No matter what hits keep coming her way, Britney Spears continues to soldier on with her regular day-to-day activities as if nothing were wrong; as if nothing could phase her (that is, until she eventually freaks out and then does something crazy like shaving her head in plain view of the world again). While there are a lot of decisions of hers that I'm not a fan of (like, for example, her continuing desire to smoke in front of her children) I suppose we should give her props for keeping up the appearance of normalcy in the face of countless controversies and set-backs. With the 2007 MTV VMAs only a couple of weeks away it appears that Miss Brit is putting her nose to the grindstone in order to be as prepared as she can be for her upcoming VMAs performance. Here is a pic of Britney making her way out of an LA recording studio yesterday afternoon with a demo cd in hand:


Photo credit: X17
Perhaps she was recording vocals for a new song. Perhaps she was recording the backing track that she will lip-sync to on stage. Perhaps she decided to create an entirely new song altogether ... the possibilities are endless. I just hope she really prepares for this performance -- the entire world will be watching to see if she succeeds or fails and this VMAs performance could set the stage for how her music career might eventually turn out. Even if she puts on an amazing performance, nay sayers will still give her a hard time in days to come (that fact is unavoidable). But, if she gives a wretched performance she might turn away even more of her waning fans, helping ensure that her new album will flop. A lot is riding on her performance at the VMAs come September 9th ... I just hope she's ready. [Source]

While Britney is actively trying to breathe new life into her career, Lindsay Lohan is taking some much needed time away from the strains of her career and normal everyday life overall. In this week's current issue, OK! magazine published exclusive photos of Lindsay relaxing on the grounds of the Cirque Lodge Rehabilitation Center in Utah (which were taken on August 10th). Here are a few of those pics:


These photos were taken before she learned that she would be getting off the hook for the DUI and cocaine possession arrest that forced her into rehab (again) in the first place. It's hard to tell if these photos are an accurate representation of the serene care that she is getting at the center or if they are just cleverly posed photos making it seem as such (I mean who invites a tabloid magazine to shoot photos of them while they are actively and seriously undergoing rehabilitation for substance abuse?). Absent the fact that I really feel that Lindsay prolly should be held accountable for her crimes (after all, how can she really learn the lessons of consequence if she continues to slip off the hook?), I must admit that she looks happy and centered. Honestly, tho, she looked just as "happy and centered" during her last stint in rehab ... but I hope, for her sake, that she really FINALLY starts accepting the help that she desperately needs before something really tragic happens in her life. It's all well and good that she's reading that Alcoholics Anonymous book as long as she takes its message truly to heart. [Source]

There are new news outlets, including Extra, reporting that Owen Wilson did, in fact, attempt suicide over the weekend leading to the 911 call that forced his admittance to the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. It's still unclear which of Owen's brothers (Andrew or Luke) found him in his Santa Monica home on that fateful Sunday afternoon but just one day after Owen was admitted for care, the heavily bearded Luke Andrew Wilson was seen getting back to work on his latest project:


Photo credit: Splash News
No, Luke wasn't working on a new movie project, he was working on repairing his balcony. Oops! It turns out that it's actually Andrew in these pics, the caption was mislabeled. I can't imagine what it must feel like to have such a close family member attempt to hurt themselves like that but I'm sure Luke is doing what he can to try and stay positive ... or to at least keep his mind off what is going on, at least for a little while. I just hope that Owen heals quickly and then is able to successfully battle his demons so that this sort of thing never happens again. [Source]

In happy couples news, here are new pictures of Reichen Lehmkuhl and his boyfriend Ryan Barry lookin' as hot as can be in matching red swimwear at the Trevor Pool Party benefiting the Trevor Project, which is a 24-hour suicide & crisis prevention helpline for gay and questioning youth, this past Sunday afternoon in Hancock Park, CA :


