Courtney Hazlett The Scoop

Is Denise Richards using her children to boost ratings for her flagging reality show? It’s possible.

“She wants to continue using the kids and (ex-husband) Charlie (Sheen) for ratings, and Charlie is determined to stop it,” a Sheen insider told OK! magazine.

Richards apparently thinks that Sheen set the precedent for having the kids on TV since he had daughter Sam appear on “Two and a Half Men.” She feels that Sam and Lola can only make her show more interesting to watch.

The Sheen source argues that her logic is flawed: “But Sam was only 8 months old at the time, was in a baby basket, and presented as a character for exactly 39 seconds,” the source told the magazine. Since Richards’ rep issued the standard denials, we’ll have to wait it out to see what happens.

Hathaway surprised by ex’s alleged crimes
When Anne Hathaway split from Raffaello Follieri just prior to the premiere of her new film “Get Smart,” sources close to the actress hinted that the breakup had much to do with Follieri’s shady business dealings, but close friends contend that even Hathaway was surprised by just how bad the situation was.

Hathaway, who did not give testimony in connection with the indictment that led to Follieri's June 24 arrest, “never thought it could be this bad,” says a source close to the actress. “Even when he turned himself in for the check cashing, she bought the excuses he gave her,” the source says.

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It might seem impossible to believe that Hathaway was oblivious, but another source says that before you judge Hathaway, consider how good Follieri was at getting people to believe him. “This was a guy who convinced businessmen he was the CFO of the Vatican — so maybe her seeming naïve is a testament to his powers of manipulation,” says the source. “Who hasn’t wanted to believe a lie from someone they love?”

Whether Hathaway will have to be involved in any future legal proceedings is unclear. “I have no idea,” was her rep’s answer.

Reese behind Jake’s makeover
No, your eyes aren’t deceiving you. Jake Gyllenhaal is looking fitter than ever, and his girlfriend Reese Witherspoon seems to have influenced his fitness routine. “Jake’s in great shape already — but Reese seems to motivate him to push himself even harder,” an insider told In Touch Weekly. Their secret, reports the magazine, is mixing up their routine. “They’ll hit the gym one day, hike the next day and then swim another day,” the source told the magazine.

Have you heard?
GI-Net staffer Adam Sterling, who appeared in “Darfur Now”, which also featured Don Cheadle and George Clooney, is nominated for the Do Something award at the Aug. 4 Teen Choice Awards. You can vote online; if Sterling wins, GI-Net gets $100,000. 

On the subject of George Clooney, the actor’s production company just scored a deal with Showtime for the dark comedy, “The Fall of Bob.”

Mary-Kate Olsen continues to dabble in prime time. The actress will appear in one episode of “Samantha Who?,” due to air this fall.

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