Model Mischief

 The drama following the gaff made by host of the show, Sarah Murdoch in the announcement of the winner of the 2010 Australia's Next Top Model has been on-going

Feathers are flying in the modelling world after the top agency Priscilla's was dumped from the up-coming series and replaced by Chic run by the legendary agent Ursula Hufnagl who manages Miranda Kerr.

Taking over the reins as producer of the show Sarah ditched the production company Granada Media Australia and hired her sister-in-law Elisabeth Murdoch's  new TV production vehicle Shine. It's the sort of thing you can do when dad-in-law Rupert and husband Lachlan own most of the cable network the show features on.
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When gap toothed Victoria's Secret model Jessica Hart  scored the prestige job as top model in the Myer's G'Day Australia USA fashion spectacular in Los Angeles, she was at first reluctant to take the offer having just returned from working in the US.

However a financial offer made  by Myers sealed the deal. It was the kind that she couldn't refuse. Now there are rumblings in the huge Myer Emporium about whether former Miss Universe Jennifer Hawkins will continue in her role this year as ambassador for the chain store.

Miranda Kerr with a new bub to look after and under contract to the David Jones chain won't be attending this year's summer/spring collections.

Insiders are saying Myers are looking for a knock out blow to take DJ's fashion crown. Step forward Jessica.

The Shuttle's spies in New York report the gap-toothed beauty also has an ulterior motive for the trip back to the States. She has been getting up close and personal with  Stavros Niarchos who has had an on and off affair with Paris Hilton over the past few years and that has turned into a full blown affair with Niarchos begging Jessica to return to the US, according to friends.
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Billionaire James Packer's $45M Vaucluse  mansion ( right) is steaming ahead with massive earth-shifting machines digging deep into sandstone in preparation for an underground garage to house 13 vehicles, staff quarters and a huge swimming pool and presumably a kiddie's pen for children Indigo and Jackson.

James appears to be determined to dispense with all shreds of his father Kerry Packer's empire. Having sold off his dad's beloved Channel Nine network and the ACP magazine publishing titles that filled the Packer coffers, James has now purchased a controlling interest in the Ten TV network.

the Bondi Beach pad

When father Kerry died  James inherited a $6B fortune and lost a billion in just six months. He still lives in the sprawling Packer Bellevue Hill complex-2 mansions surrounded by the grounds of 2 more that were purchased and demolished, and his 3 storey apartment that he built directly opposite Bondi Beach.

The Vaucluse house, which James spent $18M on buying 3 houses to knock down and build the ultimate play pad will be ready in about 18 months time.

Meanwhile there was a rumour being touted at the Hobart to Sydney yacht race in January that the Z-Sydney, the luxury gin palace owned by James Packer that has played host to Hollywood movie stars Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes is for sale with James shopping for a new vessel and in talks with the ship yard that built the world's second biggest 'super' yacht, Al Said for Sultan Qaboos of Oman . In 2007 Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes also joined James and wife Erica aboard their luxury converted minesweeper the  Arctic P on their Mediterranean cruise after their Hotel du Cap-Eden Roc wedding.

read more at 'PS' in the Sydney Morning Herald.

A Demure Shazza Heads Home

On Wednesday she was sunning herself on the beach at Acapulco.

Marketing manager Sharon Sargeant, the girlfriend of private eye Frank Monte is now on a plane after a four hour taxi  trip from Acapulco to Mexico City and a flight from there to Los Angeles where she was finally able to get a seat on a Qantas jet  back to Sydney.

Sharon has been watching in alarm as flood waters surged through Queensland and in Northern NSW and in particular Tenterfield where members of her family live. On Wednesday she reckoned she could wait no longer and decided to head home and  see if she could help out in the devastated flood areas.

Sharon may be pleased with a newspaper article that will greet her upon arrival. The Eastern Suburb's social bible, Latte Life has commented on her appearance at the Black & White charity luncheon for Christian the Lion's John Rendall in November last year.

Demure !

