MTV Nabs Latina Comedy From Jennifer LopezMTV is looking to Jennifer Lopez for laughs and Latino viewers.The younger skewing network has ordered a half-hour comedy script from the singer-producer. The project centers on Lina Molina, a recent NYU grad who, because of a dire economy and grim job prospects, is forced to return home to suburban Texas to her eccentric Mexican family. Grace Parra (Work It, Glory Daze, Jonas) is on board to write, with Lopez's Nuyorican Productions partner Simon Fields and manager Benny Medina joining her as executive producers. Brent Haynes, the network's senior vice president of comedy and animation and an integral part of the project, will serve as MTV's executive on the potential series. The news comes as Nuyorican continues to expand its TV footprint. The shingle has projects at truTV (South Beach Tow), Spike TV (Big Easy Justice) and Fox (a sibling dramedy with Ugly Betty showrunner Silvio Horta). MTV, too, has been busy growing its scripted portfolio, which includes Teen Wolf, animated reboot Beavis & Butt-head and critical darling Awkward. Lopez and Nuyorican are repped by UTA and attorneys Bob Wallerstein and Ryan Nord at Hirsch Wallerstein; Parra is repped by UTA and Mosaic. Jennifer Lopez: I've Finally Learned the "Biggest Lesson" About RelationshipsJennifer Lopez has the Glamour thing down. (Both figuratively and literally, as she's the magazine's December cover girl.)But despite having been around the block a few times, her outlook on love and relationships is still a work in progress. "I think I've finally learned the biggest lesson of all," she tells the mag, three months after her separation from Marc Anthony following seven years of marriage. And what might that lesson be, besides the fact that love does apparently cost you a few things along the way? "You've got to love yourself first," affirms the recording star and American Idol judge. "You've got to be OK on your own before you're OK with someone else. You've got to value yourself and know that you're worth everything. "And until you value yourself enough and love yourself enough to know that, you can't really have a healthy relationship." Wow, celebs really are just like regular people, confidence issues and everything. But it sure sounds as if Lopez is ready to make a go of it with someone new, though we don't think she'll be doing any name-dropping anytime soon. "I think to give something a chance, to really get to know somebody, you want to do it out of the public eye," Lopez says. "You know the media—they want to rush everything." We admit it, we're suckers for l'amour! (Bradley Cooper knows what we're talking about.) Jennifer Lopez Will Be 'Tougher' Next Season on American IdolThe season 11 premiere of American Idol is still months away but Jennifer Lopez is already hard at work uncovering the country's best singing talent."We're a little tougher on everybody," the judge told PEOPLE at a Samsung Hope for Children event supporting the Maribel Foundation in Los Angeles. "Because of last season and the standard that we set, it's easy to go, 'Is he as good as even our top 24 from last year?' " Not to worry, though. Lopez assures there's been no lack of "amazing" voices. "It's not like you find people just like that, but the ones that we found, we know are very special," she said. Between her nasty divorce and rumor-fueled relaysh, the gal definitely deserves a smoking-hot rebound like rumored fling Bradley Cooper. Problem is, we're worried Cooper may not be the perfect gentleman for Miss Lopez. Behind those deep blue eyes, dude can be a heart breaker. So are the rumored couple meant to be, or should Jenny take a walk down a different block? And what do Jenny's friends have to say? "Are you kidding?" asked one close chum to the American Idol star, "Anybody would be an improvement after [Marc Anthony]. He did not treat her well." OK, we get that. But is Bradley good for Jennifer? "For now," the friend told us. If you ask us, we also say Cooper's a fine choice—but only for the immediate future. After all, dude is known for his gentlemanly ways, something Jen definitely needs after insecure Marc reportedly couldn't handle Jen's success. No doubt, J.Lo is a bit of a hopeless romantic (she's has been married three times), and her emotional performance over the weekend and tribute to her lost loves proves the gal is still down from the split. And while Us Weekly reports Bradley is pursuing Jen like crazy, we're worried the Limitless star may reach his limit with Lopez—after all, his career is what reportedly put an end to his relaysh with Renée Zellweger, and we certainly know J.Lo won't take a backseat to any man's career. So for now, Cooper does seem a fine, and most importantly, a safe choice for Jen, but whom should she go for when this romance fizzles? Last time we checked, you all had some interesting choices for J.Lo, namely Alex Rodriguez, Eva Longoria and Lopez's smoldering video costar, William Levy, who's currently single and getting super sweaty and toned in the new man-candy flick Magic Mike. Well, Jennifer, we still think this is a super-hot (and smart) suggestion! How about it, babe?
"I was watching her in the dress rehearsal and she was just giddy and having so much fun," Maria Menounos, who spent time with Lopez, 42, tells PEOPLE. "She seemed really positive and upbeat." But when Lopez saw her mom in the audience during a performance of "Until It Beats No More," she suddenly broke down, she tells Menounos, 33, in an interview airing on Extra Monday night. "I didn't see her the whole time until this one moment, and I was a bit emotional," the singer explains in the interview. As for having dancers re-enact scenes with some of the men from her past, Lopez tells Extra she "wanted to do a section of the show that talked about love [and] different moments in my life." Lopez, who calls herself "a regular person like everybody else," adds, "I have feelings and emotions. My life goes great and it goes not great sometimes. But you know what? We keep going, and that?s what it is."
During part of her performance at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut -- when she sang "Until It Beats No More" -- several dancers dressed as men from her past ... like Diddy, Cris Judd, and Ben Affleck ... and Jennifer teared up, telling the crowd, "I took a trip down memory lane." But sources tell TMZ, Jennifer is claiming it wasn't her exes who brought her to tears ... it was a picture of the singer and her babies that was displayed on the jumbo-tron during her performance. According to sources, the photo -- shot for a Gucci ad last fall -- has some serious sentimental value to J.Lo ... and when she saw the image during an already emotional performance ... it pushed her over the edge. Lopez' twins -- who she had with estranged hubby Marc Anthony -- were born in 2008.
Two things strike us (other than the weird Pied Piper thing) - first off, did you catch Randy Jackson trying to hold J.Lo's hand and she letting it drop because no one is going to hold J.Lo's beautiful hand in his giant sweaty paw. And secondly, the tagline was "the incredible journey begins." The judges are totally the "Incredible Journey" animals - J.Lo is Sassy the cat, Tyler is the crazy hyper Chance and Randy is the old, ready to be put out to pasture Shadow (RIP, Don Ameche). So "American Idol" is back Jan. 22! Woo and hoo. If you missed it, we'll post video of the commercial as soon as we have it.
"I'm going to sing you the last song I wrote about love," Lopez, who recently split from husband Marc Anthony, told the audience at the Mohegan Sun's 15th anniversary celebration on Saturday night after singing an acoustic rendition of her hit "If You Had My Love." "A lot has changed since then." Lopez, 42, then launched into "Until It Beats No More" while dancers re-enacted scenes with the singer and some of the men from her past. A Lopez lookalike danced with guys who looked a lot like her exes Diddy, Cris Judd and Ben Affleck. The final couple to appear in the spotlight danced much like Lopez and her estranged husband during their American Idol performance in May, just weeks before they announced their split. After she was done, Lopez told the sold-out crowd, "I took a trip down memory lane" – and then started to cry as the crowd applauded. But it wasn't all sadness for Lopez. She then held up a photo of her twins Max and Emme, 3½, and said, "There's love – and then there's love."
Sources tell Us Weekly that Cooper's plane had arrived in Los Angeles at 1:30 a.m. the night before, while Lopez had left a family function at 2 a.m. When they were photographed in the car the next morning at 10 a.m., Lopez reportedly looked disheveled but happy. "Bradley hit the gas pretty hard and she began to laugh as they went flying down the road," a source said. He apparently drove her home. According to the magazine, Cooper, who broke up with Renee Zellweger in March, has been in hot pursuit of Lopez, who split from husband Marc Anthony in July. "[He is] really trying to woo Jennifer in a big way," a source says. "Considering how depressed she's been since her breakup, it's no surprise that she finally decided to let him in. She needs a boost and he really wants her." Back in late September, Cooper allegedly visited Lopez in Miami, checking into the Boca Beach Club resort the day after she did. Earlier that month, the two sat next to each other at a Tommy Hilfiger fashion show. On September 10, Lopez and Cooper were spotted on a date at Per Se in New York, as Page Six reported. "He waited 10 minutes for her to arrive, and she turned up in a white bandage dress looking ridiculously hot," a source squealed. "They sat at a corner table smiling and chatting. It looked like they were heavily flirting. They left together out of a back door."
The series, produced by Simon Fuller's XIX Entertainment, will premiere in the first quarter of 2012. It will air on Univision in the United States, on Televisa in Mexico, and in Colombia on Caracol TV. Other broadcast partners for the series will be announced soon. It is expected to air in 21 countries in all. The series, which is currently filming in English, Spanish and Portuguese, features Lopez, Anthony and director Jamie King traveling through Latin America in search of the most compelling talent in a variety of disciplines, including singing and dancing, with the aid of YouTube and Facebook. In a news release, Lopez said that the series will "discover and celebrate the most captivating talent the world has ever seen." "Very soon the world's heart will beat to the tune of Latin rhythms, and we're looking forward to experiencing history in the making," Lopez said. The talent search for the series, which is shooting through January, actually began in June, with the public submitting their suggestions for talent via Facebook, and the performers submitting their auditions on YouTube. The production and distribution deal for the series was brokered through international production and distribution company Endemol.
A source close to Lopez says the two spent time together on Saturday. Reps for both did not respond for comment. This isn't the first time Lopez, 42 has been seen with the Hangover star, 37. The pair had dinner last month at Per Se in New York City but quickly asserted that the meeting was nothing more than just business – but was it? "After their date in New York, Bradley and Jennifer stayed in touch," says a source close to Lopez. The source also says: "She does like his attention, and it makes her feel good that he seems so into her. She has a fun time with Bradley and he makes her laugh." Adds another source: "She likes him."
Favorite Artist Jennifer Lopez just purchased a 2-acre property in the exclusive Water Mill area of the Hamptons, New York. The 14,000-square foot home boasts seven bedrooms, nine and a half baths and beautiful panoramic water views. Last listed at $17,999,999, the home was built in 2010, and sites have been buzzing about her interest in the property for weeks. Luxurious extras include heated marble floors in the master bath, multiple walk-in closets and imported limestone flooring in the foyer. Not to mention seven fireplaces – five inside and two out – and tons of entertaining space. There is, of course, a pool and dockage on Mecox Bay. Lopez spent some time in the Hamptons this summer, and was even spotted with Marc Anthony at Sagg Main beach about a month after they announced the end of their seven-year-marriage.
Following her performance at the iHeartRadio music festival, Lopez headed to Pure Nightclub with an entourage of more than a dozen people, including her backup dancers. Dressed in a short cream dress with pink stripes, Lopez hung out in the club's elevated VIP area, sipping Dom Perignon Rose as her music videos played on two oversized screens at each end of the club. By all accounts, Lopez has bounced back from her split with husband Marc Anthony and is into having a good time. About an hour after arriving at Pure, "one of her dancers took his shirt and gave her a lap dance," a source tells PEOPLE. "She was laughing and loving it." Surrounded by her crew and security guards, Lopez was at times barely visible at her VIP table but came to the front when DJ Irie played "On the Floor." She sang along to her song and shook hands with fans clamoring for a glimpse of the returning American Idol judge. Later, Lopez danced on the couch in her private area when the deejay played songs by Rihanna and the Black Eyes Peas before leaving the club at 3:30 a.m.
Speculation kicked into high gear over the weekend that there's a new celebrity power couple ready to assume the ranks after none other than Jennifer Lopez and Bradley Cooper were spotted intimately dining together—and with no other hangers-on—at New York's Per Se Saturday night. So what's the deal? Was the meet-up strictly business, all pleasure…or both? Exhale, ladies: the Limitless star is still, as far as we can tell, on the market. Despite his penchant for fiery Jennifers (lest we forget, he had a blink-and-you'll-miss-it marriage to Jennifer Esposito in his pre-Hangover days), E! News has learned that this particular meeting was nothing personal. A source close to the newly-single Lopez tells E! News that she was simply in New York doing promotion for her new Kohl's collection (with ex-hubby Marc Anthony) and took full advantage of being on the East Coast, taking several meetings for various creative endeavors. One of those meetings, the source says, was her dinner with Cooper. The duo was simply discussing a possible future film project together. And while they're just friends—and possible colleagues—for now, they would make a pretty stunning couple, if we may say so.
After keeping close company with Olivia Wilde in May and then receiving an honor from Charlize Theron last week, The Hangover star is generating the most talk because of his dinner companion this weekend. She was no other than the recently available Jennifer Lopez. Although the Internet lit up with reports of a budding romance between Cooper, 37, and Lopez, 42, a source tells PEOPLE that the dinner Saturday at the New York restaurant Per Se was all business. The pair, according to the source, are "in discussions regarding a project."
Anthony and Lopez launched their fashion lines — the Marc Anthony Collection and the Jennifer Lopez Collection — on Wednesday. Anthony marked the launch with a ribbon cutting at Kohl's department store in downtown Jersey City, N.J. Lopez did not attend, but Anthony said they collaborated a lot on the work. "I always had Jennifer as a soundboard and vice versa," he said of his collection. "I'm really happy about her line and I saw all the work that she put into it." Anthony also said he's "really proud of" Lopez. The pair, both 42, announced their split in July after seven years of marriage. They have 3-year-old twins named Max and Emme. In April, Lopez and Anthony announced plans for a TV show together called "Q'Viva! The Chosen," a series searching for talent in Latin America and then bringing them to America. It will be produced by Simon Fuller, the creator of "American Idol," where Lopez works as judge. A representative for Anthony said the show is in its pre-production stage.
The singer admits that she and her cohorts on the panel – Randy Jackson and Steven Tyler – recently had their most combative disagreement since coming together as a threesome on last season's show. "Me and Randy and Steve got into our first fight. I got really, really upset," Lopez, 42, told Ryan Seacrest's KIIS-FM radio show Friday. The blowout – which Seacrest confirmed visibly riled her – bubbled up at a recent audition after a girl with what Lopez felt was an exceptional voice performed for the panel. "She was amazing," Lopez recalls. But Tyler didn't agree – and asked for another song. "I was surprised because I was ready to vote," Lopez said, adding with a laugh, "Sometimes the days get kinda long." When the girl's second song got going, though, Tyler, and then Jackson, quickly nixed the girl from going further in the competition. "I thought I was being Punk'd," Lopez recalls. "[I thought], 'How can we let this girl go?' I was upset. When I believe in something … I knew this girl deserves the chance." All in all, though, Lopez says her second season is "going really great," but does admit: "The kids, we're being really tough on them." Lopez, whose new single Papi (off her latest album Love) is now out, briefly referenced her soon-to-be ex-husband Marc Anthony. "I call everybody 'Papi,' " Lopez said of the inspiration for the song. "I used to call Marc 'Papi.' We wrote the song about loving somebody and celebrating that."
"I'll always love Jennifer," Anthony, 42, tells ABC News in an interview airing Thursday. Anthony has remained mum since announcing the end of his seven year marriage to Lopez, 42, in July. While Anthony joked, "They're saying I'm single" during a concert in Colombia last month, witnesses told PEOPLE that he was aloof and visibly upset before the show. The couple recently reunited in the Hamptons, but, according to Anthony's rep, the purpose of the get-together was to spend time with 3-year-old twins Max and Emme.
In the image, angry protesters gathered on a litter-strewn street in front of a overturned, burning car in the images - a scene similar to those of the recent riots in London. Lopez simply wrote "omg yesterday got a 'lil hectic" in the Twitter.com message to accompany the picture, prompting fans to fear the star had been caught up in violence. It took more devoted fans to point out the shot came from the set of Lopez's new video, Papi, and the protesters were actors. Without explaining herself, Lopez later posted another image from the shoot, adding, "it was out of control yesterday!!!!!"
"I got a little bit tired at the end with everything going on in my life at the time," says Lopez, whose split with husband Marc Anthony was announced less than two months after the finale. But at a news conference in Savannah, Ga., where the show is taping, Lopez told reporters that she realized Idol was "one of the best things I've ever been involved with" and that she enjoyed working with the contestants as well as fellow judges Randy Jackson and Steven Tyler and host Ryan Seacrest. "I was like 'OK I'm gonna do it again,'" she says. Earlier this month, producer Nigel Lythgoe had made it official, announcing that Lopez was coming back for a second season.
Lopez will join already Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler and record producer Randy Jackson for the 11th season of the singing talent show which will begin airing on January 22, Fox said. “Having both Jennifer and Steven return to ‘Idol’ in 2012 alongside Randy is such a positive reflection on what was a wonderful and hugely successful season last year, and everyone is delighted,” the show’s creator Simon Fuller said in a statement. Lopez had said earlier this summer that she was undecided about whether to sign on for a second season of the top-rated singing show, which boosted its audiences last season after revamping the panel. “American Idol” also has been good for the actress and singer, whose career had slumped since she took time off to have twins in 2008. She topped People magazine’s “most beautiful” list earlier this year and had a top 10 hit with her dance single “On the Floor.” However, Lopez announced in July that she was divorcing her husband of seven years, Latin singer Marc Anthony.
Mirren, 66, took top Best Body honors in the poll. She earned close to 18% of the poll's votes compared to Lopez, 42, who took nearly 8% of the tally. "I think the voting was rigged in some way," Mirren exclaims to USA Today. "It had to have been. JLo is about 1,000% more beautiful from the top of her head to her little toe." "I'm grateful for small mercies," she says, when pressed about the result. "I'll put it that way." The poll was conducted by the LA Fitness gym chain. Mirren also beat Elle "The Body" MacPherson (10.6% of the vote) and Pippa Middleton (4%). Mirren continues to turn back the clock as she stars as a former Mossad agent returning to the field in The Debt (in theaters Aug. 31). She is particularly tickled about the poll since her husband, filmmaker Taylor Hackford, is working on the film Parker with Lopez. "He loved the fact that his two leading ladies are on the same front page," Mirren says of Hackford. But she vowed to make the situation right when she visits the Parker set. "When I get on set I am going to have a photo taken next to JLo to show what a terrible mistake they have made," says Mirren. "I know she will be absolutely gracious and funny about it."
Even though reps say the get-together was only a chance for the split couple to be with their children, others are actually getting their hopes up, wondering if this means the divorce lawyers will be called off. Don't count on it. "I don't know about him," said a good friend to the handsome couple, "but she's done—as she should be. Do you have any idea what she put up with?" Yes. And we've contacted Lopez and Anthony's reps before about accusations of controlling and obsessive behavior on Marc's part, but never heard back. We heard that just took its toll on Lopez—and then some. "[Jennifer] would never go back to Marc," the couple's mutual friend practically seethed. "Never." OK then, good to know. Which raises the question: who will J.Lo hook up with next? Because the girl's made it quite clear: She does not like to be alone and loves to be in love! Any guesses who's next, folks?
Nearly a month after the couple split, the two singers were spotted basking in the Long Island sun near Sagg Main Beach in Southampton ... inside a red Mustang convertible. No explanation yet for the unexpected reunion today -- but Marc's rep tells TMZ, he was on the East Coast visiting his children. Marc has sired five offspring in total -- one out of wedlock, two with his first wife, and two with Jennifer. It's unclear which children he was visiting.
"I am delighted to say that all three judges, along with the brilliant host of American Idol [Ryan Seacrest], [are] back for the next season," Lythgoe said Wednesday on Seacrest's radio show. Lopez, who said in June she was "on the fence" about coming back, was reportedly near a $20 million deal last week. She earned $12 million last season. Lopez and fellow judges Steven Tyler and Randy Jackson will soon hit the road for the Season 11 auditions, Lythgoe added. Are you glad J. Lo's sticking around?
Many prizes were not handed out during the ceremony in Los Angeles on Sunday night, including Lopez’s Choice TV Personality and bride-to-be Kardashian’s Choice Female Reality/Variety TV Star. Chace Crawford was also a post-show winner - he picked up the Choice TV Actor (Drama) honour for Gossip Girl - and The Simpsons was named Choice Animated Show. Pretty Little Liars picked up three post-ceremony awards - Choice Summer TV Show and Choice Summer TV Stars (Lucy Hale and Ian Harding). Meanwhile, The Voice was named Choice TV Breakout Show and American Idol picked up the Choice Reality TV Competition Show honour. The big winners at the ceremony were Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez, who claimed 11 awards between them. There were also multiple wins for Gomez’s boyfriend Justin Bieber and the casts of the Harry Potter films, Twilight and TV drama The Vampire Diaries.
While J.Lo negotiates the finishing touches of a deal, said to be worth up to $20 million, to return to "Idol" for another season, sources say leaks about the nature of the talks have made her fellow judges restless. Aerosmith frontman Tyler is already tied into a two-year deal worth about $10 million a year, while Randy Jackson has said he's committed to coming back to the show. One source told Page Six, "J.Lo's management is close to brokering her a huge deal to come back to the panel for at least one more season, and but the side effect is that it means her fellow judges also want more money. "Steven is halfway through a two-year deal, and his management has asked for more money," the source said. "They argue he was just as sensational and as popular on the panel as Jennifer. But, on the other side, show bosses argue he's tied into a deal and has to stick to it. However, it's hoped they can come to a compromise to keep Steven happy, because the producers love him." Another source told us that while the money deal with J.Lo has been agreed, the final negotiations center around scheduling her "Idol" appearances around her other TV and movie commitments. J.Lo and Tyler joined the panel after star judge Simon Cowell left last year to start his own singing competition, "The X Factor," which starts on Fox next month. "American Idol" is due to return for its 11th season in January. A spokesman for J.Lo told us, "Talks are ongoing -- she has nothing to announce as yet." He declined to comment on Tyler and Jackson. A rep for Tyler also declined to comment, as did Fox. A rep for Jackson didn't get back to us.
Fox entertainment president Kevin Reilly told a meeting of TV critics he had no headline-making announcements -- "maybe like confirm Jennifer Lopez or something. No luck there." The return of Lopez for the upcoming 11th season of "American Idol" has been in doubt after the singer said earlier this summer that she was undecided about doing a second year. Several news reports, all citing unnamed sources, have reported that Lopez is ready to sign up, and this week, showbiz website TheWrap.com said a deal had been finalized that would pay Lopez just over $20 million. Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler and veteran record producer Randy Jackson are already confirmed as judges when the talent contest resumes on Fox in January. Lopez and Tyler joined the judging panel this past season, helping to boost flagging viewership for the aging "American Idol" and maintain its status as the most-watched show on U.S. TV. The show has also been good for Lopez. She topped People magazine's "most beautiful" list earlier this year and had a top 10 hit with her dance single "On the Floor." However, Lopez announced in July that she was divorcing her husband of seven years, Latin singer Marc Anthony, with whom she had twins in 2008.
"She is very relieved to be out of [the marriage], frankly," says a source close to the singer, who recently celebrated her 42nd birthday. "I don't think she is sitting around crying or wondering if she made the wrong decision." Instead Lopez – who is currently with her 3-year-old twins Max and Emme in Atlanta where she's shooting the movie What to Expect When You're Expecting – is focused on work. "For her, it's back to business," the source says. "She is all about her career. She's excited to move on." Speaking of Lopez's career, another source told PEOPLE last month that she is "very close" to signing on for a second season as a judge on American Idol. On Friday, Idol executive producer Cecile Frot-Coutaz told reporters that negotiations are on track. "Look, we are not worried," she said of Lopez's Idol deal. "The contract hasn't been signed yet, but she'll be back."
The star hasn't had the best of weeks, especially with her public separation from hubby Marc Anthony continuing to make headlines. But to top it off, she also had to hear of another ex-hubby's negotiations to pose for Playgirl and then see her wax figure get sexually harassed by some topless Chippendale dancers. (And yes, that's 98 Degrees' Jeff Timmons slightly grazing her boob with a rose.) All right, so maybe we're a little too harsh on the dancers. They're trying to be funny now that Jenny From the Block is single. We get it. But as for Ojani Noa, that's still a sucky situation. E! News got a hold of Noa's rep, Ed Meyer, who confirmed the deal is in negotiations, saying, "It's true! Ron Jeremy watch out! Get my drift? Big bucks!" Ummm, OK...moving on. Claudia Vazquez, a close associate of Noa, says she has been trying to get Noa to pose for the mag for a while, saying, "I've been telling him forever but he's so shy! He has a nice package, why not share it with the world!?" A nice package? Just how close of an associate is she?! Oh, and of course there's the whole money situation. "He wouldn't do it for just a little bit of money. They are paying really good," Vazquez said. Sigh. Keep your head up, J.Lo. We got your back, girl.
“O is often the go-to magazine for lines that want to do an exclusive first look,” Glassman tells PEOPLE. “It’s so great to have her teach women how to get a kind of everyday glamour like hers.” Lopez served as a guest fashion editor on the shoot, which appears in the magazine’s September issue, choosing outfits and accessories for all eight women. “Jennifer is very approachable right from the start, so they got comfortable with her right away,” Glassman says. And for Lopez, newly single, that’s important. “I’m a mom,” she tells O. “I work. I want comfort. But I want to feel sexy and modern. I think most women want the same things.” Lopez, who also wears looks from her Kohl’s collection in the spread, gave all of the models tips on posing for the camera, and even directed hair and makeup. And though she’s a true style icon, she was humbled by the praise she received from everyone on set that day. “This is the fulfilling part,” she says. “To have women tell me, ‘This is so comfortable, it fits so well.’” But Glassman says it’s not surprising everyone loved her designs. “These clothes look fantastic … they really give the essence of what her style is about,” he shares. For more of Lopez’s shoot, pick up the September issue of O, The Oprah Magazine. And look for the star’s Kohl’s collection in stores this fall.
The latest hitch? Back in June, a still house-arrested LiLo was shot by Vanity Fair, ostensibly with the promise that she and her latest sob story tale of recovery would make for some delicious fodder for the cover. Cut to the magazine's reveal this week, when in lieu of Lohan's freckled mug, the world was greeted by a smoldering (and, of course, single) Jennifer Lopez. Naturally, it didn't take long for the media to point out (and revel in) the supposed snub. So…did LiLo really get the boot in order for the mag to tell J.Lo's divorce confessional? Don't cancel that subscription just yet, because this rumor is… So false! Not that it couldn't happen. It just didn't. And it turns out, the faulty groundwork for this particular rumor was laid by the New York Post (who, in fairness, has since amended their report, though the initial unquestioning reporting is still viewable). A publicist for Vanity Fair tells E! News that Lohan was "never going to be on our September cover. Page Six got us mixed up with Italian Vanity Fair." Indeed, Lindsay did appear on the cover of the Italian edition of Graydon Carter's magazine just last month, in which she discussed, briefly, her thoughts on jail, and her plan to begin resuming work this October. Though the jury's still out on that last one.
Lopez is opening up like she's never done before. She's not only talking about fighting with Marc Anthony, but she's even hinting that her return to work (and the spotlight!) may have been the final straw... "This was the hardest decision I've ever had to face," Lopez says in the new issue of Vanity Fair (on newstands this week). "I really wanted this family to work. That was my biggest dream, and I worked hard at it. We both did. Sometimes it doesn't work—and that's sad. But I remain an eternal optimist about love. I believe in love...It's still my biggest dream." Most of writer Lisa Robinson's interview with Ms. Lopez actually took place before she and Anthony announced their split. But it sounds like Lopez knew the end was near. "We try, we try," she said when asked about balancing their work life, their children and their marriage. "[But] it's getting increasingly harder. When we were [first] married, most of the time, and even before the babies were born, we were able to go everywhere together. I wasn't working as much. So we kind of had that. I went on tour with him a few times in the first few years of our marriage, and we did a film [El Cantante] together. It's hard, and we're figuring it out. It's tough. "And," she added, "everything is ramping up in a way. Like I said, we had the first three years of our marriage just for us. I wasn't working, it was mainly about him. Then we got pregnant. Then it became about the kids. And then I started working again." She said she and Marc fought about everything. "Marriage is tough," she said. "It's not going to be perfect...It's definitely challenging." Love aside, Lopez also reveals she tried using nannies for twins Max and Emme, but "it wasn't for me." Instead, family and friends help with the kids. The American Idol judge (official word of her return is coming any day now) insists she didn't have fertility treatments ("Twins run in my family," she said). She also said hasn't had any plastic surgery. "But I don't know how I'll feel about it when I'm 50," she admitted. She also admits that she knows she's not the best of singers. "I think I'm a really great performer," Lopez said. "I think I'm a really great actress. I feel confident in those things—that's a better way to say it. I'm not as gifted a vocalist as some of the girls that are out there, but I know I communicate." And sells a ton of records. Her eight albums and numerous hit singles have a sold a combined total of—ready for this?—55 millions copies. She will get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame next year. "It's like all that hard work and now something permanent is going to be there," Lopez said. "I made my mark."
The singer/actress stunned fans last month after announcing her split from Anthony, the father of her three-year-old twins, Max and Emme. Lopez reveals she tried desperately to fix her marriage of seven years, and despite their break-up, she still hasn't given up on the idea of finding lasting love. She tells Vanity Fair magazine, "That (marriage) was my biggest dream, and I really worked hard at it. We both did. Sometimes it doesn't work - and that's sad. But I remain an eternal optimist about love. I believe in love. "It's still my biggest dream... I'm a hopeless romantic and passionate person when it comes to love." And the 42 year old admits her decision to part ways with Anthony came after she realized their relationship was not constructive. She adds, "It's not that I didn't love myself before. Sometimes we don't realize that we are compromising ourselves. To understand that a person is not good for you, or that that person is not treating you in the right way, or that he is not doing the right thing for himself - if I stay, then I am not doing the right thing for me. I love myself enough to walk away from that now."
The pop star will be returning to the television singing competition with a contract with the Fox Broadcasting Network that's "a smidge over" $20 million, according to one of the individual. Both insiders said the deal is complete but has not yet been signed. The $20 million was apparently the base minimum for Lopez, and after tough negotiations with Fox, ended up just above that number. It's a considerable raise from the $12 million she reportedly raked in for handling judge duties last season. The only hurdle left to be cleared in the deal, according to one of the individuals, is scheduling. Lopez will be working on two major productions -- the romantic dramedy "What to Expect When You're Expecting," which is slated for a May 2012 release, and the thriller "Parker," currently in pre-production -- which will most likely necessitate a shift in audition dates for the upcoming season. Lopez, whose gig with the revamped reality series began last January, told the BBC earlier this year that she was "on the fence" about returning for another season. Unlike her fellow new "Idol" judge, Aerosmith warbler Steven Tyler, Lopez only signed up for a year. "I had an amazing time doing it and I loved it, but I have a lot of other things happening, and it's going to come down to making a choice of really what I want to do for the next year," Lopez said. "We're not really at the breaking point of 'You have to make a decision right now!' So I'm not. I'm really enjoying the time of just waiting -- and seeing." TheWrap has also confirmed that Lopez plans to continue with the talent-search series "Q'Viva!" The series will feature Lopez and her now-estranged husband Marc Anthony scouring Latin America for the hottest vocal talent in the region. The series is co-created and co-executive-produced by Lopez, Anthony, "American Idol" producer Simon Fuller and Jamie King. Fox, which airs "Idol" and a representative for Lopez had no comment for TheWrap on this story.
The ruling by California's 2nd District Court of Appeal states that Lopez's attorneys provided a Los Angeles judge with plenty of information supporting her request that she had a binding arbitration agreement with ex-husband Ojani Noa. Lopez sued Noa for $10 million in November 2009 after he and his agent announced plans to use portions of 11 hours of home videos to produce a movie based on the couple's relationship. The couple was married in 1997, but the union lasted just 11 months. A settlement agreement between the two prohibits Noa from "disclosing for monetary gain any private or intimate details about Lopez or Noa's relationship with Lopez." It also binds any of his agents to the same terms. The videos, which both sides agree do not depict the singer and actress in sexual situations, have been blocked for release by a judge. Noa's agent, Ed Meyer, however threatened to release clips from the videos earlier this year, which prompted a judge to order them to be stored in a bank safe deposit box with restricted access in June. The court ordered Friday that Meyer is also subject to the arbitration provisions. He wrote in an email that he will appeal the ruling to the California Supreme Court. Noa's attorney, Christopher Lauria, did not immediately return a phone message seeking comment. Lopez, 42, won $545,000 in damages and attorney fees in 2007 in another lawsuit that blocked Noa from publishing a ghostwritten tell-all book. She and her third husband, singer Marc Anthony, announced earlier this month that they were ending their seven-year marriage.
Favorite TV Reality, Variety, or Comedy Personality or Act Favorite Female Music Artist At least that's what it looks like for newly solo Jennifer Lopez. The American Idol judge turned 42 this weekend and celebrated in serious style, with friends and family and, reportedly, some very famous faces: The singer was reportedly joined by none other than Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes at their friend Loren Ridinger's private mansion in Miami. No word on what the celebs did to celebrate, but Market America head honcho Loren lent us a hint: "Loved watching old @JLo videos all day in honor of my girlfriends bday!! Wow baby, you look even more beautiful every year! #GORGEOUS," she tweeted. "Thank you all of my Lovers for the birthday wishes! I'm having an amazing day surrounded by family and friends," Lopez tweeted yesterday. But the American Idol judge got the party started earlier than her actual b-day, natch. The birthday girl grabbed a late night bite at The Forge Restaurant alongside her manager Benny Medina, her stylist and six of her closest gal pals. The outing was her first public appearance since announcing her divorce from former husband Marc Anthony. Despite her split, she appeared in bright spirits all evening and even rang in her 42nd with a rousing rendition of "Happy Birthday." Her group enjoyed some champagne and ate lobster peanut butter & jelly until 1 a.m. And if that wasn't enough, she also flaunted her famous figure in a Pucci bikini while lounging on a private yacht rented by her manager on Sunday. The hot mama was snapped holding one of her adorable tots and relaxing on the high seas with her mom, sister, cousins and members of her glam squad (because divas never take a day off from looking camera ready). Feliz cumpleaños, mami!
The actress, pop star and veritable brand name seemed to have her fame buoyed by joining the nation's top-rated show -- but there have been months of speculation as to whether or not she would return for another season. Now, the Wall Street Journal reports that the final details of her return are being hammered out. Citing "people familiar with the talks," Lopez and FOX are reportedly near a deal for her to be on at least one more season. "Idol" producers FremantleMedia North America, FOX and representatives from Lopez have all declined to comment on the negotiations, but her previous contract (which gave her an estimated $12 million) expired in May. With NBC's freshman competition "The Voice" debuting to a strong audience, and Simon Cowell's American "X Factor" arriving this fall season, "American Idol" is at a bit of a crossroads. And may posit that it would be most advantageous to keep Lopez on after losing three of its judges over the last few seasons. Fellow judges Randy Jackson and Steven Tyler are already both set to return.
On Saturday night, Lopez and her entourage of 16 – which included her mother, sister, manager and stylist – enjoyed a lavish dinner at Scott Conant's restaurant, Scarpetta, inside the Fontainebleau hotel. With a view of the ocean, the group indulged in a menu of authentic Italian dishes, including spaghetti with tomato and basil, foie gras ravioli and polenta. "Jennifer looked radiant in a purple and silver evening dress," a source tells PEOPLE. "And when they brought out her birthday cake after the meal, she began to sing. She was very happy. The whole group had a blast, staying for hours. They closed down the restaurant." Earlier in the day, Lopez worked up an appetite with a shopping spree, visiting the high-end boutiques at Bal Harbour Shops just north of South Beach. She bought several baby outfits for her 3-year-old twins, Emme and Max, at Bonpoint of Paris, and shopped at Hermes, Dolce & Gabbana, Valentino and Pucci. On Friday night, after swimming in her condo pool with friends and family, including little Emme, Lopez and seven others enjoyed a pre-birthday dinner at the Wine Cellar of the Forge on Miami Beach, a favorite spot where she has dined with Anthony. "Jennifer and her group arrived around 9 p.m. and went directly to the private wine cellar for a pre-birthday dinner," a source tells PEOPLE. "It was very secluded and beautiful among the bottles with bold and vibrant labels. The meal was served on a long rectangle mirrored table with cloud-like chandeliers hanging above." According to the source, Lopez, who wore a long, brightly colored geometric patterned dress, was in great spirits. "She was chatty and charming," the source says. For a surprise, the Forge's pastry chef created a special chocolate soufflé. It was presented to Lopez shortly after their meal, which started with appetizers of lobster peanut butter and jelly, a Forge specialty. "Jennifer absolutely loved it," the source tells PEOPLE. "When the waiters brought the soufflé, they sang 'Happy Birthday' to her while pouring everyone a crystal goblet of champagne."
"When I heard they broke up, I was shocked," says Imperio, who choreographed their sexy Afro-Cuban performance that aired during May's American Idol finale. "I was really taken aback," she adds. "It's so heartbreaking to see this happen. What they had wasn't a put-on. It wasn't for show. It was honest. They were really respectful of each other and loved each other – passionately." Imperio, who also worked with both Lopez, 41, and Anthony, 42, before they wed, joined the couple to rehearse their Idol performance for two days leading up to the finale. "They couldn't keep their hands off each other, and he kept calling her 'Baby' and complimenting her, like: 'Look how beautiful my wife is,'" recalls the choreographer, who has also worked with Madonna, Cher and Gloria Estefan. "When you're around a strained couple, you can really feel it, time moves slowly, and that's not what this was," she says. "There was honest passion and such mutual respect for one another." But one moment now stands out: when Anthony joked about his wife's image during rehearsals. "He said, 'Don't make her too sexy because she's still my wife,'" Imperio recalls Anthony saying in a playful tone. "It's that fine line for every husband. Like: 'I know, I know the world knows – we just don't need to be overt about it.'" For more on what tore the couple apart – and what will happen to their kids and multi-million dollar homes – pick up this week's issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday.
Of course, the reported $1 million price tag that was part and parcel with her showing up probably helped matters. Just days after Lopez and Marc Anthony broke the surprise news that they were splitting after seven years of marriage, J.Lo put on her happy face and flew to the Ukraine, where she was hired to perform as the wedding singer for the son of Uzbek oil tycoon Azam Aslamov. According to local reports, the do took place at the Crimean Aivazovskii Hotel on the Black Sea and the entire staff, down to the housekeeping crew, was sent away for the week while the multimillion-dollar affair was closed off only to the several hundred invited wedding guests, many of whom had been flown in specially by helicopter for the event. With that kind of money, it almost seems like the American Idol judge's $1 million payday was a bargain. As part of the deal, Lopez sang and danced for the bride and groom, performing a medley of her hits, including "Waiting for Tonight," "Let's Get Loud" and "On the Floor." The 41-year-old didn't stay at the hotel—in fact she was whisked away after her performance into a fleet of armored cars—but was put up, along with her backup dancers, singers, crew and assorted entourage members at the $4,100-a-night-penthouse suit in the nearby hotel Ville Elena. "Are you happy?" Lopez asked the crowd from the stage? "I am happy because I am here with you today!" Divorce or not, for $1 million we could muster up some enthusiasm, too.
Following Friday's announcement that the American Idol judge, 41, split from her husband of seven years, Marc Anthony, Lopez wasted no time getting back to what she does best. She performed Tuesday night at the wedding of oil tycoon Azam Aslamov's son in Ukraine, the country's local newspaper Segodnya confirms. According to reports, the celebration took place at the Crimean Aivazovskii Hotel on the Black Sea coast. The entire hotel staff – including cleaners and cooks – was sent away for the week of July 17-20, and the location was closed to visitors during this time, except for those with permits. Lopez danced and sang for $1 million, the paper says. When she came out of her hotel to go to the show, three bulletproof vehicles guarded the exit, to shield her from the view of waiting fans. The lavish, multimillion-dollar affair attracted several hundred guests, many of whom were flown in by helicopter. As for Lopez, she reportedly stayed in a penthouse suite of the Villa Helena and brought backup dancers, vocal singers and 20 tons of sound equipment. For more on what tore the couple apart – and what will happen to their kids and multimillion-dollar homes – pick up this week's issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday.
For those who know the couple, that statement might have been more surprising than calling an end to their seven-year marriage. The decision to split actually came "after months of nonstop arguing," says a source close to the family. There were issues on a movie set, envy on the American Idol stage, and times that Lopez, 41, feared her husband wasn't faithful. An Anthony insider disputes infidelity claims and maintains the 42-year-old always supported her career. "They started to see life differently," the source says. As they move on to the next chapters of their lives, the Anthony insider also says the breakup is for the best. "Though they love, admire and respect each other very much, they just needed to be apart." For more on what tore the couple apart – and what will happen to their kids and multi-million dollar homes – pick up this week's issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday.
Jennifer is reportedly pocketing a million bucks for her performance. Our wedding spies tell us there are roughly 300 people attending the bash. A source connected to Jennifer calls the performance time "a little weird," but hey, drunk or not, a million bucks is a million bucks. Fun fact ... the World Health Organization has rated the Ukraine as #1 in the world for alcohol consumption among youth. BTW, the money Jennifer makes is hers and hers alone, since she's already separated from Marc Anthony.
In her up-tempo latest single "Starting Over," Lopez, 41, refers to "my man" as a "dog" and a "player," watching "these dreams falling apart at the seams." "All his secrets, all his lies, I just keep pushing 'em out my mind," she sings. The song was actually not penned by Lopez. It was co-written and co-produced by Wynter Gordon, who also sings backup vocals on the track, with other writing credits to Nathaniel Mills and Marcella Araica. But on "One Love," a song she did co-write, Lopez ticks off three previous loves (could they be Diddy, Cris Judd and Ben Affleck?) before she gets to "number four." This one "sang to me, but I'm not sure," she sings. "So worn out, but … made me wanna try once more."
But after news broke Friday that the power couple were ending their marriage, a source close to the family tells PEOPLE that Anthony, 42, and Lopez, 41, who have two children, 3-year-old twins Max and Emme, together, split "after months of nonstop arguing." "Marc and Jennifer decided it's best to go their separate ways for the sake of their two kids," the source says. Anthony spent the weekend in Colombia, where he put his marital woes aside to put on an upbeat performance. The only reference to his marriage came in the form of a joke. "They're saying I'm single," he told the audience. Meanwhile, Lopez was back to work Sunday at Milk Studios in L.A., where she was shooting an ad campaign for her Kohl's fashion line. "Jennifer is doing okay," the source says. "In the past two weeks, she has spent a lot of quality time with her kids and her family in L.A." The source adds: "She is, of course, sad that she and Marc didn't work out, but they both feel they have tried everything."
The guy at the center of the affair rumors is telenovela star William Levy -- aka the Cuban Brad Pitt -- who recently separated from his wife AFTER shooting the music video (see below) with Lopez. But Levy's rep tells TMZ William and J.Lo are NOT an item ... saying, "The only relationship there was or is, is a professional relationship. That’s all there’s ever been.” J.Lo and her husband Marc Anthony released a statement on Friday saying they are ending their marriage.
Or so it would seem, because Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony's television project, the international talent show ¡Q'viva! The Chosen, will reportedly not be affected by their split… A source tells E! that both parties are 100 percent still committed to the project. Lopez and Anthony partnered with Simon Fuller's XIX Entertainment and Endemol to produce the series, in which they mine Latin America for unearthed talent. ¡Q'viva! The Chosen is still in pre-production, and the ex-couple are set to film later this year. J.Lo and Marc, who were together for seven years, annouced their seperation on Friday. "This was a very difficult decision," they said in a statement to E! News. "We have come to an amicable conclusion on all matters. It is a painful time for all involved and we appreciate the respect of our privacy at this time." Do you think their split will help or hinder the publicity surrounding the project?
Even actor Jason Alexander added his voice to the mix: @IJasonAlexander: JLo is back in play. Anyone hooks me up with her cell number and then it's just a matter of time. "Entertainment Tonight" co-host Nancy O'Dell (@NancyODell): "So sorry to hear the Jennifer Lopez/Marc Anthony news." Entertainment news commentator Dan Wootton (@danwootton): "Shocked that Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony have split. They seemed so in love on American Idol." Here is a sampling of some fan responses: - @KardashK_Army: So so shocked that Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony have split. So sudden and out of nowhere! Good luck to them both in the future ? - @4eyedmonk: But J-Lo has every reason to be proud of this one.....this marriage lasted over 3 times longer than her last 2....applause!!! - @BigJooceBabaaay: JLO gets divorced whenever she releases an album! - @Danniimeanogue: Jennifer Lopez & Marc Anthony to divorce. Jlo to write a new song about the split called "Love costs a lot more nowadays." - @juicymorsel: The split between JLo and Mark Anthony is amiable now that they have agreed who gets custody of the full-length mirrors. Also Saturday, a spokesman for Lopez and Anthony's "American Idol"-style singing show "Q-Viva: The Chosen" told Variety the show will go ahead as planned.
E! News has learned exclusively the singer is preparing to head out of the country next week. Where is she planning to go? The American Idol judge is heading to the Ukraine next week. So…is this the new post-split place to party or something? No, but she will have plenty to celebrate because a source tells E! News that Lopez is getting paid more than $1 million dollars to sing a live set at a wedding in Ukraine on July 19. "It's a wealthy guy who wanted J.Lo and was willing to pay top dollar," says the source. Lopez's twins Max and Emme aren't expected to make the trip with her, according to the source. Such private gigs are growing more common, as stars like Christina Aguilera and Miley Cyrus have reportedly fetched a million bucks to be wedding singers in the past. Lopez's rep confirms the engagement, if not the payday. "Jennifer will be performing in the Ukraine. Terms of the agreement can not be confirmed," the rep told E! News exclusively.
Turns out JLo and the kids spent the holiday at the beach in Malibu -- and Marc Anthony was nowhere in sight. We're told JLo showed up with some family and friends, parked herself on the beach and enjoyed a little vino ... not looking upset at all. JLo and Marc announced yesterday they were divorcing after seven years of marriage.
Lopez arrived without her husband Marc Anthony, instead bringing her mother, Guadalupe, who got to mingle with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at the hottest Hollywood event of the summer. A week later, Lopez and Anthony told PEOPLE that they made a "very difficult decision" to "end our marriage" after seven years. The couple have 3-year-old twins. Although Anthony's absence raised eyebrows at the BAFTA event, it turns out this wasn’t the first time he was missing in action. The pair had not been seen together since early June, with Lopez traveling to Europe and later to Disneyland with their children, but not Anthony. Power Couple Anthony's no-shows fueled rumors of trouble in their marriage, even if Anthony did have reason to be away: he's been busy this summer filming the TNT medical drama HawthoRNe, in which he plays a police detective. Also, with Anthony and Lopez, Hollywood observers have long been wary of jumping to conclusions since catching people off-guard has been their hallmark from the very beginning. They were married in secret in June 2004 at Lopez's Beverly Hills home. At the time, the two had never even acknowledged their romantic relationship publicly, and, days before, Anthony had been granted a divorce in the Dominican Republic from Dayanara Torres, with whom he has two sons. The marriage was the third for Lopez, and it came just months after her whirlwind 18-month-relationship with – and engagement to – Ben Affleck. Lopez and Anthony went on to become one of show business's closest and most successful power couples. They were fixtures at award shows, premieres and fundraisers, famously toured together and, in February 2008, welcomed twins son Max and daughter Emme. As late as last May, they still seemed very much together in business and in love. Anthony doted on his wife on May 9 as she celebrated the release of her new album, Love? in Hollywood. Anthony "melted every time she acknowledged him," an observer said. They turned out together on May 23 at a ceremony honoring TV producer Simon Fuller with a new star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, then performed together and kissed affectionately at the May 25 finale of American Idol, which Lopez joined as a judge last season. The following week, they announced another business venture together: the globetrotting reality show, ¡Q'Viva! The Chosen to find the "world's most extraordinary talent." Trouble Signs But just days later, the first hint of trouble emerged. The couple appeared at the Samsung Hope for Children Gala in New York on June 7, and many photos showed Lopez without her usual radiant smile. This would be their last event together before the split announcement. Afterwards, Lopez , her mother and the twins traveled to France and Spain as the singer participated in a French reality TV show. Then on June 25, Lopez, her mother and the children were spotted at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., going on the Dumbo ride and attracting large crowds of curious guests. Anthony was nowhere to be seen.
While a split in Hollywood (and other glamorous environs) never really qualifies as a cause for shock, Jennifer Lopez and her husband of seven years, Marc Anthony, appeared very much in love since the day she and Ben Affleck broke up. Um, anyway... Both acting and singing double threats with a shared Puerto Rican background, J.Lo and Marc seemed to be the perfect couple on the red carpet and off, their body language always affectionate and their outfits never clashing. They costarred in El Cantante together and collaborated on numerous musical projects, even announcing that they were expecting twins while onstage in Miami. But today, the announcement wasn't a happy one, so we're taking a look back at how they got from A to Over: January 2004: Affleck and Lopez admit that the Bennifer days are over, months after postponing what was going to be their September 2004 wedding day. June 1, 2004: Anthony finalizes his divorce from former Miss Universe Dayanara Torres Delgado, the mother of his sons Cristian and Ryan. The "You Sang to Me" singer also has a daughter, Ariana, from a previous relationship. June 5, 2004: The twice-divorced Lopez dons Vera Wang and quietly ties the knot with Anthony at her home in Beverly Hills, aerial paparazzi angling for shots through a thick layer of foliage and other privacy-preserving obstacles. The over-the-moon newlyweds honeymoon at San Ysidro Ranch, near Santa Barbara. Sept. 22, 2004: "Both people have to really want to be there, you know, and they both have to make that choice," Lopez tells Chicago's ABC 7 News. "And it's a compromise, and it's how you treat each other when you're hurt. I think that's the most important thing." April 2006: Lopez's yet-to-end legal battle against ex-husband No. 1 Ojani Noa's determination to cash in on their brief marriage, first with a tell-all book and then a so-called comedy about him coming to America (coupled with a little J.Lo sexy time), begins. Nov. 7, 2007: Lopez and Anthony reveal that they're going to be parents in front of 10,000 fans at Miami's American Airlines Arena, the final stop on their joint tour. Feb. 22, 2008: Son Max and daughter Emme are born in a Long Island, N.Y., hospital. Oct. 12, 2008: Lopez and Anthony renew their vows along with New York Mets slugger Carlos Beltran and his wife Jessica at Caesars Palace's Forum Tower Penthouse in Las Vegas. Dec. 16, 2008: Facing down rumors that their recently renewed marriage is on the rocks, the couple snuggle during dinner in Beverly Hills, then jet off to Puerto Rico for a seemingly romantic getaway at the end of the month. July 2009: Anthony buys a stake in the Miami Dolphins, telling People, "Jennifer loves Miami. So she's really, really happy about this because we're going to be spending a lot of time down there." They later purchase a pad in the Icon Brickell tower in Biscayne Bay. July 25, 2009: Lopez turns 40 with Anthony by her side, celebrating the occasion with a fancy (would you expect anything less?) dinner party at the Edison Ballroom in NYC. Aug. 5, 2009: The Awful Truth predicts that Lopez won't stomach a third divorce. Well, AT's only human... Sept. 17, 2009: J.Lo and Marc meet the Obamas! They're are treated to a VIP tour of the White House before Anthony receives the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute. Afterward, the power couple celebrate Anthony's 41st birthday with cake at the nearby W Hotel. Jan. 5, 2010: In an interview with Latina magazine, Lopez admits that marriage isn't easy, but that "everything" about hers is great. "First and foremost, we love each other, truly love each other in a way that's very deep and meaningful, not in a superficial sort of way," she says. "There's a deep respect, admiration and love for each other. We honestly believe that we make each other better people ... We force each other to be better, and I think in a relationship, that's how it should be. You shouldn't be with somebody if he makes you feel less than who you are." April 22, 2010: What makes Lopez feel sexy? "Him," she says, pointing to Anthony, her date for Us Weekly's Hot Hollywood party, where she's honored as Style Icon of the Decade. December 2010: Anthony is tagged by the IRS for $3.4 million in unpaid taxes. Soon after the reveal, his rep assures that the matter has been taken care of, but still... Debt isn't very sexy. January 2011: Lopez starts spending long hours with three other men—Randy Jackson, Steven Tyler and Ryan Seacrest—as the 10th season of American Idol gets underway with a fresh feel and new talent. Jan. 18: 2011: Lopez tells Ellen DeGeneres that she'd be "extremely happy" if she were to get pregnant again. So, was she (or someone else) extremely bummed that she didn't? Feb. 13, 2011: Anthony wears his trademark sunglasses and Lopez flaunts her trademark lower half in a sparkly minidress, her sky-high heels making her just a smidge taller than her man, on the red carpet at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards, where they both presented. A few weeks ago: Both Lopez and Anthony sit down for an interview with Latina, and things seem great! "You know, we respect each other, we respect each other's opinions, and we love each other, more than anything," Lopez says. Asked about believing in fate, she says her marriage to Anthony was just that. "And I believe in destiny and I believe that things are going to be what they're gonna be and for whatever reason, we were meant to share this time together," she says, not bother to explain what "this time together" actually encompasses. July 15, 2011: Lopez and Anthony announce that they have made the "difficult decision" to end their marriage. No mention of the D-word yet, but they do say that they have reached an "amicable conclusion on all matters." And then, due to their global-star status, they also release a copy of their official statement in Spanish. "Es un momento doloroso para todos," indeed.
"We have decided to end our marriage," they tell PEOPLE in a joint statement. "This was a very difficult decision. We have come to an amicable conclusion on all matters." "It is a painful time for all involved," the statement continues, "and we appreciate the respect of our privacy at this time." Lopez, 41, and Anthony, 42, wed in June 2004 in a casual – and secret – ceremony at Lopez's Beverly Hills home. They have two children, 3-year-old twins Max and Emme.
A little over a week ago, it was announced that Steven Tyler and Randy Jackson had signed deals for more time at the judges' table. Now, I'm being told… Lopez has also agreed to return. A source tells me exclusively an announcement could be coming any day now. The singer-actress said in an interview about a month ago that she hadn't decided what she was going to do. "I don't know. I haven't been forced to make a decision and I'm glad about that because honestly I'm very on the fence about it," the first year judge told Scott Mills of BBC 1, according to The Hollywood Reporter. "I had an amazing time doing it and I loved it, but I have a lot other things happening, and it's going to come down to me making a choice of what I want to do for the next year and we're not really at the breaking point of 'You have to make a decision right now!' I'm just really enjoying the time of just waiting and seeing." Lopez will be sitting at the Fox table at BAFTA's Brits to Watch gala tonight. She was invited by Fox television boss Peter Rice. I'm told she has also surprised her mom, Lupe, by flying her to L.A. to attend the BAFTA event with her. Marc Anthony will not be there. As royal watchers already know, Prince William and Kate Middleton are set to attend the gala. Other celebs include Nicole Kidman, Tom Hanks, Kristen Chenoweth, Derek Hough, Ed Westwick, Stephen Moyer, Ed Helms, Jonah Hill and many more.
With just a day to go until Prince William and Duchess Catherine touch down in California, Hollywood residents are gearing up for their arrival. "Hoping to meet the royal Duke and Duchess of Cambridge," Dana Delany, 55, Tweeted Thursday morning. The Body of Proof actress is attending Saturday's BAFTA "Brits to Watch" event at downtown Los Angeles's historic Belasco Theater, a source confirms to PEOPLE. Also expected to give the royal couple a Hollywood welcome at the event: Jennifer Lopez and husband Marc Anthony, Zac Efron, Jack Black, Nicole Kidman, Tom Hanks and wife Rita Wilson, Barbra Streisand and husband James Brolin, Chris Evans, Ginnifer Goodwin, Judd Apatow and wife Leslie Mann, Jason Bateman, Nigel Lythgoe (who is an organizer for the event), Cat Deeley, Derek Hough, Mekhi Phifer, Maria Bello, Gemma Arterton, director Jason Reitman and Zooey Deschanel. Forty-two up-and-coming British stars, including Juno Temple, Tom Hughes and Talulah Riley, will also join the Hollywood royalty.
Choice Red Carpet Fashion Icon: Female How is that book - which is a guide to pregnancy - going to be turned into a movie? Lopez will play Holly in one of the film's the interlocking stories. The character is a woman who adopts a baby from abroad with her husband after having difficulty conceiving.
Jennifer Aniston and Scarlett Johansson can also get their names on the Hollywood Boulevard sidewalk in 2012, while actors Richard Burton and Malcolm McDowell, along with soul legend Barry White, will get posthumous stars. "The committee has selected a fabulous slate of stars to add sparkle and luster to the Hollywood Walk of Fame over the next year," said John Pavlik, chairman of the Hollywood Walk of Fame Selection Committee. "Simpsons" creator Matt Groening was also nominated, along with John Lasseter and Sumner Redstone from the film world, and musicians Boyz II Men and Ann and Nancy Wilson of the band Heart. The selection committee is part of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, which organizes the golden stars on the stretch of Hollywood Boulevard near Grauman's Chinese Theatre and the Kodak Theatre, home to the Oscars. The nominees were chosen from hundreds of applicants considered at a June 17 meeting of the committee, whose decision was ratified by the Chamber's board of directors. While the nominations are for 2012, those chosen have up to five years to schedule ceremonies to unveil their stars, after which their selection will expire.
Over the weekend, the American Idol judge was a guest on the German TV show Wetten, Dass..?, which was being filmed in Majorca, Spain, before a crowd of thousands. As J.Lo was being helped to her seat by host Thomas Gottschalk, the front of her dress opened a wee bit too much. But what's this nip slip have to do with her current legal battle with her ex-husband Ojani Noa? Attorneys for Lopez have asked the court to postpone tomorrow's hearing over the fight to keep the Noa/Lopez sex tape off the internet, Noa's rep tells E! News, and speculates about the reasoning behind the rescheduling. "We are assuming the reason is to avoid press regarding Jennifer Lopez's wardrobe malfunction," Noa's spokesman tells E! News. In lieu of the postponed hearing, the parties will instead reportedly be meeting at Lopez's attorney's office. Lopez managed to halt the release of the tape last week when she was awarded a temporary restraining order by a Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge. Reps for Lopez have not yet commented about the rescheduled hearing.
The singer/actress sat on the panel of the talent show alongside Aerosmith's Steven Tyler and Randy Jackson this year and has since gone on to relaunch her music career with new album Love?, her first record since 2007's Brave. Lopez, who is also working on her own Latin TV talent show, has yet to sign up for the next series of American Idol, and admits she is not sure if it is the right career move for her. She tells Britain's Radio 1, "I don't know, I don't know (whether to go back). I haven't been forced to make a decision (yet) and I'm glad about that because, honestly, I'm very on the fence about it. "I had an amazing time doing it and I loved it, but I have a lot of other things happening. It's going to come down to making a choice of what I want to do for the next year. We're not really at the breaking point of like, 'You have to make a decision right now!' - so I'm not. I'm enjoying the time of just waiting." But Lopez admits she could be heading back to the big screen - as she is in talks to take on a new film role, which begins filming later this year. She adds, "Yes, I'm thinking about doing one (a film) actually in September. I'm heavily into it, deciding. I miss acting - I did TV this year, I did the Idol thing, I've been working on my music for two years and so I haven't done a movie in a minute and then you realize two years have gone by since a movie. I really, really miss it. I wanna get back to it really soon."
So whose career will reap the biggest benefit from all the Idolatry? Scotty McCreery? Lauren Alaina? Try J.Lo. and Steven Tyler. In a once-promising season that saw its brightest lights -- Pia, Casey, James -- systematically fall by the wayside, here's the upshot: While Scotty and Alaina are both two nice, scrubbed-behind-the-ears kids who'd make ideal prom dates, neither looks likely to set the music world on fire, Nashville or wherever. Not only did their respective debut singles fail to debut in the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, but their arrival was even less electrifying over on the country chart. Scotty's I Love You This Big debuted not so big at No. 32, while runner-up Lauren Alaina's Like My Mother Does, bowed at No. 49. By contrast, Season 4 winner Carrie Underwood's Idol coronation song, Inside Your Heaven, entered the Hot 100 chart at No. 1. But when it comes to the career maintenance of its judges, American Idol is indeed a force with which to be reckoned, with Lopez and Tyler capitalizing on their AI exposure like nobody's business. Coming into this past season, neither the World's Most Beautiful Woman (per People magazine) nor the aging rocker were exactly killing it, career-wise. Lopez had parted ways with her longtime label, Epic Records and hadn't had a Top 10 hit since 2003. On the acting side, she hadn't tasted box-office success since 2005's Monster In Law, with her most recent outing, The Back-Up Plan, doing just moderate business. As for 63-year-old Tyler, he had spent a good portion of the previous decade battling his old demons going in and out of rehab and feuding with his bandmates, who hadn't put out a CD since their collection of blues covers, Honkin' on Bobo, in 2004. Cut to 2011. Taking advantage of her built-in, twice-weekly captive audience, Lopez cut in on the Idol contestants' performing time to debut her On the Floor video and subsequently performed the song live last month. The result? A dance club smash that returned Lopez to the top of the pop charts. Tyler, meanwhile, really worked his judging gig to his personal advantage. Although, despite showing a promising spark during the Idol tryouts, his fawning critiques ended up making Paula look opinionated, Tyler managed to ride his new-found fame to noteworthy heights. In addition to using the Idol platform to debut the first solo single of his career -- the Top 40-charting (It) Feels So Good, he plugged his sex-drugs-and-rock'n'roll memoir, Does The Noise in My Head Bother You?, debuting at No. 2 on the New York Times bestselling non-fiction list. And, in case you hadn't noticed that you can't turn on the radio these days without hearing either I Don't Want to Miss a Thing or Dream On, sales of Aerosmith's greatest hits collections have surged more than 250% since Tyler joined the judges' panel. So while the jury may be out on how effectively the addition of Tyler and J. Lo has worked for Idol, there's no doubt about how well Idol's worked for them. Hey Scotty and Lauren Alaina -- that's showbiz.
Which is why it makes perfect sense to us that the American Idol judge will be turning up on HSN July 2 for a whopping eight-hour appearance to shill the latest fragrance in her ever-growing perfume empire, Love and Light. The latest eau de toilette is described as a "sparkling floral, woody fragrance" designed to bring out the singer's more sensual side. Which apparently she's been hiding all these years. Even the bottle was designed to represent the curves of a lady. As for J.Lo's daylong foray onto the airwaves, she's expected to share personal stories about both the development of her latest fragrance (which won't hit department stores until September) and her career in general. In between the awkward pauses and stilted banter. Can't forget those.
J.Lo just scored a restraining order against Claudia Vasquez -- the current girlfriend of her ex-husband Ojani Noa ... the same ex-husband who filmed the honeymoon footage back in 1997 and has been dogging her ever since. We're told Claudia now owns the tape and was trying to take it to market ... but the judge temporarily blocked her bid, on grounds it can't be released without Jennifer's sign off. Claudia tried arguing there's no proof she's trying to sell the tape, but she's not denying it either. The judge apparently thinks Claudia's motives are more sinister.
After a court ruling last week left a producer thinking she can go ahead with a plan to release some of Ojani Noa's way-behind-the-scenes video of his ex-wife, Lopez's legal camp is raring to set the other side straight. In no part of the ruling did the judge say it was cool to peddle an X-rated J.Lo video, attorney Jay Lavely insists to E! News. So, with the letter of the law and protecting Lopez's privates on their minds, her attorneys plan to be in court Monday to ask for a clarification of the ruling. On May 26, a judge determined that, while Noa and his manager Ed Meyer are forbidden to profit off of the Lopez footage, the American Idol judge is not allowed to interfere with Claudia Vasquez's right to make a living. Lavely says that in no way means that Vasquez, who "bought" the rights to Noa's story for $1, can then go ahead and make a movie herself. By "aiding, abetting, assisting, or acting in concert with Noa and Meyer," she is beholden to the same permanent injunction that's keeping them out of the tell-all business, he says. While Vasquez's attorney, M. Chris Armenta, told E! News that his client wants to move forward with a comedic mockumentary about Noa's journey "from Cuban immigrant to husband of Lopez and beyond" that would include actuall footage from their honeymoon, Meyer told us yesterday that there are also porn distributors lining up to get their hands on 20 minutes of nude J.Lo.
Red Light District, YouPorn.com, and PornHub.com are all trying to top each other, with bids hovering in the $40,000 range. Yeah, it seems kinda low, but there's no real sex in the tape ... which is usually a buzz kill. J.Lo tried to block her ex Ojani Noa from releasing the tape -- but last week, an L.A. judge ruled she had no case ... opening the door for a sale. No deal has been struck ... yet -- so you'll just have to rely on your imagination for now.
Since joining the FOX reality show eight months ago, Lopez has enjoyed a career resurgence -- her latest album "Love?" sold well, her single "On The Floor" hit No. 1 on iTunes in 18 countries and People magazine named her The Most Beautiful Woman in the World. So it should seem like a no-brainer that Lopez will return for Season 11, right? Wrong. Lopez has yet to sign on for next season and tells FOX411, "It's too early to tell." The 41-year-old is said to be in contract negotiations with FOX. Steven Tyler will definitely be returning (alongside original judge Randy Jackson) for Season 11 as he signed a multi-year contract, which earned him a reported $18 million for Season 10 alone. Lopez reportedly signed for $12 million. Earlier this week, FOX chief Peter Rice said, "Everyone has multiple-year contracts. Jennifer has [a] single-year contract. We loved having her -- the hope and expectation is she'll return."
That would be a first. But why else do you think Jennifer Lopez, Victoria Beckham and Carrie Underwood were all tottering on their stilettos in the middle of Hollywood Boulevard today? Fuller, founder of XIX Entertainment and creator of the global American Idol juggernaut, received the 2,441st star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame this morning for his considerable accomplishments. (He sold his original powerhouse, 19 Entertainment, for more than $250 million in cash and stock in 2005 and formed XIX last year.) Along with the lovely ladies mentioned above, Lopez hubby Marc Anthony, Ryan Seacrest, Randy Jackson, Idol finalists Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina, past winners Kris Allen and David Cook, and former Idol executive producer and So You Think You Can Dance cocreator Nigel Lythgoe were all on hand to fete Fuller in front of the W Hollywood, across the street from the famed Pantages Theatre. In case the Beckham connection seems kind of random, aside from Victoria's stint as an Idol guest judge last year, remember that Fuller manages both the fashion plate and her soccer stud hubby, David Beckham. Busy guy, that Brit. "Whenever I see that star," Fuller said, "I won't see my name, I'll see all names of the people I've worked [with] and all those amazing artists and people that have helped me achieve this stuff."
He credits Lopez with being concise, and saying what he was thinking but was searching for a diplomatic way to put it. "The next time you have a complaint about me, honey, just think about how effective those critiques are," Anthony says, laughing. "I am thinking of putting a TV camera in the living room. Let's try that approach, honey." Over the years they have always watched "American Idol" critiquing the singers. Now, Anthony watches how Lopez has picked singers and tells Zap2it of her choices, "I usually agreed with my wife. For the most part, 98 percent of the time I would." "Sometimes I am sitting there and thinking there is a critique to be made and (thinking) how exactly would I say that? And she will say that and I would think I am not the smartest man in the room."
Glee's Matthew Morrison's album, which features a track co-written by Season 8 Idol winner Kris Allen, debuts at No. 16, selling 24,000 units. Jennifer Hudson and Mandisa are the only two former Idol finalists with albums in The Billboard 200 this week. Top 10 Neither were the Beastie Boys, whose long-awaited studio album also received a lukewarm reception from music buyers. Jennifer Lopez's "Love?," which has been plugged repeatedly on "American Idol," premiered at No. 2 with 14,000 in sales, while the Beasties' "Hot Sauce Committee Part 2" came in at No. 3, with only 12,000 in sales. The Beasties numbers fell far short of the first week sales for their last proper album, "To the Five Boroughs," which rang up a No. 1 tally of 26,000 in 2004. At the top once again was Adele's "21," which collected another 22,000 in sales. It has now ratcheted up an astounding 206,000 since being released 11 weeks ago. She also snapped up the top spot south of the border again, selling 155,000 copies of "21” in the U.S., according to Billboard.com. Meanwhile, the biggest gainer this week went to Ginette Reno and her disc "La Musique en Moi," which stormed up nine positions to No. 4. Marie-Elaine Thibert's "Je Suis" checked in at No. 5, likewise with Pascale Picard's "Letter To No One" at No. 6, and Richard Desjardins' "L'Existoire" spiralled down five levels to No. 7. Wrapping up the top 10 was Fleet Foxes' "Helplessness Blues" at No. 8, Roch Voisine's "Americana 2" at No. 9, and the charity compilation "Songs For Japan" at No. 10. In the U.S., the Beastie Boys placed second, followed by "Now 38" in third, Fleet Foxes in fourth, and Jennifer Lopez in a distant fifth.
On Thursday, May 5, Jennifer Lopez proved why she is fit to be a judge on "American Idol" when she took the stage to perform her new single "On The Floor," which has hit No. 1 in 18 countries. We were sold on this performance before it even began -- Ryan Seacrest, Randy Jackson and Steven Tyler and their bowl of popcorn were just too cute sitting in the audience waiting for her to begin! The performance started with rapper Pitbull in the audience before working his way on stage, where the music video for the song was playing on the jumbo-screen. Soon, the lady of the hour came out in a glittering gold outfit that showed off Lopez's seriously toned abs. We give Lopez a lot of props for singing live when singing has never been her strongest asset, and you know what? She sounded pretty good. Not Haley Reinhart good, but good nonetheless. It's a club hit -- no crazy vocals are really necessary. As always, Lopez's dance moves were awesome and she worked the stage like a true performer. P.S. How cool was it when Lopez smashed the glass cases, releasing her back-up dancers? So. Bad-A**. What did you think of Jennifer Lopez's performance?
The American Idol host and mother of two sat with E! News yesterday to discuss her new album Love?, and she admitted she seriously ramps up her workouts before shooting music videos that show off her stomach: "You can hide a lot with good clothes, but when you're doing a video, you really can't because the clothes get smaller!" she told E! yesterday in L.A., at her album release party. "It's like all the sudden my stomach's out. Oh no!" She then turns to the same trainer a ton of Hollywood's hot bodies use: Tracy Anderson. Only she steps her workouts up to six times a week. Woah. The mom of twins Emme and Max says her kids are already natural performers like their parents: Emme is a dancer, while Max loves to sing. As for whether she and Marc Anthony want to have any more bambinos, J. Lo's definitely open to the idea. "We love our family and we always think about expanding it," she explained, adding: "If it happens, nobody will be happier than me!"
Jennifer Lopez's latest single — the international smash "On the Floor" — opens with this line: "It's a new generation of party people." And luckily the singer has taken note. Lopez, 41, isn't the same star she was 10 years ago, when she dominated both pop and urban music charts. She struggled with 2005's "Rebirth," and was worse off with "Brave," which came two years later. Lopez has never been a musical icon, and she probably never will be. But she is a great entertainer — and that's reflected throughout most of her seventh album, "Love?" The Pitbull-featured "On the Floor," which has the "party, party, party" vibe that has taken over Top 40 radio, is irresistible and addictive. It was produced by RedOne, the man behind Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" and "Poker Face." The hitmaker also works his magic on the celebratory dance jam "Papi." Lopez also has future hits with the Lil Wayne-assisted "I'm Into You" and "Good Hit," a Fergie-sounding jam produced by The-Dream and Tricky. Lopez is best, though, when she collaborates with producer D'Mile. The two songs — "(What Is) Love?" and "One Love" — were leaked in 2009, but they don't sound dated. They're biographical tunes about Lopez's love life, which includes two failed marriages and stints with Ben Affleck and Diddy. If there's something this girl can sing about, it should be love lapses — and when she does, she does it well. CHECK THIS TRACK OUT: Lopez's strongest vocal performance is all over the groove "(What Is) Love?" It makes her role as a judge on "American Idol" a bit more fitting.
Jennifer Lopez, Love? * * POP Like Paula Abdul before her, Jennifer Lopez was an ironic pick for American Idol judge. Neither woman has much technical ability as a singer, but both have, in their best singles, shown a homegirl-next-door pluck and a less-is-more canniness antithetical to the kind of vocal showboating that Idol regularly champions. So it's disappointing to report that Lopez's new album suffers from such a lack of personality. From the opening hit single On the Floor onward, Love? is long on thumping dance tracks that cast Lopez in various familiar roles: the siren, the loyal nurturer, the hopeless romantic, the prisoner of love. Predictably, an A-list of collaborators is on board, including Tricky Stewart, The-Dream, Stargate and even Lady Gaga (a contributing writer and producer). But their electronically fueled tunes are generally as anonymous as the vocals. Every now and then, glimmers of the street-wise spirit and cool sensuality that could make Lopez appealing as a pop star — and an actress — surface. But more often than not, Love? suggests passion less than product, each song bouncing surely down the assembly line — yet another item in the impressively efficient and resurgent brand that is J. Lo Inc. Download: I'm Into You (featuring Lil' Wayne), Starting Over
The trio announced Wednesday that they are creating "Q'Viva! The Chosen." The show would feature the superstar couple as they travel 21 countries to find the best performers in Latin music, dance and other arts with the goal of creating a live extravaganza. The show's director will be Jamie King. It will be filmed in three languages. Lopez said the show will be groundbreaking. "This is a show for the 21st century with an unprecedented global and local story. The Latin culture is a tapestry that is rich in passion, tradition and artistry," she said. "We are going to places where all of this talent lives and wouldn't have otherwise been discovered." Anthony said the show will "provide an outlet to a whole new generation that have been waiting to have their voices heard." "Q'Viva!" is sponsored by BlackBerry. A statement said more than one network will be involved, but they have yet to be announced. It's unclear when the show will air. Lopez became a judge on "American Idol" this year, and has a new album, "Love?" out next week.
The "American Idol" judge will play Shira, a sabre toothed tiger who catches the heart of Diego, another sabre toothed tiger voiced by Denis Leary. Renner will voice Gutt, a "self-styled master of the high seas." Ray Romano, Josh Peck, Queen Latifah, Seann William Scott and John Leguizamo are all set to return to the franchise. "Ice Age: Continental Drift" is set to hit theaters July 13, 2012.
“I am lucky to have Marc [Anthony],” the American Idol judge said of her husband at the Blackberry Playbook launch, held Tuesday in Los Angeles. “I’m lucky to have such a good partner.” Parenting is a team effort as well. “[Emme and Max] love to download games and go on the computer with Marc,” says Lopez, 41, who’s looking to play a gritty role in her next acting gig. “I don’t know how to do all that. But we watch Disney movies like Tangled.” The ladies of the house also enjoy primping together — and 3-year-old Emme has picked up a few tips from mom. “When I get ready for work we lay everything out – the pants, shoes, earrings, belts,” says Lopez. “[Emme] does that now in her room. She says, ‘Okay, I need pants’ and ‘That matches. I need a barrette.’ It’s crazy!” Her son Max, on the other hand, is all boy. “He’s into breaking things, tearing things down, punching and then saying ‘I’m hitting in a fun way,’” she explains. “He’s that guy.”
Following Casey Abrams' Wednesday night performance of Maroon 5's "Harder to Breathe," the "American Idol" judge commented that Abrams brings out jealousy and anger in others because, "You're so f****** great." The audience, which included its share of tweens and kids, was aghast, but "Idol" executive producer Nigel Lythgoe and Fox head of alternative programing Mike Darnell simply laughed it off. Executive producers Simon Fuller and Cecile Frot-Coutaz were also present for the live show as was Fox Broadcasting chairman Peter Rice. Moments earlier, Casey planted a kiss on Jennifer Lopez's cheek, to which Tyler applauded him for achieving "what I've been trying to do for four months." During the commercial break, a war-room-like huddle formed at the judges' table, with Lythgoe clutching his head as he jokingly dropped to his knees. Said Abrams following the brouhaha: "I kissed Jennifer Lopez and made Steven Tyler swear-- Not a bad night."
The E! News anchor sat down with J.Lo herself for the latest on her Idol employment, plus how the babies have changed her life and what her new album means for the artist as she matures: When asked if she was considering a return to the hit reality series next season, Lopez told Seacrest, "Of course, of course. Here's what's the great thing about this moment for me. There's tons of possibilities, and I'm open to whatever God has in store for me down the line. And whatever it is, I'm going to do my best." What led the megastar to do the show in the first place? Lopez says, "The big major thing when Marc and I sat down and talked about it was, it would be nice to be in one place with the babies. They've been traveling since they were like 3 weeks old. That was a major consideration, too. So when I looked at my whole life and where I was, and the kind of freedoms that I had to choose to do what I wanted to do...I went with my gut." And why are so many good things happening at once for the singer, actress and Most Beautiful Woman Alive? She told Seacrest: "I'm just happy in that—in my life, in my skin, in my body, in what I have to offer, and finally, it's just comfortable with myself in the best way...And I think the babies had a lot to do with that." Awww... So what's driving Lopez's suddenly resurgent singing career? Lopez puts it down to her accumulated life wisdom, saying, "A lot of people can sing, as you can see when we're on the road, but artists have a message—[a message] to express to the world, and you have a point of view. Whatever that is, if you think of the great artists of our time: Bruce Springsteen, it's that working man's struggle; or Madonna, challenging religion and sex; or Michael Jackson, who wanted to spread love in the world in his way. Everybody has a message, and it becomes part of your expression, and that comes through in the music. And that's what I try to tell the kids, it's not just about getting up there and who hits the biggest notes—as you see, that doesn't keep you on the show. It's about who can connect, who can make somebody feel something, smile, and think and go, 'Oh, I love that song!' That's what being an artist is: Do you feel what I feel?" Do you love J.Lo as judge? Would you prefer she stick with Idol, or should she get her own show?
The show, tentatively titled Que Viva, is being developed in conjunction with American Idol producer Simon Fuller and his XIX Entertainment. All of this calls to question Lopez's future on Idol, especially since she's only signed through the current season. It's unlikely that she'll bounce after just one season, given its success, according to EW. Perhaps Lopez's schedule is about to get fuller. But then, so will ours: She'll have us watching rap and Latin American music. And all the while, we'll be doing this. Will you watch this proposed J.Lo show?
Casey Abrams' performance of Have You Ever Seen the Rain pushed the Creedence Clearwater Revival tune into Nielsen SoundScan's list of the 200 top-selling digital tracks. It had 9,000 downloads -- a 365% increase over the previous week. Jennifer Lopez feat. Pitbull, On the Floor (120,000 weekly, -7%, 1.109 million total) "I feel not worthy, you know?" was how Lopez reacted to the mag when she found out the news. The American Idol judge, looking absolutely flawless on the spring-inspired pink and green cover, discussed with the mag her makeup-free days from the show, skin-care regimen, diet, kids and hubby Marc Anthony. Read on to find out when the mom to twins Max and Emme is the happiest...and who else was happy to join her on People's Most Beautiful list... On landing the 22nd annual "World's Most Beautiful" coveted cover spot, Lopez said she felt "happy and proud" after the initial shock wore off. "It's so crazy. Rarely am I left speechless, but I feel honored." the hard-working reality judge and L'Oréal model said, adding that she feels better now than she did in her 30s. "I feel better, I feel smarter," she said. "In my 20s, I just wasn't there in my mind and my soul and my spirit. It's just great to be in the position I'm in now and be able to share that with the world." As for her striking beauty and that gorgeous face, Lopez says the real trick to her glow is due to the abundance of "love" in her life and insists that the real beauty in a person comes from their heart. And J.Lo says that even though she's considered hot, she doesn't get any compliments from men because "they're afraid of Marc." After revealing that she was prematurely gray at 23 and that her upper thighs are a real problem, it's on to the topic of her famous booty: "It became this huge thing. No pun intended!" she says. The 41-year-old also spent some time clearing up other "big" rumors: No, her body is not insured for a million dollars; no, she doesn't have a diamond-encrusted toilet seat or a glam squad of 50; and yes, she spray tans. The other beautiful people in the mag's double issue are listed in subcategories of hotness; here are a few of our faves: In the "Not a Drop of Makeup," pages, 10 women were snapped looking fresh-faced in nothing but moisturizer and lip balm. Dancing With the Stars turned Footloose star Julianne Hough is stunning in a full-page closeup. Joy Bryant, Anne Heche, Kaley Cuoco, Mandy Moore, Nikita star Maggie Q, Pretty Little Liars star Lucy Hale, Cheryl Burke, Angie Harmon and Hayden Panettiere all made the list. The mag's got the older eye candy covered too, picking 57-year-old Christie Brinkley as the leadoff in that category; she credits her youthful look to blotting her makeup with a wet washcloth after applying. Also making the list are Stacey Dash, 44, Lucy Liu, 42, Jennifer Beals, 47, and Dana Delany looking superhot at 55. In the "Beautiful Minds" category, Ivy League intellects Anna Paquin, Jordana Brewster, Tatyana Ali, Amanda Peet and Ellie Kemper and The Office star Mindy Kaling all made the list for their smarts. Watch out, curves ahead! Listed under "Year of the Bombshell" are hourglass honeys like Jessica Simpson, Sofia Vergara, Paula Patton and Christina Hendricks, who says she's probably at her sexiest while "at home cooking." A huge chunk of the mag is dedicated to stars' beauty sleep. Katie Holmes gets six hours a night, while newly single Jessica Biel counts sheep and has insomnia. Halle Berry needs nine hours, while Christina Aguilera and Jessica Alba get a solid eight. Cutie Amanda Seyfried needs 10 hours, while Beyoncé usually can't shut off her brain for the night. And finally, some familiar names are back, with some "Hall of Famers" making the list—again and again and again. Berry leads with a whopping 15 times, with Julia Roberts coming in second with 12 appearances. This issue marks Lopez's 10th "Most Beautiful" appearance, tied only with George Clooney, followed by nine-time hottie Brad Pitt. Hats off to all the Hollywood hotties who made the list!
But at home with husband Marc Anthony and their 3-year-old twins, Max and Emme, Lopez is a zero-makeup kind of mom. "That's when I'm my happiest," she says in this week's exclusive cover story. "Just being able to touch my face and rub my eyes and put my fingers in my hair and not having to worry about messing it up. It's so much better." From her skincare regimen to her grueling workouts and portion-controlled diet, Lopez says she makes a concerted effort to stay in top form. "The thing is, it's part of my job," says the singer, who ran a triathlon six months after she gave birth. "I don't want anybody thinking it's easy. It does take time and it's hard work. HDTV wide-screen is nobody's friend!" Lopez, 41, also has learned valuable beauty tips over the years, and says daughter Emme is starting to prove she's her mother's child. "She is very girly-girl, just like me since I was very little. She loves for me to paint her nails," Lopez says. "She lays out her clothes on the floor like I do with my stylist and she's like, 'This matches very good!' " And what about son Max? "He wants to paint his nails too. Because for him, it's just paint. He's like, 'I want the blue!'" Lopez says, laughing. "Then Marc is like, 'Why are Max's nails painted?!' But he won't sit still so it's only like two nails." As for being called a "diva," she says, "I kind of like it. We've kind of owned it now. But I certainly don't like and I've never been a person who has what they call 'diva behavior,' which is something they tried to pin on me for a long time." For more of Lopez's exclusive interview, in which she sets the record straight on all the rumors, pick up this week's special issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday.
The singer/actress tops the publication's list of the world's most attractive celebrities, ahead of Zac Efron at number two and Reese Witherspoon at three. Other stars to make the top 10 include Jessica Simpson, Katie Holmes and Jennifer Hudson. To celebrate, Lopez has shared her beauty tips with the publication, revealing looking good is just part of her life in the public eye. She says, "The thing is, it's part of my job. I don't want anybody thinking it's easy. It does take time and it's hard work. HDTV wide-screen is nobody's friend!"
And more announcements are on the way. On Wednesday morning (Apr. 13), the full list of nominees will be unveiled at a press conference in Las Vegas, where the Billboard Music Awards will be broadcast live on ABC. More announcements will roll out as the date approaches, so stay tuned to Billboard.com in the coming weeks for the latest updates. Tickets for the Billboard Music Awards start at $57.75 and are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com. The Billboard Music Awards will reflect Billboard's chart rankings based on key fan interactions with music, including album, single and digital sales, radio play, touring, streaming and social interactions on MySpace, Facebook and other popular online destinations for music. These measurements are tracked year-round by Billboard and its data partners. The awards will be based on the reporting period of February 28, 2010 through March 1, 2011. Top artists will be recognized in a variety of genres, including R&B, Rap, Pop, Country, Rock, Latin and Alternative. "This show marks the first of several broadcast platforms we plan to build around the Billboard franchise," said Richard D. Beckman, CEO of Prometheus Global Media, which owns Billboard. "We have an incredible network partner and with Don Mischer, one of the finest producers in the world. We look forward to entertaining music fans with Billboard's own rendition of a televised celebration of music."
"She was one of the most talented singers we had," Lopez said, calling into Ryan Seacrest's KIIS-FM radio show Friday morning. "I'm still shocked." Why does Lopez think Toscano was eliminated? "Honestly, I don't know what happened," she said. "[Maybe] people thought she was safe, as I did ... Maybe there was something that wasn't connecting [with the audience] that we didn't see." Lopez, who likened the ousted singer to a prized student, said she and her fellow judges – Randy Jackson and Steven Tyler – pushed Toscano every week because they had high standards for her and saw her talent. "Honestly, I always had the best intentions," Lopez said. "I just wanted to see the growth every week. I wanted her to shine." After the show, Lopez, who cried at the decision, came up on stage and had a heart-to-heart with Toscano. "I told her to stay pure in her heart, to have faith and to know that if this wasn't the path for her that there was something bigger for her," Lopez said, recalling their conversation. "That there is something bigger for her. And I believe that."
The Official Charts Company said Adele's "21" and "19" albums clung to the No. 1 and No. 2 spots in the longplayer chart, seeing off new entries from "X Factor" contestant Mary Byrne, indie band Radiohead and U.S. diva Britney Spears. Adele, whose rendition of ballad "Someone Like You" at the 2011 BRIT awards in February won over a new army of fans, has been at the peak of the album charts for 10 weeks -- a run of success not seen since Dire Strait's "Brothers In Arms" in 1986. Her second album "21" -- the year's best-selling LP -- racked up more than 250,000 sales this week, enjoying a 65 percent boost in the run-up to Mothering Sunday. "Someone Like You" has also become 2011's top selling single. J-Lo's single, featuring rapper Pitbull, is her third No. 1 hit, selling more than 130,000 copies this week.
But with adrenaline pumping and emotions running high, was that the right choice? Most definitely, insists Jennifer Lopez. "It was crazy. And we knew that it was kind of a radical decision because it was so early in the season," the judge explained to Ryan Seacrest on his KIIS-FM radio show Wednesday. So Lopez, Steven Tyler and Randy Jackson made the tough decision. "To be quite honest, there's been decisions that we've made or that I've thought about and I've made and I've pushed for that I thought, 'Oh God, did we do the right thing?' " Lopez said. "But that's one decision that I have not lost one ounce of sleep over. I just knew it was the right thing. Randy knew it was the right thing. Steven knew it was the right thing. This is one of our most dynamic performers. He's so interesting. He's so talented. I know it's crazy but we have to do it." Even with the risks – the judges are now out of saves for the rest of the season – Lopez says the timing was perfect. "I feel really good about that, too," she says. "Now, it's up to America. I really feel we've put 11 amazing contestants in front of them and now it's [a question of] who they're favorite is, who's going to be their American Idol. I feel really good about putting that in their hands." And, Lopez tells Seacrest, she's relishing the drama of those moments. "I've been having a ball with it," she says. "I love working with all you guys and it's just been a lot of fun. I didn't realize that I was going to fall in love with all the contestants the way I have and feel for them the way I do. It's just been a great, great experience for me." Even one that she says was meant to be: "I've been watching at home for so long," she says, "but it's like this is where I'm supposed to be sitting." Still, Lopez has a packed schedule coming up, including touring for her music, and won't nail down whether she'll be back next season. "We'll see," she says. "All of the prospects are exciting."
Yet it has, not just in the ratings — which show some natural erosion but not the precipitous drop many expected — but also in critical and viewer reaction. Much of the credit goes to returning producer Nigel Lythgoe, whose tweaks lend the show a renewed energy, and to the contestants, a more varied and entertaining group than last year's crew. But main credit goes to the judges who chose those singers. If newcomers Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler and returnee Randy Jackson have made Idol more enjoyable, it's as much for what they're not doing as what they are. Gone are the bickering, flirting, inane jabber, failed attempts at humor and nastiness for nastiness' sake. It may have been worth losing Cowell, as worthy a critical force as he was, to be spared the school-boy banter between him and Ryan Seacrest. "Better," of course, does not mean perfect. The set can be too busy, the sound too mushy, and there have been far too many times when the panel should have ignored the singers and slammed the overly intrusive new music producers. And while I don't miss Cowell's fondness for cruel jabs, I do miss his honesty and his perspicacity: There are moments you can almost hear him screaming "self-indulgent" or "ghastly." Clearly, there's room for improvement. Now that they're in the live-show stretch, a few pointers for the panel: Jennifer Lopez. One of the surprises and joys of the season has been watching her blossom as a TV star, a far warmer and more appealing presence than many would have guessed. And last week, she found a way to retain that warmth while offering more pointed, relevant remarks, the only way for a judge to aid the better singers and weed out weaker ones. Let's hope she stays on that path. Steven Tyler. Like Lopez, he's been a surprisingly joyful addition, pairing a bit of Paula Abdul's loopiness with more musical credibility. But unlike Lopez, he still seems to be searching for his judicial role. So here's a suggestion: Start paying attention to when singers are ignoring the meaning of the lyrics or indulging themselves at the expense of the song, and call them on it. Oh, and enough with the cursing. Children in the theater shouldn't have to hear it, and parents at home shouldn't have to explain the "bleeps." Randy Jackson. Congratulations to Jackson for stepping it up, being more critical more often and expanding beyond "pitchy." Now, please drop the name dropping. It makes it look like you're trying to convince us you deserve the job; that just makes people wonder if you do.
Her Ladyship, who started out as a songwriter for Britney Spears, Fergie and The Pussycat Dolls before she became the pantsless performer she is today, is still penning and producing behind the scenes. And it turns out contributed two songs to J.Lo's Love? says überproducer RedOne. Really? "For those who don't know, @ladygaga produced/wrote with me TWO records for @JLo, "Invading my Mind and an other one coming SOOON!!! OMG!!!" Besides working for the Idol judge, the "Poker Face" singer has also penned tracks for American Idol alum Adam Lambert, who has said he feels "lucky" to have worked with Gaga. Gaga can really crank 'em out. She once boasted that she wrote "Just Dance" in 10 minutes flat.
The American Idol judge's new track has leaked online The song, from her upcoming Island Def Jam album "Love?," follows "On the Floor," which features Pitbull. "Invading My Mind" is all about Lopez, though, and is a high energy, super-dance-y track.
Tonight, however, a couple of audience members were none-too-pleased by J.Lo and Stefano's quick interaction before he found out his Idol fate. What exactly did they have to say to the judge? In case you didn't hear it at home, two ladies up above the stage yelled down to Jennifer, "You're married!" and pointed out her husband Marc Anthony in the audience right after she and Stefano exchanged words (and more flirty looks). J.Lo didn't react to the scolding from the two women, but some of the people sitting around the yellers seemed taken aback. But not all the behind-the-scenes action was about shouting down to judges and questioning their devotion to their spouses. Here are other tidbits that went down while the cameras were off: As soon as the cameras were off after the "Born to Be Wild/Born This Way" number, the group seem to collapse into hugs and relief at having gotten through the dancing and singing without mishap. The award for "unsure of what to do with ourselves" during the Black Eyed Peas number goes to Paul McDonald and Scotty McCreery. Those two went with clapping their hands everyone once in awhile, with a head bob thrown in here and there for good measure. Most of the Idols seemed anxious to meet and hug the members of the Black Eyed Peas, but Stefano and Naima Adedapo practically threw themselves into Fergie's arms. Those who looked nervous before any results were announced: James Durbin, Jacob Lusk, Thia Megia and Karen Rodriguez. Everyone else relaxed and goofed around with their fellow contestants. Stefano and Naima looked particular chummy. When season nine winner Lee DeWyze started preparing for his performance of "Beautiful Like You," both Randy Jackson and Ryan Seacrest ambushed him to give him a bro hug and chat for awhile. Do you think they all still keep in touch? Maybe via Twitter. The biggest celebration after finding out they were safe came from James the rocker, who jumped up and down on his way back to the couch. Despite being in the bottom-three chairs, Naima and Haley Reinhart remained calm, cool, and friendly with each other. At one point, Naima was playing with Haley's hair during a commercial break. Lauren Alaina and Paul passed the time on the safe couch by giggling and shoving each other like a pair of lovesick teenagers. Adorable, no? After Idol signed off for the night, the embraces for Karen went on long after the cameras shut down. All the judges and every single contestant stayed up on the stage until they all got hugs and some words with ther eliminated contestant. At the end, Lauren exited the stage leaning heavily on Jacob.
