Brangelina wedding rumors run rampant

Courtney Hazlett The Scoop

Now that there’s no speculation over whether she’s pregnant or not, all that’s left to do until the arrival of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s baby (or babies) is speculate about their marriage status.

On Saturday, March 29, Star magazine sent journalists an e-mail blast that announced that Brangelina nuptials took place at the French Quarter Wedding Chapel in New Orleans. Before long, every celebrity weekly was on the story, scrambling to see whether they’d missed what would be the biggest marriage of 2008.

What did they find? Collectively, nothing more than a firm denial from the chapel’s minister, Rev. Tony Talavera, who says he didn’t perform any such marriage. Furthermore, Talavera told OK! that Star had offered him $3,000 to stick with its story (he couldn’t be bought) and he told In Touch that it was Pitt’s rep that asked him to set the record straight with the media.

People magazine did reach Pitt’s rep, Cindy Guagenti, who said she had “no idea” whether Pitt and Jolie married. Us Weekly chimed in with a source who called the whole thing “complete and total bullsh--.”

Although Star amended its original story to say that its source was no longer standing by their information, there’s still no straight answer. It’s odd for a publicist to not follow up “I have no idea” with a clear yes or no, so what gives?

Video   The Scoop — uncensored March 31: Courtney Hazlett talks with Morning Joe's Willie Geist about the joy that is “Unnecessary Censorship,” and reflects on her continued box office win streak. Morning Joe

One publicist said that Guagenti and Pitt don’t communicate as often as you’d think. “When she says she has no idea, she really doesn’t. They don’t talk regularly.” (A request to Guagenti for an updated response went unanswered.)

Although the timing — a Saturday — wasn’t good for the reporters who had to give up their weekends to chase the rumor, it is good for the weekly magazines. The marriage, or lack thereof, will easily make the deadlines for all of the celeb magazines. Expect to uncover the “real story” in just a few days’ time.

PETA offers Britney Spears a job
It’s close to April Fool’s day so let’s preface this by pointing out that this is not a joke: PETA has offered Britney Spears a job. For a day.

Slide show The Spears years Britney’s life, from Mickey Mouse to motherhood, divorce drama and more. more photos

In a letter PETA president Ingrid Newkirk penned to Spears after seeing her “How I Met Your Mother Performance,” Newkirk offers Spears the chance to be a receptionist “for as little as an hour.”

Newkirk contends that the PETA target would see “from the inside, why we are so concerned about issues like fur and homeless dogs and cats. … We might have criticized you in the past for contributing to the dog overpopulation crisis and wearing real fur, but perhaps now that your own crisis has abated, a new day calls for a new relationship, a new outlook, and a new understanding,” the letter said.

The hourly pay isn’t so bad, either. The group is offering Spears a $1,000 donation to a children’s charity of her choosing.

Weekend box office
Another win: “21” was No. 1 at the box office last weekend, despite being panned by most critics on the eve of its opening. The film grossed $23.7 million, which was slightly more than what some industry estimates projected.

“Superhero Movie,” which came in third place, must be considered a disappointment nonetheless; the film played in a considerable number of theaters (2,960) yet grossed only $9.5 million for the weekend. Finally, “Stop-Loss” proved what industry experts already knew, which is that films about the Iraq war don’t do well at the box office. It grossed $4.5 million, good enough for eighth place.

Celebrity sightings

Slide show   The week in celebrity sightings Ferrell and Reilly shake ‘n bake again, Miley sings in the city, McCartney stirs Beatlemania in Quebec and more. more photos

Fergie and Quentin Tarantino had a joint birthday bash at the Bare Pool Lounge at The Mirage in Las Vegas. Diablo Cody, Darryl Hannah, and Kid Rock were among the guests. In celebration of his 23rd birthday, “Greek” star Scott Michael Foster and some of his fellow cast mates (Derek Mio and Amber Stevens) had dinner at Koi.

In L.A., Christine Taylor was seen picking up the Jenna Hobo bag by Beirn at Fred Segal. (Note: You’ll be seeing more of this bag in the “Sex and the City” movie.) Emily Deschanel and Bryce Dallas Howard were also at Fred Segal. They attended the Safi Fragrance launch party held there.

“Dirty Jobs” host Mike Rowe was spotted taking meetings at the Ritz-Carlton in New York City. “Dirty Sexy Money” star William Baldwin dropped by his table to tell him he was a fan. “Gossip Girl’s” newest addition, Michelle Trachtenberg, took a break from filming to shop at the American Eagle store in Union Square.

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In Miami, tennis champ Anna Kournikova dined at Kobe Club with a group of friends and family. Dave Navarro hung out at the Hotel Gansevoort’s rooftop pool in the vicinity of lady friends and Belvedere vodka. Mena Suvari and Tommy Lee both swung by the Armani Exchange Music Lounge, which was set up in conjunction with the Miami Winter Music Conference.

Jessica Biel was seen wearing a Mulberry belted military jacket in London while filming her upcoming flick, “Easy Virtue.”

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