Again? It seems that Mel Gibson just cannot escape the intrigue and controversy that seems to follow him everywhere. This time, a man is claiming that Mel Gibson assaulted him at a nightclub. Funny thing is, the esteemed actor was with his girlfriend, who is pregnant.

Reports say that the couple was wedged inside a booth when Gibson went berserk on the guy, grabbed him, and ripped his T-shirt in the process. Indeed, the guy had pictures taken of him with a tattered shirt.

Of course, the cops were brought in. It seems that Lady Luck is on Gibson’s side this time around. The cops say that they think that the guy filing the report has a crappy made up story. According to TMZ’s reports, the cops say that “Gibson was wedged in a booth with his pregnant girlfriend and couldn’t have grabbed the guy’s shirt.”

In any case, why would Gibson just go crazy? According that guy, he was trying to get a picture of the couple. Naturally, the couple wanted privacy and didn’t want to have their picture taken. When the reporter persisted, Gibson’s temper flared and that’s when the action happened.

So now he is facing charges once again. We all know that the media will be following this story to the end, however it may end. All I can say is that why can’t I witness these things? Nothing ever seems to happen when I am around! :p

Country singer Alan Jackson is set to get his Hollywood star next year. If you are not a country music fan, you probably couldn’t care less. For those who are into country music, however, this should prove to be interesting.

There are over 2,000 stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame already. They first started putting stars in their in 1958 and each year, worthy celebrities are awarded their own stars. Year in and year out, people from all over the world come in droves to visit Hollywood, and guess what is one of the most visited places in Tinsel Town? You got it – the Walk of Fame.

Alan Jackson is not the only person to be receiving his star in 2010. There are many other categories for the stars and the Times Herald lists down more of them:

Jackson is nominated in the recording category — along with Bryan Adams, The Funk Brothers, Chaka Khan, Van Morrison, Marco Antonio Solis, Ringo Starr, ZZ Top and — posthumously — Roy Orbison.

In addition to Thompson, motion picture nominees were James Cameron, Russell Crowe, John Cusack, Colin Firth, Gale Ann Hurd, Alan Menken, Randy Neuman, Adam Sandler and Mark Wahlberg. Nominated in the television category were Graves, Chris Berman, Jon Cryer, Jimmy Kimmel, Julia Louis-Dreyfuss, Bill Maher and Sam Waterston.

The year is not really half way done but I am sure that the awardees are already beside themselves with excitement. As for us mere mortals, we can hope to be there during the formal ceremony.

After seven years of being officially “dead,” Laserium is once again opening in Hollywood. This time, its new home is the much loved Vine Theatre.

Never heard of Laserium? Well, it is a laser light show, which has withstood the test of time, becoming an icon in its own right. For more than three decades, this laser light show has wowed millions and millions of people in 46 cities. Um, it also gained somewhat of a reputation for being a rite of passage for stoners.

According to Marla Maples, one of the new people behind the light show, she is well aware of this reputation but she also promises that there will be no smoking in the new Laserium. In fact, she is trying to turn things around with regard to the show’s reputation. She is working on a program that will send some money down the way of charities. Her goal is to have one fourth of the group-ticket sales to be given to a good cause.

So what is in store for you at the new Laserium? Expect to see the 3D versions of the classic shows: Beatles, Stones, and Zep. There are new shows as well, including LightDancer Experience, wherein viewers can become participants and control the lights with body movements. In addition to these, live acts are also slated to perform, incorporating the lights into their sets.

For more information, visit the Laserium web site and book your tickets now!

In spite of the fact that marijuana (weed or pot or whatever other name you call it) is illegal, we know that it is being used widely across the country. Hollywood is no exception. In fact, weed may even be used here more than in other parts of the country.

If the LA authorities are to be followed, however, weed is soon going to be harder to come by in the area. City inspectors are currently targeting what is known as medical marijuana dispensaries in Los Angeles. One by one, these dispensaries are being inspected – the first step towards shutting them down. The orders come from the City Council, which is now regretting its decision to allow the shops (hundreds of them) to operate.

