February 2008 Archives

The week began on such a high with all the Oscar hoopla and ended quite emotionally with layoffs in my newsrooms and having to abruptly say goodbye to 22 people. So, I want to make my final post of the day a collection of happy memories from the Academy Awards. Here are most of the other Oscar-related posts from this week in case ya missed some of them:

-- On the Red Carpet at the Academy Awards

-- Academy Awards: Backstage Moments with the winners...

-- Academy Awards: Inside the Governors Ball

-- Scott Rudin ends Oscar telecast on a queer note...

-- Academy Awards: Greg's Red Carpet Snaps...

-- Red Carpet Slight of Hand...

-- Chatting up Donny Osmond on Oscar's red carpet...

-- My thoughts on the Whoopi Oscar snub...

-- Gary Busey is a red carpet menace...

...for being so adorable during his visit to Korea and for brightening my day with his good looks and happy aura...

Caught "Lipstick Jungle" last night and each week, I get more and more hooked. Brooke Shields' character is getting more hard-assed which I like. She's showing a bitchy and controlling side. Other thoughts: Andrew McCarthy's character has some kind of accent that I can't really figure out. What is he going for there?

The Kim Raver character is the most interesting with the young lover and her boring hubby who, I think, is sleeping with one of his students! But we know the best part of her storyline involves the young dude played by Robert Buckley (left). I think it's insane that he is suing her for sexual harassment one minute - which threatens her marriage and career - and by episode's end, she's getting ready to hook up with him again. I mean, he's mega-hot, but there are some things that are tough to overlook!

Well, he did drop the lawsuit!

Blogging today has been a bit difficult because it's being done through tears as our newsroom says goodbye to 22 employees - some of them very good friends of mine and all like family.

It is heartbreaking.

We have people who have been here decades who are moving on, some just a year and so and most in between. All good people. Our newsroom and others across this country are weathering severe cuts and try to find a way to survive as we transition more and more to online product.

Some people are sucn troopers with one guy determined to finish his story before he packs up and most people actually trying to comfort those left behind. This is the best place I've ever worked, the place where I finally felt free to be myself, to express myself and where it really feels like home.

So every co-worker who walks out that door, it feels like you are saying goodbye to a family member.

John Stamos has been widely photographed during his vacation in Hawaii. I wonder if his fans, who fell in love with him as Blackie on "General Hospital" in the early 80s, knew he'd still be as big a star and as hot as ever all these years later.

...and why shouldn't he? Larry Craig deserves to be made fun of now and forever. The only way I'd stop making fun of Larry "I've never been gay" Craig is if he ever decides to become an authentic human being. Anyway, here is a spoof Letterman did last night on Craig's efforts to hire new interns...

Enjoy!

This is Justin Timberlake, in character, for the upcoming film "The Love Guru" starring Mike Meyers. Justin plays an athlete who steals a hockey player's wife.

Unless Hilary Clinton pulls off a couple of big wions on Tuesday, Barack Obama is going to be the Democratic nominee for president. I am a Clinton supporter and feel she is better qualified but I am not anti-Obama. I am further encouraged by this letter he has written to the LGBT people in this country:

I'm running for President to build an America that lives up to our founding promise of equality for all – a promise that extends to our gay brothers and sisters. It's wrong to have millions of Americans living as second-class citizens in this nation. And I ask for your support in this election so that together we can bring about real change for all LGBT Americans.

I confess, Janet Jackson has always pretty much left me cold. Well, I liked her when she was Penny on "Good Times" but other than that, the only thong I've liked was that song "Again" that she wrote for "Poetic Justice."

Anyway, she did an interview with The Advocate and I wanted to share with you a few highlights:

Q. In April the GLAAD Media Awards will honor you for your contributions to the LGBT community. What have you done for us lately?
A. I’ve always loved the gay community, and I think they know that. I’m always involved in projects concerning AIDS, and I’ve just always tried to make myself available. We all have a job in this world, and I think that my job that God has given me is to help people. I don’t think I do enough. I want to do a lot more.

Q. Do you think gay celebrities have a certain responsibility to the community to be open about their sexuality?
A. I think every little bit obviously makes it easier for those coming up, just the way it does in the music industry; Diana [Ross] held the door open long enough and wide enough for me to come through. It would be nice for it to happen, but at the same time, I don’t think they should be forced. Everybody has their own timing that’s right for them for whatever reason.

Q. Have you ever advised a closeted celeb to come out?
A. No, I never have. But if I did see that, I would, because I think it would make their lives a lot simpler. But they still have to do it at their own pace.

To read the entire piece, go to Advocate.com

Bravo to Ellen DeGeneres for speaking out on her talk show with such clarity and heart about the murder of Oxnard teenager Lawrence King who was shot in the head by another student in class.
Here is part of what she said: "Somewhere along the line, the killer, Brandon, got the message that it's so threatening and so awful and so horrific that Larry would want to be his valentine that killing Larry seemed to be the right thing to do. When the message out there is so horrible that to be gay you can get killed for it, we need tro change the message."

Ellen also said: "Larry was not a second class citizen. I am not a second class citizen. It is OK if you're gay."

Her comments will air tomorrow (Friday) at the start of her show...

Here is a link to the video via TMZ.com

...the glorious Bernadette Peters!!!

Why we love her? Anyone who has ever seen her in concert or on the Broadway stage knows that she is one of the great divas of her time. A two-time Tony winner, her stage triumphs have included "Annie Get Your Gun," "Sunday in the Park With George," "Song and Dance," "Into the Woods" and "Gypsy" (I love her Mama Rose and think it ranks right up there with Merman's).

Happy birthday and best wishes to this great talent...

...and who better than to brighten it than David Beckham. The man just melts me...

The dreaded f-bomb was hurled in today's episode by a couple jerks who attack our favorite couple Luke and Noah. They also try and drive off with Ameera but, unfortunately, are unsuccessful. (Oh gee, did I really write that?)

Anyway, watch for yourselves and enjoy the tender scene in the truck between Luke and Noah (and a jealous Ameera looking on) before things take a violent turn.

Sorry about the lack of posts today everybody. We have had technical difficulties all damned day - the same day as our newsroom is dealing with buyouts and layoffs etc. So, not the best day at The Daily News. But hey, back to the business of blogging. I wanted to pop off a little bit about this whole business of Whoopi Goldberg being left out of a montage of past Oscar hosts on Sunday's telecast.

Whoopi is the first woman to ever host the Oscars and did so FOUR times. Then there is the fact that she is the only black woman to ever host, is an Oscar winner ("Ghost") and was nominated for best actress for her first film "The Color Purple." To not include such a historic figure is really an insult.

Whoopi grew emotional about it on Monday's "The View" when her fellow co-hosts expressed their outrage and support for her. She got up from her desk and gave each woman a kiss on the cheek. She told E! News:

"It moved me that they took time out to talk about it. Colleagues don't usually do that. I was moved. It was a big step for them. They could have ignored it."

Whoopi said she has never before been so emotional on television.

"I tried at first to laugh it off," she said. "They overwhelmed me, and that's the truth. And I didn't know how to deal with it. That is why I had to get up. I was thinking, 'I am not going to let this tear roll down my face.' I got up and kissed everyone to say, 'Thank you and stop!' It was just a lovely gesture on their part."

The next day, Whoopi said she had gotten a call from the ceremony's longtime producer, Gil Cates who she quoted as saying: "'I would have called you Monday but I hadn't slept.' He said, 'Listen, I missed it. I didn't realize it wasn't in there.' ... I love Gil. He was the one who came to me and said, 'I want to put you in as first female host of the Oscars, let's make history.' "

Ya know how "Star Wars" fans get whenever a new installment is coming out? I think I'm that kinda excited about the "Sex and the City" movie hitting theaters in May. I realized the depth of my fandom just now as I watched the trailer and felt my adrenaline pumping.

Of course, my favorite line in the trailer belongs to Samantha: "You know me, I don't really believe in marriage. But Botox, that works every time."

It does not suck to be Matthew McConaughey these days. "Fools Gold," his newish flick with Kate Hudson, is a smash, he is awaiting the birth of his first child, and now the stud-muffin has been named the number one pick for hottest (male) chest by In Touch Weekly. The mag is an absolute rag but I'll go with this item because, well, the photo possibilities are delightful.

The rest of the top five include three other Out In Hollywood faves: David Beckham, Hugh Jackman and Andy Baldwin. Jesse Metcalfe is also in the top five but he just doesn't send me - the eyebrows are just too damned tidy.

So Ben Affleck is talking a little bit about the hilarious parody video he made with Jimmy Kimmel in response to Matt Damon and Sarah Silverman. Apparently a the secret bathtub scene that got cut.

"I remember seeing Matt's [video] and thinking to myself, 'Oh, it would be funny to do one with me and Jimmy.'" Ben told EW.com. "They called and immediately I was like, 'Yes, it should be this idea ...,' and they had the same idea more or less already. I have a lot of respect for the group over there - they're really good comedians - so I just committed to it."

Ben, whose directorial debut "Gone Baby Gone" got raves, says the singing was more difficult than wearing a pair of short shorts (he sure looked good in 'em!).

"You couldn't really do it half-speed," he said. "You had to be painting toes and blow-drying hair. At one point we were going to take a bath together, but the bubbles couldn't get high enough, so that ended up getting scrapped."

When it comes to the Luke and Noah storyline, this show can be maddening. And yet, it is often saved by its actors . On the way to the prison to visit his killer father (this is just insane!), Noah tells annoying third wheel Ameera: "Luke is one of the bravest people you'll ever meet" and "Luke is the first guy I ever had feelings for." These remarks were made as the three were in the truck driving and Ameera was asking about their coming out process etc.

I like this part enough to put up with the rest. Noah swerves to avoid something, the axel breaks and they are stranded. Previews show them getting beaten up by some guys. Uh boy. Anyway, here are today;s scenes:

No, I can't get enougn of this guy, OK? So sue me. Yesterday, I was dazzled by David Beckham's dazzling smile as he arrived at the airport in South Korea. Today, at a Seoul press conference, he appears to be playing things a bit coy...Either way, sexy, sexy, sexy!!!

Gorgeous Josh Lucas posed for me on the red carpet of the Oscars on Sunday where he came to support the nominated documentary "Operation Homecoming" which he helped to narrate. So, naturally I asked him what he is doing next and here is our exchange:

Greg: What's coming up next for you?

Josh: I have a movie later on in the year that's just finished with Jennifer Aniston and Woody Harrelson and Steve Zahn called "Management." I play a porn star.

Greg: Oooooh! Is it gonna be all you? (I was thinking of how Mark Wahlberg was "enhanced" in "Boogie Nights")

Josh: (laughs) It's all me man.

Aside from being a jackass to an 11-year-old reporter for Starz Life, Gary Busey actually had a point when he finally got around to answering the question on what advice he might have for these celebutants who keep getting in trouble. He called Paris Hilton out for reverting to her vapid self after all of her proclamations last year about devoting herself to charity or whatever after her "traumatic" incarceration.
Still, he's kinda scary ain't he?

Forget about him being cute as a button, David Archuleta is the real deal as he proved once again on "American Idol" last night. His version of John Lennon's "Imagine" was so good that I'm gonna have to buy it on iTunes. Here's what judge Paula Abdul said to him after: "David, you are ridiculous. I wanted to squish you, squeeze your head off, and dangle you from my rear-view mirror. You are, no, honest to god, that is one of the most beautiful songs ever written, and one of the most moving performances I've ever heard."

I totally agree!

here! TV, which touts itself as "America's premium gay television network" (I wonder how LOGO feels about that!) has announced 40 hours of original programming for Spring The sexiest news - and we all know that's what we care about most - is the TV premiere on April 18 of the fab film "Shelter." Set against the San Pedro surfing scene, the film focuses on the coming out of a young man (Trevor Wright), and the budding relationship with his best friend's older brother played by Brad Rowe of "Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss" fame.

I'm really excited about seeing "Kiss Me Deadly" starring Robert Gant and Shannen Doherty (I'm excited about Gant...Shannen just seems so crazy, ya know?). Anyway, here is the rundown:

MARCH 7: "11th Annual Ribbon of Hope Celebration" - Hosted by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and honoring programming excellence and commitment to HIV/AIDS awareness, education and prevention. Some of the shows being honored include TLC's "Ashley Judd & YouthAIDS," "Girl, Positive" from Lifetime, HBO's "Life Support," and Showtime's "3 Needles." Featured presenters include Judith Light, Bruce Vilanch, Jasmine Guy, and Dee Wallace, among others.

March 14: "The Ben and Dave Show" (Series Premiere) - A funny and irreverent topical talk show that dishes on topics from posting personal ads on Craigslist to the mystery of Ann Coulter.

March 21: "Cover Guy" (Network Premiere). A reality competition in which men from all over the country vie for a chance to win cash, modeling contracts, and of course, the coveted spot on the cover of various gay men's magazines

March 28: "Sexplorations" (Season Premiere), the hit series returns with weekly profiles of the world's most unique and exotic sexual beings.

March 28: "Jason Stuart::Making It in the Middle" (World Premiere) - From actor-comedian Jason Stuart comes a docu-style look at is comedy tour through the middle of the country

April 11: "Paradise Falls" (Season Premiere) - An adult soap opera (in the spirit of "Desperate Housewives" says the network) now in its 3rd season. The show focuses on the lives and relationships of 10 principal characters in a small coastal town.

April 11: "Looking for Cheyenne," a French filmmaker Valérie Minetto's touching lesbian romance which the LA Times recently called "a highly venturesome and effective film."

May 2: "Kiss Me Deadly" (World Premiere) - Stars Robert Gant (Queer as Folk) and Shannen Doherty (Beverly Hills, 90210), the first of three featuring a gay action hero (

May 9: "House of Usher" (World Premiere) - Based on the legendary Edgar Allan Poe tale, this is a gothic horror film with a twist, brought to the screen by cult filmmaker David DeCoteau.

May 30: "Nina's Heavenly Delights" (Network Premiere)- A lesbian comedy from Indian award-winning filmmaker Pratibha Parmar (the Frameline Award at the San Francisco International Lesbian & Gay Film Festival) that combines Scottish humor with Bollywood spectacle

He might not be (bleeping) Ben Affleck, but talk show host Jimmy Kimmel is pretty fond of the handsome movie star-director.

In case you've been living under a rock - and I don't think any readers of this blog are - Jimmy memorably declared "I'm (bleeping) Ben Affleck" in a music video Sunday night that Ben agreed to appear in - in an extremely tight shirt!

"Ben could not have been more sporting," Jimmy told PEOPLE of his video costar. (The song was designed as a retaliation against Kimmel's girlfriend Sarah Silverman for her clip, "I'm (bleeping) Matt Damon.) "He told us, 'Listen, if we're going to do this, we've got to do it right. I don't want you guys to worry about my image.' "

In the video, Ben and Jimmy declare their love while backed by an A-list gospel choir including Cameron Diaz, Robin Williams, Ashlee Simpson and Don Cheadle. There are also non-singing cameos by Brad Pitt and Harrison Ford, who blows the new couple a kiss before driving off in his convertible - revealing a "Honk if you're f---ing Ben Affleck" bumper sticker.

"That was his real car," Kimmel says of Ford. "He's still got that [sticker] on there!"

So what did Silverman think of the new song? "I suspected Jimmy was on the down low for a long time now," she deadpanned to the New York Daily News. "I wish I could say I was surprised by this."

Here is a LINK to the video...

Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliff got a lot more than he expected when he took the stage at a London awards ceremony...Take a look!

Well, ya learn something new each year at the Academy Awards. I was stationed in the red carpet bleacher seats near the entrance to the Kodak Theatre and not only had a birds-eye view of the stars, but also of some of the behind-the-scenes goings-on.

The bleachers where me and dozens of other media folks were assigned had several empty rows near the top. So a few hours before showtime, “bleacher fillers” are brought in to fill in the gaps and to ensure that the stands look nice and full on television.

But here’s my real discovery: red carpet fillers!

I had no idea! I looked over to the entrance near my bleacher spot and there was a long line of women in evening gowns and men in tuxedos. I thought they were waiting to attend the Oscar show but then overheard one of the Academy officials say to them, “Look like you’re having a good time!” as the group began to walk the red carpet counter-clockwise to the stars.

At one point, the bleacher fillers were yelling out to the red carpet fillers who waved and posed for a picture. Then I stated noticing some of them walking by two, three and four times.

Hollywood really is all smoke and mirrors!

...the legendary actress and activist is still going strong and that is a good thing for us all. With HIV-AIDS still a major problem here and everywhere despite advances in treatment, Dame Elizabeth continues to fight the good fight and raise millions for research and care as she has done for 25 years. The photo at right is from mid-December when Elizabeth took to the stage for the first time since the early 80s for a benefit performance of "Love Letters" with James Earl Jones.

She's had an epic life with seven husbands (including Richard Burton twice), four children, many grandchildren, two best actress Oscars, a humanitarian Oscar, and has been named a Dame of the British Empire, received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Kennedy Center Honors and the AFI Award.

Then there are those 50-plus movies including such classics as "Giant," "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" "A Place in the Sun," "Raintree County," "National Velvet," "Father of the Bride," "Suddenly Last Summer," and my fave "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" (that's her with gorgeous leading man Paul Newman, above).

And she's always been a friend of gays dating back to her youth and her close friendship with Montgomery Clift as well as with her "Giant" co-stars Rock Hudson and James Dean. She also had a life-long friendship with Roddy McDowell who she met on one of her first films, "Lassie Coime Home."

There really ain't nothing like this Dame...

Donny Osmond may still have that famously boyish face and toothy smile, but he is a showbiz veteran who has mastered the art of reinvention.

The one-time teen idol and TV variety show star turned Broadway headliner turned game show host is now a regular presence on the syndicated show "The Insider" and it's companion program "Entertainment Tonight."

This is why Donny found himself attending his very first Academy Awards this week and he brought along his equally youthful wife, Debra Osmond, with whom he will celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary on May 8.

"I just want everybody to see my wife," Donny said of the mother of his five sons. "She's wearing a dress that will knock your eye out."

