book actress

Adele, honey, you were smart to stay home while the American Music Awards' red carpet dripped along Sunday night in L.A. -- though some who toughed it out got to see Justin Bieber smooch Selena Gomez in public, a moment that looked anything but chilly. The Biebs is, after all, his own weather system.

Mila Kunis and Sgt. Scott Moore attended the Marine Corps Ball in Greeneville, N.C., on Friday night — Moore being the Afghanistan veteran who shall be forever known as the guy who started it all.

In addition to his veteran status, Moore is a different kind of American hero for starting this year's wave of celebrity invites to the USMC's big night, but he didn't do it alone. On Thursday, he credited "wingmen" Justin Timberlake and Dan Lamothe of the Military Times for their help getting his invitation to Kunis.

The "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" actress arrived at the venue around 2:30 p.m. Friday and was promptly whisked away from media eyes, said local station WNCT, which also noted that Moore's recently returned 3rd battalion, 2nd Marines had lost seven in Afghanistan. It's that sort of sacrifice that's remembered each year for the Marine Corps' birthday.

Despite the presence of Hollywood hotties shining a spotlight on this year's celebrations, "the Marines and sailors know what the night is about," spokesman Capt. Scott Sasser told the Greenville Daily Reflector. "That's been the focus the whole time." A good time was had by all, Sasser said.

Timberlake in particular was moved by his experience as Cpl. Kelsey De Santis' date in Virginia last weekend, calling attention to the dedication and sacrifices of the Marines in a post on his personal blog.

Following in Kunis and Timberlake's footsteps, Kristin Cavallari hit the ball in Temecula with Camp Pendleton's Lance Cpl. Jonathan Burkett on Thursday, after getting permission from beau Jay Cutler, of course. Betty White couldn't get the time off work and had to pass, as did Scarlett Johansson, who sent a case of bubbly to cover for her absence at the Nov. 10 ball held in Georgia.

And can we give a nod to Military Times' Lamothe, wingman extraordinaire? In a blog post Wednesday, he explained that while searching for bootleg clips of Marines in Afghanistan, he'd cracked up when he found Moore's video invite to Kunis. He posted it on the Battle Rattle blog, only to have it go viral — resulting in a Fox reporter bringing it up to Kunis and Timberlake days later in a "Friends With Benefits" interview. And the rest is history.

Since going viral, the video has been watched nearly 4 million times.

Nice work.

X-rays on the injured ankle of Vikings’ star running back Adrian Peterson have come back negative.

“I just got my ankle caught up on a defender and it got twisted up pretty bad,” Peterson said via Viking Update. “The X-ray came back negative, so that’s a plus.”

The superstar runner said he didn’t have any swelling on the ankle, but that was normal for his body, and that he would have an MRI on Monday to determine the full extent of the injury.

Peterson doesn’t believe the injury is season-ending.

“No, not at all,” Peterson said when asked if thought his season might be over. “That’s not in my DNA. I’m going to try and get back as fast as I can and, God willing, I’ll be up and ready to run this weekend.”

It was a day of injuries, frustration, and one big quarter which was enough for the Raiders to send the Vikings to their 8th loss in 10 games in the 2011 season.

Carson Palmer threw for a touchdown and ran for another during a big second quarter, which the Raiders used to hold off the Vikings, 27-21, at the Metrodome.

Palmer passed for 164 yards and Michael Bush ran for 109 with a touchdown for the AFC West-leading Raiders (6-4), who have won their last two games. They also intercepted Minnesota quarterback Christian Ponder three times, including once in the end zone.

Ponder threw for 211 yards and two scores for the Vikings, who dropped their second consecutive game and lost running back Adrian Peterson to an ankle injury in the first quarter.

Oakland wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey left the game on a stretcher during the fourth quarter, after receiving a hit to his head.

The Raiders faced a 7-3 deficit after the first quarter, but Matt Giordano’s interception of Ponder early in the second jump-started a 21-point period.

The interception gave the Raiders the ball at their own 47, and they initially went backward because of a holding penalty and rushing loss. But Palmer sparked the drive with his 21-yard pass to Brandon Myers, and later found Denarius Moore for a 14-yard gain.

Then, on 3rd-and-8 from the Minnesota 11, Palmer connected with Chaz Schilens for a touchdown that was upheld after review.

The Vikings lined up for a field goal during the ensuing drive, but Chris Kluwe didn’t handle the snap correctly and was tackled for a 12-yard loss. That set the Raiders up at their own 43, and they again took advantage of the short field.

Palmer hit Marcel Reece with a 12-yard throw on 2nd-and-9 from the Minnesota 14, and Bush ran it into the end zone on the next play. The touchdown gave Oakland a 17-7 lead with just 1:20 left in the half, and a fumble by Lorenzo Booker on the kickoff gave the Raiders another scoring chance.

They started at the Vikings’ 16 and used an 11-yard pass by Palmer to move to the one. After calling timeout with 12 seconds to go, Palmer plunged up the middle and across the goal line.

Armed with the 24-7 halftime lead, Oakland’s defense held on during the second half.

It forced the Vikings to punt on their first two possessions of the third quarter, and Ponder was intercepted by Tommy Kelly on their third.

But after Oakland’s Sebastian Janikowski kicked a 26-yard field goal, Minnesota did get a second touchdown thanks to two big gains. Ponder hit Devin Aromashodu with a 42-yard pass on the final play of the third quarter, and Percy Harvin scored on a 26-yard catch-and-run during the opening play of the fourth.

Heyward-Bey was injured during Oakland’s following drive, when he caught the ball across the middle and was tackled. As he fell to the ground, the back of his head hit the leg of Vikings linebacker E.J. Henderson.

Heyward-Bey’s helmet popped off and he lay on the field, visibly in pain. Trainers examined him on the field for several minutes before a cart drove the receiver, strapped to the backboard, off the field.

That third-down play preceded Janikowski’s blocked field-goal try, which gave Minnesota the ball at its own 40 with more than 11 minutes to play. The Vikings marched into Oakland territory and were in position to score, with a 1st-and-goal at the 10.

But on third down from the five, Ponder tried to connect with Aromashodu in the right-front corner of the end zone, where Stanford Routt picked off the ball.

Bush’s fumble four plays into the ensuing Raiders drive gave Minnesota another chance, and this time the Vikings capitalized. Ponder’s 37-yard pass to Visanthe Shiancoe put the ball at the one, and he completed a touchdown pass to Kyle Rudolph on the next play.

That score brought the Vikings within 27-21 with 5:08 left on the clock, and they got the ball back with three minutes to go after forcing Oakland the punt. But they didn’t cross midfield, and the Raiders ran off all but two seconds to secure the victory.

Peterson’s 12-yard touchdown run with 5:17 left in the first quarter opened the scoring, but he injured his left ankle later in the frame during another 12-yard rush. He was helped off the field by trainers, rode a cart into the tunnel and did not return to the game.

Janikowski kicked a 29-yard field goal with 57 seconds left in the first to put Oakland on the board.

WHEN THE RAIDERS HAVE THE BALL

Oakland’s philosophy under Jackson of running the ball with authority and stretching the field with deep passes was fully on display against the Chargers, and executed to near perfection as well. The diverse backfield tandem of the 245-pound Bush (490 rushing yards, 14 receptions, 5 total TD) and rookie speedster Taiwan Jones (70 rushing yards) combined for 196 rushing yards, while half of Palmer’s 14 completions on the night went for gains of 20 or more yards. Most of those were hauled in by Moore (23 receptions, 4 TD), with the first-year find finishing with 123 yards and two scores on his five catches, and he’ll be the main target again this week with fellow big-play threat Jacoby Ford likely out after spraining his foot in the critical win. Though Palmer (747 passing yards, 5 TD, 7 INT) has clearly become more comfortable with the playbook and the game-breaking McFadden isn’t expected to suit up, the Raiders remain a run-first operation. Oakland is third in the NFL in rush attempts and fourth overall in yards gained via the ground (156.2 ypg), and 41 of its 62 plays versus San Diego were of the run variety. That figures to mean another heavy load for Bush, whose 242 yards from scrimmage in Week 10 was the most by a Raiders player since 1963.