According to the tabloid : "thumbs up to a demure "Shazza" at BW  Women's  Luncheon , if she hadn't been with Mr Monte we may not have recognised her."

Demure ?. We present a couple of snaps of Sharon from the lunch. 

Meanwhile Frank Monte is spending a few more days in Acapulco before he heads to Italy. Monte has an appointment with the powerful AntiMafia Commission in Rome which investigates "organised crime of the Mafia type" and the dreaded Camorra and Ndrhangeta clans.

 

When the Shuttle managed to get Monte on the telephone today we asked him if his Rome visit was in connection with new claims by Italian  investigative reporter Gianluigi Nuzzi that Gianni Versace was murdered by the mafia.

"I can't discuss anything with you " said Monte. "excuse me, I have to take another call " he said before hanging up !

Shuttle Staffer Could Be Mr Bondi !

Mr Bondi ?

Proving age is no barrier to a beauty contest, Social Shuttle contributor Bill Ranken has made the finals of the Mr Bondi quest to be held next Saturday at the chic restaurant, Bondi Social overlooking Bondi Beach.

Having turned 80 last March, Ranken is disgustingly healthy and runs 4 miles every morning. Over the Christmas holiday period he was down on his Southern Highlands property helping build miles of fences before taking off on a dirt bike to round up sheep.

Ranken divides his time between two vast country properties. The largest one Lochersly is regarded as one of the state's most desirable estates with it's Georgian house, award winning grounds and gardens and sweeping acres of rolling green hills. It's been in the family for 4 generations of the hardy Scotsmen.

 During the week he steps out every night from a harbour side Elizabeth Bay pied-e-terre to attend parties. 

He's known as the Grey Gadabout. If something opens Ranken will be there with a camera , notebook and pen.  He moves seamlessly between all strata's of society equally at home lunching with Rupert Murdoch or at a wharf labourer's booze-up on the docks. The Shuttle first met him in London nearly 30 years ago. He arrived at a Gilbert & George  art exhibition with Princess Margaret on his arm.

"Apparently there are no qualifications to be in this quest" says Ranken, "apart from having a Bondi connection". Which he has every Friday on radio Bondi FM with his 'Peep Show' gossip segment.

"I think it would be rather nice to win something" he says. "before they put me in the ground". 

" But I still plan to be around for a lot longer" he said. " I'm having fun meeting the new generation of pretty young girls on the scene"

.

" Mind you 20 years ago when I was introduced to them I was able to say I took their mother out once. Last week I ran into two 20 somethings at a party and realised I had dated their grandmothers !"

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Tania

Competing with Bill Ranken At next Saturday's Mr Bondi final will be Joker Poker TV host Mike Goldman .

Mike

Mike was ecstatic at getting through to the quest final and took a bunch of pals back to his pad to celebrate where he had a spectacular run-in with a bottle of champagne.

Goldman's pal, actress Tania Zaetta (who has become a huge star in Bollywood films) had put the bottle in Mike's freezer earlier in the evening and forgotten about it. The bottle exploded as Goldman reached into his freezer. He spent the night at Randwick hospital and says he hopes to pick up the sympathy vote on Saturday.

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Oh dear.

Just one day ago we brought readers the tale of how 2 psychics, Tom and Kevin  from The Yellow Cloud Circle of Eternal Illumination in Montcabirol, France are touting their materialisation demonstrations in Sydney next month. Their website has some glowing endorsements from past visitors to their sessions including one gentleman who was thrilled to glimpse a vision of Michael Jackson who sent the following message from the ether:

"there will be no recurrences with people who have been accused of my death. I did not commit suicide. Although I take full responsibility for my death. There should be no charges brought from anybody. I am totally responsible for my passing."

Today his medico Dr Conrad Murray was  told by an LA Superior Court judge that he must stand trial for Jackson's involuntary manslaughter.

exclusive : Michael Jackson - It Was An Accident !

A missive arrives from the Australian lawyer Victor Zammit who authored a book titled : A Lawyer Presents The Evidence For Life After Death. 

