Yesterday we learned the disturbing news that Katie Holmes was almost seriously injured in a movie set accident when the car she was riding in burst into flames after the car battery exploded. Altho she was shaken up pretty bad, Katie managed to evade death and escaped the car unharmed. Here are new pictures of Katie back on the set of her film Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark running around and playing with her only begotten child Suri Holmes-Cruise as if the accident never happened:

As you may recall, the plotline of Katie‘s new movie involves her character being terrorized by evil gnomes … perhaps Suri is auditioning for a part in the flick? I keed, I keed!! Clearly, Katie doesn’t feel that the movie set of death is at all a danger to her young child … or does she?????? Whatever the case may be, it’s a relief to see Katie lookin’ so well after enduring such an upsetting incident. Now she can go back about her biz of making movies that no one has any interest in watching.

[Photo credit: Splash News]

Great news for Whitney Houston fans who simply cannot wait for the release of her new album I Look To You, originally slated for release on September 1. Whitney‘s record company has decided to push up the release of Whit Whit‘s new album … BY A DAY! That’s right folks, instead of having to wait until September 1 to procure your copy of her new disc, you’ll now have the opportunity to purchase it one day earlier on Monday August 31!!

Fueled by the continuous excitement from last week’s much-buzzed about Whitney Houston album listening events in New York and Los Angeles, Arista Records has moved the release date of I Look To You up to August 31st. As a gift to her fans, a free download of the album’s title track, powered by Yahoo! Music, is available now at www.whitneyhouston.com until July 31st. “I Look To You,” a sweeping ballad with Whitney’s signature soaring vocals that fans have come to love, was written by R. Kelly.

That’s right folks, the good news doesn’t end there … head over to WhitneyHouston.com you’ll be able to download a FREE MP3 of Whitney‘s title track I Look To You for your listening pleasure. As you may recall I revealed that, after hearing Whitney‘s new album in full at the LA preview party last week, I Look To You was one of my fave tracks off the album … and now YOU can hear it FOR FREE right now. Get ya asses over to WhitneyHouston.com and download it … tell me what you think.

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Heidi Klum, whose baby bump has grown to the point that her belly button has popped out, was spotted with her children in tow at Coldwater Canyon Park yesterday afternoon. Heidi had that beautiful pregnant woman glow but she also looked a bit tired … might she be further along in her pregnancy than was previously believed?

She looks amazing! I love Heidi when she’s all pleasantly pregs! I cannot wait until she brings forth the fruit of her loins. I’m so excited that she is going to have another girl so that she can round out her collection of children perfectly. Tho, there have been a lot of twin births in Hollywood in recent years … wouldn’t it be a gas if Heidi and Seal ended up having more than one baby this time around? While Seal revealed to Oprah Winfrey that Heidi was having a girl it’s *possible* that he was only telling half of the story ;) Whatever the case may be, I can’t wait for Heidi to blow!!

[Photo credit: X17]

So … I’m not sure if y’all are ready for a boyband resurgence but one of the most successful boybands of all time (no, not *NSync) are making a comeback this Fall with a new album, a new tour and an attempt at that old magic formula that made them stars in the first place. Backstreet Boys — Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell and A. J. McLean — have announced that they will be releasing a new 11-track album titled This is Us on October 6 with a world tour to follow. Are y’all ready, cuz here they come ready or not:

From the press release: Backstreet Boys are very proud to announce the release of their new album, THIS IS US. Set for an October 6th release on Jive Records, THIS IS US is the seventh studio album from this groundbreaking and chart topping group that redefined the modern musical landscape, ushering in a chapter of pop culture that commandeered the world’s radio airwaves, broke music and concert sales records, and launched a new generation of teen idols. Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell and AJ McLean collaborated with a powerhouse suite of producers and songwriters on THIS IS US that included T-Pain, Max Martin, RedOne, Soulshock and Karlin, Jim Jonsin and Claude Kelly. The end result is an indelible and finely crafted R&B and pop album from four talented musicians who love what they do and who maintain the rare relevance in an industry that often disposes of pop acts. The 11 songs that make up THIS IS US are the sounds of four skilled singers with a similar vision, who have dealt with the trials and tribulations that accompany fame at an early age and who came out as one of the most successful groups of all time. From the undeniable dance floor ready lead single, “Straight Through My Heart” to the reflective soar of “Bigger,” from the hook crazy “Bye Bye Love” to the romantic yearning of “She’s A Dream,” THIS IS US shows remarkable growth as songwriters and continues to give us songs that has made millions smile. “We’re really excited to release this new album and know that our fans are excited too. We worked with a group of amazing artists and producers that we’ve never worked with before, exploring new sounds and territory and know the final product turned out incredible” says Carter. Backstreet Boys plan on spending the second half of 2009 and all of 2010 on the road. A European tour has already been announced and a full North American headlining tour will be announced shortly. Tour dates can be found on the group’s official website www.backstreetboys.com. Over the last 12 years, the Backstreet Boys have sold more than 76 million albums worldwide, have scored a dozen Top 40 hits and charted in the Top Ten in nearly every country making them one of the most successful groups of all time.

Just about 10 years after they conquered the PLANET, BSB are back again. I know there has been much talk in recent years about the return of *NSync (BSB‘s #1 competitors) but I haven’t heard any chatter about the return of BSB. The world of pop music is pretty different now than it was back in the boyband hey day but I suppose it’s possible that the boys, er, men could have another hit … mebbe two. After the jump, check out a few promo photos of the Backstreets working on their new album in the studio …

Awesome casting news to pass along to all y’all Joss Whedon/Dollhouse fans. As we already know, Joss spilled over the weekend (while chatting with a room packed with fans at 2009 San Diego Comic-Con) that Buffyverse alums Alexis Denisof (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel) and Summer Glau (Firefly, Serenity) will be joining the case of Dollhouse in some capacity in the show’s second season which premieres on FOX this Fall … but Joss also revealed that Battlestar Galactica star Jamie Bamber (who played Lee Adama on BSG) will appear as a special guest star on the show’s season 2 premiere episode! Since BSG alum Tahmoh Penikett already stars on Dollhouse as “good guy” Paul Ballard, it looks like the show will become a veritable BSG lovefest reunion with Jamie on board, too!!

Want more Dollhouse news? Then you’re in the right place! Network sources confirm to us exclusively that Battlestar Galactica’s Jamie Bamber is set to guest star on the season two premiere of Dollhouse. But where does he fit into the storylines? Here’s what we’re hearing: We’re told that Bamber’s character is heavily involved in an engagement Echo (Eliza Dushku) and her new handler Paul Ballard (Tahmoh Penikett) have been assigned to. Geekgasm!

HOW FRAKKIN’ AWESOME IS THIS?! I can’t even properly process how amazing it is to have the Buffyverse and BSG collide in this way. I was so excited when I learned that Tahmoh got a starring gig on Dollhouse but now that Jamie Bamber has been welcomed into the fold, well, perhaps Joss Whedon can open a retirement home for ex-BSGers who need work? I would LOVE that!! For that matter, why not call up some Buffyverse alums who we haven’t heard from in some time … Charisma Carpenter? Emma Caufield? Nicholas Brendon? It could happen! Here’s hoping Dollhouse has a stellar second season … the longer the show stays on the air, the longer the chance exists that our fave actors from days of yore can get cast on the show :)

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RadarOnline is reporting that Katie Holmes, wife of the gnomish Tom Cruise, was involved in a near-deadly accident on the Australian set of her new film Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark wherein Holmes plays a young woman who is stalked by deadly gnomes. Irony aside, I’m happy to report that Katie managed to escape from the car she was riding in after its battery exploded and caught on fire. Here is a photo of a shaken and stirred Katie Holmes on the set of her movie after she evaded death in this accident:

Actress Katie Holmes narrowly escaped injury on the set of her upcoming movie, Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark, in Victoria, Australia over the weekend. Holmes was shooting a scene inside a car when the vehicle’s battery exploded — sparking smoke and fumes — before the car then caught fire. The exploding battery was not a part of the film. In the Miramax film (a remake of a 1973 ABC Made-for-TV movie), the wife of Tom Cruise plays a woman stalked by evil gnomes.

