HOLLYWOOD DIRT OVERFLOW (03-24-11)

SHOWBIZ TRAGEDY

Elizabeth Taylor Has Died:

ELIZABETH TAYLOR died yesterday morning of congestive heart failure. She was 79. --Her rep said, quote, "She was surrounded by her children: Michael Wilding, Christopher Wilding, Liza Todd and Maria Burton." (--Liz is also survived by 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.) --"Though she had recently suffered a number of complications, her condition had stabilized and it was hoped that she would be able to return home. Sadly, this was not to be." --Elizabeth Taylor got her start in showbiz as a child. She starred in two of the Lassie movies, 1943's "Lassie Come Home" and "Courage of Lassie" in 1946. But her big break came at the age of 12, when she starred in the 1944 movie "National Velvet". --She went on to receive five Oscar nominations for Best Actress. She won two of them: For "Butterfield 8" in 1961 and "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" in 1967. --Before those two wins, she had three other nominations in the 1950s for "Raintree County", "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" and "Suddenly, Last Summer". --She also received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the 1993 Oscars for her charitable works. --Her other films include the 1949 version of "Little Women", "A Place in the Sun" and "The Taming of the Shrew". She was also the bride in the original 1950 version of "Father of the Bride". SPENCER TRACY played her dad. --1963 saw Liz in her most iconic role, as the lead in "Cleopatra". It was the highest-grossing movie of that year . . . but since it cost so much to make, it actually LOST money, and it failed with critics as well. --But it made Liz the first Hollywood star to make $1 million for a movie. --Liz's acting career tapered off in the 1980s. Although she famously appeared as the voice of Maggie on a 1992 episode of "The Simpsons" in which Maggie spoke her first word. (--Trivia: It was "Daddy".)


SEX SYMBOL:

--Liz Taylor will probably always be considered one of the most beautiful actresses of all time . . . so not surprisingly, there was never any shortage of MALE ACTION in her life. (--Just how gorgeous was Liz Taylor back in the day? Check out these pics.) --Liz was married EIGHT times to SEVEN different men. She and RICHARD BURTON made The Big Mistake twice . . . once in the '60s and then again in the '70s. --Her last marriage, to some no-name construction worker named Larry Fortensky, ended in 1996 . . . after which she obviously learned her lesson. --Her first husband, Conrad "Nicky" Hilton, was PARIS HILTON'S grand-uncle. -She was also the ANGELINA JOLIE of her day . . . after she stole EDDIE FISHER from his wife, DEBBIE REYNOLDS. -Eddie and Debbie were one of America's most beloved celebrity couples. Their marriage even resulted in the creation of the future Princess Leia, CARRIE FISHER. --But then, sometime in the late 1950s, Liz decided that SHE wanted Eddie. Long story short, Liz and Eddie were married in 1959. (--They divorced five years later, when she left him for her "Cleopatra" co-star, RICHARD BURTON.) --Debbie doesn't hold a grudge anymore. Or, if she does, she's really good at hiding it. She issued a statement yesterday, saying, quote, "It was a long productive career, and she was the most glamorous and sexual star of our generation. --"No one else could equal Elizabeth's beauty and sexuality. Women liked her and men adored her, and her love for her children is enduring. She was a symbol of stardom. Her legacy will last." (--Eddie Fisher died last September.)

ACTIVISM AND CAPITALISM:

--In the 1980s, Liz pretty much abandoned her acting career in favor of activism . . . becoming a huge supporter of AIDS charities and eventually establishing the Elizabeth Taylor Aids Foundation. --She also launched her own line of jewelry and perfumes. Her fragrances . . . "Passion", "White Diamonds" and "Black Pearls", have earned an estimated $200 million.

Elizabeth Taylor: The Tributes:

Just about any celebrity you can name has issued a statement or Tweeted something about ELIZABETH TAYLOR'S death. Here are some of the tributes:

--ELTON JOHN: "We have just lost a Hollywood giant. More importantly, we have lost an incredible human being."

--BARBRA STREISAND: "It's the end of an era. It wasn't just her beauty or her stardom. It was her humanitarianism. She put a face on HIV/AIDS. She was funny. She was generous. She made her life count."

--CARRIE FISHER: "If my father had to divorce my mother for anyone, I'm so grateful that it was Elizabeth. This was a remarkable woman who led her life to the fullest rather than complacently following one around."

--JOAN COLLINS: "She was the last of the true Hollywood icons, a great beauty, a great actress and continually fascinating to the world throughout her tumultuous life and career."

--BARRY MANILOW: "What I'll always remember about Elizabeth was her laugh. She would walk into a room looking like a princess and suddenly there would be this cackle that filled the room that would crack us all up."

--LIZA MINNELLI: "She was a true star, because she not only had beauty and notoriety; Elizabeth Taylor had talent. As a friend she was always, always there for me. I'll miss her for the rest of my life, but I was so lucky to have known her."

--LARRY KING: "Elizabeth Taylor was a great friend, a great star and one gutsy woman. She was so special. You won't see the likes of her again."

--MICKEY ROONEY: "Our loss in the motion picture business with Elizabeth Taylor's passing is momentous. She was a lady who gave of herself to everyone. I know I consider it a great personal loss." (--Mickey was her costar in "National Velvet".)

