• March 13, 2006
• Vol. 65
• No. 10

Scoop

DRUG BUST
An arrest puts the controversial '80s pop icon George Michael in the news again

Next time George Michael will wish someone wakes him up before he go-goes—to jail. "It's my own stupid fault, as usual," said the pop star of his arrest, and a night spent in custody, for suspected drug possession in London Feb. 26. Police found him slumped at the wheel of his illegally parked car in the early morning hours and allegedly seized marijuana and liquid Ecstasy from the vehicle. While Michael, 42, need not worry about his freedom—he will not face prison time for possession of the "soft" drugs—it's another example of the '80s icon making news with his personal life instead of his music. Following a string of megahits with Wham! and a successful solo career, including six No. 1 singles in the U.S., Michael fought with his record company, stopped recording after 1996, admitted that he regularly smoked marijuana and, in 1998, was charged with lewd conduct at a public restroom in L.A., prompting him to announce that he is gay. Later, in 2002, he came under attack for making an antiwar video mocking President Bush. But there have been bright spots. In 2004 Michael made a minor comeback with his CD Patience, he still plans to wed his longtime boyfriend, Kenny Goss, in June—and, unlike his notorious L.A. run-in, he says, "I promise I won't make a record out of this one, even though it's tempting."

heart monitor

Keira's New Beau

It's a double win for Keira Knightley: She's up for an Oscar for her role in Pride & Prejudice, and now she's dating her costar, British actor Rupert Friend (who played caddish Mr. Wickham). The pair laughed over a seafood dinner and wrapped their arms around each other while walking on the beach on Grand Bahama Island, where Knightley, 20, was filming Pirates of the Caribbean II. Meanwhile, her ex-boyfriend, Irish model Jamie Dornan, told Britain's Mail on Sunday the reason the two split last August: "The man is meant to be the Alpha in the relationship on the money and power front, and clearly I was not." Reps for Knightley and Friend had no comment.

Cuthbert Connects

Developments in the world of Elisha Cuthbert: She's now a brunette and back on 24—and there's a new man in her life, L.A. Kings star Sean Avery. The actress, 23, and the hockey center, 25, turned up at local brunch spot Uncle Bill's Pancake House Feb. 26. Over flapjacks and bacon (him) and a club sandwich and fries (her, but he shared), they got cozy. Next stop: the Luc Robitaille Celeb Poker tournament, where Avery played for seven hours, banking $15,000 for charity. "Elisha didn't win anything," says a friend of both, "but she was a great cheerleader."

Bruce, Petra: Romance?

So what's up with Bruce Willis and model Petra Nemcova? "Bruce definitely has a crush on her," says a friend of the model, who adds that the actor had been trying to get Nemcova's number and finally met her when he attended her Happy Hearts Fund tsunami charity event on Dec. 5 in New York City. Nemcova is "clearly flattered by it ... she thinks he is a nice guy. They have spoken since, but she is not dating him," says the friend. Willis's comment? "Just rumors," he tells Scoop.

Nick At Night
THE SINGLE GUY STEPS OUT

He's young, he's attractive, and he's unattached. No wonder Nick Lachey has been out and about in L.A. surrounded by ladies lately, including two Dancing with the Stars beauties—judge Carrie Ann Inaba and dancer Cheryl Burke, his brother Drew Lachey's partner on the series. But it seems to be nothing more than fun with friends. "Nick was always smiling and socializing with the other dancers' families," says a show source. And he's been club-hopping in groups of pals that often include women. As for soon-to-be ex Jessica Simpson, she's filming Employee of the Month in Santa Fe, where New Mexico governor Bill Richardson hosted a dinner party for her.

OUTRAGEOUS OUTFITS ON ICE

The Olympics have left Turin, and Skating with Celebrities has aired its finale. But Scoop has organized one more winter game for rinkside fans of fashion: See if you can match the costume with the skater. Olympian—or Celebrity?

