After Michelle Rodriguez’s weekend visit, the folks at the Mayfair Hotel and Spa in Coconut Grove, Fla., may be rethinking those heavy brass knockers they have on every guest-room door. Fellow guests at the recherché retreat say they were awakened at 9 a.m. Sunday to loud banging and the dulcet tones of Rodriguez, screaming at her roommate. “I woke up Sunday morning to the sounds of two women yelling, and one of them was smashing the door knocker very loudly,” one exhausted guest tells us. “I peeked out and saw it was [Rodriguez]. She’s screaming, ‘Open up, let me in, b——!’” The loud knocking continued for another five minutes, says the source, until the “Girlfight” star hollered, “If you don’t open up, you’re not getting your [pleasure toy] back.” The door creaked open.
She made me do it! Christie Brinkley’s most recent ex-husband, Peter Cook, using the oldest excuse in the book, said he went catting around because the supermodel wasn’t meeting his needs at home.
Chris (Ludacris) Bridges is ahead of the election curve. “I already voted,” the hip-hopper tells us. “I think it’s very clear who I voted for,” he coyly quipped. Given his recent mix-tape song “Politics (Obama Is Here),” which eviscerates John McCain, Hillary Clinton and President Bush, we’re pretty sure it’s Obama. Responding to the backlash that the track provoked, Luda simply said, “At the end of the day, I was just trying to get people to care enough to register to vote.”
“Tom Cruise in da block!” exclaimed a woman on frenzied Broadway and Spring St. Monday night, explaining the commotion. “And he’s got Suri with him!” Photographers clogged the entrance to a custom tailor shop where Cruise was being measured. Eight nYPD cops soon arrived and let them know they could take their L.A. freedom of the paparazzi and shove it down the block.
Madonna may be 50, but her energy Monday night was closer to that of a 21-year-old. The bikini- and fishnet-clad Material Girl paused during her Madison Square Garden concert to down two small shots, from a dancer’s hip flask, before heading back to jump rope, grind a female dancer and (rightfully so) berate a few sitting gentlemen in the front rows. “Are you f- bored, sir? Why are you sitting? I’m busting my ass up here,” Madge said, before joking to the audience, “Clap for me! My ego is bruised now!”
Judy Collins will help Joe’s Pub celebrate its 10th anniversary on Friday. Joe Hurley of Rogue’s March will join her on “Send in the Clowns.” Also dueting with Collins at the Public Theater fund-raiser will be Jimmy Webb, Shawn Colvin and others. Check www.joespub.com.
It’s no longer a secret that celebrities have some strange beauty habits. But are bird dropping facials really the next big thing? Victoria and David Beckham are the latest duo said to have joined in on some bizarre beauty treatments. “Posh Spice” Beckham, who has long had a problem with keeping a clear complexion, is now reportedly raving about the so-called Geisha facial.
ELLE magazine killed a touchy profile on Jennifer Lopez, but reporter Kevin Sessums got his piece posted on Tina Brown’s new Web site, The Daily Beast. Sessums, originally hired to write this month’s J.Lo cover story for Elle, was pulled from the assignment after his first interview “got much too personal” and the magazine put another writer, Peter Rubin, on the profile at the request of Lopez’s reps. “I couldn’t get up fast enough to feed the babies. It went on for about three days. [Husband] Marc [Anthony] was helping out a lot and I was crying and crying and going, ‘Oh, Papi, they’re going to know everybody more than me . . . They’re going to love everybody more than me!’ ”
We Hear: THAT Delta Airlines has hired Susie Essman (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”) and Samantha Bee (“The Daily Show”) to act as joke-slinging stewardesses aboard its shuttle bus bringing guests to Brooklyn for Rachael Ray’s Burger Bash Friday as part of the Wine & Food Festival . . . THAT Wyclef Jean asked to perform early last night at Kiss & Fly at a party hosted by Grey Goose Entertainment and Sundance Channel so the honored “iconoclasts” – Clive Davis, Cameron Sinclair and Tony Hawk – could catch the presidential debate.
AP
Esquire names Halle Berry ‘sexiest woman alive’
LOS ANGELES – Alongside a photo spread that shows her in little more than a T-shirt, Halle Berry talks about being the sexiest woman alive, a title Esquire magazine gives her in its November issue. [
Travis Barker thankful to be alive after jet crash
NEW YORK – Former Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker, who always has been afraid of flying, says he’s glad to be alive after suffering severe burns in a fiery plane crash last month. “I hate planes,” Barker said in an interview with Us Weekly magazine. “My biggest fear ever is to be involved in a plane crash, so when that happened … well, I’m just thankful to be alive! I’m just grateful to be here at all.”
