happy holidays (20 posts)

Just in time for the big day tomorrow, Miley Cyrus and her BFF Mandy Jiroux have posted yet another video of themselves hamming it up for the camera. But instead of putting it up on YouTube, like they usually do, the girls have opted to share their glad tidings via MySpace.

While we're tempted to say the duo's rendition of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" is slightly grating, we won't. Nor will we point out our desire to cringe every time Mandy turns the lens on herself to promote her girl group, the Beach Girlz, or to brag about dancing for Miley at an upcoming concert, or to tell us she has pinkeye. And we most certainly won't express how we think it's kinda weird that a 21-year-old is always hanging out with somebody who just turned 16.

After all, that wouldn't be keeping with the holiday spirit now, would it?

BritneySpears.com

What a difference a year makes.

After all the seemingly endless drama surrounding Britney Spears, it's so great to finally see the pop star return to form, where she's now singing about a circus instead of being the proverbial big top's freak-show attraction.  

But there's probably no better evidence of her rise from the ashes than this holiday greeting she just posted on her website. Kneeling in front of a Christmas tree, Brit simply beams while embracing her two smiling sons, Sean Preston and Jayden James. 

Comeback indeed.

Zink/Fame Pictures

As we raced around this weekend frantically trying to locate Wiis, Webkinz and whatnot in time for the holidays, so too was our girl Christina Aguilera.

The "Keeps Gettin' Better" singer and her hubby, Jordan Bratman, were seen picking up some last-minute items Sunday—no doubt for son Max, who's celebrating his first Christmas this year—at the Brentwood Country Mart in Brentwood, Calif.

The place was a bit of a Hollywood hot spot—Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner and daughter Violet were caught grabbing goodies there as well.

What other famous folks are feeling festive? Find out in our Holiday Shopping With the Stars and Hollywood Celebrates the Season galleries!

Michael Caulfield/Getty Images

Despite a reported $2 million worth of jewelry being stolen from Paris Hilton’s bedroom on Friday, mom Kathy encourages her daughter to stay positive.

"She and I were talking about it, and really, it is stuff," Kathy told E! News in an exclusive TV interview Saturday in the living room of her Beverly Hills-area home. "I'm just happy that she's OK. But you can't be possessed by your possessions. Those are just things. And I'm happy that she's OK."

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Will Smith wants you to know that when he's missing in action over the holidays, you can blame his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.

"Jada is a little crazy about Christmas," he said today on Good Morning America.

The Seven Pounds star wasn't just referring to trimming a tree and handing out presents. She loves snow, he explained, and begins researching—by watching the Weather Channel, natch—a location to spend the holidays three months in advance.

"It's all about wherever we can get snowed in," he said.

Smith also shared a little more about his wife's unusual stance on seeing her husband film a sex scene with someone else.

"I don't want anyone to think I'm taking this time for some legal cheating," he said.

Jada, he claims, feels that "whatever you give her is what they're gonna think you give me."

ABC/CRAIG SJODIN

Houston, you have a pop star. Well, at least a high-powered Houston lawyer does.

E! News has learned that Miley Cyrus is in Houston to perform at a private holiday party being thrown Sunday night by Houston attorney Mark Lanier.

A source in Texas says that Cyrus and her entourage arrived Saturday and she is set to perform tonight at Lanier Law Firm's "Christmas Cheers and Charity" party, an annual fete that hosts more than 7,000 guests.

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Warner Bros. Television

He's just a good ol' boy, never meaning no harm...so what kind of black-hearted soul would steal Bo Duke's puppies?

That's what John Schneider wants to know. The actor, of Dukes of Hazzard and Smallville fame, is making a public plea for the safe return of a pair of purloined pooches. The 10-week-old canines were in a kennel in the back of his SUV, which was jacked from a Los Angeles mall last Saturday. The Escalade was later recovered; Marley (a Yorkie-poo) and Paisley (a Yorkie) weren't.

"Folks, listen. I understand what's going on in the economy," Schneider said in a plea on L.A.'s Valentine in the Morning radio show today. "But please, do the right thing and get those puppies back in the Christmas home they belong in. I'd just like to have our puppies back for Christmas."

Kids. Puppies. Christmas. Not even the Grinch—or Boss Hogg—could resist that.

Dario Alequin/INFphoto.com

Sure, photos of Suri Cruise-ing the New York stores are adorable, but the reason for this FAO Schwarz trip is even cuter.

Tom Cruise (not pictured), Katie Holmes and their darling darling hit the toy mecca after-hours Sunday to pick out goodies for Stockings With Care, a not-for-profit organization that helps families in need celebrate Christmas.

Who needs Santa when you have TomKat?

Check the status of other celebs' seasonal gifting in our Holiday Shopping With the Stars Gallery!

Warner Bros. Pictures/Paramount Pictures

In Hollywood, everyone seems to be trying to turn the clock back. And that's literally true for Brad Pitt as the title character in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (opening Dec. 25), where he starts out as an old man and ages in reverse back to infancy. Of course, wherever the clock stops, it's hard to argue with Cate Blanchett's freaky-luminous glow, so we're not even going to try.

But whether you're old or young (or young and old, in Brad's case), there's something for everyone in our 2008 Holiday Movie Guide, which features all the details on more than two dozen hot flicks hitting theaters this season.

Without the pesky budget restraints that keep the rest of us in order, where do your favorite celebs like to buy their holiday presents?

Lo and behold, it's not only Rodeo or Robertson (though Kitson did attract its fair share of famous faces this weekend). Check it out…  

INFphoto.com

Zach Braff keeps things fairly simple, stocking up on gifts at Nordstrom and L'Occitane at L.A.'s trendy Grove outdoor mall.

Sorry, Braff family, hope we're not ruining any surprises.

Also seen at the Grove was Jessica Alba, falling into the Gap. Which is about as basic as it gets.  

A slightly trendier option for the rich and famous is Fred Segal on Melrose, which was the place to see and be seen this weekend.

Even Katie and Suri left the cushy confines of Bev Hills to browse the collection of boutiques (proving once again that this kid is set to overtake young Hollywood, at least in the style department).

So, who else was there?

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ENEWSBUZZ

If it's weren't for the peppermint mocha lattes at Starbucks, how would anyone in L.A. know what holiday we're celebrating? We may have plenty o' snow on the streets but it's hardly the type of fluffy stuff that's gonna make it a real white Christmas.

But this year, Tinseltown has a new contender for best representation of the season: Paris Hilton. The heiress is single-handedly responsible for reminding all of us that Christmas is coming, whether she's posing for the annual Hilton family holiday pic, asking us to believe in Santa or just spreading the Yuletide cheer.

And you know it's not just reserved for Christmas. We can always count on Paris to get dressed up for Halloween, throw a Fourth of July barbecue bash and even host the hottest baby shower going.

No wonder Hallmark wanted to slap her face on their greeting cards. Nobody in this town would know where to show up, how to decorate or what to buy if it were not for this girl's paparazzi-fueled prompting.

So, here's to you, Paris, the most unlikely spiritual hero to hit this town since the Grinch.

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Ashton Kutcher's production company Christmas card is pretty brilliant for two and a half minutes. It features Ashton as Santa Claus, Demi Moore as a sexy Rudolph and mirrors the writers' strike with striking elves. Talk about potential.

But the remaining two and a half minutes does a perfect job of illustrating why Hollywood desperately needs its writers back. After Moore's cameo, the witty jokes and clever story stop. It feels like the first half had some writers on board that bailed, forcing Ashton to finish it on his own.

Of course, it's entirely possible we're being too critical on a little YouTube Christmas cheer…

(Warning: Some of the language in video is rated R.)