August 25, 2011

One of the two funeral services for Russell Armstrong was held at the Church of the Hills-Forest Lawn in the Hollywood Hills on Wednesday, August 24 night. All of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" stars including his estranged wife Taylor Armstrong were in attendance. The funeral was closed for the public, including Bravo's cameras.

Lisa Vanderpump, Adrienne Maloof-Nassif and husband Dr. Paul Nassif and Kyle and Kim Richards were found among the mourners. Although Taylor doesn't get along with all of them, she invited them because she recognizes how "supportive" the women have all been since Russell's body was discovered more than a week ago.

Police are still investigating the mysterious death of Michael Showers aka Captain John Guirdy on HBO's "Treme". The 45-year-old actor's body was found in the Mississippi River in Louisiana, a Port of New Orleans, on Wednesday, August 24 morning.

A steamboat captain saw a body floating in the water near St. Louis Street at around 11:25 A.M, said communications director for the port Chris Bonura. The body was retrieved 30 minutes later, handed to the authorities and was then identified as Showers.

Universal Pictures are still working on the remake of "The Invisible Man". David S. Goyer, who penned the script for "The Dark Knight Rises" and "Man of Steel", offered some updates on the project during an interview with the Los Angeles Times, assuring that "it's still alive."

"It's something slowly working its way through the Universal development channels," the 45-year-old director/screenwriter elaborated. "We did some pre-vis tests and things like that that they were very happy with. Now we're going through the casting process. If they get the right lead, they'll make it."

"Locke & Key" may never get a series pick-up, but a trailer for the pilot has recently landed online. Reportedly made by FOX for advertisers months ago, the more-than-two-minute video has a lot of spooky scenes set at an old mansion.

Based on Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez's comic book series, the story follows three siblings and their mother who move into their murdered father's family home where they discover a series of supernatural keys, which give them extraordinary abilities. The building is also home to a hate-filled creature that will not rest until it forces someone to open the most terrible door.

Production for "The Wolverine" has reportedly been postponed. Breaking the report was Deadline which said that director James Mangold and his team will likely begin filming in Spring 2012, instead of this Fall as it was originally slated.

Scenes for the film were actually expected to be shot in Japan, but studio insiders revealed that "it's hard finding just where to shoot in Japan these days because of weather-related considerations." Words are, the filming location might be switched to Canada, though there is also a possibility that the production will take place in both countries.

Before premiering "Cheers (Drink to That)" music video, Rihanna unveiled an official sneak peek to the clip. The red-haired singer, who is currently taking a vacation from her "Loud" tour, revealed on Twitter that she is going to debut the video in full on iTunes sometime very soon.

"It's scheduled 4 today(Wed) but due to the evacuation of some businesses yest, it may have delayed it a bit so 2day R 2mo," Riri wrote. Prior to that, she proudly shared to her followers that the single is climbing to No. 6 on the digital song chart. "What 6th single could do this with no video or promo..tell me," she posted.

Kate Winslet will never forget escaping the inferno that destroyed Richard Branson's private Caribbean home. On Wednesday, August 24, just days after she and around 20 other guests survived the nightmare, the Hanna Schmitz of "The Reader" spoke about the experience for the first time to Mirror Newspaper.

"I'm just so glad that everyone is safe," the 35-year-old said. "And this very easily could not have been the case. I will never forget Richard placing his arms around both my children as we were watching the flames, and saying, 'At the end of the day, what you realize is that all that matters is the people that you love. Everything else is just stuff. And none of that stuff matters.' "

Ashton Kutcher let slip an interesting detail of his "Two and a Half Men" character when stopping by "Late Show with David Letterman" on Wednesday, August 24. "I'm very heartbroken over this breakup that's taken place....I may, in some way, shape, or form, be tryin' to kill myself," the 33-year-old revealed about his character, a billionaire Internet entrepreneur named Walden Schmidt who goes through a nasty divorce.

"I'm no genius, but what better way to kick off a new season of a sitcom than with a suicide," David Letterman commented on the plot offered by the sitcom. "You already killed Charlie. You got a murder-suicide."

