Showbiz News, Celebrity Gossip, Movie News

Paris Hilton is on trial in Miami, accused in a federal lawsuit of not doing enough to promote her 2006 sorority hijinks movie, “Pledge This!”
The lawsuit filed on behalf of some film investors claims the 28-year-old Hilton didn’t honor her contract to promote the DVD release.
The lawsuit seeks more than $8 million from Hilton and her entertainment firm. The film was an abject failure at the box office, making about $2.9 million worldwide.
Hilton contends she did everything she could to plug the movie.
The trial begins Thursday, and Hilton is expected to testify Friday. She’s been in Dubai filming her “My New BFF” reality show.
The lawsuit was filed by a court-appointed receiver for a defunct Miami entertainment company that invested in the movie.
(source)

This is … a rich new deal for “American Idol” host Ryan Seacrest.
The ubiquitous Seacrest is putting the finishing touches on a contract extension with “Idol” co-producer 19 Entertainment to continue to emcee the top-rated series on TV.
The pact, which is believed to be for three years, will give Seacrest a major pay raise and make him one of the highest-paid reality hosts on television. He made slightly less than $5 million this season for his work on “Idol,” which breaks down to about $100,000 per episode.
Additionally, Seacrest is said to be expanding his relationship with 19 Entertainment, possibly to develop series with 19 principal and “Idol” creator Simon Fuller.
“Idol” is produced jointly by 19, Fremantle and Fox. All declined to comment on Seacrest’s new deal, as did his attorneys at Hansen Jacobson, but the agreement is expected to be announced Monday.
In addition to his hosting duties on Fox’s “Idol,” E! News and on the radio — where he has a daily show and hosts “American Top 40″ — Seacrest has made an entree into producing with such unscripted series as “Keeping Up With the Kardashians,” “Denise Richards: It’s Complicated” and ABC’s upcoming show starring British chef Jamie Oliver.
Seacrest traveled to the U.K. last month and met with executives at 19 to discuss a new deal.
He is not the only “Idol” star to use the show’s off-season to hammer out a new pact for the show. The “Idol” judges also are negotiating new deals.
Uber-judge Simon Cowell has made statements suggesting that he might leave the singing competition when his contract is up at the end of next season. The British media has pegged his salary demands for staying on the show at more than $100 million a year.
The other judges — Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Kara DioGuardi — all have said they hope to close deals to return next season.
Though the ratings for the reality juggernaut have slipped in the past couple of years, “Idol” remains the highest-rated series on television by a mile and is a windfall for its producers.
(source)

Jamie Foxx is at it again. The actor, who recently ridiculed Miley Cyrus on his radio show, laid into Rihanna during a party at Tao in Las Vegas the other night. “Jamie took over the microphone and started doing a show. Halfway through, he asked Rihanna to join him onstage,” said our spy. She was there with Jay-Z and looked “annoyed” at the request, said our tipster. “Rihanna declined, but Foxx continued to badger her.” The deejay played “Umbrella” and “that was the last straw” for the Barbados-born beauty. “She got up to leave, and Jamie told the deejay to stop the record,” said our source. Foxx shouted, “You can’t go while your song is playing. Relax.” Our witness said, “Rihanna stayed and pretended to enjoy herself, but it was so obvious she was fuming. As soon as the song was over, she got the hell out of there.” Rihanna’s rep declined to comment and Foxx’s rep didn’t return calls and e-mails.
(source)

Detectives investigating the death of Michael Jackson are looking at his prescription drug history and trying to talk with his numerous former doctors, the Los Angeles police chief said.
Chief William Bratton told CNN that police are waiting for the coroner’s report before ruling out any possibilities in their “comprehensive” investigation into the sudden death of the 50-year-old pop star two weeks ago.
The coroner’s report will determine the cause of death and hinges on time-consuming toxicology tests.
“Based on those we’ll have an idea of what we’re dealing with,” Bratton said on Thursday. “Are we dealing with homicide? Are we dealing with an accidental overdose? What are we dealing with?”
Bratton said detectives are gathering evidence, including items seized from Jackson’s rented home and arranging interviews with his many physicians, but the police chief deferred to the coroner to determine the cause of death.
“The next move really is his,” Bratton said. “We’re not marking time waiting for his report.”
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the state attorney general’s office, which keeps a database of prescription drugs, are assisting investigators.
An attorney for Dr. Arnold Klein, one of Jackson’s many physicians, told the Los Angeles Times that the dermatologist was subpoenaed for medical records, which he turned over to the county coroner’s office.
Bratton refused to discuss details of the case.
Jackson, who died June 25, had a well-known history of using prescription medications, especially painkillers. Following his death, Cherilyn Lee, a registered nurse who had worked for Jackson, told The Associated Press she repeatedly rejected his demands for the potent anesthetic Diprivan, also known as Propofol.
Jackson had multiple doctors, friends and staff who came in and out of his life. Which people were being interviewed by police was unclear because the LAPD has said virtually nothing about the probe.
Police towed a doctor’s car from Jackson’s home hours after he died and said later it could contain medication or other evidence. Coroner’s officials also said Jackson was taking prescription medication but declined to elaborate.
(source)

