Daniel Radcliffe Discovers a Magical PlantThe 20-year-old ‘Harry Potter’ actor gets stoned, Zsa Zsa owes back taxes, and more “they’re just like us” stories in our daily gossip roundup.
Laura Bush to Host ‘Today’!The First Lady–for–a–little–while–longer will make a very special appearance on the ‘Today’ show next week.
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Nick Lachey and JCPenney Do Not Mix, Even If Paid to Do SoNick Lachey threw a hissy fit at a JCPenney party on Hudson Street, despite the fact that he was being paid to be there. Michael Strahan says he loves girlfriend Nicole Murphy, but isn’t sure about marriage. Execs at Sony are annoyed that Michael Jackson’s Thriller 25 is on the Billboard oldies’ chart instead of the Billboard Top 200 chart, despite the fact that it has six new songs. Nelly picked up the coat-check girl at Plumm. Outkast’s André 3000 is looking for an apartment in the city and just toured a multi-million-dollar penthouse on West 13th Street. Justin Timberlake gave menu recommendations to patrons at his Southern Hospitality.
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We’ll Make It, I Swear … to the Governor’s Mansion?Jon Bon Jovi lives in Soho but is keeping a house in Jersey because he may run for governor there one day. Alec Baldwin is worried that Hillary Clinton won’t vote “no” on a $10 billion farm bill that subsidizes farmers who provide fattening foods to schools. Kelly Ripa claims she treats her butt like her breasts by buying really tight jeans and pushing her cheeks together. Cindy Adams claims that Time Warner may be looking to sell People magazine and In Style to Hachette. A stylist for Frederic Fekkai had to wear rubber gloves before shampooing a tweaked-out, sweaty Brandon Davis. High-end TV network Plum TV laid off a bunch of people and may be closing. Makeup maven Olivia Chantecaille has a new banker boyfriend. Liz Hurley and Hugh Grant are still buddies and attended a dinner party at the Upper East Side townhouse of Valentino.
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Elizabeth Hurley Bought the Farm, Stopped ActingElizabeth Hurley was in town recently for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation’s Hot Pink Party at the Waldorf, and we had to wonder where the shagedelic star has been lately: Her last movie, Serving Sara with Matthew Perry, opened in the United States a full five years ago. Her explanation? “I just can’t really make movies as well as be a mum and live in England,” she told us. “Something had to give, and I decided it wasn’t going to be my relationship with my son. I decided I wanted to take him to school every day, which I do.” Hurley, who married Indian businessman Arun Nayar in a bi-continental ceremony two months ago, said she hasn’t given up working, just acting. She’s a spokeswoman for Liz Claiborne and has started her own beachwear company. And she’s become a farmer. “I have a large farm in the country in England,” she said. “And it’s all organic. So basically, right now, I’m really into produce.” Rachel Wolff
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Picking On Little ArthurIn his new memoir, former Time Inc. editor-in-chief Norm Pearlstine accuses New York Times publisher Arthur Sulzberger of being more concerned with publicity than with the law during the Judith Miller saga. (Of course, Pearlstine was concerned with neither, happily capitulating to the prosecutor!) Tom Brady and Gisele went to Easter Mass in Little Italy. Disgraced former Miss USA Tara Conner has left New York for L.A. Scarlett Johansson and Ryan Reynolds now seem to be an item. Socialite Dori Cooperman was arrested and charged after she allegedly stole and cashed a $4,300 check. A Gawker editor had a tough time handling Jimmy Kimmel’s questions on Larry King Live. Giada De Laurentiis may be one of Tiki Barber’s co-hosts on the Today show.