Celebrity Overload

Vivienne and Knox Jolie-Pitt: $14M

As it has been reported, the Jolie-Pitt twins have fetched around $14 million for their first introduction to the world. Hard to believe that in little Vivienne and Knox’s three weeks of life, they made more money than most people will ever see in their lifetimes, let alone earn for honest work. 

People Magazine was the winning bidder in securing the exclusive photos of the newest additions to the Jolie-Pitt clan, an honor they split with Hello! Magazine.  The twins were born July 12th in Nice, France and even before they were born, there was huge speculation about how much the first shots would bring in. The Jolie-Pitt family has been down this road before.  In 2005 after the birth of their first biological child, Shiloh, the photos brought in a cool $4 million - all which was said to have gone entirely to charity. The twins’ $14 million dollar price tag is also said to be going straight to charity and while the contribution to charity may seem to make the deal a little sweeter and make the couple seem less greedy, the real issue remains: Celebrities are selling their own children’s photos for profit.

Such actions seems to inflate the already dangerous situation of the paparazzi’s countless attempts to get the “ultimate” shot, no matter what it takes. Pitt and Jolie’s own close pal, George Clooney, is a huge proponent of regulating and prosecuting the invasive snappers, who reportedly continue to hunt and hound celebrities for the all exclusive money shot. Wouldn't’it seem that setting such precedence for a simple photograph is only aggravating the situation and creating an even more dangerous situation for celebrities?

Surely, little Knox, Vivienne, Shiloh, Maddox, Pax and Zahara, are continually surrounded by colossal bodyguards and a strong security team, but the reality is that money-hungry cameramen have been known to stop at nothing to get photos. Case in point - just a few weeks ago, two photographers were held by police when they were found trespassing illegally on the Jolie-Pitt compound in France, dressed in camouflage. One of the men, who made it onto the property, has been known to have a criminal record and when confronted, the photographers had no problem tussling with the security staff.

Other celebrities have also jumped on the money train, securing seven-figure deals for the first shot of the newest little family member and their supposed "intimate moments." Celebs like Jennifer Lopez ($6M),   Matthew McConaughey ($3M), and Nicole Richie ($1M) have all presented their newborns to the world for cash – large amounts of cash. The celebs that bring in the biggest checks seem to also be the celebs that need the money the least, so why even put such a price tag on a defenseless kid’s head?

Shop Like a Celebrity: 5 Popular Celebrity Shopping Destinations

In New York you have Tiffany’s and Armani but in Los Angeles you have everywhere else.  LA by far has some of the best shopping destinations in the world.  You may think that many of the rich and famous head to Milan, Paris, or any of the other fashion capitals of the world, but that was so 1999!  Now the celebrities are going retro, vintage, and most of all, undercover. 

One of the most coveted stores in the LA area is Fred Segal, a mini-department store with a rock and roll feel.  Everyone from Katie Holmes to Gwyneth Paltrow has been seen there.  Fred Segal is what is considered to be an LA institution of celebrities.  The music is blaring, the staff caters to your every whim, and the paparazzi are strictly not allowed.  Grab some lunch on the patio and see how many stars you can spot.

After Fred Segal, one of the most popular stores for up and coming celebrities as well as stars who are into the 'Kate Hudson look' can find what they need at Decades.  Charlize Theron swears by it, and Kate Moss adores it.  Considered to be the best vintage store in LA, this store holds the best of the best from Gucci to Valentino.  From jewelry to scarves, or a formal awards dress to cut off shorts, this store has it all for the stars that have their own style and panache. 

For a store that specializes in quirky t-shirts, laid back informal wear, and some very trendy looks, Kitson boutique is the place to go.  This store garners the attention of Paris Hilton, Victoria Beckham and Angelina Jolie to name a few.  With fun baby clothes and really great cosmetics, this store is where the rich and famous like to find clothes to play in. 

For something a little feminine and dainty, you must stop in at the store of Lisa Rinna called belle gray. From couture track suits to lingerie, this store is frequented by Jessica Simpson, Denise Richards and Cindy Crawford. Shoes are stocked, jewelry is ready to move, and complimentary wine is flowing.  All in all, this makes one of the best days of shopping for some high profile women celebrities. 

