Remember that episode of the Simpsons when Homer gained a lot of weight so that he could work from home on disability? Dr. Nick Riveria advised Homer on how to pack on the pounds, saying “If you’re not sure about something, rub it against a piece of paper. If the paper turns clear, it’s your window to weight gain.”

The glossies are full of celebrity diets and exercise plans to help us lose weight quickly and firm up, but many of the celebrities will also share the quick weight gain strategies they used to to bulk up for a role. There’s little call for that type of information, but it can serve as a cautionary tale for some of our excessive lifestyles.

Much maligned goth rocker Jared Leto gained a ton of weight for his role as John Lennon assassin Mark David Chapman in the panned film Chapter 27. His tip for quick weight gain involved melting Haagan Das ice cream in the microwave and drinking it.

Beyonce says she gained the weight back after her ill-advised cheyenne pepper drink diet for Dream Girls by eating fried food. And Renee Zellweger’s Bridget Jones diet involved eating 20 donuts a day.

Matt Damon has revealed his method of gaining 20-30 pounds to look “doughy” to play a conflicted executive in the film The Informant Insider. He said he stopped working out, drank a lot of beer and ate a lot of burgers, and said that it was easier to gain weight at 37 than it was in his 20s.

Even though the weight-gain was required for a role, that doesn’t stop Damon’s friends from mocking him mercilessly.

“Some thing are just self-evident and don’t even require making fun of,” his B.F.F. Ben Affleck said at the Rio Hotel and Casino event, which raised money and awareness about the genocide in Darfur. “I mean, the man buys two seats on an airplane!”

So how did the Oscar-winner pack on the pounds?

“I just stopped working out and basically just ate whatever I wanted,” he said. “I ate a lot of In-N-Out, a lot of burgers, a lot of beer and basically had a great time … When you’re in your 20s you can do that kind of stuff. When you’re in your 30s, its a whole different ballgame.”

[From People.com]

Damon joked that he was about to get his “sexiest man alive” title revoked by People. He still looks damn good to me when he’s dressed like a normal guy. In a Hawaiian shirt with a faux stache and feathered hair he’s as fug as anyone would look in that outfit. It hardly has to do with his weight.

Dream team Ben Affleck and Matt Damon were at the Ante up for African poker tournament for charity last night in Las Vegas. Affleck took a journey to the Congo, his third in 8 months, earlier this summer in order to bring awareness to the immense poverty and human rights violations in the area. His trip was chronicled on Nightline and I think he did a great job that didn’t get as much attention as it should have.

Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and Jason Alexander are shown last night at the charity tournament at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Vegas. Affleck is an accomplished poker player and won the the California State Poker Championship in 2004.

Photo credit: Judy Eddy and Nikki Nelson for WENN.

Matt Damon, his pregnant wife Luciana Barroso, his old friend Ben Affleck and Ben’s wife, actress Jennifer Garner, went out for dinner on Saturday night at Nobu restaurant in Malibu. Matt and Luciana were laughing up a storm, but Ben and Jennifer looked a little somber. I can easily speculate that at least one photographer was shouting obnoxious questions at them based on that barely decipherable story by Ted Casablanca that there’s trouble in their marriage. If you watch any paparazzi video they pepper the celebrities with near-constant questions that can seem incredibly creepy and stalkerish.

The last we saw of Matt he was looking super frumpy and a little plump on the Hawaiian set of The Insider. Put a hat and a normal shirt on the guy and he’s the fine action hero dad again. His wife looks gorgeous and I love her outfit and hair.

Affleck appeared on Nightline on Thursday in a piece talking about his work in the Congo. He’s more than aware that celebrities can be bashed for doing charity work, but he feels that he has currency as a famous person and he may as well spend it on doing good in the world.

As for the state of his marriage, Affleck told Access Hollywood that everything is fine and that he couldn’t be happier:

“Things are pretty great,” Affleck said, when asked if he had any vacation plans on the horizon. “We’re very happy. Things couldn’t be better. We’re kind of taking it easy and just kind of enjoying a little downtime at home.”

[From Access Hollywood - site has automatic sound]

The tabloids are going to use these photos and run stories with made up insider quotes that Garner and Affleck are having trouble. I bet you these two are just annoyed at the intrusive paparazzi and the rude questions they shout.

Thanks to Splash for these photos.

Matt Damon is filming The Informant, a movie based on the commodities price fixing scandal in the mid 1990s. He plays ADM president Mark Whitacre, who was an FBI informant on the case, the highest level undercover informant in an organization ever. Whitacre played a valuable role in helping expose the massive fraud, but was found during the investigation to have embezzled money from ADM. He served eight years in federal prison as a result.

