New York Daily News

It looks like the wheels have fallen off Jennifer Lopez's planned star vehicle, a flashy film musical version of "Carmen."
Investors can't be found to risk $50 million on the project, even though riding-high "Ray" director Taylor Hackford is at the helm.

"'Carmen' is on its last legs," Hackford admitted Thursday in Italy, where he is attending the Capri, Hollywood International Film Festival.

"Studios are so frightened at the moment that they are looking for outside money," he said. "There is a great deal of fear in Hollywood. Many of the films are not working [at the box office]."

The fictional Carmen, you might recall, is a trampy Spanish dancer who ends up getting filleted by her spurned lover. Hackford thinks that scares off studios who want to keep J.Lo in more family-friendly roles.

"[Carmen] is not a sweet, nice girl. This is a piece about a criminal," says Hackford, whose musical would not have been derived from the famous Georges Bizet opera.

"We want to do a tough, hard version, but Hollywood thinks the audience [for Jennifer Lopez] is 13-year-old girls. ... It has an ending that Hollywood does not like to make."

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From Open All Night:

2005 was a big year for Jennifer Lopez. True, her marriage to Marc Anthony was in 2004, and they managed to stay rather quietly together, so you may have forgotten them a little. But while putting together our year-end wrap-ups, we quickly realized that J. Lo needed her own category.

Jenny from the block embraced her Nuyorican roots in a bigger way, co-opting the "West Side Story" logo for her own use. (We can just see the forthcoming remake with J. Lo as Maria, Colin Farrell as her Irish American lover Tony, and Marc Anthony as her brother Bernardo.)

La Lopez unveiled her luxe clothing line, Sweetface, with her first fashion show in New York in February. In front of that fire escape WSS-themed backdrop paraded skin-revealing clothing dripping with fur, cashmere and diamonds. Naomi Campbell brought the show to a stunning close modeling that ruffley jumpsuit in the photo at left. Clearly, J. Lo was born to design clothing. She and Marc Anthony stole the show at the multi-line Macy’s Passport fashion show benefit in September. Er, their celebrity drew lots of attention, anyway.

But fashion was just a blip on Jennifer’s 2005 schedule. She dropped a new album, "Rebirth", and promoted it with concerts, TV appearances and in-store events. Lopez got all “around the way” at the Wango Tango concert in Anaheim in May, sporting a “F—k It!” t-shirt. Her wild, frizzy hairdo at that concert was perfect for her role of Puchi in "El Cantante", a film she’s currently shooting.

J. Lo opened two movies in 2005, "Monster-in-Law" and "An Unfinished Life". PETA protesters followed the fur-loving diva everywhere. They did some laid-back, California-style picketing at the "Monster-in-Law" premiere in Hollywood, and scared her off the red carpet at the "Unfinished Life" premiere.

J. Lo put on her businesswoman’s hat this year, producing the UPN TV show "South Beach", which debuts January 11, and pitching it to advertisers at the Upfronts in May.

There’s a lot more, but we’re exhausted.

Warning: this video is extremely high quality. If your computer has a slow processor, it will probably be choppy.

Jennifer Lopez Live Commercial - XviD/0:27/37.5MB

Note: this uses the XviD codec! Don't have the XviD codec?

A convicted murderer was arrested yesterday for attempting to extort GBP550,000 ($1 million US) from celebrity couple Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez in exchange for their 2004 wedding video.

Ex-con Tito Moses, 31, and Steven Wortman, 40, were arrested in New York City on Tuesday, following weeks of negotiation with the Latin star's lawyers.

Major Case Squad Inspector Michael Hines tells the New York Post, "They were shocked because they thought they were coming for their payday - and instead, they got the surprise of their lives."

The video of the couple's June 2004 marriage ceremony was on Anthony's laptop computer, which was stolen along with the singer's Cadillac, in New Jersey on 30 October.

Earlier this month, US TV show Access Hollywood received a phone call from Moses, offering the video in exchange for a high price.

From Yahoo News

LONDON (AFP) - Sporting heros like footballer David Beckham topped a list of role models for British teenage boys while girls looked to singers and film stars such as Jennifer Lopez, according to a study.

Business leaders such as US technology tycoon Bill Gates and British entrepreneur Richard Branson were also popular, according to the research by Medical Sciences for a unit of Nationwide Building Society which was released Tuesday.

Overall, the young people quizzed said the one person they would most like to be was:

-- David Beckham

-- Bill Gates/Richard Branson

-- Jennifer Lopez

-- Victoria Beckham, David's wife and former Spice Girl

-- Actress Jennifer Aniston/singer Britney Spears
Of the boys, aged 16-21, 40 percent chose sports stars and 21 percent opted for business leaders.

As for the girls, 35 percent went for musicians and 26 percent chose film stars.

Just nine percent of girls named business figures and five percent opted for sports personalities.

Similarly, only 10 percent of boys singled out musicians and 16 percent cited film stars.

The study asked 1,080 young people aged 16 to 21 last month.

It was conducted for Nationwide's UCB Home Loans.

From Yahoo News

Again, from all of us at JLo.net!

