Yesterday I received an email from Prince’s new online presence at LOTUSFLOW3R.com that suggested that he might be putting on a string of performances in the LA area “from the 24th [of March] on”. Here is the message that was sent out:

At first, I assumed that Prince might be gearing up for a few guerrilla shows around town, perhaps at a Target store or two (you may recall that we learned last week that Prince has teamed up with Target for the exclusive rights to retail his new albums LOTUSFLOW3R and MPLSOUND as well as the debut album Elixir from his new protégé Bria Valente) but according to THIS site, Prince will be appearing on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno for three nights in a row starting on March 25th:

The one and only PRINCE will be on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno for 3 STRAIGHT nights. It will be March 25th, 26th, and 27th. We also received this note from a no-name reporter:

I had a feeling this might be part of the fun stuff starting March 24th and put in a call to the Tonight Show.

My gut tells me that there will be something going on on the 24th before Prince takes up residency on the Tonight Show. Don’t be surprised if we get late-breaking word that the Purple One is perched atop a Target store somewhere in LA putting on a live concert. I’m just sayin’.

[Source, Source]

Last year, Madonna and then “happily” married husband Guy Ritchie dressed up and celebrated the Jewish Festival of Purim together … as you may recall, Maddy dressed up as French chanteuse Edith Piaf and Guy dressed as European comic book character Asterix. This year, Purim came a bit earlier and Madonna chose NOT to spend it in the company of her soon-to-be ex-husband but with her new 22 year old toyboy Jesus Luz. Madge dressed this year as her eldest daughter Lourdes Maria Ciccone Leon while Jesus dressed as The Joker:

When Madonna decided to dress up as a schoolgirl for a fancy dress party in New York, she didn’t have to look far for inspiration. The 50-year-old simply let herself loose in her teenage daughter Lourdes’ wardrobe. She borrowed a waistcoat and tie, striped hosiery, a smiley face ring and pair of Converse sneakers from the 13-year-old, who has been seen wearing the items on separate occasions in recent times. The singer completed the look with a black wig, racy fishnet tights and a short skirt to mark the Jewish celebration of Purim at the Kabbalah Centre. Her boyfriend Jesus Luz, 22, joined in the festivities wearing a Joker costume, complete with full face make-up and a striking purple pinstripe suit and green waistcoat. He was seen emerging from the venue with Jessica Seinfeld, wife of comedian Jerry Seinfeld. The 37-year-old was dressed as a Persian princess and entered the Kabbalah centre hand-in-hand with Luz as the pair apparently pretended to be a couple. Madonna was celebrating Purim, which commemorates the deliverance of the Jewish people of the ancient Persian Empire from nobleman Haman’s plot to annihilate them, as recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther.

See, I would rather see Madonna’s costume choice NOT as the first signs of a burgeoning mid-life crisis but rather as a cheeky nod to her daughter’s bold fashion sense. I think it’s a really cute idea. And BOY what a difference a year makes … around this time 12 months ago we were fairly sure that things were still on the up and up in Maddy and Guy’s marriage. While I may still have no idea exactly what the Jewish Festival of Purim is all about (and trust me, my Jewish boyfriend is NO help at all) I have to admit that it looks like a good time. In my limited experience with Jewish celebration, I’ve come to discover that Jewish religious celebrations tend to be less formal and more jovial … very unlike the staunch Christian “celebrations” that I endured in my youth. The Jews know how to have fun, which is why they are ace in my book. Happy Purim, y’all!!

[Source]

Late last month we learned that Spice Girl Melanie Chisholm a.k.a. Sporty Spice (and the last of the Spices to spawn) finally gave birth to her firstborn child … a girl she named Scarlet Starr. Today, we get our first look at the little darling as mother and child are featured on the cover of the new issue of Hello! magazine:

The most private of the Spice Girls, Melanie Chisolm has avoided the spotlight since the February 22 birth of Scarlet Starr – her first child with property developer partner Thomas Starr. Instead the 35-year-old mum has decided to introduce her “beautiful little girl” to the world exclusively in HELLO! magazine. This week’s issue, number 1063, contains two gorgeous portraits of mother and baby, who has a shock of brown hair just like her famous mum. There’s also the inside story on how Mel is coping, as told by her fellow Spice Girl mums, as well as their messages of love and support. “I’m extremely happy for Melanie and Thomas,” says Victoria Beckham. “They will be wonderful parents and I’m hoping to meet baby Scarlet when I’m in London in the next few weeks.”

