CULTURE

Unwrinkled pop newcomer Lana Del Rey has a lot in common with grizzled Newt Gingrich this week. They're the names on everyone's lips; we're all pleased to have them around, out of appreciation or sheer blood sport; and there's a general expectation that neither will be much more than a footnote in their respective races a month from now.

A repeat of CBS' Two and a Half Men drew the night's top ratings Monday, but Fox took an overall win with the combination of House and the new J.J. Abrams drama Alcatraz, according to preliminary numbers.

The 100th episode of Gossip Girl on Monday night was chock full of revelations, including the show's big mystery: the identity of Gossip Girl herself. And be warned, if you haven't seen it yet, spoilers lie ahead.

Working mom Jessica Alba is adding entrepreneur to her many titles, shifting from movie star to businesswoman with a venture that provides parents easy access to eco-friendly natural products for babies and homes.

Let it be known that ABC officially has Scruples -- and Natalie Portman is thrown in with the deal.

Adam Sandler is ready to visit Candy Land for Sony.

CBS President and Chief Executive Officer Les Moonves testified that the network would have paid millions more than NBC for the TV rights for the Golden Globe Awards.

Liam Neeson may be the world's most improbable action star.

Leonard Cohen sold off his song rights some years back, so he apparently doesn't collect royalties for the most hilariously over-covered song in American Idol history. That's bad for him, but good for us, since being cash-poor prompted the 70-something singer to come out of semi-retirement and return to the road in the late 2000s -- which, in turn, ultimately spurred the recording of Old Ideas, his first studio album in eight years.

The Descendants actress Judy Greer has landed a pilot with ABC.

Simon Cowell gave his talent show The X Factor a major shake-up, showing the door to host Steve Jones, judge Nicole Scherzinger, and even his old friend Paula Abdul after a lackluster first season on U.S. television.

Break into a chicken dance: Arrested Development writer Dean Lorey has confirmed he and the show's writing staff are already at work on the new episodes of the show that will premiere on Netflix in 2013.

Ben Kingsley will join Harrison Ford and Asa Butterfield in Ender's Game, the film's producers said on Tuesday.

The CW picked up three new pilots Tuesday, including a drama from Lost producers J.J. Abrams and Bryan Burk.

Alison Sweeney, host of the NBC network's weight loss TV series The Biggest Loser, has worked with the show's contestants since 2007, supporting them as they drop pounds and learn to lead a healthier way of life.

Actress Cynthia Nixon recently released a statement to calm the controversy surrounding her comments to The New York Times about her sexual orientation.

British chart-topper Adele will make her live comeback at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles in just under two weeks, after being on vocal rest since throat surgery sidelined the singer late last year.

Liturgy is the sexless hive-geek counterpart to Lana Del Rey, 2011's most polarizing and polarized artist. Her just-dropped album Born to Die, has landed number 1, despite global critical condemnation. The Brooklyn black metallers (Liturgy) generated what seemed a comparable amount of criticism to the manufactured pseudo-pop darling (Del Rey) in 2011. Liturgy sold far fewer albums, proving that artistic merit and integrity do not always win out.

Michael Vick's publicist, Chris Shigas, denied claims that the quarterback has interest to attend New York Fashion Week, saying that his identity was falsely used to request invitations for 2012 collection shows.

Lana Del Ray made her official music debut on Tuesday with the release of her new album Born to Die, but everyone is still talking about her botched Saturday Night Live performance and the singer just doesn't understand why.

The Mashco Piro Indians -- an uncontacted tribe of the Amazon -- have become increasingly violent toward tourists and locals near Manú National Park in Peru as they struggle to resist contact.

Guns N' Roses announced Monday that they will play a series of shows in the U.S. in February (listed below) and they have chosen a date in New York City, nestled right in the middle of New York Fashion Week 2012, as their kick-off.

It's about time people stop referring to Ryan Seacrest as the host of American Idol and start calling him an entertainment mogul.

Feist is ready to take on the world.

Italian actress and model Elisabetta Canalis was spotted kissing Jackass stuntman Steve-O earlier this week. Take a look at these pictures of Steve-O's hot new girlfriend and George Clooney's ex: Elisabetta Canalis.

Rumer Willis, Demi Moore's 23-year-old daughter, was present during her mother's seizure, and helped make the 911 call that may have saved her mother's life. Listen to the 911 tape here, and find out what Rumer Willis did to help the actress after Moore began to convulse after smoking what may have been K2.

Actress Debbie Reynolds of Singin' in the Rain fame is coming out with another biography.

Chardonnay, the world's most popular white wine, dates back centuries, but it owes much of its history in the United States to a winemaker who planted the grape in California 100 years ago.

Italian luxury shoemaker Salvatore Ferragamo is close to agreeing a deal to pay a record UK rent at its Bond Street store that will break the 1,000 pounds per square foot mark for the first time.