'Ricky Bobby' speeds past weekend rivals  —  LOS ANGELES - Will Ferrell's NASCAR spoof "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby" enjoyed life in the fast lane with a No. 1 finish in the weekend box office race, taking in $47 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.

Britney's Glowing!  —  Check out Mrs. Federline braving the paparazzi by herself — without bodyguard, without manny — and looking so happy and healthy!  We haven't seen Brit in such a good mood for a while and we love it!  —  The pregnant beauty stopped for a Frappuccino at Starbucks today …

Housewives attend new DVD launch party  —  UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. - Four "Desperate Housewives" and their fellow cast members gathered on Wisteria Lane to celebrate something that fans, critics and Emmy voters had dubbed something of a disappointment: the second season of the popular ABC series.

JETTISONS J.R.  —  JENNIFER Lopez isn't saying why she suddenly left the cast of "Dallas" - but an industry insider tells us there are two very big reasons - a subpar script and the less-than-strapping John Travolta, who was to play J.R. Ewing opposite J.Lo's Sue Ellen.  "The script sucks," our source says.

Julia Roberts, Hausfrau or Pretty Woman?  —  America's Sweetheart looks pretty much like any other mom grocery shopping without makeup and wearing her slightly too-sensible shoes.  Girlfriend even brings a shopping list.  Either this is some Oscar-worthy acting or Mrs. Moder is really just a down-to-earth woman ...

POSTAL ROCKERS  —  NATALIE Portman is reading for the part of a troubled hooker in the dark romantic Universal comedy "Johnny Postal," and if she bags it, she'll be working with some classic rock greats.  Director Frank Calo has Deborah Harry appearing as a "sex-crazed, biker bitch past her prime" …

WEEK AHEAD: American Idol Auditions!  —  Paula, Randy and Simon are heading on the road to look for the next Taylor, Fantasia or Kelly on Tuesday.  PEOPLE finds out the details of their search for the next great singer plus other events to look for in the coming week:

DEUCE BIGALOW BLASTS MEL  —  Rob Schneider, of Deuce Bigalow fame, has become the first actor to voice his disgust at Mel Gibson after his alleged anti-Semitic comments.  —  Rob went to the lengths of taking out an ad in Hollywood trade rag Variety to say he would never work with Mel.

Paris Hilton Swears Off Sex for a Year  —  Paris Hilton, who has been linked to a string of rich and famous men, wants to set the record straight about her sexy image.  —  "People think I sleep with everyone, but I'm not like that," the Simple Life star and hotel heiress tells British GQ in its September issue.

Kathy Ireland Turns Role Model  —  Kathy Ireland has graced the cover of Sports Illustrated's swimsuit issue three times, runs her own $1 billion clothing-and-furniture line and is the happily married mother of three - yet she faced hurdles along the way.  —  "When I started my business …

Mel Gibson Has Israeli Bodyguard  —  Mel Gibson may have a problem with Jews — they're responsible for all the wars, they've inflated the number of dead in the Holocaust, etc.  —  But Gibson likes one Jewish person a lot.  His personal bodyguard for more than a decade turns out to be an Israeli.

One Gossip-Column Blind Vice  —  Lordy, you Awful Truth readers are ever proud 'n' pissy, and oh honeys, I do love ya so!  —  And just for your super-duper votes of lurve as of late, I'm shooting a humpy humdinger your way:  —  There's a fairly talented (not as gifted as he is muscly …

PEN: I'VE SEEN SURI  —  We hear news of another Suri sighting in Tinseltown.  —  Penelope Cruz says she's seen the elusive baby daughter of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes.  —  Speaking at the London premiere of her new film Volver, Pen - Tom's former girlfriend - revealed: "I've met her, she's really beautiful.

Hottest Videos — Week of 07/30  —  Arguably the world's sexiest women, Pamela Anderson and Cindy Crawford, battle it out, lap dance style, on a yacht in St. Tropez.  Pick your pole dancing poison.  —  Cindy's sultry moves on hubby Randy Gerber.  —  Pam's booty-shaking present for Kid Rock.

BUNNY TALE: CARMEN'S SEXY STALL SECRET  —  ONE of Hugh Hefner's ex-girlfriends, Izebella St. James, is "really bummed" over the marital meltdown of Carmen Electra and Dave Navarro.  St. James was at their engagement party and their wedding.  "The funniest thing happened at the party …

Maddox Birthday Party!!!!!  —  Happy Birthday Maddox!  —  Maddox Chivan Jolie-Pitt celebrates his 5th birthday today.  Happy birthday to one of the luckiest tykes alive!  —  Think daddy Brad Pitt and mommy Angelina Jolie are throwing a big birthday bash for their big boy?  FYI ::