Bush may find the yards a bit tougher to come by this week, however, as the Vikings rank sixth in the NFL in run defense (93.9 ypg) and are holding opponents to a modest 3.7 yards per carry on the season. Minnesota fields a strong trio of linebackers in the brother combo of E.J. Henderson (46 tackles, 1 sack) and Erin Henderson (42 tackles, 1 sack) and 2010 Pro Bowl alternate Chad Greenway (73 tackles), and they’re backed by a five-time All-Pro honoree in veteran tackle Kevin Williams (13 tackles). Stopping the pass has been another matter altogether, though. The Vikings are permitting 272.8 yards per game through the air (30th overall) and have given up 10 passing touchdowns over their last three tests, and the team was powerless in its attempts to slow down Rodgers and his cast of weapons on Monday. Not having the savvy Winfield or Cook further compounds the problem, and Abdullah (49 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT) is the team’s best safety and second-leading tackler. Minnesota will try to get by at the corner spots with the struggling Cedric Griffin (48 tackles, 8 PD) and Asher Allen (33 tackles, 1 INT), while journeyman Bennie Sapp was signed for a second go-around with the organization on Wednesday to provide needed depth. At least the Vikings have the league’s best pass rusher this season to rely on in lineman Jared Allen (41 tackles, 1 INT). The relentless end has compiled an astounding 13 1/2 sacks on the year and has notched at least a half-sack in a club-record 11 straight games.

WHEN THE VIKINGS HAVE THE BALL

Like the Raiders, Minnesota’s plan is to pound the ball on the ground with its own workhorse back, which makes sense considering the team possesses one of the game’s premier runners in Adrian Peterson (846 rushing yards, 16 receptions, 11 total TD) and a rookie quarterback who’s still learning the ropes in 2011 first-round choice Christian Ponder (744 passing yards, 3 TD, 3 INT). The Vikings stand just behind Oakland in the league rankings in rushing with an average of 145.2 yards per game (5th overall), while Peterson’s 180 carries are the second-most of any individual player this season. Though the four-time All- Pro was less of a factor in Monday’s loss due to Minnesota falling behind by double-digits early on, he still scored a touchdown for a fifth straight game and is clearly the best playmaker on the offense. Ponder’s three starts since supplanting the ineffective Donovan McNabb under center have gone about as expected, with the 23-year-old displaying flashes of great promise but often scuffling as well, and he enters Sunday’s clash having completed just 50.5 percent of his throws. The Florida State product also hasn’t gotten much support from a pedestrian group of receivers, as dangerous wideout Percy Harvin (37 receptions, 1 total TD) hasn’t been as explosive as in years past due to a series of injuries and both opposite-side starter Michael Jenkins (32 receptions, 3 TD) and tight end Visanthe Shiancoe (24 receptions, 2 TD) are more possession-types. The Vikings are just 28th overall in passing offense, averaging 180 yards per game.

Peterson will be going up against an Oakland defense that’s allowing a subpar 5.2 yards per rush attempt on the season, tied with New Orleans for the worst mark in the league, and was shredded for 299 yards on the ground by Denver’s unconventional read-option scheme two weeks back. The unit has had its moments, however, as it limited Houston’s potent running game to a harmless 70 yards on 25 carries in a Week 5 road win and yielded just 75 rushing yards to San Diego last time out. The Raiders have been very good at pressuring the quarterback, and their pass rush was simply overwhelming in the club’s recent win over the Chargers. With Wimbley (37 tackles, 6 sacks) leading the charge with a dominant showing, Oakland recorded six sacks of Rivers and harassed the accomplished quarterback into a host of hurried throws, and the ability of tackles Richard Seymour (24 tackles, 5 sacks) and Tommy Kelly (27 tackles, 3.5 sacks) to collapse the pocket is another reason why enemy passers have completed a mere 52.1 percent of their attempts on the Silver and Black, the second-lowest rate against an NFL team this season. Another is the solid play of cornerback Stanford Routt (31 tackles, 1 INT, 8 PD), who’s made Raider nation quickly forget about Nnamdi Asomugha’s free-agent departure in the offseason by turning in an excellent campaign.

KEYS TO THE GAME

Oakland’s success this season has been predicated on whether or not the defense is able to adequately contain the run, In the five games in which the Raiders have allowed 100 rushing yards or less, they’ve won each time. Conversely, they’ve given up a troubling average of 211 rushing yards per game in their four defeats. The Vikings are a good running team and have a true difference- maker in Peterson, and keeping him from going ballistic will be a challenge for Oakland’s inconsistent group.

The Raiders will be sure to attack a Minnesota secondary that’s been beset by injuries and off-field issues throughout this season and was hardly an air- tight crew when it was at full strength. Oakland isn’t a dink-and-dunk sort of team — it prefers to swing for the fences when throwing the ball — and the Vikings won’t have much of a chance if their defensive backs let the Raiders’ lightning-fast receivers get behind them for big plays.

Quarterback play. Minnesota is capable of winning this game if Ponder performed like he did in a victory at Carolina two weeks back, when the rookie threw for 236 yards on a sharp 18-of-28 passing and didn’t have a turnover. It’ll be tough to come out on top if he’s hitting on half of his attempts, however. Likewise, Palmer needs to be the guy who skillfully bombed away on the Chargers and not the quarterback who was giving the ball away at will in his first two games as a Raider.

Prediction – The Raiders are the better of these two teams and have played well on the road, and a repeat of their most recent effort would surely get the job against a Minnesota outfit that has it’s share of liabilities. They’ve also been wildly erratic, however, as the back-to-back home losses to the Chiefs and Broncos will attest, and Peterson could pose a major problem for a defense that’s been suspect against the run. The Vikings won’t be as overmatched as they were on Monday and should be eager to atone for a brutal performance, and it’s unlikely Bush will have quite the impact he did in the San Diego game this time around. In a matchup in which neither participant inspires a great deal of confidence, Minnesota’s potent running game and Oakland’s tendency to throw in a clunker may give the home team an ever-so-slight edge. Vikings 31 Raiders 27

After a tough loss against the Packers last week, the Vikings hope to bounce back as they take on the Oakland Raiders at Mall of America Field. Jason Horowitz and NFL.com’s Pat Kirwan have the preview. Watch the game Sunday at 1 PM ET on CBS.

The Race For Andrew Luck will get more and more complex as organizations mull over other top prospects and as they get used to the dynamics of trading across the first round in the draft salary cap era. I could make a list of the teams scheduled to get the first give picks in order, but I thought it’d be better to just list the five worst teams because the final standings should be close to this.
1. Colts. 0-10; Offense: 30th with 13.1 PPG; Defense: 32nd with 30.0 PPG; 31st with a -10 turnover differential.
There’s no way a team should lose their quarterback – no matter how legendary -, Melvin Bullitt and Gary Brackett and be this terrible. They miss Clint Session, who’s now with Jacksonville. Do they need a quarterback? Yes, they could use a back-up and/or a quarterback of the future.
2. Browns. 3-6; Offense: 29th with 14.6 PPG; Defense: 11th with 20.3 PPG; 15th with a 0 turnover differential.
They lack dynamic athletes, outside of Joe Haden, Josh Cribbs and Evan Moore. The Browns could stand to get considerably better in every aspect of the game: special teams, run offense, pass offense, run defense, pass defense. Do they need a quarterback? Yes, as – unfortunately – quarterbacks don’t get as long to develop as they used to. A team would typically look to free agency or trade – Matt Flynn? – to get a guy to compete with Colt McCoy, but this will be a great quarterback draft.
3. Panthers. 2-7; Offense: 19th with 21.1 PPG; Defense: 30th with 26.3 PPG; 24th with a -4 turnover differential.
Even with the linebackers coming back healthy next season, the defensive line hasn’t generated a pass rush and their secondary hasn’t generated turnovers. They at least have a good offense. Do they need a quarterback? No.
4. Vikings. 2-7; Offense: 23rd with 19.9 PPG; Defense: 31st with 27.1 PPG; 7th with a +4 turnover differential.
Of all the teams in this group, the Vikings have probably the fewest number of players who can start on a playoff team. Those players are so good, however, that the team doesn’t get exposed all that regularly. Do they need a quarterback? They need a back-up, because Joe Webb still might be raw.
5. Cardinals. 3-6; Offense: 22nd with 20.3 PPG; Defense: 22nd with 23.7 PPG; 21st with a -3 turnover differential.
I think the Cardinals are headed in the right direction – and there are three additional teams with slightly worse rosters – but I think Ken Whisenhunt and his offensive system have held them back for years and he does more damage to his team than any other coach. Do they need a quarterback? Possibly. One of their superior needs will be addressed in the first round. They have a lot of money in Kolb; Also, Skelton and Bartel have shown flashes.

