In a move many have anticipated but few had actually believed would come to pass, Britney Spears has filed for divorce from her husband, former backup dancer and now hopeful rap star Kevin Federline. According to TMZ.com, Spears filed papers today in Los Angeles County Superior Court, citing the ever-popular "irreconcilable differences" and asking for physical custody of her two children, Sean Preston (1 year old) and Jayden James (two months old), naming yesterday as the offical day of separation. Though the legal move is sure to attract much attention from the media, most do not expect a legal circus of any kind -- according to numerous sources, Spears and Federline have an "iron-clad pre-nup" that should prevent any haggling. Also, Spears is not requesting spousal support from Federline, whom she married in September of 2004. Just last night, Spears made a surprise appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman, flaunting a newly fit physique and sporty blond hairdo, giving rise to rumors that the pop star is embarking on a new, presumably Cheetos-free (and now husband-free) lifestyle. --Mark Englehart, IMDb staff

An 18-year-old Russian immigrant has been jailed after threatening to kill singer-actress Hilary Duff. Alleged stalker Maksim Miakovsky was arrested on Friday at the Residence Inn hotel in Manhattan Beach, California. He was later booked on charges of making criminal threats and stalking, according to entertainment news website Tmz.com. According to sources, a private investigator from Sunset Protective Services contacted Miakovsky at the hotel and he stated his intention of killing Duff on Sunday at an event she was scheduled to attend. Last month, Duff and her boyfriend, Good Charlotte singer Joel Madden, requested a restraining order, alleging that Miakovsky "has stated his intention of 'removing' his 'enemies' (other potential suitors), has stated his intention of purchasing a weapon, and has threatened to kill himself and to engage in dramatic actions to get her attention." Legal papers filed by Duff state that Miakovsky came to the US "for the sole purpose of meeting and becoming romantically involved with Ms. Duff." Miakovsky is currently being held on $200,000 bail at the Manhattan Beach jail and is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow.

Former Cheers star Kirstie Alley was desperately trapped in a vicious cycle of binge eating and consumed massive amounts of food every day. The star, who lost 75 pounds on the Jenny Craig diet plan, unveiled her newly svelte figure on The Oprah Winfrey Show yesterday wearing a mauve-colored bikini. She says at her worst she would binge uncontrollably eating, "Twenty sugar-free Popsicles. Twelve grape sodas. Chips. Two burritos. A tostada. I was eating six, seven, eight thousand calories a day." The 55-year-old star tells Life magazine, "I had a holiday mentality. I ate with wild abandon." Alley says the motivation to start losing weight began with a simple thought, "I'm old, I'm fat. What am I worth?" The star tells Winfrey that she has more confidence now than she did in her younger years adding, "I was so introverted about my body. When I looked back on my movies and things (I thought), 'Wow, you had a really nice body.' But, at the time, I was (feeling) not good enough." The star insists her life is back on track adding, "I feel happy with the way I look and feel. For me, that's the greatest thing that's happened."

Pop star Britney Spears saw her libel challenge against a US magazine dismissed yesterday when a judge ruled a report about her sex tape wasn't defamatory. The singer was outraged by an October 2005 article in Us Weekly which claimed Spears and her husband Kevin Federline had made a racy video together and feared a member of their entourage would leak it. The couple reportedly gave a copy of the tape to lawyers and watched it with them. Spears' suit insisted, "The article is libelous on its face, since it maliciously and recklessly portrays (Spears) as acting 'goofy' while watching (the video with attorneys)." But Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Lisa Hart Cole dismissed the $10 million damages claim, ruling the singer's raunchy reputation was in place before the Us Weekly article. She said, "It is clear that plaintiff did not bring this lawsuit because she was falsely accused of acting goofy. The issue is whether it is defamatory to state that a husband and wife taped themselves engaging in consensual sex." She concluded, "(Spears) put her modern sexuality squarely, and profitably, before the public eye," citing racy scenes in her 2005 reality TV show Britney & Kevin: Chaotic as evidence.

Former Felicity star Scott Foley is engaged to his girlfriend of nearly three years, actress Marika Dominczyk. The couple met on the set of sitcom The Help. Foley's representative tells American publication People, "It happened about two weeks ago. They're very happy." Foley, 34, was previously married for three years to actress Jennifer Garner. They divorced in 2003. He currently stars on the CBS drama The Unit and is known for his guest-starring roles on television series including Scrubs and Jack & Bobby. Dominczyk, 26, who was born in Poland, has appeared on TV shows including Brothers & Sisters, Bones and North Shore. She also had a small role in The 40-Year-Old Virgin. This will be her first marriage.

