day 3.187

this is why nicole richie is my favorite

day 2.14

the nicole richie show?

it looks like abc has found their next star: nicole richie. yep, the former simple life-er has landed a deal with the alphabet net to produce and star in a half-hour, single camera comedy. the star posted the news on her official blog yesterday and the internets went crazy. the show, which is as of yet untitled, will revolve around a character richie developed herself: a young woman balancing the professional and personal worlds. hmm ... isn't that the background of every female-driven sitcom? richie was reportedly inspired by all the women she's come in contact with in the past couple of years. richie writes:

"it amazes me to watch and observe how many different ideas there are about what a woman's role should be in this era. i've taken these fascinating ideas, and compiled them into something that i think will be very special (and funny!)."

the good news is that abc looks to be extremely passionate about this project and have compiled some pretty heavy hitters to help assemble the pilot episode. daisy gardner, a writer for tina fey's 30 rock, will pen the first episode's script while warren bell and jamie tarses will executive produce. the duo is no stranger to the alphabet net, with bell having served as show-runner for the long running according to jim and tarses having been in charge of the network for a period in the 90s. the show is still in its beginning stages, but will probably go into production in the next couple of weeks to be in contention for spring pilot season. if the net likes the show, then they'll pick it up for fall 2010. richie isn't known for being an actress, but has made several one-off guest appearances on shows like chuck, eve and 8 simple rules. i hope this show gets picked up just so we can all see it. if the show lands a spot on the fall schedule, then richie will be one busy woman. she's a mom to two, a fashion and jewelry designer and an author. quite the resume for a girl know just as "paris hilton's bff" less than a decade ago.

day 296

baby blabber

two of hollywood's big names broke big baby news today. former simple life star nicole richie gave birth early this morning in los angeles, according to her blog. ritchie popped out a baby boy, her second child with longtime love joel madden - their first is 1-year-old daughter harlow winter kate - whom they named (wait for it) sparrow james midnight madden. why these children need 4 names i don't know. but at least the kiddos will be unique? my guess is that this little boy will probably wind up going by james when he's older, because sparrow and midnight aren't exactly "adult" names. sparrow weighed in at a whopping 7 lbs, 17 oz ... now, for the unexpected baby news. grey's anatomy is adding another momma to the mix. katherine heigl recently hosted a baby shower for costar ellen pompeo and, apparently, she was bitten by the baby bug. heigl and musician husband josh kelley have decided to adopt a baby girl from korea, according to radar online. heigl and kelley have reportedly been working towards the adoption for 6 months now; their soon to be daughter, named nayleigh, was born 10 months ago. radar's source says the couple plans to nickname their baby girl leigh. heigl is no stranger to adoption as she has an older sister, meg, who was adopted from asia. way to carry on a great tradition. this baby news helps to explain why katherine heigl recently quit smoking, another plus.

day 97

harlow winter kate to become big sis

nicole richie and joel madden have announced that they will be expecting their second child later this year.  late last night, the rocker posted on good charlotte's official site that he was excited to be entering a second child into the world.   the couple is not married but has been together for over 2 years.  nicole gave birth to the musically inclined duo's first child, harlow, in january 2008.  that means there will be about a year and a half (probably) between the two children.  there's no word on when the baby is due, what sex the baby is, or if the couple plans on tying the not to make their family legally official, but congrats to the twosome.  with the rate they're going, they're bound to have a whole football team of kids in a few years.  joel famously dated hilary duff prior to nicole; they're relationship lasted quite a few years and, according to hilary, was a celibate one.  that explains why he's so hellbent on having so many kids, eh?

it's not the oscars...

it's the razzies.  the "crappy" oscars were held saturday night in los angeles mike myers and paris hilton lead the pack for nominations, and swept they're categories. paris took home the razzie (not literally, as she wasn't in attendance like halle berry was a few years ago for catwoman) for worst actress, worst supporting actress, and worst on screen couple.  mike myer's the love guru got the statuette for worst picture, worst actor, and worst screenplay.  is america just finally over mike myers?  getting a golden razzie is a step in the wrong direction (halle berry's career still hasn't really recovered).  the only project he currently has in production that is bound to be a hit is shrek goes fourth, in which he won't even appear on screen.  maybe that's the key to his success?  we'll get to see in 2010 when the film hits screens in 3d.  and as for hilton?  she doesn't have any film projects in the works for the near future.  i'd say that's a good thing, wouldn't you? 

