5th August 2007

* MADONNA ADOPTION OFFICIAL 'DENIED PERMISSION TO TRAVEL'
LATEST: Pop superstar MADONNA's plans to complete the adoption process for baby
David Banda have been thrown into confusion after conflicting reports about a
key welfare official's flight to the U.K.
  On Saturday  the director of Malawi's child welfare services Penston
Kilembe said financial difficulties had prevented him travelling to London in
May  to determine whether Banda can be officially adopted by the Music
hitmaker and her husband Guy Ritchie. The couple brought him back to the U.K.
from a Malawian orphanage last October .
  However, he now claims money had nothing to do with his absence - and
Malawi's Minister of Women and Child Development Kate Kainja barred him from
making the trip instead.
  The Malawi News newspaper reports the minister was angry with Kilembe for
obtaining an air ticket and money from Madonna without seeking government
approval first.
  Kainja tells the paper, "We have already contacted Madonna that someone else
and not Kilembe will come to asses her, because we feel Mr. Kilembe
personalised the whole issue when other people can go."
  Kilembe denies asking Madonna to fund his trip, adding of the confusion,
"What this means is that the whole adoption process may crumble and David sent
back to his village."
  The High Court of Malawi appointed Kilembe to visit David Banda in his new
home twice before deciding whether Madonna's adoption should be formalised in a
hearing next year . 


* VILLAGE PEOPLE STAR PLANS TELL-ALL BOOK
Former VILLAGE PEOPLE frontman VICTOR WILLIS quit the cult disco group because
his bandmates were too gay.
  The In The Navy singer, who was the group's sailor, is revealing all about
his time with the Village People in a new book, and insists he never intended
the band to become gay icons.
  In fact his publicist reveals the group's dancefloor superhit, Y.M.C.A. was
never written as a gay anthem - and Willis fears their gay image ruined what
could have been a "great opportunity".
  Publicist Alice Wolf tells website Canoe.ca, "Y.M.C.A. was never meant to
refer to gay cruising. Victor never intended the homosexual innuendo that many
fans read into the song.
  "Victor Willis wrote about the Y.M.C.A. and having fun there, but the type of
fun he was talking about was straight fun.
  Wolf insists her client has nothing against homosexuals but still regrets
that his band became known as a quirky gay outfit.
  Willis is hoping his new tell-all will boost his solo career after a string
of legal woes and drug-related arrests.
  Wolf claims the 56-year-old, who has refused all interviews since 1979, has
been sober for 18 months and completed a drug treatment program in April .
She reveals he still earns $1 million -a-year in royalties from the
disco anthems he co-wrote. 


* BROWN TO JUDGE DANCING WITH THE STARS?
SPICE GIRL MELANIE BROWN is set to star in U.S. reality show DANCING WITH THE
STARS, according to reports.
  The singer will join current judges Len Goodman, Carrie Ann Inaba, and Bruno
Tonioli to critique dance performances from a host of celebrity movers and
their partners.
  A source tells Britain's Sunday Mirror newspaper, "Mel saw how positive the
show was for Heather  profile in the States and she's keen to use it to
reinvent herself."
  Brown's Spice Girls bandmate Emma Bunton has appeared on Strictly Come
Dancing - the original British show which inspired Dancing With The Stars.



* LANG SETS SAIL FOR LESBIAN CRUISE LINE LANDMARK
Singer k.d. lang is the latest star planning to set sail on the high seas after
announcing she'll perform onboard the leading lesbian cruise line in 2008.
  The Constant Craving singer will perform at the launch of Olivia's first
Caribbean cruise of 2008 in January.
  The luxury cruise line celebrates its 35th anniversary next year - and all
guests onboard throughout 2008 will be given complimentary lang CDs, and the
singer's videos will be shown in all cabins throughout the trip. 


* READING FESTIVAL TO GO AHEAD
This year's Reading Festival in England will go ahead later this month
 despite serious flood damage to the site.
  Heavy rainfall in the area caused part of the nearby River Thames to burst
its bank, leaving the open-air gig in jeopardy.
  But concert organisers have confirmed all floodwater will be removed in time
for the concert - which will feature headline performances from Razorlight, the
Red Hot Chili Peppers and The Smashing Pumpkins.
  Festival boss Melvin Benn says, "We're literally pumping water off by the
thousands of gallons an hour. There are vast areas of it that you can actually
walk on now. It's still waterlogged, but the water's going down. I've got a
whole team of people doing no more then moving pumps around. I've got two eight
inch pumps pumping water directly off the land 24 hours a day at the moment."