From the Daily Mail: Mel C was the final Spice Girl to become a mother – and it appears that she saved the best for last. The new mother revealed baby Scarlet Starr – who has a shock of brown hair like her famous mother – in an intimate portrait of the newest Spice Mama and her newborn. Melanie has been enjoying some private time with her partner Thomas Starr, and Scarlet after giving birth to the 8lb 3oz baby at London’s Portland Hospital on February 22. And her former Spice Girl bandmates couldn’t wait to shower her with congratulations and messages of support as she proudly posed with Scarlet, the first child for Melanie and her property developer beau … While Geri Halliwell jokingly claims that her own daughter Bluebell became a pregnancy good luck charm. “I do always say Bluebell is like some sort of fertility doll. Five friends got pregnant after playing with her, and then Melanie gets pregnant after the tour!” She added: “I’m so happy for Melanie. She has all the great qualities to make an excellent mother. I love the name Scarlet and wish them both so much happiness.” Melanie C fell pregnant just months after the Spice Girls reunion tour ended. “Being backstage at the shows with the girls and all the kids made me think, ‘Yeah I could be a good mum,’” she has admitted. Melanie added: “I used to love the fact that I was the only Spice Girl who didn’t need to lug around loads of baby stuff. Mad, innit? Me, a mum.” Mother-of-one Emma has already seen the new addition: “I went to see Melanie and Scarlet last week,” she says. “Scarlet is one of the cutest little girls I’ve ever seen and Melanie is an absolutely natural mother. It was a real joy to spend time with them.” Melanie C has appreciated all the support her bandmates have given her – even before the birth. Melanie B, who has two daughters of her own, reveals that she has been in touch with the new mother ever since Scarlet was born. The pair spoke “before the birth and on the day of the birth” and shared another Spice connection, as Mel C had Scarlet in the same room where Mel had daughter Phoenix, ten.

Awww … little Scarlet is so darling … and so much hair :) Mel C. looks so happy with her little girl, good for her! While I initially kinda thought that Sporty decided to jump on the baby bandwagon just so she could fit in with her Spice Girl cohorts, I guess I can kinda believe that she had her baby cuz, you know, she wanted to have a baby ;) I keed, I keed. Much love and congrats goes out to Mel C., Thomas Starr and their beautiful baby girl Scarlet. What a doll!!

[Source, Source]

Last October we learned that the brilliant British comedy Absolutely Fabulous was gettin’ a US make-over and would be remade here in America. At the time, there was no word on casting but we were told that production on the series had entered the early production stages and might be ready for 2009. Today we get our first look at filming of the series with Kristen Johnston (3rd Rock from the Sun) in the role of Patsy and Kathryn Hahn (Crossing Jordan) in the role of Edina:

Um … HMMM. On the one hand, they’ve got the costumes down … but I just cannot imagine how the show will be able to retain it’s amazingly hilarious humor after it has been Americanized. Trust me, I’m not knocking American humor … there are some things we do better than anyone else (Friends, for example) but there are other things that we do not (the US version of Kath & Kim still pales in comparison to the original Aussie version). I am very worried that this new venture will fall flat on its face. The only encouraging thing I’ve heard about this remake is that original series creator Jennifer Saunders (Edina) is executive producing. I guess we’ll have to wait and see. I’m really skeptical. The original AbFab is just so damn good … I’m not sure it’ll translate to an American audience and still have the same success. What do y’all think … do any of y’all have faith that this remake will work?

