After spending the day shopping in New York City, Britney Spears was seen leaving her hotel for a night on the town.

Joined by her entourage, the comeback diva stepped out in a sexy black mini dress with matching ankle boots to check out the Tony Award-winning musical In The Heights at the Richard Rodgers Theatre.

In an attempt to avoid a distracting sideshow, Brit was reportedly ushered to her seat once the lights were dimmed for the opening number. As the musical ended, she was rushed out of her seat and headed straight backstage to meet the cast.

Says star Doreen Montalvo: “She was so sweet and generous. She took pictures with the cast and musicians.” Adds co-star Robin de Jesus: “Brit was totally cool. She was freaking awesome.”

[Bauer Griffin]

With only hours to go until her new reality show is set to premiere, a carefree Paris Hilton was all legs when photogs caught up with the starlet doing some shopping along Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood this afternoon.

After stopping at Maxfield and a slew of other boutiques, Miss Hilton headed home to prepare for her premiere party.

Meanwhile, Paris has vowed never to set foot on another Learjet aircraft after her pals Travis Barker and DJ AM almost lost their lives in a plane crash last month.

Says P.Hil: “I couldn’t believe it… I’m scared to go on small airplanes now. Sometime in Vegas, I’ve been on that sort of plane and now I’ll never go on one again.”

She has also revealed she has been texting DJ AM ever since he arrived back in Los Angeles last week — and she’s so relieved he’ll be OK.

She adds, “I love him, I’ve been friends with Adam for over 10 years now… He’s such a good person… I wish him the best.”

[Fame]

Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson’s beachside escapades continue.

Clad in their barely-there bikinis, the lovebirds took a dip in the warm waters of Mexico today.

After enjoying some QT skimming rocks and shooting the breeze, LiLo and SamRo laid down to work on their tans.

Such a scenic destination would be the perfect location to pop the question.

We’re just sayin’….

[Bauer Griffin]

Jessica Simpson was seen leaving Touch of Gold Tanning Salon in Los Angeles this afternoon.

Even though the temperatures reached the high 90’s in the L.A. Valley, the country bumpkin opted to get her skin bronzed at a salon.

Be sure to check out Jessica’s glow when she performs on tonight’s Result Episode of Dancing with the Stars.

Miss Simpson is slated to take the stage during the episode, accompanied by the professional dancers, to sing two songs — her current hit Come on Over from her country album, Do You Know, and Angels, a special release cover.

Should she knock it out of the park or — more likely — forget the lyrics to her song, we’ll have it YouTubed.

Stay tuned!

[Fame]

Kelly Ripa graces the November cover of Shape magazine. Again.

After getting bored with hard-core strength workout, the 38-year-old fitness fanatic has taken on a new activity: a ballet-inspired sculpting program.

Says Kelly: “I just feel so strong!”

Meanwhile, she also opens up about the heating and cooling of her career. After her sitcom, Hope & Faith, was canceled, she didn’t get upset. Instead she and her actor hubby Mark Consuelos started their own company, Milojo Productions. “You don’t take one bad experience and go, ‘Oh, I’m getting out of the business,’ ” says Kelly. “I’ve learned that you persevere no matter what.”

She adds: “Success comes in many different forms and can arrive at any time in your life.”

Katie Couric has managed to trap Sarah Palin in yet another episode of verbal diarrhea.

This time the CBS news anchor called out the Republican VP nominee for making a joke about Joe Biden’s age when she has a 72-years old running mate.

Her explanation? Americans need change over experience.

Wait a minute — isn’t that Barack Obama’s motto?

Pink was seen shopping the various boutiques in Paris today.

Much like every other singer/actress under the age of 30, the So What rockstress is in town for Paris Fashion Week.

Pink was first spotted dropping some serious cash at the Nike store before having lunch at the exclusive L’Avenue eatery.

Afterwards, as she made her way to an awaiting chauffered vehicle, her crew protected her from the rain by holding an umbrella over her head.

Not a single drop of water on her Royal Pinkness!!!

Meanwhile, despite being on the music scene for eight years, the single singer says she’s shocked her latest single shot to the top of the charts — her first solo number one of her career — because she didn’t think her fans understood her wild ways.

Says Pink: “No one could believe I was number one. They still think I’m a psycho. I just laugh and don’t pay much attention, I guess I’m pretty much all over the place. I’m pretty in your face and that can work against me. People still don’t get me.”

[Bauer Griffin]

High School Musical mania continues….

Following a promotional trip to Stockholm, stars Zac Efron, Ashley Tisdale, Vanessa Hudgens and Corbin Bleu were surrounded by fans and photogs today as they signed autographs at the Virgin Megastore in Paris.

The wholesome bunch is in the City of Light promoting High School Musical: Senior Year, the third (though unlikely last) installment of the popular Disney franchise, which is due out in France on October 22. The young stars will then travel to Spain, Germany and England before heading back Stateside for the October 24 release date.

We’ll do our best to keep the coverage limited. Promise.

[Bauer Griffin]

You may all breathe a sigh of relief.

Janet Jackson has been released from Montreal’s Royal Victoria Hospital following a two-hour stay last night.

Still no word on the nature of JJ’s sudden illness, but we’re sure it had nothing to do with her years of yo-yo dieting.

Bill Maher joined the ladies of The View today and the liberal late-night television talk show host did not hold back when discussion turned to Sarah Palin.

When asked how he thought the Republican vice-presidential nominee from Alaska will do in the upcoming debate, Maher tore in to Palin saying that he’s seen her speak twice and the “sentence to nowhere” is what comes out of her mouth. Meow!

He went on to say that if the comments came out of Joe Biden’s mouth, we would think he has brain damage.

Later, when resident shameless liberal Joy Behar pointed out that Dan Quayle was moronic and they won, Elisabeth Hasselbeck probed Joy by asking if she was claiming that Palin is moronic. That’s when Maher voluntarily chimed in with a gleeful “I will”, adding that the cynical Republican party has nominated a trifecta of bimbos over the last twenty years — George W. Bush, Quayle and Palin.

He later shared a story of when Quayle was asked during a debate what he would do in a time of crisis. He said first that he would say a prayer, leading Maher to blast: “Great, talk to your imaginary friend!”