* ANTHONY'S FATHER CARED FOR LAVOE
Actor/singer MARC ANTHONY had some invaluable insight into the last days of
tragic salsa great HECTOR LAVOE as he prepared to play him in biopic EL
CANTANTE - his father nursed the legend to his death.
  Anthony insists he was the only person who could have played Lavoe because
the man and his music were such important parts of his life.
  The Latino superstar says, "His music was almost a soundtrack to my life. I
remember listening to his music when the Puerto Rican parade would go by and he
was ever present.
  "My dad worked in the kitchen at Terence Cardinal Cook, which is a nursing
home for people with AIDS on 106th and Fifth Avenue  and my dad
took care of him the last two years of his life.
  "He spoke a lot about his glory days and he said, 'Tell your son he could
control this not happening and I wish I would've known.' My dad passed that
onto me."
  Lavoe died in 1993 after losing his battle with AIDS and depression.



* WEST SHUNS ONLINE BLOGS
KANYE WEST avoids logging onto uncensored online blogging websites - because
he's scared of discovering cruel comments written about him.
  The Gold Digger hitmaker admires stars who have the courage to read hurtful
web postings, but is too sensitive to follow their example.
  He says, "Man, it really takes a strong person to read the blogs. It's just
no-holds-barred. So if you're feeling good about yourself and you want to feel
like s**t, go to the blogs." 


* SLEEPY ANTHONY PERFECTED DOPE SCENES BY DOZING
Latino singer/actor MARC ANTHONY perfected sleeping on the set of his new film
EL CANTANTE - so he'd always look drowsy for drug-taking scenes.
  The star plays salsa legend Hector Lavoe opposite his real-life wife Jennifer
Lopez in the biopic and initially struggled to come to terms with playing a
renowned junkie.
  Then he just fell asleep on the set one day and woke up naturally dozy.
  He explains, "I realised you just have to be really tired. I learned that you
should try to take a nap and then they wake you up for the 'action' part and
you're automatically edgy.
  "I didn't follow any junkies around or any addicts or anything like that."
  Anthony admits the acting came from trying to pretend he was enjoying
drug-taking sessions in the film.
  He adds, "Snorting that stuff was nasty. It was milk powder with sugar and
that's when the acting came in because it's like snorting pepper, you're
natural reaction is to expel it.
  "To act like that's not going on in your face and yeah I'm enjoying this, was
one of the hardest things to do. If you added water I would've been a science
experiment." 


* ANNABLE DATING COYLE?
BROTHERS AND SISTERS star DAVID ANNABLE is dating GIRLS ALOUD singer NADINE
COYLE, according to reports.
  The Love Machine hitmaker - who split from Jesse Metcalfe earlier this year
 - initially received a bouquet of flowers from Annable, and the pair have
since enjoyed a string of dates in Los Angeles.
  A pal tells Britain's Sunday Mirror newspaper, "She was very flattered by all
his attention. Dave is a very good looking guy. They are being cautious -
people have warned her about another long-distance relationship. Plus Girls
Aloud have a lot of stuff on with a new single Sexy, No No No and then an
album." 


* FAN SPLURGES ON LEE LICENCE PLATE
A die-hard fan of martial arts icon BRUCE LEE has spent a staggering $5,100
 on a car licence plate bearing the film star's name.
  The bidder snapped up the 'BRUCELEE' number plate at a Hong Kong auction to
honour his favourite movie star.
  Named as Mr Wong, he says, "When I studied in Britain, I saw that foreigners
only knew Bruce Lee and chairman Mao Zedong. Bruce Lee was great and he
contributed a lot to China. He has influenced people from a few generations and
his influence can still be felt today."
  Lee died in Hong Kong in 1973. 


* MOSS' MODEL DAUGHTER
Supermodel KATE MOSS is confident her daughter LILA GRACE will follow in her
footsteps and become a model.
  Moss claims her  five-year-old child has inherited her love of fashion - but
insists Lila won't be allowed to hit the catwalk until she finishes her
education.
  She says, "Lila can't be a model until she's at least 21. She is already a
mini-me - it is scary. She already has her own beauty kit."
  Moss also reveals her own childhood career aspirations, insisting, "I would
have wanted to be a rock star, a lead singer, if I wasn't a model. I'd go
touring in a bus with my band. In my next life, that's the plan."


