ELLEN DeGeneres is bowing out of American Idol!
“A couple months ago, I let FOX and the American Idol producers know that this didn’t feel like the right fit for me,” Ellen said in a statement Thursday.
“I told them I wouldn’t leave them in a bind and that I would hold off on doing anything until they were able to figure out where they wanted to take the panel next. It was a difficult decision to make, but my work schedule became more than I bargained for.
“I also realized this season that while I love discovering, supporting and nurturing young talent, it was hard for me to judge people and sometimes hurt their feelings. I loved the experience working on Idol and I am very grateful for the year I had, I am a huge fan of the show and will continue to be.”
Ellen became a full-time judge on the show during its ninth season
“I loved Ellen’s passion for the artists and her nurturing skills,” said Idol creator and executive producer Simon Fuller.
“She brought honesty and optimism to our judging panel and I will miss her greatly.”
BRITNEY Spears is letting her emotions run away with her!
Sources say the troubled singer — who has been married twice before — is pestering boyfriend Jason Trawick to walk her down the aisle!
“Things are going great between Britney and Jason,” said a source close to the star. “But she keeps bugging him about marriage and he’s finding it annoying.
“While Jason says he can see himself settling down with Britney, he admits he’s not sure that now’s the right time.”
Spears — who has been dating Jason, her former agent, since last summer — recently dined with her man’s mother and father at the Grafton on Sunset Hotel’s Olive Kitchen + Bar.
According to People magazine, the foursome were at the eatery — where they chowed down on meatballs and margarita pizza — from about 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. (more…)
SARA Gilbert is a lesbian!
The 35-year-old former Roseanne actress — who has two children with TV producer Allison Adler — quietly came out of the closet during a Wednesday press conference at the Television Critics Association in Los Angeles.
During the panel, Gilbert — who is the executive producer/co-host of upcoming talk show The Talk — was asked if she was comfortable being “out” on The Talk.
“This is a whole new world for me,” she said. “I’m not an expert on this, or I don’t analyze these things.
“I’m just sort of living my life.
“I don’t think [being out] will be a problem…I don’t ever really think of things as being out or in…I just think I am who I am, and when topics come up that are appropriate, I’ll talk about them and share when it seems right.”
Gilbert and Adler — who have been together since 2002 — have son Levi, 5, and daughter Sawyer, who turns 3 in August. (Adler gave birth to Levi, while Gilbert gave birth to Sawyer.)
Gilbert told reporters why she’s decided to become more open now.
“I’ve been acting my whole life, and I’ve never really discussed my personal life. This is a talk show…So obviously I’m going to be discussing my life more.” (more…)
SURI Cruise is loving Canada!
Sources say the adorable tot is happier than ever as she joins mom Katie Holmes in Toronto while actress films The History Channel’s miniseries The Kennedys.
“She’s living it up,” a source told In Touch Weekly magazine, adding that when dad Tom Cruise was in town, the pair got ice cream at the Hotel Gelato, where they weren’t mobbed by fans.
“Tom sat on the bench outside with Suri and just hung out,” said the source.
“She has her own driver and rides in her own $80,000 Escalade to and from the set!
“Suri loves running around the beautiful grounds, and playing and swimming in the pool at their amazing house when she is not on the set with Katie.
“There is also a playroom tailored to Suri. It has all of her favorite dolls and games, so it feels like home.
AMERICA Ferrera insists it isn’t awkward having to work with her director fiance.
The actress — who got engaged to Ryan Piers Williams in June — stars in new movie The Dry Land, which was written and directed by her future husband.
“We kind of connected from the get-go on that professional level and that was something that really drew us to each other, a shared passion for what we do and our work,” said the Ugly Betty star.
Meanwhile, Ferrera has admitted she hasn’t had time to plan her wedding.
“If there is a scale between 0 and 10, I’m at like negative 10!” she confessed.
“I haven’t gone there and am not thinking about it. We got engaged and then left for Iraq the next day.”
Although traditionally weddings are focused on the brides, the 26-year-old star insists she and Ryan will both play an equal role in organizing the nuptials.
“We both talk about it. It’s so crazy because right now the only thing I’m sure of is that there will be a cake and music!” she said.
ZAC Efron admits he visited a strip club!
The actor and two of his pals were reported to have spent more than $2,000 on lap dancers and vodka at a top venue in New York City.
Efron has now confirmed the reports of his rowdy evening — and confessed he didn’t get what he expected.
“I had this image of what it’d be like. I’ve heard a lot about these places, mostly from rap music — they’re ’sposed to be pretty reputable!” the 22-year-old hunk, who’s currently dating actress Vanessa Hudgens, said during a Wednesday interview on US TV show Jimmy Kimmel Live.
“So I envisioned myself in a nice couch with stunna shades with T-Pain and Usher making it rain money! And it just wasn’t like that.”
CHRIS Klein has decided to extend his stay in rehab.
The actor — who voluntarily checked into a treatment facility following his second DUI arrest in June — originally planned to undergo treatment for 30 days.
“Chris, along with his support team, has decided to extend his treatment. He is doing fantastic and is optimistic about his future. He thanks everyone for their continued support,” his rep Jaime Primak told People magazine.
While the duration of Klein’s treatment is unknown, he will remain at the Cirque Lodge in Utah, where he has been since June 21.
DREW Carey says he lost weight because he “got sick” of being fat.
The Price Is Right host, 52, has dropped a reported 70 lbs.
“I just got sick of being fat,” Drew told Us Weekly magazine, adding that he’s been following a cardio program, “so there’s nobody really standing over me. I do work with somebody who gives me advice on what to do, how many minutes to run, what my heart rate should be and all that kind of stuff.”
Carey, who said he is no longer diabetic, said he wants to lose more weight “so I can be looking that great at 86.
“My fiancee has a 5-year old, and wow, I’d love to see him graduate. I’d love to be able play with him without getting tired, enjoy my life and watch him grow.” (more…)
LEONARDO DiCaprio doesn’t want to work with Mel Gibson!
According to a new report, the Inception star has withdrawn from a Gibson-directed flick about vikings in the wake of the domestic abuse scandal.
“Not a chance,” said a source close to Leo when asked if the Hollywood hunk was still planning to star in Mel’s next project.
“Leo has earned the right to pick and choose who he works with and Mel Gibson is not one of them.”
Before DiCaprio’s withdrawal, shooting was slated to begin in fall 2010.
The as-yet untitled project is being produced by Graham King and Mel’s Icon Productions. (more…)
RUSSELL Crowe is staying in Australia for the remainder of 2010 to be with his family.
The Robin Hood star — who has two sons, Charles, six, and four-year-old Tennyson, with wife Danielle Spencer — will not leave the country again until next year because he wants his kids to have some stability.
“I don’t want to get on a plane again this year,” he said. “I want to take a step back and put a normal rhythm back into the kids’ lives.”
The 46-year-old Hollywood star knows he is lucky to have the freedom to choose exactly what roles he wants and when he wants to work.
“I know what it is that turns me on in my job and I know if… something comes up that I want to do then I’m usually allowed to do it,” he said. “I do the things that drive me from a pure place.”
This week it was revealed Russell has agreed to take part in the $15 million production Ben Hur: The Stadium Spectacular — which is being staged in Sydney where he lives — as the narrator.
The New Zealand-born actor has previously insisted he and his family will never leave Australia, where they have two homes.
“Would I settle in the US? No way. And when I got married, the young wife didn’t want to be married to someone who was going to be away on a movie set all the time,” he said.
“I’m only away from home when I need to be. I want to give my kids a happy, carefree childhood at home.”
