Is Kate Beckinsale the Sexiest Woman Alive?

We get it, Esquire. You wanna be different. For months, there's been non-stop talk about the hotness of Megan Fox. Incessant yammering abot how much money men would pay to see Olivia Wilde nude. Quiet whispers that Kate Gosselin is growing more gorgeous by the day. Okay, we may have made the last one up, but the overall point remains the same: when it comes to discussion about the best looking females alive, there's little variety. Hence, we're sure, Esquire's decision to name British actress Kate Beckinsale as the Sexiest Woman Alive. It's cool to be different, but come on. At least make it seem like you believe what you claim. Beckinsale is perfectly attractive, but there are plenty other women by whom we'd prefer to be ridden. Do you agree?

Is Kate Beckinsale the Sexiest Woman Alive?

	Yes, yowza!
	No, I'll pass!
	Have you seen Marisa Miller?!?

Kate Gosselin Cries: I Can't Pay My Bills!

Kate Gosselin says Jon Gosselin did indeed remove more than $200,000 from their joint bank account - all their liquid assets - leaving her with only $1,000.

As a result, she can't even buy their eight kids food now. "I have a stack of bills in my purse I can't drop in the mail," she cried on the Today Show this morning, following Jon's huge withdrawal. "The last thing I wanted was to do this show and end up not being able to pay our bills." Their separation agreement won't allow either of the estranged spouses to withdraw money from the joint "liquid" account without mutual authorization. Kate, however, is authorized to write checks for the family's expenses. She says that, in addition to the $230,000 he supposedly yoinked this week, Jon removed $100,000 from the account earlier in the divorce process. So worried was Kate that Jon would pull this stunt that she actually removed a big chunk of cash first, only to put it back because of the court order. "I had taken $100,000 and put it aside so I could buy my kids food if this occurred," she says. "At some point, I removed it to keep it safe, on the suggestion of my lawyer, but had to put it back, according to the arbitrator." Meanwhile, Jon's attorney claims he took money "he was entitled to" and expects that the train wreck will be awarded even more in the future. "[Jon] has not withdrawn any money for his own remuneration, with the exception of the past several months wherein he believes he only withdrew approximately $170,000," Mark J. Heller said this afternoon in a statement. "It is not unlikely that Jon will be awarded substantial additional funds." In response, Kate Gosselin says, "It's wonderful to say he'll be awarded significant funds. However, there are not significant funds for him to be awarded." "He needs to be awarded this? I'm sorry. When you've left your children and their mother unable to pay for the roof above their head, it is not acceptable." As for Jon's claims that the kids no longer wish to participate in the show, Kate claims they were "wailing and sobbing" when production was suspended. Kate feels the show needs to go on. "It's something that the kids and I are still enjoying," she says. "The opportunities that they've been provided ... the kids are having trouble understanding why they're not here and why they're not doing that." "I don't feel like it's time to end it. If we are all enjoying it, I just feel like Kate Plus 8 going on, the nine of us who want to continue it, should be able to." The star of the newly-renamed Kate Plus 8 admits that, "Every day, I don't know what I'm going to wake up to. [Jon] has gone way far off the trail."

Britney Spears Goes Back to Her Roots

This is why we love Britney Spears. Despite being a superstar for 10 years - an anniversary commemorated by her new hits collection, which also features her new threesome-themed single "3" - the girl never forgets where she came from and what got her there ...

Britney Spears' fashion hasn't changed that much since 1999. The pop star was spotted out and about, shopping with a pair of bodyguards in L.A. over the weekend. Needless to say, it was a successful outing. Who else could rock impossibly short shorts, a leopard-print clutch, Ugg boots and a midriff-baring top to Target and look so darn sexy? Jessica Simpson? We think not. At least not until she graduates from the chili cook-off concert circuit.

