The Miracle Worker's producer, David Richenthal, countered that he needed to cast a proven star in order to secure the ship $3 million financing, and that it would be "financially irresponsible" to choose someone unknown. According to Patrick Healy of the Times, he also said, "It's simply naïve to think that in this day and age you'll be able to sell tickets to a play revival solely on the potential of the production to be a great show." Sharon Jensen, exectuive director of the Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts, disagrees. Her group represents deaf and blind actors, and she says,

We do not think it's O.K. for reputable producers to cast this lead role without seriously considering an actress from our community. I understand how difficult it is to capitalize a new production on Broadway, but that to me is not the issue. There are other, larger human and artistic issues at stake here.

The group also protested the casting of a hearing actor in a deaf role in the upcoming production of The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter, and their concerns raise the question of whether Hollywood and Broadway should be trying harder to include actors with disabilities. It's an issue that comes up often in films with intellectually disabled characters — historically, nondisabled actors have played these roles. I found it somewhat distasteful to watch Sean Penn impersonating an intellectually disabled person in I Am Sam, and I would have preferred to see someone who actually lived with those disabilities in the film. People with intellectual disabilities do act — famously in the movie The Ringer, but also on television — and although producers do bear an extra responsibility for not exploiting them, there's no reason for them not to be in mainstream films.

Except money, of course. Just as no deaf actress is as famous as Abigail Breslin, no intellectually disabled actor is as famous as Sean Penn, and Hollywood stars tend to be — or least, to look — able-bodied. And since producers — both in Hollywood and on Broadway — feel they need to cast stars in order to make big bucks, disabled actors don't have a very good shot. Of course, as Sharon Jensen points out, if people with disabilities never get the roles that could make them stars, this will never change. It used to be common practice to cast white actors in roles of people of color — once that became unacceptable, more actors of color rose to prominence (although you could argue that Hollywood is still pretty racist). Maybe it needs to become unacceptable for able-bodied actors to "play" disabled in order for disabled actors to succeed.

The question of authenticity is a tough one here. As I said, Sean Penn's performance as Sam made me uncomfortable, probably because seeing someone pretend to be disabled reminds me of playground mockery of actual disabled kids. And there's an argument that an actor with intellectual disabilities would have been more convincing. But ultimately, it would be nice if disabled actors were respected not for their ability to effectively portray their own disabilities, but simply for their acting chops. That would mean casting, say, deaf actresses not just in "deaf" roles like Helen Keller, but in other roles that don't specifically involve disabilities. If Hollywood and Broadway could do this, audiences might become more comfortable seeing people with disabilities in all areas of life — but as Richenthal's words show, we're still pretty far away from that. He has said he will consider casting a deaf or blind actress as Breslin's understudy — a step in the right direction, but a pretty small one.

Advocacy Group Opposes ‘Miracle Worker' Casting Choice [NYT]

• In an interview with The Insider that airs tomorrow, Hailey Glassman says her boyfriend Jon Gosselin will "take his anger out on me... He has 'mantrums.' I shouldn't have to put up with being emotionally abused."