Notice I didn’t put the Dolphins on this list, or Jacksonville or the Redskins. I think all of those teams have good foundations and can hang with and maybe beat just about any team. Jacksonville has a better defense than any of the teams on the list. The Rams have had worse injuries – losing 3 corners to IR – than the Colts but have 2 wins.

Minnesota Vikings star running back Adrian Peterson sprained his left ankle at the end the first quarter of Sunday's 27-21 loss to Oakland, and he didn't return.

X-rays showed no breaks, coach Leslie Frazier said afterward, and Peterson was still in his shoulder pads on the sideline during the second half. He will have an MRI to make sure there's no more damage. Peterson said he hoped to play next Sunday at Atlanta.

Peterson hobbled off the field after a tough 12-yard run through heavy traffic. His left ankle rolled hard as he was brought down by the Raiders, and he could barely put weight on it as he was helped to the sideline by team trainers. Peterson grimaced on the table while his ankle was looked at and rode on a cart to the locker room for further examination.

Peterson entered the week fifth in the NFL in rushing with 846 yards. He scored his 11th touchdown rushing before he got hurt and finished with 26 yards on six carries.

Oakland: QB Jason Campbell, QB Terrelle Pryor, RB Darren McFadden, FB Manase Tonga, WR Jacoby Ford, G/T Bruce Campbell, CB Chris Johnson

Minnesota: WR Stephen Burton, T DeMarcus Love, G Anthony Herrera, DE D’Aundre Reed, LB Erin Henderson, CB Chris Cook, S Husain Abdullah

It was a day of injuries, frustration, and one big quarter which was enough for the Raiders to send the Vikings to their 8th loss in 10 games in the 2011 season.

Carson Palmer threw for a touchdown and ran for another during a big second quarter, which the Raiders used to hold off the Vikings, 27-21, at the Metrodome.

Palmer passed for 164 yards and Michael Bush ran for 109 with a touchdown for the AFC West-leading Raiders (6-4), who have won their last two games. They also intercepted Minnesota quarterback Christian Ponder three times, including once in the end zone.

Ponder threw for 211 yards and two scores for the Vikings, who dropped their second consecutive game and lost running back Adrian Peterson to an ankle injury in the first quarter.

Oakland wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey left the game on a stretcher during the fourth quarter, after receiving a hit to his head.

The Raiders faced a 7-3 deficit after the first quarter, but Matt Giordano’s interception of Ponder early in the second jump-started a 21-point period.

The interception gave the Raiders the ball at their own 47, and they initially went backward because of a holding penalty and rushing loss. But Palmer sparked the drive with his 21-yard pass to Brandon Myers, and later found Denarius Moore for a 14-yard gain.

Then, on 3rd-and-8 from the Minnesota 11, Palmer connected with Chaz Schilens for a touchdown that was upheld after review.

The Vikings lined up for a field goal during the ensuing drive, but Chris Kluwe didn’t handle the snap correctly and was tackled for a 12-yard loss. That set the Raiders up at their own 43, and they again took advantage of the short field.

Palmer hit Marcel Reece with a 12-yard throw on 2nd-and-9 from the Minnesota 14, and Bush ran it into the end zone on the next play. The touchdown gave Oakland a 17-7 lead with just 1:20 left in the half, and a fumble by Lorenzo Booker on the kickoff gave the Raiders another scoring chance.

They started at the Vikings’ 16 and used an 11-yard pass by Palmer to move to the one. After calling timeout with 12 seconds to go, Palmer plunged up the middle and across the goal line.

Armed with the 24-7 halftime lead, Oakland’s defense held on during the second half.

It forced the Vikings to punt on their first two possessions of the third quarter, and Ponder was intercepted by Tommy Kelly on their third.

But after Oakland’s Sebastian Janikowski kicked a 26-yard field goal, Minnesota did get a second touchdown thanks to two big gains. Ponder hit Devin Aromashodu with a 42-yard pass on the final play of the third quarter, and Percy Harvin scored on a 26-yard catch-and-run during the opening play of the fourth.

Heyward-Bey was injured during Oakland’s following drive, when he caught the ball across the middle and was tackled. As he fell to the ground, the back of his head hit the leg of Vikings linebacker E.J. Henderson.

Heyward-Bey’s helmet popped off and he lay on the field, visibly in pain. Trainers examined him on the field for several minutes before a cart drove the receiver, strapped to the backboard, off the field.

That third-down play preceded Janikowski’s blocked field-goal try, which gave Minnesota the ball at its own 40 with more than 11 minutes to play. The Vikings marched into Oakland territory and were in position to score, with a 1st-and-goal at the 10.

But on third down from the five, Ponder tried to connect with Aromashodu in the right-front corner of the end zone, where Stanford Routt picked off the ball.

Bush’s fumble four plays into the ensuing Raiders drive gave Minnesota another chance, and this time the Vikings capitalized. Ponder’s 37-yard pass to Visanthe Shiancoe put the ball at the one, and he completed a touchdown pass to Kyle Rudolph on the next play.

That score brought the Vikings within 27-21 with 5:08 left on the clock, and they got the ball back with three minutes to go after forcing Oakland the punt. But they didn’t cross midfield, and the Raiders ran off all but two seconds to secure the victory.

Peterson’s 12-yard touchdown run with 5:17 left in the first quarter opened the scoring, but he injured his left ankle later in the frame during another 12-yard rush. He was helped off the field by trainers, rode a cart into the tunnel and did not return to the game.

Janikowski kicked a 29-yard field goal with 57 seconds left in the first to put Oakland on the board.

Minnesota Vikings star running back Adrian Peterson has left the game against Oakland with an ankle injury.

Peterson hobbled off the field at the end of the first quarter after a tough 12-yard run through heavy traffic. His left ankle rolled hard as he was brought down by the Raiders, and he could barely put weight on it as he was helped to the sideline by team trainers. Peterson grimaced on the table while his ankle was looked at and rode on a cart to the locker room for further examination.

Peterson entered the week fifth in the NFL in rushing with 846 yards. He scored his 11th rushing touchdown before he got hurt.

The Vikings said his return was questionable.

Robin Gibb, one of the two surviving members of the Bee Gees, is suffering from liver cancer and was rushed to the hospital several days ago via ambulance after his family called 999 -- the British  equivalent of 911 -- for treatment.

Gibb, 61, was diagnosed with liver cancer several months ago, according to the Sunday Mirror, which reported that older brother Barry, 65, his wife, Linda, and mother Barbara Gibb, 91, had flown in from their homes in the U.S. to be with Robin.

Robin Gibb was allowed to return home Tuesday after spending five hours in the hospital; he said later in a statement that he had been treated for inflammation of the colon, the Sun reported. The always-slim singer, who has appeared gaunt in recent months, has had to cancel a number of appearances this year.

"Robin is not good and there is a lot of concern for him ... ," a family friend told the Sunday Mirror. "But Robin is a strong character, he is a fighter and has been encouraged by all the online messages from his fans. Dwina [his wife] is doing everything ­possible and hasn’t left his side"

In a previously recorded "Living the Life" TV interview that the Telegraph said was set to air Sunday night, Robin speaks of his twin brother's death in 2003 as "something I haven’t accepted still. He was a relatively young man and he just went all of a sudden."

Maurice Gibb, the third member of the Bee Gees, died at age 53 of complications due to a twisted small intestine, which was noted in his autopsy report as a congenital condition. After suffering abdominal pain while performing in August 2010, Robin Gibb had surgery for the same sort of blockage.

In April, he canceled a series of concert dates in Brazil after being hospitalized for abdominal pain.

Andy Gibb, the family's fourth brother and a solo artist, died of heart failure in 1988 at age 30 after years of struggling with cocaine addiction. The Bee Gees, famed for their dominance in the disco era, were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1997.

Kim Kardashian is ready for a little image rehab and she’s hoping “Kourtney & Kim Take New York” will help.

Sure, there were reports that Kim didn't want her divorce drama to play out on reality television, but what about all that footage of the couple before the split? Radar Online says, with full editorial control, she wants to edit the new season to her advantage and that the show will paint Kim as the “victim” and ex Kris Humphries as a “lazy and insensitive” villain.

In fact, a source tells the site that it was actually raw footage of the pair that convinced her to file for divorce in the first place. “The marriage was already under a tremendous amount of stress, but she just couldn't believe that she had married this man that was treating her and her family like this."

A little image rehab could do Kim some good.

Soon after she filed for divorce Oct. 31, critics began calling her marriage a sham, “Saturday Night Live” poked fun with a “Kim’s Fairytale Divorce” sketch and her former publicist began claiming her wedding was staged. Not to mention grassroots boycotts to get the whole family booted off television and the angry fans calling for her to be fired from Tyler Perry’s “The Marriage Counselor.”

