Wendy Williams: Movin On Up
In New York, WBLS' Wendy Williams brightens the day of many an office worker. She really speeds up the day as you are typing or whatever it is you do. Williams likes to regale listeners with her early life -- pre-VH1 and syndicated radio. Today she outdid herself. Her riff on orange juice:
"Back when I was a kid we were only allowed one glass of orange juice a day because it was expensive."
But now? "In my house we drink as much as we want."
Thank god for upward mobility and god bless the USA!
Thursday, November 13, 2003
Lloyd Grove Job watch
How long do you think Lloyd Grove will survive in this town if he recycles old Jackie Kennedy gossip about her priest/confidante?
I mean, The Corsair loves Rush and Molloy. Those guys know how to hustle and get the scoop. And of course The Corsair loves Page Six. But Llod Grove is the worst. I don't think I have ever read something that made me widen my eyes in wonder.
The Corsair gives Grove another two months before the mercurial Mort Zuckerman sends him packing back to K Street.
How long do you think Lloyd Grove will survive in this town if he recycles old Jackie Kennedy gossip about her priest/confidante?
I mean, The Corsair loves Rush and Molloy. Those guys know how to hustle and get the scoop. And of course The Corsair loves Page Six. But Llod Grove is the worst. I don't think I have ever read something that made me widen my eyes in wonder.
The Corsair gives Grove another two months before the mercurial Mort Zuckerman sends him packing back to K Street.
Six Degrees of Nicolette Sheridan
It seems that everyone in Hollywood is seperated by Six Degress ... of Nicolette Sheridan, that is. As a media wag recently remarked, it seems that everyone in Hollywood has had a crack at her. I mean, what do Harry Hamlin, Marcus Allen, Scott Baio and Leif Garrett, James Woods and countless others have in common? Nicolette, of course! Nicolette even shows up in You'll Never Make Love in This Town Again -- the bio by a bunch of Heidi Fleiss ex- hookers. Of course she wasn't hooking, but she was hooking up with Marcus Allen, whose, uh, "member" was so large that Nic, well, had to invite people to witness it. Everyone's all-american girl; that little (Averted Gaze) "slice o' heaven."
Nicole has a higher proportion of actors and sports stars on her list than most people. She likes to date the famous. I mean, has anyone else ever become famous for the person they are dating? Then again, Nicolette Sheridan is not exactly famous -- she's Lifetime movie famous. Or, almost famous. Whatever.
Let's play Six Degrees of Nicolette Sheridan with, hmmm, Dean Cane.
I'd personally go the Brooke Shields route on that one.
Brookie lost her virginity to Dean Cane at Princeton. Brooke dated Michael Bolton. And Bolton dated ... yes, there you have it ... Nicolette Sheridan. All roads in Hollywood lead to Nicolette.
Let's all make this game the new fad and forget that silly Paris Hilton sex tape.
It seems that everyone in Hollywood is seperated by Six Degress ... of Nicolette Sheridan, that is. As a media wag recently remarked, it seems that everyone in Hollywood has had a crack at her. I mean, what do Harry Hamlin, Marcus Allen, Scott Baio and Leif Garrett, James Woods and countless others have in common? Nicolette, of course! Nicolette even shows up in You'll Never Make Love in This Town Again -- the bio by a bunch of Heidi Fleiss ex- hookers. Of course she wasn't hooking, but she was hooking up with Marcus Allen, whose, uh, "member" was so large that Nic, well, had to invite people to witness it. Everyone's all-american girl; that little (Averted Gaze) "slice o' heaven."
Nicole has a higher proportion of actors and sports stars on her list than most people. She likes to date the famous. I mean, has anyone else ever become famous for the person they are dating? Then again, Nicolette Sheridan is not exactly famous -- she's Lifetime movie famous. Or, almost famous. Whatever.
Let's play Six Degrees of Nicolette Sheridan with, hmmm, Dean Cane.
I'd personally go the Brooke Shields route on that one.
Brookie lost her virginity to Dean Cane at Princeton. Brooke dated Michael Bolton. And Bolton dated ... yes, there you have it ... Nicolette Sheridan. All roads in Hollywood lead to Nicolette.
Let's all make this game the new fad and forget that silly Paris Hilton sex tape.
