"Monty Python's Spamalot" has made a lot. The Tony-winning musical based on the film "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" has recouped its $12 million investment, less than seven months after opening on Broadway.

The show has done strong business at the Shubert Theatre since its premiere last March, repeatedly breaking box-office records.

"Spamalot" currently stars Tim Curry and David Hyde Pierce, who has extended his stay in the musical until April 2006. Simon Russell Beale takes over Dec. 20 for Curry. Original cast member Hank Azaria, who left the production in June to begin filming another season of his Showtime TV series, "Huff," returns Dec. 2.

"Spamalot," which has a book by Eric Idle and a score by Idle and John Du Prez, begins a North American tour next March in Boston.

Posted by: Lawrenkm at 08:23 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
Post contains 143 words, total size 1 kb.

Josie Maran is best known as Maybelline's face, but the spokesmodel will launch her own cosmetics line next year.

"I'm starting my own line called Josie,” said Maran at the Smashbox / Sephora show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios. “It’s going to be designer, all-natural makeup." The line is currently under development with plans to launch in 2006.

"ItÂ’s never been done, natural makeup is always in the back of the health food store," explained Maran. "It's usually really muddy and this is going to be really bright and rich." Proceeds from the line will go to educational programs for children, but while organic lipstick may be on Maran's mind, it's not yet on her face.

"I have a contract with Maybelline, but I do have some Smashbox on tonight," she grinned. "Gotta represent!"

Posted by: Lawrenkm at 08:19 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 142 words, total size 1 kb.

Oh, Mischa. This is just horrible. Since when is Lance Armstrong a fashion icon? And, is that purple fanny pack I see?

Posted by: Lawrenkm at 08:12 AM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
Post contains 26 words, total size 1 kb.

Sources say that the OC's Rachel Bilson has fallen for her co-star in a recent movie, Zach Braff. Bilson has a habit of this--she recently split from her co-star on the OC, Adam Brody.

Zach - who has been dating Mandy Moore for months - and Rachel recently shot The Last Kiss in Canada, but their kisses may have continued after filming ended. According to a source for Australian gossip magazine, NW, Braff and Bilson got close one evening at Los Angeles hotspot, The Dime.

"She was practically sitting on his lap. She kept whispering in his ear. They kept laughing and looked like they were totally into each other," the witness said. The co-stars later left the Dime holding hands.

Source: The Bosh

Posted by: Lawrenkm at 08:06 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
Post contains 130 words, total size 1 kb.

Folks in Paris are still talking about last week's opening of the new Louis Vuitton flagship store. Sharon Stone, who did the ribbon-cutting, "showed up in a Louis Vuitton coat with nothing underneath!" said a source. "That was it — like a flasher! She wore it as a dress."

Mingling with Stone was Eve, Karl Lagerfeld, Catherine Deneuve and Winona Ryder with her "friend" (according to her rep) "Murderball" director Henry Alex Rubin, whom she met on the set of "Girl Interrupted." Salma Hayek was also there but was guarded fiercely by her publicist.

Posted by: Lawrenkm at 07:59 AM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
Post contains 104 words, total size 1 kb.

Teri Hatcher, Lisa Kudrow, Courteney Cox, Tom Hanks and Rod Stewart are among the stars giving Lacoste's famous crocodile symbol a new look for charity.

The quintet are among the celebrities putting their own artistic spin on the classic Lacoste polo shirt in a bid to raise funds for the fight against pediatric AIDS. The shirts will be unveiled later this month at Barneys New York in Beverly Hills and will be auctioned off online at Lacoste.com/usa. All proceeds from the charity auction will benefit the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric Aids Foundation.

Posted by: Lawrenkm at 07:56 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
Post contains 103 words, total size 1 kb.

Ginger Spicette?

Geri Halliwell is expecting a baby, according to a report in the News of the World .

The former Spice Girl has been secretly dating British scriptwriter Sacha Gervasi, however the relationship could already be over after the pair were spotted having a heated argument at a cafe last week. Despite this, Halliwell is said to be overjoyed at the news, and has told friends that she will give birth in the spring.

A source revealed, "Geri is thrilled to be pregnant. Although this is totally unexpected she can't wait to be a mum. It's the best thing that could happen to her. She has had her problems in the past, battling bulimia, but now she is grown up and ready to be a mother.

"Not surprisingly, she's very upset her relationship with Sacha hasn't exactly gone to plan. But if she is alone when the baby arrives, then so be it. She's a strong woman and will cope just fine."