Now, Radar sources say she’ll do anything to get back in the public’s good graces and keep her many endorsement deals.

“Kim carefully and methodically plans all of her business decisions, and that is how she is looking at her divorce, as all business,” says the source. “Of course she is sad, but it's all about Kim's endorsement deals and paid promotional appearances.”

Despite Kim’s troubles and the boycott, the rest of her family seems to be doing just fine. Since she filed for divorce, sisters Kourtney and Khloe debuted a novel called “Dollhouse,” while mom Kris Jenner released her memoir “Kris Jenner and All Things Kardashian.” Meanwhile little brother Rob is competing in the ‘Dancing With the Stars” finals.

Justin Timberlake was honored Thursday as one of 2011's  GQ Men of the Year, and brought a significant lady friend to be at his side -- former girlfriend Jessica Biel.

So are they back in full swing as a couple? It would seem so, as the pair were attached at the hip navigating the packed lobby and patio of the Chateau Marmont, eventually departing after midnight, hand in hand.

Back inside the party, another honoree commanded full attention of the crowd: dad-to-be Jay-Z. All  kinds of boldface names flocked for their five minutes with the mogul, including Jimmy Fallon, Lake Bell and Aziz Ansari.

Cutting a Sinatra-style figure in a black suit, and looking very lean, Jay-Z held court in a corner table while fellow man of the year Michael Fassbender charmed a group of ladies across the garden.

Joe Manganiello stuck out, literally, his towering frame grabbing attention alongside cast members from "Mad Men." The whole gang of Fox's "New Girl" turned up, including a whimsical Zooey Deschanel and Jake Johnson.

Anna Faris and husband Chris Pratt mostly hung out together, as did Armie Hammer and his bride, Elizabeth Chambers. Sadly for the Ministry, Jay-Z -- who would make it to Heavy D's funeral in New York the next day -- wasn't joined by his fabulous ball-and-chain, the pregnant Beyonce.

But as the focus of the party was dudes, plenty of them made strong and stylish showings over Grey Goose cocktails, including "Hunger Games" star Josh Hutcherson, Topher Grace, Anton Yelchin, Johnny Galecki, Kellan Lutz, John Cho, Adam Scott, Michael B. Jordan, Sam Paige and Eli Roth.

Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher are a couple no more, two months after Ashton's sixth-anniversary gift to Demi of a scandal around his alleged infidelity with a San Diego party receptionist while she was off working in New York City. Her belated gift to him was, of course, her decision Thursday to get a divorce.

After his-and-hers statements Thursday, speculation -- some of it humorous -- has filled the information vacuum. Prepare yourself for some gossipy gossip, which we hope you'll keep in the proper perspective.

Who gets Bruce Willis? What will @mrskutcher's new Twitter handle be? Will this drama, like the life of Charlie Sheen, be incorporated into Ashton's "Two and a Half Men" character's story line? (Whoops, too late on that last one, as Kutcher's Walden Schmidt has already been suffering the pain of a divorce from a wife who told him he was emotionally immature.)

Then there's the open-marriage buzz. "Everyone in Hollywood knows about their arrangement," an unnamed "insider" told the Star tabloid, "but they've managed to keep it a secret from the general public."

Chelsea Handler, who said she doesn't know them "personally very well," opined to a shocked, simply shocked Piers Morgan on his CNN show that "I think they probably had a lot of good times with some other women... Clearly they had a lot of threesomes, that led to twosomes without Demi and that leads to a divorce." After watching tape of the couple on a previous "Piers Morgan Tonight," she added, "I absolutely feel for her."

One such twosome was allegedly with Sara Leal, who went public with her claim that they'd had unprotected sex twice, that Ashton was not "weird or perverted," and that they'd talked about astrological signs and politics afterward.

Leal said he'd told her he was "separated," and she believed him.

And still bubbling in the background -- as opposed to bubbling in the hot tub allegedly shared pre-coitally by Kutcher, Leal and another young lady, all of them naked --  is a slightly lower-profile scandal from 2010, involving a woman named Brittney Jones who claimed she and Ashton had done the nasty while Demi was out of town.

"Ashton told me that both he and Demi had an 'open relationship' and that he was not in fact cheating,"  Jones told TMZ on Friday, adding that even though divorce is a bummer, she felt somewhat vindicated.

Jones' veracity became suspect when she released a sex tape late last year, using Kutcher's name to market it (though not claiming he was in it). He threatened to sue her, and then Ashton and Demi launched a charm offensive on Twitter and elsewhere, declaring their marriage to be rock solid.

After the Leal revelation, the couple pretty much kept their mouths shut, up until Thursday. Except for his pro-Joe Paterno tweet. Oops.

Now, with all that muck having been raked, it seems divorce might actually bring a bit of good news for Demi, who some have worried looks scary thin these days. Turns out women and men alike tend to gain weight "in a period of marital change," according to our friends at Booster Shots.

So bring on the comfort food, soon-to-be-ex-Mrs. Kutcher. It's what happens next.

Arnold Schwarzenegger suffered a wee mishap Thursday on the New Mexico set of his big-screen comeback, "The Last Stand," and thoughtfully tweeted a picture of the aftermath.

The former California governor sent his 2.1 million followers a smiling photo of himself with a bleeding gash down the middle of his forehead. "Got a little banged up on set today," he wrote. "Thanks to the medical staff who got me back in action an hour later!"

Schwarzenegger's fans expressed concern, with at least one asking, "Is it a tumor?" (Please see "Kindergarten Cop" for clarification.) There's no word on what exactly caused Schwarzenegger's injury.

The movie, directed by Jee-Woon Kim ("I Saw the Devil") and also starring Forest Whitaker, Rodrigo Santoro and Johnny Knoxville, is about a small-town sheriff doing battle against a drug cartel. It's the first Hollywood production for the South Korean Jee-Woon Kim, and Schwarzenegger's first major role since leaving the California governor's office in January, and getting left by his wife Maria Shriver earlier this year.

Schwarzenegger also has a supporting role coming up in "The Expendables 2."

George Clooney will take home yet another honor come January: the Chairman's Award, courtesy of the 23rd annual Palm Springs International Film Festival.

Clooney is being honored for his work in "The Descendants," which opened Wednesday, and "The Ides of March," which he directed, acted in, produced and co-wrote.

"George Clooney brings new definition to the word 'star,' " festival chairman Harold Matzner said in a statement announcing the award. "A consummate actor, director, producer and screenwriter, he’s demonstrated that no discipline within the film industry is beyond his reach." Matzner also noted that Clooney's career is "fortunately for all of us who admire him ... still a work in progress."

Ben Affleck took home the chairman's prize in 2011, while other recipients include Dustin Hoffman and Nicole Kidman.

The festival runs Jan. 5-15, with the award gala on Jan. 7.

"Twilight" book author Stephenie Meyer is adored by fans for the vampire romance phenomenon she penned, but for weeks the Ministry has been admiring her new figure.

In early November, the author showed up at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood for a handprint and footprint ceremony starring "Twilight Saga" trio Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner -- and wound up turning a few heads herself with a slimmed-down silhouette.

So how did she do it?

"Honestly, watching what she eats, and exercise," franchise screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg told us at Monday's "Breaking Dawn" premiere. "Diet and exercise. And she looks fantastic."

Based on the above photos, we'd have to agree (on the left, Meyer poses with Peter Facinelli at 2010's "Eclipse" premiere; on the right, she hugs Taylor Lautner at Monday night's after-party).

"You know, she had lost some weight when we filmed the wedding scene together," Rosenberg recalled of the on-screen matrimony of Stewart and Pattinson, "but then I saw her at the 'Breaking Dawn' junket and just thought, holy smoke."

Congrats, Stephenie.

Justin Bieber's maybe-baby saga continues, even though Mariah Yeater, the woman who claims the singer is the father of her child, withdrew her paternity suit last week.

Yeater has since fielded new legal representation and reportedly wants to settle out of court -- Bieber is still planning to take a DNA test -- even as a compromising text message allegedly sent by the new mom has surfaced.

Yeater still wants the test, according to her new attorney, Jeffrey Leving -- they just want to do it privately, with both sides bound by confidentiality agreements. Sources on the Bieber side told TMZ there had been no settlement discussions, but said there might have been contact regarding DNA test terms. The singer's publicist told E! News that he intends to take the test.

