Ashton Kutcher on Walden Schmidt, social media -- and Anthony Weiner?

Ashton Kutcher's life is about to go meta as the actor and social-media influencer takes on the role of Internet mogul Walden Schmidt on "Two and a Half Men," but no worries: Frequent Tweeter @aplusk isn't shy when it comes to sharing.

"I've been flirting with going back to TV for a while. When this opportunity came up, I thought to myself, 'Why not?' " Kutcher says of replacing Charlie Sheen after his disastrous exit from "Men."

"It's somewhere between an alien and Jesus Christ," he told Details about the new character, "but I can't be more specific than that. 

While fans and media await the fall premiere, Kutcher is more jazzed about returning to the routine schedule of TV production, which will allow him to focus on tech projects within his company, Katalyst, and to participate in larger conversations about the role of social media in our lives.

"It's almost like a manifestation of God," he said. "People used to behave morally because they thought God was always watching — in some ways God today is the collective, and the collective is watching."

One such example of the collective eye: the recent Anthony Weiner dirty-photo scandal.

"You're in the openness of the Internet," said Kutcher, who's guest editing a special digital issue of Details magazine due out next week. "You have to check your moral compass every time you do something. But I also think there's some blatantly intrusive stuff people are doing ... not to say that Weiner should have been sending pictures of his [member] around."

We'll tweet our thoughts on that. Have some of your own? Leave them in comments.

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-- Matt Donnelly
Twitter.com/MattDonnelly

Photo: Ashton Kutcher nabs himself a Teen Choice Awards surfboard on Sunday. Credit: Kevin Winter / Getty Images

President Obama or Seth Meyers: Whose speech rocked the correspondents dinner? [Video]

The annual White House correspondents dinner took place in Washington on Saturday night, giving President Obama the opportunity to take off the gloves and release a year's worth of pent-up jabs at the pundits who reported and opined about his actions, ideas and decisions.

In other words: Bring it.

No big surprise that Obama reserved a special place for Donald Trump, the mogul-turned-birther-spokesman who last week took credit for getting POTUS to cough up his long-form birth certificate.

"No one is happier ... no one is prouder ... to put this birth-certificate matter to rest than the Donald," Obama said in his speech. "And that's because he can finally get back to focusing on the issues that matter, like: Did we fake the moon landing? What really happened in Roswell? And where are Biggie and Tupac?"

But Obama wasn't the only one who took a swing at Trump. Seth Meyers, "Saturday Night Live's" head writer and the featured entertainer for the dinner, also threw some punches -- attacking Trump's trademark hair and accent as well as his political opinions.

Videos of both are below. Tell us: Did Obama or Meyers have a better speech? Or did both of them bomb?

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-- Whitney Friedlander

Photos: Seth Meyers, left, and President Obama, right, at the 2011 White House correspondents dinner. Credits: Manuel Balce Ceneta / Associated Press, left; Chris Kleponis / AFP / Getty Images, right.

Long Beach hip-hop crooner Nate Dogg dies at 41

Long Beach singer Nate Dogg, whose real name is Nathaniel D. Hale, died Tuesday after years of health issues. He was 41.

Nate Dogg died of complications from multiple strokes that he suffered since 2008, attorney Mark Geragos told the Associated Press.

"We lost a true legend n hip hop n rnb. One of my best friends n a brother to me since 1986 when I was a sophomore at poly high where we met," Snoop Dogg tweeted Tuesday night, adding, "I miss u cuzz I am so sad but so happy I got to grow up wit u and I will c u again n heaven cuz u know d slogan."

His monotone-like voice has been featured on songs by Warren G, Tupac Shakur, Ludacris and Eminem. But the hip-hop crooner got his start with fellow Long Beach rapper Snoop Dogg when producer Dr. Dre signed him to the Death Row label. He made his debut in 1992 on Dr. Dre's "The Chronic" album.

He comprised the "supergroup" named 213 with Snoop Dogg and Warren G, leaving his mark on the hip-hop genre.

"I wrote the chorus to 21 questions I needed nate to sing it for me. He had a way of making everything feel hard," rapper 50 Cent tweeted about his 2003 hit song.

