In an open letter to Martha Stewart , Donald Trump has come out swinging against the other Apprentice host, saying that her version of the NBC reality show – which was not renewed after suffering low ratings – "never had a chance."

Below is Trump's letter in its entirety, followed by Stewart's response.

"Dear Martha:

It's about time you started taking responsibility for your failed version of The Apprentice. Your performance was terrible in that the show lacked mood, temperament and just about everything else a show needs for success. I knew it would fail as soon as I first saw it – and your low ratings bore me out.

Between your daughter, with her one word statements, your letter writing and, most importantly, your totally unconvincing demeanor, it never had a chance – much as your daytime show is not exactly setting records.

Despite this, I did nothing but positively promote you. Your only response to your failed show was that, "I thought that I was supposed to fire Donald Trump!" You knew this was not true – NBC would never fire me when The Apprentice was, for a good period of time, the #1 show on television and my recent finale, where I hired Randal, was the #2 show for the week, easily beating the competing finale of Amazing Race and others. Even Mark Burnett said, "Thank God that didn't happen," when asked about firing Donald Trump.

Essentially, you made this firing up just as you made up your sell order of ImClone. The only difference is – that was more obvious. Putting your show on the air was a mistake for everybody – especially NBC.

In any event, my great loyalty to you has gone totally unappreciated.

Sincerely,
Donald J. Trump

P.S. Be careful or I will do a syndicated daytime show, perhaps called The Boardroom, and further destroy the meager ratings you already have!"

Martha Stewart's response: The letter is so mean-spirited and reckless that I almost can’t believe my long-time friend Donald Trump wrote it. I am very proud of the work we did with Mark Burnett Productions and Mr. Trump, who was an executive producer, on The Apprentice: Martha Stewart. Many young entrepreneurs learned so much from the show and enjoyed it. Many families sat their children down weekly to watch it. We are even more pleased with our excellent daytime show Martha – syndicated by NBC Universal – which has just been nominated for six daytime Emmys (including best show and best host), was touted by The New York Times as one of the best shows on television, and has been embraced by our wonderful audience throughout the country.

Source: People

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Famed fashionista Roberto Cavalli could go from dressing starlets to spending time behind bars.

The designer is on trial for fraud in Italy and could face two years in jail if convicted. He allegedly spent $2.6 million renovating his Tuscan villa, which he then claimed as a tax-deductible business expense.

Cavalli, who lives in the villa with his wife and three kids, claims the posh pad is used for fashion shoots and for entertaining the likes of Madonna, Sting, Cindy Crawford and Jennifer Lopez. "I have to have luxury, my work requires it and my house is used for VIP parties," Cavalli told British Vogue online.

Source: New York Post

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The legendary Tony Bennett turns 80 in August and his fellow big-name musicians are coming together on one album to celebrate the singer's big day.

Paul McCartney will duet with the soon-to-be octogenarian on the album, set to be released this September. U2 frontman Bono, Sting, Elton John, Barbra Streisand and recent Grammy winner John Legend will also appear on the tribute album. The crooner, whose big day is August 3, is currently on a U.S. tour.

Source: ET

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Charlize Theron has been named Woman of the Year at this year's Elle Style Awards.

The actress, who is nominated for an Oscar, picked up the award at the ceremony in London. Rachel Weisz put her Bafta disappointment behind her as she picked up the gong for Best Actress. Matt Dillion was named Best Actor. Mischa Barton and James McAvoy collected the awards for Favorite TV star. Elle MacPherson was honored with the Style Icon Award.

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Actress Betty White, whose many TV roles included domestic guru Sue-Ann Nivens on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" in the 1970s, was honored by the Los Angeles Zoo Monday for her commitment to animals. The zoo made the Emmy-winning star an Ambassador to the Animals at a ceremony attended by about 50 people, including Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

A bronze plaque will be placed next to the zoo's gorilla exhibit, home to White's favorite animal.

"Betty has such a big heart and a beautiful spirit. She is a 'Golden Girl' in every sense of the word," Villaraigosa said, referring to White's former TV series, which ran from 1985 to 1992.

