Pitt & Aniston Together Again, Jon & Kate Gosselin's Marriage Drama, & Kirstie Allie's Weight Gain: The New Celebrity Weeklies

It's a dramatic week in the world of celebrity weeklies. From Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston having a secret meeting to Jon Gosselin's alleged affair, to Kirstie Allie's weight gain, readers have a wide variety to choose from when they visit newsstands this week.

In Touch Weekly is reporting that Brad and Jen had a secret meeting on April 23rd. That's big news and the magazine must believe that the meeting happened or they would not have been as specific with the date! The cover also shows a photo of Brad wearing a necklace that was given to him by Jen. Could it be possible that Brad sill longs for Jen? That's what In Touch wants you to think! And, readers are still buying the fairytale that they will one day get back together.

Meanwhile, Star Magazine features an explosive story on Angelina Jolie. It stems from an alleged tell-all book that claims Jolie cheated on Brad with a rock star, plotted to destroy Jennifer Aniston and even slept with her mom's boyfriend. Talk about a scandal! Will it sell? The magazine used a picture of Angelina that was shot on the set of her movie, which makes this cover look fake. Plus, she's not that recognizable. Simply using the wrong photo could spell disaster for Star on the newsstand.

Us Weekly is all over Jon Gosselin, the dad from Jon & Kate Plus 8, and his alleged affair. This week the magazine identifies the other woman as 23 year-old teach Deanna Hummel. If Jon thought Us was going to leave him alone after featuring his alleged infidelity last week, he was wrong. Why? Us clearly had a big sale and that's why you're seeing it as a main cover AGAIN. The magazine clearly put its entire news operation on this story. How do I know? The details on this cover are extensive. There are pictures, videos and even a confession from Deanna Hummel's brother! Sequels don't always do as well as the original but this cover will secure above average sales for Us!

Kirstie Allie's explosive weight gain is the cover of People Magazine. She admits to gaining 83 LBS. I find it hard to believe that Kirstie still merits a full-cover. What has she done lately? Part of me believes that she gained the weight on purpose so that she could get a ton of publicity. Next, she'll lose the weight again and get even more press. On a positive note, the cover is well done despite my criticism of selecting Kirstie Alley. The before picture, which is key, shows the dramatic difference between Kirstie from four years ago. The after picture demonstrates Kirstie's weight gain but not in a way that's insulting. I think she actually looks very pretty.

OK! Magazine jumps on the Robert Pattinson train and promises to bring readers "secrets from the set." Overall, this cover story feels like a story you would read in Variety - not in a celebrity weekly. The details, e.g. "why the movie will be better than the book" lacks emotion. Plus, you can tell that OK! was trying to make the readers believe they're getting a Pattinson/Stewart relationship story by featuring a romantic shot of the duo. The magazine's only shot at a big sale? That's if newsstand buyers don't read the cover!

Trista and Ryan Sutter's new baby girl Blakesly makes the full cover of Life & Style Weekly. While we all know babies sell, I can't understand why Trista and Ryan are still a topic being considered for cover stories in the weekly space. There is simply no heat on this couple. It's also a strange choice by a magazine like Life & Style Weekly that has made some bold choices recently by featuring new stars like Twilight's Robert Pattinson and Internet star Kim Kardashian.

My winning cover of the week? That's an easy one. In Touch's cover story featuring Brad and Jen's secret meeting. Readers will eat this one up!

For more in-depth celebrity cover critiques, visit CoverAwards.com.

Comments

[LovingHope]

These magazines are so dumb! I wonder if there is any truth to it. I have to say though, Brad looked better and happier with Jennifer.

[attilathehoneycom]

Now my life is complete. Jen and Brad together again. Kirstie Alley has stopped starving herself to death and is morphing back into a baby blimp. No doubt Angelina will stop being a breeding mare and well - who knows - she might stay at home, start a cottage industry using the 100 kids they have to help make pot holders and other "stuff" (she can read up on homemade crafts in Martha Stewart Living).

What greater Mother's Day gift could any woman have than to receive such news regarding those we hold in such low tabloid esteem?

Ah! life just can't get any better this!
Attila Honey
AttilaTheHoney.com

[Adrienne Williams - Huffpost Blogger]

I will say, I got to go to the premiere of Little Ashes to see my hottie Robert P. and lets just say...I adore foreign films! And yes, he does gay brilliantly. Well, technically bisexual well. Darn, now I have to write a review. keep the rumors going...

[Adrienne Williams - Huffpost Blogger]

Stop with the madness of Jen and Brad! Brad and Angelina are alive an well, I just went to the store tonight and saw that rag! LOL Oh and Jen is having a baby, again! Please...

[Cowboylove]

I can forgive Kirstie Alley the weight gain, but honey that hair! Get you a gay to clean that mess up!

[clarendon67]

People get over the Jen and Brad thing. It is not happening. I guess Jennifer wants it to happen so bad that she gets herself in these crazy relationships and when they don't work out she looks pathetic. She needs to get a life and stop pining over Brad. Say for argument sake Brad wants Jen back why would she even think of doing that. She has no self esteem.
I am a big fan of Angie with all of her quirks and idiosyncrasies.

[Cowboylove]

I totally get why Brad may want to go back to Jennifer Anniston. Angie is a lot to deal with. Why Jennifer would take Brad back, however, leaves me clueless.

[Aesthete]

It's getting to where the less I know about the private lives of movie stars the better I like it. For whatever reason, the reality is that Jen lost Brad so I'm not interested in fantasizing about the two of them getting back together. AJ has him now and they have children together, biological as well as adopted. I don't believe in breaking up families. It's time to stop milking the Jen thing and move on. Such "stories" are nothing but teasers anyway.

[Pegi]

would be great to see brad and jen back together. he threw away a great thing when he left her. not a fan of AJ, too smug for my taste. as far as jon and kate, i pity him if its true, she can be a real you know what in normal times. although with all those kids, i can't say i blame her.

[marymansour]

Pegi, I like your way of thinking - could not agree more. : - )

[real1234]

"He threw away a great thing"? We don't know what happened in that marriage. There were rumours that she did not want to have kids and he did. If this is true, how is that throwing away a great thing? He wanted to fulfill his role as a dad. When he met Angie, he saw someone who fellow actors have described as being very beautiful, with or without makeup. To many who have seen her, she is described as being drop- dead- gorgeous. Brad has said Angie is also beautiful on the inside.

[chroma601]

Thank goodness celebrities have lives so we don't have to have one!

[OKSunny]

I am one of those that is holding out on the reunion of Brad and Jen---AJ is scary and never seems to smile. I have been boycotting Brad & Angelina (fish-face) movies since they got together

I am sad about the Gosselin thing-I really like the whole family, so Im hoping its not true

Don't care about anything else

[ywcachieve]

Angie smiles more than Jen does. You are just seeing what you want to see.

Don't be angry that Brad has found the love of his life.

[MacVixen]

Nice summary of all the mags this week. Thanks!
And I agree with you - the Jen & Brad reunion will be the big seller - it's the one I'm gonna buy anyway ;-)