Turn On:
The critics haven't been kind to "Wickedly Perfect," a new reality series hosted by Joan Lunden in which contestants compete to be, essentially, the next Martha Stewart, but you can decide for yourself: The show premieres on Thursday night at 8 p.m. ET on CBS. And Jeff Goldblum brings his trademark syncopated line delivery to "Will & Grace" tonight, when he guests as an old classmate of Karen's.
Morning Briefing:
Stalkergate? A man claiming to be the longtime lover of Carl Bernstein's wife, former model Christine Kuehbeck, has sued the couple for $16.4 million, claiming that Bernstein and Kuehbeck wrongly accused him of stalking them and had him arrested under false pretenses last August. The man, an investor named Jeffrey Silver, says in the lawsuit that "The only true 'stalker' or 'harasser' in this sordid story was Bernstein himself" -- and further alleges that Kuehbeck repeatedly cavorted with him during her marriage to Bernstein and disclosed to him details of Bernstein's "bipolar disorder-like tendencies" and "sexual inadequacy." According to Bernstein's lawyer, Jonathan Abady, Silver's suit "is an outrageous falsehood and was filed in a clear effort to extract money from an internationally respected author and journalist and to slander a wonderful woman." He says Silver has threatened, continually harassed and stalked Kuehbeck and Bernstein. "We are anxious for the truth to be known about Mr. Silver's motivations and actions, including his record of bizarre and violent behavior against others as well," Abady told the press, adding that the couple was considering filing a countersuit. (Page Six, N.Y. Daily News)
For sale: Courtney Love's pad: Courtney Love has put her 4,100-square-foot loft apartment in New York up for sale in hopes that the proceeds can help her get her life back together in California and regain custody of her daughter, Frances Bean. The apartment, for which Love paid $2.6 million five years ago and is asking $6 million, features a wood-burning fireplace, high ceilings and great views. "It's one of the best buildings downtown and perfect for a movie or rock star," said an agent for the sale. (Page Six)
Hankering for Hanks: Tom Hanks can insist all he wants that he has no interest in politics, but that's apparently not preventing Michael Moore from continuing to stump for him -- and for Caroline Kennedy, too. "Who's our Arnold?" Moore asked celebs gathered at a lunch held in honor of his New York Film Critics Award for "Fahrenheit 9/11." "[Republicans] run people who are stars. When we run people who are stars -- rock star Bill Clinton, movie star John Kennedy -- we win ... Who wouldn't vote for Caroline Kennedy? Who wouldn't vote for Tom Hanks?" (Rush and Molloy)
Booers, hissed: Are all those people who booed Ashlee Simpson Tuesday night after her performance during the Orange Bowl's halftime show just jealous or, like, dumb? People who gripe about her music and her performances "are just old people who watch the news and don't know anything about me," Simpson tells Teen People in the magazine's upcoming issue. And it's not just old people and college football fans who have it in for her, in her view. "Hollywood people are so retarded! They're ridiculous! " she recently commented after the Teen Choice Awards. "Girls get jealous. And they're mean." (Teen People via N.Y. Daily News, Edmonton Sun)
Also: Jane Kaczmarek and husband Bradley Whitford are calling on all Golden Globe nominees past and present to donate their red-carpet togs to a post-award-show "Clothes Off Our Back" auction, the proceeds of which will be donated to help tsunami victims. (Associated Press) ... San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and his wife, Court TV talking head Kimberly Guilfoyle Newsom, have announced their plans to divorce, explaining that their high-profile careers have strained their three-year marriage to the breaking point. (Associated Press) ... Oliver Stone is blaming the U.S. box-office crash and burn of "Alexander" on American prudery, commenting, "There's a raging fundamentalism in morality in the United States. From day one audiences didn't show up. They didn't even read the reviews in the South because the media was using the words: 'Alex is Gay.'" (Guardian) ... The Producers Guild has nominated "The Incredibles" for a best film award alongside "The Aviator," "Million Dollar Baby" and "Sideways" in what is seen as a major coup for an animated film. (BBC News)
Money Quote:
Kathie Lee Gifford, getting misty and all too metaphoric about life after the holidays: "There's something so sad about discarded Christmas trees. They're like women in their 50s, like, 'Hey you! The one who's ovulating! Get over here and replace this dry one!'" (N.Y. Daily News)
-- Amy Reiter
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