White, 84, joked that the honor would make her "tough to live with from now on." "I'm not sure what I'm going to do as ambassador except to love the animals as I have all my life," she said.

White has served for more than three decades on the Morris Animal Foundation and the board of the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association, and has been a zoo commissioner for eight years. She also has written two animal-related books and received the Humane Award from the American Veterinary Medical Association. White has earned six Emmys during a TV career spanning more than 50 years. She was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1995 and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Source: Yahoo

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Ok. We all love The Smoking Gun, right? Well, via their site, I found one of the most hysterical documents I've read in a long time.

This country, as you know, is filled with the deranged. And then there's Travis Frey, a 33-year-old Iowa man who is facing charges that he tried to kidnap his own wife (not to mention a separate child pornography rap).

Frey, prosecutors contend, apparently is a rather demanding guy. In fact, he actually drew up a bizarre four-page marriage document--a "Contract of Wifely Expectations"--that sought to establish guidelines for his spouse in terms of hygiene, clothing, and sexual activities.

In return for fulfilling certain requirements, Frey offered "Good Behavior Days," or GBDs. Each GBD, Frey wrote, could be redeemed by his wife to "get out of doing the things" he requested daily.

--You guys HAVE to click here and read the document....all of it. I would point out my "favorite" highlights, but there are just too darn many.

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Kevin Federline is ready for a backlash over his brand-new role as white-boy rapper.

But it already can't get worse, the dancer and husband of pop star Britney Spears told Newsweek for its issue on newsstands Monday. "'He hates his children, he treats his wife like dirt, he gets high all day,'" he said, quoting his critics. "If I was that bad, you think anyone, let alone Britney, would put up with it?"

He has released his single PopoZao on his website. It got 2 million hits in eight days, he said, which proves there's interest. He plans to release his debut album by this spring, but without featuring his wife on the album, said Federline, 27.

"We have collaborated," he said. "But I'm not going to put the songs on this album because it's like, 'Respect me first; then I'll show you what I've done with my wife.'"

Source: USA Today

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50 Cent and his protégé-turned-nemesis, The Game, are feuding over the affections of R&B vixen Mya.

In Fitty's latest diss track targeting Game, "Not Rich - Still Lying," he says he was "with" Mya before Game was. Previously, The Game rapped about wanting to date Mya in his video for "Dreams," in which she also appeared.

A friend of Mya insisted to Page Six that the sexy songbird has not hooked up with either rapper. In other Mya news, Ford Models just signed her to a six-figure deal.

Source: New York Post

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Tom Cruise is considering suing magazine Life + Style for claiming the actor had ended his high-profile relationship with Katie Holmes, according to his lawyer Bert Fields.

The Mission: Impossible star, 43, was furious by the report, which alleged not only had that he finished his engagement to Holmes, but also the couple were keeping up the pretence of togetherness for good publicity. When the story was published last week, Cruise immediately issued a denial, labeling the claims "malicious fallacies". However, Life + Style say they stand by their story "100 per cent".

Cruise is set to meet with his lawyer Fields this week to discuss possible action against the publication. Fields says, "This is a disgusting and malicious story."

"It is unequivocally false and I have already demanded a retraction. I will be sitting down with Tom in the next couple of days to discuss this story, and ultimately it's his call as to whether we bring a lawsuit. But if it was up to me, I would sue."

Source: Teen Hollywood

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Robert Blake is desperate for cash.

The former "Baretta" star, who filed for bankruptcy last week, was spotted at Norman's Rare Guitars in Tarzana, Calif., trying to sell off his collection of instruments to buy a used car.

Steve Walter, who owns Flatiron District lounge the Cutting Room, says: "I was in L.A. and went there to check out some guitars. There was Robert Blake trying to sell off his guitars from 'Baretta.' All I could think of was Joan Rivers' bit about going on a date with Blake in her stand-up show [at the Cutting Room]. I almost bought the guitars myself." Last year, Blake was acquitted of the 2001 murder of his wife, Bonnie Lee Bakley.

Source: New York Post

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Socialite Paris Hilton has given her upcoming pop career a sexy boost by signing up Pussycat Dolls founder Robin Antin as her choreographer.

