BRITNEY'S SIDESHOW

Britney may have pulled her act together on the set, but according to one of her dancers, the real circus starts after she gets off the stage. Her private gulfstream jet is full of junk food and dogs who are not housebroken. The plane is stocked with ONLY Twinkies, beef jerky and M&M’s – and when she’s finished, she just throws the wrappers on the floor. They all have to use flashlights when they get up in the middle of the night to pee – because the dogs kinda go where they want. They’re thinking of having an intervention.

MICHAEL JACKSON TOUR UPDATE

When Michael Jackson performs the first of his 50 scheduled shows in London this summer, he might have a surprise musical guest: His oldest son Prince Michael the 1st. – according to Michael, Prince Michael the 1st (who’s 12) is a musical genius. He also wants Britney and Justin to each do 5 shows, and he plans to arrive at each show by boat, ride in on an elephant with parrots, tigers and 100 warriors by his side.


AMERICA'S SWEETHEART...IN PLAYBOY?

Melissa Rycroft was just offered 500 thousand dollars to pose for Playboy. Hefner even invited Rycroft to the Playboy mansion for dinner so they could talk about the possibility of her posing. An insider said, quote, "Hef really wants Melissa to do a pictorial because she's the ultimate girl next door." Don't expect to see Rycroft showing off her goodies anytime soon, though. The source says her contract dictates she can't strip down until three months after the current season of Dancing with the Stars wraps up.

FOOTLOOSE CASTING

Chace Crawford from Gossip Girls just did a screen test to replace Zac Efron in Footloose. They’re not concerned that he can’t sing, he’ll lip sync (not sure if he can dance though)– and Kevin Bacon might come back to play the reverend. D...

BOB BARKER RETURNS!

Bob Barker is coming back to The Price Is Right to take part in the showcase showdown – taping today, will air Friday April 17th. He’s coming back to promote autobiography, Priceless Memories. PS- Wanna know the BIG bombshell that he’ll be dropping in his book? Before he got TPIR, he was a nude photography model in Palm Beach and was offered a job in PORN!?!


ZAC WALKS AWAY FROM FOOTLOOSE

Hollywood is reeling, Zac Efron has pulled out of the upcoming remake of Footloose, saying he doesn’t want to be typecast as a high school dude who can dance. Producers are shocked, production teams have been working on this project since last July- he had even signed the contracts. He used script approval as the loophole, saying he didn’t like the last re-write.


ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER LATE NIGHT TALK SHOW!

Another late talk show in the works- George Lopez, this fall, Monday through Thursday…still working on a name and a network (probably TBS). He says right now everything is geared towards Caucasians, he wants to be more like The Arsenio Hall Show." One more difference- the audience will also get to ask the questions.


T.R. KNIGHT AT FAULT

Member that 3 car- car accident from a few days ago with T.R. KNIGHT? LA police are now reporting he WAS at fault- but added it was just a minor incident and he’s not expected to be cited for any violations and the matter is now in the hands of insurance companies.

FUNNYMAN TIES THE KNOT!

David Letterman overcame a minor obstacle last week to marry his girlfriend of 23 years, Regina Lasko. Letterman confirmed on CBS' Late Show last night that he and Lasko, the mother of his five-year-old son Harry, tied the knot last Thursday at the Teton County Courthouse in Choteau, Montana, where Letterman maintains a home.

The couple decided to take the plunge even after their pickup truck got stuck in the mud on the way to the courthouse.Recalling the muddy situation to his audience, the 61-year-old Letterman said, quote, "So now we think, 'Well, somebody'll come -- no, nobody comes along...so I get out of the truck and I walk two miles back to the house into a 50-mile-an-hour wind....And the whole way, I'm thinking, 'See, smart ass, see, see, you try to get married, this is what happens."

MATT LAUER RECOVERING

Matt Lauer was out riding his bike on Long Island on Sunday when he was hit by a deer. I guess it jumped into his path causing him to flip over the handlebars, separating his shoulder…he’ll be away from the Today show all week for surgery but he’ll be ok.

ROBIN WILLIAMS RECOVERING

Robin Williams is recovering at the Cleveland Clinic after undergoing successful heart surgery on March 13th to replace an aortic valve. He's expected to make a full recovery in about eight weeks.

NATASHA RICHARDSON AUTOPSY COMPLETE

The cause of death for actress Natasha Richardson has been released- an epidural hematoma caused by a blunt impact to the head. In plain terms- too much pressure directly on the brain. – this condition appears in less than 5% of all head injuries.

Doctor’s are now saying that was a chance Richardson she could have survived, had she been treated immediately after her fall on a beginner's trail on Monday.

IN a very moving tradition, Broadway theaters dimmed their lights at exactly 8pm Thursday for one minute, the time when shows would normally start.

NATASHA RICHARDSON DIES

We just learned that Natasha Richardson, has passed away.

Liam Neeson and his family have just released the following statement about the passing of Natasha Richardson:

"Liam Neeson, his sons, and the entire family are shocked and devastated by the tragic death of their beloved Natasha. They are profoundly grateful for the support, love and prayers of everyone, and ask for privacy during this very difficult time."

Our deepest thoughts and prayers go out to the entire family.

NATASHA RICHARDSON UPDATE- Wednesday March 18

Actress NATASHA RICHARDSON was transported from Canada to New York yesterday, one day after she was severely injured in a skiing accident. While she reportedly suffered a head injury after falling at the Mont Tremblant ski resort in Quebec, her current condition has not been announced.

TMZ.com reported yesterday afternoon that the 45-year-old Tony Award winner was suffering from brain swelling, but denied other media reports that Richardson was brain dead. The family is expected to make a formal statement today.

TMZ also reported that Richardson was admitted to New York City's Lennox Hill Hospital last night, where she was visited by her mother, legendary actress VANESSA REDGRAVE. In addition, People magazine reported that friends and family members have gathered in New York for a vigil, and that the family is "very distressed."

NATASHA RICHARDSON IN CRITICAL CONDITION

Actress Natasha Richardson suffered a severe brain injury yesterday in a skiing accident.The actress was skiing Mont Tremblant ski resort in Quebec, Canada. She was on a green slope (for beginners) and, according to the ski patrol, Natasha fell and tumbled down the slope.

Apparently she got up after the fall and was smiling and joking with instructors. She did however complain of a headache about an hour later. As policy instructed, she was taken to a hospital in Montreal.

By the evening (Monday), she was listed in critical condition. Her husband Liam Neeson immediately flew to Montreal when he learned of the accident (Neeson was in Toronto filming a movie with Julianne Moore).


* UPDATE- Time Out New York and Perez Hilton posted that Natasha would not make it - even going so far as posting a "rest in peace". This was NOT accurate.

* UPDATE: 1:37 PM ET We're told Richardson's jet was scheduled to take off from Montreal-Trudeau Airport. A rep for the airport said the jet is either still there or has just taken off.

We're told Natasha Richardson has been transported from the hospital in Canada via ambulance. CTV says she boarded a private jet -- we do not know where the jet has gone, but we believe it's New York City. Richardson was accompanied by a medic team for the flight.