Comedian Eddie Murphy has been chosen to host the 84th Annual Academy Awards show. The 50-year-old, who was nominated for an Oscar in 2006 for his role in the hit film Dreamgirls, will take the stage on February 26,  2012.

Hitched: Tracey Edmonds and Eddie Murphy Wed

In a statement, Murphy expressed his excitement on the project:

“I am enormously honored to join the great list of past Academy Award hosts from [Bob] Hope and [Johnny]Carson to [Billy] Crystal, [Steve] Martin and [Whoopi]Goldberg, among others.”

“I’m looking forward to working with Brett [Ratner] and Don[Mischer] on creating a show that is enjoyable for both the fans at home and for the audience at the Kodak Theatre as we all come together to celebrate and recognize the great film contributions and collaborations from the past year.”

Eddie Murphy’s ‘Meet Dave’ Major Flop at Box Office

Ratner, who will be producing this year’s show, told reporters:

“Eddie is a comedic genius, one of the greatest and most influential live performers ever. With his love of movies, history of crafting unforgettable characters and his iconic performances — especially on stage — I know he will bring excitement, spontaneity and tremendous heart to the show Don and I want to produce in February.”

I think Murphy is an excellent choice! We’ll see how he does in 172 days…

[image: WENN]

Professional wrestler Kurt Angle was arrested for driving under the influence (DWI) after he was stopped by the Virginia State Troopers in Front Royal, Virginia on Sunday morning (September 4)- see mug shot above.

Wrestler Kurt Angle Arrested For Intoxication (Mugshot)

An anonymous driver saw the 42 year-old wrestler’s car swerving between lanes on I-66, and immediately called the authorities. Kurt, who had reportedly just left a TNA event at the Shenandoah County Fair, was taken to Warren County Jail.

Kurt has already been released on $2,000 bond.

Singer/actress/reality star Jessica Simpson, who is engaged to her beau Eric Johnson, is allegedly planning to take some weight off her shoulders and get a boob reduction before the big day in order to look her best in her wedding gown.

Jessica Simpson Bought Her Own Ruby Engagement Ring (PHOTO)

The 31 year-old, who seems to have been gaining some weight since her Daisy Duke days, is not happy with her voluptuous bosom, and she wants to do something about it now. Poor Jessica. While most women are getting breast augmentations, Jessica just never liked her generous boobs.

“I was well-endowed when I was in sixth grade. There’s no way to hide them, as much as you want to bandage your boobs down,” she once said. “I was the first girl in my class to wear a bra. I remember crying in the bathtub. All my friends were super-skinny.”

Jessica Simpson Sets Her Wedding Date

The wedding seems to have also inspired Jessica to exercise more and get into shape by dancing around her bedroom and lifting some weights. Jess is ready to do what she can do look her best, but she won’t sacrifice her happiness.

“I just have to work out on my own. There is no regimen I need to follow. There’s no diet I need to follow. I just need to do some things for myself and that’s it. And that will make me feel the happiest.”

I really like Jessica’s attitude. It’s important to exercise and keep in shape as long as you are comfortable in your own skin. No word on what Jessica’s former NFL player fiancé thinks about the possibility of his wife-to-be going under the knife to downsize her assets.

[image: Adriana M. Barraza /wenn.com]

The Skinnygirl who has an opinion about everything, former Real Housewife of New York Bethenny Frankel, is weighing in on the most recent bit of Housewives gossip, the death of RHOBH cast member, Russell Armstrong.

Although Frankel sends her sympathies and condolences to the entire Armstrong family, she feels strongly that neither BRAVO nor the Real Housewives franchise is to blame for the Texan entrepreneur’s death.

It’s preposterous to blame a TV show for someone’s suicide. When the show started filming, I’d heard he wasn’t so kind to his wife. But I know nothing about them.

I think most of America would agree that a television show shouldn’t be solely to blame for an individual taking their own life, but it certainly can be a catalyst.  Especially if you don’t know what you’re getting yourself into when you sign your life away.

However, Frankel argues that anyone who agrees to be on a reality show, understands the risks their taking.

People sign very lengthy documents and they know what they’re getting into. Life is stressful. It’s unfair to blame a TV show for something personal… I believe that. I really do. If I go through something horrendous, there’s no discussion that Bravo had anything to do with that.

I somewhat agree with Bethenny’s analysis, but it’s unfair to assume that people truly understand how the intrusion of cameras will affect their lives before the film crews arrive.

In my warped and twisted mind, I still think I’d join a Real Housewives of Nashville cast in a second – no amount of fame and loss of privacy could destroy my family!  And then I come back down to earth and realize that that way of thinking is completely insane and turn on BRAVO and continue to live safely and happily away from the spotlight.

