THE long-awaited wedding of Howard Stern and Beth Ostrosky is finally happening tonight at Le Cirque. The shock jock and his leggy lady have booked the whole restaurant (the first time anyone has ever taken over the entire place) for a sit-down dinner for 180 guests, including Donald Trump. Beth’s wedding gown was designed by Georgina Chapman. And guess who’s going to perform the ceremony? Mark Consuelos, husband of Kelly Ripa, is “certified” to supervise their vows.
Rosie O’Donnell to host ‘Variety Show’
Rosie O’Donnell is returning to television as host of a variety show revival from NBC. NBC will air “Rosie’s Variety Show” as an hourlong live special the night before Thanksgiving, with an eye toward expansion to a full series order should viewers embrace the project. The show’s Nov. 26 premiere date manages to trump Fox’s upcoming Osbourne family variety show, which is expected to debut in the winter or spring.
AP
Obama tells Vibe readers ‘I need you’ in letter
NEW YORK – Barack Obama has a message for the readers of Vibe: “I need you.”
Rapper’s delight, indeed. In her new book, “Straight From the Source,” Kim Osorio is claiming to have bedded a who’s who of hip-hop stars. But the former Source editor in chief says her dalliance with Nas soured when “it was no longer acceptable to communicate via text messages.” She also says she made sweet music with 50 Cent – despite calling him “greasy convict.” “He gave me the attention I needed,” the editrix writes. “Put your imagination to use.”
So just how serious is the “unspecified illness” that got Janet Jackson rushed to a Montreal hospital Monday night? Not serious enough for her fiance, Jermaine Dupri, to cancel his party plans. The hip-hopper reveled alongside T.I. until 2 a.m. at Patron’s Music in Motion Tour Party at Marquee, even though Ms. Jackson had taken ill at a sound check and canceled her concert less than an hour before showtime. At least Jermaine partied for a purpose: The tour has raised over $75,000 to help rebuild New Orleans.
AP
Maher vs. God: ‘Religulous’ flays organized faith
TORONTO – Bill Maher has taken his crusade against religion to the big screen. “Religulous,” directed by fellow doubter Larry Charles (“Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan”), is intended to inspire similar skepticism in others – and perhaps get nonbelievers to talk more openly about their lack of faith.
Jesse Ventura working on new series for truTV
MINNEAPOLIS – Jesse Ventura will be working on a new conspiracy-theory series for truTV.
Britney Spears files appeals in driving case
LOS ANGELES – Britney Spears’ attorney has asked a judge to delay the singer’s upcoming trial on a misdemeanor charge for driving without a valid license.
Rock progeny Kelly Osbourne made headlines in her rebellion-fuelled teen years, but she was very nearly stuck in the Osbourne mansion with just a sick-covered top and dirty diapers for company. The TV presenter, now based in the UK, has revealed she had a pregnancy scare at the so-not-even-close-to-barely-legal age of 13. 13!!
“I convinced myself I was pregnant when I was 13 and I hadn’t even got my period,” said Kelly. “There are so many rumours and also so much wrong information being passed around, so it is a really important message the World Contraception Day is trying to give out.”
Guess what? She’s supporting World Contraception Day! Actually, it’s nice to see a former pointless fame junkie make good. And if she should ever feel like getting (deliberately) pregnant, please do, Kel! Ozzy and Sharon as grandparents? We like! — Becky Howard
[The Sun; Photo: Getty Images]
Just like in the US — witness Kimberley Stewart, Nicole Richie et al — the best shortcut to fame in Britain is to have a famous dad. Hello, Peaches Geldof! But London model of the moment Daisy Lowe, 19, trumps them all with her notorious family history and a family tree made of celebrity relatives. Her mum is former Britpop singer and cocaine addict Pearl Lowe, who unveiled to Daisy in 2004 that godfather Gavin Rossdale was actually, er, her dad. Counting Gwen Stefani, then, as a stepmum, Daisy’s stepdad is Supergrass drummer Danny Goffey and she recently broke off a relationship with uber-producer Mark Ronson. (Shame, we fancied the inevitable gossip when sisters-in-law Daisy and Lindsay Lohan caught up at Christmas.)
Still, there’s something about the pictures below for lingerie firm Agent Provocateur (just voted one of the CoolBrands for 2009) that makes it very, very easy to forget all about Daisy’s chequered family history and just focus on her extraordinary talents.
We’re sure Mark Ronson is feeling just the same as we are. — Becky Howard
[Photos: Getty Images, WireImage]
New York Times
Out in Hollywood: Starring Roles Are Rare
THERE’S a bisexual woman in “Bones” and a lesbian couple on “The Goode Family.” “Dirty Sexy Money” features a transsexual and “Brothers & Sisters” a gay marriage. In “Mad Men,” the Emmy-winning drama set in the early ‘60s, there’s Salvatore Romano, a self-loathing homosexual who marries a woman but pines for a male co-worker. Never before have gay story lines been so prominent. Nor have there ever been so many gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender characters on television – 83 by a recent count frothe Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, not counting reality shows, daytime dramas or gay-oriented cable networks.
And She Is Telling You She Is Just Getting Started
For Jennifer Hudson, an “American Idol” contestant who won an Academy Award, has the moment passed for the singing career she always wanted? “She said, ‘Henry, I want to tell you I’a slow learner, but I will get it,’ ” Mr. Krieger recalled. “I saw the look in her eye, and I believed her. And she did come through, exactly in her way – slowly.”
Little people have always been an integral part of the celebrity scene, but recently their roles both on-screen and in the gossip pages have grown (no pun intended), and some are giving the usual Hollywood suspects a run for their money – and their women. Whether it’s Wee Man stealing Verne Troyer‘s 22-year old model girlfriend, mini-Britney Spears Terra Jole looking a billion times hotter (and more coherent) than the star she impersonates, or Peter Dinklage‘s SAG-nominated role in the indie hit The Station Agent, little people are emerging as Hollywood’s big players.
Scandalist has picked 12 of the hottest little people currently causing our hearts to flutter – bring yourself up to date by checking out our gallery. Click on the photos below to jump in.
AP
‘America’s Next Top Model’ gets first transgendered contestant
WASHINGTON – As a little boy in the Washington suburbs, Darrell Walls liked to pretend to be Lil’ Kim or a Pink Power Ranger. He felt different – like a girl mistakenly born a boy. But Walls eventually embraced that difference and today is living true, as Isis King. Now 22, King is the first transgender contestant on “America’s Next Top Model,” the CW Television Network reality show hosted by super model Tyra Banks.
Ga. judge tells T.I. to pay more child support
ATLANTA – A judge on Tuesday ordered rapper T.I. to pay more child support to the mother of two of his children after she claimed he wasn’t providing enough money.
Princess Diana letters to be sold in London
LONDON – Several letters that Princess Diana wrote to her former nanny, including one comparing her own dancing skills to those of an elephant, will be auctioned in London next week, and they are expected to sell for thousands of dollars.
Nicole Kidman credits fertile water with pregnancy
SYDNEY, Australia – Oscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman said swimming in Australian Outback waterfalls may promote fertility and might have contributed to her unexpected pregnancy over the past year.
Travis Barker‘s ex Shanna Moakler was seen at the hospital in Atlanta crying after visiting with the drummer. [Photo: Splash News Online]
