'Jersey Shore's'Ronnie and Sammi reunite in Italy: Exes caught kissing and holding hands

That's amore -- again.

"Jersey Shores"'s on-off-on-off coupleRonnie Ortiz-MagroandSammi"Sweetheart"Giancolaare back together for what seems like the billionth time.

The two were caught kissing, hugging and holding hands while inFlorence,Italy, where they're filming the next season of theMTVshow, reportsRadar.

When"Jersey Shore"ended its third season in March, Ortiz-Magro and Giancola were split, seemingly once and for all, after he caught her in a lie about hooking up with a guy named Arvin. Although Giancola denied any hanky-panky, Ortiz-Magro got Arvin on the phone, who revealed the truth:"Sam, we've made out before."

The couple's countless fights -- which, at times, turned physical -- served as the plot line for many episodes last season. In one, Giancola, 24, punched Ortiz-Magro, 23, in the face after he made amends with her then-nemesisJenni"JWoww"Farley.

Later, he trashed their shared bedroom and even threw her bed onto the adjoining outdoor deck. After that, Giancola moved out of theirSeaside Heightsshore house -- only to be wooed back when he sent her flowers.

Ironically, Ortiz-Magro, along with Farley, is currently writing a book called"Never Fall in Love at the Jersey Shore."

For the fourth season of"Jersey Shore,"the cast will reportedly be working in a local pizzeria in Florence.

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Kanye West spotted with Miss Europe 2005 Shermine Shahrivar at Cannes after dating Angela Martini

Angela Martinimissed her flight toCanneson Wednesday night - and it's probably a good thing.

HadMiss Universe Albania2010 actually jetted to the Croisette, she might have caughtKanye Westmaking time with another beauty queen: Miss Europe 2005 Shermine Shahrivar.

A source in the South ofFrancetells us the hip-hop artist was cozy with Shahrivar, who's of Iranian descent but now lives in theU.S.and has modeled forAmerican Apparel. She was recently linked with"Twilight"actorXavier Samuel.

The knife-eyed brunette met West at the poolside VIP area at the after-party for amfAR's"Cinema Against AIDS"fund-raiser at the Hotel du Cap in nearbyAntibes.

Our source says West and Shahrivar"kind of avoided each other"for part of the night, but eventually slunk off"to a couch by themselves."They left"hand in hand,"around 2:30 a.m., the source adds.

We're also hearing that West and Shahrivar were together at the Cannes club restaurant Baoli on Tuesday night.

West has certainly been popular at Cannes. Sunday, he was photographed kissing a blond on a hotel balcony. The woman was initially reported to beKate Upton, but more recent speculation is that she was model/actressVirginie Maury.

Shots of Kanye's Cannes clinch did not sit well with Martini. A stateside source says that after the hottie saw the images, she canceled her original plan to fly to Cannes last Sunday.

As we reported last week, Martini and West have been seeing each other for about five months, although one source familiar with the couple seemed skeptical that their relationship was"exclusive."

That said, we hear they went to theCoachella Music Festivaltogether inIndio, Calif., last month, and traveled together toParismore than once, most recently at the end of April. A source there says Kanye and Martini partied at La Villa, where the rapper introduced Martini as his"girlfriend."They also attended theCostume Instituteafter-party at the Top of the Standard on May 2.

But Martini already may be thinking of her jet-setting romance with West in the past tense. Martini booked another flight for Cannes for late Wednesday, but as she tweeted at @Angela-Martini the following day:"My flight got cancel{led} last night,"adding: )."I guess everything happens for a reason ! NY is where the love is."

You can say that again, Ange.

Contact Gatecrasher:
Frank DiGiacomo:fdigiacomo@nydailynews.com
Carson Griffith:cgriffith@nydailynews.com

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Just call him the'Gropinator': Arnold's baby-mama reportedly boasted he was grabby

LOS ANGELES- The"Gropinator"had at least least one fan - his baby-mama maid.

Mildred Baenareportedly boasted thatArnold Schwarzeneggerwas grabby, the very behavior that nearly doomed his political aspirations.

"Mildred said he had long hands. He would grab her behind often,"saidNora Montes, 57, whose daughter was married to Baena's eldest son until 2009, told the Daily News.

"She liked the attention."

Others didn't. When the former movie star was running for governor ofCaliforniain 2004, he was rocked by allegations from six women who said he had wandering hands.

He denied groping anyone - and wifeMaria Shriverstood by him even as he admitted he had"behaved badly sometimes."

That was a whopper of an understatement considering that Schwarzenegger had already sired a love child with Baena, his family's trusted housekeeper.

Shriver was in the dark until Schwarzenegger left the governor's office in January and then confessed to the affair and secret son.

But she had certainly met the child, who bears an uncanny resemblance to the"Conan the Barbarian"muscleman. Montes says Schwarzenegger took his onetime paramour and the kid on at least one family vacation.

The former"Terminator"money-machine has put his Hollywood comeback on hold while the scandal unfolds.

The two-timer's animated"Governator"TV series - in which he was to be an action hero with a double life - bit the dust. He also canceled an appearance at the grand opening ofUniversal StudiosSingaporenext week.

"He was not disinvited. He called them on Tuesday to say he did not want to travel toAsia,"a source close to him said."His focus is not on himself. From his standpoint, it's not about him anymore. It's about his family."

Shriver's four kids are said to be rallying around her. Eldest daughter Katherine, 21, reportedly is furious.