Suddenly, Lopez is everywhere again. "It wasn't some grand master plan we had — it just kind of worked out that way," she says. "I was working on a record, looking at some films. The American Idol thing was offered to me months and months before. I really wasn't considering it. They came back again. Then I started thinking about it." A fan of the show, she made a gut decision to join Idol. "All of a sudden, it just got busy. The record came out, the show was on and it's been so much fun. I really feel blessed and lucky." Lopez's On the Floor music video, which premiered March 3 on Fox's top-rated Idol, has generated more than 30 million YouTube views. The single is No. 2 on Billboard's digital songs chart, with 609,000 downloads sold, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Her seventh studio album, Love?, hits the streets in April. And Lopez, along with fellow Idol judge Steven Tyler, is part of what many praise as the revitalization of a singing competition that had been in a slump. Throw in high-profile endorsement deals with L'Oréal and Gillette, along with a Fox deal that includes a movie component, and the spotlight is shining brightly on the singer/actress. Married to singer Marc Anthony and the mother of 3-year-old twins, Lopez, 41, is at a different point in her life than she was in the '90s as a determined rising star or later as a ubiquitous celebrity whose personal life attracted as much attention as her professional one. Lopez says the album reflects her current state. "It's very much me, but it's the evolution of me. It's not me in 2000 when I did Waiting for Tonight. It's me today. And I'm very proud of that." Looking, sounding good Seated in a hotel suite, the ever-fashionable Lopez is outfitted in a royal-blue-and-white floral frock ("a flirty summer dress," she says) with a yellow patent belt and blue suede snakeskin platforms. She's energetic in conversation, raising her voice for emphasis and even breaking briefly into one of her songs — "I was down for the count, feeling like I've come to the end" — to illustrate one of the many facets of love expressed in her new album. One type of love she now knows is that of being a mother to Emme and Max. "Those babies for me are the most important thing. Their happiness, their health. That's the one thing I lose sleep over, because I am working a lot more now," she says. "It's a balancing act, a juggling act, just like for any working mom." Benny Medina, Lopez's manager, says her time off to have children, a recent music-label switch from Sony to Island Def Jam and the deal with Fox came at the right time. "The family that she has built has made her a whole human being, a whole artist and a whole force to be reckoned with," he says. She says she doesn't worry whether that break diminished her stardom. "I just think about evolving and growing, and doing whatever I did this time better than whatever I did last time." Her recent movie and music ventures haven't had the commercial success of her earlier work. Two 2007 albums, Como ama una Mujer and Brave, sold fewer than 400,000 combined, falling far short of previous multiplatinum releases. Last year's romantic comedy The Back-up Plan earned a modest $38 million at the domestic box office. "We could politely say she was on a (career) plateau," says San Diego Union-Tribune pop music critic George Varga. As much as anything, Idol has put Lopez back in the public eye. The Fox singing competition is averaging 25.1 million viewers this season, a much better performance than many expected after the departure of alpha-judge Simon Cowell. "She looks amazing, she's the heart of the show, she's sincere. It's clear she cares about the kids. She's just doing wonderfully," Fox reality chief Mike Darnell says. "She's the most emotionally connected judge I've ever seen." Star status hasn't affected Lopez behind the scenes. "She has been a pleasure to work with, always on time, willing to go the extra mile," Darnell says. Lopez says she's delighted with the work, especially collaborating with fellow judges Tyler and Randy Jackson and host Ryan Seacrest. She views them as the brothers she didn't have growing up. "It's a lot of fun. Taking a journey with the contestants has also been exhilarating," she says. "I know exactly what they're feeling and their hopes and their dreams and what they want to do in that moment." Such empathy led to some emotional on-camera moments for the judge, who cried after eliminating Chris Medina (no relation to Benny), a contestant whose fiancée suffered a traumatic brain injury. "I've had very vulnerable moments on the show where I've felt exposed, one moment in particular, but that is who I am. I actually cried a lot more than they showed. They didn't exploit it or make it cheap. They captured the real emotion of what was happening in the moment," she says. The revelation of a more personal side has benefited Lopez, Varga says. "Her down-to-earth appeal has pretty well erased the spoiled diva image that had followed her for so many years. And that's something no amount of money can buy," he says. 'The human side of me' Lopez was initially surprised that people saw her Idol persona as a different side of her. "I always thought people were getting that over the years, but what they were really getting was the entertainer side of me, the performer side of me," she says. Now, "they're actually getting to see the human side of me, because there is no script and there is nothing but me and how I feel and what I think and my emotions, whether that's laughing at the top of my lungs or shedding a tear over a mom who is singing for her child." She disagrees with those who say the panel isn't critical enough of the singers. "We do give constructive criticism. People are used to hearing it in a different way, but if they are really listening to the critiques, they'll hear us correcting them," she says. "We just don't feel we need to deliver it in a negative fashion where they're not going to really hear it." Idol has helped with exposure on the music side of Lopez's career, particularly with the premiere of On the Floor. "Clearly, the American Idol platform gave her immediate visibility that we couldn't possibly have gotten so quickly," says Antonio "L.A." Reid, the album's executive producer. "But then people love the song and people love seeing her in that element and dancing and having a great time. I think she nailed it creatively." The Idol effect is more than raw viewer numbers, too, says Maxim editor in chief Joe Levy. "She is now in front of what may be the only passionate music-buying audience outside of Lady Gaga's Monsters and Glee fans." The album is biographical, at least to a degree, and Lopez says she's OK if people speculate about which songs and verses may relate to a life they know so well. ("Well, they think they do," she says with a laugh.) "This is not a negative album in any way," she says. "It's really a great dance-pop-urban album that talks about all of the different facets of love in all its glory and all its pain." For that, she credits new label Island Def Jam and producers she worked with, including RedOne, Tricky Stewart and The Dream. "I feel glad to be with people who believe in me and who are just as excited about the rest of my music career as I am," she says. Ready for drama — film drama On the movie front, Lopez says she wants to find a good drama. "I was just saying last night to Marc, 'I am so ready to just bite into some role so hard.' And he said, 'I know, I can feel your creative juice going crazy.' " As with the public, Hollywood is seeing a different side of Lopez, too, Benny Medina says. "There's a quality of filmmakers and other creative people in the industry that are being drawn to work with her. One of the greatest byproducts of this particular time is this new introduction of Jennifer Lopez to a community that's always known her but had misconceptions about her." There are some promising scripts, and he says she could be doing a movie by the fall. Aside from the high-profile campaigns familiar to Idol viewers, the Lopez brand includes appearing with her children in ads for Gucci's children's collection and a joint project at Kohl's with Anthony, his and hers clothing lines, and a line of home products that will be available in the fall. "We challenge each other in a way that only the two of us could," she says. "It's awesome." Lopez says she's satisfied as long as she's moving forward. But she likes having a hit, too. "I'm proud of the things I have done over the years. Whether they've had the biggest commercial success or not, I still feel like I've been on a journey and I've been growing and evolving, and that's exciting," she says. The success of the single is just "icing on the cake. Big icing. I love icing."
What the heck had J.Lo done in 2010? But in January 2011, it became clear exactly what the popstar-actress had done in 2010: She'd said "yes" to being a judge on American Idol. While Steven Tyler mutters incoherent garble to her right, and Randy Jackson says "dawg" and "pitchy" on repeat to her left, Lopez, 41, provides clear, quoteable commentary and gets emotionally invested in the singoff's contestants all while looking impossibly gorgeous. In other words, Season 10 of American Idol -- which airs its Top 12 performance episode tonight on Fox and CTV -- has made us fall in love with Jenny from the Block all over again. Here are five reasons why: 1. She's honest, but not brutal Nothing good can come out of a sentence J.Lo begins with "sweetie" or "baby". And if her lips look pouty, forget it -- she's about to send someone home or tell them they suck. But no one lets 'em down gentler than Lopez. Ashthon Jones nodded in agreement when Jenny revealed she was not getting saved by the judges last week. Either it was easier coming from Lopez than Tyler or Jackson (because we know how vicious they are), or Jones finally realized she was no Diana Ross. Whatever the case, Lopez's sugar-coated approach seems to be just as effective as gone-but-not-forgotten Simon Cowell's way of making contestants swallow bitter truth pills. 2. She lets her emotions get in the way A reality TV judge who actually feels something? How rare! But J.Lo isn't afraid to put her compassion on display for millions to see. "I don't want to do this anymore," she sobbed after reluctantly telling fan favourite Chris Medina he hadn't made the Top 24. The breakdown became one of the most popular Idol videos to Google this season -- second only to the clip of Medina's audition, where he melted hearts with his tragic story about his wheelchair-bound fiancee. Come to think of it, I really do miss that guy. Thanks a lot, J.Lo! 3. She makes sense And by this we mean we're not questioning the contents of her Coke cup every time she opens her mouth (bless your heart, Paula). Even so-called music expert Kara DioGuardi couldn't critique the contestants without glancing at Simon Cowell for approval. J.Lo makes clear to contestants what they did right and what they need to work on, speaking in soundbytes to boot ("That was more hair-tossing than me and Beyonce put together in the past 10 years!"). Best female judge yet. 4. She's hot! Remember when J.Lo used to date Ben Affleck, sing Love Don't Cost a Thing and wear dresses with necklines down to her navel? Well she's still as naturally stunning now as she was then -- maybe even more so to the many men out there with hot-momma fantasies. The mom of three-year-old twins and wife of singer-slash-lucky-man Marc Anthony brings the heat to Idol's panel, with her ever-changing hairdos (from 1960s bombshell waves to headscarves to chic topknots), sultry makeup (those red lips!) and loud accessories (eat your heart out, Steven Tyler). 5. Did we mention, she's hot? Topping the pop charts is something Paula Abdul could have only dreamed of during her eight years as a judge on Idol. (Remember Dance Like There's No Tomorrow? Yeah, us neither.) But it only took a couple of months of primetime exposure for Jenny to rejuvenate her music career. Sure, her dance track On the Floor (feat. Pitbull) is formulaic as can be -- but it's resting at No. 2 on both iTunes and Billboard's Canadian Hot 100. Not bad for someone we were far from fascinated with back in 2010.
The rapper will perform his latest single Coming Home, mentor the show's contestants and dress them in his Sean John designs on an episode due to air next month (Apr11). And he insists he can't wait to spend some quality time with his former lover, who is wowing critics as a judge on the hit talent contest. He says, "She’s just looking so good. You’ve got to give it to her for having twins and to be doing it how she’s doing it. I’m so proud of her." Combs is also a big fan of her judging skills, telling news show Access Hollywood, "The way she handled coming after (former Idol judge) Simon (Cowell)... she’s been, like, a compassionate person. She has made me cry, like, twice, and she’s looked good doing it. And she has made sense. "She’s a nice person (and)... when you’re super nice, your emotions get the best of you. It’s good though, it’s good to see that change in the competitive shows. I think she’s very refreshing." Lopez broke down in tears on the show last week when she had to send a favourite contestant, Chris Medina, home.
Her standard mode is beautiful, articulate, smart and totally intimidating, so when she spontaneously cries onscreen or even just gets a little sentimental, we are fascinated. At last night's American Idol finalists bash in Hollywood, Lopez gave E! News another little peek inside her world when she revealed which of the top 24 she most wanted to keep—but couldn't—and why they struggled to pick a wildcard. Watch and learn what J.Lo thinks of the top 13 and the ones that got away: Picking a wildcard was anything but easy, Lopez tells E! News: "It was very hard, and we weren't ready. It was tough—it was really tough. We decide how many people we wanted to sing and OK now they sang and they did pretty good. It was hard. I love them all. "They're all so talented, they're all doing so great. It's amazing how they come through when they need to." It was also tough for Lopez to let go of some of her faves from the top 24. When asked which ones she most regretted losing, Lopez said, "Robbie [Rosen], Kendra [Chantelle]...Jovany [Barreto]. All of 'em." She also reminisced about her tears after the elimination of Chris Medina, telling us, "I realize now when I watch the show that I started getting emotional before that happened—like it was building up—and each person was getting tougher and tougher. By the time I had to tell Chris, I did it without breaking down in front of him, but afterward, I had to take a minute. This is tough, this is hard, these kids, all their hopes and dreams are hanging on this moment, and I know what that feels like." Speaking of kids, Lopez's twins, Max and Emme, cannot be counted among Idol's millions and millions of devoted fans. Lopez tells us, "They don't sit still long enough to watch [the show]. The only thing they sit still for is The Chipmunks—she's like, 'Mommy, you be Theodore.' 'OK, I'll be Theodore.' " (So cute!)
It marks Lopez's first top 10 as a lead artist since the four-week No. 1 "All I Have," featuring LL Cool J, in 2003. That song also marked her previous highest debut, having arrived at No. 25 at the end of 2002. Her Island Def Jam label synched its digital release with the premiere of its video on Thursday's "Idol" episode. The song, with Pitbull as a featured vocalist, precedes the April 19 release of Lopez's seventh album, "Love?" "On the Floor" also marks Lopez's 10th Hot 100 top 10, a sum that includes four No. 1s. She last reached the top 10 as a featured artist on LL Cool J's "Control Myself" in 2006. Divas dominated the Hot 100 headlines, as Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" spent a third week at No. 1, dating to its debut on top two weeks ago. With cumulative digital sales of 1.2 million downloads, it's the fifth-best-selling song this year. At three weeks atop the Hot 100, "Born" ties Gaga's 2009 debut single "Just Dance" for the longest of her three chart reigns. ("Poker Face" ruled the chart for a week in 2009.) Cee Lo Green's "F*** You (Forget You)" was No. 2 for a second week, Bruno Mars' "Grenade" held at No. 3, Pink's "F**kin' Perfect" rebounded two to No. 4, and Rihanna's "S&M" jumped two to No. 5. Katy Perry's "Firework" slipped one to No. 6, but the pop singer also soared 20 to No. 8 with "E.T.," featuring Kanye West. In between, Enrique Iglesias' "Tonight (I'm Lovin' You)" jumped two to No. 7. Dr. Dre's "I Need a Doctor," featuring Eminem and Skylar Grey, fell six to No. 10.
The cartoon-themed afternoon party took place in the backyard, which had to be tented after a rainstorm threatened to dampen the celebration. Among the 50 guests were Gwen Stefani accompanied by husband Gavin Rossdale and sons Kingston, 4½, and Zuma, 2½, as well as Leah Remini with her daughter Sofia, 6½. The party featured moon bouncers, cotton candy machines and a huge cake. Festive cartoon character balloons decorated the backyard and guests received gift bags upon leaving the party. “Jennifer was very excited to celebrate her babies’ birthday,” a source tells PEOPLE. “She went all out and everyone had a great time at the party.” On Max and Emme’s actual birthday on Feb. 22, Lopez Tweeted, “It’s my coconuts bday 2day!!! HAPPY BDAY my beautiful babies … you’re 3 2day and Mama’s SO proud! There are no words 4 how much I love u!!”
Seacrest says that they saw "raw, authentic, genuine emotion" during that segment and J.Lo agrees. "I didn't break down when he was there, necessarily. After he left, it really hit me. I just couldn't believe that I had to deliver this news to this person who I felt had been through a lot and is going through a lot," says Lopez. "I felt like I didn't do it well enough for him, to send him where he needed to go in his life and be OK. I didn't want to be part of that ... he handled it with so much dignity and so much class and that made it worse for me. [laughs] I'm just like, 'Oh, he's so awesome. I respect this person so much.'" "That was a moment that I didn't expect to be on camera, in the show. It was really hard," she continues. "I was struggling. I was struggling with how to tell him. It's funny because when we were going down the list, I didn't realize that I had to tell him. All of a sudden it was my turn and I'm like, 'How am I gonna say this?'" But on the other hand, Lopez is glad that kind of struggle has been shown on the show because "people are really getting to know who [she is] as a person." As far as the show as a whole is going, J.Lo is optimistic that people will continue to tune in, both this season and next. "I just think if we do a good job right now, people will tune in later and I think we're doing a good job right now," says Lopez. "We're being honest, we're being real, we've having fun and I think that's all we have to do." "American Idol" airs Wednesday and Thursday nights at 8 p.m. ET/PT on FOX.
Chris dealt well with the rejection: He thanked the judges for the touching moment during auditions when they met with his wheelchair-bound fiancée, Juliana, who'd been hurt terribly in a car accident. Because of that opportunity, he said, "Juliana's more popular than I am." Jennifer, on the other hand, suffered what Ryan Seacrest described as "an unprecedented meltdown." Well, no, it wasn't as histrionic as that, but she broke down in tears, over and over – from having to tell Chris bad news, in particular, but possibly from the strain of crushing the dreams of so many singers. A viewer couldn't help noticing, meanwhile, that the cable box indicated that the show's two hours were up, and we didn't know much at this point beyond the fact that Clint Jun Gamboa was in, and so were the striking Naima Adedapo and the Cat Stevens-like Paul McDonald. As Steven Tyler and Randy Jackson consoled Jennifer, telling her she'd been considerate and couldn't fault herself, Ryan was wondering aloud whether they'd have to carry on without her. At that point the screen gave way to this message: "To Be Continued." I'd say it was a bizarre night. The first hour, in which those initial 61 contestants were reduced to 40, saw everyone bused to Las Vegas to pool once more into groups to sing the Beatles. In a free moment before going onstage to perform a duet of "We Can Work It Out" with Sophia Shorai, Ashley Sullivan ducked out and came back Ashley Suraiva. She married her boyfriend, David, in the same chapel where Britney Spears tied the knot in 2004. "You're going through with it," Ashley told her husband-to-be on the way to the chapel, "or I'll kill you in your sleep." Then Mrs. Suraiva sang, and not too well. "It was not hot today," Randy said in heavy tones. Or as Steven put it, "Yikes." She was among the singers cut. And yet Ashley, whose sobbing storms would once have made Jennifer look like a stoic, didn't seem all that upset. She was still in a happy honeymoon daze. Good for her. The Beatles portion proved again that this could be a bumper crop of Idol talent. As in Idols past, many of these singers are too young to know much of the Beatles' catalog. So we always get a lot of "The Long and Winding Road" and no "Happiness Is a Warm Gun." But their interpretations of the standards were often surprisingly fresh. One of the few weak performances, in fact, was Chris Medina's duo with Casey Abrams of "A Hard Days Night." They were dressed as the Blues Brothers and bouncing around on a prop bed. But Chris's character and his personal story made for some genuinely verklempt moments. So long.
The video is directed by Taj Stansberry, aka TAJ, whom Lopez has worked with previously. Choreographer Frank Gatson had an interesting take on the vibe of the video. "[We're trying to create a vibe] that's so amazing. [It's like] everybody had some watermelon and the watermelon made them high, it gave them a little buzz -- but a good buzz, a real magical buzz, a dance buzz, a buzz that makes you feel like fried chicken, so she just wants everybody to have a good old time. The club must have this vibe, where you get on the floor and everybody's bringing it," he says. "We've seen so many club videos, but we want to see a club video with a vibe unique to Jennifer Lopez." Watch a preview below and be sure to tune in to "Idol" on March 3 for the whole shebang. (Video)
A source close to X Factor tells PEOPLE: "Jennifer really wanted to do X Factor, but Simon Cowell and the show's producers pulled out of negotiations out of respect for Fox [which airs Idol]." The source adds: "She wanted to do X Factor because it was a new show with a potentially younger audience, but she was independently also in talks with American Idol at the same time. When Simon found that out, X Factor immediately pulled out of the negotiations." X Factor debuts this fall.
A.I. producers, that's who. "They've asked me to. And they've also asked Steve [Tyler]," Lopez just told me at the UNICEF Women of Compassion luncheon honoring Gucci creative director Frida Giannini. "We'll see." However, Ms. Lopez said... She is finishing up the music video for her new single "On the Floor." "We just heard the single on the radio on way over here," said Lopez, who was looking pretty flawless in Gucci. "It's very exciting. [The video] should be out in a few days. Maybe we'll debut the video on Idol." Meanwhile, Lopez said working with organizations like UNICEF has become even more meaningful since she and hubby Marc Anthony had their twins, Emme and Max (they turn three on Feb. 22). "When you become a mom," she said, "you do get that feeling in a sense that every child in the world could be your child and that's why you want to help." What about plans for expanding their own brood? "I think Marc would like to have more kids," she said while giving Anthony a big smile. "We talk about it." Now it's your turn! Should Lopez perform on Idol?
"American Idol" hopeful Tim Halperin (from Forth Worth, Texas) did just that during his audition on the Feb. 3 episode when he asked judge Jennifer Lopez how old she was. He started off okay, telling Lopez he had a crush on her growing up, since he was in the fifth grade. When she asked how old he was, he answered with, "23. How old are you?" Awwwkward. Luckily, Lopez laughed it off and said, "None of your business. I'm young enough for you. Don't worry." Despite his slip up, Halperin was sent through to Hollywood Week with his rendition of Maroon 5's "She Will Be Loved," despite receiving a "no" from Randy Jackson. We thought he was pretty good, but definitely not the best we've seen so far. Maybe Halperin's nerves got the better of him and caused him to ask the dreaded age question. "I've had a crush on her as long as I can remember," he said. "I'm a little nervous to see what she thinks about me." At least Halperin didn't say this pick-up line directly to Lopez or we would have had to hide our faces in our pillows from the awkwardness: "Jennifer, my love don't cost a thing. I have news for you, it's free for you."
J-Lo will be joined by husband Marc Anthony at the White House party, also featuring top officials including Attorney General Eric Holder and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, a senior US official said. At one point, Obama had high hopes for the big title game, as his beloved Chicago Bears made it to the semi-final stage, but were knocked out by the Packers, the pride of Wisconsin. Obama will be seeking a piece of the Super Bowl XLV action himself on Sunday, as he will grant a rare interview to Fox television's conservative talk show host Bill O'Reilly as part of the network's build-up to the big game.
"This will be the standout season for talent," Lopez said Wednesday. Lopez, who brings her signature superstar glamour to the newly made-over judging panel, said she's had to fight back the tears when meeting contestants like Chris Medina, whose fiancee suffered traumatic brain injury in a car accident just months before they were to walk down the aisle. "It's tough. It's emotional. But this is the thing about 'American Idol' that I love. It's about people and their dreams and their struggles, and that's what I think everybody loves about it. You see yourself in these people," she said backstage after a press conference announcing her new partnership with Gillette Venus. Other heart-wrenching moments include twin Travis Orlando, who took "Idol" cameras on a tour of the Bronx shelter he once called home, and Nashville's Lauren Alaina, who sang "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" with judge Steven Tyler, after recounting her cousin's battle with a brain tumor. Lopez insisted the personal stories aren't crowding out the singing. "I think America — because they're the ones who vote at the end of the day — you know they go for the talent," Lopez said. " ... And if it happens to have a story attached to it, it like takes it over the top." Fans, again, will be the ones to decide. After the season premiere, ratings for the Fox singing competition were down 13 percent from last year's debut. But Nielsen Co. said that a drop off in audience from the first to second week was the show's smallest in five years. Medina, Orlando and Alaina will be competing for a spot among the 20 semifinalists during Hollywood week, airing Feb. 16 and 17.
Publication editors have awarded Berry the Best Body accolade, describing the actress as "slim and shapely", while Desperate Housewives star Longoria lands the Best Revenge Body accolade for looking great, despite the heartbreak of her marriage split from sports star Tony Parker. Also honoured for their red carpet looks: Anne Hathaway (Best Back), Claire Danes (Best Shoulders), Amy Adams (Best Toned Arms), Sofia Vergara (Best Hourglass Figure), Jennifer Lopez (Best Butt) and pregnant Natalie Portman (Best Baby Bump). Mad Men star January Jones also impressed in her revealing red dress, claiming the Fitness editors' Best Dare-to-Bare-It Look, and 73-year-old Jane Fonda picked up the Best Comeback award.
Television's top show returned Wednesday with a makeover for its 10th season on Fox. Cowell, everyone's favorite villain, is gone as a judge. So are Kara DioGuardi (KEHR'-uh dee-oh-GWAHR'-dee) and Ellen DeGeneres (dih-JEN'-ur-us). There's star power in Jennifer Lopez and Aerosmith's Steven Tyler replacing them. Original judge Randy Jackson remains. At the start the new "Idol" concentrated on the positive. The first three contestants shown made it through to Hollywood. J.Lo in particular had a difficult time becoming J-No. She seemed in agony the first time she was shown rejecting a contestant. She complained: "Oh, my God, I hate this! Why did I sign up for this? I want to go home." She got up to hug a contestant who was crying upon meeting her.
The Jenny From The Block hitmaker debuted her new single on Ryan Seacrest's American radio show on Tuesday, and fans have already slated the song for its resemblance to DeLuna's track Party O'Clock, which was released in Europe in November. Critics have pointed out that both tracks were produced by music mogul RedOne and they claim the lyrics and harmonies are similar. Lopez sings on her record, "Cuz London to Ibiza/Straight to L.A. New York/Vegas to Africa," while DeLuna chants, "Party in Ibiza, Party in New York/All the way to Africa/Love in the Caribbean/On my way to Vegas." One web blogger has even made a video 'mash-up' of the two tracks to demonstrate their likeness, writing, "J Lo needs to thank Kat DeLuna." But DeLuna is adamant she's happy with the similarity of the records because she's such a huge fan of Lopez, telling the New York Daily News, "It's cool that artists like J.Lo are inspired by my musical sound and style. Jennifer helped pave the way for Latinas like myself. I love her."
For the first time, Idol is permanently shifting to time slots one night later, on Wednesdays and more-lucrative Thursdays. It's a move Fox has toyed with for years. But two key events sealed the deal: CBS returned Survivor to Wednesday, and Glee last fall became Tuesday's top-rated show among young adults. "When Glee came back as the No. 1 show, we wanted to leave it there," says Fox chairman Peter Rice, who has already renewed companion sitcom Raising Hope and plans to make Tuesday a new night for laughs. "We're going to build a comedy night on Tuesday. I can't remember the last time we had a live-action comedy night." With CBS' comedy block faring worse than Survivor did Thursdays, and CSI and Grey's Anatomy down, that night is "not what it used to be," says Fox scheduling chief Preston Beckman, so Thursday seemed "much more takeable." Bones moves to 9, where it'll benefit from Idol's lead-in, but low-rated sci-fi series Fringe is headed for Friday's Siberia. Fox predicts Idol's new slots won't affect ratings, and senior VP Brent Poer of ad firm MediaVest says it's a no-brainer: Glee's "cultural zeitgeist moment" means "you'd hate to move it," and Idol's changes will lure fans wherever it airs. "The curiosity factor is going to drive people to the premiere." But if ratings tumble for a fifth season (down 9% last year), it will be hard to tell if it's the result of the singers or changes in judges, time slot or format. "Our expectation is for Idol to be down, as every show in its 10th year is down," Rice says. "But if we can get to the end of our 10th season in transition with new casting and get anywhere close to being the No. 1 (network) again" among younger viewers, "that would be a tremendous achievement."
Gervais' Globes comedy left a lot to be desired by many critics and celebrities, who have taken aim at the Brit for his mean-spirited banter - Tom Hanks and Robert Downey, Jr. actually targeted the funnyman from the stage at the prizegiving. But Lopez was determined not to be embarrassed by Gervais as she took to the stage with co-presenter Alec Baldwin. She explains, "We're about to walk out and Ricky shows up and I said, 'Listen, I will kill you, you understand. I am from New York, my husband fights... we both fight, we will beat you up after the show.' "I said, 'Let me see your card...' He said, 'You're gonna love it'." The singer/actress admits she was not offended by Gervais' Jenny From The Block gag, insisting, "It was funny". But she did feel for others who were savaged by the Brit. She tells Access Hollywood, "He's very gutsy. It takes a lot of guts to get up there and make the comments he made... I'm sure in his mind it was all in good fun... There were some awkward (moments)." "He may have hit one or two (jokes) below the belt... Some comments were tough."
The actress-singer recently posed with the twins, who will be 3 next month, in ads introducing Gucci’s new kids’ line of clothing. She did so because there was a strong charity connection, not because Emme and Max were clamoring for the gig. “They’re like, ‘Mom, hello! Hair and makeup!’ ” Lopez, 41, jokes in an interview airing Tuesday on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. “No. Actually, Frida Giannini from Gucci said she was going to launch the Gucci’s kids line, and they were going to do it in conjunction with a big donation, and they were going to do it with [the United Nations' children's charity] UNICEF, and would we do it?” Lopez and her husband, Marc Anthony, were torn, but eventually agreed. “Marc didn’t really want to put the babies in an ad or anything like that,” Lopez says. “And I was just like, if they do it, I’d want to do it with my kids because it is for the kids. That’s the connection. That’s what makes it real. We don’t really parade them around like that, so it was for a good cause.” One thing Lopez and Anthony haven’t committed to? Having more kids themselves. “I don’t know. As soon as I had the babies, I thought to myself, ‘I want to do this a thousand more times. I love this. This is life,’ ” she says. “And now that it’s like three years in, I’m like, ‘Can I do that again?’ It’s funny. But yes, if I got pregnant, I would be extremely happy.”
"I don't know. I don't know. I'd like to. As soon as I had the babies [twins Max and Emme], I thought to myself, 'I want to do this a thousand times. I love this. This is life,'" J.Lo tells Ellen DeGeneres on her show airing today. "I just thought, it felt so great. This is what life is all about. And now that it's, like, three years in, I'm like, 'Can I do that again?' It's funny. But yes, if I got pregnant, I would be extremely happy." In the meantime, she's helping give "birth" to a revamped American Idol this week as one of the singing competition's new judges. Which, of course, begs the question: Who is a bigger diva? Lopez or Ryan Seacrest? "He definitely has so many more shoes than me," teases Lopez. "It's crazy!" But she's quick to point out that such ribbing is all in good fun. "From the very beginning, as soon as everybody knew I was doing the show, it was like we didn't get along," she says. "You know, Ryan is my friend. So it was funny they picked the two of us, but it's fine. We just laugh about it. Everybody knows he has a bigger entourage than I do. It's no secret in the business." Well, with this many jobs, what do you expect?
"I get very involved and attached to the kids, in the sense of their trajectory and watching them," Lopez, 41, said after Idol's Tuesday's Television Critics Association's press panel, in anticipation of having to eliminate 50 percent of the contestants during a taping later in the day. "I feel really anxious about cutting half the kids today, I really do," the pop star added. "I'm really not looking forward to it. You want to pick the right ones and you want to see who's really going to make a great show, and at the same time, be great artists. But I feel like we have so many good ones that we're going to lose some good ones today. And that's what bothers me." And like a lot people starting a new job, Lopez says she has work on her mind even when she's not at the "office." "I realize that when we went away before we did Hollywood Week, I was thinking about the kids so much before we went back for the [Las Vegas round]," Lopez said. "I was just like, 'Oh, my God, I hope that so-and-so does good, and I wish this one would just let go a little more ... ' You just get involved ... You hope that they do great." But Lopez says her soft-heartedness doesn't mean she's already filling the shoes of former judges Paula Abdul and Ellen DeGeneres, who were both known for being encouraging and sympathetic to the show's singers. "I can't really say I would be like any one judge," Lopez said. "I think that I have a combination of qualities that make me who I am and gives me a specific style of how I deal with the kids and how I dish out the truth – and also dish out the comfort. That's just part of who I am."
They don't sound stressed about being in the spotlight on TV's No. 1 show, returning Jan. 19 (Fox, 8 ET/PT). "None of us are taking it so crazy, like the pressure. That's not what we're thinking about," Lopez says. "Steven, Randy and I, we're at points in our careers where we can sit there and enjoy the experience. We're concentrating on these kids and finding somebody great and making this interesting and fun. I think what this show lost in the last couple of years was fun." Aerosmith lead singer Tyler cites "40 years of being judged myself" as an asset in assessing the 15- to 28-year-old singing entrants. Lopez and Tyler arrive after the departure of judge Simon Cowell, arguably Idol's biggest draw. They're among numerous changes to the show after what many critics considered a lackluster ninth season that saw a 9% ratings drop (24.1 million viewers) and a finalist field with fewer record sales than their predecessors'. No one minimizes the loss of Cowell, but no one plans to take up his caustic mantle. "People go, 'Who's going to be Simon?' He's irreplaceable to me, he's his own character, so I think it's about moving on and us creating more and trying to make the show a little bit different and throw it to the next level," says Jackson. "Jennifer's got that good, loving quality. She's a triple threat. She can act, dance and sing." And Tyler, he says, is "a legend on the desk. He's a rock legend." Host Ryan Seacrest, also an Idol original, says the new panel has its own personality. "Steven is hysterical. He brings a sense of humor to the show that only a rock star can. And Jennifer can be ironic, sarcastic and playful." At the same time, the panel takes its job seriously, Seacrest says, crediting Jackson for taking a leadership role. "They want to exceed expectations. They want to find somebody who can be a star and have a fan base and put out hit records." The judges say they're looking for that rare mix of artistic skill and star power. "I can't even tell you what I've learned in the last 40 years, but I've got a better grasp on ... that unknown entity that makes someone so musically delicious, so melodically sensible or not sensible," Tyler says. "Plus, I'm looking for star quality, in the voicing, how they attack notes, how they climb, how they dance between them."
A: My whole approach is to be honest, to give my honest impressions and help them either get to the next level or be honest with them with the fact that they're not going to make it to the next level. ... I think the truth can be harsh sometimes, but for me, it's not about breaking spirits. It's about letting people know what they're doing right and if I think or Steven thinks or Randy thinks they have a future in this. Q: Are you concerned about joining such an established show? A: No, not really. When they first offered it to me, I wasn't sure whether it was really part of my plans or in my ideas of what I wanted to do. Then I thought on it: This could be fun. It's not forever, it's just for now. I thought, "Why not?" I love it. I love the show, and I think I have something to offer. Q: Did it bother you that so much rumor and speculation surrounded your potential involvement? A: No. I've been dealing with that for too many years now, especially when you know what's really going on. I was the one who was calming Fox down. I said, "Don't worry about it. This is going to happen next, and then this will happen, and then we'll do this." And they were like, "You were right." Q: What's the feeling between you and your fellow judges? A: It's all love. It's love and fun and respect. ... Everyone has a different perspective and comes from such different backgrounds and came up in a different way in the business. Q: How would you describe them? A: Pretty much the same as me, honest and straightforward. Randy still delivers it with his flair. I would describe Steven as sincere and heartfelt and at the same time really fun in the way he delivers his commentary. He has so many sayings that are, like, so off-the-wall. I'm sure they have me looking at him, like, "What did you just say?" Q: Will you perform on Idol? A: Maybe. ... If it fits in with things happening with the show but also in my life, then we'll see.
"There are less clouds of smoke," Seacrest tells Entertainment Weekly in a new cover story about the show. "We start earlier. There's less – what is that English dish he always ordered for lunch? Shepherd's pie? He loves shepherd's pie." "No, it's the blood pudding," Jackson jokes, then adds, "we definitely miss [Cowell], but it's a different kind of vibe. It's a different energy now." "It's going to be an all new show," Seacrest says. Jennifer Lopez explains: "We're more of a collaborative judging group. We're always leaning over to each other and saying, 'Oh my God, I think she's good.' 'Or, I don't get it.' 'You don't like it?' " she tells the magazine. "We just have a totally different style than any of the past judging tables." In addition to Cowell, new judges Lopez and Steven Tyler are filling the shoes of Kara DioGuardi and Ellen DeGeneres, who both bowed out of the Fox show over the summer, signaling a nearly complete makeover of the panel. "It's not about replacing [Cowell] or any of the others," Jackson says. "People have been saying to us, 'Who's mean?' We've traded off on that because I think you have to always give people the truth, no matter what." When Idol's season 10 premieres Jan. 19, it's not just the judges' fans who will be watching. Tyler wants everyone to know the contestants this year are "just astounding." "We throw the drift net out and look what comes up?" Tyler says. "Gold."
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association announced Tuesday on Twitter that Matt Damon, Robert Pattinson and Jennifer Lopez would present trophies at the 68th annual ceremony at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 16. For the second year in a row, Ricky Gervais will host the event, which is seen as a predictor of how films will do at the Academy Awards on Feb. 27. Damon will present the Cecil B. DeMille Award to previously announced recipient Robert De Niro.
In what was sure to be one of the most star-studded concerts of the year, Jay-Z and Coldplay rocked Las Vegas on New Year's Eve, performing at the grand opening of The Cosmopolitan, a $3.9 billion hotel on the famous Strip. But those two acts weren't the only ones to take the stage: Beyoncé, Kanye West and John Mayer all made surprise appearances during Jay-Z's performance. Beyoncé joined her husband for "Forever Young" and sang "Halo" with Chris Martin. Mayer played guitar with Jay-Z on his hit song "99 Problems." "All the problems you were going through have been kicked out the door," Jay-Z told the crowd before a collaborative performance of West's "Homecoming," which featured Jay-Z, West and Martin. Gwyneth Paltrow was also on hand to watch the show – and ring in the 2011 with her husband and close friends. The intimate crowd was littered with celebrities to witness the show that Jay-Z called "once in a lifetime." Following their Mexican vacation, Cameron Diaz and Alex Rodriguez were spotted in the audience. Diaz spent some of the evening chatting with Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony, not far from Ellen Pompeo and Blake Lively. Following the concert, the stars headed to Marquee Las Vegas where famed DJ Eric Morrillo entertained the concert crowd.
Jennifer Lopez's superstar husband has got a major tab running with the Internal Revenue Service to the tune of $3.4 million in unpaid taxes, E! News has learned. Good thing the couple's got her humongo American Idol paycheck to fall back on. According to a New York judgments and liens filing dating back to March 29, Anthony (under his real name, Marco Antonio Muniz), was hit with a tax lien on some property he owns in Long Island. But that's not the only time he's failed to pay the government its due. The Latin popster also had a lien filed against the same piece of real estate in December of 2009, this one for $1.6 million, bringing the total amount owed to the IRS to a whopping $3.4 million. No word if Anthony has settled up with the feds or whether he has some kind of payback schedule. A rep for the "I Need to Know" singer was unavailable for comment. It's not the first time Anthony's run afoul of the taxman. In 2007, the crooner paid $2.5 million in back taxes to federal and state goverments for failing to file returns on nearly $15.5 million in income over a five-year period. And while he himself wasn't on the hook personally, three of his corporate entities including his touring company, did plead guilty to various tax crimes. Somebody get this guy a good accountant. Or a gig on a reality show.
Earlier this month at the Kennedy Center Honors, the Aerosmith frontman, 62, gushed to UsMagazine.com of his fellow judge, "First and foremost, she's a lady and she's not afraid to show that at any given time." Added Tyler of the married mom of two, 41, "She's ridiculous. You know, she's exactly what I thought she'd be. She's street." And while the rock legend told Us he finds Lopez's honesty with the contestants "incredible," he admits to having some struggles behind the judges' table. "It's hard when you have a kid who's 15-years-old, who's been watching American Idol for the last 10 years," he said of the contestants. "And some of them were awful. I just say something like, 'Did you bump your head on the way in?'" Still, Tyler said he doesn't plan to follow in Simon Cowell's cantankerous footsteps. "I'm really not one for giving insults," he told Us. "They have a voice and I don't want them not singing to their kids when they grow up."
No joke. Don't be fooled by the early promos, which show Tyler as a flaky man of few words and Lopez as the next Paula Abdul. There are tears — lots of them, in fact — in the 23 minutes of audition footage Fox released, but there's also lots of promise — not only in the contestants, but the new judges as well. In the select auditions, which range from impeccably good to devastatingly cringe-worthy, Tyler and Lopez seem to have an easygoing rapport with Randy Jackson. Most notably, they are brutally honest with those not advancing to Hollywood Week without being brutal (ahem, Simon Cowell). The tangents and antics are kept to a minimum, but Tyler provides plenty of laughs — remarking with "f--- a duck" after one hopeful's near-perfect performance and even flirting with a rocker chick/die-hard Aerosmith fan. "You look like you could be one of my... ," he tells the girl. "Friends," Jackson finishes for him. Looks like they're fitting in just fine. Season 10 of American Idol premieres Wednesday, Jan. 19 at 8/7c.
The actress-etc. has been sued for $10 million by ex-husband Ojani Noa's girlfriend and would-be production partner, who claims Lopez has been nothing but a thorn in their side as they try to get Noa's funny-ha-ha biopic off the ground. Lopez, who secured an injunction against a tell-all book Noa was peddling several years ago, sued Hubby No. 1 and his manager Ed Meyer last year over their movie plans. And that's just not fair, says plaintiff Claudia Vasquez. "Jennifer Lopez stopped a movie I was producing with Ojani Noa," Vazquez told E! News Monday. "I waited for a year and half for this case to be resolved but she has been asking for a lot of extensions and it is just taking too long. I'm not getting anywhere and I'm losing a lot of money." She said that they were already holding a casting call for the film when Lopez's attorney sent a cease-and-desist letter. "After that I had to stop production," Vazquez said. Meyer, who is not party to Vazquez's lawsuit, told E! that the suit Lopez filed is currently being reviewed by a California appellate court and he expects oral arguments to be heard in June. Vazquez described the film project to us last year as a "parody" based in fact. "This is not about Jennifer Lopez's life, this is about Ojani's life," she said.
Gene told OK! exclusively, “In terms of qualifications I’m the governor. I’ve written songs, been in a band for 37 years, toured the world, blah blah, discovered Van Halen, and managed Liza Minnelli, Simmons Records. Done it, been there, 3,000 licensed products. Who else has that qualification?” One person who he thinks will do a good job on the upcoming season of Idol is chosen judge Steven Tyler. “Steven is going to be great. He is going to be the only interesting one there because obviously he’s going to be qualified to know what he is talking about.” Someone who doesn’t have his support? Jennifer Lopez. Gene shared with OK!, “I don’t think Jennifer Lopez is going to mean a thing. Because you can dance and stuff, you don’t write songs, your own records. You’re a performer. I don’t take respectfully I don’t take her seriously as being able to spot new talent. So, you can sing, you can dance, that’s nice. But Tyler’s the real deal. He’s not shy. What you really want to do is to have somebody get up there because most people are delusional because they go up there and they’re like I’m as good as Ethel Murman.” Will still people watch Idol? “It always comes down to people. Television is a people medium and I’m not trying to blow smoke or whatever. If you’re not a news junkie, and if someone is interesting on the news you’ll stop because you’re interested in the people,” he explained. “It’s people and without Simon Cowell there’s nothing.” Gene was approached for the Idol gig telling OK!, “We talked for a short time, but I didn’t want to break A&E’s heart. But we did speak.” You can watch Gene on the new season of Gene Simmon’s Family Jewels on A&E Sunday’s at 9 p.m. ET, and for more on Gene and his family check out this week’s issue of OK!.
The brand has announced that Lopez will be its newest global brand ambassador, joining a roster of spokespeople that includes Milla Jovovich, Patrick Dempsey, Rachel Weisz, Beyonce Knowles, Diane Kruger, Evangeline Lilly, Andie MacDowell, Eva Longoria, Freida Pinto and Gerard Butler. Lopez will be a spokesperson for the new Feria Color line of home care color, and will appear in a TV and print campaign that launches January 25 alongside Jovovich. This is the second major branding deal for Lopez in less than a month. On November 18, she and hubby Marc Anthony announced the launch of his and hers lifestyle brands for Kohl's Department stores.
As for Oprah, "The interview is extremely personal," says Walters. "She talks about her hopes and fears [in starting her cable network OWN], and her feelings about not wanting to have children. A good part of it has to do with her relationships with Gayle [King] and with [longtime companion] Stedman [Graham]. It's a very intimate portrait." Besides Palin, Walters most fascinating list includes Justin Bieber, Sandra Bullock, LeBron James, the Jersey Shore cast, Jennifer Lopez, Kate Middleton, Gen. David Petraeus and Betty White. As always, the person she deems "most fascinating" will be revealed on the show. Here are some of Walters' behind-the-scenes tidbits. Betty White: "She says she's not having a comeback — she never stopped working. We talked about death, sex — she still wants it — and animals. She loves them more than people." Justin Bieber: "He said because his mother talked to him about her drinking and drug use, he feels it's something that he never will do." And on a lighter note, "He taught me a new dance." The Jersey Shore cast: "They were all very serious and very well dressed, with big plans for the future. I now know what a 'grenade' [a plump woman] and 'smush' [have sex] mean." Jennifer Lopez: The new American Idol judge reveals that she took the job so she can stay home and take care of her kids, says Walters. But, "she's still the glamour figure. She came [to the interview] wearing tiny little hot pants, looking very cute."
The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed the singer/actress is no longer represented by top publicist Leslie Sloan and her BWR colleague Nanci Ryder, who have provided the star with good PR since 2004. The trade magazine reports the split came about because of a falling out between the BWR heavyweights and Lopez's management team. Ryder refuses to go into details about the split, but tells the publication the news is true, stating, "I think Jennifer is fantastic and I'm very sad that we're not going to be representing her anymore." Medina adds, "Artists and PR companies parting ways happens all the time. This is as much news as me re-doing my furniture."
Sources say the Latino power couple have viewed a model unit at the controversial Paseo Caribe, a high-rise luxury complex under construction next to the historic San Geronimo fort in San Juan. The $300 million residential, shopping and entertainment complex has sparked legal battles, protests and physical fights between the developers and residents who are concerned about overbuilding on the shoreline, the sale of public land to a private company, and preservation of the 17th-century fort. Anthony's rep, who said she had no idea whether he and J.Lo will buy there, but told us the couple do have "big plans" for Puerto Rico that they'll unveil in 2011. "They are looking into creating new projects in San Juan and Latin America in development, entertainment and film," she said. But locals are mystified as to why Anthony and "American Idol" judge Lopez would choose to launch their "big plans" from so controversial a piece of property. A source familiar with Paseo Caribe said, "It is still early days. There is no certainty they'll buy because of the controversy." Anthony irritated Puerto Ricans in September when he canceled one of his sold-out concerts an hour before the performance. "The first show was amazing, and Jennifer came out," a source said. "But the next day's concert was a disaster when he canceled an hour before start time, sending fans who had driven up to four hours to see the show back home." Anthony's rep told us, "He held out for as long as possible because he was planning to perform that night, but his doctor recommended he rest his vocal cords for 48 hours. He rescheduled for two days later." A rep for J.Lo declined to comment.
The tears, they say, are a result of having to disappoint people, something both of the new judges still find difficult. While Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler tries to suppress his desire to "flambé" bad contestants, Lopez opts for constructive criticism. "I think everyone's trying to be as honest as they can without breaking too many spirits," she said. "We're not out to cut them down or make a joke of them. What we're trying to do is really mentor them and help them to the next step if we think they're worth it and if they're not, just be super honest with them and let them know this is not for them." Lucky for the three judges, it appears this season is full of potential talent. "I know we say this all the time, and I say it a lot, but dude, this year the talent is better than what we've had in many, many a season," Jackson said. That includes the newly eligible 15-year-old contestants. "Obviously it's a whole new pool of talent, and we've got some really, really great young ones," said Lopez. "We've put a bunch of people through, probably more than they have in the past, and we're confident that we have 15 to 20 real superstars." For Lopez, even the long days can't put a damper on her excitement. "For me, when I come to work, it's like watching the show all day," she told TV Guide Magazine. "So if you love the show, which I do, it's a ball!" Her fellow judges agree, with Jackson loudly exclaiming "It's fire up here!" And if all else fails, they can always capitalize on their great chemistry. "We've all moved into a beach house together," joked Ryan Seacrest as the banter continued. Could Idol Shore be next?
"It was cute, super entertaining and flattering, but no," the pop diva says of contestants who failed to make it through auditions by performing one of her hits. "They know we're not out to cut them down or make a joke of them," she told reporters Thursday at a stop in Los Angeles. "We're trying to mentor them to the next step." And so far – after visiting seven cities – Lopez says they've found 15 to 20 "real superstars who could be recording artists for sure," adding that the judges have seen "a lot of great country [singers]." Just like in the show's previous nine seasons, for every potential "superstar" there are dozens of contestants who have to hear bad news from the judges – which can sometimes be heart-wrenching. "I've cried," Lopez said. "We get a lot of elation when we put them through and devastation, almost, when they're not. But it's been a ball."
Leah Remini, a longtime pal of Lopez's, says there's hope Emme and Max, both 2, will get a little brother or sister, if Mom has her way. "Jen would love to have more kids," Remini, 40, told PEOPLE at the 32nd Anniversary Carousel of Hope Ball, which benefitted the Barbara Davis Center For Childhood Diabetes. Aside from mommy duty, Remini says Lopez, 41, is enjoying another one of her jobs: her gig on Fox as an American Idol judge. "She loves it," says the star of The King of Queens. "This is one of her favorite jobs because Jennifer loves artists. Jennifer loves to find somebody. She's a fan of the show. Jennifer really wants to find 'it.' "
Sources told Page Six that highly controlling Medina is constantly on set with Lopez during filming of the show and chats with her about the contestants during breaks. One insider even added that Medina, a former singer who has also managed the likes of Usher, Brandy and Mariah Carey, "communicates with Lopez constantly" during production. A rep for Lopez said, "Benny is a frustrated judge and has nothing to do [with judging contestants]. Jennifer loves this job and is having a wonderful time." Lopez signed a reported $12 million deal to be a judge for the 10th season of the hit Fox show alongside Steven Tyler of Aerosmith and music producer Randy Jackson. And our sources add that Lopez and Tyler are quite opinionated without Medina's input. Lopez and Tyler put contestants through ringers, making them prove their talent by singing multiple songs in several musical categories and evaluating "the whole package" during the first round of auditions taking place across the country. "The bar is high," said one source. Comparing former judge Paula Abdul with Lopez and Tyler, our insider said: "If Paula liked the song a constestant sang, then they got right through. For Steven and Jennifer, there's much more thought behind it. It's about the package: endurance, timing, how much you want it, and can you sing more than just one genre of music." Meanwhile, Tyler has also emerged as the show's new Simon Cowell-esque figure. "His one-liners are superb. When he's on, he's fantastic," an insider noted. And so far, there are no Cowell/Abdul-style set feuds. "Steven gets along very well with Jennifer," said our source. A rep for Fox had no comment.
New judge Jennifer Lopez called into "Idol" host Ryan Seacrest's radio show Friday morning (Oct. 8) to swat away rumors that they've been fighting over dressing-room space and trying to assert their position as "top diva" on the FOX show. "Is there a prize for top diva?" Lopez joked. "Is there extra salary?" "Why can't we just be equal divas?" Seacrest replied. The rumors about Lopez's diva behavior started before she even signed on to the show, and they've continued since she and Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler were officially named as "Idol" judges a few weeks ago. Among the other things she's allegedly guilty of? Forgetting fellow judge Randy Jackson's name. "They did not write that," Lopez says, stifling a laugh. "How do you goof up Randy's name? They just want to make me look like a buffoon." Seacrest and Lopez also discussed the Milwaukee auditions for "Idol," which apparently resulted in more tickets to Hollywood than just about any other stop in the show's history, and Lopez talked about figuring out the best way to reject auditioners who just don't quite have it. "It's like, Do I give this kid a chance or do I crush his dreams?" she says. "... It's about finding the right way to say it, and sometimes you have to be tough, because they don't want to believe it."
"It was a long day, but it wasn't tiring," says Lopez. "I was energized by all of [the contestants'] spirits when they came in here -- so hopeful about what could happen and how it could be. And it's exciting." "I really want to put them through the wringer in the sense that I don't want to let anybody who's really great go ... because they're nervous or whatever and not get to see what they could've been," Lopez continues. "We worked with them a little more than maybe you've seen in the past. We give them more of a chance." Tyler was a bit more concise in his observations so far -- "Don't get mad at what we say -- get better." And Randy Jackson was his usual self -- "Whatever you do, make it hot." Even host Ryan Seacrest chimes in on the new judges' panel. "The chemistry is fantastic between these three," he says. "They're having a good time."
As you may know, the Glee star was famously ousted during the audition process of American Idol. But today, during a press conference in Jersey City, N.J., Lopez (and her backup singers Randy Jackson and Steven Tyler) revealed how her years of experience as a international superstar changes the dynamic for season 10 of Idol: Lopez told reporters, "I really wanna put [the contestants] through the wringer in the sense that I don't want to let anybody who's really great [not] go through because they're really nervous or whatever...I think we work with them a little more than you maybe you've seen in the past. We give them more of a chance, because we know what it's like to be out there." Tyler agrees that he and Lopez's years on stage and in the public eye are defining them as judges, at least in these early days. He says, "Some of the kids are so young that I'm not sure if they can get how long it's taken me to be successful and how many clubs I had to play and how I was judged so…[pauses] wonderfully…by the press. [Panel laughs.] And how hard it was to take. But they all took [our criticism] well. A lot of tears. Kind of hard for me. But I'll get over it." Overall, Tyler described the Jersey City auditioners as being, "Spunky and sparky and crazy and over the top," while J.Lo found them, "Very East Coast." As for Lopez and Tyler's experience being key to the style of season 10, veteran judge Randy Jackson and Idol host Ryan Seacrest agree that the newcomers' star power is making a big impression on the youngsters trying out. Jackson says, "[Lopez and Tyler are] bringing a new experience, both [are] still hugely successful artists performing currently, doing it. So I think a lot of these kids are watching the two of them, and they idolize what that is." Seacrest concurs, revealing: "Interestingly, the contestants this year, more than ever, have said that they have grown up watching the show and finally it's their opportunity to audition for the show, so the stakes are really high for them, and then they walk into the show that they've grown up watching with these two superstar judges. It's really been an extra dynamic especially [for me]...outside the room with the contestants. A lot of emotion." Are you getting excited for Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler to judge Idol this year? We sure are!
Bosses behind the hit TV show ended months of speculation this week by announcing Lopez and Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler as the latest additions to the panel, replacing exiting judges Simon Cowell, Ellen DeGeneres and Kara DioGuardi. Lopez is adamant it wasn't the rumoured $12 million salary that attracted her to the role, but the thought of staying in Los Angeles for six months with her husband Marc Anthony and their two young twins. And the singer/actress hopes little Max and Emme will be able to finally get into an everyday routine when their mother starts working regular hours. She says, "We're really happy that we get to be in one place with the babies. This is going to put us here for like six months. It's unheard of for us. The babies can do dance class and soccer practice. We're excited about being a little bit of a normal family for a little while." Lopez also admits she was reluctant to join the reality TV show at first, but Anthony talked her into it. She adds, "I don't know that we ever thought I'd do something like this. But when I was a dancer, was I going to be an actress? Yeah. When I was an actress, was I going to be a singer? Yes. I just think this is another evolution of that - and (Marc) explained it to me like that."
"We're really happy that we get to be in one place with the babies [2-year-old twins Max and Emme] for a while," she says. "This is going to put us here for like six months. It's unheard of for us. The babies can do dance class and soccer practice. We're excited about being a little bit of a normal family for a little while." The move to Idol also demonstrates how Lopez, 40, and husband Marc Anthony, 42, make big life-decisions – like taking a new high-profile job – together. "I don't know that we ever thought I'd do something like this," says Lopez. "But when I was a dancer, was I going to be an actress? Yeah. When I was an actress, was I going to be a singer? Yes. I just think this is another evolution of that – and [Marc] explained it to me like that." Now that the announcement is official, Lopez is eager to get started on her new gig. "I'm going to give it my whole heart, soul and passion like I do with everything that I do," she said. "I'm looking forward to such a fun year."
"I'm watching Back Up Plan and I fell so in love with Jennifer because I watched her eyes and how she interacted with the actor and they really put it across that they were falling in love," the surprisingly sentimental Aerosmith frontman told Ryan Seacrest Wednesday during his, Lopez and Randy Jackson's first interview together as officially confirmed American Idol judges. "I thought...that I would maybe someday soon be looking into her eyes...not quite like that," Tyler added. "But as most things go in my life, watch out what you dream for and they may come true, and here I am sitting next to her and it's just phenomenal." Yeah, doesn't sound like anything we ever heard Simon Cowell say about Paula Abdul. As for Lopez, when she first met Tyler, she was surprised by "how soulful he is." "I know he's an amazing rock God, I get that," the actress and pop star said. "I know that. But to sit and speak with him, the depth of his soul really moved me." And Randy Jackson thinks both of them are pretty a'ight. "What's cool, though, is you guys will definitely be nuturing," said the always eloquent veteran of nine seasons, "and you're coming from a real place because you could say, 'Hey listen, when I was at this stage and I was trying to get it together, here's what I did.' "And you're huge successes, both of you, so the kids have to really listen this time," he added. "Because I felt sometimes, the past couple seasons, we'd say stuff and they'd look at us like deer in the headlights." (That may have just been Ellen DeGeneres' reflection in the contestants' eyes.) But as for the moments of real truth on the show, how do newbies Lopez and Tyler plan to go about the art of passing judgment? "I think inately you can't help but want to give [the contestants] tough love in a sense," Lopez said. "I dont think I can ever be cruel to another artist because I am an artist, and I know what its like to put yourself out there, be in front of people, and say 'hey do you like me?'" So she plans to judge the contestants with "with a lot of love and caring and a lot of nurturing and honesty." Meanwhile, Tyler is "going to love them to death." "So I can say, 'you're going to Hollywood,' but also you gotta tell them 'don't hate me for what I say, don't get mad, get better," explained the 62-year-old rocker, the surprise front-runner to be the Paula replacement we never had. "I will send them home with a broken heart. I'm going to be honest and truthful and open as best I can—and tongue and cheek." We're thinking offering up a scarf as a parting gift would be a nice touch. The 10th season of American Idol premieres Jan. 12, 2011.
No way, says Jennifer Lopez, who laughed off reports of outrageous diva-like demands during negotiations to become a new judge on American Idol. "After as many years as I've been in this business, I'm used to that kind of stuff," Lopez said Wednesday at an Idol press conference in Inglewood, Calif. "I'm used to speculation." If anything, Lopez says, she felt she was dragging FOX into negative headlines. "I was calming the FOX people down," she explained. "I was like, 'Listen, it'll be gone tomorrow. Once they hear who we are and what we're doing, it's going to be fine. Don't worry about it.' I was just looking forward to getting started." Executive Producer Nigel Lythgoe even poked fun at her reputation. "I said to Jennifer today, we heard that she only likes yellow M&Ms," he said. "I'm thinking, 'Who's going to pick them all out for her?' She said, 'No, where did that come from?'" Adds Mike Darnell, head of alternative programming on FOX: "I can tell you from the Fox standpoint, the deal was not tough. There were no diva demands. It was a really easy, comfortable deal with both parties."
According to Hawaii Five-0's new badass star Alex O'Loughlin—who knows just-announced Idol judge Jennifer Lopez well from starring with her in The Back-up Plan—J.Lo is precisely what American Idol needs. No, really! And here's why: "[Jennifer] will be great," Alex tells me from the set of Hawaii Five-0 in Honolulu. "She's a great girl. She's got a lot of spunk and she's got a great sense of humor. So I think she'll bring a humor edge. She understands musicians and dancers because it's who she is; it's where she comes from...I think she's going to bring something special to the other judges." Now, mind you Alex isn't just speaking as a former coworker of J.Lo's...He's also a longtime Idol fan. "I love American Idol," the Aussie actor professes, while admitting that he himself is not so musically inclined. "In the words of maybe my favorite comedian Billy Connolly, I've got a voice like a goose farting in the fog. Which is not a good thing." What is a good thing is that Alex's new series Hawaii Five-0 debuted to strong numbers on Monday—strong enough that assuming the audience comes back for more, Five-0 should be sticking around.
Good thing returning producer Nigel Lythgoe has a couple of other tricks up his sleeve, including that the singers are no longer going to be made to sing all different genres. Changes to the format: Nigel Lythgoe: "They are now going to stay with their genre, consequently the styles of music are going to be more decades rather than individual artist's music. I think that is important to develop what they are good at." Nigel Lythgoe (cont.): "We've been a bit of a karaoke show purely because we redo songs that people already know. We've got a whole new set of rules that are going to come in, we're not just going to copy the tracks that have been there before." Jimmy Iovine: "We're going to try every week to bring the artist along. We're looking for originality. We're not looking for someone who sings like Whitney Houston. We're looking for someone who's influenced by Whitney Houston, but brings their own stuff ... Every week, they can't just be told 'sing better.' Someone has to work with them every week on performance, on style. I think you're going to see great improvement every week on the show." Lythgoe: "What this does, Season 10, with having these icons here, is we're no longer protecting a brand. Once something works, you don't mess around with it too much. We're now given the opportunity of recreating the magic we started with. I think those middle rounds, we're looking at finding other ways of doing that so we actually present to America the best singers. On who is the heir to Simon as the toughest judge: Randy Jackson: "I don't know if there will be. I think we will all have our moments of toughness and nurturing and sweetness and everything." Nigel Lythgoe: "It isn't about role-playing, it's about being yourself. We're hoping everyone's going to be honest and remain in their characters." Jennifer Lopez: "I will give them tough love, but I don't think I will ever, as an artist, I could never be cruel to another artist. I think there's definitely better ways to say things and still get your point across. I've mentored on the show before, I think people have seen that and kind of can feel how I'll be." On the process of becoming a judge: Steven Tyler: "It's a bit of a dream come true. I was on tour and this was thrown at me and I looked on it as a great opportunity and then when I found out who was on board, I threw down right away. Right away. And as far as tough love and loving people and we're going to for sure be sending some people home with broken hearts, but with all we've been through in our careers, we live vicariously through the young talent out there. It's going to be hard, but it's also going to be fun. They're stepping up to the plate and so are we." On the rumors of "diva demands": Jennifer Lopez: "I'm kind of used to it, after as many years as I've been in this business, I'm used to that kind of stuff. I'm used to speculation. I was calming the FOX people down, I was like, 'It'll be gone tomorrow.' The truth always shows itself in who you are, so I wasn't really worried about it, to be honest. I was just looking forward to getting started."
Jennifer Lopez and Aerosmith's Steven Tyler will be joining Randy Jackson at the judges' table when American Idol kicks off season 10 in January. "I'm looking for the next Michael Jackson," Lopez said before a screaming crowd at the Los Angeles Forum after Ryan Seacrest introduced her. "We're looking for the best American Idol ever." The announcement was made during a live press conference Wednesday. Seacrest hosted the event, telling the crowd, "We are looking for the next star in music. We usually ask, who will be the next American Idol? We never asked this question, who will be the next judges on American Idol?" Seacrest then introduced Randy Jackson, who told the crowd, "We found some unbelievable talent and I am calling season 10 the remix, baby!" Up next, Tyler was introduced as a "rock legend." The Aerosmith frontman said joining the Idol family feels "fabulous." "[It] feels like the perfect feathered nest," he said. "It's being a part of something much bigger than yourself. I want to bring some rock to this roller coaster." Lopez, who dressed in a silver pant suit, was the last to be introduced. "I love you guys. I am so excited," she told the crowd that included Idol hopefuls, there to try out for the show. "It is about concentrating in the moment, do the best you can. Just live! Just live, it's your moment." The announcement comes with little surprise. In weeks leading up to the decision, sources told PEOPLE Lopez signed the deal worth $12 million. And Tyler himself said he would "probably" be a judge when the show returned in the winter.
Lopez ended up throwing the party with Benny Medina at the Bowery Hotel, but she sent her driver to pick up 50 biscuits from The Lion while Katie Holmes, Julianne Moore, Desiree Rogers, Ethan Hawke and Francisco Costa dined inside.
Not to mention make for the most awkward three minutes of television ever. If it ever gets that far. "Ojani Noa will be in line at the Forum on Sept. 22 to try out for American Idol in front of his ex-wife Jennifer Lopez," Noa's manager, Ed Meyer, told E! News. Pathetic? Yes. Blatantly fame-whoring? Of course. In other words, you-know-who has finally found a natural successor. Adding to the pitiable plan is the fact that Noa, at 36, isn't even eligible to be the American Idol, as the upper age limit for the contest is 28. But that didn't stop General Larry Platt, and it apparently won't stop Lopez's ex-hubby, with whom, incidentally, she remains embroiled in quite the nasty legal battle. So, what excuse has Camp Noa offered up as justification for the stunt? "He escaped Cuba and married Jennifer Lopez, now he wants to be the American Idol," Meyer said. "Of course, he will sing a Jennifer Lopez song." Funny how Noa's dream of becoming the new Idol didn't materialize until after Lopez was confirmed as the new $12 million judge. Still, he shouldn't do too much prepping for his close-up. The guy who threw water on Simon's head has a better chance of making it on camera. Though it might be a nice change of pace to feature a contestant who's taking as much advantage of the show as it seems to take in its contestants.
A source tells Deadline, J-Lo "was angling for an overall deal at Fox, including a put picture, to keep the movie career going. But Fox said no." Apparently, Lopez kept threatening to walk and FOX would call her bluff, which is when the rumors of other female judges would end up in the press. Another source tells Deadline, "In the end, she didn't turn up her nose up at $12 million. I would have been very surprised if she had walked away. She needs the money. She lives very very well. It comes at a cost." Finally, as for the official announcement from FOX, Deadline says it has been postponed to mid-September to coincide with J-Lo's new single. But US Weekly says the announcement is set for early October. So once again, we think it's probably anybody's guess. Wow, a $12 million payday for J-Lo as an untested judge? That seems like a big gamble to us. Then again, "Idol" can't really bring in a nobody. It's a sticky situation. Do you think J-Lo is worth all she was demanding?
Thursday's (Sept. 2) news comes from TMZ, which says Lopez joining the "Idol" judges' panel is "all but a done deal." She would work alongside Randy Jackson, whom executive producer Nigel Lythgoe has said will be back, and Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler on a reconstituted show. There's still no word on Kara DioGuardi's future. TMZ's source also pooh-poohs the notion that Lopez has made "diva demands" that led to reports of her being dropped from consideration a few weeks back. Meanwhile, FOX has announced that it's added a final audition round in Los Angeles. The auditions will take place Sept. 22 at the Forum in Inglewood (details are at AmericanIdol.com). If "Idol" sticks to Lythgoe's Aug. 19 assertion that a decision would be made "within three weeks" -- i.e., by the end of next week -- L.A. hopefuls could at least know whom they'll be singing for if they make it in to see the judges.
Fajardo Mayor Anibal Melendez said Thursday that the singer-actors — both born in New York to Puerto Rican families — want to build a state-of-the-art soundstage in Fajardo to attract more A-list movies and TV shows to the U.S. island. Melendez says the proposal for Fajardo is still in its infancy. But he said Lopez and Anthony voiced "a lot of enthusiasm" for the project when he met with them recently in Miami. Publicists for the couple decline comment. In 2006, Lopez and Anthony teamed up for a movie on Puerto Rican salsa legend Hector Lavoe.
Following the announcement that Ellen DeGeneres has stepped down from the panel after just a year on the series, and the planned departure of Simon Cowell, Idol bosses are eager to sign up two big names to boost the show's appeal. Lopez and Steven Tyler were in the running as the favourites to take a seat at the judging panel, but reports suggested Lopez had been pulled from the possible replacements due to her escalating demands. But executive producer Nigel Lythgoe hints the Jenny From The Block hitmaker still has a chance of landing the role and admits he has never witnessed her demanding ways. He tells Extra, "These people don't know Jennifer Lopez. She's a wonderful woman. I've never seen her be a diva in her life!" And Lythgoe is adamant former judge Paula Abdul is definitely not returning, insisting he wants attention to focus on the new talent and not the judging panel. He adds, "Paula is under contract to another company so I don't think that she enters the frame on this occasion. "As far as I'm concerned, I would like the attention to go on the kids, because it's about the talent that comes on this show and sings."
The singer-actress had been closing a deal to be a permanent judge on the show for its upcoming 10th season but the deal fell apart. “Her demands got out of hand,” says the source. “Fox had just had enough.” With Simon Cowell and Ellen Degeneres both departing the talent search, the network had been pursuing a number of celebrities as potential judges, including Aerosmith‘s Steven Tyler. But now that Lopez is out of the running, the network may be looking at their earlier top picks again. Other reports have said that the panel could go back to the original three-judge format.
Visitors to WENN.com were grilled on their favourite celebrity derriere and a resounding 37 per cent opted for the superstar, who admits she's fiercely proud of her best asset. J.Lo once said, "I do special squats and work with loads of weights in the gym to achieve my butt. And in a way I'm kind of flattered when people compliment me for having a big a**." Bootylicious beauty Beyonce came in second in the online poll and Kim Kardashian and Shakira tied for third, ahead of Ice-T's glamour model wife Coco, who brought up the rear in fifth place.
The accompanying photo spread continues the theme, featuring the hot mama dressed in an assortment of wild animal prints. But if you actually read the article, J.Lo focuses more on the mama, not so much the hot... "I'm the one who keeps everybody on schedule, like, Got to go to bed at this time, got to eat something," she tells the mag, noting that hubby Marc Anthony gets to play the pushover parent to twins Emme and Max. So maybe an apron and a swing dress would have been more appropriate attire than the leopard getup? Or is J.Lo just just playing it coy about having her cake and eating it, too?
This means an announcement could still happen Monday (Aug. 2) at FOX's Summer Press Tour executive panel, depending on how things go this weekend. While Tyler remains the producers first choice for the new male judge, if a deal cannot be reached sources say that last season's wildly popular "Idol" mentor Harry Connick Jr. will be signed instead. Earlier Friday (July 30) evening sources close to "Idol" were saying that no deals were signed, the judges' panel was not set and that there would not be announcement on Monday. The official FOX line is still "no comment." The speculative judges' panel has been the top "Idol" story since news broke that Ellen DeGeneres was leaving the show, in addition to Simon Cowell departing back in May to focus on the U.S. version of "The X Factor." There are rumors that Kara DioGuardi is out as well and that only Randy Jackson will return to judge again.
Both Deadline and Gossip Cop are reporting that Jennifer Lopez has been tapped as the new "Idol" judge. Deadline says Lopez' old manager Benny Medina "orchestrated the meeting with the 'American Idol' producers a month ago, and negotiations have been ongoing ever since." Gossip Cop is also reporting that an offer has been extended to Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler. This comes on the heels of rumors that FOX is readying a big announcement as to the future of the "Idol" judges for their Summer Press Tour panel on Monday, Aug. 2. Could these be the new judges? Zap2it reached out to FOX. They have no comment at this time.
The chief executive of the Turkish company which runs the hotel and casino complex said Lopez still had time to change her mind about the July 24 gig. "The contract has not been terminated. If she does not show up for the concert, we will begin a procedure in the courts to claim 35-40 million dollars in damages," warned Murat Bozoglu, speaking from the company's headquarters in Istanbul. "The cancellation....is not covered by any clause in the contract she signed with us," said Bozoglu. Lopez drew the wrath of Greek-Cypriots in the southern half of the divided island after the new Cratos Premium hotel and casino complex announced the singer would perform there on her 41st birthday. But the singer scrapped the plans after criticism that the appearance would make a political statement, entertainment website TMZ.com reported Thursday. "Jennifer Lopez would never knowingly support any state, country, institution or regime that was associated with any form of human rights abuse," a representative for the American singer and actress told TMZ. "After a full review of the relevant circumstances in Cyprus, it was the decision of management to withdraw from the appearance. This was a team decision that reflects our sensitivity to the political realities of the region." The US-based American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association claimed the concert would "lend credence to an illegal entity recognized only by Turkey". Cyprus has been divided since Turkey occupied the north in 1974 in response to an Athens-engineered coup in Nicosia aimed at uniting the Mediterranean island with Greece. The TRNC (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus) is only recognized by Turkey, which maintains troops on the Turkish Cypriot side, while the Greek Cypriot south of the island enjoys international recognition.
Following a storm of protest, the multihyphenate has canceled a concert in the Turkish-controlled northern section of Cyprus that was to mark the opening of a luxury hotel. "Jennifer Lopez would never knowingly support any state, country, institution or regime that was associated with any form of human rights abuse," Team J.Lo said in a statement on her website. "After a full review of the relevant circumstances in Cyprus, it was the decision of her advisers to withdraw from the appearance." Lopez was reportedly to earn $3 million to perform at the Cratos Premium Hotel on July 24, her 41st birthday, and stay at the hotel with hubby Marc Anthony, their two kids and friends. But little did they realize that the hotel played host to ethnic warfare in 1974, when Greece's archenemy, Turkey, invaded the island and forcibly removed nearly 200,000 Greek loyalists. The invaders declared an independent Turkish state and Cyprus was divided, although the northern territory is not recognized as a sovereign state by either the European Union or the U.S. Upon hearing that J.Lo had booked the show, thousands of Greek Cypriots took to the Internet in protest with more than 19,000 signing a Facebook petition. "This was a team decision that reflects our sensitivity to the political realities of the region," the Lopez statement added. Glad to hear the Back-Up Planner had a back-out plan.
Lopez is scheduled to perform at the opening of a luxury hotel in north Cyprus on July 24, triggering fury from Greek Cypriots who say it's a slap in the face to people forced to flee from northern Cyprus during a Turkish invasion in 1974. Greek Cypriots have flooded a facebook site with angry demands the Latina star cancel her trip while organisers of the event say the show will go on. "We have a signed agreement with her and it is active," said Murat Bozoglu, a director of the $220 million Cratos Premium hotel in northern Cyprus. Lopez's publicists were not immediately available for comment. Local newspapers reported she was being paid $3 million for her one-off performance. Cyprus was split in a Turkish invasion which followed a short-lived Greek Cypriot coup engineered by the military junta ruling Greece in 1974. Its division and subsequent years of estrangement is one of the longest serving items on the U.N. peacekeeping agenda. North Cyprus is a breakaway state recognised only by Ankara. About a fifth of the island's population, who are in their majority Greek Cypriots, are internally displaced. By Wednesday, a facebook page campaigning against the Lopez visit had topped 14,000 members. They were in the vast majority Greeks, with the rate of increase up by about 2,000 per day since its launch last week. "She has obviously fallen on to hard financial times. Shame on her ... if only she knew how many people were killed and the inhumane savagery committed there," wrote one campaigner. Lopez was due to jet in to northern Cyprus, a breakaway statelet recognised only by Ankara, accompanied by her husband, singer Marc Antony, and her twin children. The performance on July 24 coincides with her 41st birthday. "We are pleased to be able to share her 41st birthday with her and her family," Bozoglu said, acknowledging that Lopez had received "thousands" of emails to prevent her trip. "These have made her nervous about coming. But we are doing everything in our hands to make this happen."
The US diva will arrive in the breakaway Turkish Republic of Cyprus (TRNC) on a private jet on July 22 ahead of a July 24 concert at the Cratos Premium Hotel in Kyrenia to celebrate its opening, said a representative for the Istanbul-based Bozgroup which operates the hotel. Lopez -- who will be accompanied by her husband, singer Marc Anthony, and their twins Max and Emme -- will also celebrate her 41st birthday at a "special party" following the concert at the five-star hotel. "There is no cancellation. A contract was signed and she was paid," the representative told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity. The visit has triggered protests in the island's internationally-recognised Greek Cypriot south which is wary of any move breaking the isolation of the TRNC which is only recognised by Turkey. A Greek Cypriot rights group Cyprus Action Network of America is running a web campaign urging Lopez to cancel her performance. "It is with dismay and shock that the people of Cyprus... heard the news that you intend to attend the inauguration of a hotel in the occupied... part of our native country and celebrate your birthday there," said a letter on the group's website. "Please do not allow yourself to be used by the Turks," the letter added. But the Bozgroup representative insisted Lopez had decided to go ahead with the concert in spite of the controversy. "She is aware of the protest. She received an enormous number of emails and she got a little scared. But we explained the situation to her, that there was no war on the island, and she did not cancel the appearance," she said. The cost of organising Lopez's visit and performance at the 220-million-dollar hotel, where she is expected to stay until July 26, will be around three million dollars (2.4 million euros), the representative added. Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded the north in response to an Athens-engineered coup in Nicosia aimed at uniting the Mediterranean island with Greece. The TRNC is only recognized by Turkey, which maintains troops on the Turkish Cypriot side, while the Greek Cypriot south of the island is recognized as the only legitimate administration on the island.
Lopez, now married to Latin singer Marc Anthony, detailed how each of her headline-hitting romances affected her on the show, which aired in North America on Sunday night. The singer/actress was married to then-waiter Noa for less than a year before the union fell apart at the start of her career, and the couple divorced in 1998. She went on to date hip-hop mogul Combs, but admits their relationship "did get sordid" after she was pulled into his infamous trial on a charge of felony gun possession. The charge related to a highly-publicized 1999 shooting at a New York City nightclub where she was present. Combs was later acquitted. Lopez then hit headlines when she married back-up dancer Judd, but the romance was doomed and the couple divorced in 2003. But it was her high-profile romance with Ben Affleck that was really life-changing, and she admits being dumped by the actor just days before their wedding in 2004 left her completely heartbroken. She explains: "I don't think I had ever been heartbroken in that way before - had so many hopes and dreams on something. "This was the first time and it was tough. When you go through that kind of heartbreak in front of everybody you are not quite the same person you were before." But the star is quick to defend her failed marriages and high-profile break-ups, insisting they were her way of chasing the dream romance. She explains, "I always wanted that fairytale. It just didn't work out. But I kept trying - you can't blame a girl for trying!" Lopez eventually found happiness - the singer celebrated her six year wedding anniversary to Anthony last month. And she says their life together with two-year-old twins Emme and Max, is more complete than any relationship she's ever known. She adds of being a new mom, "That's when things became really clear to me - what love truly is. It's that pure, that unconditional, that kind."
The TV competition came to an end last month, with Pussycat Dolls star Nicole Scherzinger lifting the trophy, and rumours about who will appear in the next season have already begun. Producers are said to be courting several big names to join the line-up, and Lopez and Cruise are the latest stars to have been linked to the show following their dance skit together at the recent MTV Movie Awards. But Lopez is adamant they will both be too tied up next year to contemplate a stint in the TV contest. She tells newsman Larry King, "I think we're both kind of busy to go on Dancing with the Stars. He's (got), I'm sure, 25 movies lined up, and I'm planning a tour for next year, so I don't know."
Choice Movie Actress: Romantic Comedy As the unlikely duo took over the stage to Ludacris' Get Back, Cruise's wife Katie Holmes cheered her husband on from the audience. The fan-favorite awards show was hosted by Aziz Ansari, star of NBC's Parks and Recreation, and it marked his first time at the helm of such an event. An opening sequence by Ansari lampooned the Academy Award-nominated film Precious and featured teen singing sensation Justin Bieber. Amanda Seyfried won best scared-as-(expletive) performance for her role in Jennifer's Body, while Twi-hard fans voted Kristen Stewart best female performer for her role in Twilight: New Moon. "Twilight is really awesome, and I agree," said Stewart, who seemed at a loss for words upon accepting her Golden Popcorn statue. "I want to say hi to Chris (Weitz, who directed the movie). I haven't seen him in a while." Get Him to the Greek stars Jonah Hill, Russell Brand and Sean "Diddy" Combs were on hand to present the award for best breakout star to Up in the Air's Anna Kendrick. "Every time you open your mouths, I get less cool," said Combs of his co-stars, who expressed their admiration for male stars in the audience. "I've got Bieber fever!" exclaimed Brand. Kendrick kept her acceptance speech short: "I am not cool enough to win an MTV Movie Award, so I'm not going to mess it up by talking more than I should." Brand's fiancée, Katy Perry, one of the evening's performers, shared a sneak peek of her new music video for California Gurls during the red carpet pre-show. "That's what I'm made of, a lot of tease," Perry told MTV on the red carpet shortly before the network aired the clip, which featured her dancing in a bra made of cupcakes. Reigning best-actress Oscar winner Sandra Bullock was expected at the event to receive the MTV Generation Award. The appearance capped off a comeback weekend for the actress, who made a surprise appearance to accept the Troops Choice Award for Entertainer of the Year at Spike TV's Guys Choice Awards on Saturday. It marked her first public appearance since the implosion of her marriage to Jesse James and the news that she had adopted a baby boy. "Let's be honest here, just for a moment. We're all going to be honest, right?" Bullock, 45, said after accepting the award, which was voted on by members of the military, from presenter Robert Downey Jr. "Did I win this for being entertainer of the year, or did I win this because of the spectacular I.E.D. (improvised explosive device) explosion that became my personal life?"
"They wanted to celebrate their new home and their sixth anniversary by renewing their vows," a source tells PEOPLE. "They're excited about their new life together as a family in California and wanted to kick it off with a great party." Among those on the 200-guest invitation list, says a source, are Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, and Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. "Jen is very excited about sharing her special night with her family and friends," the source adds. "The party will be spectacular. Guests will enjoy dancing until the morning hours." Like the invitation, the party features an art deco-theme with the colors gold and silver. The card, which features a large gold key, reads, in full: A NEW BEGINNING JUNE 5TH, 2010 AT 8:30 PM Jennifer & Marc Anthony Muniz Renewing their vows is becoming something of a tradition for the couple – who got the ball rolling for the first time in 2008. That year – which also brought the February birth of their twins, Max and Emme – they also did it up big by joining New York Mets outfielder Carlos Beltran and his wife Jessica for a joint vow-renewal ceremony in Las Vegas. As for their humble abode, it is anything but. Purchased by the couple earlier this year for just under $10 million, it is spectacular and ultra private. All told, within its three acres there are nine bedrooms, 12 bathrooms, panoramic city views, rolling lawns, a swimming pool and a tennis court. Also inside: a fabulous 20-seat theater, a recording studio and a wine cellar.
The superstar couple wed in 2004 and cemented their commitment to one another in another ceremony in 2008. But salsa singer Anthony wants to celebrate their sixth year together as man and wife with a special bash - to prove critics who thought their marriage wouldn't last wrong. He tells Us Weekly magazine, "We realized the bets in Vegas (on whether their marriage would last) stopped at five years, so we're really looking forward to this one. "This is a big anniversary." The couple will renew their vows at their Hidden Hills, California estate on June 5. Lopez and Anthony are not the only stars to celebrate their love with multiple marriages - supermodel Heidi Klum and her husband Seal hold an annual ceremony in Mexico, while Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon recently exchanged vows again to mark their second anniversary.
As hosts at a swanky charity event held on the sidelines of the Cannes Film Festival, the A-listers' mission was to drive up the bids on about 10 luxury lots, including a gold-plated bottle of champagne and a monkey-shaped pendant in diamonds and gemstones. And the celebrity coaxing worked: The Cinema Against AIDS benefit, held Thursday at a luxury hotel in the French Riviera town of Cap d'Antibes, raised $6.7 million ((EURO)5.36 million) for AIDS research. Guests at the star-studded event, where it seemed that nearly everyone was famous and those that weren't were at least thin, included actress Naomi Watts, socialite Paris Hilton, perma-tanned Italian designer Giorgio Armani, model Naomi Campbell and Rolling Stone Mick Jagger. The evening's entertainment was provided by punk icon Patti Smith and R&B singer Mary J. Blige, who captivated the crowd with her acapella rendition of Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven." Sharon Stone usually emcees the annual event, but her shooting schedule prevented her from attending this year's gala, so other celebrities took turns revving up the crowd. "Gladiator" star Russell Crowe and designer-cum-movie director Tom Ford were among those who took to helped lead the auction. A feeling of insider camaraderie permeated the event — where a single seat cost $6,000 — and sometimes the teasing got a bit ribald. Following a confusing technical description of the 6-liter bottle of Dom Perignon, Michele Williams told the crowd: "If you know what that word is, you're rich enough to buy it." And someone was: The champagne fetched $80,000. Other high-fetching lots included a day with former President Bill Clinton, which went for $220,000, and a flight in a fighter jet, which reached $170,000. Proceeds from the event go to the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR), a nonprofit organization that supports HIV/AIDS research, and the emcees emphasized that the economic crisis has made their bids more crucial than even. Last year, the event brought in just $4.5 million — roughly half the money raised in 2008. "It's a hard economy out there and it's nice to remember that we have to give back," Weinstein said.
The pop star and her musician spouse are apparently in the running to land a spot on the judging panel of Simon Cowell's upcoming reality show alongside Mariah Carey and her husband Nick Cannon, Christina Aguilera, Jamie Foxx, former 'American Idol' judge Paula Abdul and 'The X Factor's Cheryl Cole. A source told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "Simon needs diversity on the panel if this US 'X Factor' is going to be a smash. Paula Abdul seems like a given which leaves three slots. He thinks Jennifer Lopez or her husband would be fantastic additions so it could be bad news for Cheryl." Meanwhile, former Pussycat Dolls member Kimberly Wyatt has hinted she could be set to replace pregnant Dannii Minogue in the audition stages of the British version of the show when it starts later this year. She told the Daily Star newspaper: "I'm waiting to talk to the show bigwigs, it's definitely a possibility."
Lopez began dating Affleck in 2002, sparking a media circus that turned crazy for the couple when the actor proposed - but the glare of the spotlight became too much for the stars and they called off plans to wed the following year. And Lopez admits the romance was doomed from the start. She says, "I love Ben. He's a great guy but it was a lot for both of us to be under that type of siege for two years straight. We were on the cover of every magazine every week, and it was just a weird thing that the media catches on to, and they just go crazy with it. Our relationship, I think, did suffer from it." And the actress credits her husband, Latin singer Marc Anthony, with teaching her how to live her life away from the glare of the paparazzi. She tells U.K. TV host Graham Norton, "I think he has a totally different approach to fame, to celebrity - our work, our business. (He believes) you can have your career, you can promote, you can do all that stuff - but you can also have a personal life, and it can be quiet. "I think, when you're in the throes of (fame), you don't realise that you have control over it. You kind of feel like, 'Oh, it's just happening, I can't stop it.' But he taught me that you can." Lopez married Anthony in 2004, while Affleck is now happily married to another Jennifer, actress Garner.
"Would I see a movie of Ben's? Sure! Why not?" the actress and pop star, 40, tells the U.K. edition of Marie Claire. "I haven't seen him or talked to him in a while – our lives went in two very different directions. But I always wish him the best and I always thought he was a great person." Lopez says she's also cordial with another high-profile ex –Diddy. "I've run into him once or twice, with Marc, and it's always very friendly," she says. "He asks about the twins because he has twins, too." But while Lopez is happy to chat about her ex-boyfriends, she is, of course, happily married to Marc Anthony. And in the wake of the Tiger Woods and Jesse James scandals, she wonders if people are taking the notion of marriage a bit lightly these days. "It's just the two of you against the world," she says. "When you allow other people into that sacred place it becomes a recipe for mistrust and the deterioration of the bond between you. I think people complicate their lives by doing [expletive]-up things." On a lighter note, Lopez – now starring in The Back-up Plan – offers some tips for staying healthy in her eating habits. "One good trick is to have a goal – for me it may be getting in shape for a video shoot," she says. "Another is portion control. I love to eat everything and you pretty much can – a little piece of something fattening is not going to kill you. It's when you eat the whole box that it's going to kill you."
Dating Web site Ashleymadison.com -- which encourages married people to have affairs -- is looking to partner on the project. A judge in 2007 ordered Noa to pay Lopez $545,000 after he tried to publish a book about his relationship with her.
The singer and actress plays a successful career woman who is artificially inseminated only to meet the love of her life on the same day in the romantic comedy. "There's a couple of scenes in the movie where I'm eating and pigging out and they didn't put them in the first cut -- I was like 'Listen guys, this is extremely important for women'," said Lopez at the premiere in Leicester Square. "They need to see me pigging out. This is what happens when you get pregnant. You get really sleepy. You get really hungry. You get gas." The 40-year-old mother-of-two, who showed off her famous curves in a black leather dress, warmly greeted fans, signing autographs and posing for pictures.
The first, well, if you don't already know, then congratulations on finally managing to get out from under that rock. The second, well, it's all about the pretty. That's right, People has unwisely chosen today to unveil the aesthetically pleasing crop of superstars that make up this year's list of Most Beautiful People, with the much coveted cover shot going to Sandra Bullock Angelina Jolie Halle Berry Julia Roberts, her fourth such time as the Most Most Beautiful Person. She's called a Pretty Woman for a reason, folks. And it's not just because it makes for a good pun. Of course, she's not alone in the genetic winners' circle, getting joined this year by everybody's favorite sparkle vamp Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart (they're kind of a set), Jennifers Aniston, Garner and Lopez, Jake Gyllenhaal, Zoe Saldana, Scarlett Johansson, Bradley Cooper and the dreamiest, wittiest deodorant hawker out there, Isaiah Mustafa, to name a few. Now here's the rest: First, the ladies. Joining the lookers in the list proper is Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, small-screen babe Sofia Vergara, newly engaged songbird Katy Perry, suddenly prolific starlet Amanda Seyfried, Good Wife's Julianna Margulies and Gossip Girl star Jessica Szohr. As for the fellas, Ryan Reynolds, Johnny Depp, front-sweeper extraordinaire Justin Bieber and Grey's Anatomy hunks Patrick Dempsey and Kevin McKidd also made the cut. Among those forced to bear the title of Hot: our own Kim Kardashian and Kendra Wilkinson made the cut. They're joined by Glee's Dianna Agron, Adam Lambert, Christina Hendricks, Gabourey Sidibe, Kelly Osbourne and Miley Cyrus. The magazine's round-up of Beautiful at Every Age is where K. Stew makes the scene, and she's joined by...well, just about every hot young star you can think of (hey, every year has a publicist-appeasing catch-all category, and this is 2010's). Joining the ranks are Vanessa Hudgens, Blake Lively, Megan Fox (no hot list is complete without her!), Freida Pinto, America Ferrera, Anne Hathaway, Beyoncé, Jessica Alba, Rosario Dawson, Kate Hudson, January Jones, Reese Witherspoon, Amy Adams, Eva Mendes, Jenny McCarthy, Taraji P. Henson, Gwen Stefani, Lucy Liu, Kate Walsh, Cindy Crawford, Marisa Tomei, Mariska Hargitay (still with us? Hang in there!), Demi Moore, Sheryl Crow, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Michelle Pfeiffer, Annette Bening, Christie Brinkley and Meryl Streep, among other decade-spanning beauties. This year's crop of stars who we hate look good without makeup are Ashley Greene, Diane Kruger, Heidi Klum, Kerry Washington, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Robin Wright and Selena Gomez. People also helpfully took the guesswork out of naming Hollywood's All-Time Screen Beauties (until next year, that is), dividing the stunning leading ladies into decade-size bites. The Noughties are well represented by Natalie Portman, Charlize Theron, Angelina Jolie, Penélope Cruz, Drew Barrymore and Jennifer Lopez. The '90s were apparently blinded by the beauty of Gwyneth Paltrow, Cameron Diaz, Michelle Yeoh, Winona Ryder, Nicole Kidman and Meg Ryan. The '80s belonged to Brooke Shields and Kim Basinger. Oddly absent from the list—or at least from the online preview of the list—is Sandra Bullock, but we're guessing (hoping) that the magazine's editors didn't want to oversaturate the market. We're sure she'll make the cut when the issue hits newsstands this week...right, People?!
The singer/actress, who married the Latin singer in 2004, believes lovers should challenge each other and that bickering is a sign the relationship is healthy. She explains, "For all the stability we provide for each other, Marc and I are both artists. We both like intensity. We are both very passionate, and that still exists in our relationship. If we didn't have that it would be boring. Too boring for me. "(Actor) John Cassavetes once said that he and Gena Rowlands battled their whole marriage. There was an intensity in their relationship. He said that in some ways they both knew that if the battle was over the relationship was over. "I'm the biggest challenge that (Anthony has) ever had to deal with, and that's what keeps it interesting for us both... People seem to think that when there's conflict in a relationship it's always a bad thing, but I think you need a challenge. The dynamic between us is passionate and that's why it works. We are compatible, but at the same time we are different enough to make it interesting."
The singer/actress stunned fans after running, swimming and cycling her way through the endurance race in Malibu, California in September 2008 - just six months after giving birth to her twins, Max and Emme, her first children with husband Marc Anthony. And she admits being pregnant for the first time inspired her to take part in the gruelling event. She explains, "I made the decision when I was eight months pregnant to do the triathlon after I had the babies. I wanted to know I was the same person as before I had them. I wanted to be that person more than ever for my babies. I wanted them to be proud of me. I wanted them to think, 'I've got a special mom. She was amazing, look what she did!' I didn't want to lose my ambition and drive to do amazing things." And Lopez insists she has adopted a more relaxed attitude towards fitness since becoming a mum, adding, "I don't get too crazy (about exercise) any more. There was a time when I really worked out, but I was never manic about it. I did what I could. I've got good genes. But I care less now."
The star's The Back-Up Plan grossed a not-great, but not-unexpected $12.3 million, per box-office estimates, and settled for second behind the sturdy How to Train Your Dragon ($15 million). Elsewhere, The Losers looked lost, while Jennifer Aniston left—and joined—the Top 10. More results: • The Back-Up Plan is Lopez's first major release in five years. The reputedly $35 million romantic comedy opened more like this year's When in Rome than her 2005 hit, Monster-in-Law. • How to Train Your Dragon was projected as last weekend's surprise winner. But final numbers gave the gold medal to Kick-Ass. This time out, the race isn't close, and its No. 1 finish isn't a shock. The 3D fantasy returns to the top spot for the first time in four weeks. • After what was considered a so-so start, Dragon is the second-highest-grossing movie of the year to date, with $178 million domestically. • Kick-Ass ($9.5 million) fell four spots, to fifth place. Still, the un-superhero comedy performed well mid-week, and upped its domestic total a budget-besting $34.9 million. • After a fourth-place debut, the $25 million, comic-spawned The Losers ($9.6 million) better be hoping it's got some Kick-Ass spunk. • Aniston's and Gerard Butler's The Bounty Hunter ($1.6 million) fell from the weekend Top 10, but with $62.8 million overall, moved into the yearly Top 10. • Disney's nature movie Oceans was, pound for pound, the Top 10's biggest movie, grossing $6 million from 1,206 theaters. Here's a rundown of the weekend's top-grossing films Friday-Sunday, per estimates compiled by Exhibitor Relations: How to Train Your Dragon, $15 million When asked by Ellen DeGeneres on her talk show about the rumors that she’ll do the show, Lopez says, “I sat down with [show creator]Ryan Murphy and we talked me doing something on Glee. We want to. We want to do it,” though timing may be an issue. “They have it all mapped out for the next like eight episodes,” she says, “whatever is airing right now. So he’s like let’s wait and do it really right when you do come on.” Murphy has said he’d like Lopez to play a cafeteria lady at McKinley High. And the character would get a makeover from Chris Colfer‘s character Kurt,the actor has said. Lopez says she’s game — and willing to wait her turn. “I was like, ‘Yeah, yeah whatever. I’m a huge fan,’ ” she says in the interview set to air on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on Friday. “Whenever you want. I’m good. I kind of offered myself up.”
The mom of two was rocking a nude dress and a big smile, and arrived arm in arm with Marc Anthony, who wore sunglasses (at night—ick). But Marc's obviously doing something right. When asked what makes her feel sexy, it wasn't cleavage-bearing Versace dresses, Bentleys or being bootylicious...it's her hubby! "Him," she told reporters, while pointing to Marc. Inside, the two continued their lovefest... They shared a VIP table inside the club at the W Hollywood, where they sipped champagne and were surrounded by bodyguards. Later, BFF Leah Remini joined them and they even had a dance-off. And speaking of dancing, fellow partygoer Nicole Scherzinger swears she's not happy that Kate Gosselin finally got the boot from Dancing With the Stars. "No, I'm not glad Kate's gone!" Nicole replied, all wide-eyed and innocent. "I'll miss her." Apparently, not everyone on the show feels the same. Also at the Us bash: Jeremy Piven, Anna Kendrick, Sofia Vergara and Paris Hilton.
Part Baby Mama, part Knocked Up — and about as nimble as a pair of swollen ankles — it stars Jennifer Lopez as Zoe, a single 30-something New Yorker who is artificially inseminated the same day she meets the man of her dreams, an improbably buff cheese farmer named Stan (Alex O’Loughlin). Understandably, Zoe’s first instinct is to not pursue their burgeoning attraction. But he’s just so studly and so frequently shirtless, she can’t resist. Not that she keeps him in the dark for long. Mere moments after they’ve consummated their relationship, she announces she’s pregnant with a nameless donor’s offspring. Stan is stunned. Will he stay? Or will he bolt? With plenty of screen time left to burn and so little will-they-or-won’t-they tension between the leads, the answer to both questions is: Yes. That’s because the movie isn’t really about pregnancy — it’s about a rather routine romance. Her pending motherhood is just the obstacle to potentially keep them apart. So squabbles, clashes and break-ups occur repeatedly — whether over finances, the future or a chance encounter with one of his old girlfriends. It all feels so much more laborious than it should, mostly because the outcome is never in doubt. Nevertheless, I’ll grant the filmmakers this: If the goal was to carry audiences alongside Zoe from conception to birth, they’ve succeeded; the movie feels at least nine months long. For that, blame director Alan Poul (Swingtown) and screenwriter Kate Angelo (Becker), a pair of television veterans who compensate for the story’s slightness with broad comedy and colourful off-kilter supporting characters. In no particular order, they include the employees of Zoe’s pet store, her grandmother (Linda Lavin) and even her adorable, wheel-bound canine. Also turning up: Tom Bosley (Happy Days) as the spry senior citizen pursuing Zoe’s grandmother and Anthony Anderson as a random put-upon father who dispenses park-bench advice to Stan. Similarly, Zoe joins a support group for pregnant single women, a development which culminates in a jarring water-birth sequence that seems to exist only to out-raunch Judd Apatow. But that graphic scene aside, if it wasn’t for the presence of Lopez, The Back-up Plan could easily be mistaken for a W Network production. For his part, O’Loughlin — best recognized from The Shield and Moonlight and soon to be starring in CBS’s redo of Hawaii Five-O — is adequate in a role that’s not very compelling, either as a romantic or comic foil. That leaves the heavy lifting to Lopez, who’s funny, radiant and enormously appealing in what’s being promoted in some circles as her big-screen comeback. And yes, she does remind you of what made her a movie star in the first place, years before J.Lo and Bennifer. Her performance — if you’re in the indiscriminate mood for an innocuous rom-com — is the sole reason to see The Back-up Plan. The rest is stillborn.