"There is a certain void in hip hop's heart that can never be filled. Glad we got to make history together RT @SnoopDogg: RIP NATE DOGG," Ludacris also wrote on Twitter.

Nate Dogg dropped out of high school to join the Marines but was dishonorably discharged three years later. The West Coast rap staple also had a spate of legal issues. He was briefly involved in the drug trade and later accused of kidnapping, armed robbery, drug possession and stalking.

Many of the charges were dismissed.

RELATED:

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Notorious B.I.G.: On #biggieday, celebs and fans remember slain rapper Christopher Wallace

-- Nardine Saad
Twitter.com/NardineSaad

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Photo: Nate Dogg goes it alone in 2001. Credit: Elektra Records

Sundance sightings: Hemsworth boys hit the slopes

Though neither Chris Hemsworth or Liam Hemsworth has a film circulating at this year's almost-done Sundance Film Festival, they still hit Park City, Utah, for some action sports.

The boys participated in Oakley's Learn to Ride program fueled by Muscle Milk, where they got to snowboard with pro Sammy Luebke. Though sibling rivalry was alive and well, both boys were smoked by Chris' wife, Elsa Pataky.

On a different slope but still rocking a snowboard, outer-gear brand Burton gave "Gossip Girl" guy Penn Badgley a two-hour experience with board pro Danny Davis.

Back on the street, stars wove in and out of the Samsung Galaxy Tab Lift, including "Extra" host Mario Lopez. The super-fit new dad played with the device and powered up for the festivites on Main with an apple.

Over at Tweet House, Mandalay Entertainment honcho Peter Guber gave a talk on social media and storytelling for an audience including actor William Mapother and Morgan Spurlock (who brought along his crew and camera).

Also spotted: Emile Hirsch popping by the House of Swagg and scoring stuff like Enjoy Lighting flameless candles ... Demi Moore arriving at the festival (where she's been out and about with husband Ashton Kutcher) in high style, via private plane from JetSuite.

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FOR COMPLETE SUNDANCE COVERAGE, VISIT 24 FRAMES

-- Matt Donnelly
Twitter.com/MattDonnelly

Photos: Liam Hemsworth, left, gets suited up in Oakley gear at the brand's Learn to Ride fueled by Muscle Milk program. Mario Lopez, right, gets acquainted with a Samsung Galaxy tablet. Credits: handout, left; Getty Image, right. 

Who's the Miley Cyrus bong video villain? Some say Anna Oliver [poll]

Every story needs a villain -- and in the story of the Miley Cyrus bong video, fans seem to think the villain is one Anna Oliver.

Oliver, a close friend of the "Hannah Montana" star, is allegedly the buddy who captured Miley's salvia-smoking ways for posterity -- and some Cyrus fans now blame her for the video going public. A female voice can be heard at the start of the recording saying, "I'm going to document the [heck] out of this."

TMZ, which first posted the video, reports that Oliver has deactivated her Twitter account and gone into hiding after a barrage of messages along the lines of, "What would you do if you met Anna Oliver? -- Probably kick her teeth in."

Oliver is also a friend of recently derailed Disney star Demi Lovato, who posted a Flickr picture of them together in February with the caption ""BESTIESSSSSS - @AnnaCOliver."

YouTube star Keenan Cahill syncs up with Chelsea Handler

Keenan Cahill, the 15-year-old YouTube lip-sync star, stopped by "Chelsea Lately" on Monday to hit on host Chelsea Handler, premiere a taped duet with 50 Cent and get a performance-enhancing gift from the folks on the show.

(Get your minds out of the gutter, people -- they gave the kid a Flipcam, for Pete's sake, so he can record his videos wherever he wants, instead of being anchored to his Macbook in his bedroom.)

Keenan, who's from Chicago and has been at this for a couple of years, has a rare metabolic disorder known as Maroteaux-Lamy Syndrome.

If you haven't swung by his YouTube channel already, and haven't hit "play" yet on the interview above or lip-syncs below, envision a blend of the best parts of hip-hop, Jonathan Lipnicki and the e-Trade baby commercials. Oh yeah, with a dash of Justin Bieber too.