• "...I cry and say, 'Why are you so mean to me?'" Hailey says people have been criticizing her since she started dating Jon and "I get threats everyday. I get called a home wrecker and a fat whore. People will stare or point. It gets worse everyday." Yet, she still doesn't want to leave him. "I don't want to leave him all alone," she says. "At the end of the day, I love him but I dislike him at times. When I love someone I would never hurt them." There's a tear-filled preview here. [People, The Insider]
• Jon Gosselin's former nanny/lover Stephanie Santoro says she saw Jon smoking pot when the kids were in the house. "He said they were in bed and that he was out back smoking when we got there," says Santoro. "It was just Jon there that night with the kids…[Jon said], ‘That wore off quick – but it was just seeds…My good stuff is in New York." [Perez Hilton]
• On The Ellen DeGeneres Show Ellen asked Kate Gosselin about dating again and she said, "I'm not thinking about it, but the thought has crossed my mind at some point [that] it's going to be scrutinized... Let's not talk about it." [People]
• Jon Gosselin's rep denied In Touch's claim that a Jon Gosselin-Nadya Suleman reality show is in the works, but a rep for the reality show insists, "We've been developing this show for months." He says Jon is only denying it because, "After someone brings it to the media, it just freaks people out, but we're not BS-ing. This is going to end up on a network. We're talking to all four of them...Fox, ABC, NBC and CBS." The source says the show would start off as a one-time special and "We're even talking about scheduling it around the Superbowl. We think it could be that big. We think it could be American Idol-type" big. [E!]
• Katie Couric is dressing as Aaden Gosselin for Halloween. "I met Kate and she seems very nice," Couric said, "and I told her I was gonna be Aaden, and she said, 'You have to make sure you wear the glasses at the end of your nose.'" [Extra]
• Jessica Simpson just can't catch a break. Now PETA is giving her "whale-sized grrrs" for performing at Sea World. [U.S. News]
• Ed Meyer, who is producing a mockumentary called How I Married Jennifer Lopez: The J-lo and and Ojani Noa Story, says he intends to sell home videofootage of Jennifer Lopez and Ojani Noa. [The Wrap]
• The LAPD has handed over the "Hollywood Hills Burglar Bunch" case to the District Attorney, who said he'd file charges against Courtney Ames, Nick Prugo, Diana Tamayo, Roy Lopez Jr. and Alexis Taylor later today. [TMZ]
• Add Megan Fox and Brian Austin Green to the list of celebrities robbed by the "Burglar Bunch." Green's gun and some of Fox's t-shirts were stolen from his home recently, but he didn't realize there had been a break in because he was out of town shooting a movie. [TMZ]
• This Is It has already earned $2.2 million from late-night screenings, which distributor Sony calls "unprecedented" for a Tuesday in October. [AP]
• According to Dr. Arnold Klein's medical records he injected Michael Jackson with an intra-muscular drug labeled "I.M. Injection" 51 times in three months. An L.A. dermatologist says "I.M. Injection" is commonly used as billing code for Demerol. [TMZ]
• A medical board investigator testified today that Dr. Sandeep Kapoor kept a stash of Anna Nicole Smith's medical records hidden in his kitchen and on the floor of a closet at his home. The files had notes like, "opioid dependence on methadone" and "benzo addicted? To avoid" that were not included in her official medical records at his office. [AP]
• The People cover featuring Nicole Richie and her new baby was one of the mag's worst-selling issues. Just over a million magazines were sold, compared to People's usual average of 1.4 million a week. She was reportedly paid in the "mid-six figures" for the photos. [N.Y. Post]
• Bob Barker donated $1 million to Drury University to establish a professorship on animal rights that he hopes will lead to a full undergraduate degree program. [AP]
• Check out Adam Lambert's new album cover here: [Buzzfeed]
• Lisa Kudrow will guest star on Cougar Town as a "mean" dermatologist who treats Courteney Cox's character. [N.Y. Post]
• Kanye West and animator/cartoonist Bill Plympton are releasing a book called Through the Wire: The Words and Lyrics of Kanye West next month, which includes illustrated versions of 14 of Kanye's lyrics along with commentary "that gives insight into the man that we know." [Publishers Weekly]
• Jim Weatherly, the man who wrote "Midnight Train to Georgia," sings the original version. [Extra]
• Abigail Breslin will star as Helen Keller in a Broadway revival of The Miracle Worker with Alison Pill playing Annie Sullivan beginning in February. [N.Y.T.]
• Hayden Christensen and his brother Tove have filed a lawsuit against producer Philippe Martinez, who claimed to have secured $250 million for the production and distribution of independent films. They had entered into an agreement with Martinez to give him first-look rights to film projects from Hayden's Forrest Park Pictures. [The Wrap]
• Stephanie Pratt was formally charged with suspicion of DUI today. She was arrested two weeks ago after two breathalyzer tests registered .08 and .09. If convicted she could face up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine. [TMZ]
• According to The National Enquirer, Josh Duhamel has been cheating on Fergie. He's having an affair with a "buxom, blonde stripper" named Nicole Forrester who claims their fling started when Josh introduced himself as "JD" and said he was in town making a porno movie. [National Enquirer]
• When asked if she and Taylor Lautner are dating, Taylor Swift said, "I don't know, he's an amazing guy and we're really close … and ah … yep... We're in a movie together and I am really excited about seeing it." [People]
• Denise Jonas says her son Kevin Jonas is marrying "the right girl." She says she's very similar to his fiancée Danielle Deleasa and she teases Kevin, "You're marrying your mother – but she is just thinner and prettier." [People]
• The recession is hitting everyone hard. 50 Cent says, "I buy diamonds on a very regular basis, but now I am selling my old stuff before I get something new. These are times when you learn about the value of money." [The Telegraph]

Britney Spears wants you to know she's in shape. And, apparently, that she has the same stylist. Noted!


Jesus Christ, I hope Kristen Stewart doesn't try to sit in this skirt; it'll draw blood - and we all know what happens then...!


That's quite a dress Vanessa Hudgens is almost wearing! Well, the belt's confusing.


Zac Efron takes teen Ken to the next level! I'm blinded!


Alexis Bledel is, it's true, one of my favorite people in the world (for inexplicable reasons) but come on, this is objectively awesome, right? (Right?)