Lea Michele along with Cory Monteith and the other "Glee" regulars get makeover in a "Fashion" video. The actress playing Rachel Berry takes the lead singing David Bowie's classic. She looks dazzling in a sequinned silver minidress and black ankle heeled boots.

Harry Shum Jr. channels his inner paparazzi by following Dianna Agron on the runway with his camera. Mark Salling sticks to his bad boy image looking all rebels in a FNO t-shirt, vest and boots. In addition to the New Directions members, Darren Criss from the Warblers takes the stage as well.

What if Butch Cassidy was not killed in a standoff with the Bolivian military in 1908 and grew old? An answer to this imagination is offered in "Blackthorn" which has its first trailer unleashed via Apple.

In the drama movie, Cassidy survived and is quietly living out his years under the name James Blackthorn in a secluded Bolivian village. Hoping to see his family again before he dies, Cassidy sets out on the long journey home.

Kim Kardashian is inching closer to adopting Kris Humphries' last name. Just days after the "Kourtney and Kim Take New York" star tied the knot with the New Jersey Nets player, words came out from E! News that she is currently in the process of legally changing her name.

Unlike what has been suggested back in June, the 30-year-old won't drop her famous last name and take her husband's in replacement. Instead, she will add Humphries to her name and remain a Kardashian for her public and professional life much like what her younger sister Khloe Kardashian did after she married another NBA star Lamar Odom.

Days leading to the official release of her lead single "Mr. Know It All", Kelly Clarkson unwrapped its handwritten lyrics. The winner of "American Idol" inaugural season posted the lyrics on her official website in hopes to tide fans over before the song comes out for listening pleasure on August 30.

"Oh you think that you know me/ That's why I'm leaving you lonely/ Cause baby you don't know a thing about me/ You don't know a thing about me/ You ain't got the right to tell me/ When and where to go, no right to tell me/ Acting like you own me lately/ Yeah baby you don't know a thing about me/ You don't know a thing about me."

Rumors spread like wild fire that Lil Wayne targets Jay-Z in a newly-leaked song called "It's Good". Featuring Drake and Jadakiss, the track is recorded for Weezy's soon-to-be-released studio album "Tha Carter IV".

The song opens with someone crooning such lyrics as "You who are rich and whose troubles are few/ May come around to see my point of view/ What price the crown of the king on his throne?/ When you're chained in the dark all alone."

Rihanna is fighting back reports suggesting that she has a sex tape with Roc Nation rapper J. Cole. The "Only Girl (In the World)" hitmaker has taken to her Twitter page on Wednesday, August 24 to rebut Hustler's recent claim that they are in possession of the alleged tape.

Denying flat out the existence of the tape, the 23-year-old Bajan beauty tweeted, "We don't believe U, U need more people...AND ofcourse an actual sextape!" She ended the posting with a hashtag of "slownewsday". Meanwhile, Cole, her supposed partner in the rumored video, wrote in his own page, "Gossip Gossip, n***a just stop it."

A sneak peek at how Greg House serves his time in jail has been made available in a form of promo for "House M.D." season 8 premiere. The titular character seemingly does not get along well with his fellow inmates since he is seen being involved in fights with some of them.

The brilliant doctor may also cause more troubles when throwing some pills in the air. In another scene from the episode called "Twenty Vicodin", he looks uncomfortable when another prisoner has to use the toilet near his bed in the cell.

Brad Pitt has been photographed running in panic when filming another scene for "World War Z". During the production on Thursday, August 24, the 47-year-old actor shot his scene among troops and other civilians in a crowded street in Glasgow.

Donning a long-sleeved shirt and denim, the spouse of Angelina Jolie was snapped holding a girl who seems to be his on-screen daughter. Another cast member who was also seen on the location was Bobby Petta.

Responding to a lot of criticism about Michael Jackson special tribute concert, promoter for the event was quick to issue defensive statement. In a recent interview with BBC, Chris Hunt said that what people said about the gig was understandable but wrong.

