Taylor Hicks Inks Record Deal  —  Alert the Soul Patrol: A week after being named the latest American Idol, Taylor Hicks has signed the record contract that comes with winning the FOX competition.  —  According to the Associated Press, the deal links the 29-year-old Alabama crooner …

HALLE'S KINKY SEX  —  You'd have thought money and success were benefits enough for an Oscar-winning actress...  Apparently not so for Halle Berry.  —  For her, it's all about the kinky costumes.  —  And it's not just wearing them on set that she likes; she prefers to take them home and include them in her sex life.

Jessica to Nick — You Don't Have the Stomach To Sue  —  A war is brewing over money  —  (May 31, 2:20PM ET) — Jessica Simpson has offered Nick Lachey what is an "insulting" property settlement offer, banking on the assumption that Lachey does not want to press the matter in court.

Angelina Jolie: Brad Pitt was 'Scared to Death' During The Birth  —  Talk about your nervous dad.  A report set for publication this week will detail that expectant dad Brad Pitt was scared to death when the time came for Angelina Jolie to give birth.  Actually the language was a bit more colorful.

Can hypnotist end Lohan's shopping addiction?  —  Plus: Vince Vaughn on disappointing the tabloids  —  Did Lindsay Lohan visit a hypnotist to cure her shopping addiction?  —  The "Mean Girls" star dropped more than $1 million on clothes and accessories last year, according to Life & Style weekly …

Baby due in four months  —  (May 31 5:20PM ET) — Anna Nicole Smith is five months pregnant, sources tell TMZ.  And we're told that the former Playboy Playmate is engineering a way to make money off of the announcement.  —  Today, TMZ contacted Larry Birkhead, rumored to be the father.

He'll manage to Carey on minus E-mail  —  After years of rampant, obsessive E-mailing, showbiz manager Benny Medina is calling it quits.  —  "I will no longer be accepting E-mail," the 48-year-old Medina, who counts Mariah Carey and Tyra Banks among his clients, announced the other day.

Liz Taylor Alzheimer-Free  —  Elizabeth Taylor is speaking out against tabloid "death watch" reports that she's gravely ill and fighting a losing battle—or any battle—with Alzheimer's disease.  —  In her first television interview in three years, the legendary Dame scoffed at the rumors …

The 2006 Scripps National Spelling Bee  —  For the 13th straight year, ESPN will present live coverage of the annual Scripps National Spelling Bee Finals from Washington, DC., THURSDAY, JUNE 1, from 12:00 - 3:00 p.m., ET.  The championship rounds of the event will be on ABC, 8:00 - 10:00 p.m. …

Sheen Only No. 2 on 'Living Sex Legends' List  —  The 'Two and a Half Men' star allegedly has 5,000 notches on his rapidly dwindling bedpost  —  Charlie Sheen has slept with a lot of women, enough for let's say, "Two and a Half Men."  —  The sitcom star lands on Maxim magazine's Top 10 …

Nicole Kidman's Urban sex ban  —  Nicole Kidman has put a sex ban on her fiance Keith Urban.  —  The 'Cold Mountain' actress has told the country singer they won't have sex again until their wedding night - which is rumoured to be taking place in a few weeks time.

Sofia Coppola, Boyfriend Expecting  —  Filmmaker Sofia Coppola is expecting her first child this winter, PEOPLE reports in its new issue.  —  The father is Coppola's boyfriend, Thomas Mars, a singer for the French band Phoenix.  —  Grandpa will be Coppola's dad, the Godfather don himself …

Don't Hit on Me, Mr. Goodbody  —  People look one another over, Jennifer Vanlerberghe says.  Period.  —  WOW, David Atencio thought the first time he entered 24 Hour Fitness, a gym in San Leandro, Calif., in the early 1980's.  Look at this!  Look at that!

Who's Heather Locklear: Wedding for Denise Richards and Richie?  —  Denise Richards who betrayed her pal Heather Locklear by romancing her soon to be ex hubby Richie Sambora is planning to marry the Bon Jovi guitarist, a published report claims.  —  Alan Smith, writing in the Enquirer reports they are already planning a wedding.

Ashlee Simpson Has New Lips Too  —  At the rate that Ashlee Simpson is having new surgical procedures done to her face, within the next few years, she will either look like Michael Jackson, or that crazy rich lady who looks like a cat.  Seriously, Ashlee Simpson's new lips look absolutley ridiculous.

I Prefer the Old KFed!  —  KFed actually took a shower and put on some clean clothes for Item Magazine.  He looks kinda creepy and I prefer the old KFed.  But I'm disgusting.  Here's some tidbits he told the magazine, he's totally full of s**t:  —  On the public: "I should just put a bulls-eye on my back.

Kirstie Alley's Paparazzi Water Torture  —  Actress tries to douse photogs  —  (May 31, 3:30PM ET) — Kirstie Alley has brought out the heavy artillery in the celebrity-paparazzi wars — a spray water bottle. … Faced with photographers outside of a Chinese restaurant in Los Angeles …

Katie Kisses "Today" Goodbye  —  It's time for Katie Couric to prepare for the day after Today.  —  During Wednesday's show, Couric said goodbye to Matt, Al, Ann and NBC's morning audience for the last time.  Then, after a champagne toast and a bite of cake, she packed up her coffee mug …