Paris Hilton Gets Probation, Not Jail

After her incident of possessing of a tube of chapstick filled with cocaine that wasn't hers in a purse that wasn't hers, Paris Hilton pleaded guilty today to two misdemeanors (drug possession and obstructing an officer by offering up an excuse whose invention preceded that of fire's). She will not go to jail.

Over the weekend the District Attorney confirmed Paris will spend a year on probation, which means if she's arrested again for drug possession, she will go to jail. She can, however, continue to drive recklessly and underfeed her puppies and rabbits so they always look like newborns. She must also complete a substance abuse program, pay a $2,000 fine and complete 200 hours of community service, which is only really a punishment because it'll be in a community where there probably isn't a Hilton Hotel.
So she'll have to be on super good behavior this year, because if she slips up EVEN ONCE, she'll go back to doing what she really likes, which is sleeping on a slab of concrete. If Paris Hilton goes away, Lindsay Lohan better be ready to step up because I'd still like to do what I really like to do, too.

"Sesame Street" executive producer Carol-Lynne Parente was taken aback by the amount of complaints the PBS show received after a clip of a cleavage-baring Katy Perry singing "Hot 'N Cold" with Elmo hit the Web.

"We would never produce anything we thought was inappropriate. We were surprised not only by the amount of feedback, but how fast it came in. It was a lot," Parente told George Stephanopoulos on "Good Morning America" Friday -- the day after it was announced "Sesame Street" was pulling the clip from the show.

Katy Perry Video Pulled from 'Sesame Street'

Still, not all the feedback was negative. "It was very split, very different," she says.

They decided to kill the segment because "we have a great interactive relationship with our viewers. They trust 'Sesame Street,' and we take that seriously. Parents' opinions are very important to us," she went on.

Parente said they invited Perry to appear on the show in an attempt to "draw in younger parents that may not have grown up 'Sesame Street…' Strictly for the educational benefit, it enhances education when you co-watch [with your kids]."

Parente says that Perry is "a wonderful musical talent, and we had a great time."

And she'll be back, according to Elmo, who also appeared on "GMA."

After the singer Twittered Friday morning, "Wow, looks like my play date with Elmo has been cut short!", the puppet told Stephanopoulos, "We'll have another one! Elmo loves miss Katy."

Grover also jokingly asked on "GMA" that his outfit was "too revealing."

Jude Law, Jason Bateman and Jennifer Garner are among the stars slated to appear on the show's 41st season, which premieres Monday.

Katie Couric Reveals Dreams of Dancing

You’d think that after years as top newswoman, Katie Couric would aspire to be known as the female Edward R. Murrow or Walter Kronkite, but according to her recent chat with US Weekly, her secret dream is waltz right into the ranks of the Chelsea Hightowers and Karina Smirnoffs of the world. That’s right, the nightly news isn’t cutting it; Katie Couric wants to be on Dancing With the Stars.

At least she knows how ridiculous it sounds that a serious journalist aspires to such heights. Couric, who isn’t much a reality T.V. fan, sheepishly admitted that the dancing show is “sadly” a dream of hers while attending US Weekly’s "25 Most Stylish New Yorkers" party last week.

She may dare to dream, but Couric doesn’t think she could really pull off those barely-there dancers costumes. “Seriously, it'd be like, 'Paging Jenny Craig, stat!” she told US Weekly. (For the record, I think she could totally rock it.) While she may think it’s just a passing fancy, Katie had better be careful what she wishes for. Dancing With The Stars could coming tangoing after her in hopes of securing her a slot for next season.

Even if they manage to coax her into a pair of character shoes and some sequin-and-fringe-clad monstrosity next year, it will still be too bad we didn’t get this news earlier. Thanks to Bristol Palin’s turn on tonight’s season premiere, Sarah Palin will be in attendance for the festivities. Perhaps you remember a certain widely publicized (and parodied) interview back in 2008? Think about it. We could have enjoyed a (Bristol) Palin vs. Couric dance smack-down; this season of DWTS could have gone from some silly, glitzy dancing competition to a full-on political thriller. If only she’d told us sooner!

Lindsay Lohan Fails Second Drug Test, Arrest Warrant Issued

Lindsay Lohan failed a drug test on Friday that TMZ reports was for cocaine, and her sacrifice gave us nice weather for the weekend. Today, TMZ is reporting she failed a second test, this one for amphetamines. Does this good news mean even MORE is coming our way? Like, will all the good Halloween costumes not be sold out before we're ready to buy one (the day of)?

Sources didn't tell TMZ what kind of amphetamine registered on Lindsay's test, but Adderall -- which she seems to have more of than freckles -- is an amphetamine, so that's my bet. They also didn't say if she failed the cocaine test or the amphetamine test first, but rather that both tests were taken around the same time the week before last. She left UCLA Neuropsychiatric Hostpital on August 25th (a Wednesday) and the week before last started on Monday, September 6th...so, 11 days? 11 days then. I've had bagels older than that.

But the story isn't over. Now, TMZ is reporting Lindsay's probation is revoked and a warrant has been issued for her arrest. However, it is being held until Friday at 8:30 AM, when Lohan's supposed to appear in court. What are the chances they will take her into custody on Friday? Everyone, start your office pools now. There's no reason not to capitalize on something that's a sure thing.

