Gossip / Rumors

The burning question -- Is Jacko on his backo?

FOX News is reporting that Michael Jackson has been hospitalized in Las Vegas with pneumonia.

Jackson's rep, Raymone Bain, has just released a statement: "In response to media inquiries, Mr. Michael Jackson is not currently in the hospital nor has he been hospitalized with pneumonia."

You have got to hand it to Disney. They know how to create demand for a film. Namely: Don't show it to anyone.

At a recent shareholder's meeting, Disney CEO Bob Iger was asked -- for the second year in a row -- whether "Song of the South" might be coming out on DVD. He was at pains to give a straight answer, saying, "Our concern was that a film that was made so many decades ago being brought out today perhaps could be either misinterpreted or that it would be somewhat challenging in terms of providing the appropriate context."

"South's" sixtieth anniversary might have been the appropriate context, but it passed last year with nary a commemorative gold-plated special collectors 2 disc platinum edition directors cut, which is how Disney keeps making money on shopworn chestnuts like "Peter Pan" -- keep 'em out of circulation for a while, then hype the hell out of 'em.

"South" has been in theaters four times in the intervening decades since its debut in 1946, but it has never been available on home video. Per the AP, you can see why: "The movie doesn't reveal whether it takes place before or after the Civil War, and never refers to blacks on the plantation as slaves. It makes clear they work for the family, living down dirt roads in wood shacks while the white characters stay in a mansion. Remus and other black characters' dialogue is full of 'ain't nevers,' 'ain't nobodys,' 'you tells,' and 'dem dayses.' "

The most "appropriate context," of course, would be in the home, where parents could discuss and explain to kids both what they're watching, and where stereotypes come from. Suppressing material like "South" is, at best, a missed opportunity and at worst, a white-washing of history.

Certainly, the rottenest thing that could happen to Remus would be to get the Aunt Jemima treatment in re-release: Over the years, the demi-goddess of pancakes has morphed from kerchief-wearing mammy of a slave, to a vaguely benevolent mother-figure with a string of pearls. Despite the image rehab, it's a name that's permanently tarnished; there just aren't ever going to be any black toddlers named 'Jemima' running around on the playgrounds of the future.

Sexy "American Idol" castoff Alaina Alexander and top ten finalist Chris Timberlake Richardson may have sparked more than just a friendship on the show. An inside source revealed exclusively to TMZ that the pair "hit it off instantly," and even after the busty songstress was voted off A.I. island, their relationship is afloat.

Our spy said that what they share is "beyond just friends." It seems not to be a coincidence that the wannabeen Miss Alexander has a really sweet picture of the two on her MySpace page.

Also adding fuel to the romance rumors... last week when they panned the audience to show Richardson's adoring friends and family, Alaina just happened to be in the crew. Will these apparently lovestruck Idols end up being the next Kristy Swanson and Lloyd Eisler, er, minus the scandal 'n stuff?

"A.I." reps had "no comment".

TMZ has learned that on Sunday, one day before checking into Promises rehab for "alcohol issues," former "Desperate Housewives" star Jesse Metcalfe was throwing back drinks at the Saddle Ranch Chop House in West Hollywood -- at 10:00 AM!

Sources tell TMZ, Metcalfe sat alone at the bar and looked like he had been up all night. The Saddle Ranch is located across the street from the Mondrian Hotel, where reports say Metcalfe spent the weekend on a partying binge.

TMZ has also learned that Jesse would constantly go to his girlfriend Nadine Coyle's house (of Girls Aloud), with a beer or margarita in his hand. Sources also tell TMZ, that prior to checking into rehab, the pectacularly buff 28-year-old started skipping his daily 7:00 AM workouts and hadn't been to the gym in two months, which, in Young Hollywood terms, is an eternity!

Can white men jump ... or not? That's the debate raging in the TMZ newsroom after we got word from an insider on the set of Will Ferrell and Woody Harrelson's new flick, "Semi-Pro," that both actors are garbage on the basketball court.

