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Is Dan Rather the Stalin of CBS? James Hirsen
THE LEFT COAST
REPORT Headlines (Scroll down for complete stories):
1. Child Star Dakota Fanning Films Rape Scene It's beyond the pale even for Hollywood. Dakota Fanning, last seen on the screen starring alongside Tom Cruise in "War of the Worlds," turned 12 years old last February.
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Now, in an apparent career advancement move, the young actress has been drawn into filming a scene that requires the character she plays to be raped. The title of the movie is "Hounddog." In addition to Fanning, the film also features Sean Penn's significant other, Robin Wright Penn. Fanning has reportedly already filmed the violent scene. It is astonishing that anyone would advocate such a career decision for a pre-adolescent. But this is precisely what Fanning's mother Joy has done, claiming that the role simply challenges her daughter as an actress.
The New York Daily News recently reported that it is part of an Oscar pursuit; an attempt to emulate Jodie Foster's portrayal of a child prostitute in "Taxi Driver," which snagged Foster the coveted statuette. Fanning's agent told CNN Headline News that the rape scene was tastefully shot. She added, "We are very proud of this movie." The Left Coast Report notes with regret that Tinseltown continues to move the decency marker while some people see the exploitation of the innocent as just another day at the office. 2. Brad Pitt and Jerry Bruckheimer's Contrasting Big Easy Assists Brad Pitt received a lot of press for sponsoring a contest to design one environmentally friendly 12-unit apartment building for the homeless in New Orleans. Those who are without homes can take solace in the fact that at least for a dozen or so families Pitt's contest will result in an energy efficient design for a structure that may or may not ever get built. Meanwhile producer Jerry Bruckheimer has helped to give some folks in the Big Easy something they also need - jobs. The "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" producer chose to film "D้jเ Vu" (starring Denzel Washington) in New Orleans. The movie has an intriguing plot. It's about an ATF agent who travels back in time to save a woman from being murdered and ends up falling in love with her. Bruckheimer, a Tinseltown conservative, helps to illustrate a free enterprise principle: If you make things friendly for business, business will come. The Left Coast Report has a hunch that Bruckheimer is among the many entrepreneurs who find Louisiana's post-Katrina 25 percent investment tax rebate and 10 percent employment credit quite attractive. 3. Is Dan Rather the Stalin of CBS? Remember how the old Soviet Union tried to get every trace of Joseph Stalin booted from its historical records? According to the New York Post, CBS may be doing the same thing with Dan Rather. The newspaper focused on a recent story on the CBS News Web site that touted one of Katie Couric's "listening" tour stops. CBS described its new face of the evening news as "the first female solo anchor of a network weekday newscast, following such esteemed [CBS] journalists as Douglas Edwards, Walter Cronkite and, most recently, Bob Schieffer." Nowhere on the illustrious list was the name of Rather. The Post called the missing moniker a "glaring omission" and cited some observers who "liken it to the Soviet Union's erasing Josef Stalin from its history books." CBS responded to the piece through a spokesperson who was unable to explain the omission but merely said, "Dan is a valued part of CBS News tradition." 4. Mel Gibson's New Sci-Fi Fantasy Franchise Hollywood filmmaker Mel Gibson and his movie company Icon Productions have a new acquisition times three. In a move that many view as Gibson's entr้e as producer into "Narnia" territory, he and business partner Bruce Davey have secured the rights to author Libby Bray's fantasy book trilogy. Bray's first two books in the trilogy, "A Great and Terrible Beauty" and "Rebel Angels," were New York Times best sellers. Director Charles Sturridge will direct and adapt the first installment, "A Great and Terrible Beauty." The gothic tale centers on a young girl in Victorian England who uncovers a conspiracy surrounding her mom's death, which ultimately draws her into a world of magic and deception. 5. President Bush Pictures Himself With 'American Idols' If you were wondering how pervasive the influence of the pop culture is these days, check out President Bush's itinerary for the upcoming week. Some "American Idol" contestants are slated for a White House visit. Yes, I know the nation is at war and Israel is battling Hezbollah in Lebanon, but we're talking the No. 1 reality show here. And that translates into some major cultural clout. On July 28, following an appearance before the press with the prime minister of the United Kingdom, the president will pose for pics with last season's Top 10 "American Idol" finalists. Also on July 28, after the "Idol" finalists have finished touring the White House, Bush has plans to have a rap session with them in the Oval Office. The event is timed to coincide with the "American Idols Live" show in Washington, D.C.
This will be the first time contestants from the hit television show will have been granted an audience with the commander in chief. Evidently, what was previously reserved for dignitaries, Nobel Prize winners, sports champs, and the like is now being extended to reality show winners. Dubya will hang with Kellie Pickler, Chris Daughtry, and Taylor Hicks, among others. "Idol" victor Hicks will also have a shot at a high school reunion with his ninth grade English teacher. It turns out that Susan Whitson, who instructed Hicks at Hoover High School in Birmingham, Ala., is now employed as first lady Laura Bush's press secretary. What are the chances? A former teacher of an "American Idol" winner becomes press secretary for a former librarian-turned-first lady of the United States; probably about as likely as a teacher, rock musician and award-winning journalist getting a gig as a speechwriter for President George Herbert Walker Bush, going on to host big-time radio and cable TV shows, and then catapulting to the press secretary post for a former baseball team owner and son of G.H.W. Bush-turned-U.S. second-term president. "Idol" runner-up Katharine McPhee may not make the White House trip because of a bad case of bronchitis and laryngitis. No word on whether Simon Cowell will join the festivities. White House political advisors are reportedly interested in consulting with the "Idol" staff for their get-out-the-vote techniques. After all, Hicks won last season's competition by getting 63 million votes in the season finale. That's several million more votes than the 59 million cast for President Bush the last time around; this despite Bush having received the highest vote total of any previous presidential election. In fairness, though, voters are allowed to cast more than one ballot on "American Idol." The Left Coast Report says, in the real world, the only voters who can apparently do that are swing state Democrats. Editor's Notes:
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