So how did the voice behind such hits as "Puppy Love," "One Bad Apple" and "Soldier of Love" end up in a tuxedo interviewing celebrities? "I started this relationship with "ET" and "Insider" when (sister) Marie (Osmond) was doing "Dancing With the Stars" and I was their special correspondent," Donny said during our pre-show chat in the middle of the red carpet. "I had so much fun doing it because it's a whole other side of the business. Then they asked me to be a special correspondent for 'American Idol' and I said, 'Why not?'"

The program happens to have a void in its hosting ranks with regular co-host Pat O'Brien in rehab for the second time. I didn't ask Donny about Pat on such a big day which he clearly was enjoying.

"The timing works perfectly because the family starts a tour at the end of May and 'Idol' finishes at the end of May so it couldn't be better," he said of his new TV gig. "It's great because they allow me to promote whatever I want to promote! (laughs)."

After the Osmond family tour, it will be time to hit Las Vegas with sister Marie who proved so popular on "Dancing" that she has inked a deal for her own daily talk show next fall.

"I think this Vegas thing is gonna be interesting," Donny said. "As a matter of fact, it's already sold out at the MGM and we're just about to announce some very interesting news about a long-term engagement there."
Can I break that news?

"Nope!" Donny said. "'Insider' gets it!"

With stardom that began in the 60s with regular appearances on "The Andy Williams Show," I wondered what the 50-year-old Donny's secret to career longevity is: "You know, you keep pinching yourself because you never really know what's going to happen in your career," he said. "There have been so many ups and downs in 45 years of show business. You just have to hang in there because it is a roller coaster ride."

I gotta say, this was the most fun that I've ever had at the Academy Awards. It was just one of those years that was filled with good vibes. good interviews and a lot of excitement. It's days like this that make me so grateful for what I do and to be able to have the opportunities to have a front row seat to some of these big Hollywood events. I am so not over it! I wanted to share with you some of the snapshots I took while on the red carpet. Some aren't the best because I was juggling a tape recorder, cell phone and camera kinda all at once.

I wanted to post Marion Cotillard's acceptance speech after she won the best actress Oscar for "La Vie en Rose" because it is just so sweet and sincere and from the heart. I'll never forget when several years back, Jennifer Connelly walked up with this piece of paper and read all these names with all the enthusiasm of someone reading a term paper in front of the class.

Marion was absolutely lovely in every way and i could not help but think about the first time I met her, on the red c arpet at the Los Angeles Film Festival Awards and I had never heard of her or her film. But the next month, when she got a Golden Globe nomination, we had a nice conversation when she called from Paris and she was thoroughly enchanting...

Here's the deal: I don't have any use for ABC's "Cashmere Mafia" but I am getting pretty addicted to NBC's "Lipstick Jungle." As far as "Sex and the City" wannabes go, neither show comes close but "Lipstick" is the more entertaining of the two. And, who am I kidding? The hunky Robert Buckley having a shirtless scene in just about every episode so far. The good news is that NBC has ordered six more episodes of the show which brings its first season total to 13. Let's hope ratings are good enough toi warrant a second season. I love the leading ladies Brooke Shields, Kim Raver and Lyndsey Price and I love, love, love Andrew McCarthy's quirky billionaire character. He's still awfully cute after all these years...

...I know, I know, he's fully clothed. But dontcha just love this picture of David Beckham snapped earlier today?

Jon McLaughlin!!! I was watching him sing on the monitor from the press room and was just swooning and made a mental note to find out who this utter hearthrob with such a great voice is. He performed one of the three nominated songs from "Enchanted." The OhLaLa blog, which does not miss a thing, posted these pics of McLaughlin today, much to my utter delight!

A few years ago, I saw Gary Busey on the red carpet at the Academy Awards and he was pleased to not have to remind me that he had once been nominated for an Academy Award for "The Buddy Holly Story." Since then, he hit his head in a motorcycle accident (without a helmet) and now seems no longer capable of controlling himself at the Oscars. In the video above, he interrupts Ryan Seacrest's interview with Jennifer Garner and Laura Linney and flusters (and probably grossed out) Garner a bit when he kissed her on the neck! It looks like he later tried to kiss Seascrest too.

I wonder if he's going to be banned from the red carpet next year.

OK, let's see....We go from wondering when Luke and Noah will get it on - or at least lock lips - to a new person on the scene from Iraq. Her name is an Iraqui Ameera and it seems that Noah's murderous father is a hero to her as he paid for her education or something. I didn't know if I was watching "As the World Turns" or one of those old ABC After School Specials. I'm afraid they are losing me with this one although I am happy that Noah told Ameera that his dad is a killer and a monster.

Check out the clip and lemme know whatcha think...

"No Country for Old Men" co-stars Javier Barden and Josh Brolin prove what terrific actors they are. Javier spends the movie trying to kill Josh but here at a post-Oscar party on Sunday, the two hunky actors are as thick as thieves.

I just can't believe that every person in America was not in front of their television watching the Academy Awards on Sunday night! They missed cute scenes like Josh Brolin presenting the best screenplay award to the Coen brothers.

But, they were not. In fact, this years show recorded the lowest ratings since viewership began being measured in the 70s.

According to Nielsen ratings, Sunday's show was watched by 32 million viewers. The previous low was 33 million viewers in 2003, when "Chicago" won best picture. By contrast, in 1998, when "Titanic" won, more than 55 million viewers tuned in. So, the lack of box office success of most of the nominated pictures really did contribute to the lack of interest. They were a buncha downers in terms of theme, but they were terrific!

...Is that just the stupidest headline you've ever seen? Perhaps I am not firing on all cylinders this morning. But, I'm gonna leave it. While I was immersed in all the Oscar hoopla, cutie pie Andy Roddick decided to get his tennis career back in gear and won the men's tournament in San Jose. I'm looking forward to seeing hom this month at the tournament near Palm Springs!

The annual Elton John party at the Pacific Design Center to raise millions for his AIDS foundation became the A-list part in town after Vanity Fair cancelled its yearly bash at Mortons. Here are Portia de Rossi and Ellen DeGeneres at Elton's party...

Here are the hosts with the most: Elton John and his partner David Furnish...

T.R. Knight and boyfriend Mark Cornelsen hold hands at Elton's bash. Cornelsen was the 2007 Matthew Shepard Point Scholar.

Chace Crawford and JC Chasez, two attractive single dudes, got tongues wagging by sticking together during the Elton John party. I think Chace is/was dating Carrie Underwood so there's nothing to the chatter. That said, they sure look cute together!

Meanwhile, Jennifer Love Hewitt once again hosted an Oscar viewing-fudraiser at The Abbey which drew the multi-talented Wilson Cruz and his boyfriend. Over $500,000 was raised at the event, which was held to benefit AIDS Project Los Angeles.

I'm a little late on posting this, sorry. It's very exciting that "Freeheld," about the 2006 struggle of New Jersey police officer Laurel Hester's struggle to transfer her pension to her domestic partner, Stacie Andree, during the final months of her life, won the Oscar last night for best documentary short. With less than six months to live as cancer spread to her brain, Hester battled the Ocean County Freeholders, the locally elected officials, to give to Stacie the security for her partner that married couples receive automatically. The film captures both the very public and urgent dispute with the Freeholders, as well as the couple’s intensely private struggle as they come to terms with Hester’s terminal illness.

"It was Lt. Laurel Hester's dying wish that her fight against discrimination would make a difference for all the same-sex couples across the country that face discrimination every single day -- discrimination that I don't face as a married a woman," Cynthia Wade, who directed the film, said during her emotional acceptance speech. Wade also thanked her husband for taking care of their children and holding down a full-time job while she worked on the film.

Producer Vanessa Roth added, "And to all our supporters and our families who believed that even a 38-minute movie could change minds and lives, and to our children who remind us what's really important. And to Stacie, who is here tonight, who's really an auto mechanic by day but a hero in life and always did what was right."

...and it was a beautiful thing!

Rudin, one of the producers of best picture winner "No Country for Old Men," took the stage with Joel Coen and Ethan Coen to accept the prize and wrapped up his remarks by saying: "This is for my partner, John Barlow. Without you honey, this would be hardware."

Here is a clip of Rudin's speech:

Other gay or gay-ish moments of the night:
When Daniel Day-Lewis won for best actor ("There Will Be Blood"), he turned and kissed his wife, Rebecca Miller, then got out of his seat and planted a kiss on the cheek of fellow nominee George Clooney before taking to the stage, kneeling before presenter Helen Mirren who mock hit him on the head with the Oscar as though she were knighting him. After all, she was "The Queen." I kinda wish he and George had started making out but there was that acceptance speech to give and all.

Here's what Daniel had to say about the smooch backstage:
"George Henry Clooney. Because George has been there for me. Because George is well, apart from anything else he was the nearest fellow nominee, and I have to say, and I didn't say it at the time, that I was very proud to be included in that group of actors on this occasion. And, in fact, I think there were quite a number of actors that weren't included in the nominations this year who gave wonderful performances, Emile Hirsch and Ryan Gosling and Frank Langella, Benicio Del Toro, who is always wonderful, so...But also, George is just he's just so incredibly generous, you know, and the last few weeks people have kind of mentioned things that George has been saying and about this whole circus that we're involved in. And I've always felt it was far more indicative of George's generosity as a man more than anything else. He's just a great guy. I had to kiss someone. I kissed my wife, and in the interest of parity, I kissed George."

After winning the best song Oscar for their song "Falling Slowly" from their movie "Once," Glen Hansard leaned over and held his Oscar near Marketa Irglova's and said, "Mar, let's make 'em kiss." She laughed and said, "They are two guys!" Hansard replied: "But it's Hollywood!"

This video is a freaking riot with all-star cameos and an unbelievable recreation of the "We Are the World" video from the mid-80s. I'm not crazy about some of the gay stereotypes but overall, it's a scream.

Enjoy!

After standing for almost five hours in the red capret area, it was time to trek upstairs to the press room to tap out a column then prepare for the winners to come on back and share with us their joy. I pride myself in always being prepared for these events and this morning, I carefully packed my computer bag with things like Clif bars, gum, cough drops, a camera etc. What I did not do was pack the POWER CORD! Yikes! I knew I had about an hour worth of battery power since I had charged the thing the night before but would not be able to live blog which sucked but I tok handwritten notes and will share some of the backstage scene woth you now.

They give you headsets so you can keep track of the show which is shown on various screens around the room. That way, if you aren't that interested in talking to the winner of make-up or sound editing, you can blissfully ignore thekm and watch the action inside the Kodak Theatre.

When surprise winner Tilda Swinton came back though, she was far more interesting than whatever was going on onstage. This woman is a hoot! I was given the microphone to ask her a question and here is our exchange:

Greg: Tilda, to your left. L.A. Daily News. When you were up there, you said you were going to give your Oscar away.

Tilda: I have given it away, it's gone.

Greg: You're going to do it?

Tilda: I've given it, I've given it, I'm a man of my word. I've given it to my agent, who truly, I mean not only does he deserve it, but he really does look like this (the Oscar statue). And if you see a guy at the Governors Ball looking like this, this is him in his receiving position when I'm on the speaker phone telling him I'm going to do another art film in Europe."

Personally, they wouldn't be able to pry MY Oscar out of my cold, dead hands. But that's just me.

Marion Cotillard's win for best actress is "La Vie en Rose" was the other stunner of the night and she was just as charming and emotional backstage as she was during her wonderful acceptance speech.
"I'm totally overwhelmed with joy and them sparkles and fireworks and everything which goes like bam, bam, bam! I just ate all those things and it's happening right here, right now."

She was happy to have been presented her Oscar by Forest Whitaker: "I was - yeah, I was totally - my brain collapsed, so he helped me find the plug back to my brain."

The final questioner asked Marion to sing a song by Edith Piaf in French that would best describe how she felt right then. And she did!

One of my favorite moments of the entire Oscar show was when host Jon Stewart called Marketa Irglova back out to the stage after she was cut off by the orchestra when she walked up to speak after partner Glen Hansard had made his remarks. The pair won for best original song for "Falling Slowly" from the movie "Once." I swear, I don't think I've ever seen any award show host do such a classy thing so when the pair came backstage, I asked Marketa what she was thinking when she was told she'd be able to go back out and give her thanks with the orchestra NOT drowning her out: "It didn't make much sense since I'd never seen it done before, I'm grateful for them doing that."

Marketa made the most of her moment when she walked back on that stage, Oscar in hand, and said: "This is such a big deal, not only for us, but for all the other independent musicians and artists that spend most of their time struggling, and this, it;s to prove no matter how far out your dreams are, it's possible. And, you know, fair play to those who dare to dream and don't give up."

Well said!

Anyway, had to go to the Governors Ball before such winners as Daniel Day-Lewis, Javier Bardem, and the Coen Brothers made it backstage but go to the LA.com section of DailyNews.com and it's all there!

P.S. After I typed in Marketa;s speech, I found a video of it:

When the day began, I was more excited about going to my first Governor's Bll than anything else having to do with the Oscars. But by the time 9 p.m. rolled around, I had been working for nine hours and all I wanted was to take some quick notes, have a good meal and call it a night.

So, I leave the backstage press area to head over to the ballroom, give my ticket to a woman who looks at it and says: "You have a ticket in the 600s. There are no 600s. That means you can walk around but you won't be served a dinner. You can observe but don't hover!" Oh gee, thanks lady. This is getting more fun by the minute. My feet kinda hurt and I skimped on the backstage buffet figuring I'd chow down on Wolfgang Puck's Mac & Cheese with black truffles and baked potato with cavier. I guess it's McDonalds on the way home.

Once inside, it's not so bad. I mingle and walk around, careful not to give the impression that I am hovering. Near the entrance is Frances McDormand talking to Paul Thomas Anderson. Frances must be in a good mood since her husband, Joel Coen, won three Oscars tonight along with his brother Ethan Coen for writing, directing and producing "No Country for Old Men." Let's see, she's got an Oscar for "Fargo" and he already had one for screenwriting that flick so they have five Oscars at home between them....Nearby I see director Michael Bay, nominee Jason Reitman who is getting hugs then George Clooney walks in and is instantly the center of attention. James Cameron ("Titanic") may be king of the world, but Clooney is the king of Hollywood!

The lack of dinner isn't really a problem since there are countless servers with big trays of appetizers. I have a small slice of Wolfgang Puck's pizza and a little Kobe beef cheeseburger. I eat them and try not to hover. Then I discover this entuire buffet that is set up for peeps like me: crab legs, shrimp the size of your head, tuna, various sushi, pad thai etc. I get some grub and settle into a little space overlooking a staircase and watch as Cate Blanchett talks with Phillip Seymour Hoffman below before making her way up, followed closely behind by Jon Stewart who stops and does interviews with "The Today Show" and "Entertainment Tonight."

Back inside the ballroom, it is celebrity central. The Coen brothers walk by me carrying their Oscars and Helen Mirren also arrives. Then, i almost bump into Julie Christie who looks beyond lovely. She gives me a half-smile as we avoid each other and I can;t help but make a mental note that at this moment, a song from "La Vie en Rose" is playing through the speakers. I wonder how she feels as the front-runner going in - the SAG and Golden Globe winner - and losing to Marion Cotillard. It's gotta be rough, not losing so much as losing when everyone expects you to win, Lauren Bacall suffered this same way more than 10 years ago.

Clooney is in the middle of the room and greets the Coen brothers who directed him in "Oh Brother Where Art Thou?" Meanwhile, "No Country for Old Men" producer and Oscar winner Scott Rudin holds court nearby. I try not to hover as I get stuck in some kind of foot traffic jam because NBC head honcho Jeff Zucker is talking to someone and blocking the aisle. It could be worse. I'm stuck right next to Josh Brolin and Diane Lane's table. Could there BE a better looking couple in Hollywood?

I don't see the very pregnant Cate Blanchett sitting down the entire time that I am there. She is radiant and relaxed despite two losses. She was up for best actress and best supporting actress. Guess when you already have an Oscar at home and another baby on the way, life is still really good. Viggo Mortensen walks up to greet Cate and they chat for quite awhile in the aisle near where winner Javier Barden is getting a congratulatory hug from Alexander Payne. Just feet away, nominee Laura Linney is talking with original song winners Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova and I hear her say to them: "You won the Oscar!" Trying to make it real for this stunned pair who won over everyone with their authenticity. Meanwhile, best original screenplay winner Diablo Cody ("Juno") has arrived at the ball looking like Cinderella (if Cinderella had tattoos!).

At 10:03 p.m. Tilda Swinton is still outside, holding her Oscar and giving interviews to the TV crews. Clooney, Mirren and a few others are heading out to other parties no doubt as Daniel Day-Lewis arrives at about 10:10. He begins to do interviews so I don't know when he finally made it in.

I bump into Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and ask him how his first Governor's Ball
went: "I thought it was fantastic and I had the chance to meet a lot of people. The food was fantastic and the energy was great. It was exhilarating."

So, why is he leaving so early?

The Rock: "I have to work tomorrow.".

Ya know, they really shouldn't have the Oscars on a school night...

After spending more than four hours standing on the red carpet at the Academy Awards on Sunday, I thought the best way to share the experience with you was chronologically. Well, just the highlights:

12:45 p.m. I'm strolling around looking for familiar faces and one of the first ones I see is Donny Osmond! He's working for "The Insider" as a special correspondent. Donny is more used to singing and dancing than being a reporter but he has a strategy worked out: "I'm told that during the show, you go and hang out at the bar - that's where everybody's gonna be."

Donny Osmond at a bar?

"Yes! I'll be drinking 7-Up!"

1:05 p.m.: I bump into Tim Gunn who is there to report for "The Today Show" and ask him if too much emphasis is placed on Oscar fashion these days: "I think that anything that gets people excited about fashion, style and entertainment, I'm all in favor of."

1:40 p.m.: Regis Philbin walks in looking too school for school. He's surrounded by serious looking men. What is he? The President?

1:58 p.m. TV Guide Channel pre-show host Lisa Rinna preens for photographers. There is some discussion in my section of red carpet observers about her famously plump lips. Are they real? No one seems to think so.

2:16 p.m.: The sun breaks out and everyone cheers. We are hoping it will stay but moments later, it;s cold and windy again. A little while later, it is absolutely pouring rain.

