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Well, Kanye West certainly came out swinging. He just needs to work on his follow-through.

Despite a year-old vow to any media outlet that would listen that he would never again show his face on the backstabbing airwaves of MTV—a proclamation made after being relegated to a small stage and shut out despite five nominations at last year's Video Music Awards—West has apparently forgiven and forgotten and signed on to perform at this Sunday's show.

West will join Britney Spears (whom the rapper previously claimed was exploited by the network at last year's wingding) in book-ending the 25th anniversary edition of the VMAs do, with the hip-hop star set to close the night's censor-ready proceedings.

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AP Photo/Chris Pizzello

Let's see. There's Marlon, Tito, Jackie and Randy Jackson flanking sister Janet as the famed brotherly act scored the BMI Icon Award Thursday in L.A. Even La Toya was on hand in the audience.

That still left the reunion a couple icons short. Jermaine was MIA, as was a certain King of Pop. Make that the King of Party Pooping.

Asked of Michael's whereabouts, Marlon cracked: "I think he's in Egypt riding a camel or something."

Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images; Ash Knotek/ZUMAPress.com

She may have had nothing but vitriol for cohost Elton John, but at Tuesday night's London-set GQ Men of the Year Awards, Lily Allen did have some kind words reserved for one British icon: the bobbies.

Before berating the Rocket Man onstage—and, as it were, before dispatching plenty of complimentary tipple—the 23-year-old "Smile" singer had nothing but praise for the London Metropolitan Police, thanking them publicly for rescuing a friend who had recently been abducted at gunpoint.

"My friend Charlie was kidnapped a few weeks ago and was kept in a car boot for six days without food or anything," she told reporters on her way into the show. "It was really scary."

Scarier even than going head-to-head with a cantankerous knighted pop star, if you can believe it.

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The Library of Congress just called to say it loves Stevie Wonder.

The Washington, D.C., instutition has tapped the 26-time Grammy winner to receive the second-ever Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, which was established to honor the career achievements of singers, songwriters and composers whose work has helped champion popular music as an art form while serving as a cultural touchstone that unites disparate groups around the world.

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Natalie Portman picked up a "humanity award" in Venice on Sunday — and it wasn't for agreeing to be in her boyfriend's wacky music video.

The Garden State and Star Wars beauty received the first-ever "Movie for Humanity Award" at the Venice Film Festival for her work with social and environmental programs.

Given to film artists who devote themselves to humanitarian causes, the Oscar-nominee donated her $50,000 prize to the Jane Goodall Institute in Tanzania, where Portman supports the Tacare Girl's Scholarship Program.

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Brad Pitt thought his luggage felt a little light when he left Italy last summer.

In town to do some good and herald the premiere of his new film, Burn After Reading, the actor was unexpectedly presented Wednesday with the Best Actor trophy he won last year for The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford during the opening ceremony of the 65th Venice International Film Festival.

"You can run but you can't hide," Pitt said, accepting the engraved gold cup from the mistress of ceremonies, who also congratulated him on the twin additions to his family.

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ABC/Vivian Zink

La Misma Luna outshone all comers last night at the 23rd Annual Imagen Awards, honoring Latino achievements in film and TV.

The Spanish-language flick, centering on a Mexican boy who crosses the U.S. border to reunite with his mother, scored a leading five trophies, including Best Picture.

On the TV side, Ugly Betty walked away with Best Primetime Program, while Carlos Mencia, Christina Milian, Cesar Millan and Heroes were among the night's other winners.

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Kellogg's

It’s a sad day for Wheaties. Kellogg’s beat out the “Breakfast of Champions” for the honor of featuring Michael Phelps on Corn Flakes and Frosted Flakes cereal boxes.

Does anyone else miss the iconic orange background that usually goes along with Olympic victory? And “Better eat your Frosted Flakes, son” doesn’t sound nearly as inspiring.

Of course, nutritionists aren’t too happy about the switch either, since Tony the Tiger’s cereal has three times the amount of sugar as Wheaties and only a third of the fiber, neither of which help the fight against childhood obesity.

They have a point. We definitely ate more Frosted Flakes than Wheaties growing up, and look where we are—blogging. So, kids, remember that next time you're in the cereal aisle. Also, skip the Lucky Charms and Fruity Pebbles—that stuff does nothing for you. Except make you a better blogger.

Simon Bruty/Sports Illustrated

Michael Phelps is one proud young man and rightfully so. The 23-year-old graces the cover of the upcoming issue of Sports Illustrated, showing off his toned bod and those eight Olympic gold medals he scored in Beijing.

And given the super swimmer's newfound star power, ladies all over the world are aching to know about more than just his sporting stats.

Rumored to be dating either fellow breaststroking babe Amanda Beard or model Lily Donaldson, Michael stays mum when questioned about the issue.

"My private life is my private life. I have to keep something private. You guys know everything else," the Olympian tells Ryan Seacrest on his KIIS-FM show.

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