Linkin Park cancels China tour over back injury
BEIJING – Linkin Park is canceling its China tour because lead singer Chester Bennington has suffered a back injury.
Nick Nolte escapes burning home in Malibu
MALIBU, Calif. – Nick Nolte escaped a fire that caused an estimated $1.5 million damage to his Malibu home on Tuesday, authorities said.
A rejuvenated Maxwell returns after 7-year break
NEW YORK – It’s hardly unusual for a singer to drop off the musical map. Declining album sales, drug habits, legal woes and other dramas have landed a multitude of chart-toppers on the “Whatever Happened To …” list. “I’m not making music because I want to be on your TV screen or the cover of your magazine. I want you to make a baby to something I wrote. I want you to clean your kitchen on Sunday to this, ride in your car, go to work. … That’s my goal.”
New York Times
A Push to Curb the Casual Use of Ugly Phrases
FOR the first time since the Advertising Council was founded in 1942, the organization – which directs and coordinates public service campaigns on behalf of Madison Avenue and the media industry – is introducing ads meant to tackle a social issue of concern to gays and lesbians. The campaign, created pro bono by the New York office of Arnold Worldwide, urges an end to using derogatory language, particularly labeling anything deemed negative or unpleasant as “so gay.” That is underlined by the theme of the campaign: “When you say, ‘That’s so gay,’ do you realize what you say? Knock it off.”Some spots feature celebrities, the young actress Hilary Duff and the comedian Wanda Sykes, delivering the message.
Guns N’ Poses: Thugs, Drugs and Style in Shady London
Guy Ritchie reshuffles a worn-out deck in “RocknRolla,” a return to the shady stylings that characterized his earlier flicks.
USA Today
Susan Sarandon stopped by the Netflix Popcorn Bowl movie marathon event at New York’s Times Square on Tuesday to drop off the closing film, Thelma and Louise (1991), in which she co-starred. Suresh Joachim, a native of Sri Lanka who lives in Canada, and Claudia Wavra of Germany were named winners after 123 hours and 10 minutes of continuous movie-watching (a Guinness world record) that began with eight challengers at noon ET Thursday. Winners, who were allowed 10-minute breaks between movies, watched 57 films.
Reba McEntire, Martina McBride and Taylor Swift are on the cover of November’s Redbook, out Tuesday, as part of country music stars’ participation in the Every Woman Counts campaign by Redbook and Lifetime cable network. Inside, the singers join Trisha Yearwood, Clint Black and others, who share why they think voting is important. Wynonna Judd brought her own bedazzled U.S. flag to the photo shoot. “This is my special flag. … I carry it everywhere I go. Generals have their own flag. I have my own flag,” the singer says. See the PSAs produced by Lifetime at everywoman counts08.com.
It was mom’s night out Monday at the Beverly Hills Four Seasons. Nicole Kidman, Halle Berry and Jennifer Lopez left their wee ones at home for Elle magazine’s annual salute to Women in Hollywood. Lopez said, “It’s hard to even be away from them while I’m getting my hair and makeup done. I keep putting them on my lap, and the makeup artist is like, ‘Um, can you move her?’ And I’m like ‘No! And you know what? I have to have two babies on my lap!’ But it’s part of being a mom. My whole world has changed. It’s going to affect every single decision of my life.”
Wall St. Journal
Suits Over Lennon Song Dropped
Yoko Ono and EMI have dropped copyright infringement lawsuits against the makers of a documentary. The documentary argues that American academia discriminates against people who espouse “intelligent design” theory — a proposed alternative to evolution that would allow for the participation of a supernatural force in biological processes.
David Crosby claims the only thing bigger than Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young was the genitalia Rob Lowe’s nanny coveted. In a declaration filed in the case of Laura Boyce — the former Lowe nanny who claims she was sexually harassed — Crosby claims he went to Hawaii last year and spent some time with the Lowes and Boyce. He claims during the trip, Boyce “stated on several occasions that she only dates ‘black guys’ because of their ‘c**ks.’” Crosby adds, “Laura Boyce was open about her personal life and dating preferences and freely discussed that in front of my wife and me.”…
Britney Spears’ driving without a license trial will continue as scheduled, according to a ruling released today. Brit and her people were trying to have the case put on hold or dismissed entirely. But alas, things will go on as planned. A pretrial hearing is set for tomorrow with the real thing set to begin next Wednesday.