2:23 p.m. Wolfgang Puck enters the red carpet carrying trays of gold-covered chocolate Oscars. I want one. I don't get one. I settle for the Clif bar in my bag.

3:24 p.m. I talk to Wolfgang Puck and tell him tonight will be my first Governor's Ball. He replies: "It's mine 14th so it's about time!" Wolfgang says he never watches the show, too busy getting dinner ready for everyone. "Around 7 p.m. I start to get real nervous," he admits.

3:20 p.m. George Clooney has arrived and all hell breaks loose. The crowd goes crazy chanting "George! George!" Everyone on the red carpet wants to greet the big man on campus.

3:35 p.m. I have words with a female reporter from Germany who is standing behind me on the red carpet. Me: "Is there any way we can work this out where you aren't pushing me?' She acts offended but doesn't push on me the rest of the afternoon. Mission accomplished.

3:51 p.m. Get a chance to talk with best supporting actress nominee Amy Ryan ("Gone Baby Gone"). She seems pretty calm and says: "I'm glad this day is here and it will be nice to move on (after months of award ceremonies) but I'm going to take in every second of this day. I'm not going to let it slide by."

3:56 p.m. I chat up Oscar producer Gil Cates and want to get his thoughts 90 minutes before showtime: "I feel fine. Everyone is nworking really hard inside preparing the show. Reheaesals went really well this morning...I always hope each show is going to be the best. I think folks want to come together and have a good time."

4:05 p.m. Supporting actress nominee Ruby Dee ("American Gangster") arrives and tells an interviewer over the public address system that she has brought her entire family with her: "It's one of of the most heady, exciting affairs I've ever been to. I can't believe it.

4:08 p.m.Nominee Tony Gilroy, up for best director and best screenplay for "Michael Clayton" come by and tells me he is feeling "very, very overwhelmed. Really overwhelmed. Looking for the bar! Oh my God." He doesn't think he will be making any speeches though: "I'm not expecting much tonight. Anything that happens tonight is gravy. I think Tilda has the best shot. But we didn't bring a big empty trunk to put everything in."

4:15 p.m. Handsome Josh Lucas brings some movie star glamour to the documentary category. He tells me he's at the Oscars for the first time in support of a nominated film he narrated a section of called "Operation Homecoming." "It's a film that I really love, I think it's quite profound. What I think is so beautiful is that there is no message in this film. It's simply the writing that is coming out of the experience of the military being at war. There is no pro or negative. It's simply, this is what they're going through. I think that's got great beauty. A nomination is an incredible honor, a win would be beyond any of our wildest hopes but at the same time, you always hope."

4:20 p.m. Hannah Montana, Miley Cyrus herself has arrived and she gets almost as many screams as George Clonney: "Hi everybody!" she says into the microphone. "Thank you for being here today. I'm so excited to see all of you!"

4:21 p.m. Last year's best actress winner, Helen Mirren, arrives and receives about half the applause of Miley Cyrus. Go figure. She is presenting best actor and says of the nominees: "There's amazing, powerful performances this year."

4:25 p.m. Presenter John Travolta and wife Kelly Preston are hurrying by. I manage to get John';s attention. He indicates that they've got to get in there but is very sweet about it.

4:28 p.m. Best actor front-runner Daniel Day-Lewis walks by us and stops to pose for a few pictures but is through giving interviews. At least for now.

4:38 p.m. I ask supporting actor nominee Tom Wilkinson how he's feeling: "I feel relaxed right now, then there will be a little freak out when it's announced...there could be a surprise."

4:48 p.m.;I chat up Patrick Dempsey who is presenting. I wonder what it's like to be a big movie star again with his role in "Enchanted. "It's just great to be working. I certainly think the success of 'Grey's Anatomy' has opened doors for me that wouldn't have opened otherwise and I'm grateful for that."

********************
4:46 p.m. Spot James McAvoy walking by and get him to come on over. I wonder how he's feeling about "Atonement" which has a best picture nod, but no buzz about winning: "It's just a competitive year and anything could happen. There may be some shocks tonight. But can 'Atonement' win? I don't know. Does it deserve to win? I don't know. Does anything deserve to win making art a competition? Of course it doesn't. It's all a celebration and that's the way I'm viewing it."

4:50 p.m. I chat with best director nominee Jason Reitman ("Juno") at this, his first Academy Awards ceremony: "Right now, I'm not even standing on the ground. I never thought I'd be here in my lifetime. I'm enjoying every second of it. I'm not going to win tonight but the beauty of knowing you're not going to win is you can relax and have a good time."

4:55 p.m. Julie Christie arrives and is asked by the interviewer ove rthe public address system to compare Sunday's Oscar red carpet to when she won more than 40m years ago for "Darling." "Almost 10 years ago when I was nominated ("Afterglow"), I was actually shocked. It seems to be less crazy this year."

4:56 p.m. Former winner Faye Dunaway walks by with who I think is her son.

4:57 p.m. Former Oscar winner Sissy Spacek and her nominated husband, Jack Fiske, greet Keri Russell on the red carpet. They are quickly followed by Johnny Depp who is greeted with screams so loud I think some of them must have hurt. It';s starting to get log-jammed on the red carpet.

5:05 p.m. Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart make their way toward the Kodak Theatre. I head into the backstage press area to get ready to watch the show and participate in interviewing the winners. It's gonna be a fun night!

Happy Oscar Sunday!!!

OK, I'm about to put on the tux and dash out the door with a laptop slung over my shoulder and an umbrella in my hand. I probably won't be doing any live-blogging until after 5 once I leave the red carpet and settle in the press room. But from then on, expect all kinds of postings that you can read during the show or after. I'll try and be as fly-on-the-wall as I can be. I'll have a full report from the Governor's Ball tomorrow.

Go Ruby Dee!!! Go Hal Holbrook!!!

There is no longer any doubts - Angelina Jolie is expecting! Here she is at Saturday night's Independent Spirit Awards. A nominee for "A Mighty Heart," Angelina may have lost the best actress prize to Ellen Page, but she goes up with some pretty terrifc prizes of her own: Brad Pitt!

Thom Bierdz, a former soap star who is now a painter and an author ("Forgiving Troy") sent me this image of a painting he did after Heath Ledger's death last month. I neglected to post it then but was reminded of it when I spotted it in the upcoming issue of The Advocate!

Here is what Thom had to say about the painting:
"Heath Ledger's death was a shock to say the least. He had so much to live for.
I felt compelled to paint Heath Ledger and James Dean together. They were both fair-haired young leading men who played cowboys in their famous roles, yet both were unable to sleep... and I am sure both had many inner conflicts, and I sure can identify. In the background of this painting is the word Hollywood, backwards, sinking in the distance."

Dropped by the Kodak Theater complex at Hollywood & Highland to pick,up my ticket to tomorrow night's Governor's Ball and decided to make an afternoon of it. I'm in the press room right now where all the winners are brought after their big moment. My seat is not as good as last year but there really aren't any bad seats in this room. I wanted to make sure my computer and Internet connection were in fine working order so this post is the test.

Earlier, I strolled down to the red carpet - which is completely covered in plastic - just to see what I could see. And there stood Antonio Sabato Jr. doing some kind of stand-up and boy, did he look dapper. Lots of both local and international news personalities doing little bits and it's kinda fun to watch as the clock gets closer to the big show! I ran into a reader of the blog and my newspaper column who I had never met but when she saw me she shouted: "I read you all the time!" I felt like one of the Beatles. I wonder if I should have an entourage now?

OK, before I get too delusional, I wanted to use this post to give you my predictions in the major categories along with who I think SHOULD win. Feel free to write in with yours!

BEST PICTURE: Will win: No Country for Old Men
Should win: Into the Wild (I know, not nominated, but damned well should have been)

BEST DIRECTOR: Will win: The Coen Brothers for "No Country."
Should win: Sean Penn for "Into the Wild" (see above)

BEST ACTOR: Will win: Daniel Day Lews for "There Will Be Blood."
Should win: Daniel Day Lewis for "Blood."

BEST ACTRESS: Will win: Julie Christie for "Away From Her."
Should win: Marion Cottillard for "La Vie en Rose."

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Will win: Javier Barden "No Country.
Should win: Javier Barden foir "No Country" or Hal Holbrook for "Into the Wild."

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Will win: Amy Ryan for "Gone Baby Gone"
Should win: Amy Ryan for "Gone Baby Gone"
* I am rooting for sentimental favorite Rby Dee who could pull an upset

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: Will win: "No Country."
Should win: "Away From Her"

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: Will win: "Juno"
Should win: "Juno."

ANIMATED FEATURE: Will win: "Ratatouille"
Should win: "Ratatouille"

I don't know enough about edting, sound effects etc to make an intelligent prediction!

've labeled Robby Ginepri a beautiful loser so many times on this blog because he hasn't won many matches in the past few years but he's still so darn cute. But last night in San Jose, he scored one of his biggest wins in awhile: a quarterfinal victory over fellow American James Blake! Hopefully this will put Robby on a roll again, like in 2005 when he made it all the way to the semifinals of the US Open.

Meanwhile, Out In Hollywood fave Andy Roddick also won on Friday, pulling out a dramatic three-set win over yet another American, Mardy Fish. But in the picture below, Andy is not too happy after losing a point. But we are happy to see his cute tummy.

I forgot to mention that on last week's episode of "Brothers & Sisters," Scotty and Kevin kiss yet again. I can't even count now the number of same-sex kisses that have occured on this show which is a good thing. It is such a contrast to what is happening on "As the World Turns" right now which has gotten itself into a situation where not allowing Luke and Noah to kiss again feels unnatural not to mention a distraction. It's such a pity.

There was something really magical going on Friday night at the Catalina Jazz Club in Hollywood. Lanie Kazan - more famous for her movie roles in recent decades than her singing - is a first-rate singer and performer with terrific power and range. She knows how to command a stage and to have an audience in the palm of her hands. It was a thrilling evening, thrilling to see this side of Kazan.

My two favorite numbers of the evening came near the beginning ("Here's to Life" and the end ("Livin' Alone and I Like It"). The best! Also, thorougly loved what she did with "Music that Makes Me Dance" "The Man that Got Away" and a song that was written for her but became a hit for someone else: "Never Been To Me."

Kazan tells stories with her songs, she inhabits them - all of them - and as an audience member, this is such a gift to receive. What brings it all together beautifully are the stories from her life that she shares with the audience between songs. Like when she filled in for Barbra Streisand on Broadway in "Funny Girl," like when she was backstage at "The Dean Martin Show" and Judy Garland - who she had never met - called and asked her to come to a Christmas party at her house. Once there, Garland asked Lanie to sing for her. In return, Garland sang for her. The song: "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." She performed it Friday night as well as "The Trolley Song,"

It was a lovefest...standing ovations and a real appreciation for the opportunity to see this great star perform live in LA in intimate setting. I'm told there are still tickets remaining for the second ot two shows tonight. Go to the Catalina's website for more information. I'd highly recommend it...

Previous posts on Lanie Kazan:
** Exclusive: Lainie Kazan talks about singing in LA again, Greek Wedding, and going on for Streisand...

**Part 2: Lainie Kazan talks about a career low point and how she came back...

** Lunch with Lainie Kazan

Channing Tatum, who will co-star with Ryan Phillippe in "Stop-Gap" out next month, is busy at work on his next flick: "G.I. Joe." I already like the looks of it!

I haven't had a chance to watch this clip myself but did want to post it for you. I read a summary on AfterElton.com so I know that our two young "lovers" continue to not lock lips...it's been well over 100 days.

Anywho, I'm off to watch Lanie Kazan sing at the Catalina Jazz Club tonight! I'll post a review tomorrow...

The March 11 issue of The Advocate features a cover story tribute to Heath Ledger who died a month ago. The article by Kyle Buchanan is outstanding because it's the first that I've read that directly addresses why the death of this straight actor was felt so deeply by many gays and lesbians. I don't mean to overstate, but it was one of those pieces of news that you will always remember where you were when you heard it and how you felt. It was like the Challenger explosion feeling for me - just utter shock.

Here are some excerpts from this superb piece:
The death of Heath Ledger meant many things to many people, but thanks to Ledger's Oscar-nominated role as Ennis Del Mar in "Brokeback Mountain," the loss resonated with gays and lesbians in a way that other fans may not fully understand...The life Ennis had carved out was not a happy one, but he was, at least, a survivor. With a minimum of make-up, Ledger had taken the character into his 30s and 40s, ages the actor will now never see. The compromised triumph of Ennis Del Mar - the idea of a happy life gone unlived - grows more bittersweet when coupled with thoughts of what Ledger himself might have gone on to accomplish.

...We felt so deeply for Ledger because we felt so deeply for Ennis. To watch Ledger's career soar, to watch him fulfill his potential, was to provide, at least by proxy, the happy ending that Ennis never got. Ennis expected nothing, but we expected everything for Heath, and the idea that we'll never get it puts one in mind of Jack Twist, turning away from Ennis Del Mar as his own dreams are dashed. "There's never enough time," he mutters. "Never enough."

Audra McDonald has accomplished so much in show business over the past 15 years but she had never before been in a hit television series until ABC's "Private Practice."

She plays Dr. Naomi Bennett on the "Grey's Anatomy" spinoff which had a strike-shortened first season but returns in the fall. She is part of a cast that includes such stars as Kate Walsh, Tim Daly and Amy Brenneman. But Audra is most asked about working opposite hunky Taye Diggs who plays her former husband but current co-worker.

"There's such an amazing cast and everyone's like, 'Oooh! Taye Diggs! You get to kiss Taye Diggs! I've known Taye since we both started out in (the Broadway musical) 'Carousel' in 1994 so he's like a brother. For me it's not that big a deal."

But what is a big deal is Monday's airing of "A Raisin in the Sun" on ABC. "Raisin" became the first television film to ever premiere at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year. Audra is reprising her role from the 2004 Broadway production along with Sean Combs and Phylicia Rashad. She won both the Tony Award and the Drama Desk Award for her stage performance.
But the transition from stage to screen was not effortless.

"It's difficult because it's a different set of muscles you're flexing," she said. "For theater people, it's learning how to tone it down yet still have the same intensity. We're so used to making it huge and throwing it to the back wall and you can't do that. There is an adjustment to be made."

Audra, 37, is one of the few actresses to have four Tony Awards, an accomplishment that puts her in the company of such theater legends as Angela Lansbury, Jessica Tandy and Julie Harris.

She has shined in such shows as "Carousel," "Master Class," "Ragtime," "Marie Christine" and "110 in the Shade" on Broadway. But she isn't one to rest on her laurels, to spend her day polishing her Tonys and other awards.

"You don't think about it at all. I have a seven year old! Tonys don't pay the rent. They're wonderful, they're exciting, but they don't pay the rent. You have to get back to work."

When she has taken breaks from the stage, Audra has found plenty of that work on television. She was nominated for an Emmy Award for her performance as a nurse caring for a woman with terminal cancer (Emma Thompson) in "Wit," was featured in the 1999 television version of the musical "Annie," and starred opposite Josh Brolin in the NBC drama "Mister Sterling."

When she does return to the theater, there is already a project waiting for her: "A new show has been written for me, an adaptation of 'Carmen' and it takes place in Cuba in 1958. I just did a workshop of that and that's going to go to Broadway whenever I can get a hiatus from 'Private Practice.'"

Happy Friday! Here is my weekly Box Office Buzz column published today in The Daily News and other papers::

Moviegoing will take a hit Sunday when most movie fans will be settling in at home, snacks at the ready and Oscar ballots in hand, to watch the Academy Awards.

I'm sure that none of the four wide releases out today will be up for Oscars next year. And only the political thriller "Vantage Point" has a chance of making much of an impact at the box office.

"Vantage" is headed by Dennis Quaid and Matthew Fox, with Oscar winners Forest Whitaker and William Hurt and three-time Oscar nominee Sigourney Weaver among the all-star cast.

I think "Vantage" is a shoo-in for the No.1 spot and should gross about $20 million over the three days.

JACK'S BACK: Casting Jack Black in a comedy can equal success as we saw with "School of Rock" and "Nacho Libre." His new flick, "Be Kind Rewind," should be able to attract males 25 and younger in respectable numbers with its unique premise: two video-store owners are forced to re-create top Hollywood movies after their tapes get damaged, and their versions become all the rage.

But "Rewind" opened in only 800 theaters today, which means it will be very difficult for it to achieve a debut that is north of $5million.

THE REST: The comedy "Witless Protection" bowed in just more than 1,300 locations but has not attracted much pre-release buzz. The Lionsgate release starring Larry the Cable Guy and Jenny McCarthy will have limited appeal and probably open in the $3 million to $4 million range. Another lackluster debut likely awaits the MGM drama "Charlie Bartlett," starring Robert Downey Jr.. Given that it is playing in just more than 1,100 theaters and pre-release awareness appears low, I predict a $3million opening.

ON IMAX: It just got easier to see the latest IMAX flick on the giant screen: "U2 3D" from National Geographic Cinema Ventures has expanded into 678 locations. The film opened in a limited fashion last month and has grossed $3.7million to date.

JUNO COMES HOME: Best Picture nominee "Juno" has been hailed as the little movie that could with its multiple Oscar nods and box office gross of $125 million to date.

If you haven't seen it in theaters or want to watch it again and again at home, "Juno" will be released April15 on DVD. It will be the first Fox Home Entertainment DVD sold at Starbucks company-operated stores and will include 11 deleted scenes, a gag reel, screen tests and more. Save me a copy!

“Dancing With the Stars” co-host Samantha Harris talked to me this week about how excited she is about the show’s upcoming season and the new line up of stars that were announced on Monday.

The group is as eclectic as ever and includes tennis star Monica Seles, actors Steve Guttenberg and Marlee Matlin, Miami Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor, radio personality Adam Carolla and Tony winner Marissa Jaret Winokur (“Hairspray”), among others.

But the star Samantha is most looking forward to seeing perform is Priscilla Presley.

“Priscilla is the oldest contestant that we’ve ever had and having been married to Elvis, it’s really exciting because it just brings a different level of excitement to the show,” Samantha said. “She’s a huge fan of the show and maybe she’ll have some insight into Elvis’ true moves that she’ll be able to share with us.”
Samantha dished on some of the other contestants too:

Jason Taylor: “what a stud. He’s 6 foot 6, Miami Dolphins player, very good looking, great body. Let’s hope he can move and stick around for awhile.”