So about that text message, which was obtained by TMZ from the recipient, who said it was sent by Yeater: The sender asks her male friend to "pleeease" erase any messages from her mom in which ex-boyfriend Robbie was named as the father. Then an offer is made to "kick u when we get paid."

Irony: In the text, the sender tells the recipient, "im trusting you" -- which might in hindsight seem silly, given that all the recipient asked TMZ to redact from the text-message picture was, well, his name.
Attorney Leving told E! News that he was checking whether the text was authentic. "Do I know if that is true or not?" he said. "No, but I do intend to look into that as it was just brought to my attention."

Leving is the one who'd said the lawsuit was pulled because of death threats and the media storm around his client. "It's better that it's handled out of court which is in the best interests of everybody," he said Wednesday. (Someone should have mentioned that death threats are nothing unusual among the Bieber fans?)

Bieber, meanwhile, seems to be doing just fine, judging by his Thursday radio interview with Elvis Duran, where he was promoting his "Under the Mistletoe" Christmas record. Check it out below -- especially the part where they make him blush over Selena Gomez, around the 24-minute mark.

Demi Moore has filed for divorce from Ashton Kutcher, the 49-year-old actress said Thursday in a statement.

"It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I have decided to end my six-year marriage to Ashton," Moore said. "As a woman, a mother and a wife there are certain values and vows that I hold sacred, and it is in this spirit that I have chosen to move forward with my life. This is a trying time for me and my family, and so I would ask for the same compassion and privacy that you would give to anyone going through a similar situation."

Kutcher responded via Twitter, saying, "I will forever cherish the time I spent with Demi. Marriage is one of the most difficult things in the world and unfortunately sometimes they fail. Love and Light, AK."

The news marks the end of weeks of speculation as to the couple's status after rumors spread in September after a San Diego woman's detailed account of an alleged sexual tryst with the 33-year-old Kutcher led to widespread reports that Kutcher and Moore were splitting.

The couple had not spoken directly about the alleged affair, said to have happened the weekend of their sixth wedding anniversary, while Moore was in New York for work. Kutcher did send a Twitter message linking to the Public Enemy song "Don't Believe the Hype."

As recently as last month, Moore was spotted visiting Kutcher in his "Two and a Half Men" trailer, and the two went on a Kabbalah camping trip together. The two have attended several recent events solo, but both had been spotted wearing their wedding bands.

This could be the first divorce where the fate of a Twitter handle — Demi goes by @mrskutcher — is part of the negotiations.

With the premiere of "Breaking Dawn -- Part 1" coming at midnight Thursday, "Twilight" fandom is officially entering its final -- and perhaps its most bizarre -- stages.

To commemorate the series' penultimate installment, Madame Tussauds in London has invited female "Twilight" fans to come to the wax museum Friday dressed as brides and re-create the wedding of Edward and Bella by "marrying" their statue of Robert Pattinson as vampire Edward Cullen.

If the Twi-hard in question is lucky enough to have a real wedding on tap (to a breathing person, waxy or not) they can travel to the site of Edward and Bella's honeymoon, the Brazilian town of Paraty, which stood in for Brazil's Isle Esme in the film. There, fans have the option of renting out the location where Edward and Bella finally consummated their on-screen relationship for about $7,000 for a two-night stay. Or they can follow in the footsteps of the real-life couple Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson, who stayed at the nearby hotel Pousada du Oro during filming. The rates there are a little more reasonable, with a suite going for about $700 per night.

In Flower Mound, Texas, a suburb of Dallas, two Twi-hard moms have laid down their credit cards to rent out an entire auditorium for them and their friends to watch Edward and Bella get married in semi-private. One of the women, Christy Lorbach, told Dallas-Fort Worth station KDAF they did it "because it's our night … once a year, no, once every 18 months. There were 500 some odd days between these two movies.  No, that’s our night."

And back in England, one British fan who spent $6,320 and 46 hours to cover her body in tattoos of Edward, Bella and Jacob managed to take advantage of the next-to-last wave of "Twilight" mania by getting Pattinson to sign her arm at the film's British premiere.

"Robert signed my arm and I am going to get my tattooist to trace its outline so I have it on me permanently," 50-year-old fan Cathy Ward told the Daily Mail. She’s going to spend another $3,000 to finish the tattoos over her arms and chest. She claims her "Twilight" fandom helped her lose enough weight to go down 14 dress sizes.

With the final film in the series coming next year, it's still possible for "Twilight" fandom to cure cancer. Or at least generate one last gasp of extravagant spending.

Good news, Drake fans: The "Take Care" rapper has been added to the roster of performers for Sunday's American Music Awards.

The Ministry can exclusively reveal that Drake, aka Drizzy, aka Aubrey Drake Graham, is slated to belt his single "Headlines," joining an AMAs lineup that boasts Jennifer Lopez, Nicki Minaj, Maroon 5 and David Guetta.

Also news Thursday: Sunday's telecast will feature a collaboration from Ludacris and Enrique Iglesias.

With this week's release of his sophomore LP, Drake couldn't be a hotter commodity. Credited with breaking out via mixtape, he's been featured on popular tracks with Minaj, Lil Wayne and more. He was also a 2010 GQ Man of the Year.

Ludacris and Iglesias are now the the sixth pair up for the show, which also bills Lopez with will.i.am, Marc Anthony with rapper Pitbull, Maroon 5 with Christina Aguilera, Minaj with Guetta and Adam Levine with Gym Class Heroes.

The American Music Awards air Sunday on ABC at 8 p.m.

Kim Kardashian is ready for a little image rehab and she’s hoping “Kourtney & Kim Take New York” will help.

Sure, there were reports that Kim didn't want her divorce drama to play out on reality television, but what about all that footage of the couple before the split? Radar Online says, with full editorial control, she wants to edit the new season to her advantage and that the show will paint Kim as the “victim” and ex Kris Humphries as a “lazy and insensitive” villain.

In fact, a source tells the site that it was actually raw footage of the pair that convinced her to file for divorce in the first place. “The marriage was already under a tremendous amount of stress, but she just couldn't believe that she had married this man that was treating her and her family like this."

A little image rehab could do Kim some good.

Soon after she filed for divorce Oct. 31, critics began calling her marriage a sham, “Saturday Night Live” poked fun with a “Kim’s Fairytale Divorce” sketch and her former publicist began claiming her wedding was staged. Not to mention grassroots boycotts to get the whole family booted off television and the angry fans calling for her to be fired from Tyler Perry’s “The Marriage Counselor.”

Now, Radar sources say she’ll do anything to get back in the public’s good graces and keep her many endorsement deals.

“Kim carefully and methodically plans all of her business decisions, and that is how she is looking at her divorce, as all business,” says the source. “Of course she is sad, but it's all about Kim's endorsement deals and paid promotional appearances.”

Despite Kim’s troubles and the boycott, the rest of her family seems to be doing just fine. Since she filed for divorce, sisters Kourtney and Khloe debuted a novel called “Dollhouse,” while mom Kris Jenner released her memoir “Kris Jenner and All Things Kardashian.” Meanwhile little brother Rob is competing in the ‘Dancing With the Stars” finals.

Michael Lohan pleaded no contest Wednesday to domestic violence charges against Kate Major, and in trade for the plea got sentenced in a Florida court to two years' probation, four months in a residential treatment facility, a domestic-violence intervention program and no contact at all with his ex-girlfriend.

That's right -- no jail. Unless, of course, he messes up while on probation. Which, given that he's a Lohan, wouldn't seem impossible.

Judge Nick Nazaretian, who at one point had scolded Lohan for acting like a child, explained that when it came to seeing Major, "No contact is nothing. Zero. Minus zero." The 51-year-old told the judge it was no problem staying away from his former fiancee. "My hand has been bit too many times," he said.

Then again, Lohan acted like he understood when a different judge told him in October that he'd be in trouble if he even "dreamed about" his ex -- mere days before his rearrest for contacting her. That, of course, was the time he hurt his foot when he attempted to jump from his balcony to a tree, allegedly to avoid the police at his door.

"I think he needs help,” 29-year-old Major told the court in Hillsborough County, Fla. "Keeping him in jail would be hurting him more." Lohan, initially arrested in Florida on Oct. 25, has been behind bars since the tree-jumping incident on Oct. 27.

She also brought up another incarceration-challenged Lohan. "It's my birthday today," Major told Nazaretian. "A year ago, we were worried about Lindsay."

Replied the judge: "I'm not sure who that is."

Ah, perspective.

