Britney Spears, in her newest incarnation as a pop superstar, is being honored again at Madam Tussaud’s Wax Museum in London with a brand new wax statue unveiled in her fabulous likeness. Madam Tussaud’s first immortalized Britney in her Dream Within A Dream Tour garb (particularly, her I’m A Slave 4 U costume) and has decided that Comeback Britney is due another wax tribute. Here is a pic of the new wax statue flanked by a bevy of other “Britney“s … can you spot the wax one?

The attraction already has several Spears waxworks at its museums across the world but wanted a glamorous new model to depict the pop star’s return to form. The statue, which was unveiled in London this morning, shows the 27-year-old singer in a sparkly silver dress with plunging neckline, holding one of the three MTV Video Music Awards she won in September. “We are delighted to be featuring Britney at Madame Tussauds London for the second time,” said the venue’s Liz Edwards. “Her original figure captured a provocative pose from her 2001 Dream Within A Dream Tour and was extremely popular. However, she’s undergone a huge transformation since then and we wanted to reflect her as she is now.” The broad smile and long blond hair are a far cry from images of Spears in 2007, when she was filmed shaving her head in a salon window during a high-profile breakdown. But the former Disney child star has rebuilt her career and her world tour is due to hit the UK this summer at London’s 02 Arena. She recently released her sixth studio album Circus, a follow-up to her album Blackout which was popular with the critics despite expectations due to her well-documented personal troubles. Spears is one of the top-selling artists of the last decade and has sold more than 62 million albums worldwide. To celebrate her latest wax incarnation, Madame Tussauds has launched an interactive dance experience. The Britney Dance Chain will allow visitors to learn some of Spears’ best moves, enter a “dance tunnel” and strut their stuff on camera.

Yay! With all the amazing, hard work that Britney has accomplished this year thus far … I think a new wax statue in honor of her achievements is absolutely in order. I mean, what sort of parameters are in place for such an honor to get bestowed on a person? This sounds as good as any. After the jump, check out a few close-up photos of this new wax Britney statue and check out the amazing detail that was put into the likeness …

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Earlier this month, we saw photos of Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale carting their children thru LAX Airport in order to embark on a family trip back to Gavin’s motherland for Zuma Nesta Rock’s first trip to the UK. The fam ended up staying in London for about 2 weeks but have decided enough is enough, they’re comin’ home. Here are a few pics of the entire family making their way to Heathrow Airport in London bound for the good o’l U.S. of A:

Considering how much of a fashionista Gwen Stefani is, I wouldn’t be surprised if the family made a short pit stop in NYC to partake of the NY Fashion Week activities going on there this week. I’m not sure if her L.A.M.B. fashion line is showing or not but I’m sure there are many other things going on this week for her to enjoy. I just really love this family … everything about them. I cannot wait to see where they show up next.

[Photo credit: Splash News]

Last weekend we saw photos of newlyweds Fergie Ferg and Josh Duhamel making their way thru LAX Airport here in SoCal bound for a romantic destination where they would be spending Valentine’s Day together. I surmised that the couple were most likely heading off to Mexico for a quick trip and it turns out that I was right … Jergie Jerg showed up on the beaches of Cancun, Mexico enjoying the sun, surf and the lurve of one another … behold:

HMMM … it looks like the honeymoon ain’t over for these two lovebirds. Married only a month and just returned from their exotic honeymoon getaway, the couple have already embarked on another romantic trip together. Couldn’t you just puke on your shoes from all the cuteness? From the looks of that second photo, it appears that the couple are really enjoying one another’s company. My guess is a a Happy VD was enjoyed by all.

[Photo credit: Bauer-Griffin]

Can you guess which celebrity, who is for all intents and purposes on top of the world right now, was spotted showing off their love of Dick emblazoned on a t-shirt that they wore on Valentine’s Day this weekend?