According to our source, the pair were a couple of ball-bumbling baboons yesterday. In fact, our guy said that for the majority of the 15-hour day, the guys could barely get a shot near the rim.

This has, however, sparked a rumble here in the office. According to Daniel, a TMZ staffer who has actually played with Ferrell before, "Will definitely has game". Now, since Daniel has yet to reveal the quality of his own athletic talent, it's possible that Will could suck and yet be considered an all-star compared to our guy. (Ed.'s note: I'm good, dammit! -- Daniel)

As far as Woody goes, he played the ringer in the 1992 film "White Men Can't Jump," and appeared to be a b-ball expert in the film. In fact, a friend of TMZ wrote in to say Woody is definitely a baller. Guess anyone can have an off day.

On Sunday, news reports surfaced about an anonymous* anti-Hillary Clinton attack ad that used much of Ridley Scott's famous "1984" Macintosh TV commercial to turn the Senator into Big Brother - albeit a 'bro with a blonde bob. In the end, the Apple logo morphs into an Obama "O" and lists the URL for Senator Barack Obama's campaign.

It's a nightmare scenario for candidates: Mash-ups are outside the control of campaigns, untraceable and highly-viewed. So far, it's been downloaded more than 1.5 million times ... and counting.

There's a larger question in all this is: If Apple CEO Steve Jobs is such an enormous check-writer for the Democratic Party, why have his killer lawyers at Apple not demanded that YouTube take down the post?

The reason might be that the Orwellian attack ad suits Jobs just fine: For one thing, the newly Oscar-christened Al Gore hasn't said definitively that he's not going to run for president. Leaving the ad up makes Hillary look evil and Obama petty (even though Obama's campaign has denied having anything to do with the mash-up.) Gore only benefits.

For another, Jobs clearly owes a lot to Gore, who in addition to being a member of Apple's board of directors, put his own credibility on the line by exonerating Jobs in a stock options back-dating probe last year.

As USA Today reported in January, "...Al Gore, the former U.S. vice president who joined Apple's board in 2003, described Apple's investigation into [stock options] backdating as 'exhaustive' and said the board had 'complete confidence' in CEO Steve Jobs and his management team."

We thought to ask Apple's PR department why, given that other media companies like Viacom are filing billion-dollar lawsuits over copyright infringement by YouTube, Apple seems not to have even sent over a pro-forma cease-and-desist letter about the 1984 mash-up.

Steve Dowling, Director of Corporate PR for Apple, would only say that "Apple doesn't have any comment on this video."

Developing...

BREAKING NEWS: We have just pressed Button 'E,' and using the Mach 5's special vision-enhancing infrared light goggles, have peered far into the future of film: Yes, we can just make it out in the distance! The Wachowski Bros.' "Speed Racer" has cast its title role!

Who'll be playing the young do-gooding leadfoot of the title?

Why it's Emile Hirsch, the talented young actor who got his big break as Johnny Truelove in Nick Cassavetes ' "Alpha Dog" last year.

Hirsch recently wrapped up a plum gig for director Sean Penn -- one where he starred opposite Vince Vaughn: A feature adaptation of Jon Krakauer's "Into the Wild," with Hirsch playing Christopher McCandless, the doomed idealist who disappeared into the Alaskan wilderness in 1992. "Wild" hits theaters in September, around the time that the Wachowskis will probably be shooting "Speed," coincidentally.

Anyway, we hear Hirsch has just gotten the offer from Warner Bros. Pictures today, and his agents are putting the heel to the steel to make a deal for him to portray a driver who is equal parts Elvis in "Viva Las Vegas!" and James Bond.

The two have become fast friends, with the older, and let's face it, more talented Lakisha often heard giving pep talks to the struggling 17-year-old, along with performance advice like, "Do your thing and just be yourself out there" and "Don't listen to what people have to say." But love the hair, dawg!

