to receive an award. But Katie Holmes seems to have stolen the spotlight sporting her new do.

Guess she has to live up to being married to Tom Cruise. She doesn't look bad at all, in fact she's hot. She doesn't have to try so hard.

Pregnant Christina Aguilera Bears 7-Month Belly

A 7-month pregnant Christina Aguilera bears her tummy on the cover of Marie Claire magazine cover of the January issue, on newsstands Dec. 11.

Christina also shares how she found out she was pregnant in this Boston Herald article.

Movie Review: Disney's "Enchanted"

Article source: Associated content


"Enchanted" was a welcome surprise to see Disney create a movie as a satire to most of their fairy tales (as well as fairy tale princesses). Given current movie trends, I've expected most of these to come from the Shrek installment, which has by the way done a lot of spoofs on them already.

"Enchanted" features a new Disney "princess" named Giselle. By far prettier in animation compared to her real life counterpart (nonetheless, Amy Adams who plays Giselle is very attractive). The animation of Giselle though is a cross between Sleeping Beauty's Aurora and Little Mermaid's Ariel.

Anyway moving on, the movie starts off very simply in the archetype of most fairy tale introductions with the use of a... story book. In the land of Andalasia , in the typical Disney fashion all characters can and will sing in the hit melodies that Disney has never failed to provide. Giselle finds the prince of her dreams (as all fairy tales would have it). However when they are about to marry... (Alas!) the prince's evil step mother in disguise foils the ceremony by pushing Giselle into a magic well that takes her to modern-day Manhattan , specifically in Times Square.

If you're a fan of fairy tales and romantic stories, this is one for the books. Disney has maximized their library of fairy tales to come up with one that actually makes a mess of all the historical facts. Making it funny as well as ground-breaking. Disney has finally realized that sometimes to make the formula work, you'd have to work around it or view it from different angles.

What I liked about Enchanted:

• - The movie was refreshing and light. Pretty good viewing after a hard day's work.
• - The way it scoffs at the typical archetypes. There are a bunch of character twists in the movie, like Giselle becoming the rescuer instead of the damsel in distress, the talking squirrel, pip, being more of a hero than prince charming.
• - References to many familiar Walt Disney fairy tales. That was funny. Some may think this corny and it probably is, but when you're dealing with children, the more familiar the pot and the scenes, the easier it is for them to appreciate the story.
• - There was no profanity - when you have a child along, that's always good.
• - Amy Adams' portrayal of Giselle. She managed to get into character by being genuinely sincere and naive that she passed off as a nutcase in the real world.
• - The contrast between the simplicity of the fairy tale life and the complexity of the real world

What I didn't like about Enchanted:

• - The ending was a little shoddy. I don't want to give it away, but it could have been handled with a little more action.
• - The dragon in the end was the size of King kong but the voice was still that of Susan Sarandon's (who played the evil queen)

What my daughter liked about Enchanted:

• - The animal side-kick - a squirrel named pip who apparently is able to save the day all the time (more than the prince).
• - The songs which Disney is so famous for. It always brightens up her eyes and gets her interested in the film.

Moral lessons from Enchanted:

• - Things don't always go as planned. Life is no fairy tale and even this fairy tale didn't go as planned
• - Optimism is a good thing to have, but difficult to maintain when you're alone
• - You will always find someone to love or someone will find you. Its a matter of you being able to live with it

If in the event you disagree with all else here, you have to admit that having people break into song in the middle of New York City has to be funny. And for that you'll have to go see "Enchanted."

Forbes' 20 Richest Women In Entertainment

Here's the short easy to read version of Forbes' 20 Richest Women in Entertainment:

1. Oprah Winfrey - at 1.5 billion dollars is number one on this list, as well as the only black female billionaire.

2. J.K. Rowling - the 1 billion dollar author of the famous series of books, turned blockbuster films - Harry Potter. Her 6th book was considered the fastest-selling book in history, according to Guiness World Records. She is the only author in this list

3. Martha Stewart - runs a media empire that includes a television show, a magazine, books, housewares and a Sirius Satellite Radio channel.

4. Madonna - her masterful manipulation of her image and the press, combined with an astute business sense, have crowned her as one of entertainment's wealthiest and most enduring acts. While her albums don't sell like they used to, her concerts still set attendance records all over the world, grossing $1 billion over the course of her 20-year career.

