December 06, 2005

Jennifer Aniston is declaring war against a paparazzo, suing him for invading her privacy by using a telephoto lens to photograph her inside her home when she was topless or partly undressed. In her lawsuit, filed Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court, the actress alleged that photographer Peter Brandt must have observed her "from a great distance through invasive, intrusive and unlawful measures."

Thus, Aniston attorney John H. Lavely Jr. outs a warning that the publication of "certain photographs" of his client sans top, "or in the act of taking off or putting on her top" will result in some very bad things. Further Lavely claimed that the topless photos were snapped by Brandt "using powerful telephoto lenses," and sitting "more than one mile away from Ms. Aniston's home," captured her in the act of disrobing in her own abode.

In short yet briefly news, DreamWorks Pictures is reported to have acquired the rights to "The Guy Not Taken," a short story written by best-selling author Jennifer Weiner.

Previously published in Glamour magazine in October, the drama genre tells the story of a wish-fulfillment fantasy that explores a married woman's life had she chosen a different path.

Amidst his difficult times facing the incident with a hotel clerk, Hollywood actor Russell Crowe has good news. It's about his wife Danielle Spencer who is reportedly pregnant with their second child.

Crowe has made the announcement: he is to become a dad for the second time, at a dinner in Melbourne, following the Australian Film Institute Awards last weekend. As of Crowe's Australian management, they gave a "no comment" when asked for a confirmation or denial of the reports.

Hip hop star Missy Elliott is working on a film based on her life. In the script she reveals all about her dark past during which she was raped by her cousin at the age of 8 and was abused by her father when she was growing up.

"I'm working on my own movie on my life, which probably a lot of people don't know," Elliott said. "I've been kinda like a character in the TV world as far as videos and stuff, so they really don't know my life story about my father being abusive and the rape by my 16-year-old cousin when I was eight. So y'all will see that soon," she added.

The show must go on and so "Chappelle's Show" returns to TV without the star himself Dave Chappelle. The Comedy Central network announced Monday that it will air more episodes of the hit cable series next year using footage shot before Dave abandoned the production in May.

The decision to air the never-before-seen sketches, however, provoked the assumption that Dave won't ever return to complete the third season of the series. "We have to do this because we have no idea what the future foretells," the network's president, Doug Herzog, said. "He hasn't been able to articulate what he would like to do, so we're moving forward."

Happy couple Tom Cruise and fiancee Katie Holmes, who once postponed their marriage, has now come to the exact date. The twosome reportedly eyeing an Independence Day weekend wedding July 7, 2006, which up-market retailer Neiman Marcus has listed under the names Katherine Holmes and Thomas Mapother - Cruise's real name.

Asked about the report accuracy, Cruise's publicist Paul Bloch refused to confirm or deny the latest development, giving a firm "no comment" to all inquiries. In fact, details on the couple's wedding are being kept a closely guarded secret.

Great singer Stevie Wonder has been tapped to join the Super Bowl lineup to perform during the pre-game show at Ford Field. The star is set to play three or four songs during the pre-game show before the game Feb. 5.

Speaking on that, Lori Lambert, vice president of strategic marketing for Universal Motown Records Group, told The Associated Press that at least part of the performance would be televised. For other artists to be featured in the pre-game show still to be announced later, Lambert added.

ABBA. You won't hear the group's name anymore when their latest compilation hit the record stores. One of its members, Bjorn Ulvaeus, said Monday that ABBA had no intention to follow the footsteps of other famous bands that have regrouped in recent years.

It's clear already that the new box set of ABBA's complete studio recordings, featuring nine CDs and two DVDs, will be their final. Asked about this matter, Ulvaeus replied "Absolutely ... If you ask me, yes."

Remember when Hurricane Katrina occurred recently? See how many people suffered from financial loss? Band 3 Doors Down is among the victims of the disaster. Its members suffered personal losses, to mention that of bassist Todd Harrell and his wife lost their condominium home and rental properties and bandmate Chris Henderson lost vehicles, his studio and the bottom floor of his house.

Concerning such fact, staging a benefit for hurricane relief is an easy decision to make for 3 Doors Down. Thus, they are scheduled to perform a Dec. 10 benefit show at Alabama's Mobile Convention Center. The sold-out show will raise money for the band's charitable arm, The Better Life Foundation, which will donate all proceeds to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina along the Gulf Coast.

R&B singer Mary J. Blige will in the coming days have another new project to finish as she gives her hand at acting. Blige is set to star in an as-yet-untitled biopic that will focus on the rise of late, legendary jazz/soul singer Nina Simone. This then will be her first starring role in a film.

The film, an MTV Films/ Paramount Pictures project, will chronicle Simone's ascent to stardom and her relationship with Paris-based manager Clifton Henderson. The film reportedly will be produced by Interscope Records Chairman Jimmy Iovine along with Lauren Lloyd, Gene Kirkwood and Paul Rosenberg. A director has not been named, but television writer Cynthia Mort will pen the screenplay.

"Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage." That is life about and it seems so complicated isn't it? In fact, such feelings if they are well packed then it will become something interesting to observe. And Warner Bros. is about to bring into life that idea, working on the upcoming drama romance "Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage."

Soon as the studio has optioned the Alice Munro short story, they have pointed Mark Poirier to adapt it with the intention for Julianne Moore to star. With the pic to be produced by WB-based Dylan Sellers, Moore, in addition, also will exec produce.

"Rebound Guy." It is the title of the film which Twentieth Century Fox has acquired. Starring Hugh Jackman, the comedy romance is the story of a carousing bachelor who only dates girls on the rebound, secure in the knowledge that they never want a serious relationship after a long commitment. When he falls in love with a girl on the rebound, he inserts a "rebound guy" in front of him and positions himself as the real guy.

Will write the script is Jennifer Robinson and Dyanne Stempel. In the meantime, Jackman also will produce along with partner John Palermo through their Fox-based Seed Prods. banner. Slated to oversee the film is Fox's Debbie Liebling and Hutch Parker.

It's Gold Circle Films that finally acquires the remake rights to South Korean hit "My Sassy Girl," which DreamWorks recently put into turnaround. A drama comedy romance, the film tells the story of a dolt who falls in love with a loud-mouthed, aggressive girl who doesn't hesitate to vent her frustrations in public.

Slated to direct an adaptation penned by Vic Levin is Gurinder Chadha with shooting is set to begin in the spring. Vertigo Films and Maverick Films will remain on the project, producing with Gold Circle, which paid in the mid-six-figures to close the deal.

Rumors on the street mention Britney Spears and husband Kefin Federline's marriage is on rock apparently is true. Recent reports mention that the pop diva has kicked out Federline out of their Malibu, California home after tiring of his partying ways, leaving the man to check into the Beverly Hills Hotel.

Though the couple's publicists refused to comment further, TV show Entertainment Tonight insists the story is true. Meanwhile, friends of the couple believe that reports have been blown out of proportion, yet America's In Touch magazine reported that Spears has sought counseling in a bid to mend her troubled one-year-old marriage to Federline.

Filed for divorce just three months ago, American comedienne Kathy Griffin is reuniting with husband Matt Moline. Soon as the report sparked, the couple was spotted attending Malibu Rum's 'Light Up Your Holidays' event at Pig 'N Whistle in Los Angeles, California.

About that, Griffin says "Matt and I are like Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee... We'll do anything. We're trying to make it work." The two then slated to host a Malibu Rum Party at the Mercury Bar in New York City on December 8.

Celebrities from the world of performing arts gathered in Washington this weekend to pay tribute to five entertainment icons at the 28th annual Kennedy Center honors. The five major honorees were singers Tina Turner and Tony Bennett, actors Robert Redford and Julie Harris and ballet instructor Suzanne Farrell.

All of them received praise from friends, former colleagues and celebrity admirers at the event held Sunday night Dec 4th at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. "I'm very excited," Turner told reporters. Meanwhile, President Bush said "Each of these honorees, in a lifetime of achievement, has set a standard of excellence that is admired throughout the world."