Entertainment News

ANGELINA JOLIE VISITS PAKISTAN: Angelina Jolie visited flood victims in Pakistan on Tuesday and urged the international community to provide aid and relief to the suffering population. She told reporters, "I am very moved by them and I hope that I am able to, today and tomorrow, be able to do something to help bring attention to the situation for all of the people in need in Pakistan."

HEIDI MOTAG TWEETS TMI: Heidi Montag is going to extremes to stay in the news. The former reality star managed to land some headlines on a slow news day by tweeting about her breast implant maintenance. She wrote, "Giving my self a soft tissue breast massage. Ladies, we have to keep those implants soft."

KIRSTEN DUNST PURSE THIEF SENTENCED TO FOUR YEARS: A man convicted of stealing Kirsten Dunst's purse from her New York City hotel room was sentenced to four years in prison on Tuesday. James Jimenez was convicted of burglary in June when the jury found him guilty of stealing the $2,000 bag. Prosecutors argued he should serve seven years behind bars.

ED WESTWICK SAYS HE'S SINGLE: Ed Westwick is denying that he and Jessica Szohr are back together, even though they were spotted kissing at the U.S. Open last week. He told Britain's Closer magazine, "I'm single! My English accent drives American girls crazy but I haven't got time for romance. I've always been in love with Rachel Weisz, but sadly she's taken."

'JERSEY SHORE' CAST PRESENTING AT VMAS: The most popular acts on TV will be on hand for Sunday's MTV Video Music Awards. The network announced that the casts of Jersey Shore and Glee will be presenters at the September 12th show, which is being hosted by Chelsea Handler. Other presenters include Ellen DeGeneres, Cher, Katy Perry, Chris Pine, Rosario Dawson and Kim Kardashian.

BETTY WHITE GETS COMIC BOOK TREATMENT: The Betty White projects just don't stop. Up next for the 88-year-old It Girl? A comic book. The Hollywood Reporter announced that White will be drawn as a cartoon for "Female Force: Betty White," a 32-page book from Bluewater Productions due out this November.

DAVID LETTERMAN WELCOMES BARBARA BACK TO 'THE VIEW': David Letterman was on hand Tuesday to welcome Barbara Walters back from heart surgery. David Beckham, Justin Bieber, Elton John, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Helen Mirren, Martha Stewart, Jada Pinkett Smith and David Spade also welcomed Walters back through video messages. Letterman and Walters exchanged heart surgery stories and touched on the current late night landscape. Letterman joked that he'd like to kill Jon Stewart for constantly winning at the Emmys and told Barbara that he'll be tuning in for Conan's new TBS show.

JOHNNY DEPP STARRING WITH LONGTIME LOVE? Johnny Depp and his longtime partner Vanessa Paradis are reportedly in talks to play Simone De Beauvioir and Nelson Algren in an upcoming biopic called, My American Lover. Paradis recently told the Daily Express, "We've had plenty of opportunities to work together but I don't know that I could do it; keep a straight face in front of him. It's something that we don't look for, otherwise it would've happened many times. My American Lover came along and it might happen just because the story is great and why not if we can, but we don't push things. Playing in front of one of the best actors in the world that we have and someone I know so well will be challenging. That's why we don't run after it. But I don't know, why not?"

AMERICAN FERRERA LANDS NEW GIG: America Ferrera will host the ninth season of PBS' Independent Lens. Susan Sarandon, Terrence Howard and Edie Falco are among the celebs who have hosted past seasons of the documentary film series. Ferrera will make her debut on the show's October 19th season premiere.

It's official: Danielle Staub is no longer a Real Housewife of New Jersey. Bravo exec/host Andy Cohen confirmed her departure after Monday night's show, explaining, "The reunion was Danielle's last appearance. We thought the hugs were a great way to end two seasons of bitterness between the women."

Staub gave her account of the split to Usmagazine.com, saying, "I'm way too good for this. They have used me about as much as I can be used. I think it's time for me to move on and upward. I mean, what's left for the other castmates? To kill me? Bravo seems to be glorifying their behavior. And I think it's almost like telling children to behave poorly at school, 'It's OK.'"

