ROLL CALL: Mariah, Jen, Vince &… Vanilla Ice?

Your Daily Dispatch of Celebrity Shenanigans by Tommy Vergason

February 13, 2007

LARRY BIRKHEAD SPEAKS UP: The ex-boyfriend of Anna Nicole Smith, Larry Birkhead, who claims to be the biological father of Anna’s daughter Dannielynn, opens up to THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS about his struggle to save Anna Nicole from herself. His insistence that she get away from a lifestyle that included drug use is what eventually led to their separation, according to the article. Birkhead also claims in the piece that he and Anna Nicole had meticulously planned for Dannielynn’s birth before the separation occurred.

LIVING WITH GHOSTS: While talk and remembrance of Marilyn Monroe has been rampant lately, it’s been primarily due to the perceived parallels between her and recently departed Anna Nicole Smith. However, another Hollywood star is bringing memories of Marilyn back in an entirely different way: by purchasing one of her homes. US WEEKLY reports that Lindsay Lohan has bought Marilyn’s 2-bedroom ground-floor apartment in the West Hollywood El Palacio Apartments. Lindsay has reportedly expressed a fondness for all things Marilyn in the past, but US claims this new purchase has some worried. Although Ms. Monroe lived there long before her death, two other Hollywood bombshells actually passed away there: heiress Georgette Bauerdorf was found strangled and face-down in the apartment’s bathtub in 1944, and actress Dorothy Dandridge allegedly committed suicide there in 1965.

MARIAH’S CLASS STRUGGLE: In other potentially spooky news, Mariah Carey is trying her hand at acting again. The NEW YORK POST’s Liz Smith shares news that Mariah is down in Tennessee filming a movie with Bernie Mac and producer Lee Daniels (of “Monster’s Ball” fame). According to Smith, the movie is being made on a “shoestring budget,” which prompted the producers to request that Mariah fly to the shoot location in economy class. While Liz admits that no one would really expect Mariah to comply, she happily reports that the pop diva did just that. But there’s a twist: Mariah allegedly bought out the entire coach section of the plane and had it all entirely to herself.

SHARON SHARES: While Mariah is spending lots of money, another celebrity is trying to raise some. Sharon Osbourne, of “The Osbournes” fame, held a tag sale for some personal belongings at a West Hollywood storefront this weekend, according to E! ONLINE. Racks of used and never-worn designer clothes were the hot items, and Sharon reportedly made some good money with the sale. The good lady didn’t keep all of that dough for herself, though — the ten-dollar entrance fee charged to shoppers apparently went straight to Sharon’s personal charity: The Sharon Osbourne Colon Cancer Program at L.A.‘s Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL?: Money, money money. Who doesn’t love it? Well, at this time of year, with filing taxes looming over everyone’s heads, money can feel like a burden. Luckily, Vanilla Ice is here to help you ease the pain. The rapper has reportedly been hired by TurboTax.com to host an online competition entitled “The Tax Rap Contest,” says the NEW YORK POST’s PAGE SIX. The contest encourages users to write songs designed to “get their tax on,’ according to a TurboTax representative. At stake is a $25,000 prize. Mr. Ice has attempted to get people excited about taxes by putting an original music video “inspired by his own personal tax-filing experiences” on YouTube, says PAGE SIX. So don’t be frustrated by doing your taxes — If you got a problem, yo – he’ll solve it!

HE’LL BE THERE FOR HER: Remaining friends apparently hasn’t been a problem for Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Aniston. Even though they broke up in December, Vince showed up at Jen’s birthday bash this Saturday, PEOPLE reports. The party for the 38 year-old Aniston was held at her best friend Courteney Cox‘s Beverly Hills home. Other guests included Sandra Oh, David Spade, Patricia Arquette and Kathy Najimy. Vince stayed at the party for about two hours, according to PEOPLE.

“CRAZY” LOVE?: E! ONLINE’s Marc Malkin breaks down the scoop on some other confirmed (and rumored) celebrity pairings from various Grammy-related events this past weekend. According to Malkin: Carrie Underwood, despite being alone on the red carpet, was joined by her boyfriend, British singer Oliver Trevena, at the SonyBMG after-party at the Beverly Hills Hotel, where the Grammy-winning songstress apparently hand-fed him waffles. James Blunt was with his rumored girlfriend Petra Nemkova at both the Verizon Wireless party at Avalon on Friday night and the Warner Music Group?s post-Grammy party at the Cathedral in downtown LA. Ashlee Simpson and reported ex, Pete Wentz (of Fall Out Boy), were seen together at the SonyBMG party, fueling rumors of a reconciliation for the former rumored couple. Paris Hilton was also seen out and about with a reported ex-boyfriend, Stavros Nachios, who followed the heiress everywhere she went like an “obedient puppy,” according to Malkin. And, finally, Malkin reports on the hottest celebrity couple of all: Al Gore and wife Tipper Gore. The two lovebirds stopped by the Universal bash at the Palm Lounge, and were later seen at the Warner Music party, where they took to the dance floor for a choir-sung rendition of Gnarls Barkley‘s “Crazy.”