Rebecca Romijn-Stamos: Freak
While The Corsair will not give in to the Paris Hilton sex tape, that doesn't mean that we are averse to the genre. Robecca Romijn-Stamos apparently own that rare Sylvester Stallone porn tape The Party At Kitty and Stud's. At the time, we cannot fail to note, Sly was a poor and hungry actor ... with a cheezy 70s soundtrack. When he wasn't playing a subway thug in Woody Allen's hilarious Bannanas, he was making porn. Freak.
While The Corsair will not give in to the Paris Hilton sex tape, that doesn't mean that we are averse to the genre. Robecca Romijn-Stamos apparently own that rare Sylvester Stallone porn tape The Party At Kitty and Stud's. At the time, we cannot fail to note, Sly was a poor and hungry actor ... with a cheezy 70s soundtrack. When he wasn't playing a subway thug in Woody Allen's hilarious Bannanas, he was making porn. Freak.
The Charlie Rose Drinking Game
The art of the interview is to draw out the subject while the interviewer recedes into the background. Although Charlie Rose delivers the goods on any given weekday, he uses the first person singular personal pronoun often. Excedingly often. Okay: all the damned time. Charlie, thank you for giving us those great interviews with Kiefer Sutherland and David Westin and John Kerry, but honestly: It's not all about you. All those I's and me's Charlie, puh-lease.
So, in the spirit of Charlie Rose's energetic use of the first person singular personal pronoun, The Corsair proposes The Charlie Rose Drinking Game. It's late at night, it was a hard day at work, you are about to go to bed and Charlie is interviewing some Master of the Universe -- so why not have a drinkie poo on the Chuckster? Every time Charlie uses the first person singular personal pronoun, down a shot.
And don't use any of the cheap stuff, ladies and gentlemen, this is Charlie Rose and that whole "corridors of power Illuminati Trilateral Commission" thingie we're talking about. You better recognize.
If you are still conscious after the drinking game, then you are a candidate for the Jared Paul Stern Ironman Drinkie-poo competition.
The art of the interview is to draw out the subject while the interviewer recedes into the background. Although Charlie Rose delivers the goods on any given weekday, he uses the first person singular personal pronoun often. Excedingly often. Okay: all the damned time. Charlie, thank you for giving us those great interviews with Kiefer Sutherland and David Westin and John Kerry, but honestly: It's not all about you. All those I's and me's Charlie, puh-lease.
So, in the spirit of Charlie Rose's energetic use of the first person singular personal pronoun, The Corsair proposes The Charlie Rose Drinking Game. It's late at night, it was a hard day at work, you are about to go to bed and Charlie is interviewing some Master of the Universe -- so why not have a drinkie poo on the Chuckster? Every time Charlie uses the first person singular personal pronoun, down a shot.
And don't use any of the cheap stuff, ladies and gentlemen, this is Charlie Rose and that whole "corridors of power Illuminati Trilateral Commission" thingie we're talking about. You better recognize.
If you are still conscious after the drinking game, then you are a candidate for the Jared Paul Stern Ironman Drinkie-poo competition.
Jason Bateman's Mexican "Issues"
Has been 80s actor Jason Bateman made a racial insult to a firefighter, so reports the National Enquirer.
"I only hope that Jason Bateman is as embarrassed by this story," Fernando Padilla says, "as I was when he insulted me in front of my children."
Has been 80s actor Jason Bateman made a racial insult to a firefighter, so reports the National Enquirer.
"I only hope that Jason Bateman is as embarrassed by this story," Fernando Padilla says, "as I was when he insulted me in front of my children."
Wiretapping in Hollywood
There is a very wierd story coming out of San Fransisco about Wiretapping in Hollywood. Apparently Warren Beatty and Gary Shandling, among others, have been questioned in a bitter child custody case. Maybe you can figure it out and explain it to me?
There is a very wierd story coming out of San Fransisco about Wiretapping in Hollywood. Apparently Warren Beatty and Gary Shandling, among others, have been questioned in a bitter child custody case. Maybe you can figure it out and explain it to me?
Whos Cares About the Paris Tapes?
Why is this story still getting anyone's time? Has our democracy degenrated to such a degree that we need to knwo about the sex tapes of a dummy? And no, I am not linking to anything ... I refuse to partcipate in the latest office craze: watching that darn tape. The only Paris tapes I want to watch are those made by Truffaut.
