The Access Entertainment Week In Review

Your Handy Guide to the Big Stories of the Week (September 9, 2007)

HALLE’S HAPPY NEWS: Halle Berry revealed that she is pregnant with boyfriend Gabriel Aubry’s baby on Tuesday, when she sent an email to Access Hollywood‘s own Nancy O’Dell!

“Yes, I am three months pregnant! Gabriel and I are beyond excited, and I’ve waited a long time for this moment in life. Now the next seven months will be the longest of my life!” she wrote to Nancy, who gave birth to her daughter, Ashby, in June.

The next day, Halle proudly showed off her baby bump as she walked in Los Angeles with a friend, hitting the maternity specialty boutique, Babystyle.

FATHER & CHILD REUNION: Lindsay Lohan’s estranged father, Michael, flew to Utah Wednesday night to visit Lindsay at the Cirque Lodge treatment center, where she has been since August 3.

After spending time together on Thursday, Michael told Access Hollywood that he and Lindsay “had a wonderful reunion.”

Michael, who served nearly two years in New York State Prison for driving while intoxicated and other charges, has publicly yearned to reunite with Lindsay since his release in March. She had not seen her father since before he went to prison, sources told Access.

PITT’S PARENTING PARADOX: Brad Pitt spoke of the ups and downs of fatherhood this week, saying,“It’s the most fun I have ever had and also the biggest pain in the ass I have ever experienced.” Brad shares one biological child and three adopted children with partner Angelina Jolie, and when asked at the Venice Film Festival if they were ready for a fifth child, Brad replied, “Yeah, we’re ready.”

Brad talked parenting some more in an interview with Details magazine, as well as the effects aging has had on his life (and body). Another topic he discussed was the “Paris Hilton quest for fame,” referring to the heiress as “blissfully oblivious.”

As for his ex-wife, Jennifer Aniston, Brad told V magazine that they “still maintain a deep friendship and have a lot of life together that isn’t erased in any way,” and spoke of the questions they faced together when deciding if they should end their relationship.

Brad wasn’t the only member of the Pitt-Jolie clan to make headlines this week, as six-year-old Maddox attended a private school in Manhattan where lessons are taught in French!

WHOOPI MAKES WAVES: “The View” returned this week with the debut of its new co-host, Whoopi Goldberg. Controversy erupted on Whoopi’s first day, however, when she commented on the Michael Vick dog fighting case during the “hot topics” portion of the show. Goldberg said that in the “Deep South” culture he came from, dog fighting was not such an unusual practice, and indicated that perhaps he didn’t realize he was taking part in something that “the entire country didn’t appreciate.”

The next day, Whoopi clarified that she was never defending Vick’s actions, nor was she “condoning” what he did. She said the media had misunderstood her, joking that they had her “eating dogs” and “swingin’ `em by the tail.”

As for the other new co-host joining “The View,” an official announcement will be made on Monday. However, the Associated Press reported this past Thursday that the seat will go to frequent guest host Sherri Shepherd, according to person close to the show who spoke on condition of anonymity.

PRIVATE BECOMES PUBLIC: Earlier this week, a nude photograph of a woman who looked like brunette “High School Musical” star Vanessa Hudgens popped up online. On Thursday, Hudgens’ rep confirmed that it was indeed the 18-year-old star in the photo.

“This was a photo which was taken privately,” a statement from Hudgens’ rep read. “It is a personal matter and it is unfortunate that this has become public.”

On Friday, Hudgens released a statement apologizing to her fans:

“I want to apologize to my fans, whose support and trust means the world to me. I am embarrassed over this situation and regret having ever taken these photos. I am thankful for the support of my family and friends.”

BRITNEY’S CONFIRMATION: Having just spent time in Las Vegas at the end of last week for the opening of the LAX nightclub, Britney was confirmed to be returning to Sin City for tonight’s MTV Video Music Awards after weeks of rumor and speculation.

“Celebrating her long awaited comeback to her fans, Spears will be performing LIVE her new song ‘Gimme More’ from her highly anticipated new album due on November 13,” MTV revealed in a statement on Thursday.

Earlier this week, USA Today reported Britney would perform two songs at the show –“Cry” and “Gimme More,” which made its radio debut last week.

In other Britney news, it was reported this week that she may be off the hook with child welfare services following a complaint made by an unknown party. “It does not appear the county will pursue any action at this time,” People quoted Spears’ lawyer, Laura Wasser, as saying at a recent custody hearing over Britney and Kevin Federline’s two children, Sean Preston and Jayden James. The Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services had no comment on the case, according to People.

A bodyguard for Spears, Julio Camera, was charged with misdemeanor battery in Las Vegas this week. The charge stemmed from his involvement in an alleged scuffle between him and two men trying to photograph Spears and her sons at the Wynn Las Vegas hotel casino in July. Camera was accused of pushing one of the men against the wall in the fracas and grabbing and punching the other.

COSBY’S NEW ANNA NICOLE SMITH BOOK: It was a big week for Rita Cosby, who dropped her book, “Blonde Ambition: The Untold Story Behind Anna Nicole Smith’s Death,” Tuesday.

The release caused a wave of controversy prompting Larry Birkhead, the father of Smith’s daughter Dannielynn, to appear on to deny claims from the manuscript. Though he remained out of sight, Smith’s longtime companion, Howard K. Stern, also denied allegations in Cosby’s book through his reps.

Cosby told Access, including Jackie Hatten afriend of the late Playmate’s. By the end of the week, the story took a new focus, when Hatten’s jailed brother, filed a and several other parties, including a Superior Court Judge.

Things took a happier turn however on Saturday, when the Birkhead family celebrated Dannielynn’s birthday with a big bash in Kentucky.

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