Mr Zammitt now retired, is a sort of psychic detective and seeks proof of the afterlife. He's on the hit-list of various skeptics organisations but beavers away to prove we will continue after this plane of existence. On his website you can read 'what happens when you die'.

In his message Victor has invited the Shuttle to attend a demonstration of  

'physcial  mediumship" in which various things will happen-trumpets blaring, tables tipping , musical instruments played by spirits,  flashing lights and such. Even more exciting there promises to be 'materialisations'.

The seance is to be conducted by 2 gentlemen, Tom and Kevin  from The Yellow Cloud Circle of Eternal Illumination in Toulouse in France.

Freddie's hand

A quick visit to their website reveals some remarkable testimonials. We were particularly drawn to one from Isabelle Duchene from Belgium who attended 2 seances and was privileged to see Freddie Mercury's hand appear from under a curtain !. She knows the hand belonged to Freddie because:

"spirit has confirmed it was the hand of Freddie Mercury the lead singer of Queen. Freddie sang with us on the song that was played, 'don't stop me' now that was made famous by the group "

Mr Zammit himself has left a glowing tribute after one seance he attended where  Michael Jackson appeared with the following words :

'Hello! My name is  Michael Joseph Jackson: I've come here today..

This is very difficult..difficult for me. I have  come back today to say there will be no recurrences with people who have been accused of my death. I did not commit suicide. Although I take full responsibility for my death. There should be no charges brought from anybody. I am totally responsible for my passing.  That is all I wanted to say. And I will carry on my work from this side of life. And I hope that the world will listen this time. Thank you ".

Anyone have a contact number for Dr. Conrad Murray ?

On Monday preliminary hearings took place to determine if Murray should stand trial for involuntary manslaughter in Jackson's death in June 25, 2009. When the case is dropped-remember you read it here first.

Here's Freddie Mercury singing 'I Want To Break Free' which he did do eventually.

Former Foes Love-In & Germaine Greer Speaks Out

From a political standpoint they are at opposite ends of the spectrum.

 Bob Ellis, poetic writer, darling of the left and a speech writer for the Australian Labor Party and the conservative Catholic politician and Federal Leader of the Opposition Tony Abbott.

In Ellis's new book  Suddenly Last Winter-An Election Diary Bob gets stuck into a few Labor Party heavies while announcing his admiration for Abbott.

On Prime Minister Julia Gillard  he says she is  "not well informed". He says Gillard is part of a Melbourne clique called the Mouse Pack, a reference to the size of their intellect.

Speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald  Ellis said : 

" She hasn't I think read a novel or seen a film that has subtitles and I doubt if she has read Encounter or The New Statesmen or Vanity Fair or The London Review of Books or The New York Review of Books and therefore she doesn't have a hinterland. She has not much except a kindergarten sandpit response to things-'Nyah Nyah you're just jealous because I'm Prime Minister and you're not' "

" Civilised people already have their hands over their faces when she speaks!"

Ellis has form in courting those from the right. Often spotted lunching with Christopher Hitchers when in town or the famed right leaning poet Les Murray. And he has expressed an odd admiration for the xenophobic Pauline Hanson who Ellis swears attempted to pick him in a Surfer's Paradise bar long before her political career took off

But it's the astonishing turn around in his relationship with the political love-child  of the strange Catholic theologian and political fixer B.A.Santamaria and Margaret Thatcher-Tony 'Mad Monk'Abbot that is raising eyebrows.

Several years ago Tony Abbot and his wife along with a  fellow cabinet minister Peter Costello and his wife sued Ellis and Random House over Bob's new book Goodbye  Jerusalem and Ellis was badly bruised to the tune of a $277,000 libel payout that came right upon his uninsured Palm Beach home burning to the ground in a bush fire.

Ellis says he has just about forgiven Tony Abbot  over that episode and invited Abbot to launch one of his books a year ago which Abbot did.