ANSWERS: A: Celebrities' Jenner B: Celebrities' Gibson C: Japan's Watanabe D: France's Joubert

On the Replay?
Richie, Lohan meet up with their exes

Nicole Richie is going back to work ... and possibly to DJ AM. Although they broke up in December, the Simple Life star and her former fiancé were spotted sharing romantic dinners in L.A. "AM has been telling friends that he and Nicole are going to try to work things out," says a pal. In other ex files, Lindsay Lohan ran into old boyfriend Wilmer Valderrama in Manhattan Feb. 26 at Downtown Cipriani. "There was no hooking up," the actress's rep tells Scoop. "They're allowed to be friends."

Brokeback Booty

What would possess someone to spend $101,100.51 for two shirts worn by Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal in Oscar contender Brokeback Mountain? Actor and gay activist Tom Gregory, 45, who bought the items on eBay Feb. 20 (proceeds went to Variety—the Children's Charity of Southern California), believes the clothes represent every gay man's struggle for acceptance. He plans to display them in his Beverly Hills home. "They are the ruby slippers of our time," said Gregory, referring to the Wizard of Oz shoes that some consider gay icons. "It represents the love that would never go away no matter how much the world tried to push it away."

Back to the Tube

Joey may soon have a friend: Another former Friends star is about to take the weekly TV plunge. Courteney Cox Arquette Arquette will play Lucy Spiller, an aspiring actress and—she apparently multitasks—the editor-in-chief of two tabloid magazines, in the upcoming FX drama Dirt. Cox Arquette, 41, and husband David Arquette, 34, are two of the show's executive producers. They have not yet announced an air date.

POP QUIZ

Skater

Sasha Cohen

With Turin in her rearview mirror, figure skater Sasha Cohen has set her sights on a career in Hollywood, where she will be attending the Academy Awards this week. The 21-year-old silver medalist ("I went for it 100 percent and have no regrets. It's one night, four minutes and a piece of metal") shared a few moments with Scoop.

Favorite post-Olympic indulgence?

I had some chocolate hazelnut gelato with Katie Couric.

Second favorite?

I took a bath at 3 a.m. I do it to relax because I'm so wound up I can't go to sleep. At home I bring out the candles and fill the bath with bubbles.

Who's on your iPod?

Maroon Five, the Beatles, Beyoncé, AC/DC, Jack Johnson, Diana Ross. I like to mix it up.

What's in your closet?

Cashmere. I skate in cashmere turtlenecks—I have 10 turtlenecks, 9 sweaters, and I recently got some cashmere socks to come here to Turin.

Favorite clothes?

I like the practical things—your best pair of jeans.

What you really want to do is ...?

Act. I love make-believe and have a lot of emotion. I might be good at it and might not but would love the opportunity. If I did a movie, I would love to play a heroine in a historical type of film.

Your ideal partner if you were to perform on Skating with Celebrities?

I would pick someone who I had a past crush on, like Josh Hartnett.

What's your type?

I like guys who are good-looking, tall, strong, nice, sweet and interested in me. It all comes down to personality, clicking and having a spark.

Heath Ledger or Jake Gyllenhaal?

I don't find either very attractive. I'm thinking Josh Duhamel from Las Vegas—he's pretty cute.

What's the deal with the red string on your wrist? Kabbalah?

Yes. It was a Kabbalah string. My friend Evan [Lysacek, a skater] gave it to me. I don't study it, but I believe in the basic principles of it.

ON THE BLOCK

BRINKLEY'S BEACH RETREAT

PRICE: $6.5 million

PLACE: Parrot Cay

After three years enjoying tropical getaways from New York, Christie Brinkley and her husband, architect Peter Cook, have listed their 3,400-sq.-ft. vacation home in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The spread features a vanishing-edge pool, a two-bedroom butler's cottage and access to Parrot Cay's resort attractions.

• Contributors:
• SCOOP CONTRIBUTORS Olivia Abel,
• Rennie Dyball,
• KC Baker,
• Lorenzo Benet,
• Dorothy Cascerceri,
• Alexis Chiu,
• Mark Dagostino,
• Dede Gallagher,
• Sara Hammel,
• Steve Helling,
• Lisa Ingrassia,
• Monique Jessen,
• Pete Norman,
• Gail Nussbaum,
• Monica Rizzo,
• Frank Swertlow,
• .