Who doesn’t have great memories of Donna Summer music? Whenever we hear “Love to Love You Baby” we’re brought back to the 70’s when we were living in a high rise at 999 North Doheny Drive. We lived next door and shared a wall with a beautiful young blonde wannabe actress who happened to be dating Warren Beatty. (Who WASN’T in those days?) We could always tell when she was expecting Warren to come over in the evening because she would put on Donna’s sexy album while she waited for him and it would come pulsating through the wall. Donna and Barry White and The Love Unlimited Orchestra provided the seduction music in that era. As soon as we heard her turn on THAT music, we’d skip down to the lobby and try to catch a glimpse of Warren when he arrived. Our neighbor admitted to us that occasionally when Warren was out of town, she’d have phone sex with him too. That’s why we will forever think of Warren when we hear Donna’s music. She will be sorely missed. (Note – in the video above, that dancer looks a LOT like Nigel Lythgoe!)

What can we say about the Trousdale Estates area of Beverly Hills, except that it might be the most important neighborhood in California for anyone who loves mid-century modern architecture. We wouldn’t think of missing an open house or estate sale in Trousdale, just so we can drool over the house close up. According to the RealEstalker, Ellen DeGeneres has finally bought a house we really envy. She paid over 17 million for an 8500 sq ft 4 bed, 6 bath, Hal Levitt masterpiece built in 1958. (Jennifer Aniston’s last house was also a Hal Levitt design.) Famed decorator Kelly Wearstler redid the interior to the max before selling to Ellen at a hefty profit.
Photos via: The RealEstalker

While Sacha Baron Cohen is cavorting in Cannes, promoting The Dictator, his pretty wife Isla Fisher spent the afternoon with their daughters Olive and Elula at a French park. Cohen is pulling one crazy stunt after another – in character as The Dictator, he and Elisabetta Canalis drank champagne and danced on a big fancy yacht – even rubbing tanning lotion on each other. Later Cohen’s misogynistic character General Aladeen dumped her body overboard in a body bag. His family was blissfully unaware….

Photo Credit: Pacific Coast News

Readers already know that we at JCH are huge fans of Sacha Baron Cohen and Borat. In fact, we consider Borat the funniest movie we’ve EVER SEEN. (And Ali G is a favorite TV character.) That said, we viewed The Dictator with high expectations. The idea of an egocentric North African dictator loose in New York is a marvelous concept. And some of the movie was very entertaining. There were brilliantly funny lines, like when the misogynistic Dictator met a pregnant woman and remarked “Are you having a boy or an abortion?” Political satire like that makes the comedy worth seeing – it’s too bad there’s so much sophomoric slapstick in between the smart moments. Die-hard Cohen fans will enjoy the film, along with teenage boys, but it could have been better.

Are you ready for a movie pitting Greg Brady and Danny Partridge against each other on the Syfy network? Of course, you are! Former child stars Barry Williams and Danny Bonaduce are playing longtime competitors battling to capture Bigfoot after the hairy beast is discovered in South Dakota. One wants to EXPLOIT the monster – the other wants to SAVE it. Can you guess who the “good guy” is? “Twin Peaks” star Sherilyn Fenn (who REALLY should be playing Elizabeth Taylor) and Alice Cooper have also been cast.
Top photo: zap2it

Last night’s Fashion Star winner, Kara Laricks, was a standout from day one and the only contestant oozing originality. Great designers usually have a unique and individual personal style, and former schoolteacher Kara was a standout compared to her competition. The series started off a bit dull because designers had to please middle of the road department stores and their rather unimaginative customers. Kara always managed to squeeze fashion forward surprises into her work and her modest attitude was refreshing. Best of all, She LOOKS like a fashion winner! On another note, this show also made us appreciate Jessica Simpson’s spontaniety.

Vanessa Paradis is just as evasive as Johnny Depp when it comes to their relationship. Vanessa and Johnny haven’t been seen at an event together for a year and a half. She goes to her movie premiers alone and so does he. But they both insist the rumors about them splitting are not true. Maybe they’re just taking time off and really don’t know if it’s over. And for the sake of their kids, Lily-Rose, 12, and Jack, 9, they’re in no hurry to make a decision. Above, Vanessa turned up for Karl Lagerfeld’s Chanel collection at the Chateau de Versailles in France, looking adorable, as always.

Sometimes we do get a little tired of those jumbo two story tour busses belching fumes and slowing up traffic in our town. So we were pleasantly surprised to learn that the Madame Tussaud Wax Museum on Hollywood Boulevard is offering Hollywood tours ON BIKES. Ecologically friendly tourists get a bike, a map, and a tour guide, so they can see the sights in Hollywood close up. And speaking of sights, our friend Norman Korpi was at the Hollywood & Highland mall when a naked man walked by. Shoppers accustomed to costumed superheroes on the Boulevard, paid NO attention. The man was described as “the Marine type.” He strolled around for fifteen minutes before security guards noticed and threw some clothes on him. (Top photo, wax figures of cyclist Lance Armstrong and Lucille Ball promoting Bikes and Hikes Tours. Below, naked man at Hollywood & Highland mall)
Photos by: Norman Korpi

Update: The nude man seemed “dazed” and Norman Korpi wonders if he was staying at the Renaissance Hotel next door and took Ambien and sleepwalked to the mall.

The Tanorexic Doll might be the perfect gift for your tan addicted friends. Herobuilders.com slapped together a 9″ doll based on Patricia Krentcil, the tanorexic New Jersey mom accused of tanning with her 5 year old daughter. The company specializes in newsmakers and has had past success with Anthony Weiner and Jersey Shore cast dolls. In their haste, however, they failed to dress the $29.95 doll in more appropriate tank top and stretchpants and wedgies. (A suit and Frankenstein shoes?) She needs whiter frosted lipstick but the snaggle tooth is an adept touch. A bottle of wine in the doll’s hand would be a nice accessory, also.

The Gotti family is reacting loudly to John Travolta’s sex charges, because he is set to play the Dapper Don John Gotti in “Gotti: Three Generations.” Victoria Gotti Sr told the Daily News “Who the f— cares if he’s gay?” The rest of the family is outraged by the claims and their lawyer says “The Gottis know a lot about people who make false accusations against someone for their own benefit.” SURE, they do. Meanwhile a fourth masseur has surfaced who worked at the Peninsula Hotel and says Travolta was banned at one time from the hotel spa for the same inappropriate behavior with the male masseurs he requested. The spa employee spoke out because he doesn’t think masseurs are being treated fairly by the press. (Above, Travolta and John Gotti Jr – wife Kelly Preston and daughter Ella, 12, are also cast in film.)