Boo-yah!!! My cutie-pie Taylor Lautner has been signed on to play Jacob in the Twilight sequel, New Moon, and will not be replaced by consummate douchebag Michael Copon. Twilight author Stephenie Meyer posted the following on her blog today:

Good news about New Moon from director Chris Weitz:

I’m very happy to announce that Taylor Lautner will be playing Jacob Black in New Moon and that he’s doing so with the enthusiastic support of Summit Entertainment, the producers, and Stephenie Meyer.

The characters in Stephenie’s books go through extraordinary changes of circumstance and also appearance; so it is not surprising that there has been speculation about whether the same actor would portray a character who changes in so many surprising ways throughout the series. But it was my first instinct that Taylor was, is, and should be Jacob, and that the books would be best served by the actor who is emotionally right for the part. I think that fans of Twilight the book and the movie will be surprised by the Jacob Black that Taylor will bring to the screen in New Moon; and I’m looking forward to working with him and the rest of the cast in realizing the film.

very best

Chris Weitz

I’d just like to add that I was very much a part of this decision. My first priority was always what was best for New Moon—what was going to give us the best possible movie. I’m truly thrilled that Taylor was the one who proved to the director, to Summit, and to me that he is the best possible Jacob we could have. And I’m very much looking forward to seeing what he’s going to bring to Jacob’s character this year.

- Steph

Yay! I think Taylor is just so darling and I would have been so sad if that meat-head Copon had stolen his thunder. I’m glad the director listened to what the audience wanted.

And good for Taylor (and his agent!) for fighting tooth and nail for this.

Thanks Jeanette!

Mickey Rourke attempts to smoke the wrong side of a cigarette … on the red carpet for the premiere of The Wrestler.

Look, I’m the last person on earth to judge someone for smoking, but there’s something phenomenally classless about doing it on a red carpet. Admittedly, I kind of love when Simon Cowell walks the red carpet with a pack in his hands — although he is the only person on earth who can get away with it — but even Simon never actually lights up.

You’re so gross, Mickey.

Image via WENN

One of you fabulous EB readers contacted me about a very cool charity called The Fresh Air Fund. This charity — which has existed since 1877 — takes low-income children from New York’s inner city and sends them to live with host families all over the country for two weeks during the summer. It’s a rare opportunity for these kids to see what life looks like outside of their neighborhoods, to meet new people, and to see the possibilities that exist in other parts of the country.

If you want to make a BIG difference in the life of a child but don’t have a lot of money to donate, this is a FANTASTIC way for you to help out. There are NO financial requirements for summer host families. Please consider applying to welcome one of these kids into your life for a couple weeks this summer. The organization is very much in need of host families right now. You can learn more here.

If it’s not realistic for you to be a host, but you want to help out this wonderful organization, click here to learn about making a donation.

If you guessed Taylor Swift with Fearless, you’d be correct.

“The only story is that drugs are bad and they will kill you – you will become a prostitute, a rapist or a dealer. But that’s not true. I know lots of people who take cocaine three nights a week and get up and go to work. But we never hear that side of the story. I wish people wouldn’t sensationalise it. Some people are just bad at taking drugs.”

Lily Allen, who has always been completely responsible about her drug and alcohol consumption, in a controversial interview that’s pissed off a great deal of the U.K.

All of Hollywood is buzzing about this today:

Anne Hathaway, a Desert Palm Achievement Award recipient, seemed to lose the audience while discussing “process metaphysics.” That prompted a surprised comment from almost always perky emcee, Mary Hart. “Did I hear that from backstage correctly? We just got into metaphysics? Whatever happened to good ol’ blonde bimbos?” she quipped.

Apparently Anne turned off a lot of people in attendance by ending her acceptance speech with some manner of rant about “process metaphysics” and “religious plurality” and other bits of strangeness.

This must have been videotaped and I’d love to see it myself.

Major Beet points to anyone who can point me to a copy of this vid.