After all that clothes shopping in LA, it's time to stop to buy some jewelry, right?  Vintage jewelry is all the rage.  Gone are the gaudy gold baubles; replaced by sleek, platinum numbers that come from stores like Neil Lane, one of the most popular jewelers to the stars.  This unassuming store on Beverly Boulevard is just one of the jewelers that deck out the stars on Oscar night.  With Cartier, Tiffany and many other high priced collections, this store has been a shopping mecca for people like Naomi Campbell, Julia Roberts and Reese Witherspoon.

Pam Anderson: Girl On The Loose

Blonde bombshell Pamela Anderson is certainly no stranger to being on camera, but this time it seems the footage won’t be for sale on the internet, but rather available weekly for free on the E! Television Network. The 41-year old former “Baywatch” beauty is starring in a new reality television series called “Pam: Girl on the Loose,” which premieres on Sunday, August 3.

The new series was supposed to be shot documentary-style and feature Anderson’s prep work for a peep show type production at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas; however Anderson was reluctant to leave her home in Malibu on a full-time basis due to her children’s schedules. Instead, the show will still consist of documentary-type footage, but will cover the daily life of Anderson, minus the kids (Brandon; 12 and Dylan; 10). Anderson claims the kids will be at camp or in school during the shooting schedule. Perhaps she’s avoiding the controversies surrounding Denise Richards, who has been battling ex Charlie Sheen to allow her reality show, "It’s Complicated ” to include their two daughters, 4 year old Samantha and 3 year old Lola. Unlike Richard’s show, Anderson’s will most likely include ex-husband Tommy Lee, with whom she is currently living with as her new mansion in Malibu is being renovated. Anderson has denied she and Tommy Lee have rekindled their relationship and insists the two make better friends than lovers. 
Anderson has been quoted on several occasions as being a self-proclaimed “exhibitionist” and says that’s the reason for wanting to do the show. “Pam: Girl on the Loose” will be an eight episode series which will include professional documentary footage, as well as shots from her personal video camera. Anderson says she feels the docu-series is more like a “self-portrait” than a reality television show.

Anderson and E! have promised an unprecedented look into her life in a way viewers have never seen before (we'll be the judge of that).

“Pam: Girl on the Loose,” premiere’s on Sunday, August 3 at 10/9 central on the E! Television Network.

Miley Cyrus Mania

No matter where you turn, what you read or what you see on TV, it seems that Miley Cyrus is everywhere you look. With so much "Miley Mania," you have to wonder if it can possibly last. Are parents of Hannah Montana fans really willing to pay thousands of dollars to see the precious smiles from their children when they realize they just got front row tickets to see this sensation?  Are kids willing to buy every album this girl puts out?

That is the burning question on the mind of magazine writers, pop culture blogs, and parents alike. The fact is, Miley mania has indeed cooled considerably even from just a few months ago. The Disney show’s ratings are down and Cyrus has a tendency to show up as herself rather than the Hannah Montana alter-ego she portrays. There are even more rising stars on the horizon such as the Jonas Brothers who have pretty much taken over the Disney channel.

So, what does this really mean for Miss Cyrus?  Well, just take a look at some of the past Disney pop queens. Hilary Duff was at one point the number one queen – but where is she now? Granted, her popularity dulled in comparison to Miley Cyrus’s but still she was quite famous in her own right. There have been some stars that have moved on to bigger and better things though. You have Raven Symone, Ashley Tisdale, and of course Lindsay Lohan who is still beyond big when it comes to paparazzi, although not necessarily in a good way. Then you have Britney Spears who, although still larger than life, has taken a turn for the worse over past years as well.

Then you have of course the great women that have come from Disney such as Christina Aguilera, Hayden Panettiere, Keri Russell, and of course the most famous Mickey Mouse Clubber of them all – Annette Funicello, who still to this day remains one of the most well loved Disney queens. 

In the struggling world of television, movies and music it is hard to remain on top for that long, but there is no question that her name will be recognized for years to come. The problem comes with whether the fans will still care about her name, her music or her acting ability. It is a fickle business, and just as some have come and gone, it is hard to say whether "Miley Cyrus Mania" will stay around or just fizzle out before she moves on to greener pastures. Like all good things, it must come to an end sometime, but the question is how it will end - rather than if it will end.   

