People: Sep. 25, 2006

FILM'S NEW FLY BOY

Acting in a film and flying a plane are "the kind of things you dream about doing when you're a kid," says DAVID ELLISON, who can check both off his list at age 23. Ellison, son of Oracle founder Larry Ellison, plays a fighter pilot in Flyboys, the new film about World War I flying aces. Although it's his first role, Ellison was better prepared than co-stars James Franco and Jean Reno in at least one respect--he's been a competitive stunt pilot since age 13. And, oh yes, it didn't hurt that the Ellisons helped fund the movie.

AT LAST, CELEBRIGROCERIES!

Obsessive celeb watchers can already buy Heidi Klum's diaper bag and Shaq's car stereo. So we guess it was just a matter of time before more prosaic star acquisitions--like produce and junk food--became public. The online supermarket Fresh Direct is posting the shopping lists of some of its famous customers, including director SPIKE LEE (Lactaid milk, Pringles, Granny Smith apples), Sex and the City's Cynthia Nixon (truffle oil, Pop-Tarts, swordfish steaks) and model Paulina Porizkova (rotisserie chicken, Milano cookies, Jarlsberg cheese). The lists are not comprehensive; no toiletries, alas. Plus, the site does not guarantee that if you buy the star's groceries, you'll get the star's life.

NOT QUITE THE GREATEST LOVE OF ALL

After 14 tortuous years of tabloid-fueling wedlock, featuring jail time for him, rehab stints for her and flagging music careers and sweaty TV appearances for both, WHITNEY HOUSTON is finally filing for divorce from BOBBY BROWN. For evidence of irreconcilable differences, a judge need only watch Being Bobby Brown, the 2005 Bravo reality show in which the pop singer and the former New Edition member allowed viewers to see their incessant bickering and odd bathroom habits. Houston, who is working on a new album with Clive Davis, is seeking custody of their daughter Bobbi Kristina, 13. Division of the couple's assets will occur later. We just hope Brown gets to keep his parachute pants.

SCREEN TEST

Your periodic opportunity to assess your celebrity intelligence quotient with a quick quiz on the antics of the famous

1) George Clooney just visited the U.N.

A) To urge the Security Council to intervene in Sudan's Darfur region. B) To urge the Security Council to intervene on the set of Oceans 13--the policy of appeasing Matt Damon must be stopped! C) To explain the plot of Syriana. D) To get Jet Skis banned from Lake Como.

2) Which of the following major career moves did Jim Carrey recently make?

A) Created a MySpace site and invited a bunch of studio heads to be his "friends." B) Fired the talent agent he has had since he was a starving comic. C) Started dating brunets. D) Resolved to never again steal Christmas.

3) Maya Angelou said she will host an XM Satellite Radio show on Oprah's network because

A) A caged bird doesn't sing unless it has a microphone. B) Even when you're Maya Angelou, you do what Oprah wants. C) Howard Stern's dwindling audience has to go somewhere. D) She wants to talk trash about that know-nothing hussy Dr. Laura.

ANSWERS: 1) A; 2) B; 3) B