* NEW DAD DAMON PILES ON WEIGHT IN BOURNE ULTIMATUM
MATT DAMON hopes movie fans aren't too eagle eyed when they watch him in sequel
THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM - because he ended the film 20 pounds 
heavier than he was at the start.
  The actor blames his heft on fatherhood and the fact he couldn't tear himself
away from his new family to spend hours at the gym in between shoots.
  Damon admits he was much more disciplined while making the first two Bourne
movies.
  He explains, "I started the movie in really good shape and one thing about
having kids has made me realise that I used to not have any life.
  "In the old Bourne movies we'd work six to eight weeks, work for 15 hours, go
to the gym for two hours, then I'd eat a little something, and go to sleep
every day. That's all I did. And on Sundays I slept all day.
  "On this one I showed up in my Bourne shape and, after 16 hours, I wasn't
going to the gym; I wanted to see my kid, so, by the end of the movie, I'm 20
pounds heavier than I was in the beginning." 


* WALKEN PULLS AT HIS HAIR TO KEEP BALDNESS AT BAY
Veteran actor CHRISTOPHER WALKEN likes to pull his hair every day, after
reading the practice makes going bald less likely.
  The Hairspray star credits his distinctive hairstyle with regular yanking at
his locks, which he read was what late U.S. President John F. Kennedy used to
do as well.
  He says, "President Kennedy had this great hair, and I read that somebody
came and massaged him because he had that back problem, but he would also get
his hair pulled.
  "As men get older, the skin on their heads tightens and the blood gets
constricted. Apparently, if you keep your scalp skin loose, you're more apt to
keep your hair.
  "So I just grab it with both hands and yank on it while I'm watching the
news." 


* HATHAWAY MEETS RICHARDS' DAUGHTER DRESSED AS STONE
ANNE HATHAWAY dressed up as legendary hellraiser KEITH RICHARDS for a Halloween
party last year , only to discover the ROLLING STONE's daughter was at the
same bash.
  The Brokeback Mountain star was surprised when Theodora Richards approached
her and asked if she had come as late Sex Pistol Sid Vicious.
  She says, "I didn't do that good a job." 


* SCALES PROTESTS AGAINST FAWLTY BYPASS
FAWLTY TOWERS star PRUNELLA SCALES has condemned building on a new bypass next
to the British hotel which inspired the hit comedy series.
  The actress - who played Sybil Fawlty in the show - has joined protesters who
oppose the proposed road which will span a stretch of countryside outside the
Gleneagles Hotel in Torquay, England.
  She says, "I cannot believe it should be allowed." 


* DAMON CONFUSED BY NICE GUY PERSONA
Actor MATT DAMON has no idea why the movie-going public finds him so likeable,
and is left bemused by regular comparisons to nice guy TOM HANKS.
  The Ocean's Thirteen star assumes the reason he's so popular is because many
successful actors are rude, although he's not completely happy with being
associated with Hanks.
  Damon jokes, "I don't know why people say that, Hanks is a f**king d**k."
  He adds, "I don't hold myself to some higher standard of behaviour. You don't
have to do a lot to be seen as nice. I guess some of these people must be such
rampant pricks that people are amazed when you say hello.
  "I don't know why people like me, and I don't know if I want to know. That
might be the kiss of death.
  "I'd rather people not know a lot about me and go see the movies."


* FASCINATING FACT:
KIRSTEN DUNST is such a huge YUSUF ISLAM fan she named one of her cats, CAT
STEVENS, after him. 

* USHER WEDS FOSTER IN ATLANTA
R&B heart-throb USHER wed his pregnant fiancee TAMEKA FOSTER in his native
Atlanta, Georgia, on Friday , according to U.S. reports.
  American magazine People reports 28-year-old Usher, real name Usher Raymond,
married stylist, 37, at the office of the singer's lawyer in Atlanta.
  The Chicago Sun-Times claims Usher's mother Jonetta Patton was among the
guests. Recent reports have suggested Patton was fired as Usher's manager
earlier this year  when she disagreed with his engagement to Foster.
  The Friday nuptials follows last weekend's  last-minute cancellation
of a star-studded wedding at music mogul Antonio 'L.A.' Reid's Sagaponack, New
York home.
  Sources claimed the couple cancelled their New York wedding last month after
an argument over the meal at the reception, but Foster said a brief
hospitalisation caused the postponement.
  The couple started dating in November 2005, the same year Foster split from
her ex-husband Ryan Glover - father of her three children.
  Usher and Foster's baby is due this winter . 