A couple meets cute when both jump into the same taxi. She initially resists, he woos her with heart-melting overtures. They share a tender kiss, a few laughs and great sex, settling into happy domesticity. Then he makes a blunder that tears them apart. She learns of a sweet gesture he made, but it might be too late. This particular romance also involves pregnancy, though not achieved in the usual fashion. Jennifer Lopez plays Zoe, a thirtysomething pet-store owner who has given up on meeting Mr. Right and wants a baby. She undergoes artificial insemination, an experience that goes swimmingly. But then she meets Stan, the cheese farmer played by Alex O'Loughlin. He's no stinky overall-wearing hick. This is a sophisticated New York guy with the spectacular pecs of a Calvin Klein model. He sells his goat cheese at a neighborhood farmers market and dreams of opening a shop that sells only local cheeses. In other words, he's a picture-perfect man. Zoe is also a catch. Besides being beautiful, she's a former corporate honcho who now hosts book signings by dog whisperer Cesar Millan. She owns an adorable disabled Boston bull terrier that skitters around her well-appointed apartment in a little cart. When director Alan Poul can't come up with a clever scenario (which is often), he simply cuts away to the bug-eyed pooch. The dog knows his cues: A cocked head or a tentative growl elicit audience giggles. The story resorts frequently to bathroom humor and birth-related gross-out gags, courtesy of a support group of stock weird characters. A mother nurses a child old enough to speak in full sentences. A tattooed single mom delivers a baby in a wading pool, emitting barnyard sounds. We see a lot of the physique that Lopez has always displayed proudly. And she does project some charm and is more adept at physical comedy than in previous movies. O'Loughlin is primarily a foil used to amplify Lopez's adorability quotient. But when it comes to comedies about pregnancy, Knocked Up and Baby Mama delivered more. This sitcom style exercise in planned parenthood is blandly predictable. If it were a cheese, it would be Velveeta. The Back-up Plan * * (out of four) The actress/singer gave birth to twins Max and Emme in 2008, her first children with husband Marc Anthony, and admits the pregnancy took its toll on her famous curves. She tells UsWeekly, "I remember my flabby belly hanging out right after I gave birth. I kind of laughed and said to Marc, 'Look, baby! Isn't this crazy?' I just didn't care." But the star reveals her relaxed attitude to her newly round frame didn't last - she felt compelled to return to the gym once she saw snaps of her fuller figure. She adds, "I look back at pictures from that time, and I'm like 'Oh, God, I was fat. I was still heavy eight months out!'" "You get to the point where you're like, Where am I? What happened to me? I got to get myself together for my kids, you know? They need to know what I really look like."
But regardless of their presence, or that of the appealing (and frequently shirtless) Alex O'Loughlin in his first leading-man role, this is a vehicle for Jennifer Lopez, who is front and center and looking flawless at all times. The first time we see her character, Zoe, she's at the doctor's office with her feet in the stirrups being artificially inseminated, wearing false eyelashes and perfect lip gloss. In case we couldn't possibly imagine what she's thinking, the script from Kate Angelo (a former sitcom writer) offers this helpful voiceover nugget: "Oh, God, I hope this works. I've wanted this for so long." Yeah, it's like that. Director Alan Poul (who also has a TV background) hits every obvious note, complete with pratfalls, pregnancy cliches and cheesy pop-music cues that signal the characters' emotions in painfully literal fashion. Of course, Zoe eats chicken and ice cream in bed while reading "What to Expect When You're Expecting." He also cuts away to Zoe's Boston terrier for cheap reaction shots so frequently, it could be a drinking game — and this comes from someone who's proud to be the human companion to one of these adorable dogs. All these devices are in service of a plot that's pretty thin. After years of looking for the right guy, Zoe is prepared to have a baby on her own, only to meet and fall for the hunky Stan (O'Loughlin) just as she's discovered she's pregnant. Their meet-cute couldn't possibly be cuter: Both hop into the same New York cab in the pouring rain. And Stan couldn't possibly be more perfect. He's great-looking, romantic, goofy in a charming way, has just the right amount of roguish facial scruff, and he makes organic cheese at his family's farm upstate. Organic cheese, people! And somehow, he clearly still finds time to hit the gym. Since they get together pretty early, the rest of the movie consists of contrived flare-ups that threaten to keep them apart. Will Stan freak out and walk away when he finds out Zoe is expecting? How will he react when he discovers she's having twins? Will Zoe freak out and walk away from Stan because of her childhood abandonment issues? Will there be a mad dash to the hospital once her water breaks? The answers to these questions are never really in doubt. "The Back-up Plan" actually could have been helpful in addressing a situation in which so many women find themselves: wanting to be mothers, but unwilling to compromise to be with the wrong man to accomplish that goal. Instead, it presents the fellow members of Zoe's single mothers' group as tattooed, fringy freaks hell-bent on home water births and smugly breastfeeding their kids until age 3. On the other end of the spectrum is Zoe's wisecracking best friend, Mona (Michaela Watkins of "Saturday Night Live"), a mother of four kids who are constantly running around and screaming. Admittedly, she gets the few funny lines "The Back-up Plan" has to offer. Lavin (as Zoe's Nana) and Bosley (as Nana's longtime nursing-home fiance) just look embarrassed in their few scenes. The one moment that rings true? When Stan goes stroller shopping at Babies R Us and finds himself overwhelmed. And the store clerk just happens to be the actress who played Jan Brady in the "Brady Bunch" movies. "The Back-up Plan," a CBS Films release, rated PG-13 for sexual content, some crude material and language. Running time: 104 minutes. One and a half stars out of four.
“Carrying twins was really uncomfortable because you lay on one side and you feel there’s a baby, and you lay on the other side and you feel there’s a baby,” The Back-Up Plan star, 40, tells PARADE. “I actually had this really big pregnancy pillow … that I used at night and Marc still sleeps with it to this day.” Having just celebrated their second birthday in February, Max and Emme have become increasingly aware of their surroundings. As a result, Lopez notes, she is determined to consistently double up the love — and treats! — she dishes out. “It’s like if I give one a little bit of candy or food or whatever, I give the other one a little bit too. If I kiss my daughter I go, ‘Oh, I don’t want my son to see me kissing her without kissing him,’” she says. “So you just have to make sure that they both feel equally loved.”
"This movie is about a woman who gets to a point in her life," Lopez says. "She's successful ... She has a full life. But, at the same time, she hasn't found that person to share her life with and to have a family with, and so she decides to do it on her own. She decides to have a baby on her own." The film, opening Friday, is part of the mid-life movie genre that has served actresses well of late, including such blockbusters as "The Proposal" and "It's Complicated," starring Sandra Bullock, 45, and Meryl Streep, 60, respectively. "The Back-up Plan" marks Lopez's first film since turning 40 last July. "It is a great time to be an actress," Lopez said at a recent convention of theater owners in Las Vegas. "It seems like you can work and do anything at any age ... It's a great time that people are just seeing people's souls." "It's not so superficial anymore," the actress continued. "Women have proven that they are viable in this business, as well, and it doesn't matter if you're not 21 years old. It just matters that you're great at what you do. And that's exciting." "Back-up Plan" works through a variety pregnancy issues — now familiar turf for Lopez, who gave birth to fraternal twins, Emme and Maximilian, in February 2008. One thing in the film she couldn't relate to: the last act's big (and hilarious) water-birthing sequence.
There’s a lot of screaming and then it’s over. Forty-year-old Jennifer Lopez, though, doesn’t sound ready to take the celebrity epidural and slip quietly into middle-aged obscurity. “I feel like I’m 25 again,” a confident, cheerful Lopez tells journalists at a swanky Beverly Hills hotel. For that, she credits Emme and Max, her two-year-old twins with husband Marc Anthony. “They make you feel like your life is just beginning — probably because their lives are just beginning … That’s what I feel in my life and in my career.” These are pivotal, high-stakes days for the actress-singer-fashionista. A decade ago, she was one of pop culture’s dominant forces, releasing a string of hit movies and chart-topping albums. Imagine Katherine Heigl and Lady Gaga poured together into one leafy, transparent dress. And Lopez achieved tabloid infamy too: For dating P. Diddy/Puff Daddy and then for conjoining with Ben Affleck to become “Bennifer.” After the latter relationship soured, she seemed to fade from the spotlight. Her last significant Hollywood movie was 2005’s Monster in Law. And earlier this year she split from her long-time record company, Sony. So with a new movie and a new album on the immediate horizon, the temptation to use the c-word — comeback — is almost impossible to resist. “I don’t think of it that way,” Lopez says. “I was just kind of home on maternity leave working and making music and doing things like that, and now my first movie is coming out since I was fat.” First up: The pregnancy-themed romantic comedy The Back-Up Plan, opening Friday, April 23. In it, she stars as Zoe, a single big-city gal who hasn’t met the right guy but longs to have children anyway. As luck would have it, the day she’s artificially inseminated she also meets her soulmate, Stan (Alex O’Loughlin). “I just love romantic comedies and it was the first thing I wanted to do, so we started looking for one and this one came up. It was just perfect,” she explains. “It definitely deals with modern issues, which I love, which is what I really liked about it … It had a modern voice. It seemed very up to date.” And obviously, the “serendipitous” fact it dealt with an expectant mom appealed to her. “Throughout my career, I felt like certain things came to me at the right time and when I look at the work I’ve done, it’s very indicative of where I was in my life at the moment. And this was the same thing,” she says. “There were so many things in this movie that was art imitating life for me because I had just gone through the pregnancy. It was fresh in my mind. And when (screenwriter Kate Angelo) wrote the script, she had just gone through a pregnancy as well … We used a lot of stuff from real life.” Lopez remembers when she discovered she was having twins, “I was in denial that I was even pregnant at first, so when I found out I was having twins, I just kind of laughed like, ‘Of course this would happen.’ And then I started giggling.” Anthony’s reaction to the news? “Marc started crying. It was a joyous time. We were happy. He was emotional. He just couldn’t believe it was happening. He’d had children before, but this was like a whole new, special experience.” Indeed, she describes her pregnancy as “a lovely, magical time for us. But there’s so much going on with your body and hormonally, you don’t have any time to deal with anything but that. I think it was true to life how we portrayed it in the movie. “You feel so hungry and you feel so sleepy, in a way you never have before. And I just knew how that was going to ring true for so many women because I had just been through it.” Thus The Back-Up Plan gets plenty of mileage from Zoe’s state of mind and body — from hormonal mood swings to the necessity of a firm pregnancy pillow. And while the latter creates difficulty for Zoe and Stan — he’s less than thrilled about sharing his bed with it — in real life, Lopez found just the opposite. “I had twins, so it was really uncomfortable because you lay on one side and there’s a baby and you lay on the other side and there’s a baby. So I had a really hard time with it. So I did have this big pregnancy pillow. It was very firm, very hard. And Marc still sleeps with it to this day. “Literally, while I was pregnant, he was like, ‘I want one of those.’ And he got one. Now he travels with this pillow,” she says, laughing. So does having your husband snuggle with a pregnancy pillow qualify as a drawback to motherhood? Because otherwise, Lopez seems to draw a blank about a downside at all. “The best part (of motherhood) is mostly everything — how they change your life and having that feeling of love inside you all the time, it’s such a fulfilling place to be in your life. I sometimes wish it had happened to me earlier in my life. But I know things happen when they’re supposed to happen. “If there is one thing that was tough, it was that there was two of them and I was worried that they would feel the same. If I gave one part of a candy, I gave the other a part of the candy … Just making sure they felt equally loved was what was tough about having twins.” That doesn’t mean, however, that she would make the same decision Zoe does to be a single mother. “It’s just too hard. I have so much respect for single moms — for anybody who finds themselves a single mother. But to even choose to be a single mother is so courageous to me. It’s such a hard job to raise a child and be everything to that child without a partner. I think it’s admirable and brave … I don’t know if I could do it on my own, I really don’t.” It’s difficult enough now juggling her hectic work schedule with parenting, she says. “It’s hard. Not the first day of the (press) junket, but the second day of the junket, they come to the door and yell, ‘Mommy, mommy, don’t go.’ And it was like, ‘Oh. This is bad. Whoa.’ That just started happening yesterday and I’m like, ‘It’s tough,’ but I’ll have to figure it out as I go along.” For now, she is content — with no regrets. “I wouldn’t change anything. I love the direction my life has taken.” Lopez’s new tracks not a huge departure Mommy from the block is still Jenny from the Block. So says Jennifer Lopez, who promises fans shouldn’t expect a departure musically when her new album is released this summer. “It’s the same as I’ve always done. There’s always going to be that combination of dance and a little bit of street, a little bit of hip hop and a little R&B, and just all those influences I grew up with that my music have always had. My albums, if you look at them from the first one to the last one, it has a few ballads on there, a few great dance cuts.” Parted ways She says it will be entitled Love? — “with a question mark,” she notes. “I think it’s an endlessly fascinating topic that all my albums have been about.” Lopez’s last English-language disc was Brave in 2007. “I’ve been working on (Love?) since probably last summer. I’ve recently parted ways with my old record company, so we have a new one and they’ll get involved with it. They’ve heard what I’ve been working on already and they’re really happy with it. We just have to finish it.” And she expects to begin work on a new Spanish-language album shortly. “Probably right around when I finish the other one.” One thing that won’t be heard on either disc, however, is a duet with husband Marc Anthony. “He’s doing his thing and I’m doing my thing. We had our moment the third and fourth year we were married where we did everything together. We made all the music together, he produced my album. That was a beautiful time for us and we really enjoyed that, but I think … we have responsibilities to our own individual fans and we have to go off and do our own thing.” Getting back in shape a challenge after twins Jennifer Lopez’s body had been ogled before. But this time she was the one doing the gawking. “I remember being pregnant and marvelling at the hugeness of my body and looking in the mirror from all angles,” she says, recalling her inspiration for a scene in The Back-Up Plan in which she checks out her naked reflection. (And no, the bare backside seen fleetingly in the movie doesn’t belong to Lopez; the filmmakers used a body double.) Not so marvellous for Lopez? Getting herself back into shape, post-twins. “It was challenging, like it is for anyone having a baby. The first few pounds drop off really fast and then you’re stuck with those last 10 to 20 pounds and you just have to get disciplined, there’s no other way to do it. “You got to diet, you got to do the exercise. I knew the movie was coming up, so that was another level of not eating as much. Seriously — no bread, no sugar, and really having to start thinking about those things because being on camera, you have a responsibility to look good.”
Otherwise, it's still boy-meets-girl, and the only issue between them -- because it's more or less a love match right away -- is how the boy feels about the girl already being pregnant. Since "The Back-up Plan" is closer to an old Doris Day comedy than "Sex and the City," that pregnancy is the result of artificial insemination rather than a complicated relationship with anyone else. Jennifer Lopez carries this thin concept about as far and as well as she can, with Alex O'Loughlin in his first leading-man outing managing not to get lost in the shuffle of birth preparations and doctor appointments. The CBS Films release, opening April 23, will have to generate its boxoffice primarily from women, though: the male characters definitely play second fiddle. On the exact day Lopez's Zoe has her first doctor's appointment for her procedure with previously frozen sperm, she meets O'Loughlin's Stan. Meets cute, in fact, because they both grab the same Manhattan taxi and fight over its rights. Kate Angelo's screenplay makes him all-too-perfect. Good-looking and unhitched with a cheese-making farm upstate, he dreams of opening his own grocery store with local, sustainable farm goods. Not only would her grandmother (Linda Lavin) approve, Alice Waters would approve! Oh, he's given a bad first marriage to a Swedish nymphomaniac that makes him distrustful of women. Meanwhile, she was deserted by her father, which makes her distrustful of men. But these are screenwriting tricks to extend the courtship through nine months of pregnancy. Taking up the slack created by a lack of real dramatic conflict are Zoe's support cast -- employees of her pet shop (Eric Christian Olsen, Noureen DeWulf) and an advice-prone best friend (Michaela Watkins) -- a pregnancy pillow and a cute though handicapped Boston terrier who uses wheels to support dysfunctional back legs. The cute factor goes overboard when it comes to a single-mother support group that Zoe impulsively joins. The strain for laughs with this group goes against the more natural comic flow of the story's other incidents and characters, perhaps betraying the writer's TV sitcom origins. At least debuting director Alan Poul, who also hails primarily from TV land, manages to create an ensemble feeling among the cast despite the fact that the film clearly is a vehicle for Lopez. Poul's crew makes the blend of Warner Bros.' Burbank sets and a few New York exteriors work much better than it usually does. Credit cinematographer Xavier Perez Grobet's pleasing lighting and Alec Hammond's naturalistic sets with an assist here.
"I can't help but be a different person now that I've had kids," the singer and actress, 40, tells the May issue of Redbook, on newsstands April 20. "That really does change your whole perspective on life for the better. I definitely feel like I've grown up." It took a little while to get up to speed. Lopez relied on husband Marc Anthony, who had two sons with previous wife Dayanara Torres, to teach her the basics of diaper changing. Lopez says she was almost afraid to touch the babies at first "because I might hurt them, because they were only five pounds each." After two years as a mom, she is now a pro. "My main priority now is that my kids are happy; that's my No. 1 focus in life," she says. "Are these little people happy, content, and getting everything they need? Everything after that is secondary. Before, my work was my main priority – even above myself." The kids, in return, have nourished her. "I think the biggest thing they've taught me is what loving someone is and what it should feel like," she says. "This is what unconditional love means. It's crazy, but it's heaven and earth." And when she can't be with them, she feels the downside of love: guilt. "I didn't know that feeling before," she says. "You don't know about it because nobody ever tells you. I think it's because women are a little ashamed to admit it. You feel guilty whenever you can't have your kids right there with you on your hip." Lopez has a busy spring and summer planned. Her first film in three years, The Back-Up Plan, comes out this month, following by a guest-starring role on Glee and the summer release of her new CD, Love?.
The 1987 movie, which starred Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn and was directed by Garry Marshall, centered on a snooty, spoiled woman who falls off her yacht and is taken to the hospital by a local, morally challenged carpenter. When she wakes up with amnesia, he convinces her she is his wife, thereby getting a free housekeeper for his four boys. Adam Cooper and Bill Collage worked on the current script, as did Leslie Dixon. Will Smith is producing the Columbia Pictures project with his Overbrook Entertainment partner James Lassiter. Lopez, who hasn't appeared in a movie since 2006's "El Cantante," next stars in the romantic comedy "The Back-up Plan," which opens April 23.
The trouble: fragile fabric and long trains, in a tight space, with lots of people not looking where they're walking. Marc Anthony put a hand on Robert Downey Jr.'s shoulder to stop him from snagging Lopez's gown. "I need to be following long with orange traffic cones on the back," Anthony told the Iron Man.
The singer's seventh studio album with Sony's Epic Records was due out in April, but her manager announced earlier this week that Lopez had left the label. The Jenny from the Block hitmaker was subsequently hit by rumours she fell out with record bosses at Sony over her new music, with online gossips alleging the album had been thrown into jeopardy by the split. But Lopez is adamant she "reached friendly terms" with Sony chiefs over her departure, and she's keen for Love? to hit shelves as soon as possible. Lopez says, "I am making this statement to put an end to any confusion in regards to my next album, titled Love. I have belonged to the Sony family since the beginning of my career as a singer and together we've had great success. "I have fulfilled my contractual responsibilities with Sony/Epic up to this point, and we have both reached friendly terms about my departure from the label. "I'm also happy to say that we've found a new home for my album Love and that it is slated for release in the summer of 2010."
Not long after literally flopping at the American Music Awards, Jennifer Lopez has parted ways with her longtime label, Sony's Epic Records. "Jennifer had a wonderful relationship with the Sony Music Group, and they have shared many successes together, but the time was right to make a change that best serves the direction of her career as an actress and recording artist, she is grateful and appreciative to everyone at Sony for all that they accomplished together," Lopez's manager, Benny Medina, said in a statement Monday. But this also means that Lopez's upcoming seventh studio album is now homeless, so we must ask, What about Love? The album was due out in April but, according to Deadline Hollywood, which first reported the Epic-Lopez split, Love? isn't finished yet and might never be completed. Of course, one theory is that Sony dropped Lopez because the creative well had run dry, but the official word remains that her contract had simply expired and the parties amicably opted not to renew. We expect she'll be back on her Louboutins in no time, however. J.Lo's camp is already said to be negotiating a deal with another label, and the songstress will pull double duty on Saturday Night Live this weekend as both host and musical guest.
The singles from her new album, Love?, haven't exactly set radio stations on fire, but hey, that hasn't stopped the multihyphenate from taking just about every promotional gig she can think of in order to promote the record. Lopez has performed her comeback material on TV shows ranging from So You Think You Can Dance to New Year's Rockin' Eve, and now she's doing a scripted-show guest-star tour, including everything from a cameo as a cafeteria lady on Glee to a one-episode gig on How I Met Your Mother. CBS just released your first official look at that HIMYM appearance; J.Lo's part on Mother will be "Anita, a self-help author, tries to lure Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) into falling head-over-heels for her." But here's the question: What does Jennifer Lopez need besides a killer work ethic to win you back? Is she just risking overexposure with this publicity run, or did J.Lo's overexposure train leave the station a long, long time ago? What singles should she be recording or movie roles she should be taking to get back in your good graces?
"I'd had the babies, so I was waiting for the right thing and I knew I wanted to do a romantic comedy," says Lopez, who stars in The Back-Up Plan, opening April 23. "I felt like when I read the script, it was at the right place for me. ... I had so much experience to bring to the role. It was the kind of romantic comedy that didn't feel typical, and the script was so funny." Lopez plays Zoe, a thirtysomething woman who decides to have a child on her own. But in a twist of rom-com fate, she meets Stan, a potential "Mr. Right," when she is on the way home from being artificially inseminated. Lopez, a romantic-comedy veteran, says she isn't sure that she could have tackled parenthood on her own if her life had taken a different course. The singer/actress is married to singer Marc Anthony. "I know a couple of people, both people I work with and friends, who have done this," Lopez says. "I just don't know if I could do this, honestly. Now I know how much I rely on my partner. ... Knowing what single moms go through, I think it takes such an amazing person to do that. You get to a point in your life and you think about it, and I think it's a beautiful thing to be able to find the strength to do that on your own. That child will enrich your life. It's a beautiful thing to think that option is there." That option creates some confusion for Stan, played by Alex O'Loughlin, and Zoe, as the two try to navigate the ups and downs of dating during the pregnancy. "The question is, are you going to stick around and look after another man's kid?" O'Loughlin says. "The message in the film is don't let the pressures of society and all of the old things you have been told growing up get in your way." O'Loughlin, who starred in the 2007 film August Rush, says the chance to work with Lopez was a big enticement for his first foray into the romantic-comedy genre. "Her attachment to the film minted a bunch of different things," he says. "I knew she had a big fan base and a bunch of different people would see the film." As for working with Lopez, O'Loughlin went into filming with no expectations. "She's a big star, so you never know what to expect," O'Loughlin says. "But we had a great time. ... It was a ball on the set. She's a great person and very professional. She's very good at what she does." Even so, the busy working mom makes sure to carve out time with Anthony. "We still celebrate things like our birthdays and Valentine's Day," says Lopez, who acknowledges that these things can sometimes sneak up. "I didn't even know it was Valentine's Day (this Sunday) until somebody said it earlier today!"
She only caught one pass, but for a skinny model playing against many former NFL players (and other big dudes, like Michael Clark Duncan and Kellan Lutz), Marisa Miller did pretty well. We're sure Tom Arnold did not mind tackling her to the ground either.
Ed Meyer, Noa's business manager, told us he was ready to call Combs as a witness in court proceedings and quiz him on the possible existence of an alleged sex tape of the pair, who dated for over two years until 2001. Meyer also said he intended to put J.Lo on the witness stand and ask her about her sexuality since she was allegedly seen kissing a woman in another video filmed more than a decade ago. The move is part of a legal battle over Noa's attempt to release a video he shot of J.Lo when they were married for a year in 1997. J.Lo's lawyers have gotten an injunction blocking the release on the basis that the video is private and personal. Meyer insists the footage is not overtly sexual, containing nothing more than images of the star kissing a woman and performing a lap dance. Meyer told Page Six, "Ojani's footage is not a sex tape. In addition to kissing women, there are points where she's lap dancing Ojani [and others]. All with her clothes on. We're trying to establish that it's not a sex tape and therefore usable in Ojani's movie." Meyer says he wants to call Combs to attempt to illustrate any differences between videos he and Lopez may have made and the one Noa possesses. Meyer said, "We will ask: Is there a sex tape between [him] and Lopez, and what does it involve?" There is no proof the rumored J.Lo and Puffy sex tape exists. Jay Lavely, Lopez's lawyer, said, "Ed Meyer's comments are false and ridiculous. Ms. Lopez will be completely vindicated on her claims in this matter." On Friday, Lopez lost a motion to have the case with Noa settled in arbitration, and another court date was scheduled for March 4. A source close to J.Lo said, "Meyer will say anything for publicity."
Later in the evening, Knowles and Jay-Z arrived at Reid's bash, and it became a mini-Destiny's Child reunion for the pop star as she sat next to Michelle Williams at the dinner table. The two caught up for a long time, leaning in and sharing close conversation. Then, at 10 p.m., Rihanna arrived and took a seat across from Beyoncé and Jay-Z, who gave her a high-five, as she nibbled on lobster and mascarpone ravioli, while they watched their favorite moments – and acceptance speeches – as everyone applauded.
The multihyphenate will guest-star on a March episode of How I Met Your Mother as Anita Appleby, a non-nonsense author of self-help books that teach women how to mold men into "relationship machines" through the power of denial. After Robin informs Anita of Barney's womanizing ways, Anita sets out to "break" him. "We couldn't be more excited about Jennifer Lopez joining us on How I Met Your Mother," Carter Bays, executive producer and co-creator, said. "We're looking forward to a week of revealing outfits and sexy dance moves the likes of which this show hasn't seen since Regis Philbin guest starred." Lopez, 40, is the latest high-profile guest star for the sitcom, which was recently renewed for a sixth season. Tim Gunn, Amanda Peet, Stacy Keibler, Rachel Bilson, Kenny Rogers, JoAnna Garcia and Chris Elliott have all paid Mother a visit this season, while Carrie Underwood will make her acting debut on the show in March.
Jennifer Lopez surprised the audience at the start of Lopez Tonight on Monday when she stepped out on stage instead of usual host George Lopez to deliver her own little monologue. "Welcome to Lopez Tonight, where nobody gets fired. They just get replaced by a bigger star with the same last name," she joked (we think). But the jabs by J.Lo didn't stop there… She also pointed out that a bar in New York has created a cocktail in honor of Conan called "The Go-Back-To-Manhattan…It's a Manhattan with sour grapes and a knife in it." And the hits just kept on comin'! "NBC is thinking about changing the NBC peacock to a cougar, since they are trying to attract young people to an old host," she teased about Leno. But she didn't stop at NBC's roster. "Some women don't like the expression 'cougar,' but it's better than what guys get, right? An older guy who dates a younger girl that's called a 'Letterman.' " While the other Lopez eventually did come out to relieve her, we couldn't help but think maybe Jenny from the Block should get her own late-night show. Of course, as long as she doesn't come out singing this or wearing that, we'll be fine.
Not bad. Now the show is going after maybe its highest-profile on-camera guest yet: Jennifer Lopez. "We are writing a role for Ms. Jennifer Lopez," co-creator Ryan Murphy told "Extra" Sunday night following the Golden Globes. "We want her to be a cafeteria lady." A cafeteria lady who, we're assuming, has singing and dancing talents heretofore unknown by the students and staff of McKinley High School. There's no word yet on when J. Lo might appear on the series, which won the Golden Globe for best comedy on Sunday.
Winter and spring: ALICE IN WONDERLAND: Johnny Depp is the Mad Hatter in Tim Burton's take on the Lewis Carroll adventures of a girl who goes through the looking glass. THE BACK-UP PLAN: A woman (Jennifer Lopez) meets the right guy — just after she gets pregnant through artificial insemination. THE BOOK OF ELI: Denzel Washington whups some butt as a prophet protecting a critical text in post-apocalyptic America. THE BOUNTY HUNTER: Jennifer Aniston is a bail-jumping reporter pursued by her bounty-hunter ex-hubby (Gerard Butler). CLASH OF THE TITANS: Ancient Greek hero Perseus (Sam Worthington) takes on Hades, lord of the underworld. With Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes. COP OUT: A stolen baseball card sets two detectives (Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan) on the path of a memorabilia-obsessed mobster. CREATION: Charles Darwin (Paul Bettany) copes with grief over a lost daughter as he struggles with his theory of evolution. With Jennifer Connelly. DATE NIGHT: A weekly night out turns into a wild ride for a suburban couple (Steve Carell and Tina Fey) whose romance has become routine. DEAR JOHN: A soldier (Channing Tatum) and a woman (Amanda Seyfried) carry out a seven-year romance from a distance while he's on assignment. DEATH AT A FUNERAL: Crazy things happen at a family patriarch's funeral. With Chris Rock, Martin Lawrence, Danny Glover. DISTRICT B13: ULTIMATUM: Martial-arts heroes return to try to quell unrest in a walled crime ghetto in this follow up to the French thriller.,P>EDGE OF DARKNESS: Mel Gibson is a homicide cop whose daughter's murder takes him into a dark world of corporate and government conspiracy. EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES: A father (Brendan Fraser) teams with a maverick doctor (Harrison Ford) to find a cure for his kids' fatal illness. With Keri Russell. FROM PARIS WITH LOVE: A trigger-happy spy (John Travolta) and his inexperienced partner (Jonathan Rhys-Meyers) try to crack a crime gang. FURRY VENGEANCE: Animals fight back against the housing developer (Brendan Fraser) whose project threatens their habitat. GREENBERG: A man (Ben Stiller) searching for meaning finds potential romance while house-sitting for his brother. GREEN ZONE: Matt Damon goes searching for weapons of mass destruction in a thriller set in Iraq as the war there heats up in 2003. HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON: The world of the Vikings gets a makeover in this animated story of a misfit teen and his dragon. I LOVE YOU PHILLIP MORRIS: A con man (Jim Carrey) finds his soul mate (Ewan McGregor) while doing prison time. KICK-ASS: A youth with no superpowers dons a costume to fight crime as a superhero. With Nicolas Cage. THE LAST SONG: Miley Cyrus is a teen whose estranged father (Greg Kinnear) tries to reconnect with her through music. LEGION: The archangel Michael (Paul Bettany) and a group of strangers are humanity's last hope for salvation. THE LOSERS: A Special Forces team seeks revenge after its members are betrayed and presumed dead on a mission. With Zoe Saldana, Jeffrey Dean Morgan. MACGRUBER: The "Saturday Night Live" bit about a hapless special-ops man (Will Forte) gets big-screen treatment. With Val Kilmer, Ryan Phillippe, Kristen Wiig. A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET: Freddy Krueger (Jackie Earle Haley) is back to terrorize people in their dreams in an update of the 1980s slasher franchise. PERCY JACKSON & THE OLYMPIANS: THE LIGHTNING THIEF: A teen demigod is caught up in a potential war among the gods of Olympus, alive and well in modern times. REMEMBER ME: "Twilight" star Robert Pattinson and "Lost" co-star Emilie de Ravin cope with romance amid adversity. With Pierce Brosnan. REPO MEN: In a future where mechanical organs are repossessed for lack of payment, a former repo man (Jude Law) becomes the prey of his old partner (Forest Whitaker). SAINT JOHN OF LAS VEGAS: A compulsive gambler (Steve Buscemi) fights temptation while trying to change his life. With Sarah Silverman. SEASON OF THE WITCH: A medieval knight (Nicolas Cage) is assigned to escort a peasant girl the church suspects of bringing on the Black Plague by witchcraft. SHE'S OUT OF MY LEAGUE: An average guy (Jay Baruchel) scores big when a super-babe inexplicably falls for him. SHUTTER ISLAND: Leonardo DiCaprio reunites with director Martin Scorsese in a tale set at a hospital for the criminally insane. THE SPY NEXT DOOR: Jackie Chan balances his day job as a spy with baby-sitting his girlfriend's three kids. TOOTH FAIRY: A mean-spirited hockey star (Dwayne Johnson) is sentenced to do time as a tooth fairy, with magic wings and wand. With Ashley Judd, Julie Andrews. TYLER PERRY'S WHY DID I GET MARRIED TOO?: Filmmaker Perry co-stars with Janet Jackson, Malik Yoba and other cast mates for this relationship sequel. VALENTINE'S DAY: A superstar cast copes with the trials of love. With Julia Roberts, Jessica Alba, Jessica Biel, Jennifer Garner, Ashton Kutcher. WALL STREET 2: Oliver Stone and Michael Douglas bring corporate raider Gordon Gekko out of mothballs in a tale of today's financial fiasco. With Shia LaBeouf. WHEN IN ROME: Passions are magically aroused when a tourist retrieves coins tossed in a fountain of love. With Kristen Bell, Josh Duhamel, Danny DeVito. THE WOLFMAN: Benicio Del Toro is a man who finds the curse of the werewolf haunting his family when he returns to his ancestral home.___ Summer season: THE A-TEAM: The TV action series goes big-screen as former Special Forces troops set out to clear their names. With Liam Neeson, Jessica Biel, Bradley Cooper. CATS & DOGS: REVENGE OF KITTY GALORE: Cats and dogs unite to take on a nutty feline bent on global domination. With Christina Applegate. DESPICABLE ME: Steve Carell leads the voice cast in an animated tale of a villain whose plot to steal the moon is sidelined by three orphan girls. DINNER FOR SCHMUCKS: A young exec (Paul Rudd) finds the perfect buffoon (Steve Carell) for his boss' monthly "dinner for idiots." EAT PRAY LOVE: Julia Roberts plays a divorced woman on a worldwide journey to find meaning in her life. With James Franco, Javier Bardem. THE EXPENDABLES: Sylvester Stallone directs and stars in a thriller about mercenaries betrayed on a mission. With Jet Li, Jason Statham. GET HIM TO THE GREEK: A record company intern (Jonah Hill) has to escort an unruly rock legend to the first concert of his comeback tour. GROWN UPS: Childhood pals (Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Kevin James, Rob Schneider and David Spade) reunite as adults. With Salma Hayek, Maria Bello. INCEPTION: Leonardo DiCaprio stars in a science-fiction thriller from director Christopher Nolan ("The Dark Knight"). IRON MAN 2: Robert Downey Jr. slips back into his metal suit to face new foes. With Gwyneth Paltrow, Mickey Rourke. JONAH HEX: A disfigured bounty hunter (Josh Brolin) battles a villain aiming to unleash hell on Earth. With Megan Fox, John Malkovich. THE KARATE KID: Jackie Chan imparts kung fu wisdom to a Detroit youth (Jaden Smith) uprooted by his family's move to China in an update of the 1980s hit. KILLERS: An ex-assassin (Ashton Kutcher) and his wife (Katherine Heigl) go on the run after he's targeted for a hit in this action comedy. KNIGHT AND DAY: Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz are a fugitive couple on a jet-setting adventure around the globe. THE LAST AIRBENDER: M. Night Shyamalan adapts the animated TV show about a young savior with the power to end warfare among four nations with mystical powers. LETTERS TO JULIET: An old letter to the doomed heroine of "Romeo and Juliet" sparks romance for two women (Amanda Seyfried, Vanessa Redgrave). THE LOTTERY TICKET: A ghetto dweller (Bow Wow) fends off greedy neighbors after he wins $370 million in the lottery. With Ice Cube. MARMADUKE: Owen Wilson provides the voice of the Great Dane in a family comedy based on the canine comic strip. MEET THE PARENTS 3: Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro find new ways to test their in-law relationship in the "Meet the Fockers" follow up. THE OTHER GUYS: A detective more interested in paperwork and a street-tough cop (Mark Wahlberg) are partnered up. With Samuel L. Jackson and Dwayne Johnson. PREDATORS: Hardcore human killers become prey for alien hunters in a new take on the sci-fi franchise. With Adrien Brody, Topher Grace. PRIEST: A renegade priest (Paul Bettany) tracks a gang of vampires that have abducted his niece. PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME: The video-game adaptation stars Jake Gyllenhaal as a fugitive prince who finds a dagger of enormous power. RAMONA AND BEEZUS: The pesky young heroine of Beverly Cleary's best sellers comes to life in an adaptation of the children's books. ROBIN HOOD: Russell Crowe reunites with director Ridley Scott for a fresh take on the 13th-century soldier turned folk hero. With Cate Blanchett. SALT: Angelina Jolie is a CIA operative on the lam after she's accused of spying for Russia. With Liev Schreiber. SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD: To win his dream woman, a slacker musician (Michael Cera) must vanquish her seven evil ex-boyfriends. SEX AND THE CITY 2: Sarah Jessica Parker and her Manhattan mates return for more fashionable urban romantic angst. SHREK FOREVER AFTER: Mike Myers' ogre is hurled into an alternate reality where he and his true love never met. With Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy, Antonio Banderas. THE SORCERER'S APPRENTICE: An ancient wizard (Nicolas Cage) recruits a protege (Jay Baruchel) to battle an evil foe (Alfred Molina). STEP UP 3-D: Street dancers and a college freshman square off in a competition against world-class hip-hop dancers. TAKERS: A detective (Matt Dillon) pursues a gang of bank robbers (Idris Elba, Paul Walker, Tip "T.I." Harris, Chris Brown, Hayden Christensen, Michael Ealy). TOY STORY 3: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen and their plaything pals face abandonment after their kid grows up in this animated sequel. THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE: Danger comes calling again for a teen (Kristen Stewart) and her vampire and werewolf suitors (Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner). ____ Fall and holiday season: ALPHA AND OMEGA: Two wolves relocated halfway across the country try to return home. The animated tale features the voices of Justin Long, Hayden Panettiere. THE AMERICAN: A hit man (George Clooney) finds romance and friendship in Italy while awaiting what he hopes will be his last assignment. BURLESQUE: Christina Aguilera aims for stardom with a musical revue at an aging theater. With Cher, Stanley Tucci. THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE VOYAGE OF THE DAWN TREADER: C.S. Lewis' young heroes land aboard an incredible ship as the fantasy series resumes. DUE DATE: Robert Downey Jr. stars as a first-time dad who has to hitch a ride with an actor (Zach Galinianakis) to get home in time for his baby's birth. FLIPPED: Rob Reiner directs a story of first love following a smitten girl and unwilling boy from grade school to junior high. GOING THE DISTANCE: A couple (Drew Barrymore and Justin Long) struggle to make their bicoastal romance work. THE GREEN HORNET: A rich party boy (Seth Rogen) turns to crime-fighting as the masked Hornet. With Cameron Diaz. GUARDIANS OF GA'HOOLE: A young owl battles to save his kind from evil enemies in this animated family adventure. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: Jack Black does a modern take on the world-traveling hero who encounters a race of tiny people on his sojourn. HEREAFTER: Paths cross for three people around the world who are touched by death. Clint Eastwood directs, Matt Damon stars. HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS — PART 1: The young wizards (Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint) aim to destroy the crux of evil Voldemort's power. LIFE AS WE KNOW IT: Mismatched godparents (Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel) must team up as guardians for their orphaned goddaughter. LOVE AND OTHER DRUGS: Romance develops between a free spirit (Anne Hathaway) and a dauntless Viagra salesman (Jake Gyllenhaal). MEGAMIND: A supervillain flirts with virtue after his superhero opponent turns to the dark side in an animated tale featuring the voices of Brad Pitt and Will Ferrell. MORNING GLORY: A TV morning-show producer (Rachel McAdams) copes with a clash between her tough newsman (Harrison Ford) and his new co-host (Diane Keaton). RAPUNZEL: Mandy Moore provides the voice of the long-haired fairy-tale princess locked away in a tower in this animated musical. RED DAWN: A group of youths forms a guerrilla army to fight back against military forces that have invaded America. SAW VII: The horror franchise returns for part seven in the diabolical games initiated by killer Jigsaw. SECRETARIAT: A housewife (Diane Lane) and trainer (John Malkovich) team to raise the 1973 Triple Crown-winning racehorse. THE TOWN: Ben Affleck directs and stars as a bank robber who falls into romance with his former hostage (Rebecca Hall). TRON: LEGACY: Jeff Bridges reprises his 1982 character, whose son (Garrett Hedlund) is pulled into the digital world where his dad has disappeared. UNSTOPPABLE: A railway engineer (Denzel Washington) and a conductor (Chris Pine) race to stop a runaway train carrying toxic cargo. YOGI BEAR: The smarter-than-average bear of the TV cartoons comes to the big screen in a live-action and animation combo. With Dan Aykroyd. YOU AGAIN: Rivalries are renewed after a woman (Kristen Bell) learns her brother's marrying her high school nemesis. With Sigourney Weaver and Jamie Lee Curtis. YOUR HIGHNESS: A black sheep knight (Danny McBride), his perfect brother (James Franco) and a fierce warrior (Natalie Portman) embark on rescue mission. ZOOKEEPER: A kindly zookeeper (Kevin James) gets romantic advice from the animals in his charge.
"What people don't talk about, which is interesting to me, is how you have to put as much work into your relationships as you do into anything else," Lopez Latina magazine's February issue. "We put so much into our careers … but there's also a lot of work that goes into making a successful partnership and marriage. It's not easy." The 40-year-old Lopez tried and failed at marriage twice before, first with Ojani Noa and then with Cris Judd. She also was engaged to actor Ben Affleck, but the couple called off their wedding. "Anybody who's successful at it deserves a pat on the back," Lopez says. "You've got to grow with each other; you've gotta bend over backwards for each other." The Bronx, N.Y., native says sticking it out with Anthony, 41, has been the right move. They've been married since 2004 and have twins who turn 2 next month. "That's how I know that this relationship is worth it, because a lot of people walk away too easily," says J-Lo. "But to take that step and actually get married – and I've done it three times, and two times were, you know, not good for me or for them – I'm gonna take it seriously."
The singer/actress felt let down when her name wasn't among the hopefuls for the 2008 Academy Awards - and can only imagine the experts didn't get around to seeing her turn as salsa star Hector Lavoe's wife Puchi. She tells the upcoming issue of Latina magazine, "I feel like I had that (Oscar role) in El Cantante, but I don't even think the Academy members saw it. I feel like it's their responsibility to do that, to see everything that's out there, everything that could be great." Lopez admits she would have loved to have accepted her first Oscar from a hospital bed after just giving birth to her twins Max and Emme. She adds, "I had just given birth on the 22nd (February), and the Oscars, I think, were a day or two later. I was sitting there with my twins (and) I couldn't have been happier, but I was like, 'How dope would it have been if I would've won the Oscar and been here in my hospital bed accepting the award?' - 'Thank you so much! I just want to thank the Academy!'" And she still has her sights on an Oscar: "Things will happen when they're supposed to happen. I have the utmost faith and no doubt that it will (happen) one day."
Though the ABC show's host Ryan Seacrest let the 41-year-old singer know that her outfit "made my year," Alicia Lundgren, a 24-year-old dancer from Philadelphia, told Jenny from the block's hometown paper, the New York Daily News, "There's too many wrinkles. It looks like elephant skin." Not all the remarks about the ensemble were catty. Some prompted catcalls, including a "Wow" from Jason Ray, 24, a legal assistant from near Times Square, where Thursday's festivities – and the fashion display – took place. "I think she looks good after having twins!" he told the newspaper. Underneath the sheer garment, Lopez sported little beyond her spangled red-soled Louboutin heels. And her famous caboose? The News determined it seems to have shrunk. "Did she get butt surgery?" asked a Tweeter.
“Good Morning America” special correspondent, the just-married Melissa Rycroft, will join the celebration reporting live on the evening’s festivities in and around Times Square. Dick Clark and Ryan Seacrest will host the specials beginning at 10:00 p.m., ET on Thursday, December 31st on ABC from New York. Singer/ songwriter Fergie of The Black Eyed Peas returns to host the Las Vegas-based party portions of the specials. “The Times Square performances will be special in bringing the live crowd together with millions of viewers at home to celebrate the New Year in a rockin’ way,” said Larry Klein, producer of the specials. The bi-coastal celebration will include three and one-half hours of special performances and reports on New Year’s celebrations from around the globe, as well as the American tradition of Dick Clark counting down to midnight from Times Square in New York city. The festivities will kick off with “Dick Clark’s Primetime New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2010” from10:00-11:00 p.m., ET, featuring performances live from New York’s Times Square and performances from Las Vegas. During “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2010, Part 1” (11:30 p.m. - 1:05 a.m., ET), in addition to reporting on the final minutes of 2009 and the traditional Times Square countdown to midnight, the show will feature music performances from both Las Vegas and Times Square in New York. Wrapping the night’s activities will be “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2010, Part 2” (1:05-2:05 a.m., ET), when musical acts will continue the party into the early hours of the New Year with additional performances from Las Vegas.
"Part of my business is being in shape and looking good. You can’t lie to yourself about it," Lopez, 40, tells the January issue of Allure. "But I'm not the monster I used to be in the exercise department." Her reprieve likely is coming to an end. The mother of 17-month-old twins Max and Emme released a dance track, "Fresh Out of the Oven," in October and performed at the American Music Awards in December. Her new album, Love, drops in January. As well as having to hit the gym again, J-Lo may also have to deal with that other flip side of fame – the paparazzi. "It's a business. Once they stop making money off of you they stop coming around," Lopez says.
After a spill at the American Music Awards, the “Louboutins” singer is teaming up again with So You Think You Can Dance choreographers Tabitha and Napoleon Dumo (known as Nappytabs) to do a holiday-themed number for the season finale of the show. Although Lopez redeemed herself with a performance on Ellen, Tabitha says they’re not taking any chances this time.,P>“We’re steering clear of some big jumps,” Tabitha says. “I feel like we don’t have to be dangerous anymore … Though I appreciated seeing guys with their shirts off personally — [there will be] no sweaty backs, no shirtless guys. We’re going to have some classy looking guys.” At the AMAs, Lopez fell — but quickly recovered — after climbing on the bare backs of her male dancers. Napoleon says the finale performance of the song will be different from the boxing-theme she did previously. “The idea is kind of a cross between a Marilyn Monroe, ‘Santa Baby’ and a ‘Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend,’ but using shoes. Shoes are a girl’s best friend nowadays instead of diamonds.” Adds Tabitha: “What would a girl want for Christmas? Of course it would be a shiny pair of Louboutin shoes … It’s for the holiday season [and] we’re putting a holiday twist to ‘Louboutins.’” Part of the twist, they say, will be to feature some familiar faces in the routine. “We’re going to incorporate some girls in the performance that were in [SYTYCD] seasons past. I don’t think any other artists that have performed on this show have actually incorporated contestants from the show,” Tabitha explains. “It’s not just a performance … it’s a connection to the show.” The finale will be “a good holiday treat,” according to Napoleon, “and a mixture of the kids on the show getting to interact with a pop sensation.” The So You Think You Can Dance season finale airs Wednesday (8 p.m. EST) on FOX and will also feature performances by Adam Lambert, Mary J. Blige and Leona Lewis.
The star fell after jumping from the backs of two sweaty dancers while singing and dancing her way through comeback tune Louboutins onstage at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles. Lopez landed on her bottom with a thud, but swiftly leaped to her feet and carried on her performance. She later laughed off the stumble, joking that it was part of the show - but the singer admits she's still sore from the fall. She explains, "I have, like, a bruised bone... What happened was that one of the dancers' backs was slippery from sweat and the lights and everything. We never bargained for that because they always had T-shirts on in rehearsal... and when I stepped on their backs, my feet were wet, so when I landed they slipped from under me." But the fun-loving singer isn't taking her stage stumble too seriously - she agreed to film a mock fall in a skit on comedienne Ellen DeGeneres' TV chat show, which aired on Thursday, and agreed to show the footage from the AMAs, which was cut from the non-live telecast of the show. She insists she didn't realise she'd taken a tumble because she was caught up in her routine: "That's kinda what I thought the rest of the performance: 'Did I fall...?' It happened so fast and I was up and all I could think was, 'I have to get to the next beat... I have to do this dance solo, right now.' I had no time to think about it. "I did the rest of the performance, walked out, was like, 'Yeah...!' And one of the dancers was like, 'Are you OK?' And I'm like, 'Oh my God, that's right, I fell...!' It happened." Lopez still can't believe how many people have checked out her most embarrassing onstage moment online: "(It's had) 400,000-something hits (on YouTube.com)." To ease her pain, DeGeneres presented her guest with a pillow to sit on and made her chuckle with gifts of a crash helmet and kneepads. Lopez performed the dance routine and song again on DeGeneres' show - and this time there was no slip-up or stumble.
"I have a bruised bone," she tells Ellen DeGeneres for an episode of the talk show to air Thursday. "What happened was one of the dancers' backs was slippery from sweat and lights and everything. We never bargained for that because they always had T-shirts on in rehearsal. "So they were barebacked, didn't have shirts on for the performance, and when I stepped on their backs my feet got wet. So when I landed. it just slipped from under me." But Lopez, 40, credits her quick recovery to the excitement of the moment. "That's kind what I felt the rest of the performance: Did I fall? It happened so fast," she says. "I was up and all I could think was, I have to get the next beat. I have to do this dance solo right now. I had no time to think about it." Only afterward did she realize what had happened. "Then I get to the back, and one the dancers was like, 'Are you OK?' Oh my god that's right, I fell," she says. "It was awful, but, you know, it happened."
"There wasn't anything close to sex in it," Lopez's attorney John Lavely tells PEOPLE. "We never alleged that. But it's still private and personal to my client." A Los Angeles judge agreed Tuesday, upholding a ruling that Lopez's ex, Ojani Noa, is forbidden from using 11-plus hours of home video – 20 percent of which allegedly features Lopez – for a mockumentary about his life as a Cuban immigrant, previously titled How I Married Jennifer Lopez: The JLo and Ojani Noa Story. "They're trying to stop me from making my documentary and I'm fighting for my rights," said Noa outside the courtroom. "They're not being fair." The aspiring actor and model denies he ever tried to peddle the footage as a sex tape. The footage has scenes from the ex-couple's marriage in Florida and honeymoon in Cuba, Noa's film partner Claudia Vazquez tells PEOPLE, but the project was misrepresented by a tabloid as being sexual, she says. Vazquez adds the project's title has since been changed to The Escape in reference to Noa having fled his home country. Noa, 35, who's also being sued for $10 million by Lopez for breach of contract, insists that two confidentiality agreements he previously signed about their relationship "should be voided" because he claims he was taken advantage of and was misinformed. He said he plans to take the videotape case to trial.
Jennifer Lopez's first ex-husband, he of the maybe-maybe not J.Lo-starring sex tape, has been barred from releasing any more "confidential information" about his former missus, thanks to a protective order Lopez was granted yesterday. The majority of which, incidentally, was heavily amended in black marker—a detail that Noa's team failed to find the charm in. "We are still trying to fully decipher Judge [James] Chalfant's exact order, which was written in Sharpie pen," Noa's agent, Ed Meyer told E! News. Meyer was also barred from blabbing in the order. "I guess due to the California budget cuts, as I have no other clue why a Superior Court judge would write and sign a court order with a Sharpie pen." Jeez, everyone's a critic. Still, just because Noa and Meyer can't talk Lopez doesn't mean they can't talk—and pontificate they will when they return to court later this morning to challenge the order. "We plan to bring up this order and many other issues in court," Meyer said. "We were never noticed, nor invited to this hearing today, even though we are the defendants." Should the order stand, it will last until the court hears all arguments over his proposed Lopez-inspired "mockumentary" and makes a final decision as to its legality.
Minus the 12-year-old home movies he's peddling and his desire to make a feature-length comedy that touches on their courtship, that is. Noa, 35, has admitted to trying to sell footage of him and Lopez from back in the day. But, he added, there's no graphic sexual activity on the video—and therefore no one should be making such a big deal about it. "They think I have a sex tape with her and that I'm trying to sell it," Noa says in an exclusive interview with E! News. "My tape is from our honeymoon, the wedding, us hanging out. There's no nudity—maybe one spanking. "There's moments of her fighting with her mom…couples having fun and kissing. If someone has a sex tape, it's not me." Lopez has shut him down at every turn, winning an injunction that prevented him from peddling a tell-all book about their relationship that included allegations of infidelity on her part, and scoring a so-far temporary court order to shut down his film project. Having already won a $545,000 judgment againt Noa in connection with his ill-advised book project, which violated a previous confidentiality agreement they had, Lopez sued him again last month for $10 million over his latest stunt. "I'm not going to harm anybody," Noa, 35, says. "I'm a great guy. If I was going to hurt anybody I have had many, many chances to do it. I always wish her the best. The mockumentary is about me escaping from Cuba and living here. They think it's about her but it's not, it's about me." Never mind the proposed title, How I Married Jennifer Lopez: The J.Lo and Ojani Noa Story. The two met in Miami at the restaurant he was working at and, after a brief courtship, tied the knot in 1997. Divorce proceedings began 10 months later. He and his ex remained friends, though, Noa says, adding that Lopez even asked him to manage her Pasadena restaurant, Madras, in 2002. Noa was ultimately fired, however, and he says that he called Lopez, but never heard back from her. But despite the fact that his name keeps popping up purely in connection with J.Lo, Noa claims that he has turned the page. "I have moved on," he says. "If I wanted to make a buck I would have done many interviews and I never did anything." Another hearing on the movie issue is scheduled for Dec. 1.
The star made her performance comeback on Sunday night, singing Louboutins from her new album Love?, but slipped up during a misstep at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles. After strutting onto a stage converted into a boxing ring in a robe and gloves, Lopez gyrated with male dancers. But it all went wrong for the star after she climbed onto a human pyramid of half-naked performers and jumped down - slipping backwards onto her bottom and flashing a glimpse of her underwear. Ever the true pro, Lopez swiftly leaped to her feet and carried on her performance - and she had already forgotten about the blunder when she was asked about it during a radio interview on Monday morning. She said, "Did I trip a little bit...? I don't even remember." She then joked, "I meant to do that... It was part of the choreography." And she chuckled as she called on her critics to remember how well she recovered from the mishap: "The measure of things is not what happens when you fall, it's how you handle it when you fall."
Not only does tape-delayed award shows mean Pacific zoners have to avoid Twitter for a few hours, but they also might miss the highlight of the event. Last night's American Music Awards was no exception. Jennifer Lopez's much discussed live trip over her "Louboutins" was edited from the version of the show that aired later. But the network insists this was not because of any sort of diva maneuvering. "Due to the live nature of the show, we did not expect the impromptu moment in question," stated ABC, dick clark productions executives and AMA show producers. "Regarding Jennifer Lopez, execs and producers felt it was respectful to Ms. Lopez to edit the mishap for later time zones." What a bunch of fuddy-duddies! Out of respect for the people tuning in, they should have kept the "live" show as-is. For the record Lopez's rep says she is physically fine. Her ego on the other hand...
“It is an exciting thing for us and one of the things we’ve always wanted to do,” Napoleon tells PEOPLE of their chance to work with one of their longtime dance idols. “You can expect to be entertained and you won’t be disappointed,” assures Tabitha, who has been teaching dance professionally with Napoleon for 15 years (11 of those as husband and wife). The pair, who has worked with stars like Beyoncé and Missy Elliott, is known for an innovative lyrical hip-hop style that has garnered them quite a following since they joined the FOX show in 2008. And that following includes Lopez and her husband Marc Anthony. “She told us she and her husband sit down and watch the show weekly,” says Tabitha, who describes Lopez as the ideal artists to work with. “She’s putting the time in and you don’t always get that with the artist. They have such crazy schedules and sometimes their priorities are a little bit different, but she’s really involved.” Napoleon describes her big number as “her coming back to being in her own and saying, ‘Hey, this is me again — don’t forget about it!’” For now, the team won’t reveal details of what they call a “big production” with “lots of people involved,” but “without giving it away,” teased Tabitha, she’ll be singing “a great song. It’s going to be on her new album and … I feel like it’s appropriate. It’s got a good tempo. It’s got a good vibe and it’s really exciting for us. When we heard it, we were like, ‘We’re going to have some fun with this one!’” Aside from Nappytabs, Jennifer has an added support team in husband Marc and their 21-month-old twins Emme and Max who, according to Tabitha and Napoleon, have been regular fixtures at rehearsals. “Marc’s really supportive,” explains Napoleon. “He’s great with the kids and then he still pays enough attention to her and goes, ‘Maybe you could do a move like this or that?’” “It’s adorable to watch them together,” Tabitha says. And it sounds like the little ones take after their parents when it comes to having all the moves. “The kids are always with us at rehearsal, running around and dancing in the mirrors,” Napoleon says. “As soon as the music starts playing, they are dancing around.” Like any good comeback, Lopez’s live performance at L.A.’s Nokia Theatre on Sunday will show off her confidence. Says Napoleon: “You can expect her to come out fighting and she’s going to show that she’s got a knock-out punch!”
The song finds J.Lo expressing frustration over a lover who clearly isn't giving 100 percent of himself to the relationship. Why, then, is she taking it out on us? Case in point: The chorus contains nothing more than the line "I'm throwing on my Louboutins," repeated not once, not twice, but eight times. Multiply that by the number of times the chorus is recited (four) and we get 32 reminders of the particular brand of designer footwear Jenny from the Block is going to use to walk out on her man. The track begins with the singer insisting, "I'm taking back my love." Personally, we wish we could take back the last three minutes and 49 seconds.
Lopez and Lambert will be among more than a dozen performers at Sunday's ceremony, and they took time out Thursday to perfect their performances. Lopez is in top form, but she's still a little nervous. She'll be singing a song fans have never heard before and performing live on TV for the first time in years. "You know what you're doing and you feel very good about it, but at the same time, you wouldn't be human if you're not afraid," she said after her rehearsal. She's set to perform "Louboutins," the first single from her new album, "Love?" - due in stores next year. Flanked by backup dancers, the 40-year-old entertainer busts out her Fly Girl moves in a number that begins in a boxing ring and ends in the audience. Famed sports announcer Michael Buffer is in the act, too. "I think it's going to be good," she said. "Dancing again, singing, the lights and the costumes - it all feels like second nature." Veteran choreographer Kenny Ortega, director of "Michael Jackson's This Is It," gave Lopez's performance a positive review. "Awesome," he said after dropping by the Nokia Theatre to watch her rehearse. Lambert, 27, said he's eager to see how the star-studded crowd responds to his provocative performance, a sexed-up rendition of "For Your Entertainment," the first single off his upcoming album of the same name. "I can't wait to see people I look up to as artists in the audience watching. I think that will be a trip, and exciting and motivating all at the same time," he said after his rehearsal. "It will be really interesting to see what kind of reaction the number gets. It's different. It really does have an edge to it." The performance is heavy on leather and chains and includes Lambert dragging a shackled woman across the stage. Other artists set to perform at the 37th annual American Music Awards include Rihanna, Whitney Houston, Green Day, Lil' Wayne, Lady Gaga, Eminem, Keith Urban, Jay-Z and Carrie Underwood. Janet Jackson will open the show with a medley of songs, but producer Larry Klein wouldn't say whether her performance would be a tribute to her late brother. "It's a surprise," he said. Fans voted online to choose the winners of the American Music Awards, which honour the year's top-selling artists in eight popular genres. The ceremony will be broadcast live on ABC from the Nokia Theatre.
Ojani Noa and his manager Ed Meyer had planned to distribute the footage and proposed making a film, "The J.Lo and Ojani Noa Story." The Tuesday order also applies to Meyer. Lopez wed Noa in 1997, but their marriage lasted just 11 months. In 2007, Lopez won $545,000 in damages and attorney fees in another lawsuit that blocked Noa from publishing a ghostwritten tell-all book. Lopez claimed Noa demanded $5 million to keep him from publishing the book. Noa claimed the footage included nothing sexual and alleged that Lopez is trying to keep him from success.
Ojani Noa, who was married to the actress/singer between 1997 and 1998, is preparing a documentary, entitled "How I Married Jennifer Lopez: The J.Lo and Ojani Noa Story." Due to a legally-binding settlement in which Noa agreed not to release any information about the former couple's time as husband and wife, Lopez's legal team issued a cease-and-desist missive demanding that he scrap all his plans for the film. However, Noa has laughed off the threats, insisting his movie is "100 per cent parody" and therefore does not breach the agreement the pair made in 2005. But Lopez doesn't find the situation amusing, and after hearing home movie footage from the pair's honeymoon would feature in the satire, she filed suit at Los Angeles County Superior Court on Friday claiming the terms of their settlement have been broken. Lopez is demanding a permanent ban on Noa releasing any footage of her, and wants a whopping $10 million in damages.
Citing the injunction all parties agreed upon two years ago, lawyers for the singer-actress have sent a cease-and-desist letter to her first ex-husband, Ojani Noa, demanding that he finally stop thinking he's going to profit from his brief marriage to the twice-since remarried star. According to the letter, Noa's been shopping a film project called How I Married Jennifer Lopez: The JLo and Ojani Noa Story and has advertised for players on an open casting website. "It would strain credulity to the breaking point for those involved in the writing, development and the pre-production of the Proposed Film to claim that they were not aware" of the injunction in place, Lopez attorney John Lavely wrote. The injunction prevented Noa from publishing a supposed tell-all book a few years back that claimed Lopez, among other things, was hooking up with Marc Anthony while the singer was still married. He was also ordered to pay $545,000 in damages for breaking a confidentiality clause he signed in 2005. But despite its salacious yet straightforward title, the film's executive producer tells E! News that the movie is going to be more Borat than The Way We Were. The film would start with Noa's arrival from Cuba on U.S. shores and take him through his courtship of and year-long marriage to Lopez, and end with her ill-fated 2002 engagement to Ben Affleck. Executive producer Claudia Vasquez, of Big Dream Films, tells E! news that, like the book Noa was prevented from writing (the modestly titled The Unknown Truth: A Passionate Portrait of a Serial Thriller), the film would detail Lopez's alleged infidelities while married to Noa. He also claims Lopez cheated on various boyfriends with him. "You're going to have to wait on that for the film," Vasquez said when asked whether those boyfriends included the more famous named on Lopez's dating résumé. And even though Lopez's legal camp is coming after them, they're going ahead with the project, Vasquez insisted. "It's a parody so usually law doesn't apply to the story unless it's something serious," she said. "It's showing that he can get over it. It's comic. This is not about Jennifer Lopez's life, this is about Ojani's life." He and J.Lo were married in February 1997 and it ended a year later.
"Fresh Out the Oven" has nothing to do with pizza or any other heated meals that deliver. It's a pop track by "Lola" and Pitbull, produced by The Neptunes. We're not sure why Jenny from the Block needs to use yet another moniker, but they're attempting to get all viral by launching WhoIsLola.com, as well as an accompanying Twitter. But we do know that Lola = J.Lo and that we haven't heard a new song from her in ages. However, after a couple listens to this one, that might have been for the best. Her love may not cost a thing, but what has the "Oven" cost your eardrums?
Listen to the track in its entirety, only on PEOPLE.com. A note of explanation: Lopez's new song will not appear on her upcoming album – and a Web site established to promote it, featuring a dancing female figure named Lola, has spawned rumors that Lopez has adopted a new persona. Not so. "Lola is just for this song, it's not her ongoing persona," says a source close to the singer. "It's something fun. She hasn't become Sasha Fierce [Beyoncé's artistic alter ego]. There won't be anything to do with Lola on her Love? album." "This is a hot club record that the label loved and Jennifer thought was fun," Amanda Ghost, president of Epic Records tells PEOPLE. "Jennifer and Pitbull got together and the record leaked. Lola is a fun character just for this song."
"I bought a condo today in Miami," Anthony, 40, told PEOPLE Monday night during halftime of the Miami Dolphins vs. Indianapolis Colts football game at Miami's Landshark Stadium. "When we are through decorating the condo, it will be the sexiest place in town!" Anthony and wife Jennifer Lopez's new pad is in the Icon Brickell, a new, three-tower condominium designed by Philippe Starck. The stunning complex, which includes the Viceroy Miami Hotel, is near Miami's downtown and financial district, just a few minutes from South Beach. In April, Anthony and Lopez, 40, spent a weekend with their children at Viceroy Miami and Icon Brickell, after Anthony's concert in the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in nearby Hollywood, Fla. The couple met with the Icon Brickell's developer Jorge Perez and got a personal tour of several condos. Though they looked at other Miami-area condo buildings, they decided on this one. "We are not selling our homes in New York or Los Angeles, we are just adding Miami," Anthony tells PEOPLE. "Now that I am involved with the Dolphins, I am busy working and see a different set of stresses than I experience being a father. So I want to be close by. And we love Miami."
The pair, in town for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute's awards gala, celebrated Anthony's 41st birthday Wednesday night at the W hotel's P.O.V. lounge. Before the fete though, Anthony reportedly got a treat from President Obama, who led a group of senators and congressmen in a rendition of "Happy Birthday" for the singer backstage at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus gala, according to Gossip Cop. President Obama joked at the Hispanic Caucus dinner that the group's chairwoman, Nydia Velazquez, has a crush on Anthony. "I'm telling you, J.Lo, watch out," the President quipped. As for the birthday party, Lopez hosted the bash, which was attended by Anthony's family, agent Benny Medina, Rep. Linda Sanchez, Miami Dolphins coach Wayne Huizenga, as well as a slew of ambassadors and other dignitaries. The party started around 10:30 p.m. and lasted until 2 a.m. Anthony was presented with a five-tier chocolate cake from Fancy Cakes by Leslie that was decorated with brown fondant icing, gold art deco accents and "Congratulations and Happy Birthday" written on it. Earlier in the day, the couple met with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi – and even stopped by the Oval Office. "[Jennifer] was here for a tour. She's in town for the CHC dinner. She popped into the Oval Office," a White House source tells PEOPLE During lunch, Lopez and Anthony, who also brought their twins to D.C., munched on salads, New York strip steaks, chicken and vanilla lemon buttercream birthday cake from Morton's the Steakhouse.
Jenny from the Block already stumped for Barack Obama during his bid for the presidency, so it's no surprise she's also backing his pick for the Supreme Court—who happens to be a fellow Latina. J.Lo threw Sonia Sotomayor, the first Latina Supreme Court Justice, a dinner party at her Long Island home last night, according to Gossipcop.com. Hubby Marc Anthony cohosted the intimate affair, which featured a cocktail hour before the main event. So how many people made the list for the political party? The guest list only featured about a dozen people, and most were "political types." Guess the Beckhams and Cruises shouldn't feel bad that they didn't get an invite to the bash.
"There's nothing as huge as giving birth to another human being and having to be responsible for another life," Lopez tells InStyle, for its September, 15th-Anniversary issue. "There's you before kids, and there's you after kids – and they're not the same you." The singer-actress, who celebrated turning 40 with a blowout bash in July, says her outlook on all aspects of life – from her music to relationships and business ventures – has shifted gears. "[Parenthood] totally changes your perspective on everything," says Lopez. "You don't come first anymore. There's somebody else you care more about than yourself." For the active entrepreneur, that means cutting down on work and stepping down from the "hamster wheel," a previous lifestyle that was all about deadlines – a whirl in which she "felt like I couldn't say no." "I'm at a point in my life when I just don't feel the need to put out anything unless I totally, absolutely feel it says what I want to say," Lopez says about her music career. She has, however, received inspiration from her twins – especially Max, whose first few steps inspired the proud mom to write a song. Marital Ups and Downs When it comes to marriage, Lopez, who's been wed to Marc Anthony for five years, admits she's "still figuring it out as I go along," and she's had her share of "hard experiences and a lot of ups and downs and a lot of mistakes." One way she's figuring it all out is by reading books about relationships. "It's the never-ending question – what is the key to love?" As for what she's gleaned, "I believe that in life you learn through experience," she says. "I'm old enough to know now that relationships take work. That's it's not an easy thing."
The party, dubbed "An Evening For Lola" – a nod to Anthony's nickname for his wife – was attended by sister Lynda, mom Guadelupe, manager Benny Medina, as well as BFF Leah Remini. Other guests included Liza Minnelli, Gayle King, Australian actor Alex O'Loughlin, New York Mets player Carlos Beltran and music mogul LA Reid. Lopez, who arrived with Anthony in a Bentley, donned a Grecian-inspired gown. Before entering the soiree she met with fans standing behind barricades across the street, which had been closed to traffic. "Jen was in an amazing mood and was just so excited about seeing all the fans [and] the marquee outside the Edison that said, 'An Evening For Lola.' She was really energized," says a source, adding: "Jennifer was the belle of the ball. She was glowing, and just radiating happiness. She really had a great time." When it came to the party, "It was a glamorous setting, with white flowers around. Very classy. Everyone had a really good time, and it was a nice mix of her family, business associates and her friends." As for Lopez and her husband, the source says, "They were affectionate with each other and obviously loving the night. Marc's arm was around Jennifer a lot, they'd give each other pecks on the face every now and then. She was clearly pleased with how the night went."
A rep for Lopez tells PEOPLE exclusively, “The rumor of Jennifer Lopez throwing herself in the ring to take over for Paula Abdul is completely false. Jennifer loves Idol but just as a fan. She just wrapped the feature film The Back-Up Plan, due out January 2010, and will release an album then as well.” Lopez turned 40 on Friday and her rep adds, “This weekend Jen is celebrating her birthday with friends and family.” The reports surfaced after Lopez and Idol host Ryan Seacrest were spotted having dinner at Madeo in Los Angeles earlier this month. Seacrest told paparazzi outside Madeo that “Jennifer and Paula would be a hell of a combination” on the show.
The actress has been busy filming The Back-Up Plan in the Big Apple and took some time out to party with the crew and hubby Marc Anthony. While she's definitely toned down her divalicious side since becoming a mom to twins Max and Emme, J.Lo.'s huge chocolate cake still paid tribute to...herself, what else? It featured a big photo of herself and the message: "Jennifer...thanks for being our Plan A! You're the best. And...happy birthday!" The birthday girl also got kisses from her hubby and toasted with champagne. Despite turning the dreaded 4-0, a milestone that has most women pretending it doesn't exist, Jenny was beaming throughout the bash. Do you miss her over-the-top J.Lo days or do you like the new softer, domesticated side of Jennifer? Either way, happy birthday!
The singer-actress admits that she and her husband Marc Anthony would like to give their 18-month-old twins Emme and Max a sibling or two. "I would love to have more kids," the actress tells Extra. "I don't know if we will. I don't know if that's in the cards for us – but we'll see." Lopez, who turns 40 on Friday, also opens up about the joys of watching her twins grow up. "They're more than walking now ... They're starting to talk," she says. "I put Max to bed yesterday ... and I said, 'I love you baby. I'll see you tomorrow.' And he was like, 'I love you.' " Speaking of love, Lopez can't say enough about the positive effects of motherhood. "You just mature so quickly in such a deep way and you think life is short and you have to just go for things. You can't be afraid to try or do you best ... just do it and that's the example I want to set for my children as well. It's like you can do anything. The only thing that ever holds us back is fear... It's a useless emotion."
The actor began dating the singer in 2002 after starring in Gigli with her, and the pair later became engaged before splitting up shortly before their scheduled wedding in 2004. Affleck is adamant he should never have got involved in the first place - because the publicity surrounding their romance tainted his career. He says, "I was no longer in control of my life. I thought I wanted certain things, but I didn't. I got lost. I felt suffocated, miserable and gross. I should never have gone down that route or got sucked in to all the publicity. "I was typecast as myself. Too many people weren't getting past what they read about me. That was damaging. I can tell from experience it's bad for you, and bad for your career. So I took a break, went away for a while and let things calm down." And he admits he is much happier with his wife Jennifer Garner and their two daughters, three-year-old Violet and six-month-old Seraphina to look after. He adds, "Work has taken a back seat. My job is not as important as it was. Saying that having a family changed my life is a cliche. But it's true - it re-arranged my life and made me see clearly."
After a yearlong hiatus from pretty much everything to focus on her twins, Max and Emme, the multihyphenated star is looking to dominate the music scene once again with the new tune "What Is Love." Upbeat and catchy, the track is vintage J.Lo. In other words, you can dance to it—and, with all those na na nas running throughout, it's the kind of tune that will be stuck in your head for days. The song's Internet surfacing comes just days after Lopez debuted a ballad she wrote for her kids at a benefit for Childrens Hospital Los Angeles over the weekend. Talented and charitable. Welcome back indeed. But that's just us. Are you loving "What Is Love," or should Jenny simply go back to the block?
"We both got very nervous, very very nervous, and I just remember my heart sinking to my feet," Lopez recalled at last night's Noche de Ninos gala benefit for Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA). "I looked at [Marc] and I said, ‘You know if anything happens, I'm not going to be okay, you know that right?'" Lopez and Anthony rushed Emme to Children's Hospital, where she underwent a battery of tests, including an MRI. "Luckily in the end," Lopez said, "she turned out fine." But it turned into something more for the hospital... Shortly after the scare, the singer-actress joined forces with CHLA to form the Maribel Foundation to help provide pediatric medical services to the less fortunate. "I started to wonder," Lopez said, "what if I couldn't afford a doctor, or receive the medicines, the procedures?" Lopez also debuted a new song last night, which she wrote for her twins. A recording of the ballad was played during a video highlighting the Foundation's work. In it, Lopez sings, "Let's keep this time for us and make it last as long as we can. It's already going too fast." Meanwhile, Jamie Lee Curtis, who was given this year's Courage to Care Award by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, sported a pink wig. No, she wasn't getting all Britney Spears on us. The wig belonged to a 15-year-old girl who died of cancer. "We were at a news conference and she pulled off this wig and on her head she had written ‘Jamie Lee Curtis Rocks,'" the actress told me about her first meeting the girl when she was 11. "That night I borrowed her wig and went to this event, where we raised millions of dollars for Children's Hospital Pittsburgh. After she died, I asked her mother if I could have her wig to carry her message."
"We call her Emme-tude because we're like, 'She's giving us Emme-tude right now,' " Lopez, 39, tells Rachael Ray in an interview scheduled to air on her talk show Friday. "She gets that from her dad. I'm kidding – she gets it from me." As for twin son, Max, Lopez says she and husband Marc Anthony think he also favors his mother in some ways. "Me and Marc are always claiming he's got my head and he's got my mouth," she says. "You want it all to be you," Lopez says, adding, [Emme's] got my little body." "That's the nature of who we are; we can't help it. We're both trying to steal it all." One thing Lopez enjoys most, she says, is perceiving the unique qualities of each child. "They're very different," she says. "You can really see it, even from when they're really young." How would she describe Max? "He's more like the visceral boy – running, knocking things down, eating," Lopez says. And Emme? "She takes a step and stops and picks things up and she's like 'I don't know, maybe I'll eat this.' … She’s really kind of indecisive but at the same time very precise." Ever doting, Lopez says she made a big to-do about the kids' first birthday in February. "We did it in my backyard in L.A.," she says. "We had a BBQ/carnival type thing. Nothing like Mommy Dearest ... It was more just like we had snow cones and a little jumpy." "They had the best time at their birthday party," she says. "I didn't think a 1-year-old could have fun at a birthday party. But they did; they loved it. I think I did a good job, and they’re going to remember."
Last night, she had a girls-only dinner party at Cecconi's. On the guest list? Eva Longoria Parker, Katie Holmes, Jennifer Lopez, Kate Beckinsale and Nicole Richie. According to Us Weekly, the group arrived around 9:30 p.m. After a champagne-filled dinner, a cake was brought out for the birthday girl. No word on whether Posh actually ate any of it. Before Victoria's birthday bash, Eva pre-partied at the Armani Exchange watch launch party at the SLS Hotel, where she gave us a Desperate Housewives update... Eva insists things are "great" on set despite Nicollette Sheridan's departure. And as for those pregnancy rumors, Eva was spotted smoking a cigarette inside her VIP cabana at the party. We're guessing that means she only ate for one at Posh's party.
The disputed domain names, jenniferlopez.net and jenniferlopez.org, directed users to a website that generated paid advertising revenues, according to the ruling issued by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). An independent arbitrator ordered the domain names transferred within 10 days to the Jennifer Lopez Foundation, which filed the complaint. The charitable foundation promotes better access to healthcare for women and children. The Grammy-nominated singer, widely known as J.Lo, joins other celebrities in ousting cybersquatters through the dispute procedure, including Pierce Brosnan, Tom Cruise, Celine Dion, Scarlett Johansson, Nicole Kidman, Madonna and Julia Roberts. Lopez, who is from the South Bronx, registered her name as a trademark in the United States in May 1999 and has sold more than 48 million albums worldwide, according to her complaint. A man based in Phoenix, Arizona, named as Jeremiah Tieman, registered both domain names and asserted that he ran primarily a fan site devoted to providing news and information about the star, according to the arbitrator, Williams Towns. Tieman "registered two domain names that are identical to the complainant's mark and has used those domain names to attract Internet users to a website from which (he) generates pay-per-click advertising," Towns said in his ruling. The American arbitrator found that the registration had been for commercial use and was in bad faith. Lopez, 39, and her husband, salsa singer Marc Anthony, had twins in February. It is her third marriage. The couple starred together in "El Cantante," a 2006 film about salsa legend Hector Lavoe.
Lopez, who tells the magazine she watched the film "37 times" as a kid growing up in the Bronx, admits, "I never wanted to be that wimpy Maria, who sits around pining for her guy. I wanted to be Anita, who danced her way to the top." In this shot, her dream comes true. Photographer Mark Seliger re-creates a scene from the beloved 1961 film version with Lopez (left) as Anita, Rodrigo Santoro (center) as "Shark" Bernardo and Camilla Belle (right) as Maria. Chris Evans, Ben Barnes, Brittany Snow, Robert Pattinson, Ashley Tisdale, Cam Gigandet and Drake Bell also make cameos in other photos.
Nunez, 21, an ebullient college student from Cidra, Puerto Rico, says hearing from the Latin superstar couple has been the highlight of his journey on the Fox competition show. Ryan Seacrest read Nunez a text message by Anthony on his radio show Thursday morning, in which Anthony said Nunez's performance brought the pair to tears. Nunez says Anthony and Lopez are hugely popular in his country, and he can't believe they know who he is. Nunez joined Lil Rounds and Scott MacIntyre, picked by viewers this week for the show's top 12, in a teleconference Thursday.
The Bronx native borrowed $50,000 worth of diamonds from Robert Mouawad to attend the launch of Andrea Lieberman's fashion line, ALC, at Barneys in Beverly Hills last week. Gwen Stefani, Leah Remini and Ellen Pompeo also borrowed baubles from the Swiss jeweler, for whom Lieberman also designs. The next day, the other celebs returned their bling, but J.Lo didn't. "We received a call from [her manager] Benny Medina, informing us that Jennifer was going to keep the jewelry," an insider said. "As far as Mr. Mouawad is concerned, Jennifer can have whatever she wants, but a premature demand seemed presumptuous." There's no ill will, however. "Mr. Mouawad is the Swiss billionaire who purchased the 60-carat flawless Mondera Diamond for $50 million," said our source. "He will lose no sleep over $50,000, and frankly, Jennifer's endorsement is priceless." Medina, reached in Santiago, Chile - where J.Lo's hubby, Marc Anthony, was being honored and performing sold-out shows - told Page Six: "There was no demand whatsoever. There was an offer. It was very clear." In return for hosting the show for her friend, Lopez would be given the entire collection of jewelry and clothes, he said. "She was the only celebrity whose name was on the invite. She would have done it for nothing," Medina explained. "But this was how it was presented. It was quite a generous offer." Sharon Stone must be as green as an emerald with envy. In 1993, Harry Winston Inc. sued her for the return of a $400,000 necklace she wore while promoting "Sliver." Stone had claimed it was a gift. And Paris Hilton wore a $160,000 bracelet loaned by Kwiat to the 2003 Oscars. It had a broken clasp, she said, so she put it in a friend's car, where it was stolen. Kwiat sued the celebutante, and she reportedly wrote a $100,000 check to cover the loss.
The couple sued buggy maker Silver Cross for trademark infringement in federal court today, claiming the British manufacturer unlawfully touted its product line by using a picture of the A-list parents pushing twins Emme and Max in their strollers. Per the suit filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, Silver Cross has used the photograph online and in ads without the plaintiffs' permission, thereby deceiving the public into "believing that Lopez and Anthony endorse and sponsor" the U.K.-based pram purveyor. The famous duo are seeking at least $5 million in damages, a permanent injunction against any further use of their names or images in the company's advertising, and any money thay may have been made by using the Lopez-Anthony family as unwitting spokesmodels.
About 50 guests, including Nicole Ritchie, Joel Madden and their daughter Harlow, 1, joined the casual afternoon party, which started at about 1 p.m. Several guests were seen arriving with gifts in Elmo and Disney bags. Others brought stuffed animals and "Happy Birthday" balloons in festive shapes and colors. The backyard, where the party was held, was decorated with festive metallic silver balloons and a blue-and-red color theme. Two moonbouncers, a clown and upbeat music entertained guests, who were served non-alcoholic slush drinks provided by The Margarita Man. Guests sang "Happy Birthday" while a cake decorated with candles from Rosebud Cakes was presented. Max and Emme's actual birthday is Sunday.
The crooner completed his inaugural performance by bringing "my wife," Jennifer Lopez, on to the stage with him, for a duet. This thrilled the crowd at the Inauguration's Western Ball, held in the largest ballroom of the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, where the guests also included Angela Bassett and Harold & Kumar and House star Kal Penn, reports The Washington Post. The 10:25 p.m. appearance of Lopez also further put to rest rumors of a marital rift between the couple. Earlier in the evening, Anthony had said, "I wrote this next song about Jennifer. I must have been psychic." The song was his decade-old "You Sang to Me." "She didn't get the point, but eventually it worked," said Anthony, the Associated Press reports. The couple ended their duet with a kiss. "Man, she's cute," Anthony said after Lopez exited the stage.
At the Latino Inaugural Gala in Washington, D.C. on Sunday evening, the singer-actress said even with all of Hollywood flocking to the city for the inauguration, President-elect Barack Obama was undeniably the biggest A-lister. "He is the biggest star here, even though it's chock-full of celebrities," said Jennifer Lopez. "The night he won the election, you could feel it in the air. I was … watching him with tears in my eyes, thinking, 'Yes. Something is different. Something is happening.' We're very excited." "Washington's never had a bigger rock star at the helm," her husband Marc Anthony agreed. At the event, Rosario Dawson – whose Voto Latino organization worked to register young Latino voters – said her pinch-me moment was meeting the Obama family Sunday afternoon at the We Are One concert event at the Lincoln Memorial. "It was really incredible. They're really poised and incredible and just magnificent people," the actress told PEOPLE at the Latino Inaugural Gala. "I'm sort of, like, freaking out right now." Throughout the evening, guests milled about the vast marble ballroom in Washington D.C.'s Union station, noshing on quesadillas and egg-salad sandwiches on mini-croisssants as a mariachi band played in the background. Other celebrities in attendance included George Lopez, David Archuleta and CNN's Soledad O'Brien. Shakira, the last celebrity to walk the red carpet, arrived sheathed in a green Oscar de la Renta gown in time to perform close to midnight. The pop singer was also pumped up about meeting the President-elect earlier in the day at the Lincoln Monument. "He said that he had my music (on his) iPod," she told PEOPLE. "I hope he was not being just nice."
Anthony agreed to sing and Lopez said she would "speak" at the Latino Inaugural Ball in DC on Jan. 18, two nights before the swearing-in. But some Latinos for Obama are furious that the wealthy couple didn't support the Democratic nominee until he'd won. One power player called them "vile opportunists for worming themselves into anything Obama related even though they had nothing to do with his win." According to the source, Anthony refused to perform for Obama during a crucial get-out-the-Latino-vote event in Orlando, Fla., two weeks before the election and Lopez refused to endorse Obama unless he called her himself, which he didn't. The Orlando event went on without them and featured Bill Clinton and Jimmy Smits. The Latino Ball, at Union Station, is scheduled to attract a list of boldface names, including Rosario Dawson, Wilmer Valderrama and "Ugly Betty" actor Tony Plana. Some Dems are also upset that Lopez and Anthony didn't donate. "They haven't given him, his campaign or the inauguration a cent," a source said - likening the couple to Sean Combs, whose reps tried to procure inauguration tickets for him for free. But a friend of Lopez and Anthony said, "Unlike Puffy, they are doing something - they are performing. And lots of people, including Rihanna and Mariah Carey, are performing and didn't donate. A lot of celebrities are showing up as guests of magazines or political people and not paying anything or doing anything. Marc and Jennifer shouldn't be reviled for that." A rep for the couple didn't return calls.
According to those who observed them on a holiday vacation to Puerto Rico, nothing. The couple, who left for their romantic jaunt on Dec. 26, rang in 2009 poolside at La Concha Hotel, reports the Puerto Rico newspaper El Voce. On their trip, which lasted through the first week in January, the couple also attended the gubernatorial inauguration and had a cozy dinner together at Marmalade restaurant in Old San Juan. What's more, a reliable source tells PEOPLE that Lopez, 39, and Anthony, 40, are seriously considering purchasing property at Trump's International Gulf Club Puerto Rico, where they took a tour over the holiday. 'They've Been Arguing' While both their reps tell PEOPLE that the couple are "great," insiders indicate that their marriage isn't perfect. "They have been having problems, like in any marriage," says one. "They've been arguing." The likely cause? The growing pains naturally associated with raising 10-month-old twins Max and Emme. "The marriage is experiencing frustrations because of the added stress of the twins," says another source familiar with the situation, "but they will work things out. They love each other, and that will dictate what happens. I don't think divorce is in the picture."
In the face of reports that the duo have been fighting and are headed for a split, E! News has learned exclusively that J.Lo and her hubby are spending a few days together in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where Anthony is scheduled to perform as part of his ongoing tour. Two days ago, Lopez and Anthony met up with friends and family for dinner at Marmalade, a trendy, upscale restaurant in the old-town section of San Juan. "Jennifer and Marc looked very happy, so it is hard for me to believe the rumors that their marriage is in trouble," the eatery's general manager, Trace Donaldson, tells E! News. "They were laughing and seemed to be having a great time." The couple were joined by a group that included Lopez's sister, Lynda. On Monday, the Out of Sight star's rep denied to E! a New York Daily News report that had the seemingly cozy couple planning to announce their breakup right after Anthony's Feb. 14 show at Madison Square Garden. "There is no merit to the article," the rep said. Lopez was spotted Dec. 26 boarding a private flight straight to Puerto Rico out of Van Nuys Airport.
While a morning report alleged that the duo of more than four years were in the early stages of premeditating a public—not to mention rather ironic—Valentine's Day split, Lopez's rep maintains that everything is just peachy in J. Lo land. "There is no merit to the article," Lopez's publicist Leslie Sloane told E! News of the New York Daily News report. While rumors of marital discord are nothing new for the couple, speculation of an impending split was ramped up earlier this month when Lopez turned up at the Los Angeles premiere of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button without her wedding ring. Or husband. She was, however, photographed reunited with the former during a shopping trip in Beverly Hills last week. As it is, back in October the duo further solidified their union—and no doubt confounded their doubters—by renewing their wedding vows in Las Vegas.
Salma Hayek, Jennifer Lopez, Amy Poehler and Seth Rogen have been named hosts of the 2009 Golden Globes Awards presentation. The 66th annual Golden Globes are scheduled to air Sunday, Jan. 11 on NBC. Rogen, 26, was busy in 2008 with films including "Zack and Miri Make a Porno" and " Pineapple Express." "Saturday Night Live" star Poehler, 37, appeared in "Baby Mama" and " Hamlet 2."
The couple snuggled together in a booth, feeding one another Kobe meatballs and enjoying – as they ate with their hands – tamarind-glazed ribs, as well as each other's company, if their kisses were any indication. Lopez, sipping an apple martini, and Anthony, drinking beer, "looked genuinely in love," observed one diner. Also adding to the festive atmosphere: a fellow patron's toddler, who sprinted the Anthonys – who couldn't help but fawn over the child. Still to come was dessert, coconut tiramisu and chocolate lava cake, which the happy couple shared. Sweet.
The project involves a single woman who attempts to conceive via artificial insemination and winds up in a quandary after she finds romance. Production is scheduled to start in the spring, making it one of the first projects to get a green light at CBS Films. Lopez has starred in a number of comedy hits such as "Maid in Manhattan" and "Monster In-Law," and is set to star in the heist picture
A Los Angeles judge has upheld a $545,000 award that the multi-hyphenate diva won against first husband Ojani Noa after she sued him for writing a tell-all tome about their doomed relationship. The Cuban-born former waiter hoped to have the sum tossed on a technicality—seems his original lawyer wasn't authorized to practice law, oops! Lopez sued after Noa wrote a salacious book outlining her "multiple duplicitous sexual affairs" behind Noa's back (including a tryst with Marc Anthony while he was married to ex-Miss Universe Dayanara Torres) in violation of a 2002 confidentiality agreement. Noa wound up losing during arbitration, which he failed to appear for. The book was blocked from being published. And now mom has some extra cash for Max and Emme's Halloween treats.
Along with her company Nuyorican Prods, the former Fly Girl has inked a two-year first-look deal with Universal Media Studios to exclusively develop a slate of TV projects for the NBC family, Variety reports. Lopez, who once guested on NBC's Will & Grace, has already branched out into television producing, bringing series to the Disney Channel (Amigas), the defunct UPN (South Beach), the SAP-py Univision (Como ama una mujer) and MTV (Dancelife). The singer/actress may find herself battling, well, herself if or when any of her new projects hit the air though. Nuyorican is currently developing a small-screen version of Lopez's 2002 rom-com Maid in Manhattan for ABC.
"We're just lucky," Anthony, 40, tells PEOPLE. "Our life is designed around the twins. Everything smells better, it tastes better, it even feels better on a minute-to-minute basis. We should just enjoy this." The couple were arm in arm at Fashion Group International's Night of Stars Event at Cipriani Wall Street in New York Thursday night. Lopez and Prince presented the award to Donatella Versace. It was a Versace palm-leaf dress that Lopez famously wore to the Grammys in 2000, but the new mom and her husband were at odds over whether she'd slip into a similar outfit these days. "For me, it was one of the eye-opening moments of what a dress could actually do," Lopez, 39, tells PEOPLE. "And I was on the cover of the paper the next day, because of that Versace dress. No, I'd wear it [now]." "Maybe as a wife, she wouldn't," Anthony interjected, as his spouse laughed.
"I have been in a few challenging ones," Lopez, 39, said Wednesday at The Women's Conference in Long Beach, Calif. "I have been in relationships that can make you doubt who you are and what you are capable of, and doubt what you deserve. It took me a bit little longer to get it right." The actress, who didn't single out any of her exes, has been married twice and famously dated Sean "Diddy" Combs and Ben Affleck before quietly marrying Marc Anthony, 40, with whom she had twins. Raising children, she told the conference being attended by 14,000 women and hosted by California First Lady Maria Shriver, "can make you more aware and more loving, and make you aware there's nothing they don't deserve. Your eyes open. Your heart opens."
"Carlos gave his wife a specially engraved ring and gave Marc and Jennifer special rings as gifts," a source told PEOPLE exclusively. "Carlos and Jessica renewed their vows first, then Jennifer and Marc went." The vows came after a private dinner at Bradley Ogden and a good night rolling the dice. "They were both winning at the craps table and Marc kept saying that it was going to be a lucky night," the source said. And as luck would have it, it was "nearly flawless," added the source. "Initially, they were supposed to do the ceremony outside on the suite’s balcony but it was too cold, so they had to move it inside. That was the only thing that didn’t go according to plan." Inside, the couples were wed in the Caesars Palace's newly renovated Forum Tower Penthouse in the suite's rotunda. The suite only reopened Saturday, making Lopez and Anthony the first people to stay there since the renovation. "Marc actually said the suite was so beautiful that it deserved it's own zip code," the source said. "He thought it was perfect." Wearing a black dress, Lopez looked "beautiful" as 12 people witnessed the ceremony, the source said. "Her parents didn't even see it because they were with the babies." Following the nuptials, a butler opened a bottle of Dom Perignon champagne for the newly re-married couples.
Witnessed by two friends, the duo renewed the vows at Caesars Palace's Forum Tower Penthouse at 3:15 a.m. Sunday after a night at Pure Nightclub, a rep for the hotel confirmed to PEOPLE. The service was officiated by Rev. Steven Smith. "It was totally a spur of the moment thing," a source said. "They decided around 12:30 in the morning that they wanted to do it and started calling for ministers." The renewal ceremony comes after the couple spent the previous evening club-hopping in Las Vegas and taking in a show. Most in the city believed the couple was in the city to celebrate Anthony's birthday from last month. "(Marc) said they were in town for his birthday and they wanted to celebrate," said a source who talked to the couple. On Friday, the couple headed to LAX Nightclub and The Bank after checking out Criss Angel's new Cirque Du Soleil show Believe – all under the guise the couple was in town celebrating Anthony's birthday from last month.
The We Own The Night beauty has made a name for herself in Hollywood with roles in box office blockbusters like Training Day, Ghost Rider, and Hitch, while Lopez has carved out a career in music, acting and fashion. But Mendes hates being pitted against Lopez when people talk about successful Latinas - because she claims she's more attentive and dedicated to her chosen profession. She says, "I would like to think I will have a more serious career than J.Lo. We may both be of Latin origin but that's where the comparisons stop. She manages her career like the head of a big corporation, whereas the only thing I care about is becoming the best actress possible."
Sessums, originally hired to write this month's J.Lo cover story for Elle, was pulled from the assignment after his first interview "got much too personal" and the magazine put another writer, Peter Rubin, on the profile at the request of Lopez's reps. Elle's article flatteringly focuses on Lopez as a fashion icon. But Sessums describes a flu-ridden Lopez: "Her unwashed hair is pulled severely back and there's a halo of frizz around the crown of her head." The bootylicious singer/actress also told Sessums she doesn't breast-feed her newborn twins, is willing to put the kids in Scientology classes, and said she had "a kind of nervous breakdown" while filming "Enough" (2002). Lopez isn't a Scientologist but she told Sessums her father is. A rep for Lopez said of Sessums' interview appearing on The Daily Beast, "We're very unhappy about it, and think it was poor judgment on his part. As long as we have represented Jennifer, we have never heard her refer to having a breakdown of any sort." One insider told us the photo shoot and interview were pitched to Lopez as "a fashion discussion about a woman who had new babies and was doing it all." The woman Sessums portrayed was a weepy, fragile new mother who admitted, "I did cry a lot [after the babies were born] because I was having so much trouble moving. I had a C-section. "I couldn't get up fast enough to feed the babies. It went on for about three days. [Husband] Marc [Anthony] was helping out a lot and I was crying and crying and going, 'Oh, Papi, they're going to know everybody more than me . . . They're going to love everybody more than me!' " Sessums and an Elle rep didn't return calls.
But now it has surfaced online, and here are some of the highlights that really caught our attention! • On having a breakdown while shooting the 2002 film Enough: "There was a time when I was very overworked and I was doing music and movies and so many things. I was suffering from a lack of sleep. And I did have a kind of nervous breakdown. I froze up on a set. Well, not on a set, but in my trailer. I was like, 'I don't want to move. I don't want to talk. I don't want to do anything'...Yeah. I did. I had a nervous breakdown." • As for her thoughts on Scientology, whose famous members include pals Tom Cruise and Leah Remini... "I do know a lot about Scientology. And I know about the practices," she says. Although she herself is not a follower, she adds, "I wouldn't have a problem saying [I was] because I know what it is. I have no problems with it." In fact, Lopez would consider sending her twins, Emme and Max, to a Scientology school because she knows "the techonologies that they have are very helpful." • Regarding the decision to pose with her kids on the cover of People magazine for a reported $6 million: "I think one of the reasons the price went so high is that we didn't want to do it for so long...We weren't into it. I was like, 'No, I don't really want to. No. No way.' But then it got to the point that you go, 'Well, now you're being stupid with these offers.' I thought, I can set them up. I can put this away just for them. We gave a little bit and I saved the rest for them."
