As far as I’m concerned, there is no better location for photo calls. Yes, there are numerous red carpet events each year, but the gorgeous backdrop of the Mediterranean Sea makes this one special. The location itself is enough to make the most homely among us feel like, well, a supermodel. And while Americans think of the Oscars as the red carpet fashion event of the year, I actually prefer this one. It has all the glamour of Hollywood’s biggest night, but without feeling quite so stiff and formal. The haute couture tends to be a little more edgy and a little more dramatic while still being extremely elegant. Take Camille Belle’s Gucci Premiere gown and Cate Blanchett’s Alexander McQueen number, for example. They both exude elegance but have a touch of whimsy to them.

Of course, fashion is far from the only topic of gossip at the Cannes Film Festival. When you have that many celebrities all together in one small area, rumors are bound to circulate. My favorite of the festival? Photographers spotted Academy Award winner Adrien Brody having a relatively cozy convo with Paris Hilton. Apparently that wasn’t the only time they were spotted together during the festival, either. I suppose stranger things have happened…

The bigger question? What’s going on with actors Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams? The duo was in Cannes promoting their new film, Blue Valentine. (Yes, they’re playing a couple in the movie.) They were seen holding hands on the red carpet, but representatives for both actors say they are not dating. We shall see…

Perhaps the thing I like most about the Cannes Film Festival is how they’ve turned the event into a fundraiser for several charities. (Remember Robert Pattinson’s super-expensive kiss at last year’s amfAR benefit?) This year was no different. An event for Artists for Peace and Justice raised more than $150,000 for earthquake relief in Haiti with the help of Russell Crowe, Gerard Butler and more. An auction that included several red-carpet gowns raised more than $330,000 for the Penn/Jenkins-Penn Haitian Relief Organization. But the big earner by far was the annual amfAR Cinema Against AIDS black-tie gala, which pulled in nearly $7 million.

See? All that schmoozing really is a good thing.

Krista Richmond is a journalist and pop culture enthusiast and welcomes your questions, suggestions or hot gossip tips.

Kenny Chesney’s home is likely to be condemned after water rose above the first level, according to his publicist.

Ben Folds tweeted photos of the flood damage in his neighborhood.

Keith Urban, Vince Gill, LeAnn Rimes and Keith Urban all lost several thousand dollars of music equipment stored at Soundcheck, a three-building rehearsal facility along the Cumberland River. Brad Paisley was hit particularly hard by this. He was just days away from starting rehearsals for his (ironically titled) H2O Tour and now has to replace both music equipment and stage setups.

Some Nashville landmarks also had some damage when the Cumberland River, which runs through the city, crested at 12 feet above flood stage after Nashville received 13 inches of pounding rain in one weekend. At one point, the Gaylord Opryland Hotel was filled with 10 feet of water. The complex is now shut down indefinitely while crews work to clean up the mess. In addition, the stage at the Grand Ole Opry House was covered in several feet of water, which also caused country music singer Marty Stuart to worry about audio tapes, instruments, costumes and other legacies of the Opry. Performances have been rescheduled at other locations around Nashville.

Luckily, the only water damage at the Country Music Hall of Fame was in mechanical room and did not reach the exhibit area, although the facility did close. The Ryman Auditorium – the former home of the Grand Ole Opry – and the recording studios along Music Row were not impacted.

In true volunteer spirit, the state and country music stars have come together for relief efforts. Taylor Swift donated $500,000 to flood relief during a telethon on the local NBC station, WSMV-TV, hosted by Vince Gill. That telethonraised an estimated $1.7 million for the Red Cross, Salvation Army and Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee. Other local benefits and fundraisers are being scheduled throughout the city. Nationally, Music City Keep on Playin’ – A Benefit for Flood Relief will air commercial-free on GAC at 8 p.m. Eastern on May 16. Brad Paisley, Lady Antebellum, Dierks Bentley, Rodney Atkins and additional artists will perform live at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium while celebrities will host and join other volunteers to man phone banks to collect call-in donations.

Tourism is a big part of Nashville’s economy – approximately 11 million people visit the city annually. And one of the biggest events each year is the CMA Music Festival, which gives fans a chance to hear performances and get up close and personal with some of their favorite music stars. Despite the flooding, the event, scheduled for June 10-13, will go on. This year, net proceeds will be split between flood relief efforts and music education.

This is something that is near and dear to my heart. I grew up an hour east of Nashville, and it’s a city I love. Do what you can, and make a donation at redcross.org or cfmt.org. I have.

