Table of contents for February 8, 2016 in Us Weekly

Billionaire James Packer will always be Mariah Carey’s baby. The Australian mogul proposed to the Grammy winner at a gathering of her friends at NYC bistro Eleven Madison Park January 21, her rep tells Us. “He had been planning it for a while,” says a Carey source. In fact, father-of-three Packer, 48, worked with NYC jeweler Wilfredo Rosado for two weeks to design the 35- carat emerald cut with two baguettes, set in platinum. “He wanted to create something very rare and very beautiful around this diamond he chose,” Rosado told Vogue of the bling, worth a reported $5 million. “It’s an epic ring for an epic time in her life.” SWEET FANTASY Now she’s having visions of her dream day. A source says the mom of twins Monroe and…

The vegetarian actress is proud to carry fake purses. “I’m not innocent of having leather,” Lisa Edelstein, married to artist Robert Russell, says of her collection, “but I love vegan- leather replacements.” The star of Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce (Bravo, Tuesdays at 10 p.m.) shows off her faux crocodile-skin Raven Kauffman. FIT TO BE TIED “There are usually a couple of discarded hair bands in there for the emer gency ponytail. I don’t brush my hair because it’s curly. I leave it alone.” SPOILER ALERT “The script is this big thing! I read it the second I get it, because I’m obsessed. I like to know what’s happening.” CHEW ON THIS “Shazam, my schnoodle, is the only one with me when I’m filming in Vancouver, British Columbia. Tennis balls aren’t…

Answers: 1) C; 2) A; 3) F; 4) E; 5) B; 6) D…

CASPER & JENNIFER Dancing Lessons Beau “Casper” Smart watches Jennifer Lopez’s every move. At the January 20 opening of the singer’s Las Vegas residency at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino’s Axis venue, the choreographer, 28, told Us: “I’m just here for support. Any time she has a question if something can be tightened or changed, I let her know.” The 46-year-old mom of twins Max and Emme, 7, respects her man’s input. “She wants his opinion — he’s edgy and creative,” says a source. “They complement each other.” TAYLOR&MACI His Touching Proposal Maci Bookout tells Us she considers the Teen Mom OG film crew “family.” So it’s only fitting that MTV cameras were rolling when her boyfriend of three years, custom-countertop sales rep Taylor McKinney, 26, popped the question at…

As a girl, forbidden from watching Grease. the 1950s-set teen love story “too racy,” she tells But Julianne Hough was Her parents deemed Us. when Mom and Dad went to work, Hough would hotfoot it down to the basement and pop in the 1978 John Travolta–Olivia Newton-John flick (based on the 1972 Broadway musical): “I’d put on my own production!” Two decades later, she’s the star again — and now she’ll have an audience of millions. On Fox’s Grease: Live!, the singer-dancer headlines as sweet Sandy, whose heart is set on bad boy Danny (Aaron Tveit). Welcome back to Rydell High! KEKE PALMER, 22 MARTY AT RYDELL HIGH Having pro hoofer Hough to help with the dancing has been a boon. “I’m into hip-hop,” the Scream Queens alum tells Us.…

Sarah Paulson was a 20-year-old upand-coming actress when she watched a Los Angeles jury acquit ex–NFL star O.J. Simpson of murder on October 3, 1995. Twenty-one years later, the fourtime Emmy nominee is in the courtroom as much-maligned prosecutor Marcia Clark in FX’s 10-part American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson (premieres February 2, 10 p.m.). “She was just trying to do her job, but had to deal with comments about her hair and makeup,” Paulson says. “Things that have nothing to do with putting a man behind bars.” Paulson, who dates actress Holland Taylor, 73, argues her case. Q:What helped you get into character? I found the perfume she wore at the time of the trial, Magie Noire by Lancôme, on eBay. I would sniff my wrists. Finally,…

WHEN BREATH BECOMES AIR Diagnosed with lung cancer at 36, neurosurgeon Paul Kalanithi spent his last 22 months penning profound reflections on confronting death — both as doctor and as patient. THE SOUND OF GRAVEL In a powerful debut, Ruth Wariner relives her childhood in a violent, poly gamous cult. Her escape from the Mexican colony at age 16 with her three sisters rivets. THE GILDED RAZOR Before Sam Lansky became a Time culture editor, the privileged NYC teen’s pill addiction landed him in a psych ward at age 17. Now 27, his narrative is dark but brutally honest. IN OTHER WORDS Four years ago, Namesake scribe Jhumpa Lahiri moved to Rome and stopped writing in English. Her latest effort (printed in Italian on one page; English on the other)…