Kristi Yamaguchi: “She is beautiful to watch dancing on the ice so I’m excited to see her on the dance floor as well. Ballroom dancing is a whole different ball of wax.”

On pro dancer Maksim Chmerkovskiy’s absence from the new season: “Maksim had a bunch of different projects that he wanted to work on for awhile and the producers were gracious enough to say, ‘You know what? Go do your thing and we’ll come back together. He’s a great friend and I support everything that he does. He’ll take a season off and re-charge and hopefully be back next season.”

On my favorite from last season, Cameron Mathison: “Cameron has a huge following from the soap world, he’s a sweetheart and that definitely came through on camera and, you know, he doesn’t have a bad upper body to look at. He was always trying to take his shirt off which he finally did for us.”

Samantha may only be 30 years old, but she’s had a lengthy television career including her reporting job on “E! News Daily,” live-award show coverage of everything from the Oscars to the Emmys as well as work as a special correspondent on “Good Morning America.” Before joining E!, she was weekend co-host for the entertainment newsmagazine show “Extra.”

But nothing has put her on the map more than the ratings phenomenon “Dancing” which will have its season premiere on March 17: “It’s been such an amazing thing. We have such wonderful support from our fans. I meet so many people who say, ‘Oh, I’ve gone and signed up for ballroom classes because of the show.’ I like that it can inspire people to do that. I also like the fact that my grandparents and my nephew can sit in the same room and watch the show together.”

I've watched Tommy Haas practice and play matches at various Southern California tennis tournaments over the years and the tall, strapping German star is one of the most athletic and gifted players I've ever seen.

So why is he always getting injured?

Tommy, who has been ranked as high as number two in the world, suffered another setback Thursday night at the SAP Open tennis tournament in San Jose, Calif. when he suffered yet another malady of some sort during his 4-6, 7-6 (6), 6-3 loss to American John Isner.

Remember the days when a star like Cher would dare to wear an outrageous outfit to the Academy Awards?

In this era of celebrity designers and stylists, this kind of individuality has all but vanished and this troubles Bob Mackie, the man who is behind most of Cher's most memorable red carpet ensembles.

"The stylists make everybody look alike sometimes," Bob told me when we chatted this week at the 10th Annual Costume Designers Guild Awards.

He's also appalled that many actresses have become walking advertisements for everything from gowns to jewelry to shoes.

"I hate it," he said. "I think it's very low class for an actress who makes that much money, who's a serious actress, to come on and start giving all these people plugs. There's something very kinda tacky about the whole thing."

It was so much simpler back in 1988 when he designed the very risque outfit Cher wore the night she won the best actress Oscar for "Moonstruck."

"She's Cher!" he said. "I've known her over 40 years and we worked together over and over and over again so it's kind of like family.

These days, Bob is keeping busy with his clothing line sold on QVC which offers affordable designer duds to viewers. He operates at a much less frenetic pace than he did in the 70s when he not only designed for Cher's variety shows with and without Sonny, but also for "The Carol Burnett Show."

"I used to run through the men's room to get from one studio to the other," he remembered. "It was really fun at the time. When I think about it now, I wonder how we ever did it, the amount of shows we would do in one week."

Bob seems to have mixed feelings about the memorable gown he designed for Burnett for a classic "Gone With the Wind" spoof. Burnett, as Scarlett O'Hara, comes down the stairs in a gown made from the drapes - complete with curtain rod still in place.

"The curtain rod dress is the one everybody talks about," he said. "Either that or a crazy get-up Cher wears. But, you know, I've done a lot of other things too."

...and he isn't even one of the gay contestants in this year's stupid couples twist.
GuyTvBlog.com has posted a series of photos for "Crazy James" and I believe a video (I'm in the newsroom as I post this so I can't even look at it!) that leaves no doubt that James is doing some full-on gay porn.

I'm boycotting "Big Brother" this season because it's just so vile but I did want to share this tidbit. GuyTVBlog writes: "If you've tuned into CBS's "Big Brother 9" this season then you're already familiar with "Crazy James". This sexy, tattooed mega-hottie was smoking up our screens long before his TV debut! ...Apparently PornoStar James has done more than one video with this site! ... He once said in the house that he is a "retired ex gay stripper" so I guess that REALLY means he's a "retired gay porn star". It's obvious that he replaced the word "stripper" with "gay porn star."

Believe it or not, I'm posted the above photo of Spanish tennis player Daniel Gimeno Traver playing at a pro tournament in Buenos Aires because I think it is so artful. OK, the player is a looker but it's so cool the way the ball is captured right up there in front of his face. Kudos to photographer Daniel Garcia.

That said, I'm posting the photo of Andy Roddick following his win last night at the men's tournament in San Jose because I just love the way his shirt flies up!

CCH Pounder has one of the choicest roles of any actress on television in that of Detective Claudette Wyms on the FX Network's police drama "The Shield." The show with an uncommonly loyal following is set to return sometime this summer for its seventh and final season.

I chatted with the actress and activist at last week's NAACP Image Awards about the end of the gritty police drama that transformed her from a busy film and television actress to a star.

"It's one of those sleeper series that once people see it they go, 'Oh my God!' And they really become sort of addicted to it," she said. "That's what I think is so fabulous about this particular show."

The final episodes have already been shot but the writers strike had prevented them from being edited until now. The actress is eager for fans old and new to see what happens to Detective Wyms and the rest of the show's characters.

"It's definitely the most amazing season out of the seven," she said. "I recommend to anybody if they haven't seen it before to go back and see 1-6 because it is one of those rides that I think you'll be pissed if you started at seven and had to work your way back to (season) one. It's pretty amazing."

Her character will have a host of issues to deal with, including menopause.

"I think what's really wonderful about it is that she's not just a powerful female, she's a powerful female with incredible flaws," CCH said. "And with age coming up and retirement coming up, and she is experiencing ... change."

Life after "The Shield" has already began. She spent seven months working on James Cameron's new film, "Avatar," which will be out in 2009, and just last week she wrapped work on the feature film "Orphan."

The three-time Emmy nominee's first film role came in 1979's "All That Jazz," followed by a steady stream of movies including "Prizzi's Honor," "Baghdad Cafe," "Postcards from the Edge," "Face/Off," and "End of Days." She also played Winnie Mandela in the 2004 film "Redemption: The Stan Tookie Williams Story."

But it is in television where she has found her best roles, including that of Dr. Angela Hicks on "ER" from 1994 to 1997 and memorable guest turns on "The X-Files," "The Practice," "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" and "The West Wing."

CCH has an interesting background. She was born and raised in Georgetown, Guyana, and educated in England before moving to the United States in 1970.

She and her anthropologist husband, Boubacar Kone, divide their time between L.A. and his native Dakar, Senegal, where he is the founder The Boribana Museum. She is one of the founders of ANSA (Artists for a New South Africa) and has helped increase awareness of post-apartheid and HIV/AIDS issues.

"I do want to do other things but (acting) is still the main thing because what it does is it really enables you to do the things that I want to do. This has the publicity and the visibility. I want to shine attention on AIDS orphans, I want to shine some attention on the situation in certain African countries in term of drought, in terms of malaria and mosquito nets. There are little things that this work really can enhance, so I don't plan to pitch it to the curb anytime soon - although I might get pitched to the curb!"

That is very doubtful.

Delta Burke is setting the record straight about her recent stint in a psychiatric hospital.

“I like to think of it as a solarium visit,” she told Mark Steines “Entertainment Tonight.” displaying her sense of humor. “I didn't mean to be trendy. I went in there -- I have talked about depression before -- it is something that I deal with and millions of Americans deal with. I am trying to remove the stigma.”

The dazzling Delta, a two-time Emmy nominee for her role on “Designing Women,” said the visit was prompted after she was unable to get out of bed for two weeks. The five medications she had been taking had stopped working.

“I go in [to the clinic], I was a little scared,” she said. “I was going to see what the doctors were like. They were amazing. I was looking to get my meds straightened out and to get properly diagnosed.”
One of her problems was with hoarding which resulted in her having 27 storage units filled with items as well as addictions to eBay and QVC. She plans to sell and donate a lot of it now.

Delta jokingly blamed her mother: “My mother saved the diaper I came home from the hospital in. [She had]old National Geographics stacked up the rafters in the attic.”

At the clinic, Delta’s meds were cut down to just two drugs and she is continuing to see her doctors there on an out-patient basis.
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Kudos to Delta for being open about her problems. It should help others who are similarly suffering.

Delta told Mark that her darkest hour came back in her “Designing Women” days. Distraught over what a tabloid had written about her, she parked in a car on top of a hill with a gun beside her and a bottle of Xanax.

“I just kept taking Xanax and hoping the pain would stop,” she remembered. “I got really sleepy and decided to go for a ride. I needed a Diet Coke really bad. I called up [husband Gerald McRaney]. I didn't know where I was but he found me.”

Delta may have been popping pills and been carrying a loaded gun but she didn’t really want to do herself in. She was just in such immense emotional pain.

“The greatest moment of my life [being a ‘Designing Woman’] brought me so much joy and everything I had ever wanted in this business and the damn press and what our world has turned into brought me the greatest pain. More than I can ever describe, but it didn't kill me. And I will always fight and everyone out there who battles this should always fight and never let it win. And never let them win.”

TR KInight and his best gal pal Katherine Heigl must have done some shopping during their trip to the UK. TR was swarmed by photogs as he made his way out of the airport with a package that has inspired all kinds of "Dick in a Box" remarks. That was the Emmy-winning SNL skit starring Justin Timberlake.
TR and Katherine were earlier pictured (below) while in London. I do not know who the third person in the photo is...sorry.

OK, so the new celebrity line-up for "Dancing With the Stars" has been announced and I'm a little sad. I think they shoulda brought Cameron Mathison back for another try. C'mon! Why not? And while we are at it, how 'bout an all-star hunk season that also includes Mario Lopez!

David Beckham is in Hawaii to play some soccer with the LA Galaxy and decided to take a dip. I'm so glad there were photogs around to record the momentous event...

Loretta Devine is indeed, divine.

As I chatted up this great star of stage and screen at last week's NAACP Image Awards, there was a lot of laughter coming from the woman who was one of Broadway's original "Dreamgirls" and who now appears on the new ABC show "Eli Stone."

"The scripts are wonderful," she said. "It reminds me a little bit of David E. Kelley when I did "Boston Public" and how his scripts were so unpredictable. I was dating a midget at one point! (laughs) So you just never know what's going to happen and that's what makes it really exciting to go to work every day."

So far, she hasn't dated any midgets on "Stone" but she has been utterly charmed by Jonny Lee Miller who plays the title role.

"He's so charming, he's got this thing about him that you just fall in love with," she gushed. "On set, he's kinda quiet, just real laid back. But you just fall in love with him."

Loretta works so often, I figured she just has this big pile of scripts waiting for her at home.

"Oh no! I still have to audition, I audition for almost everything," she said. "I auditioned for 'Eli Stone' and lucked out and got it. When the new people come in, they've seen your work but they have to see if they can work with you. Sometimes I'm lucky, sometimes I'm not. I go see all the stuff I didn't get and pretend and say, 'Oooh! I'm so glad I didn't get that!' (laughs) But in your heart you're thinking, 'I could have made that movie great! I could have nailed that part!'"

One part she did land was a role in the acclaimed indie flick "Dirty Laundry" as a mother who has raised her estranged son's child. The film screened at Outfest a few summer back and recently had a brief run in theaters late last year. It has just been released on DVD.

"I always do supporting roles and that's as close to a lead as I've ever gotten," she said. "I'm really proud of it. It's like the little movie that could. It's such a good movie and people are really enjoying it."

Although Loretta won three NAACP Image Awards for "Boston Public" and two more for her roles in "Waiting to Exhale" and "The Preacher's Wife," she wasn't nominated for "Laundry" despite it being one of her
best roles.

She explained why: "I think it's because I played such a raunchy drunk and I passed out at the end. You can't get an Image Award for that behavior.(laughs)"

"Laundry" was not a big box office hit but Loretta did appear in "This Christmas" in December which had an $18 million opening weekend, opening in second place. She played a mother in both "Laundry" and "Christmas."

"They were very different kinds of mothers," she said. "In 'Dirty Laundry' I play a drink - a functional drunk - keeping her family together who has a son who she is very angry with. It was a dramedy - part comedy and part drama. And 'This Christmas" had a family that was very polished, very upper-class. I had six kids and they were the most beautiful kids you've ever seen!"

The biggest hit Loretta has appeared in recently was "Dreamgirls." Even though too much time had passed since the Broadway show for the 58-year-old to be considered for one of the leads, she had a small role that included a beautiful solo at a memorial service.

"I got a chance to meet Beyonce and later I went to one of her concerts," Loretta said. "I met Jennifer Hudson and Anika Noni Rose and we've been in touch since that. It was a great experience because of that because these are the girls coming up. They're all so brilliant and they're going to have these fabulous careers and I'll get to play all their mothers!"

Last year, Loretta reunited with her "Dreamgirls" co-stars from the Broadway show to sing at a fundraiser (she is pictured with Sheryl Lee Ralph and Jennifer Holliday).

Here are a few more choice bits from out conversation:

On all her mother roles: "That's just the age I am. When I was young I did 'Dreamgirls' and "Down in the Delta." I've been so fortunate, I've had a chance to work for 25 years straight. As you get older and if you keep going, you will play everybody's mother nif you're lucky. Me and Jenifer Lewis!"

On being recognized in public: "Everyone thinks I'm Gloria from "Waiting to Exhale" and every once in awhile, I'll get someone who saw "Woman Thou Art Loosed" who'll say, 'Oh, you were so mean! You was a mean mother! But we love you anyway!' And they want to know if you're really like your characters and I'm nothing like my characters. I think my characters are a lot of times a lot bolder. Like in "Eli Stone," I play Eli's secretary and she has much more chutzpah than I do as a person. I would never talk back to my boss!"

On who she is supporting for president: "Of course I voted for [Barack] Obama because he looks like change and I hope he is what he looks like. Everything that I've read about him makes it seem like he can make a big difference."

Remember studly Nick from last summer's "Big Brother"?

Reader Steve sent me this shot of him before the current season began as a way to get into the spirit of the show again. Well, my spirit is crushed. I tried to watch last night's episode featuring these foul-mouthed folks and switched it off. It is literally unwatchable so i will not be watching it or blogging about it this season.

I'm wondering if CBS has killed their summer cash cow...

I swear, I'm not on ABC's publicity payroll! But they do happen to be the network that airs many of my favorite shows including "Brothers & Sisters," "Desperate Housewives," "Grey's Anatomy," and "Ugly Betty." ABC announced the return dates for each of its shows and how many more episodes we will get to see during the current season:

"Samantha Who?": Monday, April 7 with six original episodes.

"Boston Legal": Tuesday, April 8 with six original episodes.

"Desperate Housewives": Sunday, April 13 with five original episodes and a special two-hour finale (seven hours total).

"Brothers & Sisters": Sunday, April 20 with four original episodes.

"Ugly Betty": Thursday, April 24 with five original episodes.

"Grey's Anatomy": Thursday, April 24 with five original episodes.

The return of "Grey's Anatomy" will see "Lost" moving to its new 10:00 p.m. time period on Thursday, April 24, with five weeks of original episodes. "Pushing Daisies," "Private Practice" and "Dirty Sexy Money" have been picked up for a second season and will return with new episodes in fall 2008.

...but not one THE QUEEN will be celebrating over: People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals -- aka PETA -- has just come out with their 2008 worst dressed list and put the legendary Aretha Franklin at number one!

Hey, Aretha has always liked her furs and she makes no bones about it. In the past, she has remarked that while she gets criticized for wearing furs, people with leather shoes, belts and handbags get a free pass. So this year, PETA has widened their list to include those who also don leather and reptile skin.

Aretha was joined on the list by Marilyn Manson, Eva Longoria, Lindsay Lohan, Kate Moss and Kylie Minogue.

I'm sure they will all celebrate by going out an buying a new fur coat AND a leather coat!

I love when Eric Bana has a new movie coming because that means I get to see his handsome face as he does a buncha publicity. Next up for him is "The Other Boleyn Girl" and he did an interview or the March issue of GQ magazine. He talks about the movie and yada yada yada but the most interesting part is when he talks about his work on "Full Frontal," an Australian sketch show.

Here's the trext from that part of the story: "Bana also does two excellent celebrity impressions, of Tom Cruise and Arnold Schwarzenegger, and in some of his funniest work separately interviews them in the guise of a third character, a real-life Aussie TV personality named Ray Martin. In the most provocative sketch of the entire series, Bana-as-Cruise chokes up while discussing his love for his kids, at which Bana-as-Martin comfortingly clasps the star's hands. Startled, Cruise gazes at Martin. Then both men lean forward into a passionate kiss. 'I'm sure Tom hasn't seen it,' Bana says uneasily when I bring up the sketch. He downplays what the sketch suggests about Cruise's sexuality. Ray Martin, he says, is a notorious sycophant, and 'I wanted to get to the side of him being so in love with the person he's interviewing that he wants to pash them.' Maybe so, but I think Bana's being a bit disingenuous here. Watch the sketch for yourself on YouTube and tell me it's not Cruise who initiates the pash."

Here is a clip of the sketch:

David Archuleta was, hands down, my favorite contestant last night. This kid is too adorable for words and has the potential to go a long ways on "American Idol." He's got the singing chops, the stage presence, a love of performing, a smile that lights up the room and you kinda wanna adopt him. He did terrific and I can't wait to hear more and more. The judges, all three of them, loved him as did the audience.


