How's this for the beginning of a lawsuit filed today in Los Angeles County Superior Court? -- "Sacha Baron Cohen is a prankster."
Two anonymous plaintiffs are suing 20th Century Fox and One America Productions, claiming members of their college fraternity were interviewed to become part of the smash "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan" film.
The plaintiffs -- listed as John Doe 1 and John Doe 2 -- were allegedly assured the film would not be shown in the U.S. and their identities would not be revealed.
They were both selected to appear in the movie and, according to the suit, taken "to a drinking establishment 'to loosen up' and provided alcoholic beverages." They claim they signed the movie releases after "heavy drinking."
The suit claims both men were then taken to a motor home where they were filmed, all the while "encouraged to continue drinking."
The movie features a scene in a motor home where Cohen gets drunk with three frat boys and the group watches the Pamela Anderson/Tommy Lee sex tape while inebriated.
The plaintiffs claim they suffered "humiliation, mental anguish, and emotional and physical distress, loss of reputation, goodwill and standing in the community..." because the movie was indeed released in the U.S.
Mariah Carey's production company has filed suit against Asia-based concert promoters, ONE Group Investments Private Limited. The diva wants $1 million to reimburse her for expenses related to prepping a cancelled Hong Kong performance.
The suit alleges that Mimi was looking forward to 'shaking it off' in Hong Kong, but was forced to cancel the show when the promoter "breached its contractual obligations." ONE Group claims the diva had poor advance sales and "last-minute demands which we find wholly unreasonable and not with the best interests of Hong Kong, us and also the fans."
Mariah's attorney says, "This is an open-and-shut case for Mariah's company and we are confident that the company will prevail."
Not just your one-stop shop for all your breaking news, TMZ also brought you some less urgent, but nonetheless titillating stories. From Jessica Alba's abs to Jessica Simpson's bitch, we've compiled five of TMZ's most popular celebrity feature stories for your viewing pleasure.
While the weather may be getting colder, nothing heats things up like your favorite stars dressed in the skimpiest of outfits. From Scarlett Johansson to Britney Spears, see if you can tell which hotties dare to bare in a bikini -- and which keep it modest in a one-piece.
Nicole Richie took a page out of the Jennifer Aniston paparazzi-containment handbook, using rather aggressive tactics to keep the paparazzi from getting too close.
The incredible shrinking reality-TV star was seen leaving an office building in Los Angeles today, and as she approached her Mercedes-Benz tank, the space-clearer yelled repeatedly at the lensman, "Get out of the way!" We're pretty sure the photographer heard the admonition the first time around.
Richie might not have appreciated the attention in this case, but she was more than happy to play with BFF Paris Hilton for the cameras yesterday night at a party for the Playstation 3 game console.
From the look of her embroidered art class smock and long gloves, Eva Longoria was literally ready to paint the town red on Wednesday.
Longoria showed off her inner matron to attend a charity event at New York's American Museum of Natural History, dressed in an ensemble that made her look like Marcia Cross' personal hair colorist.
Sorry Eva, but being TV's golden girl and dressing like one of the Golden Girls -- two different things!
It's safe to say that this year's romances have been nothing less than entertaining. Since we at TMZ know what's really important to you, we're giving you a little recap on who went home with whom!
Nick Lachey turned a music video romance into the real thing with sexy MTV VJ Vanessa Minnillo, while heiress Paris played the field with QB Matt Leinart. Of course, we have quite a few more, so click here and take a nice long look at these starcrossed lovers!
Just four months after Pamela Anderson burst onto the poker scene with her own gaming site, the sexiest cardplayer in cyberspace says the whole thing was a, er, giant bust.
On her personal website, pamelaanderson.com, the actress blasts the endeavor in her online diary; "Poker site should have been shut down last month. I have nothing to do with it anymore. Too many shady areas ... I made a mistake getting involved in something I know nothing about for a quick buck! Yuck. So unlike me. Glad it's over."
