Underused actors Andy Garcia and Julianna Margulies did good! Their film City Island, which received the audience award at the Tribeca film festival, has found a North American distributor, with the similarly named Anchor Bay ("Have you been to City Island in Anchor Bay? It's beautiful! Julianna Margulies has a house there.") So go run out to your local arthouse in the next few months and see this comedy about familial secrets and lies. Or wait for it on Netflix or whatever like everyone else is doing and go see G.I. Joe instead. No judgments here. [Variety]

Oh for Pete's sake... Katherine Heigl, the outspoken and demanding star of Grey's Anatomy, was supposed to maybe sorta die in last month's season finale episode. But now apparently she's coming back. But will she be a ghost? A fever dream that Meredith has while trying to come up with snappy, poignant ways to narrate the end of her week? Who the hell knows. Sigh. Her friend George is still dead though, cause he got hit by a bus. [THR]

Ace director Mike Mitchell (Sky High, Surviving Christmas) has been tapped to helm Once Upon a Time. The Wicked or Enchanted or whatever else wannabe is about Snow White, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty—all married to the Charming Brothers like it was Real Housewives of New Jersey or something—setting out on an adventure when they're husbands go missing. In movie life? That adventure involves slaying beasts and foiling witches. In real life? That adventure involves working two jobs and trying to get your kids to finish high school. See why we need the movies?? [Variety]

Diminutive Oscar-winner Linda Hunt will spend a year or so living dangerously as a regular on that NCIS: LA spin-off about people using the alphabet. She'll play one of those tough but lovable administrators that crime show watchers just love to love. [THR]

Common, who was downright terrible in the downright awful Terminator Salvation thing that came out one time this summer, has landed a lead role opposite Queen Latifah. The movie is called Just Wright and is about a sports doctor who falls in love with a professional basketball player. Sounds pretty dull. One could even say common. [Variety]

Adrien Brody, Forest Whitaker, Elijah Wood, and that bad vampire from Twilight have all signed on for The Experiment, a psychological creeper based on the German original, called Das Experiment (see the difference there?). With a cast of weirdos like that, it's destined to be a total creepfest. Someone get Shelley Duvall outta retirement to play a spooky nurse or the love interest or something. [Variety]

naugahydeinplainsight's new line beats the original, Actress Hopes Real-Life Smoking Will Kill TV Character Quicker.

Approached at last night's NAACP awards, showrunner-despot Shonda Rhimes shot down the recent allegations made by James Pickens that both actors would soon appear in an episode entitled A Farewell To Izzy and George, in which the beloved characters would be graphically and permanently disposed of via a series of fatal electrocutions, freak drowning deaths, and at least one grisly caribou-goring.

From People:

"That was a very interesting rumor," Rhimes said Thursday night at the 40th NAACP Image Awards in Los Angeles. "And it's not true."

"That was absolutely taken out of context," said Rhimes. "Things happen, and … I think rumors become fact very easily. And you know I don't like to tell you what's going to happen on the show - but that is a rumor," she emphasized.

For his part, Pickens says he meant to wish the pair well in general.

"We've been living with these rumors for a long time," he said before the NAACP's awards show. "When the question was posed to me, I was more trying to congratulate Katie and T.R. on whatever they were going to do. But yeah, I don't have any special info about it either way."

Hmm. Yes. We see. Just so long as we're getting straight answers out of you all. Did you check out McSteamy on Ellen? His pupils were spiraling. It's enough to make you wonder if there's some kind of McDreamy Candidate plot at play, a vast ABC network conspiracy that will reveal itself to an audience of millions when Patrick Dempsey takes the Oscar podium, sees the trigger words "STAR OF THE QUEEN, DAME HELEN MIRREN" on the teleprompter, and proceeds to blindly hijack an Oscar cannon and dispose of the troublesome team-members with two strategically placed golden torpedoes.