Why is this story still getting anyone's time? Has our democracy degenrated to such a degree that we need to knwo about the sex tapes of a dummy? And no, I am not linking to anything ... I refuse to partcipate in the latest office craze: watching that darn tape. The only Paris tapes I want to watch are those made by Truffaut.
Will Someone Give Bill Murray An Oscar Already?
Oscar is fickle about comedians. Oscar eludes those who seek him. Will someone give the Oscar to Bill Murray already? His performance in Sophia Copolla's Lost In Translation was brilliantly subtle.
Imagine a Best Oscar going to an underplayed performance. Denzel Washington's dirty cop was the most powerful and full-on performance in recent years and it would be wonderful to have Bill Murray's declining Hollywood actor in a foreign land win it this time around.
Murray has been snubbed by Oscar. He has never been nominated and that is a crime. Murray was endearing and complex in Rushmore. He was a rich personality in The Razor's Edge. And Murray was overlooked as the subtle but wildly funny psychiatrist in The Mighty Tennenbaum's.
My favorite Bill Murray flik is Meatballs, which is also the first film I ever saw. To me Bill Murray is the coolest man on the planet earth.
Oscar is fickle about comedians. Oscar eludes those who seek him. Will someone give the Oscar to Bill Murray already? His performance in Sophia Copolla's Lost In Translation was brilliantly subtle.
Imagine a Best Oscar going to an underplayed performance. Denzel Washington's dirty cop was the most powerful and full-on performance in recent years and it would be wonderful to have Bill Murray's declining Hollywood actor in a foreign land win it this time around.
Murray has been snubbed by Oscar. He has never been nominated and that is a crime. Murray was endearing and complex in Rushmore. He was a rich personality in The Razor's Edge. And Murray was overlooked as the subtle but wildly funny psychiatrist in The Mighty Tennenbaum's.
My favorite Bill Murray flik is Meatballs, which is also the first film I ever saw. To me Bill Murray is the coolest man on the planet earth.
Wednesday, November 12, 2003
When Did Rolling Stone Magazine Jump the Shark?
I am of two minds on the subject. First, May 3, 1998, to me, was the day the music died. Rolling Stone Magazine, the embodiment of hip counterculture colluded with the Giuliani adminitration as a corporate sponsor for "Family Day" to displace the Million Marijuana March from Washington Square Park. No lie.
Also: putting April Lavigne on the cover of March 2003 was a very sad reminder that even though the music has died at Rolling Stone, the stink still lingers.
When precisely do you think RS Jumped the Shark Fonzie-style? Send emails to papermag@yahoo.com
I am of two minds on the subject. First, May 3, 1998, to me, was the day the music died. Rolling Stone Magazine, the embodiment of hip counterculture colluded with the Giuliani adminitration as a corporate sponsor for "Family Day" to displace the Million Marijuana March from Washington Square Park. No lie.
Also: putting April Lavigne on the cover of March 2003 was a very sad reminder that even though the music has died at Rolling Stone, the stink still lingers.
When precisely do you think RS Jumped the Shark Fonzie-style? Send emails to papermag@yahoo.com
Gore Vidal: About to be Gored
I love Gore Vidal. Always have. He is an essayist at least the equal of Camus, a playwright, an actor, an amateur historian, a wit, a bon vivante, a film director and a one-time candidate for a seat in the U.S. Senate. Vidal is an intellectual in a time when intelligence in a variety of the humanities is quite rare. And he is about to get into the middle of a shitstorm from the right wing.
Matt Drudge is reporting that Vidal has said in an interview that, "Bush and Ashcroft would be 'hanged' by Founding Fathers; they are 'despots'" The story is developing but you know how this is all going to play itself out.
Once the story is out, probably later on today, right wing radio will unleash all manner of Old Testament Hell on the aging novelist. Chris Matthews will put him on to defend himself. Vidal's lacerating wit will not save him from a vivisection on Fox, on the radio and in the tabloids. Much ado will be made of the fact that he lives most of the year in Ravello, Italy and Hollywood. His patriotism will be called into question (Vidal fought in World War II).
