JONAS BROTHERS SURPRISE OBAMA DAUGHTERS

The Jonas Brothers surprised President Barack Obama’s daughters during a White House treasure hunt.

The pop act – comprising siblings Joe, Kevin and Nick – hid behind a door for Malia, 10, and Sasha, seven, to discover at the end of their search around their new home on Tuesday night (Jan 20, 2009).

The sisters – who were allowed to have the following day off school after their father was sworn in as US President – enjoyed an evening of their favorite movies, including “Bolt” starring Miley Cyrus and “High School Musical 3″ featuring Zac Efron, before their favorite band made an appearance.

White House staff organized the hunt to show the girls around the famous Presidential house and teach them some of the history surrounding the building.

A similar event was arranged for former president Bill Clinton’s daughter Chelsea
.

This is not the first time Malia and Sasha have been treated to an audience with the Jonas Brothers.

The band performed live for the girls and their mother Michelle – as well as 14,000 screaming fans – at the Kids Inaugural concert on Monday

WILL SMITH WANTS TO PLAY OBAMA

Will Smith wants to play Barack Obama in a film.

The 40-year-old actor admits he would be unable to say no if the US President-Elect asked him to take on the role.

He said: “If I’m ordered by my Commander-In-Chief to star in the film, then I’ll do my duty as an American.”

Although Will is a staunch supporter of Obama, he insists he has no plans to follow in the footsteps of Ronald Reagan and Arnold Schwarzengger and move from acting to politics.

He said: “It’s a whole lot more fun to be a movie star. The President is a difficult job with a whole lot of lives on the line with every decision you make.”

“In my job I can just bring joy. I don’t have to bring bad news so I think I’ll stay in my position for quite a long time.”

In addition to portraying Obama, the actor recently revealed he would like to play former South African President Nelson Mandela and soul singer Marvin Gaye in a movie about their lives, but fears he isn’t “man enough” for the roles.

He said: “I’m not certain I’m actor enough yet. I love both of those, and I need to make sure I’m man enough.”

Another Jack Ryan Movie

Screenwriter Hossein Amini has been hired to tackle a new Jack Ryan movie for Paramount Pictures. The erstwhile intelligence analyst and all-American do-gooder created by novelist Tom Clancy has not appeared onscreen since 2002′s “The Sum of All Fears.”

Mace Neufeld and Lorenzo Di Bonaventura are producing the project for Paramount. “Spider-Man” director Sam Raimi was on the hook to direct and produce a new Ryan installment, but his packed schedule made his involvement unworkable.

Other producer credits remain undecided.

With a new Jack Ryan installment in the pipeline, Paramount is establishing a muscular franchise lineup: “Iron Man” and “Transformers” are moving toward sophomore editions; “Star Trek” and “G.I. Joe” will launch in the summer as potential multifilm properties; and “Tintin,” “Avatar: The Last Airbender” and “Beverly Hills Cop IV” are in development.

Amini is best known for his literary adaptations of Henry James, Thomas Hardy and Elmore Leonard. His new Ryan film is planned as an origin story, not derived from Clancy’s novels and ultimately featuring a new, younger star.

The first onscreen Ryan adventure, “The Hunt for Red October,” grossed $199 million worldwide in 1990 with Alec Baldwin in the role. “Patriot Games” (1992) and “Clear and Present Danger” (1994) brought in $178 million and $208 million worldwide, respectively, with Harrison Ford playing Ryan.

Ben Affleck took over the role in a sort-of prequel in “All Fears,” which grossed $177 million worldwide.

Amini, repped by Endeavor, was nominated for an adapted screenplay Oscar in 1998 for “The Wings of the Dove.” His other credits include “Jude” and “The Four Feathers.” He has “Golden Compass” sequel adaptation “The Subtle Knife” in development at Warner Bros. and the Weinstein Co. drama “Shanghai” in postproduction.

49 Best Song Oscar hopefuls announced

49 songs have proven to eligible for inclusion in the ‘best original song’ category for this year’s Academy Awards. The list was made available today from the folks at the Academy. So, who’s your favourite to nab the golden statue?

These will soon be whittled down to just five (which make up the nominations). Those five will then be performed at the ceremony in LA in February.

The official release:

On Tuesday, January 6, the Academy will screen clips featuring each song, in random order, for voting members of the Music Branch in Los Angeles. Following the screenings, members will vote to determine which three, four or five songs become nominees in the category.

A DVD copy of the song clips will be made available to those branch members who are unable to attend the screening and who request it for home viewing. A mail-in ballot will be provided.

A maximum of two songs may be nominated from any film. If more than two songs from a film are in contention, the two songs with the most votes will be the nominees.

To be eligible, a song must consist of words and music, both of which are original and written specifically for the film. A clearly audible, intelligible, substantive rendition of both lyric and melody must be used in the body of the film or as the first music cue in the end credits.

