Actor Mandy Patinkin has quit TV drama Criminal Minds after failing to show up for a script read-through. Patinkin reportedly chose not to show up for the meeting after realising his case-cracking character, Jason Gideon, was being written out of the show. However, TV bosses aren't sure why the 54-year-old is leaving Criminal Minds because he hasn't contacted them, although they have dismissed speculation his exit is linked to friction over alleged salary issues last summer. Writing on website CriminalMindsFanatic.blogspot.com, producer Ed Bernero says, "Patinkin told the show, the studios and the network he was returning right up to the day before we started shooting the first episode and then simply did not show up. He also has not contacted anyone within the show to explain why he isn't returning."

Actor Isaiah Washington has landed his first TV role after being fired from Grey's Anatomy. Washington was dismissed by bosses at TV network ABC earlier this summer - seven months after the behind-the-scenes fracas hit the headlines, prompting another co-star, T.R. Knight to come out as a homosexual. Washington publicly apologized for his comment and met with gay leaders to seek forgiveness - but it wasn't enough for him to keep his job. However, the controversy hasn't ended the actor's TV career - he will guest star on network NBC's upcoming Bionic Woman show, an update of the 1970s program starring Lindsay Wagner. Washington has also signed a development deal with NBC to star in an action drama, which is being lined up for the 2008-2009 season.

Hairspray director Adam Shankman has hit back at a journalist who is proposing a boycott of the film because its star John Travolta has "no business" playing an iconic gay character. The Pulp Fiction actor stars as super-sized woman Edna Turnblad in the latest adaptation of the kitsch musical, angering the editor of gay newspaper Washington Blade, Kevin Naff. Naff claims Travolta should never have been cast in the role because his religion Scientology is "homophobic." But Hairspray filmmaker Shankman is astonished by Naff's claims, insisting Travolta has "no problem with people being gay." He says, "I am stunned this has gotten that far. He (Naff) has made the dumbest claims on the entire planet. Everybody involved in Hairspray - all the creators are gay. So John has no problem with people being gay - me, the writers, composer, John Waters - all gay. John's personal beliefs never walked onto my set. I never heard the word Scientology."

Actresses Kirsten Dunst, Kate Hudson and Rita Wilson are following in the footsteps of Jennifer Aniston by directing short films, based on true stories submitted to American magazine Glamour. The stars will all make their directorial debuts - as Aniston did last year. The actresses have each been given an estimated $500,000 to shoot their movies for the publication's third annual Reel Moments. They have just three days to shoot their films. The January issue of Glamour asked its readers to send in stories about an event in their lives which left them feeling strong, wise or happy. Dunst, Hudson and Wilson then selected a submission to film. Hudson has cast her mother's longtime partner Kurt Russell and Dakota Fanning in her film, while Wilson has signed up Jeanne Tripplehorn and Aisha Tyler to star in hers. A panel will select a winner at the October 9 Los Angeles premiere of the three shorts. Actresses who have taken part in previous years include Aniston, whose 2006 film Room 10 won the Best Short Award at the CineVegas Festival, Gwyneth Paltrow and Bryce Dallas Howard.

Actress Lindsay Lohan is reportedly caught up in a battle with a computer hacker who claims to have stolen naked pictures of her. Celebslam.com has posted what it alleges is the script of a chat with Lohan, in which she reveals a computer hacker has stolen pictures taken by on-off boyfriend Calum Best. She is claimed to have written that the hacker "broke into my computer and left a file on my desktop saying he got the pictures Cal took from me naked." In the chat she reveals that her lawyer has been contacted. Her representative says of the issue, "Anything is possible. I know nothing about it." Lohan ended a 45-day stay at Malibu, California's Promises Clinic on Friday She checked in in May after being arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, following a car crash in Hollywood.

Funnymen Adam Sandler and Kevin James took their new movie to the leaders of U.S. gay rights groups - to make sure the release wouldn't be rocked by protests. The two stars play fire fighters who pretend to be a gay couple so they can receive domestic partner benefits in I Now Pronounce You Chuck And Larry. And James reveals the pair was so concerned the comedy would upset gay groups, they screened it for them well ahead of the film's release date in an effort to make sure they wouldn't be offending anyone. The actor says, "We screened it for (gay rights group) GLAAD because we certainly didn't want to offend anybody in any way. The main reason of this movie is really just to make people laugh and that's all we wanted to do. When you pick a subject like this, you're honestly gonna have to walk that line and you want to show what it's like out there. These guys are idiots in a way. They learn tolerance, what it's about, and what happens when they have to pretend to be this way. That's basically it, but we're certainly not trying to tell people how to live their lives in any way, shape, or form. We are just basically hoping people will go and laugh and have a good time with it without making light of the subject itself."

Britney Spears has come under fire from an animal rights group in Los Angeles after choosing to buy a new $3,000 dog from a pet store. The Humane Society U.S. officials claim the pop superstar should have spent more time picking her pet. Spokeswoman Stephanie Shain tells U.S. TV news show Entertainment Tonight, "Choosing a dog is a major lifestyle decision that should not be taken lightly. We suggest that people take time to choose a member of their family, and to be sure they are working with a reputable breeder... Ms. Spears is setting a damaging example to the public. Most dogs sold in pet stores come from puppy mills - factorylike facilities, churning out purebred and 'designer' puppies in large numbers. Puppy mills look only to make a profit; commonly disregard the dog's physical and emotional health."

Hip-hop mogul Sean 'Diddy' Combs has been inundated with job applications after advertising for a new personal assistant on website MySpace. The rapper has received 10,000 submissions after he asked job hopefuls to post three-minute videos of themselves on website YouTube. Combs says, "What have I started? Earlier I put it out there to you the viewers, you the people that made me. A lot of people dream about getting into this industry and being somebody. Everybody needs a chance. Someone gave me a chance, that is what this whole thing is about, it's about empowerment. This is not a joke, I'm trying to give a chance to somebody who is out there to be my personal assistant to help me to be the best and maybe I can help them to be the best. That's what this thing is about, helping each other out."

Actor Sam Rockwell financed his way through acting school by working part-time as a private detective. The Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind star was desperate for work and found himself trailing cheating husbands and wives. He says, "I actually interned for a private detective. It was about 15 years ago, when I was in acting class, and this guy was like, 'Hey, you want to make some money? Then come with me.' It was a lot of boring research and other stuff you don't care about. But I had to do some weird things, like trail a woman and a man who were having an affair. We videotaped them, I was driving the car, and my friend was videotaping. It was really sleazy. I think we made $50 or something. All that stuff helps with acting though."

Catherine Zeta-Jones has created the perfect sandwich - but husband Michael Douglas refuses to eat it because it's "gross." The No Reservations actress reveals she has always been partial to smoked salmon sandwiches on brown bread with potato chips in the middle crushed down, and now she's added lemon juice, salt and pepper. She says, "I had them during each of my pregnancies and I actually had it two nights ago for dinner as well. It's one of those comfort foods I really love. Michael hates it. He thinks it's gross... There's plenty of things I like to eat that make him really wants to throw up - like Marmite."