Where can you find detectives, former beauty queens and professional baseball coaches all in the same place?

On season 16 of The Amazing Race.

This CBS juggernaut continues to chug along, as it will premiere a new edition on February 16. Its full cast list was revealed this week and we’ve got the skinny on each participant below:

• Girlfriend/boyfriend: Caite Upton, model/actress; Brent Horne, model/advertising
• Colleagues: Louis Stravato, undercover detective; Michael Naylor, undercover detective
• Father/Daughter: Steve Smith, professional baseball coach/World Series champion coach; Allie Smith, marketing
• Newly dating: Jeff Schroeder, salesman; Jordan Lloyd, receptionist

• Pals: Monique Pryor, attorney; Shawne Morgan, attorney
• Siblings: Jet McCoy, cowboy; Cord McCoy, professional bull rider
• Married: Adrian Davis, medical sales; Dana Davis, marketing manager
• Grandmother/Granddaughter: Jody Kelly, personal trainer; Shannon Foster, health-care outreach contract/analyst
• Girlfriend/boyfriend: Carol Rosenfeld, consultant; Brandy Snow, actress and voice-over artist
• Siblings: Dan Pious, financial adviser; Jordan Pious, strategic consultant
• Married: Joe Wang, software salesman; Heidi Wang, stay-at-home mom

* Of note: Yes, that’s the same Caite Upton that was named Miss Teen South Carolina in 2008.

And, yes, that’s the same Jeff and Jordan that were housemates on a season of Big Brother.

Filed under: Reality TV
by Hilton Hater
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With the names of this season’s American Idol finalists having been leaked, THG is aiming to feature all 24 of the top contestants in various posts, articles and videos for our readers.

That’s just how we roll.

For aspiring singers with an interesting backstory and a lot of known information available, such as Jermaine Sellers, this isn’t a difficult task.

For others, such as Andrew Garcia, only the bare essentials are out there. This, of course, is what makes American Idol such a delight: it thrusts heretofore anonymous, aspiring artists into the spotlight and makes them into stars.

Might Garcia be next?  He’s part of a band called The Adrian William Project; he hails from Moreno Valley, California; and he has son named Caeland. He’s also off to Hollywood.

Below, Andrew covers the Adele single “Chasing Pavement.” Think he’s got what it takes to go far on season nine?

Filed under: American Idol - Andrew Garcia
by Hilton Hater
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The former aide who helped John Edwards cover up his affair and love child with Rielle Hunter is dismissing his former boss’ long-overdue confession yesterday as mere “empty words” that are nothing more than a desperate PR campaign.

Andrew Young is lashing out at the two-time presidential candidate in an exclusive interview with ABC News hours after the former Senator released a statement Thursday admitting he is the father of mistress Rielle’s two-year-old daughter.

“I think those were words, empty words,” Young said. “If that is what he wanted to say, he should have said it two years ago. I think it’s just a PR campaign.”

Edwards’ confession comes two weeks before a book by Young, called The Politician, will be released – and will detail his account of the Edwards sex scandal.

Family friend and lawyer Harrison Hickman responded that Edwards waited to admit paternity until arrangements for child support were finalized. Puh. Lease.

Young claims Edwards proposed an elaborate cover-up – faking a paternity test – in a failed attempt to conceal that he fathered a baby with Rielle Hunter.

It was Young, of course, who initially tried to protect his boss’ reputation and political career by publicly stating that he was the father of Hunter’s infant.

Rielle Hunter did not dispute this, and the story died down … until Edwards was busted visiting her in an L.A. hotel. Then the heat was on him tenfold.

“The senator made the full pitch,” Young said. “Not just for me. I mean he didn’t just have to convince me that I was going to take paternity.”

“He also had to convince Rielle to publicly claim I was the father.”

Young said Edwards asked him to steal one of his daughter’s soiled diapers in a strategy to confirm he was the dad, then get a doctor to fake DNA results.

The aide ignored the request, but says it speaks volumes about the man Edwards is, and the lengths to which he would go to perpetuate his double life.

Rielle Hunter with John Edwards’ love child, Frances Quinn.

Edwards admitted matter-of-factly in his Thursday statement that “I am Quinn’s father” and said it was “wrong” to ever deny he was the father of the infant.

Landing in Haiti to work on earthquake relief with actor Sean Penn, Edwards told reporters, “I’ve said what I have to say for now. I’m here to help people.”

As for scorned wife Elizabeth, she did not answer questions about their marital status and would not speculate on where she and John will go in the future.

“If somebody has a crystal ball, they can let me know,” said Edwards, who is still fighting cancer. “My marriage shouldn’t be on anybody’s radar except mine.”