While Timberlake wannabes Blake and Chris R. have also become BFFs, it's Lakisha and Sanjaya's friendship that has most surprised the on-set staff. Sources tell TMZ that Lakisha is genuinely lookin' out for Sanjaya, and has become somewhat of a role model for him.

And from the looks of it, Sanjaya is also taking Lakisha's hairstyling advice, as clearly evidenced by last week's flatiron blowout weave!

TMZ spotted the D-I-V-A enjoying a cig near the Capitol before she performed "Tell Me Something Good" at an event honoring Wonder's wondrous songwriting when, suddenly, an assistant quickly ran up to her and whispered that Jackson was coming out to meet her.

"Oh no!" shouted Chaka. "I don't want to put this out." Still, she dashed the ash and turned all smiles when Jackson emerged from a building just seconds after the warning. After exchanging pleasantries, she even entered her digits into his Blackberry. Jackson left after a couple of minutes, shouting with a grin, "I'll call you soon, sugar."

A TMZ source tells us that Marcia Cross is so thrilled with her month-old twin girls, that her career is no longer a hot priority for the 44-year-old red-headed milf, who hasn't become a desperate housewife.

"Work used to be her main priority, but now she's found her real true love -- her family." Apparently, Miss Van de Kamp is a better mother at home than on screen!

TMZ has learned that on Britney Spears' last trip to Miami, prior to checking into rehab the first time, the turbulent pop diva appeared "out of it" while shopping at a local BeBe clothing store.

A source tells TMZ that Brit handed over her kids to the store's salespeople so she could peruse the racks of clothes. The gal's got priorities! When it came time to try the items on, Spears didn't bother with a pesky dressing room -- and stripped down right in the middle of the store -- in front of staff and other customers! We're told the "Toxic" singer even tried out some new dance moves for her shocked audience.

Not long after Britney's impromptu boutique performance, the mother of two checked into rehab three times and shaved her head. You may have heard about it.

According to OK! Magazine, Reese Witherspoon and Jake Gyllenhaal have been spotted hopping between each other's homes and hotel rooms! Reese, who separated from husband Ryan Phillippe on October 30, is seen in this photo taken two short weeks later, laughing and playing with Jake -- not appearing to be in any post-marital despair. By the way, she's not pregnant -- it's part of the movie.

Sources have revealed to TMZ that there's a feud a brewin' backstage at "American Idol."

According to our spy, some of the religious female contestants are none too fond of one Miss Antonella Barba, since racy photos of the off-key idol began popping up on the net.

No confrontation has erupted, but it's been downright chilly behind the scenes, with the idolettes now waiting to see if America decides to keep the photogenic Barba around for another week, heaven forbid!

When contacted, reps for "Idol" had no comment.

News broke today that Premiere magazine will cease to exist -- tomorrow.

Advertising Age carries the story that Hachette Filipacchi has yanked the plug, citing declining subscriptions of the venerable monthly on the eve of its 21st birthday.

Viz, "Premiere's paid circulation has declined slowly over the years, from an average of 616,089 in 1995 to 492,498 in the second half of last year, according to Harrington Associates and the Audit Bureau of Circulations. Even more ominous, Premiere sold 24.7% fewer ad pages in 2006 than it did the year before, according to the Publishers Information Bureau."

In keeping with the rich Hollywood tradition of giving former employees the bum's rush, folks were given 24 hours notice to clean out their desks.

It seems another one of Cameron's lusty links has found someone else. Just two short weeks ago, Diaz and "Blood Diamond" star Djimon Hounsou were spotted cozying up at Hyde nightclub. Djimon was spotted this week at Hollywood hotspot BOULEVARD3, kissing and cuddling with Baby Phat's Kimora Lee Simmons.

Djimon, a new face for Calvin Klein, and Simmons, the ex wife of hiphop pioneer/fashion guru Russell Simmons were at BOULEVARD3 to help Forest Whitaker celebrate his Oscar win, but according to our source, the smooching pair didn't care what was going on around them.

Poor Cammy -- first Justin, then Kelly, and now Djimon has moved on as well. At least she's got her angels!