The Scandalist Scoop

TMZ

So Lil’ Wayne had a hearing in his weapons case in New York today — big deal. But here’s the fun part: Our guy in the courtroom says everyone got an impromptu Marijuana 101 lesson in the process. The Weez’s assistant was up on the stand today and under blunt questioning from the DA, explained in great detail how pot is “something we always have” on the tour bus. Wayne’s bud also said the star only smokes “dro” — which, as the assistant explained, is short for “hyDROponically grown” weed (i.e., the good s**t). The court was, we’re told, buzzing.

Weeks before her hubby David Duchovny checked into sex addiction rehab and two months before revealing they were already separated — Téa Leoni enjoyed some VIP treatment from rumored boyfriend Billy Bob Thornton. On August 4th, Tea was on hand for Billy Bob’s 53rd birthday to watch him record a song at Sun Studios in Memphis. Two weeks later, the 42-year-old mother of two enjoyed a beer and a cig (right) at Billy’s show with his band, The Boxmasters, in NYC.

The Daily Beast

The Lost Madonna Tapes

More than two decades ago in a Queens basement, Madonna recorded music that’s never before been released. Listen to it in a Daily Beast exclusive by Andrew Morton.

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New York Post

MADGE GETS SON-BURNED

The biological father of Madonna’s adopted son said his boy might be “better off” with him in Malawi now that the Material Mom is headed for Splitsville. “I am still a poor farmer with nothing to offer, but maybe he would be better off back with us,” said Yohane Banda, little David Banda’s natural dad.

SAMANTHA Ronson deserves a medal for putting up with gal pal Lindsay Lohan. The two took the Acela train to Washington on Thursday and “had a quiet fight” the whole time, our spy says. Lohan spent most of the time complaining about her staff and told Ronson, “I do what’s good for you, not what’s best for both of us.” Lohan was “whining incessantly and Samantha was trying to deflect it. When Lindsay would get up, Samantha would sigh and put her sweatshirt hood back up.” At one point, it escalated to Lohan telling Ronson, “Don’t (bleeping) lie to me!”

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New York Post

DREW Barrymore likes younger men, but at 33, she’s not old enough to be a cougar. While sipping martinis at the Sunset Tower Hotel in LA recently, she confided to Liv Tyler, “I love dating younger guys. I’m a bona-fide cougar.” But, Life & Style magazine reports, Tyler, 31, replied, “Aren’t we pumas? I think pre-cougar is puma.” Drew – who recently hooked up with Ed Westwick, 21, and has dated Fabrizio Moretti, 28, and Justin Long, 30 – loved the new label.

We Hear: THAT while our source confirms Stevie Wonder did tell people one of his Los Angeles homes burned down, Wonder’s reps say all of his abodes are fine. We wonder why Wonder would tell people something like that

MICHELLE Williams came out of hiding to promote her new movie – and her new man. The elfin actress has been reclusive since the death of Heath Ledger, her “Brokeback Mountain” co-star and father of her daughter, Matilda. But on Wednesday night, Williams stepped out at the Cinema Society/Mulberry screening of her badly titled movie, “Synecdoche, New York,” with film producer and new beau Spike Jonze.

FRIENDS OF THE BAND – ZUCKERBERG PONDERS FACEBOOK MUSIC BIZ

Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg is plotting a possible push into the digital-music business in the wake of MySpace’s launch of MySpace Music last month.

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New York Times

A Pop-Culture Show Looks for Attitude With Heart

For nearly five years, viewers looking to catch up on the world of pop culture could turn to “Best Week Ever” on VH1, where an array of talking heads – comedians, writers and entertainment personalities like Nick Kroll, Rachel Harris and Judah Friedlander of “30 Rock” – would dish and snark on the lives of the Lohans, the Spears’, reality-show contestants and anyone else caught midfoible in a video clip. But the era of multiple commentators is coming to a close: starting on Oct. 24 the show will move to a new format, centered on a single host, the comedian Paul F. Tompkins, VH1 plans to announce on Wednesday. “Clearly, some of our reality shows get bigger numbers,” said Jim Ackerman, the senior vice president for development at VH1, referring to programs like “I Love New York.” “But I think ‘Best Week Ever’ has helped find the voice of the channel in the last couple years.” Staff members of “Best Week Ever” are also figuring out how to work to Mr. Tompkins’s strengths. “Already we’re getting a lot better at writing with Paul’s voice in mind,” Sean Johnson, the executive producer, said.

