Graham Japson/WireImage.com, Lisa O'Connor/ZUMAPress.com

UPDATE: A source in Costa Rica tells E! that Britney Spears arrived with Mel Gibson at 3:18 p.m. local time.

Upon arrival, Britney looked calm, albeit tired, from the trip. Along with Gibson, his wife Robin and Britney's father Jamie Spears, there were some unidentified youngsters who also got off the plane.

An immigration executive boarded their jet to complete the necessary paperwork and, about an hour later, the group boarded a smaller private plane and took off for the province of Guanacaste, which is in the northwest part of Costa Rica bordering Nicaragua.  

Local press are reporting the pop star will be vacationing on Gibson's coastal property along Playa Barrigona.

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Britney Spears has found herself a rather unorthodox traveling companion. So to speak.

E! News has confirmed the singer joined Mel Gibson aboard a private jet this morning, bound for Costa Rica.

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Kevin Mazur/WireImage.com

We hear things didn't end well between Kate Hudson and Owen Wilson.

"Yeah, it was pretty hostile," says a source close to Owen. "Lots of shouting. Lots of tears."

Sources close to the couple confirm to E! News that the duo are no longer on speaking terms, following a blowout over allegations that Owen was flirting with other women while on location for the film Marley & Me in Miami.

"Look, they haven't been getting along really for most of the time they've been back together," said the friend of Owen, referring to when the couple reunited in February. "Owen can be a moody guy, very up and very down. And Kate is so upbeat, it was hard for her to take."

After all the bitter bickering, the couple basically stopped speaking for awhile.

Get the rest of the story after the jump...

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Red carpet! Photographers! Brad and Angelina sporting a double-baby belly bump!

If you can't actually be in Cannes, then you can get a taste of the flashbulbs and French language introductions in this clip of the couple at the Kung Fu Panda premiere. And be sure to check out our regularly updating Cannes photo gallery, as well.

Will Binn, PacificCoastNews.com

Say what you will about the antics of attention-starved Bai Ling, and trust us, we say a lot, but the woman does know how to attract the attention of cameras in the vicinity.

So we have to ask, Why is she clinging to this tree? Is it because:

She wants to take tree hugging to "the next level"?

She's trying to make the hedge jealous?

That's where nuts are naturally found?

We don't know, but because she tries so hard, we ask that you dig deep and come up with the reasons you think she might be embracing this tree and post them below.

Frank Micelotta / FOX

The impending battle of the Davids put a little spring in American Idol's flagging step last night.

Fox's hit show—which, despite showing signs of deflation, still exhibits juggernaut behavior—attracted nearly 24.3 million viewers Wednesday, a 1.4 million-strong bump from last week and its largest audience since April 2, when Michael Johns and Carly Smithson were still singing for their supper and little Ramiele Malubay got the boot.

Idol also saw viewership jump by more than 4 million people in its second half-hour, ensuring that Fox would flay the competition in its time slot—although CBS' Criminal Minds put up quite a fight, averaging 12.7 million inquiring minds—and win the night in total viewers.

Although it's unlikely the expected showdown between David Archuleta and David Cook will bring the millions who have gone missing this season back in full force next week, Fox has to like the fact that its (yes, still dominant) numbers are creeping back up.

But why should you care?

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Paul Fenton/ZUMApress.com

Just when Taylor Hicks seemed to be in danger of being a public-eye dropout, along comes the favorite landing spot of many an American Idol refugee.

Broadway.

Starting June 6, the silvery haired season-five champ will jump into the role of Teen Angel, Frenchy's guardian angel and the singer of "Beauty School Dropout," in the current reality-show-fueled revival of Grease at the Brooks Atkinson Theater.

Hicks is slated to Soul Patrol the stage until Sept. 7.

The production, which hasn't gotten the greatest reviews but seems to be surviving based on sheer nostalgia, kicked off last August featuring Max Crumm and Laura Osnes—the winners of NBC's Grease: You're the One That I Want!—playing Danny and Sandy and, per the Internet Broadway Database, those two performers are still giving each other mixed signals and trying to act cool in front of their friends.

Hicks, who is no longer signed to Clive Davis' J-Records, joins Clay Aiken, Fantasia Barrino, Tamyra Gray, Frenchie Davis, Diana DeGarmo and Constantine Maroulis on the list of Idol winners, shoulda-wons and also-rans who have appeared on Broadway in the last several years.

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The Archaeological Institute of America knows Harrison Ford only plays a bullwhip-toting, intrepid scholar on the big screen, right?

Either way, because of what the movie star's role as the iconic Indiana Jones has done for the field, the Boston-based organization has elected Ford to its board of directors.

Understanding the past helps in "dealing with the present and future," Ford said in a statement released by the AIA, which, per its website, "exists to promote archaeological inquiry and public understanding of the material record of the human past worldwide."

The institute's professional members have conducted field research around the globe and have founded research and learning centers in seven countries.

It's unclear what duties Ford will fulfill, but surely even the pros can use refresher courses from time to time on escaping snaky situations and riding an inflatable raft through the snow.

DMX is maintaining his innocence. He could stand to wind his watch, though.

During a brief hearing Thursday to which he arrived late, the actor-rapper pleaded not guilty to 11 counts of animal cruelty and drug possession stemming from a months-long investigation into reports of pit bull abuse at his Phoenix-area residence and a subsequent search of his home.

The seven dog-related charges are misdemeanors, while the four drug counts—three of which stem from a raid at DMX's home in August and another from marijuana allegedly found at the scene during another search last week—are felonies.

The Cradle 2 the Grave star, whose real name is Earl Simmons, is accused of mistreating 12 pit bulls found on his property last summer, which, according to the Maricopa County sheriff's office, had to be given emergency veterinary treatment for malnutrition and dehydration.

Another five puppies were confiscated during the cops' most recent trip to DMX's house, as well.

ABC / Adam Larkey

For those of you looking to cram your TiVo with dance competitions, this is some pretty great news!

TLC has tapped Joey Lawrence, fresh from either shore leave or the third season of Dancing with the Stars, to host Master of Dance, the latest edition to the show-us-your-moves canon.

Only this time, a contestant will be halfway through a dance when the powers that be switch the music, forcing the hoofer to prove he/she can really go with the flow. The person who can do that most proficiently will win $50,000 at the end of the six-part series, which premieres June 8.

"The winner of this show will be that person at the wedding or party that always has the right moves and knows every popular dance," said executive producer Craig Piligian.

Well, better that person than the guy who throws up on the bride or spills his drink on the stereo.

AP Photo/Kim D. Johnson

Not surprisingly, Rob Lowe wants to cut the competition down to size.

The actor and his wife, Sheryl, have filed a motion to dismiss the majority of the 12-count lawsuit brought against them by their former nanny Jessica Gibson, who worked for them on and off over the past six and a half years. (View the motion.)

(Not to be confused with the sexual-harassment suit filed by Laura Boyce, another ex-babysitter.)

The Lowes are looking to have a judge toss out causes of action 4 through 12 of Gibson's suit, including a charge of retaliation and claims that she's owed back wages, as well as payment for overtime, "off-the-clock work" and meal periods.

"The pleading is defective because Gibson fails to state facts sufficient to constitute" all of the above, states the Lowes' notice of demurrer (aka, motion to dismiss).

The couple—who are also suing Gibson, Boyce and their former private chef for breach-of-contract—claim Gibson shot her own case in the foot by admitting last month that her onetime employers cut her a check for regular wages earned and overtime.

Gibson has also alleged sexual assault, battery and harassment, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.