TUESDAY 2/2 RATTLED Oh, baby, is this new reality show a heart-grabber! Drew Barrymore coproduces the look at four couples — all brandnew parents. (TLC, 10 P.M.) WEDNESDAY 2/3 MADOFF Wall Streeter Bernie Madoff (Richard Dreyfus), whose billion-dollar Ponzi scheme collapsed in 2008, gets the searing-docudrama treatment over two nights. Dreyfus is short on smugness but still captivates, fleecing countryclubbers and charities while duping even his wife (Blythe Danner ) and sons. (ABC, 8 P.M.) WEDNESDAY 2/3 DINNER AT TIFFANI’S Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Vanessa Lachey and the Property Brothers are among the hungry guests saved by the dinner bell in season 2 of Tiffani Thiessen’s kitchen show. (Cooking Channel, 8 P.M.) WEDNESDAY 2/3 BABY DADDY When the cute-com returns, Riley (Chelsea Kane) is so floored by a proposal from Danny (Derek…

PRINCE WILLIAM After a 9-year-old pedestrian was caught in a 2015 collision between a Ford and a Mercedes in Bedfordshire, England, the search and rescue pilot, 33, flew her to the hospital, where her broken bones were successfully treated. RYAN GOSLING In 2012, the Crazy, Stupid, Love actor, 35, helped British journalist Laurie Penny, 29, avoid getting hit by an NYC cab. “Ryan Gosling grabbed me away from a taxi,” she tweeted. “He did not say ‘hey girl.’ He said ‘hey, watch out.’” ZOE SALDANA The actress, 37, was driving in Culver City, California, in 2012 when she witnessed an accident. Pulling over to help an elderly woman out of her car, Saldana then dialed 911 and waited while the victim received medical attention. PATRICK DEMPSEY Wielding a crowbar, the…

“[He] called me back and was like, ‘Bob does not like his nipple area paid attention to.’” On Dirty Grandpa director Dan Mazer’s advice after she shot a sex scene with Robert De Niro, AUBREY PLAZA “It will be the feel-good movie of the summer, because every guy will go home feeling good about themselves.” On his wife Tran’s reaction to his nude scene in The Hangover, KEN JEONG “Well I guess we’re calling [chicken] nuggets a side now.” Tweeting about her eating habits while pregnant, CHRISSY TEIGEN If I could get married again, I would come down the aisle on a hoverboard.” Joking about the device, T-PAIN “I thought it would be a more interesting way to work off calories. Guess what? I’d rather watch TV.” On trying tap dancing, SEAN HAYES “Constantly wondering…

Not Sorry Chelsea Handler, 40, told Variety that Justin Bieber, 21, was her worst interview subject. “He was trying to flirt with me,” she said. “It was so uncomfortable.” New Arrivals Michael Bublé, 40, and actress wife Luisana Lopilato, 28, announced the birth of son Elias January 22. He joins brother Noah, 2. . . . Louis Tomlinson, 24, and stylist Briana Jungwirth, 23, welcomed a son January 22. “He is healthy and pretty amazing,” the One Direction singer tweeted. “I’m very happy!!” Unfriendly Skies Andie MacDowell complained via Twitter January 22 that American Airlines had downgraded her from first class to “tourist” because there wasn’t room for her dog Ava. Two days later, the star, 57, explained, “If I pay for first class, that’s where I want to be.”…

FIRST QUARTER Bloody Mary SERVES 4 TO 6 Kick off the bash with a “wake-you-up” cocktail, as Curtis Stone, a mentor on Food Network’s All-Star Academy (returns February 14, 10 P.M.) puts it. “The dried chipotle contributes smokiness.” 1 dried chipotle chili, seeded and stem removed 1 dried New Mexico chili, seeded and stem removed 4 cups low- sodium tomato juice ½ cup fresh lemon juice (from about 3 lemons) 1 jarred pickled jalapeño, with 2 tbsp brine 1 to 2 tbsp hot sauce 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce ½ tsp celery seeds ¾ cup to 1½ cups high-quality vodka 1 lemon, thinly sliced Celery stalks 1 Heat a small, heavy skillet over medium heat. Toast the chilis until they begin to blacken, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a…

