Each week, we list the coolest celebs, movies and goings-on in the world of entertainment.
1. Withering actresses Teri Hatcher and Kate Hudson, for giving us a reason to look down our noses at Hollywood uber-skinnies. Enough is enough–if we can’t take part in the Battle of the Bones, no one should. We will, however, continue to dine on Jenny Craig chocolate cake and fat free dessert topping, just in case double-digit weights become the norm.
2. The unnamed army recruiter who saved Oscar winner Jamie Foxx‘s career, because we deeply and sincerely appreciate the single “Gold Digger” the actor recorded with rapper Kanye West (of course). Foxx said he was all set for a military career when an officer spotted him performing in a piano bar in Texas, and insisted he rethink his plans. “I took the test. I happened to be playing the piano nearby, and this guy, a recruiter, walked in. He listened and said, ‘Don’t sign up. The minute you sign up, we own you, and there’s no getting out.'” “Gold Digger” tops the Billboard Hot Ringtones, Pop 100 and Hot Rap Songs charts.
3. The mysterious feud between Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie, for forcing Fox to cancel their reality TV series The Simple Life. We will, however, miss John Gary’s hick narration and the endless b-roll footage of Nicole and Paris peeling out of gravel driveways in various pick-up trucks in the middle of the night.
4. Actress Mia Farrow, for returning to classic horror almost 40 years after she starred in Roman Polanski‘s Rosemary’s Baby. Farrow has signed on to star in The Omen remake as sinister nanny Mrs. Blaylock. Omen 666 also stars Liev Schreiber and Julia Stiles as parents who adopt the devil’s spawn, Damien, not to be confused with Elizabeth Hurley‘s 3-year-old son, Damian Charles Hurley.
5. Chewbacca, who will become an American citizen on Oct. 17. Chewie, aka Peter Mayhew, will be among 441 people from 77 countries who will become naturalized Americans in a ceremony in Arlington, Texas, where he lives with his Texan wife Angelique.
6. Singer Pink, for campaigning against the mistreatment of elephants in circuses and zoos. The singer was shocked by the use of bullhooks and electric prods on a elephant during the making of her “Just Like a Pill” video–and has written a letter to Chicago mayor Richard Daly to back a campaign to ban the equipment. The campaign was launched after the sudden death of three elephants at the city’s Lincoln Park Zoo. If passed, the law would effectively end the use of elephants in circuses.
7. Funnyman and Daily Show host Jon Stewart, for sharing the truth about fatherhood. Stewart, who announced last week he and his wife are expecting their second child–a girl–admits he already has some reservations about having a daughter. “A girl, she’s going to want me to have tea with her and her panda. Like, what am I going to do with that?” Just as we suspected: Deep inside, men always secretly wish for a baby boy. The Stewarts had their first child, a boy, in July 2004.
8. Talk show queen Oprah Winfrey, whose $100,000 reward for information leading to a wanted sex offender’s arrest actually worked. As part of a hard-hitting show about sex offenders, which aired Tuesday, Winfrey urged viewers to call the authorities if they recognized the photo of William C. Davis. A Minnesota viewer recognized the convicted child molester as the neighbor of a friend, and called police. Winfrey hopes to score similar victories by posting pictures of wanted sex offenders on her Web site, Oprah.com, and offering rewards for their capture.
9. Reclusive actress and convicted shoplifter Winona Ryder, for making a bold public appearance. Ryder, who we dearly miss on screen, was one of several celebs at the opening of Louis Vuitton’s impressive newly renovated seven-story flagship store in Paris, France, on Sunday. Ryder reportedly shopped for shoes at the new store, which features an art gallery and bookstore.
10. Donnie Wahlberg and his upcoming TV show, because we never got over the New Kids on the Block heartthrob. Singer-turned-actor Wahlberg, older brother of Mark Wahlberg, will chronicle his upbringing and music career in the series. And we get to hang tough with the white boy with funk all over agin.