US comedian Bill Maher has lashed out at critics who have slammed him for dressing up as Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin for Halloween. Irwin died in September when a stingray barb pierced his chest while he was filming a documentary in Australia. Pictures of Maher were widely circulated on the Internet and sparked outrage, with critics labeling the outfit inappropriate and insensitive. Maher hits back saying, "Stop hassling me about my Halloween costume. Yes, you've seen it on the Internet. I went as the Crocodile Hunter with a bloody stinger in my chest. People who really love animals understand if you get killed by one, chances are you were doing something to it you shouldn't have been. You want me to apologize for making a joke? Who do you think I am, (former Us Presidential Candidate) John Kerry?"

The London revival of musical The Sound Of Music has lost its leading man after producers reportedly felt their Captain Von Trapp wasn't to their liking. Actor Simon Shepherd has been dismissed from the production, according to UK newspaper the Daily Mail, after producers claimed his Von Trapp wasn't working. He had appeared in just two preview performances of the musical with Connie Fisher, who earned the chance to star in the show after winning reality TV talent contest How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? Shepherd's understudy Christopher Dickins will immediately play Von Trapp, while Alexander Hanson has been hired to permanently replace the Henry V star. A spokesman for ever-professional Shepherd says, "Simon wants to wish Alexander Hanson and everyone involved in the production the very best of luck." It isn't the first controversy linked to the show - Fisher's alternate in the show, Emma Williams, quit the production last month after the reality TV show star chose to play Maria in eight performances a week.

Mickey Rourke has refused to comment on why he left director Quentin Tarantino's latest film Grindhouse, insisting he'll stay silent until Tarantino speaks out first. Rourke was set to play the part of Stuntman Mike on the Kill Bill director's latest collaboration with director Robert Rodriguez, and was later replaced by Kurt Russell. The 9 1/2 Weeks star had previously worked with the directors on the hit movie Sin City and hints there might have been a falling out with Tarantino. He tells Radar Online, "You know what? He hasn't made any comments about it. And until he makes a comment about it, I'm not going to say anything. It just didn't work out. And I hope that's what he has to say. I'm just going to wait." The actor was supposedly Tarantino's first choice to play the movie's villain and he hints in the interview that he was actually the one who passed on the role and he wasn't fired from the film. Rourke also turned down a role in the film that made Tarantino's career, Pulp Fiction, back in the early 1990s.

Snoop Dogg was booked on Monday on one felony count possession of a deadly weapon filed after security officers at an Orange County, California airport found a collapsible baton in his carry-on luggage. The rapper, real name Calvin Broadus, arrived at the Orange County jail in a dark purple Porsche Carrera on Monday morning, along with a driver and a bodyguard, and turned himself over to authorities. According to his spokesperson Meredith Sullivan, "Snoop was promptly released on bail and welcomes an expedited trial which will reveal that these charges are completely unwarranted." The September 27 incident occurred as the rapper was preparing to take a flight from John Wayne Airport in Orange County to San Francisco. According to authorities, at the time of his arrest he told deputies the baton was a prop for a movie. The weapon charge was filed last Thursday and an arrest arrant was issued. The 35-year-old star posted $150,000 bail and seemed to be in good spirits when he was released, stopping to sign autographs for waiting fans. If convicted, he could be sentenced to three years in prison. Last month, the rapper was arrested at Bob Hope International Airport in Burbank, California, for investigation of illegal drug and gun possession. He posted $35,000 bail and was ordered to appear in court on December 12 for arraignment.

Sixties pop star Marianne Faithfull has beaten breast cancer and is already planning her singing comeback. The 59-year-old cancelled a string of solo gigs after she was diagnosed with early stage cancer in September. But after surgery, Faithfull's spokesperson claims the star is making a "rapid return to full health" and doctors have given her the all-clear to resume her world tour next year - kicking off with dates in Europe in the spring. A statement from the singer reads, "It has been an extraordinary experience and, in many ways, extremely positive. I didn't realize how many true friends I had. I feel so lucky and loved and thank everybody for all their good thoughts."

Former Life Goes On and ER star Kellie Martin has welcomed her first child with husband Keith Christian. The couple's daughter, Margaret Heather Christian, was born on Sunday and weighed 8 pounds. Martin's representative tells us publication People, "Kellie and Maggie are both doing very well." The couple has been married for seven years.