Rachel Bilson is game for some equal-opportunity viral promotion when it comes to her show "Hart of Dixie."

After a spoof public service announcement made the YouTube rounds, with her costar Wilson Bethel preaching the benefits of baring one's chest, Bilson says a female response could happen.

"Like pantyless? I mean, it could happen," she told us at L.A.'s Sherbourne restaurant, where she was toasted as Nylon magazine's current covergirl.

"Is that weird? Is that CW?" she asked of her home network. "I don't think they'd do it, but I know a few other networks that would."

Jokes aside, we asked if life was different leading the medical drama, as opposed being part a large ensemble cast on her star-making "The O.C."

"Honestly, I just work a bit more," she said, "but my costars are amazing."

And supportive, it appears, with cast members Bethel and Deborah S. Craig turning up to cheer her on, along with Ashlee Simpson and her "Boardwalk Empire" boyfriend Vincent Piazza, Shenae Grimes, Trevor Donovan and Evan Ross.

Nylon editor in  chief Marvin Scott Jarret and American Eagle hosted several courses of deliciousness, over wine and conversation, complimenting Bilson on her fashion prowess and a successful flagship season for "Dixie."

Nightlife architect Scott Sartiano popped in as folks buzzed about the week's previous Nylon Guys event, where "Breaking Dawn" stud Kellan Lutz celebrated his own cover at the Beverly lounge next door.

Though her emotional records reflect discord in the romance department, singer Adele is in high spirits as she recovers from throat surgery.

The Brit sensation had been downsizing a massive U.S. tour because of the condition (irritation around her vocal chords) before canceling the whole of her 2011 dates on doctor's orders.

"Thank you for all your positive thoughts and get well wishes. I’m doing really well, on the mend, super happy, relaxed and very positive with it all," she wrote on her website. "The operation was a success and I'm just chilling out now until I get the all clear from my doctors."

She's even cracking jokes, adding, "I best get back to practicing my mime show now."

The surgery was performed in early November, coincidentally when Adele had plans to head into the studio, possibly to record a theme for the next James Bond movie, "Skyfall." No word on a potential replacement, or if film producers are waiting for those pipes to heal.

It's a good day to be Bradley Cooper: The actor has been named People magazine's sexiest man alive for 2011. It's also an OK day to be Ryan Gosling, because his legion of fans really, really think he should've gotten the title instead of Cooper.

"I think it's really cool that a guy who doesn't look like a model can have this," Cooper said of the honor. "I think I'm a decent-looking guy. Sometimes I can look great, and other times I look horrifying."

A guy who doesn't look like a model. Well, if you insist. But the Ministry is all about Cooper, who has hit his leading-man stride nicely with the success of "The Hangover 2" and a slew of top-lining projects in the mill -- not to mention his easy smile and next-door charm.

And though Gosling does make it in this "sexiest" issue, some of his fans are more in the Bradley-is-horrifying camp -- and they aren't being shy online about their adoration and opinion that the "Ides of March" star should be gracing the cover.

Team Bradley is emblazoned on our T-shirt, but we can't ignore some of the more hilarious pro-Gosling efforts, such as 63 reasons Bradley Cooper isn't the sexiest man alive.

Other able-bodied men in the issue include Idris Elba, Liam Hemsworth, Justin Theroux and Chris Evans.

Let it be known that no amount of prestige (think Oscar nominations, humanitarian awards) can keep "The Descendants" star George Clooney from pulling classic practical jokes.

On the Hawaii set of the movie, which is garnering the actor a lot of Oscar buzz, Clooney lived up to his reputation for keeping things light — even though Shailene Woodley, who plays Clooney’s character's daughter in the film, said the shoot didn't present prime pranking opportunities for the actor.

"He was in every scene of the film, he was busy, and we had a 10-year-old on set. It wasn’t an 'Ocean's Eleven' atmosphere," Woodley told Ministry of Gossip on Tuesday at "The Descendants' " L.A. premiere. "But we did get a lot of small practical jokes."

One time Clooney gave about 20 crew and cast members quite the scare when he fell on his back and feigned sharp pain, said Amara Miller, who plays his character's younger daughter.

"For a second there everyone thought we had lost our star. And then he gets up and he breaks through the crowd [surrounding him], and he walks away giggling," Miller said.

"We all just sit there going, 'You jerkface.' We all fell for it."


Clooney also kept the practical jokes coming with the help of smart phone technology.

"We were filming this scene on a plane — really right, a lot of extras, kind of uncomfortable," costar Nick Krause said. "I hear this noise behind me. I look back and I hear it again, and there's George playing with the fart button on his iPhone."


The young cast members have long-running "ER" to thank for Clooney’s natural ability to make things fun during the shoot.

"I did 'ER' for years where I worked with kids," he said. "I played a pediatrician. So I sort of got the hang of keeping it moving."


How does the actor switch gears from goofy jokes to filming somber scenes?

"When it’s a really well-written script and a really talented director," said Clooney, "it's not so hard."

"The Descendants," directed by Alexander Payne, opened with a limited release Wednesday.

When Justin Bieber finally does have a baby -- well, that kid isn't very likely to get beaten up on the playground, or to lose a game of chicken: Mariah Yeater's paternity suit against the pop star reportedly is no more.

Yeater "quietly" dropped the suit late last week and her lawyers quit the gig, according to TMZ, after they were informed by Bieber lawyer Howard Weitzman that a lawsuit was headed right back at them if (when?) the DNA test came up in the singer's favor.

Good thing the Biebs didn't rush home from Europe to take that paternity test, yes? After saying, "I know that I'm going to be a target, but I'm never going to be a victim," he and his legal team are looking pretty tough.

Yeater had filed a child-support suit against Bieber on Halloween, alleging he'd knocked her up via 30 seconds of post-concert coitus in a backstage bathroom last year when he played Staples Center. It emerged that she'd previously tapped an ex-boyfriend, and possibly a mystery lover named Steve, as the daddy of her 3-month-old boy.

If her allegation had been proved true, she could have been looking at statutory rape charges. She'd claimed they'd done the nasty when she was 19 and Justin was only 16.

"Go BIG or Go HOME," Bieber said a few hours ago on Twitter. Even if it had nothing to do with the dropped case, that sentiment is on point.

At "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn -- Part 1" premiere, love was in the air, and not just because adoring fans were hurling themselves toward the franchise's stars: Nikki Reed and Kellan Lutz both walked the black carpet Monday night with their significant others in tow.

Reed, who recently wed former "American Idol" star Paul McDonald, elicited coos from tween onlookers as she ran over to her husband and wrapped her arms around him.

"I feel like we'll be like that for a long time," she gushed immediately after the embrace.

Lutz, meanwhile, showed off his new girlfriend, brunette Sharni Vinson, whom he met during a chemistry read for the film "Step Up 3D."

"We're very fun-loving kids," he smiled. "We just enjoy life. I enjoy being with her."

Lutz had lots to be happy about Monday, as "Immortals" -- the swords-and-sandals epic in which he has a supporting role -- claimed the No. 1 spot at the box office over the weekend. The 26-year-old actor said his experience filming the action film, which took three months to shoot, was happily different than working on the seven-month-long final "Twilight Saga" production.

"You kind of lose your mind when you're working so much," he said of the "Breaking Dawn" filming experience. "You're shooting in a depressing climate kind of because it's winter-time. It's always gloomy. You kind of just get homesick. You get lethargic. You aren't on top of your game. And 'Immortals' was in sunny Montreal in the summer, so I was just really happy to get up every day."



Reed doesn't have any other films currently in theaters, but she's eager to begin her post-"Twilight" career.

"It's not like being in these movies affords you the ability to not have to try and make good movies and work really hard," she explained. "When these are all done, I think we're all still going to have to fight just as hard."

In theme with the anticipated wedding of Bella Swan and Edward Cullen in "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn -- Part 1," Monday's U.S. premiere threw a massive after-party that re-created the characters' wedding reception -- and their honeymoon.

In a setting that was part tropical island shore, part Washington forest, the film's leads Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner turned up to greet castmates, filmmakers and fans at the space constructed across from L.A. Live.

Director Bill Condon toasted his team under the approving gaze of the series' author, Stephenie Meyer, and screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg, as well as supporting cast members such as Kellan Lutz, Ashley Greene, Nikki Reed and Jackson Rathbone.

"I'm very happy with the film," Lutz told the Ministry while hosting a table of guys that included actor Ryan Rottman.

"Twilight" always brings famous fans as well, including Rob Lowe, Michael Chiklis and Arnold and Maria Shriver's boy Patrick Schwarzenegger.

