Do Movie Star Dogs Get Paid?

Marley and Me Barry Wetcher/ Fox
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I just watched Beverly Hills Chihuahua and I wonder if these dog "actors" get paid? They sure make lots and lots of cash for Disney.
—Jefry, Indonesia

Let's put it this way: Those puppies in the upcoming Marley & Me don't make nearly so much as Jennifer Aniston, even if some of them are much cuter.

The average pay for an "animal actor" is a few hundred a day; a feature film could earn a pooch into the tens of thousands. As for who exactly gets the money, the animal's owner and the pet's talent agency each take a cut. But caring for Hollywood dogs costs a bundle, and oftentimes, I'm told, the venture turns out to be a wash. Or a doggy bath.

Where can you send the Jonas Brothers fan mail?
—Anon

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Jennifer Hudson's Brother-in-Law Formally Charged With Family Slayings

William Balfour, Jennifer Hudson HO/AFP/Getty Images; Steve Granitz/Getty Images

It's been more than a month since the shooting deaths of Jennifer Hudson's mother, brother and nephew, but the case is picking up steam.

A day after his arrest, Hudson's estranged brother-in-law, William Balfour, was formally charged this morning with three counts of first-degree murder and one count of home invasion by the Cook County State's Attorney's Office.

The 27-year-old Balfour, who has been the sole focus of the Chicago Police Department's investigation from day one, is scheduled to appear for a bond hearing Wednesday afternoon.

Until then, Balfour's attorney, Joshua Kutnick, is wasting no time in defending his client, telling E! News that while Balfour may be a convenient suspect, he's not a guilty one.

"They were under pressure because William is scheduled for a parole hearing tomorrow and, if successful, he would have been released," Kutnick said.

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Britney Spears Bigger as a Trainwreck

Britney Spears Jennifer Graylock / E! Networks

Britney Spears wasn't exactly sensational. Neither were the ratings.

Sunday's MTV low-key confessional special, Britney: For the Record, averaged 3.7 million viewers, per the network.

The audience was larger than what MTV usually draws on Sundays—the network boasted of triple-digit gains in key demographics. And it was bigger than MTV's usual No. 1 show, The Hills.

But compared to trainwreck Britney of the 2007 Video Music Awards, a show that drew 7.1 million, or dramatic-comeback Britney of the 2008 Video Music Awards (8.4 million), the all-too-human Britney of For the Record was just, well, human.

Which, all things considered, isn't a bad thing.

Afternoon Fix: Scarlett Johansson Not Pregnant, Just Badly Dressed

Scarlett Johansson Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images

Despite ScarJo's high-waisted pants and a baggy sports coat at last night's Spirit photocall, her rep tells E! News, “She is not pregnant." So don't even go there. But really, Scarlett should know a wedding + baggy clothes = totes pregnant. That's just the kind of messed up world we live in.

Matthew McConaughey and his baby mama, Camila Alves, really are meant to be—just look at the party they're having.

• Audrina is really trying her hardest to make this Lauren-Justin Bobby hookup rumor last. Truth is, Audrina, we don't care if you called L.C. a slut.

Madonna talks about her work in Malawi in a new Sundance documentary that aired last night. She narrates the whole thing without her English accent, crazy.

 A reason to wake up tomorrow, as Britney Comeback Week just keeps on giving.

—ScarJo reporting by Whitney English

Jessica Alba's a Calendar Girl!

Jessica Alba Campari Calendar Mario Testino for Campari
More from H'Wood Party Girl

Hot mama Jessica Alba has a new gig: the face (and body) of Club Campari's 2009 calendar.

In the sultry pictures shot by Mario Testino in Malibu, she shows off her bangin' postbaby body.

"I’m usually walking around in comfy clothes with a baby on my arm, and it’s nice to dress things up and feel sophisticated, sexy and surrounded by so much beauty," Jess said of her steamy shoot. "Also being surrounded by Brazilian models made it even easier!"

See even more sexy snaps in our special gallery below!