The woman behind the raunchy burlesque pop act will work on Hilton's videos and live appearances. Hilton announced the news during her 25th birthday celebrations at Pure nightclub in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Saturday night.

Source: Teen Hollywood

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Kate Moss is set to play a lesbian in a film by Brokeback Mountain director Ang Lee.

The film is based on the life of singer Dusty Springfield, and Moss is expected to play a socialite who became one of her early lovers.

Charlize Theron, 30, is lined up to take on the role of Springfield. The film will follow the Dusty's life from her birth in Hampstead, north London, to her death from breast cancer in 1999.

According to ITV.com a source said: "Kate's the ideal choice to play the love of Dusty's early life. She's beautiful, aloof and she epitomises swinging London. "There'll probably be sexual scenes but as Ang is behind the camera they will be very tastefully done. "Kate's character breaks Dusty's heart and sparks off the chain of tumultuous relationships that dogged her throughout her life."

Source: Ananova

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Producers of the hit ABC show "Dancing With the Stars" need to lighten up.

Last week, Nick Lachey's brother, Drew - who's competing against a batch of fellow C-list celebs on "Dancing" - canceled an appearance on Fox's satiric show "Mad TV" at the last minute, on ABC's orders. According to an e-mail, Lachey's rep claimed that "Dancing" producers "weren't thrilled with anyone on their shows participating in a parody of any sort. Drew has had a great experience on the show and since they only have 10 days left, his team doesn't think he should ruffle feathers or bite the hand that fed him."

Source: New York Post

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The first issue of The Woody Creeker, a magazine co-edited by Hunter S. Thompson's widow, debuts Monday on the anniversary of the gonzo journalist's death.

The magazine will be available first to people in Woody Creek, where he lived, and will go out to subscribers later this week, Anita Thompson said Sunday.

Hunter S. Thompson shot himself in his home Feb. 20, 2005, following health problems. In August, friends and family held an elaborate private memorial service at his farm. His ashes where shot out of a 15-story cannon in the shape of a fist.

On Sunday, Anita Thompson made public a rarely seen photograph of her husband at his Web site, http://gonzostore.com . She said she was offering the photo as a free download to fans who had asked her about marking the anniversary of her husband's death.

Source: New York Post

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Sources say that Jennifer Aniston is trying to hard to please her beau, Vince Vaughn, by trying to keep up with his party habits.

The couple was recently spotted in Las Vegas where Vaughn was to perform with his Wild West Comedy Show. Aniston and Vaughn were seen gambling and drinking all night. Recently it was reported that a few of AnistonÂ’s pals "feel sheÂ’s trying too hard to please her hard-partying boyfriend." One friend allegedly said, "SheÂ’s changed since sheÂ’s been with Vince."

She recently celebrated her birthday with Vaughn and a number of close friends and recently said in an interview, "IÂ’m doing amazing things. Things are good and looking really bright."

It was reported late last month that Aniston had asked Vaughn to move into her Malibu beach house since he had been staying there 24/7. When they first began hanging out Aniston needed someone to help her through a really rough time, now it seems as if the two have found love. A source close to Vaughn said in an interview recently, "IÂ’ve never seen him care for anyone this deeply." The source also said, "They met at a time when she needed someone to make her smile. He did a really good job of lifting her spirits, and now itÂ’s evolved into a true love affair."

Source: Buzzle

And, in other Jen news, Brad and Jennifer have concluded their $60M divorce settlement.

Aniston will assume sole ownership off their $29M Beverly Hills mansion, while the Fight Club actor will take control of their lucrative film company Plan B Productions.

Aniston will retain a "minor stake" in the production firm, which is believed to be worth more than $50M after a string of 12 successful independent movie releases, including Tim Burton's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Source: Ireland Online

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Richard Bright, a character actor who appeared in all three "Godfather" movies and more recently on "The Sopranos," was struck and killed by a bus, police said.

Bright, 68, was hit by a private Academy Bus as he crossed the street at about 6:30 p.m. Saturday in his Manhattan neighborhood, police Detective Bernard Gifford said. There were no arrests as of Sunday but police said the investigation was continuing. The bus driver told police he was not aware that he had hit anyone.

