Gossip / Rumors

On Sunday, news reports surfaced about an anonymous* anti-Hillary Clinton attack ad that used much of Ridley Scott's famous "1984" Macintosh TV commercial to turn the Senator into Big Brother - albeit a 'bro with a blonde bob. In the end, the Apple logo morphs into an Obama "O" and lists the URL for Senator Barack Obama's campaign.

It's a nightmare scenario for candidates: Mash-ups are outside the control of campaigns, untraceable and highly-viewed. So far, it's been downloaded more than 1.5 million times ... and counting.

There's a larger question in all this is: If Apple CEO Steve Jobs is such an enormous check-writer for the Democratic Party, why have his killer lawyers at Apple not demanded that YouTube take down the post?

The reason might be that the Orwellian attack ad suits Jobs just fine: For one thing, the newly Oscar-christened Al Gore hasn't said definitively that he's not going to run for president. Leaving the ad up makes Hillary look evil and Obama petty (even though Obama's campaign has denied having anything to do with the mash-up.) Gore only benefits.

For another, Jobs clearly owes a lot to Gore, who in addition to being a member of Apple's board of directors, put his own credibility on the line by exonerating Jobs in a stock options back-dating probe last year.

As USA Today reported in January, "...Al Gore, the former U.S. vice president who joined Apple's board in 2003, described Apple's investigation into [stock options] backdating as 'exhaustive' and said the board had 'complete confidence' in CEO Steve Jobs and his management team."

We thought to ask Apple's PR department why, given that other media companies like Viacom are filing billion-dollar lawsuits over copyright infringement by YouTube, Apple seems not to have even sent over a pro-forma cease-and-desist letter about the 1984 mash-up.

Steve Dowling, Director of Corporate PR for Apple, would only say that "Apple doesn't have any comment on this video."

Developing...

BREAKING NEWS: We have just pressed Button 'E,' and using the Mach 5's special vision-enhancing infrared light goggles, have peered far into the future of film: Yes, we can just make it out in the distance! The Wachowski Bros.' "Speed Racer" has cast its title role!

Who'll be playing the young do-gooding leadfoot of the title?

Why it's Emile Hirsch, the talented young actor who got his big break as Johnny Truelove in Nick Cassavetes ' "Alpha Dog" last year.

Hirsch recently wrapped up a plum gig for director Sean Penn -- one where he starred opposite Vince Vaughn: A feature adaptation of Jon Krakauer's "Into the Wild," with Hirsch playing Christopher McCandless, the doomed idealist who disappeared into the Alaskan wilderness in 1992. "Wild" hits theaters in September, around the time that the Wachowskis will probably be shooting "Speed," coincidentally.

Anyway, we hear Hirsch has just gotten the offer from Warner Bros. Pictures today, and his agents are putting the heel to the steel to make a deal for him to portray a driver who is equal parts Elvis in "Viva Las Vegas!" and James Bond.

The two have become fast friends, with the older, and let's face it, more talented Lakisha often heard giving pep talks to the struggling 17-year-old, along with performance advice like, "Do your thing and just be yourself out there" and "Don't listen to what people have to say." But love the hair, dawg!

While Timberlake wannabes Blake and Chris R. have also become BFFs, it's Lakisha and Sanjaya's friendship that has most surprised the on-set staff. Sources tell TMZ that Lakisha is genuinely lookin' out for Sanjaya, and has become somewhat of a role model for him.

And from the looks of it, Sanjaya is also taking Lakisha's hairstyling advice, as clearly evidenced by last week's flatiron blowout weave!

TMZ spotted the D-I-V-A enjoying a cig near the Capitol before she performed "Tell Me Something Good" at an event honoring Wonder's wondrous songwriting when, suddenly, an assistant quickly ran up to her and whispered that Jackson was coming out to meet her.

"Oh no!" shouted Chaka. "I don't want to put this out." Still, she dashed the ash and turned all smiles when Jackson emerged from a building just seconds after the warning. After exchanging pleasantries, she even entered her digits into his Blackberry. Jackson left after a couple of minutes, shouting with a grin, "I'll call you soon, sugar."

A TMZ source tells us that Marcia Cross is so thrilled with her month-old twin girls, that her career is no longer a hot priority for the 44-year-old red-headed milf, who hasn't become a desperate housewife.

"Work used to be her main priority, but now she's found her real true love -- her family." Apparently, Miss Van de Kamp is a better mother at home than on screen!

TMZ has learned that on Britney Spears' last trip to Miami, prior to checking into rehab the first time, the turbulent pop diva appeared "out of it" while shopping at a local BeBe clothing store.