Gwyneth Paltrow takes a page out of Oprah’s book in her latest GOOP newsletter and dishes out detox tips to her readers.
The self-proclaimed lifestyle maven explains how she got into tip-top shape: on a juice diet.
“I am finishing the amazing three-week-long ‘Clean’ detox program,” writes Paltrow.
“I feel pure and happy and much lighter.”
The 36-year-old Oscar winner cites slimming down as her motivation.
“I dropped the extra pounds that I had gained during a majorly fun and delicious ‘relax and enjoy life phase’ about a month ago.”
Paltrow turned to cardiologist and detoxification specialist Dr. Alejandro Junger for advice.
His tips include avoiding processed foods and allergens, eating processed foods and making “time for ‘detox-enhancing’ habits such as sauna, massage, hot and cold baths and skin brushing.”
“All of these improve circulation and increase perspiration, which help fuel your body’s natural cleansing system,” Junger writes.
Paltrow gives a final stamp of approval, saying the best part of the program is her renewed sense of energy.
“This program allowed me to work and exercise regularly, something I cannot do if I am on a liquid-only detox,” she says. “I followed it to the letter and I can report that it worked wonders.”
(source)

Kelly Preston has remained silent since the unexpected death of her and John Travolta’s son, Jett, in January.
But come October, Preston will be ready to talk.
The actress will attend the California Governor’s Conference for Women, hosted by Maria Shriver, People.com reports.
Preston, 46, plans to discuss the grief she has endured since her 16-year-old son died of a seizure while the family was vacationing in the Bahamas.
“If she can empower one other woman who feels like they can’t get out of bed, or get through the day, whatever the loss, it’ll be worthwhile sharing her story,” Shriver said.
Preston is one of three women on the “Grief & Resilience” panel, which also includes Elizabeth Edwards, wife of former Vice President candidate John Edwards, and actress Susan St. James. All three have experienced the loss of a son.

The decision to open up to a crowd of strangers, however, did not come easy to Preston.
“She has been thinking about this for a couple of months,” Shriver said. “I asked her to speak and she knew about the conference and decided if she was only going to speak once, it would be here. She wants the conversation to be about more than just her.”
Shriver believes the panel will help a broad range of women, whether they’re coping with the loss of a child, the loss of a job or the loss of a marriage. Kate Gosselin, another guest on the list, is, of course, familiar with the latter.
“I invited her 4 to 5 months ago before all this other stuff happened,” Shriver said, referring to the recent split between Kate and her husband Jon Gosselin. “My daughters are enamored with her show. They said, ‘Invite her, she has eight kids and the show is so interesting.”
Though Kate may have a new perspective on what it takes to make a family and a marriage successful, Shriver believes she will still be an asset to the conference.
“These are subjects we all experience and no one wants to talk about,” she said.
Among the other prominent women expected to attend the October 26-27 conference in Long Island are Cindy McCain, Alicia Keyes, Madeleine Albright and Annie Leibovitz.
(source)

Jim Carrey may have played the Grinch, but now he’s about to be the grandpa!
The star’s 21-year-old daughter, Jane Carrey, is expecting her first child with fiancé Alex Santana, the actor’s rep, Marleah Leslie, confirms to E! News.
The actor’s only child fronts the Jane Carrey Band, and the dad-to-be goes by “Nitro” in his rock group Blood Money.
“I am very excited,” the future grandfather said. “Jane is going to be a great mom.”
Jane’s mom is the Yes Man actor’s first wife, Melissa Womer, who the thesp divorced in 1997. Carrey has dated Jenny McCarthy since December 2005.
(source)