The World According to Snoop Dogg

It seems we'll have to give the last word on the Imus affair to Snoop Doggy Dog.

Here's Snoop Dogg:

"It's a completely different scenario. Rappers are not talking about no collegiate basketball girls who have made it to the next level in education and sports. We're talking about ho's that's in the 'hood that ain't doing sh--, that's trying to get a n---a for his money. These are two separate things. First of all, we ain't no old-ass white men that sit up on MSNBC going hard on black girls. We are rappers that have these songs coming from our minds and our souls that are relevant to what we feel. I will not let them mutha----as say we in the same league as him."

At the time of this interview, Snoop's arraignment on felony charges (possession of a firearm and sale or transportation of marijuana) was looming, but on Wednesday afternoon (April 11), he pleaded no contest to the charges and was sentenced to five years' probation and 800 hours of community service; a three-year prison sentence was suspended.

It all makes so much sense now!

Museum to Feature Shiloh in Wax

According to a recent article on the ABC (Australia) website, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's baby Shiloh Nouvel will have her own figure at the Madame Tussaud's wax museum in New York. She will be the first baby ever given the honour and will be joining more than 200 celebrities portrayed in wax statues. The statue of Shiloh will feature her mom's the pouty lips and delicate features and "will lie peacefully inside a woven bassinet" in her "very own African-themed nursery," near figures of her parents, the museum said in a statement. "The nursery - painted a pale yellow - also includes jungle-themed curtains, a whimsical chandelier, a white changing table and giant stuffed animals. Soft African lullabies will be played in the background, and guests can pose for a 'family photo'with the three figures," said the museum, which promises to send $US1 per photo to the UN children's fund UNICEF. Jolie has been a United Nations goodwill ambassador for several years.

Urban/Kidman Union Bears Fruit

I believe our Nic is pregnant! This would explain so much, including why she married the short guy, tears at the wedding (hormone upheaval), shopping at Target (lt), plus this photo of her obvious bump with pokey navel.

We All Age

Our Sandy is 42! She was wonderful in The Lakehouse, but how much longer can she play the ingenue? I love Sandy, probably because she loves Texas. Can she graduate to the next roles awaiting her talent? Time will tell...

Beauty Destroyed

OMG! Whether this is anorexia or not, who cares? Keira was my top choice for "most beautiful woman" until this photo. What has she done to her body? That's not sexy or even photogenic, it's sad! Please Keira, eat a burger!

Something to Crowe About

Read this article written by Jack Marx and published in the Sydney Morning Herald for some amazing insight into celebrity and particularly Russell Crowe's psyche.

I've always thought Crowe was an interesting actor, but had no idea about the person he really was until I read this chilling article.

Jackman Joins Kidman and Luhrmann

Hugh Jackman is confirmed to star opposite Nicole Kidman in Baz Luhrmann's upcoming period epic, the yet-to-be titled pre-World War II film, co-written with Collateral's Stuart Beattie and The Pianist's Ronald Harwood, which is now scheduled to begin filming in February.

Jackman replaces Russell Crowe, who was pushed from the project last week after dallying on script consultation. Jackman will play a cattle driver hooking up with an English aristocrat (Kidman) whose northern Australian ranch, which she inherits unexpectedly, is threatened by British cattle barons. They undertake a cattle drive across the Top End.

Imminent Birth

I don't really know why I care about this, but I am checking the news websites continually today for THE birth announcement of the WMBB, the offspring of the WMBC. According to Mr. Pitt, the birth is imminent! It's magic how the premiere of his first biological child will coincide with the premiere of his ex-wife's fourth-in-a-row stinky movie. I can say that because I've personally spent my money to see the first three and being a slow learner will probably go see number four!

The Willie Way

Willie Nelson shares his worldview in his third book of jokes, aphorisms, and heartfelt personal stories. According to Willie, "This book is my way of sharing a little of what I’ve learned in seventy-two years of making music and friends on this beautiful planet. I don’t know if the things I write here will change your life, but they sure changed mine." Possibly the funniest line from the book is Willie's view on marijuana of which Willie is an unapologetic advocate. Here's Willie's unique take on the subject: "I'll support a war on drugs, but not a war on flowers or herbs."

Hot Hollywood

Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams, one of Hollywood's hottest couples, have signed up for new projects, both biopics. Ledger is cast as one of six actors who will play Bob Dylan in a biography of Dylan's life. Williams is set to play the title character in Angela Workman's Bronte, the life of Charlotte Bronte, author of the classic novel Jane Eyre. Both films start production later this year.

So, who's waltzing, huh, minding Mathilda?

Knightley Generosity

The dress worn by Keira Knightley to this year's Oscars has raised £4,300 for Oxfam in an internet action. The UK size 6 claret-coloured taffeta gown was designed by Vera Wang and sold through the eBay website. The 21-year-old star approached the charity with the gift herself. The proceeds go to Oxfam's £20m appeal for drought-hit East Africa. While the bidding was under way, Oxfam said if the custom-made dress raised £5,000, it would provide enough food to help feed 500 children for 30 days. Oxfam spokeswoman Katie Abbotts said the charity had been "absolutely delighted" with the "generous bids" received, and described the dress as an "amazing donation". Knightley added she was happy to help with the appeal.

Nicole Kidman Doings

Even though it's being widely reported, the marriage of Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban on June 25 in Sydney has not been confirmed by her Australian publicist Wendy Day who says this:
"Clearly they (Kidman and Urban) are enjoying a nice friendship together, but Nicole's personal life is her personal life and I have no further knowledge of their friendship."