A source tells TMZ that Brit handed over her kids to the store's salespeople so she could peruse the racks of clothes. The gal's got priorities! When it came time to try the items on, Spears didn't bother with a pesky dressing room -- and stripped down right in the middle of the store -- in front of staff and other customers! We're told the "Toxic" singer even tried out some new dance moves for her shocked audience.

Not long after Britney's impromptu boutique performance, the mother of two checked into rehab three times and shaved her head. You may have heard about it.

According to OK! Magazine, Reese Witherspoon and Jake Gyllenhaal have been spotted hopping between each other's homes and hotel rooms! Reese, who separated from husband Ryan Phillippe on October 30, is seen in this photo taken two short weeks later, laughing and playing with Jake -- not appearing to be in any post-marital despair. By the way, she's not pregnant -- it's part of the movie.

Sources have revealed to TMZ that there's a feud a brewin' backstage at "American Idol."

According to our spy, some of the religious female contestants are none too fond of one Miss Antonella Barba, since racy photos of the off-key idol began popping up on the net.

No confrontation has erupted, but it's been downright chilly behind the scenes, with the idolettes now waiting to see if America decides to keep the photogenic Barba around for another week, heaven forbid!

When contacted, reps for "Idol" had no comment.

News broke today that Premiere magazine will cease to exist -- tomorrow.

Advertising Age carries the story that Hachette Filipacchi has yanked the plug, citing declining subscriptions of the venerable monthly on the eve of its 21st birthday.

Viz, "Premiere's paid circulation has declined slowly over the years, from an average of 616,089 in 1995 to 492,498 in the second half of last year, according to Harrington Associates and the Audit Bureau of Circulations. Even more ominous, Premiere sold 24.7% fewer ad pages in 2006 than it did the year before, according to the Publishers Information Bureau."

In keeping with the rich Hollywood tradition of giving former employees the bum's rush, folks were given 24 hours notice to clean out their desks.

It seems another one of Cameron's lusty links has found someone else. Just two short weeks ago, Diaz and "Blood Diamond" star Djimon Hounsou were spotted cozying up at Hyde nightclub. Djimon was spotted this week at Hollywood hotspot BOULEVARD3, kissing and cuddling with Baby Phat's Kimora Lee Simmons.

Djimon, a new face for Calvin Klein, and Simmons, the ex wife of hiphop pioneer/fashion guru Russell Simmons were at BOULEVARD3 to help Forest Whitaker celebrate his Oscar win, but according to our source, the smooching pair didn't care what was going on around them.

Poor Cammy -- first Justin, then Kelly, and now Djimon has moved on as well. At least she's got her angels!

TMZ found a picture of the pop princess wearing her wedding ring and compared it to yesterday's ring. While the rings appear similar in style with three separations, last night's bling bling was a single divided band, while her wedding set is comprised of three distinctly separate rings.

Sorry, K-Fed!

Rumors are swirling anew that morning TV's biggest girl-group -- Rosie, Elisabeth, Joy and Barbara of "The View" -- are breaking up the band. But TMZ has learned that it's just not true.

According to an In Touch report, the yenta denizens of "The View" might be set to go their separate ways -- O'Donnell to her own show when her contract ends in June, Hasselbeck back to E! network to host a "style" show, and most oddly of all, Behar into the hosting chair currently occupied by former "View" moderator Meredith Vieira on "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire." Vieira is reportedly signed through the 2008 season of "Millionaire." In Touch didn't specify what might happen to den mother Walters.

Apparently, it was a busy Saturday for both Disney Channel and reps for "High School Musical 2" stars Ashley Tisdale, Corbin Bleu and Vannessa Anne Hudgens: Eric Feig, the lawyer representing all three of the renegade "HSM2" kid-stars, tells TMZ that managers for all three actors say their clients have now decided to fly to pre-production rehearsals on Sunday after all.

As was first reported here on Friday, eleventh-hour negotiations to return all three stars to the sequel had hit a snag over the talented teens' desire for participation in the expected-to-be-huge "back end" for "High School Musical 2" -- that is, its soundtrack and vast merchandising opportunities. Indeed, things had gotten so woolly, some of pubescent thespians were mulling not flying to rehearsals.

Reached by TMZ.com, Feig declined to comment on the current state of negotiations beyond confirming that all three kids will be in the air bound for Utah on schedule.

While Feig isn't talking, TMZ will keep you posted on whether there's any further action from this volatile teenage drama department.