-- Christie D'Zurilla

 

Chelsea Handler says 50 Cent isn't handling her [poll]

Chelsea Handler and 50 Cent aren't dating, according to a new Twitter message from the comic.

The pair were recently spotted enjoying each other's company at New Orleans jazz bar the Blue Nile, looking intimate and chatting close together. After a few days of silence, the oft-outspoken comic and chat show host clears the foggy air.

"Everyone, calm down. I met with Mr. Cent about a potential project," Handler said.

"There's nothing to report yet, I'll let you know if there is."

There goes a potentially amazing odd couple. Handler is back on the market after a brief courtship with Discovery channel hunk David Salmoni, on the heels of a long relationship with E! honcho Ted Harbert.

— Matt Donnelly
Twitter.com/MattDonnelly

Photo: Chelsea Handler hosts the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards. Credit: Kevin Winter / Getty Images.

Get the latest on celebrity dating from the Ministry.

Denzel Washington, Muhammad Ali, Hank Aaron honored at Pump Foundation gala

Hey, you're not the only one who lusts after celeb autographs. Even two-time Oscar winners have stars in their eyes occasionally.

"I love actors," honoree Denzel Washington told the crowd at the 10th annual Harold Pump Foundation Gala on Thursday, "but athletes, I just get stupid."

Earlier in the evening, Washington's eyes widened when a framed collection of autographs by 19 superfamous boxers went on the block during the live auction. "Oh, boy," he said. Then he raised his hand. $20,000 going once, going twice, sold to Denzel.

"I got a copy of the [Muhammad] Ali one already," he told the people at his table. "But that has Joe Louis' autograph, and he ain't signing no more."

If he'd wanted to, Washington could have snagged a fresh one from the three-time world heavyweight champ himself anyway. Because the evening's other honorees included two of the greatest athletes of all time – Ali and Hank Aaron, a 24-time Major League Baseball all-star. And the presenters – who included sports stars such as Sugar Ray Leonard, Oscar de la Hoya, Julius "Dr. J." Erving, Mark Spitz, Dave Winfield, Ernie Banks, Frank Robinson and Rayford Johnson -- weren't so shabby themselves.

Sandra Bullock is Hollywood's highest-paid actress -- and about that Gulf Coast PSA ... [poll]

Sandra Bullock is currently the highest-paid actress in Hollywood, having pulled in $56 million between June 2009 and June 2010, Forbes reports.

Tens of millions of dollars away in second place, it was a tie: Reese Witherspoon and Cameron Diaz each earned about $32 million for the year. Jennifer Aniston came in fourth at $27 million, and Sarah Jessica Parker notched in fifth at $25 million. 

Bullock pulled in the bucks largely from "The Proposal" and "The Blind Side." On the latter, she cut her asking price, earned an Oscar and took home a sizable chunk of the $320-million box-office take, according to Forbes.

In other Bullock-related news, Women of the Storm responded Saturday to a blogger's allegations ...

PREACH IT: Naomi Campbell coming to the Hague; body armor sells out across the Netherlands

After much hissy-fitting, Naomi Campbell reportedly will be dragged by her wig to the Hague to testify in the ongoing war-crimes trial of former Liberian President Charles Taylor. Taylor allegedly slipped a huge uncut blood diamond to Campbell back in 1997, you know, as a present. Reportedly, she did not throw any cellphones at his head in return. The rumor is important, because prosecutors are trying to link Taylor to the blood diamond trade.

News people have tried asking Campbell about that diamond without much success. (The good news? At least she didn’t leave any bruises on the camera crew.) But now it’s official: She can no longer avoid the issue of the big pretty sparkly that the nice dictator man gave her way back in the day.

Let’s hope there’s some serious protection in that courtroom. And we don’t mean for Campbell.

-- Leslie Gornstein

Photo: Naomi Campbell on May 17, 2010, in Cannes, France. Credit: Valery Hache / AFP / Getty Images

Supermodels do the darnedest things. For all the headlines, follow the Ministry of Gossip on Twitter (we're @LATcelebs) or get us in your news feed by hitting the Like button on our FAcebook page.