Inspiration struck Charlie Puth in the bedroom. “Melodies just came to me,” the 24-year-old tells Us about writing his R&B-pop debut, Nine Track Mind (out January 29), at his childhood home in New Jersey in December 2014. “I have to capture them right away because I will forget if I don’t. It’s a very genuine album.” HEART BARED Puth infuses his music with the desire for love. While writing the sensual hit “Marvin Gaye,” he says, “the intention was to make a record that people could just dance to, fall in love to or have sex to immediately upon hearing it.” The L.A. resident, who nabbed a Golden Globe nod for the Furious 7 soundtrack’s “See You Again,” certainly knows his sound turns listeners on. “I actually have hooked up…

Lucy Liu’s work has new meaning since she welcomed son Rockwell, 5 months, via surrogate last August. “Knowing that my son is going to grow up and watch the shows and the voices I’ve done is so exciting!” says the NYC native, whose serpentine Viper helps panda warrior Po (Jack Black) find his father in Kung Fu Panda 3 (out January 29). The Elementary actress and single mom, 47, talks to Us. Q: This film is about discovering where you belong. What has your personal journey been like? I’ve been really lucky that I’ve had the opportunity to choose the quality of my life. Like when I decide to have a family, and how I want to have a family. Q: How do you define family? It’s the people you…

1. My favorite animal is a lion . . . because I am a lion! 2. I love it when my chef, Chef Dee, cooks. Especially her egg rolls! 3. I eat egg whites daily. 4. Miami is my home. 5. I don’t have a religion — I have a life. 6. But my favorite book is the Quran. 7. I pray. Like, a lot. 8. The key to jet-skiing successfully is to not fall. 9. Another major key: Don’t ever jet-ski at night. 10. My favorite album is ’Til Shiloh by reggae artist Buju Banton. 11. I think Michael Jordan is one of the greatest athletes of all time. 12. I own thousands of sneakers. My favorites are the Jordan 3s. 13. I respect a woman who will weather…

● Jamie Chung (above left) bumping into a Marilyn Monroe impersonator outside the Dolby Theater in Hollywood after shopping for football jerseys. ● Nick and Joe Jonas sipping Don Julio cocktails at the Tao pop-up nightclub at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. ● Elton John performing with Demi Lovato at the Wiltern theater in L.A. ● Julianna Margulies buying boots and a vest at the Jack Rogers store in NYC. ● Peyton Manning celebrating the Denver Broncos’ AFC championship win with friends at Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House in Denver. ● Ryan Phillippe and fiancée Paulina Slagter enjoying a meal with his kids, Ava and Deacon, at Craig’s in West Hollywood. ● Gina Rodriguez and her parents walking her Maltipoo in L.A.’s Venice. ● Kate Beckinsale…

The last time Chris Rock hosted the Academy Awards, an unprecedented four black actors and actresses were up for the statuette. “That’s kinda like the Def Oscar Jam,” the comedian cracked during his 2005 monologue. His name for the 2016 show, for which not one person of color is nominated in a major acting category: “The white BET Awards.” That January 15 tweet was just the start. With #OscarsSoWhite trending and stars such as Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith and director Spike Lee promising to boycott the February 28 show, the Academy Awards are under attack. Like many vocal celebrities (see box, right), Rock, 51, won’t shy away from the controversy during his live broadcast from the Dolby Theatre. “Chris and his team are writing a ton of very…

Marlon Wayans wasn’t turned on by Fifty Shades of Grey. “I thought I’d see some freaky s--t, but it was stuff I did when I was 16,” says the NYC native, 43, who plays kinky Christian in its spoof, Fifty Shades of Black (out January 29). So he let his imagination run wild when he wrote the script. “We answer things they left out,” he adds, “like what really happens if you handcuff a girl!” DATE FRIGHT Wayans’ own moves haven’t always been on lock. “When I was 19, I tried to drip candle wax on a girl,” recalls the dad of Amai, 15, and Shawn, 14 (with Angela ackery). “But I poured it on her skin from close range and she screamed. The takeaway: “I’m going to stick to…

JAIME KING MANNINGSCHAFFEL > Who can resist a good shag? WHITNEY PORT HIMEL > From The Hills to the Himalayas. KRIS JENNER LAWRENCE > She spells it “Kruella de Vil.” KANYE WEST ADAMS > Yeezy: the Wookiee Collection. JOHN MAYER MILLER > It’s Teddy What the Fuxspin! SELMA BLAIR MILLER > It’s a polar Blair. KATE MOSS ORIJI > Katy Crockett, queen of the wild frontier.…