Photo credit: Splash News
Firstly, I'm so happy to see that Ry-chen are still together and going strong (especially in the wake of Lance Bass's breakup with Pedro Andrade). Secondly, I am always very impressed with Reichen's support of these sorts of organizations. He really makes the effort to put himself out there for GLBT services and organizations that otherwise might not attract big names. Oh ... and thirdly, I'm very happy that both Reichen and Ryan never seem to have a problem with taking off their clothes ... whether it be for a good cause or not ... it is much appreciated :) [Source]

In other happy couples news, Vanessa Minnillo and Nick Lachey are also still happily together ... emerging for the first time since those steamy pics of the couple having sex at a Mexican resort a few weeks ago hit the InterWeb. La-Nessa made a joint appearance at the Richard Karn Celebrity Softball Game at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma, WA this week lookin' all happy and in lurve:


Photo credit: Splash News
See, it only took a few weeks for everyone to forget all about those racy photos. These new pics of the pair engaged in good, clean ol' fashioned fun cast the couple back in their America's Sweethearts personas. These two make a really great couple ... I wouldn't be surprised if the couple headed down the aisle together sometime soon. [Source]

While yesterday's pictures of Brad Pitt and his children (sans Shiloh Nouvel) playing together at a park in NYC were adorable enough by themselves, here are a few more pics from that same play session which feature the little diva herself, Zahara Jolie-Pitt:


Photo credit: Splash News
This little girl is cute as hell. Her facial expressions are to die for. I have no doubt in my mind that she runs that family in any way she sees fit ... she is clearly the one who wears the pants in the Brangelina family. As I've mentioned numerous times before, I wouldn't want to get on her bad side, that's for sure. As much as one prolly shouldn't play favorites among children, I think she is deffo my favorite of the Brangelina brood. Team Zahara! [Source]

The season premiere of Heroes is just under a month away but members of the principle cast are flying all over the world to hype up support not only for the upcoming new second season but for the release of season one on DVD as well (which has just been released today). Here are pics of Milo Ventimiglia, Hayden Panettiere, Jack Coleman and Adrian Pasdar making a stop in Munich, Germany for a little press conference and photocall:


Milo always looks so serious in the posed pics ... that is why I threw in that outtake photo too. Hayden looks amazing in that blue dress ... hot hot hot. [Source]

On the other side of the world, other Heroes cast members showed up in Tokyo, Japan for their own press conference/photocall ... here are pics of Greg Grunberg, Masi Oka, Ali Larter and Sendhil Ramamurthy:


Photo credit: Wireimage
Not that show really needs all that much promotion at this point, it's really cool that the cast members are flying all over the world to nurture the show. I'm surprised that everyone's favorite emo super-villain Zachary Quinto wasn't on board for either of these trips. Hmm ... maybe he is too bizzy working on his role as Mr. Spock in the new Star Trek movie to jet-set around the world. While all of this foreplay is all well and good, I'm itching for the action to get underway. September 24th seems so far away! [Source]

While the new trend of celebrity fragrances sweeps the globe another celebrity trend is lookin' to get in on the action. Wilmer Valderrama was on hand at Pure nightclub in Las Vegas, NV last night for the launch of his new clothing line called Calavena. Good friend Paris Hilton was also kind enough to show up for the occasion:


Photo credit: Wireimage
I don't know how interested I am to dress like Wilmer but I think I'd much prefer dressing like him to smelling like him (no more celebrity fragrances, please!). But, I wouldn't be surprised if Wilmer ends up releasing his own celebrity fragrance called Ca$h Money one day anyways. [Source]

Wilmer's former love interest Mandy Moore has got a clothing line of her own, the spring line of which she also debuted in Las Vegas last night. Here are a couple pics from Mandy's Mblem Spring Launch party and concert at Ghostbar at the Palms Hotel and Casino:


Photo credit: Wireimage
Yeaaaah boy, Mandy really put some stink on her performance ... she looked like she was really gettin' into the music. [Source]

Additionally, Alyssa Milano is another celeb with her own clothing line ... here are a couple pics of Alyssa showing off the newest pieces in her Touch clothing line:


Alyssa's line is not a fashion line per se, it's more a sporting line of clothing for women. They actually sell her Detroit Tigers Touch designs at Comerica Park back home in Detroit. Of these three celebrity clothing lines, I think Alyssa's has the best chance at long term success. What a brilliant idea ... teaming up with Major League Baseball to create a line of sportswear that will never go out of style. [Source]

Here is the first promo photo from the upcoming season of The View on ABC:


Whoopi Goldberg looks like she fits right in and will prolly do a great job as panel moderator on the show. If you recall, there were a bunch of smiles in the promo photos last year with Rosie O'Donnell and well, we all know how that little experiment turned out. Honestly, tho, I'm sure Whoopi won't be making waves with any of the other ladies and I'm sure there will be a lot less controversy this time around ... which is exactly why I prolly won't be watching. [Source]

Here is a new promo photo of Tyra Banks for the upcoming 9th cycle of America's Next Top Model:


Of course Tyra has to make sure that she is over-the-top with fierceness in all her promo photos but this one reaches all new heights of ridiculousness -- don't you just love her? I have not tuned in to ANTM for the past few seasons but I am anxiously awaiting this one. My dear friend Jim worked behind the scenes on this cycle and I am really looking forward to how the show turned out. He spent part of his summer hanging out with Tyra, Miss Jay and all the other folks on the show (bonding especially with Twiggy) which got me all excited to see the final product. He tells me that this season will have a bunch of really cool surprises ... I can't wait. [Source]

Thank the Lord Jebus and all the angels above ... Project Runway will return with its long (very long) awaited 4th season on November 14th! Heidi Klum announced the season premiere date on her official website this week:


I have been DYING for new eps of Project Runway like nobody's business. I drove David crazy back in NYC cuz I kept filling up his DVR with the old eps of PR that were running all week long last week. PR is really one of my all-time favorite shows and I'm SUPER EXCITED that it's finally coming back. No offense Tim Gunn, but I ain't all that jazzed for your new show ... I'll watch it just to hear you give your trademark quips but my heart is totally set on the November 14th premiere of new season of Project Runway! [Source]

And finally, on the PR tip, Season 2 winner Chloe Dao has teamed up with the Pacific Design Store to create her own line of iPhone cases like this one:


In addition to the iPhone cases, there are other accessory-type items for sale HERE. There are some pretty neat things in there ... and can I just say how happy I am to know that Chloe is still working. I wonder what Jay McCarroll and Jeffrey Sebelia are up to these days. [Source]

Les News:

• Santa Angelina Jolie heads to Iraq.
• Lance Bass says he was grossly misquoted by New York magazine.
• Jennifer Garner reveals that she almost died on the set of her new film.
• The Raconteurs are hard at work on album #2.
• South Park will remain on the air until at least 2011.
• THIS new book claims that Clark Cable was a very popular man about Hollywood.
• Paris Hilton and her nipple do German GQ magazine.
• Sealed With A Kiss GROSSNESS!
• Jenny McCarthy and Jim Carrey take their romance to the beach.
• The stars come out for the US Open.
• LeAnn Rimes is 25, Jason Priestley and Jack Black are both 38 and Shania Twain is 42 years old today. Click HERE to see who else is celebrating a birthday today.
• The New York Times Style section pays homage to the original Banshee girl Siouxsie Sioux. [thanks Mykah]
• Whew! Beyonce is one lucky chick!
• Amy Winehouse takes a holiday.

Well ... my luggage finally showed up late yesterday afternoon so I pretty much spent most of the day waiting around, fearful that if I hopped in the shower I'd miss the delivery. By the time it showed up at 4pm-ish I was ready to get out of the house. I drove around enjoying the sun for a bit, paid a little visit to the Diesel store on Melrose and then met up with Mike for dinner at Mexicali for Mexicali Monday. Mike and I caught up a bit with what's been going on while I was away and hung out for a while but I was pretty wiped so I ended up crashing at home. I managed to stay awake long enough to watch The Hills and then I was out. I'm still trying to get reacclimated to the time change again ... ugh, the bane of my existence.

So ... that's it ... life is getting back to normal and the sun is shining outside! Love it. Hope your week is off to a great start too ... I'm out.

[Permalink]