The fiery statement comes just three days after Pam blamed the collapse of PamelaPoker.com on legal red tape. "Too bad my poker site fell apart--too many rules in USA. No fun." That's quite a change of heart.
Whatever caused Pam to cash out, one thing is certain: she knows exactly when to fold 'em.
The fact that people find her sexy is icky to starlet Ashley Judd. She was interviewed Wednesday on "The Dave Ryan in the Morning Show," on KDWBin Minneapolis. When Ryan and his crew asked her about being one of FHM magazine's sexiest women alive. Ashley's response: "Gross... wouldn't the world be a nicer place if that magazine didn't exist?" Well, actually, it's nicer with it, Ash.
Later in the interview, Ashley bungled one of the key components of a good radio interview: knowing the city where you're being heard! She thought it was Detroit. Not so De-lovely.
While everyone else in the world might be obsessed with the Britney-FedEx divorce, TMZ managed to find the one person in the Western hemisphere who hadn't heard: Lindsay Lohan.
At last night's Playstation 3 launch party in Beverly Hills,the freckled phenom was asked by a reporter about the biggest celebrity divorce since Brad and Jen called it a day. She answered, with a rather derisive giggle, "I didn't even know that, actually ... It's none of my business ... I really don't care."
It seems that someone hasn't been reading their TMZ.com.
TMZ has learned Kevin Federline was speaking to his lawyer about divorcing Britney Spears more than a month before she filed legal papers to end the marriage.
Sources say Federline was communicating with attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan, talking about divorcing Spears and angling to cash in on her fortune. Federline's right to money is extremely limited because of the prenup. TMZ knows the terms of the prenup, and they are not good news for K-Fed. We're told the only thing he'll get is less than 20% of the value of the couple's Malibu estate, valued at approximately $10 million, and spousal support for one year. We're told the support he'll get is less than $250,000.
As for reports that Britney e-mailed her hubby to inform him that she was about to file divorce papers, it simply is not true. Sources tell us that the couple has not been speaking for weeks, but e-mailing each other. She did not, however, talk about divorce in those e-mails. K-Fed learned of the divorce at the time TMZ broke the story that Spears had filed.
Sources say that at least for now, Spears will not comment on K-Fed's plan to fight her for custody of their two children. We know, however, that Spears sees K-Fed's move as nothing more than an attempt to score some money. He's banking on Spears forking over dough to avoid a fight; an unlikely outcome -- given the fact that she's represented by legal pit bull Laura Wasser. Also, if K-Fed got custody, he'd be entitled to a significant amount in child support.
TMZ celebrated its first scooptabulous year as the number one entertainment news source, and last night's party was completely off the hook!
In a giant star-studded bash at Republic in West Hollywood, sponsored by our friends at Svedka Vodka, superstar DJ Samantha Ronson absolutely brought the house down with killer dance tunes as circus performers went wild on the red carpet.
Shanna Moakler, Tera Patrick, Omarosa and "Paris Hilton" all took part in the festivities and walked off with fab gift bags filled with hip items like delicious Svedka vodka, stylin' American Trash t-shirts, and copies of the #1 animated film of the year, Disney's "Cars," among others. Our fearless leader, Harvey Levin, made a rare appearance that wasn't broadcast live from the TMZ newsroom! Judging by the bleary-eyed staffers here this morning ... blah blah blah.
Posted Nov 9th 2006 12:21PM by TMZ Staff Filed under: TV
Legendary CBS newsman Ed Bradley passed away earlier this morning at the age of 65.
Sources connected with CBS tell TMZ that several days ago, as a result of leukemia, doctors removed Bradley's spleen and subsequently his body shut down.
Bradley, who won 19 Emmys during his 25-year stint with "60 Minutes," had been ill for some time and underwent heart surgery about a year ago.
Bradley first joined the staff of "60 Minutes" in 1981 when Dan Rather left to replace Walter Cronkite as the anchor of the "CBS Morning News."