--Both TITO and LA TOYA JACKSON also had fond words for Liz, on behalf of their brother. And there are TONS more. Although frankly, the others don't really matter. Unless you care how Liz Taylor's death has affected Kathy Griffin, Dita Von Teese and the Kardashian sisters. (--You can read a huge selection of them here.)

--But there is one we just have to share. It's from ADRIANNE CURRY. Say what you want about her, but whether she's exposing her body or her lack of intelligence, she has an uncanny knack of making people take notice. --Here's her "tribute" to Elizabeth Taylor . . . quote, "Goodbye, Liz Taylor . . . one of the most beautiful faces to have ever lived . . . and one of the most symmetrical." (???)


Those Pigs from the Westboro Baptist Church Are Going to Protest Elizabeth Taylor's Funeral:

The disgusting pigs from the Westboro Baptist "Church" have sent word that they're going to protest ELIZABETH TAYLOR'S funeral . . . because she's a gay-friendly AIDS activist. --Remember, these are the soulless degenerates who show up at the funerals of U.S. soldiers . . . and anyone else they please . . . with signs that say "God Hates Gays". Although they don't usually use terms as neutral as "gays". --Obviously, they probably still consider AIDS some kind of plague straight from God against gay people. So anyone who tries to cure it is EVIL. --In announcing the protest, they also noted that Elizabeth is most likely, quote, "in hell and getting mad as a wet hen."


Elizabeth Taylor: A History of Health Problems:

When ELIZABETH TAYLOR was 12 years old and filming her breakout role in "National Velvet", she fell from a horse and suffered what would become a chronic injury. And that was just the start of a long line of health problems. They include:

--An emergency tracheotomy in 1961.

--Severe respiratory problems in 1990.

--Double hip replacement surgery in 1995.

--An irregular heartbeat in 1996.

--A benign brain tumor in 1997.

--A broken back in 1998.

--A SECOND broken back in 1999.

--Pneumonia in 2000.

--Skin cancer in 2002.

--A broken foot in 2003.

--Heart surgery in 2009.
--Not to mention the congestive heart failure she'd been suffering from for the last decade, which ultimately led to her death.
Liz Taylor-Related Randoms:

#1.) Some time ago, the "New York Times" worked up an obituary for ELIZABETH TAYLOR, just so they'd have it ready. Well, Liz ended up outliving the guy who wrote it. His name was Mel Gussow, and he died in 2005. (Full Story)

#2.) Here's that CLASSIC video from a few years ago of Elizabeth Taylor's reaction when she was asked if she'd get married again. (Full Story)

#3.) Late last year, Elizabeth did one of those 25 Things You Don't Know About Me for "Us Weekly". One of them, ironically, was, quote, "I am sincerely not worried about getting old." (Full Story)

#4.) Turner Classic Movies is doing a 24-hour Elizabeth Taylor marathon, beginning Sunday, April 10th at 6:00 A.M. (Full Story)


Did Tiger Woods' Girlfriend Used to Make Crayon Drawings for Him?

I don't know whether to laugh or be totally creeped out about TIGER WOODS dating a 22-year-old girl who'd been his neighbor since she was SEVEN YEARS OLD. --But I have to admit, this one made me laugh: --"Us Weekly" says that when Alyse Lahti Johnston was a kid, she used to make CRAYON DRAWINGS for her future boyfriend. -A source says, quote, "[She would] draw good luck pictures for Tiger before his tournaments." (--Alyse is 22 . . . Tiger is 35. Her stepfather is one of the big shots at Tiger's sports management agency. They've been neighbors for about 15 years.)


Mark Zuckerberg Is Now Officially "In a Relationship":

Facebook founder MARK ZUCKERBERG has been dating his girlfriend Priscilla Chan for years. But he JUST got around to updating his relationship status on his own website. --This past Sunday, he finally admitted that he's "In a Relationship." (--Here's the screen shot.)



Is Ashley Greene dating the New Captain America"?

ASHLEY GREENE is fresh off her breakup with JOE JONAS . . . and already moving on to the next guy. --She was seen flirting with the new "Captain America", CHRIS EVANS, at a Hollywood club the other night. A witness says, quote, "Ashley was all over [Chris], and he certainly didn't mind. --"They were dancing together very closely. It looked like they had a lot of sexual chemistry." (--Ashley has also been linked to Jared Followill from Kings of Leon since she and Joe broke up.)


Jessica Biel . . . Is Gerard Butler datin' That?

Now that JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE is out of the picture, JESSICA BIEL is free to engage in sexual congress with her male co-stars like a good actress should. --And the games may have already begun. Jessica is in Louisiana, shooting a movie called "Playing the Field". Her co-star is GERARD BUTLER. And they might just be co-stars WITH BENEFITS. --Sources say they've spent four nights together over the past week or so. And while they were sometimes accompanied by other crewmembers, they definitely looked like they were enjoying each other's company. --One night, a whole group from the movie went out to celebrate a guy's birthday. A source says, quote, "When Gerard got there, he made a beeline for Jessica. He was really flirting with her."