• T.R. Knight, Katherine Heigl Not Leaving Grey's Anatomy [People]

Much like Patrick Dempsey before him, who left his thoughts on the Grey's gaywashing unspoken but clearly evident, Dane told DeGeneres that he couldn't confirm reports that Heigl and T.R. Knight will be leaving at the end of the season. That came, however, after Dane bored his eyes into DeGeneres's very soul for a long, silent, uncomfortable moment, hoping to telepathically convey the information, "Yes! Finally, time for the Danester to move up on the call sheet...#6, here I come!" Sadly, his extended stare at DeGeneres was construed by ABC brass to be indicative of lesbian leanings, and after he left the pipe-busting Ellen set, he was summarily fired.

• Ellen

Page Six caught wind of an upcoming Us Weekly scoop, delivered by Grey's costar James Pickens: both Knight and Heigl are leaving at the end of the season.

"Yes, she is," Pickens told Us Weekly when asked if Heigl is leaving the ABC hospital drama. "Wherever Katherine goes, I wish her nothing but the best."

Pickens, speaking backstage after last weekend's NAACP Awards lunch in Beverly Hills, expressed similar sentiments regarding Knight.

"He's going too," Pickens said. "He just wanted to pursue other career paths."

Suddenly, we can't wait to see how Grey's creator Shonda Rhimes and the notoriously gaywashy ABC resolve both of these actors leaving the show. We imagine that Heigl's Izzie and Knight's George will suddenly discover that they are both lesbians (though the dead-lover-besotted Izzie leans toward ghost-curious), a realization that leads them to link arms, stride into the Parking Lot of No Return, and cry, "We're queer, we're no longer here, get used to it!" before lighting up a celebratory cigarette.

• IZZIE AND GEORGE LEAVING 'GREY'S ANATOMY' [NY Post]

• Katherine Heigl, T.R. Knight Leaving Grey's Anatomy, Says Costar [Us]

As near as we can tell, it's because of a lazy media that takes its story cues from Perez Hilton, of all people. The gossip frequently attacks celebrities for smoking—most notably, Katherine Heigl, and most recently, Salma Hayek. In fact, it's the latter instance that appeared to inspire the Daily News article, which goes on to boldly note that all sorts of celebrities light up:

Teen idol (and frequent smoker) The Hills star Lauren Conrad never appears on her hit reality show with a cigarette - and goes to great lengths to abstain from puffing in public. "She avoids it," says [X-17 owner Frank] Navarre.

Onetime closet smoker Britney Spears now openly flaunts her Marlboro Lights, while Anne Hathaway just admitted she was a smoker for years - before she quit this summer.

And new mom Ashlee Simpson-Wentz was a top-secret smoker who went to great lengths to hide her habit before she became pregnant, even ducking behind a pal when one of our reporters caught her in the act last year.

Much like Perez, the Daily News is weirdly focused only on actresses who smoke, not actors. Surely, they would be able to find just as many male celebrities that light up—and why? Because (in news that may shock anyone who has never set foot in Hollywood or been in a high school drama club), actors smoke. All of them. Yep, even him. And her! In fact, that's probably the least of their vices (we've also heard that they fornicate!).

Don't get us wrong: smoking is grody, and you shouldn't do it. Hell, we have a grandma who died of lung cancer, and that sucks! But why should we care that Katherine Heigl (in particular) lights up? Why is it that if we mention running into Heigl on the street in Los Feliz, a friend will inevitably ask, "Was she smoking?" Yes, she was smoking. She is an actress.

At least the Daily News kind of eventually admits to this reality, in the form of this final quote from X17's Navarre:

"A lot of celebrities smoke - a lot," he said. "Young Hollywood is still a big smoker. The [anti-smoking] campaign has no effect on them."

Yes, no duh. They're also doing cocaine at the wrap parties for their Disney channel television shows. Is this news?

[Photo Credit: X17]

• Gotcha! Salma Hayek, more star smokers try to hide the habit [NY Daily News]

Blogger Crazy Days and Nights posted word that Knight had walked off the show this morning, then later filled in his scoop:

So, I got a little more information from my source and they say, "He hasn't attended table reads since episode 2. He is pissed and miserable and thinks his story line is stupid. He said goodbye to his hair and makeup people last week. He says he is done and has quit. ABC has not released him. Shondra Rhimes, the producer called him and he told her he had nothing to say. He has packed his dressing room." That is all the information we have at this time.

