Russell Crowe To Join Beyoncé In ‘A Star Is Born’ Remake

Beyoncé may have finally found herself a leading man for the upcoming remake of “A Star is Born.” Russell Crowe is reportedly in talks to join the cast and would play a down-on-his-luck musician who embarks on an affair with a rising young singer, played by Beyoncé. The film will also star “Mad Men” lead Jon Hamm, Rihanna and Alicia Keys. Before Crowe, Sean Penn and Robert Downey Jr. were reportedly being considered.

Fashion Icon Alexander McQueen Found Dead

British fashion designer Alexander McQueen was found dead yesterday of an apparent suicide. He was 40. McQueen was discovered at his luxury flat in Green Park, central London, where it is believed he hanged himself. He died just days after the loss of his mother, Joyce. The designer’s clientele included Lady Gaga, Sarah Jessica Parker, Jessica Alba, Beyoncé and Naomi Campbell, among others.

Walmart, P&G Team Up For ‘Family-Friendly’ Film

Walmart and Procter & Gamble are jointly creating a made-for-TV movie to promote “family-friendly” alternatives to what they say is increasingly risqué TV fare. The two companies have teamed up to make “Secrets of the Mountain,” which will air in April on NBC. The movie, which focuses on a single mother who brings her family to a mountainside cabin, highlights values – such as generosity, honesty and togetherness – that Walmart and P&G executives say are in short supply on television. In addition to ads for both companies running during commercial breaks, the film will include product placements for both.

Hopper Wins Restraining Order Against Estranged Wife

Dennis Hopper has won a restraining order against his estranged wife after his doctor claimed she was “hampering his cancer care.” The 73-year-old actor, who is battling prostate cancer, filed for divorce from Victoria Duffy last month, citing irreconcilable differences. Earlier this week, Hopper asked a Los Angeles judge to ban Duffy from going anywhere near him while he undergoes treatment. Hopper’s doctor says the actor is of sound mind and should have as little contact with Duffy as possible. At yesterday’s court hearing, Hopper’s lawyer added that Duffy “repeatedly subjected (Hopper) to severe emotional distress.” The judge ruled Duffy must stay at least 10 feet away from Hopper, his adult children from previous relationships, and his assistant. Duffy, who lives in a unit adjacent to Hopper’s residence in Venice, California, has been banned from the main property and ordered to move out by March 11th. Hopper was also rewarded daily visitation rights to the ex-couple’s six-year-old daughter, Galen. He has reportedly agreed not to smoke medical marijuana within one hour of his visitation.

Fan Campaign Urges ‘SNL’ To Make Betty White Host

More than 188,000 people on Facebook are urging “Saturday Night Live” to get Betty White to host the show. The campaign began after the 88-year-old actress received a lifetime achievement award at the Screen Actors Guild Awards and then starred in a top-ranked Super Bowl commercial for Snickers.

Alec Baldwin Rushed To Hospital

Alec Baldwin was taken to a hospital early yesterday morning after his 14-year-old daughter called 911 around midnight saying he had threatened to take pills during an argument on the telephone. Baldwin’s daughter, Ireland, told authorities her father said, “I’m tired of this. I’m going to take some pills. I’m going to end this.” Baldwin was released from the hospital after an hour in the ER. His rep said he didn’t take any pills and called the incident a “misunderstanding.”

Reality Show Contestant Convicted Of Murder

A San Francisco jury has found a former reality show contestant guilty of murder. Jamal Rashead Trulove was convicted Tuesday of first-degree murder and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Prosecutors say Trulove fatally shot 28-year-old Seu Kuka at a San Francisco public housing project in July 2007. Trulove appeared on the VH1 reality show “I Love New York 2.” The program was filmed in Los Angeles just three weeks before Kuka’s murder. Truelove appeared on the first episode and was dismissed from the show for fighting. He could face a minimum of 50 years to life in prison at his March 19th sentencing.

Cruise To Star In ‘Mission: Impossible IV’

Paramount Pictures says it plans to make “Mission: Impossible IV,” with Tom Cruise reprising his role as Secret Agent Ethan Hunt. To be produced by Cruise, J.J. Abrams and Bad Robot Productions, the film is expected to be released Memorial Day weekend 2011. The “Mission Impossible” franchise has grossed more than $1.4 billion worldwide, Paramount said.

Tiger’s Madam Speaks

Hollywood madam Michelle Braun claims she supplied women for Tiger Woods on 12 different occasions. Braun told “Inside Edition” that Woods usually requested multiple women and paid as much as $60,000 in one weekend and $250,000 during the course of a year. “One girl, when I called her to go back, she said, ‘I don’t know if I can keep up with him … he can go for days,’” Braun recalled. She also noted Woods routinely requested a specific type of girl. “Petite, blonde, natural, not overly busty – and girls that partied … in my industry, a girl that was open to doing drugs,” Braun said. Braun added that she hopes Tiger’s wife, Elin, understands the athlete was not having love affairs with her escorts, “it was just sex.”

Rachel Uchitel Gets ‘Extra’ Gig

Rachel Uchitel, one of the first women linked to Tiger Woods, has landed a gig on “Extra.” On “The Hot List,” airing on the upcoming “Extra Weekend,” Uchitel will serve as the show’s “ultimate insider,” reporting on what’s hot in Hollywood. Show producers were so impressed with Uchitel during her interview with Mario Lopez on Tuesday that they offered her a job as special correspondent. Uchitel will not discuss anything regarding Woods. It was unclear whether her correspondent role will continue beyond this weekend.

