CSI Star's Drug Charge Dropped

Gary's due back in court next month for the paraphernalia charge.
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Matt Hires Acoustic Tour

(AR) Matt Hires will hit the road this fall for a special set of acoustic shows that will kick off October 25th in Minneapolis, MN and end November 9th in Matt's hometown of Tampa, FL.

This tour will mark the last chance fans will have to catch him before he heads back into the studio to record his sophomore album.

Fellow singer-songwriter Rachel Platten will join Matt Hires on the tour as a special guest. more on this story

Doctor Did Not Report Taylor Armstrong Beating To Police

(TMZ) The doctor who performed surgery on Taylor Armstrong the night her husband Russell beat her did not report the incident to police ... even though medical professionals must report suspected domestic abuse ... sources tell TMZ.

As TMZ first reported, Taylor revealed to her "Real Housewives" cast mates that Russell beat her so badly in June, she ended up in the hospital with a broken bones in her cheek.

Sources say the police never interviewed Taylor following the beating ... something they would have done had there been a report of domestic violence.

We're told the doctor who performed the surgery was NOT Adrienne Maloof's hubby, Dr. Paul Nassif.

In addition to the surgeon, the hospital staff also failed to report the incident. more on this story

Hilary Duff Loses Film Role Over Pregnancy?

(TMZ) Hilary Duff just learned a cold, hard lesson -- Hollywood's not hiring a lot of pregnant women to play legendary bank robbers ... which is why she just got dropped from "The Story of Bonnie and Clyde."

Duff was supposed to play Bonnie Parker in the upcoming film ... but sources involved in the production tell us they're moving forward sans Hilary -- a decision that was made right after Hil broke her baby news last week.

We're told the director is already shopping for a new Bonnie, and the split was amicable. As one source put it, "Hilary won't be available until next June. If we could wait we would." Shooting is scheduled for this Fall.

If prego Duff isn't cool with the switch this could be another Tylo Hunter situation -- the actress who won a $4.8 million judgment when pregnancy cost her a "Melrose Place" role.

Hilary's rep has not returned calls.

Side note: producers are also looking for a new Clyde due to scheduling conflicts with Kevin Zegers. We're assuming he's not pregnant.
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Nervo Releasing Single With Afrojack and Steve Aoki

(Astralwerks) Nervo will release "We're All No One" featuring Afrojack and Steve Aoki as a multi-track digital single on September 6th, 2011.

It features both their original mix and an edit of the song along with four remixes; Nervo Goes To Paris Remix, Hook N Sling Remix, Dave Aude Club Mix and Jungle Fiction Remix.

"We're All No One" is not only Nervo's first release for Astralwerks/EMI, but also the first commercial release in which the girls (Mim & Liv) step up to the mic to perform the vocals. The song is a marked departure in style and sound from their more underground dancefloor productions of the past year, and showcases a daring new vision, that sets its sights on the future of pop, electro and dance synergies. more on this story

TNA Drop Matt Hardy Following Arrest

(TMZ) Matt Hardy's arrest this weekend in North Carolina has had immediate repercussions -- he's been DROPPED from TNA.

A rep for TNA tells TMZ, "TNA today released Impact Wrestling star Matt Hardy from its roster. Hardy was already under suspension from the company."

As TMZ first reported, Hardy was arrested after his Corvette smashed into a tree Saturday afternoon.
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Estella Warren Escapes Jail Sentence

"Planet of the Apes" actress Estella Warren just got the DEAL OF THE CENTURY -- she won't have to serve ANY jail time for allegedly driving drunk, crashing into 3 cars, attacking a cop and then escaping from police ... TMZ has learned.

TMZ broke the story ... Warren had the night from hell back in May -- capped off when she slipped out of a pair of handcuffs at an LAPD station and tried to make a run for it. She was recaptured ... and eventually charged with DUI, hit-and-run driving, battery on a cop and resisting arrest.

But today, Warren struck a deal with prosecutors, in which she agreed to plead guilty to DUI ... and the remaining three charges against her were dropped.

