Rihanna gives revealing interview to Oprah Winfrey

Calls Chris Brown the great "love of her life."

Rihanna spilled it all to Oprah Winfrey. In a just-aired interview on Oprah's Next Chapter, the singer talked openly, and emotionally, about her relationship with R&B singer Chris Brown. She says she truly believes that Brown was the love of her life, and she still loves him -- despite everything that's happened.

Watching this interview was painful. I know Rihanna's a huge celebrity, and likely used to giving high profile interviews...but this one felt really raw. What happened to her was inexcusable, and she's been through a lot. She came across as very, very real. And I'm angry all over again at Chris Brown for beating her up. Furious.No one should ever be hit -- especially not by someone they love. Rihanna is quite obviously still struggling with the aftermath of the domestic abuse inflicted by Chris Brown in 2009. Wounds like that take a long time to heal, if they ever heal at all. Hopefully telling her story so honestly to Oprah Winfrey brings RiRi some peace.

Rihanna cried openly as she explained the range of emotions she felt after Brown's brutal attack, saying, "It was a weird, confusing space to be in." She went on to say:

Because as angry as I was, as angry and hurt and betrayed, I just felt like he made that mistake because he needed help and who's going to help him? Nobody's going to say he needs help. Everybody's going to say he's a monster without looking at the source, and I was more concerned about him.

RiRi went on to explain that she was devastated in the aftermath, saying she lost her "best friend" and everything went topsy-turvy for her, quickly. I cannot imagine going through that kind of betrayal, and I certainly can't fathom having to do it so publicly.

Tonight's Rihanna interview with Oprah Winfrey was definitely an eye opener. RiRi explained that despite the rumors, she and Chris Brown are *not* involved. She did admit that she still loves Breezy deeply, adding that when she sees him, it's "awkward." She also said she forgives Brown for everything.

I sincerely hope that as the years pass, Rihanna will be able to come to terms with everything that happened and find someone who will love and respect her the way she deserves to be loved and respected. In the meantime, hopefully others who are victims of domestic abuse will find strength through her story.

'Big Bang Theory' star Mayim Bialik hurt in car accident

Former star of 'Blossom' might lose her thumb

The news this afternoon is just not good for actress Mayim Bialik. She's going to be OK, but she's been badly hurt after a car crash in Los Angeles earlier today. Apparently, the 36-year-old Bialik, who stars as Amy Farrah Fowler on the popular CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory, suffered a major thumb injury in the accident, and she might lose it.

Hopefully Mayim will be alright, and doctors no doubt will do everything they can to save her thumb. I've been a fan of Bialik's since she first starred on Blossom all those years ago.Reports suggest that Mayim Bialik's car accident occurred when she was struck by a group of Chilean tourists at a busy Hollywood Boulevard intersection. A photo of Bialik's white Volvo sedan definitely shows some significant damage, but it honestly doesn't look that bad, considering. How on earth poor Mayim wound up with such horrific damage to her thumb is beyond me, but strange things can happen with any car accident, I suppose.

According to TMZ, Mayim was being treated at a hospital near the scene of the wreck. Witnesses on the scene were quoted as saying there was a lot of blood involved (no doubt) and that Bialik's finger "was almost completely severed." Yeesh! Certainly, Bialik's injuries could have been much worse, but potentially losing a thumb is absolutely a serious injury.

Get well soon, Blossom/Amy Fowler. Mayim Bialik was having such an amazing 2012, until today: She was nominated for her first-ever Emmy Award (for The Big Bang Theory). Now this?

Who is Michael Phelps' girlfriend?

All-time Olympic swimming champ has a new love in his life

Michael Phelps is a freak of nature, but in the best kind of way. His astounding and inspirational displays of athletic prowess at the 2008, and now the 2012, Summer Olympic Games, has left all of us in awe. He is now the most decorated Olympian ever, with 22 medals (18 of them are gold). Now, it seems, he's got a gorgeous new girlfriend, as well!

Phelps is apparently dating a very attractive model. Here's the thing, though: She's not actually a new girlfriend. They've been seeing each other since early this year! Who is this mystery woman, and why are we just now finding out about her?Michael Phelps is dating a gorgeous, young model and fellow Californian named Megan Rossee. Reports list her as an "aspiring" model, meaning she probably is still looking to land that mega-contract that will boost her career into the stratosphere. Dating Phelps is one way to get plenty of heads turning.

Hollyscoop has all the deets about Michael and Megan's relationship, which apparently really kicked into high gear just before Phelps flew off to swim his way into the history books -- again. Now, these two lovebirds might be hanging out in London long after the Summer Olympics 2012 closing ceremonies are over.