As for her future plans, Staub said, "I want my own show. I want to be me now. Not me according to other people. Me . . . a spin-off is absolutely, positively where I'm going." She added that a spinoff would allow "my kids Christine, 16, and Jillian, 12 to be seen for the wonderful children that they are. I want to be shown as a mother, an artist, a supporter of my charities and the foundations that I'm passionate about. I want to use my platform to speak about the things that I love in my life."

Danielle believes the Housewives show will suffer in her absence. She claims, "The bottom line is, they need me, I don't need them. They don't talk about anything but me. I don't talk about them, at all. I talk about me too!"

TERESA LEAVING TOO?

Danielle might not be the only departing Housewife. The New York Post reports that financially-troubled Teresa Giudice has sworn off the show after Bravo supposedly failed to hold up their end of her book deal. The Post reports that Teresa is the only housewife in the franchise to give the network 10 percent of royalties from her book, Skinny Italian -- but in turn Bravo agreed to promote her book on the air.

According to the Post, the network failed to include her book-related activities on the show, and now Teresa is pissed.

A source told the paper, "Teresa is done with Bravo, I don't think any amount of money will make her come back."

OPRAH WINFREY AMONG KENNEDY CENTER HONOREES: Oprah Winfrey will be honored at the 33rd annual Kennedy Center Honors. Other honorees include, Paul McCartney, dancer, choreographer and director Bill T. Jones; country singer-songwriter Merle Haggard; and Broadway composer and lyricist Jerry Herman. According to The Associated Press, when asked how she felt about the extreme honor, O said, "When I've done them in the past for people, it has always felt a little bit like being bombarded with a love festival that is about you, and you know that's gotta feel good . . .I love surprising people, I don't like being surprised. Releasing any kind of control over a show and allowing myself to sit there and be surprised is not going to be easy but I'm willing to do that."

MICHAEL JACKSON'S ALLEGED LOVE CHILD SHOT DOWN IN COURT: Reports say that the latest woman who has claimed to be Michael Jackson's love child will not be granted a DNA test. According to TMZ.com, as previously reported, Mocienne Petit Jackson filed documents back in July -- claiming that she was the love child created by Michael and Diana Ross' sister Dr. Barbara Ross-Lee. Mocienne also wanted custody of MJ's kids and cut of the inheritance -- which was also shot down.

VH1'S BASKETBALL WIVES STAR ROYCE REED CALLS COPS ON DWIGHT HOWARD: Reports say that Vh1 Basketball Wives star Royce Reed called the cops on her baby daddy Dwight Howard. According to TMZ.com, on August 26th, Dwight -- who is in an ongoing custody battle with Royce, went to pick up their 2-year-old son from day care. Royce reportedly flipped out and called the cops because she claimed that the custody agreement didn't give Dwight the right to pick up the child that day. Dwight told cops that he and Royce made a new custody agreement -- that gave him the right to pick up his son that day. The site reported that a custody agreement was discussed, but never signed. The cops ordered Dwight to return the child to the daycare center. A spokesperson for Reed thanked police and school officials for their quick response. He also said the child "was seriously traumatized by the unlawful actions of Dwight and his staff, and Royce will rely upon the Courts to prevent future incidents from occurring."

Paris Hilton has been named the worst celebrity role model in a recent poll -- garnering nearly twice as many votes as Lindsay Lohan.

In the wake of her recent arrest, 43 percent of respondents told WENN.com that Hilton was the worst celebrity role model. Lohan finished second with 23 percent of the vote, followed by Snooki, Chris Brown and Lil Wayne.

PARIS GOT SPECIAL TREATMENT IN JAIL

In other news, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Deputy Chief Jim Dixon admitted that Hilton was given special treatment after her arrest last month. He acknowledged that the heiress was processed in half the time it normally takes for charged criminals after she was brought in for cocaine possession.

Dixon explained, "She was treated differently. So I don't have a disruption of my process here at the county jail. When you bring somebody in like that, everybody comes over and tries to look at them. I'd have officers attempting to keep inmates away from her. I'd have disruptions."

Sean Penn's rep is slamming Wyclef Jean for saying that the actor uses cocaine. During a recent performance, Wyclef changed the lyrics of "If I Was President" to include the line, "I got a message for Sean Penn: Maybe he ain't see me in Haiti because he was too busy sniffing cocaine."