"The notion that an event which reminds people just how fantastic Michael Jackson was, what a loss he was to the world he is, what a great singer, a great performer he was, should be inappropriate - it doesn't compute," he said. "It doesn't make sense."

Four new teasers for "The Walking Dead" season 2 have been released, highlighting the dark and chilling moments that will still be part of the next chapter. While giving a look at how the walkers spread terror among humans, one of the videos also gives an advice that keeping silent is the best way to avoid being attacked by the zombies.

Unlike the first season which was mainly set in the city centers, the second season will see many actions set in the woods. "We're gonna see a lot of rural roads and open fields see how bad things are as you get away from the city centers," executive producer Robert Kirkman teased.

Redmond O'Neal is given another chance to avoid time behind bars. On Wednesday, August 24, the troubled son of Ryan O'Neal and the late Farrah Fawcett was sentenced to a year in a live-in rehabilitation program after pleading no contest to one count of possessing heroin and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.

The 26-year-old was also given five more years of probation. The two court orders stemmed from his latest arrest. In a joint statement, his lawyers Richard Pintal and Michael Brewer said, "Today Judge Scwhartz ordered Redmond to undergo the best chance that he has had for a lasting recovery. The defense team is pleased and grateful that justice was served today."

Darren Criss was quick to slam rumor suggesting he was attached to "Downers Grove", a new movie written by Bret Easton Ellis. A representative for the actor who is well known for his portrayal as openly-gay Warblers student Blaine on "Glee" reached out to the Huffington Post to clarify the false report.

The casting rumor emerged after Ellis took to his Twitter to reveal the possibility of Darren joining the cast of the film. The news caused a buzz on the web because the screenwriter was never a fan of "Glee". He once slammed the TV series, writing "I like the idea of 'Glee' but why is it that every time I watch an episode I feel like I've stepped into a puddle of HIV?"

2011 apparently is the year for Lady GaGa to reign over Oprah Winfrey. Just a few months after taking over the title of the World's Most Powerful Celebrity, the "You and I" singer comes out on top of the former queen of daytime talk show on Forbes' annual list of the 100 Most Powerful Women.

This year, both GaGa and Winfrey are out from the Top 10 list, but the latter's significant drop from number 3 to number 14 gives the former a slight edge. While the "Born This Way" singer also slipped down from number 7 to number 11, she still ranks three slots higher than the media personality.

Christian Bale is still busy working on "The Dark Knight Rises", but some high-profile roles are already waiting for him once he has done filming the much-awaited superhero film. Words are, the 37-year-old Oscar-winning actor has got offers of not less than five important roles in upcoming movies.

According to Variety, two of Bale's potential projects post the Batman movie are remakes. One is Clint Eastwood's reboot of "A Star Is Born", which stars Grammy-winning songstress Beyonce Knowles and is developed at Warner Bros. Pictures. The other one is "Oldboy", a remake of the Korean thriller, in which Bale is projected to play the villain. The Spike Lee-directed film is developed at Mandate.

Fans may get a glimpse of what happens to Wisteria Lane's residents in the next few decades before bidding farewell to "Desperate Housewives". Showrunner Bob Daily confirms that there have been discussions to feature a huge leap in the series finale which is set to air next year.

"Viewers have spent eight years' worth of Sundays on Wisteria Lane, and we feel like that street is a character on the show," he explains. "And whether the women [still live there] or not, we want to give some kind of sense of what will be happening on Wisteria Lane in the future... and leave them with the feeling that life goes on."

Jim Carrey is in love with an actress half his age, and isn't afraid of sharing it with the world. The Tom Popper of "Mr. Popper's Penguins" has recently posted a love letter video on his newly launched website, JimCarreyTruLife. In it, he professes his love for "The Help" actress Emma Stone.

The 49-year-old comedian begins the clip by saying, "Emma, I just wanted to let you know that I think you're all the way beautiful. Not just pretty, but, you know, smart and kindhearted." He goes on to admit, "And if I were a lot younger, I would marry you, and we would have chubby little freckled-faced kids..."