Krista Richmond is a journalist and pop culture enthusiast and welcomes your questions, suggestions or hot gossip tips.

There are few examples where openly gay people have continued to enjoy successful entertainment careers – Elton John and Ellen DeGeneres come to mind – but many still fear and are subjected to a backlash. If you read Ted Casablanca’s The Awful Truth, you know Toothy Tile (one of Casablanca’s Blind Vices) and his reasons for remaining in the closet – at least professionally.

Ricky Martin took that leap of faith when he announced recently that he is gay via his Web site. The Puerto-Rican pop star, who is working on his memoirs, says is it was his twin sons who inspired him to be true to who his is, and the writing of his memoirs gave him a platform to express than personal freedom.

“I am proud to say that I am a fortunate homosexual man. I am very blessed to be who I am,” he wrote on his Web site.

Let’s face it – few of us were actually shocked by this. As one of my friends (who is, by the way, gay) said, “And in other news, water is wet, and the earth is round.” But it does prove a point. Martin says a main reason he stayed in the closet was because he was told it would hurt his career to come out as gay.

“Because all this advice came from people who I love dearly, I decided to move on with my life not sharing with the world my entire truth,” he said in a statement. “Allowing myself to be seduced by fear and insecurity became a self-fulfilling prophecy of sabotage. Today I take full responsibility for my decisions and my actions.”

I say good for him. You shake your bon-bon proudly, Ricky Martin.

Not long after Martin’s announcement, True Blood star and Oscar winner Anna Paquin confessed that she is bisexual. Her admission came during a public service announcement for the True Colors Fund. The theme of the campaign, which features numerous other celebrities, is “Give a Damn.” In it, she says, “I’m Anna Paquin. I’m bisexual, and I gave a damn because one hate crime is committed approximately every hour of every day in this country.” The True Colors Fund, started by Cyndi Lauper, is an organization dedicated to earning equal rights for people who are gay, straight, bisexual or transgendered.

While this announcement is surprising, given her engagement to True Blood co-star Stephen Moyer, I think it’s also a good sign for things to come. Hopefully, celebrities will start to feel even more comfortable being who they truly are.

Krista Richmond is a journalist and pop culture enthusiast. Have a question, suggestion or hot gossip tip? Send them to her at krista@killerfilm.com.

McQueen’s body was found last Thursday in his London home, where he reportedly committed suicide. His death came the day before his mother’s funeral. McQueen was said to be distraught after her death. Speculation also arose that a recent break-up may have been a factor.

One of his lines, McQ, was due to be shown at Fashion Week, but the show was canceled after his death was announced. But many models paid tribute to the designer, who was known for his scarves, using skulls in his pieces. Model Naomi Campbell held a fashion show fundraiser for Haiti, specifically paying tribute to McQueen and his innovative, provocative and sometimes controversial designs. Some of his designs were auctioned off for charity. So far, no word on whether his show at Fashion Week in Paris will continue. However, sales of McQueen’s items were up 1400 percent in the days following his death.

In a way, this also is a death, of sorts, for the Big Apple’s Fashion Week. This is the last time it will be held in the tents of Bryant Park, where it has taken place since 1993. The point of having Fashion Week in Bryant Park was its proximity to the fashion houses. But the fall shows will be moved to Lincoln Center. The move comes at a time when many say the Garment District, from 34th to 40th Streets between Broadway and Ninth Avenue, is in a state of decline. But as long as the designs are good, it won’t matter where the models strut down the runway.

The Winter Olympics began under its own cloud of tragedy. Kumaritashvili died during his second training last Friday. But the interesting thing was the debate it caused. Olympic officials said human error was to blame, while others said it was faulty track design that led to Kumaritashvili’s fatal injuries. As a result, the luge track was amended before Saturday’s competition.

Despite Kumaritashvili’s tragic death – a slight malfunction with the torch – the Olympics got underway with a festive ceremony, featuring an amazing rendition of Hallelujah by k.d. lang and performances by Nelly Furtado and Sarah McLachlan.

But now on to the more important question. What will figure skater Johnny Weir be wearing on the rink?

Krista Richmond is a journalist and pop culture enthusiast. Have a question, suggestion or hot gossip tip? Send them to her at krista@killerfilm.com.

For a handful select members of this clan, the term actually fits. Some Hollywood “royalty” have been knighted by Queen Elizabeth II – Sir Sean Connery, Sir Ben Kingsley and Sir Ian McKellan, to name a few. Two more names recently joined that list. You may now address them as Sir Patrick Stewart and Sir Peter Jackson.