"It's tense,"an insider told Us magazine."Everyone feels betrayed and embarrassed that it's out in the open. Not for their dad's sake but for Maria."

ndillon@nydailynews.com

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Arnold Schwarzenegger, Dominique Strauss-Kahn have much (disgrace) in common

Spectacular-Fall-From-Grace Week was in high gear inManhattan Criminal Courton Thursday, when a court officer admonished the chattering classes to zip it.

"Okay, people!"he said."Keep it down to a dull roar!"

Cops were about to bring in one of the most powerful men in the world,Dominique Strauss-Kahn, who was a front-runner for the French presidency until this week when, prosecutors say, he failed to zip something else and attacked a hotel maid.

Think a hornyWarren Buffett/Hillary Clintonhybrid.

Strauss-Kahn's rich wife,Anne Sinclair, was theDiane SawyerofFrancebefore she gave up her career to further her oversexed hubby's political ambitions.

Wait a minute, do I have the right story - is thisMaria ShriverandArnold Schwarzenegger?

No, that was the other plummet fromMount Olympusthis week: A couple who had everything: money, power, looks, happiness - and a horny guy with a deep, dark secret.

"She looks a wreck,"said one courtroom observer of Sinclair, there to find out ifJudge Michael Obuswould let her husband live with her in an apartment she's rented in the city, rather than stay inRikers Island.

See, they don't have hors d'ouevres there. Definitely no fois gras. At Rikers, it's ...how do you say"yucky"in French?

The bail amount offered by the defense - $1 million - is said to be Sinclair's cash. Strauss-Kahn claims to have a net worth of only $2 million.

Could I get the name of his accountant please?

Sinclair's got plenty more where that came from: She is the sole heir of her grandfatherPaul Rosenberg, one of the first art dealers to discoverPicasso.

This week, Sinclair defended her husband against charges of a sexual attack made by a hotel maid, a hardworkingBronxwidow and mother who is ironically from a French colony.

"He will be found innocent,"Sinclair said after Saturday's incident.

She didn't change her statement to her fellow journalists yesterday.

Sinclair has defended Strauss-Kahn before, when a staffer at theInternational Monetary Fundclaimed he sexually harassed her. This week, the goddaughter of his second wife said he'd done the same to her.

Maria Shriver also stood by her man when six women came forward during Schwarzenegger's gubernatorial campaign to claim he groped them.

I guess Shriver thought all those disparate women were hallucinating. We're not sure what Sinclair really thinks of her husband'sNew Yorkaccuser, a devout Muslim, and why she would make up such a claim.

As Strauss-Kahn heard in the American courtroom, there's a presumption of innocence in this country.

Key forensic test results are not back yet, and an American jury has yet to hear the case.

Despite standing in a courtroom on the 13th floor, Thursday was Strauss-Kahn's lucky day.

Obus decreed Strauss-Kahn could get out of Rikers today to live under house arrest, watched 2-4/7 by private armed guards and videocams.

An even bigger worry will be the public eye in what is sure to be a media circus that will dwarf theO.J. Simpsonmurder case.

"It's not like this in France,"a French diplomat sniffed.

"The initial investigations of cases are all done privately, with just the judge and the lawyers."

Welcome toAmerica, pal.

jmolloy@nydailynews.com

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'The Bachelor'star Brad Womack and Emily Maynard's engagement may be off, Brad'drunk dials'her

Are they or aren't they?

Brad Womack and Emily Maynard - the tabloid-happy pair who initially met while filming"The Bachelor"- are reportedly in a rough patch again, and this time for good.

According to sources close to the couple, the rocky relationship has officially ended, but Bachelor Brad can't seem to let go.

"Brad and Emily are over, and Brad keeps drunk-dialing her,"an insider toldUs magazine."Brad is such a loser."

Distance is reportedly the culprit of the split, though the problem is hardly new. The two lovebirds acknowledged it would be an issue at the start of theirrelationshipand eventual engagement last November.

"Emily is happy in Charlotte {North Caroline} and is not moving to Austin with {her 5-year-old daughter} Ricki,"another source said."She is content."

Us also reported that single mom Maynard was the one to initiate the separation because she didn't want to relocate 5-year-old daughter Ricki.

The pair previously split earlier this year, when rumors of infidelity tainted the engagement.

"Brad seemed very complacent all of a sudden,"an insider toldLife& Styleat the time."He did everything he could to woo and charm Emily on the show, and then it just slowed.

"Emily knows he likes Texas, he likes his bars and booze, so she's just wondering if he likes someone else. It started to really worry Emily. She felt like, 'If he's not wanting to see her, who is he with?'"

jchen@nydailynews.com

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Titans of business, Warren Buffett and George Soros, avoid each other at HBO party

HBO's"Too Big to Fail"film premiere was not big enough to keepWarren BuffettandGeorge Sorosin the same room.

Sources who attended the cable network's bash at the Four Seasons say theWall Streetrock stars, whose investment strategies couldn't be more different, stayed well apart during the evening.

A source tells us Soros held court at a table in the center of the Four Seasons' Grill Room, where titans of finance lunch on weekdays.

Buffett, however, presided over a table of female financial journalists in the Pool Room, which is at the other end of a long passageway.

With the two titans of finance in opposite strongholds, one reveler says,"It was like having a scale of wealth"teetering back and forth. The soiree feted HBO's adaptation ofAndrew Ross Sorkin's book about the 2008 Wall Street crash and subsequent bailout.

