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Richard Branson / Virgin / Celeb News / Movie Travel / → All Tags

Sir Richard Branson Takes the Virgin Brand to Hollywood

Lookout Hollywood! Our main man in the sky—Sir Richard Branson—is looking to make his mark on Tinseltown. It’s not really too much of a departure as Sir Richard did make his initial fortune in the record business, but he is looking to expand into television and film development. The new venture will be known as Virgin Produced, and we’re already waiting for the funding for a modern day adaptation of the Airplane series—Roger, Roger.

The Virgin brand knows better than to simply go it alone, and that’s why they’re teaming up with Rogue Pictures in order to develop, promote, and fund future films together.

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Celeb Travel / Celeb News / Michael Jackson / → All Tags

Jacko Lands in Las Vegas

Michael Jackson is back in the U.S. and settling in Las Vegas as we write this. Apparently, a veil-clad Jacko spent Saturday en route to Vegas from Dublin, arriving at McCarran Airport's private executive hangar at 10:30pm that evening.

He's not just visiting either. Reportedly, he's planning Vegas as his big comeback and is working on a deal to do a live show on the Strip in 2007. Gaming dealman Jack Wishna confirmed MJ's return to the States and said, "We are working on several projects." MJ's currently camped out in a new Spanish-style home on the city's west side.

Michael and his brood were last living in a castle in County Cork, Ireland, (with freak-dance star Michael Flatley) after leaving Bahrain last year. If you don't have private jet access like Jacko, reaching the UK/Ireland area from Vegas in a bit of affordable style is not as hard as it used to be: MAXjet launched its Vegas-to-London Stansted service just last month.

Related Stories:
· The Jacko Has Landed-in Vegas [TMZ]
· Michael Jackson's New House [US Weekly]
· Michael Jackson Landing on Strip [Las Vegas Review Journal]

YouTube / Celeb News / Commercials / George Clooney / Coffee / → All Tags

Celebrity Endorsements Abroad

The best part of traveling outside the United States--besides the convenience stores and record shops--is the celebrity endorsement spotting. Stars, and big ones at that, shill a lot of coffee and jewelry and whatnot around the world. They make good money this way, doing stuff they'd never do in America because it's cheesy. The minute you step out of the States, especially when it's to Europe and Asia, you're bound to notice the commercials and magazine ads. Proactiv commercials are an exception--you can catch those right at home.

Of course, this is the YouTube age, and no one ever expected these activities to be truly top secret. You simply cannot get away from the above commercial in Austria. It's George Clooney pimping for Nespresso, a coffee company and espresso machine maker affiliated with Nestle. Nespresso has stores all over Austria, and beyond in Europe, where it's easy to get laughed at as a foreigner ordering your coffee the wrong way.

Celeb Travel / Celeb News / Love / → All Tags

Lara Flynn Boyle Ties the Knot in San Antonio

Hollywood skeletal queen and former Jack Nicholson muse, Lara Flynn Boyle, apparently hopped on a flight to San Antonio last weekend and got married to businessman Donald Ray Thomas (we know, who?!?).

The pair didn't bother with the Italian villa or the celeb-laden post-parties, and opted instead for a $36 marriage license and small ceremony (sans rings - gasp!) in Thomas' local backyard.

Jeez. How unexciting. They could have at least headed to the nearby Hyatt Hill Country Resort and done it up Texas-style. A romantic gondola ride along San Antonio's famous Riverwalk would have been nice, too.

Related Stories:
· Lara Flynn Boyle Hitched for $36 [TMZ.com]

Celeb Travel / Celeb News / Miss USA / Tara Conner / Donald Trump / → All Tags

Miss USA to Stay in NYC

If you read yesterday's guide to ice skating in New York, you noticed a note at the end about Miss USA. It turns out that she WILL be holding onto her title, so long as she enters rehab and steps carefully from here on out And that's the truth, because it came straight from the Donald's mouth. He'd never miss an opportunity for a press conference.

