FITTING TRIBUTE
David Letterman paid tribute to his hero Johnny Carson on Monday's Late Show by delivering a monologue that was composed entirely of jokes the late-night legend had sent him in his final months. Among the topics Carson couldn't resist riffing on via Letterman: Donald Trump's hair, Paris Hilton's missing dog Tinker Bell and John Kerry's military record. Letterman said getting a call from Carson with jokes was "like Christmas morning, for God's sake." He added that all talk show hosts owe their careers to Johnny. "The reason we're all doing Johnny's Tonight is because you think, 'Well, if I do Johnny's Tonight show, maybe I'll be a little like Johnny and people will like me more,'" he said. "But it sadly doesn't work that way. It's just, if you're not Johnny, you're wasting your time." |
EVERYBODY LOVES PATRICIA
Everybody Loves Raymond first lady Patricia Heaton has signed a seven-figure development deal with ABC that calls for her to star in and develop new shows for the network. According to Variety, Heaton's pact was brokered last year but only confirmed Monday — just hours after the final episode of Raymond wrapped filming. Geez, the body wasn't even cold. |
SNOOP DOGGED
A celeb makeup artist has filed a $25 million lawsuit against rapper Snoop Dogg, accusing him and several of his "associates" of drugging and raping her two years ago. The woman claims the incident took place following a taping of ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live, in which Snoop was a guest host. In a separate lawsuit filed last December, Snoop claimed that the woman had been trying to extort $5 million in exchange for his silence. |
BLOOM IS OFF THE ROSE
After nearly three years together, Orlando Bloom and Kate Bosworth have mutually decided to split up. The couple's rep blamed their hectic work schedules, adding that "they remain very close." Sounds like friends with bennies to me. |
DO YOU BELIEVE?
After three years, 3,000 costume changes and 934 false good-byes, Cher's Farewell tour will finally come to an end April 30 at the Hollywood Bowl. Tickets go on sale Feb. 7, and organizers are warning that it's every gay man for himself. |
WHOA!
Keanu Reeves's excellent adventure finally landed him a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame Monday. His star was placed along Hollywood Boulevard near the spot where Speed's climactic action scene was filmed and just inches from a clump of pigeon doo-doo. |
BADA-BIG BUCKS
A&E has landed rerun rights to The Sopranos for a record $2.5 million per episode. The cabler reportedly was locked in a heated bidding war with TNT and Spike TV for the mob hit's 78 episodes. A&E can begin airing the series in fall 2006. |
SISTERS AND THE CITY
WB has ordered a one-hour comedy-drama pilot from Friends exec producer Marta Kauffman and Sex and the City scribe Liz Tuccillo. The show revolves around four adult sisters who navigate career, romance and relationships in — shocker! — New York. |
BOOK SMARTS
Tom Brokaw has inked a two-book deal with Random House, but no one is saying what either will be about. Please let one of 'em be a tell-all on Katie Couric! |
