Click here to read what the critics are saying about the new Shrek musical, which just premiered in Washington and debuts on Broadway this December.

This is sad.

Is Italy turning into communist Cuba, where people can't openly talk about the government and voice their opinions????

Sabina Guzzanti, an Italian comedian, might be facing jail time for some remarks she recently made.

Guzzanti, who's known for her satire and wit, faces a prison sentence of up to five years.

But why?

For insulting the Pope!!!!

Guzzanti is being accused of "offending the honour of the sacred and inviolable person" of Pope Benedict XVI.

She was at a Rally in Rome this past July at which "opposition leaders accused Silvio Berlusconi, the Prime Minister and media tycoon, of passing ad personam laws to protect his own interests and avoid prosecution for alleged corruption."

Speakers at the rally were also protesting against what they viewed as "excessive interference" in Italian affairs from the Vatican and Catholic Church.

As for Guzzanti, she's been known to impersonate Berlusconi. She told the crowd that probably in 20 years the Vatican would also be screening and choosing all Italian teachers.

She also said, "But then within twenty years the Pope will be where he ought to be, in Hell, tormented by great big poofter devils - and very active ones, not passive ones."

And there's the quote that could land someone in jail.

And according to the 1929 Lateran Treaty between Italy and the Vatican, any insult towards the Pope has the same penalty as an insult to the Italian President. And in order to prosecute, they just need to get authoriazation from the Ministry of Justice.

Kind of makes you happy to live in the US knowing that we're protected and have our Freedom of Speech.

And, oddly enough, aside from Berlusconi, there seems to be a great deal of people in Italy who value this law. Even the Democrats like Luca Volonte, a Christian Democrat, who said that Guzzanti's "gratuitous insults must be punished".

As for Guzzanti's dad, a centre Right MP, he described the decision as "a return to the Middle Ages. Perhaps my daughter should be be submitted to the judgement of God by being made to walk on hot coals".

Many are also describing this move as Fascist.

Antonio Di Pietro, who organized the rally and is a centre Left senator and former anti-corruption magistrate, said that Guzzanti had only "exercised her constitutional right to freedom of thought. You can agree or not agree with what she said - and peronally I didn't - but to put people in prison for that they think is reminiscent of a time when those who thought differently had castor oil poured down their throats."

However, even priests are calling this ridiculous.

Jesuit scholar Father Bartolomeo Sorge, told a reporter, "I cannot understand it. We Christians put up with many insults, it is part of being a Christian, as is forgiveness. I feel sure the Pope has already forgiven those who insulted him on Piazza Navona".

Luckily, Magistrates said that no legal action would likely be taken against Guzzanti, so let's hope that's the case.

It seems like something should be done about Silvio Berlusconi, though.

[Image via AP.]

Get ready to rock and roll, Oz style!

According to a new report, The Veronicas are close to sealing a reality show deal with MTV.

It should make for an interesting show.

Just recently, one of the band's twinsies, Jess, was involved in a celesbian fling and a nude photo scandal.

What else do the girls have in store for us?

Jess revealed to a music writer that the project makes sense because, "We document everything we do anyway."

We'll just kick back and wait for some juicy 'leaks'.

[Image via WENN.]

Most celebs these days are trying to branch out into different fields. If it's not a clothing line, then it's perfume, or restaurants.

As for Victoria Beckham, she's already tried the clothing line, and that wasn't exactly a smash hit.

She also has her own perfume, and we doubt anyone wears it.

Now, she's trying her hand at the restaurant biz!

Posh is partnering up with celeb chef Gordon Ramsay to open up a restaurant in LA.

Yea, because Posh eats so much you just think of food when you look at her!

The menu for the location will be traditional English food, with fish and chips, mash, and bangers.

We might try it out, but only cuz we like English food, not cause VB's name will be on it!

[Image via AP Images.]

In a recent poll of 4,000 British lesbians, Rachel Weisz was voted Hollywood's sexiest woman.

A spokesperson for the peeps who did the survey said, "From her woman in peril in the first two Mummy movies to her Academy Award winning turn in The Constant Gardener, Rachel Weisz is one gorgeous English gal with a whole lot of range."

Voters placed Nicole Kidman at #2.

Really???????

They said it was her stockings and suspenders in the hit movie Moulin Rouge that turned them on.

No American actresses made the list.

WTF?

Angelina Jolie?!?!