That's right, both Nick and Ness were born on the same day, seven years apart. The two stepped out to celebrate Nick's 33rd and Ness' 26th, at Koi, the swanky sushi spot in West Hollywood.
They're both Scorpio, so they're both magnetic and passionate. In Chinese astrology, Nick was born in the Year of the Ox (solid and methodical) while Vanessa was born in the Year of the Monkey (charming and upbeat). We think these hot scorpions can work it out! Happy Birthday, you two!
Shar Jackson, who has two tots with Kevin Federline, is tight-lipped on the Brit split, but actions speak louder than words.
Though Jackson was bombarded by media hoping to get a sound bite about her FedEx at the Svedka Vodka sponsored TMZ One Year Anniversary Party last night, Shar would only express her feelings through something resembling an interpretive dance -- waving her arms and pacing up and down the carpet.
The one thing she did say -- "I love all of you so much." Awww, we love you too.
Posted Nov 9th 2006 12:09PM by TMZ Staff Filed under: TV, Lost
Welcome back to another edition of the "Lost" Diary. Tonight is the final episode of 2006 and everyone has their "this better be good" face on tonight. Thirteen weeks is a long time between episodes!
Wednesday night also happened to be the same night as TMZ's one-year anniversary party, so I am writing this slightly hungover on Thursday morning, and I didn't watch it with my usual posse. And that kinda sucks. If the "Lost" Diary is about anything, it's about watching this show with your peeps. "Lost" isn't my favorite show, but it's my favorite show to watch. I hope some of you out there have started your own "Lost" night with your friends. Good times.
Enough with the sentimental BS, on with the show!!! 10:00 -- Kate flashback time, and I can't say I'm excited that it's her turn tonight. So she was going to marry a cop, huh? Odds he survives the episode? -- I'm at 50/50 right from the get-go.
10:02 -- Henry Gale flashed Jack the weirdest little half-smile I have seen from him -- a sign of worry, almost.
Ladies, Kevin Federline is available and willing – and he's letting the whole world (or the small crowd at his concert) know.
The self-proclaimed Fed-Ex gave his first post-breakup concert in Chicago at the House of Blues last night, and a TMZ spy says that the rapper made his appeal to the women of the Windy City, proclaiming before his minor masterpiece "Dance With a Pimp," "You know I am about to a free man, baby." He also made several other references to "the ladies" and that the Chicago "ladies" were "sexier than he remembered."
But there wasn't that much Feder-genius to be had, sadly, as the man of the hour only performed for about 35 minutes, and had to supplement his own slender offerings with other people's musical property, like Kanye West's "Gold Digger." And, no doubt disappointing the legions of non-fans who went just to hear him wax lyrical about Britney, Fed-Ex made only glancing references to his estranged wife.
Denise Hurls Laptop, Hurts Old Lady
Easy, girl! Denise Richards threw a photographer's laptop off a hotel balcony yesterday in a fit of anger – and ended up injuring an 80-year-old woman in a wheelchair.
The actress was upset about the presence of the paparazzi on the set of her movie "Blonde and Blonder" in a suburb of Vancouver, and accosted the snappers, nabbing their laptops and tossing them off the balcony of the hotel. Unfortunately for Richards, the flying computers hit the octogenarian in the arm, and the woman suffered "only minor injuries," said a spokesman for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to People.
No charges have been filed, though an ambulance was called. The Mounties interviewed Richards and co-star Pam Anderson about the incident, and the film's production company agreed to pay for the damages.
Do Not Look At Luke
Luke Wilson is being called a "diva" on the set of his new thriller "Vacancy," and co-star Kate Beckinsale isn't having any of it. Page Six reports that the "Old School" star is making diva-ish demands like not wanting anyone in his line of sight except the director, including Beckinsale, and refusing to do off-camera reversal shots (where he's off-camera but Beckinsale is talking to him), using a stand-in instead. (Of course, the Post seems to be confusing Luke with his brother Owen, calling Luke a "blond funnyman with the distinctive nose.") The situation got bad enough that, at one point, when Luke needed to shoot his own reversals, Beckinsale sent out a picture of herself with a note reading, "Read your lines to this – it will be better for both of us." The pair's reps won't acknowledge any tension, and a friend of Wilson's calls the story "baloney."