Randy only liked Jason Castro's "Daydream," but Simon and Paula loved his different take on the classic song. I agree with Simon and Paula. He made the song his own but didn't overdo it. Plus, he can play the guitar and he's got the most beautiful blue eyes and smile. He was so shocked that they liked his performance. **************

I may be in the minority here but I'm a sucker for the handsome clean-cut type (among my many types) so I am rooting for Jason Yeager who did a nice version of "Moon River" and has a terrific voice. "Moon River" is one of my favorite songs of all time from one of my favorite movies of all time ("Breakfast at Tiffanys") so Jason had me at hello. I hope he can stick around for a few more performances and show that he's more than a cruise ship-type crooner. And his son is like the cutest mini-me! *********

With a fiery backdrop, Michael Johns wowed the judges with his performance of "Light My Fire." He was damned good, very good looking but it's hard for me to root for him because he's just too good, too polished, too already the top three I guess. ************

The misses:

I find Danny Noriega annoying. He's got this whole attitude kinda thing that reminds me of Sanjaya except he does have a decent voice. But his version of "Heartbreak Hotel" was way too fast. He just ripped through it like he was late for the school bus. ************

I know I was raving about Luke Menard's looks yesterday. Well, I can't rave about his performance of "Everybody's Talkin'" because it was bland and a very poor song choice. There were so many 60s songs to choose from, why do this snore? Luke might not make it to next week. But he wasn't as horrid as the little Peter Frampton lookalike who did "Breaking Up is Hard to Do." Watching him was hard to do!

Conan O'Brien, who hosted Neil Patrick Harris Friday and Tim Gunn on Monday, welcomed Anderson Cooper to his show last night and the silver fox was about as charming, funny and bitchy as I've ever seen him! He sits down and before the interview gets underway, he says to Conan: "Your hair has incredible cresting today...it's like breaking waves."

Anderson talked about moderating a recent debate of Republican presidential candidates at the Ronald Reagan PLibrary: "I tend to sweat more than Albert Brooks in 'Broadcast News.'" Sitting in the front row was Arnold Schwarzeneggar who, before the debate began, motioned to the very buff Anderson that he noticed how much he's been working out.

"I was completely thrown that Arnold Schwarzeneggar had noticed I've been working out ... so for the first time minutes, I was kind of flustered."

On blogging: "My New Year's resolution is to blog more...but it's strange because it allows all your stalkers to be at the same place at the same time."

On subbing for Regis Philbin: "I had a hard time with Nicole Richie...I literally could not think of one question to ask her. All I could think to ask her was, 'Why are you so friggen thin?' And that didn't seem appropriate. She was there to promote a book she was allegedly writing. I was actually working on a book so it was really pissing me off!"

I have not watched a single frame of "American Idol" so far this season. I usually don't become very interested until they get to the final dozen. But tonight marks the debut of the top 24 and one of them is a very handsome fellow (pictured above) named Luke Menard.

Here's what we know about him: He's 29 and worked for a finance company following graduation from Millikin University in Decatur, IL. Before his "Idol" audition, the Crawfordsville, IN, resident was touring with CHAPTER 6, an a cappella group.

Perhaps I will be tuning in!

I'm still not sure why Neil - one half of the gay couple on "Big Brother 9" - abruptly left the show last week but it apparently has something to do with his family. An entry he made on his MySpace page yesterday thanks the show's fans for their support.

Here it is:
Thank you so much for the outpouring care, support, and concern from all the BIG BROTHER fans. This has been a difficult time for my family, which I am dealing with privately. The drama is slowly being resolved, and all is headed to a brighter place.

I am now happy to say, that I am spending time with close friends and family. I wish Joshuah the best of luck and hope that he keeps up our brilliant strategy to win the big prize with my replacement, Sharon. Please know that I will NOT be back to the BIG BROTHER house and contrary to some web speculation, I was not let go for health reasons. Eeek! Again, thanks to each and every one of you for your support during all of this Big Brother business.

All my Love,

Neil Garcia, BIG BROTHER 9

When I wrote my tribute to Monica Seles yesterday, I had no idea she was going to be among the celebrities who would be announced as one of the participants in the new season of "Dancing With the Stars." I think this is great! I will be rooting for her to go all the way. On the female side, Monica's stiffest competition looks to be Olympic Gold Medalist Kristi Yamaguchi since she pretty much danced on ice during her figure skating routines. The other women are an interesting mix: Priscilla Presley, Marlee Matlin, Marissa Jaret Winokur and Shannon Elizabeth.

Here are the male contestants: football player Jason Taylor, R&B singer Mario, Televnovela superstar Christian de la Fuente, comic and magician Penn Jillette, Los Angeles shock jock Adam Carolla and actor Steve Guttenberg.

To get to know Monica a little more, here is an interview I found on YouTube that she did with Barbara Walters more than 10 years ago. It deals with how she came back after that horrible stabbing...

I don't blame Ryan Reynolds for continuing to promote his new movie, "Definitely, Maybe" even though it was released on Thursday. Despite a Valentine';s Day release date that should have boosted grosses for a romantic comedy, "Definitely" grossed just $14.5 million in its first five days which was only good enough for a fifth place debut. It was outgrossed by three other new releases ("Jumper," "The Spiderwick Chronicles" and "Step Up 2 the Streets" as well as week two of the Matthew McConaughey-Kate Hudson romance-adventure flick "Fool's Gold."

Well, actually, it's Matthew Rhys and Dave Annable from "Brothers and Sisters" at the Casa Fox Party in Madrid. I don't know what they were doing there and I don't care. I'm just glad there are pictures. So here's the deal: Matthew plays the gay character on the show but is straight in real life. David however, plays a straight character on the show and in real life, happens to be ... also straight! Dammit.

While Matthew is an attractive man and even sexier when you hear him talk with his natural Welsh accent, David the the heathrob of the cast it seems. I get many people - gay men and straight women - who want to know if I've met him, what he's like etc. I've done a couple of red carpet interviews with him and he seemed quite nice and those eyes certainly are dreamy...But, that's all I know.

thought that show was on ABC? What gives? I know people who totally *heart* this show and drool over these two. All I see is jet lag. I should probably start watching it because Sally Field's Boniva commercials aren't enough for me. I need more Sally, but I need to hear her talking about her brittle bone density less. That's not sexy. I want my Sally Field with the hips that God gave her.

Tim Gunn is such a fashion bitch! Sounding more like Mr. Blackwell every day, the guru of "Project Runway" guested on Conan O'Brien's show last night and while he was very complimentary about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's fashion choices, Hillary got voted down:

"When she was in the White House I really thought there was hope for her. And then she became the senator from New York and I thought ‘hurray, hallelujah, she’s from New York, she’s representing us, her fashion will really be ramped up,’ but I think she’s confused about what her gender is. She’s so mannish in her dress, and I believe the suits are probably made out of Kevlar. I just don’t get it."

I think the sneator looks just fine in her pantsuits. But I will say this: I agress that Pelosi is quite stylish.

This is a funny clip from a UK show called "Never Mind the Buzzcocks" (I'm not kidding) that features a pretty funny back-and-forth between the dreamy and talented John Barrowman and the show's host Simon Amstell. They are having what Barrowman dubs "a gay-off."

Check it out!

Successful New York playwright Jon Robin Baitz, the creator of my favorite show "Brothers & Sisters." did an intrerview with AfterElton.com about being phased out the show early this season and leaving Los Angeles. I've excerpted the parts about the gay character of Kevin Walker but encourage you to read the entire article. There is a link at the bottom:

On the character of Kevin Walker: "It couldn't have succeeded with an actor who had any reluctance whatsoever. Because in Matthew Rhys there's this fabulous combination of openness, availability, intellect, humility, arrogance, self-deprecation, introspection. He has underpinnings of Hamlet to him. And underpinnings of Monty Python too. And occasionally the out of control qualities of Lenny Bruce. And I think he's wildly educated about the self -- his self. And so it was very useful. We cast it very well. And I think that went right. Also there might be something sort of Welsh about him, he's such a convivial man, that the notion of being embarrassed by [the character's] sexuality couldn't have been further from the truth.

On the actors cast as Kevin's love interests: "You know Jason Lewis is...an evolved, thinking, sensitive man. And Luke MacFarlane is a brave, bold, athletic, curious actor who has a lot of training. You know, he came out of Julliard, came out of the theater. So those two in particular were entirely comfortable with the entire business. I'm telling you, there's a list of actors that we'd go out to to play guest star boyfriends -- and it would come back: doesn't want to play gay, doesn't want to play gay. I'm not going to name them."

To read the entire interview, go to AfterElton.com

I think Luke is the cutest most sweetest and bestest guy ever! But gawd, I wanted to slap him today. Noah's dad writes him a letter from jail and Noah hasn't had the nerve to open it or throw it away. He lets Luke read it to him. Luke, mature way beyond his years, begins to suggest that maybe Noah should think about making peace with his dad - for his own sake.

Noah's angry response: "What could he possibly do to make up for killing my mother and almost killing you?!?"

He then storms off but Luke catches up to him and says: "You deserve to let go of all this anger."
Here is a clip of today's scenes and no, they still don't kiss!

Future hall-of-famer Monica Seles has not played a competitive tennis match in nearly five years but had hinted a few months back that she might come back for one last go-round at the age of 34. But the former number one player, plagued by a foot injury, has thought better of it and announced her retirement from the game she once dominated winning four Australian Opens, three French Opens, two U.S. Open and making it to the finals of Wimbledon in 1992.

"I have for some time considered a return to professional play, but I have now decided not to pursue that," she said in a statement. "I will continue to play exhibitions, participate in charity events, promote the sport, but will no longer plan my schedule around the tour."

I have many memories of Monica including the way she burst onto the scene as a 15-year-old in 1989 beating Chris Evert in a tournament final and the next month, making it to the semifinals of the French Open. a year later, she would be the champion in Paris at sweet sixteen. She'd giggle her way through press conferences, grunt her way through matches, and change her hairstyle every few months. She was a fun champion and contrasted nicely with the more serious Steffi Graf, her biggest rival. The two had seemed destined for a Chris Evert-Martina Navratilova type of rivalry with their most thrilling match was the epic 1992 French Open final. On an unforgettable Parisian afternoon, Seles prevailed 6-2, 3-6, 10-8.

By 1993, Monica had won had won eight of the sports majors at the age of 19. You wondered just how many she would go on to win. But during a match in Hamburg, Germany, a deranged Graf fan leaped from the stands and stabbed her in the back with a knife as she was sitting during a changeover. It was one of the most shocking attacks ever in pro sports.

Monica healed from the attack physically but mentally, she was shattered and afraid to return to the game. She was depressed, gained weight and stayed away for two-and-a-half years. But in August 2005, she was finally ready to come back and in her first tournament, she blasted through the field at the Canadian Open and a few weeks later, did the same thing at the U.S. Open until she was finally stopped in three riveting sets by Graf in the classic final.

I was at the U.S. Open a year later and watched Monica play an early round match and she looked sharp and fit and once again, reached the final where she again lost to Graf, this time in straight sets. But earlier in the year, she had won the Australian Open title (above) and at 22, you figured she had many more in her. But it was not to be. Monica, struggling with fitness and injuries, never again dominated but hung around the top 10 for six more years, won tournaments here and there and reached her last grand slam final at the French Open in 1998.

...I dunno, he's awfully cute but I just couldn't see him in "Giant: or "Rebel Without a Cause."

I loved last night's episode...loved it! And I'm so glad the strike has ended so we can get a handful more later this spring because this is the last original that was completed. And boy, was it a gay one! You had tons of Kevin (Matthew Rhys) and Scotty (Luke MacFarlane), you had the senator and his gay brother, Jason, in a political setting and then you had the long-suffering Uncle Saul (Ron Rifkin) still trying to figure things out at 60-plus years old. They really gotta find a way to deal with Saul. They have opened that can of worms and then subjected us to "Groundhog Day" tyoe scenes like Nora (Sally Field) prying and Saul shutting down, Saul going over Milo's and acting all uncomfortable. It is not satisfying or even intereresting at this point.

Back to Kevin. Suddenly, Scotty has a gazillion friends and they are foisted upon us in this episode and we learn that because of their rocky history, all of Scotty's friends hate Kevin!

Scotty: "I know my friends weren't the warmest last night."

Kevin: "I should've worn a parka."

Scotty: "They were just being protective...You have to admit, our history has been a little bit...checkered."

Kevin: "I'm not totally responsible for the checkering. Did you tell them any of the good stuff?"

Scotty: "Yes! They just happen to remember the other stuff. They'll warm up to you...you're different. They're more, bohemian."

Kevin: "C'mon, admit it. They just think I'm boring."

Scotty: "No, they just think you're (pause) Uptight."

Kevin: "I am not uptight!"

Scotty: "OK, whatever you have to tell yourself...at least they think you're cute!"

Here is a cute clip from the karaoke bar:

The film that Heath Ledger was working on at the time of his death last month will be completed. Production on "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus" was immediately shut down after Heath's death and the future of the unfinished film was unknown. But it's been reported that Jude Law, Johnny Depp and Colin Farrell will step in to complete the film directed by Heath's good friend Terry Gilliam.

Speaking to the BBC, Law's spokeswoman confirmed that the three actors would play Ledger's role of Tony. She was unaware, however, as to how the part would be restructured in the film, which deals with magic. The BBC speculates that the production will retain its original footage of Ledger, with Law, Depp and Farrell each playing different versions of Tony.

Yesterday, I wrote about Lainie Kazan's many career highs from her big break after stepping in for Barbra Streisand in the Broadway production of "Funny Girl" to being part of the blockbuster 2002 hit "My Big Fat Greek Wedding." But at the height of her first go-round at stardom, Lainie hit a few unexpected roadblocks. Here is that part of her epic story which picks up in 1970:

Says Lainie: "I was very sick, had a very bad accident. I was shooting my Playboy layout and I broke my foot running on the beach. The blood collagulated in my calf because the cast was put on too tight and it broke off and went into my lung and I was sick for about two or three years at the height of my success. It took me out and down and I never really recuperated to tell you the truth. I was really not a very healthy girl after that."

But after spending a few years recuperating and then giving birth to her daughter, Lainie landed the lead in a new Broadway production of "Seesaw."

I'll let Lainie pick up the story from here: "This is a saga, this is a saga. Three months into the rehearsals, I got fired because the show was in trouble and I think I was used as a scapegoat. They used the fact that I had been ill and that I had gained some weight as something to fire me with although I had lost a lot of weight because I danced my ass off if I must say!"

Also fired were the director and the choreographer and hired Michael Bennett as his first real directing job.

"He fired 26 people at intermission one night and I was among them. It was devastation. It was the cruelest act. And he never came to see me, he wouldn't have a meeting with me. It was probably the lowest point of my life and they replaced me with one of my best friends, Michele Lee (pictured with Lainie above). It was beyond awkward. She would be rehearsing all day in the theater then I would go on at night. They said to me, 'You can be a real mensch and stay with the show or you can leave but we're going to replace you." My name was above the title: 'Lanie Kazan in Seasaw' and I think he wanted it to be 'Michael Bennett Presents Seasaw.' It was my comeback and it was very painful. I didn't recuperated very well. I stayed in New York, I lost my home, my husband and I separated. It was the worst time of my life - the worst."

As good as Neil Patrick Harris is in his Emmy-nominated role as Barney on CBS' "How I Met Your Mother," he's even more fun as himself as you can see from this clip of his appearance on Friday as a guest of Conan O'Brien. I love the imitation of Regis Philbin toward the end!

It's a good time for Matthew McConaughey. He's an expectant father, his new movie "Fool's Gold" is a big box office hit, and he is featured im this sexy new spot for Dolce & Gabbana's new fragrance, The One for men. Enjoy the clip!

Reader Brian informed me that my "Lipstick Jungle" crush Robert Buckley was previously on the My Network TV show "Fashion House" that starred Bo Derek and Morgan Fairchild. Robert played a photographer on the show.

Brian writes: "Trust me, the writers were smart to have Mr. Buckley without his shirt at least every week and sometimes every episode."

Let's hope the writers of NBC's "Lipstick Jungle" will feature Robert similarly each week!

If you only know Lainie Kazan from her role as the mother of the bride in "My Big Greek Wedding," then you don't know the story of one of the great showbiz survivors.

Lainie and I met for lunch a few days ago to talk about her upcoming three-day singing engagement at the Catalina Jazz Club in Hollywood beginning Thursday through Saturday. It will be her first local concert date in several years although she has been doing gigs in other parts of the country.

"I enjoy acting but singing is my passion, it's who I am," she tells me. "I play a role and I take a part of myself and I magnify that to play a specific character. When I'm singing, I'm who I am. It's very satisfying as an artist to express all of yourself. The humor, the pain, the pathos, the humanity and those sorts of things."

At the Catalina, Lainie will be singing mostly standards such as "I Didn't know What Time it Was," "Here's What I'm Here For."

"They asked me to sing in that room maybe 20 times and I turned it down," she said. "I didn't want to sing in LA and have that pressure on me. I'm going to have some fun with old material but treat it a different way. I'm looking forward to singing."

When you get the chance to talk with a star like Lainie, you want the dirt and I really wanted to know about was her time as understudy for Barbra Streisand in the original Broadway production of "Funny Girl" in the mid-60s.

She was happy to dish.

"It was very stressful," she remembered. "I had waited a year and about three or four months to go on for Barbra. I was in the show as well, I was a Zeigfeld show girl. I was there every night and I would just watch from above. Then one Tuesday afternoon I got a call and the stage manager said, 'You better run down here quick, Barbra's got strep throat. She's really, really sick,' So I came down and I rehearsed."

There was curiosity about Lanie in the media because everyone wanted to know how anyone could possibly understudy Barbra Streisand. So she had done many television, radio and newspaper interviews and
was told, "If you ever go on, call me."

So, she did.

"I had a list of everybody and I called everybody. At about 10 minutes before curtain, Barbra walked in and everyone [on the list] had showed up. She showed up to do the show because she felt better, all because she didn't want me to go on. So she got really, really sick and the next day, I went on twice. And that's all I ever did. But it has resounded for 40 years."

Things went very well during those two performances: "I was reviewed in Time Magazine and Newsweek, headlines all over the place. It launched me."

Lainie She became a major singing star and sang all over the world at such places as The Empire Room, The Persian Room and the Waldorf Astoria, worked with the likes of Frank Sinatra and Ethel Merman and guested many times on all the popular television variety shows of the day including those hosted by Ed Sullivan, Carol Burnett and Dean Martin with whom she appeared 26 times (see video below).

"I worked with everyone in those beginning years," Lainie said. "It was incredible. I had a great supper club career."