5. Celine Dion - he Canadian chanteuse's exclusive five-year gig at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas has vaulted her into fifth place on our list of The 20 Richest Women in Entertainment. Her single "My Heart Will Go On"--the theme song for the blockbuster Titanic--sold over 15 million copies alone.

6. Mariah Carey - To date, the pop diva has sold 160 million albums.

7. Janet Jackson - Michael's kid sister has sold over 50 million records worldwide and landed 10 No. 1 singles on Billboard's Hot 100.

8. Julia Roberts - The highest-paid female actress in history. After her breakout role as a hooker with a heart of gold in Pretty Woman (1990), Roberts went on to become the first actress to break the $20 million salary mark for a movie, which had become standard for Hollywood's male superstars. Roberts still holds the world record for highest payday ever earned by an actress

9. Jennifer Lopez - Lopez is a well-rounded businesswoman with several other revenue streams, including a clothing line, an incredibly successful perfume line, a Pasadena, Calif.-based Cuban restaurant called Madre's, and a new reality show on MTV.

10. Jennifer Aniston - Aniston eclipsed her father's TV fame with her turn as Rachel Green on the eternally popular sitcom Friends.

11. The Olsen Twins - the fraternal twins preside over the tween retail empire Dualstar Entertainment Group.

12. Britney Spears - During her brief career, she has sold 75 million records and enjoyed seven hit singles. Her tours have grossed $145 million to date. Spears took the last few years off, a period in which she married, had two children, then ultimately filed for divorce from backup dancer Kevin Federline--a series of events that helped earn her tabloid queen status.

13. Judge Judy - Her $100 million, four-year contract, signed in 2004, makes her one of the highest-paid women in television. She has been nominated eight times for an Emmy award and written four books, all of which became national bestsellers.

14. Sandra Bullock - Bullock rose to fame with 1994's Speed and soon went on to become one of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood. She banked her biggest paycheck for Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous, released in 2005, which grossed just over $100 million worldwide.

15. Cameron Diaz - Diaz is Hollywood's only actress besides Julia Roberts to break the $20 million-per-film salary mark. The former model got her big break in 1994 as an unknown starring opposite Jim Carrey in The Mask; she went on to star in blockbusters like There's Something About Mary and the Charlie's Angels films.

16. Gisele Bundchen - the highest-paid and most coveted model in the world for several years running

17. Ellen DeGeneres - The stand-up comic starred in her own hit show, Ellen, in the mid-1990s, but ratings suffered after DeGeneres (and her onscreen character) came out as a lesbian. She now has her own television show

18. Nicole Kidman - Oscar-winning actress remains one of Hollywood's highest-paid actresses, with an asking price of $15 million per film and the face of Chanel perfume

19. Christina Aguilera - the Grammy Award winner's latest album, Back to Basics, went to No. 1 on the charts in 13 countries. Aguilera has sold over 20 million albums to date, while her tours have grossed some $50 million. Endorsement deals with Verizon and Pepsi, among others, have also bolstered her bottom line.

20. Renee Zellweger - The Oscar winner often eschews big-budget pictures--which earn her fat paychecks--in favor of smaller films like the recent Miss Potter.

All-Star Edition Of "Apprentice" Dubbed Celebrity Apprentice

Watch out this coming Jan. 3 on NBC for the new season of "The Apprentice" this time featuring celebrities. NY Daily News reports that celebrity contestants will be working for the benefit of their favorite charities instead of a spot in the boardroom. The winner is set to receive $250,000 for the cause of their choice. For those that don't know, this reality show has Donald Trump putting a group of executive wanna-bes through a series of challenges, all of which have a business twist.

The slotted celebrity contestants include country music star Trace Atkins, former heavyweight boxing champion Lennox Lewis, Olympic softball gold medalist Jennie Finch, actress Marilu Henner, Stephen Baldwin, model Carol Alt, TV producer and executive Nely Galan, ultimate fighting champion Tito Ortiz, Playboy's 2005 Playmate of the Year Tiffany Fallon and gymnast Nadia Comaneci

Miley Cyrus' Mom Is Hot

Mommy Miley Cyrus looks even better than her daughter in this picture from TMZ. So that's where she gets the Hannah Montana appeal.