It looks like Damon gained some weight for the role. Cut his hair and mustache and put him in some normal clothes and he’d still look hot. His wife, Luciana, is currently pregnant with their second child, and he may have gained some sympathy pounds as well. The couple also has a two year-old daughter, Isabella, and Luciana has a 9 year-old daughter, Alexia, from her first marriage.

According to the photo agency, Splash, Damon is working on the last two days of filming in Hawaii. The film is due out in March, 2009.

Oscar winning actor Matt Damon is filming the movie The Informant in Decatur, central Illinois. The film is about the ADM price fixing scandal that took place in Decatur in the mid 90s. The locals have nothing but good things to say about the superstar. The local newspaper, the Herald Review, has plenty of articles, photos and sightings about Matt and the film. They say Matt and the crew are incredibly friendly and have brought a lot of excitement and interest to their town.

Damon plays ADM president Mark Whitacre, who was an FBI informant in the price fixing case but also was forced to admit he was embezzling money from the firm. He is wearing a fake moustache, hairpiece and glasses to look like Whitacre, whose picture is to the left. [Credit: Charles Osgood/Chicago Tribune]

It’s spring of course in Decatur now, but some snow was made and spread around downtown to film winter scenes. The Informant is directed by Steven Soderbergh and also stars Melanie Lynskey, Scott Bakula, and Thomas F. Wilson. It has a release date listed on IMDB of March 9, 2009.

One of the articles on the Herald Review mentioned Damon’s “newborn baby,” and I got excited thinking that his wife may have had her baby already, but I think they’re referring to Matt’s first biological daughter with Luciana, Isabella, who turns two in June.

Thanks to Gossip Rocks for linking to this story on the Matt Damon Column and pointing out the Ned Flanders resemblance.

All photos credit the Herald Review.

Thousands protested around the world yesterday to mark the five year anniversary of the crisis in Darfur in which at least 200,000 people have been killed and millions have been displaced. According to Amnesty International, there are UN troops in the region, but the Sudanese government is blocking them from helping. There is a call for more international attention to the situation as well as more resources dedicated to stopping the violence against innocent people and children:

Activists are pushing for speedier progress on the full deployment of the joint United Nations-African Union peacekeeping force. Approximately 35 percent of the 26,000-troop force is currently on the ground in Darfur. But the government of Sudan is standing in the way of full deployment by rejecting troops from non-African countries and refusing land for bases, among other obstructions.

The coalition partners are urging President Bush to influence other countries, such as China, to press Sudan to quit obstructing the deployment. They also want President Bush to exert diplomatic pressure on U.N. donor nations to contribute helicopters and other transport equipment necessary for the peacekeepers and set an example by funding contributions of needed equipment.

[From Amnesty International]

Celebrities including Matt Damon were photographed destroying toys to show the way that the conflict has stripped Sudanese children of their childhoods. More than one million children in Darfur live in refugee camps.

Caring campaigner Matt Damon has led a host of international celebrities backing protests against the war in Darfur.

In a series of powerful images, Matt and a variety of famous faces - including Thandie Newton, Joely Richardson and Jemima Khan - are seen destroying toys and setting fire to children’s drawings. The pictures, released to coincide with Sunday’s global day of protest, are a symbol of the suffering of the youngsters in the troubled region.

“After the genocide in Rwanda we all shook our heads and said never again,” said Matt. “Today, as killings mount in Darfur, we need to make never again a priority and demand protection for the most vulnerable.”

[From Hello! Magazine]

You can learn more about the humanitarian crisis in Darfur, and how you can help, at SaveDarfur.org, AmnestyInternational.org, Human Rights Watch, and DarfurScores.org. For a haunting look into what is happening in Darfur, see Amnesty International’s EyesonDarfur.org.

Here are the photos of the celebrities destroying toys, thanks to Hello! Magazine and The Mirror. When I first saw these images I thought that they were too stylized and that a human approach would have been more effective, but they did manage to get more attention to this very important cause and that’s what matters.

Here’s a quick update on currently pregnant celebrities.

Halle Berry is due any second! I think she is going to have the cutest baby with her model boyfriend Gabriel Aubrey, but will she sell the pictures?

Jamie Lynn Spears – some sources are saying she is due very, very soon, but just doesn’t seem to have a big enough bump to be close to popping. Must be those 16 year old abs of steel.

Cate Blanchett is expecting her third with husband Andrew Upton, and I’m hoping for a girl because she already has two boys. Girls clothes are so much cuter.

Nicole Kidman is still pregnant, definitely not drinking alcohol, and is due around June where the baby will be born in Australia.

Are Brangelina having twins? What’s the due date? These two haven’t confirmed or denied reports, but it’s all too obvious they’re having a fifth and maybe a sixth.

