People.com reports that Johnny Depp may have taken his latest inspiration from shock-rocker and political activist Marilyn Manson. Depp, who most recent role was Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, has been known to model characters based on real life people. For Pirates of the Caribbean, Johnny Depp channeled Rolling Stone guitarist Keith Richards for his Oscar-nominated portrayal of pirate Jack Sparrow.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory director Tim Burton wouldn't reveal the details Depp's Method acting, but he told People.com: "He will certainly be eccentric, yes."

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Jennifer Lopez has hit out at TV shows that makeover members of the public to look like her.

One of the latest trends of reality shows takes fans of celebrities and gives them cosmetic surgery and style makeovers so they resemble their heroes.

But J.Lo finds the phenomenon creepy. She says, "I saw one recently and thought, 'Get your own look.'"

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Bill Clinton says, "It's too long!" (No, not THAT...)

In the paperback edition of "My Life," former President Clinton acknowledges that his memoir may have been too long, recounts some friendly faces from his book tour and some odder ones sighted under the influence of anesthesia as he underwent heart surgery last September.

"At first I saw a series of dark faces, like death masks, flying toward me and being crushed," writes Clinton, whose book comes out May 31 in both trade and mass market paperback. "Then I saw circles of light with the faces of Hillary, Chelsea, and others I cared about flying toward me, then away into a bright, sun-like source."

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Students at the University of Iowa are lining up for what promises to be a stimulating educational experience.

Upper-level communication studies course "Critical Pornography Studies" will focus on the role of pornography in pop culture, according to Jay Clarkson, the graduate student spearheading the class. Students will tackle topics like the history of obscenity, attempts to legislate pornography, the feminist debate over porn, and porn's prevalence in the media and U.S. culture.

Clarkson stressed the class is more about research than pornography itself — so don't look for any XXX-rated videos, ahem, popping up in the course. "We will not be viewing X-rated materials in class, nor will the assignments require that students purchase pornographic materials." Students looking for an easy A or a cheap thrill need not apply, he said. "The course is going to be quite difficult. There will be a lot of reading involved, and students will be required to deal with a very diverse set of perspectives."

Clarkson said the speaker's opposition to discussing porn in a public forum is one of the main reasons the course is so important. "I really wish he had contacted me to find out about the course or even read the course description more carefully," he said. "Pornography exists, and merely dismissing it won't make it go away. It is important, in my opinion, to encourage students to think about [something in a way] that is both critical and informed. Isn't that what college is for?"

--The article goes on to say that there is a waiting list. Go figure!

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After Gwyneth Paltrow's father, Bruce, died in October 2002 following a recurrence of throat cancer, the actress battled clinical depression and fought through feelings of guilt at not having done enough for him during his illness, according to a revealing interview published in the May 17 edition of London's Evening Standard.

Speaking openly about her dad's death, Paltrow, 32, told the newspaper that "I was in so much denial for so much of his illness. The thought of life without my father was totally unfathomable to me."

What eventually got her through the grief was the birth of her daughter Apple. "She's been very healing for us – for myself, my brother, my mother," said Paltrow. "For me, the greatest joy before I gave birth to her was the idea that she would be one-quarter my father."

"I'm not as stringent as I was in the past," said Paltrow, who used to adhere to a strict macrobiotic diet. "Now I'll have cheese once in a while or white flour, but I still believe in whole grains and no sugar." That openness extends beyond just eating. "I am much better at living in the moment," she told the Evening Standard. "I found myself worrying so much less about what I haven't done. Life is here, in this moment, now."

--Her idea of living for the moment is letting loose and eating cheese once in awhile?

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Jessica Simpson is remaking an older classic, "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'." Simpson's version is a duet with her "Dukes of Hazzard" co-star Willie Nelson and will be the first single from the movie's soundtrack.

According to insiders, the video will open with Simpson working as a waitress at the Boar's Nest, where she accidentally incites a bar fight. Inspired by "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" and other musicals, the choreographed chaos happens around her, but never touches her or Willie Nelson, who sits at the bar. Eventually, a group of girls in Daisy Duke shorts enter and turn the brawl into a hoedown.

Meanwhile, footage of Simpson in a bikini, washing the General Lee, will be intercut with the bar scene.

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R&B star Usher has confirmed he is in negotiations to star in a new movie version of the musical Dreamgirls - just days after his mother denied any association with the project.

