A bidding war has erupted in Las Vegas over the services of the newly-single Britney Spears , who is ready to relocate to Sin City for a regular gig. The price tag? Not small. Three Las Vegas properties are trying to snag her as their headliner. She’d perform several nights a week and make appearances at clubs and events. Despite reports that the pop superstar had already signed with Caesar’s, two other properties have thrown their hat in the ring. It’s a biddin’ war, y’all! Who will win out? Probably whomever coughs up the most money and the best terms for Brit, who’s reportedly seeking a $200 million, two-year contract. Girl’s already got bank. She may soon break it.
Ryan Gosling hasn’t saved any lives on the streets of New York lately, or gotten the bottom of the whole Area 51 aliens debate that we know he’ll solve one day. So, in the mean time, let’s take a look at these Wait! What? Internet reports that he almost became a member of the Backstreet Boys . Gosling was a member of the Disney Channel’s Mickey Mouse Club in the mid-1990s — along with Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake — and he did inspire a coloring book last year, so it’s not much of a leap to imagine him wearing lightning-bolt sideburns and an all-white ensemble and using his hands demonstratively as he sings. The thing is, if you look at the Celebuzz video clip that started the blogosphere a-humming, at no point does Gosling say that he wanted to be part of the boy band. Ryan Gosling Talks Backstreet Boys Based on my minimal experience interviewing Gosling, the actor is adept at using his well-developed sense of humor to disarm and even befuddle reporters and junketeers who get him in the hot seat. The only thing Gosling really says in the clip below is that, during his Mickey Mouse Club days, he lived in the same apartment complex as Backstreet Boy A.J. McLean , who was talking about starting the band. The rest of Gosling’s spiel seems to be a self-deprecating riff on how wrong he was that the Backstreet Boys wouldn’t make it. And then there’s the telling last line of his interview: “I don’t know what they’re doing. I try not to think about it,” Gosling says. Backstreet Boy A.J. McLean Talks Ryan Gosling Those comments are now being interpreted as an indication that Gosling almost joined the band, thanks, in part, to the artful comments of McLean, who added some fuel to the fire in this interview with TMZ , and revealed that he and Gosling work out at the same gym. (They must use different trainers.) To that I can only say, if you were a nostalgia act at 35, you’d want a little bit of Gosling’s heat to rub off on you, too. Ryan Gosling’s Interview Skills Surpass Backstreet Boys’ Dance Moves As further proof that Gosling is really talented at using humor to manipulate an interview, I submit this video of the actor charmingly dominating MSN TV ‘s James Rocchi. His moves are way more advanced than anything the Backstreet Boys ever busted onstage. [Celebuzz, TMZ , MSN ] Follow Frank DiGiacomo on Twitter. Follow Movieline on Twitter.
Britney Spears’ breakup with Jason Trawick , her fiance of 13 months, was not as sudden as it might have seemed … if it seemed sudden at all, which it didn’t. If you read much celebrity gossip , you know that Britney split rumors have been off the hook lately, leading us to believe, sadly, that it was only a matter of time. As for what caused the split? Reports suggesting that kids were to blame – she wanted more, he did not – are likely partially true, but there could also be more to it. A lot more to it. Jason Trawick had been highly and increasingly stressed over her mental health and eventually it just wore him down, according to FOX 411. According to an insider: “The breakup has really been in motion awhile. Jason has been very stressed and concerned for Britney and what she might do if he left.” “He is worried about her and really loved her, but it started to take a real toll on him. The burden of taking care instead of a partnerships where she also takes care.” After more than three years together, the couple announced their split mutually on Friday, amid reports that Britney was dumping him from her conservatorship. That care-taking role – Jason being in charge of Britney’s career and life, in many respects – also killed the romance, an expert and a source close to the situation says.
Aaron Swartz, a programmer and Internet activist who co-founded a company that would eventually become Reddit, committed suicide Friday in N.Y. City. And no, tragically, it’s not a hoax, unlike so many memorable recent items emerging from Reddit. His lawyer confirmed the surprising news earlier today. He was only 26 years old. “The tragic and heartbreaking information you received is, regrettably, true,” confirmed Swartz’ attorney, Elliot R. Peters of Kecker and Van Nest, via email. MIT’s student newspaper The Tech was the first to report the suicide of Swartz , who had hinted at battles with depression numerous times in the past. Still, his death came as a surprise to those close to him best. A programmer and progressive, he created an early version of RSS at 14 and then founded Infogami, a website that would go on to merge with Reddit. That site is now a popular online forum and video/image-sharing behemoth with an international reach among the top 100 across the entire Internet. Swartz was indicted in July 2011 by a federal grand jury for allegedly downloading millions of documents from JSTOR through the MIT network. Using a laptop hidden in a basement network closet in MIT’s Building 16, he was accused of obtaining the docs with intent to distribute them. He appeared in court on September 24, 2012 and pleaded not guilty. Swartz subsequently worked for the Avaaz Foundation, a nonprofit “global web movement to bring people-powered politics to decision-making everywhere.” R.I.P.
