Most of Today’s Gossip Items Involve Sarah PalinAre you surprised? But the scenes from Larry Flynt’s porn satire of her actually sound really stupidly funny. Plus a pinch of Palin-free news in our gossip roundup.
ByTim Murphy
it happened this week
Falling DollarsEverything that happened last week, in case you weren’t paying attention.
ByMark Adams
gossipmonger
Beyoncé’s Reps Are Kind of AwesomeIs Beyoncé pregnant? “We’ll perform an ultrasound and get back to you,” her reps say sassily. That and the results of other probing in our daily roundup of the city’s juiciest gossip.
in other news
Anderson Cooper Makes a Funny; We NoticeEarlier in the week, NBC News announced that Michael Douglas would be the voice you hear on many of their teasers and voice-overs. We didn’t think much of the news, but apparently someone did. “Damn that NBC Nightly News,” writes Anderson Cooper on his blog. “For about six months now we’ve been working on having someone with a very distinctive voice introduce 360 every night.” Anderson goes on to explain that he formed an “exploratory committee” that met in “a backroom at Michael’s” to discuss the issue. “Week after week, cobb salad after cobb salad, we argued over whose voice to use,” he explains. “Sometimes the discussions got very heated, and eventually we were asked not to return to Michael’s.” The silver fox continues:
While we have not made a final decision, I thought I’d let you know about our four finalists, and if there is anyone else you think should be considered, please let us know. In no particular order, the four people we are considering hiring to introduce 360 every night are:
Fran Drescher
Clint Eastwood
Paul Reubens (aka Pee Wee Herman)
Cher
Personally, I’m arguing for Fran Drescher, but I’m keeping an open mind.
Wow, so deadpan. And with a Cobb salad reference! After that whole “drunk girl” story he told on Live, we’re beginning to suspect that we could maybe be friends with Anderson. Like, not in the way we pretend to be friends with him, by sending reporters to ask him personal questions. But, like, real friends. Except, friends don’t let friends make jokes about Cher. In public, at least.
Anderson’s View [CNN]
obit
Norman Mailer, Warhol’s Inverse, Helped Invent Modern FameIt’s safe to say, now, that Norman Mailer did not become the heavyweight champion of fiction — safe to say because he’s no longer around to take a swing at you with his cane. Even in his last year, Mailer would vigorously defend his reputation if he heard something he didn’t like. After this magazine recently published an innocuous chart chronicling his many highly entertaining feuds, he called to deliver a loud, hearing-challenged verbal pummeling. But, though he doubtless wouldn’t fully concede the point, even he must have realized that his greatest work was not fiction.
gossipmonger
Breaking: Lohans Not Best ParentsLindsay Lohan’s bodyguard claims Dina and Michael weren’t the best parents. Maria Bartiromo pissed off PETA by posing in a Michael Kors coat with fox-fur cuffs. The Box smelled like burnt hair for two hours after a patron’s hair caught on fire. Jay McCarroll’s friend says he has an Upper West Side apartment, contrary to what the designer told New York. Katie Couric belted out “Sweet Caroline” at a piano bar in Nantucket. Harvey Weinstein picked Clint Eastwood to compose the score for John Cusack’s new movie. City comptroller Bill Thompson says he was able to buy an apartment in Brooklyn shortly after graduating college in 1974, but his daughter couldn’t even afford to rent one. Chris Noth will be in the Sex and the City movie.
gossipmonger
‘Radar’ CallingA Radar editor left a cell phone on — as in, making a call to someone’s voice mail — during a meeting, and the recording showed that staff meetings are disorganized. Donald Trump is planning to build a $125 million house in Palm Beach, and the locals aren’t happy about it. Damaging tape of Britney Spears “partying” with two dancers at a club may soon surface. A play about Spalding Gray shows he wasn’t a very attentive father. Brandon Davis tells his parents he’s an art dealer; he may actually be a different type of dealer. A married TV anchorwoman is about to get dumped for having an affair.
gossipmonger
So There Was Some Awards Thing Last Night?Forest Whitaker and other Oscar revelers celebrated at parties. In New York, celebrity viewers were either at Elaine’s, with EW, or the Spotted Pig, with New York. Brandon Davis ruined Paris Hilton’s birthday party by harassing Paula Abdul and Courtney Love. Ron Burkle had George Clooney, Beyoncé, Clint Eastwood, and a bevy of other celebs over his house for a private Giorgio Armani runway show. Harvey Weinstein used direct-marketing techniques to get Rosario Dawson and Lindsay Lohan to come to a party. To which Cameron Diaz showed up with Tyrese. Courteney Cox spent at least $750,000 on a Damien Hirst. Josh Hartnett brought Helena Christensen back to his room at the Chateau Marmont. VanityFair.com’s Jessica Coen left the Miramax Oscar party because it smelled too good, missed Ben Affleck and Helen Mirren.
