This morning's news that Australia star/Sexuality League trade-rumor subject Hugh Jackman might host this year's Oscars was not just some pleasant waking dream! This just in from Variety:

Paula Abdul is now freely admitting she was scared shitless the day she came face-to-face in the Idol audition room with a longtime obsessive fan who'd later commit suicide outside her home.

12/11 — Saw SHENAE GRIMES at the Woods last night. I had actually met her at Happy Ending a few weeks ago. Real nice and undiva-seeming. For all the negative reports you think she'd be hanging around douched out spots like Les Deux and etc. No, I am not her publicist. [Hollywood PrivacyWatch is written by and for Defamer readers; send your sightings to tips@defamer.com.]

Meryl Streep and Amy Adams crashed The View today to court a bit of opening-day goodwill for their new film Doubt. Oscar support would be lovely, too, but, you know, only if you want to.

First, the good news: Reese Witherspoon has confirmed the postponement of the Cameron Crowe film that would have paired her with Ben Stiller in a supernatural romantic comedy about volcanoes and human sacrifice.

Popular Defamer subject John Mayer spoke up on his own blog yesterday with a bit of advice for all the epidemically abusive gossips out there: If you must insult him, learn from the best.

The good news just keeps coming for new commenters. We've just been informed that a feature being tinkered with at Gawker User-Feedback Laboratories will go live at noon: Facebook account commenting.

Bettie Page, the most celebrated, bangs-sporting, whip-cracking, bikini-rocking pin-up model of the 1950s, died Thursday of complications following a heart attack suffered last week. She was 85. NSFW memories follow the jump.

We hope you're starting to grow more accustomed to the svelte, Juicy-sweatsuit-wearing us since we unveiled our new look to you yesterday.

What does Ben Silverman, skiing enthusiast and co-chairman of craptacular NBC, do when everyone wonders why he's still employed? Judging by today's New York Post, tell his favorite outlet how great he is.

Perhaps you've heard, but comedian/Jonas Brothers despoiler Russell Brand is a fan of sex-having. The habit has landed him in hot water across the pond, and now in America, he's suffered a "sexy text" leak.

The Oscars producers—that would be the dynamic Dreamgirls duo of producer Laurence Mark and director Bill Condon—opted not to go with our suggestions of Mickey Rooney or Korean singing sensation Dong as emcee.

Welcome back to Defamer Attractions, your regular guide to everything new, noteworthy and/or Keanu-rrific at the movies. This week: Earth is doomed, Clint is done, and Che is looooonnng.

· Videogum put together a must-see retrospective of the best viral videos of 2008. Next year, Dong. Next year.

The director of the long-delayed Adrien Brody/Mark Ruffalo caper flick The Brothers Bloom confirmed today that his film was pushed back once again — this time to May — for better "counter-programming" chances. Really?

When we noticed today that CBS 2 had made a completely inappropriate photo choice for its story on the death of Macaulay Culkin's sister, we figured they'd eventually change it. But is this an improvement?

The search for the next Oscars presenter may be nearing its end, as we are hearing whispers the Academy has settled upon an emcee for Hollywood's Most Glamorous Evening No One Bothers Tuning In To:

The accursed, Troyer-felling labors of Dr. Parnassus behind him, Terry Gilliam has wheedled his way into Dubai, where he hopes all those oil riches make for better door-to-door panhandling in advance of his next film.

With Leno in primetime and Conan at 11:35, we'll need something to tide us over when The Daily Show is in reruns. HBO has thrown their hat in the ring, and luckily it involves nudity.

Valkyrie star/BlackBerry misplacer Tom Cruise has obtained a restraining order against a military vet who's been showing up at his home: