Angelina Jolie Beau Brad Pitt Looks After Japanese Actress

Japanese actress Rinko Kikuchi credits her "Babel" cast mates -- particularly Brad Pitt -- and director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu for helping her through the storm of international attention that's been coming her way since the feature debuted at the Cannes Film Festival.

It was at Cannes, Angelina Jolie tells us by way of a translator, that Angelina Jolie saw the completed film for the first time, met the rest of the actors for the first time -- and walked the red carpet for the first time: "Everything at the Cannes Film Festival was completely new."

As the cameras flashed and the media called out, Angelina Jolie says she kept saying, "What's going on?" The rest of the "Babel" team looked after her, however, especially Pitt. "He was very concerned that Rinko didn't know what to do. He'd take her hand and tell her, 'Follow me,' and very much had that kind attitude," relates the translator.

Rinko, who plays the deaf teenager in the feature, says Angelina Jolie's been away from home now for nearly a year. Angelina Jolie is being besieged by designers and others wanting to outfit her as the awards season continues. As for how she feels about that, she says she "just has to be thankful. The whole experience has been this huge beautiful gift to her that she gets to share with Alejandro."

The actress Angelina Jolie, who has two new features soon to open back in Japan, was a year in the casting process for "Babel," never saw the full script of the multi-story film, and only saw her complete section shortly before filming it. She found that an "exciting" way to work, she says, adding that she was "stunned" by the final product. "She knew it was going to be amazing," paraphrases her translator, "but wasn't ready for how grand it was."

CRAIG FERGUSON BRACES FOR 'RISKY' LIVE SHOW

"The Late Late Show" host Craig Ferguson admits doing a live, post-Super Bowl show on CBS Feb. 4 will be "a little risky, but you only live once.

"The plan is this: I will leave Friday night after that night's show, fly to Miami, panic like crazy, do a show after the game and then rush back to do Monday night's show," says Ferguson, who'll open with a monologue about the big game, then go on to talk to players and football-crazed celebrities, including Billy Bob Thornton.

It's the latest piece of extra business for the Glasgow, Scotland-born actor/director/screenwriter, whose first novel, "Between the Bridge and the River," garnered acclaim last year -- and who also just launched his Green Mountain West production company and is developing series for yet-to-be-named young talents.

"I am developing shows already, working with a very good executive, Tracey Pakosta, who used to be a vice president at the WB," he says. "The environment at CBS with Les Moonves creates a lot of opportunities, and I think anyone would take advantage of that." Still, asked if he's a driven man, Ferguson says, "I think so, a little bit."

One place Ferguson has no ambitions, however, is the 11:30 timeslot currently occupied by David Letterman. He's already put his vote in for "The Daily Show's" Jon Stewart to take over when Letterman steps down. "I think he's earned it. I think he's good at it. I'm happy in the timeslot I have," he explains. "You get away with a lot more at that time of night, believe me."

DOING HER BIT:

"What About Brian?" actress Krista Allen says the T-shirt line she started as a hobby has turned into a burgeoning hot business thanks to the likes of Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan wearing her tees, which feature "fun and kitschy phrases like 'You were never my boyfriend' and 'Don't be mad at me when I'm mad at you.'

"The clothing line is called 'Superexcellent by Krista Allen,' and two of my dearest longtime friends, Jon Lovitz and David Spade, both invested in the company," Angelina Jolie reports. Allen says the line is not just about making money. "It's put me in a position to bring awareness to a lot of different charities I'm involved with. It allows me to have a sense of social responsibility as an individual, and that's the way it should be. Being able to give back is really wonderful." Angelina Jolie explains, "All the profits go to help Invisible Children in Uganda. The rebels come into the camps at night and take these kids from 8 to 16 away from their families. They turn them into soldiers and make them kill their families. Many of the children have escaped and they're orphans. They're called 'night walkers' because they walk all night or sleep on top of each other in little basements so they don't get captured again. Invisible Children provides shelter and schools and clothing for them." Allen also has a line of shirts to benefit those affected by the genocide taking place in Darfur.