Produced again by Chad Hudson, the party featured a raised platform where the wedding tableau was re-created. More than 1,000 wisterias hung from vines above wooden benches and an epic trellis under which enthusiasts took photos.

Catching up with Rosenberg, who picked at sweet potato fries and sipped bubbly while twirling in her Carolina Herrera gown, she gushed that the designer had walked the red carpet with her.

"That was totally my highlight," Rosenberg said.

While Stewart changed out of her gown and into a white camisole, Lautner stayed suited to chat up industry types before all three leads left to grab a plane for London.

Across from the wedding reception stage was a beach scene with ocean waves projected onto the wall, romantic lounge furniture and even a few chess boards as a nod to Edward and Bella's honeymoon activity (well, one of their activities).

While Rathbone puzzled folks in a crushed, red velvet suit, "Twilight" vampire parents Peter Facinelli and Elizabeth Reaser mingled with Billy Burke and Sarah Clarke from the human set.

Heads turned for Bruno Mars, who is featured on the soundtrack -- but there was one real showstopper: Hudson brought in the actual prop wedding cake from the film set, surrounding it with bejeweled cupcakes and ropes of pearls.

Mindy Kaling's funny shtick attracted some fabulous names Sunday as her notable pals came to toast her new book, "Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)."

Not so much a concern Sunday, as Jon Hamm and partner Jennifer Westfeldt, Aziz Ansari, Nicole Richie and more came to hang out at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel's cocktail lounge the Spare Room.

Toasted by Cindy Leive, Glamour's editor in chief, Kaling was complimented on needing virtually no edit and on her genuine humor, whether "writing about one-night stands or what makes a man a man," according to one guest.

Kaling's "Office" mates B.J. Novak and Jenna Fischer rolled through, as did funny ladies Anna Faris and Busy Philipps and chat-show host Jimmy Kimmel. a

At "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 1" premiere Monday night, there were the usual screaming fans, outlandish signs and slew of press outlets. But for the first time at a "Twilight Saga" premiere, stars Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner weren't preparing to film another installment in the mega-popular franchise.

Since "Breaking Dawn" Parts 1 and 2 wrapped this year, the actors have been free to pursue other film offers. Lautner, for one, just had his first leading-man turn in the action flick "Abduction" — which, unfortunately, did not do near the level of business typical for a "Twilight" film.

Indeed, the 19-year-old admitted, he finds himself at an interesting crossroads. Asked if he is excited to be moving on to post-"Twilight" projects, he replied: "No and yes."

"It's moreso no, I'm not excited to be done. We have a lot fun making these movies together. We all get along great, and we're like a family by this point, so it's tough," he explained. "But yes at the same time, because we get to go off and do other things as actors, and this has been an incredible platform for us."



Stewart, meanwhile, is filming "Snow White and the Huntsman." Still, on the black carpet, she seemed comfortable jumping back into "Twilight" world, saying she found herself surprisingly at ease playing a mother in the latest film, out Friday.

"I really took to it. My favorite thing to play in this was that feral sort of mother," she explained. "None of it was really as strange as you think it would be.

"I guess it got strange when things were incredibly unreal, like when we had a fake baby. The real babies were amazing to work with, but suddenly you pick up this goopy, hairy doll, and it just doesn't really work.



As for what Pattinson found most surreal about shooting the infamous birth scene in the film, he offered up this, um, lovely gem:

"I mean, it's a little bit difficult to get more surreal than chewing through a placenta."

Just like Brad Pitt didn't mean life with Jennifer Aniston wasn't interesting when he said he was living an uninteresting live while he was with Aniston, he apparently didn't mean he would be retiring in three years when he told Australian "60 Minutes" he would be retiring in three years.

"I wasn't putting an exact deadline on my expiration date," Pitt said Tuesday at a news conference in South Korea, where "Moneyball" premiered Tuesday. "But I see it coming. I have other interests."

Here's what Pitt told "60 Minutes," according to the show's transcript:

TARA BROWN: If Brad Pitt wants us to be surprised, then he's left the best, and for his fans, the worst, til last. At the height of his fame and game, he's preparing to turn his back on acting. How much longer would you like to do your business for?

BRAD: Three years.

TARA BROWN: Three years?

BRAD: Yeah.

TARA BROWN: And then what happens after three years?

BRAD: Hell if I know. Hell if I know. I am really enjoying the producing side and development of stories and putting those pieces together. And getting stories to the plate that might have had a tougher time otherwise, so ... You know, I have gotten away with a few things in writing and I have been pissed off about a few things. How's that?

Perhaps Pitt is out of practice with the interviews, as he and Angelina Jolie don't do them much outside of when they're promoting projects?

His explanation for the "uninteresting" Aniston comments to Parade earlier this year were as follows:

"It grieves me that this was interpreted this way. Jen is an incredibly giving, loving and hilarious woman who remains my friend. It is an important relationship I value greatly. The point I was trying to make is not that Jen was dull but that I was becoming dull to myself — and that I am responsible for."

At least this time, the only one he has to get it straight with, other than fans and the media, is himself.

Eva Longoria is such a committed friend, she'll apparently go to great lengths to support her pals. By suffocating herself, for instance.

The "Desperate Housewives" star attended the Hollywood Style Awards on Sunday to present a trophy to photographer Randall Slavin, and made a crack about rocking one of her chum Victoria Beckham's high-end dresses.

After teetering down a runway to the stage's lectern, Longoria needed a moment to catch her breath.

"I can't breathe in this dress. It's Victoria Beckham, so it's a negative-4," she said of the size, getting chuckles from a crowd that included newly single Zoe Saldana, Khloe Kardashian, stylist Elizabeth Stewart and Madonna's "W.E." leading lady, Andrea Riseborough.

All in good fun, we're sure, as Beckham and Eduardo Cruz's current squeeze go way back. The gals recently had a catch-up session at one of David Beckham's soccer matches, where Eva was spotted cuddling Victoria's new daughter, Harper Seven.

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One big difference between the "Breaking Dawn" premiere campers, and the folks farther northeast downtown at Occupy L.A.? The Twi-hards have a clear set of demands: "Twilight," "Twilight" and more "Twilight" -- and if you would cap that with a little Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner on the red carpet before "Breaking Dawn -- Part 1" premieres at the Nokia Theatre, everyone would go home happy.

The "Breaking Dawn" fans, who've been camped in tents gathered under a larger tent at L.A. Live since Wednesday, got some extra entertainment Sunday morning: Supporting cast members, including Cullen family patriarch Peter Facinelli, vampire Jackson Rathbone, werewolf BooBoo Stewart and Denali vixens Casey LaBow and MyAnna Buring showed up for a breakfast-time autograph session and photo fest ahead of Monday's big event.

The "big three" stars will hit the scene Monday evening.

Twilight saga author Stephenie Meyer also showed ahead of the red carpet for the first time, handing out 600 pre-autographed copies of "Breaking Dawn" and delighting fans, some of whom thanked her for friendships that had resulted because of her books.

"They're really kind to each other, which I love, and all very excited," Meyer said in a video interview Sunday, "and looking pretty good for having slept on the street."

The Ministry of Gossip will have the premiere's official live-streaming video from the red carpet starting at 5 p.m. PST -- so either bookmark this post or come back to the Ministry later to see KStew, RPattz, Taylor and more from the red carpet in Los Angeles.

There's a premiere in London's Stratford district Wednesday, and the movie hits U.S. theaters Friday.

You'd better get some Brad Pitt while he's hot, as the 47-year-old movie star says he plans to call it a day as an actor when he turns 50.

Fatherhood certainly changes a man, but in Jay-Z's case it looks to be a simple upgrade.

Kat Von D is no longer giving ex-fiance Jesse James the benefit of the doubt, instead alleging that he cheated on her with at least 19 women while they were together.

Zoe Saldana and entrepreneur Keith Britton have called off their longtime relationship.

Too bad Cpl. Kelsey De Santis didn't get Justin Timberlake to a Marine Corps Ball just a little sooner -- because the note that the performer wrote on his website Sunday would have been perfect message for his young fans to reflect on Friday, which was Veteran's Day.

Yes, De Santis was cool and humble and honest ("I have to tell you, it's not every day that I meet a 23 year old girl and she's more worried about if I'm having fun or if I'm comfortable!" he wrote). And her friends rocked and were funny and even danced a little. She started the evening in her dress blues (Marine formal wear for women includes a skirt) then changed into a glittery evening gown, according to local station WTVR.