Erin Andrews Peeping Tom Under House Arrest

Michael David Barrett, the perv arrested for videotaping Erin Andrews nude in several hotels earlier this year, is now out on bail - but on a very tight leash. He forked over $4,500 in bail money, but don't expect him to skip down. A federal judge in Chicago granted his release with the following list of stipulations: Barrett have to wear an electronic monitoring device. He can go to work and doctor's appointments only. A curfew beginning at 9 p.m. and ending at 6 a.m. No Internet for two weeks (probably for the best). Michael David Barrett was also ordered to turn in his passport by tomorrow morning, and he's not allowed to leave Northern Illinois without permission. The judge said he was releasing Barrett because that suspect doesn't have a criminal record and because his family lives in the area. He is not a flight risk. He faces interstate stalking charges in Los Angeles October 23 for allegedly taking clandestine videos of the ESPN reporter nude and posting them online

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Joe Halderman: Letterman a "Master Manipulator"

The attorney for accused blackmailer Robert "Joe" Halderman says David Letterman is spinning the extortion plot against him and there are two sides to the story. "I look forward to cross-examining David Letterman," Halderman's lawyer, Gerald Shargel, told the Today Show Monday morning on behalf of his arrested client. "If you only hear David Letterman's side of the story, take it at face value, and say, 'Turn off the sets, that Halderman's guilty' - I think that's just plain wrong." Halderman is accused of blackmailing Letterman with info about his past affairs with staffers. Stephanie Birkitt and Holly Hester are the two known at this time. Shargel said that Joe Halderman, an Emmy-winning 48 Hours Mystery producer, has an excellent reputation and that allegations he tried to cash a bogus $2 million check from Letterman to pay off debts make "absolutely no sense."

Robert "Joe" Halderman is accused of trying to extort money from David Letterman. His lawyer says there are two sides to the story. He just won't say what his is. Halderman pleaded not guilty and has maintained his innoncence. The lawyer largely declined, however, to take advantage of the chance to provide Halderman's take on events, dodging virtually every direct question about his client's alleged conduct and repeating his one point over and over. Instead, the attorney simply maintained that Halderman is innocent and focused on Letterman's attempt to "get out ahead of the story" with a public mea culpa. One that has since been pulled by CBS, which doesn't help his case. "He's a master at manipulating audiences, that's what he does for a living," said Shargel of the Late Show host. "To think that David Letterman gave the entire story, and there's nothing more to be said, it's simply wrong."

Allison Iraheta Previews Debuts Single, Dishes on Dream Duet

While Kris Allen and Adam Lambert share the month of November (their debuts albums will be released on November 17 and 24, respectively), Allison Iraheta has December all to herself. Fans of the popular American Idol singer should circle December 1 on their calendar, as Iraheta comes out with her first CD that day. In a new interview, the rocker dishes on her debut single, "Friday I'll Be Over U," which you can listen to below: On creating the song: I worked with Max Martin, and he pulled it out of his magic box. He came up with an awesome song and sent I to me and we cut it and it was just amazing. He definitely knows how to put himself in other people's shoes.

On goal for the song: Pretty much show who I really am as an artist, and what I really want to continue doing for the rest of my life, which is this. Just really do awesome music for the rest of my life. On her dream collaboration: I keep saying this, and I'm always going to say it until it happens... working with Pink, my friend. That would be amazing. Her music altogether inspires me. I look up to her.

Diary of Stephanie Birkitt at Center of David Letterman Extortion Scandal

Diary of Stephanie Birkitt at Center of David Letterman Extortion Scandal October 5th, 2009 8:55 PM by Free Britney Tags: Stephanie Birkitt, Robert Halderman, David Letterman Excerpts from Stephanie Birkitt's private diary make up the centerpiece of Robert Halderman's alleged plan to extort $2 million from David Letterman.

Halderman (who is also known as Joe Halderman) threatened to expose his inter-office affairs if he did not comply, according to law enforcement officials
. The writings of Stephanie Birkitt was presumably not meant for the eyes of former lover Letterman, or a more recent one, CBS News producer Halderman. But pages copied from her diary are critical to the police investigation. Stephanie Birkitt, 34, was an assistant on The Late Show with David Letterman and frequently appeared on camera herself, along with the host, in comedy skits. She was also once his lover, according to her own diary (another woman, Holly Hester, is alleged to have had an affair with Letterman while he was still at NBC). Later, she became romantically involved with Robert Halderman. The couple lived together in his Norwalk, Conn., home until August, when they reportedly split. Stephanie had once worked on 48 Hours Mystery, the show where Halderman was a well respected producer. CBS News has suspended him since his arrest. Robert Halderman apparently copied pages from Birkitt's diary before they broke up, using them together with e-mails and other information in a package left in Letterman's limo that was intended to extort money from him. Halderman's attorney, Gerald Shargel, said Monday that Letterman is a master manipulator and only telling one side of the story, while the charges against his client are "so obviously out of character to the point of not making any sense." After he pleaded not guilty in a Manhattan court last week to a count of attempted first-degree grand larceny, Halderman is currently free on bail.