The Return of Rosie O'Donnell?

Not since Rosie O’Donnell’s less-than-pleasant departure from “The View,” have we seen her back on the tube. However, that could all be changing in 2009 as executives at NBC have been reportedly interested in an idea O’Donnell has been hanging on to for quite some time - 6 years to be exact. In 2002, the same year she ended the run of her talk show, “The Rosie O’Donnell Show,” it’s been said that Rosie's been anxious to get back to work, so she developed an idea for a variety-type show, which would include different facets of the arts, such as skits, sketches, comedy, music, and drama.

O’Donnell is said to be interested in performing the show live, perhaps on Sunday evenings, from a Broadway theater. The show, which is reported to be a little "Ed Sullivan-esque," may very well be a welcome change, that is if NBC goes along with the idea, since there aren’t any other shows in prime time which encompasses the kind of entertainment a live variety show could provide. Additionally, there have been other reports which indicate that perhaps talk show veteran Jay Leno was being tapped for a variety show upon his departure from the “Tonight Show” in May of next year, however if so, there may still be room for two.

Clearly, Rosie O’Donnell is no stranger to controversy (think Trump and Hasselbeck), so it will be interesting to see her go live each week and potentially push the envelope, just as she tends to do in her live stand-up performances. O’Donnell was once coined “The Queen of Nice,” but in more recent times it seems her willingness to stand up and be heard is often considered to be a negative more than a positive. O’Donnell has been very vocal on many issues, including President Bush, the war in Iraq, and the events surrounding September 11th, as well as gay marriage and gay adoption issues and for that, O’Donnell has received a lot of backlash from critics who see her as anything but nice, despite her philanthropy - particularly where kids are concerned.

In other Rosie news, the former talk show host recently posted a sentiment on her popular and cryptic blog, Rosie.com, where she says she’s taking August off to “unplug.”

O’Donnell was scheduled to perform in “Les Miserables,” a Hollywood Bowl all-star rendition, but had to pull out of the performance due to her son Parker’s recent broken wrist.

More photos of Rosie attending a book signing for her latest children's read, "Crafty U," on Monday at Books and Books in Coral Gables, Florida.

The Top 7 Celebrity Vacation Villas

When it comes to celebrity vacation homes there is no shortage of million dollar homes located all over the world that literally take your breath away.  Considering that these are only their second homes, it makes you wonder what their actual home looks like!  From jaw dropping beach bungalows to glamorous country cottages, we present to you the top 7 celebrity vacation villas.   

7.  Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta Jones $8 million dollar home in Mallorca, Spain – This celebrity retreat is a classic celebrity sighting that is rich in history and exclusive in price and elegance and is just one of the homes that they own and vacation in.  As one of the most luxurious, this multi-million dollar pad is just another day in the life of the Douglas’s.   

6. Jerry Seinfeld’s $32 million dollar home in East Hampton – This 12 acre beachside estate was purchased from none other than Billy Joel and is considered one of the most lavish on the island.  With a baseball diamond that would rival any major league baseball park, there is plenty of room for Jerry, Jessica and the kids to roam around and meet up with other celebrities.

5.  Oprah Winfrey’s $50 million dollar Montecito vacation home – Away from the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles, Oprah retires to her 42-acre ocean front ranch home when she leaves the city of Chicago.  Aptly named “Tara II” Oprah's home is the epitome of cozy, comfortable and homey and one of the places she says she feels most comfortable.

4. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s Vacation Homes – You can take your pick on top vacation homes for this nomadic couple.  With homes in France, England, New Orleans, and Africa, any number of their homes will have you saying “wow” in many different languages.

3. Halle Berry’s Beach Bungalow in Malibu, CA – Tired of the Hollywood Hills lifestyle, Halle Berry needed somewhere to get away without actually getting away.  This 5,000 square foot $8 million dollar refurbished bungalow is just big enough to give her new beau and baby plenty of space to call home, if only for the weekend.

2. Tom Cruise’s $10 million dollar ski chalet in Telluride, Colorado – Featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show, this amazing home has been occupied by Tom Cruise for over 15 years.  This majestic mountain retreat has over 10,000 square feet and is on an infinite number of acres.  Incredible both inside and out, this home is truly one of the great celebrity homes of the world.