Patrick Stewart, who played Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Charles Xavier in the X-Men films, as well as other roles, was knighted as part of a group honored by Queen Elizabeth II. The ceremonies also included a knighthood for theater and film director Nicholas Hytner.

In a separate ceremony in New Zealand, director Peter Jackson (Lord of the Rings, The Lovely Bones) was honored with a knighthood in his native country. But don’t worry. The queen is their head of state, and the knighthood has her approval. He’s currently in New Zealand working on the two-movie prequel The Hobbit, also based on a book by J.R.R. Tolkien, with Mexican director Guillermo del Toro.

Charlie Sheen might be considered Hollywood royalty – he and his father, Martin Sheen, and brother, Emilio Estevez, have all enjoyed success as actors – but he exhibited less than proper behavior over the holidays.

According to reports, Sheen was arrested on Christmas Day in Aspen, Col., where he was vacationing with his wife, Brooke. An arrest affidavit quoted Brooke as saying her husband pinned her on a bed and held a knife to her throat, threatening to kill her. Charlie told police the couple slapped each other and that he snapped two pairs of her eyeglasses in front of her, but he denied threatening her with a knife. He faces charges of felony menacing, domestic violence, second-degree assault and criminal mischief and is free on $8,500 bond. A hearing is scheduled for Feb. 8 in Aspen.

Social services conducted several interviews concerning the couples’ 10-month-old twins, Bob and Max, but have decided to let them remain with their mother in Aspen.

But apparently, love really does conquer all. Despite this incident, the two claim to still love each other and want to continue their marriage. Charlie Sheen’s attorney, Richard Cummins, confirmed his client wants to reconcile and filed a court motion last Wednesday asking a judge to dismiss a restraining order that prevents the couple from having contact.

I can hear the strains of Tammy Wynette’s “Stand by your Man” in the background, but good for her for speaking up for what she wants.

Krista Richmond is a journalist and pop culture enthusiast. Have a question, suggestion or hot gossip tip? Send them to her at krista@killerfilm.com.

Nominations for the 52nd annual Grammy Awards were announced last week, with a televised concert honoring some of the year’s best in music. The awards show itself will air on CBS on Jan. 31 live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

For the most part, the nominations went as expected. The leading ladies in music for the past 12 months – Beyonce (or should we call her Sasha Fierce?), Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift – earned a combined 23 nominations for their albums. It’s interesting to see such a large chunk of nods go to three genres of music. Beyonce clearly has a strong R&B sound, Lady Gaga has a definite dance/techno/electronica/disco vibe, and Taylor Swift’s country music borders on pop. But a blend of the three is apparently what we’re all listening to these days. And are we noticing a theme here? Yep – fearless, independent women (and single ladies – thank you, Beyonce) who want to just dance and understand that it’s too late for a white horse. Pink, Colbie Caillat, Katy Perry and, yes, even Britney Spears are joining in that message of girl power.

The Grammys also love bands. And this year is no exception. Black Eyed Peas, U2, Green Day and Kings of Leon all got significant numbers

of nominations. Dave Matthews Band, with a sound that is becoming more country than pop, snuck in with an Album of the Year nomination for Big Whiskey And The Groogrux King.

There are, of course, some interesting choices. The French pop of Phoenix in the alternative music album category, for example. But the one that surprised me was the nomination for Twilight for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album and Paramore’s Decode for Best Song Written for Motion Picture. Not that I disagree with those nods – not at all, in fact. I have the soundtrack, and I love it. It just seems like such a … mainstream … choice for the Recording Academy. After all, they gave Herbie Hancock the Album of the Year award a couple of years ago. It’s nice to see them paying attention to the music the public (or in this case, audiences) are responding to. Heck, the Twilight soundtrack already has an American Music Award. So, if it wins, does this mean that we’re going to call him “Grammy winner Robert Pattinson” in the promos for his upcoming films?

And in other music notes, former Baywatch babe Pamela Anderson is recording a single, “High,” with fashion designer Richie Rich. No, it’s not about illegal substances, but rather haute couture. Now, this – perhaps – makes sense, given that she was married to drummer Tommy Lee. But I don’t foresee any Grammys in her future. But Anderson and Rich are familiar with the subject matter. The two are collaborating on a clothing line, A*Muse, that will hit runways during Fashion Week in February. We’ll see if she’s better at designing fashions or singing about them …

Krista Richmond is a journalist and pop culture enthusiast. Have a question, suggestion or hot gossip tip? Send them to her at krista@killerfilm.com.