The Opposition Leader who once studied to be a priest openly admires  the philosophies of the late B.A.Santamaria who railed against Communism and socialism in the 1960's, split the Labor Party and  in the 1930s supported Mussolini and Franco.

"resembles F.Scott Fitzgerald"

But Ellis reckons Tony Abbott  may be a closet socialist :

"He is no more a Liberal than I am . Liberal is the name of the suit he is wearing. He is actually a Catholic socialist. He's DLP [Democratic Labor Party] and always has been."

Ellis goes further in his SMH interview : "The person he most resembles, I've just decided, is F.Scott Fitzgerald. The classic good looks, big flashing smile, easy Irish eloquence, angelic writing style, self-doubt, Catholic guilt, hot temper, Gatsby-like yearnings for past relationships long gone and luminous in remembrance, fondness for football and self-flagellation and his need for a son, all bespeak a literary genius drawn by life and lesser pursuits into spiritual shallows and drunken remorse like Scott, poor Scott."

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Writing in the UK Guardian newspaper Germaine Greer has slammed American architect Frank Gehy's plans for the new University of Technology describing the building as "five scrunched up brown bags"

The building (pictured) is to replace the ugly concrete bunker that stands on the proposed site and when the model was release the UTS Vice Chancellor Ross Milbourne said "We've got the Opera House, and it's hard to say we are going to beat that, but from what I've seen we'll have an equally outstanding icon at this end of Sydney." 

Responds Greer:" The Sydney Opera House may be one of the best known structures in the world, but it is also a worse building than anything Gehry would want to put his name to. The original design by Danish architect Jorn Utzon was rejected by the Australian judges in 1956, only to be reinstated. By the time the opera house opened in 1973, it was more than 10 times over budget. Utzon struggled to protect his vision of a building made of sails until 1966, when he was obliged to close his Sydney office and return to Denmark, because the New South Wales state government would not meet his fees. Government architects took over the project.

 The full story is here.

Tragic Day for Top Models

Ashley & Jessica Hart

On Thursday the Shuttle brought you the story of how gaped tooth model Jessica Hart will be replacing Jennifer Hawkins at the G'Day Australia USA promotions in LA. Jessica is in high demand in the USA and is well on the way to becoming as popular as new mum Miranda Kerr.

Today Jessica and her equally beautiful sister Ashley are recovering from a distressing scene they witnessed at an up-market Portsea Polo event in Melbourne on Saturday.

As invited guests of the polo committee the 2 models toured the various sponsor's marquees throughout the day and were later resting by the field when one of the polo horses tumbled right in front of the pair. Before they could comprehend what was happening, a quick tent was erected around the unfortunate horse and Jessica and Ashley were startled by the sound of a gunshot as the animal was put out of it's misery.

Both girls were highly distressed as the truth dawned. Last night they cancelled an appearance at a lavish dinner planed to celebrate the day's matches and instead, dined at a local Portsea pub with a few close friends.

Justin Drops Natalie Imbruglia for Younger Model

Courtney Chircop

 Now that Natalie Imbruglia is back in the UK after a brief romance with Sydney nightclub king Justin Hemmes, a new girlfriend has appeared on the scene-top model Courtney Chircop. 

Hemmes, said to be worth around $500M with his burgeoning hotel and nightclub empire that employs over 2000 people, met 20 year old Courtney at a dinner party 2 weeks ago and she accompanied him to the  wedding of the L.J. Hooker real estate empire heir, Januz Hooker at Ulhuru last week.

Justin Hemmes

Friends say the 2 were all over each other at the wedding reception and once back at their hotel, didn't surface for 24 hours until their flight back to Sydney.

Courtney was discovered on the 2008 TV reality show Make Me A Supermodel and thus, she has become one with Elle McPherson's agency Chadwicks snapping her up. 

And a scandal that cropped up during the show didn't affect her career. It surfaced  that she and 2 other girls at the snooty West Australia high school they attended had tried to sell a mobile phone sex tape video.