So Tara Conner and her boobs will continue to live in Trump Place on the Upper West Side, perhaps with a 24-hour chaperone now. But how will she cap off her workdays now that she can't be seen in the clubs? We have a few recommendations.

She could head for dinner at the Ritz-Carlton Battery Park, where a "water sommelier" helps diners pair bottled H2O with their meals. At least it sort of recalls the wino experience. She could go to Dylan's Candy Bar for hot chocolate and root beer-flavored gummy candy, or seek out an oxygen bar. And if all else fails, she can nurse her phantom hangovers with a gooey breakfast from Kitchenette--a bit of a hike from her Trump digs (at least first thing in the morning), but worth it. Good luck, Tara!

[Photo: The Bosh]

Related Stories:
· Trump: Miss USA Tara Conner Not Fired [People]

Celeb Travel / Celeb News / Pamela Anderson / Kid Rock / → All Tags

Pam Anderson Hearts Marriage in St.Tropez

Sometimes when we go on vacation, we do dumb romantically-inclined things. Come on, admit it, so do you. Of course it was never going to last with Pierre that summer as an exchange student in France, but did that stop you? Nah.

All we can say is thank god we've never been to St. Tropez. Pam Anderson apparently has admitted she would have married anybody this summer in St. Tropez, because she was having such a great vacation.

As you may recall, Pam "tied the knot" with Kid Rock on a yacht, though it wasn't a legally binding ceremony (that came later). If we were to get married there and had the cash, we'd probably do it on land at the Hotel Byblos. It's just as romantic, and wouldn't make any of our friends seasick. If you're seriously interested in getting hitched for real out there, remember you have to have a civil ceremony at the mayor's office to make it legal.

[Photo: GQ via TMZ]

Related Stories:
· Anderson: 'I Would Have Married Anyone in St. Tropez' [SF Gate]

Celeb Travel / Celeb News / Britney Spears / Restaurants / → All Tags

Britney Spears Steps Out in Los Angeles

Britney Spears took a break from partying with Paris Hilton, to head out on a date with South African-born producer Jonathan "JR" Rotem this week.

The two apparently hit up the movies in LA (and saw "The Holiday") and then went for lunch at The 3rd Stop, where they most likely downed beer and wings, as this "casual pub" offers an "oversized bar menu" with mac 'n' cheese and burgers - just up Brit's alley.

The unfortunate part? Brit was all over her new man at lunch, where she "sat on Rotem's lap and the duo kissed and cuddled at a corner table." It takes a lot to make us lose our appetite for mac 'n' cheese, but picturing that just about did the trick.

[Photo: Dlisted]

Related Stories:
· Spears Steps Out With New Man [SF Gate: Dish!]

Los Angeles / Shopping / Celeb News / Tori Spelling / → All Tags

To Do in LA: Tori Spelling's Estate Sale

What's "broke" to Tori Spelling is probably not "broke" to the rest of us, but Tori is probably terrified of slumming it now that it looks like her mother doesn't want to share any of Aaron's leftovers. To ward against impending hardship, pregnant Donna Martin is kicking off an estate sale today at her "dazzling Valley home," while hubby Dean McDermott (who must have thought he was marrying into millions) will likely be off drinking away his sorrow at an area bar.

The sale starts today and will continue tomorrow and on Monday. According to Tori, via People, items up for grabs will include furniture, Beverly Hills 90210 memorabilia, signed scripts, antique chintzware and used clothing. You can preview some items here, and well as get more information on how to join the wait at Tori's abode here. The piece above is our favorite.

We're not having such good luck with websites today. Right as we were going to post, the links above blew out, assumably due to bandwith overages. Keep trying them, or see Dlisted for a copy of the event listing.

Related Stories:
· Tori Spelling Gets Ready for Her Yard Sale [People]
· Tori Spelling's Yard Sale [Luxist]
· Brokeass Bitch! [Dlisted]

Celeb Travel / Celeb News / → All Tags

TomKat Settles in Britain

There's no need for Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes to snap up plane tickets from the Maldives back to the U.S. just yet. Apparently the two purchased a $4.75 million manse in Sussex, England.