Michael Phelps and Megan Rossee are rumored to be spending several weeks touring through Europe. No doubt, it's a much-needed (and deserved) break for Michael, and it's a chance for Megan to really get to know her man outside of the pressures and rigid Olympics training schedule he's followed this year. Megan apparently works as a cocktail waitress at a Hollywood hot spot, but if she lands Phelps, she probably won't keep that job for long!

How quickly things change: Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart drama continues

What a difference one week makes.

Just over one week ago, I was gleefully telling you all about the big Teen Choice Awards, where Twilight stars and sweethearts Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson had just thrilled kids everywhere with their appearance. They were all smiles, and rightly so: They had it all.

Apparently, they didn't! Nine days later, I'm sitting here in shock, after news of Kristen Stewart's scandalous affair with her Snow White and the Huntsman director Rupert Sanders. No doubt this crushed Robert Pattinson, and now, in a matter of days, everything has changed.Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson are certainly on the outs, and everyone's wondering if and when he'll publicly react to what's going on. Pattinson has yet to issue any kind of statement on Kristen's indiscretion, but reports have indicated he's moved out of the house he shared with her late last week. That's not at all surprising, given Kristen's ultimate betrayal.

This whole situation unfolded so quickly (and in such a dramatic fashion) that it's hard to get a grip on everything. Fans of KStew and RPatz are likely deep in mourning, wishing desperately for the good old days. Twilight movie executives have to be flipping out, wondering how on Earth Pattinson and Stewart will be able to take part in the press tours before Breaking Dawn Part 2 comes out later this year.

Now, it seems, we are getting a better sense of just how devastated Robert Pattinson is: Reports say he's not even going to do the press junket for his next (non-Twilight) movie, the David Cronenberg-directed drama Cosmopolis. The movie is set to debut in the U.S. in a little over two weeks, and Pattinson's decision to cancel press appearances is a pretty big deal, indeed.

Personally? I totally get why Robert Pattinson decided to stay out of the spotlight a little bit longer. What were the chances that the press interviews would actually be about Cosmopolis? Even if journalists were told to steer clear of any Kristen Stewart scandal questions, they wouldn't. It would only make this whole situation that much more painful for Pattinson.

Stay tuned. This is definitely far from over...

2012 Teen Choice Awards: 'Twilight' wins big

Other winners included, not surprisingly, Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift

For anyone who wasn't watching ABC's The Bachelorette season finale, the chances are pretty good that they were watching the 2012 Teen Choice Awards, which wrapped up on FOX just a short time ago. All in all, the show was nothing if not predictable. And yes, it featured plenty of squee-worthy moments to make any teen's heart melt.

The biggest winners of this year's Teen Choice Awards include Twilight, Justin Bieber and of course, Taylor Swift.The cast of The Twilight Saga was on hand to remind us all that no, the wildly popular phenomenon isn't quite over yet. People are still going NUTS for all things Twilight-related, and the appearance of Breaking Dawn, Part 2 stars Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner all on the same stage drew ear-splitting screams from the audience. The trio, by the way, accepted the Ultimate Choice Award because, well, the fans think they're just The Ultimate Anything. Forever. And ever.

Justin Bieber gave a really great performance, and took home Teen Choice Awards for Male Artist, best Single By a Male Artist ("Boyfriend"), Male Music Star of the Summer and of course, Choice Male Fashion Icon. Anyone surprised by this is clearly not paying close attention to pop culture. Justin Bieber is still super hot!

Taylor Swift also did really well. The country songbird took home awards for Choice Female Country Artist, Choice Single By a Female Artist ("Eyes Open") and Choice Country Song ("Sparks Fly"). Oh, and Tay also won Choice Movie Voice (for her work in The Lorax).

All in all, the show was okay. No major surprises, at least not to me. It was a fun show (Teen Choice always is), and I had a nice time listening to my niece scream with glee at the TV for three hours (as I tried to watch The Bachelorette from another room).

You can see the entire list of the 2012 Teen Choice winners here, by the way. Any surprises to you?
 

Oscar-winning actress Celeste Holm has died.

Legendary actress passed away at age 95.

I hate waking up to bad news, especially when it involves the passing of legendary actors and actresses. Sadly, that's exactly what happened today: Celeste Holm, one of the best and brightest, passed away today in New York.

