Britney Spears to Be Mom Again
Pop princess Britney Spears is expecting a new edition to her family. US Weekly reports the singer is indeed pregnant again, ending public speculation after being spotted in Hawaii earlier this year with a conspicuous tummy. According to sources, Spears, 24, and husband Kevin Federline have known about the pregnancy since February, however only revealed the news to family over Easter. The couple married in September 2004 and had their first child together one year later. Spears showed no signs of hiding the fact she's expecting again, soaking up the sun in a red bikini while at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada, over the weekend.
'Earl' Star Gives Voice to 'Underdog'
There's no need to fear -- Jason Lee is here
Jason Lee is set to voice the titular super-pup in the upcoming big screen incarnation of "Underdog."
Set up at Spyglass Entertainment and Disney, the "Underdog" pic will be mostly live-action, though the main character will be animated with the "My Name Is Earl" star lending his pipes.
Premiering on NBC in 1964, "Underdog" told the story of a canine-superhero with an occasionally annoying tendency to speak in rhyme. By day, he was just Shoeshine Boy, but he could become Underdog whenever Polly Purebred was in danger.
The character was originally voiced by Wally Cox.
The only other actor already cast in Fredrick Du Chau's film is Peter Dinklage ("The Station Agent"), who will play the evil Simon Bar Sinister.
Lee is no stranger to vocal work, having played Syndrome in the Pixar smash "The Incredibles." This summer he appears in motion-capture form in "Monster House" and drops by pal Kevin Smith's "Clerks II."
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Lee will also use part of his "Earl" hiatus to direct a short film starring Giovanni Ribisi and Beth Riesgraf.
'Galactica' Prequel on Tap at Sci Fi
The Sci Fi Channel will delve into the backstory of "Battlestar Galactica" with a new series that looks at the years leading up to humanity's devastation by the Cylons.
The prequel, called "Caprica," heads a list of development projects the cable network unveiled Wednesday. Also in the works are a miniseries based on the book "Chariots of the Gods" and series from Jesse Alexander ("Alias"), Christopher McQuarrie ("The Usual Suspects"), Eric McCormack and Freddie Prinze Jr.
Additionally, legendary B-movie director Roger Corman will produce two films for Sci Fi's Saturday movie franchise: "Cyclops," about the mythical beast wreaking havoc on ancient Rome, and "Supergator," which pretty much explains itself.
"Caprica" will be set more than 50 years prior to the events of "Battlestar Galactica" and focus on the lives of two families -- the Adamas (ancestors of future Galactica commander William) and the Graystones. Humankind's Twelve Colonies are at peace and on the verge of a technological breakthrough: the first Cylon.
As "Battlestar Galactica" is about a lot more than space battles, "Caprica" will be as much family drama as sci-fi tale. Remi Aubuchon ("The Lyon's Den," "24") is writing the pilot script; "Galactica" veterans Ronald D. Moore and David Eick will executive produce it.
"Chariots of the Gods," Erich von Daniken's book purporting to offer evidence that aliens visited Earth several thousand years ago, is being turned into a six-hour miniseries by writer John Whelpley ("Star Trek: The Next Generation," "Andromeda"). The miniseries will center on a soldier whose souvenir from his tour of duty may hold evidence of alien interference with human life since ancient times.
Evanescence 'Opens' Up On New Album
Rock act Evanescence will release it second Wind-Up album, "The Open Door," on Oct. 3. The set was recorded in Los Angeles earlier this year and produced by Dave Fortman, who was behind the boards for Evanescence's 2003 breakthrough, "Fallen."
That set has sold more than 6.5 million copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan, and spawned two top 10 singles on the Billboard Hot 100, "My Immortal" and "Bring Me To Life."
"The making of this record has been really intense, but I've come out feeling purified," frontwoman Amy Lee says in a statement. "I've grown so much since 'Fallen,' and [guitarist] Terry [Balsamo] is the perfect writing partner -- I feel like I've been lifted up to a whole new level of inspiration and possibilities.