Merry Christmas from everybody at JLo.net!

MADONNA, EMINEM, JENNIFER LOPEZ and BRITNEY SPEARS are among a host of stars who are featured in DAVID LaCHAPELLE's forthcoming photo book ARTISTS AND PROSTITUTES.

Madonna appears as a Hindu goddess, Lopez strikes a pose reminiscent of the classic movie FLASHDANCE, while Eminem has been snapped behind a strategically-placed stick of dynamite.

Hotel heiress PARIS HILTON also appears in the book, wearing a bikini reading 'Eat the Rich', while rap mogul SEAN 'DIDDY' COMBS is shot as he's about to lick a gold-painted woman. Rap stars OUTKAST, meanwhile, are seen climbing through a window into a room with naked women on all fours, reports MTV News.

The limited-edition book - which also includes shots of ALICIA KEYS, CAMERON DIAZ, SARAH JESSICA PARKER, among others - is set to be released in March (06).

Source: Contact Music

Just a heads up: we'll be opening a new contest on January 1st to give away ShopJLO.com gift cards. You'll be able to enter once a DAY from Jan. 1st to Jan. 31st so be sure to come by every day in January.

This contest will open to people of all countries!

The value of the gift cards is going to be announced when we open the contest.

HOLLYWOOD - Jennifer Lopez's claim to live a clean-cut lifestyle has been called into question after she was recently photographed smoking a cigarette.
The Maid in Manhattan actress has spoken about her decision to turn her back on unhealthy vices in a number of interviews.

She has said. "I don't smoke or drink. When I was little, my mother drummed it into me how bad it is for you, and it stuck somehow...

"I envy people who have releases. They just have a drink or a cigarette and they feel better."

But Lopez appears to have nobody to envy anymore—on Dec. 6, after shooting scenes for her movie El Cantante in a New York City graveyard, she was snapped puffing away.

The famous anti-smoker, who famously forced ex-fiancée Ben Affleck to give up his bad habit, seemed to be sneaking a cigarette when she was caught on camera by eagle-eyed fans, who have sold pictures of the puffing diva to America's top tabloids.

But the actress/singer's publicists insist Lopez hasn't started smoking—she’s just getting used to the herbal cigarettes her character has to smoke in the biopic of Hector Lavoe, which also stars her husband Marc Anthony.

A spokesman for Lopez insists, "It's not a real cigarette; it's a prop."

From Hollywood.com

JENNIFER LOPEZ's choice of hairstyle for April's (05) Billboard Latin Music Awards has been crowned the biggest hair trauma of the year.

The LOVE DON'T COST A THING star's coif for the star-studded event has apparently turned heads for the all the wrong reasons, with stylist ALLEN EDWARDS joining those critical of the hairstyle which put her on top of In Touch Weekly's poll.

Edwards says, "Is that Jennifer Lopez or STAR WARS' QUEEN AMIDALA? She looks better in her movies when she's playing regular women, with her hair down, wavy and soft."

Lopez's title put her ahead of PINK, PARIS HILTON and KELLY OSBOURNE.

The top 10 is as follows:

1. JENNIFER LOPEZ

2. KELLY OSBOURNE

3. HELENA BONHAM CARTER

4. SHARON STONE

5. FERGIE

6. PINK

7. PARIS HILTON

8. PAMELA ANDERSON

9. CHRISTINA AGUILERA

10. REBA McENTIRE.

From Contact Music

JENNIFER LOPEZ has sent her ex-fiance BEN AFFLECK and his wife JENNIFER GARNER a gift basket to celebrate the birth of their baby daughter.

DAREDEVIL co-stars Affleck and Garner welcomed VIOLET into the world on 1 December (05), and have been flooded with well wishes from loved ones ever since.

And Lopez, who went on to wed MARC ANTHONY after splitting from her GIGLI co-star Affleck last year (04), has also stepped in to congratulate the couple.

A pal of Lopez, who has often expressed a desire to become a mother, says, "She'll always have a special place in her heart for Ben."

Source: Contact Music

Scots namesakes are stars in their own right
By Brian Mciver
The Daily Record

THEIR passports always get a second look and every taxi booking takes twice as long. Hairdresser Hugh Grant and office worker Jennifer Lopez are cursed by having the same name as two of the most famous people on the planet.

But after years of suffering wisecracks the put-upon Scots are getting their own back by appearing in a series of adverts poking fun at their celebrity alter egos.

The Scottish Hugh Grant, 39, from Eyemouth, near Berwickshire, attempted to launch his own career in acting as a teenager, but is now enjoying backhanded fame thanks to the foppish English star.

But the 28-year-old Scots J-Lo is sick of being asked if her "bum looks big in this" and dislikes the films and music of her namesake.

Both Scots star in a series of international adverts for the E! Entertainment Channel, just launched in cinemas and on British and American TV, re-enacting a stereotypical moment from the celebrity's life, and are also featured on posters posing next to stills of their other halves.

And both said they are delighted to finally get a small taste of the superstar treatment, after years of seeing their names in lights.