"As soon as it happened I was over it the next day and it hasn't held me back one bit " says Courtney.

George Michael Blows In- Festival Kicks Off

Slipping quietly into town, George Michael has taken up residence in a Whale Beach house for summer. Although one report has him actually buying the house, our mole disguised as a potted palm in a realtor's office says Michael has rented the house for 3 months along with an apartment in the luxury Icon building in Kings Cross where he stayed earlier this year. His neighbours at the Icon-the Crown Prince and Princess of Japan who own a magnificent penthouse there  but are yet to stay in it.

George was last year's special guest at the Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras and spent 2 months holidaying on the Oxford Street Golden Gay Mile drinking in numerous bars. He seems to have fallen in love with the local lads.

Meanwhile Emmy Lou Harris has arrived for the Sydney Festival that opened on Saturday. She sang at last night's Hyde Park concert and will be at the State Theatre with her Red Dirt Boys tonight and Monday.

John Malkovich will be here next Wednesday to prepare for his appearance in  the Giacomo Variations at the Sydney Opera House while Arrested Development have taken up residence in the Beck's Festival Bar at the Hyde Park Barracks and one not to be missed-Mac Con Lomaire and his band will be appearing in the sensational Spiegeltent in Hyde Park. If you have never been inside the Spiegeltent you haven't lived !

There is heaps more on. Some notables- Los Lobos will be at the Enmore Theatre on 14th January, 5 international dance troupes including the Trocodero Dance Palace-they were at the opening party last night with some brilliant and energetic 50's dance routines. 8 art shows and installations at various venues, a program of rare films at Sydney University, heaps of free music shows all over the place and a series of talks not to be missed including John Malkovich at the Town Hall in conversation with Rocky Horror legendary director Jim Sharman, Phillip Glass (left) with Paul Grabolsky and singer Paul Kelly with Richard Kingsmill.

Phew-and that's just a few of the great local and international entertainment which lasts until the 30th of January and then of course, it starts all over again with the Mardi Gras festival which means you may run into George Michael on his nightly pub crawl up Oxford Street Darlinghurst (his favourite bar- the Midnight Shift!)

Knives Out After Oprah Winfrey Trip

She held the country in the palm of her hand for 10 days. (Or should that be the local media ?)
Oprah Winfrey's tour of Australia and the recording of what will be her final 2 shows at the Sydney Opera House was treated by the Aussie media like the second coming.

When the Social Shuttle reported that 12 of her security detail had been sacked without pay because one had the temerity to enter her hotel room to check that it was secure, only 2 tabloid reporters followed up the tale.

Despite us being unable to give our source (protected) we did hand them on to the local law firm acting for Winfrey's Harpo company. They denied the tale but within a day the 12 guards were told they would be paid after all. The Shuttle witnessed documents that confirmed the story.

Now an American who has been living in Cairns and operating two successful tour boats around the Great Barrier Reef is hopping mad.

John "The Yank" VandenHeuvel  says he approached Tourism Australia 6 years ago with an ambitious plan to bring Oprah Winfrey to Australia. And the outline of his plans were basically identical to Oprah's tour as it unfolded over her 10 day visit. VandenHeuval proposed tying in Oprah's visit with Qantas and their ambassador, actor John Travolta and rewarding a number of Oprah's regular audience members with the "trip of a lifetime"

Backing VandenHeuval's claim is the Opposition Immigration spokesman Scott Morrison who was the head of Tourism Australia at the time. Pilot Dennis Wallace says he flew Morrison to Cairns to discuss the project which was common knowledge amongst the majority of local tour operators.

 “Tourism Australia has done the wrong thing, it is very un-Australian,” says Mr Wallace.

“It is not about the money, this is about Tourism Australia blatantly lying,” says VandenHeuval

“They reneged on the deal, cut me out of it and cut Cairns out of it and Cairns ended up getting screwed as bad as I did.”

VandenHeuval says he spent $200,000 on the project and while Tourism Australia acknowledged to the Shuttle that they had met with him in 2004 they declined to discuss details.

