HEADLINES 7/28

I do have a story, but no time to get to it this morning and I'm sure you all want your DIRT in somewhat of a timely manner...

So here is your DIRT.  Stories tomorrow.  And do we need a song of the day again?  We might, Rabbit...we might...

 

Mel Gibson has met with detectives to discuss his claims that his ex-girlfriend attempted to extort money from him. Los Angeles County sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore says the interview occurred Sunday. He says detectives only spoke to the Academy Award-winner about his claims against ex-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva. The sheriff's department is also investigating claims by Grigorieva that Gibson abused her during a January confrontation. Neither has been arrested and no charges have been filed. / AP
 
Chelsea Clinton will be wearing a custom-made Vera Wang wedding dress at her wedding, according to a source. In other news, locals in the town of Rhinebeck are annoyed that they don't know anything about the wedding. "No one has given us a straight answer," said Mayor Jim Reardon. "The whole town has been kept out of the loop." / DN9, DN6
 
Zac Efron, Corbin Bleu and a friend were seen at Flashdancers Gentlemen's Club on Broadway on Sunday night. The three spent more than $2,000 on lap dancers and vodka. Throughout the night they asked for personal dances and showered the girls with cash, according to a source. The group left at 3 a.m. Monday morning. Later Monday night, Efron walked the red carpet for the premiere of his movie "Charlie St. Cloud." Vanessa Hudgens was not at his side, although she attended the LA screening last week. / NYP10
 
Condoleezza Rice, The former U.S. secretary of state and Aretha Franklin took the stage Tuesday evening at Philadelphia's Mann Music Center in a rare duet for Rice, the classically trained pianist, and Franklin, the famous singer. Their aim was to raise money for urban children and awareness for music and the arts. / AP
 
Rapper Wyclef Jean is considering running for president of Haiti. The Haitian-born musician has not decided if he will seek a five-year term replacing President Rene Preval, but it is not off the table. He has until Aug. 7 to announce his candidacy. / DN5, NYP10
 
President Obama is making a pit stop at the Tastee Sub Shop in Edison, NJ, today to talk about the economy—and maybe have a sandwich. After the sub shop, Obama will head into Manhattan to tape an episode of "The View." / DN2
 
Foxy Brown rolled up to her court appearance in a black Lamborghini yesterday. At her appearance Judge Geraldine Pickett extended an order of protection a neighbor took out against Brown in 2007 when the rapper hit her neighbor with a BlackBerry. Brown was also accused of cursing at her and baring her bottom in a heated dispute. / DN12, NYP23
 
Deena Nicole Cortese is the new addition to the "Jersey Shore" cast. The 23-year-old from New Egypt, NJ, is said to be replacing original cast member Angelina Pivarnick, who will not return for a third season. / NYP3
 
Rapper Common has landed his first leading TV role. He has been cast in the pilot for AMC's new period drama "Hell on Wheels." He will play a freed slave who journeys westward hoping to find wok on the railroad. / USATD1
 
Steve Carell has put in his official resignation at "The Office." The actor's contract expires in 2011 after a seven-year-run, but the network said the show will continue without him. / USATD1
 
Naomi Watts is the new face of Ann Taylor's Fall 2010 advertising campaign. / USATD1
 
"Paul McCartney: The Library of Congress Gershwin Price for Popular Song in Performance at the Whit House" airs tonight on PBS stations. McCartney recalls his performance saying, "It was quite nerve-racking." / USATD1
 
According to a source, Jay-Z felt "disrespected" that LeBron James "did not consult him during the free agency process" and kept him out of the loop when James decided to sign with Miami Heat. / DN9
 
USA Today does a Q&A with Heidi Klum about Season 8 of "Project Runway." / USATD2
 
Beyonce Knowles was seen dining at Strip House with a small group of girlfriends until the restaurant closed. / NYP12
 
Kevin Jonas was seen with his wife Danielle at the Bellagio in Las Vegas on Friday night. A source said that Jonas was, "sneaking shots of rum and chasing them down with Sprite by the bar." He also said the couple was all over each other all night. / NYP10
 
Lenny Kravitz and Alex Rodriguez were seen out together at a dinner hosted by Guy Oseary at The Lion. Others at the table included, Mick Jagger, Lucy Liu, Chris Rock, Edward Norton and Cameron Diaz, who left early—alone. / NYP10
 
Sharon Stone played auctioneer at the Watermill Center Benefit in Southampton on Saturday. During the bids, a fly flew up her dress. Stone put her hand up the dress and "wiggled" to let it free in front of the crowd. Others in attendance included, Alec Baldwin, Anne Hearst, Nicole Miller, and Allison and Chip Brady. / NYP10
 