I think Emma Roberts is an unheralded burgeoning fashionista with a rare ability, at a young age, to pull off things she has no business pulling off! And always still looking demure.


Chace Crawford: getting in character for a Witness remake?


Ok, so maybe the onesie trend is in its last gasp, but Kristen Bell looks darling, huh?


Well, hello, cutie! Lucas Till is so the high school heartthrob!


This makes me wonder if Abigail Breslin is going through the obligatory Middle School Summer of Love phase.


This is not the first time I've questioned the workings of Fergie's mind. Just because you can pull something off...should you?


Don't the Jonas Brothers look like a doo-wop group? Maybe this is appropriate.


Miss J is ready for a fierce tennis tourney; which doesn't explain why the hell he's wearing it here.


Miley Cyrus is apparently not feeling the pressure to look demure; guess that storm's blown over!


Leighton Meester continues to take fashion risks - and they're paying off!


Lil Mama, in her way, never disappoints.


Jordin Sparks: blue lagoon. No, I don't know what that means.

[Images via Getty]

• Katherine Jackson, Michael Jackson's mother, has filed a petition in court seeking legal guardianship of Jackson's three children, but the Jackson family thinks Debbie Rowe may try to get custody of her two children.

• A family source says, "Debbie sent her condolences, and said she was not going to do anything about the kids ... yet. Joe and Katherine think she's going to come after them." [People]
• Katherine Jackson's petition says the kids have, "a long established relationship" with her, but "no relationship with their biological mother." Debbie Rowe is named as the mother of the two oldest children, but in the box next to Prince "Blanket" Michael Jackson II's name under "mother" it says "none." A hearing about the petition is set for August 3. [TMZ]
• In this clip from Today, Jackson family lawyer Londell McMillan says Michael Jackson's children will most likely remain with their grandmother, who currently has custody. [TMZ]
• Katherine and Joe Jackson have filed a petition to probate their son Michael Jackson's estate. They say Michael died without a will and are seeking to take possession of his assets for "for the exclusive use of [his] three children." [People]
• Michael Jackson's longtime lawyer John Branca has a copy of his most current will and intends to file it with the court. The Jackson family hasn't seen a copy. [TMZ]
• Sources say it's looking more and more like Michael Jackson died from a drug overdose. [TMZ]
• A lawyer for Dr. Conrad Murray appeared on Good Morning America this morning and explained that even though CPR is usually performed on a hard surface, it was OK that Murray gave Michael Jackson CPR where he found him because it was a "firm bed." [TMZ]
• As mentioned earlier, reports about findings from Michael Jackson's autopsy were totally fake. The L.A. County coroner released this statement: "The report that is being published did not come from this office. I don't know where the information came from, or who that information came from. It is not accurate. Some of it is totally false." [TMZ]
• OK! paid $500,000 to put the picture of Michael Jackson dying on a stretcher on the cover. The other tabloids supposedly have tribute-style covers coming out on Wednesday. OK! has been losing money and ran the gruesome cover in an attempt to differentiate itself from the other mags. More in Midweek Madness. [Media Week]
• Here are some photos of Michael Jackson rehearsing for his London concerts two days before he died. [TMZ]
• In an interview, Marlon Jackson says his brother Michael wasn't in a wheelchair and was doing well when he saw him last month. Marlon adds that he hasn't been able to get in touch with his mom since Michael's death. "I've been trying to get a hold of my mom. I talked to Jackie. I talked to Tito. They feel the same way. A piece of our hear a piece of us went with him. It was a shock to them, too. I talked to my brother Jackie and he said, 'Marlon, is it true?' I said, 'I'm calling them right now to see if it's true.' That's when I called [Michael's manager] Frank Dileo and I couldn't get to my mom. I talked to him the first time and he was at the house and my mom was in the background crying, and she was just upset... It's like when anyone else loses their family member. It hurts. It hurts right now. It really hurts." [CNN]
• Quincy Jones got emotional at a London nightclub when Will.i.am started playing a tribute to Michael Jackson. "He got very upset when Michael's music came on – at one point his head was in his hands," said a source at the club. "but [Jones] loved the fact that people were going crazy on the dancefloor. Quincy seemed genuinely touched." [People]
• Jack Tweed says Michael Jackson called his late wife Jade Goody while she was dying of cancer. "He wanted to speak to Jade but Jade wasn't well enough to speak to him so I had to phone him," Tweed said. "It was very weird. He just went, 'Hello, Jack, this is Michael Jackson. Just giving his love for Jade really, and he wanted Jade to see him in his concerts in the O2." [The Sun]
• Diane Keaton hit her head while filming Morning Glory in New York had to be removed by stretcher. A studio rep says she was, "taken to a hospital for precautionary tests and has been cleared to return to work tomorrow." Keaton was wearing a sumo wrestler costume for a scene in the film when she was injured. [TMZ]
• The medical examiner who performed Billy Mays' autopsy says there was no connection between his death and the head injury he suffered during a rough plane landing. The autopsy showed "hypertensive and arteriosclerotic disease of the heart" — which means he probably died of a heart attack in his sleep. The official cause of death will be announced after test results come in. [TMZAP]
• Here's an in-depth legal explanation of Jon and Kate Gosselin's divorce papers. Basically, they followed standard procedure for a no-fault divorce. [People]
• Tonight's episode of Jon and Kate Plus 8 will feature a retrospective of the Gosselin's 10 year marriage, then the show will go on hiatus until August 3. They have posted a statement on their website saying, "During this very difficult time we will be working to focus solely on the needs of our family. This includes no longer commenting publicly or reacting to media stories and speculation. Our goal is to do the very best for our children and that will be done as privately as possible. We appreciate the understanding, support and well wishes from so many. Thank you." [People]
• Among the shows picked up by VH1 are three new series starring Salt n Pepa's Sandra "Pepa" Denton, TLC's Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas, and I Love NY participant Frank "the Entertainer" Moresco. New seasons of Celebrity Fit Club and Sober House With Dr. Drew were also picked up. [Variety]
• Drea de Matteo of The Sopranos will join the cast of Desperate Housewives as the matriarch of a new Italian family on the show. [Entertainment Weekly]
• Christopher Meloni and Mariska Hargitay have signed a deal to stay on Law and Order: Special Victims Unit for the next two years. Also, Christine Lahti will guest star in the first four episodes next season and former regular Stephanie March will be back starting with episode five. [Variety]
• Sean Connery is annoyed because 300 BBC employees were sent to cover the music festival in Glastonbury this weekend, but none were sent to the Edinburgh International Film Festival, which he sponsors. Conncery said, "Not one (BBC technician) at the Edinburgh International Film Festival. It affects us all, it certainly affects me, and I think we should do something about it." [The Daily Express]
• Jordan says she isn't dating any of the men she's been seen out with since breaking up with Peter Andre. "Yes I've been seen with Anthony Lowther, and yes I've been seen with my ex Matt Peacock," she said. "There's nothing going on with either of them, it's just speculating like usual. What you have to remember is that Pete left me at the end of the day, but I don't want to go down that road." [The Sun]
• French filmmaker Luc Besson's movie company €was fined $140,580 for the death of a cameraman who was hit by a car during a 1999 stunt shoot for Taxi 2. The head stunt director was given a six-month suspended prison sentence. [Yahoo]
• Hayden Panettiere says, "My biggest crush was in the second grade on this kid named Mike. He was really good at kickball." Things didn't work out because Mike had a crush on her best friend and, "I was jealous, so I told her that he told me that he had a crush on both of us. So it made me feel a little bit better about the whole thing." [E!]
• Gene Simmons says Adam Lambert, "killed his career because now the conversation is not about his talent but about his sexual preference. He's done. I hope I'm completely wrong. I hope he becomes the next Beatles and proves me wrong." [Fox 23]
• New York Magazine asked Michael Urie of Ugly Betty if he thinks saying, "I'm Gay," would stop him from getting roles. He replied: "That's not really the point. By using publicity to say something like that, it could become a person's M.O, and I'm not interested in that. I really think this article should be about [his new play] The Temperamentals. I understand where you're coming from and why you think this is important and that this is a play about being true to yourself. But artists and activists are not quite the same thing, and I feel like support can come from lots of different ways... I don't think it's really newsworthy if the gay guy from Ugly Betty is gay or not." [N.Y. Magazine]
• Emma Watson says she didn't know that she had a £10 million fortune until she turned 18 last year. "My dad never told me how much money I was earning," she said, "Then, when I hit 18, he was like, 'I want you to understand that your money isn't some kind of abstract concept. I want you to have a feel for what it's worth and what you can do with it." [The Mirror]
• Abigail Breslin makes about $2 million per movie now, but she only saw a $1 pay raise. "I get $13 [a week] now, because I'm 13," she said. "My chores have gotten a little heavier. My brother used to always to feed the cat and now I feed the cat, which isn't a big deal, but it kind of is, because my cat eats tons. It's like an all-day long cycle." [People]

Cameron Diaz plays a woman whose daughter has acute promyelocytic leukemia. Here, she plays Cameron Diaz, a movie star whose name is attached to the words "California girl" 95% of the time.


Sofia Vassilieva plays Cameron's daughter. At first I worried her dress was a little mature (yes, "worried." I don't know how I sleep) but in fact, she's nearly 17.