[Image: Dominic Chan/WENN]

Despite rumors to the contrary, BRAVO’s Real Housewives of Beverly Hills will be premiering, as scheduled, tonight at 8pm EST.  What a way to kick off “Suicide Prevention Week” huh?  No reports as to whether or not people will be tuning in to the increasingly controversial season.  My money’s says it will be the highest rated Real Housewives season premiere to date, but who knows.

According to BRAVO exec Frances Berwick,

Bravo will proceed with the Monday, September 5 premiere date of ‘The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills…  Given that these episodes were filmed months ago, the producers of the show taped a brief interview this week with several of the cast members to introduce the premiere. Re-editing of the episodes is still underway… Our thoughts continue to be with the Armstrong family during this difficult time.

In efforts to combat negative press, the individual interviews filmed with cast memers Adrienne Maloof, Camille Grammer, Kyle Richards, Kim Richards and Lisa Vanderpump will open the show and a series of anti-suicide PSAs will be sprinkled in throughout the premiere.

I think comedian Neal Brennan said it best when he Tweeted:

If you’re current TV watching repertoire includes anti-killing yourself PSAs.  Maybe you should consider changing the channel.

We should.  We really should.  But we probably won’t.

[Image: Adriana M. Barazza/WENN]

Jersey Shore starlet, Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi and boyfriend Jionni LaValle hit the strip in Vegas earlier this week and the lovebirds didn’t waste any time gettin’ their party onnnnn!  And thankfully, the teensey Guidette took to her Twitter to keep her nearly three million followers updated of their every move.

Gonna get wild today I feel it! My friends are insane and we’re legit the hangover.

The pair, along with a few of their closest friends, hit up Pure nightclub and according to the ridiculous Tweets than followed, managed to drink their weight in straight, grain alcohol.

Come party with me at pure tonight bahhh idk how I’m alive but I’m about to tear the speakers off this b*tch!

Yea that’s @Ryder__ grabbin my ass lmao ! Byeeee vegas I’m dead -_-

No seriously drunk tweeting is not okay. Kgkfhdsjshugjgfreu

Drunk tweet byeeeeeee

We’re a trainwreck! N I don’t giveeee a fuckkkkk ! Meow

Gettin rowdy in this bitch tabloids eat this O.o raaahhhhh I’m a good person!!!

And my personal favorite:

Ldw hookerssss tiestoooo meowwwwww owwwWw

Snooki even managed to set the blogosphere afire while completely blackout drunk when she Tweeted, “We’re Married” and a picture of she and her beau in a sultry lip-lock.  Of course, she followed that Tweet up with,

Just kiddennnnn ! But boy is vegas tempting !! Gettin nasty at pure meow.

What is with the “Meows”?  Am I missing something?  Iis she making a sneaky reference to her man’s questionable masculinity?  Or perhaps carrying a tiny kitten around in her poof?  Fill me in people because this gal is completely clueless.

More Pictures of Snooki in Vegas…

go on reading »

Not that I needed another reason not to like Real Housewife of New York, Kelly Killoren Bensimon, but I’ll certainly take one!

The ex-model, space cadet, who says that she posed in Playboy to give her daughters a role model for positive body image, is the cover girl for the September issue of SHAPE Magazine.  Because, you guessed it – she’s really, really, really into being in shape.

Being on the cover of SHAPE’s fashion issue is really important to me because I have always, all my life,  really maintained, you know, good lifestyle, and tried to be in shape, so to show that like, being healthy is cool and fashionable, that’s hot.

Wait, are we talking about what’s hot or why it’s important that your on the cover of SHAPE?  Ooooh that’s right, you never answer questions directly.

Kel Kel goes on to talk about why it’s so vital for her to set a positive example for her two girls, Sea and Teddy and how leading a healthy, active lifestyle is an important part of that example.  Then she totally veeres off into left field and starts rambling about how her body is like am ultra expensive, souped up sports car…

My body is like a Ferrari…I know what it needs to run well, and that doesn’t include drugs, alcohol, or cigarettes.

Alright Bensimon, we all get it.  You’re 43 and you’ve still got a nice figure.  We don’t need you comparing it to a $200,000 vehicle and making the rest of us who are sporting Hyundais and used Ford Tauruses, feel like crap.

[Image: A.Miller/WENN]

While he may not have made the official guest list for Kim Kardashain and Chris Humphries multi-million dollar wedding, but Jersey Shore star DJ Pauly D DelVecchio still felt compelled to give the new couple a generous gift for their nuptials.

According to sources, Kim approached the famous DJ and asked him to appear at her NYC DASH store during Fashion Week’s biggest event, Fashion Night Out.  Pauly D not only agreed, he told the E! starlet that he would wave his $40,000 appearance fee as a wedding gift.

