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Nicole Scores #95 on Power List!

June 16, 2006

Kudos to Tom Cruise, Howard Stern and Oprah Winfrey — numbers one, two and three on the Forbes magazine's just-released list of most powerful celebrities. But gigantic congratulations must go to gossip princess, daughter of music royalty, and recovering addict Nicole Richie.

Ms. Richie, co-star of “The Simple Life” and perennial bold-face-name, came in at #95.

Forbes magazine editor Lea Goldman admits the rankings are less-than-scientific, and are based on a combination of earnings and buzz.

Other “interesting” placements: the entire cast of “The Sopranos” came in 9th, Mel Gibson, after topping the list in 2004, is missing completely, and Angelina Jolie tied with Jennifer Aniston for 35th place.

Now, who doesn’t think the kids at Forbes didn't purposefully put both of Brad Pitt's paramours, one ex- and the other current, together on purpose?

Connie Embarrassed, Then Canned

Only a few weeks after the tabloids reported that Ms.Chung’s husband, Maury Povich, was allegedly having an affair with an underling, it's announced that “Weekends with Maury & Connie” will sign off this Saturday — for good.

The news comes just days after legal correspondent Dan Abrams was put in charge of MSNBC. The couple’s late-ish night talk show (10 p.m.) premiered in January of this year.

CNN cancelled Connie’s last show in 2003. Povich will continue as host of the long-running syndicated talk show, ''Maury.''

Maybe now that Dan Rather is leaving CBS, supposedly for good, he and his old friend Connie can team up for an "Evening News" reunion.

Female Reporter Kicked Off The Gridiron

There is no women’s football league, and because ladies don’t last for long on the sidelines either, there likely won’t be a WNFL any time soon. The latest woman to move (be pushed?) off the grass is Lisa Guerrero, who just finished a season-long stint as a reporter for ''Monday Night Football.”

She has been named West Coast correspondent for the newsmagazine ''Inside Edition.”

Before football, Guerrero covered the Golden Globes, Academy Awards, Super Bowl and the World Series. And her diverse talents don’t end there. As an actress, she’s appeared on ''Seinfeld,'' ''Frasier'' and ''Sunset Beach.'' Guerrero is married to pitcher Scott Erickson -- who was cut by the New York Yankees last week.

Her first story for ''Inside Edition'' will air June 22.

Taylor Hicks Wants You To Waste Gas

June 15, 2006

The silver fox of “A.I.” fame is making headlines today — and not just for being named “hottest bachelor” by People magazine. Starting tomorrow, Taylor Hicks will be singing and “dancing” his way across television screens for the Ford Motor Company.

The auto giant signed Hicks to pitch their year-end clearance sale. Oh, man. He’s an Idol! Does he have to pitch a sales event? Couldn’t Ford make him spokes-singer/dancer for a new hybrid or something cool?

Luckily, the commercials are only 30 and 60 seconds long — and will run only through July 31.

Post CNN, And After Jane Fonda: Ted Earns $4.5 Million for Memoir

It’s only half the amount Bill Clinton got for his memoirs, but then again, Ted Turner was not president of the United States. The outspoken buffalo herder, philanthropist, CNN founder and ex-husband of Jane Fonda sold the rights to his memoirs for more than $4 Million smackeroos.

The book, not to be released until 2008—2008!?—will be titled “Call Me Ted: The Life and Times of Ted Turner.” No comment from publisher Warner Books why the man who revolutionized instant news (at CNN) needs two years to write a book. Maybe he’s a slow typist?

Point to ponder: Teddy now has spent part of his fortune buying land, about 1.7 million acres of it, which now make him the largest individual property owner in the United States.

Clint Eastwood Gets The Boot

Two-timer at the Oscars, Mr. Milion Dollar Baby is getting a Golden Boot from the Motion Picture & Television Fund in Los Angeles.

No, even with the word “fund,” it’s not cash for his next project, but an honor given to “performers, stunt people, producers and directors who have furthered the tradition of the Western on film and in television."

Huh? Eastwood, 76 years-young, is just now getting the Golden Boot? Were there really that many more worthy Western-enthusiasts to get the prize before him? The organization has been giving prizes for more than 20 years.

Well, better late than never. Clint will get his Boot on August 21.

Clint’s next project, not scheduled for release until 2007, is a video game version of Dirty Harry. Now that’s a reason to give him a different kind of boot.

TV Folk Vacation On NY Stage

June 14, 2006

While on hiatus, a handful of Hollywood hotshots — writers and actors — are appearing Off-Broadway in a new play about…financial analysts.

It’s a stretch for those sunny Southern California types, but that’s what acting is all about.

The play is called “Burleigh Grime$” and features a score by David Yazbeck, Emmy-winner for work with David Letterman’s show, and man responsible for the theme song to “Where in the World is Carmen San Diego?”

More recognizable to masters of their remote control are the two stars: Wendie Malick of “Just Shoot Me” and Mark Moses, the scoundrel from “Desperate Housewives.”

Potatoes leave thy couch and head to the theater!

David Letterman Saves Strangers With Candy

In exchange for a plug of his world famous Explod-O-Pop microwavable popcorn, the “Late Night” host gave Amy Sedaris and her creative cohorts finishing funds to wrap up their film, Strangers With Candy.

The flick is a prequel to the Comedy Central cult-comedy written by Sedaris and now more-famous-than-her Stephen Colbert. The film has been playing gay festivals this summer to lukewarm reviews -- unless you’re a hard-core “Candy” fan... then the applause has been rapturous.

