The 36th Annual 2008 American Music Awards show was held last night November 23rd in Los Angeles. Walking the red carpet were, Rihanna,Chris Brown, Mariah Carey, Alicia Keyes, Christina Aguilera, Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, Jonas brothers, Jamie Fox, The Pussycat Dollsand Paris Hilton, Ashlee Tisdale and Beyonce among others.

THE FIRST “AMA” AWARDS PREMIERED ON NOV 21ST, 1974 ON ABC!

Here are your list of winners:

Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist: Rihanna, Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist: Chris Brown, Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist: Chris Brown, Favorite Country Band/Duo/Group: Rascal Flatts, Favorite Contemporary Inspirational Artist: Third Day, Favorite Rap/Hip Hop Album: Kanye West, Graduation, Favorite Country Male Artist: Brad Paisley: Favorite Pop/Rock Album: Alicia Keys, As I Am, Favorite Country Female Artist: Taylor Swift, Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist: Rihanna, Favorite Rap/Hip Hop Male Artist: Kanye West, Breakthrough Artist: Jonas Brothers. Favorite Soul/R&B Album: Alicia Keys, As I Am, Award of Merit: Annie Lennox, Favorite Pop/Rock Band/Group/Duo: Daughtry, Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist: Jordin Sparks, Artist of the Year: Chris Brown

Beyonce on the set of her new music video for “Diva” was looking pretty tough shooting in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday, November 22nd. In one scene the bad ass “If I Were A Boy” songstress strutted her stuff before lighting a cigar and throwing the lighter onto a car which exploded just 20ft away from her.

Sasha Fierce / Beyonce said in her recent Forbes interview; “For Thanksgiving my mother usually cooks. It’s just like anyone else’s Thanksgiving. It’s actually my favorite holiday because it’s not about anything but giving back, giving thanks for all our blessings. Hopefully I’ll try to make some type of pie. I’m not the best cook, but I think I’m ready to try something,”

FORBES MAGAZINE HAS NAMED BEYONCE AND HUSBAND JAY Z THE TOP EARNING CELEBRITY COUPLE OF 2008!

Ashlee Simpson 24 and husband rocker bassist Pete Wentz 29 welcomed their first baby last night November 20th. Ashlee gave birth to a healthy baby boy at Cedars Senai Medical Center.

The boy weighed in at 7 lbs., 11 oz., and measuring 20 1/2 inches long.  The couple has named their baby “Bronx Mowgli Wentz!” 

Internet research reveals one possible Mowgli origination – he was a character in the Rudyard Kipling story “In the Rukh,” and more famously in his “Jungle Book” series popularized onscreen by Disney.

WOW! MOWGLI COULD BE SUBSTITUTED FOR UGLY OR MO-UGLY!!!

Diva Fans… I’m at the Mondrian Hotel in West Hollywood. One of my old time favorite’s a see-and-be-seen spot! I’ve checked in, to check out, the hotel in it’s fabulous make-over. I love what Benjamin Noriega-Ortega has done with it!! The old time favorite to many celebs as well, was indeed in need of this renovation.

The rooms were truly minimalist, cold, boring and with outdated carpeting. The hallways dark and beat up. Still, trendy people, celebrities and fashionistas all flocked to the tired Phillpe Stark design hotel. The popularity of Restaurant Asia De Cuba and the Sky Bar, were probably the reason people kept coming back, not to mention being on the Sunset Strip as they say… Location, Location, Location! 

The rooms are now sporting Bamboo flooring, oversized mirrors with ornate lacker frame that spins in full-circle revealing a framed, flat-screen televisions on the opposite side, with a second one on the wall. High back white love seat, black lacker chairs, crystal chandeliers, wall paper, white pleather headboards and a rain shower. The hallways are in a cream and black pallet, with great lighting, wall paper and new carpet. 

Remember, Diva Fans, this is not a hotel to bring children to, or a hotel, if you want to get lots of sleep on the weekend. It can get very loud and you’ll never know who you’ll run into in the lobby. I walked into Asia De Cuba this afternoon with my laptop to write this piece though the restaurant was not busy indoors at that time, Randy Jackson was sitting at a table near mine. He said hello and sent his regards to my other half!

 The Diva! 