The words "liberal elite" will interject themselves into any sentence concerning Gore Vidal. And his highly controversial statement that the Bush administration knew that the World Trade Center would be attacked ( which I don't believe for one minute) will be brought up.
Finally, Gore Vidal's sanity will be called into question and senility will be hinted at.
The Corsair had a brief phone encounter with this honorable man of letters. In 1995, while an intern at The Nation, Christopher Hitchens asked me to fax a story on Marty Peretz of the New Republic to Gore Vidal. Gore Vidal's fax was busy do I called him up to tell him it was coming through. In the background I heard voices and music, apparently Gore Vidal was having a party at his palazzo. "Pronto!" he yelled into the phone, sounding a little sloshed. I told him what was coming, he politely turned on the fax, and that was it. My brush with Vidal.
At that moment my desire to be a writer in the manner of Vidal was strengthened one hundred fold. I wanted to dash of essays Montaigne-style on Art and Politics and I wanted to enjoy life in all its rich glory.
It is unfortunate that Vidal uses such inflamatory rhetoric during this tense period in American history. The problem with Gore Vidal is that he was born rich and has lived his life where every utterance is taken as God's word, among idolizing students, servants, Presidents (Kennedy, Hillary?), and socialites (Jackie O, Eleanor Roosevelt, Joanne Woodward). He is for all intensive purposes the eccentric Southern Patriarch straight out of William Faulkner. Operating out of that kind of fawning cosmos, a person doesn't practice the necessary art of self censorship of the politically incorrect, or even socailly irresponible statement. Millionaire playboy-editor-journalist Taki is exactly the same way. Of course if you mentioned something like this to Vidal, he'd just say you're hopelessly middle class.
Older people tend to get more extreme with age as if all of their ideas past and present had crystallized into a sharp essence. For further reference, check out any talk show with callers that are seniors.
And it is very sad that Gore Vidal is on the brink of being villified at a time he should be resting on his commedable
laurels. Sadness all around. I can't bear to watch.
I love Gore Vidal. Always have. He is an essayist at least the equal of Camus, a playwright, an actor, an amateur historian, a wit, a bon vivante, a film director and a one-time candidate for a seat in the U.S. Senate. Vidal is an intellectual in a time when intelligence in a variety of the humanities is quite rare. And he is about to get into the middle of a shitstorm from the right wing.
Matt Drudge is reporting that Vidal has said in an interview that, "Bush and Ashcroft would be 'hanged' by Founding Fathers; they are 'despots'" The story is developing but you know how this is all going to play itself out.
Once the story is out, probably later on today, right wing radio will unleash all manner of Old Testament Hell on the aging novelist. Chris Matthews will put him on to defend himself. Vidal's lacerating wit will not save him from a vivisection on Fox, on the radio and in the tabloids. Much ado will be made of the fact that he lives most of the year in Ravello, Italy and Hollywood. His patriotism will be called into question (Vidal fought in World War II).
The words "liberal elite" will interject themselves into any sentence concerning Gore Vidal. And his highly controversial statement that the Bush administration knew that the World Trade Center would be attacked ( which I don't believe for one minute) will be brought up.
Finally, Gore Vidal's sanity will be called into question and senility will be hinted at.
The Corsair had a brief phone encounter with this honorable man of letters. In 1995, while an intern at The Nation, Christopher Hitchens asked me to fax a story on Marty Peretz of the New Republic to Gore Vidal. Gore Vidal's fax was busy do I called him up to tell him it was coming through. In the background I heard voices and music, apparently Gore Vidal was having a party at his palazzo. "Pronto!" he yelled into the phone, sounding a little sloshed. I told him what was coming, he politely turned on the fax, and that was it. My brush with Vidal.
At that moment my desire to be a writer in the manner of Vidal was strengthened one hundred fold. I wanted to dash of essays Montaigne-style on Art and Politics and I wanted to enjoy life in all its rich glory.
It is unfortunate that Vidal uses such inflamatory rhetoric during this tense period in American history. The problem with Gore Vidal is that he was born rich and has lived his life where every utterance is taken as God's word, among idolizing students, servants, Presidents (Kennedy, Hillary?), and socialites (Jackie O, Eleanor Roosevelt, Joanne Woodward). He is for all intensive purposes the eccentric Southern Patriarch straight out of William Faulkner. Operating out of that kind of fawning cosmos, a person doesn't practice the necessary art of self censorship of the politically incorrect, or even socailly irresponible statement. Millionaire playboy-editor-journalist Taki is exactly the same way. Of course if you mentioned something like this to Vidal, he'd just say you're hopelessly middle class.
