HOLLYWOOD DIRT OVERFLOW (10-05-09)

SHE'S WAKING UP WITH BRAND

KATY PERRY may be dating British "comedian" RUSSELL BRAND. Both of them blogged recently about having a great time vacationing in Thailand . . . although neither of them said anything about being with the other.

More importantly, they were photographed together on Friday going to a party in the U.K. . . . and then Saturday morning leaving Russell's apartment. (--Here are the pic . . .)

THE JUDGE IS HAPPY WITH HOW MICHAEL JACKSON'S MOTHER IS RAISING HIS KIDS:

KATHERINE JACKSON'S attorney was in court Friday for a hearing on custody matters concerning her son MICHAEL'S three kids. And it was all good news. --The judge said he was happy with how Katherine is raising Prince Michael, Paris and "Blanket". He said, quote, "[They're] really doing wonderfully with the grandmother as the guardian."

The judge even said he was, quote, "not inclined to set another date" regarding custody . . . which apparently means he's satisfied this arrangement is what's best for the kids.


JON GOSSELIN HAS EMPTIED HIS AND KATE'S JOINT BANK ACCOUNT:

Last week, "Jon and Kate Plus Eight" tool JON GOSSELIN told LARRY KING he was hoping to smooth things over with his estranged wife, KATE. He said, quote, "I want Kate and I to mediate. I want us to become friends."

So what was his first step? Pretty much depleting their joint bank account. --RadarOnline.com is reporting that Jon withdrew "several hundred thousand dollars" from their account . . . leaving Kate with just $1,000. And the site is insinuating that this happened AFTER his appearance on "Larry King Live".

This was done without Kate's knowledge . . . and violates a court order, which reportedly prohibits him from touching that money. --Her attorney, Marty Singer, later told the site, quote, "If the money is not immediately returned, we will be looking into potential claims against [Jon's lawyer] if he had any involvement with the violation of the court order.

"It is very disappointing that Jon Gosselin has escalated this to such an ugly place that her lawyers have to do everything they can to protect her and her children from his outrageous actions." --But Jon stopped short of taking from his children. A separate account . . . set up for the "Plus Eight" . . . was left intact. There's no comment from Jon's camp on all this.

Meanwhile, there haven't been any new updates on the future of "Jon and Kate Plus Eight" . . . now that Jon has BANNED TLC's TV cameras from entering his home . . . but it sounds like a lot of people are over it anyway.

In a new "TV Guide" poll, about 76% of those surveyed think the show needs to come to an end, while 24% would like to see it continue. --And if Jon's thinking about doing another reality show . . . he should know that 94% of people say wouldn't be interested in watching it. (--2,500 people were surveyed.)


LADY GAGA SAYS SHE AND KANYE WEST "MUTUALLY" DECIDED TO CANCEL THEIR TOUR:

KANYE WEST and LADY GAGA'S joint Fame Kills tour was suddenly cancelled without explanation. It's still unclear exactly WHY it was shut down, but Gaga now claims they reached the decision together.

She says, quote, "It was a mutual decision to cancel the tour. Kanye's going to take some time off. But the good news is that I'm going on tour in a few weeks." --Gaga says her solo tour will kick off just "a week later" than November 10th, when the tour with Kanye was supposed to start. --The dates for her new tour have yet to be announced.

(--Kanye DID say he needed to take a "break" in one of his apologies for his rude outburst at the "MTV Video Music Awards". On the other hand, the timing of that incident may also have also had a negative effect on ticket sales.)

For what it's worth, her choreographer, Lori Ann Gibson, said the tour fell apart because of, quote, "creative differences" between Gaga and Kanye. --We haven't heard anything official about that . . . although Gaga did say, quote, "In respects to the creative work that [Kanye and I] did together, I won't be doing any of the things that we designed for the tour. It will be entirely new."

Also . . . Lady Gaga was on "Saturday Night Live" over the weekend, and she appeared in a skit with MADONNA. http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/clips/deep-house-dish/1163284/