BRITNEY SPEARS: Ex-X Factor Judge!

Britney Spears has had it with the X Factor. TMZ is reporting that Brit's not coming back to serve as a judge on the show next season, giving up her salary of $15 million.

According to their sources, Britney had fun working on the show, but she wants to focus on her music. She's in the studio now working on her eighth studio album with an assist from Will.i.am and Kanye West/Jay-Z producer Hit-Boy. After the album's done, Britney may hit the road for a tour.

Source: TMZ

PSY: Super Bowlin'

PSY will bring some Gangnam Style to the Super Bowl -- in an ad for Wonderful brand pistachios.

In the ad, the Korean kingpin wears a pistachio-green suit and will display his own unique way to crack open the nuts. The company has already begun placing displays featuring PSY in supermarkets in advance of the ad's first airing.

One ad expert tells USA Today that the company may regret shelling out big bucks for PSY. Robert Thompson says, "Pistachios will get a lot of attention for signing PSY, and when you're in the pistachio business, that's a good thing. But PSY already is becoming an old joke."

JUSTIN BIEBER: Pot Jokes OK on SNL

We may be in for a slew of pot jokes when Justin Bieber hosts Saturday Night Live on February 9th. That's because the Bieb has declared nothing off-limits, including his alleged weed addiction. In fact, Justin has reportedly told producers to go as far as they want.

Justin will also serve as the night's musical guest. He's in good company. Others who've pulled double duty on SNL include Bruno Mars, Elton John, Justin Timberlake, Taylor Swift, Mick Jagger, Britney Spears and Jennifer Lopez.

Source: TMZ

ROSIE O'DONNELL: Welcomes Baby Girl

Rosie O'Donnell has added to her brood.

Rosie has welcomed a baby girl with wife Michelle Rounds. The comedienne made the announcement Wednesday on Instagram with a photo, along with the caption, "We are thrilled to announce the arrival of our daughter Dakota."

Dakota is Rosie's fifth child. She also shares kids Parker, Chelsea, Blake, and Vivienne with ex-wife Kelli Carpenter.

Rosie and Michelle got hitched on June 9th.

Source: Us magazine

PIERS MORGAN: Obama Says No to Deportation

We don't know if this bad or good news, but acerbic CNN host Piers Morgan won't be deported.

Piers has been critical of U.S. gun policy following the Newtown, Connecticut shootings. At one point he called a gun-rights advocate an "unbelievably stupid man." That prompted 100,000 people to sign a petition to boot the Brit back home. But it didn't work. The White House on Wednesday responded to the petition, saying Piers has a right to say what he wants and he's not going anywhere.

In a post on the White House's website, press secretary Jay Carney writes, "Let’s not let arguments over the Constitution’s Second Amendment violate the spirit of its First. President Obama believes that the Second Amendment guarantees an individual right to bear arms. However, the Constitution not only guarantees an individual right to bear arms, but also enshrines the freedom of speech and the freedom of the press -- fundamental principles that are essential to our democracy."

The White House has promised to respond to any petition garnering at least 25,000 signatures.

Source: The Wrap

BRENT MUSBURGER: Katherine Webb Flattered, AJ McCarron Upset

Katherine Webb didn't mind ESPN announcer Brent Musberger's comments about her looks during Monday night's BCS Championship game.

ESPN issued an apology after Brent singled out the 23-year-old, who was in the stands watching her boyfriend, quarterback A.J. McCarron, lead Alabama to victory over Notre Dame. Musberger repeatedly called Webb "lovely" and "beautiful," which some viewers found "creepy."

But on NBC's Today show Wednesday, Katherine said, "I think the media has been really unfair to him. I think if he had said something along the line if we were hot or sexy, I think that would be a little bit different. The fact that he said we were beautiful and gorgeous, I don't think any woman wouldn't be flattered by that. I appreciate it, but at the same time I don't think I needed an apology."

Katherine doesn't have reason to complain. Her Twitter account has mushroomed from 2000 followers to nearly 200,000. And she's been invited by Donald Trump to judge the next Miss USA pageant.

Her boyfriend, however, does have a beef. A.J. is said to be "upset" by his girlfriend's sudden fame because she's overshadowing his achievements. TMZ says Katherine canceled eight interviews at his request. But she denies that, insisting she "decided to pull out because she feared her relationship with A.J. will be viewed as a 'celebrity status' thing."

Source: People

KIM KARDASHIAN: Don't Look at Her Baby for First 6 Months

If you have your heart set on seeing Kim Kardashian's baby-to-be, you'll have to be patient. 

Kim and Kanye West -- who never met a camera they didn't like -- are reversing course and won't be introducing their first child to fans via TV cameras or photographs. An insider tells Us Magazine that Kim is "ready to dial back from being so public" and "she doesn't even want the baby to be seen for the first six months." The source adds that the parents-to-be "have decided as a family that their baby is not going to be on the shows."

Kim's sister Kourtney didn't feel the same -- she's been putting her children -- Mason, 3, and Penelope, 6 months -- in front of the cameras ever since they entered the world.

TOP CELEBRITY TWEETS

Smokin' Bieber tops celebrity tweets.