Posted by: Lawrenkm at 07:54 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
Post contains 167 words, total size 1 kb.

Oscar winner Roberto Benigni treated Italians watching Saturday's prime time news show to an impromptu strip tease to mark the release of his new film "The Tiger and the Snow" about the war in Iraq.

Benigni, whose poignant Holocaust film "Life is Beautiful" won the 1998 Oscar for best foreign film, left the newscaster on Italy's most watched evening news program open-mouthed when he began unbuttoning his shirt during an interview. A laughing Benigni removed his shirt and draped it over the newscaster's shoulders.

Benigni brought a fresh touch to the often stuffy Oscars ceremony when he climbed on the back of his seat and applauded the audience after he was told he had won the Oscar. He went on to also win best actor.

Posted by: Lawrenkm at 07:50 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 129 words, total size 1 kb.

Saying that she is now cancer free "in every detectable way, and in every knowing way Â… in my heart and my mind," Melissa Etheridge is also now admitting she used medicinal marijuana to help with the side effects of chemotherapy during her treatment for breast cancer.

"Instead of taking five or six of the prescriptions, I decided to go a natural route and smoke marijuana" the singer 44, who was first diagnosed more than a year ago, says in an interview on Dateline NBC.

According to excerpts from the interview and from quotes released to the Associated Press, by last January Etheridge had finished the first four rounds of chemo and had graduated to another drug, Taxol, which produced complications.

"It affected my muscles and bones," says the singer whose new greatest hits album includes the song "I Run for Life" dedicated to the fighting breast cancer. "And there's a chance of neuropathy with Taxol, which is where you lose feeling in your extremities. You know, fingers and toes." She said that as soon as the sensation left her fingertips a red flag arose "and (I) went, 'wait wait wait wait wait.' This is my livelihood you're talking about."

After consulting with her physicians, Etheridge decided to halt the Taxol after having already undergone surgery, two months of chemo (which she describes as "hell") and radiation treatments, which she's still having. As for using marijuana, Etheridge said when she informed her doctors that she smoked it every day for her pain – and "the minute I didn't feel it, I stopped" – "Every single one was, 'Oh, yeah. That's the best help for the effects of chemotherapy.'"

While against federal law, the use of marijuana with a doctor's recommendation is legal in California and nine other states. Asked if she feared federal prosecution, Etheridge replied, "No, I didn't worry. But it was worth it."

Posted by: Lawrenkm at 07:44 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
Post contains 321 words, total size 2 kb.

Toy maker Mattel Inc. known for Barbie fashion dolls, is expanding the plastic icon's domain to include high-end designer clothing and accessories for adult women.

The merchandise, which includes jeans, shirts, handbags and jewelry, is designed by well-known fashion designers and will sell under the name Barbie Luxe.

Using Barbie as their "muse," designers like Anna Sui, Anya Hindmarch, Citizens of Humanity, Judith Leiber, Nickel, Not Rational, Paper Denim & Cloth, Stila and Tarina Tarantino have added Barbie-esque touches to their designs, such as pink stitching on jeans or a retro silhouette on a cameo pendant.

"Our target market is the fashionista," said Richard Dickson, senior vice president of global consumer marketing and entertainment for Mattel Brands. "From teens through adults in their 20's and 30's. It's not Mattel's usual target audience." Weak sales of Barbie dolls, a lackluster retail environment, and strong competition have hurt Mattel recently. The company is working to raise Barbie's non-toy profile as well as tap a grown-up fan base as part of a long term plan to reinvigorate the toy brand.

There will be a series of promotions to publicize the Barbie Luxe brand, including underground campaigns, launch parties and Fashion Week interviews. Mattel is hoping that the clothing and accessories will catch on with trendsetting teens and women and that popularity will trickle down to Barbie the doll. "When a teen or 20-something is carrying an Anya Hindmarch, Barbie bag it'll reinforce Barbie as relevant, cool brand for little girls," said Dickson. "Little girls are growing up faster than ever and looking to adults and teens for inspiration, and Barbie is their aspiration."

The items aren't cheap, with jeans priced at $176 and a 3/4 sleeve hooded sweatshirt at $140, and this helps add to the cachet of the brand, which is designed to be "aspirational."

Posted by: Lawrenkm at 07:40 AM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
Post contains 315 words, total size 2 kb.

It cracks me up how the people who get on MTV's The Real World never know what the hell to do with themselves after the show is over, yet always seem to have had some real revelation about life in the process.