Of course, the particular Dick in question is of the former President Richard Milhouse Nixon variety and not of any other ;) I suppose I could also hint that this mystery celeb is currently hard at work on a large-scale new project but that info alone has nothing really to do with this shirt in particular, merely a hint as to the celeb’s identity. After the jump, find out who it is …

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Sad news for David Beckham … it appears that his wishes to remain with Italian professional soccer team AC Milan, the team that the LA Galaxy graciously loaned him to while the MLS is on off-season hiatus, will not be honored by his MLS soccer team — the Galaxy has decided NOT to let him out of his contract and will require that he return to the US to play with his team again once his loan out period is completed at the end of March. It would seem the LA Galaxy is much more interested in protecting their massive investment in him rather than comply with his whims to abandon his team for another:

David Beckham is coming back to the Los Angeles Galaxy. The English midfielder will return to the MLS team next month as scheduled after his two-month loan agreement with AC Milan ends despite his wish to stay in Italy. Tim Leiweke, president of Galaxy parent AEG, said Friday the Italian club didn’t make a second offer to the Galaxy to keep Beckham so the team will adhere to MLS commissioner Don Garber’s Friday deadline to resolve the situation. The Galaxy had earlier rejected Milan’s only offer. “We didn’t receive an offer today,” Leiweke told The Associated Press by phone from Colorado. “We will abide by the commissioner’s wishes, so we are clear at this point that we don’t want to have any further conversations.” Leiweke said he had discussions with Milan officials earlier in the week, but heard nothing from them Friday. “They clearly were looking at this as a football decision and we were looking at it as a football and business decision,” he said. “I’m not sure they ever quite understood the magnitude of the losses the Galaxy and the league would have had to bear this season. They were very respectful discussions. We’re fine. There’s no issues here.” Leiweke said he had not spoken directly to Beckham, but that he informed the player’s representatives the loan would not be made permanent. Beckham’s five-year Galaxy contract is owned by MLS, and he is due in the team’s training camp on March 9. “I know David is emotionally invested, but I don’t think Milan really was that interested in spending the money we would have had to receive to compensate us for our losses,” Leiweke said. “We need David to honor the contract and come home and let’s stop the distraction.” Leiweke said Beckham will likely be disappointed by the outcome, but added that “David is a professional. He will get his arms around this and he will come back here.” Beckham had said he wanted to stay with Milan in a bid to play one more World Cup with England in South Africa next year. “He can probably still accomplish that as well by being here in 2009,” Galaxy coach Bruce Arena said Friday before the resolution was announced. “We look forward to having him back with the club,” Arena said in a statement issued Friday night. Leiweke confirmed that Beckham has a clause in his contract that would allow him to leave at the end of this year. “Clearly the risk is we may lose him at the end of the year,” Leiweke said. “Our hope is the team surprises him and we’re a lot better than last year.” Beckham arrived injured amid much hoopla in July 2007, but he had no goals and two assists as the Galaxy finished with a 9-14-7 record that was third-worst in the league. Last season, Beckham had five goals and 10 assists, but the Galaxy’s 8-13-9 record tied for the worst in MLS. Beckham was injured last season, when he left the Galaxy at various times for appearances with England’s national team. Garber said this week he wanted Beckham’s future resolved by Friday or he would not approve any transfer between the two teams. “The negotiations are over and we move on,” Leiweke said. “We look forward to seeing David back in camp. We need to have a good season and we need to live up to a higher expectation.” Leiweke said the Galaxy’s sponsors and season ticket holders were clamoring for a conclusion to the saga. “We heard loud and clear this week from our contractual partners that they wanted an end to this,” he said. “We need to pay a little bit of attention to the league and Galaxy now.” The Galaxy opens the MLS season at home March 22 against D.C. United.

