Morning Links
The 32nd annual Toronto International Film Festival, with a lineup of about 40 movies, kicks off today... The festival, which has gained in reputation and is second only to Cannes in size and prestige, according to film critic Roger Ebert, is the perfect place to star gaze.
Sure, people will be hoping to catch a glimpse of A-listers such as George Clooney ("Michael Clayton"), Brad Pitt ("The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford"), Reese Witherspoon ("Rendition"), Viggo Mortensen ("Eastern Promises") or Cate Blanchett ("Elizabeth: The Golden Age").
But would the TIFF be complete without a visit from celebutante, Paris Hilton? She's not there to promote a movie, but to make one: "Repo! The Genetic Opera." She's gotten the city buzzing early this week, having been spotted at night spots such as Lobby on Bloor Street and Century Room on King Street, according to the Globe & Mail.
Nicole Kidman, according to the AP, in the upcoming October issue of Vanity Fair will reveal that she suffered a miscarriage while married to Scientologist Tom Cruise. She also spills that after her marriage to Cruise fizzled, she was briefly engaged to a mystery man, which some speculate was singer Lenny Kravitz. She is now married to country star Keith Urban.
This will make Jim Halpert smile ... Jenna Fischer, who plays America's favorite receptionist Pam Beesly on NBC's "The Office" is splitting from her husband of 6 years, filmmaker James Gunn, according to Zap2It.com. In 2007-style, they announced it on their MySpace pages.
African-American comedian Eddie Griffin got the hook on stage last night for repeatedly using "the N-word" among other profanities during his set at an event sponsored by Black Enterprise magazine. I guess Griffin didn't know about the the N-Word's funeral in July.
* Republican presidential hopeful Fred Thompson, former Senator from Tennessee, but most recently D.A. Arthur Branch of "Law & Order" continued his unconventional approach to the campaign, using his appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno to officially announce his candidacy.
The Phil Spector trial is wrapping up. Prosecutor gave his closing arguments and the defense will have their crack today, before the case goes to the jury, possibly as early as Friday.
And Finally ...
Luciano Pavarotti the acclaimed opera singer has died from pancreatic cancer, at age 71. He died at his home in Modena, Italy with his family around him.
-- Dave Valenzuela
