Bonnie Fuller, the former editor of Us Weekly and Star magazines says:

“She’s scary smart. But smart only takes you so far. She also has an amazing knack, perhaps more than any other star, for knowing how to shape a public image.”

Jolie expertly cultivates relationships with friendly reporters and even sets up her own photo shoots for the paparazzi. Most skillfully, she dictates terms to celebrity magazines involving their coverage of her and her family, editors say, creating an awkward situation for publications that try to abide by strict journalistic standards.

Contrast that with Jennifer Lopez, who sold pictures of her twins to People for an estimated $6 million in February, but has a team of eight to help her navigate such situations. Jolie on the other hand, used her cellphone, a lawyer and Mr. Kosinski (and, of course, the counsel of her partner, Brad Pitt) to negotiate with People and other celebrity magazines this summer for photos of their newborn twins and an interview. Jolie was supposedly even seeking more than the estimated $14 million they received from the deal but no one would say she did badly. They also supposedly negotiated a hefty slice of journalistic input — a promise that the winning magazine’s coverage would be positive, not merely in that instance but into the future, as part of the deal.

The winner with the deep pockets was People. The resulting package in its Aug. 18 issue — the magazine’s best-selling in seven years — was a publicity coup for Jolie. In the People interview, there was no use of the word “Brangelina,” the tabloid amalgamation of their names, which irks the couple but plenty of positive questions about her and Pitt’s charity work.  Likely future stories on “Brangelina,” will be People friendly in the future?

Through a spokeswoman, People magazine, which is owned by Time Inc., released a statement denying that any conditions were placed on coverage. “These claims are categorically false,” the statement said. “Like any news organization, People does purchase photos, but the magazine does not determine editorial content based on the demands of outside parties.”

Well I am inclined not to buy that denial, but in the otherhand People Magazine is such a wet noodle in how they report celebrity news, it wasn’t exactly like they would have asked tough questions anyway.

Another interesting facet of this story is how Jolie maneuvers the media to distract and shift the focus. An example used is when she became romantically involved with Pitt. Faced a public relations crisis as being portrayed in the tabloid press as a predator who stole Brad from his wife, Jennifer Aniston, Jolie used her charity work to help turn the story. Jolie appeared in Pakistan, where she visited camps housing Afghan refugees, and even met with President Pervez Musharraf. Ms. Jolie and Mr. Pitt made a subsequent trip to Kashmir to bring attention to earthquake victims. Said Michael Levine, a celebrity publicist and author:

“Presto, they come out looking like serious people who have transformed a silly press obsession into a sincere attempt to help the needy.”

Granted the story is pretty cynical but it confirms some of my suspicions about Jolie’s manipulative side and the journalistic lack of integrity surrounding a lot of celebrity reporting.  Take a look at the entire article here.

“I really, really want to focus on the music and, you know, kind of be taken seriously a little bit,” she explained.

Hough, and celebrity partner Cody Linley, were elminated from ABC’s hit dance competition reality show earlier this week. She also performed one of the songs from her holiday album on Tuesday night.

Hough, who has been romantically linked to country singer Chuck Wicks, told Seacrest: “It’s kind of hard to be on ‘Dancing with the Stars,’ and do singing,” And “music is where I wanna be.”

Hough, 20, has already released a pair of albums this year, the first was earlier this year, a country music CD titled “That Song in My Head.” The most recent, “Sounds of the Season,” was a holiday album that hit stores in October.

Source

Photo: Axl Rose of Guns ‘n’ Roses performs in concert at the Ritz on February 2, 1988 in New York City

E!Online has confirmation that ABC has canceled Pushing Daisies, and according to their inside sources, Eli Stone and Dirty Sexy Money also have been canned. Sources who work on Eli and DSM say they were informed today the shows would not continue. However reps for both shows have declined to comment.

Pushing Daisies, executive producer Bryan Fuller,tells that: “It’s very likely that Pushing Daisies will end after episode 13, which as you know, is a cliffhanger. But we are talking to DC Comics about doing comic books that will wrap up our storylines, and I already have a pitch for a [big-screen] movie ready to go.”

