K-Fed skips sons’ birthday bash for Vegas fun

Courtney Hazlett The Scoop

Kevin Federline might have been dubbed father of the year by Club Prive in Vegas, but his behavior in that city last weekend might get him stripped of such status.

Federline attended the Sept. 12 preview party for Lavo, a new bathhouse-inspired restaurant and nightclub, and had such a good time he decided to extend his stay. Unfortunately, that meant skipping out on his sons’ birthday party back in L.A., according to a source who was on hand.

“On Friday night he went to Lavo’s preview party, even danced to Britney's ‘Gimme More’ and had so much fun that night he  decided to stay for Saturday’s grand opening,” the source says. “Saturday he spent the day by the pool, then had dinner at TAO and hit the Lavo grand opening, red carpet and all, where he partied (un)til 4am.”

Was a special woman behind the rescheduling? No, says the source. “It was more of a guys’ weekend, but a very good time was had by all.”

One Federline source says that the behavior isn’t surprising. “He’s apt to kind of just do what he wants. He loves the boys (Preston, 3 and Jayden, 2) but if he’s having fun someplace else, he’ll stick with that.”

Federline’s rep Marilyn Lopez defended her client’s honor with a clarifying “no comment.”

Palin cover story outsells McCain
Just one week after running GOP vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin on its cover, People magazine put John McCain and his entire family on its cover.

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According to a well-placed industry insider, the McCain family issue has not sold as well as the Palin cover; in fact early estimates indicate it is selling below the magazine's weekly average.

“The early numbers have (the McCain issue) a good bit below their average — about 1.3 million,” says the source. “Palin did about 1.7 million, which is above average.”

A rep for People said it was still “too early” to know whether the numbers were accurate.

Why did McCain falter at the newsstand? The industry insider cited two reasons: “Maybe it’s because the accompanying story was drier than the Palin story. But also I guess it proves that not all Republicans want to buy magazines with stories about Republicans.”

Kirsten Dunst speaks out on rehab, sort of
Kirsten Dunst appears on the October issue of Harper’s Bazaar, and the actress breaks her silence, somewhat, on the time she spent at the Cirque Lodge earlier this year.

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“I don’t want to get into too much detail, because I give a quote and then it’s blogged about on the Internet for the rest of my life," Dunst shared. “I don’t want to be hassled about it. I would like to be a person who can help people, but privately.”

Given the fact that Dunst spent time in rehab, it’s surprising to some that she spends so much time at Manhattan bar Beatrice Inn.

Of this, Dunst says, “They keep people out who will write stuff and blog about it.  But I’m not going to go there if what I do is written about. I’m very aware. I’m like an eagle eye. I’m not free as a bird (when I’m there), but I love to dance. And I literally have gone up to people and said, ‘Did you just take my picture?’ I have to protect myself.”

Celebrity Sightings
New York City
Ashley Olsen and “Lipstick Jungle’s” Robert Buckley celebrating Intermix’s 15th Anniversary hosted by the new Pink BlackBerry Curve on Sept. 6 at the Bowery Hotel in NYC. ... Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Becki Newton and Michelle Trachtenberg also attended the party. ... Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson cuddling up at the Ultimat Vodka launch at NYC's Empire Hotel on Sept. 10. ... A spate of celebs made their way to the Mercedes-Benz Star Lounge during Fashion Week. Among those spotted were Bette Midler, Emmy Rossum, Juliette Lewis. And, not far from New York in Atlantic City, Daryl Hall and John Oates were spotted at The Water Club Sept. 16.

L.A.
Tori Spelling chatting on her new Samsung Glyde phone telling her 'best friend' about her free trip to Antigua and a $2000 teeth-whitening treatment she picked up from VIP Smiles at the Verizon Wireless Style Villa in Beverly Hills.

Courtney Hazlett delivers the Scoop Monday through Friday on msnbc.com.

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