Presswire
John Legend Launches Worldwide Concert Tour in November
NEW YORK, Oct. 7 /PRNewswire/ — Multi-platinum Grammy-Award-winning recording artist and acclaimed performer John Legend will embark on an extensive worldwide concert tour kicking off November 19 in Minneapolis. The first leg of John’s North American tour wraps up December 13 with a second leg running from January 12 through February 9. No NYC dates. 11/29, 12/1 @ Wellmont Theatre (Montclair, NJ)
Taylor Hicks Exclusively Partners With A2M to Release Album, Due Winter 2009
LOS ANGELES, Oct. 7 /PRNewswire/ — He’s “Takin’ It to the Streets” on “American Idol” — now Season 5 winner Taylor Hicks will be takin’ it more directly to the people. Celebrating his birthday today, Hicks has tapped the independent artist services company Artist To Market (A2M) to release his much-buzzed-about new album, due in stores on February 10, 2009.
Devo Playing Rare Akron Show For Obama
Devo will play a rare show in its hometown of Akron, Ohio, next weekend, with proceeds to benefit the Summit County Democratic Party’s efforts to elect Barack Obama as president. The event is set for Oct. 17 at the Akron Civic Theatre.
Colbie Caillat Expands Debut Album
MySpace phenom Colbie Caillat has tacked eight songs onto her Universal Republic debut, “CoCo,” and will re-release the set Nov. 11. Among the additions are live covers of Lauryn Hill’s “Tell Him” and Bob Marley’s “Turn Your Lights Down Low.”
War Child Benefit Album Postponed Until Feb.
The War Child charity and Parlophone Records have postponed the U.K. release of the multi-artist fund-raising album “Heroes” to early 2009 from its scheduled date of Nov. 24. The set will be issued in North America via Astralwerks.
Wednesday, October 8
David Letterman: Dennis Quaid, Sarah Chalke, Buddy Guy
Jay Leno: Dana Carvey, Zack Hemple, Marc Broussard
Late Late Show: Natasha Bedingfield, Rufus Sewell
Conan O’Brien: Molly Shannon, Jason Ritter, Noah McCullough
Last Call: Kat Von D, Cloud Cult
Daily Show: Michelle Obama
Colbert Report: Joe Scarborough
Jimmy Kimmel: Ricky Gervais, Carla Gugino, Good Charlotte (R 9/18/08)
The View: Dr. Susan Love, Robin Roberts
Regis and Kelly: Debra Messing, Bill O’Reilly, the four finalists from “Project Runway”
Ellen DeGeneres: Taye Diggs, a performance by Kanye West and child break-dancer Jalen Testerman
Tavis Smiley: James Taylor
Chelsea Lately: Jillian Reynolds, Jacob Sirof, Jo Koy, Arden Myrin
George Stroumboulopoulos: mafiaboy, Chantal Petitclerc
Bonnie Hunt: Jaclyn Smith, Joe Pantoliano
Thursday, October 9
David Letterman: Bill Murray, Beck
Jay Leno: Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Maddow, Rachael Yamagata
Late Late Show: Russell Crowe, Jennifer Esposito
Conan O’Brien: Dennis Quaid, Lance Mackey, Sarah McLachlan
Last Call: Jamie Kennedy, Young Jeezy & Nas
Daily Show: Robert DeNiro
Colbert Report: David Gergen, Oliver Stone
Jimmy Kimmel: Sandra Oh, “Dancing with the Stars” castoff Jeff Ross, Foals (R 9/24/08)
The View: Angela Bassett, the latest castoff from “Dancing With the Stars”
Regis and Kelly: Molly Shannon, Peter Gros
Ellen DeGeneres: Harry Connick Jr., Chris Brown
Tavis Smiley: Queen Latifah
Chelsea Lately: Holly Madison, Heather McDonald, Josh Wolf (R 10/3/08)
George Stroumboulopoulos: Julie Couillard, James Cameron (R 10/7/08)
Bonnie Hunt: George Lopez, Cat Cora, fire baton twirler Jonathan Burken
Friday, October 10
David Letterman: Jeremy Piven, Elizabeth Banks, Lou Reed
Jay Leno: Terry Bradshaw, Vanessa Hudgens, Jackson Browne
Late Late Show: Little Britain, Tom Morello
Conan O’Brien: Dead Confederates
Last Call: Christian Lander, Iliza Shlesinger (R 9/15/08)
Jimmy Kimmel: Dane Cook, Dylan & Cole Sprouse, Atmosphere (R 9/23/08)
The View: Maggie Gyllenhaal, Tristan Rogers, Phil Lempert
Regis and Kelly: Russell Crowe, Isaac Mizrahi
Ellen DeGeneres: Christina Applegate, Sheryl Crow
Tavis Smiley: Oliver Stone, Peggy Noonan
Chelsea Lately: Sharon Osbourne, Heather McDonald, Perez Hilton, Frank Nicotero
George Stroumboulopoulos: Declan Hill, Pink
Bonnie Hunt: Jon Cryer, Gloria Reuben, Tim Reid, Tom Dreesen
Saturday, October 11
SNL: Josh Brolin, Adele
— Chriss Coats