If true, Knight may find leaving the show difficult — after all, EW reported that he had already renegotiated a pay raise going into this season. Still, once a gaywashing has begun, it's hard to stop. Brain aneurysms for everybody!

• T.R. Knight Update [CADN]

The bracing report places Heigl just below top earner Angelina Jolie and runners-up Julia Roberts, Reese Witherspoon and Cameron Diaz — not a bad showing for a woman only one Judd Apatow blockbuster removed from once starring in the lowest-grossing film in history. Indeed, we knew she had come a long way since her red-carpet shitkicker days, but even $13 million and an Emmy for Grey's Anatomy — where writers privately gab about killing off her character — doesn't seem like it would be enough to knock off the Kidmans, Anistons, or even the Naomi Wattses and Halle Berrys of the world. Fifth? Show your work, THR.

• Oprah Winfrey tops 'THR''s Power 100 List [THR via People]

A source close to the show tells me, "The reason [the actor] has not been on is because [he or she] has been a pain in the ass lately, trying to change scenes and dialogue, being hard to work with and putting up an attitude. The higher-ups were getting tired of it, so they tweaked [him or her] out of some episodes. That's why you haven't really seen [him or her] lately."

A second source seconds that emotion: "[He or she] is not really getting along too well with producers right now."

So who are the likely culprits? Patrick Dempsey has publicly implied his disapproval with story decisions this year, but hasn't suffered a notable scaling-back on-screen. Meanwhile, go-to Grey's problem girl Katherine Heigl is currently enmeshed in the most ridiculous, high-profile storyline the show has right now: boffing the equivalent of her imaginary friend.

Thus, we're left to conclude it's T.R. Knight who attempting to salvage his scenes and getting them cut in the process, especially since Knight's George has barely registered this season. EW's Michael Ausiello has posted a similar blind item that implies an original cast member of a hit show may be permanently excised — will Knight be the next to fall under the Grey's casting scalpel?

• Grey's Anatomy Blind Item: Who's in the Doghouse? [E!]

Boomp3.com

Popular TV doc Katherine Heigl nearly passed out on the red carpet after catching a whiff of her beloved pooch’s breath. Heigl knew her dog’s breath was going to be rather intense, but she obviously underestimated the strength of it. Heigl said, “Looks like we’ll have to up Ronaldo’s brushings to five times a day like his mommy.” Heigl also mentioned she will most likely introduce an intensive program similar to the program she introduced to break rocker husband Joshua Kelley of his bad single-man habits. Heigl added, “It took two weeks, but he learned to love sitting down while going pee.”

[Photo Credit: Splash Pics]

*A Call To The Bullpen is a work of fiction. Although the pictures we use are most certainly real, Defamer does not purport that any of the incidents or quotations you see in this piece actually happened. Lighten up, people ... it's a joke.

Boomp3.com

Hot TV doc Katherine Heigl struggled greatly as she attempted to flag down a valet, taxicab, party van or any other motorist in Los Angeles on Monday night. The Bug Buster star was anxious to get back home to catch the latest episode of The Hills since she forgot to record it and rocker hubby Joshua Kelley was off somewhere singing for his supper. After fifteen minutes of arm waving and jumping up and down, Heigl felt that her glasses may have been the problem. Heigl tossed her Tina Fey shades aside and began the quest for attention again. Sadly, the removal of the glasses did not improve Heigl’s chances.

[Photo Credit: X17]

*A Call To The Bullpen is a work of fiction. Although the pictures we use are most certainly real, Defamer does not purport that any of the incidents or quotations you see in this piece actually happened. Lighten up, people ... it's a joke.

Boomp3.com

It looks like Grey’s Anatomy star Katherine Heigl fell off the non-smoking wagon once again. Heigl had a good excuse for her return to the addictive habit: driving on the 405 freeway. Heigl had to swing down to Snoop Town aka Long Beach to pick up her mother from the local airport and what should have been a quick trip turned into hour of sitting still. Heigl said, “I don’t get it. I thought we were in a gas crunch and people were driving less these days. Wrong! Nope. Apparently, everybody is still driving and they’re on the 405 when I have to pick up my momager. She was so cheesed off.” With the mounting stress, Heigl turned the only thing she knew that would relieve the tension. Heigl added, “I was doing so well, but I guess I’m not strong enough to face the 405 yet.”