It was perhaps Michael Jackson’s death that was most shocking. But with the film This is It, fans have one more opportunity to see the King of Pop in action, doing what he did best on stage. This movie isn’t a concert film; it’s a documentary about the tour he was planning. But it includes plenty of rehearsal footage. And I think that is what makes it a fantastic tribute. Despite all of the rumors and legal turmoil he saw in his later years, the man was an entertainer at his best. It’s nice to see him in his element one last time.

And that is something other fans apparently agree with. The film earned $20 million at the box office on its first day alone. And several stars (who are also fans) turned out for its premiere. Celebrities on the red carpet ranged from Michael’s friend and family to Berry Gordy to more recent musical prodigies like Adam Lambert and David Cook. All were on hand to pay tribute and their respects, and you can do the same while This is It is in theaters.

Michael Jackson was such an icon that one might assume he would top the list of richest dead celebrities. But you would be wrong. Well, surely, then it’s Elvis Presley (also the father of one of Jackson’s ex-wives). Maybe Marilyn Monroe? How about John Lennon? Nope. The richest dead celebrity wasn’t one of those famous faces. Instead, it was someone who draped some of those famous faces in glamorous gowns. French designer Yves Saint Laurent topped Forbes’ list of richest dead celebrities, earning $350 million this year. And interestingly, the second highest earners were Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein, with a combined earning of $235 million. Jackson ranked third with his $90 million in earnings.

Lisa Niemi, Patrick Swayze’s widow, is still dealing with the grief of losing her husband of 34 years after his death seven weeks ago. But she took time out to speak during a roundtable discussion on Grief, Healing and Resilience at the Women’s Conference 2009 in Long Beach, Calif., last week. She shared that she feels his loss “on a cellular level,” according to the Associated press, but is getting through it with the help of close girlfriends. Interestingly, actress Kelly Preston, was supposed to join the discussion to speak about the loss of her son, Jett Travolta, but opted out, saying that “the grief was still too debilitating.”

But despite the loss and grief, the circle of life does continue, even for celebrities. Actor Colin Farrell welcomed his second son,  Henry Tadeusz Farrell, (his first with girlfriend) into the world last month. And Mark Wahlberg announced last week that he and his wife, model Rhea Durham, will be having another daughter. This is their fourth child, and the numbers will be even with two boys and two girls.

It truly is the circle of life that moves us all.

Krista Richmond is a journalist and pop culture enthusiast. Have a question, suggestion or hot gossip tip? Send them to her at krista@killerfilm.com.

Celebrities love a good cause. And that’s not a bad thing. It’s impressive when someone uses their fame to promote something that will help others, rather than their latest CD or new film.

And the causes themselves can be as varied as the famous people behind them. Breast Cancer Awareness Month is about to end, and there are several celebrities who raise money for that cause. For example, Christina Applegate, who was diagnosed with breast cancer last year, promoted Lee National Denim Day, the largest single-day fundraiser for breast cancer research, earlier this month. Reese Witherspoon is honorary chairman of the Avon Foundation, which focuses on breast cancer, domestic violence and emergency relief initiatives. And you can find many celebrities participating in various Susan G. Komen for the Cure events and even the EIF Revlon Run/Walk for Women.

For others, it might be heart disease or Alzheimer’s or even AIDS awareness (U2 frontman Bono’s work to stop the spread of AIDS is legendary, thanks, in part, to (Product)RED.). But diseases aren’t the only causes. Some seek to make the world a better place. The Not On Our Watch Project is a perfect example. George Clooney gathered some of his famous friends to start this group, which focuses on bringing “global attention to international crises,” according to the project’s Web site. Issues they’ve taken up include child refugees, food assistance and peace in Southern Sudan.

Some choose to promote causes that, literally, make the world a better place. Celebrities such as Leonardo DiCaprio and Cameron Diaz are known to support environmental issues, both making documentaries on the subject.

And entertainment and environmental causes came together again at this week’s 20^th anniversary Environmental Media Awards. Honorees included singer Jason Mraz and Sir Richard Branson, and Harrison Ford, John Cusack, Amy Smart and Olivia Wilde served as presenters. Of course, if there are awards, there must be a carpet to walk. And in this case, it was green rather than red.

Madonna (moving in the footsteps of Oprah?) is taking up educational causes. Her charity, Raising Malawi, is building a $15 million school there, and she traveled to Malawi this past weekend to lay the foundation stone with President Bingu wa Mutharika.