Naturally, shop owners are not happy with the developments. Anthony Folsom is one of the owners of Bulldog Café, one of the medical marijuana dispensaries. He is quite unhappy with the City Council’s move as he believes that they (the shop owners) are in the business for the right reasons. He also stated that if this crackdown does not stop, all those people with good intentions are going to disappear and that at the end of the day, the city will be left with illegal drug dealers.

He does have a point and the City Council realizes this. They are having a hard time getting their way and many members acknowledge how difficult and potentially dangerous the road they are taking is. In the meantime, shops which are still in business are being frequented by their loyal patrons.

With a name like Cirque Berzerk, this circus is sure to raise some eyebrows. Yes, it is not your every day family circus. For several days now, a gigantic red and white big top tent has been spied in the Los Angeles State Historic Park area. For the locals, this area is also known as the Cornfields.

So what is the Cirque Berzerk all about, and why isn’t it a “family circus?” The LA Times says:

But parents be warned: this is no kid-friendly elephants-and-acrobats fare. Sexy, scandalous and wholly unsuitable for children, this is Cirque Berzerk. Last summer, Cirque Berzerk ‘s debut show, “Beneath,” introduced L.A. to its nouveau mix of burlesque beauties, daring aerialists, fire-dancers and freak show artists to sold-out audiences.

Besides revamping their staple acts – burlesque, fire-dancing, and clown, contortion and aerial numbers – seven new acts are set to premiere. As if playing with fire and dangling from tissue weren’t daring enough, they’ve added bungee and trampoline acts, as well as a jaw-dropping two-person contortion act. Headed up by Michael “Tex” Redinger, who’s come to some fame for what he calls “stilt-jumping”, this unique double trampoline piece requires bouncers to clear (or land on) a high platform or suffer a major fall.

These acts will surely help you forget your woes for a while.

For more information (and to go get your tickets!):

Where: Los Angeles State Historic Park, 1245 N. Spring St. When: Shows run from June 18 through July 5, times vary. Two shows per day on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Price: Ticket prices, $25, $45, $60, $80. Info: cirqueberzerk.com

Prop 8 has got to be one of the most controversial pieces of legislations ever. It has got people from all sorts of backgrounds speaking their minds. And of course, in Hollywood, most everyone has joined the fray. The general consensus – as was to be expected, I think – is that upholding Prop 8 is not right.

USA Today featured some quotes about Prop 8 from prominent Hollywood figures. Here are some of the more interesting AND sensible ones. (Yes, everyone is having their say but some of them just do more harm to Prop 8, I think.)

George Clooney to E!: “This just should invigorate people to get it back on the ballot in 2010 and 2012 and every two years until all people are allowed a basic civil right.”

Yep, this was voted on. Those who didn’t vote do not have a right to complain.

Charlize Theron to E!: “I am deeply disappointed by the (California) Supreme Court’s ruling on Prop. 8 today. I don’t agree with homophobia or discrimination of any kind. I will continue to fight this fight for equality and speak up for the basic civil rights of all Americans.”

I don’t agree with homophobia or discrimination either. Then again, the issue runs deep and touches faith and beliefs. It’s not that simple.

Demi Moore: “There’s no room 4 judgment it only creates separation & i’m pretty sure we R all equal in God’s eyes. luv is luv in whatever form! … Amazing the country that likes 2 pride itself on liberty & justice 4 all can continue 2 fail certain groups!”

That’s on Twitter, and she does have a point on liberty and justice.

So is Hollywood right on this one? What’s YOUR say?

Hollywood is home to the rich and famous, and it is the breeding ground of a lot of controversy as well. Just the other night, Hollywood actor Alec Baldwin was a guest on the Letterman Show and he apparently made a gaffe, which has offended a lot of Filipinos.

So what did he say? You know how Letterman conducts his interviews – they jump from topic to another. Somewhere along the way, Baldwin said that he was ‘”thinking about getting a Filipina mail-order bride … or a Russian.” He went on to say that he “didn’t care; he’s 51.”

I suppose it was the mail-order bride tag that many found offensive. And I suppose the fact that Letterman added his own “Get one for me, for later” didn’t help either.