Wherever the truth lies in regard to her personal life, there is no doubt Nicole has been busy with her career. Here's a rundown:

• Fur, biopic, complete,will be shown at Cannes in May, and is scheduled for US release in Nov 2006
• The Visiting, horror sci-fi, complete
• Happy Feet, animated, complete, scheduled for US release Nov 2006
• Untitled Noah Baumbach project, filming
• The Lady from Shanghai, pre-production 2006
• Headhunters, announced, 2007
• Untitled Baz Luhrmann project, pre-production, 2008

Concerning Celeb Babies

The following rave is from Richard Roeper of the Chicago Sun-Times:

I understand the media fascination with Cruise and Holmes and their bizarro love affair. I just don't get the baby thing. I don't understand this relatively new phenomenon that has the aforementioned magazines, not to mention sites such as Egotastic, and shows such as "Access Hollywood" and "Entertainment Tonight," providing month-to-month coverage of celebrities, from pregnancy through birth through the first few years of the child's life. (Celeb kids seem to disappear around the age of 7, only to resurface when they're 15 or 16, sporting rebellious haircuts and tattoos while they're giving the finger to the paparazzi on their way to rehab.)

Instead of mocking this trend, maybe I should run with it and launch a magazine devoted entirely to pregnant celebrities.

I'll call it FetUs Weekly.

New Engagement

I hope this is true! It's being reported that Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber are looking for an engagement ring to seal a December 2005 proposal. I don't know much about Liev so I looked up his bio on IMDb.com.

Liev (pronounced Lee-ev) is the son of Tell Schreiber, a theatrical actor with some film roles. His mother, Heather, was a painter. At age 1, the family moved from San Francisco to Canada. His parents divorced when he was 4 or 5. He and his mother then moved to New York, where she drove a cab. During that time, they lived as squatters in an abandoned building. His mother now lives in an ashram in Virginia. His mother taught him to read. She also forbade him from seeing color movies. Thus he grew up seeing movies at a local revival house, particularly those of Charlie Chaplin. Started acting at Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts. Then graduated from the Yale School of Drama in 1992. He originally wanted to be a playwright, but his teacher encouraged him to become an actor.

They both star in the upcoming film The Painted Veil which is in post production. Here's the plot summary. Sounds heavy.

This story tells the recovery journey of a shallow, young adulterous British woman (Naomi Watts) whose intellectual bacteriologist husband (Edward Norton), on finding out her unfaithful act, takes her to a remote area of China ravaged by a cholera epidemic, where their perils in battling the health crisis leads finally to the death of her husband and the beginning of her spiritual awakening to the true meaning of love and life.

Spielberg Joins 2008 Olympics

Film-maker Steven Spielberg is joining the design team for the opening and closing ceremonies for the 2008 Beijing Olympics as a consultant to Zhang Yimou who will lead the team.

Spielberg, whose last film, Munich, concentrated on the killing of 11 Israeli athletes at the 1972 Olympics, said: "Our one goal is to give the world a taste of peace, friendship and understanding. Through the visual arts, the art of celebration of life, we are dedicated to making this the most emotional opening ceremony ever."

Zhang, 54, said: "I'm very honoured. I make a solemn promise to the Chinese people I will complete the task beautifully and successfully."

The opening ceremony is scheduled to take place in the Chinese capital on 8 August 2008.

Crowe and Washington: AMERICAN GANGSTER

Russell Crowe and Denzel Washington will co-star in Ridley Scott's new film American Gangster which will begin filming in the mid to late part of this year. The film is set in the 1970s and based on the true story of how drug lord Frank Lucas smuggled heroin into the US in the coffins of American soldiers killed in Vietnam. "It's about one of the biggest and most notorious drug dealers in the history of America, Frank Lucas, and a New York detective, Richie Roberts, who tracks him down," said Washington who will play drug dealer Lucas while Crowe takes the part of detective Richie Roberts. Washington, 51,who won the best actor Oscar in 2002 for Training Day, beating fellow nominee Crowe ( A Beautiful Mind), says he relishes the challenge of working with Hollywood's best.

Kidman in FUR

Nicole Kidman has completed work on her new film, Fur, the life of photographer Diane Arbus (far lt) whose images of transvestites, dwarfs, twins, and other unusual persons - she called them freaks - were popular in the 1960s. After her suicide in 1971, Arbus was the first American photographer to be exhibited at the Venice Biennale. It was announced in Feb 2006 that Fur would be a contender at the Cannes Film Festival. The film is due for release in October 2006.

It's A Boy!

Russell Crowe has announced that the child he and his wife Danielle Spencer are expecting is a boy. Their first son Charlie (pictured) wants to name him Pumpkinhead or Stinky. Crowe also said he would be in the delivery room with a video camera when his second son is born.

Aussies at the Oscars

So far three Aussies have appeared on the Red Carpet: Naomi Watts, Eric Bana, and Heath Ledger. More Aussies are expected.

Blanchett on Stage in New York

Cate Blanchett opened tonight in a 4-week season at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in the Sydney production of Hedda Gabler. The first show was a benefit show; the critics are in tomorrow night. However, seats are 90% sold out so the critics won't have much influence on the success of this offering. Cate is reprising her sublime 2004 depiction of Ibsen's slippery, fiendish heroine for the Sydney Theater Company. The role has become a stage tradition, the many actresses playing Hedda always gaining attention, both positive and negative.