Party Favors: Russia Says "Nyet" to Borat? ... Michael Caine Bashes Beckhams ... Mariah's Fur Doesn't Fly
Smash comedy moviefilm "Borat" might be banned by the Russian government, because a government agency has deemed it "disparaging in relation to certain ethnic groups and religions." The local distributor for Fox says he is unaware of any other film being banned in Russia besides pornography ... Sir Michael Caine thinks that David Beckham is too young to be knighted, and that his wife Victoria "just goes along for the ride." Beckham has been rumored to be in line for a knighthood the next time the Queen does her thing. "I've been Sir Michael for about five or six years now. [David] seems a bit young to me, I wasn't a Sir until I was 66!" he tells the Sun ... Mariah Carey sent two mink coats that she got from a Russian oligarch, but because she doesn't wear fur, she sent one of them to PETA, oddly enough, says Page Six. The other one she sent to Mongolia to keep someone there warm, presumably, but the coat has gone missing.
Ever wonder what Paris Hilton's favorite form of exercise is? The svelte heiress keeps her million-dollar body toned with power holiday shopping sessions at her favorite Melrose Ave. boutique, Sielian's Vintage Apparel.
Paris hit the trendy shop last week and quickly got into the zone by running around the store, selecting dress after dress, saying, "Yes! Yes! Yes!" A TMZ spy says Paris tried on every garment brought to her fitting room and carefully inspected each look. That's hot!
By the time her retail therapy session was over, Paris had purchased a heap of vintage dresses, hats, sweaters, bracelets with Swarvoski crystals and a slew of vintage Chanel and Gucci scarves and headbands ... totaling over $7000! A girl's gotta have it!
With only 45 shopping days until Christmas, Hilton headed to her next frenzied spree, but in haste forgot some of her purchases, and even left her pavé diamond ring on a counter!
Before K-Fed was knocking up Britney, he was knocking up Shar Jackson. Mr. Federline was so busy getting busy, he seemed to be having trouble making rent. A rent check from Kevin has made its way onto eBay -- with INSUFFICIENT FUNDS stamped on it! Classy!
Things picked up after he hooked up with Britney; enough that someone had the neat idea to get Kev to autograph a microphone. He signed it, prophetically, "America's Most Hated."
Kevin Federline has responded to his estranged wife's divorce petition.
Federline is asking for legal and physical custody of the couple's children. Sources tell TMZ that Federline will fight Spears on the custody issue. In the response, obtained by TMZ, Federline is asking the judge to award Spears visitation.
Federline is also asking the court to award him spousal support.
Federline's lawyer, Mark Kaplan, filed the response Wednesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
In her petition, Spears asked for sole physical and legal custody of the kids.
Reese Witherspoon has officially filed for divorce from estranged husband Ryan Phillippe.
TMZ obtained Witherspoon's divorce petition, in which the actress is asking the court for joint legal custody of the couple's two children. Reese is asking for primary physical custody.
Witherspoon is asking the judge to block any attempt on Phillippe's part to get spousal support.
Reese is asking the judge to allow her "exclusive use of the family residence."
As TMZ reported, the couple does not have a prenup, which means earnings during the marriage will be divided 50/50.
The couple was married for seven years. They met at Reese's 21st birthday party.
Witherspoon lists the date of separation as October 30, citing "irreconcilable differences."
TMZ broke the story on October 30 that Witherspoon separated from Phillippe.
It's been a grueling year for celebrity relationships, and as we reach TMZ's one-year anniversary, we'd like to take a moment to remember the Tinseltown relationships that didn't make it through the year. This year's breakups have been some of the messiest, saddest and most shocking splits to hit La La Land.