Here’s the press release:

The newly redesigned Mondrian Los Angeles hosted its launch event yesterday evening, September 4, 2008, allowing guests to experience first hand the renovations to this landmark Los Angeles property. Acclaimed designer Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz was commissioned to reinstate the beloved destination, building upon the original vision for the property. During the event, Ortiz hosted an intimate reception in the brand new ADCB, Mondrian LA’s remodeled interior bar within the lobby. Guests included Jamie Foxx, Samaire Armstrong, Shane West, Shawn Ashmore, among others and the highlights of the evening – a live solo performance by Cat Power and the exclusive after party hosted by Amy Sacco in the new “Apartment” on the 11th floor, guests included Paris Hilton, Giovanni Ribisi, Catherine Keener, among others.

Built in celebration of the equal and the opposite, Mondrian Los Angeles captures the heartbeat and soul of its unique surroundings. It is the ultimate balancing act, not only bridging the gap between the seemingly disparate elements that make up the California lifestyle – night and day, reality and fantasy, relaxation and excitement – but articulating the playfulness of a perfect hotel experience.

Entering Mondrian through Philippe Starck’s signature, thirty-foot mahogany doors, guests are bathed in a sensuous daylight that highlights the creamy whites and warm Mondrian marigold palette of the entryway. Glamour is deeply defined throughout the space, and appears in the sophistication of the new orange hued “Sunset Bar”, in its undulating banquets — inspired by Gaudi’s Park Guell bench in Barcelona — that bisect the lounge, transforming it into an indoor-outdoor patio. Gold leaf vines run up and down and across the ceilings and columns, referencing both the lush trees of nature and the exquisite fantasy of Hollywood.

“The design of the hotel is so adored in the industry that I’ve heard the word Mondrian used as an adjective,” says Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz. “I didn’t want to eradicate Philippe Starck’s original vision, I wanted to build on it; I wanted to enhance it.”

Progressing deeper into the lobby, the sun sets. Day becomes night; reality becomes fantasy as Noriega-Ortiz invites the imagination down the proverbial rabbit hole. Deep blues and purples surround the space, and ushering the guests towards Asia de Cuba, and Mondrian’s perennial hotspot, Skybar. Here the hotel’s original concept of the hotel as theater and the Morgans history of “lobby socializing,” is complimented by custom-designed furniture by Noriega-Ortiz. A Lucite love-seat indoor swing and a mushroom-inspired concierge center are subtle and winking references to Starck’s original wonderland of a lobby.

The spectacle continues upstairs, where new accommodations greet guests with their own reflection, seen in grand mirrors detailed with white lacquer frames that continue Noriega-Ortiz’ veneration of the surrealist, looking-glass theme. Pivoting full-circle to reveal framed, flat-screen televisions on the opposite side, the mirrors are just one example of the close relationship between modern comforts and breathtaking design. Each of the hotel’s 237 rooms and suites feature floor-to-ceiling windows with stunning views of Sunset Boulevard and Downtown Los Angeles and Silestone tiled bathrooms with waterfall shower fixtures. Oversized daybeds, sustainable bamboo floors, and Korres Natural Products bathroom amenities are just a few of the little luxuries that have been exclusively designed with the pleasure of Mondrian’s guests in mind.

Mondrian’s penthouse boasts amazing cityscape views with a palette of antique gold and bronze, detailed with honey-colored bamboo floors and visually pierced with touches of warm white and black. Two antique mirrors flank the north and south of the room, creating a virtual opening, and a collection of crystal chandeliers hovers over a simple square table surrounded by “X” Spot black chairs. The Apartment suite is centered around a platinum palette; complementary silvers to its sister suite’s golds and again articulated moments of black and white furniture and fabrics pierce the space. The suite features a large terrace with plush outdoor lounging furniture by Tord Boontje and stools by Marcel Wanders, contributing to this overall aesthetic of playful pleasure and vibrant storytelling.

Story and theatrics have played a substantial role in Mondrian since its conception, and the new Mondrian reflects that with an added sophistication. “We have undertaken the redesign of our flagship property during a time of substantial growth for the Mondrian brand. With Benjamin’s new design, we have fully exited our shabby chic phase,” explains Fred Kleisner, President and CEO of Morgans Hotel Group. “The age of pastiche is over, and with it has gone the slipcovers – once again this hotel exudes authenticity and glamour. With the renovation of this property, our first Mondrian, we renew our commitment to the intensity of spirit and the promise of possibility that the Mondrian name represents. We look forward to delivering on this promise in South Beach, Chicago, Soho and Las Vegas in the months to come.”

In 2006, Morgans Hotel Group opened Mondrian Scottsdale, also designed by Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz, providing Scottsdale with a much needed oasis. With the Los Angeles location’s new design and Mondrian South Beach, designed by Marcel Wanders, opening this year, 2008 is the year that Mondrian rolls out its stage of perpetual possibility and instant enchantment. A truly unique hotel concept, each Mondrian is alike
in only its pervasive intensity and atmosphere. Morgans Hotel Group invites you to check into the Mondrian world and make drama. 