Check Out Ellen Page As a Kind Of Sexy Superhero:

Most people don't think of "Juno" star ELLEN PAGE as the kind of girl who could pull off the whole "sexy superhero" thing. --But she puts on the tights in a new movie called "Super", co-starring RAINN WILSON from "The Office". And she looks pretty good. (--Check her out here. The movie hits theaters April 1st.)
LINDSAY LOHAN LUNACY

Lindsay Lohan Has Rejected a Plea Deal . . . She's Going to Try Her Luck in Front of a Jury:

LINDSAY LOHAN has officially informed prosecutors in Los Angeles that they can take their plea deal and STICK IT. -Okay, that's probably not how she said it. But she did reject the deal, because it would have resulted in guaranteed jail time. Instead, she's going to plead her case in front of a jury. --She's now due back in court April 22nd for a preliminary hearing. That's where a judge will decide whether or not Lindsay's felony theft case even goes to trial in the first place. --The judge will also decide whether the alleged theft of a necklace violates Lindsay's DUI probation.


"Good Morning America" Would Like Chris Brown to Come Back:

Despite his window-breaking incident the other day, "Good Morning America" host ROBIN ROBERTS says she'd like CHRIS BROWN back on the show. --She says, quote, "We extended the invitation to him and we sure hope he takes us up on it, because we'd love to have another chat with him." --Robin also insists that she talked to Chris before the interview about what questions she was going to ask him . . . --Quote: "Anytime we have a guest here on the program, we let them know ahead of time the subject matter, the topics that we're going to discuss . . . Even right before the interview, I said that to Chris and I was shocked like everybody else was." --Meanwhile, sources at ABC told TMZ that they're NOT going to file a police report . . . meaning that Chris is indeed off the hook. --By the way . . . at this time next week, Chris might be celebrating his first #1 album. "F.A.M.E." is on course to sell more than 250,000 copies in its first week. It came out on Tuesday.


Donald Trump Wants President Obama to Show Us His Birth Certificate:

DONALD TRUMP hit "The View" yesterday . . . and continued his little charade of gently questioning whether PRESIDENT OBAMA was born in the United States. --While he conceded that Obama was PROBABLY born in the U.S., Trump kept harping on the point, saying, quote, "Why doesn't he [show his birth certificate]?" --Obviously, all the yentas except ELISABETH HASSELBECK jumped all over Trump. -WHOOPI GOLDBERG called it, quote, "the biggest pile of dog mess I've heard in ages." -She added, quote, "No one has ever asked GEORGE BUSH [for his birth certificate]. I'm sorry, is Hawaii . . . (--where Obama was born) . . . not part of the United States?" (--Check out video here.)


25 Things You Don't Know About Britney Spears:

BRITNEY SPEARS did one of those 25 Things You Don't Know About Me for "Us Weekly". Here are the highlights . . .

--"I take two baths a day." (--Could've fooled me.)

--"I make a mean fake dinosaur when playing with the two loves of my life, Sean, 5, and Jayden, 4."

--"I can eat chocolate morning, noon and night."

--"I collect dolls."

--"I really want to learn another language."

--"I played basketball . . . guard . . . in high school."

--"I don't own a cellphone."

--"I make my own bed every morning." (--Check out the full list here.)
Michael Douglas and Matt Damon Will Kiss More Than Once in the Liberace Movie:

Fans of man-on-man kissing . . . (--No, I'm not talking to you, Victoria Jackson.) . . . will be happy to hear that there's going to be plenty of it in the LIBERACE movie. --As you may recall, MICHAEL DOUGLAS is portraying the flamboyantly gay piano-playing genius . . . and MATT DAMON is his lover. --Damon says, quote, "It's scripted that there's more than one [kiss]. I never thought I would get to kiss Michael Douglas."


Check Out the "Captain America" Trailer:

"Captain America" hits theaters on July 22nd. The trailer hit the web yesterday. (--Check it out here.) (--The best part of the trailer is seeing how they used digital technology to make CHRIS EVANS into a scrawny little nerd before he's transformed into Captain America.) (--The worst part is the TIMING. Unveiling this trailer where they inject a little dude with some kind of drug that results in instant muscles at the same time the BARRY BONDS trial is going on? Not really ideal.)


"AMERICAN IDOL" INSANITY

Randy Jackson Loved Jacob Lusk's Performance Last Night, and *May* Have Called It the Best Performance in "Idol" History:

The judges absolutely loved JACOB LUSK'S performance of MARVIN GAYE'S "You're All I Need to Get By" on "American Idol" last night. --As soon as he was finished, STEVEN TYLER immediately walked up on stage to hug him . . . JENNIFER LOPEZ gave him a standing ovation . . . --And in the heat of the moment, RANDY JACKSON may have called it the best performance in the HISTORY OF "IDOL". Or maybe not. --He gets tripped up, but it sounds like he's saying, quote, "Jacob, listen, this is YOUR best performance on this entire stage in this entire history of this show." --So take that for what it's worth (--You can check out the video, here. What do you think he's saying? If he IS saying it's the best performance in "Idol" history, do you agree?)


Is Glenn Beck Thinking of Launching His Own Cable Channel?

Fox News curmudgeon GLENN BECK is reportedly "mulling" the possibility of launching his own cable news network. This comes on the heels of talk that Fox News is "mulling" the idea of not renewing his contract, which expires in December. --But for now, that's just a lot of speculative "mulling," and nothing more. --The "New York Times" has reported that the Fox News Channel may dump Beck because of declining ratings. That's the word from "anonymous sources." --Those sources now say Beck has been considering a, quote, "partial or wholesale takeover of a cable channel" for over a year now. That, or he could expand his online subscription video service. --Fox News executives haven't commented on the report . . . and Beck is merely saying that he's happy where he is. --His statement says, quote, "[Fox News] has built the most important voice in America today . . . and it is an honor to do my show there every night. I have no intention whatsoever of doing the show I am doing now anywhere else."