Abigail Breslin, on the other hand, is 13. My mom didn't let me wear anything strapless to Bar Mitvahs, so I've sort of inherited that prejudice. But she seems like a seriously nice kid, so it's all good. I direct her attention to the ultimate child-star-turned-perfect-age-apropos-dresser, Dakota Fanning.


Now. Authors at premieres are always one of the highlights, and props on Jodi Picault's dress choice. But: curly girls everywhere: don't fear the volume! Seriously, it's more flattering! Especially with an open neckline! I speak from bitter experience.


Since Carol Kane objects to being reduced to a cultural stereotype, probably objects to thirty-year-old film references, I'll avoid any mention of Alison Porchnik, Princess Bride, bag lady costumes. I mean, she's someone who's earned the right to wear and do whatever she wants and still look like herself, so: awesome.


Wow, it's been a while since we saw the peerless Rachel Roy in a dress! As usual, she looks effortless - even in bridesmaid peach!


When did Rachel Zoe go from villainess to "Oh, Rachel, you harmless, vaguely endearing icon with your jumpsuits!" Wow, that show is genius PR!


Images via Getty

• Though Kate Gosselin filed for divorce from Jon on Monday, the filing does not contain custody information at this time. Will Kate ask for primary custody? How much time will Jon get? [Star Magazine]

• By the by, those Crooked Houses Jon & Kate's 8 play in? $7,000 a piece. [ABC News]
• Kate Gosselin is on People magazine, with the cover line: "It feels like I failed." [People]
• New Jon & Kate episodes will include Jon's new girlfriend, 23-year-old Deanna Hummel. [Gatecrasher]
• "Reports this week claim Aniston has been sent text messages by Angelina Jolie demanding she 'back off'." Heh. Hahhaha. Ha. [Daily Mail]
• Is Britney Spears going to be in a Nazi movie? Brain… cannot… compute. [National Ledger]
• Rihanna didn't take the stand in Chris Brown's court case, so now Cover Girl has resumed its ad campaign featuring the singer. It's okay to think she's pretty again! [TMZ]
• Perez Hilton has released a new statement in which he says: "Words can hurt." And: "I wish none of it had happened. I can't take it back." And: "Who I am as a person and what I do for a living are two separate things." And: "Several television and radio shows over the past couple of days echoed the sentiment 'He had it coming'. Would they have said the same thing if I was a woman? Would I have 'deserved it' if I had been stabbed? Or shot? Or killed?" [Perez]
• Anne Hathaway loans her friends designer dresses out of her closet. [Gatecrasher]
• If you work for Oprah, you're going on a trip! She is taking 100 employees - and their families - on an all-expenses paid 10-day cruise around the Mediterranean. JEALOUS. [Gatecrasher via Pop Crunch]
• "Madonna is trying to recreate her beloved Wiltshire manor in the middle of Manhattan." [The Sun]
• "Fitness fanatic Madonna has banned smoking roadies from coming within 50ft of her…" [The Sun]
• Video of Zachary Quinto walking his dog with a friend who is dressed as a giant steak. Quinto falls, curses. The walking resumes. Inexplicable. [ONTD]
• LOL: Ellen's variety show will be called Bigger Longer & Wider. It debuts on TBS this Saturday at 9pm, with Kanye West, David Blaine and Nick Cannon among the performers. [USA Today]
• More drama involving Danielle Staub from the Real Housewives of New Jersey: The Smoking Gun has discovered that in 1986, she was charged with eight felonies, including extortion, cocaine possession, and narcotics conspiracy. And you know how Staub told People she was "never a prostitute. Never"? She told a federal agent she worked for an escort service. [MSNBC, The Smoking Gun]
• Great Q&A with Teresa from RHONJ at the link; she's asked if there's a little too much onyx and granite in her house abd says: "No, I don't think you can ever have too much. I coulda had more." [Newsweek]
• And! When asked, "On a scale of 1 to 10 how much does Danielle annoy you?" Teresa answers: "20." [Newsweek]
• The stuff dreams are made of: James Franco reading Proust. [Page Six]
• Were Megan Fox and Josh Brolin involved in a New Orleans fire? [Page Six]
• Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo: Over. But those hot tub pix live forever! [People]
• Liev Schreiber plays a cross-dresser in Ang Lee's film Taking Woodstock and says: "[Ang] really did like my legs. When I went to his office, the first thing he said to me was, 'Wow, you have really nice legs.' I thought, 'This part is mine.'" [NY Mag]
• Pardon my groan: The Jonas Brothers are on the cover of Rolling Stone (again) looking like they bought fake IDs and are headed to the local leather bar to watch some bear on cub wrestling. [JustJared]
• "Martina Navratilova sued for millions by 'wife' after being 'dumped without warning.'" [Daily Mail]
• Katherine Heigl will star in a romance flick called Life As We Know It, which she is producing with her mother. [Variety]
• Daniel Craig will star in Dream House, a psychological thriller about a man who moves his family to a small town only to find it haunted by the former inhabitants who were murdered there. [The Hollywood Reporter]
• Craig Robinson, Heather Graham, Johnny Knoxville and Camilla Belle will join Kevin Spacey in the comedy Father Of Invention, which Spacey is producing. [The Hollywood Reporter]
• Julianne Hough probably won't be in Footloose, as her acting is abominable. [Page Six]
• Audrina Patridge of The Hills is getting her own reality show, creatively titled The Audrina Show. [EW]
• Epic Marilyn Manson interview! He talks about how he felt when he and Evan Rachel Wood broke up: "My walls were covered in scrawlings of the lyrics and cocaine bags nailed to the wall. And I did have an experience where I was struggling to deal with being alone and being forsaken and being betrayed by putting your trust in one person, and making the mistake of that being the wrong person. And that's a mistake that everyone can relate to. I made the mistake of trying to, desperately, grasp on and save that and own it. And every time I called her that day — I called 158 times — I took a razorblade and I cut myself on my face or on my hands." [Spin]
• Marilyn Manson also says of Evan Rachel Wood: "I have fantasies every day about smashing her skull in with a sledgehammer." [Spin]
• John Travolta is in South Africa, as a way to honor his late son who loved safaris. [TMZ]
• Is R. Kelly involved in a scam that robbed the elderly of £1million? [The Sun]
• Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai is involved with some kind of illegal purchase of land, uh-oh. [Times of India]
• Michael Madsen owes Pierce Brosnan and Quentin Tarantino money. Not ten bucks — like $25,000 to Brosnan and $1 million to QT. [TMZ]
• "Rachel Hunter devastated as ice hockey player fiancé calls off wedding SEVEN WEEKS before big day." [Daily Mail]
• Come on baby shake your pigskin: Gloria Estefan and her husband Emilio are buying a share in the NFL's Miami Dolphins. [UPI]
• Joan Rivers is moving to L.A. and selling her Upper East side condo and Connecticut cottage, which is "so filled to the brim with campy knickknackery that it almost looks découpaged" and where Joan keeps a photograph of herself next to the bed. [NY Mag]
• Phil Spector is now in the "sensitive needs" area of California state prison, which is separate from the "gen pop." [USA Today]
• Blind item! "Which TV star will absolutely scream when she discovers her husband was chasing girls at an L.A. nightclub over the weekend?" [Gatecrasher]
• Q. Was it fun flipping the table? A: "Fun? It was heat of the moment and it was something that came spontaneously. That was my anger coming out. I just had enough of her. I was just done. I've never done it before. Will I ever do it again? I don't think so because I don't think I'll let someone get to me like she does because in real life I probably would have stopped hanging out with her." — Teresa, of The Real Housewives Of New Jersey. [Newsweek]
• "I'd be a liar if I said it was easy. I think it's very different nowadays for working mothers. Before, a woman could take two years off - a year for her pregnancy and then the first year, but I don't think that's possible for women in showbusiness or in any industry any more. You just have to keep going - keep looking forward. If you stop, you're like, 'Oh God, it's too overwhelming.' And believe me, I've had my fair share of those moments." — Anna Friel. [Telegraph]
• "I really cannot tell you if there will ever be another Batman movie. Chris [Nolan, director] has obviously done an incredible job with it. He's devoted to the movie that he's on right now. I'm none the wiser about we'll ever be revisiting Gotham or not." — Christian Bale. Of another Terminator movie he says: "No conversation has been had about that at all." [Pop Wrap]
• "That song is about when someone said to me, 'Okay, I want to be with you until I die.' And then they gave up. I was at the point in my life where I was like, 'Okay, let's die, but I tell you what, I'm going to kill you first, because I don't trust you.' Honestly. It's hard to look back and see myself as the same person. I'm very objective now. I started to apply this really fantastic rule that they don't teach you in AA or AAA, or any other acronym: Do drugs and drink when you're happy, not when you're sad. It has a great effect. But I can't say that I did that the whole time." — Marilyn Manson, still talking about Evan Rachel Wood. [Spin]
• "She's a lot shorter than I thought she would be, but I was pleased by that. I'm happy there was a flaw. Having said that, I think Angelina is pretty talented. And a remarkable human being, and a great mom. She's definitely not like any other lady I know." — Six foot three Liev Schreiber, on his five foot eight Salt costar Angelina Jolie. [Gatecrasher]
• "I did teach Abby how to say the f-word. I taught her how to drop the f-bomb in every way possible. I said, 'You're a child in an adult's world. I can't be a child for you. When she didn't swear, I said, 'You're starting to offend me Abby. If you don't start swearing every three words then I will fine you.'" — Cameron Diaz, 36 on working with Abigail Breslin, 13 in My Sister's Keeper. [Mirror]
• "I am so often puzzled [by journalists]. Sometimes they go, 'So what's this all about? ... What do you look like when you go home? Do you dress like this all the time?' It's rude! It's not nice… [Lady Gaga] is who I am. Me and my hair bow, we go to bed together. She sleeps where I sleep." — Lady GaGa. [Yahoo News via AP]

