IDOL CHATTER
Paula Abdul better put a lock on her medicine cabinet: Primetime Live is working on a potentially explosive exposé on American Idol to air during May sweeps, per Variety. The piece, which has been in the works for several months, will reportedly take a hard look at the relationship between Idol judges and contestants, not to mention the results of Abdul's recent CAT scan. Speaking of which, the 42-year-old train wreck tells People magazine that her erratic, loopy behavior on Idol is not drug-induced. She claims she's just happy to have recently conquered a rare neurological disorder that for years has caused severe, debilitating pain. "Drugs? I'm not addicted to pills of any kind," she tells the mag. "I'm dancing for joy at the fact that not even a year ago I was in so much pain I could barely get up." OK, but that still doesn't explain the seal clapping! |
IN RELATED NEWS...
Anwar Robinson's American Idol dreams were dashed Wednesday night as he became the latest warbler ousted from the competition. That narrows the field of contestants to just six: Bo Bice, Vonzell Solomon, Carrie Underwood, Constantine Maroulis, Anthony Fedorov and Scary Savol. |
BENNIFER DEUX ENGAGED
Rumors are swirling that Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner are engaged to be married. According to People, Affleck popped the question over the weekend during a lavish 33rd birthday party thrown for the Alias star. He reportedly sealed the deal with a 4.5-carat diamond ring from Harry Winston valued at $500,000 — roughly half of what he spent on Jennifer Lopez's 6.1-carat rock in 2003. For those keeping score at home. |
MORE GAY OL' TIMES
NBC is thisclose to finalizing a deal to renew Will & Grace for yet another season past its prime. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the show's producers and four stars, Debra Messing, Eric McCormack, Sean Hayes and Megan Mullally, are expected to take a pay cut due to the show's sharp drop in ratings. And quality. Don't forget quality. |
STEP ASIDE, LAWN BOY...
... there's a new hottie relocating to Wisteria Lane. Model-turned-actor Mehcad Brooks has been cast as Alfre Woodard's son on Desperate Housewives. Brooks is probably best known for his recurring role as pupil Russell Clark on Boston Public. |
CASH AND CAREY
As predicted, Mariah Carey's The Emancipation of Mimi debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's album chart with 403,755 copies sold — the best first-week tally of her career. After six weeks atop the chart, 50 Cent's Massacre slips to No. 2. |
WE CANNES, TOO!
It took a few years, but the TV biz is finally pulling a Sundance and launching its very own festival. That's right, the first annual New York Television Festival (NYTVF) will kick off in New York on Sept. 28. Sponsored by TV Guide (what a coinkidink!), the event will give writers, directors and producers the chance to showcase their originally produced pilots for network and cable executives. And like Cannes and Tribeca, the NYTVF will also feature gala premieres, classic screenings, open-call castings, panel discussions and enough swag to coax me into attending. |
SPIT TAKE
It's just Jane Fonda's luck: Someone finally showed up at one of her book signings only to spit in her face. Michael A. Smith, a Vietnam vet from Kansas City, was arrested for disorderly conduct after he spewed tobacco juice into Fonda's face while waiting in line to have her sign her new memoir. Smith told The Kansas City Star that Fonda was a "traitor" for protesting the Vietnam War, adding that "she spit in our faces for 37 years." Despite the attack, eyewitnesses say Fonda remained calm and continued autographing books while being hosed down by one of her minions. Good for her. |
STAR OVERLOAD
All six Star Wars movies will screen in a daylong marathon on May 16 at London's Leicester Square. The event will run about 14 hours and include sporadic meal breaks and a nice, long nap during Phantom Menace. |
PR SAVVY
Sarah Jessica Parker is in talks to play a crafty publicist who gets framed for murder and sent to prison in the dark comedy Slammer, per The Hollywood Reporter. In an attempt to polish the prison's image, Parker's character produces an inmate-led musical that could very well save her career. |
POLITICAL SCANDAL
West Wing thesp Stockard Channing pled not guilty Wednesday to drunken-driving charges stemming from an incident late last year when she allegedly tried to drive around a roadblock on the Hollywood Freeway. The next hearing is scheduled for May 26. |
MOORE MONEY
Michael Moore has set up a "freedom of speech" scholarship for students attending California State University San Marcos — the same school the renegade filmmaker was barred from speaking at last October. The $2,500 gift will be awarded to two folks who have done the most to fight for student rights. "I hope this scholarship will encourage students to stand up for what they believe in," Moore said. "The university should not be a place for fear, but a place for bravery, free thought and a little bit of rebellion." And if Moore's scholarship doesn't evoke those things, try a bong. |
END QUOTE
"At least we can get all our stars together for a photo shoot without clawing each other's eyes out." — Law & Order: Criminal Intent exec producer Rene Balcer on getting his ass whupped by time-slot rival Desperate Housewives. — Additional reporting by Bruce Fretts |
SHORT CUTS
A&E has greenlit a two-hour documentary that will examine the relationship between filmmaking titans George Lucas and Steven Spielberg... CBS has tapped Anne Heche to headline the holiday-themed telepic, Silver Bells. |
