Oprah Winfrey is taking control of her fledgling network and giving herself a promotion.

The TV titan is now the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Creative Officer of the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) beginning in the fall of 2011. Peter Ligouri, the current and temporary COO after Christina Norman‘s departure this spring, will step away when Oprah takes the helm.

Oprah is also bringing her Harpo Studios execs Eric Logan and Sheri Salata with her.

In a letter posted to her Facebook, Oprah says she is ready to take the reigns and bring out OWN’s potential.

“Our intention is to use the cable platform and the internet platform and the mobile platform to create messages that fill you up and bring you to new levels of awareness about yourself, ourselves, and our world; our potential…

It’s an incredible challenge ahead trying to figure out what kind of shows and programming will resonate with you, inspire you, bring a little piece of light into your already crowded existence. But I feel called to do it, and will be relying on your feedback, emails and tweets and message boards to let me know what you think.”

With new programming, including the Rosie O’Donnell talk show in October, and Oprah and her Harpo team heading the network, this is probably Oprah’s best bet at turning the ratings around.

[image: Linda Matlow/PIXINTL/WENN]

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Veteran TV actor Ted Danson has landed a role on the CBS drama CSI.

The Golden Globe and Emmy winner joins the cast as a supervisor, filling in the void left by departing actor Laurence Fishburne, who had been in that role for 2 1/2 years.

Known mostly for his comedic work in Cheers, Curb Your Enthusiasm and Three Men and a Baby, Danson has earned critical acclaim for his dramatic role in Damages.

He will continue on the HBO series Bored to Death with Jason Schwartzman and Zach Galifianakis, which was just renewed for a third season.

Ted and CSI will premiere this fall in a new time slot; Wednesday, September 21st at 10pm.

[image: Andres Otero/WENN]

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Red hot Mila Kunis covers the August issue of GQ and gets massive amounts of geek-cred by revealing her love for Star Trek.

“I got into it in my late teens—18, 19, 20,” Mila said. “Something like that. I got into it later than most people. But let’s not talk about it in the past tense. I’m still a Star Trek fan. You never stop being one. Let me give you my rundown of the series in order of most favorite to least favorite.”

Kunis is such a fan of the franchise, she has her own personal ranking of the different series and went to a fan convention a few years ago.

“I went to the Star Trek Experience in Vegas maybe five years ago,” the actress said. “I hung out with a bunch of fake characters inside Quark’s bar. [Ed note: Quark was the name of the Ferengi bartender on DS9.] There were all these actors there pretending to be the different characters from the different shows. Yes, I loved it.”

Now every fan will challenge her to a Trekkie Trivia contest!

Check out all the hotness that is Mila below.  (Read the article)

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Happy Birthday to everyone celebrating today, July 13th, including:

1940 – Patrick Stewart, actor
1942 – Harrison Ford, actor
1946 – Cheech Marin, actor
1948 – Daphne Maxwell-Reid, actress
1951 – Didi Conn, actress
1957 – Cameron Crowe, filmmaker
1962 – Tom Kenny, voice actor
1966 – Gil Birmingham, actor
1977 – Ashley Scott, actress
1988 – Steven R McQueen, actor

[image: Apega/WENN]

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Kim Kardashian is busy getting ready to walk down the aisle with Kris Humphries.  In preparation she recently visited the Vera Wang bridal boutique, to start the critical process of selecting the perfect wedding gown.

One of Kim’s friends talked to OK! and revealed some key details about the bride to be’s tastes:

“She wants it to be a little bit of high fashion, but also timeless, classic and classy. It will be ivory, and most of the detailing will just be stitchwork or beading,”

This certainly seems to corroborate Kim’s earlier revelation that she is striving for an “Old Hollywood” look.  However, Kim was also quoted as saying she particularly admired Christina Aguilera’s wedding dress.   Which was really much more Flamenco than Old Hollywood, but maybe Kim doesn’t know the difference. And while Vera Wang has some lovely gowns in her current bridal collection, she seems a little edgy for Kim.  I would expect to see her in some huge frothy confection of a dress, perhaps something by Marchesa.  Something a little on the ridiculous side.  Just like the Kardashians!  I am sure every bit of the process will be documented on Keeping Up With The Kardashians.

