Steven Brill on the Media“Just the idea, before [Trump] ever announced his campaign, just the idea that he was known generally as a successful businessperson. That’s the press’s fault.”
Star Jones Axed From truTVStar Jones will no longer have her eponymous show on the cable network after today. A letter from truTV general manager Marc Juris said that Jones and the channel, which re-branded itself from its older Court TV incarnation this month, “mutually agree” on the move. “Page Six” gives some insight on why it might have been “mutual”: Jones will continue to receive the rest of her $24 million paycheck as stipulated in her three-year contract, even though she will only appear on truTV from now on as a guest analyst. Jones was eliminated from the channel’s lineup because it is trying to switch its focus to purely tabloid coverage, and the lawyer was deemed too serious, according to reports. “Too serious?” we thought when we read this. “Star JONES?” But then when we reconsidered, it’s true: She kind of has gotten seriously lately. When we see her on the Today show, we sort of think of her as a reliable, insightful law analyst. Oh no! We used to only think of her with mockery and hilarity. Can we really have changed our mind because she lost some pounds? Are we really that weight-ist? Then we delved deep into our soul and realized it wasn’t the weight loss at all. It was the GLASSES. Getting those architect glasses was the smartest thing Star ever did. Since the beginning of time, human beings have been programmed to think of people with serious glasses as great thinkers. Benjamin Franklin? Spectacles. Eustace Tilley? A monocle. Abraham? Boxley plastic frames by Oliver Peoples. Now, everybody watch Star’s last episode today at 3 p.m. We can only hope, nay dream, she goes as bonkers as Connie Chung did on her final MSNBC show.
truTV Axes The “Star Jones Show” [TMZ.com]
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Wang vs. WangDesigner Vera Wang is suing another Vera Wang for copyright infringement. Bonnie Fuller is looking to branch into TV, and her NYU film-student son may be involved. Silly Billy, the clown from weird documentary Capturing the Friedmans, now goes the name by Dr. Blood. André Balazs and Naomi Campbell might be dating. An upcoming bio of Condi Rice claims she’s accrued power personally but not professionally. The broker for Bob Guccione’s East Side mansion (current asking price: $50 million) quit. Ellen Barkin reiterates that she regrets marrying Ron Perelman. Gisele will jump ship to H&M when her contract with Victoria’s Secret expires. Court TV is going through a rebranding process.
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Isn’t It Rich?A new book alleges that Bill Clinton had an affair with socialite Denise Rich and that Nancy Pelosi knew about it. Barack Obama asked for Beyoncé’s autograph at a fund-raiser at L.A. Reid’s house on the Upper East Side. Star Jones signed a deal to host a show on Court TV. Katie Homes may have chosen her new upcoming movie, a girl-buddy flick, because it had no sex scenes that might make hubby Tom Cruise jealous. Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas dined next to Barack Obama at the Waverly Inn. Reese Witherspoon and Jake Gyllenhaal may be hooking up. An intern claims Lizzie Grubman owes her more than $6,000 in back wages. Stewardess diddler Ralph Fiennes frolicked naked in a pool with four women at a hotel in Belgium.
