Buzz Briefs: Reese Witherspoon, O.J.
Reese Witherspoon Is Highest-Paid Actress
Reese Witherspoon is Hollywood's highest-paid actress commanding $15 million to $20 million a movie, topping the Hollywood Reporter's annual list.
Angelina Jolie was in second place on the list. The 32 year-old actress typically demands comparable salary but took a relative discount in earning $8 million for her role in the animated "Beowulf" film.
Cameron Diaz took the bronze medal with a $15 million-per-movie price tag. Nicole Kidman dropped two spots from last year to fourth place, commanding $10 million to $15 million. Renee Zellweger rounded out the top 5 highest paid actresses also demanding $10 million to $15 million..
The complete list is featured in The Hollywood Reporter's "Women in Entertainment: Power 100" issue, which hits newsstands Tuesday.
Photo Essay: Reese Witherspoon
Ronald Goldman's Father Sues Web Site Over O.J. Book Downloads
The father of Ronald Goldman has sued a Swedish file-sharing Web site to thwart the posting of O.J. Simpson's New York Times best-selling book "If I Did It: Confessions of the Killer," about the murder of Ronald Goldman and Simpson's ex-wife.
In the lawsuit filed Thursday, Fred Goldman claims he has lost more than $150,000 since the Swedish Web site "The Pirate Bay" began making the book download available free of charge.
A court awarded 90 percent of the book royalties to Goldman as part of an ongoing legal fight. A civil court found Simpson liable in the deaths of Ron Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson and ruled he owed $33.5 million, now $39 million with interest.
Nov. 29, 2007
Brooke Shields And NBC Together Again
"It's about not apologizing for being able to be successful, and not apologizing for wanting as much as you can," the 42-year-old actress said at the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting ceremony Wednesday night.
The show will premiere on NBC at 10 p.m. beginning Feb. 7.
Jennifer Love Hewitt Getting Hitched
Jennifer Love Hewitt is in love.
The star of the CBS drama "Ghost Whisperer" got engaged to her boyfriend, Scottish actor Ross McCall last week, US Weekly reported on its Web site Wednesday.
The magazine cited Hewitt's publicist, Sarah Fuller, who said she had no details on the couple's wedding plans.
Hewitt also starred in the television series "Party of Five" and "Time of Your Life." Her film credits include "I Know What You Did Last Summer," "The Tuxedo" and "Garfield." Her fiancé has had small parts in the TV series "Band of Brothers," "CSI:NY" and "Ghost Whisperer."
Makeup Mogul Sues Ex-Wife Ellen BarkinPhotos: Knots
Revlon cosmetics mogul Ronald Perelman has sued his most recent former wife, Ellen Barkin, and her brother, claiming they drained money from a movie production company they formed together and he financed.
Perelman, 63, alleges that Barkin and her brother, George Barkin, formed Applehead II to compete with Applehead I, the firm the siblings had started with Perelman. He contends they siphoned money from Applehead I to pay for Applehead II.
Perelman also claims in his lawsuit that the misappropriated money was used to pay at least $7,000 to Barkin Industries, a company owned by the "Oceans 13" actress; to finance a lawsuit against Perelman, and to pay George Barkin a salary of $250,000 a year.
Perelman, the Revlon chairman who once estimated his net worth at $5 billion, says he contributed $465,000 to the Applehead I venture in 2005. The lawsuit does not say how much he has contributed in total.
Perelman and Barkin, 54, divorced in 2006. She sued him in August, saying he failed to keep an agreement made before their divorce to fund Applehead I with $3.4 million.
Not So "Free As A Bird"
Former Lynyrd Skynyrd drummer Artimus Pyle has been arrested a second time after failing to properly register as a sex offender, sheriff's officials said.
The 59-year-old musician, whose real name is Thomas Delmer Pyle, was arrested Tuesday at one of three addresses he gave to authorities, Sgt. Chuck Mulligan said. He was being held Wednesday on $50,000 bond, Mulligan told The Florida Times-Union. Jail records do not show whether he had a lawyer.