The two arrived hand in hand and then dashed through the predinner cocktail reception still holding hands. (A big burly bodyguard led them through the crowd, making sure no one got in their way.) As soon as they made it to their seats, they hung out like a couple of cool chicks in the cafeteria. They talked, they giggled, and they took pics of each other with their BlackBerrys. And it didn't end there... They excused themselves from their table (which included Jenny McCarthy and the emcee for the night, E!'s Chelsea Handler) at least twice to go to the loo. And yes, they walked to and from the bathroom holding hands. Still glued to each other's sides at the end of soiree, they spent their last few minutes there chatting with Nicole Kidman. I know what you're thinking: Lopez is just giving more evidence to claims that she's become a Scientologist like Remini. Who really knows what's going on there, but for more on the theory ya gotta read what Lopez told writer Kevin Sessums over at the Daily Beast about the controversial L. Ron Hubbard church. OK, enough about Lopez and Remini—let's get on to the show. The standout for the evening had to be Jane Fonda. Looking absolutely, positively stunning, Ms. Fonda said one of the biggest reasons she and her fellow honorees showed up for the event was for the—ha!—"publicity." Even Fonda said she was impressed by the star power that gathered for the exclusive gala at the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills. The elbow-to-elbow crowd included honorees Kidman, Halle Berry, Sigourney Weaver, Anne Hathaway, Isla Fisher and Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke, along with Diane Keaton, Eva Mendes, Kate Beckinsale, Sheryl Crow, Shirley MacLaine, Courteney Cox, Kerry Washington, Jennie Garth, Katharine McPhee and Cheryl Hines. Yes, there were men: David Arquette, Peter Facinelli, Chris Evans, Troy Garity and Get Smart director Peter Segal were among the very few. While Fonda cracked that she was nervous to meet Sacha Baron Cohen "because he's so cute," she put all kidding aside when it came to one particular 22-year-old up-and-comer. "I got really excited about being here because there's Kat Dennings," Fonda cooed. "You don't know who I'm talking about, but you will." Dennings stars alongside Michael Cera in the just-released romantic comedy Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist. "That," Dennings said of Fonda's shout-out, "was the best moment of my life!"
Kidman, looking svelte in a fitted Prada minidress, arrived at the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills and told PEOPLE that 3-month-old Sunday Rose had just fallen asleep. "I'm very lucky," she said, adding, "her personality started to show when she was in my tummy – she's lovely." New mom Lopez, in Dolce & Gabbana, spoke about balancing motherhood with her career since welcoming twins Max and Emme in February. "It's tough, you just try," she said at the event, which was hosted by Elle magazine. "I'm still figuring it out." She also admitted that primping for the red carpet is more challenging than ever. "While I'm doing hair and makeup, I try to put them on my lap and the makeup artist is like, 'Can you move her?' And I'm like, 'No! I have to have two babies on my lap!'" And Berry, in a figure-hugging Roberto Cavalli dress, said she was still mastering the juggling act since giving birth to her daughter Nahla in March. "I'm only seven months into learning how to balance all of those things," she said. "What I know for sure is that many women have done it before me – so it's doable. But I'm a newbie – I'm making a lot of mistakes right now!"
The former Spice Girl stunned onlookers at a Marc Jacobs fashion show in New York City earlier this month when she debuted the new look - and Lopez was left speechless. She says, "I was so shocked. I arranged to meet up with her the day she had it done. She didn't tell me what she was doing, so I turned up and there was she was with this incredibly short black hair. I was knocked out. "I told her she looked like Audrey Hepburn. I think she's such a great girl." And it isn't just Beckham's hair that Lopez is a fan of - she really admires the star's new clothing range. She adds, "I was so excited for her that her fashion collection went so well. Everyone loved it. I'm really proud of her."
The Maid in Manhattan star gave birth to twins, Max and Emme, with her husband Marc Anthony earlier this year (Feb08). And Lopez admits that she is hoping to get pregnant again - but she is happy to leave it to chance. She tells E! Online, "I'd love to have more kids. I don't know when, we'll see, you know, that's the same way my first ones happened! We'll just do it the same way for the second (time around)!"
On the itinerary: Shopping and strolling in France's St. Tropez and the Italy's Portofino. On Sunday, they headed to the sights of ancient Greece, where Lopez also had a photoshoot. Lopez, 39, and Anthony were seen walking hand-in-hand through romantic Portofino over the weekend, the second time this year they've hit the VIP holiday spot on the Italian Riviera. According to Mariangela Canale – who owns a bakery in Portofino – the couple were guests of designers Dolce & Gabbana on their yacht, the Regina D'Italia. Canale says the captain of the yacht personally came to pick up focaccia bread for the crew and guests last Friday morning. "Lopez is in love with Portofino," said Canale. "She keeps coming back." The couple also went shopping, surrounded by an entourage of friends and bodyguards. (A shop assistant at the Dolce & Gabbana boutique in Portofino confirmed that the couple bought two bags from the store.) Earlier in the week, the two hit up a few choice shops in St. Tropez, including the Bonpoint boutique. "She came in and spent an hour. She bought one of everything," a store spokesperson tells PEOPLE of her Sept. 18 visit. "Actually because she has twins, she bought ... everything by two." Among her purchases? Matching jeweled bracelets reading "Maman" for Jennifer and "Bebé" for Max and Emme.
The superstar gave birth to twins Emme and Max in February and subsequently slimmed down as she trained for the Nautica Malibu Triathlon, which took place last weekend. But Lopez insists she doesn't feel the need to tone up any further, even though she is still about 10 pounds (4.5 kilograms) heavier than she was before she had kids. She tells People.com, "I don't weigh myself a lot. I still have 10 pounds, or so. (But) I don't have any problems with it. I never felt I had to get rid of it." And Lopez admits her husband Marc Anthony has no qualms about her curves either. She adds, "We like to eat! I think you have to love yourself and indulge when you want to, as well as be happy and just have a healthy attitude towards it. Marc loves the way I look!"
Until recently, Lopez and husband Marc Anthony, who welcomed twins Max and Emme in February, didn't have a nanny to help out with child care. "I did it for a long time but we started using a nanny a few weeks ago," says Lopez, 39. "[Most days] I get up early with them. Then when the nanny comes, I can take a shower and give them their breakfast. She's there to help me get things done." As for getting back to work, Lopez says she'll take it a day at a time. "It's gonna be a learning experience. How will I do both? I try to take breaks from work," she tells PEOPLE. "I'll do a little work with the choreographers and then come back. I try to spend every free moment with the babies." The mornings are her favorite time with the twins. "When they see you and have that big smile on their face – I live for that," she says. "And when I put them to bed at night and they melt in your arms. I give them a bottle and wind it down. I say, 'It's time for beddy-bye.' I hold them and sing a little song. By the time you know it, they are asleep." Adding to her bliss: Lopez is perfectly happy with her post-baby body. "The triathlon really helped get me in better shape, and snapped me back into my body," she says, referring to last weekend's Nautica Malibu Triathlon. "I don't weigh myself a lot. I still have 10 lbs., or so. [But] I don't have any problems with it. I never felt I had to get rid of it." Asked how she stays so sane about her body image, she laughs: "We like to eat!" On a serious note, she adds, "I think you have to love yourself and indulge when you want to, as well as be happy and just have a healthy attitude towards it." Besides, she notes, "Marc loves the way I look!"
Pulling off the big bash – and keeping it a secret – took a bit of sneaky maneuvering and required Lopez to use her honed acting skills, she tells PEOPLE. In the weeks leading up to his 40th birthday, Anthony frequently asked his wife: "What are we gonna do for my birthday?" says Lopez, 39. But she played it cool. "I told him it was such a busy weekend, that I might not be able to do anything," she says with a laugh. In fact, Lopez had managed to plan a 1940's Cuban nightclub themed party at the Bowery Hotel. Turning on her famous work ethic, the singer-actress biked, swam and ran to a fifth place finish in the celebrity women's category at the Nautica Malibu Triathlon on Sunday – then hopped a jet to New York for the party that night. The ruse? Lopez told her husband that they were going to a dinner celebrating pal Katie Holmes's upcoming Broadway debut in All My Sons. And he didn't suspect a thing. "I can't believe we pulled it off," Lopez marvels. "He was so blown away." The party featured burlesque dancer Dita Von Teese, a salsa orchestra, mojitos and showgirls in feather headdresses, just like at Havana's famous Tropicana nightclub. Party planner Liberty Woodman, who coordinated the event with Lopez, says, "She wanted a sexy vibe with the casino and showgirls." The couple's friends and family danced the night away, including Brooke Shields and husband Chris Henchy. Says Shields with a laugh: "Jennifer is amazing. I did a triathlon once in college but for me a triathlon is now eating, drinking and sleeping." Adds pal Leah Remini, "The party is over the top. It's pure Jennifer." After a night of gambling, dancing and singing (Lopez dedicated a sultry version of "My Man" to the birthday boy) the couple and their 6-month-old twins, Max and Emme, took off for a vacation to the coast of Italy and Greece. From the yacht, Lopez raved about her little ones: "They are crawling and teething," she says. "Emme is always very calm and quiet. Max is kinda very boy. He's brawny and tough. He likes to scream and yell sometimes, and she's kinda looking at him [like], 'Hey, why are you screaming.'" For more details on the party – and exclusive photos! – pick up PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday.
Hours after finishing her first triathlon in Malibu, Jennifer Lopez jetsetted to NYC to fete hubby Marc Anthony's 40th birthday. After jogging, biking and swimming for hours sans makeup, J.Lo got glam for the posh party, held at the Bowery Hotel. Guests included Leah Remini, Brooke Shields, Dita Von Teese and Kimora Lee Simons. One no show? Heidi Klum. The Project Runway host was reportedly angry that J.Lo pulled out of judging the season finale last minute.
The singer-actress was cheered on from the sidelines by husband Marc Anthony, who escorted her to a VIP area with his arm securely around her after she crossed the finish line, exhausted, but with her fists pumped in victory. In the VIP area, Lopez met up with Matthew McConaughey, who also competed in the triathlon at Zuma Beach. The actor greeted his former Wedding Planner costar with a big hug. And Lopez was accompanied along the way by her trainer Gunnar Peterson, who was not racing himself, but was there to help out. Lopez, 39, has been training for the event – her first ever triathlon – with Peterson and Self magazine editor-in-chief Lucy Danziger. In August, she appeared on Good Morning America, boasting a positive attitude about her workout regimen. "I feel great," she said on the show. "I have more energy – [and] I'm proud of myself." She also revealed that she would be raising money for Children's Hospital Los Angeles. Wearing forest green Juicy sweats when she arrived Sunday morning, Lopez changed quickly into her wetsuit before the swim portion as Peterson and a bodyguard held up towels to shield her from the paparazzi. Also watching: Her fans, who offered their love. As Lopez and her entourage – including her sister, an assistant and several bodyguards – made its way to the beach, fans yelled, "I love you J.Lo." She clearly appreciated the support, smiling and waving back. But for McConaughey, the event was all business. The actor (and fitness buff) had his game face on before the race as he stretched. He even had a friend rub deodorant on his neck to cut down on his friction from his suit. Still, the actor broke his serious demeanor for a moment, though, when he spotted girlfriend Camila Alves – who spent some of the race time in the VIP area, holding son Levi in a baby bjorn. McConaughey left the line to give her a kiss and rub Levi before the swim began.
"She had a slight injury," Lopez's rep tells me, adding, "She will definitely be doing the triathlon. She does not want to let down her charity and all the people who have supported her." However, she did skip out as celebrity judge at today's taping of the Project Runway finale. Project Runway's very own Tim Gunn filled Lopez's shoes, making it the first time he's ever judged the designers. (Access Hollywood first reported Lopez's cancellation.) What's been the reaction? Well... "Tim Gunn stepped in to the rescue and RUNWAY fans who've always dreamed of seeing Sir Tim judge are going to get their wish," Runway executive producer Andy Cohen blogged earlier today at BravoTV.com. "It was a great morning." Now, back to the triathlon, which benefits Children's Hospital Los Angeles. Lopez has been blogging about her efforts on Self magazine's website. "Working out and getting back into shape isn't exciting to me but training for a triathlon is," she has said. "There's a goal at the end of it, something to reach for."
At the Friday morning taping of Runway’s Fashion Week show for its finalists, Heidi Klum announced to the crowd that the singer-actress had to pull out “due to a foot injury” and wouldn’t be able to help decide this season’s winner. “She hurt her leg/foot, apparently,” a source tells PEOPLE. Lopez’s appearance on the finale was never publicly confirmed, because producers like to keep the guest judge as much of a surprise as possible, added the source. Instead, Tim Gunn, Runway’s resident fashion mentor, will be stepping into her shoes. And although he has close relationships with the contestants because he advises each of them on their work, he promised to be “unbiased” as a judge. “It just seemed totally fitting because he’s never been a judge,” the source says, noting that Gunn “was extremely nervous” to switch roles on the show. If anything, news of Gunn stepping in as a replacement was greeted warmly by the contestants. “People were crying because they were so moved by Tim being a judge,” says the source. Lopez has been training to compete in the 2008 Nautica Malibu Triathlon this weekend, a benefit for Childrens Hospital Los Angeles.
Nicole Kidman was name as the most overpaid celebrity in Hollywood in Forbes' second annual list of the stars who give the least return for their pay. This dubious honor was determined by dividing an actor's gross income for his/her last three films into the net revenue (i.e. box office + DVD sales - the budget = payback value). According to this formula, Kidman's films only earned $1 for every dollar she was paid. A year ago, the films earned $8 on the dollar. "Despite winning an Oscar for her performance in 2002's 'The Hours,' Kidman has become the most overpaid celebrity in Hollywood," says Forbes, adding that her upcoming movie "Australia" could give her a boost. The remainder of the Payback list includes: 2. Jennifer Garner - "Underperfromance" ought to be her middle name after appearing in "The Kingdom" and "Catch and Release." She only brought the studios $3.60 for every dollar she received. 3. Tom Cruise - Not many wanted a serving of "Lions for Lambs." Overall, his films averaged $4 of gross income. At least his " Tropic Thunder" turn is earning him raves. 4. Cameron Diaz - $4 gross also. 5. Jennifer Lopez - Jenny from the block isn't bringing in the bucks with only a $4.10 return for each dollar she gets. 6. Jim Carrey - Only $4.11 return for his work isn't a laughing matter for this comedian who has seen better days at the box office. 7. Nicolas Cage - Sure, he may have had success with his "National Treasure" sequel, but that could only do so much against his box-office flop "Next," which lost 50 cents for every dollar he was paid. Overall, the studios averaged $4.16 in gross income for his films. 8. Drew Barrymore - $4.38 on the dollar. 9. Will Ferrell - "Blades of Glory" may have put gold in the studios' coffers, but his serious and critically acclaimed turn in "Stranger Than Fiction" wasn't a draw for his usual fans. The studios only averaged $4.67 for every dollar he got. 10. Cate Blanchett - Good acting doesn't always spell good box office. She brought in $4.97 gross income for her last three films. Kudos goes to Crowe, however, who fell off the list altogether after topping it last year. Back then, he only averaged $5 on the dollar as compared to this year's $6.88 return for his work. He owes this increase to "American Gangster," which returned 10 times the amount he was paid.
Reps for the hit Bravo series are keeping a serious lid on the identity of their traditional celebrity guest judge for the show's finale this season. But, rumor has it, Jennifer Lopez is it. The new mom will be taking her fashion sense to the front row at the finale's popular runway show, sources tell the Daily News' Jo Piazza. Lopez will join the ranks of guest judges such as pal Victoria Beckham, Natalie Portman and Brooke Shields, who have all weighed in on the runway looks of the show's top designers. Despite the buzz, a "Project Runway" rep wouldn't confirm or deny Lopez's involvement with the show, telling us, "we'd rather give the audience and viewers a surprise."
Midway through her pregnancy, Lopez had just finished her concert tour with husband Marc Anthony last fall when she told him she needed him to take the reins, she tells Elle magazine in its October issue cover story. "I said, 'I did the superwoman thing, I finished the tour – now I need you to take care of me,'" said Lopez, 39. "'I love doing things for you; if I'm not cooking, then I'm picking out a shirt. But this is the first time in my life where I'm just going to be a little bit selfish,'" she told Anthony, who turns 40 on Sept. 16. "'I don’t know if I'm going to have kids again, so I want it to be a beautiful experience. I don't want to have any drama. I want to just be smiling every day.'" The actress, who is currently training for her first triathalon, says she and her husband of four years didn't worry when she didn't get pregnant right away. "We knew nothing was wrong with either one of us – I had been checked, and he had kids already," she told Elle. "I knew [that] something’s not ready here, in my head or in my life, and when it is, I know it’s going to happen.” As for the moment she realized she was pregnant, she reveals, "I was sitting down doing hair and makeup and I felt a flutter. The weirdest little ... flourish. My makeup artist said 'What’s the matter?' I didn’t say anything, but in my head, I was like, I have life inside me!” Two weeks before giving birth, Lopez commissioned a special gift for her husband – a book of photos of herself. Says Lopez: "I was like, 'How am I going to rock this moment of my life? ... I felt very womanly. Marc was in a dream. He loved it."
Kardashian: Jennifer Lopez! I love her. Can you tell? [Laughs] TVGuide.com: You wouldn't go in the "other" direction, with, like, Jessica Alba's? Kardashian: Yeah, hers is adorable. Adorable. I love her and her little butt is so cute. But I'm a J.Lo fan.
Lopez, 39, is training for her first triathlon with Self magazine editor-in-chief Lucy Danziger – and the singer/actress is sharing her fitness regimen, challenges and all. "You have to start slow and give yourself time," a workout ready Lopez said during an interview from New York's Central Park Monday on Good Morning America. "I'm always challenging myself and seeing what I can do." A self-described "good athlete" who has been following a workout designed by trainer Gunnar Peterson, Lopez says the triathlon presents one big challenge for her. "Swimming is a killer, I'm not going to lie" she said, laughing. "[But] I'm a good athlete. My stamina, I can get that up there if I really try." With less than a month until the triathlon, which will take place Sept. 14 in Malibu, Lopez says she's making time for her workouts. And she's not just doing it not just for personal or health reasons: She's raising money for Children's Hospital Los Angeles. Fans can donate money to the cause, follow her progress and read Lopez's blog on Self's official Web site. Named by Self as one of the magazine's 10 most inspiring women of 2008 – and the health magazine's September cover model – Lopez says she is determined to finish the race even if she "has to crawl across that finish line." Her motto? "Get it done, Lopez! Get it done," she said, full of pep. The only downside to the training, though, is the time away from her children, Max and Emme. "It's really tiring," she says during the interview. "I like getting a lot of time with the babies." As a solution, her husband Marc Anthony set up a spot in their home where Lopez can use a treadmill and even work out with a computerized biking program. "I feel great," she said on Good Morning America. "I have more energy – [and] I'm proud of myself."
Lopez will serve as an executive producer of the hour-long comedy-drama, which has received a pilot commitment. In the 2002 feature, she played a struggling single mother from the Bronx who works as a maid at a swanky Manhattan hotel. A rising politician guest (Ralph Fiennes) falls for her after mistaking her for a wealthy socialite. "The show is a different maid in a different Manhattan," said Chad Hodge, who will write the script for the pilot. The lead in the TV version will still be a young Latina from the Bronx working at a Manhattan hotel who tries to make it in the world. But the series will focus mostly on her relationships with co-workers. "While the hotel's clientele is an obvious part of this world, I'm more interested in the downstairs part of 'Upstairs, Downstairs,"' Hodge said, referring to the classic British series. Lopez, a Bronx native, has been very involved, providing "a fountain of ideas," Hodge said. "She will be very integral in the pilot and series," he said. This is the second time that ABC has taken a stab at a series adaptation of "Maid," following a script developed with a different writer during the 2004-05 development season. "Maid" could be a suitable companion for the network's dramedy "Ugly Betty," which also centers on a hardworking young Latina in New York with big dreams. It, too, was shepherded by a Latina A-lister, Salma Hayek.
"We had such a blast last night," Anthony, 39, told Ryan Seacrest on his KIIS radio show Friday. "It's almost like every day is her birthday ... so last night we just wanted it to be quiet and, you know, have a nice quiet evening together." The couple snuck into the Tony-winning musical In the Heights (about three days in an Upper Manhattan neighborhood), and got "to sit in an audience and watch other people be nervous," Anthony said. When asked about touring with babies Max and Emme, Anthony said: "When your foundation is stable and you're good, it doesn't really affect anything. It just amplifies what the experience feels like. It's that much more fulfilling, and you look forward to coming home. It's a great time."
While Oprah Winfrey, Jennifer Lopez and Eva Longoria Parker are in Portofino, Italy, Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich is moored at Cap D'Antibes, just a few miles from Monaco, where Sylvester Stallone is afloat on the boat of British garmento Philippe Green. To co-host her annual extravaganza Thursday in glamorous St. Tropez, Denise Rich has teamed up with Erik Wachtmeister, the London-based guardian of the socialite-networking Web site known as A Small World. Erik was a popular figure in New York social circles back in the 1980s, when his father, a Swedish count, was ambassador to the US. Denise has docked her yacht, Lady Joy, in St. Tropez, and temporarily covered the teak decks with carpeting so her guests won't have to shed their high heels. Some 800 revelers will circulate there and on the dock, where a replica of the Parisian nightclub Moulin Rouge is being built. Twenty cancan girls in red and black feathers and G-strings will decorate the dance floor. Slap-happy Naomi Campbell will arrive via tender from the yacht of Russian oligarch Vladimir Doronin, where she has been ensconced the last week. Stephen and Christine Schwarzman will descend from their villa in the hills, joining Joan Collins, Buzz Aldrin, Wilbur Ross, Natalie Cole, Paris Hilton and Ivana Trump. Meanwhile, Princess Gloria von Thurn und Taxis has summoned a lineup of Euroflash for a formal banquet tomorrow in Regensburg, Germany, where Liza Minnelli will perform. Gloria and her gal pal, Princess Alessandra Borghese, are said to be intimates of Pope Benedict XVI. When in Rome, the two princesses attend morning Mass with His Holiness in his private Vatican chapel.
As Jennifer Lopez continues to live la dolce vita in Europe with hubby Marc Anthony, her popular Pasadena, Calif., eatery has apparently shut its doors, per TMZ. The six-year-old Latin restaurant posted a sign that reads: "Madre's will be closed...starting July 1, 2008, until further notice." But who knows? Given how much time the new mom has been spending in Portofino, maybe she's just planning to convert the place into an Italian joint. After all, she wouldn't even have to change the name.
Lisa Wilson has filed a $5 million lawsuit against Jennifer Lopez, alleging that the entertainer's German shepherd guard dog made the skies particularly unfriendly during a 2006 private flight by "attacking [Wilson] and biting her pant leg." The suit, filed Thursday in Brooklyn Federal Court and obtained by E! News, alleges the attack caused her to fall and suffer back injuries that have prevented her from obtaining further work. (View the allegations and full complaint.) Per the suit, on July 3, 2006, the private company NetJet provided a flight for Lopez & Co. from Long Island to Burbank. Wilson was employed as a flight attendant for NetJet. At the outset, Wilson says in her suit, Floyd, the German shepherd, appeared to be "a well behaved guard dog," but that Lopez insisted on giving Wilson warnings about how to behave around the animal in flight. Cut to 90 minutes later, when Wilson walked down the cabin aisle and Floyd "lunged" at her. Wilson "twisted and fell" as a result, "injuring her lower back" in the process, per court docs. Wilson began treatment within days for back pain and in April of 2007 underwent surgery. Per the suit, she remains in treatment and has been unable to resume her work as a flight attendant, resulting in—what else?—"substantial economic loss." In her suit, she claims La Lopez "knew or should have known that the animal had vicious propensities" and as a result is liable for the seven-figure damages not only from the actress, but from her Los Angeles-based company, Nuyorican Productions. Lopez has yet to comment on the suit. Doggone it.
So teacher Kathy Amati showed the video for Lopez's "Let's Get Loud" to the students at Public School 37. The children liked it so much they wanted to watch it every day, eventually learning the lyrics and the dance moves from the video. With their teacher's encouragement, they wrote to Lopez, hoping for pictures or an autograph. Instead, she asked to come to their graduation. On Tuesday, the singer-actress performed "Let's Get Loud" for a group of 10-and 11-year-olds at their graduation ceremony.
Jennifer Lopez met with Barack Obama's staff this week as she toured Washington to talk about issues close to her heart. "Tuesday afternoon, Ms. Lopez was on the Hill with her sister to meet with staff members of several senators to discuss issues she is interested in, such as health care and education," her rep says. "She did visit Obama's office, but the senator was not there. She did not meet him, but did discuss health care with members of his staff." The mother of twins, Max and Emme, had a straightforward meeting, according to Obama's spokesman. "She just came in for the meeting and departed," says the spokesman. He adds: "It was not campaign-related."
"She's such an amazing mom and I'm so proud of her. She's such a gem to watch," singer Anthony told The Billy Bush Show Thursday. The couple's "big and gorgeous" twins, Max and Emme, were born Feb. 22 by a Caesarean section, and are cared for by Lopez, 38, and hubby– without the help of a nanny, Anthony, 39, revealed. "It's just us, man. We're figuring it out and having a great time," he said. "She expects me to help and she makes no bones about it. I get the late shift. I get literally from 10 on because we don't have a nanny. It's just me and Jennifer figuring it out. From 10 p.m. to 8 [a.m.], that's my shift." Anthony, who is touring the country for a campaign against childhood obesity, added that Lopez has three movies lined up and is eager to go back to work, but "the babies have been a blessing all the way around and she's just amazing."
The 39-year-old singer/actress/entrepreneur is also thinking about the 93,000 sick and seriously injured children treated annually by Childrens Hospital Los Angeles — and how she can help. Lopez announced Wednesday that she'll host and help coordinate the third Noche de Ninos benefit gala. This year's star-studded party, to be held Oct. 11 at the Nokia Center, will feature performances by Lopez, Anthony, Alejandro Sanz and Latin rockers Juanes and Mana. Lopez, who was Noche de Ninos' first honoree in 2004, said her twin son and daughter inspired her to get more involved. "Doing something where I was proactive ... where I was the one pushing and making something happen, that just became very important to me," Lopez told The Associated Press. "I don't know if it was because I was pregnant and thinking about children, thinking about the world. Definitely my children inspire me very much in so many ways, even just in the past two and a half months of their little lives." "They inspire me to want to be better, to be a better person, to do something for the world, to set an example for them, to make them proud of me and to know that there's a certain way that you should live," she said. "I've been very fortunate over the years, but I've also worked very hard, and that's the example I want to set for my children." Lopez said she was looking for ways to contribute more to the charity. "I kind of fell in love with the kids," she said, "and it's just magnified now that I have my own children." Working with her sister Lynda and Noche de Ninos founder Giselle Fernandez, Lopez came up with the idea of a concert and started asking friends for help. "They've been very forthcoming with their time and, in this case, their talent to make this really a one-of-a-kind concert," she said, adding that she rarely calls to ask for favors. ("I don't ask for a glass of water when I'm on the set. It's just not my style.")
Writer Jack Bunick claimed in a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Manhattan that a television series "South Beach," which debuted in January 2006, was too similar to a plot he described in 1999 for a pilot episode of a show that would have been called "South Beach Miami." The lawsuit named Lopez, UPN, CBS Television and others as defendants. The show, which has since been cancelled, aired on UPN. The show was described as being about best friends Matt and Vincent, who left their lives in Brooklyn to move to South Beach in hope of finding a better future. U.S. District Judge Richard Berman said there's inadequate evidence to take the case to trial. The judge also noted that Bunick admits his scripts includes generic ideas and commonplace elements and aspects of the South Beach, Miami, club and modelling scene. The judge said there was "in fact . . . powerful evidence" that the defendants had independently created "South Beach." A lawyer for Lopez had said in court papers that although she was executive producer, Lopez was barely involved in the creation and development of "South Beach" and was only brought in at a later stage to "lend celebrity to the show." A lawyer for Bunick did not immediately return a telephone message for comment.
And all the kids have met and spent time together, she confirms. "Absolutely," Torres tells E! News, while promoting her upcoming book, Married to Me. But she downplays any drama between the two families: "For whatever reason, people wanna make this whole drama...and it’s nothing, you know? They’re kids, they have siblings." And now for the ah-ha moment: The book she's writing on divorce is not a tell-all, as previously believed, which could go a long way toward explaining the happy-family scenario.
“The recent show Jennifer Lopez plans to produce for TLC is not a reality show,” says her manager, Simon Fields. “It’s a show that will track the creation, production and eventual launch of a new fragrance. Jennifer will appear in a creative, entrepreneurial capacity and will absolutely not feature her children and family life.” There is no broadcast date set for the show, but Fields says it will be this year.
Jennifer Lopez has signed on to star in a reality show—or in press release vernacular, a "docu-series"—on TLC that will follow the performer as she balances her roles as multihyphenate career woman, wife to Marc Anthony and mommy to twins Emme and Max. "I am excited to be part of the TLC family," J.Lo said in a statement today. "I'm looking forward to sharing this exciting journey together." Jenny from the Block has certainly come a long way. To think how she was raised in the absence of a camera crew… "Jennifer is unbelievably passionate about life and will be an incredible role model for our audience," TLC President Angela Shapiro-Mathes said. Lopez will also serve as coexecutive producer of the as-yet untitled series. In its press materials, the Discovery Networks-owned TLC promises that the series, which is currently in preproduction, will "deliver a slice of [Lopez’s] life that audiences have never seen before, as she takes on her career and launches a new fragrance while trying to juggle her new responsibilities as a first time mom." No premiere date has been scheduled. And Lopez and Anthony, who welcomed their new additions on Feb. 22 (and wouldn't even confirm they were expecting until mom looked ready to burst), are apparently not the only high-profile family types TLC has set its ambitious sights on. During Discovery's upfront presentation today in New York, the network announced it is also developing a show with Live with Regis and Kelly cohost Kelly Ripa and her hubby, Mark Consuelos, who are both former soap stars. "I’ve known Kelly and Mark since the first day each of them joined All My Children," Shapiro-Mathes said. "They reflect our audience, and the audience knows and loves them."
SAVE THE DATE: Jennifer Lopez's twins, Thursday morning, 7 a.m. ET
"She's going to be a great mom," Judd said Wednesday on the Yo on E! satellite radio show. The multihyphenate diva and her third husband, Marc Anthony, welcomed twins Max and Emme on Feb. 22. The new arrivals were the first children for Lopez and the fourth and fifth for Anthony, who has kids from two previous relationships. Judd, a former backup dancer and choreographer who wed Lopez in September 2001, said she "always wanted to be [a mother], and so I think this is good for her." He said he hasn't spoken to Lopez in four or five years—and hence won't be sending her a baby gift. However, before their brief marriage ended in June 2002, he said kids were a frequent topic of conversation. "Absolutely, we talked about it," Judd said. But he has no regrets that their union produced no offspring. "I don't think would have, could have, should have," he said. "It just didn't work out between us, and it's cool." Judd is currently working on his new Lifetime reality series, Your Mama Don't Dance.
The new parents welcomed their son and daughter on Feb. 22. Emme was born at 12:12 a.m. and weighed 5 lbs. 7 oz., and Max followed at 12:23 a.m., weighing 6 lbs. Already gifts have been pouring in for the twins, including pillows and baby carriers from Baby K'tan in Fort Lauderdale with their names embroidered on them, a source tells PEOPLE. The twins are the first children for Lopez, 38, and the fourth and fifth for Anthony, 39.
"The twins already got a ton of embroidered pillows with their names on them," says the source – though Anthony and Lopez have not released the names of their son and daughter, who were born Feb 22. "Jennifer also is getting baby carriers with the names etched on them by Baby K'tan," adds the source. A spokesperson for Baby K'tan in Fort Lauderdale confirms that pink and blue embroidery were used respectively on the 100 percent cotton carriers and that they "were purchased from us as gifts for both J.Lo and Marc." In addition, members of Lopez's family were spotted shopping at Baby Gap in Americana Manhasset mall last week, confirms a sales rep from the store. As for how the new mom is doing, Lopez left the hospital this week and "is resting comfortably at home," according to close friend.
On the red carpet at the Academy Award ceremony at the Kodak Theater, the mogul, 38, told PEOPLE that Lopez (now the proud mother of twins) "is going to make a great mother. "I'm going to send her some Sean John baby clothes," added the dapper Diddy, wearing a tux by Dolce and Gabbana. "I'm so happy for her. It's such a blessing." Asked if he had any advice for Lopez, 38, Diddy, who is also the father of twins, replied, "It's double the love, and it's also double the crying and the screaming, so it's a unique blessed situation. It's a rarity to have twins. She'll be all right."
"She is so happy right now. Everything is wonderful. She is beyond thrilled to become a mom," says the friend. "She is over the moon." And the same goes for Anthony: "Here he is – he got the girl of his dreams and now she's the mother of his children." And, after wanting to be a mother for a long time, adds the friend, "This is a turning point in Jennifer's life. It's a dream come true. She loves those babies." Advice From the Stars Meanwhile, celebs are showering Lopez with advice for motherhood. Famous foodie Rachael Ray suggested to PEOPLE that the new mom "definitely indulge in the food she craves." Even better? "Have Marc prepare it for her," says Ray. "That would make it super special. I know how that makes a woman feel." And at the L.A. Confidential lunch for Kate Beckinsale on Friday, fellow new mom Ali Landry passed on these words of wisdom: "Get ready for the most amazing ride of your life. You don't even understand it until they're in your arms. It's amazing." Guest of honor Beckinsale was more practical. "Get some sleep now," she advised. "You'll never sleep again!" And true to her American Idol persona, Paula Abdul just had warm wishes for the new mom. "I am so happy for her," said Abdul. "She is so maternal by nature. To see that happen for someone who deserves that ... congratulations to her. I'm really happy."
Remini, a longtime friend of Lopez who has called the singer "a born mom," was spotted on Friday afternoon at the hospital in Long Island, N.Y. Earlier in the day Lopez's sister, Lynda, was also seen heading into the maternity ward, where Lopez and husband Marc Anthony welcomed a boy and a girl early Friday morning.
"I learned this morning. I'm ecstatic, I really am. I'm happy for her," Yolanda Santa Maria, Anthony's older sister, told PEOPLE Friday after hearing the birth news on Good Morning America. "She's a mom for the first time. I can just imagine the euphoria she's going through." And as for her brother? "It's another two blessings for him. He beat me – I have four [kids] and now he has five. I'm so happy for him. I don’t even know what to say. It's like if I had the babies." Santa Maria, who expects to meet her new niece and nephew soon, added, "I can't wait to see them, I can't wait to meet them. Words don't even begin to express how happy I am for them."
The babies were born at 12:45 a.m. ET on Friday in Long Island, N.Y., says her rep, Simon Fields. They're the first children for Lopez, 38, and the fourth for Anthony, 39. The couple celebrated the impending births with a baby shower in New York on Jan. 19. "They were just beaming the entire time," said one partygoer. Longtime friend Leah Remini calls Lopez, 38, "a born mom" and very nurturing. "With our daughter, she's so great. I mean, lets her go in her closet and play with her coats or her jewelry. She's just so giving and loving," Remini said. Lopez announced her pregnancy Nov. 8, telling the crowd during her final Miami concert: "Marc and I are expecting a baby!" The news of twins was finally confirmed by Lopez's dad earlier this month, in an interview on Spanish-language television. Lopez Long Kept Pregnancy Secret During the early weeks of her pregnancy, Lopez skillfully ducked the question, even when appearing on TV in October with Diane Sawyer and with David Letterman. Lopez shrugged off the secrecy, telling Harper's Bazaar, "I kind of feel like everybody knew anyway. I was on tour with a bubble gut!" And being tight lipped has long been Lopez's style. When she married Anthony in June 2004, her rep would neither confirm nor deny the nuptials had taken place. What are not being kept secret are Lopez's plans now that she's a mother. As she told Harper's, the hard-working performer intends to take off time. "Once I did the tour," she said, "I really just wanted to shut it down, and since then I've had to do three things, including a video. It may not sound like a lot, but you know, as this point, any woman can sympathize. It is a lot. I was ready just to sit."
Those involved in negotiations for Lopez and her husband, Marc Anthony, confirmed that U.S. and Latin American rights were sold to People magazine and other international rights to OK! magazine. Advertising Age reported on its Web site Monday that Lopez and Anthony were negotiating with People to be paid as much as $6 million. Representatives for both People and OK! declined to comment on the payments. The trend toward featuring celeb babies on the covers of glossy magazines kicked into high gear in 2006 when Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt allowed People to photograph their daughter Shiloh in exchange for a donation to charity. The magazine reportedly paid $4 million for the U.S. rights and London-based Hello! magazine obtained the British rights. Celeb baby covers are big business for magazines' newsstand sales, those who broker the deals and the stars themselves. Photos of a pregnant Halle Berry tottering in high heels or tabloid toddlers such as Suri Cruise, daughter of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, and Violet Affleck, daughter of Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck, are eye candy for consumers. "Part of the reason that the demand is so huge — and everyone is so excited about it — is because it's such a nice antidote to all the other celebrity news that's going on at the moment," said Sarah Ivens, editor in chief of OK! "There's nothing not to love about watching these woman blossom and their bodies change and then having babies. It's all just such fun, lovely, positive stuff, isn't it?" she said. Danielle Friedland, who runs Celebrity Baby Blog, said the craving for celebrity news is fueled by the tabloid media. "Celebrities always have children ... it's just that we're paying so much more attention to them right now," Friedland said. "The more that we see of them, the more we want." Christina Aguilera debuted her newborn son, Max, on the cover of People last week for a reported $1.5 million. Larry Birkhead, father of the late Anna Nicole Smith's daughter, landed an OK! cover with Dannielynn. Britney Spears' 16-year-old sister, Jamie Lynn, also appeared on the cover of OK! when she announced her pregnancy. OK! doesn't disclose the terms of its deals with celebs, but Web site TMZ.com reported that Jamie Lynn would be paid $1 million after her baby is born. Pacts with magazines can be a way for celebs to protect their privacy. Cruise and Holmes kept Suri out of the spotlight for nearly five months after her birth in April 2006. The shroud of mystery was so intense, people wondered if she existed. In September, Vanity Fair flaunted the first shots of baby Cruise, warmly photographed by Annie Leibovitz. The couple weren't paid for the photos. "When you hit the level of Tom and Katie and Suri, you can't shut it down," said Los Angeles-based publicist Howard Bragman. "It's pure economics. If you put those out in the world, those pictures, which they did, and they controlled which images were out there, then suddenly the monetary incentive for the paparazzi is taken away from them." Sheryl Crow agreed to a photo shoot with her infant son last year after OK! offered to make a donation to the World Food Program, a United Nations organization that works to fight child hunger. Julia Roberts showed a photo of her youngest son, Henry, during a recent appearance on "The Oprah Winfrey Show." Confirmation of a pregnancy can also be frustrating for celeb watchers. Lopez's lips were sealed even as she performed during her concert tour sporting chic maternity wear to disguise an obvious baby bump. She eventually confirmed it during a concert in November. Aguilera spilled the beans to the U.K. edition of Glamour magazine. Recently, the blogosphere has been abuzz about Angelina Jolie, who arrived at last month's Screen Actors Guild Awards in a suspiciously roomy vintage gown. Tabloids quickly reported she was expecting twins with partner Brad Pitt, and a recent issue of Life and Style magazine pounced with the headline: "Angelina's Dangerous Pregnancy." Jolie has refused to comment. "A lot of normal people don't discuss their children or their pregnancy until they're a certain amount of months into it beyond the first trimester; they worry about miscarrying, they worry about telling people, jinxing (it)," Bragman said. "Maybe they're not sure they're going to keep the baby, whatever." Friedland said tabloids can be too quick to declare someone pregnant. "What happens with all these rumors is that suddenly everyone's a pregnancy expert nowadays, so they see that somebody has a little bit of a belly and automatically assume that that person is pregnant," she said. "Most women don't start to show, unless they're super super skinny, for at least four or five months. People are always saying, `Oh yeah, she's pregnant,' but maybe she just had a hamburger for lunch." Francois Navarre, founder of paparazzi agency X17 said examining photo after photo for signs of a baby bump isn't necessarily mistake-free. "Jennifer Garner was a false alarm," Navarre said. "She had too much (to eat) or something and we said she was pregnant with her second child and that was not true." To prevent a possible lawsuit, Friedland said, editors should consider other possible pregnancy clues. "With Angelina, it was like, `Here she is drinking water, she's wearing a flowy dress,'" said Friedland, recalling Jolie's appearance at the SAG Awards. "That in itself didn't scream `pregnant' to me. To me what screamed `pregnant' was (she was) very buxom — more buxom than usual." Ivens said pregnancy makes celebrities like Jolie seem more accessible to the public. Bragman said having a child can even improve a tarnished celeb's image, as in the case of new mom Nicole Richie. Young people often want to copy what the stars are doing. "There's a lot of young people having kids now ... and they want to know what's going on," Bragman said. "The same way they did with their weddings, celebrities set the trends for what is your baby's room gonna look like and what stroller are you going to use and how quickly do you want to lose weight and what are the hot pregnancy clothes?"
And it isn't even a Lopez family first. "Yes, twins," her dad David Lopez said in an interview on the Spanish-language show Escándalo TV, PEOPLE en Español reports. "The thing is in my family, my sister also had twins, so it's a hereditary thing." For David Lopez, the news means double the excitement. "I'm very proud. Jennifer has yearned to be a mother for many years," he said. And he already has gifts ready for his 38-year-old daughter's babies. "In Puerto Rico it's custom to buy an azabache [black stone] bracelet for babies to protect them from the evil eye, it's part of our culture," he said. As she became noticeably pregnant, J-Lo finally announced last November that she and Marc Anthony were expecting.
Not many stars came to last year's fashion shows, leaving the front row to D-listers. But this year, the A-list has flown in for seats in the Bryant Park tents and the chance to be swarmed by paparazzi. "The Golden Globes were canceled, along with other awards shows - and possibly the Oscars - and the stars are going through red-carpet withdrawal," one fashionista laughed. "They've got movies and TV shows to promote, and they need to get their faces into the magazines." Lisette Sand-Freeman, of Shadow P.R., put it more kindly: "With the strike, celebrities' schedules are more open." Kate Bosworth, Jessica Simpson, Beyoncé Knowles, Claire Danes, Rumer Willis and Courtney Love have all flown into town. Fashion Week kicks off today in the park with the Red Dress show to benefit heart-disease research. First Lady Laura Bush will be front row as Molly Sims (in Daniel Swarovski), Heidi Klum (in Marc Jacobs), Jenna Fisher (in Oscar de la Renta) and Emma Roberts (in Ralph Lauren) catwalk on the runway. Later today, Anne Hathaway and Emma Roberts are due at the Erin Fetherston show. Tomorrow, Jamie King and Julia Restoin-Roitfeld have seats at Alexander Wang's show at I-Beam on West 21st, while Sophia Bush and Joss Stone are expected at Rock & Republic. The most star-studded event comes Wednesday, when Madonna hosts a gala - totally underwritten by the new Gucci store in Trump Tower - on the lawn of the UN to benefit UNICEF and her Raising Malawi charity. Madge's guest list includes Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony, Sean Combs, Lenny Kravitz, Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher, Lindsay Lohan, Drew Barrymore, Gwyneth Paltrow, Alex Rodriguez, Martha Stewart and Uma Thurman, with Alicia Keys and Rhianna performing. But some boldfaces still think they can make demands. Alison Brod told WWD, "Some are saying they will come to a show if they can be in an ad campaign . . . They want to make money." Stacey Bendet, whose alice+olivia will present at her West 40th Street store on Thursday, said she'd had demands from reality-show losers for $20,000 to attend. She said she told them where to go.
The 49-year-old entertainer leads Forbes.com's list of the top 20 "Cash Queens of Music," earning $72 million between June 2006 and June 2007. The pop star's "Confessions" world tour pulled in $260 million, Forbes said. She also made money from album sales, her fashion line with H&M and a deal with NBC to broadcast her concert performance at London's Wembley Stadium. Forbes.com said it compiled the list by examining concert grosses, merchandising revenue, album sales and other revenue from clothing lines, fragrance deals and endorsements. Barbra Streisand is No. 2 with $60 million, thanks to her comeback tour of North America and Europe. Celine Dion ranks third with $45 million, largely from her successful "A New Day" show in Las Vegas, which she wrapped up in December after a five-year engagement at Caesars Palace. Shakira is fourth with $38 million, followed by Beyonce ($27 million), Gwen Stefani ($26 million), Christina Aguilera ($20 million), Faith Hill ($19 million), the Dixie Chicks ($18 million) and Mariah Carey ($13 million). Hilary Duff, Avril Lavigne and Martina McBride each banked $12 million. Britney Spears ranked 14th on the list, earning $8 million from music royalties and sales of her fragrances with Elizabeth Arden. Spears is followed by Carrie Underwood and Nelly Furtado ($7 million each); Fergie, Jennifer Lopez and Sheryl Crow ($6 million each); and Norah Jones ($5.5 million).
"We're asking for an audition for godparent roles," Remini, 36, joked to PEOPLE at the premiere after-party for Eva Longoria's new comedy Over Her Dead Body Tuesday night. "Um ... so, we're waiting to hear back." The actress says she and husband Angelo Pagan, "need like a day – because we're not good at cold-reading – so that we can just prepare." Added Pagan: "Not sure whether it entails that we have to sing, dance, recite a monologue, but we're ready!" Asked how Lopez is doing now, Remini added, "Great! She's great! I mean, look, she was on tour. She's a strong girl."
The photo (and one of Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony, after the jump) are for a new round of Annie Leibovitz photos illustrating the Disney Parks' "Year of a Million Dreams" campaign. "I was a huge Disney fan growing up as a kid and Cinderella, Snow White, Pocahontas, Ariel – all those characters were huge for me, so I definitely did dream," Biel, 25, says in a statement. "I never actually thought I would make it! So this is pretty exciting." Other newly released photos feature Whoopi Goldberg as Aladdin's Genie; Gisele Bündchen as Peter Pan's Wendy, Tina Fey as Tinker Bell and Mikhail Baryshnikov as the flying boy in tights; and, together on a magic carpet, expectant parents Jennifer Lopez as Jasmine and Marc Anthony as Aladdin. Says Lopez about her character: "She's the new cool princess."
The singer and her husband Marc Anthony both attended the afternoon shower, which was hosted by Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, Lopez's producer on the 2002 film Maid in Manhattan. Lopez, 38, "wore a black coat and her hair up," according to an eyewitness, who saw the couple arrive flanked by bodyguards. "She looked very pretty – and very pregnant." Last month the singer, who is due in a few weeks, was given matching pink and blue Tuni & G onesies from her sister Lynda Lopez. The pop star has been mum about whether she's expecting twins, though multiple sources have told PEOPLE she's having two bundles of joy. The singer first announced she would be starting a family with her husband of three years, Marc Anthony, 39, last November after months of speculation. "This is a special time in our lives," Lopez told an audience during a concert in Miami, the final stop on the couple’s El Cantante tour. Even as her baby bump grew increasingly noticeable with each performance, Lopez had avoided discussing her impending motherhood. "We're just getting used to the fact that we've told everybody" Lopez tells Harper's Bazaar for its February issue. When asked how long she is planning to take off from her career as a singer, actress and designer, Lopez says, "I don't know – and I like that."
"I kind of feel like everybody knew anyway," the singer tells Harper's Bazaar for its February issue. "I was on tour with a bubble gut!" The glowing singer, with Marc Anthony at her side onstage, told the crowd during her final Miami concert Nov. 8: "Marc and I are expecting a baby!" Having ducked the entire issue of the pregnancy for weeks, including when she appeared the previous month on TV with Diane Sawyer and with David Letterman, Lopez, 38, speaking on behalf of herself and Anthony, 39, now says, "I do realize people want to know because they're interested, but this is the first time I'm going through this. This is my experience and my husband's experience, and we get to hold that for a little while." She adds, "We're just getting used to the fact that we've told everybody." Still, when it comes to her privacy, "I'm just feeling too protective to open that door right now," says Lopez. "It's a Pandora's box. It's a destructive lifestyle to be out there. I know because I've lived it. Being on the cover of the tabloids every day for two years – it's hard. You start forgetting who you really are inside." And her husband? "Marc is a really private person, and he's been singing onstage since he was really young. He made me realize you can be an artist, and have credibility and success, without your life being on public display 24 hours a day." Looks Forward to Time Off She is aware that the Lopez-Anthony baby will be of tremendous interest to paparazzi, but the infant "will be whatever we are," she says. "Private when it comes to that stuff." Once the baby arrives, there is the matter of taking time off. Asked how long that will be, Lopez answers, "I don't know – and I like that, because my life has been so planned for so many years. Once I did the tour, I really just wanted to shut it down, and since then I've had to do three things, including a video. It may not sound like a lot, but you know, as this point, any woman can sympathize. It is a lot. I was ready just to sit."
The report, which has spread in the blogsphere Tuesday, includes a quote – supposedly from Carey – saying that she would rather appear on stage with a certain animal than ever share a stage with Lopez. The story, Carey tells PEOPLE. is "a complete untruth." Carey insists that the quote did not, and would not, come from her. "This is just some Internet gossip and it's pathetic that people actually entertain the thought that this could be real," Carey adds. "This is another sad example of two strong women being pit against each other." Carey has a new album due out in the spring, shortly after Lopez is due to give birth.
The actress proved to be the most-liked celebrity among ten women who regularly found their way onto magazine covers and into gossip columns in 2007, according to a poll on Friday. For its E-Score Celebrity survey, E-Poll Market Research asked more than 1,100 people ages 13 and older whom they found the most appealing, confident, glamorous, interesting and over-exposed, among other qualities. Witherspoon, 30, who has been in the spotlight since winning an Oscar for playing country singer June Carter in "Walk the Line," topped the list with a personal appeal rating of 74 percent, followed by former "Friends" TV star Jennifer Aniston at 70 percent. The Oscar winner has not had any major movie hits since "Walk the Line," but has been the focus of numerous headlines and stories this year due to her divorce from actor Ryan Phillippe and subsequent involvement with Jake Gyllenhaal, her co-star in "Rendition." That movie, an espionage thriller, has proved to be a major disappointment at box offices taking in only $17 million so far in global ticket sales. Meanwhile Angelina Jolie, who is now the companion of Aniston's ex-husband Brad Pitt, was the No. 3 most appealing celebrity at 53 percent. Actress/singer Jennifer Lopez was behind her with a 52 percent rating, while Katie Holmes followed at 32 percent and behind her was former Spice Girl Victoria "Posh Spice" Beckham in the No. 6 position with a rating of 28 percent. Troubled celebrities of 2007 -- Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie, Lindsay Lohan and Britney Spears -- who all have battled drug and alcohol abuse and run into legal problems, rounded out the list with Hilton the least-liked. She had a low 9 percent appeal rating, and was deemed to be the most over-exposed. Only one notch above Hilton was pop singer Spears with 11 percent likeability and a 68 percent over-exposed rating to Hilton's 75 percent.
Oscar winner Russell Crowe has the dubious honor of topping the list of what Forbes magazine has determined to be the most overpaid celebrities, namely those who only gain the studios a few measly bucks in exchange for their hefty salaries. The "Gladiator" star reportedly only makes $5 for the studio for every dollar he's paid. The magazine is quick to point out, however, that this does not include his latest film "American Gangster," which has done well in the worldwide box office with DVD sales yet to come. Forbes comes by its Ultimate Star Payback number by dividing an actor's gross income into the net revenue (box office and DVD sales minus the budget). According to the magazine, the only film on the list that didn't make back its cost was the Bennifer-starring disaster "Gigli." Here's the remainder of the Payback list: 2. Nicole Kidman - This Oscar winner commands a $12 million salary. Too bad she only generates $8 for evey dollar she's paid. Which raises the question: Could the singer and husband Marc Anthony be having ... a boy and a girl? Lopez waited a while before even confirming the pregnancy – and the pop star has been mum about whether she's expecting twins, though multiple sources have told PEOPLE she's expecting two bundles of joy. The 38-year-old singer recently denied reports that she'd had a pregnancy health scare that forced her to cut back on touring.
Country Soul/R&B Rap/Hip-Hop Miscellaneous: "Despite erroneous reports of Jennifer Lopez having difficulties with her pregnancy, we are happy to confirm she is very healthy and continuing with her schedule as planned," her rep tells PEOPLE. Lopez, 38, finally confirmed her pregnancy on Nov. 7 during a Miami stop on her El Cantante Tour with husband Marc Anthony, telling the crowd: "Marc and I are expecting a baby!"
"Oh, what a surprise. I think we guessed that," the singer told Extra at the Latin Grammy Awards on Thursday. "Either that or she swallowed a basketball!" Lopez and husband Marc Anthony officially confirmed their pregnancy Wednesday night in Miami at the close of their El Cantante Tour. All joking aside, Estefan, 50, said the couple's baby will certainly have a head start in life. "Jennifer and Marc are going to make wonderful parents," she said. "The baby is definitely going to be talented!" Estefan also said she'll appear on Dancing with the Stars next week after missing her scheduled date last month. "This Tuesday, I'll be on to fulfill my commitment," she said. "I was really sad that I had to cancel. But, I had to be with my mom, no two ways about it. She was really, really ill."
The singer-actress revealed at a concert Wednesday night (Nov. 7) that she and her husband Marc Anthony are indeed expecting a child, report celebrity news sources. "Marc and I are expecting a baby," announced J.Lo at the Miami leg of the "El Cantante" Tour. A due date wasn't mentioned. Although the news itself wasn't a huge surprise (the media had been eyeing about her bump for a while, and even her designer had inadvertently let slip the happy news) her hubby was shocked at her decision to finally speak up. "I didn't know she was going to talk," he told the crowd. The surprised singer shrugged his shoulders and then leaned over and kissed his wife's belly, which she displayed to the audience by turning and revealing her profile. "This is a special time in our lives," Lopez added. "And we waited until the last show to tell you." Lopez, 38, and Anthony, 39, were married on June 5, 2004, just four days after his divorce to his first wife, Miss Universe Dayanara Torres, was finalized. This will be their first child together. Anthony already has three children: daughter Arianna with his ex-girlfriend Debbie Rosado and two sons -- Christian, 6, and Ryan, 4, with Torres. In April, Lopez released first Spanish-language album "Como Ama una Mujer" ("How a Woman Loves"). She's also known for her films that include "Selena," "The Cell," "The Wedding Planner," "Gigli," "Shall We Dance," "Monster-in-Law" and "El Cantante," in which Anthony stars as salsa king Hector Lavoe.
The concert, originally scheduled for Oct. 24 in San Diego, was postponed because of the devastating fires in southern California. It's now officially off altogether because of an unspecified "scheduling conflict," according to a press release issued by the concert's promoter. "Unfortunately, rerouting the tour has been impossible due to the event's last-minute postponement caused by the area wildfire emergency," reads the statement from Live Nation. Tickets for the event, which can be refunded at point of purchase, were slashed by $35 last month in an apparently unsuccessful move to boost lagging sales, the San Diego Union Tribune reports. The paper attributes the cancellation to that or Lopez's unofficially confirmed pregnancy. As for rumors Lopez, 38, needs a new record label due to her diva demands and disappointing record sales, Epic Records tells PEOPLE that's simply not true. "We love Jennifer. We just made two new videos!" a rep for Epic tells PEOPLE.
Lopez, in a maroon mini dress and silver sandals, cradled her stomach as she danced and laughed with party guests while DJ Irie spun salsa tunes. "Jennifer was dancing up a storm," says a source. "She and her friends perched themselves under an arty picture of David Bowie and danced all night." The singer was also affectionate with her husband. Adds the source: "She and Marc were so sweet together, constantly kissing, hugging and holding hands." There was also plenty of food. At one point, one of the tour assistants drove to a nearby Dunkin' Donuts and brought back some late night snacks. Another sweet highlight: a big ice cream cake, which partygoers (Lopez included) enjoyed as the group celebrated several birthdays and continued partying until early the next morning.
Asked what types of clothing he designs for celebrities, the fashion designer told People magazine: "Well Jennifer Lopez, at this moment, she requests something very special because she is waiting for the baby." "It is so complicated because every week she is getting bigger," Cavalli said in a story posted Tuesday on the magazine's Web site. Cavalli, known for his attention-getting designs, created free-flowing outfits for Lopez, who has been on tour with her husband, Marc Anthony. His comment came after weeks of speculation, tabloid baby-bump pictures and raised eyebrows. Lopez, 39, has declined comment. A telephone message left Wednesday for her publicist, Nancy Ryder, wasn't immediately returned. "The thing about Jennifer Lopez, she is a singer, she is a dancer," Cavalli said. "Most of the time when I prepare something for the tour, the performer, they want something very soft so they can dance and so they can move free."
"I only wish her the best, I always have," Judd told PEOPLE at the 11th Annual Hollywood Awards Gala in Beverly Hills on Monday. "She's always wanted to be a mother, and now she's going to be. I couldn't be any happier for her." Judd, 38, added about Lopez's future child: "I can't wait to see him." While Lopez remains mum on the topic of her bump as she tours, Judd appears in La Noir, a film that is part of the Hollywood Film Festival. Lopez and Judd were married in 2001 and split the following year.
"It's a real personal song," Anthony said before belting out Journey's "Faithfully" inside a packed Staples Center. "This song has a whole new significance." It was when he sang the song's lyrics "They say that the road ain't no place to start a family" that concert goers erupted in cheers. He noted to fans that the song had "quite a special significance," dedicating it to the couple's "friends" in the audience as well. After Anthony's hour-long set (featuring music from the couple's film "El Cantante"), Lopez, 38, hit the stage asking fans "How are you, L.A.?" and later told the crowd "This is such a special time." Lopez was clearly showing an expanding belly, continuing to wear her loose-fitting outfits on stage. She also wore noticeably low-heeled boots during the heavier dance routines. This has been a year of firsts for Lopez. She released her first Spanish album, embarked on her first tour and – if you believe the bump – becoming a mother for the first time. But as Lopez continues to remain mum on the topic her fans have their own opinions. "She's so pregnant!" one concert goer said as they exited the Staples Center. Another fan tells PEOPLE there was no mistaking "she had a tummy." "She wasn't moving that much," said fan Monica Hathaway, 35, from La Palma, Calif. "I'm a mother of three, I know, she's pregnant!" But as Anthony and Lopez keep everyone guessing, one thing is certain: Anthony only has eyes for his wife. Standing at one end of the stage during their last song together, Anthony gazed at Lopez and said, "She's just fine."
Yes, according to numerous published reports, some of which even claim the multihyphenate diva is expecting twins. Last week, both OK! magazine and TMZ came out with "exclusives" on the singer's pregnancy, following days of similar headlines in the New York Post and other tabloids, while Us Weekly followed suit Wednesday with a cover story on Lopez's forthcoming bundle of joy. "It's a dream come true," a source told the magazine. "She and Marc are over the moon." Even Anthony's ex, Dayanara Torres, was drawn into the is-she-or-isn't-she fracas, when she was asked by a reporter for the Spanish-language daily El Nuevo Dia whether her children were happy about their half-brother or -sister to be. "They don't know yet, as I barely found out yesterday. But I suppose they're going to be very happy, because when my sister had her kid they were," Torres replied. However, Torres later clarified that she had no official confirmation of the pregnancy but was merely aware of the reports. "I had been advised of pregnancy 'rumors' by my manager, who wanted to make sure I was aware in case my children heard anything at school that I may need to address; so when I was approached by a reporter who stated as fact that my children were to have a new sibling soon, I assumed that this had been confirmed," she said. So far, Lopez herself has managed to remain publicly mum on her purported baby bulge, while her rep has declined to comment on the situation. But that doesn't mean Lopez isn't having fun with the speculation. During a Sunday concert with Anthony at Madison Square Garden—her hometown venue where OK! claimed she would make her big reveal—Anthony told the crowd, "I missed you guys. This is a special night for us on so many levels." After nearly 90 minutes, Lopez appeared, sang a few songs, including her new single, "Do It Well" and then addressed the audience and her husband. "How amazing is Marc?" she said, pausing for dramatic effect. "This is a really special night for us...This is my first tour ever! It's been a really special year." Of course, it's possible that fashion speaks louder than words, at least in her case. During the tour, Lopez has notably eschewed her tight-fitting, abs-bearing outfits of the past, opting instead for loose, flowing garments styled by Roberto Cavalli. "I used a lot of stretch fabrics," the designer told People of putting together the wardrobe. With her just released album, Brave, failing to make much of a ripple, Lopez may be trying to capitalize on the publicity her unannounced pregnancy is generating, in the hopes of bumping up her CD sales. However, with all the focus on her midriff, it seems the public is having a tough time concentrating on anything else. During a Good Morning America interview with Lopez Tuesday, Diane Sawyer skirted the question on everyone's mind, opting instead to play it vague. "All right, all right, I know what everybody's asking, and I know you have so little privacy in your life…so, I'm just going to say, How are you?" Sawyer asked. "I'm very well, thank you. This is really, really a great, happy time in my life," Lopez answered. Later the same day, David Letterman also avoided asking Lopez about her rumored pregnancy, sticking to general questions about family and the challenges of parenting. "The idea of having a family is daunting, isn't it?" he teased. "Yeah, it is," Lopez said. If reports can be believed, the singer has only about five months to go before that idea becomes a reality.
But the gracious gesture might not be doing her any favors. Whereas the veteran Latin singer produced musical fireworks in his galvanizing, mostly Spanish-language set, the ones set off in hers were strictly literal. Of course, the comparison isn't exactly fair. Lopez probably would be the first to admit that she doesn't come close to Anthony's voice or interpretive skills, not to mention his live performing experience. But her dance-heavy material, leavened with several songs from her Spanish-language release "Como Ama una Mujer," is infectiously rhythmic, and her hourlong showcase demonstrated that she's more than capable of headlining the sort of theatrical extravaganza required on the pop diva arena circuit. Heavily choreographed, lavishly costumed and featuring the requisite pyrotechnics and video self-homage, her set -- featuring such hit tunes as "Waiting for Tonight," "Jenny From the Block" and "Let's Get Loud" -- kept the audience's cell phone cameras in constant operation. Wearing flowing garments and dancing in not particularly athletic fashion, the singer did nothing to dispel the rumors of her pregnancy. Her thin voice mostly is serviceable for the material (with the ballads being notable exceptions), though there were times when it seemed to be aided via electronic means. Anthony, on the other hand, requires no such help in his salsa-heavy set. His magnificent voice was beautifully showcased on such numbers as "Aguanile" and "Hasta Que Te Conoci," and his years of touring have made him a master of the dramatic gesture. When a Puerto Rican flag was thrown to him by an audience member during "Preciosa," he sang a verse while huddled underneath it to rapturous cheers. The show ended with exactly what the fans wanted: two numbers, "Por Arriesgarnos" and "No Me Ames," performed as duets. Watching these two intensely charismatic and successful performers cooing lovingly to each other and kissing at the end of each song, Bennifer seemed but a distant memory.
But the host, who relentlessly peppered Paris Hilton with questions about her jail stay recently, kept mum when it came to asking Lopez about a possible visit from the stork. As PEOPLE witnessed during Tuesday's late afternoon taping of CBS's Late Show with David Letterman, the TV host did ask Lopez, 38, about her mother Guadalupe – who parented with tough love, her famous daughter explained. Though clearly respecting Lopez and husband Marc Anthony's privacy, Letterman, 60, nevertheless asked if J.Lo would be as tough a parent as her own mom if she ever started a family. As a father himself – of son Harry, who turns 4 next month – Letterman acknowledged that parenting is challenging, which prompted Lopez to smirk.
After recording a Spanish-language album earlier this year, "Brave" is a return to Lopez's R&B-club roots — the kind of grooves that helped make her a multi-platform superstar. In the past, Lopez scored big hits with sparkling jams that hid her vocal flaws while enticing listeners with irresistible beats. Those kind of tracks are hard to find on "Brave," which contains plenty of fourth-rate songs that sound like they were made for Brooke Hogan instead of an A-lister like Lopez. "Do It Well" sounds dated and recycled thanks to the song's reliance on a sample of "Keep on Truckin'," already heavily used in hip-hop, as does "Gotta Be There," which uses a sample of Michael Jackson's overused "Gotta Be Where You Are." This is a woman known for her designer duds and oversized bling — can't she afford better production? Even songs with original material are often weak, like "Mile in These Shoes," on which Lopez' voice sounds particularly nasal. There are a few songs where Lopez manages to charm, mainly thanks to the strength of the song. The bouncy "Stay Together" is fun, mainly because the lyrics — "Stay together, that's the new trend" — are particularly captivating, given Lopez's much-publicized breakups. And "I Need Love" is a nice enough uptempo groove. Still, it's not something you'll be rushing to hear a second time — a sentiment that summarizes most of "Brave." CHECK THIS TRACK OUT: Lopez gives the right vocal performance — tender and vulnerable — on the album's best track, the lovely "Never Gonna Give Up," a lush, string-based ballad about overcoming heartbreak.
Speaking amid a crowd of people outside the ABC studio in the middle of Times Square, where Lopez, 38, performed a live concert to promote her new CD Brave, a pained-looking Sawyer said to the singer: "All right, all right, I know what everybody's asking, and I know you have so little privacy in your life ... so, I'm just going to say, 'How are you?' " Replied Lopez: "I'm very well, thank you. This is really, really a great, happy time in my life. ... Everything's great." She credited her happiness to her new album and her current concert tour with husband Marc Anthony – for which Lopez has dressed in modest, loose-fitting ensembles designed by Roberto Cavalli. (Her GMA dress was equally ample.) When the interview segment of Lopez's appearance concluded, Sawyer, 61, said to her guest, "Can I hug you, 'cause I'm happy." Sawyer then embraced Lopez's shoulder, never coming anywhere near her stomach.
Pop or Rock Favorite Male Artist: Favorite Female Artist: Favorite Band, Duo or Group: Favorite Album: Country Favorite Male Artist: Favorite Female Artist: Favorite Album: Favorite Band, Duo or Group: Soul/Rhythm & Blues Favorite Male Artist: Favorite Female Artist: Favorite Album: Rap/Hip-Hop Favorite Band, Duo or Group: Favorite Male Artist: Favorite Album: Adult Contemporary Music Favorite Artist: Latin Music Favorite Artist: Alternative Rock Music Favorite Artist: Contemporary Inspirational Favorite Artist: Soundtracks Favorite Album: Favorite Breakthrough Artist: "You don't have to go where everybody goes; there are a million other places that are great," Lopez, 38, tells Giant magazine in its October/November issue. She also shows compassion for those who are younger finding themselves in the limelight. "People wonder why Britney or Lindsay or Paris is acting crazy, but they don't know what it means not to be able to walk outside your house," says Lopez. " 'Oh, but she has $10 million!' they say, but that doesn't help when you can't ... feel good! "I feel so bad when I see people going through the beginnings of it. Because it's not fun. You have to learn to navigate it 'cause if you don't, it will eat you up. ... It's a lot of pressure. And you gotta keep grounded and find a way to deal with it and hopefully have love in your life." In her case, that's Anthony. "From the day Marc and I met, we've always had amazing chemistry, but the timing has to be right," she says. "We established early on that our relationship was not for public consumption. When we're out there, it's 'cause it's part of our work, but you won't catch us hanging out at some random place with paparazzi following us 'cause we don't let them," she adds. "And we have such a tight circle of friends, we don't have people calling the photographers saying, 'Marc and Jennifer are coming here.' " Sharing the Spotlight Besides, there is the fact that she and Anthony are doing something particularly public – the two are currently on tour in advance of her latest album, Brave, due out Oct. 9. Then again, it's just not the two who are in the spotlight, but, possibly three. Lopez has been the subject of pregnancy rumors, fueled even further by a recent gust of air that exposed what appeared to be a baby bump during a concert at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. "People started buzzing as they were leaving the concert," a source told PEOPLE. "There was a lot of buzzing, people saying, 'Oh yeah, she's pregnant!' " While Lopez has not official confirmed the report, the New York Post reports that the singer will announce her pregnancy in front of a hometown audience, onstage at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 7.
"There's something really great about directing," Affleck, 35, tells Details magazine. "If you don't like this movie, I'm the guy to see. I'm the guy to criticize." But he's betting that critics – and audiences – will like the movie and that it will help him get out of a rut that included some high-profile flops and an equally high-profile romance with Jennifer Lopez. "It was probably bad for my career," he said of his dating the singer from 2002 to 2004. "What happens in this sort of bleed-over from the tabloids across your movie work," he said. "I ended up in an unfortunate crosshair position where I was in a relationship and [the media] mostly lied and inflated a bunch of salacious stuff for the sake of selling magazines. And I paid a certain price for that. Then, in concert with some movies that didn't work ..." But now Affleck is in a new phase of his career and personal life. "I feel like [Gone Baby Gone] is a linchpin for my life. My career," says the husband of actress Jennifer Garner and father of Violet, 2. "I have a lot riding on it. I want it to work. Badly. I mean, a s----- movie comes out on 2,800 screens? I've been there and it's embarrassing." As for his future, Affleck is clearly committed to his family life – and staying out of the media spotlight. "I'd be surprised if I am still living [in Los Angeles] in a couple years," he claims. "Professionally it would be difficult. But that's not as important as the other thing."
Anthony took the stage first, singing mostly his Spanish hits and telling the audience, "I missed you guys. This is a special night for us on so many levels." This is the first time the husband and wife have toured together, though they have performed together in the past. After nearly 90 minutes, Lopez (who has been the subject of increasing pregnancy rumors) came onstage wearing a flowing baby doll top and flared bottoms by Roberto Cavalli. She opened with her new single "Do It Well," and showed off some low-key hip-hop dance moves. A few songs into her set, a breathless Lopez asked the crowd, "How amazing is Marc?" She added: "This is a really special night for us ... This is my first tour ever! It's been a really special year." With appreciative audience members screaming her name and presenting her with flowers and cards, a choked-up Lopez told them, "Don't let me get all emotional because I know it won't stop!" Lopez, 39, changed outfits three more times – all modest, loose-fitting ensembles by Cavalli – and sang a few new songs as well as slew of older hits before Anthony, 39, rejoined her. The couple closed the show just before midnight with two Spanish duets, ending each with an onstage kiss.
Timbaland's "The Way I Are" featuring Keri Hilson, and Fergie's "Big Girls Don't Cry" remained at No. 3 and No. 4, respectively. J. Holiday's "Bed" rebounded one to No. 5, swapping places with 50 Cent's "Ayo Technology" featuring Justin Timberlake and Timbaland. Keyshia Cole's "Let It Go" featuring Missy Elliott and Lil' Kim, and Nickelback's "Rockstar" were unchanged at No. 7 and No. 8, respectively. Pink's "Who Knew" remained at No. 9, and young singer/songwriter Colbie Caillat's "Bubbly" jumped six places to No. 10. Jennifer Lopez had the Hot 100's top debut with "Do It Well" at No. 53. Also new were James Blunt's "1973" at No. 73 and Playaz Circle's "Duffle Bag Boy" featuring Lil Wayne at No. 91.
"That was so ... Oh my God, what did you do to me? Look at my makeup!" said a teary Lopez after hundreds of schoolchildren greeted the couple with cheers, broad smiles, flowers and artwork Tuesday. Lopez and Anthony, who were married in 2004, said they were "overwhelmed" by the welcome at P.S. 36 Unionport School in the New York City borough of the Bronx. They are about to launch a musical tour to support a children's health campaign. It will be her first tour. "We look at you and see ourselves," said the 39-year-old Lopez. "This is overwhelming. I remember being in school, being on stage and dreaming of great things." "There's nothing in the world, no Grammy, no Oscar, that can make me feel more warm than today," said Anthony, 38, who recently released the soundtrack to "El Cantante," a biopic of salsa legend Hector Lavoe. Part of the proceeds from the 19-concert tour, which kicks off Friday in Atlantic City, N.J., will go to schools with programs promoting physical education and a healthy lifestyle.
Anthony recently admitted to Access Hollywood that he harbors a major KFC addiction, saying, "I can't eat anything else after a concert." Lopez is not as big of a fan, but that didn't stop KFC president Gregg Dedrick from publicly extending the unusual invite, the TV show reports. "We would like to offer you, your entourage and a few VIP guests an 'all access' pass to the KFC location of your choice," Dedrick wrote in an open letter to the couple. "You have a bucketful of choices for 'after party' locations because KFC has more than 5,500 restaurants across the country. Hearing about your fondness for KFC was music to our ears, so just name the time and the place and we'll open our doors to you for a post-concert feast." There was no immediate response from the couple, whose North American tour kicks off Sept. 29 in Atlantic City, N.J., and includes 16 dates, wrapping in Miami on Nov. 3. If either of them nixes the idea, it will be Lopez, who knows her husband's habits all too well from previous tours. As she told Access Hollywood recently, "People were like, 'What about the [tour] bus, Jennifer, was that hard?' I'm like, 'No. The Kentucky Fried Chicken was the killer.' "
U.S. publication In Touch Weekly claims Lopez and husband Marc Anthony received the good news after visiting her Beverly Hills fertility specialist Dr. Robert Katz. Sources tell the publication she had an ultrasound performed in a New York office on 12 September. One insider says, "The test calculated that she was about 12 weeks pregnant." The couple has been trying to get pregnant for the past two years, and eventually turned to in vitro fertilisation. This will be the couple's first child together. Anthony, 39, already has three children from previous relationships.
The singer/actress is good friends with Posh Spice Victoria Beckham and wants to join them on their reunion gigs, which begins in Los Angeles later this year (07Dec07). She says, "I'd love to get back out there on tour and I'd really like to perform on the same stage as the Spice Girls. "Even before we were friends, Posh was always my favourite."
Jennifer Lopez said her new young contemporary line was "fantasy — classic inspiration but with a new, kind of funky spin," so she turned the setting of her JustSweet show Tuesday night at New York Fashion Week into a fairy tale. Models pranced down a silver sparkling runway wearing colors called pixie dust, magic mint and pirate pink. The clothes were sparkling, too, ranging from a sweater dress with thick, sparkling, colorful, diagonal stripes to denim boy shorts with a sparkling brown hoodie. Her outfits alternated between sophisticated — lots of minidresses — and casual — a pair of skinnies with a cargo green graphic T-shirt. She incorporated her signature one-shoulder look, but didn't go overboard, along with bell sleeves and cropped jackets to add chic to all that trendiness. Lopez, 37, said she developed JustSweet to fill the void between J.Lo, her denim and T-shirt urban wear line, and Sweetface, a high-fashion, higher-priced line. She wanted to do something in the middle. All the pieces range from $49 to $99. She said she designed the line for the young at heart. "Girls who are young who are going to wear it are going to feel sophisticated in it because it does have a chic kind of feeling to it," she said. "But people who are older who wear it are going to feel young, flirty and fun. It really has a nice mix." The actress-singer, who performed at Fashion Rocks on Thursday, said she's not worried about whether she is taken seriously as a designer. "I'm not looking for the credibility," she said. "I'm looking to make clothes that every woman can wear."
People magazine's annual best- and worst-dressed issue hits newsstands on Friday featuring numerous Hollywood stars, all given a nickname to describe their taste in couture. Beyonce, 26, was dubbed "The Showstopper," while actress Cameron Diaz walked into the top 10 as "The Legs," and actress Katie Holmes, who is married to Tom Cruise, graced the list as "The Classic." "Beyonce just looks amazing every time she goes out," assistant managing editor Cynthia Sanz told Reuters. "She likes to show off her curves and she is very glamorous." Beyonce has her own fashion line, "House of Dereon," that mixes hip hop influences with feminine touches like lace and ruffles that she launched with her mother, stylist Tina Knowles, in 2004. Last year, former "Friends" star Jennifer Aniston topped the list after a reader's vote, but this year the magazine did not seek readers' input. Instead, the magazine's editors drew up the list without giving the 10 winners rankings. Other women in the top 10 included Penelope Cruz, Jessica Biel, Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Lopez, Reese Witherspoon, Gwen Stefani and Ali Larter. For the men last year, singer Justin Timberlake was named "Trendiest," and praise went to British soccer star David Beckham, who recently moved with wife Victoria to Los Angeles. This year Beckham again made the list, alongside Terrence Howard, Johnny Depp, Brad Pitt and George Clooney. BECKHAMS WIN STYLE PRAISE But there were also the worst fashions of the year as People's editors took issue with celebrities' sense of style. Spears' decision to shave her head after a spree of partying and stints in rehab following her collapsed marriage put her at the top of the list of worst style moments. The award comes just days after the former pop princess, who is trying to stage a comeback, drew howls from critics for her performance at the MTV Video Music Awards where her outfit resembled that of a stripper and she barely danced. "She's had a bad year with shaving her head and all her bad fashion choices that followed that -- the wigs, the hats," said Sanz. "She really seems to be having a meltdown." Also among the worst styles were "American Idol" contestant Sanjaya piling his hair high for the hit TV talent show, and Cameron Diaz offending Peruvians with her handbag that had a political slogan of Chinese Communist leader Mao Zedong. In a special "British Accent" section, People paid tribute to British celebrities taking America by storm, recognizing Victoria Beckham, model Kate Moss, singer Lily Allen, Prince William's girlfriend Kate Middleton and actress Emma Watson. "It has been a big year for the Brits with a lot of influence coming over here," said Sanz. "You can't help but look at what the Beckhams are doing and wearing, but you are not really sure why."
Fergie sang with Aerosmith, Teri Hatcher shared the stage with 50 Cent to introduce Jennifer Lopez, and Jeremy Piven served as host to a crowd of style insiders. From the start, Piven wondered aloud why he was there — were possible emcees Tom Ford, Kanye West or Heidi Klum all unavailable? Yes, Piven answered, and that left him to do the job. He was more than serviceable. He warmed up the crowd at Radio City Musical Hall with photos of the "trendsetting" fashions of his youth. The oversize T-shirts that now dominate designer runways — check. Feathered hair later worn by Kristy McNichol and more recently by the heartthrobs on the "O.C." — check. Same goes for Jean Paul Gaultier's crazy hats and shawls. Piven compared them to the outfit he wore to his bar mitzvah. He did better for Fashion Rocks in a slightly shiny dark suit. But some of the other celebrities onstage more closely hit the fashion mark: Martina McBride wore a pantsuit and bow blouse in line with the fall's polished look, and Cuba Gooding Jr., with a bright yellow shirt, must have had an early line on the spring clothes being previewed on the catwalks through Wednesday. Steven Tyler wore a medley of animal prints, Jessica Alba had on a black gown with chain link detail and Tyra Banks wore on-trend booties with her black cocktail dress. Lopez started her performance in a short, sequined trenchcoat but eventually pulled it off to reveal a short, sequined baby-doll dress. She kept her knee-high boots on the whole time. The concert will be telecast Friday in a two-hour special on CBS.
A California judge has awarded $545,000 to the 38-year-old singer-actress in connection with a lawsuit she filed against her first ex-hubby, Ojani Noa, to block the release of a tell-all tome about their short-lived union. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael C. Solner on Wednesday upheld a ruling by a court-ordered arbitrator that the Cuban-born Noa had violated a previous confidentiality agreement by shopping around a manuscript purportedly divulging secrets of Lopez's private life. Among the juicy tidbits were details on their first sexual encounter together and claims that his former missus cheated on him multiple times, including a dalliance with her current husband and El Cantante costar Marc Anthony when he was still married to former Miss Universe Dayanara Torres. Lopez swapped vows with Noa in 1997, before she became the Hollywood hyphenate she is today, after the two met while he was working as a waiter at a Miami restaurant. Her career began to take off, and she divorced him 11 months later. The pair remained friendly enough that Lopez hired Noa to manage her Pasadena eatery, Madre's, in 2002. But when she subsequently fired him six months later, Noa shot back with a wrongful-termination lawsuit. The matter was resolved out of court, with Noa receiving a settlement of $125,000 that also mandated he not disclose information about their relationship. After hearing that Noa was trying his hand at a writing career and that she would be his first subject, Lopez sued him in April and asked for a permanent injunction on the publication of the book, on the grounds that he had informed her he would consider dropping the project if she paid him $5 million. The restaurant worker claimed the tattle tale was about his immigrant life story, not the Anaconda star specifically, but neither the arbitrator, Richard Cernick, nor the judge bought that argument. During Wednesday's hearing, Solner granted that permanent injunction barring Noa from "criticizing, denigrating, casting in a negative light or otherwise disparaging or causing disparagement to plaintiff." He instructed Noa to hand over all copies of materials pertaining to the book. According to a Los Angeles wire report, J. Lo's ex asked Solner to delay the award's entry into law for 30 days to give him time to find a new lawyer, but the judge denied the request, since he had already given him three prior chances to do so. "I think it's unfair, to be honest, your honor,'' Noa said in court. "I'm sure you do,'' Solner replied. Not helping Noa was the fact that he represented himself throughout the proceedings. His previous attorney entered into arbitration last October with Lopez, but Noa claimed that because of his poor English skills, he didn't understand the implications of the move. As it happened, he also didn't realize his then counsel didn't actually have a license to practice law either, so he decided to go up against Lopez's legal eagles on his own. The judgment means the former waiter will have to pony up $200,000 in compensatory damages for breach of the previous settlement, plus an additional $300,000 in attorneys' fees and $48,000 in arbitration costs. Outside the courtroom, Noa denied to Spanish-language reporters that he was trying to damage Lopez's reputation, noting he had "too much class for that." Lopez's attorney, Paul Sorrell, did not return a phone call seeking comment.
"The Amigas Sweet 15 Club" is being billed as a half-hour comedy with dramatic undertones. It is based on an original idea by Jane Startz, who produced the film and TV series based on the popular "The Baby-Sitters Club" books. Startz will executive produce with Lopez. In addition to the music-centric TV show, they plan to develop "Amigas" into a series of young adult books, Latin music-inspired CDs and potentially other franchise properties targeting female tweens. The TV series follows the "Amigas" as they use their collective talents (one is a singer, one is a DJ, one is a graphic artist, etc.) to launch an after-school party-planning business aimed at helping Latina girls throw their dream Quinceanera (Sweet 15) bashes. Each episode of the potential series would focus on a different girl and on how her family and cultural background play into planning the event. In the past decade, Latin culture has gone mainstream with such crossover music artists as Lopez, her husband Marc Anthony and Shakira. It also has moved into primetime, most recently with the success of ABC's "Ugly Betty," also told from the perspective of young Latinas. Startz hopes to use as a vehicle to break up-and-coming Latin artists. Lopez will be heavily involved in all producing aspects of the project, specifically music and casting, said Simon Fields, a principal at Lopez' Nuyorican Prods. banner. Nuyorican has produced such feature films as "Shall We Dance" and "El Cantante" as well as the MTV series "Dance Life." Startz' credits also include the features "Tuck Everlasting" and "Ella Enchanted."
"I think we're kind of lucky actually because in this business people can end up spending so much time apart," Lopez told Ryan Seacrest Friday on his KIIS-FM radio show. The couple, both 38, star together in the current film, El Cantante, and have announced plans to co-headline a world tour beginning September 29 in New Jersey. "There's something about us working together that kind of works," says Lopez. "We never really force anything – it's just a natural thing, projects that we end up working together on." Even though the couple spend long hours together, Lopez tells Seacrest: "Its easy. There is nothing hard about it." Touring, on the other hand, is going to be a new step for Lopez. "It's actually my first time," she says. "I am a little bit scared of the schedule to be honest. I have been on the road with Marc a couple of times so I have a good tutorial on how to handle it though." Lopez's fifth English album. Brave, hits stores Oct. 9.
And though A-listers such as Jennifer Lopez, Jamie Foxx and Charlize Theron are used to following scripts, they were free to abandon them at the easygoing afternoon affair at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Hilary Swank, who presented the first round of grants to a slew of universities, stumbled as she read from the teleprompter. "I feel your pain," said Mr. J-Lo, Marc Anthony, as he and Lopez presented the second round of checks. "What am I supposed to say," asked a bumbling Peter Falk as he accepted a $50,000 prize for the Columbia University School of the Arts. "Where does the foreign press get all this money," he went on. "I mean, I think it's great." Foxx gave a shout-out to all the Leos (astrological, not DiCaprio) in the crowd — namely Swank and Lopez, whose birthdays are in late July. After kissing Foxx on the cheek, Josh Brolin, who accepted a $50,000 grant for FilmAid International, turned to the Oscar winner and said, "I'm so nervous, can you give me a hug for a second?" Sam Elliott had trouble following the teleprompter, but "Heroes" star Masi Oka worked it like a pro, acting like a newscaster as he accepted a $40,000 gift for American Cinematheque. "You sound like the Moviefone guy," Foxx said. The HFPA has given more than $7.5 million in grants over the past 13 years, president Jorge Camara said. This year's total is the largest ever distributed in the organization's 65-year history.
An arbiter has awarded the actress-singer just under $545,000 in her legal battle over a tell-all tome reportedly penned by former Lopez spouse Ojani Noa, Lopez's attorney confirmed Wednesday. Paul Sorrell said he couldn't comment on his star client's reaction to the decision, but added, "I think she'd just like to see this be over." Noa did not immediately return a message left seeking comment. Lopez sued Noa, the first of her three husbands, in 2006 after the New York Post reported the ex was making the publishing rounds with a Lopez-themed book proposal. In Lopez's lawsuit, the actress claimed that Noa's book was full of the sort of stuff that sells books: Namely, sex. (View the legal documents.) According to the Lopez camp, the literary Noa accused Lopez of partaking in "multiple duplicitous sexual affairs" during the making of her 1997 monster thriller Anaconda and of running around with future third husband Marc Anthony while she was linked to Sean "Diddy" Combs, and Anthony was married to beauty queen Dayanara Torres. While Lopez might have accused Noa of being ungentlemanly, her lawsuit actually accused him of breaking a confidentiality clause in a 2005 settlement which itself arose from a 2004 lawsuit filed by Noa. (For those keeping score at home, Noa sued Lopez when he was fired from her Southern California restaurant, Madre's; Lopez settled the case for $125,000 and a pledge that Noa would refrain from blabbing about "intimate details" of her or their relationship.) The arbiter's decision was handed down in April. It was only recently uncovered by a local Los Angeles wire service after Lopez's camp filed papers Aug. 6 seeking a confirmation of the ruling by the L.A. County Superior Court. Of the exactly $544,814.21 awarded to Lopez by the arbiter, $200,000 was for damages and the rest for attorney and arbitration fees. The Aug. 6 court filing notes that Noa has not challenged the arbitration ruling. The state of Noa's would-be book was unknown. "We don't know what he's doing," Sorrell said. "He may be out there trying to exploit this thing." But finding a venue to do the exploiting seemingly would be tough to impossible. In 2006, Lopez obtained a still-standing preliminary injunction barring Noa from broadcasting, publishing or otherwise making money off Lopez-related "intimate details." Noa, 33, wed Lopez, 38, in 1997. The former waiter and the then rising superstar divorced a year later. When asked if he believed Noa had the $544,814.21 to make good on the arbitration judgment, Sorrell said, "Your guess is as good as mine."
The 14-date tour will open Sept. 29 in Atlantic City, N.J., and wrap up Nov. 2 in Miami. It will be Lopez's first concert tour. She will perform songs from her Spanish-language album, "Como Ama una Mujer (How a Woman Loves)," which was mainly produced by Anthony. Lopez, 39, is set to release her new CD, "Brave," on Oct. 9. Anthony just released the soundtrack to "El Cantante," a biopic of salsa legend Hector Lavoe, which opened in theaters last Friday. Anthony, 37, plays Lavoe, a talented but troubled Puerto Rican singer, and Lopez portrays Lavoe's long-suffering wife, Puchi. Lopez produced the movie. The couple wed in 2004. Other stops on the tour, produced by Live Nation, include Uncasville, Conn.; Washington; New York; Toronto; Chicago; San Jose, Calif.; Los Angeles; Anaheim, Calif.; San Diego; Las Vegas; Dallas; and Houston.
"Oh, I got calls," the 37-year-old actor-singer tells Fashion Rocks magazine. "Just friends, you know, giving me the heads-up about working with your partner." "I thought, jeez, that's like the fourth call I got this month! What are they preparing me for?" he says. "I thought it was going to be World War III, when, in fact, it was Club Med." Anthony plays Lavoe, a talented but troubled Puerto Rican singer. Lopez portrays Lavoe's long-suffering wife, Puchi. The 39-year-old actress-singer also produced the movie. "We have a high standard for each other; I know what he's capable of, and he knows what I'm capable of, even more than we know ourselves," Lopez says of her relationship with Anthony. "So when you see the light and the shine and all that someone is capable of, you want that person to achieve that. And I think he has the same thing for me." Lopez, who married Anthony in 2004, starred in "Gigli" and "Jersey Girl" with former fiance Ben Affleck. "We all knew the guns were pointing," says "El Cantante" director Leon Ichaso. "You know, her and another partner. ... Here we go again." "El Cantante," a Picturehouse release, opened in theaters Friday. Lopez is slated to perform at the Fashion Rocks concert Sept. 6 at New York's Radio City Music Hall. The concert, part of New York Fashion Week events, will air the following night in a two-hour special on CBS. Fashion Rocks magazine will accompany the September issue of 16 Conde Nast titles.
Marc Anthony gives a fine and impassioned performance in the title role, which also is a reference to his signature song. It's just too bad that Anthony's wife, producer and co-star, Jennifer Lopez, also seems to have regarded this dark biopic as something of a personal vanity project. Lopez plays Puchi, Lavoe's overbearing wife, and the film has far too much of her and not enough of Anthony. During Lavoe's performances, the camera far too frequently cuts away to Puchi, who is merely dancing around on the sidelines. This is a movie in dire need of better editing. The story relies on formula and clichés of the genre, so we don't learn enough about what caused the Puerto Rican-born Lavoe's downward spiral into drug use, promiscuity and suicide attempts after he gained fame in New York City. It couldn't have been only the ubiquity of drugs and sex in the music world, or his wife's implied infidelity, that led to Anthony's personal disintegration. He died in 1993 of complications related to AIDS. One suspects there is a good deal more to this story that didn't make it into the film. Director Leon Ichaso uses as a framing device a black-and-white pseudo-documentary Q&A with Puchi that isn't quite effective or focused. We learn more about her tendency toward denial than gaining any understanding of Lavoe's character. Still, the music and Anthony's portrayal make the movie worth seeing. (Rating: R for drug use, pervasive language and some sexuality. Running time: 1 hour, 56 minutes. Opens Friday nationwide.)
"She's always been the boss! I don't know what's changed," Anthony, 38, told PEOPLE at Tuesday's Los Angeles premiere of the couple's movie El Cantante, which Lopez, also 38, also produced. "That's the first thing a man has to know," he says. "Absolutely, no question about it." In the film, Anthony portrays Puerto Rican salsa pioneer Hector Lavoe, and Lopez plays his wife Puchi. Do Anthony and Lopez – married since June 2004 – share their screen characters' passion? "Absolutely, we're passionate," Lopez told PEOPLE. "We're all passionate in a different way." The couple will again join forces when they tour together this fall – a first for them, and the first time Lopez does a live-concert road trip. "I think we'll travel in the same bus, but we'll get ready in separate buses," said Anthony, before his wife quickly interjected: "Only because I have hair and makeup and all kinds of people. And then when he starts getting ready, he takes hours." The pair laughed. "I nap up to 15 minutes before I go onstage," Anthony admitted. Fortunately, his wife plays by his rules: "So I can't make noise when I'm getting ready," Lopez explained. The tour kicks off Sept. 29 in Atlantic City, with Lopez already having picked up tips from her constantly touring husband. "I had a tutorial for two-and-a-half years now," she said. "I went on two tours with him from beginning to end. I saw every single show. So I'm like ready. I'm ready." And do they think the couple that works together and plays together can manage to stay together? "We wouldn't put ourselves in this position if it was going to cost us in any way," he says. "We truly enjoy each other."
In interviews about their first movie together, "El Cantante," Lopez and Anthony said there was a danger in being surrounded by "enablers" -- people who will say yes all the time to keep a star happy, no matter what the consequences. "El Cantante," which opens in U.S. theaters on Friday, is a biopic of Puerto Rican salsa singer Hector Lavoe, played by Anthony. Lavoe moved to New York in 1963 at age 17, rose to fame by 21, but struggled with drug addiction and died from AIDS complications in 1993. "Nobody has a handbook for fame. It's no easy thing to deal with. You've got to have good people around you," Lopez, 38, who plays Lavoe's tough-talking wife, Puchi, told Reuters when asked about the behavior of young celebrities in Hollywood. Last week actress Lindsay Lohan, 21, was charged for a second time with drunken driving just days after leaving a second stint in rehabilitation, while pop star Britney Spears, 25, who has also spent time in rehab, made headlines again with more reports of bizarre behavior. "The thing about this business, in a way it's pretty sad, because you get child stars who are too many people's meal ticket and they're not going to tell the child that they can't do something," said Anthony, 38, who with more than 10 million records sold is the top-selling salsa artist ever. "I had people who kept me in line. I was fortunate in that way," he said. "Now ... it would seem that people's best interests are just to keep the star happy as long as the money is still coming in." "MATURE THOUGHT" When Lopez, who has sold more than 17 million records, married Anthony in 2004, she said she made a conscious decision to withdraw from the media spotlight. Before her marriage to Anthony, Lopez was tabloid fodder and regularly graced the covers of celebrity magazines through her relationship with rap music impresario Sean "Diddy" Combs and a broken engagement with actor Ben Affleck. "It wasn't that I was courting that attention, it was just that I was just living my life, so I thought," she said during an interview at a luxury New York City hotel. "When I sat down for a second and ... had a mature thought about it ... I realized it was my responsibility if I didn't want it to be that way," she said. Along with starring in "El Cantante," Lopez also produced the film through her company Nuyorican. She received the screenplay more than five years ago and immediately rang Anthony to ask if he would play Lavoe. Anthony, who will tour with Lopez in concert later this year, had met Lavoe before his death and described the singer as "such a part of the fabric of who I am." But he said that the drugs that were such a scar on Lavoe's career from the 1960s to the 1980s, were no longer as pervasive in the entertainment industry because of increasing corporate influence. "Today it's totally different. Nobody would want to do business with you if they knew you had a drug problem, sponsors would drop you and you would be shunned," he said. Lopez said the attitude of celebrities should be simple: "You want to be proud of yourself at the end of the day."