The new pad's got six bedrooms, an indoor swimming pool, an underground garage, a sports pavilion, a game room and a greenhouse. Oh--and it's just down the block from the the Church Of Scientology's newly opened UK headquarters in East Grinstead, England.

Add that to their houses in Beverly Hills and Telluride, and we guess they'll be jetting all over the place to stay spiritual. Gross.

[Photo: TMZ]

Related Stories:
· Cruise and Holmes Buy British Mansion [SF Gate]

Celeb Travel / Celeb News / Angelina Jolie / Brad Pitt / India / → All Tags

Brangelina Headed for Home

After extended time in Pune, India, with the whole clan in tow, Brangelina has left town. Apparently, filming of A Mighty Heart in the country has wrapped (or at least the part's Angelina's in), and the whole fam split for home in Los Angeles early on Sunday morning.

As you've heard, the last few weeks of filming were marred by various "situations," including a run-in with the law after the couple's bodyguards allegedly manhandled waiting parents at a school while filming was in progress. The family did, however, manage to get in some quality time too. From relaxing at Le Meridien Pune to sneaking off to Mumbai by private jet for a boat tour and retiring to a suite at the Taj in Colaba, it wasn't all work.

No word yet on whether producer-dad Brad will return to India, but something tells us they'll all be back....

[Photo: The Bosh]

Related Stories:
· Jolie, Pitt leave for home [DNA Mumbai]

Celeb Travel / Celeb News / Britney Spears / Kevin Federline / → All Tags

Britney Spears 2.0 Lands in Vegas at The Palms

Britney Spears is enjoying her newfound freedom and headed to Vegas this weekend, minus the kids, to prove it. Seems she spent the majority of her days away at The Palms, where she was spotted chatting up George Maloof while wearing her ridiculous "disguise" - a hot pink wig and gigantic sunglasses.

Brit also popped into the Palms' private recording studio with producer Lukasz Gottwald to mix tracks on her new album, and raked in a hearty $10,000 at the high-limit blackjack table. (See, ditching K-Fed was good luck!) Later she hit up a club with Mario Lopez, who was playing earlier at her table. Not bad for a day's work. We're just sooooo glad to see her hitting the road without K-Fed that right now we're willing to overlook the Mario Lopez bit and the cheesy extensions we caught her rocking that sadly were not part of the disguise.

Related Stories:
· Britney Parties with Mario Lopez in Vegas [People]
· The Palms Casino Resort Reviews [HotelChatter]

Celeb Travel / Celeb News / Katie Holmes / Tom Cruise / → All Tags

TomKat Snubs the Locals

Unless you've been living under a rock for the past few months, you already know that TomKat made it legal this past weekend at Odescalchi Castle in Bracciano, Italy. They both wore Armani, gave each other Cartier rings, partied with celeb guests, etc, etc, snooze.

But, they also managed to nicely snub the locals, as celebs are wont to do when on the road. Townsfolk were pissed when they found out TomKat invited the mayor of Rome, Walter Veltroni, to their wedding, but not the local mayor, Patrizia Riccioni. They were also mad when the couple refused to stop for even a quickie wave on their way into the castle before the big event. The mayor said:

"They [the locals] put up with all the inconveniences very patiently including the roads being closed and parking restrictions. It would have been nice if the couple had showed themselves to the public even for a brief moment -- maybe at a window or from a balcony."

Something tells us they'll get over it all (even the fact that they had to repaint the town's public garbage cans) when a billion copycat weddings are set at Odescalchi in the next year. TomKat have left Rome and are on their way to the Maldives for their honeymoon. Not to worry, we'll figure out where they're staying.

[Photo: TMZ]

Related Stories:
· Cruise Wedding Faux Pas [US Weekly]