Poor little rich kids: Celebrities tighten belts

Courtney Hazlett The Scoop

It might be hard to feel sorry for them, but even celebrities aren’t recession-proof, and some are beginning to tighten their belts.

Among them: America Ferrera, who's reportedly down to one house. After “Ugly Betty” moved from L.A. to N.Y.C., she put her $1.5 million Hollywood Hills home on the market.

“She’s sad about it, but she doesn’t want to pay for two places,” an insider told Life & Style.

Eva Longoria wore elements of the same outfit twice. She was spotted the morning of Jan. 27 sporting the same jeans, bag and scarf she’d worn to dinner in Hollywood the night before. Miley Cyrus deigned to shop on the sale rack at a Kitson boutique, picking up $14 T-shirts and a $56 pair of jeans. And Britney’s driving a Mitsubishi.

How will Hollywood weather the recession? Donald Trump has one suggestion that is unlikely to catch on.

“I don’t drink alcohol,” he told Life & Style. “That saves a lot of money.”

Oscars red carpet should be safe
Rumors that the Oscars might eschew a red carpet in an attempt to force people to tune in to the broadcast caused a stir earlier this week.

Several sources close to the show, however, say that it’s “extraordinarily unlikely” that there will be no carpet at all.

“What’s more likely,” says one source, “is that nominees will walk the carpet, but the presenters won’t.”

This scenario dovetails nicely with the Academy’s plan to keep presenters secret until show time. Another source adds, “Not having a red carpet would really make nominees and studios unhappy. This show is as much about rewarding Hollywood as it is in getting people to get the DVDs (of the films) and go out to the movies. The red carpet is key to that.”

Hudson sang despite backing track

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Yes, Jennifer Hudson did have a backing track at the Super Bowl, her first public performance since the murder of her mother, brother and nephew last October, but she still sang.

One source close to Hudson clarifies, “Her mic was live but she didn’t need to sing at all if she didn’t want to. It’s not unusual for a live performance like that.” (By the way, Hudson's rendition of the national anthem is available on iTunes and the money is going toward the Hudson-King Foundation in honor of her family.)

Next up for Hudson: a six-week U.S. tour in the spring, though it's not solid yet. "The tour is in discussion," says Hudson's rep.

Madonna’s new (young) flame
He may be only a decade older than her preteen daughter, but Madonna is still dating Jesus Luz, a 22-year-old Brazilian model she met at a Rio De Janeiro photo shoot in December.

“She loves showing her ex that she can still get the youngest, hottest thing out there,” a source close to the 50-year-old singer told Us Weekly.

Madge flaunted her boy toy at NYC eatery Macelleria on Feb. 1 for brunch with her kids, Lourdes and David. Are more family meals in the cards? The source told Us that Luz “would love to move to New York … but if he’s smart, he will let M make that suggestion.”

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

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