Ed Harris Will Play John McCain to Julianne Moore's Sarah Palin:

ED HARRIS will play JOHN MCCAIN in "Game Change" . . . the upcoming HBO movie about McCain's 2008 presidential campaign. This is the same project that has JULIANNE MOORE playing SARAH PALIN. --There's still no word on when it might premiere. --Ed hasn't done a lot of high-profile stuff recently, but you'll remember him as the government agent in "A Beautiful Mind", the TV producer in "The Truman Show", the renegade Marine in "The Rock", and one of the NASA guys in "Apollo 13". (--Here are some pictures of Ed Harris. He could definitely pull off McCain.)


TV REMINDERS

--"American Idol" [Results Show] . . . 8:00 to 10:00 P.M. on Fox. (--Sugarland and Jennifer Hudson perform. Jennifer was a finalist on Season 3, and she's promoting this week's release of her second album, "I Remember Me".)

--"The Office" . . . 9:00 to 9:30 P.M. on NBC. (--Michael finally asks Holly the big question . . . and the branch holds a garage sale in the warehouse.)

--"Grey's Anatomy" . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on ABC. (--Mark and Arizona plan a baby shower for Callie, while Richard tries to get Adele into the Alzheimer's trial.)

--"Man vs. Wild" [6th Season Finale] . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on Discovery Channel.

--"Jersey Shore" [3rd Season Finale] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on MTV.

--"Fairly Legal" [1st Season Finale] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on USA.

--"Private Practice" . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on ABC. (--Sheldon falls for a woman who criticizes Violet's book at the launch party, played by "ER's" Alex Kingston.)

--"Archer" . . . 10:00 to 10:30 P.M. on FX. (--"Glee's" Darren Criss guest stars when Archer discovers that the chemotherapy drugs he's been taking are phony.)

--"The Hard Times of RJ Berger" [2nd Season Premiere] . . . 11:00 to 11:30 P.M. on MTV.

--"John Oliver's New York Stand-Up Show" [2nd Season Premiere] . . . Midnight to 1:00 A.M. on Comedy Central. (--Comedians Kyle Kinane, Glenn Wool, Rory Scovel and Pete Holmes perform.)


BIEBER FEVER

And Now . . . You Can Pay Money to Have Your Picture Taken with Strands of Justin Bieber's Hair!!!

Bieber Fever makes people do strange things. Which is why this is probably going to be a huge hit . . . --If you're in Miami Beach next week, you . . . or your daughter . . . will have the opportunity to pay money to have your picture taken with JUSTIN BIEBER'S hair. A few strands of it, which are no longer connected to Justin. No joke. --Earlier this month, Justin gave ELLEN DEGENERES some of his shorn hair in a clear box, which she auctioned off for charity. The online casino GoldenPalace.com bought it for $40,668, and they said they'd use it to raise more money for charity. --The hair will be out "on loan" at Miami's Lucky Strikes Lanes and Lounge next Tuesday . . . where they'll allow people to take pictures with it, in exchange for a "suggested donation." The proceeds will go to the relief efforts in Japan. (--It's unclear if the "suggested donation" will be up to your discretion . . . or if they'll be providing the amount for you.) --The first 50 fans who make a donation will score a Justin Bieber poster.


Lady Gaga Thinks Rebecca Black Is a "Genius", But She Hasn't Seen Her "Friday" Video:

LADY GAGA spoke at a Google event on Tuesday, and someone asked her for her thoughts on "Friday" superstar REBECCA BLACK. And get this: She IS a fan. But not because of Rebecca's "talent." --Lady Gaga said, quote, "I say, Rebecca Black is a genius . . . and anyone who's telling her she's cheesy is full of (crap)." --That being said, she did note that she hasn't even seen the "Friday" video. She seemed to be speaking generally against making fun of young people who are trying to follow their dreams. (--Which of course, IS a valid point.) --Lady Gaga said she thought it was "fantastic" that young artists have things like YouTube to use as platforms to share their talents, and gain exposure . . . and that she's also a, quote, "child of the dot-com era." --She added, quote, "We experience music through the Internet. It has really great effects, and also has really negative effects. The negative effect is that you put your songs and your soul into a computer . . . and [it] spits out sharks." (--She seemed to be talking more about wanting people to experience music personally, outside of other people's comments on message boards and stuff. But I think the point extends to situations like Rebecca Black.)
Other Highlights from Lady Gaga: Censorship, Tattoos and Reality TV:

LADY GAGA shared her thoughts on Malaysian radio stations censoring the gay-friendly lyrics from her single, "Born This Way". --She said, quote, "Well, obviously I disagree with it, otherwise I wouldn't have specifically put those words in a song that I knew would be put on Top 40 radio. --"What I would say for all the young people in Malaysia that want those words to be played on the radio: It is your job and your duty as young people to have your voices heard. You must do everything you can if you want to be liberated by your society." --Lady Gaga also talked about her tattoos, and explained that she's intentionally keeping them all on the left side of her body. --She said, quote, "It was actually per my father's request. He asked that I remain, on one side, slightly normal. So I only have my tattoos on my left side. I think he sees this as my Marilyn Monroe side and he sees this as my Iggy Pop side." (--Here are a few pictures of Lady Gaga's tattoos.) --When asked for something she WON'T do, Lady Gaga said, quote, "You will never see me do reality television. Don't even ask. It will never happen. It's just, I'm not that kind of person. My whole life is a performance piece. --"So I don't need to get my picture taken to feel like I'm in a moment of art." --Gaga also described her upcoming album "Born This Way" as, quote, "avant-garde techno rock." She added, quote, "There's a lot of rock influences on the album, but not in a 'This is a rock music record' kind of way . . . --"I have sort of created a genre of metal dance techno pop music with a lot of rock anthemic choruses, because that is the music that I love." --And then she showed some BIG love for . . . BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN. --She said, quote, "I'm actually really obsessed with Bruce Springsteen. My father used to play a lot of [his] records when I was a kid, and he was blue collar America. --"And in a way, I related to Bruce because I watched my father, a blue collar American citizen, relate to Bruce and I think that in a social way, my fans feel blue collar. They feel like they're the underdogs that will someday be the winners." (--You can find video of the full interview, here. ***WARNING***: It contains UNCENSORED PROFANITY . . . and it's an hour and 11 minutes long.)


Gwen Stefani Has Donated $1 Million to Japan:

NO DOUBT singer GWEN STEFANI has donated $1 MILLION to the relief efforts in Japan. Specifically, she gave it to Save the Children's Japan Earthquake-Tsunami Children in Emergency Fund. (--SANDRA BULLOCK already gave $1 million to the Red Cross.) --Gwen said, quote, "I've been inspired by Japan for many years . . . the disaster in Japan is beyond heartbreaking and I want to do anything I can to help." --She's also making a limited edition "Harajuku Lovers" shirt available on NoDoubt.com, beginning next week. All the proceeds will go to Japan. And she's also organizing a charity auction, in which fans can bid on the chance to meet her. (--Gwen had a dance troupe called the Harajuku Girls, which were inspired by Japanese fashion and culture.) (--It drew some criticism, specifically from Korean-American comedienne MARGARET CHO, for reinforcing negative stereotypes of Asian women.) (--Here are some pictures of Gwen and the Harajuku Girls.)


Michael Stipe Writes His Songs on His iPhone:

R.E.M. has a new album out called 'Collapse Into Now', and MICHAEL STIPE says he writes his lyrics on his iPhone now. -He explains, quote, "My notepad is my iPhone . . . and in fact, I recorded and wrote this entire record on my phone. I love technology for that, it's so much easier than having scraps of paper everywhere." --It's unclear what he means by "recording" music on his phone. (--Maybe he's referring to the old-school meaning of "recording" . . . as in "documenting." Considering he's talking about new technology, that would be a little ironic.) (--By the way, Michael uses his phone for MORE than just writing lyrics and actually making calls . . . presumably.) (--A couple of years ago, some pictures of Michael, his boyfriend and a few young houseguests popped up online. They'd taken pictures of themselves . . . with their phones . . . in a BATHROOM.) (--You can revisit the pictures, here. ***WARNING***: They are NOT clothed all that well, on purpose, and one of the guys is showing off his naked backside. Michael is in the top picture, and his boyfriend is in the next one down.)


Travis Barker Only Sold 28,000 Copies of His Hip-Hop Album:

BLINK-182 drummer TRAVIS BARKER released a hip-hop collaboration disc called "Give the Drummer Some" last week, but it tanked pretty hard. The disc made it into the Top 10 at #9 with just 28,000 copies. --The band RISE AGAINST had the week's highest debut, coming in at #2 with 85,000 copies of their new album, "Endgame".

50 Cent Loves Making Fun of Ja Rule:

When JA RULE pleaded guilty to attempted criminal possession of a weapon in December, 50 CENT mocked him on Twitter. --Among other things, he said, quote, "Ja [Rule] came out the courtroom yelling who the (eff) canceled Christmas. LOL. Come on it's only 721 days, stop crying. It's only 104 weeks. Wipe ya nose sucka. Be a man!!!!! LOL." --Well, yesterday Ja Rule pleaded guilty to three counts of tax evasion, which could add YEARS to his impeding two-year prison sentence. And again, 50 Cent laughed at him on Twitter. --This time, he Tweeted, quote, "Damn you don't want to pay taxes fool. Take three more years hahaha. Oh (crap), I'm crying LMAO." --He also re-Tweeted someone who said, quote, "Ja Rule pleads guilty to tax evasion . . . aww this is the biggest headline for Ja since @50cent destroyed his career." --And he re-Tweeted someone else who said, quote, "I know @50cent is laughing his (butt) off at Jeffrey." (--Jeffrey is Ja Rule's real first name.
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THURSDAY'S SHOWBIZ EXTRAS

PAZ DE LA HUERTA . . . who plays STEVE BUSCEMI'S girlfriend on "Boardwalk Empire" . . . was arrested Tuesday night . . . because she punched another woman in the face and threw a glass at her at a New York City bar this past Sunday. They were fighting over a guy. LINDSAY LOHAN was there, and she helped the other girl pick shards of glass out of her leg. (Full Story)


ROB KARDASHIAN . . . the younger brother of KIM, KOURTNEY and KHLOE . . . had an emergency appendectomy on Tuesday. (Full Story)


BILLY RAY CYRUS says he could have been a better dad, instead of being a friend to his kids. (Full Story)