This led to movies. Her first film was 1968's "Dayton's Devil" with Leslie Neilsen and Rory Calhoun followed by "Lady in Cement" with Sinatra as part of his Tony Rome series.

She recalls the night she got the part: "I was working at the Eden Rock and he was working next door at the Fountain Blue [in Miami] and I got a message that he would love me to come see his show because he wanted to talk to me. I was opening for Don Rickles and my show was over exactly at 9 o'clock and he would go on exactly at 9 o'clock. And the message he sent to me was that he would hold his show for me. All his bodyguards picked me up at the Eden Rock, they got me backstage and they walked me down to ringside then the lights came down and he sang. It was an unbelievable experience. And then he invited me to his dressing room and he offered me a part in his movie. I had a small part but it was a thrill."

On My Big Fat Greek Wedding: "About a year before, I got a call from my agent who said, 'They're reading this little film written by a young Greek girl and it's at Tom Hanks' office. It might turn out to be something, why don't you go.' I said 'okay.' It was a nice little reading and most of the people who did the film were there. And when I left Tom Hanks said, 'If we ever do this movie, we'd like to be able to call on you.'"
More than a year went by before she was called.
"I had the best time, I met the greatest people. We became a family, truly a family. We still have lunch like once a month. It's a really great group of people. Nia was fabulous. It was unbelievable to be at the center of whatever that was. It was a shock! But you don't really realize what's happening when you're in it. People tell me they saw it seven or eight times. I have fans who are seven and fans who are 70 from that movie."

The movie was followed by a spinoff series "My Big Fat Greek Family" that reunited all of the cast with the exception of leading man John Corbett. Despite strong ratings at the start, it did not last more than a season.

"Nia didn't want it to go. She made a deal to do a series before the movie came out. They hired another cast, a totally different cast to do the series and had already made a pilot. And when the movie made over $100 million, they figured maybe the cast had something to do with it. But they never really allowed us to be who we really were in the movie. They were so afraid of being too ethnic, too this and too that. It just never flew."

MONDAY: Part two of my interview with Lainie Kazan includes the low point in her life and career in the 70s and how she re-invented herself. She also talks about her experience filming "Gigli" playing Ben Affleck's mother.

- For tons more more information about Lainie, go to LanieKazan.com.

- To find out about her Catalina Jazz Club show, go to the club's web site.

- Below is Lainie singing "Porgy" and "Trolley Song" on Dean Martin in the late 60s. She just blows me away in this clip:

Two of my favorite tennis playing hunks were in action on Saturday at different tournaments around the world and had very different outcomes to their matches. Spaniard Carlos Moya (above) is one of the oldest players on the tour and continues to play some of his best tennis in years. Currently ranked 17th, he reached the final of the Brazil Open surviving a late challenge to beat Ecuador's Nicolas Lapentti 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (4) in the clay-court tournament.
Not so fortunate at a tournament in Delray Beach, Florida was Robby Ginepri who lost to fellow American James Blake 6-4, 6-4 in a semifinal match. Blake posted his third consecutive victory over the struggling Ginepri (pictured right and below) who was given a wild card to compete in the event. But his semifinals finish should help the gorgeous Ginepri at least get some ranking points so he won't have to get special invitations to compete in most events.

A major piece of eye candy will be missing from "Dancing With the Stars" when it's new season kicks off next month. The sexy and skillful Maksim Chmerkovskiy, who took celebrity partners Laila Ali and Mel B. (pictured w/Maksim) to the finals in back-to-back seasons, is taking some time off.

But an ABC spokesman insists the break is not permanent: “He just needs a break. He is part of the Dancing family, and he will be back.”

The decision is not a total surprise since Maksim had discussed his burnout in December with People.com: “After coming down from two seasons back-to-back, 10 weeks each season — 14 weeks, if you count all of the rehearsals — it puts a lot of pressure on a person and it takes its toll.”

Maksim and his skimpy outfits will be missed...

This is the kind of thing that just makes you so sick and so angry and so sad.

I'm sure by now you are aware of the horrendous murder of Lawrence King at his high school in Oxnard - while in class. Another student, 14, shot him in the head. Why? Apparently because he had the nerve to be gay and gender non-conforming.

The courage it must have taken for Lawrence (pictured above) to be himself at school each day, to not try and lead a false life just to make other people happy. I never had the nerve when I was in high school a long time ago, but Lawrence did. Apparently this was just too much for his killer, Brandon McInerney who brought a gun to school and ended Lawrence's life. He's being tried as an adult and I am glad. I heard his attorney on TV last night saying that the killer had just turned 14 three weeks earlier so he is arguing that he should be tried as a juvenile. In my opinion, if you're old enough to take a life in cold blood, you are old enough to rot in prison for the rest of your life.

Earlier today, representatives from several LGBT organizations gathered for a news conference at the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center’s Jeff Griffith Youth Center. Lorri Jean, the center's executive director and a widely respected figure in the gay rights movement, spoke about a 15-year-old boy being shot because he is gay and about what this horrible incident represents.

"Brandon pulled the trigger, but bigotry and hatred loaded the gun," Lorri said. “No one is born hating gay and transgender people or believing that we should be denied equal rights. Such hatred and bigotry must be learned. It is learned in families that don’t accept their own children if they’re different than the norm. It is learned in right-wing churches where ministers preach abomination or in schools where teachers and administrators don’t protect LGBT kids from bullying and harassment. It is learned from political leaders who support blatant discrimination again us or whose leadership fails them when it’s time to speak out and take action on behalf of our equality and our humanity. All of these behaviors suggest that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people are fair game for bigotry and hatred. They encourage impressionable young people to fear and hate not only themselves but others. And too often this hatred takes the form of violence, and innocent young people end up dead. Nothing is ‘pro-family’ about that."

This is actually a quite enjoyable interview that aired last night. Lance is relaxed and appealing and Jimmy does a terrific job moving the conversation around. It's also really funny when Jimmy holds up a mock People Magazine cover, riffing on the actual one that announced that Lance is gay.

Sorry for the lack of posts today. I got a root canal so, as you can imagine, it was not fun. But the dentist was awfully cute! Somehow, that did make the ordeal a little less painful.

Anyway, here are some ads my pal Kenneth Walsh had posted on his Kennethinthe212 site that I rather liked. Above is German tennis star Tommy Haas who is a major studmuffin and below, the world's top three tennis players Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal team up for their first ad together. Love it!

The Denzel Washington-directed drama "The Great Debaters" may have been ignored by Oscar voters, but the movie about a college debate team was the big winner at the 39th annual NAACP Image Awards at the Shrine Auditorium on Thursday night. I was backstage when Washington celebrated winning best picture and best actor along with the movie's Jurnee Smollett (best actress) and Denzel Whitaker (supporting actor).

"I'm happy for everybody up here," a beaming Denzel said. "I've been very fortunate to be at a lot of awards but I'm very grateful for this one and happy that some of these young people are being recognized."

Denzel, who had longer hair than usual in the film, was asked about why he was now sporting a completely bald head. He explained that he is about to start shooting a film with Tony Scott and John Travolta and "I'm fiddling around with different looks."

Actor/writer/filmmaker Tyler Perry also a big winner. His TBS series "House of Payne" won three awards including comedy series and Janet Jackson won best supporting actress for Perry's film "Why Did I Get Married?" Backstage, he said it wasn't as difficult as people think for him to juggle his different roles in each production: "It's whatever I'm doing a the time. Acting has its place, writing has its place, producing has its place."
But, Perry admitted, he is a busy man.
"This year has been crazy, it's been very, very overwhelming for me," he said. "There's a lot going on.

Herbie Hancock, fresh off his shock Grammy win for Album of the Year, talked backstage about the experience of that victory on Sunday night: "I think it's very clear that I was truly, like, stunned. But there was amazing joy that I felt. I really wanted to share that feeling with the people there that night. It was a really humbling moment for me and for jazz."

Presenter India.Arie didn't win a Grammy and had mentioned on the air that she had pointedly skipped the show despite being nominated. Backstage, she elaborated a bit: "It was a very quiet boycott but I boycotted it...I was tired of the politics. It hurts to know that you are going to be ignored. Yes, the Grammys, they annoy me... I was at home on the couch eating chocolates and laughing and crying and watching the TV and yelling. It was more authentic for me. I didn't feel I had any reason to be there and I was right. Some things are so predictable that it just makes you mad."

"CSI: NY" star Hill Harper, winner of the best actor in a drama series award, talked more
backstage about campaigning for Barack Obama than about his win: "Barack Obama and I have known each other 20 years, we went to Harvard Law School together. I've been working very hard. It's been a wonderful experience, a wonderful journey. We have a long way to go. He's running against an incredible candidate. I've known for all these years how magnificant and brilliant and caring he is as an individual."

Since special honoree Ruby Dee has been an inspiration to so many, she was asked backstage who had been her inspiration. She shared a story about Emma, the woman who raised her and her three siblings and who she considers her mother: "She turned my life in a whole different course than it might have been having come from teenaged parents...kids who were parents before they should have been. ...She was 13 years older than my father and wanted to raise us all...I had a gift for words and language and expressing myself and she recognized that. Being an educator herself, she was atuned to these kinds of things of in all four of these children. She had become the mother of us.... We have to pay attention to our chidlren, she taught me that. My mother, Emma."

...Sorry, at no time during this fantasy do these two crazy kids kiss. Why would they? Just because it's Valentine's Day? Just because they love each other and are attracted to each other? It's become a distraction, this whole non-kissing thing. And insulting to the gay storyline and the fans of the show.

That aside, I thoroughly enjoyed Luke and Noah's scenes today which started in Oakdale with Noah giving Luke a Valentine's card which said: "The best thing that ever happened to me is you." Luke responds by saying: "The feeling is mutual."

Then, they almost kiss, they lean in, it;s gonna happen, finally. Then, like some kind of annoying and cruel joke,l the writers have them pull back at the last minute because some stranger was walking by. Uh, OK. Toy with us. Hope you are having fun.

Still, they are adorable. Then, the story takes on this fantasy sequence when Noah wonders how his life woulda been had he never met Luke. Suddenly it's NYC and Noah is in the Navy since that's what his crazy pop wanted him to do. He's on shore leave and literally bumps into Luke who drops his books. Anyway, they meet cute and end up spending the day together with Luke showing Noah the sights. As they stand looking at the Statue of Liberty, Luke comes out to Noah and vice-versa. Then they hold hands...then...they...HUG!

Said Noah: "That was the best shore leave ever."

Here is a clip:

Things started a little dodgy with having to park in the assigned lot that is a full city block away from The Shrine. It included having to walk under the freeway lugging a laptop and I gotta say, I was royally pissed. I've never covered these awards before and vowed to never do it again. I mean, no shuttles? Then a bottleneck at the entrance to the red carpet. The only cool part was at least I was stuck next to Chandra Wilson of "Grey's Anatomy" (pictured above).

Anyway, the red carpet at the NAACP Image Awards was kinda like watching a NASCAR race: Oh, there went Vanessa Williams. Whoosh! Taye Diggs...whoosh! Stevie Wonder...whoosh! No time to talk to do print inrerviews it seems. People to see, places to go I guess.

But some of the stars I did chat up more than made walking under the freeway well worth it. First of all, there was the divine Loretta Devine who is such a hoot! And right before they closed down the carpet, got to have a chat with Audra MacDonald, the four time Tony winner and star of ABC's "Private Practice." Also great to talk to CCH Pounder from "The Shield" and Regina Taylor of "The Unit" but to me, will always be the star of the sublime "I'll Fly away." Had a nice talk with Denzel Whittaker who was so terrific in "The Great Debaters" and "Everybody Loves Chris" star Tyler James Williams.

Then headed backstage

Well, I'm backstage at the NAACP Awards and the show is just getting started. Janet Jackson has just won the supporting actress prize for "Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married" beating out Oscar nominee Ruby Dee. (huh?)

"I was really not expecting this," she said.

Me neither honey.

Host DL Hughley made a crack about Aretha Franklin, making sure to introduce her as "The Queen of Soul" to avoid getting a nasty email from her majesty, She's in the front row and being honored right now and is wearing some kinda crazy of wacky outfit. I like the wig though.

Jordin Sparks at the choir The Sounds of Blackness sing "R-E-S-P-E-C-T" and Tyler Perry introduced her as "the one and only queen of soul." Aretha is clearly having a better night than the one on Sunday when she was dethroned by Beyonce who dared to call Tina Turner the queen.

"This is the icing on the cake for me," Aretha said as she accepted the Vanguard Award. "I've had a wonderful and memorable two weeks out here in Los Angeles and I'm going home in a couple of days with wonderful memories..."

Wednesday night was an pre-Valentine's mixer at The Standard on Sunset Blvd called Hearthrobs 2 Kiss the Pride. I'm pictured above with (L-R): Michael Hetrick, Jason Howe and my pal, Jim Key. The photo below is us in a different pose before photographer Brian Putman insisted we move to a better-lit part of the room. We were like that scene in the last episode of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" when everyone is in a group hug and shuffle over - as a group - to grab Kleenex on Mary's desk. Some of you will know what I'm talking about! No one in our group did when I made the observation and was met with dead silence. Doesn't anyone else watch TV Land?

More pics can be found on Brian's flickr page!

This is the cover of the Italian edition of Vanity Fair featuring the breathtaking Jake Gyllenhaal...Sigh...

Michelle Williams had never publicly discussed her split from Heath Ledger just months before his tragic death last month. But before Heath died of an accidental drug overdose, Michelle had opened up a bit about the relationship in an interview with the British magazine Wonderland which has just hit newsstands.

Michelle, 27, has a two-year-old daughter with Heath who she met and fell in love with while they were making "Brokeback Mountain" in 2005.

"Obviously so much has changed for me in the last few months that I don’t really have an idea of what my life is going to be," she said. "I thought I knew certain things and it turned out that I didn’t so I don’t really try and anticipate so much anymore. I’m not making any bets on the future."

She and Ledger had left Los Angeles to live in Brooklyn where they continued to be a paparazzi target. The cooled off once they split: "When you’re in a relationship with somebody who is also a public personality then it doubles the attention from the media. When you minus that equation it’s just less enticing. That’s been a real bonus. It’s the plus side of the break-up for me. It was so pervading, it got bad there for a while. Every time I walk out of the door I still worry. That’s what is so silly about it: even if the paparazzi aren’t there, you wonder if they are. I’m not good at that stuff. I need to get better at it. It really used to affect me."
Unfortunately, since Ledger's death, Michelle again has become a paparazzi target showing zero compassion for the grieving actress.

And finally, the reason she didn't attend the wedding of former "Dawson's Creek" co-star Katie Holmes to Tom Cruise: "Everybody wants to know that. No, I didn’t go because I was working on The Tourist. To be honest, we’re not really in touch."

Larry Craig got scolded by the Senate Ethics Committee yesterday for his behavior during and after his humiliating arrest in an airport bathroom last year when he allegedly tapped his toe for sex with an undercover officer.

The toe-tapping was not the point of this "letter of admonition," it's about how Craig handed the officer his senate business card and said: "What do you think about that?" He was also taken to task for attempting to withdraw his guilty plea with the letter stating he did so after "your initial calculation that you could avoid public disclosure...proved wrong." Craig's claim that he did not know what he was doing when he pleaded guilty was "not credible."

There's more to the letter but basically, the senate is saying to Larry Craig: "You are a liar and a loser!"

Well, good thing I wasn't at all invested in the season yet. Just two episodes have aired but because of the live feed, we know that houseguest Neil (pictured, right) has abruptly left the show. We don't know why, it could be family related as some rumors suggest and which would make sense. This left Joshuah without a partner so in order for him to be able to continue to compete, he was given the option of choosing between the two houseguests evicted on last night's show - neither of which, obviously, is a gay man. He chose the woman over her straight male partner.

Before Neil was called into the diary room then quickly left without even packing, he and Joshuah had shared their first kiss, according to reports. So we'll see if that shows up on the next show.

What a bummer!

How lucky am I?

Got to have lunch with the fabulous Lanie Kazan on Wednesday and our conversation will be featured in my page 2 column in the Daily News on Sunday. I'll post an extended version for Out In Hollywood readers over the weekend but wanted to give you a little nibble now.

I asked Lanie why the gays (like me!) love her so much. Here's what she had to say: "They love me and I love them. I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that I am a little larger than life and I say what I feel and I sing what I feel. I have an big emotional range and I think a lot of gay men and gay women - at least more in the past and I think it's still holds true - have been caught in that inability or the fear of self expression, of really being who they are. And that's what try and do. I'm me and I'm full blown. I think a lot of gay people identify with that part of me, not afraid to express my feelings - my joy, my pain. All of it."

...Tony winner Stockard Channing, who turned 64 years old today!

Why we love her: She was Rizzo in "Grease" for starters. And for those who can remember, she was also "The Girl Most Likely To..." and first-rate (and Oscar-nominated) for her role in "Six Degrees of Separation." She's also a two-time Emmy winner who had a lengthy run on "The West Wing" and was wonderful and wacky on the criminally-cancelled sitcom "Out of Practice."

Why we really love her: Stockard has always embraced queer-friendly projects including her Emmy winning roile as Judy Shepard in "The Matthew Shepard Story," the mother of a teenage lesbian in "The Truth About Jane," and the wife of a man who comes out of the closet in "Jack."

She's also appeared in such gay faves as "The First Wives Club," "To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar" and "Heartburn." I also recommend you check out Stockard's delicious performance in the little-seen Bette Midler flick "Isn't She Great." The Divine Miss M played novelist Jacqueline Susanne in the movie and was fine, but it was hard not to think about how good Channing would have been in that role. As it is, she steals the film...not an easy thing when Bette Midler is involved.

...is one tall drink of water. Here is the hearthrob actor - equally adept at comedy and drama - at the premiere of his latest film "Definitely, Maybe" which opens in theaters today. Yup, it's a Valentine's Day opening for Ryan Reynolds who hopes his new romantic comedy will be popular enough to displace fellow hunk Matthew McConaughey's "Fool's Gold" as the date movie of the weekend.

