Timberlake's birthday bash was a low-rent affair--with high wattage guests
KFC buckets filled with Slim Jims and pork rinds? Tablecloths made from tabloids? A cake made out of Twinkies? You're right; it absolutely was not a P. Diddy party. But despite the kitsch theme and the decidedly low-glam venue (Dublin's Irish Whiskey Pub in L.A.), Justin Timberlake's 22nd birthday bash on Jan. 31 attracted an A-list turnout. "The ratio was 85 percent female," says one partygoer of the starlet-studded crowd, which included Christina Aguilera, Pink, Tara Reid and Jessica Biel, not to mention two of Timberlake's ex-girlfriends: Alyssa Milano and Britney Spears.
After playing an Xbox videogame machine in a private room for the first half hour, Timberlake emerged to find the dance floor hopping. "When Britney arrived, they were playing one of Justin's songs, and she moved right over and danced with him," notes one observer. Not to be outdone, Milano, singing with the crowd, crooned a sultry rendition of "Happy Birthday" to Timberlake. (Think Marilyn Monroe serenading JFK.) "She really seemed to be doing it to taunt Britney," says a guest.
The vibe was mostly celebratory. "I came to give him a birthday hug," said pop siren Jessica Simpson, who attended with hubby Nick Lachey. A few left early. Among the first? Kelly Osbourne, who split at 11:45 p.m. on a key mission: "I wanted another goody bag [filled with hats and sunglasses certificates] for my dad."
From Baywatch to...Sunday School?
"My New Year's resolutions were to read the Bible and learn how to knit," says Pamela Anderson. "I know I sound totally out of character." To put it mildly: It is hard to square the willfully trashy image of the former Baywatch star—whose next project is an animated superheroine series called Stripperella—with that of a strait-laced churchgoer. But Anderson, 35, insists her public piety is genuine. After meeting a Sunday school teacher at a local L.A. playground six months ago, Anderson began volunteering at a neighborhood church, reading Bible stories to Sunday schoolers, among them her sons Brandon, 6, and Dylan, 5. (Their dad is Anderson's ex Tommy Lee.) "I want my kids to know how to look within themselves for strength," says Anderson, who plans to marry Kid Rock this summer. Right now, she notes, "Brandon thinks everyone's mom is on TV and everyone's dad is a rock star. [To other kids, they're like,] 'What band's your dad in?' "
Anderson is teaching secular audiences as well. On Jan. 30 she read short stories at an elementary school in Compton, Calif. Afterward, a 6-year-old named Melissa asked, "Are those real?" Taken aback, Anderson hesitated. Teacher Luis Sanchez jumped in: "I think she's asking about the people in the story you read."
Split Miffs Brit Wits
Maybe they didn't like her accent. Or perhaps it's Swept Away backlash. Whatever the reason, noted Anglophile Madonna is taking heat from her adopted countrymen. The criticism began after recent reports that the singer had abandoned her home in England for the sunnier climes of L.A. Even though Madonna's rep Liz Rosenberg clarified that the singer was simply visiting the States for work, fickle Fleet Streeters used the opportunity to turn on the singer. "The question is not 'Why is Madonna leaving this country?' " raged the Daily Mail. "The question is 'Why did we ever care that she was here in the first place?'...a classic case of the rich, crass, clueless American playing at English tradition." As for reports that the singer left while expecting her third child, Rosenberg says they're not true and adds that the pop star will pop back across the pond in a couple of months.
Matthew's Mane Event
Famous men with thinning hair—at least those who aren't happy about it—do a lot of different things to cope. Some, like Bruce Willis and Matt Lauer, shave down. Rudi Giuliani, until recently, embraced the art of the comb-over. Others dye their bald spots or live with toupees (you know who you are). What almost no one does is talk about it. Last week Matthew McConaughey discussed the fact that he has been using a nonprescription treatment on his thinning hair, and he has come to believe that, as the manufacturer claimed, his hair shafts had grown in thicker and stronger. "My brother was so surprised, he wouldn't even touch it," says McConaughey. "He thought it was a toupee." Is there a difference? Judge for yourself (above). Doctors caution that while only drugs like Propecia and Rogaine have been proven to prevent hair loss and encourage new growth, hundreds of hair potions on the market are mostly worthless. McConaughey, 33, says he's happy with his discovery—to the point of caution. "You overuse this stuff," he says, "you may have a unibrow."