[Toronto, June 17. Image via WENN]

[Daily Mail, The Star, FBLA]

And speaking of stomachs, Breslin has the notable lack of one in Kit. I received an alarmed missive from my mother (email subject: "A Beef") about this very issue last week. "Having just looked at Little Miss Sunshine, I was appalled today to see a picture of Abigail Breslin. I was happy to see she has a new movie (Kit Kittredge - from the American Girls franchise). BUT they have made her lose weight and dye her hair. She looks now like one of those girls she was mocking in Sunshine. It is scary. She is scary. " What my momma didn't know is that Abigail was wearing a fat suit to play delightfully rotund Olive in Sunshine. Her salient point still remains: even though Kit Kittredge has a better message than the Bratz movie, it's still selling a certain commodified ideal.

But, at the end of the day, having your kid look up to a self-reliant character who teaches a bit of history is far from the worst thing in the world. Of his daughter's American Girl doll, A.O. Scott writes, "She doesn't say much, and even though her expression is always fixed in a pleasant smile, she seems to change according to the moods and interests of her playmates. She is an athlete, a musician, a clothes horse, a bookworm, a pet owner, a loner and a confidant. A typical American girl, as far as I can tell."

A Girl's Life [NYT]
'Kit Kittredge': Wholesome Life Lessons For Budding Reporter [IHT]

Related: Abigail Breslin Is Not A Method Actress

[New York, June 19. Image via Splash.]

The Good: Yay for Abigail Breslin: She looks age appropriate and looks like she dressed herself. In other words, nothing really matches, but I'm totally down with it. Cameron Diaz might be sporting a silly Samantha Jones haircut, but her dress is, like, cute. Aw, Jordin Sparks turned Chloe orange into Nickelodeon orange!

The Bad: Oh Amy Poehler, the contrived irony is killing me. Ashlee Simpson wins herself a "bad" award for appearing totally unrecognizable. (And wearing Chanel accessories.) I'm convinced that Hayden Panettiere owns 12 of the exact same dress in different colors. Sadly, none of them are tailored quite right. Go ahead and hate on me: I just prefer Jodie Foster looking a little more polished. And not in a bootcut jean.

The Ugly: Miley Cyrus? Or one of the Real Housewives? Rihanna had her fucking legs insured: Why must she hide them in such unflattering pants?!

[Images via AP.]

[London, March 26. Image via Splash.]

The Good:
I think that both Abigail Breslin and her top are adorable.
Jodie Foster: Still beautiful.
Looking too skinny again, but I do love Kate Bosworth's sorta mumsy dress.
Pretty good for SJP. (At least she's not wearing the Uggs and puffy coat.)

The Bad:
Valley of the Dolls much, Anita Briem?
OMG! It's Encino Man Brandon Fraser! I loved that movie buuuuudy! Too bad he looks like he hasn't changed his wardrobe since it premiered.
Christina Ricci did not get the memo about why one does not wear a short shiny white dress.
Did Emile Hirsch get dressed in his dad's clothes?
Why is Maggie Gyllenhaal wearing her support garments over her dress?
Seth Rogen? Or your high school chemistry teacher?

The Ugly:
Is Anne Hathaway starring in a film version of Little House on the Prairie? Or a public service announcement for "When Bad Shoes Happen To Good People"?
Um, how old are you, Robert Downey, Jr?