Food Network Star Arrested

Beau MacMillan, a chef who hosts the Food Network show ‘Worst Cooks in America,’ was arrested Sunday afternoon in Arizona on an outstanding warrant. MacMillan was stopped for a routine traffic violation when police found he had failed to appear at a February 1st court date. He was booked and released. MacMillan said the whole thing was a misunderstanding tied to a recent change of address. He was issued a ticket via traffic camera, but he claims it never arrived at his new house.

‘Biggest Loser’ Trainer Sued Over Diet Supplement

“Biggest Loser” trainer Jillian Michaels’ new diet supplement has been labeled “worthless” in a class action lawsuit. “Telling people you take two magic pills and then eat chocolate cake all day is a deception,” said the lawyer who filed the suit against Michaels. She is being sued for false advertising by a woman who bought the diet supplement, Jillian Michaels’ Maximum Strength Calorie Control.

The suit asks for an injunction prohibiting the sale of the product, plus damages.

Oscar Food

After sitting in the Kodak Theatre for three hours or longer on Oscar night, stars can fill their empty bellies with Wolfgang Puck’s creations prior to the ceremony. On Puck’s menu for the Governors Ball, guests can help themselves to a seafood buffet. At the same time, waiters will swarm the ballroom with trays of sesame tuna cones stuffed with spicy tuna tartar, spring rolls, shrimp and lobster tempura, Puck’s Spago pizzas and little Kobe cheeseburgers. At the main event, the celebrities will be served a crispy potato pancake with dill cream and a chicken pot pit with black truffles.

Brooklyn Decker Lands Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Cover

22-year-old model Brooklyn Decker graces the cover of Sports Illustrated’s coveted swimsuit issue this year, wearing a tiny yellow bikini. Decker, who is married to tennis ace Andy Roddick, said landing the gig was “the news of a lifetime.” Brooklyn first appeared in the swimsuit edition in 2006, and she also appeared in the next two consecutive issues. She has been featured in Teen Vogue, Cosmopolitan, FHM, and Glamour. She has also appeared in music videos for Jimmy Buffett and 3 Doors Down.

Brooke Mueller Moving Back In With Charlie Sheen

Brooke Mueller is moving back in with husband Charlie Sheen, according to her lawyer. Sheen was charged with felony menacing, third degree assault and misdemeanor criminal mischief on Monday in relation to a Christmas Day fight in which he allegedly threatened Brooke with a knife. The couple has been separated by a protection order since the incident, but they were allowed to fly back to Los Angeles together after the ban was modified at the hearing. Mueller’s lawyer says his client is eager to reconcile with Sheen for the sake of their twin baby sons.

‘General Hospital’ To Air 12,000th Episode

ABC’s “General Hospital” will air its 12,000th episode this month. The daytime drama, which has been on television for more than 46 years, will reach the milestone February 23rd. ABC noted it would take a traditional 22-episode-a-year series more than 545 years to air as many episodes as “GH” will have done by the end of the next two weeks.

Survivor news

Probst To Host 2 More ‘Survivor’ Seasons

CBS has signed a new deal with “Survivor” host Jeff Probst for the 2010-11 broadcast season. Probst, who has served as host of “Survivor” since its inception, will return as host and executive producer for the 21st and 22nd installments of television’s longest-running reality competition series.

 

‘Survivor’ Stars Heading To ‘Letterman’

Ten castaways from “Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains” will present a Top 10 List on “Late Show with David Letterman” tonight. Rupert Boneham, Colby Donaldson, Cirie Fields, Russell Hantz, Jerri Manthey, Robert Mariano, Parvati Shallow, James “J.T.” Thomas Jr., Stephenie LaGrossa and Tom Westman are participating in the segment. The 20th installment of the reality series premieres with a special two-hour episode tomorrow.

‘Letterman’ Staffer Hurt In Stage Fall

The stage manager for “Late Show with David Letterman” was treated at a New York hospital after he fell off the stage catching a ball Letterman tossed to him. Biff Henderson, 63, was treated for a knee injury and released Monday night. Biff was injured while Letterman was attempting to kill time waiting to interview Super Bowl hero Drew Brees, who was stuck in traffic. Letterman threw the ball at Henderson, who fell off the stage as he dove for it. “I caught it,” Henderson declared. Paramedics called to the studio wheeled Henderson out on a gurney and transported him by ambulance to the hospital.

Jolie Visits Haiti With U.N.

Angelina Jolie began two days of meetings with Haiti earthquake victims yesterday in her role as a goodwill ambassador for the U.N. refugee agency. The actress, representing the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, met with U.N. officials in Port-au-Prince and visited an SOS Villages camp for orphans outside the capital. Jolie also toured a Doctors Without Borders hospital in a Port-au-Prince suburb. Today, Jolie plans to visit the southern city of Jacmel, a camp for people left homeless by the quake, as well as a Save the Children relief supply center before leaving for neighboring Dominican Republic.

‘American Chopper’ Runs Out Of Gas

TLC is closing shop on “American Chopper,” the reality show that chronicled the real-life drama of Paul Teutul Sr. and his sons, Paul Jr. and Mikey, as they built bikes and a business. The last episode airs tomorrow. It’s really not a huge surprise – the Teutul sons stopped speaking to their father and disappeared completely from the Orange County Choppers shop last year. Daddy Paul Teutul filed a lawsuit against Paul Teutul Jr. for $1 million over company stock options in December. While all three have continued to appear on the show, each taking little jabs at each other, they have not appeared together. Paul Jr.’s appearances have been focused on his new business, while Mikey has been wandering around aimlessly following a stint in rehab.