Ryan is a real hottie and a terrific actor, but the truth is, his box office record is spotty at best. His only really big opening was the 2005 thriller "Amityville Horror" which featured him very buff because he was still pumped up from filming "Blade Trinity" which was his second-biggest opening . So, we shall see.

I dunno, is it me or does having a winter edition of "Big Brother" kinda feel like a bust? In the summer time, when I'm feeling more into guilty pleasures, it's fun. But with it on during the presidential primaries and award season etc, I tried watching it last night and kept falling asleep. Even with two attractive gay men and this couple's wrinkle, it felt kinda stupid and not really worth my time right now.

If there had not been a writers strike, this would have not happened I know. But I guess a house filled with annoying people is more palatable in the summer. Anyone else feel that way or am I just being a big bitch?

When Brazil's Gustavo Kuerten came out of nowhere to win the French Open in 1997, he was a wonderful breath of fresh air to the game of pro tennis. He was loose and mellow, loved to surf and played with great passion. Guga, as he is better known, went on to win to more French titles - in 2000 and 2001. He also won the men's tour's year-end championship in 2000 and was ranked number one in the world for a time.

He's had a hall of fame career but the sad part is, he wasn't able to go out on his own terms. He has battled serious hip problems since that third French Open win. On Tuesday, he played his last competitive match at the Costa de Sauipe Open tournament in Brazil.

He will be missed. My favorite memory of Guga came after he won that last French title: he drew a giant heart on the clay court with his raquet then laid down in the middle of it. He loved the tournament, loved the game and was beloved by the fans - including me.

Pictured below: Guga presented the champions and runner-up trophies at last year's French Open to winner Rafael Nadal and finalist Roger Federer.

I saved this photo several days ago of T.R. Knight and his "Grey's Anatomy" co-star Katherine Heigl hanging out in LA over the weekend. It makes me miss my friend Michelle Nicolosi, the best Grace to my Will that I've ever had. She lives in Seattle now and just can't be replaced.

Anyway, I also have to mention - being the shallow man that I am - is T.R. looking hotter than ever or what?

I'd just like to point out that not only are Scotty and Kevin the cutest couple on "Brothers & Sisters," but also the most affectionate. They kissed each other not once, not twice, but three times on Sunday's episode. That's what people in love do - they kiss. Maybe the writers of "As the World Turns" should all watch the show and see that it is no big deal for two men to kiss. Let's get Luke and Noah back in a lip lock soon!

Since this is the best season of "Desperate Housewives" since it's first year, I'm so glad to read that creator Marc Cherry expects to do seven more episodes for this season now that the writers strike has ended.

"I had three months to rest up, and I don't mind staying a few late nights," Marc told USA Today. He'll "trim away some ideas and get into the bare bones" of the storyline he had mapped out for the season.

I have a few recommendations: More of gay couple Lee and Bob, a date or two for Andrew and as much of Dana Delaney as we can get!

Since I spend so much time on this blog prattling on about "Gossip Girl" and "Brothers & Sisters," I don't know if I've ever made clear just how much I worship "The Dick Van Dyke Show." I have several seasons on DVD and that show is just as fresh as I'm sure it was during its original run. It's so sharp, so witty and it had one of the best casts in television history. One of those cast members was Rose Marie who I interviewed for this week's "Whatever Happened To..." profile which is in today's LA Daily News and other papers. I got the nicest note from the lady herself last week and I will treasure it always.

Here is my story:

Rose Marie may be 84 years old, but she is still never seen in public without a trademark bow on her head which she has worn since she was a child star.

And one of the stars of the classic sitcom "The Dick Van Dyke Show" still has a way with an anecdote: "I had one of the craziest compliments once. I did this lecture and a guy came over to me and said, 'You worked with my father!' And he was 80 years old. How do you think I felt?"

Once known as Baby Rose Marie, the comedy legend made her debut in short films when she was three years old and has countless credits on stage and screen dating back eight decades.

She became a radio star on NBC at the age of five and made a series of films. She dropped the "Baby" from her stage name at 15 when became a nightclub performer before becoming a comedian.

But Rose Marie is forever known for the five seasons (1961-66) she spent playing comedy writer Sally Rogers on "Van Dyke." Sally spent the workday coming up with gags for a fictional TV show along with Dick Van Dyke (Rob Petrie) and Buddy Sorrell (Morey Amsterdam). Also in the cast was Mary Tyler Moore as Rob's wife, Laura.

The series left the air after 158 episodes not because it was cancelled, but because creator Carl Reiner wanted to stop when the series was at its peak.

But it has lived on in syndication ever since.

"Everybody still says to me, 'It's still the best show on the air.' I think because it still fits today for some reason for another. It's never been off the air and we never even made a show in color."

Toward the end of the show's run, Rose Marie unexpectedly lost her husband of 20 years, Bobby Guy.
"I brought my daughter up because my husband died when he was 48 years old," she said. "So I had a double duty to take care of her, take care of me, take care of my mother and make sure I still went on with the career. I'm very grateful to my fans because they kept me going."

Post "Van Dyke," she was a regular on "The Doris Day Show" and later had a semi-regular seat in the upper center square on the original version of "Hollywood Squares."

Starting in 1977, she along with Rosemary Clooney, Helen O'Connell and Margaret Whiting toured for several years in the musical revue "4 Girls 4." The actress has remained in recent decades with TV guest spots on such shows as "Murphy Brown," "Suddenly Susan," "Andy Richter Controls the Universe," "Wings" and "The Hughleys," among others.

In 1996, she and Amsterdam appeared together in an episode of "Caroline in the City." Amsterdam died later that year. But the surviving cast members of "Van Dyke" got together in 2004 for a reunion television special (pictured, above).

"I started when I was three and I'll be 85 in August. I've been in the business all my life and I love it, I've loved every phase of it. I have good friends, I have a wonderful family. I'm very happy with my career and the way I've lived."

And it's not even my birthday.

Just read in USA Today that my favorite new show, "Gossip Girl," will resume production in a few weeks now that the writers strike is over and Hollywood is back in business. Hooray! Producer Josh Schwartz says there will be 5-6 new episodes airing this spring and more might be produced for airing in late summer.

Says Schwartz: "The missive from the network was, 'How fast and how many?'"

In the March issue of Instinct magazine, former "Survivor" contestant JP Calderon returns for a "One Year Later" interview. He came out on the cover last year which he shot as part of his participation in another reality show "Janice Dickinson's Modeling Agency."

"I'm changed," JP tells Instinct Editor In Chief, Mike Wood. "My perception has changed. I didn't give people credit -- those closest to me and beyond. But I'm still the same guy. At least, I like to think I am."

On becoming well known: "I'm a role model, I guess, But I don't want to be a perfect role model. I love to go out and have a good time. Sometimes I do crazy or wild things. And sometimes I do the wrong things and make bad decisions. But we all do, and I think we have to be okay with that."

Wood, who did the original interview with JP last year, writes: "We are so thrilled that J.P. agreed to appear on our cover again. Last year, his story generated an outpouring of letters and e-mails from around the world and from all walks of life. They were so touched by his story, that we knew his fans would want to know what he's up to today."

And see more hot photos of him, of course! Anyway, until you can get the magazine in your hands, here's video of JP from the cover shoot!

Enjoy!

Well, this is amusing as hell.

We all know that Aretha Franklin is the queen of soul, no one comes close - never has, never will. But a few days after the Grammys, she is making clear that she is not feeling very much, yes, I'm gonna do it: R-E-S-P-E-C-T!!!

Why? Well Beyonce - that conniving little diva - had the nerve to introduce the great Tina Turner as "the queen" on the Grammy telecast. Aretha, who sang later in the show, was royally pissed!

She's even released a statement about it: "I am not sure of whose toes I may have stepped on or whose ego I may have bruised between the Grammy writers and Beyoncé, however I dismissed it as a cheap shot for controversy. In addition to that, I thank the Grammys and the voting academy for my 20th Grammy and love to Beyoncé anyway."

Aretha, there is room for more than one queen - especially since Tina Turner is the queen of rock and roll. Are you gonna dress down Helen Mirren for playing "The Queen" in a movie? Now get over it and go burn that dress you wore to the Grammys. I wasn't gonna say anything because I love you, but if you're gonna get petty, so am I!

There was no immediate comment from Beyoncé or the Recording Academy.

For more than 30 years, whenever a fan saw - or heard - George Takei, it was usually because they knew him as Hikaru Sulu, the USS Enterprise helmsman on the original "Star Trek." But the 70-year-old actor with the distinctive baritone voice is now also known for his role as Hiro Nakamura's father on NBC's "Heroes."

Still, if you ask George why he is has enjoyed such a resurgence in popularity in recent years, he will give you a two-word answer: Howard Stern.

"There are more people coming up to me all the time and asking me about Howard and my participation in his show," he said when we spoke recently. "I do a week every quarter on the 'Howard Stern Show' and more people seem to connect me with that show than from 'Heroes' it seems. It's amazing. Howard is fantastic manna from heaven - he just came out of nowhere."

The refined George Takei and shock jock Stern are unlikely foils but their connection dates back to 1991 when George was appearing in a play in New York and booked onto Stern's show - which he had never heard of.

"I had this address and went to it. They asked me to wait because somebody else was on and I was going though some magazines and they had this radio program on. It was the crudest, coarsest most offensive conversation. I said to the other guy who was waiting, 'Why can't they get some nice music, this is really disgusting.' And he said, 'That's the show we're waiting to go on!' I thought, 'Oh my Lord.' Then they usher me in and there's this skinny, wild-haired guy and he says, 'Oh, so you have a deep voice. Anyone with a voice that deep has got to have a big [bleep].' That was my introduction to Howard Stern!"

His catch phrase, "Oh my!" came as a result of his many appearances on Stern's show where it has been played endlessly. He became a recurring guest announcer when Stern's show moved to satellite radio in 2006.

George has been in a relationship with life partner Brad Altman for 20 years but it is only in recent years that he has become increasingly open about being gay and become more visible in promoting gay causes. It took quite some time before he discussed it on the radio with Stern.

"I was closeted and had dated girls trying to keep that veil around me. So we had talked about that aspect of it. But when I talked to the press about my being gay, I got a call from Howard - on the air - and we had a long conversation. I know what the show is like so I was candid, I talked about my duel lives. Literally duel."

Dealing with his sexuality was not his first encounter with adversity. His family was sent to an internment camp in Arkansas in 1942 then later transferred to one in Califiornia.

"I grew up in two U.S. internment camps behind those barbed wire fences. When we came out and I started school, I had a teacher who kept referring to me as that little Jap boy which stung. So I knew we were hated, simply because we happened to look like the people who bombed Pearl Harbor. We were Americans, we had nothing to do with it. So, you grow up feeling guilty for b eing who you are - a Japanese-American - but then as start to become aware of your (sexual) orientation, i find two things about me that are not of the norm. Obviously, I could not hide the face that I'm Japanese-American, I'm visibly that. But the gay part isn't visible so you're able to draw a veil around that. Once I talked to the press and became public about it, I felt much more liberated."

The series may have lasted only three years, but it has remained alive through sci-fi conventions, computer games and several TV sequels. Last summer, George reprised his role of Sulu in the fan-made Internet based series "Star Trek: New Voyages." The voice has ensured continual employment as the voice of animated shows and video games. And if a good role isn't available, he can often be seen playing himself on shows as varied as "Will & Grace" and "Psych."

To still be in demand after all these years, George counts his blessings.

"It's wonderful," he said. "I love working and to be given these wonderful opportunities like 'Heroes' and that great character which continues to develop and grow the more the series continues on. It's a great gift."

AfterElton.com has posted the results of its poll of gay faves from movies to TV shows to actor and actress to couple. Now David Burtka and Neil Patrick Harris did not win the couple's prize, but the site posted this cute picture of them so I wanted to share it too. Neil won in a few of the other categories including favorite out male star over T.R. Knight and others. In the blog category, it;s no surprise that the widely read Towleroad won but it was nice to see that Out In Hollywood received a noteable number of write-in votes along with two other blogs that could not be further apart in tone from my blog and Towleroad: the mean-spirited PerezHilton.com and DListed.

To see all the winners, go to AfterElton.com

I snagged these photos of Cyndi Lauper and Cher off the Kennethinthe212 site done by my pal, Kenneth Walsh. With all the fuss over Amy Winehart winning five Grammys Sunday night, I got to thinking about how long this very talented but very troubled girl might last in this business. Will she clean up her act and address her personal demons? She has the ability to have a terrific career but not if she's addled or worse, dead.

The fiftysomething Lauper is still going strong as is the sixtysomething Cher. There's something to be said for clean-living...

Well, I don't know what Andy Roddick did to celebrate after the US won its Davis Cup quarterfinal match a few weeks back but these photos of how France's Richard Gasquet and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga have surfaced. The pair, who led their country to victory over the Romanians, went to a strip club in Romania and did some stripping of their own! Jo-Wilfried (below) was runner-up at the Australian Open last month while Gasquet was a semifinalist at Wimbledon last year. He has also, for some reason, flet the need to declare publicly that he is not gay.

Dolly Parton won't be working 9 to 5 or any other hours for the next 6 to 8 weeks.

And she's blaming it on her, well, boobs.

The 62-year-old singer has a serious back ailment, forcing her to postpone her upcoming concert tour promoting the album "Dolly's Backwoods Barbie."

Dolly was set to hit the road Feb. 28, two days after the release of "Barbie." In an apology to her fans, she poked fun at her legendary cleavage.

"I know I have been breaking my neck and bending over backwards trying to get my new `Backwoods Barbie' CD and world tour together, but I didn't mean to hurt myself doing it!" she said in a statement. "But hey, you try wagging these puppies around a while and see if you don't have back problems. Seriously though, the doctors said I will be good as new in a few weeks, and I can't wait to get back out there. See you soon."

Finally got around to watching my screeners of Logo's "The Big Gay Sketch Show" which had the first two episodes of season two. I seriously laughed out loud a whole buncha times then sompletely lost it during a sketch on episode two which featured a group therapy sketch with the younger partners of such older stars as Michael Douglas, Elton John, Jaclk Nicholson. As Catherine-Zeta Jones begins to describe her sex life with Douglas, she needs a bucket to puke a little bit. Ditto David Furnish regarding Elton. But when the woman with Nicholson opens her mouth to speak, she just start projectile vomiting and cannot stop.

I was disolved with laughter and am laughing again as I try and type. Also funny was a Sally Field commercial that manages to work in her best lines from "Sybil" and "Steel Magnolias" ("I want to know whhhyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy! No. No.") with her memorable Oscar ("You like me!") and Emmy ("There wouldn't BE anymore goddam wars!") speeches.

Just inspired, as was a Liza Minelli as superhero sketch and another that featured a cast member as Elaine Stritch and includes a surprise cameo with the real Stritch at the end.

Go to the show's website to see the Liza and Sally sketches. I hope the Elaine Stritch and the group therapy ones are posted there soon...it's a hoot!

OK, it was live TV but there could not have been very many people watching since it was on the ABC News Now telecast for insomoniacs. But I'm so glad this thing has surfaced on YouTube.com. Miss Vanderbilt sings "Always" to her son, whose hair had not yet reached its silver fox stage. But the best part, IMO, is when she brings out the old photos. Anderson is so embarassed and cute!

OK, it was exciting to sit next to George Clooney at the Oscar luncheon last week. But, ya know, it was just as thrilling for me to sit next to Sam Harris at a screening of "Hairspray" last year because I have been a fan of his forever. That night at the ArcLight Theatre in Hollywood, my pal Jim Key and I happened to sit next to Sam and his great friend Bridget Moynahan who was very, very pregnant at that point.

I just came across this video on SamHarris.com that has him and Bridget chatting about their friendship and Sam being her birth partner when she gave birth to her baby. The father of the child is Bridget's ex, Tom Brady, who is not mentioned in the video.

As part of his "Friend Friday" series, Sam says: "I was the birth partner for Bridget, and I wiped amniotic fluid from between her legs. It was the most amazing experience ever, ever. You were pretty incredible."

Says Bridget: "So were you."

They are adorable together. Check it out.

OK, who saw that last scene in the car between Kevin and Scotty last night on "Bothers & Sisters"? Was that sweet or WHAT? And a really good kiss to make it even sweeter. It felt like the first time that Kevin (Matthew Rhys) realized what he has in Scotty (Luke MacFarlane) and I'm so glad he expressed himself so clearly - even if it did happen in the front seat of Scotty's car where Scotty had spent the night after they had a big fight.

The fight was over Jason (Eric Winter) who came over for coffee and closure apparently and Scotty, jealous, barged in with dinner and just blabbed throughout and actually sort of facilitated communication between Kevin and Jason. Kevin might have been pissed, but in the end, he was also proud that Scotty cared enough to be jealous and risk making a fool of himself.

I loced the scene in the care which gave MacFarlane a chance to be vulnerable and honest when he said to Kevin: "I don't want you to see him again."

This is brilliant! Check out the ad campaign featuring John Barrowman that seeks to fight homophobia in schools and to raise awareness about bullying and hate crimes. The campaign by UK gay rights group Stonewall is now set to go national.

It's such a simple line and yet, perfect.

Meanwhile, here is a still photo from the latest episode of John's BBC series "Torchwood" where he, once again, locks lips with one of the hit male characters. Hey, some people are gay. Get over it!"

First of all, the show was too long and, at times, torture. They have too many performances and don't present enough awards on the air. And there's no host so it does not feel grounded and memorable moments aren't savored or remarked upon - it's just on to the next number.

That said, the 3.5 hour Grammy telecast did have its moments that included Kanye West's tribute to his mother both in song and during his speech, Ringo Starr and George Martin onstage to accept a Grammy for the soundtrack to a Beatles tribute show and the Queen of Soul (and apparently gospel music too!) Aretha Franklin belting out a number and just being her divine self.

But nothing that I saw (I missed Amy Winehouse's performance) even came close to the medley of hits from the great Tina Turner, who, after "What's Love Got to Do With It" and "Better Be Good To Me" was joined by Beyonce Knowles for the real show-stopper: "Proud Mary." To see this legend and future legend - nearly 40 years apart in age - knock it out of the park was absolutely thrilling.

The pair were introduced by the comeback kid: Cher! She and Tina are both superstars in the truest sense who have survived tough times and stayed active, interesting and successful throughout 40-plus years of stardom...