[Photo Credit: X17]

*A Call To The Bullpen is a work of fiction. Although the pictures we use are most certainly real, Defamer does not purport that any of the incidents or quotations you see in this piece actually happened. Lighten up, people ... it's a joke.

Boomp3.com

While a majority of Hollywood’s biggest and brightest TV stars were getting all dolled for the Emmys this past weekend, one of the other stars had plans of her own. Grey’s Anatomy star Katherine Heigl, who decided to sit this year’s Emmys out, went furniture shopping with her best gal pal, her mom. Heigl said, “I could’ve gotten all dressed up and walked the red carpet with everybody else, but you know what? Been there, done that. Now shopping for modern Danish furniture? That’s an adventure I’m willing tackle week after week.”

[Photo Credit: INF Daily]

*A Call To The Bullpen is a work of fiction. Although the pictures we use are most certainly real, Defamer does not purport that any of the incidents or quotations you see in this piece actually happened. Lighten up, people ... it's a joke.

It's too late for that, though, and in any case, he has good — if slim — company in the so-called Nickel Club: A-listers with recent films that couldn't break $100K domestically before heading off to home-entertainment oblivion. Take a deep breath of equally rare air after the jump.

· Jessica Simpson, Blonde Ambition — $6,422

Like several of her fellow Nickel Clubbers, Simpson fared much better internationally. A lot better. As in, 99.6% of Ambition's $1.4 million gross was earned overseas. But things will come around once she pays her dues; it doesn't get much harder than a minty love scene with Dane Cook.

· Paris Hilton, The Hottie and the Nottie — $27,696

Another global sensation who nevertheless couldn't hack it at home, Hilton has since moved into documentaries. We salute her new strategy and wish her only the best.

· John Cusack, Grace is Gone — $50,899

An oft-told tale of hubris, mistiming and waste: Cusack's award-winning Sundance drama cashed in at Park City with $4 million of Harvey Weinstein's money. The mogul dumped the film and his Oscar-campaign plans by the end of the year. NB: Cusack's follow-up, War Inc., did 10 times the business last spring almost entirely via word-of-mouth, never creeping over 33 screens.

Honorable Mention: Katherine Heigl, Zyzzyx Road — $30

Filmed not long before Heigl broke through on Grey's Anatomy, history's lowest-grossing release sold exactly five tickets during a one-week run in Dallas in 2006 — one of which was purchased by its own makeup artist. It has picked up nicely as a cult DVD, on wwhich Heigl receives top billing.

[Photo Credit: Getty Images]

• What happened to Matthew McConaughey's 'Surfer, Dude?' [EW]

Boomp3.com

Evidence that even the famous are feeling the sting of the current economic crunch was displayed when Grey’s Anatomy star Katherine Heigl was spotted holding a dollar bill in Los Feliz yesterday. Heigl is interested in refurnishing her home, but she has to stick to her budget. Heigl said, “I feel like that kid in front of the ice cream truck just yelling, ‘What can I get for such and such’. Nobody has been that helpful so far. Just a lot of eye rolling and comments about how I should save it for the valet.” That said, Heigl’s strict budgeting has not affected the necessities. Heigl added, “We’re going to get the biggest HDTV they have at Best Buy. Maybe we’ll be able to write that off as a business expense since I have to see how I look in Hi-Def and all. I heard that I shouldn’t have anything to worry about.”

[Photo Credit: X17]

*A Call To The Bullpen is a work of fiction. Although the pictures we use are most certainly real, Defamer does not purport that any of the incidents or quotations you see in this piece actually happened. Lighten up, people ... it's a joke.

Boomp3.com

Katherine Heigl's alleged heart of steel began to soften up after playing with a pit bull puppy on Tuesday night. After playing with the dog for a few moments, Heigl felt that she might not be able to handle all the cuteness. Heigl said, "He's just sooooo cute," before descending into five minutes of pure gibberish and baby talk. After ten minutes of playtime, the puppy's owner was anxious to get back home, but Heigl showed no signs of letting go.