Neither investor seemed interested in upsetting the balance by mingling. In fact, another party guest says that when Buffett arrived at the party via the Grill Room, with financial writerDevon Spurgeon, a photographer approached to suggest theBerkshire Hathawaybillionaire take a shot with Soros, who was also with"a much younger blond."

"Buffett looked a little uncomfortable with the request,"the source says."He said he was on his way into the other room and then hurried away,"with blond in tow.

Safely ensconced in the Pool Room, the elegantly dressed Buffett ensured privacy by taking a table on the raised terrace, which is protected by a brass railing. A source says he was further buffered by an all-female table of guests including Spurgeon, Fortune editorCarol Loomis,CNBC'sBecky Quickand BusinessWire's Cathy Baron Tamraz.

"No one could get to him,"says one source, who said that despite Buffett's sequestered state, he was able to enjoy the lavish Four Seasons spread, thanks to one woman at his table who ministered to his culinary needs.

"He was sitting right by the dessert buffet. And he enjoyed that dessert buffet a lot,"says the source.

Also at the party wereEd Asner, who plays Buffett in the film;William Hurt, who we hear is memorable asTreasury Secretary Hank Paulson;Ajay Mehta, who portraysCitibankchiefVikram Pandit; andCynthia Nixon, who plays Treasury adviserMichele Davis. That's rich.

Contact Gatecrasher:
Frank DiGiacomo:fdigiacomo@nydailynews.com
Carson Griffith:cgriffith@nydailynews.com

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Arnold Schwarzenegger, Maria Shriver split over baby he fathered with member of household staff

FormerCaliforniagovernorArnold Schwarzeneggerand his glamorous wife,Maria Shriver, split up because he fathered a child with a member of their household staff.

The couple, together for 25 years, announced their separation earlier this month, but remained mum on what cause the split.

Schwarzenegger said in a statement to theLos Angeles Timeslate Monday they broke up after he admitted to Shriver that the child, born 10 years ago, was his.

"After leaving the governor's office I told my wife about this event, which occurred over a decade ago,"Schwarzenegger said in the statement.

"I understand and deserve the feelings of anger and disappointment among my friends and family,"he said."There are no excuses and I take full responsibility for the hurt I have caused. I have apologized to Maria, my children and my family. I am truly sorry."

The 63-year-old actor and former bodybuilder asked that the media"respect my wife and children through this extremely difficult time. While I deserve your attention and criticism, my family does not."

Shriver, a television journalist and the daughter ofSargent ShriverandEunice Kennedy Shriver, sister ofJohn F. Kennedy, had no comment, the paper reported.

In a separate statement, the employee told the Times she had initially said her husband at the time was the child's father. The birth occurred years before Schwarzenegger became governor of California in 2004.

Another source told the Times that Schwarzenegger has supported the child financially from the beginning.

The newspaper reported that the child's mother had worked for the couple for at least 20 years before retiring in January. The Times did not reveal her name, job or of the gender of the child.

"I wanted to achieve my 20 years, then I asked to retire,"the woman said, noting she"left on good terms."

Schwarzenegger had faced accusations in the past that he had a habit of groping women. Shriver, 55, stood by him during that period, but the"Conan"actor later admitted he"behaved badly sometimes."

The couple has four children together, two girls and two boys. They have been married since 1986.

Since his term as California's governor ended in early January, Schwarzenegger has traveled the globe, meeting with world leaders and trying to restart his movie career. He is expected to return to the big screen in the drama"Cry Macho."

The former action star may also resurrect the blockbuster"Terminator"movie franchise.

With News Wire Services

msheridan@nydailynews.com; or follow him atTwitter.com/NYDNSheridan

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Kanye West's latest rumored girlfriend is Miss Universe Albania Angela Martini

Kanye Westhas a new gal pal:Miss Universe Albania Angela Martini. Sources close to the NEXT Model Management brunette say Martini and West have been seeing each other for a few months, though it's unclear how serious things are.

"They are dating,"one source tells us."I just don't know if it's exclusive."Another says, however, that Martini"really likes"West and is"hoping they'll announce a relationship soon." (A rep for West did not get back to us.)

The 5-foot-10 beauty seems to be discovering the perks of dating a celebrity: She hung out with West's palJay-Zat The Darby on W. 14th St. on Friday night. Also at the club wereChristina Aguileraand boyfriendMatt Rutler. West was not in attendance.

Oprah goes out with a bang

Ms. Winfrey's 100— That's how many guests we hear have been invited toChicago's Four Seasons hotelcago for cocktails, dinner and dancing following Tuesday's taping of the final episode of"The Oprah Winfrey Show."

Show me the ...alcohol?
  
Cuba Gooding Jr.never just phones it in. Clubgoers at downtown hot spot MPD were reminded of the"Jerry Maguire"actor's rousing1997 Oscaracceptance speech on Thursday night when Gooding, who was surrounded by lovely ladies, stood on a chair in the middle of the club to accept a surprise Rehoboam— that's 4.5 liters — of Bertaud Belieu rosé that was delivered to him with a cluster of lit sparklers protruding from the bottle's neck.

After the wine was delivered, a source tells us Gooding belted outChris Brown's latest single,"Beautiful People,"which was playing on the speakers,"for literally two minutes."When his performance was complete, the insider tells us the actor sat down with his slew of girls and was"very, very friendly."

