Los Angeles - Celebrity socialite Paris Hilton is to star in a new reality TV series that will give 20 contestants the chance to be her new BFF - that's best friend forever in the language of the text-messaging generation. The MTV show will feature the 20 contestants living together in a mansion and getting to know each other while indulging in shopping and "normal girl stuff," Hilton said in announcing the new show Friday.
The contestants will be chosen by submitting details about themselves onto a new website - www.parisbff.com - where online voters will pick a shortlist to befriend the 27-year-old.
The socialite said she was looking for "someone that I can just trust, someone who's not gonna stab me in the back like has happened a lot in this town, someone I can have fun with".
Hilton's friendship history with co-participants on reality TV shows might give prospective contestants pause for thought.
After starring alongside friend and fellow socialite Nicole Richie in the reality series A Simple Life, the two had a series of furious rows before making up. Hilton is now dating Good Charlotte guitarist Benji Madden, the twin brother of Richie's husband, Good Charlotte singer Joel Madden.
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Doctors cleared in Ritter death =
Los Angeles - A Los Angeles jury Friday cleared two doctors of negligence in the death of actor John Ritter in a 67-million- dollar lawsuit brought by Ritter's widow, actress Amy Yasbeck, and his children.
In a 9-3 vote, the jury cleared the cardiologist and radiologist, saying they were not negligent for missing the diagnosis of a torn aorta in Ritter's heart which led to his death in 2003.
Jurors found that Ritter had been advised by the radiologist, who had completed a body scan on him two years earlier, to follow-up with treatment by a physician, but Ritter didn't follow the order.
The family already has already received more than $14 million in settlements, including $9.4 million from Providence St Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, where Ritter died.
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Smith siblings to star together =
Los Angeles - The children of Will and Jada Smith are to play a brother and sister in a new adventure movie called The Amulet. Willow (I Am Legend) and Jaden Smith (The Pursuit of Happyness) will play a brother and sister who move into their late great-grandfather's home after their father dies. They must use his amulet to rescue their widowed mother from a beast who lures her into an underground world. The movie is based on Kazu Kibuishi's graphic novel Amulet.
*********** Rachel Weisz to star in Egyptian epic
Los Angeles - Rachel Weisz and Max Minghella will star in an ancient Egyptian epic Agora, the next film by Alejandro Amenabar and the first production from Fernando Bovaira's new Madrid-based Mod Productions, Variety reported Friday.
Agora will be Amenabar's second English-language film after Nicole Kidman starrer The Others. The film is set in Roman Egypt in the fourth century AD, with Weisz playing astrologer-philosopher Hypatia of Alexandria, who fights to save the collected wisdom of the ancient world. Her slave Davus (Minghella) is torn between his love for his mistress and the possibility of gaining his freedom by joining the rising tide of Christianity.
************ Minnie Driver reveals pregnancy - but not father =
Los Angeles - British actress Minnie Driver has announced her pregnancy but refused to reveal the name of her baby's father. Driver revealed her expectant state on the Tonight Show Thursday evening after host Jay Leno asked her if she had been gaining weight.
"Are you calling me fat? You have noticed my tummy, haven't you?" Driver challenged Leno, who then asked her if she is expecting.
"Yes, I am," she replied.
The 38-year-old actress told Leno that despite the morning sickness, which occurs "morning, noon and night," she is happy with her pregnancy so far.
Driver, who is currently working on the TV show The Riches, did not reveal the father. In the past, she has been romantically linked with actors such as Matt Damon and Josh Brolin, magician Criss Angel and Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins.
Driver would not be releasing additional details and had no other statement, publicist Jessica Kolstad said Friday.
************* Offers flood in for New York hooker =
New York - Hooker Ashley Alexandra Dupre stands to make millions in publishing deals after hitting the headlines as the prostitute who brought down former New York Governor Elliot Spitzer.
Men's magazines Penthouse and Hustler are reportedly in a bidding war to splash a sexy photoshoot of the aspiring musician on their pages, while news organization in the US are reportedly offering her huge sums to conduct an exclusive interview. Her music career is also expected to blast off, and publishers are reportedly bidding millions of dollars for the rights to her memoir.
"At the end of the day, this could be in some sick way a big break for her," said Rob Silverstein, executive producer of US celebrity TV show Access Hollywood. "Every tabloid in the world will go after her and spend millions of dollars."
Penthouse Magazine group president and publisher Diane Silberstein said she would "love to have her in the magazine."
"She sounds like a very interesting and talented young woman, and I'm sure she has a great story to tell," Silberstein said.
But she faces tough competition.
"Larry Flynt and Hustler Magazine will be offering 1 million dollars to Ashley Dupre to pose for Hustler Magazine," a magazine rep told Access Hollywood. "We want this to happen as soon as possible."