and the oscar goes to...

the 81st academy awards were held tonight with almost no surprises.  the memo that leaked yesterday was obviously a phony since some of the award winners were chosen in correctly on the sheet.  hugh jackman did a fine job hosting, though i don't know if he'll be invited back.  the song-and-dance numbers were impressive, but not all that entertaining in the long run.  the shows need a comedian to keep the flow going and to keep the crowd upbeat (though not john stewart...he didn't know what he was doing a few years ago).  jackman is definitely better suited for hosting the tony awards with his musical background.  beyonce's appearance in a movie-musical themed performance, alongside zac and vanessa from high school musican and amanda seyfried and dominic cooper of mamma mia, was by far the highlight of the show, even if beyonce was lip synching.  the clip will landed on youtube so those of you who missed it will be able to check it out above.  oh, and the winners?  well, penelope cruz has been named best supporting actress for vicky cristina barcelona (makes me sad for amy adams), heath ledger garnered a posthumous awards for his role in the dark knight, wall-e received the nod for best animated feature (big shocker, being a disney/pixar film), danny boyle won for his direction of slumdog millionaire, which also took home the best picture nod.  i thought the coolest part of the evening was the way the acting awards were handed out; 5 winners from the past were chosen to each speak about one of the current nominees.  it was just a cool way to remember who has won what and see that, wow, that old guy from that one movie isn't dead yet.  it also explained why the camera kept cutting to sophia loren.  speaking of best actress and actor, those awards went to kate winslet (another shocker, though i still wish anne hathaway had gotten more recognition this awards season) and, what was actually a surprise, sean penn took home the best actor statue. a lot of people worried that his film, milk, would be critically revered but award show snubbed, due to its similarly themed subject matter with brokeback mountain.  it's probably a good thing that mickey rourke didn't take home the statue, though his acceptance speech would have been great to watch, i'm sure.  

day 26

hudson halts headstart

jennifer hudson has decided to not film the music video for her next single after all.  the singer is said to still be too distraught from the october deaths of her mother, brother, and nephew. while the killer, hudson's brother-in-law, is behind bars, the singer-actress does not want to step into the public eye quite yet.  this means the next time we see the former idol contestant would be the hugh jackman helmed oscars in february.  hudson won the best supporting actress award for her role in dreamgirls two years ago and, as an oscar nominee/winner, she is invited to the awards show each year.  how do you think gary busey gets to go every year?

jessica simpson, labeless

jessica simpson may be without a place to record music in the near future.  the singer-actress is said to be this close to being dropped from columbia/epic/columbia-nashville records.  the tabloid staple most recently released a country effort, do you know, debuted at number one on the country and pop charts, but slowly faded away after that.  neither of her singles, "come on over" and "remember that," have really taken off. it seems like neither the pop or country markets are really taking the singer seriously, most likely because of her public image.  if the singer is not dropped from her label, she is set to open for Rascall Flats on the 2009 "bob that head" tour.  even if the singer is dropped, another label is sure to pick her up.  and she always has her ever growing fashion and accessory lines to keep her going...

richie to record

after years of speculation, nicole richie is finally said to have an album in the works.  the reality show star, tabloid target, heiress, and new mom is supposedly working with current pop princess rihanna and kelly osbourne. she is probably working with her famous father, lionel, as well.  no other news is known - no release date, no known label, and no known songs. the album will probably come on in the next year or so though.  click here to listen to a leaked demo track, "dandelion," from a few years back from the star.  the song is a cover of a single from 90s boy band LFO, the singers of such classics as "summer girls (abercrombie and fitch)."  

united kingdom: home of fake news

over the past couple of days, publications overseas have been releasing completely fabricated stories.  the first of which is an alleged interview scarlet johannson supposedly have with cosmo, uk.  the cover story was completely made up - scarjo never even met with anyone at the magazine.  so, if you hear any quotes from the actress talking about her recent marriage to fellow canadian ryan reynolds...don' believe them.  scarlet has never been one to talk about her personal life and continues to be that way.  the second story is about kanye west taking a break from the recording industry to work as a fashion intern.  the daily mirror reported that the rapper was to work the low-man-on-the-totem-pole position at fashion house louis vuitton, which is completely untrue.  if kanye were to step into the fashion world, it would probably be his own line (think sean jean) or a collaboration with an american design firm.