Jessica Simpson Proud Of Learning Lines, Making Faces For 'Blonde Ambition'

Jessica Simpson is no dumb blonde — she knows she has to pay her dues to climb the Hollywood ladder.

So to become a full-fledged movie star, the singer/actress worked a few entry-level jobs — slinging some hash as a waitress in "The Dukes of Hazzard" and ringing up receipts as a cashier in "Employee of the Month" — but she's ready to be taken seriously with her next film, "Blonde Ambition."

"I don't want to sound conceited or brag or anything, but I really did do a good job," Simpson said shortly after the film wrapped. "I am so proud of myself."

"Blonde Ambition," due this summer, has been described as a remake of the '80s classic "Working Girl," which starred Melanie Griffith and Harrison Ford and earned Griffith an Oscar nomination. But Simpson's version is less a remake and more a reimagining of the movie's theme. "It's basically about a young woman's journey into the corporate empire," producer Justin Berfield told MTV News. "She starts at the bottom and works her way to the top."

That means Simpson is in plenty of humiliating situations as an Oktoberfest-style beer girl and a bike messenger. "There are so many Lucille Ball moments," Simpson said. "Dane Cook taught me how to do that; he used his body language a lot. And the women who do that, like Goldie Hawn or Meg Ryan, do that so well, and it just makes the comedy so much better. Jim Carrey is obviously the best at it; he does all the different faces. But I have so many different faces in this movie that I never knew I had before."

Helping Simpson get the laughs this time around are Luke Wilson (who she screen-tested with for "Dallas") and her old pal Willie Nelson, who co-starred as Uncle Jesse in "The Dukes of Hazzard" (see "Jessica Simpson — In A Bikini — To Wash The General Lee In 'Boots' Video"). This time, Nelson plays Simpson's grandfather.

Plus, Andy Dick — who had a lick-tastic time in Simpson's "Public Affair" video (see "Jessica Simpson Finally Goes 'Public' With Longoria, Seacrest In Ratner-Directed Video") and also appeared with her in "Employee of the Month" — thwarts Jessica's Katie character in her efforts to get noticed on the job. "Remember the Sigourney Weaver part, the mean boss?" Dick told MTV News, referencing the original film. "I'm her assistant. I'm more present than the boss. I'm the evil one. It's going to be good."

The mere thought of her insane co-star had Simpson smiling. "I love you, Andy, I love you so much, but he's crazy out of his mind!" Simpson laughed. "He's a genius, I believe that. He is just so great behind the camera and makes everybody on the set laugh so hard."

A little levity was definitely needed since Simpson started feeling the stress early on in the production. "The hardest thing about 'Blonde Ambition' was that I'm carrying the weight of the movie on my shoulders," she said. "I was in every shot, pretty much, and it was very time-consuming. You don't really understand until a week after you're done shooting, and you're like, 'Oh my gosh, I memorized all those lines! Wow!' "

Letting her own blond ambition guide her, Simpson's ready for the challenge of her next movie, "The Witness," which she plans to shoot by the end of March. And no, that's not a Harrison Ford remake either. "I don't want to be typecast," Simpson laughed. "But if I were, it would just make me want to prove myself even more."

Can 'American Idol' Hopefuls Skate By On Looks, Personality Alone?

"It's a singing competition," Paula Abdul repeatedly declared on Thursday's "American Idol," frustrated that two of this season's weakest singers — Antonella Barba and Sanjaya Malakar — survived another week.

But is it?

Clearly, singing is the focus of "Idol," but even those closest to the show know there's more to it. "I've never wanted it to be a singing competition," co-executive producer Nigel Lythgoe said. "This is called 'American Idol.' And we would like the next one to be an idol. They need to be a great singer, but they also need a great personality if they're going to succeed. This isn't only just about having a great voice, it really isn't."

"Think about how many stars there are today that have great personalities that can't sing at all," added judge Randy Jackson. "I think the public falls in love with that. It's very infectious, the personality, and it plays a big part."

That might explain Malakar, a 17-year-old from Federal Way, Washington, who so innocently tagged along on his older sister's audition only to be brought to tears (all on camera) when he out-survived her.

But what about Barba, the 20-year-old from Point Pleasant, New Jersey? She's been tracked from the beginning — when she auditioned with her best friend, who didn't make it past the Hollywood round — but her personality hasn't exactly shined. Could it be that she built up a fanbase through the exposure (no pun intended) she received last week, when racy photos of her spread across the Internet (see "Sexy Pictures Won't Get Barba Booted From 'Idol' — But Wednesday Night's Song Could")?

"There's a certain hype that comes with her, and that's not really something I understand," said "Idol" semifinalist Leslie Hunt, who was voted out Thursday (see "Booted 'Idol' Hopeful On Antonella Barba's Sexy Photos: 'Get Over It' "). "It doesn't excite me that she has pictures like that. I mean, who doesn't? Whatever, get over it. But I knew getting into this that it wasn't just about singing."

Of course, Barba also survived the first week, before her pictures made national news, indicating that her fanbase was already strong. So perhaps it's fitting that the judges have praised her beauty each week before ripping into her singing.