VandenHeuval has instructed high powered solicitors Slater and Gordon to issue proceedings against the government body and is claiming  $2Million in damages.

Miranda Kerr's Family Heartbreak

Model Miranda Kerr's grandparents Peter and Anne Kerr are recovering after a lightning strike burnt their Gunnedah home to the ground yesterday.

With Australia's current bout of inclement weather, a fierce storm swept through the area in the afternoon with lightning striking the house, awakening  Peter Kerr from his afternoon nap. Although fire crews were on the scene within the hour the house was razed by fire fanned by strong winds. The pair who have been avid supporters of Miranda's modelling career lost their lifetime collection of antiques.

Last year Miranda and her husband actor Orlando Bloom travelled to Gunnedah to meet Miranda's family after the pair announced their engagement. Her grandparents still plan to travel to Los Angeles later this month to be there when the couple's first child is born.

More Beauties Headed to LA

Richard Branson &Pia Miller

Following our story yesterday about how Jennifer Hawkins has been replaced by Jessica Hart for the Myer fashion carnival in the G'Day Australia USA promotion in Los Angeles, news comes that two more leggy beauties are joining Jessica on the catwalk.

Hawkins & Jake Wall

Laura Dundovic who is a Myer ambassador and Pia Miller will strut the boards to showcase Aussie fashions in the USA in February.

As for Jennifer, she was spotted by our operative today holidaying in Byron Bay with new fiancee Jake Wall. The loss of the income from her canned USA trip isn't having too much effect on the pair's finances. Jennifer is sporting a $200,000 engagement ring whipped up by the Shuttle's favourite jeweller, Nic Cerrone.

And she should feel flattered that it has taken three models to replace her!

Miss Universe Ditched From Hollywood Gala

The most successful Miss Universe ever, Jennifer Hawkins has been dropped from the annual G'Gay Australia USA celebrations in Los Angeles by the department store Myer.

The annual affair that runs from the 15th to the 29th January features a grand ball attended by the USA's Gum Leaf Mafia at the Hollywood Palladium on the 19th. Guests have  included the likes of Nicole Kidman, Cate Blanchett, Hugh Jackman and a host of local stars who have made it big in the USA. 

Jessica Hart

There are events from Dallas to Boston as the Australian government promotes everything local from business policy to the still struggling film industry. This year the timing is perfect with the 2 shows filmed in Sydney by Oprah Winfrey to be shown on US TV with Oprah herself being a guest at the ball.

Last year Jennifer Hawkins was a guest along with her fiancee Jake Wall (they got engaged last week) Barry Humphries, Kristy Hinze and Rupert Murdoch.

Myer are investing big in the event with a fashion festival to run for the 14 days and Jennifer was meant to be the star  model but she has now been dropped with the gap-toothed Jessica Hart picking up the role.

The Shuttle can exclusive report that the reason for Hawkins being canned was nothing to do with her personally but because of friction between her ambitious manager Sean Anderson and the Myer public relation's team. Myer CEO Bernie Brookes says that Hawkins was dropped because of a"culmination of a number of issues".

Although Anderson has presided over Hawkin's career as she raked in millions of dollars in appearances and endorsements her crown has begun to slip lately with the Seven TV network announcing that they will not be re-newing her contract this year.

Below: A reason to be glad you were not be at the last G'Day Ball : Nicole Kidman and  Keith Urban's ditty to Simon Baker.

Hopefully in 3D-Murdoch The Movie

A film script on the life of Rupert Murdoch is being hawked around Hollywood.

This news comes courtesy of Franklin Leonard's annual Black List. Leonard is regarded as 'Hollywood's most important soothsayer" according to the LA Times with his list each year of unmade film projects. 

He compiles the list by talking to LA's most influential agents and studio bosses and any script that gets 5 mentions is included  with the added bonus it generates so much industry chat that the inclusion is regarded as a lifeline for ailing screenplays.