She had just one person in mind to play the volatile, drug-addled lead: a slim Latino singer named Marc Anthony. So she called him about a month later and asked him to sign on as Hector, opposite her Puchi, the crooner's fiercely protective wife. In a twist worthy of a steamy Lavoe love song, Lopez and Anthony, 38, have been married since 2004, after a top-secret June wedding in her Los Angeles backyard. And now, they're starring in El Cantante, the gritty retelling of Lavoe and Puchi's turbulent, often twisted partnership. "Who knew that five years later, when the movie came out, we'd be married?" says Lopez, 38. Their on-screen collaboration hits theaters Friday. Real-life couples taking their love on screen can be a bust, as what sizzles behind closed doors often fizzles on celluloid. Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise were notable mostly for their lack of chemistry in 1999's Eyes Wide Shut, and let's not even mention Lopez's disastrous big-screen dalliance with former fiancé Ben Affleck in 2003's Gigli. Then again, Woody Allen and Diane Keaton sparkled in 1977's Annie Hall. Lopez says her collaboration with Anthony works because "being a couple, you know when things are real." She produced the film and hand-picked the director, and was so committed to keeping the story authentic that she asked an actor playing a bouncer to really push and shove her while trying to throw her out of a club. "This movie was home for them," says director Leon Ichaso. "There was a sense of mission with everything they did. Fighting, as well as the funny scenes, everything was really special. It was a good camaraderie." The couple on screen didn't fare as well, however. It's instant attraction when Hector and Puchi meet in a club, but their relationship unravels as Lavoe's success comes in tandem with an ever-growing dependence on drugs. He's too wasted to show up to his own wedding, shoots up at home while alone with their son and gets abusive with Puchi when she tries to straighten him out. Rest assured that what is on screen has no similarity to life at Lopez and Anthony's Long Island estate. "A byproduct of being so happy in the middle of playing two absolutely dysfunctional people is that you feel really normal. I was like, 'Thank God we're not like that.' We don't have any problems!" Anthony says with a laugh. "It was so far from us. I know what it's like to be famous. But I don't know what it's like to be a drug addict." Lopez insists that their sparring matches were more droll than diabolical. "We'd go home and be like, 'That was wild, right?' It was an exciting thing to do, not so much that we took it home and were yelling at each other." Filming was a commitment Their searing fights left their mark on Lopez, she demonstrates with a giggle. "I have scars, literally scars, from them," she says, showing off two faint lines on two fingers of her right hand. "Hector wore a lot of rings, so when we started mixing it up in that scene — it wasn't written that I'd push him or touch him — but I just started pushing him and telling him to get out. Next thing you know, my hands were cut open. They were very intense scenes, but we knew it has to be real. We had no time to mess around." With a 33-day shoot, she means that quite literally. Lopez says she was scared to dive into such deep emotional waters, playing a hard-living woman who loses her son and later her husband. But having her real-life husband on set helped. "It was comfortable working with Marc because we know each other so well. When you work with other actors, you have to be cordial and polite. But Marc and I have enough respect for each other as human beings and artists that we can say anything to each other," she says. "It made it easier." They had separate trailers and equally separate work styles. "I do a lot of research, I come prepared, I know my lines from A to Z. I know the other person's lines. Marc is much looser. He's more about the character," says Lopez. Anthony concedes that "it took a little getting used to. Dialogue doesn't mean anything to me. I don't like being tied down. Jen is more a stickler — 'I need this, I need to hear this in order to get to the next thing.' I'm more laid back." Two for one But their workplace differences haven't stopped Lopez and Anthony from becoming entertainment's most inseparable couple. They opt to do their interviews separately, but otherwise they are nearly always together. He's classily classic, wearing black slacks and a jacket, his hair slicked back. She's fashionably forward, her tan, flat stomach on display in a cropped Chloe blouse paired with Seven wide-leg jeans and Dior stilettos. They're going on a joint tour this fall, starting Sept. 29 in Atlantic City, to help promote her upcoming fall disc. Lopez describes it as "dance, funk, R&B. My Spanish album was a real departure from what I do in English, and this is back to the J. Lo movement." He produced her recent Spanish-language release, Como Ama una Mujer, which had underwhelming sales. And they're not averse to doing another movie together. "We don't plan things. I know it seems like that because he did my Spanish album, this movie's coming out, we're going on tour. Things have always been organic with Marc and I," Lopez says. "When we do work together, it happens naturally." In the midst of their work, Lopez and Anthony carve out intimate moments, Ichaso says. "They spend a lot of time together, a lot of downtime with each other, and try to be as normal as they can with the amount of traveling they do. In Puerto Rico, I looked out the window and saw them quietly going to the beach together." Get him talking about Lopez and Anthony blinks rapidly, his voice dropping to a whisper. "She's a little baby girl, I swear. She's just a baby girl who grew up in front of the world. She's so innocent. She's truly innocent in so many ways." Indeed, Lopez does seem unusually trusting. When jokingly told that a jar of candy on the table is fat-free, Lopez asks, "Really?" The pair is swapping expertise. Lopez is teaching Anthony how to navigate premieres and junkets now that he's the co-star of a film. And he, in return, is showing Lopez, who never has done a national tour, the ins and outs of being on the road. "She's very protective that way," he says, "and now it's my time to return the favor. We're a good team. We work well together." And they "never, never, never" get sick of each other, Anthony says. Says Lopez: "I like knowing he's there. He likes knowing I'm there. This business can be very challenging in that sense, and I think being together is better than being apart. If you're going to have a real family, you have to create that. We love each other. We respect each other. We work at it. But more than anything, we like being together." As for working at building that family? She rolls her eyes when asked about rumors that she's pregnant. "I've been pregnant so many times (in tabloids). I should have had eight kids by now," she says. (Anthony has two children with ex-wife Dayanara Torres and a daughter from a previous relationship.) When it comes to their relationship, less is more. Lopez, who saw her romance with Affleck explode into a frenzied public spectacle, pulled a 180 with her third husband. They wed in secret, never released wedding photos and have said little in interviews about their life together. She shudders and shakes her head when reminded of her life as a tabloid staple, when the madness surrounding her engagement became so intense that Lopez and Affleck actually considered using decoys en route to their wedding to fool the paparazzi. They broke up in January 2004. "That was me on the covers of those magazines for 21/2 years straight, and it's tough," she says. "It takes a toll on your life. You honestly don't see a way out for a little while. You feel trapped. But I can honestly say that Marc helped me with that. When we got married, he said that you don't have to live like that." Anthony showed her it was possible to disappear. "Her days seemed long because they didn't stop. She'd try to accomplish the next thing. I did minimal promotion for my albums, hit the outlets that mattered, and she saw how you could do that and win two Grammys and be respected," Anthony says. "You can stay at home and read a book and not think that my career is over. She tried it. And the world didn't fall down." These days, you see her at the Oscars or her movie premieres, but the once-glitzy and ubiquitous half of the Bennifer circus is largely out of the public eye. She's also not the burning-hot star of the moment: Lopez no longer rules the airwaves and hasn't been in a hit movie since 2005's Monster-in-Law. The limits even extend to events promoting their projects. At Thursday's after-party for El Cantante, she and Anthony were briskly ushered straight into a curtained-off VIP room, out of sight from hordes of fans. (At a similar bash last month, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie mingled and chatted with no handlers or velvet ropes around.) Lopez says she slowed down and pulled back "by choice. I want to live a little," she says. "My life was all work, all the time, 24 hours a day. I was OK with that for a long time. But I got to a point where I was like, 'I want to sit on a beach.' And I realized that I wanted to take more time to be with my family, be with my husband." A typical night at home means watching movies and eating chocolate-chip cookies. "Nothing spectacular," Anthony says. Ichaso goes one further. "You go to her house and they order Kentucky Fried Chicken. They just get the bucket. She loves it," he says. Their daily lives are "pretty normal. I work a lot. Other than that, pretty normal," Lopez says. So does she cook? "Yeah, occasionally." What? "Uhhh, Puerto Rican food." Fish for too many details about her private life, and Lopez shuts you down, albeit with that wide, glossed smile. A solid relationship "is hard to come by," Lopez says. "I'd been out there for a while, so I know. You have to keep it sacred."
Not for Anthony, mind you, but for his wife, Jennifer Lopez, who gets top billing and serves as a producer. Director and co-writer Leon Ichaso has made a pretty standard biopic of salsa legend Hector Lavoe, hitting all the obligatory highlights of the singer's life: his arrival in New York from Puerto Rico in 1963, his first gig, his first meeting with the sassy Puchi (Lopez), who would become his wife and the mother of his son. There's the rise to stardom (marked by the de rigueur montage of screaming crowds, concert posters and newspaper clippings) followed by the descent into heroin abuse, the death of his teenage son, his own suicide attempt and his eventual death from AIDS in 1993 at 46. Ichaso wallows in the decadence of the drug-fueled era, as if he'd watched Ted Demme's "Blow" a few times too many. An early scene in which Puchi snorts coke off Hector's lap in the back of a limo comes to mind, as does the moment when Puchi steps from the vehicle in a clingy red dress and fur coat with Animotion's "Obsession" blaring in the background. It's so obvious at times, it plays like a parody, rather than an honest effort at providing insight into a talented man's tortured soul. Through every decade, there's Lopez, making a million wardrobe changes and shaking her thing backstage in a million gratuitous cutaways. She always manages to look gorgeous, of course, even toward the end of Puchi's life when she reflects on their relationship in a black-and-white interview, which serves as the film's framing device. And she and Anthony do have an undeniable chemistry. Watching the real-life couple isn't nearly as distracting as it was when Lopez co-starred with then-fiance Ben Affleck in the notorious "Gigli." A lot of that has to do with the fact that Anthony actually can act, something he previously demonstrated as the wealthy father of a kidnapped girl in "Man on Fire." But the script, which Ichaso co-wrote with David Darmstaedter and Todd Anthony Bello, only hints in pop-psychology ways at the source of Hector's torment. His father (Ismael Miranda) didn't want him to go to New York and was never satisfied, despite the heights Hector reached. He strayed with other women and started doing drugs because, well, it's what rock stars do. Ultimately, "El Cantante," which is also the title of Hector's signature song, leaves you feeling like you've watched yet another cliche, a shortened life in the same polluted vein as Jim Morrison or Edith Piaf. That he was destined for greatness was something we probably could have determined for ourselves without Puchi telling her interviewers (and us): "It was like he was prepared for it — like he always knew he was going to make it." After singing at a club in the Bronx, he's paired with trombonist Willie Colon (John Ortiz) and the two sign a deal with the up-and-coming Fania Records to become Latin music's hottest new stars. The salsa music they pioneered served as a vibrant voice of a people, as evidenced by sold-out shows and Hector's increasingly lavish lifestyle. But it's one of his simplest performances in the film that's also his most powerful. Hector returns to his old neighborhood soon after achieving fame and sings for an adoring crowd in the street. The sun is shining under a brilliant blue sky and there's a kinetic energy in the air, which Ichaso captures with fluid camerawork. In the middle of it all is Anthony, pouring out his soul, larger than life despite his lean frame. It makes you long to see a documentary of Lavoe, or at least a concert film in which Anthony performs his songs, instead of this. "El Cantante," a Picturehouse release, is rated R for drug use, pervasive language and some sexuality. Running time: 116 minutes. Two stars out of four.
Concert promoter Live Nation said Lopez and Anthony, who were married back in 2004, will launch the tour on September 29 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and travel throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. The pair plan to sing their songs together and separately in both English and Spanish, Live Nation said in a statement. Previously, the powerhouse couple worked together in films and on each other's albums, but their upcoming concert series is the first time they will tour together. Anthony wrote and co-produced the popular music video for "Que Hiciste," the first single off Lopez's latest record. The couple also star in the upcoming film about salsa legend Hector Lavoe, "El Cantante," set to be released in August. New-York born Lopez, who has sold 17 million records worldwide, recently released her sixth album, her first in Spanish. "Como Ama Una Mujer" topped the Latin Billboard chart and stayed No. 1 for seven consecutive weeks. Anthony, also from New York, has sold more than 10 million records and is the top selling salsa artist of all time.
"Jennifer has never toured," Anthony told Billboard. "I've toured all my life. This is where I can step in and say, 'Oh, my God, this could be fun,' and introduce her to that world." He added, "It is something she's always wanted to do, but she's never had the time. And I was offered many more films I never took advantage of because I was always on tour. So, yes, we're seriously talking about going out this year (and) putting together an amazing show with just her and myself." Asked how he balances his own projects with those on which he and Lopez collaborate, Anthony said that "a big part of mine and Jennifer's connection is the understanding that we have a passion for what we do. So, it's just a natural progression to be involved. Me, I cannot sit down and have a conversation about image. That's her strong suit. She picks me up where I'm weak and I elevate her where she's weak. That's where the true partnership comes in." Anthony is about to hit the big screen in "El Cantante," a biopic of salsa legend Hector Lavoe. Lopez stars in the film as Lavoe's wife, Nilda. The film's soundtrack, to be released July 24, is Anthony's ninth studio album and the first from his new venture with Sony BMG. "I settled on celebrating (Lavoe's) approach to music," Anthony said of the soundtrack. "I was going to try to learn his phrasing, and try to stay true to what he offered as a singer. That was No. 1. Once I made that decision, I realized that I was in deep s--t, because the hardest part of this whole project was the music -- singing like him, understanding his phrasing. That's when I realized his true genius. That's why they called him 'el Cantante de los Cantantes' (Singer of Singers)." Anthony said his dedication to salsa will not push future projects to the back burner. "I'm really inspired to do another Spanish ballad album, because (2004's) 'Amar Sin Mentiras' was really groundbreaking for me personally," he said. "It's another way for me to express myself. I think I'll be ready in a couple of months to press the button on a Spanish pop album. As far as (an) English (album) is concerned, I'm not that enthused right now, although I have a couple of tracks I'm into."
The list of 19 famous faces, which appears in the magazine's latest issue, on newsstands Friday, was separated by editors into six categories: beauty queens, style setters, entertainers, newsmakers, survivors and body shapers. OK! named Holmes, the 28-year-old wife of Tom Cruise and mother of their 1-year-old daughter, Suri, a beauty queen because of her "refreshing girl-next-door look" and sporty cropped haircut. Beyonce and Jennifer Lopez also made the cut. O'Donnell, who brought ratings and controversy during her tumultuous tenure on ABC's "The View," made the list of newsmakers, as did Hollywood supercouple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, and "Grey's Anatomy" star T.R. Knight. Knight announced he was gay after it surfaced that Isaiah Washington had used an anti-gay slur against him during an on-set clash with a co-star. The youngest celebrity on the list: 10-month-old Dannielynn Hope, who was recognized as a survivor because she has been "at the center of Hollywood's most controversial tragedies," the magazine said. Her mother, Anna Nicole Smith, died in Florida in February. A bitter paternity dispute between Howard K. Stern and Larry Birkhead was put to rest months later when Birkhead showed he was Dannielynn's father. The top three entertainers — the "people who decide what we watch and listen to," according to OK! — were "American Idol" judge Simon Cowell, Carrie Underwood and model-TV host Heidi Klum. Tyra Banks was among the "body shapers" who influence notions of body image. Banks, who was dubbed fat after she was photographed on the beach, later appeared on her syndicated TV talk show in a bathing suit. Sarah Jessica Parker, Justin Timberlake and Kate Moss were named the most prominent trendsetters in fashion.
The show, hosted by "Entourage" star Jeremy Piven, will be held Sept. 6 at Radio City Music Hall. It will air the following night in a two-hour special on CBS. Fashion Rocks will be among the events during New York Fashion Week. Aerosmith, Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys, Avril Lavigne, Ludacris, Martina McBride and Santana are also scheduled to appear. "The synergy between fashion and music is even more pronounced now than it was when we first created Fashion Rocks three years ago," said Richard Beckman, president of Conde Nast Media Group, in a statement Wednesday. "Each year the line between the two becomes increasingly blurred as more musicians launch fashion lines and more designers align themselves with musicians." Fashion Rocks magazine will also return, with Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour again at the helm. The magazine will accompany the September issue of 17 Conde Nast titles.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Henry Pitman has ordered the actress to submit to a deposition by June 11 to answer questions posed in a lawsuit brought last year by a television writer who says the actress, UPN and CBS Television stole his idea and created "South Beach." Writer Jack Bunick claimed in a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Manhattan that the television series that debuted in January 2006 was too similar to a plot he described in 1999 for a pilot episode of a show that would have been called "South Beach Miami." In February, lawyer Orin Snyder argued for Lopez in court papers that although she was executive producer, Lopez was barely involved in the creation and development of "South Beach" and was only brought in at a later stage to "lend celebrity to the show." Snyder, who did not return a phone call for comment Friday, told Pitman he believed Bunick sued Lopez and sought a deposition "for tactical reasons, in an apparent attempt to obtain some perceived leverage by targeting and harassing a celebrity in a case where she has no meaningful testimony to give and no legitimate reason for being named as a defendant in the first place." Sheldon Farber, a lawyer for Bunick, shot back his own letter to the court saying Lopez was a proper defendant. "Her celebrity is not a shield for her to use to avoid direct testimony in a case in which she has not been named frivolously," Farber wrote. "I am unaware that one of the perks of fame is protection from legal process. She may be inconvenienced by an appearance at a deposition. I can assure the court that I will not ask for her autograph." The lawsuit in Manhattan sought unspecified monetary damages and an injunction barring further broadcasting of "South Beach," which has been canceled. Lopez is among six defendants, including UPN and CBS Television, the companies that broadcast "South Beach." UPN was a division of CBS Television Stations Group and has since merged with the also-struggling WB to form CW, a 50-50 venture between CBS Corp. and Warner Bros. Entertainment.
Those scripted shows took center stage in Univision's spirited pitch to advertisers as part of the annual "upfront" presentations, when broadcasters sell up to 80 percent of next season's commercial time in advance. Nearly $9 billion in prime-time advertising is expected to be sold this year. Lopez was on hand to discuss the five-part miniseries "Como Ama una Mujer," which she created and will executive produce. She said that the mini, which is based on her new Spanish-language CD, is inspired by real events and will track a woman's love and happiness in the light of Hollywood. Lopez said that when she had the idea for the miniseries she knew Univision was the place to go -- and she successfully pitched it. The mini will debut in a 10 p.m. slot at an unspecified date during the new season. Lopez's project was one of several spotlighted on Wednesday by Univision during its upfront, which also was attended by Lopez's husband, Marc Anthony (who closed the show with a performance); several Univision stars; and "Team Univision," a contingent of viewers who won the privilege to be onstage by virtue of creating videos expressing the role Univision plays in their lives. Among the primetime novellas being rolled out by Univision for the new season are "Pasion," a love story set in the era of ocean-going pirates; "Muchachitas Como Tu," about the challenges teenage girls find growing up; "Amar sin Limites," a story that poses questions about what people will do for love; and "Yo Amo a Juan Querendon," about a kindhearted man who isn't rich or handsome but is a Don Juan just the same. Univision president and COO Ray Rodriguez added a few more details about another big project with high expectations: the Spanish-language version of "Desperate Housewives," called "Amas de Casa Desesperadas," being produced by Disney-ABC International Television Latin America and Univision. It will be made in Argentina, Rodriguez said, and aims to appeal to Hispanic Americans. Casting is under way. In the fall, Univision also will launch a Sunday-morning public affairs show, "Al Punto," which will be hosted by "Noticiero Univision" co-anchor Jorge Ramos and feature the week's top stories and interviews with newsmakers.
Your show had a nine-year run. But do you ever feel it was underappreciated? Unexpectedly honest. There were lots of questions in the press when you were first spotted hanging out with Jennifer Lopez – speculation that it was some kind of Scientology thing. What's the weirdest rumor you've read? Does it ever bother you, or can you laugh it off? Inthemotherhood.com features toddler horror stories. Is your own Sofia deep in the terrible twos? There are just five "Webisodes" of that show. After that, what's next for you? Is it still strange for you, not going to the studio every day? "I just think happiness is what makes you pretty. Period," she tells the magazine. "Happy people are beautiful. They become like a mirror and they reflect that happiness." Barrymore, 32, graces the cover of the issue that hits newsstands Friday. It's her fourth time on the list, but first as cover girl. Making the cover "made my peacock feathers shine in the golden-hour light and extend to the heavens," says Barrymore, who stars in the upcoming Warner Bros. film "Lucky You," opposite Eric Bana. Inside, she weighs in on a host of beauty-related topics. Her beauty rules for dating? "The only fundamental rule for me is to just be yourself," she says. "Let your freak-flag fly, and if someone doesn't get you, move on." Barrymore is one of 11 celebrities — including Eva Longoria and the three Jessicas (Simpson, Alba and Biel) — photographed for the issue without makeup. "I find that men, in my past, have preferred me without it," Biel, 25, says of makeup. Among others on the "Beautiful People" list: Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, George Clooney, Oprah Winfrey, Alicia Keys, Leonardo DiCaprio, Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Garner, Scarlett Johansson, Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, Halle Berry, Julia Roberts and Jennifer Lopez.
Lopez's 40-minute set – which included such hits as "Jenny From the Block" – cost 35-year-old Andrei Melnichenko $1.2 million. He paid another $800,000 to fly the singer, her husband Marc Anthony and their entourage from the U.S. to his 27-acre estate in Surrey, England, and put them up at the Mandarin Oriental in London. "I can confirm that a very high-profile American singer performed at a private party in Surrey," Melnichenko's spokesman, Brian MacLaurin, tells PEOPLE. Sixty guests, including Russian and Serbian tycoons, attended the bash for Melnichenko and his 30-year-old wife, former model Aleksandra Nikolic Melnichenko. Melnichenko, who is worth $5 billion, according to his spokesman, made his fortune founding MDM Bank. He's no stranger to lavish spectacle: He paid Christina Aguilera $4 million to sing at his 2005 wedding in the south of France. But even with her own generous payday, Lopez didn't hit London's tony Bond Street – instead, she and Anthony spent an hour on Saturday shopping at the fashionista's bargain favorite, Topshop.
Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony will file suit Tuesday against the National Enquirer in multiple overseas courts in response to a Mar. 12 item that appeared in the tabloid's British and Irish editions linking the couple to a drug scandal, their lawyer said. Belfast-based attorney Paul Tweed confirmed to E! News that he will be filing similar complaints in Belfast, Dublin, London and Paris demanding full and categorical detractions, an apology and substantial damages—a six-figure settlement, he said—from the Enquirer and parent company American Media Inc. Last month, the U.S.-headquartered publication ran an article in Europe about photographer Michael Star, who has been charged on Stateside soil with heroin possession and child pornography. The article, accompanied by a 2004 picture of Star standing with Anthony, stated that Anthony and Lopez had been "caught up in a heroin scandal." The Enquirer also featured a quote from a supposed "friend" of Star's who said that the shutterbug and J.Lo's hubby are pals. Tweed said, however, that his client and Star do not even know each other, and that the two were photographed backstage at one of Anthony's concerts—just the singer posing for a snapshot with a fan, the attorney explained. .So if Anthony doesn't know Star, chances are Lopez was pretty surprised to find herself and heroin mentioned in the same article, as well. It is substantially easier for celebrities to sue for defamation in the U.K. and other European jurisdications than it is in the United States, where plaintiffs have to prove that a publication knowingly printed a false statement or behaved with reckless disregard for the truth. In places such as England, where American A-listers ranging from Britney Spears to Kate Hudson to Cameron Diaz have been awarded libel damages, the burden is on the defendant to prove an item was true. "The First Amendment restrictions in U.S. libel law make it virtually impossible for international celebrities other high-profile individuals to sue successfully," Tweed told the Associated Press. "But with the advance of the Internet, and with U.S. publications now extending their distribution network into Europe, they must subject themselves to libel laws in these jurisdictions." Tweed said that he has already received permission from the Belfast high court to go after the Enquirer, even though the tab's home office is in Boca Raton, Florida. A spokesman for American Media declined to comment.
"I couldn't ever be a size zero," she tells the British edition of Elle in its May issue. "I just don't see how I could get down to that size and still be healthy. "It wouldn't work. I have a butt, I have boobs and I have a woman's curves; there is no way I'd see them go to zero. I hate to look in a magazine and see a picture of a girl who looks so thin she looks unhappy and as if she just needs someone to give her a good meal." Lopez, 37, continues: "There are girls out there who are naturally thin and who look great, but it's got to the point where models are dropping dead on catwalks because it's all about being thin. It's insane." Other celebrities, including Claudia Schiffer and Kate Winslet, have spoken out against the trend among models and actresses to be dangerously thin. In recent months, several models have died from anorexia, including Brazil's Ana Carolina Reston, 21, who died in November. Lopez can understand the pressure: She says that in Hollywood, "I've always been seen as a big girl. "But I like my body. My husband [singer Marc Anthony, 38] likes my body. And for most of my adult life, my body hasn't gone up or down, it's remained the same, give or take four pounds. I'm not obsessive. I work out with a trainer two or three times a week, but I'll go months at a time without any exercise at all. I just keep myself in check." What does that mean, exactly? "I eat meat, I eat carbs, I even eat McDonald's. What I don't do is ever overeat. I don't eat desserts and I can limit the chocolate chip cookies to one or two." She says if she puts on a few pounds, "I feel it immediately and I just get a bit more strict with myself." Her best tip: "For me, looking good is all about looking healthy, and the ultimate beauty secret is about being happy in yourself."
"Marc and I are good partners," Lopez tells Entertainment Weekly magazine in its April 6 issue. "We love each other. We want to be the best person we can be for each other. And we work on that. That's what a real relationship is about to me." The couple wed in June 2004. "When we got married, I was like, `I've been working for I don't know how many years at (a high) level of intensity and exposure," Lopez says. "I'm going to get back to what originally drew me to expressing myself as a creative person." The 38-year-old singer-actress was previously married to choreographer Cris Judd and waiter Ojani Noa. Anthony, 37, was married to former Miss Universe Dayanara Torres. Lopez recently released her first all-Spanish album, "Como Ama una Mujer (How a Woman Loves)," which was mainly produced by Anthony. The album "is an opportunity for me to show my emotions, vulnerability and passion," she tells the magazine. "I don't get to do that as much in English." Lopez will perform "Que Hiciste (What Did You Do)," the first single from "Como Ama," when she appears April 11 on News Corp.'s Fox network talent competition, "American Idol."
Ritmo Latino has declared a ban on all J.Lo CDs because she allegedly "refused personally to promote her new CD in any of our stores," David Massry, president of the Latin music store chain, tells the The New York Daily News. None of Lopez's albums will be sold in the Ritmo Latino stores, which number about 50 nationwide. Massry claims that she's refused to appear at Latin-only shops altogether. "We've supported her from the beginning. Now we're told by her record company she will only visit Anglo retail outlets," Massry said. "This is a Spanish-language CD, and if she wants to discriminate against the Latin community, then we will not sell her product. "This is not the first time this has happened. Celebrities have this notion that when they reach a certain level of crossover appeal, they forget quickly where they started. We will no longer tolerate these situations." Lopez's first Spanish-language album "Como Ama una Mujer" ("How a Woman Loves") dropped Tuesday. A day later, the performer visted the Bron,x where she grew up, to promote her album. J.Lo, 37, also has a brisk movie career that includes "Selena," "The Cell," "The Wedding Planner," "Gigli," "Shall We Dance" and "Monster-in-Law." Her upcoming films include "Bordertown" and "El Cantante."
A crowd of 500 gathered in front of the store to see Lopez, who was accompanied by her husband, Marc Anthony. "I want to say thank you to everyone for coming to celebrate with me this very special day for me," Lopez, a New Yorker of Puerto Rican origin, said in Spanish. Continuing in English, she said, "It touches my heart to be able to bring this album back to my neighborhood, back to my home." The album, "Como Ama una Mujer," or "How a Woman Loves," was released Tuesday and was mainly produced by her husband. Lopez has said singing in Spanish has been a career-long goal of hers. The pop singer-actress also has two Hispanic-themed films coming out this year: "Bordertown," a film about the killings of hundreds of women in and around the city of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, and "El Cantante," starring her husband as Puerto Rican salsa singer Hector Lavoe.
When the singer appeared onstage Tuesday at the Spotlight Live in New York, she thanked the crowd of familiar faces, which included her mother and sister, but was quickly interrupted by a voice in the audience yelling, "I think you're so cute!" Lopez, who married Anthony in 2004, replied with a smile, announcing, "And my husband is here." Anthony, situated directly in front of the stage with a pal, record producer Swiss Beatz, danced and sang along in Spanish to Lopez's first number while sipping a beer and puffing on a cigarette. When the song ended, he darted behind a black curtain and disappeared from the audience. "The next song is a little treat," Lopez, 37, said. "In a second you'll see why." After a few lines, Anthony, 38, appeared onstage and joined his wife in a romantic duet. At one point, Anthony drew his wife toward him with his hand on the small of her back, and they stared into each other's eyes. "How you like them apples?" Lopez asked when the song ended. "That's my baby, for better or for worse!" Anthony returned to his seat in the audience for his wife's final song, Lopez's first single "Que Hiciste," and danced and sang until the performance was over. But the party – and the romantic mood – didn't end there. Back in the VIP area, where Anthony was already greeting wellwishers, Lopez made her way toward her husband, friends and family at their table. The crowd cheered and raised their glasses of champagne when she arrived. Soon the group was dancing to Timbaland's new single "Give It to Me" and T.I.'s "Bring 'Em Out" while eating giant puffs of pink cotton candy, marbled "monkey bar" brownies, chocolate-dipped donut holes and sipping milkshakes with straws out of shot glasses. The proud couple stayed close and occasionally whispered to each other, posed for pictures and kissed people hello, and said "thank you" to those who offered congratulations. When Justin Timberlake's "SexyBack" came on, Lopez threw her glass up and shook her famous booty with her hand on Anthony's shoulder. Around midnight the couple, still holding hands, made their way to the back of the club, where they slipped into a hallway and left, disappointing a large crowd of fans and several lingering paparazzi waiting outside the venue on both sides of Broadway near Times Square.
It is the work of "the best songwriters, arrangers and musicians in the Latin world," according to her team, and is co-produced by Julio Reyes and salsa star Marc Anthony, Lopez's husband. Indeed, the album has an intriguing pop sound — a sophisticated and understated production. It might actually have worked had this been put into the hands of a stronger vocalist. But the power-ballad-heavy selection spotlights Lopez's limited range, and a voice that unfortunately lacks texture and character. The opening song on this 11-cut album may be the most memorable due to interesting rhythmic and melodic combinations. On "Que Hiciste?" (or "What Did You Do?") the vocals speak of love gone horribly wrong, and has Lopez telling of her soul being broken. But there is little expression of that anger or pain. And if one is going to enter into the world of Latin love, one better be capable of delivering vocals that are soaked in passion and rage. Alas, the cool and removed nature of Lopez's voice leaves this album in the realm of unadventurous pop. And perhaps that is all it is meant to be.
"We aren't the type to separate our lives from our work," Lopez, 37, tells Italian Vanity Fair. "It's a synergy: music, cinema, the everyday things and most importantly, our love." Her new Spanish-language CD is titled Como Ama Una Mujer (How a Woman Loves), and Lopez has no problem answering that question for herself. "How do I love? With all of myself, passionately, without regard for the mistakes which one inevitably makes," she says. "Let me put it as I have in my song: 'Amo como una mujer, que vee en su hombre el paraìso (I love like a woman who sees heaven in her man).' " When it comes to her past relationships, "I have no regrets, but these new experiences have transformed me," she says. "Today, I am trying to reach higher standards in my art. I won't settle for less. This applies to both music and cinema." Is there a baby in the works for her and Anthony, 39? "That's not something you should ask me," she says. "It's a question for God to answer." She's more direct when talking about some of her personal habits. "I don't enjoy shopping like I used to," says the "Love Don't Cost a Thing" singer once famous for her bling – but these days, she's busy doing other things. "I rarely stop. I'm like an engine that is constantly on," she admits. "But when I get a free day, then I do absolutely nothing. I stay in at home in my tracksuit, I sleep, spend hours on the phone talking to my mother and my friends."
Lopez was one of the many A-list names Access Hollywood first hinted would appear on season 6 of Idol, which was later confirmed the FOX show. Gwen Stefani and Jon Bon Jovi are also on the lineup as guest mentors this season. Lopez, who is expected to perform on April 11, reveals she'll sing "one of my Spanish songs. I think they're doing a Latin album theme night." Until then, Lopez, who was in Sin City with husband Marc Anthony, is busy promoting their joint film project El Cantante at the annual ShoWest convention. So, could another family affair – kids – be next on the couple's agenda? "You're going to hear from me first and it's going to be me in handcuffs, because (I'll run) down Sunset screaming like a madman," Anthony tells Extra. "It's something that's important to us and God will make it possible whenever He says."
On Thursday's elimination show, the full lineup was announced: In addition to Lopez and Stefani, Jon Bon Jovi, Martina McBride, Diana Ross, Barry Gibb and '60s stars Lulu and Peter Noone from Herman's Hermits (for a British Invasion night) will all guest on the FOX hit. Access Hollywood had previously reported that Lopez was expected to perform on April 11 and Stefani was likely to appear on March 28. Thursday's episode also saw the return of season-three winner Fantasia (who joins The Color Purple on Broadway on April 10) and the elimination of the first four semifinalists. Paul Kim, whose gimmick was singing in bare feet, was first to get the boot, followed by Amy Krebs, criticized by Simon for being unmemorable. Nicole Tranquillo, who was perhaps overambitious in singing a Chaka Khan song, was the third singer axed, followed by Rudy Cardenas, who opened Tuesday's show with an erratic rendition of "Free Ride."
It wants to be a thriller, a piece of investigative journalism, a political soapbox and a vehicle for Jennifer Lopez. It serves none of these masters well. There also is something disingenuous about a movie that claims that the media on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border are too afraid or corrupt to expose the hundreds of rapes and murders of Latina factory workers in Ciudad Juarez and Chihuahua, Mexico, in recent years when the filmmaker no doubt learned about this tragic situation from countless media stories. Such wacky thinking pervades a movie that exaggerates and overplays the elements that ripen the melodrama while ignoring a far worse reason for police and institutional failures on the border -- indifference. You can't make a thriller about indifference, of course, so everyone from cops to millionaires are black with evil, while Lopez strides through this hellhole of the western world as the only journalist brave enough to write the truth. Just as "Trade," which debuted last month at the Sundance Film Festival, turned the global sex slave trade into an excuse for a thriller with Kevin Kline coming to the rescue of a single girl, "Bordertown" trivializes a very real issue in a hokey, unconvincing and ludicrous suspensor with Lopez as the rescuer. Theatrical prospects are limited to a quick payoff that capitalizes on Lopez and Antonio Banderas' names. When a Chicago newspaper editor (Martin Sheen) assigns his most ambitious reporter, Lauren (Lopez), to report on the dead and missing women in Juarez, Lauren complains, "Who gives a s--- about Mexico?" At that moment, you just know the story will capture her heart and get her back to her roots. But who knew that getting back to her roots meant dying her blonde hair black? Supposedly speaking little Spanish, Lauren tries to hook up with ex-lover and colleague Diaz (Banderas), now the editor of a Juarez rag. He tells her to get lost but, wouldn't you know it, Lauren walks out his door and immediately spots the one girl every cop, criminal and reporter is looking for -- Eva (Maya Zapata), a factory worker, who survived a rape and murder attempt. Lauren's got a source! But before she and Diaz can interview Eva, the police cart Diaz off, leaving Lauren to hide Eva. There's virtually nowhere to hide because screenwriter-director Nava has decided these killings go all the way up to the heads of multinational corporations and scions of the richest families in Juarez. So everyone is out to get Eva. Even the head of a women's rights group, Teresa (Sonia Braga), who does shelter Eva, isn't too sympathetic to her plight. Nava then confuses journalists with movie private eyes. In the course of her "reporting," Lauren makes herself the target for the next attack, seduces a CEO and gets into two fights to the death. At one point, her lover-boy CEO brags that he buys politicians on both sides of the border. Wouldn't you think an experienced reporter would love to use that quote? Not our girl Lauren. When she finally does file a story, it contains not one quote, fact or piece of evidence; it's simply an editorial. When her editor kills the story -- not for sloppy journalism, as he should, but because of cowardice -- she flies back to Mexico a born-again crusading reporter. The story is replete with plot holes, but the most egregious is the central issue of whether little Eva can and will testify against her attacker. If she doesn't, he walks free. No one in the movie seems to have noticed the guy attacked Lauren, too. What prevents her from testifying? Cinematographer Reynaldo Villalobos does get the grit of the bordertown scene in his jumpy camera lens. Nighttime shots blare a riot of vibrant colors as the dusty town turns into a giant sex emporium. Good thing a Latino made this movie, though: A white director would stand accused of the worst sort of stereotypes about Mexican males, rich or poor. Cast: Screenwriter-director: Gregory Nava; Producers: Gregory Nava, Simon Fields, David Bergstein; Executive producers: Cary Epstein, Tracee Stanley Newell, Barbara Martinez Jitner, Fred Ulrich; Director of photography: Reynaldo Villalobos; Production designer: Miguel Angel Alvarez; Music: Graeme Revell; Costume designer: Elizabeth Beraldo; Editor: Padraic McKinley.
The movie, directed by Gregory Nava, aims to focus attention on killings around Ciudad Juarez over the past 14 years. "I really couldn't believe this was going on, and the more I found out about it and the more real it became to me, I really felt like it came to me for a reason," Lopez, 38, said at a news conference, adding that she felt a "responsibility to do something." "It changed my life a lot — it changed the way I think," she said. Lopez stars as a fictional American reporter who becomes increasingly caught up in searching for the attackers of a young Indian woman who is raped, strangled and left for dead. Antonio Banderas stars as Lopez's ex-lover, who is now a local newspaper editor. Amnesty International, which honored Lopez for her role ahead of Thursday's premiere, puts the number of women and girls killed around Ciudad Juarez and Chihuahua since 1993 — many after being kidnapped and raped — at more than 400. Mexican authorities say more than 350 women have been killed since 1993 in Juarez, a city of about 1.3 million people across the border from El Paso, Texas. But they say only about 100 of those slayings appear to fit a pattern in which young women were sexually assaulted, strangled and dumped in the surrounding desert. They say the rest of the women were killed in crimes of passion, accidents or robberies and other crimes. Much of the movie — one of 22 competing for the Berlin festival's top Golden Bear award — was shot in and around Albuquerque, N.M., as well as in the Mexican border town of Nogales. Nava, a native of San Diego, said it was "too dangerous" to take Lopez, Banderas and the main crew to Ciudad Juarez.
"Bordertown," which reunites the singer with director Gregory Nava, is based on real events and was made to draw attention to what the film's makers say are deliberate attempts by authorities and companies to cover up the crimes. In the film, which had its world premiere at the Berlin film festival on Thursday, Lopez plays an ambitious reporter from Chicago who travels to Mexico on an assignment she hopes will get her a cherished overseas posting at her newspaper. At first cynical and self-serving, her character becomes increasingly concerned by the disappearance of hundreds of women whose graves are unearthed with alarming regularity, while the task of uncovering the truth becomes more and more dangerous. Antonio Banderas plays a campaigning journalist in the city of Juarez, where the action is set, while Mexico's Maya Zapata is Eva, the girl who is hunted after she survives a brutal attack and can identify her assailants. "When they came to me with the project, I immediately became very passionate about it and said that I would do it and I would help them get it made," Lopez told reporters after a press screening. The film is in the main competition in Berlin. "What I thought (when I read the script) was, I couldn't believe it. I really couldn't believe this was going on. And then the more I found out about it the more real it became to me," the 37-year-old said. Lopez, who worked with Nava 10 years ago on "Selena," said the film and what was happening along the U.S.-Mexican border, had changed her perspective on life. "It changed my life a lot. It changed the way I think. You do it and it does change your life." LOPEZ CRUCIAL Nava said he could not have raised the money to make the film without Lopez's involvement. She is also a producer. While critical reaction to the thriller may be cool, judging by the boos after its press screening in Berlin, Nava will be hoping Lopez's name will bolster the box office. "It was a very, very tough journey to get this movie made, and I have to thank ... Jennifer, because if Jennifer had not gotten involved ... it would never have been made," Nava said. He told reporters he received death threats during the making of "Bordertown," which he first conceived in 1997, and Lopez and Banderas could not shoot scenes in Juarez because it was deemed too dangerous. "In making the film we found that there were people who didn't want the movie to be made, but there were also many more people who supported what we were saying," he added. "Bordertown" argues that huge economic interests in the factories where the young women work, called "maquiladoras," mean that corporations and governments do not want to ruin business by exposing the issue. Nava, who worked with Amnesty International on the project, said more than 400 women had been murdered. "These are human beings, with dignity, with lives, with hopes and with dreams but in this great global economy, a few hundred, a few thousand young women get killed -- well, it doesn't matter, let's just cover it up and get some more."
Lopez will receive the Artists for Amnesty award Feb. 14 at the Berlin Film Festival from Nobel Peace Prize winner Jose Ramos-Horta. The film "Bordertown" will make its debut Feb. 15 at the festival. In "Bordertown," Lopez plays an investigative journalist reporting on the serial killings of women in the border city of Juarez, Mexico. Directed by Gregory Nava, the film also stars Antonio Banderas and Martin Sheen. "Since first hearing of these atrocities in 1998, when Gregory Nava came to me with this project, I desperately wanted to tell this story," Lopez said. "I began working to ensure we made this film in order to bring the attention of the world to this tragedy and to pressure the Mexican government to bring to justice those responsible for these horrible crimes." Lopez, 36, screened the film for some of the mothers of women killed in Juarez and will receive special recognition from Norma Andrade, co-founder of Nuestras Hijas de Regreso a Casa (Bring Our Daughters Home), an organization comprising mothers and families of the murdered women of Juarez.
In an interview on The Ellen DeGeneres Show airing Friday, the host asks the singer-actress-designer, "Do you want kids?" "Yeah, I do," says Lopez, 37. "I absolutely do." She adds, "I have three step-kids." (Lopez's husband, singer Marc Anthony, 38, is dad to sons Cristian, 5, and Ryan, 3, with ex-wife Dayanara Torres, and a daughter, Arianna, 12, from a previous relationship.) When DeGeneres presses, "But you want to have more kids. Lots of kids," Lopez replies, "I don't know about a lot." "Like, five, four?" DeGeneres wonders. "One or two," Lopez says. "I'll take two at once, that would be great." When DeGeneres points out, "Really, that's a lot of work," Lopez says, "Okay, but then you're done, and you got two." "Well, [with] quadruplets you'd be done with four," says DeGeneres. "Too many," says Lopez. Last month, Lopez told PEOPLE en Español, "I come from a strong family, so of course I want to have one." "But," she added, "I do have my own family: my immediate family, my husband and his children. I get to share in all of that. I am very lucky to have that."
"My dad has been a Scientologist for 20 years," Lopez, 37, told South Florida's NBC6. "It's weird people want to paint it in a negative way." Lopez made her remarks while being asked about Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes' Nov. 18 "wedding of the decade" in Italy, which Lopez and her husband, Marc Anthony, attended. Besides the groom, Lopez's close friend, Leah Remini, is a Scientologist. Asked for her response to some people's negative perception of Scientology, Lopez said, "I, myself, am Catholic. But it's just sad that people would look at it (Scientology) in that way." After the interview aired, Lopez's rep, Leslie Sloane, said, "Jennifer is not a Scientologist, nor is she becoming a Scientologist.
Lopez filed a Superior Court breach of contract suit nine months ago and got a restraining order barring Noa from publishing intimate details of their sex life. She also asked for arbitration. Noa's ghostwritten book alleges Lopez had multiple affairs, including one with her third and current husband Marc Anthony, court documents revealed. "This is about my life, coming here from Cuba and falling in love with Jennifer," Noa said. On Monday, Superior Court Judge Victor H. Person agreed with Lopez lawyer, Paul N. Sorrell, that Noa was bound to arbitration under terms of an October 2005 settlement of another lawsuit. A progress hearing in the arbitration proceeding will be held July 30. Noa, who showed up in court again without a lawyer, objected to the arbitration order, saying he wanted the benefit of a public trial of the case. "Basically, they were trying to damage my name and my career, now they want to go private in arbitration," Noa, 31, told the judge. Lopez, 36, has made every effort to keep the details of the dispute private, but had to go public with her lawsuit in order to get a preliminary injunction against Noa, Sorrell said. Lopez's damages could be in excess of $10 million if the book is published, the attorney said. In the previous lawsuit, Noa sued Lopez for breach-of-contract, alleging she lured him into taking a managerial job in 2002 at her Pasadena restaurant, then fired him five months later. Lopez, who has appeared in such films as "Selena," "Out of Sight " and "Monster-in-Law," married Noa in February 1997 after meeting him in a Miami restaurant. They divorced 11 months later.
BILLBOARD: THIS ALBUM IS NOTHING LIKE YOUR ENGLISH-LANGUAGE FARE AT ALL. WHY? Lopez: Because I love the music. I love the drama. It must be the actress in me. I love the deep, intense passionate way of expressing yourself in those kinds of songs. And it's really not something that lends itself to English music, and not something Id been able to tap into before. BILLBOARD: DO YOU FEEL THAT THERE ARE TWO COMPLETELY DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF YOURSELF? Lopez: I think so. I think this is the side of me that people don't know, and it is really a big part of who I am. This album is closer to who I am than any album I've ever done. BILLBOARD: YOU DIDN'T ACTUALLY WRITE ON THIS ALBUM, BUT YOU TOLD YOUR WRITERS WHAT YOU WANTED TO SAY? Lopez: I had to really, really express to them the kind of album I wanted to make. But it started to come very naturally to the writers when they got to know me, when I spoke about the things that were important to me. I would say, "This song needs to be about a person, and when he's leaving," and they would turn around and write it in Spanish. Like (the single) "Que Hiciste." I said, "I know what this song is about. It's this relationship that he destroys by his own hands." And it would be in that kind of song. BILLBOARD: "POR ARRIESGARNOS" IS A DUET WITH YOUR HUSBAND, MARC ANTHONY, BUT A VERY SUBTLE DUET, WITH HIS VOCALS ALMOST HIDDEN. Lopez: It wasn't supposed to be a duet at all. It was the very first song we recorded, and there was a background male voice, and Marc did the backups. I asked to put his voice up, because I think the harmony parts blended so beautifully. BILLBOARD: WHAT INFLUENCE HAS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH MARC HAD ON YOUR MUSIC? Lopez: We have a lot of respect for each other and I think we affect each other in a very positive way when it comes to work. We see the best of each other and we're able to reach higher levels. It's the best way I can describe it. To me, he's such a legend. The fact that he produces, he sings, his understanding of music, and the way he expresses himself as a singer. I was able to go to the studio, and have the confidence he in his mind had. He would say, "These are things you understand, these are things you've always wanted to say, now tell me the story." It was very natural. BILLBOARD: YOUR VOICE SOUNDS MUCH MORE LYRICAL THAN ON PAST ALBUMS. MUCH BIGGER, TOO. Lopez: I've matured as a singer. Marc gave me confidence in the studio as well. When someone believes in you so much, you don't want to let them down. And it's also the material. I think this material lent itself to my voice. And it actually made me approach my new English album in a different way. I have a different standard now. BILLBOARD: ARE THERE PLANS TO RECORD ENGLISH-LANGUAGE VERSIONS OF ANY OF THE SONGS? Lopez: I would never mess with the integrity of this album. This album is what it is. BILLBOARD: WAS IT IMPORTANT THAT LATIN AUDIENCES NOT HEAR YOU AS A TRANSLATION OF J-LO IN ENGLISH? Lopez: When I started to make music in English I was at a different time, and at a different age. And now, they're going to get me now. When I say this has always been a dream of mine, it's the truth. The first demo I ever made was in Spanish. It was called "Vivir Sin Ti." This was 11 years ago. It was actually written by the backup singer of Selena, but it didn't come to me through the movie. I don't even remember how it came to my hands. And I went to [producer] Sergio George, and I said, "Do you want to do this demo?" We did, and my manager took it to the Work Group in Los Angeles and there was interest. And the head of the record label was Tommy Mottola, and he said, "You speak English." And I said, "Of course." And he said, "We ought to do an English record." And the rest is kind of history. BILLBOARD: THERE'S A SONG ON HERE I PARTICULARLY LIKE: "TU." IT SHOWCASES YOUR VOICE, AND THE MELODY IS REMINISCENT OF ITALIAN POP -- VERY UPLIFTING BUT WISTFUL AT THE SAME TIME. WHAT IS THE STORY BEHIND THAT? Lopez: We were almost over with the album, and we said, "Let's make believe we don't have any songs, and let's do three or four more." And one of the first songs we came up with was "Tu." It was an emotion I had about wanting to sing that to a child one day. That's where that song was born from. To sing it to my own child. I don't like to say those things because I like people to interpret them for themselves, so they think it's for their husband, or their girlfriend, but for me that's where the idea was born from, and then we went from there. BILLBOARD: YOU'VE SAID YOU CAN'T TAKE CREDIT FOR OPENING THE DOOR FOR LATINA ACTRESSES PLAYING NON-LATIN ROLES IN HOLLYWOOD, BUT ACTUALLY, YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO ALL KINDS OF ROLES, WHICH IS UNUSUAL. Lopez: That was important to me at one point in my career, because I didn't want to be pigeonholed. Why do we have to define this character in this piece if it doesn't mean anything in this story? BILLBOARD: BUT BEING BILINGUAL HAS BEEN VERY IMPORTANT TO YOU. Lopez: That's one of the best things. I was born in the Bronx. I speak English and that was my first language. But one of the beautiful things about being in the public eye, because I didn't grow up speaking Spanish in my household, I had to learn to speak it. And it has been one of the best choices in my life.
"Como Ama Una Mujer" ("How a Woman Loves"), Lopez's first Spanish-language album, hits stores April 3 through Epic Records, supported by groundbreaking media synergies. At the heart of it all is a deal in the works with the Univision TV network to produce a five-part miniseries based on a treatment by Lopez, which in turn is based on the content of the album. The series will feature the album's music. Lopez will not act in the series, but she will perform a track at the end of each episode. "It's the first time we've done something like this," says Simon Fields, Lopez's production partner in Nuyorican Productions, the Los Angeles-based film and TV company. Each song will embody one of the series' storylines. "It will be scored as if it were a movie series," Fields says. The deal -- still under negotiation -- would also encompass tie-ins with a major retailer, as well as opportunities with other Univision properties and tie-ins in the digital and mobile arenas. However, "Como Ama Una Mujer" wasn't conceived as a clever way to utilize multiple media platforms. The notion of recording in Spanish was behind Lopez's very first demo when she finished filming "Selena" in 1997. The concept materialized three years ago, when Lopez's husband Marc Anthony was wrapping up production of his album "Amar Sin Mentiras." Lopez went into the studio to record one song with her husband and got hooked. "Emotionally speaking, to me this album is more me than any other album," she says. (Anthony co-wrote and co-produced the album in conjunction with Latin tunesmith Estefano, and Julio Reyes.) "Como Ama Una Mujer" makes no concessions to the English market. It is mainstream, traditional Latin pop, with no English-language versions on the album nor any plans to record them. Lopez is working on a more urban-leaning, full-fledged English-language album for release before year's end. A consistent multiplatinum seller, Lopez has seen declining sales for her recent releases. Her last album "Rebirth," released in 2005, was her first to miss the million mark, selling slightly more than 700,000, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Regardless, Epic executives fully expect the album and the single, "Que Hiciste," to get plenty of attention in both Latin and mainstream marketplaces. It has yet to break major ground in radio. It entered the current Latin Pop Airplay chart at No. 29, with plays at 20 stations -- four less than the week before. Lopez has just started to dip her toes into Hispanic media to support her album. She was recently featured on the cover of People en Espanol's "100 Most Influential Hispanics" issue, talking about the record, and has done a few interviews on Spanish-language stations around the United States. Lopez's first major public appearance to support the album came Jan. 23, at a private listening session in a Miami Beach studio. Some 300 guests sipped martinis as Lopez stayed away from the fray, chatting with Anthony for nearly two hours. "Como Ama Una Mujer" sounds nothing like Lopez's previous English fare. Unabashedly romantic, it is quintessentially Latin in its big arrangements, romantic themes and vocally dramatic interpretations. With no musical indication of crossover aspirations into English, the album is not exactly what the world might have expected, but exactly what Lopez wanted to do. The album comes at a time when Lopez seems to be getting more in touch than ever before with her Latin roots. It is just one of a string of recent, current or upcoming Latin-themed projects. This coming summer will see the release of "El Cantante," a film based on the life of singer Hector Lavoe, starring Lopez and Anthony. The film is set for theatrical release July 27 with a soundtrack to be released on Sony Records (although Lopez does not sing on it). Also hitting theaters with Lopez as star will be "Bordertown," a political thriller surrounding the missing women of Juarez, Mexico. There is also a new, Latin-named perfume to be launched later in the year, and several Latin-themed TV shows in various stages of development. Lopez's Nuyorican Productions is involved in the development of a TV show for Fox called "The Brethren"; another TV show titled "Ayuda," about the world of Latin nannies in Los Angeles; a movie for Lifetime TV; and a TV series titled "Echo Park."
The festival runs from Feb. 8-18, and the latest entries, announced Monday, join a program that already includes Robert De Niro's "The Good Shepherd" and Steven Soderbergh's "The Good German." Techine's "Les Temoins (The Witnesses)" is a film about the emergence of AIDS in the early 1980s, starring Emmanuelle Beart among others. Rivette contributes "Ne touchez pas la hache (Don't Touch the Axe)," which is based on a Balzac novella and whose stars include Guillaume Depardieu. In "Bordertown," Lopez plays a Chicago-based reporter sent to Mexico to investigate the killings of women in the city of Ciudad Juarez. German-Austrian co-production "Die Faelscher (The Counterfeiters)," directed by Stefan Ruzowitzky, narrates a Nazi operation near the end of World War II to forge millions of British pounds in an effort to weaken Britain's economy. Also featured will be "In Memoria di me (In Memory of Myself)" from Saverio Costanzo of Italy. Organizers have yet to announce the final 11 entries in this year's planned official program of 26 movies. The program will include — screening out of competition — Clint Eastwood's "Letters From Iwo Jima" and "The Walker," the latest film from Paul Schrader, who will head this year's jury. Last year, the festival's top Golden Bear award went to Jasmila Zbanic's "Grbavica," a movie examining how a single mother and her 12-year-old daughter struggle with the aftermath of the Bosnian war.
The red carpet-turned-runway at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Monday night was largely a sea of white with the glitz coming more from a smattering of metallic dresses and embellishment instead of blinding diamond necklaces. Among the stars who wore white to the black-tie event were Jennifer Garner in a beaded V-neck dress, Heidi Klum in a strapless gown and Kyra Sedgwick in a chiffon gown with amethyst crystal trim by J.Mendel that she picked straight from the catwalk. Salma Hayek was in a draped short-sleeve gown with an open portrait neckline; Ellen Pompeo wore a Versace high-neck gown with an open back and silver trim; and Kate Winslet was dressed in a strapless white Azzaro gown. "It was amazing because of the beautiful white dress and Kate's incredibly white, milky skin. I asked, `What will make her look the most striking?'" said Pati Dubroff, Dior Beauty's makeup artist who worked with Winslet. Dubroff said she imagined a 1930s screen siren in a black-and-white photograph. It's what led her to choose a plum-blackberry lipstick and platinum eye shadow. Dubroff also worked with Naomi Watts, who wore a strapless turquoise gown with metal beadwork. Watts ended up with a sultry eye — taking a cue from the metal in the dress — and a pink lip gloss to pick up on the vibrancy of the blue dress. Cameron Diaz, with very dark hair and very red lips, wore a one-shoulder white fitted bodice with a skirt made of tiers of white tulle and a jeweled belt with a black bow. The tie trend also was spotted on Hilary Swank, who wore a fitted black spaghetti strap dress with a bow-tie waist, and on Jennifer Love Hewitt in a gold embroidered Georges Chakra gown with a bow waist. Cate Blanchett wore a black off-the-shoulder gown by Alexander McQueen with lace sleeves, a delicate jeweled belt and an asymmetrical hem. Also stunning in black was Penelope Cruz in a scoop-neck Chanel Couture gown with a delicate ruffle around the neck. Blanchett made W magazine Fashion Market Director Treena Lombardo's favorites list. She also liked Reese Witherspoon's canary yellow strapless cocktail dress by Nina Ricci, Drew Barrymore's blush-colored gown by John Galliano for Christian Dior and Angelina Jolie's smoky gray strapless gown by St. John, a label she models for. "Gray was a gorgeous color because her eyes are so smoky and she has that smoky persona. It didn't seem fluffy or whimsical, she looked more of a serious classic Hollywood star. She looked like woman, not a girl," Lombardo said. Since most stars played it safe, there weren't any glaring misses, Lombardo noted, although she would have liked to see Katherine Heigl in something more fun and playful than her very grown-up Escada black strapless gown with a fishtail hem and train. But, she added, the dress certainly showed off Heigl's voluptuous curves. Donna Karan custom-designed Helen Mirren's dark blue jersey gown with antique silver sequined tulle, and Meryl Streep chose a blush seersucker chiffon gown by Carolina Herrera. America Ferrara, star of the TV series "Ugly Betty," proved she could be glamorous in a draped gown by Brian Reyes in a deep indigo color. She told E! she liked it because it was "young and easy." Sheryl Crow was in purple, too — a strapless taffeta gown by Elie Saab. "I was looking for plum-colored Uggs," she joked, but opted for heels instead. Jennifer Hudson took her spin in the spotlight in a navy V-neck Vera Wang gown with short sleeves, while co-star Beyonce wore a metallic plunging V-neck gown with a keyhole opening on the belly for extra vavavoom. Jessica Biel shimmered from head to toe in a silver beaded gown with spaghetti straps and an open back. Julia Louis-Dreyfus chose a cocktail-length gold lame dress by Carolina Herrera with a corset-style bust with coinlike beading. "I'm totally freezing, but it's worth it," said Louis-Dreyfus. She wasn't the only star feeling the chill of the unusually low 60-degree temperature: Sienna Miller was shivering in her white Marchesa cowl-neck and cowl-back gown with gold embroidery in a lattice pattern. Jennifer Lopez also wore Marchesa. Hers was a scarf-style, one-shoulder black gown. "My husband loved it. That's usually the deciding factor," she said. Brightly colored dresses, including Renee Zellweger's emerald green strapless gown, Jada Pinkett Smith's pleated tangerine Armani Prive gown, Rachel Weisz's red strapless Bill Blass gown and Eva Longoria's navy gown with jeweled straps and bustline by Emanuel Ungaro, were rare — and therefore really stood out.
She's the producer and the on-air draw for MTV's DanceLife Monday, a new series that follows six young dancers as they try to break into the business. The show takes her back to her dance roots while bringing her back into the public eye — something she's avoided of late. "It was a choice. My life for me had become uncomfortable in the way it was affecting my personal life and the people in it. So I decided that I had to take a look at that and my own responsibility in that. And I realized that there was a way to pull back in the way I live. It was an adjustment and a compromise, but I found a way to do it." How did she do it? "You don't go out as much. You choose different places to go. If you want to be in those magazines, you can. And you don't, you don't have to be. " Lopez says she wanted to do DanceLife because the life was so familiar to her, having started her own career as a dancer. The show did bring back some fond memories, but not enough to make her want to return to dancing full time. "It's good when you're 20, when you're 18. I do love it, it was my first love…But I definitely loved evolving out of that as well. I had bigger dreams and I wanted to do other things." As a fan of dance, Lopez says she likes watching Dancing with the Stars, though she prefers So You Think You Can Dance. So how often do she and her husband Marc Antony go out dancing themselves? "We don't. We're homebodies."
New York-born Lopez tops the entertainment section of People en Espanol's list of "100 Most Influential Hispanics" in its February issue which pays tribute to Hispanics who have had an impact on their communities. "Being an example to others is a big part of my work," Lopez told the magazine. "It excites me to think that I could be capable of changing opinions, or of making people laugh or cry. It's a beautiful facet of the work that we do." Lopez, 37, who was born and raised in the Bronx, hinted she may be ready to start a family of her own. "I come from a strong family, so of course I want to have one. But I also have my own family: my immediate family, my husband (singer Marc Anthony), and his children. I am a part of all this. In this sense, I am very fortunate." Anthony, who did not make the list, and Lopez, who has been listed as the richest Latin American in Hollywood by Forbes magazine, have been married since 2004. The list of influential Hispanics also includes fellow singers Shakira, Carlos Santana, Julio Iglesias, Gloria and Emilio Estefan, Ricky Martin, and actors Antonio Banderas, Eva Longoria and Salma Hayek. Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, the director of possible Oscar contender "Babel" headed the list for leading Hispanics in culture and the arts while U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales headed the politics and public affairs list. Also on the politics list was Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez and ailing Cuban leader Fidel Castro.
Rather than let the case play out in court, the "Jenny from the Block" singer is pushing to enter arbitration with her first ex-husband, Ojani Noa, to stop him from publishing a tell-all book about their relationship, according to court documents filed Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court. Per the filing, Noa is bound to arbitration based on the settlement he and Lopez arrived at in October 2005 when he sued her for breach of contract after she fired him in 2002 from a managerial post at her Pasadena restaurant Madre's. Their agreement called for, among other things, Noa to remain mum in public about Lopez's private life. He also received $125,000 in the deal. Noa is currently restrained from peddling his purportedly racy manuscript by a preliminary injunction that was issued June 30. It prevents him from profiting from any intimate Lopez details, disseminating private info about her by any means and criticizing her in public. And the former waiter is none too happy about it. Despite that fact that Lopez's attorney, Paul Sorrell, has stated that his client could collect $10 million in damages if the book is published, Noa told the court earlier this month that he's sorry he didn't fight harder against the injunction and would prefer to go to trial. "I didn't agree to it," Noa told L.A. Superior Court Judge Victor Person on Dec. 1. "My lawyer told me that it was the right thing to do, and I went along with it." The 31-year-old is currently without legal representation after reportedly finding out that his former counsel—who agreed in October to enter arbitration—wasn't a licensed attorney. In an August email to his former missus' legal camp included in court documents, Noa wrote that he wouldn't back down. It's "not going to be that easy," he said. "I don't care anymore, I [have] nothing to lose at this point." A hearing is set for Jan. 29 on Lopez's motion for arbitration and her request to put her breach of contract lawsuit against Noa on hold until after the pair have tried to work things out. Any settlement arrived at during arbitration would be legally binding. Noa has until the next court date to find a new attorney. The Monster-in-Law star sued Noa Apr. 10 after he allegedly asked for $5 million in exchange for not publishing his book, which, according to the New York Post, was to be titled The Unknown Truth: A Passionate Portrait of a Serial Thriller. Lopez tied the knot with the Cuban-born Noa on Feb. 22, 1997, shortly after meeting him at a Miami restaurant, where he worked as a waiter. Eleven months later, their union was kaput.
"I would never wish for something to be a failure," the 37-year-old dancer-choreographer told AP Television in a recent interview. "Everyone's trying to get by and everyone's trying to do their best and you can only hope for the best and you can wish for the best for someone," he continued. "So, hopefully both shows will be successful and they can both coincide and we'll have a great time." Judd's show is the reality competition "Dirty Dancing" on the Women's Entertainment cable channel, airing Wednesdays at 10 p.m. EST. Lopez is producing MTV's "DanceLife," about six aspiring dancers struggling to make it. The eight-episode series premieres Jan. 15 at 10:30 p.m. Judd's show was inspired by the '80s classic "Dirty Dancing," starring Jennifer Grey as rich girl Baby and Patrick Swayze as poor dance instructor Johnny. The premise: Eighteen women compete at a summer camp for a dance contract and the right to play Baby — to whichever professional ballroom dancer becomes Johnny — during the finale. Judd said things can get steamy on the dance floor. "It can get sexy," he said. "You're with this person almost 24 hours a day and you're doing everything together and dancing can get heated especially when you dance with a partner and you're dancing sensual..." Lopez, 38, married first husband Ojani Noa in 1997 and divorced a year later. Her second marriage to Judd in 2001 lasted for nine months. In 2004, she tied the knot with singer Marc Anthony.
Some assumed it was the super-agency CAA, which reps both Cruise and Carrey and used to handle J.Lo. But insiders say the mystery link among the superstars is actually the Church of Scientology. "Jim is taking the introductory and beginner's courses right now," a source told Page Six. Another source notes that Lopez, a close friend of Scientologist Leah Remini, "has started using Scientology phrases and explains the church to people. Leah and Jennifer have been friends for years, and Leah has always talked to her about the church without pressuring her. "We can see Scientology appealing to Jennifer because, in the early stages, it is a lot of self-help." However, Lopez's husband, Marc Anthony, is a devout Catholic and is probably resistant to Scientology, which believes in space aliens but not a God. Some observers speculate that Lopez, who has had trouble conceiving in the past, could be leaning to the Scientologists for help in having a baby. Reps for Lopez said, "I have no knowledge of this, but I probably wouldn't have a comment on it if I did." A mouthpiece for Carrey insisted, "He is not taking classes." Meanwhile, Hollywood bigwigs were awed at a display of "sheer rudeness" by Cruise at the premiere of "The Pursuit of Happyness" in Hollywood the other night. Sony chief Amy Pascal "was introducing the movie, and during her speech Tom gets up, goes over to Will [Smith] and starts talking to him - and then says, 'Hey, Katie! Come over here and say hi to Will!' during Amy's speech. It was in bad taste." A rep for Cruise declined comment. Scientology seems to be drawing more and more celebrity interest by the minute. Other noted church followers include Kirstie Alley, John Travolta, Anne Archer, Chick Corea, Isaac Hayes and Priscilla Presley.
Noa, 31, said in a pretrial hearing that he regrets agreeing to a June 30 preliminary injunction that prohibits him from "criticizing, denigrating, casting in a negative light or otherwise disparaging or causing disparagement" to Lopez. "I want to fight this thing to the end," he said. "My life has not been the same since this lawsuit was filed." The judge gave Noa until Jan. 17 to hire a lawyer or represent himself. Lopez filed her lawsuit April 10 and obtained a temporary restraining order barring Noa from publishing intimate details of their sex life. Noa said Friday that Lopez misunderstood what the book was about. "This was to be about my life story, coming here from Cuba," he said. "She was only a part of my life, but I was going to talk about my other girlfriends, as well." Lopez, who has appeared in films such as "Selena" and "Out of Sight," married Noa in February 1997 after meeting him in a Miami restaurant. They divorced 11 months later.
"Brethren" will be loosely based on the life of Isaac Guillen, telling the story of a former gangbanger who puts his multiple-felony past behind him and becomes a defense attorney. His life is complicated by the fact that his colleagues think he's corrupt and his clients believe he's corruptible, or so a press release explains. "What interested me was the fine line the character must constantly walk in terms of both his professional and personal life, and the fact that it comes from a true-life story makes it all the more compelling." Lopez and fellow Nuyorican principal Simon Fields will executive produce along with Ross Fineman, Charles Glen and Barbara Cox. Guillen will serve as a consultant. Writing the pilot and executive producing will be Alfonso Moreno ("The Practice"). "I really love the inherent tension for our main character. He has to work to walk the straight and narrow," Moreno says. "In his professional life, law enforcement is trying to trip him up and criminal forces are lurking to suck him in. His home life is equally tricky in that he has to be the ultimate 'Do what I say, not what I did' single parent." On the TV side, Nuyorican's credits include last season's very short-lived UPN drama "South Beach," while the company's upcoming features range from "Bordertown" to "El Cantante."
The pair's steamy frolics on of the set of the rapper's promo for 'Control Myself' - which reached number four in the Billboard Hot 100 charts earlier this year - left Latino star Anthony in a rage. Anthony, who married Lopez in 2004, stormed off after seeing the pair get up close and personal, and LL Cool J, real name James Todd Smith, admits that he and the sexy singer had sexual chemistry. He says, "We had a lot going on. So when Jen's husband came on set - he was only there for a minute before he left again."
"It's probably my most personal record," Diddy, 35, said Friday after announcing the launch of Best Buy's new digital music store in New York City. "On a lot of the other records, to be honest, I didn't do a whole lot of writing. On this one, I did a lot. And I exposed myself with everybody's most sensitive subject, and that's the subject of love." And yes, that includes his relationship with Lopez, whom he dated for two years before they split in 2001. "I used every experience," he said. "She was one of my girlfriends, and the most highly publicized one. But I've been blessed to go out with a couple of great women, and she was one of the great ones." Do he and Lopez still talk? "Yeah. We're ex-boyfriend and girlfriend. And that's cool. It's a positive thing. But my focus right now – when I'm with a woman, I'm focused on that woman." That woman is Kim Porter, with whom he's expecting twin girls. "The relationship that gave me the most inspiration was the relationship with Kim," Diddy said. "(It's) my most long-term relationship. It's had a lot of ups and downs, and it made for a lot of great songs." And when their twins are born, will he raise them differently than he has his two sons, Justin, 12, and Christian, 8? "I don't know yet," he said. "We're just praying." Press Play is due in stores on Oct. 17.
A Los Angeles-area private aircraft company sued the Maid in Manhattan star Wednesday for alleged post-flight misconduct. As in, neglecting to pay the bill. Burbank-based Avjet Corp. filed its complaint in L.A. Superior Court, stating that Lopez and her husband Marc Anthony chartered a jet Jan. 26 to fly them and four friends from Farmingdale, New York, to Puerto Rico, and then used the company again May 25 to go from Farmingdale to Burbank. Neither of the $16,000 trips has been paid for, Avjet's lawsuit says, and Lopez owes more than $34,000. When they weren't jetting across the country, Lopez and Anthony took time to attend the Toronto International Film Festival last month, where their pet project, the Hector Lavoe biopic El Cantante, scored a distribution deal with Picturehouse and a summer 2007 release date. "One of the things that people who've seen the movie walk away with is that they loved the music and [ask], 'Who is it? And how can I get more of it?' " Lopez told Spanish-language network MTV Tres, referring to the pioneering salsa rhythms that made Lavoe, played by Anthony in the film, an icon both in his native Puerto Rico and the U.S. Lopez the Entrepreneur is scheduled to premiere her latest J.Lo and Sweetface collections Oct. 12 and 14 during Miami Beach Fashion Week. The On the 6 singer also reportedly sacked her manager, Jeff Kwatinetz, last month. J.Lo didn't issue a statement, but Kwatinetz's company, The Firm, said: "Jennifer is a dear friend of The Firm and will remain so regardless of the business relationship. This was a decision based on differing styles and expectations and we wish her the absolute best." Her first Spanish-language album, Como Ama Una Mujer (The Way a Woman Loves), is due out in November, and Lopez is back on the big screen later this year in Bordertown with Antonio Banderas. Meanwhile, the multifaceted performer continues to deny that she's with child, surmising that she "must have had 20 babies by now. [But] it's part of being a celebrity, of being in the public eye."
Anthony, the singer and husband of Jennifer Lopez, plays old-school salsa star Lavoe in the upcoming biopic "El Cantante." Lavoe is credited with bringing salsa to the United States before dying in 1993 at age 46 after struggling with drug addiction. "He painted this clear picture of what you could be if you put your mind to it, but how painful a life you could live if you made the wrong choices," Anthony told The Associated Press as he kicked off a concert tour in San Juan. Lopez co-stars in "El Cantante," which premiered last month at the Toronto Film Festival and is expected to reach theaters next year. She took on the project nearly five years ago after Lavoe's widow approached her with a script and asked the pop star to consider playing her. "Once I read the script, I knew there was something about their life, the relationship they had, that was compelling to watch," Lopez said. The film traces Lavoe's rise from Puerto Rico to stardom in New York, where his sold-out concerts and best-selling albums gave way to drug addiction and a strained marriage. At one of Lavoe's lowest points, he was performing an outdoor concert in Puerto Rico in 1988 when promoters cut the power because a nearby festival had left him with a small audience. That night, he jumped from the ninth-floor balcony of his hotel, but survived with severe injuries. Anthony said he aimed to portray not an icon, but a "tormented soul." "I got tired of people saying, 'Oh Hector Lavoe, he's the guy who jumped and the drug addict,'" he said. "I was focusing on making it as personal as possible. What did he go through that day? What pushed him over the edge? What made him make some of those destructive decisions?"
The 37-year-old reportedly told other wannabe mothers at an IVF clinic at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles that she dreams of having two kids. A fellow patient tells British newspaper The Sun, "Jennifer said she wanted to have two children. She said she'd recently started treatment and couldn't wait to have a family." Last month, Lopez rubbished reports she is pregnant with her first child, after US pop star Jesse McCartney told a Georgia radio station she is expecting.
But the pair found themselves somewhat outside their respective comfort zones in making "El Cantante," the Lopez-produced film biography of salsa star Hector Lavoe, which had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival this week. Lavoe was an early star of salsa music, a hybrid of several Puerto Rican and other Latin styles that emerged in New York City in the 1960s and 1970s. For Lopez, who balances a singing career with an acting resume that largely consists of romantic comedies such as "The Wedding Planner" and "Maid in Manhattan," the film marks her first turn as producer. She also stars as Lavoe's wife, Puchi. "When you're an actor, you just kind of do your work and you leave it to everybody else," she told Reuters on Thursday. "But when you produce it, and it's your baby, and you've been working on it for five years, so you have a little more at stake." The film, directed by Leon Ichaso, takes a warts-and-all look at both the singer and his wife. The narrative unfolds at a fast pace as Lavoe emigrates from Puerto Rico to New York in the 1960s and quickly establishes himself on the Latin music scene, armed with an emotive singing style and superlative voice. As he gains popularity, drug abuse, personal tragedy, and infidelity take their toll on the couple, although Lavoe's ability to wow crowds endures even as his personal life collapses. Lopez, who grew up in New York, the daughter of Puerto Rican parents, felt the added pressure of trying to make a film about a legend of her community. "For me, salsa was the music we grew up with -- my mother would play it on the holidays at Christmas," she said. "I think of people who were young and swinging at the time he was young and swinging -- they're looking at this like, "That was my guy, that was my idol. Don't mess it up!" STRUGGLED WITH SINGING For Anthony, a Grammy-winning singer who has also been building a film career with well-received small roles in films such as "Man on Fire" and "Bringing Out the Dead," the part was a challenge, but not for the reasons he expected. Rather than struggling with his first lead acting role, he had to fight to get the hang of Lavoe's complex singing style, which Anthony described as "singing between the notes." "It blindsided me," he said in an interview. "It was infinitely more difficult than I thought, because his phrasing is so impeccable." Lopez started on the project about five years ago, when she was sent a copy of the script by screenwriters who had developed it with Puchi, who wanted Lopez to play her. Puchi died soon after. Once Lopez decided to also produce the picture, she immediately sought out Anthony to play the role of the singer. Anthony, who attended Lavoe's funeral in 1993, said the film was "owed" to Lavoe, for the influence he had on Latin music. "He was like a sacrificial lamb," he said. "Almost not a happy day in his life, and he fades away at such an early age, and didn't get to enjoy anything, but left us this amazing library of music."
Lopez proved it when she walked across the stage and kissed her husband on the lips before introducing the biopic of salsa legend Hector Lavoe, which she and Anthony star in and coproduced. Did their relationship make it hard to work together? "Marc and I met working, so it wasn't really an issue," she said. "We know each other's work rhythm." Another key to their success: "We don't do anything that we don't believe in. … It was a passion project for both of us, and I've been trying to get it made for five years." Anthony and Lopez play Lavoe and his wife, Puchi, who had a volatile relationship – but those who worked on the film during its shoot last summer agree that the couple were a great team in real life. Costar John Ortiz said that on set, "They were holding hands, looking at each other with those eyes that people who are in love look at each other with. I think they are just very huggy-dovey. They're very nurturing." Said producer Julio Caro, "They're very close. It's a tight relationship. You can tell there's a lot of love there and a lot of respect. Working with them was special." Anthony and Lopez handled playing a dysfunctional couple well, writer-director Leon Ichaso told PEOPLE. The atmosphere on the set was "Fun, fun. Even when he punched her so hard, he broke through her skin. Marc had to wear so many rings, and one of those blows broke her skin. And we all had a good laugh. She's tough." Lopez has said she'd like to work on another production with Anthony: a baby. "They have everything else but that," Ichaso said. "That's what would make them good parents. They now have the success and everything else, and they would take the time off to enjoy it. It would complete them."
The No Doubt singer and her husband, Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale, have bought a Beverly Hills house that once belonged to the "Gigli" star for almost $15.5 million, reports the Wall Street Journal. There won't be any residual J.Lo traces around though since the house actually first passed through the hands of film producer and businessman Sam Nazarian, who originally purchased the house from Lopez in 2004. The 10,000-square foot home will have plenty of room for the musical couple to raise their family, beginning with 3-month-old son Kingston James. The place boasts four bedrooms, tennis and basketball courts, a swimming pool and a screening room over two acres of property. It's also made for the privacy needs of today's celebrity since it's in a gated community and sits at the end of a 250-foot driveway with an additional gate for entry. Stefani, 36, met Bush frontman Rossdale, 40, at a 1996 concert she was playing with No Doubt. They were married in 2002. Stefani is also the stepmother to Daisy, a 16-year-old daughter whom Rossdale recently discovered he fathered in an earlier relationship. Stefani previously dated her bandmate Tony Kanal for several years and many of the songs on their hit album "Tragic Kingdom" is dedicated to their breakup. She was nominated for five Grammys for her solo album, "Love.Angel.Music.Baby.," including album of the year. She also appeared as screen legend Jean Harlow in Martin Scorsese's Howard Hughes biopic "The Aviator" in 2004. Like his wife, Rossdale has had a successful music career and has also appeared on the big screen in the soccer film "The Game of Their Lives" and as a demon in "Constantine."
On Thursday (24AUG06), the teenager told Star 94 FM in Atlanta, Georgia that Lopez had quit the movie adaptation of 1980s soap Dallas due to the fact she was with child. This came after McCartney revealed he was dating Katie Cassidy, who will play Lucy Ewing in the movie project. But McCartney has since retracted his comment, insisting he was just repeating rumours. In an apologetic statement he says, "I have no first hand information whether or not Jennifer Lopez is pregnant. I thought I had read it somewhere."
Organizers said on Tuesday that the 10-day festival, which starts on September 7, will include 352 feature films and shorts from 61 countries and 107 world premieres. The festival has grown in influence over the years and is now seen, along with Cannes, Berlin Sundance, as one of the leading showcases for the movies that will be vying for Oscars and other awards early next year. Actors Liam Neeson, Jude Law, Dustin Hoffman, Peter O'Toole, and Anthony Hopkins are also expected to bolster the festival's celebrity contingent. Most of the features will be world or North America premieres and many of the films are entered in the hope of finding distributors from the 5,000 industry professionals who will be attending. "The festival's tentacles are truly in every part of the world," said festival director Piers Handling. Among the movies premiering are "All the King's Men,' starring Penn in a remake of the classic film about the rise and fall of a Southern politician, and German director Werner Herzog's "Rescue Dawn," about an American airman who escapes from a Laotian prison during the Vietnam War. Also being screened is Ridley Scott's 'A Good Year," starring Crowe and Albert Finney about a British businessman who takes a year off in Provence. Red-carpet treatment will be given to "The Journals of Knud Rasmussen," directed by Zacharias Kunuk and Norman Cohn, which will kick off the festival and "Dixie Chicks: Shut up and Sing," one of the more politically-charged offerings. The film focuses on the aftermath and fallout of Dixie Chicks singer Natalie Maines' criticism of President Bush at a concert in London in 2003. "The Journals" is based on the writings of a 1920s Danish ethnographer about the clash of cultures between European Arctic explorers and Inuit natives. "Not only do our selections have a big impact (on) ... the Oscars and the Golden Globes, but increasingly the biggest directors and stars are coming here to Toronto to introduce their new films to audiences for the first time and to secure distribution," said festival co-director Noah Cowan. The festival will include Spike Lee's four-hour documentary "When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts" which tells the story of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
The attorneys told Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Victor H. Person that the issues between the 38-year-old singer-actress and Noa could be settled through arbitration. Another pretrial hearing was set for Oct. 17. Lopez filed the lawsuit April 10 and obtained a temporary restraining order barring Noa from publishing intimate details of her sex life. On June 30, she and Noa agreed to have the order extended as a preliminary injunction. Lopez was not present at Wednesday's hearing, but will have to attend if the judge orders a mandatory settlement conference. Her lawyer, Kristina L. Brittenham, declined to comment. Noa's attorney, Robert Vasquez, also declined to talk about the case. Lopez, who has appeared in films such as "Selena," "Out of Sight " and "Monster-in-Law," married Noa in February 1997 after meeting him in a Miami restaurant. They divorced 11 months later. Last October, Noa and Lopez settled a lawsuit he brought against her, alleging he was illegally fired as manager of her Los Angeles area restaurant, Madre's. In exchange for a $125,000 payment from Lopez, Noa agreed not to disparage her or make money off disclosure of his relationship with her, according to her court papers. On Jan. 19, he wrote a letter to Lopez's attorneys saying he would continue to market his book, reportedly titled, "The Unknown Truth: A Passionate Portrait of a Serial Thriller," unless Lopez paid him $5 million, according to court papers.
The actress and singer is executive producing a half-hour project called "Echo Park" for FX. The show, which has a script order from the cable network, will focus on the clash of cultures in the gentrifying L.A. neighborhood, Variety reports. Separately, Lopez is also producing a show for MTV called "Moves," which will follow dancers trying to break into the industry. Lopez, who got her start as a Fly Girl dancer on "In Living Color," is likely to appear on the show as well. Both shows will be produced by Nuyorican Productions, Lopez's production company. Partner Simon Fields will share executive producer credit with her; Ian Edelman is writing the "Echo Park" script. "South Beach," a prime-time soap set in the glitzy Miami neighborhood, debuted on UPN in January -- a couple of weeks before it was announced that UPN would be merging with The WB to form The CW this coming season. It lasted seven weeks, averaging fewer than 2 million viewers per week. On screen, Lopez most recently appeared in "Monster-in-Law" and "An Unfinished Life." She recently left the big-screen adaptation of "Dallas" and has a couple projects -- the dramas "Bordertown" and "El Cantante," which also features her husband, Marc Anthony -- awaiting release dates.
The Enough star has pulled out of the now slightly less star-studded big screen remake of the '80s TV hit, with nary an explanation regarding her departure. "She is out of Dallas," Lopez's publicist, Leslie Sloane-Zelnick, said Thursday, denying reports that her client's exit was an abrupt without shedding light on the reason for her decision to cut and run. No potential replacements have been named. Marc Anthony's better half was set to star as the adulterous and alcoholic Sue Ellen Ewing in the film adaptation opposite would-be celluloid hubby John Travolta, who is set to play the oil tycoon J.R. Ewing, filling the shoes of original TV star Larry Hagman. Lopez's exit is not the remake's first big-name drop out. Legally Blonde's Robert Luketic, who more recently directed Lopez in Monster-in-Law, was originally slated to direct the film before dropping out this spring, citing "creative differences," amid reports that he was unhappy with the direction of casting. Which, incidentally, was mostly done by him. In March, Variety reported that Luketic had extended offers to Lopez, Travolta, Luke Wilson and Shirley MacLaine to play the lead roles. As it stands, all but Lopez are still on board with the long-gestating project, with Wilson tapped to play Patrick Duffy's original role of Bobby Ewing and MacLaine filling Barbara Bel Geddes' role as matriarch Miss Ellie Ewing. Dallas, which ran from 1978 to 1991, chronicled the lives and loves of the Ewing family, and prompted the pop culture commanding inquiry, "Who Shot J.R.?" (For the record, it was his sister-in-law, Kristin, in a fit of anger.) Bend It Like Beckham's Gurinder Chadha has been hired as Luketic's replacement, and, barring any more casting couch bust-ups, production on the 20th Century Fox film could kick off as early as October.
A preliminary injunction between the star and her former spouse, Ojani Noa, was signed by a Los Angeles Superior Court judge on Thursday and made public a day later, resulting in the cancellation of a hearing in the case. Lopez sued Noa in April to stop him from publishing an expose she said would breach a nondisclosure, "non-disparagement" pact between them. She then obtained a temporary restraining order to prevent him from going ahead with the proposed book. The preliminary injunction signed this week will remain in effect until either the two settle their dispute or a nonjury trial is held to decide whether the latest court order will remain permanent. Under the injunction, the Cuban-born Noa is barred from "criticizing, denigrating, casting in a negative light or otherwise disparaging" Lopez. He also may not disclose for financial gain "any private or intimate details" about Lopez or their relationship, the court order stated. Moreover, Noa may not sell or circulate a manuscript of the book and must retrieve any book materials from anyone who may have possession of them and inform those parties that they, too, are barred from disseminating them. In the meantime, both sides were directed to try to "resolve their dispute without engaging in further litigation," the court order states. According to Lopez's lawsuit, Noa's plans for a tell-all book were revealed in a January 2006 New York Post article, which included the claim Lopez carried on an affair with salsa singer Marc Anthony while he was still married to Puerto Rican model and beauty queen Dayanara Torres. Anthony and Lopez married in June 2004, just days after he was divorced from Torres, and five months after Lopez broke off her much-publicized engagement to actor Ben Affleck. Lopez, 36, claims that Noa's proposed book would violate the terms of a previous legal settlement in which the two were barred from revealing private details about the other for monetary gain and from criticizing each other publicly. Lopez's 10 1/2-month marriage to Noa, the first of her three husbands and who was working at a restaurant when they met, ended in divorce in January 1998. She married her second spouse, dancer Chris Judd, in September 2001 and filed for divorce from him the following July.
Steven Wortman, 49, a retired postal worker from Sayreville, N.J., said in Manhattan's state Supreme Court that he and Tito Moses, 31, tried to get a ransom for the stolen video in amounts ranging from $250,000 to $1 million. When Justice Bonnie Wittner asked Wortman whether he and Moses demanded the money in phone calls between Dec. 20 and 27, 2005, "in exchange for not releasing (the video) to the general public," the defendant replied, "Sorrowfully, yes." Wortman pleaded guilty to attempted grand larceny, a misdemeanor, in exchange for a sentence of three years' probation. The judge scheduled his sentencing for Aug. 4 and said he will be allowed to report to probation officials in New Jersey. A video copy of Lopez and Anthony's June 2004 wedding was in a laptop computer that was in Anthony's Cadillac Escalade when it was stolen in Linden, N.J., in October 2005. The car was recovered in Newark, N.J., but the laptop was gone. Prosecutors said Wortman and Moses, an ex-convict from Newark, called Anthony's production company and talked with a man they thought was a representative of the celebrity couple. That "representative" was in fact an undercover detective. At one point, the undercover detective balked at the demand for $1 million and Wortman threatened to destroy the laptop and its contents, prosecutors said. The detective, negotiating later with Moses, got the price down to $250,000, and the defendant agreed to meet him at a diner to give him the laptop, prosecutors said. Police arrested the two men there. Moses pleaded guilty to attempted grand larceny two weeks ago in exchange for a sentence of 18 months to three years in prison. Wittner said she will sentence Moses after he is sentenced in a related, pending New Jersey case and that the terms will run concurrently. His New Jersey case involves the theft of Anthony's sport utility vehicle.
A tell-all book that J.Lo's first husband is supposedly planning to write will describe in minute detail what he refers to as the couple's first sexual encounter, according to court documents obtained Tuesday by Los Angeles' City News Service. "Sadly, no personal detail is too sacred to be sold by Noa for profit," the papers, filed Friday by Lopez's attorney, Paul Sorrell, state. The actress' camp filed for a preliminary injunction in April to stop Noa from going ahead with his plan to pen the humbly titled The Unknown Truth: A Passionate Portrait of a Serial Thriller, alleging that he offered to back off if Lopez hooked him up with $5 million. She also is requesting that he not be able to profit at all from any private details he may be peddling, whether they wind up in a book or not. Sorrell is scheduled to argue for the injunction in court on June 30 against Noa's lawyer, Robert Vasquez, who filed a six-page document last week denying Lopez's allegations that his client's "compliance could be bought for the right price." The 36-year-old Monster-in-Law star took legal action in April after the New York Post ran an item about a book proposal Noa was reportedly shopping around, in which each chapter was named after a title of one of Lopez's films. According to the latest filing, Noa is also prepared to dish about Lopez having "multiple duplicitous sexual affairs" on the set of 1997's Anaconda and about her having a relationship with Marc Anthony while he was still married to Dayanara Torres and while Lopez was still stepping out with Sean "Diddy" Combs. Noa also intends to write that the On the 6 singer's mother, Guadalupe Lopez, is racist and has a gambling problem, the documents stated. (What she actually has is a luck problem, winning $2.4 million in 2004 while fiddling with the dollar slots in Atlantic City.) "Noa will do anything within his power to make money off his ex-wife--and thinks nothing of willfully breaching the agreement and hurting [Lopez] in the process," Sorrell wrote. "He is out of control." The agreement he's referring to is a $125,000 settlement agreement that Lopez and Noa arrived at after he sued her for allegedly backing out of a promise to let him manage one of her restaurants. As part of the settlement, Noa was told he could not divulge any intimate details about his former wife or their relationship for monetary gain. Now, either Noa is unclear about what constitutes intimacy or he disagrees with the above agreement. It's a toss-up. In a deposition taken earlier this month, Noa said that he should be free to publish anything he wants because he doesn't consider himself bound to the terms of the settlement. "I mean, I live in a free country," he said. "No? I can express myself. I can talk and say whatever I want to." "Amazingly, Noa also claims that the terms of the agreement are too vague?because they do not specify exactly what personal details about [his ex-wife] Noa cannot reveal," Sorrell stated. Also in the more than 285 pages of documents filed Friday was the allegation that Noa recently tried to sell videos of Lopez primping for their wedding and honeymoon and another featuring her in a revealing bikini to the National Enquirer. Lopez married Noa in February of 1997 and was outta there by March 1998.
This bit of news came from a close Lopez friend. But friends can be mistaken. We called Jennifer's rep. Came the studied response: "We know nothing of this . . . we don't know where she'll be on Sunday. Thanks for asking. Bye." Click! I say, perhaps the friend is right, and Lopez's reps are . . . cautious. Be prepared for the unmistakable sashay of Jennifer on Sunday afternoon. (But, will her sexy hubby, Marc Anthony, accompany her? That might be too much for the guys.)
Tito Moses, 31, admitted in New York state Supreme Court he tried to obtain a $1-million ransom for the stolen video. He said he and an accomplice negotiated with a man they thought was a Lopez-Anthony representative. The "representative" was in fact an undercover detective, prosecutors said. Justice Bonnie Wittner promised Moses 1 1/2 to three years in prison for his guilty plea. She said she will impose the sentence after he is sentenced in a related New Jersey case and the terms will run concurrently. A video copy of the celebrity couple's June 2004 wedding was in a laptop computer in Anthony's Cadillac Escalade when it was stolen in Linden, N.J., in October 2005. The car was recovered in Newark but the laptop was gone. The pending New Jersey case is related to the car theft. A felony complaint filed by prosecutors said Moses and his alleged accomplice, Steven Wortman, 49, called Anthony's company and tried to sell the property back to the salsa star. A New York City detective posing as a Lopez-Anthony associate negotiated with Moses and Wortman and the men demanded $1 million for the laptop, the complaint said. At one point, the complaint said, the detective rejected the $1-million demand and Wortman threatened to destroy the laptop and its contents, the complaint said. The detective, negotiating later with Moses, brought the price down to $250,000 and the defendant agreed to meet him at a diner to give him the laptop, the complaint said. Police arrested the two men there. Wortman has pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy, attempted grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property and his case is pending.
Maureen Marder's lawyers would have plenty of down time. A California court has again rejected Marder's ongoing bid to gain a copyright interest in the film and in turn collect a portion of the more than $150 million that the Adrian Lyne-directed drama has grossed since Jennifer Beals first burst onto the scene in a torn sweatshirt and legwarmers. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco on Monday upheld a lower court's decision that Marder, the real-life inspiration for Flashdance, signed over her rights to the film's story long ago. Marder, a former construction worker and exotic dancer, inked a deal with Paramount Pictures Corp. in 1982 and collected $2,300 for her efforts. The three-judge panel stated in its ruling that, looking back at the original agreement, it "appears to be unfair." But, the judges said, "there is simply no evidence that [Marder's] consent was obtained by fraud, deception, misrepresentation, duress or undue influence." The appeals court also affirmed a prior decision to dismiss Marder's lawsuit against Sony Corp (NYSE:SNE - news). and Lopez. Marder had argued that the video for "I'm Glad," featuring J.Lo replicating a number of Beals' moves (and outfits) from the original film, was an unauthorized depiction of her life. Lopez took on many of Flashdance's most famous scenes, from the sweaty solo workout to the water-enhanced strip tease to the triumphant audition. Pretty much the only thing the singer didn't do was crack into a lobster with her bare hands. While Marder's attempts to share in the feeling have failed so far, Lopez's label, Epic Records, did settle with Paramount for an undisclosed amount in 2003 when the studio protested that J.Lo's video violated its Flashdance copyright. Paramount sent Sony, Epic's parent company, a letter in May 2003 pointing out that the record company had neither asked permission nor paid to model "I'm Glad" on scenes from the film. Minus the wild curls and off-the-shoulder sweatshirt, Lopez and her husband Marc Anthony lent a little star power to the Puerto Rican Day Parade Sunday in New York, where the couple marched along with NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg. "The Puerto Rican parade has been a long-standing tradition in my life. It was always an event that I looked forward to every single year," Anthony told the Associated Press.
"The Puerto Rican parade has been a long-standing tradition in my life. It was always an event that I looked forward to every single year," said Anthony, who led the parade with his wife, Lopez, and Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Salsa music blared from dozens of floats as the parade made its way up Fifth Avenue past a sea of revelers waving the red, white and blue Puerto Rican flag. Beauty queens wore Barbie doll dresses and foot-high tiaras. Folk dance troupes wore ruffled skirts and flowers behind their ears. A contingent of high-stepping show horses was followed by two sanitation workers wheeling garbage bins. In addition to Bloomberg, politicians marching included New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine, and U.S. Sens. Hillary Clinton and Charles Schumer. The Puerto Rican parade, an annual event in New York since 1958, has grown to be one of the city's largest. Although it was impossible to estimate this year's crowd, hundreds of thousands have attended in recent years.
Moments earlier, Anthony had his arm clasped around her as they watched clips from nearly all her films. Not included: Gigli and Jersey Girl, the two films Lopez starred in with ex-fiancé Ben Affleck. During an earlier salute to songwriter Diane Warren, Affleck did make a brief appearance on the screen via a Pearl Harbor clip, but neither Lopez nor Anthony reacted. Outfitted in a black MaxMara gown, Lopez credited her glow to "five days of rest, which is rare for me," and sidestepped questions about pregnancy reports. "I told her I wanted to punch her in the face (because) she looks so pretty," cracked friend Leah Remini (King of Queens). Lopez addressed reports that she has been cast as Sue Ellen Ewing in the upcoming Dallas film. "Sue Ellen was a Texas beauty queen, so I think I can kind of fit into that," said Lopez, who raised her hand in the air, miming the character's love for the bottle. "I'll have a little crystal glass. But nothing's set in stone. I talked to John Travolta (who'll be playing J.R.) and he said, 'Are you going to do it?' And I said, 'I think so.'" Lopez received the Crystal Award for her charity work and strong portrayals of women. Of her trophy, Lopez said, "I already have a love affair with diamonds — and now with crystal as well." Also honored: Maria Bello, who won the MaxMara award, and Geena Davis, who received a Lucy Award (named after Lucille Ball) from ABC president Steve McPherson, who canceled her drama, Commander in Chief. But the two remain tight, and Davis is hopeful he'll allow her to shoot a Commander wrap-up movie. "I obviously would have liked to get a couple of terms out of the role," she said.
The network has given the greenlight to a new dance-based reality series executive produced by the multihyphenate diva. In something of a Real World meets Solid Gold premise, the show will follow the lives of six aspiring dancers as they struggle to make it in the competitive world of professional dance. The smooth-moving hopefuls include Staci, a former Pussycat Doll who wants to become a singer; Jersey, who hopes her dance moves will elevate her out of debt; Nolan, who has struggled with personal problems to make it to where he is now; Blake, the cocky guy, who makes sure everyone is well aware of his prowess on the dance floor; Kenny, a former baseball player and heavy party animal; and Celestina, who thinks of dancing as the first step in building her own hip-hop empire. "There are very few people who have attained the level of success Jennifer has. Across music, film and more, she is recognized worldwide, and it all began with dance," Lois Curren, MTV's executive vice president of entertainment and programming, said in a statement. "Now she will share her experience and knowledge with a new generation of dancers, and we'll find out if they have what it takes to stand up to her expectations." Lopez, who took an active role in selecting the show's participants, is also slated to make cameo appearances over the course of the season. "I started out as a dancer and I know what that world is," Lopez said in a statement. "These dancers have dedicated their lives to this and, honestly, the glory is not always there. It's something they do only out of love. It's a tough life and I want to show that struggle." The show's eight-episode run is scheduled to kick off this winter. Meanwhile, if the rumor mill is to be believed--which J. Lo's camp insists it isn't--the singer-actress might currently have another project in the works. Call it a joint production with husband Marc Anthony, if you will. In Touch magazine reports in its latest issue that Lopez is three months pregnant and expecting her first child in December. Signs of her supposed pregnancy include a so-called belly bulge and visible gray roots--an indication that she may be avoiding dying her hair at the advice of her doctor. Fueling suspicions even more, Lopez recently called off her world tour scheduled for this spring, according to a statement posted by Mirage Promotions on its Website. Even so, reps for the Monster-in-Law star maintain she is not in the family way.