Celeste Holm, who won a best supporting actress Academy Award for her performance in the 1947 classic movie Gentleman's Agreement, died with her family and friends by her side. Holm was 95 years old.Gentleman's Agreement is a brilliant film, so if you haven't seen it yet -- make that a priority. Celeste Holm played opposite Gregory Peck in the movie, which was directed by the legendary Elia Kazan. Holm gave one of the most powerful performances I've ever seen. Gentleman's Agreement is worth tracking down.

But Holm's incredible career wasn't limited to just one great movie. In 1950, she was nominated for an Oscar for her role in All About Eve. Holm played Karen, the best friend of Margot (Bette Davis). Holm also received an Academy Award nomination for 1949's Come to the Stable.

Celeste Holm was also a phenomenal star on Broadway, appearing as Ado Annie in the 1943 production of Oklahoma!

As news began to spread of Holm's death, stars offered tributes, including Leonard Nimoy. Nimoy tweeted, "Celeste Holm has passed away. What a joy for me to direct this great professional in Three Men And A Baby. She played Ted Danson's mom. RIP."

That's right: Celeste Holm was in Three Men And a Baby, too. Holm's resume is impressive, spanning more than six decades and encompassing film, television and Broadway.

Holm fell ill after a fire in her Central Park West apartment building (in actor Robert De Niro's apartment, actually). She was hospitalized, and her condition continued to deteriorate. Eventually, she was taken out of the hospital and brought to her home, where her niece, Amy Phillips, said she died with everyone "who loved her" surrounding her.

Rest in peace, Celeste Holm: Your legacy will live forever, but you will be missed.

ABC's 'The Bachelorette': Who should Emily Maynard pick?

We're down to two and this choice is a no-brainer.

I have a confession to make -- a big one. After years of taking such pride in the fact that I don't watch reality TV, I'm....I'm....watching reality TV. There, I said it. It's out there. No taking it back. What am I watching, you ask? ABC's The Bachelorette is my reality TV drug of choice, apparently. I blame summer boredom, and my insatiable need to consume all things pop culture-related. But since I am now watching, and we're nearing the finish line for Emily Maynard, this season's blushing Bachelorette, so make her final choice, I thought I'd weigh in with some of my newfound "expertise."

First off? She screwed up. Emily messed up SO badly when she sent poor Dallas hottie Sean packing this week. Sean was a really good guy, and it was quite evident by the things he said (and the way he acted) after he got the boot. He seemed genuinely heartbroken, but he was a gentleman all the way.

OK, if not Sean, then who should Emily pick as her mate?I'll tell you first who she should NOT pick: Arie. As in, Arie Luyendyk Jr., hottie race car driver. Yes, Arie is gorgeous and obviously Emily likes him (they spend an inordinate amount of time sucking face during each episode of The Bachelorette), but it seems like the attraction is more lustful than loving. I'm just not sure that Arie's not a player -- and I'm almost positive he's not ready to be a dad to Emily's little girl, Rickie.

Need proof? Arie's ex-girlfriend, Cassie Harshman is speaking out now, claiming that "He's in it for the fame." Uh oh. But it gets worse: Harshman also says that Arie "...has dated hundreds of women and travels all over the world." Red flags flying for anyone else about this? Sure, it might be the words of Arie's disgruntled ex, but it's hard to not believe he's a playboy type.

Dear Emily: Do not pick Arie. Kiss him a little more if you must, but then kick him to the curb, clearing the way for Jef to be your new husband. Jef and Emily seem well-balanced together, and there's definitely an attraction between them. Can couples fall in love that hard over a few weeks of a reality show? Probably not, but something's happening. Jef is a successful, fun-loving guy from Utah who seems like he's a perpetual kid -- but not so much that he can't be responsible. You don't run your own mega-company (People Water) and be a complete goof-off, after all!

Am I totally off in thinking this is almost a no-brainer choice for Emily on The Bachelorette? Who do you think she should pick, if anyone?

Who is the highest paid actor in Hollywood?

Hint: He's in the headlines right now, in a major way.

Forbes magazine is out with its annual list of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood, and the name that tops the list isn't surprising at all: it's Tom Cruise. Apparently, Cruise raked in $75 million during a 12-month period, beginning in May of 2011. Given that Cruise has had some huge box office successes in recent years, the fact that he's officially the most highly paid actor is almost a given.

But what about some of the other top A-list actors? Oh, the list includes some biggies, no doubt.According to Forbes, Tom Cruise had a "stellar year," and that's hard to deny, given his $75 million paycheck. How much of that will Katie Holmes get in their divorce? Probably not much (see: prenup), but still, one has to wonder. A large chunk of Cruise's earnings, by the way, came from the massive success of the Mission: Impossible 3 movie (not Rock of Ages, which bombed at the box office).

