Britney Spears'
STRANGE WEEK
A string of eyebrow-raising events has family and friends wondering: What's next for Britney?
It was a wet n' wild week for Britney Spears—and this time her antics could have some serious consequences. On July 18 the pop star, 25, and her unidentified blonde gal pal stopped off in Malibu for an impromptu afternoon dip (with Spears wearing only her skivvies!) before a crowd of photographers. Her erratic behavior continued the next day when, after filming a new video (self-funded, says a source), she reportedly had a "meltdown" during an ill-fated photo shoot for OK! Magazine: worrying that the ceiling might cave in, allowing her newly acquired puppy to soil the floor and wiping her hands on a couture gown after scarfing down fried chicken. Finally, on July 20, Spears drew another wave of criticism for going boating with sons Sean Preston, 22 months, and Jayden James, 10 months—without life jackets. (Turns out they're not required by state law on such a large craft.)
Spears, who has no manager or personal publicist and has been without her BFF Alli Sims lately, "won't listen to anybody," says a family friend. "[Her family] is frustrated with the situation—and worried about the children." So, it seems, is their dad, Kevin Federline. The would-be rapper thinks his ex is exposing the boys to "unnecessary risk," says a source familiar with the case. "His lawyer [Mark Vincent Kaplan] hopes to get Kevin primary custody—soon."
Drew Carey
C'MON DOWN
The search for a replacement for The Price Is Right host Bob Barker was more competitive than a showcase showdown, but Drew Carey has claimed the prize. This fall he'll take over TV's longest-running game show, having bested the likes of Rosie O'Donnell and George Hamilton. "I think I'd be good at it," Carey (who also hosts the forthcoming quiz show Power of 10) told Scoop before landing the gig. Carey's enthusiasm, said CBS Entertainment president Nina Tassler, "will endear him to Price is Right viewers while winning over new Plinko fans."
Tom Cruise
MAN AT WORK
Reporting for duty! Despite initial opposition in Germany, Tom Cruise, 45, recently began filming Valkyrie near Berlin. He'll play Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg, who headed up the failed 1944 assassination attempt on Adolf Hitler. "[Tom] looks so much like him," says veteran casting director Ellie Kanner. "He could be his long-lost twin."
"I have never seen a being, human or animal, always so full of joy.... Her life was a gift to me. Her death, a greater one."
—OPRAH WINFREY, in the August issue of O magazine, on how the May death of her beloved golden retriever Gracie (above, on the January 2007 cover) taught her to appreciate life
Heart MONITOR
SUMMER LOVIN'
Under the boardwalk? Not exactly. But Heather Locklear and Jack Wagner still had a beachy keen time frolicking in the sand July 22. The linked-since-March couple wrestled and playfully posed for photographers in Malibu—laughing all the while. "[Jack] has a great sense of humor," says former Melrose Place costar Josie Bissett. "And she's very smart and witty. I can imagine they have a lot of fun together."
Jennifer Aniston & Paul Sculfor
STILL GOING STRONG
So much for The Break-Up rumors! Aniston's model beau of a couple of months—whose work has kept him in the U.K. lately—slipped back into L.A. last week for a quick rendezvous with his leading lady. The pair even ducked into the upscale baby boutique Petit Trésor in Brentwood on July 17, buying a pair of small blue teddy bears (presumably as a gift). "This kills any notion of them splitting," says a pal.
Prince William & Kate Middleton
STEPPING OUT
Any talk of a permanent rift between these two is now "consigned to history," says an insider. As if to prove that point, the accessories buyer scored an invite to the 60th-birthday party for William's stepmother, Camilla, July 21 in Gloucestershire, where she danced the night away with the prince and his pals. Just don't expect an official newsflash on the reconciliation. Says a source: "They're keeping it quiet."
BABY SHOWER BONANZA
Naomi Watts, 38, and boyfriend Liev Schreiber, 39, had been planning to hit the Galaxy-Chelsea soccer match July 21, but they decided to get their kicks closer to home. The expectant couple invited about 20 close friends over for a low-key, last-minute baby shower on the deck of their L.A.-area abode. Of Watts, who is due any day now, a pal says, "She is so ready to be a mom."
THE GUESTS:
Kate Hudson
Isla Fisher
Robin Tunney (Prison Break)
Carla Gugino (Entourage)
Punkster onesie; www.niceshirtbaby.com
Country crooners Sara Evans and Emmylou Harris feted new mom Sheryl Crow in Nashville July 19. But the best-behaved guest? Wyatt Steven Crow, her 3-month-old adopted son, who remained peacefully peep-free during the affair. "He was adorable," says one guest, "taking it all in." Among the gifts: an embroidered baby blanket from Reba McEntire (who was on the road) and, from Nashville Star's Anastasia Brown, a onesie reading "I Crawl the Line."
Full House star Jodie Sweetin's
VEGAS WEDDING
It wasn't exactly a full house at the Little Church of the West Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas—no Uncle Jesse, nary an Olsen twin—but Jodie Sweetin said "I do" anyway. The former Full House star (she played Stephanie from 1987 to 1995) married movie set designer Cody Herpin, 30, on July 14 in "a really small ceremony with only two or three friends," says Sweetin, 25, who split from her first husband, a police officer, last year. "In a year or so we're going to have a bigger ceremony for family and friends." Sweetin, formerly the host of Fuse's Pants-Off Dance-Off, met Herpin through pals. "I married my best friend," she says. "I couldn't ask for anything more."
Still Rocking
Nothing but a good time? That's still the motto for Poison's Bret Michaels, who's starring in the VH1 dating show Rock of Love
Q & A
Break out the head scarves! VH1 is helping the hair-band king—now 44 and a single father of two young daughters—find the perfect groupie, er, girlfriend, in Rock of Love with Bret Michaels. He talks dirty (get it?) to PEOPLE's Brenda Rodriguez.
How did you get involved with a show like this?
Everyone wants you to say, "Because I wanna find love." I did it for this reason: I was single, and I wanted to have a great time in a house with 25 beautiful women. That doesn't suck. I didn't go in there expecting to find love. I expected to find someone I would date.
Can there be a "happily ever after" in rock and roll?
[Being a rock star] is the reason for the absolute destruction of every one of my relationships. The same thing they fell in love with was the thing they didn't like.
You're diabetic, but you hit the sauce pretty hard. Isn't that risky?
I've got to admit, I partied a lot on this show. I showed the girls what to do in case I had a bad insulin reaction. I [demonstrated] giving injections in an orange.
You're touring for your new album Poison'd. How have the groupies changed since the '80s?
I think they're as hot, crazy and sexy as ever. Life is still good.
Gotta ask, what's with the head scarves?
Onstage, it keeps me from sweating all over my face. And I think it's a cool, gypsy, vibey look.
How long will Poison keep playing?
I'm going until the knees go out!
- Contributors:
- CONTRIBUTORS Molly Lopez,
- Ryan Pienciak,
- Alex Tresniowski,
- Ashley Williams,
- With Bryan Alexander,
- Karen Nickel Anhalt,
- Paul Chi,
- Mark Dagostino,
- Eileen Finan,
- Jennifer Garcia,
- Mark Gray,
- Ruth Laney,
- Pete Norman,
- Gail Nussbaum,
- Simon Perry,
- Brenda Rodrigue.
Saved by the Bell Reunion
The hookups, the meltdowns, the memoires
The case reveals what was really going on what they think of each other now!
