Here's a doctored-up poster for the film Pretty Woman which is currently circling through email this morning and was forwarded along to me by my wife with the line: "You HAVE to see this -- soooo funny!" This wasn't the only picture attached; there was also one of our former Governor in a purple pimp suit, one of his face on a bottle of No. 9 Client cologne, and then one of him sprawled out on a bed with money in his hand and a half-nekked woman in the background. But this image up top was the only one film-related, and since everyone here in my hometown of NYC is getting a few good laughs out of this, I figured the poster might do the same for you. 80 grand on a hooker? Is it just me ... or do I smell a real-life Pretty Woman sequel in the works?

There are girls who make the waves in the media world because of their exploits (Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton, Britney Spears), and then there are some special ones who just know how to keep gossip-fiends hooked with their strange vacation from reality. Jessica Simpson is one of those people. If you thought Blonde Ambition or Major Movie Star (as if) were laughable, get ready for this -- she wants to be the next Julia Roberts. Or, at least, follow in her footsteps a little and play a hooker.

Yes, dear Cinematical readers, Jessica Simpson wants to star in a remake of Pretty Woman. According to OK! Magazine's source, "She thinks this one's got 'hit' written all over it.' Her father Joe has been telling anyone who will listen that she's the next Julia." Yeah, so as her manager, he's got to talk her up, but there's a difference between being positive about your talent (for lack of a better word), and making ridiculous comparisons. I would ask if she's really that clueless, but after her television show, and her myriad of insane statements, I think that's clear. And, no, I'm not talking about the Heckerling sort of Clueless.

And here I thought Simpson taking on the role of Sandy for a Grease remake was bad ... but I'll hand the mic over to you. Would you like to see Miss Jessica as a Pretty Woman? Can you see her winning an Oscar one day? Have we all just somehow disregarded her amazing acting talents?

Julia Roberts will be feted at this year's annual benefit gala for American Cinematheque on Friday, October 12, 2007. The actress will be awarded the 22nd American Cinematheque award at the benefit, formerly called the Moving Pictures Ball, which raises funds to support the not-for-profit org's programs (and let me add here, they show a pretty impressive array of film's at their two venues, the historic Egyptian Theater on Hollywood Boulevard and the Aero Theater in Santa Monica) throughout the year.

Roberts, whose onscreen career started with Mystic Pizza way back in 1988 (lordy, do I feel old now), catapulted to fame two years later with her role in Pretty Woman opposite Richard Gere. Since then, Roberts went on to earn her cred as more than just a pretty face with roles by winning the Oscar for her role in Erin Brockovich. She recently voiced the beloved spider, Charlotte, in the remake of Charlotte's Web, and her latest film, Charlie Wilson's War, opposite Tom Hanks and Phillip Seymour Hoffman, will open in December.


The first American Cinematheque Award went to Eddie Murphy in 1986. Other previous honorees are: Bette Midler (1987); Robin Williams (1988); Steven Spielberg (1989); Ron Howard (1990); Martin Scorsese (1991); Sean Connery (1992); Michael Douglas (1993); Rob Reiner (1994); Mel Gibson (1995); Tom Cruise (1996); John Travolta (1997); Arnold Schwarzenegger (1998); Jodie Foster (1999); Bruce Willis (2000); Nicolas Cage (2001); Denzel Washington (2002); Nicole Kidman (2003), Steve Martin (2004); Al Pacino (2005) and George Clooney (2007). That's quite a lofty list Roberts is joining.

If you want to hobnob with the expected 1,000 or so "entertainment industry notables" at the event -- a black-tie dinner followed by a multi-media award show -- it'll set you back a bit; tix for the benefit start at a spendy $550. If you're not up for spending quite that much dough to see Roberts awarded in person, never fear: for the fifth year, the event will be broadcast on AMC in December.

Following the newly-released trailer, a new one-sheet and a few pics have surfaced for Universal's upcoming Georgia Rule, featuring Jane Fonda, Felicity Huffman and Lindsay Lohan, as herself. Okay, so Lohan isn't exactly playing herself, but she will be taking on the role of a rebellious, uncontrollable teenager -- which, as we all know, isn't too much of a stretch for the young actress. Definitely not as controversial as the last set of pics (let's just say La Lohan was searching for something between the legs of her on-screen boyfriend), these new images show us the three ladies in a variety of dysfunctional poses.

Directed by the family-friendly Garry Marshall (who hasn't helmed an R-rated movie since 1994's Exit to Eden), Georgia Rule revolves around three women (grandma, mother and daughter) who must find a way to reconcile their differences and come to terms with the secrets of their family's past when an accident forces all three to live under the same roof. It's a bit more risque than Marshall's last directorial effort, The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, but keep in mind this is the same guy who also brought us Pretty Woman and -- one of my personal favorites -- The Flamingo Kid. Heck, if Marshall can create a lovable, charismatic, girl-next-door prostitute, I'm sure he'll do wonders with Lohan. With a script written by Mark Andrus (who's quite familiar with females and family, having penned the adaptation of Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood), Georgia Rule hits theaters on May 11.