[Images via Bauer-Griffin]

• Will Heath Ledger earn an Academy Award for his role as the Joker in The Dark Knight? That's the buzz coming out of his native Australia. [News.com.au]
  
• Pete Doherty setting young heroin addicts straight on a new TV show? With music-based therapy sessions? Verdict: Maybeshambles. [Sydney Morning Herald]
  
• Amy Winehouse took a cab home but couldn't pay for it. Anybody got a tenner? [TMZ]
  
• George Clooney is putting pressure on Olympic supplier Omega watches to make a stand against China's lax Darfur policy. This gossip column calls it the Sexiest Scolding Alive. [Rush & Molloy]

• Britney Spears is all anime in her new video for "Break The Ice." She looks kind of like she could be Sailor Moon's mom. [People]
• Audrina from The Hills will join the Pussycat Dolls on stage in Vegas to celebrate the new season of her show. Don't you wish your girlfriend was marginally-famous like me? [People]
• Nick Lachey will executive producing a pilot for an MTV reality show that's a version of the '80s show and movie Fame. The show will focus on students at the School for Creative and Performing Arts in Cincinnati, Lachey's alma mater. I wanna live forever, I wanna learn how to fly: High. [People]
• Neil Patrick Harris on Britney's role on his show, How I Met Your Mother: "I was shocked that Madame Spears was willing to come and do some acting... What if she shows up on set and she is absolutely, totally normal and that whole thing has been a big ruse?" [ET]
• Lisa Kudrow is remaking a British TV show called Who Do You Think You Are in which celebrities delve into their ancestry. Genealogy TV? Genius! [The Sun]
• John Mayer keeps Xanax on hand just in case: "There are these incidental kinds of loopholes in my brain, where the wires can cross for a second and the hard drive crashes," he explains. [Page Six]
• Owen Wilson jumped across a pool (?!) at a party in Miami, but when a photographer snapped a shot of the actor, Owen flipped and yelled at the guy to "erase those pictures right now." The event photographer complied but says, "A lot of friends and clients were there and that looked so bad for me." [Page Six]
• Lindsay Lohan's father Michael has criticized Dina for for having a reality show, but he's been pitching a male version of The View with fellow born-again Stephen Baldwin. So far, no takers; wonder why! [Page Six]
• Does Paula Abdul hate sweets? She went to dinner with five friends; they ordered dessert; Paula had the desserts sent back to the kitchen. [Gatecrasher]
• Blind item! "Which middle-age Lothario famous for playing a small-screen love interest has been using his renewed fame to land very young women? One recent hookup was all of 16 years old." [Gatecrasher]
• During her induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Madonna was forced to watch footage of her career in a retrospective. "Oh, look at my eyebrows," she sighed. "Oh, stop, stop!" [Rush & Molloy]
• Is Madonna's new song about Guy Ritchie? Lyrics: "You love me more miles apart/I love you, but we are at our best miles away/When you are gone you realise I'm the best thing that happened to you." [Mirror]
• Andy Dick, reeking of booze and groping girls? Just like old times! It's kind of comforting to know that some things never change. [Rush & Molloy]
• Ivanka Trump says that story about sending someone to polish the nails of her wax figure is total bullshit, since she doesn't even have a wax figure at Madame Tussaud's. How do these rumors get started? Is Ashton Kutcher behind it all? [TMZ]
• The Insider's Pat O'Brien: Out of rehab. [TMZ]
• Was America's Next Top Model winner Jaslene denied entrance to a Snoop Dogg party? Fo shizzle. [TMZ]
• Ugh, is Kathie Lee Gifford going to be the new co-host of the 10:00 hour of the Today show? Yuck. Say it ain't so. [TMZ]
• Josh Hartnett went to go see DJ AM spin at a club in New York but discovered that he was two weeks late. Did he stay to hang out with some girls and have drinks anyway? You bet. [Page Six]
• Cameron Diaz and Jason Patric star in a new Nick Cassavetes flick in which a former district attorney (Diaz) and her fireman husband (Patric) who are sued by their 13-year-old daughter (Abigail Breslin) for emancipation. [Reuters]
• Actress Samantha Morton told a court she lived in terror of a childhood friend who began stalking her. Damn, this woman has been through a lot. [Mirror]
• Jodie Foster: Also has a stalker, who mailed a bomb threat to an L.A. airport. Jeez. [Reuters]
• Elizabeth Hurley quit movies, but you probably didn't notice, since she admits "I really do very little film work at all." [The Times Of India]
• Girls Gone Wild douche Joe Francis goes to court in Florida today regarding filming underage girls. Will he get the book thrown at him? [Page Six]
• Here's a picture of Beyoncé in a blonde wig, playing Etta James in the film Cadillac Records. [Mirror]
• Ginger Spice helped saved the life of a girl in a coma by singing to her! Jessica Knight, 14, had been stabbed 30 times; Geri Halliwell sang to her and Jessica started moving her arms and legs. The next day, she opened her eyes. Girl powah! [Sydney Morning Herald]

[Image via Oh! My God! I Miss You]

[Los Angeles, March 10. Image via Flynet]

[Beverly Hills, March 4. Image via x17]

[Los Angeles, February 25. Image via INFDaily.com]