There are other celebrities who are even willing to sell themselves for what they believe in. A kiss from actress Charlize Theron went for $140,000 at a live auction during a gala for the charity OneXOne last week. She was initially auctioning off a trip to South Africa with several perks, but she decided to up the ante with a kiss when bidding stalled at $37,000. The unusual twist? The highest bidder – who got to kiss Theron for 20 seconds – was a woman. Interestingly enough, that bid was much higher than the $20,000 kiss from Robert Pattinson auctioned off at the amfAR Cinema Against AIDS 2009 Cocktail Party earlier this year in Cannes.

But, hey, it’s all for a good cause, right?

Krista Richmond is a journalist and pop culture enthusiast. Have a question, suggestion or hot gossip tip? Send them to her at krista@killerfilm.com.

I suppose that if sports giants like Michael Jordan and Brett Favre can do it, so can country music superstars. Both of those sports legends left their respective games at the height of their careers, choosing to go out in a proverbial blaze of glory rather than watch their incomparable abilities fade away. And in fact, Jordan chose to pursue another game entirely, with mixed reviews. In the end, though, both men made a much-heralded return to their beloved sports, to the delight of fans and sportscasters alike. Maybe they weren’t quite as eager to give up the ghost as they thought they were.

Neither is Garth Brooks, apparently. The singer who more or less defined country music in the 1990s announced last week that he was coming  out of his self-imposed retirement. He stopped touring in 1998 and effectively put his career on hold in 2001. His divorce from Sandy Mahl was finalized, and he said he left the music industry to spend more time with his three daughters.

And that is what has done during the last eight years. He’s concentrated on raising his children in Oklahoma with wife (and fellow country music singer) Trisha Yearwood, who he married in 2006.

The announcement of his return was made in Nashville, which will undoubtedly be delighted to have one of its most popular stars making music again. (On a personal note, I grew up near Nashville. I can attest firsthand to the mourning that happened when Brooks decided to retire.) But he’s not exactly returning to Music City. In fact, he’s bringing his sound to Sin City.

In the grand tradition of Cher, Bette Midler, Elton John and Celine Dion, Brooks now has a standing engagement for 16 weekends a year at the Wynn Las Vegas resort Encore Theater for the next five years. Those gigs start Dec. 11.

Again, his daughters were a major concern in this deal. Steve Wynn, the owner of the resort, had to throw in a private plane to get Brooks to and from Las Vegas on the weekends so that he could be around to take them to school during the week. But when you’ve sold more than 100 million albums, you can make requests like that. And his friends clearly aren’t in low places.

Welcome back, Garth. It’s good to see you again.

Krista Richmond is a journalist and pop culture enthusiast. Have a question, suggestion or hot gossip tip? Send them to her at krista@killerfilm.com.

Twitter is an amazing thing. It is a social networking tool, connecting people and building friendships among followers. But in the celebrity world, it’s also a bridge, connecting them to their fans and those fans to each other – all in 140 characters or less.

For a celebrity, Twitter is a powerful form of communication. It can be used for promotional purposes, as in tweeting a photo from filming of a new movie. It can be used to support charities and organizations they care about, as in tweeting links to fundraisers and other ways to help. It also can be used for news purposes, as in tweeting about engagements or, sadly, break-ups.

And the power of it can be felt. Actor Peter Facinelli has issued two challenges via Twitter, and both were successful. He made a bet with a friend that if he reached 500,000 followers by a certain date, that friend had to dance on Hollywood Blvd. in a bikini to Beyonce’s Single Ladies. Facinelli won, and you can watch the dance at YouTube.com. Three months later, he promised to have one of two co-stars send out a tweet from his account when he got to 1 million followers. He did, and his “son” sent out a message to those 1 million followers.

Actress and singer Miley Cyrus abruptly closed her Twitter account last week, saying that boyfriend Liam Hemsworth wanted her to “with good reason.” Of course, within no time, #mileycomeback was the No. 1 trending topic on Twitter. I can’t help but wonder if it’s actually a good thing that she’s not sharing her private life with her more than 2 million (former) followers. Her father, Billy Ray Cyrus, however, is pleading with her to return to Twitter, saying, “You can’t leave everyone now.”

Dame Elizabeth Taylor is still with us on Twitter, though, after heart surgery last week. She let her followers know that she was going in for the operation and let them know afterward that everything “went perfectly.” I am certain many additional prayers went her way because of those tweets.

Twitter was also how I found out that Backstreet Boy Brian Littrell was diagnosed with swine flu and is on the mend. He’s been keeping fans updated on his condition via his account. And, by the way, Backstreet’s back (all right!) with another album, This is Us. I’m keeping the pride alive, but am I the only who feels like it’s just not the same without Kevin Richardson?