The seven items up for sale include a brown poncho, a blue satin gown and jeans with Lopez's signature. Lopez wore them all the items at different times last year. The auction will be conducted through Overstock.com Auctions May 16-23. Proceeds will go to the Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. This will be the second year Lopez has done an online clothing beneficiary for the hospital.
Lopez appeared at the ALMA Awards in Los Angeles on 7 May, sporting what appeared to be a small bump and telltale grey roots. The following day the star abruptly cancelled her first concert tour without giving an explanation, further fuelling rumours of a pregnancy. Sources tell US publication 'In Touch' the 'Love Don't Cost A Thing' star is three months pregnant and that the baby will be born around Christmas this year. Anthony spoke publicly of having a baby with Lopez at the event saying, "I'm looking forward to starting a family." Lopez was scheduled to tour this month, with dates in Mumbai, India; Dubai; Moscow, Russia: Sofia, Bulgaria; Istanbul, Turkey; and Thessaloniki, Greece. The singer has been threatened with legal action by the tour's promoters, who have promised to issue full refunds to ticket holders. Bulgarian promoter Nina Girginova says, "Whatever the reason is, she should have explained it, and even if she had lied it would have been better than not giving the fans any reason at all."
Lopez is on the cover of People En Espanol's annual "50 Most Beautiful" issue, on newsstands Monday. "I've never tried to hide the fact that I'm Latina," the Bronx-native tells the magazine. "I think that's why Hispanics are like `she's ours ... she belongs to us.' And that's true; with the Latino community, I am theirs, I do belong to them." The 37-year-old actress-singer was also named as one of People's 100 most beautiful people. While many fans await the birth of Jolie's child with boyfriend Brad Pitt, Lopez isn't currently planning a baby with husband Marc Anthony. "That would be nice for sure," she says. "I feel that will happen naturally when it does." People En Espanol's unranked list of Hispanic celebrities also includes Eva Longoria, Ricky Martin, Shakira, Jessica Alba, Eva Mendes and Daddy Yankee.
The 'Jenny From The Block' star admits spending more time at home and less time partying has improved her private life. And she has learned the best ways of outwitting stalker photographers. She says, "I have become very good at disappearing. I wasn't good at it before. It's kind of getting out of the glare for a minute. I learned how to do that, too. You have to make adjustments. Some of it is just kind of staying at home more, believe it or not."
Jack Bunick's lawsuit claims "South Beach," a TV series executive-produced by Lopez that debuted Jan. 11 on UPN, mirrors a script he wrote in 1999 for a pilot episode of a show that would have been called "South Beach Miami." Bunick's script was about two young men from Brooklyn who travel to South Beach, where one of them quickly gets involved with the club and modeling scenes, according to the federal suit. A recurring theme in his script "is that the main character is from Brooklyn, New York, and that he is, in many ways, out of his element in South Beach, Miami," the lawsuit said. UPN's Web site says "South Beach" is about best friends Matt and Vincent, who "abandon their world as they know it and head to the alluring paradise of sandy beaches, beautiful people and hot spots in glamorous South Beach." Bunick claims his agent spoke to a UPN executive and sent a copy of his script to her in February 2000 but he never was contacted by the network. He is seeking monetary damages and an injunction barring further broadcasting of "South Beach," which aired Wednesdays at 8 p.m. but has been canceled. An e-mail sent Tuesday to a spokeswoman for Lopez and a telephone call to a spokeswoman for UPN were not immediately returned. The lawsuit, filed April 11 in Manhattan, also names CBS Television, Viacom Networks Inc. and Lopez's Nuyorican Productions company. UPN is a division of CBS Television Stations Group, and CBS Corp. and UPN were owned by Viacom Inc. before it split into two companies in 2005.
The British filmmaker, who directed 2002's "Bend it Like Beckham," said Friday she had signed a deal with 20th Century Fox. Travolta will star as the conniving Texas oil baron J.R. Ewing and Lopez will play his wife, Sue Ellen. Filming is set to begin in October, with the movie slated for a late 2007 release. "Dallas" aired from 1978 to 1991. In 1980, an estimated 83 million TV viewers tuned in to find out who shot J.R., played by Larry Hagman, who had been blasted within an inch of his life in the previous season's cliffhanger finale. (The shooter turned out to be Ewing's sister-in-law Kristin.) Chadha, who gave Jane Austen a Bollywood twist in "Bride & Prejudice," is also involved in adapting another TV hit, the '60s sitcom "I Dream of Jeannie." She said that film "is still in the pipeline, but there is still some way to go on the script."
In the lawsuit filed Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court, Lopez alleged that Ojani Noa violated a confidentiality agreement by distributing the manuscript of his book to publishers, the syndicated television show "The Insider" reported. She is seeking a restraining order to keep the manuscript from becoming public. A description of the manuscript appeared Jan. 11 in the New York Post. Lopez's lawyers contacted Noa's attorney, and Noa replied in a letter that he would continue to shop his book, the lawsuit said. In another letter, Noa said "that he would not agree to refrain from marketing his book unless (Lopez) paid him the sum of $5 million," according to the lawsuit. Noa's attorney, David DeRubertis, did not immediately respond to a call and e-mail message after business hours. The confidentiality agreement stemmed from a settlement in October, when Noa dropped his lawsuit claiming Lopez fired him as manager of her Pasadena restaurant without cause. Ojani agreed not to disparage Lopez or make money off disclosure of details of their relationship, the lawsuit said. Lopez met Noa while he worked as a waiter at a Miami restaurant. The two married in 1997 and divorced a year later. Her second marriage to choreographer Cris Judd in 2001 lasted for nine months. In 2004, she tied the knot with singer Marc Anthony.
OUTSTANDING FEMALE MUSICAL PERFORMER: Celeb pals Brad Pitt, Ben Affleck and Laurence Fishburne have donated sleek, custom-made motorcycles to an online charity auction to benefit a planned memorial in Washington for the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. "People are always quoting" King, Freeman said in an interview Monday with The Associated Press. "He's remembered as our prince of peace, of civil rights. We owe him something major that will keep him and his memory alive." The four bikes — two from Affleck and one each from Pitt and Fishburne — are up for bid on the Charity Folks Web site through Friday, Freeman said. Freeman, who won an Oscar for his role in "Million Dollar Baby," said he hopes "people will overbid" for a good cause. Other celebrity items are being offered in the auction, including wedge-heeled shoes designed and signed by Jennifer Lopez and a DVD of "Catch Me if You Can" signed by Tom Hanks. The memorial will be built on the National Mall, according to the Web site for Build the Dream, which is promoting the project. The centerpiece of the memorial, the "Stone of Hope," will feature a 30-foot likeness of King. Its location will create a visual "line of leadership" from the Lincoln Memorial, where King gave his famous "I Have a Dream" speech, to the Jefferson Memorial, the Web site says. Groundbreaking is scheduled this year, with the goal of dedicating the site in 2008. On the Net: http://www.charityfolks.com/ and http://www.mlkmemorial.org/
According to Variety, Luke Wilson is expected follow in Patrick Duffy's footsteps as Bobby Ewing and Jennifer Lopez will attempt to top Linda Gray as Sue Ellen Ewing in the fresh take on the classic CBS primetime soap opera. Both actors are still in some form of negotiations for the Regency Enterprises/20th Century Fox production. As has long been rumored, offers are also out to John Travolta for J.R. Ewing and to Shirley MacLaine to play Miss Ellie Ewing. The most recent draft of the "Dallas" script was written by Robert Harling and Sacha Gervasi. It's unclear what approach the writers plan to take to the soap, which focused on the tawdry relationships between oil magnates in Texas. "Dallas" ran from 1978-1991, reaching its peak with the "Who Shot J.R.?" episode, which was the highest-rated single episode of a TV series at the time. If Travolta signs on, production on "Dallas" probably won't begin until October, after the actor completes singing and dressing in drag for "Hairspray." Wilson was last seen in "The Family Stone." The actor, brother of Butterscotch Stallion Owen, has "Idiocracy" and "Super Ex." Lopez had a decent-sized hit last summer with "Monster-in-Law," but failed to bring viewers to "An Unfinished Life." The singer and actress has lined up a series of indies including "El Cantante" and "Bordertown."
"I am a young Hispanic woman, so is Janet. I could empathize with her situation so much," Lopez said in a statement released Friday by DKMS, the bone marrow donor center that is organizing donor drives for Ovalles. "These things just make you realize that we're all interconnected and depend on one another," said Lopez, who is of Puerto Rican descent. Doctors say that a bone marrow transplant is Ovalles' only chance for recovery — and the most suitable matches are from people of the same ethnic background. But with Hispanics sharply underrepresented in the pool of registered donors, the prognosis is bleak. For Ovalles, there was no match in her family or among the 10 million registered donors worldwide. "I am a walking time bomb," Ovalles said in a recent interview. "If I don't find a donor, I will die." With Lopez calling attention to her cause, Ovalles hopes to find a matching donor at bone marrow drives Feb. 24-25. "It's been very hard to recruit Hispanic bone marrow donors, but with Jennifer's help we really feel we can get the Hispanic community on board," said Katharina Harf, head of DKMS.
During the past 10 years, LL Cool J has lured ladies with his suave rhymes and proved his lyrical agility on hardcore rap joints. Now he wants us to boogie like Madonna, complete with pounding bass and synthesized chords. "Control Myself" is the techno-inspired lead single from his 11th album, "Todd Smith" (Def Jam). This song tries to capitalize on the recent surge of dance-oriented rap tracks, but while LL's delivery is still potent, his lyrical savvy has clearly deteriorated ("You know I know you like it/Let me hit you on your Sidekick"). And of all the talented singers available, he elects Jennifer Lopez and her dissonant vocals? The pair caps things off with the meaningless phrase "za-za-za-za," (think Gwen Stefani's "b-a-n-a-n-a-s"). But such simplified ditties admittedly tend to propel these types of songs up the charts.
Four of the five worst-picture nominees for the Razzies were sequels or remakes, led by "Son of the Mask," which had eight nominations Monday, including worst actor for Jamie Kennedy and supporting actor for Alan Cumming and Bob Hoskins. The other worst-picture contenders were Rob Schneider's sequel "Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo," Jenny McCarthy's raunchy romance "Dirty Love," the TV update "The Dukes of Hazzard" and the horror remake "House of Wax." Razzies will be announced March 4, the day before the Oscars. Tom Cruise earned three Razzie nominations, as worst actor for "War of the Worlds" and two of the five slots in a new Razzies category for most tiresome tabloid targets. Cruise was nominated there for his anti-psychiatry rant and for his very public romance with Katie Holmes. "He had been a very private person up until this past year," said Razzies founder John Wilson. "It certainly was a bizarre turn in terms of how he handles his personal life and the access that he gave the media to himself. The endless posing on the red carpet and just smooching like they were on the couch at home." "Son of the Mask," a flop that starred Kennedy as a new father whose son is born with the shape-shifting powers showcased in Jim Carrey's original 1994 movie, was an early Razzies favorite when it came out nearly a year ago. As Wilson was preparing for last year's Razzies ceremony, his family went to see "Son of the Mask." "I was working on the script for last year's show, and they got home and my son stuck his head in the door and said, `Dad, we've got one for next year,'" Wilson said. Besides Cruise and Kennedy, worst-actor nominees were Will Ferrell for "Bewitched" and "Kicking & Screaming," The Rock for "Doom" and Schneider for "Deuce Bigalow." McCarthy earned three nominations for "Dirty Love," for worst actress, screenplay and screen couple (she and "anyone dumb enough to befriend or date her"). Her worst-actress competitors: Jessica Alba for "Fantastic Four" and "Into the Blue," Hilary Duff for "Cheaper by the Dozen 2" and "The Perfect Man," Jennifer Lopez for "Monster-in-Law" and Tara Reid for "Alone in the Dark." Paris Hilton received two nominations, worst supporting actress for "House of Wax" and most tiresome tabloid target. Holmes also was nominated for worst supporting actress for "Batman Begins," along with Carmen Electra for "Dirty Love" and the Simpson sisters, Jessica for "The Dukes of Hazzard" and Ashlee for "Undiscovered."
"Como Ama Una Mujer," slated for release later this year, features a collection of "big ballads" written and produced by Estefano; he has produced Spanish- and English-language albums for Lopez's husband, Marc Anthony. "You will be surprised with this woman's album," Estefano says. "You will be surprised to see this singer. These are big songs that require a voice." Estefano continues to promote his first solo album, "Codigo Personal: A Media Vida," released last year by Universal Music Latino. A second single, "Vuelve Morenita," is now at radio.
Hackford thinks that there's a lot of fear in Hollywood because so many films aren't doing well at the box office. But, he also admits that studio heads think audiences won't accept JLo as the legendary vixen who is murdered by her jilted lover. He said, "[Carmen] is not a sweet, nice girl. This is a piece about a criminal. We want to do a tough, hard version, but Hollywood thinks the audience [for Jennifer Lopez] is 13-year-old girls. ...It has an ending that Hollywood does not like to make." MTV did a musical special based on the opera called Carmen - A Hip Hopera in 2001. It starred Beyonce Knowles in the title role opposite Mekhi Phifer, Mos Def, and Joy Bryant. Lopez will be in Puerto Rico this month filming El Cantante, which stars her husband, Marc Anthony.
Two men accused of attempting to extort $1 million from Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony in exchange for the salsa singer's stolen laptop, which held a digital copy of the couple's June 2004 nuptials, were arrested during an NYPD sting operation Tuesday. According to the New York Post, Tito Moses, 31, and Steven Wortman, 40, were busted after trying to sell the video to undercover cops posing as Anthony's associates. "They were shocked because they thought they were coming for their payday--and instead, they got the surprise of their lives," Major Case Squad Inspector Michael Hines told the newspaper. The men were arraigned Wednesday night on charges of conspiracy, attempted grand larceny and possession of stolen property. According to police, the alleged extortionists first got hold of the laptop on Oct. 30, after jacking Anthony's car, which contained the computer, while he was filming a music video on location in Linden, New Jersey. Cops later located the vehicle in Newark, but the laptop was MIA. Weeks later, a man calling himself "Mr. Moses" attempted to sell the video to several media outlets, including People magazine, Access Hollywood and the New York Post, all of which refused to pay for the footage. The man then contacted Marc Anthony Productions demanded a big-bucks payment for the laptop. Assistant District Attorney Jordan Arnold told the Post that Moses and Wortman "essentially held it for ransom" and when their seven-figure price tag was not immediately accepted, the two men "threatened to destroy" the video. The couple's lawyers touched base with the NYPD, and a detective, posing as a member of the couple's team, began negotiating with Moses. According to the Post, the detective talked down the price to $200,000. Moses and Wortman, whose rap sheets include manslaughter, theft and weapons charges, were collared when they showed up for the money exchange. "Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez are completely thrilled," Hines said. The couple are currently in New York City filming El Cantante, a biopic of salsa singer Hector Lavoe that they are jointly producing and starring in.
"El Cantante" (The Singer) started filming Sunday in New York. Shooting is also planned in Puerto Rico, with release scheduled for sometime next year. Anthony will portray Lavoe and Lopez his wife, Puchi. Other featured actors include John Ortiz as Willie Colon. Lopez is also serving as a producer. Leon Ichaso ("Pineiro") is directing. "El Cantante" takes its name from the song written by Ruben Blades and popularized by Lavoe, who in the 1970s rose to become one of the great voices of salsa in the New York music scene, at the height of the genre's popularity. Lavoe, who initially recorded with Colon, later went solo and reached the peak of his fame in the mid 1970s. His long list of hits also include "El Periodico de Ayer" and "Calle Luna, Calle Sol," recorded with Colon. In the 1980s, as salsa's popularity declined, Lavoe saw his health slide and, suffering from drug and alcohol problems, attempted suicide by jumping from a 10-story building and survived. He died in 1993.
The network unveiled its rather short midseason roster Wednesday (Nov. 30). Only two new shows will make their debuts in January, with the recently announced unscripted show "Get This Party Started" joining the Jennifer Lopez-produced drama "South Beach" on the schedule. First up will be "South Beach," which will fill the 8 p.m. Wednesday timeslot between cycles of "America's Next Top Model." It will open with a two-hour premiere on Jan. 11. The show follows best friends Matt (Marcus Coloma, "Point Pleasant") and Vincent (Chris Johnson, "XXX: State of the Union"), who have left their previous lives behind and moved to the glam Miami neighborhood of the title. Matt is chasing his model ex-girlfriend (Odette Yustman), while the ambitious Vincent wades into the city's underworld. Giancarlo Esposito ("Homicide," "Derailed") and Vanessa L. Williams ("Boomtown," "Johnson Family Vacation") also star. "Get This Party Started," an unscripted show in which high-end party planners put together bashes for deserving everyday folks, is set to premiere Tuesday, Jan. 24. New episodes will air in the 9 p.m. ET spot where the drama "Sex, Love & Secrets" fizzled earlier this season. Starting Jan. 31, an encore of the previous week's "Party" will air at 8 p.m. Tuesdays. A premiere date for the sixth edition of "Top Model" hasn't been set, but the show is likely to return in March.
The head of The Firm, the talent management company that lost a bundle of A-list stars this past year, set up two meetings with his client Jennifer Lopez, and failed to show both times without explanation. The missed appointments happened the week of Sept. 5, the same week Lopez's movie "An Unfinished Life" premiered. A source told PAGE SIX: "She was in town for her premiere. Jeff set up a couple of meetings, and as a favor to Jeff she took the meetings. She shows up at the first meeting and waits. He never shows. At some point J-Lo said as a joke, 'OK, so I guess I will lead the meeting. What are you proposing?' " Kwatinetz rescheduled the meeting for another day — and once again failed to show up. He never explained why he missed the appointments, our source said. Firm spokesman Mark Pollock said he could not say whether or not a meeting was missed because Kwatinetz was traveling. But he said: "There are eight hours of meetings a day and meetings get missed sometimes. The important thing is that there is no problem between Jeff and Jennifer Lopez. This sounds like somebody trying to drive a wedge between them for their own reasons." Lopez's rep, Leslie Sloane Zelnick, didn't return calls. Last July, The Firm lost clients Sarah Michelle Gellar, Brittany Murphy, Natalie Portman, Orlando Bloom, Laura Linney and Freddie Prinze Jr. Since then, a string of senior executives has also bolted from the shop. Kwatinetz's allies have cast the staff exits as a "correction" to streamline the company after its takeover of Mike Ovitz's Artists Management Group. The Firm still represents Kelly Clarkson, Linkin Park, Snoop Dogg, Audioslave, Cameron Diaz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Martin Scorsese, Samuel L. Jackson and Rachel Weisz. Meanwhile, the irked Lopez is still sticking by Kwatinetz, at least for now. "He is technically her manager but only gets commission off of the deals he sets up for her," the insider said. "So far, he has done nothing for her, so he has earned no commission from her. It costs her nothing to keep him on and is no skin off of her nose."
Sources said that her production company, Nuyorican Prods., is in discussions with MTV to produce an untitled music reality series. The project would chronicle the lives of several dancers in Los Angeles who are following in Lopez's footsteps, trying to make it in the business. Lopez, a former Fly Girl dancer on Fox's early-'90s comedy series "In Living Color," is said to be executive producing with Simon Fields, a partner in Lopez's company.
Lopez, radiant in a figure-flattering black Rochas gown, her voice cracking, presented the evening's first award to Shakila, a woman from Afghanistan who was saved from an abusive marriage and later started a tailoring business after borrowing the equivalent of $100 from Parwaz, a local microfinance institution. Tim Robbins hosted the United Nations Year of Microcredit Gala "Celebrating the Unsung Heroes of Poverty Eradication," which paid tribute to the low-income entrepreneurs who traveled from poor countries worldwide and have used microfinance services to fight poverty. "Give a man or woman an opportunity to create a business and five years later, there are 1,000 jobs there," Robbins said. Chelsea Clinton, Judith Light, Alyssa Milano, Richard Branson, Rebecca De Mornay, Rory Kennedy, Kelly Stone and the U.N.'s Christina Barrineau also presented awards. Didn't it seem odd to bring in American celebrities, whose incomes are well above average, when the poor from around the world are being honored? "I'm here as a citizen, not as an actress," said De Mornay, who wore Romeo Gigli. A year ago, she became involved with the Foundation for International Community Assistance. "They asked me here because I'm an actress, but that's not why I'm here." The event was a reunion for Light and Milano, who starred together on the 1984-92 hit TV show Who's the Boss? For the past few years, Milano has been a UNICEF ambassador. "Tonight is about giving people hope," said Milano, dressed in a strapless black cocktail-length dress by Diane von Furstenberg. "The only way we're going to eradicate poverty is to empower people."
Ojani Noa's attorney did not say why he asked the court to dismiss the suit with prejudice, which would prevent Noa from refiling. Attorney David deRubertis did not return a call Friday from The Associated Press seeking comment. Noa sued Lopez last year in Superior Court, alleging she fired him six months after he took the job at Madre's restaurant for $1,000 a week. Lopez's attorney Barry Hirsch also did not return messages. Noa and Lopez met when he was a waiter at a Miami restaurant. The two married in 1997 and divorced a year later. Lopez's was married to choreographer Cris Judd before she married singer Marc Anthony.
It will be the first time that Lopez performs onstage in the Dominican Republic. Anthony has performed four times in the Caribbean country. Lopez's participation shows how important the festival has become to Latin and Caribbean artists and "the affection and respect she has for her roots," said festival spokeswoman Maribel Hernandez. The sixth biennial President of Latin Music Festival will be held in Santo Domingo's Felix Sanchez Olympic Stadium. Some 150,000 people are expected to attend. Spanish pop-singer David Bisbal, Puerto Rican reggaeton singer Daddy Yankee and Dominican merengue singer Sergio Vargas will perform on Saturday and Sunday.
Wearing a blond wig, slacks and long-sleeved shirts, Lopez plays a Chicago-based reporter sent to Mexico to investigate the wave of more than 300 slayings in Ciudad Juarez, a violent border city in Chihuahua state across from El Paso, Texas. Directed by Gregory Nava and co-starring Antonio Banderas, "Bordertown" is being shot in the Mexican city of Nogales on the border with Arizona. In baking heat on Friday, Lopez shot scenes in a shantytown of tin-roofed shacks, set up to look like a Ciudad Juarez neighborhood where many women were killed. Security was extremely tight for the 35-year-old A-list star. Heavily armed Mexican police patrolled the set and three bodyguards were there along with her salsa star husband Marc Anthony to protect Lopez every time she stepped out of her sport utility vehicle for the shoots. Scores of star-struck Mexican film extras shivered in the morning cold on Friday, waiting for Lopez' camera call. "I've only ever seen her in films before, and now getting to work with her is just thrilling," said 53-year-old clothing trader Gustavo Moreno. The week-long location shoot has brought traffic to a standstill in the dusty border city as thousands of residents and visitors jostled to catch a glimpse of the star, who has a huge following in Latin America. "It's been just great for Nogales," Sonora state film commissioner Adolfo Salido told Reuters at a hotel in the city used by some cast and crew members. "It's brought in a lot of money and publicity, as well as giving local people some excitement," he added. The shoot also gave day work to more than 200 local market stall holders, students and housewives, who have been paid up to 500 pesos a day to play roles ranging from market traders to corpses laid up on a mortuary slab. "It's kind of a fun experience, though a little scary," said Crystal Zelk, a student from southern Arizona. "I play a corpse and it's creepy to think of my family seeing me there in the morgue, dead," she added. OUTRAGE SPARKED More than 370 women have been beaten, stabbed or strangled to death in Ciudad Juarez since 1993. Around a third of them have been sexually assaulted or raped. The killings have sparked outrage and inspired other filmmakers. "Bordertown" is the third attempt to bring the notorious killings to the screen in just over a year. In June 2004, Mexican television giant TV Azteca broadcast a soap opera-style drama dubbed "As Infinite as the Desert," which characterized the murders as the work of serial killers, Satanic cults and snuff film makers. "The Virgin of Juarez," an as-yet unreleased film starring Minnie Driver and Mexican actress Ana Claudia Talancon, lent a religious twist to the murders, framing them through the experience of a girl who suffers stigmata following an assault. While cautious in the past about the way real victims' stories have been represented, families of the murdered women in the city welcomed the filming of the latest high-profile Hollywood production, which they hope may pressure Mexican authorities to finally solve the crimes. "The fact that they are bringing attention to bear on the problem is good in itself," said Norma Andrade, the president of family support group Nuestras Hijas de Regreso a Casa. "It will prevent the government from hiding the facts."
Traffic backed up around the set and hundreds of people crowded the streets of Nogales, across from Nogales, Ariz., to get a glimpse of Lopez, who was accompanied by her husband, singer Marc Anthony, local newspapers reported Tuesday. In "Bordertown," co-written and directed by Gregory Nava, Lopez plays a Chicago-based reporter sent to Mexico to investigate the killings. Dressed in a blue shirt, khaki pants and a blonde wig, Lopez chased a bus and attended a street protest in the first two scenes filmed in Nogales on Monday. After each scene, the crowd of onlookers broke into applause, newspapers reported. The film, which also includes Antonio Banderas, began production in New Mexico in July. Filming in Nogales, where a crew has already built a shantytown resembling Anapra, a Juarez neighborhood where many of the victims lived, will last at least a week and the production will then move to Mexicali, on the California border, according to newspaper reports.
Lopez introduced her hubby, Marc Anthony, before his concert at the Downtown Cipriani at 55 Wall St. Thursday night, and organizers were shocked when "she didn't ask for anything special," said one source. "Nothing — no flowers, candles or special treatment. She didn't even sit backstage. She was acting like a normal person for once. Even Marc played for just $50,000, a relatively small sum compared to what he could get." While Lopez — who posed for pics with her husband for the first time — was well behaved, her family and Anthony's family, all at the front table, were not. One spy said the clans smoked throughout dinner, and when hairdresser Rodolfo Valentin asked them to stop, they said, "We can do whatever we want." Valentin reminded them it was New York City law to put out their butts and "stayed standing next to their table until they stopped." Lopez and Anthony did not intercede on their relatives' behalf, and the spy swears La Lopez actually "appreciated" Valentin's gestures. So why has Lopez been looking so great lately? We hear she is working once more with her old makeup artist, Scott Barnes. Barnes is credited with her makeup on the cover of this month's Glamour. The two had a famous falling out last year when she accused him of tattling her secrets to tabloids — a charge he has always denied. Also at Anthony's concert was the hardest- partying gal in Hollywood, Tara Reid — who seemed to still be having a good time despite rumors that her E! show, "Taradise," would not be renewed. At the concert, Reid danced with abandon, shaking her arms over her head until Anthony's set was half over, then flopped into a chair from which she couldn't be moved until 45 minutes later. Spies giggled when they saw men try to lift the starlet to dance again, but she would not budge. But even this was mild compared to Reid's antics in Ibiza last week, when our spywitness says she "had to be helped in and out of the bathroom by two big security guards" at the club Pacha during Erick Morillo's party. As Reid left the bathroom with the two men, one passerby said: "I didn't recognize her standing up!" Another laughed: "I didn't recognize her with her t - - - covered!"
The charity is sending mobile health care units to provide health care for victims of Hurricane Katrina throughout the Gulf region. For more information, log on to childrenshealthfund.org. In other news, Jennifer was dragged out onstage by television host Joy Behar, during Marc Anthony's appearance on ABC's The View last week. Marc was on the show with his tour-mates, Mexican superstar Alejandro Fernandez and Puerto Rican pop idol Chayanne, when Behar invited the reluctant Jennifer to join them onstage. Behar apparently got up from her seat, went backstage and dragged Jennifer out in front of the audience where the actress smiled, waved, blew kisses and scampered off stage again without saying a word.
Directed by Lasse Hallström, An Unfinished Life is an engrossing character study about estranged family members crippled by loss and hardened by guilt and resentment. Though it is an ensemble effort, the film belongs to Redford and Morgan Freeman. Both are masters of subtext: Redford can communicate volumes in a laconic sentence; Freeman takes cryptically philosophical lines and delivers them like profound truths. Redford plays Einar Gilkyson, an old-school cowboy defined by the vast countryside and emotionally decimated by the death of his only son. Freeman is Mitch, a ranch hand for decades, now disabled after being mauled by a bear. Both men are scarred: Freeman's wounds are visible on his face and body, while Redford's wracking pain is internal. Freeman has found a way to forgive but never forget. Redford's character can do neither. Into this remote setting comes Jean, Einar's estranged daughter-in-law played by Jennifer Lopez, and her 11-year-old daughter, Griff, talented newcomer Becca Gardner. They are bruised souls, too. Lopez is literally black and blue, thanks to an abusive boyfriend; Griff is lonely and tired of putting up with her mother's string of bad guys. Jean hooks up with the town sheriff (Josh Lucas), but their romance seems oddly disjointed and thin, as if some key parts ended up on the cutting-room floor. Freeman and Redford have more chemistry than these two good-looking specimens. Lopez, however, reveals a depth and subtlety that has not been evident since her early roles. An Unfinished Life doesn't succumb to the emotional dumbing-down that has become the norm in movies. Poignant and well-acted, it offers heartfelt moments leavened by subtle humor.
"He was my mother's favorite actor of all time," Lopez told reporters in New York before Friday's release of "An Unfinished Life" in which she stars opposite the Hollywood legend. "This is the man my mother lived for. My career means something now because I've worked with Robert Redford." Lopez's acting career has seen highs and lows -- she was nominated for a Golden Globe for the 1997 film "Selena" but won Hollywood's least-coveted award, a "Razzie," for the worst in the business, for the 2003 film "Gigli." After the critically acclaimed "Out of Sight" with George Clooney in 1998 she launched her alternative career as a musician, achieving commercial success that has sometimes overshadowed her parallel work in romantic comedies such as "Maid in Manhattan" and "The Wedding Planner." Her real life romantic dramas have often attracted as much attention as her work, from a spectacular public bust-up with actor Ben Affleck to last year's marriage to Latin music star Marc Anthony. In her new film, Lopez plays the widowed and estranged daughter-in-law of Redford's character. She returns to his ranch in Wyoming with her daughter to escape an abusive relationship. She made the film more than two years ago, right after "Maid in Manhattan." "There was a real desire to do something a little bit more character-driven, a little bit more dramatic," she said. "I go back and forth. It's something I've always done. Of course the romantic comedies and the commercial successes get more attention but this is something that I enjoy doing."
Sound familiar? The relationships between the three main characters draws obvious comparisons to Clint Eastwood's Oscar-winning "Million Dollar Baby," but "An Unfinished Life" is a very different film, and not just because the "daughter" figure is played by Jennifer Lopez rather than Hilary Swank. Set in wild Wyoming and directed by Lasse Hallstrom, whose credits include "Chocolat" and "The Cider House Rules," it is a slow meditation on grudges and forgiveness, with a grizzly bear and an 11-year-old girl thrown in to stir things up. Redford says he even broke one of his longstanding rules -- never to act with a bear -- so that he could play in the film. Redford's character Einar has been brooding over the death of his son for more than a decade, alone on his ranch but for his hired hand and old friend Mitch, played by Freeman. Einar's daughter-in-law Jean, who was driving the car in the accident that killed her husband, returns to the ranch with her daughter, whose existence is a surprise to Einar, after she is beaten one too many times by her current boyfriend. "The film is very, very different from the normal kind of films that are coming out right now," Redford said, adding that falling U.S. box-office numbers might be linked to public dissatisfaction with fast-paced, action blockbusters. "They're so full of high-tech and slam-bam technical stuff that the public is getting tired of it and they might be looking for something else and this film might fit that," he told Reuters in an interview before the film's limited release on Friday. "This is different in the sense that it allows an audience to reflect as it moves. It does have the kind of flow of a river flowing," Redford said. A DELAY Early reviews have been mixed, not helped by questions over why it was put on the shelf for some two years since it was made -- a delay that Redford attributed to producer Miramax's corporate wrangling with parent company Disney. "This was made before 'Million Dollar Baby'... but this was put on the shelf for so long," Redford said, acknowledging the similarity in the relationships in the two films. Redford said he was so drawn to the part of Einar, a former alcoholic who defends the honor of a local waitress by bruising two local lads and runs Jean's abusive ex-boyfriend out of town, that he broke a personal vow never to work with bears. Ever since he was chased up a tree by a bear while filming the 1972 film "Jeremiah Johnson," the actor best known for "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" and "The Sting" has kept his distance from wild animals. "I don't subscribe to the idea of wild animals being tamed. I don't think they're ever really tamed," he said, admitting to nerves while filming several close encounters with the bear. Redford was full of praise for his other co-star, Lopez, the singer whose acting credits have tended to be romantic comedies such as "Monster-in-Law" and "The Wedding Planner," to say nothing of the much-derided "Gigli." "The worst thing that can happen for an artist is to get trapped and stereotyped," he said. "She's a talented person." Though it has been some years since he played a romantic lead, some fans may still balk at seeing him relegated to the role of grandfather. At 68, Redford has no such qualms. "How you're seen by others is their business; it's really not yours," he said. "You just do what you want to do ... How it's identified is up to other people, it's really not up to me. So sex symbol or goof ball -- whatever."
The film never realizes its dramatic potential, choosing to take predictable story paths with obvious characters. Indeed, the characters all but wear signs that sum up their essence: Bitter Old Cowboy, Abused Woman, Noble Wise Friend, Neglected Child. The story, for all its good intentions, never digs deep into their souls. "An Unfinished Life," made by the usually reliable Lasse Hallstrom two years ago, is among many films caught up in Miramax's unfortunate change-of-business sale as the one-time indie darling is clearing its shelves in a troubling manner. The cast should mean a solid opening weekend, but without an enthusiastic marketing campaign, the film is not likely to dwell long in theaters. In the end, even enthusiastic marketing probably won't save the stale story. For one thing, a traffic accident is a hard thing on which to hang a drama about nearly a lifetime's worth of regret, recrimination and sorrow. Lopez's Jean Gilkyson was driving a car that flipped over and killed her young husband many years earlier. Her father-in-law, Redford's Einar Gilkyson, still blames and detests her as if she were guilty of premeditated murder. Now the two are forced back together against their wishes. Fleeing an abusive relationship with her boyfriend (a surly, two-dimensional Damian Lewis), Jean has little money and nowhere to go. So she shows up at Einar's gone-to-seed Wyoming ranch with his granddaughter, Griff (Gardner). The kicker is, she never told Einar he had a granddaughter. The only person glad to see the two is Freeman's Mitch Bradley, Einar's hired hand and best friend for 40 years. He now needs a daily shot of morphine to keep going after being mauled by a grizzly bear. He is virtually the only person left in Einar's life following Einar's battle with the bottle. The bear (Bart the Bear II) also shows up at the ranch, but Sheriff Crane Curtis (Josh Lucas) captures it before Einar can kill it. Strangely, Mitch insists that Einar feed the captive animal and later asks him to free it. So you get it? One forgives, the other doesn't. And boy, does that grizzly become one lumbering symbolic bear before the movie is done. All plot developments are predictable. The granddaughter softens up the irascible cowboy. Jean hooks up with the handsome sheriff, but her daughter disapproves. Her boyfriend tracks her down and issues threats. Granddad gets to demonstrate that this young punk is no match for his aging macho. (He warms up by beating up a couple of drunks who harass Camryn Manheim's Nina in a coffee shop.) The movie's best moments come in the older actors' interaction with young Gardner. The actors seem to genuinely relax in their scenes with her. Otherwise, the roles hem everyone in, forcing each to hit the same notes again and again. Redford mumbles under his breath much of the time, playing the grumpy, mean old man to the hilt without ever suggesting what kind of a man he once was. On the other hand, Lopez could have used a dose of true grit as she looks too glamorous for her surroundings. Freeman, we now know, used this role to prepare for Scrap-Iron Dupris in "Million Dollar Baby." (At times, the Redford-Freeman old-codger quarrels echo those between Freeman and Clint Eastwood in "Baby.") British Columbia substitutes nicely for Wyoming, as Oliver Stapleton's appreciative cinematography, David Gropman's Western design and Christopher Young's spare musical score luxuriate in those wide-open spaces. Miramax and Revolution Studios present in association with Initial Entertainment Group. A Ladd Co. production. Cast: Einar Gilkyson: Robert Redford; Jean: Jennifer Lopez; Mitch Bradley: Morgan Freeman; Crane: Josh Lucas; Nina: Camryn Manheim; Gary: Damian Lewis; Griff: Becca Gardner. Director: Lasse Hallstrom; Screenwriters: Mark Spragg, Virginia Korus Spragg; Producers: Leslie Holleran, Kellian Ladd, Alan Ladd Jr.; Executive producers: Joe Roth; Graham King, Mark Rydell, Matthew Rhodes, Harvey Weinstein, Bob Weinstein, Michelle Raimo, Meryl Poster; Director of photography: Oliver Stapleton; Production designer: David Gropman; Music: Christopher Young; Costumes: Tish Monaghan; Editor: Andrew Mondshein.
Gonzales, the country's first Hispanic attorney general, was born in San Antonio to Mexican immigrants who worked as migrant workers when he was young. He could be nominated for a position on the U.S. Supreme Court before President George W. Bush's term ends. The magazine notes in its Aug. 22 edition that the former Texas Supreme Court justice has helped Bush "build a more muscular executive branch." Time reports that funnyman George Lopez, whose George Lopez show has had a solid run since its debut in 2002, is one of only three Latinos who have played lead roles in hit network sitcoms starring Hispanics. Jennifer Lopez is a no-brainer for the list, the magazine says, embodying the American dream of success through hard work and ambition. Also among the Time Top 25 Hispanics are Cuban-Irish writer Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez, Cuban-American Senator Mel Martinez and Mexican-American filmmaker Robert Rodriguez
The slayings have been the subject of scores of books, songs, documentaries and TV series. But victims' relatives worry the films will exacerbate Juarez's already tattered image and do little to pressure authorities to solve the crimes. "Bordertown," with Lopez and Banderas, began production in New Mexico last month. In coming weeks, production will move to the border city of Nogales, where a crew has already built a shantytown resembling Anapra, a Juarez neighborhood where many of the victims lived. In the film, co-written and directed by Gregory Nava, Lopez plays a Chicago-based reporter sent to Mexico to investigate the killings and who meets a young factory worker who survived an attack. Banderas also plays a U.S. reporter. "The Virgin of Juarez," stars Driver, who plays a Los Angeles-based reporter sent to investigate the killings, and Ana Claudia Talacon, who portrays a survivor of the vicious attacks. The film was completed last year but has yet to be released. Authorities say 340 women have been slain over the last 12 years in Juarez, a city of about 1.3 million people across from El Paso, Texas. But human rights groups say the number of women killed is much higher. At least 100 of those deaths appear to fit a pattern where a young, slender woman was sexually assaulted, strangled and dumped in the desert outside Juarez. Some have speculated that they were the work of a serial killer, but investigators have denied that. Ciudad Juarez garnered international attention after victims' relatives, backed by Mexican and international activists, started expressing outrage over the alleged corruption, ineptitude and indifference of investigators. The relatives complained that prosecutors seemed to be more interested in closing cases using fabricated evidence than unearthing the truth. A few men have been convicted in the killings, and dozens more have been arrested. But many suspects have been released after judges threw out their cases, and some have claimed to have been tortured into confessing. Activists and victims' mothers acknowledge they don't know a lot about the films, and say they were never approached by those involved in the productions. They fear the films will concentrate on gruesome details instead of bringing attention to the sloppy police work and the lack of results in the investigations. "Even the title is guileful," Victoria Caraveo, a longtime Juarez activist, said of "The Virgin of Juarez." "I know that those people are artists and have a certain sensibility. But what worries me is the context of their work." Caraveo was especially critical of the fact that both films follow U.S. journalists as they investigate the slayings. "Where were these journalists when the killings started?" Caraveo said. "If it hadn't been for the mothers, who keep demanding justice, the situation here would still be ignored." Josefina Lopez, a Los Angeles-based playwright and screenwriter whose credits include "Real Women Have Curves," decided to write a movie about the slayings after visiting the city. "I went to visit the murder site in Lomas de Poleo, and when I was there I had a feeling that a lot of the spirits of those women were still there," Lopez said. Lopez — whose film is in preproduction for HBO — said she didn't interview any of the victims' relatives and collected stories through testimony given to a documentary filmmaker and from press articles. "If the end result is that more people hear about the killings and the killings stop, then the more films, the better," Lopez said. Ciudad Juarez Mayor Hector Murguia said he expects the films to bend the facts and further distort the city's image. "Some people like to focus on yellow journalism, but it's not right that they only talk about this tragedy and not show the real face of Juarez," he said. One of the most criticized projects was a drama produced by Mexico's TV Azteca titled "As Infinite as the Desert." The two-week series, which aired last year, depicted some of the most gruesome murders using real victims' names. Activists and victims' relatives demanded that the series be pulled off the air and threatened to sue the network. Although the mothers backed off the lawsuit against TV Azteca, they did succeed in pressuring Los Tigres del Norte, Mexico's most popular norteno band, to cancel a concert in Ciudad Juarez. Los Tigres were promoting a new album that included the hit single "The Women of Juarez," a song that denounced the killings. "Anyone thinks they can film a movie or make a song or a soap opera about our daughters," said Rosaura Montanez, whose 19-year-old daughter was kidnapped after leaving a friend's home, raped and killed in 1995. "It seems our daughters died so these people would have material for their songs and movies. It's just not fair." But not all the victims' relatives are critical of the attention. Paula Flores, whose 17-year-old daughter was killed in 1998, has always talked to anyone who wants to hear about her plight in hopes that the attention will force authorities to act. "I'm for (the films) if they are done with respect toward our daughters and they can help us with our demand for justice," she said. "What I want is for the whole world to know that we live in impunity, in a city without law."
Electric-pink cargo pocket knit pants, a faux crocodile leather clutch purse and a wild rose camisole with a removable garter belt are among items likely to be featured at the singer-actress' store within a store. Planning with the Minneapolis-based Field's began in March. "We kind of approached each other," explained Andy Hilfiger, president and co-founder of JLo parent company Sweetface Fashion and brother of designer Tommy Hilfiger. "Our long-term plan is to open concept shops in many stores, but Chicago is such a brilliant start." Lopez, who began her design career in 2001, is set to open the Field's boutique on Sept. 22, when she'll also attend a fashion show highlighting her clothing. The event will benefit Children's Memorial Hospital. Hilfiger said he hopes to open boutiques in department stores in New York, Miami, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
* Tom Cruise has only two ways of expressing himself: He either wields a "dead-serious expression," like Ben Stiller's "Blue Steel" stare in "Zoolander," or he just "laughs and laughs inexplicably," flashing his million-dollar choppers. "It's disturbing. You don't know what he's laughing about." * Brad Pitt, up close, lives up to his last name. "He has pockmarks the size of the La Brea Tar Pits and his teeth are yellow and cigarette-stained." * Jennifer Lopez is "gorgeous, but totally business-like, terrible. There was nothing real about it." Says one journo, "I was the only one who dared ask her something about Marc Anthony. She responded with a non-answer, but her Miramax publicist muscled me after it. I said, 'See you later,' and the publicist said, 'I doubt it.' " * When he doesn't like a question, the Dalai Lama-loving Richard Gere has perfected "the silent treatment." Additionally, the Brazilian celebrity magazine Contigo excavated these junketeers' comments about other stars: * Harrison Ford "proves why his bad temper is so well-known," says one writer. "When I mentioned the word 'charisma,' and asked him why he's so in demand to play heroes on screen, he cut me off, saying, 'If you want to talk about charisma, go find Ricky Martin.' I was speechless after that." * Catherine Zeta-Jones is "astonishingly beautiful, no arguing that. But intellectually, she's weak. When she doesn't understand a question, which isn't rare, she tries to make up anything by way of a response. The worst part is when she makes jokes, she's the only one who laughs. A total embarrassment." * Andy Garcia is "a great disappointment. I thought he would be charming and interesting. But at the 'Ocean's Eleven' junket, I met a plain man in an ugly jacket who was fat and slung into a chair." * Angelina Jolie, an exception to the rule, is "one of the most fun celebrities to interview. She's always in jeans and without make-up."
Nicknames have long been used as terms of endearment in close relationships with friends, family members, and couples. When celebrities gain recognition with their fans through a nickname, it often connotes a closer bond between a celebrity and his or her fans. Therefore, PR.com runs the "Best Celebrity Nickname" Award to recognize the best celebrity nicknames. Qualities that we look for in a great celebrity nickname? Creativity, a sense of irony, genuine affection for that celebrity, and a name that suits the celebrity's personality are all considered in choosing the winner of PR.com's "Best Celebrity Nickname" Award. Regis Philbin, aka "Big Daddy," epitomizes the traits that make a great nickname. That's why Regis Philbin is the winner of the 2005 PR.com Award for "Best Celebrity Nickname." There was stiff competition this year among many creative, interesting, weird and wild nicknames of celebrities, but "Big Daddy" pulled ahead of the pack when all was said and done. With much public anticipation for this year's winner, PR.com has taken extremely careful measures to avoid any leaks of information, whether about the guarded list of nominees or the ultimate winner. So, here it finally is, the list of the top fifty nominees, the best celebrity nicknames of 2005: 1. Regis Philbin Big Daddy Artist - Certified Units (in Millions) 1. BEATLES, THE - 168.5 This chart was generated on 6/20/2005. To see the complete list visit here
MOVIES Choice Actress: Comedy However, it came no where close to last year's winner, "Troy," which opened to $46.9 million. For his fifth wide release in a row, Will Ferrell's "Kicking & Screaming" opened in the No. 2 spot with $20.9 million, joining the ranks of "Anchorman," "Elf," "Old School" and "Zoolander." Opening wide but only on 1955 screens, Jet Li's "Unleashed" came in third with an estimated $10.6 million. "Kingdom of Heaven" ($9.6 million) and "Crash" ($7.2 million) round out the Top Five. "Kingdom of Heaven" dropped 51 percent from last week's No. 1 debut, bringing its total gross thus far to $35.1 million. The rest of the Top 10 are made up of films in their second to fourth weeks of release, except for "Mindhunters," the thriller starring Val Kilmer, LL Cool J and Christian Slater, which debuted at No. 10 and averaged $1,926 for each of its 1040 screens, bringing its estimated gross to $2 million. Overall, this week's Top 12 grossed an estimated $95.5 million, up 21.7 percent from last weekend. Next week, the summer movie season kicks into gear with the premiere of George Lucas' "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith" on Thursday. These are estimates by Exhibitor Relations, which tracks daily box-office receipts.
"I've never really had any trouble with boyfriends' moms or any moms of anybody that I've been with," Lopez told reporters recently, according to AP Radio. "So, I've been lucky. They like me." After her much-publicized romances with Sean "P. Diddy" Combs and Ben Affleck, Lopez wed Marc Anthony in June 2004. She was previously married to Cris Judd and Ojani Noa. In "Monster-in-Law," which opens Friday, Jane Fonda plays a mother trying to sabotage the upcoming nuptials of her son, played by Michael Vartan, and Lopez. Lopez and Fonda's characters literally come to blows. "We wound up slapping each other a lot," Lopez told reporters. "I did get her bad in the eye. ... She said with my ring. I don't even remember doing it to her. ... That happened after doing it a few times. ... But my face was swollen, you could see it, I think, in one of the takes."
But it's worse than that. Fonda, one of the best actors of her generation, is downright awful in a role she could have -- and probably should have -- sleepwalked through. Strident and off-key in every scene, she leaves herself nowhere to go to develop or deepen an already tissue-thin and brittle character. As the title forewarns, the movie is determined to reprise every trite mother-in-law joke ever told by a borscht belt comic despite the fact these went out of fashion about 40 years ago. Possibly something might have developed from an aging woman's fear that her only son's marriage will rob her of his love. But cheap laughs are all we get from Anya Kochoff's exceedingly tired screenplay. Women are the film's target audience. But despite the intriguing pairing of Fonda and Jennifer Lopez as mortal enemies, interest from even that demographic will falter once they realize how bitter and broad the comedy is. The opening act sets in motion a beguiling if routine romantic comedy. Charlie (Lopez), a Venice Beach dogwalker and temp, and Kevin (Michael Vartan), a newly relocated doctor, meet cute three times before he asks her out. One roadblock to romance lies in another interested female's attempt to discourage Charlie's pursuit of Kevin by convincing her Kevin is gay, a lame device that foreshadows plot gimmicks to come. Otherwise, things go smoothly for the couple right up to the moment Kevin introduces Charlie to Mom. Fonda's Viola Fields is supposedly a woman in midlife meltdown following a firing from her post as one of the nation's top TV journalists. A Barbara Walters-like interviewer and news personality, comfortable in the presence of Henry Kissinger, the Dalai Lama and Snoop Dogg, we are now asked to believe Viola cannot handle a new daughter-in-law. The film offers little pretext for the war this angry and alcoholic woman wages against her son's perfectly lovely fiancee. Nor do her strategies yield any genuinely funny moments. Wanda Sykes plays Viola's personal assistant, who gamely but ineffectively struggles to calm the waters only for them to remain roiled by single-minded nastiness. The film sends Kevin off to a medical convention during most of the shenanigans, which blunts our concern over why he hasn't forced a truce between the two women in his life. But this also marginalizes his character, reducing him to a virtual dress extra at his own wedding. The nadir of this pathetic conflict comes on the wedding day, where Viola and Charlie smack each other several times in the face. This scene gets saved by a cameo appearance by Elaine Stritch, playing Viola's own "monster-in-law." This appearance not only gives us a reason for Viola's rage but also provides the movie with its only moment of real drama. Things play out predictably from there. Stuck in banal roles are Annie Parisse as Charlie's best gal pal; Adam Scott as the gay next door, who drops by to offer witty asides; and Monet Mazur, Kevin's blonde-bitch ex-girifriend. Does writing get more by-the-numbers than this? Director Robert Luketic ("Legally Blonde") maintains a lively pace, but one wishes he had done more to prevent Fonda's one-note performance. Technical credits are solid. Cast: Charlie: Jennifer Lopez; Viola Fields: Jane Fonda; Kevin: Michael Vartan; Ruby: Wanda Sykes; Remy: Adam Scott; Fiona: Monet Mazur; Morgan: Annie Parisse; Gertrude: Elaine Stritch. Director: Robert Luketic; Screenwriter: Anya Kochoff; Producers: Chris Bender, JC Spink, Paula Weinstein; Executive producers: Michael Flynn, Toby Emmerich, Richard Brener; Director of photography: Russell Carpenter; Production designer: Missy Stewart; Music: David Newman; Costumes: Kym Barrett; Editors: Scott Hill, Kevin Tent.
The protesters, who included some people dressed in animal suits, complained that they have asked several times that Lopez eliminate fur from her clothing line, but have been ignored. "She could make a difference in a positive manner, and what she does is cause the death of a lot of animals," protester Linda Kraemer said during Friday's demonstration in front of the National Theater in Westwood. Lopez was asked what she thought of the protesters. "I don't," she replied as she headed into the premiere. Others involved in the film said the demonstration didn't bother them. "It's America. You have a right to protest and do whatever you want to do," said actress Wanda Sykes.
Set on the U.S.-Mexico border, the film centers on a journalist who investigates a series of murders that take place in the vicinity of U.S.-owned factories in the region. Gregory Nava, who directed Lopez in the 1997 biopic "Selena," is directing the picture, which is being fully financed by Mobius Entertainment. In 2001, Nava and Banderas signed up to work together on the Walt Disney Co. film "Zapata." "Bordertown," which previously was set up at New Line Cinema, is due to shoot in New Mexico and Mexico. Banderas most recently starred in "Imagining Argentina," and in "Shrek 2" he voiced Puss in Boots. He'll reprise the swashbuckling feline character in an animated adventure starring the cat, as well as in "Shrek 3." Also among the actor's upcoming films is "The Legend of Zorro" -- the sequel to 1998's "The Mask of Zorro," in which he starred with Catherine Zeta-Jones. His other credits include the "Spy Kids" films and "Original Sin." In his native Spain he appeared in numerous features, including Pedro Almodovar's "Law of Desire" and "Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!"
But does marriage make a man become less attractive? Well, it appears that it does, at least in the pages of People en Español magazine. In its "50 Most Beautiful" issue coming next week, Mrs. Marc Anthony, a k a Jennifer Lopez makes the cut. So does the former Mrs. Anthony — the beauty queen Dayanara Torres. But Marc himself is absent. Some of the publication's masculine love magnets include Javier Bardem, Wilmer Valderrama, John Leguizamo and "Desperate Housewives" leading man Ricardo Antonio Chavira. This marks Jennifer's fifth appearance in the annual issue that claims to tell us who is the fairest of the fair Latin style. Married, single, or just "thinking it over," she's always a knockout.
After exposing himself as Achilles in the Greek epic "Troy," Brad Pitt tops the list of best bottoms in a poll conducted by Oxygen magazine. His character may have been felled by his weak heel, but 34.4 percent of readers' votes judged that his posterior was his greatest strength. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson follows with 10.6 percent of the votes, while "The Pacifier" star Vin Diesel brings up the rear with 6.4 percent. It's no surprise that Jennifer Lopez leads the women in the poll (19.6 percent), with "Bootylicious" singer Beyonce Knowles seated at a close second (16.7 percent). Pitt and his "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" co-star Angelina Jolie will pose a double threat on screen, since she also made the list with an 8.8 percent vote for third place. The full results of the poll can be found in the June issue of the magazine, currently on newsstands. Moviegoers can ogle some of their favorite bottoms during the upcoming summer movie season. J. Lo's "Monster-in-Law" will hit theaters on Friday, May 13, with the spy romance "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" debuting a month later. "The Pink Panther" remake featuring Beyonce will steal into theaters in August.
PETA's vice president, Dan Mathews, says the animal-rights zealots are going to up the ante in their war against the fur-loving diva. Mathews told PAGE SIX: "J.Lo's next movie may well be a remake of 'Escape from L.A.' PETA has her in our sights. On April 29, we'll be waiting for her outside Jay Leno's 'Tonight' show studios at 4 p.m. with a 30-foot inflatable beaver with a banner saying 'Fur — Leave it to Beaver.' "Later that same day, we'll have a massive protest at the L.A. premiere of 'Monster-in-Law' with posters showing Lopez in pelts and the logo of the movie adapted to read 'Monster-in-Fur.' We'll also be at the Atlanta premiere she's supposed to attend with Jane Fonda on May 5. Maybe Jane can inform the apathetic fur hag what a protest is. "Lastly, on May 14, we'll be at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, where she's among the performers at the KIIS-FM annual festival. She sure is keeping our interns busy! "We hope [Lopez] will have a change of heart about promoting fur, but even if she doesn't, she's providing us with endless opportunities to show what happens when a star so thoughtlessly pushes such a violent industry." PETA has already caused Lopez a lot of embarrassment. During the promotion of her album, "Rebirth," last month, she was surrounded by PETA protestors at the Virgin Megastore in Times Square. "We had three people strategically placed on line to meet her," Mathews said. "And we showed videos of animals being electrocuted and skinned alive outside — it had a big effect on people going in." At one point, a well-brainwashed 12-year-old yelled at Lopez, "Murderer!" Even Pamela Anderson is getting in on the J.Lo hating. Anderson tells Jane magazine, "People who wear fur smell like a wet dog and they look fat and gross. They look really immature and unenlightened. Every season the furriers put propaganda everywhere that fur is taking off again and they give free coats to idiots like Jennifer Lopez and Puff Daddy. It makes me nauseous."
"It's just surprising to me how aggressive they are these days," Lopez said Sunday. "I mean, yesterday on the way home we almost got into an accident. It's just crazy. I feel like sometimes they feel like it's a game, like they're playing cops and robbers and everyone is 5." The day after the incident, heightened security at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills for Lopez's "Monster-in-Law" junket required journalists to wear pink wristbands to be allowed into interview while security guards roamed the hotel. "That's for the club later, there's a big party," joked Lopez about the wristbands. She says she didn't know about the extra security measures. "I actually did pull back a little bit, where you stopped seeing me everywhere all the time, I just stopped leaving my house," Lopez says, recounting the near-accident the took place while she was heading for dinner with her assistant. "All of a sudden this car gets right in front of us and it was a paparazzi trying to eat the light on the same turn with us. I got goose pimples," she says. "I didn't even realize that we were being pursued because I try to block the stuff out a little bit because that's the only way to kind of live," adds Lopez. "You don't want to think about being stalked all the time."
The thriller centers on reporter who's looking into mysterious murders near American-owned factories on the border of Juarez and El Paso. Nava will begin shooting from his own script beginning April 30 in New Mexico and Mexico. Nava has also directed "El Norte," "Mi Familia" and the Frankie Lymon biopic "Why Do Fools Fall in Love?" His screenwriting credits also include 2002's "Frida," starring Salma Hayek. Lopez's latest album "Rebirth" dropped on March 1. She stars in the upcoming films, "An Unfinished Life" with Robert Redford and "Monster-in-Law" with Jane Fonda, to be released in May.
Approximately 30 to 40 members of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) demonstrated outside the posh Cuban cuisine eatery to protest her continued use of fur in her personal wardrobe and in her "Sweetface" fashion collection, reports the AP. Activists chanted, "Hey J.Lo, what did you say? How many animals did you kill today?" and "There's no excuse for animal abuse." Videos of animals being beaten and skinned alive in China were displayed on body screen TVs along with signs reading "Fur Hag" and "Fur -- No skin off your back." Diners' reactions ranged from disappointment with the pop star to annoyance with the disturbance. PETA has launched a website, JLoDown.com, exposing fur farming practices and encouraging visitors to write protest letters to Lopez. The entertainer's latest album "Rebirth" dropped on March 1. She stars in the upcoming films, "An Unfinished Life" with Robert Redford and "Monster-in-Law" with Jane Fonda, to be released in May.
With leaks and bootleggers forcing Fiddy's label to move up the release of The Massacre, J.Lo suddenly had no chance of giving Rebirth a chart-topping entry into the world. Officially hitting the retail racks last Thursday, The Massacre didn't even need a full sales week to give the rapper his second million-copy chart opening. For the week ended Sunday, The Massacre topped the Billboard 200, selling an astonishing 1.14 million copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan. If not for The Massacre's bumped-up release date, Lopez would have been tops, with Rebirth moving 261,000 copies. Fiddy, who also broke the million-copy first-week mark with 2003's Get Rich or Die Tryin' in 2003, made history last week as the first solo to land three singles simultaneously in the Top 5 since SoundScan began tracking sales data in 1991. His "Candy Shop" was number one and "Disco Inferno" was number five, while his collaboration with the Game on "Ho We Do" sat in number four. The Game and Fiddy's cozy relationship seemed to implode last week, when 50 Cent ousted his Compton-born protg from G-Unit, calling the Game treasonous for not backing Fiddy's beefs with other rappers. Moments after 50 Cent made the announcement onair at New York's Hot 97, one of the Game's associates was shot outside the radio station. After a week of posturing, the two emcees decided to make amends at a joint press conference Wednesday in New York. "Game and I need to set an example in the community," Fiddy said in a statement Wednesday, which also marks the eighth anniversary of Notorious B.I.G.'s murder. Added the Game, "It's going to be a positive thing for both sides." At the press conference, Fiddy also announced the launch of a new charity organization, the G-Unity Foundation. Both artists will make charitable donations to benefit the Boys Choir of Harlem and the Compton Unified School District Music Program. The new charity will serve as a counterpoint to the rapper's just-announced videogame, 50 Cent: Bulletproof, which, per a press release, allows gamers to embark "on a bloody path through New York's drug underworld." As for the Game, his debut disc, The Documentary, currently sits at number five, having sold just under 100,000. Previous to Fiddy's monster first week, the rookie rapper held the best sales week of 2004 when his debut sold 587,000 copies back in January. Aside from 50 Cent outgunning J.Lo, there were two other newcomers impacting the charts. Jack Johnson opened in the three spot, with In Between Dreams, selling 229,000, a personal best. The L.A. duo Mars Volta followed at four, moving 123,000 of Frances the Mute, featuring the alt-rock hit "The Widow." The rest of the Top 10 were all holdovers: Green Day's American Idiot at six, Ray Charles' Genius Loves Company at seven, last week's number one, Omarion's O, at eight, Kelly Clarkson 's Breakaway at nine and Eminem 's Encore and 10. Judas Priest just missed the Top 10 but still made a triumphant return as Angel of Retribution sold more than 57,000 copies at 13. Jamie O'Neal's Brave charted at 40, and Pimp C's Sweet James Jones Stories came in at 50. Further down the charts, the Doves' Some City opened at 111, outselling Pastor Troy's Face Off Part II by just eight copies. Both discs sold just north of 10,000 copies. Here's a recap of last week's Top 10 albums: 1. The Massacre, 50 Cent After fawning over former fiance Ben Affleck on 2002's This is Me ...Then, Jennifer Lopez wisely keeps her love life out of the spotlight on her aptly titled fourth disc, Rebirth. She only alludes to her secretive marriage to salsa king Marc Anthony on a few tracks, most prominently the breezy, Rodney Jerkins' penned-produced I Got U, where she coos: "Sometimes real love can be not seen 'cause you're thinking what's right in front of you can't be the one for you." But like Madonna and Janet, people don't listen to J.Lo for the poignant lyrics - she's best when riding a dance groove as on the James Brown-sampled single Get Right and the funky club thumper Whatever You Wanna Do, both courtesy of Beyonce's Crazy in Love scribe Rich Harrison. Instead of sustaining the frenetic pace of those songs, however, most of the disc features understated yet polished mid-tempo tracks such as the bubbly I, Love. The disc's one misstep is the woefully overdone ballad (Can't Believe) This is Me, which Lopez penned with Anthony. It sounds like the sequel to the '80s hit Total Eclipse of the Heart. And despite her efforts to keep the mood lighthearted, there's a hint of lingering heartache in her strained vocals on Timbaland's flute-looped He'll Be Back, where J. Lo pines: "I know better than anybody how it feels to want somebody so bad after you breakup." Overall, Rebirth is a satisfying listen, but fans who like their Jenny from the block hot and spicy will be slightly disappointed by the disc's milder dance-pop flavour.
Whether she was frolicking with Ben Affleck in a music video, wearing a barely there outfit to drive the paparazzi wild or gushing about her latest love in a magazine, Lopez was willing to let the public share in her private life. "I grew up in New York and was very out there and outgoing. One of my main things was I'm not going to let this business change me, you know what I mean?" explains the Bronx-bred Lopez, 34. "That was always one of my mantras." Today, though, as Lopez promotes her fashion line and new album, "Rebirth," she's sticking by a new mantra — keep her private life private. It took her eight months to finally acknowledge her June wedding to singer-actor Marc Anthony, and she still won't talk about it. Instead, Lopez is trying to put the focus back on her career. "I don't want to talk about anything that is personal or private at all, because what's the use? You're open with people, and then they try and make a soap opera out of your life," Lopez said in an interview with The Associated Press. "Then it's not about your work anymore, it's not about the movie you're promoting or the record you hope your fans will enjoy, it becomes about other silly stuff and it's damaging. It's damaging not just to your career, but your person." For a while, Lopez's stardom seemed to grow in tandem with her tabloid persona. She sold millions of albums, had No. 1 hits and enjoyed box-office success with movies such as "Maid in Manhattan" as the public became more interested in J.Lo, or Jenny From the Block — the woman dating and breaking up with P. Diddy, embarking on another quickie marriage or setting fashion trends with her awards show attire. But her image started to suffer in 2003, when Lopez was in the midst of a very public romance with Affleck — the "Bennifer" pairing was that year's Brad-and-Jen frenzy. The couple's overexposure, followed by the and the release of their bomb "Gigli," drew both more scorn than anything. Though the couple split and Lopez later married Anthony — her third husband — the sting from the tabloid attention still lingers. "I think it got really loud for a minute for me, and it became not about my work anymore. And the reason why I was in the public eye to begin with is because I was in movies, I was making records," she said. "And all of the sudden it wasn't anything about that. And I didn't want it to be about anything else but that." So Lopez took a six-month break from Hollywood last year to regroup. "For me, what it was it was about kind of being alone, and thinking, and realizing that for me it was really a time for me to realize why I was in the business in the first place," she said. "How do I keep the focus there, and still maintain my life and the privacy of myself?" Lopez — who has released five movies and three albums in the past three years — also felt like she was jamming out projects instead of spending time to reflect on what was right for her. Lopez made sure her fourth studio album, "Rebirth," didn't suffer from those circumstances. The star spent several months on it and had a greater role in its production — which boosted her confidence. "I think musically, the first time I made an album, I had never even been in a studio, or behind a mike before. The first time I ever sang live was at Madison Square Garden," she laughed. "You develop this insecurity, and then kind of have to build yourself back up. "I've become more confident as a musician and as a co-producer and as a vocalist, whereas before I was a little more insecure, and kind of so worried about people criticizing me for this or that or whatever." Lopez has taken her share of criticism over the years — from her feather-light voice to even her acting abilities. But Rich Harrison, who produced Lopez's new hit "Get Right," said the hits Lopez have taken has only made her stronger as an artist. "She knows what people tend to say about her and it makes her work so much harder, that much harder in the studio," he said. "She's not satisfied until it feels right, until it feels good." And Lopez is happy with "Rebirth." It incorporates the hip-hop/dance vibe that's garnered her so much success over the years, but also blends in other genres, including '80s pop-rock. Lopez calls it a more risky album. "It's not so safe as my other ones were," she said. "These are things that are a little funkier, a little deeper, and yet still danceable in a way." She's still willing to take risks with her career. But as far as her personal life — she's playing it safe. "I used to be the kind of person who would talk about a lot of things, but as I've matured I've realized that's not the best way to go," she said. "You have to set boundaries ... you have to protect what's sacred to you."
"I never thought in my wildest dreams that I would even be doing this this long. I mean, you just feel lucky to make one record in this business," the 35-year-old singer and actress told Associated Press TV. Lopez sees her fifth album, "Rebirth," as a new chapter in her life. "I really feel like this is kind of like phase two, the beginning of a different phase for me. You know, I made my first album and I did a bunch of movie projects and four albums — I never stopped," she said. Lopez capped this busy period — which included a hectic personal life that included her second marriage and divorce and high-profile relationships with P. Diddy and Ben Affleck — by taking several months off before restarting her career in recent weeks. The career relaunch has drawn mixed reviews. New York Fashion Week's discerning crowds cheered her clothing label's first show in February, but days later she got a chilly response to her duet with husband Marc Anthony at the Grammy Awards. But Lopez said she feels rejuvenated by diving into work after a period of rest. "I felt like the same girl. You know what happens when you take time off? You kind of get back to who you were."
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Phillip Levens ("Smallville") wrote the pilot, which looks at three young adults who follow their dreams to Miami. Lopez's Nuyorican Prods., Tony Krantz's Flame TV and Paramount TV will co-produce with Lopez, business partner Simon Fields and Krantz executive producing. The "Gigli" thespian and occasional "Will & Grace" guest star was last seen in the American version of "Shall We Dance" and will hit theaters this year in "An Unfinished Life" and "Monster-in-Law." In other pilot news, Robin Schiff will join ABC's comedy "Emily's Reasons Why Not" as an executive producer and showrunner, which lifts a contingency from the show. Schiff (UPN's upcoming "Bad Girl's Guide") will join writer Emily Kapnek and Gavin Polone and Vivian Cannon of Pariah on the series, which looks at a self-help author who, as television conventions mandate, doesn't take her own advice.
"Yes, we're married," Lopez tells Us Weekly magazine, on newsstands Friday. "I mean, come on, everyone knows. It's not a secret." It was the first public acknowledgment of her union with the salsa singer — an unusually long delay considering the ceremony was last June at her Beverly Hills, Calif., home. The couple performed a duet, though, at the Feb. 13 Grammy Awards show. Lopez says during the performance she was ailing from swollen glands and a sore throat, which caused her to cancel a London trip the following week to promote the British release of her film "Shall We Dance?" Though the trip cancellation prompted some speculation of pregnancy, Lopez says she's "not on a timetable" to have a baby — though she hopes to become a mother someday. Now, the 34-year-old says, she's entered "phase two": a less public, a "little bit suburban" life with Anthony — and a far cry from her "Bennifer" days with former fiance Ben Affleck. But Lopez counts the high-profile romance as a learning experience. "I take responsibility for the fact that I didn't make adjustments," she says. "Now I'm a little more careful. I travel in a certain way. I leave at a certain time. I learned." Lopez's new album, "Rebirth," will be released March 1.
"Jennifer Lopez: Beyond the Runway," the hour-long docu-special that airs Thursday night (10 p.m. EST), is mostly drama-free. Unlike the Osbournes' screaming matches or a fit by Simpson, most of the conflict is over bling and color. Six months before the show, Lopez worries her designers won't come up with enough looks. They do. Four months before the show, the singer-actress worries that she's going to embarrass herself. She doesn't. Two hours before the show, she fears an atmospheric fan won't work. It does. When reviewing the first "looks" for her new Sweetface clothing line, Lopez nixes a black garment, saying that she doesn't "love the black. It's not a J.Lo color." She then flashes a shiny smile at the designer. No harm done. Sure, she's mostly sugar in the special, but there's a little bit of spice, too. After peeking at a pair of blah-looking jeans, she tells her crew "don't even show it to me if I can't change it!" She threatens to cancel the runway show more than once. And after a booking miscommunication results in tardiness, Lopez picks up the phone and lets the sass fly. "Don't let the receptionist handle your responsibilities," barks Lopez — whose new album, "Rebirth," is set for release March 1. Her husband and Grammy Award show duet partner, Marc Anthony, makes only fleeting, non-speaking appearances. Supermodel Naomi Campbell pops up as well. But as the title states, "Jennifer Lopez: Beyond the Runway" is definitely all about J.Lo.
Jennifer Lopez has been juggling album sessions, movie projects, video shoots, a fashion line and a new marriage over the past year. But along the way she also found time for something unprecedented in her storied career: a long vacation. "Six months of doing nothing, for the first time since high school," Lopez says, savoring the words. It couldn't last, of course. The singer/actress/designer/tabloid perennial has been bouncing from coast to coast, and abroad, promoting various projects. She was in Germany over the weekend after recovering from the flu. On Feb. 13, she joined husband Marc Anthony for a boudoir duet at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. The reviews weren't kind: Critics panned J. Lo's attire and warbling. But Lopez says, "It was wonderful to sing live like that, and on a great stage." And she drew attention with the launch of a clothing label, Sweetface, during New York's Fashion Week. The Sweetface Fashion Co., a joint venture between Lopez, Andy Hilfiger and Joe Lamastra, also sells Lopez's JLO sportswear. Her much-hyped Feb. 11 show, considered the hottest ticket of the week and featuring lots of short-shorts and fur, concluded with Lopez striding giddily up and down the catwalk. An MTV special, Jennifer Lopez: Beyond the Runway, airs Thursday at 10 p.m. ET/PT. "I had been quite nervous about doing it," she says. "We're a small company, though when you hear about it in the media, it may seem huge. We had been pushing this thing through since last September." Lopez speaks with similar enthusiasm about her new CD, Rebirth, which features guest artists such as her husband, Fat Joe and Fabolous. "In the past, I would usually record 18 to 22 songs and then narrow it down," she says. "This time I had grown more clear about what I wanted to do. I had been listening to older music - to the blues, to James Brown. It's not like I just turned left and did something totally different, but I adapted the sound." Love, loyalty and friendship are among themes that pop up on the album. But when asked whether her personal life informed the new songs, Lopez speaks in general terms, reinforcing her penchant for privacy. "You can't help but draw on experiences that you've had, or that you've seen other people go through. But it's more of an unconscious thing. You put in some of your thoughts and philosophies, but then I'll just do a song about bad boys." Lopez wants to take her new songs from the studio to the concert stage and might try to do so this summer. "I've been trying to plan a tour for years, but with doing movies, it's a challenge." She has two films coming up, both pairing her with Hollywood heavyweights: Monster-in-Law, in which Lopez butts heads and matches wits with Jane Fonda, due May 13, and An Unfinished Life, co-starring Robert Redford, which has no scheduled release date. "I've said my life is like a roller-coaster ride, but it's really more like a hamster wheel," Lopez says. "Going and going, doing and doing. What else is new?"
The uptempo dance track is the first single taken from J-Lo's new album "Rebirth," due out on February 28. It leapfrogged over the re-release of Presley's 1961 chart-topper "Surrender," the latest of 18 Elvis number ones being re-issued before the 50-year copyright protection on sound recordings expires in most European countries, affecting his earlier hits. Three former hits by the King now hold spots in the top 40, according to the Official UK Charts Company. Hip Hop maestro LL Cool J is at number three with "Hush," featuring 7 Aurelius who also produced the track. Completing a sextet of new entries in the top 10 were "How We Do" by The Game featuring 50 Cent at number five, "Sunrise" by Angel City at nine and Atomic Kitten's "Cradle" at number 10. U.S. rapper Eminem's "Like Toy Soldiers" fell one notch to number four while "Almost Here," a duet by teen idol Brian McFadden and former "Neighbors" star Delta Goodrem, dropped three places to eight. Continuing the military theme, "Soldier" by Destiny's Child, TI and Lil Wayne fell two places to number six, while "Sometimes You Can't Make it On Your Own" by veteran Irish band U2 plummeted to seven from last week's top spot.
She called off the trip at the last minute, saying she was too ill to travel. "I very much wanted to be in London today but unfortunately I'm not well," she said in a statement released by Buena Vista International, the movie's distributor. "At the advice of my doctors I'm unable to travel. Being sick has also caused me to cancel my European album tour." "Please accept my sincerest apologies as I have to remain in Los Angeles," the statement said. Lopez didn't specify what was wrong. She performed a duet with Anthony at the Grammy Awards show in Los Angeles Sunday night, and had previewed her new fashion collection at New York Fashion Week on Friday night. Her new album, Rebirth, is scheduled for release March 1.
"It makes you dream of sun, sand and a hot, sexy place. For me, it's the essence of Miami captured in a bottle," says the 35-year-old performer. "All the little things that I like to smell when I get there." Approximately 700 lucky guests who attended the show to observe the new line of baby doll dresses, cashmere pants and jumpsuits also received Lopez's VIP gift bag, which included the new fragrance. The "Golden. Sexy. Night-bright" scent is a limited edition fragrance that is packaged in a curvy bottle similar to her first perfume Glow. The fragrance is described as "a tropical cocktail full of the scents of lush fruits, fresh flowers and sun-baked sand." Footage of Lopez's hands-on approach to developing Miami Glow will be featured in the MTV special "Jennifer Lopez: Beyond the Runway," which airs on Thursday, Feb. 24. Lopez has several irons in the fire, with her new album "Rebirth" dropping on March 1 and two upcoming films, "An Unfinished Life" with Robert Redford and "Monster-in-Law" with Jane Fonda, to be released this year.
After months and months of not acknowledging their marriage, they took the stage together for the first time at the Grammys on Sunday. The Broadway meets Telemundo performance of "Escapemonos" began with Anthony crooning on a faux balcony set piece — don't jump! — before joining Lopez on the bed inside the fake room. The walls, which were supposed to move as Anthony entered the Miami art deco bedroom, didn't disappear quick enough. One of the walls obscured Lopez while she sang her first few lines, eventually making way for the diva and her man. "Escapemonos," from Anthony's "Amar Sin Mentiras" album, is totally in Spanish. "Let's hide from the crowd / From the day to day absurdities," the couple sang in front of the thousands of people in the Staples Center — and the millions watching at home. Early in the song, Lopez, clad in a slinky silk robe, slipped off the covering and magically appeared in an ill-fitting gown. The gaunt-looking Anthony didn't disrobe. He just put on his tux jacket. Host Queen Latifah introduced the performance as "a love song about escaping from the glare of a watching world." If this is what we could watch, go right ahead and escape.
"Marc Anthony was driving the production crew crazy," a source told PAGE SIX. The salsa-singing husband of J. Lo "convinced her on Thursday night that all the music was wrong and had to be changed. He also decided the order of the outfits was wrong, and changed that too. He also didn't like the lighting." Lopez has been without a manager since jettisoning Benny Medina, who guided her to stardom, and then marginalizing Simon Fields, whose role was reduced with Anthony on the scene. "She doesn't need a manager because Marc is her manager," said our source. "Marc is totally butting heads with Andy Hilfiger, the CEO of Sweetface [the company that markets the J.Lo line]." Hilfiger was said to be annoyed that Lopez - instead of sticking around to promote her clothes - was jumping on a plane right after the show and heading to L.A., where the action will shift for tonight's Grammy Awards and where the couple is performing together for the first time. Others performing at the Grammys are Beyonce Knowles, Josh Groban, Counting Crows and Kanye West.
The show, which was nothing short of theatrical, featured models in denim shorts and pants, cashmere sweaters, flowered babydoll tops, satin, crystals and lots and lots of fur. Supermodel Naomi Campbell strutted down the catwalk in halter-topped jumpsuit with tiered ruffles running down the legs and an enormously wide-brimmed mushroom-like white hat. "I was very pleasantly surprised," Jane Larkworthy, an editor at W magazine, said of Lopez's new "Sweetface" line. "I love satin pants and I love fur." The show was divided into three parts meant to correspond to phases of Lopez's life: her start in the Bronx, her music career and her current red-carpet lifestyle. In the background, yellow neon lights spelled out "JLo Story" during the first phase, then turned into two red turntables for the second, and then into a stretch limo and a velvet rope for the third. During the finale, music from her upcoming album, "Rebirth," boomed in the background. The hotly anticipated and celebrity-studded event capped off New York's twice-yearly Fashion Week extravaganza, which featured the work of more than 60 designers including Kenneth Cole, Oscar de la Renta and Ralph Lauren. 'A J.C. PENNEY RACK' Actress Bernadette Peters, rapper Lil' Kim, music industry heavyweight Russell Simmons and model Tyson Beckford (news) were in attendance. The early pieces in the collection, which included casual items like jeans, belly-baring tops, striped scarves and zippered sweatshirts, did not seem to go over so well. "As I saw those items, all I saw was a J.C. Penney rack," said Zandile Blay, an editor at Seventeen magazine. Later in the show, Lopez offered more glamorous looks including crystal-studded skullcaps, a silk chiffon jumpsuit and a hooded floor-length fur cape in white. "It's a step up from her teen-age, pop line. It's definitely more mature, and it's more of a replica of what Jennifer does," said Metanoya Webb, an assistant editor at InStyle Magazine. "It was a reflection of her, and I liked that." Lopez may have some work to do before she earns her fashion business credentials. A number of die-hard fashionistas watching the event on television monitors outside of the venue booed her when she made an appearance at end of the show. Lopez told Women's Wear Daily that her designer collection will have higher prices and a more limited distribution than her existing J.Lo line of clothing and fragrances, which had its debut in 2001. Last fall, she launched the JLO by Jennifer Lopez lingerie line. "Better than the clothes was really the presentation of the whole show," Blay said. "She didn't break any new ground, but she certainly confirmed her star status."
"I took some time off last year, which was hard for me to do, as that's not really in my genes -- it's not part of my makeup," Lopez told Billboard. "There were times when my life was like a roller-coaster ride, but as an artist, you need time for clarity." So Lopez did what she felt she needed to do. She took a good hard look at her life and career and decided that she had to rediscover "the same person I was before 'On the 6."' Lopez is, of course, referring to her multimillion-selling 1999 debut album. "I had to put things in perspective," she adds. "It was time to rejuvenate." BORN AGAIN Welcome to the next phase in Lopez's career, which encompasses music, film, perfume and fashion. Her new Epic album, the aptly titled "Rebirth," arrives March 1. It will be available in two configurations: single CD and DualDisc. The video portion of the DualDisc includes a making-of-the-album documentary lensed by D.A. Pennebaker. Internationally, "Rebirth" comes out a day earlier, while in Japan it goes on sale Feb. 23. In these markets, the DualDisc will be replaced by a CD/DVD set. Lopez says she could not have named the new album -- her fourth studio set -- anything else. "For me, the title is incredibly significant," she says. "All you have to give, as an artist, are your experiences, your life," Lopez continues. "That's where it should come through -- not through a silly tabloid. Sure, the media got out of hand these past couple of years. I'm an artist -- that's what put me in the media in the first place. But I can't be a crazy, little girl anymore. It's time to put the spotlight back on my career." "Rebirth" is poised to do just that. Working with several songwriters and producers -- including Rodney Jerkins, Rich Harrison, Fat Joe, Tim & Bob and her husband, Marc Anthony -- Lopez delivers a collection steeped in pop, hip-hop, Latin, funk and dance. "I've grown a lot since my first album," she says. "Vocally, I've become more confident. I record songs with a different attack -- with a different vigor." Also included are two songs co-penned by the singer: the funky "Cherry Pie" and the power ballad "(Can't Believe) This Is Me." SPANISH CD IN WORKS The latter track -- originally written in Spanish (sung in English here) -- will be featured on Lopez's first Spanish-language album, which she is working on with Anthony. Epic will release it in the fourth quarter. The artist's enthusiasm for the current album has had a positive effect. The lead single, "Get Right," and its accompanying video are off to a strong start on radio and video channels, on the Internet and in the ringtones market. This week it holds at No. 15 on the Pop 100 chart and at No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100. It ascends to No. 17 on the Rhythmic Top 40 chart. In Canada and France, "Get Right" debuted in the top 25 and top 40, respectively; it is the sixth most-played track on radio in Japan. In the United Kingdom, the track has been added to Radio One. The video has been the most-streamed video at numerous Web sites, including Yahoo, MSN, VH1, Rolling Stone and MTV. MTV will soon begin streaming the entire album, while Lopez will preview the set Feb. 28 at a "virtual in-store" on MSN. Lopez and Anthony are scheduled to perform together Sunday (Feb. 13) at the 47th annual Grammy Awards, marking their first such appearance since their marriage.
Lopez unveils a collection of clothes on Friday evening in a show that's been the hardest invitation to nab and is sure to draw the largest crowd of celebrities, paparazzi and press. And while her credentials may fall short of Oscar de la Renta or Ralph Lauren, experts say don't rule her out. "We as consumers tip our hats to celebrities and say, 'You live the life we aspire to, so tell us how to dress,"' said Wendy Liebmann, head of WSL Strategic Retail consultants. While stars have long put their names behind consumer products -- Frank Sinatra had a line of neckties -- the trend took off with Martha Stewart who built an empire from her domestic talents and P. Diddy who moved from his hip hop roots to build his popular "Sean John" clothing brand. "A big huge celebrity has got enormous equity value," said Robert Thompson, a Syracuse University pop culture professor. No one should be surprised a celebrity would hold a runway show at fashion week, a venue typically reserved for top designers, said Simon Doonan, creative director at top New York fashion retailer Barney's. BRAIN SURGERY? "We've only ourselves to blame because we've given celebrities these deranged feelings of omnipotence," he said. "She'll be doing brain surgery next." And it's one more nail in the coffin of what Fashion Week in New York once was, he added. "Every fashion show is like some gigantic mind-blowing movie premiere. The original sense that it's a trade show has evaporated completely," Doonan said. Lopez' entree into fashion seems jarring, said Paco Underhill, author of "Why We Buy." "I would correlate J Lo's move to the runway with Sharon Stone's move to Davos," he said, referring to the actress' appearance at the World Economic Forum. "What in God's name are Sharon Stone's credentials to go talk at an economic forum?" At least Lopez is a trendsetter, said Thompson. "As big a star as Tom Hanks is, I'm not sure that I would buy an after-shave called Tom," he said. Lopez told Women's Wear Daily that her show will feature a more upscale look with higher prices and more limited distribution than her existing JLo line, which sells inexpensive, casual daywear and lingerie. Her designer collection features velvet jackets, cashmere sweaters and fox furs, the trade daily reported. Lopez told WWD that while she's not a designer, "I do have a certain style and a certain image that people respond to." The show will be split into three parts to represent stages of Lopez's life -- one to mark her beginnings in the Bronx, one to reflect her musical career and then a glamorous finale. "I don't care about critics," she said. "Consumers will decide if they like it and if they want to buy it or not." If she follows "Sean John," showing flashy clothes but selling streetwear, she's likely to make it, said Doonan. "He'll do a very fancy fashion show with fur coats and all this dandified Cotton Club look, but the reality is he's making all his money on sweatshirts," Doonan said of Diddy, one of the few other celebrities to stage a major New York fashion show. Fashion analyst Irma Zandl said Lopez may be in better touch with customers than many haute couture designers. "By focusing ... so exclusively on small sizes and super trendy styles, the fashion industry is ever so close to becoming at best, a spectator sport, at worst, totally irrelevant," she said.
TNT averaged 2.91 million viewers per night to easily outdistance the 2.29 million primetime viewers averaged by USA. Lifetime, boosted by a strong original movie, was third with 2.06 million viewers. Nick at Night was fourth with 1.86 million viewers, nipping the 1.85 million primetime viewers for the Disney Channel. A Tuesday evening "Law & Order" episode was the week's most watched cable program with 4.81 million viewers, while a second "L&O" episode, airing on Monday, was No. 14 with just under 3.89 million. The J-Lo movie "Enough" was No. 5 on the week with 4.38 million viewers for its Sunday airing. USA's second place finish was carried by a new episode of "Monk" at No. 9 with 4.13 million viewers, while Lifetime's third place showing was on the shoulders of the telefilm "Widow on the Hill" at No. 8 with 4.2 million. Nickelodeon had its usual pile of animated offerings in the basic cable Top 15. Four episodes of "SpongeBob SquarePants" got as high as No. 3 with 4.55 million viewers and No. 4 with 4.42 million and as low as No. 11 with 4.05 million. A trio of installments of "Fairly Odd Parents" also made the list, as high as No. 6 with 4.37 million and as low as No. 12 with 3.94 million. The network also had an episode of the live-action "Zoey 101" at No. 13 with 3.89 million viewers. Also making the Top 15 was Spike TV's WWE Entertainment double-bill at No. 2 with 4.79 million viewers. On the premium cable side of things, HBO dominated with Saturday night boxing coverage. The evening's big Gatti-Leija fight was in the top spot with 2.43 million viewers and the Ouma-Jantuah undercard was fourth with 1.91 million. Prefight coverage was third with 2.09 million and the postfight coverage was fifth with 1.89 million. The premiere of the Johnny Depp film "Secret Window" was second with just under 2.1 million viewers.
The superstars, who tied the knot in a hush-hush ceremony last June but have yet to publicly acknowledge the union, will perform for the first time together at the 47th Annual Grammy Awards, the Recording Academy announced Wednesday. No official word on what tune they have chosen for the duet, but it's rumored that they will team up for a song off one of two albums Lopez plans to put out in the coming months. According to MTV News, Anthony and J.Lo initially collaborated on a Spanish-language disc, but that project was backburnered as the two finished additional tracks for her English-language release, Rebirth, set to hit stores March 1. One possible Grammy song is "You Got Me," an expression of the couple's amor for one another, according to producer Rodney Jenkins; "Escapmonos" off the soundtrack to Lopez's last flick, Shall We Dance?, is reportedly another candidate. The latter song also appears on two of Anthony's albums, Amar Sin Mentiras and Vali La Pena, both of which are up for Grammys this year for Best Latin Pop Album and Salsa/Merengue Album, respectively. While Lopez is the bigger star of the two, it's her third husband who has the hardware. She is 0-for-2 in Grammy nominations, while he won the Grammy in 1998 for Best Tropical Latin Performance and also has a 2000 Latin Grammy for Best Song. CBS is scheduled to broadcast the Grammys live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Feb. 13. Organizers hope that the lovebirds' combo translates into big ratings for the telecast and tops last year's opening smash pairing of Beyonc and Prince. As gossiphounds gushed over the prospect of Lopez and Anthony canoodling on stage, the Recording Academy also announced Wednesday another potential show-stopper--a special all-star rendition of the Beatles' "Across the Universe" to benefit tsunami victims. The live performance, featuring the likes of Bono, Stevie Wonder, Norah Jones, Alicia Keys, Velvet Revolver and Brian Wilson, will be made available for download for 99 cents immediately afterward at iTunes Music Store. CBS.com will also offer exclusive video of the segment with proceeds from the downloads going to tsunami relief efforts. Previously announced performers include U2, Green Day and Kanye West with Mavis Staples, John Legend and the Blind Boys of Alabama. Additionally, Bonnie Raitt and Billy Preston will perform a special tribute to the late Ray Charles, while Tim McGraw, Gretchen Wilson, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Dickie Betts and Elvin Bishop will join forces for a salute to Southern rock. Among those tapped as presenters are Hoobastank, Aerosmith's Steven Tyler, bluegrass queen Alison Krauss, supermodel Tyra Banks, Ellen DeGeneres, Ludacris, Mark McGrath, Gary Sinise and John Travolta. Queen Latifah will host and perform.
The latter edition will feature the audio portion on one side and a DVD on the other, bolstered with interviews, in-studio footage and the video for first single "Get Right," which is No. 1 at MTV this week. The track jumped 13 places to No. 28 on Billboard's current Hot 100 singles chart, and is set to appear in a TV ad campaign for the National Basketball Association next month. Meanwhile, MTV eyeing a Feb. 14 airdate for a Lopez primetime special, while appearances on NBC's "Today" and the syndicated "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" are in the works for the week of release. "Rebirth" is the follow-up to 2002's "This Is Me...Then," which peaked at No. 2 on The Billboard 200 and has sold 2.5 million copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The album includes collaborations with rappers Fat Joe and Fabolous.
Nominations for the 25th annual Razzies, which honor the worst films of the year, were announced on Monday with "Catwoman," the Halle Berry box office bomb, besting "Alexander," Oliver Stone's much maligned tale of the bleached blond conqueror, by seven nominations to six. In addition, the president made the list for worst actor for his film clip appearances in "Fahrenheit 9/11," a movie he might well consider the worst of the year. Also nominated for their appearances in the politically-charged film about the Iraq war were Secretary of State-designate Condoleezza Rice and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. The Razzies are a traditional spoof award made at Oscar time by the non-profit Golden Raspberry Award Foundation. The group's prizes are given out on Feb. 26, the day before the Oscars. Never has one of its films gone on to win an Oscar. "Catwoman" and "Alexander" were nominated for Worst Picture, a category which also drew "SuperBabies: Baby Geniuses 2," Ben Affleck's career-eroding "Surviving Christmas," and "White Chicks," the Wayans brothers dress-up, gender-bending comedy that left critics cold. Bush was nominated for worst actor along with Affleck for "Surviving Christmas" and "Jersey Girl," Vin Diesel for "Chronicles of Riddick," Colin Farrell for "Alexander." Ben Stiller was nominated for "Along Came Polly," "Anchorman," "Dodgeball," "Envy" and "Starsky & Hutch." Halle Berry was nominated for worst actress for "Catwoman," Hilary Duff for "Cinderella Story" and "Raise Your Voice," Angelina Jolie for "Alexander" and "Taking Lives," Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen for "New York Minute" and Shawn and Marlon Wayans in their incarnation as the Wayans sisters in "White Chicks." The nominations for worst screen couple include: Ben Affleck and either Jennifer Lopez or Liv Tyler in "Jersey Girl," Halle Berry and either Benjamin Bratt or Sharon Stone in "Catwoman, George W. Bush and either Rice or his pet goat in "Fahrenheit 9/11," the Olsen twins in "New York Minute," the Wayans Brothers, in or out of drag, in "White Chicks." Worst supporting actress were Carmen Electra for "Starsky & Hutch," Jennifer Lopez for "Jersey Girl," Rice for "Fahrenheit 9/11," Britney Spears for her cameo role in that same movie and Sharon Stone for "Catwoman." Val Kilmer was nominated for worst supporting actor for "Alexander." Also nominated were California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger for "Around The World in 80 Days," Rumsfeld for "Fahrenheit 9/11," Jon Voight for SuperBabies: Baby Geniuses 2" and Lambert Wilson for "Catwoman." "Catwoman" led with seven nominations to six for Alexander, five for "Fahrenheit 9/11," five "White Chicks," and four for "SuperBabies."
The award show, hosted by European radio group NRJ, featured performances from R&B star Usher and Jennifer Lopez, who performed her new song "Get Right" accompanied by dancers clad in schoolgirl outfits. Blue won the award for best international group, beating U2 who received a special achievement award that was presented to lead singer Bono by supermodel Naomi Campbell. "I'm not from this country but I'll make a little confession to you -- it's at the Cote d'Azure I feel at home," Bono said in French. Several members of U2 own homes a stone's throw from the awards venue in Cannes. Maroon 5 -- actually Maroon 2 for the night, with the rest of the band's members unable to attend -- won two awards, for best new international artist and best international song. Guitarist Jesse Carmichael said the band, which has been without bassist Ryan Dusick due to a shoulder injury, hopes to be back at full strength soon. "We've been touring so intensely ... hopefully he'll be back in the spring," Carmichael said. Black Eyed Peas picked up the best international album gong for "Elephunk." French singer Jenifer also took home two awards, for best French female singer and best French album.
J.Lo is joining an all-star bill for the MTV Asia Aid benefit, set to air on all MTV channels worldwide on Feb. 3, including MTV2 in the U.S. at 9 a.m. ET. The special, which will be held at the IMPACT Arena in Bangkok, will feature live performances from Alicia Keys, Good Charlotte, Kelly Clarkson, Hoobastank and Simple Plan, along with many of Asia's top music stars, including India's Asha Bhosle, Japan's Namie Amura, Thailand's Tata Young and Bird Thongchair McIntyre, and Malaysia's Siti Nurhaliza. The cable network will also broadcast a prerecorded performance contributed by Lopez, who was unable to attend. Several other artists who couldn't make the Feb. 3 show in person--including Ricky Martin, Sting, Green Day, Nelly, 50 Cent and Moby--will tape spots to air during the concert urging viewers to donate generously toward relief efforts. "The entire world is united by the devastation of this tragedy," said Nelly in a statement. "It's an issue of humanity. History will judge us on our compassionate and immediate response." "The people of South Asia need our help to rebuild their lives. This is an opportunity to keep giving, and your generosity and compassion that has been so incredible over the last few weeks," added Lopez. A free feed of the show will be offered to broadcasters globally, with MTV aiming to beam the benefit directly into the homes of three-quarters of the world's TV viewers--or more than 1 billion people. "The response so far has been overwhelming, and the event will bring together diverse artists from across the globe to offer hope and inspiration," said Bill Roedy, president of MTV Networks International. "This will be a global event." CNN International has also pledged to create nine vignettes exploring the human side of the tragedy, including video montages of the afflicted areas and first-hand accounts from survivors. A majority of the money raised during the event will go to UNICEF, with the balance being funneled to local charities in Thailand, India, and other hard-hit areas. MTV will also air its own news special, MTV News Presents: After the Tsunami, exploring the aftermath of the earthquake-triggered tsunamis that devastated a dozen countries in Asia and Africa on Dec. 26. More than 226,000 people were killed. The benefit is the last effort by the entertainment industry to lend a hand. On Saturday, NBC Universal organized a telethon featuring Hollywood A-listers such as George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Drew Barrymore and Ben Affleck, as well as performances by Sheryl Crow and Tim McGraw. The event recalled the massive America: Tribute to Heroes benefit in the wake of 9-11. However, unlike the latter, which was watched by some 89 million U.S. viewers and raised $150 million, the two-hour Tsunami Aid: A Concert of Hope only drew 5.7 million by comparison--possibly due to audience fatigue from around-the-clock cable news coverage. No word yet exactly how much money was raised during the telethon. NBC is expected to make an announcement on Friday.