What goes around comes around

DidJohn Mayerjust have a run-in with karma? A source tells us the guitar ace, who was sporting a long,"crazy"hair style, was chilling with friends at Spring Lounge inNolitawhen a woman approached to ask if he would say hello to her gal pal, who was sitting at the bar and too shy to approach. Mayer turned down the request, our spy says, but maybe he shouldn't have. Later that night, another bar patron bumped into Mayer's table, spilling several glasses  and leaving the pants of his beige suit drenched and stained. Our spy tells us that Mayer was more than annoyed. 

Nixon's grandson has political aspirations

Christopher Coxis being"groomed"for the presidency by his future father-in-law. Supermarket mogulJohn Catsimatidis, who was dinner chairman of the Hellenic Times Scholarship Fund event at theMarriottMarquis on Saturday, introduced Cox, the grandson ofRichard Nixon, as"my daughter Andrea's fiancé and future President of the United States."Cox, who lost a congressional bid in theGOPprimary last fall, will marryAndrea Catsimatidason June 4. Among those who got a kick out of the remark were Cox's future mother-in-lawMargo Catsimatidas, Rep. Carolyn Maloney,Olympia Dukakis,Moneywatch.comcorrespondent Alexis Christoforous, andDr. Robert Atkins' widow,Veronica Mersentesand her husband, Alexis. 

Nothing ambiguous about this all-star cast

We hopeRobert Smigelwas testing the waters for a feature-length, live-action"Ambiguously Gay Duo"movie on"Saturday Night Live"this past weekend. Sunday, the blogosphere was atwitter over  the comedy genius' conversion of the usually animated"Saturday TV Funhouse"characters into a live-action short that was co-written byStephen Colbertand featured a killer cast that includedJon HammandJimmy Fallonas the are-they-or-aren't-they? superheroes,  andEd Helm,Steve Carell,Fred Armisenand Colbert as their supervillain nemeses. At the very least, we'd love to see"TV Funhouse"back on"SNL."

Contact Gatecrasher:
Frank DiGiacomo:fdigiacomo@nydailynews.com
Carson Griffith:cgriffith@nydailynews.com

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Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton tie the knot in Texas

Talk about a country power couple.

Miranda LambertandBlake Sheltontied the knot on Saturday evening,US Weekly reported.

The two have been dating since 2006 and were engaged last May.

But Shelton, who admitted he fumbled the engagement, has been anything but the enthusiastic hubby-to-be.

"Even if it's your wedding, if you're a guy, it's boring,"he toldThe Country Vibethis month. "So, I'm ready for the actual ceremony to happen, because after that, the reception is going to be a party, and that’s what I'm looking forward to."

Shelton told the country website the duo had chosenNeal McCoyfor their musical entertainment.

"Mostly he's just a good friend,"he said."And I think when we asked him he was kind of shocked that we thought of him."

The couple are the reigningCMAmale and female vocalists of the year.

But despite their success - and star-studded future together - Lambert insisted to theAustin-American Statesmanthat they kept each other level-headed.

"We're a really normal couple. ... but it's so great to have success together,"she said.

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Lady Gaga is related to Madonna: Documents show pop singers are ninth cousins once removed

It's no wonderLady Gaga's music sometimes sounds suspiciously similar to Madonna's greatest hits.

The singers are related, according to celebrity genealogistChris Child.

"They are ninth cousins once removed,"he told theBoston Globe.

Child, who works for theNew England Historic Genealogical Society, reportedly provided proof, showing how he found their common ancestors: a farming couple who moved fromFrancetoQuebecin the 1600s.

"When I saw that Lady Gaga had French Canadian ancestry,"he explained,"I thought there might be something there."

Child said he can trace French Canadian families"back 200 years within minutes"because priests in Quebec handily indexed all marriages between the 1600s and the 1900s.

Another recent discovery:Prince WilliamandKate Middletonwere related before they walked down the aisle last month.

The pair is connected distantly through the latePrincess Diana's ancestry, Child said.

Madonnahas her own connection to the royal family, too. Or at least she used to.

The music icon's ex-husband,Guy Ritchie, is Middleton's fourth cousin.

Reps for Madonna and Lady Gaga have not yet responded for comment.

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Eric Dane is'a hundred times more attracted'to wife Rebecca Gayheart now that she's a mother

Motherhood is sexy. Just ask McSteamy himself.

"Grey's Anatomy"starEric DanetoldPeoplehe's"a hundred times more attracted"to wifeRebecca Gayheartsince welcoming daughter Billie last year.

"And I love her exponentially more than I did before,"he added."It's just great to see her be a mother."

In just one year Gayheart, 39, is back to her incredible pre-baby body, but it's clear Dane, 38, is more fixated on the emotional and mental impact parenthood has had on her.

"I don't know if there's any change more significant that a human being can make than that of a woman becoming a mother,"he told the magazine."There's no change more dramatic."

But Dane can't deny that he's been extremely affected as well by his 14-month-old tot, whom he can count on for"unconditional love."

"Seeing this kid laugh when you put her on the swing, or slide down the slide with her,"the actor said,"it's just… she owns me."

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Lindsay Lohan almost knocks over exhibit in rush to ditch paparazzi at friend Tyler Shields'gallery

Lindsay Lohanended up with an unusual bodyguard atTyler Shields' gallery exhibit"Life Is Not a Fairytale"in downtownLos Angeleson Saturday night. A source at the event tells us photographers covering the exhibit"went nuts"when the starlet arrived at the Poodle Parlor with her little sisterAlito see the photo Shields shot of LiLo as a fanged vampire. (As if we needed further convincing she's a member of Hollywood's undead.)

