On July 4th, Enrique Iglesias became the first Western pop singer to perform in Syria in thirty years. Syria has a socialist-type economy, but has been working to accommodate the styles and interests of young people. Al Bawaba reported that “Extensive and long negotiations were held with international superstar Enrique Iglesias to come to Damascus and perform.”

When asked about the concert, Iglesias told the Associated Press that he “wasn’t concerned about performing in Syria, ‘although many people have told me not to.’”

However prior to the event, Al Bawaba reported that:

“Enrique was very hesitant about coming to Syria, especially since he considered the Middle East as a ‘Red Zone’ stating that it was too dangerous to visit. The singer finally agreed to perform at the first international musical event, but had sent his British business manager, Peter Brightman, along with five of his crew to Syria to ensure that the conditions are safe enough for him to perform.

Brightman and the accompanying crew were astonished with the atmosphere of Damascus and the general feeling of security displayed by people. One of the things that had amazed him was the sound of the call for prayers that was heard from mosques and the sounds of church bells showing that Muslims and Christians live in harmony with one another.”

[From Al Bawaba]

The concert was held close to the 11th-century Damascus citadel in a venue built for the show. Two giant television screens were set up outside the venue, where crowds gathered to watch the performance.

By all accounts the concert was a success, with concertgoer Sandy al-Haj commenting, “I like his songs and his father’s songs,” and “Syria should invite other world singers.”

AP Photos from Newsvine.com

I have been waiting for the new Transformers movie for about 20 years. No that crappy animated one with Orson Welles voicing one of the Decepticons doesn’t count. Though it was pretty cool when they all danced around that campfire… and by cool I mean creepy.

Chicago Sun Times movie critic Roger Ebert wryly noted: “I think Michael Bay sometimes sucks (”Pearl Harbor,” “Armageddon,” “Bad Boys II”) but I find it possible to love him for a movie like “Transformers.” It’s goofy fun with a lot of stuff that blows up real good, and it has the grace not only to realize how preposterous it is, but to make that into an asset.”

The New York Sun says that director Michael Bay did an alright job considering the fairly cheesy premise, and notes: “It’s worth seeing Mr. Bay’s well-mobilized schlock now before someone makes the concept look like a video game in a bad way.”

A lot of people besides me have noted that this movie is about 20 years too late. It’d be like if they did a 3rd Ghostbusters now. You’d sit there saying “Well, that’s great, but where was it 15 years ago?” or “That’s terrible, but where was it 15 years ago?” depending on your point of view. But either way, why now? I guess they’re going with a later is better than never approach, and it’s never too late to make some money off an old concept.

Picture note by Celebitchy: Here are some pictures from the film, thanks to AllMoviePhoto. Shown are Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson, and some good and evil Transformers.

The Sun is reporting that Spice Girl Melanie Brown has quite the voracious sex drive. I’m sure they’re ones to know.

“I’ve been covering the Spice Girls since they burst on to the scene with Wannabe in 1996 and during that entire time I can’t remember Melanie NOT having a boyfriend. She is a real maneater — it is as if she is addicted to men and sex and she always had to have a boyfriend. Sometimes they even overlapped.”

[From The Sun]

Well if that’s what it takes to be addicted to sex, then I know about 30 people that would fit right in. Lots of people think they have to be in a relationship and can’t be alone.

The article does mention that Mel slept with Peter Andre, now dating Jordan, or the low rent Victoria Beckham. That’s got to hurt.

I wonder if this supposed “bad” behavior is what Eddie Murphy was referring to when he said it was presumptious of that reporter to assume Mel’s baby was his? Nah, something tells me that he would have been a jerk regardless. He clearly never had a leg to stand on.

From some of the remarks meant to show her wild, uncontrolled sexuality, what really emerges is an impulsive and probably immature person.

“Whether it was jumping into bed with different men or buying daft, extravagant gifts — usually for herself — Mel was always a spur-of-the-moment girl.

When she got together with Murphy she tattooed his name on her body — and she’d only been with him a few weeks.

What Mel really, really wanted was to have a rock ’n’ roll lifestyle.

She spent so much money in the course of doing it that she now has very little left of the millions the girls all earned. Mel bought a huge house in the country which she had decorated with garish leopardskin [sic].

The matching his ’n’ hers leopard-print toilets were so ghastly they put potential buyers off buying the place.”

[From The Sun]

Boy I feel sorry for her daughter. Eddie Murphy for a father… who accused you of not being his, and someone who voluntarily labeled herself scary and tied her hair into horns for a mother.

Pictures of Mel in her bikini are from Spring, 2006.

The magical 7/7/07 is nearly upon us. Brides from around the world will link arms and join forces in a battle against the evil forces of… wait, no. Why is this such a big deal? Oh, because of the sevens. And what’s better than three of them? Luck being what it is to marriage (or at least to weddings), venues have been booked several years in advance of the date, Eva Longoria and Tony Parker’s wedding being the most prominent of the bunch.