Lopez admits she hates the media and public judging her behaviour after a string of broken engagements and failed marriages over the past eight years. She says, "Misinterpreted, misjudged. I was on a TV show yesterday and I was telling them I'd like to set boundaries about my personal life and the interviewer said, 'Well, what if I told you, you got married too soon?' "I was like, 'Well, you have no right to judge me, you don't know what happened.' "People think they know the facts, but they don't. Some of it's totally made up and some of it's based on truth and some of it's a soap opera they're creating. "I'm human and I make choices. I follow my heart, I make mistakes and I just keep going. I'm a woman. Well, I'm a girl and, absolutely, I believe in love. It's the only thing. "The most important thing is to believe in love and that's the only thing I've ever been guilty of."
Jennifer is desperate to ditch her J.Lo tag so she can propel the true Jennifer into the spotlight and bury the reputation attached to her alter-ego. She says, "I'm not J.Lo, she's not a real person. She was just a bit of fun that got really crazy. I've never been anyone but Jennifer. "I was going to call the album 'Call Me Jennifer' because that would be my way of saying goodbye to the whole J.Lo thing. But 'Rebirth' is perfect because it means so much more."
Ojani Noa, a waiter who married Lopez in 1997, filed a lawsuit Tuesday in Superior Court. They met at a restaurant in Miami where he worked and were married for about a year. Noa quit his job managing the Conga Room in Los Angeles in 2002 to take a job running Lopez's new restaurant, Madres, and was told by her that she would not fire him "without good cause or reason," the lawsuit said. Noa, who was paid $1,000 a week, was fired six months after he started the job at Madres, which opened in April 2002, the lawsuit said. It wasn't known why Noa was fired. "Mr. Noa tried to call Ms. Lopez to find out what prompted this sudden change of events. His calls went unreturned," the lawsuit said. A phone call to Lopez's publicist was not immediately returned. Noa is seeking unspecified damages.
Seventy-five per cent of proceeds from the Caribbean Relief Charity Auction will go to American Red Cross efforts in Haiti, Grenada and the Cayman Islands, according to MTV's website. The auction runs through Monday. Other items include a poster signed by Britney Spears and tickets to The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. "I think fans pay attention," Jean told The Associated Press. "They are aware of the situation and want to do what they can to contribute." Last week, the UN World Food Program released a music video by the 32-year-old hip-hop star to help Haitian victims of floods and rising political violence. Jean also has set up the charity Yele Haiti to help his impoverished homeland. The World Food Program is now feeding more than 600,000 people, including 100,000 flood victims, in Haiti.
The pop diva has already forgotten the "Paycheck" star with her recent marriage to singer Marc Anthony and plans to release a new album, "Rebirth," which drops March 2005. A sneak peek of the video of the first single, "Get Right," which she recorded with Fabolos, will air on MTV on New Year's Eve. J. Lo also recouped her film career in 2004, starring opposite Richard Gere in the romantic comedy remake "Shall We Dance?" She next stars alongside Robert Redford in the drama "An Unfinished Life," which opens in January and opposite Jane Fonda in the comedy "Monster-in-Law," which is scheduled for release in May. Additional tracks on "Rebirth" include "Hold You Down," "Step Into My World," "Still Around" and "Cherry Pie" and feature collaborations with Fat Joe and hubby Marc Anthony.
Guests on the album include Fat Joe, Marc Anthony and Fabolous, who joins Lopez on a special version of "Get Right". Other song titles include "Hold You Down", "Step Into My World", "Still Around" and "Cherry Pie". Rebirth is Lopez' fourth studio album. Lopez has sold over 35 million records worldwide since releasing her debut CD, On The 6, in 1999.
The studio, which has "Finding Neverland" and "The Aviator," is actively campaigning to score Oscar nominations for both. But it had also been hoping for nominations for "Proof," starring Gwyneth Paltrow, and "Unfinished Life," starring Jennifer Lopez and Robert Redford. Just a month ago, flacks for Miramax were saying "Proof" would bow in early January, in the time for the Oscar cutoff. "Unfinished Life" was orginally slated for release before "Proof." Now they have both been pushed back for May premieres. An insider said the films were postponed because, "there is no marketing budget and Miramax wants to focus on 'Neverland' and 'The Aviator.'" Paltrow is said to be upset because a January Vogue cover was booked to come out in tandem with "Proof" and it was her only Oscar hope for this year after "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow" tanked at the box office. Despite the postponement, a Miramax rep insists there are no hard feelings between Paltrow and Weinstein, and the two greeted each other "warmly" at a Robin Hood Foundation event last week. Another insider at Miramax said that "Proof" was only finished within the past two weeks, and since "Finding Neverland" and "The Aviator" were receiving "tremendous buzz," Weinstein preferred to wait on "Proof" for next year. The plan is to bring "Proof" to the Cannes Film Festival in May and the Venice Film Festival in July before releasing it wide in October, which would "make it available for Oscar consideration" in 2006. Perhaps the only person who should be really annoyed is Lopez, who was promised that "Unfinished Life" would be an Oscar contender this year. Now, not only will the picture not be out until after next spring - some who have seen it says it isn't likely to win any Oscar nominations for 2006, either. "The movie is not great - and that's being charitable," said one person who has seen "Unfinished Life." A rep for Miramax contends that "Unfinished Life" has, in fact, "tested well."
The Jennifer Lopez-Richard Gere romantic comedy "Shall We Dance?" is hanging tough in third place, with only a 27 percent drop in its second week of release. Other films taking the expected 30 to 45 percent drop are "Friday Night Lights," "Team America: World Police," "Ladder 49," "Taxi" and "The Forgotten." Audiences weren't so merry for Ben Affleck's latest offering, the holiday comedy "Surviving Christmas," which debuted at No. 7 with only $4.5 million. The timing is a bit early for yuletide cheer, given that audiences are more interested in screaming in terror than singing carols. Making a whopping 228 percent leap after expanding to 785 theaters in its fourth week out is the quirky, existential comedy "I (Heart) Huckabees." The ensemble flick made it to tenth place with a take of $3 million. The quietly powerful comedy-drama "Sideways" opened on only four screens, but had the highest per screen average of $52,073. Another indie flick, "The Machinist" starring a skeletal Christian Bale, also fared well, earning $21,333 on each of its three screens. Overall, this weekend's Top 12 films fall just a bit short with $99.7 mil versus the same weekend last year, which earned $119.6 mil. These are estimates by Exhibitor Relations, which tracks box-office receipts daily. Check back Monday for final totals.
Before the last song of the set, Anthony introduced Lopez to the audience, saying "(She's) a woman who has dedicated her life to representing [Puerto Ricans]. A really, really good friend of mine--Jennifer Lopez." Lopez is a native New Yorker, so it's no surprise that the mostly Latino audience chanted "J. Lo, J. Lo" for their hometown favorite. Anthony also acknowledged Fat Joe, who waved to the crowd from his seat in the balcony. During the concert, Fat Joe told LAUNCH, "[Marc Anthony] is a great singer...a good friend... he's absolutely amazing." Lopez sat with her mother, Guadalupe, and her sister Lynda Lopez. A group of fifty members of Marc Anthony's fan club won a chance to attend sound check earlier in the day. Referring to the publicity surrounding his personal life, Anthony told the group that the last several months have been challenging. He said, "It's been really crazy.... Don't believe everything you read!" This was a rare live performance for Marc, who canceled his U.S. tour this summer. Fan club members told LAUNCH that they traveled from as far away as California, Illinois and Florida to attend the show. Jennine, from Toronto, Canada, explained, "There's something in his voice that makes you feel alive when you hear him sing. This is going to keep me happy until my next vacation." Marc Anthony released two Latin albums this summer: the Latin pop CD Amar Sin Mentiras and the salsa CD Valio La Pena. Both reached the Number One position on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart.
"I don't look at Gigli the way I think the rest of the world looks at Gigli," Lopez says. "I gauge my success on whether or not I have done my job and how well I did it. For me, I consider that movie a success in that sense. "I went in there with a certain amount of material that I could work with," she continues. "I did the best that I could. When I walk away from a movie thinking, 'You know what, you kind of phoned that in' — which, thank God, I've never done — that's when I would consider myself a failure." After the frenzy over the demise of Bennifer and her recent nuptials to singer Marc Anthony (which she's keeping mum on), she's shying away from the limelight. That means limiting her appearances to special occasions, like promoting her new film, Shall We Dance? (opening Friday). "I just felt like there was a time there — and not just last year, but building up for a couple of years — where it was just out of my control," she admits. "I was like, 'What is this thing, this thing that has become me? Who is that thing?' And I didn't like it. "I'm at a different point in my life right now," J.Lo elaborates. "I'm a little bit older. I'd like to think that [I'm] wiser and more mature, and that I've learned from my experiences. You have to say, 'This is OK and this is not OK. This is what I do for a living and this is my life. It's the only one that I get.' So you have to set boundaries, and that's the approach that I'm trying to take now to get the focus back on what I do. I'm a singer. I'm an actress. I'm a dancer. That's what I do for a living." With the stalkerazzi attention, she realizes she can't just be Jenny from the Block anymore. "I didn't want to let [show business] change me by becoming this very reclusive and private person," she sighs. "I miss walking around a lot, so much. Literally, when I get in my car, I put my head outside of the window like a dog and let the air hit me because I don't get to do that all the time."
Husband Marc Anthony reportedly scuttled into the theater earlier, where Lopez eventually took a spot on the aisle next to him, midway down. Contrary to rumors, a Miramax Films spokeswoman says Anthony does not have a cameo in the movie. It's about a Chicago lawyer (Richard Gere) who seeks solace from the workday grind by taking ballroom dance lessons. Lopez stars as his instructor in the film, which opens Oct. 15. Susan Sarandon plays his wife. At the after-party, Lopez and Anthony hit the dance floor, and cuddled in a corner booth. It was the same "we're together-we're not" scene that has been playing out since the two wed in her Beverly Hills yard in June. When a People reporter asked Lopez how married life was going, she politely replied, "Ah, I'm just not talking about that." But she did reveal that there's "no tangoing at home. I kind of left that at the set when I was done." As for tangoing with Gere, Lopez, a former In Living Color Fly Girl, said: "We both had a lot of work to do when we got there. I am a natural dancer, and I have been taking classes since I was very young, so in that sense I guess I had the one-up on him. But this is so different from anything else I've ever done that it was really challenging." Gere amended the record slightly. "She didn't have to learn to dance. I had to learn to dance," he said. But what about his hoofing prowess in Chicago? "I fake things. If I have four or five months that I can learn something, I can pretty much learn almost anything." Lopez stars opposite another Hollywood heavyweight, Robert Redford, in An Unfinished Life, which is due this Christmas. She calls working with both legends "a little bit surreal." "It's always great to see what kind of people they are and how they've survived all this time," said Lopez, who braved the crisp evening in a silver and white Michael Kors sheath with cutouts at the midriff. She carried a white J. Mendel fur coat.
The performer will be presented with the Children's Humanitarian award by MGM Chairman and CEO Alex Yemenidjian in recognition of her efforts for the Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. "Childrens Hospital Los Angeles is a remarkable place," says Lopez. "This top pediatric facility treats and cares for some of the sickest children, not just from California but from all over the world. These kids need our support and I feel blessed to be able to help." Held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, "Noche de Ninos" is chaired by Antonio Banderas, child advocate Cheryl Saban, and MGM Chairman and CEO Alex Yemenidjian and will be hosted by comedian George Lopez. Entertainers for the evening include J.Lo's husband Marc Anthony, Alejandro Sanz, Carlos Baute, dancer Joaquin Cortes, comedian Cheech Marin and singer/actress Renee Olstead. Also being honored that night is Trish Meraz who will receive the Courage to Care award from Leonardo DiCaprio for her strength and generosity while her son was treated for and ultimately passed away from a childhood cancer. "Noche de Ninos" will help raise the $500 million needed for new facilities for the hospital as well as for endowment, program, and annual support. For more information, visit www.ChildrensHospitalLA.org. Lopez, 35, next stars on the big screen opposite Richard Gere and Susan Sarandon in the romantic comedy "Shall We Dance?," opening nationwide on Friday, Oct. 15.
J.Lo appeared on Primetime Live news show in America, and confessed to interviewer Diane Sawyer she was "a little nervous". Then, she opened up about her June wedding, and vowed her latest trip down the aisle will lead to a lasting romance. She said, "What do I know about marriage? I think I've learned that both people have to really wanna be there. "It's how you treat each other when you're hurt. I think that's the most important thing - because it's all great when everything's fun and great and lovely, but I think in the hard times is when a marriage becomes a marriage or it just falls apart." But the biggest shock in the candid chat came when Lopez revealed she's ditched her tough girl Jenny From The Block image. She added, "I was always so Bronxy in a way - gutsy and ballsy and 'I don't care what anybody thinks...'" Lopez also confessed she didn't think she'd ever be happily married after breaking up with Ben Affleck earlier this year: "There's always a part of you that doesn't believe everything once you've been through a lot."
While both versions center on a middle-aged married male stuck in a bit of a rut who undergoes a spiritual reawakening by taking ballroom dance classes, the Richard Gere-Jennifer Lopez version is a listless, Hollywooden affair populated by generic characters that are either blandly underdeveloped (in the case of the leads) or drawn with tired broad strokes. The promise of seeing the reborn song-and-dance man after his well-received turn in "Chicago" with another opportunity to do a little fancy footwork, along with Lopez getting a chance to reconnect with her inner Fly Girl, may be enough to initially bring in an older, female-skewing audience when the film opens Oct. 15. But Miramax's deferred summer release likely will lack the legs to see it through the fall. Relocated to Chicago (by way of Winnipeg), the Westernized edition features Gere as John Clark, a successful lawyer with a loving wife (Susan Sarandon) who nevertheless feels like his life has been running on autopilot. One day, while commuting home by the El train, he spots an exotic yet somewhat distant-looking woman (a wispy Lopez) staring out the window of Miss Mitzi's Studio, and like a wayward moth drawn to a flame, he soon finds himself signing up for lessons. But before he gets a chance to cut the rug with the lovely Paulina, Clark has to learn the basics from Miss Mitzi herself (an ever-charming Anita Gillette) while teaming up with the rather strident Bobbie (Lisa Ann Walter), who has just dumped the flamboyant Link Peterson (Stanley Tucci) for being more concerned about his bad wigs than his good form. Naturally, John's increasing and unexplained absences have wife Beverly worried that he may be having an affair, so she enlists the services of a detective (Richard Jenkins) to spy on him. You don't need to know anything about the original film to realize that the magical world of dance will lift Clark out of his earthbound funk, but as directed by Chelsom ("Serendipity") and written by Audrey Wells ("Under the Tuscan Sun"), that transformation never convincingly takes place. And while the marketing may suggest otherwise, Lopez figures in only about a third of the film -- if that -- and her severely underwritten character gives her a lot less to grab onto than costume designer Sophie de Rakoff Carbonell's elegant, form-hugging creations. When they do finally get a chance to hit the dance floor together, they generate precious little heat, but at least they aren't required to provide the stock comic relief that has been divvied out to "Station Agent" scene-stealer Bobby Cannavale and Omar Benson Miller, playing the stud and the fat guy, respectively. By the time Gere and Lopez reach the big finale, dancing to the buoyant Rodgers and Hammerstein "The King and I" tune that lends the film its title, the number has been so truncated that there's really no point to have included it. As for the rest of the soundtrack, whoever thought it was a good idea to insert the Peter Gabriel-performed Stephin Merritt dirge "The Book of Love" late in the third act (sample lyrics: "The book of love is long and boring") really wasn't helping matters. Miramax Cast: John Clark: Richard Gere; Paulina: Jennifer Lopez; Beverly Clark: Susan Sarandon; Link Peterson: Stanley Tucci; Chic: Bobby Cannavale; Bobbie: Lisa Ann Walter; Vern: Omar Benson Miller; Miss Mitzi: Anita Gillette; Devine: Richard Jenkins; Scotty: Nick Cannon. Credits: Director: Peter Chelsom; Screenwriter: Audrey Wells; Producer: Simon Fields; Director of photography: John De Borman; Production designer: Caroline Hanania; Editor: Charlie Ireland; Costume designer: Sophie de Rakoff Carbonell; Music: Gabriel Yared, John Altman.
Jennifer Lopez is sporting what appears to be a sizable wedding band. But despite her appearance at several major Fashion Week events over the past few days, J. Lo still won't address the enormous elephant in the room: her secret June wedding to singer Marc Anthony, her third husband. With two fall/winter movies and an upcoming album to promote, Lopez is back - sort of. She won't discuss her personal life in interviews to promote her October release Shall We Dance? After her overexposed and ultimately busted engagement to actor Ben Affleck, it's understandable that Lopez would want her latest relationship to be more low-key, industry watchers say. But her refusal to address it has hardly dimmed the spotlight on her personal life. Lopez has not officially confirmed her marital status, but that hasn't stopped the celebrity magazines from feverishly speculating about the state of her union - in part because of her dramatic romantic past, in part because so little information about her current relationship is out there. "Is It Already Over?" the new In Touch asks. "Trouble Already!" a recent issue of Us crowed. Not discussing her private life is "her own prerogative," Lopez rep Leslie Sloane Zelnick says. "Things get blown up by the press, and there's some things in life she wants to keep private. This is the way she wants to live her life." That means following Lopez and Anthony's patented red-carpet formula. Much as they did at the MTV Video Music Awards last month, the couple arrived together at a Coty anniversary bash Sunday night. They walked the red carpet separately but reunited inside the party, where they cuddled and kissed in front of gawkers. Yet it's hardly the camera-ready lip-locks that Lopez and Affleck shared at high-profile events, or the pat her posterior got from Affleck in her Jenny From the Block video. The ensuing media feeding frenzy is why Us editor Janice Min suspects Lopez might now be overcompensating for the "Bennifer spectacle, which was just too much." Min speculates that by zipping her lips, the larger-than-life Lopez could, in the long run, turn off her fans. But no immediate coolness was evident at a Sunday afternoon fan meet-and-greet at Macy's, where teary-eyed teen girls and moms hugged Lopez and swore their affection for the grinning star. "Her media strategy seems to be that less is more," Min says. "But she's always loved the publicity and being the modern-day Liz Taylor with an incredibly soap-operatic life. "Still, the whole Bennifer thing was embarrassing. She did not want to become a punch line, but in the end this tactic might not work for her. People love her because she's been out there and has a colorful life."
A source tells British magazine New! "Jennifer said, 'I plan to bring live glamour back to the screen and would really like to make this show a family affair. I know people will say, Oh, not with your husband again, but he is so talented. I can't wait.'" Lopez has a habit of starring alongside her fiances and husbands on screen. Her second husband Cris Judd appeared in the videos for 'Love Don't Cost A Thing' and 'I'm Gonna Be Alright', while she co-starred in two films 'Jersey Girl' and 'Gigi' with her ex-fiance Ben Affleck.
Nelly and Aguilera will perform a duet of "Tilt Ya Head Back," a track from Nelly's forthcoming album "Sweat." Keys will be doing her song "If I Ain't Got You," which is nominated for three awards. Paltrow is married to Chris Martin of Coldplay, which won three trophies at last year's Video Music Awards. The band isn't up for any awards this time around, and there's no word whether Martin or their daughter, Apple, will accompany Paltrow to the show. The VMAs are going without a host this year, relying instead on the parade of presenters to keep the show moving. Among those joining Paltrow, Lopez, Smith, Duff and Fallon are Lenny Kravitz, Jon Stewart, Ashlee Simpson and LL Cool J.
After two failed marriages and her much publicized romances with Sean "P. Diddy" Combs and Ben Affleck, the 34-year-old pop star seems intent on not leaving a trail of glitter (and gossip) wherever she goes. "Maybe I was a little bit careless in the past," she says. "I'm not a perfect person. I make mistakes. I just feel like I'm in a better place about who I am. I follow my heart. That's the one thing I can say about myself. And I love that about myself." In early June, Lopez reportedly married singer Marc Anthony in a small ceremony at her Beverly Hills, Calif., home. All she'll say about Anthony is, "We have a great working relationship. I have to keep my work and my personal life separate. Otherwise it gets blurry and it gets messy." However, she'd like to co-star in a film with Anthony based on the life of salsa singer Hector Lavoe. "He's kind of like a Billie Holiday, a tragic singer," she tells the magazine. "It's a love story between a husband and wife."
Stay-at-home mother Yolanda saw her brother a few days after his nuptials in New York as he promoted his hit Spanish-language album 'Amar Sin Mentiras'. She tells People magazine, "He didn't say a lot about Jennifer, and I didn't ask much. He just looked at me and said he was ecstatic. To me, as a sister, that is all I need to hear." Yolanda is also in the dark when it comes to allegations her new sister-in-law may be expecting her first child with the father of three. She adds, "He hasn't told me anything. I might not even know until the rest of the world does, because he wants to keep his privacy."
A source at the magazine says there is tension at the publication because the Lopez story seemed incomplete without mention of her third trip down the aisle. A source says, "In Style was freaking out because they interviewed Jennifer before anyone knew there was going to be a wedding. So they had an August cover story with nothing about the marriage, which is all anyone wants to know about." Although In Style claim they put a follow-up call in after speaking to Lopez prior to the news, her representative Lesie Sloan Zelnick says this is "not true". The source concludes, "Someone's head is going to roll over this, and it'll probably be at In Style."
The moguls at Miramax are now negotiating with other singers to re-record the number, "Sway." "Her engagement to Ben Affleck didn't help 'Gigli' or 'Jersey Girl,' and her marriage to Marc Anthony isn't going to help 'Shall We Dance,' " an insider told PAGE SIX. "Miramax doesn't want the publicity focusing on the two of them. They've been through that before. They want to keep the focus on the movie." "Shall We Dance," based on a hit Japanese movie, co-stars Richard Gere as a bored, overworked accountant who signs up for ballroom dancing lessons at the first sight of a beautiful instructor played by La Lopez. Susan Sarandon, Stanley Tucci and Len Cariou have supporting roles in the romance opening on Oct. 15. Insiders say Lopez was originally going to record her part in "Sway" in L.A., while Anthony would record his part in Miami. "But J.Lo insisted on doing the recording with him in Miami," said our source. The studio had to fly the star and her entourage to Miami and put them in a hotel for four nights. "It cost Miramax more than $100,000," said our insider. The studio went along with the argument that the number would come out better with both singers in the same studio. "But now they realize that her insistence on going to Miami was to see Marc," we're told. "[Miramax chief] Harvey Weinstein was an enabler. He was cupid." Less than a week after the lovebirds finished recording in Miami, Lopez and Affleck announced that their long wedding engagement was over. "It's pretty clear that J.Lo and Marc were making more than just music together," observed our source. Now their duet will never be heard, and video of their harmonizing will also be scrapped. Plenty of footage was shot of the recording session to be used in promoting the movie — but it will be shelved along with the song.
"She did?" Cris Judd said when Access Hollywood broke the news to hubby No. 2. "Jen, Marc, I wish you the best and happiness, definitely." British bookmakers are giving 3-1 odds that the couple will divorce by year's end and 10-1 odds that Lopez, 34, will marry more than eight times in her life, besting Elizabeth Taylor. More details are emerging about the latest Lopez wedding: • Even the guests were surprised. Lopez had invited them to a "beautiful afternoon party," People reports. • Her champagne-chantilly lace dress was from Vera Wang's spring 2005 collection. Wang also made a dress for the Lopez-Affleck wedding that never was. Asked whether it was the same gown, a Wang publicist said Monday, "No comment." • Lopez's restaurant, Madre's, catered the reception, Us Weekly said.
A guest at Saturday's quickie surprise wedding told our source that Lopez, called "Lola" by her bridegroom, is pregnant. Another friend confirmed that La Lopez has been telling close pals she's expecting. Other sources told PAGE SIX, which broke the news of the Lopez-Anthony engagement last month, that she's been very careful not to show any cleavage (a heaving bust line gave away Gwyneth Paltrow's pregnancy) and has been wearing loose clothing. Lopez's business manager, Simon Fields, hemmed and hawed before declining comment on whether she is pregnant. Meanwhile, J.Lo., as we predicted on Sunday, replaced Rob Shuter of Dan Klores Associates as her personal publicist yesterday with Nancy Ryder at Baker Winokur Ryder. And one thing is for sure: when "Monster In Law" is done filming, the workaholic Lopez has a free and clear schedule. J.Lo, who is usually working simultaneously on a movie, an album and her clothing line, has nothing on the books — leaving plenty of time for bed rest, which is just what her obstetrician would prescribe. Fields said: "There are some scripts we are looking at right now, but nothing is set yet. She has no plans." Pregnancy would explain her quickie wedding to Anthony, who had obtained a quickie divorce just four days earlier from his ex-wife (and mother of his two kids) Dayanara Torres. Lopez, a strict Catholic, is not about to have a child out of wedlock, and has made no secret in the past year about wanting to start a family. J.Lo and Marc were throwing a big wedding celebration last night in Thousand Oaks, Calif., on the set of "Monster-in-Law," in which Lopez co-stars with Michael Vartan and Jane Fonda, who plays her mother-in-law. Anthony, who is to perform this morning in Rockefeller Plaza on "Today" to kick off the Toyota Concert Series, had to fly through the night to make the gig. Meanwhile, Anthony should be more on the ball — his Web site still features photos of his wedding to Dayanara. Tommy Mottola, Anthony's manager, didn't return calls.
Lopez, 33, has already been through two marriages that lasted little more than a year. She broke off an A-list celebrity engagement to actor Ben Affleck in January after the couple called off their wedding last September. Anthony was granted a quickie divorce in the Dominican Republic a week ago from his wife of four years, a former Miss Universe. Ladbrokes is also offering 10 to one odds that "J-Lo marries more than eight times in her life, beating Elizabeth Taylor," a spokesman said. Those who never quite accepted that Lopez and Affleck had split for good after one of Hollywood's most tumultuous romances also have a chance to bet. The bookmakers are offering 14-1 odds that Affleck and Lopez are married by the end of 2004.
Music: Female Artist Misc: Female Hottie And - don't forget to watch and see who wins the Teen Choice Awards August 11, 2004, 8pm/7c on FOX!
The wedding came five days after Anthony was divorced from former Miss Universe Dayanara Torres and five months after Lopez broke off her engagement to Ben Affleck. Lopez spokesman Rob Shuter would not confirm or deny the nuptials, first reported by People and Us Weekly. Proof came with an Us photo showing the bride, 34, marching down the aisle in a white off-the-shoulder ruffled dress with matching veil. The groom, 34, wore a cream-colored tux. The couple were married in front of about 50 guests, including singer Ricky Martin, Us reported. Anthony and Lopez briefly dated in 1999 after recording a duet. They were first linked again in January. With three marriages and one broken engagement under her tiara, Lopez has been compared to Elizabeth Taylor. But unlike her high-profile relationship with Affleck, Lopez kept her romance with Anthony low-key and refused to acknowledge that they were dating. They arrived at events separately, including a taping of her guest appearance on Will & Grace and the premiere of his film Man on Fire. Anthony's legal situation may have played a part. Torres filed for divorce on Jan. 20. The couple have two children. On May 27, Anthony flew to the Dominican Republic to obtain a speedy divorce. It's unclear when Lopez and Anthony were engaged, but Lopez has been sporting an 8-carat clear square-cut diamond ring since early May. The new couple aren't taking much time to honeymoon. Anthony is scheduled to perform on NBC's Today show and ABC's The View Tuesday to coincide with the release of his Spanish album, Amar Sin Mentiras.
In interviews with entertainment newsmagazine "Access Hollywood," hip-hop artist P.Diddy and dancer Cris Judd give their take on J.Lo's unexpected wedding. "If she's in love with somebody and that makes her happy, I'm happy for her," says P.Diddy, adding, "That's my girl for life." The rapper, who dated Lopez for two years, approves of her penchant for matrimony, explaining, "The one thing I love about Jennifer is she's doing it her way, the Frank Sinatra way. She's not playing by anybody else's rules, so she's doing what makes her happy and that's the beauty of it." Judd, who shared a brief eight-month marriage to Lopez, was taken by surprise by the news. "She did? You know what? I wish her and Marc the best and hey, if it's true to her heart then by all means," says Judd, adding, "Jen, Marc, I wish you the best, and happiness, definitely." The "Access Hollywood" interviews will air on NBC Monday evening, June 7. It's no secret that Anthony, 34, has been dating Lopez, 33, for some months now, after her long engagement to Ben Affleck broke off five months ago. Anthony just received his divorce from former Miss Universe Dayanara Torres on Tuesday, June 1 from the Dominican Republic. This is the third marriage for Lopez, who was married first to waiter Ojani Noa in 1997 and then to Judd in 2001. The newlyweds are reportedly are working together on the feature film about Puerto Rican singer Hector Lavoe, with Anthony to star and Lopez's Nuyorican banner producing.
The magazine said Lopez, 33, married Latin music star Anthony, 34, at her home in Los Angeles on Saturday in front of about 40 guests. Us Weekly said it had pictures of a giant tent assembled on the estate and of guests coming and going among tables covered in white table cloths and flower centerpieces. "It was a lovely low-key intimate affair for the closest friends and family, " Us reported a friend as saying. "She didn't hardly tell anyone. Everyone was surprised," another unidentified friend told the magazine. Representatives for Lopez and Anthony could not immediately be reached for comment. The reported marriage comes less than a week after Anthony was granted a quickie divorce in the Dominican Republic from his wife of four years, Dayanara Torres, a former Miss Universe. It would be the third marriage for Lopez, the sultry star whose previous trips down the aisle have both lasted a little over a year. Tabloid news reports have linked Anthony and Lopez for weeks. They noted that Lopez had recently returned the giant pink diamond engagement ring she was given by Affleck during the stormy "Bennifer" affair that rose to a fever pitch last September when the couple called off their wedding at short notice, citing excessive media intrusion. Affleck and Lopez officially broke their engagement in January and both have maintained a low profile since then. But by May, Lopez was seen wearing another diamond, reportedly given to her by Anthony.
The Starz Encore network is marketing "Gigli", a box office flop starring former lovers Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez, as a film that has been so maligned by critics and moviegoers that "you know you want to see it." In marketing materials sent to reporters, Starz Encore calls "Gigli", "The Most Talked About Movie of the Year", then adds, "(OK, not all of our movies can be award-winning blockbusters). "Hey, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em," said Starz Encore's Steve Belgard, director of programming publicity. "If we promoted it like a good film, our credibility would be shot." Belgard dreamed up the idea. Accustomed to seeing ads filled with reviews claiming a movie is "the year's best," Starz offers reporters this from the San Jose Mercury News: "A rigli, rigli bad movie," or this from the San Francisco Examiner: "Viewers (read: victims) will want to talk and comfort each other afterwards." "Gigli" is pronounced zhee-lee. In the movie, Affleck plays a thug who falls in love with a gangster, Lopez, who also happens to be a lesbian. It debuted in August 2003, and racked up $6 million at domestic box offices. In real life, the pair were engaged to be married and their every move was dogged by paparazzi and tabloid press. They have since broken up. Belgard said it was about time Ben and Jen -- sometimes dubbed Bennifer -- got back together, at least on the screen. "We've missed them, haven't we?" he asked, rather dryly.
Both stars have films with Harvey Weinstein's company - Lopez with Robert Redford in "An Unfinished Life" and Paltrow in "Proof" - and both are hoping that Miramax's mighty marketing division will push them as Oscar contenders. "Both movies are having a limited release in December and opening wide in January," an industry insider said. "Whoever does better at the box office and with critics will get the full force of Miramax's Oscar campaign machine behind them." But our source says Lopez is getting favored treatment. "Gwyneth was originally slated to be on the cover of January Vogue, which would appear on stands in December to coincide with the release of 'Proof.' "But then Miramax wanted to capitalize on Jennifer Lopez's popularity with moviegoers, so they gave her the January Vogue cover, and Gwyneth doesn't have one at all yet. It is a slap in the face to Gwyneth. She did the play 'Proof' in London for six months in order to do the movie. And she has always been Harvey's in-house go-to girl." The looming cinematic smackdown will do nothing to soothe the actresses' notoriously rocky relationship. Paltrow once sneered, while Lopez was dating her ex, Ben Affleck, that Lopez was perfect for him because she was essentially low-class. Lopez famously questioned Paltrow's acting talent in a 1998 interview with Movieline magazine. A rep for Vogue told us: "We are looking forward to working with both Gwyneth and Jennifer in the future, but as of today, nothing is set in stone. The January cover is not confirmed." Paltrow's mouthpiece insisted: "Nothing was ever locked in. There's no favoritism being played out here." However, Rob Shuter, a rep for Lopez, crowed: "I can confirm that Vogue has offered Jennifer its coveted January cover." Miramax's rep, Amanda Lundberg, said: "Miramax is releasing 'An Unfinished Life' and 'Proof' in December. They will both open limited in December and then go wider in January. Lopez is scheduled for the January Vogue cover, which will come out in advance of the film's initial release. Vogue is discussing with Gwyneth Paltrow's camp a February cover which comes out in January to coincide with [her] film's wide release."
In: Clear diamond from Marc Anthony. Tongues are waggin' after the New York Post reported Monday that Jennifer Lopez is wearing a dazzling new square-cut diamond engagement ring from Anthony. A spokesman for the in-love-with-love actress, who has divorced twice and is one-half of the biggest celebrity engagement in history, as in Bennifer, won't comment on the report. Lopez, 33, ended her engagement to Affleck in January. Reports that she had hooked up with Anthony, with whom she had a 1999 romance, have circulated for months. Recently, she attended the premiere of his film Man on Fire, sparking speculation that the duo may go public with a romance. But the couple face some challenges. Anthony, 34, is still married to his wife of four years, Dayanara Torres Delgado, who filed for divorce in January; the couple have two children. Anthony also has an older child with an ex-girlfriend and is fighting a paternity suit filed by a Miami waitress, Elizabeth Leyva, who claims the heartthrob fathered her 2-month-old son. (On his Web site, Anthony writes that he has DNA tests to prove he didn't father the baby.) Meanwhile, J. Lo's film Shall We Dance? has been moved from Aug. 6 to Oct. 15. The Post cites insiders who say test screenings of the film, which also stars Richard Gere and Susan Sarandon, went badly. Not true, says a Miramax spokesman. "We were extremely pleased with the strong audience reaction to Shall We Dance? and the performances," says Matthew Hiltzik. "So we decided to move the film to a prime release date for adult audiences and awards consideration."
Lopez has given back the pink diamond engagement ring given to her by Ben Affleck and is now wearing a bauble of betrothal from current beau Marc Anthony. "She is wearing a huge diamond ring on the middle finger of her left hand," blabbed a Lopez pal. "It is a diamond band with a huge square clear diamond in the middle and the square diamond is surrounded by more tiny diamonds. It is an engagement ring." A rep for Lopez would only say: "I don't know about that ring." Here's hoping J. Lo's ravishing new rock will lift her spirits, as the early buzz on her next two movies is a real downer. She stars in the Miramax releases "Shall We Dance" (with Richard Gere) and "An Unfinished Life" (with Robert Redford) due out later this year. But both movies are being re-tooled after test audiences in the Midwest saw them and, as our sources put it, "reacted badly." One production insider says: "Audiences were not into either of the movies. "A lot of Jennifer's scenes for 'An Unfinished Life' are ending up on the cutting room floor - she just wasn't up to par, or at least up to Robert Redford's level. As for 'Shall We Dance,' the test screenings went badly. Really badly," said the insider. "Because of the bad screeners, 'Shall We Dance,' which was supposed to premiere Aug. 6, has been moved back to Oct. 15. And 'An Unfinished Life' is having a limited release in December." But another, more sympathetic Lopez insider insisted: "The only reason 'Shall We Dance' screened poorly is because Jennifer doesn't even appear in the movie until 30 minutes in. Her first big dance scene is 45 minutes into the film. "In the beginning, it is dreary as they try to set up the plotline about Richard Gere leading a boring dull life with boring dull Susan Sarandon. It's boring! The editing will make it so that Jennifer comes onto the screen much, much earlier." Naturally, a rep for Miramax insists both pictures are just fine. "The screenings for both of the movies in Omaha and Kansas City were through the roof," said Matthew Hiltzik. " 'Shall We Dance' was moved because now it has a shot at being considered for the Golden Globes."
Since fall, the market for denim jeans has "exploded" with new brands, says trend forecaster Linda DeFranco of the trade group Cotton Incorporated. Stars are showcasing new jeans at Hollywood events, and jean makers have been using celebs to entice consumers. "People can identify with a specific celebrity," DeFranco says. Take the Three Jennifers, she says, "who have three different body types. Lopez: curvy. Jennifer Garner: athletic. Jennifer Aniston: slender." It's not unusual to see stars like Jessica Simpson dressing up dungarees with a tweed Chanel blazer and Louis Vuitton bag for a major event. A day of shopping? Stars dress down the same pair with a leather jacket. Says Katie Holmes,a fan of new James Jeans: "I wear them out at night or even when I am curled up on the couch." Among the trends: People are wearing them with flat shoes, thanks to the young, hip cast of The O.C. Jeans are getting a cleaner look, DeFranco says, with less distressing. "Cleaner look works for more occasions." Waists are low, but not as low as last year. A look at what stars are wearing: Bartack Who: Michelle Branch, Jamie-Lynn DiScala, Jessica Alba, Christina Aguilera Bella Dahl Who: Heather Locklear, Britney Spears, Jessica Simpson Halston Who: Anne Hathaway, Queen Latifah, Cynthia Nixon, Halle Berry, Aisha Tyler, Kelis James Jeans Who: Courteney Cox, Julianne Moore, Holmes, Brittany Murphy, Lindsay Lohan Rogan Who: The cast of NBC's Friends,Madonna, David Beckham, Julianne Moore, Michael Stipe 7 for All Mankind Who: Olsen twins, Drew Barrymore, Halle Berry, Jada Pinkett Smith, Jennifer Lopez, Cameron Diaz Leading the way is Jennifer Lopez, who has two successful fragrance lines: Glow by J.Lo and Still Jennifer Lopez. Celine Dion, Thalia and Jessica Simpson are among the other stars who have attached their names to fragrance products. Britney Spears and Beyonce will enter the marketplace later this year. Celebrities who launch fragrance products almost always have an ownership stake in the business. "Even if the product line doesn't sell that well, it's a big moneymaker for the star because of the lucrative contract, which usually comes with a big-salary guarantee," says Gina Pia Bandini, editor-in-chief of fashionfinds.com. Five years ago, the market for celebrity fragrances was largely inactive, according to beauty-industry experts. That situation changed with the runaway success of Glow by J.Lo, which debuted in 2002. Lopez's fragrances are available mainly at specialty stores and department stores. "Jennifer Lopez has been wildly successful because she's a crossover star and she's ubiquitous," Didi Gluck, beauty director at Marie Claire magazine, observes. "A star like Jennifer Lopez doesn't come along every day," adds Catherine Walsh, senior VP of cosmetics and American licenses at Lancaster Group Worldwide. "People buy these fragrances because they like the celebrity's personality and lifestyle, and the fragrance helps them get a piece of that." According to Information Resources, which tracks retail sales of consumer goods at mass merchants, drug stores and supermarkets, U.S. sales of Glow by J.Lo jumped more than 4,000% at those outlets last year. Including sales of products sold separately and in gift packs, Glow by J.Lo earned more than $1.7 million in revenue in 2003. Information Resources does not track sales at department stores, where the majority of Lopez's fragrance products are sold. Those sales figures were unavailable. Dion launched her perfume line last year. Celine Dion Parfums is available at mass merchants, drug stores and such department stores as Sears, JC Penney, Ulta and Kohl's. Dion's line raked in sales of $11.7 million in 2003, making it the ninth-best-selling women's fragrance of 2003 at U.S. retailers tracked by Information Resources. It was the only debut fragrance line to make the top 10. Dion, who teamed with Coty for her fragrance venture, tells Billboard: "For years we were approached by a number of different fragrance and beauty companies, but it just didn't feel natural. When we were approached by Coty, we really liked the way they understood who I was as a woman, as well as a performer, and how I was perceived in the market." Despite the success of Dion's and Lopez's products, the stars entered the fragrance market at a risky time. Though fragrances remain the biggest category in the beauty industry, their sales have declined recently, according to NPD Beauty, a division of research firm NPD Group. Of the three main beauty categories -- skin care, makeup and fragrances -- only fragrances had a sales decrease in 2003, dipping 2% compared with the previous year, to $2.8 billion. During the same period, skin-care product sales jumped to $2 billion, up 6% from 2002, and makeup hit $2.6 billion, up 4%. Not surprisingly, Lopez, Spears and Simpson are among the celebrities extending their beauty brands to skin care or makeup. THE SCENT OF MUSIC Why are fragrance companies flocking to music stars more than actresses or other celebrities? "The beauty and the music industries are both used to dealing with consumers who are very fickle," notes Michael Solomon, human sciences professor of consumer behavior at Auburn University in Auburn, Ala. Both industries understand the value of "striking while the iron is hot," Solomon says, thereby making them a good fit. "It's all a matter of timing," Marie Claire's Gluck notes. "These companies want celebrities whose star is on the rise." Distribution is also a key factor. In that respect, Simpson's product line, Dessert, could be a wild card because of its selective retail launch. Simpson partnered with Dlish Fragrance to launch Dessert in April. Dlish founder and president Randi Shinder says the company is somewhat of an underdog. "It's much easier for a celebrity to go to one of the big beauty houses, but Jessica chose our independent company because she really believes in trying something new. She's believable for these products because she's also a target customer." BEYONCE VS. BRITNEY At least two more celebrities will enter the fragrance field later this year. Beyonce has teamed with Tommy Hilfiger Toiletries, a division of Estee Lauder, to launch a new fragrance this fall. Also due by year's end is Spears' line of fragrance, skin-care and cosmetics products, a partnership with Elizabeth Arden. Industry experts predict Beyonce's line will be the bigger hit. "Beyonce has more going on with crossover appeal," fashionfinds.com's Bandini says. "She's a fashion role model, and her experience for L'Oreal is a huge plus. From a fashion perspective, Britney hasn't morphed into anything beyond being a pop princess." Gluck also thinks Beyonce may have the edge. "Her star is rising faster than Britney's," she says. Solomon adds, "Elizabeth Arden and Britney Spears are a terrible match. Britney doesn't have the versatility to pull off being a fashion icon, like Madonna has. The feeling among a lot of young people is that Britney is over." Elizabeth Arden president Paul West says Spears' high profile, along with his company's track record (including the success of Elizabeth Taylor's White Diamonds fragrance line) will make the Spears line a hit. "We have a long-term plan and vision. Britney did a lot of homework for this fragrance. Her beauty products will be completely relevant to consumers."
All was cordial off-screen between Jennifer Lopez and Jane Fonda in Los Angeles on Monday as the co-stars relaxed before the first day of shooting for the comedy Monster-in-Law. Scheduled: a scene at hot-spot eatery The Ivy. Fireworks will ignite when cameras roll as Lopez, 34, becomes engaged to the man of her dreams (Michael Vartan of TV's Alias) only to realize his mother (Fonda, in her first movie since 1990's Stanley & Iris) is a nightmare. The 2005 release is directed by Robert Luketic (Legally Blonde). Fonda, 66, decided to return to film after acting onstage in The Vagina Monologues.
In their most public appearance since rumors began that they're dating, Lopez showed up Saturday night at the L.A. premiere of Anthony's new film Man on Fire. And although the two stayed on opposite ends of the red carpet, they left together. There are even reports in London's Sun of theater smooching between the just-good-friends. For months, Lopez, 33, and Anthony, 34, have brushed off speculation that they're an item. In January, Lopez called off her engagement to Ben Affleck, and Anthony split from his wife, Dayanara Torres Delgado. The couple have two children. The official line on J. Lo and Anthony? Her rep doesn't comment on her personal life; his manager's office says it doesn't know whether the two are dating. But the pair have been spotted out and about. Last week, Anthony was with Lopez in New York, where she taped Inside the Actors Studio. The week before, he accompanied her to the L.A. taping of Will & Grace. She guest-stars on the NBC season finale April 29.
(Or No. 36, for that matter. That's where Britney Spears lands.) In its fifth year, the Hot 100 is a barometer of the hottest women in film, TV, music, sports and fashion. The criteria: beautiful women with careers that are on fire. Her star took off last year with MTV's reality hit Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica and multiplatinum CD In This Skin. Coming up this year: the special Nick & Jessica Variety Hour on ABC this Sunday at 9 p.m. ET/PT, a comedy pilot for ABC and the launch of her edible fragrance line, Dessert. The rest of Maxim's top 10: 2. Beyoncé Knowles In a letter to Lipton, Bronx viewer Gene Roman writes, "If you remove the Hollywood glitz, clothes and vacuous lifestyle from Ms. Lopez, what is remaining in terms of craft that is teachable?" Although Lopez won critical acclaim for 1997's "Selena," her work since then has often been questionable with such stinkers as "Anaconda," "Enough," and the box office poison that was "Gigli." And several top Latin journalists came out against Lopez in an e-mail exchange obtained by The Post. "J.Lo gets my props when she does quality work like the hilarious and smart feature 'Out of Sight.' But, obviously, that was a hiccup in a mediocre film career so far," says one reporter. "I'm glad she's out there representing in the mainstream media. I just don't think she's that good of an actress." A radio newswoman writes, "Fact remains, she's a marginal singer and no great shakes as a dancer. She had the potential to become a decent actor . . . but seems to have thrown that away with poor choices." The newswoman continues, "It's her big ol' a- - and 'in your face' romances that got her there. Bottom line, baby." However, El Diario publisher Rossana Rosado came to Lopez's defense. "She is definitely an actress whether you like her or not," Rosado told us. "She was the first Latina to be paid $1 million for a movie. The fact that she is the first Latina on Lipton's show should be an embarrassment to Lipton, not J.Lo, because he's had many opportunities to have Latinas on his show." Lipton tells Fab, who covers the gossip beat in The Post's NYP Tempo section: "When the show airs, two people are going to walk on that stage. One will be J.Lo, the drama queen that the media owns, and the other will be Jennifer Lopez, who nobody owns. I cannot wait to meet Jennifer Lopez. "She can't be lousy," he continues. "People like Robin Williams and Jack Nicholson don't accept lousy co-stars in their movies. J.Lo is not yet 34 years old, and has made 27 motion pictures. Someone needs to tell me how that doesn't qualify her as an important Latina actress." The show will be taped Monday but the air date has not yet been set.
Guadalupe Lopez, 58, won the progressive jackpot while playing dollar slots in Atlantic City on Saturday evening, April 3, reports the AP. The elder Lopez was playing the Wheel of Fortune machine at the Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa when she won the $2.4 million jackpot. Michael Facenda, spokesman for the casino, says at the time he was unaware of Mrs. Lopez's relationship to the superstar. Guadalupe Lopez intends to use part of her winnings to start a college fund for her two grandchildren, according to US Weekly. J.Lo will be pulling in her own millions in August when she stars opposite Richard Gere in "Shall We Dance?" She currently has a brief appearance in Kevin Smith's "Jersey Girl."
J.Lo - who recently split with fiancé Ben Affleck - is now ready to turn-the-tables on gossip columnists by demonstrating her softer, funnier side. J.Lo will appear at this weekend's Nickelodeon's Kid's Choice Awards, where she is expected to be covered in green slime just like former guests Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz. J.Lo can then be seen in a cameo role in TV smash Will and Grace, before gracing the cover of America's In Style magazine - which she chose over industry titan Vouge. A source tells Pagesix, "There have been no high-diva demands, there will be no more absurd requests for white lilies in her rooms, 600-thread-count sheets in her hotel rooms or anything like that. She really is just a normal girl."
Lopez's handlers are orchestrating low-key and low-maintenance public appearances for her to show her softer, funnier side. If schedules allow, Lopez will appear this weekend on Nickelodeon's "Kids Choice Awards" and is preparing to get "slimed" with green goo if she does. Lopez has also agreed to star as herself in an episode of "Will & Grace." And although Vogue is after her to do a long-awaited cover, she's shooting the cover of In Style instead. Meanwhile, Lopez's notoriously expensive and high-maintenance hair man, Oribe, is no longer allowed to throw fits or demand limos, airplanes and $20,000 a day. "On the In Style shoot, Oribe and [makeup artist] Scott Barnes will be paid the regular editorial rate," a source said. Editorial rates for magazines are hundreds of dollars a day, as opposed to thousands. Lopez is also using In Style's in-house photographer, Ruven Asanador. "There have been no high-diva demands," the source continued. "There will be no more absurd requests for white lilies in her rooms, 600-thread-count sheets in her hotel rooms or anything like that. She really is just a normal girl." In addition, Lopez is looking to give back to society. Another insider says Lopez - never active in charity before - will pick out a cause this year and support it fully. Until then, J.Lo is just trying to get back to a routine, which includes moving to Miami full-time. "Jennifer has left Los Angeles," a source said. "Her house there is for sale and when you ask her where she lives, she says Miami. She will probably have to buy a place in L.A. just because of work, but she will never live there full-time again." Lopez is even going to movie theaters with plebians. On Sunday afternoon, Lopez and good friend Marc Anthony went to see ex-beau Ben Affleck's latest flop, "Jersey Girl," at a cinema on Lincoln Road in South Beach. But she isn't fully back to earth - due to security concerns, the couple had a pair of beefy bodyguards with them. Simon Fields, Lopez's low-key business partner and the man responsible for Lopez's new image, didn't return calls.
Drew Barrymore, 29, and Fabrizio Moretti, 23 The rumor: The rumor: This month, the tabs reported that Barrymore's boyfriend, Strokes drummer Moretti, was spotted smooching another gal in a downtown New York club. True or false: True or false? Totally false, says Barrymore's rep, who adds that "it was his bandmate, Albert Hammond, who was kissing his own girlfriend." And in the April issue of Harper's Bazaar, Barrymore professes her devotion to Moretti: "I'm so in love with Fabrizio," she says. "He is so beautiful." Beyoncé Knowles, 22, and Jay-Z, 34 The rumor: Last week, the Internet was abuzz with rumors that these two superstars have called it quits. True or false? We're guessing it's bogus, since the two were just spotted in Miami and still appeared to be crazy in love. But the ultra-secretive entertainers have never even confirmed that they're an item. Jay-Z's publicist did not return calls, while Knowles' rep didn't have "a clue" as to their status. "As she didn't comment on their relationship previously, I can't imagine that changing," he says. Cameron Diaz, 31, and Justin Timberlake, 23 The rumor: First, reports had Timberlake fuming when Diaz danced with other men at a club. Then came the story that Timberlake stood up his sweetheart at a Los Angeles restaurant in February. True or false? Tough to tell, since neither of their reps will comment. But this month they were spotted locking lips on the set of her movie In Her Shoes. Marc Anthony, 34, and Jennifer Lopez, 33 The rumor: The former flames were seen clubbing - and, supposedly, smooching - in Miami recently, igniting speculation that they have recoupled. True or false? Lopez's rep keeps mum, but Anthony's publicist insists that "as of right now" the Latin superstars are "just friends," collaborating on a salsa single for J. Lo's upcoming movie, Shall We Dance?
Entertainment industry bible Daily Variety said the unlikely duo had signed up for the period drama "American Darlings," which Australian Kidman has been championing and which she will executive produce. The movie, which has been bought by Hollywood's New Regency films, tells the story of two women who shatter the race and gender barriers of the 1930s by joining forces with black and Hispanic musicians to conquer the male-dominated night-club scene. The movie, which has yet to be written, will be produced by partners Craig Zadan and Neil Meron who were responsible for 2002's Oscar-winning musical "Chicago," of which Kidman was a big fan.
Under the multiyear pact, Fox TV Studios will have a first-look option on all television projects developed by Lopez' Nuyorican Prods., including scripted and unscripted series, specials and original movies for network and cable. Partnered with Fox on the deal is Regency TV, Fox TV Studios' joint venture with New Regency Enterprises. Nuyorican already is actively developing projects including a comedy and a couple of drama series, a music special and a variety show. "I started in television and love the medium," Lopez said. "We intend to be a major creative force in television." The deal does not cover some of Nuyorican's existing projects, including "Los Quinces," a documentary for HBO centered on a Cuban-American girl's 15th birthday. The pact also complements Nuyorican's first-look deals with Columbia for features and NBC-owned Telemundo for Spanish-language TV projects.
The mega-hyphenated diva is suing her former contractors for allegedly doing such crummy work on her 9,000-square-foot Hollywood Hills compound that they actually caused $2 million in damages. According to court papers obtained by the syndicated TV show Celebrity Justice, Lopez accuses Houck Construction of performing such "defective work" on the mansion cum money pit that she's had to spend millions for renovations. Among the defects J.Lo cites are poor waterproofing and shoddy construction of windows, doors and the pool. Lopez's suit alleges the builder failed to shore up a caved-in hillside and, instead of correcting the problem, simply tried to cover it up with a tarp and some sandbags. Lopez says Houck also tried to take advantage of her celeb status by charging for people that never worked on the site and billing her for "expensive meals" and "entertainment" for the crew. The complaint, filed two years ago in Los Angeles Superior Court, indicates Lopez first became aware of the purported bilking when ex-hubby Cris Judd was living at the estate and clued her in to all the problems. Lopez, who purchased the house several years ago--back when she was still dating Sean "P. Diddy" Combs--is now trying to unload the property, according to Celebrity Justice. The asking price: a hefty $10 million. While she reportedly paid much less to acquire the place, she won't turn much of a profit if she gets the full amount given the extra millions of dollars she's spent to fix it up. Attorneys for Houck Construction could not be reached for comment. Calls to Lopez's lawyer, Judy Lam, were not returned by press time. With her house on the market, we're wondering where she'll stash all those Razzie Awards she just won for Gigli. The nominal comedy, costarring ex-beau Ben Affleck as a killer for hire, dominated the anti-Oscars last week, winning the dubious honor of Worst Movie of 2003, Worst Actor, Worst Actress and Worst Screen Couple, among others. Because of the taint associated with that disaster and her tabloid-making split with Affleck, Miramax and director Kevin Smith decided to reduce the former Fly Girl's screen time in Jersey Girl. The studio is now billing her role as a cameo, and Smith has cut out a wedding scene between her and Affleck's characters. Lopez has several other movies in the pipeline, including Shall We Dance? with Richard Gere and An Unfinished Life with Robert Redford. She also plans to star in New Line Cinema's romantic comedy Monster-In-Law opposite Jane Fonda, who's come out of retirement after 16 years away from acting.
"While I am very happy, Jennifer does not seem that way," hunky Noa, who's releasing a calendar of semi-nude photos, declares. "She has changed so much since I first met her. I'm sure her romance with Ben failed because she changed." TROUBLED PAST "Ben went through the same joys I had with her in the early days," Noa says. "It is all incredibly romantic, but then she changes. The more famous she becomes, the more different she is -- I think it happens because of the people she has around her, her team of advisers, managers and lawyers. It happened to me when I was married to her. There were times when even I had to go through advisers to speak to her." Noa says that Jennifer was in major denial about her transformation, however. "She turned to me [one day] and said, 'You're not the man I married," he says. "We'd only been married six months. But I hadn't changed, it was her. All she thought about was her work. It kind of hurt in a way because I was really young and really naive. To be honest, it felt like a betrayal." SURROUNDED "Too many people around Jennifer were giving me different opinions and answers," Noa says. "I got to the point where I was so confused I didn't know what to do anymore. She needs to lose all of the people around her before she loses her respect!" Although his marriage to J.Lo only lasted a year, she and Ojani remained friendly. He even worked as manager of her Pasadena restaurant Madre's for several months until he got word from both Jen's manager and her lawyer that his services were no longer needed. Noa says he'd like to give Jennifer some advice before it's too late for her to ever find happiness. Sadly, however, "She won't return my calls."
Golden Raspberry Awards voters picked "Gigli" as 2003's worst picture, Affleck as worst actor, Lopez as worst actress and the two as worst screen couple. "Gigli" filmmaker Martin Brest also took the Razzies for worst director and screenplay. "Gigli" hit theaters last summer amid the tabloid frenzy over Affleck and Lopez's on-again, off-again wedding plans. They finally announced in January the romance was off. The movie, which starred Affleck as a thug smitten by Lopez as a lesbian crime colleague, fell short of the record seven Razzies won by "Showgirls" and "Battlefield Earth." "But those are much better bad movies, if that makes any sense," said Razzies founder John Wilson. "If you sit through them with the right people or the right brand of liquor, they can be strangely entertaining. "But I don't care how medicated you are or what people you're watching it with, `Gigli' is just a pain in the posterior. It's one of those things that is, as opposed to enjoyably embarrassing, it's just skin-crawlingly embarrassing." "Gigli" cost $54 million to make but earned back just $6 million. Among other "winners," Sylvester Stallone padded his Razzie resume with a record 10th prize, this time for worst supporting actor in "Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over." Stallone's past Razzies include one for worst actor of the 20th century. With the 25th annual Razzies coming up next year, the group is considering a special career-achievement prize for Stallone, Wilson said. In "Spy Kids 3-D," "he plays five characters, so technically the whole supporting-actor category could have been made up of his performances," Wilson said. Demi Moore took the supporting-actress Razzie for her comeback role in "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle," which also was named worst remake or sequel. "She tried to come back, and we said, `No, thanks. We chased you away before. Go away again,'" Wilson said. The storybook adaptation "Dr. Seuss' the Cat in the Hat" won the Razzie for worst excuse for a movie. Another top nominee, "From Justin to Kelly," was shut out in the awards balloting by the roughly 600 Razzie voters. The group decided to give the movie — a spring-break romp featuring "American Idol" stars Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini — a special "governor's award" for distinguished underachievement in choreography.
"I didn't know if (it was right) to leave it in," Smith is quoted as saying in an issue. "People might forget they're watching a picture, like, 'Wait, didn't these two NOT get married?'" Affleck and Lopez were reportedly to have married last September in a secret ceremony in Santa Barbara. When the media besieged upon the sleepy beach town, the lavish plans were canceled though never rescheduled. They recently terminated their engagement. "Jersey Girl" is set for release March 26.
Miramax Films has pushed back the release date of Kevin Smith's "Jersey Girl," featuring Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez, by one week to Friday, March 26. Afterward, it will expand further through the first two weeks of April. The reunion will be brief, however. "Jersey Girl" centers on Ollie (Ben Affleck), who tries to pick up the pieces after the love of his life (Lopez) dies and leaves him with a child. The film also stars George Carlin as Ollie's dad and Liv Tyler, who opens Ollie up to love again. "Based on the feedback from research screenings and positive response from key exhibitors, 'Jersey Girl' is proving to have great word of mouth and promises to have strong play through the Easter holiday," says Miramax chief operating officer Rick Sands. "This, coupled with the favorable competitive environment, allowed for the date change from March 19th." On the strength of an early screening, Miramax co-chairman Harvey Weinstein recently tapped Smith to write and direct the tentpole superhero project "The Green Hornet," which Smith will begin after finishing the upcoming comedy "Fletch Won."
A source explains, "He wants Jennifer back for keeps. Ever since she broke up with Ben, he's been out to woo her back. He told her he wanted some input on some music he's working on and was going to send her some CDs to listen to. He hid the necklace in one of the CD cases and told Jennifer to listen to that one first." And according to sources close to J.LO, the gift has made her reconsider their future together. An insider whispers, "It's a stunning piece of jewellery - a platinum necklace holding a single heart made of gorgeous diamonds. It's the ultimate romantic gift. He totally surprised Jennifer by sending it to her days before Valentine's Day." Lopez reportedly told a pal, "This is so unexpected and beautiful."
It was a perfect day in Miami, 70 degrees and a cloudless blue sky. Lopez, 33, dressed in a black and gray sweat suit with a two-piece white bikini underneath, and her old reignited flame Marc Anthony, 35, went for a boat ride about a mile off the coast of south Florida. Although the water was calm and serene that day, there was plenty of passion aboard the 34-foot love boat named Sea Ray. "They cruised the waters hugging and kissing," a source tells Star. "They barely kept their hands off each other." It wasn't long before the pair of famous Latin singers headed down to the ship's cabin to spend some time away from prying eyes. And just like that, La Lopez rebounded from Ben Affleck, the man that seemed like the love of her life. Read all about the breakup and the new couple in this week's Star Magazine!
Rather than sulking about the break-up of her and ex boyfriend, Ben Affleck, Star reports she rebounded very quickly following her appearance at the Golden Globes in LA. She and Anthony limoed together to her Cuban restaurant, Madre's in Pasadena where she seemed anything but upset or sad. Star has learned that the couple moved on to a very prestigious LA hotel where they spent the next five days holed up in the Presidential Suite, feasting on room service, watching videos, and, according to an insider, "got reacquainted romantically." They then traveled on to Miami a week later where Anthony decamped in the guest suite of Lopez' waterfront mansion. Afraid of being spotted with Anthony in public as "he is still legally married," the couple took a private boat, the "Sea Ray," out for a ride, were seen hugging and kissing and then, went below deck for more privacy.
In other news J.Lo's old school are begging her to donate her engagement ring to boost their funds. J.Lo's 6.1 carat pink diamond ring - which cost a reported A$1.5 million - has been redundant since the superstar called off her engagement to ex-beau Ben. Now Claire La Temla principal of Holy Family School in the Bronx, New York has appealed to Lopez not to give Affleck back the gem - but to pass it on to them instead, to help provide the 750 kids there with a playground and new classrooms. La Tempa says, "It would be very nice if Jennifer gave back to her old elementary school. The students would greatly benefit from any donation she would send. The convent will soon be empty, and I would like to get the kids out of the school basement and build classrooms for them in the convent."
Or has she? After nearly two years of courtship and one canceled wedding, the Hollywood couple known as Bennifer split up last week. "I am extremely broken-hearted. I put enormous effort into my relationship with Ben," Lopez is quoted as telling Star executive editor Victoria Gotti. "In the end, I realized I needed to put my personal and professional life back together." But Lopez's spokesman denies the conversation ever took place. "Ms. Lopez has not and will not talk to the press," her publicist said. Star publicist Stuart Zakim says the magazine stands by its story "100%." What is certain is that the Bennifer breakup is the cover story of every celebrity magazine hitting newsstands Friday. The highlights: Us Weekly, Star, People and In Touch Weekly quote anonymous sources as saying Lopez broke it off because she was upset by Affleck's partying and gambling. The last straw reportedly came when J. Lo saw photos of Affleck and pal Matt Damon partying with young women in Berlin, the mags say. People says the couple lost $2 million in non-refundable fees when they scrapped their Sept. 14 wedding in Santa Barbara, Calif. The wedding planner says the lavish ceremony was to include $12,000 necklaces for the bridesmaids and $15,000 watches for the groomsmen. The couple later planned to secretly marry Oct. 4 at Affleck's estate in Hampton Island, Ga., People says. They applied for a marriage license and asked the FAA to declare his property a no-fly zone. But the groom got cold feet. Comedian Robin Williams, who sat with Lopez at Sunday's Golden Globes, told Us: "I (jokingly) asked her, 'Excuse me, do you have any gifts you won't be needing?' "
The Razzies, an annual parody of the Academy Awards, pegged Affleck and Lopez's stinker "Gigli" for nine nominations, including a worst picture nod and worst screen couple. A spokesman for Lopez announced over the weekend that she and Affleck were no longer together. Their romance was the stuff of tabloid fodder for over a year what with on again/off again wedding plans and trips to the courthouse for various permits. "I cannot figure out how someone read this script and got heavy hitters like [director] Martin Brest and Affleck and Lopez to agree to this film," Razzies founder John Wilson tells Zap2it.com. "It is an enormously bad movie. And it's not a fun bad movie like 'From Justin to Kelly' is." Other rotten tomatoes that made the Razzies worst picture list are Mike Myers' abysmal "Dr. Seuss' the Cat in the Hat," "From Justin to Kelly" -- featuring "American Idol" stars Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini -- "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle" and "The Real Cancun," reality-TV brought to the big screen. "Gigli" also is in the running for worst actor and actress, supporting actor (Al Pacino and Christopher Walken), supporting actress (Lainie Kazan), and worst director and screenplay (Martin Brest). Wilson, a California-based publicist, says his pick for worst film is "Dr. Seuss' the Cat in the Hat." "How Theodore Geisel's widow let that film get made is beyond me," says Wilson. Winners (or losers) for the 24th annual Razzies will be announced Saturday, Feb. 28, the day before the Oscar ceremony. See a complete listing of nominees at Razzies.com.
Director and longtime Affleck buddy Kevin Smith tells Post film critic Lou Lumenick: "There weren't plans beforehand for [Lopez] to be there at the March 5 press junket in New York, so the breakup doesn't affect that. But I expect Ben to get hammered with questions," and he predicted the premiere will be a full-scale mob scene. Miramax, which will release the movie on March 19 and has a huge investment in Lopez's future as a star, has been playing down her participation in the picture. Lopez barely appears in the trailer, which makes it clear that her character dies during the birth of their child early on, and that Affleck's character moves on to a relationship with more prominently featured Liv Tyler. Perhaps mindful of the scorn showered upon Bennifer's first movie together, "Gigli," the studio saw to it that Lopez's image doesn't even adorn the "Jersey Girl" poster. Instead it features Affleck with Raquel Castro, who plays their young daughter. Lopez - who has two more Miramax movies due this year, "Shall We Dance" with Richard Gere and "An Ordinary Life" co-starring Robert Redford - is discreetly billed last in the credits. "Now that the trailer's out, people are getting [the idea] that it's not a Bennifer movie," Smith said. "Jennifer has about 12 minutes of footage in the first half hour in which they meet, get married and she dies." Smith, who made Affleck a star in "Chasing Amy," says he doesn't regret taking up his pal's suggestion to cast Lopez, even though the "Gigli"-generated publicity surrounding the couple has helped keep "Jersey Girl" on the shelf since it was completed in the fall of 2002. "I think I got a better performance out of the dude than if he was acting opposite someone else, because of the way he felt about Jen," Smith says. "If I had to point a finger about why they broke up, I would blame the media, though maybe there's some law of physics that says two insanely good looking people cannot be together." Smith admits that, "at times, I felt like the third wheel in the relationship. Hopefully, my next flick will have an all-male cast."
"I am confirming the reports that Jennifer Lopez has ended her engagement to Ben Affleck. At this difficult time, we ask that you respect her privacy," Lopez's spokesman told Reuters. A spokesman for Affleck, 31, told Reuters; "As usual, we never comment on the personal lives of our clients." Thursday's reports come four months after Hollywood's most talked-about couple, dubbed "Bennifer," abruptly called off their September wedding just days before it was due to take place, citing media invasion of their privacy. Since then they have been seen together in public several times, although there were widespread rumors that they were splitting up. Lopez and Affleck met on the set of the mob comedy "Gigli" in late 2001 and were engaged in November 2002, only months after Lopez's second marriage, to dancer Cris Judd, collapsed in less than a year. Her 6.1 carat pink diamond engagement ring, his-and-hers luxury cars and the booming success of J.Lo as both an actress and a singer made "Bennifer" the hottest tabloid couple in the world for six months. But life in the media spotlight turned sour last summer when "Gigli" was universally panned by critics and flopped at the box office and Affleck was reported to have spent a night at a Vancouver strip club. News of their supposedly secret September 2003 wedding, in front of 400 guests, leaked out a week ahead and the couple abruptly postponed the nuptials and spent the day they had planned to be married thousands of miles apart on opposite U.S. coasts. Lopez, 33, and Affleck apparently reconciled but rumors about a break-up persisted. Us Weekly magazine, which broke the story on Thursday, said Lopez had grown frustrated with Affleck's penchant for casino gambling and his hesitation in committing to marriage and a baby. "She was tired of waiting around for him," a source close to Lopez told Us Weekly. Affleck attended the Sundance Film Festival in Utah alone this week and while in Europe recently promoting his latest movie "Paycheck" he was photographed partying in a German nightclub.
Some four months after nixing their lavish nuptials, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez have split, her camp confirmed Thursday. "Jennifer Lopez has ended her engagement to Ben Affleck. At this difficult time, we ask that you respect her privacy," a spokesperson told E! News Live. Affleck's rep declined comment. "As usual, we never comment on our clients' personal lives," Ken Sunshine said. The breakup comes amid gossip-page speculation that Lopez has recoupled with ex-boyfriend Sean "P. Diddy" Combs. Both Combs and Lopez have denied recycling their relationship. The new Us Weekly pegs Tuesday as the exact day that Bennifer became undone. The magazine, due out Friday, described the split as mutual. But it also cited a source as saying Lopez, now sans her 6.1-carat engagement ring, "was tired of waiting for [Affleck] to come around." The 33-year-old Wedding Planner star was said to be anxious for marriage and a baby, while the 32-year-old Affleck was said to be not. It was just last September that the whole media world was watching Santa Barbara, California, where Lopez was to wed Affleck before family, friends and Matt Damon. But four days before the ceremony, the couple announced they were postponing the shindig. The official story was that Affleck and Lopez believed their "joyful and sacred day" had been spoiled by "excessive media attention." The unofficial story was (take your pick): (a) Lopez was upset she couldn't corral Affleck's casino and/or clubbing ways; (b) Affleck wasn't ready for groomdom; (c) Affleck's mom and/or Matt Damon were positive Affleck wasn't ready for groomdom (and told him so); (d) Lopez and Affleck were going to elope. The two kept up appearances following the never-was marriage--enjoying a photo-op at Beverly Hills restaurant here, taking in a Boston Red Sox playoff game there. As recently as New Year's weekend, the couple was spotted at a Las Vegas wedding chapel. But while Britney Spears (news) celebrated 2004 in Sin City with a walk down the aisle (and a sprint to the annulment lawyer), Affleck and Lopez were merely putting in an appearance to help drum up business for a pal, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported. On January 14, Lopez was spotted at a Miami nightclub, the Opium Garden, in the company of a new (old) leading man--Combs. The two dated from 1998 to 2001, with Lopez managing to squeeze in the hip-hop mogul between her two short-lived marriages. Combs portrayed their Miami meeting as nothing more than a coincidence. "She's in a relationship that she's very happy in. I'm in a relationship I'm very happy in," Combs told Access Hollywood. "We're friends." Lopez confirmed her engagement to Affleck in a prime-time interview in November 2002. The two met in late 2001 on the set of Gigli, their summer 2003 box-office bomb. They confirmed their couple status while working on Jersey Girl, the Kevin Smith comedy-drama due out March 19. While the pairing brought them power-couple status, their inescapable Bennifer-ness began to overshadow their individual careers. Affleck, in particular, has had a rough last six months. In July, the National Enquirer caught him enjoying a night out at a Canadian strip joint (all innocent, he insisted). In August, Gigli opened and closed, with the $50 million movie "grossing" just $6 million. In December, his sci-fi thriller Paycheck opened and languished, with the $60 million movie taking in $51 million through last weekend. Adding insult to injury, the original posters for Paycheck featured a drawing of an anonymous male, rather than a photo of the real-live Affleck. "It certainly looks like he has some image-fixing to do," Henry Shafer, of the research firm Marketing Evaluations, told the Wall Street Journal last month. Affleck will next be seen as a solo act in the holiday-themed comedy, Surviving Christmas. Lopez steps out of Bennifer with Richard Gere in the Hollywood remake of the hit Japanese romance, Shall We Dance?
A spokesman for Lopez at Dan Klores Communications said in a statement: "I am confirming the reports that Jennifer Lopez has ended her engagement to Ben Affleck. At this difficult time, we ask that you respect her privacy." People and Us Weekly magazines first reported the breakup on their Web sites Thursday afternoon. Affleck's publicist, Ken Sunshine, would only say: "As usual, we never comment on the private lives of our clients." Lopez, 34, and Affleck, 31, have been the subject of near-constant media scrutiny for the past year and a half. In the video for Lopez's 2002 hit "Jenny From the Block," in which she makes fun of the paparazzi, Affleck rubs her legendary posterior while basking in the sunshine on a boat. In another song from her album "This Is Me ... Then," titled "Dear Ben," she professes her affection for Affleck. But then their romantic comedy, "Gigli," was considered the cinematic disaster of the year before it even debuted in August. They were supposed to have married a month later, but abruptly postponed their lavish plans "due to the excessive media attention surrounding our wedding." Since then, the media has followed their every move, keeping track of who Lopez was with and whether she wore her 6.1-carat pink diamond Harry Winston engagement ring. Even a routine trip to a Georgia courthouse to get a gun license for Affleck drew a horde of photographers and celebrity reporters. This would have been the first wedding for Affleck. Lopez has been married twice before — to waiter Ojani Noa in 1997 and to dancer Cris Judd in 2001. Noa lasted a little more than a year; Judd for nine months. She also famously dated Sean "P. Diddy" Combs — back when he was still "Puffy" — for two years before the couple broke up in February 2001. Now the former couple will appear on screen together again in "Jersey Girl," due out March 19. Lopez plays Affleck's wife, but she dies 12 minutes into the movie.
J.Lo flew into Miami that evening around 11 p.m. then went to the Opium Garden in South Beach with her entourage. P. Diddy and posse popped in at 1:30 a.m., joining J.Lo in the VIP section, my source tells me. At one point, a male tourist created a melee when he tried to snap a photo of them: Someone grabbed the man's camera and a huge kerfuffle ensued, according to an eyewitness. But after the situation settled, the ex-couple huddled back in the corner, deep in conversation until after 4 a.m. My sources tell me P. Diddy has also been checking in on Jen's home when she's away. This may seem suspicious to outsiders, but it's no surprise to me, since P. Diddy told me last month how he feels about her: "I want the best for Jennifer," he said. "I mean, she's my girl... my homegirl."
And after hearing J.Lo gets eight hours sleep a night, Mariah scathed, "If I had the luxury of not actually having to sing my own songs, I'd do that, too." But record industry sources are saying Mariah is now ready to "bury the hatchet" with her fellow New Yorker. However, Mariah's spokesperson says, "It sounds like a nice idea. But there's no trust to it." Another insider tells the New York Daily News, "They've reserved studio time. They'd like her to have a single out by the spring and an album out in the summer. Now that BMG and Sony are merging, every exec is hustling for a big hit so he can keep his job." Despite their rivalry, the two singers have a lot in common. J.Lo's Sony label boss Tommy Mottola is Mariah's ex-husband, while Mariah is receiving career advice from Lopez's former manager Benny Medina. A source adds, "Jennifer wants to get back in the studio, but she's not willing to do so until there's a new deal in place. Given how the record business is now, her position isn't being well-received." In other news, it's been reported that J.Lo has recruited producing superstar The Neptunes to help her record her new album. Music maestros Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo - who have added their magic to music from the likes of Britney Spears, Usher and 'N Sync - will hit the studio with J.Lo later this year. A source close to Williams says, "Pharrell is really happy to have been requested by J.Lo because she is such a megastar. But it wasn't much of a surprise to be chosen because he is so cool himself. He could have worked with anyone he wanted."
The second annual "ET Hot List" ranks celebrities by their number of mentions on the show over the course of the past year, and Jennifer Lopez usurps the throne of 2002's leader, Jennifer Aniston, who falls to No. 2. The King of Pop follows close behind, with "Paycheck" star Ben Affleck and Golden Globe nominee Nicole Kidman rounding out the Top 5. "It has been an incredibly eventful year of weddings, almost weddings, sex scandals, animal attacks and celebrity deaths," says Linda Bell Blue, executive producer of "ET." The beautiful people populated the remainder of the Top 10 spots, starting with Catherine Zeta-Jones and Brad Pitt and finishing with Cameron Diaz, Britney Spears and Demi Moore. Eleventh through 20th places include: "Cold Mountain" star and Golden Globe nominee Renee Zellweger, the angelic Drew Barrymore, Halle Berry, Aniston's "Friends" co-star Courteney Cox Arquette, "American Idol" warblers Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken, Madonna, Michael Douglas, the much-missed John Ritter and Evan "Joe Millionaire" Marriott. Conspicuously absent from this year's list after making a showing on 2002's list are "Mona Lisa Smile" star Julia Roberts and "The Last Samurai's" Tom Cruise.
Screaming at the driver to floor it, horror-stricken J.Lo raced back, blew by the doorman so fast he never got his hand on the handle — and yelled at a manager that she'd left something IMPORTANT behind! "Calm down," he told the star, "the housekeeper brought us your ring — it's in our safe!" Moments later, he handed it over as Jennifer sobbed and thanked him profusely!
For Affleck, 2003 brought the cinematic bomb Gigli, his notorious Vancouver strip club encounter, and the last-minute cancellation of his high-profile wedding to Jennifer Lopez. But succeed or fail, Affleck always looked dapper doing it. Thursday night was no exception, when he suited up in gray at the Grauman's Chinese Theatre for the premiere of his final project of the year, the John Woo-directed Paycheck. In the sci-fi adventure hitting theaters Christmas Day, Affleck plays a man whose memory has been erased, but who also has access to a machine that reveals his future. No doubt wishing he could erase much of 2003, good sport Affleck told USA TODAY: "I'm not sure it would be an altogether good thing to know my own future. I guess it would be useful to have a screenplay machine, where you could put the screenplay in and see what the movie would turn out like. But doing a movie directed by John Woo is the next best thing to a guarantee that the movie's going to work." Fresh off a taping of The Best Damn Sports Show Period, the well-coached Affleck refused to comment on banners freshly hung across from the theater, announcing the imminent arrival of a Hooters restaurant. "I'm not going to advertise for your favorite restaurant," he playfully told a reporter. Rather than speak of girls in short-shorts serving Buffalo wings, Affleck revealed fiancée J. Lo's new addiction: "I wish there were something in my life that gave me so much instant pleasure as a new episode of Queer Eye (for the Straight Guy) gives Jennifer. She's obsessed with that show. I'm sure those guys could benefit me a great deal." So where was Lopez, who set off cameras when she and Affleck emerged arm in arm from their limos at the Daredevil and Gigli premieres? Paramount clued in reporters the day before that Lopez was expected to attend, but her appearance was carefully orchestrated so as to avoid another Bennifer bonanza. Outside the theater, Paramount prez Sherry Lansing teased that Lopez was indeed on her way. "There's an excitement, and a buzz and an anticipation," said Lansing. "I wasn't in on the planning, but I do know what's going to happen." Then, sure enough, at 7:50, Lopez finally made her appearance, surrounded by an impenetrable wall of guards and publicists. With Affleck already safely in the theater, the paparazzi were unable to capture the couple together. As she raced down the carpet, Lopez refused even to answer reporters' questions as to her dress designer - an opportunity she traditionally never turns down. (The dress, by the way: a pale-pink lacy Dolce & Gabbana.) Let's hope Ben and Jen will be more chatty when their next collaboration, Jersey Girl, premieres in March. On the carpet, Woo confessed that he had some real concerns about the famous couple's hype overshadowing his film. "It is a pretty complex feeling," Woo conceded. "I like it, but I'm also nervous about it. "A lot of people came here - all very famous, but I don't know if that's because they like the movie or not." Affleck's leading lady, Uma Thurman, accompanied by Kill Bill director Quentin Tarantino, looked radiant in a Marc Jacobs gown and Manolo Blahnik heels, despite having been on duty since 3:30 a.m. to announce the Golden Globe nominations. (Thurman received a best-actress nomination for her work in Kill Bill Vol. 1; Vol. 2 arrives in February.) She also managed to squeeze in an appearance on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno, all while battling a cold. Later that night, she would be on a plane back to New York to spend the holidays with her children. Asked what she'd most like to erase from her year, Thurman, who has been separated since September from her husband, Ethan Hawke, just laughed and said: "Oh, that's too big of a question. I'm just hoping 2004's a good year. I feel very positive about it. I feel like I have a slightly new life, and I'm really looking forward to it." Guests included Paycheck co-star Aaron Eckhart, along with David Spade and Jersey Girl director Kevin Smith. All agreed it's time to retire the term "Bennifer" in 2004.
J.Lo's television spot, taped Dec. 12 in New York City, will debut during the Super Bowl telecast in January and run on MTV throughout 2004 until the November presidential election in November, the magazine says in the issue set to hit newsstands on Friday. According to Us Weekly, the 33-year-old entertainer herself registered to vote via Rock the Vote's Web site on the day she filmed the public service announcement.
The superstar's run as the luxury line's pitchwoman has expired, and, if the gossip columns are to be believed, Lopez was dropped beacuse her penchant for pricey freebies annoyed company execs. La Lopez, who was the face of Vuitton's fall 2003 campaign, allegedly took tens of thousands of dollars worth of luxury goods after a photo shoot for the design house. J.Lo even sent an assistant back to collect a groovy pair of socks she'd forgotten, according to a source cited in the New York Post. But a rep for Lopez calls the report "completely inaccurate," saying the campaign was meant to be a one-shot deal only. "It was a mutually fantastic experience for both," said the spokesperson. Calls to Louis Vuitton were not returned. Curiously, the diva-esque claims comes as the former Fly Girl has rekindled her relationship with onetime manager Benny Medina, who has been credited with orchestrating Jenny's rise from the Block to Bling-Bling City. Last week, the two sides allegedly dropped dueling legal filings against each other. No word on a cause for the reconciliation. Earlier this year, Lopez axed Medina. At that time, the 43-year-old manager was largely blamed for her most pampered demands, like her request for a fully equipped 45-foot trailer while shooting a brief cameo for a charity video benefiting 9-11 and AIDS (news - web sites) victims and her insistence on all-white dressing rooms stocked with white lilies, white sofas and room-temperature Evian everywhere she goes. Dubbed "The Mediva" due to his own love of all things luxurious, the ex-manager became the public fall guy for Lopez's diva image and was singled out as the reason for the multihyphenate's departure from the Endeavor agency--her reps there released a statement in June saying they "were no longer able to work with" Medina. Lopez's house cleaning this summer also exteded to her publicist, Alan Nierob, who had reportedly advised the Latin sensation to tone down her diva demands. Among some of the more outrageous requests the press have attributed to Lopez are her insistence on having her coffee stirred anti-clockwise, employeeing lackeys to spray gardenia perfume in her path, refusing to sleep any hotel bed that wasn't brand new and directing hotel staff not to look her directly in the eye. But the woman who allegedly had Fenway Park security guards rope off a ladies room for her own private use insists that the public's perception of her is all wrong. During a Dateline NBC interview earlier this year the Bronx-born babe tried to dispel her diva image, saying, "All I do, really, is go to work and try to be professional, be on time and be preparedThen you hear all this stuff that people say about you. It can be hurtful," Lopez told interviewer Pat O'Brien. "I think people are always surprised, when I go work on a movie or do something, when I show up and it's just me, my assistant and my driver. And they say, 'Well, where is everybody else?' This is it. It's just me," said Jenny. The misunderstood one, who's looking to bring out a line of lingerie next fall, just wrapped shooting on Shall We Dance? opposite Richard Gere (news). Then there are two Miramax flicks waiting to be released, An Unfinished Life with Robert Redford (news) and Jersey Girl opposite Ben Affleck. Bennifer's other half is on spin control for his upcoming Paramount Pictures Christmas Day release, Paycheck. Rumors of another flop have prompted the studio and Affleck's rep into overdrive, insisting the stinker reports are "bull----!"
Just when you think you've heard the most outlandish J.Lo demand story: At a press conference with the mayor in NYC, Jennifer refused to wear a black mike attached to her mint green sweater - saying the black would clash with her green! Organizers offered to attach it under her sweater, but she insisted it would rub against her skin. Techies hastily painted the mike mint green!
"Jennifer was very upset by the celebrity gambling tournament Ben did last month in Las Vegas," one insider said. "She feels he just gives up one addiction for another and it is destructive behavior. In a strong moment, she told him to move out of her [Los Angeles] house." But just a week later, Lopez was back with Affleck and planning the trip to Atlantic City last weekend for a poker tournament. "Ben got Guadalupe involved and used the whole 'your mother wants to go gamble, too' card on her," we're told. "Jennifer lost her nerve and they are back together again, but it is very tumultuous." "Guadalupe loves Ben," one spy said. "She thinks the sun rises and sets on him. Anytime Jennifer has doubts, her mother lets loose on her and tells her Ben is just the best thing that ever happened to her." Guadalupe's favorite thing about Affleck apparently is the attention and presents he lavishes on her. "Ben buys Guadalupe cars, jewelry, trips - anything she wants," our spies said. The trio were all smiles on Saturday morning when they arrived at the Showdown at the Sands Poker Tournament, which Affleck paid $10,000 to enter. Affleck, dressed in grungy sweats and sneakers, played for over six hours and 140 hands before dropping out. "He was drinking Diet Cokes, but tipping the waitreses $100 for each one," an Atlantic City tipster said. Later, the three went to dinner at the Old Homestead Steakhouse at the Borgata hotel/casino before Lopez hit the 25 cent slots at the casino while Guadalupe hit the $1 slots and Affleck left to drop over $50,000 in the high-roller room on blackjack. "You have to understand," one of our spies said. "Jennifer does not like to gamble, she doesn't drink or do anything. It is pretty amazing that she is putting up with his addictive behavior." The "Showdown at the Sands" airs on Thanksgiving Day on Fox Sports Net. A rep for Lopez declined comment, while Affleck's rep said: "That's the best one I have heard today."
During a Nov. 13 interview on Primetime, Britney said to Diane Sawyer, "Ben Affleck, he's cute." But because Jennifer is convinced the rumors that Ben and Britney had a romantic fling before Bennifer was even a twinkle in the media's eye, are true, Britney's words led to a blowout fight between the troubled couple. "How dare she?" Jen cried on the phone to a friend hours after the interview aired, according to a source. "She was very upset and crying," the source says. "She just kept saying, 'How dare she? On national television? Where's her respect? She knows Ben is with me!'"
A former dancer who claims Lopez's video for the single "I'm Glad" is an unauthorized depiction of her life filed a suit against the performer in federal court in Los Angeles Thursday. The plaintiff, Maureen Marder, served as the real-life inspiration for 1983's Flashdance, starring Jennifer Beals as a construction worker by day, dancer by night. The movie in turn served as the inspiration for Lopez's video, which she calls"homage" to the original. Flashdance was a smash hit at the box office, becoming a cultural phenom--who could forget all those cut-off sweatshirts? However, Marder earned only $2,300 for her contribution to the film, leaving her bitter and unwilling to grant sequel rights or permit any further use of her identity or story. Twenty years later, Sony released the video for "I'm Glad," in Spring 2003. Many of the defining and well-known scenes from Flashdance are featured--recreated a la Lopez. The video received positive reviews and is a commercial success--however, neither Jenny from the Block nor Sony ever thought to ask anyone's permission to make the video, and Marder has received nary a dime. "Flashdance owes both its story and its soul to Maureen Marder," said her lawyer, Robert Helfing. "But she received almost nothing for her contribution, accepting a small sum of cash from the producers who told her the movie was only generally about dancing and would not feature the details of her life. "In the last 20 years, she has tried to put that betrayal behind her, but she is penniless, disabled with a spinal injury, and trying to raise a teenage daughter. Now her life story is on the screen again--and other people are profiting from it--with no acknowledgement of her rights, let alone fair compensation for her contribution." Helfing stated that he and his client tried to settle the matter out of court, but could not get Lopez to lend her attention to the matter. "We tried to resolve this claim without litigation, but Sony and Lopez ignored us. And Paramount denies that Ms. Marder has any rights," Helfing said. "We filed the suit because Maureen can't let this happen to her again." Camp Lopez remained mum on the topic of the suit, merely telling E!, "We don't think it's appropriate to comment on a complaint we haven't even seen." The diva has been keeping herself busy of late, with the launch of a new line of lingerie through her Sweetface Fashion Company, numerous upcoming gigs in the showbiz world and future occasional cameo appearances on a daytime talkshow hosted by her sister Lynda. Her quest to truly seal the fusion that is Bennifer is still apparently in the works as well--though where the nuptials will take place is up for grabs. Some reports say New York, some say California--we say, get it over with already.
The bodacious singer-actress and her Sweetface Fashion venture will introduce a line of intimate apparel, the JLO by Jennifer Lopez Lingerie collection, in Fall 2004 according to the AP. As creative director, the pop idol will infuse her personal style into the design of the line's sleepwear, loungewear, bras, panties and shapewear. Known for her terpsichore-toned tuchus, Lopez will also cater to the curvaceous woman with full-figure lingerie fashions. Department stores and specialty stores nationwide will carry the collection, which will also be marketed overseas. "Our goal as a lifestyle brand is to dress our consumers from head-to-toe with products inspired by Jennifer," says Denise Seegal, president and CEO of Sweetface Fashion Company in a news release, "and lingerie will be an integral part of the JLO look." Sweetface Fashion is already well on its way to the Lopez-ization of the world, marketing and selling the JLO by Jennifer Lopez sportswear collection, swimwear, jewelry, outerwear, handbags, small leather goods, fragrance and other accessories. Before outfitting the world in satin and lace, Lopez will make another nationwide endeavor, convincing moviegoers to see her first film since this summer's "Gigli" fiasco. "Jersey Girl," the Kevin Smith-directed comedy that reunites her with perpetual fiancee Ben Affleck, is scheduled for release in March.
Lopez unleashed the scent, aimed at the over 25s, at a glitzy party in New York on Saturday night. She says, "I feel like you put it on and it makes you feel a certain way, whether it's fresh and up and bright and happy. I mean, scents can do that for you, fragrance can do that for you. Then there's time when you feel more sensual, more sexy, more sophisticated. You just have a whole different feeling about you that day, and I just feel like you change your scent for the different moods you get in. I just felt that I wanted to do something that was more sophisticated and more sensual, in a way."
The wedding of Bennifer may, or may not be in the works--but one thing's for sure: The two halves of Hollywood's most infamous couple are keeping themselves busy in the meantime. Perhaps feeling nostalgic for her Fly Girl days, Jennifer Lopez has taken on a host of dance-related projects to occupy her time. La Lopez just wrapped Shall We Dance? with Richard Gere; now she's tangoing on to develop and possibly star in Dance Lessons, which the Hollywood trades describe as a cross between Footloose and The Full Monty. Lopez has two more Miramax flicks on her horizon--An Unfinished Life with Robert Redford, and the long-completed Jersey Girl with, sigh, Ben Affleck. Not to worry though, it simply couldn't top Gigli in the turkey category. The full-bottomed Bronx babe won't stop there--she also plans to star in New Line's romantic comedy Monster in Law. Jenny from the Block returned to her hometown of New York Tuesday and canoodled with Mayor Michael Bloomberg at an event celebrating the formation of a new commission to attract Latino talent to the city. The multihyphenate star will serve as its honorary chairwoman; Robert De Niro will co-chair. "I never thought I'd be here next to such greats as [salsa star] Willie Colon and with the mayor of New York here at City Hall," Lopez gushed. "It's a real honor for me." Bloomberg seemed singularly starstruck by the meeting, which was duly chaperoned by B. Aff. "For those of you who were wondering, I finally got my date with Jennifer Lopez," Bloomberg said. "The Blue Room isn't exactly...some romantic restaurant, but you know, heck, Ben's here, and you take what you can get." For his part, Affleck shied away from the media and stood in a corner, perhaps still mourning his beloved Red Sox while in Yankeetown. Despite reports that Affleck's latest Disney vehicle, Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, was dumped due to the bad press associated with Gigli, the actor isn't hurting for gigs just yet. The Pearl Harbor star recently signed to star in Disney's Glory Road, a Jerry Bruckheimer-helmed project. Affleck will portray hoops coach Don Haskins, who took the first all-black team to NCAA championship victory in 1966. The film was pitched as a Hoosiers meets Remember the Titans mixer. No matter how it turns out it can't be any worse than...well, we won't bother to mention it again. You know what we're talking about. The basketball-themed flick marks the third time that J.Lo's significant other and Bruckheimer have joined forces--however, this venture will ostensibly feature less explosions than the duo's previous blockbusters, Armageddon and Pearl Harbor. Glory Days is due to begin shooting in early 2004. As for Bennifer's wedding? Date unknown.
The first night, J.Lo's bodyguard thugs kept everyone out. But the next night, regulars got to the gym early -- and when J.Lo arrived with her hangers-on, The Defiant Ones refused to dismount their treadmills and StairMasters! The diva got the message, turned tail -- and split!
The former "In Living Color" fly girl who just finished playing a dance teacher in "Shall We Dance?" will produce "Dance Lessons" at Paramount under her Nuyorican banner, according to media sources. The project is described as "Footloose" meets "The Full Monty" and will be developed as a potential starring vehicle for Jennifer Lopez. Sara Goodman will write the script. Julio Caro, who worked previously with Lopez on "The Cell," will also produce. "Shall We Dance?," a remake of the 1996 Japanese hit, also stars Richard Gere and will be released next summer. Lopez next appears on the big screen with her "Gigli" co-star and fiancee Ben Affleck in Kevin Smith's "Jersey Girl" next year.
Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez were there to visit Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who expressed his admiration for Lopez a few months ago. "For those of you who were wondering, I finally got my date with Jennifer Lopez," Bloomberg said Tuesday as Hollywood's most overexposed couple arrived late for a scheduled event. "This is worse than the Oscars," Lopez said amid a crowd of television cameras and photographers. Bloomberg earlier said he would be charmed to meet the pop star who hails from the Bronx. "The Blue Room isn't exactly ... some romantic restaurant, but you know, heck, Ben's here, and you take what you can get," Bloomberg joked. Lopez showed up at City Hall, with Affleck in tow, for the formation of a new commission to attract Latino entertainment and media to the city. Lopez will be its honorary chairwoman. "I never thought I'd be here next to such greats as (salsa star) Willie Colon and with the mayor of New York City here at City Hall," Lopez said. "It's a real honor for me." Lopez was wearing the now-famous $1.2 million pink emerald-cut diamond engagement ring presented to her by Affleck, who shied away from the attention and stood off in a corner.
Us Weekly says the couple will exchange rings at a beachside ceremony on Affleck's estate in Hampton Island, Ga., 35 miles from Savannah. Star magazine says the nuptials will happen before New Year's Day. Hogwash, Affleck's publicist says. "It's complete nonsense," Ken Sunshine says of the stories. "I don't even like to dignify these made-up stories." A rep for Lopez says any possible wedding plans are a private matter between the couple, but says they have not already married. Just days before their Sept. 14 wedding, Affleck, 31, and Lopez, 33, canceled the extravagant 2 million-dollar nuptials. Us Weekly's four-page cover story, which quotes 15 unnamed sources, says wedding plans were scrapped because Affleck dumped Lopez. After much, much begging and pleading, he took her back. "Bennifer" are back together, and by all appearances, they are still madly in love. They were gambling together in Las Vegas last week, Us says. And they cuddled live on TV at a Boston Red Sox baseball game earlier this month. The Bennifer wedding, Take 2, will be a much smaller affair with only a handful of guests, Star and Us report. In an Us poll, 71% of respondents said Ben and J. Lo should not marry.
