THE MIDLIFE CRISIS TOUR 8/12

Okay, wow.  A whole lot of crazy going on in the headlines!  First, since I am still a little bitter about the male poplulation, in general, what is wrong with these old men dating the young chicks??  Kelsey Grammer had that smokin' hot wife, but still can't keep it in his pants and gets a 29 yr old girl preggers?  Maybe I should be asking what SHE was thinking??

And who thinks that a bottle of aspirin will do the job if you want to off yourself?  Fantasia either had a crazy headache or that was a call for help.  

And McCain thinks Snooki is good looking.  What goes on in this world?

But, anyway, today I have very important things to do to prep for my trip to Africa...top of the list is calling Verizon and getting set up with an international plan so I can Fabebook and also upload the Headlines to the blog!!!

And I read that the countries in Africa take U.S. Dollars, but only those printed after 2004 and with the "large heads." So I need to gather big headed bills!  It just sounds funny. 

Also, ATM's in Tanzani often don't have zero keys, so I will have to change my PIN...the PIN I've had since I opened my first checking account in high school.  Good chance I will forget it when I'm there!

A very special shout-out to all my awesome peeps in NY, SF and LA for helping with my interview this week.  And for allllllll of the words of wisdom...a lot of insight and wisdom...into the staff.  More on that another time.  

Okie dokie!  Here's your DIRT!

 

Police believed they were responding to an attempted suicide after Fantasia Barrino overdosed on aspirin and other pills at her home in Charlotte, but her manager says she wasn't trying to kill herself. The police report released yesterday did not name the victim but Barrino's manager confirmed that she overdosed. A man told a 911 dispatcher that she took a bottle of aspirin and was slowly losing consciousness. Police did not identify the caller. In other news, VH1 intends to stick with the previously announced Sept.19 season 2 premiere of "Fantasia For Real." / AP, NYP89, DN6

The family of Kayte Walsh, Kelsey Grammer's 29-year-old British girlfriend, has confirmed that she is pregnant with the "Frasier" star's child just over a month after his wife, Camille Donatacci, filed for divorce. / NYP15

Anna Nicole Smith suffered from pain most of her life, a doctor testified yesterday, saying he treated her with prescription drugs to alleviate her chronic pain syndrome even though he considered her an addict.  He added that treating Smith was a challenge because she had a substance abuse disorder so severe, "she could become addicted to Jello." / AP

Paris Hilton was sued yesterday after a company that manufactures hair extensions claimed the socialite breached her contract to wear and promote their product when she sported the fake locks of a competitor in 2008.  Hairtech International Inc. is seeking $35 million in damages - 10 times what she was apparently paid under the contract. / AP

Superior Court Judge Marsha Revel, the judge who sent Lindsay Lohan to jail, has removed herself from the Lohan case after a prosecutor complained she improperly contacted experts or participants in the case privately, including a rehabilitation facility. / AP

"Real Housewives of New Jersey" star Danielle Staub was shocked when rival Kim G showed up at Scores for her 48th birthday celebration.  Event organizers say that Staub was furious and refused to leave the car until Kim G left. / NYP15

Friends say that Kim Kardashian did not hook up with soccer stud Cristiano Ronaldo at the Beverly Hills Hotel this week. "Kim and Cristiano bumped into each other and chatted as friends," says a pal.  "Kim doesn't have time for a relationship." NYP15

Ryan Murphy says that a Broadway version of "Glee" is "definitely" happening, adding that he is "auditioning people now."/ NYP9

Teri Hatcher is being sued by former employee Jennifer Glassman, who helped run Hatcher's production company until she was "pushed aside" and denied a promised 50 percent cut of the company's profits. / NYP89

A little-known author is suing Ricky Gervais for allegedly ripping off his ideas when he wrote his popular "Flanimals" book. John Savage claims that his 1998 book "Captain Pottie's Wildlife Encyclopedia" was the basis for Flanimals, which features a medley of bizarre-looking cartoon beasts. / AP

The New York Post and The Daily News picked up PEOPLE's report that JLo will not be joining "American Idol." / NYP88, DN3

Richard Gere, Glenn Close and Chris Meloni all open up about their love for dogs in "My Dog: An Unconditional Love Story." The film will make its Hamptons premiere Aug 23. at Guild Hall.  The film also features one of the last appearances of the late Lynn Redgrave. / NYP14

Jackie Evancho, the 10-year-old who preformed a jaw dropping performance of Puccini's "O Mio Babbino Caro" on Tuesday's "America's Got Talent," says that she began singing three years ago after watching "Phantom of the Opera" on the big screen. / NYP89, USAT3D

Steven Tyler says that his two-year-old grandson Milo, is "the sweetest, most beautiful thing."   "He calls me Papa Steven," Tyler said.  In other news, Tyler says that he will bring credibility to the forum if he becomes a judge on  "American Idol." / NYP58, NYP16

Hayden Christensen sulked and refused drinks at The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation event after being dumped by his fiancé, Rachel Bilson. Sources say that the actor is still in love with Bilson, although she already reportedly has a new man. / NYP16, DN9

Sen. John McCain told KMLE radio that he thinks Snooki "might be too good-looking to go to jail." / DN4

Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens were spotted doing shots at a party to celebrate his September cover for Details.  The couple left hand-in-hand after Efron told pals the party would continue at his place. / NYP16

Justin Timberlake and playground hoops icon "Black Jack" Ryan recently played a game of hoops at Chelsea Piers.  Ryan says that he was surprised at Timberlake's basketball skills. / NYP16

George Wendt, who is best known for his role as Norm on "Cheers," is set to return to Broadway as Santa Claus in the holiday comedy "Elf." The show is based on the 2003 Will Ferrell movie about Buddy, a man who is raised at the North Pole as an elf. / AP

Nicole Kidman and hubby Keith Urban have just closed on a $10 million penthouse at 200 11th Ave in NYC.  The 3,248-square-foot pad has views of the Hudson River from two terraces, plus a dramatic stairway. / NYP40

Nickelodeon has announced that Nick Cannon will remain TeenNick's chairman through January 2012.  Cannon has been working with the network, both in front of the camera and on developing, producing and creating shows since last year. / DN80

In the September issue of Vogue, Halle Berry chats about being a mom and her split with Gabriel Aubry. / USAT2D

The Daily News features "Eat Pray Shop," ways to dress like Julia Roberts without actually traveling to Bali. / DN37

The Balinese fortuneteller featured in Elizabeth Gilbert's best-selling memoir "Eat Pray Love" has been hospitalized because of a heart ailment - just days before a movie adaptation starring Julia Roberts hits U.S. theaters. Ketut Liyer has become a celebrity in his village of Ubud since the book came out in 2006. /AP

A pilot who was the first to arrive at the plane crash that killed former Sen. Ted Stevens and ex-NASA chief Sean O'Keefe says that is was a "horrific scene of wreckage, fuel, bodies and frightened survivors." / NYP19

David L. Wolper, whose landmark 1977 miniseries "Roots" engrossed the nation with its saga of an American family descended from an African slave, has died. He was 82. / AP, USAT1D