The alleged con artist behind the extortion scam was arrested after Letterman contacted police who advised him to send the a phony cheque to the blackmailer.

Letterman – who married Regina Lasko, his girlfriend of 23 years, in March – acknowledged his infidelity live on air and revealed the plot as he opened his show on Thursday. He and Lasko have one son together, Harry, 5.

“This morning, I did something I’ve never done in my life,” he told the stunned studio audience at New York’s Ed Sullivan Theatre. “I had to go downtown and testify before a grand jury.”

Letterman, 62, said he received a package from an individual who claimed to have information on his affairs and said he would be exposed unless he came up with the money.

But instead of submitting to the shakedown, Letterman contacted the Manhattan district attorney’s office instead.

It is not the first time the TV host has been targeted by extortionists. In 2005, a handyman who worked for him was jailed for 10 years after pleading guilty to plotting to abduct Harry.

Sacha Baron Cohen’s gay Austrian fashionista enjoyed a number-one weekend at the US box office.

The follow-up to the smash hit Borat movie took in more than US$30.4m over the weekend, according to studio bosses.

The British funnyman’s movie was followed in second place by Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, which was second with US$28.5 million.

The top five movies in America was completed by ‘Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen’ with US$24 million, Public Enemies with US$14.1 million, and ‘The Proposal’ with US$10.5 million.

Source: Splash News

Media mogul Oprah Winfrey has donated a whopping 1 million pounds to the New Jersey education system which happens to be a highly populated area. And during these financially tough times it is a wonderful gesture from her as whatever has taken place with economic crisis it should not affect the education of young America.

The donation will help fund scholarships and other programs that will benefit students on different levels of the educational system in Newark in New Jersey. In a release it has be said that 357,145 pounds assigned for at least three local education and community groups.

That is a wonderful gesture from a wonderful human being, she is using all of her power and money and other resources to help those who need it. If the future of this country is being helped by people such as Oprah then there is little doubt that the future is not bright and sunny.

There will be many parents who would be thanking her endlessly for securing the future of their children with such a donation. There is still a lot more that needs to be done to avert this crisis but with such steps there is hope.

Up to now, no one is entirely sure just what situation Michael Jackson’s money is really in. Is he broke or not? After reports of health and finance woes, the new rumor is that Jacko is plunking down $100,000 a month for a lavish mansion in Los Angeles. The grand $38 million Bel-Air home boasts 7 bedrooms, 13 bathrroms, 12 fireplaces, a screening room, a guest house, sweeping staircases, pools, a sundeck and classic interiors. I’m not sure when he’s planning to move. Right now, the dethroned King of Pop is keeping a low profile in Las Vegas with his kids. Where does he get the money?

Jennifer Aniston’s dog-based drama “Marley & Me” can take the bone home this week as her movie piped Brad Pitt’s age-defying film “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” at the box office and was the best grossing movie in the battle of Christmas Day movie releases.

The number for ticket sales for that particular day were available and standing at $14.6 million in ticket sales Miss Aniston’s movie was the top grossing release this year on Christmas day, while Brad Pitt’s movie fantasy flick stood in second at $11.8 million. At #3 was Adam Sandler’s “Bedtime Stories with ticket sales in tune of $10.4 million and at #4 was Tom Cruise’s much talked about Nazi film “Valkyrie,” which made $8.5 million.

So this round has been won by Jennifer and you have to give it to her. She made that GQ magazine nude cover just days before the release of her movie and it seems to have done wonders for her. She is really looking stunning in that picture and surely some of that impression has rubbed over onto her movie.

According to reports, Spade has just donated $100,000 to the Phoenix Police Department.

The Arizona native made the donation on Monday morning.

He gave the donation personally too!

Good for you, giving money to those who need it.

The former Saturday Night Live actor stopped by a northeast Phoenix precinct to give Police Chief Jack Harris a check.

Local officials and even the Mayor Phil Gordon were on site for the donation.

Famewhores, kidding.

According to a police spokesman, Spade called their office last week asking about donating to the rifle program.

The Phoenix Law Enforcement Association and local police have been working hard to get at least 300 more rifles for patrol officers.

It’s great to know the celebs are giving back to their hometowns.

Celebrities are just selling their homes all over the place even though it looks like it’s not the time to sell as markets are down. But maybe that’s why their selling. Cher is the latest star to put her home up for sale. The singer auctioned off most of the contents of her Malibu mansion around two years ago and now she’s ready to sell teh property. Cher is selling her Italian Renaissance-style villa which was built back in 1992 for $45 million. The 14,000-square foot villa sits on 1.7 acres of land and overlooks the Pacific Ocean. It’s a 3-storey villa featuring 6 bedrooms and 7 bathrooms. There’s a pool, tennis court, guest house, gym, theater and multiple verandas. Now you know why it’s priced that way.

Amy Winehouse will get $1 million to sing for George Clooney and Julia Roberts.

The troubled ‘Rehab’ singer has been offered the staggering sum to perform at the Costume Institute Gala Benefit at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 5, organized by institute co-chairs George and Julia.

A source said: “Amy was taken aback when she learned that George Clooney and Julia Roberts were after her. Their representatives have been phoning her offices and sending dozens of emails to convince her to take part. She’s seriously considering their generous offer. She hasn’t really taken it in – and keeps saying that her life is getting more surreal by the second.”

Fashion designer and honorary chair Giorgio Armani, who is a huge fan of the Grammy Award winner and pleaded with organisers to ask her to be involved, are hosting the glitzy bash.

The source added: “Giorgio has made no secret to his friends that he would love to work with Amy. He sees this party as an ideal opportunity to sound her out about future projects together.”

Amy’s potential $1 million pay packet is dwarfed by what some other musicians charge for private performances. The Rolling Stones demand up to $8 million – making them the most expensive party act on the planet.