If he signs, Usher is expected to play choreographer CC White, alongside Beyonce Knowles and Jamie Foxx - Eddie Murphy is also being mooted to play James 'Thunder' Early, a fictional cross between James Brown and Marvin Gaye.

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Paris Hilton faces a $95 fine after feeding pigeons on the streets of London - because Mayor Ken Livingstone has banned the activity.

The hotel heiress arrived in the British capital on Monday to promote her own brand of perfume, and wiled away her spare time throwing pieces of bread to the famished birds in Trafalgar Square. She says, "I'd live here if it had Los Angeles weather. I just love feeding the pigeons in Trafalgar Square; I could do that forever. I even prefer it to going shopping."

However, The Simple Life star has prompted Livingstone's spokesman to warn her of the financial penalty attached to her illegal act of kindness.

He says, "There's a bylaw that makes it illegal for any person to either feed any bird or distribute any feeding stuffs for birds unless approved by the Mayor of London."

--Can't say I enjoyed the pigeons in Trafalgar Square so much. Pigeons are dirty and the whole place smelled funny.

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Salma is stunning at Cannes:

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A woman claiming to be Beyoncé has been calling publicists' offices to request free products.

A bogus Beyoncé nearly scored shoes from Holly Dunlap's HollyWould line this week, after personally calling Dunlap's store to rave about the heels worn by "my friend Halle Berry." The ruse almost worked until Dunlap discovered that the real Beyoncé was in Dubai, not Houston, as her fake claimed.

The bogus Beyoncé also scheduled meetings at The Four Seasons with clueless fashion flacks but canceled at the last minute.

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Adam Sandler wrote "Hi to everyone" and left his handprints and prints of his shoes in cement at the fabled Grauman's Chinese Theater on Hollywood Boulevard. The ceremony Tuesday coincided with the upcoming release of his latest film, "The Longest Yard," set to open May 27.

"Today's one of the first times when I'm just sitting back and doing what my father told me and enjoying the moment and enjoying the fact that this is a terrific feeling," the 38-year-old actor-comedian told an audience that included Jack Nicholson, Rob Schneider and Kathy Bates.

Sandler said that when he told his family he was pursuing an acting career, his relatives told him that he would follow in the footsteps of some big stars. "I didn't become any of those people," said Sandler, a former cast member of NBC's "Saturday Night Live." "But today I can officially say I am now the legendary Adam Sandler."

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Not that naming your baby Apple has anything to do with it, but Gwyneth Paltrow seems to be overly concerned about her baby becoming a "freak." Contactmusic.com reports that Paltrow is working to make sure she does not become overbearing with her child's eating habits.

"Right now Apple is young and I control what she eats. It's all very healthy," Paltrow said. "But she's her own person and I will respect who she is. If she doesn't want to be vegetarian or she wants to eat hydrogenated oils and fairy cakes at birthday parties, that's fine."

The health-conscious mom adds, "I'm not going to be a controlling over-protective hippy. We live in the world we do. I don't want her to be a freak."

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Gwen's on a designing rampage:

The singer, who launched her higher-end L.A.M.B. fashion collection last year, is expanding her empire with the more affordable Harajuku Lovers line.

"I love designing because there's so much less pressure than writing songs. But it fulfills the same kind of passion in me," says Stefani, who released her solo album Love. Angel. Music. Baby. in November. Stefani is fascinated with Japanese youth culture and street style, and harajuku ("super-cute") girls played a big part in the promotional blitz for her album.

The first Harajuku item out? The HP Photosmart Harajuku Lovers digital camera, which went on sale Monday for $249.99 at HP.com. "Everyone has a camera as an accessory," Stefani says. "I thought it might be cute to have a camera that will go with your outfit. It will match the underwear I'm making."

She's referring to the underclothes, as well as stationery, hats, baby clothes, T-shirts, cell phone charms and handbags, that are all part of Harajuku Lovers and will be sold at Urban Outfitters and Hello Kitty stores starting June 15. And then there's Stefani's line of L.A.M.B. shoes, on sale in August. And her first Fashion Week show this September in New York.

Doesn't she ever get tired? "I'm stupid," Stefani says with a laugh. "I don't know what's wrong with me."

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Kelly Osbourne is growing more and more shocked by Hollywood's need to be super skinny after one teenage star's weightloss made her feel sick. Outspoken Osbourne is refusing to name names, but she can't hide her feelings about her famous friends' desperate efforts to stay thin.

