Disgraced comedian Michael Richards is reaching out to America's civil rights leaders to help him move on from a racist rant scandal following a moment of madness in a Los Angeles club. The former Seinfeld star has hired top publicist Howard Rubinstein to help him approach cultural leaders and personally apologize for his angry remarks during an attack on two African-American hecklers at the Laugh Factory last week. Rubinstein, who was hired yesterday according to website Tmz.com, reveals his new client has already spoken to black leaders Rev. Jesse Jackson and Rev. Al Sharpton in an effort to make amends for his scandalous remarks. Rubinstein says, "He's appalled at what he did and wants to start the healing process. Whether it be an attack on any racial group... he acknowledges it's horrible and wrong and he will never do that again." Rubinstein says the calls were received "positively" but Sharpton has already rebuked the comedian publicly, stating he could not accept Richards' apology on The Late Show With David Letterman.

Tributes have poured in for director Robert Altman, who died on Monday from complications related to cancer. Meryl Streep, Elliot Gould, Richard Gere, Tim Robbins and Sophie Loren - all of whom starred in Altman's films - have praised the auteur, who passed away in a Los Angeles hospital at the age of 81. Gould, who starred in M*A*S*H, says, "He was the last great American director in the tradition of John Ford." Meryl Streep, the star of Altman's last movie A Prairie Home Companion, adds, "What a gent, what a guy, what a great heart. Bob's restless spirit has moved on. I have to say, when I spoke with him last week, he seemed impatient for the future. He still had the generous, optimistic appetite for the next thing, and we planned the next film laughing in anticipation of the laughs we'd have." Dr. T And The Women star Gere says, "There's no-one I'm prouder to have worked with. He was an ecstatic ... a magician ... a conjurer ... a mischievous boy. He understood and could express that uniquely American shapeshifting goofiness more than anyone. He was the deepest ocean and the lightest feather at the same time. We all loved him so much." Tim Robbins, who worked with Altman in The Player, Short Cuts and Pret-a-Porter, calls Altman, "A great friend and inspiration to me since I had the honour of meeting him in 1990." Pret-a-Porter actress Loren says, "I am extremely sad. Another giant has left us." Kevin Spacey, who put on a Altman-directed production of Arthur Miller play Resurrection Blues at the London theatre he is artistic director of, says, "Robert Altman was a truly unique director and an extraordinary man. We are all saddened by this news and send our condolences to his wife Kathryn and family."

Newly-single pop star Britney Spears is searching for a new home in Miami, Florida according to media reports in the US. The singer filed for divorce from husband Kevin Federline earlier this month and is allegedly looking to make a fresh start with her sons Sean Preston and Jayden James. The former couple's mansion in Malibu, California is on the market for $13.5 million and the singer is reportedly ready to spend twice that amount on a new home in Florida. According to American publication Star, Spears has been shopping for houses in the Miami-area with price tags around the $29 million mark. Spears has also reportedly paved her way for a comeback, negotiating a 20-week performance contract at the Palms Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Palms owner George Maloof is a longtime friend of Spears' and is reportedly ready to pay her $15 million for her new exclusive Sin City gig.

Hollywood hunk Josh Hartnett has denied rumors of an on-set romance after returning to New Zealand from his cozy weekend away with a co-star. The Pearl Harbor actor was spotted in Sydney, Australia over the weekend with a mystery woman, fueling speculation his romance with Scarlett Johansson is on the rocks. According to Sydney's Daily Telegraph, Hartnett's companion was New Zealand actress Amber Sainsbury, who has a small role in the thriller he is currently shooting, 30 Days Of Night. Sources say Hartnett shot down talk of a romance with his 26-year-old co-star to fellow cast and crew members, insisting the pair are just friends and that he actually met her boyfriend. Although he denies any romance, the pair were reportedly getting cozy during their weekend away at Woolloomooloo hotel Blue. Hartnett was spotted with his arm around Sainsbury as they left Darlinghurst cafe Forbes and Burton on Sunday morning after having breakfast there for the second day in a row. An onlooker says, "Josh got jumped on by a few different people to get photos taken, so she went outside the cafe. But when he eventually went out he put his arm around her as they walked across the street. There was a level of intimacy there." Paparazzi caught up with the couple as they were flying out of Sydney on Sunday night, with Hartnett telling photographers to "get f**ked", while Sainsbury tried to cover her face with her jacket and bag.