* TWO MORE CHILDREN FOR JAMES BROWN
Late funk legend JAMES BROWN is the father of two more children, DNA testing
has confirmed,
  Dozens of people underwent foolproof DNA analysis after claiming to be the
offspring of the late singer - and now Brown's attorney and longtime friend
Buddy Dallas has confirmed that two of the results came back positive.
  Although he refuses to identify the names of the star's new-found children,
LaRhonda Pettit has gone public with the results of her test - a 99.99 per cent
probability she is the soul man's daughter.
  Pettit - the spitting image of the soul legend - claims that Brown picked out
her mother from the audience at a Los Angeles gig in the early 1960s, and she
soon became the singer's girlfriend, often ironing his shirts before his
shows.
  Pettit met Brown briefly in Texas in 2003, but says he refused to acknowledge
she was his daughter.
  She says, "I was angry that he was out there making all this money, and he
wasn't doing anything for my mother and me... I could have had a better life."
  But the single mum also claims she has mixed feelings about her father, "I
love my daddy. When I hear my daddy's music, it just freezes me."
  The disabled former flight attendant is also hoping for a windfall
inheritance from her late father, which she will use to fund her two daughters'
education.
  The identity of the second confirmed child has not been revealed.
  Brown passed away last year , aged 73, from heart failure.



* MEL B SLAMS MURPHY IN ANOTHER STATEMENT
LATEST: A day after EDDIE MURPHY confirmed his paternity of MELANIE BROWN's
baby in a statement, the former SPICE GIRL has fired back at the comedian,
complaining that he isn't fulfilling his parental duties.
  The British singer slammed Murphy for failing to visit the newborn tot Angel
Iris - despite her encouragement.
  Brown's lawyer Gloria Allred says, "He has not indicated in his statement or
to us that he plans to visit the baby."
  She insists that Brown's main concern is for Murphy to "see his child, spend
time with her, hold her, love her and bond with his daughter."
  In Friday's  statement, Murphy angered Brown by contradicting her
claims that the pregnancy was planned.
  Baby Angel was born on 3 April  and a subsequent DNA test established
Murphy, who is now engaged to producer Tracey Edmonds, as the father.


* JAZZ MUSICIAN ART DAVIS DIES
Double bass player ART DAVIS died of a heart attack in his Long Beach,
California home last Sunday . He was 73.
  The musician - who collaborated with John Coltrane, Louis Armstrong and Bob
Dylan during his career as a session musician - was also an acclaimed classical
performer, and often played with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
  Later in his life, Davis gained a PhD in clinical psychology from New York
University in 1982, after which he moved to California where he both practiced
psychology and performed jazz gigs.
  Pianist Nate Morgan - who collaborated with Davis - says, "He was adventurous
with his approach to playing music... It takes a certain amount of integrity to
step outside the box and say: 'I like it here and I'm going to hang here for a
while.'"
  Davis was survived by two sons and a daughter. 


* KYLIE'S TEARS AT TRIBUTE
Pop superstar KYLIE MINOGUE was reduced to tears during an emotional party
celebrating 20 years since her first hit single The Loco-motion on Friday
.
  The singer - who was joined by friends and family at the London bash - became
bleary-eyed when manager Terry Blamey hailed her as "sexy and strong".
  When the party ended at London's Fulham Palace, Kylie and her pals continued
dancing at the city's Movida nightclub.
  After soaring to fame as Charlene Mitchell in Australian soap opera
Neighbours in the late 1980s, Minogue quit acting to embark on her hugely
successful music career, and won a battle with breast cancer last year .


* COUNTRY STAR RICH SELLS OFF HIS CORVETTE
BIG & RICH star JOHN RICH is auctioning off his Corvette to raise cash for a
Nashville, Tennessee children's hospital.
  The big-hearted country star has placed the item on auction website eBay.com
with a minimum bid of $50,000 .
  The black hardtop coupe has been featured in magazine Corvette Quarterly and
has only 17,800 miles on the clock.
  Rich claims Gretchen Wilson and Kid Rock are among the celebrities who have
been behind the wheel.
  The auction ends on Wednesday . 


* WEEZER STAR TO PEN MEMOIRS
WEEZER star RIVERS CUOMO is shopping his memoirs around to publishers.
  The Beverly Hills singer and former Harvard University student has reportedly
hired literary agent David Vigliano, who sold Kurt Cobain's journals on behalf
of Courtney Love, to do his bidding for him.
  Cuomo's upcoming memoirs are expected to feature information about his
upbringing on an ashram and details about his self-imposed celibacy.