All kidding aside, I’m happy that Katie suffered no injury at all from this accident. I cannot imagine what a traumatic incident like this can do to a person but I’m glad to know that she’ll be alright. As for those evil gnomes that will continue to terrify her in the weeks and months to come … well … I guess that’s what she gets for marrying Tom Cruise.

[Photo credit: Splash News; Source]

Lily Allen has been tapped as the new celebrity spokesmodel for the Chanel fashion house. As an ardent fan of their handbags, Lily seems the perfect person to promote the new line of Chanel Coco Cocoon purses … tho, ripping off the Audrey Hepburn look for the campaign seems a bit too obvious to me:

She’s rarely seen out without one of her coveted collection of Chanel handbags. So perhaps it is no surprise that when Lily Allen branched out into modelling she chose the label. Newly released photos from an upcoming campaign show her cuddling bags from the Chanel Coco Cocoon range in undisguised delight. The photos were taken by Chanel designer Karl Lagerfield himself and show a playful Lily, unashamedly acting up for the camera. In other shots the 24-year-old wears a huge tiara and black catsuit as she pulls her sunglasses off her nose. Recently she revealed: ‘I don’t feel comfortable modelling – it’s not something that comes naturally to me, especially when I’m working with fashion photographers because they’re used to working with really tall, skinny and beautiful models and I’m very aware that I’m 5ft 2in and a size 12.’ But her worries were unfounded, as the petite singer looks her best in the photos.

Clearly Lily is interested in endeavors other than those that involve music … I understand she is also launching her own line of jewelry as well. These promo photos are very lovely but I still think they’re too obvious. Hopefully the next time she does a bit of modeling she’ll do so as herself rather than in the guise of someone else.

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Benji Madden took his famously muscled arms to the Urth Cafe here in LA for a little bite to eat yesterday and managed to give passers-by a little dessert treat … of beefcake:

It’s been quite a few months since we last got a gander at Benji’s guns so I think a great many of y’all can appreciate these pics. I think it would be awesome if Benj spent more time showing off his buffed bod, don’t you?

[Photo credit: X17]

Altho Britney Spears just released the official music video for her single Radar earlier this month, she is releasing another new music video for her single Kill the Lights today. Based on a fan fiction story written by a Britney Spears fan, the Kill the Lights music video is an animated adventure that sees Brit Brit soaring into space to battle the evil forces of alien paparazzi … or something like that. Here are a few screencaps from the video and the story it is based on — all spelling and grammatical errors belong to the author alone:

At the begining when Danja speaks we have a animated Danja in a radio environment and at the same time in the frame we have Britney surrounded of a lot of paparazzis. When the song starts Britney run and takes a rocket and scape some other planet. Some of the paparazzis take others rockets and go behind her. When she lands to the other planet, some aliens are there waiting for her, everybody knows her. They have posters with her image, some aliens are dreesed like her. She makes a performance, everybody takes her pictures, she pose and sings. Meanwhile paparazzis from our planet go arriving. When the lights from the cameras are so hard she takes avantage of it and scapes, she takes a control or joystick or something and takes the rocket. When she is far from that planet she sees that it is full of light. She turn of the lights with the joystick. She smiles in a close up when the rocket pass in front of the camera.

My guess is that English isn’t the author’s first language but still, the story is very clear. Having seen the video myself, I think it reflects the spirit of this fan story very well. After the jump, check out the music video for Kill the Lights and see for yourselves …

Some industrious kids on the Internets have come upon a few promo pictures of some of the members of the Volturi vampire clan as they appear in the upcoming sequel film The Twilight Saga: New Moon. As you may recall, we saw photos of Dakota Fanning in costume as Jane of the Volturi on the Italian set of New Moon last month and just last week we got to check out a pretty good but entirely fake poster of Jane from New Moon … but these new photos appear to be the real deal. They even come with the crest of the Volturi to add credence to their authenticity:

While it’s true that anyone with a penchant for Photoshop and lots of time on their hands can come up with a graphic like this (or fake, fanmade promo pics), I think the leaked photos are genuine promo pics. After the jump, check ‘em out for yourselves and see what Jane, Aro, Caius, Marcus and Alec of the Volturi will look like in The Twlight Saga: New Moon …