J.Lo throws an $800,000 birthday party

Courtney Hazlett The Scoop

Just an hour after Jennifer Lopez completed the Nautica Malibu Triathlon (and raised $127,000 for the Children’s Hospital of L.A.), she, her husband Marc Anthony and their 7-month-old twins boarded a plane to New York City.

The reason for the Herculean effort to get back to the East Coast? Lopez was due to throw Anthony an $800,000 Havana-themed 40^th birthday party at the Bowery Hotel later that day.

The party took place Sept. 14, but details are still trickling out. “There was a salsa band and tons of fresh flowers,” one guest told OK! magazine.

Also on hand: burlesque artist Dita Von Teese and their pals Leah Remini and Kimora Lee Simmons.

As for reports that Lopez was less than gracious with the staff at the party or the dancers who participated, totally untrue. “She is the sweetest person in the world and she’s at a time in her life when everything is going so great. She was great to everyone at the party,” says a source close to Lopez.

Crocodile Hunter’s son wants his own show
Two years after the freak accident that caused Steve Irwin’s death, his son Bob, now 4, is hoping for his own television show, reports the New York Post.

The paper quotes Irwin’s widow, Terri, vouching for Bob, saying, “He’s a little Steve clone.” And, in a segment of a popular Australian newsmagazine “60 Minutes” this week, Bob is seen taking after Dad, wrestling a crocodile, cradling reptiles and filming a potential TV pilot.

“I’m Mr. Independence,” Bob says during the spot, refusing help from sister Bindi, 10, who has her own show on Discovery Kids channel, her own fashion line, and has a doll of her own likeness.

Terri Irwin reportedly reiterates that her children have “normal” lives in the “60 Minutes” piece.

Jennifer Aniston, Gerard Butler: Nothing going on there
It was the thigh touch heard ’round the world. Gerard Butler allegedly had his hand on Jennifer Aniston’s thigh during a Sept. 7 party at the Toronto International Film Festival, and the alleged grazing sparked rumors the two are dating.

But a source says the relationship is all business for now. Butler, who’s been linked to Cameron Diaz, is interested in “working with Jen, but nothing more,” Us Weekly reports.

An Aniston source confirms a similar sentiment to Us. “She and Gerard met for two minutes in Toronto. It was just a brief hello.”

This day in ‘View’ history

Slideshow   Celebrity sightings Adrian Grenier and his “Entourage” pals kick off new season, Paris Hilton is back in court, Robert Plant is rock royalty and more. more photos

One year ago today, then-new “View” host Sherri Shepherd declared that she “didn’t believe in evolution. Period.” Then, in a confounding move, she told co-host Whoopi Goldberg that “she didn’t know” if the world was flat, she “never thought about it.” 

To mark the anniversary, I checked in with the host to see if her stance has changed. A rep for the show reminds everyone who likes to continue to bring up the gaffe: “Honestly, she cleared all this up on ‘The View’ and ‘The Tonight Show,’ shortly after it happened.”

Have you heard?
Our friends at Glamour launched Glamour TV this week, the magazine’s new television “destination site.” Three shows premiere on the site this week (www.glamour.tv). Molly Shannon, Jennie Garth and Solange Knowles are among the celebs you’ll see involved.  … The White Tie Affair had their big debut on “The Hills” Sept. 15. Two of the band’s singles, “Walk This Way” and “Candle,” made the cut. … Oct. 21 is the release date for the new documentary film “All Together Now,” which details the story behind the partnership between The Beatles and Cirque du Soleil.

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