Most recently Britney Spears won back millions of fans by ditching her dead beat husband Kevin Federline. Britney filed for divorce this week in Los Angeles citing "irreconcilable differences," but most people blame K-Fed's embarrassing attempt at a rap album, bad hygiene and constant partying. The burning question -- how much dough will Federline dance away with?
Britney wasn't the only pop sensation to say "I don't" this year. Former "Newlyweds" Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey announced their split in November, 2005. The two didn't have a pre-nup. In the end, they settled out of court, and Nick walked away with a lot less from Jess, sans stress.
One of the Baldwin brothers has had a lot of bad luck when it comes to cops and alleged drug use. Law enforcement sources tell TMZ Daniel Baldwin was arrested Tuesday in Santa Monica, Calif., after allegedly stealing a car.
We're told the owner of the car called OnStar, reporting the car stolen, and a rep from OnStar in turn called the Santa Monica P.D. to report the theft. Cops found the car at a local motel and saw Baldwin getting inside the vehicle.
We're told a disheveled Baldwin was taken into custody for grand theft auto. Officers conducted a search of the motel room where Baldwin was staying and allegedly found narcotics and paraphernalia. Baldwin was also booked on charges of possessing illegal drugs.
Baldwin, the brother of "30 Rock" star Alec Baldwin, was booked at the Santa Monica jail and held on $20,000 bail.
Cops tell TMZ that the car in question, a 2003 GMC Yukon, was stolen in Orange County. The Santa Monica P.D. transferred Baldwin to the Orange County Sheriffs Department, where he was booked on grand theft auto charges.
This is the second time Baldwin has been busted in Santa Monica for drugs. Last April, Baldwin was arrested at another Santa Monica hotel after a woman called the cops claiming she had been threatened there. Cops claim when they arrived, they found cocaine on Baldwin. That case is pending.
TMZ has learned that the world's most famous slacker was already begging for shoes, just a day before Britney Spears pulled the plug on K-Fed's "Fifty Mil" free ride. While perusing the aisles in a Canadian sporting goods store Monday night, Federbroke hit up a paparazzo for sneaker money: "Can you buy me some shoes?" he asked the perplexed pap.
The generous photog smiled, kicked over $120 for a pair of orange and black running shoes, and shot back, "I bet we owe you a couple more pairs." Federline replied, "I bet you do!"
We're guessing his Black Amex must have already been cancelled!
In a last ditch effort to salvage his failing rap career, Kevin Federline has slashed the price of admission to his concert tour to a whopping... $0.00. Nope, it's not a typo. Federline, "who comes tight with every rhyme," is giving away tickets to tonight's performance at the House of Blues in Chicago. Why, you ask? Because he had a miserable 20% turnout in New York this past weekend.
Fans (if there are any) can log on to Ticketmaster.com, but it will cost you -- $9.39 in fees and taxes.
Borat Lawsuit -- High Five!!!
Mariah Carey's
From the look of her embroidered art class smock and long gloves, Eva Longoria was literally ready to paint the town red on Wednesday.
Just four months after Pamela Anderson burst onto the poker scene with her own gaming site, the sexiest cardplayer in cyberspace says the whole thing was a, er, giant bust.
TMZ has learned Kevin Federline was speaking to his lawyer about divorcing Britney Spears more than a month before she filed 
Ladies, Kevin Federline is available and willing – and he's letting the whole world (or the small crowd at his concert) know. 
Denise Hurls Laptop, Hurts Old Lady
Do Not Look At Luke
Party Favors: Russia Says "Nyet" to Borat? ... Michael Caine Bashes Beckhams ... Mariah's Fur Doesn't Fly
Ever wonder what 
Before K-Fed was knocking up Britney, he was knocking up Shar Jackson. Mr. Federline was so busy getting busy, he seemed to be having trouble making rent. A rent check from Kevin has made its way onto 
Kevin Federline has responded to his estranged wife's divorce petition.
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