As much as I love Twitter, sometimes things do get lost in translation, so to speak. On Friday, tweets went out from entertainment news sources that Heidi Klum had given birth to her fourth child. But that was a bit, well, premature. Her representatives said her latest bundle of joy had not arrived at that point. In this case, good news travels maybe a little too fast!

Of course, everyone wants their entertainment news instantly. And if you’re not following Killer Film at twitter.com/Killer_Film – or me at twitter.com/AccentOnLife – you should. Get the good scoop first!

Krista Richmond is a journalist and pop culture enthusiast. Have a question, suggestion or hot gossip tip? Send them to her at krista@killerfilm.com.

When I was a little girl, I wanted to be a lawyer. Not just any lawyer, but an entertainment lawyer. And in truth, the thought of drafting contracts for venues, negotiating with motion picture associations and settling copyright disputes still fascinates me.

Entertainment law is a unique thing. It ranges from immigration issues to bankruptcy declarations and everywhere in between. In essence, it’s all about providing whatever legal services are needed to those in the entertainment industry. And it seems like lately those legal services are constantly needed.

For example, actor John Travolta and his wife, actress Kelly Preston, were in the Bahamas last week as he testified in an extortion trial of paramedic Tarino Lightbourne and attorney Pleasant Bridgewater.

This story begins with the death of the couple’s 16-year-old son, Jett, on Jan. 2. Lightbourne, a medic, had Travolta sign a consent form. Travolta originally wanted Jett taken to a U.S. hospital, and that document, which Travolta previously testified that he signed in the heat of the moment, would have cleared Lightbourne of any liability should Jett not have been taken to the Rand Memorial Hospital in Grand Bahama.

According to the Associated Press, Travolta says the medic threatened to use the document to “imply that the death of my son was intentional and I was culpable in some way.” He claims that Lightbourne sought $25 million or he would sell stories to media implying that Jett’s death Travolta’s fault.

Lightbourne and Bridgewater have pleaded innocent, and the trial should conclude soon.

Another father with the same name, Jon Gosselin, also went to court last week in the name of his children. He sought a cease-and-desist order for network TLC to stop production on the family’s reality TV show, recently renamed Kate Plus Eight. The order demands that the TLC crew vacate the family’s property. TLC says that filming of the show not directly related to the 5-year-old sextuplets and 8-year-old twins is ongoing.

Talk show host David Letterman also dealt with his own extortion plot last week. He admitted, on air, to having affairs with female staffers after CBS News producer Joe Halderman allegedly threatened to reveal the secret if he did not receive $2 million. Halderman is now free on $200,000 bond after pleading not guilty to the blackmail scheme.

Also this week, Michael David Barrett appeared in federal court on Saturday after being arrested Friday night. According to the Associated Press, he is accused of taping surreptitious nude videos of ESPN reporter Erin Andrews while she was alone in hotel rooms. He faces federal charges of interstate stalking for taking the videos, trying to sell them to celebrity Web site TMZ and posting the videos online, the FBI said.

Now, if we could only have the cast of The Practice on these cases …

Krista Richmond is a journalist and pop culture enthusiast. Have a question, suggestion or hot gossip tip? Send them to her at krista@killerfilm.com.

The big stars of the small screen have been in the spotlight this past week.

The 61^st annual Primetime Emmy Awards, where the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences honors the past year’s best in comedy, drama, mini-series, made-for-TV movies and more, were held Sept. 20 in Los Angeles. And the red carpet had all the glamour you would expect.

Christina Applegate looked stunning in dark blue. Debra Messing looked ravishing in red. Kristin Chenoweth was glowing in a short, sequined number. And, of course, the men – Simon Baker, Keifer Sutherland, Jon Hamm – looked dapper in their tuxes.

There were, in my opinion, some fashion misses as well, but aren’t there always at these events? Gossip Girl’s Blake Lively and Leighton Meester were good, but not great. Lively’s red dress didn’t seem to fit exactly right, and her braid seemed too big. Meester’s white dress and pale makeup also didn’t do her justice. And I know Mary Louise Parker can do better than her purple number suggested.

But the biggest accessory of the night was, without a doubt, glasses, of all things. There was, of course, Amy Poehler’s glasses gag with her fellow supporting actress in a comedy series nominees (which Vanessa Williams did not partake in). But many TV stars took the Nokia Theatre stage wearing spectacles to help them read the winners in the envelopes – Simon Baker, Michael J. Fox, even Dana Delany. It made them look smart and casual and sophisticated all at the same time.