Older people tend to get more extreme with age as if all of their ideas past and present had crystallized into a sharp essence. For further reference, check out any talk show with callers that are seniors.
And it is very sad that Gore Vidal is on the brink of being villified at a time he should be resting on his commedable
laurels. Sadness all around. I can't bear to watch.
Help Tucker Carlson Name His PBS Show
Yes, you read me correctly, Tucker Carlson is going to get a gig hosting a talk show on PBS. "We wanted someone with a little levity on PBS," says executive producer Jeff Bieber. "Yes, I used levity and PBS in the same sentence."
Washington's WETA will produce the unnamed 30 minute porgram. Anyone want to help Carlson find name for his new show? Email The Corsair at: papermag@yahoo.com.
Yes, you read me correctly, Tucker Carlson is going to get a gig hosting a talk show on PBS. "We wanted someone with a little levity on PBS," says executive producer Jeff Bieber. "Yes, I used levity and PBS in the same sentence."
Washington's WETA will produce the unnamed 30 minute porgram. Anyone want to help Carlson find name for his new show? Email The Corsair at: papermag@yahoo.com.
Indiewire: Elephant Tops List
The folks at IndieWire are still keeping the indie banner alive even though everyone else seems to have sold their asses out (think Parker Posey, Peter Berg and even John Favreau with that big budget kids movie Elf) to The Man. I guess independent film is a waystation until you can smoke Camels at the Chateau Marmont and make big stupid Hollywood films with happy endings?
Even though Indie cred isn't worth a stack of celluloid, I still loves ya, Porgie! Elephant tops the IndieWire: Bot, which reports grosses for limited release movies.
They write:
'Elephant' continues to show some legs, returning to the
number one position on the iW: BOT after spending last weekend at number two. "Shattered Glass" switched places with
"Elephant" in its second weekend in theaters, while the final
film of the Sundance film series, "Die Mommie Die," sashayed
into third place. Also apparently opening well was doc "The
Revolution Will Not be Televised" on one New York screen."
The folks at IndieWire are still keeping the indie banner alive even though everyone else seems to have sold their asses out (think Parker Posey, Peter Berg and even John Favreau with that big budget kids movie Elf) to The Man. I guess independent film is a waystation until you can smoke Camels at the Chateau Marmont and make big stupid Hollywood films with happy endings?
Even though Indie cred isn't worth a stack of celluloid, I still loves ya, Porgie! Elephant tops the IndieWire: Bot, which reports grosses for limited release movies.
They write:
'Elephant' continues to show some legs, returning to the
number one position on the iW: BOT after spending last weekend at number two. "Shattered Glass" switched places with
"Elephant" in its second weekend in theaters, while the final
film of the Sundance film series, "Die Mommie Die," sashayed
into third place. Also apparently opening well was doc "The
Revolution Will Not be Televised" on one New York screen."
No Cash For Rosie!
Media Life reports that the judge has thrown out Rosie O'Donnel's case against G&J. Media Life reports:
"(Judge Ira) Gammerman essentially kicked the case out of court earlier this morning, ruling that neither side in the dispute over the collapse of Rosie magazine would collect damages."
Media Life reports that the judge has thrown out Rosie O'Donnel's case against G&J. Media Life reports:
"(Judge Ira) Gammerman essentially kicked the case out of court earlier this morning, ruling that neither side in the dispute over the collapse of Rosie magazine would collect damages."
George Wayne Gets Lucky
The always great Michael Musto gives us the goods on GW in the must-read La Dolce Musto.
Apparently GW, the quirky Vanity Fair interviewer and sometime star of Taback's Black and White touched the shlong of "a guy in glitter makeup and angel wings" at Susanne Bartsch's Halloween bash. Only in New York kiddies ...
The always great Michael Musto gives us the goods on GW in the must-read La Dolce Musto.
Apparently GW, the quirky Vanity Fair interviewer and sometime star of Taback's Black and White touched the shlong of "a guy in glitter makeup and angel wings" at Susanne Bartsch's Halloween bash. Only in New York kiddies ...
