BACKSTAGE PASS
Jessica Simpson took a clan-do attitude toward the April 7 taping in L.A. of her as-yet-untitled pilot for ABC, in which she'll play a newscaster. Her mom, Tina, dad Joe, sister Ashlee and a bunch of friends hung out backstage, watching the action on a TV monitor. But the most enthusiastic viewer was Nick Lachey. "He was nervous for her," says a source. "He was the first person to laugh when she did a good job." At the end of the week, the newlyweds headed to an undisclosed location for a tropical vacation.

OUT OF THE BOXXX
OutKast's Andre 3000 and Big Boi are turning their Grammy-winning double-disc Speakerboxxx/The Love Below into a movie musical set in a speakeasy in the 1930s South. The hip-hop duo, who will costar, begin shooting this summer. With his fedoras and two-toned shoes, Andre's got the look. In fact, he's teamed with P. Diddy's former valet Farnsworth Bentley to start an accessories line. "Hats, pocket squares, bow ties," says Andre. "Anything to make an outfit cooler."

WITH THIS RING...
Are Bruce Willis and Brooke Burns engaged? Or are they married? These were the questions on my mind after I learned that on their recent trip to Paris the couple walked into Cartier and left with matching wedding bands. "They looked at a number of engagement rings but selected two platinum wedding bands," says a source. "Very simple, very plain." So is Willis ready to go the whole 10 yards with his sweetie of the last 18 months? "They are not engaged," says a rep for the actor, adding that he doesn't know why—or if—the couple bought rings in Paris.

FAST TAKES

Charlize Theron and beau Stuart Townsend just returned from a trip to Europe, where they stopped by the Musée d'Orsay and the Picasso Museum in Paris. "She had, like, a split second off," says Townsend....

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are studying sign language with a private coach for their thriller Mr. and Mrs. Smith....

Paris Hilton is currently recording her first single, due in July. Its title? "Screwed." ...

Barry Manilow, David Cassidy and Jennifer Love Hewitt were among the 120 guests at Elizabeth Taylor's Beverly Hills home Easter Sunday....

Demi Moore threw an egg hunt for daughter Tallulah, 10, and her pals at their Idaho home on Easter weekend....

Gloria Estefan will appear as a celebrity judge on an upcoming American Idol with contestants backed up by her band Miami Sound Machine....

Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne ran into daughter Kelly, on furlough from rehab, at a Malibu video store on April 4. "She's very happy where she is," says Sharon.

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