"Cuteness goes a long way on 'Idol,' " season-three finalist Jon Peter Lewis said. "I mean, we're not really there for the music."

"As far as looks, Simon does constantly remind viewers about the image of an 'American Idol,' but thus far, there haven't really been any 'knockouts,' " added Entertainment Weekly's Shirley Halperin, who has covered "Idol" for several years. "In reality, I think viewers tend to relate more to the ones that aren't beauty-pageant perfect, the ones that remind you of yourself."

Debra Byrd, a vocal coach on "Idol," believes the cream does rise to the top, but the good-looking hopefuls do fare well too. "That cute factor plays," she said. "I mean, look at when you buy a CD. It's like, 'I like that person, I like their voice, I like their look, the whole nine yards.' "

For his part, co-executive producer Ken Warwick disagrees that looks play a part in the voting.

"In series one, we took a lot of heat because everyone was saying, 'They're looking for the perfect little pretty package that is going to sell records and that's the whole reason behind it,' " Warwick said. "And then we absolutely dispelled that with the second series. ... You can't honestly say ever with any criticism that we were going for the perfect-looking-little package with Ruben Studdard."

Settlement over Smith's Baby Near?

HOLLYWOOD - Anna Nicole Smith's companion Howard K. Stern is reportedly in secret talks with her former boyfriend Larry Birkhead to reach a settlement regarding the custody of her daughter Dannielynn.

According to media reports, Stern is trying to negotiate a deal where he would continue to play a part in the five-month-old's life and oversee her finances.

According to Fox News, Stern is working quickly to hammer out a deal before the results of DNA tests are released, which could reveal that Birkhead is the baby's biological father.

Stern is also pressuring Birkhead to sign contracts with TV shows Entertainment Tonight and The Insider, in which the two would appear together for exclusive interviews.

A source explains, "Howard wanted Larry to sign so that it looked like everyone was in agreement, and that it wasn't just Howard benefiting from these deals.

"Larry said the baby's guardian (Richard Milstein) should sign the papers for him and the baby, but (Milstein) wouldn't. So then Larry wouldn't."

Smith was buried in the Bahamas on Friday after being found dead in a Florida hotel suite last month at the age of 39.

Cowell 'Couldn't Stand' 'American Idol' Winner Hicks

HOLLYWOOD - Music mogul Simon Cowell has blasted the most recent American Idol winner, Taylor Hicks, for lacking the talent to become a pop superstar.

Cowell , who is a judge on the hit reality TV show alongside Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson, confessed last Thursday he wanted to axe Hicks early on in American Idol last year.

And British Cowell isn't surprised 30-year-old Hicks has struggled to sell records, while fellow contestant Chris Daughtry has.

He says, "They (Abdul and Jackson) loved him. I couldn't stand him. I didn't get it.

"At the end of the day you have to find a bona fide recording artist. Just because you win the show doesn't mean you will sell a lot of records. Chris is the one who sold the albums, not Taylor."

Electra Snubbed by 'Baywatch' Movie Producers

HOLLYWOOD - Actress Carmen Electra is furious she hasn't been asked to star in the forthcoming Baywatch movie.

The 34-year-old actress found fame starring as lifeguard Lani McKenzie on the drama series between 1997 and 1998, but--despite appearing in 2003's reunion, Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding--Electra hasn't been invited to join the new feature-length film.

She says, "I'm out. I've only heard about it through the press and nobody has contacted me to be in the film. I really enjoyed the reunion show we did, though--it was fun to meet all the team again."

Lohan: 'I Would Have Died If It Wasn't for Rehab'

HOLLYWOOD - Lindsay Lohan checked herself into rehab earlier this year after being told she would die young if she didn't stop her hard-partying lifestyle.

The Mean Girls star recently checked out of the Wonderland Center in Los Angeles after completing a month-long stay.

And party girl Lohan admits she needed the stark warning to turn her life around.

She says, "I was really sick. I went to hospital and had people sit me down who said, 'You are going to die if you don't take care of yourself.'

"I heeded what they were telling me."

Travolta Donates Money to Tornado Victims

HOLLYWOOD - John Travolta donated $15,000 to victims of a tornado in Florida at the premiere of his new biker film Wild Hogs on Friday night.

The actor presented a personal check to Mayor Max Pullen of Lady Lake, Florida, where a string of tornadoes killed 21 people in the area on Feb. 2.

Travolta, who has lived in nearby Ocala for four years, said, "These things happen in Florida and when they happen we all have to do something to help.

"I just felt the time was right. We're promoting a movie. I think the best movie openings and promotions are when you can do it for charity and help people. I live here. These are my people."

Pullen added, "This means a lot and helps lift the spirit of our people. When they know somebody as big a star as John Travolta cares about them, it makes a difference."

The screening of the biker comedy raised an additional $15,000 and Ocala Mayor Randy Ewers presented the star with a key to the city.

Wild Hogs, which features an ensemble cast including Tim Allen, William H. Macy and Martin Lawrence, also scored big at the box office over the weekend, taking in $38 million.