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Rosie O'Donnell Bolts for Broadway? James Hirsen
THE LEFT COAST
REPORT
Headlines (Scroll down for complete stories): 1. Richard Gere Apologizes for Dip Slip It all started when, in front of thousands of onlookers at an AIDS function in New Delhi, India, Richard Gere grabbed Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty and smooched her on the cheek while taking her for an extreme dance dip. The Indian public's reaction to Gere's behavior was that of outrage. The actor didn't respond in the normal Hollywood fashion by issuing an apology, appearing with Dr. Phil and racing to rehab.
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He did, however — after Indians burned effigies of him in public and issued an arrest warrant — decide it was a good time for him to say he was sorry. Gere issued a statement of "sincere apology" addressed to his "dear Indian friends." But he also held out one of his film roles as an excuse. He said that the way he kissed Shetty was influenced by his movie "Shall We Dance." "My clumsy attempt at a 'Shall We Dance' move was a naive misread of Indian customs and I assure you nothing more." I believe that instead of "Shall We Dance" Gere meant to say "American Gigolo."
2. Bill Clinton Hooks Up With Rachael Ray to Battle Obesity When he's not playing "fundraiser-in-chief" for his wife's presidential bid or campaigning for an "ambassador to the World" gig, former President Bill Clinton tries to get his mug on the tube every chance he gets. The latest cause he's gotten involved with is remedying childhood obesity, and to get the job done he's paired up with TV cuisine queen Rachael Ray. Clinton appeared on an episode of Ray's show and together they fixed a bowl of turkey Bolognese with whole wheat pasta. "I love to cook," he said. "I used to cook a lot." The show was the vehicle of choice to announce that Ray will work with Clinton's Alliance for a Healthier Generation, an organization the former president created to combat diabetes and childhood obesity. This is the same Alliance that coerced soft drink and food manufacturers to sell healthier products in school vending machines and assisted schools in shaping up their lunchroom menus. Clinton told Ray's audience of his lifelong struggle to stay slim and his weakness for fast food. "I've got a scar down my chest to prove it," he said, referring to his 2004 quadruple bypass surgery. Clinton emphasized the importance of addressing the obesity issue, and the consequences of failing to, by using a term that for the ex-president could be a bit risky. After describing all of the perils of unchecked obesity, Clinton said, "It will be immoral if we let it happen." 3. Rosie O'Donnell Bolts for Broadway? Even though she is leaving "The View," Rosie O' Donnell has already lined up a new gig on Broadway. Word has it that O'Donnell is in negotiations to play a part in the musical version of the novel "Les Miserables" and hopes to snag the role of Madame Thenardier. O'Donnell's part would be a supporting role, that of the wife and partner in crime to a con artist innkeeper. Since O'Donnell didn't seem to like playing a supporting role to Barbara Walters on "The View," if she gets the Broadway part, it probably won't take long for her to go after the starring role and maybe even add ad lib a few lines about a conspiracy between Donald Trump and John Edwards' hairdresser. 4. Sony Video Game Promoted With Slaughtered Goat There are two stories that speak volumes on the issue of the entertainment media's responsibility. First, a slasher movie writer, producer, and director has denied any connection between horror movies and real life violence. In a recent reference to violence, John Carpenter of "Halloween" fame told a Tribeca Film Festival panel, "Real life causes this; fake life does not cause it. The reason for a lot of these movies is the culture that we live in, the events that have gone on in our world." Carpenter went on to argue against government censorship, an idea with which Peter Block, executive producer of the ultra violent "Saw" movies, readily agreed. Meanwhile Sony used a freshly slaughtered goat to publicize an ultra-violent video game called God of War II designed for its PlayStation 2 console. The corpse of the decapitated goat was displayed at a party to celebrate the launch of the God of War II game in the U.K. Guests at the event were offered the experience of reaching into the goat's still warm carcass to eat food that looked like the animal's intestines. They also got to throw knives at targets and grab live snakes with their bare hands as topless models fed them grapes. Images of the party were in the latest edition of the company's PlayStation magazine. Sony described the game as an "adult-rated, fast-paced bloodbath — and enormous fun to boot," adding that it is "bigger, better, and as brutal as ever." To the company's credit, it did issue an apology for the gore-fest and pledged to recall the magazine. 5. NBC's Million Dollar Connection Reporters covering the Anna Nicole Smith saga were jealous of NBC's incredible scoop record. The rest of the press came up short when it came to first dibs on the Larry Birkhead scuttlebutt and Dannielynn buzz. Now we know why. As reported by the New York Post, NBC had a secret $1 million deal with Birkhead, the biological father of Smith's 7-month-old baby. NBC had struck a deal with Birkhead right after Smith's funeral. The arrangements were made through the network's entertainment division rather than its news division.
Stories always seemed to break first on NBC-owned shows like "Today" and "Access Hollywood." For example when Birkhead and his lawyer Debra Opri parted ways, "Access Hollywood" beat everyone to the punch with the news. And when Birkhead was officially ruled the biological father of Smith's baby, where did he go to announce it to the world? None other than the "Today" show. Editor's Notes:
The Left Coast Report is put together by James L. Hirsen and the staff of NewsMax — The Left Coast Report Archives Get your FREE copy of James Hirsen's new book 'Hollywood Nation' — Click Here Now.
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