Bachelor Party star Tawny Kitaen has been charged with possessing 15 grams of cocaine in California. A statement by the Orange County district attorney's office said police found the cocaine on May 21 in the San Juan Capistrano apartment she shares with her two children. It was not immediately clear why police were at the apartment or why there was a delay in filing the charges. If convicted, the 45-year-old could face up to three years in prison. In 2002, she was accused of attacking her husband, professional baseball player Chuck Finley, following an argument during dinner at a steakhouse. The case was dismissed after she agreed to undergo counseling. The pair have since divorced. Kitaen, who has appeared on TV shows such as Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and The Surreal Life, is scheduled to be arraigned on December 18.

Angelina Jolie made a surprise visit to her adopted son Maddox's Cambodian homeland yesterday. The actress, who had been filming A Mighty Heart in India, paid a brief visit to the Pailin area of north western Cambodia. Jolie has been involved in conservation efforts in the country and met with officials to discuss a forest conservation project to which she has promised to donate $1.3 million over five years. Kong Duong, the head of the Pailin information office, said the actress and her party flew arrived in two helicopters and stayed very briefly before flying out. The 31-year-old has also supported Adopt-A-Minefield's efforts in Cambodia and met with refugees there as part of her role as a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador. She adopted Maddox, who is now five years old, after filming Lara Croft: Tomb Raider in the country.

John Mayer and Jessica Simpson sparked a media frenzy when they were seen together at Los Angeles International Airport yesterday. Internet reports claimed Mayer was flying home with the sexy star to meet her family and spend Thanksgiving with the Simpson clan. But Mayer's representative tells Us Weekly, "A press release was issued several weeks ago stating that after his appearance on the American Music Awards on Tuesday, November 21, John would be flying to New York for his third consecutive Thanksgiving performance on The Late Show With David Letterman. This has become one of Mayer's favorite new holiday traditions. He has been on the phone with (the show's musical director) Paul Shaffer collaborating on the arrangement since he was in Japan several weeks ago on tour and will be performing a song from his platinum-selling album Continuum that he has not performed on any other TV appearance to date. Mayer will then spend Thanksgiving with his family in Connecticut following the appearance." Simpson, 26, and Mayer, 29, have downplayed their relationship since being linked several months ago, but grabbed the spotlight again after they being spotted in Los Angeles several times over the last week.

Oscar winner Ellen Burstyn has slammed the state of contemporary drama, calling for actors to seek training before taking on stage and screen roles. The Requiem For A Dream actress is disgusted by falling standards in Hollywood and on Broadway, and blames the influence of television on their demise. She says, "I am appalled. I saw a couple of things (on Broadway) that were billed as good, but they were shockingly bad. I can't recommend anything on Broadway. I think (acting) needs some help. TV has lowered the bar. With quicker schedules everything is rushed, so the quality gets lowered." Burstyn famously won an Emmy nomination earlier this year for a 14 second cameo in television drama Mrs. Harris.

Crusading actress Mia Farrow has spoken out about atrocities in war-torn Sudan after returning to the US from a visit there. The Rosemary's Baby star, an ambassador for the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), addressed a news conference on Tuesday describing the plight of refugees in neighboring Chad. She said, "People are suffering unimaginably. Women described their terror, fleeing Darfur, losing family members, and children dying along the way." The 61-year-old added she wanted to return to the region "as soon as possible" to raise further awareness of the desperate situation. Civil war erupted in the region when rebels took up arms in February 2003. A string of other stars including George Clooney, Sir Bob Geldof and Heather Mills have also been campaigning for foreign intervention in the crisis in recent months.

US magician David Blaine has been shackled four stories high over New York's Times Square to kick off his latest charity stunt. The 33-year-old was strapped into a spinning gyroscope and hoisted by crane above the streets of the capital on Tuesday. He'll spend 48 hours in the contraption before being given another 16 - until Friday morning - to make his escape. But Blaine insists it's not the difficult finale which is unnerving him - wearing only a lightly padded jacket, trousers and a scarf he'll have to brave three nights of chilly winter weather. Speaking ahead of the stunt, he said, "There is that slight worry of hypothermia but it shouldn't happen. By hour 48 this is going to be really interesting." If he's successful, Blaine will lead 100 children selected by The Salvation Army on a Christmas shopping expedition. Each child will receive a $500 gift certificate from retailer Target.