Photo Source:  khloekardashian.celebuzz.com

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Courteney Cox is teaming up with an old friend of hers and adding another skill to her resume.

The 47 year-old actress is dishing out home and beauty advice for Jane Pratt‘s website xoJane.

Former Sassy magazine editor, Pratt’s latest online offering now gives Cox a platform to offer up the kinds of tips Jane says she has been getting from the Cougar Town star for years.

“I’ve been getting all my best home and beauty tips from this girl. Now she’s going to be giving them to you.”

For her inaugural column,Courteney gives away two of her secrets: drugstore hair color and Edward Bess make up.

“For dark-haired girls who don’t like red hues coming through, I use Clairol Natural Instincts Brass-Free For Brunettes. It lasts about 28 days, but only costs $9.00,” Cox offered.

“I’m really into Edward Bess Makeup. I recently was in a hurry, as usual, and popped into Neiman Marcus where I had my makeup put on by the salesperson at the Edward Bess counter. I bought everything she put on me.”

Can’t wait for more.

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It’s been a busy celebrity baby birthing past few days.

Victoria & David Beckham had a daughter, Harper Seven, Kate Hudson and Matt Bellamy welcomed a boy they haven’t named yet and now Jewel and Ty Murray announce she has delivered the couple’s first child – a baby boy.

The newest addition to the Murray household weighed in at 7lbs, 6oz and has earned the name Kase Townes Murray.

“Ty and I are so pleased to welcome our new baby boy into the world,” Jewel tells People magazine. “We are overcome with happiness – it really is as great as everyone told us it would be – better even!”

The couple were wed in 2008. This is their first child.

[image: Adriana M. Barraza/WENN]

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The Jersey Shore cast spent some time in Florence, Italy with the cameras rolling for the fourth season of the wildly popular show and MTV has released the first cast photo of the guido gang.

With the August 4th premiere right around the corner, you have to wonder what are they running from?

We already know Snooki didn’t get into any real trouble when she crashed into an Italian police car and they weren’t allowed to film in historic sites or capture any drinking in public places so it’s unlikely they are running from an angry mob.

Maybe they are running to a shoe sale? Deena and Snooki need some footwear for those well-lit cobblestone streets.

Catch the season 4 premiere of the GTL guys and gals on Thursday, August 4th at 10pm.

[image: Ian Spanier/MTV]

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Model Miranda Kerr covers InStyle Australia for August and shares that she had a very painful experience with natural childbirth.

“I actually thought I was going to die at one point and left my body. I was looking down on myself – the pain was so intense. I kept thinking, ‘how do women do this? But if other women have done this, I can do it too.’ I was determined.”

Kerr, who gave birth in January, said her life has changed dramatically with the arrival of Flynn.

“I was working 18-hour days. Now the pace has slowed so I can spend the majority of my time with Flynn. We have a bath together every night. I am first a wife and a mother. When I work, it needs to be the best decision for us as a family.”

The 28 year-old also reveals that hubby Orlando Bloom doesn’t shy away from dad duties. He pitches in and takes care of their baby too.

“It’s whoever has their hands free. When I’m not working we don’t have a nanny.”

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Jennifer Love Hewitt attended The Foundation Polo Challenge at the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club on Saturday, July 9th.

The event was hosted by Prince William and Kate Middleton on their three day visit to the U.S. which included William playing in the charity tournament to benefit The American Friends of the Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry.

Jennifer, 32, chose a royal blue crepe dress with keyhole neckline and billowing sleeves from Monique Lhuillier. She paired it with a camel colored Louis Vuitton bag and gray Christian Louboutin shoes.

More photos of Jennifer are under. (Read the article)

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