Jennifer Lopez has settled a trademark infringement lawsuit over the name of her fragrance, Glow by J.Lo. Glow Industries had raised a stink in August 2002, about a month before J.Lo's perfume, distributed by Coty Inc., hit shelves. The company, which sells lotions, candles and other scented products, including perfume, under the Glow brand, accused Lopez and her perfume purveyor partner of stealing its trademarked name. However, Lopez's attorneys argued that customers were unlikely to confuse the two brands since Glow sold its scented wares in specialty shops whereas Glow by J.Lo was targeted at teen mall rats. But both parties have since agreed to an undisclosed settlement, announced Wednesday. (Don't worry, La Lopez can afford it. Glow brought in more than $40 million internationally last year.) Under the agreement Glow Industries gets to use the Glow mark on its bath, body care and fragrance products during a limited transition period while Lopez will also continue to own and use the Glow by J.Lo mark for her fragrance and related products. In the meantime, the business-minded babe has released another scent, Still Jennifer Lopez, with the timely tagline: "In the eye of the storm, I am still Jennifer Lopez." While the media blitz continues to rage around her and on-again, off-again beau Ben Affleck--Us Weekly has them eloping to the denials of their reps--J.Lo's professional storm has blown over since the release of this year's stinker, Gigli (unlike Ben, whose Disney movie, Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, was just nixed in part because of his tarnished image). Jenny from the Block has announced she'll coproduce a daytime talk show, which will feature her sister, radio and television personality Lynda Lopez, as one of the daily hosts. J.Lo's even planning on dropping by occasionally. How much her schedule allows for set visits largely depends on the success of her upcoming movies. On the plus side, Lopez is in postproduction on her upcoming film Shall We Dance? with the bankable Richard Gere. Other projects in the works for 2004 include An Unfinished Life, opposite Robert Redford and Morgan Freeman, both box-office draws in their own rights. J.Lo is also in talks to star in New Line Cinema's forthcoming flick Monster-in-Law. But first, she'll have to weather her next co-venture with Affleck, Kevin Smith's Jersey Girl, in March 2004. Ben and Jen were reportedly pulled from the flick's publicity shots so as to dissociate it from bad Gigli buzz. Better make room on the chat-show couch.
Nuyorican's Julio Caro will join in the producing duties on the daily show, which will feature an ensemble of female hosts lead by Lydia Lopez, a television and radio host. The show will skew toward younger women and will focus on pop culture, news, lifestyle, celebrities, beauty and fashion. "This show will be a natural extension of the dynamic brand created by Jennifer Lopez," says Lisa Hackner, Universal Television's executive vice president of programming and development. "It will convey the same sense of enthusiasm, humor, determination and smarts that took Jennifer to the top of the entertainment world." While the show will certainly have a celebrity component, there's no word on how frequently the former Mrs. Chris Judd will make on-camera appearances, though she promises to be hands on behind the scenes. "At Nuyorican, our goal from the onset was to produce good, quality material that would appeal to a broad audience," Lopez says. "A talk show hosted by a group of smart women with diverse opinions and varied interests is tremendously exciting. "We are going to have a lot of fun," she promises.
Affleck was being honored at the Beverly Hilton with the Champion of the American Way Award by the People for the American Way Foundation, a controversial liberal organization that promotes, among other things, free speech and freedom of the press. Strange that so few recipients and presenters were willing to walk the red carpet to address the press. Affleck and the curly haired, silver-heeled Lopez entered through a back door, as did Harrison Ford, who presented the Spirit of Liberty Award to actress Heather Thomas and her philanthropist husband, Skip Brittenham. Affleck's Armageddon buddy Bruce Willis, appearing ultra-svelte, arrived early but rushed past the press right along with usually outspoken Democrat Rob Reiner. Defenders of Democracy Award winners The Dixie Chicks didn't attend at all (they're finishing up the last leg of their tour), but requested their presentation be made by Bill Maher, who also dodged the carpet. Perhaps all feared being "Dixie Chicked" a term Maher coined in his speech referring to the heat the band received after speaking out against President Bush. During his acceptance speech, Affleck also had some strong words for the current administration, which he suggested was deserving of the harsh criticism given to his summer flop, Gigli. (He also joked that he thought he was getting recognition because he has a "pretty girlfriend.") In his presentation to Affleck, close pal Kevin Smith said his buddy was more worthy of an award for his large, ahem, "manhood." "That's what the dude should be getting an award for," Smith joked. "Jen knows." The couple laughed off Smith's jokes even one alluding to Affleck's Vancouver strip-club adventure. The director of Affleck and Lopez's 2004 film, Jersey Girl, told USA TODAY that all is well with the couple. In fact, Smith said, he already has given Affleck his wedding gift and planned on giving Lopez hers this week. "I got them his-and-hers chairs I had painted as art pieces about their lives," Smith said. "They're pretty cool. I mean, what do you get them?" Over dessert, Maher said he didn't quite understand why Affleck was being honored. "I like Ben, but I don't know what he's done for freedom," Maher said. "He's getting married, so that's what he can do for freedom break off that engagement! Just kidding, J. Lo."
Lopez has only a small part in Jersey Girl and her character actually dies fairly early on into the script. The film is set for a 2004 release, following a bit of a release-date shuffle after the last Ben and Jen film, Gigli, bombed at the box office.
On Nov. 18, Epic will release "The Reel Me," an EP featuring the new song "Baby I Love U" and an accompanying DVD with 17 of the artist's music videos. The package also sports a remix of "Baby I Love U," featuring R. Kelly. The DVD runs the gamut from Lopez's first video as a solo artist ("If You Had My Love") to a clip for the new single, which peaked last month at No. 26 on Billboard's Top 40 Mainstream chart. Comments Lopez gave about each video in an interview with MTV's Sway are woven throughout the DVD. Aside from the two versions of "Baby I Love U," the EP features remixes of the tracks "Jenny From the Block," "All I Have," "I'm Glad" and "The One." Lopez will next be seen on the big screen in "Jersey Girl," directed by Kevin Smith and co-starring her fiance of uncertain status, Ben Affleck. The film opens March 19 in U.S. theaters. Here is the track list for "The Reel Me": EP: "Baby I Love U" DVD: "If You Had My Love" The runaway bride sported the honking stone while joyriding with Ben Affleck on his Suzuki motorcycle around his rural Georgia estate. Does this mean the Wedding of the Century is a go? All we can say is, stay tuned!
J.Lo swiftly established a hotline with her ex-lover after she got dumped by Ben Affleck - the man I can no longer call Ben-Lo (sob, sob!) - and spent hours pouring her heart out as the rap mogul sugared her! Dame Diddy was LIVID! She ordered Diddy-Daddy to stop taking J.Lo's calls - but he refused. So Kim did detective work, got the diva's numbers - and J.Lo was stunned, the insider revealed, when she picked up the phone and heard furious Kim shriek: "Get your life together on your own - and leave us out of it! Don't call my man AGAIN!" Before she could answer, Kim slammed down the phone.
Lopez and Affleck told onlookers yesterday they were at the office to buy a hunting licence, but the London-based Daily Express paper claims the Liberty County Clerks Office in Hinesville doesn't issue those. Now reports speculate the pair may have even married at the office. An assistant there said "no marriage licences were issued from this office today", but giggled and refused to comment when asked by the newspaper if any couples had actually married there. A source close to the stars says, "This kind of stunt would not be Ben's style - but it is totally Jennifer's."
Hollywood's most overexposed couple set gossip pages aflame anew on Monday when they popped into a south Georgia courthouse near Affleck's island home. But apparently it was a gun license, not a marriage license, that the on-again, off-again super couple was seeking. "Affleck wanted to know where he could apply for a gun permit," said Liberty County Sheriff Don Martin, who mugged for a photo before sending the couple down the hall to the probate court. The appearance has unleashed a horde of paparazzi and celebrity reporters onto the small town of Hinesville, where a court clerk verified Tuesday morning — apparently not for the first time — that the couple did not apply for a marriage license. The pair, whose recent film "Gigli" bombed after abysmal reviews, had planned to marry Sept. 14 before abruptly calling off the wedding. It would have been the third marriage for Lopez, 33, and the first for Affleck, 31.
"It's over," our sources declare. "It's like an exit interview. You don't call off your wedding to someone you are in love with and then never talk to them again. They have a lot of issues to talk about and things to work through." Most telling to pals of both stars is that while Lopez flew to Miami for the week, Affleck stayed in Los Angeles for a bit and then went to Savannah - not Miami. "Ben looks so relaxed ever since he called off the wedding," one friend said. "And, hello," the source added, "he didn't fly to be with Jennifer. She has to go to him." Maybe Lopez's notorious diva reputation finally sank in with Affleck, described as a regular, low-key guy. Just four weeks ago, when Affleck was in the headlines with stories of his wild night out in a topless bar, Lopez threw another notorious fit. "Jennifer was supposed to do a shoot for W magazine," a Hollywood insider said. "And she had a long list of demands - one of which was a private jet. This is unusual because W doesn't really have that sort of thing in the budget. But they really wanted Jennifer, so they paid for it." Sadly, the plane sent to Lopez's set for "Shall We Dance" in Winnipeg to take her to Los Angeles was not up to snuff. "She flew to Los Angeles on the W plane but refused to fly back in it because it was not good enough," the insider laughed. "She got to the airport and saw a better plane waiting. It was Enrique Iglesias' plane. She insisted on flying back to Winnipeg in Enrique's plane. Good thing Enrique let her, because she was throwing a fit." A pal of Lopez had a different account: "Jennifer flew the W plane there and wanted to stay one more day in Los Angeles before flying back. The W plane was already booked the next day, so she went in another plane." A rep for W declined comment. Lopez's rep didn't return calls.
What's wrong? she wanted to know. He told her he couldn't take it and he wanted to push it back. For the 33-year-old singer-actress, her worst fear was coming true. The wedding plans that the world had anticipated along with her were suddenly in danger of falling apart after months of planning. "It's all the attention," he said. "It's driving me crazy. Everything is out of control." Her fiance reassured her that he did still want to get married. He said he was just venting. He told her how much he loved her. But Jen had a feeling. She called her closest girlfriends, completely hysterical. "Something is wrong," she said through tears. Ben had been acting distant toward Jen for a few weeks according to people close to the couple, and his late night phone call was all the proof that the would-be bride needed. "I know something is wrong," she said. A source close to the actress tells Star: "She thought Ben was getting cold feet." As Jen - and the world - soon discovered, the problem was much bigger than that. In this week's Star Magazine, find out all the details of Jen's first weekend alone, who she turned to first, Ben's wild partying and why Ben dumped J.Lo!
A new report Wednesday on the possible "whys" behind the wedding postponement-slash-reputed breakup, plus word of one reporter who ended up in police custody in pursuit of the phenomenon known as Bennifer. First up: The latest Us Weekly, on stands Friday, says the couple, which survived the bomb that was Gigli, blew apart for good--"It's Over!, a cover headline declares--due to an argument on September 8, less than a week before the scheduled ring exchange, and two days before they announced they were pulling the plug on their party due to "excessive media attention." Us apparently doesn't say what the instigating tiff was about, although it suggests that Affleck's fondness for high-stakes casinos may have been a sore point between the stars. For those keeping track at home, it's also been reported by various outlets that the wedding was nixed because: Lopez, 33, opted to follow the advice of her psychic; Affleck, 31, opted to follow the advice of his mother, Chris, as well as pal Matt Damon (news); and/or, Affleck opted to follow his cold feet out the door. According to Us, Affleck, who paid a well-documented visit to a Canadian strip joint in July, has been spotted at big-money tables at Los Angeles-area establishments such as Larry Flynt's Hustler Casino at least twice this month. One such visit, to Flynt's house of cards, came last Friday, it says. For those still keeping track at home, Friday was two days after the postponement, and one day after Affleck and Lopez, a supposed still-cozy duo, were out dining at Hollywood power eatery, the Ivy. Us, like People before it, isn't buying into the Ivy photo-op. Both mags portray two-time divorcee Lopez as the teary-eyed party in what they, and many media sources, say is a definite bust-up. "She wants to sit on the couch and cry," a Lopez friend tells Us. "If she goes out, it's only because her girlfriends want to get her mind off the heartache." At least she'll always have second ex-husband Cris Judd. "She has my number if she wants to call me," the dancer/choreographer tells Us. Last weekend, when Lopez and Affleck were supposed to be getting married before 400 guests and fellow movie stars, in Santa Barbara, California, Lopez was spotted, sans Affleck and sans her Affleck-gifted, 6.1 carat engagement ring, in Miami; Affleck was spotted, sans Lopez, at Las Vegas' Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. Even as their respective reps continue to deny knowledge of a permanent split, and TV's Extra cautions that reports of their romantic demise are "premature," sources tell E! News Live that the super-couple unit remains geographically apart. It is "100 percent confirmed," according to the sources Wednesday, that Lopez is still in Miami, and Affleck still is not. At last word, the Pearl Harbor flyboy had ditched Vegas for Georgia, where he owns an 86-acre plantation on Hampton Island, near Savannah. It was at Affleck's estate Sunday morning that a People magazine reporter found himself in Southern discomfort. Don Sider, a 40-year veteran of Time Inc., publications, on assignment to cover the wedding-that-never-was for People, was arrested for allegedly trespassing on a private construction road near Camp Affleck. The 70-year-old journalist faces a misdemeanor charge. The police report on the bust is published on The Smoking Gun Website. On Wednesday, People spokeswoman Dianne Jones referred to the incident as "a misunderstanding." Sider drove his car onto the road in an attempt to turn around after failing to reach someone at the Affleck property via a security-gate phone, Jones said. While on the road, his car's tires became stuck, so Sider called an emergency auto service. The mechanic, upon arriving and seeing the road marked with no-trespassing signs, subsequently called the cops, Jones said. "It's a little thing that got blown up," Jones said. Sounds familiar.
The superstars had been due to be married at a lavish ceremony in California on Sunday but cancelled their nuptials at the last minute, citing excessive press interest and sparking widespread speculation that they had split up. "They're not over yet," said one source close to the pair, dubbed "Bennifer" by media because of their inseparability in public since announcing in November that they would wed. "They are having some trouble, but you don't go from getting married on Sunday to being totally off. It takes a process to get there, and while that process has started, we are not at that point yet," the source said. The comments came amid a media frenzy over the fate of the most feted celebrity union since Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton ignited the tabloid pages in the 1960s. People magazine reported that the couple -- who flew off to separate US destinations at the weekend after cancelling their wedding, which was to have been attended by 400 luminaries -- have ended their year-old relationship for the moment at least. But the sources said Tuesday that the magazine had jumped the gun, even as reports quoted an Affleck insider as saying that the couple had split after he initiated a breakup. Some reports have said that pals of 31-year-old heartthrob Affleck had staged an "intervention" and persuaded him to split up with the 33-year-old diva. The People report quoted Lopez insiders as saying she was "devastated" after Ben had "second thoughts" about their union. And as Lopez frolicked alone on the beach in Miami and Affleck was spotted in the casino hub of Las Vegas, other reports suggested that J-Lo had had enough of Ben's gambling and was annoyed over his visit to a strip club. The couple became friendly in December 2001, on the set of their movie "Gigli" -- the box office mega-flop of the summer -- and said they began dating after Lopez split up with her second husband, Cris Judd, in July. The singer and actress earlier was married to Ojani Noa. "Pearl Harbor" star Affleck has never wed. Last week the couple announced they were postponing their wedding after the world's press invaded the California town of Santa Barbara, where the ceremony was to have taken place. "When we found ourselves seriously contemplating hiring three separate 'decoy brides' at three different locations, we realized that something was awry," they said in a statement issued by Lopez's publicist. "We began to feel that the spirit of what should have been the happiest day of our lives could be compromised. We felt what should have been a joyful and sacred day could be spoiled for us, our families and our friends." Representatives for Lopez and Affleck could not be reached for comment on the conflicting reports Tuesday.
Pop-Rock: -Female Artist: Celine Dion, Avril Lavigne, Jennifer Lopez.
Hollywood hunk Ben Affleck has ditched his fiancée Jennifer Lopez after a series of bitter rows in the run-up to their postponed wedding yesterday, according to friends. Ben was spotted with a mystery brunette in Las Vegas yesterday while J.Lo was photographed swimming in the sea near Miami, Florida - has allegedly ruled out the prospect of reuniting with the actress. The glamorous pair blamed intense media interest in their wedding for ruining the occasion, but close pals claim the stars' relationship "soured" after the dismal performance of their movie Gigi, and Affleck has subsequently split with Lopez. One friend tells Britain's The Sun tabloid, "In the run-up to the wedding they had a series of disagreements. In the end, Ben simply got cold feet. J.Lo is secretly hoping they can patch things up. But he feels there is no hope." A source close to the couple insists the "rot set in" in the aftermath of Gigli's release in America - critics and cinema-goers slammed the movie alike. He says, "It started a lot of rows between them. It soured everything."
But one person who isn't mincing words about the almost third-time bride is Lopez's former father-in-law, Larry Judd. He told the New York Daily News that son Cris Judd (Lopez's second husband) "is still probably the best thing that ever happened to her." Judd, speaking to the Daily News from his Florida home, says his son was a "one-woman guy." He adds: "He wasn't ashamed to walk 10 or 15 feet behind her at a movie premiere. She was the star. His thing was to motivate her and keep her life in perspective. Cris said there were no problems. But I knew there were problems." Judd blames Affleck. "I thought Mr. Affleck would honor a married woman and not just go right into the trailer" during the filming of Gigli. Lopez and Affleck had said there was no hanky-panky before her split from Judd. But Larry Judd says, "She was infatuated with (Affleck) from the start." He adds: "She'd be happier if she'd just tell the truth. No one in her little circle is going to say one negative thing to her. I feel sorry for her."
Sure, she's a major movie star with hits like Maid in Manhattan - BUT her most famous movie right now is the colossal flop Gigli. Yeah, she got a ring from Ben Affleck, the heartthrob star of Pearl Harbor, Daredevil and Armageddon - BUT he may or may not have dumped her just days before last Sunday's scheduled wedding. And yes, she's frequently ranked as one of the most beautiful people in the world - BUT then there's that extra-plump caboose... Why do soooooo many people care soooooo much? "Jennifer Lopez is one of these celebrities that no matter what she does, whether her movies are good or bad, or whether critics like her album, her level of celebrity remains very, very high," said Ken Baker, West Coast executive editor of Us Weekly. The key to the Bronx-raised star's appeal is a mix of working-class grit and temperamental diva glamour, he added. "People, especially women, feel they can identify with her even though she's extremely wealthy," Baker said. "There's an authenticity to her, despite all the bling-bling. They think, 'I'd do the same thing.' " Her Puerto Rican heritage makes her exotic, a cross-cultural commodity, Baker added, setting her apart from Hollywood's array of "cookie cutter" skinny, blond actors. So when did the frenzy begin? After breaking into showbiz as a dancer on the TV sketch comedy show In Living Color, she became a boldface name by appearing in movies like Money Train, Selena and Out of Sight and releasing a hit album, On the 6. Then came the night that put her over the top. On Dec. 27, 1999, she and then-boyfriend Sean Combs (who had not yet changed his nickname from Puffy to P. Diddy) were arrested in connection with a nightclub shooting in New York. Lopez was released without being charged; Combs was later acquitted of weapons and bribery charges. At that point, Lopez became more interesting than her music and movies. Three months later, she appeared with Combs at the Grammys in a low-low- low-low-cut green Versace dress, causing eyeballs to widen and tongues to wag. Then she appeared without Combs, breaking up with the hip-hop mogul - and later making a video about it. Her virtually every move since then has appeared calculated, aimed at capitalizing on the world's obsession with her. It's no coincidence that a flurry of gossip column items precede most of her movies. Lopez is in the business of selling an image, and associates say she's an excellent salesperson - one who knew her wedding details would ignite a firestorm of public interest. Affleck helps fuel her flame - but the public also salivated over the details when Lopez married her second husband, no-name dancer Cris Judd, in 2001. Lopez's celebrity may end up backfiring. Affleck reportedly postponed their wedding when media attention got too crazy, then called the whole thing off a few days later. During their botched wedding weekend, Lopez was photographed in Miami, in the ocean, in a tiny bikini - but without her enormous engagement ring. Affleck was sighted in Las Vegas - but without any strippers, unlike during the lovers' last "spat," after the horrendous Gigli opening. On Monday, as often with the tabloid monster known as Bennifer, the next chapter in their soap-opera romance was a mystery. What does the average person think? Better yet, what does the average Jennifer Lopez think? Jenny Lopez, 34, a homemaker and mother of two small children from Mount Dora, Fla., said she enjoys the singer-actors's songs on the radio, although she doesn't buy her CDs. She liked her alter ego in Gigli, even though she didn't care for the film overall. She acknowledges curiosity about Lopez's activities: "I guess it's that idea that she wants you to think about her, that she's this girl from a certain part of town and a certain place and that if she can do this than anyone can do this." But Jenny from Mount Dora had only a modest interest in the wedding. "The odds that it will last for a long time are so low," she said last week, before the nuptials went south. "But God bless them if it works."
Those were the biting words Jennifer Lopez's ex-husband Cris Judd told a friend after The ENQUIRER broke the story that J.Lo was two-timed by Ben Affleck with Canadian strippers. "Cris feels that in the end, Jennifer got what was coming to her when she was humiliated by Ben," the friend disclosed. Judd has never publicly criticized J.Lo for dumping him after she met Ben on the set of their recent bomb "Gigli." And J.Lo has denied that she began her romance with Ben before she was estranged from Cris. "But she sure found comfort in Ben's arms quickly enough after she dumped Cris. Their romance couldn't have made Cris feel worse," said the friend. "So when he was cornered at a recent party and asked point-blank what he thought about the sizzling scandal over his ex-wife's fiance, he paused for a minute to think. "Then he smugly replied, 'Well, all I can tell you is this: I believe in karma. And Jennifer's karma finally got her back when Ben cheated on her with those strippers.'
The magazine's Web site, http://people.aol.com, quoted unidentified sources as saying Affleck decided he wanted out of the relationship, but it was not certain if the break-up will be permanent. Representatives for the pair could not be reached for comment. People magazine reported that the representatives said they had no knowledge of the break-up. The pair, who reportedly planned to wed on Sunday at an estate in the hills near Santa Barbara, California, said in a joint statement last Wednesday that they had postponed the nuptials because of unwanted publicity. Lopez, 33, and Affleck, 31, are currently America's hottest celebrity couple, but doubts were cast over their engagement when stories surfaced in tabloids and magazines last month about Affleck visiting a strip club without Lopez in July. Lopez publicly shrugged off Affleck's night out. The couple also suffered bad publicity when their first movie together, "Gigli," was panned by critics and flopped at the box office in the summer.
Such is the lot of the newspaper and TV crews who stayed camped out Friday around the seaside town of Santa Barbara, California, undaunted by official word that the Hollywood merger of the year -- the wedding of Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck -- had been postponed to avoid being tainted by a building media frenzy. Fueled by skepticism and paranoia, legions of camera crews, reporters and photographers dug in for the weekend, just in case the photogenic "Gigli" co-stars should try slipping away to the altar in disguise or under cover of darkness. "Love conquers all, but usually it conquers it away from the cameras. So, one is left to speculate on what's going on," said Brian Unger, anchorman for TV's syndicated celebrity show "Extra." Or as columnist Barney Brantingham put it in the Santa Barbara News Press, trying to decipher the rumors has been "like listening to the Beatles' 'Strawberry Fields,' nothing is r-e-a-l." Lopez and Affleck reportedly had planned to tie the knot on Sunday in a lavish, but private, ceremony before 400 friends and relatives. But as details about the event leaked out and the press closed in, the celebrity lovebirds announced on Wednesday that the media frenzy had become too much and they were putting off their nuptials indefinitely. Far from deflating public interest, however, the announcement only ratcheted up intrigue surrounding what had begun as a fairly routine media stakeout. Was this finally the breakup that was rumored weeks earlier after Affleck visited a strip club? Or was it part of a diabolical trick cooked up by publicists to throw news hounds off the scent? Ben and Jen seemed to rule out the former scenario on Thursday with a conspicuous appearance together at The Ivory, a swank Beverly Hills restaurant where stars go to be seen. That left an uneasy press corps at "Camp Bennifer" chasing phantoms in Santa Barbara, a quiet, picturesque town about 90 minutes' drive north of Los Angeles. And no one wants to miss out on the union of two of Hollywood's hottest brands. "They're not just two people," Unger said. "These are two industries merging here. Like Vivendi and NBC, Affleck and Lopez are merging, and I think everyone wants to see how that synergy's going to work." But there's little if anything to report. The Montecito flower shop rumored to be the official florists for the wedding refuses to talk. City officials claim they know nothing. And pop queen Britney Spears (news), a presumed wedding guest spotted around town this week, left on Thursday. In the absence of any real news, the press has taken to what it often does in such situations, feeding itself. "We're all staying up late at night, keeping one eye open," said one newspaper reporter who asked not to be identified. "We'd love to just lay back and do nothing, but we don't want to be lulled into a false sense of security that there's nothing to do. ... We don't want to be duped by J.Lo."
A joint statement for the movie star pair says, "Due to the excessive media attention surrounding our wedding, we have decided to postpone the date. When we found ourselves, seriously contemplating hiring three separate 'decoy brides' at three different locations, we realised that something was awry. We began to feel that the spirit of what should have been the happiest day of our lives would be compromised. We felt what should have been a joyful and sacred day could be spoiled for us, our families and our friends." Its reported that J.Lo had visited a psychic shortly before postponing intensifying speculation she is unsure about their relationship. Sources close to J.Lo believe her adopted 'godmother' - spiritual advisor Merle Gonzalez - was instrumental in the shock decision to call off the glitzy Santa Barbara ceremony just days before the event. A source tells Britain's London Evening Standard Gonzalez is a follower of the quasi-religious Santeria mysticism and that Lopez has sought her advice in the past. The source, a neighbour of Gonzalez's, says, "It's Merle who Jennifer turns to whenever she needs counsel on important things in her life." Another neighbour adds, "I know she isn't just a housewife. She once told me about her psychic work but I thought she meant a few tarot cards and some palm reading. Apparently, she can go into a chance for up to five hours at a time and really look into people's pasts and predict their future. I'm surprised a millionaire celebrity would visit someone like that." Gonzalez emerged from her Los Angeles home only to comment, "I am involved in Santeria and I am friends with Jennifer Lopez but I cannot discuss my relationship with Jennifer."
The couple said they didn't want any more publicity regarding their nuptials and have decided to postpone the ceremony, which was to take place this weekend at a mansion in the Santa Barbara area. "We began to feel that the spirit of what should have been the happiest day of our lives could be compromised," said a joint statement released Wednesday by Dan Klores and Ken Sunshine, Lopez and Affleck's respective New York-based spokesmen. "We felt what should have been a joyful and sacred day could be spoiled for us, our families and our friends." Affleck and Lopez have become a romantic phenomenon that gossip columnists have dubbed Bennifer and chronicled relentlessly since they started dating last year. "Due to the excessive media attention surrounding our wedding, we have decided to postpone the date. When we found ourselves seriously contemplating hiring three separate 'decoy brides' at three different locations, we realized that something was awry," the statement said. Us Weekly magazine had reported that the vows and reception would occur at Sotto Il Monte, a private $29-million estate in the Montecito area. Guests including Matt Damon, Bruce Willis, Matthew Perry and Alec Baldwin were set to be shuttled to the wedding from nearby resort hotels. Some celebrity journalists warn the postponement report could be a fake-out to dupe the press. "I think it's a good possibility. I think it's at least 50-50 that the wedding will still take place this weekend but perhaps in a different location," said editor Bonnie Fuller, who oversees 14 magazines including the Enquirer, the Star and the Globe. The Star recently reported that Lopez had premarital jitters. If or when the wedding happens, it will be the third for Lopez, 33, and the first for Affleck, 31. The couple met while filming this summer's bomb, Gigli. Previous rumours about the wedding have placed it in Kauai, Hawaii; Atlanta and Scotland. Affleck himself has teased reporters by saying: "It is in Namibia on Nov. 15. So you go ahead and fly on down, and we'll see you there."
With only three days left, the bride and groom called the whole thing off. Postponed indefinitely. Ben Affleck (news), 31, and Jennifer Lopez (news), 33, planned to say "I do" at 3 p.m. Sunday in Santa Barbara, Calif. The guests were thought to number 400. The gown was said to be Vera Wang. Flowers, cake, music all were in the works. All nixed. The news, first reported by Entertainment Tonight and Access Hollywood Wednesday afternoon, caused gossips to gasp from coast to coast. The couple's reason: The media frenzy had just gotten too big. "When we found ourselves seriously contemplating hiring three separate 'decoy brides' at three different locations, we decided that something was awry," Ben and Jen said in a joint statement. "We began to feel that the spirit of what should have been the happiest day of our lives could be compromised." But wait. These are movie stars, who should have known what to expect. So speculation immediately ranged from: They'll still wed on Sunday in Santa Barbara, and this is a ploy to throw off the media. They'll elope this weekend or some other time. They actually have split and will not be married. Absolutely not, say their camps. All is well with the couple as a couple they're united in sadness about their special day being ruined. Even though Lopez said in a Dateline interview recently that when she and Affleck were married they wouldn't try "to hide," the bride reportedly was upset over steady leaks about wedding details. "I think they started to get kind of scared," says Larry Hackett, a People magazine editor. "I don't think they had any idea how much attention this would generate." And even though he points out that many celebrities Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston, John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette, Madonna (news - web sites) and Guy Ritchie (news) managed to pull off their weddings just fine, this one wasn't going smoothly. "They misgauged how big they are. I feel bad for them." New York-based Hackett said People already had reporters in Santa Barbara, but he was canceling his own trip there. "It's not the worldwide story it was." In the quiet, lovely seaside town, there were no obvious signs of media frenzy. Nothing was going on at the lush Sotto Il Monte estate just outside Santa Barbara, where some media reported the wedding would take place. At the Four Seasons in Santa Barbara, the hotel rumored to be catering the wedding, it was business as usual. And at the Bacara Resort & Spa, where friends and family were expected to take the overbooked ocean-view suites, guests watched as the full-time falconer on the grounds kept busy doing his job: keeping sea gulls at bay.
According to reports on "Entertainment Tonight," "Access Hollywood" and "Extra," invited guests were told the wedding was off, at least for the time being. Publicists for singer-actress Lopez, 33, and Affleck, 31, could not be immediately reached for comment. The couple and their representatives have been extremely tight-lipped about wedding plans in hopes of keeping the ceremony private. But details have been leaking over the past several days in various publications, including the alleged location -- a swank estate in the hills near Santa Barbara. Hotels in and around the usually quiet seaside town north of Los Angeles have been filling up as reporters, photographers and TV crews booked rooms hoping to get close to the event. A rehearsal dinner reportedly was set for Saturday, with the wedding slated for the following day. "Extra," quoting a source close to the couple, said the media frenzy became too much for them. The source said Affleck and Lopez feel things have "gotten out of control" and that at this point, they would prefer to sneak off at a later date with only their immediate families.
"It will be at the hotel," Vivian Terhark of Spooner, Wis., told ABC News Radio. Terhark said she knows this because guests at her daughter Julie Ann's wedding are being told to carry their invitations at all times to avoid being mistaken as crashers at the celebrity nuptials. "As the mother of the bride, I had to hand-carry my invitation because of security purposes," Terhark told ABC. Affleck, Lopez and their publicists have refused to comment on their plans. So has the oceanside Four Seasons hotel, where deluxe rooms go for up to $2,000 a night. This will be the third wedding for Lopez, 33, and the first for Affleck, 31, who met while filming this summer's infamous bomb "Gigli."
In the W interview Lopez talked about the national media exposure that her fiance Ben Affleck was subject to, after a tabloid reported that he allegedly had an encounter with a stripper in Vancouver. Lopez told W, "I was like, 'Wow, so this is where we're at: You can't walk into a place and hang out with a couple of friends without it turning into a national scandal.' It was ridiculous." Lopez added that the story wasn't really much of a story to her. "For me it wasn't an issue," Lopez said. "We talk every day, we don't have those kinds of secrets. It was ridiculous, because I knew he had gone. We sat and read the articles together and said, 'This is just insane.'" The latest reports indicate that Lopez and Affleck will tie the knot on Sunday (September 14), at a ceremony in Santa Barbara, California. Lopez follows singer Britney Spears in posing for W. Spears' provocative photo spread was featured in the August issue.
The Bennifer countdown to matrimony continues, and already the media frenzy is in overdrive. Photos are the talk of the day. OK!, the celeb magazine out of England, has offered $1.5 million for wedding shots of Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez, but publicists for both stars say there will be no sale. "I've gotten lots of insane calls," says Ken Sunshine, Affleck's publicist. And he has entertained exactly none of them, he says. If celeb watchers are lucky, one (free) photo will be released to all media after the event. Meanwhile, Access Hollywood reports that UsWeekly magazine has offered $80,000 for Bennifer photos. But Us editor Janice Min said Monday, "That's not true." Yes, her staff is on the wedding chase, and she has photographers on retainer. But "there is no figure," she says. Nevertheless, "this is the Super Bowl of celebrity events." Her photo wish list: a full-length picture of the bride in her dress, a kiss, interior shots. "I can't say the pictures will be priceless, because there will be a price," she says with a laugh. "Fans love weddings." Linda Bell Blue, Entertainment Tonight's executive producer, promises "major coverage" and says the show "already has a team of reporters on the story." And Bonnie Fuller, chief of Star, rates it as "the most anticipated wedding of the year." As for photos, she says everyone in the media is "hoping that there will be some cooperation (from the stars) because it just makes it so much easier for everybody, including the bride and groom."
According to Teen Hollywood, some guests and those working on the wedding, which will be held in Santa Barbara, Calif, on Sept. 14th, were required to sign a confidentiality agreement promising to keep the details private. Someone has loose lips because it seems all interested parties know the date, the place and details of the reception at the Bacara resort. The "Maid in Manhattan" star is now going to great lengths to keep other aspects of her big day top secret. Guests will not be given the exact location until three days prior and they'll be ferried to the ceremony from Los Angeles via a shuttle service. Which poses another question, who leaked that secret information?
The newspaper quoted unidentified friends as saying the nuptials -- the third for "J.Lo" and the first for Affleck -- will take place near Santa Barbara, California. The newspaper said representatives for the pair declined to comment on the nuptials. The two recently starred together in "Gigli," in which Lopez plays a lesbian crook who helps Affleck in a kidnapping plot.
Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez are still headed for the altar. The date being bandied about by tabloids: a bash spread out over the Sept. 13-14 weekend on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. "No comment," says Jen's publicist, Rob Shuter. "Don't ever believe anything you read in the tabloids," says Ben's publicist, Ken Sunshine. Besides, would the marriage-loving J. Lo be likely to keep her wedding date and location a secret? Don't forget that Dateline interview in which she said the nuptials aren't "going to be a thing where we're trying to hide." Instead, think of Paul McCartney's wedding to Heather Mills reporters were at the gates of the castle in Ireland, but not inside at the ceremony. Still, Vera Wangis said to be almost done designing the wedding dress. And the actress will wrap up shooting Shall We Dance? in Winnipeg on Friday. That would leave her free for a wedding sometime in the next several months, but not free to attend Thursday's MTV Video Music Awards, where she was rumored to be singing Like a Virgin with Madonna and Britney Spears. What a trio! If only it were true. Spears and Madonna are presenting awards but aren't scheduled to perform. MTV, though, is known for surprises at this show, and on Tuesday it was being coy about the rumor. The network had no comment. As for the groom, Affleck has plenty of free time now. He has three movies in the can: Paycheck is due in December, and Jersey Girl (with Lopez) and Surviving Christmas will be released next year. The rabid Red Sox fan threw out the first ball at Friday's game, and photos of his left hand revealed a ring. A wedding ring? Had he eloped with J. Lo? Affleck's publicist scoffed at that, but he could not explain the ring. Though Affleck told Jay Leno that he's getting married "soon," the actor has been toying with the media about plans. Remember how Drew Barrymore and Tom Green did that for months? Affleck told one BBC reporter who asked about the nuptials: "It is in Namibia on Nov. 15. So you go ahead and fly on down, and we'll see you there." And, according to People, he teased the press at the premiere of The Battle of Shaker Heights Aug. 11, saying, "The wedding is going to be Dec. 11."
What we do know for sure is that Beyonce, Metallica, Mary J. Blige, 50 Cent, Good Charlotte, Coldplay, and Christina Aguilera are all confirmed to perform at the show. MTV's Video Music Awards will take place on August 28 at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, and will air live on MTV.
According to British tabloid The Sun, Affleck's brother Casey will be best man and the guest list will read like a who's who of Hollywood - Matt Damon, Bruce Willis, Colin Farrell, Mathew Perry, Alec Baldwin, Joaquin Phoneix and Miramax head honchos Harvey and Bob Weinstein are among those invited. The Hawaiian venue will be decked with hundreds of flowers and guests will dine on Latin-influenced seafood including lobster, shrimp and salmon. An insider involved in organising the event let slip, "The wedding promises to be one of the biggest events in modern-day showbiz history. There will be some very famous people among the congregation, some even more famous than the happy couple. Every last thing is being planned in minute detail to make sure Jen is happy with her special day." Lopez was rumoured to be close to cancelling the wedding after tabloid claims of his infidelity - but she has now even changed her mind about banning him from holding a bachelor party. Affleck and pals including long-term buddy Damon will now hold a pre-wedding bash in the posh Cape Cod, Massachusetts, town of Truro - near his Boston hometown.
As PAGE SIX first reported last week, Lopez has asked Vera Wang to have a wedding dress ready by Aug. 24, but for a while it was touch and go. "The weekend after the story about Ben [Affleck] and the Canadian strippers broke, Jennifer was really angry," a pal of the couple confided to us. "She kicked him out of their house in Los Angeles and hasn't let him back in yet." Despite public proclamations from both Affleck and Lopez about their undying love, the tensions still simmer and Lopez is "punishing him," our insider says. "He has to work to get her back," the friend explained. "Especially after the Vibe magazine interview where she talked about [Sean] 'Puffy' [Combs] cheating on her. She won't put up with cheating. "She is a stand-by-your man kind of woman, but cheating - no way." Affleck's spokesman, Ken Sunshine, insists the pair are living together still. Lopez's rep, Dan Klores, could not be reached for comment. On Jay Leno's "Tonight Show" this week, Affleck made light of the Canadian stripper incident, which took place in Vancouver where Affleck was hanging out with pals Christian Slater, his wife Ryan Haddon and Tara Reid. He described it as his "bachelor party." The deft handling of the scandal prompted one industry observer to note that "Sunshine and Klores are masters of spin." Meanwhile, Antonella Santini, a stripper whose stage name is "Felicia," is suing the National Enquirer for naming her as a participant in Affleck's alleged tryst. The supermarket weekly described her as the main object of Affleck's supposed affections. But she insists that they had no sexual contact and believes she has been defamed, and blames a fellow dancer who sold the tale to the tabloid. The Enquirer has stood by its story.
She remains with her managers at the Firm, where she signed in June just days after moving to CAA in a housecleaning move that saw her fire not only Endeavor but her longtime manager Benny Medina at Handprint Entertainment. Sources say Lopez has no issue with CAA, and the move stems from the fact that upon reflection, the multihyphenate felt that Endeavor and her agent there, Patrick Whitesell, had been doing a great job since she signed there in October. While at Endeavor, she landed roles in such films as Miramax's upcoming "An Unfinished Life," for director Lasse Hallstrom; "Shall We Dance?" currently in production with Richard Gere and Susan Sarandon also starring; and New Line Cinema's "Monster-in-Law," in development with Jane Fonda attached to star. When Endeavor and Medina began to have issues with each other, sources say Lopez felt caught in the drama and hastily decided to get rid of her team and start anew. Sources stress that the move back to Endeavor and Whitesell, who also represents her fiance, Ben Affleck, has nothing to do with the couple's box office bomb, Revolution Studios' "Gigli," as neither CAA nor Endeavor was responsible for putting the actress in the film.
The two remain engaged, the source said, and Affleck's publicist added, "they're fine." Rumors about a break-up began after Affleck allegedly spent time with a couple of strippers. And it didn't help that Lopez was seen around town without the multi-million-dollar engagement ring he gave her. In addition, Ben and Jen's new movie "Gigli" has become a box-office bomb, with some people questioning if the film's failure will put more stress on the couple. Experts, however, have said it appears Lopez and Affleck are bruised, but not battered from the "Gigli" disaster. The studio that made "Gigli," however, is feeling the aches and pains of losing $30 million. In another blow to J.Lo, an Internet survey concluded that Jennifer Aniston's backside tops Lopez's bottom. In a survey by EDiets.com, Aniston narrowly beat out Lopez for the best butt in Hollywood. According to the poll, more than 46 percent of Americans think Aniston has the "most attractive" derriere, while more than 45 percent think Lopez does. Oprah Winfrey got 7 percent of the vote. Calista Flockhart got just 1 percent.
Singer-actress Jennifer Lopez was aware that husband-to-be and "Gigli" co-star Ben Affleck had patronized a strip club in Vancouver, British Columbia, last month, but shrugged off the whole episode, sources close to the couple told Reuters on Wednesday. The sources also dismissed reports in British newspapers that Lopez, 33, had dumped Affleck, 30. "They're completely together," one source said. "She knew he went to the strip club ... and her attitude is: 'What's the big deal?' Moving on." Another source denied tabloid reports that Affleck had engaged in any errant behavior with the strippers, saying only, "Nothing happened beyond him going to a strip club." Reports that Affleck had gone without Lopez to Brandi's Exotic Nightclub in Vancouver first surfaced in a lurid article published by the National Enquirer tabloid last week. The magazine Us Weekly followed that story with a report of its own this week quoting Ryan Haddon, the wife of actor Christian Slater, as saying they and actress Tara Reid had joined Affleck at the club on July 17, the same night a tape was shown of he and Lopez together on "Dateline NBC" talking about their movie and real-life romance. Haddon told the magazine their entourage, including several strippers, also returned to Slater's rented home for a private after-hours party. But contrary to the Enquirer report, Haddon said Affleck was a model of fidelity during the entire evening. "Ben did not cheat," she was quoted as saying. "He did not have sex with anyone. Ben was listening to music, hanging out, talking to people, that's it." Lopez is certainly no stranger to men in tabloid trouble. She split from her then-longtime boyfriend, rap impresario Sean 'P. Diddy" Combs, during his much publicized trial in New York on weapons and bribery charges in connection with a nightclub shooting. Combs was later acquitted. Reports of Affleck's evening out have generated international headlines in the wake of overwhelmingly scathing reviews of their movie, "Gigli," a box office flop that grossed a meager $3.8 million its first weekend in release.
On Tuesday, the New York Post reported that the bride-to-be, upset about Affleck's antics (this week's National Enquirer cover story), had flown to Los Angeles this past weekend, gone dancing at a nightclub with friends and was not wearing her engagement ring. Affleck was in Vancouver over the weekend, wrapping his movie, Paycheck. A spokesperson for Lopez said Tuesday that the actress knew her fiancé was going to a strip club before he went, that she is fine with it, and the wedding is still on. Affleck's spokesperson said any suggestion that the two are unhappy with each other is untrue. Us Weekly's new cover story on the pair "Will J. Lo Forgive Him?" confirms the dancing but not the ring tidbit. It chronicles Lopez's night out in L.A., first at Ashton Kutcher's restaurant Dolce with her hairdresser and makeup artist, then later at the Shelter Supper Club, with a group of 15, including rapper Q-Tip. Us' story also details Affleck's night out, saying the actor began with stops at a few bars with friends, where he was said to be tipping $50 a round. Then he went to the strip club, Brandi's, where he ran into Tara Reid, Christian Slater and his wife, Ryan Haddon. According to the Enquirer, they were entertained by strippers, and Affleck eventually engaged in sexual activity with one. The party and the sex, says the tabloid, continued later at Slater's house. Reid told USA TODAY on Sunday that the National Enquirer story is "garbage." Haddon says in the Us Weekly piece that Affleck did not cheat on Lopez. "He did not have sex with anyone. Ben was listening to music, hanging out, talking to people, that's it," Haddon tells Us Weekly. And in the New York Post on Sunday, one of the strippers said Affleck, who has been through a rehab program, was "drinking water" and never touched any of the girls. As for Lopez, the only comments the actress made were on July 30 when her sister, DJ Lynda Lopez, called her during New York's 102.7 Blink morning show. When Lynda recounted the Enquirer story, J. Lo said, "It sounds like Ben. He, uh, does tip a lot." If there is trouble in Benniferland, don't forget that between his visit to the club and her night out dancing, the two did show up at the L.A. premiere of Gigli, all smiles. But that was before all of this broke. Maybe Affleck will have more to say at Monday's L.A. premiere of Miramax's feature film, The Battle of Shaker Heights, a product of Project Greenlight launched by Affleck and Matt Damon. Don't look for Lopez to be there: She's expected to be back in Winnipeg working on her film, Shall We Dance? In promoting Heights, Affleck talked to Variety's Army Archerd on Tuesday. Affleck didn't address clubbing, but he did give his thoughts about Gigli, admitting: "The movie didn't work." As to whether he'll work with his fiancée again, Affleck told Archerd: "It all depends on the story always. But," he said, laughing, "we probably won't be getting many offers." Audiences will, however, get to see the couple again in Jersey Girl, due in March, but there won't be a lot of screen chemistry to analyze: Lopez dies in childbirth early in the film, and Affleck raises their daughter. Liv Tyler becomes the romantic interest. Archerd gave Rick Sands, Miramax chief operating officer, a chance to start some good early buzz: "We've had several research screenings, and it's received critical approval. (It) made the audiences laugh and cry in the right places."
Both are kicking around the idea of launching syndicated talk shows that would begin airing in fall 2004, according to experts in that market. In both cases, the stars are lending their names to projects but wouldn't commit to full-time involvement, much like Barbara Walters, who only appears certain days on "The View," said Bill Carroll, who follows the syndication market for the Katz Television Group, a media buying firm. "American Idol" host Ryan Seacrest is beginning an entertainment-oriented show for late afternoons in January, aiming for viewers who have outgrown MTV's "Total Request Live," Carroll said. Watching the response to Seacrest's show in the marketplace, television companies realized there was room for other daytime programming that would reach a younger audience than Oprah Winfrey or Dr. Phil McGraw, he said. Lopez's show would include the participation of her sister, Lynda, a New York radio personality who has also worked in local television, he said. A spokesman for Universal Domestic Television, which is reportedly considering the show, wouldn't comment Wednesday. Spears would be executive producer of her show and occasionally appear on videotaped segments, according to an executive at one of the companies that's been pitched the idea, and who requested anonymity. The show would be a combination newsmagazine and talk show focusing on modern lifestyles, the executive said. The California agent who is pitching the show didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Potential talk shows starring Jules Asner of E! Entertainment Television and Los Angeles radio personality Jamie White are also in the works, Carroll said.
With such a dismal turnout for the opening weekend of the J.Lo and Ben Affleck film, Sony Pictures will pull its midweek ads for the film from newspapers, according to the New York Daily News. In addition, "Gigli" television spots will be replaced by ads for "Bad Boys II," another Sony film. Almost universally panned by critics, "Gigli" finished its first weekend in eighth place, earning a feeble $3.8 million. The film cost $54 million to produce. Director Kevin Smith is feeling some heat for his film "Jersey Girl" which also stars the superstar couple. On his website Viewaskew.com, Smith reassures his followers that "As far as all this worrying about what this weekend's 'Gigli' reception means for 'Jersey Girl'... well, don't waste your energy. We're gonna be fine (more than fine, I think). Apples and oranges ... the two are just completely different films altogether." "Jersey Girl" marks the sixth time that Smith has worked with Affleck on a feature film. Previously, the actor starred in Smith's "Mallrats," "Chasing Amy," "Dogma," and "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back." Smith also co-executive produced "Good Will Hunting" for which Affleck won an Oscar for best screenplay. "Jersey Girl" is not scheduled for release until 2004.
The night before the turkey opened, she took off her engagement ring and fled the set of her movie, "Shall We Dance," in Winnipeg, Canada, for the comforts of her Los Angeles home. "Jennifer was really upset and arrived in Los Angeles on Thursday night," our spy said. She and fiance Affleck, who's in Vancouver filming "Payback," had been spending nearly every weekend together. J.Lo resurfaced Saturday for a photo shoot for W magazine where she was "very cranky." She later went to dinner at Koi with 15 pals, including rapper Q-Tip, and then to Shelter, where "they rang up a $9,000 bar tab" in the VIP room," a source said. "Jennifer kept talking about the 'drama, drama, drama,' and told several people she was single before hitting the dance floor for the rest of the night. She was not wearing the engagement ring." A pal of Lopez' denied she and Affleck have split. Lopez might also be upset Affleck went to Brandi's Exotic Nightclub in Vancouver the night of July 17 with Tara Reid, Christian Slater and Slater's wife, Ryan Haddon. The next day, "Entertainment Tonight" correspondent Chris Booker went to interview Affleck, but was told he was "too sick." Booker, who dates Lopez' sister Lynda Lopez, patiently waited for a day until Affleck recuperated. The sudden illness gives credence to reports that the star was carousing into the wee hours with some of the strippers. Meanwhile, other sources point out how strange it is that Marty Brest, who wrote and directed "Gigli," vanished so completely before it opened on Friday. Word is that Revolution Films pushed Brest out of the picture after he got into a shouting match with producer Joe Roth outside an L.A. screening back in April. Affleck was even allowed to edit his own version of the film, said an insider. A studio rep, however, insists that the final product was entirely Brest's vision: "Marty is a final-cut director. The film on screen is his movie." As for the Affleck edit, the Revolution spokeswoman explains, "Ben did some edits to illustrate to Marty some of his thoughts."
Despite being relegated to the kids table, Robert Rodriguez's "Spy Kids" hung onto the second spot. It dropped a sizeable 40% from last weekend, earning an estimated $20.1 million. Families hungry for kid-friendly fare and air-conditioned refuge from the summer as a last hurrah before school starts up again are no doubt contributing to the film's continued success. Similarly, the more consistent swashbuckling "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" is still enjoying the fruits of its plunder, taking in an estimated $19.1 million and only dropping 17% in attendance. "Seabiscuit" is proving it has legs with its minimal drop of 16%, earning another $17.5 million this weekend. Sequel-itis seems to be hitting the action flicks "Bad Boys II" and "Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life," with both earning $12.7 and $11.3 million respectively. Zap2it.com predicted "Tomb Raider" would fall from the top 5, which it did just barely, with fans apparently still interested in the Angelina Jolie-starring vehicle enough to bring it in at sixth place. "Finding Nemo" is still getting along swimmingly with its mates in the top 10 in its tenth week out and ties the opening weekend of "Gigli" with $3.8 million. Despite appearing on 500 more screens than the Disney/Pixar cartoon, the much maligned J.Lo and Ben Affleck film couldn't even break into the top 5 in its first outing, proving that not everybody is interested in a train wreck, even one with a shapely caboose. In ninth and tenth place are Fox's "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" with $3.1 million and Warner Brothers' "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines" with $2.9 million in box office receipts. The Rowan Atkinson spy spoof "Johnny English" followed close behind with $2.6 million. The Cinderella story this week belongs to the 12th-ranked finisher, Fox Searchlight's "Bend It Like Beckham." The film's success, in part due to its re-release nationwide and in part to its new advertising campaign pushing co-star Keira Knightley of "Pirates of the Caribbean," has rocketed the little film that could up from 24th place, a whopping 716%. Ticket sales this weekend were a bit sluggish. Overall, the top 12 films grossed $133 million, dropping from $147.5 last weekend.
The tabloid nation is so taken by the couple that it is starting to refer to them as a two-headed media monster: Bennifer. There's also no doubt about this: Their new crime-caper flick, Gigli, opens today to very bad buzz. Glitter bad. Swept Away bad. Nearly Plan Nine From Outer Space bad. A sample reaction, from Roger Friedman of Fox News: "Witless, coarse and vulgar ... A total, mindless disaster ... Stupefying." Their greatest sin has been said to be the bugaboo that befalls many film romances starring real-life couples: that Ben and Jen, who first met on the set and should be setting off flirty sparks like sexual fireflies, have all the combustible chemistry of a soggy match. Let's be fair. She plays a lesbian. That's a bit of a barrier for hetero matchmaking. He plays dumb. So dumb he thinks a Tabasco bottle is great reading. And their killers-for-hire devote much time to babysitting a slow-witted kidnap victim who comes off like Rain Man Jr. But at a screening Wednesday in Washington, D.C., with an audience sprinkled with a pro-J. Lo contingent, the movie didn't play like a totally big, fat dud. In light of that, we offer 10 reasons Gigli is actually not going to ruin Ben or J. Lo's career, nor will it drive Bennifer from the limelight: 1. Their chemistry isn't that bad. They kiss with the right amount of lip action. They make love with enthusiasm. The audience was not groaning. In fact, you could say the anticipatory tension in the air when she first begins to sexually tease him was palpable. 2. There were laughs. People in the audience chuckled regularly. Not necessarily at them, but with them, even when Affleck had to declare himself "the original gangster's gangster." 3. No one ran out screaming, not even during a scene that already has gone into the Hollywood annals of embarrassing moments: J. Lo, provocatively sprawled on a bed, announces to Ben, "It's turkey time." When he looks quizzical, she smiles and adds helpfully, "Gobble, gobble." And, no, she is not inviting him over for Thanksgiving dinner. 4. She makes her entrance in black low-slung hip huggers and cropped top, an outfit highlighted in the preview trailer. That alone will draw fans of toned flesh into the theater. Bonus: Jen's snake-like moves during a yoga routine that begins with a truly stunning position that one could only describe as the Perdue roaster chicken. 5. We're told that in every relationship there is a bull and a cow. In Gigli, Affleck is the one who ends up mooing. Literally. Not to worry: As Lopez confirmed in the pair's chat on NBC's Dateline, "Ben wears the pants" in real life. 6. They drive a sky-blue Chevy Impala convertible. The two of them cruising is a sight we know well. Remember those tabloid shots of them kissing in a Bentley? Her hair shines and blows in the wind. He looks handsome behind the wheel. If Rain Man Jr. weren't in the back seat, you would call it romantic. 7. Not only can they say they've done a film with Al Pacino, they also can say they've acted with Al Pacino and they were actually better than he was. 8. Ben takes his shirt off at least three times. 9. J. Lo has one shower scene. (A complaint: Why does she wear a robe during the sex interlude? Her hit woman is anything but demure.) 10. Was Madonna ever clamped in irons and locked away for her many cinematic crimes? Bennifer will survive this, too.
Gigli is the rare movie that never seems to take off, but also never seems to end. It tries hard to titillate, but ends up making audiences want to avert their eyes. Ben Affleck (news), playing the low-rent hood Gigli, kidnaps a retarded teenager. When the task threatens to become too tough, reinforcement arrives: glam lesbian Ricki (Jennifer Lopez (news)). Of course, she succumbs to his wily charms. The stars preen for the camera but strike no sparks with each other. There's no question that Lopez knows how to steam things up: Check out her scenes with George Clooney (news) in 1998's Out of Sight. But Affleck had more chemistry with buddy Matt Damon (news) in Good Will Hunting than he does with Lopez, whom he met while making this film and now is his fiancée. Maybe it's because Lopez appears so in love with herself that there's no room for anyone else. She shows off her curves through a variety of yoga postures and other self-consciously suggestive moves while Affleck looks on, sometimes in a dumb leer, sometimes in a calculated approximation of desire. Gigli aspires to the comic noir style of the Elmore Leonard adaptations Get Shorty and Out of Sight. The intent, one imagines, was to integrate black humor and sexy banter with some shatteringly violent moments. But what emerges is desperate and occasionally offensive salaciousness merged with corny, predictable jokes. Supporting actor Justin Bartha must have watched Rain Man a few hundred times to nail his performance as Brian, a cheery lad with occasional bouts of Tourette's syndrome interspersed with moments of comic wisdom. When he obsesses over his favorite show, "the Baywatch," he sounds as if he's channeling Dustin Hoffman (news)'s Judge Wapner-loving Raymond. Still, Bartha is a good deal more engaging than our not-so-dynamic duo. When Bartha requests a bedtime story ("it soothes me down," he explains innocently), Affleck mocks him, reading aloud from a Tabasco sauce label and a Charmin toilet paper wrapper. See, he has no books in his house. A rare illuminating moment in Gigli comes when we learn the proper pronunciation: Gigli rhymes with "really." Or is it silly? No big deal-y.
In fact, thanks to Sony's heavy promotional campaign emphasizing the relationship between Ben Affleck (news) and Jennifer Lopez (news), it's hard to consider this movie apart from that relationship. More to the point, it's hard to imagine this movie existing at all without the glamour of Ben & Jen. Whether by coincidence or design, writer-director Martin Brest seems to have crafted a movie to revel in their celebrityhood: Each gets a scene to display a newly sculpted body. Each gets monologues to command the spotlight. The movie does riffs off their private lives and turns tabloid rumors into subtext. The film comes from Revolution Studios, a company that firmly believes in star vehicles, yet "Gigli" may be the reductio ad absurdum of this approach. The same script with any two other actors might make a weak Sundance Competition entry or, more likely, a Sundance reject due to its implausible story, rote characters and a general malaise that settles over the movie like a damp blanket. Thanks to Sony's media hype, "Gigli," whose target audience is young females, should enjoy an OK opening weekend, then a quick payoff. Gigli -- pronounced "Jeally" -- feels like a single-set play expanded for a screen version. Affleck's title character is a low-rent L.A. thug who takes enforcing jobs from Louis (Lenny Venito), a midlevel (at best) underworld figure. Louis asks Gigli to kidnap a young boy named Brian (Justin Bartha), the mentally handicapped brother of a federal prosecutor, to give leverage to a New York crime boss on the verge of a lengthy prison sentence. Believing Gigli to be a total screw-up -- a judgment the audience is encouraged to share -- Louis sends a second enforcer, Ricki (Lopez), to his scruffy apartment to keep an eye on both backward males. Ricki, of course, has a body to die for, and despite his initial hostility toward his "partner," Gigli is willing to die more than a little. Now comes the movie's big twist: Ricki is a stone-cold lesbian. Nothing much happens after this set-up other than a series of arias and duets built around Gigli's growing sexual frustration and Ricki's flirtatious ways of saying no and then maybe. All three characters are completely fictional constructs, neither credible nor viable outside the realm of make-believe. Affleck's hood is about as tough as a marshmallow. For all his Technicolor tattoos and upper-body bulk, he's a preening, delusional fool no self-respecting gangster would hire to pick up his dry cleaning. Lopez's free-spirited lady of crime is a teasing centerfold, toying with sexual ambivalence to spice up a bland stew. Even Bartha's "Rain Man" impression, while impressive, feels fake. Brian is an idiot savant one moment, doing mean rap songs and fixated on "Baywatch," then unaccountably lucid the next. Four actors appear for a single scene of what one might call Extreme Acting. First up is Christopher Walken (news) as a police detective with a mesmerizing array of mannerisms and nervous ticks. Next comes Lainie Kazan (news), doing a Jewish Mother bit to end all Jewish Mother bits. Missy Crider turns up as Ricki's hysterical and suicidal ex-lover; never mind how she knew where to find the trio in hiding. The piece de resistance is Al Pacino (news)'s East Coast crime boss, oozing malevolence with every gesture and leaving nothing -- set, props, fellow actors -- unchewed. Brest certainly has handled movie stars throughout his directing career, so what explains his willingness to let actors go off on whatever tangent suits them or his inability to find the right tone for this dark romantic comedy? The film lacks a controlling point of view to guide an audience through so improbable a tale. Nothing in the movie is funny -- aside from giggles provoked by misfired jokes -- or romantic or dramatic. With so few sets and locations to work with, Brest's technical crew struggles unsuccessfully to make the film visually attractive. The movie's final scene winds up on the set of "Baywatch," which runs the risk of making an entire audience wish it were home watching TV. Columbia Pictures, Revolution Studios presents a City Light Films/Casey Silver productionCAST CREDITS The magazine alleged Affleck heavily tipped the strippers - some of whom reportedly came back to Slater's house with the pair - in order to buy their silence. Lynda - host on New York's Blink 102.7 radio show - told Jennifer and listeners yesterday morning, "Oh gosh. They say Ben wants to sue The National Enquirer because they put a story in that he, when he was in Vancouver, he went to a strip club with other actors and that he was tipping the girls a lot and stuff." A tired sounding J.Lo replied, "He, w-he ... it sounds like Ben. He, uh, does tip a lot ... I don't know about this. I'll have to ask him." When Lynda's co-host and boyfriend Chris Booker asked Jennifer if all the publicity surrounding the two had taken its toll on their engagement, the Latina star was realistic. Jen answered, "We're human, so, yeah, sometimes it bothers us. But you know, for the most part you just try to take it with a grain of salt. I mean what can you do? Sometimes they're gonna, they're gonna write things or concentrate on the wrong things. It's just entertainment is what I try to always think about."
The dialogue from writer-director Martin Brest is clunky, the film has serious tonal inconsistencies and at over two hours, it drags on way longer than it should. Even making a little game of it, and trying to pinpoint the exact moment when Ben Affleck (news) and Jennifer Lopez (news) fell in love, stops being fun after a while. Perhaps it's when he says, in an attempt to seduce her, "I'm the bull, you're the cow." Or when she beckons him into foreplay by lying back in bed and purring, "Gobble, gobble" — which could forever change the way you view your Thanksgiving turkey. But as pop star vehicles go, "Gigli" isn't as insufferable as, say, last year's Madonna (news - web sites)-Guy Ritchie (news) debacle, "Swept Away." It's more on par with Mariah Carey (news)'s "Glitter" and Britney Spears (news)' "Crossroads." If this were a movie starring two B-list actors, or two complete unknowns, it probably would have gone straight to video. After curious masochists and J.Lo fans check it out the first weekend, "Gigli" probably will have a drop-off in audience that rivals "The Hulk" — 70 percent — then go to video. And with the release next spring of Kevin Smith (news)'s "Jersey Girl," in which they also co-star, we can have this little conversation all over again. For now, we have Affleck starring as incompetent mob thug Larry Gigli. (That's pronounced JEE-lee, which rhymes with really, a running joke that isn't particularly funny the first time.) Gigli is asked to kidnap Brian (Justin Bartha), the mentally disabled younger brother of a federal prosecutor who's going after a New York mobster (Al Pacino). His boss, however, thinks he's incapable of handling the assignment alone and sends in Ricki (Lopez), another contractor, to help him. Gigli is an anti-social lout who lives in a seedy apartment. Ricki is beautiful, grounded, enlightened. She quotes Sun Tzu — who could blame Gigli for falling for her? (And whether you like her or not, Lopez does have an undeniable presence.) But Ricki is also a lesbian — so it makes absolutely no sense when she falls for him, too, although they have all the obligatory banter and alleged sexual tension required of a romantic comedy. (And it's only a romantic comedy sometimes. Other times, it aims to be an edgy action-crime movie; still other times, it aspires for gag-inducing poignancy.) Apparently, the only force that binds them is the fact that they both feel squeamish about cutting off Brian's thumb and mailing it to his prosecutor brother. Instead, they break into a morgue and saw the thumb off a corpse using a plastic knife, while Brian — who has an unexplained penchant for old-school rap — sings Sir Mix-a-Lot's "Baby Got Back." It's also incredibly misinformed to suggest that Ricki can be "converted" to heterosexuality — that a man's love is all she really needed to allay any confusion about all that silly lesbian stuff. So what you have here is "Rain Man" meets "Chasing Amy" — which is apropos, since the latter is a 1997 Kevin Smith movie in which Affleck also starred as a guy who falls for a lesbian. Instead of counting matches and obsessing about "The People's Court" like Dustin Hoffman (news)'s "Rain Man" character, Brian counts sunflower seeds and obsesses over going to "the Baywatch." Cameos from Pacino, Christopher Walken (news) as a detective and Lainie Kazan (news) as Gigli's mother don't help, either. Did they owe someone a favor? What are they doing here? Pacino won his one and only Oscar with Brest for 1992's "Scent of a Woman," but couldn't he have just thanked the director instead? Instead, we get to see Pacino shoot someone in the head, then watch as fish in a nearby aquarium snack on splattered drops of the victim's blood. HOO-HAH!! "Gigli," a Columbia Pictures release, is rated R for sexual content, pervasive language and brief strong language. Running time: 124 minutes. One star out of four.
The couple wasted no time greeting crowds of fans, who came armed with cameras, autograph books and signs proclaiming ''Ben & Jen -- We're From Boston,'' and ''Canada Loves J. Lo & Ben.'' Even co-star Justin Bartha, who plays Affleck's kidnap victim in the comedy, opening Friday, joined the frenzy by raising his camera over reporters' heads trying to snap personal photos of the pretty pair. In an alley out back, the couple's driver said the Rolls, a $400,000 custom Phantom, was Affleck's birthday present to Lopez (she turned 33 on July 24). It was presented to her at a party the previous evening, replacing that tired old blue Bentley convertible she received from Affleck for her last birthday. But on the red carpet, Lopez flashed a yellow-hued diamond ring we hadn't seen before and teased that perhaps this might have been her birthday gift. While the party did take place and Jen did receive something, his publicist, Ken Sunshine, says the Rolls was rented for the night and the diamond ring was not the gift. Affleck, 30, has been taking great joy in messing with the press about the pair's still-unannounced wedding plans. On the carpet, he joked with Access Hollywood that he'd bought Jen a yo-yo for her birthday, while People was told her gift was a pair of sneakers -- ''the kind where, when you run, the little lights come on." Who knows for sure? With these two, rumors have been par for the course since they began dating last year. Though the couple say their romance did not blossom until they reconnected on the set of their follow-up film, next year's Jersey Girl, there was always some question as to just when Cupid's arrow first hit. ''We didn't get together while (filming Gigli), but it's an exciting opportunity to have documentation of the place you met,'' he said. Some, like Lenny Venito, who plays Affleck's Mob boss, suspected something was brewing early on. ''It was really early back then, but I could tell,'' he says. ''They are in love, and you can see it.'' But Lainie Kazan, Affleck's mama in the film, remembers Lopez's then-husband Cris Judd as a familiar face on the Gigli set. ''I didn't see anything -- she was married,'' she said. ''It wasn't until I saw (Lopez and Affleck) making love in the film that I saw the heat.'' As for Lopez, whose family joined her and Affleck for a post-party at Spago, she looks forward to the day when she can screen Gigli for her future children as ''the movie where Mommy and Daddy met. It's a special movie for us -- in more ways than one.''
The scent, called Still Jennifer Lopez, is for the singer-actress's glamorous, movie-star side, explained Michele Scannavini, president of Coty's prestige fragrance division. Glow, which the non-profit Fragrance Foundation named its "celebrity fragrance of the year" in June, is more for Lopez's "Jenny From the Block" persona. "This is the second step of building the Jennifer Lopez beauty house," Scannavini said Thursday. "She's not a one-shot deal. ... The idea behind the new product is that we want to present a different face of Jennifer Lopez - she is a multifaceted artist." Lopez, who once worked at a department store fragrance counter and "has a very good nose," according to Scannavini, was involved in every step of the perfume's development. Its unusual top note of sake was entirely her idea, he said. In keeping with Lopez's well-known fondness for jewelry, each bottle of Still Jennifer Lopez will have a faux diamond ring around its neck. Each bottle of Glow is adorned with a necklace. Lopez, who turned 33 on Thursday, is featured in the upcoming print ad campaign in which she looks more than a little bit like Marilyn Monroe. "J.Lo is a little bit like Marilyn Monroe, she's glamorous and sensual," Scannavini said.
"They had a massive fight - everyone could hear it," our spy said. "It was about [former manager] Benny Medina - Ben wanted her to settle the case quietly and she didn't." The two have since made up.
Both are heavily involved in planning the nuptials, from picking out the flowers to setting the gourmet menu to deciding which champagne they will sip during their first toast as Husband and Wife. For more on Jennifer and Ben's big day, and how Jenny From the Block is preparing for motherhood, be sure to get the latest edition of Star, on newsstands this week!
Lopez says, "If people want to be outside and they want to take our picture, then OK. We're not going to be with the 24 million security guards. We wanna just have a nice wedding, have it be a beautiful day and if there happen to be cameras outside, then that's fine. We're not gonna obsess over them." The pair have yet to set a date for the big day - expected to be later this year. In other news, Jen's in talks to pen her autobiography - so she can correct all the false stories she claims are written about her. Despite a proposed multi-million deal in the offing for her life story in her own words, sources close to Lopez claim she is only concerned with letting her fans hear the "truth" about her showbiz life. One pal tells Britain's New magazine, "The deal is worth millions to Jennifer, yet all she wants is for people to find out about the real her. She is just a hard-working actress and singer who happens to attract all the wrong headlines. She feels all her hard work gets overlooked because of her lifestyle and relationships." Lopez, who is said to be shocked at repeated reports of her 'diva-esque' behaviour, is presently embroiled in a bitter battle with her ex-manager Benny Medina, who she sacked last month and is currently engaged to Hollywood star Ben Affleck following two short-lived marriages.
But first, this week, audiences get a peek at the real-life relationship between Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez. It's all part of a publicity juggernaut for their new movie, Gigli (pronounced Jee-lee), opening July 30. Access Hollywood's Pat O'Brien scored the only interview with Ben and Jen together. It airs as an hour-long Dateline special Thursday on NBC (10 p.m. ET/PT). To tease it, the first of a three-segment deal for the Today show airs Thursday morning. Access also will run tidbits this week. In the chat, taped Sunday at Affleck's rented Vancouver home (he's filming Payback there; she's making Shall We Dance in Winnipeg), O'Brien gets the two to coo a little about their wedding plans. No date, no place, but they do offer some details: * Best man will be . . . no, not best pal Matt Damon. The first-time groom says it will be his brother, actor Casey Affleck. * And the wedding dress? ''I'm having something made,'' says the bride, making her third trip to the altar. As two big stars in a high-profile romance, Lopez, 32, and Affleck, 30, have kept the celebrity media busy this year. Now, the couple seem to be taking their relationship to a new level as a power couple. Last month, their names moved to the business pages when, with Affleck's guidance, Lopez began taking more control of her empire. She fired personal manager Benny Medina, who saw her through her big rise to fame in the past five years, and then sued him. A settlement is expected any minute. And also in the last month, both Affleck and Lopez parted company with their longtime publicists and hired new behind-the-scenes teams. Popular theory: Affleck wants to help sophisticate his wife-to-be's image in case his long-rumored aspirations of a political life as a congressman from Massachusetts become a reality. For now, there's Gigli, a romantic caper. She's a lesbian; he's a hit man who falls for her. Early buzz is bad. A screening review on the Ain't It Cool News Web site used the word ''disastrous.'' Movie duds Glitter and Ishtar are being mentioned. During filming, Lopez was still married to Cris Judd; she and Affleck became ''friends.'' ''It felt like we had good chemistry,'' Lopez tells O'Brien. ''You know what I mean? He liked to improv. I could improv back. He's the best person to improv with in the whole entire business, really.'' Answers Affleck: ''Don't be like my mom. Don't do that thing where you're like (mimicking a mom voice), 'He's the best, he's so good at . . . ' '' ''He is, though,'' Lopez says. ''For real.''
That's Jennifer Lopez, talking to Pat O'Brien on NBC's "Dateline Access Hollywood" airing tomorrow night at 10 - an exclusive hour with Jen and Ben. They don't announce a wedding date, but want us to know that fans and paparazzi won't be harmed in the making of their holy wedlock. This sit-down is the first time the famous pair has been interviewed together. They're not fools - they are busy promoting "Gigli," the first of their two co-starring movies. Hype can be lifeblood at the box office. (Though not always. "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle" and "Legally Blonde 2" spent a fortune on publicity with less than fabulous results. Poor Demi! Did she have to go public with Ashton Kutcher for nothing?) O'BRIEN, WHO spent 15 hours with the famous couple in Vancouver, says Jennifer and Ben are "very genuine . . . the real deal." Pat played basketball with Affleck and Miss Lopez prepared a meal. (I'm passing out from the normalcy of it all.) And O'Brien promises that those who tune in will find a "whole new Jennifer." Well, having watched many a Lopez interview, I wouldn't say this was necessary. She is one of the most charming and engaging subjects. Her reputation as a demanding diva defines her in the press, but that's always counterbalanced by her earthy on-camera appearances. So just what is a "whole new Jennifer?"
Apparently, this is true--but the soon-to-be Mrs. Affleck is disputing a minor point with Reader's Digest. The singer-turned-actress denies that there were any romantic overtones during the film shoot, at which point she was still married to dancer Cris Judd, telling the magazine, quote, "We just became friends. I'm a very faithful person. If somebody had told me, 'Ben's attracted to you,' I would have said, 'No. I wasn't raised that way.'" Jennifer Lopez also tells LAUNCH that she sometimes resents having to explain the details of her personal life. "A lot of people speculate, and they don't know the real story most of the times, and it's a personal thing,” Lopez said. “It's not really for public consumption that way." Lopez admits that she understands that the public is often interested in the private lives of celebrities, but she'd like a little more privacy anyway. "I realize that there's an interest in what you do in your personal life and everything because you're in movies, or you do music and stuff like that, and people want to know,” Lopez said. “But I always think it's better when the mystery is there. I think that's kind of ruined things in a way--the fact that there's so much tabloid and so much probing into the private lives of people--because it can be destructive." Gigli will arrive in theaters on July 30. The drama focuses on two rookie gangsters (Affleck and Lopez) who are charged with the task of kidnapping the younger brother of a competing crime family's boss.
Every NOW album in the series has reached the Billboard Top 10, and it's the only non-soundtrack, multi-artist collection to reach Number One on the Billboard Top 200 Album Sales Chart. The track listing for Now That's What I Call Music, Vol. 13: 1. "Rock Your Body" (Justin Timberlake) J.Lo beat off competition from flashy hip-hop star Missy Elliot, ex-Spice Girl Victoria Beckham, Mariah Carey and Christina Aguilera. The stunner's bling items - the term given to the wearing of expensive clothing and jewellery - include a range of white fur coats and a 25-carat A$6 million pink diamond ring, given to her by fiancé Ben Affleck. Entrepreneur Combs triumphed in the men's survey over Sir Elton John, soccer ace David Beckham, Justin Timberlake, 50 Cent and Eminem.
Police in the Canadian province of Manitoba say a pricey piece of jewelry purloined from the set of Lopez's now shooting romantic drama, Shall We Dance?, turned up in the hotel room of a man found very dead and quite dismembered. The necklace, estimated to be worth $4,000, was reported stolen from a prop trailer on the movie's Winnipeg set on July 1, said Bob Johnson, spokesman for the Winnipeg Police Department. The bauble reportedly appears around Susan Sarandon's neck in the film. Shall We Dance?, a remake of the acclaimed Japanese film of the same name (after translation, natch), stars former Fly Girl Lopez as a ballroom-dance instructor who becomes the object of infatuation for Richard Gere (news), an anguished accountant locked in a languishing marriage to Sarandon. Production began in Winnipeg late last month. Johnson said the gone-missing necklace is the only reported incident of trouble from the set. And even the necklace didn't stay missing for long. On July 2, a 33-year-old man, Sydney Teerhuis, walked into the Winnipeg police station. "He basically turned himself in and said he believed he had committed a murder," Johnson said. Teerhuis tipped off police to an ugly crime scene at Winnipeg's Royal Albert Arms Hotel. There, authorities discovered the dismembered body of Robin Robert Greene, 38, Johnson said. A further search of the room uncovered the hot Shall We Dance? prop. Police have ruled out a connection between the trinket theft and the massacre of a murder. There was no word on possible motive. It appears Teerhuis and Green only met each other on the night of the slaying. Although he appeared to be in possession of the stolen necklace, it's not known if Greene masterminded the heist, Johnson said. The jewelry has since been returned to the movie production; suspect Teerhuis has since been stored behind bars, pending trial. On Friday, Miramax Films, the studio behind Shall We Dance?, confirmed the necklace theft. There was no immediate comment on a report in the New York Post that security had been increased on the set in the wake of events. Lopez, at least, appears unscarred by the scandal, depicted in the online version of Friday's Winnipeg Sun waving and smiling to fans as she trekked to her trailer on Thursday.
Lopez and Medina parted ways last month. Ever since then she has accused him of misappropriating funds among other supposed sins. Lopez now claims that Medina kept her off the monthly's cover. "Jennifer has always wanted to be on the cover of Vogue," a source close to Lopez told PAGE SIX. "She seems to think that Benny was once snubbed by [Vogue writer] Andre Leon Talley, so [Medina] refused all requests for her to be in the magazine." In fact, however, Lopez did a three-day shoot for Vogue that was supposed to put her on the December 1999 cover - but a Vogue source tell us Wintour thought she looked too trashy. "Jennifer was styled by all of their top stylists. They brought the clothes, did her hair, everything," says our snitch. "She was supposed to be 'The Millennium Girl' and it was going to be huge. But then nothing happened. Benny called Anna's office and she didn't call him back, because she had decided Jennifer 'wasn't Vogue material.' " The insider says that "Jennifer even called Anna's office herself to see why her photos wouldn't run and Anna didn't call her back. After that, Jennifer said she would never work with Vogue again." Lopez' rep, Dan Klores, disputes the account. "If that was the case, then why has Anna Wintour been calling me for three weeks to put Jennifer on the cover?" he asks. "We are in continuing negotiations for an upcoming cover." Vogue rep Patrick O'Connell confirms part of the tale of the '99 shoot, however. "From the beginning, we always said it was a cover try and that it might not work out," he says. "As it happened, the sitting didn't come together and we weren't able to run the pictures. It was no fault of anyone's, the pictures just didn't work." As for the rest, "Anna never said Jennifer wasn't Vogue material, someone else must have said that," O'Connell insists. "And if Jennifer indeed called Anna, then she must not have gotten the message because she would have called her back." He confirmed that further cover talks are taking place. Medina declined to comment. But a source says he and Lopez are "on the verge of a settlement," and, "Ben [Affleck] got involved and called Benny's people to settle - he wants to stop the bad press."
The rumor of a secret wedding sent paparazzi and camera crews into the picture-perfect town, staking hotels only to discover that the couple wasn't even in the area. "It's all fabricated," Ken Sunshine, Affleck's representative tells the New York Post. "Ben is filming 'Paycheck' in Vancouver with Uma Thurman. God knows where these rumors come from." Lopez's U.K.-based rep, Barbara Charone, says her client was in Canada shooting a movie with Robert Redford. A local tour director thinks the confusion may have been caused by preparations for a private wedding. In any case, Affleck and Lopez can be seen together on the big screen in the film "Gigli," which opens nationwide July 30.
The singer-actress fired Medina in June after five years of service. While the state has different rules governing the activities of managers and talent agents, Lopez's attorney, Barry Hirsch, said Medina — who worked as her manager — inappropriately performed talent agent functions, such as negotiating deals for her upcoming film "Shall We Dance?" and a sponsorship agreement with L'Oreal cosmetics. Medina told The Associated Press Wednesday that Lopez always had a talent agent while he worked with her and denied that his activities crossed over into that territory. "This is a real display of lack of gratitude and appreciation for what other people do in the building of a career and at the same time it shows tremendous avarice and greed," he added. The document filed Wednesday, which "Entertainment Tonight" first reported, seeks to invalidate all remaining partnerships between Medina and Lopez. It also said Lopez, 32, wants Medina to repay everything he earned while working for her, plus 10 percent interest. Medina and his Handprint Entertainment company were set to receive 10 percent of her entertainment earnings — excluding music work, for which she would pay 15 percent, according to the document. She said she also agreed to pay 10 percent of other earnings, which included work in the fashion industry.
According to the filing, Lopez is seeking millions in back commissions plus 10% interest, and she wants to invalidate all her remaining partnerships with Benny Medina and his Handprint Entertainment. That includes projects the company is producing for her Columbia Pictures-based Nuyorican Prods., as well as other outstanding interests in music, cosmetics and clothing. The petition to determine controversy was filed in San Francisco with California's Division of Labor Standards Enforcement by Lopez's attorney Barry Hirsch of Armstrong Hirsch Jackoway Tyerman and Wertheimer. The filing alleges that Medina -- acting as owner of Handprint as well as a holding company, Laughing Water Music -- "intermingles assets of himself and his alter egos for his convenience" and that he acted to "divert and misappropriate monies belonging to (Lopez and Nuyorican) that Medina converted for his own use and to which he had no entitlement." The primary charge centers on whether Medina was acting as her agent. Because Medina allegedly procured and negotiated work for her, the petition is requesting that all oral and engagement contracts she had with Handprint be voided. Those contracts saw her pay 10% of earnings from movies and television, 15% of her music, recording and publishing earnings and 10% of her earnings from ancillary activities, including fashion and cosmetic interests. California's Talent Agency Act requires that any person who seeks to procure employment for a performer must be a licensed talent agent with the Labor Commissioner. Violation of the act by an unlicensed manager can result in a nullification of any and all contracts and a refund to the performer of any commissions paid to the manager in a one-year period before the filing of the petition. Lopez is seeking "full restitution to (Lopez and Nuyorican) by repaying all sums" the company and Medina earned on her behalf -- a sum that is estimated to be in the eight-figure range. In response, Medina issued the following statement: "The accusation that I misappropriated money from Jennifer Lopez is both untrue and offensive ... Jennifer Lopez, by making false allegations against me, is now trying to add me to the long list of people whom she has used and discarded after she took from them all she could get. "It is unfortunate that Ms. Lopez is using a Labor Commission suit as a means of mitigating her outstanding financial contractual obligations to my company and me ... I look forward to the opportunity to have the world come to know the real Jennifer Lopez. I will defend myself against these lies and will collect from her every dollar for which I am owed." According to Medina, Lopez is still a client of Handprint with a contract that extends about a year. The filing came as a surprise to Medina, who said that this week they had been negotiating an end to all the existing businesses they share. Hirsch declined to elaborate on the contents of the petition. The filing cites several deals allegedly negotiated by Medina on behalf of Lopez, including the starring deal for Miramax's "Shall We Dance?," a development deal with L'Oreal Cosmetics and an appearance on NBC's "Today." Lopez has severed ties with other representatives over the past year. In October, she parted ways with talent agency Intl. Creative Management, which had handled her for the previous four years. She then signed with Endeavor, where she remained until last month. When she exited that agency, she also parted ways with Medina as well as her publicist at Rogers & Cowan. Lopez, who returns to theaters later this month opposite boyfriend Ben Affleck in "Gigli," is now represented at Creative Artists Agency and the Firm.
1. Celine Dion The Dateline interview would coincide with the 30 July release of their much-delayed romantic comedy 'Gigli'. Lopez and Affleck met on the Gigli set two years ago, sparking their still-smoldering romance. The pair have also been promised plenty of airtime on NBC's entertainment news show 'Access Hollywood', according to the magazine. Lopez and Affleck have given numerous of interviews, but have rarely sat together to answer questions about their romance - and about just why Gigli has been so often shelved.
"Ben is determined that if he is going to marry Jennifer, she has to have a sophisticated image, not the demanding, oversexed diva her former management manufactured," says the insider. "He wants her to rebuild herself in a more positive way - more class and less ass." So Big Ben has taken control - and laid down the law to J.Lo, insisting that there will be no wedding until her street image is revamped and she gets over her insane jealousy.
Replacing her at the top is Jennifer Aniston, one of TV's "Friends" stars, who earned $35 million last year and appeared on more magazine covers than any other celebrity. Jennifer "J-Lo" Lopez and Ben Affleck (news) emerged as Hollywood's hottest new power couple, occupying the fifth and seventh spots on the list, with a combined income of $65 million. It has not been a good year for Spears, who hit it big in 1999 with "Oops!..I Did it Again." She has had a string of bad press recently, as her much publicized relationship with Justin Timberlake (news) of N'Sync went sour; her movie "Crossroads," was less than successful. She was also photographed flipping off the paparazzi in Mexico after refusing to go on stage in a rain storm, while photos in the New York Post of her smoking also worked to tarnish her good-girl image. "Good press or bad press, all press is equal in our eyes," said Peter Kafka, an editor at Forbes, the business magazine that compiled the list, which takes into consideration earnings, press clippings, radio and TV coverage and web hits. "By dollar value, Britney did not have a big album or a big tour, the proponents that usually land celebrities on the list," said Kafka. Rappers Eminem (news - web sites) and Dr. Dre take the number 2 slot this year, also earning $35 million, but with nearly 2 million web hits. Golfer Tiger Woods slipped from 2 to 3, while earning $78 million -- $9 million more than last year. Kafka said Aniston, whose husband, Brad Pitt (news), did not make the list, was a bit of a surprise. "Aniston's marriage may have helped to propel her to 13 covers, but she is still one of the highest paid actresses in Hollywood," he said. Aniston's female "Friends," Lisa Kudrow (news) (30) and Courteney Cox (news) (41) made the list, but only one male co-star, Matthew Perry (news) (25). "Harry Potter (news - web sites)" author J.K. Rowling (news - web sites), catapulted from 34 in 2002 to 15 this year amid anticipation about the latest book in the children's series. Rowling's earnings increased by about $90 million, up from $41.8 million. While golfer Woods was by far the most powerful sports celebrity, basketball legend Michael Jordan (news) was 13 with motor racing's Michael Schumacher at 19. Soccer star David Beckham entered the list at 56, but without Spice Girl wife Victoria. Rounding out the top ten were movie director Steven Spielberg (news) (4), ex-Beatle Paul McCartney (news) (6), Oprah Winfrey (news) (8), Tom Hanks (news) (9) and The Rolling Stones (10).
As well as boasting astounding views, luxury amenities and pricey interiors, the home comes equipped with a special added bonus - a designer nursery with a colourful mural on one wall. Multitalented J.Lo and Ben were so pleased with the room, they decided to leave it just as it is - in preparation for their own brood. An insider reveals, "They were really pleased when they saw the room. They both seemed to be feeling broody and said they had no plans to remove the mural, calling it 'perfect'."
The multi-hyphenate superstar has inked a deal with the Firm to manage and brand her bootylicious assets in film, TV, music and related opportunities, per trade reports. A rep for the Firm, a management company that also reps Cameron Diaz and Leonardo DiCaprio, would neither confirm nor deny the news. Lopez also signed with a new talent agency, CAA, last Wednesday, just one day after firing her longtime manager Benny Medina of Handprint Entertainment and leaving her agent of eight months, Patrick Whitesell at Endeavor. Two weeks ago she also split with her publicist, Alan Nierob. The most recent split was reportedly prompted by an ultimatum Endeavor gave Lopez over her high-maintenance manager Medina. In a surprising turn of events, the Bronx-born babe turned around and dumped them both. It was a move that had gossip columnists speculating whether Lopez had completely lost it or was in fact engaging in a savvy act of spin control to keep her diva-like image in check. "She obviously saw her image in crisis, and she is becoming known as the demanding diva. She wants to be recast as Jenny from the Block," said Jeannette Walls, gossip columnist for MSNBC.com. Others pointed a finger at Lopez's beau, Ben Affleck, as the instigator of at least one of the controversial axings. Last Wednesday, the New York Post reported that Affleck demanded that J.Lo dump Medina because "Benny created this diva image of Jennifer." In the wake of Lopez's departure, Endeavor released a statement that gave strength to the Medina accusations, "We were no longer able to work with [Lopez's] manager Benny Medina. We thought it best for Jennifer and Endeavor that we part company at this time." Whitesell, who brokered two of Lopez's upcoming features, Shall We Dance opposite Richard Gere (news) and An Unfinished Life with Robert Redford (news), will continue to rep Affleck. Until recently, Medina had been credited with guiding Lopez to the top of the entertainment heap, from Fly Girl and secondary actress to international entertainment icon who commands $20 million a picture--her paycheck for Shall We Dance. Now, the 43-year-old manager is being blamed for Lopez's most pampered demands, like her insistence on white lilies, white candles and room-temperature Evian wherever she goes (which seem relatively tame in comparison to Van Halen's stipulation that all brown M&Ms be removed from the bowl). Dubbed "The Mediva" due to his penchant for pricey things, Medina's no stranger to high-profile breakups. Medina inspired and executive-produced the Fresh Prince of Bel Air, based on his own rags to riches story. This led to a gig managing the series' star, Will Smith (news), until the two split under hostile circumstances. By comparison, Lopez and Medina had nothing but nice things to say about each other in statements released last week. "I wish Jennifer continued happiness and success in all of her pursuits," said Medina. "Benny did a wonderful job for me over the years," said Lopez, "And I will be eternally grateful to him." Kind of makes you wonder why they broke up?
Lopez is in early negotiations to star in the project, which centers on a girl who's set to marry the perfect guy until she meets his mother, the world's worst mother-in-law. New Line outbid several studios for the rights to the Anya Kochoff-penned script in February. Lopez has two other projects hitting theaters in the coming months, including the Revolution Studios drama "Gigli" and the Miramax Films romantic comedy "Jersey Girl." She also appears in the upcoming Miramax drama "An Unfinished Life" opposite Robert Redford, the Miramax romantic comedy "Shall We Dance?" opposite Richard Gere, and the Columbia Pictures thriller "Tick Tock."
The rapper, who was dumped by J-Lo midway through his 2001 trial for gun charges, said he had already selected the luxury gifts. "I heard they have some Bentleys. I want to upgrade them to Rolls-Royces - his and hers," he told People magazine. But Combs said he would not be at the ceremony to personally deliver the high-class motors. He explained: "I don't want to make anybody feel uncomfortable." Lopez, 32, married dancer Cris Judd a few months after Combs was cleared of gun possession and bribery charges stemming from a 1999 nightclub shooting in which three people were injured. She split with Judd, her second husband, within a year, after meeting Oscar winning Affleck on a film set. The couple have not set a date for their wedding.
According to American gossip site THE SCOOP, Lopez - who starred alongside Affleck in upcoming movies TOUGH LOVE and JERSEY GIRL - has been lending her critical eye to his acting performance in his new film SURVIVING CHRISTMAS. A source tells the site, "She was watching the dailies and calling JENNO TOPPING, who's a producer on Ben's movie, and telling Jenno what to tell Ben, how to get a better performance of him. "It was driving people crazy." A spokesperson for studio DREAMWORKS, however, insists the reports are untrue, "We haven't heard of any such thing happening. It sounds ridiculous."
Organisers have now invited supermodels Naomi Campbell and Helena Christensen in place of J.Lo. An insider at the annual event retorted, "I know Miss Lopez is supposed to have a reputation as a bit of a diva, but this is ridiculous. When she came back and said she would do it for A$750,000 we nearly choked."
And now, Affleck has signed a lucrative contract as the new face of L'Oreal, five years after his famous fiancé did the same, reports Hello! magazine. The clean-cut Daredevil actor has scored a $2.45 million-plus deal to promote men's grooming products for the firm. ``Ben embodies a new generation of men who show their strength in their personality but are not afraid to care for their appearance,'' a L'Oreal spokesperson said. Meanwhile, J-Lo has revealed that P. Diddy's cheating heart was the main reason she left him. ``It was the first time I was with someone who wasn't faithful,'' she told London's Sun. ``I was crying, crazy, going nuts. It really sent my whole life into a tailspin.'' He wanted to get married, but J-Lo said no. ``I had to think, do I want to be home with kids in 10 years, wondering where somebody is at three in the morning? ``We broke up so many times he didn't believe it was over when it finally ended,'' she said.
The celebrity magazine is trying to lock-up the nuptials by offering the couple a record-breaking deal, which could go as high as A$1.8 million. A rep for 'OK!' told 'MSNBC' gossip columnist Jeannette Walls, "I can confirm that OK! magazine is currently negotiating and bidding on the exclusive pictures of the Jennifer Lopez-Ben Affleck wedding." But Lopez's manager, Benny Medina, says at this point 'OK!'s' negotiations are one-sided. He says, "For some time now, they have been pursuing the opportunity without any response. They put out feelers to find out how much it would take. But there's no price." 'OK!' editors paid A$1.8 million for the exclusive rights to Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones' ceremony - only to have arch-rival 'Hello' make it to the newsstand first with unauthorised snaps from the ceremony. The celebrity couple later successfully sued 'Hello', claiming the publication had invaded their privacy. In other news Jen and her long-time publicist have parted ways because he reportedly urged her to tone down her diva demands. Jen has often been criticised for her outrageous behaviour, and publicist Alan Neirob of Rogers and Cowan was keen to show his client the error of her ways. A source tells American website NBC.COM, "Alan Neirob has represented Jennifer like a lion at the gate. But lately, he's been warning her about public backlash and trying to be a voice of reason. But Jennifer doesn't want anyone telling her to dial it back." When Neirob himself was asked about the situation, he replied, "I will just say we are no longer representing Jennifer Lopez."
The star of MAID IN MANHATTAN has reportedly set her sights on ST PAUL'S CATHEDRAL - the same place used for the late PRINCESS DIANA's 1981 marriage to PRINCE CHARLES - when she ties the knot with DAREDEVIL fiancé Affleck. According to British magazine NEW!, J. Lo told friends, "I fell in love with this church after watching the Princess Diana wedding in the early '80s." An inside source reveals, "Jennifer feels that, at third time lucky, she could do with some help, and feels that the UK - where she is always warmly received - would make a great start for her wedding to Ben. "She knows people will laugh, but she has this dream of a fairy-tale wedding and sees St Paul's as the perfect setting."
"It was the first time I was with someone who wasn't faithful," Lopez tells Vibe magazine. "After my first divorce [to waiter Ojani Noa], I wasn't trying to be exclusive with anybody, but Puff came at me hard," Lopez said. "He said he looked at me and fell in love and made me love him, too. We started a very tumultuous affair . . . I was in this relationship with Puff where I was totally crying, crazy and going nuts, it really took my whole life in a tailspin." Asked about reports of her hunting down Combs and knocking down hotel room doors, Lopez said: "I can't remember right now, but I won't say it didn't happen . . . I never caught him but I just knew. He'd say he was going to a club for a couple of hours and then never come back that night." Lopez's rep at the time, Beth Katz, and Combs' rep, denied over and over again to PAGE SIX that the two had split up multiple times before the final break-up, once even threatening a lawsuit. But Lopez reveals we were right all along - saying she and Combs "broke up so many times he didn't believe it was over when it finally ended. "I had to think, do I want to be home with kids in 10 years wondering where somebody is at three in the morning?" she asked. Combs' emotional abuse sent Lopez straight into the arms of hubby number two, Cris Judd. "Coming out of a torrid relationship, I meet this sweet person who's so refreshing," Lopez told Vibe. "But marriage is not just about love. I thought I had learned that in my first marriage . . . "I loved Cris, still love him, he's one of the best people. This wasn't an easy thing to walk away from, but we didn't have what it takes to make a marriage work . . . Cris knows the last thing I ever wanted in this [bleeping] world was to hurt him. "If I have one regret in life it would be that," Lopez said, on the verge of tears. But the diva is finally happy now with Ben Affleck - and her mother Guadalupe loves her future son-in-law. "Ben is like Jennifer," Guadalupe said. "Generous to a fault. I thank God every day that he brought Ben into her life. He's her angel and she is his angel." Combs' rep said Combs was traveling and unavailable for comment.
According to the New York Times, visitors to the museum can whisper in her ear to make her cheeks turn pink. The model is wearing a low cut dress, and is part of a new section at Madame Tussaud's called Blush. The interactive party sees live actors mingling in the room, along with alternative fashion expert Danny the Tranny. Visitors can be interviewed by a reporter, made up by a live stylist and hang out in Madonna's exclusive VIP area. Lopez, who is currently shooting Peter Chelsom's "Shall We Dance?" with Richard Gere, will appear opposite fiancé Ben Affleck in "Jersey Girl" and "Gigli" later this year.
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