• Lisa Lampanelli: "Tommy Chong says Bieber is talented BECAUSE he smokes weed. Quick -- someone pack Mark Sanchez a bong and roll a fattie for the Kardashians."
• Justin Bieber: "Excited for 20 days from [Wednesday] when my acoustic album will let you know how I feel about what is going on in my life instead of rumors."
• Jimmy Fallon: "Lance Armstrong will sit for 90-minute talk with Oprah. Though it’ll be kind of suspicious when he finishes in just 60 minutes."
• Anderson Cooper: "My next guest says Lance Armstrong tried to destroy her life after she spoke out against his alleged doping."
• Larry King: "I know how writers and broadcasters feel about steroid use but how do you feel about steroid use in sports? Do you care? Does it matter to you?"
• Patton Oswalt: "An old lady at this Pinkberry just farted. ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED, TWITTER? ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?"
• Mario Lopez: "Is it me or does absolutely everyone seem to have the flu right now?"
• Steve Martin: "Symptoms: I feel like someone just forced a boot with cheese down my throat."
• Dane Cook: "If someone blatantly undresses you with their eyes, just murder them with yours."

CRITICS’ CHOICE AWARDS: Stars Out Thursday

The 18th annual Critics' Choice Movie Awards are presented on Thursday. The CW airs the gala live from Santa Monica, California. Lincoln set the record this year with 13 nominations. They include Best Picture and Best Actor for Daniel Day-Lewis as well as Best Supporting Actor for Tommy Lee Jones and Best Supporting Actress for Sally Field. Les Misérables trails with 11 nods, including Best Picture, Best Actor for Hugh Jackman and Best Supporting Actress for Anne Hathaway. Silver Linings Playbook is no slouch with 10 nods, including Best Picture, Best Actor for Bradley Cooper, Best Actress for Jennifer Lawrence and Best Supporting Actor for Robert De Niro.

BEST PICTURE NOMINEES
Argo
Beasts of the Southern Wild
Django Unchained
Les Miserables
Life of Pi
Lincoln
The Master
Moonrise Kingdom
Silver Linings Playbook
Zero Dark Thirty

BEST ACTOR
Bradley Cooper, Silver Linings Playbook
Daniel Day-Lewis, Lincoln
John Hawkes, The Sessions
Hugh Jackman, Les Miserables
Joaquin Phoenix, The Master
Denzel Washington, Flight

BEST ACTRESS
Jessica Chastain, Zero Dark Thirty
Marion Cotillard, Rust and Bone
Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook
Emmanuelle Riva, Amour
Quvenzhane Wallis, Beasts of the Southern Wild
Naomi Watts, The Impossible

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Alan Arkin, Argo
Javier Bardem, Skyfall
Robert De Niro, Silver Linings Playbook
Philip Seymour Hoffman, The Master
Tommy Lee Jones, Lincoln
Matthew McConaughey, Magic Mike

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amy Adams, The Master
Judi Dench, Skyfall
Ann Dowd, Compliance
Sally Field, Lincoln
Anne Hathaway, Les Miserables
Helen Hunt, The Sessions

BEST YOUNG ACTOR/ACTRESS
Elle Fanning, Ginger & Rosa
Kara Hayward, Moonrise Kingdom
Tom Holland, The Impossible
Logan Lerman, The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Suraj Sharma, Life of Pi
Quvenzhane Wallis, Beasts of the Southern Wild

BEST ACTING ENSEMBLE
Argo
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Les Miserables
Lincoln
Moonrise Kingdom
Silver Linings Playbook

BEST DIRECTOR
Ben Affleck, Argo
Kathryn Bigelow, Zero Dark Thirty
Tom Hooper, Les Miserables
Ang Lee, Life of Pi
David O. Russell, Silver Linings Playbook
Steven Spielberg, Lincoln

OBAMA: Another Cabinet Defection as Labor Secretary Resigns

The musical chairs in the Obama administration continued on Wednesday when Labor Secretary Hilda Solis announced she's resigning. Perhaps to stem off the illusion of a mass exodus, White House officials pointed out that three other key cabinet members, including Attorney General Eric Holder, are staying put.

Obama praised Solis as "a tireless champion for working families" during "the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression."

Solis broke ground as the first and only Hispanic woman to hold a top position in the administration. Her resignation followed the exit of Environmental Protection Agency administrator Lisa Jackson and Susan Rice's withdrawal for consideration for secretary of state, leaving some to question if Obama's second-term team will have enough racial and gender diversity.

Source: The Washington Post

GADGETS: Disney World’s Digital Wristband Holds Your Place in Line

Disney World has introduced new wristbands equipped with computer chips that allow customers to pay for food and – even better – hold their places in line.

A theme park without lines … can you imagine?

The rubber wristbands, called MyMagic+, allow people to enter the theme park, pay for souvenirs, and even access their hotel rooms.

MyMagic+ can also make the whole experience more interactive, as employees dressed as beloved Disney characters could receive word in their earpiece that it is a child’s birthday or who the child’s favorite character is.

Of course, some people don’t like the idea of being tracked by a big corporation like Disney, but a lot more people don’t like standing in line for two hours just to ride a 90-second roller coaster. (Wired.com)