The paparazzi so overwhelmed the actress that she almost knocked down a Dyson Fan exhibit as she fled inside the venue and locked herself into a small room. Shields came to her rescue when, our source says, he assigned"one of his guys"to escort Lohan around the party while wearing a machine gun strapped to his body."The gun was unloaded,"says the source, but the photographers didn't know that— and adjusted their enthusiasm accordingly.

Artest likes to speak funny

Now that theDallas Maverickshave swept away the Los Angeles Lakers' championship dreams,Ron Artestis ready to elbow his way into the hearts ofNYCcomedy fans. The outspokenNBAsmall forward will bring his"Ron Artest— The Ultimate Comedy Tour"to the Big Apple this summer. TheQueensbridgenative and St. John's hoops legend will host four shows at Carolines on Broadway on July 15 and 16. Among those in Artest's starting comedy lineup will beHot 97morning manCipha Sounds.

On the subject of Carolines, we hear that"30 Rock"dudeJudah Friedlanderhas joined the roster for Tuesday night's"Ian O'Malleyand Friends"benefit at the club.

Liev is a momma's boy

What a mensch!Liev Schreiberplayed the role of good son when he picked up the 2011 Achievement in Film Award at the 25thIsraelFilm Festival at the Paris Theatre on Thursday. EmceeTovah Feldshuhreminisced about what a nice boy Schreiber was when she played his mother in the 1999 flick"A Walk on the Moon."In his acceptance speech, Schreiber thanked his"partner in crime,"Naomi Watts, and his"film mother,"Feldshuh. Then he told the audience that upon learning he would be honored, he did what any good Jewish boy would do: He immediately called his real mom, Heather, who must have been kvelling. The festival continues through May 19 at the AMC Loews at 84th St. and Broadway.

Paz de la Huertahas car troubles

We hope Paz de la Huerta doesn't need this much help remembering lines: A source spotted the"Boardwalk Empire"actress arriving for jury duty at 60 Centre St. Monday morning— with a female assistant in tow. While Paz filled out forms requesting a postponement of her civic duty, the insider says the assistant stood over the starlet reciting de la Huerta's address, phone number and work information. Paz, 26 — who learned about another part of our justice system whenshe was charged with assault last month over a run-in with former reality TV starSamantha Swetra— appeared to be in a pleasant mood. But she grew momentarily irritated when her assistant"didn't have the number for theHBOproduction office"at her fingertips, our source says. She smirked when the clerk who took her paperwork told her,"I've seen you— in the papers."

Tate Donovanlikes to dine

Tate Donovan is quite the foodie. The star of Broadway's"Good People"was dining with a pretty blond at 10 Downing Food and Wine on Sunday night when a spy heard him ask whether the eatery's short-rib burger was made with"grass-fed beef."The waitress was stumped, but Donovan's curiosity must have been satisfied. Chef Jonnatan Leiva soon sent one of the burgers to Tate's table, with a salad for his"vegetarian"date. The couple polished off their PC plates with a glass of red wine each.

Tom Wolfestirs the imagination

Tom Wolfe still knows how to rile the Establishment. The 80-year-old"Radical Chic"writer accepted the Creative Excellence Award at last night'sNational Magazine Awardsand dropped a little depth charge at the end of his speech. After mentioning that there were four great editors in the magazine business, Wolfe named three:Rolling Stone'sJann Wenner, The New Yorker'sDavid RemnickandVanity Fair'sGraydon Carter."As for the fourth, you know who you are,"Wolfe told the audience at 583 Park Avenue (otherwise known as the Third Church of Christ, Scientist). Then he exited the stage, leaving the crowd to debate whether he meant that there are only three Masters of the Universe left in the magazine business - and that the rest were figments of their own imagination.

Contact Gatecrasher:
Frank DiGiacomo:fdigiacomo@nydailynews.com
Carson Griffith:cgriffith@nydailynews.com

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ESPN sports correspondent Erin Andrews nearly faced malfunction without proper hat attire at Derby

Erin Andrewsavoided a hat calamity at theKentucky Derby. When theESPNcorrespondent had trouble finding a hat to wear for the race— tradition frowns upon going without one — she contactedAndre Wilson, CEO of image-development company Style Icon for help. Wilson not only found a chapeau for Andrews, he styled her, too. Hats off, to him.

Beatle'sgot a life-long lovebug

The odds have smiled onPaul McCartney's engagement toMTAboard memberNancy Shevell. PR consultant and Beatles buffJohn Horantells us that based on the group's track record with marriage, McCartney has a good shot at living happily ever after with his American bride-to-be. The key, he says, is that the Fab Four seemed to find lasting happiness with women who weren't British. John, George and Ringo's respective first marriages to fellow nativesCynthia Powell,Patti BoydandMaureen Coxdidn't last longer than 11 years. They fared better next time: Lennon had been married 11 years toTokyonativeYoko Onowhen he was shot in 1980. Harrison was wed 23 years toMexico-born Olivia Arias when he died in 2001.Ringo Starrtied the knot with American Bond Girl Barbara Bach in 1981, and they're still together. McCartney was married 29 years toN.Y.C.nativeLinda Eastmanwhen she died in 1998. His second marriage toBrit Heather Millsdidn't make it to six. Interesting.

Picture this: Me andLiz Taylor

Imagine spending a whole day with Elizabeth Taylor and not getting a picture with her? It almost happened to Outlaw Biker Magazine publisherCasey Extontwo decades ago when he accompanied Taylor andMalcolm Forbesto aNew Jerseybike competition. The photographer Exton assigned to cover the event shot everything he saw that day— except his boss hanging with the hawg-loving Hollywood legend.