'Rumor Has It' Makes DVD History
Rob Reiner's Rumor Has It went virtually unnoticed when it opened theatrically on Christmas Day last year (It earned just $7.5 million over the holiday weekend.) But it is going down in history as the first film to be released on DVD in high definition on one side of the disk and standard definition on the other. Warner Home Video plans to have it in stores on May 9 (along with the regular DVD version). In an interview with Home Media Retailing magazine, WHV exec Steve Nickerson said that the "hybrid" discs will give "consumers the greatest flexibility in viewing options: If they own an HD DVD player, they'll get all the benefits of HD DVD. ... If they're considering a future purchase of an HD DVD player, they can still enjoy the movie [on their existing DVD player] until they upgrade."
Abrams Slams 'Star Trek' Rumors
Mission: Impossible III director J.J. Abrams is hitting back at unauthorized reports he is directing the next Star Trek movie. The Alias creator is furious the news was released prematurely and is also upset that key details regarding the storyline were incorrectly reported. He explains to Empire online, "The whole thing was reported entirely without our cooperation. People learned that I was producing a Star Trek film, that I had an option to direct it, they hear rumors of what the thing was going to be and ran with a story that is not entirely accurate." Last week, Hollywood trade paper Variety, reported Abrams was on board and that the film would center on the early days of Captain James T. Kirk and Spock and that Philip Seymour Hoffman was in talks to play the ship's doctor. Abrams won't reveal the true storyline, but hints that it won't feature characters Captain James T. Kirk or Mr. Spock at all, but doesn't rule out bringing some of the original characters back for the new film, adding, "Those characters are so spectacular. I just think that..you know, they could live again."
Ziggy Marley pledges "Love" on new album
NEW YORK (Billboard) - Ziggy Marley has just finished work on his second solo record, "Love Is My Religion," a disc of groove-laden songs touching on the most universal of emotions.
"It's all about love and all aspects of love," the reggae scion told Billboard.com. "The title track is about love between a man and a woman. It just means, 'Hey baby, I'm all love."'
Marley's first album since his marriage about a year ago, "Love is My Religion" is also his second disc apart from longtime backing group the Melody Makers. He plays most of the instruments on the disc, most of which was recorded at his home studio in Jamaica.
As the eldest son of Bob Marley, he has been in the spotlight since he was a toddler, and he says the new album reflects his three decades in music. "It's my best, because I've taken all that experience and I've learned so much, and I kind of understand where I want the music to be," he said.
"Right now, I want to groove more. I want to be onstage and be able to groove throughout the whole album. In the past, I was very artsy, and I did a lot of artistic things, which was just for me. But that should have been just for me," he added, laughing. "Now, I'm grooving for everybody."
Marley says the record will most likely be released in July via his Tuff Gong Worldwide label. He's currently in negotiations for a distributor. "Nobody owns my stuff. I own it," he said. "So what I did was form a new Tuff Gong, which is like Tuff Gong without any attachments to any other labels."
Now 37, one year older than his father at the time of his death from cancer in 1981, Marley is excited to gain new footing in the business world. After recording for Virgin and Elektra with the Melody Makers, and releasing his 2003 solo debut via Private Music, he's now a free agent.
"This is the best time, in terms of owning your own masters," he said. "This was a dream of my father. I'm actually fulfilling what he wanted. Right now, I feel like I'm doing for him what he wanted to do. After 'Uprising,' his last album for Island Records, he was going to do his own thing."
In 2003, the Marley family discovered a box of Bob's previously unreleased recordings and may eventually release them on an album. The first unheard song, "Slogans," featured a guitar overdub from Eric Clapton, appeared on last year's singles collection "Africa Unite."
Marley says a second tune, "Real Good Time," will boast drumming from the Police's Stewart Copeland, but he did not reveal a planned release date. "We'll wait for the right time," he said.
Angelina Jolie Tops Most Beautiful List
NEW YORK - She's got that pregnant glow, but it is Angelina Jolie's humanitarian efforts that make her most radiant, according to People magazine.
The pillow-lipped actress graces the cover of People's "100 Most Beautiful People" issue, on newsstands Friday. It's her fourth time on the list, but first as cover girl.
"She looks the most beautiful when she's in the field — natural, no makeup, nothing," the magazine quotes musician Wyclef Jean, who worked with Jolie on a relief effort in Haiti. "Because you see Angelina, the angel. It doesn't get any better than that."
The magazine didn't forget her boyfriend Brad Pitt, or her two children, either. People named the globe-trotting Jolie-Pitt clan the "World's Most Beautiful Family."
The world may have to wait several more weeks for the arrival of the Brangelina offspring: Jolie told NBC News that she is shy of eight months pregnant, according to MSNBC's web site.
