“Sideshow: Ricky Gervais accused of Hollywood-style makeover”

Sideshow: Ricky Gervais accused of Hollywood-style makeover

Posted: 03 Sep 2010 10:17 PM PDT

Posted on Fri, Sep. 3, 2010

Has Satan forced comedy genius Ricky Gervais to abandon those Quainte Olde Englysshe Wayes that make The Office creator so beloved?

Is Ricky "turning into Mr. Hollywood"?

So asks London tabloid the Daily Mail in a hand-wringing report that claims the once "staunchly British" Ricky has made a Faustian bargain to achieve Tinseltown fame.

The Mail says the 49-year-old writer-actor has abandoned his cuddly, round tummy for a "slimline look," has dyed his graying hair and beard, and has adopted a slicker, streamlined Lalaland coif.

Is this the same Ricky, asks the Mail, who previously attacked people who cave in to media pressure by turning to plastic surgery?

"Some things are not worth the risk," Ricky has said. "When someone's facial surgery goes wrong because they wanted plumper lips or a little nose, I think they're an idiot."

Oh, Ricky, is it all worth it?

Law & order: Special celebs unit

Clifford Harris Jr., 29, better known to hip-hopsters as Grammy-winning superhero T.I., and his wife, Tameka Cottle, were arrested Wednesday night in West Hollywood after police allegedly smelled pot smoke coming from their car during a traffic stop.

This isn't good for T.I., who is on three years' probation after being in prison on federal weapons charges. He was released just six months ago after serving seven months in a federal prison and three months in a halfway house.

Authorities let T.I. and Cottle go Thursday on $10,000 bail each.

Tennessee rapper Young Buck (David Darnell Brown) has filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy, weeks after the Internal Revenue Service raided his Hendersonville, Tenn., home, seizing $164,000 in property.

The Tennessean newspaper says Buck, who reportedly owes the IRS more than $300,000, will have his monthly pay from Cashville Records docked by $12,500 over 60 months for a total of $750,000. Young's albums include the appropriately titled Straight Outta Cashville.

Francesca Spero, a 51-year-old former exec at Sean Combs' Bad Boy Records, has filed a $12 mil lawsuit against Diddy, claiming he's an ageist who fired her without cause and replaced her with a know-nothing chick 10 to 15 years younger. No comment from Diddy.

Dashing dashed hopes about Dashton

The twit-tersphere is abuzz a day after shocking allegations surfaced about the state of the Dashton union. "Ashton Kutcher Caught Cheating on Demi Moore!" !screams! Star mag!

Star says Ash, who at 32 is 15 years younger than Demi, was spied snogging a 20-something at a Lalaland eatery. "[He] had this gorgeous girl pinned against the wall, and he was totally making out with her," says Unnamed Source.

The New York Post doesn't buy Star's claims. The tab seems impressed that in response to the rumors, Demi has tweeted "many smoking hot pictures" of herself in a bikini. (Sadly, she has since deleted them.) Wha? The pics prove she's sexy, not that her man ain't a cheat. Dashton is angry at Star. "You don't get to stand behind 'freedom of the press' when you are writing fiction," he tweets. Says Demi, "excellent point my love!"

Tidbits 'n' pieces

Accused cocaine possessor Paris Hilton, 29, now banned from the Wynn and Encore hotels, is still welcome at many other Sin City venues. Hilton, says a Las Vegas Hilton rep, is still totally welcome at Hilton. . . . Must-see TV: People says a new high-powered TV ad for Macy's features Jessica Simpson fooling around with happy clowns while featured designers and perfumers Jennifer Lopez, Sean "Diddy" Combs, and ex-con Martha Stewart take viewers behind the "employees only" door. The ad premieres Sept. 12.

Your advice for LiLo?

What life advice would Jamie Lee Curtis give her beleaguered, 24-year-old Freaky Friday costar Lindsay Lohan to help turn her life around?

None, the 51-year-old Curtis tells Hollyscoop.com: "It's none of my business. People are responsible for their own choices." But Curtis, who refers to LiLo as a "brilliant talent," adds that "everyone deserves a second chance."

His guru's voice . . .

TV persona Dr. Mehmet Oz, 50, considered "handsome" by People, tells the mag the first thing he did after learning he had a precancerous growth in his colon was to call his mentor, Oprah. Says Oz: "Her main question - classic Oprah - was, 'I don't care about this stuff. Are you OK? That's the bigger question.' "

Oz says that if the polyp hadn't been detected during a routine exam, it could have developed into cancer. "My life was saved" by the screening, he says.

Oprah, 56, has learned a valuable lesson: "She said, 'This makes me want to get a colonoscopy right away.' " Oz says The Big O told him to go out, like an apostle, and spread his message: Get tested. Be healthy. Live long.

Love, sex, lies & videotape

In Touch Weekly says Tinseltown agent Jim Toth has been spied entering several "high-end" jewelry stores alone. This, of course, is sufficient - heck, unassailable! - proof Jim is shopping for an engagement ring because he's this close to popping the question to gf Reese Witherspoon. An anon "pal" says "Jim is her ultimate guy."

This article contains information from Inquirer wire services. Contact "SideShow" at sideshow@phillynews.com.

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