Morning Briefing:
Victoria Beckham, alien bride? In a bit of celebrity casting we can only hope is actually true, Victoria Beckham is reportedly set to play an alien bride in Tom Cruise's alleged upcoming Scientology movie, "The Thetan." British tabloid the Daily Star says the former Spice Girl will play opposite the title character, and was picked by Cruise because of her "comic genius." (Daily Telegraph)
Regan fears cabal? In the alleged remarks that led to her firing, Judith Regan complained that a "Jewish cabal" in the publishing world was out to get her. A spokesperson for News Corp. said that during a phone call with a company lawyer -- who took notes -- Regan said that Jews "should know about ganging up, finding common enemies and telling the big lie." The company released the remarks yesterday in response to threats from Regan's lawyer, Bert Fields, of a libel suit: On Monday, Fields had said reports that Regan had made anti-Semitic comments were "completely untrue" and that his client "didn't have an anti-Semitic bone in her body." (Associated Press)
Britney takes the obvious next step: Out on the town at Hollywood burlesque club 40 Deuce on Sunday night, Britney Spears did what came naturally: Between acts, she jumped onstage and gave the audience a little show. According to the New York Daily News, she unzipped her top and showed off her bra. The club manager eventually had to ask her to stop. (N.Y. Daily News)
Also:
Sean Penn, accepting a First Amendment award from the nonprofit Creative Coalition, called for the impeachment of President Bush and Vice President Cheney: "If the Justice Department then sees fit to bunk them up with Jeff Skilling, so be it ... Look, if we attempt to impeach for lying about a blowjob, yet accept these almost certain abuses without challenge, we become a cum-stain on the flag we wave." (Fox 411) ... Mel Gibson says that in some ways, the debacle of his drunk-driving arrest/anti-Semitic outburst has been a "gift": "It's working out real positive, and hopefully in other lives that I'll touch." (The Scoop) ... Axl Rose announced on Monday that his long-awaited Guns N' Roses album, "Chinese Democracy," is going to be postponed a little bit longer -- he'd promised the record would be out by the end of this year, but now says fans can expect it on March 6, 2007. (Associated Press) ... In an online poll by Hollywood Dog and New York Dog magazines, Britney Spears was voted World's Worst Celebrity Dog Owner for her ill treatment of her three Chihuahuas -- Bit-Bit, Lacy and Lucky. (E! Online) ... Joseph Barbera, the cartoonist who along with William Hanna created the Flintstones, Yogi Bear, Scooby-Doo and many other iconic characters, died on Monday of natural causes. He was 95. (BBC News)
Money Quote:
Katie Couric, telling Esquire how difficult the transition from morning show host to evening news anchor has been: "Some people out there are rooting for me to fail. You have to be unwavering in your convictions that you're doing something good, because there are a lot of circling vultures that will eat you alive. You guys even take a shot at me. You have something in the November issue, something about how since I've become an anchor, you don't know me anymore. You don't know me anymore? Bite me." (People)
Turn On:
On Tuesday night, ABC airs back-to-back episodes of the wedding sitcom "Big Day" (9 p.m. EST), "Frontline" (PBS, check local listings) investigates "persuasion industries" like marketing and public relations, and Chloë Sevigny, Sandra Oh, Stockard Channing, Lucy Liu and Olympia Dukakis star in the AIDS drama "3 Needles" (Showtime, 10 p.m. EST).
On the Talk Shows:
Charlie Rose (PBS, check local listings): Clint Eastwood
David Letterman (CBS, 11:30 p.m. EST): Beyoncé, Marv Albert, Marc Maron
Jay Leno (NBC, 11:35 p.m. EST): Robert De Niro, Jennifer Hudson
Conan O'Brien (NBC, 12:35 a.m. EST): Ben Stiller, Ving Rhames, Joshua Bell
Craig Ferguson (CBS, 12:35 a.m. EST): Laura Dern, Avi Liberman, Danny Elfman
Jimmy Kimmel (ABC, 12:05 a.m. EST): Matthew Fox, Lawrence Taylor, +44
Jon Stewart (Comedy Central, 11 p.m. EST): Bill Kristol
Stephen Colbert (Comedy Central, 11:30 p.m. EST): Deepak Chopra
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