Pyle had been released on $10,000 bond after being arrested on the same charge Nov. 19. He was arrested again after he still didn't register a new permanent address, officials said.
The address on Pyle's driver's license no longer belongs to the musician, Mulligan said. He said Pyle has a home in North Carolina but has told authorities he wants to register at a Florida address.
Pyle pleaded guilty in 1993 to charges of attempted capital sexual battery by an adult on a victim younger than 12 and being principal to lewd and lascivious behavior on a child younger than 16. He was sentenced to eight years of probation.
According to Lynyrd Skynyrd's Web site, Pyle joined the band in 1975 and left in 1992.
Nov. 28, 2007
Helio Castroneves & Fiancée Break Off Engagement
"Ali is a fantastic person. We had the engagement off for one or two weeks. It's a shame; she's a great person. I'm sure we're going to be friends," Castroneves told "Access Hollywood."
While Castroneves said that Vazquez was not happy with a kiss he shared with his dance partner Julianne Hough, during their quickstep dance last night, Castroneves told "Access Hollywood,"I was like, 'Yea! I got a kiss, yea!'"
Castroneves and Hough insist that there is nothing going on off the dance floor and when asked, they said together, "Noooooo. We are just friends." Hough, who was also partnered with last year's champ, Apolo Anton Ohno, added, "There was nothing with Apolo last season and there's nothing with Helio now."
Castroneves added of his partner, "She's amazing. I was listening to her, she was the engine of my car I was driving and again everything, all the way, it was a great ride."
In talking about the kind of student Castroneves was, Hough said, "He had to give that control to me and give that trust and he ended up doing that and we've become such good friends now and we're going to be friends forever. I love this guy!"
When asked about the numerous looks the pair noticeably exchanged during their interview with "Access Hollywood," Castroneves said, "The reason I keep looking to her is not only because she's beautiful ... The point is, sometimes I don't understand a lot of things, especially the questions, so I look to her." Hough added, "I'm his translator!"
The interview aired on "Access Hollywood" Wednesday, Nov. 28.
Hannah Storm Bids Farewell To "The Early Show"
CBS announced that Hannah Storm, who has been co-anchor of "The Early Show" for the past five years, will move into a new role at CBS News. Storm and Sean McManus, President, CBS News and Sports, are in discussions to determine the scope and depth of her new duties.
"I have loved every minute of my five years at 'The Early Show,' teaming up from the start with some of the best in the business," said Storm. "I am proud of my work at CBS News. We are in discussions regarding future opportunities across CBS."
Judge: Lindsay Lohan Civil Testimony Can Be Videotaped
Lindsay Lohan will soon appear on camera for a taping she has tried hard to avoid.
A judge on Tuesday said he would allow the videotaping of Lohan's deposition in a lawsuit over a car crash that injured a busboy.
Raymundo Ortega alleges that Lohan drove her Mercedes-Benz into a van he was driving in October 2005 after she drank alcohol and later tried to escape paparazzi.
A California Highway Patrol investigation concluded that Ortega caused the crash by making an illegal U-turn in Beverly Hills.
Photos: Livin' La Vida Lohan
Lohan attorney David J. Ozeran argued in a motion that a leak of the videotape could hurt his client's career much more than the $200,000 in damages that Ortega is seeking.
Videotaped depositions are fairly common in civil cases. But Ozeran wrote that the real purpose of videotaping the 21-year-old starlet is to annoy and worry her.
"If a single picture of Ms. Lohan can sell for thousands of dollars," he wrote, "a videotape of the deposition will undoubtedly sell for tens of thousands of dollars, or more."
It's A Boy For Usher
Usher's wife, Tameka Foster, gave birth to their son, Usher Raymond V, in Atlanta on Monday night, a publicist for the 29-year-old singer said in an e-mail to The Associated Press.
The baby weighed 7 pounds, 9 ounces. He is the couple's first child. Foster, 37, has three children from a previous marriage.
"We are so happy and proud of our beautiful son. What a blessing!" Usher said in a statement provided Tuesday night by publicist Patti Webster.
