Celebrity credit card scammer gets house arrest

After a lengthy credit card scam that cost stars including Jennifer Aniston, Liv Tyler, Anne Hathaway and Cher over $300,000 all told, Beverly Hills salon owner Maria Gabriella Hashemipour was sentenced late yesterday to nine months of home confinement.

Hashemipour, 52, was arrested last August when Liv Tyler told police two of her American Express cards had been charged a total of $214,000 by the defendant between June and November of 2009.

“I’m extremely sorry for what I have done,” the ‘Chez Gabriela’ studio owner told the Judge.

The court was told most of the charges were billed by Hashemipour entering the card numbers herself, not by swiping a card – thus proving the numbers were stolen. Her salon’s website even carried testimonials from clients such as Aniston and Cher – all of whose cards she abused.

Prosecutors told the court they had numerous emails from the defendant which proved the scheme, but Hashemipour seems to have got off pretty easy – Apart from house arrest she got five years probation and must also do 3,000 hours of community service.

“My client intends to continue to provide the gift of beauty that she always has,” her lawyer, Nina Marino told (Read more...)

‘Sex and the City’s Kim Cattrall calls cops on neighbors

In a scene that sounds more like a bad reality show than the polished confines of ‘Sex and the City’ for which she’s best known, Kim Cattrall was reportedly engaged in a screaming match with her neighbors in New York’s East Hamptons.

The 54-year old actress, who played Samantha Jones on the HBO show, is having some work done on her drive and the story goes that on Saturday evening Kim’s neighbors, both in their 80‘s, got tired of the row the contractors had been making all day and walked onto her property to ask them to stop.

At that point witnesses say Kim “came bounding out of her home,” and went “nose-to-nose” with the unplanned visitors, screaming, “Get off my property!”

Up to then the neighbors apparently thought Kim was not home and they swiftly retreated. But Kim called the cops on them anyway.

And a friend of Kim’s tells the Post this was not the first time the “nosy couple had come onto Kim’s property to snoop around, and the only way she felt she could make a point was to call the cops.”

The police report says Kim didn’t press charges, but she did insist on getting (Read more...)

Rumors of new Charlie Sheen show denied

Remember those rumors we told you about yesterday which said Charlie Sheen had got a new show? Well, it looks like that’s all they were – rumors. Today, Lionsgate, the production house reportedly behind the new deal have denied all connection.

The reports said Lionsgate were funding the series and TBS was in the lead to be the hosts of the show. Today, TBS joined the discussion and also washed their hands of the news.

“TBS is not in discussions for a possible project with Charlie Sheen,” a rep for station told THR.

But while TBS may still want Charlie at some point, the suits at ‘Two and Half Men’ have formed a plan to ensure he never darkens their doorstep again – They’re going to kill Charlie Parker.

The next season, which bows in September will apparently start with the news that Parker has died. ‘Men’s creator, Chuck Lorre is said to favor a scenario where Mr. Parker drives off a cliff – thus blocking any hopes Sheen might have of a return.

Charlie’s replacement, Ashton Kutcher would then be introduced as the buyer for the late Parker‘s home. But the scripts are still in development so nothing (Read more...)

G4 restores ‘Proving Ground’ to honor Ryan Dunn

After a decent interval to allow fans to grieve, G4 has announced plans to air the so-far unseen episodes of ‘Proving Ground’ as a salute to the late Ryan Dunn.

“Ryan was an incredible talent who will be missed tremendously by his fans, including G4 viewers,” G4′s president Neal Tiles told THR. ”With the support of Ryan’s family, we’ve decided to air the remaining episodes and give fans the opportunity to watch this series he was so passionate about.”

The cable house yanked the show off the air after the news of Ryan’s death broke on June 20th, but they say it will now return to its 8pm time-slot and finish the season.

The G4 folks are also planning to air a one-hour special ‘Attack of the Show’ as a tribute on July 19th. This will showcase some of Ryan’s best moments and include interviews with his close friends and colleagues.

The tribute begins on July 19th at 7pm, Eastern.

Charlie Sheen signs deal for new sitcom

In a revelation that proves you can’t keep a good warlock down, Charlie Sheen has now made a deal for a new sitcom. And he will make even more cash than with ‘Two and a Half Men.’

“Charlie’s inked a deal with Lionsgate to create and star in a new sitcom,” a spy tells Radar. “Charlie’s character will be very similar to ‘Two And a Half Men,’ however the show will be a lot racier.”

The 45-year old actor will wrap up discussions this week and a virtual bidding war is already in progress between TV outlets who want the results.

“Networks and cable are bidding on the show right now, with TBS being the front runner,” says the snitch. “And cable offers more artistic freedom, so the show can be raunchier and more outrageous, which is perfect for Charlie!”

Chuck got an order for ten shows to start with and Lionsgate has the option to order ninety more if the ratings are good. That’s enough to keep Chuck and the show on the air for eight years.

And while the deal pays him less than the $2-million a show he was earning on ‘Men,’ Charlie has a back-end (Read more...)

Charlie Sheen’s last ‘Goddess’ quits

With his ‘Torpedo of Truth’ tour now a memory and the media blitz over ‘Two and Half Men’ also calmed down it looks like Charlie Sheen just found out who his real friends are – The last of his ‘Goddesses,’ Natalie Kenly just packed up and left.