"The ball was epic!" De Santis tweeted afterward. "Had a wonderful time."

But what Timberlake didn't expect from a blind date that originated during the marketing of his "Friends With Benefits" promotional campaign with Mila Kunis? "An event," he said, "that turned out to be one of the most moving evenings I've ever had."

From JT himself:

[T]he next thing I knew I was watching a video about Pearl Harbor/WW2 and the September 11 terrorist attacks... It was a video with some first-hand accounts from some Marines who were there... Telling their stories of the sights and sounds of war and rescue. So vivid and real. So honest but, so filled with a sense of compassion and adoration for this wonderful country. They spoke with a pride that only they could have acquired through their experience as a US Marine. There was a common theme that I began to notice as well... No matter what the situation. No matter how dire...

They were there FIRST.

There on the front lines.

No questions... Just reaction.

While this tribute was playing, you could hear a pin drop. It was a surreal moment to be in that room with so many of our great Marines who have such a different type of connection to those stories. One that we who don't serve will NEVER understand.

He put it in context unique to those who travel in celebrity circles: "I've met so many of my heroes... From Michael Jordan to Michael Jackson. And, nothing makes me feel more honor and pride than when I get to meet one of you.

"Last night changed my life and I will never forget it."

Check out Timberlake's whole note -- lots of details for the curious! -- and then come back to the Ministry and read more about how he and De Santis wound up at the Basic School Instructor Battalion 236th Marine Corps Birthday Ball in Virginia on Saturday night.

Coming up this Friday? Mila Kunis heads to North Carolina for her own night at the Marine Corps Birthday Ball.

Downtown Los Angeles' Grand Avenue made good on its name Saturday evening, welcoming celebs, social types and, naturally, art fans to the Museum of Contemporary Art's annual gala.

The museum tapped renowned performance artist Marina Abramovic as guest director for this year's fete, presenting "An Artist's Life Manifesto" with Debbie Harry as featured performer.

Gwen Stefani attended, as she did last year, though husband Gavin Rossdale was nowhere in sight. Stefani instead buddied up to event chair Dasha Zuhkova, while Nicole Richie frolicked on the rainy grounds with actress Jaime King.

Abramovic featured live performers as dinner centerpieces, with only their heads popping out from the tablecloths as guests ate and drank. Coexisting with the human heads wasn't the only thing Abramovic requested of the crowd: White lab coats were distributed and mandatory to don as dinner began.

"It's this idea of transition," Abramovic said, as the whole of the party was to experiment within her performance. Except it wasn't the whole of the party — as some guests blatantly refused to put on the jackets (think Hills-dwelling housewives not wanting their gowns concealed).

But the boldface names were happy to oblige Abramovic; among them Kirsten Dunst, looking radiant with Rodarte designing duo Kate and Laura Mulleavy. They sat close to celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe, while Will Ferrell worked the room with his wife, Viveca.

Rose McGowan turned heads in a green number, as did a late-arriving Pamela Anderson (random, no?), Dita Von Teese and a slimmed Minnie Driver.

Among the hits from Harry, the human heads, the doctor costumes and a consistent showing of celebrity art fans, Abramovic emerged as the night's true star.

She's an artist whose commitment may have turned an interesting page on an important night for Los Angeles, a gala that's frankly been struggling to find its voice since Lady Gaga graced it two years ago.

Usually, the main attraction at a big movie premiere are the celebrities. But at the premiere of "The Muppets" in Hollywood on Saturday, a slew of puppets got the A-list treatment.

Before the film's stars, Jason Segel and Amy Adams, even arrived, a group of Muppets — including Kermit the Frog, Fozzie Bear and Gonzo — were driven down the the appropriately green carpet in a Jeep. They were followed by Miss Piggy, who scored her own chauffeured ride — a sexier convertible.

"In case anyone is wondering," a frenzied publicist told the press, "Miss Piggy was wearing Jeremy Scott and Louboutins."

PHOTOS: 'The Muppets' Hollywood premiere

Yes, really. The Muppets were handled like such stars at the event that they almost seemed like actual celebrities. As Adams put it later to the press: "The magic of the Muppets is that you believe in them."

Over the years, there have been numerous television programs and films including the famous puppets — most memorably 1984's "The Muppets Take Manhattan."

Segel, who co-wrote the new movie and been a Muppets fan since he was a child, said the time was right for a fresh take on the puppets because comedy has become too cynical.

"People get a lot of laughs by making fun of people, and the Muppets never do that," he said. "I thought it was an important reminder just to be nice. That's the message of the Muppets."

The beauty of the Muppets lies in their simplicity, added Adams.

"I think we're a society that we've gotten overblown in all these special effects and all of that — which I love as well," said the actress, who will soon star as Lois Lane in the upcoming installment of the big-budget "Superman" franchise. "But I think it's nice to see these characters [with] their message of hope and belief."

Meanwhile, if Segel is eager about how audiences will receive his version of "The Muppets," he was hiding it well.

"You know, having seen the movie, I'm not nervous at all," he said confidently. "It's a really beautiful film. And I haven't seen anyone do anything but walk away smiling."

Two weeks after accusations of sexual harassment against Herman Cain emerged, his wife, Gloria Cain, has opened up publicly about the matter, saying, “I’m thinking he would have to have a split personality to do the things that were said.”
In an interview conducted Sunday with “On the Record w/ Greta Van Susteren” on Fox News, Mrs. Cain said the descriptions from women accusing her husband of sexual harassment did not square with the man to whom she has long been married.
“You hear the graphic allegations and we know that would have been something that’s totally disrespectful of her as a woman,” she said. “And I know the type of person he is. He totally respects women.”
Fox News released excerpts of the interview Sunday night. The interview is to be broadcast Monday evening.
Mrs. Cain has been barely visible throughout her husband’s candidacy, appearing with him only a handful of times. “You won’t see my family out on the campaign trail on a day-to-day basis,” Mr. Cain told Fox News this month.
What’s known about Mrs. Cain, whose maiden name is Etchison and who has been married to Mr. Cain for more than 43 years, is limited almost completely to her husband’s remarks and a chapter about her in his book, “This Is Herman Cain! My Journey to the White House,” published earlier this year. Titled “Gloria,” it spans four pages.
In the book, he explains her role in his campaign: “Gloria continues to be a steady source of devotion and inspiration,” he writes.
“Some people have certain expectations concerning the traditional politician’s wife, though,” he writes, “and I’m often asked: ‘Where is your wife? Why isn’t she campaigning with you?’ ”
“ ‘She is at home,’ I answer.
“And Gloria will tell them that she’s not running, but she supports me 100 percent. That’s all I need.”
The Cain campaign has been struggling to regain its focus after it was revealed that two women who worked for the National Restaurant Association received monetary settlements in the 1990s relating to allegations of harassment by Mr. Cain when he was its chief.
One of the women, Karen Kraushaar, has spoken out publicly in recent days. Another woman, Sharon Bialek, recently claimed she was groped by Mr. Cain in 1997 after she asked for employment help after being fired from the association’s education foundation. Mr. Cain has denied the accusations.

1. I went to see Kevin Spacey in Richard III last night. Act 1 was 2 hours long. I repeat, Act 1 was 2 hours long. The first hour was pretty exciting because we were in the 4th row and Kevin Spacey was ALMOST SWEATING ON US. But the thrill was gone into hour two. Also, there was no synopsis in the program. I'm a dumbass. With Shakespeare, I need a little dumbass version, so I can follow along. The only part I started to get was the two young princes, because that is a spooky Tower of London Murder Mystery, and I've been all over that for years. If you plan on going and are dumb like me, have an espresso and read a synopsis first.

Sidenote about Richard III with Kevin Spacey. In the 2-hour Act 1, there is a scene with a head in a box (I'm not giving anything away. At least I think I'm not. I really have no idea.) Anyway, Kevin Spacey (as a disabled person) is making a big speech over a head in a box and I just about exploded! I wanted to stand up in the theater and scream, "Is anyone appreciating this? Anyone?"

2. I am fascinated with this San Francisco Magazine slideshow of an Ann Taylor party in Menlo Park. What, I'm dying to know, is Menlo Park? I can't get enough of these photos, because it's so exciting to see what appears to be the suburban retail store celebrated so seriously! I would have driven (or flown? I'm not sure) to "Menlo Park" to drink water out of a wine glass in Robin Hood boots and statement jewelry. Is there an #OccupyMP movement and did they protest? Or celebrate, as Ann Taylor is affordable careerwear? I've got to know...