Warren was sentenced to 60 months of summary probation and has been ordered to attend an alcohol program for 18 months. She will also have to fork over $1,908 in costs and penalties.
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Mariah Carey For X Factor?- Amy Winehouse Foundation Hits A Snag- Lady Gaga Opening VMAs- True Blood For Taylor Swift- David Guetta N Jennifer Hudson- more

(FMQB) Mariah Carey is reportedly close to signing a deal to be involved with Simon Cowell's X Factor when it debuts in September. Deadline.com reports that X Factor judges will have one superstar work in each panelists' respective homes to train their contestants for the show, and Cowell is in final negotiations to have Mariah as his personal pick to mentor his contestants from his house. more

(Billboard) "True Blood" is eschewing its gritty rock and blues heavy soundtrack for some Taylor Swift. This week's episode will feature "Haunted," from Swift's r "Speak Now." more

(FMQB) Creation of a foundation in the name of Amy Winehouse has been delayed due to the previous ownership of the rights to the name. Winehouse's father is holding onto donations until the foundation can be set up properly. more

(BBC) Dubstep duo Nero knock Back to Black, by the late Amy Winehouse, off the top of the UK album chart with their debut release Welcome Reality. more

(FMQB) Converse has released a free track from Matt & Kim, featuring Soulja Boy and Andrew W.K. as part of the company's annual "Three Artists, One Song" series. more

(Billboard) Josh Groban will be guest-starring on season 8 of "The Office" as the brother of Ed Helms' character, Andy Bernard more

(ASB) Another new song from David Guetta hit the web recently. Titled "Night of Your Life", it features R&B singer Jennifer Hudson belting out her lyrics over fist-pumping sound spun by the French DJ. more

(FMQB) Legendary producer Phil Spector is out of luck once again. The California Supreme Court turned down an appeal filed by Spector's attorneys requesting a review of his 2009 murder conviction, marking the second time this year that his attorneys have been rejected in their attempt to overturn his conviction, according to Rolling Stone. more

(Billboard) Lady Gaga will deliver the opening performance of the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards. Gaga, who is up for four VMAs, made the announcement Aug. 18 via a banner in New York's Times Square. more

(ASB) Sugarland resumed their tour in Albuquerque, New Mexico on August 18 after previously canceling their performance at Indiana State Fair due to stage collapse. Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush took the stage with their crew, calling for a moment of silence to honor those who were killed and injured during the tragic incident. more

Lil Wayne Accused of How To Love Beat Theft

(TMZ) Lil Wayne rapped on stolen property -- at least according to another MC, who insists he's the rightful owner of the beat behind Weezy's "How to Love" ... and now, he's out for some legal vengeance.

Rapper Rich Rick filed the lawsuit earlier this week in L.A. County Superior Court, claiming he purchased several master recordings between 2006 and 2009 -- including the beat that now appears on "How to Love" -- from a group of rap producers called Drummer Boyz.

Rick claims the Drummer Boyz double-crossed him in November 2010 -- pitching the SAME beat to Lil Wayne ... and Weezy acquired it in exchange for a 35% royalty agreement, eventually using the beat on "How to Love."

The song's a hit -- and needless to say, Rick's royally pissed ... insisting the Drummer Boyz screwed him over.

Rick's suing Weezy, the Drummer Boyz, and others for everything from breach of contract to fraud -- demanding everything DB are entitled to under their agreement with Wayne ... plus 10% interest.

Attempts to reach the Drummer Boyz were unsuccessful. Calls to Weezy's camp weren't returned. more on this story

Catfight Over Trey Songz

(TMZ) Trey Songz was at the center of a nightclub brawl this week in New York City, but it was the kind Kramer would approve of ... it was a CATFIGHT!!!

Sources inside the Juliet Supper Club tell TMZ ... a group of girls were trying to get close to Trey on Monday night, and his date for the evening was not pleased. We're told the girls exchanged words and someone from the group tossed a drink on Trey's girl ... causing a melee.

The owner of the club, Barry Mullineaux, tells TMZ his security team jumped right in tossed the group of girls from the club. Police were not called.

Mullineaux says Trey did nothing wrong and is invited back anytime. more on this story

Suge Knight Sentenced To Three Years Probation

(TMZ) Suge Knight better be on his best behavior for the next three years -- because the rap mogul just got sentenced to 36 months probation for driving on a suspended license.

As TMZ first reported, Suge's badass black truck was impounded back in February -- after cops cited Knight for driving on a bum license.

Suge pled no contest to the charge -- and was given three years unsupervised probation. It's the second time the guy's been nailed for driving on a suspended license -- let's hope he learns his lesson.
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Dancing with the Stars Getting Massive Makeover

(TMZ) "Dancing with the Stars" is getting a MASSIVE upgrade this season -- and TMZ has learned ... the entire layout of the set will be changed ... to the tune of $3 MILLION!

Sources tell us ... the COOLEST change will affect the audience ... because producers are swapping out the boring bleacher seats for a TRIPLE-TIERED balcony-styled arrangement ... kinda like where the old grumpy guys sit on "The Muppets."