As reported by the Hollywood Reporter, the ratings for last night’s “Oh, Oh, Oh, It’s Magic” episode were the series’ worst ever numbers in the key 18-49 demographic.

“To be honest,” Fuller tells me, “I’m really not feeling very boo hoo about it. I am so proud of the show. We put together 22 really good episodes, and there is a lot to be proud of. I’m sure I’ll be working with a lot of these people again, and I would love to do so.”

ABC intends to air the remaining Daisies episodes that have been shot, either in the current Wednesday at 8 p.m. timeslot or in another spot.

Shame to see all these shows go!

Ashlee Simpson-Wentz 24, finally delivered her baby last night a son. Husband Pete Wentz 29, and Ashlee have continued the Hollywood tradition of strange names and gone with ‘Bronx Mowgli Wentz’ for their son who weighed in at 7 lbs., 11 oz., and was 20 1/2 inches long. A spokesperson tells PEOPLE:

“Ashlee, Pete and baby Bronx are all healthy and happy, and thank everyone for their well wishes!”

No word yet on whether it was a natural child birth or not.

Speculation on Ashlee being  pregnant  and jokes about a shot gun wedding were rampant until Pete (the Fall Out Boy bassist),  announced her pregnancy in May, a few weeks after their opulent Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland-themed wedding.

Both Pete and Ashlee have indicated they would like to have a large family some day. Wentz also has another kind of baby on the way: Fall Out Boy’s third album, Folie A Deux, will be released on Dec. 16. Congratulations to the Simpson-Wentz families!

Celeb Warship finds Lily Allen Does ‘Nylon’

Bitten and Bound looks at Jennifer Aniston Covers The New York Times Magazine (PHOTO)

Bricks and Stones finds Madonna attends the launch of the Tattoo Heart Collection to Benefit UNICEF dinner wearing a grass dress?

Anything Hollywood reports John Mayer Meets Jennifer Aniston’s Parents

Best Celeb Gossip  wonders Is Kate Hudson a Stalker?

Celebrity Dirty Laundry proclaims Hugh Jackman - Sexiest Man Alive!

Celebrity Fashion Watcher covers Newspaper Critic Says “Kidman is Exquisitely Accomplished At Being Awful”

Celebrity Baby Scoop shares Reese Witherspoon On What Matters Most

Celebrity Gossip Show notices Sienna Miller and Josh Hartnett rekindle a romance likely going nowhere

With Tom Cruise out of town doing his own thing, Katie Holmes and daughter Suri Cruise ventured out for a little mother/daughter bonding time in New York City on Thursday (November 20).

After finishing up with their errands, the Cruise ladies ventured back to their apartment, with Katie dropping off Suri and changing clothes before heading to the Gerald Schoenfeld Theater for an evening of “All My Sons”.

While her twin sister is busy partying it up overseas at the Atlantis hotel in Dubai, Ashley Olsen was spotted hitting up the New York City party circuit on Thursday night (November 20).

Wearing a black robe-like ensemble, the twin mogul helped MANGO celebrate the relaunch of their Soho flagship store alongside company President Isak Andic, as well as Penelope Cruz’s MANGO designer sister Monica Cruz.

With her assistant and bodyguard by her side, Britney Spears was spotted stopping buy Starbucks in Encino for a refreshing iced coffee drink on Friday afternoon (November 20).

Continuing to put in the hard work as she approaches her big comeback/CD release next month, the “Gimme More” singer can soon be seen like never before in a 90-minute documentary airing on MTV this Sunday (November 30).

With “High School Musical 3” behind him, Zac Efron was spotted toting a few scripts in hand as he left Walt Disney Studios in Burbank on Thursday afternoon (November 20).

Wearing a collared buttondown shirt with jeans and sneakers, the 21-year-old Disney hunk seems to be mulling over his options as far as his next theatrical move is concerned - with rumors of a possible role in a “Pirates of the Caribbean” sequel, as well as another “High School Musical” - if the money’s right.