February 21, 2009

Another year of celebrities doing their business for charity is coming through "The Apprentice" second celebrity edition. The cast have been introduced and their eccentricities have just been previewed through the four clips below.

Due for premiere on March 1, the competition once again put up 16 celebrities which are operated into two teams. First round as usual is divided into male and female teams who are in the task to sell as many cupcakes as possible in New York City. Stepping out as project manager for the male team is former NFL player Herschel Walker and taking things over for the female team is comedienne Joan Rivers.

Four brand new singles from Jordin Sparks' upcoming sophomore studio album have been previewed. Titled "Let It Rain", "Walking on Snow", "Faith" and "Paper Cut", the snippets for the four songs have been played during her visit on a radio show dubbed "Johnjay & Rich".

In one of the new songs called "Faith", Jordin steps behind songwriting desk, penning the lines herself. Performing the track for the first time during Barack Obama's inaugural ball, she dedicates the single to American troops, who are shipped off to Iraq.

"Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian" is yet to be opened in theaters, but screenwriter Thomas Lennon seems ready to write another script for the Ben Stiller-starring comedy series. The scribbler admits that he can't wait to pen another "Night at the Museum" movie to MTV News.

"I hate to be superstitious and stuff, but you know, obviously it would be nice to do a 'Night at the Museum 3'," Lennon shares to the entertainment network while discussing about the upcoming "Night at the Museum" sequel. "We'll see how this one goes; I don't like to jinx it." Despite his fear of jinxing the third film, he adds, "Let's do 4 through 8 back to back. By 8, they might be wearing thin. Or maybe not."

John Travolta and his actress wife Kelly Preston have established a charity foundation, which they name Jett Travolta Foundation, in honor of their late son Jett Travolta, who died at the age of 16 back in early January this year. Announcing the establishment of the foundation is the actor himself through a short message posted on his official website.

The Jett Travolta Foundation, as written in John's site, "shall endeavor to use its resources specifically to assist and provide relief to children with vision, hearing, mobility, communication, behavior learning impairments or other special medical, environmental, health or educational needs." Donation, either in form of cash or check, can be made out to Jett Travolta Foundation, Inc. 16161 Ventura Blvd. Suite C, PMB 390, Encino, CA 91436. More details are provided on John's official site.

A big screen treatment for TV series "Battlestar Galactica" has been thought of. Recently, IGN have come up with a story that Universal Pictures are planning to develop a feature film based on the 1970s sci-fi series and have lined up series creator Glen A. Larson to be the project's screenwriter and producer.

While the "Battlestar Galactica" remake aired on Sci Fi Channel has claimed an Emmy and Peabody Award, the trade reported that the movie version won't be based on this Ronald D. Moore-created series. IGN further insisted that though Universal Studios have denied the report, they were able to confirm the news from independent sources and expect the studio to make official announcement in the coming weeks.

Gearing up for 2009 Academy Awards, Hugh Jackman has been rehearsing in New York on a temporary stage in Hollywood. Through a video footage taken by an assistant working on a short for Jackman's production partner John Palermo, he is seen mostly practicing his vocals and dancing moves in addition to sharing his thought about his upcoming appearance in the annual event.

Starting with a scene where the "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" actor wears a top hat, singing and doing a couple of moves, the video continues showing all the people on the stage clamping their feet to the stage, rehearsing for the song-and-dance routine reportedly directed by "Australia" helmer Baz Luhrmann.

Actress Selma Blair and actor Mikey Day bring their on-screen chemistry in TV series "Kath & Kim" off screen as both of them have committed to embark on a love relationship in real life. "It's never happened to me before but it happened, I fell in love. I've never had a set romance. I think it makes work a lot more fun," Blair gushes about her new romance.

"We were really affectionate while we were shooting but we didn't get together until filming wrapped, because we didn't want it to be like, 'Ooh, what if you don't like me...?'" Blair continues. She then adds, "(But) he's wonderful, he's so funny."

"Jimmy Kimmel Live!" will once again take part in the biggest celebration in movie world, the Oscars. The talk show hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, will air the fourth special episode of "Jimmy Kimmel Live: After the Academy Awards" and to revamp it up, they have invited both Mel Gibson and Robin Thicke this year.

Gibson, a multiple Academy Awards winner, will do some talking with Kimmel while Thicke is to fill out the music performer slot. Another big Hollywood star is also due to appear on the segment, presumably the identity is only revealed after the ceremony is held on Sunday, February 22. The mysterious star "will make a cameo appearance in a special promo with Jimmy to air during the Academy Awards telecast."

Commenting on the leaking of a photo, showing the injured face of his famous daughter Rihanna after being attacked by Chris Brown during a heated argument on February 8, Ronald Fenty told US Weekly in a telephone interview on Friday morning, February 20 that he found the leak "disturbing" and branded it "terrible." Ronald revealed further, "It's good and it's bad to see the picture because there's other people who were thinking differently, that [Rihanna's injuries] may not be that bad, just a little spank or a little thing."