Filed under: John Edwards - Rielle Hunter
by Free Britney
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All good things must come to an end. So, too, must the first season of Jersey Shore, and The Hollywood Gossip has all the action recapped below as only we can.

Last night’s ninth and final episode of the MTV hit’s inaugural run was somewhat subdued and sentimental (seriously), which wasn’t a bad thing. Let’s get to it:

Pauly D’s girl says the gang is “acting like Israelis.” Vinny’s reply: “Israelis are like [machine gun noises, gestures].” Equal opportunity stereotypes! Minus 3.

Vinny, Pauly D, and Mike head out for some male bonding. Plus 4, because this surprisingly normal behavior makes them actually look like chill dudes. Almost.

Sammi bails Ronnie out of jail after his latest fight. They hug. He says he’s not sorry he hit the guy, only that he got caught, blah, blah, we’re bored. Minus 5.

Upset over guys, Snooki decides to dance away the pain. Solo. In broad daylight. People stare as if this were the first Oompa Loompa in a white, leopard print mini dress they’ve ever seen break it down in front of a camera crew. Plus 6.

One-woman dance party. Snooki stizzyle.

Pauly D: “We stayed boys throughout this whole thing. This bond that we shared brings us together and no one can ever take that away from us, ever. Like, we take that with us for life, this bond … That was deep.” It sure was. Plus 4.

Sammi and Ronnie go out on a date, “somewhere out of Seaside … getting away from it all.” In Belmar, an even trashier location 17 miles up the coast. Minus 3.

The pair toasts each other and their future, post-Shore. Actually kinda sweet. Plus 2.

Poor Snooki whines about guys some more. Geez, give it a rest, girlfriend, Minus 7.

We learned last night that Vinny thinks Pauly D is “ridiculously, ridiculously good looking.” Pauly D’s look to the camera said it all. He’s the ultimate guido! Plus 9.

Snooki and The Situation go hot-tubbing. We’re scared for what’s coming. Minus 5.

The Situation and Snooki suck face. We’re as grossed out as you.

Revolting as watching Snooki maul The Situation might seem, he was actually being genuinely nice to her, before, during after making out. Plus 6 for his sensitive side.

Mike: “Next thing you know, Snooks’ clothes just started coming off!” No no no no no. Fortunately, he puts a stop to it, because they’re like siblings, so only Minus 3.

Cue season-ending montage:. Fights. Hook-ups. Pickles. Abs. Fights. Hair spray. Fist-pumping. Fights. Hot tub action. Arrests. Laughs. Fights. The Situation. Plus 5.

TOTAL: +10! SEASON: +56! We’re ready for a break from the Shore, but we also can’t want for it to return. Follow the link for a full season of Jersey Shore quotes!

Filed under: Jenni Farley - Jersey Shore - Mike Sorrentino - Nicole Polizzi - Pauly D - Ronnie Magro - Sammi Giancola
by Free Britney
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Excuse us, Kanye. We’re gonna let you wear that outfit, but we just have to say:

Fur is one of the all-time worst things you can wear. One of the all-time worst!

The rapper and weird girlfriend Amber Rose have ignored the pleas of naked, D-list celebrities everywhere and continued to don their animal-murdering coats.

Earlier this week, they were spotted in these outfits at the Louis Vutton fashion show in Paris. The killing of God’s creatures aside, the attire simply looks ridiculous, doesn’t it? Chime in with your take below…

What do you think of Kanye and Amber’s coats?

Filed under: Amber Rose - Kanye West
by Hilton Hater
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Single mom Bristol Palin wants her baby daddy to support their kid.

Specifically, that means she is angling for some of the money generated by the recent Levi Johnston nude Playgirl photos and subsequent media blitz.

Court documents filed by Bristol’s lawyer Wednesday in Alaska demand $1,750 a month from Levi – retroactive to the birth of son Tripp on December 27, 2008.

According to the filing, Bristol Palin believes Levi pulled in “in excess of $105,000 in 2009 through various media interviews and modeling related activities.”

In other words, peeps paid Levi Johnston to get naked! That’s what he does.

Levi Johnston and Bristol Palin in happier, fake-engaged times.

Bristol says in a statement, “I have received limited and sporadic financial assistance from Levi.” Bristol says Levi forked over only $4,400 over the 13 months of Tripp’s existence – $3,000 on September 9, 2009, $1,400 on December 19.

Pretty weak, dude. Way to support your kid.

Bristol Palin is seeking temporary support for lil’ Tripp, pending permanent child support. In the meantime, maybe hit up mom Sarah for some book royalties?

Filed under: Bristol Palin - Levi Johnston
by Free Britney
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Mischa Barton has really fallen on hard times these days. Pretty soon, that hooker outfit she donned for Law & Order: SVU may be her actual working attire.