Whew! I’m really glad this ridiculousness is FINALLY over and done with. It absolutely would make NO SENSE for the LA Galaxy to let their investment in David Beckham just leave after they generously loaned him out to another soccer team to play for a couple of months. While Becks may now be interested in playing for AC Milan, he signed a deal to play with the LA Galaxy for a set period of time (and for A LOT of money) and must be held to his contract. I would bet money that Becks will exercise his option to leave the team at the end of this year but, until then, I think it’s deffo in the LA Galaxy’s best interest to hold him to his contract. David Beckham is a professional and I’m sure he will do his best for whichever team he is playing for. AC Milan is currently enjoying the fruits of his talents and soon, the LA Galaxy will enjoy those fruits once again … the way it should be :) I, for one, am thrilled! I am going to make sure I get out to the Home Depot Center in Carson, CA this season to see more Becks in action while I can. Woot!!!

UPDATE: David Beckham is now speaking out about how this action on the part of the LA Galaxy to hold him to his contract is making HIM feel. After the jump, check out his new comments on this contractual tug-o-war situation …

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Last night’s new episode of The Simpsons was the series’ first ep that aired in high definition … but much more importantly, debuted a new main title opening sequence — the first in the show’s 19 year history:

“The Simpsons” is finally going HD—and, in what some fans might consider an even bigger development, getting a new opening title sequence as well … The network actually made a low-key announcement of the news late last month, casually mentioning the developments as part of its episodic listings of various shows. According to Fox, Sunday’s “Simpsons”—entitled “Take My Life, Please”—will include the first full, permanent revamp of the show’s opening titles since its premiere in 1989. The last few seconds of the title sequence have long featured a different weekly “couch gag.” Fox also airs both a full-length and an abbreviated version of the credits. While “The Simpsons” has never aired in high-def, Sunday’s episode won’t be the first time fans of the show have been able to see Homer and Co. in their full digital splendor on television. HBO aired “The Simpsons Movie” in HD last year. While most live-action scripted network shows now air in HD, animation hasn’t been as quick to make the leap, although that’s starting to change. The producers of “South Park” recently announced their Comedy Central series would go HD starting with its 13th season, which bows March 11.

Longtime fans of the series are prolly very familiar with the opening title sequence that takes the viewer thru a quick trip around Springfield … this newly revamped sequence makes a lot of additions and amendments that are sure to breathe new life into the time-honored traditional opening (every single scene in the traditional opening has been amended in some way). In case you missed it, you can watch it right here. After the jump, check out the new main title opening sequence of The Simpsons …

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Chris Brown is finally speaking publicly about the allegations leveled against him that he physically assaulted girlfriend Rihanna one week ago today. In a statement released to the public by Brown’s publicist Michael Sitrick, Chris reveals that he is both “sorry” and “saddened” by the events that took place last weekend. Is this the first sign of his remorseful guilt? Here is the full text of Chris Brown’s just-released statement:

“Words cannot begin to express how sorry and saddened I am over what transpired. I am seeking the counseling of my pastor, my mother and other loved ones and I am committed, with God’s help, to emerging a better person. Much of what has been speculated or reported on blogs and/or reported in the media is wrong. While I would like to be able to talk about this more, until the legal issues are resolved, this is all I can say except that I have not written any messages or made any posts to Facebook, on blogs or any place else. Those posts or writings under my name are frauds.”

Interesting … this statement does appear to be very telling. The fact that he admits that he is undergoing counseling implies that he is aware of his problem (whatever that may be) and is working towards remedying that problem. That he says, “I am committed … to emerging [from counseling] a better person” implies that he was, essentially, a “worse” person beforehand … again, implying some wrongdoing. While Chris Brown does not come right out and expressly admit guilt, I think much can be gleaned from the words of this carefully crafted statement. That it took one full week for Brown and his handlers to author this statement means that every word used was carefully thought out. Judging by this statement alone, and the way Brown admits remorse, in HIS words … it seems pretty clear to me that he admits at least some wrongdoing. I guess we’ll have to see what else is to come from all of this.

What do y’all think about Chris Brown’s statement? How do y’all interpret his words?

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