"Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" has blasted off at the box office with a $16 million haul from midnight screenings alone. That's the third-best midnight debut ever, behind the $18.5 million taken in last summer by "The Dark Knight" and the $16.9 million for "Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith" in 2005, according to www.Hollywood.com.

The big midnight numbers put the "Transformers" sequel on track for a huge five-day return through the weekend. Some box-office watchers predict it could pull in $150 million over the first five days and $100 million in the weekend alone. The first "Transformers" opened with $70.5 million in July 2007.

PEREZ HILTON SUES OVER PEAS FRACAS

A new front has opened in the battle between Perez Hilton and the Black Eyed Peas manager accused of hitting him: a lawsuit.

The celebrity blogger, whose real name is Mario Lavandeira, sued the Peas' manager in Los Angeles yesterday for battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress. He is seeking unspecified damages of more than $25,000, saying Polo Molina attacked him because he made critical comments about the Black Eyed Peas' new album.

Molina was arrested in Toronto early Monday after allegedly punching Hilton following a heated argument between the blogger and Black Eyed Peas leader will.i.am. He's due in court Aug. 5.

The Black Eyed Peas are scheduled to perform at Bayfest on O'ahu on Aug. 15.

SIR PAUL WILL PERFORM IN ATLANTA PARK

Paul McCartney is going to Atlanta for a summer concert to benefit the city's historic Piedmont Park.

The Piedmont Conservancy that cares for the city park said yesterday the 67-year-old ex-Beatle will perform in the park Aug. 15.

The show is expected to dwarf the conservancy's 2007 Dave Matthews Band and Allman Brothers Band show that attracted 50,000.

REAL HOUSEWIFE GETS SEX PICS STOPPED

One of the stars of Bravo's television series "Real Housewives of New Jersey" went to court yesterday to avoid getting a little more exposure than she wanted.

A judge granted Danielle Staub's request for a temporary restraining order to stop her former boyfriend Stephen Zalewski from releasing a sexually explicit videotape and images of her.

Staub, 46, also filed a lawsuit against Zalewski seeking damages for invasion of privacy, defamation and emotional distress. She said she was unaware Zalewski was taping her and only found out from a Star magazine article in which Zalewski discussed the tape. "It sickened me," Staub told the judge.