[Photo credit: Splash News]

Now that we know that Ashlee Simpson has signed on to play the role of Violet on the upcoming Melrose Place redux for The CW, it’s only natural to wonder if any of the old skool MP alums might be interested in reprising their roles on the new spin-off. E! News’s Breanne Heldman caught up with Marcia Cross, who played the maniacally dastardly Dr. Kimberly Shaw-Mancini on Melrose Place the first time around (and currently plays Bree Van de Kamp Hodge on Desperate Housewives), and asked what her interest level is for reprising her Melrose Place role. Yeah, she has none … and furthermore, she has no idea who the hell Ashlee Simpson is either. LOL. E!’s Marc Malkin also talked with Courtney Thorne-Smith, who played Allison Parker on MP, and she too seems not very interested in stepping back into her old role. HMMM:

Don’t expect to see Marcia Cross ringing the doorbell at the newly renovated Melrose Place anytime soon. In addition to having a good home on Wisteria Lane, the Desperate Housewives denizen admits she hasn’t been asked and, well, her plate is pretty full. “I’m really busy,” she told E! News today at an event at St. Aloysius School in Harlem for Mott’s Wake-Up Call America. “I say never say never, but it’s not the first thing on my mind.” No, you’re not crazy. That sense of déjà vu comes thanks to former original Melrose Place inhabitant Courtney Thorne-Smith saying exactly the same thing yesterday. That wasn’t all the ravishing redhead had to say about the prime-time soap’s reboot, or a certain Housewife’s departure… When asked how she feels about a Melrose renaissance, Cross admitted, “I haven’t really thought much about it. I really have almost no opinion except I wish them luck.” As for the show’s newly announced star Ashlee Simpson-Wentz, she needed her rep to remind her who the “Pieces of Me” singer is. When she remembered the starlet had a baby, Cross was relieved. “Oh, well then I’m really happy she has a job,” she laughed. “That’s how I think about it. Honestly, I’m sorry. That’s how generational those things are.”

Well, at least the MP redux producers still have hope that Heather Locklear might reprise her role of Amanda Woodward … and they can prollly get Lisa Rinna to come back too. That woman would prolly do the job for free … or at least for free lip injections. After the jump, check out a fun video of Marcia Cross as Dr. Kimberly Shaw showing the Melrose audience the awful secret she’s been hiding all season long … trust me, MP fans — it is not to be missed …

READ THE REST OF THIS POST »

A couple weeks ago we saw photos of Twilight star Kristen Stewart on the cover and in the pages of the new issue of Nylon magazine which also featured a coverstory interview where Kristen talked about various topics like the “bullshit” questions she gets asked by some Twilight fans and how she is not dating co-star Robert Pattinson. Today, we get to see more photos of Kristen Stewart from the Mexican edition of Nylon magazine … here is her coverphoto:

This Mexican version of Nylon features the same interview so no need to rehash any of that here (tho, if you’re feeling nostalgic, you can read highlights in English HERE) but it does feature a few different photos from her earlier Nylon photoshoot. After the jump, check ‘em out …

READ THE REST OF THIS POST »

Britney Spears spent some downtime yesterday in Miami, FL in between concert stops on her new tour The Circus starring Britney Spears. After all the nip slips and inadvertent misspoken faux pas she’s been enduring lately, I think it’s a great idea that she take some time to just chill out and relax for a hot minute. Here are a few photos of Britney lookin’ like she’s having a great time in her tiny blue bikini poolside yesterday:

It’s so great to see her lookin’ so happy and so relaxed … these exact photos remind me of the pics we used to see of Britney poolside in between tour stops way back in the day. I distinctly recall seeing photos of her relaxing with friends poolside after her knee surgery thinking, All she needs is some downtime and she’ll be back on track in no time … and 5 years later, here we are. It’s been a long time but she’s back where she should’ve been 5 years ago … but I digress. After the jump, check out a couple more photos of Britney maxin’ and relaxin’ at her Miami hotel pool with her youngest son Jayden James — he’s wearing water wings …

READ THE REST OF THIS POST »