"Dancing with the Stars" pro Maksim Chmerkovskiy slipped off his dancing shoes earlier this week to give acting a try. Maksim was at the New York set of ABC's "All My Children" to play — what else — a hunky dance instructor.

I love it!

In the episode, which airs on Feb. 26, the women at Fusion Cosmetics, including Annie Laverly, played by Melissa Claire Egan (pictured), have been working long hours and want to take a break. They decide pole dancing will do the trick and they enlist the services of Maksim, who shows up with three poles.

As a nudge, wink and nod to "Dancing," former contestant and fellow hunk Cameron Mathison enters the dance studio and jumps in on the lesson. We find out on Feb. 18 whether Maksim will return for the next season of "DWTS" which kicks off on March 17.

Wanted to give a head's up to all you "I Love Lucy" fans out there: TV Land is celebrating Valentine’s Day with a “Ricky Loves Lucy Valentine’s Day Event” on Thursday from 8-10pm. Watch four episodes of Lucy and Ricky as they experience their happiest times together. Witness their vow renewal, celebrate the announcement and birth of their son, Little Ricky and toast them as they celebrate their wedding anniversary. I especially like the wedding anniversary one. Remember it? Lucy and Ricky have to hide in the closet from Ethel and Fred who have planned a surprise party for them. The conversation between the Mertzes is so hilarious with Ethel proudly admitting that she wrote an inflated price on the tag she left on a lighter she bought for them. Fred asks: "How much did it really cost?" Ethel: "$4.95!"

Later, Ethel gets spooked and asks Fred: "Are you saying I'm off my rocker, out of my head?"
Fred: "That about covers it."

...with Ryan Reynolds, pictured over the weekend promoting his upcoming film "Fireflies In The Garden" as part of the 2008 Berlinale Film Festival at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Berlin, Germany. Ryan plays the eldest son of Julia Roberts‘ character. I assume they're gonna age Julia a bit since she can't be more than 5-7 years older than Ryan!

It's been like, forever, since we've had a new episode of "Bothers & Sisters" but tonight and nexy week, we will get to see the final two shows shot before the strike cut the season short. Tonight's episode is "Missionary Imposition" which features a surprise visit from Jason (Eric Winter). This forces Kevin (Matthew Rhys) to rethink his future and his romantic life. I'm figuring that since these pictures feature the adorable Scotty (Luke MacFarlane), that Kevin picks him but, you never know. Kevin is not always the smartest when it comes to men. But, I must say, he sure has great taste!

I knew that Carol Channing had endured a very long, and very unhappy marriage to her third husband. When she filed for divorce from him in 1998, she confessed that they had rarely had sex in more than four decades together! Can you imagine?

So when I saw Miss Channing a few weeks ago at an event for the Smithsonian, she was with her current husband - and junior high school sweetheart - and they seemed like a coupla lovebirds. So I congratulated her on that when we spoke:

Greg: "I'm so glad you found each other."
Carol: "Oh thank you. You must have a wonderful girl or wife."
Greg: "Actually, if I had anybody it would be a boy."
Carol: "Oh, well that's alright. It's love!"

Anyway, here is a column I have written on Miss Channing that will run in tomorrow's LA Daily News:

Carol Channing may be 87 years old and a certified Broadway legend, but the star of "Hello, Dolly!" and "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" still feels like there is so much ahead. She's blissfully married to her fourth husband, Harry Kullijian, who was junior high school sweetheart and looked her up after she wrote about him in her 2001 memoir "Just Lucky I Guess." Together, they have been sweeping throughout the state of California working to restore the creative arts to the public school system.

"At my age now, I can lift (kid's) lives," Miss Channing said when we spoke recently. "They cry, the teachers do, to see these wonderful little brains desintegrating right before our eyes and they're looking for something to excite them and so they get into the craziest things. They're not in love with life and that's what the arts brings....I can see these little children growing up, exposed to the arts. Oh boy, it's the greatest high in the world."

If there was ever anyone who is living proof of how the arts can enhance a life, it is this three-time Tony winner and Oscar nominee:"I wanted to lift people's lives from the fourth grade on, my first time on stage in the school auditorium," she said. "I realized, that's what I want to do for the rest of my life, it's like a calling.

Her Broadway career began in 1941 and by the end of that decade, she was a huge star with such credits as "Lend An Ear," "Wonderful Town" and "Blondes." But it was "Dolly" in 1964 that cemented her status as one of the theater's grand leading ladies. She stayed with the show for three years, starred in a 1978 revival then in 1995, came to Broadway one last time for another run as "Dolly" followed by a national tour." The last "Dolly" production was the end of her heading up major theatrical productions. But she is still performing.

"I go from one great theater to another and do my one-woman show, talk about the arts, and introduce my husband," she said.

Husbands haven't always such a great topic for Miss Channing. She was quite young when she married writer Theodore Naidish. After their divorce, she married Canadian pro football player Alexander Carson with whom she had a son. That marriage too ended in divorce and in 1956, she married her manager and publicist, Charles Lowe. Although they were married for 42 years, she filed for divorce in 1998 and confessed that the union had never really been a happy one.

That has made her current marriage to Kullijian all the more sweet: "For the first time, everything is in front of me. Everything. It's the happiest time in my life."

It's been 17 days since Heath Ledger died. Earler today in Australia, his loved ones said their goodbyes. I've cobbled together various news reports and some photos of the services for this superb actor who left us much too soon...

At the memorial, Michelle Williams and Heath's family arrived in a fleet of black BMWs. Wearing sunglasses and appearing grief-stricken, Williams held the hand of Ledger's sister Kate as they walked into the school about 12:30 p.m. Saturday, local time. Ledger's parents arrived afterward – first mother Sally Ledger Bell, with her husband Roger Bell, then father Kim Ledger and his wife Ines.

One mourner, Western Australian Liberal MP Barbara Scott, described the service as "tastefully done, beautiful and moving".
"Kate (Ledger) spoke of the unique bond she shared with her brother, how he would ring her three or four times a day and how he never forgot his friends even at the height of his fame."

At least 300 people attended the service, including model – and close friend to Heath – Gemma Ward – Australian actors Cate Blanchett and Bryan Brown and Australian Rules football stars Ben Cousins and David Wirrpanda, both friends of Heath's.

Attendees of the two-hour tribute received a memorial program featuring a photograph of Ledger. At the start of the ceremony, a select group of songs were played, including “These Days” by Australian band Powderfinger; “Wish You Were Here” by Pink Floyd; “Superstition” by Stevie Wonder; “The Times They Are A-Changin’” by Bob Dylan, “Seven Nation Army” by the White Stripes, and a song by The Shins.

One of the first speakers was sister Kate Ledger, who addressed the attendants with a montage set to the tune of the Beatles’ “Here Comes The Sun” playing in the background.

Blanchett made an unexpected appearance and later delivered an emotional eulogy to Ledger, who died in his New York apartment from an accidental drug overdose. He was 28. She spoke of her sadness at the loss of a gifted actor and fellow Hollywood Australian - and his "great potential" that would not be realised. "He achieved so much in his short life and was capable of so much in the future."

"It's a pretty sad time. We're finding it difficult to cope," Ledger's father Kim (above) said Saturday morning, local time, before heading to the memorial at Penrhos College, a boarding school in the Perth suburb of Como. The ceremony was held in the school's theatre, where as a child Ledger would often sit in the front row watching his sister, Kate, perform in school plays.

Following a memorial at Penrhos College for hundreds of mourners, Williams, escorted by police, arrived with a small entourage of Ledger's closest family for a more intimate service at Fremantle Cemetery, just outside Perth, Australia. The chapel at Fremantle, which was blacked out with sheets and scaffolding, has only eight wooden pews and a lectern. There, Williams read William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18 (“Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?”).

Less than an hour after arriving, the mourners were spotted putting their arms around a clearly distressed Williams and hugging the chaplain in gratitude as they departed. From there, they headed to the Indiana Tea House on Cottesloe Beach, where attendees from the earlier memorial could be seen smoking and drinking beer and red and white wine on the patio of the establishment, which has a spectacular view of the ocean. What started out as a subdued wake after Ledger's funeral ended in an emotional goodbye by mourners including Williams, who all took a plunge into the ocean as the sun began to set.

"It's exactly what Heath would have wanted," one mourner told PEOPLE, dripping wet in his underwear as he made his way out of the water.

An unidentified man led Williams by the hand, followed by several guests, who walked down the stairs behind the Indiana Tea House on Cottesloe Beach, the site of the wake and one of Ledger's favorite spots. At least 50 people attending the wake ran onto the beach and many began to take off their clothes. While some women took the plunge in their black dresses, other men and women stripped down to just their underwear and jumped into the ocean.

Williams, still wearing her cream-colored sundress and black sunglasses, was briefly dragged into the water as everyone cheered. She was then quickly surrounded by a group of mourners, creating a protective circle around the actress. Those in the water laughed and cheered as Michelle watched from the shore. Ledger's sister Kate also took a dive into the water and was surrounded by pals splashing around her while her father Kim Ledger watched from the restaurant's balcony and shouted, "Hip hip hooray! Hip hip hooray!" giving two thumbs up in the air.

As the sun began to set, the swimmers came on shore and stood in a line on both sides of Williams and linked arms. In the last five minutes, as the sun moved toward the horizon, the mourners stood in silence, watching and embracing. Williams hugged Kate Ledger and smiled as she watched the sunset at 8:15 p.m., local time.

Two mourners in the group summoned up the moment as they stood behind Williams.
"The sun goes down on our love," they said. "But it will never go down on Heathy."

Williams left the wake with Ledger's mother at 9:20 p.m., local time. Sally Ledger Bell held on to Michelle as they got into a black SUV. Once inside, Sally rested her head on Williams' shoulder as the car drove away.

...the sensational Judith Light! The Emmy winning actress and beloved gay icon turns 59 today.

Why we love her: There's all the great television characters like Claire Meade on "Ugly Betty," Karen Woleck on "One Life to Live" and, of course, Angela on "Who's the Boss." But her best performance, in my opinion, will be seen later this year when "Save Me" hits theaters. Judith, playing a woman who runs an ex-gay ministry, is so superb, so heartbreaking, that I think she is worthy of an Oscar nomination for best supporting actress.

Let the campaign begin!

But most of all, as a gay man, I love her for being an unflinching straight ally to the gay community. She has worked tirelessly for AIDS awareness since the mid-80s and that work has grown to all kinds of LGBT causes for which she serves on boards and appears at events and, always, she speaks from her very big heart.

I didn't say it, someone else did: "Is that really her or were you at the Hollywood Wax Museum?"
You decide...

The news that the writers strike is likely to come to an end this weekend is so great! Everyone can go back to work and maybe some of our favorite shows like "Brothers & Sisters," "Desperate Housewives" and "Ugly Betty" can even crank out a few more original episodes for us to see during the May sweeps.

But more immediate is a settled strike means the Academy Awards would go on as scheduled with all of the nominees able to attend without crossing a strike line. I'm due to have a place on the red carpet, a backstage spot in the press room where the winners appear, and for the first time, entrance into the Governor's Ball!

I bring this up because I am just getting around to posting some pics I snapped at the Screen Actors Guild Awards a few weeks ago. My awards pal Sandra Barrera and I had a great time on the red carpet interviewing nominees and the Oscars should be fun too!

It's always fun to see Shawn Pyfrom on a red carpet. The young actor who plays Andrew Van de Kamp on "Desperate Housewives" is always adorable and sweet.

Could Eric Dane (McSteamy on "Grey's Anatomy) and his wife Rebecca Gayheart BE any more beautiful?

The men of TNT's "The Closer," one of the best shows on television and absolutely one of my faves.

Enjoyed meeting the handsome John Krazinski of "The Office." I had to cut our chat short because of the arrival of two very talented and classy people who I am just wild about: Hal Holbrook and Dixie Carter (below).

Imagine holding a master's degree and being a Fulbright Scholar, but everyone's image of you remains that of the big, blonde musclehead who was Sylvester Stallone's Russian boxing nightmare in 1985's "Rocky IV"?

Welcome to the career of Dolph Lundgren.

"I understand why," he admitted when we spoke Thursday. "They like to compartmentalize people. But I like to surprise the audience and people in Hollywood. Part of my life is trying to do as much as possible whether it be psychological, intellectual or emotional."

He had subsequent roles in such big studio films as the Bond feature "A View to a Kill," "Johnny Mnemonic," and "Universal Soldier" which all highlighted the Swedish-born Dolph's physical abilities.

Since he is so often typecast, the 50-year-old Dolph has taken things into his own hands and begun taking on directing jobs such as "Missionary Man," a western he also stars in which debuted on DVD a few weeks ago.

"It started out with just being interested in directing and trying to tell a story," he said. "It has evolved into people looking at me differently and it feels good, it feels fresh."

He has found directing and acting at the same time a real challenge: "It is tough. You really have to simplify your work as an actor and try to trust yourself and not fish around so much for the performance. You also you need people you can rely on."

But, he added, there are definitely upsides: "You can pick the best close up in editing and your star always comes out of the trailer on time."

Dolph, who also appears in "The Final Inquiry" out on DVD Feb. 19, has kept in touch with Stallone over the years but was never, as rumored, offered a part in 2006's "Rocky Balboa."

"I went to the opening, we're pretty good friends," he said. "He's one of the few people over the years who I stay in touch with."

Life must be so great when you're David Beckham...

I happened to catch the series premiere of "Lipstick Jungle" after taking a late afternoon nap and waking up too late to see a preview of the new Ryan Reynolds film "Definitely, Maybe." As disappointed as I was about Ryan, I found a new crush: Robert Buckley, the young stud who seduces the magazine editor played by Kim Raver.

IIt was steamy! He is not only good looking in that Scott Speedman sort of way, but he exudes charisma and has a killer body. And oh yeah, even though the reviews were unkind, I actually like the show and think it has potential to get better. Great to have Brooke Shields back on TV and next weekend, Lorraine Bracco will guest star - the first of several.

Queerty posted about Robert and additional photos as well!

Andy Roddick has been looking rather glum all week - I have not seen a single photo of his smiling - but he still managed to win the opening match of the U.S. Davis Cup match against Austria. The match took place on Andy's absolute worst surface: slow red clay. He finally prevailed over Jurgen Melzer 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 6-7 (4), 6-3.

"The court was terrible, the worst I ever played on in Davis Cup," Andy said. "It was the tough match I expected but I won and that means we accomplished our goal."

The winner of the best-of-five cxontest will move into the quartefinals of the team competition which the U.S. won last year.

...they're just on a magazine cover. You didn't think I meant actually coming out did ya? This dashing trio of Penn Badgley, Chace Crawford, and Ed Westwick grace Out Magazine's fashion issue and in an accompanying article, features editor Bill Keith goes in search of the elusive explanation for how this show -- from OC creator Josh Schwartz -- became such a camp gay classic-in-the-making.

He writes:

The thought of returning to high school is a harrowing one for most gay men, but being able to look at adolescence through a lens that idealizes everyone as insanely wealthy, impossibly gorgeous, and improbably well-spoken is like porn. And don't worry -- they're all legal. Barely....

It's like Sex and the City without all the hand-wringing over infertility, breast cancer, and other trappings of female aging. In fact, Gossip Girl owes far more to Sex and the City and even Dynasty than teen dramas like Beverly Hills, 90210 and The O.C..

To see the entire article, go to Out.com!

Believe it or not, this picture of a shirtless Matthew McConaughey is actually a movie still and not just another one of the countless paparazzi shots of him on the beach in Malibu. Either way, the man is gorgeous, AND, he has a new film out which is among the movies I write about in my weekly Box Office Buzz column.

Here it is:

Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson versus Martin Lawrence in showdown between comedies, opening today, that each will be trying to claim the number one spot in the box office derby.

But the winner could be...Miley Cyrus!

That’s right, little Hannah Montana herself. She has been filling theaters for the past seven days with the concert film “Hannah Montana: Best of Both Worlds” which more than doubled my projections last week with a debut just shy of $30 million.

“Hannah” has stayed strong in mid-week grosses so it’s tough to count it out as repeat champ. But the re-teaming of McConaughey and Hudson in the romantic comedy “Fool’s Gold” could open in the $20 million to $25 million range so holdover for “Hannah” will have to be strong to out-gross it.

FEBRUARY MAN: The month has been very good to McConaughey in years past - especially when he’s in a romantic comedy opposite a popular leading lady.
The last time he and Hudson teamed teamed up was five years ago in “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” which had a $23.8 million bow and went on to pass the $100 million mark domestically. Then in 2006, McConaughey teamed with Sarah-Jessica Parker in the romantic comedy “Failure to Launch” which had a $24.4 million debut.

WELCOME MARTIN: Lawrence in a comedy is more often than not a popular draw, especially with African-American audiences who have flexed plenty of box office muscle lately.
Last year, Lawrence co-starred in “Wild Hogs” which had am opening weekend just shy of $40 million and went on to gross $180 million-plus domestically. Two years ago, his comedy “Big Momma’s House 2” debuted at $27.7 million.

I’m confident that His newest comedy, “Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins,” will open with a gross of at least $20 million.

NOT A CHANCE: The weekend’s third wide release, “Vince Vaughn’s Wild West Comedy Show,” has flop-sweat written all over it. I don’t think this comedy concert film - opening in about 800 theaters - will even make the $5 million mark. But it will fare far better than “The Hottie and the Nottie,” Paris Hilton’s latest effort to be something other than a talent-challenged celebutante.

I think people feel they already get enough of Paris - to the point of over-saturation - so it doesn’t seem likely that very many will shell out good money to see her on the big-screen. It also does not help that “Hottie” is opening in only 111 theaters. Gee, I wonder why more theater owners didn’t want to bump say, “There Will Be Blood” or “Juno” to show something called “The Hottie and the Nottie.”

SLOW ROLL-OUT: The crime comedy“In Bruges” is getting the platform release strategy opening in just 28 locations today. The Focus Features film stars Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson and Ralph Fiennes and aims to capitalize on solid reviews and positive word of mouth.

Check out today's show. This is the most enjoyable time between these two in forever. Let's hope the best is yet to come!

Oh my. Here is a very good re