There were some pleasant surprises as the winners were named – particularly in the supporting actress and actor in a comedy series categories. It was lovely to see Kristin Chenoweth and Jon Cryer get their due. And my fingers were crossed for Jon Hamm, but if you haven’t seen Bryan Cranston in AMC’s Breaking Bad, you really should – his performances are phenomenal.

Also phenomenal was Neil Patrick Harris. He was edgy, he was funny and he guided the show properly, just like any good host should. And it must have paid off; the ratings for the broadcast were up 6 percent, much like Harris did for the Tonys earlier this year. Hopefully CBS is paying attention to that trend as well.

But the Emmys weren’t the only reason to be excited about television this week. After a summer full or reruns and reality TV, our favorite serials are returning to the screen. The first week of fall TV is kind of like returning to school each year. There are the people (or shows, in this case) you’ve been looking forward to seeing again all summer (Oh, Grey’s Anatomy, how I’ve missed you). And there are the new faces you’re curious about and want to meet. For me, that new face was definitely FlashForward. And I wasn’t disappointed. I hope we become good friends, Joseph Fiennes!

One TV star’s return didn’t last long, however. Mischa Barton’s The Beautiful Life, a CW show, was the first casualty of the new season. It was canceled after two airings.

But on a brighter note, Heather Locklear will indeed be reprising her role as Amanda Woodward on the CW’s new incarnation of Melrose Place on Nov. 17. Between this and its 90210, the CW is making me feel like a junior high student all over again!

And I hope that you continue to tune in to Celebrity Dish each week. Same time, same Web site!

Krista Richmond is a journalist and pop culture enthusiast. Have a question, suggestion or hot gossip tip? Send them to her at krista@killerfilm.com.

I’m sorry.

They are simple words, often spoken. But for some reason, they are also some of the hardest to believe.

And when they are said by a celebrity, they carry even more magnitude.

Of course, Kanye West gave the apology heard around the world this week after (literally) taking the stage at MTV’s Video Music Awards. As Taylor Swift stepped up to give her acceptance speech for Best Female Video for “You Belong With Me,” West stormed onto the Radio City Music Hall stage, taking the microphone from Swift, saying that Beyonce should have won in that category for “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It).”

Swift told MTV News, “Well, you know, I was up there and I was standing there and I saw Kanye up on the stage. I was really excited … and then I kind of wasn’t excited anymore.”

She later got to finish her acceptance speech when Beyonce invited her on stage during her own acceptance speech for Video of the Year.

West spent this week making apologies for his actions. First, he issued apologies on his blog. Then, last Monday, he appeared on “The Jay Leno Show,” again to express his remorse. Swift was on “The View” last Tuesday and said, at that point, West had not apologized to her in person. He called her later that day to say he was sorry.

There was an immediate response in the celebrity world; Pink and Katy Perry, for example, tweeted almost instantly about incident with some not-so-nice things to say about the singer. Even the president had at least one choice word for West. And it’s led to some humorous spoofs already (West interrupts Patrick Swayze’s death to say that Michael Jackson’s was better). But he’s made the two most important apologies – the public one via Jay Leno (who seems to be the go-to guy in these instances – Hugh Grant, anyone?) and to Swift herself. Maybe it’s time to let it go.

I say we move on and talk about more important VMA details. The fashion! Was anyone else just flat-out confused by Lady Gaga’s many ensembles, or was it just me? And Kristen Stewart looked fierce in Valentino and Rock & Republic heels (that I just might have to get in my size …).

Tennis star Serena Williams gave her own mea culpas last week. Williams was, well, not pleased, to put it mildly, when the lineswoman called a foot fault against her during the final game of the second set of a match against Kim Clijsters last Saturday. That call put Williams one point away from losing the match. She then launched into what the LA Times called a “racket-waving, ball-thrusting, obscenity-filled rant” and was fined $10,500.

Williams issued a statement about the situation last Sunday – that did not include a specific apology for her actions. A revised statement was issued on Monday with apologies to the line judge, Clijsters, the USTA and tennis fans.

Here’s hoping that these celebrity apologies are sincere. And to you, dear readers, I apologize for taking up your time, but I truly hope you’ll join me next week for more scoop. Until then …

Krista Richmond is a journalist and pop culture enthusiast. Have a question, suggestion or hot gossip tip? Send them to her at krista@killerfilm.com.