Gwyneth Paltrow Joins 'Glee' For Two Episodes

Since we’re all aware of the Country Song trailer, it shouldn’t come as a terrific surprise that Gwyneth Paltrow will play a substitute teacher (who’s also a love interest for Matthew Morrison’s Will Schuester) on Glee. Her two-episode arc will be aired in November, and the plot is rumored to be that Will gets sick and Paltrow’s character takes over the club while he recuperates.

E! Online reports producer/creator Ryan Murphy wrote the part specifically for Paltrow, as they are friends and both received the honor to call Jay-Z “Uncle J” on the same day. Apparently she will sing and dance, although I can’t picture the Glee club kids embracing her with open vocals since Glee generally abides by school rules and customs (the most important of which is to make newcomers feel unwelcome, especially since I spent the semester calling my substitute teacher “Mr. Polenta” instead of his real name), I'm pretty sure eventually they'll realize not every blond woman is as poisoned by rayon as Kristin Chenoweth is.

But it’s just for two episodes, so probably nothing hierarchical happens. It’ll just be Will’s chance to meet a blond that isn’t an alcoholic and owns a roller rink. That oughta make up for the fact he can't ever share a soda with his germaphobe of a girlfriend.

My Chemical Romance to Release 'Danger Days' Album in November

After a four-year absence, New Jersey rock group My Chemical Romance has returned with "Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na)," the hard-charging first single from its forthcoming album, "Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys," due Nov. 22 on Reprise.


A three-minute punk-rock blast, "Na Na Na" is a startling change of pace from My Chemical Romance's 2006 concept album "The Black Parade," which has sold 1.5 million U.S. copies since its release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. "Everybody wants to change the world/But no one wants to die!" frontman Gerard Way sings before a blistering guitar solo.

In an interview with Spin, the singer said that the track -- the first one the band recorded upon returning to the studio with producer Rob Cavallo -- had "a lot of intensity underneath it and it propelled all of us forward."

"Na Na Na" was first heard in "Art Is the Weapon," a two-minute video preview of "Danger Days" that was released earlier this week. The clip features the four MCR band members as hot rod heroes who prepare for a shootout with a masked gang.

My Chemical Romance has lined up a brief European trek that kicks off Oct. 23 in London. On Tuesday (Sept. 21), The band also made a surprise appearance at Weezer's AXE Music One Night Only concert in Los Angeles, and joined the group onstage for a performance of "My Name is Jonas."

James Blunt announces tour dates

Email this story Printable version James Blunt, one of the true highlights of the recent Help For Heroes live show at Twickenham, will embark on a headline UK tour in February and March 2011.

His new single 'Stay The Night' is released on October 25, followed by his third album 'Some Kind of Trouble' on November 8.

The new album was produced by Steve Robson (with co production by Greg Kurstin and Eg White) and sees the five times Grammy nominee start another chapter in his musical career with a sense of freshness and spontaneity pervading the whole record.

However, much as he loves making new music, for Blunt the ultimate joy comes from playing the songs live and sharing them with an audience. "Put the album out and put me out on the road" he says. "Get me on tour and we're going to have the time of our lives doing these songs"

The 2011 James Blunt tour dates are:



17 Feb Glasgow - Clyde Auditorium

18 Feb Newcastle City Hall

19 Feb Sheffield City Hall

21 Feb Nottingham Royal Civic Concert Hall

22 Feb Wolverhampton Civic Hall

23 Feb Manchester O2 Apollo

24 Feb Cardiff - St Davids Hall

26 Feb Bristol Colston Hall

27 Feb London - HMV Hammersmith Apollo

1 March Cambridge Corn Exchange

3 March Plymouth Pavillions

4 March Portsmouth Guildhall

Lindsay Lohan Freed From Jail

After spending less than a day in prison, Lindsay Lohan was released after posting $300,000 bail. Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department spokesman Steve Whitmore told The Associated Press that the actress left jail around 11:40 p.m. Friday night.

Lohan was jailed Friday morning, a week after the actress admitted to failing a court-ordered drug test. Judge Elden Fox initially denied the troubled star bail and she was immediately taken into custody following her hearing. The move was reportedly designed to keep the actress in prison until her upcoming October 22 court date and reduce the chance of an early release due to overcrowding. However, Lohan's lawyer, Shawn Chapman Holley, later insisted her client was entitled to bail and a second judge, Patricia M. Schnegg, overturned Fox's ruling. Lohan is still due back in court next month.

TMZ reports that Lohan is required to wear a SCRAM bracelet and avoid venues where alcohol is the "chief item of sale." Lohan is familiar with the alcohol-monitoring device as she was outfitted with a SCRAM bracelet in May, which reportedly went off at an MTV Movie Awards afterparty.

After serving 13 days of a 90-day jail sentence and 23 days of court-ordered rehab, Lohan recently conceded that she was still grappling with her addiction issues.

"Regrettably, I did in fact fail my most recent drug test and if I am asked, I am prepared to appear before judge Fox next week as a result," Lohan tweeted a week ago. "Substance abuse is a disease, which unfortunately doesn't go away over night. I am working hard to overcome it and am taking positive steps forward every day. I am testing every single day and doing what I must do to prevent any mishaps in the future. ... This was certainly a setback for me but I am taking responsibility for my actions and I'm prepared to face the consequences."