Headlines (Scroll down for complete stories):
1. Will Smith's Cinema Strategy
2. George Clooney Plays Hollywood Peacemaker
3. Nicole Kidman Delivers Lunch to Radio DJ
4. Dr. Phil Scolded by George Michael
5. Michael Moore's 'Hometown' Cracks Down on Saggy Pants
1. Will Smith's Cinema Strategy
Will Smith's certainly got the magic touch.
In an unprecedented winning streak, he's been in hit after hit since 2002.
He's actually had seven straight films exceed the $100 million mark, the smallest take being from "Bad Boys II" at $138 million.
Smith's latest flick, "Hancock," is not exactly being hailed by critics.
But the former rapper-turned-TV-and mega-movie star has defied them in the past. And he's in the habit of rocketing past their predictions on Fourth of July weekend. He did it with similar summer fare like "Independence Day" and "Men in Black II."
"Hancock" will likely add to Smith's amazing track record.
After leaping over other A-listers, what does the Hollywood big wheel expect the future to bring?
According to Smith, he doesn't think he's even peaked yet.
"I feel like the next 10 years are going to be my sweet spot," the celeb tells the USA Today.
And he's not lacking in the confidence department either.
"I don't feel like there's anything I can't do, no movie I can't make," he says.
Smith has an analytical approach to his craft; one that's not normally associated with his profession. He's a statistician of sorts.
"I study patterns," he explains. "Nine out of the top 10 biggest movies of all times have special effects; eight out of 10 have creatures in them; seven out of 10 have a love story. So if you want a hit, you might want to throw those in the mix. I just study patterns and try to stand where lightning strikes."
Can you see Smith as chairman and CEO of his own studio someday?
Lots of shareholders can.
2. George Clooney Plays Hollywood Peacemaker
It's George Clooney to the rescue.
Stars are at each other throats over a Hollywood labor dispute.
Tom Hanks is aligning himself with one union while Jack Nicholson and Ben Stiller are backing another in a growing feud that threatens to shut down Tinseltown.
Hanks has signed an e-mail trying to convince members of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) to accept a deal, which was negotiated by union leaders with the studio bosses.
Meanwhile Nicholson and Stiller are appearing in ads that ask AFTRA actors to cast a "No" vote on the same deal. The two celebs are supporting AFTRA's adversary, the Screen Actors Guild (SAG). SAG leaders contend that the AFTRA deal is weak and damages SAG's ability to obtain a better contract.
Enter stage left, Hollywood Diplomat George Clooney.
"What we can't do is pit artist against artist," Clooney writes in an open letter.
He points out that "the one thing you can be sure of is that stories about Jack Nicholson vs. Tom Hanks only strengthens the negotiating power of the AMPTP [the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, the studios' organization for bargaining with the unions]."
Clooney wisely advises, "Maybe we could find a way to get what both unions are looking for."
A strike hurts everyone, especially small businesses and their employees, who are dependent on the show biz industry for their customers.
Sadly, the recent writers' strike cost the local economy an estimated 37,000 jobs and $2.1 billion.
3. Nicole Kidman Delivers Lunch to Radio DJ
A legendary Nashville DJ, who's well known for his humor, found himself as the object of his own practical joke when one very famous actress sauntered into his studio and hand-delivered him lunch.
It seems that on one particular occasion Keith Urban was an in-studio guest on Gerry House's radio show. According to U.K.'s Hello Magazine, a female caller called in to speak to the country singer and identified herself as Urban's wife.
Urban had been talking about his participation alongside his wife in Lamaze classes.
The female caller turned out to be none other than Urban's spouse, the pregnant Nicole Kidman.
"Keith has been doing Lamaze lessons, he is selling himself short. ... He has been very good at it," Kidman said.
She indicated that due to heavy traffic she was having difficulty getting to the studio to pick up her husband.
House then suggested Kidman pick up lunch while she was at it.
The Oscar winning actress showed up on the radio studio's doorstep, salad in hand.
At first, House was at a total loss for words.
Then he sputtered, "I have no intention of eating this. Are you kidding? Lunch delivered by Nicole Kidman? I'm having it bronzed!"
4. Dr. Phil Scolded by George Michael
In front of a star-studded audience, Dr. Phil McGraw was recently taken to task by of all people George Michael.
While at a Los Angeles concert performance by Michael, Dr. Phil was chewed out over his non-sunny expression.
"I probably shouldn't say this but it's very me," Michael announced from onstage.
"Dr. Phil is here, and in the sea of faces he has this miserable look — he's been doing it for the last hour," the singer added. "I probably shouldn't say this, but maybe you need to see someone about that."
Some of the concert attendees started booing the daytime TV advisor.
Celebs in the audience who may or may not have booed included Bo Derek, Pink, Sharon Stone, Randy Jackson, Cyndi Lauper and Kathy Griffin.
Guess this means all Michael concertgoers have to don happy faces or risk being singled out as sour pusses.
5. Michael Moore's 'Hometown' Cracks Down on Saggy Pants
Although filmmaker Michael Moore was born in Davison, Michigan, an upper-class suburb 10 miles away from Flint, Moore claims Flint as his hometown.
Michael best beware the next time he steps foot in Flint because local cops are patrolling to see whose pants need raising.
Flint police chief David Dicks released a statement announcing the city's new campaign against saggy pants, meaning trousers that have that nasty habit of slipping below the waistline.
Anyone who wears either pants or shorts that are on the descent will be arrested and charged with a misdemeanor, which could get the person 93 days to a year in the slammer and/or a $500 fine.
Dicks explains that those who expose their underwear and claim that it is a form of self-expression are no longer practicing free speech.
Not even in a big old orange jumpsuit.
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