In the interview, which was set to air on Thursday's "Today" and on "Dateline" Sunday, Jolie also said she knows the baby's gender but did not disclose it, according to MSNBC. The actress, interviewed in Namibia, is awaiting the birth at an African resort.
Also making the "Beautiful People" list, which until this year was limited to 50: Halle Berry, Julia Roberts, George Clooney, Scarlett Johansson, Kirstie Alley, Ryan Seacrest and University of Southern California quarterback Matt Leinart.
All 26 spokesmodels of the NBC game show "Deal or No Deal" were also chosen.
Report: Canadian Steve Nash to win NBA MVP for second straight year
PHOENIX, Ariz. (CP) - Canadian Steve Nash is headed for a second straight NBA MVP award, according to the Arizona Republic.
The newspaper, citing a league source familiar with the voting, said the Suns point guard will become the 10th player to repeat as MVP. Magic Johnson is currently the only point guard to have won the award twice.
The Republic said the official announcement may not come for two weeks. But the votes have been tabulated in what was expected to be a close race with Nash, LeBron James, Dirk Nowitzki, Chauncey Billups and Kobe Bryant.
Nash, who would be the first international and the first Suns player to capture the award twice, won the fourth-closest MVP vote last year when he edged Shaquille O'Neal.
The 32-year-old from Victoria posted career highs this season in scoring (18.8 points per game), rebounding (4.2 per game), field goal percentage (.512) and free-throw percentage (NBA-best .921). He led the league in assists again with 10.5 per game and finished sixth in three-point shooting (43.9 per cent).
Nash, winner of the Lionel Conacher Award as The Canadian Press male athlete of the year in 2005, led the 54-28 Suns to their first repeat division title.
A NEW POLL REVEALS WHAT TURNS YOU ON
Fake breasts are a turnoff, men say, and wrinkles beat Botox. Lumberjacks are hot, women believe, but men who cry at the movies are not. Cooking, meanwhile, is sexier than fixing a transmission. These are among the findings of a new poll by Zogby International, which asked 1,000 men and an equal number of women what they find sexy. The poll was commissioned by NBC's "Today" show, which will air the results tomorrow and Friday.
The news is bad for plastic surgeons - while Botox and silicone get pumped into female bodies by the tanker-load, it seems men prefer the natural look. Only 6 percent of men said they preferred Botox to wrinkles, while 69 percent deemed breast implants not sexy.
And only 30 percent of men prefer makeup on their mates; 50 percent would rather they ditch the lipstick and go unadorned.
The message for women: "From wearing makeup to Botox, it ain't what you think it is," said John Zogby, president of the polling firm.
Younger men are much more likely to find cosmetics a turn-off, and women who ask them out a turn-on - among a number of signs that definitions of what's sexy are steadily changing, said Zogby.
"What we see is a slow and steady redefinition" of what's sexy, he says. "The old stereotypes seem to be breaking down, and the definition of what guys look for is changing."
Women are clinging a little more tightly to stereotype, however. For instance, the new paradigm of the sensitive man aside, breaking down during "The English Patient" is more likely to do you harm than good - women find men who cry at the movies unsexy by a two-to-one margin.
And when it comes to lumberjacks vs. metrosexuals, the message is: Put down the hair gel and pick up a chainsaw. Forty-four percent of women find the former sexier; only 21 percent disagreed.
On the other hand, facial hair is out - 51 percent of women judge it a turnoff, so the Paul Bunyan look should be approached with caution.
Speaking of hair, while bald may not necessarily be beautiful, it beats a toupee by a landslide. Only 2 percent of women deem fake hair an improvement over no hair at all. By a similar margin women agree that pec implants, liposuction and other surgical procedures are as hot as an ice-water bath.
Again, there's an age divide among women that reveals a gradual shift in what's perceived as sexy, Zogby notes. For example, younger women are much less likely than their forebears to take a dim view of cinematic sobbing. And while overall women agree that fixing a meal is sexier than fixing a car by more than two to one, older women are more inclined to be impressed by a man who's handy with a spark-plug wrench.
Zogby's conclusion: "Guys, if you want to appeal to women under 30, cry like a baby at a movie, and learn to cook."
What is sexier ... a size 2 or size 10?
* 43 percent of Asian men prefer size 2 while 29 percent of African-American do.