Okay, we’re exaggerating a little there. But a landlord really is saying the star is refusing to pay rent on her $7,000-a-month apartment in New York City.

Landlord M.R.A. Realties Inc. says in a lawsuit that Barton rebuffed efforts to collect the last three months’ worth of rent in her Tribeca neighborhood pad.

The skinny actress’ representatives had no immediate response. The landlord wants Barton to pay rent as well as legal fees incurred during the proceedings.

Mischa Barton has issues. Financial, not just mental!

The 23-year-old Barton also lives in Los Angeles. The lawsuit filed Thursday says that her one-year lease on the Manhattan apartment began in September 2009.

At the time, she was in The Beautiful Life, a CW series about the New York modeling world. The show was canceled in September after airing just two episodes.

Barton rose to fame playing Marissa Cooper on Fox’s teen drama The OC. She’s been looking extremely healthy and lucid ever since. Actually, quite the opposite.

Filed under: Mischa Barton
by Free Britney
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Just how much does Joe Fiore support stepdaughter Brooke Mueller? So much that he’s willing to tell the world about her problems in exchange (we presume) for wads of cash.

Fiore, who married Mueller’s mother six years ago, spoke to Radar Online this week about the Christmas Eve altercation between Brooke and Charlie Sheen. He stands by most accounts of what happened:

“That incident in Aspen was a scary thing,” Fiore said. “It does not happen a lot, but it was true, she was definitely attacked, that is not made up, there was no reason for any of that to be made up… Everything was just like it was in the police report.”

Despite acknowledging the alleged threats Sheen made toward Mueller, Fiore said he fully supports his son-in-law. Referring to this weekend’s SAG Awards, he said:

“I hope he wins, not because he’s my son-in-law, but because I think he’s great and all the same people win and Charlie should have won a long time ago [for Two and A Half Men].”

Concluding this relatively pointless interview, Fiore confirmed Brooke and Charlie’s children are safe and spoke on the couple’s possible future together:

“It really is up to [them]; you can’t get in their head. I would like to see what ever they want. If they’re both in love with each other and positive and they want to work it out that’s great. We support them.”

For now, Mueller has other things to worry about: she’s recovering from an infection and a bout of pneumonia, following wisdom tooth surgery this week. We wish her well.

Filed under: Brooke Mueller - Charlie Sheen
by Hilton Hater
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Robert Pattinson is a busy man.

When the actor isn’t ducking for cover from nosy paparazzi, he’s signing on for new movie roles left and right. In March, Remember Me will premiere. In June, Eclipse hits theaters and, in the near future, R. Patt will get started on Breaking Dawn.

What might 2011 hold for the actor? He’s reportedly in the running for a major role opposite Oscar winners Sean Penn and Reese Witherspoon.

According to industry newsletter Variety, Pattinson might star in Water for Elephants, a big screen adaption of Sara Gruen’s best-selling book.

The story is set during the Great Depression. It focuses on a Cornell University student who ditches school behind after his parents are killed, and joins up with the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth.

Might Pattinson actually play this key character, who works as vet for the circus? That’s the rumor.

As for where you can find Robert in the immediate future: turn on your TV tonight. He’s making an appearance on the celebrity-themed Hope for Haiti telethon.

Filed under: Robert Pattinson
by Hilton Hater
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Heidi Montag’s mom Darlene is livid with her plastic surgery-obsessed daughter.

When Heidi underwent 10 plastic surgery procedures in one day, The Hills star kept those plans secret from friends, and even her family. For very good reason.

Now, nine weeks after her “dramatic transformation,” which actually didn’t change her as much as the first batch of surgeries she got, Montag’s mom knows.

And Darlene Egelhoff is pissed.

“I still can’t believe I’m 23 and mom is reacting this way,” Montag confessed to People. “I’m nervous to go home and face her. Especially with cameras rolling.”

CYBORG: Heidi is more Barbie than human. [Photo: PacificCoastNewsOnline.com]

A source close to the family says Darlene is even more upset than when she brought home Spencer Pratt, or when she heard Heidi’s terrible debut album.

“She is horrified and having a total breakdown,” a source says of Heidi Montag’s mother. “She lost it. She can’t wait to confront Heidi when she goes home.”

The Colorado resident will get her wish soon, as “Heidi is planning to head back to her small town of Crested Butte very soon,” says a source close to the ‘Tag.

Hills fans will get to see the drama play out next season on MTV hit, as cameras will catch every moment. Bet they paid for her 10-surgery bonanza, too.

Heidi Montag looked hotter …

Filed under: Heidi Montag
by Free Britney
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