In a separate interview with People, Ronald expressed his disappointment towards the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) which handle his daughter's case. "Sloppy work on their part," so he said. Though so, Ronald hoped the leak of the shot can help people "grasp the situation" happening between Rihanna and Chris "a lot better."

A brand new track called "Walking on the Moon" from The-Dream's forthcoming second studio album "Love vs. Money" has been put forward. Claimed to be "bigger" than "Umbrella", the smash hit written by The-Dream and performed by Rihanna, the track has Kanye West contributing his vocals on the lines.

In addition to "Walking on the Moon", another new song from The-Dream has come out. Called "Sweat It Out", it mainly contains slow jam with no featured guest. While production credit for the track is still unclear, the ballad song is set to appear in the R&B singer's new effort.

Despite her enthusiasm in joining the "The Twilight Saga's New Moon" cast, AnnaLynne McCord announced that she may not star as Heidi, putting the blames on her hectic schedule. The star of TV series "90210" dropped the news to OK! Magazine, saying "I am so disappointed, but it doesn't look like it is going to happen with my schedule."

While giving heads up for the possibility of her not taking the role of the seductive human-bait trap working for the Volturi clan, the 21-year-old admitted that she is still hoping that it will eventually work out. "But keep your fingers crossed for me," so she claimed at the Los Angeles premiere of "Fired Up" on Thursday, February 19. "I hope that it still does!"

It had been known that Hilary Duff will make a cameo in an upcoming episode of "Ghost Whisperer" and it is only recently that the star herself talks about the guest stint. Duff reveals that her cameo was arranged as a casual talk between her and Jennifer Love Hewitt who is both her close friend and the star of the CBS show.

To E!, Duff dished out "Jennifer Love Hewitt's one of my friends, and we were having dinner one night." She continued, "She's like, 'Come be on my show. You know, we're almost finished.' I'm like, 'Give me a part. I'll do it.' And it just kind of came about really naturally and organically like that."

A music video promoting Pete Doherty's new single "Last of the English Roses" has been premiered. It shows the Babyshambles' frontman playing football with some friends in a field and ends with a kissing scene shot from sideway between two men.

Pete lists "Last of the English Roses" in his debut solo studio album "Grace/Wastelands" and will release the song in U.K. on March 9. Teaming up with Scottish singer Dot Allison for another track, he meanwhile will drop the album in U.K. a week later on March 16.

Summit Entertainment have announced the release date for the third installment of the "Twilight" saga, "Eclipse". Nikki Finke of Deadline Hollywood Daily reported that the third adaptation movie from Stephenie Meyer's "Twilight" series, will be available to view in the big screen on June 30, 2010, around seven months after "The Twilight Saga's New Moon" hits the U.S. theaters.

Finke further stated that this third film won't be shot back-to-back with "New Moon" and no director has been attached to the project. Supporting Finke's report, Entertainment Weekly came out with a scoop that "New Moon" director Chris Weitz will not helm "Eclipse" because he will be in post-production on the first "Twilight" sequel when "Eclipse" starts the lensing.

Celebrity longtime lovers, Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart, are close to make their union official in the eyes of the law as they reportedly have applied for a marriage license in the town of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where they own a house. Breaking the news is New York Post gossip columnist Cindy Adams.

Cindy, moreover, claims that Harrison and Calista also have already taken blood tests, a necessity to obtain the right to wed in the U.S., and are ready to file joint tax returns, which is a practise only carried out by married couples. "Jackson Hole bigmouths swear Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart took blood tests and got licenses so (it) could be they already are, or soon will be, filing joint returns," Cindy writes.

"Project Runway" may be in limbo but at least it has shot its wrap up episode during Mecedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York. The sixth season's final three had their collections shown on the catwalk on Friday, February 20 and the event was taped as the season finale of the reality show which still has no premiere date after the January 2009 delay.

The show has been in the middle of broadcasting battle between Bravo TV and Lifetime, and this consequently brings an effect to the runway show when the finalists were kept hidden while their designs were being displayed. "Unfortunately nobody has seen the show yet. I'm a little bit sad for our designers that they don't get that recognition today. We're all in a bit of a limbo," Heidi Klum said.

Rumor has it, "Superman Returns" will likely to be called "Superman Unleashed" in the future. Breaking out the news was SlashFilm, claiming that a password protected page from the Legendary Pictures official website has enlisted the supposed title for one of their in-development movies.

While providing evidence by posting a screenshot from the website, SlashFilm further noted that "Unleashed" still serves as a working title. The blog, in addition, uncovered the temporary plot synopsis, "Ramping up the action of its esteemed predecessor, the sequel to 'Superman Returns' promises to raise the stakes and take the audience to heights of action that no other superhero movie can achieve."

Rihanna turned 21 years old on Friday, February 20 and some of her close friends helped her marking her big day by placing a birthday greeting in one local Barbados paper, called the Nation News. The message, according to US Weekly, read, "Happy 21 Birthday to Robyn Rihanna Fenty. Amidst all the negativity about Ri Ri. God will continue to bless her. That's why you are so great, Ri Ri. From Sharon, Shane, Kim and Rashane. We love you."

