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American singer/bass player Gene Simmons performs with Kiss at Wembley Arena in London on May 12, 2010. UPI/Rune Hellestad
American singer/bass player Gene Simmons performs with Kiss at Wembley Arena in London on May 12, 2010. UPI/Rune Hellestad | License Photo

The latest news on today's hottest celebrities ...

JUDGE JUDY: Television jurist Judge Judy Sheindlin says exhaustion sent her to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

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Sheindlin, 68, told TMZ she expects to go home Thursday after undergoing some tests.

"I'm just exhausted, and my body was telling me it needed a day to chill," she told the celebrity news Web site Wednesday.

"I was feeling funky this morning ... funky enough that I knew someone should give a gander over what I got," she added. "I'm really fine. I wanted to go back to work this afternoon. ... I'm exhausted. I'm just tired. A lot of things just zoned together, including the bad news of the world. At my age, I know my body. My body is fine."

Sheindlin has presided over a small-claims court on TV's "Judge Judy" since 1996.

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ELIZABETH BANKS: U.S. actress Elizabeth Banks says she has become a first-time mother thanks to a surrogate.

Banks married sports writer and producer Max Handelman in 2003. The actress is best known for her roles in the films "Zack and Miri Make a Porno," "W.," "Role Models" and "Wet Hot American Summer," as well as on the TV shows "Scrubs" and "30 Rock."

"I have been very fortunate in life both professionally and personally. I have had untold number of opportunities to work with inspiring people, on great projects as an actress, and I have had a fantastic long-term relationship of nearly 20 years with my now husband, Max," UsMagazine.com reported Banks wrote on her blog.

"The one true hurdle I've faced in life is that I have a broken belly," she added. "After years of trying to get pregnant, exploring the range of fertility treatments, all unsuccessful, our journey led us to gestational surrogacy: we make a 'baby cake' and bake it in another woman's 'oven.' From that came two miracles. The first was meeting our carrier and her husband who were truly humbling in their decency and generosity. And the second miracle was the birth of our baby boy, Felix Handelman. Felix means 'happy' and 'lucky' in Latin. And true to his name, Felix is a very happy baby and a blessing on our life."

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Banks did not say when or where her son was born.


JAMES VAN DER BEEK: James Van Der Beek has signed on as host of the 4th annual "NewNowNext Awards" show in Hollywood, Logo said.

A.J. McLean, Sara Rue, Niecy Nash, Natalia Kills and Lisa Lampanelli also have been added to the list of presenters for the event at the Avalon in Hollywood.

Special appearances by Lady Gaga, Joe Manganiello and Neon Hitch have been confirmed as well, said Logo, an entertainment network whose audience is largely comprised of gays and lesbians, and their families and friends.

The awards show is to be taped in front of a live audience April 7 with a telecast premiere set for April 11 on Logo.

"James Van Der Beek exemplifies how a 'NewNowNext' actor emerged to become a pop-culture mainstay and household name," the cable network said in a news release. "From his recent appearance in Ke$ha's 'Blow' video to his extensive career in television, film and theater, Van Der Beek earns his rightful place to recognize the up-and-coming talent of tomorrow as host of this year's 'NewNowNext Awards' 2011."

Van Der Beek is best known for his work on the iconic late-1990s TV series "Dawson's Creek."

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GENE SIMMONS: The tongue of KISS's Gene Simmons will adorn the first Food and Drug Administration-approved "picture condom," its manufacturer said.

Graphic Armor Inc. said Condomania's KISS Kondoms, which have long carried images of the rock band on their boxes and wrappers, will now have Simmons' "iconic fully extended tongue" running down the length of the condom itself.

"With Gene's tongue leading the way once again, I am confident we are about to see an explosion of marketing messages and logos displayed on millions of condoms in action," said Adam Glickman, Condomania's chief executive.

The Simmons condoms go on sale in April. "Studded Paul," featuring an image of Simmons' band mate Paul Stanley, is to follow by June.

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