Celebrity News: The Week Ahead

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

07 May 2007 02:03 PM

How I got sucked into watching ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" I will never know. But, like millions of others, each week I find myself tuning into the dance competition to see which star's moves are most impressive. The other little thrill I get from the show is looking at the audience to see which members of a star's entourage gets a cameo shot.

Last week I was treated to a 90210 reunion of sorts as Ian Ziering's former cast members (Jason Priestly, Tori Spelling, and Jennie Garth) came out to root him on. This week, Laila Ali's guests are making headlines. Tonight, former heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali is reportedly planning to attend the hit ABC show to root for his daughter.

Despite all the attention that's surrounding her father's visit Laila told news reporters she plans to keep her eyes on the prize.

"I don't look at him as everyone else does - as 'Muhammad Ali coming to the show!' It's just dad," she says. "I don't have time to really get caught up in any situation [except for] my training and getting prepared, because the last thing you want is to have everyone in the audience and go out there, mess it up and get bad scores."

It's nice that Muhammad Ali is coming, but I don't think it will help Laila get her hands on the disco ball trophy---I still think that hideous piece of bling is going home with Apolo Anton Ohno.

Moving on...

In previous blogs I've discussed rumors of martial strife that continue to dog newlyweds Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes. Now, in what some are calling a move to quell the buzz, Cruise has reportedly plunked down $35 million for a Beverly Hills home for his growing family.

It seems the Cruises will have no problem keeping prying eyes off their property, as their house sits on 1.3 acres behind gates and a lengthy driveway. At the end of the driveway is a nearly 20,000-square-foot mansion that contains seven bedrooms and nine bathrooms, and the obligatory Hollywood must-haves: a tennis court and a pool.

The Cruise's new compound is also located just two minutes away from their BFFs Victoria and David Beckham's new multi-millionaire pad.

Finally, boxing champ Oscar De La Hoya will spend the rest of the week nursing the injuries he sustained during Saturday's match up against "Pretty Boy" Floyd Mayweather... and he can also use the time to get used to the idea that he will soon be a father for the fourth time.

His wife, 33-year-old Puerto Rican pop singer, Millie Corretjer told the L.A. Times that she gave her husband the good news about an hour after he lost the fight.

The baby will be De La Hoya's fourth child and his wife's second. The couple already has a son Oscar Gabriel who was born in December of 2005. The boxer has two other children: a son, Jacob, 9, and a daughter Atiana, 8, from previous relationships. By the way, Atiana's mother is former "Dancing with the Stars" contestant Shanna Moakler.

Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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