COURTENEY COX TV RETURN
Is another "Friend" returning to primetime television? Maybe. A source tells me
COURTENEY COX may actually star in "Dirt," the sitcom she is producing for FX with her hubby,
DAVID ARQUETTE. The couple announced in early December that they would executive produce the series, about a tabloid editor and photographer, along with writer
MATTHEW CARNAHAN. If it's so, this would be the second "Friend"-ster to sign on to a new series for next season.
MATTHEW PERRY will star in a new
AARON SORKIN drama about a sketch comedy television show. Perry and Cox were just two of the bold-faced names who showed up last Thursday at Cafe Veneto restaurant in West Hollywood to help wedding planner
JO GARTIN celebrate the release of her first book,
Jo Gartin's Weddings: An Inspiring Guide for the Stylish Bride.
BROOKE SHIELDS, who is expecting her second child with husband
CHRIS HENCHY, was also there. Don't be surprised if the baby -- they're having a girl -- becomes a child star like her mom. Shields says the baby moves around a lot when she's in a room with loud music. "She's probably singing and dancing," she told me. She joked that the baby has already made her Broadway debut because Shields was starring in Broadway's
Chicago for the first three months of her pregnancy: "She's probably the youngest person who's ever been on Broadway." Speaking of babies, the
JENNIFER LOPEZ pregnancy watch continues to crawl along. I'm told she recently shopped at Petite Tresor, a baby boutique in West Hollywood. As she's done before, she arrived and left through the backdoor and asked for the store to be closed so she could shop in privacy. Lopez's rep assures me that she is not expecting. Even so, there's already a new Web site (www.namejlosbaby.com) dedicated to -- what else? -- naming Lopez's firstborn.
Why was
NICK NOLTE hugging a young woman in the middle of the night at Sundance? Keeping her warm, of course. It was in the wee hours when Nolte came across
US Weekly reporter, brunette beauty
ALYSSA SHELASKY, standing in front of her condo. She was locked out so Nolte offered his assistance. He tried busting open the door with his cane. Unfortunately, the lock proved mightier than the cane. When Shelasky assured Nolte she'd be okay, he insisted on giving her a big hug to warm her up. He then walked off into the woods, taking a shortcut to his place.
JENNIFER GARNER was sparkling this past Sunday when she hosted I Have a Dream Foundation's Los Angeles Gospel Brunch. And for good reason. She was wearing quite the jeweled pieces around her neck. I'm told the diamond and ruby cross was a gift from hubby
BEN AFFLECK. Friends tell me he forked over something in the low six figures.
JOHN WATERS is releasing a Valentine's Day CD. A guest at Waters' private Sundance dinner at Chimayo told the legendary director that he had bought at least a dozen of his goth-inspired Christmas albums. "Wait 'til you hear my next compilation CD," Waters said. "It's music for lovers -- and you've never heard of any of these tunes before. I have a very different idea of romantic than most people." WireImage photographer honcho
KEVIN MAZUR was visited by
U2's
THE EDGE at the
People magazine suite. The Edge walked away with many freebies -- including Pippo watches, 7 for All Mankind Jeans, and Solas handbags -- for his family. Look for U2 later this year in Mazur's upcoming photo book,
All Access with Kevin Mazur, which is being co-written by
MERLE GINSBERG. A few more tidbits from Sundance:
PARIS HILTON and
TERRENCE HOWARD talked about getting their homes wired with Klipsch sound systems at The Loft. Hilton also took home the new T-Mobile MDA. ...
ADRIAN GRENIER had a dance-off with some pals at the late-night Motorola party. ...
ROB LOWE and
WILLIAM H. MACY were just two of the stars who hit Village at the Lift's Frigidaire Glacier Lounge to sign a washer and dryer to be auctioned off in a benefit for Clothes Off Our Back. Paris Hilton and
STAVROS NIARCHOS III weren't looking too happy the other night at the launch party for Escada's new fragrance, Pacific Paradise. "They fought all night," an eyewitness tells me.
TARA REID, on the other hand, had quite a good time with the bevy of boys she brought to the bash at Hollywood's Lobby nightclub. Also there were
JAMIE-LYNN SIGLER,
JOHN STAMOS,
DIDDY,
BOB SAGET,
CHRIS EVANS,
EVE and
CHRIS ROCK.
NATALIE PORTMAN and
PHARRELL WILLIAMS? A late-night source in NYC tells me that they looked quite cozy at hotspot Marquee. "Natalie arrived alone but quickly was invited to sit with Pharrell," the source reports. "The two found each other very entertaining." Portman's rep says they're "definitely" not an item because Portman already has a man in her life. If you haven't heard, the Oscar nominations were announced Tuesday morning.
KEIRA KNIGHTLEY wasn't available to comment on her nomination because the poor thing had only gotten an hour of sleep when she was awakened with the happy news. She had been working through the night until after sunrise on 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest.' "We spent a glorious summer making this film in lovely England with lovely, lovely ['Pride & Prejudice'] director
JOE WRIGHT," Knightley says. "It was great news to wake up to after a long night shoot on a pirate ship --- four wonderful nominations. I'm so proud." I must give a shout-out to
DOLLY PARTON and her nomination for Original Song for "Travelin' Thru" from 'Transamerica.' I cannot wait to see Dolly singing on the Kodak Theatre stage Oscar night.
THIS & THAT: QUEEN LATIFAH, PRINCE and ERIC BENET hanging out at Cabana Club during the premiere party for 'Something New.' ... PARIS HILTON shopping for furniture at Bamboo Colony in Los Angeles. ... NICKY HILTON ordering from the deli at a Bristol Farms in Los Angeles with BRANDON DAVIS. ... GEORGE HAMILTON grabbing a bite to eat at a Baja Fresh in Hollywood. ... PAMELA ANDERSON, LENNY KRAVITZ, PRINCE and MACY GRAY helping manager BENNY MEDINA celebrate his birthday at the GM Penthouse in Beverly Hills.
Members Lounge
