One thing about pregnancies: You only can keep them ''quiet'' for a short time.
Wedded miss in new Kutcher, Diaz comedy Bill Zwecker: There's kind of an unwritten rule about romantic comedies. No matter how formulaic the script or how pedestrian the direction or even how silly the basic premise, if the audience falls in love with the stars as much as their characters are supposed to fall for each other, the film works. They might not reach the level of "When Harry Met Sally..." or "Sleepless in Seattle" or "Pretty Woman," but films like "Runaway Bride" and "Notting Hill" have fallen into that category over the years, entirely due to their stars' appeal.
Publicity for the upcoming release of the Chicago-made ''The Dark Knight'' -- the next ''Batman'' flick highly touted as Heath Ledger's last major film role -- is only adding to the pain and depression Mary-Kate Olsen is experiencing.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
John Mayer's reputation worries Jen's friends Bill Zwecker: With all the buzz about Jennifer Aniston's involvement with John Mayer, it's not surprising a number of the actress' closest friends -- including the ones from "Friends" -- are concerned. "It's not that we don't like John, it's just that he does have that reputation as something of a serial dater who never sticks with one woman very long,'' said a close buddy of Aniston.
Only a little over a year after splitting with former fiancee Alanis Morissette, actor Ryan Reynolds has decided to marry Scarlett Johansson.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Robin Williams tapes 'Ellen,' plays Lakeshore twice Bill Zwecker: Lakeshore Theatre co-owner Chris Ritter is still on Cloud 9 after snaring one of the biggest comedy talents in the world this past weekend, for what he calls ''our little 330-seat venue'' at Broadway and Belmont. Robin Williams slipped in to try out new standup material Friday night before the Chicago taping of Ellen DeGeneres' talk show — which airs Tuesday.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Ellen does Chicago Bill Zwecker: No question about it, Ellen DeGeneres is ''super excited'' about being in Chicago -- both to tape her daily talk show Saturday and to headline the big Make-a-Wish gala at Lincoln Park Zoo, where 1,000 guests are expected that night. Phoning from her Burbank, Calif., studio Thursday, DeGeneres shared a couple of new tidbits about the taping of the episode at Pioneer Court near NBC Tower.
So often as I sit in a dark theater screening a new film, a little voice in my head sounds off, saying, ''Here we go again! You've already seen this film.''
Chicagoan Candace Jordan got quite the thrill Wednesday afternoon when she ran into none other than Tom Cruise -- along with wife Katie Holmes, baby daughter Suri and Cruise's mom and sister -- shopping at Neiman Marcus on Michigan Avenue.
Even though Ellen DeGeneres is invading Oprah Winfrey's home turf this weekend, the longtime queen of talk -- often called the ''most powerful person in television'' -- has nothing to fear.
The arrest of Gary Dourdan on drug charges in Palm Springs, Calif., came as no surprise to a number of the actor's ''CSI'' colleagues at the hit CBS forensic drama.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
All-'American' bash here Bill Zwecker: Parents of daughters obsessed by the American Girl phenomenon know this news is a big deal: There will be a splashy Hollywood-like premiere of ''Kit Kittredge: An American Girl'' in Chicago on June 17 for this first feature film based on the hugely popular American Girl books, which spawned the dolls and stores -- including the first one, which opened here in 1998.
HE'S FOR HILLARY: Chicagoan Lou Weisbach was stunned Monday to read my column item where Clinton in Exile author Carol Felsenthal listed him as supporting Barack Obama. ''I was surprised to see me portrayed as anything other than a supporter of Sen. Hillary Clinton. I have the highest regard for both Sen. Clinton and President Bill Clinton, and am honored that we've been friends for many years,'' e-mailed Weisbach.
Miley Cyrus vs. Vanity Fair: Is this really a scandal? Bill Zwecker: Everyone connected to the Miley Cyrus ‘‘nude’’ photo controversy is unhappy. The folks at Vanity Fair magazine are miffed because the relatively tame ‘‘artsy’’ shots of the ‘‘Hannah Montana’’ star were totally cleared by the star’s parents ‘‘and/or minders’’ who were on hand for the entire photo shoot with Annie Leibowitz.
There are quite a few big Windy City connections in Chicago author Carol Felsenthal'sClinton in Exile: A President Out of the White House, her fascinating biography of President Bill Clinton's post-White House years. Among Clinton's close Chicago pals Felsenthal interviewed for the book, she finds it interesting that ''many of his closest Chicago supporters -- Lew Manilow (who I didn't interview), Lou Susman, Lou Weisbach, Bill Daley, David Schulte, etc., are now supporting [Barack] Obama.''
There’s both good and bad news regarding Lindsay Lohan. On the positive end, the actress again is getting lots of scripts to read, and the buzz in Hollywood reflects a renewed sense the long-troubled actress has her life back on track — despite a couple of widely publicized slips as she works to stay on the path to sobriety.
Virtually everyone hearing Star Jones’ announcement Wednesday — that she had filed for divorce from Al Reynolds — greeted the news with, ‘‘I’m surprised it lasted this long!’’
Even though Kanye West and longtime love Alexis Phifer have broken off their engagement, a close friend of the couple told me Tuesday, "I'm not convinced they are truly, totally over."
Bill Zwecker: Well, what do you know — Wilmette's own Pete Wentz of the emo-rock band Fall Out Boy lied to us! Celebrities telling the press falsehoods? What a shock! But my source — close to the Simpson family — did confirm to me today that Ashlee is indeed pregnant and due in late October.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Lowes: too offensive? Bill Zwecker: A number of my better Hollywood sources tell me that Rob Lowe and his wife may have made a huge tactical error in being so aggressive in going after ex-nanny Jessica Gibson.
It's not exactly major nepotism, but Tina Fey told me Sunday her daughter Alice, 2, makes her film debut -- albeit briefly -- in the actress and writer's ''Baby Mama'' (opening April 25).
I'm hearing some big Chicago honchos -- including Mayor Daley -- are intrigued by the "I Love New York" film project currently shooting in the Big Apple. The reason? There's some buzz a similar movie could be made here.
'I know, I know,'' a staffer working on Pamela Anderson's upcoming ''Pamela'' reality series on E! said with a laugh. ''Everyone focuses on the fact this is from the team behind 'Inside Deep Throat.' The jokes are just too obvious.''
Britney Spears is back in court this week. It's a full-time job just keeping up with the antics of Britney Spears these days. Let us do it for you. Here's the latest ...