SPOT CHECK
SPOT
Dr Pepper's "Be You" commercial starring Garth Brooks.
SYNOPSIS
The country star is shown cheering on one of his daughters at a soccer game, braiding another daughter's hair and reading bedtime stories to his three girls.
BACK STORY
Touching, yes. Truthful, no. Brooks, 41, had considered using his own girls (ages 6, 8 and 10) but then "backed out because they were too young," says an ad exec at Young & Rubicam, which conceived the spot. So the kids are actually child actors.
BOTTOM LINE
Deceptive as it is, the ad feels genuine, which in the end is all that matters when it comes to commercials.
A Woman's Best Friend
For Kathie Lee Gifford's fans the news came as a shock. Chardonnay, her beloved 14-year-old Bichon Frise, was found dead Jan. 28 on the family's Connecticut property, the victim of a coyote attack. "Chardy always seemed to innately understand when I needed a little extra TLC," wrote Gifford on her Web site. She also reported that her "brave little furball" had been "on guard" in the backyard. "There are thousands of coyotes in Connecticut," says state wildlife biologist Paul Rego. "They eat a wide variety of things, and occasionally that includes someone's pet." The Giffords will place a memorial to their pet in the yard. "She gave her life for the family she loved," said Gifford. "It gives me comfort to think she might be barking at St. Peter's gate right now."
POP QUIZ
with Mandy Moore
All teen pop stars are not alike. Take Mandy Moore. Whether on her new concert tour, promoting her upcoming movie or hanging out with her hot-jock boyfriend, the 18-year-old singer has steered clear of the tabloid excesses of her peers. Scoop caught up with Moore in Austin.
Your next film, Saved!, comes out this summer, and it may be a bit controversial.
It's about these high school kids who are obsessed with Jesus. It's hilarious, but it's definitely not a movie that is poking fun at anyone. I'm sure it could be misconstrued.
Are you nervous about it?
A little bit. There's going to be some heat. But it's all about doing something that is challenging.
Which do you find tougher, singing or acting?
They're both challenging in different ways. Singing stretches your boundaries more because it's so personal. You're sharing a piece of yourself with everyone.
How do you know the Osbournes?
I met them a year ago at MTV Spring Break in Cancún. And they live about 10 minutes away from me in L.A. It's nice to have people my age that I can hang out with. They're so much fun.
You're dating tennis star Andy Roddick. What was your first impression of him?
I thought he was very funny. He had a wonderful sense of humor. And he was tall. That's a big thing for me. I'm almost 5'10".
Were you attracted to him because he's a tennis player?
I knew nothing about tennis until I met him. Now I'm so into it. During the Australian Open, it was horrible to be so far away, watching it delayed on TV.
Your hair color changes as often as the weather.
I get bored easily. I love being a brunette.
Why?
People approach me more. I didn't feel I was as approachable as a blonde.
ON THE BLOCK
LIBERACE'S LAIR
Liberace's lavish Spanish-hacienda-style estate in Palm Springs, Calif., is on the market for $2.75 million, says listing agent Andy Linsky. But wait, there's more! Built in 1930, the seven-bedroom, 8,000-sq.-ft. house, where the flashy pianist lived until his death in 1987, is filled with all the flamboyant details you would expect, including ornate chandeliers and sconces. The master suite has its own cloistered courtyard. There's even a private powder room hidden behind bookshelves.
- Contributors:
- Ting Yu,
- Anna Holmes,
- Jennifer Wren,
- Lacey Ashley,
- Tom Cunneff,
- Mark Dagostino,
- Marisa Laudadio,
- Elizabeth Leonard,
- Kwala Mandel,
- Bob Meadows,
- York Membery,
- Alicyn Peck,
- Amina Sanikangiwa,
- Michele Stueven,
- Marisa Wong,
- Katie Wright.