Chloë Sevigny, Vanessa Paradis, Drew Barrymore, Kirsten Dunst, and Lindsay Lohan have all starred in Miu Miu campaigns. Rumor has it the label will keep the celebrity tradition for spring 2009 this time, with Katie Holmes!

For the first time real models will reportedly appear in the ads alongside Katie, lets call them “accessories.” What some people are asking, is Katie the best choice for a high-end designer brand? In recent months she wore a slew of chic frocks to premieres and parties and inspiring rave reviews from the fashion world.

She was a total inspiration with her fashion sense of style and her new cropped short hair, until she was seen heading out to work to the Shoneherst theater in her husband’s jeans. She then decided to design her own clothes, wearing her own creation, a white and black jumpsuit she wore to her premiere of “All My Sons.” That everyone hated! Never-the-less, Miu Miu wants Katie to represent them.

GO KATIE! WHO CARES IF EVERYONE HAS A BAD DAY!

Apparently, Us Weekly is wrong on this one. Britney’s new song “Mmm Papi” off her new album, was not inspired by or written about former sleazebag paparazzo boyfriend, Adnan Ghalib.

Nicole Morier, who co-wrote Mmm Papi with Britney Spears, says, “I never said that to the US Weekly! The song is definitely not about Adnan and in the whole time I worked with her last spring and summer I never once saw that guy. We strictly wrote the song for fun.

The Mmm Papi part came out of Mmm Papa Luv U and I came up with it because the track was a fun up beat track and we wanted to do something crazy like mmmpapamowow. The mmm papi part came later as rhythmic idea and it was also more inspired by Hey Mami from the group Fannypack.

Please be kind to Britney and post this correction. She was oh so sweet and professional to work with, and I believe she’s really gotten her life together.”

SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT Y’ALL! 

Following  the breakup news, Paris Hilton and Benji Madden were out last night, partying separately. Paris hit the Crown Bar while Benji was seen at Bardot with a guy pal, in his new Jaguar XF. 

According to  FOX Pop Tarts’ Hollie McKay, Paris and Benji’s breakup may have something to do with the fact that Paris has be-friended British Royal Prince William, and the Prince is set to spend New Year’s Eve down under in Australia at a party hosted by Paris.

A source told Tarts, “For security reasons, he won’t confirm his attendance until just before, but we’re told he is pretty keen to meet up with Paris.” Benji is schedule to attend the shindig for deejay duties.  It’s not clear now wether, Benji will attend after their break-up.  “We aren’t worried if Benji and Paris don’t want to come together.  But we know Paris will definitely be there, and we can’t wait.” 

ANOTHER GRACE KELLY IN WAITING? YOU BE THE JUDGE!

Beyonce’s new double CD, I Am…Sasha Fierce, will hit #1 album by next week, according to HITS Daily Double. The double album is expected to sell exceed 500,000 to 550,000 in total sales.  Taylor Swift’s did better selling 592,000 copies of her latest debut out of stores.

Who will take next week’s #2 spot? Taylor, David Cook, or Nickelback? 

WE’LL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE! 

Britney Spears says her life now is worse than a jail sentence – but slowly healing one day at a time.

“I have really good days, and then I have bad days,” the singer, 26, admits in a new fly-on-the wall, 90-minute documentary.

She says: “Even when you go to jail, you know, there’s the time when you’re gonna get out. But in this situation, it’s never ending. It’s just like [the Bill Murray movie] Groundhog Day.”

She adds, “I’m having to pay for it for a really long time.”

Britney was hospitalized for a mental breakdown and evaluation in January. Her ex-husband, Kevin Federline, was granted sole custody of their sons, Preston and Jayden. Her dad, Jamie Spears, also gained legal control over her affairs.

Not Being Heard

“If I wasn’t under the restraints that I’m under right now, I’d feel so liberated,” she says in the film, which follows the singer as she records and promotes her new album Circus. “When I tell them the way I feel, it’s like they hear me, but they’re really not listening.”

A camera crew followed the singer for three months as she moved to pull her life back on track. “I wanted to make this film because I started to feel like I wasn’t being seen in the light that I wanted to be seen in,” Spears said.

“This is an opportunity to set the record straight and talk about what I’ve been through and where I’m headed.”

She says, “I think I’ve learned my lesson now, and enough is enough.”

WATCH BRITNEY FOR THE RECORD NOV. 30TH ON MTV!