Hey! Another four-day week. I'm likin' this. Frankly, given what was packed into four days, I don't know if I could have coped with five. Five, coincidentally, being Billy Bob Thornton's current wedding total (but as mutual funds caution: Past performance is not a guarantee of future results). Five's also the number of toes on each of Paula Jones' feet, which, like much of the rest of her, we're apparently going to get to see in full glossy color -- soonlike. Read on for all (OK, "some") of the details.
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Tuesday: "More knotty behavior "
Gossip City never sleeps. I take two measly days off and what happens? The dish runneth over.
After a full week of denials from their publicists, Billy Bob Thornton and Angelina Jolie tied the knot in Las Vegas Friday afternoon. The quickie, no-frills affair, in which both bride and groom wore jeans, was held at the Little Church of the West.
No word on whether Jolie's brother, James Haven, was on hand to add to the traditional awkwardness of "You may now kiss the bride."
Read the entire Nothing Personal column for Tuesday, May 9.
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Wednesday: "Skywalk this way"
In a galaxy far, far away, George Lucas has been screen-testing an array of actors hoping to play Anakin Skywalker in the next "Star Wars" flick.
Over the past few months, the gossip mill has spewed out famous names like Leonardo DiCaprio and Colin Hanks (Tom's son). But it looks like Lucas has tapped an actor you've probably never heard of before: Hayden Christensen.
Variety reports that, although Lucasfilm has not yet made an official casting announcement, the fresh-faced 19-year-old Canadian with just a few credits to his name snagged the plum part thanks to his socko on-screen chemistry with Natalie Portman, who will reprise her role as Queen Amidala. In "Episode II," Anakin and Queen Amidala fall in love and spawn Luke and Leia.
May the Force be with them ...
Read the entire Nothing Personal column for Wednesday, May 10.
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Thursday: "Stripper mauled"
Paula Jones is fixing to pull a Darva Conger and doff her duds for a photo spread in what her publicist, David Hans Schmidt, terms a "major men's magazine."
According to the New York Post, President Clinton's cash-strapped former accuser reportedly has her heart set on Penthouse, the magazine that, back in 1994, ran grainy candids of her snapped by a former boyfriend. This time, though, Paula reportedly stands to receive a tidy six-figure sum for her efforts.
A spokeswoman for Penthouse confirmed that the magazine was in talks with Jones, but said the magazine had yet to decide in which issue Paula's pix might appear. So much for "I'm not that kind of a girl."
Read the entire Nothing Personal column for Thursday, May 11.
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Friday: "Just for the thrill of it "
Halle Berry wants the world to know: Friends don't let friends drink Diet Coke and drive. Berry was slapped with three years of probation, a $13,500 fine and 200 hours of community service after she pleaded no contest on Wednesday to leaving the scene of a traffic accident.
So what was it, drugs? A couple of cocktails? "The truth is I was at my girlfriend's house, catching up, having chips and Diet Coke, left her house to go back to my house, which was just five minutes away," said Berry.
Maybe next time she should try Diet Sprite.
Read the entire Nothing Personal column for Friday, May 12.
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