* FASCINATING FACT:
THE GOSSIP singer BETH DITTO's mum and dad are called VELMYRA and HOMER.


* RHAMES' DOG VICTIM NAMED
LATEST: The caretaker attacked by dogs reportedly belonging to VING RHAMES has
been named as the actor's caretaker, Jacob Adams.
  The deceased man, 40, was pronounced dead on the scene in front of Rhames'
Brentwood, California, home on Friday  morning.
  Part of his job was to look after the actor's dogs - which include three
mastiffs and one bulldog.
  But the cause of death remains uncertain.
  Coroner Ed Winter said: "It's premature to say how he died. We don't know if
he was attacked by the dogs and suffered a heart attack."
  The Pulp Fiction star was not at home at the time of the mauling, and is
thought to be out of the country shooting a movie.
  The autopsy will be carried out on Monday . 


* McGREGOR COMPLETES MOTORBIKE TOUR
EWAN McGREGOR has finished his 15,000 mile  motorcycle
journey from Scotland to South Africa.
  The Trainspotting star and his actor pal Charley Boorman began the road trip
at John O'Groats in Scotland in May , and reached their final destination
of Cape Town, South Africa, on Friday .
  The journey - which took the friends through Europe, Libya, Ethiopia, Sudan
and Rwanda - will be broadcast on BBC2 television series The Long Way Down.
  He says, "The Long Way Down has been an amazing journey and it has been a
real privilege to be able to experience these diverse and beautiful places.
We've had the opportunity to see such different ways of life to ours and have
travelled to remote places very few people have access to. The sense of freedom
and exploration has been incredible." 


* RITTER'S WIDOW STILL BATTLING  WRONGFUL DEATH LAWSUIT
The widow of late actor JOHN RITTER is still battling doctors for failing to
diagnose a congenital heart defect which she believes led to her husband's
death
  The star's wife Amy Yasbeck filed a lawsuit against doctors at the Providence
St. Joseph Medical Center, California, claiming her husband was misdiagnosed
twice.
  Yasbeck and her five children already settled for $12.5 million  from the

Californian hospital where Ritter died - but now they are
still battling three New York doctors who have submitted subpoenas arguing that
the hospital's medics were not negligent.
  The doctors' lawyers state that Ritter was failed to make an appointment with
a cardiologist three years before his death - claims which the New York doctors
have subpoenaed.
  Yasbeck claims that if it wasn't for a missed X-ray procedure, which was
never performed, Ritter would have survived.
  The actor was filming 8 Simple Rules when he was rushed to hospital 
with vomiting and chest pains - and died hours after entering the emergency
room.
  But only when the symptoms became more violent, did the doctors discover the
cause  of the pain - an aortic dissection.
  The case against the doctors John David Friedman and Matthew Lotysch will go
to trial in January . 


* PHILLIPPE DENIES RECONCILIATION REPORTS WITH WITHERSPOON
Hollywood hunk RYAN PHILLIPPE has denied reports he is giving his marriage with
REESE WITHERSPOON another try after the couple were spotted lunching together.
  The couple split last October  after six years of marriage and two
children together. They are currently in the middle of divorce proceedings.
  Recent reports claimed the ex-couple had been seen jogging, shopping and
lunching together in Brentwood, California, with an unnamed friend saying,
"Reese and Ryan are trying to work it out. They are still close."
  However, the Gosford Park actor's representative tells the New York Post,
"It's not true." 


* WATSON DATING RUGBY HUNK
HARRY POTTER star EMMA WATSON is dating a 16-year-old up-and-coming rugby
player, according to reports.
  The 17-year-old actress was photographed enjoying a romantic break on the
French Riviera with handsome sportsman Tom Ducker.
  And the staff at their Nice hotel described the young couple as "delightful
guests".
  During the French holiday, the couple spent their time perusing Nice's swanky
art shops, and Watson spotted a £15,000  painting, reading "Je suis
incognito ici, faites le savoir" , which
she offered to buy in cash immediately.
  Owner Ali Abdelhafidh says, "Emma fell in love with it and offered to buy it
there and then. The words on the piece seemed to sum up her evening. But sadly
it just wasn't for sale, so she posed for a photo next to the picture
instead."
  Despite the reports, Ducker's parents have laughed off rumours of any romance
between the pair, insisting the relationship is nothing more than platonic.
  John Ducker, "They are just friends - don't read anything more into it than
that. My wife and I have met Emma once or twice. She is a lovely young lady."