The couple will be married at Vaux-le-Vicomte, a 17th-century chateau outside of Paris. Supposedly all of Longoria’s “Desperate Housewives” costars will attend. God only knows what she had to do to get Terry Hatcher to show up. Probably suggest a double wedding so neither would get upstaged. Wait, that happened on the show. But it seems likely either way.

“Some reports say Longoria has chosen a classic gown by Los Angeles-based designer Monique Lhuillier, while others say she will wear a Vera Wang design.

Longoria will reportedly wear Chanel couture for the civil ceremony, which is rumored for Friday at Paris’ City Hall.”

[From the New York Post]

Those designers are three good reasons to get married right there!

What we forget is that, according to Urban Dictionary, 7/7/07 is also the day Tupac will return.

7/7/07 is the date that Tupac Shakur will return to the world from his faked death. Tupac’s number is 7 and July 7th, 2007 will be the ultimate date for the greatest rapper of all time to make the greatest return of all time. This theory has been disputed much but the original credit belongs to Dr. Gurusamy.

[From Urban Dictionary]

So let’s not forget all the things to be thankful for this Saturday.

Boy it’s hard to be a beauty queen these days. You drink, you party, you take some pills, and then have to hug Donald Trump. Unfortunately it looks like things aren’t getting any easier for those cursed with being the prettiest girl in the room.

Witness backstabery at it’s finest (yeah that’s a word… now). Miss New Jersey, Amy Polumbo, announced at a press conference on Thursday that an anonymous person has threatened her, saying that if she doesn’t relinquish her crown by today, they will release potentially embarrassing photos.

“Polumbo’s lawyer, Anthony Caruso, said that starting last week, Polumbo, her family and officials in the Miss New Jersey Education Foundation received packages with pictures of her and the demand that she resign by Friday.

Caruso said the pictures show her with some friends and some may have been photos that she posted years ago on a private Internet site.

Did they reveal more skin than a pageant-sanctioned swimsuit? College students behaving badly, perhaps? Caruso would not say.

‘I don’t think the photos are that bad,’ Caruso said. ‘The people posting this blackmail scheme are trying to make these photos out to be worse than I think they are.’

He said he couldn’t comment further because more photos could arrive and change everything.”

[From Newsday]

I think it’s good that she’s fighting back. A lot of people would feel pressured to give in. You can’t help but wonder what Miss New Jersey runner-up Ronica Licciardello has to think about all this. If Polumbo did surrender her crown, then she would be crowned in her place. According to the Newark Star Ledger, when “Reached by phone at her Mount Laurel home today, Licciardello told the Associated Press she had not heard of the scandal. ‘I hope this situation is resolved in the best way possible,’ she said.”

Of course it’s likely that whoever is blackmailing Polumbo simply wants to hurt her, and it has nothing to do with any of the other contestants. Yet the evil part of me really wants to see these pictures. Don’t give in! Show us the photos!

Pictures from Wagner.edu and Philly.com

Everyone’s favorite unapologetic alcoholic, Amy Winehouse, canceled another show on Thursday at the last second according to New Musical Express. Though she rescheduled, it left 4,500 a little more than irate.

After waiting for hours in the rain in Liverpool, fans were told Winehouse was too ill to perform, even though they had heard her warming up backstage.

According to Yahoo Music, she’s been diagnosed with “exhaustion.” Boozing too much and forgetting your vitamin C will do that to you.

“Winehouse pulled out of the 4,500 capacity gig at the eleventh hour, leaving thousands of fans hanging in the rain outside. It’s thought she was sent to hospital for treatment.

Now, Summer Pops organisers CMP have left an official statement on their website which reads: ‘Following Doctors advice, Amy Winehouse was unable to perform at the Summer Pops concert.

‘We would like to apologise to all fans for this cancellation and are pleased to announce that the resceduled Summer Pops show will now take place on Wednesday July 18th 2007. Tickets will be valid for the new date or a full refund is available.’

Many fans have been speculating that the booze-loving star had axed the show after another notorious drinking session.”

[From Gigwise]

Her wild antics are no secret. She ran off and got married without any warning, cut her husband’s initials into her stomach with a shard of glass in front of a reporter, and has been seen out habitually drunk.

Amy Winehouse has an amazing voice and very cool style, but every time I see her I can’t help but wonder how she keeps that massive (and I’m assuming sort of heavy) beehive atop her head when she looks so emaciated. It seems like she’s really committed to living the dramatic, tragic musician experience. I hope she gets her act together, or people won’t be willing to stand in the rain for her.

Pictures are of Winehouse performing on 4/14 at G-A-Y nightclub in London, England. Thanks to PRPhotos.com

Simpsons creator Matt Groening is interested in having Madonna cameo on The Simpsons. Madonna would join other notable cameos such as Paul and Linda McCartney, several US Presidents, Stephen Hawking (my personal favourite), the Smashing Pumpkins and Mel Gibson.

Groening says, “We would love her to do the show. She’s one of the people we haven’t been able to get yet.”

Groening also assures fans that the series won’t be ending any time soon.

He added: “It’s going to carry on for another few years at least. There is no reason to stop. Our goal is to keep surprising people.”

[from NZ Herald]

The Simpsons will also be having a special Prison Break episode soon. No word on the plot, except it will feature tattoos.

Don’t forget to watch for Madonna on Live Earth this weekend. Hopefully she won’t be wearing that purple leotard.

Left side of header image is from the finale 22nd episode in the 17th season, Marge and Homer Turn a Couple Play. It originally aired May 21, 2006.

Eva Longoria and Tony Parker got married today - 7/6/7!!

This is all in preparation for the big 7/7/7 wedding, which takes place on, er, Saturday the 7th. French law requires them to be married in a civil ceremony before a religious ceremony. (My husband says we should have done this, to double the consummations.) This makes for a busy week, what with two weddings and a trip to Disneyland. Not to mention the trip to Mont Saint-Michel, a 6th-century medieval citadel, and the his-and-hers bachelor party.

Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoë will officiate personally at the service, which is to be held at the City Hall in Paris’s 4th Arrondissement, according to sources at City Hall.

The private ceremony will be attended by some friends and family, including the parents of both Longoria, 32, and Parker, 25, according to a source.

People

In other Desperate Housewives news, Marc Cherry is said to be considering a musical episode to boost flagging ratings.

Marc Cherry, producer-creator of ABC’s “Desperate Housewives,” wants to keep things blooming, ratings-wise on Wisteria Lane. Cherry is considering a musical episode, and Teri Hatcher, at the least, is up to the challenge. She’s done a good deal of warbling, including a Chicago production of “Cabaret” a few years back, and, recently, a slinky, semi-secret stint in a Hollywood nightspot. Those who’ve seen Hatcher in her singer mode, say she is impressive — sultry and sexy. As for the rest — Nicollette Sheridan recently sang a duet with her beloved, Michael Bolton, on his last CD.

Liz Smith

Teri Hatcher sultry and sexy? Somehow I can’t imagine that middle aged botox crazy stick figure as sexy. Still, the musical episode of Buffy is going to tour as a stage show, and the ER episode was hugely popular. But has anyone heard this Michael Bolton duet?

Eva Longoria and Tony Parker are shown at their pre-wedding party last night on a boat in the Seine river in Paris. Thanks to SplashNews.

Would you like to extend the LohitneyParis ban?

- Join our new celebrity fantasy league on fafarazzi. It’s like sports fantasy leagues, only with gossip [Fafarazzi]
- Advance review of Leonardo DiCaprio’s 11th Hour [ecorazzi]
- Clay Aiken does a really lame song medly [DListed]
- Ashley Tisdale in a bikini [Drunken Stepfather]
- Jennifer Aniston to meet Shiloh secretly? [I’m Not Obsessed]
- A tribute to the mini skirt [Bastardly]
- J. Lo and Marc Anthony Plan a Joint Tour [yeeeah]
- Jennifer Garner in a bikini [The Blemish]
- There’s a new Alvin and the Chipmunks movie and it stars Jason Lee [Agent Bedhead]
- Nelly Furtado is engaged [IDLYITW]
- Brad Pitt rumored to star in Bullit remake [Glitterati]
- Eva Mendes in a bikini [Celebslam]
- Brad Pitt and Matt Damon play poker for charity [PopSugar]
- Rachel Ray’s marriage is not over [CelebWarship]
- Guess who is flashing her ass? (We’re supposed to be ignoring her) [Seriously? OMG! WTF?]
- Britney Spears cuts her mom out of her will [Hollywood Rag]
- JK Rowling says she was devastated to end Harry Potter and was bawling her eyes out when writing the end of the final book [Gabsmash]
- Diddy gets his freak on with a large-boned woman [Bossip]
- Shar Jackson with some Chippendales [popbytes]
- Cybil Shepherd says she was almost raped by a famous actor [Crazy Days and Nights]
- Hayden Panettiere can’t sing [Evil Beet]
- Eva Longoria’s Pink Civil Service Wedding Dress [ICYDK]
- Uma Thurman in Rome with her kids [Celebrity Baby Scoop]
- License to Wed sucks [Pajiba]

Tiger Woods and his wife Elin had a beautiful baby girl on June 18th. Naturally, the media couldn’t leave well enough alone. A report this week that Tiger played in the U.S. Open while his wife was having problems with her labor made the headlines.

Woods revealed Tuesday that his wife, Elin, was admitted to the hospital on Thursday of the U.S. Open, experiencing complications as she prepared to deliver the couple’s first child.

“It wasn’t life-threatening or anything, but she just had a few problems and had to be admitted,” Woods said. “It wasn’t easy. It was not easy, because I wanted to be there. And the doctor and Elin said, ‘There’s nothing you can do. So go out there and just get a “W.”‘

“Well, came close. But that night was infinitely more rewarding than any ‘W’ ever could have been.”

Personally I don’t think it’s fair to criticize or sensationalize this story. If my husband could make a few zillion dollars for golfing over a few afternoons and my labor was going okay, I would do the same thing! It’s not like the men are that helpful during the labor process anyway, for God’s sake. What would you do or what do you think about this? Should Tiger have stayed with his wife or gone for the cash. White Trash Mom votes for cash. What’s your vote?

Pictures via CelebrityBabyScoop.