James Hirsen
Tuesday, June 18, 2002

In a recent appearance on ABC’s "The View," Susan Sarandon was not exactly what one would call gracious.

Apparently, some sort of irresistible impulse overcame the actress, causing her to lash out at the hosts of the show.

Why? Barbara Walters and girlfriends failed to display the proper amount of interest in Sarandon’s latest cause.

During discussion, Sarandon let it be known that she’d prefer the conversation be steered toward "… what’s happening in Burma with civil rights, or something more substantial than poor Winona Ryder and what’s allegedly happening to her."

The Left Coast Report thinks that anyone who believes they’re smart enough to talk about Burmese civil rights should know that "The View" isn’t the place to spout off about it.

Stars Fall for the U.N.

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan and fellow agencies have a date with some Hollywood stars and global organization-loving celebs. Those expected to attend an upcoming Kofi-klatch include Danny Glover, Roger Moore, Linda Gray, Vanessa Redgrave, Peter Ustinov, Greek singer Nana Mouskouri and former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell.

In a continuation of its PR campaign, the U.N. has recruited stars in hopes of getting Americans to forget about the detestable way in which the U.N. responded to U.S. military efforts in Afghanistan and Israeli defensive action against homicide bombers. The Left Coast Report expects that Osama bin Laden or Mullah Omar will get an invite to a U.N. celebrity event any day now.

T.K. vs. P.J.

Toby Keith’s got another hit on his hands. His latest is a patriotic tune called "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue." It’s the fastest-rising hit single of the country artist’s career.

Keith thought he was going to perform the song on ABC’s Fourth of July special. He claims that on May 16 he was booked to appear on the program, which is being produced by ABC News.

Keith told the online magazine "Launch" that "the person with ABC who books it said, ‘You're on. We want you to open the show with that song.’ "

But apparently someone got wind of the song lyrics and wasn’t pleased.

Keith didn’t mince words as to who that certain someone was, saying, "And Peter Jennings comes in and says that that song has lyric content that does not belong on his television network. So, I've been kicked off the special."

The lyrics that allegedly trouble Jennings are:

Oh, justice will be served, and the battle will rage.
This big dog will fight when you rattle his cage.
You'll be sorry that you messed with the U.S. of A.
Cause we'll put a boot in your a**. That's the American way.

Keith told CNN that he and his record label at DreamWorks were told "at the 11th hour" that he'd been axed from the program.

Jennings hasn’t personally weighed in with comments, but ABC maintains Keith was never officially booked for the show.

"He has the right ... to veto me, but let's make sure everybody knows it was not because we weren't booked. It was because of the lyrics," Keith said on CNN.

The multiple music award winner has a theory to explain Jennings’ disdain for the tune.

"I find it interesting that he's not from the U.S.," Keith told reporters. "I bet Dan Rather'd let me do it on his special."

The Left Coast Report speculates that Peter Jennings is frantically trying to find out what boot size Keith wears.

Single White Mayor

When New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg guested on Comedy Central’s "The Daily Show," host Jon Stewart had a burning question for him.

Stewart wanted to know what bachelor Bloomberg’s favorite pick-up lines were.

Stewart suggested "‘Good evening, I am the mayor of one of the greatest cities in the world.’ " Or "‘My name is Mike and I run a 24-hour information network.’ "

Bloomberg replied with "whatever works."

Stewart was kind to the mayor in not bringing up a favorite topic of New York comics - that Bloomberg has become the poster boy for pot.

Posters paid for by the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) carry a quote from Bloomberg, who, when asked before he became mayor if he had ever smoked marijuana, said, "You bet I did. And I enjoyed it."

The Left Coast Report suspects that when NORML gets flak for using the mayor’s image on its pot posters, it will take a cue from Bloomberg: "Whatever works."

Exposing It for the Cartoon Camera

Columbia TriStar has announced that the syndicated TV series "V.I.P.," in which a scantily clad Pamela Anderson goes to battle against various villains, is going to be canceled.

Anderson fans, though, can take heart. They’ll soon be able to watch a cartoon version of Pamela Sue when her new animated series, "Stripperella," debuts in the fall on TNN.

"Stripperella" is the brainchild of comic book genius Stan Lee, creator of "Spider-Man." The show features a clothed superhero by day who moonlights as a striptease artist.

The Left Coast Report thinks "Bubba-Man" would make a good cartoon villain for "Stripperella” - a politician who bores people to sleep by day and moonlights as an aging Elvis impersonator.

Celebrity Filipino Power

Rob Schneider, Lou Diamond Phillips, Tia Carrera, Dean Devlin, Fritz Friedman and Rob Filner all have Filipino backgrounds. And they’re all trying to help Filipino World War II veterans.

Their goal is a simple one - to restore Filipino veterans’ health benefits.

One piece of legislation, H.R. 4409, would do the trick. But San Diego Congressman Rob Filner explains to Army Archer of "Variety" that he’s been trying to get the job done for 10 years.

Columbia TriStar V.P. Fritz Friedman tells Archer that FDR promised the benefits to the Filipino veterans after their valor on Bataan and Corregidor.

Rob Schneider and Lou Diamond Phillips filmed a presentation to help Congress understand the issue. Phillips also gave a speech before the Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health.

The Left Coast Report is behind their cause all the way. We owe an immeasurable debt to all our vets.

Real Pro-life TV

The same network that broke ratings records with "The Osbornes" is going for a different kind of reality fare.

MTV is set to air "Diary Presents: Brandy - Special Delivery."

The reality miniseries, which is expected to run four or five episodes, will follow singer Brandy Norwood as she goes through the process of giving birth.

There are currently no plans to film Brandy in the delivery room, but fans will still get a chance to see the baby girl after she is born.

The Left Coast Report wonders if MTV will let the viewing audience know the truth about the baby’s heartbeat at day 22, the development of eyes, hands and feet at week five, the brain waves at week six, and that universal smile at week 11.

The Left Coast Report is put together by James L. Hirsen and the staff of NewsMax.

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