* JACKSON GETS LOST IN TRANSLATION
Former DAWSON'S CREEK star JOSHUA JACKSON was left to entertain the German
parents of girlfriend DIANE KRUGER during a recent trip to the polo - despite
neither of them speaking a word of English.
  The couple - who split at the beginning of 2007 - have recently re-kindled
their romance, and were enjoying a day out at last week's Cartier International
Polo tournament in Surrey, England when Kruger left her boyfriend to chat to
her mother and father from Germany.
  Kruger says, "It's been hard work because neither of them speak a word of
English and I've had to translate everything. Joshua helped look after them -
but fortunately we did manage to go to Boujis together." 


* EFRON CALLS FOR NEW MUSICALS
HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL star ZAC EFRON is calling on filmmakers to devise new
musicals instead of remake old stories.
  Efron has recently appeared in the all-singing, all-dancing Hairspray and the
High School Musical sequel is set to premiere on U.S. TV later this month
.
  While Efron, 19, wants to focus on more serious acting roles in the near
future, he's open to appearing in another musical, as long as the script is
original
  He says, "I will do another musical at some point. There are so many great,
exciting shows, but I think we need some brand new musicals.
  " was a great movie. I would love to do
something like that." 


* KIDD'S SPEEDY DIVORCE
Supermodel JODIE KIDD's 18 month marriage to husband AIDAN BUTLER is almost
over after a 60-second divorce hearing at a London court on Friday .
  Neither were present at London's High Court and Kidd has not contested the
divorce, but the catwalk beauty has claimed that her internet entrepreneur
spouse's citation of "unreasonable behaviour" was false.
  And legal papers suggest that Kidd had no knowledge of her partner's plans to
put an end to their union until she received his petition.
  The pair met while taking part in a Gumball Rally race in 2004, and married a
year later  - but they confirmed reports of a split earlier this year
 after Kidd was photographed without her wedding ring. 


* HOPKINS TO UNVEIL TOMMY COOPER STATUE
SIR ANTHONY HOPKINS will unveil a statue of late comedian TOMMY COOPER in his
home town of Caerphilly, Wales later this year .
  The veteran movie star is patron of the Tommy Cooper Society - which raised
£40,000  to pay for the bronze effigy of the deceased television
star.
  Tudor Jones, secretary of the Tommy Cooper Society, explains, "He said he
would be honoured and happy to come and unveil the statue... We're absolutely
thrilled to bits."
  Cooper died of a heart attack after collapsing onstage at the London
Palladium theatre in April 1984. 


* ALLEN MOVIE TO MAKE NORTH AMERICAN DEBUT AT TORONTO FILM FESTIVAL
Director WOODY ALLEN is set to unveil his latest film CASSANDRA'S DREAM to
North America at this year's Toronto International Film Festival.
  The film, which stars Ewan McGregor and Colin Farrell as brothers, makes its
worldwide debut in this month's  Venice festival, although there was
already a 'secret' premiere in Spain, where the ANNIE HALL director is
currently working.
  The 32-year-old Toronto Film Festival is thought by many to be the first
platform for potential Oscar winners and will also show Beatles-soundtracked
musical Across the Universe and Elizabeth sequel The Golden Age.
  The Coen Brothers have also announced that their latest, No Country For Old
Men will be shown, after premiering at Cannes in May . 


* BRODY: 'HANGING OUT WITH McKENZIE MAKES ME FEEL FICTIONAL'
Actor ADAM BRODY dislikes socialising with his THE O.C. co-star BENJAMIN
McKENZIE - because it makes him feel uncomfortable, like a "fictional person".
  Brody, who played McKenzie's character Ryan Atwood's surrogate brother Seth
Cohen on the now-defunct TV show, is convinced strangers are laughing at them
when the twosome are out in public.
  He says, "I was with Ben McKenzie yesterday, who plays Ryan and I guess we're
adopted brothers .
  "I'm always embarrassed hanging out with him because I feel like a fictional
person. I feel that everyone who recognises us is for sure laughing at us.
  "If you work with someone, you like them, but then you're out in public... I
would laugh at us, if it wasn't us. 'Oh they're really hanging out! Cool.'"


* THE THINGS THEY SAY:
"As a friend of GEORGE , all you really need to do is stay on the
list, because he's got an incredible life that he shares." MATT DAMON loves
being friends with generous George Clooney.