September 29th, 2006

Jessica Simpson
Is the pressure starting to get to Jessica Simpson? While in London last week for her sister Ashlee's debut in the stage production of "Chicago," Jessica left the after party at the Storm Bar in a huff, yelling, "I don't want to be here – why won't people just leave me alone?" Her dad acknowledged that "Jess is quite down at the moment. She's not comfortable talking to people." Later, Jessica was filming a commercial, but kept the crew waiting for an hour because of a stomach bug. Her stylist and shoulder to cry on Ken Paves was overheard saying, "Well, what do you want her to do, [bleep] her pants?" Sources tell the TMZ web site that one of the reasons Jessica is down is because her ex-hubby Nick Lachey and MTV hostess Vanessa Minnillo are "going strong" and that the pair spend "hours upon hours" holed up in Minnillo's pad in Manhattan when Nick's in town. Ahh, but are they really as happy as they seem...

Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo
If you believe the National Enquirer, then Nick Lachey had better enjoy his time with Vanessa Minnillo while he can. While they're hot and heavy for now, friends of Vanessa's say that she'll never marry Nick because she wants a more manly man, a real jock. This friend tells the tabloid, "She was absolutely nuts about New York Yankee star Derek Jeter, and she's also been linked to Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. She grew up a cheerleader and she loves being in the arms of a real athlete."

Jaime Pressly and Eric Cubiche
Word has it that My Name Is Earl star Jaime Pressly and her DJ boyfriend Eric Cubiche are planning their engagement and expecting a baby. They've been friends for nearly a decade, but only started dating a year ago. Pressly tells Us Weekly, "We're going this weekend to (Beverly Hills jewelry store) XIV Karats to design my engagement ring. I'm really looking forward to it." While Jaime didn't confirm that she's expecting, the buzz is that she recently broke the news to family and friends at a barbecue.

Amanda Peet and David Benioff
Amanda Peet and screenwriter David Benioff are going to tie the knot this weekend. Peet was on David Letterman's show this week and announced that she's four months pregnant, earning her the nickname "Fatty" on the set of her new TV show Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.

Kate Hudson and Chris Robinson
Stick a fork in Kate Hudson and Chris Robinson's marriage. They separated last month amid some pretty solid rumors she was seeing her "You, Me and Dupree" co-star Owen Wilson. There was supposed to be a reconciliation between Kate and Chris over the Labor Day weekend, but that either never happened or didn't work out. A friend of Kate's tells Us Weekly, "She is filing for divorce imminently. As soon as she files, it relieves a lot of the pressure of going out with Owen." This friend also says, "She's much more true to herself when she's with Owen. Kate has never been happier."

Tony and Tracy Danza
It's splitsville for Tony Danza and his wife Tracy. They're blaming it on the pressure of Danza's cancelled talk show, which took a huge toll on the couple's 20-year marriage.

Dustin Diamond
As you might guess, it's a pretty good bet that Dustin "Screech" Diamond from "Saved by the Bell" played a role in his sex tape seeing the light of day. Diamond had just signed on to be a spokesperson for the web hosting company Globat.com and his people gave them the heads up that something "huge" was going to happen and that they were "lucky to have him." The official line from the company is that they signed him based on his persona as the recognizable lovable nerd. So far, the company is taking a wait and see attitude, but there's a strong possibility they knew what they were in for based on the ads they've shot with Dustin. One features his picture next to the words, "Our nerds do it best and go all night long!" Another ad features Screech with his pants stuffed and the line, "Our nerds have the biggest packages!"

Britney Spears
Britney Spears has fired her longtime publicist, Leslie Sloane-Zelnick. Chalk it up to a long run of bad press. Britney reportedly plans to take charge of her own publicity, which should guarantee train wrecks for a long time to come.

Candace Bergen
Don't believe those Internet rumors about Candace Bergen having a stroke. Candace did have a bout with high blood pressure and was hospitalized for a few days for observation as a precaution. She is now on medication and is back at work on Boston Legal.

Billy Joel
Like his song goes, Billy Joel is movin' out. Joel has put his Oyster Bay Harbor estate on the market. He paid $22.5 million for the place in 2002 and is now asking $37.5 million. For that, you'll get a 40,000-square-foot brick, gabled house with five bedrooms, three full baths, three half-baths and eight fireplaces on 14.26 acres with 1,550 feet of shoreline on Oyster Bay. There's also a guest cottage and a pool house by the beach. If that doesn't sound like enough for $37 million, the house also features a gym, music room, wine cellar, outdoor pool, bowling alley and tennis courts, and a domed-roof indoor pool room, which has been converted into a space for Joel's grand piano.

Star Jones
If you missed out the first time, Star Jones is putting her Manhattan pad back on the market next month. Jones had taken the three-bedroom triplex with a huge terrace on East 90th Street off the market at the end of summer to "renovate" after it failed to draw a buyer the first time. That may have had something to do with the décor, which consisted of animal prints, zebra stripes and lots of pictures of Star. The asking price remains $2.25 million.

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