George Clooney graces the January cover of Esquire. In the magazine he talks about politics, and of course his new movie ‘The Descendants’. I saw it. I thought the movie was good, but not great. I think he did an amazing job, but not really Oscar-worthy. To be honest I haven’t really seen a movie yet this year that is AMAZING. I saw ‘Young Adult’ last night – and I really liked it (more on that later) but again – it wasn’t GREAT. Not great like ‘Social Network’ or ‘Kings Speech’ in previous years. ‘The Descendants’ isn’t a movie I would say people HAVE to see.

Anyway, enough of me… here’s more from the interview.

On politics: I get asked a lot about getting into politics. I say, “Take a look at politics. You tell me what seems appealing about that.”

Clooney on the Democratic Party’s biggest problem: “If this were a Republican president and Republican government, the advisors around it would be selling this as the most successful three years of a presidency in years. They’d start by saying, “When my guy took office, we were losing four hundred thousand jobs a month. That would mean fourteen million less jobs if we continued along that pace. And it stopped immediately. We saved the auto industry. We passed a health-care bill that no one could pass” — although Republicans wouldn’t have wanted that. “We killed Osama bin Laden.” You could go down the list of things that you could brag about. But Democrats are terrible at selling. So they’re just kind of apologizing, and everybody feels disillusioned.”

Clooney doesn’t play the stock market: I didn’t put money in the stock market. To me that’s like Vegas without the dancing girls — none of the fun, no gambling or dancing or drinking — and you don’t get to participate. So I paid off my house in cash when I could. It’s about having a foundation for when things go bad. I still have that mentality. When things go badly, I’ll have this piece of land I can sell first, and then I have this piece of land I can sell second. You always think that way.

He’s not a balls-out Method Actor: Somebody asked me, How can you relate to being a father? Well, I’m also not running for president, but I played that role in Ides of March. I wasn’t an actual lawyer when I did Michael Clayton, and I don’t fire people for a living like I did in Up in the Air. Go down the list. It’s just a job. An acting job is playing pretend. I’ve been a child of somebody’s. I’ve been an uncle. All my friends have kids. I’m around kids. I have an understanding of what it is. And I also have a really good script that informs me what is required of this father. Because, for the most part, the father I play in The Descendants doesn’t resemble any of the fathers that I know. I don’t have friends who have the kind of issues that this guy has. So a lot of it is just the information you get from the screenplay. There are Method actors that are really wonderful. I don’t bash anybody’s way of working because the results are the only thing that matter in this game. But for me, I don’t have to do heroin to play a heroin addict.

On money, and doing commercials overseas: Ides of March I did for scale — scale as a director, scale as an actor, scale as a writer. And I don’t have any back end on it. So I’m not going to make any money after that. I enjoy living in a nice house and having a nice life. So I do two or three commercials overseas a year to sort of fill in, because they pay pretty well. The wedding one in Norway was great. I usually try to keep away from anything that would have to do with me personally. I always think the commercials should make fun of me, sort of as a personality, but I try to keep my personal life out of it. But they called and sent the script, and the idea was funny. This woman in Norway wakes up and she’s married to me. It makes a big difference when you’re working with the Carol Burnett of Norway. She’s great, and it turned out fantastic. That commercial in particular helped fund a satellite project that keeps an eye on the Sudanese border to try to hold these war criminals in check. The satellite project costs about a million and two a year. So I’m always looking for a gig like that.

On relationships and marriage: People forget that I was married. I love that, Will he get married? I don’t talk about it because I don’t think about it. I don’t ever question other peoples’ versions of how they live their lives or what they do. I understand that it’s a subject of interest for people. But sometimes it exists only because it came up years ago. It becomes this conversation piece that constantly resurfaces. Everybody sort of has their own versions of what they think I am and what they think that is. I’m just living my life and doing the best I can. The rest of those versions, there’s not much I can do about. No matter what I do, I’m somehow upsetting someone in some way or making somebody happy. I can only live my own life and my version of it. My life isn’t focused on results. My life is really focused on the process of doing all the things I’m doing, from work to relationships to friendships to charitable work. If I focused on results, if it’s only about the ultimate results, I’d be a failure in Sudan, I’d be a failure in film, I’d be a failure with my friendships, I’d be a failure in relationships. I look at it as an ongoing process.