Now, the Philippine government is demanding for a public apology from the producers of the show and from Alec Baldwin. They want the concerned people to “express deep concern over the derogatory remark.”

Mind you, this is not the first time that Hollywood has been targeted for this kind of racial gaffe. A few years ago, Teri Hatcher said something about a spurious medical degree obtained from the Philippines. This was uttered in one episode of Desperate Housewives. The producers of the show were asked to apologize and they did.

The question is: what will the producers of the Letterman show and Alec Baldwin do? Their statements were clearly in jest, but some were offended. Let’s see what happens.

As if Hollywood were not already steeped in enough controversy, we are now seeing the world of the stars collide with another equally interesting sector: the world of technology. Last week, the trial between Hollywood studios and RealNetworks began.

The issue revolves around the product called RealDVD, which allows people to convert their DVDs into files that can be played on personal computers and other similar devices. Hollywood studios point out that this is basically hacking while RealNetworks maintains the stance that it is not a hacker’s tool.

For one, they say that the software maintains the DVD’s copyright protection. On top of this, RealDVD also adds another layer or protection by employing digital rights management that locks the converted file to the PC. The Guardian has this story:

RealNetwork’s defence is that RealDVD strengthens DVD copy protection. Some observers, such as Fred von Lohmann, a senior lawyer with the Electronic Frontier Foundation, think Hollywood is fighting a losing battle: “I’m not sure what alternate version of reality the MPAA is living in, but consumers have been able to copy DVDs for a long time, thanks to free, widely available DVD rippers,” he says.

Hollywood argues that it has introduced features to its discs such as Digital Copy, which allows users to copy DVDs on to a hard drive, although in much lower resolution and with DRM constraints.

So what’s it gonna be? Who knows? One thing we know is that the judge is the same one who presided over the Napster case, and that she ruled in favor of the music industry.

The Hollywood Walk of Fame recently got an addition to its already numerous stars. This time, it is a member of the British group, The Beatles. George Harrison was awarded the accolade on the 14th of this month.

Beatles fans would know that George Harrison died in 2001, at the age of 58. Cancer was the cause of his death. And while he might not have been the most popular member of the band, it cannot be denied that he contributed a lot to the band’s success. He was a school friend of Paul McCartney, and was actually a founder of The Quarrymen, the band which later on evolved into The Beatles.

George is actually the man behind many of the band’s most popular songs, including Here Comes The Sun, Something, and While My Guitar Gently Weeps. And when The Beatles disbanded, George Harrison’s career did not really take that much of a beating. In the 70s, he launched a solo career and managed to come up with a hit song, My Sweet Lord. Not unlike the songs he created and performed with the rest of the band, this solo song became a hit all over the world.

Now that he has passed away, George’s legacy remains alive in his work. As a matter of fact, award winning Martin Scorsese is working on a documentary about George’s life. In addition to that, Capitol/EMI are also pondering on releasing a new Harrison record. This is something to look forward to.

When I first heard of this piece of news, for some reason, the song “Peter Pumpkinhead” started playing in my head. Until now, as I am writing this post, the song will not stop playing! Oh well, I suppose there is a connection somehow and the song is good anyway, so I will not complain.

So what is the pumpkin bread all about? If you do not know already, there is this convent in Hollywood that has become famous because of their pumpkin bread. The convent is called the Monastery of Angels, and it has been in existence for 75 years now.

Their existence is being seriously threatened right now, however, as the convent’s finances are way in the red. According to the nuns, donations and other sources of income (including a gift shop and other investments) have not been earning them much money recently. Their budget has actually been cut down by more than 70%. As a result, they might have to close the convent down, perhaps opening the property to some other sort of development.

Naturally, neighbors and other concerned people are not about to let that happen, if they can do anything about it. Talks have been going around about making use of the nuns’ famous pumpkin bread, in the hopes that revenue can be made from this product. There are currently 20 nuns in the convent and their days revolve around prayer, with three hours of work in the morning. It is during these three hours that the nuns bake their pumpkin bread and work in the gift shop.

With this news going around in the community, the people are scrambling to help the nuns. Now isn’t that just the perfect attitude this Easter?