The snapper was fired. But Exton did get a shot with Taylor courtesy of his wife's disposable camera. He also had a moment he'll never forget. In a special edition of his magazine, titled"A Tribute to Elizabeth Taylor,"that hits stands Tuesday, Exton writes,"I really did fall in love with Elizabeth. When we met, she stared into my eyes, and I stared back for what seemed to be forever,"writes Exton, who just got out of the hospital after undergoing surgery on his ticker. Perhaps he was suffering from a broken heart over Taylor's death in March.

Love in theUSA

HasMiss USAfound love in N.Y.C.? A source tells us that shapelyRima Fakihand actorVincent Piazza, who has been seen in"Boardwalk Empire"and"The Sopranos,"certainly seemed to be enjoying each other's company at The Bunker"on Ninth Ave. on Friday night. They were all over each other,"says the source. Fakih has previously been linked withToronto Blue JayspitcherRicky Romero. A rep for Fakih declined to comment.

Chefs soak in the celebrity

N.Y.C. chefs used to be referred to as rock stars in this town. Now, they're becoming movie stars. A culinary crowd that included Spotted Pig chefApril Bloomfieldand Le Perigord proprietorGeorge Briguetcame away impressed by the onscreen charisma of Corton Chef Paul Liebrandt and the restaurant's co-ownerDrew Nieporentat a screening of the documentary"A Matter of Taste,"that the latter hosted atTribecaGrill on Friday afternoon. The film tells the story of Liebrandt's quest for gastronomic glory, and the impish chef is clearly ready for his closeup. He comes off like a matinee idol even when he's threatening to put two of his sous-chefs' heads through a wall because they're not cooking to his standards. As for Nieporent, he has been a character for years. During postscreening cocktails, Briguet, who employed the restaurateur long before he became known as the owner of Nobu, said to Nieporent:"May I tell you something? You are a fantastic actor!"HBOruns the documentary next month.

Contact Gatecrasher:
Frank DiGiacomo:fdigiacomo@nydailynews.com
Carson Griffith:cgriffith@nydailynews.com

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Lil Wayne is missing from Jennifer Lopez's steamy'I'm Into You'video because of probation: source

Where's Wheezy? Viewers ofJennifer Lopez's latest video,"I'm Into You,"may wonder why they can hearLil Wayneon the track but can't see him interacting with the luscious Latina as she frolics among Mayan temples and on a beach in Mexico. 

A source familiar with the situation tells us that the conditions of Wayne's probation prohibited him from traveling South of the border to shoot the video with Lopez, who wanted a clip ready by the time her album was released last Tuesday.

But wait! Thanks to a bit of product placement, we hear the rapper will eventually appear in a version of the video.
The source says theKluger Agency, which specializes in product placement, is the reason J.Lo is holding a relaxation drink called Koma at the top of the current clip. The fee that Koma paid to be included in the video enabled producers to shoot new footage of Lopez and Wayne inL.A.

Couric gets corny

Katie Couricis quite the prankster. When the departingCBS Newsanchor interviewed media mogulDan Abramsat the 92nd Street Y on Wednesday, he told the story of receiving a recent phone call from a woman with a come-hither voice, who said:"Hello, is this Dan Abrams?"Abrams, who said he was with his girlfriend, hung up the phone to avoid trouble. But the woman immediately called back and left a voicemail that went from sultry to familiar:"Dan, it's Katie,"Couric yelped."What is your problem?! I was just calling to discuss the event!"

O'Malleybrings in the funny people

Ian O'Malley will get a little help from some very funny friends at Caroline's comedy club on Tuesday night. The Q104.3 deejay has enlisted a quartet of killers to perform for a good cause at"Ian O'Malley& Friends":Greg Fitzsimmons,Dave Attell,Jim Breuerand"The Daily Show's"John Oliver. The charity event will also feature coveted raffle prizes, including a guitar autographed byJon Bon Jovi, premiumYankeesandMetsseats and tickets to the summer's biggest concerts.

The comedy extravaganza is the latest chapter in O'Malley's quest to win theLeukemia and Lymphoma Society's annual Man of the Year contest by raising the most amount of money for the organization over a 10-week period that ends May 19.

Tickets to the laugh-fest, which are just $27.25, can be purchased atCarolines.com.

Jodie Fostersticks up for Mel

Jodie Foster should do all ofMel Gibson's PR. A source who caught a screening of Foster's"The Beaver"atLincoln Centeron Wednesday night tells us the actor-turned-director spoke in"extremely"glowing terms of the controversial Gibson, who stars in the picture, at a Q&A that followed. She even compared Gibson favorably to"an actor-director who was a major pain."The insider adds that Foster later told a guest over dinner at the Atlantic Grill that she was referring to the lateDennis Hopper, who directed the actress in 1990's"Catchfire."Maybe their lack of chemistry had something to do with film bombing at the box office.

A 'Real' house-pup scuffle

Kelly Bensimon's dog Chief ruffled some fur inEast Hamptonwhen things got rough between the pup and a pair of pooches last weekend. A source tells us the rescued lab-pit mix tussled with two of interior designerZina Glazebrook's dachshund and Jack Russell terrier.
 
Glazebrook declined to comment, but we hear that her dogs had to visit the vet and that Bensimon's daughter Sea was bit trying to break things up. Fortunately, she wasn't seriously hurt.