'Murdoch' was commissioned by the UK's Channel 4 and written by respected TV script writer Jesse Armstrong but 4 decided against making it. It's now being handled by a top agency Creative Artist's Agency who are looking for a producer and backer.

The script blurb reads : "As his family gathers for his birthday party, Rupert Murdoch tries to convince his elder children to alter the family trust so that his two youngest children by his newest wife will have voting rights in the company."

Ouch ! A little close to home. 

When Rupert divorced his second wife Anna Murdoch Mann , the mother of children Lachlan, James and Elisabeth, Anna went in tough with heavy New York lawyers and  secured a very profitable trust which she controls that holds huge swathes of News Corp shares in her children's names although  she was forced off the News board in the process. 

And she had rather unkind words to say about Rupert in a 2001 interview where she described him as "hard, ruthless and determined".

No-one quite knows what size of inheritance Wendi Murdoch's 2 daughters Chloe and Grace may be in for. With  News Corp  headquartered in Delaware with it's secretive corporate laws, the outside world doesn't really know quite what the media empire or Murdoch is worth although it will be in the billions of dollars.

 Long before Wendi appeared on the scene Murdoch also made a famous faux pas in 1997 when he referred to "my 3 children " while talking about succession in a press conference that drew the ire of his daughter Prudence Murdoch MacLeod, his first child from marriage to Patricia Booker. Never shy, Prudence got a public apology out of her father.

So it's all there-plenty of meat for Murdoch the film !

Rupert ?

Who would play the roles in this gripping drama where the clan get-together to discuss high finance?.

As the media baron Rupert Murdoch  step forward Barry Humphries who played Rupert in the 1983 film Selling Hitler: The Story of the Hitler Diaries. Humphries has aged nicely with the same crumpled look as Rupert.

Matt Damon is a cinch for the role of the American accented Lachlan Murdoch and surely  Sarah Murdoch with thespian ambitions could play herself. New actor Leighton Meester could do a good Elisabeth Murdoch. Hayden Christensen with specs could play James Murdoch.

That leaves roles for the two who are bound to play  a leading part in the carve-up of Murdoch's billions-Wendi Murdoch and Mathew Freud. Answers on a postcard please.

# you can download Leonard's Black List here and see other scripts 'Murdoch' is competing with. The Shuttle's favourite : Abraham Lincoln : Vampire Hunter. The future president's mother is killed by a vampire and Abe spends the rest of his life hunting down the killers !

It's 2011 - Happy New Year !

It can only get better !

Our thanks to Channel Nine for allowing us to share this video of the spectacular  fireworks and a here's to a wonderful 2011 and a very special thank you to the over 350,000 readers who visited the Social Shuttle in 2010.
Part One !
Part Two !

A Very Nice Chrissy Present

Sargeant & Ferrari

Every girl should treat herself and that's just what marketing expert Sharon Sargeant has done after successfully selling the escort agency she set up 18 months ago.

Sargeant, a country girl from Queensland is shaping up to be one smart cookie. 

The world was alerted to her when she started dating the famous private investigator Frank Monte around 4 years ago. Frank threw a party at the uber smart Otto's Restaurant on the Finger Wharf in Woolloomooloo to introduce her to Sydney and around 14 months ago they became engaged at the very same spot. 

Then Rupert Murdoch's Daily Telegraph discovered that Sharon owned an up-market escort agency Red Velvet Models. Sharon says she manned the telephones and organised the lives of the models working for her and checked out the credentials of the prospective customers.

A wardrobe malfunction that happened after Sharon and the girls had a night out to see Lady Ga Ga and went partying in Kings Cross was splashed across tabloid pages around the world.

Soon she was appearing again in newspapers from Sydney to Delhi when Ms  Sargeant  was discovered dancing in Las Vegas with one of the USA's top porn stars Claudia-Marie (beware-it's an adult site). 

Finally a controversy blew up in British newspapers after raunchy pics appeared of the British Rugby team setting off in a million dollar gin palace from the very same wharf in Woolloomooloo.