Michelle Rodriguez was serenaded by British singer Pete Byrne at the West Village restaurant Rabbit in the Moon. / NYP12
 
Ed Westwick has alienated co-star Jessica Szohr from the rest of the "Gossip Girl" cast. Since the two broke up earlier this year they have been on bad terms. Last week, Szohr was the only cast member not at Chace Crawford's birthday celebration. Also, last Thursday, Blake Lively, Penn Badgley, Crawford and Westwick were seen dining in the East Village with four others and Szohr was not there. / NYP11
 
Conan O'Brien has sold his large duplex at the Majestic co-op on Central Park West to Discover Communications CEO David Zaslav. Sources say that it sold for less than its $29.5 million asking price. / NYP10
 
Christie Brinkley has put her Sag Harbor home on the market for $15.75 million- more than double what she paid for it just six years ago. / DN5, NYP6
 
"Daily Show" host Jon Stewart and Comedy Central have again partnered for another "Night of Too Many Stars: An Overbooked Concert for Autism Education" that will be taped Oct. 2 at the Beacon Theatre. Among those signed to appear are Tina Fey, Lewis Black and Chris Rock. / DN72
 
"Desperate Housewives" executive producer Marc Cherry said that he would be interested in getting Betty White on the show. / DN72

Patricia Clarkson led the guests at the premiere party for her film "Cairo Time" in a hunt for a lost item. The actress overheard a woman saying that she lost her grandmother's ring, so Clarkson had everyone search. The woman ended up leaving the party empty handed. In other news, Clarkson said that the chemistry between her and co-star Alexander Siddig was immediate. / DN9, NYP12

Russell Simmons called the New York Post, "junk, gossip and stuff." However, on Monday night, he had a Page Six reporter sit next to him so he could promote his new movie about animal rights, "Bold Native." / NYP11
 
Representatives for both Justin Timberlake and Elton John are denying rumors that the two pop stars are in talks to replace ex-judge Simon Cowell. Singers Harry Connick Jr. and Chris Isaak are still in the running. / NYP68
 
Bob Barker doesn't think his "Price is Right" replacement, Drew Carey, is living up to his expectations. "I tried to make the show really exiting and, uh, he doesn't do that," said Barker. "He just plays the game." / DN11

MTV's "The Hills" had two alternate series finale endings. The "fake" ending that didn't air concluded with Lauren Conrad being Brody Jenner's girlfriend. / NYP11
 
Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, France's first lady and a former supermodel turned songstress, is making her debut as an actress, filming this week in Woody Allen's "Midnight in Paris." / AP
 
The late writer and director John Hughes is being honored at the Traverse City Film Festival. The Lansing native died last year at the age of 59 and is this year's recipient of the Michigan Filmmaker Award. It's given to Michigan natives for their contributions to the art of cinema. / AP
 
Smashing Pumpkins front man Billy Corgan had a guitar malfunction at the band's Terminal 5 concert Monday night. He put down his guitar and led the audience in a clap-along until a guitar tech ran onstage to fix the problem. After the show, the band partied at Spin magazine's 25th anniversary party at the Hudson Hotel; however, Corgan was a no-show. / DN9, NYP12
 
Linkin Park's first single from their upcoming album "A Thousand Suns," arrives in a trailer for the video game "Medal of Honor." / USATD1

Photos in the Daily News: Cameron Diaz shopping in Paris, Susan Sarandon strolling through Italy with her SPiN business partner Jonathan Bricklin, Woody Allen directing French First Lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy on the set of "Midnight in Paris," Guy Ritchie and his son Rocco jet skiing in Spain, the cast of "Jersey Shore" at the New York Stock Exchange yesterday to ring the opening bell, Hillary Clinton leaving her daughter's apartment in Manhattan yesterday. / DN9, DN8, DN6
 
Photos in the Post: The cast of "Jersey Shore" at the New York Stock Exchange yesterday to ring the opening bell, Lady Gaga and boyfriend Luc Carl in the pool at the St. Regis Hotel in Houston, Miranda Kerr posing for a photo shoot at Milk Studios in LA, Penn Badgley and Jessica Szohr filming a scene from "Gossip Girl" yesterday on the Upper West Side, Penelope Cruz in Hawaii filming scenes for "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides," new "Jersey Shore" cast member Deena Nicole Cortese taping season three. / NYP69, NYP12, NYP11, NYP3