Another cool change -- the massive staircase in the middle of the stage will have the ability to SPLIT into TWO halves ... which will reveal the orchestra pit.

As for the dance floor ... which was basically hardwood planks placed on the ground ... it will NOW be an elevated PLATFORM ... so if the stars fall over the edge, it could REALLY hurt.

When called for comment, a rep for the show told TMZ ... producers are "very excited" about the new changes. more on this story

Charlie Sheen Not Going Back To Brooke Mueller

(TMZ) Charlie Sheen and Brooke Mueller looked as cozy as two people can be this weekend in Mexico -- but Charlie tells TMZ ... they're still just "good friends trying to be great parents."

As TMZ first reported, the former couple went south of the border this weekend -- Charlie decided to take Brooke as a sort of "birthday/you're doing great in rehab" present.

But no matter how good they look together in the pics, Charlie tells us a romantic reconciliation is not in the cards. In warlock speak, Charlie says they are simply "working on mending the bridges, replanting scorched earth. The goal is harmony." more on this story

Coroner Has Questions For Taylor Armstrong

(TMZ) The L.A. County Coroner's office wants to interview Taylor Armstrong about Russell Armstrong's death ... TMZ has learned after placing several calls to the Coroner.

We're told the Coroner has a number of questions about things she knows about Russell, including: -- Russell's medical history -- Medication history -- References he may have made about suicide -- State of mind in the weeks preceding his death

As TMZ first reported, Taylor was on the property where Russell committed suicide when his body was discovered, however she left before the Coroner arrived. The Coroner's office has contacted Taylor about an interview, but they have not heard back from her.

The Coroner has already determined ... the cause of Russell's death was suicide by hanging, but the toxicology report is still pending. more on this story

Michael Jackson Doctor Wants Manslaughter Jury Sequestered Because of Nancy Grace?

(TMZ) Dr. Conrad Murray's legal team filed legal papers claiming sequestering the jury during the Michael Jackson manslaughter trial is the only way to protect him and the system from Nancy Grace type "character assassinations."

In legal papers obtained by TMZ, Dr. Murray's lawyers argue the only reason the Anthony jurors were untainted was because they were sequestered. According to the docs, the networks, and in particular Nancy Grace, were well aware of the ratings boost from the trial, and Grace and others engaged in "nonstop on-air abuse of not only the defendant, but the jurors and defense attorneys involved."

The legal docs claim, "There is reasonable expectation that Dr. Murray's trial will be the most publicized in history," and that of the several hundred jurors who were polled during jury selection, only one claimed not to have heard of the Murray case, and she didn't speak English.

Judge Michael Pastor said last month he would consider sequestering the jury, although he felt it was unnecessary and too expensive.
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Call of Duty To Fight Zombies

Call of Duty Zombie labs sent out this special announcement: The Call of Duty Zombie Labs has identified you as a genuine authority on the art and science of killing zombies, and we feel our recent research will prove invaluable to you and your audience.

We have recently identified a rogue zombie population on the Moon - a horrific population of the angriest undead we've seen yet. We have therefore begun battle preparation for Lunar Deployment.

The following video presentation will bring you up to speed on some unconventional tests conducted here recently. The Call of Duty Zombie Labs strives to understand every facet of zombie physiology and psychology in order to help experts like you keep the Zombie onslaught at bay. We believe there are few who are as qualified as you to disseminate this critical information, and help us recruit every die-hard zombie killer out there capable of rising to our biggest challenge yet.

Thank you,
CODZL

Watch the video here

Singled Out: Tessa Kautzman's Worlds Apart

Today Tessa Kautzman tells us about her latest song "Worlds Apart" from her forthcoming album. Here is the story:

When I wrote "Worlds Apart" I was in the Yukon, spending as much time as possible by the river and in the forest, canoeing, camping and wandering. My writing is often a reflection of my surroundings, and when I sing "Worlds Apart" I see myself back in the north. At the time I was thinking a lot about the darker side of nature. A "silent river current, unpredictable and indifferent" is a powerful, dangerous and terrifying force, but that in itself is the beauty of nature and of human nature. In this song I wanted to express a feeling of strong appreciation for the indifferent harshness of life.

The melody of the song took quite a long time to develop and went through several transformations before I settled on what I recorded. Early versions sounded a little more like traditional folk, but in the end I used a minor key and a rhythmic, poppy bass line for some momentum. I'm really happy with the way the song turned out, but I hope to re-record it and add more instruments, such as piano, percussion and horns.

"Worlds Apart" is available for free download here. A new version will be included in the album that I'm currently working on. more on this story