Jennifer, of Glasgow, said: "It was amazing to film the advert. It went in really quickly because it's just a short spot, but it was great fun getting all the hair and make-up and pretending to be a star for a day.

"It makes a change from just having a famous name."

It's astonishing to think their names were both relatively innocuous 10 years ago.

[...]

Jennifer Lopez always had an unusual name for a girl growing up in Glasgow (the exotic surname comes from her Spanish-born father) but it's in the last five years that it has really started turning heads.

When the New York diva followed her hit film Out Of Sight by launching her pop career, the friendly and bubbly office worker started getting double takes.

She said: "Everyone always says the same thing: 'Does my bum look big in this?' "It can be a real pain when you phone the bank or a taxi and always have to explain.

"I've also had some people hang up on me because they think I'm making fun of them or giving a made-up name.

"When I go to the doctor or the dentist I've asked them to start asking for 'Miss Lopez', but even that gets people's attention and they will always ask me my first name.

"I also get a lot of second looks at my passport - I'm planning to go to New York next year so that should be fun going through customs there. But most people are really nice about it and say they think it's great and I'm lucky, which is always really nice to hear.

"I do get approached all the time by TV companies wanting me to do quiz shows and other programmes, but I'm a bit shy.

"When they contacted me about the adverts, though, I thought it was such a good idea that I had to give it a try."

She continued: "The funny thing is I don't really like her films or think she's much of an actress. The first time I spotted her name I was really surprised, and when she became a pop star everyone started talking about it."

In her advert Jennifer is in a yoga class with a pal, wearing tight tracksuit bottoms, and asks a pal if her bum looks big in them.
___
Read the entire article (the rest is Hugh Grant-related) here.

Hollywood couple JENNIFER LOPEZ and MARC ANTHONY were forced to flee the New York set of their new movie EL CANTANTE after a fire broke out close to their trailers.

The couple, who have been filming the HECTOR LAVOE biopic together since the beginning of the week (beg05DEC05), were briefly evacuated from the set yesterday (06DEC05) after an electrical fire broke out underground - beneath Lopez's trailer.

Filming wasn't affected as it was taking place elsewhere. Later in the day, Lopez returned to her trailer to expect the damage.

Firefighters had managed to contain the fire underground.

Source: ContactMusic

Multiple copies of an exclusive 2006 calendar featuring photographs of scantily clad stars including JENNIFER LOPEZ and KATE MOSS have been leaked for sale on auction website eBay.

Staff at tyre maker Pirelli, the firm behind the VIP calendar, are selling the limited edition item online in order to make some extra cash.

The calendars are collector's items as only 35,000 are printed, and they are reserved for employees, VIPs and elite clients. None are sold to the public.

But the tyre firm is disappointed in its cash-hungry workers.

A spokesman says, "There's nothing to stop employees selling their calendars but it's not something we are totally happy about.

"People are given them as gifts and we hope they would keep them."

The limited edition souvenir has a staggering reserve price of $1700 (GBP1000).

Source: Contact Music

Jennifer Lopez has bought a new dog - a huge German Shepherd.

While many celebrities opt for miniature mutts, the Latin diva is said to be smitten with her new four-legged friend.

A source, who spotted the star sharing a car with her pet pooch, told Britain's Daily Mirror newspaper: "Jennifer looked very squashed in the back with hubby Marc Anthony and the huge dog.

"But she didn't seem to mind. In fact, she looked quite cosy."

Earlier this year, it was revealed the stunning brunette is set to design an entire new fashion range - for animals.

The Latin beauty - who launched her own fashion range, Sweetface, for women earlier this year - has now turned her hand to a new range of accessories for pampered pets.

A source said at the time: "Jennifer thought it would be fun and unusual to extend the range of accessories to animals."

from UK-Flava

TOP Hollywood manager Jeff Kwatinetz needs to keep a better eye on his schedule.
The head of The Firm, the talent management company that lost a bundle of A-list stars this past year, set up two meetings with his client Jennifer Lopez, and failed to show both times without explanation.

The missed appointments happened the week of Sept. 5, the same week Lopez's movie "An Unfinished Life" premiered.

A source told PAGE SIX: "She was in town for her premiere. Jeff set up a couple of meetings, and as a favor to Jeff she took the meetings. She shows up at the first meeting and waits. He never shows. At some point J-Lo said as a joke, 'OK, so I guess I will lead the meeting. What are you proposing?' "

Kwatinetz rescheduled the meeting for another day — and once again failed to show up. He never explained why he missed the appointments, our source said.

Firm spokesman Mark Pollock said he could not say whether or not a meeting was missed because Kwatinetz was traveling. But he said: "There are eight hours of meetings a day and meetings get missed sometimes. The important thing is that there is no problem between Jeff and Jennifer Lopez. This sounds like somebody trying to drive a wedge between them for their own reasons." [...]

Meanwhile, the irked Lopez is still sticking by Kwatinetz, at least for now. "He is technically her manager but only gets commission off of the deals he sets up for her," the insider said.

"So far, he has done nothing for her, so he has earned no commission from her. It costs her nothing to keep him on and is no skin off of her nose."

From Yahoo News