Pal: Jennifer Hudson's Family Didn't Take Balfour's Threats Seriously  —  A friend of Jennifer Hudson says he tried to warn the family about William “Flex” Balfour, who is currently considered a “person of interest” in the shooting deaths of Hudson's mom, Darnell; brother, Jason and 7-year-old nephew, Julian.

'I've been given a gift'  —  Nicole Kidman is tall—much taller than you'd expect.  Shoeless, she stands close to 6 feet; in heels, the sky's the limit.  In addition, her contours are roughly those of a pipe cleaner.  “I'd love to look like Sophia Loren,” she says with a sigh.

Estelle Reiner, 94, Comedy Matriarch, Is Dead  —  Estelle Reiner, who as the wife of Carl Reiner and the mother of Rob Reiner was the matriarch of one of the leading families in American comedy, and who delivered one of the most memorably funny lines in movie history herself …

Make-up-free Katie Holmes' Halloween horror show … The long hours of theatre work appeared to be taking their toll on Katie Holmes as the actress was pictured in New York looking gaunt and worn out.  —  The 29-year-old, dressed all-in-black with a bright orange handbag …

Courteney Cox is off to ‘Cougar Town’  —  Sets comedy pilot with ‘Scrubs’ creator Bill Lawrence  —  Welcome to “Cougar Town.”  —  ABC has greenlighted a single-camera comedy pilot from “Scrubs” creator Bill Lawrence to star “Friends” alumna Courteney Cox.

MISSING RING  —  IS it over between John Edwards and his wife, Elizabeth?  “The wedding band is missing,” the Washington Post reported yesterday after covering a speech the cancer-stricken mother of two gave in DC on Monday night.  Edwards, the former North Carolina senator who ran for president twice …

Michael Jackson, the only person who doesn't have to wear a mask to his Halloween party … Reclusive Michael Jackson emerged to take his children shopping for Halloween costumes yesterday but didn't feel the need to wear a mask himself.  —  The Thriller superstar looked gaunt and pale …

Caught in the Act!  —  Carrie Underwood; Travis Stork  —  Photo by: Jennifer Mitchell / Splash News Online; Casey Rodgers / WireImage  —  • Does she have a special new guy?  Carrie Underwood, stepping out for dinner with former Bachelor (and The Doctors co-host) Travis Stork.

“Google Me, You Dumb F**k” Lawsuit  —  Let's take spoiled bitches for 500.  Here's the answer: My dad used to run Yahoo, I'm a really mean chick and I now will beat the crap out of you.  The question: Who is Courtenay Semel?  —  A security guard at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas is suing …

Another DWTS Member Falls Ill  —  Another Dancing With the Stars member is sick.  —  Lacey Schwimmer tells The Insider that she suffers from endometriosis, the same condition as Julianne Hough.  —  Schwimmer, 20, told The Insider that she saw a doctor after realizing that she had many of the same symptoms …

Pink: Mayer likes stupid girls  —  Celebs at war ... Pink took exception to John's controversial claim  —  JOHN MAYER should brace himself for a furious showdown with on/off lover JENNIFER ANISTON, after telling PINK he only sleeps with “really stupid women”.

Bill Pullman's Son Busted with Moonshine  —  Bill Pullman's 19-year-old son has been busted for allegedly possessing moonshine and assaulting a government official.  —  According to Ashville, N.C., news station WLOS, Jack Pullman and his friend, Allan Gaddy, also 19, were arrested Monday …

Gwen Stefani Shows Off Another Photo of Zuma  —  Gwen Stefani has officially introduced the world to her newborn son Zuma.  —  On Wednesday, she posted an adorable portrait of her and her 2-month-old on her Web site.  —  “We wanted to share with you the first photo of Zuma Nesta Rock Rossdale,” she writes.

NO ‘IDOL’ THREAT OVER ALBUM  —  JOSIAH Leming, a homeless singer whose mother is dying of cancer, might be blocked from releasing the album he recorded because he was a contestant last season on “American Idol.”  —  Leming, 19, who didn't make the show's top 24, received an official letter from …

Someone Is Actually Marrying Corey Haim  —  Corey Haim is engaged to something other than an 8-ball.  Corey announced on his website that he's going to marry horror actress Tiffany Shepis on May 9, 2009.  The two lovebirds first met 12 years on the set of “Fever Lake.”  They reunited recently at some autograph show.

Samuel L. Jackson vs. the ‘Dragon’  —  He's set to star in the remake of the 1985 cult classic  —  It's another heavy role for Samuel L. Jackson.  —  Having most recently played a dirty cop in “Lakeview Terrace,” Jackson is set to star as a bad guy again in Columbia Pictures' remake …

Cowell wants to take TOTP to ITV  —  X Factor judge Simon Cowell has said he would like to buy the rights to the Top of the Pops Christmas Special from the BBC and broadcast it on ITV.  —  “I would rather it came to us than just sit in the dustbin,” he said.