Sounds pretty nice, but these days, $40K is a drop in the bucket for 31-year-old, who, according to Life & Style Magazine, pulls in around $500,000 per month!

Maybe he’ll break out the big guns for Kortney and Scott’s wedding?

[Image: Daniel Tanner/WENN]

Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong is not afraid to speak his mind or to be himself. Heck, he was considered one
of the masterminds of bring punk rock back to life in the mid-90s and he takes an issue with those who do not support
people who are different while living the punk lifestyle. Case in point when he was recently kicked off a flight for
his pants being too low.

Billie Joe Armstrong To Sing In American Idiot Play

Billie Joe of course did what any normal person would do and took his thoughts to Twitter. He was on a SouthWest
flight going from Oakland to Burbank California. He was preparing with the rest of the passengers to buckle in and
get seated for the take off. However, a flight attendant asked him to pull up his pants, which he declined by asking
if they had anything better to do. The flight attendant tried to convince him one more time, which he cussed her out
with a bad attitude, so he along his fellow passenger were then kicked off the flight. Here is what he had to say

.
Just got kicked off a southwest flight because my pants sagged too low! What the f**k? No joke!

SouthWest responded with this

Very sorry for your experience tonight, someone from our Customer Relations Team will reach out to you to get more
details

SouthWest Buys AirTran

However, I doubt that made Billie feel any better. Despite the fact that he got on the next flight, that was annoying
and embarrassing for him. Maybe he will sue them for that or start flying via private jet?
[ image: WENN ]

Mark Ronson is now a married man! The famous DJ (and older brother of Sam Ronson) just got married in France on
Saturday. He married 26 year old model, Josephine de la Baume. The duo started dating back in 2009 and appeared in
his music video for The Bike Song. They annouced their engagement back in Febuary.

Mark Ronson Gets Engaged

Mark has been known as the lady’s man for a while, but he has also kept a low profile for a while. Since working with
Amy Winehouse (R.I.P) he has not been seen much or heard about much. No reason as for why the wedding date was kept
secret, but as I stated above he does seem to be private.

Sam Ronson Works Despite D.U.I

I am glad that they knew and dated each other for a while. That should make for a healthier relationship, but I still
have to hope that it works out for them. What do you think about their relationship and age difference? Will it work
or not?
[ image: WENN ]

I don’t even want to tell you guys about this, but in light of my devotion to sharing all things Real Housewives, I feel it is my journalistic duty to report that Bethenny Frankel’s Skinnygirl Margaritas may, in fact, be toxic.

GASP!

I know, I know.  It’s almost too much to bear.

Apparently, Whole Foods has decided to pull the Skinnygirl brand from their shelves after discovering that it contains the potentially carcinogenic ingredient sodium benzoate, which can become carcinogenic when mixed with vitamin C.

In an interview with the Huffington Post, a Whole Foods employee poke out about Frankel’s Skinnygirl line.

Bethenny has been promoting the drink on and off-camera for years [as] full of ‘natural flavors, lightly sweetened with agave nectar and made with premium Blue Agave clear tequila,’ but that’s about all we know about its ingredients.

Maybe you guys should’ve looked into that before stocking your shelves full of the stuff.  Oh yeah – and stop charging $6.50 for a gallon of organic milk while you at it, would ya’?

Ever the optimist, Frankel isn’t batting an eye at the issue, telling Access Hollywood,

We are, in fact, the fastest growing spirits brand in the US. We were bound to piss someone off and everyone loves to try to tear down a success. This is a non-event. I haven’t lost even a wink of sleep.

Just goes to show, you can’t keep a Skinnygirl down.

[Image: WENN]

Oh, how I love me some good Real Housewives gossip!

While sources can still only speculate, the word around the Housewives water cooler is that former Real Housewife of DC, Cat Ommanney may be joining the cast of The Real Housewives of New York.

BRAVO hasn’t confirmed OR denied these talks yet, so that can only lead me to believe that the sassy Brit will be spewing venom at the likes of Jill Zarin and Countess Luann de Lesseps in no time!

Ommanney set the blogasphere afire earlier this year when she appeared on Andy Cohen’s Watch What Happens Live along with de Lesseps and went off on the Countess for her pretentious and uppity “wannabe” attitude.

Hey, we were all thinking it!

You can say a lot of things about Cat, but a shrinking violet she is not.  I’m keeping my fingers crossed that she does join the RHONY cast and ousts one of the less popular ladies.  In other words, if I have to listen to Cindy Barshop talk about her disgusting waxing studio for one more second, I’m going to lose it.

[Image: Nikki Nelson/WENN]