Now for some of the other Hollywood heavy hitters on the highest-paid list: Leonardo DiCaprio is a distant second, though he still managed to make $37 million between May of 2011 and May of 2012. DiCaprio is tied with Adam Sandler, who also pulled in an astonishing $37 million. This one's really not a shock at all -- people see Sandler's movies, even if they're not very good.

Other big actors on the highest-paid Forbes 2012 list include Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson ($36 million), Ben Stiller ($33 million), Sacha Baron Cohen ($30 million), Johnny Depp ($30 million) and Will Smith ($30 million). And yes, Twilight fanatics, Taylor Lautner and Robert Pattinson also made the list: Jacob Black and Edward Cullen each pulled in a whopping $26.5 million.

Anyone surprised by some of the names on this list? Obviously all of these actors have more money than they know how to spend, but is everyone deserving?

Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise are divorcing

"TomKat" is officially kaput.

It seems that we are ending the week with a bang, at least as far as huge gossip goes! One of the biggest Hollywood couples around is calling it quits: Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes. Yes, TomKat is officially over. Katie Holmes filed for divorce yesterday.

I have to be honest -- I didn't see this one coming. Without question, this is the biggest celebrity break-up of the year (so far). What happened? A recent report suggests that Scientology might be one reason.Obviously whenever A-list celebrity couples split, speculation is rampant about why, and given the incredible attention paid to Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise over the years, I'd say it's reached def-con level attention today. Everyone wants to know what's going on, and all sorts of crazy stories get circulated. It's just the nature of the gossip beast, I suppose.

Here's the basic facts: Katie Holmes filed for divorce on Thursday, citing the ever-popular "irreconcilable differences." That tells us absolutely nothing. Holmes' attorney says it's a "personal and private matter," blah blah. A rep for Tom Cruise says the actor is "deeply saddened" and wants "privacy." Guess what, Tom? You're not going to get it!

Obviously there's way more going on here, and as usual, TMZ is on the case. Apparently, Katie Holmes is seeking sole custody of six-year-old Suri, and Tom Cruise was totally "blindsided" over the situation. You can bet Tom's lining up some big-time lawyers. My gut tells me this is about to get seriously nasty.

There's more, though: TMZ also cites sources as saying that the main problem that prompted Katie Holmes to file for divorce is the Church of Scientology. Gee, that's shocking, isn't it? We've been reading all sorts of nutty Scientology-related stories about these two for years...and she's just now had enough? This isn't about her -- it's about Suri, apparently, and Katie's fears "...that Tom would drag Suri deep into the church." And that, folks, is the gist of what's going on, I suspect.

Is anyone else a bit shocked that Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes are divorcing? I figured that by this point, Katie was in this for the long haul and by all reports, so did Tom.
 

Famed screenwriter Nora Ephron has died

Films include 'When Harry Met Sally' and 'Sleepless in Seattle'

Just a short time ago, I read that one of my all-time favorite Hollywood screenwriters, Nora Ephron, was gravely ill. I am a huge fan, so I tend to keep up with the headlines on Ephron-related news, so imagine my surprise to learn she might be near death! Now, sadly, reports indicate that Ephron has passed away.

Ephron's death is such a tragedy. She was a bright light for so many decades, giving us so many incredible, memorable films. Her film credits include some of the best romantic comedy movies in recent memory, including Sleepless in Seattle, You've Got Mail and When Harry Met Sally.

Katz's Delicatessen - in "When Harry Met Sally"

According to the Washington Post, which first broke the news of Ephron's death, she passed away of "complications from the blood disorder myelodysplasia." Nora Ephron was 71 years old.

I personally adore all of Nora Ephron's movies, but I think my favorite is 1986's Heartburn, starring Meryl Streep and Jack Nicholson. Ephron supposedly based the screenplay, at least in part, on her life with her second husband, Carl Bernstein. It was a tumultuous union, to say the least: Bernstein had an affair with a former British prime minister's daughter.

Heartburn Trailer



If you haven't seen Heartburn, I highly recommend it. The cast also includes Jeff Daniels, Stockard Channing and Maureen Stapleton, among others. It's Nora Ephron at her very best.

Ephron's film credits also include 1983's Silkwood, starring Meryl Streep and Cher. Her most recent screenwriting effort, Julie and Julia, was actually quite enjoyable.

Nora Ephron was also the author of several essay collections. My personal favorite, I Feel Bad About My Neck: And Other Thoughts on Being a Woman, is a great read.

In short, Nora Ephron was a true Hollywood legend in every sense of the word. She will be missed, so much. Thank you for all the laughs (and the tears).

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