Penn, who spent several weeks in Haiti earlier this year doing volunteer work, recently questioned the Presidential-wannabe's commitment to the nation, explaining that the artist "was largely heard, but not seen" in the country.

In response to the cocaine allegations, Penn's rep said, "Mr. Jean is clearly unfamiliar with the physical demands put upon volunteers in Haiti. As aid workers there, the notion of depleting the body's immune system thru the use of illicit drugs is ludicrous. More specifically, J/P Haitian Relief Organization (a.k.a. JPHRO) has a ZERO tolerance policy for any and all illegal drugs. As the leader of this organization, Sean Penn has not only set this policy, but adheres to it. That Mr. Jean would make such a false accusation is reckless and saddening, but not surprising."

Whoopi Goldberg announced yesterday (September 7th) that her mother has passed away. The actor and comedienne's mom Emma Johnson died a couple of days after suffering a stroke. During the season premiere of The View, Whoopi said, "My mom passed on the 29th of August. She went to say that her mom -- who was a teacher, was "one of the best people I think I've had the privilege of knowing." She added, "I don't think she quite realized how many lives she touched. She was an extraordinary woman."

Whoopi continued, "My brother and I were very, very lucky to have her in our lives. And so, I'm not sad because she had a great time . . . I think I'm just sad sometimes because I think who will love me the way that she did? But I realized that my brother and I have each other so we're OK."

Whoopi pulled out of the London theatre production of Sister Act late last month to fly back to the U.S. after learning about her mom's stroke.

Amy Poehler will host the season premiere of Saturday Night Live on September 25th. The Park and Recreation star was a member of the SNL cast from 2001-2008.

The musical guest that night is Katy Perry.

SNL CASTING RUMORS CONTINUE

Meanwhile, just weeks before its 36th season begins, SNL is still dealing with casting rumors. Will Forte's exit has been confirmed and Deadline.com claims that Jenny Slate has been axed. Supposedly Abby Elliot was on the chopping block as well, but has been spared.

In addition to the previously announced arrivals of Taran Killam, Paul Brittain and Venessa Bayer, Deadline reports impressionist Jay Pharoah will be joining the cast.

Only a small fraction of new television shows will survive the fall season. As the networks begin promoting their premieres, some news outlets are picking which will fail before they even start.

The New York Post is betting that the following three will be among the first to fall:

Running Wilde (Fox): "This show has so much promise, an incredible creator (Mitch Hurwitz from "Arrested Development'") and two favorite stars (gorgeous Keri Russell and hilariously smarmy Will Arnett), but the situations are too ridiculous to be funny and the characters aren't likeable. That said, we hated the "30 Rock" pilot, too."

Outlaw (NBC): "This Jimmy Smits show has to overcome an outlandish premise. Smits plays a conservative, er, libertarian US Supreme Court Justice, Cyrus Garza, who quits the bench to become a (get this) liberal defense attorney. Why? Because he's convinced the system is broken. Even if that conceit weren't a lot to swallow, the show's first few episodes involve cases too indefensible and silly."

Outsourced (NBC): "By the end of the first episode, we had turned inappropriate cultural snarks into a drinking game And we were all well-buzzed. Even the show's premise -- an American company that manufactures tasteless tchotchkes moves its customer service center to India -- verges on the offensive. We don't even want to call Mumbai customer-service departments when our own computer melts down So we certainly don't want to watch it on TV."

Niecy Nash is engaged to her boyfriend of one year, Jay Tucker. According to Entertainment Tonight, The Clean House host and former Dancing With the Stars contestant and Jay announced their plans to get married at a weekend party -- where guests included her DWTS partner Louis van Amstel.

Niecy told ET, "I cannot believe that God has been this kind that he would gift me this man." She added, "Falling in love was the easy part, planning a wedding -- yikes!"

Niecy also shared her special moment with her Twitter followers -- along with some Twitpics of Jay popping the question. She wrote, "I was asked a VERY important question. I couldn't contain how happy I was!!!! I said 'yes'!!!!! So amazin . . ."

According to People.com, the wedding will be in May 2011.

Niecy divorced her first husband, Don Nash, in 2007. They have three children together.