Landon (RW Philadelphia) appears to be no exception. He's working the technical school tour, and in a nutshell has this to say: "Alcohol is bad." and "No, I won't take off my shirt."

Posted by: Lawrenkm at 07:36 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
Post contains 81 words, total size 1 kb.

Kermit the Frog began a globe-hopping tour to celebrate his 50th showbiz birthday in a small West Texas town that shares the beloved amphibian's name.

The town of about 5,700 rolled out the green carpet Friday for the singing, dancing Muppet and former "Sesame Street" star, giving him the key to the city, dubbing him grand marshal of the homecoming parade and crowning him honorary homecoming king.

The town, one of two in the country named Kermit, also painted Kermit's face on the community's large water tower. The local Dairy Queen offered green French fries and ice cream in his honor. A park in town also will bear his name.
"I haven't seen such nice faces since Miss Piggy's last makeover," he said in an appearance at City Hall, which is on a street that's been renamed Kermit the Frog Boulevard. "It's really like coming home again."

Kermit's 50-stop tour will cross four continents and last until the end of 2006. Stops include the Statue of Liberty, the Eiffel Tower, the Great Wall of China, the Johnson Space Center and a courageous appearance at a Frog Leg Festival in Fellsmere, Fla. He's even scheduled to run with the bulls in Pamplona, Spain.

"I thought they said bullfrogs," Kermit said in a rare Associated Press interview with a Muppet.

Posted by: Lawrenkm at 07:30 AM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
Post contains 222 words, total size 2 kb.

Mimi is getting emancipated — again.

Mariah Carey plans to reissue The Emancipation of Mimi with four new tracks this fall, including her new hit "Don't Forget About Us."

The Emancipation of Mimi: Platinum Edition, which was announced to her fan club late Thursday (October 13), will be released in two forms on November 15: as an audio CD with the four extra tracks, and as a limited-edition two-disc set with a DVD of her videos so far ("It's Like That," "We Belong Together," "Shake It Off" and "Get Your Number"). The video for "Get Your Number," featuring Jermaine Dupri, was shot originally for her European fanbase, since it was released as a single there, and this will mark its U.S. release.

The DVD will also contain a link to access her new video for "Don't Forget About Us," which Carey shot last weekend in Los Angeles with director Paul Hunter, who last teamed up with Mariah on her "Honey" video. The clip hits video outlets November 1.

Posted by: Lawrenkm at 07:25 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 174 words, total size 1 kb.

Evidently "Star Trek" actor James "Scotty" Doohan took the catchphrase "beam me up" very seriously -- his cremated remains will be launched into space in accord with his last wishes.

Commercial space flight operator Space Services Inc. will launch the late actor's remains into space aboard its Explorers Flight on December 6, a company spokeswoman said on Friday.

Doohan, who portrayed feisty chief engineer Montgomery "Scotty" Scott on the "Star Trek" television series, died in July at age 85. On the program, when Capt. James Kirk ventured off the spaceship Enterprise and faced peril, he would demand Scotty "beam" his body up to the safety of the ship.

The actual phrase "Beam me up, Scotty," was not used on the show, but it entered pop culture.

Posted by: Lawrenkm at 07:22 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
Post contains 136 words, total size 1 kb.

Coming soon to a game console near you: a Steven Spielberg video game. The acclaimed film director and producer has agreed to develop three new games under a long-term exclusive deal with video game maker Electronic Arts Inc. The deal to be announced Friday reflects the increasingly intertwined interests of Hollywood and the video game industry.

Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed, but Redwood City-based EA, the world's largest game maker behind blockbusters such as "Madden NFL" and "The Sims," said it will own the intellectual property behind the Spielberg games and publish them.

The deal involves much more than the Hollywood director merely putting his stamp on a game or popping in for quick consultations, said Neil Young, vice president and studio head of EA's Los Angeles studio.

Instead, Spielberg will have an office in EA's studio. He plans to work side-by-side with game developers to create original gaming content beginning with the concept — not a game based on a movie, or vice versa, both of which are common practices nowadays.

Posted by: Lawrenkm at 07:20 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 185 words, total size 1 kb.

Paris Hilton has revealed during an interview for a magazine that the real reason she dumped her fiancée, Greek heir Paris Latsis was because he cheated on her during his bachelor party.

Last week, Paris announced she broke up her engagement with Latsis after only three months, claiming sheÂ’s not ready to marry. She stated at that time: "I'm sad to announce that I've called off my engagement." But now, it appears that Hilton confessed during a party in Los Angeles that she dumped Latsis because he cheated on her during his bachelor party.

