Top Story
Top Story
Talk-show guru Oprah Winfrey called up The View co-host Star Jones yesterday to clarify recent reports that she turned down a tour of Afghanistan schools arranged by the White House because she was too busy. Winfrey told Jones she was approached about the trip by the White House several weeks back and was told that the plans were ultra-sensitive. When Winfrey explained that she had already made other commitments, Bush adviser Karen Hughes told her they were going anyway. Oprah, Jones said, thought they had already gone: “She said, ‘So imagine my surprise, I wake up and read in the newspaper that I’m being cavalier, I’m too busy!…Star, I felt extremely used by the Bush administration.'”
Celebs
Oscar winner Halle Berry apparently had a falling-out of some sort with Revlon owner Ron Perelman at an Oscar party. According to the New York Post, Perelman congratulated the actress after her win for Best Actress and told her he was happy to have her as a Revlon model, to which Berry reportedly replied, “Of course, now you’ll have to pay me more.” Perelman, the paper claims, stormed off in a huff and is now telling Revlon’s attorney to capitalize on Berry‘s fame at no extra cost.
Original shock-jock Howard Stern has reportedly listed his Millennium Tower apartment–a combination of two penthouses–for $16 million, PageSix.com reports. Stern, who bought the place for $5.8 million two years ago after he separated from his wife Alison, reportedly wants to move back to Long Island.
Pilot error and blizzard conditions are what caused a plane carrying Sandra Bullock to crash land at Jackson Hole Airport two years ago, the Associated Press reports. The National Transportation Safety Board determined that the pilot failed to follow approach procedures when he decided to land even though the runway was not visible. Bullock suffered slight whiplash when the plane missed the runway and crashed into 2 feet of snow.
Tube News
Upset over the television coverage of the Saturday death of England’s Queen Mother, Prince Charles has snubbed the BBC by giving an exclusive interview to ITN. At issue is that BBC anchor Peter Sissons did not wear the traditional black tie during the announcement of the Queen Mother’s death, and his on-air grilling of the Queen Mother’s niece about her aunt’s final moments, Variety reports.
After a number of guest appearances on Ally McBeal, Jon Bon Jovi has decided to leave the show. According to the New York Daily News, the show’s producers gave Bon Jovi an ultimatum: “They either want me to marry Ally, or it’s over,” he told the paper. “But I have a day job. I’ve already started a record with my band. I want to finish it and go on tour. I have four other guys in Jersey going, ‘Hey, what the…?'” Bon Jovi‘s character will leave the show after nine episodes.
The ratings war between CBS and NBC remains interesting even though the players have changed. Although Survivor and Friends are still battling it out, the more intense race seems to be between CSI and ER. While ER was the No. 1 series for adults aged 18-49, CSI won the overall viewer ratings with 25.2 million.
Music News
Eminem will not be participating in this year’s Black College Reunion in Daytona Beach, Fla., which features some of the biggest names in rap and R&B, the AP reports. Last year, Mayor Bud Asher ordered a halt to Eminem‘s performance at the annual event and said the rapper was not welcome back. Eminem’s shows generally include profanity and drug references. Busta Rhymes, Ja Rule, Ludacris and Master P are all scheduled to perform at the event, which will take place at the city’s oceanfront band shell.
Former Culture Club singer Boy George will join the cast of Taboo, a West End musical based on his life, Reuters reports. In the musical, Boy George will play a 1980s performance artist, a role that he will take over for Matt Lucas around the end of April. Boy George, whose hit singles include “Karma Chameleon” and “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me,” also wrote the music and lyrics for the show.
Honored
Glenn Close, Nathan Lane and Barbara Walters were some of the celebrities honored at the 13th Annual GLAAD Media Awards. The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation awards ceremony recognizes people and projects in the media that offer fair and inclusive representation of the gay community. Close was awarded for making a significant difference in promoting equal rights for lesbians and gay and transgender people, Lane for his contribution in combating homophobia and Walters for a 20/20 segment on gay parenting.
In Memoriam
Comedian Dudley Moore received a modest send-off Tuesday when some 30 friends and family members gathered under a tent and tossed roses onto his grave at the Hillside Cemetery in Scotch Plains, N.J., Reuters reports. No high-profile celebrities attended the ceremony, which was tightly guarded. Moore died last Wednesday of pneumonia after a long battle against a rare degenerative brain disorder.