PIERS MORGAN is ticked off because Delta caused him to miss out on some "America's Got Talent" auditions. (Full Story)


A new book claims that old school actors DONALD SUTHERLAND and JULIE CHRISTIE really had sex while filming their love scene in the 1973 thriller "Don't Look Now". (Full Story)


NAZZY’S RANDOM STUFF

Want Your Kids To Eat Vegetables? Just Pretend That You Don't Hate Eating Them:

Here's a new strategy to get your kids to start eating vegetables . . . without having to drown them in cheese or deep fry them. --According to a new study, children will eat vegetables if they see their parents eating them . . . AND enjoying them. --If a child sees you eating vegetables with a smile on your face, they'll be more likely to want to eat them. But if it looks like you're choking them down, they'll have even less interest in eating them. (MSNBC)


A Dallas Cowboys Receiver Got In Trouble With the Police Because He Wore Saggy Jeans At a Shopping Mall:

We LOVE bans on SAGGY PANTS. And here's proof that those bans WILL stop you . . . it doesn't matter if you're a punk kid, or a famous professional athlete. --DEZ BRYANT is a wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys. Last year was his rookie season. And earlier this week, he was at the NorthPark Center Mall in Dallas doing some shopping. --Even though he's a multimillionaire, Bryant is still only 22 . . . and apparently not mature enough to wear his pants like an adult. So, as he walked around the mall, his pants were sagging low and showing his underwear. --The NorthPark Center has a policy banning saggy pants. So when some security guards saw Bryant, they asked him to pull up his pants. He refused. And then . . . he started making a scene. --Some off-duty cops came over. Bryant told them, quote, "Why the [eff] are you stopping me like I stole something? I'm not leaving until my attorney and my representative get here." --The officers hit Bryant with a criminal trespass warning. Now he can't go back to the mall for 90 days or he'll be arrested. (NBC Sports)
When an NFL Team Loses In an Upset, Domestic Violence Goes Up 10% In the Home City:

Well, this is definitely a reason why an NFL lockout might be a good thing. Sure, we'll all be bored to death on Sundays . . . but a LOT of a-holes might stop hitting their wives. --According to a new study by the U.S. National Institute of Health, when NFL teams lose games they were supposed to win . . . it leads to domestic violence. --The researchers studied the results of 900 NFL regular season games for six teams . . . Carolina, Detroit, New England, Denver, Kansas City, and Tennessee . . . and the domestic violence reports in their respective cities on game day. --And they found that after a team lost in an UPSET, domestic violence rose a full 10% in its city within the three hours after the game. --Like, if the Patriots lost a game they were supposed to win, the domestic violence rate in Boston jumped 10%. If the Patriots won their game, or lost a game where they weren't favored, domestic violence rates didn't jump at all. --It was even worse when a team was upset by a RIVAL. In those cases, the domestic violence rates jumped 20%. --David Card co-authored the study. He says, quote, "This isn't limited to football. Someone who gets a speeding ticket on the way home might also be more likely to act out in a way he would later regret." (BusinessWeek) (--It's worth noting, though, that the whole thing about domestic violence increasing on Super Bowl Sunday is an URBAN LEGEND. Which makes sense. Because unless you're gambling, who cares who wins?)


A Former Beauty Pageant Queen Shoots and Kills a Home Invader . . . Using Her Pink Handgun:

Only a former beauty pageant queen could fatally shoot a man while looking like a "My First Self-Defense Barbie." --25-year-old Meghan Brown of Tierra Verde, Florida won the 2009 Miss Tierra Verde pageant. Now she lives with her 42-year-old fiancé. And back on March 12th, around 3:00 A.M., a man named Albert Hill broke into their house. --The guy grabbed Meghan and dragged her upstairs. But she managed to scramble away and grab her gun. And it's not just any gun . . . it's a PINK .38-caliber handgun. --She fired four shots at Hill and hit him in the chest, groin, thigh, and back. He was pronounced dead on the scene. --Meghan won't face any charges, because in Florida you're allowed to shoot to kill if someone is in your house. (--Or, you know, if someone looks cross-eyed at you.) --And now, let's let 25-year-old Meghan's 42-year-old fiancé, Robert Planthaber, ruin the story by bragging about his money. --He told reporters that Hill was their PIZZA GUY. Quote, "We live in a very prominent area and my fiancée wears a $60,000 engagement ring. The pizza man knew we had money because sometimes we need change for a $100 bill." (FOX News)


There's a New Study About Why You Shouldn't Give Money To Panhandlers:

Here's a new excuse the next time a homeless guy asks you for change. Don't go through that ridiculous act where you pat your pockets and say, "Uh, sorry, I don't have any." Just say, "A study told me not to." --According to a report in "The Atlantic", the Department of Housing and Urban Development says that if you REALLY want to help the homeless, you should give money to charitable organizations that help them, NOT to the people themselves. --First off, the old line that "he's probably just going to use the money to buy alcohol or drugs" is kinda true . . . more than three out of five homeless people in the study were addicted to one or both. --But beyond that, the problem is that homeless people don't have a way to SAVE money. --A full-time panhandler will generally make between $600 and $1,500 every month. And because they don't have a bank account . . . or even a safe place to store the money . . . they usually try to spend it as quickly as they get it. --While that gives them short-term help, like a meal, it doesn't help any long-term goal like, you know, not being homeless anymore. --The study found that giving money to organizations that work to get the homeless off the street and into jobs are much, much better long-term ways to help the homeless than tossing some change or a dollar into a cup. (The Atlantic)