The couple wed in a large, glitzy ceremony in early September after exchanging vows a few weeks earlier in a civil ceremony. They had called off their July 28 wedding amid reports that Foster had checked into a hospital because of problems with her pregnancy.
A private ceremony was held Aug. 3 in the office of Usher's lawyer.
Kanye West and Evel Knievel Settle Lawsuit
Evel Knievel said he met with Kanye West in Florida and settled a federal lawsuit over West's use of Knievel's trademarked image in a music video.
"We settled the lawsuit amicably," Knievel said Tuesday. "I was very satisfied and so was he." Knievel also expressed sympathy for West as he mourns his mother who died earlier this month.
The two sides agreed to not publicly disclose the terms of the settlement.
Knievel sued West and his record company last year. At issue was the 2006 music video "Touch The Sky" in which West assumes the identity of "Evel Kanyevel" and vaults over a canyon in a rocket-powered motorcycle.
West's attorneys claimed the video was satirical and thus protected by the First Amendment.
In the lawsuit, Knievel had said the "vulgar and inoffensive" images defamed his reputation. Knievel accused West of borrowing Knievel's image to "promote his filth to the world."
Victoria Beckham Is New Face Of Marc Jacobs
Victoria Beckham has been confirmed as the model for the Spring 2008 Marc Jacobs fashion ads. The Spice Girl wife of soccer superstar David Beckham has already been styled, photographed, and paid for the gig. Juergen Teller photographed Posh Spice after Halloween, Fashionista reports.
Beckham follows Dakota Fanning and Meg White as the latest face of Marc Jacobs.
Oprah Meets With Abused Girl's Family
Oprah Winfrey met with the family of the first child to report abuse at Oprah's school for underprivileged South African girls Sunday.
The girl's father told People Magazine the meeting lasted two hours last Sunday amidst heavy security at the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls. Oprah invited the girl to return to the academy. The family had withdrawn their daughter from the institution after the faculty ignored her complaints.
Oprah's spokeswoman Angela de Paul confirmed the Sunday meeting.
Jessica Simpson And Tony Romo Dating
Jessica Simpson's father Joe has audibled her recent dating with the Dallas Cowboys' quarterback Tony Romo, says Page Six. When Jessica was in Dallas recently recording her new country record, Romo called her father and asked, "I know she's not dating anyone right now, can I take her out for a drink at least?" Jessica said her father could give Romo his daughter's number and the couple hit it off.
A friend of Jessica's told Page Six they have been dating for a few weeks and Jessica has been text messaging friends and family about how happy she has been. Romo even spent the Thanksgiving holiday with the Simpsons in Waco, Texas after beating the stuffing out of the Jets and guiding the Cowboys to their best start in franchise history.
Drew Barrymore Meets Boyfriend's Parents
Drew Barrymore and boyfriend Justin Long, of the Mac commercials and mouthy sidekick in "Live Free Or Die Hard," have kicked up their relationship a notch.
According to People, Long brought Barrymore to his childhood hometown of Fairfield, Conn., to meet his parents over Thanksgiving weekend. The couple was spotted Friday at the Southport Brewing Company where they traded cocktails and kisses.
One witness told People, "They started out in the bar area and then moved to a booth, where they sat next to each other and kissed and hugged."
Long had posted on his website that he would head East for Thanksgiving to see his "girlfriend" and hang out with the "fam."
The couple was first seen together in late summer. Barrymore's previous boyfriends this year have included Scrubs star Zach Braff and director Spike Jonze.
Tennessee Police Charge Birdman and Entourage with Pot Possession
Cash Money Records co-founder and "Stuntin' Like My Daddy" rapper Birdman and his entourage have been charged with marijuana possession.
Rapper Bryan "Birdman" Williams, his wife and brother, are among 16 people who've been jailed after being pulled over by police yesterday in Kingsport, Tenn.
A police officer says he stopped their rented RV for an improper lane change on an interstate after it forced a tractor trailer into an emergency lane. The officer says he could smell marijuana from inside the vehicle and found about a pound of it in a kitchenette trash can after getting consent for a search.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is assisting in the investigation because weapons were also found in the RV.