Souece

I know people have to sell magazines, but c’mon………. really Star?

Poor Jen, she won’t have a moment of peace until she actually DOES get pregnant.

Jennifer Aniston has only been dating boyfriend Justin Theroux less than a year, but she can’t wait to have kids with him! And now she’s finally pregnant, according to a new report in Star magazine.

“She’s been taking fertility drugs, which can lead to multiples,” a friend close to Jen revealed to Star. “Jen thinks she’s having twins.”

Friends say that the couple have been planning on babies for months now. “Jen was sure early on that Justin was The One, so they’ve been trying for a baby for a while,” a source said. “Jen felt that there was no reason to wait.”

But the 42-year-old actress and 40-year-old actor weren’t having luck at first, so Jen turned to fertility drugs.

“Jen definitely looks pregnant,” a neighbor told Star. “My kitchen window overlooks a bedroom in Jen’s house, and I see her changing clothes from time to time. She seems to have a baby bump — it’s more than just a bloated belly.”

Friends say there’s more signs than just a possibly baby bump: “She’s usually the first to pop open a bottle of wine or suggest sunset margaritas, but she claims she’s cutting back,” a friend said.

The nosy neighbor has also seen other signs, too: “She’s had lots of friends visiting, bringing her things. And when they’re there, she doesn’t lift a finger. She’s always hanging out on the couch and eating Haagen-Dazs.”

Although being pregnant would be a dream come true for Jen, don’t expect to hear an official announcement anytime soon. “Jen’s always said that she wouldn’t announce a pregnancy until she was well into her second trimester,” an insider explained.

In the meantime, her friends and family couldn’t be happier for her and Justin. “Everyone in Jen’s family is buzzing that she’s finally pregnant,” one source said. “After a few false alarms, it looks like it’s finally happening for her.”

Of course Gossip Cop is reporting that the rumors are 100% false, and I’m with them. I can’t imagine this rumor is true…. Star gets it right every now and then, but methinks they’re a bit off on this one.

Source

Photos: Fame

Derek Jeter certainly knows how to treat a lady. While reading up on my daily dirt on Page Six, I came across a horribly awful story in regards to Derek Jeter – and I found myself pleading (out loud) that this story HAS to be false. He can’t reaaaaaaally be this big of a pig, could he?

According to Page Six, after a night of hooking up with random women, Derek escorts the young women out a car that’s waiting to take them home. INSIDE the car is a gift basket full of Jeter memorabilia, including a signed baseball. WHAT – THE – HECK. That’s not possible, right? He can’t really be that big of a d-bag, can he?

“Derek has girls stay with him at his apartment in New York, and then he gets them a car to take them home the next day. Waiting in his car is a gift basket containing signed Jeter memorabilia, usually a signed baseball. This summer, he ended up hooking up with a girl who he had hooked up with once before, but Jeter seemed to have forgotten about the first time and gave her the same identical parting gift, a gift basket with a signed Derek Jeter baseball. He basically gave her the same gift twice because he’d forgotten hooking up with her the first time!”

You buying this? I have to believe it’s not true. I mean c’mon – having a car waiting for the girl is one thing. But sending them off with Jeter memorabilia? That’s a whole new low!

Page Six, Photo: INF

Lindsay Lohan arrives at court for a progress report on her probation in Los Angeles, CA.

According to TMZ, she killed it during her probation hearing. Maybe 2012 is looking up for Lindsay?

Lindsay appeared in court today for her probation progress report. A very surprised Judge Stephanie Sautner began by saying, “Miss Lohan, you have actually done your work.”

The judge noted Lindsay actually completed her 12 days of community service early. And she went to an extra therapy session — 5 instead of the required 4. The judge also said the morgue was pleased by the work Lindsay has done there “at least as pleased as a morgue can be.”

