Puret Blog's

Everyone's favorite reality TV couple are back together. After weeks of rumors and a reported 11th-hour contract signing that nearly derailed the first day of auditions, former "American Idol" judge Paula Abdul will has officially taken her seat beside her ex-"Idol" sparring partner Simon Cowell on his upcoming U.S. version of "The X Factor."

Announced on Sunday evening, the addition of Paula Abdul to the show completes the judging panel, which also includes former music executive Antonio "L.A." Reid and British singer and U.K. "X Factor" judge Cheryl Cole.

According to reports, Cowell was prepared to pull the plug on Sunday's auditions when Paula Abdul didn't sign her contract until just before taking the stage.

"I am excited beyond words to be a part of the 'X Factor.' I couldn't be happier to bring my love for cultivating talent and performance to such a wildly anticipated show," said Paula Abdul in the announcement. "[I] know that it will be an extraordinary journey — we're going to have a blast. I'm also delighted and grateful to be sitting next to Simon again ... but you might want to check back with me in a week or two!"

Open auditions for the show will continue in Dallas on May 26. Unlike other reality singing competitions, contestants on "X Factor" sing in front of an audience of thousands as well as the four judges in their first audition.


Though Cowell told the audience that they would serve as the "fifth judge" and be relied on to help decide who will get the $5 million grand prize, The Hollywood Reporter said the crowd apparently was taking that advice too far and had to be asked by producers to boo the singers less as a way to "temper negativity on the show."

The program also revealed its co-hosts over the weekend, former Pussycat Dolls singer Nicole Scherzinger and British TV personality Steve Jones. Though her solo singing career has struggled to take off, Scherzinger has found success as a guest judge on the U.K. version of "The X Factor."

Scherzinger, too, said she was excited to be on the Stateside version of the program, which is slated to launch in the fall. "I am thrilled to be asked by Simon Cowell to host 'The X Factor'," said the singer, who also is a one-time "Dancing With the Stars" winner. "I loved working alongside Simon on the U.K. show, and cannot wait to see what he has in store for the U.S. I'm so excited to work with Steve Jones and help discover astounding talent from across the country!(S)

Time for a little porn math -- Pippa Middleton = 5 Octomoms ... because TMZ has learned a major company is offering Kate's little sister a whopping $5,000,000 ... for JUST ONE SCENE.

Vivid Entertainment honcho Steven Hirsch sent Pippa Middleton the letter, saying he thought Pippa Middleton was the star of the Royal Wedding and that her "beauty and attitude" would make her a huge adult star. The fact she had some semi-racy photos surface this week probably didn't hurt either.


But get this -- Hirsch is also offering $1 million to another member of her family for doing a scene ... Pippa Middleton brother James! (S)

Click here to read the letter (in pdf file)

HOBOKEN, N.J. – A commuter train crash that left dozens with mostly minor injuries and the derailment of an empty Amtrak train in a tunnel put Monday morning's commute in jeopardy in New York City, where travelers were urged to allow extra time even though additional buses and ferries would be provided and most agencies planned to honor each other's tickets.

The PATH commuter train, headed here from New York, crashed at about 8:30 Sunday morning as it pulled into the last station on its route, injuring 34 and shutting down the tracks for hours. Some service was restored later.

None of the injuries was considered life-threatening, though several victims were taken away on stretchers or put in neck braces as a precaution, Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer said. The injured, who mostly sustained cuts and bruises, were taken to three area hospitals for treatment, and most, if not all, were expected to be released later in the day.

PATH train service into and out of the station in Hoboken, just across the Hudson River from New York City, was suspended for about 11 hours because of the crash, but some service resumed on at least one of the station's three tracks around 7:30 p.m. Sunday, giving officials hope that the morning commute wouldn't be as hectic as initially believed.

Port Authority and city officials said crews would be working through the night as needed to make repairs to damaged track and other areas of the Hoboken station. It was hoped that at least two of the tracks would be ready for the commute.

The PATH, or Port Authority Trans-Hudson, system is the main transit link between Manhattan and neighboring New Jersey urban communities and suburban commuter railroads. It handles nearly 250,000 passenger trips each weekday, fewer on weekends.

A few hours after the PATH crash, an empty Amtrak train derailed in New York's East River tunnel on the other side of Manhattan. No crew members were injured, Amtrak spokeswoman Danelle Hunter told the Daily News. A broken rail led to the derailment, the Long Island Rail Road said.

It reduced its Monday schedule for trains operating into Penn Station, canceling 13 trains and planning to divert six others. The agency warned of delays of up to 20 minutes.

Riders of Amtrak and New Jersey Transit were likely to experience delays and service changes as well. Both are also routed through Penn Station, which serves half a million passengers daily and is the country's busiest train station.

Passengers on the PATH train said it had been a routine trip until they suddenly were knocked around by the impact at the station.
"People were stunned, but nobody was really going crazy or anything," said Tom Gordon, of Jersey City, who was riding in the train's front car with about 15 other people. "I didn't know what had happened at first."

Gordon, who was headed home from his security job at a New York City apartment building, said he was half-asleep as the train pulled into the station on track No. 2. But he was quickly awakened and jolted from his seat by the crash.

He was taken to a hospital for treatment of minor arm and rib injuries and left Sunday afternoon with his arm in a sling.

The cause of the crash remained under investigation, but city police said it appeared that a mechanical failure was to blame. The National Transportation Safety Board and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey were investigating.

Officials said the train's motorman would be tested for drugs and alcohol, which is standard policy in such crashes. They said there was no reason or evidence to suggest that the motorman had been impaired at the time of the crash.

