Michael Jackson at 50: `The best is yet to come'
NEW YORK - Michael Jackson celebrated his 50th birthday Friday, but he's still young at heartI'll just have a little cake with my children and we'll probably watch some cartoons," the pop star said in an interview with ABC News' "Good Morning America." Jackson talked by phone with ABC on Thursday.
Jackson, a twice-divorced father of three, said he aims to provide a normal life for his children.
"I am letting them enjoy their childhood as much as possible. ... I let them go to the arcade and go to the movies and do things. I think that comes naturally. I want them to get to do things I didn't get to do," he said.
"I get pretty emotional when I see them having a wonderful time," he said.
As for his career, Jackson said he's "looking forward to doing a lot of great things. ... I think the best is yet to come in my true humble opinion."
He said recording the blockbuster albums "Thriller" and "Off the Wall" were the happiest times of his life.
"That meant very much to me and seemed to be received so beautifully by the public and the world. You know, I enjoyed it very much," he said.
Jackson was asked if he had received a card from AARP, which focuses on the needs and concerns of those 50 and older.
"Not that I know of!" he said, laughing.
Keri Russell: Caught in the Rain
Caught out without an umbrella, Keri Russell was spotted making a dash down the street yesterday (August 11) in New York City.
The "Felicity" hottie came out of a deli shop after lunch and jumped inside a YMCA gymnasium to take shelter for a bit. But after a minute or so, she became impatient and decided to brave the weather.
And according to a report, the "Waitress" babe is getting geared up to lend her voice to the new "Wonder Woman" animated flick, along with Rosario Dawson, Virginia Madsen, and Nathan Fillon.
Keri told press, "This story is funny and action-packed and adult in a nice way. Then they said Nathan Fillion (her co-star in Waitress) was playing opposite me, and that made it that much better."
Enjoy the pictures of Keri Russell caught in the rain in NYC (August 11).
Fergie Answers London's Calling
Since her solo career blasted off with a song called "London Bridge," it's no wonder Stacy "Fergie" Ferguson has an affinity for the foggy English city.
And the "Big Girls Don't Cry" hottie was spotted arriving at London's Heathrow International Airport earlier today (August 13), looking sexy in a white trench coat.
At the baggage claim, Fergie's assistant had plenty of work to do to arrange all of her luggage on a baggage cart and get it out to the waiting chauffeured car.
Once she had a chance to freshen up and change clothes, the Black Eyed Pea was spotted outside her central London hotel, turning heads in an army-style jumpsuit, funky Christian Louboutin heels, and a matching Louis Vuitton handbag.
Enjoy the pictures of Fergie arriving in London earlier today (August 13).
Eva keeps in touch with Wendy's staff
Eva Longoria Parker keeps in touch with the Wendy's manager who gave her her first job - because she loved working at the fast food restaurant.The Desperate Housewives star worked at a Wendy's in her native Texas for six years and still has fond memories of her pre-fame job.
She tells Latina magazine, "I loved it. And I still love them. They are an amazing organisation. I still keep in touch with my manager from when I was 14. They are just great to me.
"I wanted to have a quinceanera (15th birthday party), so I went to Wendy's to work to pay for my own quinceanera. I stayed.
"I paid for my cheerleading and everything through that. It was like whatever you want to do outside of school, you have to pay for it. I never had a car because I was always trying to save."
Camden charity starts behind the bar
The so-called "Camden caners", the north London celebrity set, have come out in force for a fundraising concert.
But it was not African poverty that was on their minds, nor Aids, nor any other global issue.
It was far more important - a pub.
The word "charity" was banded about a fair bit at the concert in Camden on Thursday.
The Hawley Arms, the famed headquarters of the Camden cool crowd, probably isn't an official charity, though. It's a pub.
But it was ravaged by the fire that hit part of Camden Market six months ago - and the local celebrities want it back.
So they put on a gig at Dingwalls, across the road from the burnt-out site, to raise funds for the pub's reconstruction - and as an excuse for a party.
"It's a blur. It's like a rainbow with Chelsea boots on it."
Noel Fielding is recalling the good times he has had at the Hawley. The Mighty Boosh star was hosting the evening, introducing the acts with his suave, surreal patter.
"It's like a flickbook," he says, mentally thumbing through his memories.
"There's Johnny Borrell. There's Winehouse. There's Kimberly Stewart. There's lots of crazy dancing.
We used to have a garden up the top and I used to run across the ledge in my Chelsea boots. The Ledge of Doom, I called it. They fenced it off because they said: 'You will die and that won't be good publicity.'
"I've had loads of good times there." He goes on to describe inventing a pub game that is half darts, half William Tell shooting an apple off the head, but with exotic fruit.
"I had a gun with sticker darts and we were trying to shoot guavas and mangoes off people's heads. It started off as a bit of fun.
"Before we knew what was happening, there were 40 people involved, there was a league system going, it was amazing."
It is hard to know how much is true and how much is in Fielding's fervent imagination, but there is clearly much affection for the place.
"It was an amazing pub, which we all had some great and messy times in," according to Lois Winstone, daughter of actor Ray.