The film, which cost a cool $3 million to make, follows Jerri Blank’s exit from prison and return to high school where she hopes to succeed (on many levels) and snap her father out of a coma.

Strangers With Candy opens June 28.

Don’t Mess with Rue

Because the Golden Girl has very good lawyers. First Rue McClanahan lost a $3.75 million dollar default judgment against her for slander — all because she didn’t respond to the complaint in time. Then yesterday, she won a reversal on a very clever technicality.

Turns out the lawyers for a filmmaker suing her — for defamation after a business deal went sour — sent the summons to her agent, not her lawyers, and that's just not cool (or legal).

The decision was unanimous, but Blanche Devereaux is not completely off the hook. The Appeals Court in Los Angeles sent the case back to a lower court to reconsider in light of the mistakes by the plaintiff’s lackluster legal team.

Richard Chamberlain Reunites with “Thorn Birds” Co-Star

Everybody’s favorite tormented priest is going to the dark side. And he couldn’t be happier about it.

“I am a very bad guy in this,” says Chamberlain. “It’s great fun.”

The 72-year-old actor is teaming up with Rachel Ward for the first time since they scorched TVs everywhere with their heated romance in the 1983 miniseries, “The Thorn Birds.” The new project is “Blackbeard,” a Hallmark Channel original movie about a corrupt governor who will stop at nothing -- including having his adopted daughter killed -- to get what he wants.

And just what does Mr. C. want? Well, you’ll have to check out the movie Saturday night (on the Hallmark Channel) to find out.

Dan Abrams Cancels His Own Show

June 13, 2006

MSNBC moved star legal correspondent Dan Abrams — and Anderson Cooper rival in the handsome-young-man-with-gray-hair-department — to the front office. Abrams will now be general manager of the cable news channel.

His first decision? Kill his own show.

“Over the next few months you will hopefully see the network become a little more exciting, a little more vibrant and a little more irreverent,” Abrams said.

Does that mean that he thinks his own show .... Oh, nevermind.

Super-Sized Director Runs Right Into Immigration Fray

As part of his new series on FX, director Morgan Spurlock (maker of the Academy Award nominated Super Size Me about McDonald’s) set up a clash between anti-immigrant Minutemen and a family of illegal immigrants.

As part of “30 Days,” Spurlock put everyone in a one-bedroom apartment in Los Angeles in March — the same month huge pro-immigration rallies rocked the country.

FX says their lawyers advised them everything was kosher. But then admit to advising the family to “seek outside counsel.”

Anthony Michael Hall Has No Shame

The 80s heartthrob and star of numerous John Hughes films (Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, etc.) may have found a new TV life in “The Dead Zone.” But he's not embarassed about his younger days.

“To be part of some films that people have grown up with…it’s amazing,” the 38-year-old said. “It’s actually quite humbling.”

Hall is quite aware of the new fans he’s earned working for a show on USA, mostly elderly women. One lady approached him recently and grabbed him. She said: “‘I don’t know if I should touch you…but I have to touch you.’”

“I really get a lot of joy out of that,” Hall said.

Burt Reynolds Is Homeless

June 12, 2006

His memorabilia is about to be out on the curb in posh Jupiter Island, Florida. That’s where the Burt Reynolds & Friends Museum is located. The center doubles as homage to all things Burt as well as a community center for film education students.

Now, because the Jupiter Town Council wants to make way for a huge bioresearch institute, Reynolds is getting the boot. The town has pledged $3 million to bring Scripps to the community.

“This decision,” says museum director Mike Daniel, “means that we’re looking for a new home.”

Reynolds lives nearby, but has so far not offered to bring the collection home.

Baby for Bateman

Just when we thought it was safe to even consider the beauty of childbirth again — now that Brangelina’s bundle of joy is safely out of Namibia and onto the cover of People — Jason Bateman and his wife Amanda Anka announced they’re having a kid, too.

We at BBCancelled are almost happy because Jason and Amanda just aren’t that famous.

The couple has been married for five years, but skipped the kiddie track to work. Bateman had “Arrested Development” (and “Jake’s Effect”, which you can watch here on this site). Meanwhile Anka, daughter of singer Paul Anka, has been on “Buffy” and “Diagnosis Murder.”

Running of the Brides

Time Square residents woke this morning to bulls, er, brides running through the streets screaming. The game gals were competing for a $25,000 dream wedding — and a spot on WE television’s matrimonial-madness series “Bridezillas.”

The ladies ran an obstacle course in wedding gowns and helmets decorated with Viking horns. The final hurdle was an 8-foot tall, frosting-covered slope nicknamed “Brideback Mountain.”

Casey Scheulen scrambled her way to first place. Her fiancé, Tim McGowan, was in the stands cheering her on. Now they’ll be taking their grand prize — cash, an invasive camera crew, and their lost egos—back to Washingtonville, New York, to start filming.

Let The Freak Fur Fly

It’s a reality show, a commercial, and a whacked-out-catcall. Ten pussycats from shelters nationwide are going to live together in a house. Their feline activities will then be edited down into 10 three-minute segments to air during the 9 p.m. hour on Animal Planet.

Ira Cohen, the channel’s director of marketing says: “This thing is very tongue in cheek,” but it’s also a way to draw attention to the need for pet adoptions.

The “Meow Mix House” will result in two winners, one from judges and the other from viewers voting online. The winners receive “corporate jobs” at Meow Mix.