Bright played mob enforcer Al Neri in the "Godfather" movies, a bodyguard to the Corleone family patriarchs played by Marlon Brando and Al Pacino.

He played a con artist hustling Ali McGraw in 1972's "The Getaway" and acted in dozens of other films such as Sergio Leone's "Once Upon a Time in America" and "Looking for Mr. Goodbar" and in TV shows such as "Hill Street Blues."

Source: Indy Star

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Rap mogul Shawn 'Jay-Z' Carter once challenged former foe Nas to a boxing bout because he felt it was the "cleanest way" to end their long running feud.

At the height of their war of words, the new Def Jam Records president fired off at Nas and then suggested the two hit the boxing ring for a rap fight to end all scraps. He says, "Boxing was a clean way. I wasn't on the radio, saying, 'When I see him, it's on...' (and be) ridiculous with it."

The two former rap rivals spent years knocking each other on records and in interviews, but it took Jay-Z's 2001 attack on The Takeover to really hit home and take the feud to a whole new level. Jay-Z, who recently signed Nas to Def Jam, explains, "I was in it. I wasn't viewing it from a statistical point of view... I felt that there were things that were said that was over the line that made me say things that was over the line." "There are unsaid things, like, where you from and where we grew up and once you say certain things, you've crossed the line."

Nas recalls his fans insisted he fight back: "At first, I was like, 'Whatever,' but the streets wasn't letting me let it go like that. Then I had to really pay attention and when I did pay attention I realized that it was really on."

Source: Teen Hollywood

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UPN has quietly pulled its reality newcomer "Get This Party Started" for the remainder of the February sweeps period.

The series, hosted by Kristin Cavallari and Ethan Erickson, drew an embarrassingly low 0.4 rating among adults 18-49 on Tuesday according to final Nielsen data released yesterday.

A repeat of the 2001 Martin Lawrence-led feature "Black Knight" will sub in for the network's Tuesday schedule on February 21 while repeats of "Girlfriends" & "Half & Half" will fill the 9:00/8:00c hour on Tuesday, February 28.

It's not clear if "Party" will return to UPN's schedule once the sweeps period concludes.

--Not exactly shocking...

Source: The Futon Critic Pic from Popsugar

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Britney Spears is looking forward to a return to performing.

"This may sound weird, but I miss traveling," Spears tells People magazine. "I miss the road, seeing different places and being with the dancers and having fun. That feeling of being on the stage, knowing it's your best -- I love that. I needed a break. I needed to be hungry again."

The 24-year-old pop princess has been out of the music game for about a year-and-a-half during which she married former dancer Kevin Federline and gave birth to the couple's first child, Sean Preston. Spears, who is recording an album slated to release later this year, says she thinks she can fill a "huge lull" in a dull pop scene. "It's been boring," she says. "Nothing's been 'wow' to me."

Spears also told People that she rarely takes her son outside because she fears aggressive paparazzi. "I don't really go out with him," Spears said. "And it's kind of sad because I can't walk down the street with a stroller. I'm not expecting people to pity me. I'm just telling the truth." "I've pulled over and asked the cops, 'Could you please help me? They've been driving recklessly back there.' And they say, 'Sorry ma'am, I can't help you. This is how it is.' I mean, Princess Diana got killed by one of these people. They're crossing the line."

Last week, photos were published of Spears driving with her 4-month-old son sitting in her lap rather than strapped to a car seat in the back seat. She blamed aggressive behavior by the paparazzi, but conceded later it was a "mistake." "I sound bitter," she told People in its Feb. 27 issue. "I'm not bitter. I'm doing great. I really am. I'm happy."

Source: Billboard

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Madonna has become addicted to her oxygen machines.

She has equipped all of her homes with the kooky contraptions, which are said to boost her energy levels and combat jet lag. The superstar originally bought the devices for oxygen facials, but after indulging in the procedures for more than a year, she discovered what every gambler who's played in an oxygen-infused casino knows: It keeps you awake and alert. Madonna's enthused spokeswoman, Liz Rosenberg, said: "She loves the machine and it is phenomenal. I want to try it myself."

Source: New York Post

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