Witnesses described the scene at the station as "controlled chaos," saying people were mostly calm but very concerned for the injured. Zimmer praised the efforts of emergency responders from Hoboken and surrounding communities who answered their call for assistance.

"Everyone did a great job," she said.

Zimmer said updated information on service disruptions would be posted on the city's and Port Authority's websites. (s)

Mark Zuckerberg is, at age 26, on the young side for a first-time home buyer these days. But the Facebook cofounder and chief executive isn’t exactly stretching financially to make his first purchase. Valued at $13.5 billion, and with a persona made famous by the Oscar-winning film The Social Network, Zuckerberg recently plunked down a relatively paltry $7 million for his first home.

The restored historic Palo Alto, Calif. abode encompasses 5,617 square feet on a 17,100 square-foot plot. It includes five bedrooms, five and a half baths, a banquet-size dining room, a music alcove and glassed-in porch. The backyard has a saltwater pool, a spa, an outdoor gazebo with a wood-burning fireplace and a carport. The lot, located on Edgewood Drive in the Crescent Park neighborhood, is shielded from nosy neighbors and gawkers by a wall and citrus trees. Crescent Park itself is a high-end neighborhood where median single-family homes went for an average of $1.9 million in February, according to the Zillow Home Value Index.

The young billionaire’s new pad hails from an earlier structure erected by William A. Newell, a physician and politician who helped establish and govern the area in the late 19th century. It was razed and rebuilt by another physician in 1903. Since then, it changed hands roughly seven times, going through several remodelings, before being acquired by the social media entrepreneur.

The property was listed through Sherry Bucolo of Alain Pinel Realtors. Both Bucolo and Facebook declined to comment on the sale, but public records indicate the deal closed in mid-March. As with most real estate transactions involving rich and famous homebuyers, the sale was conducted through a third party LLC.

The young billionaire has long been a fan of renting and of relatively modest digs. His last two places were rentals in the College Terrace neighborhood of Palo Alto, both of which were close to Facebook’s offices and significantly smaller than the new home.

Zuckerberg, who ranks 52nd on Forbes’ list of the World’s Billionaires, paid $1 million more than the previously listed asking price of $5.85 million. The $7 million paid is about what the home is valued in the expensive 94301 zip code, according to Zillow.com.

That might seem like a hefty price tag to many middle Americans, but it’s pee wee league among billionaires. Yuri Milner, a venture capital billionaire and Facebook investor, shelled out $100 million for an 11 acre, 25,000 square foot estate in the area earlier this year. In April, news broke that Rinat Akhmetov, Ukraine’s wealthiest billionaire, had snatched up a London penthouse for $221 million, the most ever paid for an apartment anywhere.(s)

Popular actress Natalie Portman (29 yo) is reportedly engaged and pregnant with choreographer Benjamin Millepied. The two lovebirds first met at the production of Black Swan – for which Natalie Portman has garnererd praise and a host of nominations.

Natalie Portman Pregnant and Engaged
Natalie Portman is expecting in 2011 – and will still have time to complete her upcoming romantic comedy with Ashton Kutcher ‘No Strings Attached’.

Ginnifer Goodwin donned a short-sleeved Fall 2011 Herve Leger mini dress with houndstooth-check stripes at the recent premiere of her new film, "Something Borrowed," a romantic comedy that also stars Kate Hudson.

Ginnifer Goodwin, who will turn 33 on May 22, completed the look with a gold clutch and gold earrings and strappy black sandals.

In the film, which was released on Friday, May 6, 2011, Ginnifer Goodwin plays terminally single Rachel, who falls for Dex, the fiance of Hudson's character, Darcy, who is her best friend.

Both actresses are engaged in real life. Ginnifer Goodwin, who is also known for playing Margene in the HBO polygamy drama "Big Love," and boyfriend Joey Kern announced in December that they planned to wed. This will be the actress' first marriage. (S)

Thor, a powerful but arrogant warrior, is sent down to Earth as punishment for reigniting a reckless war. But after a dangerous villain from his world sends the darkest forces of Asgard to invade Earth, the hammer-wielding Thor will learn what it takes to be a true hero in order to save mankind.

Actors
Chris Hemsworth (Thor)
Natalie Portman (Jane Foster)
Tom Hiddleston (Loki)
Anthony Hopkins (Odin)
Stellan Skarsgard (Dr. Erik Selvig/ Professor Erik Selvig)
Kat Dennings (Darcy Lewis)
Clark Gregg (Agent Coulson)
Colm Feore (Laufey)
Idris Elba (Heimdall)
Ray Stevenson (Volstagg)
Tadanobu Asano (Hogun the Grim)
Joshua Dallas (Fandral)
Adriana Barraza (Isabel Alvarez)
Jaimie Alexander (Sif)
Rene Russo (Frigga)
Adriana Barraza
Matt Battaglia (Pete)

Also Known As:

• Thor 3D
• Thor: An IMAX 3D Experience

Production Status: In Production/Awaiting Release
Logline: Thor, the hammer-wielding, Norse god of thunder, is banished to Earth but becomes a hero.
Genres: Action/Adventure and Adaptation
Running Time: 2 hr. 10 min.
Release Date: May 6th, 2011 (wide)
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for sequences of intense sci-fi action and violence.
Distributors: Paramount Pictures
Production Co.: Marvel Studios, Marvel Entertainment
Filming Locations:

1. Manhattan Beach, California, USA
2. Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
3. Getty Center, Los Angeles, California, USA

Produced in: United States