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Daily News

Johnny Depp is on a sexy streak. The sizzling “Pirates of the Caribbean” star, who nabbed a top 10 slot on People magazine’s Sexiest Men Alive list last year, has been crowned Cosmopolitan U.K.’s sexiest man in the world.

Madonna takes ‘Sticky & Sweet’ break, shows her ‘Filth’ at premiere

Madonna switched gears to “Filth and Wisdom” on Monday night, hitting the red carpet for the New York premiere of her debut as a feature film director. The Queen of Pop, who is circling the globe for her Sticky & Sweet tour, arrived solo, without hubby Guy Ritchie on her arm. “I’m so happy with the finished product,” she said. “Writing it was actually my favorite part because it is so different from everything I do and deep down inside I’m really a writer.”

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AP

Lisa Marie Presley gives birth to twins

LOS ANGELES – Lisa Marie Presley is a mom again. A publicist says the 40-year-old singer gave birth Tuesday to twin girls, whose names were not released. One baby weighed 5 pounds, 15 ounces and the other came in at 5 pounds and 2 ounces. 

Rocker Meat Loaf hospitalized for 3 days in London

LONDON – A publicist for Meat Loaf says the 57-year-old rocker was hospitalized in London for three days following an awards ceremony earlier this week.

T.I. has dual No. 1s but claims underdog status

NEW YORK – Although T.I. owns both the No. 1 album and single in the country, the platinum-selling rapper says he still feels like the underdog. “Nobody has ever given me a win and nobody has ever said, ‘T.I., you know he’s going to do this thing.’ They always (say), ‘He’s not going to do this much, he’s not going to do that good, I don’t believe he’ll do that well.’ So its always been an uphill battle for me no matter how big I get I’m always the underdog,” he said in an interview.

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AP

Lindsay Lohan wants deposition sealed

LOS ANGELES – Lindsay Lohan doesn’t want to be on camera, at least not when she’s giving a deposition. Lawyers for Lohan filed a motion on Wednesday seeking a judge’s order barring any filming of the actress’ upcoming deposition in a case filed by gal pal Samantha Ronson. Ronson sued her former lawyers in May, claiming they failed to represent her adequately when she sued bloggers, including Perez Hilton. Ronson claimed the bloggers defamed her by writing that she had planted drugs in Lohan’s car and was exploiting the actress to the paparazzi.

Slash to play at Rock Hall’s tribute to Les Paul

CLEVELAND – Slash will play at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s tribute concert for his guitar hero Les Paul. Paul is expected to attend the American Music Masters series event. The lineup of guitar virtuosos for the November 15th concert includes Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, The Ventures and Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi.

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Daily News

After Michelle Rodriguez’s weekend visit, the folks at the Mayfair Hotel and Spa in Coconut Grove, Fla., may be rethinking those heavy brass knockers they have on every guest-room door.  Fellow guests at the recherché retreat say they were awakened at 9 a.m. Sunday to loud banging and the dulcet tones of Rodriguez, screaming at her roommate.  “I woke up Sunday morning to the sounds of two women yelling, and one of them was smashing the door knocker very loudly,” one exhausted guest tells us. “I peeked out and saw it was [Rodriguez]. She’s screaming, ‘Open up, let me in, b——!’” The loud knocking continued for another five minutes, says the source, until the “Girlfight” star hollered, “If you don’t open up, you’re not getting your [pleasure toy] back.” The door creaked open.

She made me do it! Christie Brinkley’s most recent ex-husband, Peter Cook, using the oldest excuse in the book, said he went catting around because the supermodel wasn’t meeting his needs at home.

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Daily News

Tickets for Obama fund-raiser with Springsteen and Billy Joel scalped for up to $25K

Barack Obama’s blockbuster fund-raising concert with Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen in Manhattan next week is a huge hit – among online hawkers and brokers. Tickets for the Oct. 16 concert, “Change Rocks” at the Hammerstein Ballroom, are being sold on Web sites at prices ranging from $500 to a whopping $25,000.

Lindsay Lohan’s dad offers to box with highest bidder for charity

Who wants to knock out Michael Lohan? Well, Lindsay for starters. The Hollywood dad-gone-bad – who insists he’s trying to do good – is offering to step into the boxing ring with the highest bidder and donate all the money to Long Island charities. “This is not about publicity,” Lohan told the Daily News before heading to the gym to get in fighting form for the Nov. 24 match at the Hilton Long Island in Melville, L.I.

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New York Post

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.

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