The 81st Academy Awards nominations will be announced on Thursday, January 22, 2009, at 5:30 a.m. PT in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater.
Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2008 will be presented on Sunday, February 22, 2009, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live by the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 200 countries worldwide.

“Another Way to Die” from “Quantum of Solace”

“Barking at the Moon” from “Bolt”

“The Boys Are Back” from “High School Musical 3: Senior Year”

“Broken and Bent” from “Role Models”

“By the Boab Tree” from “Australia”

“The Call” from “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian”

“Can I Have This Dance” from “High School Musical 3: Senior Year”

“Chase the Morning” from “Repo! The Genetic Opera”

“Chromaggia” from “Repo! The Genetic Opera”

“The Code of Life” from “My Dream”

“Code of Silence” from “Save Me”

“Count on Me” from “The Women”

“Di Notte” from “The Lodger”

“Djoyigbe” from “Pray the Devil Back to Hell”

“Down to Earth” from “WALL-E”

“Dracula’s Lament” from “Forgetting Sarah Marshall”

“Drive” from “Fuel”

“Forever” from “They Killed Sister Dorothy”

“High School Musical” from “High School Musical 3: Senior Year”

“Gran Torino” from “Gran Torino”

“I Thought I Lost You” from “Bolt”

“I Want It All” from “High School Musical 3: Senior Year”

“In Rodanthe” from “Nights in Rodanthe”

“It Ain’t Right” from “Dark Streets”

“Jai Ho” from “Slumdog Millionaire”

“Just Getting Started” from “High School Musical 3: Senior Year”

“Just Wanna Be with You” from “High School Musical 3: Senior Year”

“Little Person” from “Synecdoche, New York”

“The Little Things” from “Wanted”

“A Night to Remember” from “High School Musical 3: Senior Year”

“Nothing but the Truth” from “Nothing but the Truth”

“Now or Never” from “High School Musical 3: Senior Year”

“O Saya” from “Slumdog Millionaire”

“Once in a Lifetime” from “Cadillac Records”

“Right Here Right Now” from “High School Musical 3: Senior Year”

“Right to Dream” from “Tennesee”

“Rock Me Sexy Jesus” from “Hamlet 2”

“Scream” from “High School Musical 3: Senior Year”

“The Story” from “My Blueberry Nights”

“Sweet Ballad” from “Yes Man”

“Too Much Juice” from “Dark Streets”

“The Traveling Song” from “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa”

“Trouble the Water” from “Trouble the Water”

“Up to Our Nex” from “Rachel Getting Married”

“Walk Away” from “High School Musical 3: Senior Year”

“Waterline” from “Pride and Glory”

“The Wrestler” from “The Wrestler”

“Yes Man” from “Yes Man”

“Zydrate Anatomy” from “Repo! The Genetic Opera”

Aascar Ravichandran to produce Jackie Chan’s venture

It is probably the first time that an Indian producer will be producing a Hollywood film! The man in question is none other than Aascar Ravichandran and he is ready to produce a venture in which Jackie Chan will not only act but also direct. The Ravichandran-Jackie Chan relationship dates back to Ravichandran’s distributorship days when he was distributing Jackie’s films in India.

Grapevine has it that talks are on with a Bollywood actor to star in the film. It is worth mentioning here that Jackie Chan came all the way to India to participate in the audio release function of Dasavatharam.

BRITNEY SPEARS’ SEX DISGUISE

Britney Spears reportedly snuck out of her home in disguise for a secret sex session.

The “Womanizer” singer apparently defied her father Jamie’s ban on men to enjoy the saucy rendezvous with a mystery friend – and even bragged of her romp when she got home.

A source said: “She’s been a prisoner in her own home and began to crave affection and attention from someone other than her parents, which is only natural.”

“She told her dad she got a ride with the person she’d arranged to meet and gone to their house in Los Angeles for a few hours.”

“She told him not to worry and that it was someone she’d known a long time who was a good person and wouldn’t hurt her.”

However, Jamie – who is co-conservator of her estate following her public meltdown last year – was apparently furious over the incident.

The source added to Britain’s Now magazine: “Britney told him that she was a grown woman and ordered him to get out of her room.”

“She didn’t come out for the rest of the day.”

FERGIE TO MARRY DUHAMEL NEXT MONTH

Fergie will marry actor Josh Duhamel in January.

The 33-year-old “London Bridge” singer and the “Transformers” star will tie the knot in Southern California over the second weekend of January.

It has been claimed many of Fergie’s “Nine” co-stars, including Kate Hudson, Nicole Kidman, Penelope Cruz, Sophia Loren, Marion Cotillard and Daniel Day-Lewis, will attend the ceremony.

The 36-year-old actor proposed to Fergie – whose real name is Stacey Ferguson – in 2007, after three years together.

At the time, friends said the singer was “the happiest girl on earth.”