The Obama Administration issued a response to an online petition asking the White House to commission an intergalactic Death Star a la Star Wars . Sadly, it rejected the request. Guess The Force was not strong enough with this petition . Claiming it would cost an estimated $850,000,000,000,000,000 and that “the administration does not support blowing up planets,” Obama nixed the idea. The White House was forced to offer an official response, since the petition garnered the requisite 25,000 signatures on the WeThePeople petitioning system. As we’ve discussed in the past, this online petitioning process is either one of Team Obama’s greatest achievements or an idea they will forever regret. All depends on your point of view, right? Other memorable efforts we’ve seen in the past two or three months alone: A request to deport Piers Morgan of CNN A demand for a Joe Biden reality show A large-scale Texas secession effort The Death Star petition may take the cake, despite that stiff competition. After the administration’s delayed response to the petition was criticized online, the good folks in the executive branch finally replied, titling their answer: “This Isn’t the Petition Response You’re Looking For.” “The Administration shares your desire for job creation and a strong national defense, but a Death Star isn’t on the horizon,” the WH Chief of Science wrote In addition to a reasonable aversion for mass genocide, officials worried that the system has a well-known vulnerability – as proven in Star Wars: Episodes IV and VI . “Why would we spend countless taxpayer dollars on a Death Star with a fundamental flaw that can be exploited by a one-man starship?” the WH asked. Hard to refute that. For the impressively long and unabridged response to this attempt at direct democracy, follow the link for the full White House reply .
The long-awaited Britney Spears and Jason Trawick breakup reportedly happened because of kids … though not for the specific reason you might think. Britney, who is already mother to Sean Preston, 7, and Jayden James, 6, really wanted to have more children and Jason did not, according to reports. Jason Trawick, 41, is “just in another place” and does not want to start a family, although he loves Sean Preston, Jayden James and Britney Spears, 31. The former couple argued frequently about expanding their family since getting engaged in December 2011 and this ultimately proved their undoing. Sources also say dealing with Britney Spears – the money-making empire, not the woman – also wore at Jason and “took away his individuality.” The agent maintain his identity and one of the things he tried was to expand his business by taking on more clients … which didn’t sit well with Britney. Both Spears and Trawick say they will remain close going forward and this decision, while difficult, was mutual and agreed upon by mature adults. At least on paper, that appears true. The house Britney just bought for them for $8.5 million was purchased solely with her money and she’ll keep it. She always paid for the bulk of their lifestyle, but Jason also does well for himself and should continue to, so there’s no arguing over money whatsoever.
Oops, she’s done it again…SMH Britney Spears And Jason Trawick Break Up Over Kids According to TMZ reports : Britney Spears and Jason Trawick broke up primarily because she wanted to have more kids and he didn’t … TMZ has learned. Sources directly connected to the couple tell us … Britney, who is 31, loves her boys and desperately wants more kids. Jason, who is 41, is “in another place” and does not want to start a family — although he loves Sean Preston and Jayden James. We’re told the former couple argued frequently about family and this ultimately proved their undoing. Our sources say … there’s something else — dealing with the Britney empire wore at Jason and “took away his individuality.” Jason wanted to maintain his identity and one of the ways was to expand his business by taking on more clients (he’s an agent) and making more money — this didn’t sit well with Britney. As for settling up — we’re told it’s simple. There are no outstanding financial issues. Sources say the house Britney just bought — $8.5 mil in Thousand Oaks, CA — was purchased solely with her money and Jason has no claim to it. Although she and Jason weren’t married, Britney seems like she’s on the road to being the white Halle Berry. Lets run through the checklist: -Multiple failed relationships. -Career on the rocks -Known to have a mental breakdown or 2 All we need now is for K-Fed and Jason to catch the mean fade and her journey will be complete. Image via Splash
After weeks of speculation, Britney Spears has confirmed what we already knew – that she’s quitting The X Factor after her first and only season last fall. “I’ve made the very difficult decision not to return for another season,” Brit tells ET Online in a statement, adding that Fox was informed of her decision. “I had such an incredible time doing the show and I love the other judges and I am so proud of my teens but it’s time for me to get back in the studio.” “Watching them all do their thing up on that stage every week made me miss performing so much! I can’t wait to get back out there and do what I love most.” Spears is reportedly hard at work on her eighth studio album, with her manager, Adam Leber, Tweeting, “It’s a little premature to give details on album 8.” “I know a lot of you are rabid for info but @britneyspears has only had a few sessions … I will say we had an incredible session with @EsterDean and @Hit_Boy. Great start.” Can’t wait. Or blame her from bailing on that sinking ship. As for whether Spears is also going to quit Jason Trawick in 2013, it looks like she’s on the verge of dumping him as conservator if nothing else.
Houston rapper arrested in Louisiana after traffic stop turns up marijuana and a Bushmaster AR-15 assault rifle. By Nadeska Alexis Lil Flip’s mugshot Photo: DeSoto Parish Sheriff?s Office