Judge Sautner said there was some confusion over whether Lindsay was allowed to go to Hawaii last week, but ultimately the Judge said it was ok, because she was celebrating her sister’s birthday and she was allowed to go out of state for family events.

Lindsay is due back in court next month, but so far, so good.

TMZ, Photo: INF

Lindsay Lohan has been on vacation in Hawaii over the last week or so. While in Hawaii, her Playboy spread leaked and she was robbed of $10,000. She was supposed to fly back into town yesterday in time for a taping of The Ellen Degeneres Show, but apparently she missed her flight and in turn missed her scheduled appearance.

Alec Baldwin isn’t the only one having travel issues these days. Lindsay Lohan, who was scheduled to return from her hit-and-miss Hawaiian vacation today, missed her flight back to Los Angeles that would have had her back in town in time for a scheduled taping of The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

But more importantly, Lohan’s due in court bright and early tomorrow. She doesn’t need a passport to get back to the mainland, so what can the problem be—and will it keep her from her date with Judge Stephanie Sautner?!

“Lindsay had a travel-related issue arise that took a few hours to sort out,” rep Steve Honig tells E! News. “It has been resolved and she will be back in Los Angeles in time for her court appearance.”

A source also tells us that Lohan, after missing a morning flight, is booked on an afternoon flight and hopes to be back late Tuesday.

The community-servicing actress is due in court Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. for another checkup as to how she’s been handling the terms of her probation.

Sautner ordered her to complete at least 12 days of work at the L.A. County morgue by her hearing date—and Lohan’s done that, so we’re not expecting too much tap-dancing on the part of Playboy’s latest cover girl.

While some outlets report that Lindsay canceled her appearance (could it be because her Playboy spread leaked early?), but her rep is insisting she simply missed her flight. Her rep tells Gossip Cop, “Lindsay offered to tape ‘Ellen’ tomorrow, but the show was unable to shift things around, and tomorrow is their last day of taping for the season.” But an insider at Ellen tells GC, “Not a call or an apology from Lindsay.”

And today – Lindsay is going to go before Judge Stephanie Sautner for a progress report. She’s been on probation for stealing a necklace at an L.A. jewelry store.

TMZ is reporting that Lindsay has done AMAZING this time around, going above and beyond to please the judge.

Lindsay Lohan will experience something new in court this AM … a friendly judge who heaps praise on her, and it’s all because her lawyer figured out something that was lacking in her life.

Lindsay will appear before Judge Stephanie Sautner at 10 AM PT for a progress report.  She’s on probation for pilfering a necklace at an L.A. jewelry store.

Judge Sautner tried something new … rather than just telling Lindsay to complete her community service in a year — or else — the judge created a very specific schedule, putting in a certain number of hours each month.  And Lindsay has not only complied, she’s gone beyond the minimum.  Sources tell us … Lindsay logged the requisite number of hours of community service and morgue duty, and she’s actually put in more therapy time than required.

And sources tell us … her supervisor at the morgue is blown away, calling her work “stellar,” and saying she’s “a delight to work with and hard working.”

The reason for Lindsay’s turnaround — her lawyer, Shawn Holley, who went to the judge before Lindsay’s sentencing and argued that her client needed a rigid structure — something her own parents never provided.

Source, Source

Tara Reid knows how to party! Back in August, Tara got engaged and married on the same day while on vacation. Shortly after, she posted some pictures from her booze-filled honeymoon. She cut her honeymoon short to return home and enter the Celebrity Big Brother house, only to get the boot a couple days in.

After being booted off Celebrity Big Brother, she announced her marriage to Bulgarian financier Zach Kehayov was fake from the beginning.

Poor Tara? Not so much. She’s moved on with a couple different guys!!

Above we have Tara leaving Madeos in Los Angeles with an unnamed gentlemen suitor (above). THEN last night she was spotted leaving the Jay-Z concert with a different man (below).

Photos: Fame