America crowns a new 'Idol'  —  Alabama's Hicks celebrates success on top-rated show  —  LOS ANGELES, California (AP) — Taylor Hicks, the mop-topped manic dancer who wooed TV audiences with his raw singing style and boisterous personality, was named the new "American Idol" …

Paparazzi Diary: Behind the Brangelina Front Lines  —  The ugly battle for the baby photo  —  (May 24, 2:15PM ET) — Nearly two months after Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt arrived at Langstrand on the West Coast of Namibia, the mood has changed from welcoming excitement to tense anticipation …

Is Britney putting marital woes into verse?  —  Plus: Jessica Simpson is lonely without Nick Lachey  —  Looks like Britney Spears is putting her marital woes into verse.  —  The pop princess, whose marriage to Kevin Federline is reportedly on the rocks, wrote an angst-filled poem that spoke of …

ANNA WINTOUR SKIPS PIX WITH STREEP  —  May 25, 2006 — ANNA Wintour has a sense of humor, but there are limits.  The icy Vogue editrix accepted Meryl Streep's invitation to Tuesday's screening of "The Devil Wears Prada" - which she wore - but avoided posing for a photo with Streep, who plays an icy fashion magazine editrix in the film.

Britney Spears' mysterious message  —  To divert attention from her baby dropping, crying jags and freeloader husband, Britney Spears has posted a bizarre poem on her official website blaming mysterious persons for unexplained wrongs, followed by a photo of her and friends giving the finger...

Jailbird puts a Sheen on his image  —  Kudos to imprisoned pimp Jason Itzler.  —  Today he wins Lowdown's coveted Tireless Zeal for Self-Promotion Prize.  —  He's been living at Rikers Island since the January 2005 bust of his Worth St. brothel, and awaits trial on charges of money laundering …

Drunk from a Bottle  —  I'll have what she's having!  Here's Xtina and Jordy leaving The Ivy last night.

K-Fed-Up With Photogs  —  Britney's hubby offers career advice to cameraman  —  (May 24, 6:20PM ET) — We're not exactly sure what K-Fed does for a living (backup dancer? rapper?), but apparently he feels secure enough with his place in life to offer career advice to the paparazzi.

Matt Leinart Takes Cardinals Advice, Blows Off Paris Hilton  —  A report last week said that former USC quarterback Matt Leinart was given a bit of a warning from his new NFL team the Arizona Cardinals to be careful with the paparazzi pictures and reportedly he was not to be snapped …

Hasbro axes dirty dancer toys for girls  —  Don't cha wish your daughter had a doll like me?  Actually, no.  —  Toy giant Hasbro scrapped plans for a new line of dolls based on R-rated girl-group the Pussycat Dolls yesterday after coming under mounting pressure from a grass-roots parents protest.

TOM DENIES KATIE'S TEARS  —  Tom Cruise has slammed reports that his fiancee Katie Holmes is suffering from post-natal depression.  —  His words come after recent rumours that since the birth of Suri, Katie has constantly been in tears.  —  But Tom's publicist claimed: "Those reports are not true.

Jackson says she gained weight for role  —  NEW YORK - Janet Jackson, newly svelte after losing 60 pounds, says she gained weight for a role in the upcoming movie "Tennessee," which she ultimately had to pass on because of her new album.  —  "They (the producers) wanted to see me in a different light …

Check Out Hoopz...  Hoopz is featured on the cover of the June/July issue of "Black Men" magazine.  You can check out her photo spread below.  She looks cute in the pictures, she could have done without the blonde wig, but whatever.  Anyway, Is this her new career??  Posing in men's magazines??

Ninjas for Hire!  —  O.C. martial arts group is ready for their closeup  —  (May 23, 4:15PM ET) — Move over Jet Li and Jackie Chan, there's a new group of martial artists on the Hollywood scene.  —  E.M.C., a Southern California based group consisting of eight ninjas …