To print this page, select "Print" from the File menu of your browser salon.com > People Jan. 21, 2000 URL: http://www.salon.com/people/col/reit/2000/01/21/np0121 George gorge Stephanopoulos: Not a journalist but plays one on TV; Boy Pitchman? He'll tumble for ya. Plus: Hillary stands by her man. - - - - - - - - - - - - By Amy Reiter A certain smug collegiality filled the air Wednesday night at the televised launch of the book "Crusaders, Scoundrels, Journalists: The Newseum's Most Intriguing Newspeople." Panelists Ted Koppel, Helen Thomas and P.J. O'Rourke -- all honored in the book -- took turns fretting over the effects of technology ("Stories written on a computer ramble," griped O'Rourke) and the 24-hour news cycle ("There's a whole lot of stinkin' goin' on," quipped Koppel) and reminiscing about the good old days before, as Thomas put it, "everyone with a laptop started calling themselves a journalist." But the slow simmer broke into a rolling boil when the book's editor asked, "George Stephanopoulos: Journalist?" "No!" blurted White House Press Corps mainstay Thomas, adding starchily, "I don't think he was trained as a journalist." "The training, you can get," said Rolling Stone's O'Rourke. "The problem is he's clientized" and shouldn't be reporting on his former boss. Even Koppel, Stephanopoulos' ABC kin, admitted that he had "queasy feelings about George as a reporter" because of his relationship with the prez. - - - - - - - - - - - - Andy'll be so proud "I can't believe I have my own star. I'm gonna come down here every morning and shine that sucker up." -- Don Knotts, aw, shucks-ing about getting his own spot on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. - - - - - - - - - - - - Personal liability Would you buy car insurance from Boy George? A Dublin reader reports that the former Culture Club kid has become the spokesman for an Irish auto insurance company. His own "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" starts off the 30-second radio spot. Then ... "Hi. Boy George, here. Ah, the '80s: a return to the glamour and decadence of '30s Berlin. Oh, really! It was just a few spotty lads messin' around with their mums' mascara. Apart from me, of course. And if, like me, you're slightly over 30, you could qualify for cheaper car insurance from Premier Direct. Just call 1850-50-50-50." Premier Direct: They'll tumble for ya. - - - - - - - - - - - - You can leave your hat on "Aye, I did have to do the dance ... for them." -- Robert Carlyle, confirming that he strutted his "Full Monty" stuff for the kids on the set of "Angela's Ashes," in the Edmonton Sun. - - - - - - - - - - - - Idolwear VH1 is banking on the fact that there's someone out there willing to pay big bucks to get into Billy Idol's pants. This Saturday, VH1.com will auction off the sassy slacks -- along with Shania Twain's yellow sweater, Billy Joel's motorcycle and other rock memorabilia -- and donate the proceeds to its "Save the Music" music-education program. But lest you think these are just an old pair of jeans lying around the Idol household, think again, Little Sister. According to VH1, these trousers are "the pair of leather pants he was wearing when he was stabbed in the leg while getting out of a cab in London." Persistent doubters will note that "there is a knife wound on the outside of the pants and blood stains on the inside." Can't imagine why Billy didn't want to keep 'em ... - - - - - - - - - - - - Standing by her man "I certainly intend to spend the rest of my life with him." -- Hillary Rodham Clinton, putting the kibosh on rumors that she and Bill will split after he leaves office, in an interview on Buffalo's WKBW-TV. - - - - - - - - - - - - Juicy bits Guess the Jacksons were serious about that "Never Can Say Goodbye" thing. The musical bros -- yup, Michael included -- are recording their first new album in more than a decade. Randy Jackson says his company, Modern Records, expects to release it in the summer of 2000. It's easy as 1-2-3 ... In other reunion news ... Johnny Depp may have been too hasty in altering his "Winona Forever" tattoo to read "Wino Forever." The BBC reports that Depp and his ex-fiancée Winona Ryder will reunite -- if only on-screen -- in Michaelangelo Antonioni's "Just to Be Together." That Matt Damon sure is one secure guy ... salon.com | Jan. 21, 2000   - - - - - - - - - - - - About the writer Amy Reiter is a staff writer for Salon People. For more columns by Amy Reiter, visit her column archive.