Sharon meets the English Rugby team

 Sharon had been spotted and photographed talking to the footballers in a restaurant earlier in the day before she farewelled them off in the boat with some scantily clad models.

But it seems Sharon had ulterior motives all along.
When we contacted her today she confirmed she had sold Red Velvet Models to a US firm and was pondering  her next business move.

they sail off into the sunset

"It was always my plan " says Sargeant " I always planned to set up the business, promote it like crazy until it was a success and then sell. I get bored easily and I'm always looking for the next business venture"

And it seems the business paid off. Our snapper spotted Ms Sargeant a few days ago in the Bondi Westfield car park about to clamber into a gleaming new black $400,000 Ferrari.

"I treated myself for a good year's work" says Ms Sargeant.

As to her future plans :"I'm looking around for opportunities and have a few in mind" she says. " One is an adult product supplies service-most of them look terribly old fashioned and I think I can whip the industry into shape quick smart "

Sharon and Monte have moved out their Icon apartment in Kings Cross into the Toaster building near Circular Quay where they plan to watch the New Year's Eve fireworks. 

"Frank and I still date and go to parties together but he's spending more and more time in the US and I always travel with him " says Sharon  'He's a fascinating man and being around him is never boring".

Will she be assisting with his Upper House bid in the NSW March election?.
"I should put my marketing skills to work but actually he's pretty good himself and I haven't really followed state politics. But Frank would make an excellent MP as he would ensure that other MPs would remain honest given his background"
 Perhaps I should have asked advice from the 2 state MPs who were customers of my last business" she says.

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Leo Sayer

Santa & Rabbi

Showing why he's been dubbed " Mr Double Bay" in a suburb with a large Jewish community, Dee Bee's owner Graham Goldberg threw his famous Christmas drinks party on the 24th and made sure he had all bases covered.

Joining guests like Leo Sayer, actor Michael Caton and around town ladies Marie Sutton and Angela Belle McSweeney- a Santa Claus and a Rabbi !

Star Struck Weddings & a new Beiber

 

Former Home & Away star Chris Hemsworth has married his girlfriend Spanish actress Elsa Pataky. Hemsworth has a major role in the new Avenger's film along side Scarlet Johannsen and Robert Downey Jr due for release in 2012 but it's his starring role in the film Thor which should catapult him into action superstar status. Thor is to be released in March next year.

Hemsworth and Elsa married in Bali surrounded by a handful of close friends and family and are honeymooning on Phillip Island.

Emma Cooper

And one of Australia's top film publicists Emma Cooper wed  film writer  Henry Cripps at a North Sydney chapel yesterday with a host of Hollywood stars in attendance including her good pal Naomi Watts as a bridesmaid. Naomi's husband Liev Schreiber gave a reading of Henry Lawson's After All during the service and the party moved onto Taronga Park Zoo for the reception.

Emma's dad Guy Cooper was the director of the zoo for years and was once named Australian of The Year.

bridesmaid Naomi Watts

And cheering on the couple-Mentalist star Simon Baker who has just scored a $30M contract to appear in his hit show for the next 3 seasons,  Without A Trace's Anthony LaPaglia who flew in from the US for the wedding, actress Lisa Hemsley, singer Tim Freedman from The Whitlams and designer Collette Dinigan.

Cooper who has become the top Aussie film publicist over the past 20 years divides her time between Sydney , Melbourne and New York. In 1996 she masterminded the successful Victor Chang charity visit of Princess Diana to Sydney on her last ever public appearance.

The happy couple return to New York next week where they are neighbours of Watts and Schreiber

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 Move over Justin Beiber.

Get ready for Munther Mania with the new teen heart throb 16  year old Swedish singer and songwriter Ulrik Munther. 

With the cool tussled looks of the late Rivers Phoenix Ulrik has become an internet sensation and his first album-Boys Don't Cry had 30 record companies bidding for it when the title song was uploaded to YouTube. It's released early next year and here is rough cut of the video :