* 44 percent of libertarians like little ladies versus 26 percent of progressives.
* 42 percent of single men skew small.
What is sexier on a woman ... great looks or a great personality?
* Asians were the group placing the most value on looks over personality, 34 percent.
* 26 percent of weekly Wal-Mart shoppers prefer a pretty face to personality.
* 67 percent of men who own a gun place a premium on personality, compared to 61 percent of gun-free men.
Do you find facial hair sexy?
* 41 percent of women under 30 liked a man with facial hair, while only 13 percent of 65-plus did.
* African-American women had the most facial hair fans, 50 percent.
* 39 percent of liberals like whiskers compared to 26 percent of conservatives.
Which outfit is sexier, a suit, a barely-there dress or jeans and a T-shirt?
* Asian men are most likely to prefer a barely there dress.
* Jeans and a T-shirt are sexiest among men who don't hold a passport, 48 percent.
* Suits are sexiest among African-American men, 19 percent of whom prefer an ensemble.
Which is sexier ... long hair or short hair?
* 53 percent of men over 65 like long locks compared to 66 percent of men under 30.
* 63 percent of men in the armed forces prefer long hair, while 60 percent of civilians do.
* 25 percent of Liberals say short hair is sexier, compared to 18 percent of Republicans.
Is wearing cologne sexy?
* 66 percent of mothers like a man to wear cologne, compared to 52 percent of childless women.
* 66 percent of women who shop at Wal-Mart are sweet on men with scent, versus 47 percent who never shop there.
* 67 percent of women NASCAR fans like perfumed men.
What is sexier on a man, a business suit, jeans and a T-shirt, or sweats and tank top?
* 33 percent of the highest and lowest earners think a suit is sexiest.
* 64 percent of women who never attend services prefer jeans and T-shirt, while just 40 percent of weekly worshipers do.
* The group with the greatest percentage rocking the sweat-and-tank outfit was NASCAR fans, 3.6 percent.
Which is sexier ... a metrosexual or a lumberjack?
* 31 percent of single women liked a metrosexual; only 18 percent of wives did.
* Women earning less than $15,000 preferred metrosexuals to lumberjacks, 38 to 30 percent.
* Only 23 percent of women earning $75,000 preferred metrosexuals, while 43 percent liked lumberjacks.
"What's Sexy Now" poll "Today," NBC, Thursday and Friday, 7-10 a.m.
'Lost' star chooses jail over service
HONOLULU (AP) - Lost actress Michelle Rodriguez pleaded guilty Tuesday to a single count of driving under the influence, choosing to pay a $500 fine and spend five days in jail, rather than do 240 hours of community service.
Rodriguez, who portrays police officer Ana Lucia, and cast member Cynthia Watros were both charged with drunken driving after they were pulled over Dec. 1 in separate cars within 15 minutes of each other. On Tuesday, a judge gave Rodriguez the option of jail time or community service. She surrendered to authorities at Kaneohe District Court later in the day.
Choosing jail over community service was a "personal choice," said her lawyer, Steve Barta.
"I would suspect that because she has a hard time even going out for a meal without being intruded upon for an autograph or photograph, it's really difficult for her to do community service," he said.
Watros, who plays Libby on the ABC castaway drama, pleaded guilty to drunken driving in January and was fined $312, ordered to have an alcohol assessment and 14 hours of counselling. She also had her licence suspended for 90 days.
Both Rodriguez and Watros were spotted weaving on a road in Kailua, on the island Oahu, where Lost is filmed. Both failed field sobriety tests.
Rodriguez recorded a blood-alcohol level of 0.17, more than twice the legal limit of .08. Watros had a blood-alcohol level of 0.10.
Soon after, Rodriguez spent two weeks in a rehab clinic, her lawyer said.
"She did recognize there was an issue to be dealt with. She on her own took care of it," he said.
In 2004, Rodriguez pleaded no-contest in Los Angeles to three traffic violations, including drunken driving. She completed a three-month alcohol program and is serving a three-year probation term.
"Law & Order" actress set to exit
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Annie Parisse, who has played Assistant District Attorney Alexandra Borgia on NBC's "Law & Order" for just over a year, will leave the veteran crime drama at season's end, sources said.
A network spokesman declined comment, saying that "it is the producers' desire to keep the season finale of 'Law & Order' under wraps because of some surprising developments."