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'Legally Blonde' star no match for first lady

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Actress Reese Witherspoon, Avon global ambassador, speaks Wednesday at the International Women of Courage Awards Ceremony at the State Department in Washington.

The Associated Press

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Sarah Killen

AP

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WASHINGTON — Actress Reese Witherspoon says her "Legally Blonde" character Elle Woods has been ousted as the most stylish woman to come to the nation's capital by first lady Michelle Obama.

Speaking Wednesday at a ceremony where Mrs. Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton presented the annual International Women of Courage awards, Witherspoon jokingly complained that Woods, the bubbly blonde from Los Angeles who discovers her inner strength at Harvard Law School and then takes on Washington politics, no longer held that title.

"As an actress, I have always sought out roles that portrayed women as strong and powerful, such as Elle Woods, who was in the 'Legally Blonde' movies," she said in an ornate State Department reception room.

Woods, she said, "happened to be the biggest fashionista who ever came to Washington until Michelle Obama. Thanks a lot."

Clinton then introduced Mrs. Obama as "stylish," and the first lady complimented the entire crowd, saying: "You all look fabulous."

Witherspoon was at the ceremony as a global ambassador for the Avon Foundation, which supports breast cancer research, anti-domestic violence programs and women's empowerment projects. On Wednesday the group announced a $500,000 contribution to the State Department's Fund for Global Women's Leadership.

Sheen nearly ready to resume filming for TV series

LOS ANGELES — A spokesman for Charlie Sheen says the actor will soon be back at "Two and a Half Men" after undergoing rehab that temporarily halted production of CBS' top-rated sitcom.

Publicist Stan Rosenfield says Sheen will be returning to work and shooting will resume next Tuesday in Los Angeles. Earlier, he saidt Sheen had voluntarily entered a rehab facility "as a preventative measure." He didn't specify why.

The 44-year-old actor still faces legal problems arising from a fight with his wife in Aspen, Colo., in December. The most serious charge carries a maximum three-year prison term.

Sheen hasn't entered a plea. He is due back in court Monday.

Life turned upside down after a 'tweet' from Conan

CONWAY TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Last week, Sarah Killen had three Twitter followers.

This week, she has 20,000 – as well as a new iMac computer and offers to help pay for a dress and drinks for her wedding.

The unsuspecting rural Michigan woman has an out-of-work late-night talk show host to thank for her newfound online popularity -- Conan O'Brien.

O'Brien decided last week to pick Killen as the only person he would follow on Twitter, turning the 19-year-old's life upside down.

The deposed "Tonight Show" star whose exit deal with NBC barred him from TV appearances for several months, has taken to Twitter to reach the masses during his exile and has amassed more than a half-million followers.

But up until Friday, O'Brien had steadily increased his number of Twitter devotees without following the feeds of anybody else.

Enter Killen, who is finishing up her high school requirements, preparing to make the jump to college and getting married in September.

"I've decided to follow someone at random," O'Brien's posting read at 3:55 p.m. on Friday. "She likes peanut butter and gummy dinosaurs. Sarah Killen, your life is about to change."

Boy, did it ever.

Immediately after O'Brien started following her, Killen -- whose Twitter handle is "LovelyButton" -- picked up followers at a rate of 150 per minute.

Then came the calls: Family, friends (actual and long-lost) and interview requests from Web sites, TV shows and radio stations.

"It's totally nuts," she said.