Relatives of former Miss USA Ali Landry killed in Mexico in possible cartel connection

WITH THE PENDING arrival of Pope Francis, we were hoping that today's Tattle would be joyful.

Ain't gonna happen.

People magazine reported yesterday that the father-in-law and brother-in-law of former Miss USA (and Super Bowl Doritos pitchwoman) Ali Landry were found dead in Veracruz, Mexico, on Saturday, roughly two weeks after they were kidnapped.

Juan Manuel Gómez Fernéndez and his son, Juan Manuel Gómez Monteverde have been positively identified as the father and brother of Landry's husband, filmmaker Alejandro Gómez Monteverde.

Fernéndez and Monteverde were kidnapped on Sept. 4 after leaving their home in gang-ridden Tampico, Tamaulipas, the Latin Times reported. The Latin Times also reported that Monteverde's brother, Juan Manuel, was part owner of a restaurant that may have had cartel ties.

Think about this story if you go see "Sicario" next weekend.

In happier news, "Gossip Girl" alum Leighton Meester and her husband, Adam Brody ("The O.C."), are new parents of an unnamed, unidentified by gender baby, per Us Weekly. It's their first

* Diddle me this, Batman.

Having a baby down the road, reports TMZ.com, are pregnant Morena Baccarin and her new BF Ben McKenzie ("The O.C."), who star together on "Gotham."

Morena has a 1-year-old with her estranged husband, Austin Chick.

As she will soon be unable to fly, Morena filed documents yesterday asking a judge to award joint custody of the toddler and make her husband move to New York, where she films "Gotham."

"Hotel Transylvania 2" hits theaters this weekend, trying to capitalize on the first film's $148 million total, and September's biggest-ever domestic opening.

Why the surprising appeal?

The film's producer, Michelle Murdocca, told Tattle correspondent Jerome Maida that Adam Sandler as the voice of Count Dracula was "a big deal," and that "having Selena Gomez as [his daughter] Mavis was a big draw. She has such appeal to the younger demographic, particularly teen girls, who otherwise may have ignored the movie."

The film's director, Genndy Tartakovsky, said they went to the opposite side of the age spectrum when casting Mel Brooks as Count Dracula's dad, Vlad, because they felt he was "perfect for the part" and was "hysterical."

"There is no magic formula," Tartakovsky said. "Except maybe with increasingly realistic and sophisticated animated films, maybe people appreciate our more cartoony look and over-the-top comedy. People seem to enjoy a little goofiness in this increasingly dark world we live in."

* Fortune reports that superdupermodel Gisele Bundchen is

doing a photo-filled coffee table book for Taschen that will sell for a mere $700. You could get 20 Inquirer Pope books for that money.

* James Patterson, a tireless advocate for books and literacy, is receiving an honorary National Book Award.

Patterson has won the Literarian Award for "outstanding service to the American literary community," the National Book Foundation announced Wednesday. He has donated millions of dollars to bookstores and libraries, and hundreds of thousands of books to children and members of the military. He also employs a number of writers as co-authors to flesh out his ideas.

Unfortunately, his name is on so many best-sellers he's crowding other authors off the shelves.

* We thought this was a joke at first, but the Bay City Rollers are reuniting after 40 years.

The mid-'70s British band, sort of a more rocking One Direction if 1D wore plaid and suspenders, announced Tuesday in Glasgow, Scotland, that they'll be returning to the stage.

Although the Rollers were never as big in America as in the U.K., they did have one No. 1 single here ("Saturday Night") and were the first musical guest on "Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell" back in 1975.

Are you listening, Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods?

- Daily News wire services

contributed to this report.

Email: gensleh@phillynews.com

Phone: 215-854-5678

On Twitter: @DNTattle