Jessica Alba is still flying to promote her film, so she must have quite a few weeks to go. She has declined to confirm a due date.

Matthew McConaughey is expecting a boy with model Camila, and he wants him to like beer. Enough to name the boy after Budweiser. He probably won’t wear a shirt either.

Gwen Stefani is expecting her next child with hubby Gavin Rossdale, and had a great time practicing baby making.

These babies will start popping out (if only it was that easy) in September

Kimora Lee Simmons just announced her pregnancy. A little sibling for her older children from her previous relationship, Ming and Aoki.

Alessandra Ambrosio has also just announced on her official blog that she is expecting, saying “This is a dream come true.”

Matt Damon and his wife Luciana, who have nine year old Alexia from her previous relationship, and Isabella, 20 months, are expecting another.

Lisa-Marie Presley confirmed her pregnancy this week, but don’t you dare suggest she’s carrying some pregnancy weight, you pack of coyotes.

Hopefully the celebrity weeklies have their checkbooks ready, these new additions are going to cost a fortune.

Picture note by Celebitchy: stock photos from Morguefile users Prisonbreak and © P. Winberg. Header image thanks to PRPhotos.

Matt Damon, 37, and his wife of two years, Luciana Barroso, 32, are expecting their second child together. They have a 20 month-old daughter, Isabella, and Matt is the stepfather of Luciana’s 9 year-old daughter, Alexia, from her first marriage. Damon and Luciana were seen out at the Empire Film Awards in London last night, where Bourne Ultimatum won best film. It was obvious that Luciana was pregnant.

People Magazine has a statement from Damon’s rep, who confirms the news, saying “They couldn’t be happier, They’re so excited!”

Last year there was a story at the end of August that Luciana was three months’ pregnant, but that would make her nearly due at this point, and she doesn’t look that far along in these pictures from Sunday.

Congratulations to Matt and Luciana! According to People, Matt is now shooting the thriller The Green Zone in Morocco. He has two other films scheduled for release next year, The Informant, another thriller, and The Human Factor, which is based on Nelson Mandela’s first term as South African President. Morgan Freeman will play Mandela.

Sylvester Stallone has anther lame Rambo/Rocky/whatever movie coming out, and to try and stop it sinking down with Rocky Balboa, he’s dropping the names of some people who can sell box office tickets. Like Matt Damon.

He said: “I think that some young actors will look at me as this archaic, prehistoric creature because now we’ve become much more scientific, less personal.

“Most of my peers were very physical. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis - they were just more hands-on. I think that a lot more actors today are hands-off and they’re more intellectual.”

Stallone believes Rambo would wipe the floor with Matt Damon’s Bourne Ultimatum character Jason Bourne in a fight.

He joked: “Rambo would murder Jason Bourne. I’m kidding. Maybe the one in The Transporter though - Jason Statham.”

Sydney Morning Herald

Hopefully this challenge won’t lead to a Rambo vs Bourne flick (has anyone seen Alien vs Predator II? I didn’t think so). While Rambo might be tougher, I think he’d have to catch Bourne first. We know which one is more intelligent!

The other things these characters have over the 80’s heroes is they have speaking roles. Does Rambo say anything during the whole first movie?

Checking out the new trailer on YouTube, it looks appropriately violent and features the obligatory hysterical female character. Don’t watch it if you don’t like blood, he’s ripping people’s throats out and all sorts of boy gore.

Yeah, I’ll be sticking to Bourne. Hubby will go see it. Probably twice.

Sly doesn’t address the Janice Dickinson allegations of him ‘juicing’ her with steroids, but I think the interview took place before she said it. Rambo hits cinemas January 25.

Picture note by Celebitchy: Sylvester Stallone is shown donating “Rambo” memorabilia to Planet Hollywood in New York on 1/17/08. Matt Damon is shown at the Toronto International Film Festival on 9/9/07, thanks to PRPhotos.

I swear to you that I had an, uh suggestive dream about Matt Damon last night. This is not an uncommon occurrence, but I felt like a psychic this morning when I discovered that Damon was just named sexiest man of the year by People Magazine.

The thing is, Damon sent People Magazine a letter thanking them for the ego-boosting honor, but turning them down! He said that he doesn’t usually talk about his personal life. He also suggests that New England Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady would make a better Sexiest Man Alive. You just know he has a man crush on him:

But when the actor learned he had won the title, he wrote the publication a letter turning it down.

The magazine’s Ericka Souter explained: “He wrote People a ‘fabulous’ letter explaining that he doesn’t normally talk about his personal life.”

She said he was blushing when he found out.