Bensimon's rep told us that"Kelly was out of town when the incident happened"and is"sorry"if Glazebrook's pooches were hurt. She said that Bensimon"took care of the medical bill,"adding:"It was a case of dogs being dogs."

Lance who?

Maybe the sun was inLance Bass's eyes, but a source tells us he looked a little stunned when he was only semi-recognized inSouth Beachrecently. Our insider tells us that the former boy-band member had just approached a table of handsome lads at The Lords pool partywhen the lone woman of the group squinted at Bass and said:"Do I know you from somewhere? Do you live inNew York?"The source says Bass, who had been taking snaps with fans all afternoon, replied,"Uhh ...,"before his friend jumped in and explained who he was.

Contact Gatecrasher:
Frank DiGiacomo:fdigiacomo@nydailynews.com
Carson Griffith:cgriffith@nydailynews.com

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Feds step up investigation into Kabbalah Center in L.A. - Madonna's charity also contacted

LOS ANGELES- The feds are stepping up their criminal probe of Madonna's belovedKabbalah Centre.

New Yorkinvestigators subpoenaed documents from the Los Angeles-based spiritual organization in the last 10 days amid allegations its founding family treated the nonprofit like a personal piggy bank, sources told the Daily News.

The family, led by Philip andKaren Berg, has controlled the celeb-friendly outpost of Jewish mysticism for decades.

Madonnaand A-list pals includingDemi Moore,Ashton KutcherandDonna Karanhave been big supporters, especially with the group's Spirituality for Kids program, another target of the probe, sources said.

SonMichael Bergco-founded Madonna'sRaising Malawicharity but was replaced recently as its chairman after an audit of its failed effort to build a girls school in the impoverished African nation.

Sources said the Bergs deny any wrongdoing and have hired formerU.S.attorney andFordham LawProf. Mathew Rosengart to represent the group.

"The Kabbalah Centre and SFK have received subpoenas from the government concerning tax-related issues,"the centre said in a statement."{We} are in the process of providing responsive information."

Manhattanfederal prosecutors, who have convened a grand jury, also have contacted Raising Malawi.

"We're actively cooperating with any requests for information related to Raising Malawi,"saidTrevor Neilson, the Global Philanthropy Group consultant Madonna hired to restructure her charity.

"We're looking forward to having all legal issues and inquiries resolved so that Raising Malawi can get back to its work helping the most vulnerable children ofMalawi."

The investigation, which began last year, reportedly is zeroing in on off-the-books expenditures by the Berg family, sources said.

"I recently uncovered instances of income tax fraud . . . instances which could bankrupt several of the directors involved,"wrote formerChief Financial Officer Nicholas Vakkurin an August 2010 email obtained by theLos Angeles Times.

"I have little choice but to cooperate with theIRSand bring down the Kabbalah Centre."

Source said Vakkur worked for the Bergs for three months last summer and sat down with IRS investigators for a recent three-hour interview.

ndillon@nydailynews.com

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Elin Nordegren, Tiger Woods'ex-wife, is dating again:'She's really doing well'

Maybe she'll try OkCupid.

Eight months after officially calling it quits with Tiger Woods, Elin Nordegren has been back in the dating market, according toUs Weekly.

"She was seeing a banker in Florida for three months, but that went nowhere,"a source told the mag.

While there doesn't appear to be anyone serious, suitors don't have to worry about Woods coming into the picture– she reportedly only sees her philandering ex when she drops off the couple's two kids at his house.

"She hates him,"the source said."She doesn't see him or speak with him. And they have their custody schedule already set through the end of the year."

"She's really doing well,"added the source.

Nordegren received $110 million from the divorce settlement, which came after the pro golfer was busted for cheating on her with multiple women. The two briefly tried to reconcile, but couldn't make it work.

"I've been through hell,"she told People magazine last August– her last public statement on the matter."It's hard to think you have this life, and then all of a sudden– was it a lie?"

nmandell@nydailynews.com

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Henry Cavill engaged:'Man of Steel'star pops the question to British athlete Ellen Whitaker

Henry Cavill may be the Man of Steel on-screen, but he's about to be a married man in real life.

The British actor, who is set to play Superman in the"Man of Steel"film due out in 2012, is engaged to athlete Ellen Whitaker, theBelfast Telegraphreported.

The actor, who turns 28 on Thursday, reportedly popped the question to Whitaker, an athlete who is currently training in hopes of making the British showjumping team in the 2012 Olympics, while they were on a trip to Hollywood.

"I couldn't believe it when he asked me to marry him,"she told the newspaper."I thought we were there to celebrate his birthday. It was such a surprise and I am so happy."

Before asking for Whitaker's hand in marriage, Cavill reportedly asked her father, Stephen, for permission before he got down on bended knee.

Before he becomes best known for playing Clark Kent's superhero alter ego on-screen, Cavill is most remembered for his first starring role in Showtime's"The Tudors."

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Ricardo Chavira, star of'Desperate Housewives,'arrested for DUI

LOS ANGELES-"Desperate Housewives"starRicardo Chavirawas arrested by cops on suspicion of drunken driving less than a mile from theUniversal Studiosset of his hit show.

Chavira, who playsEva Longoria's misbehaving ex-con hubby on the long-runningABCseries, allegedly cut off a police vehicle and failed a field sobriety test around 2:20 a.m. yesterday.

The star - who also was arrested for DUI in October 2001 - refused both breath and blood tests at a nearby jail and was in custody in lieu of $25,000 bail eight hours later, sources said.