Monday, November 10, 2003
Who Is Your Favorite Talking Head?
News talking heads are sexy for a number of reasons. For one, they are wise, informing us of world events. Another reason that talking heads are sexy is that they are hired, in many instances, for their looks. Well, independent web site Gogomag.com offers readers who watch way too much tv a chance to rate their own favorite news talking heads.
The usual suspects place well: Laurie Dhue, Brooke Alexander, Anderson Cooper ... but there are some surprises. For example: who would have thought that Fox Tv's Shephard Smith would top the men's list? And while we are at it: who would have thought that readers of Gogomag.com think that NBC News hottie Campbell Brown would only get 3 percent of the vote? Who knew?
RESPOSES Jeremy Burnich votes for, "Mishal Husain - BBC World News Anchor." And Frank Lynch votes for Soledad O'Brian, CNN's American Morning"
Keep those votes coming!
News talking heads are sexy for a number of reasons. For one, they are wise, informing us of world events. Another reason that talking heads are sexy is that they are hired, in many instances, for their looks. Well, independent web site Gogomag.com offers readers who watch way too much tv a chance to rate their own favorite news talking heads.
The usual suspects place well: Laurie Dhue, Brooke Alexander, Anderson Cooper ... but there are some surprises. For example: who would have thought that Fox Tv's Shephard Smith would top the men's list? And while we are at it: who would have thought that readers of Gogomag.com think that NBC News hottie Campbell Brown would only get 3 percent of the vote? Who knew?
RESPOSES Jeremy Burnich votes for, "Mishal Husain - BBC World News Anchor." And Frank Lynch votes for Soledad O'Brian, CNN's American Morning"
Keep those votes coming!
Darth Vader: Journo Spotlight Leads to the Dark Side
Hayden Christiansen, who plays Darth Vader in the Star Wars series, weighed in on journos and media types in the latest Interview Magazine:
Richard Dorment: Tell me what crossed your mind when, eight months after Shattered Glass finished shooting, the Jayson Blair scandal broke?
Hayden Christiansen: They were both people who obviously sought the spotlight. Doing that seems to be a journalist's biggest downfall.
But, Hayden ... what about The Corsair? We want spotlight! We want the dark side!
Hayden Christiansen, who plays Darth Vader in the Star Wars series, weighed in on journos and media types in the latest Interview Magazine:
Richard Dorment: Tell me what crossed your mind when, eight months after Shattered Glass finished shooting, the Jayson Blair scandal broke?
Hayden Christiansen: They were both people who obviously sought the spotlight. Doing that seems to be a journalist's biggest downfall.
But, Hayden ... what about The Corsair? We want spotlight! We want the dark side!
Will Mort Zuckerman Make Bid For New York?
Michael Wolff and adman Donny Deutsch, American Media and CurtCo Robb Media have all made the Friday deadline for submitting bids on New York magazine, according to Advertising Age. Does this mean Daily News publisher Mort Zuckerman is out?
Michael Wolff and adman Donny Deutsch, American Media and CurtCo Robb Media have all made the Friday deadline for submitting bids on New York magazine, according to Advertising Age. Does this mean Daily News publisher Mort Zuckerman is out?
Jane Pratt in 2004?
In the Jane Magazine September 2003 edition, the staff spoofed the idea of a Jane Pratt candidacy.
But The Corsair has to admit: Jane Pratt does look stylish. Jane also is media savvy, from her old tv show as well as her magazine work. Jane could rock the vote with young, single Sex and the City crowd.
The Corsair says -- tongue in cheek:
'Run, Jane, run!'
In the Jane Magazine September 2003 edition, the staff spoofed the idea of a Jane Pratt candidacy.
But The Corsair has to admit: Jane Pratt does look stylish. Jane also is media savvy, from her old tv show as well as her magazine work. Jane could rock the vote with young, single Sex and the City crowd.
The Corsair says -- tongue in cheek:
'Run, Jane, run!'
Kobe Bryant Hearing Transcript
TheSmokingGun.com has posted the text of the preliminary hearing of The People of The State of Colorado versus Kobe Bean Bryant online.
TheSmokingGun.com has posted the text of the preliminary hearing of The People of The State of Colorado versus Kobe Bean Bryant online.
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