Celebrity News and Gossips

DONALD TRUMP GIVES MISS USA A SECOND CHANCE

December 19, 2006 (New York) -- Donald Trump made "you're fired!" a TV catchphrase, and he was prepared to deliver it when he walked into a meeting with embattled Miss USA Tara Conner.

But Trump said Tuesday he came away convinced the 21-year-old beauty queen was a "good person" with a "good heart."

In a moment of television drama filled with redemptive tears and longing looks, Trump announced with Conner by his side that he had decided to let her keep her title after she agreed to enter rehab and undergo drug testing.

"I've always been a believer in second chances," said Trump, who owns the Miss Universe Organization and the Miss USA pageant with NBC. "Tara is going to be given a second chance."

Conner, who comes from the small town of Russell Springs, Ky., won the title in April and moved to New York. She has since partied hard, admitting she frequented clubs and threw back drinks, despite being underage. She turned 21 on Monday.

"She was telling me that she got caught up in the whirlwind of New York," Trump said at the news conference. "It's a story that has happened many times before to many women and to many men who came to the Big Apple. They wanted their slice of the Big Apple, and they found out it wasn't so easy."

Miss USA must conduct herself as a role model, and behavior such as underage drinking is prohibited, a Miss Universe Organization spokeswoman said.

In a tear-choked voice, Conner said, "In no way did I think it would be possible for a second chance to be given to me."

Turning to Trump, she said, "You'll never know what this means to me, and I swear I will not let you down."

A few minutes later, a smiling and clearly relieved Conner donned her sash with the famous words: "Miss USA."

Trump said Conner would be entering a rehabilitation facility. A pageant official said details would be worked out privately with Conner over the coming weeks.

Asked if she was an alcoholic, Conner said: "I wouldn't say that I'm alcoholic. I'd think that would be pushing the envelope."

She also declined to discuss any of her problems that the tabloids had chronicled with much relish.

"My personal demons are my personal demons," she told a horde of reporters.

Trump said Conner would be able to move back into her swank pad at the Trump Palace. But he also cautioned that she could still be jettisoned if she messed up again.

"She knows that if she even makes the slightest mistake from here on, she will be immediately replaced," he said.

If Conner had been dethroned, first runner-up Miss California Tamiko Nash would have taken over the title.

Conner, a 5-foot-5 blonde, has been competing in pageants since age 4. Three months after winning the Miss USA title, she finished fourth in the Miss Universe pageant.

In 2002, Miss Russia Oxana Fedorova won the Miss Universe pageant but was stripped of her title after violating her contract. Trump said Fedorova didn't show up for some photo shoots and charity events.

It was the first time a titleholder had been ousted in the contest's more than 50-year history. Fedorova denied she was fired and said she gave up the title voluntarily.

NICHOLAS CAGE PLANS TO CUT BACK ON ACTING

December 10, 2006 -- After more than 55 films, Nicolas Cage plans to cut back on acting to pursue other interests, such as helping develop independent cinema in his new home of the Bahamas.

"I'm thinking about taking more time in between movies," the Oscar winner told The Associated Press backstage at the third annual Bahamas International Film Festival.

"I feel I've made a lot of movies already and I want to start exploring other opportunities that I can apply myself to, whether it's writing or other interests that I may develop," he said.

Cage was in Nassau late Friday to receive the Chopard Award for career achievement. Fellow actor Sean Connery, Cage's co-star in the 1996 thriller "The Rock," presented the award at the Atlantis Theater in Paradise Island.

"Nic is a professional and brings to the table all the stuff that makes it a real joy," Connery said.

Cage, who won a best-actor Oscar for 1995's "Leaving Las Vegas," owns a house in Paradise Island and bought an undeveloped private island in the Exuma Cays this year.

He said he hopes the film festival continues to grow. Some 50 narrative, documentary and short films from around the world are being showcased during the four-day festival, which began Thursday.