And, during an interview with “Extra” magazine she was asked what advices will she give to a man who wants to get married, Paris said: “Just be good to your girl and communicate and tell the truth.” “Don’t cheat on her at your bachelor party ... because when guys do that it’s disgusting. Whoever I marry is not going to have a bachelor party,” added Paris.

Posted by: Lawrenkm at 09:12 AM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
Post contains 168 words, total size 1 kb.

For five years, Chris Klein and Katie Holmes were a hot item. They were even engaged in 2003. But as Chris explained to Details magazine, the relationship ended in March for one simple reason.

“We grew up,” Chris explained. “The fantasy was over, and reality set in. We weren’t lighting each other’s fire anymore.”

And, according to Brian Farnham, Details’ deputy editor, the two haven’t spoken since. “They have no contact,” Brian said. “There was a rumor going around that she had been calling him but that turned out not to be true. They really broke it off completely.”

Chris (whose film credits include the “American Pie” movies, as well as “We Were Soldiers” and “Rollerball”) said he is living well and not looking back, telling Details: “I’m not lonely. I’ll tell you that, I’m certainly not crying myself to sleep at night, sucking my thumb. No, Dude, I’m out and about.”

As for Tom’s couch-hopping antics, Chris was realistic. “...that’s Tom. He can do whatever the f*** he wants. Who gives a s***? I mean, we’ve all felt the need to jump up and down on a couch. Or not!”

And in other TomKat news:

Apparently, Katie Holmes is rehearsing the role of stay-at-home mom. The actress, who recently revealed she is carrying fiance Tom Cruise's baby, has pulled out of the Dennis Quaid drama Shame On You in order to focus on her pregnancy, People magazine reports.

The film, a biopic on country and western swing legend Spade Cooley, had been scheduled to begin shooting in New Orleans within the next month. But the production was pushed back to early 2006 due to Hurricane Katrina. Holmes was set to star as Cooley's wife, Ella Mae.

Posted by: Lawrenkm at 09:02 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 293 words, total size 2 kb.

I have no idea why the ladies of Laguna Beach are modeling these heinous, overpriced corsets, but they are. Click here.

Posted by: Lawrenkm at 08:56 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
Post contains 23 words, total size 1 kb.

Al Pacino is rumored to be dating former 'Cheers' star Kirstie Alley.

Pacino, 65, has been spotted dining out in Hollywood with the curvaceous actress - and according to onlookers the pair were undeniably romantically entwined. The news comes just weeks after Alley, 54, announced she had lost 50 pounds and was ready to start dating again. She has been single since splitting from James Wilder five years ago.

A source told Star magazine: "They were huddled for the whole evening at the Chateau Marmont, and, at one point, Kirstie was stroking his thigh as she talked to him. "It was bizarre. They totally looked as if they were on a date."

Posted by: Lawrenkm at 08:47 AM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
Post contains 114 words, total size 1 kb.

It's official: Daniel Craig is the next James Bond.

"It's something else, I'm a bit speechless," Craig, looking suave in a charcoal gray Brioni suit, said at a London press conference Friday after he arrived by a Royal Marine commando on the Thames. News of his casting was hardly a secret. He'd long been the rumored top choice for the role, and on Thursday night, the actor's own mother let the cat out of the bag before the producers could make the announcement official.

"Obviously we are thrilled to bits," Craig's mother, Carol Olivia, told the family's hometown paper, the Liverpool Daily Post, about her son's new role. "It has come at a very good time in his career," she added. "He has worked extremely hard all his life and this would be his biggest populist role." She also conceded, "It will be life-changing." "She's a proud mom," explained Bond producer Barbara Broccoli at Friday's news gathering.

As for the new star, the divorced dad of a daughter refused to say who he would prefer as his leading lady in the upcoming $100-million-plus caper, Casino Royale. There have been rumors that it could be Sienna Miller, with whom Craig has been linked personally, or even troubled model Kate Moss, with whom he reportedly had a fling last year.

"I'm not getting into that," he stated. But of his new job, he did say: "I knew positively on Monday when I was in Baltimore. I needed a drink. ... a couple of martinis."

Said Craig: "I don't have many qualifications. but hopefully I can bring something to the role. I've got a big pair of shoes to step into after Pierce."

Posted by: Lawrenkm at 08:40 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
Post contains 286 words, total size 2 kb.