After tragic stage collapses which happened at Indiana State Fair and Belgium Pukkelpop Festival due to heavy storm, Kenny Chesney decided to reschedule his concert at Foxboro's Gillette Stadium when the weather forecast was unfavorable. Due to safety reasons, the gig was moved from August 28 to 26 at the same venue.

"Our first and foremost priority is the fans' safety, so we have made the difficult decision to reschedule the show," said promoter Louis Messina of TMG/AEG Live. All tickets for Sunday's show will be honored on the new date. The line-up and set-times of the rescheduled gig will remain the same.

Sara Gilbert is back on the single market. The 36-year-old actress, who is known for her portrayal of Darlene Conner-Healy on "Roseanne", has ended her 10-year relationship with her TV producer/writer girlfriend Allison Adler, her representative confirmed to PEOPLE.

The co-creator and co-host of CBS' daytime talk show "The Talk" began dating 44-year-old Allison in 2001. They have two children together, 6-year-old son Levi and 4-year-old daughter Sawyer, and plan on sharing custody of the kids. According to the rep, the break-up was "completely amicable".

FOX has just unleashed the first promo for "Glee" season 3 to remind viewers why this school year at McKinley High "will be impossible to miss". But instead of featuring cheer moments, the video highlights Sue who hurls dodgeballs to her targets, including Will and Emma.

Also seen in the video are Finn, Rachel, Kurt, Artie, Tina, Mike, Quinn and other members of New Directions. This promo is set to Lea Michele's cover of The Go Go's' "We Got the Beat".

Roughly a month after her shocking death, Amy Winehouse claimed a posthumous record. Her second studio album "Back to Black" was named the biggest selling album of the 21st century in the U.K. by the Official Chart Company which tracks the sales of music in the country.

Winehouse snatched the accolade from previous record holder James Blunt. The "You're Beautiful" hitmaker got the title with his 2005's debut album "Back to Bedlam" which sold around 3,259,100 copies so far, but the "Rehab" singer surpassed it by garnering 3,241,118 copies of "Back to Black".

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith are letting their action do the talking. Just a day after squashing rumors that they are heading to splitsville through a joint statement, the Hollywood power couple stepped out together for a romantic beachside breakfast and some shopping.

On Wednesday (August 24) morning, the "Men in Black 3" actor and his wife of 13 years were seen sharing a laugh together as they enjoyed omelettes and coffee on an outdoor table at Bob Morris' Paradise Cove Beach Cafe. TMZ claimed that the twosome looked like a "happy and normal" couple.

Justin Bieber came crashing his best friend Taylor Swift's concert much to her audience's delight. Swift was entertaining a crowd at Los Angeles' Staples Center on Tuesday, August 23 night when Bieber suddenly appeared from backstage to sing a special duet of his song "Baby".

The surprise appearance actually was previously hinted when Bieber tweeted in response of Swift's cover of his song during her Toronto show. "Heard you sang BABY at your concert in TO. thank u for the love ...might have to come by and stop in on a show," boyfriend of Selena Gomez tweeted to her.

"The Bachelorette" season 7 runner-up Ben Flajnik is newly-crowned "The Bachelor". The 28-year-old winemaker from Sonoma is getting a second chance to find love via reality TV. Although ABC's announcement is yet to be made, several confirmations have emerged.

Steve Carbone of realitytysteve.com revealed to Life & Style, "Yes, it's definitely him." Steve is notorious for giving out accurate details about both "Bachelorette" and "Bachelor" ahead of ABC's announcement or broadcast.

MTV announces on Wednesday, August 24 that Beyonce Knowles is part of the VMA acts now. The "Single Ladies" singer will perform live at the Sunday, August 28 fiesta. She is also a nominee in three categories; Best Female Video, Best Choreography and Best Cinematography.

"Beyonce has delivered some of the most legendary and memorable performances in VMA history, we are so excited she'll be returning to the VMA stage this year," said Amy Doyle, executive producer and EVP, music and talent at MTV. "Everyone will be talking about how she set the VMA stage on fire-yet again!"