The Eagles charge $7,5 million, while Canadian singer Celine Dion can command up to around $6,5 million.

A foreclosure auction is set for March 19 to sell off the 3000 acre Neverland Ranch belonging to Michael Jackson. The only way it can be saved is if Michael can come up with $24,525,906.61 that he owes to the estate’s trustee. Fat chance, considering the former pop star is over $300 million in debt.

The ranch, which includes a personal residence, zoo, and amusement part in Santa Barbara, has been empty since June 2005 when Michael moved his bunch to Bahrain. It is estimated to be worth somewhere between $6 and $12 million. It is expected that Michael will let the auction take place.

Well, not literally because that would just be silly. Especially being as Michael Jackson is the most recent famous bod to join the environmentally friendly crowd and purchase the Toyota Prius car. The eccentric star, who has often been accused of having a carbon footprint and frequently charters private planes, spent around $20,000; joining the masses including Leonardo DiCaprio, Will Ferrell, Cameron Diaz and Harrison Ford.

I doubt this will make Mike the environment guru all of a sudden but at least it’s a step in the right direction. Maybe it will make up for the fact that after all the plastic surgery the man has had we’re not entirely sure if he is even bio degradable anymore.

But anyway, this car is supposed to be Hollywood’s hybrid car of choice; running on electricity and petrol. Ferell has gushed about how much he loves his car; even going as far as to say it is “sexy”.

Hmm; good to the environment and sexy…oh, and the car’s good too.

We’ve seen Angelina Jolie head into third world countries in hopes of helping them recoup losses. Now we see the other half of Hollywood’s most beautiful couple heading out at home.

Brad Pitt spent Monday in the Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans for his “Make It Right Project”. The project will push for the building of 150 environmentally homes that will be affordable to residents who were uprooted after Hurricane Katrina. This area is one of the poorest regions in the city and was the site of some of the worst flooding caused by Katrina in 2005.

Pitt is seeking pledges to help with the work. He has agreed to match up to $5 billion in contributions with billionaire Steve Bing agreeing to do the same.

The area surrounding Pitt and the onlookers was lined wit hot pink tents marking where the homes would stand. Brad said they chose pink because “it screams the loudest. It says people are coming back.”

Kudos to you, Brad, for using your celebrity status to push for something good!

The regretted tenor’s widow, Nicoletta Mantovani Pavarotti, recently decided to sue two of her dead husband’s friends because they made accusations at her address and discussed in public the state of their marriage after his death.

Nicolleta says she will not tolerate such affirmations, and if they were to stop she wouldn’t have filled a lawsuit,but by the look of things she is quite sure the two female friends of the great tenor will continue if not legally stopped. The insults at her address were seen by Nicolleta as an opportunity to make even more money, as she asks for $22 from each woman.

Lidia La Marca and Franca Corfini Strata appeared on national television and clearly stated their beliefs about the way Mantovani treated Pavarotti, even on his hospital bed. All Italy knows she wants nothing more but money, no lawsuit could make the world see her with different eyes. What kind of a wife goes to her dieing husband and asks him to sign papers cause if he doesn’t he won’t be allowed to see his 4 year old daughter anymore?
No matter what Mantavani might say or do, in my mind she is just a money obsessed woman that doesn’t know to stop her pursuit in order to keep things decent.

Former model and Dancing With the Stars contestant Heather Mills McCartney is seeking millions of dollars in her divorce from former Beatle Paul McCartney. As she does so, she berates the rich in the world, calling them “misers and snobs.”

She married McCartney in 2002 and had their only child Beatrice in 2003. They separated last year with McCartney filing for divorce on the grounds of “unreasonable behavior” from his wife.

Mills McCartney made the berating comments during a 90-minute speech she gave to the debating society of Trinity College in Dublin.

She says she only befriended the rich people of the world because she felt she needed to do that if she wanted the chance to change the world.

She is quoted as saying, “Sadly, you have to mix at a certain level of people to raise the level of funds you need to bring about the greater good. Because people are very snobby. These people who have lots of money, they’re either snobby or they’re stingy. If you have lots of money, you have to be stingy – because why would you want that amount of money?”

Hmmm….but yet she WANTS that amount of money in her divorce settlement? She must be snobby….or stingy.

Oprah’s money is hers to do with as she chooses. She trusted individuals to help her improve children’s lives (Does it really matter where the children were born?) and a couple of workers actually hurt the kids. She is upset. Give her a break. As far as the US goes, how many billions of our dollars, and our children’s dollars, have been spent in Iraq? We as a nation won’t even give health care to children of parents who can’t afford health insurance. Since our soldiers in Iraq can’t react to being attacked without concern for the innocent people happen to be nearby, our future tax dollars are used to pay companies like Blackwater to “protect” some individuals. If you see a need, take action have your legislators channel government funds to the right place. We are spending billions, and billions, and billions of taxpayer funds outside the US, not just a couple of million on a school. Oprah’s money is hers to do with as she pleases! Don’t put her down for trying to help others.

Jennifer Lopez is coming out with a new fragrance. She recently had an interview on how and why she created the perfume ‘Deseo’, which is Spanish for desire. She says that she was inspired by the scents in her garden and that she thinks the perfume industry is going good right now with the many other artists releasing fragrances.

The perfume is due out in February and is a mix of scents of “watery bamboo leaves, garden yuzu, Sicilian bergamot and freesia; the heart is composed of star jasmine, pink geranium flower, orange blossom and French mimosa, and the drydown is of warm amber, oak moss, sensual musks, creamy sandalwood, atlas cedar wood, patchouli and mineral accord”.

You can get it in a pretty nifty bottle which is in the shape of a “diamond in the rough”.