Buzz Briefs: Zac Efron, Paris Hilton

Plus: Ludacris, Oprah, Gwyneth Paltrow, Nicole Richie, Denzel Washington,

(CBS/AP)  Zac Efron Undergoes Emergency Surgery

"High School Musical" star Zac Efron has undergone emergency surgery to remove his appendix.

His publicist, Gina Hoffman, said the 20-year-old actor underwent the operation Tuesday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

She said the actor is recuperating.

Efron became a teen heartthrob with his starring role as Troy Bolton in the hit Disney Channel TV movie "High School Musical" and its sequel. He also starred in the film "Hairspray."

Paris Hilton Heads To Harvard

2Paris Hilton is going to Harvard.

Sort of.

The 26-year-old actress-socialite has been named Harvard Lampoon's "Hastiest Pudding of the Lampoon Award," the comedy magazine said Tuesday.

She will visit Harvard on Feb. 6 to accept her award, said Regent Releasing, the company that's distributing her new comedy, "The Hottie & the Nottie."

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Photos: Celebrity Fashionistas

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Hilton, whose body of work includes "House of Wax" and TV's "The Simple Life," stars as the attractive best friend to an ugly duckling in the new comedy, slated for release Feb. 8.

She also co-stars in the upcoming horror musical "Repo! The Genetic Opera!" which she began filming in Canada after serving a 23-day jail sentence in Los Angeles last June for violating probation in an alcohol-related reckless driving case.

Ludacris Joins Super Bowl Party Team

3Tom Petty may be the official Super Bowl halftime performer, but the week leading up to the big game will feature plenty of other performers - and Ludacris will be among them.

The 30-year-old rapper has been selected to perform at ESPN The Magazine's Next party Feb. 1, which will highlight future trends in sports, technology and lifestyle.

The Super Bowl is Feb. 3 at the University of Phoenix Stadium.

"(It) feels good to be back in Arizona," said Ludacris in a statement. "Phoenix is the hometown of my artist Willie Northpole so it's only right to bring 'Disturbing Tha Peace' back home."

Soulja Boy Tell'em, whose "Crank That (Soulja Boy)" was one of last year's biggest hits and dance crazes, will be holding a dance challenge featuring athletes at an ESPN The Magazine event Feb. 2.

The days leading up to the Super Bowl will feature a bevy of parties and special events.

Mary J. Blige and Maroon 5 will perform at "The VH1 Pepsi Smash Superbowl Bash" on Jan. 31; the concert will air on the cable network Feb. 2.

Gwyneth Paltrow Home From The Hospital

4Actress Gwyneth Paltrow is back at home after spending the night at a New York hospital, OK! magazine reports.

Paltrow's spokesman Stephen Huvane tells the magazine, "Gwyneth is fine and at home - we are not commenting further."

It's not known why she was hospitalized.

Nicole Richie's Baby A Big Eater, Dad Joel Madden Says

5Joel Madden says his newborn daughter with Nicole Richie has a healthy appetite.

"She looks so much like her mom it's crazy! She eats like a little maniac and she's really sweet," the Good Charlotte rocker gushes in a post on his DCMA Collective Web site under the heading, "It's a Girl!!!!!"

Harlow Winter Kate Madden was born Friday in Los Angeles, weighing 6 pounds, 7 ounces. She is the first child for Madden, 28, and Richie, 26. The couple began dating in late 2006.

"She barely even cries, even when daddy is changing her diaper," Madden says.

He apologizes for not accepting gifts, cards and phone calls at the hospital.

Madden said he and Richie would like people to donate to The Richie-Madden Children's Foundation.

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Photos: Celebrity Baby News

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Everyone's In Love With Denzel

And why shouldn't they be? The handsome actor has been voted America's favorite movie star for the second year in a row in an annual Harris Poll.

Tom Hanks is number two for the second straight year.

Johnny Depp soared from seventh place to third, followed by Julia Roberts and Will Smith.

The actor in sixth place has been dead for 29 years. John Wayne has made the top 10 every year the poll's been taken since 1994.

Rounding out the top 10 are Matt Damon and Sean Connery, who are tied for seventh, Sandra Bullock and Bruce Willis.

Some big stars couldn't crack the top 10 this year. They include George Clooney, Clint Eastwood, Mel Gibson and Harrison Ford.

Oprah Gets Her Own Network

Discovery Communications and Oprah Winfrey announced a deal Tuesday where the Discovery Health network will be turned over to Winfrey next year, becoming OWN - the Oprah Winfrey Network.

The cash-free transaction involved Winfrey turning over her Web site to Discovery, while the communications company makes her chairman of the network, which is currently seen in 68 million homes, said David Zaslav, Discovery Communications chief.

"The focus of the channel will be the focus of Oprah's brand, which is to educate and inspire people to live the best life they can," Zaslav said.

[dgshiner]

Way to go Oprah on your new channel, please this time have something good to watch on it!

Congrats to Nicole on the birth of your new baby girl teach her to have some sense something that your parent did not seem to have taught you!

Aah and Denzel what can I say other than yippee for your talent and you are still great to look at too!