CLOSE CALL  —  PETE Wentz once played a scary game of Russian roulette while in a booze-and-pill stupor.  “I pulled a trigger on a gun aimed at myself,” the Fall Out Boy star and hubby of Ashlee Simpson confesses in next month's Playboy.  “My friend and I did one pull each.  We'd been drinking and had taken Ambien.

Jonas Brothers react to Brand  —  American band The Jonas Brothers insist they haven't taken offence at comments made by Russell Brand during the MTV Video Music Awards.  —  The comedian took a pop at the band over the purity rings they wear which symbolise their virginity.

Short Beck-and-sides: Posh steals the show at New York Fashion Week with a Halle Berry inspired crop  —  Victoria Beckham is the talk of New York Fashion Week after unveiling a surprise new cut at the Marc Jacobs catwalk show yesterday.  —  Posh has abandoned her famous Pob in favour of a daring pixie crop …

Rush & Molloy: Stern in virgin territory  —  Look for Howard Stern to shock again on Tuesday morning when he's due to kick off the auction of a 22-year-old beauty's virginity.  —  Expected to step on the block, so to speak, of Stern's Sirius radio studio is a San Diego woman who says she wants …

‘New Kate Moss’ in ‘cocaine’ party pictures  —  Model Alice Dellal is in a new drugs scadal  —  She has been dubbed by the fashion world as the new Kate Moss - but now Alice Dellal is facing a storm of questions after pictures emerged of her with what appears to be cocaine a party.

JUST IN: TORI SPELLING EARNS THE NO. 1 SPOT ON BOOK LIST  —  Tori Spelling is no longer just a New York Times best-selling author.  She is now a No. 1 New York Times best-selling author.  On Sept. 14, her book, sTORI Telling, will move into first place on the prestigious newspaper's non-fiction list.

LIL' WAYNE IN SECURITY RUCKUS  —  HEY, LIL' Wayne - what was in the bag you were carrying Friday night?  The rapper - whose album “Tha Carter III” was one of the biggest hits of 2008 - was supposed to perform at “Fashion Rocks” but left when he found out he'd have to go through security.

Paris Hilton Eyes Britney Spears Duet  —  Paris Hilton fancies recording a duet with Britney Spears for her new album.  —  “My new album's out soon and it would be hot if I could do a duet with Britney.  It is really poppy and sounds a bit like Kylie Minogue,” the hotel heiress said.

Diddy = Fraction of a Baller  —  Diddy blew a lot of hot air last week about going green by ditching his “own” private jet.  It was hotter than we knew.  —  Turns out P. doesn't even have his “own” private jet at all.  An extensive look through federal aviation records by the Palm Beach Post turned …

Financier Tied to Burkle Nears Plea Deal  —  Italian Entrepreneur And His Lavish Life Are at Center of Case  —  Raffaello Follieri, the 30-year-old Italian entrepreneur who has attracted attention for business dealings with billionaire Ron Burkle, is near an agreement to plead guilty to fraud …

Barton secretly checked into rehab  —  Actress Mischa Barton has revealed she secretly checked into rehab after her drunk driving arrest in 2007.  —  The former The O.C. star was arrested on suspicion of DUI in December, and was sentenced to 36 months on probation, alcohol education classes …

I want to have children, says Naomi  —  Naomi Campbell spoke of her desire to have children as she announced a fashion show to raise money to prevent women dying in pregnancy.  —  The supermodel, 38, said she had been unable to conceive before she underwent an operation in Brazil earlier this year.

IN BRIEF: JACKO'S UNDIES FOR SALE  —  MICHAEL Jackson's notorious tighty whities are up for grabs.  A pair of size-28 Calvin Klein white briefs once belonging to Wacko Jacko will be auctioned on eBay tomorrow, with a reserve price of $1 million.  The unwashed underpants have a sensational past.

What would Tom say?  Katie Holmes ‘gets surprise visit from first love Joshua Jackson’  —  As Dawson's Creek couple Joey and Pacey they were inseparable, with an onscreen love that spilled over into real life.  —  But while Katie Holmes now lives an A list lifestyle with superstar husband Tom Cruise …

Sarah Palin dolls go on sale as John McCain's running mate's popularity soars  —  Two Sarah Palin action dolls portraying the Republican vice-presidential nominee as an executive and an action hero have gone on sale in the United States.  —  The dolls are an attempt to cash in on the popularity …

Peter Laird Responds To ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ Movie Rumors; Confirms Deal For Live-Action/CGI Hybrid Is ‘Close’  —  Earlier this month, “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” co-creator Kevin Eastman created significant buzz when he posted on his website that talks were underway …