Earlier last week, E! Online's Marc Malkin claimed in a report that Rihanna's record label canceled plans to throw her a birthday party which was supposed to be held in N.Y.C. The cancellation was triggered by her becoming the victim of physical assault by her singer boyfriend Chris Brown on February 8.

A music video for Ciara's new single "Love and Sex and Magic" has been made available to peek through a video footage from its shooting location. From the footage, it is seen that Justin Timberlake, who lends his vocals on the song's hook, will also make an appearance in the upcoming video.

Expected to be premiered sometime soon, "Love and Sex and Magic" music video is directed by Diane Martel, who helmed Ciara's music videos for "Promise" and "Like a Boy". Meanwhile, outfits and jewelry worn by the R&B singer in the video are designed by celebrity fashion designer Melody Ehsani.

Bar Refaeli, known for two things, being a supermodel and a long-time girlfriend of Leonardo DiCaprio, made a stop to "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" to discuss her latest magazine cover. The 23-year-old appears on the cover of Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue 2009.

Refaeli reveals her experience shooting the spread, including waking up at three in the morning to catch the sunrise and rolling on the sand to only to find it in "weird places" later. The shoots which can be found at Sports Illustrated official site, were taken in Canouan Island, The Grenadines. The issue has been on sale now.

First looks at "Fame", the reinvention of the original Oscar-winning hit film, has been provided through a featurette. Entitled "Meet the Cast", the featurette has been premiered exclusively on MySpace Movies around noon on Friday, February 20, and serves as an introduction to the cast ensemble that include Kay Panabaker, Anna Maria Perez de Tagle, Naturi Naughton, Paul McGill and Collins Pennie.

In it, the actors as well as director Kevin Tancharoen explain what the movie is all about and what is required from the actors starring in the film. Aside from that, the featurette also exposes the filming, recording and photo sessions with the cast. Meanwhile, a dance audition tape has also been outed. It displays one of the auditioning dancers showing his tap dancing skills.

One of the issues that Miley Cyrus addresses on her upcoming memoir "Miles to Go" is her relationship with father Billy Ray Cyrus, which is often criticized by people as they consider the father-daughter duo as too "close and cuddly." Defending their bond, the Disney star says, "For me and my dad it's not weird at all."

Blaming those who consider her relationship with her singer father as "weird", Miley claims in her memoir, an excerpt of which has been obtained by the Associated Press, that she believes some people are simply "full of anger, hatred and bitterness." Proclaiming her love for her father Billy, not taking into account the negative perception surrounding them, Miley insists she and her father "don't let other people tell us what expressions we're supposed to have on our faces when we take a picture together!"

Rapper Lil Wayne will enter recording booth with alternative rock band Fall Out Boy and make a collaboration with the Patrick Stump-fronted band for his upcoming rock-themed album "REBIRTH". Unfortunately, the title of their duet track has yet to be disclosed.

Wayne's duet with Fall Out Boy in "REBIRTH" will not be his first joint forces with the band as he has previously done several projects with them. He was featured in the band's single "Tiffany Blews" from their latest album "Folie a Deux". He also did a remix to the group's 2007 song "This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race" and shared stage with them at 2007 MTV Video Music Awards.

Rihanna was quick to response to the leaked picture of her battered face, taken shortly after she was allegedly assaulted by Chris Brown on February 8, saying in a statement issued by her representative all is well with her. "She wants to assure her fans that she remains strong, is doing well, and deeply appreciates the outpouring of support she has received during this difficult time," so read the statement issued by her representative on Friday, February 20.

The statement further revealed, "At the request of the authorities, Rihanna is not commenting about the incident involving Chris Brown." The statement came shortly after a photo, apparently showing Rihanna having a swollen-bloody lip, two black eyes and marks on her forehead, was made public by TMZ on Thursday, February 19. The photo, evidently leaked by a source within the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), prompted an internal investigation by the LAPD, which is still on-going.

The first full trailer of "Funny People" has made its debut via Moviefone and offered nearly four minutes long sneak peek into Judd Apatow's third directed movie. The trailer starts with a scene where Adam Sandler's George Simmons is doing one of his stand-up sketch, entertaining the audience with his sex jokes.

Giving out more to the film's plot, it then continues to show that when Ira Wright played by Seth Rogen comes to Simmons to praise him, Simmons quickly offers the aspiring stand-up comedian to work with him. Before long, Wright finds out that Simmons is dying and while Simmons is fighting his potentially deadly disease, he also deals with his lost love who has married another guy.

Demi Lovato has debuted a music video aimed to support her single "Lo Que Soy". In the video, she is seen sitting behind a piano, strumming riffs from the song's lines and performing the ballad track.

Several scenes from Disney Chanel original movie "Camp Rock" are also included. In one scene, Demi is captured sitting with Joe Jonas of the Jonas Brothers near a lake and apparently having a conversation with him. In another one, they are shown having an on-stage dance.