She says, "Take a look at some of the young actresses who are really popular now. They've responded to the pressure to always look good by whittling themselves down so extremely that looking fat - from even the worst angle - is pretty near impossible." "Sure, they're beautiful in photographs, but when you see them in person, they look hungry and miserable.

"It's so disturbing because some of these girls are my friends, and they're starving themselves... There's one in particular I think of often." "I saw her last summer and I remember thinking, 'You're so beautiful, you're at the most perfect weight.' "Then I ran into her in the winter and she literally looked near death. I was like, 'What are you doing to yourself? You're 18-years-old.'"

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Rapper Juvenile made most of his upcoming album in a Holiday Inn hotel room. Strangely enough, Juve used the New Orleans hotel suite as his album muse, according to his publicist.

Claiming the space was both secluded and organic, he and his comrades set up shop all around the room — including the bathroom — to record their creative energy.

Reality Check will be the MC's first project following his departure from his original label, Cash Money Records. Discovering that he wasn't getting what he thought was his proper share, the father of "Back That Azz Up" called it quits. Now he seems comfortable with his new home at Atlantic Records, which also distributes the rapper's UTP Records.

Juve grabbed collaborations with Ludacris, 8Ball, Fat Joe, Brian McKnight and up-and-comer Trey Songz for Reality Check. "Animal" will be the first single from the album, which is slated to drop August 23.

--Waiting for MP&S's resident hip-hop expert to weigh in on this one...

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Kenny Chesney's proposal to Renee Zellweger apparently was no "candlelight dinner and bent knee" affair. In fact, Chesney says there was no proposal.

"She wouldn't let me, really. She just told me to name a town and place and she'd be there," the 37-year-old country singer told reporters Tuesday after the 40th Academy of Country Music Awards show.

Asked what it's like being married, Chesney replied: "To be honest with you, it's not all that different. I'm just not searching anymore."

--I'm just not feeling the love on this one.

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Hip-hop star Nelly is set to warn the American public about the dangers of underage drinking in a new TV campaign.

The rapper tells parents that their children are their biggest fans in the ad, which will debut this evening. In the Anheuser-Busch-sponsored 30-second spot, Nelly admits that some of the parents watching him may not recognize him as a hip-hop icon, so he pretends to be a chef, a boxer and a golfer, reports MTV News.

He says in a statement, "Underage drinking is a serious issue, and working with parents to address the problem is the responsible thing to do." "It's very important for parents to talk with their children about everything, and underage drinking prevention is definitely one of those things you need to jump on early."

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One of Johnny Depp's next big projects will have the famous actor reprising a role he gained acclaim for in the 1998 hit Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

According to Daily Variety, Depp will once again play journalist Hunter S. Thompson in an upcoming movie called The Rum Diary. Based on Thompson's very first novel, which journals his career and personal escapades in 1950s Puerto Rico.

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Frank Gorshin, the impressionist with 100 faces best known for his Emmy-nominated role as the Riddler on the "Batman" TV series, has died. He was 72.

Gorshin's wife of 48 years, Christina, was at his side when he died Tuesday at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center, his agent and longtime friend, Fred Wostbrock, said Wednesday. "He put up a valiant fight with lung cancer, emphysema and pneumonia," Mrs. Gorshin said in a statement.

Despite dozens of TV and movie credits, Gorshin will be forever remembered for his role as the Riddler, Adam West's villainous foil in the question mark-pocked green suit and bowler hat on "Batman" from 1966 to '69.

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A gold replica of Heidi Klum's right leg worth more than £10,000 is to be auctioned off for charity on eBay.

The model of the 31-year-old's leg was created as part of a promotion for electronics company Braun. The company has also insured Heidi's legs for £1.2 million making them the most valuable legs in the world.

Appearing in public for the first time since she wed British singer Seal last week, the pregnant model said she had to "half sit and half stand for hours on end" while artist Christoph Blume gave her the Midas touch. Signing the base of the foot "with love, Heidi Klum" and drawing a small love heart on the ankle, she added: "He was able to cheat a bit in order to make the toes on my right leg straight."

Klum, who wore a black mini and black stilettos, said: "Every woman has perfect legs if she looks after them." She recommended women "wear short skirts and shorts" in summer.

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