Turn On:
Sharon Stone guest stars as Will's psychotherapist on NBC's "Will & Grace" on Thursday at 8:30 p.m. EDT. Also on Thursday, BET introduces a new reality show about a fledgling band, "Blowin' Up: Fatty Koo" (9:30 p.m. EDT), and ABC airs the season finale of "Jake in Progress" (8 p.m. EDT).
Morning Briefing:
Not Fonda her: Jane Fonda can add another unfortunate experience to her life so far. During a book signing in Kansas City, Mo., this week, a Vietnam veteran spit tobacco juice in Fonda's face and was promptly arrested for disorderly conduct. The man, Michael A. Smith, told the Kansas City Star that he believed that Fonda was a "traitor" for her actions during the Vietnam War. "I consider it a debt of honor," he said of his surprise spewage. "She spit in our faces for 37 years. It was absolutely worth it. There are a lot of veterans who would love to do what I did." After wiping off Smith's tobacco-y spittle, Fonda continued to sign books for hundreds of fans. What's more, Fonda says she'd rather not have charges pressed against Smith, who waited in line for more than 90 minutes to get close enough to the actress to launch his juice bomb. (Kansas City Star via Associated Press, N.Y. Daily News)
If life gives you loofahs Andrea Mackris, the young Fox producer who sued Bill O'Reilly for sexual harassment (to the tune of $60 million) and later settled with him for an undisclosed sum, has plunked down some cash to purchase a $809,500 apartment on New York's Upper West Side. The 750-square-foot, one-bedroom pad is in the same building in which "Saturday Night Live" funnywoman Tina Fey lives with her husband, Jeff Richmond. Mackris is believed to have signed the contract in mid-November, just weeks after settling her suit against O'Reilly. (N.Y. Observer)
Jackson trial update: The biggest revelation in the Michael Jackson case yesterday came during testimony by a former Jackson security guard who said that he had seen a note posted in the Neverland guard office directing that Jackson's young accuser and his brother not be allowed to leave the property unsupervised. The guard's testimony bolster's the prosecution's claim that the accuser and his family were held hostage by Jackson and his employees at that time. Far more exciting, however, is an "exclusive" report posted on the Drudge Report that another Neverland security guard is prepared to testify that, in 1993, he fetched Vaseline from Jackson's car at the pop star's request and delivered it to Jackson in his bedroom. According to a motion filed by the prosecution, "When Jackson opened the door to his bedroom, Jackson was wearing only his pajama bottoms, appeared sweaty, aroused ... [The guard] Abdool observed Jackson to have an erection under his pajama bottoms. There was a young boy in the bedroom with Mr. Jackson." Oh, there's also speculation that Macaulay Culkin may testify in Jackson's defense, but Culkin's spokeswoman denies it. (The N.Y. Post, Drudge, CNN)
Also: Nicole Kidman is studying theology with an adjunct professor of religion at Pepperdine University and says she'd like to get her college diploma. (Rush and Molloy) A new study has found that "The Apprentice" is the show most watched by rich people, followed by "Will & Grace," "Desperate Housewives" and "The West Wing." (N.Y. Post) Celebs including Donald Trump, Barbra Streisand, Chevy Chase, Jamie Lee Curtis and Rob Reiner have donated large chunks of change to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's re-election campaign. (N.Y. Post) Bill Clinton dined out in Manhattan on Tuesday with Jack Nicholson, Jerry Bruckheimer and a group of other big-name types. (Page Six) Mariah Carey has knocked 50 Cent off the top of the chart with her new album, "The Emancipation of Mimi." The album sold a whopping 404,000 copies in its first week of release, making it Carey's first No. 1 hit in eight years. (Rolling Stone) Stockard Channing has pleaded not guilty to two misdemeanor counts of driving while intoxicated stemming from an arrest in Los Angeles in January. (E! Online) Some of Marilyn Monroe's personal items, including the papers from her divorce from Joe DiMaggio and the book in which she kept the phone numbers of friends and lovers, will be auctioned off in Los Angeles in June. (BBC News)
Money Quotes:
Jon Stewart, emceeing a celebration for Time's 100 Most Influential People, on Michael Jackson's back troubles: "Would maybe his back not hurt as much if he fondled taller people?" (Rush and Molloy)
Former "Tonight" show writer Ray Siller on one change in the church we can expect from the new pope: "When going to confession, the priest will make parishioners say six Heil Marys." (Page Six)
-- Amy Reiter
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