There are times when gossip means more than simply discussing who’s dating whom or what actor was cast in a certain role. In fact, there are times when gossip can impact our daily lives. That happens when the worlds of gossip and politics collide. Say, for example, a Congressman decides to step down after rumors of an affair. That has a direct impact on his constituents.

Europeans have seen this collision of politics and celebrity for years. The late Diana Spencer, Princess of Wales, is a perfect example. While she had tremendous political influence on issues that were important to her – AIDS and land mines, to name two – the media reported just as much, if not more, about who she was wearing.

In America, the blend of politics and celebrity can summed up in two words. The Kennedys. This clan is referred to frequently as the United States’ royal family, and it is hard to disagree with that observation. They have had the same grand loves and heartbreaking losses of any Hollywood blockbuster. They also have held a seat in the Senate since 1953. While the context is certainly different, the Kennedys might just be modern-day Tudors, loving and living publicly and still shaping the future of those they are serving. You might not agree with their politics, but the influence this family has had on this country is easily felt.

Sen. Edward (Ted) M. Kennedy passed away last week of brain cancer at the age of 77, and the worlds of politics and celebrities were once again brought together at his funeral Mass. President Obama, who Kennedy campaigned tirelessly for, sat with former presidents and other political leaders. With them were stars such as Jack Nicholson and Tony Bennett. In fact, Yo-Yo Ma and Placido Domingo performed at the service.

Kennedy himself embodied the combination of these two worlds. He was no stranger to gossip, particularly after Mary Jo Kopechne drowned after his car went off a bridge on Chappaquiddick Island in July 1969. But he was also the “Lion of the Senate,” fighting tirelessly for health-care reform among other issues. It might be too early to call this family a dynasty, but Ted was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery near his big brothers, President John F. Kennedy and Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, who certainly left behind their own political influences.

DJ AM (Adam Goldstein) also passed away last week at the age of 36. His body was found in his New York City apartment Friday. An autopsy was completed, but a cause of death won’t be determined until toxicology test results are finished. In the meantime, musicians and celebrities continue to pay their respects.

Krista Richmond is a journalist and pop culture enthusiast. Have a question, suggestion or hot gossip tip? Send them to her at krista@killerfilm.com.

It is my opinion that reality TV was created to be fun, frivolous entertainment – something to fill the void while the regular serials are on hiatus. But in reality (yes, pun intended), these shows aren’t trivial at all. In fact, what we learn from them can be quite serious. They can provide insight into human interactions (Big Brother). They can provide financial comfort to those who might need it (Survivor). They can lead people to their true loves (The Bachelorette). They can even improve your health (The Biggest Loser).

The seriousness of reality TV certainly was felt this week. The body of former model Jasmine Fiore was discovered stuffed into a suitcase and left in a dumpster in Buena Park, Calif., last week. Her husband, Ryan Jenkins, who was a contestant on VH1’s Megan Wants a Millionaire, was considered a suspect in the murder. He was found dead of an apparent suicide earlier this week at a motel in Hope, British Columbia, Canada.

But that wasn’t his first brush with the law. Jenkins, who also participated in VH1’s I Love Money 3, was charged in June in Clark County, Nev., with a misdemeanor count of “battery constituting domestic violence” for allegedly hitting Fiore in the arm and was set to be tried in December.

In his hometown of Calgary, Jenkins was sentenced to 15 months probation in January 2007 on an unspecified assault charge. The AP reports that Alain Hepner, Jenkins’ attorney in that matter, said as part of the judgment the judge also ordered counseling for anger management, domestic violence and sexual addiction. Hepner said there was also a civil restraining order.

The couple reportedly had a “big blowout” in May but since had reconciled. Fiore was 28; Jenkins was 32. VH1 has canceled Megan Wants a Millionaire and I Love Money 3.

True Blood stars Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer may have found real-life love on the set of fictional Bon Temps, but marriage is indeed coming before the baby carriage for this engaged couple. Rumors that they were expecting spread earlier this week, but her representatives denied reports that Paquin is pregnant.

Actress Heather Locklear hasn’t appeared on reality TV, but she is reportedly in talks to reprise her role as Amanda Woodward on the CW’s reincarnation of Melrose Place. First Kelly Taylor and now Amanda Woodward? If we can get Nelson back to the top of the charts, it’ll be like the early 1990s (and my junior high school days) all over again!

And while I might still occasionally gossip like I did in junior high, this journalist certainly doesn’t want your soul …

Krista Richmond is a journalist and pop culture enthusiast. Have a question, suggestion or hot gossip tip? Send them to her at krista@killerfilm.com.