Here's the full top ten:

1. Rachel Weisz
2. Nicole Kidman
3. Minnie Driver
4. Kate Winslet
5. Naomi Watts
6. Keira Knightley
7. Thandie Newton
8. Emily Blunt
9. Catherine Zeta-Jones
10. Cate Blanchett

[Image via Mavrix Online.]

It's fucking Ralph Macchio, bitches.

Yes, the Karate Kid himself!

The '80s alum came out of Hasbeen Land and made a rare appearance at the Tony Hawk Foundation's Stand Up for Skateparks event in Bridgehampton, Long Island on Sunday.

He's 46 years old. For reals!

Un-be-lieve-a-ble.

We smell drama brewing!

The producers of Lost are reportedly in talks with series stars Matthew Fox and Evangeline Lilly's reps to up their paychecks, currently at about $150,000 per episode.

Reps for some of the other regulars have asked for talks with the producers as well.

The majority of the Lost supporting players are getting about $80,000-90,000 per episode.

Are Fox and Lilly really worth that much more than the other ensemble players????

[Images via WENN.]

Despite the rumors of infidelity between Alex Rodriguez and Madonna, it seems like the baseball star is still willing to lend a helping hand. Especially since it'll bring about a ton of press.

Reports state that A-Rod is making a nice donation to Madonna's charity, Raising Malawi.

A source says, "They've asked him for a million dollars, and I hear he's agreed to give at least $500,000."

Considering that he's going to lose a lot of his money and assets during his divorce, we think he should donate a lot more of it away now!

He'll probably make millions in the future, so if you're going to lose millions to an ex, might as well give it to charity first, right?

And A-Rod's been known to have a charitable heart.

He once gave the University of Miami $3.9 million to help build a baseball stadium and didn't even want his name on it.

The director for Raising Malawi would not comment, stating only "Obviously when you're talking about donors, these are private things. I would never reveal information about any donor."

And he added, "We're building a girls' school, which will bring the best resources from around the world with a specific focus on medicine, education and the law. And we don't want a brain drain. We want to develop the leaders of Malawi, who stay in Malawi and help their country."

As for A-Rod's people, they have yet to confirm his half a million donation.

Those involved with the school have denied that the Malawian school would operate with a Kabbalah-base cirriculum.

A rep says, "It will be based on the British system," the same way Madonna's kids were taught.

Reports are also circulating that her Madgesty is preparing to adopt a Malawian girl, though we're skeptical to believe that news yet.

[Image via WENN.]

The NFL picked Tom Petty to headline their halftime show at the Super Bowl last year.

So, who will be the musical act at this year's extravaganza???

None other than the Boss himself!

Bruce Springsteen has just been chosen to rock the crowd in Tampa this February, according to reports.

Other recent half-time acts include Prince and Paul McCartney.

[Image via WENN.]

Bernie Mac's sister-in-law, Mary Ann Grossett, has revealed that his wife of 30 years, Rhonda, and daughter, Je'Nice, were with him until the very end.

Grossett says that the night before Mr. Mac died:

"He struggled for his life. He couldn't breathe. He opened his eyes on his own and looked at Rhonda. She called his name, and he opened his eyes and nodded to her. She smiled at him and told him, 'Don't leave me ... 'I'm waiting for you to come back.' He shrugged his shoulders, and she said that's when she knew he was tired. He signaled to her that his body was tired. He opened his eyes on his own and looked at Rhonda. She called his name, and he opened his eyes and nodded to her. She smiled at him and told him, 'Don't leave me ... 'I'm waiting for you to come back.' He shrugged his shoulders, and she said that's when she knew he was tired. He signaled to her that his body was tired."

[The doctors] were working on him. They tried to resuscitate him two times. One time he came back for about an hour. Then he went into cardiac arrest the second time."

It also turns out that his reps incorrectly reported that sarcoidosis did not contribute to his death. His sister-in-law said:

"He had sarcoidosis, but it was in remission. But because he had it, his immune system was compromised. He had an infection… He was on a new medication that suppresses the immune system, and that's where the pneumonia came from."

The funny man was actually hospitalized on July 24, eight days before the date given for his admittance. The actor was diagnosed with pneumonia and immediately placed on a ventilator.

Also, in contradiction with the statements issued by his PR rep, the comedian was critically ill and in intensive care the entire time he was in the hospital.

Doctors reportedly kept the star sedated, although he was conscious at times and he contracted a second strain of pneumonia while in the hospital.

CLICK HERE for information on Mac's public memorial or how you can make donations in his name.

[Image via Mavrix Online.]