M&M’s introduced its newest spokescandy during the Super Bowl, and if you thought the bespectacled Ms. Brown sounded familiar, you’re right! The sassy and sophisticated voice belongs to none other than Vanessa Williams.

“Actually, I couldn’t be happier because M&M’s is my favorite candy of all time, so that was just the kicker!” the actress says.

Williams, 48, talked to Parade.com about her sweet new role and dished on the final season of Desperate Housewives and how she plans to stay in touch with her co-stars.

On bringing Ms. Brown to life.
“The character description said they wanted her to be like Wilhelmina [Williams' character on the now-cancelled Ugly Betty], and I said, ‘Hmm, I created the role, so I think I could probably do this!’ It was a perfect combination. And to know that it was going to debut during the Super Bowl was a pretty big deal.” Read the full story

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Music mogul Russell Simmons wants New York’s governor to pull the plug on milk from cows.

The hip-hop impresario writes in a letter to Andrew Cuomo that milk should no longer be the state’s official beverage.

Simmons, a vegan who has taken on several animal rights causes with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, says milk from cows is less healthy than milk from rice, almonds or soy.

He tells The Associated Press he knows dairy is big business in New York but says other industries could spring up in its place.

Simmons and Cuomo go way back. They’re both from Queens, and they worked together a decade ago to help soften New York’s strict drug laws.

Cuomo’s office didn’t immediately respond Thursday to a request for comment.

A chance to kiss the buff, shirtless Richard Gere of the early ’80s? Sold, for $20,000!

It wasn’t exactly a time machine that was auctioned off at the annual amfAR AIDS charity gala kicking off New York Fashion Week on Wednesday evening. Rather, it was a black-and-white portrait of Gere by famed photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, who himself died of AIDS in 1989. Displaying the photo from the stage, cookbook author and TV personality Padma Lakshmi kissed it a few times to demonstrate its appeal.

The gala, held in the cavernous event space at Cipriani Wall Street, is a staple event on the fringes of New York Fashion Week. This year, it was hosted by Sarah Jessica Parker, and featured performances by Brooklyn rapper Theophilius London, R&B singer Janelle Monae, and opera singer Michelle Johnson, who sang in tribute to the late Elizabeth Taylor — founder of the AIDS charity.

But whatever was happening onstage, it was at least as interesting to stargaze among the guests, an eclectic mix of fashion, Hollywood, music and medicine. Fashion luminaries included designer Kenneth Cole, “Project Runway” host Heidi Klum (and judge Nina Garcia), Linda Evangelista and Cindy Crawford, who presented an award to Italian designer Roberto Cavalli. Read the full story

Bruce Springsteen has announced that two saxophonists, including Clarence Clemons’ nephew, will join his upcoming world tour with the E Street Band.

The announcement was made Thursday on Springsteen’s website. Springsteen says longtime collaborator Eddie Manion wil “share the saxophone role” with Jake Clemons.

Returning singers Cindy Mizelle and Curtis King, trombonist Clark Gayton and trumpeter Curt Ramm also will be on the tour, along with newcomer Barry Danielian on trumpet.

“Wrecking Ball” is Springsteen’s 17th album and the first since the death of E Street Band saxophonist Clarence Clemons last summer.

The tour starts March 18 in Atlanta.

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New Jersey’s second largest city is rolling out the welcome mat for the women of the “Jersey Shore.”

Jersey City has issued producers a permit to film a spinoff of the reality series featuring Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi and Jenni “JWoww” Farley. Filming is expected to begin later this month in the city’s Grove Street Path neighborhood.

Nearby Hoboken last week denied the permit, citing safety and quality of life concerns for residents of the city along the Hudson River.

Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy says he believes the show is an opportunity to promote the city.

City spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill says the cast and crew must obey all laws and the production company will be required to hire police to reduce any impact on the public.

It’s an action superstar reunion: Arnold Schwarzenegger is joining Sylvester Stallone for the thriller “The Tomb.”

The filmmakers said Wednesday that Schwarzenegger has signed on to star alongside Stallone in the prison-break adventure.

Schwarzenegger previously had a cameo in Stallone’s action hit “The Expendables” and also appears in its upcoming sequel.

“The Tomb” will feature Schwarzenegger as an inmate opposite Stallone, who plays the designer of a master prison forced to escape from his own jailhouse. Directed by Mikael Hafstrom, “The Tomb” begins shooting in Louisiana this spring.

Schwarzenegger is just finishing work on “The Last Stand,” his first starring role since returning to acting after serving as California’s governor.

Court records show Gary Busey has filed for bankruptcy and is listing more than $500,000 in estimated personal debts.

Busey’s filing on Tuesday in Los Angeles provides few details but includes more than a dozen potential creditors.

The actor and reality show star does not state a reason for the filing. His manager Ron Sampson wrote in a statement the filing provides Busey “a new and clear path” to personal and career success.

The filing states the 67-year-old has less than $50,000 in assets.

Busey has starred in numerous films including “Point Break” and “Lethal Weapon” but has in recent years appeared more on reality shows such as “Celebrity Apprentice.”

The filing was first reported Wednesday by celebrity website TMZ.

A judge has finalized Katy Perry and Russell Brand’s divorce, although the pair won’t legally split up until July.

Perry indicated in a court filing Tuesday that she and Brand had reached a settlement of all issues in the case. On Wednesday, Superior Court Judge Marc Marmaro agreed to grant the couple’s divorce, but it won’t become official until July 14.

California law requires couples to wait six months after filing for divorce before it becomes official.

Brand filed for divorce Dec. 30. He and Perry have blamed “irreconcilable differences” for their split.

The former couple did not indicate in court filings when they separated.

The British comedian and the pop star were married in October 2010 at a resort inside a tiger reserve in India.

A reality television producer charged with killing his wife while on vacation in Mexico is being sent from California to Cancun to await trial, a spokesman for his attorneys said Wednesday.

The attorneys were notified Wednesday that former “Survivor” producer Bruce Beresford-Redman was being extradited, spokesman Stephen Jaffe said.

The producer has been charged in Mexico in the death of his wife, Monica Beresford-Redman, whose body was found in a sewer cistern at a swank resort following an April 2010 family vacation.

Bruce Beresford-Redman opted in December not to appeal a U.S. court ruling upholding his extradition. Mexican authorities later said they had reached an agreement for his return.

Beresford-Redman has denied that he killed his wife and his attorneys have attacked evidence in the case.

The U.S. Marshals Service would not comment on Beresford-Redman’s extradition, citing a policy against discussing prisoner movements.

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Coroner’s officials say Don Cornelius’ death is being ruled a suicide.

The agency writes in a press release issued Tuesday that the “Soul Train” founder died early Feb. 1 after shooting himself in the head. The determination was made after an autopsy Friday.

The 75-year-old Cornelius started “Soul Train” in 1970 and it became one of the longest-running syndicated shows in history, introducing audiences to many top music acts and providing a never-before-seen TV platform for black culture.

Police quickly ruled out foul play, but the official cause of death was not determined until after an autopsy.

Coroner’s officials are awaiting toxicology results before issuing a full report.