Nicole Kidman Testifies Against Paparazzi

Yesterday, Nicole Kidman testified in the Australian court of law against paparazzi Jamie Fawcett about an incident that occurred 2 years ago in Sydney reports Associated Press. Apparently this phographer, who is considered quite famous there, was hounding Nicole Kidman and this ended in a car chase last Jan. 23, 2005.

The trial itself is not directly related to Nicole Kidman but to the photographer who has sued his publisher over defaming her in an article that mentioned her being Sydney’s most disliked freelance photographer. This hearing was to decide if the publisher should pay the photographer and if so, how much.

After Nicole's tearful testimony though, I doubt that would happen

(photo from Associated Press)

Dan Brown's 'Angels and Demons' Starring Tom Hanks Delayed Due To Writers' Strike

Just when Tom Hanks signed on to star in "Angels & Demons" prequel to the best-selling book as well as blockbuster movie, "Da Vinci Code," production is canceled as a result of the still ongoing writers' strike. The strike has lasted 10 days now.

This movie is being dubbed the first "film casualty" so to speak by reuters. The Sony Corp.-owned film distributor also said the planned release date for the Ron Howard-directed religious thriller, originally set to open during the 2008 holiday season, has been pushed back to 2009.

(image care of the library at University of Texas at Austin)

Matt Damon: Voted Sexiest Man Alive

37-year-old Matt Damon is "People" magazine's choice for sexiest man alive. He joins his fellow hotties Brad Pitt, close friend Ben Affleck and Goerge Clooney who have apparently been rooting for him to win this year. VOA news had this to report:

In a letter published in the magazine, Damon said "You gave an aging suburban dad the ego boost of a lifetime. My nine-year-old stepdaughter now thinks I'm cool - well, cooler."

People's "sexiest man alive" list began in 1985 with Mel Gibson. George Clooney made the list in 1997 and 2006; Brad Pitt in 1995 and 2000. Other honorees include Denzel Washington (1996) and Johnny Depp (2003).

Damon shared a screenwriting Oscar with Ben Affleck in 1998 for Good Will Hunting. Both men also starred in the movie. Damon's other screen credits include The Departed, Syriana, the Ocean's franchise with Clooney and Pitt, and The Bourne Identity and its two sequels.

Lindsay Lohan Jailed? Yep Lohan Does All 84 Minutes Jail Time

Lindsay Lohan, once wholesome actress who starred on those wholesome family movies from Disney - Herbie Fully Loaded and Freaky Friday did jail time lat Thursday in Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynwood as part of a plea deal for drunken driving and cocaine possession reports LA Times.

The 21-year-old actress was arrested for a drunk driving escapade over the memorial weekend. She has reportedly admitted herself into Malibu drug rehabilitation center which is her second round at rehab this year.

I think this girl is worse than Britney Spears. At least Britney's sporting some form of a career. Maybe prison has become fashionable these days. Paris Hilton also did jail time this year right? Britney isn't far from it as well. Well, hope they get their act together. Because the picture to the right (care of LA times) is certainly NOT a pretty picture.

TV Series "24" Cancelled Due To Writers Strike. "Lost" Still On Air

Fox on Wednesday became the first broadcast network to announce a strike-affected mid-season schedule minus its signature drama "24" according to a Hollywood Reporter article.

Faced with the possibility of a partial Season 7 of "24," Fox has opted not to air the real-time drama at all this season. "It's not a decision we wanted to make, but it's one based on how we feel the viewers expect us to schedule the show," said Preston Beckman, Fox's scheduling chief.

The decision to act quickly so early in the strike also was prompted by the large amounts of marketing money associated with the premieres of new series and the annual launch of "24." The network began airing promos for the upcoming season of "24" during the World Series and on a big screen in Times Square.

For now, ABC is still sticking to its plan to air heavily serialized "Lost" in midseason, running the eight produced episodes, 10 short of the 18-episode order.

Fox's high-profile new drama "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles," originally slated to run in tandem with "24," will now premiere Sunday, Jan. 13, and will air in "24's" Monday 9 p.m. time slot, following "Prison Break" and new reality series "When Women Ruled the World."

Fueled by "American Idol," which will launch with a two-night, four-hour premiere Jan. 15-16, and helped buy the fact it only programs 15 hours a week, Fox has been considered the best equipped to handle a long writers strike.

Other developments related to the writer strike:

• NBC's "The Office" officially shut down production Wednesday after its star Steve Carell and several other cast members refused to cross the picket line Monday and Tuesday, effectively bringing filming of the hit comedy to a halt. Several "Office" writers, including showrunner Greg Daniels, posted a video shot on the picket line on YouTube.

• With the exception of "Scrubs," which is slated to film for awhile, all comedy series still in production are slated to wrap shooting their available scripts by early next week, followed by dramas, which will go on hiatus by the end of the month, laying off thousands of crew members.

(Image care of Fox.com)

Hollywood Writers' Strike Halts Desperate Housewives, The Daily Show & Other Shows

Yahoo News reports that several shows will be on halt for the duration of the writers' strike composed of members of the Writers Guild of America. This strike was not expected to have an immediate impact on production of movies or most prime-time TV programs. Most studios have stockpiled dozens of movie scripts, and many TV shows have scripts or completed shows in hand to last until early next year.

But apparently several sitcoms and scripted shows suffer from the strike because they are typically written the same week they are filmed, with jokes being sharpened by writers even on the day of production.

Reality shows on the other hand could flourish because they don't use union writers, despite an aggressive attempt by the writers guild to organize the staffers on the programs.

The strike began Monday after last-minute negotiations failed to produce a deal on how much writers are paid when shows are offered on the Internet. No new negotiations have been scheduled so far. Nick Counter, chief negotiator for the producers union, has said he expected a long standoff. Writers said the next move was up to the studios.

Really this has been a decade long battle about wages and shares. Everybody knows how important writers are and how pivotal their roles are to television shows around the world, but still they are under-paid - kind of like teachers.

George Clooney And Fabio Caught In A Fist Fight

Madeo Restaurant played host to a fist fight between George Clooney and Fabio just last Friday night according to SF Gate Daily Dish. Apparently Fabio was having dinner when a friend of his started taking photos a little too near George Clooney's table. The latter must have thought its yet again another papparazzi.

This led to a heated argument between George Clooney and Fabio, ending in a fist fight that waiters had to break up.

Oprah Goes On YouTube

Oprah goes online with her own channel on YoutUbe. It will preview coming episodes, behind-the-scenes footage and other material from her hit day-time show "The Oprah Winfrey Show." As Oprah learns the rope of Youtube, she will also feature Youtube founders Chad Hurley and Steve Chen on a coming episode of her show. I guess this will be a mutually benefitting experience for both parties as Oprah enters the online world and Youtube gets free televised marketing through Oprah, who by the way boasts of viewers in the millions.

According to Opgrah channel execs, this will provide another communication platform for viewers to interact with the show. Well, this is not only a new market for Oprah but a new venture. She already has her own mall, her own production company, scent, brand, television show, magazine... why not dominate the online world as well right? And Youtube is one of the best places to start.

Britney Spears' New Album "Blackout" Plus Some Psychology

An article in the Los Angeles Times today sort of went overboard trying to psychologically explain Britney Spears using the songs in her most recent album - "Blackout."

Song after song is analogized as part of her life. But really, I think people are over-analyzing her. Nonetheless it's quite good for her that people keep talking about her. It's the best way to stay popular. When people keep talking, they are interested. When people are interested, they buy. And that's the epitome of marketing. There's no such thing as good or bad publicity now for Britney Spears. She has it all.

• Bad publicity over her very publicized marital and family problems as an offshoot of her "addiction" as they call it
• Good publicity over the acceptance of this album. Overall critics say it's good and bad (depending on who you want to listen to)

Overall though it really doesn't matter. The fact that Britney Spears has released this album is already in a step in the right direction and with nearly $4-million advance I bet it was well worth the effort. Despite what people are saying about Britney, that she's an addict or a tragic celebrity or a desperate comeback artist... they can say all they want to say but Britney Spears is still one of the richest and influential characters of this generation.

Let's say she is the perfect example of art imitating life... or is it life imitating art?

J. Lo Pregnant? Jennifer Lopez Confirmed Pregnant

According to Seattlepi.com Roberto Cavalli confirms that Jennifer Lopez's (J. Lo) tummy bump is indeed a baby. He was quoted by People magazine, "Well, Jennifer Lopez, at this moment, she requests something very special because she is waiting for the baby. ... It is so complicated because every week she is getting bigger."

(image care of about.com)