"There's no other places to have a good drink and a good laugh."
Winstone is a singer and her new group, This Year's Model, performed at the fundraiser.
She put on the most visually arresting performance, dressed like a human glitterball in a mirrored bodice, with black velvet gloves, metallic tights and vampish hair.
Judging by the crowd, the Hawley's dress code was anything goes, with the swinging set recycling and reinventing fashions from every era.
Outside there was a girl in hot pants, laddered tights, big glasses and a big tie talking to a friend in a shimmering ball gown.
Someone else sported a 1940s-style floral headscarf, while on the dancefloor a girl was doing the Charleston to the indie band, Captain Black.
Captain Black are signed to the Hawley's own record label, and two of its members worked behind the bar.
"Amy Winehouse and Johnny Borrell," says drummer and barman Mark Austin, when asked which celebrities were regulars.
"I've never once seen Kate Moss in there. I think maybe Pete Doherty went in once. The press overexaggerates it all the time and it gets a bit out of hand."
Borrell, Razorlight's frontman was one of the unannounced special guests at Dingwalls, playing three of his band's crowd-pleasing hits.
Winehouse, meanwhile, kept us guessing as to whether she would turn up. She was not on the bill, but there were hints that she was due to DJ later.
Meanwhile, there were some non-celebrities singing the praises of the pub - and bumping into famous people was a regular draw.
"It was so sociable, everyone there was amazing and really fun. It was somewhere you could sit back and meet people," says one regular, Karen Kavanagh.
Her friend Ellie Henderson adds: "We started going there because we made some friends who lived in Camden. Every so often you'd sit next to someone and get chatting, and it would turn out that they're a TV presenter."
Helsinki, a "collective" fronted by Babyshambles bassist Drew McConnell, headlined the night and were unexpectedly persuasive with their mix of jazz-folk and dirty indie.
Noel Fielding reappeared after their set to introduce the landlord and head barman, and to ask whether anyone had seen the pub's most famous regular.
Commotion
"We wanted to top it off with Winehouse, but I don't think she's here," he says.
She wasn't, but then a while later, once the crowd had thinned, a big black barnet could be spotted at the edge of the room, with a small jazz singer sheltering beneath it.
Winehouse had made it, and was settling in next to the DJ decks, watched over by bodyguards.
But within a matter of minutes a commotion erupted. Winehouse was having a barney with the DJ and being bundled out of the venue, followed by the lurking paparazzi.
Nobody seemed to know what had sparked the argument, but at least she had graced us with her presence. It was for charity, after all.
Miranda Kerr Lunches with Megan Gale
Despite what some people may think, supermodels love to eat just like the rest of us. And Miranda Kerr was all about some gourmet goodies Wednesday afternoon (August 6).
The awesome Aussie hottie was spotted out to lunch with fellow downundah stunner Megan Gale at Aria Restaurant at Circular Quay in Sydney, Australia.
And Miss Kerr was all smiles as she made her exit, looking quite lovely in an off-the-shoulder cream-colored blouse teamed with a black high-waisted skirt and a pair of Christian Louboutin heels.
The day before, Miranda was busy with her career, working it on the runway for the new David Jones line at the Royal Hall of Industries at Moore Park.
Enjoy the pictures of Miranda Kerr and Megan Gale out lunching at Aria (August 5).
Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel’s Summertime Lovin’
It was a blissful day yesterday (August 7th) for Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel as they enjoyed each other's company as they hung out in Beverly Hills, California.
The "SexyBack" singer and his "Summer Catch" babe were spotted grabbing some lunch at Jack 'n Jill's restaurant, a down home-style soul food eatery.
And apparently the large portions proved to be too much for the couple, as Biel was seen toting around a few to-go containers as she crossed the street, sporting a sexy summertime spaghetti strap dress.
From there, Jess and JT tried to work off a few calories with some extensive shopping around Beverly Hills. And according to a source, Miss Biel has become a bit obsessed with maintaining her shape.
"Jessica really loves to work out and so does Justin, but lately it seems like that's all she is doing. Justin is trying to get it through to her that she can take some time out to enjoy burger and beers."
Enjoy the pictures of Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake out in Beverly Hills (August 7).
Kardashian Sisters: Fine Dining
You gotta wonder why celebrities install state-of-the-art kitchens inside of their mansions when all they ever do is go out to eat! And yesterday the Kardashian sisters treated themselves to some top-of-the-line cuisine.
Kim, Kourtney, and Khloe were all spotted spoiling themselves with a gourmet lunch at Il Sole Monday afternoon. And all three ladies were dressed to the nines, with Khloe sporting a khaki and black top with black leggings, while Kourtney rocked a black and grey striped minidress with black peep-toed heels, and Kim wore a white tank top with high-waisted belted trousers.
Later on last night, the Kardashian gals were all spotted indulging their appetites for delicious food once again, this time at uber-trendy STK Restaurant.
Earlier in the day, Kim was also spotted shopping for some Beverly Hills bling at XIV Karat in a bluish-green halter-style dress.
Enjoy the pictures of the Kardashian sisters out at STK and Il Sole, along with shots of Kim shopping solo (August 4).