Reports say the 24-year old former model and cheerleader moved out of Charlie’s mansion last week, but any plans to exploit the 15-minutes of fame their link bought her and keep the Mercedes she got didn’t quite stay on track – Charlie’s disowned her, and he demanded the return of the car.

Probably just as well: Natalie – who met Charlie when she was hired by his ex-wife Brooke Mueller as the nanny for the former couple’s twins, Bob and Max – was arrested for underage drinking in 2006. So it looks like her and cars would not be a good blend.

But don’t feel too bad for young Chuckles – First he glibly told reporters such events are “not a common thing for the Masheen,” then he went out and found three new lady friends – One from Mexico, one from Colombia and an Australian lady to complete the new team.

So (Read more...)

New York passes gay marriage, Neil Patrick Harris engaged

As you’ve no doubt heard the state of New York took a huge step in equality last night by legalizing gay marriage, and some in the celebrity world have already seized this new freedom – ‘How I Met Your Mother’ star Neil Patrick Harris just got engaged.

On Friday afternoon 38-year old Neil tweeted words of encouragement to New York’s Senators as they prepared for the historic vote.

“I’d sure love to get married.” reads the post. “Please, NY Senate, vote in favor of marriage equality today. My family would really appreciate it.“

Later that night the vote was successful and Neil seemed quite pleased:

“It PASSED! Marriage equality in NY!! Yes!! Progress!! Thank you everyone who worked so hard on this!! A historic night!”

And the man wasted no time – Within hours Neil and his long-time companion, David Burtka proposed to each other and both promptly said yes.

“I’ve already proposed, he said yes! Thank god!” David told a fan on his stream. “He proposed to me as well. I said yes! Thank god!”

They even have a ready-made family – the new fiancées, who have (Read more...)

James Spader to be new boss of ‘The Office’?

With Steve Carrell gone, NBC has been teasing fans of ‘The Office’ about who’ll take his place for over six months, and it seems we now have the answer – James Spader.

Rumors of James’ involvement have been swirling for a while, but the 51-year old triple Emmy winner is now reported to be in advanced talks to join the show in time for the new season next Fall.

“In the finale, he kicked ass,” says a source close to the show. “He was so funny and had this weird energy. We didn’t want to pass it up.”

The apparent plan is for Jim to take over Kathy Bates’ role, but he’d appear every week whereas Kathy was little more than a guest star. The deal is not signed yet so nothing is final, but season eight begins filming next month and James should be there in show one.

James will play a character called ‘Robert California,’ who is hired as the new office boss, then tries to persuade Dunder’s head office to make him the new CEO. Sources say ‘Robert’ will also boast ‘a strong manipulative power and a somewhat creepy sexual vibe.’

As for who will then become (Read more...)

‘Columbo’ star, Peter Falk dies at 83

News of the loss of a well-loved Hollywood name is never easy to hear but reports are beginning to bubble that Peter Falk, who engaged audiences for almost ten years as ‘Columbo’ has died from the effects of Alzheimer’s Diseases. He was 83.

“Peter Falk, 83-year-old Academy Award nominee and star of television series, Columbo, died peacefully at his Beverly Hills home on the evening of June 23, 2011.” says the official announcement.

The rep continued, “Peter Falk is survived by his wife, Shera, of 34 years and two daughters from a previous marriage.”

Despite having only one real eye [his left one was removed at age 3 to cure a tumor] Peter had a sturdy career, appearing in more than 107 separate productions and securing four Emmys and two Academy Award nominations.

His debut as ‘Columbo’ in 1971 was directed by a 25-year-old film-making novice named Steven Spielberg, but the lovable, much-crumpled detective was not Peter’s only time on the screen; He also starred in the 1987 cult film ‘Princess Bride’ with Cary Elwes, ‘Brigadoon’ and the Jack Lemmon’s 1965 slapstick classic ‘The Great Race.’

The Alzheimer’s symptoms began to emerge in 2007 and Falk’s second wife, Shera and (Read more...)

MTV to dump Jersey Shore cast

In news that could invoke a nationwide sigh of relief sufficient to cause a tsunami, MTV has confirmed ‘Snooki,’ ‘JWoww,’ and the rest of the Jersey Shore inmates are on their last season and will now be replaced by a less costly cast.

“After this group comes back from Italy and shoots season 5 this summer, that will be the end for them,” an MTV source tells Us.

MTV’s key motive for this long-stalled relief seems to be cost – ‘Snooki; ‘JWoww,’ ‘The Situation’ and ‘Pauly D’ each landed contracts worth $100,000 a show for season four and the snitch says the new cast will “be a lot cheaper.”

Now the bad news: Some of the existing cast have spin-offs in the works: Snooki, JWoww and PaulyD already signed deals and are expected to return to our screens before long.

“The concept of our show is pretty much me and Jenni finding a house, living together and just being me and Jenni,” 23-year old ‘Snooki’ told reporters recently. “We’re so funny together and we like to be silly. It’s kind of like Paris and Nicole, but 20 times better – and tan.”

Shooting for season five begins in New (Read more...)