Media-Whore D'Oeuvres



(Jessica White via sportsillustrated)

"THAT Sean Penn, who recently split from wife Robin Wright Penn, has a new girlfriend. He was photographed in London with Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Jessica White." (PageSix)



"The Hamptons were having their swansongs -- end of season parties, and there were lots of them. Over in East Hampton Jo Carole and Ron Lauder had a dinner for the weekend guests, Alma and Colin Powell. In another part of the same forest, John and Joan Jakobson were having their annual get together, and Jody and John Eastman were entertaining their brother-in-law Paul McCartney ... Meanwhile over in Sagaponack, Marcia and Richard Mishaan hosted a party that was a combination of their last Friday night in summer for friends, and a party for the guests who attended Peggy Siegal’s sneak screening for Lionsgate’s 'Precious,' what Peggy calls 'an amazing new film about to break out.' (The film opens November 6th and will be in the Toronto Film Festival next week.) Directors Joel Schumacher, Bob Balaban, Bob Benton and Terry George hosted the screening for its director Lee Daniels at Goose Creek." (NYSocialDiary)



"Sara Nelson picks the season's literary hits—including new novels from Philip Roth, Vladimir Nabokov, and Dominick Dunne, Ted Kennedy’s memoir, and a sprawling biography of Ayn Rand .. Unless you spent your summer vacation locked in a catacomb inside the Vatican, you already know that the big book of the fall will be released next week—Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code sequel, The Lost Symbol. Whether that novel sells through its 6.5 million-copy first printing remains to be seen, and except for a few dribs and drabs leaked on some popular entertainment shows, no one has gotten an advance look. But you know what? There are many other titles coming this fall, and much is known about them. From the return of beloved novelists to long-awaited memoirs, here are 15 of the hottest books for fall." (TheDailyBeast)



"This is how the summer ends: not with a bang, but with a whimper. The combined totals of the top five films over the four-day holiday weekend could only manage to gross 75 percent of what X-Men Origins: Wolverine pulled down during its opening weekend back on May 1. The Final Destination claimed the top spot for the second weekend in a row, barely edging out Inglourious Basterds to take the honors. Unfortunately, for the three newcomers to multiplexes, it was a case of better luck next time: All About Steve, Gamer and, most disastrously, Extract failed to make any impression on audiences and will likely hit your Netflix queue sometime before Thanksgiving." (Observer)



"The relentless nights of clubbing and bar hopping finally paid off for Mickey Rourke last night — as he left Mahiki with a young blonde under his arm. Hollywood stalwart Rourke, along with fellow film hardman Jason Statham, had been enjoying the attention of all the young girls in the Mayfair nightclub. But it was the blonde, a 24-year-old model called Elena, who really fired his imagination. Our source said: 'Mickey looked as though he was really into her. She was slim and pretty and he couldn't take his hands off her. But it seemed as though he was more into her — because when he leant forward, as if wanting to kiss her, she pulled back.'" (Thisislondon)



"Some of Hollywood’s finest actors including Tilda Swinton, Matt Damon, Ewan McGregor, and George Clooney, ventured to Venice for the 66th International Venice Film Festival from September 2 through 12. This year only five of the 23 films entered are American, including Michael Moore’s new documentary 'Capitalism: A Love Story.' The jury for the festival headed by Oscar-winning director Ang Lee will decide a winner on the 12th." (Guestofaguest)



"Lisa G reported that Ashley Dupre, the infamous prostitute frequented by former NY Gov. Eliot Spitzer, is aware of the (Howard) Stern show – and a fan. Howard said he had no problem with Ashley’s (former) chosen profession, but disagreed with her public claim that all women are prostitutes. Robin jokingly took Ashley's side: 'You think we'd be here if we could find a rich guy?' Howard replied: 'Everyone wants to be taken care of. That's the fantasy...but do women sell their souls for that? No.' Howard added that he'd love to have Ashley on the show, 'But don't demonize all women to make yourself feel better. It's not fair.'" (HowardStern)