A source said: “She is working with Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld on getting her fantasy gown. They are taking their time to get everything right. They only plan on getting married once.”

After announcing the engagement, Fergie insisted she was in no rush to tie the knot and wanted to ensure everything was perfect for her big day.

She said: “I have a big stack of wedding magazines. I want to go home and spend time with my family and just take some time to think about everything.”

BEYONCE THE RICHEST YOUNG STAR

Beyonce Knowles has topped a list of young rich stars.

The 27-year-old singer-and-actress’ $81 million 2008 earnings were almost double that of Justin Timberlake, also 27, who was ranked second in Forbes magazine’s list of high earners under 30 after taking home $44 million last year.

Sports stars made up the rest of the top five, with LA Lakers basketball star Kobe Bryant in third place with $39 million – who at 30 features in the list for the final time – 23-year-old Cleveland Cavaliers basketball player LeBron James in fourth, and tennis star Roger Federer, 27, fifth.

Keira Knightley, 23, was the highest-earning young British star, with earnings of $32 million.

Both the “Harry Potter” and “High School Musical” franchises helped three of their young stars make the list.

Wizard threesome Daniel Radcliffe, 19, Emma Watson, 18, and Rupert Grint, 20, came 8th, 16th and 19th respectively, while Disney trio Zac Efron, 21, Ashley Tisdale, 23, and Vanessa Hudgens, 19, also made the top 20.

This is the second rich list Beyonce has topped in the last month. The “Cadillac Records” star and husband Jay-Z were named Hollywood’s richest couple by Forbes.com with a combined fortune of $160 million.

Forbes magazine 2008 highest earners under 30:

1. Beyonce Knowles ($81 million)
2. Justin Timberlake ($44 million)
3. Kobe Bryant ($39 million)
4. LeBron James ($38 million)
5. Roger Federer ($35 million)
6. Keira Knightley ($32 million)
7. Maria Sharapova ($26 million)
8. Daniel Radcliffe ($25 million)
9. Miley Cyrus ($25 million)
10. Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen ($15 million)
11. Serena Williams ($14 million)
12. Venus Williams ($13 million)
13. Katherine Heigl ($13 million)
14. Jonas Brothers ($12 million)
15. Zac Efron ($6 million)
16. Emma Watson ($5.5 million)
17. Ashley Tisdale ($5.5 million
18. Hilary Duff ($5 million)
19. Rupert Grint ($5 million)
20. Vanessa Hudgens ($3 million)

JOLIE BUYS SON A KNIFE

Angelina Jolie has bought her seven-year-old son a knife.

The actress, who adopted son Maddox from Cambodia in 2002, wants him to learn how to defend himself and understand the responsibilities of carrying a weapon.

She said in an interview with W magazine: “Myy mom took me to buy my first daggers when I was 11 or 12. And I have already bought Maddox some things.”

“We take him to a special shop. We also talk about samurais and the idea about defending someone as good. We talk about everything.”

“I suppose I just looked at him and loved him and just felt open to it. I suddenly wanted to.”

Angelina – who also has two other adopted children, Pax and Zahara, along with twins Knox and Vivienne and daughter Shiloh with partner Brad Pitt – has previously revealed she self-harmed when she was a teenager.

She said: “I collected knives and always had certain things around.”

“For some reason, the ritual of having cut myself and feeling the pain, maybe feeling alive, feeling some kind of release, it was somehow therapeutic to me.”

RONSON PROPOSES TO LOHAN WITH $88K RING

Samantha Ronson proposed to Lindsay Lohan on  holiday with a $88,000 ring.

The “Mean Girls” actress was thrilled when DJ Samantha  suggested a civil partnership and presented her with the Cartier diamond band during their break in Mexico.

The lovers were having dinner by the beach in Cabo San Lucas when a waiter came over with the ring which was hidden inside a covered silver tray.

A source at the $1,600-a-night Esperanza hotel told Britain’s Star magazine: “Sam brought Lindsay down at 9pm to a huge dining table laid out by the water’s edge.”

“Sam really went all out and even arranged for a group of Mexican singers to entertain them with songs.”

“It was a gorgeous ring with a big diamond that Sam had bought before the holiday.”

“Sam asked her if she would marry her and the waiter popped a champagne cork as Lindsay accepted.”

“It was such a beautiful setting with perfect weather and was really romantic.”

The pair stayed up celebrating with Cristal champagne until 2am before disappearing into their hotel room together.

Lindsay, 22, recently admitted she is very “happy” in her relationship with Samantha.

However, the actress – who has checked into rehab on three separate occasions – doesn’t believe her lover is responsible for the changes in her life.

Lindsay said: “People can think what they want. I’m really happy, and that’s all that matters. She’s a really great person.”

“But I think that anything that’s change in my life is because of me.”

“I’ve gone through it and I’ve had to deal with it and I’ve made the decision to move forward. So yeah, she’s a great person.”