1.  George Clooney’s 18th century villa in Lake Como, Italy - George affectionately calls his vacation home Oleandra.  This humongous home has ornately decorated ceilings, 15 bedrooms, and bathrooms that are bigger than most apartments. It is where George loves to go when he wants to escape the reality of the movie world.

4 Books That Would Make Great Movies!

As an avid reader gobbling up at least one novel a week, I often find myself imagining the film scenario of each book I read. Visualizing the characters acting out the scene I am reading is always my favorite part of reading. Here is a list of 4 of my favorite all-time novels I wish to see one day at a theater near me:

1. The Plum Series by Janet Evanovich

Any of the 14 books in the Evanovich series is definitely film-worthy. Evanovich’s laugh-out-loud story lines and characters brought to the big screen would be a sensation comedy, as long as the casting was on target. The story of character Stephanie Plum and her menagerie of companions and dialog is a sure pick for a great date flick for any couple. While the series becomes more entertaining with each subsequent novel, to begin with 'One for the Money' would open the door for unlimited sequels - as long as Evanovich keeps churning out such witty work.

2. She’s Come Undone by Wally Lamb

Lamb has created a quintessential teen angst story that is sure to captivate film audiences. His character, Dolores, explores life from childhood to adulthood that many people can, unfortunately, relate to all too well. While Lamb had not written many additional novels, developing a movie from this incredible debut novel would no doubt become a cultural classic for teenage girls and their moms.

3. Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

Kinsella’s character, Becky, is hysterically funny and utter relatable to any female and the males who love them. Her obsessive compulsive thoughts are as understandable as they are funny. Translating this book to film would create a comedic story with a heart that also showcases the underdog many females often feel like they are. The sequel novels following Kinsella’s first confession, evolve into a continuing saga of Becky’s life discoveries and would be equally fun movies. 

4. Blubber by Judy Blume

One of my all-time favorite books as a child growing up in the 80’s. If John Hughes could redirect this classic young adult book into a film, there may be a whole new generation of Molly Ringwald’s for girls to look up to in a movie one could watch over and over again.

There are probably a lot of other books that could be turned into great movies.  Which ones did we miss? 

Celebrity Babies: Up For Bid

With the recent influx of babies being born to A-List celebrities, it is no wonder that the subject of selling photos of their newborns is a hot topic.  Brad and Angie, Jamie Lynn Spears, Jessica Alba – the list goes on and on.  All of them are clamoring to get their newborn on the cover of whichever magazine is willing to pay the highest price.  Is it wrong to do this, or have we now come to expect it?

Actually, most people agree that it is a little of both.  The problem is we are so celebrity obsessed that it isn’t enough that we want to know everything about their personal lives; now we want to include their children as well.  From the minute the baby is born we want to know the name, the weight, the time of birth and of course, we can’t wait to see what the little one looks like.   

Celebrities sell their first baby photos for many reasons.  Some actually need the money, and with a six figure price the money is quite good.  The celebrities that don’t need the money (i.e. The Pitts) decide to do it to raise money for charity which is a noble thing to do in the eyes of some people.  However, most celebrities agree that the reason they do it is because the Paparazzi simply won’t leave them alone until they do. 

Paparazzi stalk the hospital to see which door they come out of.  They stand outside their homes 24 hours a day until they spot the first sighting.  Most of all, they hound them and give them absolutely no time to enjoy their new bundle of joy.  They figure, and rightfully so, that it is simply easier to put their baby on a popular magazine cover so that they can get it over and done with.

Unfortunately the paparazzi have gotten so out of hand that they may feel that it is dangerous for them and for the babies.  There is no shortage of paparazzi that are willing to speed down roads, corner their cars, and basically run over these celebrities in order to get the photos.  Most celebrities agree that they would just rather give them and the public what they want in order to avoid the madness that would surround them.

This brings us back to the burning question of whether or not it is wrong.  That really depends on how you see it.  The fact that some of these magazines are the highest selling magazines in the world makes it obvious that most people don’t think that it is morally or ethically wrong.  If you are in the minority then the best way to fight this practice is not to buy the magazine.  But until then, I suspect we will be seeing a lot more of these beautiful offspring in the years to come.