A Guy Selling Magazines Door-To-Door Started a Fight with a Man That Wouldn't Buy Anything . . . Who Turned Out To Be a Federal Officer:

This story should warm your heart if you've ever felt like a door-to-door magazine salesman has held you HOSTAGE . . . until you finally caved and bought three subscriptions to "Juggs". --26-year-old Peter Trees is a door-to-door magazine salesman, and a REALLY obnoxious one. Last week he was walking around Gainesville, Florida, knocking on doors and pushing subscriptions. --On Friday night, he knocked on Miguel Roman's door. Miguel opened the door, listened to Peter's pitch, and told him he wasn't interested. But Peter refused to leave and kept pushing. So Miguel told him to leave his property --That sent Peter into a rage . . . and he actually PUNCHED Miguel in the face. Then, he walked into Miguel's house. --There was only one thing Peter didn't realize. Miguel was an off-duty FEDERAL AGENT. --So, Miguel pulled his FIREARM on Peter and held him there until the police arrived. Peter was arrested and charged with battery and burglary. (Gainesville Sun) (--Here's Peter's mugshot.)
Website of the Day: MyBadParent.com:

I LOVE those pictures that float around online where a woman is taking a skanky picture of herself in the mirror . . . not realizing that her young kid is in the background. Now, there's a blog dedicated to those photos, and others just like 'em. --It's called MyBadParent.com and features a seemingly endless supply of bad parenting moves caught in the act. You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you'll demand mandatory sterilizations . . . http://MyBadParent.com


MEATBALL CRIMINALS

A Computer Nerd Gets Revenge On a Laptop Thief By Remotely Accessing the Computer, Finding a Video of the Guy Dancing, and Posting It Online:

18-year-old Mark Bao is a student and self-professed computer nerd at Bentley University in Waltham, Massachusetts. Two months ago, someone stole his computer. And last week, Mark realized he could have his revenge. --Mark remembered he'd set up his computer to back itself up online. And he could remotely access those backups. So he was actually able to log in and see what the thief had been doing with his computer. --One thing he found? The thief had made a video of himself dancing in front of the computer's webcam to the song "Make It Rain" by TYGA. --Another thing he found? The computer's web history . . . and thanks to the Facebook history, Mark learned the thief's name. --First, he called the police to report who'd stolen his computer. Then he got his ultimate revenge by taking the video of the thief dancing to "Make It Rain" . . . and posting it on YouTube. --The thief returned the laptop to the police . . . and BEGGED Mark to take down the video. Quote, "I know I am in no position for asking you for favors . . . but I do have two jobs that, if something like that leaks, I can get in more trouble." --And Mark's response was . . . hell, no. The video is still up on YouTube and has more than half a million views. (BetaBeat) (--Here's the video. WARNING: The song has several curse words.)


Three Idiots Recorded Themselves On the Way To a Burglary and Discussed All the Details of Their Plan:

Here's more proof that kids today aren't just dumber than they used to be . . . they're also far more likely to record their dumb decisions on video. --In Holiday Heights, Florida, three guys . . . ages 18, 20, and 21 . . . broke into a guy's house to rob it. And on the way to the house, they used a Kodak EasyShare pocket camera to share EVERY SINGLE DETAIL of their break-in plan. --When the cops caught them in the act, they found the camera in one of the guy's pockets. And they were happy to see that the guys narrated their entire crime in advance. --In the videos they say they hope the guy, quote, "didn't have an alarm system" . . . they talk about their plan to take the door off its hinges . . . and even though they're all white kids, they drop a million N-bombs. --They also stop so two of them can empty their bladders in someone else's backyard . . . they talk about how two of them are dipping while one eats oranges . . . and when they hear sirens, they say the old cliché, quote, "[Eff] the police." --The video ends as they're standing at their victim's back door, about to break into his house. --18-year-old Joshua VanSlyke, 21-year-old Anthony VanSlyke, and 20-year-old Gregory Williams were all arrested on felony burglary charges. (The Smoking Gun) (--You can see their video here. WARNING: LOTS of swearing and N-words.)


A Man Burns Down His Wife's Business . . . And Used the Divorce Papers She Served Him To Start the Fire:

Arson is a horrible crime, so we can't possibly sympathize with this guy. But at the same time, you can definitely UNDERSTAND his thought process. --33-year-old Shawn Gawronski of Frenchtown, Missouri has been having problems with his estranged wife, Jennifer Warner. --She has a restraining order against him, and she filed for divorce. Shawn was served with the divorce papers, and Jennifer had set Monday as the day Shawn had to respond to them. --And he responded. Oh, he responded. --Early Monday morning, Shawn went to the beauty salon that Jennifer owns . . . and BURNED IT DOWN. --And to set it on fire, he doused the building in gasoline, and then ignited it by setting fire to the DIVORCE PAPERS. --He was arrested and charged with arson, violation of a protection order, and criminal mischief. --He's looking at up to 20 years in prison. (The Missoulian)
A Couple Gets Into a Fight Over Who's Less Drunk and Better Able To Drive . . . And Both End Up Arrested For DUIs:

On Monday night, 40-year-old Brandi Fein of North Stonington, Connecticut was driving through Vermont with her boyfriend, 58-year-old David Abbot of Ledyard, Connecticut. And they were both drunk. --That was a problem for them . . . since they couldn't decide who was LESS DRUNK and should be driving. --First, Brandi was driving. Eventually, she pulled into the parking lot of an inn, and angrily got out from the driver's side. Witnesses heard her yell, quote, "If you can drive better, let's see it!" --So David got behind the wheel, Brandi got in the passenger seat, and they drove off. --Witnesses called the police, and cops caught up with the couple down the road and gave them breathalyzer tests. --Both of them blew more than double the legal limit of .08 . . . and since both of them had driven the car, BOTH of them were hit with DUIs. --The police didn't release which one blew a higher number on the breathalyzer, so we can't definitively answer their argument of who was less drunk. (Burlington Free Press)


RANDOM NEWS EXTRAS

A 14-year-old in Salt Lake City told cops he was shot . . . so he wouldn't get in trouble for falling and ripping the knee of his brand new pants. (Full Story)


The Japanese government is estimating the damage caused by the recent earthquake and tsunami at $309 billion . . . roughly the equivalent of Four Katrinas. (Full Story)


A guy was pulled over for driving his pregnant wife over 100 miles an hour to a hospital in Denver. The police called an ambulance for her, but cited the husband for speeding and reckless driving, and arrested him. The wife gave birth in the ambulance in front of the hospital. It was the couple's eighth child. (Full Story)


According to Facebook, they kick off 20,000 underage users from the site every single day. (Full Story)


A survey of home buyers found that honesty and integrity were the most important characteristics for realtors to have. People skills, knowledge of the area, and skills with technology were the three least important skills. (Full Story)


A doctor in Australia has admitted that he didn't read a patient's chart. Otherwise he would have known her gallbladder had been removed 10 years earlier, and he wouldn't have cut her open to remove it again. She died three days later. (Full Story)


NAZZY’S SILLY VIDEOS OF THE DAY

#1.) Check Out Some of Elizabeth Taylor's Most Memorable Cameos:

ELIZABETH TAYLOR will be remembered for movies like "Cleopatra" and "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf", but MovieLine.com put together a video list of her eight most memorable CAMEOS. --Over the years, Taylor appeared on "General Hospital", "All My Children", "The Nanny", and may have done her BEST work playing Fred's mother-in-law in the 1994 "Flintstones" movie. --She even provided the voice for Maggie when she said her first word on "The Simpsons". Here only line was the word "Daddy". (--Search for "The Eight Most Memorable Elizabeth Taylor Cameos.")


#2.) Two Female PETA Members Showered Naked on a Street Corner in Hollywood . . . And Caused a Fender Bender:

Two female PETA members showered naked behind a curtain on a busy street corner in Hollywood on Tuesday. They were trying to raise awareness for World Water Day, and inform people that going vegan helps conserve water. --But in doing so, they also caused a small fender bender when a distracted driver rammed the car in front of him at a red light. A local news station happened to be there when it happened, and you can see the footage on CBSLocal.com. (--Search for "PETA Models Shower Nude in Hollywood.")
#3.) A Website Has Ranked the 25 Most Seductive Water-Related Scenes in Movies:

If you watch the PETA video and your appetite for half-naked women in water still isn't satisfied, the website Complex.com has come up with a definitive list of the "25 Most Seductive Water Scenes in Movies". --The top nod went to the PHOEBE CATES bikini scene from "Fast Times at Ridgemont High", followed by URSULA ANDRESS walking out of the ocean in a white bikini in the 1962 James Bond movie "Dr. No". --Third on the list is the scene where a topless NEVE CAMPBELL and DENISE RICHARDS make out in a swimming pool in the 1998 movie "Wild Things". (--WARNING: The "Wild Things" video includes nudity.)


Five Foods and How to Make Them Last Longer in the Fridge:

According to the magazine "Prevention", the average family throws away 122 pounds of food per month and wastes $590 a year on stuff that eventually goes bad. So here are five perishables, and how you can make them last longer in the fridge.

#1.) Eggs. Most new refrigerators have a special spot on the door for eggs. But you shouldn't store them there because it makes them vulnerable to fluctuations in temperature. --If you keep them in their original cardboard container and store them INSIDE the refrigerator, they'll last 3 to 4 weeks past their expiration date.

#2.) Milk. The same rule applies. Milk should be stored in the back of the fridge, where the air stays coldest. And when you're at the store, you should buy milk last so you minimize the amount of time it goes unrefrigerated.

#3.) Lunchmeat. Just make sure you store it in the meat drawer, which is specially designed to keep cold air in. As long as you don't forget to reseal the bag every time you use some, lunchmeat should last 3 to 5 days past its expiration date.

#4.) Tomatoes. Cherry tomatoes should always be in the fridge, but large varieties should stay at room temperature until they're bright red. Putting them in the refrigerator too early prevents them from ripening. --And don't put ripe tomatoes near other vegetables in the fridge because they give off ethylene, which can make green veggies go bad. The same rule applies with apples, which also give off ethylene.

#5.) Hard Cheese. If you wrap it in plastic or aluminum foil and keep it refrigerated, it should last 2 to 4 months past the sell-by date. --And if there's a little mold, you don't have to throw the whole thing away. Just do what your grandparents did and cut the mold off, plus an extra half-inch of cheese below it. --Other things, like bread, don't work the same way. And if one piece is moldy, you have to throw out the whole loaf. (Prevention.com)