Damon wrote: “You just gave an aging suburban dad ego boost of a lifetime.”

The magazine said it chose married dad-of-one Damon, 37, for his “irresistible sense of humour,” “his dedication to his family”, and his “heart-melting humility.”

Damon gave People permission to reprint the letter, featured in the new issue, out later this week.

Last year, Damon’s Ocean’s Thirteen co-star George Clooney was in top spot, for the second time.

Others in the running for this year included football ace David Beckham, actors
Brad Pitt, Patrick Dempsey, and Jake Gyllenhaal, and chart star Justin Timberlake. Scots actor Gerard Butler, of 300, was also considered.

Meanwhile, in his letter to People, the actor suggested New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady - who is dating supermodel Gisele - should have taken the top spot.

[From Showbizspy.com (site has automatic video)]

Last year George Clooney, the 2006 “Sexiest Man Alive” winner, joked about how Matt Damon wanted the title. He said “I gotta say, this is a very big disappointment for Matt, because he did run a very good campaign. If you’ve been around him, you know he’s sexy. His eyes pop. They have a twinkle. He’s got a good smile. He’s quite the dancer. He does rock a Speedo in Ocean’s 13.”

As for when Damon should be named sexiest, Clooney said last year that “Matt’s got a couple of years left before it’s time for him.”

Maybe Damon will win again another year and will actually accept the award. He has plenty of time left. At 37, he’s eight years younger than Clooney was when he last took the title. Sean Connery won in 1989 at the age of 59! Matt strikes me as the type that will hold on to his looks for at least another decade, but I’m completely biased. Matt Damon is the sexiest man alive in my book, and my subconscious agrees.

Other sexiest men alive this year include Patrick Dempsey, Ryan Reynolds, Brad Pitt, James McAvoy, Johnny Depp, Dave Annable from Brothers and Sisters, Will Smith, Javier Bardem, Shemar Moore from Criminal Minds, Ben Affleck, Adrian Grenier, Will Yun Lee from Bionic Woman, and Justin Timerblake.

Here are a bunch of pictures of my two favorites, Matt Damon and Johnny Depp. Photos of Damon in Oceans 13, The Bourne Ultimatum and The Bourne Supremacy from Allmoviephoto. Johnny Depp is shown in stills from In Hell and Secret Window. He is also seen at the premieres of Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End on 5/19/07 and Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest on 6/24/06, thanks to PRPhotos.

Brad Pitt and Matt Damon are said to have send their Ocean’s co-star George Clooney a “get well soon” present after his motorcycle mishap in New Jersey late last month. The pair didn’t send a bouquet of flowers or a sappy card, they sent over a gag gift that made fun of his accident. Since neither Clooney or his girlfriend of the moment, Sarah Larson, were seriously injured, it doesn’t sound that tasteless and I could see it happening:

Sympathetic buddies Brad Pitt and Matt Damon sent over a care package [to Clooney] containing a yellow plastic crash helmet topped by a flashing red light - and a beat-up leather jacket festooned with rips and skid marks. Adding insult to injury: His “Ocean’s” co-stars included a card that read “Get Well Soon, Skid Head!”

[From The National Enquirer, print edition, Mike Walker’s column, October 22, 2007]

With all the pranks that Clooney likes to pull, and the way these three banter on The Oceans movies, I’m inclined to believe this story. Still, it would require a certain amount of coordination between Damon and Pitt to both sign the card within a short period of time. While Pitt was in NY at the time working on the same movie as Clooney, the last I heard of Damon he was back in Miami. It would be a more likely story if just one of them sent the gift.

Meanwhile Clooney and Pitt weren’t able to attend the American Cinematheque Awards on Friday, where their Oceans costar Julia Roberts was honored, but they did send over a funny video to add to the tribute.

In the clip, Clooney and Pitt run into each other in the bathroom, and Pitt’s foot is shown tapping in Clooney’s stall. This sounds pretty funny and I hope it “leaks” online:

In Clooney’s video, Roberts’ “Ocean’s Twelve” co-star was shown “hiding from fans” in a public bathroom stall. He suddenly feels a foot tapping his, a la Idaho Sen. Larry Craig. When he jumps out to see who’s in the next stall, he finds Pitt, who cries, “I have a wide stance!”

[From NYDailyNews]

Hopefully someone will come up with a better venue for this team than the Oceans movies. They were slick and fun, but they lacked a certain substance and the plots were hard to follow. Still, I would pay to see Clooney, Pitt and Damon read the phone book. They would have to be shirtless, though, with some homo-eroticism thrown in for good measure.

Pictures are of the Oceans 13 photocall and premiere at Cannes back in May. Thanks to INFDaily and Photorazzi.