"He was cooperative, he just refused to do further testing,"anLAPDpolice source told the Daily News.

"There's no way to say for sure how badly intoxicated he was."

According to cops, Chavira made a dangerous left turn in front of an oncoming police vehicle at the intersection of Cahuenga Blvd. and Riverside Dr. inToluca Lake,Calif.

"He failed to yield the right of way, then accelerated to 60 mph in a 35 mph zone and threw aMcDonald'swrapper out of his window,"the source said.

"He probably didn't even see the cop car."

The married father of two, the son of aTexasjudge, told police he was driving home from a friend's house and stopped for food.

ndillon@nydailynews.com

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'Bachelor'Brad Womack and Emily Maynard back together? Couple reunites, gets cozy in Texas

"Bachelor"Brad Womack and on-off fiancée Emily Maynard are back on.

The couple, who separated last month, were spotted Friday at Kona Grill in Austin, Texas, where they were rekindling their relationship over a romantic dinner for two.

Despite their recent break-up,"Brad was laughing and Emily was smiling"throughout the night, an eyewitness tellsUsMagazine.com.

The reunion continued on Saturday when the couple was again seen getting cozy over drinks at Fado pub, just blocks away from Womack's downtown condo.

"Emily was putting her hands in the air and dancing in her seat. They were both smiling and chatting,"another onlooker tells the site.

And when an excited fan asked the"Bachelor"pair for a picture,"they held hands across the table and willingly smiled."

It's a sudden high for the couple, who just weeks agowent their separate waysafter Maynard reportedly called off their engagement.

"Emily told Brad that she can't picture them getting married,"a source told Life& Style at the time."Brad's not acting like a fiancé, and she knows he's not going to change. Emily knows in her heart of hearts that the relationship is finished."

Maynard, 25, previously told friends shewould moveto Austin for the summer in an effort to make things work with Womack, 38, but there's no word on whether those plans are back on the table.

According to Us, relocation remains a hot-button issue, even with the couple's recent reunion. Brad owns four bars in Austin and Maynard lives with her 5-year-old daughter, Ricki, in North Carolina.

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Justin Bieber pelted with eggs during Sydney concert: Singer's fans express their anger on Twitter

Looks like not everyone is a Belieber.

Teen singing sensationJustin Bieberwas pelted with six eggs as he performed onstage inSydney, Australiaon Friday night.

Luckily for the Biebs, he danced his way out of their line of fire and no yolk messed up his hair. A stagehand quickly cleaned up the mess.

And it wasn't just one audience member who chucked the eggs.Radaris reporting they came from two separate sides of the stage.

Angry fans came to the 17-year-old's defense after the concert.

"I was soo angry when I saw this,"wrote Taylor onThejustinbiebershrine.com."I hate whoever did this. Why bother?"

OnTwitter, many of Bieber's nine million-plus followers expressed their anger."Dear person who threw eggs at @justinbieber in Sydney, you now have over #9millionbeliebers after you, be afraid! We go harder than hard!"

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Emma Roberts and Chord Overstreet get cozy, but actor Andrew Levitas has an eye on the actress too

Chord Overstreetmay have some competition when it comes toEmma Roberts.

The"Glee"actor and"Scream 4"actress (and 20-year-old niece ofJulia Roberts) barely left each other's sides at theCinema Societyparty for"Thor"at the Top of the Standard on Thursday night. But when Roberts wandered off solo to the nightclub's outdoor terrace, another Hollywood player made a brazen play for the rising star's affections.

Roberts and Overstreet, who were first linked two weeks ago when they reportedly made out with each other at theCoachellaFilm Festival, left little doubt that they were together as they socialized at the Acura-sponsored"Thor"party with other"Glee"cast members and"The Vampire Diaries"actressNina Dobrev.

The flop-mopped Overstreet, who was once linked with singer/songwriterTaylor Swift, flirtatiously played with the petite Roberts' fingers, ran his hand over her back and put his arm around the actress' waist as he chatted with his"Glee"co-starsAmber Riley,Kevin McHale, andDianna Agron, at the nightspot's bar.

At one point, he threw his arm around Roberts' shoulders, letting it sit there for a second before  retracting it in the media-heavy soiree.

Later in the evening, when Overstreet and some of his cast mates headed to a table in one of the club's sunken areas, Roberts, who was casually dressed in all black and wearing skinny pants, followed moments later and wedged herself into a seat next to Overstreet.

They weren't inseparable the entire evening, however. At one point, Roberts left the table and headed to the outdoor terrace at the back of the club that's usually reserved for smokers. As she stood against a wall near the terrace entrance, Roberts was overheard quietly talking to 33-year-old actor and producerAndrew Levitas. The dark-haired hunk produced"Homework,"which starred Roberts and premiered at theSundance Film Festivalearlier this year.

"I just broke up with my boyfriend,"Roberts told Levitas, referring toUCLAtennis player Dathan Kuppin.
Levitas apparently found this turn in the conversation promising: He invited the blond beauty to"come toHawaii."

"No, I can't go,"she said, though her reasons for turning down the invitation were lost to the wind.

Undeterred by the brushoff, Levitas boldly bent down and attempted to kiss the actress on the mouth.
 
"No, stop!"Roberts giggled, flirtatiously."I need to talk to my people. I'll talk to you later."

The heartbreaker then scampered back to the party, where Overstreet was waiting.

Contact Gatecrasher:
Frank DiGiacomo:fdigiacomo@nydailynews.com
Carson Griffith:cgriffith@nydailynews.com

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