Who had Berenice Marlohe in their "next Bond girl" pool? According to reports, the French television actress will be starring alongside Daniel Craig and Javier Bardem in the 23rd James Bond adventure (its rumored title is Skyfall). The Daily News says she was “handpicked” by director Sam Mendes, which we’re sure was an absolute chore. How does Berenice Marlohe stack up against previous Bond girls? Let’s take a look.

● Rob thinks Keeping Up With the Kardashians has given him an undeservedly bad rap. "I'm sick of all that and I'm trying to branch away from all that," he says of the show that made him rich and famous. [People] ● Beyoncé is working on a maternity collection for her House of Dereon line so that all pregnant women can feel as "edgy and sexy" as she does, which is great, because rumor has it that inflatable baby bumps will be all the rage next season. [People] ● Austin Powers actor Joseph Hyungmin Son, who is currently serving a life sentence for rape and torture, is suspected of killing his prison cellmate. Evil Task, indeed. [LAT]

● "I didn't have a childhood," says Katy Perry in this month's Vanity Fair. This might explain her candy fetish. [Vanity Fair] ● Someone taught Michelle Obama to dance the dougie and America's all the better for it. [RapRadar] ● Lindsay Lohan was so eager to get to community service that she forgot to put on her bra! [Gawker]

● Javier Bardem has been offered a starring role in Sam Mendes' upcoming James Bond. 007 alum Daniel Craig will play Bond again, meaning Bardem will mostly likely play the villain, which means he'll most likely be sporting a bowl cut. [Deadline] ● Eminem is being paid $1 million to appear as a claymation character in what has been described as a "very funny" Lipton iced tea commercial to air during the Super Bowl. [NYP] ● Charlie Sheen wants to make it clear that, even though he's checked himself into rehab, he's just fine. "People don't seem to get it....Guy can't have a great time and do his job also?" he texted Radar. Also, as far as he's concerned, you're just a "Bunch of turds." Next time, Sheen, could we get some pictures with those texts? [Radar]

As of today, screen icon Sean Connery is officially an octogenarian, in light of which I thought it might be appropriate to take look back at the career of the world’s most famous Scotsman. Sure, he originated the role of James Bond, but have you seen him storm the beaches of Nomandy in The Longest Day, or belt out a merry tune in Darby O'Gill and the Little People? Top 8 films (one per decade!) after the jump.

Jimmy Dean passed away yesterday at 81, and will likely be remembered as a the grinning sausage pitchman who recorded Big Bad John during his early life as a Country & Western star. But Dean’s pre-pork entertainment career added up to more than just a hit single. He worked variously as a radio personality, a morning TV anchor, and for many years as the host of his own The Jimmy Dean Show, which introduced the world to any number of country stars as well as Jim Henson’s beloved Rolwf the dog. Dean also tried his hand at acting, with repeated stints on Daniel Boone, Fantasy Island, and something called J.J. Starbuck. His most high-profile gig, however, was in 1971’s Diamonds Are Forever. Behold one of the most incongruously funny Bond moments ever after the jump.

Joining the ranks of Sebastian Faulks, Kingsley Amis, and John Gardner, American thriller writer Jeffrey Deaver has been tapped by the Ian Fleming estate to pen the next James Bond novel. The author of 26 books, Deaver is best known for his series about quadriplegic detective Lincoln Rhyme, on which The Bone Collector , the 1999 film starring Angelina Jolie and Denzel Washington, was based. The new Bond installment does not yet have a title—the working title is Project X—but it does have a release date, May 28, 2011, set to coincide with Fleming’s birthday. “I don't want to give much away about the new book yet,” says Deaver, “except to say that it takes place in the present day and that the story occurs over a short period of time and finds Bond in three or four exotic locations around the globe.” Sounds like every other Bond book to me, but why mess with success? A video statement from the author after the jump.

Omega -- once home to timepieces for seafaring yachtsmen and moonwalking astronauts, but now pretty much targeted to stylishly outdoorsy types -- is unveiling its new James Bond "Quantum of Solace" limited edition watch this Friday when the film preems. If you can get over shilling for a major studio film, you will certainly appreciate the watch's design. The dimpled face is inspired by the grip of Bond's trusty sidearm, a Walther PPK. The watch also features white Super-LumiNova (I presume that is something really cool) on its indexes and hands, and the words "Quantum of Solace" are laser-engraved on the inside of its sapphire crystal. The Omega name and logo and the Arabic numerals are etched in the dial, with the "blood red tip" of the seconds hand and the Seamaster logo presenting a stark contrast to the black dial.

Sure, he's British and can't cast a ballot on election day, but nothing's more sterling than an endorsement from Daniel Craig. The blond Bond likens Barack Obama to a political 007. Says the actor, "Obama would be the better Bond, because, if he's true to his word, he'd be willing to quite literally look the enemy in the eye and go toe-to-toe with them." But his endorsement doesn't come without a backhanded compliment for John McCain, who he contends would make an excellent M, given his military experience. He adds, "There is kind of a kind of Judi Dench quality about McCain." Surely he's referring to the dame's affected scowl which seems to be the Republican candidate's default expression.