New Lost Video: Who's Hunting Kate and Aaron?

Evangeline Lilly ART STREIBER/ABC
More from Watch with Kristin

Holy mother!

This is going to be a good couple of weeks, because starting today ABC is releasing video sneak peeks of Lost season five!

The first of these videos was released through a password-protected Dharma special-access site just moments ago (we have our Dharma moles!), but you can see the full two-minute clip right here, and it's a doozy.

What's it all about? Someone's knock-knock-knockin' on Kate's door, and he wants to take something she does not want to give!

Here's the video...

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Paris Hilton Goes Missing During BFF Finale!

More from Marc Malkin

And the Emmy Award for Best Actress goes to…not Paris Hilton.

However, the drama that she wants us to believe happens on tonight's finale of her My New BFF "reality" show on MTV is quite something.

The hotel heiress appears to be so overwhelmed by her final decision that she just walks off set. "This is too hard," Meryl Streep Hilton says. "I can't do this right now."

Contestants Vanessa and Brittany are left scratching their wig-covered heads.

Cut to a producer who wants us to believe that Hilton has gone missing. "What do you mean she left?" Al Pacino the producer says into a headset, sounding oh-so-worried. "We have got to find her."

But don't you worry. Ms. Hilton obviously was found, because not only does the finale air tonight but there's a reunion show with the original 18 contestants plus an aftershow that includes a visit from Hilton's sister, Nicky.

Whew! Thank goodness we didn't file a missing person's report.

Grey's Anatomy Blind Item: Who's in the Doghouse?

Grey's Anatomy ABC/Eric McCandless
More from Watch with Kristin

Why does a certain character on Grey's Anatomy suddenly have so little to do?

It's a question many readers have been emailing about, and now, inside sources are spilling what's going on behind the scenes.

Before you read any further, however, be forewarned: Naming names is impossible--the truth is a little ugly--so read on only if you want to join the guessing game...

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Boy George Won't Tumble 4 London Jury

Boy George AP Photo/Sang Tan

Boy George won't be making a star turn in his London trial.

The ex-Culture Clubber's lawyer told the Snaresbrook Crown Court that the crooner otherwise known as George O'Dowd would not be called to defend himself on charges of handcuffing and roughing up a male escort.

Yesterday, the jury heard a recorded police interview with the singer from April 2007 in which he admitted to restraining the victim, Audun Carlsen, whom George suspected of stealing pornographic photos from his computer.

Brad Pitt to Kids: No Acting Until You're 18

There’s another reason to see The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, besides the fact that it stars Brad Pitt, is directed by David Fincher and looks awesome. Drumroll please...Shiloh makes a little cameo! Brad refuses to call it that, though.

At last night's New Orleans premiere of the film, he explained to E! News that Shi is only in one scene because the real actor baby was crying too much and they needed a baby who could behave. Shiloh obliged and showed that actor baby what's up.

However, Shiloh better not be hoping to go all Jaden Smith, because papa Pitt sternly plans to tell his kids, "[You can pursue acting only] after you’re 18, you can do whatever you want to do.”

If we're not going to be seeing any Jolie-Pitts at the cineplex for another decade, at least we still have Suri Cruise. We have a hunch she'll be making her big-screen debut soon enough...

BIG PICTURE

Museum Exhibit Nicole shows off Sunday Rose at Paris' Grand Palais. Photo op...or does baby just love Picasso?

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  • Breaking: William Balfour Charged

    Jennifer Hudson's estranged brother-in-law has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder. Get the latest.

  • Regis Spreads His Angel Wings

    Supermodel Heidi Klum finds an angel in TV icon Regis Philbin while promoting "Victoria's Secret Fashion Show." See it!

  • Brad Pitt Raves About Fatherhood

    The father of six reveals how rich his life has become raising a multicultural brood. Feel the love!

  • Raw: Mr. and Mrs. Spencer Pratt

    Spencer and Heidi have been married for just two weeks and they're already fielding questions about having kids!