[Photo Credit: Splash Pics]

*A Call To The Bullpen is a work of fiction. Although the pictures we use are most certainly real, Defamer does not purport that any of the incidents or quotations you see in this piece actually happened. Lighten up, people ... it's a joke.

Grey's Anatomy star Katherine Heigl seized a golden opportunity and went out for a jog during Los Angeles's magic hour last night. Once she moved past the smog, traffic snarls, and unsavory characters that lined the streets, the beauty of the city surprised Heigl. However, Heigl could not escape a group of photographers who popped out of bushes, trees, and water fountains as she ran. Heigl stopped mid-stride and asked, "Can't I just work on my fitness without you and your entire posse snappily judging me? I need to get in shape for my man, the rocker. No, not the Rainn Wilson variety. He's more like the John Mayer variety, minus all that Jennifer Aniston bashing. Love her, btw. Now, either let me jog in peace or go fetch me a purple-flavored Vitamin Water from the 7-11."

[Photo Credit: X17]

*A Call To The Bullpen is a work of fiction. Although the pictures we use are most certainly real, Defamer does not purport that any of the incidents or quotations you see in this piece actually happened. Lighten up, people ... it's a joke.

• WATCH VIDEO

This week's installment also includes: Katherine Heigl, Anthony Michael Hall, Bryan Singer, Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, Louie Anderson, Tatyana Ali, Gordon Ramsey, Catherine Keener, Bradley Cooper, Victor Garber and more!

SATURDAY, AUGUST 9
· Saw KATHERINE HEIGL at Cliff's Edge in Silverlake. My parents were in town and we wanted to take them someplace nice. We were sitting up in the outside covered area when Heigl and her entourage (which included her mother) were seated next to us. Alas, she decided that she didn't want to sit there (I heard her say something about not being able to smoke. Dead serious.), so they moved to a very secluded corner. Or, she may not have wanted to sit by us because when she came in, my sister nudged me and I totally turned around in my seat to look at who or what prompted the nudge ... perhaps she thought I was a super-fan who would lose my shit if she sat next to us. She would have been safe as I am not. Also, her voice is pretty annoying in person —way crackier than it is in movies.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13
· Saw ANTHONY MICHAEL HALL at Farmer's Market on Wednesday Aug 13th with Fiona Forbes (she's a Canadian tv host who no one in LA would reconize but i did!) He's still a little geeky.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 16
· Fiesta Cantina, The 'Ho: Fighting my way through the gay-os to secure one last 2-for-1 drink special, I spotted BRYAN SINGER jauntily hopping to the music as he entered. He looked fresh and young but not as fresh and young looking as the A&F wearing tyke he was with.
· JERRY O'CONNELL stopped by the 12 Shiny Nickels comedy show in Hollywood on Saturday night to see Carpoolers co-star TJ Miller perform. Seemed to have a delightful time.

MONDAY, AUGUST 18
· Around 11:30ish, saw PUFF DADDY trying to de-puff himself with some light cardio at Equinox West Hollywood. Take that, take that!
· LOUIE ANDERSON in front of Susina on Beverly.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 19
· Saw twice in one night: the beautiful TATYANA ALI at Gingergrass and Hyperion Tavern with some friends.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 20
· Had two good sightings in one night along the douchey Sunset Strip. First, outside of Ketchup, chef GORDON RAMSEY and his family. He was laid back and non-shouty, his kids looked happy and content and not snobby and privileged (I always look at the kids to see if they look miserable!). Then, later that night, outside of BLD Craft we see CATHERINE KEENER in the valet area. I spot her as we walk up and just as we pass her I said in a dorky voice "Catherine Keener, I love you". It cracked up the valet but she looked utterly confused and surprised (but awesome).
· Mini-Alias nonreunion in the Arclight lobby: BRADLEY COOPER exited with hipster friends; one minute later, VICTOR GARBER entered.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 22
· KIEFER SUTHERLAND must like the sandwiches at Dan Subs. Because he was there in Woodland Hills, on Ventura Blvd, again. This time, he was with GARY OLDMAN a Gary Oldman lookalike. Kiefer did not look so good — he looked exhausted. But he seemed to be enjoying his sub, but not nearly as much as the two stunning brunettes that were with them.